#and make it potentially possible to take an extra day or two off to recover from this hell period

[starmocha]

maybe i just do 9 hours today instead of 9.5

[stereax]

in terms of the zegras trade talk, is there any way (in terms of cap situation etc) that it would be possible for him to join jamie in philly?

and which teams do you think it are likely for him to go to otherwise?

thank you in advance <3

Hi there anon! So so sorry for the delay on this, I hope you're not too mad at me.

Your question is incredibly intriguing, but it's not quite exact. Any team, theoretically, can pick up Zegras, as long as they move the right pieces back or conduct the proper cap gymnastics. That being said, many GMs will not find him worth the price, and, furthermore, not worth the hassle of potentially taking a sledgehammer to the future.

Moving Zegras during the season (as in before the trade deadline) versus in the offseason would play out drastically differently under the cap and mean different decisions from Verbeek and co. Meet me under the cut for more!

So let's talk about the cap. I don't know how much you know about it, anon, but let me give a quick refresher. The NHL has a "hard" salary cap; teams cannot surpass the limit, full stop. (This is contrasted with MLB soft cap, for instance, where you just pay more tax for being over the cap.) There is one notable example, however: LTIR. Standing for Long-Term Injured Reserve (well, not really, but we all call it that), LTIR allows teams to surpass the salary cap, as long as a player on the team is "bona fide" injured and will be out for more than 24 days and 10 games.

Now here's the complicated thing: cap "accrues" every day that you're under it. (Kind of like it gains interest.) So, as the cap is 83.5m, if your team only makes 82.5m, you have that extra 1m accruing. This is key at the trade deadline where that 1m can end up as over double that to play with in extra wiggle room. (At the trade deadline, you can trade for a 2m player and be at 84.5m, but since you accrued the cap earlier in the season it averages out and is okay.) However, when you have players on LTIR, your cap basically stops accruing. This is why you'll see teams keep season-ending injuries as regular IR and not LTIR if they can - it helps the cap accrue. (Two instances of this right now are Kirby Dach and Dougie Hamilton, both out for the season as far as we're concerned, neither on LTIR.) Notably, in the playoffs, you can activate players off LTIR and go over the cap because of some badly written rules that nobody wants to fix (literally). This is often colloquially termed "pulling a Kucherov" after the Tampa Bay Lightning did this in the 2020-21 season, putting Nikita Kucherov on LTIR for the entire year, using his cap hit to acquire players, then reactivating him game 1 of the playoffs and going wildly over the cap limit. And it's pretty dang successful too - the Vegas Golden Knights emulated that success with Mark Stone last season.

So here's where we take a look at Philly.

Philly has around $3m in deadline cap space. Zegras's contract has a $5.75m cap hit (for this year and two more). Now, he could be traded to Philly at 50% retained salary at the deadline, but this would likely require giving up a lot of extra capital in exchange for Anaheim holding that 50% of cap hit on Zegras for the next three years. (Generally, retaining salary on an expiring deal costs a lot less than on a deal with extra years left, for hopefully obvious reasons.) Philly won't do this. This would be stupid from Briere. If they want Zegras, they have a much better plan in their back pocket: Ryan Ellis.

Ryan Ellis is a defenseman with a $6.25m cap hit for the next four years. His career is most likely over; he has a rare back injury that he's probably not going to recover from in a way that will let him play hockey again. At least in theory, he plays for the Flyers. However, he's been sitting on IR all year. If Philly wants to acquire Zegras, they will (almost certainly) slide Ellis to LTIR and use that $6m in cap space to put Zegras in. The one problem with this is it forces Ellis to LTIR for the rest of his career, most likely, and disadvantages the Flyers in the long run.

Option three is just to make space with bad or nonvaluable contracts. Cal Petersen buries $3.85m in the minors. (Buried contracts are weird; essentially, if you send guys on certain kinds of contract - as in expensive - down to the AHL, you're on the hook for some or most of the salary.) Move that contract anywhere and Philly should have room for Zegras at the deadline. Plus it makes it easier for the team to deal with new contacts. Or you move Cam Atkinson, an aging vet making $5.875m, to a team that's not on his modified no-trade clause and free that space for Zegras. Or you move Rasmus Ristolainen, an underperforming defenseman making $5.1m... See what I mean? Any team you like has options to move around cap to pick up Zegras. Not only the teams like Chicago, Buffalo, and Nashville who have the obvious cap space, but also teams trying to retool into younger cores could be keenly interested. (I could go through all the teams in the NHL as potential suitors, but that might be too much information. Unless you want that. In which case, ask and I'll do it.)

That being said, it sounds like Zegras will be moved during the offseason - and that makes sense, as usually contracts with significant term and roster-forming implications aren't traded at the deadline. At that point, with UFA contracts going off the books, it can quite literally be anyone's game to pick up Zegras. However, it'll probably be costly - a young, talented center who will be in your NHL top six, has serious upside, is on a fairly cost-friendly contract for two more years and then retains RFA status? Those don't grow on trees. Expect him to be moved for either a blue chip prospect or a first-round pick. Maybe both, if Verbeek is smart. Genuinely cannot think of a trade of such a player in recent history. (The closest off the top of my head? The Matthew Tkachuk trade - that was two prime players, a first, and a prospect for him. Granted, his circumstances were much different than Zegras's, and Matthew was undeniably worth a lot more.)

Generally, you're not trading away or giving up young core players. Verbeek doing so with Drysdale opens the floodgates. Whether it's because Verbeek wants to sculpt this team the way he wants (neither Drysdale nor Zegras were drafted by him) or he simply sees no future for Zegras on the Ducks, it's incredibly puzzling, not least of all because Anaheim seems mired in this rebuild, and Verbeek may be adding years to it if he plays his hand wrong.

[whatcomcredit]

Credit Restoration: 5 Steps to Rebuild Your Financial Future

Credit restoration is an essential process for anyone looking to improve their financial health and open the door to new opportunities. Whether you are recovering from a financial setback or simply aiming to achieve a higher credit score, understanding how to navigate this journey can significantly impact your financial future. This blog post will outline five crucial steps that can help you rebuild your credit and enhance your overall financial well-being.

Understanding Your Credit Report and Score

To effectively begin your credit restoration journey, it’s crucial to grasp the details of your credit report and score. Your credit report is a comprehensive record of your credit activity, including your borrowing and repayment behavior, personal information, credit accounts, payment history, and any existing debts. Lenders use this report to evaluate your creditworthiness.

Your credit score, typically a number between 300 and 850, serves as a summary of your credit report. This score influences the interest rates and credit limits you may receive from lenders. Credit scores are generally categorized as poor (300-579), fair (580-669), good (670-739), very good (740-799), and excellent (800-850).

It’s essential to request a free copy of your credit report from the three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—at least annually. Thoroughly reviewing these reports helps you understand your current credit standing and identify areas for improvement. By staying informed about the contents of your credit report, you can take proactive steps towards effective credit restoration.

Identifying and Disputing Errors on Your Credit Report

Once you have your credit reports in hand, the next step in credit restoration is to identify and dispute any errors. Errors on your credit report can significantly affect your score, so it’s crucial to address them promptly. Common errors include incorrect account information, outdated debts, or fraudulent accounts opened in your name. To dispute an error, gather documentation that supports your claim, such as account statements or payment records. Contact the credit bureau reporting the error and provide a detailed explanation of the mistake along with your supporting documents. Each credit bureau is legally required to investigate your dispute, usually within 30 days, and will inform you of the results. If the error is confirmed, it will be corrected, potentially improving your credit score.

Creating a Budget and Paying Down Debt

To regain control over your finances, it’s crucial to create a detailed budget and focus on reducing your debt. Begin by itemizing all your sources of income and listing your monthly expenses, including rent, utilities, groceries, and discretionary spending. This will give you a clear picture of your financial situation and help you identify areas where you can cut back.

Next, list all your outstanding debts, such as credit card balances, personal loans, and medical bills. Prioritize these debts based on factors like interest rates and outstanding balances. Two common strategies to consider are the snowball method, which targets the smallest debts first, and the avalanche method, which focuses on the highest-interest debts.

Ensure you are at least making minimum payments on all your debts to avoid penalties and further damage to your credit score. Whenever possible, allocate extra funds to pay off debts more aggressively. This approach not only helps to lower your debt but also positively affects your credit utilization ratio, a key factor in your credit score calculation.

Automate your payments to avoid missed deadlines, and consider using budgeting apps to track your spending and stay disciplined. Over time, consistently adhering to your budget and reducing your debt load will contribute significantly to your credit restoration journey.

Establishing Good Financial Habits

Establishing good financial habits is essential for long-term credit restoration and overall financial health. One of the most effective practices is to make timely payments consistently. Missing payments can significantly impact your credit score, so setting up automatic payments ensures you never miss a due date.

Another important habit is to keep your credit utilization low. Aim to use less than 30% of your available credit, as this positively affects your credit score. If you find it challenging to manage your spending, consider setting up alerts on your accounts to notify you when you’re approaching your credit limit.

It’s also wise to avoid taking on unnecessary debt. Each application for new credit can lead to a hard inquiry on your credit report, which may temporarily lower your score. Be selective about when and why you apply for new credit to maintain a stable credit profile.

Monitoring your credit regularly can help you stay on track. Credit monitoring services alert you to significant changes or potential issues in your credit report, allowing you to address problems before they escalate. Additionally, using budgeting tools and financial planning apps can help you keep track of your spending, set financial goals, and stick to your budget. By consistently practicing these habits, you’ll create a strong foundation for a healthier financial future, making it easier to restore and maintain good credit over time.

Utilizing Credit-Building Tools and Resources

To enhance your credit profile, it’s important to take advantage of various credit-building tools and resources available to you. One effective strategy is to apply for a secured credit card. This type of card requires a cash deposit as collateral, which minimizes risk for the issuer and helps you build credit responsibly. Make regular, on-time payments and keep your credit utilization low to benefit the most from this tool.

Another valuable option is becoming an authorized user on someone else’s credit card, preferably a person with a strong credit history. This can positively influence your credit score by reflecting their good payment behavior on your credit report.

Credit builder loans, offered by many banks and credit unions, are another excellent resource. These loans are designed specifically to help individuals improve their credit scores. By making timely payments on a small loan amount, you can demonstrate responsible borrowing behavior, which is reported to credit bureaus.

Additionally, some rent reporting services allow your monthly rent payments to be reported to credit bureaus, helping to boost your credit profile. Utilizing these tools strategically can lead to gradual and sustainable credit improvement, paving the way for a healthier financial future.

Contact Us :

Address - 3409 Chandler Pkwy Bellingham, WA 98226

Phone - (360) 312-7164

Email - info@whatcomcreditrestoration.com

Website - Whatcom Credit Restoration

Blog - Credit Restoration: 5 Steps to Rebuild Your Financial Future

[mywheelieweirdlife]

Hi, so I also have FND and I use my wheelchair part time, I also have a rollator and a cane.

So here's the advice I can offer for fighting for one and potential options to give you support if the wheelchair is just a losing battle until you can move out.

Firstly; asking specifically what it is they're concerned about with making it worse. Normally it's muscle mass loss in your legs and damage to your shoulder joints. These and other common injuries for wheelchair users are things that you do actually want to think about because they are kinda right in having those extra injuries and changes can change how your FND presents and make it harder.

For me I was crawling across the floor army style because I couldn't control my legs and had lost so much weight from being bed-bound (I had also become heavily vitamin D deficient on top of other things from being in a dark room so long) that we had to have the initial basic wheelchair. From there for my safety and independence as I regained strength and needed to get out and into the world; I got my better quality wheelchairs and now use them on my bad days, or when I have a lot going on and have the extra support to get around.

It helps a lot. Do actually consider one when you move out if you're still struggling, but really look into your options and look at your situation and needs to pick your best possible options for your safety and avoiding unnecessary injuries.

For my everyday outside of the house tho; the rollator and cane both give me better access, allow me to continue following physical therapy advice with support and my rollator is seated so it gives me a break when my tremors or dizziness gets to a point where I need a break (and technically I'm not meant to be pushed while sitting on it bc it's not that style, but I have been known to do it occasionally).

The rollators with seats and baskets honestly give so much independence and take the pressure off having to full on focus to keep your body balanced, I use my cane for when I get it worse in one side, I've dislocated a hip and/or want stair access, but the rollator is more supportive than the cane and provides the best protection from falling or tripping over from tremors, getting fatigued really quickly and is also sometimes a great way to be a little visible but not majorly visible; most younger people using a rollator in non-spoonie understandings are recovering from an injury and retraining their body (because they associate it with hip replacements and car injuries) so they also notice but don't treat the leg tremors as weird and move out of the way more often than with say a cane or wheelchair because you're visible and at the right height to look them directly in the eye.

Also FB marketplace. Take your own measurements, compare them to actual mobility aid measurements online, and look at your options. List your favourites and their specifics, especially for the sizes that are closest and best to you. And then start searching mobility aids on fb marketplace and check semi-regularly. I got an amazing $500+ rollator for insanely cheap that way in perfect condition because a woman who was basically my height and weight had recovered from an injury and was selling it cheap for someone else in need. I've got my eyes on some beach wheels that should fit at least one of my two wheelchairs for when I have money for them.

That and sites like gumtree/craigslist/other second hand sites and groups, they're the best for them. Church groups will also source them for you if they can, but they tend to expect things in return so it's not a route I go.

#wheelchairusers I want some advice on my situation because I feel like I need a mobility aid but I keep getting denied it because “it will make your FND worse” or “it’s for people who can’t actually walk” I feel like I would use it part time but that option is basically nonexistent. I think I might want to get one once I move out but I hate having to struggle to walk when I feel extremely dizzy, nauseous, fatigued and when there’s tremors in my legs. I feel so tired of pushing for one because I’ve been given the same answer and I’m just tired atp. Feel free to give me advice or really anything. 👍🏽

[bigskydreaming]

I’m still working as best I can towards getting the surgery I’m always talking about in these posts, because when I tell you how much that will fundamentally change every aspect of my life right now, I’m not kidding. As usual, I’m way behind on rent, haven’t been able to afford new meds in a couple weeks, and am low on food and energy, with the first of the month being tomorrow and like.....I’m trying so hard to get the surgery at least before the end of the year, because as soon as I do, not only does it address all my health issues, I’ll be able to ditch the super pricey insurance I have to maintain just to keep the surgery I’ve otherwise paid for even a possibility? 

(Again, the surgery is already paid for, all 21K of it.....the reason I keep having to put it off is not having any extra to pay for rent and food while I’m stuck in bed recovering for a month after it, since I’m perpetually behind and stuck in the hole as is).

My breakdown of actual expenses, priority wise is:

- $812 per month insurance, without maintaining these specific benefits, I’ll owe additional money before they’ll even do the surgery, and there’s no way I can afford the out of pocket surgery price tag

- $1400 rent (there’s two of us living here, and we’re essentially living at one of those extended stay motels that give deals to people who are otherwise homeless, which is us. Yes, there are cheaper places we could live, even in LA a studio apartment can be found for like half this, but both of our credit scores were trashed in maxing out loans and credit cards even just to get us this far and we have no ability to rebuild our credit score while scrambling to keep up with day to day expenses as is, and we have no one who could co-sign on a cheaper apartment for us)

- $230 medication (I have an annoyingly high metabolism which means only specific pain medication works for me in the first place, as well as ADHD, C-PTSD, clinical depression, anxiety, something that is not OCD but is OCD related and hard to explain to people not familiar with it, and a few other things in the mix. I take four medications monthly, or am supposed to, and this total includes the cost of my refill apppointments, because many of my meds are controlled substances they won’t refill without monthly check-ups. Currently have been off my meds for over two and a half weeks. Its been grand)

- $80 phone/internet (necessary for most of my freelance work as well as refill and doctor appointments, etc. has been disconnected for over a week so there’s an additional $20 reconnect fee)

And anything I have left over after that goes to food. Literally the ONLY thing I need to finally be able to KEEP a surgery date is like....being able to afford rent, meds and food for the month after the surgery as my jaw will be completely wired shut, and I’ve been told to expect that I will not be able to get out of bed and move around for at least two weeks minimum.

But the SECOND after I’ve recovered from surgery, I can change so much of this? I can drop my pricey insurance, with the money I save from that I can fairly swiftly up my credit again as I’m less than 5K in debt overall, my biggest credit card is only $1K limit, I just can’t even afford to make tiny payment installments when I’m constantly behind even just on rent, as soon as I up my credit a bit and without the pain/medical issues limiting my ability to travel and use public transportation, I can find us a cheaper place to live, and like......between that, the gains I can make on sleep, nutrition and rest I can up my ability to find freelance jobs proactively, get more done, turn my attention back to various original projects that can potentially bring in money but that I haven’t been able to devote any attention to while needing to keep my focus such as it is limited to just producing fan content when and where I can since its mostly just mutuals and followers keeping me afloat as is and fan content caters to established fanbases whereas I simply don’t have the time, energy or focus to spare on building a fanbase with original content even though that’s potentially what can net me more money in the longrun, I’m just....stuck on short-run mode, lol. And have been for several years, so we’re talking law of diminishing returns here, as opposed to the expansion packet that original content can potentially reap, so add the frustration of that to ye olde mental/emotional turmoil.

ANYWAY.

Current sources of income other than donation posts are a part time job at a nearby fast food joint for minimum wage (limited hours though because I don’t set the hours and also physical disability makes this pushing it even as is), freelance work ghostwriting (mostly for self-published erotica and romance, though open to anything, please feel free to DM me if you have any potential work here, freelance editing (again mostly for self-published authors as that’s where I have the most contacts but open to anything), cover design (again mostly with self-pub authors but open to other stuff).

Other options I’m looking into to expand my potential income or revenue streams are making a youtube channel with more video essays on a range of topics, TikTok videos of various skits and scenes I’ve written for fandoms I’ve in, developing a Patreon with options for things like input on what output I create in those first two arenas, as well as things like capitalizing on my work history in the publishing and self-publishing industries as well as in Hollywood to step by step show the process of taking an original novel from single logline to fully self-published novel or querying agents in the traditional publishing world as well as mapping out similar journeys/processes in self-producing new media content as an actor or writer hoping to eventually create for film or television, etc.

Like, there’s a lot more I can do or offer there, its just first and foremost I’m hampered by time, energy and productivity constraints brought about by my lack of meds, food, and constantly needing to catch up on rent and insurance before I can even think about actually creating along any of those latter lines because I have to weigh the potential for greater income from longer term projects versus guaranteed income from short term projects of less broad potential but more immediate gains.

Anyway, I just went into detail here in ways I haven’t before hoping to shed a different light on the otherwise sameness of me constantly asking for help for the same thing, but like, please know there’s so much I can do to change my situation and I WANT to do, but there’s simply no way for me TO do that without meeting a certain threshold first, and like....that’s what I’m struggling to reach, month after month. After that? Could be a whole different ball game. 

https://ko-fi.com/kalenp

https://paypal.me/bigskydreaming?locale.x=en_US

[mochegato]

Marked Man

Inspired by this: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/yourmomxx/692655977966747648?source=share

Red Hood screamed through the neighborhood, grumbling to himself the entire way.  This should be his favorite part of the day, dusk was falling casting a warm glow over the city and it was late enough in the year that they were past the oppressive heat but not far enough into it to be freezing, and he had just secured the Outlaws’ next, very lucrative mission.  Perfect riding conditions.  Normally. But not today.

