#and she got kind of quiet then went 'huh. yeah. that makes sense.'

[bluemoonrabbit]

It's funny, as a tween/teen I absolutely loathed other kids my age. I was so scared of them after years of bullying. I saw pretty much every aspect of mainstream teen culture as a threat and devoid of value. But now that I'm older, even people in their early twenties have me like 🥹 Like I know to their peers they may be just as much a source of distress as they were to me, but from the eyes of a secure adult, all teens just seem like the most amazing thing ever. They're figuring things out! Becoming real people with developed thoughts and feelings! Creating silly tiktok dances and thinking they discovered big jeans and misusing words like preppy! You go, you funky little teens, make your own identity.

(This post inspired by the teen who delivered me a desk I bought on FB marketplace. He was a baby metalhead and just so sweet and polite I wanted to squeeze him.)

[hellisharchive]

﹒﹒﹒the orginal dick

▶ Adam was not who you expected him to be as the first man, you expected someone prim and perfect and can do no wrong. He was far from that, and quite frankly kind of an asshole. You hated him- so why did you agree to a one night stand?

▶ Adam x fem!reader

▶ 18+, virgin reader, fingering [r receiving], oral [r receiving], pnv, Adam calls reader "Babe", "Baby, and "Bitch"

▶ adam masterlist | ao3 link

You arrived in Heaven a few days ago and it was amazing. Everything was perfect, no crime, no abuse, everything was bliss. The strictness of rules didn't get past your radar though, makes sense though, Heaven was no place for terrible people. What you didn't understand though, is how much of an asshole Adam was. He was the very first human ever created and ascended to heaven, so why was he allowed to swear and talk sexually like there was no tomorrow? He seemed to be the only one allowed to do so, anyone else was quieted or given consequences. Maybe because of him being the first human gave him the right? You didn't know, but didn't care.

You never personally talked to him, preferring to stay as far away from him as possible just so he never would start up a conversation with you. Besides, he was always with Lute, those two were inseparable. Honestly, you thought they were together. You asked a few others who knew him and they all said that those two were a friends-with-benefits situation- at least from what they assumed. You don't know why you cared so much, he was such a rude guy, you hated him.

So why was he walking directly towards you on the Promenade while you were chatting with your new friend? About him nonetheless. Did you somehow summon him from that? You didn't even realize until they told you and pointed behind you. Your eyes went wide as they asked why he was coming over and you answered honestly. You didn't know why. He had a smug look on his face as he approached you, only then did you realize that Lute wasn't around. Wait, where was she? What's going on? Were you in trouble?

"Heya newbie, heard ya asking about me and Lute, really if ya wanted to fuck me could have just asked, Baby" Now panicking, your face burned as you waved your hands, denying that you ever asked about him. Why would you want to ever have sex with him? He's such an asshole. Wait, how did he know? Damn, those bastards must have told him. Even in heaven you can't trust anyone without it coming back to bite you in the ass

"No I didnt! And I certainly do not want to do that with you no way!" You were so flustered, why so flustered? Anyone hitting on you that you didn't find attractive made you feel disgusting, never flustered and warm. God- were you really finding the idea of fucking Adam hot? No, you were just a virgin who never got laid when they were alive so this is just too much, yeah that must be it. The angel just chuckled and smirked, he was such a bitch.

"Mhm sure Babe, why so flustered huh? C'mon admit it, you want a piece of THE Adam, THE first man, THE original dick. I see you avoiding me, don't think I don't. I know it's because I get ya worked up, don't I?" He suddenly leaned directly in front of your face, only being a few inches away. The close distance made you look over at your new friend, they just looked awkwardly and shrugged, not knowing how to help. Gulping, you turned back to him and took a deep breath.

"As if, in your dreams" You rolled your eyes and started to move away, feigning confidence, as on the inside you were shaking like a leaf. Before you could get far though, he wrapped his hand around your arm and pulled you back up to him, putting his free hand on your other arm. He held you close, so close you two were mixing open mouth breaths.

"Let me show you a good time Babe, you're a hot piece of ass I don't wanna pass up. And don't think I haven't noticed you staring at me too, you were practically eye fucking me!" Oh god, he really did notice every single thing about you? You thought he wasn't even paying attention to you as you stared at him, ok admittedly maybe you stared at him too much, but you hated him. Taking another gulp, you considered his offer. The fact that you were considering his offer at all concerned you, but maybe you should let go a little, get laid, you could say you fucked the first ever man in existence at least. Hyping yourself up, you said yes.

"Fine. BUT, only for one night. This will not become a normal thing! That is- if you're even good" The way his eyes lit up as he laughed from glee, screaming "yes" as he pumped a fist. He was such a child, you thought.

"You are going to have the BEST night of your life Toots, trust me. You will LOOOVE it, you'll be begging for me to fuck you every-" he leaned closer "single" and closer "night" and he leaned up and whispered in your ear, causing a shiver to run down your spine. Fuck- did that really arouse you? He didn't even do anything besides insist he was a good fuck and say you were hot unprompted. You hated him, he should not be making you feel this way. Pushing him away slightly, he "whooped" again and flew up in excitement, reminding you why you hated him. He acted like such a child, it was annoying. Coming back down, he smirked and got closer to you get again. He has no sense of personal boundaries, does he?

"You won't regret it Babes. My place. Tonight at dawn. Don't be late" Winking, he started to walk away when you realized you had no idea where his place was.

"Wait uh...where do you live?" You hated asking, hating you agreed to this ridiculous bet. He explained where it was and said he would have Lute bring you over. You make sure to say no at least ten times as that would be incredibly awkward. Sure, they fuck casually and aren't in a relationship, but its still not something you want to get directly involved with Lute for. But, he left and said to wait right here for her, leaving you alone with your new friend.

"Dude! You got a date with Adam!" They smiled and nudged your shoulder, ignoring the fact that you were processing the entire interaction and that it was happening tonight. Wait, what should you wear? No- this wasn't a date, it was just a hook up, that's all. Shaking your head, you looked back at them trying to calm down.

"Ok first of all, it isn't a date. It's just a one-night stand. There will be no other associations with him past tonight, ok? Besides, he's been...with Lute anyways so" Shrugging, you slowly start to calm your nerves or at least act like everything is fine.

"Wait...you're jealous, aren't you?" They excitedly exclaimed, causing you to grab onto their shoulders and shush them. You? Jealous? As if! This was just a quick fuck- you hated his guts, but couldn't resist knowing what sex with him was actually like.

"No, I am absolutely not. You know how much I hate him" You made sure to express your hatred every time you saw him, because you wanted them to know.

"Yeah, you've only been here for four days yet you don't shut up about him" They smirked, which caused your face to get hot again. Ok...maybe they did have a point. But it was all in hatred, not in thinking he's attractive in any way. Before you could argue this though, they seemingly read your mind.

"And no, if you think because you complain about him, it's denial" That was practically a slap in your face as you mulled over your time here since the first day. Could it really just be denial? But he was a huge asshole and very "college frat boy" to you. Did you really find him attractive and just didn't want to admit it?

"No it is not denial- I really do hate him. This is just to make him go away permanently" You convinced yourself, at least in the eyes of your friend, that there is no shred of attraction for Adam. How could there be? Any normal response to something like that would be to be flustered after all, taking about being fucked. But then again, it was unwarranted, so why did you kind of enjoy it? No- you're just being stupid. Did you already forget that you were in Heaven? This stuff would most likely cast you out of for this- but if Adam can act like this, why can't you?

"Ok then, fine, be in denial. But tell me, are you going to abandon this opportunity to get with the very first man ever created?" Sighing, you said no and told them you had to prepare for tonight as dawn was only come in a few hours and you had to mentally psych yourself up for it. They rolled their eyes playfully and said they'd meet up with you tomorrow so you can tell them everything. Heading to your new home, you mentally prepared yourself for this very unexpected night and trying not to worry about your friend calling it a "date".

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

It was dawn and your nerves were through the roof. Walking out to the Promenade again, a few were still out and about, but you stood in the exact same place he approched you earlier. Nervously twiddling your thumbs, you realized that there shouldn't be nervous or anxious- this was Heaven, everything was perfect and worry free. Was Adam already affecting you this badly? You didn't know how long it was until the familiar view of Lute walking down with an expression you couldn't decipher.

"Come with me" She spoke monotone, face unreadable, was she upset? I mean- it's not like they're actually a couple, unless she has some unrequited feelings? You were nervous as she weaved you through the various streets- some familiar and some not- and only then you realized that she was taking you to the center of Heaven. It didn't shock you- Adam was the first man in existence after all and the first human soul in Heaven. It made you nervous though, as you've never been there before. The only other beings that lived there was mainly Heavenborn. Nothing was spoken between you two until she pulled you close when you were in the hallway, a few feet away from the door.

"If you even THINK about hurting him- I will find you and cast you out of Heaven myself. Got it?" All you could do was nod as she shoved you to the door and then walked away. Taking a deep breath in, you exhaled slowly and knocked before you could walk away. A few seconds passed before the door was practically thrown open with a very excited Adam smiling at you.

"Fucking finally Babe! Took ya long enough. Let's get to fucking now" You gasped as he wasted no time and rushed you to his bedroom. Throwing you on his bed, he ripped off his mask and before you can process what his real face looked like- smashed his lips against yours, pinning you to the mattress with one hand- capturing you with your hands above your head- and the other at your sides. You didn't kiss back at first because it was so sudden, but then you started to kiss back. His huge garbs only pinned you down further as he started running his hands underneath your shirt. You lost track of time so you didn't know how long it was before he pulled back, panting heavily, you look at him as he stared at you with a hungry expression. He licked his lips as he looked at you like you were his prey, and he was the predator. Only then, you finally managed to see his face. He had short, brown hair, a stubble, and gold eyes. He was attractive even under the mask.

"Take..." You spoke quietly, not used to being the assertive one and too nervous to take action. Looking to the side you still felt unsure about all of this, I mean, you barely had action down on Earth. And this was Adam, first man, one of the head Angels, and he was just violently making out with you. You then felt his hand pry away from your chest and he grabbed your chin and lifted up your head to meet his.

"Take what, Bitch? You gotta tell me what you want" He smirked with a smug face as your face grew hot, you really did not want to say it. But...fuck it, right? This night was only for one night, might as well make it count.

"Take off your clothes" The burst of confidence was a surprise to you, but it pleased Adam very much as he kissed you again, but this time, it was a little softer than before.

"There it is, that's what I like to hear from Bitches I'm fucking" In no time, he stripped himself down to just his underwear- maybe to not fully overwhelm you at once? Your heart beat faster as you stared at his very hard dick covered by cloth, shit, this was really happening.

"Now let me take off your clothes, shits been annoying me for AGES. Your body is too hot to cover up" Only then what he was saying hit you like a train- did he really find you attractive even before? This entire time? He was just the one who wanted to let you make a move first? You let Adam fully undress you like he did you until you were just in your underwear. Gulping, you looked up as he pulled you into a sitting postion and crawled on top of your lap, running his hands up your arms as he started to kiss your neck. You could already feel yourself starting to get worked up- you tried to hold it in but a small moan escaped your mouth. Then, his hands drifted downwards- down to your underwear. He slips it under, lightly touching your clit, which caused you to jump from the sudden feeling.

"Damn Bitch, I barely fucking did anything and you're already fucking SOAKED. I'm gonna have a fun time with you tonight oh my fucking god" He laughed at the end as he started to gently prod your entrance and you shook in anticipation. Before you knew it- he pushed his finger in little by little, causing you to squirm from the intrusion. Whining, you felt it thrust in and out as the first man started to kiss and lap at your neck. He then added a second, causing you to moan and grab onto his back.

"You're definitely a fucking virgin aren't you? HA, don't think I can't tell Baby, I've fucked many before you and can tell when someone has or hasn't got a good dicking" His words cut though like a knife- of course he could tell, of course he's fucked countless of other people with how he behaves. You aren't special and will never be. That thought ended up being forgotten though, as he pulled out his now wet fingers covered in your juices, the feeling of being empty caused you to squirm again. He held up his slick appendages with his classic smug look before shoving them in his mouth. Making sure to lick them clean, he took them out of his mouth with a 'pop!'.

"Fucking delicious. Fuck I gotta taste the real thing" Adam got off of you and pulled up to the end of the bed, getting on his knees, he got closer to your crotch and you helped him take off your underwear. Feeling the air hit your pussy made you nervous as you were now almost fully naked for him and he was about to eat you out. Leaning back, you weren't ready as he dove in without wasting any time, you could feel his tounge enter you as he sucked on your clit. Moaning, you shook as he ate you out like he hasn't had anything to eat in a month. It felt so good, feeling his tongue wiggle inside you as he nipped on your clit, fuck.

"Adaaaaam..." You whined, now squirming, you felt the familiar pool of heat in your stomach as he sudeenlt latched onto your thighs, and he held them tight. Leaving your pussy, you watched as his face was covered in the slick juices as he stared at you with a slightly annoying expression.

"Stay still Bitch, kinda hard to eat you out when you're moving around" You just nodded in a slightly dazed state, not wanting to feel put off by his attitude. But, he went back down for seconds and you tried to stay still, even if it was incredibly hard. Everytime you made a sudden jerk, he gripped your thighs tighter. You couldn't resist as you couldn't grip the bedding very well, you rushed up to his hair and yanked on it, holding it so tightly. He moaned- you made him moan! He must have liked it, you had no time to think about it though as he just went deeper into you, causing you to moan his name again. After a few minutes, the feelings of arousal kept growing and the feelings in your stomach was too much to bare. You moaned out his name as you orgasmed, shaking as he wiped his face and licked up his mess. Standing up, he smirked as he pushed you down on the mattress again, caging you in. You just stared at him with wide eyes as you caught your breath.

"Damn, I knew you were a virgin but this is almost pathetic! Ha! Don't worry Bitch, it's time for you to be skewered by the original dick" Yanking off his underwear now, you couldn't see his dick very well, but you knew it couldn't have been small. Sliding you back so he had more room, he lifted up one of your legs and used his other hand to guide his cock to your entrance. Biting your lip, you stared up at him, still nervous that this was the one who took your virginity- in Heaven nonetheless. When he had the tip ready to plunge in, he looked up at you with a smirk, however, it quickly softened up even if just a little. Rubbing his hand on your leg, he wanted to make you feel...safe?

"Hey, if you're not up for it you don't gotta bang me yet Bitch. You can still back out now- even if you did scream my name like...twenty times" He must have seen your face and mistook it for being scared, which in all honesty you were, but that didn't mean you didn't want it. Reaching up to hold his face, you gave him the most genuine smile you could manage.

"No, no, I do want this I just...it's my first time, ya know?" He was the biggest manwhore around, he probably fucked thousands upon thousands of people in the past, he definitely fucked virgins before. Why did you even care? Why would HE care if you were nervous?

"Yeah, I get it Baby. I may have the best fucking dick in all existence, but I'm not into forcing others if they don't want it because that shit? Isn't cool. Unless they want to be forced- then that's hot as fuck. So, I am going to ask you" He leaned closer and his mouth was right next to your ear. "Do you want to be fucked into oblivion by the original dick? I need a yes or no Babe" His reassurance made you calm down as he could have just not cared like a lot of guys on Earth would. However, he made you shiver with his whispering and you nodded your head in agreement. He raised an eyebrow before you quickly sputtered out a "yes" and he smirked.

"Get ready for the BEST fucking night of your life. And welcome to Heaven, Bitch" The feeling of his dick entering your vagina was uncomfortable but not painful, he was being careful. Your breathing got heavier as he pushed in further, the feeling of being full wasn't unfamiliar as you fucked with toys as a human, but he was bigger than any dildo or vibrator you used. Whining the entire time as he slowly made you get used to him into you, you squirmed and grabbed his hair again and tugged. He moaned and growled and fuck it was hot.

