#and the twins i really haven't drawn them enough i feel

[wereh0gz]

Not to be obsessed with my own ocs but I love my ocs so much they're so cool and awesome and epic

[candiedcoffeedrops]

Mine

Notes: Right so, I haven't written smut in over half a decade so I'm most definitely a bit rusty.😅 I welcome constructive criticism but please be gentle lol I worked really hard on this. Wrote this for the Sexy Ikemen Summer Event! Also, sorry for the word count. I don't know how to not write a lot.

I also had no beta for this, I did what I could.💜

Prompt: At Someone's Summer Wedding.

Pairing: Ring Schwarz x Reader

Word Count: 3,662

Tags: NSFW - Minors DNI!, Jealousy, Biting and a lot of it, Established relationship, Fingering, Vaginal sex, Female/AFAB reader, Likely OOC as the characters in this are not on EN and I only have so much access to them, I didn't know how to end it so I just...did.

The wedding reception was in full swing, the mansion’s grand ballroom alight with laughter, music, and the soft clinking of champagne flutes. You stood near the edge of the crowd, your hand curled around a flute of your own as you surveyed the room. The bride and groom were off somewhere, speaking with friends or family, and the guests were dressed to the nines in their finery. The scent of hot, savory food mingled with various expensive perfumes and colognes, creating a cloying cloud in the air as you slowly walked around.

You spotted Ring and Nica speaking off to the side, both twins dressed in perfectly tailored white suits, the lapels of their blazers adorned with golden Vogel pins. A smile curled your lips. Both of them looked handsome, of course, but your eyes were drawn to Ring specifically. He cleaned up so nicely. The members of Vogel always looked put together, but Ring was something else when he dressed up. Taking a sip, you watched as your sweetheart chatted with his older twin, the latter giving a half shrug to something said, the rings on his fingers glinting in the light.

The three of you had attended this wedding with the intent of gathering intelligence for Darius, who had remained at headquarters to address other matters. Your efforts had been fruitless, and during a brief meeting with Ring, you learned he had also come up empty-handed. Nica, ever the charmer, had been surrounded by a throng of guests, leaving the success of the evening squarely in his hands.

As their eyes met yours, a smirk played on Nica’s lips, while Ring offered a subtle nod. Nica turned, murmuring something to his brother before striding toward you with one of his trademark, easy smiles.

“I’ve uncovered a few minor leads, nothing groundbreaking. I’ll have to debrief Dari later, but for now,” he spread his arms wide before clapping them together, “I’d say we’re officially off duty. Might as well enjoy the festivities, right?”

“Fair enough. I’m unsure how long Ring and I will stick around, though.” You took another sip as you glanced around the room. So many people—and you could already feel the exhaustion from the small talk and mingling. It wouldn’t be long until you’d want to go home and recharge, and you knew Ring would agree.

“Oh, you two should at least dance.” He paused as his eyes darted to the side before a grin spread on his face, “In fact, before you get caught up with each other for the night, how about one for your second-favorite Schwarz twin?” He smoothly plucked the champagne flute from your hand, setting it on the tray of a passing waiter, then slinging an arm around your shoulder as he gently but firmly led you out to the dance floor.

“I…suppose,” you said slowly, watching the waiter carry your champagne flute, along with many others, away with a furrow of confusion on your brow.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.”

As the strains of a new melody filled the air, Nica led you in a dance, his movements fluid and graceful as you followed. He guided you across the dance floor with effortless confidence, his hand resting lightly at your waist, the other gently holding your wrist, careful not to activate his curse. The ballroom was a swirl of color and motion, the other guests dancing around you, but Nica kept your attention with his lighthearted banter and teasing comments.

Just as you began to wonder if the song would ever end, the final notes faded away. Nica released you with a flourish, stepping back and bowing slightly, ever the gentleman. He thanked you politely for indulging him and suggested the two of you go find Ring.

Thankfully, he was in the same place that Nica had left him so it didn’t take long to find him, but when you did, you noticed something was off.

Ring’s gaze was fixed on the two of you, his lips pressed slightly, posture stiff as he fidgeted with the cuff of his sleeve before crossing his arms over his chest, not having his usual longsword to rest his hand on. When he made eye contact with you, he averted his eyes, brilliant blue now turned toward his twin. You frowned. Something was wrong.

“There you are!” Nica greeted jovially with a hand wave, either unaware of or deliberately ignoring Ring’s mood.

“Nica,” Ring spoke softly, his brow furrowed, lips pressed in a slight pout. Before he could say anything else, Nica cut in again. 

“There we go, the two of you are reunited.” He gently nudged you toward his younger twin before turning and walking in the opposite direction. “Enjoy yourselves, yeah? I have a pretty little thing waiting for me. Don’t wait up.” He cast a smile over his shoulder at Ring, and you heard a soft huff from your lover, who was now beside you.

You watched Nica retreat, swallowed by the crowd and not a moment later you turned toward Ring. He continued to avoid eye contact, so you gently brushed your fingers against the back of his hand. His eyes, blue like porcelain painter’s ink, returned to you for a moment, pink dusting across his cheeks as his lips pressed into another small pout, but he did take your hand, fingers loosely lacing with yours.

“Ring? What’s the matter?”

His eyes narrowed slightly and at first, he didn’t answer but after you gently pressed, his lips set in a thin line before he said, “I…would like to spend time with you.” His voice was low, hesitant.

An unsure smile spread across your lips as you gently grabbed his hand, giving a tug toward the dance floor. “Alright then. Why don’t we dance for a bit and then—” He stepped closer to you, his forehead nearly touching yours as he pressed a slender finger to your lips.

You saw his throat move as he swallowed. “Alone.” He added, his tone soft but edged with urgency, his eyes showing their normal determination mixed with need as they locked onto yours. 

You nodded, your heart fluttering as he led you away from the bustling dance floor, through the throngs of guests, and easily past rather lax security. He didn’t speak, his grip tightening slightly as he navigated the grand hallways of the mansion, passing glittering chandeliers and priceless art until he found an empty room, the door slightly ajar.

It was a bedroom, the only light filtering in from the moon outside the tall narrow windows. The large bed was dressed in richly colored fabrics and a thick canopy. The room was decently furnished but sparsely decorated—likely a guest room. Here, the music was much fainter, and the din of conversation from the party dulled, the sounds much easier to ignore from this distance. Ring closed the door behind him with his free hand, the other still holding yours. The sounds from the reception almost completely disappeared with the motion, leaving the two of you in near silence.

As soon as the door softly clicked shut, Ring locked it and tugged on your hand, pulling you into him. His arms slid around your waist in a tight hug, his nose nuzzling the crook of your neck. You returned the hug, your arms circling him. You hummed contentedly as you relaxed with him. Today had been long and socially taxing, so perhaps he had just wanted to get away and be alone for a while. That would be just like him, and very sweet.

He inhaled before softly exhaling through his mouth, his breath warm on your skin. “Ah…mine,” he murmured, his voice low and gruff right below your ear before he nipped at the tender flesh. 

“Ring?” You whispered his name, hoping he'd give some clue for his change in demeanor. You heard a low hum from him in response, his breath hot against the sensitive skin of your neck as he began to kiss and nibble, leaving a trail of heat in his wake. 

“Are you alright?” You asked slowly, gauging his reaction. He said nothing, continuing along the line of your neck.

His lips ghosted over your pulse point before he bit down, sucking hard enough to leave a bruise that would linger for days. You let out a shaky gasp, your grip on him tightening. He ran his tongue over the spot, soothing the sting before doing it again, and again, painting a collection of dark petals along the column of your neck and throat. Your head lolled back, allowing him better access as he drew more gasps and soft moans from your lips. The room spun and your knees felt wobbly, but his arms held onto you, his embrace a steel cage wrapped in white.

Normally he was so shy and reserved, with you taking the lead on many of your romantic entanglements, so the feeling of him being so assertive with you in this moment was heady. That said, you still had no idea where this had come from. Moments ago he had been in an obviously dour mood, and now he was showering your neck with kisses and bruises. You tried to piece together what could’ve caused this while he continued his ministrations on your neck, noting that he didn’t drink during the reception and you had spent plenty of time with him that day.

Was it your dance with Nica? That had to be it, right? It was the only thing you could think of that would’ve dampened his spirits so quickly. If that’s the case, you were seeing your lover jealous for the first time since you’d gotten together. 

“My love,” your voice was breathy, a small moan escaping your lips upon feeling him nip at another particularly sensitive spot as your fingers dug into the smooth fabric of his blazer. Still, you continued, wanting him to confirm your suspicions. “What’s gotten into you?” 

Ring’s hand slid up to the back of your neck, his grip firm but not painful as he lifted his face to meet your gaze. Even in the silvery moonlight, you could tell his cheeks were ablaze. His pupils were dilated, eyes half-lidded. His eyes searched yours for a moment before he leaned in and claimed your mouth in a fiercely passionate kiss. It was as if he were trying to swallow you whole. You moaned into his mouth and he responded in kind, his teeth scraping against your lower lip before his tongue slipped past your lips, sliding against yours. It was the kind of kiss that stole your breath, that left you feeling like you were falling into a bottomless abyss, but you didn’t mind. In fact, you liked it. You liked it a lot.

You lowered your head to return some of the favor to his neck, nipping little gasps and sighs from him as he tugged impatiently at the ties of your dress. The fabric loosened with each pull until it slithered to the floor in a heap around you leaving you in only your underwear. He shrugged off his blazer before bending slightly at the knees to scoop you up.

You wrapped your legs around his waist as his hands hooked under your thighs. He was already hard, his erection pressing against you as he carried you to the bed with only a few strides from his long legs. The anticipation gave you goosebumps, your core already throbbing with need. He set you down on the cool, soft comforter and began quickly removing his clothes, tossing them…somewhere before climbing over you. His weight pushed down on the mattress as he slotted his flushed, sculpted body between your legs.

Ring peered down at you, his expression akin to that of a bird of prey– focused, intense, and so hungry. He leaned in, capturing your mouth in a bruising kiss that left you panting and clutching at his shoulders. His tongue explored your mouth with a fervor that had you arching up against him, eager for more as you felt him roll his body against yours. A groan sounded from his throat, his erection nudging against your clothed folds, and you spread your legs wider, welcoming the pressure.

He broke away from your mouth and began leaving open-mouth kisses down your neck before reaching your breasts, sucking and nipping at the sensitive flesh there before taking a nipple into his mouth, while his hand kneaded the other. His tongue lapped over the hardened flesh before his teeth bit down– gently, but enough for you to cry out his name, your fingers threading through his hair and tugging enough to elicit a moan as he switched his ministrations to the other. You felt him panting through his nose against your heated skin and you whined. 

You still hadn’t gotten your answer from him as to why he had started acting like this, but you found it harder and harder to care as he did what he was doing. Your core continued to throb and you knew you were already soaked. You bucked your hips against him, causing him to hiss a swear in German. “More,” you pleaded, to which he huffed against your skin and hummed affirmatively. 

His lips traveled further downward, delivering the same treatment to your abdomen as he had given to your neck and chest, biting at the sensitive skin below your belly button, his fingers sliding up your thigh to hook his fingers around your panties, yanking them down your legs. He cast another glance up at your face before returning his attention to your body. 

“Mine,” he said again. Despite being deep in a pleasure-induced haze, you still caught it. 

“What do you mea-Ah!” You tried to get him to elaborate but were cut off when you felt him tease your folds with his fingers. His other hand pressed your legs further apart as he left a dark bruise on your inner thigh with his teeth, lapping at the mark with his tongue to soothe the sting. His middle and ring fingers, long and callused like a soldier's, entered you and began moving slowly. 

“Say you’re mine.” His voice was low, his fingers continuing their slow movement as he moved his mouth closer to the apex of your thighs but still keeping them too far away from where you so badly needed him to be. “I…need to hear you say it.” 

The words are torn from your chest, a declaration that echoes through the room. "I'm yours, Ring." It's a surrender, a vow, and a plea all rolled into one as you raised your hips to meet his hand, urging him to go faster and let you feel his mouth on you.

His mouth was on you in an instant, immediately finding your sensitive bud and giving it a long, deliberate lick before setting a steady pace. A strangled, relieved cry of his name left your lips, your fingers once again finding their way to his hair, pressing his face closer to you. That’s when the most sinful growl came from his throat, causing your face to flush even further. His mouth worked on you even faster, alternating between licks and sucks to your clit, his fingers thrusting into you in tandem.

You writhed against him, gripping his hair and the plush comforter beneath you for dear life. The tension in your body grew tauter with every stroke of his tongue, every press of his fingers, and your legs found themselves wrapped around his head earning another groan from him. It felt like you were balancing on the edge of a cliff. His name rolled off your tongue like a mantra as you neared closer and closer to coming undone under his mouth. Just one more little push. Just a bit longer. 

And then you fell.

The orgasm rushed through you like electricity, stealing your breath and sending spasms through your body. Your fingers gripped his hair tighter, your hips jerking against his mouth as a loud uneven cry ripped from your throat. Ring’s eyes gleamed with triumph as he watched your climax, his tongue stroking you through the aftershocks, his fingers still buried deep inside you. He didn’t stop until you were trembling and gasping for air, your legs loosening their hold around his neck.

