#and then beans brother also had to get in between them and he was facing their mom which says a lot

[crushedoranges]

Bean got in the most absolutely wild fight with their mom last night and I'm not sure how much longer I have a house for. Highlight of it tho: when she was freaking out at us her only insult to me was that I'm "too depressed, I need to get my mental shit together" and that "she never sees me around the house" lmfao what

[dotster001]

For Tuna; Snack Break

Summary: A series of vignettes taking place while Grim is making his final choice. The time will soon arrive....

Part One Part Two Choose your ending....

"I have detention everyday for three weeks," Grim pouted as you gave him his tuna pancake breakfast.

"What did you do this time?"

"I-" he cut himself off, his eyes nervously flicking to yours, then back to his plate.

"Crowley's an ass that's why. No other reasons, don't dig into it henchhuman."

"Am I going to get a bill for it?"

"No."

"Then I don't have the energy to care," you said with a sigh, thinking of all the maintenance you had to do on Ramshackle today.

Grim looked at the time, shoved what was left of his pancake into his mouth, then scampered out the door, passing Ruggie on his way out.

"Hey Y/N, I found  a tool kit, ready to do some fixing?"

You nodded, ready to renovate Ramshackle with your favorite hyena for a couple hours.

….

Grim stepped into the mirror chamber, and made sure to use his toe beans as much as possible. He silently made his way to the headmage's mirror. He had almost made it when he was scooped up, and squeezed firmly in a pair of strong arms.

"Thought you could hide from me forever, didn't you sealio?" Floyd said in a growl.

He brought Grim up to face level, a nasty scowl on his face.

"Let's see if this jogs your memory. I gave you a month's worth of free lobsters. In exchange, you promised I would make it through to the second wave of interviews. Starting to sound familiar?"

Grim quickly nodded.

"Cool, then why did I have to find out from Jade I wasn't chosen to participate, and Azul was?"

Grim whimpered.

"I warned you, right? People who cross my family have a tendency to disappear. It won't be today, it won't be tomorrow, but watch your back, cause one day I'll have Y/N, and you'll-"

"Mister Leech. Unless you want to join Grim in detention, please let him go," Crowley said, crossing his arms in a pout.

"Sounds boring," Floyd pouted, dropping Grim like a hot iron. Unfortunately for Riddle, he happened to choose that moment to step through the Heartslaybul portal.

"Oh! Goldfishie! Let's play tag!"

And now Floyd was running after Riddle, who was practically begging the headmage to save him.

But the headmage conveniently couldn't hear as he escorted Grim to detention.

….

"Idia-"

"Shit! How did you get in here?" Idia screamed at Silver who was patiently sitting on his bed waiting for him.

"I let him in!" Ortho said excitedly. "It is better for your mental health to have friends!"

Idia fought back a glare, before pulling out his iPad, and hastily typing.

"Why are you here?"

"My father said you could answer a question I had. What is "babygirl"?"

Idia stared at Silver for a moment as the tips of his hair slightly flickered pink.

"Damn. I have to choose between the otaku urge to participate in an irl otome cut scene, and my love of Y/N, the greatest character to ever spawn in my save file."

He chewed his lip, and Silver continued sitting patiently.

"Fuck it, this is too epic to pass up. Babygirl means Y/N thinks you're just a little guy."

"I still don't understand."

Idia groaned.

"Um, okay, so Y/N thinks you're a total cutie and would be happy to have you on their arm as a trophy husband."

Silver's cheeks turned a light pink.

"Oh…"

"Like, they prob. think you're submissive and-"

"Babygirl is like a princess! You're Y/N's princess!" Ortho cut in excitedly.

"I'm Y/N's princess…" Silver whispered, a slight smile on his face.

"Not exactly! It means Y/N wouldn't mind if you were their princess. Nothing is set in stone. I have a lot of bbg's, but I wouldn't necessarily settle down with any of them."

"I like the idea of being Y/N's princess…"

"Damn it, why am I rooting for this? It's too cute!" Idia groaned. 

"Hee hee, big brother also wants to be Y/N's princess…"

Idia's hair turned a bright red and he went catatonic.

….

"So that's why you booked out the kitchen this morning."

Ace stiffened, and turned from the Ramshackle door to "greet" Trey. He was startled to see Trey holding a tart.

"I had the kitchen all morning! When did you make that?" Ace asked in horror and despair.

Trey shrugged. "I always have a spare tart lying around, in case we have company. What's under the tin?" He nodded towards the dessert tin Ace was holding.

"My masterpiece," Ace grinned. The grin quickly fell. "Wait! Why are you here? You stole my idea!"

"The idea to bring food to a hungry prefect at lunchtime? While it's such an original idea for you to have, I didn't steal it from you," Trey sighed in irritation, attempting to step around Ace to the door. Ace blocked him.

"No. I was here first. I get to give Y/N treats."

"Ace, I beg you to reconsider."

"No!" Ace got in a defensive position that he used when playing basketball, then swatted the tart out of Trey's hands.

"What the hell!"

"There. I'm the only one with treats. As the Seven intended." Ace turned the door knob, but Trey started shoving him, and reaching for the door knob himself.

"I tried to be nice, but you've completely blown it."

"It's not nice to steal someone's idea!"

"It is literally 12:30. Everyone is eating right now. It's not an original idea!"

In the midst of the shoving back and forth, the door opened, revealing a very amused Ruggie.

"Shihihi, you both just saved me a trip."

He snatched the dessert tray and shut the door behind him. Both men froze in shock, and heard Ruggie yell,

"Y/N! I got us a treat!"

Ace elbowed Trey.

"Nice going, dumbass."

Trey raised an eyebrow and stared at Ace, who only at that moment remembered who he was talking to.

"I mean, that sucked, didn't it, Mister Vice Housewarden, sir?" He laughed nervously.

"Don't worry too much about it. I doodle suited it when he took it from you. Whatever it was will taste like sardines."

Trey walked away calmly as Ace stared in mixed awe and horror.

….

You and Kalim were walking to class together, when you noticed some scribbles on his hand.

"What's that?" You asked.

"Oh! It's a new thing I'm trying. You know how I'm trying to be more independent from Jamil, but I have a terrible memory? I'm just writing everything on my hand and arm!"

"Can you even read that? It looks all smudged!"

"Sure I can!" Kalim pulled up his sleeve, pointing to each word as he read aloud.

"Party, present, Grim, books, botany, secret, and snack."

"How is that helpful? What does any of that even mean?"

"Well party is, I'm throwing a party soon. Or I want to. Present and Grim, is because I want to give Grim a present at the party, because I heard he really likes presents. Books is so that I don't forget my textbooks, botany is because I have botany in an hour, and snack is because I'm hungry and might forget to eat!"

"Wow, okay, I guess that does help. But what is "secret" supposed to mean?"

"Oh! Right! Thanks for reminding me!" Kalim smiled happily. "There's something Jamil and I know that I'm not supposed to tell you."

"Oh?" Your curiosity definitely peaked. "And what aren't you supposed to tell me?"

"Let me double check," Kalim looked at his arm smudges, before gasping and laughing. "Nice try, it's a secret!" He said, pointing to secret on his arm.

You gave your best attempt at a flirty pout. "Couldn't you just tell me? I won't tell Jamil you told me. It can be our secret."

Kalim tilted his head thoughtfully, before nodding.

"Okay! So Grim has been-"

In moments, Jamil had body slammed Kalim to the ground.

"Kalim! I'm so sorry, I thought I saw an attacker."

"It's okay! It was an honest mistake,"Kalim smiled despite groaning in pain.

"We should go back to your room, just in case," Jamil said firmly, yanking Kalim to his feet, and away from you.

Jamil then turned to Kalim. "How many times do I have to explain this? You're lucky Grim is still even considering you, since you failed to show up to the interview. But you'll completely blow it if you tell Y/N! You'll never get another chance at Grim choosing you!"

"Right, I'm so sorry, I forgot," Kalim facepalmed. "Thanks for stopping me back there, Jamil."

"Anytime," Jamil smiled sweetly, "After all, I just want what's best for you."

….

Deep in the recesses of the Octavinelle Dorm, two random Octavinelle students are expressing their distaste…

"It's not fair! I'm Prince Rielle's first cousin! And Y/N's lab partner in Alchemy! We've actually gone on a date! Where does that cat monster get off not even considering me?"

"You think you got it bad?" The other student was tying his bow tie in the mirror, his anger evident on his face. "Y/N and I are in the newspaper club together. And I was about to ask them to be my significant other, when Grim showed up out of nowhere and told Y/N he "desperately needed their help with something." It's pathetic! The whole reason he chose us to sit in for those two other bachelors is because he knew how upset we were!"

"Absolutely disgusting. You know what?" The first student stood up. "The rat is in detention more often than not. He can't stop me from asking Y/N out!" 

"Me too!" The other student stood up as well, before giving a flirty smirk to his roommate. "This is going to be our best anniversary yet."

"Agreed," they grabbed each other's hands and opened the door, both startled to see Jade standing there with an eerie smile.

"Excellent timing. You both need to work an emergency shift in the lounge."

"Damn it"

"Fuck."

….

"Monsieur Fuzzball! I have arrived with a new batch of conditioner specially formulated for your luxurious fur!"

"Much obliged," Grim smirked as he took the goodie bag from Rook.

"And I have Roi du posion and my financial statements, as requested," he handed Grim a manila envelope.

"Thanks, I'll let you know once I've looked over everybody's."

Grim moved to leave, but Rook picked him up by the scruff of his neck.

"I would like to make something clear though. I am le chasseur d'amour.  I will hunt after the love of my life, whether I have your blessing or not," his eyes glittered with unbridled glee. "And should anyone stand in my way, I care not who they are. I shall act in a way that I see as fitting."

Grim's fur prickled. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Rook laughed lightly. "Who's to say?"

He pressed a kiss to the top of Grim's head, then set him down.

"Sleep well, Monsieur Fuzzball!"

And with a flourish he left Grim alone.

….

Jack, Epel, and Deuce were on a run together. As they rounded a bend, they came up on Leona taking a nap.

"Housewarden," Jack greeted.

Leona opened a single eye, and groaned.

"You three look remarkably calm for people whose best friend is set to be betrothed soon."

All three of them stiffened.

Jack rubbed his hand on the back of his neck and looked off into the distance.

"Y/N doesn't care about money. Whoever Grim picks, I have no doubt that Y/N will turn down the relationship, unless they truly see a future with them, in which case, what will be will be."

Deuce bit his lip. "I'm not in the place for a relationship anyway…I want to get my degree and start my career before I try to support someone else."

"It's just dumb as hell, and Y/N's not gonna put up with it. And when it all comes to light, they'll turn to the only people who don't see them as an object to be purchased. An' I'll be there to scoop them into my arms and pick up the pieces," Epel said with a smirk.

Deuce and Jack stared at him.

"Oh please. You both were thinkin' it. I'm just the only one brave enough to say it!"

Leona smirked. "Well I hope that works out for you boys. Just know you won't even get the chance if I'm the one chosen. I know how to treat Y/N right."

He lounged back with a triumphant smile, and quickly fell back asleep, leaving the boys with torn expressions.

….

"Your majesty! It is always an honor for the queen of Pomefiore to pay us a visit. How many I be of service?" Azul asked Vil, who was gracefully seated in the chair across from his desk in the VIP room.

"I have already drawn up the contract, it just requires your signature," Vil hummed, pulling out a scroll that already had his signature on it.

"Simply put, I am asking you to step down from the running for Y/N's future husband, and to clear the way for my victory. You will notice," Vil pointed to a blank space in the contract, "the payment spot is blank. Upon completion of the contract you are able to fill in whatever you want."

"Whatever I want?"

"Money, product, fame, anything you can think of is yours."

Azul thoughtfully tapped his chin.

"I could have Vil Schoenheit as an unpaid spokesperson for my future restaurant chain for an undisclosed amount of time. The capital that would bring in would be unmatched."

Azul picked up the contract, and Vil smirked. Until Azul tore it into pieces.

"The name of the game is confidence, and insecurity is not a good look on you, my queen."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Vil snapped.

"You think I haven't noticed the fact that your hair is half a shade darker since that monster told you you might grow old?"

"You've misseen it, I assure you. My hair has always been this shade of blond," Vil hissed.

"It's very possible I have misseen," Azul pushed his glasses up his nose triumphantly, "but it would be impossible to "missee" the fact that we have had to up production on your facial moisturizer, because you are using it in higher quantities."

"I am not, I'm just stocking up!" Vil slammed the table as he stood.

"Let's face it, Schoenheit, I know what it looks like when someone has lost. One of us here has crumbled under the pressure, and I'll give you a hint. It's not me."

Vil glared at Azul heatedly, before turning on his heels and leaving the VIP room, slamming the door on his way out.

….

You had been reading a book on the couch, while Grim sorted through some papers. You were hoping, in your heart of hearts, that he was studying or doing his homework. Deep down, you knew that wasn't the case.

