#and perhaps amarie feels the same

[fistfuloflightning]

Arakáno | the high chieftain

Day 2: Exile - Arrival to Beleriand | Fingon | Argon | Elenwë for @nolofinweanweek

[imaginespazzi]

All Fell Down ~Part 5~

paige bueckers x azzi fudd

*masterlist with @azzibuckets

They’re not okay. 

Azzi hadn’t thought it was possible to be worse than whatever they’d been before that night, but somehow they’d found a way. It sounds ridiculous but it had been easier when Paige was avoiding her, when she’d had an excuse ready every time to make sure the two of them never ended up anywhere alone. But something had shifted after that night -after Azzi had successfully tucked her drunk, still-sobbing best friend into her bed and had to plead with her own heart not to give into the urge to lie there with her- and now instead of ignoring her, Paige seems almost indifferent. 

It’s like Azzi’s just another teammate, someone Paige likes but doesn’t feel anything more for. She gets the same smile across the room when their eyes meet that Christyn does, the same laugh -when she makes a joke- that Piath does, the same fond shake of the head -when she does something silly- like Amari does. And it feels like everything that had made them PaigeAndAzzi, everything that had made them special, different, them, is gone. In its place is a relationship that feels like every other. And hell, if that isn’t the worst thing Paige Bueckers has ever done to her. 

Perhaps it’s what Azzi deserves for asking Paige not to string her along anymore and perhaps this is exactly what Paige had meant by she couldn’t give Azzi this, couldn’t be this for her. She hadn’t quite understood what the older girl had meant that night, but maybe she does now. Because maybe she’d been asking for too much, something Paige wasn’t ready for -something maybe she’d never ready for- at least not with Azzi. Paige couldn’t give her that and Azzi knows her best friend well enough to know that she’d tried. She’d seen it in the way Paige’s face had been marred with hurt, could hear it in the quiver in her voice. Paige had tried and she couldn’t give Azzi what she wanted. 

But Paige can give her what she gives everyone else. 

And It’s not enough. Having this tiny little piece of Paige that everyone else does can’t be enough, not when Azzi knows what it’s like to have all of her, to have the parts of her that had only ever been for Azzi. But it’s something. And something is more than nothing. So if that’s all Paige can give her, if that’s the only way she can keep her best friend in her life, then Azzi will deal with the fact that everything is much worse now, will deal with the fact that her heart feels like it’s constantly being attacked with a thousand needles, just so she can have something. 

And so Azzi gives Paige the same smile she gives Olivia when they accidentally bump shoulders in the training room, laughs at her jokes in the same way that she laughs at Aubrey telling a funny story, gives her the same fond head shake she gives Caroline when she acts a little ridiculous. And Azzi can tell by the way her reactions don’t elicit the same bright eyes they used to from Paige, that this isn’t quite enough for her either. But sometimes in life, you take what you can get and when it comes to each other, Paige and Azzi will take just a morsel of attention from the other, as long as it keeps them together. 

*** 

Azzi’s disassociating on the bench  when it happens. In her defense, they’re up twenty points and watching the game and not being able to play has been torture,. At first, it’s the murmurs of her teammates around her, something about Paige’s leg bending. Her eyes shoot up in panic, locating the blonde on the floor who’s bringing the ball up. She frowns, noticing the way Paige is wincing slightly, the way her leg -the one she must have stepped wrong on- is shaking, like the weight of her lanky body is too much to bear. Azzi’s heart thumps with worry and she finds herself crossing her fingers behind her back, hoping against hope that it had been nothing, that Paige bringing the ball is a good sign and she’ll be able to shake it off. 

But then Paige’s face falls completely, twisting in hurt as she collapses in front of the UConn bench, clutching at her knee. The entire arena is silent as Paige sobs, every cry of pain like a dagger stabbing into Azzi’s own heart. As the team gathers around the blonde, almost like their trying to protect her from the camera, Azzi instinctively steps forward, ready to kneel down and console her- 

Her what?

It’s the realization that she doesn’t quite know what to call Paige, doesn’t quite know if she has the right to comfort her- if that’s something the older girl would even want- that has her stepping back, shrinking back into the circle of just friends. 

And she stays like that, lingering in the background, even after the game is finished and they’re all rushing into the locker room to go see Paige. Everyone else is eager to whisper words of solace and wrap the blonde in warm hugs. But Azzi stays back, barely looking at the girl lying on the patient bed. It’s not that she doesn’t want to do the same; Azzi’s fighting every inch of herself that wants to pull Paige into her arms and brush away the tears drops fall from her eyes and hold her as tightly to her chest until that desolate expression on her face turns into that smile Azzi swears is brighter than the sun moon and stars combined. 

She's swarmed my memories of when she'd torn her ACL -memories of Paige being the first person to have reached her amidst a sea of players and parents. The blonde's face had been contorted with fear as she'd settled down next to Azzi, her entire focus on the brunette's knee as she'd taken in the sight of. It had almost shocked Azzi, the brevity of the emotion swirling in the other's girl's eyes as if she could feel every drop of pain that she was feeling herself. Then Paige had leaned over her knee, lips whispering words that Azzi couldn't quite make out but she knew the blonde well enough to know she was praying. Praying for Azzi.

And Azzi remembers in that moment -even though everything had gone so completely wrong- she's still felt like she'd survive it, because she had Paige by her side to survive it with. Standing here in medical room with her injured best friend just inches away from her, all Azzi wants is to give Paige the same feeling, the same hope that she'd given her all those years. But she’s scared to break the boundaries that Paige has set up between them, scared that she’ll make it all worse. 

Scared that Paige doesn't need her the way Azzi had back then- the way Azzi still does now.

“Dude,” Caroline hisses, pinching her arm slightly and Azzi breaks away from her own thoughts to see her friend giving her an exasperated look, “you really just gonna stand here?”

“I don’t- I don’t know what-” Azzi falters under Caroline’s withering gaze. 

“Oh don’t start Azzi,” the taller guard keeps her voice low, “I know the two of you are avoiding each other or whatever but this has got to be an exception or something.”

“I don’t wanna make it worse,” Azzi whispers, averting her friend’s eyes as she digs her nails into her palms. 

Caroline’s expression softens, “Az, you wouldn’t- you couldn’t.”

“How do you know?” Azzi asks, her tone forlorn. 

“Just look at her,” Caroline says. 

And finally, Azzi does. 

Paige’s body -her swollen knee propped up on pillows- is wracked with tension, her nose and her eyes puffy from the tears. She looks a far cry from the lively and vivacious burst of energy she normally is, like her life source has been drained. There’s anguish etched through every pixel of her face, despite the façade of i’m okay she’s trying to put on in front of her teammates. 

And she’s staring straight at Azzi. 

Their eyes meet and the façade crumbles. 

Paige’s mouth opens and before she can form the syllables that make up the brunette's name, Azzi’s by her side. And she doesn’t know why she’d overthought it so much -doesn’t understand what had possessed her to think she was meant to be doing anything other than this- but as soon as Azzi’s by Paige side -as soon as she’s holding the blonde in her arms, she knows this is exactly what Paige had needed, what they’d both needed. 

And suddenly everything else that has happened between them -the chiasm of regret and hurt that had built up over the last two weeks- seems almost obsolete. Because Paige is hurt and all that matters to Azzi now, is taking that hurt way. 

“I’m here,” she whispers into Paige’s hair as the older girl burrows her face -a fresh new set of tears already wetting her sweatshirt- against Azzi’s stomach, her hands tightening around her waist, “I’ve got you. I’m here.” 

[ahummingbirdwitch]

Fantasize (Cypher x F!Reader)

Summary: After a long day, you find yourself in need of some relief, and who better to fantasize about than the agent you're crushing on?

Pairing: Cypher x F!Reader

Rating: Explicit

Word Count: 3,639

Warnings: female masturbation, vaginal fingering, sexual fantasy, p in v sex, voyeurism

Notes: Welp. The masked man wormed his way into my brain and made me write this. I've never played Valorant and I'm not super well-versed on the lore, but I did my best to work off of what I know and existing theories about Cypher and his past!

I fantasize about it all the time

If you were mine

I’d give this pussy to you 9 to 5

5 to 9…

~ ~ ~

You collapsed onto your bed, exhausted.

Freshly showered and sore from a hard day’s work, nothing sounded better than curling up in your quiet room and getting some well-deserved rest. And, if you were being honest, there was something else you’d been meaning to do; something that could very well relieve you the most—and calm your restless mind.

For the last month since you’d joined Valorant, you’d met many agents, each one captivating in their own right. But one agent in particular had captivated you the most.

Cypher.

The masked man from Morocco, the information broker whose face had never been seen by anyone in the agency. Every agent in Valorant had secrets, but Cypher had the most by far. He was enigmatic, impossibly clever, and seemed to know everything about everyone. He’d known you by name before you’d even introduced yourself to him, and in the short time you’d been with the agency, you’d become more than familiar with his ways—the little things he remembered about others, the watchful eye he kept on his fellow agents. No one knew anything about him other than his real name—Amir El-Amari—and his unwillingness to reveal his identity to anyone.

He was a complete mystery, and he had drawn you in completely.

