#and me worrying that i will string her along for a relationship that may not work out if she inadvertently chooses a path she doesn't

[faaun]

i feel extremely sorry for you if you are genuinely considering ending a great relationship bc your partner isn’t as “ambitious” as you’d prefer them to be. there is much more to life than school & work… & some people simply value other things, like more free time in their youth. like, you’re only 20? lighten up a little, girly… sheesh.

& for the record, adding “no offense to anyone who picked a diff path hehe!!” to the end of your rant didn’t make it any less offensive to those who chose not to/didn’t have the opportunity to go to school.

first off pls dont "girly" me, my pronouns are literally in my bio.

you found a way to completely misinterpret a personal issue(?) i am going through...amazing king 10/10 . i love my girlfriend To Death and she's so cool and so talented and she does in fact . know where she wants to go in life. and i respect that. the post wasn't abt literally anyone else except my girlfriend and I. it wasn't abt ppl who didn't choose to or didn't have the opportunity to go to school. it was about my girlfriend, who is literally applying for a degree at a university, by choice and opportunity. mein got . "lighten up" i have a wonderful gf and a wonderful passion for what i study...it's sad that u think that's sad.

if u had never had the worry that you and a loved one are on slowly deviating life paths good for you but i promise u it isn't a form of discrimination💀

[munsonsmixtapes]

Jealousy, Jealousy

rockstar!Eddie x actress!reader

summary: you and Eddie have just started dating and decide to keep it on the down low until Eddie reveals that you’re together in an interview because you get jealous only for him to prove afterwards that he belongs to you and only you

cw: MDNI (18+) smut (p in v) fingering, jealousy, hurt/comfort

Not long after your meeting and multiple dates, you and Eddie decided to start a casual relationship, but wanted to keep it private despite your teams wanting you to go public because it would have been good PR. But you didn’t. You couldn’t. Your relationships were the only things that were yours and you were going to keep it that way.

Even though everything was private, you still decided to go to the premiere of your movie together. As friends, of course. But the two of you seemed much more than friendly as you smiled on the carpet, looking at each other with nothing by loving smiles.

There had been multiple speculations about your relationship on social media so nobody was surprised when you showed up hand in hand, your outfits matching. And nobody cared whether or not is was for PR, they were just happy so see the two of you together.

Though, after a few minutes on the carpet, you and Eddie were pulled aside for an interview with one of the Hollywood gossip coverage channels. You could see the interviewer flirting with Eddie and that made your blood boil but you weren’t sure why. You were just hanging out casually. No strings were attached.

But you wanted them to be. You wanted to be able to call Eddie yours. You wanted to be exclusive and not have to worry about who he was hanging out with. You had wanted to be with him for so long and wanted to just take whatever you could get, but you weren’t satisfied with that.

“There’s the couple of the night,” the interviewer greeted and you couldn’t help but feel jealous because she was exactly his type, brunette with legs for days. And she looked so good in her black dress. You just couldn’t compare and almost wanted to look away from how much she was flirting with him.

“Hey,” Eddie greeted her with a smile and you mimicked it, not wanting to be rude. You didn’t want to tear her down just because she was flirting with Eddie. That wasn’t what you stood for.

“May I just say, you guys look amazing. I love the purple,” she eyed your outfits and you just nodded, wanting to agree with her. You guys did look fucking amazing.

“Oh, thank you,” Eddie nodded. “But I can’t take all the credit. It was all y/n’s idea.” He wrapped an arm around your waist, pulling you as close to him as possible.

“Well, I love it. So, how’s the new album coming along?” Eddie couldn’t believe she was asking that. This was your night and here she was, asking him about his tour when the whole reason they were there was because your new movie had just come out.

“Good, good,” he nodded. “But enough about me. Let’s talk about my girl.” He looked at you like he was so proud of you and that warmed your heart while simultaneously making you go weak in the knees.

“Your girl?” The interviewer was just as surprised as you at the term of endearment. The only time he had called you that was behind closed doors and now he was just bringing out in the open.

“Yes, my girl. My girlfriend.” You both looked at Eddie in shock. He wasn’t supposed to announce your relationship like that. It wasn’t even a relationship. And even if it was, you had wanted it to be a soft launch on your instagram.

“I-I didn’t know that you were official.”

“Well, we are,” he gave her a sassy smirk. “It was nice speaking to you, what was your name?”

“Jane.”

“Jane. We should get inside.” He turned to you before leading you towards the door to enter the building.

As soon as you were inside, you pulled him into the bathroom before anyone could spot you. You really needed to speak with him and couldn’t do it with all of those people watching. This was a private conversation.

You pushed Eddie into the women’s restroom and pulled him into one of the handicapped stalls so there was more room between the two of you. He looked at you eagerly but his face fell once he realized that you were upset with him.

He reached for you and you let him pull you into his arms, his hands running up and down your back, trying his best to calm you down. He really hadn’t meant to upset you. He just wanted to make you feel secure about your relationship since jealousy was obvious in your eyes.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized, resting his head against your chest, pressing a kiss to it. He then pulled back and pressed his forehead against yours. “So fucking sorry.”

“No, no.” You took his face and cradled it in your hands, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I appreciated what you said.”

“You did?” His face lit up and he looked so fucking adorable.

“I did. I just pulled you in here so I could tell you that I wanted to do things for real.” His heart stopped in that moment. The hottest woman on the planet actually wanted to be in a relationship with him? What had he done to get so lucky?

“Oh thank god.” He let out a sigh of relief and you smiled in response.

“I know.” You pressed another kiss to his lips, this one rougher before pulling away. “Things don’t start for another hour so I think we have time for a quickie,” you said, pulling away, twirling one of his face framing curls and Eddie swore he was going to cream his pants right there. You always managed to say exactly what he was thinking to the point where he could have sworn that you were in his head.

“Even if we didn’t, I’d take the chance.” Eddie’s lips were on yours in a flash and he licked in your mouth, letting his hands traveling down your body until he got to the slit in your dress that had been torturing him all night.

His hand moved through the slit and he stuck his hand down in your underwear, his fingers staying where they were, moving back and forth so you got a little sensation but not the full thing.

“Eddie, please,” you begged and right when you were about to take matters into your own hands, he shoved his fingers up your cunt, pumping them in and out. “Oh-” you moaned and Eddie just smiled against your lips.

“That’s it, honey, let it out,” he urged and you turned, pressing your back to his chest so he had better access. He continued to thrust his fingers in and out of you and you let out more moans, causing him to cum just at the sound, hoping that it hadn’t seeped through the fabric of his pants.

He removed his fingers once he thought you were ready and turned you around to face him, sucking the slick from his fingers to get rid of it and you swore you were even more soaked. God, he was so hot. You needed him now more than ever.

“Always taste so good, honey,” he smiled. “How do you do that?”

“I don’t know,” you breathed. “Need your cock, now,” you demanded and Eddie quickly unbuttoned his pants and pulled down both them and his underwear, causing his cock to spring free. Beads of precum were falling from it and you were desperate to have it inside of you.

“Love it when you’re bossy.” He removed the condom he had in his pants and quickly undid the wrapper before rolling it onto his dick.

Once he was situated, he pushed you against the wall and pushed up your dress before slamming his dick into you and you both let out loud moans at the sensation. He pounded into you which contradicted his sweet words that he was whispering in your ear.

Your legs wrapped around his waist, so he could fit all of himself inside, the outside of your pussy almost touching his balls. Your eyes watered at the feeling, but it just felt so good that you let it happen.

“Oh my god,” you whined and Eddie kept going, thrusting the hardest and fastest that he could, having no plan of stopping anytime soon. Not when you looked so hot pushed up against the wall, your hair getting messed up from it. Your lipstick was all smeared from his kisses and your eye makeup was looking a little smoky from the sweat.

“Fuck, feel so good honey. And you look so fucking hot wrapped around me.” His voice was raspy and so hot.

He slowed down his pace as you reached your climax but you let him stay inside of you as he continued to pump in and out of you until you were both breathless and thought you had been gone long enough.

Eddie pulled out of you and let you pee while he cleaned himself up and tied off the condom while you made sure you were all set. After you exited the bathroom, you touched up your lipstick and tried to fix what had smeared onto Eddie’s face, but he wouldn’t let you since he wanted to show everyone that he belonged to you. So, you exited the bathroom hand in hand, ready to officially debut as a couple.

[kiyo-cant-write]

hi hi! jade req again, kinda toxic this time

can we get jade with a reader who’s really easy to manipulate and they know it? idk if it makes sense but like jade realizing reader isn’t oblivious to his manipulation, just kinda self-destructive and hopelessly into him

jade thought he was being slick because reader wasn’t calling him out on anything, but he overhears their conversation and finds out that they’re fully aware jade is a ton of red flags but is still staying anyway, and his reaction to that

i really hope this makes sense! idk how to word it

jade w/ an easily manipulated reader ✧･ﾟ

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Aw! Thank you for another request! I love Jade and Octavinelle so much! I hope that I did your idea justice. Please let me know if you'd like another request in the future! Onwards to the story! ^^

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Summary: Jade Leech has been stringing [Name] along for fun and due to the instruction of Octavinelle's Housewarden. He thought he was doing well... but it seems [Name] may have had ulterior motives.

TW/CW: Toxicity but the standard Fish Mafia kind

Notes: established "relationship", they/them pronouns for the reader, the reader is Yuu/Ramshackle Prefect, the reader is described as human and younger than Jade/frosh, ADeuce if you squint, implied to be post-Azul OB

Guest Stars: Deuce Spade, Ace Trappola, Grim, Azul Ashengrotto & Floyd Leech (referenced)

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✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

Jade Leech

As much of a sadist as Jade can be, he's not exceptionally cruel outside of what he deems as the necessity for his purposes.

He is a bit smug when he thinks he has [Name] under control.

Jade is pretending to be "honor student Jade Leech."

He acts as their friend and support albeit for the Lounge.

He pretends to care, to do everything to help them.

He smiles at them, speaks politely, and even "affectionately."

They trust him and they tell him things they shouldn't.

He will use those bits of information when the time comes.

Every time they have an inkling of doubt, he squashes it.

His surprise is evident when Floyd points out that it might not be the case this time, but Floyd is Floyd and doesn't explain.

Wanting to make sense of this discovery, Jade observes [Name].

He watches to see if [Name] really has caught onto him.

Jade is intrigued and what he finds does not disappoint.

He is surprised to find that they caught on long ago.

But they stayed? Why?

Because they "love" him?

Why would they love the guy trying to string them along?

It didn't make sense to him. He felt a tug at his heartstrings.

Did he feel bad about this?

He didn't know what to do.

Jade starts to avoid [Name] after realizing their feelings.

He retracts further into his honor student persona.

[Name] will not win this fight. He will not be bested by a freshman.

The battle has just begun and Jade needs to bury this sinking feeling in his chest. What does it mean anyway?

Floyd serves as a live studio audience to Jade's struggles.

Jade is an observer. That had been his role for so long, that he wasn't sure when it began. Ever since he was young, he would watch and calculate while Floyd was the type to rush into things, be impulsive, and just a tad stupid at times, at least when they were young. Jade never intended to make his observations a skill, but sooner or later, everything becomes an asset.

That's what his father had always said.

His mother worried about the sadistic streak in her son, but she couldn't do anything to prevent its development. Jade was, after all, a member of the Leech family. He and Floyd would join the family business sooner or later unless they wholly refused its offer.

"[Full Name]," Jade mused to himself, "How interesting."

Azul had been the one to ask him to pay extra close attention to Ramshackle's Prefect in case they strayed too far from things, or got into any trouble. The magicless human that had saved others from themselves, they interested the owner of Mostro Lounge. Jade had simply agreed with Azul's request, observation was his skill, after all.

It had never been meant to evolve, and certainly not into this.

Jade watched as this person fell for his polite words hook, line, and sinker. It was almost too easy. They were shockingly trusting, telling him all sorts of things he could use to be downright evil if he wanted to be. It wasn't time for that, not yet, but one should always guard their secrets (perhaps not as much as Azul, but at least a bit).

He didn't need to do anything unless the moment called for it.

At the time, it had not been necessary.

That was weeks ago.

Azul hadn't given further instructions and, to be fair about it, Jade didn't want to earn that octomer's ire. Not today, anyway. He and Floyd were troublesome, yes, but not stupid.

So, as Azul had instructed, he was trailing the Prefect until told otherwise (or until it became boring, whichever arose first). Though their reactions had been predictable, he could argue that things were getting boring now.

Floyd would have given up ages ago, he was sure of it.

[Full Name] was currently spending their time with their classmates, Ace Trappola (easily swayed by competition and bets) and Deuce Spade (note: gullible as a child). Jade had kept an eye on the three of them (and Grim) because of their closeness. It was rather irritating how buddy-buddy they were. He had worked a bit to get [Name] alone those few times they had spoken privately.

Standing away from the trio, Jade listened in on their conversation.

"[Name], I don't think that this is good," Deuce told them, clearly worried for their friend's mental state, "You need to be more careful. Don't you remember what happened to me and Ace?"

"I fucking remember!" Ace chimed in, "It sucked. Don't trust fish."

"Nya! Fish are food, not friends," Grim told them, "Especially eels!"

"Ah... You guys..."

Jade almost wanted to chuckle at Grim's words of "wisdom" but he withheld it, knowing that he mustn't give away his position. Not yet.

"You shouldn't trust Leech-senpai," Deuce continued, "Do you not remember how he and his twin brother acted before?"

"THEY TRIED TO KILL US, [NICKNAME]!!" Ace interrupted Deuce, earning him a glare from the navy-haired boy, "Sorry, Deuce-chan."

"Don't call me that."