Ring crawled back over you and kissed you deeply, sharing the taste of your arousal with you before sliding his fingers into his mouth and sucking them clean. His gaze never left yours, his actions sending a thrill through your body, your core still pulsing despite still floating down from the high he had just given you.

“Mine,” he murmured, his voice thick with lust as he positioned himself at your entrance, slicking his cock with your wetness. You nodded, your eyes glazed over with desire as you felt him push inside you with a breathy moan, filling you up in one long, slow stroke. “And I want everyone to know it.”

With that, he began to rock into you. You could feel every inch of him filling you completely as he claimed you over and over again, and it was exquisite. Needy moans from your throat mingled with the sound of his hips snapping against yours and your name falling from his lips between pants and groans. Your arms snaked around his back, grasping onto him for dear life. His back muscles flexed under your hands with every thrust. 

His eyes traveled down to your neck and a pleased smirk spread his lips. “Ah…” He let out a mix between a chuckle and a pant against your neck, “You look so pretty with my marks on your skin.” 

He bent his head down to kiss and lick the marks he’d left behind, his tongue tracing the path of your racing pulse. You clung to him, your nails digging into his shoulders as he pumped into you, his teeth grazing your neck and leaving another bruise in their wake. You could feel familiar tension well up within you again as he moved into you and your legs wrapped around his waist to pull him closer.

The motion made his breath hitch, a loud moan leaving his lips as he locked his eyes with yours again. “Ha…you’re close.” His voice was thick with need. 

You nodded, unable to form coherent words as you felt your body tightening around him. 

“I am too…you feel so good.” 

The words were barely out of his mouth before he buried his face in your neck, his teeth finding purchase as he bit down. You screamed out his name, your body tightening around him as you climaxed. The world spun in a blur of pleasure as you felt your core contract around his length, sending waves of heat through your body. Ring’s hands slid under your back, lifting you closer to him as he picked up the pace, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he chased his own release, his breaths hot and desperate against your skin.

Not long after, Ring’s body tensed, his hips jerking before pressing against yours as he emptied himself inside you with a deep groan. Feeling like your limbs were made of liquid, your legs unwrapped from his waist as he pulled out slowly, his lips leaving tired, sweet kisses on your collarbone and the hollow of your throat as he caught his breath. He stayed on top of you for a moment while you lazily traced patterns over his spine and shoulderblades with your fingertips. 

When he rolled off of you, his arms found their way around your waist, his eyes closed for a moment before he slowly opened them, immediately glancing at the marks on your neck before a blush reddened his cheeks.

“Still shy after that performance?” You teased, tiredness lacing your voice as you reached out and stroked his cheek with your knuckles. He huffed, muttering something in German under his breath while you giggled with a grin. 

A comfortable silence passed over the two of you while you continued to catch your breath. While you had a moment you decided to voice your earlier theory to him.

“Ring?”

He hummed, his hand moving to rest on your ribcage, his thumb gently rubbing over it.

“Was all of this because you got jealous of me dancing with Nica?”

You felt his thumb stop, and his eyebrows raised a touch, his lips tucked around his teeth before he sighed.

“Nica is…charming. He’s intelligent and knows how to read and talk to people. I don’t. He has a lot of things that I am missing.” He paused, his brow furrowing, lips set in a slight pout as he averted his eyes. “When I saw you two, I was afraid that…maybe someday you’d think I’m not enough for you.”

“Oh, Ring,” your brows uplifted in worry as you cupped his cheek. 

He grabbed your wrist with a gentle hold, pressing a kiss to your palm and then each of your fingertips. “Still, I…” his face flushed with a deeper, familiar red as he stuttered, glancing at your neck again before settling back on your face, “I shouldn’t have-have mauled you like that. I got carried away.” 

You chuckled, causing his eyes widening slightly as he blinked at you. “Did you hear me complain even once?”

He pursed his lips trying to fight a bashful smile that threatened to lift his lips, his cheeks and ears darkening as he buried his face in your neck beneath your chin to hide himself. 

“...N-no.” You heard his muffled reply from your neck, causing you to laugh again as you carded your fingers through his hair.

“You will always be enough for me, my love. I’m yours and you’re mine. Never, ever doubt that.”

You felt him nuzzle his face into you before pressing another sweet kiss to the hollow of your throat. “Danke,” he said softly as his arms squeezed you slightly. 

@xxsycamore

mdni divider by @cafekitsune, heart divider by @saradika-graphics

banner was made by myself

[drenched-in-sunlight]

Hi there! I wanted to say your art is absolutely incredible and always brings me back to Elden Ring when I forget just how amazing the game is. I live for your depictions of Marika.🥹

I was partly just curious after you posted the recent family tree, is there a reaspn Ranni and Radahn don't make as much of an appearance in your drawings? What is your thoughts on their questline/storyline in general?

Thanks for all the cool art, you're getting better with every piece!!

tbh... i think draw Ranni a lot, she's literally the cover of my first fromsoft fanbook 🥲🥲

though most of my art of her is from 2 years ago, i wouldn't say i don't draw her often at all 😭 i've drawn Radahn 4-5 times too. i understand because i draw too much, it's easy to have an impression that i draw some specific characters less, but compared to, say, the Omen Twins or Rykard or Melina (who i keep meaning to draw but haven't got around to do so yet), Radahn and Ranni are two Carian characters i draw the most of that side of the family (well, Rellana is looking to dethrone them soon but you get what i mean aksfkjdfkj)

Radahn dudebro fans keep pointing fingers saying i hate him but i actually like him. as a guyfailure that is so obsessed with these symbols of a Lord in his father and Godfrey, yet failed to live up to any of them (*stare at that scene of Morgott whooping his ass*). his involvement in the DLC is an interesting spin on things to me, and make a lot of sense in the grand scheme of things (when i saw that we found like... 11 Miquella's Lily in places most personal to Radahn like Carian Manor and Sellia. hoo boy).

lately, i lowkey think Radagon specifically picked him for Miquella and encouraged his obsession with being a Lord. to me at least Radagon is really bitter that Godfrey is the First Lord and not him (her actual other's half! sentenced to live away from her while another man got to be her first in everything! the injustice!), so him not only discrediting Godfrey's descendants (whole thing with Hunters of TWLiD) but also preparing a whole new pair of Lord and God that should have been how he and Marika could have been from the start sounds like the kind of overcompensation he'd be doing (look honey that could be us but you tripping).

so in a way i do feel for Radahan and Miquella falling victims to Radagon's list of issues (though it's only one reason in many other reasons for them to turn out that way ofc. Radagon merely nudges the pieces into certain direction, they go barreling head first down on their own). and i actually like that i could come up with all that thanks to the DLC. imo it actually adds a lot more to Radahn and Miquella's character (depends on how you view the story though whoops).

you can say i like him (and Miq) the way one likes AC6 Iguazu... or Genichiro. the kind of hater characters that are doomed to fail from the start, but they are stubborn and will run head first into the wall again and again. and it's fun to put them in a jar and shake them.

Ranni... after the DLC my feeling for her is a bit more complicated. before i get why she did all those things and i like her story enough, but after the DLC as you see i come to really like Godwyn and links him closely to Marika. so now it's kinda awkward for me to insert Ranni in all the scenarios im drawing lately?

it's not that i stop liking her, it's simply that the scenario doesn't line up for me to add her in that's all. and it goes to other characters i haven't drawn tbh. not because i don't like them, i simply don't have anything in my brain about them to draw out. i don't think there's any characters in Elden Ring i hate tbh (yes i do like even the Hornsents. i find the stories in the scorpion stew and dried flower talisman really somber and give them a lot of humanity too, fucked up rituals aside).

and thank you for your kind words! my editor has been on my ass for a whole year about my art and it does help me improve a lot, im glad to know it shows in the quality of my fanarts as well!

[aihoshiino]

chapter 143 thoughts!

remember when tokyo blade was the longest most drawn out arc of oshi no ko. remember when that was our metric. i want to go back to those blissfully innocent days.

This chapter falls in line with a lot of other chunks of the Movie Arc where as a standalone tidbit of the story there are things about it that I like but taken in the greater context of everything around it, I have decidedly more mixed feelings on it. This is very much "chapter 123… 2!" with all that statement implies. If you liked 123, this will probably be like crack cocaine for you but if you were hoping for a more concrete resolution to what's going on with Aqua and Ruby then you're probably in the same boat as me in terms of coming away feeling frustrated.

Lacking resolution aside, I did really like a lot of what we got in this chapter, both in terms of the twins' relationship and as individual characterisation for them both. Immediately what stood out to me was Aqua's avoidant response to… well, basically everything Ruby says up to a point. It's funny to remember that he was the one who called Ai out on avoiding important conversations and yet here he is doing the very same thing. Like mother like son, huh?

Ruby's first line is also interesting. It definitely makes sense for her to fear a separation from Gorou given that it's basically happened twice now, but her specific fear that if she doesn't affirm his existence it will simply vanish implies a certain lack of security in his presence that I think is very interesting. We haven't really gotten enough time in Ruby's head for me to really dig into what that means for her, but I'm putting a pin in it nonetheless.

Aqua's response here also lines up with my prediction last chapter that we were heading for a rejection. Even if indirectly, he spends most of this chapter trying to turn Ruby away and shut her down without actually addressing her proposition, which I really don't blame him for lmao. Free my boy. Even when he does finally give Ruby an inch, so to speak, and start playacting as Gorou, it doesn't feel at all like a sincere moment of self expression. He's indulging her with a facsimile of their old dynamic, sure, but the actual words he's saying aren't particularly encouraging.

Of course, that's not how Ruby sees things. Or rather… That's not how Sarina sees things. She spends more or less this entire chapter with no stars in her eyes whatsoever. This makes a very interesting contrast with Aqua who, even in the moments that he identifies most strongly with his past self, never loses his stars. In this chapter, "Gorou Amamiya" is never anything more than an act for him but Ruby seems to have entirely returned to being Sarina, at least in this space.

Aqua snarks about her mental age not changing and I think this is truer then you might assume - I do think Ruby goes through a bit of a regression in this chapter and I mean this in an entirely value neutral sense. If you've ever returned to a place or people that defined a certain period of your life, it's very easy to find yourself slipping back into the mindset and behaviours that characterized you at that time. The quickest and easiest example of this is probably a person who lives on their own going back to their childhood home to spend the holidays with their siblings and parents. For better or worse, a return to old dynamics means a return to that old headspace - and that's just for regular people without any reincarnation baggage in the mix.

Ruby's experiences as Sarina have always been extremely foundational to her as a person and at least as of the private audition, she is characterized as seeing herself equally as both girls. So in a situation like this where she's finally getting to see and talk to Gorou again, it makes sense for "Sarina" to have taken the lead here.

As I've talked about before, this difference in how they individually view their reincarnation and how it affects their sense of self is always something that's had the potential to cause friction between the twins and we see it here, I think. The two of them aren't quite on the same page.

That said, this is a sweet conversation. It touches on the unique position the twins are in to give each other closure in a way nobody else really can. That said, it does feel really weird that this talk just… never happened before? I guess you could argue that this is a make or break point for their relationship and it took them being really pushed to have this honest of a talk but even then, I can't think of any real reason it didn't come sooner other than "the author didn't want it to happen yet".

i do have to ask though. where did aqua get those glasses. has he been wearing contacts this entire series and we never knew??

The question of to what degree the twins should be considered the people they were before their reincarnation has been a pretty consistent subject of debate in the fandom, particularly as pertains to Aqua. Wherever you stand on the issue though, I think Aqua is right when he says the Gorou Sarina wants him to be is a person who no longer exists. Too much time has passed and way too much has happened. Even removing reincarnation from the equation, there's not a person on this earth who's the exact same as they were 20 years ago. Living changes you just as much as dying does. Even if some intrinsic, unchanging core still exists, his experiences as Aqua Hoshino have changed him way too much for the "Gorou Amamiya" Ruby wants to see to be anything more than a performance.

more absolutely goated expression work from Mengo, btw: that wonky, rueful smile when Aqua first takes off Gorou's glasses. Sooooo good.

It's also just so so good to finally get some insight into what's going on with Aqua after he's been out of focus for so long. It's also really fantastic to finally see him let his walls down a bit and admit to some of the turmoil rolling around in his head. I think this is part of why we see him slip back into a single white hoshigan here; while the stuff he's saying here is concerning, it's honest. Possibly the most honest Aqua has been for a good long while and him finally letting himself be vulnerable with someone he trusts could be a really good positive step for him.

I say could be because… well, I don't think Ruby quite has a handle on how to help Aqua here. She's not even thinking of helping Aqua after all; she addresses him (in the Japanese text) as 'sensei' over and over to an almost excessive degree. Not only that but her responses to him are a little…

The core of this talk between Aqua and Ruby is the idea that Gorou-as-Aqua has changed in a way that leaves him unable to perform the role he once played in her life, while Ruby argues that nothing has changed. And like… to a degree, both of them are right and wrong. Gorou's core values are something Aqua inherited from him and they continue to drive him. But it simply isn't true that nothing has changed. Like I said up above: twenty entire years of living changes a person even before you factor in the trauma of Ai's death and everything Aqua has done to himself and other people in the name of avenging her. But this is something Ruby is unwilling or unable to see.