You remembered your first meeting with him clearly. He’d been standing to one side of the room, nonchalant with arms folded, and said your full name before you’d spoken it yourself. You’d been stunned at first, but before you could turn accusatory, he had laughed. “I’m sorry,” he’d said, his voice softening. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.” He had then uncrossed his arms enough to wave to you with one hand. Despite the mask that concealed his features, the look on his face had seemed almost gentle. “I am Cypher. Pleased to meet you.”

Your initial shock had faded, replaced with something else—something you couldn’t quite understand at the time, something that made your heart thrum unexpectedly in your chest. And that strange feeling, you’d realize in the coming weeks, would only grow stronger.

On missions, you were often put on the same team as Cypher, and you’d come to know him more than you thought you would. At least, you’d come to know the side he showed to others. He was polite, easygoing, frequently cracking jokes and making fun wherever he could. He liked to stimulate his brain, particularly with chess and gadgeteering. He kept a level head in times of crisis, acting as a leader when necessary. He always had the team’s back, and, perhaps surprisingly, he was kind.

It would’ve been easy for you to write him off as a trickster, a spy who cared for no one but himself, who had no regard for anyone’s privacy. While it was true that he knew more than he should, and sometimes intruded on his allies’ personal lives, you’d learned quickly that he was not an uncaring man—far from it, in fact. He was never rude or crass. His jokes had no cruelty behind them. He was an attentive listener, occasionally even providing advice. It was clear he had boundaries, and there were lines he would never cross, despite his line of work.

You’d wondered endlessly about his past. There was so much about himself he kept hidden, so much you wanted desperately to know. What kind of life had he known before joining the agency? How could he be so secretive, yet so considerate? What kind of pain had he experienced? Had he had a family before? Who was Nora?

You shook your head, bringing yourself back to the present. There were so many questions you wished you could ask him, but you knew he would never answer them. He was a mystery, one you might never unravel.

In spite of all that, though, you’d fallen for him.

It wasn’t wise to have feelings for your fellow agent, especially one like Cypher, but there was no denying it, and no helping it. Your heart jumped whenever he entered a room, and fluttered at the sound of his voice. You went out of your way just to try and impress him on missions, always keeping as close to him as you could. You savored those brief moments where your eyes would lock with his, or his hand might make contact with yours when passing you a weapon. Your spirit soared whenever you made him laugh, and you were always thinking of all the ways you could make him do it again.

It was probably the hardest you’d ever crushed on someone, and it was torture.

It was bad enough you both worked together, but on top of that, you were sure Cypher would never want you. He would never reveal his identity to anyone, let alone you. He was older, and had been with the agency far longer. He was always busy, caught up in an assignment or working away at something alone in his room. And then there was Nora, a name you’d heard him utter once or twice under his breath. Curious, you’d asked around about her; some agents theorized she was his wife, either dead or simply no longer around. There was no way you could know for certain, but whoever she was, it was clear he was still hung up on her.

You closed your eyes, sighing heavily. You didn’t want to think about any of that. Right now, you just needed to let go.

Climbing under the covers, you laid back against your pillow, then carefully slid your panties down to your ankles. Spreading your legs, you lifted one hand, guiding it tentatively between them. You swallowed, feeling the same anxiety you’d felt the last time you’d done this. This still felt so dirty, so wrong, but when you pictured Cypher in your mind, blue eyes glowing against the black of his mask, you felt yourself start to relax. You rarely did this, but tonight, you needed it.

Slowly, you eased your hand lower, and let your imagination take control.

You were pressed back against a wall, Cypher standing over you. You couldn’t read his expression, but the desire in his voice betrayed his emotions. “I want you,” he murmured, gazing down at you. “Right now.”

Your fingers found your entrance, already slick from just those few words. Biting your lip, you teased your slit.

Cypher brought his hand to your face, stroking your lower lip with a gloved thumb. You opened your mouth for him instinctively, and he chuckled. “I want to kiss you,” he said softly. “May I?”

You nodded without question. “Y-Yes.”

His eyes gleamed. With his free hand, he reached for the bottom of his mask, pulling it up just enough to reveal the lower half of his face. His lips curled into a smirk, then he was moving forward and kissing you all at once.

Your thumb brushed your clit, and you began to rub at it, continuing to tease your opening with your fingers.

Cypher’s kiss was shockingly fierce, and utterly mind-numbing. Moving his hands to your waist, he slipped his tongue into your mouth, swallowing the gasp that rose from your throat. You met his tongue with your own, kissing him back with matching fervor.

Thumb still working your clit, you dipped the tip of one finger inside your entrance. You needed more; you needed to speed this up.

In the blink of an eye, Cypher had unzipped your pants and pushed them down. Trailing kisses down your neck, he used his fingers—inexplicably ungloved—to caress your clothed pussy. “Oh, what’s that?” he said with interest. “Seems someone is wet for me.”

You grasped at his coat. “Cypher. Please.”

You felt him grin against your neck. “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” he purred. “I know what you want.” Slowly, deliberately, he slid one finger under the hem of your panties, then plunged it inside you.

At the same time, you parted your folds with your own finger, pushing it in deep. You let out a soft moan when you curled it inside you, finding that familiar sweet spot.

Cypher sucked on your ear, pumping his finger in and out of you. “That’s a good girl,” he cooed. “What pretty sounds.”

You whimpered.

“Make some more for me.”

You moaned louder, unable to stop yourself.

“Dirty girl,” he teased. “So wet already and I’ve barely started.”

You clenched around your finger. You could hear how wet you were, the sounds of your pleasure muffled only slightly by the covers. Just as you prepared to add a second finger, you decided to speed things along once more.

You were completely naked now, while Cypher was still clothed (you realized you’d never seen even a hint of his skin, but that didn’t matter). His pants undone at the waist, he hoisted you up by your thighs, hitching them around him as he pressed into you. “Come here,” he growled before pushing inside you swiftly.

You arched your back, grinding against your palm as you fingered yourself, imagining it was his cock spearing you open. How big was he? Fuck, he had to be big. Even if he wasn’t, though, you wouldn’t care. You just wanted him. You needed him.

Cypher groaned into your ear, starting slow with his thrusts, then fucking up into you like an animal. “So tight,” he gasped. “Oh, so tight for me.”

You were moaning more than ever now, losing yourself to the feeling of being full. You wished you could hear him moan with you, feel his body on yours. You wanted to kiss those lips. See his face. He was so handsome under that mask, you were sure of it.

Cypher bit down on your neck, forcing you to cry out. “Yes, that’s it,” he coaxed when he came up for air. “That’s it, sweetheart. I want to hear you.”

You threw your head back, moans falling from your open mouth. “Cy… Cypher…”

“Call me by my name, my love.”

Your body jerked, reacting to his voice in a way you couldn’t even control. “A-Amir,” you whimpered. “A-Amir, please—”

“Just like that,” he whispered, gripping your thighs harder. “Yes. I know you’re close.”

You were. Two fingers knuckle-deep and your thumb at your clit, you were ready to burst. Just a little more, and you’d be right there, right there. “A-Amir,” you pleaded. “I—I need you—”

“I need you to cum,” he panted. “Can you do that for me? Hm?”

“Mm—mhm,” was all you could get out, ferociously rubbing at your clit. You knew you sounded ridiculous, but you didn’t care. You didn’t care about anything right now. These walls weren’t thin, but you wouldn’t give a shit if they were. You didn’t even care if Cypher himself had mics in your walls, and he could hear every sound you were making. You just needed him. You needed to cum.

Cypher leaned in, panting like a dog, thrusting into you even harder and faster. “Cum for me,” he breathed. “Cum for me now.”

That was all you needed. The cord within you snapped and your vision went starry. You shut your eyes as you came, whining uncontrollably. “Cy��Cypher,” you blurted out, moaning long and loud. You couldn’t stop the words from escaping you. “I love—I-I love you—I—mm—”

You continued to moan as you rode out your orgasm, keeping your fingers still deep inside while your body spasmed with pleasure. By the time you could feel yourself calming, the trembling in your limbs fading to a dull buzz, you were unsure how much time had passed. You felt utterly numb, your heart racing and your chest heaving as you caught your breath.

You exhaled, leaning back against your pillow. You did feel better. Touching yourself to the thought of Cypher had brought you relief—just like you’d wanted. There was still a part of you that felt guilt, felt dirty at what you’d done, but you suppressed it.

No one knew, and no one would know. Cypher kept so many secrets, why couldn’t you keep this one for yourself?

You got up and washed your hands, then brushed your teeth and returned to bed. You nestled deep under the covers, closing your eyes as you prepared for sleep to take you. You’d worked hard today. You deserved to rest.