What Deuce was doing could only be described as glowering.

"Lighten up and help me convince [Nickname] not to get themselves murdered by a shady eel and a shadier octopus!" Ace told him, slapping Deuce on the shoulder, "Just because they're better doesn't mean they're changed fish! Fish are suspicious!"

"Ace, do you have some fish-related trauma outside of campus that I should know about?" Deuce asked him, "It's starting to seem—"

"FOCUS ON [NICKNAME], DEUCE."

Ace's reddened face was a sign that Deuce was on to something with that fishy nonsense. Jade Leech would remember that fact.

Fish trauma. Noted.

"....Okay," Deuce agreed, turning back to [Name], "Do you want to tell us what you've been doing with Leech-senpai? We're worried..."

Deuce trailed off for a moment before he added a Deuce-typical offer.

"I can fight him if you want me to. They're messing with my friend."

"N-no thanks, Deuce... I don't think I need that," [Name] said, laughing at the antics of her friends and roommate, "Honestly, I know he's not being honest with me... But I don't really... care?"

The words surprised Jade but he refused to give himself away. There was more information to be gathered, for his own needs and Azul's.

They don't mind my dishonesty? Heh...

"I have never been more concerned for you than I am right now," Ace said, tone lacking its usual goofy undertone, "Do you want me to tell Mom and Dad about anything? They would help..."

Ace wasn't sure what to do but this was a worry. So frantic to say his sentence Ace neglected to register his misnomer for Vice Housewarden Trey Clover and everyone's favorite senpai Cater Diamond. He could lay awake and think about that later.

Deuce clearly felt similarly as he reached out to put a hand on [Name]'s. He wasn't good at solving problems of the emotional variety but he could be a support. Or, he would try to be one.

"Even if we can't say anything helpful... We can be here to listen."

"I appreciate it, but I'm fine," [Name] tried to assure them (but it wasn't working), "I just... I like Jade-senpai... and if this is how... he will talk to me... then I am okay with it. I've just been going along with all... that."

Jade felt time stop for a millisecond as he processed the words. They had been "playing along"? They didn't fall for every trick? Perhaps this was more interesting than he had thought. Still. He didn't like being bested, perhaps he needed to up his game...

"[Name], that's not good... I don't think..." Deuce managed.

"I wish Mom and Dad were here..." Ace mumbled.

"[Name], don't leave me for a fish! It's not even tuna!"

Grim clung to his human with small paws, tail swishing.

Jade was baffled not by those that Azul had previously controlled but by [Name] themself. They were something odd amongst the students of Night Raven College. They didn't shy away from his... methods.

But they said they liked him. He wondered if that made him feel something. He wasn't one to like other people, stay around them long... especially these landfolk.

It was a foreign concept.

Oh dear. [Full Name], you've managed to intrigue me now.

To the concern of Deuce, Ace, and Grim, Jade Leech wouldn't be letting his human prey go any time soon. Not for Azul, or his brother... This was something he was pursuing now. For better or worse.

I hope they're prepared to best me once more.

What would they say if I said I "loved" them? ♪

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Imagine the rest for yourself~

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✧･ﾟ: ✧��ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:

Thank you for reading! Likes and reblogs are appreciated! Do NOT repost my writing/headcanons as your own >:c Check the top of my blog for the inbox status and read the rules before requesting. This is not a twst-only blog! ^^

[shamrockqueen]

Omega Retreat : Chapter 3

Pairing : Alpha Bucky x Omega reader

Warnings : R18, Eventual Smut, reference to physical ailments

Word count : 2083

Masterlist

Chapter 1

Summary : As an unmarked and lonely omega you find a flyer for a service called The Omega Retreat.

You are paired with a compatible alpha to spend your heat or just a week at a luxurious cabin at a forest resort. Amenities and Utilities included. Enjoy the beautiful scenery, fresh air, as well as the company of an alpha of your choosing. What could possibly go wrong?

You tried to focus on your work, but you found yourself losing focus time and time again. Your eyes kept leaving the dull glow of your computer monitor to steal glances at your phone.

“You seem distracted.”

Her tone was playful, but the abrupt interruption still had you jumping in your seat. Your boss had snuck up behind you easily as you were rechecking your email on your phone.

“Geez, we’ll have to string a bell around you if you're going to sneak up on people.” You laughed back, reassured by her coy smile.

“Something’s got you in a good mood.” She hummed behind you.

“Oh, yeah I guess.” You try to hide your pink cheeks, too embarrassed over getting caught texting a new flame like a love-struck teenager.

“All the girls can smell the change. Even the betas, dear.” She sang back.

“Who is he?” She tried to hide her beaming smile behind the back of her hand as she leaned over on the wall of your cubicle.

You scoff, trying to cover your warm cheeks as you answer. “You sound more excited than my mother was.”

She gasped with a wide smile, like a schoolgirl getting gossip from a friend. Omega’s always connected more closely, and it warmed your heart that she could be equally happy for you. So, when she leaned in for a hint of another scent that may have been left to linger on your skin, you quickly answered the anticipation in her eyes.

“We haven’t met in person yet; you're not going to catch a whiff of him, so don’t bother trying.” You laughed up at her before she pulled away.

“No fun. You could at least tell me what he is.” You knew it had to be the question bugging her the most.

You hesitated for a second, biting back on your lip before whispering back, “An alpha.”

“I knew it!” She nearly jumped with delight, leading you to try and shush her before the other cubicles were privy to your personal business.

It made you happy that you could feel like you had bonds even at work, and we’re thankful for her gentle omega nature.

“Keep your voice down.���

“I’m sorry; I’m just so happy for you. After everything, I just..”

You didn’t want her to finish that sentence. Luckily for you, she wouldn’t, looking back into your saddened eyes instead. “I’m just so happy for you.”

“Thank you.”

“You think you’ll meet him soon?”

You chuckled alongside her, glad to have the conversation shift back to a lighter tone.

“We’ll see. We’ll see.” You shoo at her, hoping to get some of the work she’d given you done today.

She gets the message, realizing she’d been gushing for too long and had work of her own.

“Fine, but I expect an invite to that wedding.”

It was the last you heard of her before she walked back to her office.

You smiled back at your computer, a drab Excel sheet still painted over its background. You sighed back at it until a telltale ding rang across your previously ignored phone.

A relationship with an alpha was still scary, but Bucky seemed to dampen those worries every time you looked at his photo blipping over your screen.

You pulled the phone towards you to glance over the notification of Bucky’s message.

“I wait to see you tonight.” You read along with the small message box.

You ran your fingernail along the power button before pressing on it, letting the passcode window light up the screen before tapping on a handful of numbers.

You looked back at the few cubicles behind you, making sure you had a moment to answer.

“Me either. I can’t focus on work,” you typed fervently.

“I’d rather meet you in person, Omega." The message pops up in the next second.

You let out a breathy chuckle with a smile, still in disbelief that you could be his omega even in text.

“I know. Hopefully soon, but I’m excited about our video date.”

You were more than excited; it was all you could think about as the hours ticked away slower than they normally would. When 5 p.m. finally rolled around, you nearly lept from your seat. You nearly forgot to shut off your computer before grabbing your stuff and rushing away.

A giddy drive home was a delightful change of pace, spurring you to drive just a tick above the speed limit as you neared your little house.

You fly through the house, letting the door slam behind you before tossing your purse over the couch. You stumbled past the mirror, only to twist back towards it after catching sight of your messy hair.

Your fingers only tangle into it as you fight to take it out of its messy bun. You only tied it up halfway through the day for a little comfort, only to ruin all the work you put into it that morning.

You didn’t have any time to fuck with it now, yet you continue to burn through the few seconds you have left trying to tame your tired looks. Could each flyaway be seen through your laptop's webcam?

You stopped for a second, closing your eyes and sucking in an uneven breath before looking back up at your reflection.

You looked red—nothing new, of course—but not a face you wanted him to see, and yet there wasn’t anything you could do to fight it except to finally calm down.

Your hair wasn’t bad, and your reflection wasn’t meant to scare you, and as you continued to breathe, that red blush began to fade. You can do this.

You leave the mirror, setting your eyes on the laptop still sitting on the coffee table. You lowered yourself to the sofa to sit as comfortably as possible before pulling the computer to your lap and switching it on.

A brief photo of you with your arm wrapped around your mother’s shoulder flashed in the background of your screen before you set up the video call.

It was just more of those bouncing dots with a different ring as it all danced along a blue screen. You held your breath, waiting patiently for his image to take over. Yet, when the square zoomed over the page and movement took over your screen, every ounce of air seemed to force its way from your lungs.

He was there, tucking his hair behind his ear and smiling at his own screen as you gave a shocked smile.

“Hi!”

You mouthed back an overwhelmed ‘hi’ as you watched him intently. Your mouth moved in an attempt to form words, but you were far too mesmerized by the real alpha on your screen. That is, until his smile fell.

“Is your sound on? I can’t hear you.”

“Yes!” You were quick to reassure him, wanting desperately to see that smile set upon you again.

Just as you hoped, it was back in an instant after hearing your voice.

“Sorry, I was just a little speechless for a second.” You blinked at his image, wanting to make sure it was real as you spoke to it. “It’s amazing to finally see the real you. Not that I thought your photos were fake..uh it’s just.” You fought your way through your ramblings as he chuckled at your giddy and nervous demeanor.

“No, I know what you mean. It’s so exciting to finally see you, Omega.”

It was like a dream, finally laughing and talking where you could see one another and study each of his expressions as he took each word that left your stuttering lips. Hours pass, and the conversation continues to burn through the night as it’s carried happily between the two of you.

It was so much better, but not nearly enough. A frustration shared by both you and him began to show as the veneer hiding it broke away.

“But, I wanna bury my face in your neck.” His voice deepens, showing a glimpse at a small possessive side. It was something you’d initially feared from an alpha.

“I gotta see you for real.”

It’s so sudden, you could hardly believe it would always be like this for omegas, but how could someone who had shut themselves away for so long really know?

You think back on what others spoke of during their tales of pleasure and even the more harrowing words from your physician only a few weeks prior. They’d cut off your suppressants ‘for your own safety’, and urged you to seek a sexual partner in the most blatant terms. But, they weren’t wrong, and with another possibly fatal heat on the horizon, you had to make a very difficult choice.

“Maybe we should. It's just...” You stopped for a second to calm yourself. “It hasn’t been very long, and you're already..so smitten.”

“Can you blame me?” His voice rang low over the speaker yet still sang through your worries so melodically.

His tone drops, becoming more serious and heavy, so much so that it only echos the ever-grave voice that bounced around the back of your mind. “What are you scared of?”

It hit close to home, like he could be looking right through you and seeing every mounting fear you tried so hard to bottle up.

“It's just, with a heat coming in a couple weeks..” you tried to ignore the breaking of your own voice as you spoke. You didn’t want this to be the reason why, and you didn’t want it to be so soon that you two had to meet or finally be intimate. “...and I just don’t want to rush things. But I agree; maybe we should consider meeting in person soon."

You fought not to let your true emotions show and not to let your true fears come to light in front of him. It was a relief when his face lit up with so much joy. He just stared back at you, his eyes beaming through the screen.

You could nearly cry. After ripping off this first bandage, it was such a relief that you finally felt you could breathe properly. You chuckled happily together, taking in each other's joyous reaction when he finally spoke again.

“I can send you an invitation right away. I can be there for you.” He spoke so passionately, looking at you with big, wet blue eyes before typing away at the keys on his keyboard.

“W-what invitation?” You nearly coughed on the words as they left your throat.

You do think back on the vacation packages on the original website and how they boasted about safety as well as elegance. The thought of having that kind of special getaway with the Alpha often, finally seeing Bucky where the sun could hit his skin instead of in the glow of your laptop monitor.

But, he was still technically a stranger, in spite of the two of you consistently sharing messages over the course of several weeks. Running away with him seemed, in the most juvenile sense, stupid. Yet, a twinge in your stomach urged you to leap at his offer.

“It is such a beautiful resort.” You chuckled nervously. You recalled all the photos you’d scrolled through before he’d matched you on the website.

“I’ll meet you anywhere you want me to, Omega. I just want to feel you so bad.” The low drag of his voice wasn’t unfamiliar by now, after having heard similar sentiments during a steamier exchange over a phone call. You felt a little embarrassed as your skin started to flush again.

“I don’t want to make you spend that much money on me.”

"This is not about money. I just want everything to be perfect for you.”

You try to force yourself to speak, but each word falls flat on your tongue. He was offering you what felt like a lifeline with open arms. You never wanted something like this to progress so damn quickly, but maybe you were really that desperate. Maybe you were really that scared.

It was so nice to be wanted, and by him especially, an alpha unlike any other you’d ever met. You still wanted time to think about it, but what time do you have left before a possible disaster? The date of your heat was growing closer, but you had to afford at least a night to ponder something like this.

“C-can I have a few days to think about it?”

Chapter 4

Tag list : @serendipitouslife90 @unicornicopia1 @bethyruth @scott-loki-barnes @wintrsoldrluvr @buckysdoll85 @lendeluxe @meowmeowyoongles @heletsmelovehim @mcira @buckysbaby-doll

[rookiesbookies]

Hi, I really love the greek gods au for the boys, could I request some more hcs for them?

I was lowkey so excited to have an ask! Welcome Anon! I appreciate you! You have braved my inbox and im super excited to have you!

I saw you ask and wrote this as fast as I could with some of the other ideas for them that swim around my brain.

Let me know what you think!

Masterlist is pinned on my account as always, and my inbox is open!

Price

He had Hephaestus forge him a special razor so he could always keep his mustache in check after an incident where he tried to use a human razor and broke it.