After some final rustling of papers, Grim said, "Alright, I've made my choice."

"For what?"

"Nothing, mwahahahahaha!" 

"Then why are you-"

"No reason!" He shouted. Then below his breath you heard, "mwahahaha…"

You sighed heavily.

"Am I going to get a bill for it?"

"No."

"Then I don't care."

Below his breath, he released another, "mwahahaha…"

....

Tag list-@shytastemakerthing @stygianoir @leonia0 @lleoll @eccedentesiast-sapphic @supertmntgirl @cxsmicdustdreams @aethermostbeloved @krystalkiller25 @asmallbean3 @theneurodivergentdummy @candlewitch-cryptic @smilingfox22-blog @phantomgaming1920 @the-dumber-scaramouche @a-small-tyrant @noidonothavetimeforthis @bontensbabygirl

[darlingofvalyria]

❝I have these two great friends called Birth and Control.❞

part 06 | it's called a love bug, lovebug

chapter summary:

[ Sunday dinners are actually made for confessions. As Alicent braves it with a wine and a blush, you brave it too. With a boy and a view. ]

[ 2,963 ] [ series masterlist ] |best friend's brother!aemond targaryen x f!reader, ft. cregan stark x f!reader & aemond targaryen x alys rivers,

contains— angst - hurt/minimal comfort(?) - no kings, no martyrs, no betas.

a/n— alexa play it's all coming back to me now by celine dion. it might read a little stilted, i struggled a bit with this chapter as i wrote it in different times. ps. i didn't translate aemond's valyrian with intention. hope it still works? comment, reblog & like at will, mwa ♡

You had never heard of a more reverbrating sound than Helaena's smack to a poor, traumatised Daeron. "You toe licking, armpit looking, ugly garbage can!" Healeana shrieked, promptly dragging her youngest brother further away as you and Aemond scurried deeper into the safety of the darkness and shame, folded defensively onto one another, laughing your asses off.

"Oh my god," you exhale. "I am never going leaving this maze. I am going to live here, eating brambles and shit, and die here. Leave me now and prevail, Aemond. I will be fine. I'll haunt you in two to three business days."

Aemond chuckles from below you, unseen from your gaze, the mesmerised adoration he held as he can still feel his lips tingling from your desperation, still feel the curves of your body, the soft skin— he clears his throat, holding you steady by your hips before moving around until he's hovering over you as you adjusted your dress, eyes fluttering his with pressed lips trying not to laugh.

"I have a feeling dinner is ready."

"I also have a feeling your mother and grandfather knew exactly what we were doing minutes before and I fear I'd rather die here than face that."

He laughs, offering his hand and you take it regardless. "Then my mother would be glad. She didn't exactly feel the new bliss of couples between us."

You scoff. "Only because you treated me like you were cosplaying a Frost Giant." At his raised eyebrow and choked, surprised laugh, you blush. "Oh, get off with it. Your sister really likes the idea of Jotun!Loki and I am not one to kinkshame."

He strangles a laugh, peeling stray twigs from your hair. "I wouldn't dare assume. Let's go eat."

You tighten your hold on his hand, worry crescent on your forehead that Aemond straightens. "And talk?" As good as that felt, as perfect as puzzles sliding in together, you were past the age where burrowing it deep with the good parts and ignoring the pressing talks that need to be addressed.

And Aemond deserved better than that at least.

"Okay." He nods, swallowing. "Later, please."

"Okay." You try and reassure him with a smile and that seems to appease him, if a little.

Once Aegon had made five jokes concerning Daeron's loud rant— he was promptly shut up by his sister smacking him in the back of the head as soon as their mother was fretting in the kitchen and their grandfather's phone pinging for his attention, spoon on his mouth that might have been a medical nightmare — dinner went smoothly.

Daeron had successfully refused to look at your general direction, or his brother, or both since you sat together, churlish in giggles, in chatter and light arguments. Aemond kept taking the nicely marinated baby potatoes on his plate to yours once you finished up your own, and exchanged it with shuffling green beans to his plate because he loves them— it's nice.

It's more than nice. It's everything you could hope for when you think about dinner with your boyfriend's family. It's a softened thought that brews to yearning. You want this. You want be sat next to Aemond like this again, making jokes, piling food onto each other's plate, ribbing with his brother until he blushed then standing up against him when it got too far— seeing the smile he sends your way, endearing, loving, and for a moment, for this one realised moment built on lies and chuckle-fuckery ease, you let yourself indulge.

You joke about spoon feeding him dessert and blush as he envelops his soft lips over the spoon, Daeron and Aegon mimicking gags while Alicent is blushing, unable to stop a girlish giggle, a sound so surprised to her own person that she hiccups.

You are with him and you give yourself strength to break his heart.

Dinner finishes off with a lazy flick, Alicent and his father descending into business talks that usually included Aemond and though you tell him you can go hang out with Helaena— Daeron and Aegon deciding on playing The Last of Us in the game room because Aegon said he needed a good cry but also to shoot things — Aemond who had taken your hand sometime ago and has been brushing his thumb over your knuckles in a soothing gesture, implores you with a look.

You swallow and give a nod, trying for another smile that fails, noticing the moment Aemond sees it fail, his brow curling, lips pursing but doesn't say anything.

As he moves to lead, he pauses, turning back to you. "Where—?"

"Your room?"

Just as he nods, Alicent's soft and embarrassed, "Keep the door open, please," pulls you both to a blushing stop.

Otto— and Helaena rifling through ice cream in the kitchen — crow simultaneous, "Alicent," and "Mom!" as Alicent raises both her hands, the wine in her right sloshing. Though she is pink-cheeked, she maintains eye contact with her son while Aemond is struggling.

"I know you're old and smart enough, young man, and you are such a lovely girl," Alicent says to you, "and I would no doubt adore the grandchildren you will provide me—"

"Oh my gods," you stifle your giggles as Aemond makes a discordant sound in the back of his throat, like a cat hacking a saw. Otto is laughing into his wine while Helaena is making gagging noises in the background.

"— but I hope to have them when Aemond's at least graduated, so that he can provide well for you." Alicent nods, blinking. You can tell that the wine is catching up to her. "He's a good boy so I'm sure he'll do right by you. But I at least want you both to be married, of course, I would prefer if Aegon or Helaena got married first but—"

"— and that's my cue to stage left, folks," Helaena says, making a face as she grabs the entire tub of cookies and cream. "If anyone needs me, I'm in my room trying to find a husband so my baby brother can get married, gods forbid he carries on with bastards from his beautiful girlfriend— whomst, by the way, is my best friend, dunno how we're forgetting my credit in all of this."

Aemond shakes his head. "They're not sleeping here, mom, and providing you grandchildren is not in my agenda." He tugs your hand, smirking as he pulls you close only to whisper playfully, "Not tonight at least."

You shiver, laughing under your breath. "I dunno if you know this, but I have these two great friends called Birth and Control."

He breaks into a laugh and that, at least, eases the tension until you round up in his room, trying to give Helaena a meaningful look but you don't think she understands it with how she salutes you with her spoon, winking audaciously.

"Here." Aemond flicks the light on and his childhood bedroom brings a smile to your face. It's cerebral, the faint blue of his textured wallpaper, the perfectly lined books, even the framed achievements. But there's also the Oasis poster, the little figurines that you know is part of some Old Valyrian battle replica he collected when he was younger, even his old fencing gear and an exact photo of it alongside his club master, his grandfather, and family friend, Criston Cole.

"It's been a while since I've been here," you tease lightly. "It's kind of funny of your mom to think I'd be the first hot girl to christen your childhood bed."

He hums, turning away as he closes the door. When he turns back, he's rolled back his bottom lip between his teeth as he looks at you with sincerity.

"It wouldn't be much of a competition to beat. You were the first hot girl I'd ever got inside my room."

"Ahh. Right. Teasing you before your growth spurt was the highlight of my week."

Aemond let out an aggressive sigh as you laugh. "I was a senior in high school when I met you, riña, this is getting ridiculous. Borderline paedophilic since I had you moaning an hour ago."

You heave, slapping his arm. "Okay, stop, you made it weird now. Gross. Eugh."

"Promise you'll stop now?"

"Fine, I promise."

An awkwardness settles before Aemond nods at the double French doors. "Wanna talk on the patio? You've always liked my room's view than Lae's."

"Yeah," you grin.  "'Cos you got the only view of the lake."

"You can barely see it with the trees. And this darkness." Reason out all he wants, but he opens the door for you, and the cool air is crisp and nice against your warm skin.

You hold out on the ledge, squinting your eyes so you can see peeks of luminous bounce of the calm lake between dark sways of forest. Once in a while, it glitters and glimmers, making itself known.

"It isn't fully true though."

"What is?" Aemond fixes his elbows, warmth pressed against yours as he stares at a fixed point of nowhere. But you can feel his tension, feel his questions he's trying to be patient to keep in. You're glad for it. Grateful. Because it gives you enough courage to confess.

"I hung out in your room because I liked hanging out with you," you admit. "Teasing you was the highlight of my day."

"Gee. Thanks."

"I was more surprised you kept letting me hang out with you when I did nothing but annoy you."

"Why do you think that is, ñuha riña?" he asks softly.

"Because you're sweet?"

The way he's looking at you... it makes you breatheless. Especially when he moves to turn fully toward you, taking you by your elbows, and you close your eyes when he leans in expecting his mouth on you, your heart dancing in the palm of his hand because it feels so, so easy to trust Aemond with it, instead he presses his lips underneath your eye, nuzzling against your nose. It shatters and remakes your heart, making you hold onto his shirt for some semblance of comfort.

"Because I've always liked you," he whispers against your skin as if it's his best kept secret. "Because I'm weak when it comes to you. Because you," he breathes against your mouth, taking your bottom lip between his teeth and giving it a tug, "make it easy to want you."

A weak laugh escapes your lips and his mouth follows the sound as if he wants to swallow it, but you press a palm to his chest. He growls.

"Easy there, tiger, that didn't sound much like a compliment."

He pulls back, holding your face. "Sorry, shit, I didn't mean— I'm not good at this. I meant... you're unattainable. Not just as Helaena's best friend but... you're cool, you're fucking gorgeous and incredibly hilarious."

"Ñuha jorrāelagon." He breathes care into the word. The word is lost on me and I force my brain to pocket it like a love letter so I can search it up. "I never thought I could be here, touching you like this." Without warning, he moulds his lips to yours in a harsh, deep kiss. It's quick but it leaves you breathless, his voice coming up ragged. "Kiss you like this. It feels like I'm in a dream and I'm struggling to let go of it. So a while ago... after..."

You nod, pressing your forehead against his, unable to look at him in the eye. You focus on touching him, your hands sliding down, making him shiver when you go underneath his shirt, skating his side until you warm your cool fingers with his spine.

"That's the thing, Aemy," you whisper. "In your head, by your words, I'm always a version to you."

 He calls your name, leaning back and you're forced to see the confusion on his face.

"Helaena's best friend. Past that, an unattainable crush. Now a fake girlfriend. Someone you use to get Alys' attention, and who better than the unattainable crush? It's a pedestal, Aemy."

"It's not like that, that was a bad, convoluted—"

"But it's the truth, it's how I feel. And though that sucks, I understand." You take his hands as you step back and he's frowning harder, the lines deepen and his jaw is tight. "I knew what I was getting into, you know? But things change because I've changed."

 "It's Cregan, isn't it?" he snarls, tugging his hands away.

"Oh, you jealous idiot, it's you! We've gone over this, you incredible dumbass!"

"Me? How the hell is this about—"

"— because I love you!" you shout. Then stop, inhale. Blink. Aemond copies it. It's almost hilarious. "Or I know I can be."

He works his jaw, turning away. "I don't understand."

"Okay, here it is." You inhale. "Just listen and breathe for a second, okay? Okay? Don't turn away from me." You pull him back by his chin, smiling faintly at the pout you form. "Say you understand."

He sighs, taking your hand. "Yes, I understand."

"I can't compete with someone you've loved for so long," you start softly, staring at your conjoined hands wondering if this is the last time you'll get to hold him like this. "Without you showing you can love me for more than that. I can't compete with your own ideal happy ending if I'm not part of it. I won't. I refuse." Your smile is wry, it's heartbreak and it's strings. You wish you had the energy to scream, to act like a brat and demand his heart, his promises in gold-ink and pink-veined hue. It's what your heart wants.

But you're of big age. You've seen love in its spaces, how it takes root in people, how it affects the world around you.

And you know you cannot love him if he does not make the effort to love you in the same way.

Your heart is in your throat but the words come out anyway. "Because I love you, Aemy. And I know I can fight for you. I can fight for what we have. I can wake up tomorrow and choose to love you with the same degree, if not fiercer, if I could. And I could do that again and again. That's how love works. You have to wake up tomorrow, see me, and choose to love me all over again."

You smile gently, sadly. "I can't allow myself to be loved in halves. I've done that before, I'm not doing it again. Not even for you."