More great paneling work from Mengo: When Sarina hesitantly asks if 'Sensei' likes her, there is a very pointed beat panel of Aqua's face with his eyes hidden before he pops the Gorou act back on and goes 'uhhh yeah sure'. Once again, we see 'Gorou Amamiya' as avoidance and insincerity at least in the context of this chapter. It's an act Aqua is half-heartedly putting on but to Ruby-as-Sarina, this is the miracle of their reunion happening again before her eyes. And if they're 'Gorou' and 'Sarina' right now, what happens next shouldn't be a surprise.

And… this is the part of the chapter where I stop having nice things to say. Because believe it or not, I don't mind the kiss and I think in the context of this chapter, it makes a lot of sense and it helps to have had the story finally, explicitly lay down that this is 'Sarina' pursuing 'Gorou', at least from Ruby's POV. I also really liked the framing; that clashing of tones returns again, with the double spread shoujo looking kiss ruined by Aqua's pin-eyed look of alarm and dismay. This is the moment of tension breaking transgression the series has been building up to for over 140 chapters…

And we immediately cut away from addressing it. For at least one more week. I'm going to be really honest… this fucking infuriated me! It feels like an implicit admission that this is going to be needlessly dragged out even longer even though we finally had the perfect opportunity to properly address and solidify what is even going on with Aqua and Ruby right now. It feels like cynical reaction bait. It feels like a roided up version of 123 - throwing AquRuby shippers scraps so they'll keep reading while also avoiding undeniably canonizing an incest ship to not scare off the wider audience. My man has created the Schroedinger's Cat of incest. Is the guy in the box nailing his sister or not? Well gosh, you'd better tune in next week and maybe you'll find out!!!!

In short, the lack of resolution just sucks and the fact that it really seems like we're just leaving things there and moving on to something else makes me want to scream. The Movie Arc has been such an unfocused mess for so many chapters now and this really just takes the cake. Like… remember when this was supposed to be about Ai? Remember when this was supposed to be about finally digging into her past and her private life? If half the stuff in the script is just made up then why am I even supposed to get invested in what's going on in the movie in the first place?

At this point, I just desperately want this arc to be done so we can move on. Say what you will about Tokyo Blade's pacing, but at least that was focused and cohered with itself on a week to week basis. The Movie Arc by contrast feels so far removed from any of the ideas we started with that I have no clue what to expect or anticipate from it going forwards or if I should even bother to try.

[weebsinstash]

I'd be judging the hell out of Mom!Reader for naming her twins GABRIEL and GABRIELLA!!!! (Not judging her that much for instigating Miguel to get me or something, I mean. Stockholm syndrome is a bitch. and also. I get it, the power of big d and all that stuff) GIRL. That's the SAME NAME!!!!!

Smh there's so many beautiful names in spanish but MomReader and Miguel 2 are lacking in the creativity department.

Miguel over here watching Mom!You being so radiant and joyful while showing off her chunky babies and he's sending sly glances to you, lowkey being a snob as he thinks "OUR babies would have much better names" and before he knows it he's building up this little fantasy in his head by accident. He keeps hearing these little stories or details from the other you and the other him and in his head he keeps thinking of what he would've done, how he thinks it would've gone for you and him, and you two are not even in a relationship. In fact depending on how drawn out this gets, you haven't even been in the Spider Society for several weeks and are at home with no intention of ever coming back, heartbroken, alone

I even thought of "what if an afab Reader got so desperate to escape canon and have freedom again that she gets pregnant by a stranger and literally carries a full pregnancy so she can abandon the baby, because the kid will eventually become a Spider and maybe they'll take over the canon and then you'll be able to do whatever you want" because you're just. You're so upset that canon is controlling your life and basically like ENSLAVING you that you're desperate

Lmao Peter B sneaks back to see you even though he isn't supposed to and finds you, he's ecstatic, "oh my god you're SUPER pregnant!" and he knows he isn't supposed to see you but he zips it and goes back home and, months later he visits you again with gifts, "so where's the baby?" "I dunno, where IS the baby? :)"

Would the baby technically be an anomaly since you weren't supposed to have it, not like this? What if they had to get rid of it to re-stabilize the timeline or whatever? Now you're being EXTRA shunned because, "wow you went through all that just for yourself huh 🙄 you'd rather abandon a baby than get married..." like people just beyond appalled with you, meanwhile you feel extra victimized because, wow that was all for nothing, you're trying to rethink strategies since "the contigency" didn't work out.

Or less dark but imagine dumping that kid and then some time later you're invited back to the Spider Society and it's like "oh hey Miguel what's the deal with this random baby you're taking care of" and you don't even recognize it, don't even know, you didn't even look at it hard enough to ever really know what it looked like, and, well, WE know whose baby it is lmao. You thinking you escaped from it and it's off living its own life and is going to someday free you and they, maybe not even realizing your intentions and just thinking you were scared, are raising it to give it back to you. I'd go absolutely wild lmao. Their shock when you break it to them "I literally nicknamed it Connie as in contingency, I never even knew what sex it was, I never even fed it, oh my god get it out of here, you're ruining everything"

Miguel MAKING YOU raise it even if its like tbh a fucked up little accident, or, if it's the whole "anomaly baby's gotta go" situation, after the, uh, disposal, he realizes he's pushed you way too far and you're too stressed and scared to think and behave rationally anymore and THIS is where he basically assigns himself as your caretaker and eventually takes you for himself which is kiiiiiiiiinda for the best because you're losing it a little. Like idk I imagine with LYLA maybe he has her programmed to tell him his own canon or he can look at it himself but like, what if he avoided spoilers because he wanted his behavior with you to be authentic or whatever. Like Miguel 2 might let him know "yeah dude turns out we hook up with them in a lot of different universes, it's almost like a separate canon like Peter Parker having Mary Jane" and Miguel takes some sneak peeks at other realities and then he shuts himself off from it so he can move forward of his own accord, but he now knows a sort of guideline and maybe some things to avoid doing (he can see the reality where the YouTwo disaster is going down and he's like "I would NEVER make MY You feel replaced *acts like having Mom!You and Miguel2 around doesn't count, the denial is stored in his ass, that's why it's so big*")

He's got a little notebook or data log where he takes down notes and details on things you like, things he notices about you, things you do often, habits, favorite foods, favorite color, how often are you doing your laundry (he knows you keep re-wearing that bra, girl), are you making your bed, how well are you functioning. Jesus, he literally has technology that can recreate extremely hyperdetailed recreation simulations; if he isn't outright putting camera bots in your room, he can "recreate" however you've been spending your day. He can learn all your routines and rituals and habits, decide what things may be problems, what things you might need more of in your life, he's, studying you really, with a romantic and almost scientific obsession

Not to be all 50 shades of gray in here but would Miguel eventually come onto you, all pent up and control finally bursting, "if we were made for each other, you must like taking it as hard as I like to give it" and whether you want it or not he takes you, and your bodies feel like they fit together perfectly, he stretches you out and fills you up JUST right, you can't help but have your eyes roll into the back of your head with how good it is, and of course he used any good reactions out of you as an excuse/"sign" he's doing the right thing and to keep going, that you're consenting, that he's finally winning you over

Who know; the two of you might start having those babies faster than you both initially thought 😳

[fishsticksloser]

Hihi!! I'm here to request a rottmnt donnie x reader fic :>

Basically, reader hasn't been over to the lair in a couple of weeks and if they did they spend at most an hour before leaving may I add Donnie wanted to show them a huge project he completed (he has told them about it but he never told them it was complete) so our mans Donnie thinks that we got bored of him and we are cheating on him which is not the case here and that reader was basically planning a little surprise party to congratulate Donnie on finishing this big project of his + balancing their schoolwork and job to fund this party. But on the day they had it all completed and was about to tell Donnie, he had enough and decided to break it off with them. You can decide the rest here :3

Have a good day, and get enough food, water, and sleep ‼️

Maybe I Was Boring

Donnie x gn!reader

Warnings: Donnie centered 2nd person, accusations of cheating, betrayal?, panic attack, breakup, angst, comfort, aged up, swearing, first "I love you", no tcest!!!

A/N: ooo... Donnie angst, I'm excited for this. Man... That's a lot of warnings...

Donnie had finally finished rebuilding Shelldon. It was a long process because he wanted to keep him as he was while giving him a huge upgrade. Donnie couldn't wait to show you, you had been a huge supporter during this time, but you stopped coming the the lair recently. Donnie was having some doubts about your relationship, maybe he bored you. Maybe you found someone new?

Donnie left the lab too grab a snack when he saw you and Mikey. You were whispering to him about something, Mikey was grinning widely as he handed you something.

Donnie hasn't seen you in weeks, but here you are with his brother... He felt jealous, betrayed. He quickly rushed back to his lab, feeling like he couldn't breathe.

Of course you'd drop him for one of his brothers. Out of all of them, at least it was Mikey. Right? That was nice, but he missed you. Why hasn't he noticed sooner? Was he too boring? Did you just get so tired of him you didn't even feel the need to break it off?

"Donnie?" Leo asks, peeking into the lab. Leo finds Donnie curled up in his chair, fingers digging into his head. "Don!" Leo pulls Donnie's hands away and holds them. "Count with me, Donnie. You're okay."

The 2 of them count to 10 together. Donnie feels his lungs start working normally again and Leo let's go of his hands.

"What was that about? What's wrong?" Donnie turns away, he didn't really want to talk about it or talk at all for that matter. "Donnie, I'm always here for you, okay? You don't have to talk..."

⋆｡ ﾟ｡☁︎👾｡ ﾟ｡⋆

Donnie ran the final tests on Shelldon, making sure he worked perfectly, when he got a text from you. You asked him to come over.

He knew that this was the end of your relationship. As much as he dreaded it, he knew he had to break it off. You were clearly in love with someone else and he couldn't stand being the side chick.

"He's here! Hide!" He heard you whisper shout thought the door. Great... You had someone over already. "Donnie!"

"Y/N..." He answers. He's a bit confused because you're so happy.

"Come in." You step aside and Donnie shakes his head.

"I think I'd rather talk out here." You frown and step outside with him, closing your door.

"Is everything okay?"

"I can't keep doing this..."

"Doing what?" Instead of saying it aloud, he motions between the 2 of you. "Our... Relationship? W-Why?"

"I haven't seen you in weeks... Every time I tried you had some half-assed excuse... You've been with Mikey too..."

"What? Donnie are you accuse—"

"Okay!" Leo opens the door quickly, separating the 2 of you. Donnie looks at Leo, shocked to see his twin of all people. "Donnie, come inside. Y/N prepared something for you."

Leo pulled Donnie inside. All of his friends and family sprung up yelling "Congratulations!" Even Shelldon was there, although he was certain he left him at home.

"Wha?" Donnie asks. He sees a banner with him and Shelldon drawn on it, hanging above your living room couch.

"Y/N worked on all of this for you." Leo points out. "They worked overtime, plus had school..."

"I—" Donnie tried. He turned to you, seeing tears in your eyes. "I'm so sorry..."

"Let's talk about it later, okay?" You smiled, blinking away the tears. "Right now let's celebrate you and Shelldon."

⋆｡ ﾟ｡☁︎👾｡ ﾟ｡⋆

"I'm sorry that I accused you of cheating..." Donnie started. Both of you sat on your balcony, watching the moon rise slowly. "I just... I don't feel like enough for you. I feel like maybe... Maybe I was boring..."

"Boring? Donnie, you're everything to me." You answer, leaning your head on his shoulder. "That's why I did all this for you. That and..."

"And?"

"It's funny that you say that you don't feel like enough... Cause I feel the same." Donnie turned, eyebrows drawn down. "You're so intelligent, so intuitive, strong, brave... The list goes on. Don, you helped save the world. The world... And I haven't achieved anything."

"I need you, y/n." Donnie frowns, the thought that you viewed yourself so poorly was confusing. He felt the same about himself, but you? You were amazing in his eyes. "I love you."

He said it first. It was very uncharacteristic. It had your mind running in overdrive.

You didn't answer, opting to kiss him instead. Gripping the front of his shirt desperately. He pulled away a little, stunned, before pulling you closer.

"I love you, Donatello."

[coldshrugs]

tiebreaker

pairing: io laithe / estinien varlineau setting: modern AU rating: explicit - there are a few mature scenes near the end word count: 6.1k

It's strange to be home.

Stranger still to try to define where exactly home is now that Io has two. Two beds, two sets of friends, two time zones to keep up with… Home is supposed to be a place, or, if she allows the geography to have a softer edge, a series of places and the routines formed around them. The familiar haunts one returns to again and again, seeking the comfort of nostalgia.

Three months didn't feel that long while she lived them; the new place is nice, the people are great, and she loves her work. She calls it home when she is there.

But is it? Home used to hold her mother's voice, her siblings' laughter, her father's snoring. She can't go back to any of those things. 'Home' died six years ago, and Io has been trying to claw back some essence of it ever since.

