#and now Tali has the necklace.

[tonysziva]

That seems like a fair trade to me. I mean she held on to that necklace like her life depended on it. And she gave it up to Tony. She loved Tony more than life itself. And Tony gave her the gift of a new life in return.

They are poetry your honor.

Ziva gave Tony her necklace. And in return Tony gave Ziva a child

[talisidekick]

I go out everywhere in catears, it amazes me that people are so fascinated by this. It's not just doctors appointments, it's clothes shopping, grocery stores, to work, everywhere. I don't leave the house without them, and if I do, I feel like I left the house without shoes on.

But I know some, not all, want to know why, so this is why I'm making this post separate. I do for a number of reasons which are (in no particular order):

because I can.

because it spreads joy.

because it pisses religious conformists off.*

I'm highlighting that last part because Christians, Catholics, Mormons, and Evangelicals to name a few hate anything that is reminiscent of Animism. If you don't know what Animism is, it's the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Wearing the ears or parts of an animal, embodying traits of that animal, having that be part of your identity, even in just play, is calling back to old cultures, some dead and some struggling to still survive, where the belief that wearing a necklace, ears, or pelt of a slain animal would imbue the wearer with the spirit of that animal. To discredit the practice, these religious extremists will call anything reminiscent of Animism childish, immature, perverted, etc. as if to place their own spiritual values as more a credible practice.

The fact that I just casually walk outside, everywhere, with catears on and literally no one thinks I'm immature for it, and in fact, spreads joy and happiness where I walk is extremely aggravating for these religious fanatics. And this leads right into my fourth and possibly the most important reason for me choosing to wear the catears:

My ancestors wore the pelts of animals for this exact purpose as part of their religious beliefs.

Now many consider the religion and it's faith dead, especially in modern times, but enough of the religion survives through common culture and historical record that I wholeheartedly disagree. In that vein, my choice to wear catears is in part religious or spiritual in nature. While a pelt would be more formal, I live in a world where human negligence has endangered many species and I wish not to contribute to the ongoing environmental harm we passively inflict by deliberately going out and hunting for a wild cat pelt to drape about my shoulders (also in part because I think I'd get fucking killed if I'm being realistic). The catears for me, are a modernization of the spirituality. It's a personal choice, and one I don't feel the need to defend further past this point. I encourage others to wear the ear-headband of their choice for their own personal aesthetic or religious reasons. If you like them, wear them, even just in play, they're harmless. Assign your own meaning and reasons for doing so at whim.

As an aside: "TK" as a nickname was not something I expected when I came up with the name Tali Sidekick ... not sure how I feel about that yet.

[justafoxhound]

Tagged by @dirty-bosmer in this game. Thanks!

Lines from your fic...

Line that makes you laugh

Well, there was no harm in taking a walk, she thought. At least not when the alternative involved taking a leap in several different directions at once. “You make a convincing argument, Mr. Jericho. This way.”

-From Atomic Smitten, when Talia is being threatened by a desperate man brandishing a grenade

Line that makes you sad

She saw, for the first time in a long time, the glistening of real emotion in his eyes. He was serious, honest. Or at least more honest than she’d ever known him. She began to cry. Not because it moved her. But because he really believed it. He really believed what he’d told her, told himself, over and over again. That the Vault was the best place for her. That he was keeping her safe. That she was his number one priority. Because it was the antithesis to the story she’d lived. She’d lived a life second to his memories. Second to his dreams, to his hopes of getting it all back. Of making a dead woman happy. And he didn’t even realise.

-Talia and James in Atomic Smitten. LW and James are tragic and not in a noble way!

Line you are proud of

Gustavo watched Burke go as he smoked the rest of his cigarette. “Hey, Burke,” he called after a few seconds, jogging closer so they could keep their voices down. “What, uh… what was it exactly that ailed Tenpenny? Just out of curiosity?” Burke looked him dead in the eyes, a fire burning behind them like he’d never seen. “He wanted Talia dead, Gustavo. He took steps to make it happen. He tripped.”

-From Atomic Smitten. I am so satisfied when writing clever evil Mr Burke hehee.

Line that could have been better

It took him a few seconds to get the joke, and a few more til he was completely washed out by the wave of affection that swelled through his body.

-Burke in Atomic Smitten. I still can't figure out how to make this less literal. You know that feeling when someone does something so 'classic them', and you feel a wave of affection lol.

Line that makes you want to punch a character

“I’m not trying to justify it. Jesus fuck, what is wrong with you?” Hot tears blurred her vision. Why did he never get mad? Never. Never did he raise his voice, speak in anger, just flip out. What would it take? “You don’t fucking care, just admit it, why are you still bothering with this… act?”

He looked wounded, like he did on the way to the monument from the city. “I care Talia. It’s just that right now-”

-From Atomic Smitten. JAMES MY MAN... 'Let's put a pin in this, but know that i am dIsAppOiNtEd in you' is not appropriate reaction to the Megaton incident... Think about ya gurl for more than a second PLEASE

Line that makes you go 'awww'

“Well… whatever. Man, I hope the cafeteria has gecko steak. I don’t know if they serve that for breakfast. And mutfruit juice. Surely they get juice here-” “Talia.” “Huh?” “Are you with me on this? I’m not going on a ‘whatever’.” Talia smirked at Burke’s lazy impression of her. “Well you came up with it right? So yeah, I’m with you.” “Sure?” “Always.”

-From Atomic Smitten, Burke and Talia discussing a plan of his.

Line full of symbolism

The glowing sign bathed her in soft blue light, giving this section of the strip a calmer feel to match the soothing ebb and flow of the nearby ocean. Quietly receding from the sandy Miami shores without fanfare, only to endlessly announce its return with the crash of waves breaking across rocks. The complete opposite of how it went whenever she did this dance.

-From A Seashell Necklace, a short from Tali/Burke future.

Contains easter egg

Gustavo stroked his chin as his men bickered over another hand of poker. He seemed to be breaking up more of their stupid fights since Talia disappeared. Interesting. Even men of war seemed to need the presence of women to temper their default mood of being ready to go. And for more than a few hours a month.

“Grayson, sorry but he’s right. A straight is a hand, and it beats what you got."

-From Atomic Smitten. Not sure if this is an egg but I was playing poker with my bf and he didn't believe a straight was a hand so I immortalised the moment with Tenpenny tower security haha

Line that is shocking

Autumn frowned deeply. “You lie!” He turned away in disgust, then turned back and drew his pistol.

Well, this is it. To Talia’s surprise, her life didn’t flash before her eyes. She didn’t run or fight or even think of anything witty to say just to go out in style. Her legs actually went weak and she staggered back against the wall, slowly sinking to the ground.

This part felt shocking while writing. For all the perilous skirmishes in a Fallout 3 adventure, I got in the headspace of a prisoner, helpless, facing execution, expecting it at any time thereafter. It was a lot heavier. 😨

Line you want to talk about more

Surprisingly, Talia was speechless. She just looked around the room and began to nod. She beckoned her dog. Amata walked away and busied herself at the other end of the clinic, turning only to see the pair disappear into the corridor. 

I’ll miss you.

-From Atomic Smitten. She doesn't get much page time but I really got into Amata’s Head to write her POV. I think she really considered Talia a friend, but ultimately Tali figured Amata was hangin for the street cred, to counter being the daughter of the overseer and the flak it brought, and using her like everyone else (from her perspective). But despite what Talia did, Amata attempts to see it from the perspective they were both lied to and mistreated. She makes some very tough, thankless decisions in order for the vault to survive, and sacrifices her friendship for it. She's a real leader and maybe Talia will never understand :'(

Tagging if you want @tallmatcha @chennnington @lucien-lachance @jentucker anyone with fics who see this!

[vakarians-babe]

Hello!

