#and probably if something has been shared yet

[leascorner]

j.b.b | The Grinch

Summary: Y/N can’t travel to see her family on Christmas so she invite her grumpy loner neighbour, Bucky.

Pairing:  Post blip!Bucky Barnes x f!reader

Warnings: Use of Y/N and feminine pronoums, a few mentions of food and alcohol, angst, some vulgar language, everything is in the summary really, this is set like the falcon and the winter soldier never happened or it's happening before that.

Word Count: 3.5k

A/N: This is the 4th Xmas OS of the series. So sorry it is a couple of days late. Please do share and like if you enjoyed it, it means a lot! Merry Christmas!

2024 Christmas Masterlist | Main Masterlist

18th of December

$125

Y/N blinked at the number being displayed on her phone’s screen. She had stopped right in the middle of what she was doing, in utter disbelief of her discovery. Her whole process of thoughts seemed to have frozen; just like her computer would display “error 404” when she would perform contradictory actions.

She didn’t understand how this was possible; something was wrong obviously wrong because she didn’t expect this number to be displayed. Refusing what she was seeing, she logged out of the app and then back in a couple of times.

Yet, every time, the sentence was the same.

$125

Despite everything, this was currently the amount of money Y/N had on her bank account. These past couple of months, she had been saving for this moment; a moment she had been imagining all year long and for which she expected to be shredding happy tears. Instead, the tears currently running down her cheeks were made of pure anger.

She found the culprit quite easily. A monthly interest payment of a loan that was playfully mocking her on top of her bank statement. Now that she was thinking of it, she should have probably read all those letters; the ones with the red-inked stamp “urgent” printed on them. She had found all the excuses in the world: especially how exhaustive was she after having worked double shifts almost every day lately or that it had just been easier to have them sitting on her coffee table.

Y/N had no idea what she would do. If $125 was probably quite enough to eat until the end of the month if she made a few compromises, there was no way she would be able to buy flight tickets to get home for Christmas. She would have brought them earlier if she had been able to – at a time she still had the money on her bank account, for example – but her colleague had only confirmed that same day they could take over her shifts during the Christmas week. Now, she didn’t have any money and would be alone for the year-end celebration.

Her cell phone ringing made her snap back to reality. She was still in front of her building, keys in one hand, frozen in her action to enter. Her heart sunk has she discovered the picture displayed on the screen; her sister and her, one of the last pictures they had taken together, at Y/N’s university graduation ceremony, a couple of weeks before the blip. Her sister was most likely calling her about this “very good news” Y/N had texted her about that afternoon. Now, she only had to let her know that it had been a false alarm and that she wouldn’t be able to make it home this year.

Again.

It wouldn’t be the first time indeed. In fact, ever since the blip had been reversed, Y/N had not been home for the Christmas. At first, she had chosen not to. She was the only person in her family to have been gone. Without her, they all had continued with their lives, and the post-blip had been brutal for her. One second, she was full of life: she had just gotten an amazing job in New York, and she was going to live her dream. The other, the blip had happened, five years had passed, and she had lost everything. Her family, her job, herself. Her little sister was now older than her, graduating college and ready to start a family. Her parents had retired and started a new life in California. She didn’t have a dream job anymore; she had no job at all in fact. In this world that had changed so much, she felt out of places. So, she did what she thought was could do. She left everyone behind and moved to New York.

The months after moving there had been full of hope. Hope that she could still make it to her dream job and life after all. She had gotten in touch with associations working on helping people post-blip. They said: if she took a few classes, she could be retrained on the most up to date information and she would be able to get the job she had always dreamt of after all. Yet, it was even worse than college. She had to work part-time to be able to take the night classes. She either worked or studied; leaving only a few minutes a day to eat, sleep and bath. This was until some court bailiffs came banging to her door. The banks had been quick to be back to find the people that had disappeared and were now asking them to provide the past five years’ debt payment. All of her dreams had been shattered yet again.

Determined not to ask for help, Y/N stayed in New York and totally forgot about her dreams. Instead, she found another job at a bar-restaurant – one that paid better than the cashier part-time job she had until that – and worked there ever since, trying to pay off her initial student loan and the other loan she had had to take to be able to repay the requested five-years’ worth of debt in one go. She was now planning every spendings up to the last penny. She was living off diluted body and hair shower gel and all sorts of techniques to have the impression of having eaten a lot more than she had. Yet, it hadn’t been enough.

It was never enough…

Drying off her tears, she answered her phone and stuck it against her ear with her shoulder while she entered the building. She was quick to break the news to her sister. She kept her voice steady, not showing any emotions to shorten the conversation as much as possible. She did so as she collected her mail and then turned to take the stairs up to her apartment.

On the phone, Y/N didn’t see her neighbour coming down the stairs and eventually run straight into him. She would have fallen down the two steps she had just climbed if he hadn’t caught up by the arms at the very last moment.

"For fuck’s sake!" he sighed angrily. "Can’t you watch where you’re going?"

Y/N only answered by rolling her eyes. She picked up her phone from the floor; her sister was still on the line, calling after her. While she turned it to her, she discovered her screen totally shattered. She would have cried if she could have…

Without further ado, she put her phone back to her ear and continued to go up the stairs. Her neighbour – a guy that moved in a couple of months ago and that was hardly saying ‘hello’ the few times they had seen each other in the hall – huffed and without thinking nor turning back, Y/N flipped him off. She would probably be ashamed of this later, but at that moment, she couldn’t care less of what he would think of her.

She couldn’t care less about anything anyway.

20th of December

Two days later, as Y/N was slowly accepting the fact that she would not be with her family for Christmas, she encountered her favourite neighbour in the hall again.

She had just gotten home from work and was collecting a parcel in her letterbox. This was a present for her sister that she wouldn’t be able to give her in the end and for which she couldn’t even pay stamp to ship it to her home. She would be lucky if she could return it and get a few dollars back.

As she was closing her letterbox, her neighbour entered the hall. Feeling a little guilty about the other night, Y/N’s first thought was to apologies for her behaviour. A quick look at the guy and the constant frown on his face made her swallow her saliva; hard.

He was good-looking though, with his blue-piercing eyes and full lips. The stubble on his chin –always of the same length whenever she would see him – let her think that he was taking care of himself; though the way he dressed was clearly demonstrating he wasn’t really on point on the fashion side. If he wasn’t always so… whatever he always was… she probably would have liked him. With his grumpy looks, he reminded her of this movie character she liked so much when she was a kid: the Grinch.

In silence, Y/N watched from the corner of her eyes as he also checked his mailbox, a couple of meters away from hers. After gathering the few letters in the box, he sighed and abruptly closed the door.

“What now?” he asked as he turned to her.

Y/N jumped to the tone of his voice. He was clearly annoyed at her while she hadn’t done anything. At least that day.

“No need to be a dick,” she quickly bit back, annoyance building up in her voice as much as his, and he huffed again – this seemed to be something he would do a lot. She had to take a quick deep breath before continuing: "I wanted to… apology for the other night.”

The words nearly burnt her mouth as she was saying them. It cost her a lot to admit her wrongs, yet his cold eyes only started at her, and he spoke no words back. She didn’t know how she wanted him to react, but his absence of reaction startled her, and only made her want to justify herself further.

“I wasn’t in a good mood,” she added.

“You are not the only one to have bad days,” was all he said before leaving.

Taken aback, Y/N watched as he climbed the stairs and disappeared out of his sight. She couldn’t believe how much of a jerk he had been. She swore this was the last time she would ever speak to him.

22nd of December

Y/N rarely overslept.

The only reason for that was that she didn’t sleep a lot. Ever since the blip, she had trouble finding sleep and then, staying asleep. It was like her body had a big fear of missing out on everything and anything, so it just let her sleep the number of hours she needed to keep going. She would have thought that with the double shifts she was doing, she would have slept better, but she didn’t. Instead, she stayed wide awake in her bed, fixing the ceiling, eyes heavy with tiredness. She had all this time to think about the misery of her own life.

However, it seemed that night that the tiredness had gotten the most out of her, and as she never set an alarm clock – because she rarely needed, she was now going to be late for work. She took only a couple of minutes to get ready, drink a coffee and brush her teeth all at the same times. Ten minutes later, she was already grabbing her stuff and putting her coat on.

As she opened the door of her apartment, she came face-to-face with her neighbour going up the stairs. They both immediately stopped in their tracks.

He looked at her. Her eyes still puffy from the fact she had still been sleeping less than fifteen minutes ago. Hair all other the place even if she had put hair clips in them to keep them into place. She had dressed up in such a hurry, the shirt of her uniform was halfway in and halfway out of her pants.

She looked at him looking at her. With the same frown on his face and the same cold glance. Just this time, the circles around his eyes were darker than ever and he looked much more tired than her. For the first time, she saw something vulnerable in him, a flash of sadness in the blankness of his face.

They looked at one another. So different yet somehow similar. With their inability to sleep properly, the memories that kept them up at night and their resentment about this life that had been taken away from them. Both of them with all their trauma and weaknesses. With their constant melancholy and sometimes, their good days.

They looked at each other some more and then they both continued on with their day.

24th of December

Y/N was just settling on her couch – which was also her bed – in front of the TV, wrapped in her fluffy blanket and two pairs of fleece socks on her feet when she heard a knock on her door. She froze instantly; bad memories coming back to her in an instant. She had been visited a few times by different people always banging on her door at sunrise; each time, it never had ended well. Per pure reflex, she held her breath as if whoever was on her front door would be able to hear her - the walls were probably thin, but not this thin.

After counting to ten and not hearing anything else, she relaxed into her sofa. It was probably just her imagination at this point, this was how tired she was. She reached for the remote on the coffee table and started an episode of her favourite TV show. This was when she heard a knock for the second time. One time too many for her.

This time she paused her show and got on her feet to have a look. Sulking for the five steps it took her to go to the front door, she opened it bluntly and was surprised to find her neighbour ‘The Grinch’.

He looked at her, surprised and she looked at him, probably even more surprised. Her gaze turned instinctively to her feet and the fluffy pyjamas she was wearing. She couldn’t help the heat crawling up her neck, so she looked back to him and her eyes got stuck on his hands. One of flesh and one of metal. Holding a metal box between them. That he was now holding up to her.

She frowned.

“For you.”

Her eyes moved up to his face again, to check if he was serious or not. She could have fallen asleep the minutes her show started and be dreaming; though from how cold her feet were, she was pretty sure she wasn’t. Nothing on his face indicated he was joking – he didn’t seem to be the type to joke anyway. He wasn’t actually frowning, but he still had a small wrinkle in between his two eyebrows from all the frowning he was doing that somehow it still looked like he was. She wouldn’t say the expression on his face was friendly, but it had something that for once made her not want to close the door on his face.

Perhaps, it was because of the straight line his lips were in. They which were was usually so pink and so… luscious. From that, she couldn’t tell what he was feeling right now – was he nervous? Or simply contemplating all his life choices now that he was in front of her. She knew it was costing him to be here in front of her.

She looked back at the metal box in his hands; was he really expecting her to take it?

“My ma’ used to cook cookies for our neighbours,” he stated as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. His glance adverted to the ceiling as if he was looking for the right words to continue: “I thought maybe… this was a good way to apologize. For the other day…and all the times before that.”