There was only one thing she was sure she missed from this place, one person. But then she stood in the kitchen with the sunset light painting half the cabinets in late summer's orange, and one thing turned into everything. Puzzle pieces of scent and sight that make her long for more of them tomorrow and every day after—the pack of cigarettes on the already open window to their fire escape; the knowledge that she can hide away in the safety of her room, surrounded by all her favorite things, if the inevitable tide of her anxiety rises high enough to drown her; and especially the smell of Estinien—of both of them—burrowed bone-deep into every room.

But the apartment is not exactly as it was when she left. It's cleaner. The blankets on the couch are neatly folded. There are no dishes in the sink. Not a shred of old mail on the table by the door. The only object even slightly out of place is one of the red plastic chairs at the small table between the kitchen and living room, stolen from their former support group when they aged out.

It's almost uncanny, before she remembers he cleans when he's stressed…

Hm.

They haven't talked about the kiss.

They haven't talked about much of anything so far.

Not when Estinien picked her up from the airport. Not back in their apartment as they readied for Y'shotla’s birthday party. Not even when they stepped out of their rooms, facing each other in the mirrored doorways, and his eyes blew wide at the sight of her dressed in the simple sundress and sneakers.

"You, uh, look really nice," he'd said. Straight forward tone and broad shoulders drawn up to his full height. But he didn't say anything else, so maybe they're leaving it where it lies.

Io has learned to live with this contactless friction. An ever-present static at the boundary of what they mean to each other. Sometimes, the hum is so quiet that she swears she is over him. Then there are times like now, in the back of their Uber, when the unspoken question churns in the space between them, fuzzy and electric, and Io reminds herself that even a hum is noise.

She has to break the ice.

"How's work going? How are the kids this year?"

"It's alright. A ton of rebellious little shits in my classes this semester, especially this set of twins."

"Are you allowed to call them that?"

It takes them a moment to find their footing, but then they can't seem to stop—

"Only when I like them. How's it going with your roommates—what are their names again?"

"Hien and Yugiri. They're sweet. Fun to hang out with. They're tidiness sticklers though, so that's kind of killing me."

"Did you watch that show I said you'd like?"

"Did you remember to water my plants?"

—And on and on until she whispers:

"I miss you. You thought I wouldn't."

Silence again, besides the pop song quietly spilling from the speakers. The driver's eyes flash in the rearview mirror before they turn the volume up, like some sound-based privacy curtain, but that is where it ends. Estinien turns his gaze to the darkening skyline around them, lips drawn up at the corner facing her.

It's hard to be disappointed when simply sitting beside him again is a comfort.

Sure, they text daily, but there is no replacement for his deadpan cadence or playfully disgruntled tone. No emoji could substitute the curves of his smiles, from the small and shy ones he tries to hide (the kind he wears now, squeezing at her heart) to the wide ones that come with an open-mouth laugh—

Her thoughts spin to the kiss. Nervous and unfinished, broken too soon because their drunk friends apparently cannot resist throwing glass bottles at the call of "beer me!" That's why she didn't get to kiss him longer, not that it would matter in the long run.

Estinien doesn't do long distance.

He told Vic as much. He cared about Vic. They dated long enough for it to matter, but in the end, Vic moved hours away, and Estinien decided they should break things off. And despite what anyone says about how he might feel about her, she's stationed on the other side of the country for the next nine months.

But he kissed her back. Oh, the way he kissed her back…

She shoots him the occasional furtive glance while his attention is elsewhere, and god, he looks good. Loose, perfectly messy hair hangs past his shoulders and softens the more severe angles of his face. His t-shirt wrinkles against the line of his well-worn jeans. Hems she has long dreamed of running her hands under…

Io's thick swallow is loud in her ears (she hopes he didn't hear it, too), and her fingers twitch on the leather seat between them. That does make a sound. A little scratch.

Estinien slides his hand across the seat, and—the static sizzles and snaps—his fingers curl into hers. He doesn't look away from the window, but he squeezes.

Her heartbeat almost hurts. She squeezes back.

Another 10 minutes and they pull up to the usual watering hole, one of those extensions of home, Redbills.

He lets go as they climb out of the car on his side, deciding to shove both his hands into his pockets. Cool.

(He's still wearing that little smile as they walk inside.)

Now, this is a place that's frozen in time. Dim light punched through with neon, an out-of-place song being played too loud, ratty stools lining the bar, and well-kept pool tables dotting the back wall. And that's to say nothing of the people.

Her friends (the first set, the ones as close as family) are scattered around the bar. Lucia and Thancred are already locked in a game of pool, and there's real money on the corner of the table. G'raha carries two colorful cocktails to a standing table, where he and Urianger are chatting with Krile, on her tall barstool, of course. Aymeric is at the bar, laughing loudly with Leofard, and Leo's pouring a massive round of shots.

Estinien sways awkwardly on the spot before turning to Io. He jerks his head in Aymeric’s direction, letting her know where he'll be, before walking backward toward him. He's gone for now, then.

Yep, very cool.

Tataru (already flushed a deep shade of pink) gestures chaotically as she rambles to the birthday girl sitting at the end of the bar. Shtola is nodding along without looking, one arm thrown over the back of her metal stool tied with black and purple balloons speckled with glitter. Her other hand holds an e-reader and, holy shit, she is deeply engrossed in a book at her own party.

In fact, she only looks up when her glasses begin to slide down her nose, and that's when her pale eyes fall on Io. She is up in a flash. "You came!"

Shtola isn't one for lengthy displays. The hug is brief, but she wraps her arms tightly around Io and allows her to return it fully before pulling away.

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it," Io says. They walk arm in arm towards her decorated seat, where Tataru's tipsy little squeak alerts everyone else to her arrival, and then the party begins.

The night happens in a rush. A round of shots as they sing happy birthday, followed by a round of beers on the house because Io is back in town. She isn't allowed to be a wallflower tonight, tugged from huddle to huddle to share stories of her new orchestra gig or listen to someone else's big news that happened to slip through the cracks of the group chat.

Despite the company and constant meandering around the room, his static prickles on the back of her neck. Estinien hovers in the margins. Much like his blind reach for her hand in the car, she doesn't need to see him to know he's around. It is a phantom sensation, some missing part of her that she swears she can move if only she tries hard enough.

A quick glance to the side and she finds him effortlessly. He leans against the wall, speaking with Ayms in hushed voices. Estinien's eyes cut a sharp path to her, too; Aymeric's gaze follows, and a deviously knowing smile spreads across his face. Io purses her lips politely and smiles back, lifting her hand to wave. Aymeric waves back as he leans to whisper something to Estinien, who shakes his head and takes a long swallow from his beer. His posture tenses.

He pushes off the wall and walks outside, placing his empty bottle on the bar as he goes.

"Hold that thought," Io says as she breaks away from Thancred. "Just grabbing some air."

He's even easier to find on the sidewalk. A lone figure with his shoulder pressed into the brick, head tilted skyward. He's facing the door, as if he's waiting for someone.

"What's wrong?" Io takes a cautious step toward him, fighting the pull to go to him immediately

He shrugs but doesn't look at her. His brows knot, and she can't name the look he wears. It's frustrating not knowing what he's feeling. Disappointment? Defeat? Finally, he asks, "We're just not going to talk about it?"

Oh.

"Estinien, you've been distant most of the day, except for a compliment and holding my hand in the car… I didn't think you wanted to talk about it."

And that makes him look. His head rolls in her direction, hair bunched against the wall and his stare burning through her. "Be serious. Of course I want to. I just… don't know how to start."

"Neither do I." Io inhales and lets the warm night air soothe her nerves. Here she fucking goes. "We kissed. Barely—"

"'Barely.'" The word leaves him in a little huff of incensed laughter. He shakes his head.

"—And it was wrong to leave that up in the air for so long, but I guess it's easier not to know? Maybe it's, I don't know, kinder to slip back into how we were before that. If that's what you want."

"Kinder? Fuck off." Compared to his previous interruption, his tone has cooled, and his expression softened. He's not actually mad. If anything, he seems confused that he's being asked what he wants, as if it's obvious. "Did you mean what you said that night I called you?"

She moves to his side, still careful, still slow. But it's for her own benefit now. What on earth is he talking about?

He asked to call her a couple of weeks ago, the first time that's happened since she's been away. They talked through the night, and there was something close about it, closer than usual. The end of the conversation is fuzzy. She only remembers waking up with her phone pressed to her cheek.

Her shoulder meets the wall, mirroring his lean from a foot away. "...What did I say?"

"You love me." He spits it out quickly and gives no further explanation.

But it doesn't need any, does it? It's a simple yes or no. And it's now that she realizes Alberic—and everyone else—was right: he needs her to go first. He can't move until she does.

"Yeah…" Io shifts her weight against the brick, dragging her gaze from the grime-covered sidewalk to his gray eyes shining softly in the night. He deserves that, because she loves him. "I meant it. But listen, I'm not expecting anything. My job alone makes me a walking deal-breaker so—"

A few people stumble out of the bar, cackling loudly, and they both look to make sure it's no one they know. Just a group of strangers, so their attention refocuses. Io takes another breath, but Estinien speaks first.

"Since you left, I only sit in your chair." The streetlight overhead harshes the shadows falling across his face, but it does not obscure the reddening tips of his ears. "It felt stupid at first. For a while, I pretended it wasn't a conscious thing. Just a convenient one; it's closer to the door or whatever. But it's a choice, I realize that now… I think I've been keeping myself from it since you wrote on them. At some point, I couldn't tell the difference. But that became a choice, too."

It trails off a bit as he loses his own thread, but Io isn't lost. No, it makes perfect sense. This is him explaining every moment passed between them in the half-decade they've shared.

"You're rambling." She tries not to laugh. It's not funny. It's just what he does; he doesn't know what to say, so he says more than he should, and the familiar habit fills her chest with a fluttering warmth. His gaze moves to her smile. "I mean, you don't have to stop. I like when you get going."

She marvels at the way his eyes roll, annoyed and amused all at once. How he tries to be just one plain thing but can't help being more than that.

"The point is, I only sit in your chair."

Estinien's hands leave his pockets. She thinks he might be reaching for his cigarettes. She could use one, too. But they shoot towards her instead, his fingers wrapping into the embroidered edges of her jacket. He holds her like that, thumbs tracing the fabric while his eyes dart across her face, softening by the second. They dilate to a ring of dark silver.

Io reminds herself to breathe.

He pulls her closer.

Closer than that.

"I love you. I don't know how long it's been, just that I do." And he waits, all quickened breath and pleading eyes silently asking her to say it again.

"I love you too."

His hands wind around her, shifting her across the final gap between them, chest to warm chest. When Io lifts her hands to his face, his heartbeat gives him away. Pressed close like this, she feels the echo of every agonizing thump. His darkened eyes flash to her lips.

He moves.

They are careful at first, almost precious about it. But careful gives way to something else, just like it started to three months ago on the fire escape. His softness grows urgent, the kind of thing that begs to become another, deeper kiss. Io waits for the shoe to drop, the glass to shatter, but it doesn't come. Estinien's hands travel to the small of her back, one moves under her jacket, fingers skimming between the straps tying the back of her dress, and there is no interruption this time.

Every thought, every dream she's had about this does not compare to the way his lips seem to drag hers with him as he pulls back. His breathless whisper falls into the space between them.

"Should we get out of here, just go home? I just want to be with you tonight."

Io nods against his forehead, maybe too eagerly, but his smile is worth it. "Yeah, um, just let me say bye to everyone first. I hate to bail, but the party isn't the only reason I'm here."

He releases her as a smug grin pulls new shadows across his face. When they re-enter together, Aymeric approaches from the bar.

"You two were gone for a while." His words are ripe with accusation. Io shifts her weight and pulls her jacket closed, hoping he doesn't notice how rumpled it is.

Estinien leans against the wall by the entrance, looking as casual as ever. "And we're leaving again. Are you meeting everyone for breakfast tomorrow?"

Aymeric balks, "First of all, it's brunch, not breakfast; we're drinking again. Second, yes, I'll be there."

"Then we'll see you there."

"Wait, why are you leaving?"

Io takes the opportunity to slip away and find Y'shtola, who is once again seated at the bar, talking to Leo over the largest fishbowl of sangria she's ever seen. It's half-empty.

She slides into the seat next to her. "Hey… please don't kill me."

Shtola squints in Io's direction with surprisingly clear eyes. There is a silent question in them.

"Can I be here for this?" Leo props an elbow on the bar as if that might bolster his chances.

"No," they say in unison, refusing to glance his way.

"Fine," he says, no worse for wear. "I'm taking five, I need to piss anyway."

Shtola takes a deep sip of her drink until he's in the back. "Let me guess: you've decided to leave your best friend's birthday in the loud, crowded bar when we've been here less than two hours? Io, don't think I didn't expect that."

Io might be offended if there were any malice in the words, but Y'shtola brought her fucking kindle. She's probably planning her own escape soon.

"I'm awful, I'm sorry—" She throws her gaze over her shoulder and Shtola's head turns too. Estinien is still waiting by the door with Aymeric, but he's focused intently on her. "—but there's been a development…"

Bubbles sputter in her drink and she comes away coughing. "Are you serious? Finally? Not the half-assed, 'this is a goodbye forever, I'm giving up on you' kiss?"