For your ao3 wrapped: 9, 10 and 29? :)

Hi hi!! Thank you for the ask 💗

AO3 Wrapped Ask List

9. Favorite pairing you wrote this year?

This is really hard because I have my favorite aspects of each pairing that make them unique. That said, this year was the first time I shared a fic for Varric and Elodie, and I had a lot of fun writing them specifically.

10. What work was the quickest to write?

Definitely Salving Touch. I sat down and wrote it in one sitting at midnight after playing Baldur's Gate for the whole day.

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

I have several favorites again this year, but this moment between Savreen and Ranjit is especially dear to me because of my friend and Savreen's creator and her reaction to it. It's a little long, but I think it's worth it.

“I want to do what is right, what is my—” “Your duty. Yes. But what do you really want? What does Savreen want?” His words cut her to the bone, ripping through her flesh like a freshly sharpened blade slipping on a cutting board. The cold that blooms over Savreen’s skin, dewing like sweat, could almost be blood.

“I—I want—” She wants to run, to stay, to cry and scream. She wants Tali to understand her feelings; she wants Tali never to know how she feels. She wants to run into the river, splashing in the water until her fingers and toes go numb. She wants to go home, to Highever, and she wants to find Arl Howe and she wants to make him feel pain, the pain he’s made her feel, deep under everything, under the shell she’s built around herself. She wants to run off, here and now, with Ranjit, going anywhere or nowhere, it doesn’t matter. She wants to take his hand and kiss each and every bone within his body, and she wants and she wants and she wants. She wants so many things, so many uncountable things, and they scare her, those shining gems, tumbling over each other like beads, scattering as though from a broken necklace. He’s right. She doesn’t want to want anything, not as she feels the shame creep, hot, up her cheeks. And he is right—she did want him against her better judgement, she always has thought of him as a weakness of hers, even when she has wanted him, and him alone. “You are allowed to want things, Savreen.” “No—” She is on the verge of tears, she can feel them building inside of her skull, can feel the pressure returning. “No, I—” “You are allowed to want things at the same time that your duty is before you.” A tear slips out, down her cheek, and she blinks furiously. “You are able to want things and to still fulfill your duty. Your duty is not a punishment, nor is it meant to torment you. It should bring you joy.” Savreen’s knees will not hold her, and she buckles to the ground. The dirt is wet, and it seeps through her pants. “It should bring you as much joy as my duty to you brings me.” With languid movements, smooth, almost as though he’s trying not to startle a songbird, Ranjit steps closer, kneels in front of Savreen, stretches out his hand, offering it to her. She stares at his palm, the way his glove creases in the same spots as his skin. She could never forget the shape of his palm, the map of his skin, the feel of his hands—they are as dear to her as her own fingers. “Will you take my hand?” Again she stares at him, her eyes lost in his as she tries to determine when, exactly, she forgot what her duty meant to her, when she forgot herself. “What are you thinking about, Savreen?” When Ranjit speaks, Savreen closes her eyes. “Does it matter?” She asks. “Always.” She takes his hand.

[arcstral]

[kiss] — it’s a moment to themselves in a crowd full of people— the attention that would normally brought to them in a grand event like this now divided between the partners dancing upon the ballroom floor. there is no one to look at them.

so caeda takes the opportunity to place a loving peck against her beloved with something of a flirtatious smile tugging at her lips. she takes his hand next, fully intending on leading him onto the dance floor.

“shall we try out the next dance, marth? i heard that it’s a waltz from faerghus.”

Beneath the unnerving eyes of the Morfisian overseers still could some semblance of normalcy persist and to that end there is fortune in his company. With Caeda of Talys nothing could be deemed an impossible endeavor. The soft trill of the orchestra wafting through the ballroom like a constant breeze scarcely flutters his attention, for by Marth's side is an even comelier wind- lovely as always, if not thrice as keen on stealing his breath on this night. So lovely a distraction she was; he is strung along by his queen's lead, by a kiss and by a hand, and just as well by the heart.

"The next dance and a hundred more! There is nothing I could refuse of you, Caeda. You need only ask away, and I need only deliver." What others may deem a well-spoken charm could only be his natural generosity for Caeda. With her in mind, there is little of his words that might land in way of rejection. Far from it. Without further need for prompt does the smooth assembly of a dance then occur-

Though a simple motion, white gloves peel away, tucked into a gold-braided pocket to free his skin so that he might feel closer to his lady. One hand at her waist, another pressed into the spaces between her fingers until they linked together upon his chest, touching air and earth together. Like a row of painted dolls and primly dressed toy soldiers, women and men decked to the nines fall into line with the royal pair among them, all swaying in tune. Slow and steady as a sleepy tide.

More importantly, at such close proximity not a single lash, freckle, or feature could pass into his oversight. His smile glows brighter; so easily sprouted from the discovery he saw planted across her collarbones. "You're wearing the necklace I gifted for your birthday. It fits you swimmingly, Caeda. . .as does all things." True to word, a string of prized Talysian pearls met the eye, fit for the guardian god's offering and therefore righteously attuned to her. Though there did exist one misgiving on the matter, however minor it was.

"A shame, only, that it has to compete with such an imposing rival," he murmured lovingly into her ear with no true malice, a humorous mark of observation surrounding the vine necklace hanging lower beneath it. Bursting on its final bulb with the Hero-King's white flower.

[arcaeda]

“Close your eyes, Caeda.”

The words touch to the shell of her ear with love on their breath, a gentle turn of her body that swivels the women around with his chest pressed lightly against her. Marth’s quiet shuffling occurs next, occurring only at the act’s indulgence; slow and meaningful in the drape of a ‘beaded’ texture across her collar bone, then amusingly clumsy with his pending mastery over the clasp on the back- composed of too fine and slippery a mechanism.

The process had gone smoother and easier in practice, though perhaps said practice on a mannequinn as opposed to a living subject had something to do with it. But after securing the hook at last, he clears away an obstructing strand of her hair and bids the mystery of his original request to disappear- gaze simmering with warmth as it lands upon her in the mirror. “You can open them now. Take a good long look if you like; I certainly wish to. It truly places your loveliness on display."

And the foremost observation following this comment attracted the eye like nothing else; a shimmering gold necklace congested luxuriously with pearls all boasting impressive size and a lustrous grade of pallor. A married creation of effort and forethought; each pearl imported and handpicked from a distant stretch of Talysian shore; each one personally inspected by the Hero-King himself for the appropriate conformity to his lovely lady.

As the seconds ticked by a growing shyness commanded the king’s expression, commonplace throughout his offerings for her. Would she find approval or solace in this one as he’d hoped? Would it be enough? “Happy birthday, my love. You often express the enjoyment of my kingdom and company- of being at my side- but I know neither I nor Altea can perfectly replicate the properties of your Talys. I pray these pearls conveyed from your homeland’s shores will comfort you with their memory."

"hehe, what do you have planned?" caeda giggles, closing her eyes as instructed. his breath tickles against her ear, but caeda waits patiently despite it. trust most of all is shown through her relaxed state, accepting without a second of fuss as she feels marth turns her around.

her shoulders flinch involuntarily at the feeling of his fingertips against the nape of her neck, brushing away the many strands of her hair in order to hook something together— a necklace? despite her curiosity she does not open her eyes until marth tells her to do so.

her mouth opens slightly in surprise, gaze falling to the string of pearls now placed around her neck. they hang so naturally against her body, the pegasus knight knows instantly that these are no normal pearls. that marth has not gone and purchased just any old necklace off garreg mach's marketplace.

caeda could recognize the fine quality of a talysian pearl anywhere, the pearls off the coast of talys a unique beauty that even the young tomboy princess caeda indulged in. her fingertips reach to feel a few of the pearls stringed together— just touching them brings her back to when she was a little girl.

homesickness is not a feeling she allows herself to indulge in very frequently. she often missed her home back in talys but it was always when she had other things to worry about. she is as selfless as her marth is sometimes, almost to a hypocritical degree. just as marth is a king before a husband or brother, caeda is a queen before she is a wife or a daughter.

but this? on her day of birth with her most beloved person to herself.. caeda allows herself to indulge in her home— in talys but in marth as well. a soft smile comes to tug at her lips as her gaze falls away from the mirror, turning her body so that she may hug him tightly.