"Fuck, keep doing that Babe and I'll fuck you so hard you'll have to stay in bed this entire week" He then bottomed out, fully pushing inside you until he couldn't no more. You screamed and your eyes started to water. Whining, you stared at the first man as he leaned down and gave you another passionate kiss as he started to thrust in and out. Moaning loudly, the sensations of his cock being dragged back and forth inside you was just too much- he was slow to help you ease into it. You tugged on his hair again and closed your eyes which made him push harder into you.

"Fuck!" Adam increased the pace and you felt the feelings of an orgasm creep up again the longer and harder he fucked you. You then felt his lips on yours as he kissed you again and you kissed back. It was too much- you broke away and screamed his name as you shook even more than the first time. You felt his cum leak into you as you spaced out, breathing heavily falling back on the bed. You stared up at the ceiling as you felt his cock exit you, causing you to cletch your now-empty vagina at the feeling. You couldn't even think right now- all you knew was that he was the real deal.

"Told you you'd have the best fucking night of your life Baby" You couldn't even respond as you were truly that far gone. You heard him laugh awkwardly and swear as he said he would be right back and you were too fucked out to care or fully process what that meant. Sometime later he came back, gently lifting you up into a sitting postion, he pressed a warm and wet rag to your nether regions and started to clean you up. His hesitance and awkward strokes makes it obvious he never did much aftercare, so why was he doing for you?

"I really fucked your brains out, huh? Well...stay the night with me, ok?" You looked at him with a shocked expression, who wouldn't? Half the time he spoke about the person he fucked like it was another casual day, he doesn't have time for his fuck to stay over and him and Lute are just sex with no intimate feelings attached.

"You haven't said a fucking word in what? Ten minutes? Just stay with me because I don't even think you can fucking walk right now, it's nothing special. I was right and you were wrong. Now get in bed Bitch, I'll wake you up tomorrow morning" You had no room to argue, still mentally out of it- you crawl back and into the covers. You were having trouble because your body was throughly fucked, so luckily Adam swooped in and helped you get comfortable. Laying on your side with a pillow between your legs, you were too tired to fully process that he wrapped around you and was swooning you.

"Goodnight Baby, see you tomorrow morning" You didn't register the small kiss he gave to the crown of your head as you fell asleep and had the best sleep of your life.

[baileypie-writes]

~In Love with my Idol - Part 2~

Velvet x Fem!Pop Star!Reader

Part 1 here!

Fandom: Trolls 3: Band Together

Relationship: Romantic

Synopsis: After your concert, you go on a first date with Velvet.

Warnings: A minor suggestive joke, though nothing happens. Sharing feelings, cringe but I kinda did it on purpose.

Requested by: @reizuuuu

A/N ~ Hope you enjoy! Also, merry day-after-Christmas!(it’s one in the morning for me right now. I need to go to bed)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You don’t think you’ve ever been this excited for one of your concerts to end. You had to stop yourself from completely rushing it. You wanted your fans to be happy, so you gave it your very best, and your concert ended with cheering that nearly busted your eardrums.

After thanking the audience and saying goodbye, you practically bolted backstage. And there Velvet was, waiting for you.

“That was pretty good.” She said, giving you a golf clap. You knew that this was her way of saying “That was awesome! Great job!” So you smiled back at her.

“Thanks!” You said, voice tired and slightly raspy. You fiddled with your fingers, wanting to shyly bring up what you talked about earlier. “So….”

“A date? Sure, where do you wanna go?” She casually asked and answered your question for you, much to your relief.

“Well, I think I’ve had enough paparazzi for one day, so someplace quiet. How about my place? We can order food or something?” You asked.

“Woah, inviting me to your place? Isn’t that kinda forward? What’re you planning on doing?” Velvet teased, raising an eyebrow with a smirk.

You rolled your eyes, laughing. “Nothing, I promise!”

~~~~

When you arrived at your house, you got out of your car, and went over to Velvet’s. You politely opened the door for her, and half-jokingly held out your hand to help her step out. She smirked and rolled her eyes, waving your hand away.

You both went inside, and you showed Velvet around.

“It’s not nearly as big as my house, but it’s nice.” Velvet said, clearly flexing.

“Well I don’t really feel the need for a big house. It’s just me who lives here, after all.” You said. Internally, you were freaking out. Not only were you on a date with Velvet, but it was at your own place! You avoided eye contact to hide your bashfulness.

“Huh, I guess that makes sense.” Velvet noticed your shy demeanor, and didn’t like it. She tried getting you more involved with the conversation.

“So… all by yourself, huh? Must get pretty boring.”

“Heh, yeah, it does.” You said. Velvet was pleased with herself when you finally looked at her, and your shoulders became less tense.

Your walking suddenly slowed and came to a stop. Velvet noticed, and stopped as well.

“To be honest, hanging out with you has really been really fun.”

“Well duh, of course it is. I am really fun to be around.” Velvet said, gesturing her hand to herself, and tilting her head up with pride.

You laughed. “What I mean is, besides being a pop star, I don’t really have anything else going on in my life. So when I’m not on stage, I feel kind of lonely. So when I started hanging out with you, it added something new and fun into my life.” You confessed, avoiding eye contact yet again.

This time though, Velvet also wouldn’t look at you. She wasn’t good with sharing feelings with others, so this made her feel awkward. So she did her best to make a response. “Well, you’re pretty fun too. It’s nice to have someone other than Veneer to talk to.” You looked up at her and smiled, which Velvet copied.

You then let out a big exhale, ready to change the mood of the conversation. “So! Wanna order some food?” You swayed back and forth on your feet.

“Sure.”

~~~~

A little over thirty minutes passed, and the two of you were sitting at the kitchen table, eating your meals. Velvet was the one who picked the food, of course.

“This is pretty good. Do you eat here a lot?” You asked, mouth full of food.

“Yeah. Veneer and I usually get it when we’re working.”

You hummed in response, too focused on eating to say actual words. Velvet watched, finding it amusing how fast you were eating.

“Hold on.” She suddenly stopped you.

You froze just as you were about to take another bite. Velvet leaned close to your face. She then licked her thumb, and swiped it on your cheek. “You had some food on your face.” You hummed again, but got confused when Velvet didn’t move away. She stayed close to your face.

You were staring at each other so long and hard, you could practically see into her soul. You started internally freaking out again, thinking that you were possibly about to kiss. But suddenly, Velvet quickly moved away. She had the biggest smirk on her face. “Wow, I didn’t know that you could get that red.”

“Velvet, what the fuck.” You shouted, realizing that the whole thing was just her teasing you. Velvet started laughing in your expense. You were so upset about her little joke, so you wanted payback. You pounced towards her, making her flinch. But instead of a fist or palm to the face, she got lips.

Velvet froze, and you took the chance to throw her words right back at her.

“Wow, I didn’t know you could get that red.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~baileypie-writes

[highly-opinionated-ramblings]

(Little mid-timeskip scene with Perona, Zoro, and Mihawk:)

The castle was beautiful, but empty. And quiet. So, so quiet, aaaaalllllllllll the time. Perona had never been able to stand the quiet.

To fill the space, she sang. She wasn't the best at it, but it was better than talking to herself all the time, she thought. Plus, it was comforting, in a way.

Mihawk was typically apathetic about her singing. But Zoro, being the good and proper pirate that he was, often added his voice to hers.

This particular evening, as she set about preparing dinner, she found herself reminded of an old familiar children’s song, one that she remembered her mother singing to her while at work in her own kitchen.

“There was a boy called Johnny King, who used to ride his bike-”

“Up and down this simple country lane,” Zoro joined in, from where he was casually leaning back in his chair at the table.

Perona smiled. “Now he’s gone to sea, to sail under the black flag of death, and- ack!”

She dove for the stove as her pot threatened to boil over. As she did so, Zoro completed the verse-

“And all the people know he won’t come home again.”

“What?” Perona turned back around, having got the situation at the stove back under control, and frowned. “That’s not how it goes.”

“Uh, yeah it is. Didn’t you know?”

“No, no, it’s ‘the people far and wide all know his name’.”

“...Huh? No it isn’t!”

“Yes it is!”

“I’ve heard both,” Mihawk put in before the argument could develop any further. “Zoro’s is the East Blue version, Perona’s is the version here in the Grand Line.”

“Oh. Ohhh, well, I guess that makes sense, doesn’t it? Maybe he was a real guy, and he went from the East Blue to the Line.”

“Maybe so,” Zoro nodded. “That would also explain the difference in the two lines themselves. If he died at sea, he never actually would come home again, would he?”

“But then, the other version isn’t necessarily wrong. I mean, we do all still know his name, don’t we?”

“I guess we do.”

“So he must have had at least some success as a pirate. That’s…I don’t know, it’s kind of fascinating.”

"If you say so," Mihawk shrugged.

“That guy Noland ended up being a real guy," Zoro said thoughtfully, "from that North Blue children's book."

"You mean Liar Noland?"

"Yeah, but it turned out that he wasn't lying."

"What," Perona frowned as she began ladling steaming pasta onto plates for each of them, "are you saying you found the lost city, then?"

"Yeah. It was on a sky island."

"...That's a story I haven't heard."

"I'll tell you sometime, then," Zoro said around a huge yawn.

"As long as it's not at the dinner table, please," Mihawk sniffed.

"Hey, Hawkeyes, how come there's no songs or books about you out there?"

"I don't know, but I am thankful that there aren't."

"I bet we could make our own! Mihawk, Mihawk, with blade of steel and, uh, eyes of gold..."

"Lord of the sea and Kuraigana cold," Zoro added with a snort.

"Yes, that's genius! We've got to write this down!"

"On second thought, I believe I will just take my meal in my room."

[starker-raving-mads]

For you: Part IV

Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV | Part V | Part VI | Part VII | Part VIII | Part IX

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"It's easier if we come up to see you," Bucky had said, Steve murmuring his agreement in the background of the phone call. "We're gonna be in the city anyway and besides, ain't it better to do it where you can do all the scans and stuff?"

The plan was sound, and made sense to Peter at the time. But here and now, with Captain America and the Winter Soldier making their way up to the penthouse labs in Stark Tower, the vigilante was questioning his judgement.

"Fri do we - "

"Yes, Mother, we have the schematics loaded and ready for display in both holographic and flat form."

"Okay, okay but do you think - "

"You've practiced attaching and detaching the device enough times that your fluidity of movement has increased by 313%."

"Sure but - "

"Peter," the AI cut off the teen's frantic questions. He fell silent, chagrined; she rarely called him Peter anymore and when she did, he knew it was because he was being too much.

He let out a deep sigh.

"Okay, I get it," he gave up. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be I guess."

"You are," the super intelligence agreed. "I'm glad you've come to see reason. Sergeant Barnes and Captain Rogers will arrive on the elevator in ETA 10 seconds."

They were coming by so that Peter, 18-year-old, clumsy Peter, could attach Bucky's new prosthetic based on Mr. Stark's assemblage instructions. He was, for lack of any better words, fucking terrified.

It wasn't so much that Bucky and Cap scared him, at least not any more. He had a healthy respect for the pair after everything they'd gone through, but the few meet ups he'd had with the group as a whole had made him appreciate the less-obvious qualities that each hero had in turn. Sure, Bucky was scary as heck in a fight, but outside of that he was quiet and kind of contemplative. Steve was the driving force for optimism and doing the right thing - and also an absolute mother hen.

Instead it was the fact that he was basically going to be attaching this thing, that he did not create, that cost Mr. Stark probably at least a million dollars? Onto the body of a super soldier while his - best friend or boyfriend or whatever they were, Peter really never got clarification - watched over his shoulder. He was having performance anxiety, big time.

He concentrated on those better qualities of theirs as the elevator door opened.

An hour later, he wasn't sure why he'd be so scared in the first place.

"You're really a natural at all this, huh?" Steve asked, peering over all the holodisplays Friday had helpfully pulled up for Peter as he went along attaching circuitry, wires, and faceplates. The blonde's eyes were wide trying to take everything in while Peter, finally confident in the face of the older man's perplexity, worked slowly but surely on finishing the attachment of Bucky's new arm.

"Sort of," the teen chuckled. "Mostly it's just that I spent so long growing up without any of the bells and whistles - oops, sorry," he grimaced after a slight spark made Bucky flinch. They were bound to happen, given that the battery that was Bucky's natural electrical system couldn't be turned off like one could a computer they were changing the parts in. " - that now that I've got all this stuff to make it so much easier, it's more understandable than it probably would've been otherwise, if that makes sense."

Bucky hummed in agreement. "Kinda like training with weights then goin' into the fight without 'em on." His Brooklyn accent was stronger than it had been before. Maybe it meant more of his old self was returning. The thought made Peter happy for the other man.

"Yeah, yeah exactly!"

"You know, I always thought Tony was one of a kind with how smart he was," Steve admitted after a few more moments of silence scattered with the light clinks of metals and wires being maneuvered in Peter's sure hands. "And he is, I'm not saying he wasn't, but you really do him justice here, Pete."

Peter ducked his head, flush blossoming in a great pink wave across his cheeks and the back of his neck.

"Nah," he disagreed quietly. "I'm nothing special. I bet there's thousands more people who would be able to put all this to better use." He sighed.

"No they wouldn't," Bucky said in a sure, firm tone. Peter looked up at him, his curls - getting too long, needing a cut - falling slightly across his eyes. "I've seen a lot of people, kid, and trust me, you are one in a billion."

Peter's breath caught and he stared at the assassin in shocked silence. He was brought out of it when Steve laid one of his large hands over Peter's slight shoulder, engulfing him in warmth.

"Buck's right, son," Steve agreed. A warmth Peter hadn't known since before Uncle Ben passed away washed over him. Something that felt like acceptance and family all rolled into one.

"Thanks," he replied quietly to the both of them. Steve kept his hand there for just long enough that Peter could pull on that warm memory with ease later.

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"Shoulda seen him, Pete," Bucky said, tossing a foam football to Steve, who tossed it to the teen, who tossed it back to Bucky in a smooth triangle stretching across the lab. "Stevie used to be a beanpole - short and tiny and yet had the bite of a gator wrapped up in all that acne and asthma," he chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, live it up, wise guy," Steve replied, smile taking any bite that might've been there right back out of it.

They were, ostensibly, calibrating Bucky's arm. Peter had finished with the installation a while ago and had gone back a few times to make some minor adjustments. They'd been tossing the toy ball that was he and Mr. Stark's 'thinking ball' between themselves to test the arm's dexterity, reliability, and maneuverability, but the spider was pretty sure it was as good as it could be at this point without a real endurance test. Still though. He was having fun, relaxing with his new friends. He could unwind with them in a way that Ned and MJ just couldn't do for him. He tried not to feel bad for spending so much time away from his friends but his life was just so - different, now. He'd make it up to them.

"I used to have asthma too," the teen admitted, tossing the ball to Bucky again. "And glasses, and all sorts of problems." He shrugged, catching the ball from Steve. "The bite kind of cleared all of that up, though I still have problems with the cold."

"Oh yeah?" Bucky asked, thoughtful.

"Never really knew why, just seemed to stick around, honestly feels a little worse but I don't know if it's just like that in comparison to like having none of the other stuff to distract my senses from it."

"You know," Bucky drawled, pausing as he caught the ball, holding it cocked against his hip. "Spiders can't thermoregulate. It's why you never see 'em in winter." Peter and Steve both blinked at him. In an act of absolute insanity, the winter soldier blushed. "What?" he asked, defensive, throwing the ball more firmly than necessary at Steve. "I read!"

"I never really thought of that," the younger man admitted. "That might actually bear looking into. Hey, Fri?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"Can you make a note to research that?"

"Of course, Mother. Also, this is your reminder that it is 2pm and you have not yet eaten."

