#and it's neat to have a little bit of depth thrown into it

[giveafike]

The Best Christmas Yet - B.T.S

TLDR: Merry Christmas, to you and to Ben. This is a bonus of Azzie's Advent Calendar 2024!

Word count + info: 5k + dialogue.

Warnings + Content Ahead: SFW! slightly suggestive towards the end but clean : )

Azzie Notes ✚: C'mon! You think I'd leave you on that note from yday? And without a Christmas gift? Pfftttt cmon now! srry if i sent u to bed pissed off yday bahahaha Santa told me that u deserve a little extra so..here we are! He delivered this post, not me

I know Christmas can be lonely at times and everyone's super duper busy, (me included, when this goes up, I am prob knee deep with work, being my parents' Patissier + sous chef + a childminder/nanny with the kids + cleaner...- GOD) so here's something to sink into <3

With that being said, I won't be posting for a small bit, just catching my breath before getting back into all the inbox reqs + I'll prob get into my other writing reqs, let's give Ben a break and time to relax before he gets thrown back in :)

Merry Christmas, have fun and be safe! sending u joy, love and peace :) - Azzie

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“Hey, get up.”

A hand nudged your shoulder, hesitantly but firm, and then you felt a poke to your cheek.

“Baby, c’mon, I need you up!”

A peck to your lips stirred you from the depths of sleep, and you groaned softly, burrowing further into the blankets. He was entirely too alert for such an ungodly hour.

“It's Christmas! Don’t make me drag you out of bed,” Ben teased, his voice low but insistent, laced with excitement.

You blinked your eyes open, humming in confusion the world still fuzzy at the edges. Ben’s face hovered over yours, the faint glow of the twinkle of Christmas lights from outside gleaming through the curtains, casting soft shadows across his features. He was already dressed, his dark hoodie pulled snugly over his body, curls surprisingly neat and tamed, and the brightness in his eyes completely at odds with the still, sleeping house around you.

“What time is it?...you’re ...like, too awake right now” you mumbled, your voice hoarse with sleep.

Ben laughed softly, crouching by your side. “Trust me, you’re gonna wanna see this. Get dressed, grab your presents, oh, and don’t forget my stuff. Y'got 10 minutes.”

“What are you even talking about-?” you started, but Ben was already pulling back the blanket, tossing you one of his spare hoodies onto the foot of the bed.

“No questions,” he interrupted, voice smiling but firm, pointing at the hoodie. “Up. Now. And quietly.”

Rubbing the sleep from your eyes, you sat up, the chilly air of the house nipping at your skin and cementing that this wasn’t a dream, or if it was, this was a very realistic one, painfully realistic. The stillness was too real, the kind of quiet that could only exist when the world was still deep in slumber. Groggily, you swung your legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cold floor beneath your feet.

As you tugged on the hoodie and shuffled to grab your gifts from the paper bags you hid away in his wardrobe, the faint hum of the central heater became your only companion. You picked up the neatly wrapped presents you’d gotten for Ben, stacked in a bag alongside a few smaller ones for Lisa, Bryan, and Emma. The ones for his family were quietly tucked under the Christmas tree as Ben instructed as you passed through the dimly lit living room.

The sight of the living room warmed you, even in your grogginess. Air mattresses sprawled across the floor, the family nestled under thick blankets and quilts on the far side, away from the tree. The faint glow of coloured lights danced off the walls from outside, highlighting the care that went into decorating the house.

Ben’s hand found yours as you found him back in the hallway, his grip warm and steady as he led you toward the front door. You glanced back at the sleeping family, a flicker of hesitation in your mind.

“Ben…” you whispered, casting him a questioning look when he opened the front door, ushering you out into the chilly early morning air.

He turned back to you with a grin, tugging you gently outside. “Just trust me. You’ll see soon enough.”

The world outside was quiet and dark, the air crisp and laced with the scent of crispness that only a breeze could carry. His white G-Wagon idled in the driveway, already heated, the soft rumble of the engine breaking the silence of the dawn. You gently set your presents for Ben down in the backseat which sat beside a neatly packed bag that definitely wasn’t yours. Ben opened the passenger door, guiding you in with a hand on your back.

“What is all this, Ben? What's goin' on?” you asked, twisting to look at the suspiciously full back seat.

“You’ll see, just hold tight for a bit longer, m'kay?” he pleaded, sliding his hand over yours on the console.

The drive was peaceful, the world outside still dark as Ben navigated quiet roads. His thumb rubbed lazy circles over your knuckles as he drove, occasionally lifting your hand to kiss it, all mixing into your drowsy state, amplifying it.

“Sleep if you want,” he murmured, almost as if he read your mind.

Despite your scepticism on this last-minute rendezvous, your sleep-heavy mind couldn’t keep up with his giddy energy. With the soft purr of the engine beneath you and the rhythmic movement of the road lulling you into this half-sleep you found it harder and harder to fight against. The heated seat didn’t help. Neither did Ben’s low hum as he tapped the steering wheel while thumbing circles like a massage over your skin, every so often glancing at you with a look that screamed he knew exactly what he was doing.

Wherever he was taking you, you knew it had to be worth it. You could still feel the warmth of the house on your skin, the chilled morning air battling the heat already building inside the car.

“Just relax, babe,” he laughed softly, brushing his thumb over the back of your hand. “I’ll wake you when we get there.”

You didn’t intend to fall asleep, but the next thing you knew, the car slowed to a stop, the engine idling quietly as the faint sound of waves lapping at the shore reached your ears.

“Hey,” Ben’s voice was soft as he brushed your hair back, his lips brushing against your temple. “We’re here.”

You blinked blearily, looking out the window to see the dark silhouette of the ocean stretching into the horizon, the faint light of dawn beginning to break on the edges. The air smelled salty and fresh, completely different from the Christmas scents of cinnamon and pine you’d left behind.

“The beach?” you asked, your voice still thick with sleep.

Ben grinned, shifting in his seat to face you fully. “Not just the beach. Look out your window.”

That’s when you see it.

You noticed the cozy little beach house, its soft lights glowing warmly against the backdrop of the dark waves. A Christmas wreath hung on the door, and through the large windows, you could see the flicker of a Christmas tree and decorations inside.

“Ben…” you trailed off, your voice catching in your throat as you turned to him.

His grin widened as he reached for the packed bags in the back. “Merry Christmas, baby. This is all ours for the day. Just you and me.”

Your eyes widened. “Ben, wait… Does your family know? What about the rest of Christmas-”

“They know,” he interrupted chuckling like a kid, leaning over to press a kiss to your cheek to calm your spiralling thoughts. “They’re all in on it. That’s why we did Christmas Eve so big yesterday. Mom even helped me set this up.”

The realisation hit you like a wave, and all the little moments over the past week clicked into place, the way Lisa had brushed off his odd behaviour, the quick glances between him and Emma, even Bryan’s playful teasing.

“You planned all this?” you whispered, still trying to wrap your head around it while you woke up.

Ben nodded, his eyes soft as he looked at you. “You deserved something special. You’re always thinking about everyone else, making sure they’re happy, fittin' in for our traditions and family. I wanted this to just be for us.”

You couldn’t say anything. Instead, you wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled him into a hug. He held you tightly, his hands warm against your back as he pressed a kiss to your temple.

“You’re ridiculous,” you mumbled into his shoulder, the tiniest smile tugging at your lips.

“Maybe,” he murmured back. “But you love it.”

You pulled away just enough to look at him, your nose brushing his before you pressed your lips to his. “I really do.”

Ben grinned against your mouth before pulling back and nodding toward the house. “C’mon, let’s get inside. Santa apparently dropped something off for us.”

Ben hopped out of the car with a bounce in his step, grabbing the bags from the backseat before coming around to your side. He opened your door with an exaggerated bow, motioning for you to step out.

“After you, Mrs. Claus,” he teased with a wink.

“Not funny,” you mumbled, still not entirely awake but following his lead.

The soft crunch of sand under your shoes mixed with the rhythmic sound of the waves, the faint golden light of the rising sun beginning to spread across the horizon. Ben unlocked the front door with a set of keys he’d clearly had ready, and as he pushed it open, a wave of warmth hit you immediately.

Inside, the beach house was something out of a Floridian winter wonderland fever dream. A towering Christmas tree stood proudly in the corner of the open-plan living room, its branches heavy with warm white lights, delicate glass ornaments, and strands of ribbon that shimmered in the soft glow. Garlands of greenery were draped over the fireplace mantle, complete with stockings embroidered with reindeer. The massive hard-topped kitchen island sat proudly in the shared kitchen-living room space. The wooden beams overhead gave the space a cozy, cabin-like feel, a stark contrast to the sandy shores just steps away outside.

“Wow…” you breathed, taking it all in.

“Thought you’d like it,” Ben said, setting the bags down near the couch.

Your gaze drifted to the couch, where a set of red-and-white Christmas pyjamas were neatly laid out. They were embroidered in gold stitching: “Mr. Claus” and “Mrs. Claus.”

You shot him a look, mock disgusted holding up the “Mrs. Claus” set. “Oh, so that's why you said that earlier...really, Ben?”

He shrugged, utterly unapologetic. “No idea what you're talking about. Santa must’ve been here early.”

You shook your head, but a laugh bubbled out anyway as you grabbed the pyjamas. “You’re something else.”

“Something you love,” he corrected, grinning as he grabbed his set and disappeared down the hallway to change.

Once you were dressed, you stepped back into the living room to find Ben waiting by the tree. He looked ridiculously good, the festive pyjamas fitting tight and snug over his broad shoulders and long frame.

You let yourself melt into his embrace, your cheek resting against his chest as the scent of his cologne mixed with the faint aroma of pine and cinnamon filling the air. His arms tightened around your waist, and he pressed a kiss to the top of your head.

“Thank you,” you murmured, your voice barely above a whisper.

“For what?” he asked, his lips grazing your temple.

“For… all of this. You didn’t have to do it.”

Ben leaned back just enough to tilt your chin up, his brown eyes meeting yours. “Of course I did. How could I not? You’ve done nothing but make this year the best of my life, and this whole month has just been me falling in love with you all over again. I wanted to give you something special in return.”

Emotion tightened in your chest, and instead of responding, you leaned up to kiss him. It was slow and unhurried, the kind of kiss that felt like sealing a promise.

When you finally pulled back, you stayed close, your forehead resting against his. “I really don’t know how I got so lucky.”

“I think it’s the other way around,” Ben said softly, his thumb brushing over your cheek before he pulled you back into his arms, holding you like he never wanted to let go.

After a moment, he gently nudged you toward the couch. “C’mon, let’s get these gifts out and under the tree.”

You smiled, setting down the gifts you’d brought for him under the tree, neatly stacking the carefully wrapped packages and bags. Ben joined you, unloading his own pile, which looked suspiciously extravagant.

“Are those all for me?” you asked, eyeing the growing stack with amusement. His weren't the most neatest, but in fairness, they were oddly shaped and done with love.

“Guess you’ll have to wait and see, but first, let's get breakfast, hm?” he said, nudging your side playfully.

With the tree glowing warmly beside you and Ben at your side, it felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist.

You quirked an eyebrow, sinking into the plush couch as you pulled a blanket over your lap. “You cook now?”

He shot you a faux-offended look, grabbing a spatula from the utensil holder on the counter and spinning it dramatically like a tennis racket.

“First of all, rude. Second, I’ve been practising. So buckle up, baby, this is gonna be five-star dining.” Ben clapped his hands together as he stood, stretching his arms above his head, rolling his neck dramatically like he was back on court.

You laughed, resting your head on the sofa's arm as you watched him bustle around the kitchen. The open floor plan allowed you to see everything, Ben digging through the cabinets, pulling out pans, eggs, and a loaf of crusty bread. He moved with purpose, humming under his breath as he worked, occasionally throwing a smug glance your way as if to say, See? Totally got this.

The warm smell of cinnamon and butter soon wafted through the air, mingling with the faint salty breeze that slipped in from the crack he’d left in the balcony door. Outside, the sun was beginning to rise in earnest, golden light spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows and painting the space in a soft, dreamy glow.

“French toast?” you guessed, eyeing the griddle where slices of bread sizzled to perfection.

“French toast,” Ben confirmed with a wink. “And bacon. Because, y’know, balance.”

You chuckled softly, feeling the last bits of morning grogginess melt away. Leaning back, you turned around and let your gaze drift to the ocean visible through the windows. The waves rolled lazily onto the shore, their rhythmic crashes blending with the quiet clatter of Ben moving around the kitchen.

A few minutes later, he appeared beside you, holding a plate piled high with perfectly golden French toast, a generous drizzle of syrup glistening on top, and crispy strips of bacon on the side. “For you, my dear,” he said, bowing dramatically as he handed it over.

“Why, thank you, Chef Shelton,” you teased, accepting the plate with a grin.

He returned with his own plate and settled beside you, the couch dipping under his weight as he pulled the blanket over both of you.

“Might as well enjoy breakfast with the best view,” he murmured, nodding toward the windows.

You both dug in, the first bite of the warm, sweet French toast melting in your mouth. “Okay,” you admitted, pointing your fork at him. “This is actually really good.”

Ben smirked, leaning back against the couch. “Man, I told you! I’ve been perfecting my craft.”

The two of you ate in comfortable silence for a while, the rising sun painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. The light reflected off the water, casting shimmering patterns across the walls of the beach house.

At one point, Ben reached over, his fingers brushing against yours as he stole a piece of bacon from your plate. “Hey!” you protested, laughing as you swatted at his hand.

He grinned, unabashed, chewing triumphantly. “What’s yours is mine, remember?”

“Except for food,” you shot back, but your mock irritation was betrayed by the smile tugging at your lips.