"Finally." Her grin is embarrassing, but if anyone knows how long she's held out for this moment, it's Shtola. "Like, no bullshit, for real. Feelings talk and all, so I… really need to go."

Shtola shakes her head, one hand waving Io off the barstool and towards the exit. "No, no, breaking the pattern of platonic codependency and making a new, probably worse pattern is the perfect birthday gift. For the love of god, text me and let me know what happens."

"See you tomorrow." Io squeezes in one more hug and snags a sip of her drink before all but running for the door.

She gives Aymeric a little wave and a smile before passing through the door with Estinien's hand on her back again. A car is already waiting, and after they clamber inside, he doesn't cease his contact. An arm as far around her as he can manage, his fingers grazing her neck, and he can't take his eyes off her.

It doesn't matter that this is all the drive will allow. Desire sparks along her skin, originating from his touch and simmering between them, silent but shameless. The ride feels like an eternity.

When they're finally outside their building, the car is barely out of view before Estinien kisses her again. He walks them backward to the alcove housing the locked glass doors and the keypad. She laughs against his lips as she struggles to reach the buttons. He moves them closer. The first attempt lights the unit in red.

They'll get locked out at this rate.

Io pulls free of his lips with a hummed whine so she can see what she's doing. He moves to her cheek instead, then her jaw… Another red try.

"Estinien," she breathes.

His throaty laugh vibrates against her skin. "You've got it."

Fuck it. If this doesn't work, they can break their necks on the fire escape. 7-9-1-3-5. It blinks green, and the locked doors click open.

They only waste a little time in the stairwell, a quick kiss every other landing or so, when one can't resist grabbing the other, softly passing laughter between mouths before running up the next flight. It doesn't feel real. It lasts all the way to their door.

They go inside, hand in hand, and this is when it sets in.

Sure, it's a bit too clean, but the only new thing here is them. They kick off their shoes and navigate the path to Estinien's room in the dark, carefully dodging jutting furniture corners and stepping over the edges of rugs as their eyes adjust to the lack of light. A strange muscle memory when the context of the journey is so different.

In his room, Io pulls the chain on his bedside lamp, flooding the space with soft, warm light. She knows his room; the scattered sports and music posters, his baseball trophies and metals, and the long unused skateboard. His bed sits in the center of the far wall, flanked by a table on each side; one holds the lamp she just turned on, and the other is where his keys, wallet, and phone usually go. She's had to grab them more than once as they rushed out of this place.

"Is that okay?" she asks.

He nods, pulling her in again, prying her jacket off. It falls to the floor in a crumpled heap as his hands trail back up her arms. One settles lightly against the back of her neck. She runs a shaking hand over his stomach until it rests on his chest.

He inhales, forehead falling to hers for the second time tonight. "I'm kind of nervous."

"Me too." She swallows, trying to keep her voice even. "It feels silly, right?"

"Yeah." Estinien's rumbled laugh sounds in the quiet. "The reason I shouldn't be is the reason I am."

Io pulls her head away, asking why with furrowed brows.

"Because it's you."

What steals her breath seems to give his confidence a second wind. He tugs a strap off her shoulder and presses a kiss to the freckled skin beneath, lips moving slowly, reverently, until her head tips back and her arms snake around his waist. He catches the hem of the dress, looking to Io briefly for approval, lifting it over her head after she nods.

He pauses, drinking in the sight of her standing in his most private space, wearing only her underwear, and for a second Io wonders if his drinks have caught up with him.

He pulls his own shirt off, ruffling his hair in the process. His skin catches the lamplight on one side and moonlight on the other. His beauty is uncomplicated, as direct as he is, but right now it threatens to overwhelm her. Io reaches for him, runs her hands across soft muscle and the small, knotted scar on his left shoulder.

She leans forward, brushing her lips over his, almost content to feel him breathing against them and nothing more. Almost. Estinien's knuckles skim her waist, ghost over the side of her breast, across her back, where his hold solidifies before tipping them onto the bed.

Each touch speaks the assurance they've never needed to voice—I'll take care of you, I'm the one who always takes care of you. This is not so different, not when they get down to it. Estinien drags his lips across her throat and that is just as intimate as his texts reminding her to take her anxiety medication; Io's hands slipping beneath his waistband are the same hands that spread his favorite blanket over him when he falls asleep on their couch. "I made you coffee" shares DNA with "please kiss me again", and both are prerequisites to the soft grip of his hand under her chin, leading her mouth to his.

What's one more way to love each other?

Between needy touches and heated moans, they peel away the last of their layers. There is nothing else they can bare.

Estinien moves down her body, nose trailing against her skin, stopping along the way to place soft, searing kisses to places that certainly never existed before now. The tip of her collarbone, the underside of her breasts, the sensitive skin over her ribs, and she shivers as he brings each one to life in the soft heat of his mouth. His hands follow, creating a pattern of kiss and caress, and Io is never without some part of him in contact with her skin.

He settles between her legs, and she feels the hot rush of his breath, coming just that much faster as he anticipates the next action. Io can hardly bear to look at him—flushed cheek pressed against her thigh and his eyes growing darker when she bites her lip—but she cannot look away.

"You're so fucking beautiful." Estinien kisses her thigh, then whispers low in a voice Io doesn't recognize, "Do you want me to?"

His fingers trace a tantalizing pattern on her leg as he stares up at her, waiting for the answer.

How can she tell him what he's doing to her before he even begins? "Please" is the only word she can articulate as she runs a hand through his hair, gently urging him to go on. "Please."

He dips his head, and words don't matter. She couldn't form them if she tried. Her eyes squeeze shut as she falls against the pillow. There is only shapeless sound, her body tense and twisting, the combination of her slick heat and his mouth,

               his mouth,

                                 his mouth.

She's at the edge before she knows it, and the feel of his lips changes, lightens, as he pushes her over. He's smiling—pleased with himself, pleased at her reaction. It remains in place as he lifts himself and kisses his way back to her lips.

Estinien covers her, skin to skin, and Io pulls away from his lips just to look at him for a moment. His silver hair catching bits of the city lights through the window. The shine of her still worn on his lips. Io cups his cheek and sweeps her thumb across them, observing the way they yield for even this touch. His blush spreads to the tips of his ears, down his neck.

"I feel so stupid. You've been looking at me that way for years, and I…" The thought hangs between them: 'What if?' He shakes his head above her, his hair grazing her shoulders.

"Yeah," Io whispers. "But you've been looking at me too. I wasn't in a rush."

She smiles into the next kiss, feels his own spread against her lips. Of all the things they've done tonight, the things they will do, this is the one she wants to keep most. She lets it linger, lets him deepen it when he's ready, asking for more when his tongue slides over hers and he shifts between her thighs.

Io stifles a moan and presses her hands into his back. She needs him closer.

One more shift, and they gasp through a broken kiss. There is only a second of pause, a quick word to check in, then Estinien drives forward again. They find a rhythm. Io moves with him. His breathing grows ragged and shallow, his voice is a tight rasp as he curses or mutters her name into the crook of her neck.

He leans back, resting on his knees, lifting Io with him so she sits on his angled lap. "I wanna see you like this," he says in a shredded whisper. "I keep thinking about it."

It's easy to give him what he wants when he looks at her like this, when he asks for her like he needs her. Io works her hips against him while Estinien does his best to explore, to touch, but his focus shatters in a guttural rumble as he pulls free and guides their fall back to the bed.

There is breath to catch and mess to clean. They alternate trips to the bathroom, then settle into his bed in a yawning heap.

They stay close afterward, liking the way their limbs have tangled and the heaviness of his body relaxing against hers. Io runs her fingers through his hair, unwilling to stop touching him like this now that she has no reason to hold back, and relishes the soft breath washing over her chest. Estinien is still, besides the occasional lazy roll of his head, to kiss her where he can. From the opposite side of the bed, the lamp's glow brightens his edges, the sharp line of his jaw, his nose, and his lips gently pulled into the sweetest smile Io's ever seen him wear.

She could watch him like this forever.

The city doesn't slow around them. Flashes of sound and color leak into the dim room, painting the wall in shifting light that disappears between drowsy blinks. Io wonders how all those passersby in taxis and on the street can go on like before, unaware a faultline has moved under their feet. Don't they know? Didn't they feel it?

The quiet breaks abruptly.

"Io, I'm not,"—his rough voice wavers. He pauses. She can almost see him turning over the words in his mind—"very romantic, if I'm honest, but I could be good to you."

His head on her chest is the only thing keeping her in orbit.

"You've always been good to me. If you're asking me for something…"

"I'm asking."

"You just wanna hear me say it?" And she laughs at his sleepy little nod, heartsick at the way he looks up at her, pupils wide even with their desire temporarily quenched. He wants more than light. She gives it to him. She'd give him anything. "Then yeah, I want to be with you, if you're willing to deal with the distance."

"I don't mind the distance if it's with you." His eyes close, his breathing deepens. She holds him like that until sleep takes her, too.

Io wakes slowly. The room is still gray and dark, with the exception of a single line of early sunlight fighting its way through his blackout curtains. It falls across her side of the bed, a reminder that something exists beyond the bliss of being tucked into this specific set of sheets.

Estinien is already awake. His hand moves down her side, warm and soothing, and then makes the return journey upward, over and over, until she half-rolls to see his face.

"Hey," his voice is even more rough than usual, but it's sweeter, too. He lifts onto his arm, smiling down at her. His messy hair hangs in his eyes. Witnessing this side of him… it always felt so out of reach.

"Hi," she whispers back, adjusting the sheet so there's no barrier between them. "Why are you awake?"

His knuckles roll over her neck, up to her cheek. "Just wanted to look at you. You're all I can think about, and now you're here so… is that weird?"

Io shakes her head against his pillow. "I don't think it's weird. I think I'd do the same."

"Good." He leans in, but pauses before their lips meet. "Wouldn't stop me if it was."

He kisses her slowly, pulls her back flush to his chest so he can touch her. The urgency and nerves of last night are gone. His hands move, unhurried, over the twist of her body, more interested in coaxing little sounds of need from her while her voice still wears shades of sleep. When he fills her this time, his thrusts are soft, almost lazy. And when he's finished, Estinien tells her he loves her again.

She will never tire of hearing it.

They are late to brunch. It's a wonder they show up at all.

No comments when they stroll to the table hand in hand, or when Estinien throws his arm around Io's chair, and not even when she leans into him to rest her head against his cheek after the third mimosa. This is how it should've been all along. They were the only people blocking the way.

The day passes in patches of sunlight and bright laughter, that of their friends and, later on, just theirs. They walk their favorite paths and visit the places Io missed most. The park on the way to her former library job, the library itself, the bakery with specialty cupcakes, and the taco joint she's been craving. But he is a magnet for her hands and, in truth, the place she misses most is their apartment…

They make good use of the short time. No room is too sacred, no surface too precious, until they make it so. By the end of the weekend, they have a pretty good handle on what works. Estinien is a quick study; he remembers what makes her smile, what causes a gasp or a moan.

They learn other things too.

"Tell me something I don't know about you," Io requests on that final evening.

Estinien lies on his back, head angled toward the tv that drones quietly in front of them. He's not watching; his eyes are half closed and his hand tangles in her hair. It's the most focus he can spare right now.

"I thought it was called 'duck tape' for too long. Aymeric pulled me aside in freshman year. Embarrassing as fuck," he says. "Your turn."

Io commits to being a quiet observer, biting back the giggle in the back of her throat.

She lies across his waist with one arm folded under her chin. Her fingers skate over his torso, leaving little trails of puckered skin in their wake. She pockets every tiny reaction (the soft hitch in his breath at a touch near the lower rungs of his ribs, or barely audible sigh when she passes just below his navel), but these are the only interruptions to the otherwise steady rise and fall of his chest.

"I'm allergic to bee stings."

"What?"

"Yeah, I should've mentioned it before," she says. "You're my emergency contact, so you should know what might take me out."

He laughs, a full belly laugh that shakes both of them on the couch. The sound digs into the marrow of her bones. It can't replace the voices she misses, but she can make more space for him in the part of her heart that longs to hear them.

The quiet after his laughter is just as tender, both of them content with this simple closeness.

"I don't want you to go," he says after some time. "One more day."

"Estinien, my flight—"

"Fuck your flight." His drowsy smile is tempting. "Stay with me."

She says no by pressing her lips against the soft, fuzzy patch of skin beneath his navel, and his exhale barely restrains a shudder. Does she truly do this to him so easily?

"Stay," Estinien repeats.

"You know I can't." Io kisses him again, shifting her head, preparing to focus her attention a little lower…

A long exhale stutters out of him. "I know."

She tugs on the hem of his boxers and he lifts his hips to make it easier for her to move them down his thighs. Io bites her lip at the sight of him, his ready willingness to share himself with her, the way he wants her. She brushes her lips against his length.

"I can come back next month." She trades lips for tongue, adores the way his head rolls back against the sofa. "We'll talk every day, like we always do."

"Next month," he whispers as she takes him into her mouth. His voice strains. "Only nine more to go."

It's noon on Monday when they leave for the airport.

Estinien drives them. Io takes in the view from the passenger seat, branding the feel of his hand on her knee into her mind. And then the pressure of his arms around her when he pulls her back for another hug, the nervous blush when he kisses her openly at the gate. His straight-backed reassurance of "I love you. Come home soon."