You bring yourself on your tip toes— damn tall, beautiful rat bastard — and brush your lips on the corner of his. His eye closed. "I'm not going to pressure you for an answer. Alys was... Alys is a big part of what you know is love, and I respect that. I understand that it'll be hard, but I need to know if you're willing to let go of it for me. Because I can promise you I can love you. But I won't. Not without assurance that you can try for me."

"What are you asking me?" he asks softly, straightening. There's a hard line going into his body, like a dutiful student given an assignment.

"I'm asking you to think if you can see past the little statue you've made of me. See me breathing. Alive, just like this." You press a hand to his face and retrieve it back before he can hold it. He shots you a look of betrayal. "I'm going home with Hel. You know how to message me, okay? Bye, dōna zaldrīzes."sweet dragon.

His eye flick upward, shock and heartbreak and confusion moulds and twists into such a beautiful blue, mouth agape trying to find words he can't find— and you smile wryly, turning away and leaving.

You get to Helaena's door quick, knocking soon after.

"Hmph!"

 "You're either getting choked by a robber or masturbating, and really Hel, I need you to make two grunts to tell me the former so I can bust down the door because I don't want to see you bust a—"

The door swings wide, Helaena's face in a comical irritation.

"That is so fucked up, I hope you know— hey, hey." Her irritation sweeps into a frown as you fail to contain your watery eyes. "What happened? What's wrong? What did Aemond do? Oh, that little twerp—"

"— it's not him, it's not him, chill, I just wanna go home, yeah? Get our cakes and go, please?"

Hel's frown deepens, eyes darting back to Aemond's door.

"Please, Helaena," you beg. "I'll tell you when we get home. I'll make us special drinks."

She takes your hand, determination wound tight with concern. "Sure thing, babe. Let's go."

When you make your hasty departure to her grandfather of all of them, Alicent already in bed and the other boys still in the gaming room, cakes in hand, you tow over Helaena's baby blue buggy— she leans over at you with a hand on the ignition, whispering as if she was afraid, "You— are you meeting Cregan tonight? After, I mean." Her eyes widen. "I'm not judging, I'd never—"

"No, no, I understand. You'd never judge me for that, I know. But no. Just you and me tonight."

She smiles softly. It's not like Aemond's but they don't look that apart that it still stings. "Love you."

"Love you too, lovebug."

Loving Helaena isn't hard.

Just as you know loving Aemond wouldn't be, despite it all. But it isn't you that has issues that needs handling, and you've put everything in his court now.

And yet you can't deny your hope.

TAGGED: @snowprincesa1 @gemini-mama @fan-goddess @snh96 @valeskafics @opheliaas-stuff @tempo-rary-fix @fantasticpeaceharmony @diannnnsss @iamavailablesstuff @spinachtz @at-a-rax-ia @bespinnn @tsujifreya @moonlightfoxx @kemillyfreitas @joyouart @bananzaa @honey-on-mars @alexa4040 @cinnamonbambii @wintrr13 @wxb-slingrr @astroswift @queenofshinigamis @helaenaluvr @kaetastic @jxdgodfrey @laniii-on-your-left @watercolorskyy @microwaveallthedemons @kazuyatokue @herfantastyworldd @averyyreads @urmomsgirlfriend1 @bellstwd @jiminie-08 @ttkttt @nockerin @backyardfolklore @random-ocity @hc-geralt-23 @vendettasblog @cicaspair418 @malynn @anehkael @schadenfreude-and-sarcasm @honey132

[highlordofkrypton]

TALK TO ME ABOUT CASSIAN X TAMLIN BROTP PLEASE?

I WAS IN BED WHEN YOU SENT ME THIS I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL I COULD GET TO A COMPUTER AHHHHH I love talking about this himbroship I'm buzzing where do I even start omg omg

This is 10000000% fanon, but it's good, happy, soft and silly!

Cassian and Tamlin met during the First Hybern War; Rhysand was like 'hey ya'll meet my new friend' and like any normal person Cassian was like OH YEAH, TAMLIN'S NOSE MEET MY FOREHEAD

They ended up wrestling bc the broness called to one another, so obviously they had to test each other

It's now a normal greeting for them for Cassian to barrel into Tamlin and tussle with him; Tamlin loves it because it's the relationship he never had with his brothers

Cassian is THE shorter older brother, he's at least 30 years older than Tamlin, but Tamlin is 6'5"+ and Cassian is built like a BAKED BEAN

Tamlin is definitely the more introverted one because he's insecure, but Cassian will double down on ANYTHING Tamlin says or wants. OH UR VEGETARIAN BRO??? BEANS ARE THE SHIT AND GRASS TOO

Cassian doesn't know what exactly vegetarians eat except grass and beans, he tried once and cried he did not like whatever the hell a 'bean patty' is

Having a friend outside of the Night Court is a really fascinating experience to Cassian because even though they both had different upbringings, they have similar... vibes? Tamlin is quiet and curious, Cassian and loud and will put his hands/mouth on anything to figure out what the hell this new thing is. They both had 2 brothers with a MEH dad, warrior training, they punch first and ask questions later, it's just really cool to connect with someone on that level

It's also nice for Cassian to be able to chill w/ someone else and get an outside POV when he's going through something w/ his brothers

Cassian 10000% percent vibes with Tamlin's let's just fuck off and live in nature, it's very peaceful

Tamlin's great great great great great grandmother is a willow tree who has the hots for Cassian, lots of shh shhh and stroking his face with her vines when he's being so dumb

Cassian is seemingly more hot-headed than Tamlin, but Tamlin is the one with rage issues; it actually helps Tamlin a lot to have a friend who will BLURT OUT the first thing that comes to mind especially when confronted with something shitty like 'YO DUDE THAT'S A FUCKED UP THING TO SAY' and 'OK U WANNA GO?? MET ME IN THE PRYTHIAN PARKING LOT 1V1 ME'

Cassian's bluntness also helps drag Tamlin out of depressive slumps. Trauma can really re-wire someone's brain and make you act out, but Cassian also turns his loud honesty on Tamlin like 'FIRST DON'T TALK ABOUT MY BEST FRIEND LIKE THAT' and 'YOU'RE BEING A DICK is this how you feel or is this a reaction my broski' -- his heavy hand is an excellent contrast to Tamlin's other best friend LUCIEN

The humour shared between Tamlin and Cassian makes zero sense to anyone. At all. They will die laughing at a bag of 70% cacao and Cassian will over the 'o' and they've been laughing at 'caca' for the last 10 minutes. It's very freeing for them.

Tamlin loves fruit, Cassian general does not eat fruit or vegetables. Tamlin introduced Cassian to a giant fruit bat and lied to say 'he's very disappointed u don't eat ur greens' and CASSIAN TOOK THAT PERSONALLY??? he eats mangoes now and other tropical fruits to honour his batcestors bat-ancestors???

Yes, they can have an entire conversation in 'bruh's

IF we transpose this friendship that started in the canon 'Tamlin trained with the Illyrians in the war' to TODAY, Cassian never recovered from the falling out between Rhysand and Tamlin. It's really difficult for him to reconcile what happened to HIS family with his friend he knew, loved and trusted. When Rhysand vanished, his first instinct would have been to go see Tamlin for help (but there's a lot of guilt for not checking on him either since Cassian knew Tamlin didn't have.... a support system like him).

In Modern AU, Cassian and Tamlin have DEFINITELY those ugly shirts wit each other's face on them and their names in ✨GLITTER✨

Fuck it, Cassian gets really into shirt printing and just prints shirts for them for every occasion, they're ugly on purpose -- he also has swim shorts that are just Tamlin's face going 8D all over them

Cassian started the 'BIG STRETCHY' trend whenever Tamlin stretches and it's law EVERYONE DOES IT NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE

Anyway, I love them a lot and ummmm I absolutely not normal about them I will DIE on their bestie hill

THANK YOU FOR THIS ASK I HOPE U LIKED READING IT AS MUCH AS I LIKED RAMBLING ABOUT IT

[another-lost-mc]

I have a thought... What would your OCs do when they find out about the incident where Belphegor killed MC (let's say your OCS are really close to MC)

The demons have the worst reaction, assuming that the angels aren't in the Devildom and don't learn about this until much later.

AZRA & ZEE

They find out the same way. Asmo spills the beans to Azra about some family drama but reassures him (to a suspicious degree) that things are fine and MC's okay.

"Something happened with Belphie, but...well, Barbatos fixed it!"

Belphie? The same Belphie that's supposed to be in the human world? Nah, that doesn't check. They know something is definitely wrong.

Azra heads over to the House of Lamentation after collecting one or two of his favourite weapons from his private collection. "There's nothing wrong, *eye twitch* I'm just going to visit MC and have a little chat with the others." Most of his blame for what happened falls on Lucifer because he's basically Diavolo's right-hand man and MC is staying with him and his family. How is this not his fault? Azra invites MC to stay at his home and no, he doesn't care what Lucifer thinks about that.

Zee is the wild card. The others can't anticipate the level of anger or violence he's capable of when he snaps. You know, typical wrath demon things. If he shows up at the House of Lamentation in a bloodlust-fueled rage, can anyone really blame him? Underestimating him might be something they regret later on. He's bigger and stronger in his demon form but most demons don't know that. It takes more than one sibling to keep him from getting his hands on Belphie. Hopefully MC's brave enough to try and talk him down - it's probably the only thing that'll work. (He blames everyone involved for failing to protect MC, but he blames Belphie and Lucifer the most.) Once he's calmed down and reassured that MC is unharmed physically, he desperately wants to take them home with him.

KARASU

I expanded on this a while back, but it's basically what you would expect from him. He's very worried about MC, he's concerned about their safety in the House of Lamentation, and he's staying there or he's taking MC back to his nest. No, it's not a request and yes, he's very very angry and doing his best not to show it (for MC's sake). His protectiveness is in overdrive and there's not much that's going to calm him down until he can be absolutely certain that MC is fine. Mammon's probably the one that tells him what happened if MC doesn't (or if Karasu doesn't see something when checking all the erratic D.D.D. activity during that time). He's also the best mediator between Karasu, who is as angry as he's ever seen him, and his brothers.

TENEBRIS

He's instantly suspicious the moment Diavolo calls him and starts his explanation with, "I want to emphasize before I say anymore that MC is fine." Tenebris blames his brother as the face of the exchange program and the realm's leader - he promised to keep MC and the others safe, and obviously he didn't do that. He wants to stay close to MC and asks to stay at the House of Lamentation, or that they both stay at the castle where there's some distance between MC and the demon brothers who he doesn't trust very much right now.

BELIAL

Chances are that he only learns what happened when MC contacts him directly. It's not unusual for a day or two to pass without hearing from MC, but when he finally does, he can tell there's something wrong. The truth of it - or what MC shares with him - is enough to send him in a bit of a tailspin. He hasn't had much reason to pick a fight with Lucifer or his siblings before - he's been respectful enough since they joined him on the other side. He never considered making a fuss or picking fights with them, but it's never too late to start. Punching Lucifer in his smug face might make him feel better, if only for a minute or two, but he has to reign in his impulses so that he doesn't make things worse. MC probably wouldn't like it if he set the House of Lamentation on fire either, so he wants to take them home with him. He'll make sure Diavolo hears his grievances personally once MC is safe and under his protection.

[sleepyfan-blog]

Beans with Baphomet

Author’s Note: Thank you to @Undeaddream for letting me borrow Tiny and Almach and @plagueparchments for allowing me to borrow Baphomet! This is the next part of the Raised On Terra AU! First. Previous. Next

Tagged: @egrets-not-regrets @the-pure-angel @sharenadraculea @i-am-a-dragon34 @gallifreyianrosearkytiorsusan 

Warnings: swearing around infants, ask me to tag something if it bothers you/I missed something

Summary: Baphomet tries to introduce a New Food to two of her charges.

“Bah! Bah!” Three called out, having managed to grab one side of his bassinet with his hilariously tiny fingers and pull himself upright. One small hand was still gripping the side of his crib, the other was reaching up to her.

Baphomet smiled a little as she took three more steps, closing the distance between where she had been standing and one of her three charges. “Hey little buddy. You hungry? Or just want a cuddle?” This…Babysitting duty was not one she’d ever expected to take on, but all three of her charges were adorable little ones.

His lavender eyes were staring holes into her soul “Bah! Bah!” and waved his hand impatiently.

“I wonder… Are you trying to say up? Or my name, which is Baphomet?” The Custodes coos as she carefully picks him up with one hand, supporting his head and back with one hand. “You’re still tiny, even if you are growing steadily.”

Fifteen’s mind was already lightly tugging on hers, the impatient demand to be held also clearly being sent to her. Fifteen was silently kicking at the side of his bassinet and pouting up at her with mismatched eyes.

“Ah… I see we are practicing our Biomancy skills today, little buddy.” She hummed, shifting her hold on Three so that she could safely pick up fifteen as well, broadcasting the care and fondness she felt for the both of them at each of the infant primarchs in her arms.

Three giggled and clapped his hands, wriggling delightedly as he leaned into her arm.