"thank you, beloved. i will wear this with me everywhere." she pulls away enough to comfortably plant an adoring kiss against his cheek. "i will never be lonely again when i have both you and talys so close to my heart."

[drkroots]

Here’s a big post about Tali’s PTSD / triggers

Her trauma has several layers. There’s the level of what she went through ( living in a cage for just over a year, except for the nights of the full moon ) and what she was forced into doing if she even wanted a chance to survive ( fight in an arena, to the literal death; her having killed way too many of her own kind ). All of this have left her with a plethora of triggers and as I’ve had her for years now, it’s about time I go into writing what these actually are and how they effect her.

The triggers:

Being a wolf - This one was the hardest one for her to deal with as its what she is. Always has been and always will be. For two and a half years though, she lived as as human ( thanks to a necklace that blocked the transformations ), completely disgusted with what she was. It took a lot of thought and a lot of convincing ( and therapy ), but in her own time and in her own way, she was able to reclaim herself and is able to revel in what she is.

Small spaces - This ones a given. When I say she was shoved in a cage, we’re talking about something that can be likened to a large dog crate, giving her virtually no room to move or stretch. It was literal hell and the second she feels confined, she panics.

The sound of metal - The vampires often banged against the cages and jeered at the inhabitance whenever they tried to sleep or communicated with each other too much. This is probably her smallest trigger, but if she hears any loud metal sounds ( like cutlery thrown into the sink, for example ) she will flinch, her heart my skip a beat.

Vampires - They’re the reason all of this happened and her default response to picking up their scent is absolute unbridled fear. She will either opt for curling up into a ball and hiding in herself or lashing out at anyone / anything if they get in her way of getting as far away from the scent as possible. She knows she has to learn that not all vampires are as terrible as the ones she had to deal with ( as she had no problems with them prior to those events ) but it’s going to be a long process if she ever puts her feet down and works to get over it.

[kissmejinx]

Arcane Characters as Sugar Mamas/Daddies

Arcane x gn reader

Vi, Jinx, Caitlyn, Ekko, Jayce, Viktor, Mel

some slight nsft so.... proceed with caution

Vi-

The type to buy you the prettiest clothes in the world only to rip them off of your body.

Lived most of her in prison/the undercity so just the fact that she can buy you what she wants or what you steal a glance at is novel.

Likes to show you off. She wants everyone to know that you're hers and that you are being provided for.

Knows exactly what she's doing, knows the word and everything.

Jinx

Ok so Jinx isn't your most typical sugar mama. She isn't one to buy you like really nice clothes or food, that is if you don't ask her.

She's very spontaneous, will buy (take) any shiny things she finds, but mostly likes to give you experiences. Takes you to the opera (you two hide up in the rafters and heckle the performers), shoots off colorful fireworks while kissing you, that sort of thing.

As much as she'll deny it, she loves that romantic shit. She likes the ritual, the pizazz, the sha-bang. Jinx was sort of robbed of that and secretly wants a story book romance.

In the back of her mind, she thinks that this'll make you stay, so after a bad day, when the voices in her head are too loud, she'll take you out on a lavish date and insist on paying.

Caitlyn-

Caitlyn is complicated…. I don't think she even knows that she's being a sugar mama. In Piltover, everyone is rich as shit and this is just how she assumes how dating works. The inner politics of the city is harsh and her parents, while loving, never really gave her any idea on how one wooes another.

That isn't to say she's not romantic. Her romance is giving you an at home spa day with lotion made of gold and soap that smells of roses. Her romance is taking you out on a movie date and carrying you home because your feet are sore. Her romance is remembering your birthstone and giving you a necklace with the gem

When she sees your place, no matter how comfortable it is, finds something that could be improved. Maybe your door lets the cold winter air in. Fixed. Your faucet leaks. Fixed.

You should probably just move in with her

Ekko

Honey you are going to be the royalty of the firelights. He treats you very very nicely. After all, his whole thing is providing a better life for people, and the fact that he loves you is just a bonus

Likes to protect you so that means that your glider is always outfitted with the best upgrades.

Oh that outfit you saw one day while on patrol but knew you'd never have a chance to wear… shows up mysteriously in your closet with echo saying that there was a dance in the firelight headquarters tonight

That food you saw one day in pills over while visiting with a contact but knew that they never sell to a Zaunite like you…. Ekko is causally cooking it for breakfast the next morning.

Jayce

Oh poor Jayce. Honey has no idea what he's doing, much like Caitlyn. Despite coming from one of the lesser houses, money was never really an issue. And now that he's a Councillor….

Waits on you hand and foot. Treats like a deity, always taking things one step ahead. You didn't get a chance to see that movie you wanted to? The whole theater was bought out for "Official Council Business". Do you feel even the slightest bit insecure about your home? A Talis contractor is there to fulfill your every need.

As the co-creator of hextech and Councillor, he's often busy with stuffy galas and press conferences. But if you begrudge him, expect to be hanging off his arm (this man is 6'7) in the prettiest outfit you've ever dreamed of.

Did I mentioned that he's an oblivious fucker. Because yeah… always pays for dinner, even if you have money. Not because he doesn't respect you or anything, it's just because that's the way it's supposed to go, at least in his eyes.

Viktor

Kind of a mixture of Vi and Jinx's style. The fact that he can treat you to all these luxuries is something that he couldn't have dreamed of even 5 years ago. But along the same line as Jinx, he's a bit unconventional in his affections.

His gifts are more mechanical in spirit, something that is meant to make your everyday life a little bit easier. He isn't interested in big gestures like some of the other people on this list (Jayce… I'm talking about Jayce) but it's always clear that he loves you

But Machine Lord Viktor is an entirely different boat. She has an image to maintain and if you stay with him, you will have to be integrated into that image too. He'll gift you with a custom mask to hide your face, armor impenetrable by any weapon and the greatest gift of all, being able to see the person he was before.

Food is scarce to come by in Zaun, but that doesn't stop Victor from granting you your every wish. You want that fruit that reminds you of a home long gone? By God Victor will find a way to make it happen.

Mel

Mel is the sugar mama to end all sugar mamas. One would say the most classic sugar mama. Taking you out on the most lavish dates in all of Piltover, buying you jewelry made of the finest gold in all of the continents and letting you rest on sheets made of the finest silk

I mean you saw her in the show, she is a queen and she wants to treat you like royalty too. It doesn't matter how embarrassed you are or how much you don't think you deserve it, you will be treated well.

And though she'd never say, she kind of likes your little embarrassed reactions when she lays you down on a lavish bed and decorate your body with jewels and beeswax from far away kingdoms

Like wreck me pls. Anyway…. Her method of flirting is just gift giving and matching outfits

I'm taking any and all requests!!!