Home can be a place, as simple as four walls, or the scent of minty body wash, the voices that soothe just by proximity, and it can be a shared bad habit. The picturesque scenes of a small and beautiful life. Home can be the boy you watch grow into a man, the friend you wait for until you don't care about the waiting, and the partner stoking butterflies or comfort with a look. Home isn't home the first time—it demands a return.

"I will. I'll be back before you know it. And I love you too."

Home requires memory.

[ohpollenpowder]

💋🌹⚙️ for Astrella, Klea and Laviii (feel free to swap them out if stuff is not applicable to them)

This ended up being lengthy, so under a cut it goes! And apologies for the delay~♥

💋 First Kiss

Laviii - Her first kiss wasn't with her husband, much to his disappointment—he's just that sort and it makes her amused. It was actually to one of the other orphans in the orphanage when she was still there, probably about the age of nine. They both had just left the "ew, cooties" phase and were falling into curiosity. She remembers it was drizzling and they'd sought out shelter under one of the trees just before the skies opened. They had started laughing, they got drenched anyway, and his lips tasted like the cherries they'd had snuck out of the kitchen earlier. Laviii has always boasted of her memory and how good it is, but something always hazes over his name and his face. Honestly, probably some weird Mesmer magic which made her subconsciously suspicious of Tyki from the get go. His name was Cael though and he didn't really have anything remarkable about his appearance at the time. Nothing that would have drawn and kept Laviii's attention, but he was kind and didn't seem to mind her tangents and shared any apples he stumbled across in wanderings.

Klea and Astrëllä both haven't had theirs so… (randomizer) 1-21…and 4 comes up. So 📎!

📎 Siblings/Close Family

Astrëllä - Since she's my namesake, there are things that are similar about us, however family is not one of these. I only have one sibling—a younger brother—and Astrëllä… She was unblessed in that she's the middle child of five, not that she's close to her other four siblings. You'd think she would have been close to her twin, Aiar (M) who is older than her by five minutes, but it's actually the youngest, Dhianni (NB). They were the only one who seemed to actually be proud of Astrëllä and her academic achievements. Likewise, Astrëllä ended up being more of a mother to Dhianni than their actual mother; made sure they had access to anything they needed for their potion experiments. She didn't really understand the desire to go into that field but honestly…someone has to, she guesses. Though she has had to keep Dhianni from trying to test these potions out on their family. Rivals, yes. People who you've gotta sleep in the same space with? Nah… Dhianni, I think, is the only reason that Astrëllä would hesitate over actually joining the Ward. Mostly because she doesn't want to lose that connection to a beloved sibling.

Klea - Jazer Shadowsworn—her mother and Legionnaire—is someone she's semi-close to seeing as Klea has been raised as her heir to the Warband. (And honestly the rest of the Warband doesn't seem to mind the idea of it being handed down. They've seen her grow up, they know her and trust her. And she's not her mother, either.) But Klea would also say that they're not as close as others may believe, mostly because Klea has been quietly rebelling against the idea of becoming Legionnaire more and more the closer that time gets. Her closest tie belongs to a cranky old Thief who taught her stealth when she (and he) was younger: Kuudan Shadowdancer. He gave her glimpses of life outside the Warband as a core unit, that there was more out there. And she's still young enough that she's curious about it, enough so that she's willing to become a Gladium in order to step away from Shadow Warband and see what's out there for her own. But Kuudan keeps her where she is for now, out of her own choice. He's gotten a little more senile and slower in his older age and she's worried about him.

🌹 First Relationship

Laviii - It wasn't the boy she had her first kiss with, he wasn't enough her type for that, not to mention he had long since vanished by the time she got interested in relationships. That one would honestly go to her now husband, Tyki Mikkk. (And he'd hate to hear this, but he did/does remind her of that first kiss. We're blaming the mysterious Mesmer feeling…) She wasn't even going to date him to be honest, there was just something about him that made her suspicious and yet familiar as well. And honestly that alone made her even more suspicious, because where does he get off being familiar but she can't place it with her memory? (Again, damn Mesmer magic.) Tyki was very persistent, however, and somehow they kept getting partnered up for Pact work, so she couldn't escape him if she wanted to—at least not without getting in trouble. He was her first, because she didn't like or want any guy in Divinity's Reach, she also didn't want to end up stuck in the city with multiple babies while he was at the tavern. And that was the lifelong goal of a lot of those men.

Astrëllä - She did actually attempt a relationship just before she went into her first College, figuring it would be better to do it before and see if it was worth her time. Dasi was one of those oddballs that Dhianni worked with, an older Asura (closer to her age than Dhianni's) who made sure they weren't poisoning themselves as they concocted things. Dasi was a lot of what Astrëllä wasn't; very lazy in academia and not very driven in the sense that most Asura are. She was more than content to let others take the credit for her hard work, she was very much an extrovert where as Astrëllä chose to spend most of her time on her own or with a small few. They were on the verge of perhaps becoming something more steady than hanging out in the same spot close together and quiet little "meetings" to "discuss" work. (Not that their work was similar at all.) And the but here goes to Dasi deciding that relationships weren't something she wanted at that time, instead what she wanted was to go to the Jungle with the rest of the Pact. They tried to keep touch but by the time the Commander got to Tarir, they lost contact with one another. Astrëllä has, of course, feared the worst at this point since it's been years since any kind of contact but also no news of a body being found either… She hasn't gotten over Dasi, still holds out quiet and unspoken hope. Not even Dhianni knows about that what-could-have-been relationship. (Astrëllä was scared to speak about it out loud in case she jinxed it, but fate jinxed it already…)

Klea - Icilius Shadowstone—he was the world's sweetest and biggest (and floofiest) Necromancer in the Warband—and he also could creep up on absolutely anyone by accident. He awkwardly started to court her when they were fresh out of the Fahrar, having watched her (non-creepily) while they were there training. Klea was flattered by the attention since it was different than those trying to gain favor with her and thus her mother, this was purely for her. Icilius could've had her wrapped around his claw and did for a while, and he around hers, but we've got interfering parents on our hands. Jazer decided that he was too much of a distraction for her heir and cast him out of the Warband on fabricated charges. Actually had him "disposed of" as well, in that he was shipped off and told to stay away from the Citadel and from Klea. His current location is unknown, same if there's any remaining ardor for Klea considering a relationship with her lost him his Warband.

⚙️ Coworkers

Laviii - She gets along famously—perhaps too famously—with several of her Pact coworkers. Or at least she likes to think so, some of them only tolerate her antics. But she's gotten used to that and often plays into it when she's feeling mischievous. Outside of the Pact, she has a few reliable Priory coworkers that put up with her for good reason. She's incredibly smart and intuitive, often coming up with the solution before some of her Asuran fellows. Explorer Parrel often comes to her with puzzles trying to stump her but he also has great fun in working them out with her as well. Since they initially stumped him in the first place. Arcanist Sorley and Scholar Arthwr—both Sylvari—often tag along when she's doing the rare solo missions separate from her husband. They say it's for her protection but seeing as she's stronger than them both, they all three know it's because they're going to get into some sort of antics. Gixx dislikes them all working together just because it reminds him so of Sieran…

Astëllä - Wouldn't necessarily say she gets along with many… Dasi's Krewe always welcomes her in when she needs their assistance or vice versa, but a lot of the time Astëllä works on her own. After all, there's not a lot of teamwork to be done digging for knowledge sometimes. Most times. Astëllä is very resourceful and if she can't get what she needs by her own means then she's not above asking for aid. To that end, Yezzud has become her go to within the Krewe for at least headings to the information she wants. So honestly, Astëllä tends not to be very social, but she's not awkward like I tend to be. She's more along the lines of… "This isn't productive conversation so Imma just ignore you." But she'll also do it in a much nicer fashion, "Oh, that's interesting. Well, I have to go ponder about this. I'll see you later." By which…most times…she means never in a planned sense. Coincidences exist sadly.

Klea - Shadow Warband, of course, though honestly she's still never sure if it's nepotism at play. Though she knows she's more than earned her position if this wasn't her mother's Warband… Elarriza Shadoweye often pairs with her on missions and they work fairly well together despite Elarriza being a sneaksy thief. Oddly, despite being Ash Legion, Klea doesn't care much for sneaking herself and thieves seem to do it naturally. It's…more so trust? But Elarriza has slowly earned Klea's trust over the years and the former is a little over five years younger than her. And Klea also recognizes that it's a good thing to have someone she knows she can trust as a second hand; it might end up being Elarriza one day. So she's doing her best to set her own prejudices aside for that matter.

[manybcdthings]

for FELIX 👪 / for NICK 👪

Felix Ranström. I'm talking about them all LOL

He has a complex relationship with all of his family members, but they all play a part in who he is. They're all influential dynamics, it's really exciting to write. Being closer in age meant he had a slight overlap of a childhood with Nina, so in some ways it's easy to say they're close to one another. But Nina worked out how to balance social enjoyment and career climbing, whereas Felix never did. He views it as wearing a mask whereas Nina views it as the easiest thing to do, so it's always interesting to me to see where they overlap and where they differ. He's not judged as harshly by Nina, either. Whereas Felix's relationship with Oskar seems really hostile on the surface. Their age difference meant Oskar was already an impressive person to compare himself to as Felix was growing up, so he sits firmly in the belief that Oskar is the favored child. However, I love the glimpses of brotherhood between them where you can see Oskar genuinely cares for Felix but doesn't quite know how to show it. Felix's admiration for Oskar can become jealousy quickly and oof it's just so exciting to write. Love it. And then there's Filippa, who was the OG black sheep in many ways. Felix is drawn to her for many reasons, firstly because he feels less alone but also because she's an interesting person. However, I love that she isn't a complete contradiction to their family and isn't this abundance of warmth and you can still see that she's wealthy and had a cold upbringing. I think it's a great contrast to write against because it's the closest thing Felix has to a warm family connection but still isn't quite as warm as actual loving families.

Nick Belcourt

I love all of them so I'm going to write about all of them but forgive me because HE'S NEW so I haven't been able to get as indepth with him yet. I think Nick definitely idolizes his mother and would be quite funny if the siblings labeled him as a mama's boy, but I think he really admires her and especially after their father's death. Nick and Sebastian's relationship is going to be really fun to explore because on the surface they're quite different but there's this unspoken bond between them that actually, it's pretty rare to see them not around one another. They even live together and me and Essie have a few HCs already that their brotherly dynamic is pretty seamless, especially being twins, we said there's moments even when they're disagreeing that they have identical mannerisms which will be funny to write. Nick and Bella, we've taken a few HCs over from Nick and Lily and I'm excited to explore them, he definitely annoys her purposely but beyond that they view the world quite similarly and have this very diplomatic approach to things. So there's definitely moments where Nick has turned to Bella for advice and he can't imagine going to anyone else for it either. For Nick and Prim, he's typical big brother with baby sister and is quite protective but he doesn't outwardly say this. He actually gets quite hurt if Prim thinks he's not cool enough to hang out with for something too.

[noisyballofvoidmuffin]

I finally started reading Good Omens (NO SPOILERS! I've already spoiled myself enough.) and this is so far (59 pages) one of the best things I've read. It's so clever and fun, and I must have left a dozen "hehe" notes on the sides of my book (in pencil. I only just started writing in books and I would die before I used any sort of ink that could seep into or smudge on the pages.).

What I can't stop thinking about though, is that one woman who named her sons, I think twins?, Crowley and Aziraphale. Because, alright, my opinions may be a tad skewed bc I started being interested bc Tumblr and tiktok have bombarded me with details about these two from the show (Tumblr also some book stuff) that gave me some preconceptions but,,,,

Lady, how did you not notice that this could be interpreted as like, romantic? They have the most 'married couple' vibes on multiple occasions.

Spoilers under the cut! I go on a gush.

They are hilarious.

"Well I'll be damned"/"It's not too bad when you get used to it"

The start of this book, ugh, and yes, I'm back to the book now, this is my book rant and I'll take it to whatever direction my brain wants to, the fucking, the song choice for the Bentley to play!! It's so clever!!

"It wasn't a dark and stormy night. / It should have been, but that's the weather for you. For every mad scientist who's had a convenient thunderstorm just on the night his Great Work is finished and lying on the slab, there have been dozens who've sat around aimlessly under the peaceful stars while Igor clocks overtime."

And later on fucking BOHEMIAN PHAPSODY PLAYS- excellent music choice btw- AND IT'S SO GOOD

They it should've been a stormy night and just the EXACT PASSAGE OF THE SONG TALKING OF THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTNING PLAYS OUT RIGHT AFTER STAN GETS OFF THE RADIO-

The pacing and detail work is just phenomenal in this book, PHENOMENAL

"For Americans and other aliens" (paraphrasing) had me chuckling out loud. Been identified an alien.

There's at least 3 doodles of snake Crowley I've drawn in the book so far.

Also the bit about this being the most repaired book? I would've died of that was any of my books, grieving, but I admire all of these people so much. The sheer DEDICATION!!

Really hoping I get this book signed at some point, even if I just about die of anxiety and embarrassment if I ever get the chance.