Fifteen cooed and clumsily sent to him the gnawing hunger he felt in his belly.

Baphomet chuckled, pressing a kiss to Fifteen’s bright red forehead “You got it buddy, snack time. But I need you both to be quiet, because most of your brothers are asleep, including Nine. Who is always hungry when he first wakes up and I don’t have enough arms for the three of you.” She placed Fifteen and Three in two of the baby slings she was carrying, giving them both gentle kisses to the forehead to keep them from fussing.

The Custodian made her way over to where the food for the infant primarchs was placed within their room, opening the cold storage section with one foot. Using her psychic abilities, Baphomet grabbed two bottles of formula - which she set in the warmer to begin heating up - as well as a small container of the blended bean and legume paste, which was both fortified with additional nutrients and calories to try and introduce the pair of infant primarchs to a new food. While all of the little ones were still avid drinkers of the heavily fortified formula they were consuming, six months had passed, and they’d been instructed to begin to slowly introduce other kinds of foods to the little ones.

She warmed up the legume and beans paste as well, making sure to grab a couple of spoons. And their bottles of formula. Baphomet then settled down on one of the very comfortable chairs meant for the caretakers and fed Three and Fifteen with about a third of their bottles of formula before scooping up the bean mixture onto a spoon and murmured “Come on, little one. Time for something new.”

Three stared down at the brownish-green mixture, a decidedly unimpressed frown appearing on his adorable little face and he turned his head away from it. “Meh!” He tried to reach for his bottle “Bah! Baaaah…”

“You’ve got to try it first. Come on, it’s good for you…” Baphomet tried to cajole ,bringing the spoon up to Three’s mouth, gently touching the paste to his lips to get him to lick on instinct.

Three tried to lean away from her, rubbing his lips with a tiny hand and trying to snack the spook away from him “Bah! AH! Ahhhh!”

“Aww, come on, little one. There’s no need to be like that. Heeere comes the thunderhawk! Brrrrrr…. It’s yummy I promise! See, I’ll eat a little.” Baphomet cajoled, taking a tiny taste of the bean and lentil mixture. It didn’t taste like much, but that was deliberately done, so as to not overwhelm tiny palates. “Mmm… Sooo Tasty…See, your brother is eating his spoonful like a good boy.”

Indeed, Fifteen had grabbed at the spoonful of baby food with his hands and was industriously gnawing on it. He’d even gotten some of the food in his mouth, though more of it was smeared across his face. Fifteen squeaked and brought a hand up to his face, rubbing at the bean-mixture on it.

He pulled his hand away and stared at the paste on his fingertips before shoving his hand in his mouth, giggling in delight. 

“See! He likes the bean paste, so come on… One bite, please?” Baphomet coos, bringing Three the spoonful of beans and legumes paste up to his mouth. “Come on you adorable little shit, eat the bean mush. It’s good for you.”

Three pouted up at her before opening his mouth, revealing -

“You’re starting to grow teeth! What about you, buddy?” Baphomet asks, delighted to see that at least one of the infant primarchs she was taking care of had reached this benchmark She looked at Fifteen - who had managed to use his budding psychic powers to drag the glass container of baby food within arm’s reach and was alternating between shoving mouthfuls of the foodstuff in his mouth, and covering his face and hair with it. “Oh… Oh no. I suppose that’s why I shouldn’t try and feed more than one of you at once. You know you’re going to get a bath, right? I can’t leave you covered in beans. Almach and Tiny would both whisper-yell at me about it. You look ridiculous.” 

Baphomet heard more baby giggles and turned back to Three, who had decided that the bean paste was actually yummy. He’d eaten everything off of the offered spoon and was trying to grab the jar of paste.

Fifteen wasn’t having any of that, though and his eyes were glowing with the eldritch light of the warp, trying to keep the jar out of his brother’s grasp “Baah!”

“Oh no. I have fucked up.” Baphomet murmured to herself as she grabbed the floating jar of baby food “Hey now, there’s plenty for each of you. There’s no need to fight over it.”

Three grunted unhappily as he was robbed of his prize, which had been just barely out of his reach.

Fifteen started to sniffle, his eyes huge and wet as he tried to pull the jar of legume paste out of her grasp with his psychic powers.

Baphomet snorted in amusement, lightly tapping him on the forehead “Stop that. You’re nowhere near old enough to win in a battle of wills against me, tiny fucker.” She set down the bean paste and pulled out some cleaning wipes, trying to get some of the pasty-clumps out of his thick mane of hair. “This is going to be such a pain to clean if it dries in your hair. I’m glad that you like the new food, but fuck. It’s like you tried bathing in i-”

Crash!

The sound of glass on carpeted flooring stopped Baphomet from continuing her gentle scolding of the mischievous infant primarch.

She swiftly turned around, to find Three sniffle once, twice before bursting into tears as he tried to cuddle into her. 

“Shit shit shit, what was that?” Baphomet demanded as she looked Three over for any injuries that he might somehow have gotten. She didn’t see any marks, cuts or bruises. Where had the-

Ohhhh… Baphomet looked down, spotting the now broken jar of blended beans and legumes. “… Little one did you try to grab the jar?” She asked, sighing a little. While most baseline infant humans didn’t have the strength nor the coordination to grab jars of that size, the little Primarchs were much stronger and more than one of them had caused this sort of accident before. “I know, the noise was loud and scary, but it’s okay, little one. No harm done. You’re safe. I’m safe, your brother is fine. All of them. Scared the fuck out of me, though.” Shit, she wasn’t supposed to swear around the little primarchs. “... Don’t say naughty words until you’re at least as big as me… Will you ever get as big as me? Hmm…”

She picked up the bean-splattered infant and rocked him close to her chest, giving him the occasional reassuring kiss on the forehead. Baphomet still wasn’t sure why Valdor had picked her of all Custodes to help raise and protect the infant primarchs while they were so tiny and fragile, but… Damn it, she really was trying her best here.

As she had expected, both Tiny - the martian tech priest who somehow had the most experience raising humans during this life stage - and the Blank, Almach had arrived first, having heard the crash.

Almach was first through the door, a worried scowl on his face “What happened?”

“Three and Fifteen are hungry. I was trying to introduce one of the new foods to the two of them and they started to fight over the jar. They dropped it before I could catch it, and it broke upon hitting the floor. No one’s hurt, though both are startled.” Baphomet explained dutifully.

Tiny crawled its’ way out of the vents, scuttling along the wall and over to where the glass and food was, swiftly cleaning it up, beeping and clicking rapidly at her. 

Baphomet rolled her eyes, not knowing exactly what it was saying, though she understood the scolding tone “Yeah yeah. I am trying to be careful! Which is why I only have one of the psychic primarchs out during feeding time, rather than both of them. Mouthy techno-bastard!”

Nine was - for the most part - a fairly agreeable baby. He hardly ever cried or fussed when he wasn’t trapped in a vision-fueled nightmare because of his nascent prescience, but Nine was ferocious when it came to feeding time. He was also one of the four primarchs - five with Three - with at least one tooth growing in. And all two and a half teeth Nine had were very sharp and he got bitey when he was hungry.

It did not matter who he bit, either. Whether the unfortunate soul be a caretaker, one of his brothers, a beloved stuffed toy, or during one memorable (and totally not terrifying memory, thank you very much) occasion, his creator and Lord.

Thankfully, the Emperor of Mankind had merely laughed as he gently pet Nine’s downy-soft fledgling feathers and dark, curly hair, saying “He’s quite fierce. Good he will need that in the many battles to come.” The Emperor had even let Nine gnaw on his hand for several minutes before gently detaching the growling baby from one of his fingers and leaving the room.

That had been a little over a week ago, and Baphomet would never admit to having nightmares about how poorly that encounter could have gone, had He not been in such a good mood. 

“Would you like a hand?” Almach asked, already walking over to where she was sitting, reaching for Fifteen, who was comprehensively covered in beans and legumes. The Blank was surprisingly pushy when it came to the caring of the infant Primarchs, and would take over care of others’ charges if he felt it necessary.

“I’m fine, though - hey! TIny get back here with Three! I can handle my charges, you fucker! They just… Got the better of me. Fifteen’s a psyker, I’m not sure how well he’ll react to you touching him, Pariah.” Baphomet reminded the Blank, holding the bean-covered baby close to her chest as she stood up, trying to chase after the tech priest, who was clicking away at her as he scuttled up the wall and into the vents, again.

Damn it. She knew that Tiny was an excellent caretaker and would be back at some point with a well-cleaned Three. It was just going to be a pain in the ass to try and convince it to let her hold Three for the next few days, the territorial bastard. Tiny had also made off with three’s formula bottle which meant they planned on being Vanished with the baby for Some Time.

“Nine is waking up, would… Wait he’s also a Psyker, isn’t he?” Almach hummed, a sad expression briefly flashing across his face. 

“He sure is. He’s got future sight, Eight too. From what I can tell they only happen when the kiddos are sleeping but that might change as they get older.” Baphomet answered, shrugging a little. Baseline seers were very rare, but she was keenly aware of the fact that the Primarchs had been hand-crafted to be… Many things. Extraordinary and highly gifted were two of those things. “If you’d get the baby bath started, I’d be grateful.”

Almach nodded “I’m always happy to help care for the young ones… Have you heard anything about the Names issue?” 

Tiny skittered down the wall, using an arm to acquire Nine before Baphomet or Almach could do or say anything. The Custodes heaved a sigh as the Blank laughed a little. 

Baphomet shook his head “I’ve asked Valdor about the issue. He’s said that His Majesty is still pondering what to name them, or if he’d allow us to give them childhood names to refer to them until they earn their adult names.”

“... And that doesn’t bother you?” Almach asked, squinting a little up at her.

Baphomet shrugs a little “We Custodes are given names as we earn them. I’m not surprised if that would be the same for Primarchs. Both us and them were hand-crafted by the Emperor Himself for specific purposes. Those purposes are different, but not so different as many of the Golden Host would like to believe. I do have some ideas for names mine have earned already”

“... I suppose that makes sense. I’ve got the bath ready.” Almach answers, a thoughtful if… Sad expression on his face. “What… What names have you come up with?” He looks at her in askance. 

Rude bastard. Time to redirect him. “Five’s about to wake up from the fuss. You should probably help him get back to sleep.” Baphomet informed Almach, sensing the change in alertness in the fussy infant primarch. Five could be very loud when he wanted to be. “For Fifteen… I was thinking of  either  shape-shifter or copy-cat. Three has earned the name Bean-Vanquisher, and Nine is Bitey.”

The Blank nodded and headed off to go soothe one of his charges. He threw over his shoulder “I”m… Not sure those would be good names to use for them…. Ma’am.”

Baphomet carefully bathed a very squirmy Fifteen. He kept trying to grab the bubbles, the soap, and the soft cloth that she was using to get him clean. “Yeah, yeah. Says you. I think they’re great kiddie names. What do you think, copy-cat?”

Fifteen giggled and chased after a bubble, his eyes still shifting slowly between colors. He squeaked when the bubble he caught popped.

“Maybe I should call you bubble-killer instead? Bubble Killer, the fierce psyker-primarch of the Imperium of Man.” Baphomet mused as she carefully washed the bean-paste of of the infant’s hair. She smiled fondly at the little brat, making sure he was fully un-beaned before taking him out of the bath and carefully patting him dry.

Baby skin was very delicate, even a Primarch’s. She’d learned that the hard way. Once Fifteen was dried, she swaddled him in a fresh blanket. “Look at you. All tiny and squishy and adorable. I never understood what cute-aggression was, until I started caring for you little fuckers.” She wanted to bite his chubby cheeks for several maddening seconds. Not that she was going to say that out loud. Almach already didn’t like Apollo very well. No need to go making enemies among the caretaking team.

Fifteen laid his head against her chest, one thumb in his mouth as his eyes slowly closed, a happy sigh leaving him as he settled in for a nap.

Baphomet huffed softly “Oh, I see. Is it naptime, after all the mischief? I suppose. But you can’t sleep on me, squirt. His Majesty has told us not to…” Even though his little mind was radiating sleepiness at her, she could resist if she didn’t hold him long. She walked over to his crib, gently setting him in it once she was sure that he was asleep. 

[ashesandhackles]

Goblet of Fire Reread (Part 2)

Chapter 17,18,19, 20,21,22,23

"It struck him how very tall all of them were" Harry thinking this about the champions one moment and then being angry at being called "a little boy". Accurate teenage boy behavior.

Snape stepping in to stop Karkaroff and Maxime insulting Dumbledore by insulting Harry instead, "Don't go blaming Dumbledore for Potter's determination to break rules" XD

Fleur really cares about the honour of representing her school.

Hints of Barty Snr under Imperius: both in his behaviour + imagery (skull like appearance in the darkness)

Violet, the witch painting went up to Fat Lady to gossip. We shall hear of this friendship again in HBP.

I really really love Hermione's insight into Ron's feelings here, because the implication here is that she noticed that he doesn't talk about it. "He's always shunted to the side when people see you, and he puts up with it, never mentions it" and how she contextualises it with how he feels around his brothers. She has an understanding and kindness about this that is very sweet.