Granted, it wasn’t winter, but it was fucking close and speeding through the streets of Brooklyn with no shirt in the crisp autumn chill was far from refreshing right now.  He really really wished his potential clients would stop keeping his shirts after they searched him.  Searching him he understood but keeping his shirt and jacket after was just petty and definitely getting added to their fucking fee.  As well as a pain in the ass fee, or rather pain in the chest, because his nipples were so cold in the biting wind, they were pretty damn close to falling off.

Now he just needed to get back to their temporary base and take a long, burning hot shower, possibly followed by wrapping himself up in an extra fluffy blanket and reading for the rest of the night.  He parked his bike in a safe spot he’d scouted earlier and made his way to the roof of a building a few buildings away from the base.  He was just about to jump to the next building’s roof when a sound caused him to pause and spin toward it, gun drawn.

Marinette barely had time to fully turn toward the sound that had disrupted her well-deserved moment of solitude before a man had a gun pointed at her face.  She blinked at it a few times before craning her head slightly to give the man behind it a flat look.  It had already been a long day.  Dealing with real estate agents was somehow more draining than dealing with fabric vendors and she just found out the apartment she thought she had secured in Metropolis was somehow sold out from under her.  Which meant she had less than two weeks to find a new apartment before her current lease was up and her landlord threw her stuff on the curb.  And now, she had to deal with this.

This was supposed to be her moment to recover, her moment to calm down and think through her options before looking for new housing.  And yet somehow here she was, looking down the barrel of a gun.  Red Hood’s gun, or at least she was pretty sure it was Red Hood. She was not amused.

Seeing Red Hood on her roof, pointing a gun at her, was not how she expected her already terrible day to end. Let alone for him to do it shirtless.  Well, she did think there was a likelihood it would end that way, but she didn’t expect to be awake when she saw it or for him to have pants on.  But unfortunately, this wasn’t a dream.  It was reality and Red Hood, former crime boss, definition of danger, and legendary bad boy… IDEA! Legendary bad idea!  Was standing on her roof in his helmet and pants on but no shirt.

Her eyes quickly glided over his wide, well-defined chest, making a conscious effort not to leer like she wanted to at the staggeringly impressive muscles that were somehow even more impressive than her dreams had anticipated.  But her eyes traced over the tattoos covering his shoulder with more care, trying to decipher their meaning and memorize the pattern.

And all of it openly available for viewing, but still with his helmet on, you know, for privacy’s sake. It was one of the most ridiculous things she had seen.  The laughter bubbled out before she could stop it and once it started, she couldn’t stop.  She was wrong before, she was amused.  Very.  “Wha… what happened to you?”

“I fought Firefly,” he lied quickly and lowered his gun, securing it back in his thigh holster, a motion Marinette followed with rapt attention.  It was almost enough to divert her attention.  Almost.

“Awfully… precise destruction,” she choked out, motioning toward his chest.

“Yes, it was,” he growled, accompanying it with a glare and waiting for her to cower.  She might not be able to see the glare under his helmet, but his body language should have made his threat clear.  He stared at her waiting for her to show the appropriate amount of fear, the amount he had come to expect, the amount befitting his reputation.  When she didn’t, he continued to stare but this time, trying to figure out why she wasn’t cowering.  He was scary.  People were scared of him.  What happened to her that she wasn’t?

Instead of cowering, her laughter increased.  She doubled over from the force of the laughter. “You know,” she finally eked out as she wiped a tear from her eye, “I was having a bad day until now.  This made my day a lot better.”

“Glad I could help,” he snapped bitterly.  She grinned at him amusement dancing in her eyes in a way that had Jason staring at her for an entirely different reason than he had been earlier.  He huffed and shook his head, but quickly returned his eyes to her, waiting for her next move.

He didn’t have to wait long.  She smiled even wider, nodded to him, and made her way toward the rooftop door.  She turned around, still walking but now backwards so she could keep looking at him.  “I mean it,” she pointed at him dramatically, “you made my week.  You're my favorite Avenger now.”  She winked at him and disappeared through the door.

“I'm not… Avengers aren't rea… I'm not an Avenger!” he finally managed to sputter out.

“Favorite,” she called back, her voice carrying through the open door, “even more than Captain America.”

Jason grumbled but finished closing the rooftop door for her.  He continued to stare at it for a few more moments, his hand still resting on it, before shaking himself out of it.  “Captain America,” he scoffed.  He looked down at his chest and flexed, the movement making his pectorals and shoulder tattoos dance as the solid, bulky muscle moved smoothly beneath them.  “A lot fucking better than Captain fucking America, thank you very much.  And cooler too.”  He looked back at the door for a few seconds, his eyes narrowing in annoyance.  “Fucking smarter while we’re at it,” he added louder as if she could hear it.

He dropped his hand and made his way to the edge of the building.  “Captain America,” he scoffed again.

He gave her a few minutes to make sure she wasn’t going to come back out before jumping to the next building and making his way to his base, suddenly much less cold than he had been a few minutes before.

The mission quickly became his favorite.  Not because it was a particularly good mission.  In fact, it was a clusterfuck of a mission in which the client taking his shirt and favorite jacket was the best part.  No, what made it his favorite was that Marinette was on her roof almost every time he returned from a stakeout or questioning or even when he went out for dinner and just happened to come home via her roof.

And each time, they talked longer into the night to the point that Artemis had threatened if he didn’t focus on their mission, she would kick his ass so hard, he wouldn’t be able to walk, let alone climb up to the rooftop to see her in the first place.  And he had to admit that perhaps they had a point because he knew he’d said more than he intended to during those conversations.  Personal things.  Identifying things.  Potentially dangerous things, not only for them but for Marinette as well.

But each time he saw Marinette, the threat completely flew out of his head and the only thing he could focus on was her. Her and her uniquely brilliant eyes and her never-ending myriad of smiles, each one more beautiful than the last, especially when she congratulated him each day on making it home with all his clothes or teased him about which Avenger he worked with that day, which he found annoying, absolutely not cute.

He had never cursed his helmet as much as he did during those talks.  He seriously considered going back to wearing a domino mask under his helmet despite how much shit he knew he’d get from his brothers about being dramatic for doing it and despite it making stakeouts incredibly difficult because of the multiple layers of lenses.  Not to mention, it was just uncomfortable.

But it might be worth it to be able to take off his helmet while talking to Marinette.  And not because she teased him about how his helmet looked, which she did… frequently.  Rather because it hid his face while he was talking to her, hiding his emotions and responses, another fact she pointed out from time to time, with her eyes wide and earnest and he was sure sparkling even brighter than he could see through his helmet, not that the domino mask would help with that issue.  And maybe a little bit because it covered his lips, making using them with Marinette for anything other than talking impossible.

The worst part of the mission though, even more so than his motorcycle getting destroyed and his shirt actually catching fire in some kind of karmic joke, was that the last bit of the mission required him to unexpectedly be gone for the last three nights of it, meaning he couldn’t see Marinette or let her know he would be gone.  And when he got back, she wasn’t there anymore, either waiting on the roof or even in the building.

He knew she was leaving.  He may or may not have helped make sure she found a good apartment in a safe neighborhood at a significantly reduced price than the landlord had been asking for before, but he thought they had more time.  The only redeeming factor was that at least he knew where she was and could find her after he wrapped everything up and maybe try to explain himself to her.  He just had to figure out how to do it without seeming like a stalker.

The first step in his plan was to find out a bit more about her from her new employer, again not in a stalker way, just friends talking.  And it just so happened that Jason was more than well-acquainted with him and in need of a gym to work out in after Bizarro accidentally destroyed the gym in their permanent base.

He timed his workout so he would be getting done about the time Tim usually arrived for their family dinner and set up a trigger at the door to notify him when he came in.  He had barely pulled his tank on and grab a towel before it went off, significantly earlier than Tim usually was.  Jason furrowed his brow but decided to investigate.  The sound of familiar laughter echoed down the hallway, causing his brow to furrow even deeper.

“I know.”  He heard Tim tell the other person.  “It’s depressing as Hell, but the finest depressing money can buy.”

He rounded the corner just in time to see Marinette roll her eyes but huff out a laugh.  He froze for a moment, caught utterly off guard.  He wasn’t expecting to see her yet, but the sight of her had the same effect it always did.  All other thoughts flew out of his head and the only thing he could see were her smile and her eyes, which he was right, did sparkle more brilliantly than his helmet let him see.

“This idiot is my brother Jason Todd,” Tim announced loudly.  He ripped the towel out of Jason’s hand and snapped it at him.  “Jason, this is Marinette.”

Jason yanked his towel back and hastily tried to cover his shoulder with it as quickly and inconspicuously as possible, angling the right side of his body away from her so she wouldn’t see the tattoos.  If he covered them quickly enough, perhaps she wouldn’t recognize his tattoos. Maybe it was dark enough on that roof that she didn’t see?  It had been a few weeks, maybe she’d forgotten what they looked like.  That was an option, right?  He cringed internally.  It was dark that night, but not that night.

Marinette quirked her head to the side as her mind raced trying to remember why his tattoos seemed so familiar.  Her eyes widened in sudden realization and snapped to Jason.  “Oh my God,” she gasped.  Breath was suddenly harder.  She gaped for air, causing her to start coughing.  She turned to Tim.  “Water?”

“Water!  Right! I’ll just…” he motioned toward the hallway.  “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

She waited until Tim was out of the room and they could no longer hear his footprints before turned on Jason.  She stalked up to him and shoved his shoulder.  “What is wrong with you?” she demanded just above a whisper.

“Look, I don’t even know you, Ma… Ma’am,” Jason scoffed in what he hoped was a convincing voice, his face set in a facsimile of an appropriately affronted expression for someone accosted by a stranger. He held up his hands placatingly as he backed up slightly to give himself some space as if the distance might make the tattoos she couldn’t see anyway under his towel, more difficult to make out.

Marinette gave him a flat look.  “Don’t you?”  She lunged to rip the towel off, but he moved just out of her reach with an indignant grunt. He did it a few more times as she lunged at him, or rather his towel, over and over again until finally she reached out to shove him in the stomach instead.  He whipped his hand down to block her, concentrating on exerting enough force to stop her but not hurt her.  She was a civilian after all.  But the movement and change in focus caused him to let go of his towel, allowing it to fall lightly to the floor, leaving his shoulder uncovered.

“Really?”  She let out a grunt of aggravation and hit him again. “We’re not even in New York anymore and you’re still somehow spilling secrets.  Big ones.  Ones I don’t need to know.”

“Hey, it's not my fault!”  Jason huffed in annoyance.  She had clearly figured out who he was but wasn’t as happy as he would have hoped she would be.  He had hoped when she found out who he was that she would be happy about it, perhaps want to continue their conversations, but this time with a bit more physical contact mixed in, perhaps involving lips.  But that did not appear to be her view on the matter.

“Not your fault!” she groaned and swiped to hit him again, only missing him by a few centimeters.  She glowered at him for denying her the satisfaction.  “What kind of an idiot gets such distinctive and large tattoos as a hero?  A non-magical hero who can't glamor the appearance away?”

“I believe you meant impressive,” he crowed with more confidence than he felt.  Confidence that quickly petered out when Marinette scoffed. He looked down at his arms and moved them around self-consciously.  “I wasn’t expecting anybody other than family to be here,” he groused back defensively. “And usually my suit covers it.”

“Well, you were wrong, weren’t you,” she hissed back.  “And what happens when someone damages your suit, and the tattoos get exposed?  Or you go out without the part of your suit that covers the tattoo?”

“It wasn’t my choice,” he glowered coldly.

“Accidents usually aren’t.”  She crossed her arms and looked away, a movement Jason unintentionally mimicked until he looked at her out of the corner of his eye and noted the similarity.  He immediately dropped his arms, twitching slightly as he tried to figure out where to place them to look the most appealing… intimidating! He meant intimidating.

“What happens if someone else sees it?  Someone who would use the information to hurt you.  It’s like you want to get attacked,” she huffed, still not making eye contact.

He blinked and slowly looked back at her, a sly grin pulling at the corners of his lips.  “It almost sounds like you’re worried about me, Pixie.”

Marinette huffed again and looked further away pointedly.  “I’m just worried about the Avengers.  Compromising you compromises them.”

Jason snorted but didn’t challenge her.  “Uh huh,” he scoffed, smirk widening.

She pouted and rose her chin even further away pointedly until her face was almost past her shoulder. After a few moments, she let out a light scoff and shook her head.  “I cannot believe you’re Tim’s brother.”

“I cannot believe you’re here,” he mused.

Marinette turned to face him and quirked her head to the side.  “Why?  Hoping to be rid of me?”  She opened her eyes wide but her voice had a teasing lilt.

Jason whipped his head to Marinette so quickly she was surprised none of his joints cracked.  “What?  No!”  His voice boomed out, echoing down the hall. He snapped his mouth shut quickly and looked down for a moment before continuing.  “I just meant I wasn’t expecting to see you hanging out with my family.”

“And that’s… all?” She took a step closer to him, craning her neck to meet his eyes.

He returned her gaze, his eyes softening.  “Maybe not all, no,” he admitted.  “I may have been planning on asking Tim about WE’s latest hire before I happened to pass by your new place’s roof every night until you showed up on it.”

“Hmmm.”  She narrowed her eyes at him.  “Creepy.”

“It's not like I was going to ask him to do a background check" which he knew Tim had done, but he was going to try to avoid that and focus on what he'd discovered personally about her instead.  “And I was only going to stop by if you came to the roof and I was going to stop coming if you seemed like you weren’t interested.”

“Uh huh,” she scoffed. A sly look suddenly creeped onto her face, a mischievous smile appearing on her lips.  “So… I’m assuming your family hasn’t heard about how we met…”

Jason’s head jerked toward her.  He had hoped she hadn’t figured out anyone else but judging by that comment, he was pretty sure that hope was out the window, and he did not need his family knowing he’d accidentally exposed all of them.  “No…” he started cautiously, but when he saw the smirk on her lips his eyes widened realizing she meant something far worse than that.  He pointed his finger at her warningly.  “No, no, no…”

Marinette’s smirk widened and she inched closer to him. “Why so shy?  It’s what made you my favorite Avenger.”

Jason groaned.  “I told you Avengers aren’t real.  Here in the real world, we have the Justice League, which I’m not a member of either.  I’m a mercenary.  I handle things before the Justice League needs to get involved.”

“So… you’re more of a Prevenger then?” she asked innocently.  Her eyes widened in innocence, but her lips were still quirked into a smirk.

Jason stared at her for a few moments, just blinking in uncertainty on how to respond to that.  “What the fuc…”

“Yeah,” she looked away toward the hallway, “you’re more of a Revenger,” she nodded solemnly as if coming to a conclusion. She flicked her eyes to him from the corner of her eyes, pursing her lips in order to keep her smirk from widening.

“Reveng…” he stared at her aghast.  He scoffed and pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes at her and pointing a finger at her.  “That was terrible.  Absolutely terrible.  You don’t get to talk anymore.”

Marinette grinned and turned fully toward him.  “How are you going to stop me?”

Jason raised an eyebrow before wrapping a hand around her neck and pulling her toward him as he leaned toward her.  He stopped just before crashing their lips together and flicked his eyes up to meet hers in silent question.  She nodded almost imperceptibly.  Jason felt it more than saw it.

His lips were on hers instantly, hungrily indulging the way he’d wanted to for weeks now that he was finally free of the helmet with her.  His hand squeezed her hip, pulling it flush against his, his other hand finding it’s way into her hair.  Marinette wrapped her hands around his shoulders, using them as leverage to raise herself up to deepen the kiss.

“I got the water,” Tim announced loudly as he rushed into the room.  “Sorry it took so long.  The kitchen is like a mile aw…”  He stopped short, gaping at Jason manhandling his new employee.  Marinette tried to jump away but Jason held her close.  “Oh God, she's not going to end up being a…” he trailed off unsure how to finish that in front of Marinette.

“She knows I'm Red Hood,” Jason said, not taking his eyes or hands off Marinette.

“…a villain,” Tim finished without missing a beat.

Marinette blinked at him and returned her attention to Jason. “How many villains have you dated?”

“Not many,” Jason assured her at the same time Tim answered,”Too many,”

Tim narrowed his eyes as Jason’s words registered with him.  “Is this why you were asking me about Red Hood?”

Jason raised an eyebrow at her, lips set in a smug smirk.  “Asking Tim about me?  Kind of creepy, don’t you think?”

“Shut up,” Marinette huffed and buried her face in his chest.

“Make me,” Jason challenged, tightening his arms around her.

Marinette grinned and wound her arms around his neck.  “Gladly,” she whispered before pressing her lips to his in a much sweeter and slower kiss than the first one.

“Ew,” Tim groaned.  “Jason, please stop groping my friend. Marinette, stop pawing my broth… You know what?  I don’t have to witness this,” he objected.  He waited for some kind of reaction from either Marinette or Jason but seeing none he huffed loudly and looked down at the glass in his hand.  “I’m going to need something stronger than this.  Don’t mind me,” he called over his shoulder as he left the room.

“Did you hear anything?” Marinette asked, pulling just far enough away from Jason’s lips to speak.

“Nope,” Jason smirked against her lips before capturing her lips again.

[natedogx15]

Kamen Rider Deku Master List

Izuku Midoriya is a quirkless teen whose world is being attacked by a new kind of villain known as a Nomu. However, his father, Hisashi Midoriya, has created a new system that can defeat these creatures and turn anyone into a hero. This is the story of Izuku wielding his dad's invention as Kamen Rider Deku.

AO3 Story Page

Chapter List

Mission 1: Birth of a Rider

Izuku Midoriya gets the Hero Driver from his father and decides to accept the responsibility of becoming a Kamen Rider.

Mission 2: Ride, Plus Striker

Izuku learns more about what heroes go through as he faces a Nomu with the ability to move at high speeds while also being given an upgrade to his equipment.

Mission 3: The Mysterious Kamen Rider, Chamber

Another Kamen Rider appears to help Deku and some pro heroes face off against a Nomu that can control shadows and clone themselves. However, something more may be brewing in the background

Mission 4: An Explosive Grudge, Enter Kamen Rider K.E.M.

A New Kamen Rider appears. However, this one isn't as friendly as Chamber and seems to have it out for Deku for some reason.

Mission 5: Sowing the Seeds

Deku and Chamber continue their fight with K.E.M., only for it to end shockingly. Afterward, Dr. Garaki has Chamelo-Fly do some recon and attack the Riders in their weakened states.

Mission 6: What It Means to be a Kamen Rider

Midoriya Izuku and Hikage Shiki are recovering from their injuries from the day before. Meanwhile, Bakugou Katsuki is facing off against the newest Nomu Giran sent after the Kamen Riders. Can he handle it alone without putting others at risk? Or will the other two have to step in?