He wears human clothes, he does have his godly robes but he prefers to wear something that may be comforting for whatever sacrificial woman he has at a given moment.

Has debated no longer accepting the women as sacrifices

for a long string of time the women were just the horniest ones or the village prostitutes. While they were nice for a week or two he did end up finding them homes elsewhere

Gaz says he fosters women like cats.

Price isnt looking at fostering anymore though. This most recent accidental sacrifice has by far been his favorite. She’s so warm, causes no problem, and isn’t like the last one he got who owned 8 cats.

Price likes cats, just not 8 of them.

He also worries Zeus will try to take his woman

Which is why the woman is hidden and protected by Price’s powerful shield from anyone who tries to creep on her. He doesn’t want his woman threatened by Hera.

Hera already knows he has decided to marry this one, as the goddess of marriage and is probably the most proud of him compared to Zeus’ other bastard children.

Soap

He most often wears his godly armor instead of his robes or human clothes.

The human clothes are really only to go see Price, the robes are really only for relaxing in his house, but the armor is for working.

He has to really just follow around his dad, Ares

He doesn’t know his goddess mom, and Ares wont tell him. Honestly he questions if he’s even Ares because the relationship isnt very father-son, they’re more just like Coworkers

He says his mom is probably Aphrodite but who knows

He spends most of his time with Simon.

Simon is relaxed and comes to work with him sometimes. Usually accidentally causing a cold breeze with his presence.

Soap linda digs the dark robes, he hates how shiny his white ones are.

Definitely hides amongst humans when he gets pent up or frustrated from work.

Gods are so demanding in bed, he’d rather have a human.

With Price looking like he’s going to settle down with his newest sacrifice, Soap thinks about finding his own woman. Price’s helps him cook and clean and look like she’d take it with no problems. Soap kinda wants that now

Ghost

He’s a very antisocial god.

Price has tried to get him to loosen up.

Price has offered him the best of some of the sacrifices that he didn’t get along with.

Simon just hasn’t shifted.

He buddies around with Soap, says its because their work is the most similar.

In reality Soap is the one person he favors the most. Keegan is also up there, but he’s no Johnny.

He never understood why Price took the sacrifices of women. He doesnt bother with the mountain god who gets on his nerves. He loves Gaz but his social battery just dies.

He doesnt see anyone loving that.

Not to mention, he’s the god of Winter. His fingers are cold, his robes are a dark black instead of a beautiful white because he’s from the underworld, and he spends a lot of time down there as well.

He refuses to kidnap a woman how Hades had. Says he had standards and is too attractive for that. Tells people he’ll get a woman when he wants one.

Persephone worries about him. Persephone wants a daughter-in-law who can bring her cold son out of this.

Even Demeter worries, and she loves when he visits. She has no more work when he comes into town, she just wish he didn’t reek of death from the underworld.

Konig

You think Konig was tall at somewhere between 6’7” and 6’10”? Now he’s like 8 feet tall.

He’s probably the loneliest of all of gods, he lives at the top of his mountain (which is kinda like the one of Olympus where it was kinda just a glorified hill) and doesn’t get much company, unlike the 141 group.

He does wear a veil because of his anxiety, being a lonely god makes you self conscious, what if all the other gods are much more handsome?

He wears robes, unlike the 141 group, he doesnt try to blend in with humans so he only has his godly robes.

He doesnt often get sacrifices either, since his altar is at the top of the mountain. Its why he doesnt intervene when the war people come often.

If only there was a way to sacrifice someone to keep him company, he’d never need much more again.

Especially with Atlas holding up the world.

Zeus told him he was born from a single drop of Atlas’ sweat hitting the ground.

Konig has never met Atlas. So he wouldn’t doubt he maybe is secretly a Zeus child? However he doesn’t mind not being a Zeus child. Hera doesn’t give him problems and he likes it that way.

He cooks, he cleans. He’d do anything for someone to spend a bit of time with. He might start scoping out the local village and town again. Last time he was disappointed by all the interesting ones being taken, so he stayed at a distance. But maybe he’d try again.

Keegan

Work is always calling Keegan.

As Thanatos says, “humans wont stop dying, birthing, fucking, or breathing”

Keegan doesn’t disagree.

He has black robes, similar to Ghost’s as they’re both from the underworld. He has spent a great deal of time with Simon as he has to deal with people suffering from hypothermia in the harsh winters.

Simon doesn’t cold shoulder him like most others. Compared to the gods from the underworld, Keegan is quite friendly. He just knows people dont live forever.

Or he hasn’t learned Price can protect humans and living things from death yet.

He has a solid relationship with Thanatos. He cant complain especially next to Soap’s and Price’s situations

He hasn’t ever really spent time with the 141 group because he’s worried he’ll have to get up and leave randomly due to his job.

He also doesn’t have human clothes like they do. He often wonders where they came from.

His home is in the underworld, so he worries about a human living there if he ever were to take on a bride.

Maybe he’d find a nice goddess like Hades did. But Price makes humans seem so nice.

He just worries he wouldnt be home enough to care for his human or he’d have to take his human to work to make sure she got enough vitamin D… i mean he can always gives you vitamin D but it’s a different vitamin.

He’s also worried about touching a human because what if he accidentally kills them or something ridiculous like that?

Too many risks. Maybe. Unless someone is brave enough to prove them wrong.

Gaz

He saves a lot of dropped babies from serious damage. He never shows himself, always stays invisible to the human eye, but he saves a lot of babies.

Also saves a lot of kids. Toddlers and young children fall quite a bit.

He has the whitest and cleanest and shiniest robes btw

But yeah he loves saving kids. Especially when he can show his form because adults don’t believe kids anyway.

Especially if they say they were saved by a god.

He also saves quite a bit of animals. Like bird eggs.

He just prefers saving kids.

He thinks they’re really darn cute.

Wouldn’t mind a few of his own

Doesnt help Hermes keeps teasing him though.

Hermes never misses a chance to remind him he came from him jerking it on a cloud and letting it fall to the earth.

Hermes thinks its really funny.

Gaz wouldn’t hate a partner. Nymph, Human, or Goddess.

He’s taken a couple of them to bed and has to say Human is his favorite.

Did he mention he saves a lot of kids?

Would you, maybe, like to save his, perhaps, for like 9 months?

Krueger

Sebastian makes Konig’s world a bit less lonely? However isn’t the most wonderful company.

Definitely defiles the virgins of random towns near by.

Has fun telling them he’s a god and was sent by their towns patron to defile them

Lowkey Hera had to ask if he was one of Zeus

He was actually carved from clay and given gifts from gods

Artemis made him a skilled hunter, Hades made him a quick thinker, Athena gave him tactical knowledge, Ares gave him strength, Apollo gave him impermeable skin, Zeus gave him a big dick, Eris gave him wild anger

The usual

His job is not terribly demanding and has quite a bit of free time to spend with Konig

He has big dark armor and a giant axe. Definitely has a lot of fun with it

his dream is to get a temple of his own and his own priestesses who would do his bidding and pray to him their city doesnt go on a hit list for the gods

He also dreams to get a virgin sacrificed to him.

He isnt greedy like Price when it comes to women, he just wants one. One is all he would need.

He’d never need to go around defiling random virgins anymore, he’d just get to have his virgin at home.

He’d love to have his own servant. He’d treat her well he promises. He’d love an embarrassed virgin for himself.

[backgroundagent3]

For the character asks, Lance Hunter

Thanks for the ask! 💙

First impression: Loved him. I think I found him a little bit annoying, but in a good way, of course.

Impression now: I somehow love him even more. I still can't believe the writers just wrote him and Bobbi out because they were such great characters. He deserved to stay even just for comedic relief, because God knows the team needed a laugh sometimes, and so did we.

Favorite moment: When he shows up in prison to "talk to his client" in season 5. That was so iconic because not only was it a great entrance, but also such a relief to see a familiar face in that situation, especially if said familiar face has a hilarious dynamic with Fitz. That was obviously written for the fans, so I have no complaints. Honourable mentions to when he punches the guy from the ATCU without so much as a second thought, when he rants about Bobbi in 2.04 pretending he's not in love with her, and when he goes undercover as an obnoxious IT guy.

Idea for a story: This is not my idea, but I need to know what happened when he and Bobbi almost got married again between seasons 3 and 5. What do you mean "the ninjas showed up"? This had so much potential, but I think the fact that he never explained makes it funnier. Is it a weird metaphor for something? Did some ninjas actually attack them right before the wedding? Are the ninjas some friends who didn't think they should get married? We'll never know.

Unpopular opinion: I've seen somewhere that Most Wanted was a bad idea from the start, and I'm here to tell you that's wrong. I think it's a tragedy that it got cancelled, because can you imagine the potential? A spinoff of the best show on Earth? Our favourite problematic spy couple on the run breaking the law and causing problems? How is that a bad idea. Even if the script was bad and the plot was bad and everything was bad, it's still extra screentime for two awesome characters. If nothing else, we all know he would have had hilarious one liners, and I would have loved to watch it.

Favorite relationship: Huntingbird. Yes, I know he and Bobbi had a LOT of issues, but that just makes it funnier. Their bickering was on point, and the way he so was so obviously down bad for her the minute the words "demonic hell beast" left his mouth is so pathetic and hilarious. On a more serious note, the way they worked together as agents was great. While they may not have always trusted each other, they always had faith in the other's capabilities to do a good job in the field and stay alive ("Don't die our there"). They worried, sure, but they didn't try to keep the other out of danger Fitzsimmons style because they knew they could handle things, and for the most dysfunctional relationship of the show, that was pretty healthy. As for platonic relationship, Fitz. All they had in common was the fact that they were sassy Brits with serious relationship issues, and that was somehow enough to form a great dynamic. I loved all their little moments in 2.04, especially when Fitz talked about his crush on Jemma in the weirdest, most uncomfortable, and out of context way, and Hunter just went along with it and comforted him.

Favorite headcanon: At some point watching season 6 I decided it was stupid that they hadn't returned to SHIELD, so in my head they did. It just didn't make sense that they still had to live a life on the run when SHIELD was a legitimate organisation again, especially when the new director was their best friend who could have pulled some strings to have them there. It would have been so cool to see them again, not to mention it would have been very helpful for the team. And can you imagine Hunter's reaction at seeing Sarge? If anyone could have added some levity to the situation, I know it's him.

Writing this made me remember how much I love and miss him. Please send me more!

Character Asks.

[slaymitchabernathy]

Playpen

Coriolanus watches Soarynn from across the courtyard. Watches how she throws her head back when she laughs, how her hand comes to rest on Clemensia Dovecote’s shoulder as if she’s saying: “I may have been gone for the last twelve years, but I am still one of you.”

Indeed she is.

Coriolanus had been worried about how Soarynn would do coming back to the Academy. Would she fit in or stick out like a sore thumb? Would his friends like her? Would the professors see her as District?

But she assimilated back into the Capitol lifestyle quite easily, and he humbly acknowledged that it was mostly his doing.

They were official. They were together. Boyfriend and girlfriend. Snow and Nightingale.

Mother was already talking about grandchildren.

“Coriolanus?” He’s pulled from his regular daydreams about Soarynn by the voice of Festus Creed, one of his best friends. “Yes?” He asks, turning to look back at the assignment they’re supposed to be working on. Festus smirks and raises his eyebrows, “She’s not going to run back to Two you know.”

Coriolanus knows he’s just teasing but the thought has crossed his mind one too many times. The thought of Soarynn leaving. Of her father being called back to Two and his loving, doting daughter going with him. It’s not even the thought of her leaving that truly frightens him, but the thought of her reuniting with the boys she’s had sexual encounters with.

For that District scum to try and put their hands on the girl he already adores is a terrible, terrible thought.

He shrugs, “It doesn’t mean I can’t keep a watchful eye on her. Besides, her father asked me to make sure she’s doing alright.” And he had, Glen had pulled Coriolanus aside one night when he was visiting the Nightingale residence.

“I must admit, I’m quite pleased that you and Soarynn have been getting along so swimmingly. So I do hope it’s not too much trouble to ask you to look after her when I’m not there to do so.”

Coriolanus had been honored to be trusted this swiftly and blindly. Never mind the fact that their parents have been friends for decades. To have your girlfriend’s father openly express his approval of your relationship was something every man hoped for.

“Right,” says Festus, flipping through one of the many history books they’ve been given for the school year, “you’re just looking out for her because her rich daddy asked you to. No other reason.”

Coriolanus scoffs, yes, Glen Nightingale is rich, but Crassus Snow is richer. If Coriolanus wanted to date some girl for her families money, he could’ve done that years ago.

But it was hard not to fall for Soarynn Nightingale. She was gorgeous, tan skin with long blonde hair and pink lips. And she was so utterly charming. She gave Coriolanus a run for his money which was something he hadn’t expected. Most Capitol girls were submissive and pliant, easily bending to his will.

But Soarynn wasn’t raised in the Capitol.

She was raised to be independent, opinionated and truthful. She did not hold back when it came to her opinions.

“You can fuck me a little bit harder,” she had said to him the other day once they finished. Coriolanus had been at a loss for words. Never had a girl so openly communicated what she wanted from him. But Soarynn was more than happy to speak her mind with him. She felt safe with him and that was something he knew to never take for granted.

He still can’t seem to tear his eyes off of her despite Festus and his teasing and for a moment, her eyes meet his. She gives him a smile before turning back to talk to her friends and Coriolanus sighs, school can’t be done soon enough. He’s found it more difficult to focus in his classes now that Soarynn is back.

He doesn’t know how, but his mother managed to pull some strings to ensure that Soarynn shared every single class with Coriolanus. “So she can adjust to her classes better darling,” she had said. Coriolanus knew how much his mother loved Soarynn, how taken she already was with his girlfriend so he didn’t argue with her.