Fleur flirting with Cedric while some creepy paunchy man watching her. Damn, what it must be like to be sexualised every moment of your life and what harmful ideas have you internalised?

Harry noting that Fleur was part Veela to tell Ron only to remember The Great Tragedy that Ron isn't speaking to him.

weighing of wands chapter to set up the priori Incantentem at end of book, to remind us of Harry's connection with Voldemort's wand.

Hermione trying to force Harry and Ron to talk to each other, poor thing. I can really feel her anxiety building over this and she is so impatient, "you miss him, he misses you". Hermione on Ronarry agenda. She even tries to sneakily make him meet Ron in Three Broomsticks and then Harry cottons on. And then her getting irritated, Harry having to resist the urge to poke Ron is peak trio content.

Harry getting cheered up by the fact that Cho wasn't wearing a support Cedric badge. Also, it's a nice shade to her character - she is nice. She recognises the badges for what it is and doesn't take part in it.

his face breaks into the first smile in days cos of Sirius and Sirius redirecting attention away from himself and focusing on Harry - "never mind me, how are you?" Harry is so vulnerable with him that he talks about Ron with him.

Sirius' respect for Moody is very interesting, he displays more of this in Padfoot Returns chapter where he talks about how Moody captured DEs and not killed them. I believe @leogichidaa and @artemisia-black have had a tumblr discussion on this.

Ron doesn't come up to bed after Harry lashes out at him for interrupting his conversation with Sirius. Poor bean - wondering how things got this bad between him and Harry.

BCJ is so chilling on reread- essentially admits that he is keeping track of real Moody via the Foe Glass. "I'm not really in trouble until I see the whites of their eyes. That's when I open my trunk."

BCJ talking about Maxime and Karkaroff but also himself - 'They want to win. They want to beat Dumbledore. They'd like to prove he's only human'. And he laughs.

Ron catches Harry's eyes, but Harry is too resentful to care. Ron trying, in his own awkward way, to let Harry know that he is on Harry's side again.

Harry not needing to hear Ron apologise to forgive him. Clearly Hermione feels the same as I do, because she burst into tears, hugs them both and goes off to cry alone LOL

I saw this tumblr post about how Fleur dealt with the dragon was the most compassionate one - trying to put it to sleep - that she and Charlie would get along cos of it. Cute hc.

Pigwidgeon falling 12 feet down before flying with the letter is so funny. Also how cute that Harry's letter to Sirius had a "blow by blow" account of how exactly he swerved, circled and dodged the Horntail. Sirius would have found that very endearing.

LOL at Dean drawing Cedric with his head on fire for party banners. (apart from drawings of Harry dodging Horntail)

Harry calling out Hermione for bending of rules is so cute. When she says, "he is supposed to work out the egg on his own" when Lee picks up the egg, and Harry reminds her in undertone that he was supposed to work out the dragon alone too, and she "grins guiltily"

I am very disappointed in Dobby, whose political consciousness that shone and drove the plot of CoS is done to "acceptable" levels of radicalism. He tried to save Harry, explicitly against harry's wishes, because of his idea that Harry is a symbol of hope to the "enslaved dregs of the magical society, who are treated as vermin" and that defeat of Voldemort ensured that his kind are treated better. (he is still endearing, but speaks to the message of the books - he can be radical but cannot question the existing institution too much)

Winky's loyalty to Crouch is treated as pitiable, while Hermione's overzealousness with some gentle ribbing because JKR seems to find it endearing. We will probably get into white saviorism later, because I have THOUGHTS.

Ron and Harry sword fighting with fake wands, which are tin parrot and rubber haddock respectively, is hilarious. (Ron's parrot got the haddock's head)

Cedric telling Hufflepuffs to leave Harry alone. Looks like he was so grateful for Harry's tip, he steps in on the bullying.

Cho's words about who she is going to the ball with echoing with each step Harry took. Peak teenage experience. End of the world your crush has been asked out by someone else.

so funny that Ron keeps trying to ask Hermione who she is going to the ball with at unexpected times to surprise her into answering

love that Hermione was simultaneously appalled by fake-Moody making Malfoy a ferret while also not above referencing that incident to get Malfoy off her back. ("twitchy little ferret, aren't you Malfoy")

Ron notices Hermione's teeth is no longer the same. And Hermione is all sly and mischievous about the fact that she let Madam Pomphrey carry on a bit.

ok this is such a cute description: Hermione sitting to watch Ron and Harry's chess match which had recklessly brave pawns and a violent bishop

Dobby gets socks as presents from both Ron and Harry (reminder Ron also puts socks over his dead body) and Ron's Christmas jumper.

Dumbledore referencing Room of requirement. (he makes a joke that makes Harry snort and Percy frown- I guess he thinks the joke isn't appropriate for international magical cooperation?)

Parvati goes off with a Beauxbaton boy because Harry wasn't paying attention to her. She also lead him while dancing -so much so he felt like a show dog. Love how alpha she is xD

Percy glances at Harry about "hitch with Goblet of Fire" : indication of his coming arc where he doesn't believe Harry. (Also, while Percy is socialising with Bagman, he chooses to sit with Harry and Ron, which is indicative of how awkward he feels i think)

Snape and Karkaroff's conversation will get referenced in Prince's Tale, where Dumbledore grants him -"i think we sort too soon".

the image of Maxime storming away with fairies parting bushes is a very striking.

Chapter 24, 25, 26,27,28

Hermione drops key family history for Harry without either of them realising it: she used Fleamont Potter's Sleakazy's. Also at the implication that Harry asked about her hair LMAO.

Ron and Hermione reaching an unspoken agreement about sidestepping the big fight which involved FEELINGS.

the unicorn preferring a girl's touch is tied around the myth of pure creatures comfortable with "pure souls". I am really not sure how to read the gender politics of this book using this aspect of mythology.

lol, at Parvati being very "cool" towards Harry since the ball. Her retort actually makes him reflect - "perhaps I should have paid her more attention" and then, "ah well, she had a good time anyway". Honestly, stan Parvati.

Harry's so suspicious of Bagman offering him help, and rightly so. I love him putting Bagman on backfoot with his questions.

really curious about goblins and their hierarchy in the wizarding world. they are the marginalised who "fight back".

Rosmerta looking at James Potter, "who used to make her laugh"'s son yelling at a reporter in the middle of her pub XD

Love that Gryffindors get food related passwords like "banana fritters" and poor Ravenclaws have to solve a riddle every time they need to get in.

Where is the fanart of Snape with long grey nightshirt? Where?

Snape shutting Filch up when (in his mind) Moody came in, BCJ using Moody's distrust to check his office. Excellent stuff. My favourite part of the scene is Snape angrily declares Dumbledore's trust in him, and BCJ reminds him of "spots that don't come off". And Snape clutches his Dark Mark (and immediately hates himself for doing it xD)

Okay, Snape conceding power to Moody in this scene is so interesting. When Snape tries to look for Harry, BCJ makes him back off by saying "meaning Dumbledore is very interested to know who's got it in for the boy!" and Snape answers in a forced calm.

the tension between Snape and fake Moody can be cut through with a knife. Love how menacing the scene makes Moody, with Rowling using visual pictures of Moody's scars in the darkness

Lmao, Neville sending Professor Flitwick flying across room in class. And the description of "Professor Flitwick went whizzing resignedly past them" when the trio are talking. The implication that Flitwick just let Neville do his thing… XD

Hermione answering Harry's grim dark joke seriously. Nerd XD so much so the next time she takes Harry's joke seriously, he had to tell her that he is joking lol.

Harry goes off food when he is stressed or upset: a hangover from Dursley days when punishment is "no food".

"Your Wheezy, sir, your wheezy - the thing Harry Potter sir will miss the most!" LOL. The way this book is designed for Ronarry feels.

Merpeople have pet Grindylows. (also the chief is a woman)

Harry actually tries to yank the spear away from merman when they refused to help him, and hits Krum when Krum failed to realise that his shark teeth would hurt Hermione. My little feral boy.

Percy, "who looked very white", splashing out to meet Ron <3

Poor Krum - he is trying to engage Hermione and she is too busy either asking Harry about his task or cheering him for his marks to listen.

I love how much Harry gets so cheered by Sirius' letters. And even as he is tense that Sirius would get caught, he enters Potions classroom happy XD

'Scarlet woman'. It speaks to the generation Molly comes from that she has these ideas, and that Ron has noticed and picked it up.

Hermione, being also aware that Ron's regard for her is less than platonic, "determinedly avoiding Ron's eyes" when she mentions Viktor did invite her. (Also funny that Hermione is trying to puzzle out how Rita heard her, and Ron is like, "nvm, what did you say about Viktor's invitation?" lol)

@urupotterwrote a nice meta about how Snape was deliberately provoking Harry (after harry moves tables) to read his mind. Right when Harry angrily looks up, Snape's eyes bore into him to check if he had broken into his office.

Sirius made them climb a mountain for half an hour lol. He believes in outdoorsy kids.

Sirius having a fuller face, and looking like he is taking care of himself when Harry met him at the fire - but now he is back in his prison robes, his hair is longer and he is thin again. When Sirius broke into the fire, he was clearly at a place where he could hide better and take care of himself. He is living off rats.

And he notices the anxiety on Harry;s face and explains why he is here (he is very good at reading harry's face and just answering his thoughts. He does it again later in the scene). He is worried about how fishy things look, and it is clear one of the reasons of his lack of care for himself is hyperfixating on Harry's safety and circumstances surrounding the tournament. (he also moves a lot when he is thinking - it's part of why he makes for such a strong scene presence. There is either note of how he takes space, or his eyes)

Sirius backs Hermione here about Barty Crouch Snr's treatment of Winky ("if you want to know what a man's like.."). This is important for Hermione's complicated feelings about him in the next book. He was the only adult on her side - even Hagrid, who she counted on, didn't agree with her.

Sirius projecting all his family issues over Barty Crouch Jnr.

Sirius' description of Azkaban is just extremely solitary and drenched in death, and suffering. He can see and hear things that are near his cell or out of the window (he could see Dementors burying who he thought was BCJ outside the fortress). Speaks to the immense violation Barty Crouch Snr has committed by sending him there without a trial. (There is also the fact that Azkaban is horrible, and no one deserves it)

Snuffles, enuff said. He also allows them each to pat them on his head before they leave. how cute.

"If he thought we are standing in way of his career"..ah, seeds of Percy arc of OOTP. Hermione believes in him while Ron doesnt lol.

I haven't mentioned in my notes because it would get too long - but Sirius' exposition about the First War, I think, is important for the atmosphere that leads to friends turning on each other.

also, I really love the note of Sirius, as always, admiring the morals of Mad Eye Moody for trying to bring Death Eaters alive, versus his condemnation of Barty Crouch Snr's methods. This shade of him - combined with the fact that he would have absolutely killed Peter after Jily death if he had the chance, or even the previous book. @artemisia-black wrote about her interpretation of it in this meta.

House elves should be "seen, not heard" philosophy, where they have internalised that anything showing discontent from where they are is undesirable.

Hermione pulling a Blinky episode here XD if the worldbuilding wasn't so shitty, I would actually enjoy a critique of Hermione's impatience here because it is very in line with steam of young activists finding roadblocks within the very people they want to help.

Chekhov's gun: the eagle owl Harry observes flying over Hagrid's hut - the same owl we see in Harry's dream with Voldemort later.

Maxime is apparently trying to make up to Hagrid - she watches Hagrid's class and even tries to engage him in a conversation prior to this. Maybe she feels sorry about how the story about Hagrid's mother come out in the Prophet and wants to bond? What did Maxime face because of her parentage?

Ron being upset that the gold he paid Harry back with vanished, and how he hates being poor and how both Harry and Hermione don't know what to say: Hermione tries to cheer him up by saying she will get him a Niffler for Christmas, how cute.

harry regularly sending Sirius food and little notes with them. I CANT. they have my heart, they are everything.

love that Fleur and Cedric are apparently friendly enough that she keeps going on about underground tunnels to him, and how Fleur beams at Harry when he comes.

Harry and Cedric being jocks, and how they are less than happy with the state of the Quidditch pitch lol.

Dumbledore uses the Patronus to summon Hagrid. A known method of communication between the Order. ("a ghostly bird")

love the dynamic of Fred and George arguing: George seems to be the more cautious one of the two, saying putting something like that in writing is blackmail, while Fred is like, "You're not going to complain once we get the pay off, would you?" But the moment Ron asks what's up with them, George backs Fred and sends the letter himself.

I also really loved the moment of the trio confronting the twins. It was hilarious. it shows all their priorities - both Fred and Ron with confrontational and surprised, "what are you doing here?" and Harry and George on defensive, "sending letter?" and both Fred and Hermione with a suspicious, "What, at this time?"