"Thanks, Friday," he grinned. He caught the older men looking at him. "What?"

"Mother?" Steve and Bucky asked in unison, smirks firmly in place. He covered his face with his hands and groaned.

Peter had lunch delivered from his and May's favorite Thai place, leaving a hefty tip. It was still weird to him to just…having access to money now. He hadn't really used it except to pay for things like food and help May with bills and pay for his enrollment to Columbia. He was relieved, honestly, that the sudden influx of cash and power hadn't gone to his head. He liked to think it wouldn't but he was as human as everyone else and he'd seen good people do terrible things for cash.

Lunch with Steve and Bucky was good. It felt just like a continuation of the last few hours they'd spent together, like hanging out and just being friends. Refreshing, after everything. He'd answered embarrassing questions - like why Friday called him Mother (and then teased Steve for not getting the reference, even though Bucky somehow did), establishing a promise to have some kind of movie night so that he and Bucky could show Steve the legendary Alien films, and of course answering even more awkward questions.

"So no girlfriend?"

"Uh, nope, no not right now."

"Boyfriend?"

"Uh - "

"It's okay if you have a boyfriend, you know - "

"Or even a nonbinary partner! I hear that's a thing now, too, though I guess it always was and we just never really talked about it - "

"What Steve means, Pete, is no judgement from us. What's judgin' ever got anybody anyway?"

"Thanks guys, but no, no partners of any kind right now."

"Hmmm."

"What's that look for?"

"Still hung up on Tony, huh?"

"W-what??"

"It's okay, I get it, Stark was a handsome man. Don't look at me like that, Stevie, I know you ain't blind."

So yeah, awkward. Though, kind of sweet too? It was really kind of Bucky and Steve to just get it when it came to him and his feelings for Mr. Stark, as unrequited as they would always be. Felt a little easier to breath after that conversation, honestly. Ned and MJ had teased him constantly about his crush on Mr. Stark. May had too, for a while, though she'd stopped after - well after everything.

Apparently the billionaire and his aunt had done a lot to support each other while he was Blipped. Aunt May talked about Tony a lot differently, more supportive and less teasingly, than she ever had before.

He sighed, exhausted, spinning on his stool in the lab. Steve and Bucky had left a little while ago and he was still lost in his thoughts. He needed to stop thinking about this. About Tony Stark. He looked around.

"Guess it's kind of hard to not think about him when literally everything looks like he's about to walk right back in," he said to himself. He didn't want to get rid of any of it, but - "Fri, baby?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"Put on the Stark-Parker Playlist #3. I've got some cleaning to do."

He spent the next two hours decluttering everything he could. Pens and pencils back where they belonged, rinsing out the coffee machine, papers getting filed away, tools and loose screws and wires being organized. In the end, the lab looked cleaner than he could ever remember it being. And it still felt like Tony, for sure, but it also felt like a breath of fresh air.

He slid his stool across the room to the last filing cabinet. He knew this was where all the experimental files got stored, just random notes on thought experiments and the like. All the real experiments - the weapons and suit projects - were all stored in Friday's cloud, but bits and pieces of physical hardware were inevitably tossed here.

As he pulled things out and arranged them on the floor to get some sense of what exactly was in the cabinet, he slowly realized that the things he was pulling out weren't exactly random. His piles were forming a pattern on the floor, piles of notes about holographic improvements next to auditory transcription, and weirdly a pile about how birds can mimic sound with their vocal patterns.

He stepped back from the landscape he created, scratching his head.

"Friday?" he called, tilting his head back and forth as though he were looking at a picture that was just slightly out of order.

"Yes, Mother?"

"What the hell am I looking at?" he asked. He was slightly frustrated. He could tell all this went together but - but not how. Like a puzzle missing one too many pieces.

"On the floor in front of you are assorted piles of - "

"No, no," he shook his head. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he said, "Sorry, I should've been more clear."

"It is okay, Mother. I am still learning. What is it you would like to know?"

"It looks like all of this - stuff - the notes and the research and things - like they all go together. Was Mr. Stark working on something?"

Friday was quiet for a moment before saying, "Yes, though I am not sure he ever meant for the research to be conclusive or be shared." Her voice was hesitant.

"So, he stopped researching?" Peter asked, mind turning over what the man could've possibly been working on.

"Yes."

"Was it because he hit a dead end?" The thought of being able to finish something that Mr. Stark couldn't was invigorating.

"Yes and no." Peter narrowed his eyes, looking up - even though, technically, Friday was everywhere in this lab.

"Fri, what are you holding back from me? It's not - " he paused, " - it's not dangerous is it?"

"Not in the manner a weapon might be." He groaned.

"Friday," he said in the same tone Aunt May used on him when he was edging around a subject.

He figured he might've gotten it down right when she answered, "Boss had been investigating the best and most accurate methods of recreating natural intelligence."

"So, a new form of AI," Peter clarified.

"No," she replied, more softly. "I believe, based on the results of some of his testing, that he was attempting to recreate a previously known organic intelligence." A pause, and Peter's spidey-sense tingled, ever so slightly. "He was attempting to recreate your intelligence, Mother."

It felt as though the floor had dropped out from under him, his stomach doing a wicked somersault. He had the vaguest sense of vertigo, like he'd missed grabbing a web when slinging high between two buildings in downtown.

"Why - " his voice clicked, throat dry from shock. "Why would he - ?"

"If I were to posit," Friday said in that same slightly gentle tone. "I have watched you and Boss both, together and on an individual basis. From some of the similar actions you both have taken, I can extrapolate that, in the best way I am currently able to describe," she paused, like she did not like the uncertain nature of the information she was about to unveil, "he was attempting to create such an intelligence because he missed you, Mother."

[cheesemonky]

It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year

ot8 x reader (separate)

genre: pure fluff, literally nothing else

warnings: almost swearing in jisung's, lmk if there's anything else <3

summary: the boys each have different ways of celebrating this time of the year, but all are special and shows how soft christmas really gets them

Chan

Near the start of November, you and Chan had been having a quiet night when he had gotten a call out of the blue. At first you didn’t pay any mind. He always got a lot of calls, whether it was from the members or staff was the question. But it caught your attention when you heard him greet the sudden caller as ‘mum’. You had met his family on multiple occasions and each time you were met with no less than the utmost kindness and inclusivity. They knew Chan loved you, and that you loved him just as much, so they made sure that they felt like family in everything they did. They were nicer than humanly possible! As Chan spoke with his mum on the phone, you couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity creeping in. His conversations with family usually weren't a cause for concern, but this unexpected call sparked a different kind of interest. You carefully observed Chan's expressions as he chatted with his mum. He seemed to be smiling, occasionally laughing, and from what you could gather, it appeared to be a pleasant conversation. Afterwards, you immediately pestered him about it and it turned out they wanted the both of you to come over to Australia for the holidays. The idea of spending Christmas with Chan's family was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. But nevertheless, preparations were made, and tickets were booked.

And here you were. A perfectly Australian, Christmas barbeque with your boyfriend and his family, in the backyard. But it wasn’t just his parents and siblings, no, no, no. Everyone was there. From grandparents to aunts and uncles, from cousins to nieces and nephews, everyone. 

“Channie, have you ever even met half these people before?” You whispered, leaning over to reach his ear. “You said it would be just a small get together.”

“This is a small get together. There’s only like, 4 or 5 people I haven’t talked to before tonight.” He said normally, not bothering to whisper back.

You rolled your eyes as you scanned the sea of unfamiliar faces, each one seemingly more enthusiastic and cheerful than the last. As the lively chatter and laughter filled the air, you took a deep breath, attempting to steel yourself for the social extravaganza that lay ahead. The aroma of the barbecue and the sound of distant laughter from children playing created a festive backdrop to the gathering, but your focus remained on the daunting task of navigating through this sea of extended family. Chan, oblivious to your internal struggle, continued to mingle effortlessly. He greeted each relative with familiarity, sharing stories and laughter that echoed through the backyard. You admired his ability to navigate the intricate web of familial connections, wondering how you could ever fit in. But when you went to refill your drink, thankfully, a more familiar face showed up.

“Oh, hey Hannah. You having fun?”

“Hmm, yeah. You?”

“Kinda. Would be better if I knew at least some of these people.”

“Oh, damn. It’s okay, you’ll get to know them better in the future. Congratulations by the way.”

Congratulations? What was she congratulating you for? You hadn’t had a promotion at work recently, and there was nothing big happening right now. Heck, you hadn’t even done anything interesting for the longest time.

“Wha- huh? What did I do?” You questioned, turning to face her, but alas, she had already run off into the crowd. But looking closer, you realised a lot of the partygoers had their eyes on you, even if they weren’t straight up staring. Glances here and there, or watching you out of the side of their eye. What in the world is happening?

“Everyone, hello! I’d like to make a small speech!” The backyard quieted down at the sound of Chan’s voice resonating through the area. You wiggled your way through the crowd and up to the front, where he stood.

“I know I haven’t been here for a long while, and I’ve missed you all. Most of you know that I brought my lovely partner here with me so they could see why I hold you all close to my heart.” A smile graced your face at his words. Even if you were a bit scared to mingle with them, you had seen how caring and embracing they had been.

“Y/N, could you please come up here?”

You looked at him curiously but walked over to take your place next to him. You noticed a twinkle in his eye that you hadn’t seen for a while, especially when he spent his days working. You’d missed it.

“Now, we’ve been together for a good while and I wanted to give you a little gift to help you remember your visit here. Forever.” He said more to himself than anyone else. You could hear the whispers and giggles of the crowd but before you could say anything, a pair of hands were wrapping a blindfold around your head.

“Sorry about this, he wanted it to be real special.” You recognised the whisper as Lucas’ voice and now your confusion knew no limits.

“And… take it off.” You couldn’t see it, but you knew Chan was smiling when he said it. The cloth came off and your eyes instantly shot downwards to where Chan was kneeling. Wait, kneeling? It was only then did you notice the small box in his hand. You covered your mouth with your hands, the tears already forming in your eyes.

“Come on, don’t cry. I haven’t even asked yet!” He laughed. Everyone had been in on this, hadn’t they? This is what Hannah meant, this is why people were looking. Everything made so much more sense.

“Chris, do not play around right now…” You had forgotten about everyone else, only remembering after hearing a few chuckles amidst them.

“Okay, okay… Y/N L/N, the love of my life, my dearest one ever, my soulmate-”

“Christopher.”

“Hahah, fine..!”

A beat of silence as he opened the box, revealing a simple yet perfect ring.

“Will you marry me..?”

“Yes.”

Minho

“Aww, who’s a good kitty?”

The voice had confused him. That didn’t sound like any of the employees that worked here. An intern, maybe? Another volunteer? But they hadn’t gotten anyone new in ages. Who could it be? He glanced around quickly but there was no one in his area of the shelter. Still suspicious, he squatted down again and turned his attention back to the cats in front of him.

“Sorry about that. I guess I’m going crazy.” He murmured, mostly to the cats but perhaps to himself as well. That’s the only explanation to what was happening anyways, there's no way someone else is here with him.

Away from all the staff. 

In a secluded area of the shelter. 

…

He got up with a sigh and began to walk towards the door, keeping an eye out for any intruders. He closed the door, but not before looking both ways. As he walked back to the playpen, there was another sound, but not a voice. He recognised the sound; a cat’s carrier had been opened. One of the newly rescued ones. In a heartbeat, he had picked up a wooden brush and held it close to his chest. He stepped carefully and silently, moving closer to the source of the noise. But he hadn't realised how close to a cabinet he was getting. He fell back onto it, causing the contents to shuffle and the noises from before to cease. He kept as still as a dead man, which is what he could become any second now. Nonetheless, he continued forward again, because he was not about to let someone hurt or take one of these cats. He heard soft footsteps and leaned back against the wall, shutting his eyes tightly and praying to anyone that he might survive tonight. At least, if he did die, it'd be in a place he loved with those he loved.

"Uhm... are you alright?" He opened his eyes to see another, very not-dangerous looking person standing in front of him. You looked up at him with a curiosity that, in turn, made him curious.

"You're not-... o-oh, yeah. I'm fine." He mumbled, relaxing his shoulders and loosening his grip on the brush. "I haven't seen you here before. Who are you?"

"You got your confidence back quickly, eh? Well, I'm here to volunteer. You too?"

"Mhm. Is this your first time?"

"First time at this shelter, yeah. I moved here recently but I used to volunteer there as well." Minho smiled at your words. A fellow cat lover, eh? And a gorgeous one at that.

“I’m Minho. Nice to meet you.”

“Likewise. I’m Y/N.”

Minho couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and embarrassment as he realised that the mysterious voice and presence he sensed earlier were just those of a fellow volunteer. He chuckled nervously, feeling a bit silly for getting so worked up over a potential intruder.

"Sorry for the overreaction back there. I thought someone was sneaking around, and I got a bit paranoid," Minho explained, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish smile. You laughed, a warm and friendly sound that immediately put Minho at ease. 

"No worries! I guess I startled you. I was just checking on the new arrivals. They can be a bit shy, you know?" Minho nodded, feeling grateful for the company. 

"Yeah, they're still adjusting. Some of them had a rough time before coming here. It's good to have someone else who cares about them."

For a moment, the two of you just stared at each other in silence, both subconsciously observing the other. Then, before either of you could speak again, an actual staff member popped out from behind the door.

“Minho can you- oh, you guys have already met! Y/N here is a new volunteer. Well, thanks for the help tonight! You guys can head home early, it’s Christmas Eve after all.” Minho cringed internally at the reminder. Christmas this year was gonna be a pain. He turned to get his stuff as the staff member left, and then waited for you by the door.

"Are you busy?" He asked, looking you straight in the eye. It was a little nerve-wracking, having someone so openly stare at your face.

"Nope. Wanna grab a bite? It's already 8:30, and I sure am hungry."

"Is this a date?" Your face flushes and you look away at the floor. It sounded that way, hadn't it? To be fair, he was a handsome man and he seemed to have the same passions as you. You let out a small chuckle in response.

"Ah, n-no..! Just... do you want to get something to eat?"

"... why not. Let's go, I'll pay."

And after a comfortably silent walk, the two of you had sat down outside a small cafe, eating and talking.

"You didn't have to pay for me. I have my own money."

"Yeah, I know. That's why I'm expecting you to pay me back." He chuckled, raising an eyebrow. You sighed playfully and continued to eat and savour the moment. It’s not like you were doing anything important tomorrow.

"Got any Christmas plans?"

"Asking me on another date, while we're on a date?"

"Man, just answer the question." he smiled at your reply, but it faded as he thought about it more. This time round, Christmas wasn’t as… Christmassy as he had hoped it would be.

"No. All my friends and family are on holidays elsewhere. It's just me and my cats."

"Same. Wait- cats? You have your own cats?"

"Mhm. Soonie, Doongie and Dori."

"3?! Wow, I just have to meet them one day..."

"Come over tomorrow then." He said simply, not looking up from his food. You didn't respond at first. You couldn't. He's really inviting you over? You've only known each other for a night! He could just be doing this to let you see the cats… but still!

"Haha, are you asking me on a date now?" you teased, not expecting what came next.

"Yeah, I am. Can I get your number?"

Now you really didn't know what to say. He’s so calm and collected, no sign of hesitation at all. Yeah, he was handsome, and sure he was good with animals, but who knows what you were getting yourself into? Getting your heart broke was not one of your New Year's resolutions. But you'd rather spend Christmas with someone. You were just going to trust your gut feeling with this one.

"Sure. Wanna have dinner at yours tomorrow?"

"Sounds good to me. Also- Thank you... so much."

“It’s my pleasure… now, back to Soongie, Doongie and Dori, was it?”