As the conversation lowered and plates set down, Ben wiped his hands on a napkin before leaning closer, his voice dropping to a softer tone. “You look beautiful, y’know that?”

You blinked at him, caught off guard. “Ben, I’m literally in pyjamas. My hair’s a mess. I look like I just woke up-”

“And yet,” he said, his eyes warm and sincere, “still the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. By far.”

Heat rose to your cheeks, and you looked down at your plate, a soft smile curling your lips. “You’re unbelievable.”

He reached over, gently tilting your chin up so you’d meet his gaze. “And you’re unforgettable.”

You rolled your eyes at the cheesy line, but the flutter in your chest betrayed how much it melted you. “You’re lucky I love you so much.”

Ben laughed, leaning in to press a quick kiss to your lips before settling back with his plate. “Lucky doesn’t even begin to cover it.”

As the last of the French toast disappeared and the sun fully crested the horizon, you leaned into Ben’s side, his arm wrapping securely around your shoulders. The warmth of the morning, the salty breeze, and the quiet intimacy of the moment made it feel like you were in your own little world.

But of course, it wasn't long until Ben had grown jittery while eyeing the wrapped presents under the tree. You both sat on the wooden floors, smiling as you gathered the presents together.

Ben shifted, reaching for a small, neatly wrapped box from the pile beneath the tree. “Alright,” he said, a playful grin tugging at his lips as he handed it to you. “Ladies first.”

You took the gift, your fingers brushing over the smooth wrapping paper, the tag reading your name in Ben’s slightly messy handwriting.

You raised an eyebrow at his boyish gummy grin as you glanced between him and the box. “What’s with the smug look? Is this one of those gag gifts that’s gonna explode confetti or something?”

“Guess you’ll have to open it and see,” he teased, leaning back against the couch with his arms crossed, watching you with barely contained excitement.

Peeling the paper back carefully, you revealed a high-end leather handbag, sleek and elegant in design, with subtle gold hardware, its rich, buttery material practically glowing in the soft light of the tree. Your jaw dropped as you ran your fingers over it, the quality undeniable.

“Ben…” you trailed off, lifting the bag to inspect it. “This is stunning. It’s too much.”

“Nothing’s too much for you,” he said simply, his voice softer now.

You set the bag aside carefully, leaning over to kiss him on the cheek. “Thank you. I love it- I love you."

“My turn,” he said eagerly, his eyes lighting up as you reached for one of the boxes you’d wrapped for him.

Ben tore into the wrapping paper like a kid on Christmas morning, which, technically, he was. He pulled out the McLaren Lego kit, his face lighting up as he turned the box over in his hands.

“No way! You actually got it!” he exclaimed, holding it up like it was a trophy. “I’ve been eyeing this forever, man! You are the best!”

“Figured it’d keep you busy when you’re bored,” you teased.

“Nah, I’m building this today,” he declared, setting it aside carefully.

You smiled, watching the joy on his face as he set the box aside. “Figured it’d keep you busy on those days off you pretend you don’t need.”

He shot you a look, mock offended but still grinning. “Careful, or I’ll make you help me build it.”

“I’d be honoured,” you teased, reaching for another gift he’d picked for you.

This time, it was a plush teddy bear, soft and fluffy, with a small ribbon tied around its neck. As you pulled it close, the faint, familiar scent of Ben’s cologne wafted up, wrapping you in comfort.

“You sprayed it with your cologne?” you asked, laughing softly, sniffing it as you hugged it to your chest.

Ben shrugged, a bashful smile tugging at his lips. “Figured it’d keep you company when I’m not around. Plus, he's the only one I'm approving to cuddle you when I'm on tour.”

You shook your head, grinning as you kissed the bear’s head, before kissing Ben's. “It’s adorable. Thank you.”

The two of you continued taking turns, the room filling with laughter and quiet gasps of surprise. You got him new headphones, one that came with tracking so he couldn't lose them, though you knew he'd find some way of making that happen. You also got him a box of different snacks and sweets, all his favourites from his time touring abroad or ones he meant to try but couldn't for one reason or another.

When you handed him the velvet pouch containing the custom silver keychain you bought at the Christmas market, his brow furrowed curiously.

"This one’s… special.” You handed him a velvet pouch, watching as he untied the drawstring and pulled out the custom car keychain.

He pulled it out, his eyes widening as he read the Roman numerals of your anniversary engraved on the sleek metal.

“Woah…” Ben murmured, turning the keychain over in his hands. The Roman numerals gleamed softly in the light of the Christmas tree, and his thumb brushed over the engraving as if committing it to memory.

“They’re the Roman numerals for our anniversary,” you said quietly, watching his reaction.

“This is incredible. I’m putting this on my keys the second we’re done here.”

Ben’s smile was slow but brilliant, and he reached over to pull you into a hug. Before you could respond, Ben looked over the metal again, then sprang to his feet, excitement bubbling over. “Nah, I’m putting this on my keys right now. Hold up!”

He darted toward the hallway, his socked feet slipping slightly on the polished wooden floors. You couldn’t help but laugh as he caught himself on the doorframe, looking back at you with a sheepish grin.

“I meant to do that,” he called back, laughing at his own clumsiness.

“Sure you did,” you teased, shaking your head as you watched him disappear into the other room.

A moment later, he was back, his keys jingling triumphantly in his hand. He slid the keychain onto the ring, holding it up to admire it before stuffing the whole thing into his pocket.

“There,” he said, flopping back down beside you with a satisfied grin. “Now it’s official.”

You smiled, leaning into him and resting your head on his shoulder. “I'm almost getting jealous of that car.”

“I don't kiss my car,” he quipped, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead before pulling you closer.

"Mm, not yet." You smiled, handing him the velvet box. His fingers brushed over the soft velvet before he pulled out the custom silver ring. His initials sat on one side, yours on the other, a simple but meaningful design that made his eyes glisten.

“You didn’t have to…” he started, his voice soft with emotion.

“I wanted to,” you interrupted gently. “Something just for you.”

Ben slipped the ring onto his finger, flexing his hand as if to test the fit.

“You really thought of everything,” he said softly, slipping the ring onto his finger and holding it up to admire. “This is perfect.”

Ben stared at the silver ring, a teasing smirk curling his lips as he wiggled his fingers. “Y’know, giving a guy a ring this nice but… people might start talking,” he quipped, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. “Shouldn't you be down on one knee right now, or…?”

Your laughter bubbled out before you could stop it, the warmth of the moment loosening your nerves. “Oh, don’t even start,” you shot back, shaking your head.

Ben grinned wider, leaning closer to nudge your shoulder with his. “What? I’m just saying, you’ve got the whole package ready, like we're in matching pjs and you got me a custom ring… Feels kinda like a proposal if you ask me.”

“Yeah? Well, maybe I should’ve gotten a little speech ready while I was at it,” you countered, trying to hold back your smile.

Ben laughed, low and warm, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Alright, alright, I’ll back off,” he said, lifting his hands in mock surrender. “But seriously, this means a lot. You didn’t have to go this far. I'm gonna be wearin' this everywhere, showin' everyone what my girl got me.”

“It’s not just a gift, it’s a reminder. Wherever you go, you’ve got a piece of us with you.”

Ben’s expression softened, and he reached out to cradle your face in his hand, brushing his thumb over your cheek. “You’re gonna give me a heart attack, babe,” he murmured, leaning in to kiss you gently.

“Good,” you teased, pulling back just enough to nudge his nose with yours.

Ben chuckled, slipping the ring back on and holding it up like he was admiring a priceless artefact. “Alright, your turn,” he said, nudging the next box toward you with a grin. “Let’s see if I can top this.”

Now that it was your turn again, Ben handed you a small, flat box.

Inside was a stack of many, many postcards, each one from a place he’d travelled to. Turning them over, you found messages written on the back of each short, heartfelt message that ranged from funny memories to sweet sentiments about missing you over the duration of the tour.

You picked one at random, noticing Ben’s handwriting on the back, dated from his trip to Paris for the Paris Masters. On the back, he’d written, ‘I missed you so much while I was here. Beat Moutet today, was exhausting though. The Eiffel Tower was pretty, but not as beautiful as you. I can’t wait for us to visit together someday. Thinking of you, like always - your Ben. 29th October 2024.’

Your throat tightened as you read it, picking up another, each postcard a snapshot of his travels and his thoughts of you and a recap of his day.

“Ben…” Your voice wavered as you blinked back the sudden sting of tears.

“I thought… you know, since I can’t always bring you with me, this might be the next best thing...show you 'm always thinkin' of you..,” he said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

Tears pricked at the corners of your eyes as you leaned forward, cupping his face in your hands. “I love you so damn much,” you whispered, kissing him softly.

The last gift from him was a music box, its sleek wooden exterior engraved with delicate designs. When you opened it, a soft, familiar melody filled the room, your song, the one that played on loop the night of your first date together, the one that followed you around on dates, whenever you thought of him, when he asked you to be his.

The song that holds you while he's away, swirling you in memories and warmth.

You couldn’t speak, the lump in your throat too heavy, so you simply leaned into him, letting the music wash over you both as he held you close while tears spilt.

“Best Christmas ever?” he murmured against your temple, his arms wrapped securely around you.

You nodded your voice barely a whisper. “Easily. Thank you. For all of this. For everything.”

Ben grinned, pressing a kiss to your hair. “Good. ‘Cause it’s only getting better, every year we spend together. Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, Ben.”

The day melted into an easy rhythm, filled with shared smiles, easy conversation and soft laughter. Ben slid onto the couch beside you with two steaming mugs of hot chocolate, the faint aroma of chocolate and cinnamon wafting through the air. Tiny marshmallows floated on the surface, slowly melting into sugary perfection.

He handed you a mug before settling in, his arm naturally curling around your shoulders. You nestled into his side, your legs draped lazily over his lap as the opening scenes of Home Alone flickered across the screen.

Ben's fingers found your knee, tracing lazy, absentminded circles as Kevin's antics brought out bouts of laughter from both of you. The sound of his laugh, deep and warm, made your heartache in the best way. You couldn’t help stealing glances at him, at the way the soft light of the TV played against his features, highlighting the curve of his smile.

As the afternoon slipped away and the golden hues of the setting sun painted the sky, Ben stretched, the movement causing you to shift slightly against him. He leaned back, his head tilting toward you with a familiar, mischievous glint in his eye.

“You know,” he started, his tone playful but laced with something deeper, “I think I still haven’t unwrapped the best gift.”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking as you caught the suggestive lilt in his voice. “Oh?” you asked, feigning innocence.

Ben’s grin spread wider, the kind that sent a thrill straight through you. “Yeah. Pretty sure it’s sitting right next to me,” he said, his voice dropping lower as he leaned in closer, his nose brushing yours.

Heat crept up your neck, and you couldn’t hold back the shy giggle bubbling from your lips. “You’re terrible,” you murmured, unable to resist the teasing spark between you.

“Terrible?” he echoed, mock offended as his free hand slid to rest on your waist. “I think you mean charming.”

The air between you seemed to hum, charged with the promise of more as his thumb traced a slow, deliberate pattern over your hip.

“Mm, that's debatable,” you replied, your voice quieter now, the space between you shrinking.

Ben laughed softly, his lips grazing your temple before lingering near your ear. “Yeah? Let's change your mind then. I've been waitin' to have you all alone...” he whispered, the words full of warmth and something unspoken.

And in that moment, with the soft glow of the screen and the ocean waves whispering beyond the windows, the rest of the world fell away. Everything felt simple and complete, wrapped in the quiet kind of love that made the memory of this Christmas one you’d carry forever.

[mdhwrites]

whats your opinion on caleb and evelyn (at least from what very little we know of them-)

imo the whole caleb clawthorne thing is like. one of the most pointless things in the show ever

I have called them and their connection to Belos "TOH's final trick". TOH has a single trick up its sleeve that is great for fanfic writers and TERRIBLE for a narrative. They introduce really compelling relationships and ideas and then they never do anything with them. It happens with Amity and Luz, Amity and Willow, the Hexide Squad and the Coven System, Hunter and Belos, etc. etc. All of these concepts present tantalizing issues that one could really delve in deep to and find a lot of meaning... But TOH isn't interested. It is more interested in a blog about how deep Amity's character is implied to be rather than doing anything with that depth, hence why so many people hooked onto how awful the confrontation with her parents would eventually be and then the show itself just... Has her in like three minutes of that episode and her confrontation doesn't feel like the main point of it even if it's the climax. And then it's effectively over and any issue between Lumity is never brought up again.

Caleb and Evelyn are the same but with a bit of FNAF storytelling thrown in. The pictures are vague after all so people can interpret them in different ways for what they mean. The cast has been coy as to the actual events. It's a multiple choice backstory for your villain that ranges from irredeemable monster to sympathetic villain. That way the show can claim to have a complex villain that doesn't technically invalidate the fact that they have no interest in writing a complex villain, nor do they want to need to.

But it was also one straw too many. Lumity getting together paid off in some way that old narrative baggage of Amity's, even if less powerfully than it could have. Hunter being possessed and fighting off Belos doesn't have the weight it should and I have problems with how selfish the reasoning is rather than ideological but it is a payoff to that relationship. However, a genuinely real amount of time is spent in S3, and S2, building up that Belos is something more than a genocidal, egotistical asshole. Caleb and Evelyn are a LOT of this. So what's the payoff?

There is none. Beating him isn't an ideological victory. They don't come up like Lief did for beating Andrias to pay that off. In fact, they come up less in the final fight than they do during the fight in King's Tide where the heroes LOSE. So they spent some of the very limited time they had to wrap up their story on a subplot about Belos' backstory that doesn't actually inform us of anything, doesn't affect anything and has no payoff except the most obvious one.

It's literally Willow's story except for your PRIMARY ANTAGONIST'S BACKSTORY.