As you drifted off, you completely forgot that you’d confessed your love to the Cypher in your mind.

~~~

Elsewhere, in a secluded room in the dormitory, Cypher was wide awake.

Unmasked, and dressed only in light clothes, he sat at his desk in the darkness, watching the cameras as he did every night. There was a single camera for each Valorant agent, along with its own mic and recording device, positioned in the most secure, hidden place possible in every individual room. He recognized the invasiveness of it. He didn’t take pleasure in keeping tabs on his allies in this way, but it was necessary. He would do all he could to ensure he kept the upper hand, even if it meant spying on those he considered his friends. He had been through too much to let anyone take advantage of him.

For some time now, he had been scanning the cameras, studying each agent as they wound down for the night, and something in particular had caught his eye.

You.

You, coming out of your bathroom in nothing but a t-shirt and panties. The moment he’d noticed you in your state of undress, he’d averted his gaze, waiting for you to either leave the frame or cover yourself up. When you’d finally crawled into bed, he’d been content to turn his attention to other screens, but then your mic had picked up some… telling audio.

You’d started to touch yourself.

Cypher was not a stranger to the female body. He’d been with women, been married to one. Countless times, he’d been at his desk and witnessed female agents—and male agents, for that matter—masturbate. Whenever it happened, he always turned away, often shutting off their mics as well to at least give them some extra privacy. Some agents did it more frequently than others, and he had even grown accustomed to their routines for it. But you…

Well… you didn’t do it very often, that was for certain.

You were new to the agency. Young, spry, full of confidence. When he’d first met you, he was sure he knew exactly what you’d be like. He knew your type—hell, plenty of the better-established younger agents were just like you. But in all honesty, in the month since your arrival, he’d learned there was more to you than met the eye. He was surprised to still be peeling back layers of your personality even now, when normally, he would have had someone thoroughly pinned down. There was always new information to be drawn from others, yes, but even so, you continued to intrigue him.

Cypher had heard you touch yourself only once or twice before; only faint noises coming from your bathroom had made him aware of the act. He’d been certain that the next time you did it, you would do it in the same place, but for some reason, you had chosen your bed instead tonight. As was your right, certainly. But regardless, he had not been expecting it.

He’d shut off your mic without thinking, lingering on the image of you in your bed for just a heartbeat before quickly tearing his eyes away. There was something about this that unsettled him, made him uncomfortable in a way that was unfamiliar. There was nothing unnatural to him about masturbation; he did it himself, when he was most in need of it. But something about seeing you do it—you, his sweet, sincere teammate—made him feel almost… ashamed. Like he was violating you.

He understood the necessity of keeping an eye on the agency, knowing he could never fully turn off the cameras in the rooms, but for whatever reason, he wished he could turn yours off now, at least for a little while. He didn’t want to see you in such a vulnerable state. He didn’t want to commit your expression of pleasure to his memory, imagine what sounds you could be making…

Cypher rubbed his eyes now, blinking rapidly as he cleared his thoughts. He had to focus. He had to make sure everyone was asleep before he too allowed himself to rest. He would wait until you finished.

But then… how could he be sure when you would finish if he couldn’t hear you?

A strange feeling nagging at him, he turned back to your screen. Though your lower body was concealed by your covers, he could see your movements underneath, and could see clearly what you were doing. No doubt, you were fingering yourself.

He swallowed, his throat suddenly very dry. He kept watching, unable to look away from your mouth, ever opening and closing. You were still muted, but he didn’t need audio to know you were moaning. Of course you were. Everyone did when they self-pleasured. But then, unexpectedly, he saw you form a word.

No—a name.

A name? Whose name? Questions flooded his mind. If you were uttering someone’s name in this state, did that mean you had… feelings for them? Was it an agent? Was it someone on the outside?

Cypher tried not to dwell on it. This was your business; your moment of privacy. It didn’t matter to him whether you had feelings for someone, agent or not. It was nothing. It was just—information. Useless information—right?

But then again, if he had it… maybe he could use it.

Before he could change his mind, he turned the audio back on. A second later, his heart dropped when he heard you moan out.

“Cy… Cypher…”

He froze, staring at your screen. No, it couldn’t be…

“A-Amir… A-Amir, please—”

Cypher couldn’t believe his ears. It was… him. It was him you were crying out for. You’d even said his real name—he’d never heard you say it out loud before.

He didn’t understand. You wanted him? Why? Out of everyone in Valorant, why him?

Had he missed something, all those times he had gone on missions with you? He had noticed your enthusiasm when in proximity to him, your noteworthy eagerness to follow his orders, but he had never considered it out of the ordinary. He had always just thought of you as a dutiful agent, eager to prove yourself and gain respect from your more seasoned teammates. Was that not the case? Was the truth that you’d been interested in him all this time?

Your voice severed him from his trance. “A-Amir,” you whimpered. “I—I need you—”

Cypher shifted in his seat, a sudden discomfort between his legs. His name sounded foreign your lips, and yet… sweet. He’d never thought he’d hear you say it, but more than that, hear you say you needed him. You couldn’t mean that. You weren’t thinking—too caught up in your own pleasure. You couldn’t possibly know what you were saying.

He could tell you were getting more desperate now, your hand moving faster under the covers. You had to be close. You gasped, shutting your eyes, then all at once you were coming undone, and he couldn’t look away.

“Cy—Cypher,” you cried out, catching him off-guard. “I love—I-I love you—I—mm—”

Cypher could hardly think as he watched you unravel before him on the screen, your words ringing in his ears.

I love you. I love you. I love you.

The only explanation was that you had lost yourself. Why else would you say something as bold as that without thinking? You didn’t love him. You couldn’t love him.

There was nothing about him you could possibly want. He guarded his secrets more fiercely than anyone. He was so reserved, staying out of the limelight whenever he could. He’d kept his identity hidden for years, carefully cultivating the persona he would allow people to see. You’d never even seen his face.

And yet… it was his name you’d uttered when you came. It seemed you had fallen for him anyway.

No. No… you hadn’t. It wasn’t possible. You didn’t want him, and you certainly didn’t love him. Love was knowing someone, knowing all of their secrets and foulest parts. It was something deep and potent, and only grew with time. It was what he’d had with Nora, before he’d lost her and everything else.

You had not been in your right mind, that much was certain. Maybe you liked him, liked the person he presented himself as, but you didn’t know him. No one did, and no one truly would. He liked you, but… well, not like that. How could he? He was a broken old man, and you were young and lovely, still with hope for the world…

No. No, that wasn’t right.

It didn’t matter. You would go to sleep now, drowsy in the aftermath of your climax, and so would he. You would not remember your confession in the morning. He would, but he would not let it consume him.

This was… nothing. He was sure of it.

Cypher began to rise from his chair, only to be made aware of the painful hardness in his pants. He grimaced, looking back up at your camera. You were wrapped up in your covers, already asleep. You looked so innocent. Peaceful.

… Beautiful.

He hung his head, running one hand through his hair. Oh, sweet girl, he thought. What are you doing to me?

(LET ME KNOW IF Y'ALL WANT A PART 2)

[animalsalvationassociation]

”Everyone has their days . . .”

[ DO NOT REPOST, ALL ART & CONCEPTS WERE MADE BY ME ]

Emma has always had a hard time expressing herself . . .

When her mom died she didn’t really have anyone to lean on from her old life, except maybe a few of her Mom’s old teammates. Safari Solutions had only just started, yet it seemed that the people who barely knew her, were better at showing up than her actual father. Despite this she found herself learning to hide her heavier emotions overtime, resulting in a few strained relationships.

(These are Oc’s I haven’t yet had the pleasure to introduce to you)

Atticus was there when she got the call, he was the one to hold her tightly when she had collapsed on the floor in a stranger’s home. Harley refused to leave her alone that night, even as young as he was (at the time) he became her crutch whenever she was too tired to put herself to bed and became her right hand in everything she did. While Lani made sure that she always had a warm hug and a few good jokes if she ever needed it.

Amari never was good with emotions herself but she knew how important it was for the team to see Em smile, so she made it her job to pay attention to all of Emma’s interests. If Emma needs something Mari knows how to get it.

When Slye eventually came over from the newly disbanded Octonauts, suddenly she had someone to talk to. But sometimes the silence between them was all that was needed. And of course that just leaves Bandit. It was a while before he ever joined, and even though he's still finding his place on the team Emma has become very fond of him. She sees herself in the kid, and thankfully that's a good thing . . . most of the time.

Kwazii was the only one to truly make her feel safe . . .

They had started dating about a year / year and a half after her mom died. It was a strange transition for them, seeing as most of their dates were over video. But when they were together they used their time to the fullest. They’ve been steady for a few years now and done their best to keep in touch. However over the course of the last year it’s gotten a little difficult to cope with the distance, mostly for Kwazii.

Emma has become obsessive over the details of Samara’s death. Something happened while she was away to cause her to fully believe that whoever this “Spectator” is, they must’ve had some hand in her passing. With this new name floating around and the increase of criminal organizations, Emma hasn’t been as present as she should be.

Some days are filled with that same spark, that same love that they exuded when they first met. But other days . . . only gentle touches are needed. Emma’s trying, Kwazii can see that. But she’s also afraid of something, whether it’s the next step . . . or something more. Perhaps even . . . someone? He knows she wants to keep him safe but sometimes that’s the most frustrating thing she could do, and that’s protecting him.