Changbin

The winter sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow over the snowy landscape. Excitement filled the air as you set out to create the perfect snowman, armed with scarves, hats, and a carrot for its nose. You had told Changbin that you wanted to make a perfect snowman before Christmas, and were waiting for a miracle. The weather forecast had said that there would be a small chance of snowfall this Christmas, and you were more than excited to say the least. But alas, the snow never came. You’d have to wait until January, after all the festivities were done and the holiday spirit was fading. Your hopes for a perfect white Christmas and perfect snowman were crushed. But Changbin couldn’t bear to see you disappointed, even in the slightest, so he spent his days secretly searching for the best time of day to build one, what size the body and head should be, even figuring out how to compress the snow to get them to stay in shape. So here you both were. Christmas might have passed, but he was determined to make you happy.

“This looks like a nice place to start.” Changbin pointed to a spot in the clearing, his breath visible in the crisp winter air. Despite the delayed timing, excitement bubbled within you as you and Changbin began rolling the first ball of snow for the snowman's base. Changbin, ever the meticulous planner, explained the intricacies of snowman construction with a twinkle in his eye. You listened with amusement as he detailed the ideal size for each section, the right consistency for the snow, and the importance of compacting it just right.

“How do you know all this, Binnie?” You asked, a playfully sceptical grin forming on your lips.

“Ah, you know… uhm, I’ve seen things here and there…” He lied sheepishly, dismissing your question as quickly as possible. “Let’s get started, or we’ll be here until midnight.” 

As you rolled the second and third sections, Changbin sneaked glances at you, trying to gauge your reaction. He knew you had your heart set on a snowman, and he was determined to make it happen. With each roll of snow, the two of you exchanged laughter and banter. The clearing echoed with the joy of creating something magical out of the winter landscape. As the snowman's form took shape, Changbin's enthusiasm became infectious, and soon you found yourself fully immersed in the whimsy of the moment. But as you went to top the snowman off with the head, you felt a sudden hit of snow on your back. Turning to see what it was, you saw your boyfriend standing behind you, staring out into nothing and glancing at you occasionally.

“Bin… was that you?” You questioned. Changbin feigned innocence, trying to suppress a mischievous grin. 

"Me? No, it must have been a giant snowflake that fell off a branch or something." You raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

"Uh-huh, a giant snowflake with impeccable aim… Say, if I turn around will another ‘snowflake’ get me?" Changbin's eyes twinkled with mischief as he considered your question. 

"Well, you never know. Snowflakes can be quite unpredictable." With a playful smile, you turned around again, fully expecting another surprise attack. And right on cue, a snowball landed on your shoulder. You laughed, spinning back to face Changbin, who was now trying to stifle his laughter.

"I see how it is," you teased, scooping up some snow and forming a retaliatory snowball. Before he could even say anything, the cold impact had already hit him, smack-bang in the face. Changbin's eyes widened in mock surprise as the snowball hit its mark, leaving a dusting of snow on his face. You burst into laughter, revelling in the playful exchange of snow projectiles.

"Oh, you're asking for it now!" Changbin declared, wiping the snow off his face with a grin. He swiftly gathered more snow in his hands. You, sensing the impending snow assault, tried to dodge, but Changbin's aim was surprisingly accurate. Another snowball hit you on the arm, and a delightful mixture of laughter and playful shouts filled the air as the impromptu snowball fight continued. The clearing transformed into a winter battlefield, with the snowman standing witness to the skirmish. Changbin, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, took cover behind the snowman you had just built. You, undeterred by Changbin's strategic move, gathered more snow and prepared for a sneak attack. As you approached the snowman, Changbin peeked out from behind its snowy form, ready to defend his makeshift fortress. With a quick, well-aimed throw, you launched a snowball directly at Changbin, hitting him square on the chest. He let out a mock yelp, stumbling backward but quickly regaining his composure.

The snowball fight continued, escalating in intensity as both of you engaged in a flurry of snow projectiles. The snowman, with its carrot nose and stylish accessories, stood in the midst of the winter chaos like a silent spectator. Eventually, both of you found yourselves lying in the snow, breathless and covered in a light dusting of snow. The evening sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the clearing in a tranquil twilight glow.

Changbin extended a hand towards you, his eyes sparkling with mirth. "Truce?" You took his hand, and the two of you stood up, sharing a moment of laughter and camaraderie. The snowman, though slightly misshapen from the collateral snowball hits, stood as a symbol of the unexpected joy found in the simplest of moments.

"Maybe our snowman got caught in the crossfire," you remarked, surveying the snowy aftermath.

Changbin chuckled, brushing off some snow from your shoulder. "Well, it adds character. Our snowman has a story now." You chuckled, studying the snowman. Though it was far from what you envisioned it to look like, you didn’t mind.

“Yeah. Also, thanks for this, Binnie. I love you.”

Hyunjin

The cosy warmth of home enveloped you and Hyunjin as the festive season descended upon your shared space. You and Hyunjin had decided to turn ornament making into a small, Christmas date, spreading the vibrant chaos of ribbons, sequins, and paint across your living room. The air was filled with the scent of pine and the soft melody of holiday tunes that played in the background, creating the perfect ambiance for a day of shared creativity. As the two of you settled on the living room floor, surrounded by an array of colourful ribbons, glittering sequins, and jars filled with every hue imaginable, the possibilities seemed endless. Hyunjin's nimble fingers held the brush tight as it glided over the surface of the ornaments, transforming them into miniature works of art. Meanwhile, you struggled to match his finesse, attempting to channel your inner artist. Each stroke of his brush transformed the plain baubles into miniature works of art, dazzling with intricate details.

On the other hand, you were on a mission to unlock your inner artist, determined to create something that would stand alongside Hyunjin's masterpieces without looking too out of place. The room, filled with the soft sound of the gentle crackling of the fireplace, became a sanctuary for creativity. Your fingers clung over the brushes, and you experimented with different colour combinations, attempting to capture the magic that seemed to flow effortlessly from Hyunjin's hands. Except they just didn’t work out like you had hoped they would. Each stroke on the ornament felt like a battle against your own artistic inhibitions. The colours didn't blend seamlessly, and the patterns you attempted to create looked more like chaotic swirls than intentional designs. As you struggled to make sense of the colours on your palette, a playful frustration built up within you. The ornaments on the table showcased a stark contrast — Hyunjin's intricate designs and your attempts that seemed to be a kaleidoscope gone astray. A teasing smile played on Hyunjin's lips as he glanced over at your creation. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he reached over and gently poked your side, making you jump. You had only then noticed how far his bauble had progressed.

“Ugh, yours looks so good.”

"Not my fault my hands have been blessed and yours haven't," he quipped, his voice dripping with playful arrogance. You rolled your eyes, unable to suppress a chuckle. 

"Oh please, Mr. Picasso," you retorted, poking him back. "I'm just getting started. My masterpiece is a work in progress." Hyunjin continued to work on his ornament, a smirk playing on his face. He held up his creation for you to see—a dazzling bauble adorned with intricate patterns and vibrant colours. It only needed a few touch ups and it would be perfect.

"Admit it, mine's better," he declared, the teasing tone in his voice undeniable. You sighed in mock defeat, feigning a pout. 

"Fine, fine. Your ornament is a masterpiece, a true work of art. Mine is just… this." Hyunjin wanted to continue his cocky act, but when he sensed a bit of genuine sadness in your tone. He saw how you glanced between the two baubles with a glum look in your eyes, though you just continued to smile.

“Jagi, it’s okay if yours doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.” Hyunjin set aside his nearly finished ornament, his playful demeanour giving way to a more comforting one. He could sense your genuine frustration and didn't want the day to be overshadowed by a sense of disappointment. With a gentle touch, he nudged you affectionately.

"Hey, it's not about who creates the 'better' ornament. We're here to enjoy the process together and create memories," he reassured, his voice softening. "Besides, art is subjective, and your creation is unique in its own way." Your eyes met his, and you couldn't help but smile at the sincerity in his gaze. Hyunjin always had a way of making you feel seen and valued. After a few minutes of concentrated effort, you held up your creation, a satisfied glint in your eye. 

"What do you think now?" you asked, presenting your bauble, which now boasted a unique charm. Hyunjin smiled widely, reaching over to hold it himself.

“See, it turned out great!” he said, handing it back to you after careful observation. Your eyes lit up with a mix of surprise and gratitude as you took the ornament back into your hands. Hyunjin's words and supportive gesture melted away the lingering doubts, and a genuine sense of accomplishment washed over you. Maybe it wasn't a mirror image of Hyunjin's masterpiece, but it held a charm and personality that was distinctly yours.

"I guess it does have its own unique vibe," you admitted, a genuine smile replacing the mock defeat on your face. The room, now filled with a harmonious blend of creativity and shared laughter, seemed to sparkle with the magic of the season.

“Let’s go hang them on the tree, I don’t want to wait until they dry!” Hyunjin's suggestion sparked a renewed excitement, and you both gathered your creations, ready to add your unique touch to the Christmas tree. The ornaments, still slightly wet with paint, reflected the vibrant colours of your shared experience. As you approached the tree, its branches adorned with twinkling lights and a mix of cherished ornaments from previous years. Hyunjin joined you, and together you carefully hung the ornaments on the tree, finding the perfect spots for each one. As you stepped back to admire your handiwork, the ornaments seemed to tell a story of a day filled with laughter, love, and the shared spirit of the holiday season. Hyunjin's arm found its way around your waist, and you both stood there, basking in the glow of the decorated tree. The room, now transformed into a festive haven, echoed with the soft crackling of the fireplace and the distant sound of carolers spreading cheer in the neighbourhood.

"I think our tree has never looked better," Hyunjin remarked, his eyes sparkling with appreciation. You nodded in agreement, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction in the simple yet meaningful act of decorating together.

“I think you’re right. Merry Christmas, Jinnie.”

Jisung

“Pass me the green one. No, the other green one. No, the other, other green one.”

You sighed, walking over to where he stood on the couch, attempting to decorate the highest part of the tree and passed him the other, other green bauble.

“Are you sure you don’t need any help, Sungie? You look like you’re struggling.” you teased, walking over to get a closer look at your boyfriend and his hard work.

Jisung turned to look at you with a grin, “Well, it’s not my fault I’m vertically challenged. Gimme that shiny red one, would you?”

You joined in the festive activity, passing him more ornaments as he continued to decorate. But as the two of you talked and teased, neither managed to keep track of exactly how much was going onto the tree. After a while, you couldn't help but notice that it was practically overflowing with decorations.

 "Y’know, I think that's enough ornaments," you suggested, eyeing the now heavily adorned tree.

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Jagi, be real. You can never have too many decorations. It’s Christmas anyways so let me have my fun, you party pooper."

You raised an eyebrow and laughed at his enthusiasm, "If you say so. But let's at least save some space for the star. It's the crowning glory, after all." You continued to hand him ornament after ornament, and he happily added them all to the festive explosion that was happening on the tree.

Jisung, fueled by holiday spirit and a mischievous twinkle in his eye, decided to take things up a notch. "What if we add some tinsel? The more, the merrier, right?" he suggested, reaching for a box of shimmering silver strands.

You watched as he generously draped the tinsel over the branches, creating a dazzling cascade that almost looked like a waterfall of silver. "You really have a talent for turning a simple tree into a masterpiece," you admitted, genuinely impressed by his festive fervour, but also a little concerned with how this tree was ever going to hold all of this up.

“Now… the star. Can I put it on this year?” He asked, an intense sense of holiday spirit emanating from him. You grinned, realising that the tree had already taken on a life of its own with the multitude of decorations. "Sure, go ahead. Just promise me you won't tip the whole thing over in the process."

Jisung laughed, nodding in agreement. He carefully retrieved the shining star topper from the box, his eyes gleaming with excitement. As he reached up to crown the tree, you couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment and joy in the air.

“Almost there… oh shi-”

“Jisung-!”

It was as if time slowed down as you saw the sight before you. There was nothing you could do to stop it. You watched in horror as your boyfriend toppled forward, hands covering his chest whilst pushing against the tree. You felt so many emotions in the span of 5 seconds, and could only stand and stare back at the now tinsel covered Jisung on the floor.

“Uhm… oops..!”

You burst into laughter, unable to contain it any longer, with Jisung following suit, still tangled in the tinsel with a sheepish grin on his face. The once majestic Christmas tree now lay on its side, a glorious mess of ornaments, tinsel, and lights scattered around the room.

“Well, that’s one way to make the holidays memorable,” you said between fits of laughter, kneeling down to help him up. He chuckled, brushing off the tinsel from his clothes. 

“I guess I got a bit carried away with the decorating. Next time, we should probably use less ornaments.” You both worked together to upright the tree, and despite its slightly lopsided appearance, it still radiated the charm of a tree that had witnessed a unique holiday mishap.

“Maybe we should start a new tradition,” Jisung suggested, looking at the chaotic masterpiece. “The Great Christmas Tree Tumble” You couldn’t help but laugh at the idea. 

“Sure, why not? It’s funny seeing you fall like that anyways."

Felix

'Twas the night before Christmas, and the scent of freshly baked cookies filled Felix's cosy kitchen. The warmth of the oven embraced the room, and the holiday spirit danced in the air. He had invited you to come and join him in this festive tradition. As the two friends gathered ingredients and prepared the cookie dough, laughter echoed through the kitchen. Felix wore a festive apron adorned with gingerbread men and candy canes, while you sported an equally cheerful one with reindeers. Together, you created a magical atmosphere, blending the excitement of Christmas with the joy of friendship. You two had been friends for ages and have spent countless Christmases together. The dough was rolled out, and soon the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of sugar and spice. Felix handed you a cookie cutter shaped like a snowflake, and together you cut out dozens of delicate, wintry shapes. 

The anticipation of enjoying these sweet treats added an extra sprinkle of happiness to your holiday celebration. Especially since it had been some time since they’ve had some alone time. While the cookies baked, Felix prepared a variety of colourful frostings in vibrant hues of red, green, and white. The kitchen table transformed into a decorating station, with bowls of sprinkles, chocolate chips, and other delightful toppings waiting to adorn the freshly baked cookies. Once the cookies had cooled, the two of you dove into the artistic process of frosting and decorating. The cookies became miniature canvases, and together you created edible masterpieces. Felix's skilled hands guided your own in creating intricate designs, turning each cookie into a unique work of art. At one point, he had accidentally swiped his frosting cover hand across your face, leaving a trail of red and green along your nose and cheek. You blinked in surprise, and then burst into laughter. Felix, unable to resist the infectious joy, followed suit and ended up getting some on his own face.

As the night unfolded, both of you completed your festive cookie decorating. The kitchen sparkled with the glow of holiday lights, and a plate full of beautifully decorated cookies stood as a testament to your withstanding friendship. The two of you dug into the beautifully crafted cookies, and simply sat down and talked.

“That was so much fun! I don’t know why I don’t join your baking sessions more often.” You said, taking a bite out of another cookie. How many you had eaten, you weren’t sure, but you were definitely sure that they were amazing.

“I can text you next time. We can make brownies or something!” You nodded, savouring the sweetness of both the cookies and the moment. The warmth of the kitchen and the glow of friendship surrounded you, creating a bubble of joy that seemed to transcend time. The holidays had a magical way of bringing people together, and in that cosy kitchen, the magic was palpable. 

“So… anything new in your life that you haven’t told me yet?”

“Ah well, my boyfriend broke up with me like, a month ago? But yeah, spending Christmas alone this year, haha…” Felix's expression softened, and he reached out to give your hand a reassuring squeeze. 

"I had no idea, I'm so sorry to hear that. But hey, you're not alone tonight. You're here with me, and we've got a kitchen full of cookies to lift our spirits.” You managed a small smile, appreciating the comfort in Felix's words. What you didn’t know is that Felix was planning as you spoke. He didn’t want to admit it but he was somewhat glad that you had gotten rid of that guy.