The fact that the majority of the meat of it is done in a really just AWFULLY animated set piece who's literal writing is boilerplate at best does not help it at all. The best parts of this mechanically are the portraits in Hollow Mind and they're vague and that's IT. Otherwise, it's clunky for the most part. I'll give the moment when monster Belos sees Caleb as he tries to take on a new form is neat but it tells us nothing and feels out of character in the end that he'd give enough of a shit to be haunted by his brother, especially after he's killed his brother so many times. Honestly, the Golden Guards looking like Caleb even NOW just makes me think the Collector is right: He likes hurting his brother. Why else would he not finally stop after the hundredth betrayal? Unless he gets off on the moment of their betrayal I guess.

It's just not good and a casual fan is going to like it even less because they won't really absorb and think the portraits so to them, it's just one really awkward sequence in the first special, an eerie sequence that doesn't add to anything in the second and then is sir not appearing in the third. That's not engaging.

Since little of it is engaging, it fails to function as a trick. After all, any magician will tell you that everything is about misdirection in their craft. Without it, a trick becomes nothing but smoke and mirrors instead of magic.

======+++++======

Btw, mentioned FNAF so may as well say here: Saw it and really liked it. I keep considering making a blog about it and then just... not.

I have a public Discord for any and all who want to join!

I also have an Amazon page for all of my original works in various forms of character focused romances from cute, teenage romance to erotica series of my past. I have an Ao3 for my fanfiction projects as well if that catches your fancy instead. If you want to hang out with me, I stream from time to time and love to chat with chat.

A Twitter you can follow too

And a Kofi if you like what I do and want to help out with the fact that disability doesn’t pay much.

[captainmvf]

Made this up last month for some peeps on Discord but here's the full deets:

Rusted Brakes Nutcracker AU

"Once upon a time in the land of toys and fantastical winters, was a little prince. The little prince loved playing with toy trains and loved to show them off. His mother warned him that boasting about his treasured trains made of gold and pearls would earn him the ire of other kingdoms but he did not listen. One day, the horrid Rat Queen grew jealous of such novelties and decided to steal them to play with them herself...

"Enraged, the little prince ordered the three best of his knights to go after his trains: His burly champion of gold and black leather, his most famous of wires and electricity, and his knight of the people he barely paid much attention to. The champion could part the waves of the rat minions with a single swing of his sword but was grievously wounded by all three of the Rat Queen's heads. The electrical knight was more cunning and offered to trade the trains for any other amount of riches but was thrown out of the castle with his makeup ruined...

"Yet, the third knight skillfully crept into the enemy's castle and was able to sneak all the way into the treasury. He secured the trains and was able to make off back to the castle with the little prince's most treasured belongings. However, what nobody but the Rat Queen knew is that she had put a powerful curse upon the glittering toys. To whoever were to take the toy trains from under her three noses were to become an enchanted nutcracker...

"Upon the third knight's return to his home and the toys given back, he fell to the floor with a clack and became a wooden doll with strong jaws. The little prince had no idea what to do as he was happy now that his trains were back and had no use for a nutcracker...

"The nutcracker ran away in the dead of night. No one has seen him since. With an angered Rat Queen causing turmoil and a kingdom in disarray as their little prince plays with his trains once more, it might take a miracle or some winter magic to get things back to normal...

"...just be careful, as there are many truths that may be hidden within this storybook fantasy."

Rusty the Knight of Rust and Smoke:

Rusty was the third knight!

He wasn't really looked fondly upon due to his rusting and how he was favored by the people of the Toy Kingdom.

He ran away since no one seemed to be able to help him figure out how to get him back to his real form and he was already getting teased for it by Greaseball and Electra. Rusty lives on the edges of the winter kingdoms and does his best to thwat the rats and their plans.

Rusty's the one to yank CB out of danger when stuff starts to go bump in the night at the guy's house and he partners himself up with him since the guy is out of depth as to what the hell all these rats are doing. He's gotta be the one to yank CB away from doing something stupid (flinging himself into battle without any armor).

CB's still caught up on the fact that this weird but beautiful nutcracker he's been gifted for his vintage toy collection has come to life and whisked him away on some adventure on how all rats are the root cause of evil in the world or something. He's ready to unleash a can of whoop-ass with the many hidden tools and knives he has on his person (and tries to keep them hidden when Rusty shakes him down before they enter a settlement of sorts). Despite being a bit of a nuisance, CB thinks Rusty is pretty neat and will try to ask as many questions as to how his wooden toy-ness works exactly.

CB the Knight of Candy and Smiles:

CB was the third knight!

He was favored very highly by Control but the little prince never spared him a second glance due to how 'well-behaved' he was in court.

He ran away since he had self-esteem issues because of above^ CB couldn't bear to be seen as imperfect and thus ran off before his friends got a good look at his face. Maybe Greaseball and Electra would have turned their smirking gazes at him. Nowadays he's on the edges of the kingdoms planting booby traps and tricks a-la Bugs Bunny style.

CB is letting Rusty tag along with him as they venture deeper into Rat Kingdom territory and the conspiracy of the Rat Queen unscrolls itself. CB is more of Rusty's bodyguard and likes to tell him entertaining stories and lies about the winter fantasy world. He's actually pretty surprised how well Rusty is with tools and such and would hate to be on the other end of a power drill within Rusty's hands.

Rusty still thinks this is some kind of nightmare that he really needs to wake up from. His adoptive father figure gave him this kind of creepy nutcracker as an early Christmas gift since it's an heirloom and now it's come to life and quoting late twentieth century pop culture references at him. He kind of finds this endearing, even if there are rat creatures trying to bite his face off. There's a bit of a 'too tired to deal with this' attitude from him as every person in this winter fantasy land loves to monologue and Rusty just wants to go back to sleep.

[tf2-oneshots]

perhaps this is a little niche, but could i please get a one shot where scout takes pauling over to his family’s house just to hang out and pauling meets his mom and has a gay awakening? thinking it could be a little humorous. thank you in advance!

Lesbian Pauling for the win!!

Warnings: none!

Rating: General

“Okay, heads up, my brother Robbie is a bit of an asshole. Don’t leave your purse alone with him. Oh, and Parker is a mega vegan. Like, the kind who guilt trips you everyday.” Scout warns Miss Pauling as they drive to his house. The two had taken a long break from one another after she gave a violent ‘No’ to Scout asking her out for the 80th time.

It was awkward, hell, painful even for Scout to hear her voice for contracts. The voice that, in a fit of frustration, very clearly pointed out every flaw in him. From the surface of his mediocre appearance to the depths of his narcissism, Pauling had to be absolutely sure that Scout would finally stop hitting on her. A rant she apologized for a few days later before they agreed to keep anything between them strictly professional for the time being.

Its a few months later now, and the two carefully built a friendship. No ulterior motives, no briefcase alarms being set off for dates, just two people existing as friends. It was a massive relief on both of their ends. Scout was finally able to meet a girl who was head over heels for him, which was evident by the photographs filling his wallet. For Pauling, she was able to hold a real conversation with the man without fighting to not sound too friendly.

“Oh, I’m well aware. I did an extensive background check on your family before you were hired. You have a third cousin in Nantes.” Scout, having no idea where that is, simply nods and takes out his wallet to admire his beautiful girlfriend.

Pauling parks along the curb seeing how crowded the driveway was. Cars ranging from neat business class vehicles to a sunflower oil hippie van to a beater on its last legs fill the pavement and pour into the road. Walking towards the house, neither of them have a chance to knock on the door before it swings wide open.

“Germy’s home!!” Robbie loudly announces with his younger brother, Hunter, jumping onto his back. While the two move aside to wrestle by the stairs, Parker steps into view. His wool sweater, up-cycled jeans, and sandals are the same from when Pauling did her background check. As in, stalking every family member to insure that no one would cause any trouble if Scout was hired.

“Well, you must be Miss Pauling. Tell me, do you think animals are—“ Before Parker can finish, Hunter is thrown onto him. The two crash to the floor, one laughing and the other groaning in pain. It was Robbie who threw Hunter, and now he looks at them in his tattered hoodie and stained jeans.

“Pauling? The girl that said she wouldn’t date you ever? Never ever? Not even if you were dead? That Pauling?” An obnoxious laugh. Scout grumbles, shoving past his older brother as they walk into the house. He’s immediately met with Robbie stealing his hat and grinding a knuckle into his head.

“Lighten up, loser! I’m just messing around. You’ve always been a sensitive little baby.” Ever since Scout was added to the massive family, he was known as the crybaby. Always ready to throw a tantrum and run into mommy’s arms because, as the baby, he should be comforted the most.

“Ma! Robbie’s bullying me again!” Scout bolts towards the kitchen, ready to play his role. The youngest sibling who can do no wrong and is always doted on. While Robbie runs after him, Pauling is guided to the living room where the remaining siblings are. Each one she recognizes in an instant.

Lawrence sits in a neat suit; the one he typically wears for out of office parties or when he wins a lawsuit and wants to celebrate. Dean is next to him in ironed slacks; the ones he wore during the most recent school faculty picture day. The last brother, Carter, was sketching a coastline using a Smooth Art brand pen to ink the graphite. Some of the majorly useless information she had gathered, but Admin wanted every detail documented.

“Ow, ow, ow!” And here comes Robbie, ear pinched between two vermillion almond nails. Next to him was Scout, tucked against his mother with a pout on his face. Pauling can even see fake tears. That’s when she gets a look at Scout’s mother. Her eyes go wide, shocked to see such a gorgeous woman.

Seeing that Spy’s relationship with her resulted in Scout, Pauling didn’t have to divulge into her personal life as intently as Scout’s siblings. Everything had already been done by Spy, neatly documented with the name Caroline printed onto the file.

“Robert Bennick, apologize for being rude in front of our guest.” Caroline orders, head turning to kiss Scout’s forehead. He had bent down for her to do so, which also allowed Caroline to brush his hair. A red kiss mark was left on Scout, and Pauling desperately wishes she was the one getting kissed right now.

Over the years, Miss Pauling assumed herself to be a non-romantic person. She was never one to seek out a love interest even as far back as her childhood. Head always stuck in a book or admiring pretty ladies in science magazines, which was probably an indicator back then, her love life was simply nonexistent. Something she was content with until this very moment.

Caroline has an hourglass figure beneath her low cut red dress. Her red lips are plump, perfectly kissable as they shine from the living room light. Hooded brown eyes with shaped eyebrows give Robbie a disappointing look as he mutters out an apology. Her manicured nails finally let go of his aching ear.

“Very good. I swear, you boys always find a reason to tease my little Slugger.” Cue seven faces of surprise and shock at the audacity of the statement. None vocalized their disagreement, however. Not when their poor, helpless little brother was still being coddled by Ma.

“Oh! You must be Miss Pauling. You can call me Caroline. I’m so glad you and my baby patched things up.” She approaches and drags Pauling into a tight hug. Her glasses are pushes askew from the squish, and Pauling is struggling to form words. The smell of lavender perfume fills her nose.

“Haha, um, I-I—oh, I forgot something—my phone! I forgot my phone in the car!” Freeing herself from the hug, she hopes that the sweat on her forehead isn’t too visible before running out of the house. As Pauling bolts to the car, Scout is quick to catch up with her.

“Dude, why’d you run? You never forget your phone.” Said item was currently tucked into the front of black purse held in her hands. Scout rubs the back of his neck, afraid that the chaos of his home scared off his friend. Sure, they’re a messy little cluster, but they all love each other!

“I ran cause-cause your mom-your mom’s pretty—I mean hot—I mean pretty hot!” Okay, maybe she should stop talking! Pauling really needs to shut up right now. She puts a hand in her hair to push the messy bangs out of her face.

“What?! Oh, my god! That’s my mom, dude! What the heck?!” Scout stands in horror. How could she say that? He’ll admit, growing up, he got the plenty of annoying milf comments about his mom. Enough to make him break noses and never bring guy friends over for years.

“I don’t know what happened! I just—I got all warm and sweaty, and she smells so nice!” Did she mention how soft her skin was? Those gentle hands had caressed her arm when they hugged. In her effort to explain the sudden infliction, it made Scout cover his ears.

“Lalala! Not listening! That’s my Ma! Not listening!” Scout groans, sinking to the curb. God, why does this always happen? Maybe Scout needs to just never invite anyone over to his Ma’s house again. Might be the only way to keep everyone from trying to date his mom!

“Sorry. Uh, can we go back inside?” A nervous chuckle. Pauling fixes her hair, trying not to look like she just had a gay awakening. Maybe she can sneak another hug from Caroline.

“Fine, but don’t hit on my mom.” Like that can stop Pauling. She has the house’s phone number, address, and Caroline’s work schedule. She can call her any day of the week to set up a date. Hell, Pauling will do it the second she gets home!

I love women -H

[finn-m-corvex]

Jaya Week 2023 Day 7: Forever

This has been a long time coming! It took quite a bit of working (and reworking, and re-reworking) to get this one ready, but it's finally here. I hope you guys enjoy reading this as much as I loved writing it. Happy Jaya Week everyone!!!

Words: 2.3k

No tws!

[REUPLOAD!]

Forever had always been a strange word to her.

No concept could ever truly be infinite, right? Even things that humankind defined as symbolically never having an end, like the ocean or the sky or even time itself; all of those things would come to an end. You would eventually reach the bottom of the sea, and there was always going to be a point in the sky where you would never be able to go any higher. Time was a construction of humanity’s own design in Nya’s opinion; if we had never named it, then nothing would know that it existed.

Which is why Nya thought it was silly that people thought love was eternal; that its depths were truly endless, that it could never be conquered. If something as vast as the ocean, as free as the sky, as stringent as time could never be eternal, then how could love be forever? How could it never have an end?

Love was fragile. Love was limited. Love was a shackle wrapped up in a neat little bow hidden in a gift box that life handed to you with the most dubious of intent.