Hermione still uncomfortable with the idea of breaking laws: "This isnt some silly school rule, it's the law". Given where they all end up in DH (honestly even OOTP), this is interesting. She even advises Ron to reach out to Percy to stop whatever the twins are doing, and Ron's like, "Are you mad? He would probably do a Crouch and turn them in!" XD

Harry being annoyed at Sirius being an Overbearing Dad XD "Who is he, to lecture me after all the stuff he did at school?"

Chekhov's gun: insect buzzing somewhere behind the curtain. Rita Skeeter.

Also seeing Crouch Snr struggle against the Imperius put on him by Voldemort tells us how incredible it is that Harry throws it off in the graveyard

Harry connecting the magic of Pensieve with the diary through means of his experience. Could be a cool worldbuilding detail if we want to think about how Tom preserved his "memory" in the diary, along with it being a container for his soul.

important to understand how Voldemort operates: he alone knows who works for him, and others get exposed to each other via shared jobs or connections. This adds to what Sirius says in Padfoot returns chapter.

Mulciber specialised in the Imperius, as per Karkaroff's testimony. Could he have done something in similar vein to Mary MacDonald? It could also be talked of as a "laugh" since students do find Moody's control of the spider in Unforgivables class darkly funny.

"He is no more a Death Eater than I am": Dumbledore's vouching of Snape is strong. I would love a fic that explores Snape and Dumbledore's equation in First War, and how Dumbledore sees bits of himself in a young man who also thinks he is brilliant, and wants power, but ends up hurting the person he loves in his blindness.

The trial essentially feels like a gladiator ring, with the accused chained to the chair. (Of course, Bagman doesnt get chained to the chair due to the relative popularity with the jury)

Ah, BCJ. His reaction here depends on how you read his involvement with Longbottoms - whether he actually did it, or whether he was at the wrong place at the wrong time. Of course, the book, with Cruciatus scene with spider, heavily suggest that he was indeed guilty. So, it is interesting to see his terror here - he is genuinely terrified of going to Azkaban, but he is also using his genuine terror to appeal to his parents, to get out and be free. (He does similar things throughout the book - use his real dislike of Malfoys, Snape but misdirect you about his motivations). It's a nice manipulative streak.

"You're no son of mine!" "Take them away, and may they rot there." I need a Crouch family deep dive, because it is essentially a version of Walburga burning her son's name off after he ran away. which is: "I want to pretend you don't even exist."

a very astute reader pointed out on reddit how Moody is not present for the Longbottoms trial (and his eyes were intact on both trials before). So the hc is that Bellatrix took out Moody's eye and he was recovering in the hospital at the time.

[rokhal]

GR/RE7 AU fanfic: Weird Fungus

Referencing this piece of meta explaining @wazzappp's amazing All-New Ghost Rider/Resident Evil fusion AU, here is a little fic about Robbie and Gabe settling in to their little off-grid house where the BSAA stashed them after they survived Dulvey, Louisiana, and developed a cleaning compulsion (Robbie) and a sudden desire to wander away where no one can find him physically, audibly, or psychically (Gabe).

To set the scene, imagine some well-meaning BSAA agent sends Robbie this thing in their regular food delivery.

“I appreciate the gesture,” Robbie said, keeping his voice level and his eyes facing the camera of his BSAA-issued laptop, “but please don’t send us any more legs.”

The agent on the other end frizzled out into pixels and cocked her head on a two-second delay. “Legs? Oh, the, uh.” She tapped on her screen. “Jam-on serano? It’s supposed to be really good with wine.”

“Jamón, ham, the leg. With the foot, and the bones and, uh.” Robbie swallowed as he recalled opening the weekly food delivery and finding the top half of the box occupied by a skinned, cured-and-dried, but still massive animal limb, the thin flesh just below the toes still printed with rope marks. He could see the seams between every muscle. He could see its kneecap. At the opposite end, he could see the severed end of its thigh bone. “M-my brother has sensory issues. He doesn’t eat meat anymore. I won’t eat it in front of him.”

The BSAA agent made a note. “We can accommodate special dietary needs if you let us know. Is there anything specific you would prefer?”

Robbie fought the urge to tear at his hair. “Um. Tomato soup? Like, regular tomato soup, not gazpacho? Macaroni noodles. Some kind of cheese that doesn’t get all stringy as soon as it cools down. Frijoles, you know, normal refried beans? He likes those but not the ones that come swimming in the weird broth. Um, fish is okay—as long as it doesn’t have heads or bones in it. Potatoes are good. Eggs are good.”

“There’s some stores near the military base that cater to Americans,” the agent offered, and Robbie died a little inside. “I’ll see if we can order through there. How about vegetables?”

“His garden is growing really good. We’re good for vegetables.”

“Wow.” Robbie wondered if he’d said something wrong as the agent made another note. “Very nice, I’m glad you two are settling in.”

Not much of an option, being on house-arrest, Robbie thought. “Thanks.”

“Are you excited to start classes?”

Robbie knew this script, a back-and-forth he’d muddled through with a half-dozen social workers back in LA. “Very much. I value my education and I will complete my assignments independently and on time.”

She chuckled. Robbie wondered if he’d said something wrong. “You know, this is the real world, not high school. You can ask for help if you need it. Have you picked a major yet?”

The BSAA hadn’t asked before enrolling Robbie in the University of Barcelona’s undergraduate correspondence program, anymore than they’d asked Gabe before signing him up for remote learning with the local equivalent to middle school. “Pick?” he asked hesitantly.

“I think you’ve still got a few weeks to think about it, and you can always change majors, but, yeah, you might want to contact their guidance department if you’re not sure what courses to sign up for.” Now it was Robbie’s turn to make a note. “Chris will be over today, you can try asking him.”

“Oh.” Mr. Redfield’s visits were always on short notice, but Robbie usually had more than a matter of hours to mentally prepare himself. “Uh. We also need more bleach, please.”

“You just got two liters last month,” the agent said. “You know it’s bad for the septic system?”

Robbie kept his face blank, open. “It’s for cleaning. I’m not pouring it in the drains.”

“You know you’re supposed to dilute it?” the agent pressed him.

“One to ten,” Robbie recited, realizing as he said it that he’d managed to use about five gallons of disinfectant in a single month. He may have a problem. “I’m keeping the kitchen clean. The counters and the refrigerator. And both bathrooms. The grout. Under the lid for the cistern. Door handles.”

“Okay, okay.” Robbie winced; two okays was never okay. “I’ll send you more bleach. And some gloves.”

“Thank-you.”

“You sleeping alright?”

Loaded question. Robbie’s eyes flicked involuntarily to the BSAA-issued Alexa perched on a high shelf in the kitchen. “I’m sleeping.”

“Bad dreams?” The agent’s image pixelated again before stabilizing, and Robbie took advantage of the brief signal disruption to press his face hard into both palms. He could control himself during the day but of course their bugs heard it when he woke up screaming.

“Yeah.”

“You want to talk about it?”

Robbie doubted she would take no for an answer and doubted his own ability to prevaricate. He shrugged. “Louisiana. Dinner table with Momm—Mrs. Baker, and her husband and Eveline.” That was an odd feature of his recurring nightmares: he identified Mr. and Mrs. Baker in his thoughts as Mommy and Daddy, and his fear of them was twisted together with familiarity, even gratitude. “They had my body chopped up in pots.”

The agent made a sympathetic noise. “They tried to eat you?”

“Could be worse,” Robbie said, shrugging again. At least the people they ate didn’t turn into fanged piles of black sludge and stagger around their decaying home for eternity. “I think I’m just…” He glanced around the study: empty, except for the big table and the bookshelf full of Spanish novels that had proved embarrassingly challenging. “I’m, like—in my dreams I’m looking down at myself in the pot and Mm-Mrs. Baker tells me to eat up. I mean. They didn’t have any real food.” He crossed his arms and dug his nails into his own elbows, fighting vertigo. “It was all rotten. No cans left. The animals were all dead.”

“You’re worried about what your brother went through,” the agent said, and Robbie straightened.

“No.” He held his breath, grasping for some plausible argument. They killed dogs that ate people, didn’t they? The BSAA’s hold on their lives now was absolute. “They only had him a few months. I, I mean. It’s my dreams. Making things up.”

“Any problems with your medication? You have the list of side effects to watch for?”

“No.” It was a daily BSAA-issued pill. The first day on his antifungal, Robbie threw up black mold into the toilet until he passed out and slept for ten hours. Better out than in, he’d figured. The next day, and every day since, had been fine. “I mean, no side effects. We’re okay.” A bird warbled and piped from outside, loud and close. Robbie hadn’t left any windows open overnight. He straightened and turned, just as he heard the side door click shut. “Gabe?”

“Should we cut this short?” the agent asked, helpful for once, and Robbie nodded.

“I appreciate it. It’s probably nothing.” He ended the call and checked the dining room, where Gabe often read or watched laggy videos on his own BSAA-issued laptop, and Gabe’s room, where a cornucopia of superhero collectibles spilled from the bed to the floor and a faint (illusory, had to be) scent of mildew lingered despite Robbie’s vigorous daily whole-house cleaning schedule. “Gabe?” He must be outside. Robbie tried to calm himself. Just because Gabe had left the house, didn’t mean he was going to wander over the hills and disappear for two days. Again.

He stepped over the threshold, out from the hundred-year-old walls of his new home and into the alien wilderness: hot sun and rocky hills, no sound but the wind in his ears and birds chattering in the spicy-sweet desert shrubs. He squinted downhill, to the south: shrubs, cliffs, the Mediterranean sea glittering up at him. He peered west: shrubs, hills, the distant remains of a shattered stone fort and the faintly visible danger signs surrounding a radioactive ghost town. He checked north: shrubs, gravel driveway that carved switchbacks over the hills until it disappeared over the horizon, still no Gabe. Assuming that it had been Gabe shutting the door behind him and not the wind, he’d only left the house a few minutes ago; he couldn’t have run out of Robbie’s sight that fast. He might be crouched down to examine some plant or insect, or he might be hiding. (It was still so strange to see Gabe doing these things: running, climbing, hiding. The goddamn study had never even suggested their treatment would do anything for Gabe’s physical limitations, just save his life. When he’d first found Gabe in the Baker house, strong and agile and trying his best to stab him to death, he’d thought Gabe was literally possessed by a demon. The little girl’s mental influence was gone; the abilities she’d given Gabe remained.) He circled around to the east side of the house, reassuring himself that he could always run back inside and climb out onto the roof to get a bird’s eye view (Gabe could just crouch down below some fragrant desert bush and almost disappear), and then all the air rushed out of his lungs with a strange little wheeze when he saw Gabe hunched over and kicking something in the garden.

“Hey, Bud.” Gabe hated being snuck up on after Louisiana, and honestly, so did Robbie. (Gabe could sneak up on him now.) Robbie picked his way through the sprawling jungle of the vegetable garden: beans twining up gnarled bushes and driftwood stakes, tomato vines heavy with fruit stretched out over the sandy ground between lush bunches of lettuce, mellow paprika peppers blazing like Christmas lights from leafy stems. Most of Gabe’s plants, he’d started by planting left-over stems and seeds from their weekly meal prep shipment directly into the dirt with a handful of rotting food-scraps, and they never failed to sprout with a few days of watering. Robbie found himself happy to eat these home-grown vegetables; watching Gabe mulch and water them as they unfurled their leaves and their flowers set into fruit made them more trustworthy, somehow, than the bitter green things sold chopped up in bags at the grocery store. If he’d known growing his own food was this easy, he’d have dug up a roadside strip back in Los Angeles years ago.

Normally there were bees buzzing around the pepper and tomato blossoms, but Gabe’s kicking had scared them off. Robbie approached slowly as Gabe grabbed his digging stick. He hated the tingle of fear down his spine. He had to concentrate to keep from grabbing the scar on his left forearm, reminding himself as he so often did that Gabe was a physically normal kid now. Normal kids could be violent. It didn’t mean anything was wrong. It didn’t mean this wasn’t Gabe.

Gabe side-stepped to hide what he’d been kicking from Robbie, shoving dirt over it with his well-worn stick. Robbie still saw a flash of something red, fleshy. He swallowed. “What is that?”

Gabe dropped his stick and rubbed his face in the crook of his elbow, breath hitching. Robbie stepped closer and saw that the red meaty object was not, to his profound relief, an animal. He wasn’t sure what it was: narrow, spongy, bruised and moist from Gabe’s shoe, with dark gray parts and a tapering red stripe on each of its wedge-shaped segments, looking like a dog’s mouth or one of those bizarre tropical flowers that only blooms every hundred years. “Weird fungus,” Gabe managed.

Robbie knelt down to look at it. He’d never seen a wild mushroom before; he didn’t expect them to be so big, or to be shaped like an open mouth. The colors were a bit like the red and white mushrooms in cartoons, though. “Is it poisonous?”

Gabe shook his head. “It helps the vegetables,” he choked out. “But, I. I didn’t mean to, I’m sorry, I’m sorry you got nightmares. I didn’t mean to.”