This time, it was Y/N’s time to stop frowning – she would have to check later if she had also a wrinkle. She took the box he was handing her and nodded, in some sort of way to mean ‘thank you’. The box was heavier than she had expected it to be. She wondered if he had made them himself, like his ‘ma’ was probably doing.

“My name is Bucky by the way.” Was all he said before leaving her like that, a box of cookies in her hands.

25th of December

Working at a restaurant had its own perks. One of them being that Y/N could have at least one meal a day in the form of the staff meal. And on special occasions – like today – she could even get home with leftovers, most of them she would normally stock up in her freezer to make sure she had something to eat in the next couple of days.

That day though, when she climbed up the stairs, she didn’t stop on the second floor where her apartment was. Instead, her feet got her to the fourth floor, on the second door on the right. One she had never been to and yet, she knew exactly where to find it.

She didn’t hesitate one second before knocking, though the few seconds she had to wait she did get cold feet and wonder if it was really a good idea. Bucky did have gifted her handmade cookies – she had eaten a couple after he left while watching her favourite show, and it was the best she probably ever had. However, it did not mean they were now friends. They were just two adults, seeing each other in the hall of their building sometimes. That was all… Then, why was she so damned pulled towards him?

Bucky opened the door when she was about to turn around. He had a blank tank top and black pants on. Thankfully, he did not seem to be in the middle of a Christmas dinner and his apartment was pretty quiet behind him. His usual frown had been replaced by raised eyebrows. He was surprised to see her, on Christmas day, in her work clothes, at his door. He would have probably expected her to be in her family, with her friends or boyfriend, even. Instead, she had nowhere better to be than in front of him, right now.

They stared at each other for what seemed to be a long time, before his cat – Alpine as he called after, while trying to stop it to get outside his apartment – came to rub itself against her legs. She immediately lowered herself to scratch it behind the ear and Bucky observed them without a word. His cat, who was usually more than a little fearful of people it didn't know, was on the verge of lying down on the floor and beg for belly rubs.

“Are you on your own too?” was the only thing he spoke, and she got back on her feet, suddenly remembering why she was actually here.

“Wanna share?” she asked while showing him the paper bag in which she had the leftovers from the restaurant.

His eyes scanned her face a little too long for Y/N’s liking that she grew nervous. She felt like an idiot, believing… whatever – she wasn’t even sure she was believing. She was just lonely, having been alone for too long. The only people she hung out with would be her colleagues, on her work time – and they had taken a drink together after work a time or two. Most of them were students or only planning to be in the job for a couple of months before bouncing back. None of them was like her, as if she had been the only one to disappear off of the surface of the earth.

Over the last few years, she had repeated to herself – over and over again – that she didn’t need anyone. It was true somehow; she was fine alone. It was just that today she wanted a break from all of this, and she had thought of him. Because she had seen the veil before his eyes. She had seen it on hers before. She knew why… He was just like her. And perhaps, she had thought, they could be alone together. That was what they called the Christmas spirit, no?

“I mean, I’ve got more than enough, and you can have some. We don’t need to eat together. Totally fine if you wish to be alone.” She overexplained, speaking so fast he couldn’t say a word, even if he wanted to. She was just going to go home anyway. It was probably already late in the day; she would eat some food because she could – it was a victory on its own. “And you’ve probably already eaten, it’s fine. Don’t mind me.”

She was going to turn around, but he stepped on the side, making room for her to get in. Alpine instantly trotted in, its tail straight as a pick.

“I’ve got Gin,” was all he said again. A man of a few words he was.

And that was how they would both of them spent their first Christmases with someone in years. They would drink gin, try a bit of every leftover Y/N had gotten and finish by some kind of French pastry neither of them knew how it was named. They would speak for hours – or sort of, it was a few words here and there, making sentences altogether. They would have a good time and when it was time for Y/N to go home, she would suggest doing it again and Bucky would smile in response. A soft smile that would warm her heart forever. A smile that illuminated his whole face and probably his life.

And perhaps that was what exactly what she had come to find that night.

Some warmth.

[rocknrollsalad]

rating: gen cw: Steve Harrington has bad parents, holiday celebrations, period typical homophobia, show typical trauma tags: it's the 90s y'all, older steddie, established steddie, stancy is mentioned, reclaiming holidays word count: 728

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written for @steddieholidaydrabbles prompt "stocking" and the @steddiemas prompt "surprise"

Christmas had never been Steve’s favorite holiday. He was more of a Thanksgiving guy. A big meal, friends and family, and a little bit of football? It was exactly how Steve would describe the perfect day.

Not to mention Thanksgiving was more relaxed than Christmas. There was a certain pressure around Christmas time that Steve swears he’d call one of his earliest memories. Life had moved on a long, long way from trying to eat the lights on the tree but the pressure to be well-behaved and happy was the same.

However, finding his own little community did help some. Not that any of them were any more Christmas people than Steve. Chrissy was the closest, she liked to entertain so any excuse. Nancy and Jonathan had a kid now so they had to celebrate but other than that, they were all fine to let the day come and go. It was an obligation best spent with friends who were suffering the same way.

This year was a little different. For the first time in Steve’s life, he had his own place to celebrate. Not an apartment he and Eddie shared with Robin and Chrissy, not his family home that he was allowed to stay in, this was his. And Eddie’s. Mostly his though.

A modest little home just outside suburbia with a lawn and a two-car garage, Steve loved the place. He’d spent the last nine months fixing all the things that needed repaired and updated which only made him love it more. This was where he was going to spend the rest of his life.

It was that ownership, that security of something for forever, that had him buying a Christmas tree a little early this year. Not out of obligation but because there was a perfect spot in the living room for it. Right in front of the window yet not in the way. It wouldn't take up the only communal space and no one would tell him how to decorate it, so why not?

They gave it a few simple decorations and a new string of lights, Steve wasn’t going crazy here. He still didn’t care about Christmas, but this symbolized so much more. Something that became more and more obvious with each new bit of seasonal decor that found it's way up. What really cinched it was the stockings, though. Something about really said "Christmas" to Steve.

One for him and one for Eddie. Their stockings hung in their home as they would be for the rest of their lives. It probably shouldn’t have made Steve as emotional as it did. He couldn’t stop looking at them. All that they’d fought to be alive, everything they went through, made this feel like a luxury. One Steve couldn’t believe he’d earned.

But he had. There were scars, nightmares, and weekly trips to the therapist to prove it. Whether he’d ever feel like they were safe or that he could fully let his guard down, time would still tell, but Steve was starting to feel worthy of more than just existing.

And there was one more thing this picture-perfect life needed.

It wasn’t exactly possible but times had changed enough that Steve and Eddie could live together and even if it raised a few eyebrows, people kept quiet. It wasn’t enough but it was something. Still, Steve knew. He knew there wasn’t anyone else on this planet for him and the only reason he wasn’t married to Eddie was because it wasn’t legal.

So with a bit of scrambling and all the romantic creativity in his body, Steve bought a ring and wrote a little speech. He sat on both for almost a week without saying anything so that he could pull off the surprise a moment like this was worth.

When Christmas morning rolled around, Steve’s stocking was overflowing with trinkets, candies, and other little goodies but Eddie’s sat looking practically empty. Steve rooted around through his and tried to not watch a very disappointed man dig down to the toe of his monogrammed stocking, chasing the only thing in it.

By the time he’d succeeded, Steve had ditched his candy and was waiting on one knee. This was the last thing he needed to make this the life he’d always dreamt of and maybe the first step in making Christmas something truly magical.

[darkfictionjude]

Nia - The meeting

1979

She thought that her mother was bringing her to the park far too frequently. She remembered how a long time ago — she isn’t good at giving a good estimate on time. It was probably a week ago — she begged to be taken to the park by the library.

Her mother had been so busy lately and she didn’t know why. Her mother didn’t have a job unlike her father.

Nia didn’t even know what a ‘job’ was but she knew that her father would leave when the sun was low but going up and come back when the moon was out.

She asked her mom if she had a ‘job’ and she had said her job was taking care of her.

Nia thought she was too big for anyone to take care of her. She could tie her shoelaces all by herself and knew how to make a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich.

“Mom, look!” Nia yells as she raises her arms above her head, sitting at the top of the slide.

Nia’s mother was rubbing her chin, her eyes downcast. Nia yells again, louder. Her mother looks up, her eyes searching throughout the park games. They find her daughter and she smiles quickly.

Something in Nia’s stomach twists, her mom’s smiles don’t last long anymore. She used to smile so much that Nia would forget what she looked like when she wasn’t. Now she can’t remember what it looked like when she was.

Nia pushes herself down the slide, the hard plastic hurting her legs. She lands on her feet, moving aside as the next kid comes down after her. She watches as her mother looks down at the ground again, she doesn’t look like she’s thinking about anything.

Nia looks at the kid who lands on their feet a few paces away. The kid is dressed drably. In muted colours that make the deep indents under their eyes look even more pronounced. They rub their hands and look at her.

They both blink at each other before the kid runs off to the monkey bars. An older boy on the swings warns them loudly to not run or they’ll fall. The kid doesn’t look like they heard him.

Nia has seen that kid around. They are always with the older boy. They look the same, they must be siblings. Nia wishes she had a sibling, sometimes. but then that wish goes away when she thinks about sharing.

The kid looks like they’re as old as her. Are they going to be in school together? She doesn’t know if she’d like that. They don’t seem to be like her. They don’t even dress like her. Nia rubs the mesh fabric of her dress.

Even if she did want to be friends with them, Father would never allow it. He says he knows who his little princess should be friends with. Father knows best.

Nia looks back at her mother. People say they look alike. The same hair, eyes and skin colour. Nia likes that. She thinks her mom is the prettiest mom in the whole world. A queen from her fairytale book.

Despite her age, Nia knows mother’s skin looks less alive than usual. Her hair doesn’t look like she used a comb in days and Nia is sure she has been wearing that yellow dress for more than a day.

But Nia doesn’t know what to say. ‘Are you ok?’ isn’t yet in her vocabulary. She takes a step towards her mom when she’s thrown to the ground.

Her cheek slides against the hard ground, her hip blossoms in pain. She lifts a hand up and sees tiny little rocks embedded in her palm.

She lifts her head up and sees the familiar figure of the kid laying on the ground next to them, their feet pointed towards Nia. Nia looks from them to the slide and stifles a little cry.

The older boy runs to their sibling’s side. She doesn’t pay attention to what he’s saying, his voice does sound mad but worried. Nia sits up and looks to where her mother was sitting.

Is sitting.

Her mom hasn’t moved. She’s still looking down. Nia feels like she wants to cry now. She sniffs and dusts her hands. She flicks little rocks stuck to her dress. She moves her feet to stand up.

“Are you ok?”

A hand is thrust in front of Nia’s face. She looks from that small hand, up the dull skin of their arm, to their shoulder, to their neck and finally to their face looking down at them.

The kid who pushed her down has a neutral look on their face. They don’t look sorry. They don’t even look worried. Nia wants to smile. Instead she picks herself up and stands at eye-level with them.

The kid drops their hand and says nothing. Nia tucks her hair behind her ears and places one hand on her hip.