And Nya hated it.

She loved her brother, of course, but she had always loved Kai for as long as she could remember. That kind of love she could understand. But how could you ever meet someone and love them so much to ever let them occupy a space like that in your heart? Or an even bigger one?

Then she met Jay Walker, and she and her life philosophy were thrown for several different loop-de-loops.

Jay Walker was a lot of things. Jay Walker was loud. He was brash, he was impulsive, he was rambuctious, and somehow he still had more to his personality under the carefully waxed hood of concealed insecurities and fears. She would only see glimpses of what he kept hidden in the clouds of his head, quick flashes of traits that he (or someone else) had deemed undesirable before they were gone as quick as they had come.

Everyone thought that Jay’s lightning manifested itself in his seemingly motorized mouth, his quick reflexes and the natural speed and grace that flowed with his movements, but Nya always saw more to it than that.

It was in the way his hands would start sparking whenever he was excited, and he would rush to throw his insulating gloves on before he could hurt anyone. It was in the smile that could rival a thousand suns. It was the way he would stim when he was thinking, tapping his fingers or drumming his heel or clapping his hands or swinging his arms back and forth in a pattern that the others barely batted an eye at anymore. Things that normally would’ve driven Nya crazy, and yet somehow whenever she saw it from him, all she could feel was a warm gooey feeling in her chest.

She wasn’t expecting to fall quite as hard as she did, especially for a man like Jay Walker.

But love couldn’t last forever.

Love couldn’t compete with forces of nature like the sea and the sky; it would never be on the same level. If even the perfectionist known as Mother Nature couldn’t produce something that would last forever, was truly endless, how could the scrappy ne’er do wells known only as humanity?

The sky was the first one to fall apart under further scrutiny, if you defined scrutiny as a band of merry pirates that made it their home. Nya watched as the sky fought against the ones who tried to control it, lashing out every way that it could (she knew why it Jay was fighting so hard). The storms Ninjago saw while Jay was captive aboard the pirates’ ships were some of the worst recorded in its history, and all Nya could think was that the ‘endless’ expanse of the heavens was finally caged.

Heaven may not have been able to keep going, but Jay’s love did.

Jay’s love conquered the sky for her, and it was Nya’s first taste of how powerful it might actually be. Maybe it was enough.

“I love you,” he had told her once the whole ordeal was done. It was the first night after they had been dropped off at the billboard, Jay’s wish having undone everything except for their feelings and their scars. He had been looking at her with such earnesty, so much raw emotion that Nya couldn’t resist anymore. She kissed him for the first time since they had fought against the Overlord, her own emotions overflowing just like her element.

And for the first time in her life, Nya let herself get truly lost in the current of her love.

She was taken aback by how much it consumed her once she finally and truly let Jay in. He was like a whirlwind, sweeping her off her feet without a second thought and keeping her on her toes when she finally was set back down. Nya felt like she could do anything when Jay was by her side; that’s how much their love (her love) strengthened her, and she wouldn’t trade it for anything in the whole wide world. Maybe, just maybe, love could last forever.

That’s what she thought.

Love may have been able to outlast the sky, but it couldn’t outrun the sea.

Her heart was breaking as she saw the love of her life gasping for breath on the cheap couch, fighting for his life. He was pale, large bruises under his eyes from losing sleep over the past night. Nya had done her best to soothe him enough to let him get some rest, but he would only be asleep for an hour or so before the water in his lungs made itself known. She had dried his hair and taken the water from his clothes, but it wouldn’t respond to her call when she beckoned it out of her Yin.

“Nya,” Cole had said, sitting up by Jay’s head. He was cushioning the blue ninja’s head on his leg, “you need to rest. Let me and Zane take over.”

She shook her head, tenderly brushing Jay’s sweaty bangs out of his face from her spot at his side. “I won’t leave him. Not again.”

Cole had only sighed, watching as Jay’s eyes slowly blinked open. The whites of his eyes were bloodshot from the force of his coughing, and Nya could feel her heart squeeze like someone was trying to tear it out of her chest. She shushed him when her Yin tried to talk, instead pressing a gentle kiss to his mouth, and then his forehead, lips lingering.

“Go back to sleep, love,” Nya whispered, shutting her eyes and forcing back the tears that tried to push their way out. “I’m here, I’m here.”

His forehead felt uncomfortably warm, and Nya’s heart sank when she realized that a fever had set in. Jay was getting sicker.

And there was nothing she could do.

There is one thing, she had thought to herself later that day, staring out of the window and into the flood of water outside. But she knew there was no coming back from it if she did it, and she loved him too much to let go.

Jay was worse. They had elevated him on a couple throw pillows to try and help him breathe, but it was barely doing anything to help. Nya was wiping a cool cloth across his forehead, watching as his eyelids twitched and he started to twist his head from side to side. His nightmares had been getting worse too, and Nya hadn’t felt this helpless to stop them since their time in the lighthouse.

She sighed, reaching for his hand and stroking his knuckles with her thumb. When he didn’t settle down she brought the hand to her lips, pressing a kiss against each knuckle and holding his palm to her cheek.

“Breathe,” Nya said softly, her other hand going to hold his elbow when he violently twitched. He was going to hurt himself if he kept this up. “Breathe, Jay. You’re safe, I promise. We’re all here and safe, and everything’s going to be okay.”

Nya had made up her mind. She was going to make it okay, just like he had done for her.

Waiting until everyone was fast asleep was the easy part; the hardest part was letting go.

She was foolish to start believing that anything could last forever.

And that was it. Nya said goodbye one last time as she allowed herself to be swallowed up by the sea, and she could feel the love in the very core of her being, fighting and pleading and begging for her to swim back up to the surface and go back to him.

It wasn’t strong enough. She wasn’t strong enough; for all of Nya’s talk about being independent and leaning on no one but herself, she knew that she wouldn’t have been able to go without him. Jay could make it without her.

Forever was a hidden tragedy, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, because you never knew the end was coming until it was too late to stop it. The sea had won.

Nya blinked, and suddenly she remembered everything while swimming in the deep blue sea after a year forever of floating without a purpose and with no idea of who she had been. A lantern of all things had reawakened her: a light to finally guide her home.

The lighthouse where they had finally rekindled their relationship couldn’t have been farther away. When Nya finally showed up on the shore, staring up the stone stairs before making her way up. Memories washed over her, and she was pulled further and further into the tide as she climbed up and up and up.

“Jay!” Nya had yelled as she burst through the trapdoor. No one was there.

Where was he?

Nya had to find him. And she did.

And of course, because he was Jay Walker and because her brothers were the most stubborn people on the planet, they had broken Ashpeera out of prison and brought her back. She would’ve killed all five of them herself if she hadn’t been so worried to see them immediately getting carted off to wither away in Kryptarium Prison. Nya wouldn’t be Nya if she didn’t take the mech to go and break them out and eventually bring them back to the Samurai X cave for their proper reunion. 

She had been so relieved to finally see them, to hold them and to hug them and press kisses to all of their foreheads and get one back. Cole and Zane’s combined bear hug burst the dam that had been holding all of her tears back, and she could see them soaking into her brothers’ gis as she held them fast. Lloyd and Kai had borderline tackled her, Lloyd as a blubbering mess and Kai pretending like he wasn’t five seconds away from being another one. Nya finally let the sobs free that had been building up in her chest, and she heard as Kai broke down right alongside her.

Kai was warm against her, a familiar heat that she hadn’t felt for so long, and it helped to stave off the feeling of being perpetually soggy that had clung to her since she had come back. Her chest was threatening to explode from the pure love that filled her up to the brim.

But the feelings finally started to overflow when Jay had held her tight, lips pressed into her hair and hands clenched tightly into her gi. She pressed so many kisses into the crook of his neck, feeling his tears running down his cheeks as she rubbed between his shoulder blades. 

Pulling back to rest her forehead against his, Nya’s hands travelled across his shoulders and neck to cup his face. One of her thumbs was smoothing the skin across his jaw, the other wiping away his tears even though the tracks were replaced only moments later.

Nya was surprised to feel the stubble under her hands, but she couldn’t say that she minded it too much. “Hey, Jay.”

“Hey, Nya,” Jay whispered, tilting his head forward to press a sweet peck against her lips. Nya wanted more, so much more, but they had to reel it in while the others were still here.

Jay closed his eyes. “I missed you. I missed you so much.”

“I know,” Nya closed her eyes too, soaking up the feeling of having her Yin’s arms wrapped around her, as if someone had wrapped a large rubber band over a crumbling vase to keep it together. “I missed you too. I-I’m so sorry-”

“No.” Jay said firmly, and Nya’s heart squeezed when she heard the choked back sob in his voice. “No. No. You have nothing to apologize for. I should be the one telling you sorry, Nya.”

First Master, all of this time and he was still so hard on himself? She shouldn’t be surprised, actually. “I don’t want an apology, honey. I-I want you.”

“And you have me,” Jay sobbed, and he finally let his face crumple. “You have me now and forever.”

“I love you,” Nya’s voice cracked, and she buried her face in his chest. “I love you. I love you so, so much.”

“Forever?”

“Forever.” Nya affirmed, and she was amazed at how sure she was of herself.

His love had conquered the sky. Her love had triumphed over the sea. Maybe together it would be enough to outlast the last pillar of eternal life in nature: time.

Yeah, Nya thought to herself as her family pressed in around her in a loose circle, as Jay kissed her slowly and properly (just the way she liked), we can do that.

We can last forever.

[cousticks]

Thoughts on Gin and Kunikidarling?

OOooooooo boy

Gin I absolutely adore and wish we could see more. I'm constantly impressed by Gin. I talk about how much I love Gin a bit here but I can definitely go more in depth. We don't see a lot of Gin in the canon, honestly. But we know she doesn't have an ability. We also know she's a Black Lizard commander. Not just... some kid in the mafia, but a commander. And a highly skilled assassin in her own right. Like. Trained-by-Verlaine assassin. You don't get a command position in the mafia by being a one trick pony. Gin can strategize, lead a group, and is fully operable for stealth solo missions, hence the whole assassin bit. She's respected. I also think its kind of interesting how different her role is compared to her brother, who is more... flashy, comparatively. They come from quite similar backgrounds, other than Ryuunosuke having an ability, but Gin seems much more confident and assured in her skillsets. I just think she's really neat.

Beast Gin is really cool, too. She's one of the characters that seems the most different between the two universes, which is kind of interesting considering she's in the mafia in both. However Beastzai seems to have recognized the incredible skillsets Gin possessed in the original universe, and saw how all the same things that make Gin a good commander (strategy, independent thinking, etc) and assassin (remaining under-the-radar and nondescript while still constantly aware) make her a good secretary to the boss. Her talents are recognized as intrinsically useful and necessary in both universes. Like... if she was only useful to motivate Ryuunosuke, she could have just been anywhere in the mafia, kept under watch. But she's given an important position, because its an absolute waste not to. I think we should talk about how capable Gin is more because she kicks serious ass in every skillset and also because I just think she's cool.

As for Kunikida, all that needs to be said is that i'm in love with him. Of course i'll say more anyway though. Because I love him. Mr. "While we are an Armed Detective Agency." We joke about Kunikida being rigid and uptight in all such things with his carefully laid out schedule in his little book that operates his life, but when you get down to it Kunikida really is pretty adaptive. Whatever wrench is thrown in his plans, he always responds and takes action immediately, which I think is pretty admirable. Sure, he'd probably like to stay on schedule, but he's quick to recognize when things are simply not going to go his way and he needs to adapt. Like, you know, getting his ability ripped out of him by a fog and having to instead fight his way back to the agency to figure out what the hell is going on. Kunikida is constantly constantly proving how resourceful he is. He can have whatever he wants when he needs it with his ability, but is also still incredibly limited considering what he has. And while he's always ready for a fight and quite talented at it, he never jumps to anything that will do lasting damage. I'll always find the way he tends towards that grapple gun interesting and all the ways he can use it.

There's also Kunikida's tendency towards just kind of... making sure people are cared for, and taking responsibility for things he was involved in (whether it should be his responsibility or not). Case in point being Rokuzo, the boy from the Azure Messenger arc, that Kunikida had been basically providing for on the side because he felt bad about being involved in the case that killed his dad. He'd all but adopted the boy before Nobuko killed Rokuzo. (Hey, how much of the bit with Aya in the subway tunnel do you think felt like a flashback to Rokuzo for Kunikida? Poor guy has seen this happen too many times. Just let him adopt kids in peace.) He checks in on Katai, too. Once you're under Kunikida's protection just once, it kind of seems like that's a for-life deal, and I think that's a really neat aspect of him. Another way of looking at it kind of feels like his work is his life, but that work is not limited to the Detective Agency. Its his ideals coming through. I like him.

[captain-of-silvenar]

For Kerasil:

1, 3, 10

For Yera:

9, 11, 12

KERASIL

How are their parents? Are they good? Are they terrible? Are they dead?

I actually haven't really considered Kerasil's parents. If we look at the timeline, I created Yera first and then went backwards to make her parents. When I played ESO I never really thought to think one more step backwards.

Which could mean a few things tbh. Kerasil is a determined woman and I know she fought and worked hard to get her position as Captain of the Guard. I can imagine a little bit her parents or relatives are also of similar career paths and that inspired or encouraged Kerasil to follow suit. She also does have temper, and a desire to show that she is worth the position and bristles when she is told otherwise (directly or indirectly).

The temper had to come somewhere. The desire to show 'I am worth this!' had to come somewhere too.

I might have an inkling that Kerasil's parents were not as intense as her, more so relaxed and laid back and even this could've been a cause of conflict. Disinterested can hurt more than outright rejection, to try and get any sort of reaction than nothing at all.