This is one of those harder days. Emma and Kwazii have always been perfect opposites yet completely the same. Most of the time Em is the one holding him, letting him be his fullest self no matter how silly it seems. She’s always had a steady head on her shoulders. But sometimes in the quietest moments, when it’s just the two of them . . . she’s the one who gets to be vulnerable. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does . . . you know she needs it.

It’s hard for Kwazii to see her like this, but sometimes all he can do is kiss her head and hold her tight.

. . .

It’s been a while since I drew them. I really needed this . . .

Honestly at this point I’ve been so in and out of my own head that I don’t even know what I’m really writing or creating anymore.

I’m not saying that the content is stopping, maybe just slowing down a little more. I have some big life decisions to take care of and when I do get to draw I really only want to do specific characters mostly Y/N and the gang, but in order to post all of these drawings I first have to give you context or none of it will make sense. So it’s a little hard to post as often despite having all of this content on hand.

If I go quiet that probably means that I’m working on something bigger which takes a lot more energy so I have to ask you to forgive me. I’m doing my best to stay on top of my tasks. I may post something tomorrow pertaining to “missions” (like adventures the Octonauts/others get to go on) at least that’s my plan because I would really like to hear from you guys.

I hope you enjoyed the Emma and Kwazii lore. Its been so long since I did anything with them, but making this post was totally worth it to me.

Anyways my doves, I hope you have a lovely morning / noon / night. I’ll see you in the next post.

[💙🍪]

[ This is a Octonauts AU, in no way is this canon to the OG storyline. ]

[86stagram]

🙋‍♀️Hiya! Maybe I should have written earlier . . . 🤔

↑cited from X 🍊💛🥩🍤🏀(´Y｀)🧀🎃🍯🧡🍻

Results of the Sanrio character awards in Japan(2024 ver.) Unwavering 1st place : Cinnamoroll 2nd place : Pochakko 3rd place : Kuromi 4th place : Pom Pom Pudding 5th place : Hello Kitty 6th place : My Melody 8th place : Hangyodon *1 12nd place : Cogimyun (*1 Really!? Oh he is actually high on the popularity rank. I'm sorry for writing, "Perhaps he is just a leftover from Sanrio like Amari" in Japanese . . . 🙇‍♀️)

When I saw Cinnamoroll sitting on Hibiki's shoulder in this post, it instantly reminded me of this ranking. Cinnamoroll is very popular as always consistently ranking No.1 every year at least in Japan. I feel there's some kind of intention behind this pairing of 2 characters. I first thought it was because of a similar color theme. Or because they have something in common of if someone not know character setting, it's hard to judgement their gender. Ummm. . . no, actually, it's probally because their fans are generous with their spending haha

Way down in 32nd place is Ruroromanic. Uh sorry, to be honest, that's a character I didn't remember before. I thought it was a bit strange that the organizers picked these characters instead of choosing Kerokerokeroppi who is 7th place!🐸 I think that other combinations are good. Especially I think that Pom pom pudding's color is perfect for Mirei's vibe.

Also, I want Ham to be able to wear especially Mirei's coord in these, too, so I feel the need for these to be implemented in Adpara or Aipri Verse someday! Oh, Umm . . . Sad that there is no hope for the development of the SwiPara😥*2 (*2 By the way, we call All Idol Perfect stage "SwiPara" in Japan🗾 Nintendo Switch + PriPara)

Side note, I’ve made it a habit to vote for Mewkle Dreamy every year. Unfortunately, she is slowly fading and in 50th place this year. Oh no! During that time in Japan, Pri☆Chan was broadcast at 10:00-10:30 AM, followed by Mewkle Dreamy at 10:30 - 11:00 AM, and I enjoyed watching both of them. All I can say is that I really loved the tempo of that anime! It's only natural that I feel something similar, as Pripara and Mewkle Dreamy share to same a part of production staff. oh and, Jewel Pets too hahaha

The story begins when Yume sees something fall from the sky, and meets Mew. Mew has "Yume Synchro" (Dream Synchro), that power to dive in dreams. And they collect "Dreamy Stones" in the dream world. Do you feel it's just a very cute story, right? But you might not find this description very interesting but just by reading it, right? . . . hehehe No problem!!! No worries because that's gag anime like PriPara.

Some anime episodes was delayed but these was broadcasted later and associated products didn't sell as well as staff thought to the COVID-19 pandemic. But I can recommend that anime to fans who enjoy the ridiculous gags of Pripara. Of the Pretty series, especially Pri☆Chan SHOULD ALSO COLLABORATE with Mewkle Dreamy!!! . . . and if we don't become able to use that coords in Adpara or Aipri Verse, so out of the question😭

That's it for today! See you again!🙋‍♀️

[pretty-idol-hell]

Idol Land PriPara Episode 12

The end... or is it?

The episode opens with My Dream back at school, at lunchtime. Yui is double-fisting rice balls. Shogo walks by and complains about how loudly she's enjoying herself, so Yui throws his baby pictures everywhere. In other words, everything is back to normal.

While Yui and Shogo are fighting, the remaining members of WITH and MyDre acknowledge they will be holding a surprise promise for Yui later that day.

Meanwhile, Amari is at her desk looking through her old notebook and acknowledging all of her idol dreams have been coming true one by one. She stops when she reaches the place where Mario's page was ripped out, and looks down sadly at the blank space.

Later, at PriPara, Mirei and Shion discuss how things are returning to normal. All of the idols are full of dreams again and it's all thanks to Yui. But, it's thanks to Amari that Yui was returned to normal, so everyone surrounds Amari and thanks her.

However, even after everything that happened in the last episode, there are still some bugs floating around Idol Land. (...Feels familiar.)

The others talk about Mario's disappearance and wonder where he is. Amari says, "He's gone," but the others don't quite get it. Nino says it was rude he disappeared without saying goodbye.

I guess they really did not notice he uhh... burned to death...........

Amari looks down sadly again but only Laala acknowledges it.

Meanwhile in DanPri, all the boys are hard at work cleaning up the mess Mario made. Including Ushimitsu, who is doing his best to remind Shinya of his past using uhh... puppets? (Ninja voodoo dolls? I don't know the actual name for these haha.)

But he is unsuccessful. Shinya is STILL brainwashed even though Mario is gone. Ushimitsu is out of options. HARAKIRI IT IS.

Asahi is able to stop him, however, as WITH arrives to help.

"Leave it to me," says Koyoi as Asahi's eyes light up with fear, reminded of Koyoi's dark past. It can't be that bad, Asahi.......

OH

I GUESS THIS IS JUST HOW WE SOLVE PROBLEMS IN PRIPARA NOW

EVERYONE FIGHTING EVERYONE IDOLS

hahahahaha

Meanwhile, Yui arrives in Idol Land, annoyed at being left behind. She's quickly whisked away by Nino and Michiru, as not to ruin the surprise.

Also meanwhile, SoLaMi Dressing, Hibiki, Amari, Meganii, Meganee, and the managers., are having a meeting to decide what to do about the bugs still appearing around Idol Land. Amari shakily raises her hand.

"D-D-Do we really have to exterminate them?" she says, launching into a stuttering, rambly rant disagreeing with Hibiki about how she doesn't exactly like the bugs either, but the line between love and hate isn't that simple. In fact, they are basically the same, because even after hard times you can still see a blue sky in the end so storms and sunny days are basically the same and and AND... (before collapsing on the table).

"I AGREE WITH AMARI-CHAN!!!" says Laala. Immediately.

Everyone else agrees as well, except for Hibiki of course, but they are far outnumbered.

Meganii says there is still a lot they don't yet know about Idol Land, and it's possible the bugs are connected to that, so perhaps it's best to leave them for now. As Meganii speaks we see Gaaruru walking through the woods as bugs follow behind her. Gaaruru tells the bugs she doesn't care, and they can do what they want.

After the meeting ends, Amari and Laala are walking together in a deserted hallway.

"If only we could have become friends with Mario," Laala says, causing Amari to stop walking. Amari asks if Laala knew what happened to Mario, and Laala says she guessed based on how Amari was acting.

Amari says that thanks to Laala she finally understood that Mario had meaning to her. But, she realized a little too late.

Laala takes Amari's hand and says, "But I think he was really happy! That he was able to save you! That you cared about him!"

"Thank you, Laala..." Amari says as she starts to cry. The two laugh together.

Meanwhile, MyDream is touring Idol Land while the battle between Shinya and Koyoi continues to escalate into by far the most violent thing we've ever seen in Pretty Series.

Goddamn.

And Amamiya is still trapped in the toilet....

Thinking this is some kind of fate that has been thrust upon him, he starts working to make the toilet so clean that uhh...

He hallucinates toilet goddess Mirei...???

The implication I think is that his love for her overflows and gets him out, but we never actually are shown that. His love overflows from the stall and um, next scene.

Nino and Michiru are about to head back with Yui, when.... uhhh...

So, these are Haniwa. I believe the implication is like.... MyDream disturbed Ajimi's ancestral family burial site??? in PriPara????????????

Back at the stage, everyone is ready but MyDream is nowhere to be found. The crowd is getting restless, especially the animals. But no worries, Fuwari knows just what to do...

Sing a new solo in a new recolored outfit!! Prominently featuring her occasional sentence enter, "-nachu"!

And so we get Fuwari singing this lovely, calming song, inter-spliced with like Hibiki dropping their tea and Shinya/Koyoi still fighting (oh lord).

New Making Drama too!

Back in DanPri, a badly bruised and battered Koyoi and Shinya have finally come to a standstill. Apparently Shinya "had fun", "let's do this again".... (the others stare blankly). Back to normal, I guess.

Finally, MyDream arrives and Yui finds out about her surprise. They hop from an air balloon, coord changing in mid-air (AiPri style? haha).

New coords, new song, new Making Drama...

NEW TEAM CYALUMES TOO!!!

After the performance, Non Sugar wheels out Janice in a baby carriage, who congratulates them. Janice thanks Amari for protecting PriPara as well, who has the reaction you would expect she would have being addressed by a goddess (even a baby one).

Janice turns to the audience and explains that she still hasn't returned to her full power, and therefore is unable to carry out her duties as goddess in this form. Thus, she will be giving temporary goddess powers to.... FALULU!

Falulu is (temporarily) a PriPara GODDESS!!

This kinda reminds me of... umm... *mumble mumble King of Prism something something*