Mission 7: A Hero’s Heart and Plots a Plenty

Secrets are revealed, plans are being made, and tensions rise among the players.

Mission 8: Progress

The Kamen Riders go over their progress as the villains prepare their next move.

Mission 9: New Chapter

The Nomu are back, this time with a new source, after the Kamen Rider.

Mission 10: Building Tension

The Kamen Riders have a new Nomu to face. However, this one is different from their usual enemy and has some help. The Kamen Riders are in for a few surprises, but Chamber has a surprise of his own waiting.

Mission 11: Breaking Down Walls

Things start to take a turn when the Kamen Riders learn they can't always win.

Mission 12: Fixing the Cracks

Each of the Kamen Riders deals with the aftermath of their first loss with the help of those close to them. If they'll let them help, that is. As they do, the M.L.A. are given some extra resources as an apology for Giran's actions against their previous warriors.

Mission 13: The Leaks

Bakugou is shuffling through his feelings about what happened at the docks. Luckily, he has the perfect target to take some of his anger out on in the form of a Nomu who can create an army. However, more discrepancy appears among the Kamen Riders' ranks.

Mission 14: Coming to Terms

Things are looking slightly up for K.E.M. after the Plant Nomu battle, and a new option for potential Hero Driver wielders arrives to Deku, an extra power boost in preparation for Giran. While this happens, the Meta Liberation Army begins to form cracks in Giran's dealings.

Mission 15: The Next Phase

Another day another Nomu. Or in this case two. As the Meta Liberation Army sends out two ancient-powered Nomu to attack the Kamen Riders by separating Deku from Chamber. In the meantime, Hisashi and David are nearing the completion of a fourth Hero Driver.

Mission 16: Movement

The Kamen Riders work together to take down the two prehistoric Nomu and K.E.M. makes a challenge afterward. While they fight, Izuku makes an observation and tells everyone else about it later, providing a possible lead.

Mission 17: Duel

Chamber and K.E.M. have their duel at an old factory. While that's happening, Izuku and Melissa discover Slidin' Go's true allegiance, leading to Izuku having to fight the new Nomu on his own.

Mission 18: Conclusions

The battles come to an end, but their results and what led to them will shake up the foundations of the current status quo.

Chapter 19: Possible Wars

Tensions have finally risen and people are preparing against each other.

Mission 20: Training Test

Izuku and Shiki learn from Sero about the exams meant to choose another Kamen Rider and decide to watch them to see who they're working with.

Mission 21: Trials

Izuku and Shiki take their own tests to see how they're experience has helped them grow.

Mission 22: Spying

The unity within the Meta Liberation Army is starting to break apart in favor of learning more about their aggressive sponsors, leading to the latest Nomu Re-Destro sends out being tailed.

Mission 23: Two-Prong Attack

The Meta Liberation Army are starting to have enough of failing. So, they send some of their best operatives to handle both their benefactor and the Kamen Riders.

Mission 24: Nuisances

The members of the Meta Liberation Army do their best not to get caught while exploring the secret lab of Dr. Garaki and collecting some of their data.

Chapter 25: Karma

The battle between the Meta Liberation Army and the heroes is coming. Before that, though. It's time for two people who share a past to confront eachother.

Mission 26: War Knowledge

Chamber and the new Kamen Rider, Psiren, work together to take down Cactus Nomu. Afterward, the Kamen Riders regroup and learn more about the upcoming war.

Kamen Rider Deku Mission 27: War Prep

In preparation for the upcoming war, Chairman Hikage calls two heroes to help train the Kamen Riders.

Art

Kamen Rider Deku Rider Form

[delimeful]

(dont) take this the wrong way (5)

warnings: injury, blood mentions, past psychological&emotional&physical abuse, ptsd, sickness

-

Virgil woke up, which was only unsurprising for the few moments it took him to 1. realize that his head was pounding and 2. remember the two very large reasons why.

His eyes flew open, and he found himself half-submerged in a shallow pool of cool water, surrounded by flat ledges of dry rock. The sound of ocean waves lapping against the cliffside echoed around the cavern, which was dimly lit by overhead cracks in the ceiling.

In one of these beams of paltry light, Logan was slumped over on his side, glasses askew. Virgil’s relief at seeing him was instantly overshadowed by terror at what could have happened to the human after Virgil had gone and gotten his skull knocked against rock.

His headache worsened, and he lifted a hand to press against the sore spot, pausing when he found more of those stiff bandage strips wrapped around his head.

The soft sloshing of water seemed to be enough to startle Logan into wakefulness, and the human brightened slightly at the sight of him. “Virgil. It’s good to see you awake. Are you feeling any pain or nausea?”

“What happened?” Virgil replied in lieu of the real answer, which was ‘everything hurts’. “Where are we, I thought we were dead for sure—!”

“Take a few deep breaths,” Logan advised, shuffling closer to the pool and offering a hand. Virgil took it gratefully. “We’re not currently in any danger. I believe we’re at the home of the seal-hybrid mer, if—“

“We’re what?!” Virgil’s voice dropped to a horrified double pitch, his grip on Logan’s hand instantly turning crushing.

“Ow,” Logan said in a pointed monotone. Virgil eased up before his claws could turn the human’s palm into bloody ribbons. “Let me finish, please. I’ve managed to work out a rudimentary method of communication, and as far as I know, we’re not currently at risk.”

“From the giant mer-eating monsters that literally kidnapped us, you mean?”

“Yes, that was the potential risk I was referring to.” Logan pulled Virgil further upright, reaching out with his free hand. “More importantly, you’ve been out for some time. Will you allow me to take a look at your injury?”

Virgil shuffled a little closer, allowing the hand to make contact with him. He had traversed currents of all temperatures, but in chilled still waters like this, Logan’s warmth was more than welcome. “I dunno how that’s more important than our inevitable, rapidly-approaching deaths, but sure, fine. Knock yourself out.”

“I will not? You are already dealing with a likely concussion, I see no reason to double that number.” Logan squinted at him like he was concerned that the head wound had taken a worse toll than he’d thought.

“No, it’s-- it’s just an expression. Don’t actually pass out, or I’ll freak out.”

“Ah,” Logan acknowledged, his hand twitching like he wanted to grab something before returning to carefully peeling the bandages away. “My apologies. Colloquialisms are not my strong suit.”

Virgil blinked back at him, because five syllable words were a little much even when he wasn’t concussed. “No worries?”

Logan continued to gently probe the back of his head. A sharp pang made him jerk away with a muted hiss, his vision blurring with pain as the sharp motion only agitated all his other cuts. He waved off Logan’s apology before it was fully formed. “S’fine. What’s the damage?”

“The bleeding has stopped, which is a good sign. It’s swelled significantly, but the cool water is hopefully helping reduce that as well. The best course of action now is for you to rest and recover in a dark, quiet place, ideally for at least two full days.”

“Yeah, but that’s not happening unless we get away first,” Virgil shot back, irritably twitching his fins down as Logan rewrapped the injury. The human let out a slow breath.

“Virgil. I believe the situation isn’t as dire as you think.” He settled back on his heels, back stiff as he spoke. “Our captors have shown no signs of aggression or hunger, even with the significant bleeding from your head wound. It’s possible--”

“It’s not possible!” Virgil cut him off, scowling fiercely. “That doesn’t mean anything. They’re playing some kind of sick game the way they always do, and if you let them trick you, you’re going to lose!”

Logan looked back at him inquisitively, still not getting it. “What evidence are you basing this off of? I was under the impression that you’ve spent only marginally more time in their company than me. Have they attempted to trick you in the past?”

“Yes, no, I mean--,” Virgil groaned, pulling at his bangs. “They don’t have to say it. That’s just how giants like them operate. We’re smaller, they can do what they want to us, we don’t get a say in it. You escape or you die.”

“Yet, we’ve been in their admittedly less-than-ideal care for over 24 hours, and they haven’t hurt us or made any indications they intend to hurt us.” Logan gestured expansively, his hand a bit wobbly. “That’s a rather long time to pretend, and for what purpose? If it was what they desired, we have been easy targets for a meal from the moment they relocated us.”

A rather long time to pretend. Virgil swallowed down a hysterical laugh, feeling dizzy. If a day of false niceties was all it took to buy his trust, he’d have never gotten away from his first encounter with a giant mer. “You’re— you’re human. You don’t know anything about this.”

Logan frowned. “I may be human, but that does not make me an idiot. Even with a language barrier, body language and expression are invaluable tools for communication, and I’ve been doing very little but observe them while you were unconscious. Virgil, if you just tried talking to them—“

“No!” he snapped, curling in even as his fins flared wide and threatening. He wouldn’t do this again, wouldn’t be subjected to the world’s most torturous game of catch and release, wouldn’t be lured back into too-tight hands by false promises and meaningless apologies. He couldn’t do that again.

Measured, rhythmic tapping on the back of his hand slowly brought him back to the present, cool air and Logan’s steady voice by his side. His throat was closed-up-too-tight, his gills too far out of the water to switch lungs— but the rhythm was counted out over and over, breathe in, hold, and out.

“There you go,” Logan said as Virgil took in another long, shuddering drag of air. “Well done.”

The air smelled like iron. He realized that somewhere in the past few minutes, he’d dug his claws into the soft sides of the human’s hand, drawing blood. He pulled away as though he’d been burned.

Logan didn’t even twitch, still searching his gaze intently. “Are you with me?”

Virgil nodded stiffly. “Yeah, I— fuck, I’m sorry.”

“No, I shouldn’t have pushed you. I didn’t realize— but I should have.” A deep, resolved breath. “It’s okay. I’ll find you a way out that doesn’t involve interacting with them.” Logan’s gaze went distant and hazy with thought, and Virgil hesitantly drew closer, pulling a bandage free to wrap around his bleeding hand.

… He was really warm. Clammy, too, and he’d been sitting in a cold, wet cave for hours, hadn’t he? Had been completely drenched for even longer.

“You’re sick,” Virgil said, and Logan took a moment too long to refocus on him. How had it taken him so long to notice? “That’s why you need me to talk to them. You need to get home.”

“My illness is no more severe than your injuries,” he deflected, adjusting his glasses clumsily. “Right now, the priority is getting you away from triggering circumstances. If my suspicions are correct, I will be fine regardless.”

Right. His suspicions, based on his willingness to trust his own abductors. He’d trusted Virgil, too, back in those tunnels. He’d known that he might be abandoned and he’d freed Virgil anyways, taken his hand anyways. Gotten hurt for his trouble.

He’d get hurt worse if Virgil left him here.

“... Yeah,” Virgil said, tucking the edge of the bandage in carefully. “But you should sleep for now. We both should. You said they haven’t done anything yet, right?”

“Yes, but…,” Logan’s brow was furrowed slightly, as though he knew something was off, but wasn’t quite sure what. “I mean, you do need rest. If… If you’re sure.”

“I am,” Virgil replied, curling against the edge of the pool and pillowing his head on his arms to hide their shaking. “Get some sleep, Specs.”

—

It was early morning when Patton woke to the splash of something small dropping into the water from his air room.

The room wasn’t overly large, being designed only for occasional use when he needed some extra oxygen in his system. It was also quite a few caves up above his sleeping den, but with two delicate little guests staying over, his senses were on high alert. He disentangled from Roman, who had been clinging to him for extra warmth, waking the shark mer in the process.

“Mwha’huh?” he asked groggily, and Patton chuckled at the way one side of his hair had been pressed into a tangled bundle.

“I think they may be awake!” he reported quietly, and Roman perked right up. They had originally hovered in the room over the two of them, only leaving after the human-- busy tending to the tiny mer’s wounds-- had gotten too fed up and used charades to shoo them away, leaving them with nothing to do but sit around and think about how badly they’d messed up. As such, they were both more than eager to start fixing things.

Upon popping up into the air room, however, they found only the human, lying completely still apart from the slow rise and fall of his chest. Deep in sleep, with an empty pool at his side.

Roman and Patton exchanged a panicked look, and ducked back underwater to search through his home and see where, exactly, the injured mer had gone.

It didn’t take long to spot him. The mer had practically every fin and frill puffed out, even the ones that were still injured. The threat display as eye-catching as they got.

He was hovering in the opening of a vent crevice, one that helped circulate seawater through the caves. It was small enough that if he vanished through it, they wouldn’t be able to stop him or see where he was headed. He knew it, too, staring them down with sharp defiance rather than absolute terror.

“Don’t move,” he said, as though they hadn’t both frozen at the sight of him. “I’m going to-- to make a deal with you.”

“A deal?” Roman asked, and received a sharp, wild-eyed glare for his troubles.

“Yeah, a deal. The other one is sick,” a slight jerk of the head toward the air room, “so he won’t last long here. Probably already too far gone to even play a single game.”

Patton was torn between concern (the human was sick?) and confusion. Game?

“But I’m fine. I’ve had much worse than this.” The mer drifted back slightly, closer to the crevice. “If I leave now, you’ll never find me, and then Lo-- the human will die, and you won’t have anything to play with.”

A creeping sense of dread overcame Patton. He still didn’t know what was going on, but it was sounding more and more like something was seriously wrong here.

“So, a deal. You take the human back to where you found him, and I’ll stay-- I’ll stay here,” his voice cracked painfully, but he ignored it, staring at them with a desperate sort of intensity. “With you. I won’t try to get away or anything. I-- I swear.”

“Get away?” Roman asked, his voice going high with the same sort of horror that currently swamping Patton. The mer ducked back at the sound, gaze flitting between them, some of that terror returning.

“I will! I’ll leave, if you-- you can either have one or none, that’s the deal, I’m not kidding. I’m not!” His fins flared wider, blood beginning to leak from some of them. “He’s human anyways, he can barely even swim, you don’t want him--”

“Kiddo,” Patton cut in urgently, raising his hands peacefully and trying not to wince when the mer flinched, “if he’s sick, of course we’ll take him back to where he can get help. No deals necessary, okay?”

The little guy didn’t look reassured at all. “I want to watch. I have to see you put him back, where other humans will find him, or else the deal’s off.”

He didn't believe them. Patton exchanged a helpless look with Roman, who finally nodded.

“Of course,” the shark mer said, “You are more than welcome to accompany us back to the mainland where Patton found him, provided that you’re not exacerbating your injuries.”

The mer hissed at him, a tiny, reedy sound. “And whose fault is that?”

“Irresponsible human fishing vessels?” Roman tried, and then wilted under both Patton and the mer’s looks when the joke fell flat. He cleared his throat. “It is, of course, mine. I wanted to apologize for the way I manhandled you before. Regardless of my intentions, it was unbefitting behavior, and it hurt you. I am truly sorry.”

He bowed with a little flourish, moving slower than normal. The mer stared at his bowed head apprehensively, and then covered the look up with a distrustful scowl.

“If you’re sorry, get Logan out of this place before he gets any worse,” he finally replied, and Patton nodded and went to retrieve the human-- Logan, presumably.

Glancing over his shoulder as he left, he could see the way the tiny mer’s fins had settled just slightly, not quite as frantically overextended as before.

It was a start.

[morganaspendragonss]

holly's august extravaganza day 26: slowly becoming lovers

for sonia (@pragmaticoptimist34)! i have to confess something - i got so caught up in writing this that i actually forgot to include either of the other two prompts you sent me 🙈 i hope you like it anyway!

second confession - it was supposed to be longer and then it kind of got away from me so i had to draw a line somewhere oops

thanks to @ravens-words, @cosmiicmalex, @halsteadmarchs and liz (sorry, i don't know your tumblr!) for enabling me and to @noxsoulmate for beta'ing!

ao3 | 2.9k | falling in love, fluff, tiny, tiny hint of hurt/comfort, soft tarlos, set between s1 and s2

Things don’t get fixed overnight. They agree to give them a shot, but that doesn’t change the fact that TK is still reeling from his break-up and overdose, nor that Carlos is still hesitant and afraid of pushing too hard at once.

But, slowly, they get to know each other. And, slowly, they start to fall in love.

i. food preferences

“You have to be joking.”

“It tastes like soap, Carlos!”

Carlos groans and drops his head into his hands, shaking his head at this latest revelation from his boyfriend. His boyfriend, who has just made his life—or at least his cooking—a hell of a lot more complicated. “My mamá would have a fit if she could hear you now.”

He almost regrets the words as TK’s eyes alight with interest; he’s been dancing around the topic of his parents for a while now, but it’s not like he can deny what he said. His mom would be having a fit, or possibly attempting to kill TK with a wooden spoon, if she found out that Carlos’s boyfriend was not only a gringo, but one who hates coriander.

“I swear, you won’t even taste it when it’s mixed into the food,” he tries, because coriander is a staple of his cooking, and he can’t even fathom not using it.

But TK just levels him with a firm look. “Yes, I will, Carlos. I’ll always taste it.”

Carlos rolls his eyes at his boyfriend’s theatrics, but sighs, relenting. “Fine. I suppose I can—” He doesn’t get a chance to finish his sentence, as TK throws his arms around him and plants a noisy kiss on his cheek.

“Thanks, babe,” he says, grinning cheekily.

“Yeah, yeah,” Carlos grumbles, but he can’t help but smile.

There’s very little, he’s finding, that he wouldn’t do for TK.

ii. nicknames

It slips out by accident one day.

“TK,” Carlos groans, followed by a gasp as TK moves just right, sending sparks of pleasure down his spine. “TK, Ty—”

TK instantly freezes on top of him and Carlos’s eyes open, concern rising in him as he takes in the pensive look on his boyfriend’s face.

“What’s wrong?”

“I…” TK shakes his head and forces a smile. “It’s nothing. I’m good, I promise.” He ducks down to kiss Carlos again, but the mood is all wrong, and Carlos gently pushes him back, raising an eyebrow. TK holds out a moment longer, then sighs and rolls away, staring up at the ceiling. “It’s stupid.”

Carlos tuts, reaching over to brush a hand through TK’s hair. “Bet you $20 it’s not.”

“Hope you have $20 then, Reyes,” TK says wryly. He looks over at Carlos and sighs again, biting his lip. “It’s just… You called me Ty.”

“Oh.” Carlos’s eyes widen and he props himself up on an elbow. “I’m so sorry, I wasn’t thinking; it won’t happen again—”

TK presses a finger against his lips, cutting him off abruptly. He smiles softly, then removes his finger and caresses Carlos’s cheek. “It’s okay,” he says. “More than okay, actually. I… I’ve always hated my name, but, I don’t know, I guess it sounded right? Like, when you said it? I think I’d kill anyone else who tried, but I really liked it coming from you.”

“Are you sure? You’re not just saying that because—”

Carlos is again cut off, this time by TK’s lips on his. TK moves so that he’s straddling Carlos again, hands pressed against his chest. “I’m sure,” he whispers, a grin playing at his mouth. “Now, weren’t we in the middle of something?”

iii. religion

Christmas sneaks up on him that year. Between helping the city recovering from the solar storm, work in general, the pandemic, and building his relationship with TK, Carlos has completely lost track of the months, until it’s a week before the date and he has nothing planned.