Besides, it was terribly convenient.

He liked being able to hold her hand while they walked through the hallways, to share notes and read from the same textbook. Textbook! He has to focus on reading right now or he'll fail this assignment and his partner. "Did you hear that they're moving the horse races to after the Hunger Games this year?" Urban Canville asks as he takes a seat at their table, earning him several surprised looks from the rest of them.

Coriolanus exchanges a curious look with Felix Ravenstill who's sat across from him, "Why? Is there something wrong with the horses?" Pup Harrington asks, leaning forward. Urban shrugs and gives them a small smile, "Apparently there's been a problem in District Ten, you know, where we get the horses. The people there are so hungry that they've resorted to eating the horses to survive."

All the boys wrinkle their noses and let out displeased sounds. To eat a horse is downright barbaric. Coriolanus isn't surpassed that people in the Districts would succumb to this level. "Well I'm not surprised, they're below us in so many ways," Coriolanus retorts.

They all nod since they've all been fed the same mindset about the Districts since they were small. Coriolanus feels a bit disappointed that the races will take place later than he originally planned for. He's already told Soarynn about them, how he'll take her to his family's box so they can watch in the comfort of air conditioning and the finest food and drinks.

He looks back over at Soarynn and his jaw nearly drops. She's talking to Sejanus Plinth. Not just talking, laughing. He watches as she so casually rests a hand on his forearm and leans into him and Coriolanus feels his eye twitching, his fists curling, his jaw clenching. And never the fact that Sejanus is gay. That he is attracted to men. Because as far as Coriolanus is concerned, he's attracted to something and that is enough for him to pose a threat to Soarynn.

Festus lets out a low whistle when he sets his sights on the train wreck happening across the courtyard, "Looks like she found a new boy toy, Snow." Coriolanus ignores Festus and his snide comments and is already on his feet and moving towards his girlfriend who still hasn't noticed his approach. But Sejanus has. His eyes slightly widen and he gives Coriolanus a smile, "Coryo! I didn't know you were dating Soarynn."

Coriolanus stops in his tracks, a good two feet away from Soaeynn and Sejanus who both look at him expecarlty. He nods tersely, "I am," is all he has to say which earns him a confused look from Soarynn.

But Sejanus is oblivious as they come and doesn't pick up in the slight tension, "Well, Soarynn was telling me all about her time in Two. I can't believe we both practically grew up there!"

Soarynn's face slightly falters and Coriolanus knows why, because as hard as Sejanus clings onto his past life in Two, Soarynn has spent much more time there than Sejanus ever has. Coriolanus remembers Sejanus showing up to the Academy right around the same time Soarynn left. Almost as if the Capitol traded one family for the other.

Coriolanus, of course, was cautious around Sejanus, didn't quite trust him although he didn't know why exactly. Sejanus was defiantly more outspoken about how the Capitol treated the Districts, a big fat sympathizer if Coriolanus has ever seen one. But he never really did anything that would lead Coriolanus to outwardly hate him.

He was District, which was reason enough.

Coriolanus thought maybe when Sejanus came out as gay that maybe that was why he felt so...uncomfortable around him. He didn't care who Sejanus liked, to each their own.

"It's remarkable," Soarynn says smoothy before rising to her feet and gathering her things into her satchel. Coriolanus was going to her house after school and he was more than desperate to leave now that Sejanus was talking his ear off. He did his best to remain polite while Sejanus rattled off about one of their professors but his focus remained on Soarynn who was taking her sweet time to pack it up.

"We should get going," Coriolanus suddenly says, cutting Sejanus off from his tangent, "we um...we have a lot of school work to catch up on." He extends his hand out to Soarynn and she takes it without hesitation, allowing Coriolanus to pull her to his side where he already feels much better. He presses a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the sweet smell of vanilla.

He watches Sejanus and how his face slightly falls before he smiles again, "Well, it was good to see you two."

Coriolanus wishes he could say the same but he simply nods and Soarynn waves before they watch him walk away. "He seems sweet," Soarynn mumbles. Coriolanus scoffs and looks down at her, even though she's smaller than him, she is most defiantly his equal. She's his equal in the way she challenges him, thinks like him, cares for him.

"He's District Soarynn," he reminds her, "he can't be trusted."

Soarynn frowns, "I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that I was talking to Crassus Snow instead of his son. But please let me know when you find Coriolanus."

And with that, she walks away.

꧁ ꧂

Coriolanus remembers when he stood in front of this door with his parents, so unaware of what was waiting for him on the other side. This time when the door opens, it's the Nightgale's maid who answers the door with a kind smile, "Mr. Snow, please come in."

He gives the woman a smile and steps into the Nightingale's townhouse, taking off his shoes and handing his coat to Maria their maid, "Thank you, Maria. Is Soarynn home?" He hopes he doesn't sound as desperate as he feels, but even if he did, Maria would never comment on it. She's good help, and as far as Glen and Soarynn are concerned, she's also family.

Coriolanus knows his own father's distaste for servants in the house. He doesn't trust any of them, not even Avows. But Glen hired Maria shortly after his wife passed to keep the house clean and she's been with them ever since, she even went with them to District Two.

Maira nods and hangs up his coat, "Yes sir. She's upstairs in her bedroom. Would you like me to bring you two a snack?" Coriolanus feels his mouth water at the mention of a snack. Maria is some sort of magician in the kitchen and he's been craving her tarts for weeks now. "Not now, thank you. But maybe some tarts for dessert?" He suggests, earning him a smile and nod from Maria.

If I'm even allowed to stay for dinner, he thinks to himself as he climbs the stairs.

Soarynn's door is closed as always but before Coriolanus goes to open it, he's drawn to the closed door at the end of the hallway. Even after all these years, the Nightingale's house still remains somewhat of a mystery to him, including several rooms upstairs that he's never been inside of.

He might be going against his better judgment bit he treads down the hall and quietly opens the door. It opens with a slightly groan and dust billows in the air when he steps inside, steps inside of....

A nursery.

One look around this room tells Coriolanus that this was a nursery meant for a baby girl. He finds it a bit strange considering that Soarynn is an only child and most people convert their nurseries into a more functional space once the baby outgrows it. But he remembers seeing Soarynn's nursery in the pictures her mother would show him, and it certainly didn't look like this. Unless...

He recalls very little about Mrs. Nightingale. She was very pretty, smelled like vanilla, and was kind, kinder than his own mother. But he feels as though she was constantly resting her hand on her stomach in the months leading up to her death. And perhaps she got a bit bigger too?

"I was going to have a little sister."

Soarynn's voice makes Coriolanus jump and he turns around wide-eyed to find Soarynn leaning abasing the doorframe. She doesn't look mad or upset. Her face is neutral. Calm even.

Coriolanus swallows. He doesn't know what to say. What do you say to someone who not only lost a sister, but a mother in the process? He knows what it's like to lose a sister. His mother nearly died trying to give birth to his little sister. Her name was going to be the name of a flower, Poppy, Rosie, Primrose, Daisy, something like that.

He never got to meet her.

"I didn't know," is all he has to say, his voice is hoarse.

Soarynn nods and looks down at the floor, "We weren't too keen on sharing it with the world. But now you understand why we left when we did. We had to get out or this house would've eaten us alive."

He gets that, boy does he get that. Roaming the halls and knowing that there's a ghost in the house is a horrible feeling, one that he experienced when he was little, along with his mother. Father always acted indifferent toward the whole situation, "We have our heir," he had said, "that's all that matters."

Soarynn seems so removed from it too, so past it. But isn't he as well? Coriolanus can't remember the last time he thought about his sister.

He wonders if both of them would've turned out differently had their sisters survived. Would he be kinder? Would Soarynn be meaner?

"I'm sorry," he says, although there are a number of things for him to apologize for right now. How he acted today in the courtyard, her dead sister. Two wonderful options to choose from. Soarynn raises her eyebrows and he already knows she's going to make him work for it. She's always been good at that, making him try.

"I'm sorry for how I acted today with Sejanus," he starts, "I know you have your...feelings, about the Districts as do I. We shouldn't let those keep us apart." Coriolanus could say a lot of things about the Districts, how backward those people are and how needy and dependent they are on the Capitol, always wanting to suck their resources dry.

But Soarynn wouldn't like that.

Soarynn's face slightly softens and she lets out a deep sigh, carding her hand through her blonde hair, "We're always going to be different Coryo, it would be strange if we weren't different. But talking about people that way, seeing them as less than simply because of where they were born is horrible. What if the roles were reversed and I was from Two and Sejanus was from the Capitol? Would you still date me or would you cast me aside and make fun of me behind my back?"

Coriolanus feels his throat growing drier and drier at the thought of Soarynn being from Two instead of Sejanus. It's bad enough that she had to live there but being born there is another thing entirely. But when he looks at her face, he sees something, desperation. She wants him to want her no matter what, no matter who she is and where she's from.

And he does want her!

Soarynn is perfect just the way she is despite her District-loving flaws but those can be dealt with further down the line. Right now, he has to secure his relationship with her and tell her exactly what she wants to hear. At least that's what his father does with his mother whenever they get into an argument.

He takes several strides until he's standing right in front of her and gingerly reaches for her hands, wishing to close the distance between them. Her small hands are so warm compared to his large, cold ones. They're a perfect fit. "My darling," he says, looking down into her dazzling eyes, "I would love you in every universe, Capitol or District, rich or poor. Nothing could ever keep me from you Soarynn. Nothing at all."

That seems to be the perfect thing to say because Soarynn breaks into a big smile, "You're quite the romantic, you know what?" She asks, tilting her head as she looks up at him. Coriolanus doesn't even try to wipe off the smug smirk on his face, "It's that famous Snow charm that the ladies can't seem to get enough of." Soarynn gasps and playfully swats at his chest. It's no secret that either of them has had their fair share of flings and sexual encounters.

The only difference is that Soarynn's reputation could be severely tainted should anyone find out that her previous encounters were with those from the Districts rather than the Capitol.

That's why it's good that she has him to protect her from these things. As long as Soarynn is by his side, no harm should come to her.

꧁ ꧂

"These are delicious Maria."

The older woman shoots Soarynn a kind smile and sets down another plate of tarts on the table, and these ones seem to be a different flavor much to their delight. "You two enjoy," she tells the young couple before walking back to the kitchen.

Coriolanus snags a tart off of Soarynn's plate and she slaps his hand, "There are two plates full of tarts and you insist on taking mine," she scolds him. Coriolanus gives her a sheepish grin, "Everything tastes better when it's with you." Soarynn blushes because they both know how many meanings that statement can take on and for the most part, he means it in a nonsexual way. But there's always room and time for sex.

When is your father getting home?" He asks, looking around the dining room for any signs of life from Glen Nightingale. All he sees is Petunia curled up on one of the windowsills.

Soarynn pops another piece of her tart into her mouth, "Um, I don't know. He's been working pretty late the past few weeks." Coriolanus nods but he's already thinking of all the things they could be doing upstairs right now.

And maybe that's the teenage boy in him, always wanting to have sex but he can't help it! Not when it's her. When it's Soarynn looking like that right next to him in a silk pajama set. With the thin strap of her shirt falling off of her shoulder, "Well, why don't we go upstairs and study?" He suggests with some lust in his tone.

Soarynn eyes him and smirks, "Because we're so studious."

"The most studious."

They subtly excuse themselves from the table after praising Maria once again about her delicious tarts and make their way upstairs. Coriolanus scoops Soarynn into his arms once they reach the top and she lets out a squeal, "Coryo! You might be the most impatient person I've ever met."

He grins down at her as he carries them to her bedroom, Petunia hot on his heels since she seems to have a habit of feeling left out of things. “No shame in wanting to bury myself in that sweet little cunt of yours darling,” he replies, reveling in how pink Soarynn turns.

Soarynn Nightingale is many things. A vixen is one of them. Coriolanus has had his fair share of sexual encounters and yet Soarynn seems to trump them in every single way. She can be extremely docile one moment and completely and utterly frustrating in the next, challenging him in their sexual domain.

He can’t get enough of her.

Just last week he ended up fingering her while they were in class. It was surprisingly easy since all the girls wore the mandated skirt to school and she had it coming since she’d left him with a rather large problem after teasing him in the courtyard.

He had done it the second the lights in the classroom went out so that they could all watch an education film, a film that no one seemed interested in watching but it was the perfect opportunity for him to get back at her.

But Soarynn took it like a champ, not letting anyone around them know about their current underlying situation.

Another thing he loved about Soarynn, her discreetness when it came to their sexual encounters. She played the innocent school girl daughter around both their parents but was his little slut behind closed doors.

It seems that they have both their parents fooled when it comes to how far they’ve gone sexually because neither of them have any objections when the two young adults spend the night at each other’s houses.

Father seemed to catch on slightly as to what was happening under his roof one night though. He had called both Coriolanus and Soarynn into his study late at night once mother was asleep.

“I won’t say I don’t approve of this union,” he had said, eyeing the young couple who nervously sat across from him, “but don’t think that I haven’t caught on to what you two have been doing.”

Soarynn of course, played innocent and had the nerve to look confused whereas Coriolanus focused his stare on the floor. There was nothing worse than being confronted by your own father about things like this. “Doing what Mr. Snow?” Soarynn had asked, tilting her head.

Coriolanus expected his father to chastise her, to lecture her has he’s done to him a million times before but instead he grew an amused grin. “You have very long nails Ms. Nightingale.”

Neither of them knew what to say to that, especially when Coriolanus knew that a few days ago his father had seen him getting ready in his room, just about to put on his shirt which put his back on display. Coriolanus had inherited his father’s looks for the most part which included his pale skin.