Robbie covered his mouth. This was his fault; he hadn’t checked that Gabe was in his room before his call with the BSAA agent. He had to get it through his head that Gabe could move quickly and quietly now, that this was their normal. “I’m so sorry you heard that,” he said. That wouldn’t undo that Gabe had heard that. “Buddy. Gabe.” He reached up for a hug, and Gabe hesitated, staring at his left arm. “That’s just a dream. That’s just my brain trying to make sense of things that make me unhappy, and I’m unhappy about what the Bakers and, and Eveline did to you. Not anything you did. Okay?” Gabe sniffled and rubbed his face again, and Robbie kept his arms open, waiting. “I’m so proud of you for making it out of there. For surviving. I’ll never blame you for anything you had to do to survive.”

Gabe stared down at the stomped remains of the mushroom. “I’m not creepy?”

“No, never. You’re my little bro,” Robbie assured him, and Gabe sat down and flung himself against Robbie’s side. “Why’d you kill the mushroom?”

“Cause it gave you my nightmares,” Gave mumbled. He must mean, nightmares about me, an accurate deduction that would make Dr. DaCosta back home intensely proud of his social reasoning skills, except that Robbie had never seen this mushroom before. Robbie figured that before Gabe smashed it, it must have been nightmarish to look at, in a Hot Topic sort of way. “It’s creepy.”

“I think it looks cool,” Robbie remarked. Spain was full of cool things, now that he had the time and safety to sit back and contemplate them: bugs. Seaweed and weird critters that washed up on the beach. Flowers. Birds that sang—he’d thought their reputation for “singing” was an exaggeration, but it turned out that birds actually do sing. An infinite carpet of stars stretching out overhead, pinks and blues and yellows and so many tiny white lights that the black night might as well have been splashed with foam. And now, huge mushrooms that looked like toothy mouths. “You said it helps the garden, right? I’m not scared of mushrooms that aren’t poisonous.”

“Sure you’re not,” Gabe muttered.

“I’m not scared of mushrooms outside the house,” Robbie qualified. “Will the vegetables be okay?”

Gabe looked up and bit his lip. “Maybe. If I water more. They can’t use the seawater.”

“I’ll calculate how much we can spare from the cistern without running low,” Robbie offered. “We can take shorter showers.”

“I’ll just grow another one.” Gabe poked at the fragments of mushroom with his shoe.

“You can do that?” Robbie had heard that mushrooms were easy to grow with a kit, but he’d never seen it done. He felt a swell of pride at the gardening knowledge Gabe had absorbed from his tablet so quickly.

“It’s really easy,” Gabe said. “But. You gotta tell me if you get my dreams again. Okay?”

“Okay.” Robbie hugged him tighter. “I won’t take your dreams.”

“I don’t think you can do that.” A bee circled overhead and landed on a bean flower. They watched as it nudged its whole head inside the petals, wings and legs fluttering industriously.

[animeniac-writings]

Obey Me - Dogs, Cats, and More!

Otome: Obey Me Shall We Date

I do have a bit of a bias from having chronic rescue cats. Also I like to think there's demon 'pets', but for the sake of this we'll stick to human-realm known creatures.

Lucifer: He's a bit torn between cats and dogs, he loves Cerberus and the excited loyalty of dogs, but quite likes cats, quiet companionship and often independent. That said, he's a tired dad that will put up with (almost) any animal someone brings home.

Mammon: Your man IS a puppy. For you. His favorite animal/pet/familiar is his crows, he says because they're little pickpockets that bring him shiny things, but he loves them so much and coddles them when no one's looking.

Leviathan: Any aquatic life! Fish, eels, octopi, he finds them a lot easier to relate to and likes going on deep swims to look at them. Has given favor to a few throughout time and in turn extended their lifespan. You once told him he should get a pet lobster, since he will live forever, and with help so can they. Also went to a cat cafe with Satan once and really likes the gentle cat he met.

Satan: Cats. 100% Cat person, one who will buy the toe bean socks and take photos of them with their head in a slice of bread. Buys lots of cat themed items. Taking you (or any of his willing brothers if you're busy) on cat cafe dates are his favorite past time.

Asmodeus: Bunnies and chinchillas. Both for the fact they're fluffy, fat, and so cute! He once had a huge white bunny and adored her, even if she did chew on his makeup brushes sometimes. Would gossip and cry into it's fur, has never had a pet since but still loves holding and petting them (and taking so many pictures).

Beelzebub: Dog person for another puppy like demon boy :) Loves big dogs and little dogs, the dogs that will jump up and lick his face when he comes home, taking Cerberus on runs together. He will have a dog and they will do Everything together, workouts, snack time (with it's own pile to chomp on), matching shirts, will carry it around whether it's a mastiff on one arm or a little shaking thing in a purse he carefully holds.

Belphagor: Cats but he is still fond of dogs. Despite his name and their laziness, it's not sloths. Dogs because they remind him of Beel, but unless it's an old or lazy dog, he will prefer it to stay with Beel too. It can always come nap with him though. Has fallen asleep at many a cat cafe with Satan and woke up to multiple cats on him, they know how to find a good sunspot and he can respect that.

Diavolo: He has always wanted a pet, he would be happy with any pet, loves animals, creatures, doesn't have a favorite but he's heartbroken that most are scared of him. Even Cerberus is weary feeling his power.

Barbatos: Dragons, wyrms, and cats. As a being from millennia long ago before the creation of many animals, and having similarities in his demon form self, he greatly respects beasts of old. And cats are both nice companions, cat be low maintenance, and best of all, will hunt mice and rats. Coincidentally, so will small dragons and the like.

Simeon: Cats and quokkas, he's fond of all animals and will says cats if you ask if he's a "cat person or dog person" but nothing quite matches a smiling quokka in his eyes. If you have any pets they will love him immediately and he gets flustered when you pout complaining he 'stole them from you'

Solomon: Possums. He started feeding a possums once, not even knowing what it was, and ended up taking it with him out of curiosity. Unlike the others who will hold off on getting another pet for missing them with short lifespans, Solomon will always have a few around somewhere. He loves feeding them, handing them each piece of fruit into those little hands.

Luke: He says he loves all animals! He would visit them all in heaven often (it was secretly his favorite place to go), his very favorites were the baby seals and turtles though. Seals with those big wet eyes staring up at him, and turtles because they're so slow and he liked to watch them, and always help the ones that got stuck or flipped over.

[mwolf0epsilon]

Fleeting Memory

Summary: Tup is a selfish man.

[Clone Beans AU got me feeling things about Reconditioned Troopers and so why not subject you to some angst with an open ending? Also don't be too tough on Tup, he's trying to come to terms with some really difficult feelings...]

---

Selfishly, Tup can't help but to see Dogma in '22.

It's not a very healthy way to cope with the situation. It's certainly not a fair thing to do to '22. But it's something that Tup can't help but to do to keep himself afloat. To help to deal with the fiery anger that courses in his veins, now that he knows what ultimately happened to his little brother.

In hindsight, the 501st should have asked questions when the report came in. They should have kicked up a fuss and pried into the business of the Kaminoans, when a trooper that had been sent away for temporary detention and questioning turned up "dead" on their meticulous watch.

Such a blatantly shallow excuse as 'logistics error' shouldn't have been met with as much open acceptance from the part of the clones. Especially not after the shitshow that had been Umbara.

Kaminoans were not, after all, prone to making that big of a blunder when precious credits were on the line. Tiny mistakes like mislabeling a clone as someone else, was not something that happened on Kamino. Because, as every single one of them unfortunately knew, everything the long-neck scientists did, they did with a purpose.

And Tup now knew what purpose it served to try to wipe Dogma from the annals of GAR history. Knew the reason very intimately, in fact, as that had been the very same purpose behind his own attempted reconditioning... The results of which are forever marked on Tup Bean, who suffers in an entirely different way from Tup.

There are many ways in which '22 is very much like Dogma.

They share a face (obviously). A very particular way of looking at things that made him look equal parts like the wobbly-legged fathier foal that barely knew how to fare for itself, and the street-smart tooka trying to figure out how to get what it wanted without getting caught.

It was a very difficult expression to explain. Both unsure of a situation and yet so emboldened by the intrigue of figuring it out. It was Dogma in the most Dogma way possible. That mind-boggling oxymoron of uniqueness within conformity, that only he had known how to exist as.

What's more, '22 has certain mannerisms that scream Dogma all over them. The way he prepares himself in the morning in a specific order (shower, socks first, clean undershorts next, body-suit from the bottom up, shave, then finally put on shoes). The clicking of his jaw from side to side when he's thinking about something pretty hard. Or the way he pressed his thumb against each individual finger when he's counting to himself in his head. Even the way he separates his food into organized little piles on his plate so that none of the different options are touching...

Tup had seen Dogma do those things too many times to count on one hand. He sees '22 do them more openly. Never once checking to see if others are watching as he does these things that Tup's little brother used to be somewhat self-conscious of.

This of course leads him to think of the many ways in which '22 is not like Dogma at all.

For as much as his twin used to be shy and reserved, there was no denying that he at least had a steely sort of conviction. So much so that sometimes Dogma would fight to the bitter end when it came to quarrels. In fact, his many strong opinions on certain matters had always been the cause behind his ineptitude at getting along with others. The reason why silly disagreements broke out between him and the rest of their vode so very often (which Dogma Bean, little chaotic hellion that he'd been, often used as an excuse to get back at anyone he considered to have wronged his trooper).

It had bothered Dogma (he had wanted to fit in with the rest of the 501st just as much as Tup did). But not enough that he'd stoop so low as to pretend to be someone he was not. He refused to have his intelligence diminished by others just to be more likeable to them. In his opinion, a friendship was not worth its weight in credits if people couldn't meet at the middle.

Dogma only put in the effort if the other person did as well. And that was something Tup had admired him for. The fact he'd been so very strong-willed (a quality that had been so unfairly turned against him) despite his constant social failings.

In contrast '22 was, for lack of a better descriptor, comparatively spineless. Much more easy to intimidate in a verbal lashing than Dogma ever was. Quieter too. So much so that he never expressed things like discomfort or pain. Even in the face of severe injury (Coric had once thrown an absolute fit when he'd caught him walking on a very obviously broken leg).

He also felt no real compulsion to try to actively make friends. Most of the time he looked at people almost like he was seeing right through them. It made sense. He'd spent far too long in isolation to have any kind of social understanding that didn't come with some very dark connotations.

It was something they were working on (at the very least '22 didn't seem opposed to hanging out with him and Fives, so he counted that as at least some improvement on this particular topic).

Another thing Tup had discovered was that '22's food preferences were different from Dogma's. Kix and Sponge had taken him aside and explained that this was a typical side-effect of what was essentially medically induced brain damage. Reconditioning, they had said, was a very tasking process that messed with a lot of fragile things inside your noggin'.

It was not uncommon for those who suffered a TBI to report their senses of taste and smell to be affected in some way. Tup himself had found that some things he used to eat didn't taste quite as nice as they once had. But seeing '22 scarf down very rich chocolate puddings and other desserts, rather than opt for the savory options was a sight that baffled him at times...

'22 hates cheese (always pushing any thoughtful offerings of what had once been Dogma's favourite treat towards DB, who eagerly accepted them in his stead). He lacks manners as well. But this is more of a motor skill issue than a misunderstanding of proper conduct.

Because another thing that differs heavily between '22 and Dogma, is that the former is constantly shaking and twitching and barely able to hold a spoon steadily, while the latter had perfect posture and a stillness to him reminiscent of a statue. The picture perfect soldier.

Tup knows why he reaches so much to grasp at what little remains of Dogma. He knows why he tries to bring back memories that simply aren't there for '22. He knows why only DB gives him the time of day to talk about these things. The black and white Bean (once a dark blue and red), understands all too well what grief looks like.

Those little yellow eyes of him so full of that familiar ache.

And it's grief that pushes Tup to frustrate '22 so much. He's selfish, wanting Dogma back so much that he sometimes ignores the look of hurt on '22's face. Can anyone fault him?

Knowing the truth is so much worse than thinking his twin had been killed in some stupid logistics accident. Because then at least either a soft-shell medic or a brother in gray, would have been there to comfort him until that damned needle went into his arm and administered the killing dose.

It would be scary but it wouldn't last an eternity of mental anguish.

What happened instead was a bunch of callously indifferent Kaminoans cracked open Dogma's skull and jumbled everything of worth that was inside.

Reset him into a shell of his former self, and then forced him to build himself back up without anyone there to give him a hand. All the while they forced him to look after the lab that had picked him apart and than spat him out wrong.

Tup had watched while strapped down to a metal slab. Head a constant flash of agony. Eye-sockets violated by tiny hammers and needles that whittled away at things he didn't think he'd ever get back. Skin a prickle with goose flesh from the chill and the sight of the dead man walking around him with a mop in hand.

Never once had '22 looked at him with any kind of pity. Just cleaned with a cold sort of indifference, because he'd seen far too many clones like himself and Tup in the same situation to really care.

Been desensitized to the process because it was scarily normal...