“You didn’t say sorry.”

The kid doesn’t react to this, their eyes briefly flicking over to their older brother who’s standing a few feet away, watching them.

The kid looks down Nia’s dress, zeroing in on a certain part. “Your dress is ripped,” they say.

Nia looks down and sure enough there’s a small tear. She presses her lips together. She looks up at the other kid’s face.

“You ripped it. You need to pay for a new one,” she says. The other kid blinks once. Nia can’t tell if they are bored or plain dumb. She’s never seen a kid with eyes that look like the eyes of her goldfish when he died.

“I don’t have money,” they reply.

Nia looks over at her mother who stands up and slowly — eyes still somewhere else — walks down the path away from the park.

“I’m going home but you have to do everything I say for one month,” Nia says, not asking.

The kid follows Nia’s eyes and sees the lady in the yellow dress becoming smaller.

“Ok.”

Nia doesn’t respond and tries not to run as she attempts to reach her absentminded mother. The next day Nia comes to the park and she and her new assistant begin a month-long business agreement.

[maximoffwitch]

Hola, heyyy I saw you’re looking for some Emily/Jj requests! I’m so in the mood for a fluff-Christmas time one with jj x fem!reader! I had this idea of something along the lines of it being one of jj’s first few Christmas’ since will left her (Michael is new born atp) and she’s stressing about doing it Aline for her new gf (reader) is super helpful and it makes jj sappy and also she feels like she doesn’t deserve reader but reader is just so in love with jj and her boys! Idk if that’s awful or cutesy🥺but sorry if that’s terrible

All I Want for Christmas Is You

pairing: jennifer jareau x reader

warnings: none! just pure fluff

summary: you spend your first christmas with you girlfriend, who’s still getting used to sharing the burden of the holiday chaos.

word count: 4.1k

a/n: merry christmas and happy holidays!! hope you enjoy some tooth rotting fluff <3 again, this is not rly proofread so pls forgive any mistakes (:

this is also part of @storiesofsvu holiday bingo for the “first christmas” square!

Setting aside the pile of case files, JJ cringed as she picked up her own list of things to do. Christmas was fast approaching, and she had a million things to do. A few things had been crossed off, but she still had to buy and wrap more presents for the boys, finish decorating, and bake cookies. Ever since her and Will had gotten divorced, JJ prepared the Christmas festivities on her own. And though this would be her third year doing so, it never did get any easier.

Noticing the furrow in JJ’s brow, Emily took out one of her ear buds. “You alright?”

“Yeah,” JJ sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. “I just have a lot to do before Christmas.”

“Oooo.” Emily grinned with a knowing glint in her eye, taking out her other ear bud. “Are you spending it with (Y/N)?”

When Emily had introduced you to the team about a year ago, she had a feeling you would take a liking to a certain blonde. You and Emily had been roommates and best friends in college, but you’d only recently moved to DC for a fellowship opportunity at George Washington Hospital. Emily had told you all about the media liaison, and you had to admit she was your type, but you also knew that JJ was fairly recently divorced and had two boys to worry about. If anything was going to happen, you wanted her to make the first move. So you waited patiently, content to just be around her and get to know her better.

When JJ did take that first step, asking you to coffee one morning before your shift, you swore it was the best day of your life. Yet, somehow, every day after that continued to prove you wrong. You absolutely adored JJ, never minding her busy schedule. After a month or two of dating, she introduced you to her two boys, and you immediately fell in love. Henry was a little ball of energy and excitement, always wearing a timid smile on his face, and Michael, though only two, was constantly babbling to you about something, his adorable chubby cheeks flushed red. You knew as soon as you met them that you’d do absolutely anything for them, even if JJ and you separated, which you hoped never happened.

You always loved Christmas—the snow, the gifts, the hot chocolate, the cozy fire, the nostalgic carols, all of it—and you wanted to share that joy with your girlfriend and her kids. So when JJ got called in on back to back cases the weeks before Christmas, and you could practically feel the guilt and stress radiating off her through the phone, you devised a plan.

“I don’t know,” JJ said, her eyes scanning back over her list. “I don’t want to burden her by making her spend Christmas morning with two screaming kids.”

“Oh, come on Jayje,” Emily chuckled. “You know that (Y/N) absolutely adores the boys.”

“She probably has plans,” JJ deflected, knowing Emily was right. You were amazing with Henry and Michael, something that melted her heart every time she saw you interact with them.

“Oh, she definitely has plans,” Emily mumbled under her breath. You had told your best friend all about your Christmas ideas for JJ and the boys, swearing her to secrecy. You wanted it to be a surprise, knowing the expression on JJ’s face would be all worth it.

JJ frowned, as she heard her friend’s quiet comment. Even thought she was scared to ask you to spend Christmas with her, the thought of you having plans already made her chest tighten. “She has plans? Is she going back home?”

“No, JJ.” Emily smiled softly. “She has plans with you.” More like for you, she added in her head.

“What?” JJ’s eyes widened as she looked up to her friend’s amused expression. “She hasn’t said anything to me.”

Emily sighed. She knew you’d kill her if you spoiled the surprise. “It’s supposed to be a surprise.”

“What is?” JJ whined, desperate to know what you had up your sleeve.

Emily bit her lip as she weighed her options. Reaching across the table, she grabbed JJ’s list, ignoring the blondes vehement protests as she ripped up the piece of paper.

“Emily! What the hell?”

“You won’t be needing that anymore,” Emily simply said as she put her earbuds back in before JJ could question her further.

JJ just stared in disbelief at her friend, a small scoff escaping her lips. When she realized Emily wasn’t going to tell her anymore, she rolled her eyes, pulling out her phone to see if she could get any information directly from the source.

“Hello darling. Thanks for watching the boys again. On the jet on my way home. Do you wanna stay the night? Probs won’t be home till late. Xx.” She sent you a quick text, noticing the typing bubble appearing by your name almost immediately.

“Of course J! I love spending time with the boys. They’re already asleep and I’ve just been tidying up. Get home safe and see you soon love.”

JJ smiled at your response, her thumbs hovering over the keys as she thought out how to ask you what was on her mind.

“Would you also wanna spend Christmas with us? I don’t know if you have any plans but I’d love to have you with us and I’m sure the boys would too.”

JJ watched as your three dots appeared and disappeared, her heart beating in her ears. She hoped it wasn’t too soon and she hadn’t scared you off. When her phone pinged a few minutes later, she instantly grabbed her phone, causing Emily to chuckle quietly.

Scanning over your message, JJ blinked back a few tears, of happiness and relief.

“Jennifer, there’s no other place I’d rather be on Christmas than with you and the boys. Thank you for inviting me!! I know how much this means to you. I love you so so much! Let me know if I can do anything to help. (I know you already have a list going). Miss you dearly. Hurry home.”

JJ typed out a quick response, one that may have contained a few too many heart emojis, and tucked her phone back in her bag. Staring out the window, she could see the dim lights of DC starting to appear through the fog as thoughts of you swirled in her mind. She couldn’t wait to get home.

— — — —

As she pulled up to her house, JJ’s jaw literally dropped. It was almost unrecognizable, as white Christmas lights lined the roof and windowsills and lit candles burned in the windows. Knowing you were the culprit behind the newly decorated house, JJ felt a warmth flood her body, but she couldn’t also help feel a little guilty. She didn’t want you to have to do all this work, work that she really should be doing.

As she stepped in the front door, she looked around the living room in awe. All sorts of decorations were littered around—mini Santas, holiday candles, homemade paper snowflakes, garlands on the mantle. JJ nearly melted when she saw the perfectly wrapped presents under the tree, ones that you no doubt put there, seeing as she was no where near wrapping any of the gifts she’d gotten the boys. Dropping her go bag next to the sofa, she followed the soft clattering of dishes coming from the kitchen. You were loading the dishwasher, donning one of JJ’s old Georgetown hoodies and a pair of Christmas pajama pants, and the sight stirred something within JJ, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Hey, honey,” she cooed, careful not to scare you as she approached you.

“JJ!” You lit up, throwing your arms around her and burying your face in her neck. With all the holiday chaos and both of your busy schedules, you had missed your girlfriend tremendously. “I missed you,” you mumbled into her skin, her vanilla and jasmine perfume flooding your senses.

“I missed you too, (Y/N/N).”

Lifting your head, you wore a tired smile. “Hi,” you whispered dreamily as you stared into JJ’s hypnotizing blue eyes.

“Hi yourself,” she giggled.

“Can I have a kiss?” You jutted out your bottom lip, giving her your best pout.

JJ fondly rolled her eyes but nonetheless responded by meeting your lips with hers, kissing you tenderly.

“Mmm,” JJ hummed as the two of you separated. “I missed that too.”

You chuckled, quickly pecking her lips again. “Me too.”

“How was your week, babe?” JJ untangled herself from you before moving towards the cabinet to grab a mug for some tea.

“Busy,” you replied, shrugging nonchalantly. The hospital was always hectic during the holidays with the terrible weather, ladder accidents, and increased drinking. “How was the case?”

“It was alright,” JJ said, matching your tone. “Solved it in the end.”

Neither of you divulged many details of your work, knowing the other saw their fair share of humanity each day. The only times you’d discuss work in depth was when one of you had a rough day and needed to talk about it. You shared a mutual understanding of where work stood in your relationship, and establishing that boundary early on kept your relationship strong. The two of you made quite the pair as an FBI agent and a trauma surgeon.

“Good,” you hummed as you started the electric kettle for the blonde’s tea. Noticing the tenseness in your girlfriend’s shoulders, you crossed the room and cupped her face, gently rubbing the creases out of her forehead as you searched her eyes. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

JJ paused for a moment, knowing she couldn’t lie to you. Even before you started dating, you were able to read JJ like a book, picking up on every single one of her tells.

“I’m perfect now that I’m home,” she said truthfully. “Especially now that it actually feels like Christmas in here.” She motioned to all the decorations you put up. “Thank you for doing that. You really didn’t have to.”

“I wanted to, JJ,” you assured, hooking your finger under her chin so she would meet your gaze. You could see the guilt and doubt swirling in her eyes, and you knew she felt like she didn’t deserve this, like she was burdening you. “I love Christmas, and I love you, and I love the boys. You’re not alone, JJ. You don’t have to do it all by yourself, mkay?”

JJ searched your eyes, only seeing sincerity and love in them, and she couldn’t even stop the tears from pooling in her eyes. “I know,” she whispered, taking a deep breath. “Ever since the divorce, I’m just so used to doing everything on my own.”

“I know.” You offered her an understanding smile. “But I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.”

JJ nodded, a small smile pulling at her lips. “I love you, (Y/N).” She leaned in a kissed you softly, more passionately than before. You melted into her touch as your lips moved languidly against hers. The feeling of her skin against yours was something you’d never tire of.

“I love you too, Jennifer Jareau,” you said as you pulled away.

“I love you but don’t think I didn’t notice the large gifts with Henry’s and Michael’s names on them,” JJ scolded playfully, giving you a stern look that lacked any real bite.

“What can I say?” You grinned goofily. “I love to spoil them. And you.” Punctuating your sentence with another kiss to the corner of her mouth, you unwrapped yourself from her embrace and moved to pour the hot water into her mug. “Wanna go to bed?”