Pale skin with red lines going up and down his back courtesy of Soarynn’s long nails.

They made an effort to be more discrete after that.

Coriolanus kicks the door open to Soarynn’s bedroom, momentarily remembering what it looked like when they were younger, when things were simpler. He thought he knew everything when he was little, but after discovering the abandoned nursery today, maybe he still has more to learn about Soarynn.

“Make sure to lock the door,” Soarynn breathes before capturing his lips in a kiss.

Coriolanus nods into the kiss and fumbles with the door handle. He highly doubts that Glen would come barging in without knocking, but his mother certainly does, so they’ve learned to take necessary precautions.

Once the door is locked he crosses the bedroom and tosses Soarynn onto her bed, smiling when she giggles. Sex has for the most part, been an exchange of sorts for Coriolanus. But with Soarynn it’s become so much more. It’s become truly intimate, a place to laugh and enjoy himself.

“I know we just ate, but I think I’m still hungry,” Coriolanus informs her, crawling onto the bed and enjoying the feigned look of innocence she gives him.

He’s wanted to rip off those silk pajamas since he saw her in it and now is the perfect change to do so. Soarynn tilts her head, “I’m sure Maria could whip something up for you Coryo.” She tacks on the nickname in a teasing manner and it does nothing but rile him up even more.

He grabs her ankles and tugs her under him, pressing a knee between her thighs, “Maria’s cooking will always pale in comparison to that sweet little cunt between your legs,” he blatantly informs her. Soarynn whimpers and he leans down to kiss her again, this time more passionately and aggressively.

He thanks his lucky stars that Soarynn is a girl who prefers it rough and hard most of the time rather than a girl who only wants him to be gentle with her. Coriolanus has no problem treating Soarynn as if she’s fragile like glass. But he also doesn’t have an issue with fucking her like she’s unbreakable.

It’s all about balance.

His hands run under her silk shirt and he grabs her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers and relishing in the soft moans she lets out. Soarynn is sensitive all over but her nipples seem to be more sensitive than other parts of her.

“Coryo,” she moans, rutting her hips against his. Coriolanus groans and pulls away from the kiss, “Be patient darling.” He doesn’t make her wait any longer before he tugs her silk shorts down her smooth legs and throws them somewhere over his shoulder.

He’s met with an enticing baby blue thong with a little bow on the front in true Soarynn fashion. He can’t believe stuff like this constitutes for underwear but he’s not going to be the one to discourage Soarynn from wearing it.

He can see that she’s already soaked through the fabric so he pulls that off too, nearly doubling over when met with the enticing sight of her perfect cunt. She’s already so wet for him and he happily dives in, lapping at her wetness, sucking on her clit.

Soarynn’s hands fly to his golden curls and she tugs on them harshly which means he’s doing a good job. “Right there,” she says, her tone is breathy and she’s grinding into his face. Coriolanus makes a mental note to have her ride his face one of these days, so he can watch her fall apart on top of him.

Coriolanus gently bites her clit between her teeth and Soarynn cries out, her nails dig into his scalp, almost like she’s giving him head scratches.

He can feel that she’s getting close even though he’s not inside of her yet. He’s gotten good at learning her cues, learning what gets Soarynn off and what makes her unravel.

“Please, please, please Coryo,” she begs, nearly suffocating him with her thighs. Coriolanus moans against her cunt before licking a stripe from top to bottom, stopping at her clit and swiping back and forth. That’s all it takes for Soarynn to cum.

She finishes with a loud moan and heaven knows that Coriolanus could listen to her moan all day long. It’s a sweet melody, almost like a song and he is the cause of it.

He slowly pulls away from her cunt, pleased to see it leaking and puffy. Soarynn is still recovering, her chest rapidly rising and falling as she lies on her bed and Coriolanus wipes his mouth with the back of his hand.

Both of them seem to have quite a bit of stamina when it comes to sex which means they’re both always down for several rounds if time allows. And right now, they have all the time in the world.

Coriolanus kisses her thighs before kissing up to her stomach, leaving a few hickeys where he sees fit. He loves seeing her covered in love bites, knowing that she belongs to him and that he’s the cause of these bruises.

When he finally reaches her face, Soarynn seems to have finally caught her breath and her dazzling eyes look into his eyes, “Was that good,” he asks her, taunting her a bit.

Soarynn lets out a breathy laugh and cards her fingers through her long blonde hair, “It’s always good with you.”

Coriolanus grins and gives her a soft kiss, “Good. Because I’m just getting started with you.”

| Part 2. |

| tumblr oneshot/drabble |

[gghostwriter]

Yours Truly, Romeo

Epilogue __ Ever After

Spencer Reid x FOC

Summary: Washington, DC - A string of grizzly murders and obsessive love letters causes Olivia and Spencer’s paths to intertwine. With a serial killer proclaiming his undying devotion to her and the thick tension surrounding her and her agent turned bodyguard, Olivia’s life is writing out like a contemporary love story that she, as a successful writer, could see herself publishing.

A/N: And this marks the end of my first spencer reid series. I had a lot of fun writing this and I hoped you as a reader enjoyed it too 💗

previous chapter || series masterlist

“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.” - Act 2, Scene 1. Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare 

Olivia wasn’t one to get so nervous on book events. After all, she’d done it countless of times in numerous states but this one may be the one that mattered most. A year after, she had approached her agent with an autobiographical fiction idea—a re-telling of her harrowing stalking and kidnapping case. From the publication standpoint, it would be a guaranteed hit but that wasn’t the reason she wanted to write it, not for the royalties—which she has pledged to donate to a foundation and not for added fame—which she never craved for herself. 

Rather, she wanted to use her privilege and voice for the other victims. Her boyfriend of three years had wholeheartedly supported her idea. Spencer had become a rock for her during the aftermath. He was there to soothe her back to sleep when she’d find herself screaming awake from nightmares, he was there to stroke her hair when a certain smell would remind her of the gilded cage the unsub had built for her, and he was there to kiss her worries away when the anxiety of being touched by another came and went. 

The same Spencer, who made sure his schedule matched with this event, was also nervous. He could decipher patterns, crack cases, and face the worst humanity has to offer without breaking a sweat but here he was almost sick to his stomach for a completely different reason.

He sat by the sidelines as Olivia answered questions picked by the publication and by participating audiences. His mind helplessly wandering as he looked back on how they got here to this moment. Their relationship had its ups and downs, just like any couple would. It wasn’t smooth sailing, especially when she agreed to move in with him in Virginia. The adjustment was rough. For Olivia, it was the downgrading, from a home to an apartment and for Spencer, it was no longer having the place all to himself. Between the both of them, their book collection was enough to overflow the apartment. It took them months of arguments and compromising before finally throwing in the towel and contacting Morgan for housing properties. A big move. A really big move.

Through it all, he realized how much he loved her. There was no moment where he questioned if what they had was real, if it was all just transference. Being with her felt right, like he was always meant for her—two halves of a perfect whole. The journey, no matter how treacherous, was worth it if it meant she was there at the end to squeeze his hand and kiss his worries away. 

He stood up and clapped, along with a hundred listeners as they wrapped up the event—book signing done during the first half. 

“Hey sweetheart, I’m so proud of you,” Spencer breathed out, pulling Olivia into a hug. “You were amazing out there.”

“Thanks, Spence. It was great to know you were here supporting me,” she bashfully adjusted her shoulder bag. “Amanda says I’m free to leave so I’m yours for the rest of the day.”

Taking her hand into his, he gently pulled her towards the exit. “Well, what does my favorite author want to do? The world is our oyster.” 

“Dr. Reid, I think you may be lying. I can’t be your favorite author, that’s Tolstoy’s spot.”

He watched as she threw her head back with laughter. So beautiful she was and so carefree. He knew the dictionary like the back of his hand but there seemed to be no words accurate enough to describe how enchanted she had made him feel. 

“Well who says I can’t have two favorites?” he quipped back before stopping in front of her side of the car. He needed to do it now before it comes tumbling out of him while on the road.

Spencer reached into his satchel, taking a deep breath as he did and pulled out a new copy of her book titled, Yours Truly. “And since you’re my other favorite author, can you sign my copy?”

Olivia’s eyes sparkled with intrigue. “Sure—” she drawled out. “Y’know you could have lined up during the signing a while ago but sure, anything for my number one supporter.”

He raked his hand through his hair as he watched her flip to the dedication page and freeze.

Right below her dedication that says:

To my own knight in shining armor,

Without you, there would not be this.

I will be eternally grateful and foolishly

in love with you till the end of time.

Was an additional paragraph scrawled in his own handwriting

Olivia, will you do me the great honor and allow me to spend the rest of my life by your side. I love you. I love you. I love you. Will you marry me?

She looked up from the book, tears brimming in her eyes, as he presented a black velvet box and nestled within it was a diamond ring. 

“I-I’m usually not good with speeches and I tend to go off on an tangent but Olivia, my love, I can’t imagine a life without you in it. Will you do me the honors?”

“Yes. Yes, of course. Spencer, yes.”

He laughed, slipping the ring into hers where it would stay forevermore. 

“I love you, Olivia.”

“And I love you, Spencer.”

— THE END —

[gotstabbedbyapen]

Too Long; Didn't Read: I'm working on a trilogy fanfiction for Apollo and Hyacinthus called "Singing For A Flower" because I have way too much time :)

Too Short; Need More: For those who don't know (actually, I don't think anyone knows), I've been writing fanfics for a long time now. I've written for many fandoms, couples, and characters, but never in a million years I'd thought I would dedicate a portion of my life to writing a whole ass trilogy fic for an OTP I only started to ship in the summer of 2022.

How did I get into this?

Well, for starters, I've taken a ride to Greek mythology since June 2022. And as you may know (you must know if you've been sticking around long this blog enough), the myth of Apollo and Hyacinthus is my top favorite. And you probably know that I have lots of thoughts for them. Like, a lot. I'm storing too many Apollo/Hyacinthus ideas inside like an inflated balloon and if I don't dump them out soon, I will explode into a million pieces.

So in that case, I decided to write a fanfiction to pour all my OTP heacanons into it.

No, really. I won't even call it a retelling because it is not qualified to be one. Let's just say it's a high-effort fanfiction written by a foreigner who was raised and lived in a very different culture and always be more to learn.

Introducing:

Singing For A Flower

At first, I only planned it out as a meet-cute oneshot. But the short and sweet story soon branched out and couldn't be contained under 10K words anymore.

I want to write Hyacinthus and Apollo flirting but also having anxiety about their relationship.

I want to include Polyboea and give her a character arc about joining the virgin huntressess.

I want to explore Clio and the Muses' relationship with Hyacinthus, their mortal son and nephew.

I want to flesh out the other occurring characters who are in or related to the myth.

Endless scenarios and questions keep coming and they don't stop coming, and now I'm left with bits of prompts to string into one coherent plotline. There will be a lot for me to rewrite, add in, cut out, and more before I finish the first draft.

The "Singing For A Flower" trilogy will be written in Vietnamese and then translated into English (the VN version will be posted on a different platform, but you don't need to care about it). I can write the whole thing in English in the first place of course, but as with the second language, I can't convey all my ideas as fluently as in Vietnamese. When the English version is done, I will publish it on Archive Of Our Own and maybe other novel platforms.

It will take time to do everything all by myself. You'll have to wait a long time - we're not counting weeks or months, but years. But not to worry, because along the way, I will publish some (translated) WIP snippets to keep myself motivated and keep you guys up-to-date. So, we cool?

If you're interested in my planned Apollo/Hyacinthus trilogy and wish to see the final product, I admire your dedication - thank you a lot! And if you can't stick around to the end - it's okay! I'm glad we can be companions for a while.

Let's hope all of the gods above, my sheer determination, and an unholy amount of coffee will help me make it to the end of this project and not crash and burn before that!

[mylittleredgirl]

previously on mylittleredgirl: [four seasons of m*a*s*h] [six weeks of screaming about margaret houlihan]

i have now finished season five disc one and a bullet point recap is due! [yeah there's more screaming in it]

bug out was a fucking DELIGHT

god i was so worried though when klinger had to trade all his dresses i was wailing internally. what if he just wears fatigues forever!?!??? but it's all okay!!!! that tassel mod dress he has on in "the abduction of margaret houlihan" healed me ten times over. his outfits have been 🔥 this season.

such a mix of really dumb slapstick comedy and "oh god the war is Right Here" drama and little character sweetness... love it.

and the family reunion happiness at the end!!!! god bless. i left my body for like thirty-six hours.

i really really love the tone they're striking with frank this season. they've walked back the cartoon villainy of late season four, so he's once again a relatively harmless clown. i breathed a huge sigh of relief. he's soooo much more fun this way.

margaret's engagement: bonkers. delightful. she's unbearable. there is so much wrong with her. i want to study her in a jar. i will never shut up again.

with this put together with some bits later in the disc (including that cut scene crayon joke lmao), did she somehow manage to trade DOWN from frank? is that even possible??? it's either that or this new dude is actually just The Exact Same Guy, but now she'll be the fool wife at home instead of the beloved mistress.

i mean personally if i were louise burns i'd be very happy for my dumbass husband to fuck around on the other side of the world for as long as possible while i enjoy the $35,000 house and two cars without him, but for someone like margaret who is far more interested in being wined and dined than running a household, this... may not be the field promotion she thinks it is.

hawkeye rising to frank's defense and him and b.j. enabling frank's little takedown of margaret at the end felt very real. sure, in the grand scheme of things, margaret is Annoying and frank tried to have hawkeye executed last season, but bros before hos.

okay how FUNNY would it be though if the "little redheaded nurse" frank planned to seduce was baker-from-the-nurses, because she would have scratched frank's eyes out for trying and not felt bad about it

and actually, that's a plausible backstory for the extra bad blood between her and margaret, too??? oh yeah. that definitely happened.

i actively missed frank/margaret as the disc went along though. maybe the show had stretched the tension of that relationship as tight as it could go, and it's nice that they get to do new things... but they're so funny and awful together and i miss them sharing scenes!!!

i really assumed - like frank did lol - that they would continue to rabbit around together, only now she would also get to string him along with the jealousy game, but...... well, i'm glad it's still hanging out in the background of the narrative, anyway. i live in hope that they will slip and fuck and it will be soooo messy.