Also, it took me, honestly, way too long to recognize David Tennant played Crowley in the series/ the bits of the series I've been force-fed by tiktok and Tumblr. Not because I'm blind to faces (partially, maybe) but because it took a whole fucking slideshow with both Crowley and The Doctor from doctor who for me to realise it's the same DAMN ACTOR!! LIEK, I KNEW I NO GOOD AT RECOGNIZING ACTORS BETWEEN ROLES IF I HAVEN'T SEEN MULTIPLE THINGS THEY'VE BEEN ON AND REMEMBERED THEM AS THE CHARACTER THEY'VE PLAYED TO THEN MAYBE UPGRADE ONTO KNOWING THEIR NAMES LIKE CHRIS EVANS AND HUGH JACKMAN BUT COME ON! My brother was laughing at me for that. How do people just, recognize others without the set context they were in at the time?

Anyhow. Back to this BRILLIANT BOOK!!!

Crowley is like, so me coded.

Wasn't feeling Crawly, changed it to Crowley. Only man-shaped, not man.

I too, wasn't feeling my og name and changed it slightly while it's still based on the first one, and am only human-shaped.

There's too much going on in my brain and I forget my vessel is a human being at some points, purely because I don't see the vessel as who I am.

Anywho,

I have in fact just noted 'Transphobe' next to the bit where Crowley is handed the Antichrist and has to sign a damn thing like it's a post package and told "Not [Name you literally chose for yourself, A. J. Crowley], your real name." mostly for myself because I'm funny like that, and bc it's my book copy, not because I don't understand the significance of "true names" or whatever. Sigil names, now those are cool. I'd make me one if I didn't feel like it'd be more intricately connected to me and in turn more vulnerable.

This book. This book I swear-

I've had such a hard time reading printed books after so long reading only fanfics online and this? This is perfect. It reads like the most fun fanfic I've ever read.

Like that one dp x DC fic where Danny wanted a grimace shake and it was spilt on the road or sth even if he said it was mediocre.

The brilliance of Crowley's sinventions (hehe) are so good.

I have doodled 👀 over Hastur saying he tempted a priest. Because I somehow didn't expect it.

This is comedy to me. I adore it.

The footnotes too. The one about the added verses where God asks Aziraphale where his sword is 😭 and that literally everyone recognized his handwriting as the one who added them in 😭😭😭😭

This is gold, man. Exactly what I needed to get back into physical reading. My eyes could for sure use a break from my phone.

Also, the little tongue my book has as a built in bookmark? Bring that back. Bring books with that feature back. I love this thing so much. Even my school books had it when I was younger, WHERE IS IT NOW?? HAVING MY OWN BOOKMARK IS ALL FINE AND DANDY BUT THIS IS ELEGANT, AND PRETTY, AND PRACTICAL, COME ON!

End rant uwu <3 I must sleep

[fishylife]

when i was in middle school i was kind of obsessed with fushigi yuugi but i hadn't actually watched it lol. i was just super fascinated with the fantasy lore.

anyway, i'm finally getting around to watching this anime now. i've just finished episode 12 and here are some thoughts.

miaki is very similar to usagi. however, their paths are not the same. usagi's story line is more to do with using her own power to fight against evil, whereas miaka so far...hasn't really done much. unfortunately she requires a lot of rescuing and her story line is mostly to do with romance.

when i was young i thought tamahome was hot but now that i'm older, i'm more drawn to the interesting pairings rather than individual characters. tamahome is kind of whatever to me right now because he and miaka's relationship is very whatever. it's just them going hot and cold. there isn't really that interesting of an arc to them right. on the other hand, i am far more fascinated with hotohori/nuriko and nakago/yui.

nuriko said that on the inside she's a woman so i interpret her character to be trans. anyway, nuriko's thing at the beginning was that she didn't like that everyone paid attention to miaka and meanwhile, as a consort, she was constantly ignored. i can't tell if she actually likes hotohori or if she wants the power, but i think there's potential between the as emperor and consort :P i don't think it's going to go anywhere because hotohori has said that he's in love with miaka. but idk i feel like nuriko trying to get hotohori to notice her is possibly a cute story line.

hotohori as a love interest of miaka is kind of boring though. he doesn't really do anything other than fight over miaka. he's more interesting as an emperor who actually has to protect the country.

nakago and yui was the other pairing that has potential. it's potentially kind of toxic. it looks like nakago is trying to isolate yui so that she'll stay and be the priestess of seiryu (and won't run away to tamahome or to go back home). on the outside, he acts very loyal so yui thinks she's in charge, but nakago's in charge.

yui being in love with tamahome is kind of weak because she literally saw him for two seconds, so miaka was right to think that yui wouldn't be angry at her for only that. that being said, yui has maintained that she wants to take tamahome away from miaka. i think she just hasn't thought it through and is still resentful towards miaka.

taiitsukun is kind of a weird character. it's implied that she created everything, including bestowing the scrolls upon the characters with the powers? but it's clear that she's acting a mentor to the suzaku seven. i'm just wondering if she's supposed to be a more neutral character.

i will say this series is surprisingly watchable? like i haven't found it grating enough to drop yet. miaka's voice acting is kind of annoying tbh. but i think the melodrama isn't as grating because the rest of the story is moving. we are going places, the lore is expanding. the show is also pretty bingable. each episode covers like two events.

some of the animation threw me off and i had considered dropping the anime because of it. there has been some incredibly lazy animation. there have been many scenes where a static picture is shown and the camera just pans across it so that it's moving. but really it's just a picture. and i was considering dropping it because like, the manga artwork is nicer than this.

i'm kind of team yui right now, not because i think she has a point, but i think that the story and relationships surrounding her are a bit more interesting than the one surrounding miaka.

seeing as how i'm kind of team yui right now, i am hyped to meet the rest of the seiryu seven. i vaguely remember some of them. like were there a pair of twins? my middle school memory is coming back to me lol.

also miaka's brother is surprisingly involved in this? lol.

anyway hopefully i can speed through this anime pretty fast lol.

[kiss-my-freckle]

You often talk about how Damon is attracted to strong women and Elena is like an angel to him, but this quote from the books has me wondering if you think Elena is pure and if Damon's attracted to that as well? Aren't angels supposed to be pure?: But he wasn’t feeling quite himself. Stefan’s transformation had startled him—that must be what’s wrong, he decided. “Da…mon.” Damon started. Elena’s voice was slow and hesitant…and absolutely beautiful: molasses dripping sweetness, honey falling straight from the comb. It was lower in pitch, he was sure, than it had been before her transformation, and it had become a true Southern drawl. To a vampire it resembled the sweet drip-drip of a newly opened human vein. “Yes, angel. Have I called you ‘angel’ before? If not, it was purely an oversight.” And as he said this, he realized that that was another component to her voice, one he’d missed before: purity. The lancing purity of a seraph of seraphim. That should have put him off, but instead it just reminded him that Elena was someone to take seriously, never lightly. I’d take you seriously or lightly or any way you prefer, Damon thought, if you weren’t so stuck on my idiot younger brother. Twin violet suns turned on him: Elena’s eyes. She’d heard him. For the first time in his life, Damon was surrounded by people more powerful than he was. And to a vampire, Power was everything: material goods, community position, trophy mate, comfort, sex, cash, candy. It was an odd feeling. Not entirely unpleasant in regards to Elena. He liked strong women. He’d been looking for one strong enough for centuries.

Have a soundtrack while I rant a bit.

Tal Bachman - She's So High

Yeah, strong women don't necessarily have to be one way or the other. I wouldn't consider Elena completely pure, but pure enough. I feel he's drawn to her humanity, her compassion. That's what blows him away when they have their kitchen scene in 1x3. She apologizes to him for his loss of Katherine and actually means it.

It isn't verbal, it's visual. The angel on a stairway to heaven. And it's always for Damon. Like in 2x8, focus is on Damon and Elena.

And in 3x11, they only show Damon on the stairwell.

They always put Elena above Damon.

Always.

It's supposed to resemble where he is with Katherine. Elena ends up the same way because she falls for Damon.

You see this pov with the tomb in 1x11, the Lockwood tunnel in 3x15, and the prison world in season 6. It's like a heaven and hell thing because they're yin and yang.

That's when you know Elena is Damon's girl. Note Anna's necklace. It symbolizes a heart of darkness. I'm sure there are more scenes, I just haven't gathered them. 8x9 is a huge ordeal because it's Damon's signature moment. Ripper Stefan and Sybil try to take it from him.

I really need to read the books. Every time I see them quoted, it makes me want to. There's a girl on Twitter that quotes them often.

[sav1ored]

"Why did you kiss me?"

memes that gotta go || @w1dowed

" Whhhhhy did you kiss me back ? " HE RESPONDED IN A SING-SONG TONE, tilting his head side to side with a cheesy smile approaching his twin flesh, so wide he's showing off his pearly whites. He leans back against the building of her family's house, arms crossed over his chest, shoulders relaxed as they are hidden away from the rest. The older man shrugs before she can answer him, looking down at his feet, and digging his toe-covered boots into the dirt. " I don't know... jus' felt right. Maybe been wantin' to do that for a while now. Thought now that we're alone I could make a move on yeh' and kiss those... " Negan let a short sharp breath past his lips. " .. lovely lips of yours. "

IT'S TRUE- can't say it hit him right away though, not with Tilly injured and his thoughts going through the worst-case scenario of LOSING HIS DAUGHTER. But finding this FARM came to be SUCH A BLESSING TO HIM. Negan had never been comfortable with begging, but he had to do it to ensure his daughter received the medical attention she needed. Fortunately, the KIND-HEARTED people on the farm took them both in without hesitation. Hershel, an older man who Negan later found out was a veterinarian, skillfully treated Tilly's wounds. Negan was filled with gratitude and offered the older man his leather jacket as a token of appreciation. ( he didn't really have anything else valuable on him. ) To Negan's surprise, Hershel declined the offer with a chuckle. This was unexpected, as the old man had not been very enthusiastic about the idea of strangers on his farm. Despite this, Hershel's generosity and kindness towards Negan and his daughter were a source of comfort and hope for them both.

While Tilly rested Negan took the opportunity to explore the beautiful surroundings. The land before him was breathtaking, and he couldn't help but ADMIRE IT'S SHEER BEAUTY. However, his gaze was soon drawn to Maggie, who stood out like a BEACON OF LIGHT AMIDST the stunning landscape. Her presence almost made him lose his balance as he wandered around, LOST IN THOUGHT. Over time, the two of them began to spend more time together, conversing for what seemed like hours on end. Occasionally, they were brought back to reality by Beth, Maggie's younger sister, or Tilly, once she had regained enough strength to sit up and eat. Negan felt a sense of relief when he asked if they could stay at the farm until his daughter had fully recovered. It seemed like weeks had passed since then, but he had lost track of time and found himself enjoying the farm life. One of Negan's favorite pastimes was watching Maggie interact with the horses. The love and affection they had for her was truly remarkable, and she had a special way of communicating with them that left him in awe. The huge-ass, powerful-ass horses seemed to melt in her presence, cuddling up to her like GENTLE BIG BABIES. In short, Negan had found a newfound appreciation for farm life, and the beauty of his surroundings paled in comparison to the incredible bond that Maggie had with the animals around her.

The woman standing before Negan had an indescribable effect on him. Her presence rendered him speechless and left him feeling as if he was losing his mind. As they spent more time together, he found himself becoming increasingly fond of her. Whenever they spoke, the world around them FADED AWAY, and he felt a sense of calm he had never experienced before. He was so caught up in her that he forgot about the dangers lurking outside the safety of the farm. Suddenly, he pushed himself off the wall and took a large step toward her, his hands reaching out to gently rest on her shoulders. His award-winning grin remained on his face as he spoke. He couldn't help but ask, " Don't tell me you haven't thought about kissin' me ? " He hoped that he wasn't misreading the situation and that there was, in fact, something between them. He knew she wasn't just any farm girl; there was something special about her that he couldn't quite put his finger on. From the way they spoke to each other, he could tell she was flirting with him. He didn't want to cause any trouble, especially with her father, who had helped his little girl. " Unless I'm mistaken and you weren't feelin' the vibe between us, lemme know and I'll step back. I ain't tryin' to cause trouble 'round here. "

[pikatrainer99]

Anyone here into Vocaloid...BESIDES the Project Voltage stuff...?

I got into Vocaloid years ago and even made myself some Vocaloid personas (because I also sing, it's one of my greatest passions)! They're a lot like my favorite Vocaloids Kagamine Rin and Len...not twins, not lovers, but mirror images (they're also 14 years old just like the Kagamines...I made them when I was around that age IRL so...yeah 😅). Their color pallets are also (usually) mirrored...there aren't many examples of that in this post but I have plenty more where they ARE mirrored. I haven't drawn them in FOREVER but I HAVE made little concept models of them in Gacha Club over the years, all with different outfits (or "modules" as the different outfits are called in the Hatsune Miku Project DIVA games). These are definitely NOT all the modules I've made over the years, these are just the ones I made on Gacha Club on my PHONE in particular...I also have the app on my iPod and have made more there. Anyway, enough talking, here they are!