“More than anything,” JJ sighed softly as she took your outstretched hand and followed you back to the bedroom, the two of you making quick pit stops in the boys’ bedrooms so she could say goodnight.

In bed, wrapped up in Santa Claus flannel sheets, as JJ watched you fall asleep curled into her side, she swore her heart never felt fuller.

— — — —

The next few days before Christmas were filled with all sorts of holiday festivities. In between your shifts at the hospital and JJ’s late nights of case paperwork, the two of you spent all your free time with the boys, doing everything from wrapping presents and baking cookies to playing in the snow and decorating the tree.

By Christmas Eve night, it was safe to say that both you and JJ were absolutely exhausted. Michael and Henry, on the hand, were buzzing with energy.

“When’s Santa coming?” Henry asked as he jumped onto your lap, earning a groan from you.

“Soon, Hen,” you laughed. “But you have to go to bed if you want him to come.”

“But I wanna see him,” the young boy whined, his younger brother babbling in agreement.

“Even if you did stay up, you wouldn’t be able to see him. Santa moves so fast that he can’t even be detected seen by us,” you explained seriously. “But he can’t come if you don’t go to bed.”

With that, Henry scrambled off your lap and dashed up the stairs, yelling over his shoulder, “Mikey, we got to go to bed.”

JJ laughed as she lifted Michael onto her hip, the two year old already dozing off, his thumb resting on his lip.

“How about you get those two off to bed and I’ll start sorting things out down here?” You suggested as you kissed Michael’s head.

“Sounds like a plan, doc.” JJ winked, puckering her lips out.

Rolling your eyes, you complied and gave her a quick kiss. As the mother went upstairs with her sons, you started preparing your Santa schemes. You grabbed the handful of gifts you’d stored in the coat closet and then filled the boys’ stockings with candies and other goodies. As you were kneeling down by the tree, organizing the presents, JJ descended the stairs and reentered the living room, a gasp escaping her lips.

(Y/N),” she sighed reverently as she saw the results of your Christmas magic–the stuffed stockings, the pile of gifts “from Santa” under the tree, and the half-full milk glass next to the cookies with a few bites taken out of them.

“Babe, did you happen to grab those gifts we hid in your closet while you were up there?” Your words muffled by the branches above you. When you didn’t hear a response, you crawled out from under the tree. “Jayje?”

JJ stood in the doorway, gift bags in her hands, a tender smile on her face, her eyes glossy. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

Rushing to your feet and over to your girlfriend, gently taking the bags from her hands and setting them down, you cupped her face with both your hands. “Talk to me, Jay.”

“I just,” she started, frustratedly huffing out a puff of air. “I don’t know what I did to deserve all this. You’ve been so great to me, to us, and you’ve made this the best Christmas I could ever hope for. I-I can’t even begin to express how much it means to me.”

You smiled as you gently wiped away a stray tear from her cheek with the pad of your thumb. “I love you, Jennifer Jareau, and I love Michael and Henry–with all my heart. You deserve everything because you are a wonderful woman and an amazing mother. Ever since I met you, you’ve made my life so much better. The least I can do is give you and your kids the Christmas you deserve.”

At a loss of words, JJ simply surged forward, connecting her lips with yours. You kissed her back with all the warmth you had in your heart, feeling the weight of her emotions, the trust, the love, and the tenderness in that single, perfect moment. Her lips were soft, but there was a desperation to the kiss, as though she couldn’t express everything she was feeling with words alone. You could feel her hands trembling slightly against your skin as they slid to the back of your neck, pulling you closer, as if afraid you might disappear.

Breaking the kiss for just a moment, you rested your forehead against hers, breathing her in, feeling the steady rhythm of her pulse against yours. “You’re everything to me,” you whispered.

JJ’s breath hitched, and her hands cupped your face gently, her eyes searching yours. “I adore you,” she murmured. “I love you.”

Her eyes softened as she gazed at you, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. She pressed her lips to yours again, slower this time, savoring the kiss like it was a promise.

When you finally pulled back, you both wore a silly smile. You took JJ’s hand in yours, the gift bags in your other hand, and led her over to the couch. “Come here.” You guided her to sit down as you quickly put the last gifts under the tree. “I have something for you.”

Before you sat down next to her, you slipped something out of your back pocket, handing her an envelope.

“(Y/N), I can’t accept whatever this is.” JJ shook her head. “You’ve already done too much for me.”

“Just open it, Jayje.”

JJ hesitated for a moment, her fingers tracing the edge of the envelope, admiring your elegantly scribbled handwriting. Sitting beside her, you felt your heart pounding with anticipation.

“Come on, JJ. My grandma moves faster than this,” you teased with a nervous chuckle.

JJ gave you stern look, the corners of her mouth betraying her as they started to turn upwards. Turning her attention back to the gift in her hand, JJ took a deep breath and slowly tore open the envelope and pulled out the single piece of paper inside. Her eyes scanned the contents, her brow furrowing slightly as she read. You watched her expression shift from confusion to surprise to awe. She looked up at you, her voice barely a whisper. “(Y/N), what is this?”

“It’s a plane ticket,” you said simply. “Well, two plane tickets. For us. To Barcelona. I know it’s something you’ve always wanted. And I’ve already arranged everything. The flight, the hotel, and I talked to Hotch about your vacation time. He said he’d only call if it was absolutely necessary.” JJ opened her mouth to interject, but you kept on rambling.

“And I talked to Will about the boys, and he said no problem. They’ll be with him, unless you want to bring them, then obviously they can come with, but I figured you’d want a vacation just the two of us. Everything is taken care of already. You don’t have to worry–”

“(Y/N)!” JJ interrupted. “Honey, you’re rambling.”

“Sorry.” You smiled sheepishly, biting your lip as you gauged her reaction.

JJ blinked, processing what you were saying, but still unsure if she understood correctly. “(Y/N), I can’t…How… this is too much. I can’t possibly accept this.” She moved to hand the envelope back to you, causing you to shake your head. “You’ve already done so much for us, for me–”

You placed a hand gently on hers, quieting her. “JJ, listen to me. It’s not just a trip. It’s a chance for you to take a step back. To take some time for yourself, to breathe and relax. You’ve given so much of yourself to your team, to Michael, to Henry… you deserve to take a moment for yourself.”

She blinked again, emotion welling up in her eyes. “I… I don’t even know what to say.”

"Say yes," you urged softly. "Say yes to you, Jayje. Say yes to us. You’ve worked so hard for everyone else. It’s time to do something for yourself. Let yourself be taken care of. Let me love you."

JJ stared at the ticket, her hand trembling in yours. The quiet room seemed to close in around you as she tried to find her voice. Finally, she looked back at you, eyes full of gratitude and love, a look that took your breath away. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, her voice thick with emotion.

You shrugged, trying to keep the tone light while your heart was full. “Because you deserve it, and because I love you.” You paused, squeezing her hand. “It’s our first Christmas together. Let’s make it memorable. Let’s make it about you… about us.”

JJ let out a shaky breath, the corners of her mouth curling into a hesitant smile. She was overwhelmed, but there was something in her eyes—something that told you, despite all the hesitation, that she knew exactly what you were offering. While it was a much needed vacation away from her two- and seven-year olds and away from the dreary cases she dealt with everyday, it was also much more than that. It was a chance for you two to take the next step in your relationship, and this was your way of showing her that you were in this for the long run.

She stared at the ticket once more, and with a shaky breath, she looked at you, her smile growing as her eyes softened. "I guess we’re going to Barcelona.” JJ beamed at you, letting out a wet laugh.

“Yeah?” You bit back a grin.

“Yes.” She nodded, setting the ticket aside. “You’re right. I do need a vacation, and what’s a better vacation than spending it with you, my love.”

Too excited to form any coherent words, you surged forward, kissing her, your teeth clashing as you were both smiling widely.

When you finally pulled away, breathless and grinning, JJ let out a soft laugh, her eyes still sparkling. “I’m so lucky to have you, (Y/N). I don’t think I say it enough, but I’m grateful you’re in my life because I really do love you, like a lot.”

You grinned, feeling your heart swell in your chest. “You don’t have to say it, Jayje. I already know. But hearing it never hurts.”

JJ leaned into your shoulder, sighing contentedly as she closed her eyes for a moment, taking it all in. "I don’t know how to thank you for this, for everything you’ve done for me. For us."

“You don’t need to thank me,” you replied. "Seeing you smiling like that is all the thanks I need."

She lifted her head to look at you again, her gaze full of warmth and admiration. “Merry Christmas, (Y/N).”

“Merry Christmas, JJ,” you mumbled into her skin as you kissed her temple. “How about we go to bed?” You stood up and held out your hand for JJ to take. “Santa won’t come until we’re asleep, you know,” you teased with a wink.

JJ chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She took your hand, letting you pull her gently to her feet. “Santa, huh?” she laughed, raising an eyebrow as she stepped closer to you. “You’re not trying to get me into bed with that, are you?”

You grinned, leaning in to kiss her softly. “Maybe,” you said into her ear, your voice low and playful. “But I don’t think I need Santa’s help for that.”

JJ threw her head back, a genuine laugh taking over her body. “Let’s go to bed then,” she said, her voice steady now, though still filled with affection.

You both walked hand-in-hand toward the bedroom, the soft glow of the Christmas tree lights casting a gentle light on the stairs ahead. As you reached the bed, you pulled the covers back, and JJ climbed in first, her body curling into the warmth of the blankets. You slid in beside her, wrapping your arms around her as she nestled into you, her head resting on your chest.

“I love you,” she whispered, her voice almost lost in the stillness of the room. “Thank you for giving me this. For showing me what love feels like again.”

You kissed the top of her head, breathing her in. “I love you too, JJ. Good night.”

“G’night,” JJ mumbled as her eyes were starting to weigh heavy.

The soft sound of her breath slowed as she drifted off to sleep, her body warm and relaxed against yours. You held her close, feeling the peace of the night wash over you.

Tomorrow morning would be chaotic, the both of you running around at a hundred miles an hour, trying to keep up with two young boys ripping off wrapping paper faster than you could keep up. But tonight, you savored the calm feeling of having the woman you loved in your arms.

Santa could come or not. You had everything you needed—JJ’s love, her trust, the love and laughter of her two boys, and the promise of a future with your budding family.

And that was all you could ever want.

