#and it’s so annoying when people are like oh my parents have an age gap and it’s fine

[fridayiminlovemp3]

bro this shit is so nasty i don’t care that they’re “only 2 and a half years apart🥺” because it’s about the maturity difference not just the age difference, a 20 year old and a 23 year old dating isn’t a big deal because they’re at roughly the same place in life, they’re both out of high school and have spent time in the world as an adult. a 15 year old and a 18 year old have way less in common, one of them is out of high school, works, is in university, and lives as an adult and the other isn’t finished high school (depending on the school they’ve only been there for a year or 2), can’t legally drive, probably can’t have a job, and relies on their parents for everything. it’s honestly gross!! and it’s weird to excuse it under the reasoning that “they’re both teenagers” because you go through so many different stages and changes as a teen and by the time you’re 19 you’re a completely different person than when you were 13 or even 16.

[simping-for-joe]

Hi! I saw you're taking requests, this might be little long one. I've been sending this request to some writers but I guess they're busy or don't like the idea.

I don't see shit like this anymore but brother's bestfriend Leon?

It can either be re4 Leon or re2 Leon, whatever you want! So basically there's age gap, a lil bit enemies to lovers and brother's bestfriend. If I could write, I'll definitely write this. So reader hates Leon, she thinks he's a fuckboy, but he's not, sure he's been with a few women but he's a cutie patootie who respects women. As for Leon, he's irritated with her because of her attitude towards him.

Maybe inexperienced reader too? Yes, she's had lots of boyfriends, but she's a daddy's girl, daddy taught her that men are the worst and that she should never chase them. She hates it when boys date her for her looks, body, etc. She wants to lose it to the one, ifykwm. Maybe if you can, include brother's reaction to them? (Not in the act, it's uo to you)

You can change some or the whole thing if you'd like, I just want to read some brother's bestfriend Leon😭

Be Somebody to Someone

Brother's Best-friend Leon Kennedy X Inexperienced! Female! reader

Implied sexual themes (I don’t know if this is a warning since nothing happens but making out but I wanted to be safe)

You come home for your brother planning to propose to his girlfriend, You end up meeting Leon Kennedy after years your older brother's best friend who grew up with.

Y/N: Honestly, I love inexperienced reader, cause I think no matter the age Leon would be so patient and sweet with them. Also I remember brother's best friend Leon used to be everywhere and I liked it. Also I'm not a huge enemies to lovers person (expect very specific cases), but I will try my best to put some hostilely in there. Thanks for your request and I hope you enjoy!

(Title from Someone to You By BANNERS)

You grab your luggage from baggage claim. A soft sigh leaving your lips, your brother was going to propose. Yet, you had been broken up with again. The minute you talked about actual commitment your boyfriends would run off. It was frustrating, and at this point you were just tired. You walk out to see your mom and dad who smile brightly upon seeing you. You get rid of those thoughts as you smile back at them, hugging them tightly.

You watch out the window as they ask you the usual questions. "How are you?" "Any guys you want us to meet?" You reply easily to those questions. It felt a little useless since you weren't the one talking about marriage.

Your relieved when you finally arrive home. Exhaustedly you head up the stairs to your room. After unpacking you lie down in your bed and fall asleep easily.

Laughter wakes you up from your nap, you sigh but head down the stairs. However as you walk down you don't just hear just your mom and dad, no there’s two additional voices.

You walk out into the kitchen and see two people sitting with your parents, Adam, your brother and... Leon Kennedy. The most annoying guy you've had to deal with in your entire life. You could have sworn that your brother and Leon had come out of the womb tied to the hip.

"Well good morning sunshine," you're brought out of your thoughts as your dad addresses you.

"Yeah..." you give a light laugh, and a forced smile.

"Couldn't even wait for me to get home to disappear again?" Adam jokes looking to you.

"Not my fault your slow as hell." You reply annoyed, you sit next to your dad.

"Missed you too sis." Adam replies laughing lightly.

"Also last I checked your girlfriend isn't Leon." You add on, crossing your arms. To which the blonde man laughed a bit.

"Jealous your brother is dating me?" He asks with a smirk as your brother laughs.

"See mom, I've been telling you for years." You gesture to the pair.

"Oh enough from you, besides we love having Leon around." Your mother tries to argue.

"We? Who's we?" You ask, looking between your family members.

"You sure are pissy today." Adam comments to which your dad gives him a look, a warning. He groans and rolls his eyes as you lean into your dad, a smug smile on your lips.

Adam goes through the plan yet again, you and Leon have to distract June his girlfriend for the day. As much as you wanted to complain, you did want this to go well for your brother.

You liked your brother's girlfriend just fine, but you didn't know her particularly well either. However, you would try.

You waited outside by the shopping outlets, when you notice Leon walking up after looking up from your phone.

"Hey," he greets you.

"Hi," you reply awkwardly and a little tense. You brush some of your hair behind your ear thinking, and look away from him.

"Jeez, you act like we're strangers." Leon tries to joke to lighten some of the tension. "So... how have you been?" He asks, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I'm... fine..." You reply hesitantly. "Just... getting through the day." You add on with a soft sigh.

"Yeah, I hear that." He chuckles a little bit. "You still dating that guy..?" He suddenly asks.

"No, and I'm not interested back off." You reply quickly, your voice snippy.

"I'm sorry? I was just asking?" He replies confused, and his tone showing some of his annoyance with your response.

"Yeah sure, the guy famous for getting into girls pants in high school." Your reply your eyes narrowed. He scoffs and opens his mouth to defend himself.

"There you guys are!" A bright female voice interrupts whatever Leon was about to say. June smiles brightly seeing you two, both of you just push past your argument and smile at her.

You take June around the outlets, letting her pull you guys into whatever store she fancies.

As you look around a clothing store you notice Leon in the men's section and sigh softly. You walk up to him, he looks to you and raises an eyebrow.

"I-I... I just wanted to say sorry for snapping at you." You say softly to him. He's quiet for a moment but nods.

"It's alright, don't worry about it." He gives you a soft smile, and you feel your cheeks get a little warmer. Was he always this attractive? "Besides it seems like relationships are a sensitive subject for you." He notes looking back through the men's shirts.

"Yeah... it's looking pretty bleak..." You sigh out thinking about it. "I mean Adam is talking about marriage and I..." You feel a gentle hand on your shoulder.

"Hey... you'll find someone." He assures you gently, his blue eyes piercing into you. "Besides most guys will know your quite the catch." He winks at you, and your cheeks become warmer.

"You guys find anything?" June asks you, causing you to jump a bit. She quickly apologies and you laugh it off. Still, you were a little shocked by your reaction to Leon. He was attractive sure, but to you he was always just your brother's friend Leon. Now, it felt a little bit different. The blonde man looks down at his phone and then back up giving you a look from which you immediately catch on.

"I don't know about you June, but I'm really hungry." You suddenly bring up to her. Leon nodding in agreement behind you.

"Oh yeah, now that you mention it I kinda am." She replies after thinking for a moment. You and Leon manage to convince her to go to the restaurant your parents and Adam were waiting at.

Dinner was nice, and it was sweet to watch your brother propose to June afterwards. You smile watching them, but feel a little sad. Your very happy for your brother and June, but you wanted that too. It was getting harder to believe that was ever going to happen, maybe your standards were too high? Were you asking too much? You tried not to let your gloomy thoughts infect the cheerful atmosphere of your brother's proposal.

The next step apparently to your parents was to have a party celebrating such a momentous occasion. That weekend there was going to be a celebratory cook out, where family and friends would be invited. Again, somehow you ended up doing things with Leon.

"Okay... we need balloons, tablecloth, tablecloth weights and serving plates." Leon reads off the list as you both enter Party City.

"Did Adam and June mention a theme?" You ask looking at the list in his hand curiously.

"Um... I don't think so..." He says trying to think it through. "I mean... does it need a theme?" He asks you with a raise eyebrow.

"I was just checking." You defend yourself raising your arms. He nods and you head through the store together. As you walk through you stop and giggle to yourself. "Maybe we should get them a Barbie themed table cloth." You suggest laughing a bit.

"Hmm... I was thinking more... super heroes?" He suggests pointing to the other tablecloth nearby.

"Oh! You are so right that is so much better!" You say with a smile both of you laughing a bit. "My mom would kill us."

"It'd be worth it though." He replies confidently. At this point you'd just point out all the funny stuff in the store to each other, that's also how you ended up with a fuzzy tiara for June and a jester hat for Adam. When questioned why you had bought those items for a cook out, you defend both Leon and yourself by saying it was on theme.

The cook out comes, and you're stuck helping your mom and dad with food. Making pasta salad, grabbing plates for your dad to put hotdogs and hamburgers on. Friends and family greet you as you run around the backyard doing things. As your parents finally get a chance to relax, you can't seem to do the same. Someone always needing your attention or asking about how you've been. It was getting exhausting and a little overwhelming at this point.

"Hey, I need something real quick." A familiar voice suddenly says, before you know it your being pulled into the part of the backyard which was more tame. Only a few people around talking, you look to Leon a little surprised.

"You... why?" You ask, trying and failing to piece it together in your head.

"You looked overwhelmed, here. Your twenty-one now right?" He asks holding out a beer to you. You huff but grab it.

"Twenty-two." You reply a little annoyed.

"Oh no, one year off!" He jokes with a smile, and you roll you eyes. However, a smile finds a way on your lips as you take a sip from the can.

You end up sitting there talking to Leon in your secluded section of the backyard. Talking about anything that came to mind, sipping your drinks.

"Okay... so are you seeing anyone?" You suddenly ask him softly. The sun was starting to go down but the party was still alive somehow.

"No, I'm not." He replies simply.

"Wait, really?" You look to him a little in disbelief. He chuckles a little as he takes another sip.

"What? You act like that's weird."

"You? Who was like the most popular guy in high school." You bring up to him. "And slept with like every girl in your grade."

"You realize you were a freshmen then right? The rumor mill was insane then." He shakes his head thinking about it.

"So..?"

"So, I didn't sleep with anyone until I was in college and had my first girlfriend." Leon explains to you, causing you to sit back a little in shock.

"Huh..." You can only reply. Taking another sip from your can as you think on this information.

"You good?" He ask with a slight laugh. You just nod softly and sigh leaning back in your chair.

"It's crazy... how fast life goes after high school..." Your voice was in a hushed tone, it could almost be mistaken for a whisper.

"Yeah..." He replies softly looking to you as you stared at the sun setting. "Hey..." He gently places a hand your shoulder. You look to him, and feel your cheeks get warm. You don't notice as a slight pink comes to his own face. He looks away struggling to find his words as he swallows.

"Did..." His blue eyes shoot back to your face. "Did you mean what you said..?" You ask, your throat and mouth dry despite the drink in your hand. "That I'll find someone... and any guy would see me as a catch?" He just nods, saying nothing more. You move your seat closer to his, unsure of where to go from here. Still, your hand moves to his grabbing it gently. Once your hand is in his, he squeezes it. "Leon..?"

"Yes..?"

"Why did you ask if I was still dating someone?"

Silence was all that filled the air for a moment, when a sigh cuts through wind.

"As bad as it sounds... I was kinda hoping you'd say no." He says softly, you finally turn to look at him again and his blue eyes meet yours. Your cheeks were bright red as your heart skips a beat. You squeeze his hand again, your eyes looking around quickly as you lean a bit closer to him.

"I-It's okay... I was hoping the same..." You admit to him, and that was all Leon seemed to need. As he gently places a hand on your cheek and closes the space between you. Kissing you with soft and gentle lips, to which you kiss him back a smile forming on your lips. "M-my room..." You say breathlessly as your lips separate for a moment. He nods in return, maybe it was the alcohol giving you some confidence but you could feel your heart racing. You two manage to not catch anyone's attention as you head back inside and into your room.

You two in a frenzy quickly shut your door behind you as he pushes you onto the bed. You kiss him back eagerly, wrapping your arms around his neck. His hands on your hips as you two kiss, his lips eventually finding your neck.

"So beautiful..." He breaths out into your neck.

"L-Leon..." You manage to get his name out through your passion.

"Yes sweetheart?" He asks softly, his chest rising and falling quickly.

"I-I... I've never..." Your face is bright red as you look to him. His eyes widened a bit and puts two and two together.

"Oh... oh!" Leon replies as he realizes. "That's okay... we don't have to do anything... okay?"

"Okay..." You reply comforted as you embrace him again, and his strong arms wrap around you. Holding you close to him though the night, his hold gentle and soothing. He holds you like if he let you go his whole world would disappear.

When you wake up the next morning you see Leon staring at you, causing your cheeks to become bright red to which he chuckles fondly.

"So cute..." He says softly gently caressing your warm cheeks with his thumb. You smile despite your embarrassment and lean into his touch. He kisses your lips gently, both of you content in the morning sunlight peaking between your curtains.

"Hey! How come Leon's car- Holy shit!" You and Leon jump when you hear Adam's voice. You turn to see his wide eyes looking into your bedroom.

"This is why you knock!" You shout at him embarrassed, your cheeks bright red. Leon chuckles softly at how red your cheeks are, despite how warm his own face was. Adam stares at you both before he sighs pinching his nose.

"Your telling dad." Is all he says as he walks away shutting the door behind him in disbelief. You sigh out and cover your face in embarrassment. Leon chuckles gently moves your hands from your face.

"I don't regret it... how about you?" He asks you, his lips in a gentle smile. His blonde bangs falling a bit in his blue eyes.

"I don't..." You reply softly looking to him. Suddenly, your romantic life didn't look so bleak that sunny morning.

[s-4pphics]

let the rain sing. interlude (a.a)

wc;cw: 6k, dadsbestfriend!abby, lawstudent!oc, large age gap (oc is 25, abby is mid 40s), abby is bi<3, fluff, HEAVY ANGST ANGST ANGST!!, childbirth, vomiting, blood, brief mentions of abortion, descriptions of insomnia, alcoholism, familial death, heavy descriptions of grief (depression, dissociation, anger), suicidal ideation, funerals & hospitals

Abby was conflicted when she found out she was pregnant. 

She was ecstatic to start her term at Harvard Law due to some internship offers she received, but her excitement swiftly dissipated when waves of nausea started to overtake her. 

She wasn’t concerned with the feeling at first. The fall term was always the most unpredictable for weather, and she assumed it was just the flu that often went around. Humiliation rushed through her when another wave hit during her sociology course, rushing out into the hallway to bend over the nearest trash, vomiting up her favorite brown sugar oatmeal from that morning. 

She decided to see a doctor three days later when the sickness continued. She couldn’t get her test results the same day due to her hectic schedule and exhaustion from studying, so she opted to request them in the mail, despite her gynecologist’s urgency. 

When she received her results two days later, her heart sank. 

She paced around the small living room of her boyfriend’s apartment with anxiety in her gut and love in her heart. She’d been in complete disbelief, crumpling the urine test in her hands and throwing them onto the coffee table. 

Her mind was racing a million miles per minute: How was she going to explain to her boyfriend—her parents— that she would be keeping her child no matter what? Her parents promised to be supportive of her if she stayed in school, but she was almost positive that they would disapprove of her baby. She didn’t care if they supported her or not, but she didn’t want to raise her children in an unstable environment. She wanted to give them the best of everything, of herself, but she couldn’t do that then. Her boyfriend had already been working like a dog to keep this place afloat, and a baby would be a burden for both of them.

But she knew she wanted to be a mother when she was young. She had a large family, but she always gravitated towards her younger relatives due to their liveliness. They made her feel joy that she knew she missed out on growing up, so she lived through them. They revived her in a sense. The circumstances were different in her mind when she envisioned herself as a parent: she was older, successful, married to the love of her life, and not regretting any of her decisions. She would’ve been happy. Excited and thankful for the blessing she believed kids to be. 

Seeing the news terrified her and almost sent her spiraling into panic; She was only twenty-three! 

She loved children. They always flocked to her when she was growing up, whether it be her younger siblings, cousins, nieces and nephews, or random people’s toddlers in grocery stores garbling at her from their cart seat. She never felt annoyed towards her younger family members. She always held them tight so they knew how much she loved them, no matter how much they got on her fucking nerves sometimes. 