"Thanks, Felix. It's just a bit weird navigating the holiday season solo."

“It doesn’t have to be solo. You can spend it with me”

You look up at him and there is a glint of something in his eye, something you can’t quite put your finger on.

“You know what I mean, Lix. Spending Christmas with someone is great, but I wanna spend it with that someone.” You explain. You appreciated his effort though. He was always someone you could rely on to make your day better.

“I know. And I’m saying, I can be that someone.” He says plainly. You look for any signs of trickery but he seems so genuine in his words. Looking back down, you fidget with your fingers, trying to figure out what he was playing at.

“If you’re doing this out of pity, there’s no need. I’m fine, I promise Lixie.”

“It’s not out of pity. I’m saying this because I love you. More than just a friend.” Your head shoots back up in an instant. What did he say?

He loves you? He loves you? He loves you?

“I invited you to make cookies because I want to spend time with you. I didn’t accidentally get frosting on your nose. I wanted a reason to hold you close. Even if it was just cleaning it off, I was happy. Because you were happy just doing something with me. And I want to keep doing things with you, because it makes me happy. And I just-” Before he could continue, you cut him off by cupping his cheek and placing a swift kiss to his forehead. He looked at you in shock, but his eyes were shining brighter than ever before.

“Can I…?” You whispered and he nodded eagerly. You leaned in and so did he, and the two of you met in the middle for an electrifying kiss. You held on tightly to his cheek and his hand found its way to your waist, pulling you closer. The two of you pulled away, and smiled widely at each other.

“Well… I- uh, I-I didn’t know you felt that way too and can I just say-” He starts but you stop him with a small kiss to his nose.

“No need for explanations. Are you still willing to spend Christmas with me?”

“Of course! Are you?”

“I think I made that kind of obvious… but yeah. I am.”

Seungmin

Seungmin leaned back into the plush cushions of the couch, feeling the cool night air seeping in through the slightly open window. The soft glow of the moon spilled into the room, casting a gentle ambiance that wrapped around the two figures sitting there. The air was filled with the comforting scent of hot chocolate, steam rising from the mugs cradled in their hands.

His dearest jagi, the love of his life, you, who he hadn't spent quality time with in ages, sat across from him. Seungmin took a sip of his hot chocolate, the warmth spreading through him, chasing away the chill of the night.

The two of you found yourselves wrapped in the cosy embrace of blankets on the couch, the dim light casting a soft glow around the room. The night outside was nice and cold, but within the confines of your shared space, a warmth enveloped you. The air was filled with the rich aroma of hot chocolate, the mugs cradled in your hands adding an extra layer of comfort.

Seungmin leaned back, his eyes reflecting the gentle flicker of the candlelight. The atmosphere was serene, a stark contrast to the bustling world outside your haven. The silence was almost tangible, broken only by the occasional crackling of the fireplace and the subtle sounds of the night.

“How have you been lately?”

“Almost 3 months, and that’s what you’re asking?”

You looked into Seungmin's eyes, the flickering candlelight casting a soft glow on his features matching the aura of the room. Yet a warm smile played on your lips as you considered his question. The quiet intimacy of the moment made it easy to open up.

"I've been okay," you replied, the sincerity evident in your voice. "Life's been busy, as always, but being here with you like this makes everything feel just right. How about you, Min? How's everything on your end?" Seungmin's gaze softened as he listened, and he reached over to gently intertwine his fingers with yours. 

"It's been hectic, but right now? Everything feels perfect. I've missed these quiet times with you. It's like a breath of fresh air." He chuckled softly, the sound resonating in the cosy space around you. 

"I've missed it too, Minnie. I’ve missed you. These moments really remind me of what’s important." Seungmin's smile widened at your words, and he squeezed your hand affectionately. The warmth of the moment seemed to intensify as you exchanged these heartfelt words. The glow of the moon and the soft light from the candles painted a romantic backdrop to your connection.

"I've missed you too, jagi," Seungmin confessed, his eyes never leaving yours. "These moments make me realise how precious our time together is.”

You nodded in agreement, a shared understanding passing between you. The outside world, with all its chaos and demands, felt like a distant memory in the cocoon of your shared space. As the night deepened, the two of you continued to enjoy the quietude, the only soundtrack being the crackling of the fireplace and the occasional distant hum of the city. After a good while, Seungmin gently stood up, breaking the physical connection but not the emotional one. He walked over to the window, drawing the curtains closed to shut out the rest of the world. Returning to the couch, he opened the drawer of the side table and reached inside for a small box. His usual, enchanting smile playing on his lips, he handed it to you. The anticipation in his eyes hinted at a surprise he had planned for this evening. You opened the box to find a delicate necklace, a pendant shaped like a crescent moon. Its silver surface shimmered in the soft light, reflecting the glow of the candles. It was like nothing you've ever seen.

“For me?” You whispered, fighting back the smile and the tears that began to form.

“For you.” He breathed. Seungmin took the necklace from the box and, with a tender expression, gently fastened it around your neck. The cool metal rested against your skin, a symbol of the quiet moments shared under the moonlight. He leaned in, placing a soft kiss on your forehead and then another on your lips, sealing the moment with a touch of affection.

“Your Christmas present. Since I won’t be here. Sorry about that by the way.” You smiled at the sincerity of his words, the necklace feeling like a tangible promise against your skin. 

"It's perfect, Minnie. And don't apologise; I understand. We'll make up for it when you're back."

Jeongin

“Is it too late to back out now?”

“Yep. Do you have the skewers?”

“Yessir. Marshmallows, chocolate and crackers?”

“Yeah, let me open the marshmallow bag first though.”

Leaning against the kitchen counter, you watched as Jeongin fumbled with the scissors, trying to open the jumbo marshmallow packet he had bought. You tried to convince him that there was no need for that many, but he insisted. To be honest, you weren’t even sure this was even going to work.

It all started when the two of you decided to book a holiday house for Christmas. The two of you have gone past many Christmases together, but was the first one that you guys would be spending as a couple and he wanted to make it special. What better way to do that than a private getaway? It was a nice place and it had a fireplace perfect for making s’mores. You were especially excited about that, you hadn’t roasted marshmallows in such a long time, let alone had a s’more. So you spent much time planning and organising everything you were going to do during your time away together. You had even gone as far to decide which restaurants to eat in advance. And all that was left to do was book the place. And that’s what Jeongin did… except it was for the year after, and he ended up being far more disappointed in himself than the lack of a holiday. It was his responsibility after all.

But nevermind that, that’s all in the past. Fast forward a few days from the big little mishap and here you were now. Jeongin had taken notice of how upset you were over not being able to go on holiday, especially about not being able to roast any marshmallows over the fireplace, so being the thoughtful boyfriend he was, he went and bought all the needed items. But neither of you had a fireplace, so being the geniuses that you were, the two of you decided to use his kitchen stove. As Jeongin continued to struggle with the marshmallow bag, you couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"Need some help there?" you teased, reaching over to take the scissors from him. He pouted playfully. "I got this, just watch." With determination, he managed to open the bag, and you both shared a laugh.

"Alright, let the s'mores-making commence!" you declared, grabbing the skewers and handing one to Jeongin. The kitchen was filled with excitement as you prepared for your makeshift s'mores adventure.

As you both sat around the stove, skewering marshmallows and holding them over the flame, you couldn't help but appreciate the effort Jeongin had put into making this Christmas special. The aroma of melting marshmallows filled the air, creating a cosy atmosphere.

"So, how do we do this again?" Jeongin asked, looking at the array of ingredients on the counter.

"It's simple," you explained, "roast the marshmallow to whichever gooeyness level you want, then sandwich it between a piece of chocolate and graham crackers. Voila! S'mores."

Jeongin grinned, adorable dimples showing and eager to get started. The two of you took turns roasting marshmallows and assembling your s'mores. And honestly? This night was probably better than any other Christmas holiday. All thanks to the man currently roasting marshmallows over his kitchen stovetop.

“I’m done making mine. Let’s taste them, yeah?”

“Same time, okay? 3, 2, 1…”

As you both took a bite simultaneously, an unexpected combination of flavours assaulted your taste buds. The marshmallow, instead of being perfectly gooey, had an odd rubbery texture and tasted of gas, the chocolate was overly bitter, and the graham cracker had an unusual, cardboard-like crunch. You scrunched up your nose in disgust and glanced over to Jeongin who wasn’t having too great of a time either.

“Uhm… Innie? What does yours taste like..?” You asked and Jeongin grimaced, trying to find the right words. 

"It's like a weird mix of burnt rubber and bitter disappointment. Definitely not the s'mores experience I was hoping for."

You couldn't help but burst into laughter, and he joined in, realising the hilarity of the situation. The kitchen, once filled with the sweet aroma of anticipation, now held a peculiar blend of burnt marshmallow and failed expectations.

"Well, at least we tried," you said between laughs, wiping away a stray tear. "Maybe we should just go grab some s’mores ice-cream from the convenience store. It’s not that late"

“Yeah, good idea. I’ll pay. Least I could do after messing up twice.”

“It’s okay, jagiya. At least we’re together.”

taglist: @jinnie-ret @kai-lee08 @beesspacedotorg

leisel's note: ty everyone for an amazing 2023 and i hope to see all of you (and maybe more) in 2024!! i've had an amazing time getting to know you all and am so grateful for all your support!! i'll try my best to keep putting out writings for you!!

[archivalofsins]

This is proably going to be rude and petty as hell. Hence why it's not going in the tag but-

I love how some of the reaction to the information from Deep Cover has been people just want to frame her in a bad light without considering or even attempting to analyze the reasons behind her behavior. As though these same individuals weren't literally just harassing people for analyzing her character in ways they did not like.

Yet, now, they're asking for people to analyze her more to find out what?

What people were able to fucking discern from her previous statements regarding children before she just blatantly said she jumps kids?

20/06/18 Amane: Thank you very much for teaching me. ……but, though I realise it’s strange me saying this after I asked you, I must admit it’s kind of unexpected. You give off the impression of someone who wouldn’t want to get involved in things like this. Kotoko: ……well, you’re not wrong. I’m surrounded by people who could all be murderers, so I don’t plan on going out of my way to talk and make friends. I can’t let my guard down. But I like ambitious people like you. If you want to study more, then I’m happy to teach. Amane: I see…… You look scary at first impression, but I quite like the way you treat everyone equally regardless of whether they’re older or younger than you. You don’t just treat me like a child or anything like that. Kotoko: Treat you like a child? Hah, you’ve got to be kidding. Back when I was your age, I was already the person I am today. I don’t have any plans to let you get away with something just “because you’re a child.” ……remember that. There, I’ve finished marking. 83%. How do I put it… Even though you act like this, it’s not like you’re super brilliant at studying or anything, huh.

The fuck- How does that make any sense? What are people supposed to analyze? Shit that isn't there?

I can look at a cube for several hours but that's not going to make it a sphere.

Get the fuck out of here. Like no it is not okay to go crying about nuance now when it's convenient to a character you like while ignoring it in Amane's case. All while people who do take the time to analyze these things and take them seriously get continually harrassed for doing so in ways that frame prisoners too negatively. Yet, now that the negative part has been blurted out for all to see we need analysis.

No, people just need someone to find a reason why she's still redeemable. As I've been saying and will continue to say if your forgiveness is contingent upon someone being a good person who you can morally agree with that is not forgives that is just an agreement. That is just a deal.

By forgiving for that reason one is going I expect this other person to behave in ways that will be pleasing to me so I think what they did is fine. Something that only leaves room for disappointment when that person does not turn out to be as moral as one believed them to be.

Add to this that others have been continually harassing people within this community that theorize about characters in a way they personally don't find appealing or see as framing them too negatively. Like yeah no one wants to analyze her. Yeah people are happy she just went on her voice drama and said the quiet part out loud again for the people in the back that didn't hear her when she said it in 2020.

That ship has sailed it's left the harbor because-

"Kotoko isn't a real person, she doesn't actually have thoughts and feelings. Come on; it's not as serious as you're making it. Of course, she's going to be reduced to being violent when she acts violent. She's just two dimensional after all. I mean did you hear her in Mikoto's voice drama when she attacked him? Did you hear her new voice drama?! Or see what happened to the prisoners she admits to attacking during the intermission-"

"Amane aside she even threatened Mikoto and Kazui too."

22/08/05 (Kazui’s Birthday) Kotoko: ……Mukuhara Kazui. Thanks to you, I wasn’t able to properly serve justice to those who did something unforgivable. I’m currently acting as an agent for our prison guard Es. Don’t get in my way next time. Kazui: Oi oi, don’t be silly, Yuzuriha-chan. There’s no way I could just look away from your outrageous display of violence. Anyway, even disregarding the fact violence against those voted guilty isn’t a part of Milgram’s system, what you’re doing is just acting recklessly based on a broad interpretation. As long as I’m free myself, I’ll stop you. Kotoko: ……what a pointless argument. Hmph. Since Es forgives you, I have no choice but to forgive you myself too. If you're to keep to your word, then you’d best do what you can to keep being forgiven. If you’re not, then next time you’ll be one of my targets. Kazui: Oh, how scary. That girl truly is frightening. ……well then, I wonder what the guard will decide to do with me. That’s the one thing I really can’t make out. Honestly…… 22/12/15 (Kotoko’s Birthday) Mikoto: Ah, Koto-chan. It’s been a while. Both of us have kinda split off from the group, but how’ve things been? A lot’s happened, but fr now let’s try to get along. I mean, it’s your birthday today, right? I got the feeling nobody else was going to do anything, so I came to celebrate. Kotoko: ……how carefree. It doesn’t matter, a villain like you won’t be forgiven next time either. And when that time comes, it’ll be the end for you. I’ll make sure of it myself. Mikoto: Ahh?? Just try and do it, you nutjob. I’ll crush anyone who hurts me…… You’re gonna be totally beaten at your own game……![TN: The word “me” here uses first person pronoun “boku”.] Kotoko: Hm. The border between the two is getting a lot vaguer. Your entire existence is a crime. And I will see you’re punished for it. That is what Milgram, and Es, and I have chosen.

"I mean she's even heavily armed."

"We've gotta think about safety- Right~?"

People should keep the energy they gave in mind before it gets returned to sender.

I don't want to see anyone asking for nuance now that was behaving the way I saw before when it came to other trials. It's not that serious it's all in good fun, my verdict doesn't say anything about me, keep that energy. Then on top of that don't expect people you've consistently met with hostility and disrespect to make your case for you when you need it.

Just because it would be helpful for the characters you favor. Literally no one wants to analyze her because some people within this fandom have made analyzing Milgram feel like a wholly unsafe thing to do. The people who like Kotoko's character regardless of her flaws have something that none of the others who favored the prisoners before this point did-

A full month before her music video releases and her trial starts to figure out how to explain this behavior. I say let them figure it out. However, people claiming no one wants to look at Kotoko's situation with nuance are either being disingenious or haven't seen the constant bullshit people who analyze these characters actually go through.

For people like that I only have one thing to say,

Do it yourselves then. It's a lot of work, it's thankless, but analyzing things is fun. Exploring the media one enjoys and figuring out why they enjoy it is fulfilling. Not only that it's something anyone can do. Be the nuance you want to see instead of complaining about people not giving you the answers you want to hear.

Because again I can look at a cube for several hours but that is not going to make it a sphere.