[puppykatz]

RESTLESS WITHOUT YOU ᓚ₍ ^. .^₎

ᯓᡣ𐭩 ; meret manon bannerman x gn reader.

summary ‎::: manon comes home late, only to find you asleep on the couch.

prompt ‎::: “i can't sleep without you, you know that”

tags/info ‎::: established relationship, manon & reader share an apartment, reader has a cat, that's pretty much it =]

note ‎::: i love this manon selfie so much she's so gorgeous 😵‍💫😵‍💫

manon slowed the car down to a stop, letting out a sigh of relief afterwards. she'd been out all day filming stuff for katseye, so all she wanted craved was to get home to you, to hold you in her arms and just drift off to sleep — and at last, she was back home to your apartment, with the reward of holding you again so close. but it was late, really late, approximately 12:46 am, so unfortunately she wouldn't be able to have one of your many late night talks that she cherished so much, as you were probably fast asleep in bed by now.

she exited the car, sluggishly dragging her bag along with her. after an elevator ride that felt extraordinarily long, she reached your guys' apartment, unlocking the door and making sure to open it incredibly slowly as to not disturb you (though the creaky door hinges didn't help her case). she delicately stepped into the apartment, softly shutting and locking the door behind her before placing her bag on the floor. she let out another sigh of relief, though this time over the fact that she seemingly hadn't woke you.

she began to quietly make her way over to the bedroom, thankful that the tv was illuminating her path, lessening the chances that she'd run into something and wake you— wait, the tv was on. she paused, her brows furrowing as she redirected her route to the living room rather than the bedroom.

when she got there her heart absolutely melted, and it took everything in her not to let out the largest ‘awh’ she could muster. you had fallen asleep on the couch while playing a game, which was evident from the pause screen on the tv along with the controller falling out of your left hand. your cat, sona, was curled up comfortably in your lap, but had now stood up and began meowing happily at the sight of manon. “hi, honey! ” she lowly mumbled, gently scratching sona's head as she crawled up the side of the couch towards manon. she sat there for a moment, admiring you whilst continuing to silently pet sona.

while it crushed her heart, during her moment of silence she decided that it'd be better for her to freshen up before coming back to wake you up. a frown appeared on her lips at the thought of leaving you, even if it wasn't for that long. “i'll be back.” she pressed a light kiss to the top of your head, before woefully heading off to the bathroom.

── 𖹭 ──

manon walked out of the bathroom with a huge smile on her face, she'd finally finished her nightly routine which meant she was able to head to bed with you — after waking you up and moving you over to the bedroom that is.

she walked over to the couch, her heart fluttering at the sight of you once again.

she leaned down, slowly but surely removing the controller out of your hand and placing it on the coffee table in front of you. leaning back up towards you, she smiled to herself yet again — gently carding her fingers through your hair, she began to press soft kisses to your temple. “baby?” her smile widened when you stirred, groggily shifting your position slightly, though your eyes stayed closed.

“baby, you have to open your eyes.” she chuckled softly, pressing a kiss to your cheek as she continued to play with your hair. this time, you weakily opened your eyes, lifting your hands up to rub them as your brain tried to process what was going on. “manon?” you looked up at her dazed, “when'd you get back?”

her hand traveled down from your hair to caress your cheek, “a little bit ago.. baby, why are you out here? you should be in bed.”

“i.. can't sleep without you,” you reached up, wrapping your arms around her neck in a desperate attempt to hug her. “you know that.”

she wrapped her arms around your torso, embracing your hug with open arms. “you tried to stay up?”

you paused, trying to push away your embarrassment as you nuzzled your face into her neck. “..i was waiting for you...i missed you.”

manon hugged you tighter, letting out a squeal of adoration, “oh, you're so cute!! ” she leaned down, littering a bunch of kisses all over your face.

you groaned, pretending to dislike the treatment, even though the both of you knew very well that you loved it more than anything. “whatever..”

she pulled away with one final kiss to your lips, her smile as wide as could possibly be. “as much as i love this, we should really get to bed.” she ran her fingers through your hair again, pressing another kiss to your forehead before grabbing your hands so she could help you stand up. you stood up with her assistance, unintentionally bringing sona along with you, as she sat securely on your shoulder.

manon slowly walked you to the bedroom, her hand staying in yours to guide you (and also just because she wanted to hold it) while the other made sure that sona didn't fall.

“the bed is in front of you, love.” she giggled, grabbing sona off your shoulder just before you threw yourself on the bed, sluggishly crawling your way under the covers. unable to hide her smile at your antics, she made her way over to sona's bed tower, whispering a soft “goodnight” to her as she placed her inside before heading out to the living room to shut the tv off, finally going back over to lay down with you after she did.

she slid her way under the covers, immediately pausing her actions when she noticed you had already fallen back asleep. she smile-frowned, imagining how tired you must've been to fall asleep so fast, but also adoring how cute you looked sleeping. she got more comfortable, pulling you into her arms before pressing a feathery light kiss to the tip of your nose.

“goodnight, i love you.”

[animeyanderelover]

chae yul again for this event if you dont mind? 🥺🙏 sorry I just wish he had more stuff lol;; also merry christmas!😊

Tw: Yandere themes, possessive behavior, obsession, delusional tendencies, clinginess, isolation

Tags: @iloveeyanderes

Quick Christmas Hc's

💜​Christmas has never been something that Chae Yul has ever been much invested in, mainly because he has never gotten along that much with his own family. After all this is meant to be the time to celebrate the end of the year with your loved ones yet he has never had someone he loved and wanted to celebrate with. Then you came into his life and suddenly Chae Yul understands the appeal of a time like Christmas. Only if he gets to spend it all with you though. Especially during special holidays or celebrations is Chae Yul more clingy than ever as he wants to spend such annual events and share the happy moments only with you. Something that Chae Yul loves to gift you during the end of an year is a photo album all listing his favorite memories of the year forever captured in the pictures. He's written the date of the picture as well as the occasion of it in form of little notes all over the pages, hearts and multiple confessions of love all littered across the sides. Another gift that you receive this year is a large, oversized hoodie, probably because a lot of your clothes have gone missing during this year... again. Chae Yul can't wait to "borrow" your hoodie as soon as it is covered in your scent.

[dipplinduo]

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Sweet & Sour Dipplins!!! CHAPTER 24 IS HERE ❤️

Fun fact: did you know the anniversary date of this fic is Christmas Day? :) It's true! And as of today, Sweet & Sour Dipplins is officially a year old. 🥳

This fic initially started as a fun little idea - an enemies to lovers romance retelling of the Indigo Disk DLC with a toxic chain theory twist. It was a fanatical whim based on what is now my favorite pokemon game, and it was a blind attempt at creating something bigger than what I could initially picture. I loved romance and writing, but I was no writer - and certainty no fiction writer at that. I fully expected what I was doing to be a phase, where I quietly threw out a couple of half-baked chapters of into an empty void before it inevitably fizzed out with me moving on.

But then you all came along. The love that I have received and felt has been indescribable. I have been completely and utterly blown away by all of it: the number of readers, the playful and thought-provoking comments, the fun back and forth and theorizing in my ask box, the ART and the suggestions and the headcanons and the feedback?! It kept growing, and growing, and growing. And a year later, even as the fandom is a little quieter, it's all still here. You’re all still here.

My little ideas became a whole "au" (see, I've learned! xD). My “writing activity” that I was too modest to claim as a “hobby” became an identity that you all reinforced. I went on to not only write over a book’s worth for this story, but multiple books’ worth for others. In a very demanding, tumultuous, and tiring year in my personal life. Before writing this current chapter, I actually went back and re-read the entirety that is Sweet & Sour Dipplins. As the writer, there were a lot of ups and downs for me, and I don't speak as much about the downs. I could tell which chapters I wrote with pride and which ones felt rushed. Slowly but surely, I worried more and more about it being "interesting enough" as my audience grew. I worried about my motifs becoming “lost” in the inflation. I asked myself: Does it deserve the hits? Do people still care about this story the more the Earth rotates? And then I wondered: What is the true heart that is Sweet & Sour Dipplins? What actually pulls people to read this story?  What compelled ME to write this story?

And as I experienced it all as a reader myself, I think I began to see its soul in yet another light.

I remembered the visions I had as I was writing. I saw some things I didn’t see before, too, and even had moments where I went “Hey, you know what, I could probably write that even better now”, and it’s all thanks to you all for encouraging me to keep going.

But above all: I got the spark back. And I am excited to keep expanding the heart of this story as I share more of it with you.  

So without further ado, here’s Chapter 24 of Sweet & Sour Dipplins.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

With love,

dipplinduo

[justtasia]

MORE, MORE BLOOD PACKS AND DAYLIGHT FINALLY ARRIVED!!!

I feel a huge need to show them soooo welcome in my unboxing/showing off bad financial choices post~! <3

At first photo there's my new purchases, the second shows how it fits into my full DL merch collection:

I'm really happy that now each of my top 5 diaboys (except Shu, but he has some kind of CD cancellation curse that doesn't let me get any) has at least two CDs related to them.

In the case of More, More Blood, I bought the deluxe version, so if you are curious what it looks like from the inside, I put the rest under the cut ⬇️⬇️⬇️

The first thing I noticed about these boxes is that they differ in more than just the covers!

The sand in the hourglass is flowing more and more with each volume. In the case of my dramas it's a little ragged, but with the full collection (or at least less extreme numbers compared) it definitely looks great. Also in place where the box opens there's small family crest which is really nice detail too!

But we're all here for the contents, not just to look at a foil-wrapped box (btw I can't imagine how people can keep this things in their original obi for years. I don't have as much control over my curiosity) so here we go:

As you can see, there are two CDs: the first with the main drama, the second with the ~10-15 minute bonus "Another Story", a tin badge and an illustration card. This card has also a diaboy comment/short description related to the plot of the CD on it's back. (For me the concept is a bit similar to Daylight's "message from vampire", but I feel like those things are more like cool teaser when daylight lettrers are good to read after listening to daylight to make you cry even more)

[darthyolk]

I've finally finished my first boss for my demon hunting game Judgement Nights! A guard dog for a much stronger demon, Grub keeps their secret safe and hidden from all mortal or demonic eyes

[tblsomedoodles]

my wifi is out until probably sometime tomorrow and my 5g is barely hanging on enough to access Tumblr at all. AND! Even if I was able to scrape enough 5g signals together to answer asks from my phone (like I want to), the answer button is mysteriously missing for me.

so, with any luck, I will answer asks tomorrow as well as post my Friday doodles. (I might have more doodles by then. I am very bored and drawing Clara is very fun.)

[mitamicah]

.

[apollo-just-ice]

Love that I had the thought “hmm well some of this stuff in my fic might not be completely accurate :/“

But then I reminded myself it’s like a totally self indulgent written for *me* thing,,, like yeah! It doesn’t have to be perfect, I am writing what makes my heart happy! That is all that should matter really!! And so now I feel okay, honestly. Good job, me.

That rly is an important thing to remember when creating things, is that foremost it should be making you happy, no matter inaccuracies or popularity or anything else

Also an essay of my thoughts about writing a pmd fic below in the tags hahah oops:

[kerra-and-company]

"Nothing particularly interesting, I suppose." Vezz taps his claws together, furrowing his brow as he peers up at Kerra. "Nothing much to ask. But I've been through all this myself, and I feel the question begs asking: how are you holding up?"

@ratasum (from dad mode Vezz fjkelfds)

(Dad mode Vezz hours <3)

Kerra blinks, then lets out a sigh as she pulls out a nearby chair and sits down. She offers Vezz a tired smile. "I've been worse, somehow--which I'm aware isn't the best descriptor, but you of all people might have some idea what I mean. I'd be doing much better if the world-ending events could stop for longer than a year. Give me time with my partners that I don't have to fight for. Stop targeting my children."

She puts her face in her hand for a moment, then runs that hand through her leaves. "Aurene can take care of herself. And Rhi can certainly hold their own in combat, I just...I don't know how much you know about the situation in Gyala Delve, but Rhi was involved before I was. They shouldn't have to be there, they don't have to be there, but...like parent, like child. It's a threat to people they care about. They won't walk away.