[juminly]

Ruminations of a Dreamer Part VII - (Viktor x F!Reader)

Title: The Ball. Summary: When you and Viktor attend Mel Medarda’s ball together. (Totally not a date. Totally.) Series Masterlist –♥– On the day of Councillor’s Medarda’s ball, Viktor made it. How? He wasn’t even sure but only temporarily, he had abandoned all his research for the sake of his current project. Your gift. Unfortunately, he couldn't give it to you with his own hands. By the time he was done with the final touches, testing how well it worked, you had already begun your preparations so he trusted one of your maids with it, attaching a small note from him. 'Dearest Y/N, please accept this as a token of our friendship. I believe that this will compliment your natural beauty perfectly. I hope to see you wearing them tonight. Your friend, Viktor.' Now that was done, Viktor had to hurry to the tailor's shop, where Councillor Talis had already requested a suit designed just for his research associate. A small detail that Jayce knew Viktor would forget he would have to prepare before the ball, but had taken care for him, especially considering how engrossed he was on your gift. Only a few hours later, Viktor, handsomely dressed in a black suit and tie, comfortably found his place as a wallflower at the Medarda's ball. While he awaited your arrival, he distracted himself by sifting through his mental notes of his upcoming experiments, idly chatting with any Academy member who happened to come across him. "Viktor!" Jayce called him out from afar, catching his attention while he gestured with a tilt of his head to the entrance to the vast ballroom of the Medrada mansion. There you were, standing and looking around you like a lost child, his legs moved on their own. A smile unconsciously drawn on his thin lips as he took in the sight of you: wrapped in a beautiful form fitting royal blue dress, the red tainting your lips enhancing their delicate shape. "Y/N." He called out to you, the moment your eyes met, the trepidation dissipated from your expression, replaced with a bright smile which only made Viktor's gifts to you shine in return. "Oh!" You gasped, looking down at your neck in surprised, eyes wide as you peered up to Viktor the moment he stood before you. "What.. What is this? Also, hello and thank you." You giggled. A necklace and a hair piece handcrafted with hextech stones in the shape of bruneras, devised specifically to react to the bearer's emotions. The blue stones appeared as precious gemstones, shining bright whenever you felt joy and dimming to a dark blue shade the more neutral and calmer you felt. "One thing at a time, Y/N. Hello to you and it was my utmost pleasure." He smiled, brushing around a stray strand that fell upon your bare shoulders, the tip of his cold fingers barely grazing your soft skin. "Would you like to know why I chose bruneras?" With a shy nod from you, Viktor smiled, reaching for your hand and giving you a quick twirl so he could see the way the hairclip held back the waves of your tresses across your back. "In that dream, the one I recounted to you, I was surrounded by bruneras. And whenever I am with you, I am reminded of that dream." As your hand touched the glimmering stones adorning your chest, you offered him a shaky smile as he continued to explain how they worked. Keeping your hand in his, he gave it a light squeeze as he confessed. "I am appeased and flattered to know that you are happy with your gift." "Of course, I am. I can't even begin to describe how beautiful this is. No one has ever given me a gift as thoughtful as this. I'm speechless." "And so is everyone else gazing upon you." Viktor tried so hard to ignore the tightening in his chest, a strange pang in his heart erupting at the thought of what his statement could entail. Guiding you to one of the nearest pillars, he leaned on the solid column while both of your eyes scoured your surroundings, you filling him in on town gossip that he had no idea would be as interesting as when you told him of it. He found himself snickering too many times for him to be able to count. He felt

so... light. That was the only word he could use to describe what joined the simple happiness of sharing good company. A luxury he was lucky to have this evening. When a certain tune began playing, he noticed the way you stiffened ever so slightly, your eyes lingering longingly over the pairs that found each other on the dancefloor, swaying to the adagio of the music. "Would you like to dance, Y/N?" In moments like these, he wished he had the grace that he never was fated to possess. The limp in his leg was a clear obstruction to that, there was no point for him to combat it, but just find ways to deal with it. "Yes... Yes, I do." You hesitated as you took the hand that he offered you, while he rested his cane on the wall behind him, walking closer to you. "Y/N, I must confess something to you. I'm not a skilled dancer so I cannot guarantee that this will be an enjoyable experience for you." "Viktor, I really couldn't care any less about the dancing." You stated sincerely, shrugging with a carefree attitude you only wore when you were comfortable and confident. "What matters to me is that it's with you. So, Mister." You grinned at him, yet the shyness that riddled you tainted your cheeks in a deep flush of pink, an adorable sight that ensued a ghostly sensation within his chest, an urge to press his lips upon, what he knew would be, the warmth of your skin. That natural flush almost became the same color of the tint on your lips, both of which made you seem even more... becoming. He was not accustomed to such interactions yet he did whatever felt right. Pulling you closer to his body, he placed a firm hand on the small of your back while yours rested upon his shoulder, your other hands linked together tightly. His eyes furrowed in concentration, doing as much as he could to maintain his equilibrium without putting too much pressure on his weak leg, without getting distracted by the loud thumping of his heart against his chest, not realizing that he seemed like he was frowning down at you in the process. "Lean on me, Viktor." You whispered, lifting your chin up to look into his eyes, the melody of the music harmoniously flowing around you, carrying your feet, shifting from one side to another. Just simple enough for him to manage without tripping. You knew what he was going through and this was your way of telling him. "Let me be there for you like you are here for me." You giggled, your voice carrying a beautiful tune on it's own. If only he could tune out all other sounds, an odd certainty came upon him that you would still be able to dance on the sound of your voice alone. "Then hold me tight, Y/N." He leaned down to whisper in your ear, low and smooth, just to make sure you could hear him well. "I cannot fathom the thought of tripping on your beautiful dress." "Do you trust me, Viktor?" The softness of your cheek brushed against his as you angled your face to speak into his other ear. "Yes, I do." He replied without giving it a thought. "Then let us dance until our legs give out." Your jovial giggle marked the beginning of what was an evening the two of you would always remember. The meaning of the comfort you felt in each other's arms was unbeknowst to either of you, yet it was crystal clear. You simply had to truly open your eyes, despite only having each for one another. –♥– Taglist: @theweebrises

[juuuulez]

Jayce Talis Dating Headcanons

info: headcanons + drabble, 727 words of pure fluff ft. A Very Annoyed Viktor, g/n reader, no pronouns / no use of (y/n).

cws: none! enjoy<3

- This is the Man of Progress we’re talking about, beloved to all of Piltover, so when you’re dating you’ll have to be okay with him parading you around. Whether that be having you by his side during council meetings, or dressing up to be his arm-candy at fancy galas, Jayce loves showing you off.

- It’s all in the little looks other men will give him, the hushed whispers of women as you pass, that feed into this ego he has. He knows that you look damn good, and is incredibly happy that you’re also his.

- You’ll stop by the lab with coffee for both Viktor and Jayce, hanging around to watch the two tinker away. Sometimes it seems that Jayce doesn’t understand how smart he truely is, oblivious to the way that you watch with awe, truely mesmerised with the creations he can birth.

- He’s stupid-smart. Knows so much, and yet is still so thick skulled. You like to tease him about it, but not without showering him in praise twice as often.

- Which I should mention, Jayce absolutely loves praise. He’s like a dog, pumped with serotonin the moment you say he’s your good boy.

- Also very, very affectionate. Physical touch and gifts is his love language.

- You can expect little notes all around your apartment, small gift boxes hidden in cabinets for you to uncover during the day. Even though they’re all just material items, necklaces and little jewels, each one makes your heart grow fonder.

- Maybe you also study at the academy, and Jayce walks you to class each morning, bidding you farewell with a kiss to the cheek. Or maybe you work elsewhere, and always get home before he does. Whenever Jayce stays late at the lab his heart breaks a little, longing to be with you. He’ll send you flowers the next morning as an apology.

- Also, he can’t cook. This is just a fact.

- Jayce in the kitchen? Disastrous. He once attempted to use the microwave and it ended with you bandaging his burnt hand.

Leaning gently against the counter, you placed a tray of coffees down amongst the mess of papers and notebooks and blueprints. This lab was a mess, long overdue for a good clean. But you doubt either of the men would let you suggest getting rid of anything, always having some excuse as to why all this junk was useful.

Suddenly there was a weight against your back, wedging you between the counter and a mass of Needy Boyfriend, who had already occupied himself with placing kisses up the length of your neck.

“This hardly seems appropriate,” You scolded lightly, though a flushed smile had already overtaken your features, ultimately betraying you. “The professor could walk in right now. He’d have a heart-attack seeing the Man of Progress getting so shamelessly touchy.”

A mumble was all you got in reply, Jayce still not relenting in his sudden onslaught of affection. You shifted in his hold, turning around in hopes of getting his attention away from your neck and maybe onto your face. Which, worked, but not in the way you’d hoped.