FUCK is it possible i shipped that for real???? god. i don't know if my family name can bear this dishonor.

out of sight, out of mind...

...has taught us the very important lesson that hawkeye is 9000x more annoying without something to do (annoying to everyone else i mean!! not to me. i will happily watch him annoy everyone.)

him asking b.j. to visit him a million times a day 🥺

i'm almost satisfied now by the "doctor-experiences-the-role-of-patient" theme that i didn't get in "hawkeye." i suppose hurt/comfort fic can take it from here.

however i'm totally satisfied by how sweet it was to see everyone taking care of him!! and how much they love him!!

lt. radar o'reilly... devastating. i mean funny and delightful but it's mean!! so glad that boy is back in stripes. however they could have at least promoted him a little for his trouble. sergeant o'reilly???

i have already said more about the nurses (post here) than ever needed to be said. and yet. i'm quite sure i could say more if pressed

the abduction of margaret houlihan

........ will i never be free of colonel flagg episodes 😞

i love the continuing evidence that she has invested time in learning korean, and i really really really love the slow expansion of our perspective to include like oh yeah. there's a village where people live full time and it's literally right here.

imagine if after the war she becomes an ob nurse...

on the one hand, how do they not make frank do gun handling training. on the other hand they probably don't because it always ends with stitches and an accident report.

i sometimes wonder if mash was like jury duty for asian actors in the 70s. you probably won't get to say anything but they call you up and you just have to go.

dear sigmund!!!!!! this is another episode where people were staring at me through the window so i'll comment a little more:

the fandom's favorite guy sidney freedman deserves that crown. what a weirdo. talk about a busman's holiday for a psychiatrist to come to the 4077 for a vacation and psychoanalyze everyone. but for fun!

i really don't have a proper sense of the geography at play here because he really does like. just come by to play cards once a week. and drives through a war zone i guess to do it? he has probably sacked out in the swamp before when the air raid situation changes but this time he just... doesn't leave.

and aaaa!! margaret took her very special episode about How To Make Friends to heart!!!! she joined the poker game!!!

she had plenty of time to work on that lesson though because the jeremy bearimy time shenanigans are in full swing here at the 4077. we went from midsummer in 'the nurses' to a bitter cold march two episodes later.

i always kind of assumed the mash weather was loosely inspired by real human weather, but no, in fact the actors just have to randomly suffer in parkas or getting sprayed in the face to look sweaty in alternating weeks regardless of the surrounding conditions.

SUFFERING for their ART

also jfc b.j.!!!! dunking frank in cold water in freezing temperatures is a serious health and safety concern my dude!!!!

i'm afraid b.j. is still not beating the little brother allegations, he has just aged up from innocent baby to fucking gremlin

(i should confess that my little brother diagnosis is guided by the fact that in my complex family and housing history i only ever lived with "brothers" younger than me, and never older ones. but the innocent baby and prank gremlin stages are real.)

i made a note here of "margaret randomly drinking gin in the swamp now!!?!??" like the poker game was one thing, people could strong-arm her into that while she feigns protest, but ma'am WHO are you and what have you done with— and then the next note is "oh good she's still insane"

potter named his horse sophie <3 also he's collecting granddaughters, i think the count is up to 3 now. or baby sherry is experiencing a temporal anomaly of her own!

the letter radar wrote to the dead guy's parents and potter reading it... fucking ended me. please let harry morgan do serious bits more often, it's outstanding and far too rare.

it's not surprising that frank's wife changing (wearing pants! doing activities!) would stress him out, and not just because he's a dick. any of them would struggle with their families growing without them, because that means they can Never Go Home to the life they left!! (e.g. trapper losing it because his girls were getting older.) but it is kind of fascinating that he loves both his wife and margaret, and even said mid-fever that he wanted them to be friends, but he also wants them to be NOTHING alike.

all in all it's understandable that sidney would check in to the no boundaries motel to have his poker buddies shake it out of him, but he could also have taken his leave somewhere with indoor heat. so he's as crazy as the rest of them. <3

also they're not his patients he's just observing them like zoo animals so forget confidentiality he's absolutely gonna write a book about them someday.

mulcahy's war: i don't know why i have been misspelling his name with an 'e' the whole time because it was literally in the end credits of almost every episode for four seasons.

oh god he's so precious i don't talk about it enough. playing poker for orphans. feeling like he doesn't do enough while potter thinks he has the hardest job. that unrelenting positive regard for everyone. always with that little grin.

that little grin in FULL PLAY as he sneaks out of the house to go off to war when dad's not looking

radar should never be sent on a mission where people are bleeding when will they LEARN

corporal cupcake deserves every medal he gets!!!!

frank's foot fetish becoming his one true medical specialty is just. i don't know what to do with this. good for him??? do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life???

speaking of unrelenting positive regard, margaret's policy of nurses never talking back to the doctors in the operating room sure has taken a hit. i realize this is about frank being an intolerable ex, but i choose to believe that the detente between margaret and her nurses has turned the O.R. into a pvp zone. the next time hawkeye tries to seduce a nurse over an open body, he's gonna get wrecked and margaret's just going to shrug pretty and look the other way.

in conclusion: season five is soooo gooooooood!!!!! can't wait for disc two!

[wavesoutbeingtossed]

same anon as “maybe this crosses..”

(firstly, adult life is really crazy because we all go through such similar things, the same thing that happened to your friend happened with one of my friends)

you were so spot on with your answer! it's exactly that. and i think that what irritates the most, especially for us women, is this issue of emotional intelligence and sometimes even selfishness on the part of men. because what I see happening the most in my social cycle is men literally stringing their partners along, making excuses, pretending they don't see the problems, almost gaslighting them. and like I said, sometimes being even selfish because as things are good the way they are in the present (only) for them, they think they don't need to think about the future. but unfortunately when it comes to having children, for example, our bodies have time and therefore our desires/thoughts and those of our partners have to be clear so that we can have the freedom to choose to stay, to think about adoption in the future, to choose to break up… to have a plan!

so, as you explained perfectly: being direct, vulnerable and truthful hurts. it is difficult. but in a way it is an act of love for your partner. allows her to have some freedom

It’s one of those things that’s so insidious and even if the intentions aren’t nefarious or directly harmful, they end up hurting their partner just the same.

This is slightly on another tangent, but I think all the time about how (at least in heteronormative relationships) women so often end up bearing the brunt of emotional labour, if not also the domestic labour. This is a gross generalization, but I feel like more often than not women in my social circle end up being the ones to think about *everything* in the household: what needs to be fixed, when bills are due, what to do for dinner, who’s gonna rsvp to that friend’s party, what do we want to do for vacation next year, should we try these new recipes, does my partner have that suit ready for the wedding he’s in later this year, etc. Never mind when you have kids or other major responsibilities added to the mix, they’re also often the ones largely preoccupied with what goes along with that: have we made the doctor appointments for the booster shots, when do we need to register for swimming lessons, when are the open houses for kindergarten, let’s check out the library for kid programming for an outing, etc.

In an ideal world, that’s balanced between both partners, but I’m sad to say that in my circles, I see friends who are overwhelmingly burdened with all this and if they don’t do it, things simply won’t get done because their partners just… don’t think to do it. They have the luxury of knowing things will always end up being taken care of. (And I’m in circles where many of my friends are incredibly accomplished with demanding careers, as are their partners much of the time as well.) It seems *exhausting* above and beyond the normal demands of raising a family (and I’d be lying if that wasn’t one of the things that swayed me very early on from not wanting to have kids, though I was already uninterested quite early on in my life).

All this to say, for some of these partners, it may not always be like, “I’m going to purposefully hedge my bets to live a life that suits me need, my partner’s desires be damned” so overtly. But I think there’s just this expectation in society by some men in particular that… they just don’t have to worry about that stuff so they don’t and it never crosses their minds. Their needs were always taken care of and they live in a society in which their needs will always be taken care of and are catered to. (Fuck the patriarchy etc.) And for some of them, their partners’ desires come across as nagging or coercing because *they* aren’t ready, but they’re either too obtuse or too stubborn to admit it. So when you’re in a relationship where the idea of having a family “one day” is fine because it’s far off, suddenly it becomes a crisis when the woman in the relationship sees a deadline on the horizon and wants to take steps towards it and the man isn’t ready but doesn’t know how to communicate it.

Obviously not all men are like that, and I’m very happy for those out there who have partners who are thoughtful and open and communicative. I’m just saying that I’m still shocked at how often I see men who are “good guys” in that they’re nice and have respectable jobs and follow the markers of what society says a grown up is supposed to be and what a partner is supposed to be just… revert to an antiquated mindset, even if it’s subconsciously, when it comes to these serious life considerations. And then women in the relationship are stuck between a rock and a hard place if they love this person, because it’s like— do I keep sticking it out in the hope that they sort through their shit and decide what they want? Or do I give up a person I love and risk having to start over and run out of time to build what I dream of? (Ahem, YLM has entered the chat.) It’s the “how long do I have to wait for you to grow up and meet me where I’m at?” Stage of being in your early 30s.

And from being around my friends who were in that very situation— with partners whose plans no longer aligned with theirs, desperately wanting a family and seeing the clock ticking, unsure of what the next steps should be— it’s absolutely devastating because both options are scary and unknown and potentially life-altering. (Again, it’s why TTPD just feels so, so relevant to me.)

Adult life really is crazy and it’s when you start realizing all these TV shows/movies/songs are so relatable because everyone goes through it 😭 Like, in my friend circle in recent years, we’ve had people get married, split up, be widowed, start over, have kids, have miscarriages, see careers take off, lose their jobs, change careers completely, etc. And the crazy thing with the, well, Joever-like breakup (and alternately: speedrun-like new relationships-to-marriage-and-babies pipeline) is that it’s happened to more than one friend in recent years too! Even though broken engagements and stuff seems like the stuff of movies, it happens everyday! (For instance, said friend was so devastated and a little ashamed when she had to call off her wedding, only to find out from people she reached out to as she cancelled things that everyone had stories of a friend or acquaintance who had to do the same for similar reasons.)

[sutxdreamwalker]

A Flickered Flame of Sarentu

Someone loss

Summary: Aha’ri insists something that would surely help the children get out of there situation and everyone agrees not knowing the consequence

A/n: angst, spoilers, death, pretty short chapter

Bold - Speaking in na’vi

It was another day at TAP, the kids were in the classroom as Alma began to talk.

“Good morning, let’s review the ambassador program. When the RDA discovered Pandora-”

“You can’t discover something that was there all along” Aha’ri interrupted.

“Aha’ri, when we say discovered, we mean it was the first time humans came here” Alma said and continued talking.

“We realized that this was an opportunity to create beneficial relationships with the indigenous peoples” Alma said as Aha’ri began to hum a sarentu song.

“We created avatars like mine to help create relationships with the na’vi”

Ah’so looked down at her angtsìk carving while Alma was talking but still was paying attention.

“And when you graduate it will be your jobs as ambassadors to. Reach out to the na’vi clans, and to-” Alma was cut off by the sound of the door opening as Mercer and Harding walked in.

“Help us to..create those alliances” Alma continued as Ah’so hid her carving as quick as she could.

“Can, um, anyone tell me how that can be done?” Alma asked as she looked down at Aha’ri who was still humming “Aha’ri” she whispered in a stern like tone.

“The RDA can share there medicines, technologies and knowledge!” Teylan said “that’s absolutely correct Teylan” Mercer said.

“Director Mercer, we have been going over TAP’s mission as you requested” Alma said. “Why would Na’vi want to have alliances with you?” Aha’ri asked Mercer with a glare.

“Aha’ri-” Alma said so Aha’ri could keep quite “Alma” Mercer gave a tone that made Alma stand aside as he walked towards Aha’ri.

“You have no idea, what life is like out there, Aha’ri”. “It’s savage. We found you all as children after your clan abandoned you”

“We have given you a future- a purpose”

Aha’ri was still glaring at him “are clan would have never abandoned us, he’s a liar”.

“Sister, stop” Aha’ri’s sibling said but that accidentally made them reveal the songcord that was in there hand.

Mercer walked up to them “I allowed you to keep that dirty trinket under the condition it remained in your bunk, hm? Hand it over” he extended his arm out so Aha’ri’s sibling could give him the songcord.

But Aha’ri jumped over her desk and got the songcord then gripped Mercer’s wrist. “It was are mothers, it’s not a dirty trinket, you don’t even know what a songcord is”.

“Aha’ri, it’s just a broken string, I know this is difficult for you, but you have to accept your mother abandon you” Mercer said looking up at Aha’ri.

“Liar!” That made everyone gasp as Aha’ri let go of his wrist. Mercer looked at Aha’ri and her sibling with a stern look “you all know the rules: No physical contact”.

“No dinner for many of you” he said walking away “director Mercer, sir” Teylan said but was cut off by Mercer slamming the desk.

_________________________________________

Night was here and everyone was asleep. But not for long since everyone was woken up to the sound of Nor having a nightmare.

“Nor? Nor, wake up” Aha’ri said and that made him jolt up “we’re with you, it’s ok”. Ah’so looked up at him with worry.