"There are limits on what I can do to keep them safe--to keep them both safe. I've never been okay with that. I never will be."

[queennightingale]

Dc x Dp Prompt

Is my classmate a secret love child of a rouge?!?!

Tim drake knew he was odd, with dark circles blacker than black holes, and skin as pale as Elsa’s, but some how this kid made him perplexed.

Danny Fenton was a genuine mystery. The first time he met the boy, was in the police department, asleep on one of the couches. He was waiting to be questioned about a mugging (because he was NOT a gothamite and actually went to the police about it) and fell asleep, and Tim was alarmed when he touched the boy’s paper- white skin and it was ICE COLD. Like- Tim probably would have been stuck to the ice if it was actually there, kind of cold. Yet, the boy was alive. His slow, too slow to be normal, breathing proved that.

Tim met him a second time in a college class, which they apparently shared? He was wide wake, with 3 cans of Red Bull and 2 cans of monster, and SOMEHOW Alive. How does someone genuinely do that? Then, he mentioned something about his parents during a group project.

“Yeah, my parents lab had ‘safety suggestions’ but they never followed them. Honestly it’s a miracle I’m still here.” He said. Then, as he thought no one was looking, but TIM WAS LOOKING, he accidentally froze his drink.

Tim froze up.

Mr Freeze has a son?!

___

Tim slammed the door open to the batcave, where the whole family was, and shouted “FREEZE HAS A KID?!?

(No, he doesn’t. Danny has NO CLUE what is happening, or why Tim Drake is so inquisitive, but he didn’t care. Gotham was full of weirdos, including himself. Tim is having a mental crisis that is not nessesary. Freeze is wondering why the hell the bats are talking about a kid. He doesn’t HAVE a kid. )

[tonycries]

Why Can't I Keep My Fingers Off You? - G.S.

Synopsis. There were two things missing in the scene in front of you: 1. The aphrodisiac chocolate your friends had given as a gag gift last Christmas that had been hidden away in the back of your refrigerator. 2. Your dear fiancé.

Pairing. Gojo Satoru x Reader

Content. MDNI, fem! reader, unprotected sex, Satoru’s blindfold gets used, overstimulation (male + female), lots of cum, aphrodisiac sex, multiple rounds, making Gojo Satoru cum in his pants, breaking the bed, mating press, pet names (my girl), swearing.

Word count. 3.0k

A/N. Can you tell it’s ovulation week. PART 2 HERE. Art by @_3aem on x.

Ah~ It’s the 21st century, they should really make these curses self-exorcizing. 

It’s been a long day of dealing with countless curses and five droning clan meetings (all of which he missed, oops). Now, Satoru loiters around your shared penthouse apartment - waiting for you to come back home from work.

Hmm, maybe he’ll quickly drop by and see what the first years are up to? He probably didn’t have a class right now. 

But first, Satoru grins, opening the refrigerator to grab at the secret stash of sweets all the way in the back - something sweet.

---

It was odd to step into a tense silence suffocating your home - usually used to being met with whines of “how dare you take so long!” and “you won’t believe what that emo kid did today.” as soon as you walked in through the door.

Was Satoru running late on a mission today?  

It wasn’t surprising, the man had to be everywhere - it’s not like he always has the time to teleport and welcome you home. Yet, you still couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was off as you made your way into the kitchen.

Cursing whoever invented the work week, the cold air of the refrigerator hits you as you open it to grab a drink, wondering when your fiancé will be home.

Wait.

Tired brain distinctly noting the lack of that familiar flash of hot pink, you double-take as you glare at the back of the refrigerator - as if willing it to materialize in front of you. Where was that?

“That” being the gag gift your friends had given you last Christmas to playful wolf whistles. Some large slab of “aphrodisiac chocolate” - probably normal chocolate - that you’d skeptically thrown in with your secret candy stash for a rainy day. 

Satoru had ransacked your goods again, you sigh. But if he was home…then where was he?

“Toru? Are you home?” you call out in confusion, only to be met with a deafening silence. 

Concern etched on your face, you set the drink down to look for Satoru, footsteps thumping against the hardwood floors at each tense step. 

Approaching the bedroom, a low, unmistakable moan filters through the heavy door. Satoru.

Heartbeat racing and worry coursing through you, you cautiously push the door open - only to be met with a sight that makes your heart stop.

There, sprawled across your bed in just his boxers, a delicate flush spread enticingly along his sculpted body, was your Satoru. 

Something about this scene felt more than a simple evening nap. The air was heady and thick with something. Maybe it was that familiar hot pink wrapper lying empty at the foot of the bed. Maybe it was the way Satoru’s usually vibrant eyes were half-lidded, curtained by his tousled hair. 

Or maybe it was his hand squeezing the large outline of his achingly hard cock through his boxers. Circling the dark spot around his leaking tip. Massaging his heavy balls. Teasing. 

“You’re home‘ he rasps out, voice strangled and snapping you out of your trance. 

“Wha- yes. Toru, what happened?” you sputter out, eyes locked on the way his cock twitched animalistically at the sound of your voice.

In the blink of an eye, Satoru’s gotten up from the bed, muscled arms caging you against the wall. His rock-hard erection presses into your front, precum smearing through his boxers against your work clothes.

“You’re home.” he repeats, sounding as strained as if he were about to snap any second. Losing his sanity with each breath that fans your hair.

You could feel the pulsing of your cunt as your eyes flit from the sheen of sweat decorating his body to the blindfold haphazardly hanging off his neck. Satoru finally raises his eyes to look at you.

Oh, he’s already lost his sanity.

Pupils blown, those blue eyes you love now a lustful black - a predatory glint in them that made a carnal part of your cunt twitch. His mouth spreads into a wolfish grin, teeth bared as if ready to eat you up. 

A shiver runs down your spine.

“Toru…you okay?”

“You’re home.” he breathes out, as if a prayer. 

“Satoru.”

The simple call of his name sealed your fate.

The buttons hit the ground before you realize what he’s doing. Ripping your shirt off, pulling off your bra, fisting your clothes in his hands as if it killed him to see you clothed. 

Too impatient - too starved - to remove your skirt, he pulls it to shreds off your hips.

“Woah- slow down there.” you squeal as he drops to Satoru knees, biting down on the thin fabric of your soaked panties, tugging with his teeth. You know he’ll buy you ten more to replace what he’s torn, but jeez where was the decorum?

“Can’t” he slurs, peeking up at you with dazed eyes. Was your Satoru even here with you?

“What?” 

“Can’t stop.” he murmurs lowly, voice sending vibrations to your twitching cunt. 

And before you know it, sharp teeth bite around your panties, ripping them to shreds. Looking up at you with hooded eyes, miles away, grinning devilishly around the soaked fabric in his mouth. 

Shit, what have you gotten yourself into.

Despite your thobbing pussy, you soothe “Now, Toru. Why don’t we just-”

“Shut up.” he mutters. And he does - words catching in your throat as Satoru dives nose-deep into your dripping cunt. Hot tongue urgently lapping at your juices, as if a man dying of thirst..

Nose rubbing your pulsing clit in rough circles, he breathes you in so sinfully, letting out a throaty groan as he does. He bullies his tongue past your dripping folds, stretching you, dipping in and out of your quivering entrance. Over and over. In and out.

You were losing your mind with each rough push of Satoru’s warm tongue. Dizzying pace forcing lewd whimpers out of your mouth that mix with the squelches of his mouth on your pussy. 

You buck your hips desperately into his face, and amidst his merciless abuse on your cunt, you barely notice the way he presses his body against yours. 

Shit, so this is why he’s so fucking feral - Satoru’s cock was painfully hard, swollen and throbbing against your leg. Fuck- you weren’t gonna be able to walk for a while.

He grind his hips into you, precum soaking your bare legs. With a low whimper at the back of his throat, Satoru’s tongue fucks you in a way you knew he wanted to with his cock right now. Rough and unrelenting.

Maybe it’s the harsh abuse of his mouth on your swollen lips, nose catching on your clit just right. Or maybe it’s the feeling of your slick dripping down the corners of his mouth, onto your thighs and mixing with the precum of his aching erection. 

Before you can even register it, you’re cumming all over Satoru’s mouth, grip tight on his white locks and hips riding his pretty face.

Greedily lapping at your quivering cunt, he moans as his eyes roll to the back of his head at the sweet juices pooling around his tongue. 

In the back of your mind, you recognize the feeling of Satoru’s warm cum smearing against your leg. Did- Did Gojo Satoru just come in his underwear while eating you out?

Sinfully, he licks at the mixture of your juices dripping down your legs, eyes closed as if tasting a delicacy. He was going to be the death of you.

As soon as your high bates, Satoru stands to his full height. Towering above you with eyes that looked like he wanted to positively eat you alive.

“T-Toru…are you okay?” 

But your fiancé stays silent, throbbing erection still straining painfully against his wet boxers as he shoves you against the cold wall. Rough hands on your hips, presenting your dripping cunt to him and arching you to his will.

A large hand smacks the wall beside your head, plaster crumbling under his strength. Shit, if he keeps going at this pace then nothing in the house will survive Satoru - including you. 

You feel the cum-soaked fabric of his boxers grinding against your ass, his hands pulling and groping every bit of skin he can reach.

“Toru, take it off.” you whine out, words dripping in lust.

You don’t need to tell Satoru twice. With grace that he wouldn’t give your clothes, his boxers are on the ground, painfully hard cock hitting his abs. 

You can feel the slick dripping down your legs as you look behind your shoulder to see one hand wrapped tightly around his large cock. Pulling in slow, languid motions up to the furiously flushed tip. His heavy balls twitch as he thumbs the prominent vein along the side.

“I want-”

You can’t even finish your sentence before Satoru’s bullying his massive cock into your snug cunt. Plush walls desperately trying to adjust to his size as he sheaths himself in your hot core. 

You moan at the delicious stretch of your pussy. It’s not like you haven’t done this before - yet, where Satoru was usually suave in sex, right now it was replaced by pure, feral need. With his tip kissing your cervix as he pushed animalistically into your cunt - you didn’t know if you’d make it out alive. 

“Hah- Toru it’s too big. Ah! I can’t-.”

“You will.” he grits out, teeth clenched and brows furrowed. 

Satoru presses into you inch by fucking inch, groaning at the tight ring of muscles trying to both push him out and suck him in desperately. It was so animalistic.

It seems Satoru’s body moves before his mind, hips fucking into your dripping pussy recklessly. Harsh thrusts, not even pulling all the way out to ram into you as he usually does - as if he can’t bear to part with your wet core. His balls sting your cunt as they smack against you at his unforgiving pace, strings of slick and cum connecting him to you.

“Ah- So good f’me, my girl. Always- so good.” he gasps out at the heavenly feeling of your dripping cunt sucking him back in at each thrust. “Hngh! Mmm more. I need more. Need it so bad.”

Hands arching your back into him now grope the expanse of your skin, before wrapping around your body to lift you off the floor. 

“Ah! Toru, what- hngh-” you choke on your words at the new angle. 

Satoru’s body bows into you, cock still slamming inside you at a feral pace midair. Not even a hair’s breadth between your bodies. 