Hibiki leads Falulu to the stage, who is calmly surprised by this announcement. The time twins give her a goddess staff.

Fuwari asks Falulu what she will do in her first act as goddess. Ignoring the selfish requests from Meganii and Dorothy, she says she does have something she's been wanting to do...

And so, getting everyone together habitat for humanity style, Falulu has everyone build Pololo a house... T_T After being a roof for others for so long, she finally has a roof of her own.....

Falulu says she will continue to use everyone's power to make everyone's dreams come true!

As the credits roll, we cut to Amari back in the lunchroom at school. She's holding her tray and looking at a group of girls sitting across the room.

Mario's hand appears behind her, giving her a push, as she passes through an invisible barrier, and begins to approach them...

In the voiceover, Amari says, "I have a dream. A dream to enjoy my high school life!"

The time twins curl up together in THE CUTEST PAJAMAS (want), talking about how today was a great day, and tomorrow will be a great day too. We pan to the Takara Tomy logo in the night sky, and the episode ends.

WOW, what a wonderful and also depressing episode to end on.

I really REALLY REALLY thought Mario was going to come back.

Well he did, but he didn't. His hand pushing Amari at the end could have easily been her imagination. But then again, that's basically the same thing, isn't it?

I also super related to that scene WOW. I often feel like, even though I know how to be social, I know I can approach people and make friends..... I just have this invisible barrier around me, and I have to be either right in the perfect mood, or I have to be making a very conscious effort to pass through it. If I'm taken by surprise by someone approaching me in public, I often keep the barrier up and try to leave the conversation as quickly as possible. The more I've adjusted to being back in America, the more I've improved at getting that barrier down and socializing with people when I'm at cons and events and stuff. So it was pretty cool to see something like that represented visually.

So, lots of new coords, songs, making dramas... we've always got lots of new stuff in episodes before, but this was the first time it actually made me sad. Because up until now I knew we would probably get the new coords at least, and there was a glimmer of hope in me that maybe, just maybe, we might get a new song or making drama SOMEday but.... with the lackluster updates this past month, who knows if we'll be getting anything at all anymore. So, I spent a lot of this episode sadly yearning for the arcade days of knowing for sure all the new content would be available to experience soon.........

*sigh*

When they made this episode they were planning on a season 2. SURELY. Or at least, they certainly left the possibility open.

SO MUCH is still unresolved. Like yeah, Yui's back, but all the other stuff from episode 0? The update that went wrong, and the bugs, and losing PriParis and all that stuff..... (I've got watch that again)

I'm scared now that they are gonna resolve that in the Hibiki comic instead.....................

BUT MARIO

Mario should come back. Mario DESERVES to come back.

IT'S. NOT. FAIR.

And Falulu has goddess powers!? Like, for the foreseeable future we're just leaving her like that.

So like. In my other post I denied that Laalulu, the 10th/1000th-anniversary character would have anything to do with Idol Land.

But like, seeing Falulu get goddess powers is making me somewhat rethink that. Like, I dunno, I feel like this could be connected somehow. Maybe.

LIKE.......... THERE ARE SO MANY PLACES TO GO FROM HERE.

Not to mention for all we know AMAMIYA IS STILL IN THE TOILET

COME ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

please

[bbleague-crispin]

Hello Crispin, seems like you, me, and Drayton all made blogs around the same time. What a strange coincidence. Perhaps we should reach out to Lacey and invite her as well? I'd hate for her to feel left out.

@elite-amarys

oh hey amarys!!!! nice to see ya on here!!!!

but YEAH we should get lacey on here!! it'd be really funny if all 4 of us joined today!!!!!!

[elite-amarys]

//OOC

Precise Confrontation

A short fic about Amarys confronting a school bully. Content warning for threats of violence. Please note this is an off screen post - your characters will not have knowledge of this occuring outside of the described camera footage. That said, they will likely be able to piece together that something happened if they are able to somehow access this footage.

That's all! Hope you like it. Writing Amarys in her feelings is fun, but writing her in Kill Mode is ALSO fun

EDIT: Also this has nothing to do with @guyinmink , who sent the anon that inspired this. They're cool we're all cool. Guy in this story is just a random made up dude I prommy.

21:07

Amarys was precisely on schedule. She always was, but it was particularly important that she stay on schedule this time. She had a very brief window of time to do what she needed to do, and if she fumbled or missed even a second it would ruin everything. But that was why she had to be the one to do it. Drayton would be annoyed that she had taken this task on by herself. It was a task made necessary by her love for her friend, and she knew he would be upset that she had taken sole responsibility for executing that directive without him even though he shared her fondness for Crispin (perhaps even moreso). But Drayton would not have been able to get the necessary information, and even if he had he would have carried out this task without concern for discretion. Which most certainly would have resulted in discipline.

No. That outcome was unacceptable.

Lacey also had the Director’s trust, of course. There was no doubt in Amarys’ mind that she could have gotten the target’s identifying information as well. But Lacey was not suited for this task. She was skilled in diplomacy and negotiation. She was charismatic and likable. She was not the type to confront a bully with force. And, according to Amarys’ analysis, force would be the only thing that would affect actual change.

Amarys had a great deal of respect for Drayton and Lacey. Neither of them were suited to properly handle this task. Amarys could handle confrontation. Amarys had the Director’s trust to get the necessary information. And, most importantly, Amarys had knife-like precision in her timing.

21:10

3 minutes, 16 seconds to navigate the halls towards her destination. She turned a corner and locked eyes on her target. He had left the last meeting of the Architectural Club and taken the average amount of time to walk to his locker. Given the late hour the halls were empty except Amarys and her target, and it was unlikely that anyone else would walk down this exact hall at this exact time. Amarys knew that for a fact - she had checked the schedules of all other members of the Architect club, the teachers of the surrounding classrooms, and the other students whose locker was in this hall. She had calculated this.

21:11

Amarys walked down.the hall, her steps sharp and quick. She walked slightly faster than the average student at Blueberry Academy. It wasn’t long before she was standing directly behind her target. Her heels clicked together as she came to a stop. She pivoted to face him. He hadn’t turned around to look at her yet, he was still preoccupied with his locker.

21:12

The hallway went dark. Every single light shut off at the exact same time, leaving Amarys and her target shielded from the view of the security camera currently facing Amarys’ back. There would be no footage evidence of Amarys’ confrontation. She watched as her target flinched at the sudden darkness, and then spun around to meet her eyes as she stood still as a statue behind him.

“Fucking hell,” he said, jumping backwards at the sight. “Uh, Amarys, right? Do you know what’s going on with the li-”

“812 Bouldevare Avenue, Anville Town.” Amarys did not leave time in her schedule for exchanging pleasantries. She went directly to work.

“Huh? What are you-” he tried to speak again, and was once again cut off.

“2442 Sinclair Drive, Anville Town. 34 Mavis Crescent, Nimbasa City.” Amarys took a step forwards, trapping him between herself and the wall of lockers.

“What the fuck?” He flinched backwards, his back now flush against the steel doors of his own locker. Amarys saw him tense and, predicting an attempt to flee, shot her arm out to block him. Her hand slammed into steel, quick and sharp and strong. She had been correct about his attempt to flee, and he all but crashed into her arm the moment it shot out. “What is your problem?!” Amarys’ eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see the fear in her target’s face as he spoke. Good.

“Dorm 3587, Tower C, Blueberry Academy.” She concluded her list. “I assume you know what all four of these places have in common?” Her voice was steady, and did not betray even a hint of the anger she felt while talking to her target. Her eyes, however, with their cold, hard, focus very much did.

“I don’t- I don’t understand. What do you want?” He flinched back further, but did not break his terrified eye contact.

“Hm.” Amarys had hoped he would have made the connection between these addresses for her, but had anticipated his lack of cooperation. Her RotomPhone drifted up out of her pocket to float at eye level, screen facing the target. “Linux.”

There was a slight thud above them. Amarys and her target both turned their gaze upwards to see Linux, Amarys’ Metagross, clinging to the wall above them. They looked somewhat like a large, murderous spider up there, and clearly had no issue holding onto the wall. They had been waiting near the ceiling, keeping out of the view of the camera until their trainer showed up and the lights went out. Now, with the attention of both their trainer and their target on them, they started to crawl down the wall towards the pair. Their legs moved quickly, one at a time, hitting the wall with a low thud as they descended.

Amarys’ target whimpered as Linux approached, but he seemed too frightened to do much else. Linux stopped a couple of feet above the pair, and their eyes gained a faint, red glow as they accessed something on Amarys' RotomPhone. Electronic copies of school records and census files flashed across the screen.

“These are the addresses for your previous residences.” Amarys continued, snapping her target’s attention away from Linux and back to her. “Linux is quite skilled in accessing these kinds of files. I want to ensure that you know that. It does not matter where you go, Linux will be able to track you down.”

She leaned in now, smooth and steady. Her target tried to lean away, but was stopped by the metal locker behind him. Amarys held his gaze, her eyes boring into him. When she spoke her voice was low and dangerous. “It has come to my attention that you enjoy sending vitriol to my friends. Did you think we would not see what you sent to Crispin?”

“No-no. I didn’t- Amarys I-” He stuttered. The hand that Amarys did not currently have planted against the locker shot out, grabbing her target’s chin. She tilted his face up to look at her, pleased that she was taller than him. Her grip was strong, and even though she was not blocking his mouth it was enough to shock him into silence.