I don't think Kerasil's relationship with her parents or extended family are in any means horrible, but there could've been more chances to get to understand why Kerasil had her interests in the first place.

Have they died before?

Once. Twice. Maybe too many times. Being a Vestige and knowing that your death is not permanent anymore is not always a blessing. It is different and othering; when time come and takes your friends and loved ones away to their final rest she cannot follow anymore.

What should be a checks and balances against risk are thrown to the wind; why worry when every wound and damage is healed over when she revives?

It's not something Kerasil likes thinking about. She doesn't want to use this to her advantage. Dying still hurts every single time and there isn't really anyone else out there that understands being immortal other than liches and dremora.

Not the kind of crowd Kerasil really wants to hang around if she wants to be honest.

How do their friends and family think of them?

Dedicated would be a word to describe Kerasil. Even when in the depths of darkness or world ending disasters, Kerasil is there to be a foundation and help everyone back onto their feet.

Loyalty amongs peers, she is reliable and if she can't solve it she can find someone else who can.

And amongst all of them, the one Kerasil likes to hear the most is that she is a caring individual. Her family at home is her greatest desire and gift. Everything revolves around them. Her duty to her city is important, but her family is in the city so it's almost a neat package to lace them near each other.

She's also stubborn, incredibly so. It has to be done this way, or it needs to be discussed argued otherwise. It would be at least a 'negative' trait that is openly discussed, though stubbornness can also have a positive. To not backdown at the first pushback, to keep ground when others would fall back.

YERA

Are they looking for someone to save them or do they think they’re beyond saving?

Yera does not want to be saved. From what? Oh there's a hundred answers to that.

Destiny, Fate, responsibilities, daily grind, her reputation, and the list goes on and on.

Being Dragonborn, being a Hero of Destiny, it comes with its own chains and burdens that Yera does not want anyone to carry. Yet even with all this future destiny stuff she had, she failed in spectacular ways (she thinks) in several situations.

There is nothing to save in her. Her duty is to save others. She can adorn herself in fine armor and golds, and good friends and peers. But despite all these beautiful trappings and coverings, Yera feels a deep turmoil in her that convinces her she cannot be saved.

Do they have a found family?

She does!

Lydia is her best friend and confidant. Anything Yera thinks and desires, Lydia has a 90% chance of guessing it right.

The Thieves Guild is a big ol' found family of the most unusual sorts. Sure, they're criminals and thieves, and honor is a loose idea among themselves only. But hey, they supported Yera when Mercer's betrayal was revealed. They keep supporting her after it was revealed she was Dragonborn and needs their services for a lot of her work.

They respect Yera as a Guild Master, and also her role in Skyrim's destiny. She has their best interests in mind, and in return they give their best to her.

The Thieves Guild Trust Fund is also an excellent way to pay for a lot of strange and unusual needs as Dragonborn.

Do they have any self-destructive habits?

Oh. Oh this is a good bad one.

Yera has a clear case of savior complex; more so she feels an overwhelming guilt to make up for not taking up her role in destiny sooner. So she takes any and all tasks giving to her, mostly. Nothing incredibly inane or purposely demeaning. But she'll go into that cave to rescue a family heirloom. She'll clear out that bandit encampment no one else has been able to. She'll fight that dragon solo if she needs to.

When Yera starts something, she does not stop.

For anything.

Not her own health, not for sleep, barely for food and water.

"Only I could do it, and why would I put it off?" would be her response.

A lot of her self-destructive habits are layered from trauma back at home, when she was unable to help defend against the Thalmor when they started taking over Valenwood. She knows she alone could not have saved her whole city, but the guilt lives in her mind.

When she came to Skyrim and did not start her destiny, people and towns were wiped off the map and she holds these as personal sins against herself.

She needs Lydia there to remind her to sleep, to eat, that another day of rest will not hurt the people. Yera has gotten better with her support network around her, but it's incredibly easy for her to fall back into these tendencies. Especially since her increasingly more draconic traits start bleeding into things: more stamina, more energy, more durability.

Yera is a master of burning herself out and not realizing it until her muscles and mind finally peter out and force her to collapse.

[runimanio]

2024 Game Clear #4 Mega Man X: Command Mission

This is an interesting one, a tradition turn based Mega Man X RPG that has much to love, but also leaves me wanting in a lot of way. Perhaps because this is the final X series game I needed to play it also left me thinking about the storytelling & characterization of the X series so this will probably be a long one

The story here is that a maverick named Epsilon has formed a army aptly named the Rebellion Army to occupy Giga City and form a reploid supremist state and now the Maverick Hunters must intervene! If your familiar with the X series this will sound extremely in line with the general plotline the action games tended to have & it's clear that the developers really wanted to translate as much stuff and mechanics from those games into a RPG format (there's even a boss rush teleport room at the end!)

That thinking creates a pretty neat battle system but being so loyal to the plot structure of the main series X really does the story of a RPG & the new charters a disservice, you could very easily cut this 20 hour game into a standard X platformer & lose very little of the actual meat.

X and Zero are fully in their deadly serious mode that they've been in in for the late series X games, gone are Zero's days of confidently giving a thumbs up we're full broody edge lord & X is in cop mode at all time which is a shame since this could've been a great way to really explore these two in more depths then normally allowed.

I liked the new characters but they don't really get anything to do here, after their recruitment there character arc is pretty much done & i'm pretty sure Spider aside, the other 3 maybe talked to Zero & Axel maybe once throughout the entire game. I wish I could tell you anything about Marino or Cinnamon other then what written on the tin. Massimo is a brute struggling to live up to his mentor name, Marino is a thief who unexpectedly finds herself embroiled into the conflicted, Cinnamon is a living blacksmith forge i guess? And Spider is a bounty hunter who's later actions makes me question his early actions. They all have a lot of potential they're just unserved.

Let's move on to a lighter note for a bit, This battle system is pretty cool, it uses a turn system similar to the Digimon Story games (it's probably comes from something older but I'm blanking lol) where you can see the upcoming order of who moves first & even have your unit act multiple times before your enemy can under the right circumstances, two buttons can be equipped with special weapons that use Weapon Energy to fire and can be used before taking your action for the turn. Instead of healing items you have sub tanks you can collect and fill that you can pull from for healing.

Action Trigger are essentially limit breaks where you use all your weapon energy & play a little mini game for a big attack, its a little repetitive and i don't love doing a Mario Party style stick rotation for Cinnamon's heal trigger but it's fine & everyone has a hyper mode which is a temporary transformation that massively buffs the character or even in some cases change out their weapons and Action Triggers, X and Zero have secret unlockable Hyper modes that are super OP and fun to use.

It's a really fun and unique system & I do appreciate that I never really felt I need to grind but it can get pretty old when your binging through the game since enemy can feel pretty spongy and the encounter rate sometimes can a little aggressive where I'll get out of a battle and slightly adjust myself to get my barring again only to be thrown back into a battle immediately but sometimes i would go several rooms without any encounters so it probably varies.

And when you get lost the constant battles can be grating & getting lost can be easy as the entire game looks like this

All the stages feel like I'm exploring a bunker with almost entire game being made up of narrow hallways, even Giga City the city in the sky kinda just feels like another a bunker also slight tangent about the game's world it's funny that even in this RPG the X world is devoid onscreen humans, I don't know what Sigma and all the other Mavricks are complaining about, seems like the humans are doing a great job leaving reploids alone!

It probably sounds like I really didn't like the game but I did ultimately enjoy the game but I just see so much untapped potential in this game, these characters & this world, I can imagine a version of this game were Massimo has a longer character arc struggling with feeling like he's failing to honor the mantle, Maybe Marino learning to believe in the cause, More of Cinnamon learning what she wants to do beside just being a actual tool for people to use. My mind races with possibilities with this world & I only got a fraction of what I would've liked.

I truly wish it got a sequel because this is a very solid base to build on & really Mega Man has always been an iterative franchise but in hindsight of all the baggage the next generation would bring, the mega man recession of the late aughts, & Inafune gaining more power within Capcom & apparently hating the idea of a X RPG to begin with Command Mission was probably made at the last possible moment it could've been made.

Anyway here's some random thought to end off on

recontextualizing Axl's A Trans ability into summons is very cool

Everyone in the city getting new dialogue as the story progresses is neat

Cinnamon's design uses the red cross logo so this game is a violation of the Geneva Convention

I'm not really sure why they needed this to take place in 22XX causing it to have no place in the timeline due to the Zero games also taking place then other than maybe wanting to remove themselves from the earth is damaged after X5 continuity idk

This version of Ultimate Armor is crazy, X ain't playing around anymore no way Dr. Light signed off on this lol

After her chapter Marino never vocally speaks again for the rest of the game, she didn't deserve to be done like that.

Absolute Zero is very cool

Shout out to my friend Talion for gifting this to me for Christmas, thanks buddy!

[mus3t3l]

pre-debut: must dc universe

Okay, so my latest library section is the best family and I have been reading fanfiction and all the fan art. And I am building my own timeline. In this household assistant DC stands for dream canon or disregard canon, cause I am combining universes/timelines and also adding my own headcanons (neat stuff I like, not canon).

So I am starting my universe with Bruce Wayne because he and Barry Allen have the most eventful childhoods outside the original superheroes. Superman too, but for all intentions and purposes, I am going to write the family first, cause I am the most knowledgeable about them.

Anyway, the incident is the same as usual. Bruce wishes to see a movie, and when they get out, they are attacked by a man. They give him the money, but when he sees a pearl string on Martha's neck, he rushes for her. Thomas tries to intervene, but the man is nervous and trigger-happy and shoots him and Martha. Before he can go for Bruce, people are coming, and the perpetrator runs. Commissioner Gordon, as per usual, is the one to respond and takes the boy back.

that day, for a long long time, will stay as Bruce Wayne's worst and longest day. there will come other moments, that will take him down darker paths, but 10-year-old Bruce Wayne losing his parents on his birthday and having to spend it in police custody will forever be one of the loneliest moments in his life.

the media shitshow was to be expected and with his offering a small bit of protection. A little silver lining was that during this time, Bruce was too sad and hollow to check or care about the news, with Alfred doing the most to protect him. In the end, the day of the funeral came. It was a somber affair, a cold autumn day, yet filled with sunlight. There were more people there, some he knew as friends, acquaintances, or business partners. And others he did not know. The Wayne enterprise was a large part of the Gotham infrastructure, and beyond that, the Waynes had always positioned themselves as mediators, which had gotten them quite a number of friends on all sides. To be fair, considering the company they kept, and the weight behind the Kane and Wayne name, it was quite surprising that they had died in such a mundane way, at the hands of a man who hadn't even known the full depth of his actions.

Speaking of family ties, some figures Bruce recognized, or at least knew who they were supposed to be were the Kanes. his mother's brothers Nathan, Philic, and Jacob. (Bette does not have a named dad, so Philip it is)

he recognizes them because there is Bette. his cousin is older, but not necessarily wiser. she stands with her father Phillip, and Nathan, and by their side is another man, with two identical redhead little girls. His uncle, Nathan, quickly shows Bruce his latest uncle jacob.

"he is in the military and just arrived yesterday. these are his daughters, kate and Elisabeth." Nathan is much nicer about them, probably because jacob and gabi married, unlike bette's mother, who had run away. it is a stiff affair, the burial.

as luck would have it, while her father utterly detested Thomas and had practically thrown Martha away as soon as her engagement had hit the news, Nathan was much more reluctant to part with the memory of his sister. To Bruce's surprise, Nathan actually managed most of his life well enough, not only making sure Wayne enterprise and his sister's charitable projects did not go under but that they flourished. (* because Thomas is canonically a medic, I actually like the idea of Martha running the business side, meeting and charity events. this would have made her quite a popular figure throughout Gotham. but the fact that is was the CEO/director would have appeared strange to outsiders, as Thomas had appointed her: legally, she was not the CEO, but basically she was the one approving everything.)

it was on a personal side where he had a more difficult time. During his first few weeks, Bruce had been almost catatonic. Worried and in spite of Alfred's advice, he sent Bruce away to board school. After a disastrous year where Bruce had made a marathon out of getting kicked out of every prestigious school, England, Switzerland, etc., the only thing he ended up getting out of it being a tenuous friendship with one Oliver queen. In the end, one shouting match later, Bruce was returned to Gotham, with Alfred as his guardian - it had been a difficult task to prove that the would appoint Alfred as such from the beginning had been correct. Nathan Kane would not speak to Bruce further, dying before any sort of possible mending of the relationship, but still keeping Wayne ent afloat.

after this, Alfred would send Bruce to therapy, and start training him in boxing and shooting. Bruce would finish high school early, at 16, and would try to go to college for medical school for one semester. there, he would be in the same study group with one harleen quinzelle(headcanon, i know, might change), and would tentatively meet one upperclassman, Harvey Dent, the other Gothamite on campus in his year(*he did not go to Gotham u to evade nepotism, and applied under a different name.)

he went away after one semester, and upon a long and difficult contemplation, he decided he would take a gap year, before deciding on his future.

! Next: batman begins! We meet people from the past, while moving towards the future

[pcketknves]

previously had various different single muse blogs before i completely nuked them in favor of just having one neat little packaged multimuse , and therefore had various carrds done to match those muses . down below are the several muses i am currently high in activity for and am more than excited to write . ( those highlighted in red are high priority muses and will therefore be more preferred to write , but is subject to change ) . muses in pink are muses i will go back to writing under specific conditions / for specific writing partners but are otherwise on the backburner .

Life is Strange's Nathan Joshua Prescott ; i've not gotten to write him just yet in full depth , though there are plenty of ideas i have for him in terms of building chemistry between certain characters and have thrown him into the texas chainsaw massacre verse in hopes to explore his psyche a bit more in the realm of something truly horrid .