Really, it’s never been a big deal for him; he and his family used to attend mass and make an event out of it when he was a kid, but now he’s an adult, he’s often working, and he hasn’t been to church regularly since he was a teenager. But this year is different. This year, he’ll be spending it with TK, their first Christmas together, and he wants to make it special.

But he’s left it too late—nothing he orders online will arrive in time, the shops are becoming a nightmare, and he honestly has no clue where to even start. So Carlos resigns himself to another quiet Christmas, frustration and disappointment welling in him at the thought of telling his boyfriend.

“I’m sorry,” he blurts out one night over dinner, the thought having been gnawing at him for days.

TK raises a brow. “For?”

“Christmas,” Carlos sighs, looking down into his stew. “It’s our first one together and I had all these plans, and then I just sort of… I didn’t forget! But things have been so crazy, and—”

He’s cut off when TK lays a hand on his. When Carlos looks up at him, TK seems to be fighting back laughter, which is confusing at best and potentially mildly insulting at worst.

“Babe,” TK says, grinning, “it’s okay. You might not believe me, but I forgot too. Christmas wasn’t really a thing growing up—my mom’s Jewish, so I used to celebrate Hanukkah on the years I stayed with her, and Dad was working more often than not. I don’t care, I promise.”

Carlos blinks. “You’re Jewish?” Surely he would know if… But they’ve never discussed religion before, and Carlos had kind of assumed TK had the same ideals as him about the church. In hindsight that was stupid and presumptuous, and Carlos can’t quite believe he’d do something like that. An apology is on the tip of his tongue, but TK just shrugs, going back to his stew.

“Half,” he says. “I don’t really practice anymore but I still keep the beliefs with me, if that makes sense?”

“Yeah. Yeah, it does.”

TK smiles at him, and Carlos suddenly realises that this holiday season will be special after all, even if they don’t celebrate anything. Because he’s with TK, which is the most special thing in the world.

iv. how they sleep

Carlos has been sleeping alone for a long time. He’s had a couple of short-term boyfriends and the odd hook-up here and there, but he’s never had someone else in his bed regularly—certainly not regularly enough to get used to it.

TK was hesitant at first to stay over, but once he started to be more comfortable, it was almost a given that they’d be sleeping together whenever their shifts allowed.

And it had been an adjustment.

TK had warned him he tended to move around and be clingy in his sleep, but Carlos hadn’t quite understood what that meant, until now. He is, essentially, trapped under TK, his arms pinned to his sides and one leg thrown over his hip. TK’s head is pillowed on Carlos’s shoulder and his breath is fanning in soft puffs over his skin.

The only way he can move is if he wakes TK up, and there’s no way Carlos is going to do that. His boyfriend looks so peaceful, and Carlos is more than happy to be clung onto like a koala to a branch if it keeps that expression on his face.

In fact, he thinks he can get used to this very easily.

v. pda

In private, their days are filled with gentle touches and stolen kisses. Carlos will be cooking breakfast and TK will slip his arms around him, kissing the back of his neck. TK will be doing one chore or another and Carlos will brush a hand over his back or gently nudge him as he walks past.

But in public, it’s a whole other story.

It’s almost reflexive, the way TK reaches for Carlos’s hand as they’re walking down the street. It’s something they do all the time at home, and even with their friends, but this time, Carlos immediately tenses, seemingly automatically pulling his hand away.

“You okay?” he asks, frowning.

Carlos takes a deep breath, then obviously plasters on a smile, retaking TK’s hand—and TK can feel the tension in the gesture. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not.” TK gently lets go of Carlos and smiles reassuringly up at him. “It’s okay if you’re not comfortable with touching in public.”

“I’m sorry, I just—”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. This is all on me; I should have asked.”

“But—”

“But, nothing.” He carefully bumps their soldiers together. “You’re entitled to your boundaries, I’m just sorry for overstepping. Tell me next time, please?”

Carlos hesitates, but nods, a gentle press of their arms a silent acknowledgment of agreement and understanding.

vi. scars

Carlos, TK has noticed, likes to pay extra attention to his bullet scar. Whether it’s pressing a gentle kiss over it when they’re in bed, or brushing it with his fingers when wrapping an arm around him, it happens too often for TK to believe it’s anything but intentional.

He doesn’t understand it at first.

Then he discovers Carlos’s own scars.

“What’s this?” he asks, tracing over the thick raised scarring on Carlos’s side. It stretches along the curve of his waist and round his back, and TK has no idea how he hasn’t noticed it before.

Carlos cranes his neck, letting out a hum when he sees what TK’s looking at. His head flops back down on the pillow and he closes his eyes, absently stroking up and down TK’s sides.

“It was...three years ago, maybe?” he says. “I got stabbed on a call. They told me it was pretty touch-and-go for a while, but they fixed me up and I was back at work in a month.”

His eyes are still closed, body completely relaxed, but TK can’t take his eyes off the scar. He reaches up to his own scar, and he gets it.

Carlos’s eyes crack open. “TK?”

“I’m good,” TK murmurs. He breaks his gaze from Carlos’s abdomen and smiles at him. “We both are.”

And if, after that day, Carlos notices him paying more attention to that scar, he doesn’t say anything.

vii. penguin or panda

“You’re out of your mind!”

In Carlos’s defence, a zoo date had seemed like a good idea. He knows TK loves animals, and he himself grew up around them, so in theory, a trip to Austin Zoo should have been the perfect time to get to know each other better while enjoying the day.

Turns out, TK has some very strong opinions on animals, and is willing to budge for absolutely no-one.

“I can’t believe you think penguins are cuter than pandas! I mean, look at them, Carlos!” He gestures emphatically to the panda enclosure, where one is napping on a log. It’s pretty cute, Carlos has to admit, but…

He shrugs. “But remember when the penguins were all huddling together?”

TK makes a noise of outrage, and Carlos has to laugh, then some more at the wounded pout he gets for it. “Is this really a thing for you?” he asks. “Like, is this going to be the dealbreaker for us?”

TK folds his arms and levels him with a stern look. “That depends,” he says. “Meerkats or koalas?”

And, just because he knows it will rile TK up more, Carlos grins and answers, “Meerkats.”

(They don’t break-up over it, but Carlos isn’t so sure that TK will be forgiving him any time soon.)

viii. special interests

“Say you could go back to a moment in history, but only once,” TK says, out of the blue, breaking the comfortable silence of the front room. Carlos stops carding his fingers through TK’s hair and looks down at him, curious. “Where would you go?”

Carlos opens his mouth, but TK doesn’t give him a second to answer. “Is it cliché if I said I’d go to Stonewall? I mean, I’d really like to see dinosaurs in the flesh, or—oh! I was, like, obsessed with pirates as a kid; I thought they were the coolest things ever, and I pretty much idolised Anne Bonny. But I’m pretty sure I’d die immediately if I went to either of those places, so…”

He trails off, a blush rising on his cheeks. “Sorry, I’m boring you.”

“No!” Carlos rushes to say. “No, you’re not. I love history, I just… What makes you ask?”

“It’s something we got into at the station earlier. Mateo brought it up first, I think?”

Carlos hums, pursing his lips in thought. “I guess…” He sighs and shakes his head. “It’s too hard. There’s so many places I’d want to go and people I’d want to meet.”

“But if you had to pick?” TK pushes, sitting upright and looking at Carlos with interest.

“I really want to meet Eleanor of Aquitaine, but if I could only go to one place…” He hesitates and thinks it over some more, but then his eyes catch on the masks hanging along the stairway, and he’s sure. “Tenochtitlan, but before Cortés arrived. It was a whole society, and I just think it would be so cool to see it up close and to know what it was like first-hand. I mean, I’ve read a lot of books, but we don’t have much from the Mexica people, a lot is from the conquerors, and—”

Carlos stops and huffs a laugh. “Now I’m the one boring you,” he says, but TK shakes his head, eyes bright.

“Tell me more.”

ix. coffee order

TK accepts the coffee without even thinking about it, even taking a sip before he realises he never told Carlos what his order was. He curses himself but resolves to drink it anyway; TK isn’t too much of a coffee snob, and he’s certainly not going to reject anything his boyfriend brings him.

He takes a second sip, and he’s so caught up in making a mental note to tell Carlos next time that it takes a minute for the taste to register. And…

It’s his order.

He looks sharply up at Carlos, who is smiling into his own coffee—therefore dispelling any notion of this being an insanely good guess. “How did you know?” he asks, bewildered.

The tips of Carlos’s ears turn pink, but the smile doesn’t leave his face as he looks up at TK. “Our first real date,” he says. “You mentioned that this was your go-to order.”

And TK can’t do anything but stare, because their first date was weeks ago, and Carlos still remembered, and it’s just…

He thinks—no, he knows—he’s falling in love.

x. fears

“Weirdest fears, go.”

TK has to laugh at the perplexed look Carlos sends him at the question, the straw of his boba hanging out of his mouth. Now that they’ve figured a sort of rhythm out between them, they decided to try the boba place again—there have been no emergencies or disasters so far, so TK is counting it as a win.

“Come on,” he continues. “Last time we were here, you said we barely knew each other—which was true—so now we’re going to fix it.”

Carlos’s eyebrows shoot up to his hairline. “By telling each other our weirdest fears?”

“Exactly!” TK grins. “I’ll go first if you’re too chicken. Mine is slicing my hands open or cutting some fingers off with ice skates.”

“What?” Carlos breathes, disbelief all over his face. “I’ve never been ice skating but I’m pretty sure your hands aren’t supposed to go anywhere near the blades.”

“I didn’t say it was rational.” TK sips his boba, raising an eyebrow at Carlos. “Your turn.”

Carlos swallows, suddenly very interested in the table. “I, uh. When I was a kid, my Tía Lucy had a snake get into her pipes. She only discovered it when she went to the toilet one morning and it was just...sitting there in the bowl. I was terrified for years that the same would happen to us, and it’s kind of become a reflex to check.”

“Oh my god.” TK can’t help but burst out laughing, even though he feels bad for it as Carlos covers his face with his hands. “I’m sorry, I know it’s a real thing for you, I just…”

But Carlos’s shoulders are shaking too and, bizarrely, TK really does feel closer to him now.

It’s a good feeling.

xi. long-term commitments

Carlos is surprised when TK is the one to bring it up first.

“Do you ever think about the future?” he asks one day, head in Carlos’s lap, staring up at the ceiling.

Carlos pauses the show he’s technically supposed to be watching and quirks an eyebrow at his boyfriend. “Sure,” he says. “What about the future exactly?”

TK hesitates, and his voice comes out a lot quieter when he next speaks. “Like…” He sighs, a small flush rising on his cheeks. “The future. Our future. Us. Maybe...marriage, or…”

He trails off, practically whispering by the end of it. His gaze has shifted from the ceiling to the frozen TV screen and he’s chewing on his bottom lip, body stiff with tension. “Sorry,” he mutters. “Forget about it.”

But Carlos is learning to read TK, and he knows he was looking for reassurance. “I mean, yeah,” he says. “I think about it. Do you?”

TK stares up at him, wonder in his eyes. “After New York, I thought… But yeah. Yeah, I do.”

They share a smile as they lock eyes, and Carlos knows that they’re on the same page here. That, distant though they may be, both of them can hear wedding bells in their future.

[azucanela]

So i have a phrase “How do I look? Do I look okay?” “You look beautiful... you are beautiful.” with Kirishima, Shinsou, Todoroki and Keigo? Is it okay to ask for something like this? If it's not feel free to ignore🙈

DIALOGUE PROMPT SCENARIOS [ft. keigo takami, kirishima ejirou, shinsou hitoshi, todoroki shouto]

SUMMARY: Y/N wonders if she looks okay, not that she could ever look bad.

WORD COUNT: 2.1k

WARNINGS: kissing, insecurities, thats it though

A/N: that’s perfectly fine bb <3 but you didn’t specify scenarios or headcannons but scenarios felt more appropriate so here we are

KEIGO TAKAMI | PRO HERO HAWKS

Staring at herself in the mirror, Y/N found herself despising her job as a Pro Hero, mostly because of all the extra things that came with it. She’d gone to UA High School to learn how to save lives, and Y/N had learnt just that. Nobody prepared her for the interviews and the galas and the publicity that came with the job, especially if you were successful. The social aspect that nobody discussed was the worst part of the job, the random reporters photographing her as she went about her day, the brutal comments in regards to basically everything.

Seeing as she ranked in the Top 5 Pro Heroes, Y/N considered that successful, and the fact that her boyfriend was Number 2 Hero Hawks, well that didn’t necessarily help. There was a ridiculous amount of attention focused on them individually, but as a couple? Y/N L/N and Takami Keigo were viewed as a potential power couple to the public, they had yet to confirm their relationship, though Y/N had a feeling that their appearance together at the gala that night would confirm the suspicions the public had.

That would likely be catastrophic. 

Sighing, Y/N smoothed down her red dress, the color matched Keigo’s wings, something she’d requested specifically. It was a subtle hint to their relationship, something for her, Keigo, and both their publicists, seeing as the announcement of a relationship between two top heroes would likely only benefit them. Now, Y/N wondered if it was too much, eyes scrutinizing every inch of her look the same way she knew dozens of magazines, reporters and posts would do the moment she stepped out onto the red carpet.

She was distracted by Keigo’s entrance into their shared room, moving past her quickly to snatch his red tie off a dresser, he moved to fasten it around his collar. Y/N found herself reminded of the fact that he was considered a very fast paced hero as she watched him, a small smile finding its way onto her face. He opens his mouth to speak, only to pause when he turns to her, and Y/N can’t help but squirm under his gaze.

“How do I look? Do I look okay?” There are about a dozen thoughts running through her mind as he practically stares her down, maybe he doesn’t like the color, maybe she looks bad, maybe this was a mistake. 

Instead, a smile breaks out on Keigo’s face as he tilts his head dopily, “you look beautiful...” He responds, hand coming to hold her cheek as he leaned forward, “you are beautiful.” 

“Thank you, baby.” She’s smiling too now, leaning her face into his hands as she brings her arms to wrap around his shoulders.

Keigo pressed his lips to hers, mumbling against them, “you’re wearing my color.” His mouth moved to press against her jaw as Y/N hummed in response, hand coming to grip his hair tightly as she watched his wings flutter slightly. 

There’s a grin on Y/N’s lips as she tilts her head further back and responds, “yeah, I am.” Raising a brow she asked, “you like it?”

“I love it.”

KIRISHIMA EJIROU 

Kirishima finds himself smiling as he knocks on Y/N’s door. They were going to meet his for dinner, and it would be Y/N’s first time meeting them, something she had been stressed about for the past week since he’d told her. Though Kirishima wasn’t necessarily worried if he was honest, seeing how often he talked about Y/N, he wouldn’t be shocked if his parents felt like they already knew her.

Y/N on the other hand, was panicking. This would be her first time meeting her long term boyfriend’s parents, meeting the parents meant a lot of things. First off, Kirishima expected her to be in his life for an extended period of time, and he trusted her enough to introduce her to his parents. Secondly, it meant she had to make a good impression, though their approval didn’t mean everything it was important to both her and Kirishima if she wanted to continue being in a serious relationship with him.

Upon hearing the knock at her door, Y/N found herself grimacing as she looked into the mirror once more before making her way to the door. Unlocking it, Y/N opened the door for her boyfriend before rushing over to her dresser and taking the earrings on top to put them on. “Hey, sorry I’m not ready I just-” She inhaled deeply, turning to him as she fixed the earrings, “I really want this to go well.” Y/N returns her gaze to the mirror for a final look at herself, frowning when she realizes Kirishima has yet to speak, “How do I look? Do I look okay?”

Kirishima’s mouth has gaped open as he looks to her, eyes trailing over her outfit as he nods rapidly, “you look beautiful!” He exclaims, bringing his hands to her arms as he beams at her, “you are beautiful.” His voice quiets as he says these words, the look in his eyes soft. 

Y/N’s cheeks warm at her words, nodding slowly in response, “great. Great. We should go.” She mumbled, a small smile on her face.

But Kirishima’s hands remain on her arms, keeping her in her spot as he says, “you are amazing Y/N, and they are going to love you, okay?” When she doesn’t respond, Kirishima brings a hand to her chin, forcing her to look at him as he repeats, “okay?”

Y/N bites her lip as she nods, “okay.” A shaky breath escapes her as she leans forward to press a gentle kiss to his lips, temporarily catching him by surprise as her hands come to rest on his chest. Kirishima recovers quickly, pulling her face closer with the hand gripping her chin as his other hand comes to her waist. 

When Y/N pulls away, she wraps her arms around his torso and places her head on his chest, “thank you, Kiri.”

He simply smiles at her, wrapping his arms around her shoulder and rocking them side to side, earning a laugh from her as he says, “of course, Baby.”

SHINSOU HITOSHI

Sighing, Shinsou runs a hand through his hair as he sits on the couch, awaiting Y/N’s great reveal. She’d insisted that he stop working so that she could show hims something, though it took a lot of convincing, she’d managed to get him on the couch. If Y/N was honest, this was a last ditch attempt to get Shinsou to stop overworking himself, he had already done so much to get into the Hero Course and he needed a break. Now she was searching for something, anything that could be considered relevant enough for her to pull him away from his work and force him onto the couch. At this point just hoped he was eating the food she’d left behind for while he waited. 

Tearing through her room, Y/N groaned, moving to her closet when she realized she had nothing interesting to show him, after all, he’d seen everything in her room dozens of times. Her closet on the other hand? There were dozens of things she had yet to wear. 

Y/N found herself glaring at the dress she’d bought months ago, she’d thought it was gorgeous but there weren’t many opportunities for her to wear it, and even if she could, Y/N couldn’t help but feel nervous at the possibility. What if it looked bad? She never tried it on, so this would be a surprise for not just her, but also Shinsou. Y/N couldn’t help but scowl as she snatched it off the hanger.

Meanwhile, Shinsou finds himself eating the bowl of fruit Y/N had left behind, he couldn’t help but wonder what she had to show him that was taking so long to prepare, but he didn’t mind. Though Shinsou would be lying if he said he hadn’t considered getting up to check on her. 

He’s about to call out her name when she exclaims, “you ready?”

There’s a soft smile on his face as he places the bowl of fruit down on the coffee table before him and leans back against the couch, “I always am, kitten.” Comes his response.

Shinsou was wrong. He was not ready for what Y/N was showing him. 

She’d moved into his line of sight to reveal a black dress that he’d never seen her wear before, and to put it simply, he was kind of upset that she hadn’t. Shinsou is grappling for words as his mouth opens and closes in shock, eyes trailing of Y/N.

“How do I look? Do I look okay?” Y/N asked, his lack of response hadn’t been reassuring, but at least he had eaten some of the fruit she had left for him. Spinning in a circle, Y/N let out a nervous laugh as she looked to him.

Shinsou nodded slowly, “you look beautiful...” He assured, a small smile making its way onto his face, “you are beautiful.” Y/N found her cheeks warming at his words as she moved over to him, falling into his lap with a smile.