What teenager volunteers to babysit her big sister’s toddlers on the weekends? 

… Abigail. 

She was a nervous wreck while she waited for her boyfriend to come home from work. She’d been sobbing for hours, but she managed to calm herself down by staring at her frantic form in the bathroom mirror. 

She couldn’t think straight with the pounding in her head, nervously bouncing her leg as she sat on the couch as she bit her nails.

And then their front door unlocked. 

Abby… oh my god… I’m—

We’re pregnant? Oh my fucking god, we’re pregnant! 

We’re having a baby?! I’m gonna be a dad! 

Abby was not expecting her boyfriend to drop the wrinkly papers and lift her into the air in a heap of excitement, drowning her in tight grasps and kisses to her mouth and cheek. She cried harder; His joy was so comforting. 

She wasn’t going to be alone during her pregnancy, and she was grateful. 

Abby dropped out of Harvard three months into her pregnancy. 

Her and her newfound husband eloped at their town’s small lake at the end of his third year at law school, and they moved in together shortly after so she didn’t have to move around as much. She knew carrying was difficult, but her hair was falling out and she sobbed whenever her husband asked her what she wanted for dinner. 

You’re so sweet! I can’t help it, okay?! Leave me alone!

She and her husband were left to fend for themselves during her first trimester. 

Her parents did not take kindly to her pregnancy announcement. She was always super close with her parents growing up despite their overprotective nature, and she hardly ever fought with them. Whenever they expressed their disapproval of her decisions, she bowed her head and left without rebuttal. 

She expected the worst when she and her husband invited them over for dinner to announce it to them properly, and that’s exactly what she got. 

Abigail… Are you fucking kidding me!

What the hell is a child going to do for you right now?

Do you understand how much you’re giving up? You have so much to lose!

You’re cut off unless you… handle that!

Her husband took over the conversation with a sharp, defensive tongue since the pounding of her head made her shut down. She was so fucking nauseas at their suggestions. She did consider an abortion a couple of weeks into her pregnancy, but the way her parents talked down about her future baby broke her heart and pissed her off. 

Her husband's booming shouts at her parents would have triggered her defense for them under any other circumstances, but she only felt protected as he told them to fuck off! She knew she was loved by him to an infinite degree. Appreciation for her husband bloomed inside of her like roses.

Her parents left with a loud slam of their front door, and her husband held her as she sobbed at the table. 

The food he prepared for everyone ran cold. Neither of them could stomach anything for the next few days. 

Abby’s third trimester was the most difficult, for both her and her husband. 

She never experienced this much pain in her life. 

She was six months along, and it really took a toll on her body. Her ankles were swollen, her ligaments were aching, and her joints would not stop popping whenever she moved around the tiny one-bedroom apartment. Her hair loss made her too anxious to leave the house, and she hated how superficial she felt whenever she would weep because of it when her husband was at work. At least her nausea subsided. 

She hated looking at herself in the mirror: her under eyes were dark and droopy, small bald spots littered behind her hairline, dark patches littered her skin. She looked fifty years older, and she hated it. 

But her husband never failed to kiss away her insecurities. Appreciate them. Drown them in affection no matter how much she cried about hating herself. 

He worked so hard for them to stay afloat: two jobs while keeping up with his course and nearly drowning in his studies. He suffered some pushback due to the transition from a full to part-time student, but he was doing his best to finish as quickly as possible. 

Abby cried every night as his exhausted form slept next to her. 

She felt so… useless. She watched her husband bust his ass, get fired from previous jobs, get turned down from decent-paying jobs, and she couldn’t help but feel responsible for his weariness. He looked just as worn as she did, and she loathed herself for putting all of this responsibility on him. 

He never complained, though. He would come home with takeout, kiss her head, tell her how much he loved her and how all of this would be worth it. 

Was the decision to keep her baby selfish? 

She didn’t know at that time. 

Abby had a premature birth. 

She’d finally gathered the courage to go shopping with her husband for decorations for the nursery, but the trip was cut short when she began having contractions in the middle of the toy aisle. 

They awoke her earlier that day: the cramps always brought her discomfort, but she noticed that the intensity was different. They shot through her much more harshly than they should’ve, but they eventually stopped, so she paid them no mind. 

Until she was hunched over the stocked shelves as her husband tried to get her into the nearest empty seat. 

She breathed out harsh cries of the baby, my baby as her husband frantically dialed for an ambulance despite her protests. The pain she felt burned whenever it flashed through her lower body, a constant push downward, and she knew something was wrong.

Her mind was racing as anxiety rushed through her body; she thought back to her frequent hospital visit. She knew a premature birth would be a possibility due to some complications with her cervix, but it was still early. She’d just reached the seven-month period, for fucks sake!

She could barely make it outside when the ambulance arrived, her vision foggy and she couldn’t stop sobbing, the paramedics’ voices sounding like bleating alarms in her ears whenever they attempted to calm her. She couldn’t bring herself to care about anything as she came in and out of consciousness, the only thing on her mind being the image of her happily crying husband holding their newborn for the first time. 

Please let my baby be okay, please, please, please—

Abby couldn’t stop sobbing. She never thought that conceiving would cause a stabbing pain in her heart. 

She went hysterical when she overheard that her baby wasn’t breathing, her heart rate monitor going out of whack as her lungs burned from her ragged breaths. Her husband tried to calm her down with his soft touches and words, but it only made her cry harder. She needed to hold her baby!

Her labor had already been nerve-racking, full of uncertainty and left her and her husband panic stricken for hours despite the doctors’ instructions to keep calm. When her infant was rushed into another room, her husband, and other doctors had to pin her down to keep her from thrashing from panic in her hospital bed. 

She didn’t stop until another doctor returned and told her husband that their daughter would be closely monitored while on ventilation for the rest of the week.

Please, can I see my baby? Please, please?—

But her cries were gently denied due to their infant’s extremely fragile state. They tried to comfort her as much as they could, but none of their soft words, husband’s cuddles and meals, or warm, fuzzy socks soothed her. 

She and her husband were released days later with an empty car-seat filled with stuffed animals and a pacifier. 

Their hearts were vacant. 

Their home was soulless for two weeks. 

No baby crying, no diaper changing, no breastfeeding. They didn’t even have the heart to finish decorating for the nursery. 

Abby watched her husband move on autopilot, waking up, going to work, going to class, and struggling to sleep. His insomnia had increased drastically ever since she gave birth, heavy bags forming under his eyes as he launched himself into his notetaking in the middle of the night. His desk was swamped with hefty books and sloppily stacked paper, murmuring to himself so he could memorize the necessary vocabulary. 

She was overcome with failure and nearly drowned in self-loathing. Failure as a wife, as a parent. She couldn’t protect and care for her baby how she wanted, and guilt rested heavily with intent to crush her. 

They both couldn’t speak, only whispering soft I love you so much before she slipped off into dreamland, her subconscious terrorized with images of her smiling baby girl who she prayed to see soon. 

When Abby’s husband got the call from their daughter’s doctor, they both rushed to the hospital. 

Abby’s raging nausea was quickly soothed by the doctor’s delighted face upon their arrival before ushering them to his office. 

I’m excited to tell you two that your daughter’s stable! She’s quite small, but she’s healthy! We do have some extra caretaking rules—

They could barely understand the doctor’s rambling due to their excitement of seeing their newborn for the first time. The doctor handed her husband paperwork before leading them down the long hallway. They nearly toppled over each other as they followed the doctor, bursting into the room that held newborns and other premature infants. 

They followed the doctor to their child’s incubator, and immediately burst into tears at the sight of their little—very little—angel. 

She was wrapped in an oversized onesie and booties that nearly slipped off her tiny feet. That was the first time they both saw her eyes open, and they couldn’t control their emotions as they sobbed from pure joy. 

They were so eager to hear the news from the doctor that Abby’s husband left the car seat in the vehicle. He probably looked crazy as he sobbingly retreated to the car with a strong love in his heart. 

Abby was first to hold their baby. She took note of the pediatrician’s instructions when wrapping her in blankets whenever her feet felt cold. 

When she felt the light weight of her child in her arms, she felt the purest form of love explode in her chest. She didn’t know how long she’d been crying and cooing at the bundle of joy, inhaling her scent in the crook of her neck, but she never wanted that feeling to dissipate. 

When her husband returned with the car seat and small bag, he kissed his daughter’s head so lightly. She cooed at him, and he and Abby squealed as the doctors giggled. 

They finally had their baby Mya in their grasp, and they left with light searing in their hearts. 

Their first few months with a newborn were rough. 

Loud crying. Dirty diapers. Frantic schedules. No fucking rest for either of them. But they both knew they wouldn’t trade the chaos of their small home for anything. It was all worth it when Mya kicked her feet when she looked at the twinkly star stickers on the ceiling before bed and garbled at the two of them. 

Abby never thought breastfeeding would be as taxing as it was. She woke up to her breasts feeling like rocks, their child’s cries wracking through the nursery. At least her hair started to grow back. 

Her husband was always awake in the wee hours of the morning, dragging himself into Mya’s small nursery like a zombie to feed and nuzzle her. Abby loved walking in on the two of them sleeping whenever she finished pumping, Mya pulled close to her father’s chest. 

The sight of their synced breaths always calmed her; She fell asleep with ease knowing they were together.

Toddlers were… interesting. 

Abby, in all her years of being surrounded by children, never witnessed a toddler reenact fish… noises? Since when did fish make noise?

Abby’s husband mistakenly left Animal Plant playing on their television while he snored on the couch with books on his chest and lap, and Abby drowsily entered the living room to shut off the loud narrations about extinction. 

Only to catch their baby girl bouncing up and down on the cushion next to her slumped dad, puffing her cheeks together and making quiet blubblubblub noises, just like the intensified audio from the television. 

She tried to regret teaching her baby how to take her first steps and get out of her crib on her own, but the sight made her heart brighten as she smiled to herself. 

She eased towards the couch, taking a seat next to an excited Mya as she watched the aquatic life interact with each other. Her smile widened at the sight of her mom, her tiny, stubby finger coming up towards her lips while she pointed towards her dad. Abby grinned and nodded with her, filling her cheeks with air like she saw her child do before she interrupted. Mya laughed quietly and copied her mom. 

She promised to scold her for being up way past her bedtime later. 

Mya fell asleep on Abby’s chest as she listened to the sound of the ocean. 

Mya had just turned four when Abby received a call from her mother. 

She hadn’t heard from her parents in years, and frankly, she didn’t want to. She could tell that her husband was a bit hurt that they didn’t congratulate him for receiving his law degree, but he was able to let it go, especially since his baby girl gave him the fattest kiss on the cheek in a small celebration.  

… Hi, honey. I know it’s been a while since, uh… since we’ve talked but… I just wanted to say I love you… and tell my granddaughter I said happy birthday… We love you all very much. I hope we can all meet again soon. Bye.

The voicemail made her eyes burn with sadness. Then anger, then love. She missed her parents immensely, but she would never be able to forget how they reacted to her pregnancy. Mya quickly became her source of happiness the second she was born, and she couldn’t imagine what her life would be if she never had her baby. 

She knew she would have to reconnect with her family at some point, but Mya would always come first. If her parents were to ever make Mya feel like her future was ruined because of her, Abby would be fine with never speaking to them again, no matter how much it would hurt. 

Abby jumped when she felt two small hands grab the fat on her wet cheeks, pressing slobbery kisses to both. 

Don’t cry, mommy! S’gonna be okay! I love you!

Abby shouldn’t have cried harder, but she did, choking out a sob as she tried to smile for her daughter. 

I know, baby. I love you so much. Everything’s gonna be fine. 

She hoped—prayed her daughter was right.

Abby and her small family’s lives changed so much in just a few months. 

Her husband found a stable job as a document clerk at a law firm, and they were able to move out of his dingy apartment into a decent one story after some months. It wasn’t anything extravagant, but they were happy. 

The bags under her husband's eyes have lessened in shade ever since his graduation. He also gathered time to eat with her at their small dining table instead of eating at his computer desk alone. They were finally comfortable. 

They bought Mya anything she wanted to make up for her disappointing birthday parties. 

Abby took note of her daughter's love for water. 

She always used to play various audios of rainfall and ocean waves for a sleepy Mya until she was two, but she didn’t expect the soothing technique to explode into her four-year-old playing in puddles and obsessively watching the rain through the glass backdoor. 

She watched Mya sit and stare out the wet windows, quietly humming lullabies to herself until she slipped into rest, gently snoring against the couch cushions. Abby never took kindly to Spring due to her allergies, but she was happy her baby found comfort in it. 

She told her husband about their daughter’s new habit when he returned from work one day, and he thought it was the most precious thing in the world. He wished he could’ve been present to see it. 

Maybe she wants to be a fish! We should take her to the lake one day. 

Abby scheduled swimming lessons for Mya that very next week. 

It was confirmed. Mya was a mermaid in her past life. 

She was a bit intimidated by the large pool when they arrived for her first lesson, but after a few sessions with her swim teacher, she stubbornly protested wearing her purple and blue floaties. 

C’mon, honey! Put your arm through so we can go swimming! 

No, mommy, no! 

She felt a bit of jealousy build in her gut when her daughter’s swim teacher gently pulled her stubby arms and legs into the little floaties without fail. She could hear Mya’s joyous giggle as she slapped the water around, practicing her paddling with her instructor’s support. 

Abby begrudgingly ate her Cheetos with a pout on her face from the poolside chair. 

Mya was five when she met her extended family for the first time. 

Her birthday had just passed, and Abby’s mom rang her line, inviting her family over for a small dinner. C’mon, sweetie! I just wanna see my granddaughter! 

Abby was not surprised when the “small dinner” turned out to be a full-fledged surprise party for Mya: balloons everywhere, a large cake with a Barbie doll in the middle, all her cousins, aunts, and uncles jumping with party hats. 

Mya was more than giddy at the sight, squealing and running over to the only auntie she knew, but Abby and her husband were a bit skeptical. It’d been a long while since they’d been in this environment, and they were very uneasy. But their little angel was so happy, so they pushed their edginess to the side. For her. 

The party went smoothly for the most part, despite their initial feelings, but Abby and her parents did get into a small scuffle in the backyard. It took everything not to snatch the icing-littered fork from Mya’s hand and make their exit. 

You have to understand where I’m coming from! Imagine if someone you loved told you to get rid of your kids when you were pregnant! Would you not feel disappointed?

I wouldn’t! I would understand that they had my best interest in mind, regardless of the situation! 

… I can’t believe the both of you. You’re really gonna stand by that? On her fucking birthday?

Abby’s husband politely thanked everyone for the gifts and food, but he knew it was time to go by the tense expression on his wife’s face. She thanked him for his intuition every day; She was about to cause a wreckage on that patio. 

He picked up his tired baby girl from her resting spot on the couch, grabbed his keys, and ushered his wife out the door without another word. 

Abby silently cried the entire ride home, her husband's hand enclosed tightly around hers, resting in her lap. 

Abby and her husband decided to take Mya to the lake where they got married for her seventh birthday. 

She could finally swim without assistance, and they wanted her to live out her mermaid fantasy. 

They made an entire weekend out of it: kayaking, fishing, wakeboarding. Mya looked so happy the entire time, completely engulfed with her love for nature. They'd never seen her so explorative; She wanted to see everything the trip had to offer. Including the sunset at the highest point of the hiking trail. 

Honey, we’re getting old! We can’t run that fast anymore! 

Hurry up, lugs! We have to make it to the top before the sun sets! C’mon!

Before they left the campgrounds, Abby shoved her camera into her husband’s hands, tossing all her bags to the floor and pulling her daughter up onto her back, listening to her laugh as she yelled at her husband to take a picture of them in front of her favorite place. 

How the hell do you use this, Abby?!

Just take the damn picture before I fall!

The swear jar is gonna be filled before we leave! Stop cursing, old heads! 

Okay, 1, 2, 3! Say cheese!

Abby and her daughter squealed as the camera flashed in front of them, the grounds filled with the family’s joyous laughter. 