Your lips were caught in a passionate kiss, the kind that made your stomach flip and skin feel tingly. Admittedly, you’d missed Jayce quite a bit, with the amount of work to be done on Hextech you barely got to see each other outside of quick visits.

Eventually you pulled away for a breath, chin coming to rest on Jayce’s shoulder as he continued to press gentle kisses to your temple. Your bashful smile quickly grew embarrassed in the moment of clarity.

“I sense that we may be making someone uncomfortable.” You mumbled, biting back the sorry little grin that donned your face as you caught sight of poor Viktor, at his desk.

“Yes, thank you. Somebody who thinks about my feelings.” He grumbled, having just watched the passionate exchange. Thank Gods it hadn’t gone any further, though it still could, considering how you were only being caged in further, basically pinned to the counter.

“Yeah, well I haven’t see you all day,” Jayce shifted, strong arms hooking under your thighs and lifting you up onto the table with one swift movement. You still blushed at how strong he was. “Viktor can just close his eyes.”

[thatoneerin]

Sky Heacanons!

Because god, am I deprived for content of her-

She loves butterflies, they're her favorite animal (I guess? Do you classify a butterfly as an animal?) and she has multiple pieces of jewelry with butterflies on them, including a brooch Viktor gave to her for a birthday of hers

Speaking of jewelry, Jayce gave her a necklace with a piece of a broken and faulty hex gem (I think they're called?) for her birthday once as well

She loves to dance. She's been caught multiple times just listening to music and dancing her heart out

Once Jayce caught her then put whatever he was holding down and joined her. Now it's their thing whenever they're hanging out together and they hear music to just randomly dance with one another <3 (entirely platonic, of course. It's just friends being goofy with each other)

She loves baking, but hates cooking with a passion. In her own words, "With baking, you can add a little bit too much of pretty much anything and it'll be fine! With cooking, you add even a smidge too much of something, the entire thing is ruined!"

Jayce's mom absolutely adores her for no particular reason that she's heard of. Ever since Mrs. Talis first saw her, she now always goes out of her way to talk to Sky whenever she visits her son. (She also calls her "cariño" and "niña" <3 Sky always refers to Mrs. Talis as "Señora")

[h0neyjaehyun]

☁︎ 𝐅𝐢𝐫�� 𝐓𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐤 ☁︎

< visuals >

Tali had brownish redish hair (so specific) with some pink/red tinted lips.

Her hair was either put up in a ponytail with her natural hair which was curly

or down parted to the side curly and sometimes straight

She had a smokey eye which made her eye stand out

Her skin was little whitewashed with the makeup🤧

When it was her parts tilt her head which would make fans scream

She had a very rebellious aura around her making her seem like a the 'bad girl'

< wardrobe >

The style was mostly covered

They gave her clothes she was able to dance in to compared to Cherry bomb

They would layer a lot or not layer

They would give he long sleves a lot with some shorts

Or just an over sized shirt with some shorts under than all you can see is the tights

They would give her chain bracelets or necklaces

They would give her hoops (earings)

They would give her big belts around her waist which made her uncomfortable

Sometimes give her a scarf or a thick fabric around her neck like a choker?

Give her a torn hat that has rings on it with straight hair

Talia's curves didn't show much this era as she was 16

She would wear boots so she can jump more on the guys as she did a flip during the choreo

< Era Highlights >

Fans saw lots of cute interaction with Talia and the members protecting her from being hit by stuff or tripping😅

They saw cute interaction of them covering Talia if she's cold or is wearing something revealing

If was getting out of the car they would guide her (this was all new to fans as they just debuted with all guys and one girl)

A fan boy yelled at her saying he loves her, and she smiled

During the choreo she would do a handshake with Taeyong would be brung up in some choreos in the future

Many compilations of the procces of the members getting closer to Tali

Tali was okay with interacting with fans this era but since this was a whole new concept it was hard

In this era a lot of Haechan calling Tali noona instead of bub as that nickname hasn't been given yet

Fans feel inlove with the relationship with Mark and Tali, Haechan and Tali, lastly Taeyong and Tali 🥰

Taeyong and Tali got closer this era

She'd met Exo during this era even though she was actually trying to avoid them because she was too shy to actually make conversation 😅

Won many idols hearts this era since she makes a really adorble first impression

As some fans say shes completely different from her style in the era

Announcement came out around the end of the era about Blackpink collaboration group

< Photocards >

< Reality >

She got a bunch of hate this era and the obvious reason was because only girl in a ALL BOY group so you can see why now🤧

She had a tough time with some female fans but the boys defended her a lot

There were some sexist interviewers and MC and the guys would usually leave right after those interviews

But she always stayed sweet and gentle

Another thing was her race and adopted

She is Japanese, and would always point out how she was lucky to be adopted by seemingly such a good family

It was embarrassing mostly for the interviewer as the boys just play that would to showing off Tali's beauty

She got body shamed from some stylist here and there and sometimes they are never seen again

Was kept a secret from fans that she was gonna be in a Girl Group and that got even more confusing

Some sasaengs actually threated her before

And Mark's sasaeng (THAT ONE) she has despised them for years and is still disgusted

Tali gotten closer to Taeyong is the communication range

Jaehyun got over his crush for Tali for the most part.....most 😋

Many male idol caught interest in Tali for talent wise and beauty

She had gotten to show her dance moves and also introduced Karma to 127 members except Haechan, and then Jungwoo hadn't debuted yet

[justafoxhound]

I'm late but for the otp ask game: (omg going through these, I feel like I know the answers to a lot of them, so I chose some fun ones heehee 😈) 3. Do they wear the other’s clothes? (sweatshirt, bandana, necklace, etc.) 8. What happens if one of them gets sick? 14. How do their personalities compliment each other? How do they clash? 19. How do they feel about PDA? 26. What are their vices? 30. Your OTP gets to pick out each other's outfits; what is each wearing?

No worries! I don't find many I can rb so any q's whenever is fun. And curious to hear your ideas on some of them??? 👀

Ok I had to think quite hard about these!

3. Do they wear the other’s clothes? (sweatshirt, bandana, necklace, etc.)

I don't know a girl who doesn't steal her bf's clothes now and again, and Talia is no different. T shirts to sleep in, jacket to pop outside in the rain, or his shirt when she's trying to be enticing 😉

Burke might borrow a scarf or something if it's lying around (which I imagine it always is), but he thinks about his image so it would have to match.

8. What happens if one of them gets sick?

If Burke got sick Tali would be a great nurse. She might surprise him really with how soft she becomes. And quite a lot of her dad's knowledge stuck (she was always smarter than the GOAT said) so an effective one too. Depending how sick he was, he'd just carry on as normal, not letting on, and probably get annoyed at her fussing over him. If it really knocked him out though, well, he'd appreciate her help so no one learned he was sick (sickness = weakness!!), but he would also be pretty arsey company.

If Tali got sick he'd expect her to just get on with it as well, though she isn't the type to whine. But would he offer up a lot of support? It hurts him a little to see her hurting, but I'm not sure he'd acknowledge that until she was already upset with him :( Boy is learning. Tali would be used to having to get on with things, considering how the vault was quite short on population to maintain it. But daddy was a doctor so she’d be missing that compassionate medical aid, it was a time when she got most attention from James and now probably the least from Burke. ☹

14. How do their personalities compliment each other? How do they clash?

Burke is thorough, careful, unbothered by fools, so things won’t get out of hand with Talia’s impulsivity and temper. He has to have everything under control and Tali can see it so it calms her down a lot.

Talia likes to joke around, is headstrong and outspoken, so maybe Burke doesn’t take himself so seriously so constantly. She’s also very sociable and likeable, and perhaps it rubs off on him so he can be a bit more normal. (Moriarty does call him a ‘class A weirdo’ or something in game haha, I think I toned him down a bit but he should have some oddball vibes hehe).