“You’re too nice to me, Toshi.” 

She can see the faint blush in his cheeks as he wraps his arms around her, burying his head in her neck in an attempt to hide it, “it’s the truth.” 

Y/N simply hums in response as she runs a hand through his hair, leaning her neck further back when he begins to press small kisses against it, “so what do you want for dinner? You’ve barely eaten all day.”

“Pizza?”

TODOROKI SHOUTO

Shouto didn’t know how long he’d been sitting on Y/N’s bed, but it had been a while, a long while. It was their anniversary and he had insisted on using Endeavor’s shiny black credit card to the fullest, much to her dismay. Y/N had never liked when Shouto spent an excessive amount of money on her, but he didn’t seem to care. They’d gone out earlier and if Y/N so much as looked at something for more than a few moments, Shouto was already taking it to the cash register, card in hand.

Now, she was trying on a dress they’d bought earlier that day, and seeing as they had a reservation at some fancy restaurant Y/N had discovered in the next hour, Y/N was taking her time to get ready. Not that Shouto minded how long she was taking, especially since the restaurant was supposed to be booked until the following year, until he dropped his name that is. He sincerely doubted they’d mind if they were late.

Y/N was, of course, panicking. It was a really fancy restaurant and when she’d off handedly mentioned how good the food seemed, she didn’t expect Shouto to get them a reservation. Much less take her shopping beforehand. Stepping outside of the bathroom with the black dress she’d selected, Y/N found herself incapable of preventing the insecurities from flooding her mind when she saw Shouto look up from his phone. 

He set his phone to the side when he saw her, and Y/N finds herself looking away as she mumbles, “how do I look? Do I look okay?”

There’s a small smile on Shouto’s face as he gives her a small nod, “you look beautiful.” His eyes are analyzing her entire figure as he extends a hand, gesturing for her to come closer, and Y/N moves into his arms, hands gripping his shoulders as he continues, “you are beautiful.”

Y/N can feel her cheeks warm at Shouto’s words as his hands come to her hips and pull her between his spread legs, “you’re too kind to me Shouto.” Y/N’s hand comes to his cheek as she smiles nervously at him.

Shouto simply shakes his head, “I don’t deserve you.” His voice is quiet as speaks, looking to her in awe.

She simply swats gently his shoulder, “don’t say that.” Y/N grumbles, frowning at him as she leans down to rest her forehead on his, “you deserve everything.”

Shouto is silent when leans backwards and pulls her down with him, determined to make her smile once more, he finds himself grinning as she bursts out into laughter on top of him before capturing her lips. 

“We’re gonna be late, Shouto.” She mumbles, removing her lips from his and burying her head in his neck as she sighed.

He simply hums in response, arms circling her waist, “I doubt they’ll mind.”

A/N: these were fun to write :D also wow im NOT posting at 2AM? whaaa so weird.

TAGLISTS[lmk if you want to be added via askbox or replies]

BNHA: @shawkneecaps

[tossawary]

Chapter 28: “A Growing Family” of “pride is not the word I’m looking for” quotes and commentary. Not a full list of favorite quotes or full commentary.

-

The fact that Shen Qingqiu is waiting for them, just outside of Yue Qingyuan’s office, really doesn’t help the dread that Shang Qinghua is feeling here.

A stocky young woman is standing attentively beside the seated Peak Lord. This is that Fu Qiang character, one of Binghe’s favorite shijies on Qing Jing Peak, here to whisk Peerless Cucumber away for a one-to-one chat on the other transmigrator’s potential relationship to the House of Rejuvenation. Or maybe to give the kid a tutoring session on recovering memories from trauma or something! Shang Qinghua doesn’t know exactly, not having been invited to sit in.

“Shidi,” Shen Qingqiu greets coolly.

“Greetings, Shen-Shixiong,” Shang Qinghua returns, feeling sweaty already, but also weirdly giddy. He’s tempted to wink, but he’s pretty sure that would get him killed. “How are you? You look very well! Aha, how did those ‘other engagements’ go the other day? Meet with anyone? Have a good time?”

Over the top of his elegant fan, Shen Qingqiu immediately gives him a look that could probably kill a lesser man - or maybe a greater one, like someone who has more dignity and shame and whatever than Shang Qinghua does. Shang Qinghua doesn’t flinch. He assumes that the meeting with Yue Qingyuan went well! Which is great! Super great! If it had gone badly, he’s pretty sure that Shen Qingqiu wouldn’t even be setting foot on Qiong Ding Peak now - or at least would have been projecting “I’ll kill to get out of here and I’m mentally picking all my victims” hard enough to send all the Qiong Ding Peak disciples and cultivators off like panicked chickens.

“I don’t know what you mean,” Shen Qingqiu says, downright frosty now. “Shang-Shidi must have been paying too much attention to nonsense gossip again.”

“Ah, of course! Of course! My mistake, Shen-Shixiong! Please forgive me!”

Shang Qinghua looks to his fellow transmigrator next, to reintroduce them, only to find Shen Yuan making a very strange expression. Shen Yuan is looking between Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu kind of like he’s never seen them before. His mouth is even a little open and everything. It takes the kid a few seconds to realize that he has two Peak Lords staring at him and to swallow the strange expression.

- 

AN: Shen Yuan knows that 1) SQQ came to meet SQH personally immediately after their mission was over, 2) SQH stayed in bed the following day for a LONG time, and 3) SQH had a hickey on his neck. 

So when Shang Qinghua makes a reference to the meeting that SQQ had with Yue Qingyuan, almost flirtatiously asking if Shen Qingqiu “met with anyone” and “had a good time”, Shen Yuan is going to draw his own conclusions. 

Namely, that Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu might be sleeping together. 

After all, Shen Yuan doesn’t know about the YQY and SQQ backstory! Shen Yuan only knows that Shang Qinghua is weirdly friendly with PIDW’s most famous scum villain and that Shen Qingqiu apparently likes SQH enough not to be an asshole to Luo Binghe. Shang Qinghua kind of talks like they’re friend, so what if they’re... more than friends?! 

Meanwhile, Shang Qinghua cannot fathom anyone EVER considering that he and SHEN QINGQIU might be lovers. It’s not an idea that he is in a position to have because what the fuck?! 

I was tickled pink when I realized that things were in position to have the disciples think that Shangjiu is a thing. I was already planning on having them notice Shang Qinghua’s brand-new-relationship good mood. Shen Yuan may not notice when people are in love with HIM, but he did still read a twenty-million-word stallion web-novel, so he’s totally prepared to assume that secret affairs are happening for OTHER PEOPLE. 

- 

His fellow transmigrator hastily performs the appropriate greeting. Shen Qingqiu doesn’t reply beyond inclining his head, instead sweeping his eyes over Shen Yuan, who stands hilariously still like he’s facing down a predator, except for how the kid squints back a little at the Lord of Qing Jing Peak. Ha! That’s pretty fearless coming from someone still so unnerved by the man who would have Proud Immortal Demon Way’s most famous scum villain.

“Fu Qiang,” Shen Qingqiu says finally. “I have instructed Assistant Ma to set aside a private room for your discussion. You may take Disciple Shen there now.”

“Yes, Shizun.”

The other disciple gestures for Shen Yuan to follow and the other transmigrator hastily takes her up on that. As the disciples disappear, Shen Qingqiu rises and, without a word, leads Shang Qinghua into Yue Qingyuan’s office.

- 

AN: It’s tempting to try and make Shen Qingqiu and Shen Yuan actually develop more of a relationship than “passing acquaintance”, but the thing is that I can’t see either of them really going for it without being forced or without a very serious push. They’re both so prickly. 

- 

Yue Qingyuan greets him in a friendly manner, like he’s genuinely pleased to see Shang Qinghua and happy to help. Shang Qinghua greets the man in the same way. It’s nice! It also kind of feels like they’re both pretending the past few months of awkwardness, resentment, and avoidance never happened.

- 

AN: It felt a little more true to life and to the characters to have Shang Qinghua and Yue Qingyuan just... move forward instead of getting into their issues with each other and what apologies may be due. 

It’s kind of like a mutual: “What if we didn’t talk about it?” 

And they’re both like, “Oh, thank fuck.” 

I think that if they both brew on it a bit more, they may eventually decide to try to assuage their respective anger or guilt by saying something, but right now they’re feeling raw and/or embarrassed, and don’t want to accidentally get into it again. So they’ll talk about work! They always have work to talk about! Work is more important than personal matters, so they’re just going to pretend everything is fine! 

- 

It’s not just the System who won’t let the Immortal Alliance Conference not happen! But, ahhh, Shang Qinghua can still dream of them actually managing to convince Zhao Hua Temple Sect and everyone else to call the whole thing off. He can dream!

Yue Qingyuan has this pained expression that says, “You’re not wrong, but I wish you were.” This guy knows what Shang Qinghua is talking about!

Shen Qingqiu has this expression that says something like, “I can only critique the accuracy of your assessment on the grounds that you may be giving our fellow cultivators too much credit in terms of common sense and cooperation. This annoys me immensely.”

“You have put a great deal of thought into this,” Yue Qingyuan says finally. “You received this news… when exactly… again?”

“Ah, yesterday morning?” Shang Qinghua answers.

 “While in bed with a demon lord,” he doesn’t elaborate. Nope! Not elaborating!

“I know it’s not- I’ll try to get more information, but everyone is still in the planning stages, and it’s not easy getting any information!” Shang Qinghua says defensively. “But, even with that, I thought, ‘Ah, my shixiongs will probably want to know right away!’ Someone will need to tell Zhao Hua to take precautions, at least?”

Yue Qingyuan visibly regathers himself and says, “It is better to know these things as soon as possible. Thank you, Qinghua, for this forewarning.”

“He’s very good at knowing these things,” Shen Qingqiu agrees, but the man’s gaze is like a very sharp pin and Shang Qinghua is but a lowly insect under it. “When might you be expected to know more about this?”

“Ah, I’ll have to get in contact with… ah, some people I know.”

- 

AN: Of course YQY and SQQ want to know more about where SQH is getting this information, but for all they know he might just have gotten a tip-off from one of his merchant contacts or someone in the black market. This has been brewing for a while between these demon lords and the cultivation sects. It’s really bad news, but it’s also not really that surprising. 

According to the Airplane Extras, when MBJ and SQH meet, Airplane offhandedly mentions that Mobei-Jun’s clan and Huan Hua Palace Sect have a serious grudge from a conflict at a previous Immortal Alliance Conference. In PINTWILF, this conference is why the IACs got cancelled and had to be recently “revived”. The coming IAC is the 3rd since this revival.  

Shang Qinghua has proven himself reliable enough by this point that YQY and SQQ will let him keep his informants close to his chest. Between SQH’s years of improved services (helped by actually getting his personal disciples to help him) and SQH’s interference in their personal issues, they do actually trust him. 

So, yeah, they think he’s a squirmy little rat man. 

But he’s THEIR squirmy little rat man who has come through in times of need. Also, SQQ, for all his glaring, might stab YQY if he started giving SQH a hard time about this. Sometimes a shidi just wants you to back the fuck off, YQY! Let him have his secrets! Even though SQQ absolutely wants to know SQH’s secrets and is on the verge of dying of curiosity. 

I am VERY MUCH looking forward to them finding out that Shang Qinghua has a demon prince for a boyfriend. That’s going to be fun. 

- 

“I have also been… considering the advantages of lessons and between Peaks to encourage both cooperation and… survival skills,” Shen Qingqiu says next. “Rarely does one become a master of all disciplines - the Twelve Peaks allow for many of our sect to become specialists, masters of one art - but it seems unwise not to be learned in the basics of as many life-saving arts as one is able.”

“A diversity of learning can be very beneficial,” Yue Qingyuan agrees immediately.

“My disciple, Fu Qiang, has become a very adept medic over the years, though this was in the hopes of avoiding visiting Qian Cao Peak. The head disciples of An Ding, as I understand it, have sought to take special lessons from Qian Cao and Xian Shu to improve themselves."

 “Ah, that explains how Hongpeng spied on Peerless Cucumber back when the little bro was still in Mu Qingfang’s clutches,” Shang Qinghua thinks. “And, ah, Shen Bro, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Wenjiao goes to Xian Shu Peak mostly to moon over pretty girls, especially my little sister-in-law.”

"There is also the example of Qi-Shimei’s most frustrating disciple, who must be routinely dragged away from Bai Zhan, but who has also apparently helped to improve her fellow Xian Shu disciples’ martial abilities.”

 "Ah, that's one of putting Qi Qingqi letting Luo Fanli and Liu Mingyan fight each other in order to hopefully wear them both out," Shang Qinghua thinks.

“Even if demons should not attack, though only a limited number of our disciples will be attending the Immortal Alliance Conference, it would nevertheless be beneficial to ensure that all disciples across the sect are well-equipped to keep themselves alive until the specialists arrive,” Shen Qingqiu finishes. “Shang-Shidi, as one of the most well-connected leading members of our sect, the organization of such an initiative would be best left in your hands.”

- 

AN: Okay, so I know that this is kind of a weird thing to be coming from Shen Qingqiu, but he’s grown a bit over the course of this fic! AND he’s totally coming at it from the perspective of: “I don’t have to cooperate or get along with anyone beyond what I’m doing now.” 

So SQQ is like, “My disciples are stupid. We should have more field medics.” 

And he’s like, “Some people’s disciples can’t fight for shit and we should make sure they know more self-defense.” 

And he’s like, “Liu Qingge’s disciples are animals. Someone at least teach them how to protect other disciples and how to not bleed to death, because he won’t. That man doesn’t teach them anything.” 

And he’s like, “Shang Qinghua, you do that. I don’t want to.” 

- 

Peerless Cucumber’s conversation with Shen Qingqiu’s disciple is long over, but apparently his fellow transmigrator didn’t just leave afterwards. Yue Qingyuan’s youngest assistant intercepts to politely point Shang Qinghua towards their waiting room. Shen Yuan is asleep in a chair, with one of his cultivation manuals open in his lap. Judging by his pose, Shang Qinghua is going to guess that the kid was trying some kind of meditation and ended up taking a nap by accident.

It happens to the best of them sometimes! Or at least to Shang Qinghua!

“Ah, I told you not to wait on me. Come on, bro, I don’t want to have to carry you back,” Shang Qinghua says, while jostling the kid awake. “You’re too big for that. My nephew is too big for that these days. Just because it would be nostalgic for me and just because I can doesn’t mean that I want to be carrying you around like a sack of vegetables.”

- 

AN: If Shang Qinghua can haul Mobei-Jun around, then he could pick up Shen Yuan no problem. Also, this is the bit where I was like, “Wow, I have very much made SQH into SY’s dad here.” 

Even SVSSS SQH gives me Uncle Vibes, to be honest. The man wants to pop into Bingqiu’s life, ask some nosy questions, be treated to a free meal (who doesn’t), tell some bad jokes, offer some terrible advice, complain about his workload, and then flounce off again with his boyfriend. SVSSS SQH seems to like being useful and appreciated and part of the group, but in a way where he’s not directly attached to anyone, you know? Give SVSSS SQH the benefits, but none of the responsibilities! 

- 

Shang Qinghua is kind of sick of this roundabout conversation and decides to bring out the big guns: a move taught to him by his extremely powerful sister-in-law, who has effortlessly defeated their resident War God. He knows the effectiveness of this technique personally, because Luo Jiahui has used it to defeat him many times. He puts on the best concerned face he has.

“Yuan,” he says seriously, looking the kid directly in the eye. “I’m not making jokes here about not skipping out on cultivating. It’s not always going to be fun - a lot of the time, it’s going to be pretty embarrassing and a little painful. Bro, I was an adult stuck in a teenage body, regularly getting my ass handed to me by actual teenagers. That was awful. But I really need you to keep doing it, even if you don’t become the next War God ready to challenge the protagonist, because I don’t want you to die. This shitty world isn’t safe. And if you want to be involved in these missions, then I need you to be able to carry yourself, or we’re both going to get trampled by some OP monster wandering out of an advanced chapter early instead of fixing anything here.”

Shen Yuan is having difficulty meeting his eyes. He keeps trying to force himself to look at Shang Qinghua and then looking away again automatically.

Shang Qinghua employs another of his sister-in-law’s immensely powerful techniques: he reaches out and puts a hand on the kid’s shoulder. “I will tell you stuff when I have stuff to tell you and when I can tell it to you. You’ve been super helpful, I’m going to need your help in the future, but I need you to be a little patient right now too.”

Shen Yuan nods. “...Fine.”

-

AN: Shang Qinghua: “I can’t believe that I’m tricking this person into thinking I’m a good person by being nice to them and looking after them and doing good things. I have learned this behavior for TRICKING PURPOSES only and have NOT accidentally adopted yet another kid.” 

- 

Shang Qinghua can’t answer the question right now! Leave a message!

He’s too busy replaying all the times he’s seen his nephew and his fellow transmigrator interact. Binghe did ask after Shen Yuan every time that he and Shang Qinghua talked, while the other transmigrator was on Qian Cao and after he came to An Ding, but… Shang Qinghua just thought his nephew was being polite and curious? Peerless Cucumber stands out! Binghe didn’t act too weirdly about it!

Luo Binghe is supposed to be a stallion protagonist with 600 wives!

Although… Shang Qinghua’s nephew has never really shown any interest in that kind of thing. Which Shang Qinghua has been pretty glad about! He doesn’t want to have 600 nieces-in-law! He also doesn’t want that for his nephew!

The protagonist of Proud Immortal Demon Way ’s harem was basically a snake pit of drama and desperation and decaying fantasies. For everyone who could read between the lines of empty papapa to see Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky’s tragic story of resentment and revenge, it wouldn’t be inaccurate to say the tyrannical, broken protagonist was like a black hole, dragging everyone else into orbit around this man who couldn’t really love anyone! You can take a blackened protagonist out of the Eternal Abyss, but you can’t take that abyss out of the blackened protagonist, right?

The original Luo Binghe didn’t take wives because he was in love. He took wives because he could! Because they were beautiful or powerful or useful! Because he pitied them! Because he liked being their savior! Because he didn't want anyone else to have them! Because he liked being an object of envy and desire and love! Because it was expected of him, as the man all the readers wanted to be, who was supposed to have everything a man could ever want!

 “...Ah, there are… some implications there,” Airplane Shooting Towards The Sky realizes, remembering just how half-hearted most of that harem bullshit was. “Maybe a bent man wrote a kind of bent protagonist by accident? Who knows?”

“Da-Ge?” Fanli says. “Da-Ge, didn’t you know?”

- 

AN: I’ve said this before, but there’s a meta argument to be made in regards to Luo Binghe and obligatory heterosexuality. 

Also, from what I remember, Airplane didn’t actually seem to care too much about Luo Binghe being interested in Shen Yuan. In the Airplane Extras, Airplane says that in the original version of PIDW that he never got to write, Luo Binghe actually ended up totally alone at the end of the story. He was apparently planning a pretty downer ending for Luo Binghe. But Luo Binghe ended up getting a huge harem instead because that’s what the readers wanted! 