With one hand he forces you to look up at him, capturing your lips with his in a searing kiss. Pretty mouth sucking your tongue as he did with your cunt.

If you were in a better state of mind, you’d notice the slight glow tinging his lustful eyes. The electricity thrumming through his fingers. Yet you already knew - Satoru was absolutely losing it.

Your feet dangle off the ground as he holds you securely, length reaching impossibly deeper inside you. Prominent vein grazing that one spot over and over.

“Hngh- Oh my god, Toru. S’too much!” you pull away to whine. 

“Open your mouth.” he murmurs raspily. As if body on auto-pilot, your mouth opens, tongue lolling out for what he was about to give.

Satoru’s stream of spit is warm on your tongue, making you clench around his merciless cock. He lets out a drawn-out groan, eyes boring down at you, holding a glint of the same insanity he has when he exorcizes curses, “My nasty girl. Can’t get enough of you.”

You moan at his words, hands reaching behind you to grab on the blindfold dangling on his neck. “Toru more-” you gasp out, your tight grip causing him to bow his head with a groan, cock twitching ferally. 

“Fuck! More? You fucking want more?” he groans out, voice wrecked with pleasure. 

You let out a yelp as his teeth dig into your neck - hard enough that you were sure you’d have a lot of explaining to do tomorrow. Like a lamb to slaughter, he was going to eat you up. Yet, your grip on his blindfold never waves, pulling him closer as he fucks roughly into your snug cunt. 

Ass burning at the friction of his pelvis. Pussy dripping onto your bedroom floor. Unforgiving. Gojo Satoru was unforgiving. “Ah! Toru s’good.” 

You both cum with strangled gasps. A low keen at the back of Satoru’s throat, and he’s pumping hot ropes of cum into your awaiting pussy. Tears stinging your eyes at your sensitivity, all you know is a wave of pleasure as you ride out your climax on the ramming of his hips and the how full you are of his seed.

His hand still draws hurried, desperate circles on your clit. You squeal at the overstimulation, tears clinging to yours lashes. “Toru- hngh!” you can barely get out the words, his hips slamming into yours mercilessly as Satoru milks his cock desperately on your quivering pussy. 

“Shut up. You said you wanted more. You’re gonna get more, my little slut.” he mutters carnally.

Ah, you can’t do this. You were going to fucking pass out.

“One- more.” he moans.

Your thighs clench around him, pushing your plush walls deeper as he lets out raspy whimpers with each thrust. “Hah- hngh.” 

“Shit- Toru I’m-” Your climax hits you with a jolt, body twitching in pain and pleasure from the oversensitivity as your cunt flutters around his cock - not even being able to tell when Satoru’s orgasm ends and when yours starts. 

You feel a tear hit your shoulder, overstimulation too much for his poor cock as his seed coats your walls once more. It drips out of you, forming a pool on the floor as he pulls out - for only a second before you’re thrown on the bed. 

Orgasm-hazed brain barely having time to register what is happening before Satoru stalks towards you from the foot of the bed. Unhurriedly approaching you as you scoot towards the headboard.

Your pussy jumps exhaustedly at the sight of him - eyes darkened and narrowed at you like a predator that has spotted his prey. A devilish smirk stretches across his swollen lips, glossed prettily with spit and slick. 

Toru, I-I don’-” you words slur out. 

“One- one more, my girl. Please.” Satoru whimpers, throat shot from what transpired just before. His cock twitches, glistening with cum and slick, dripping onto the fresh bedsheets. 

As he looms closer, you wonder how the fuck Satoru was still holding up - was this all because of the chocolate? You have half the mind to wonder whether he was using reversed cursed technique to keep you both alive.

You mewl deliriously at the feeling of your legs being thrown on his shoulders. Eyes blown and face flushed your favorite shade of pink, he licks a long stripe up your ankles, voice cracking as he moans sinfully. 

Satoru’s flushed tip teases your entrance, dragging along your swollen folds. Fuck. Shit. Maybe you wouldn’t even mind dying if it was with his cock rammed in your snug cunt.

Barely even lucid, he thrusts harshly into you - your tight entrance readily sucking up his flushed tip. You both hiss at the sensitivity. Surely, one of you was going to pass out. 

Hand moving to grasp the blindfold around his neck, you pull him to you. Your hamstrings burn in protest as Satoru bends down to attach his lips with yours, moving down until you were folded in half. 

Tongue tangling with yours, half-lidded eyes bore into yours, fiery with an intensity that made you unsure if either of you would make it out of this alive. 

Heartbeat roaring in your ears, you don’t notice the crack! of the bed and neither does Satoru. Too caught up in desperately reaching whatever number orgasm it was this night. 

Moans incoherent, your body convulses, nails dragging down the expanse of his sculpted back as the bed creaks in protest. A strangled groan leaves his mouth, cock throbbing inside you - or maybe that was your quivering cunt. At this point you really didn’t know anymore. 

“Shit- ah! Fuck. I’m- M’cumming. M’cumming. Hngh- cumming!” he whines out, voice ragged and breathing unstable. Delicate tears streak down his face, dripping onto your quivering body below him. Salty.

You can only let out exhausted whines, too fucked out to form any proper sentences.

Hot seed gushing inside you again, it overflows out of you, cunt dripping and too full to take anymore. Yet, Satoru still fucks into you until he sees stars and his poor cock is cumming dry. You can barely even feel your climax, distant tingles and the only thing on your mind being Satoru Satoru Satoru. 

The air leaves your lungs as he collapses on top of you. Skin flushed and sticking to yours. Body twitching as his poor cock neverendingly shoots blanks inside of you. Which number was this even?

That’s when you black out.

Floating in and out of dreams of blue, blue skies and mini Satorus running around, you wake up with a start. Well, as much of a start as you could with your entire body aching as if you got run over by a truck - and then an entire zoo after.

Bleary eyes taking in your surroundings, you distinctly realize that you’re spread out on the living room couch. 

What happened.

“Hey, you okay?” a hoarse voice sounds from beside you. You could barely recognize it as your fiancé’s, words jagged from…whatever it was before.

“You…are you okay?” you rasp out, raising a brow exhaustedly. Satoru chuckles sheepishly, tenderly smoothing over the blanket placed on top of you. What a change from before - are you sure this is the same guy?

“Well…the wall is crumbling, we broke the bed, and I’m pretty sure my dick won’t work again for the next couple years.” he gets out in one breath. At your silence, he continues “And I think my favorite blindfold is out of commission.”

“...wow.”

“Wow.” 

“You lecher, you ate from my secret stash, didn’t you?”

“...”

A few days later, opening the refrigerator, you’re met with a wall of hot pink. A sticky note on top reading in Satoru’s hasty scrawl, “This time you take one too :D”

A/N. Wrote this while watching The Garfield Show.

Plagiarism not authorized.

[primofate]

Where he would propose and how it happens [Genshin Men]

Warnings: haven’t written in a while please excuse and tell me about pronoun slips, I’m sleep deprived, not proofread (this will be my fixed disclaimer as a writing parent, haha)

Notes: All of these were captured by me in game. I just felt like exploring the beauty of Genshin more and this was a great way to do it while mixing it with writing. Note that you may not agree with some of these, and that's totally fine, these are my thoughts and ideas :)

Characters: Aether, Albedo, Alhaitham, Ayato, Baizhu, Cyno, Dainsleif, Diluc, Gorou, Heizou, Itto, Kaeya, Kaveh, Kazuha, Lyney, Neuvillette, Scaramouche, Tartaglia, Thoma, Tighnari, Venti, Wriothesley, Xiao, Zhongli, gn!reader

Aether

Aether is a simple man, and though he plans his proposal he doesn't really think much of the place, somewhere where the two of you frequent, maybe on your daily/nightly walks.

It happens just as the two of you are about to go back, this is where you sit and relax for a while as the sun sets. You can see Mondstadt in the distance and the beautiful orange sky.

As you're about to turn and walk away he catches your wrist and pulls you back into the middle of those tiny pink flowers.

Now that he thinks about it... This is where his journey really started: Starfell Lake, and how perfect would it be to start a new one with you?

"Y/N, I...want you to stay. I mean, forever," the words are simple but it gets across.

Albedo

Also a simple person. You might think Dragonspine when you think Albedo and I agree that all that snow could be romantic but I went for Starsnatch Cliff. It's a good place to see Mondstadt, and he takes you there after the sun has set.

He would probably comment about how you can see a lot of things from here, and how the world is such a great, vast place, full of things to explore and discover.

"...and yet I find myself thinking... how all that I want is right next to me. Would you do me the honour of being my lifelong partner?"

Alhaitham

Something's up and you can tell, this isn't your usual route home, and honestly you've never stopped in these parts of the city. You've passed by it sure, but never with Alhaitham.

You ask him where the two of you are going and if there are some extra errands to run before going home. He only shakes his head and ends up leading you over right next to the glowing Padisarah flower.

He HAS planned this, so why does it feel like he hasn't? Even has a ring in his pocket (granted it is the SIMPLEST ring one could ever imagine, that's just how he is)

Ends up just taking the ring box out and showing it to you while trying to speak "I..." doesn't speak much of his emotions so has a hard time, but feels pathetic afterwards so meets your eyes straight on. "...A promise... That what I feel for you... is everlasting,"

Ayato

That small shrine/garden/sitting area just outside the Kamisato Estate. It's just a bit more private than the sitting area INSIDE the estate.

You wouldn't think anything of it because you do hang out here from time to time.

Ayato might seem like a grand person but in the end he doesn't want to stray far from home.

"I'm...sorry if this is a bit abrupt," fishes out a ring box from his long sleeve. "I've been meaning to ask for a while now, will you share your life with me as my beloved?"

Baizhu

That nice little hill just outside of Bubu Pharmacy, where you can find Glaze Lilies strewn about and the night view is quite nice. It's a place the two of you go just to get some quick, fresh air if Baizhu isn't feeling too well. Changsheng is left at the pharmacy from time to time, this is one of those times.

"I've been thinking...how precious time really is," he looks at you with tenderness in his eyes, yet a lot of uncertainty shrouded in them. "I don't know where this road will lead me... but you alone are my lifelong remedy. Would you accompany me on this journey?"

Cyno

Cyno often comes here to watch the sun set, since he was a student, but he does think it's more beautiful at night.

The two of you are leaning over the railway and looking at Sumeru, just talking about the day.

Cyno doesn't really plan it. He seems to be the type to but when he feels that it's the right time, specially when he feels it strongly, there's no better time than the present.

It's while he's watching you talk enthusiastically about your day, that there's a sudden twist in his heart. This is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with.

"Y/N--" he cuts you off successfully, wonder in his eyes. "What do you say to being intertwined for life?"

Dainsleif

Anywhere where there is an unobstructed view of the stars and night sky, but particularly at the hill of Cape Oath, where the two of you lie side by side on the grass, staring up at the stars.

At this point the two of you have been travelling together for a while, looking for answers to his curse. To Dainsleif, the two of you are pretty much married already, but just to confirm it, every night, he asks "Is this the path that you choose? To bind your fate with mine?"

And every night, like a promise, you say yes.