Devil May Cry 5's V ; still a little nervous about this one solely for the fact that i am not a poetic person by any means . attempting this muse means trying to move out of my comfort zone which is something that is a bit thrilling in nature . i do tend to write this one as doomed by the narrative and therefore will likely never know a moment's peace .

Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Leland McKinney ; previously had a single muse blog dedicated to our favorite golden retriever . all of his unique information can be found in his carrd as i'd hoped to make him much more interesting that whatever it is gun thought they were doing with his supposed canon lore .

Texas Chainsaw Massacre's Johnny Slaughter ; what was my primary muse , he hasn't wholly lost his spot among the ranks , though he isn't as prominent in my list of muses to write . i will still write him , but wish to focus on other muses to give this one a little bit of time out of the spotlight so i can try out other themes i've not yet had the opportunity to write .

The Last of Us' Ellie Williams ; a somewhat new muse to the roster , she is a character i am heavily interested in writing and will therefore likely prioritize her above other muses . currently , i wish to be able to explore apocalyptic settings , and want to delve a little deeper into her thoughts and feelings .

Dragon Ball Super's Beerus , God of Destruction ; not having picked this muse up since 2018 ( and back on twitter no less ) , i may be a little rusty with this one . he's a character i'll have to brush up on personality wise , but other than that , still feel a bit comfortable and confident in writing . ( if there's any questions , feel free to ask me about this one ) .

[writingforatwistedworld]

Hiya! I saw that your requests were open, so if you don't mind, how about Lilia, Rook, and Floyd with the picking them up and saying, "your mine" scenario?

Not entirely happy with this. Might post a rewritten version one day.

Self-aware au

I do not take any responsibility for you reading this no matter which age group you are from!

WARNINGS: Yandere themes, kidnapping, poison, murder, killing, blood, mutilation, obsession, possessiveness

Oh uh.... you sure you want to do this?

He will do a bit more than to squeeze you afterwards....

Ok a lot more than just “a bit”

But let us talk about what is going on

Floyd being the... eely eel that he practically throws himself at you when he sees you for the first time

And then like a cartoon you just pick him up and throw him over your shoulder

Jade is frozen in shock and Azul has sunken to the floor, also wanting to be treated like a sack full of potatoes

He is giggeling the entire time

Finally! You are here and you are even taking him with yourself!

Now, that potion on Azuls shelf was supposed to give a land dweller fins, right?

And combined with the other one he should also make it impossible for you to leave him...

His father also once showed him a house in the deepest depths of the sea. Maybe that would be a neat little new home for you....

I would recommend when you are putting him down not to move

Why? If not you will have I say goodbye to your ribs

But it's too late anyways. I hope you like the endless darkness of the sea

Suddenly the oh so slick hunter isn't so slick anymore

More like a tomato

Rooks entire career as a hunter could be easily questioned right now

Reason for that is his very loud and very not-so-hidden movements

It all started on a normal, sunny day

The birds were chirping, the sky was free of clouds and you, his dear Overseer, we're approaching him with open arms

Wait... what? No he has to be dreaming! This is too perfect to be real! This...

All I'm saying is that a potato sack cosplay in ordinary daily clothing

Also, he isn't thrashing around because he dislikes it

Oh no, in fact, he could stay like this for eternity

Rook is just a bit shy you kmow

Ok, hard to believe, I know, but believe it or not, the hunter is weak as soon as something is about you

Under normal circumstances he would have played it off, acting as if everything was normal

But nope, he is being carried by you to Ramshackle

When you finally set him down and guide his head onto your lap he is ready to do anything for you

Even if that means preventing the heart of his queen to you

First of all, probably the easiest one to carry

Second of all, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!!

Run. Just start running already. WHY ARE YOU CONTINUING TO CARRY HIM??!

Lilia, like the little annoyance *ahem* charming gentleman that he is enjoys every second of this

Yes, it is a bit different than what he imagined if he ever were to meet you but he takes what he can get

And also, is happy that he is on the smaller side and easy to carry

He can see Sebek in the distance who is wondering if Jade had mixed one of his more poisonous mushrooms into his food this morning

Ah! You are quite strong dear! Those hands that are so bloodstained finally pay off!

And then! AND THEN! You even say that he is yours!

Ok either you wanted him to imprison you in a lavish mansion in the middle of nowhere and play family or you have no survival instinct

The second someone just looks funny at you two they can prepare to loose a rather important body part later... the head...

Grace and all of that is thrown out of the window. Only your shoulder which is digging quite painfully into his stomach

This is self-aware Lilia so somewhere in his twisted little head he is also swooning for that sweet sweet sensation of... pain... did he take a stabbing too much in the past of what the heck??!

Yes, he is all yours! And you are all his!

Don't think about leaving though. He has... means to make you stay (somewhere down there it's absolutely fine to just cut off your legs if nothing else works so yeah)

Enjoy the time you are still able to stroke his soft hair whilst resting his head on your lap after setting him down in Ramshackle

You won't be seen afterwards ever again so... I hope your arms don't get tired too fast!

Good luck!

[ivyruins]

Your stuff is wonderful! I've read all of it and it made me feel very fluffy. Speaking of fluffy, I was wondering what you think the BP LI's sleeping habits are like? Such as what their beds are like, any special before- or during-bed rituals they have, what positions they sleep in, do they tend to do anything while asleep, etc. Go as light or in-depth as you'd like!

AAAAAAA

thank you so much anon for sending me this!!!! i immediately got so excited, this is such a fun thing to imagine! (and i got so soft writing this). i hope you don't mind i added the mc as well~

also this is !! lowkey self indulgent, NO REGRETS

Nightowl's bed is definitely messy, we can already see his background has a lot of stuff on it, such as the teddy bear, led/fairy lights, and posters- there was no doubt his bed was as equally disorganized.

that bed is multipurpose. rated e for everything. studying, snacks, reading; right after he goes out, he probably immediately lies down there as well. but despite that, it wasn't littered with crumbs or sandy like the beach. nightowl tries to keep it clean- and it works... sometimes. stuffed animals of his and yours would take over the bed, and it would also be filled with countless of pillows (he refuses to just sleep with one. or two.) and a lot of blankets. its a heap, but you can say its a comfortable mess! lie down and you'd sink right in. its really comfortable.

i like to think nightowl has a skincare routine too. IMAGINE HAVING FACE MASKS TOGETHER :(( he just has candles set up to relax together, movie on but you don't even pay attention to it, talking and laughing over the movie about something completely different

imagine doing his skincare for him. he just sits there on the bathroom counter and you reach up, trying to pull his hair back and when you fail to get all the hair from his head, he just grins so smugly and lean down to kiss you.

sleeping with him (in the literal sense) is pretty comfortable. he loves to cuddle, but to be honest, even if you don't cuddle going to sleep you'll always end up in his arms one way or another through out the night. you'd think he's doing it on purpose, waking up to hug you in the middle of the night, but nope! he does it in his sleep, unconsciously.

Quest's bed is tidy, just like him. neat and clean, and it's only used for sleeping (and... special occasions). he makes it every day before going off to work, and it's rare for him to actually end up sleeping there. he spends most of his nights at work, so the bed there is really just to make the bedroom a bed room.

quest doesn't really have any routines. he does like to read, though. probably does every night. a book by his nightstand. sometimes the sleepiness gets to him before he finishes a page, so he ends up closing it without a bookmark, so he has to find it again the next day.

if you'd like to, he'd read for you! he's literally the sweetest. you lay on his shoulder, eyes droopy as you try to focus on the book in front of you, but slowly, your vision blurs, his calm, gentle voice soothing you to sleep. once you do, quest would plant a kiss on your forehead, read a little bit more, before he himself falls asleep. book set on his lap, bedside lamp still on.

before bed they like to listen to music to wind down after a raid. it's not really a routine they decided on- they just decided to do it one day when they couldn't sleep, but they do it often enough that it sort of became one. they sleep with their headphones on sometimes because of this.

NakedToaster's bed is pretty normal, surprisingly! there are a few clothes thrown on top of it because they put them all on his chair, but when they game, they switch the clothes over to his bed. but other than that, their bed is pretty clean. they make the bed sometimes (he probably sleeps on top of the blankets right after gaming ... )

during sleeping, toaster wakes up at the most random times. you know that feeling of falling when you're asleep so your body jerks you back awake? yeah, they have those almost everyday. for some reason, their brain is always active and running, and it messes with their sleep a lot. you often find them gasping awake from one of those jerks, or sleep paralysis. if you're a light sleeper and wakes up from it, you'd try to soothe them back to sleep, and they'd apologize profusely. but if you dont wake up from it, they'd lean down and hug you, laying their head between your shoulder blades, and try to fall back asleep.

Xyx doesn't really care for what his bed looks. there's one thing that can't seem to be away from the area though, and that was cat fur. it was everywhere. and it wasn't as if he didn't try to keep it cat fur-free, it just comes back every day. he doesn't mind it, though. he let's cat curl up with him in bed, though he'd neverrr admit it.

cat is the luckiest!!! you and xyx love it so much, cat curls in between the pillows where you sleep and sometimes rubs it's head against you (xyx jokingly claims cat is having favorites because the feline seems to always be with you, and warns the little devil to not steal you away from him).

xyx's sleeping positions are different every day. its like shuffling cards, you never know what's the order. he is fond of sleeping back to back, though. he's the type to have deep conversations whilst trying to fall asleep. he has his walls up, but at these moments he'd let them down just a little bit, and you'd be able to learn more about him (if you weren't sleepy listening).

xyx likes to sleep facing the opposite of you- he prefers it that way, it feels comfortable. but sometimes, when days are really tough for him, he turns around, wrapping his arms around your waist and holding you so tight as if you'd dissapear if he ever let you go.

though sometimes, it's you who hugs him, to which he'd chuckle, wrapping his arms around you, "clingy are we, doll?" and fall asleep just like that.

as far as routines go, xyx doesn't really have any that stuck with him long enough to be called a routine. though he did try writing at one point, probably recommended to him by someone he long forgotten. when days were tough for him, he'd pull out a scrap of paper. or an old journal he found somewhere in a box in his storage room. or receipts. anywhere that he could write. and then he'd fall asleep after writing all his worries away. but he stopped sometime before you came, lost motivation to do it. it just stressed him out more looking at the pages in the morning.

[oftenderweapons]

Dirty ABCs | Jungkook and Candy

Let’s celebrate birthday boy with early NSFW alphabet!!! LET’S GOOOOO

Pairing: Jungkook x reader/OC (Candy)

Wordcount: 2.1k

Genre: headcanons

Rating: 18+. Minors, do not interact.

Here’s my masterlist, enjoy!

Trigger warnings: switch!jk, switch!candy, swearing. Unprotected sex (penetrative and oral — REMEMBER TO USE PROTECTION AND GET CHECKED REGULARLY), double penetration, quickies, creampie, cockwarming, cum eating. Marking, biting, scratching. Masturbation, boobjobs. Mention of mommy kink. Public foreplay, semi-public sex, exhibitionism. Degradation, praise kink, dirty talking, edging, sensory deprivation, overstimulation, multiple orgasms. Predator/Prey dynamics. Choking. Bondage. Toys (vibrators, cockrings, sex swing… 👀). Mild torture (?). Platonic spanks.

Beta read by my better half, @joheunsaram

Aftercare: Jungkook likes cuddles and pillow talk after sex. He’s very traditional about it. He enjoys how vulnerable he feels and how tender Candy is towards him. He really enjoys the softness of it all, and most importantly being babied. He wants tiddies and a nap. Candy is all about spoiling her boyfriend after he’s burnt out and satisfied. She loves how pliant and open he feels afterwards, how easy it is to connect with him and just let him vent about his worries.

Body part: Another tiddie man. He just loves how soft and relaxing it feels to rest his head on Candy’s breasts. He also loves her hair and how good it always smells. He lives to nuzzle into her neck and breathe her in. Candy loves Jungkook’s back. It’s the sexiest thing ever and she likes watching his back muscles flex when he’s fucking her. She also loves his waist, so dainty and feline. And of course his eyes. She could stare into his loving dark irises for hours. They’re so expressive.

Cum: Inside. Jungkook always wants inside. Her mouth is a close second, but if given the chance he wants to sink deep into her and bathe in the scent of her while sheathed in her warmth. It feels natural and romantic and loving. There’s no other place he would want to be other than inside her, all the time. Candy is okay with anything he wants. Watching his peaceful, serene expression after he’s fucked her hard and has found his orgasm inside her is ultimately one of the reasons why she loves having sex with Jungkook.

Dirty secret: Jungkook had been secretly nursing a mommy kink for a while. It did pop up once during one of his and Candy's little encounters, but it's not something he feels ready to face. He is so ashamed of it. Candy is really into Jungkook being her whiny, subby, precious good boy. She only wants to spoil him rotten all the time. However she can't stop thinking about all the girls out there willing to give up a lung to have a one night stand with him. Sometimes she just wishes she could dominate him in public. Tie him up, ride him raw till he's dry.

Experience: Jungkook has had only one partner, with whom the sex felt pretty awful. He didn't really think he was into it or could go that wild before he and Candy started sleeping together. Candy is fairly experienced. She has had three or four short term relationships. Maybe a couple flings.

Favourite position: Jungkook can't pick just one. Well, actually yes: missionary, but with Candy's legs pressed together and thrown over his shoulder but also spread apart, her knees pressed to her shoulders. Candy really likes it when he picks her up and fucks her against the wall, or when he gets really creative. That usually entails lots of laughing and joking and communicating.

Goofy: maybe. It depends. If they're making love, then I do see Jungkook getting emotional and Candy brightening the mood with cute jokes and compliments. They do tend to be goofy when they're together, but usually not during sex. It's either a very emotionally raw moment or vicious fucking.