So, my impression is, that when SVSSS Airplane first realizes that LBH is into men (and into SQQ specifically), he does a little bit of self-reflection and also reflection on PIDW, then just goes, “Huh. That makes... sense.” 

- 

“Though, aha, I can’t remember Shen-Shixiong ever really not being kind of angry at me and I’m not dead yet. I had to talk really fast sometimes, but I lived! Now go away.”

When Shang Qinghua looks up, all of his disciples are staring at him. They all look surprised, except for Shen Yuan, who looks embarrassed. Shang Qinghua would guess that someone cracked a dirty joke, but that doesn’t seem right.

"What?"

“...Shifu, how long have you known Shen-Shibo?” Chen Xuan asks.

“Since we were disciples? Ah, I think he hated me at first sight.”

“But you’re close now?” Lin Wenjiao blurts out.

“Closer, ” Shang Qinghua agrees warily. “Aha, don’t think that any of you can ask me for favors to do with Shen Qingqiu or Qing Jing Peak too! That’s not happening! Disciple Luo, Shen, get out of here before you give my disciples any more weird ideas.”

- 

AN: Okay, so what happened is that as soon as Luo Fanli and Shang Qinghua left the room, Shen Yuan was like, “...Shang Qinghua and Shen Qingqiu are... very close? Are they...?” 

And SQH’s disciples are like, “Holy shit, are you asking if SQH and SQQ are romantically involved?!” And SQH’s disciples laugh in SY’s face because that’s RIDICULOUS. Which makes SY really embarrassed and defensive! SQH’s disciples ask why he would EVER think a thing like that. 

SY provides the evidence. It’s a reasonable conclusion! 

And then SQH’s disciples are like, “...Holy shit?!” 

And then SY is like, “Wait, maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.” 

But it’s too late. SQH’s disciples are already putting all the evidence together and there is SO MUCH EVIDENCE of something going on there. 

I know I refer to this ship as “Shangjiu”, but that’s mostly just to specify which Shen Qingqiu and I doubt that anyone in Cang Qiong Mountain Sect dares to call SQQ “Jiu” besides YQY. They’d probably actually end up calling it something along the lines of “The Premise” like original Star Trek: The Original Series Kirk/Spock shippers. (See Fanlore or something for more info on that.) 

Again, SQH cannot... CONCEIVE of them conceiving this idea. 

-

By the time that Mobei-Jun shows up at his Leisure House, Shang Qinghua is a little on the edge! Honestly, he’s kind of off the edge, dangling from a very thin branch just underneath the cliff’s edge, and that thin branch is making some very concerning noises! Sure, at least the demon lord isn’t late, but Shang Qinghua is suddenly reminded of just how intimidating Mobei-Jun looks! Also, he’s cleaned up his house and knows his sister-in-law knows he’s kind of a slob sometimes, but he’s so sure that she’s still going to judge his cleaning job! What if she blames Mobei-Jun for it? (She’d be right to blame him a little! The man can be kind of lazy and messy sometimes too!)

A cool hand at Shang Qinghua’s hip prevents him from walking around in circles, repositioning disobedient cushions and offending tables. Shang Qinghua looks up at Mobei-Jun, who moves his hand to where Shang Qinghua’s neck meets shoulder.

“Stop it,” Mobei-Jun says.

- 

AN: It’s really funny thinking about how all of Mobei-Jun’s gentle and affectionate behaviors towards SQH are totally learned. This does not come naturally to the man. If SQH was having a panic attack, Mobei-Jun’s first (panicked) instinct would be to bark at him to stop it. 

- 

“It’s just… Jiahui is… it didn’t have to be this way for us? I would have just helped her get to safety and left her to live her life without me, but she didn’t let that happen, even though her family wasn’t any good either, so why would she want another one?” Shang Qinghua tries to explain. “She chose me? She looked out for me. She helped me understand a lot of things. Even though she probably could have picked anyone else. I don’t really know where I’d be right now if she didn’t? Ah, probably… not talking to or trusting anyone ever? You remember what things used to be like.”

“Yes.”

“I’ve never really liked any of the sisters I’ve had before very much,” Shang Qinghua admits. “Ah, but they didn’t like me either, so it worked. Anyway! It’s… important to me that things work out now because…”

 “I don’t want to choose,” Shang Qinghua doesn’t say.

He clears his throat instead.

“Qinghua.”

Shang Qinghua forces himself to look up from his hands on Mobei-Jun’s collar.

“I am glad that you were not without someone to trust,” Mobei-Jun says, though it sounds like it takes effort. “Your sister has nothing to fear from me.”

Mobei-Jun has already made this promise, but it’s good to hear it again.

“Thank you, my king. I’ll, ah- I should go get her now.”

-

AN: Mobei-Jun is jealous. He is very, VERY jealous. 

BUT Mobei-Jun can also see some parallels here. Luo Jiahui is to Shang Qinghua in many ways what Shang Qinghua is to him. Mobei-Jun understands the importance of this relationship and of this person. He understands that Jiahui and SQH’s relationship is not romantic, of course, and understands her to be the “head of the family”, so he has to force himself not to act on his jealousy. 

I think that a part of Mobei-Jun might see jealousy as something very negative? Thinking about what I said about Mobei-Jun’s hang-ups surrounding consent and possessiveness possibly originating with his father being a wife-stealer, Mobei-Jun can’t act on his jealousy for the same reasons that he needs Shang Qinghua to make the first explicit moves. He wants Shang Qinghua to choose him and to choose him of his own free will. 

So, he’s jealous when he hears about how LJH chose SQH and SQH chose LJH, but he can’t act on it because 1) he loves SQH and 2) he’s (possibly unconsciously) terrified of becoming his father and creating resentment that will ripple out into his family potentially for generations. 

- 

It’s so, so weird to see his human sister-in-law sitting across from a demon lord. Luo Jiahui is not a tall woman and her cultivation is very good these days, but she’s not a warrior. Seeing the height and width differences side-by-side make them really obvious! Mobei-Jun is at least twice Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law’s size! He has to be easily twice her weight!

When Luo Jiahui puts food in front of Mobei-Jun, Shang Qinghua gets huge “I dare you to not eat my food” messages! It took a really long time before Mobei-Jun seemed to accept that Shang Qinghua really wouldn’t take every available opportunity to hand him poison. Thankfully, however, Mobei-Jun has eaten Luo Jiahui’s food before! Shang Qinghua has shared his sister-in-law's food with the demon lord! Shang Qinghua also communicated beforehand that Mobei-Jun has to eat the food. No matter what!

So, Mobei-Jun eats the food and Shang Qinghua breathes a sigh of relief. Mobei-Jun even goes so far as to tell Luo Jiahui that she’s a good cook (above and beyond social interaction! Also delivered kind of awkwardly!), which his sister-in-law accepts with thanks (and also maybe just a little bit as her rightful due).

Luo Jiahui already knows the basics of Mobei-Jun: that he’s an ice demon, the son of the Northern Demon King, and he’s going to be the next Northern Demon King. She already knows that he’s a warrior and that his time is mostly spent tending to his duties, usually on his father’s behalf. She even knows that demon families can be kind of violently competitive and that Mobei-Jun’s family is no exception.

So, when she finally decides to speak seriously, she says, “My brother is very important to me. I have told him that if he is happy, then I’m happy for him. He has told me that you are very important to him.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is going to hold that revelation close to his chest for WEEKS. Shang Qinghua said that Mobei-Jun is very important to him! 

Juggling the tension of this scene was weird. 

Because, like, Mobei-Jun is not a kind or a gentle or a good person. He’s disdainful of humanity. It’s kind of a mindfuck for him to be having a meal with a strange human who is not of the things he has been raised to respect. 

Meanwhile, Luo Jiahui is fucking terrified of Mobei-Jun, dislikes him, and doesn’t want to like him. He’s a stranger who could destroy her family. He looks kind of monstrous. He acts strangely. 

But they HAVE TO BE CIVIL to each other for Shang Qinghua’s sake. 

So they are. 

Mobei-Jun tries not to make any scary moves around the soft human. 

Luo Jiahui tries to act like MBJ is a normal person and to be polite. 

They are both very out of their depth. 

- 

“...Shang Qinghua saved my life,” Mobei-Jun says, which is the first time he’s spoken without someone else speaking to him first. “Many times, he has done this.”

Luo Jiahui sets down her teacup, listening expectantly.

“Even when I did not trust him, and he did not trust me, Qinghua has always provided shelter and safety,” Mobei-Jun says slowly, solemnly. “Medicine, when I have been injured. Direction, when I have been lost. Company and loyalty. This is rare.”

“Yes,” Luo Jiahui agrees.

“The trust I have put in him has never been betrayed.”

Shang Qinghua kind of feels like he’s overheating here - like maybe his heart is melting! Mobei-Jun as a character has always prized loyalty above all! “I had no fucking clue,” he thinks. “Honestly, how the FUCK did I have no fucking clue?! Hindsight is incredible!”

“I would not betray him,” Mobei-Jun says, looking to Shang Qinghua directly. “My life has been his since the day we met.”

Shang Qinghua tries not to melt even more. Mobei-Jun is supposed to be an ice demon! What the hell is this?! It’s unfair! It’s embarrassing! It’s too much!

“...Good,” Luo Jiahui says, determinedly. “I’m happy to hear that. My hard-working brother needs someone to appreciate and cherish him.”

“Yes.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Humans use words. I need to use words. I need to be direct about this because humans are bad at understanding things.” 

And Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh my, you are very intense. Okay.” 

- 

Mobei-Jun nods. “I did not think a human would ever care for a demon child.”

Luo Jiahui frowns a little. “Oh?”

“I admire this,” Mobei-Jun amends, frowning back. “I do not know how humans are raised. It is good that your child has never had to doubt his safety here.”

“...Of course.”

“It is clear that your child is loved beyond his bloodline.”

“Of course,” Luo Jiahui insists, with an offended note in her voice. “When I found Binghe in that river, I didn’t know he was part demon, but I would have taken him in anyway! Whoever the parent is, whatever the parent has done, it’s never the baby’s fault. Even if a parent has done something wrong, then babies shouldn’t suffer for it. All children should be cherished.”

Luo Jiahui’s voice breaks a little, her eyes turning wet. Shang Qinghua fumbles for a handkerchief to offer his sister-in-law, which she accepts gratefully.

He wonders if she’s thinking about her stillborn baby. She doesn’t talk about her other baby very often, but she does sometimes. She told him once that she observes that day. It’s something that she insists on doing alone.

“...I was left in the human world as a young child,” Mobei-Jun says.

Shang Qinghua’s head snaps up. He knows that, but that’s because he wrote that. He has never, ever heard Mobei-Jun talk about it before.

“Oh, no,” Luo Jiahui says.

“I was nearly killed by humans,” Mobei-Jun informs them.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Luo Jiahui says.

“It was my uncle’s doing. He wishes to see me dead.” Mobei-Jun says this like it’s just another fact of life, not even an upsetting one, which kind of makes it one of the saddest fucking things that Shang Qinghua has ever heard the man say.

“That’s terrible,” Luo Jiahui says vehemently. “How rotten.”

Mobei-Jun blinks at her. His expression is still solemn, but the pause seems surprised.

Shang Qinghua almost wants to shrug. Yep, his sister-in-law is just like this!

“I have promised Qinghua that I will protect your son,” Mobei-Jun says to her. “I make you the same promise now.”

“...Thank you.”

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “I understand you to be one of the rare humans who is not a piece of shit and who would have saved me as a child. I respect this. I don’t fucking understand it, but I understand you should be protected and that your child should be protected. I am doing this for Shang Qinghua and not because I have any personal issues surrounding the endangerment of demon children.” 

Luo Jiahui is like, “Oh, he’s soft inside! He’ll protect my Binghe. Okay, I like him now. I didn’t want to, but anyone who basically professes to be willing to die for my child and my brother has my reluctant approval.” 

- 

Shang Qinghua can’t help it. The energy in here is so weird! He laughs.

“My king, have you had that all this time?”

Mobei-Jun doesn’t say anything, he just frowns.

“Clearly he was waiting to return it in person, Houhua,” Luo Jiahui admonishes. “It’s not his fault that you took so long introducing us or surely he would have returned it sooner. Don’t make it out to be impolite.”

Mobei-Jun gives Shang Qinghua’s sister-in-law an approving look.

- 

AN: Mobei-Jun is like, “Oh, she’s smarter than Qinghua. Good. (Not that my Shang Qinghua isn’t very clever, but he’s an idiot.)” 

- 

And sometimes it’s just nice to take a minute to sit back, relax, and see his disciples daring their shidi, his fellow transmigrator, to chug the spiciest soup on the menu.

“Ah, kids,” Shang Qinghua says to Luo Jiahui.

Luo Jiahui is making a very concerned expression as her sisters, Shang Qinghua’s head disciples, and even Liu Mingyan chant: “Chug! Chug! Chug!” Yeah, he should probably stop them! But why would he? If anyone throws up from this, he’ll just appear out of nowhere to scare the shit out of all of them and then make them clean it up. It’s fine. He says as much to Luo Jiahui.

“They’re old enough to know better,” she says, but she looks fond now. “Their shifu should have taught them better manners, hm?”

“Hey! Only… four of those are mine.”

- 

AN: Friends for Shen Yuan! Friends for Shen Yuan! 

Also SQH being like, “Oh, fuck, I really have too many kids.” 

- 

Luo Jiahui sighs wistfully. “It is nice having children in here again, even big ones who are supposed to be adults now. I’m so proud of how Binghe has grown, but I miss when he was little. I miss when I could pick him up and carry him around. Uncle Han’s daughter brought her new baby in yesterday. He was so cute!”

“Aha, don’t steal a baby to fill the empty nest, please!”

Luo Jiahui swats him. “I wouldn’t do something like that!” she insists, cheeks flushing pink.

- 

AN: Baby?! Baby for Luo Jiahui and Liu Qingge?! Maybe! 

[sfb123]

Quit Your Life

I am participating in @wackydrabbles​​ prompt # 80 “Stop looking at me like that.” which will appear in bold.

Song Inspiration: Quit Your Life - MxPx

Book: The Royal Romance

Pairing: Liam x MC (Riley Brooks)

Author’s Note: This story is a little something that popped into my head yesterday, and this weeks prompt fits in famously. It takes place toward the beginning of the social season, it pretty much follows canon, but it’s one of those ‘in between events/chapters’ moment.

Also, personal side note, the song inspiration is actually my wedding song, so it holds a very special place in my heart.

Word Count: 1,749

Rating/Warning: G - Romantic fluff, maybe one or two minor curse words.

“Please Riley? You have to come!” Maxwell begged.

Riley sighed and shook her head. “Max, is it an official social season event?”

“Well, no but...”

“Then I’m good.” It had been two weeks since Riley had arrived in Cordonia. Two weeks filled with balls, tea parties, etiquette lessons and meals packed with people she didn’t know constantly sizing her up. The only real time she had to herself was when she was asleep. So when she was told that they had a night off, she was excited to be able to lock herself away and turn off her brain for a few hours. Then Maxwell showed up and told her everyone was going to check out a new club in the capital and invited her to go along.

“Liam’s going to be there.” He raised an eyebrow thinking that may be just the thing to convince her to come.

There was a brief moment where that statement almost made her change her mind. Ever since she met Liam that night in New York, she had felt this connection with him. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew it was something worth exploring. Unfortunately, that also meant competing with several other women to win his hand. “So will all of the other suitors. They’ll be fawning over him all night, I won’t be able to get near him.”

Maxwell pouted, giving her the saddest puppy dog eyes he had ever given anyone.

“Stop looking at me like that. It’s not happening.” She crossed her arms over her chest, firm in her decision.

“Fine, I’ll go. But it’s not going to be as fun without you.” Maxwell lamented.

“I’m sure you’ll still have a great time. And I’ll tell you what, let’s have breakfast here tomorrow, instead of going downstairs with everyone else. You can give me the full recap.”

“It’s a date.” He pulled his friend into a tight hug, and made his way out the door.

A while later, after changing and getting herself comfortable, Riley was about to dig into the pizza she had ordered from a local restaurant, when there was a knock on her door. She placed the slice back in the box and stood up, leaving the comfort of the seat that had just molded perfectly to her body. “Max, I swear to god, my makeup is off and my sweatpants are on, I am not leaving this room.” She opened the door and her eyes went wide when they locked on to Liam’s.

Liam’s breath caught in his throat when he saw her. She was wearing baggy sweatpants and a tight tank top, her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail, her fringe bangs framing her makeup free face. He already thought Riley was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, but seeing her like this, she was perfection. This could be the first thing I see every morning. He felt his heart beat faster at the thought.

“Oh Prince Liam! I’m so sorry, I thought you were Maxwell.” She curtsied. “He was trying to get me to go out to this club tonight. I’m sorry for my appearance, I wasn’t expecting company.” She stepped back and motioned for him to come in.

“No need to apologize, you look beautiful.” He caught the blush in her cheeks before she dropped her gaze to the floor, making him smile. She’s adorable. “You didn’t want to go out?”

“Nah, I needed a night to recharge. The past couple of weeks have been a lot.”

Liam’s face fell slightly. He was so glad that she was there, that she had traveled all this way for him. If she were to get too overwhelmed, would she leave? What if she didn’t think he was worth it? “I’m sorry to have bothered you. I’ll leave you to recharge.”

“No no, don’t go. I ordered a ton of extra food, you’re welcome to hang out for a bit.”

He noticed the pizza box and other containers spread out on the coffee table. “You ordered takeout?”

“Yea, what a pain in the ass trying to get food delivered to the palace! First it took me 15 minutes to convince the guy at the pizza place that it wasn’t a prank call. Then there’s the whole getting the delivery guy through security thing.” She plopped onto the couch, patting the seat beside her.

“You know we have a fully staffed kitchen, right? They could have made all of this for you.”

“I know, there’s just something comforting about eating food out of takeout boxes.” Riley shrugged and reached for a slice of pizza.

Liam made a mental note to have the kitchen start stocking various take out containers, for Riley’s future orders. “Did you order take out a lot back home?”

“I tried not to, maybe once or twice a week. I love cooking, so I would usually just whip something up for myself.”

Liam imagined entering the Royal quarters at the end of the day to find Riley in the kitchen making dinner, their children playing in the next room. Then they would all gather together at the table for dinner. A real family, we would laugh, and joke, and share stories from our day. His heart started speeding up again.

“What’s your favorite dish to cook?” He was trying desperately to keep his cool, all he wanted to do was to pull her into his arms and kiss her. Every second he spent with her, he could feel himself falling deeper.

Riley sighed and smiled to herself. “Nothing fancy, pretty much any of my grandmother’s old recipes.”

“I would love to try them sometime.” He casually draped his arm over the back of the couch. Riley smiled and leaned into him slightly.