Abby noticed changes in her husband’s behavior. 

He came home from work smelling of liquor, and their cabinets were becoming stocked with tequila and aged bottles of wine. At first, she assumed he was just going out with his work friends after his shift, but when he jokingly expressed to her that he needed liquor to sleep one morning, she grew concerned. Her husband developed sleeping problems years ago, but he never went into detail about it. She felt so guilty. 

When Abby gently expressed her worries to him one night before bed, he blew up on her. It was the first time they ever fought. Ever. 

I’m fucking stressed, Abigail! I have so much to take care of and I’m not getting any fucking help from you! I can’t fucking sleep anymore! 

Do you know how many times I begged you to let me fucking work! You always said no because of Mya! And keep your fucking voice down, my daughter’s sleeping!

Oh, now she’s your daughter?! Really? 

Her husband went to sleep on the couch that night while Abby quietly sobbed as she checked on her daughter, relieved at her snoring, unmoving form. She didn’t need to hear any of that. 

She cried herself to sleep. 

She woke up to the smell of sweetness and coffee. She drowsily rubbed her eyes and entered the kitchen, her husband already sat and sipping his coffee, looking just as exhausted as she felt. 

They ate their breakfast in silence before her husband broke it, tearfully mumbling out his apologies. 

You and Mya are my life. I love you both so much. I’m gonna get help, I swear. I hate feeling like this. 

Abby trusted him; He had her full support. 

Mya loved riding her new, pink bike in the rain. 

The streets were empty and quiet when it poured heavily, and the vacant roads made for a great practice track. Her father gifted her a tricycle for her eighth birthday, and she couldn’t separate from it. She rode it up and down the street for hours, only to run inside with her clothes completely drenched, change into dry ones, and run back outside and hop onto her new ride. 

She begged her mom to buy her an actual bicycle because she felt like she was ready for one, and she gave in to her daughter’s pouty face. She couldn’t deny her; she was too cute! 

After many scraped knees and elbows, she was gliding through the streets on her two-wheeler with ease through the rain. She was happy, so Abby was too. 

Her husband returned to his normal behavior a year later. 

The cabinets and garbage cans were no longer stocked with bottles, and he didn’t smell of Tequila anymore. It was relieving, and she was so proud. 

When Abby’s husband asked her on a date, her heart pounded against her chest like she was about to have her first kiss again. 

She came home from shopping, dripping wet from the heavy rain, to a bouquet of flowers and a sloppily written note, dotted with hearts and little sparkles. 

Taking Mya to see Ross’s daughter. Picking you up at 7:30. I love you. 

Hubby. 

Abby rang her sister as she bolted up the stairs with a wide grin on her face. 

She finally had an excuse to wear her fancy, rosy-red dress!

Abby grew nervous when her husband hadn’t answered the phone. Four times in a fucking row. 

They were already a half hour late for their reservation, and Abby’s sister and youngest nephew were patiently waiting for her husband and Mya to walk through the front door. 

She bit and picked the rosy polish off her nails despite her sister’s protests. 

Girl, they’re fine! Probably just traffic, it’s pouring! Be patient for once before you sweat your make-up off. 

Abby knew her sister was right, but she couldn’t ignore the feeling of unease in her gut. Her husband was a lot of things, but he was never late, especially without warning. Something didn’t feel right. 

She never considered herself superstitious, but she felt the loud rumbles of thunder were confirmations of her suspicions.

An hour passed, and Abby couldn’t breathe. 

When her husband’s bone-shattering, slurry cries rang through her speaker, terror shook through her body like the lightning bolts that shone behind the clouds. She was instantly panic-stricken, trying to make out the words that vibrated her ears. 

She looked at her sister with fear and confusion before the words Mya… hit… car… bike tore through the line like a knife, piercing her in her chest with intent to kill. 

She couldn’t breathe or think, and her phone dropped from her hands before the world around her went dark. 

Abby looked down at her drunk husband as he crouched on the slippery, black pavement, grabbing at her ankles, and sounding like he would cough his lungs up as he cried her name, wailing out apologies. 

She doesn’t know how she got to her mutual friend’s neighborhood, or why her husband's cries were gut-wrenching, or why she was sitting in the back of an ambulance with the oxygen mask still strapped around her head. 

… Why wasn’t Mya sitting next to her, holding her hand, and telling her everything was going to be okay? 

Her sister and nephew were sobbing as a police officer explained the events of the scene, but Abby couldn’t hear anything. She refused to hear the poisonous words they spewed at her about their child. All she had to do was wait for her baby girl to run up and whine about how much she missed her. 

She would come. She thought. She would. She would. She would. 

… Hit and run… We’re so sorry… loss. 

Abby shook her head and her nails dug into her palms.

She would come. Her baby would come. She loved the rain too much; She would never miss a thunder show. She would come. 

The blaring rumbles that rang through the sky confirmed it. Her baby would come. The universe believed it, so she had to. 

Abby looked up from the broken man in front of her and caught a glimpse of the mangled, pink bicycle and stretcher that was draped in a white sheet, surrounded by people dressed in black coats and badges with their heads bowed. The outline of the body underneath the pale, red-speckled covering was small, unmoving… Looked too much like—

Her head dropped right back to her choking husband. 

No, no, no! She would come, she would come, she would come—

An hour passed, and the rain stopped. 

Mya never came. Abby couldn’t stop screaming. 

Abby hated hospitals. 

The paramedics were fearful of leaving her and her husband alone in their hysteria, suggesting to detectives that they should return to the hospital until they were stable. 

She never thought she would distance herself from her husband; She even shocked herself when she harshly shoved him away from her when he reached for a hug. His devastated expression tore her heart to shreds, but she couldn’t look at him, hold him, bear to smell the alcohol that masked the formerly comforting scent of his cologne. Not at that moment. 

They were placed in separate rooms for the night, and Abby wanted to die. 

She heard the broken hollers and whimpers of her parents and siblings out in the hallway as the doctors explained the situation. She felt like she would suffocate if she stayed trapped in this bed any longer. 

Everything’s fine. Everything’s fine, everything’s fine—

Her brain’s chants were paused by her screeching sobs as her eyes squeezed shut, bile creeping up her throat despite her attempts to swallow. Her throat was dry, and each choking gulp felt like shards of glass that sliced through her esophagus, all the way down to her stomach. She couldn’t fucking breathe. 

She heard the heart rate monitor increase in beeps beside her as she wailed, a few nurses urgently reentering the room to try and calm her down. She felt like her throat was bleeding with each shout of her daughter’s name. 

Mya was dead, and she desperately wanted to join her, souls entangled for eternity. 

Three days passed. Abby hated the world. 

Her and her husband sat in his parked car in front of their home, staring straight ahead as rain poured from the sky. 

They said nothing to each other; they hadn’t even looked in each other’s direction since they left the hospital. 

Abby felt tears jerk in her dry, lifeless eyes, allowing them to stream down her face, matching the pace of the heavy droplets that hit the window. She thought that she was hallucinating; She could almost hear her daughter’s cheerful laugh coming from outside.

She slowly turned her head towards their home, and bile rose her throat at the sight of her daughter’s discarded, pink tricycle that lay flat on the porch. She hadn’t touched it in a while, thanks to her new bike. 

She opened the passenger door and threw up on the side of the road as her husband sobbed next to her. 

She wanted to die and, deep in her empty gut, she knew he desired the same. 

Abby looked in the mirror of her parent’s guest room, completely still.

She was draped in all black from head to toe, wearing her daughter’s black bow at the end of her braid. She regretted putting on makeup; her mascara was already streaming down her face in wet, black lines. 

Her under eyes were dark and her vessels were busted from crying for a week and a half straight. She doesn’t remember the last time she slept or eaten, and she didn’t want to. Every dream she had was filled with her daughter’s laughter, and she couldn’t stomach anything thinking about the angelic sound. 

Her husband stood in the doorframe, just as visibly destroyed as she was. Just as lifeless. 

They exchanged looks, but neither said a word. They hadn’t spoken to each other in days. Abby had nothing to say to him. 

He was the reason they were burying their daughter, and she despised him for it. The mourning she felt for her child was stronger than her love for him, and she didn’t care how selfish it was. 

The rain was beating down on the black umbrella that draped over Abby’s sobbing, hunched form, her nails digging into the sopping dirt and tearing at the grass. Her mother’s dress was covered in wet stains. 

Her wails and pleas for her child back were painful and loud: she felt caressing hands on her back, and it took everything not to slap them away. 

She didn’t need fucking comfort! She needed her daughter! Her precious, innocent, darling daughter, Mya. She would’ve given anything—given her life up for her baby. She deserved to live, to see the ocean, to become the mermaid she always wanted to be. She hated her fucking husband. 

The sight of her daughter’s casket being lowered into the ground felt like a sharp blade in her chest. Her father and husband had to drag her from the ground and to her feet despite her desperate shouts to join Mya in the dirt. 

When she was placed in her parent’s backseat, she clutched the passenger headrest in front of her to center herself. Her nails tore through the leather as she hyperventilated, small whimpers of her daughter’s name leaving her mouth. She felt like she would vomit again. 

The car was filled with her family’s cries as the clouds poured their sorrow onto the car. 

Abby quietly prayed to herself as her distraught mother drove them all back home, hoping that her daughter’s spirit would grow to be as large as the sea. 

Just like she always wanted. 

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grief fucking sucks lol

this was heavy 4 me. i love yall

taggie waggies :3 @ohlawdthebirds @fibrogirlie @unangelic-thoughts @chrry1ovr @uraesthete @gravygranules @digit4lslut @machetegirl109 @letsreadsomesins-shallwe @macaroni676 @sillygooselit @nil-eena @elliesgirlll @hi2647 @fr0thycoffee @mai5mai @sweet-lover-girl

prologue. part one. part two. part three. part four.

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[angvlface]

POPSTAR — JOEL MILLER

pairing: hbo!joel x fem!popstar!reader

summary: joel goes backstage at a concert for a special show.

warnings: smut, implied age gap, unprotected sex

After an annoying 2 hour drive with three teenagers in the backseat, Joel made it to the arena. There was a singer Ellie really liked, so much that she made a deal with Joel to get him to take her. A month of cleaning the stables in exchange for the 2 hour drive to where the singer was playing. She got Dina and Jesse to help her, and that’s how all 3 of them were in the back of Joel’s car, yapping about how excited they were.

Outside were hundreds of people. Parents taking their kids. Some young girls without any parents taking pictures in eccentric outfits. Seeing he wasn’t the only grumpy old man being led around by spunky teenagers made him feel better, though.

He didn’t mind attending the concert. He’s heard your music before from behind the door of Ellie’s bedroom. It wouldn’t be his choice of music, but Ellie liked it so he tolerated it. He’d nod his head when she played it in the car, tap his foot if he can hear it from downstairs when she blasted it in her bedroom, maybe hum a little if Ellie was singing it in the kitchen.

“Look, I got us super close seats!” Ellie beamed, showing Dina and Jesse her tickets. “Basically front row. Awesome, right?”

Not awesome. Joel was sat in his seat while surrounded by screaming teens. He can feel the jealous stares of them, wanting to take his seat and make better use of it. The screams only got more deafening when you came out on stage. He’d be lying if he said your stage presence wasn’t captivating. You were a performer, singing and dancing all over the stage. Numerous times you came over to him and the kids, offering your hand to a very overjoyed Ellie.

It brought a smile to his face to see Ellie jump around in excitement when you touched her hand, her eyes lit up and her smile bright. And you must have liked her reaction as well because you continued to come over to her, smiling as you sing while looking at Ellie. At one point Joel had to grab Ellie to steady her, her excitement nearly knocking her over.

Even when the show ended, Ellie was practically vibrating from her happiness. “She kept coming over to us, she loved us,” Ellie squealed.

Joel pats her on the head with a chuckle. “I’m sure she does, kid.”

Joel began to lead the kids to leave, but he’s quickly stopped by security. “I’ve been told to bring you backstage.” You sent security to get them. Said you liked their energy, and wanted to meet them. Joel was skeptical, that wasn’t very typical behavior from a popstar. But Ellie, Dina and Jesse all accepted before he could even consider turning it down.

So he had no choice but to let security lead them through to the back. There were security guards posted at every door, crew workers scurrying around to dismantle the stage and pack it all up. But it grew less populated as they got further back, until they reached a door with two burly guards outside of her.

They opened the door, and there you were, still in your little dress from the final number. You turned to them with a wide smile, your arms spread open. “Oh my gosh, hi!”

Ellie practically ran into your arms, and you laughed when she hugged you. Dina hugged you next, then Jesse. When you looked to Joel, he nodded in your direction.

“We’re such huge fans!” Dina blurted out, making your tear your eyes away from Joel. “I-I can’t believe you invited us back here.”

You smiled kindly at Dina. “Of course! I saw how passionate you guys were out there, I just had to meet you.”

You talk to them for a bit. Asked what their favorite songs were, explained some of the thought process behind the show, and they watched you with keen eyes as you spoke. But your eyes kept flicking back to Joel, checking to see if he was watching as intently as the kids were.

He wasn’t. He was looking around your dressing room. There’s some clothes on a rack, a vast collection of shoes in the corner beside it. Some untouched food. All things to be expected in a popstar’s dressing room. What he didn’t expect was the opened whiskey on the table, a glass beside it with the color your lipstick on the rim.

“I have an idea!” Joel looks back to you when you speak, your gaze on the kids. “You guys know my band right? They’d sooo be up to giving you guys a tour of the stage, I think the last set is still up. Is that something you’d like?” Your offer was met with enthusiastic yes’s.

Security was opening the door again, ushering them out of the room, but Joel is stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He looks back at you, but you’re looking at the kids. “I think dad might be tired guys, would you be okay without him?”

Ellie is the first to nod, staring at Joel wide-eyed. “We’re fine, Joel. We can go without you.”

Joel frowns a little, but looking at the security guards, he reluctantly agrees. “Take care of them, Jesse,” he warns, and Jesse nods. And he watches as security takes them to the waiting band before the door is shut.

Then he’s looking at you as your pour another glass of whiskey. “Cute kids,” you comment, holding out a glass of whiskey for him. “Which ones yours?”

Joel reluctantly takes the whiskey, watching you warily as you round the table. “Uh…light brown hair. Other two are her friends.”

You nod, taking a sip of your drink. “How’d you get stuck bringing them? Mom was busy?”

You speak so casually, like you knew Joel. He should be suspicious, he really should. But you just looked so harmless. In a little dress that you wore just thirty minutes ago to dance on stage to a pop song that every teenage girl in the country knew. How could he feel threatened by you?

“I’m not their Dad so no Mom around, that’s how I got stuck,” he says with a low chuckle. He takes a sip of the whiskey, missing how your lips quirked up at his response.

You down the rest of your drink before putting the glass down, pouting at Joel. “Sorry, you must be so tired. It’s so sweet of you to bring your girl and her friends here, I’m sure this isn’t your first choice for a Friday night.”

Joel shrugs. “Could have been worse, you’re a great performer.”

You smile. “Thank you. I aim to please.” You slowly approach Joel, head tilted slightly. “But really, thank you for bringing them. Parents like you are what really make the show, you know?”

Joel’s brows furrow. “How so?”

You’re close to him now, a hand coming out to touch the collar of his shirt. “I know my fans are a bit on the young side, they need parents to come to the show. So I just wanna thank you.” You flatten his collar down, hand trailing down to his chest.

You look up at him through your lashes, blinking up at him innocently. “Can I thank you?”

Joel doesn’t push you away. He can’t. He’s captivated by your eyes and your pink stained lips. All he can do is nod his head and watch as your lips quirk up into a smirk.

Your hand comes up to his head and you lead him down to your lips. Your lips taste like strawberry but your tongue is like whiskey, and Joel would be lying if he said he didn’t like the combination. Liked it so much that his arms wrapped around you, pressing you to his body as his tongue explored your mouth.

You lead Joel back until you reach the vanity, pulling away from him just to hop up on the surface. Then you’re pulling him back down, his body slotted between your legs. Your head is angled up to kiss him, and Joel’s hand comes up to rest on your throat, keeping you steady.