“There is no point in lying.”

“I-I-I-I’m sorry, I didn’t think-” His sentence sputtered out on its own this time.

“I see why you prefer to do your bullying from behind a screen. You are unskilled at communication. But let me make one thing perfectly clear.” She paused, blue eyes practically drilling into his.

“If it comes to my attention that you have sent any of my friends this kind of abuse ever again, I will find you wherever you are and I will crack your jaw into pieces simply so that I can wire it shut myself.” Her grip on his jaw tightened to make her point. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Uh-huh.” He grunted, attempting to nod despite her grip on his chin.

“I cannot hear you.”

“Yes! Y-yes, I understand. I’m sorry-”

“Good.” With that Amarys quickly straightened up, releasing her target’s chin and taking a step backwards.

21:16

The lights in the hall suddenly clicked back on, and the camera behind them was blinded by the unexpected brightness. The lens only took a split second to adjust, but it was enough for Amarys to quickly return Linux to their ball, the flash of the return fading just before the moment Amarys knew the camera would have readjusted. She adjusted her glasses, and pulled an envelope out of her bag. She brusquely held it out to her target, who was still leaning against the lockers, shaking and sweating.

“This is a work order.” She announced, returning to her regular demeanor now that the lights had righted themselves and the camera was recording them. “There are several repairs and upgrades we would like to request the Architectural club make to the League Clubroom. You will find an itemized list herein.” She continued to hold the envelope out to her target. He stared at it blankly. “Take it.” She ordered.

He took it. She returned her hands to her sides. “Please send me an email once you have figured out a timeline for these repairs. Goodbye.” She gave him a curt nod, and then pivoted 90 degrees to continue down the hallway, leaving just as suddenly as she had appeared.

As she walked away she mused about her one miscalculation. She had expected him to get violent. Linux was certainly most displeased that he hadn’t. She would have to take him out for a battle soon. Perhaps Crispin would be willing to indulge them.

[astra-ella]

𝐙𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄 - 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧

fandom: haikyuu ship: nishinoya yuu x oc/reader status: complete ao3 link

"I think you're really pretty. Will you go out with me?" That was the first thing he's ever said to her. And needless to say, Amari Chiyo was not impressed. So as promised, Nishinoya Yuu will get to know her better and confess again. And again. And again. And again. It'll take 6 years and 9 confessions, but he'll get there. Eventually.

⌦ content: fluff, light angst, love at first sight, friends to lover, slice of life

⌦ note: you are free to insert yourself into Chiyo, just keep in mind she has her own character/backstory. i know some people don't like that, so just a heads-up.

story masterlist | this is the first chapter! | next chapter

The first time he confessed was the day they first met — on the first day of middle school, when they were just twelve years old.

After a long day of orientation classes, meeting new teachers and classmates, and just a long day of sitting still in general, Nishinoya Yuu was exhausted. And just as he leaned down to rest his head on​​ the desk, he saw her stand up from the corner of his eye.

Growing up, his grandfather brought home a different lady every other week. They were pretty, sure. But he never thought much of it.

For the first time, he was enamored.

At the time, she was about the same height as him, with long, neatly styled brown hair and dark blue eyes. How could he not have noticed her earlier? He tried to remember her name, fishing through the introductions their homeroom teacher made them do only to draw a blank. Thinking back on it, he sorta nodded off to sleep after doing his own — a result of not getting much sleep the night before due to the sheer excitement of starting at a new school.

As he sat there pondering, the girl put the last of her textbooks into her school bag and headed out. Suddenly, Nishinoya was struck with the realization that if he let her leave now, he'd lose the chance to make a stellar first day introduction.

"Be bold," his grandpa always said.

With those words pushing him on, Nishinoya hastily shoved his textbooks and school supplies into his bag and ran after her.

"Hey!" He caught up to her just a few feet outside the school gates, right under the blooming cherry blossom trees. He could hear his heart pounding in his ears. This was perfect.

She glanced back upon hearing the call.

They made eye contact and she watched him in a mixture of curiosity and confusion. His scruffy black hair was styled upwards, with a small tuff falling forward that was bleached dirty blond. And judging from how dry it looked, it had been that way for a good while. He had a bit of a goofy grin, one that she couldn't quite make out the reason for, but she found kinda adorable.

She recognized him. He was the one who's self introduction was the most loud and energetic of all their classmates. Though what Mister Confidence wanted to do with her, she didn't know.

"Nishinoya-kun, right? Is something wrong?"

She remembered his name. He could feel his cheeks sore from how wide his smile was growing.

"I think you're really pretty," he said, eyes twinkling. "Will you go out with me?"

A gentle breeze blew by, ruffling the nearby cherry blossom trees and whisking up a rain of pink. Nishinoya took a deep breath. He said it, just like how he saw on TV. And amongst the falling petals, he saw her lips part slightly.

"No."

With that simple answer, she turned on her heel and began hurrying away, leaving Nishinoya a little shell-shocked.

This was definitely not how it went on TV.

Once he got over the initial shock, he quickly shook it off and gave chase. He soon caught up and gently grabbed her by the shoulder.

"Wait, why?" He asked earnestly. "I'm being serious — you're really pretty!"

"That's not the problem here," her face was tinted slightly pink. Perhaps from the cherry blossoms, perhaps from embarrassment. "We just met today. I barely know you."

"And?" Nishinoya looked genuinely confused.

"You could be a weirdo for all I know!"

He certainly was acting like one.

"Well, you can trust me." He pointed to himself with an air of absolute confidence. "I'm definitely not a weirdo."

She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, that makes it so much better."

"I don't get it," Nishinoya cocked his head to the side. "Isn't the point of going out to get to know each other?" At least, that's what the dating reality shows said. "Why does it matter if we do now?"

"Because you know absolutely nothing about me!" She then took a deep breath to try and settle herself. "Look, you said you like me 'cause you think I'm pretty, right?"

He nodded.

"What if we start going out, then you find out I'm a thief? Or a baby-eater? Or uhh, someone who steals lollipops from kindergarteners? Would you still want to date me then?"

Nishinoya thought for a bit. "No, I guess not."

She gave him a questioning brow raise. Guess? If she found out the person she was dating was any of those things, she'd be super angry. She'd maybe even call the police.

Either way, she shook her head in exasperation. "See?"

After hearing her explanation, Nishinoya gave it some thought. "So if I get to know you, then ask you out again. Will you say yes?"

"W-Well," she felt her cheeks heat up at the prospect. "Depends if I like you, maybe. But most likely not, cause I already think you're a huge weirdo!"

Despite her insults, Nishinoya only grinned. "Nice," he laughed. "I still have a chance."

"Don't look so happy," she crossed her arms over her chest. "For all you know, you could stop liking me once you know me better."

"That won't happen. I know it," he assured as she rolled her eyes and marched on ahead of him. He waved after her.

"I look forward to getting to know you, erm..." He then stumbled over his words, realizing he forgot to ask something extremely important. "Hey! What's your name again?"

A few feet ahead of him, the girl spun around, her long brown hair fluttering amongst the cherry blossom petals. She pulled down her lower eyelid and stuck out her tongue at him.

"My name is Amari Chiyo," she shouted back. "Don't forget it!"

story masterlist | this is the first chapter! | next chapter

[ba-mi-soro-orisha]

Here's the non-spoiler review I just wrote for retail sites:

This is the series that got me back into reading, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. But the five year gap between book 2 and book 3…I felt it.

Bottom line: I did enjoy reading the book. However, it doesn't get full stars because the trilogy finale just doesn't hold up to the first two, and I think there's a lot of things that could have been done for a better read. The book reads a bit like Tomi lost enthusiasm during COVID and like she was just kinda finishing from an outline without the heart of the other books.

The deep emotions of the first two books just aren't there. There's a whole lot of telling rather than showing. You can tell by the smaller size of book 3 that we just don't get as much detail or exploration or action as we did in the previous books. I sobbed through entire portions of book 1 and book 2. In book 3, I had some perfunctory tears at the end of the story. But it absolutely wasn't the same emotional ride as before.

Characters from the last books are just shoved aside in favor of introducing the new characters and new worlds. The worldbuilding and new magic systems are amazing…but I would gladly lose them to be able to complete the story that it felt like the Orisha trilogy was originally telling. I would gladly lose them to be able to get answers to questions I had after book 2 that did not get addressed at all in book 3. Some characters were also just straight up lost and ignored and their fate's left open as plot bunnies.

I think we all knew that the cliffhanger in book 2 was going to drastically change the direction of the story, but I didn't expect that it would mean the story we spent getting built up in two books would just be completely abandoned and wrapped up in what was, quite frankly, an extremely unrealistic and unbelievable answer. The ending of book 3 and the entire series was just so abrupt. For as much work as Tomi does teaching writing, I really would have expected a fully played out climax with a suspenseful build and some sort of closure/ending. But it felt rushed. The ending was quick and then all of a sudden we're at the epilogue. It was not a well paced climax. After all the build up, the ending just fell flat. The final action was basically 0 compared to the buildup, and there absolutely was no taking us down from the climax. AND, I was left with a pretty big question at the end, plot-wise, which just doesn't get addressed whatsoever.

I've spent a lot of time on the things that I wish had been done differently, but since I did overall enjoy the read, I want to also point out what I enjoyed.