They spend several hours eating, and talking, and watching some of Riley’s favorite shows.Since the day they met, Riley had done nothing but tried to get to know Liam, regular Liam, not the Crown Prince. He used this opportunity as a chance to return the favor, and he loved every second of it. The more he learned about her, the more incredible she became to him. She was funny, interesting, and smart. She was so expressive when she would tell stories about her family, and her life back in New York. She had only been in his life for a few weeks, but he couldn’t remember what it was like before she became a part of it, and he was absolutely certain he didn’t want to go back to that place.

Liam checked the time on his watch, and his heart sank when he realized how late it was. He knew he was going to have to leave her. He so desperately wanted to stay the night, if nothing more than just to know the feeling of falling asleep with her in his arms, but he knew he had to get back to his quarters before everyone started returning from the club. It would be quite a scandal for the prince to be found in a suitors bedroom. The last thing he wanted was for Riley to face a scandal that could potentially hurt their chances of ending up together. “I really should be heading back to my room. I had a wonderful time with you tonight, Riley.”

“Yea, it was a lot of fun. I’m glad you stopped by.” They both stood and started walking toward the door. “I’m sorry I talked about myself so much, that must have been so boring for you.”

“Not at all. You are an amazing person, Riley. I want to know everything there is to know about you, and tonight was the perfect start to that.” He cupped her face with one hand, placing the other on her hip.

They stared into each other's eyes for several moments, each waiting for the other to make the first move. Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore, he had held himself back all night. He had to kiss her. He leaned in and pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, but soon their lips parted and their tongues met. Riley’s knees started to go weak, she wrapped her arms around his neck to steady herself. Reluctantly, they pulled their lips apart. Their eyes remained closed, foreheads pressed together.

“Goodnight Riley.”

“Goodnight Liam. I’m really glad you came by tonight.”

“Me too.” As they separated, Liam lifted Riley’s hand to his lips.

Liam exited the room, and Riley shut the door behind him. They both leaned their backs against the door, taking deep breaths to recover from their dizzying kiss. It was different from the others they had shared, there was something there that they hadn’t felt before, but they both felt it, and wanted to feel it again.

“Liam?”

Liam snapped out of his daze and immediately stood up straight. He had been caught. He looked to his left and saw Drake looking at him with a questioning glare. And relaxed a little’ “Oh Drake, it’s just you.”

“I thought you were going out with everyone tonight?” Drake quirked an eyebrow knowingly.

“I made an appearance, but it wasn’t quite my scene.” Liam shrugged.

“See, now what I heard just then was, ‘I showed up, and Brooks wasn’t there, so it wasn’t worth my time.’”

Liam felt his face heat up at Drake’s words. He should have known that his best friend would be able to see right through his flimsy excuse. “Yes well, I had a wonderful night regardless.”

“I’ll bet you did. You’ve really got it bad for her, don’t you?” Drake patted Liam on the back.

“She’s amazing, Drake. I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel like this about someone.” Liam got a far off look in his eyes thinking about Riley, and the evening they had just shared. “Thank you for watching out for her during the social season. I can’t always be there to protect her, it makes me feel a lot better knowing you have her back.”

“Don’t mention it.” Drake stopped walking in front of his bedroom. “Well, this is me. I’ll see you at breakfast?”

“Of course. Good night, Drake”

The pair shook hands. Drake entered his room, and Liam continued to walk to his, thinking about Riley the entire way. The rest of the social season seemed like a waste of time at this point. He had found his choice, his bride, his Queen. He had found Riley.

Tags: @txemrn @texaskitten30 @kingliam2019 @anjanettexcordonia @twinkleallnight @mile9213 @kittypryde-bipride @motorcitymademadame @kat-tia801 @bebepac @gkittylove99 @khoicesbyk @jessiembruno @queenrileyrose @athena-penrose @pixie88 @eadanga @choicesficwriterscreations @iaminlovewithtrr @hopelessromanticmonie @annarenee355 @burnsoslow @shewillreadyou @imturaxamara @wackydrabbles

[my-writings-and-musings]

i rlly want to see private nickname for Rodimus and Ratchet 👀. i think it would be cute 🥺

It absolutely is because they're adorable. And because I'm indecisive I even included bonus nicknames for each that you can enjoy!

Rodimus

Bonus Potential Nicknames: Hotimus, Prime Daddy, Roddy Pie, Hotcakes, Cherry Blossom, Captain Kirk, Skipper, Fantabot, Firecracker, and countless others including many you can't say in polite company...

·As far as everyone knows, you just call him "Roddy" or "Rodders" like everyone else, at least once you get to know him. He actively encourages nicknames for every bot that likes them because they build camaraderie, so hearing the human on board make use of him gets him pretty happy.

·The start of your relationship is marked by "Captain" or just "Cap" becoming your unique little name for him in public, typically said with just a tad of goofy exaggeration that makes both of you smile and snicker whenever it's used. It's only for the two of you though, as "captain" with a certain level of formality is all he'll accept from most anyone else.

·In private, he's open enough to pet names to have many, and prefers those that emphasize what you like about him. Thus, casual usage of "Hot Stuff", "Big Guy", and just the general "Handsome" get thrown around a lot and he really likes it. It's not even a suggestive thing, he just likes hearing you compliment him with nice and fun nicknames, and you being so tiny makes many of them possible. He's even fine with most being said in the company of others, so long as everything is relaxed and the bots you're with are cool enough not to tease. If he can he'll absolutely take a second to brag about having a human partner with endless nicknames for his coolness.

·There's one nickname that's more personal though, as it has some connotations and you tend to only use it during extra tender moments, though it's really just a reference to how cuddly and warm he is in the berth. That might be why he's so shy about it, actually, since it sounds indecent but is actually just a cute way for you to emphasize how much you love his softer and gentler side...

·Unfortunately the other bots don't know that, so the shock is palpable from every inch of the ship when you accidentally agree to something he says with a "You got it, Sweet Heat" and it's heard clear as day. Everyone freezes without a clue on how to react, with Rodimus himself a blushing beacon in the center whilst you try and fail to stutter out a correction before managing an escape, and only a scolding from a flustered Ultra Magnus on inappropriate contact can get time moving again.

·Despite the potential for ego death from the hit, Rodimus surprises you and everyone by owning the nickname right there and daring anyone to try and mock him for having a cute human partner who likes him enough to have pet names, something no one else on the ship can actually claim. He'll wear the name "Sweet Heat" with so much pride it's emblazoned on his doorway by that same time the next day, though in private he's still just as tender as he was so please don't stop cuddling him over this, please, please, please?

Ratchet

Bonus Potential Nicknames: Ratty, Docbot, Surgeon Sawbones, "Pediatrician", Universal G. P, Wrench Expert, Dr. Grump, Cure All, and a host of others that he's had banned in his presence.

·Being a doctor makes one rather accustomed to dealing with bots incapable of saying much, but being willing to accept any title a recovering patient may use doesn't mean he's open to nicknames. Bots who can say his name are expected to do so, or to refer to him as "doctor" or "medic" for the sake of convenience, but he'll also accept "docbot" if he likes you. As he quickly comes to like you, plenty of crewmembers hear you refer to him as such, but just assume it's friendly informality.

·While he's still not one for nicknames in private, you admittedly have a way of making him loosen up, and your flirting and bantering ultimately produces a nerdy and only moderately embarrassing pet name that he lets you use freely when no one is around. It doesn't sound much like his name, but the personal significance it has between the two of you is what makes you find it so fitting for him.

·The ease with which you say it ultimately proves quite inconvenient when the medbay is crowded with bots seeking answers regarding some scientific conundrum related to a mission. After Ratchet requests a tool just small enough for you to lift, he thanks you for bringing it casually enough that you think nothing of replying with "No problem, Panacea" as you always do. It doesn't even register to either one of you until you both realize the room has gone deathly silent.

·Having just enough time to blush before somebot finds the courage to perplexedly ask what you just called Ratchet, and in that moment you and the medic share a look of near panic. There's a flood of halting explanations from you both that overlap and trail off as the seemingly innocent nickname suddenly sounds so much more intimate as you try to break it down, specifically when you reference how it means cure all and you apply that to Ratchet... because... um... Only the need to get things moving for the mission saves you both from blushing to combustion.

·Ever a force when he wants to be, Ratchet quickly silences any and all teasing in the following days with a literal arsenal of wrenches ready for whacking at a moment's notice. Though you mostly travel by vent to avoid the not badly intended but very embarrassing questions, you find Ratchet insists you move through the ship without reservation, and to simply send any busybodies his way. While he may have been a little mortified in the moment, he's still your "Panacea", and his cure for this particular ailment is to clobber anyone that crosses his tiny human partner.

[mochegato]

Hope on Board

Chapter 28 – You Can Never Go Home Again

Chapter 1     Chapter 27

“Okay Ms. Dupain-Cheng,” the doctor said pushing away from the hospital bed in the birthing center and pulling off her gloves.  “You are completely effaced.  We are definitely ready to go.”

Marinette looked up at Dick, an absolutely panicked expression on her face before looking over to the doctor.  “What?  What about an epidural?  We had a birthing plan.  It included an epidural.”

The doctor gave her a sympathetic look and shook her head slightly.  “I understand, but it appears the universe had other plans.  We are too far along for an epidural.  You’re going to be pushing before the anesthesiologist will even be able to get here.”

“Fuck you,” she scoffed.  Her eyes immediately widened at her words.  “I’m sorry that was… I’m sorry.  Doctor Graham, was it?” she clarified.  The doctor nodded.  Marinette smiled in response, which quickly turned into a grimace and scream as another contraction hit.  “Fuck you, Dr. Graham,” she growled.

“There isn’t any way to get the anesthesiologist up there faster?” Dick tried, desperate for any way to help Marinette feel less scared and less pain.

Dr. Graham chuckled at Marinette’s outburst.  “I get that a lot.  Unfortunately, no.  There’s nothing I can do.  The anesthesiologist is with another patient right now and won’t be able to get here for about twenty minutes or more.  I expect at least the first baby to already be born by then, maybe both,” she informed them earnestly.  “Sorry. It took too long to get you here.”

“Well sorry for getting kidnapped by some bird obsessed cult,” Marinette gritted out after another contraction passed.

Dr. Graham looked over to Dick who shrugged at her.  “The bats just saved her and we rushed right here.”  Dr. Graham shook her head.  Honestly, not the strangest thing she’d heard in Gotham. “We will need extra security because of it,” Dick added.

“We can have police in with the babies,” Dr. Graham assured him.

“Oh Hell no,” Marinette grunted.

“Police officers were the ones to deliver her to the cult,” Dick explained, running his hand up and down Marinette’s arm in a soothing motion.

Dr. Graham nodded, again, not too surprising.  “Do you have an alternative?” she asked as she gave orders to the nurses to get the room set up for the birth.

Dick shrugged distractedly, his focus on the pained expression Marinette was making and the way her body was curling in pain.  “We can work something out.  The bats seemed to know something about the cult.  They might be willing to help keep watch.”

“Yeah, maybe we can focus on the baby trying to come out right now, yeah?” Marinette growled between pants.

“Of course,” Doctor Graham said kindly.  “We’re already getting everything ready and I’ll let you know when to start pushing.”

Marinette nodded silently.  She looked over to Dick, her look of annoyance with the situation turning to a look of panic.  She was not ready for this.  She was not ready for the twins to be born.  She didn’t have everything settled.  She and Dick hadn’t talked.  She didn’t know where they stood.  They hadn’t talked about where they were going to stay.  She hadn’t even processed the kidnapping yet.

“It’ll be okay,” he cooed at her soothingly.  He took her hand in his, bringing it to his chest as he wiped her sweaty hair away from her face.  He looked lovingly in her eyes and gently rubbed his thumb along her cheek.  “You can do this.  You’re the strongest person I know.  You’re amazing.”  He kissed her temple.  “I’ll be right here to support you however I can.  Feel free to try to break my hand while you push.”

Marinette huffed out a short laugh.  “I might take you up on that.”  She breathed through another contraction, squeezing his hand and groaning loudly as it crested.

“Go ahead,” he assured her.  “I can take it.  I have the easy part.”  He gave her a soft smile, until she turned to face the doctor and grimaced while her focus was elsewhere.  She might actually break his hand at this rate.  “Just focus on the end.  When this is all over, we’re going to have two beautiful babies just as amazing as their mother.”  She looked back up at him, uncertainty clear, but fading.  “The universe can’t take you down.  The Court of Owls couldn’t take you down.  You can do this,” he whispered confidently.  She nodded at him, a look of determination settling in as she felt the start of the next contraction.

“Alright Ms. Dupain-Cheng.  It’s time to push,” Dr. Graham informed her with a smile.

<><><><><> 

“I’ve been thinking…” Dick started, looking over cautiously to Marinette.  She was sitting in a glider in the twins’ NICU room attempting to nurse Robert.  Robert was doing extremely well, but his sucking reflex was still developing, making latching on more difficult for him than it was for Lucy.  Lucy was resting comfortably on Dick’s bare chest, enjoying skin to skin contact under the simulated sun lamps.  Her black hair sticking up above the blanket wrapped around her and Dick.

Marinette gave him a tired smile.  “About?” she prompted.

“Living arrangements when Lucy and Robert are ready to go home.  Robert’s doing a lot better now.  I think he’ll be ready to go home in a few days.  Lucy will probably be ready sooner,” he answered, turning to be able to make eye contact with Marinette while they talked. It had been a few days since the twins had been born and they still hadn’t had a chance to really talk. Between the coordination of taking care of the twins and making sure there were eyes on them at all times and the exhaustion on Marinette’s system from delivering the babies and after the kidnapping, there hadn’t really been time.

“Dick, I…” she started looking away guiltily.

“I know you’re not ready to date let alone move back in together,” he assured her gently, “this isn’t about that,” he assured her gently.  “This is about their safety.  The Court of Owls isn’t eliminated.  They have multiple strongholds.  This was a hard hit, but they aren’t gone.”  He ran his hand through his hair and looked away nervously. “I don’t even think the apartment is safe.”

“The prophecy,” she nodded, tickling Robert’s cheek to try to get him to open his mouth wider.  “This isn’t over is it?”  

Dick shook his head.  “I don’t think so.  It’ll take a while for them to recover, but I think they’ll be back.”

She sighed sadly and tried to focus entirely on Robert so Dick wouldn’t see the tears in her eyes at the thought of them returning, the thought that they would never truly be safe until the Court was completely eliminated.  She ran her hand over his curly black hair.  Whereas Lucy had gotten her mother’s straight, thick black hair, Robert’s was closer to his father’s.  Little curls licked his face and curled away.  “So, what were you thinking?”

Marinette may have turned away from Dick, but he still knew her well enough to know she was terrified and trying to hide it.  He could see it in the way she hid her face.  He could see it in the way her shoulders curled around Robert.  He could see it in the way she held him just a little closer.  He moved so he was sitting next to her and could cup her face with his free hand.  

“We’ll keep them safe, Marinette.  We won’t let anything happen to them,” he assured her.  The fierce determinism in his voice made her want to believe him. They would do everything they could to protect their babies.  She leaned into his hand and nodded.  “So, what I was thinking was… we should make sure they are as safe as possible.” She gave him a confused look, unsure why he suddenly sounded so tentative.  “And the most secure place I can think of… is the manor.”

Marinette stared at him for a few seconds, mouth slightly agape in surprise. “You think we should move into the manor?” she whisper shouted.  “Dick, I don’t want to live in Bruce’s home for the rest of our lives.”

“I know, I know.  It’s not ideal,” Dick conceded.  Before the kidnapping, he certainly would never have expected to propose returning to the manor.  He had moved out for a reason and now, with Marinette and the twins, there were even more reasons not to.  But, there was one overwhelming, overpowering reason they should.  “But, it’s the safest place in Gotham, probably New Jersey, possibly in all of America.  He has a ton of security to ward off cults, rogues, magicians, assassins, and everything else he could think of.”

“And it’s so big!  What if the twins play hide and seek in a few years and we never find them?  That place is too big,” she exclaimed.

“Okay, good point,” he allowed.  It wasn’t and they both knew it.  There was no way they, Kismet, or Alfred wouldn’t be able to find them, but he wasn’t going to argue that point.  His focus was to get the twins under the best security they could manage, not get lost in the details.  Not to mention, he had actually gotten lost in the manor a few times when he first moved there, so he knew getting lost was a possibility.  It’s just that they wouldn’t stay that way.  “But what if we take Bruce up on allowing him to build us a secure home.  Our own home, with just as much security.”

“Dick!” she exclaimed loudly and immediately regretted it.  She startled Robert off his finally successful latch and woke Lucy up.  “Sorry,” she grimaced apologetically.

Dick chuckled at her and started bouncing Lucy to lull her back to sleep. “I know.  I don’t really like the idea of asking him either, but we need some place safe.  The Court of Owls is dangerous, extremely well connected, and apparently obsessed with our children.  We need top of the line security and I don’t think we could afford it otherwise.  I think it’s the only way to keep them safe.”

She stared at him silently for a few minutes.  Not really sure how to react.  He was right.  They would need security, more security than they could afford otherwise.  However, they did have built in security with the kwami, not that Dick knew about that yet.  But it also wasn’t entirely reliable.  The kwami couldn’t do much more than warn them if something was happening. They couldn’t act on it without potentially devastating consequences.

Dick spoke up after a few minutes, misinterpreting her hesitation.  “I… I can live somewhere else.  The most important thing is for you and the twins to be safe,” he offered.

“But they might come after you as well.  You’re a Grayson,” she protested.  If anything, he and the twins needed to stay under the security’s protection.

“I can stay at the manor,” he assured her.

Marinette concentrated on Robert while she thought it through, running her fingers over his curls.  She wasn’t ready to go back to the way they were.  She didn’t trust him completely yet.  Or rather, she trusted him, she just didn’t know if she trusted him with her heart.  But she did trust him to keep her and the twins safe.  She did trust him to protect them and to act respectfully.  She trusted him to want to do what was best for them.

“No… why don’t we… why don’t we stay in the manor until we figure out where we want to go?  Relationship wise.” she finally offered resolutely.  Dick nodded in understanding.  There was no reason to build a home for the two of them if they weren’t going to live together.  Marinette and the twins would need security whether she stayed with him or not, but if they decided they didn’t want to get back together she should have a home of her own, away from him.  “We can have our own rooms and the twins can stay in mine for the first few months, until the likelihood of SIDS is lower.”

“Bruce has a few very large rooms in the manor, would you… how would you feel about us both staying in the room with the twins, but in different beds?  That way I can help better and you don’t have to do all the work by yourself,” he offered cautiously.  He didn’t want to scare her off by pushing too hard or rushing her.

Marinette studied him uncertainly.  That seemed awfully intimate, but at the same time, it would allow her some rest.  He could change diapers and help get them back to sleep…  “We can try it…”

“But if you start to feel uncomfortable, I can move to another room, immediately,” he assured her.  

Marinette nodded in agreement.  “Okay”

Dick smiled again, a relieved, excited smile.  He knew there was a lot to do.  He knew he still had a long way to go, but they were making progress.  They weren’t as bad as he thought they had been. “I know I have a lot to make up for and a lot to prove.  I know I messed up and I want to fix it.”