You knew the moment you saw him in the crowd. You saw Ellie singing loudly and went up to her, but the rest of the times you went to her weren’t because of her singing. It was to get a glance at the older man sat beside her; his arms were crossed over his chest, his muscles bulging against his denim shirt, and his legs spread open as he watched the show. He was devastatingly handsome, you needed to at least try.

And try you did.

Joel pulls away from you first, using the hand on your throat to turn you so he could kiss down your neck. You let out a low whine as he lathers your neck. “No marks, I’ve got a show tomorrow,” you mumble, your head falling back.

Joel’s other hand goes under your dress, rubbing along your panties. You moan when he presses against your center, hips involuntarily moving. He continues to kiss your neck as his hand shoves your panties aside, collecting the wetness from your slit. He pulls his hand out and you watched with hooded eyes as he brings it to his lips, sucking his fingers clean.

He smirks when he locks eyes with you, humming at the taste of you on his fingers. Then he’s pulling your hips forward, dropping to his knees. Your legs are thrown over his shoulders, dress bunched up at your hips.

“Try not to sing too loud popstar,” Joel teases.

You almost want to roll your eyes at the corniness of what he said but you’re cut off by your own moan as he licks you over your panties. The flimsy cloth is promptly torn off your body and tucked into Joel’s pocket. He lowers his head again, licking a stripe from your hole to your clit. His tongue flicks your clit and your head falls back, hands going to his hair.

Your thighs clamp around his head as your hips rut and Joel doesn’t stop you. His lips latch onto your clit, sucking it gently as you whimper above him. Your hips are moving slightly, breath coming out heavy as his tongue explores you.

“Fuck,” you moan out when his tongue dips into your hole. You cry out as the heat inside of you begins to burn, your hands gripping his hair for stability.

Joel can sense how close you are, he doesn’t stop. He moans against your pussy, pulling you closer to him. His nose nudged against your clit with every movement of your hips and you let out a wanton moan as you climax. Your hips twitch as you come down and Joel continues to savor you, licking up every last drop until he’s satisfied.

Your heart is racing when he stands back up, pulling you in for a kiss. You can taste yourself on his tongue and you moan when his fingers thread in your hair. His other hand grabs your waist, pulling you off of the surface and into him. Then you’re being pushed away, and turned around, bent over the surface.

You’re facing a mirror, looking at Joel’s reflection as he undoes his belt. You can’t tear your eyes away from him, and when he locks eyes with yours, you feel yourself clench around nothing. He smirks at you, his hand rubbing your ass cheek.

“Sorry for rushing this, popstar, but my girl might come back soon.” He enters you fully in one thrust, and you let out a cry as you grip the vanity. His hand makes a makeshift ponytail in your hair and he pulls hard, forcing you to look in the reflection. “I watched your show, now you watch mine.”

And you do.

You watch his tongue dart out to wet his lips as he slides out of you, before he slams forward. Your mouth is wide open as he sets a fast pace, balls slapping against your ass. It takes all your willpower to not let your eyes roll into the back of your head, the pleasure overwhelming you.

You whimper when his hand comes down to slap your ass, the sting sending a wave of pleasure through you. “I don’t—“ You’re cut off by a moan when his fingers begin to work your clit, rubbing harsh circles. “Don’t even know your name.”

Joel chuckles darkly, locking eyes with you through the mirror. “Doesn’t matter, we won’t see each other after this.” You clench around his cock making Joel groan. “You’re gripping me like a vice, popstar.” The wet squelch of your bodies connecting echoed around the room, and you begin to see stars as he fucks into you.

“M’gonna cum,” you weep.

A harsh slap is delivered to your ass. “Do it. Cum all over my cock.”

Your moan is a borderline scream when you orgasm but Joel is relentless. He keeps fucking you, mesmerized by the sight of your cunt sucking him in. Your legs are shaking, and tears streak down your cheeks, your words incoherent as you lose yourself to the pleasure.

Your pussy flutters around him, and Joel groans. “Do that again and I’ll cum inside you.”

You let out a moan, clenching around him. “I want it,” you cry out, your head falling forward, unable to hold yourself up. The vanity is shaking from the force of Joel’s hips, and your silent pleading for him to finish certainly didn’t make him ease up.

He groans as his fingers dig into your hips, pulling you back into him. You can feel the tip of his cock deep inside of you, repeatedly hitting the right spot. Then he holds you down on him, and you feel the warmth of his cum coating your walls. You whimper as he begins to pull out, his hands spreading your ass cheeks so he can watch himself slide out, cum leaking out of your sopping hole.

You finally lift your head, your body slumped against the vanity as cum drips down your leg. Your stage makeup is smeared all over your face, black streaks down your cheeks and lipstick on your chin. Your little black dress from the final number is scrunched up into the middle of your body, leaving your ass and tits exposed.

He tucked himself back into his pants just as a knock came from the door. He can hear Ellie and her friends chattering on the other side, boasting about how cool it was to see every thing.

Joel makes his way to the door, ready to leave. Then he turns back to you, clearing his throat. “Thanks for the souvenir, by the way,” he chuckles, showing your panties dangling from his fingers. Even under your messed up makeup he can make out your flush as he stuffs the panties into his pocket.

“Big fan of your performance, popstar.”

[olivegardenhunter]

The sannin as normal childhood friends who have sleepovers and play games in the forest and bond over liking "gross" animals

anon thank you SO much for this mental image. you have made my very miserable assignment-filled day. I have many thoughts about the sannin and baby sannin being inseparable best friends who were just normal kids make up about 90% of them. here's some hc I have about that (sorry for the massively long post, I'm a yapper at heart)

yes absolutely. I like to think of the sannin as misfits who never fit in anywhere else except with each other. there's so many different reasons for this. we know they became genin at age 6. if this makes them the exception, rather than it being the normal practice for a village in tumultuous times, then this must have meant each of them were prodigies in their own rights in the academy (yes, even Jiraiya I'd say, though I'd suspect his was more a case of recognised potential rather than showing any obvious prodigal talent from the get-go). this is further reinforced by the fact the third hokage became their sensei. I doubt the hokage would've taken up any random group of genin as his students. if this is the case, can you imagine how difficult it must've been for them to make friends with others, their age or otherwise? not only would it be hard to relate to their other peers cause of the age and probably ability gap, but I'd imagine people would've found them downright intimidating! all this, along with all their individual personality which, if their 6 year old selves were anything like their 50 year old selves, would've meant the little baby sannin would not have been anyone's first choice of friends.

so I'd imagine each of them being a bit of loners in the academy. then they get put in a team together. recognise they each stick out like a sore thumb from everyone else, but have all of the above common ground. their personalities are difficult for each to get used to initially, but once they do, these three super super super quickly become absolutely inseperable. to call them family would've been a serious underestimate of their relationship imo.

anyway this is all a long winded way of saying YES they're absolutely those regular childhood best friends who have sleepovers and hang out and play games. I imagine that tsunade grew up with a massive family in a massive loving home. direct contrast to orochimaru who's an orphan and, I imagine jiraiya is an orphan too (hence no canon last name). therefore, the senju compound is typically the designated sleepover venue.

the senju compound has mito, and nawaki, and depending on what your hcs are, would have tsunades parents, and I'd think they'd still effectively live like royalties even if the first and second are dead. (hashirama and tobirama wouldn't be around anymore by the time the three became genin I think, because (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) hiruzen would've already been hokage when he took on the three of them as his students, meaning tobirama would have already passed)

jiraiya and orochimaru just being at awe at the way tsunade lives and just how lively her house is and tsunade is just happy to have kids her age at home with her that just gets her cause her parents always nag her about training and chores, mito still treats her like a baby even though she's already a Shinobi that can take care of herself damn it!, and nawaki is so young he's so boring and sometimes gets annoying. so she always convinces her fellow teammates to come over to her house to practice and train, to babysit nawaki with her, to be the test dummy for try out this new jutsu or technique she's learning, and anything else that she insists she cannot do alone and needs them to be there with her

until suddenly it's already dark and oh her teammates can't possibly walk home all alone at this hour and besides my mum's making dinner and it's your favourite jiraiya and she'd scold me if I didn't offer some to you guys and orochimaru, mito found some sort of old scroll that uncle tobirama wrote about a new jutsu that she wants your thoughts on and besides, we have to meet sensei soooo early tomorrow for our mission and the training ground is closer from my house anyway, and you guys are just trying to get out of the bet we made and that's cheating y'know! and and and suddenly the senju compound just so happen to always have a few sets extra clothes and pyjamas that just so happened to be orochimaru and jiraiya's size and hey oro, raiya, look! it's got toads and snakes! and it matches mine! and the adults always just so happen to have two extra plates set at the table during meals, and the house just so happens to always be stocked up with both her teammate's favourite snacks, and orochimaru and jiraiya can suddenly enter the senju compound at any time of the day, with or without tsunade, and are greeted joyfully by the household's residents who had started nagging at them about training and chores and picking up after themselves, and mito is treating them like babies even though they're fully trained shinobis! and nawaki is being sooo annoying today and damn it, why isn't tsunade home yet? we agreed to train at 3!

(the three of them never quite notice that jiraiya or orochimaru's unannounced visits to the senju compound never trigger any of the seals that are activated by the presence of non-senju, non-family chakra in the compound. they never quite notice that the anbu guards at the front never give jiraiya and orochimaru any of the trouble or scrutiny that any visitors or guests to the senju compound are always subjected to, and the guards merely let them in with a slight bow of their heads, the same way they would to tsunade, or mito, or her parents.)

the only other times the sleepover isn't at tsunade's place is when there's a thunderstorm and orochimaru insists he needs to spend the night at his apartment because he tells them that last time the storm was this bad, lightning had struck a branch that smashed through his apartment that, if he wasn't already there and was even a little slower, would have destroyed the very few things his parents had left him that he so carefully keeps in a chest and he cannot ever take the risk that that would ever happen again he lost his power and his food went bad in his fridge, and c'mon tsu, you know oro not-so-secretly has a fear of thunder! don't you remember what happened last time at that mission where we were camping? we can't possibly let him spend the night alone at his house!

(later on when they're older, they'll come to find that jiraiya's new jonin apartment will become the new designated sleepover venue as jiraiya begins bringing back questionable sake from his missions that they were definitely too young to be having that he could not have possibly obtained that legally, and mito started banning them from playing card games at the senju compound when she noticed her granddaughter's tendency to lose her entire pay packet in a single game was becoming a bit too familiar to her... like a certain husband of hers' gambling habits that she had tried so hard to make sure wouldn't get passed on to the grandchild who the man had unwittingly taught said card games to at the age of 4. jiraiya started to call his apartment the degenerates' club then, much to the other two's dismay. though they couldn't quite protest when he correctly pointed out they were absolutely behaving like degenerates, even if princess tsunade and the leaf's once-in-a-generation prodigy felt like they were above those sort of disreputable behaviour.)

jiraiya and orochimaru fight tooth and nail that the massive forest that makes up the backyard of the compound, created by the shodaime himself of course, is the only reason they choose to hang out with tsunade at the senju compound, because princess tsunade (dammit oro stop calling me that!), the shodaime hokage seemed to have left so many fascinating things in this forest, there's so many secrets to discover. I don't think I've seen any of these species anywhere else in Konoha. I believe the secrets to some of his jutsu or techniques lie in this forest... oro you're such a nerd. and besides, Princess, the snakes here really seem to like oro for some reason and I think the toads are about to make me their king, I'm sure of it! and also, me and oro are the only people who don't find the fact you use the slime from those slugs in your potions or whatever absolutely disgusting, so we're the only friends you have to play in this gigantic forest with in the first place (it's not potions, it's a new medicinal gel I'm creating! and can you two just shut up? hide and seek is supposed to be a SILENT game and right now, you both really suck at it! I can literally locate you without even moving!) ...hey tsu, is mito-sama going to make those cookies she made last time again? she told me yesterday she would cause hiruzen-sensei told her we did a good job on our last mission.

the three of them knew everyone in Konoha had started calling them the 'Hokage's brats' behind their backs. but none of them realised that, particularly among the elders, this didn't seem to just be in reference to their sensei... there were other, more hushed whispers going around that if they had tried to listen to, would've sounded something like the adopted senjus... or lord first and second's legacies...

(these rumours may or may not have started when people started noticing tsunade's parents went from talking about their two children they adored, to their three rascals plus sweet little nawaki. or when mito kept comparing jiraiya's antics and personality to hashirama or orochimaru's brooding nature and hunger for knowledge was like tobirama's, or how tsunade's own hot temper and tenacity but also mischief was like her own's and the many Uzumakis that came before her, and that all three of them together balanced each other the way she, hashirama, and tobirama had. or when hiruzen constantly raves about his students and how much he sees his senseis in each of them and how the will of fire burns so brightly in them that he knew lord first and second would be extremely proud to see. in the end, though tsunade may have been the only one who shared a name with the senju founders, everybody couldn't help but see hashirama and tobirama and everything they had been and everything they had stood for in all three of the legendary sannin.)

[morgynnk]

Is It Different?

Chapter 2

Pairings: Sophie Beckett X Benedict Bridgerton / Anthony Bridgerton X Kate Sharma

Warnings : Light smut, Talk of abortions, Teen pregnancy

Word count : 4k

——

“Ben please say something” Sophie whispered as he just stared blankly at the test on the counter.

He looked up at her slowly “what do you want me to say?”

A tear dropped from her cheek at his remark and she quickly bit out “Please don’t be a dick”

He stood up quickly wrapping her up “No I didn’t mean it like that I meant seriously what do you want me to say? What do you want to hear?”

She looked up at him “I want you to say what you’re thinking”

“I’m thinking how? Because we’re always careful so a part of me is thinking that…”

She gasped “Benedict Bridgerton don’t you dare think that this baby isn’t yours” his eyes widened because that’s not at all what he was saying “Oh my god no I was not implying that. I was saying maybe it’s meant to be if it got….” He stopped talking as he remembered a memory “oh my god”

“What?”

“Ants birthday party in London we both got very very drunk and you told me to pull out and-“

“Did you not!” She cut him off and borderline yelled and he closed his eyes and sighed “I thought I did but apparently I didn’t”

“So that’s explains the how… but I don’t even know what we’re going to do you’re not even 18 yet and I just turned 17”

“I’m gonna have to take a gap year so you can do your A-levels”

“No you are not doing that”

He backed away “so what I go to London or Oxford and leave you here in Kent alone with a baby and school?”

She looked down “or there’s no baby”

He knew her issues with teen pregnancy and knew how important is what to not end up like her mother but he never thought they wouldn’t solve this together. “Soph you don’t mean…” he asked gently and she nodded.

Ben quickly stood up “No you can’t”

She scoffed opening the bathroom door and walking out “it’s my body Benedict!”

He stopped in his tracks “Yeah you’re right but just know if you choose that I don’t know if I can stay with you”

Her eyes widened as they both stared at each other with tears in their eyes standing in silence until they heard his phone ring.

“I’m gonna take this just give me a second” he told her and she nodded.

B: Hello dad

E: Benedict where are you son

B: Uhm I’m kind of in the middle of something at Sophie’s. Something kind of important

E: I know Anthony told me

Ben groaned. It wasn’t the idea of his dad knowing it was that so many people knew before he did and they knew before Sophie even made her decision.

B: Well then you know this conversation is important

E: That conversation should be had around an adult yes?

B: But father

E: You either come here with Sophie and we all talk about this or you come talk to me and I tell Richard to talk to Sophie

B: Yes sir. We’re on our way

He sighed and put his phone his pocket. Sophie looked at him confused “what was that?”

“Anthony told my dad which is fine but he is threatening to tell your dad if we don’t go speak with him and my mother”

Sophie gulped “Anthony knows”

Ben chuckled “Well yeah you told Kate which I’m annoyed she knew before me”

Sophie quickly shook her head “no I did not tell Kate that I was. She just gave me some tests but I never shared the result so they guessed”

“Well regardless are you coming to talk to my parents or would you rather talk to your dad about your choices” he spit out the last word so she knew how he felt

She glared at him “I guess I’m going with you”

——

*Age check*

Anthony: 20

Kate: 19

Ben:17 almost 18

Sophie: newly 17

Colin & Daphne 15

Eloise & Francesca : 13

Gregory : 4

Hyacinth : 2

Edmund and Violet had their kids back to back but after two sets of twins they decided to give their kids a decent gap.