Hair: Jungkook shaves. He's a neat freak and shaves. He does so religiously. Candy is not that consistent, sometimes she shaves, sometimes she trims. Depends on the mood.

Intimacy: it's very demure but it's there. You wouldn't notice it because the moment Jungkook enters beast mode, it's pretty much degradation and overstimulation all over the place. But it's there too! It's in the mere fact that he trusts her enough to forget how to be civil and decent and just unleashes himself all over her. For the first ten times or so it's shy and attempted, he tiptoes around the very edge of control, but once she tells him she loves him, he goes all out and never stops. He explores and pleases. That's his nature. Candy is the one that grants intimacy the most. He knows he can go wild because she's his anchor, keeping things loving and gentle and tender even through the storm. Now, once Jungkook subs though… intimacy galore. Little touches and small kisses and endless tight hugs. Her first goal is to make him feel safe. And that happens through intimacy.

Jack off: These two? Really? No, you didn't understand. If Jungkook has even a remote chance of cumming inside her, there's no way he's masturbating. He will 300% ignore his instincts until he can have her. And it's pretty difficult for Candy not to be in the mood — or not to get into the mood, if need be. She's also not one for masturbating. She does it only when he's not available, be it because he's abroad or he's too busy. But he's always her first choice. Generally speaking it might happen that he's not in the mood and she decides to take a quick shower and deal with it herself, but usually he's joining her after a couple minutes, his mind changed, a bunny smile on his face as he winks and hops in.

Kink: First and foremost, cockwarming. Creampies shortly after. Candy has a thing for marking him, especially scratches down his muscular upper back. Their kinks depend on who's domming: if it's Jungkook, there's plenty of degradation and high chances of predator/prey dynamics. He gets very horny if Candy plays hard to catch, and he discovers it accidentally, after Candy stole the last serving of his favourite snack. Useless to say, the snack was forgotten and they fucked on the floor. Candy likes choking (receiving) and pretty much anything Jungkook is willing to try. She can't wait to try double penetration with him, she's just waiting for him to open up about the topic. When domming, she's into sensory deprivation, bondage, praise kink and edging, especially when boobjobs are involved, since JK is particularly sensitive about the topic. As long as she has him whining and begging below her, she's ready to try anything.

Location: Well, the bedroom is the place of choice for most occasions. Not always though. The shower is a strong opponent. If they do get naughty outside of their home, it's usually in quite private places too. Hotel rooms. Club or restaurant bathrooms. Foreplay in the lift and on the dance floor — mostly Candy rubbing herself all over Jungkook. Well, they did get nasty in a cave once, but that's another story.

Motivation: as I said, playing catch with Jungkook is always a good way to get him in the mood. He's extremely weak for breasts, so anything regarding those is a hot topic too. Candy often wears loose/low neck shirts and leans over, offering him a glimpse of her lack of bra. Low neckline and no bra usually means "please, fuck me across the living room, thank you" in Candy language. While for Candy, watching Jungkook work out or just get sweaty and flirty is a total panty snatcher. You'll find her bent over, ass up, ready for the take.

No: Jungkook doesn't like receiving degradation. Memories of his ex make him uncomfortable with that. Other than that, he strongly opposes to anything that involves hardcore domination. He can be a dom, but he's extremely sensitive about what he does and some acts are a bit too aggressive for his opinion. Candy hadn't tried anything unconventional before Jungkook, and so far all her past no's have turned into hard yes with Jungkook. She's still exploring her limits.

Oral: Jungkook? Hell yes. He likes receiving but he by far prefers giving, especially when Candy is domming or directing him. He could do that for hours, and his love for the act almost rivals that of our local kitty cat Yoongi. His true joy is being rewarded going for multiples with his head between Candy's thighs. Especially if he's cum inside her. Not too fast though, he needs some cockwarming first. Candy is a true fan of giving head. She especially likes doing so when Jungkook is in a subby and bratty mood. Listening to him getting vocal about his appreciation is always the greatest compliment to her, and also an excellent way to discipline him when he gets cocky.

Pace: Fast. Hard. That's all there is. If he's setting the pace, it's outright demonic, hitting at least 74bpm (it's Kiwi by Harry Styles in halftime). Yes, he can go slower, usually when he's in lover boy mode or even better, when he's trying to show Candy who's the boss. Slow, lazy rolls of his hips reaching unknown depths. If Candy's on top/domming it's all about it being intimate, calm, relaxing even. She wants Jungkook to explore a sensuality he is too rushed and forceful for. Through her slow and steady approach she helps him embrace a more feminine and spiritual sexuality that borders on the psychological and tantric.

Quickie: yes. Hard yes. He is the best with quickies. Just get it over with so they're both relieved and they can chat about their day while he's still inside her. There's not much to say. Just yes.

Risk: they prefer avoiding it, however they're young and experimenting, therefore they do sometimes get a bit past the safety line. The biggest risk for them is doing anything where they could be spotted, therefore they're really subtle and overall not too explicit about anything happening in a semi-public context. Except, that one time while they were on holiday, of course. And that other time in which Candy almost jerked him off in a restaurant before blowing him in his car.

Stamina: Insane. Jungkook's stamina is more about endurance rather than control. He can make Candy cum five or six times while he cums twice and is more than glad. He can go for two consecutive rounds without breaking a sweat. For himself he's usually more than happy with a round of foreplay and one of fucking, but if he's determined enough, he can last one more. He usually doesn't push himself that far though, he does when he's been deprived for long enough.

Toy: Although toys aren't usually a part of their sex life, they do use them every now and then. Vibrators, vibrating cockrings, oh! And their sex swing, of course. That's what they use the most, yes.

Unfair: If Jungkook is in hard dom mode, he is very unfair, plenty of teasing and taunting matched with mockery and degradation. He can keep Candy on her toes for a full hour, giving her small reprieve every here and there. Candy is also equally torturous: if she's domming, she's not done edging him until he's whining, sobbing, begging and possibly crying.

Volume: Normally, Candy is very quiet however, Jungkook always goes the extra mile to make her moan and whine, especially if he's eating her out. Jungkook can be especially eloquent with his sounds: grunting and groaning are typically for his dommier side, while whining and whimpering are usually for his subby one. Moaning is all over the place. Consider also a good amount of murmuring and mumbling some dirty talking. Not too much though.

Wild card: Jungkook likes his hair being combed during aftercare. Candy always relaxes while he speaks loving words to make up for the degradation and mockery. She could fall asleep while combing his hair, she's just that tired and comfortable. Also! When he installed the sex swing in their room, he decided it was a good idea to have permanent hooks on the ceiling, mask them with fake plants. Crackhead.

X-Ray: Jungkook has a nice cock. Not too long, not too thick but it has an upward curve that makes stuff interesting. He's probably around six or seven inches. Candy has objectively nice breasts, full, round, truly well structured. And she has a nice ass too, Jungkook likes squeezing it when she throws her leg on top of him during cuddles. He also spanks it a few tens of times a day — not in the sexual way tho, but more in that encouragement/comradery way he has learnt with the guys.

Yearning: Jungkook can go without sex for a long time. I'm talking about a month and more. It's not a priority for him, except right after he and Candy sleep together for the first time, when he needed to get rid of the high. With him, everything is very inconsistent: one week you're having sex every day, and the following one, he's just all about the cuddles and fluff. Candy is up for anything, however she prefers having sex at least once or twice a week. Both feel safe to initiate without fearing being denied. For them, arousal is very easily built through playing and bantering.

Zzz: both take a while to fall asleep after sex. Plenty of time for pillow talking and cleaning up, though they prefer doing so very pragmatically. Any time spent apart during aftercare is a waste to both of them: they just want to talk things out, relax, bask in each other's warm presence.

[konako]

i'm curious, if it was up to you to decide about the werewolf lore in ouat, what would it be like?

Oof, good question! Umm. Let's see.

I don't think I would go to great lengths to explain the origins of The First Werewolf and how the kind even came to exist in the first place. I enjoy that mystery. They're magical creatures in a magical world, co-existing with fairies, dwarves, mermaids, dragons and ogres. They're part of that ecosystem. There's no great mystery or reason behind our plain boring neighborhood racoon besides natural selection and evolution, for example. So maybe that's the same for them.

A kind descended from magical humans, drawing power from the moon into a wolf form like a plant draws life from the sun into our air. They've evolved and developed control over their peculiar magic and they exist like that amongst the many other magical and ordinary beings.

Some wolves are born, some are bitten. Some are aware of their condition, some are not. Like wolves (and humans), they thrive in packs, it's when they're safer and happier. And they structure their packs as they see it's needed. No biological alpha, beta or omega complications, simply leaders and followers, in mutual agreement of that hierarchy. No biological reasoning, but an unspoken social contract. Co-workers, friends or family, whatever the dynamic happens to be in one pack, at least they're together and they have each other's backs. It's what a pack needs to be to survive in a human infested world nowadays.

As for the "rules" of the species, well...

I kind of already accidentally write my own whenever I'm exploring Ruby's werewolf nature in more depth for my stories. I usually take one quick line or comment the show has casually thrown in and I follow the logic wherever it takes me. OUAT left the general rules of their werewolves open for some interpretation, so I tend to fill in the blanks that I see.

Werewolf things I draw from a little bit of canon.

Granny was bitten and turned → a werewolf can be created through a bite.

Anita was born a wolf, so was Ruby → there are born wolves; the curse passes down through generations.

When Ruby was thirteen, the wolf started manifesting itself. Granny's wolf has faded away → one's wolf is linked to their body maturity.

Wolfstime is during the full moon, even for uncontrolled wolves → the full moon compels the body to transform.

Warning the kids of her village, Granny told them they had to fear the wolf, even if the moon wasn't full, as it was "full enough" → the moon cycle still affects the wolf, in its other phases.

"Soon the full moon will mean nothing" → A grown, experienced wolf can learn to turn at will. The moon then will affect the ease with which they transform.

Toto could sense Ruby wasn't human → Animals react to the wolf instinctively.

Ruby caught Whale by the collar with one hand and she flipped Quinn over her head with no training → wolf strength

Ruby ran to Whale in under a second, just one of many other examples → wolf speed

When searching for werewolves in Oz, a trained seasoned warrior like Mulan couldn't keep up with Ruby and had to stop and catch her breath → wolf stamina

Tracking Merida's dad's killer from a two-year old piece of cloth and listening to David's heartbeat/breathing in a dense forest → wolf senses

Ruby flashing golden eyes even with her cloak on; Anita flashing golden eyes as she walks in; Quinn flashing golden eyes to introduce himself → a wolf has a level of control and awareness over this trait

Being blasted by both Regina's (The Evil Queen) and Emma's (The Savior) "strong stuff" and waking up later without a problem; being shot by a silver tipped arrow and walking it off → wolf endurance even against powerful magic, and wolf healing.

And then there are the things I decide to add with no warning or excuse, because I just think they're neat.

→ Golden eyes being linked to a werewolf's emotional state and arousal, often unconsciously.

→ When forced not to turn during a full moon, the energy not released turns itself back on the body, causing anxiety, stress, even sickness.

→ A blacking out being extended to human form, as well: when the wolf takes over without a body transformation necessarily.

→ The ability to growl as a beast even in human form.

→ Weakness to wolfsbane.

→ Slightly sharper canines in human form.

→ → → → A wolf as big as a horse, fucking fight me.

[runaway-osha]

Jeez this is long. Anyways, Mich redemption and also sibling murder. And losing depth perception. Sorry to all characters aside from Jack in this.

A nice, smooth, 1500 words.

-------

Runaway, like before a lot of important events, decided to get out of the castle for a bit. She was going on a walk to the cemetary where her brother's tombstone was. However, her brother wasn't buried there, Jacob was. She knew this after proving Mich's information true, that Finn (Now Felix) was still alive.

Runaway fiddled with her dagger, staring at her deep red eyes in the iron blade. She had a bad feeling, probably just Mich being a stalker and watching her from somewhere she couldn't detect, or the fact she was going to visit an old friend buried under the wrong name. She gripped the lillies she was carrying for the grave tightly. Usually she'd bring poppies, but Jacob had a different favorite than Felix.

Eventually, after another hour of walking, Runaway finally arrived at the cemetary plot. Of course, she heard footsteps, and turned around to see Mich. They raised a hand and lightly waved, "Heya." Runaway rolled her eyes, "Wow, can't go anywhere without you showing up huh? Mind waiting a bit?" Mich shrugged, "Bold of you to assume I don't have someone important to me buried here too." Runaway raised her eyebrow, "Do you?" Mich paused for a second, "Good Point."

Mich did wait for a few minutes outside of the cemetary, and Runaway eventually walked out. "So, what information have you decided to present me with?" She sarcastically asked. Mich nodded, "You know me too well. Anyways, the oldest sibling of ours, you remember him?" Runaway didn't immediately remember, but nodded after a moment. "Yeah... Jack right? Wait.. Ours? Don't you just work for Alaric?"

Mich stared blankly for a moment, "Shit I didn't tell you? Yeah he's dear old dad, but he has to pay me to stick around, that's why I 'work' for him." Runaway has more questions, but they could be answered later. Mich continued, "Anyways, Jack, he may know a lot in general on Alaric. Being his first kid and all. You can find him in that old abandoned firehouse, yknow on the edge of town?" Runaway nods, "Yeah. I hid near it once, always seemed a weird place for a building like that."

"Yeah, exactly! Anyways Naw, he has the neat little trick of being able to disable abilities for about an hour, which really sucked, so if you do decide to track him down, make sure you keep your distance, alright?" "No Promises Mich, but thank you, I should probably get going then though." Mich shrugged, "Do what you want, don't get killed I guess."