These are their default modules

These are their Append modules

Of course I made Pokémon Trainer modules for them 😅

These are just called "Dark"...they're being edgy teens here basically 😅

These are called "Sakura" and are inspired by Hatsune Miku's Sakura module

These are Kitsune modules I made for them...they're supposed to have nine tails but Gacha Club only has a maximum of seven tails...so just pretend there's nine there, okay? 😅 Also, they're playing tag in the picture, and they're having lots of fun, it's really cute.

This is basically Append but add angel wings and a crown...they're called "Sky King" and "Sky Queen". I don't know what was going through my head when I made these a few years ago...I guess I just wanted them to fly. 😅 And they're having fun flying, that's for sure. Look at them! They're adorable!

And finally, I made this one today, without even thinking of Sky Queen and Sky King...but this one is definitely more detailed and I honestly like it better, especially with their trademark mirrored color pallets. This one is called "King of Song" and "Queen of Song", and the wings sprouted from their backs when they were singing one day. Also, the more they sing the more powerful their wings get, taking them higher and higher into the sky and letting them fly faster and farther, putting on beautiful aerial concerts as they go.

I hope you all enjoyed seeing my Vocaloid personas for the first time! I am not sharing their names because their names are basically corruptions of my real name and I don't want my real name out on the internet at all...you guys shall know me as Pika and nothing else! Please feel free to ask me questions about them if you're curious about anything (just not their names, you're not getting the answer to that). And also, if you like Vocaloid music...what's your favorite Vocaloid song? For me it's definitely "Remote Controller", that song is so fun and I love its energy! I also really like "Suki Kirai" (even more so now since I found a Pikachu UTAU cover of it on YouTube and it's the cutest thing ever), "Amatsu Kitsune" and "Fire Flower" though (I know, it's all old stuff and it's all Kagamine songs, but I love them so much)! Some Miku songs (other than the Project Voltage stuff) that I like are definitely "Catch the Wave" and "ODDS&ENDS", as well as "Nekomimi Switch" (that one is just cute and it was the first song I ever got a Perfect on in Project DIVA...so I'm a bit biased because of that 😅).

[littlcfreaks-archive]

lips pushed out, head tilting in fake thought, "i could think of a few things that could bump you up there." they were just trying to hide that it was entirely his natural charm that had drawn nesta to him, that kept them coming back for more - even when it was so clear that they shouldn't. it was odd enough that they had joked about meeting his family - even more odd that nesta was actually nervous about it - the way he talked about his siblings made her nervous to impress them; knowing that she wasn't exactly... a catch. even when you removed the boyfriend from the equation - nesta was aggressive, defensive, paranoid, and standoffish on the best of days. just because cruz got to see one side of them, didn't mean it was the side that was seen by everyone. maybe it was because of how nesta had met cruz, in such a way that they were in a position of needing his help, his... kindness. "okay, before i ever meet them, you're gonna have to tell me about each of them then. i don't... do well with most people." it didn't matter that they shouldn't be doing this, nesta knows the moment that he says he had never tried not getting into trouble that this wouldn't be the last of their secret meetings; something she had been thinking about before already, "of course you haven't." her tone was laced with amused irritation; they wanted to say they disagreed, but somehow despite nesta's hesitance in all aspects of their life, they were constantly making the most reckless decision that they had available - racing cars, ending up with their boyfriend, the list could have gone on and on, "depends on the trouble though, i think." and in their head it was followed up with you're the good kind of trouble, but they couldn't force themselves to say it out loud. their cheeks flush at his insistence that they didn't need to lie and their gaze shifts to where her hands have dropped between them, "i wouldn't, you know? not really." maybe nesta did feel some lingering guilt - they knew her boyfriend didn't deserve it after the way he had treated them through their whole relationship. mostly nesta felt guilty because this was so out of character for them. nesta had always struggled with commitment, but when someone deserved it - she gave them all of her loyalty.

the shift to playful banter is welcome - and eagerly nesta grabs hold of it, turning back to face him with a wide smile, "hmmm, pretty sure it makes you go insane? bet that didn't help with the fear." they listened intently as as he talked about the twins - committing the small details to memory (like charlie, nesta thought they might get along with her), how they were worried about if cree would like them or not, if nesta would be able to be nice-ish when she inevitably met them (a thought that she physically had to shake her head to get rid of). it was the perfect time, too, as he asked about nick and her smile grew into a fond one, "no - not peaceful at all. he made it his personal mission to make sure no one would ever be able to mess with me.... by messing with me more than anyone could have, but i kinda... have most of my personality because of him. cars and all that. they used to scare me, so he got me to work on them, then to drive." her hands were still fidgeting with his when he asked if he could ask a question; her head tilting up completely to look at him, nodding, "of course you can." her heart started to race as he reached out, pushing his hand into their hair - their eyes widened a bit, "i..." they trailed off and couldn't hold his gaze, "i'm not sure how to get out now and - i'm not actually sure that i deserve better all the time." it would have been so easy to lie, but nesta had never been able to lie to most people, they had never developed the skill, but especially with cruz - they didn't even want to.

" what ?! you mean my natural charm isn't enough ? shit -- that's all i've got. " he liked the playfulness between them, the way it seemed so easy in their company. couldn't help but to laugh at the reaction received upon hearing how many siblings he had. growing up it had been both good and bad, but there was no part of him that would ever have it another way. without them he would surely have crumbled a long time ago. " nah, you don't have to worry. they're all pretty chill . . . in their own ways, i guess. plus, i'm kinda in the know, so i can give you tips. let you in on all the ways to get them on side. " truthfully, he can't imagine what they wouldn't like. what anyone could dislike. from the moment he had met them, he'd found them to be rather incredible. was sure anyone else who met them would agree. except maybe their boyfriend, but he was an asshole who didn't seem to appreciate what he had. but cruz did. his smile only grew, a shake of his head. trouble seemed to be part of his dna. a lomax genetic. most of the time it came with a bad result, but not always. right now with nesta didn't seem like the bad kind of trouble at all, even if it was destined to end badly for them when their secret meetings were no longer secret. " no. should i ? sometimes trouble can be good, right ? " the moment she pushed his head away he was filled with the urge to reach out, grab their hand and pull them close. kiss them. but he didn't, not in that moment. though the thought stayed in his mind. " don't lie to me. you don't need to lie to me. not even about gremlins. " he noticed the way their gaze diverted, something about it making him crave them more. fuck, they were so pretty. so funny, and cool. " oh, so you're laughing at my trauma now ? do you know what sleep depravation does to a person ? " he followed suit, chuckle of his own. " yeah, they're were little monsters. still kind of are. they stood at the edge of my bed a few times. popped up behind me when I wasn’t expecting it. they made up their own language too, so i was so set on the idea they were plotting my demise. my sister charlie is 100% capable of murder. cree, my brother ? he's only capable of murdering a good joke. " cruz gave a soft smile, thinking of his own older brother. hoped nesta had one as good as camden was to him. " one ? jeez, what was that like ? peaceful ? " he'd never known that. his home was constant noise. " yeah, we're all really close. i got lucky in that department. are you close with your brother ? " it didn't take long for his gaze to drop to their hands, the way they toyed with his so gently. " can i ask you something ? " it was quiet, his free hand now reaching out, fingers in their hair as he let it rest against the side of their neck. he inched a little closer. " why are you with him ? he’s a piece of shit and i just think you could do so much better than him. ” better than me.

[bored-storyteller]

44- Twisted Wonderland, Riddle, Leona, Idia and Azul x Reader

- When Riddle looks at you he probably doesn't even realize it. Whatever he is doing, if you are around him his gaze is automatically drawn to you. It is a natural gesture that is not even programmed, simply out of nowhere he realizes at some point that he has only you in sight.

-Obviously Riddle is an extremely serious and competent person, he will not be distracted by your presence from what he is doing, whether it is giving directions or scolding the most unruly students. Only his eye will fall on you several times, to control you.

- But when by chance you catch his eye though, oh, poor Riddle. There is no wall or shelf that can hide the shyness and embarrassment that suddenly takes him. Why can't he look away from you?

-You smile at him, of course. Of course you smile at him. How can you be so merciless with his poor heart? The blush and embarrassment become the masters of him, and he cannot calm his heartbeat which accelerates so fast that he is convinced that you can hear it, despite your distance from him.

-It is obvious that everyone will notice the drastic change and sudden nervousness that the young leader of Heartslabyul takes.

-"Are you ok?" your voice wanders between worried and amused as you approach him, and his gloved hand instinctively moves towards his lips, in an attempt to shield at least a little from the eyes of others: "I'm fine! Really fine!"

-You don't insist, you can't be so cruel - certainly Cater will do his duty if he's around -, but you can enjoy that tender admiration you enjoy for a while. "See you later!" you tell him quietly, and he just nods, unable to speak anymore.

-Despite everything, despite the embarrassment, his eyes will follow you as you move away until you are no longer reachable from his sight. And believe us, he can't wait to see you again.

-It's not so strange that Leona's eyes fall on you, he dominates what he looks at. It is not strange to anyone that his eyes flow towards you and linger. It is never too much nor too little, he is the leader who keeps an eye on his herd.

-You are a herbivore, it is obvious that he keeps an eye on you - because he has to, not because he obviously wants -, but his gaze is always steady, almost hard, bored. That's why no one ever pays attention to it, even if having Leona's gaze on you so often must mean something.

-However, sometimes he really gets lost looking at you. There is no particular reason, you are simply there and nothing is more interesting than you. He doesn't realize it, and nobody realizes it, at least until you're the one who inadvertently looks up at him.

-And then there is a stalemate, you both look at each other in silence. Then slowly he begins to realize, you know from his feline ears that flatten slowly against his head, from his emerald eyes that widen slightly and from his tail that twitches nervously behind him.

- "What are you looking at, little herbivore?" Obviously he tries to turn the alleged blame back on you, yet that embarrassed childlike attitude of him makes you smile. "Nothing, and what do you need?" You answer him without fear.

- "Oi ... if I don't keep an eye on you, you'll end up being eaten by someone here." His tone is lower, his eyes are now narrowed, but his ears and his tail still show his agitation. You laugh, and he, now completely exposed, growls at you, then turning his back on you.

-He walks away, but his leonine tail hits your arm, tickling it slightly. It's his way of playing and you know it. Leona's attentions are not so rare if you know how to perceive them, and if you are willing to really know him, it is fun to have something to do with him.

-Idia is even afraid to look at you! Not that he is really afraid of you, but every time his gaze slips in your direction he feels in danger, sensing the risk of being discovered.

- Whenever you are around him he will try in every way not to look at you. He even pretends not to see you at times, he parades in front of you without a word, with his head bowed. He obviously hurts you, given the intimacy you think you have with him, but he doesn't know it, he would never want to hurt you, you know.

-However, when he feels safe enough from the looks of others, or simply when he is so focused on your voice enough to lower his defenses, he finds himself looking at you as if only you exist on earth, as if everything else was a background without importance.

-When he realizes that he is blocked, it is natural for him to fall into total embarrassment, it doesn't matter if you haven't seen him, his heart is too violent to be controlled.

-So imagine when suddenly your eyes dip into him when he still hasn't realized he's locked in on you. Oh, poor Idia, he thinks he can die right now. His hands hide her strawberry-red face, and in a vague attempt to get out of sight he pulls the collar of his sweatshirt over his nose.

-"I'm sorry!" He will exclaim over and over again, in total panic. You don't know what he's apologizing for, but deep down it's Idia, so don't think about it too long.

-"Everything is alright!" You exclaim, reaching out to lightly caress his head. You can't help it, he's too tender.

-His golden eyes peek shyly, as if he were asking your forgiveness for a crime. "It's just that you're too cute ..." he whispers to you, sure no one else can hear him but you, and you can feel his blush spread to you too.

- Azul's gaze is fleeting. He never persists too much, it is difficult to notice and can easily be mistaken for a casual look that falls on you while his eyes retrace the surrounding environment.

- If someone looks at him long enough, however, the frequency with which that casual look of his falls on you could be quite suspicious, to Floyd for example it is suspicious.

- All he does when your gaze is also on him is to look away with the naturalness with which he placed it, moving it towards his interlocutor or on the book under his nose. You do the same, of course. There is no way you can look at it with the express purpose of admiring it, right?

- It's all right, as long as your catching him red-handed is sudden and insistent. It happens in that particular moment when his pupils find themselves penetrating yours. It is the moment of half a second that makes the difference, that look of yours fallen into his eyes too perfectly that imprisons him, and there he is trapped.

- He looks at you for endless seconds, his eyes slightly wider just like a culprit. How can it escape you now?

-He clears his throat and puts his glasses on his nose, while his eyes wander lightning fast on the too explicit smiles of the twins. Obviously you noticed, that's why you're not taking your eyes off him, right?

- "Forgive me, it's indiscreet of me." He still mumbles, covering his lips with his fingers. Is it a blush you see on the tips of his ears? Now that you're close to him, he can't help but apologize, yet you can't know how agitated his mind is as he looks at your smile.

- "It's okay, I was looking at you too, it's normal, right?" Your sincere answer leaves him thrilled, he almost forgets to breathe. Azul is not one who speaks out of turn, but as you join him to reach the lesson he cannot say a word, too focused to tame his eyes which inevitably continue to rest on you.