Kate and Sophie met in ballet when they were little and have been bestfriends since. Sophie dated Benedict first and then introduced Kate to Anthony the summer of 2009.

——

Anthony sighed tossing his phone in his pocket and opening his bedroom door back open “babe where’d you go?”

Kate popped her head around the corner “Is it safe? You’re not gonna murder me”

Anthony chuckled wrapping his arms around her “No I’m not going to murder you BUT I do not like that I knew that before my little brother it’s not my place”

She sighed leaning into him “I know but she’s my bestfriend and to be fair all I said was she asked for some of my tests I never said if it was true or not”

Anthony sighed “if she’s talking to him and says it’s important I’d say she is… wait how does she know you have test does she know?”

She shook her head “No she doesn’t. She just knows I bought some awhile ago”

He nodded and then groaned causing Kate to laugh “what’s wrong with you”

He pulled away from her grabbing his phone “I have to call my dad”

Her eyes widened “Anthony Edmund Bridgerton No!”

He glared at her “Do not use my full name on me I have to! He needs to talk to them before Ben does something stupid”

Kate gives him a curious look “like what? Force her to use her right to choose”

He shook his head “no like bully her into not using her right to choose” She hummed “do you think she should use her rights?”

He shrugged “That is not my decision nor is it Benedict’s but if anyone can assure her she has a right to choose it’s my parents” and he was right despite having 8 kids they were always more accepting than anyone else’s parents

———

Benedict and Sophie got out of his car and walked to the door hand in hand. He sighed before he looked at her “Forget what I said at your house. No matter what I am here. I’m not leaving you” she smiled softly and kissed him before they walked

They walked in and knew that his parents would be in his fathers office so that’s where they went. He knocked lightly “Father…” he said lightly and Edmund cleared his throat “Come on in”

Ben took a deep breath and walked in and they sat on the couch opposite of their parents. They sat there in silence for five minutes until Benedict decided to break it “Can I ask why we’re here?”

Edmund nodded “you said you guys were having an important talk and I said you needed to have it in front of adults”

Sophie gulped and looked at him “Mr.Bridgerton you can’t possibly mean you want us to talk as if you’re not here”

He nodded “Yes and also I have been telling you for years to drop that and call me Edmund and you must especially if you are to have my grandchild” her heart dropped at the mention of someone saying it out loud.

“But father” Benedict whined and Edmund gave him a stern look and he sighed looking over at Sophie “If you want to… uhm use your right to choose then you can but I cannot guarentee I’ll look at you the same or that our relationship will survive”

“Benedict Charles Bridgerton!” Violet roared causing Benedict to look at her “What! It’s what we were talking about it is my honest opinion”

“You seriously will not live with me if I choose my own happiness over this” Sophie said glaring at him.

He scoffed “Over what? Having a family with me?”

“Yes well no… I mean over being a teen mom and never accomplishing my goals”

“Oh come on Soph you always talk about us having kids. We’ve been together for so long don’t ruin it now”

“Benedict I have talked about kids for our future after university not before and I would not be ruining our relationship… a kid would ruin that” Sophie said looking away at a nearby book on the shelf

“So you’re saying a kid ruins relationships? That we aren’t strong enough to with stand a kid”

Sophie just nods and Benedict scoffs and shakes his head “you’re unbelievable. If it’ll ruin us now then it’ll ruin us in 5 years. Either way you lose me I guess”

Edmund sighed interrupting “Okay this is what Anthony feared would happen. Sophie dear what do you want to do”

She sniffled and looked down at her feet “I do not know. I don’t want to be like my father and struggle for 10 years all alone and I do want to finish my A-levels and get my degree. I do not wish to be a stay at home mom… no offense violet” she said looking up at her.

Violet smiled and nodded “No offense at all but you must know things are different than with your father. Benedict has access to money so financially you will not suffer and as far as education I am sure there are ways we can make sure you still do what you would like”

Edmund agreed “If anyone’s education is to suffer it is his”

Sophie just sat there baffled “but I want him to go to art school sir like he wants and-“

Benedict cut her off “Sophie. I will take a gap year and work at the firm while you finish your A-levels and then we can go from there”

They started to bicker about childcare and careers and Violet had had enough and cleared her throat getting both of their attentions. “First off we will have to check all of this with your father but I believe it would be best to move you in here once the baby is born. Benedict will take a gap year and work for the firm” she looks at Edmund for confirmation and he nods and then she continues “I will watch the baby during the day while you are at school and work. I already have little hyacinth so one more little one will be no bother. As far as college if you do choose to relocate to London the apartment is all paid off and you can have it once Anthony moves.”

Benedict nodded “I’ll use my trust fund for a sitter so we can both go to classes or you can take courses online. I know it is not ideal but it works… Sophie say something” he said looking at her gently.

She bit her lip tears coming down “If I do this then I am exactly what I did not want to be”

Everyone knew her fear but they simply thought her fear was being a poor teenage mother not a teenage mother.

As they sat in silence Edmund opened up his desk and grabbed the trust fund documents and another paper.

“Edmund dear what are you doing?” Violet asked and he held up his finger as he wrote and configured his numbers.

He handed Sophie the papers “Now it is not my body so you still have every right to choose and I am not trying to tell you not to BUT if your worry is about having to struggle because you had a kid young.Fixed”

She looked down at the document which had her and the baby added onto the trust fund policy and into the will. She smiled “Thank you but you do know my father has money now and I do not want to take your money”

He chuckled “I know however my son got you into this mess and we have generational wealth. Kate and Anthony are about to move into a beautiful home in London that we’ve had for decades. That apartment has been in the family for decades and I still pay for both. You might not want to take my money but that baby is a Bridgerton so they will always get my money”

“Money aside we will be 17 and 18 do you really think it will work? I have never seen it work” which was true but she really only knew that her grandmother and her mother were teen parents and neither of those relationships survived.

Benedict chuckled and Violet smiled “Edmund and I were 16 and 18 when we had Anthony and 18 and 20 with Benedict”

Sophies mouth dropped open “But you guys were married! I thought you had them in your 20s”

Edmund smiled “We got married before Anthony was born. Which you two can do if you’d like but there is no rush”

She smiled and looked at all of them and then Ben “Can we talk alone?” She asked and they both nodded and Ben lead her into his room.

———

As soon as he opened the door Sophie led him to his bed and pushed him down he chuckle “Sophie what are you doing?”

She put both legs on either sides of his pressing herself into his crotch “I have a couple of things” He nodded putting both hands on her hips and she continued “I want to agree to your mothers offer regardless of what my father says and you will tell the art school that you will be taking a gap year but after that the baby and I will follow you to London”

He smiled and aggressively kissed her “So we are having a baby then?” She giggled leaning down to kiss him “We are indeed but I have two more questions” he nodded and she shucked her shirt off. He gulped “Sophie baby what are you doing”

“Well I have two more questions… my first one is do you want to get married and my second one is will you please fuck me it has been over a week and I am obscenely horny”

He grinned at her last question and then he flipped her over so he was on top “Yes I will fuck you but no I do not want to get married yet”

She frowned “Why not?”

He chuckled “I want to ask you properly and not in my bedroom when you’re half naked” she giggled “Okay that is fair” he shucks his shirt off and then pulls her pants down “You were serious about sex right? Cause I can make it quick”

She bit her lip sliding her hand in his pants “I was absolutely serious”

He smirked and quickly had them both naked in the middle of his bed. His lips were all over her neck as she softly moaned in his ear.

“Ben pleaseee” she whined and he chuckled “you really need me huh” she nodded her head quickly agreeing with him.

Despite being a whole foot different in height they fit together perfectly. They both let out a soft moan as he slid in. “I’m gonna like being able to do this without a barrier” he grunted as he started to pick up the pace

_____

Benedict and Sophie walked downstairs and into his father’s office. “Father a word please?” He nodded “Come on in guys”

Ben led Sophie back to the couch “Do I need to go get mother?” Edmund shook his head “No she is putting the littles down for a nap and I will fill her in on your decision.”

“We want to have the baby and take mom up on her offer”

Edmund smiled as Benedict gave his answer “Okay that all works with me however you still need to talk to Richard about some of those things”

Sophie raised her eyebrows “What other thing besides me moving into here”

“It is not just my firm anymore it is your father’s too. Anthony has a job because he intends on being a lawyer but Benedict would be more of an assistant since he is merely doing it for money and to pass time while you finish your A-levels so he has to ask you father if he can work there and he will have to ask before he marries you”

Benedicts face flushed “Father we have decided not to go there yet”

He nodded “The last thing then is to figure out the sleeping arrangements if you guys are to stay here”

Sophie sighed “Would it be easier if we just moved in with my father?”

“You guys very well could but you would have to drive 15 minutes out of your way everyday to drop the baby off to Violet”

They both looked at each other and nodded because he was in fact right. There best bet was to move into the Bridgertons house in Kent even though most rooms were occupied.

Benedict thought for a moment and piped up “We can just turn my room into a nursery and Sophie and I will take Anthonys room.” It was the best idea since they were right next to each other and close to his studio

Edmund nodded “That seems ideal since he will only be here for the holidays anyways and he and Kate can sleep in the guest room. We have plenty of rooms they just all have things in them” he said chuckling finally cutting the tensions they’ve had all night.

Edmund congratulated the two of them and Sophie left to give them two privacy and Ben looked at his dad shakily “So… how do I do it” Edmund smiles “With support and by listening to Sophie and being there for everything”

___

*1 month later*

Anthony was at his apartment playing poker with his friends from College. Simon Bassett, Thomas Dorset, George Crane and his little Brother Phillip.

Phillip groaned as the rest of the group made a joke about him “Where is Benedict. If I had known he wasn’t going to be here I would not have come”

Anthony chuckled “He was supposed to be here but he is talking to Sophies dad”

Simon looked at him “Is he proposing?”

“No Benny wouldn’t not this young” Phillip spoked and then George smirked “Well Marina and I saw him and Sophie walk out of the doctors wit an ultrasound last week”

They all gasped and Thomas looked at Anthony “Is it true? Is there gonna be a little Benedict?” And Anthony smirked and nodded

Kate peaked her head in from the kitchen “Anthony Bridgerton!”

All the guys irrupted in laughter and his eyes went wide “Yes dear?”

“No one is supposed to know. Ben is going to kill you”

He groaned “Technically I did not say anything George did”

Phil groaned “Okay so since Ben isn’t going to be at these nights anymore can you invite Colin then?”

They all protested and Kate chuckled “Ben will still Join because I will make him bring me the baby so Sophie can have her own time alone and since none of you can get a girlfriend besides George I need the company”

George chuckled “You and Marina are going to handle 3 infants while we play poker?”

She nodded “Yes we are and I am sure Sophie will come over sometimes as she does. They just had to talk to her dad to tonight”

——

Ben and Sophie were sitting on the couch in the Den of her father’s house sitting in silence when Richard broke the ice.

“I’m well aware of why you guys asked to talk to me so you might as well just say it”

Benedict’s face flushed “you do?”

“I do check what is billed to my insurance you know… and I happened to read the word ultrasound so”

Sophie started to cry. She was so close to her father and I mean what little girl wouldn’t be when you practically grow up together. She feared he would see her differently and that it would drive them apart.

Richard quickly sat next to her and put her arm around her “Honey I am not upset with you.”

She sniffled and looked up “you’re not?but you told me to never end up in your situation” She said with a scratchy voice

He shook his head “No I’m not and you didn’t. Benedict is not going to leave you and you aren’t going to struggle for your education.” He looked at Benedict “Am I right?” And Benedict nodded “Yes sir”

He smiled, kissed Sophie on the head and sat back in his chair “So have you decided anything? College? Living arrangements? I assume you’ll want violets help while Ben is away at college”

Ben gulped and looked at him “Actually sir there’s another thing I have to talk to you about” he nodded and Ben continued “I plan on taking a gap year to help Sophie finish her A-levels and be with the baby and I was wondering if I could work for you at the firm. My father said it was ideal if you are on board with it. I would be an assistant to you”

Richard chuckled “You get my daughter pregnant and I get to boss you around”

Sophie giggle “Dad! Be nice” and Richard smiled “Of course you can Benedict. Is there anything else you have figured out?”

Sophie nodded “Once the baby is born I’d like to move into the Bridgertons so Ben and I can be together and care for the baby and also so we don’t have to drive 15 minutes out of the way to Violet”

“Ahh so she will be the daycare”

Benedict quickly interfered “She volunteered! My father and I both said she did not have to and that we would figure it out but she insisted.”

Richard nodded “Now school? When Sophie goes off to college what will happen then? Who will watch the baby? Where will you live?”

Sophie looked at Ben who looked like a dear in headlights. Even though he knew all the answers Richard scared him sometimes especially now since he got his daughter pregnant.

“Well if all goes well with Sophie’s test and she gets into a school in or around London then I will accept the Art institutes offer and go there. Sophie will do whatever she wants all in person classes, hybrid or online classes and as far as the baby goes I will be using some of my trust fund money to pay for a sitter when needed plus Ant and Kate live there too and Kate works from home and she has offered”

Richard nods “And I assume the London apartment is where you will live” Ben nods and Richard sighs and sits back for a second just thinking.

“When will you marry?”

“Dad!” Sophie squeaks out

“What! You guys have been together almost 3 years now and everyone expects you to get married baby or no baby” Richard rebutted

“We decided not now” Sophie spatted back

“Well then you and the baby will stay here until you are 18. I’m sorry. Benedict you are more than welcome to come here but sleep in the spare room. You know my thoughts on it”

Benedict quickly bit in “I plan on marrying her. I just want to propose when I have the ring and on my own time. I also would like our son or daughter to be present for the wedding so if you’d prefer they stay here and have me in a guest room I will respect that. Just know i will never not see my child”

Richard sat there for a second just looking off into space and then nodded “Once the engagement ring is on her finger she can move in with you but not before” he said staring at Ben and he nodded.

[ze-pie]

Oof haha those mother comics ouch oof. It's even weirder when you're living with your parents. Like, "these are my middle aged roommates, I have...mixed feelings about them. I also happen to share their genetic code. Help"

I'm trying to view it from a gentle parenting perspective where the labels of Parent and Child are stripped and we're both just people. But dang, I don't really like them as people either. I say often that if we weren't related and peers instead of having a ~40 year age gap we wouldn't even be acquaintances.

Man i feel that. Ive had to redefine my own identity and moral set as an adult; I hadnt realized for a long time that I was being a dick to my loved ones due to believing my worldview was paramount. My social life has now gotten much easier and more enjoyable to navigate and I’d love to bring my parents into a new age of self reflection and accountability, especially with seeing the way my mother stresses out about her social life on the daily. Tryna get Applejack to see this shit.

My mother’s beliefs and decisions are largely the very same ones that I’ve been trying to delete from my current life, as i believe theyve been holding me back from making genuine connections and rebuilding my confidence. I would love to be friends with my parents, but they still see me as someone they need to have control over. When we disagree, instead of letting that be, theyll try to force me to change my mind by any means necessary, using the Parent card as their justification. It’s downright annoying.

The worst part is that its not like I dont know how to be friendly with older people with different world views. I enjoy talking to customers at the store i work at that could be 10-20-30 years older than my parents. But I’m still my parents Ongoing Project, so I rarely get to have my own identity to stand on. Oh and god forbid I try to establish those boundaries, good god, the hysterics.