“I dreamt it again, the night they took us…” Nor said then Teylan kicked the top bunk “your supposed to be speaking English on base”.

Nor got down from his bunk “when you cry out at night Teylan, you cry out in Na’vi!” He yelled and shoved him and Teylan shoved him then Nor shoved him again.

Ri’nela broke it up “why do you always take Mercer’s side?” Aha’ri asked. “Director Mercer saved us” Teylan answers and Nor pushed him and hissed at him. Teylan glared at him and Ri’nela hissed at Nor to make them stop.

Teylan pushed Ri’nela out of the way when he got off his bunk and whimpered in sadness. “Teylan, they took us from are families. We are saplings cut from are roots, we may not ever where we’re from but we can still grow- out there, on Pandora” Aha’ri said crouching beside him.

“I can’t even remember the words of are clan songs anymore” Nor said as the others went over. “We can sing them, even without words” Aha’ri said gently taking Teylan’s hand humming the same tune she hummed earlier today.

“We can’t let them strip the Na’vi out of us, we have to do something before it’s too late” Ri’nela said. Aha’ri spoke “we are stronger than them now, I felt it in the classroom with Mercer, we can end this tonight, I have an idea”.

_________________________________________ Teyaln was using a screwdriver to hack the door.

“We are going home” Aha’ri smiled. A few more seconds and Traylan successfully hacked the door “good job Teyaln” Aha’ri said as the door opened “now we have to hurry, we only have a a few minutes breathing their air before we’re gonna need masks”.

Everyone had hopeful looks on there faces, they were finally gonna get out of here, Ah’so held her carving with excitement.

Unfortunately tho it was put to a stop when the lights turned on then Mercer and Harding along with a few other soldiers appeared “we found them”.

“I’m every disappointed in you” Mercer said to the group “we have given you this privileged life, and you wanna throw it all away”.

“We don’t want your “privileged life” we belong out there!” Aha’ri shouted “no, you belong to us!” Mercer yelled.

He walked up to Aha’ri “you can not fathom how much we have invested in you? Hm?” Mercer looked over the kids “we saved you, gave you a home, an identity”.

“We already had an identity, we are Na’vi” Aha’ri said “No! You are what I made you!” Mercer yelled.

Aha’ri held onto the songcord gently and started to sing the tune of the sarentu song. “We may not remember the words- but we can still sing the songs of our people” Nor said talking Aha’ri’s hand.

Nor and Aha’ri’s sibling started to sing too. “Stop singing!” Mercer glared but they didn’t stop, Ri’nela took Nor’s hand and joined in too, then Ah’so took Ri’nela’s hand singing.

“I said shut up, stop singing!” Mecer’s tone got louder. They still didn’t stop singing then Aha’ri stoped “we are going home. We are going home”.

Aha’ri walked past Mecer “I’m warning you Aha’ri, not another step!” Mecer threatened.

“Come on, Teylan, let’s go home” Aha’ri’s sibling offers there hand to him “STOP RIGHT THERE!” Mecer shouted from the background as Teylan took the young sarentu’s hand.

The loud sound of a gun went off which mad everyone stop “Aha’ri!” Her sibling cried out and ran to her.

They knelt beside her now dead body and everyone else knelt down too “what did you do?!” Nor yelled at Mecer.

The young Sarentu cried stroking Aha’ri’s face, Ah’so had tears welled up in her eyes now as did everyone else. “No, no, no” the young sarentu cried then saw as there mothers songcord was picked up by Mercer.

They just looked away and looked down at there sister again “Aha’ri, no” they began to cry harder and so did the other kids.

This night would have been the night they could of escaped, but now it’s a night of grief and pain as the crying started to sound more hurt at every second.

They will never forget this night.

[mydisenchantedeulogy]

Red Strings [Chapter Five] Bait [Satoru Gojo]

A/n: I apologize that it has taken me so long to post this chapter. I needed to outline and honestly, I forgot where I was going with it. Hopefully, I'll be able to update soon. Please enjoy.

Warning(s): implied sexism, lies, jujutsu lore, blood, and violence.

As the week goes on, you start to notice a significant difference in how members of the Zen'in clan treat you. While they still turn up their noses at you when you pass, there is an underlying look of disgust in their eyes, as though your existence now bothers them; a fly buzzing around, searching for its next meal. 

It's both a curse and a blessing to be tethered to Satoru Gojo. This entire 'Era of Fate' business feels more like someone's Innate Technique than an unexpected phenomenon. And perhaps it is. Gojo's theory isn't to be ruled out either, that it's a human-born curse. But what purpose does it have? Especially since sorcerers are the only ones who can see the red strings. The aspect of a predetermined relationship sounds foolish. 

Dressing in a clean outfit, you decide to take a walk around the compound. Since returning from your outing with Gojo and informing your father about the Arima members that had stalked you in the city, you haven't much left your room to avoid the disgusted looks from your fellow clan members. It's been hard on you, but you can't remain locked up forever, not if you wish to see Gojo again.

A part of you hates the attention, feeling more and more like a nuisance when you aren't being forced to use your Innate Technique, but the other part of you wants the freedom that comes with being tethered with Gojo.

He's the most gorgeous man I've ever seen. And he's– or rather he seems kind. 

There's a lot about him that you wish you knew. For instance, what his intentions are for you. And what the bond mark means. You stare at it on the back of your hand, watching as the cursed energy fluxes across your skin. It's captivating yet haunting at the same time.

With a deep and uneasy sigh, you leave the room, walking along the wooden engawa with no destination in mind. The autumn sun feels comfortable on your skin, even with the extra layers you put on in case your walk goes well into the evening. 

As you pass around the corner of the first house, you notice two children in the courtyard hand in hand. Immediately, you recognize them. 

 

"Mai, Maki!"

The five-year-olds turn around to the sound of your voice; Maki, the eldest twin with straight-cut bangs, waves. You step down from the engawa and saunter over to them, excited to see them. 

It had been a while since you had talked to the twins. Their mother kept them separated from the other clan members for several unfair and sexist reasons. But you understand; you too are looked down on for such reasons. They have it much worse. 

"It's good to see you both. How have you been?" You ask with a smile. 

Maki raises a brow, ignoring your question. 

"Did you get a tattoo?"

You nod in response. Honestly, it's not something you can explain with ease. No one from the Zen'in Clan has a tattoo like yours as the members select their mates; their red strings can sometimes be seen intertwining and branching out across the compound. 

Mai and Maki are spared this inconvenience, at least until they come of age. Though it's Maki you are most concerned for considering she was born a non-sorcerer. Things are not going to be easy for her growing up. If only you can spare her from the torment, Mai included.

"It's nothing to worry about for now," you utter, avoiding the conversation. 

Averting your eyes to the younger twin, you notice that her eyes are squeezed shut, almost like she is trying to avoid looking at something.

"Why are your eyes closed, Mai?" You ask in concern.

"I don't want to see the curses outside the compound. They frighten me," she answers. 

You frown, reaching up to pat her head. 

"I don't like them much either."

Before you had been reintroduced to the clan, the chances of seeing curses were high. You often saw them from your bedroom window, sitting out on the street, or wandering by. Populated locations were a hotspot for curses due to negative emotions and the city was full of them. 

You can understand Mai's uneasiness toward curses. 

"I told you that I would lead you," Maki responds. "So long as you keep your eyes closed, you don't have to see them."

A sad smile spreads across your face. Despite her inability to see curses, she presses on. 

"That's nice of you, Maki. Siblings should–"

Your name is called abruptly and loudly, interrupting you. Glancing over your shoulder, you notice your father standing on the engawa, staring at you with his eyes narrowed. The five-year-olds scamper off without a word, leaving you alone with him.

"What are you doing wandering the compound?" Your father asks as you approach him. 

"Taking a long walk," you answer. 

Leaving your room is not wrong. He should not treat you like a prisoner. To spite him, you trace your fingers over the tattoo on your hand, an action you are certain he notices. 

"That can wait," he states with a sigh. "I need you to come with me."

You raise a brow. 

"May I ask where we're going?" 

"Naobito-san has ordered me to take you into the city, to show me where you encountered the members of the Arima Clan," he answers. 

Did the clan head hope to track them? Using jujutsu leaves residuals, a footprint that can be used to track the user unless the sorcerer is an expert and knows how to cover their residuals. You aren't certain the Arima Clan even used jujutsu when stalking you, but it's a start.

A part of you wants to ask why now the Zen'in are taking an interest in the Arima Clan, but you opt not to in case your father scolds you for being curious; such is the tragic life of a woman born as a Zen'in. 

Leaving your father for a moment, you rush back to your room to retrieve your shoes, then you meet him by the front gates of the compound. 

"It's an hour to Minato," you mention as you walk beside him. "That's where Gojo took me to have ice cream."

Your father tightens his jaw but doesn't respond with whatever is on his mind. He remains silent and allows you to lead him to the station; not the fastest route but without a car there's not much of a choice. 

The trip wouldn't be so bad if there was something to talk about, but there isn't, and for the duration, your father and you don't speak. At the ice cream shop, after a sixteen-minute walk from Daimon Station, you lead him across the street where you had seen the two mysterious men. But as you had thought there were no spectral footprints to track.

"Either someone covered them, or the two you saw were too cautious to use jujutsu in the open," your father mentions. 

"I was with Gojo, so I doubt they would have given who he is," you state. 

Your father gives you a pointed stare. 

"He's more trouble than he's worth."

Motioning for you to follow him, he leads you back across the street to the ice cream parlor. From the pocket of his outfit, he retrieves some money and offers it to you. 

"Get an ice cream and sit," your father orders. "I'm going to continue checking the area."

Is he serious? Your eyes widened in disbelief. 

"But–"

"Do as I say," he orders. 

You aren't certain about this. He's never been generous before, but perhaps he doesn't want you to interfere with whatever he's doing. It worries you that there is more to this trip, but you don't see him putting his one ticket to remaining in the Zen'in Clan in jeopardy. You hesitantly take the money.

Without a word, your father turns and walks away.

I guess I'll play along.

You sigh and walk into the parlor. 

An hour in, an overwhelming volume of cursed energy suddenly peeks, causing you to shiver. It almost seems familiar.

Father.

Grabbing the plastic spoon left over from your disposable cup, you snap off the oval, creating a point. It's not much of a weapon, especially against a curse or a sorcerer, but it's better than having no weapon. Your Innate Technique is always an option, but you've never used it on a live person before. You aren't sure it will even work against one.

You follow the familiar cursed energy to an alley nearby, but it vanishes once you start to descend it. There's no trace of a curse or a sorcerer; no footprint or body to indicate who or what let off the spike. Sure that it had been your father, you are bewildered.

Where did he–

The sound of footsteps alerts you that someone is nearby. You turn and notice an unfamiliar man with dark hair near the opening of the alley. The crest on his uniform - a six-tang flower - is familiar. You widen your eyes. 

"Arima."

Realizing what this means, you clutch the broken spoon tight. 

"I'm the target."

But why? And where is your father? 

The man with the brown hair grins. 

"That's perceptive of you. I expected as much from a Zen'in kleptoparasite."

If only he knew. 

"I'm the wrong one you should be taking up your concerns with," you remark. 

"I suppose you're right," the man agrees. "But you don't catch flies without a little honey." 

With a whistle, another member of the Arima Clan, a tall and lanky man with long black hair leaps from the roof of the building behind you, landing on his feet. His deadpan smile makes you shiver in disgust. 

"Come to Takuma," he orders in a shrill voice, patting his knees as if you are a dog. 

You want to choke him, but instead, you take a step back. Takuma teasingly walks closer, chattering his teeth, an action that makes you want to puke. Your attention is so focused on him that you don't notice the brown-haired male approach you until he grabs your arm from behind. 

As a reaction, you swing with the broken spoon and stab him in the cheek with it. Some sorcerors enhance their bodies with cursed energy to protect themselves, but this one must not have seen you as a threat. His mistake. 

You make a run for the main street, but an arm suddenly appears in your view and slams you to the ground. The pain is excruciating. It feels almost like you have walked into a glass door; for a moment you can't breathe.

It doesn't help that the man you stabbed is fueled by rage. He storms up to you, hand covering the wound on his face, and kicks you in the stomach. Pain explodes throughout your body and if not for the giant of a man who slammed you deescalating the situation, you are certain you would have been kicked again.

"Shut your damn mouth, Hiroki, and give me the spray before she activates her Innate Technique," he orders in annoyance.

You feel foolish. Perhaps you should have tried to use it. At the moment your head is spinning, so much so that you can barely focus. 

The man with brown hair sits on your chest while another secures your legs. He lifts a bottle and sprays something into your face, a substance that almost smells sweet and despite your attempts at struggling, your body completely shuts down. The world around you fades to black. 

[stuffeddeer]

https://www.tumblr.com/stuffeddeer/734553783616536576/its-that-lurking-anon-again-please-forgive-me

Omg you answered that😭 I was genuinely worried you'd hate me for sending something so long 😭 I'm sorry about that but your response is great! I love discussing things with people, I hope you didn't mind it! 💖🥺

I definitely do see where you're coming from with him cheating but the reason I think he's less likely to is because as you said, the thing with Oda, he won't want to see someone hurt again, he won't want his love to be hurt again, he wouldn't want to go through that kind of pain again. It's quite obvious Dazai isn't stupid(I hope this doesn't sound like I'm saying you implied he is, I promise it's not like that!! I just realized how it might've sounded after re-reading it) and he's able to predict people around him's actions, he knows the impact certain things will have on the people around him, whether is be good or bad. He's able to know what they might do in certain situations, certain choices they'd make, emotions they'd feel etc and to me this means he'd know very well that whoever his love is, he'd know hurting them to the point where he betrayed them isn't gonna do anything but make them feel how he has in the past. I've researched into relationships where people have been cheated on in the past and many of them who have been so incredibly in love before the cheating, have felt quite literally like their entire life was ending because of this betrayal by their lover. Their pain is excruciating to the point where some may get PTSD symptoms and yes I know that might sound weird but a betrayal that big can be detrimental to someone's mental health. I don't think Dazai would want his lover to go through that kind of pain, Dazai knows the impact of a betrayal cuts deep and I actually think that if Dazai were to get a lover in the first place, that he'd get someone who obviously isn't average in personality, he's definitely go for an eccentric, probably someone like Oda, non judgemental, not much ego, someone who can surprise him even though he's not easily surprised, someone who can teach him new things. Someone he actually can trust and him giving someone his trust is a big feat for him and he'd probably never see himself letting go of this person nor hurting them. He would also probably keep his lover private.