[fullmetalscullyy]

time after time for the way it was verse, but instead of after the series im curious about pre series 👀👀 a year or two before royai got married, how did they fall in love??

meg my love!!! thank u for indulging me in my wee au hehehehe

........ i had An Idea and it ran away from me. idk what happened idk where the last 30 minutes went lmao but here u go!!!! does it make sense?? .... !

a wee story about how i like to imagine young royai fell in love in my wee au

-----

for roy it starts quietly. it sneaks up on him, builds slowly, but when it hits he's like. "huh. yeah... of course!" because he loves her quiet, unseen and unheard passions. from her gardening to her astronomy. she's so knowledgeable on so much but never gets to share it, and roy lives for the moments where he manages to get her to speak of them. he adores how her eyes light up and she looks so happy. it makes him happy. and he grins from ear to ear in his elation and smiles softly at riza, marvelling at the way her cheeks flush pink under his attention. there's a tiny ember of hope within him she may feel some inkling of the same way as him... but he can be patient. he can tell she's not ready to acknowledge anything, so he waits

he'd wait an eternity for her

-----

for riza, roy is the first person really in years who's showed her any kind of attentiveness and kindness. he listens to her and what she has to say (everything she has to say) which is the most important thing to riza, even if it is shocking and overwhelming. she's not used to such scrutiny, but roy kindly lets her speak as if it is the natural course of things and allows her to use her voice - a drastic change for riza, "trapped" in that house with the quiet, but looming presence of her father, and their monotony

he throws a true spanner in the works of her life.

sometimes (most of the time) it's not appreciated. not in her daily routine, as it has the potential to throw her completely off kilter. riza doesn't welcome that

while she's bemused and baffled about his attentiveness, she immediately develops a crush, even as she doesn't trust him - creating more confusion and frustration

but roy is consistent, patient, and never withdraws his attention and care, like she expects him to, even when she snaps at him. he's surprised and hurt, she's jumbled and defensive, but they're only young. they don't understand these big feelings properly and ultimately, for riza, he's the boy from the city who stole her father's attention. who diverted what should have been hers, away from her. her father dotes on him more than her, and she grows to resent him for it despite everything...

but they grow older. as everything changes personally, her feelings change too. that pesky crush is still there - it flares at the most inopportune times. like when he smiles so brightly and laughs at whatever she's said, even though riza didn't think it was all that funny. roy's belly laugh always fills the room, causing her stomach to flutter as she witnesses his amusement. his joy.

(riza thinks the way his eyes dance as he looks upon her as he laughs is one of life's greatest wonders)

the crush is unexpected when it makes its appearance again, but riza has come to expect it. embrace it.

it's always there

it becomes a comfort

(something to trust in)

and roy continues to act the same way. he brings happiness and laughter into her life, something it was sorely missing while she practically lived alone. and as understanding dawns, riza realises her feelings may be true. real.

its scary

she doesn't trust it. she thinks it's only because roy is the only boy she's ever known, properly

but when one of the boys at school tries to make her smile and laugh, and as they share a quiet moment together at their end of year dance (before they leave school forever), where he kisses her cheek bashfully... riza feels nothing. there's no spark. no blush. nothing like the things she feels when she's around roy

no increase in heart rate

no fluttering pulse

no heat spreading out from her heart and down to her belly

no stomach flip.

realisation dawns

riza realises what she's feeling must be true. if she feels nothing for the boy and everything for roy... then what he makes her feel is true

she really does feel something towards him

it just made sense.

and the journey, figuring it out and allowing herself to embrace it and trust in it - in him - makes her happier than she ever could have imagined

[cosmos-coma]

Hello My Old Heart- Part 4

A/N: Wow, it’s been a hot minute since the last chapter, huh? This one was maybe a bit rushed, but I really wanted to get it out there! Hope you like soft-hearted sweet Eskel!

Pairing: Eskel x Reader

Warnings:  fem!reader

Word count: 1k

____________________

There are many things in life that are difficult for a Witcher; the trials, the path, the monsters… but the most challenging thing Eskel has done so far was leave you when that night ended. When he mentioned that he needed to move to the next town he could see the brightness in your eyes dwindle away as the real world came crashing down on you. You had urged him to stay the night, ‘It’ll be safer in the morning light’ you tried to argue, but he knew it would only make it harder when the time came.

The forlorn stare you held as he rode off had been replaying in his mind as he traveled and he couldn’t help but begin to dwell on all the ways you looked upon him. You had never looked upon him in fear or disgust, and for that small grace, he was thankful. However, sometimes, when he first surprises you at the door you look at him as if you were a flower seeing the sunrise after another dark night. But quickly after- well, it was almost as if you caught yourself and rethought what you were feeling. You would emanate a certain kind of sadness and… longing in your eyes that made your gaze that threatened to drain all the brightness out of you. He had spent collective hours over the last few months thinking about whether or not he had done something to you but, as far as he could remember your gaze had always held that glaze of grief.  

As of now, It’s been a month since the Flower Festival. A month of hopping around from town to town in the lower part of the continent and trying to be busy enough to live without clouding thoughts. On this night, Eskel had made his temporary home in a bustling inn and tavern just outside Novigrad. The drinks were strong and his stew was warm but Eskel still let out a little sigh as he let his thoughts overtake him.

“Eskel that’s the third time you’ve sighed on my sandwich. You’re warming up the bread…!” Lambert complained from across the table. By pure luck, he and Eskel had happened to cross paths on a contract and decided to stick together for a few days. 

“Sorry, I’m just…” 

“Thinking about that Sorceress again? I swear on Melitele’s tits sorceresses are gonna be the death of you and Geralt…” Lambert grumbled into his pint and shook his head. “Then who am I gonna swindle in Gwent? Vesemir? Yeah, right…” 

When Eskel didn’t immediately roll his eyes or return the jest to his younger brother, Lambert began to maybe grow a little more concerned. “What has you so caught up anyways? What makes her so different from any other? You’ve mentioned she heals, likes to read, has some sheep, but what makes her any better than those women over there?” He said with a motion towards the corner of the room. As far as the young Witcher was concerned, the majority of people will come and go and fill the roles of the ones before them as they went, but it is a rare few who create a role that no others can fill and he had yet to see it personally. 

A pause filled the air as Eskel looked out over the rowdy tavern in quiet thought, “well she’s…” He started, before cracking a hint of a smile. “she’s got a bit of an odd and blunt sense of humor and she always seems very sure of herself when she moves. She loves her work, focuses on it like nothing else, and is more than happy to enforce the care that's needed.” He said with a short snort of a laugh, recalling how you had literally forced him to sleep the first day you met. Hell- he didn’t even think it had been 2 hours at that point. 

“She has a special smile about her, and the conversation comes so easy, And it..” Eskel paused a moment and frowned, looking for the words that would carry the right sentiment. “The first time we touched it was like getting hit with Basilisk venom, but in the best way. Warm and tingling like it's eating away at you… but you don't want it to stop,” he finished and looked towards his younger brother who had his eyebrows raised. 

The marred Witcher quickly shook his head and took a big swig of his cup. “I’m probably just talking stupid though, forget I said anything.” He said in an attempt to backtrack over his words. After all, Witchers weren’t supposed to have feelings, right? 

Lambert slowly blinked and let out a sigh as he took in his brother's words, sandwich being set down so it wouldn’t get any warmer “Eskel… My dear brother, You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Eskel was silent for a moment as he waited for his brother to follow up with some snarky remark, but it didn’t come. 

“I’m pretty sure you're in something people call ‘love’, Eskel…” he stated, his matter-of-fact tone and the statement coming as a bit of a slap to the face. “And just because I don't see a lot of point in it, doesn't mean you shouldn’t pursue it…” He continued. “You’re a good Witcher, Eskel… and, though I'll deny it if asked, you're a great brother too. so, maybe you deserve something nice once in a while….”

Eskel bit back a smile and the urge to rub it in, taking another sip of his drink instead. “So, you’re saying-”

“I’m saying you should go after her, dumbass! If you don’t tell her how stupid she makes you feel then she might just up and leave one day.” Lambert grumbled and took a more aggressive bite of his sandwich than necessary before continuing with a full mouth. “And don’t make me say it again. I know you heard me…. Asshole.” Even Lambert with a bit of a grin.

With the wise words of his brother, Eskel set off for you the next morning. 

It was time to stop avoiding the subject and just say something. Even if you told him you hated him, that your heart had changed over the past month, he wouldn’t blame you. But… the hope that you might say yes is what kept his nerve. The thought that he, a scarred mutant with far too much blood on his hands, could possibly turn and see your smiling face every morning… it filled his heart with the same Basilisk Venom he had felt before.

__________________________________________

Taglist: @writingmysanity @open--till--midnight @dark-academia-slut @arcana-greenleaf

[amazingmsme]

5 F for the obscure media asks?!

Im intrigued 👀

Thanks for this, it was so cute & fun to write! Eiffel is my most specialist boy in the universe, hope you enjoy!

After the attempted coup, Eiffel and Minkowski were on edge pretty much constantly. Sure they had tied Hilbert up and threw him in their makeshift brig, but storage closets weren't all that hard to bust out of if you're determined enough. And Hilbert was plenty determined, it seemed.

Minkowski had come to the decision that they needed to stick together at all times and even went as far as to wait outside of the bathroom door for Eiffel, and making him do the same for her. Instead of splitting tasks like normal, they worked in the same room one task at a time, always keeping an eye on the other and checking over their shoulder.

On the Hephaestus, there is no "night and day," only the preconceived notion of it. Out here in the vast array of stars seven light years away from earth, they were completely and utterly alone. If Hilbert went rogue again, there'd be no chance of saving them.

At first they tried sleeping in shifts, but that quickly fizzled out when they both started falling asleep during their shifts. It just made sense to share Minkowski's admittedly already crammed bunk. Sleeping so close was surprisingly comforting for Eiffel, offering some much needed peace of mind. She'd protect him if anything were  to happen. The weight of her body kept him from drifting too far away from the bed, and it was nice to wake up with his head still on his pillow in the morning.

As it turns out, Eiffel talks in his sleep. It startled Minkowski at first, hearing a mumbling voice in the dark loud enough to wake her. It only took her a second to realize it was just Eiffel, muttering incoherently as he dreamed.

"Give it here, you're doin' it wrong."

Minkowski settled down, resting her head on his chest. As she fell back asleep, he would periodically spout off some nonsense.

"Hmm, purple tiger's gonna pounce..."

She stifled a giggle behind her hand, deciding to stay awake for a while and see what else he'd say. The next day, she decided to bring it up.

"So you're a sleep talker, huh?" she asked casually as she rummaged through the pantry. Eiffel was pouring a cup of lukewarm seaweed coffee and froze.

"Uh, yeah sorry. Hope it didn't bother you too much," he said, rubbing the back of his neck shyly.

"Not at all, it was actually pretty funny," she teased.

"Oh shut up."

And that was that. Neither of them dwelled on the subject, and if he happened to wake her up, she'd just fall back asleep.

About a week later, Eiffel was pulled from his slumber when he felt a soft tingling sensation on his side. He tried to brush it off in his dream, but the feeling only got stronger. He woke himself up with soft giggles spilling from his lips, utterly confused and sleepy. Another flutter on his waist drew forth a quiet snort, eyes finally shooting open.

Minkowski was hugging him in her sleep like usual; that wasn't the problem. But he noticed her hands twitching restlessly in her sleep, fingers curling and tapping against his skin. He contemplated waking her, but he didn't want to face her wrath for ruining her sleep over such a silly matter. Not to mention, he really didn't want her having that kind of knowledge to use against him. He'd never be able to slack off or sass mouth her ever again, not without severe ticklish punishment.

So he just laid there, trying his best to fall asleep as her nails grazed over his sensitive skin in the most agonizing way imaginable. He squirmed but not too much, afraid of disturbing her peaceful rest. And really, it wasn't the worst thing in the world.

He could get used to this, he told himself. He would live, even though he felt like he'd die from suppressed laughter.

All in all, he really didn't mind. And Minkowski never had to know.

[niennandil-me-writes]

Goretober 3: Teeth

[fanfic for @krissinonstop's novella project Benjamin's Wagon. Spoilers for books 1 through 5]

Andrej blinked. “Can you say that again?”

Steph took a deep breath.

“No, just the last part. The important part,” he said before she could repeat her five minute elaboration.

“I got bitten by a vampire.”

Andrej rubbed his eyes with the thumb and index finger of his right hand and resisted the urge to punch another hole in the wall of his motel room. He took some time to find words that would even remotely make sense, and failed. “So... are you a vampire now?”

“Well, not exactly. If my source is correct, I should only turn fully once I drink blood.”

“Uh huh.”

“Human blood, preferably.”

“Hm.” He was too tired for this shit. There was a dead man in his mirror, he had been unethically experimented on not 24 hours ago. “And you are in my room now because...?”

“I’m hungry.”

“Ah.”

That’s how they had ended up here. Andrej sitting up on his bed, a makeshift torniquet around his arm, Steph beside him, holding a knife. He couldn’t believe he was doing this. He was too tired for this shit.

“Thanks, Andrej. You’re a really good friend.”

“Yeah, whatever, I just don’t want you to kill me in my sleep,” he said, looking at the knife suspiciously, then at Steph's face, or more specifically her teeth. “And you’re sure it won’t transmit via spit?”

“You should be fine as long as I don’t sink my teeth into you.”

“Should be?”

“You’ll be fine.” Steph waved her hands dismissively, then tilted her head. “It is kind of weird, you know? If vampires need to feed regularly, and everyone who gets bitten turns into a vampire, then wouldn’t the proportion of vampires to food completely skew after a while? Like a predator prey model or something? Logistically, it wouldn’t work out, don’t you think?”

“I’m sorry, I haven’t really been thinking about the logistics of vampirism so far,” Andrej said. “Especially because until recently, I didn’t know they were real.”

“And now you’re living with one,” Steph smiled. “How the turns have tabled.”

“It’s how the tables have turned.”

“What?”

“Can you just get it over with?” He had to stop himself from screaming.

“Okay, okay!” Steph put the knife to his arm, while Andrej pretended he didn’t hear her mumbling about flunking biology and hoping she wouldn’t make him bleed out. As soon as the first drop of blood appeared, she went quiet.

“Did you just lick your lips?” Andrej asked.

“Maybe...”

“You just did it again!”

Instead of answering, Steph darted forward and put her mouth around the wound, less like the image of a seductive vampire and more like a snake trying to swallow a football.

Andrej sharply inhaled through gritted teeth as she started drinking his blood. The burning of the wound was replaced by an uncomfortable sucking sensation. He could feel the sharp teeth touching his skin and knew one wrong move by either Steph or him would make those fangs pierce him.

“Okay, that’s enough.”

When Steph didn’t pull away, he pushed against her head. She sat up, blood smeared around her lips like spaghetti sauce on a three-year-old. She pouted. “Do we have to stop already?”

“You said you just needed a little bit!”

“But you taste soooooo good, Andrej. I love sucking you!”

“Can you please not phrase it like that!” Maybe he wouldn’t die from blood loss, but a heart attack instead. This had been a long day. He had been picked up at a bar, tied up, had things shoved down his throat – damn it, now he was doing it, too!

Steph kept pouting. Andrej sighed. “Fine.” What was he saying? Was the blood loss getting to him? He was feeling a bit woozy. Steph literally jumped at his resigned permission, bloody lips twisting in a grin for a second to show off her teeth right before she set her mouth to his arm again.

Andrej sighed. At least she didn’t bite him.

[peachypede]

39 and 40 for the berries and the Pear for the recent ask you posted!!

39. If they could go back in time, how would they reassure their child-self about the future?

I felt like these would make nice drabbles...so uh have these little stories

Pecha

"Do we have romance?"

Pecha is taken aback by the younger version of herself, seven at this time, finding it strange for a young child to be so interested in love. Then again, this was herself she was talking to.

"Um, yeah." Pecha laughs a bit. How much was okay to reveal to little Pecha? She decides to keep it vague. "We're loved and not alone."

Little Pecha seems content with that answer and begins working again on the flower crown she had begun. Little Tiki, a joltik at the time, sat in Little Pecha's lap. A breeze passes by. It's a nice summer day in the Nimbasa park.