[the-ninja-legacy-whip]

You said in a previous post that Kai and Skylor would have more childrens than the others... How much childrens do you think they'll have ? ( Including Wyldfyre, adopted overprotective big sis *^* )

Including Wyldfyre, that'd be four (everyone else only has one or two for simplicity and my sanity)

I'm torn, though, because I wanted Kai's oldest to be older than the Jaya twins, but timelinewise that might not work (on top of the fact that his firstborn would inherit Fire and that would mean he loses his powers and that would kind of mess up DR as a whole...unless I use the Blue Crystal loophole like I do with Jesse + Cam)

I also had the thought that Skylor is pregnant when The Merge happens. If it's the first kid, she can stop the automatic inheritance (and prevent Kai losing his powers wherever he might be lost) if she willingly gives up her powers to them first, but then that also means it might take a while for the other two kids to show up. If it's the second kid, then she'd just lose her powers anyway, but the third kid then doesn't have a crazy age gap with the first. It's a pickle that matters only to me.

Anyway, what IS consistent is this:

The "Fire" kid is named Blaire. They're non-binary, and... compromised of basically Kai and Skylor's worst traits. Hotheadedness, impulsive, prone to lying, single-minded, easily distracted, prone to violence, impatient...not a single soft thought in this kid's head. Their weakness is that they are very much a mama's kid and Skylor works with them to channel all that aggression properly, but they do still have hair-trigger anger and are easily annoyed. They are not a people-person whatsoever (contrasting their Smith-Walker cousins) and is always trying to fight Lucina and Wyldfyre (and Lucina and Wyldfyre just gleefully go with it cuz they thinks they're just playing). Eventually mellows out when they accidentally hurt their little sister in a fit of fury (and oh how Kai chewed them out for that one)

The "Amber" kid is Blythe. He's the opposite of Blaire entirely: quiet, reserved, level-headed, overly responsible, and not quite like either of his parents, making it hard for him to relate to some of their more...bombastic tendencies (and actually makes him a little jealous of Wyldfyre for being so much like Kai). He also isn't a people-person, but can at least fake it unlike Blaire. He is amused by his cousins though, has a soft spot for Cam, and very much enjoys using everyone's powers against them just to give them a taste of their own medicine (the rest of the kids tend to forget that's a thing he can do too...especially Blaire).

The "Third, Non-Elemental" kid is Briar. She's always playing "catch up" with everyone else as she is probably the youngest one. Essentially inherits Kai's low self-esteem and Skylor's fear of inadequacy because her siblings have such crazy powers and thus thinks she's "not special" and "pointless" which sends Kai into a secondary crisis as soon as he learns please sweet baby don't throw yourself off a boat or into a volcano (she's adorable but also very depressed) (Briar does become far more proficient with weapons than either of her siblings, however. Also also Briar has heterochromia like Lucina due to being a Dual Element Descendant.)

But yeah the main snag is that I can't decide on Blaire and Blythe's birth order. I'm probably going to compromise with Blythe (Amber) -> Blaire (Fire)-> Briar, with Blythe getting his powers via Skylor giving hers up for whatever reason, and then Blaire's the one born Post-Merge anyway but has a delay on inheriting their powers (like Lilly), but ugh ya gotta jump through so many hoops to make it work T-T)9

[bunbeeplays]

The Lemon Legacy: Generation 1, Chapter 35 - Going Out With a Bang

The reception goes off without a hitch. Let Them Eat Cake gives a wonderful performance, and the new wives immensely enjoy their first dance, surely the first of many.

The Laurents' office isn't nearly as fun as the reception downstairs.

Hector: This should have been my call! It’s MY business!

Hilary: So when we’re doing the hard stuff, it’s “our” business, but the second I do something you refuse to do despite all logic, it’s YOUR business?

Hector: You completely went over my head! That makes me look bad to our staff!

Hilary: No, you defending the woman that used her husband’s platform to drag them in the dirt made you look bad to them.

Hector: We don’t know-

Hilary: YES, WE DO!

Hilary: I know Tiff stroked your giant ego just the way you liked it, but you let her abuse our staff, and me, for years. I thought you were just too sweet, always giving people the benefit of the doubt, but I know the real reason you never stood up to her. You’re a coward.

Hector: How dare you-

Hilary: How dare YOU stand by while Tiff treated everyone around you like garbage? While she started a fire we and the staff who are actually loyal to us spent all night putting out? I did what should have been done years ago.

Hilary: I’m going to spend the night at my parent’s house. Honestly, I can’t even be near you right now.

Hector: Darling-

Hilary: I don’t want to hear it. Good night, Hector.

After the final song is sung, and the newlyweds, their guests, most of the staff, and even the venue owners are gone, two remained. Ophelia changed out of her dress before her walk home and ran into Xander, who was still cleaning up the bar.

Ophelia: Oh. Hey.

Xander is happier to see her than she thought he'd be.

Xander: Hey, Lemon Bar! Everyone was raving about your performance. Why don't you pop on the bar so we can chat?

Ophelia: Sure. Is that sanitary, though?

Xander: I have to clean it anyways!

Ophelia: You can check my pockets if you want. They're empty.

Xander: No, this isn't about that. Penny told me you helped Miko out, when she was freaking out about what the PlumBright article said. That was really cool of you.

Ophelia: Even us kleptos have morals sometimes.

Xander: I’m sorry I snapped at you. I didn’t mean to treat you like a criminal. I know you’re a good person. I just… Mom and Dad were busy with the restaurant all the time growing up, so Hilary'd watch me a lot. She was a teen when I was a toddler, so there was a big age gap.

Xander: She was kind of like a second mom. I annoy her a lot, but we’re still pretty close. I feel like I owe it to her to look out for her the way she did for me. The way she still does for me. When I thought you might have stolen from her… I don’t know, I guess it’s stupid.

Ophelia: That’s not stupid. And you were right. I shouldn’t steal, even if it’s from community lots. I don’t even remember why I started, really. I just… I don’t know where to even start with changing an entire trait. 

There’s a moment of silence before Xander speaks again.  Xander: After someone close to me really hurt me, I started going to therapy to help with my sad moodlets. They had pamphlets talking about re-traiting services. I can give you the office number if you’re interested.

Ophelia has been trying so hard to be the best version of herself lately. Maybe Xander was right, and she did need to reevaluate that aspect of her life.

Ophelia: I’d appreciate that. Thank you.

Xander: Why don’t I walk you home?

Ophelia: That’s okay, it’s out of your way.

Xander: No, it’s late. I want to make sure you get home okay. Come on, let's get a move on, Lemon Cake.

Ophelia: …Okay.

Xander gets Ophelia to the front door and hugs her goodbye. That was the goal, and yet… it doesn’t seem like either of them want him to leave.

Ophelia: I know it’s late but do you want to see my new place? I haven’t shown you around.

Xander: Sure. I can stay for a bit.

Ophelia's home tour, fueled by the raw emotions she and Xander have been through the past 24 hours, is a bit unconventional but it gets the job done. Ophelia shows Xander the living room for a bit. But the bedroom? Yeah, Ophelia shows him her bedroom, alright.

[strangesmallbard]

Tell me more about Torlynn immediately!! haushasha

I haven't found whether you have posted more about her before, but I'd love to know more!

omg i’d LOVE to tell you more, thank you!! torlynn is a brand new tav in my rolodex, so her personality is still in flux but i have the basics of her backstory worked out. she’s a 537-year-old high elf from [op needs to learn more about faerûnian geography], who was sent to wizard school at a young age for her Weave Aptitude. however, unlike gale, she Did not enjoy wizard school. she want wizard homework she wanted to hit things very hard with a sword.

professors despaired of her until she was old enough to learn Combat Spells. after graduating wizard school, she does a fantasy gap year that lasts about a century, whereupon she adventures and wanders and joins a couple merc groups. at some point torlynn finds the harpers, who give her that purpose she craves. she works her way up to high harper and gains a fairly pristine reputation for those in the know.

however, she does hold herself at arms length from people—side effect of vaguely neglectful parents and feeling alienated at wizard school. she has adventuring friendquaintences and agents and trainees, and is mostly content UNTIL. she meets thalia: the most annoying human sorcerer in the whole world. they spend five years annoying each other before kissing so so much. torlynn now has someone she’s genuinely afraid to lose.

haha on no wouldn’t it suck if thalia was a bhaalspawn and spent the next fifteen years valiantly fighting off the urge, only to sacrifice herself during the first ketheric battle by turning into the slayer, finally turning the tides of the war but losing herself in the process? and if torlynn had to kill the slayer afterwards to stop her from going on a murder rampage?

yeah it sucked hard. torlynn deserts the harpers and spends fifty years studying necromancy to bring her back. this doesn’t work. she drinks a lot and becomes bitter and brittle and only emerges from her grief cave when Wizard School offers her a professorship. she immediately meets her arch nemesis: a ten year old boy named gale dekarios haha. by the time we meet her on the nautiloid, she’s mostly settled into that life but still…adrift. looking for a new purpose. angry that her sword muscles have gone soft over the years. nowhere close to the “acceptance” stage of grief.

as for her personality so far: i imagine that young!torlynn had that cocky brash jock energy, although more sensitive than she wants to believe. by the time we meet her, however, that cocky energy is entirely gone and she’s very head-over-heart. all jagged edges, constantly preparing for shit to go wrong but in a droll, exhausted way. she hasn’t socialized with anyone but a necromancy scroll in years and it shows. and now a mindflayer worm is in her brain. and GALE DEKARIOS is there.

(from gale’s pov it’s like. what if you went on a dnd adventure with your mean fifth grade teacher. and she can tell you what to do again. also you broke her only role: don’t ever fuck with the weave. she broke that rule too though so HUH professor alderstar how FASCINATING!)

like i said in the gifset tags, in a better world she romances jaheira. i imagine they knew each other during the first ketheric war, although not well. they likely butted heads about war strategy. jaheira likely looked up to her and holds some bitterness toward torlynn for deserting, especially bc she doesn’t know about the bhaalspawn gf thing. but mostly she’s just curious. right person wrong time older women kissing. you get it

(OH btw thalia is torlynn’s dream guardian! she looks as she did when torlynn first met her. i plan to make some gifsets when i get to their scenes.)

THAAT was incredibly long, but thank you to anyone who read! 🫡

[firesofdainix]

hey hey tell me more about Hideaki!! I wanna know more about him!!

also if you could give me a color pallet for him that would be perfect

OH MY GOD IT’S MY BLORBO'S TIME TO SHINE!!! This man has been living in my head rent free ALL MONTH so I think he needs a necessary introduction.

(You're lucky I made a little concept ref sheet for Hideaki. His hair is HORRIBLE to draw.)

ANYWAYS, his shitty tragic ass life story is under the cut. The blorbo needs his moments <3333

Tw for someone killing a baby brutally, beheading, some violence

Okay so first of all, he's HELLA old in ninjago history. He was a member of the VERY FIRST Elemental Alliance, which included Morro I. His Element was the long-lost and extinct Element of Seasons. This and the Element of Weather were originally from the Great Devourer, offered to humans who managed to evade its venom. Hideaki was a very lucky guy because of his encounter, to the point he was regaled as some kind of hero. Season is a hard Element to make sense or understand about, that even Hideaki doesn't know how he can fully control it. So, the least complicated version of the semantics of Season is that it can summon a season willingly in a controlled area. Although that takes a LOT of work and needs True Potential, so Hideaki taps into the traits of the Core Elements and correlates it to the season he wants to summon.

He awakened his powers at a very young age, and just at 14 he awakened his True Potential in a very fantastical way. FSM noticed his power and notified his parents (and a confused Hideaki) he was an Elemental Master and would like for him to join his alliance. His parents and siblings were quite protective of Hideaki, and were a bit tense and suspicious of a man who just appeared out of nowhere to recruit their son to what seems like a gang. Hideaki, very excited to meet new friends, insisted on going with FSM to travel the world. Right speaking of which, his relationship with his family is VERY good, he has three siblings as well so it's a big family. They are very close, too close to the point he feels as if he's too codependent on them. That's why he chose to go with FSM, so he can learn to handle himself.

As a person, he's a very fun, bubbly, and optimistic person, however he's VERY naïve when it comes to meeting new people. He sees everything, initially, in a black and white worldview, He always obeys the FSM's rules out of sheer idol worship and wanting to be useful, seeing everything in black and white. But despite his bubbliness he's very bad at socializing, often getting distracted with insects, running off to come pet them and getting lost because of a bad sense of direction. Most Elemental Masters have to go looking for him, often being annoyed by how ditzy and clueless he is. It doesn’t help they're older than him by a few years and he was only 14 when he joined. He's also pretty bad at socializing, because whatever he says can be taken in a VERY wrong out of context way.

He barely has any friends (because, you know, he has a big age gap with the others) and the others really didn't want to connect with a little kid, unlike FSM, who's very fond of him. He wishes he has a better childhood than what he had. But, his only friend in the entire Elemental Alliance was the first Elemental Master of Wind, Morro I. They were the only person in the entire world who can match his rambunctious and wilder side, but unfortunately Hideaki is the one who has to keep them in check. They always make reckless or intellectually impulsive decisions where he often forgets he is currently with a buddy, and Hideaki bears the brunt of their decisions. He tries to dissuade Morro I from his many, many awful decisions, but to his dismay he continues to not listen to him. However, he continues to stay with him, simply because he was the only person who can tolerate and understand his giddiness and personality.

Hideaki can summon seasons, and his appearance is also changed depending on which season he uses, or what his current mood is. Because he is usually seen as a happy, smiling young man, his hair, which is pink since birth, his hair is vibrant and very soft-looking, like spring is always like. In the picture above his 'spring colors' is the first picture. With the pink highlights. He is barely in a 'winter mode' simply because he believes his sadness is not quite important to the mission.

As an able Elemental Master, Hideaki was very good at listening to FSM's orders and also his superiors. The only thing he is flawed with is his ability to be distracted. If Morro I is good at evading and being as fast as the wind, Hideaki, is gifted in heavy lifting, though he has more limits unlike the Master of Earth. He can try and drag a grundle back into unclaimed lands using a rope or chains, one of his prime weaponry. Because his Element can somewhat be four separate elements entirely, he uses different kinds of weapons to mediate his power. Since he uses spring a lot he uses a longbow regularly, having perfect aim. He has decently strong control over summer, using a kusarigama, a decent but weaker control over autumn, in which he uses a kama, and he has a very, VERY weak link for winter, simply because his personality contrasts with what winter is usually seen as.

Anyways, when Morro I was arrested for the crime of being so obsessed with FSM, Hideaki was so hurt by the way he showed his true colors. He tried to fish out another response or confession from Morro I, but what he heard from them was heartbreaking: the person he cared about the most... Didn't give too shits about him. He didn't watch Morro I's exile, and he felt embarrassed over the fact he had a crush on them. Since the only person he has gotten along with was gone, he was alienated even further from the Alliance. So he does solo missions, aware the other Elemental Masters don't want to give him the time of day. FSM tries to convince him to socialize, but he really doesn't know how to socialize, only putting on a front that he was still nice and approachable.

When he was 16, a few months after Morro I was exiled, he was patrolling the areas near a rather large forest filled with dangerous plants and animals, a portal above him opens, and, alarmed, he jumps out the way soon as a dark figure falls, and into the ravine near Hideaki. While he was still addled and a little shocked about the portal hanging above him, he calls out to the new stranger if they were okay. The responder sounded feminine, and, after telling them to hold still as he tries to rescue them, something leaps out from the ravine and catches him in a tackle. When he meets with their eyes, it was like love at first sight.

Apparently, the creature in front of him was an Oni, a predecessor of the First Spinjitzu Master and was tasked to bring him back, dead or alive, for their cause in the First Realm. Her name was Kokoro, and she was mainly forced to follow in her parents' footsteps by the Omega or she will be killed. She knows that her being taken here was just a banishment in disguise, but she didn't seem to care. Her Realm was devastated after the incessant fighting of the Oni and Dragon, and seeing Ninjago, she didn't WANT to find the FSM and kill him for it. Sympathizing with her, Hideaki shares a few bits of his life, and the two of them hit it off, something in them clicking when they first laid eyes on each other. Kokoro started to live with Hideaki in his family home. While his family were, at first, a little wary over an Oni staying in their home, immediately warmed up to her.