“What do you think you messed up,” she asked curiously.  

“I think I was so afraid of losing you, I got obsessed with eliminating any threats that might hurt you.  I… I couldn’t lose you like I lost my parents,” he answered honestly.  “That’s not an excuse,” he insisted quickly.  “It’s not an excuse because I know it doesn’t excuse my behavior.  It’s just my reasoning.  I didn’t even realize it until Lucius pointed it out at the fashion show.  He also pointed out that you wouldn’t have let me go. You would have pulled me out of my obsession, and I knew that.  So that’s why I didn’t tell you.

“I think that’s what I need to fix.  We’re supposed to be a team.  We were supposed to be in a relationship, but I was cutting you out.  I saw that I was hurting you, but I convinced myself I was saving you from something worse.  I think I messed up by cutting you out of my life.  I’m going to change that.”

She nodded at him with tears in her eyes.  “Okay.  You know it wasn’t the secrets, right?  You were allowed to have secrets.  I didn’t begrudge you that.  Hell, I have secrets I haven’t told you yet.”  She looked down at Lucy when she started making whimpering noises.  “Trade me,” she motioned for Lucy and held Robert out for him to take.  He gently handed Lucy off to Marinette to nurse and took Robert, loosening his swaddle so they could do skin to skin time.  “I want us to get to the point we don’t have secrets from each other, but we both deserve the time to figure out when we’ve reached that point.”

After a few minutes bouncing Robert, Dick looked back to Marinette with an open, vulnerable expression.  “I spoke with Commissioner Gordon,” he started slowly.  “And I quit the Titans.  I’m going to become a police officer in Gotham.  I’ll be here from now on.  There might still be things I can’t tell you because it’s police business, but you’ll know why I can’t tell you now.  And I know that doesn’t make up for everything I’ve done, but it’s a start.”

“Dick! You didn’t have to give up something you love for me!  That’s ridiculous.  Whether we get back together or not, you shouldn’t give up things you love to make someone else happy,” she exclaimed desperately.  The last thing she wanted was for him to give up parts of himself, parts that mattered to him, parts he might be bitter about having given up later.

Dick shook his head emphatically.  “I didn’t do it for you.  Well, not just you.  I was miserable whenever I was away.  I hated missing you and the twins.  I… I didn’t want to miss out on their lives like I missed out on the pregnancy.  I don’t want them growing up without me.” He sat back down next to her again to look her in the eye again, close enough for her to feel his breath on her face. “I won’t lie.  I want to go back to the way we were, but without the leaving and the lies.”  

He brushed her bangs out of her face and gently rubbed his thumb along her cheek. “I love you and waking up to you in my arms is one of the best parts of my life in the last few… years really. Kissing you, touching you, seeing your smile.  All of the things I got to do with you were magical.  I’d love to get that back, but I know I have work to do to get there. And I’m willing to put in the effort.”

“Dick…” she rested her head in the crux of his neck, angling Lucy away while she did.  “It’s going to take a while.”

“I know.  And I know we might never get back there, but I want to try.”  He kissed the top of her head and rested his head on hers.

Marinette looked back up at him and nodded.  “Let’s focus on getting the twins healthy and learning how to be parents. Then we can see how things feel.”

Dick smiled gently.  “Okay.”

She shook her head and turned her head back to rest against his neck.  “I owe Adrien 100 euros.  I bet him I wouldn’t end up with a hero.”

“Technically I’m a vigilante.  And we’re not together,” Dick corrected with a smirk, “… yet.”

She stared at him for a few moments before nodding resolutely.  “You know what?  I’ll take it.”

Chapter 29

Tags:

@dickinette-february @demonicbusiness @ichigorose @iloontjeboontje @ladybug-182 @toodaloo-kangaroo @dast218 @golden-promises @trippingovermyfeet @emimar7 @laurcad123 @lady-bee-fechin @thewitchwhowaited @redscarlet95 @jayjayspixiepop

[lordrethandus]

Daily Writing Challenge 2021 Day 10

Sleepless ( @daily-writing-challenge​ )

World: Warcraft

The gangway stretched out over the pier before dropping onto the wooden platform with a heavy smack. A chorus of footsteps rocked the old galleon as a hundred Kaldorei stepped out from the darkness. Still covered in the ashes of their beloved home, and kin, they shuffled down the gangway with barely a word spoken among them. Stormwind residents gathered to stare at the latest batch of Teldrassil survivors corralled down the docks. Displaced, starving, and in mourning, the Night Elves kept their eyes on the ground, their voices in hushed whispers, and their faces soaked with dirty tears. All but the Tideclaws.

Sayuune looked no better off than the rest of them, but she kept her head held high. A month at sea didn't do her any favors; it had been days since she had access to drinkable water, and nearly a week since she had something solid to eat. Her exhausted eyes were bright with hard headed determination, and her face was as still as stone, yet she staggered and stumbled with every other step.

Her daughter Nodas was faring better, but not by much; her stomach growled loudly and often, while her hungry gaze was fixed on the bands of mercenaries and sellswords who otherwise ignored the flood of incoming refugees. They went about their business in gilded armor and glimmering steel, with swollen coin purses swinging freely from their waists. Surely a few of them wouldn't notice if some of their riches went missing.

"Hello! Hello hello!" Humans descended upon the shuffling crowd pushing or pulling large empty carts. One such creature approached Sayuune and Nodas with an uncomfortable twinkle in his grin. The opulent rings adorning his hands could only mean one thing - merchants seizing an opportunity to prey on the less fortunate. "You need gold! I need moon elf items my collection! We trade be happy!" His Darnassian was awful, but clear enough to understand. Sayuune saw other refugees trading in what little rags they had for copper and silver coins, desperate for a bite to eat and drinkable water.

The last thing Sayuune wanted to part with was her bramblestaff; not only was it a priceless family heirloom, it was one of the only things she had left of her husband. Reluctantly she raised the staff for the merchant to inspect. "How much will this get me?"

"Mom?!" Nodas hissed, her eyes flaring. "What are you doing?!" She squeezed her daughter's hand to get her to quiet down.

"We need food."

Unsurprisingly he ripped them off. A staff easily worth thirty thousand gold was traded for less than three. "What choice do I have…" When they reached the front of the line, Nodas was relieved to find a fellow Kaldorei sitting behind the desk, but Sayuune wasn't so easily pleased.

"Ishnu-alah, sisters." His dull yellow eyes scanned them both with a most unusual scrutiny. "My name is Lieutenant Armin Ashquiver. I'll need your names."

"Sayuune Tideclaw and Nodas Tideclaw." The mother proudly stated; they could take her home, her belongings, even her family, but their names would forever be theirs. He scribbled down their names in silence, adding them to the long list of poor displaced souls now forced to live in this strange and hostile city.

"There's a soup kitchen at the camps you'll be staying in. Courtesy of His Majesty. That should hold you over for the night... but don’t expect much. Most of the crops are headed straight to the warfront." He looked up at Sayuune. "Plenty of jobs out there for a steady income, but they're filling up fast. I know you're tired, but I'd recommend looking before nightfall." He pulled out a piece of paper and planted a red stamp on the bottom. "Enjoy your stay in Stormwind City."

The goopy slop poorly masquerading as soup was a grievous insult to the Kaldorei people, but it was still the best meal she's had since Teldrassil. Nodas ate more than her fair share and fell asleep before their tent was even made, but that hardly mattered to her mother; she was just happy her daughter was finally resting. Sayuune, however, couldn’t rest. Once the tent was built around her snoozing daughter, she departed to the streets of Stormwind to find work.

Shop by shop, street by street, she was hit with disappointment again, and again, and again. Day in, day out, sunset to sunset.

"Sorry we're not looking for applicants right now!"

"I'd love to give you a job but I'm full already!"

"I can't hire you right off the street!"

"A buddy of mine across the city might be interested in extra help."

"Sorry, but we can't - what will my wife think hiring a woman like you?"

"Can't hire an elf around here. I got my reputation to uphold… you understand, right?"

"Yeah babe I can hire you, heheh… how much for the night?"

"You're filthy! Beat it vagrant!"

Two weeks of searching. Two weeks of asking. Two weeks of nothing.

Every time she was turned away, the fake smile and forced persona was whittled down. Nightfall came and went, leaving her exhausted in the Mage Quarter courtyard. Her feet were screaming for rest and she could no longer ignore them; she found the nearest bench and almost collapsed onto it with a well-earned sigh of relief. The gold she earned selling her most prized possession was almost all gone; determination was turning into desperation, and if she didn’t find work soon, her daughter would begin to starve. For now her search would have to be put on hold until the shops reopened in the morning.

A woman eased herself down onto the bench beside Sayuune. Her fragrance was alluring but she couldn't recognize the scent, her silk clothes looked as expensive as the jewelry covering her hands and fingers; her painted nails were quite long, almost impractically so. She made Sayuune feel like a vagrant more than anyone else she's met in this abysmal city. "Hard time finding work?" The stranger asked with a seductively soothing voice. Sayuune was compelled to meet her gaze, but her words caught in her throat the moment she was confronted by her striking beauty; if she wasn't a Highborne, she could fool Sayuune.

"I…" Her timid mutter stirred the stranger to smile, her dark purple lips grinning from ear to ear.

Sayuune didn't notice the woman's hand until her nails traced the base of her chin. "Stunning, aren't I? There isn't a man alive that can resist my delectable charm. The dead ones aren't immune to it either." Sayuune wanted to pull away from her grip, but she felt paralyzed… mesmerized. "But look at you… these high cheekbones… these full lips… these glimmering eyes. You're quite the looker yourself, honey. How long do you plan on wandering these streets like a beggar when you can rule the underground scene like a queen?"

"What… do you…" It was difficult to speak when she gazed into her eyes, almost feeling like she was lost in a sea of swirling quicksilver.

The stranger's smile only grew. "I want to help you get back on your feet. I help run a little organization that's in serious need of gorgeous and flexible women like us. Interested?"

"An escort service?" That was enough to pull Sayuune out of her trance to rise to her throbbing feet. "I can't do that. To even approach me like… I can't. I have a husband I'm waiting on to return from the war… a daughter that looks up to me…"

"A shame." Her tone suddenly changed, as did the frigid expression on her face. "While you wait on your doting man, you and your daughter starve." She rose, towering over Sayuune in her jade heels. "Should you come to your senses, seek out the ugliest worgen you come across in Old Town." An uncomfortable grin spread across her lips. "Tell them Momma sent you." Before Sayuune could speak, Momma tossed a coin purse at her chest. "That's how much my girls can earn in a night. Sleep on it."

Sayuune watched as the elegant woman turned and strode off, presumably to another potential recruit. She waited until she was gone before opening the coin purse. "Impossible!" Her eyes went wide. "Three hundred gold?! She's lying…!" With that kind of income most of her problems would be over. Her and her daughter would eat better than they ever did; her husband would bring back two to three grand every two months… she could out earn that within weeks! Within days!

"No…" Sayuune closed her eyes and shuddered. "To betray Vilaron like this… I couldn't! How could I look him in the eyes if I… sold my body...?"

The journey back to the refugee camps was unbearably long. Her imagination played cruel games by asking her questions she didn't want the answers to. "What if Vilaron doesn't make it back in time before we starve to death? What if this woman already approached Nodas? What if she is being used by one of her 'clients' at this very moment?! What if she refused and they killed her?!"

Sayuune ignored the burning ache in her feet from sprinting back to the camps, darting through alleyways and ducking through corridors to get back to her daughter as quickly as possible. The soft glowing campfires down the hill only hastened her steps until she was almost gliding down the path to reach her tent.

She swung open the drape with an audible gasp, and her fears were put to rest; Nodas stirred in her hammock and mumbled under her breath, her feet blackened and calloused from wandering the streets as well -- yet her face was still wet with tears from crying herself to sleep. As Sayuune caught her breath and quietly approached her, she noticed the crumbled scroll still in her grip. Gently she wiggled it free from Nodas' hand, pulled it taut between her fingers, and read the distinct Darnassian letters neatly sprawled across the parchment.

To Sayuune Tideclaw and Nodas Tideclaw,

I regret to inform you the Sentinels recovered the body of your husband/father Vilaron Tideclaw. He will be delivered within the month so you can send him off properly.

Elune will grant us justice.

-L. Armin Ashquiver

Sayuune only made it halfway through the letter before she was blinded by her tears. The shock of this news hit her in waves, crashing against her composure like the tide against the cliffside; she wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, wishing he left with them when Teldrassil burned. Wishing she could go back in time and save him.

Wishing she was dead.

Yet Sayuune endured - she had to. With a sharp inhale and a weak sniffle, she swallowed her anguish for her daughter's sake, stepped out of the tent, and wrapped her arms around herself. Others receiving similar news took it worse than she did; their screams carried across the farmland and over the pointed tents, filling the air with sorrow so palpable she could taste it every time she licked her lips.

Nodas is all she has left of her beloved Vilaron. She is willing to die for her, now more than ever; if she can lay down her life for her daughter, surely she could lay down her dignity as well. What choice did she have? “What choice do I have...” Every day she spends wasting her time looking for honest work, her daughter goes hungry. "For Nodas… no price is too great…"

With a slight grimace on her face and a shiver up her spine, Sayuune braced herself for the hardship she would endure in the unknowable future.

[leonawriter]

Dazai’s background, clues in canon, and my theory.

Y’know, there’s a couple of things that I think are very informative about Dazai’s character, when trying to get a canon read on him (and not an AU or “I prefer it this way” or “but it’s good for the fic” one).

One of these is that I do not believe that Dazai has ever wanted for anything in his life - in a material sense - prior to going underground and then having only an ADA detective’s salary... and no, I’m not one of the ones who believes he has money saved away (from the mafia, at least) that he can use at any time - if he needs to keep his record clean, then that means not using dirty or laundered money. Those two ideas also do not cancel each other out. If he has alternate funds, they’re personal.

The other one might end up being another post, but here goes-

To back up this first point, are several things throughout the series. I know that someone once pointed out that Dazai uses a high-end smartphone. He also is still able to keep two of them - his old mafia phone and his personal one. 

I personally find it interesting how Dazai is *always* seen in a suit of some kind, especially in his younger years; it’s reminiscent of how young men in wealthy families are often characterised as not knowing how to dress down and be casual. Everything is formal. We see him in a suit at fourteen years old, and I think we can safely say that this isn’t just Mori saying that he has to dress that way, because Mori doesn’t seem to have any problem with assorted characters such as Q and Tachihara dressing in ways that are either strange, or much more in line with one being a punk teenager. Instead, Dazai is seen in a suit - and consistently - for four years. And even now, that’s still a suit, just a sloppily put together one.

Another aspect that informs us about Dazai’s origins is the way that he speaks.

At fifteen years old, when he isn’t talking to Chuuya (and that’s an important distinction to make, since Chuuya is one of the few, if not the only, person who makes Dazai act like a child) he tends to have a habit of speaking in measured tones and with a high vocabulary. He’s definitely still a child, but he knows how to talk to adults in a way that will get him listened to - specifically, adults in positions of power. Not just “power of him, as a child” but power. I think it’s important to remember also that the light novel of Fifteen makes note of how Mori and Dazai “colluded” - worked together on - the assassination of the previous Boss. 

So this wasn’t just drilled into him by Mori. Mori just found what was already there and utilised it.

Also relevant from Fifteen is this one line here:

“Dazai is not Mori’s subordinate. He isn’t even in the mafia. And he certainly isn’t an illegitimate child, or an orphan he picked up, or a medical assistant.”

Emphasis mine.

The important thing here is that Dazai isn’t an orphan. In a series where everyone is even in the present still recovering from a massive war, the fact that he’s pointedly not an orphan despite being with Mori like this and no parents ever mentioned, is interesting.

Now, as far as I’m aware, one of the popular things to do is to have him, in AUs, be Mori’s heir, or Mori’s adoptive son in some other respect. The thing is - I don’t think he needs to be. He clearly had a family he was with before Mori. And yet, they aren’t present.

I do have a particular theory about perhaps not who they are in a specific sense, but certainly who they are in a general sense, where even if the details change the idea stays the same.

The idea, which is just my theorising, is this: Dazai was born to someone of influence. Possibly a high-up government official or nouveau-riche, or possibly an old family. Either way, they had money, and they had power. His parents weren’t close with him. He may have had older siblings (he may even have young siblings, by this point, not that he’d recognise them). 

Dazai would have had notable issues regarding suicide well before he is first seen in the manga at fourteen; his family, however, effectively disowned him by leaving him with an underground doctor, assuming that he would not survive (remember: he had bandages over his head, as well as all of those other areas) or not caring if he did. Their family may have collectively decided that it would be easier to forget about him than to carry on with the shame of a child who would attempt suicide at such a young age. 

Dazai would have had the education of a young rich boy, a “bocchan,” and not taught that there was right and wrong as a child. Only that there were people who had, and people who took, about money and power and how to talk to people at stuffy parties, maybe expected to marry one day and have children to carry on the family name, in case his potential older siblings weren’t able to.

I also believe that Dazai at least in part chose to cut ties with his family, and that on the off-chance that, like with Mori Ougai and Elise calling him “Rintarou,” he had a different name as well in the past, he chose to change his name, and would never willingly go back to his prior name.

As for where I’m getting a lot of this?

Real Life Dazai’s own family were new money. His father held a high position in the government, which was respected at the time. It’s heavily implied through his works that he didn’t know how to relate to his family, feeling pressured into liking and wanting things he didn’t feel interested in, and scared of disappointing them. He mainly saw a specific servant woman as his mother figure more than his actual mother, since his actual mother was barely in his life. They had money, and could afford to get him a very good education, and the only reason why he didn’t is due to two different reasons: one of those was how he was involved in communist activities, and the other is, in a more impactful way, his suicide attempt/s. His inheritance was also cut off until he vowed to improve himself - several times, even!

You can read up on this more by looking up his real life self’s wikipedia page, but all one really has to do to get from this to what I wrote out as my personal ideas for BSD Dazai, is to adjust for the fact that he would be living in a more modern time period as opposed to having been born in 1909, and an alternate world history, and the fact that BSD Dazai takes less time to reach such a low point as he is at fourteen.

Bearing in mind that BSD is prone to changing things, it’s also prone to not changing things as much when it’s not necessary, or making stealth references. Which is why I said that although the details may shift and change and not be accurate, the idea that Dazai came from a wealthy family where his mental health problems were simply left unaddressed (and possibly made worse) for long enough for him to get to such a state as he’s in at fourteen years old only for them to ignore his existence after leaving him with Mori and for him to choose never go get back in contact, seems fairly in keeping with things.

It’d also give extra weight to what he says to Atsushi in Portrait of a Father. That he “doesn’t have much advice to give, except for one general thing - when one’s father dies, they tend to cry.” Dazai himself would in this case have complicated feelings about his own family, and much like Atsushi, would have later gone on to find that “positive father figure” in someone else, even if the older male figure themself is barely that much older than him. 

(I’d love to go deeper into this with the way this would affect him in his present situation, but for some reason I started this post when still very tired, so maybe when I have more energy.)