"...D-do we ever make people friends?" Little Pecha breaks the silence, her voice soft and her lips trembling from worry. It strikes Pecha in her heart and brings back memories that she'd rather not remember.

"...It...It gets harder before it get better..." Pecha begins, picking at the blades of grass underneath them unconsciously. "But the friends we make are the best friends anyone could ever have."

Once again, Little Pecha seems content with the answer.

Rawst

"...You're a boy." Little Rawst finally says after a long silence. Honestly, Rawst wasn't expecting them to say anything but since they were the same person, perhaps they got more comfortable with him quicker than with strangers.

"Yep. I'm a boy."

"...so I grow up into a boy?"

"...Pretty much."

"Okay."

Hm. That went better than expected. Rawst drums his fingers on the ground, watching Little Annabelle play with his Annabelle by chasing each other around.

"...When I grow up, will I stop being afraid of everything?" Little Rawst asks again.

Oh...

"Uhhh..." Right. Rawst feels the pain come back to him from when he was eighteen and realized that the belief he had about adults having no anxiety was wrong. His anxiety would never magically disappear. Instead, he'd live with it for the rest of his life.

How does he even begin to explain that to the child version of himself.

"No." He answers honestly. "We're still afraid of going outside and being around other people. It doesn't ever get easier. But it gets...doable. And the more you do it, the more doable it gets and the more people who you feel safe around grows...does that make sense?"

Another long silence. Little Rawst frowns and plucks at their toy ukulele before looking back up.

"...Yeah."

Pear

"What kind of job do we have? Am I a scientist? Wait, no, I want to be an astronaut!" Little Pear is practically bouncing off the walls, trying to guess what occupation Pear had.

"Uh...yeah...about that. We're a farmer. Like papá. " Pear answers while nervously rubbing his neck.

"Whaaaaaaaat." Little Pear huffs before sitting down on his bed, folding his arms in disappointment. "So we still live in Cortondo and do farm stuff? That's boring."

Pear gives a soft smile and sits down next to him.

"Important things come up." He tries to keep it vague. Right now in Little Pear's life, Nanita Babiri is healthy and still helps with harvest. It wouldn't be until he was a teenager that her health would begin to decline and wane. "We sacrifice some things we care about for things we care about more."

"But I don't want to sacrifice the things I want..."

"...I know."

There's a small moment of quietness before Little Pear holds out his pinky.

"Pinky promise me that we'll do something we want!"

"Huh?" Pear looks at his younger self, confused.

"Just one thing. We do something for fun! For us!" Little Pear reiterates, his eyes bright and a smile on his face.

Slowly, Pear wraps his pinky around his younger self's pinky and gives a smile back.

"...I'll do it. One thing for fun."

And here Pear thought that he would only be giving advice, not receiving.

40. What is their celebrity crush? How would they react if noticed by said crush?

Pecha

Heavy on the crush part, she really thinks Piers is handsome and loves listening to his music. Also loves watching his battles. He's such a talented battler AND singer! (I feel like it's definitely one of those 'you're attracted to what you're familiar with") Definitely has a poster of him in her room, which clashes with her usual pastel pink and bubbly theme in her room. She stands out if she goes to a concert of his because her style is VERY different from Pier's usual fans.

She'd be a stuttering and flustered mess if Piers ever even looked her way. Tries her best to act normally but is her usual "you hot, me dumb" self when in front of a person she thinks is attractive.

Rawst

Less of crushes, more of an admiration. He likes Iono's and Raihan's styles but also low key thinks they're both attractive. He watches both of their streams because he thinks they're both entertaining in their own ways. I feel like Rawst is a bit jealous of their abilities to actually perform in front of a crowd as well.

100% down to collab with either of them if they to play video games. If they meet online, he's more likely to actually talk to them.

Pear

He's not super into celebrity watch sort of stuff, but if he was asked who his celebrity crush was he would say Geeta. She's pretty and strong! Perfect combination.

Pear probably wouldn't react that much different if he met Geeta. He treats her like a normal person and makes small talk.

[vaida-talks-about-everything]

Kailman Legacy || 33: Brother Knows Best

After brunch with his girlfriend and her friends, DJ was reunited with his little brother, Emerson, who stayed the night with him to help start the moving process and catch up.

"You're looking good, man!" DJ said, noting how much older his brother looked already. "I can tell you've been in the sun."

"Oh yeah, every day," Emerson replied, taking the compliment. "How's work going?"

"Good, really good. I'm, uh, actually seeing someone from work."

"Oh yeah? When did that start?"

"Right around Love Day, I had mom make flowers for her and we've basically been dating since, but it's official as of now."

"Well, that's cool. What's she like?"

"Her name's Sakura, and she just... so kind and so intelligent, you'd like her. She's really grounded and honest, I just know she can hold her own."

"Has to, since she's a doctor. Very, uh, Grey's Anatomy of you to date a doctor."

DJ laughed. "Yeah, well, apparently, she was into that before she met me, so it worked out. What about you? I doubt you have any time to think about that, Noah keeping you busy?"

"You could say that, but it's just not a good idea right now."

"Ah, you both got a lot going on?"

"Well, that and she's also basically like his niece in a way; her dad and him went to high school together. He's pretty much put the 'no dating' rule up from the jump, so-"

"-So does she like you back then, or what?"

"I'm pretty sure? We talked about it, kind of, a while ago but..." Emerson quieted, trying to hide some embarrassment, a rosing in his cheeks, something his brother immediately picked up on.

"Did something happen? C'mon, I won't make a thing out of it."

"Her friends had this party at the bay lighthouse, and we kind of, almost... I mean-"

"-Emerson, spit it out."

"Okay, okay. We were having this whole conversation about what we wanted out of life. I talked about how I want what mom and dad have, you know? Something that is just so deep that they can read each other's faces instantly. The whole thing, but we got super close to each other and..." The bashfulness burned in his cheeks, and his brother bit back a grin. "I almost kissed her."

"Okay, okay." DJ nodded as they continued their walk to the skating rink. "Was she into it?"

"I don't even know how to describe it, DJ, she just looked... incredible. Like, her eyes are just so brown but bright somehow and I could see the wheels turning, like she was trying to make up her mind about it. It was crazy."

"Makes sense though, since her surrogate uncle essentially put a stop between you two before anything really started. Why was it an almost though?"

"Oh, Albert, he hosted the party, walked up all drunk and we didn't want someone to see, so-"

"Dang." DJ nodded. "Well, I would think she's into you based on that alone, but I mean. You should probably get on the same page about it."

"I just don't wanna get her in trouble or anything."

"I sincerely doubt you two at least clearing up any confusion would make Noah upset. If anything, he'd probably encourage it so that there isn't this weird, awkward air about you all the time, wondering what the other is thinking."

"You're... not wrong. It has been weird, and he's picked up on it."

"Well, there ya go, try and get her to talk about how she feels and go from there. Just saying, "Hey, I'm into you," doesn't make you a couple or like you're going behind anyone's back about it. If anything, after the summer, you can talk to Noah and see if he'd meet you in the middle since you both are clearly trying to respect the boundary the best you can."

"Right. Huh, I don't know why I didn't consider that."

"Well, you weren't exactly dating around before this. She's probably the first girl you've liked, right?"

"Pretty much yeah. I just didn't care about any of that then, I just wanted to work, but she..."

"Is the exception?" DJ smiled, putting his arm around his little brother. "If Louisa’s anything like you, I'm sure she's incredible and she'd be lucky to have you. Now, tell me about the horse stuff. When's your next competition?"

And so, the brothers spent the rest of the day packing the apartment, ending with pizza and a movie on the couch. DJ encouraged him to make plans with Louisa for when he returns, so he wouldn't have time to overthink or procrastinate their much-needed conversation:

"Hey! I should be back sometime tomorrow afternoon, could we chat for a bit before our meeting?"

[steelminds]

1, 8, 15, 27!

[ WRITING QUESTIONS ]

1. What themes would you like to write about that you feel don’t get explored very often?

hmm. i really like writing about the little ways huge things can affect people, i guess?

i write about grief a Lot (like. more than i thought) and i know other people do too, but. i guess it's never really hit the same way that i always see it written? the obvious Big Sad is there, which is the most notable part, but i particularly like writing about the way it changes people, in ways that are both subtle and not. in heartache of july, which basically centers around sara's grief for joe, my favorite parts of it to write were definitely just. the habits she's formed. the way she can't do certain things anymore. she always leaves a note for ryoko if she leaves in the morning. she no longer uses her phone unless its an emergency. she hates quiet moments because all she remembers is quiet moments with joe and laughing doesn't feel the same, not even with ryoko, because there's somebody still missing. and it's so. it drives me insane and i looove putting it into words.

(additionally, on the other side of the scale: i just really like writing details of how characters rub off on each other you know. in warm, like a fire, ranmaru picks up all his teasing from sara & joe, who are constantly teasing one another, even prior to being close with the two... & while i don't discuss it in writing as much, the sonobenos have all exchanged stims from each other agehehe. sara occasionally calls joe buttercup to mess with him, esp because once ryoko called him that before they were close, and he was. insane about it.)

this bit got lengthy but <3 i'm normal about people. trust me

8. Favorite dialogue in your wip?

not between any important characters, but in chapter two of blood on whose hands? (which should be out soon!), joe overhears his classmates poorly whispering about what's going on with him & ryoko + sara. and it's honestly a little funny, if you ignore like. everything wrong here:

“Obviously, there has to be like– some kind of disagreement? Like, it doesn’t make sense for them to be so awkward around each other for no reason. They’ve been like, super close ever since they stepped foot in this building. I think Chidouin and Tazuna are way closer than Hirose is with either of them.” “What? No way. Didn’t Tazuna and Hirose go on a date?” “Yeah. With Chidouin’s help. Maybe it went wrong and now her and Tazuna are mad at each other?” “That doesn’t make sense. If it went wrong, wouldn’t he and Hirose be upset at each other instead? And it doesn’t explain why Chidouin’s attendance just suddenly fell off the chart. Like, I don’t really pay much attention to Tazuna’s, but she has this whole streak to keep up, you know? I’ve seen her come to school with a face mask on instead of taking a sick day.” “Huh. Good point.” His classmate slinks back into her seat. “Then damn, I’m stumped.” “Maybe because it’s none of your business? Not that I’m not intrigued, but you’re way too invested.”

15. What physical quirks do your characters tend to have?

stares. nail biting lip biting CHEEK BITING FOR SURE humming before answering somebody pacing Anndd snapping fingers . and thats all stuff i do eep

27. Do you have playlists for your wip? What are some of the songs in it?

YESS I DO !!! i only have one for blood on whose hands (which i'll put here), because typically i just make playlists for characters & listen to those when i write from their pov - and usually i don't use music anyway because i'm always writing super late and i don't want to go through the hassle of getting headphones anyway.

[carlgrimm]

carl grimes x top male reader, M/n finds Carl lost and company's Carl on the way back?

carl <33

this isn't going to go along with the plot, so there are gonna be things happening in it that don't make sense with the plot

Getting separated during the apocalypse was not a good thing. Especially not when you're in a new place that you've never been before.

Carl was not having a good day, getting separated opened a door for bad things to happen, and all he had found so far were some bones and a track in the mud that looked like a stick was dragged through it.

Carl was dragged out of his thoughts at the sound of cracking leaves beside him. Nerves on edge, he swung his gun around to point at whoever, or whatever, was there.

"Hey, hey, no im not a freak you don't need to point a gun at me," The guy held his hands up, backing up slightly. "I just came to ask you if you were okay, you've been walking around weirdly for like 10 minutes."

"Put your knife down and leave.", Carl said, tone not too loud to attract any walkers that might be around.

"Easy cowboy, im not here to hurt you, you just look lost, got that distant look, dragging your feet n all." He put the knife down by his foot, but enough away to slightly settle Carl's nerves.

"What I am is none of your business."

"I got a map, I can help you find your people, free of charge." He let out a laugh, body moving along, hands resting on his head.

"Fine, but you do anything else and I'll shoot."

It didn't take long for him to get his map out, as Carl stood, gun still in hand, only answering questions with short sentences, where he last saw the group, how long it had been, what direction. Then they set off.

"My names Y/N by the way cowboy."

"Carl, not cowboy"

It was quiet again for some time, neither of the boys speaking, just sharing glances, looking back at the map, then forward to the dirt paths, repeating until Carl's stomach decided to join in.

"When did you last eat Carl? I've got some snacks you can have."

"Thanks." He didnt know why, but his face heated up as he took the packets from Y/Ns hands.

"So..." Y/N slung his arm around Carl's shoulder as they walked side by side, "Tell me more about yourself, might aswell get to know eachother on the way back."

"Well my favourite colours blue, my hat was my dads that he gave to me after I got shot. I was 12 when this started and our group we put together as we went on."

Y/N gripped Carl's shoulder tighter, his body shaking Carl's aswell, "I was 12 too! But shit, getting shot? You're one lucky motherfucker cowboy, surviving all that."

"Don't call me cowboy." It didn't come out like Carl had wanted it to, the blush spreading across his face betraying him.

"Maybe ill stop when you stop reacting so nicely to it cowboy, but ill be kind and tell you about myself too. I like earthy colours, you know? the browns, greens, its why I chose to be out here. I don't have a group, just myself and my cabin," Y/N sighed, looking up. "Never been shot myself, count it as lucky, don't think I would've survived if I had been, have gotten cuts though, know how to treat them so as long as I have my stuff im alright."

"You remind me of Hershel, he's in our group, he was the one who saved me after I got shot. He was a vet before everything. Chopped off his own leg after he got bit."

Carl knew he was rambling, that he really shouldn't be telling someone he just met things about the group, but when he saw the look on Y/Ns face as talked, just listening, actually interested in what he had to say, he couldn't stop himself, like with the pink that coated his ears.

"I guess I'll take that as a compliment huh? You know its nice having a boy my age to talk to, even if its only for a little. Being by yourself gets lonely, and its quiet."

"Yeah, I'm not alone, but there's nobody around my age for me to talk to. I mainly just talk to Beth, she's a few years older, but she's the closest, she's actually Hershels daughter, same with Maggie, she's dating Glenn, he saved my dad when we thought he was dead."

It was louder now, they didn't know how long they'd been walking for, too distracted by talking, it must've been a bit though, because the trees were further behind them, scarcer than before.

"I've only really joined groups for a little, before they has to move on past my little cabin and camp, im surprised not many people have found it, but I guess that saves me from bad groups."

They were stopped by the sound of talking not too far ahead, multiple voices, definitely older, and by the look on Carl's face it must've been his group.

"I guess these are your people then?" Y/N pat Carl's arm from the side before removing his arm from Carl's shoulders, offering a tight, almost sad, smile.

It hurt Carl, more than it shouldve, they'd only been talking for the journey, yet the thought of leaving Y/N alone again, after all his help, and their conversations, stopped him from running over to his family. "Do you want to come with me?"

"Really?"

"Really."

"Okay."

[ghost-ghost-baby]

Narcissist (alpha!readerxOmega!Bakugo soulmate au)

An: this is heavily inspired by the song narcissist by younger hunger definitely recommend listening to it!

An: BIG TY TO MY BETA FOR EDITING THIS ABSOLUTE MONSTER OF A FIC WE STAN!

Word count: 3.2k (ur welcome)

Summary: Bakugo being a little shit basically- Mina and Denki r sick of him- reader runs out of scent blockers-

Warnings: omegaverse, swearing, Bakugo being a dick, reader just thinks he’s hot, gets a bit spicy but nothing graphic, non traditional dynamics (subby alphas) drug use (weed)

You were in a familiar room, one you’d come to love since you’d started dreaming of it, and you sat on the bed and waited… any moment now.

“Oi, are you here, shithead?” The voice of your omega was dreamier than it was in real life; his harsh words unable to punctuate the tranquility of your dream.