After a year of knowing each other, their feelings for the other didn't seem to fade away or become platonic. Instead, it grew stronger every time they spend time with one another. They confessed to one another during a private night, and well, they're both teenagers and let the hormones win, so... Hideaki finds out that Kokoro is about to have a kid he's a little tense, panicking even. He's NEVER had one of his dumb, teenage-driven decisions backfire SO horribly in his face before, being the first time he's ever done anything out of impulse. But in the end, while he did receive some scolding from his parents that became a really, REALLY big misunderstanding (Hideaki thought they believed Kokoro was a horrible influence on him, they just want to help), he and Kokoro ended up running away from home. He still had contact with the Elemental Masters, but he omits any details of his Oni wife because he fears their prosecution.

Some background over this hesitant omission: when FSM left, the dragons did send their best warriors to find him, but when he expressed he didn't want to return to the First Realm, the dragons had no choice but to respect his choices. However, the Oni warriors, especially the embodiments of Vengeance, Anger and Deception were very keen on taking him back to win a war they caused. Why do you think the Elemental Alliance was formed? Not only to defend Ninjago's citizens from attacks of primordial creatures, but also from the Oni. They try their damndest to drive out the Oni, and while they are successful, somewhat, some decided to stay, such as Mystake, but only the FSM knows. Kokoro is a stronger type of Oni, since she's one of the daughters of the Oni of Anger. It's why she regularly has some angry outbursts that only Hideaki can calm down. She gets carried away when she gets WAY too angry. But she doesn't hurt anyone, she just has a big impact in her surroundings. Kokoro is the one that carved the mask of anger after fighting her father with Hideaki when they, by coincidence, found him in a secluded and unknown part in Ninjago. It was a metal ass fight.

Anyways, when he is not doing his Elemental Master work, he usually does house chores, making accomodations for Kokoro, or being a generally nice and pleasant person to be around with. He helps a lot of folk near his area with their lives, helping them settle, babysit, whatever. He's regarded as that towns handyman since he always seems to know what to do. Hideaki didn't know that, even when he tried to keep Kokoro a secret, only referring to her by name or his wife, some of his contemporaries got way too suspicious. He always evades the idea of visiting her, he's never shown them any kind of significant material that belongs to his wife, to the point they just think he's making up excuses to escape his work. So they followed him home, and not only did they find out Hideaki’s wife, they also found out she was Oni and like... idk they're beefing with a guy who just turned 18.

So they put the worst assumptions they had on Hideaki and his wife, and immediately tattled on him towards the FSM. Okay, so we are getting on neutral ground with him. I think the FSM is a very interesting figure. He is good, but sometimes he can get a little suspicious of people. He has trust issues after being used and abused by the Oni and Dragon for so many years. When the Elemental Masters forwarded what they assumed Hideaki was doing, well. He didn’t want to believe it at first. The Elemental masters mean well, probably (if having a grudge on a kid means well idk), but they said things blown out of proportion, way too based on assumptions and delusions for it to work. FSM denies their assumptions, but decided the only way to discover if it was true or no was to confront Hideaki. Following him to his home (since Hideaki couldn't say no to him) he, some Elemental Masters who insist on accompanying FSM, engage in a tense dinnertime with Kokoro, who just gave birth (Hideaki still couldn't find the time to hold his new kid in his arms too). FSM purposefully cuts himself (Oni and Dragon alike are very interested in his blood), and Kokoro reacts accordingly, her mind hazy, going out of control as she turns to a full Oni.

that's when FSM admonishes Hideaki for his secrecy. He lets the other Elemental Masters restrain Kokoro, and FSM gives Hideaki a chance to explain himself, to debunk what his comrades tell the FSM. He was always a firm believer of someone admitting their lies and their sins face-to-face... However Hideaki DOES NOT work well under pressure, nor when his baby and wife is currently being held hostage so his thoughts, his confessions and everything he says is incomprehensible garbage. He even made a few mentions of the Oni of Anger and how they destroyed him without the FSM knowing, to which FSM'S trust for Hideaki breaks more. Initially, despite the offenses and panicked testimony, FSM was going to let Hideaki free, except he is exiled from the Elemental Alliance.

The thing is, Hideaki prioritizes his family first. Before FSM can reassure him he is not mad, the Master of Fire... Killed Hideaki's baby. Not an accident, he literally burnt the baby alive until it was reduced to nothing but literal ashes. It was as if something unlocked inside Hideaki; with an enraged growl he breaks free, attempting to maul the Master of Fire like a bear. Even Kokoro was enraged over what they'd done to her child, impaling the first Elemental Master of Nature, letting him die as she tries to scramble to pick up the child's remains and kill the master of fire. The master of fire INSISTS he hadn't done that, that something was controlling him, brainwashing him into fucking killing a baby. I wonder who it was. Anyways things got ugly immediately, Kokoro got murdered by a happenstance of circumstances, that not even Hideaki or FSM could explain it in detail. In the end, FSM cursed Hideaki after murdering the master of fire and earth, thinking that the Preeminent was simply collecting souls not to feel lonely (because he’s still quite naive, despite seeing Preeminent’s true form. he GENUINELY thought she wanted a companion and assigned her Hideaki).

The Elemental Master of Lightning beheads Hideaki out of grief, and when Hideaki opens his eyes to the new afterlife awaiting him. Everything was... a dystopia. A ruin of every ruin. Desolation and destruction that predates anything he knows about Ninjago. And at the center of it all, lies the Preeminent, who has her wish come true. A new companion... but he wasn’t willing, and she treats him more as a pet than anything else. Against his will, since he IS the first inhabitant of the Cursed Realm, he is married to the Preeminent, but no matter how much force and situated affection she has for him, in his heart there only lies one girl. Kokoro, whom he was very, VERY far away from.

At first, he still held hope. Hope that he will see Kokoro again, to hold their child, but the days turned to weeks, months, and then years. The Preeminent had enforced him with all kinds of orders and laws, to the point that his happy, humane and optimistic side started to fade away, leaving only the ugliest parts of him; his lack of social awareness, his awkwardness, his intense insecurity. The years in the Cursed Realm turned him to the very thing he hated the most: something he considers a bad person. These negative attributes of his personality was also paired up with an increasing amount of apathy and indifference (he started accepting that every soul that came here was forsaken and deserved to be punished like him), and cruelty and idleness he shows to his new subordinates. He thinks he can wither like this forever, to act as if nothing exists, as if he doesn’t exist, as if his only dream in this afterlife was to be tortured and held captive by the Preeminent forever.

But someone stopped him from spiralling in those horrid thoughts, as late as he can be. Five thousand years since he came to this realm and was stripped of the humanity he had, a Cursed soul younger than him showed up. 17 years old, clearly having been deceived by the Preeminent as Hideaki observes him from the Head of the Cursed Realm, as he fights off many, many ghosts, winning glory and the authority of everyone in the Dystopian Ribcage. Called the champion, this man was. He interested Hideaki a lot, but he refuses to think or talk about him. He may ascend the Head soon, so what could he possibly say to him? That is, until the Preeminent told him not only was he the Elemental Master of Wind, but he is named after his old friend, Morro I. Immediately the most interested he has been since he was exiled to this Realm, he seeks the young ghost out to obtain information from him, whatever it is. He didn't know what information he wants from him, but it was enough to make this already static afterlife feel... A little more entertaining.

And it did. Hideaki properly gets the chance to meet Morro after one of his combats. Morro had just finished one of his more iconic fights (him against Arcturus, the Anacondrai general), and seen than a particular silhouette he has not ever come across the amphitheater was watching him, he immediately books it. However, Arcturus was feeling a little petty over losing a fight against a teenager that he corners him and almost beats him up if Hideaki didn't intervene. Sending the Anacondrai on their way, he gets a one on one with Morro. The young man wanted to talk to Morro, but he was sent away by a large wind, so he decided to volunteer to host Morro's visit towards the Cursed Realm palace, that's when they started talking. While at first, since Morro was jaded by human interaction and suspicious over anything that tries to interact with him. Hideaki was no exception; he treated him quite callously and occasionally misinterprets his body language and stand offishness as him thinking he is above all of them. Morro has a strong hatred over the Cursed Realm's elite society living in her head (which Hideaki is a part of) because they're living good afterlives in her head.

However, after a few more years of some forced spending time together (the Preeminent wanted her husband and her champion to have a better relationship for publicity), Morro started to understand how and why Hideaki is the way he is. Sooner and later, he developed an understanding and more intimate relationship with Hideaki. It’s not romantic, but it is definitely more platonic than what was intended by the both of them. Not getting into it but it’s like friends-with-benefits type of relationship, except they do have a particularly strong bond. However Morro doesn’t really like him in a romantic way (he’s not that romantically attracted to anyone at all), while Hideaki simply hasn’t moved on from his first wife. They’re not affectionate with each other, but everyone who sees them interact and share relationships know that they are quite close to each other. They occassionally talk, had multiple rendezvous that leaves the Preeminent seething, knowing how one another would feel and act given the type of situation, and even leaves others debating and fighting over what their label were.

Hideaki dislikes the fact that Morro cares too much about a title he never got in his life, and wants him to let go of that ambition. However Morro doesn’t like the fact that he acts as if he doesn’t care about his life anymore. He tries riling Hideaki up with the promises of destroying Cloud Kingdom for separating him from his family. He has no interest with the Preeminent’s ambitions of taking over all the sixteen Realms but makes no plans stopping them, having given up the ability to care about the morality of the situation. However, once he asks Morro if he was still willing to possess the Green Ninja to find the Realm Crystal, he did not expect Morro expressing vengeance and the desire to plunge the world into misery. Despite his hesitance and dislike of having to exert too much of his energy into something that will most likely fail, he was fond of Morro. He didn’t want him to die because of his naive foolishness, and so, decides to help him.

This of course blows up on everyone's faces, as Morro loses against a bunch of teenagers with facemasks, and Hideaki was being smug towards both Preeminent and Morro about how this was a HORRIBLE idea and he knew it. Despite all of this, he feels nothing but acceptance over his fate, and believes he accepts getting scorched to death by water. He does, however, become tense at the thought of his loved ones being judgemental and not loving him any longer simply because he is different and not the man Kokoro married. Idk what to do with this story plot point but he does reunite with his family, don't know how to do it while making it emotional. He also plays widely into this kind of fanseason but also AU thing of mine in which Morro gets an on screen redemption arc. Anyways yeah that's it for his story, it was bound to have a happy ending for him since he deserves it.

Anyways some trivia time tee hee:

Here's a more detailed reference picture of Hideaki I drew out of funnies if you want more color palette references. He ALWAYS wears his training gi, if he is not he wears traditional kimono. I don't have any color palette for his Cursed Realm design but here's a basic sketch of it. He's obsessed with the idea of wearing tons of armor because it's a sign you can protect people you love.

Initially his character would be a little more of an asshole than his final ones, I had his character already set up in early July during the time of making TAGOMJTR (my Morro redemption fic) and waited for a time to implement him in the story. He was supposed to be Morro’s 'only friend' who betrayed him to go to the Head of the Preeminent and left his ass, which made him grow bitter. I actually had to scrap a moment in TAGOMJTR and Morrotober because that little blurb doesn't fit what I have for Hideaki anymore.

Although I had an impulsive thought about turning Hideaki into a genuine, good friend for Morro because he needs some rest between all things, so here we are! I fluctuated back and forth over his actual personality because him being unhinged or snarky and flippant isn't really how I envision him. Besides I need him to contrast Morro- Morro caring too much about life while Hideaki doesn't really give a damn anymore. That's why he's a lot more stoic and apathetic than usual, but it's clear he has a better moral compass and standing than Morro has.

The way I thought of their character is a lot more 'wow what if Morro got fucked over by a ghost in the Cursed Realm' then it turned to 'wow what if an Elemental Master was also condemned' and Hideaki was made. He's mainly based off cold characters who became the way they are because of traumatic events. I think Morro deserves a companion that tries to talk him out of many things rather than someone who betrays him and destroy the last of his kindness.

He's also actually a Demon Slayer oc with the same element at his disposal (breath of Seasons) but they're WILDLY different characters at this point with varied accomplishments. They also have different appearance.

[voidwritesstuff]

The Blaze/The ember level tapes.

Cw: mentions of abusive household. Mentuins of gaslighting, adoption, age gap between Lucas and Jerico (not in a weird way!)

Level beggining:

Desmond: afternoon jerico, how are you?

Jerico, is looking towards the door: oh im alright, I uh[She seems distracted in a good way] I ran into one of your patients just now, guy in his 50s, has dog tags?

Desmond: Lucas? Whats he doing here so early?

Jerico,with an audible smile: yes him! He thought he was running late[giggle]

[End tape one]

Desmond: so, whats been going on?

Jerico: well...where to start-- in our first session a few months back I told you about my upbringing. Well, this week has just been hell

Desmond: tell me about it, this Is a safe space

Jerico: my mot-- you know who has been on my ass again. She talked shit about my adoptive family and its just- its like she cant see me happy.

Desmond: that sounds awful, im sorry

Jerico: she says [high pitched,annoying voice] "how could you replace your biological family?! I gave you everything! You know how Many people would like to have a mother like me?!" [She coughs out the Word mother with anger].

Desmond: I thought you told her to stop?

Jerico: I did. She didnt listen

[End tape 2]

Jerico: I didnt pay her no mind. I blocked her, and just when I thought I could go on about my day, he shows up.

Desmond: your biological father I assume?

Jerico: yep. He tried harrasing me telling me how my dad Ray is not manly enough,how he stole me away from him.

Desmond: im so sorry, this must have been very stressfull for you.

Jerico: I yelled at him for a solid fifteen minutes before I hung up and left my phone in my bedroom.

[End tape three]

Desmond: I would like to know what you feel towards your parents a little more, what happened to you.

Jerico: every time I tell people of my trauma and abuse they brush it off. Sometimes I feel like im making things up.

Desmond: thats something called gaslighting, an abusers favorite tool. I promise you that whatever you tell me ill Belive you,please, go on ahead

Jerico: its gonna get grim really fast,are you sure?

Desmond: yes.

Jerico: dont say I didnt warn you.

[End tape 4]

Level ending:

Desmond: oh jerico im so sorry...

Jerico: I told you.

Desmond: what your bilogical parents did was abuse, you are right. I Belive you.

Jerico: thank you,you dont know how much I needed that.

[End tape 1]

Desmond: your biological parents had no right to treat you like that, you were just a child figuring out the world. You didnt need to be perfect.

Jerico: try n tell em that.

Desmond: im sorry your voice was never heard, I cant begin to imagine the pain and anger you Carry

Jerico: there are days I feel like the screams I could never let out Will burn through my throat, that ill die with all this hatred in my veins. If it doesnt kill me first ,that is

Desmond: I promise you it wont,im here to help.

[End tape 2]

Desmond: all those things that you needed to be patient and stop complaining were ways to Keep you silent. You were right.

Jerico: It was such bullshit!

Desmond: it was,you were standing up for yourself, which is the right thing to do. You are not a difficult child for having needs, you were and still are a great daughter anyone would be happy to have. Your adoptive par- your parents are so proud of you

Jerico,audible smile: they are,they tell me every day.

[End tape 3]

Desmond: thats good to hear,you deserve it. [Clock goes off] I think our time Is up.

Jerico: it is, well..thanks. I needed to let everything out

Desmond: always glad to help. [Pause] oh! On your way out tell Lucas to come in

Jerico: Will do!

[A little distant]

Jerico: Lucas! Hey, uh the doc says its your turn

Lucas: thanks- [pause]hey uh..are those tears?

Jerico,sniffing: yeah it uh..got emotional.

Lucas, concerned and very soft sounding of not a little protective: are you okay?

Jerico: im...[short pause] getting there I think.

Lucas: thats uh- good. Hey uh before you go uh...[a little too long pause]. C-can I get yo-your number? Please dont think im some dirty old Man

Jerico,laughs: yeah, hold on. [Scribbling]. Here...and dont worry, I dont think youre some creepy old Man.

Lucas:oh- g great!

Jerico: have a nice day,lieutenant cole

Lucas, audible smile: you too, Ms.Castro.