More reasons I don't think Dazai would cheat is because in the past we've seen him break up with many women as Chuuya says "I'll send your address to all the women whose hearts you've broken." But the way I've seen this is in a few situations where him having a girlfriend or a relationship is brought up, he was very transparent when it came to breaking up with the women he was with. An example would be, the bomb that was used in Atsushi's entrance exam being sent to him by his ex girlfriend after she became obsessed with him when they broke up. Dazai talked about being very transparent with her and scolded her saying that it won't work out between them so she should stop with sending him bombs. I see him in relationships that he has no interest in continuing or pursuing, as being transparent and very honest instead of betraying their trust and moving onto someone else while being with them. It's implied a few times that he's had flings and he's the one who stopped it from getting too serious(I think that's another way he shields his heart).

Anyway so sorry if this is too long, I just wanted to clarify why I said I didn't think he'd cheat and believe me this isn't just me having wishful thinking, I enjoy analyzing characters a lot.

And thank you for the well wishes, I wish you well too, I'm doing better so thank you for that💖💖

i totally see the argument of him choosing to break up instead of stringing someone along and cheating on them! that's such an interesting way of viewing dazai, esp with the added reference of him tracking down the couple women he think would have left him a bomb (it was like his fourth call too does he have a type or smth..)

i agree in the sense that instead of cheating, he'd probably just apathetically break up w his date rather than continue to pretend he's interested... i feel like maybe he'd gauge the person he's with and if cheating would ruin them he'd know that and rather shoot them a quick text goodbye before sliding into someone else's bed. i still think he can be a bit sleazy from time to time, especially before joining the ada, though your viewpoint is interesting and appreciated!

andddd all of this delves into his more careless or ruthless nature, but he's probably had his fair share of kind and normal breakups!! i feel like i just spoke so negatively of him lol i love dazai promise <3

[serafiel-jacobs]

The strings in my heart (FANFIC)

A new chapter of my Lies of p Fanfic series (´ ω `♡)

The violin lessons Lady Antonia was giving Pinocchio were going more than well, fantastic even. Pinocchio’s musical talent seemed otherworldly, he quickly learned the basics, he understood how to properly follow along a melody, and he played it with such finesse, he had still so much to learn, but he was more than up to pace with his lessons, specially she didn’t stop giving him piano lessons, he didn’t fall behind on them for the sake of learning the violin.

Currently, they were taking a break, something had come up and Antonia had matters to attend to, running a hotel is no easy task after all.

Pinocchio was in the gardens, looking around, trying to find something to pass the time.

“Pinocchio may we speak?”

Pinocchio turned around to see Polendina standing behind him.

“Of course”

Polendina looked around, making sure that they were completely alone, well, not completely, Gemini was there, but he was always by Pinocchio’s side and Polendina didn’t mind his presence, and Gemini knew when to keep quiet.

“I’ve… confessed my true feelings to Lady Antonia”

Oh.

“… and what did she say?”

“She does love me back” Polendina might not be very expressive, but at that moment, Pinocchio could sense more than just happiness in his voice, he could feel that Polendina was more alive than ever. 

“That´s great!! I´m so happy for both of you” Pinocchio gave him a smile, he was happy they could be together.

“Yes… however…” Polendina´s tone had completely changed, it was now dejected, and the sudden shift made the atmosphere tense. “We must keep our relationship hidden”

“But, why?” Pinocchio was confused, if you love someone, shouldn't you be able to show it to others?

“There are people out there that, will not look at our relationship favorably, they might even mock Antonia for it, something as simple as this, could ruin her reputation” Polendina was heartsick about the situation.

“What? That makes no sense, after everything Lady Antonia has done, that´s not fair!” Pinocchio realized that he was yelling, and stopped, he looked around, but no one was still there, He murmured a small “sorry”. But he could understand what he was talking about, he remembers last year, the man who loved his puppet wife, and how others mocked him for it. 

“Please, do not worry, I in fact was the one to ask her to keep it hidden” Polendina´s voice had come back to his regular self.

That just made Pinocchio more confused.

“Although it would be ideal to show our love in public, it is not necessary” Polendina paused, “Just with the fact she loves me back, it is all enough for me, for so long, I wasn't able to confess my feelings, it felt like torture, not being able to tell her, tell her how I truly felt, and when I thought she was going to die, I felt despair, I thought I would die as well” 

“Ah... I see” Pinocchio smiled, he may not fully understand Polendina but he understood he was happy, and he liked it when others were happy. Pinocchio wasn't good with words but he was a good listener, and he could tell that it made Polendina happy that he would listen to him talk about his feelings. What are friends for anyway if not to rely on each other? 

“Besides, we both find it quite thrilling, keeping it hidden like that, my love even says it makes her feel young again” Polendina had a different aura now, his tranquility no longer felt stale and robotic, despite the mundanity of his tone, Pinocchio could sense for livelihood from it. “I’m glad I could talk with you about it”

Polendina was truly grateful to have Pinocchio as a friend, someone he could always count on, he is such a kind boy, even in the hardest times, he was always looking out for others. The two of them looked at the flowers in the garden for the remaining of their free time, it was a moment Polendina would never forget.

——

Once Antonia was available, the lesson continued.

“Lady Antonia, did I do it right?”

Lady Antonia, he kept calling her that, he had always been so formal, despite her telling him to drop the formalities. “You did well boy, now let’s continue”

As the class went on, Antonia began to feel a sense of profound joy, she was always good when it came to music, but she had never taught anyone before Pinocchio, she was glad she was a good teacher, but she was also glad of the time she enjoyed with Pinocchio, at her old age, Antonia kept herself busy by working, she had time to herself obviously, but the older you get, the older it’s hard to do the things you enjoy, these days, Antonia’s free time consisted half on reading or drinking tea, making idle chit chat with Polendina or with friends, and half with teaching music to Pinocchio.

There was something that just fascinated her about the boy, she remembers when Pinocchio first arrived at the Krat Hotel, always so curious about everything, touching and grabbing everything he could around him, he would play music, and she always wondered where he got those records from, but Pinocchio had a talent with finding things in unexpected places, so she didn’t give it much thought, she loved the music he would play.

Each time he would leave the hotel, he would tell her, each time he returned he made sure to let her know he was safe and sound, he made her company, even if he didn’t know what to say, sometimes he would just drop and say hi, or stand by her side.

When Geppetto was kidnapped, he was angry, and anxious to find his father as soon as possible, yet he did not leave immediately, he made sure to ask if she was okay.

“Did they hurt you? Are you alright? Do you need anything?”

When she was cured and her sight resorted, she looked at his face, she could finally properly see his face, Pinocchio kneeled down beside her, she held her hand to his face, admiring him deeply. He had saved her life, but he had done more than just that, Antonia felt as if she had been reborn, she felt a deep weight on her shoulders let go. When the disaster was over, Pinocchio and Geppetto stayed at the hotel for some time, he was there with her when she learned how to walk again; many times she overheard Pinocchio ask Polendina how she was doing, and how she was recovering.

He offered her help plenty of times, he would randomly show up at her office and ask if there was something he could do for her, one time, she mentioned how she liked flowers, and ever since then, from time to time, Pinocchio would show up with a bouquet of flowers just for her, always different types of flowers. “Do you like these types of flowers? I've got you these ones!” she would smile and thank him, she felt spoiled by him, Antonia knew Geppetto gave Pinocchio an allowance, and she felt deeply touched that he would spend that money on her.

Pinocchio was playing a song completely for the first time, it was something simple; Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. The notes clung in the air as if they could stick to the walls, music isn’t just about hearing, it’s a deep feeling. Pinocchio carefully played the violin, the final notes coming to an end, he lowered the instrument and smiled at her.

“Lady Antonia, how did I do?”

She gently clapped her hands, “You did wonderful my dear boy”.

“Thank you! I’ve been working so hard for you, Mother”

Silence

Antonia looked at Pinocchio, and he looked at her, Pinocchio suddenly realized what he said.

“Um… Um… I mean…”

Antonia took the palms of her hands to her face, and she began to quietly sob.

Pinocchio was panicking, had he said something wrong? He didn’t mean to make her upset. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you cry, I-“

“No Pinocchio, I’m not sad, these are tears of joy”

Antonia never had children, it’s something that everyone knew, but no one knew it was something she regretted later in life, her work life consumed her, and she always wanted to be a mother, when she was younger, she would sometimes see children playing on the streets, or sitting at the hotel reception with their mothers, and she felt envy, she felt terrible for feeling envy, but the desire to be a mother was something her heart deeply yearned, yet as time went on, the possibility for it diminished, until the years caught up with her, and it became impossible for her to have children of her own.

She had known Pinocchio saw her as a mother figure, it was something so obvious to see, but she never believed he would call her that, she always thought that he was just fond of her, clinging to the only motherly role model he had found in those times of need, but to hear those words, coming out of his mouth, all the years of suppressing her feelings have come out.

“You can cry out of happiness?” Pinocchio asked, he got closer to her, standing next to her side, the instrument he once held now carefully lying on the table next to them.

“Why yes you can, my dear boy, I’m just so… happy” She kept sobbing but it was calmer now, Antonia had a smile on her face.

Pinocchio hugged her, Pinocchio always wanted a mom, no, he always wanted Lady Antonia to be his mom, she was the only one, every time he saw her, ever since he first met her, Pinocchio just knew it, he felt it, Lady Antonia was his mother.

“Can I… call you Mother, from now on?”

“Why yes, yes you can dear!” Antonia almost shouted as she returned the embrace, and they were both now holding each other. “Pinocchio… I love you, my son”

“I love you too Mother”

[livingfictionsystem]

So, my adhd/autistic freind has a grandmother with NPD who was extremely abusive towards her family, but i’m worried about my friends ableism towards other people with npd. she’s not met very many but she’s under the very common impression that everyone with npd is an abuser and an asshole, and idk if should get involved because her family was so hurt by someone with npd, but at the same time i’m worried about the way she’d behave if she met another person with npd in the future. do you have any advice?

Oooof.

Sparrow here. I'm sorry about your friend's family, sounds like some real generational trauma going on there.

Anecdotal storytime, sorry if this is rambly.

I did, a couple years ago, have a pretty big grudge against Borderline folks. My most recent abuser, Rowan, had borderline. We were on a pedestal, yknow, until we weren't. Same with my cohost's ex, AJ. A shitty ex-metamor of mine has BPD. I was straight up sick of pwBPD.

I know a lot about psychology but even I had this unfair anecdotal stereotype of someone locking themselves in the bathroom and hating you/needing you until you were stressed enough to give them what they wanted.

I knew *I* had some kinda serious disorder and was looking into bipolar when the highly ironic suggestion of Borderline hit me right in the face. And I mean I was TEXTBOOK, still am. I was in denial for a WHILE. The last thing I wanted was to see any reflection of my abuser in me. And people around me didn't really disparage NPD because they already had Xanthe's glittery, spotlight-hogging, self-aggrandizing self and thought they were p cool, but even people I was close with would take jabs at Bordies and I'd laugh along with them. I kept doing intense research just to prove it wrong in me and ended up proving it more and more right.

Then finally, I saw some positive examples. One of my besties in the outerworld has Borderline. Bojack Horseman, of all things, really helped me accept it in myself. I joined some online support groups. I see how loving we are, how creative, how most of us make fun of our own mood swings and our sui-ideation. How protective we are, how our impulsivity ends up with some really cool experiences and connections.

Now I've accepted it. But it would've been a lot harder of a road if I didn't have positive examples. And yknow Borderline is p much a half sibling to Narcissism.

Xanthe and Jasper were my great examples of NPD. Their hyper-independence, how that manipulative side can be used to talk friends out of spirals or abusive relationships, how they make sure everyone who benefits them has some sort of give-and-take even if they have to pull strings to do it, the intense insecurity and self-loathing under the arrogant facade. And omg are they masters at social chess, which is awesome when my tactless ass is floundering in turmoil and people wanna cancel me by proxy.

It's really only gonna be positive rep that does it for some people. Maybe your friend has a fave character that actually fits the NPD profile. (Alastor from Hazbin gives me NPD vibes p hard tbh.) Tons of creatives have it, like literally being self-absorbed is part of being famous lol. If you've got good examples to work with, it becomes a Lot easier.

Even better if you've got someone willing to poke fun at their disorder and educate. I can also always drop more NPD stories/memes/resources for you to have in your arsenal. And even just educating about other traumagenic disorders like BPD and DID and stuff may help other disorders by proxy, the same logic does apply.

But your friend may never accept it. And that would suck. But people want to blame a set of stereotypes rather than the casual cruelty of the universe. It's up to you whether that becomes a topic that you two just can't talk about or if it ends a friendship tbh.

But yeah sorry for the ramble, I hoped the more raw experience might help the perspective. Lmk if you have any specific scenarios or anything!

-Sparrow 🧷