The writing was good, even if the storytelling wasn't the best. I finished the book in two days, and I did so because I did want to know what happened.

The worldbuilding and new magic systems we see are very interesting, though they might have been better explored in their own books and their own stories.

I don't know if it was always Tomi's plan or if she was responding to the fanbase, but I heavily appreciate how she handled Amari's character in particular.

I honestly thought the pacing in book 3 was much better than book 2. Book 2 was so heavy and hard to get through emotionally. I felt book 3 found its footing a lot better in giving me a lot of action but also not overwhelming me.

That said, I think the book definitely just suffered a mismatch of my expectations developed from the first two books and the final product, especially after so much time in between releases. It's been five years. A pandemic happened. A lot was going on in general, and I know Tomi must have grown so much in this time. Perhaps Tomi just outgrew the story she was telling for the age group she was writing for in the time it took for this series to get fully published and will blossom even further in her future projects.

I would like to go back and re-read all three books together and see how I feel about the finale after that. I did not re-read the series before book 3 (so the tons of flashback and reminder scenes were helpful for me, but might feel like too much on a re-read), and I would like to do that for a better overall picture of book 3.

[tanlorin]

10 Amiée facts perhaps 👁️

YESSS MILF MILF MILF MILF MILF

she's probably autistic but doesn't realize it.

she was born and raised in wayrest!

her old name is amanda but i had to change it because it fit TOO well with the amarie-anatolius-akatosh naming scheme (which was also unintentional on my part, but i like it).

she's the one who named amarie. obviously i'm not gonna give away amarie's birth name, but it was something more imperial. when amarie transitioned, she picked something more breton on purpose, and also started using both of her parents' last names.

aimée used to hide her unusually pointed ears (by styling her hair a certain way), but after seeing amarie embrace her own pointed ears, she decided to (try to) do the same.

she and victoria used to be friends wayy before either of their kids were born. however, victoria mainly started talking to her because she perceived her as uhh. Inferior. aimee, being autistic, never actually picked up on that and genuinely just thought she wanted to be friends.

(from previous point) they stopped talking shortly and abruptly before amarie was born, for reasons aimee herself never finds out (victoria being jealous that "someone like her" gets to find happiness).

idk why but i think she'd be really into knitting.

she refuses to marry azandar because she still feels complicated grief over losing anatolius (and not even being there for that), which he is absolutely understanding of. he probably wouldn't even want marriage, either.

speaking of azandar i think she's one of the few people who is like. almost completely unfazed by his behavior and way of speaking. she thinks that he's perfectly fine that way.

[draystersden]

Alloyshipping - Drayton's Family

Unsurprisingly, Drayden would like Amarys a lot. Going with my headcanons, I think he'd already know OF her since she's the daughter of LiveCast Corp's CEO, which would add bonus points in the status area.

Amarys is clearly a person who has her head on her shoulders, with a strong sense of responsibility and academic intellect. That's all the old man can really ask for in a suitor for his grandson, especially considering what Drayton's nature is like. Drayden would be curious to learn of whatever she sees in him though, because they're almost total opposites. Drayton's mother Ria would basically feel the same way, though she wouldn't try too hard to get to know Amarys since she's very disconnected from Drayton's life in general.

Iris would like her as well, and they would ironically have a kind of dynamic similar to what Amarys has with Carmine - where they easily interact despite the contrasting personalities. She'd be very impressed by her pokemon and how well she's trained them.

The one thing more so about her that would raise eyebrows, is of course how Amarys carries herself. She doesn't readily express much emotion, being the stoic type, which is quite unusual to see in a teen girl her age. If asked, she'd explain that her parents raised her to be calm and collected. There's obviously something that wouldn't fully add up there, since she's far too level-headed than what feels natural, but no one would question her heavily on it.

Drayton's giant, overarching family would in general be accepting of her. Some of his cousins wondered if he'd bring home someone as unserious and disappointing like him, while others doubted he'd try to bring anyone at all, so Amarys would surprise them all.

They would treat her like someone who's capable of "fixing" Drayton, which neither of them would appreciate.... Amarys wouldn't voice the feeling out of a desire to keep things cordial, but Drayton is another story. Perhaps a wave of drama will pass through, the boy's baggage will resurface, but it'd become clear to all paying attention that Amarys's attraction to and care for him is genuine with the vice-versa also applying. Nuances would continue to exist between them, and that's just fine. No one, not even their families, are entitled to know every aspect of their relationship.

Drayden would absolutely give Amarys invites to come back and visit them in Opelucid during school breaks / holidays. Maybe do some "sooo you're gonna marry my grandson eventually right? right?? please he needs a good future" oldhead antics on the side.

[ameliiorate]

💕 in the on going endeavour to have all the muses, maybe this will spark something!!

send 💕 and i will tell you some muses of ours i think could work as a ship.

look i WILL accomplish this mission and getting yet another chance to glance through your muse list reminds me that i am well on my way there. i remain determined!! 😤

☀︎ — amaris & grayson: two separate ceos but also two people that were driven into the job due to their fathers who are also involved in shady dealings. they both want to be the face of change. yet i feel there could be a lot of conflict and tension between each other before they find that common ground and it could be a juicy journey?? ☀︎ — daphne & sera: still need to write up sera's bio but she's a jones and that background remains the same. ANYWAY i see two very ambitious women trying to make their way in the financial industry through very different ways and means. STILL, perhaps they find themselves in each other?? ☀︎ — noah & aiyana: two weird women against the world? especially since aiyana is into the macabre and would not blink at what noah does for a living ☀︎ — olivia & mari: two lesbians that want to make some easy cash so start camming together?? MAYHAPS

[sleepyfaequeen]

Little Accidents

Chapter: 1

Warnings: xfem!reader, reader is in her early 20s, Jack Morrison is bisexual for story purposes. Don't like that, don't read. I don't think I have to explain that it's fanfiction and shouldn't be taken seriously. If that triggers you, do not read this fic.

A/n: Unsure who I should ship reader with but we shall see.

Summary: You find out something that you shouldn't have found out, but here we are. That's what you get for eavesdropping.

Song:

(Y/n) had become a part of Blackwatch for a few months now, and the constant training was always different, but joining Overwatch had become her dream. When she joined as a soldier, she was surprised that she would soon be joining a black ops group who was hand-picked by Commander Reyes himself. To work under someone who's well respected and knows what he's doing was a big honor. Not only that, but for some reason, she had noticed Commander Morrison has been watching over their training exercises. He would actually even compliment her. It surprised her at first, but she knew he probably did that to those he saw with potential. She always saw him talking to Gabriel in the distance, arguing about something, but regardless, it always seemed to calm down.

Today, she was walking to Commander Reyes' office to return some needed files that needed to be filled out and given to Doctor Moira. But she stopped in her tracks as soon as she heard Reyes and Morrison arguing. She knew it was bad to eavesdrop but she did it anyway.

"Absolutely not." Reyes' gruff voice came.

"I'm not asking you. I'm demanding that she be removed from you're squad." Jack could be heard sounding angry and less composed than he usually did.

"Why would I do that?" Gabriel shifts in his seat as he crosses his arms.

"Why?" She leans in, her curious blue eyes looking inside. Seeing Jack turn as he rubs a gloved hand over his face as he takes a moment to answer. "You got my kid in there."

".. What?" Gabriel tilts his head, seeming confused.

"I had a fling when I was young and.." He explains and Gabriel just laughs.

"Is it Cassidy?" Reyes jokes to which Jack scoffs.

"No, it's obvious who." The two lock eyes and (Y/n) can't help but jump as she feels a hand touch her arm. Seeing Captain Amari there made her completely freak out.

"(Y/n)? What's wrong? You look like you seen a ghost." She looks down at her concerned, and (Y/n) can't help but tighten her grip on the stack of papers in her gloved hands.

"No, I'm honestly fine..!" She could hear the two Commanders approaching the doorway and she quickly, shoves the papers into her chest before running down the hall and into the elevator as she turns she could see Commander Jack looks down the hall, her way, as the doors shut with a ding of the elevator.

She felt her heart beating so fast and her head spinning as she felt her entire face in a cold sweat. As the elevator stops, she finds herself aimlessly walking around. She wasn't sure what time it was when she found herself within the Blackwatch members' corridor room. She found her fingers shaking as she kept mistyping her own room code with multiple beeps being heard. She exhales as she stops herself for a moment.

Something about the new girl was off today. She looked rather tense, or at least that is what Genji's eyes could tell. To him, she was just another member, another teammate. A freak but she looked much more normal than the rest of them. More normal than him. Though he usually avoided conversations so he never thought of talking to her or much of anyone. Unless absolutely necessary circumstances. He resented them all for being.. human. It reminded him of what he was not. Of what was taken away from him.

The days in Overwatch was always the same. Everyday, to him, went by quickly and was just as empty as usual. Genji had his own routine like anyone else: training, meetings, more training, then showers. Perhaps the best part of his day. He was always grateful to feel the warmth of the shower against his torn flesh. Unlike his added cybernetic side, it could feel. He walked down the halls to the Blackwatch private quarters, with his towel hanging over and around his neck. Only in his gym shorts as his augments were showing. Stopping as he watched her fumble with her door passcode. "Needing help or something?" He asked her softly as he was more curious today about her expression. He was surprising himself since he rarely talked to other people, but she looked like she could use a hand.