[End tape 4]

[llycaons]

ooh 16 and 21 for cql/mdzs??

16. you can’t understand why so many people like this thing (characterization, trope, headcanon, etc)

ugh so many. well actually that's a lie, I dislike a lot of headcanons and characterizations, like lwj not telling wwx that he hates spicy food and eating it without complaining, because I see why people consider them romantic or sweet even if I do not. but jin ling/lsz and jc/lxc...man those are completely beyond me. if we ignore that jl and lsz are practically cousins, and we ignore that jc and lxc have a vague but clearly significant age gap, there's still ABSOLUTELY nothing there. utterly baffles me why those ships are so popular. like it's completely flavorless and devoid of anything passionate or interesting or even sweet. these characters literally interact like twice with the people they're being shipped with. where is all this passion COMING from. direct it towards yanqing instead. or ly/bssr. or mianqing. or any of the neglected female characters who have interacted more or had genuine romantic subtext or at least COULD have a fun dynamic based on what we know about them. sigh.

21. part of canon you think is overhyped

oh DEFINITELY the 'wangxian married with a son!!!!' thing. not that they're married. love that for them. I just think lsz is treated as plot device way too often for me to be invested in his relationships with lwj or wwx, and I don't even really see them as his dads? like, teachers and quasi-parental figures, and certainly important in his life, but I don't think of them as having adopted him so much as looked after him and babysat him...he was raised communally with both the wens and the lans and just bc wwx is the only one left alive* doesn't make him his dad. lwj obviously took an interest in his development and cared for him, but I also don't consider him concretely A Father. and the wiki lists him as a 'ward' which I agree with and I don't want to devalue the significance of teachers in the setting anyway

*wen ning is of course also there but fans seem to regard his blood connection and years of family history with lsz as less significant than lsz's year-long babysitting adventures with wwx, which kind of annoys me ngl!

also im sorry but that child is so boring and brings so little to the series except for the fact that he's alive and nonjudgmental (which is cool! its just not enough imo!) despite having THE most interesting backstory and great potential to be an incredible, complex character whose behavior and choices can provide commentary on the series and its society. and he kind of does, but in such a flavorless and generic way that I really can't get invested in him as a character and I feel absolutely nothing when he shows up and the "!!!! best boy!!!!" tags really do annoy me. um. that's a lot sorry. this is my biggest issue with what I consider to otherwise be a well written series with fascinating and complex characters and relationships, and it bothers me so much that it's so poorly done in comparison and that people eat it up as if it was well thought-out besides 'cute and perfect son for wx' whose treated as a romantic plot device and/or reward for wwx

[mydollsaregay]

my overall thoughts on this release!

to start with - I hate that they reused names. Most kids who are currently into ag probably know nothing about isabelle and nicki of the past, but it still comes off as lazy, honestly. yes, those are popular names for Jewish girls, but there are SO MANY OTHER popular names for Jewish girls. it’s just silly. nicki 1.0 was also a part of my childhood collection, and is very dear to me, so it also makes me personally annoyed that the twin I like the best would have the same name, if I were ever to decide I wanted her in my collection lmao

second, the timing. there was simply no good reason to release these girls SO soon after claudie and kavi. i understand that ag wanted to hop on the 90s nostalgia train, but waiting even two or three more months would have felt much less like they were stealing the spotlight from the dolls of color they recently released.

on that note, I’m of two minds about the route ag is currently traveling in regards to representation. looking at just the last few character releases (Corrine, claudie, kavi, now the twins), it makes sense for the company to choose to produce some white characters, as their main demographic is still white kids and their parents, no matter our opinion as adult collectors. On top of that, I personally really love adding more Jewish representation to the historical lineup, and I’m looking forward to seeing how that part of their lives is shown in their stories.

However (and it’s a big however), if we focus in on the historical lineup alone, it feels really bad to add more white characters. Many people have expressed the criticisms of this choice more eloquently than I, but despite the inclusion of more Jewish characters being unambiguously a good thing, there are other extremely glaring gaps that need to be filled as well. however, this is a bed that AG has built for themselves over many, MANY years, and I don’t personally think it’s fair to pin all the disappointment for that on the twins, especially when they add more Jewish rep to the line. You’re right to be disappointed in ag; I am too. But I find that I’m personally more disappointed with ags choices around other recent white historical dolls than these ones, if that makes sense. but this is a tricky subject with a lot of complicated emotions involved, and there’s not one simple correct way to feel about it!

I do find the twin thing a bit silly however; “oh you didn’t want us to add a white doll to the historical line right now? That’s fine, we’re adding two!”. it’s cute that they’re twins, don’t get me wrong, but I don’t feel that they’re different enough to justify two dolls? Idk, my thoughts on it are complicated and not fully formed but like. It feels silly, when choosing between two different historical dolls, to be basically picking whether you like sporty or preppy fashion more lol.

Also, ag tried the two dolls for one time period thing with Marie-grace and Cécile, girls who actually had some really interesting contrasts in their lives worth bringing up, and that didn’t even work out for ag, profits-wise. So idk how “we wear different clothing styles and sleep on opposite sides of the same bedroom” will be different/interesting enough to give ag the profits they want ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Speaking of clothes, let’s get into the actual dolls, starting with the meet outfits/accessories. overall: I think they’re cute!

my only real nitpick with the outfits is that I’m not a fan of Isabel’s shoes. I actually think they’re really cute, but with the heels/platforms, they don’t seem right with this outfit. They make the whole outfit seem way more grown-up, which looks off to me. I think lower platforms would have kept the cute vibe but given her a less adult look, which would be a nice visual cue, as she seems to be taking a lot of her fashion cues from more adult/older teen fashion of the time, from what I can tell. As a result, she looks a little older than her age to me at first glance (more 15/16 than tween). idk if a kid in ‘99 would have worn shoes like that, as I was a toddler at the time, but I doubt it. In the early 2000s, where a lot of fashion trends still lingered, I don’t remember ever seeing another kid wear heels or platforms outside of dress-up. I could be wrong about the accuracy, but I still don’t personally like them in this context. however, that’s really just a personal taste thing. Isabel’s style isn’t to my taste in general, so it’s fine haha

I REALLY like nickis outfit, and I think the accessories add a LOT there. I love the layering - I did that a lot as a kid in the 2000s (that was certainly one of the trends that stuck around), and I love the necklaces. she also looks much cuter with the hat on in this pic than in the initial pics that released, and I think a ton of that has to do with how her hair is styled.

I think Nicki would have looked really wonderful with a meet hairstyle of braids. it would have gone with her active lifestyle and would have looked really cute with the blonde pieces free. she’s in braids on her book cover, and it’s adorable. She also has her hair braided in the product pics for her skateboarding outfit. With her hair styled instead of down she also looks way less like a full grown adult woman, which is a weird vibe she gives off to me in those initial pics.

like, those braids are so cute! I think braids were probably at one point a possibility for her meet style, but they were probably nixed due to the added cost of labor to do a hairstyle and the small pieces on the back of the wig for the part(though that is entirely speculation).

I don’t have nearly as many thoughts on Isabel’s hair. it’s cute, if basic. it makes sense for her character (from what we know so far), and it makes sense for the time (though if it was real hair, it would probably have a lot more layers, but that’s hard to make look right at doll scale).

overall, I think they’re nice dolls, with unfortunate timing. they both have some details that aren’t my favorite, but overall they’re cute. however, the promo pics that got leaked (and are currently the product photos for the dolls without accessories), are honestly terrible and manage to make both twins look their worst. unfortunately, i think AG is really struggling to make promo photos of dolls with the new eyelashes look right, even when the dolls look fine in person. I’ll make a separate post for the collection, since this is already so long!

[lydiaas]

One thing that annoys me watching OBX reactions is how people kind of side with Kie's parents in S2 'cause "they're just worried parents" and only clock how awful they are in S3 when they basically have her kidnapped but to me in S2 they were already done. People only clock it when it gets physical as if there weren't already lot of precedents of verbal altercations and deep relationship issues.

I agree that Kiara hasn't always been the perfect daughter and did things behind their back but they are the reasons she acts that way, they haven't built any form of trust with her, she feels forced to hide things 'cause all they can do when she's open with them is belittle her and her opinions, denigrate her friends and actually slut shame her 'cause yes, that's something her mom kept doing in S2 always pointing out "oh the things you do for those boys" "it's always about the boys" as if she's their little dog who blindly follows them around and would do anything they tell her to please them.

That's not even the worst part, the worst part was how the completely shut her down when she went ask for help about John B. Kie was absolutely right in my opinion to tell her mother to basically get her head out of the gutter 'cause it wasn't about her, it was way bigger than their little family drama, your daughter is coming up to you telling you her best friend OF 17 YEARS OF AGE is being framed risking the death penalty AND SHE HAS PROOF HE'S INNOCENT and you're just turning your head the other way? You're hearing with your own ears there's a CHILD who's about to be killed for nothing and what do you do? You kick your daughter out of the house when she asks for help? Plus you don't have to believe a word she says, you don't have to get involved, you don't have to like her friends...but she's coming up to you telling you she has information about a murder case, are you not gonna sit down and listen AT LEAST?

To me that's incredibly awful, they might have been concerned parents and I don't doubt they love Kiara but they ALWAYS had so little consideration of her and always thought so little of her, they always made her feel insignificant and like her problems didn't matter 'cause "look around Kiara, you're rich and we give you everything you need", being parents is much more than providing with money. They were always incredibly tone deaf people who didn't look past their own interest and their own reputation.

That's why the scene at the end of S3 when they're standing there clapping and looking all proud makes me so angry. Not only they were applauding Kie in which they never believed in and trusted, they were there also clapping for JJ who they showed nothing but hatred and disdain for, they were there clapping for John B who they would have easily let get the death penalty (as if it was so hard to believe they were framing the poor kid from the Cut) 'cause it was better for their daughter to not be around "those boys". They are not good people and never have been and it goes further than Kiara, they have always been judgmental, ignorants with prejudices, tone deaf and unhelpful turning the other way from minors who were struggling despite having the means to help.

Kiara wasn't always on her best behavior but it's not as if they ever offered her an environment were they encouraged open discussions and honesty with understanding, they pushed her away slowly from the very beginning.

Oof you went off anon! Good for you. I agree. I am sympathetic to their concerns but there is very little they have done right.

I think it was evident in the first season that they fundamentally misunderstand who Kie is and it has only gotten worse since then.

I do find their struggles compelling though because it's pretty realistic (at least in my life experience). A lot of parents are not good at being parents. They raise their kids weighed down by all their own baggage and they aren't able to see any other way.

I am interested in seeing how they bridge the gap between what was shown at the ceremony and their return from South America. I was a bit worried that they were going to gloss right over it but bts suggests tensions will be high once they return so there might be an interesting journey there. There is also the interpretation that maybe the Carrera's were doing the whole 'keeping up with the joneses' routine at the ceremony and Kie is not comfortable with them there.

[bisexual-in-every-gender]

Survey

New tats in your near future?

Got a full sleeve planned in November (flowers all over my arm in rainbow colours growing out of blood stains with the Billy Talent lyrics "These flowers have grown from bloodstains on the ground", incorporating my queerness and the struggle with it over years with my love for Billy Talent), plus a small tattoo of a chest burster (the one from Alien) being hugged by his host to emphasise my love of horror and sci fi

How about piercings or re-piercings?

*sigh* I tried to have my ears pierced twice and both times had a severe allergic reaction and my lip ring I had to have taken out because of an infection, so sadly, I don't think piercings are for me :(

Are there any rooms in your house that you don't go into every day?

Several. We got three spare rooms, one that had been meant for a baby's arrival, but sadly the IVF failed, so it's now a storage room, as well as another storage room in lieu of a cellar and a guest room. Also the second bath room which the cat uses.

Who else do you know who has the same favourite colour that you do?

My sister Ami, I think, likes blue as much as I do.

Have you ever covered a tattoo up or added to?

Yeah, I made my tattooed pug a vampire with a swirling glass of blood.

Have you ever kissed someone who previously kissed someone you hated?

I guess? I only hate Izzy's ex for the way she treated her though.

Do you have any relatives with red hair?

No.

What is tomorrow's weather forecasted to be like?

33 degrees Celsius and sunny

Have you ever known someone who committed suicide?

I never had the chance of meeting him, but Izzy's friend Neil did.

What's some of the worst pain you ever felt?

Each failed IVF cycle, a miscarriage and the loss of my grandmother and my first cat. Physically, a bad ear infection and a snapped tendon in my ankle.

What's your favourite kind of pasta?

Spaghetti

Would you rather a friend come over to your house or you go to theirs?

I'm weird about people coming to my place. It always looks dirty and untidy to me. So I'd rather go to theirs, even though it might be untidier there.

Have you ever had rabies?

No.

Do you know anyone who ever had to get a rabies shot?

Me and my wife (it's mandatory when travelling to China for an extended period of time), my cat

Ever eaten deer? Duck? Squirrel? How about lamb?

Yes to all but the squirrel.

What is your favourite parody movie?

Shaun of the Dead, Redfield

What is your least favourite ice cream flavour?

Peppermint. Don't get the appeal.

Does your car have heated seats?

"Ich habe doch gar keine Auto!"

Have you ever been tempted to steal?

Yes, but I resisted.

Would you rather travel to Ireland or Japan?

Japan. Already been to Ireland.

Does tickling turn you on?

No. It's just annoying.

If you could go over to someone's house right now, to whose and why?

Toni's to give them a hug and say hi to Kasi.

What is the age gap between you and your parents?

28 and 35 respectively

How many bathrooms does your house have and is it enough?

Two and yes.

Have you ever videochatted with someone you met online?

Loads of people.

Do you collect anything or have you ever?

Funkos, books and fridge magnets

How many siblings does your best friend have?

One sister.

Have you ever dated someone who was emotionally or mentally unstable?

Oh, have I ever.

Be honest: Are you clingy?

Not as much as I used to be.

Have you ever had bronchitis?

Multiple times.

Have you ever had a reptile for a pet?

No.

Are you afraid of the dentist?

Yes. I suffer severe dentophobia. I literally shake and shiver on the chair and once started crying so hard they had to stop treatment. But I still endure, as I don't want my teeth to fall out.

Did you attend Sunday School as a kid?

No.

Who was the last person you cuddled with?

My wife Izzy.

Your boyfriend/girlfriend isn't around, but their phone is. Do you look?

No. Can't unlock it anyway and wouldn't try to.

Do you think you will be in a relationship 3 months from now?

Yep.

Have you ever liked someone who was in a relationship with someone else?

Once, but it was in year 6, so hardly counts.

Do people ever compliment your eyes?

Rarely.

Have any of your exes ever given you roses?

No, but my wife has.

Do you think your last ex ever thinks about you?

If he does, I don't care.

Would you rather have a salad or french fries as a side dish?

Chips please.

Which one of your relationships was the shortest?

5 months and two weeks with my ex.

Which was the longest?

Six years and counting

Have any of your exes told you they regret breaking up with you?

Yes.

Are you going to be getting any new pets soon?

We were thinking of getting another cat, but after a test run with a friend's cats Bertha made it clear she's happier as an only pet.

Do you like BBQ sauce?

No, I hate it.

What do you like to do when you're home alone?

Watch Star Trek, play video games

Do you know anyone who has autism?

I do, my friend Toni probably does and my friend Ronja is also on the spectrum

What is your favourite way to eat eggs?

Boiled.

Do you like Frozen?

No, I find it super annoying. Olaf should be shot.

Do you enjoy hot chocolate?

Sure.

Do you use Instagram often?

No, no account.

If you got a kitten, what would you name it?

Pippin for a boy, Hilda for a girl

Who is someone you know who's talkative?

My wife. She can talk for England. And my mum.

When was the last time you met any of your uncles?

I never met any of my uncles and now they're both dead.

Do you know anyone who plays the violin?

Not to my knowledge.

Do your parents enjoy any of the things you enjoy? Do you bond over it?

My mum likes Star Trek (infact, she introduced me to it) and theatre. My dad watches horror films and likes rock music. Yeah, we sometimes bond over it.