How they clash, hmm, I think they can both be stubborn, leading to fights. Neither wants to apologise after a fight. They both struggle to admit weakness, express their needs, stymying deeper intimacy... At least for now.

19. How do they feel about PDA?

If Burke wants to engage, to any level, he will. He doesn't care. What's going to happen, someone will see them and he'll feel embarrassed?? He doesn't know the meaning of the word. I feel like I wrote him more sombre from the middle-latter part of the fic, but he's quite unpredictable if he's feeling up for some antics (general antics, not just 👀 lol). However if he doesn’t want to or it would put out the wrong image at the time he will shut it down abruptly, even just holding hands. It's quite confusing to be dating him.

Talia doesn't mind doing it, seeing it, whatever. Except for ghouls. Seeing that probably topped seeing a ghoul for the first time as the Scariest Moment of her life (or maybe just new category, Grossest Sight).

26. What are their vices?

Haha, well Burke is almost all vice isn't he? Greed, arrogance, jealousy, wrath, deceit, and the boozing and smoking. I feel like they drink more around each other, when things are coasting along quite well anyway. 

Talia has always been struggling with anger and doubt, though she gains a lot of self confidence and pride in surviving Events, and being around Burke is only going to gas her up more hehe.

30. Your OTP gets to pick out each other's outfits; what is each wearing?

Burke is going to pick some evening gown or cocktail dress isn’t he? With sexy shoes completely impractical for walking anywhere, and underwear that he doesn’t realise can’t be worn with the dress because the straps show or something.

Talia would just try to dress him more casual, with a bit of attitude. She like the bad boys. I imagine she somehow got him wearing a chain or two...

[mrsalwayswritex]

Everything I Wanted

A/N: I wrote this for my girl Lani, @borninslumber​, while she is recovering from her wisdom teeth removal! *Gif not mine, I have a bad habit of saving gifs and not remembering where they came from, sorry!*

Pairing: Pre-Ghost Billy x Female Reader

Warnings: None, just youre gonna be soft for our boy Billy.

Word Count: 1900 (she a short bby)

Y/n had been a part of this small crew for months now and she was very good at what she did. It was just the four of them, and they moved as one being. The way they all clicked together was flawless and he couldn't have asked for a better team. Tali, Billy, Greg and Y/n. It was the family that he had always wanted. 

So why wasn’t he happy?

They made all the money that they could ever need, siblings Tali and Greg, being the planners, had made sure of that. Billy and Y/n were the hands of the operation. The way that the two of them communicated without words on missions was envied by Tali, who harbored an obvious crush on the blond thief. Y/n and Tali had butted heads since the beginning when Billy suggested they take the girl under their wings, and Billy had won out in the end.

The blond had clicked instantly with the new girl, when they were both after the same bounty. Billy had flirted with the girl in his usual manner to try and throw her off, but she came back unphased, with her own flirty banter making the boy more flustered than he liked to admit. Though Billy had the necklace safely in his pocket only seconds before, when the girl brushed her entire body against his, he froze for only a moment. It had been just enough time for the small pickpocket to pull the necklace from his pocket and with a small kiss to his cheek, she took off running, shooting him a wink in the process.

With Tali screaming in his ear about the time, he sighed and leaned against the wall before patting his pocket where the necklace should have been, only it wasn't there and Billy couldn't help the small that broke out on his face. “Sorry Tal, I've been bested.” Was all he could offer as he looked down the corridor where the girl had taken off. 

He needed to find her again.

-

Fast forward just a few weeks and Billy was anxious to see the girl again, affected more than he had ever been by a woman. He had begged Greg to find something for them to go after in the hopes that she would be there too. Billy left small calling cards at every heist, hoping that she would find it and understand. Just a small card with a diamond, the words park - big tree written on it. Tali had found the cards once, and screamed at Billy for being so stupid as to give anything away, but Billy knew that he had to find her.

After every heist, Billy would go to the biggest park, and watched the biggest tree from a distance, waiting for her. It took weeks, but as he waited from the roof of a nearby building, he saw her. Billy wasted no time in jumping gracefully from the roof, spooking the girl.

“What the actual fuck, man.” Even her angry voice sounded like honey to his ears.

“I didn't mean to scare you.” He breathed out, taking a step towards her. “I’ve been waiting for you for weeks.” 

“You’ve waited up there for weeks, huh?” She gave him a coy smile.

Billy just smiled in response and pulled the girl close. “I would have waited years for you.”

-

That was almost two months ago and Billy was enthralled with the girl, but it seemed like her previous flirting was only for distraction purposes, as she couldn’t have been bothered to look at him the way she had that night, but Billy was happy to just have her by his side. Y/n had fit into their team like she had been there since the beginning, and he couldn't have asked for anything more.

Billy found himself getting jealous of the time that Greg and Y/n would spend together, trying to get back at her by spending time with Tali, but it didn't seem to affect Y/n in the way he wanted it to, honestly she seemed happy for him. He hated it. Tali loved it though, doting on Billy like she never had before and Billy continued to brush her off, but nothing phased her. 

There was one mission where Tali, Billy and Y/n were all three deployed into the field with Greg behind running surveillance, that the tables turned. Billy doesn't know what had come over him but he needed her, seeing her in action just made his attraction grow. They had the emeralds they were after, the three of them splitting them up between themselves. 

The guards were much quicker than they should have been, apparently being on higher alert than normal, because as soon as Tali was out of the room and into the small crawl space that was acting as their exit, the guards burst into the room. Acting quickly, Billy pulled off her beanie, letting her hair flow down, pushing his fingers deep into her hair and kissing her deeply. He would later tell her that I was only so the guards would think they were just two lovers looking for a spot to hide, but only Billy would know how true that lie really was.

Y/n was stunned for only a second before she caught on, seeing the guards rounding the corner, she understood. When she softened her posture, she let Billy hoist her legs up around his waist and deepen the kiss. Only Billy would know at that moment how much he wanted her, because as soon as the guards cleared their throats and the two of them broke apart, playing the part of teens who had gotten busted, Billy couldn't stop looking at her.

“That was a good call, Billy. I don't think they suspected a thing.” Y/n had winked at him as they walked right out the front doors, bounty filling their pockets.

“Right.” He breathed out, chest heaving, not from getting caught but from the fire that was alight in his belly. He needed more. He needed her.

-

It was weeks before he got his chance, Greg and Tali out on a recon mission, and he wasted no time.

“Y/n.” He whispered, standing right behind her, he expected her to jump but when instead she leaned back into his chest, the butterflies in his stomach caught fire and his hands found her waist.

“Billy.” She breathed out softly, crossing her arms over her stomach, hands resting on top of his. 

“Is this a dream?” He spoke into her neck as she turned her head away from him, letting him nose his way up her neck, she laughed in response, turning her body in his arms so they were chest to chest.

“Not a dream.” She mumbled, her own face burying itself in his neck, soft kisses trailing up his throat.

“Shit.” He hummed as her kisses came up over his chin, hating the whine that left his throat when she skipped over his waiting lips and kissed up the side of his face instead. “Y/n…” She pulled back and looked into his dark eyes and she gave a small chuckle before cupping his face in her hands, bringing her lips to his gently, eyes never leaving his.

-

Billy thought had thought that day had changed everything, and in a way it had. The two of them couldn’t seem to keep their eyes or hands off of eachother, much to Tali’s displeasure. More than once, Tali had walked in on the two of them, whether it being an innocent cuddling session or with Y/n being in a rather compromising position, on her knees in front of Billy, his head thrown back against the wall in pleasure.

Billy would have been a fool to not have noticed the smirks that Y/n would give Tali in these moments, almost as if she was saying that she had won, but Billy was too caught up in his feelings for the thief to think anything of it. Had he been using his brain, he would have noticed the signs. He could have heard Tali’s warnings of the girl being no good for him. But he missed all of the signs as he reveled in the pleasure that the woman of his dreams was giving him.

This was exactly what he wanted and there was nothing that could ruin it.