-

Runaway stayed behind at the cemetary for a bit after Mich left, but decided the whole Jack thing should be resolved as soon as possible. So another hour and a half later, she was back on the shady edge of town. The bad feeling she had before was way worse now, like something inside of her was yelling at her to 'get out of here'. She creaked through the doorway as a knife was thrown at her, grazing her ear. Runaway tried going invisible, but was unable to, and instead brought her dagger out of her pocket.

"Hello Again." Runaway stared across the empty building to see Jack. "Hello Jack. Is attacking everyone who walks through that door just your general response to people coming to talk to you?" He shrugged "Funny enough, yeah. Now you have a minute to tell me why you're here before I make you leave." Runaway scoffed, "Jeez... Touchy. Anyways, straight to the point, Alaric's weaknesses?" She meaninglessly gestures with her dagger. Jack glares at her, "Unlike you, I'm not a flithy rat of a traitor to the family."

"Cmon Jack. You have something, I know it." Runaway says, knowing she probably (more like definetly) won't get anything out of this sibling. Jack taps his foot several times, "You're minute's up." He shoots at Runaway, who barely manages to get out of the way. "Bad shot?" She barely gets out before Jack runs up on her. She tries backing up but Jack has the expirience (and non-disabled superhuman abilities) here.

He quickly ripped the dagger from her hand and jabbed it into her gut. He also jams the back of his gun, covered with some sort of substance, into Runaway's left eye. Runaway, without her regenerative powers, and for some reason only being able to see out of one eye now, collapsed to the ground along with Jack's gun. He laughed, "You get what you get I guess. Dad won't be happy that you're dead, but we'll live, unlike you." Without picking up his gun, he turns around to walk out the door.

Runaway wasn't dying like this. At least, not without taking Jack down with her. She grabbed for the gun, small and easily concealed, and aimed for the back of his head. Praying that there was still a bullet in it, and that she wouldn't be off, she checked her aim again and squeezed the trigger as hard as she could. Luckily for her, a gunshot sounded out, echoing in the abandoned building.

Moments later, Jack's body thudded to the ground. Runaway, even with only sight in one eye, managed to aim true. The bullet struck Jack right in the back of the head, and he didn't seem to have the usual regenerative abilities most dhampirs had. Runaway tried to keep herself awake, but she was still beeding out. "Right... a full hour before everything comes back." was her last thought as she, for the first time in quite a while, blacked out.

-

Mich wasn't an idiot. They knew when something was wrong, they knew to not ignore gut feelings. That's why they had some basic medical supplies and were rushing to the firehouse. They weren't worried for Runaway she could take care of herself, at all, even in the slightest. Opening the door, Mich swore they felt their stomach drop.

Jack was dead in the back doorway, and Runaway appeared to be dead, but Mich could feel that she wasn't, not yet anyways. Mich rushed over, maybe they were freaking out a little bit. The dagger used to stab Runaway was still in her abdomen, "Well at least she hasn't lost as much blood as she would have..." Mich thought as he got out basic supplies to begin cleaning the, thankfully not giant, wound.

It took a few minutes, but Mich finished cleaning and patching the wound. It would begin healing after Runaway's abilities came back. Mich looked up at Runaway's face and took in a sharp inhale. Now that eye, that wasn't exactly fixable, but maybe it would eventually regenerate. They convinced themselves that it probably wasn't something to worry about on top of everything else.

Runaway woke up about 15 minutes later as her regeneration came back, quickly fixing up the wound in her abdomen. She looks to Mich, "Why did you patch me up? I wouldn't have died before my abilities came back?" Mich laughs, "Funny. No, Naw, you definitely would've died if I didn't stop by to check in on you two. By the way, nice shot." Runaway nods but quickly stops due to a sharp pain in her head. "Thanks. I didn't get anything out of him though.

"I didn't expect you to. And I didn't expect you to have a little chat with him so early." Runaway shrugs as she stands up, her abilities came back full force as her abdomen was now fully healed. "Why can't I see out of my eye still? Jeez did he hit me hard enough to give me nerve damage or some shit?" Runaway sighs, "Fine, yknow what I'll live with it for now. Mom can probably do something about it."

Runaway starts to leave, but Mich stops her. She turns to look at them, "What, got something to say to me?" Mich thinks about it, but really, the Merlyn lady could probably do something about it. And it's not like Runaway would listen to them, on top of that maybe her abilities just weren't working exactly right yet? "Nah, just, stay safe kid." Runaway chuckles, "Like that's possible, hah!" Mich watches Runaway walk away.

Mich felt something heavy in their chest. They picked up the gun that was discarded on the floor, and look at the substance on the back of it, before throwing the gun. They knew what that substance was. If that thing had made contact with their hands, Mich didn't even want to think about it, the pain it would be. They reach into a pocket of their cloak and bring out a silvery cloth to clean off the acid before quickly disposing of it.

Pocketing the gun, seemingly in place of the cloth, Mich grimaced. As much as they didn't want to admit it, and as much as they didn't want to visit her again, she had to know. It was safe to say, that there was very little chance of Runaway ever getting her eye back.

[maxineswritingcenter]

The Little Mermaid AU! - Sam x fem!reader part 2

Haha, nothing like procrastinating

Here’s part 1 as a refresher to whatever the hell I’m doing. 

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

(Y/N) slowly peaked her head out of the water, searching for treasures left behind. She had found a few things, including her new prized possession. It reminded her or her father's trident but had four of the pointy things instead of three.

To her right, a fish rubbed up against her side.

"Flounder, there you are." She smiled, running her fingers softly over his scales. She produced the fork from her sack she wore, "Look at this? Isn't it cool? I've seen the humans use these to brush their head hair. Or... It looked like that's what they were using. I'm gonna call it a dingle hopper."

Her fish friend look at her, then back toward deeper water, "Uhh, (Y/N)..."

"What is it?" She thought, trying to remember if she had anything to do today, "Oh no. Oh No!" She started swimming back towards her home, Flounder hot on her heels, "The ceremony!"

-

(Y/N) swam through the curtain to the throne room where her father at in his throne, flanked by her sisters.

"Well, look who the catfish dragged in." Pallas spat.

Ignoring her sister, (Y/N) bowed her head, "Father, I'm so sorry. I forgot-"

"Young lady, as a result of your behavior-" Father began.

"Reckless behavior!" The royal advisor crab, Sebastian piped in.

"The whole ceremony-"

"Was a disaster! I was the laughing stock of the reef!" Sebastian clicked.

"Sebastian."

"I had a courtship planned with the prince of the Arabian see but I dropped it all for you!" Triteia shouted.

"No wonder we were mother's favorites!" Pallas sneered.

"Enough!" Triton struck his trident on the ground, silencing the chatter. He moved him thrown to where she was, head still bowed. He lifted it up gently.

"My sweet child, you have such an amazing gift."

"I know," She sighed, meeting his eyes, "I have mother's voice."

"Then please, for her memory's sake."

"Alright, father. I promise." She smiled softly.

"It wasn't her fault really." Flouder bubbled up, "She couldn't have heard the call horns from shore-" He quickly shut his mouth, realizing what he had said.

"The shore?!" Triton bellowed.

"Nothing happened." (Y/N) fiddled with her fingers.

"How many times must I tell you?” Triton boomed, “You could have been seen by those barbaric humans!” 

“Father, they’re not barbaric!” 

“They are dangerous. I will be long gone in the muck before I see my youngest daughter snared by some fisher-eater’s hook.” Triton crossed his arms over his chest. 

“I am not a child!” She called back. 

“Don’t you use that tone with me, young lady. As long as you live in this ocean, you’ll obey my rules.” He turned to go back to the throne. 

“But, if you would just listen-” 

“Not another word - and I am never, NEVER to hear of you going to the surface again. Is that clear?” He didn’t even look at her, just tossing a glance over his shoulder. Tears pooled up in her eyes, she swam out of the throne room. Flounder came up behind her.  They both swam all the way to her secret cave where she had started collecting her human treasures. 

‘Are you okay, (Y/N)?” Flounder asked. 

She shook her head, “If only I could make him understand.” She sniffled, “I just don’t see things the way he does. I don’t see how a world that makes such wonderful things could be bad.” She swam to one of her shelves, motioning to the various items. 

“I mean, look at this stuff. Isn’t it neat?” She swept her arms out, “Look at this trove, treasures untold. How many wonders can this cavern hold? Looking around here you’re probably think that I have everything that I would need. I’ve got gadgets, gizmos, whozits, whatzits. And thingamabobs, I must have twenty of those. But, I want more.” She grabbed a flimsy thin thing that had colored art of people near the beach. 

“I wanna be where the people are. I wanna see them dancing. Walking around on those...feet. Feet. Flipping my fins, I won’t get too far.” She motioned to her tail, “Legs are required for jumping, dancing, walking along down the...what was it? Ah, the street. Up where they walk, run, stay all day in the sun. Wandering free, I wish I could be part of that world.”

She sighed, “What I would give if I could live out of these waters. What I would pay to spend a day warm on the sand. And I betcha on land they understand, bet they don’t reprimand their daughters. Bright young women, sick of swimming and ready to stand.” Flounder only watched her rant, following her around the cave. 

“I’m ready to know what the people know. Ask them my questions and get some answers. Like what’s a fire and why does it...does...burn. I just wish I could be part of the human world.” She sighed, resting on a large rock. 

Suddenly a large crashing brought both of their attention to Sebastian who was scuttling around the cave. 

“Sebastian!?” They both shouted. 

“(Y/N), have you gone mad? How-what-what is all this?” He clicked. 

“It’s my collection. Of things.” She said.

“Ah your collection. Hmm.” He thought a moment, “IF YOUR FATHER KNEW ABOUT THIS HE’D-”

“You’re not gonna tell him are you?” Flounder swam up to Sebastian. 

“Oh please, Sebastian. He would never understand.” She pleaded. 

“Your highness. You are under a lot of pressure down here. Come with me, I’ll take you home and get you something to help you feel better.” As he said this, the cave went black, meaning a ship was passing overhead. With an excited giggle, she started her way up towards the surface, Flounder followed while Sebastian called after her. She swam up until she was looking across the floor of the ship. It seemed the humans were having a little party. They were laughing and music was playing. One of these men was the most handsome creature she had ever seen. He was tall, his hair was longer and a brown color. He had the kindest looking smile. 

A short man with shorter came up to the tall man. 

“Congrats, First mate.” He chuckled, patting his back, Here, I wanted to show you this.” 

The tall man took the picture, “The woman and white case. First picture of our first hunt together. Thanks.” 

“No problem. Bitch.” 

“Jerk.” He chuckled. That must be his name. Bitch. It sounded cool.

From up above, the sky grew dark and thunder rumbled in the sky. 

“SEA STORM! STAND FAST! SECURE THE RIGGING!” One of the man shouted. (Y/N) and Flounder swam a ways from the ship, the violent thrashing of the waves was too dangerous to be around.

-

 A large wave crashed into the ship, causing the Dean to loose his footing, falling and sliding across the deck, holding onto the bars of the ship top. 

“Dean! Hang on!” The Sam shouted over the wind. 

“WE’RE GOIN DOWN, LADS! GET TO THE BOATS!” The sailors made their way to the boats. Sam went to follow, but his life line to the mast was tangle around his feet. 

“I’m stuck!” He called, but the rest of the sailors had gotten to the life boats. 

“SAM!” Dean called. He was about to call back his brother’s name but the tallest wave he had ever seen crashed down on the ship, plunging him down into the depths. 

(Y/N) watched the ship go down, “Oh no!” She dived down, Flounder calling to her. 

“It’s too dangerous!” He bubbles fell on deaf ears as she swam down into the wreck, seeing the tall man. His eyes were closed and little bubbles came from his lips. She grabbed the sharp silver stick from his belt cutting the rope, grabbing him under his arms and pulling him towards the surface. When they broke the surface, she pulled him all the way into shore, laying him on the beach. The storm had gone as quickly as it came. 

(Y/N) looked over him, brushing wet hair from his face. He looked so peaceful. He suddenly turned his head to the side, coughing up water loudly, taking deep gulping breathes. She pulled away, then came back when he was back on his back, he eyes still closed. 

“Oh what I would give to live where you are. What would I pay to stay here besides you. What do I do to see you smile? Just you and me and I could be part of your world.” She spoke softly, tracing his face.  

-

Sam slowly opened his eyes a bit, the bright sun making it too hard to see. He could see the outline of someone above him. He could hear a soft, sweet voice humming, the same song that he had heard earlier that day. 

“Sam!” He heard a voice in the distance, the person above him looked in the direction and quickly moving away, followed by a splash in the water. He heard footsteps approaching, Dean kneeling down next to him. 

“Sam! Sam, can you hear me?!” Sam opened his eyes a little more. 

“Yeah, I can hear you. Loud and clear.” 

“You almost gave a heart attack, you know that?” It had been a while since Dean scolded him. 

“There was a girl. She rescued me.” Sam panted, happy to feel the air in his lungs, “She was singing.” 

“Did you drink too much sea water?” Dean raised an eyebrow at him, “Come on, up you go big guy.” Dean helped Sam to his feet, helping him back towards the others while medical helped arrived. 

- 

(Y/N) watched them from behind a stone, Flounder and Sebastian at her sides.

“We just gotta forget this whole thing ever happened. The sea king will never know. You won’t tell him, I won’t tell him. I stay in one piece.” He clicked, snapping his claws nervously. 

“I don’t know when, I don’t know how.” She clutched the photo of the two humans to her chest, “But I know something’s starting right now. Watch and you’ll see. Someday I’ll be part of your world.” She said to herself, following after the crustacean. What she didn’t see, however, were the two eels that had been following and watching them. 

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I definitely didn’t only now just make the sequel for this AU it’s fine. I think I’m afraid that these will never be as good as Beauty and the Beast AU

Likes, Comments, and Reblogs are appreciated! 

Taglist: 

@happy-little-winchester

@hobby27

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