Diluc

Diluc doesn't stray far from home too. He prefers to stay close to his memories, no matter how painful they are.

He HAS planned it, but ends up proposing at an unexpected time.

It's when he's on the road home and you're waiting right by the lamp post for him. It's late. Later than usual and here you are worrying about how it's a cold night and that he should've worn more.

It's at that moment that it hits him, "Y/N, the thought of being separated...it's not something I'd want to imagine" he grips your hand tightly. "...For the rest of my life, it's you that I want to spend it with,"

Doesn't even have the planned ring on him and apologizes about the word vomit he just did. He was just overcome with emotions right then and there.

Gorou

That small spot next to Bourou Village. Watatsumi Island is beautiful in general, but Gorou knows the good spots.

Is nervous but tries not to show it, but you can totally tell because he's way too stiff.

"Wh-What do you mean? Nothing's wrong!" When asked if everything's fine.

When standing at this spot though, his nervousness seems to go away and for a minute everything is normal until... "H-Hey, Y/N, so..." you look at him and he's fumbling with his hands, unable to meet your gaze. "Y-You, and I--We've been...You know--"

Seems to panic. He is SO uncool right now. Closes his eyes and just blurts it out when he realizes this isn't working out "With all my heart, will you marry me?!"

Heizou

Little secret garden just next to Inazuma city. Quiet place yet you can hear a bit of the hustle and bustle in the city.

Heizou is the type to get on one knee and confidently, directly say it.

He's planned it, and gets you right in the middle of the bridge (has probably asked someone to take a photo as well)

"Y/N, beloved," grins "would you unravel the mysteries of life with me?" (thinks it was such a cool line, then hands you the ring in a box)

Itto

Does not think about it nor plans it. Just happens and it happens because he talks about it casually. You can't really tell if he's serious.

He has this conversation with you in Chinjuu Forest, which is a naturally beautiful place, but he's really only there with you to look for onikabuto.

"You know, it'd be really cool if we could keep doing this huh?"

You ask what he means cause you don't really have any idea. You guys have been doing this for ages. Why would it stop now, is what you think.

"I mean, like, you know, forever," he says this while looking under a rock. "Like if we were just onikabuto fightin' partners forever, get it?"

You stall for a moment and wonder if he knows what he's saying, and you ask if he specifically means he just wants you as an onikabuto fighting partner.

"Oh, well, yea it's ONE of the things I like about you, but I like your kisses too. Hehe," scratches the back of his head then looks like he gets a bright idea. "Oh hey that's an idea! How 'bout we just become partners for life, Y/N?"

Yeah, that's how it happens.

Kaeya

Kaeya keeps it simple, but also romantic. He gets that spot above the gate of Mondstadt, where you can see Barbatos' statue from a distance. He knows how much you love the city and he has a special place in his heart for it too.

The two of you pretty much keep each other warm up there, with him behind you and his arms wrapped around your shoulders.

At some point, as the two of you have been talking for ages and when the perfect silence descends, he leans into your ear and asks you to close your eyes. When you do, you feel him slip something onto your ring finger as he says "A thousand words wouldn't be enough to tell you how I really feel...Would you want to create a thousand and more memories together instead?"

Kaveh

Kaveh thinks its only appropriate to propose at his masterpiece, but he thinks you're even more of a masterpiece than anything he's made or encountered before.

Plus the place just holds a lot of meaning and memories for him. It's beautiful too and you've always said that you're proud of him for completing it.

His is a pretty simple proposal. "I've always thought that something's been missing in my life...I think I've figured out that it's you, Y/N. It's only going to be you,"

Kazuha

Inazuma holds a lot of memories for Kazuha, some that are rather unpleasant. But home is still home and perhaps he wanted to create more good memories there.

Truth be told he could have proposed to you anywhere, and I don't think he had really planned it. It was just something heartfelt that he wanted to say as he sees you climbing up the stairs to the shrine. The sunlight hitting you perfectly and the sakura blossoms just cascading around your form. It's perfect, he thought.

You're a few steps further up from him and it makes him look up at you the slightest bit. With a shine in his eyes and a smile on his face he asks, quite sincerely "Have you ever felt like home was right next to you, Y/N?"

and before you could answer he answers his own question first. "I have, despite the storms and catastrophes I've gone through...Y/N, you're the home that my heart forever needs,"

Lyney

Lyney plans it, but doesn't do it in a grand way. He just wants it to be sincere and special. He thinks this place is cute, what with the little sort of gazebo with a small sitting space to just sit and drink tea.

He proposes to you as the two of you sit, you've never been here before and wonder why the two of you are out here, actually.

"Oh, is it strange? Haha, I just wanted a bit of a change," Rubs the back of his neck and starts to feel nervous.

You explain that you're not complaining, just curious, but you like it!

"Oh, that's a relief. I'm...Uh..." sort of fumbles with something in his coat, really funny seeing as he's a magician and is supposed to be nimble with his fingers. Recovers quite fast and manages to do his classic "flower-behind-your-ear" trick and hands it over to you.

He does the same trick, but this time takes a ring out. "Y/N, you complete me in ways words can't express...will you..." gulps before he continues "marry me?"

Neuvillette

Seems very posh but prefers to keep it simple. He thinks its more special rather than making a super grand gesture. He could of easily proposed in front of the Opera Epiclese, but instead did it at one of the small fountains in Marcotte Station.

The two of you are out on a nightly stroll and this is just where the two of you ended up.

Clears his throat before starting, takes your hand in his, but its his eyes that really do the talking. "I may not be the best in expressing my deepest thoughts and emotions...but there is one single thing that I am quite sure about," he stalls here and seems to look into your soul.

"And it's you, my love. As I take my next steps into this life I lead, I would be honoured if I take them with you by my side,"

Scaramouche

Has it on his mind but doesn't particularly plans when or where he's going to say it. Just knows that he wants to.

While out on an assignment the two of you pass by Mawtiyima Forest. You've always thought it looked like such a magical place. You request to sit on a hill for a bit before moving on.

Scaramouche, as usual, grumbles about this but relents and ends up plopping next to you as well. Truth be told he also liked this particular forest and how quiet yet vibrant it was.

No words are exchanged for a while, just the two of you looking at the view. Scaramouche sneaks a glance at you and you have that stupid, wide eyed look on your face, the glowing blue mushrooms reflecting off of your eyes.

He secretly thinks its cute.

He shows that by aggressively saying. "I don't know what you had in mind when you agreed to come with me, but you're stuck with me till the end now, got it?"

Yes. That's pretty much his proposal.

Tartaglia

Is one who would take you on a vacation off on an isolated, quaint and cute island like Petrichor with wonderful views of Fontaine's waterfalls.

Is the type to get down on one knee while this beautiful background is in sight. Totally plans it and is the cliche, basic proposal. Would totally love the townspeople to clap and cheer while this is happening too.

"Y/N, every day spent with you is a treasure, and I want it to continue for the rest of my life, will you marry me?"

Thoma

Has planned it. Makes sure you have a good time beforehand, probably at some festival and it's when the two of you are winding down, sitting on that rock with the lamp on it that he asks.

"Isn't it magical?" he asks as a starter and you ask what exactly he's talking about. "How it's always a good time and how easy life seems when I'm with you,"

You tell him that's because he always takes good care of you and he laughs heartily at that. "I'm glad to hear it," kisses your forehead and smiles down at you.

"Every day, Y/N, I just fall deeper in love with you...Do you think, maybe, we could spend our whole lives together?"

Tighnari

Plans it and is calm about it. Has everything under control. He chose Pardis Dhyai specifically for its aesthetics and specifically the inside in case it rains. (He doesn't want you to get wet as he proposes, but also doesn't want his ears and tail wet as it happens.)

Clears his throat before he starts, doesn't have a ring because he just doesn't seem the type, for him its more of a pact.

"Rather than talk about emotions alone, I'd want to highlight that you've been quite the mind-stimulating study partner," coughs into his hand "but of course, that's only one aspect of you that I like...it's safe to say that I like you enough to propose the pact of marriage...would that be alright with you?"

Venti

Where else would he think was a good place to propose? Of course he would do it here.

No roundabout way of saying it. Confident in all aspects, partly because he's a God but partly because...what has he got to lose, really?

Doesn't really propose marriage cause...he's not a mortal. Forever might be a thing for him but maybe not for you.

"It's been a while since I've felt really at ease with someone, you know?"

You jokingly say he seems to be at ease with everyone, specially after a few bottles of wine. He laughs out loud at that, and remarks back that no one can make him laugh the way you do.

"It's blossomed into something more beautiful than I thought it would be, Y/N. You, me, and us. Can we stay like this till the end?"

Wriothesley

Has planned it and has stuck to his plan. At a little vacation home at the Southeast of the Beryl Region. The two of you spent a few days relaxing there, under the guise that Wriothesley needed a break.

On the last day he surprised you by revealing that he had asked your family and friends, both from faraway regions and nearby towns to come and celebrate with the two of you.

Celebrate what, you ask.

That's when he gets down on one knee and pops the question "You know, I could still be mistaken," he grins at this but is clearly joking. "but I don't think I am and seeing as you've put up with me, Y/N, I think it's safe to say you're my forever person,"

It was days after when you realize how confident he is of this whole thing when you think about the fact that he had pre planned to invite all your friends and family over to "celebrate"

Xiao

Also a person who doesn't stray far from home. The rooftop of Wangshu Inn is actually quite romantic on quiet nights, with a view of Liyue and a gentle breeze.

To Xiao, marriage isn't really about a ring and signing papers. It's a contract and a promise to each other.

On one of the nights, he just thinks it's the right time to say it.

He's more quiet than usual and you ask if something's wrong.

He pauses for a while before answering. "...Apologies, there's a lot on my mind..."

Xiao has become a lot more open with you through the years.

"...I... just wanted to propose the prospect of being...binded together," you ask what that means cause you're not really familiar, you end up asking if that's the same as marriage.

"M-Marriage? Uh... Yes... I suppose that's what mortals call it... but being binded together is more..." stops talking and gets red in the face. "Let's... just leave it at that,"

I like to think that the process of binding is just that your souls are entwined together...So when one of you passes, you still remember them in your next life, type of thing. Cause if you're a mortal, chances are, you'll die earlier than Xiao. Anyhow, that's a completely different story.

Zhongli

Zhongli prefers the quiet and the nature. This is probably part of your occasional stroll when the two of you need some quiet time.

Zhongli, with how long he has lived, also doesn't see marriage as the normal get-down-on-one-knee-with-a-ring-thing, but for him, it's a contract. It's more binding than anything in the world.

"Y/N, we've walked this path countless of times before," he starts as the two of you continue to stroll. You reply saying that you like this particular area where the bamboos are.

"Is that so?" suddenly stops and looks at you. "In that case, would you care to listen to a proposal I have?"

Clears his throat when you give the approval. "As I've said, we've walked this path countless of times before..." he takes your hand in his "but for me, who has lived longer than you, I've traversed this path for even more times," he closes his eyes. "Yet, with you by my side, this path changes. It transforms into something resplendent. As if...every time had been the first time I've walked through it. It is with you, Y/N, that I discover life anew, despite the thousands of years I've lived. Would you consider forming a contract of lifelong partnership with me, and only me?"

End

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