They had planned for this mission for weeks, Greg had the perfect heist in mind. It was a beautiful necklace called the Kalahari. Tali had stayed behind to run interference on the ground while the three of them, plus their connection, had gone up to the room to search for the necklace. They tore the room apart looking for it, finding only cheap or fake gems instead of the object they were searching for. 

“Fuck!” Billy shouted in the bedroom, when their connection had shouted something in ukranian that none of them understood, except for the word police, that seemed to translate in every language. “We ain’t leavin’ til we find the Kalahari!” Billy pointed at the man, Y/n shooting him a smile which he returned. 

“We will find it babe, chill.” Y/n grabbed his neck and pulled him into a deep kiss, pocketing the jewels that he had discarded being too cheap for the heist. Billy gave her a wink and went back to pulling out drawers from the large stand in front of him, grabbing a cheaper necklace and putting it between his teeth.

One seemed awfully heavy for a drawer that was empty, and when he flipped it over, he understood. False bottom. Sliding it open, he let the jewels fall from his lips as a small laugh bubbled out. “I've got it!” He shouted at them, giving Y/n’s bottom a soft smack. “Let's go!” He yelled, just as the hotel room door burst open and their Ukranian connection went down with a single shot from the cops gun. 

Greg, Y/n and Billy all ran out onto the balcony, easily pulling themselves up onto the rooftops and off they went, jumping building to building, easily putting distance between the cops and themselves. Everything was going perfectly, Billy had the necklace still latched between his teeth as they ran, Greg jumping onto the sign they had deemed perfect to cross over the large gap. 

Billy chanced a look back at Y/n and that's when he slipped.

He never slipped.

He swung wildly from the line, Greg shouting from above him. Y/n jumped down and reached her hand out towards him.

“Grab my hand!” Billy gritted out through his clenched teeth as he swung closer to her, but instead of grabbing his hand, she went straight for the necklace. “My hand!” The line he was holding onto snapped and he his hand tried to find anything to grab onto. It seemed to him that Y/n just couldn't reach his hands because all she did was keep a hold of the necklace that he held between his teeth. “Y/n…” He whispered as best as he could, locking eyes with her, seeing no fear in them. His grip on the necklace faltered enough that soon he was falling backwards, watching Y/n stand up, watching him fall with a triumphant smile on her face.

Billy watched her in slow motion as he fell. He watched her look up at Greg with a smirk, Greg’s face  painted with a look of horror as he watched her let him drop. She never even looked down at him falling, looking at the necklace with a cold smile on her face as she jumped up, level with Greg. “I'm rich!”

She was still holding the necklace. She was only worried about the necklace.

Y/n had been his dream but his dream turned out to be nothing but a nightmare.

[kerwritesthings]

babysitting yalls niece/nephew together -sinplisticshawn

So, @sinplisticshawn - totally fitting that you sent this after I posted this one introducing their niece, Natalia. Was a fun, easy one to jump into. Hope you like it!!

“Dee, we’re going to be fine, really,” you say, bouncing Natalia in your arms, the girl giving you nothing but smiles. “See, look at that happy face.”

“Are you sure? Like really?” Didi asks nervously as she shrugs into her coat.

“Please go have dinner with your husband, we got this,” Shawn chimes in from behind you, making silly faces at your niece. “She’s good, we’re good. You guys go enjoy a dinner that doesn’t involved pureed green beans and those weird yogurt cereal puffs she’s obsessed with lately. It’s getting her in the bath and putting her down. I think we can easily handle that.”

“And by that, he means he can’t wait to sing her to sleep, you know that Dee. Go meet Tomas, have dinner, grab a drink. Let us have some time with Tali,” you say as the baby reaches for Shawn’s hair and babbles wildly as her hands sink into his curls.

“C’mere silly girl, let’s go figure out what to do while Mommy is out with Daddy,” he sing-songs to Natalia, taking her from your grasp. “Didi. I love you but get the h-e-l-l out of here.”

You pull Didi into a firm hug. “I get it, but you guys have not had a night out alone in ages. It’s dinner and a nightcap. You two deserve a kid free evening. And it’s us. You have nothing to worry about. We love her like blood, Dee.”

Didi sighs and shoulders slump, leaning more into your embrace. “I wouldn’t even be considering this if it wasn’t you two here, which thank you for giving up one of your nights in the city to do this.”

“Please, I’m glad we can do this for y’all. Not to mention it’s been too long since I’ve had some Natalia love. Now, go meet your husband. Have a spiked decaf espresso at the end of the night. Enjoy yourselves,” you explain, nudging her towards the door.

Once Didi is on her way, you wander back into their living room where you find Natalia perched on Shawn’s lap. He’s back to making silly faces and blowing raspberries at her. She’s got her eyes fixed to him, little hands against his cheeks, smiling and giggling like you’ve not heard her before.

“She is literally the happiest baby I’ve ever seen,” he replies between shifting faces as you sit next to them on the couch. “Every single time we’ve been around her. She must really like us, eh?”

“Don’t jinx it,” you chide, poking Natalia’s tummy. “You ready to get bubbly little girl?”

She leans over from his grasp to kiss your nose, “I’ll take that as a yes then. I’ll go get the bath all set up, Dee left us the Blooming Bath so we can just use the kitchen sink, don’t have to go through the whole production of the bath setup that Tomas loves using with her. Gimme 10 then bring her in.”

You kiss the baby’s head then his before skirting off to Natalia’s room and the bathroom to get all you’ll need. It was easy to set up the bath, the petal keeping a perfect space to hold her in place while turning the kitchen sink into an adorable little bathtub. Using the sleepytime bath that Didi has said helps Natalia at night, you get the water set, bubbles and tiny little duckie included. As you lay out the towel and her lotion, you call the two of them in.

“You ready for splish splash, Natalia?” you say dipping her feet into the sink, smiles and giggles abound again. He helps you slip off her onesie before easing her into the water.

“Ok this is the coolest thing. We’ll need to remember this,” he pokes at one of the petals of the flower in the sink. “Time to clean you up little miss.”

You take turns holding and bathing her as she splashes about. Fascinated with the bubbles, her little purple duckie and basically anything that comes into the water, she is as good as good could be. Until she wasn’t. Everything was going well until you pull her out of the water, drying her off and slathering her in lotion. It wasn’t until after you get her diaper on and you tuck her into her hooded duckie bathrobe towel did she start to have what is her version of a meltdown.

“I told you not to jinx it,” you whisper as Natalia fusses, not crying but whimpering and unhappy as you head towards her room. She keeps wiggling in your hold trying to get her face onto any piece of skin she can get access to while trying to shed her hooded towel.

“Wait, lemme try something,” he responds, shedding his shirt quickly before settling into the glider. “Come here Tali girl.”

Her eyes go wide hearing his voice and she leans out of your grasp towards him, still whimpering. You ease Natalia into his arms. He pulls the duckie towel off and she immediately leans into his chest, her head falling into the crook of his neck, one hand immediately winding around his silver chain. He trails his hand up and down her back humming to her, the whines and fussing easing out. Humming has turned into singing because of course it does with him. He’s rocking lightly, his hand looking so large rubbing against her tiny back.

“Are you really singing Never Be Alone into and Little Too Much to our niece?” you whisper, not wanting to disturb the peace.

“She likes it,” he smiles, leaning down to dust a kiss against the wisps of hair on her head. “I think she’s just about out. See, her hand is just about to drop off my necklace. Let’s just put her down like this, throw the little knit blanket over her. I don’t think she’s about clothes tonight.”

He carefully gets up and sets her down into the crib, covering her carefully. She stirs a little and he rubs at her back immediately, humming again. She nuzzles against the sheet and sighs, settling down immediately. You wrap yourself around his back, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades before leaning around to look at Natalia.