“I always am, Katsuki!” You chirped, grinning as he slowly faded into existence. The black tank top and jeans he wears make him look far too good, and your brain short-circuited for a few seconds.

“I told you not to fucking call me that!” He growled, but you only laughed. Reaching out to grab his hands before he could stop you, you pull him down so you could kiss him. Any anger he had quickly melted away, and Katsuki had pulled one hand away to rest on your shoulder and pushed back. You got the point, you pulled away for air and leaned back on your elbows as you did. Katsuki followed and straddled you without a moment of hesitation. His mouth latched onto your neck and you let out a hum. With one hand gravitating to tangle in his hair, he gave you another push that had you lying flat on your back.

“Hey-”

“Shut the fuck up, don’t ruin this.” Katsuki bit down on your throat and you squeaked, although he licked over the mark seconds later to soothe it, and only pulled away to kiss you when you tried to talk again. You melted, let your hands wander down to his thighs, and had your thumbs rubbing absent-minded circles. Then, Katsuki was unbuttoning the shirt you had on, hands quickly trailing lower to-

“Y/N! Did you hear what Mr. Aizawa said?” Mina’s voice brought you back from the dream you had the night before, and you blinked at her as you blanked.

“No way I'm working with their dumbass!” Katsuki snarled as Kiri forced him into a seat at your table, and you turned your head to Sero with a questioning look. He usually knew what was going on in class.

“We have a group project for a presentation, Mr. Aizawa picked the groups-”

“Oh hell yeah, all my best bro’s working together? Sounds like fun to me!” Denki leaned over to hug you and Mina, and the pieces started to click together. You were working on an art project, with your mate, who hate-

“How could anything be fun with Y/n around, they fucking ruin everything.” Katsuki grumbled to himself, refusing to meet your eyes despite sitting opposite you. Kiri mouthed an apology to you from his seat next to Katsuki. Honestly, you had no idea why he’d decided to act like… such a brat really, but it was just an act, however annoying it was. The two of you were soulmates, he’d come around, eventually.

“Oh hush, Bakugo, Y/n’s a riot and we all know it! You’re the one who goes to sleep at like, 8pm” Denki came to your aid. The electric blonde then pressed a kiss to your cheek that had Katsuki gritting his teeth.

“So, what's the project, guys?” You flipped through your book to a fresh page, resting your chin on your hand as you waited for the others to speak.

“We have to show the versatility of styles and composition under a singular theme!” Kiri was the one that answered you, and the group immediately started throwing around ideas.

“I think we could do horror, a lot of horror artists have different composition styles and still manage to convey the-”

“Tch, that’s the best you could come up with? I’m not surprised, an alpha as shitty as you can’t be capable of any decent ideas.” Katsuki sneered, but you only smiled at him as the group agreed with your idea. Your omega merely grumbled and hunched over in his seat as the group discussed the different artists you could use as examples.

You’d stayed late to double-check something with a professor, and you were still flipping through your notebook as you walked through the unusually empty halls. You weren’t paying attention to where you were going, and before you knew it you ran into someone, the same someone who shoved you against a wall seconds later, but your fear subsided when you realised it was just Katsuki.

“Watch where you’re fucking going, dipshit.” Katsuki wasn’t even sure why he’d pushed you up against the wall, but being this close to you, touching you… it was..nice…

“Tch, god your scent is so weak, you smell like a fucking beta, how’d I get stuck with such a runt, huh? Some sick kind of joke.” Katsuki’s tone didn't match what he was saying. The way he leaned forward to rub his cheek over your scent gland definitely said otherwise, but you stayed quiet, he always found some excuse to scent you, but he’d usually get embarrassed and storm off if you dared to say anything.

“You’re pathetic, you know? Being this submissive for an omega, are you sure you’re not a beta? It’d make more sense.” You bit your lip when Bakugo pressed a kiss to your neck, only hesitating a moment before he started sucking a mark onto your skin. His words bounced right off of you because all you could focus on was how hot he was and how he’d subconsciously put his thigh between your legs and thank fuck you were on scent blockers, or you’d never hear the end of it.

“Really, you aren’t even going to try and defend yourself? You’re even weaker than I thought.” A growl next to your ear made you shiver, and Katsuki pushed away with a snarl when he was satisfied. He cursed at you again and warned you ‘not to tell anyone or he’d kick your ass’ (he wouldn’t) before he walked away, leaving you to walk home with your head completely in the clouds.

“What took you so fucking long, huh idiot?” Katsuki was on you the second you appeared in the dream, pulling you down into a rather ferocious kiss before you could say anything. He bit your lip when you didn’t open your mouth fast enough, swallowing any protests you would have made, and continued to kiss you until you were dizzy. “I’ve been waiting two hours…” He pulled away to kiss under your jaw, and if you didn’t know him so well you’d miss the insecure tone in his voice.

“Sorry, Midoriya wanted-” You stopped when Katsuki growled, biting down so hard you were surprised he didn't draw blood.

“Why the fuck are you saying his name here, huh? Are you tryna piss me off?” He pulled away to sneer at you. You opened your mouth to explain, but the words died in your throat when he unzipped your hoodie, and any coherent thought you had went out the window when he started to kiss your neck.

Everything was ready. The lounge room was set up, complete with snacks, drinks, and stationery for you and your friends to work on the project. They were meant to be here any second, and you couldn’t help but hover near the door to your apartment. You weren’t used to having people over and it still put you on edge having others in your space. But that thought left your head when a knock sounded on your door. You quickly opened it and were almost knocked over by Denki and Mina engulfing you in a hug.

“Thanks so much for hosting bro!”

“Awww you laid out all these snacks and stuff too! An omega’s gonna be really lucky to have you one day Y/n!” They pushed inside. Denki closed the door as Mina oohed and aahed over the setup, their praise had a slight blush rising to your face as you sheepishly rubbed your neck. Sero was next, quickly hugging you before he joined Denki and Mina, then Katsuki and Kirishima last. The blonde pushed past you without saying hello, but Kiri pulled you into a hug so tight you couldn’t breathe for a second, and was complimenting the setup as you took a seat. You tried to sit next to Mina, but Denki let out a whine and the pair was pulling you down between them before you had time to protest. Denki immediately leaned on you once you were settled. Katsuki couldn’t focus on the project, how could he, when his two dipshit friends were all over his mate. And you weren’t even doing anything to stop them! In fact, you were leaning into their hugs and giggling at every stupid joke they made! It had Katsuki fuming. Kirishima was the only one close enough to smell the angry shift in his scent, and he glanced between his friend and you, slowly putting the pieces together. You really had no idea what was happening, but Denki’s head was on your shoulder, and Mina’s arm around your waist as she asked questions about the project, giggling and pressing a kiss to your cheek whenever you got confused, which happened more than you’d like to admit. The blonde gritted his teeth when Mina’s hand went to your thigh, you were his! Nobody else should ever be touching you like that! You should know better! So when you excused yourself to grab something from your room, of course he made up some excuse about needing the bathroom so he could follow you.

The door to your room closed with a click, and you quickly spun around, expecting to see Mina or Denki, anyone except Katsuki to be honest.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” He was seeing red at this point. He cornered you and made you stumble back until your waist hit your desk.

“Uh- getting more pens-?” You held out the pack of pens with a confused look on your face that only made Katsuki angrier. How were you so stupid? And so fucking cute when you were- he cut off that thought, he needed to focus on yelling at you. Not the way your brows furrowed and how you nervously bite your lip as you waited for him to say something. Wait- were you blushing? Fuck, maybe he should-

“Katsuki? Are you oka-“

“Shut the fuck up, dipshit.” He snarled. Then, catching you both off guard, he leaned forward and kissed you. Your eyes fluttered closed immediately. He’d only kissed you in your dreams, which was nothing compared to this, and you hesitantly placed your hands on his waist. His hands went to your hair to pull you closer, tugging it until you got the message and parted your lips for him. Katsuki let out a hum of approval as he deepened the kiss, why hadn’t he done this sooner? You couldn’t focus on anything other than how much Katsuki tasted like caramel, he didn’t taste like caramel in the dreams. You couldn’t help but whine when he pulled back. Another insistent tug on your hair had you tilting your head back, and Katsuki didn’t waste any time kissing over your neck. You were so lost in the feeling you almost missed the words he growled against your skin.

“You should know better, you’re mine. Other people shouldn’t be fucking touching you like that.”

“Do you think they’re like…. Finally-” Mina made a hand gesture that had Denki cackling, even Kiri cracked a smile.

“I hope so, it’s getting hard to watch all the back and forth.” Sero sighed, dropped his pen, and stretched.

“Yeah, have you seen how mad Bakubro gets though? It’s pretty fun to push his buttons like this!” Denki grinned as he leaned his head on Mina’s shoulder, and she wrapped her arm around his waist.

“I don’t know… Bakugo’s uh… stubborn, to put it nicely.”

“Your scent is weird… are you wearing a different perfume?” Mina leaned her head on your shoulder, arms wrapped around your waist as you glanced at Katsuki. After whatever the fuck had happened in your room, he’d gone back to acting like he hated you, so, you’d kept letting Denki and Mina do whatever they wanted. He had his eyes fixated on the work, and you turned back to Mina with a smile.

“Oh, sorry about that! I forgot to refill my scent blockers and my doctor’s not available until next week.”

“Don’t be sorry, bro! It’s nice, like really, really nice!” Denki came up behind you, throwing a quick glance at Katsuki before he leaned forward, crooning and rubbing his cheek over your scent gland, Mina doing the same a moment later. The pen Katsuki was holding snapped, his angry scent pumping out in waves as he glared daggers into the book in front of him, all too aware of you laughing.

You were hyper-aware of how strong your scent was, this was the longest you’d gone without scent blockers since you’d presented, and you’d lit a scented candle to try and cover it up. It hadn’t really worked, maybe you should light some incense-

“Y/n! Sorry we’re early!” Mina’s hand on your shoulder broke you from your thoughts, and you shook your head before you smiled. Denki cut you off before you could apologize about your scent.

“Damn Y/n! It smells like you baked cookies- oh my god did you bake-”

“Don’t be stupid, babe, it’s just their scent.” Mina shoved him inside, shaking her head as she followed and closed the door behind her.

“Oh! Of course!” Denki nodded, and he and Mina linked arms with you. They walked you over to the couch and sat you all down with grins on their faces.

“Uh… guys-?” You didn’t trust that look, it never leads to anything good.

“Well, since the project is like, 99.5% done-” Mina started, hand coming up to play with your hair.

“We thought we deserved a reward!” Denki interrupted, reaching into his bag and producing a blunt. You felt your own grin forming.

“Oh my god- is that from-”

“Shinso! You know he sells the best stuff on campus, I decided to splurge for my bros!” Denki looked incredibly pleased with himself, and you couldn’t help but tackle the blonde in a hug.

“Oh my god Denki, you’re the best!”

The three of you were blazed by the time the others got there. Sero happily bounced over to share the blunt, while Katsuki and Kiri just sighed and sat down with you. Katsuki’s eyes instantly zoned in on where you were lying on Mina and Denki on the couch. He was oddly silent as he tried to keep his cool, the nagging thoughts that had always been there slowly got stronger. He’d always had to be strong, people perceived him as weak just because of his dynamic, so he’d rejected the thought of being with an alpha, hoping for a beta or omega. Or you. You never made a big deal out of your dynamic, and always treated him as an equal. Then the dreams started. He loved you, he really did! But his whole reputation would go down the drain if he was claimed by an alpha, especially one with such a weak scent and mild presence. So…. he pretended to hate you in public because the two of you had your dreams, where nobody could judge him! Even if they did pale in comparison to real life. But lately… he couldn’t stop wondering… were you getting tired of waiting? With the way you were acting… the thought made his stomach turn and his canines come out. Especially since you had run out of blockers. Your scent getting stronger and stronger as the days went by. You were his alpha! You shouldn’t be scenting other people! Especially omegas! And you certainly shouldn’t be laying on them while you were ignoring him! You hadn’t even said hello to him! You were too busy getting high with those assholes like you didn't belong to him! You were his, it wasn’t fair!

Mina was the last out of the apartment. She kissed your cheek and winked at you as the door closed. The exhaustion set in as you leaned against the door.

“What the fuck was that?” Katsuki growled and made you startled when you saw him by the table. You only shrugged as you went to pack up the stuff on the couch.

“Denki got us some weed because the project was done-”

“Not that, dickhead! They were all over you!” He marched over to you, trying to ignore how good you smelled up close.

“And? We’re not-” You responded, and Katsuki was shoving you before he realized, ignoring the way you yelped as you fell on the couch. You sprawled on your back and glaring up at him.

“Katsuki! What the fuck!” Katsuki didn’t reply, eyes traveling over your vulnerable form. Flush rose to his face as he realized how provocative the position was, causing warmth to pool in his tummy. If kissing was so much better in reality, what would it be like to be inside you? Feel you clench around him and pull his hair when he hit your sweet spot? Would your thighs shake the same in real life when he just kept going? The omega didn’t even realize his scent had changed, he just licked his lips and stared at you with hooded eyes, fuck he wanted-

“Are you okay? You zoned out.” Fuck, when had you gotten up? You were so close now, your scent overwhelming. He never wanted you to go on blockers again.

“Fuck, Katsuki! Katsuki! Are you in heat?” It finally dawned on you. Katsuki’s scent had taken on a sweeter tone it didn’t usually have, and with the way he kept zoning out, it was obvious. Plus thoughts of him on top of you that wouldn’t leave your brain alone. Your question snapped him out of his daze, and the omega snarled at you, stepping back and stumbling when a jolt of pain went through him.

“Fuck off, like you could trigger-” His voice cut off as another wave of pain went through him, causing you to reached out to steady him without thinking. The omega was going to let out a growl but it quickly changed to a whine as it escaped his mouth. You pulled your hand back like it had burned, although your mate’s temperature was so high it wasn’t out of the question. You took two steps back and froze when a feral snarl ripped through the room, dark red eyes pinning you in your place.

“He-hey Katsuki…” Your voice stopped his growling, and it took every ounce of self-control you had to stay coherent as he advanced, your rut already trying to cloud your judgment. Your eyes darted around the room, maybe you could make it to the bathroom? Then Katsuki could ride out his heat and you could talk about it? yeah. Katsuki was only a foot away from you now, the grin he had on was somehow more unsettling than the snarl, and you shook your head to get some of your resolve back. Okay, three, two, one-

You made it maybe ten centimeters before Katuski caught you, and pushed you back down on the couch. He wasted no time sitting on your lap and tilting your face up to look into his eyes.

“You’re not getting away from me, Alpha. I know you want this. I should have done this months ago.” Sincerity shone through your omega’s lidded eyes, and you felt your small shred of resolve shrink away even more. Your hands flew to his chest to push him away.

“Ka-Katsuki it’s just- just your heat, you don’t mean-“

“Don’t tell me what I do and don’t mean, alpha.” Katsuki was back to growling at you. His hands grabbed your wrists, pinned them down, and used his knees to keep them in place. He went back to cupping your face, red eyes boring into yours as he thought of what to say and a growl leaving him whenever you dared to look away. You were so, so obnoxiously pretty, it made it even harder to focus. Katsuki kept getting distracted by little details, like how your eyes shone and you kept biting your lip.

“You’re so fuckin stupid, ya know that? Of course, I fuckin want you, you’re my alpha- I don’t… I don’t care what other people think anymore, I just want you.” Katsuki’s tone was softer than you expected, and you could only gape at him as a blush quickly rose to your face. You knew he didn’t hate you, but hearing him say that lifted a weight off your shoulders you’d been carrying for who knows how long. The moment passed, all the softness went away as Katsuki leaned down to kiss you, and this time you kissed him back without any reservations.