She almost bit her own tongue as the robotic voice had startled her. Her head turning and her eyes blinking away any sort of distress as her fingers fumbled with the key card.

"Uh.. I.. I think I got it." Again, the beeping was still denying her access to her own quarters. She lowers her head as she steps aside and gestures for him to have a try. "Have at it. I swear I forget sometimes." She looks at him as she smiles and rubs the back of her neck as she hands him her keycard. "Code is 8170."

She never knew the cyborg ninja guy even talked. Well, he could she just has never really talked to him before. Only during missions there was usually nothing but nods or hand gestures. He would sigh or scoff and with the plate over his mouth it sounds more robotic. She's heard stories from others around the base and how he was so skilled. Some people would even think he was hard to look at but no one would dare tell him to his face. Honestly, with Genji's red cybernetic eyes, he looked like he could kill someone easily and he probably could. She didn't know him much but she knew he was usually a quiet guy and he seemed to like his solitude. Sometimes, Cassidy would talk to him and she swore Genji would roll his eyes but endure McCree's rambling.

His hand moved to type in the code after memorizing it and her repeating it quietly. His breathing could be heard from behind his mask as he typed in the last few digit numbers. The door to her room sliding open with a small green light on the keypad. He steps back and hands her the keycard.

"The codes are picky, sometimes you have to type them in slow." He said as his eyes looked at her for a mere moment in silence as he stepped back. Turning to walk to his own room as he takes out his own keycard.

".. Training will be early tomorrow." He said as he got to his own door and typed in his own code.

"Yeah.." she said as she steps inside her room and watches Genji walk over to him before her eyes met his. "Thank you, I'll be seeing you.. tomorrow." She said and he gives her a nod before heading into his room before pressing a button to let the doors close and lock and she did the same.

She sighs as she hangs her head low before going to her desk and immediately went to look at an old photo of her and her mother. Her mother never had the chance to tell her much about her father but the fact she unintentionally found him wasn't a coincidence. She just hoped whatever led them towards each other wasn't for the worst.

[fineprintedsunsets]

FREAK SHOW

circus au

Synopsis: Even the strongest people need a bit of comfort

Word Count: 680

!Trigger Warnings! - (this was so fucking last minute, likeeee.) mentions of trauma. short asf. comfort. kidnapping? Forced into an evil circus? (That's a warning you don't see every day.) (this one been sitting in the drafts, but i had to post for #hauntedhoedown)

I notice him the second he steps foot in the limelight. He looks like a man carved out of stone, his features beautifully symmetrical. His muscled arms, his bare torso.

Why is he here though? With the rest of the oddities we call “freaks?” He turns toward the crowd, his eyes piercing and unforgiving. I see it then, his left arm is replaced with a hunk of metal, painted to match the big-tops colors.

“Who is that?” I seem to ask, looking over at my companions, my two best friends. They chew on their own snacks, not hearing me over the loud circus music.

Clowns juggle in front of me, but my attention isn't on them. It’s not on the obnoxious crowd either. It’s on the man holding up a car with a single arm, all five fingers splayed under the metal framing.

His eyes are distant, never focussing on the roaring people. The ringer master's voice booms through the speakers, the performers continuing their acts.

“Welcome, Welcome!” The man utters, his voice loud and proud. Amaris and Baird smile, looking at me with proud laughs.

“Ladies and Gentleman, Clowns and Bears. Freaks alike! Welcome to the Big Top!”

The crowd echoes, shouting their encouragement as the man tips his hat in response. I stay still, still focused on the man holding up the broken-down car.

“We have plenty of freakish acts for you tonight, featuring our dancing bears, our tightrope walkers, our contortionist, and last but not least, Our strong man!”.

I sigh sinking further into our bleacher seats. Something about this is odd, and I don’t like it. The feeling of something in the air, the wisp of something sinister. I have to sit and watch for now, but believe me,

I will find out who he is.

My popcorn is running low. Not that any of the acts these “freaks” engage in are entertaining, but I needed something to crunch on to prevent my screaming. I’ve never liked circus acts, and I’m not sure why my friends thought I would, but here we are.

Here I am, anyway. At the popcorn booth, being told to ‘hold on a moment’ while they gave me another scoop of butter, per my request, It was far too dry last time.

A loud sniffling pulls my attention away, I can see inside a large tent stationed next to the snack stand, the sound of the repeating noises brings my attention away from the back of my accessor completely.

I’m far too curious now. The loud call of the crowd races behind me, but I slip into the tent, my breath is taken away but the sight in front of me.

The same man from earlier.

“The Strong Man”

I reach forward, almost on impulse running my hands through his shoulder-length hair. His eyes stay in their place, staring forward, looking distant. I gasped when his metal fingers wrap around my wrist, stopping my touching.

“What are you doing?” He asks, his voice cold.

“I-” I’m speechless, maybe because of shock, or perhaps it’s due to the fact the strong man is cutting off my circulation.

“I heard you.”

“You heard nothing.” He bites, swiping at his cheeks. I know he’s trying to hide his tears, it only breaks my heart that much more.

I smile as he lets my wrist go, blood pumping through my veins again.

“That’s condescending”. I respond, taking my time to look around the big-top tent. It’s plain, with a small couch and some boxes of circus props. The crowd bellows from outside as the ringmaster shouts orders.

“No, it’s not.” He bites, his stone eyes roaming my features. He sniffles, making it that much more obvious he’s upset. I don’t think, I just act. I reach my arms around the strong man, my breath heaving as nervousness sets in.

What if he pushes me away?

Except he doesn't, he wraps his metal arm around my waist, bringing my body to his. The circus melts away as I melt into him.

Even the strongest people need comfort.

[amariemelody]

I dunno know if I'm asking for advice or just need to let this out or...I dunno...

So I installed the Meetup app on my phone and, lo and behold, one of the social groups is for...out-of-closet LGBT people.

I saw it while scrolling last month and, though I'm still very much in recovery from the flu (my doctor gave me a 2-week sample of a Trelegy inhaler), I still look and see quite a few events/outings that look like a ton of nice, casual fun once I'm well.

From their posted past events, it also looks like alcohol & smoking aren't at the center-a major plus for my non-alcoholic, asthmatic ass.

The group is already made up of 30+ people, and looks full to the brim of other black women and non-Black POC from the pictures. It openly says "allies & inclusion" are important, so perhaps that's also a code for LGBT folk like me who are still quite-closeted in real life and would approach without revealing our identity.

A part of me...really, truly, desperately want to go to an event. I'd love to start going regularly.

Another part of me...still wants and needs safety.

As I continue to be closeted in real life, so I continue to stay safe-or at least feel safe-but that also means that as far as being bisexual, I am very, very isolated from other LGBT people in real life.

I hit 32-years-old two months ago and it's something...I've been grappling with more and more lately.

And I'm not sure of the answer.

My online dating on HER still isn't...as fruitful as I hoped. It's turning into O*Cupid for me: lots of wonderful, lovely, attractive prospects but too much silence after I hit that "Match".

I very desperately want to experience a romance for the first time in my life.

I've made peace with the fact that this would be my first one even as I'm in my 30s. A lot of us LGBT folks don't get our "firsts" until much, much later. And in any case experience does not equate health and/or happiness.

I still want the experience.

When I go out on my own in a nice blouse or sweater, makeup popping, medical mask on straight, and earrings swinging...I admit I wish I was with another woman who thinks I'm pretty and attractive and tells me so. I'd love to feel and do the same for her.

I want to catch another woman's eye In That Way and she catches mine.

I'd love for her to maybe catch me in the door on the way out of the event and maybe ask me out for coffee.

I would love, love, love a casual coffee shop date. There's so many little lovely hole-in-the-wall coffee shops in my town that I enjoy, but hell I'll even take St*rbucks too. I'm a touchy-feeling person that would enjoy even a small, hand touch in-between sips of hot, festive coffee/tea drinks.

Even if none of that leads to the eventual marriage I want...I admit to myself that I still want those experiences and I want to feel safe in them.

But I as much as I want that, I am still abjectly terrified of another woman asking me out on a coffee date in public, in real life.

That's...sad. That's sad that I'm terrified of the potential exposure and possible resulting danger of going on a coffee date as a bisexual woman.

In 2023.

So yes, I've tried...to do it the online way, what felt the safer way for a long time now.

I want to be safe, but I also want to experience if not love just yet, then at least friendship.

I don't...yet see myself walking up to a real-life group of my fellow LGBT's and introducing myself as bisexual. I'd just want to be "Amarie".

I have absolutely no idea when or if Amarie would drop the Bisexual Bomb on anybody in the group.

Would I even be accepted just as Amarie? I've always already been "queer" as in "strange" even before I knew I was bisexual at age 25: I enjoy kids' media more than adults; my voice is higher than oft expected; I can giggle endlessly; and I unintentionally hide high intelligence behind jocularity and affability.

And lately, sometimes...I worry that I can't find my way through (or do I go around?) the tight, but intense chasm between being a romance sap who deeply wants to be partnered vs. being an already deeply, intersectionally-marginalized black woman with already full-blown C-PTSD that just as deeply wants and deserves to be safe.

I don't want it to eat me up.

I'm just...still not sure how to be safe and happy at the same time. And I hate that I still live in a world where the two just might still be mutually exclusive.

I...wish I knew how to be brave enough that I could open up the closet door just a little bit more than a peek.