“It’s amazing, you know. How much she’s taken to you. She loves you so much already,” you murmur, leaning into him. “You’re so good with her. I don’t think you realize how much it means to me that you’re important to her and vice versa. It’s, it’s so special. She’s my niece in every way it really matters. And its shades of what I get to expect when this is us, and we’ve got our own little one.”

He shifts you so he can pull you into his chest, his skin warm against your cheek. “Even if she wasn’t our goddaughter, she’s a special little girl to you. She’s a little ball of sunshine. It would be hard not to love her. Plus, she’s a fan of my singing to her.”

He tilts your head up to lock eyes with you, cupping your cheeks in his palms to have his thumbs shift against your skin. “There’s no one else I’d want to do this with, baby. I couldn’t be a daddy without you as a mommy. You know that right? Me and you, always. Until we add a three.”

You push up on your toes to kiss him. “Love you so damn much, Shawn. Come on, let’s let the little miss sleep. And we need to get you back into your shirt. Dee and Tomas can’t come back to all this on display. I won’t hear the end of it, they’ll think we were naughty on their couch.”

“We have time, we could be!”

[indestinatus]

The Band-Aid

(Cairo - chapter 3/4)

chapter 1, chapter 2

"Which one should I get, Tali?" asked Ziva to her child, gazing curiously to the display of jewelry at a small shop nearby the opera house.

"This," she answered, pointing to a small round shaped necklace on the counter.

"This one shall be, then."

Tali insisted on going looking for a new necklace to Ziva to replace the former Star of David, now around her daughter's neck.

Tony set Tali on the ground and helped Ziva put the new chain in place.

"Yafa," he said softly, kissing her temple.

Beautiful.

"When did you learn Hebrew?"

"I'm learning for Tali's sake," Tony said, winking.

His hand grasped hers as they left the shop, Tali running in front of them, trying to catch fireflies.

"Tell me about her," asked him, his thumb caressing the inside of Ziva's wrist.

"Every morning since she was two months old, I showed her a picture of you and repeated 'Abba' and 'Tony' for at least half an hour," said Ziva, laughing loudly for the first time in months, "I repeated it so much it was the first word she said. Abba."

Tony looked at her dumbfounded, a wide grin building on his lips. He drew Ziva closer, putting his arm around her, but still holding her hand, to kiss her temple.

They heard a sharp hiss and Tali started to cry a few steps ahead. Tony raced to her, and a second later he had her in his arms.

"Oh, little ninja, I'm sorry."

That was a cut on her knee, not very large, but one that needed to be taken care of.

He sat down on a nearby bench and started to rock her in his knee.

"Ima!" she said, face red with crying and arms opened towards Ziva, who watched the whole scene silently. She took her daughter in her arms, while Tony searched for something in Tali's bag.

"Tali, remember the story about Ima and Abba getting locked in the box?" he said, as he grabbed a pair of scissors and started cutting something.

Ziva stopped the faint singing she was whispering in Tali's ear to look up to Tony. He smiled at her.

"Do you remember how the box started to move?"

"Magic," said Tali, whose crying stopped with the mention of the story.

"That's right, Tali, magic. That was bad magic that got Ima and Abba in trouble, but there's also good magic. Magic that heals with only a little bit of help. It needs love."

Tony raised a band-aid to his lips, kissing it softly. He then held it in front of Ziva's lips for her to do the same.

"Now you," he said to Tali, who planted a kiss quickly, eyes fixed on her new magical sticker.

Tony put it softly on her knee, "there, the enchantment shall work with the help of all of us."

He had cut the band-aid in the shape of a heart.

"She hates band-aids since she was born," said Ziva, eyes watering.

"DiNozzos have their ways," Tony answered, with a shy smile.

"You told her stories?"

"She asked me to, once she saw your picture. I tell her every night before bed... she found her favorite ones with time, and now I just tell some of them she always asks to repeat."

Tony shuffled Tali's curls softly, she was still glaring at the heart-shaped band-aid on her knee.

"What's your favorite story, Tali?" asked Ziva, curious to know.

Tali glanced at her briefly and smiled, looking down again to the band-aid, "Paris," she answered.

Ziva let out a small gasp, "you told her about Paris?"

"Don't worry," said Tony, casting a smile towards the stars above them, "I left the best part out."

He winked at her and Ziva couldn't stop the heat rising up her cheeks. It was as if they were young again.

"That's where we're staying now. Paris," affirmed Tony, suddenly serious. Back to reality.

"First I thought you could be there when I saw the picture," he continued, "but time passed and every corner reminded me of you, so we stayed."

Ziva only nodded, unable to form any words, tears welled up her eyes.

"I love Paris," she said.

Tony grabbed her hand and raised it to his lips, kissing it gently.

"I know, Zee, I know."

He wasn't referring to her taste.

Somehow she knew he was talking about the pain.

°°°

"There really is no other way?" asked Tony, arm around Ziva's chest and chin rested on her head, as they both looked below to the streets of Cairo from her window view.

"No," answered Ziva softly, her voice a whisper. As much as she wanted for them to stay together and be the family she'd always dreamed, they couldn't. She could take care of herself and track down Sahar, but she couldn't protect Tali and Tony when there were dozens of trained killers chasing her. "I'm sorry."

"Hey," he said, turning her so she was facing him. He raised her chin with his finger, green eyes staring into her soul. "There's nothing to be sorry for, you're doing all you can."

Brown eyes teared up.

"Thank you, Tony. I cannot thank you-"

"There's also nothing to thank me for. She's our daughter, and she'll be okay."

He hugged her tightly, and kissed her hair.

"I wish-"

"Don't, Ziva. Please don't make this more difficult than it already is."

The night sky was clean over the pyramids, and every star shone brightly as if to honor the two lovers together at last.

"Abba, story," came a voice from below, as a small hand pulled Tony's pants softly.

"No, Tali, it's way past your bed time."

"But Abba, ooone."

"I'm sorry, princess. Tomorrow I'll tell you one."

Ziva flinched at that. Tomorrow she won't be with them. Tony squeezed her shoulders tightly, arms still around her.

"What about Abba and Ima get you to bed? Sounds good?"

Tali smiled broadly. "Yeah," she declared.

Tony held one of Tali's hand as Ziva watched and did the same with the other one. They walked towards the bed and the world seemed to slow down.

He laid her to bed and raised the duvet to Tali's chin. She grabbed Kelev and grasped her necklace tightly.

"Luv you, Abba," she said, kissing Tony's cheek gently.

"Now give your Ima a kiss."

"Luv you, Ima," said Tali smiling, kissing Ziva's cheek.

"I love you too, Tali," said Ziva in a choked voice.

Tali didn't close her eyes, she was looking back and forth at Tony and Ziva.

"Abba, Ima! You kiss! Ah-ha-vah," she said.

Brown eyes met green ones. Ziva was blushing and Tony was beaming.

"This wasn't my fault," he said, a wide smile on his lips.

"She's still a DiNozzo."

Tony cupped Ziva's face and brought his lips to hers, eyes closing involuntarily. Ziva’s heart pounded in her chest as her mind went blank. She could only focus on how soft he felt against her mouth, how addictively he invaded all her senses.

Maybe time stopped when his lips met hers, but Tony's fingers traveled her hair as if he couldn't let her go anymore. Not again.

When Ziva's fingers scrapped the nape of his head and he sensed she was losing herself, he let go of her lips gently. Tony rested his forehead on hers and inhaled her scent. Jasmine. Shea butter.

He forced himself to let her go, or else this was going to be impossible. Brown eyes blinked tears away.

"Okay, done. Good night, Tali," he said.

Tali smiled softly and in a minute was already sleeping soundly.

"Hey, Dah-veed?"

"Yeah?"

Tony tucked a loose strand of hair behind Ziva's ear, eyes glimpsing shortly to her mouth and back up again. He smiled.

"I want another one."

Ziva's eyes traveled to his lips, her self-control fading.

"Another kiss too," he laughed, "but I was talking about Tali."

Ziva David smiled. And for the first time, it didn't really matter.