He was better now, but that wasn't much in comparison to what he could be. '22 was not Dogma. '22 would never again be Dogma. And that hurt a lot. Tup wasn't ready to let go just yet, even when his mind played dirty tricks on him and dared to forget stuff that he wanted to commit to memory.

The fact '22 was starting to grow on him of his own merit, scared the hell out of Tup. Because he was scared that maybe in accepting his little brother as he was now, he might forget Dogma. He didn't want to forget Dogma. Not like how the GAR and the Republic had.

What a karked up galaxy they lived in that he had to sacrifice the dignity of a brother for the ghost of another...

[asirensrage]

Saudade - chapter 11

Rating: Explicit Pairing: Mikey x OC, Hanma x OC, Ran x OC, Mikey x OC x Draken Fandom: Tokyo Revengers Warnings: swearing, violence, threats of violence, murder, smoking, sex, consensual sex between teenagers, alcohol, recreational drug use, mention of trafficking, torture, family neglect, mentions of sexual violence. isekai OC. memory loss. unbeta’d **warnings are not exhaustive** Summary: No one seems to realize she doesn’t belong until she finally runs into her “new” brother, Hanagaki Takemichi. Now, hearing his story, Takara makes the choice to help him and hopefully find her way home, but faking it til you make it only lasts so long when you start losing the memories of the life you had before. As Takemichi becomes the only family she’s ever known, how far will she go to protect him?

notes: My supervisor wants me to join audible now because she's listened to me read this aloud in the staff room to my friend as I edit it. 😂 I hope you guys enjoy it. It's a little bit of a filler chapter before the action picks up again in the next chapter, but it's also necessary to show these relationships building. Especially the sibling bond between Takara and Takemichi. Let me know what you think. Thanks and enjoy!

also on ao3

fic masterlist - prev chapter

Takara loves being on a motorcycle. It’s the thrill of the speed and how close you get to the ground in a sharp turn. She holds Mikey tightly, feeling confident in the way he’s in control of the machine. She presses her forehead against his back and tries to breathe, to remind herself that she made the right choice. 

He finally stops and Takara looks up to see where he’s brought her. They’re on the waterfront in an area she doesn’t recognize. He parks the bike and gets off before turning to help her get down. She takes his hand and climbs off, letting go once she does before following him to the wall that blocks off the edge of the ocean. 

Takara hops up on the wall and turns to face the water. She feels Mikey leave but he doesn’t say anything so she just waits. If he wanted her company, he’d say something. At least, she figured he would unless he brought her out here to leave her to find her own way home as punishment. 

After a few minutes, in which Takara makes a mental note to get to a beach once it's warmer and swim again, he comes back. Mikey climbs up next to her and faces the ocean, not saying a word. He does, however, hand her something. She takes it, noting that it’s warm, and unwraps it enough to realize it’s Taiyaki. 

“Thanks,” she says before taking a bite. The red bean paste isn’t really sweet, but it’s good and it’s warm and delicious. They sit in silence for a long moment before he finally speaks. 

“Why’d you attack Taiju?”

Takara takes another bite and thinks about her answer. “I was angry.” She chews a little more before she swallows. “I went to a rink earlier that day to skate and clear my head and the Haitainis found me. I didn’t even know I was in their area ‘til they showed up.” She looks over at him. “I wasn’t lying. They didn’t ask me about your gang. They wanted to know about me. Ran flirted but that’s it. He stopped when I asked. They walked me to the subway and fucking Hanma showed up out of nowhere, saying he was there to pick up something that belonged to him.” She scrunches up her face at that. “I left them there and got on the train, heading home where I found Take beat to shit. It was the final straw of my day and I just…snapped, I guess. I grabbed my skates and the bat and just…went looking.” She eats the last bit of the Taiyaki she’s holding. 

Mikey hums slightly. “Want me to deal with Hanma?”

“I can deal with him,” she waves the offer off. “Are you…upset I chose not to join Toman?” 

He's silent for a moment, chewing on his own treat before he answers. “No. You made your choice but it won't stop your affiliation with us. You'll always be connected because Takemitchy is.”

“Yeah,” she sighs and leans back on her hands, staring out at the water. “I know.” 

“You wanted to protect your brother. There's nothing I understand more. Just…be careful, Takara. Other gangs aren't like Toman. And if you need help, ask.” He looks at her this time. “I'll still look out for you. We all will.”

She smiles at him softly. It's easy to understand why so many people want to follow him in moments like these. “Thanks, Mikey.”

🏍️

Takemichi is waiting for her when she gets home. Their parents are actually home but don’t acknowledge her greeting when she walks in the door. Takemichi frowns, looking back at them in confusion. 

“Welcome home,” he greets when there’s silence from the other occupants. “Can we talk?”

“Yeah,” Takara nods. “Wanna walk?”

He shoves his hands into his pockets and nods. “Yeah, sure.” 

She doesn’t say goodbye to their parents, but Takemichi does and they give them more of a send-off than she’d get if it was just her. It stings every time she notices it but Takemichi usually doesn’t. At least not the stupid teen boy he usually is when his future self isn’t here. 

“They…are they always like this?”

Takara shrugs. “I think…they can tell I don’t belong.”

He stops and turns to her, looking angry for the first time she’s ever seen him. “Don’t say that! Of course, you belong! You’re my sister!” he says it with such conviction that Takara can only feel a rush of affection for him. It’s moments like these that she doesn’t regret anything she’s done or planned. 

She reaches out and ruffles his hair, laughing as he pulls away with a protest. “You’re such a sap,” she teases. 

“You’re ruining my hair!”

“I’m the one who bleached it for you! I can ruin it if I want.” She chases after him slightly, laughing as he runs from her. 

“You’re just jealous!”

“Of your fried hair?!”

“Because I have style!”

“Yeah, the style of a fashion reject!”

“Says the girl who only dresses in boy’s clothes!” 

“They’re comfy!” 

🏍️

Takemichi leads them to a playground and the two of them fall silent as they each pick a swing. She has memories of teaching her brother how to swing high enough to rattle the chains and pretend to reach for the clouds…and they merge with two older brothers teaching her how to do the same. It’s faded, as if the reel has been played so many times it’s starting to fall apart. She wonders what that means for her…and why it doesn’t seem to alarm her more. 

“Takara…what’s going on? What was all that earlier?”

She sighs before swinging back and forth slightly. “What part?”

“All of it! What was the choice you made? Why did you have to make it? Who are the Haitanis and what the hell was going on with Hanma? Where did Mikey take you?!” 

“Breathe, Take,” she says, trying to keep her voice light. “Calm down.”

“How can I be calm!? You want me to tell you everything but I don’t even know what the fuck’s going on with you? Why was Hanma so upset?”

“Fuck if I know,” she shrugs. “That asshole seems to think he has some kind of claim on me. When I was with Ran and Rindou, the Haitanis, he showed up as they walked me to the station and basically said he was picking something up that belonged to him. Called me his girl.” She pretends to retch at that. “He’s probably pissed I ditched him and wouldn’t go with him in front of Ran and Rindou.”

“...the Haitanis…are gang leaders, right?”

“I don’t know. I think so? They run Roppongi. Told me they didn’t need a gang. They did it all by themselves.”

“How do you know them?”

She swings back and drags her feet on the ground, watching the marks she makes instead of looking at the concerned face of her brother. “You remember the junkyard? The fight that killed Baji?”

“...yeah.”

She nods. “When I showed up there, I saw them sitting. They looked mostly safe, and at least emptier than some of the other spots filled with guys. I asked them if I could sit down and they tried to warn me off. I told them I was there to make sure you didn’t do something stupid and when Baji first got stabbed, I called the cops and told them to run…a thanks for the protection.” Takara shrugs. “Apparently I intrigued them. I swear I was only skating but they heard I was around and came out to see me. They really did just want to talk. Well, Ran flirted.”

Takemichi’s face scrunches up in disgust. “Gross!”

She grins. “Face it, brother. Your sister is super cute and all the guys want her.”

“Yeah, all the criminals!”

“Win some, lose some,” she says, just because she knows it’ll irritate him. 

“Takara!”

“What?” she grins. “Relax, Take. I’m not planning on dating any of them.” That’s a lie. “As for the choice…that had to do with me threatening the leader who fucked you up.” She motions to his face. The two of them were peas in a pod with how bruised and battered they both were. “There…there are rules to things like that because he attacked a captain of another gang. Toman was obligated to respond in some way, but because of my actions, I kind of forced their hand. I’m known to be connected to Toman because of you and because of the way everyone saw me try to save Baji. If Toman claimed that I was a part of the gang and retaliated on their behalf, they’d take responsibility for essentially starting a war between the two gangs. I’d have to officially join Toman in some fashion…where I’d be protected from other gangs…but I’d be in a position where I’d have to take orders. Or I could remain unaffiliated, Toman would claim they had nothing to do with it but retaliation would be served and the two gangs could go back to ignoring each other. I would be free from the restraints that joining Toman would put me in…but there’s no protection. I’m essentially labelling myself as free game.”

“What the fuck?!” Takemichi stands and turns to look at her, forcing her to stop swinging. “Why would you choose that? Why wouldn’t you let us protect you?”

“You’re not thinking,” she snaps. “Joining your stupid fucking gang would protect me, but it’d put me in a position where I’d have to take orders! It might be Mikey giving them, or it might be someone else like Kisaki. You think I want to be under his thumb? Or closer to his stupid obvious right-hand man Hanma? It’s bad enough I have that asshole fucking tracking somehow. I need freedom. I need to be able to act how I think is right because if I have to kill someone to protect you, I will.”

He stares at her in shock. “Takara…”

“I mean it,” she says, looking up at him. “You’re the only thing I actually have in this world. You’re giving everything to try to save Hina, to save everyone, why can’t I do the same?”

“Because!”

“Why? Because I’m a girl?” she asks, daring him to answer.

“Because you’re my sister! I don’t want you hurt!”

“..oh.” she looks up at him, finally registering the way he’s crying in fear over her, over what can happen to her. Takemichi drops to his knees in front of her.

“You weren’t here. You don’t know. There was a gang before, Mobius. They were…they were manipulated by Kisaki, but they attacked Pah-chin’s friend and his girlfriend. They raped her, Takara. I saw her in the hospital. She had tubes to fucking breathe! So forgive me for not wanting anything to happen to you!” He leans forward, resting his forehead on her knees as he cries. 

She feels like shit. She’s so used to people thinking she can’t do anything because she’s a girl, because her brothers can do it better, that it’s always the automatic assumption. She sighs, running a hand through his hair like she did when they were kids. “I’m sorry. I just…I couldn’t accept it. I have to try, Take. I have to be able to…to react how I want. I know you don’t like it, but I’ll be fine. Honestly, if I can take down that fucking giant with a bat, or my other fucking stalker with a hockey stick, I think I’ll be able to handle whatever comes. I know the rule: run like hell.” 

He looks up at her, face running with tears and snot. “Just promise–promise to get help! Come back to us if you need it!” 

“I promise,” she says, smiling softly. The lie sits like lead in her stomach.

tag list: @raith-way @zeleniafic @veetlegeuse @chickensarentcheap @residentdormouse

@themaradwrites @kingsmakers @thatmagickjuju @awkwardchick87 @hayatoseyepatch

tr tag: @mitsuwuyaa @blackfire2013 @bleach-your-panties @reiners-milkbiddies

saudade tag: @thisbicc @scythegal  @maraya-007

network tag: @pixelcafe-network

[narcoticwriter]

Let's 'Rec' It - The Narcotic Edition

Yeah, I have Genshin fic recommendations that I need to shove down people's throats, keep scrolling, keep scrolling . . .

Series -

the angel share's cat - Although some may find it to be a bit canon divergent as this was written in the pre 2.8 era of Ragbros fanfiction. I can say with confidence that this was one of my favorite series of all time. It still is.

beasts and mortals (and how to cross the distance in between) - I absolutely love the characterization between the two main characters and the time the author takes to really flesh them out and have them interact with each other and others around them.

nobody in liyue respects diluc - This was one of the goofier fics I've read, but I had a good laugh. Essentially the 'What if Diluc Didn't Go Back to Mondstadt' speculative fanfiction that goes absolutely hogwild on the lore and respect to research.

Kazuha and The Crux Fleet (the family we made along the way) - Genuinely one of the most solid series surrounding the Crux Fleet I've experienced in a while as well as realistic whump and hurt/comfort. Featuring some other characters as well!

Legacy of the Ragnvindr Brothers - In my personal opinion, this fic is foundational to what I look for to a subconscious degree. Also written in the pre-2.8 Ragbros era, it sticks out with how it kicks off and how they deal with it long-term.

Frost And Flame - A Tale of Two Brothers - This series was one I kept up with at its tail end, and I was quite invested in it. The author had a blast and so did I. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but if you're willing to excuse the low-key crack in some places as well as other canon-divergent elements, then I recommend it.

memento mori, bitch! - I laughed so hard at this series that I felt my ribs start to shift and crack. Scaramouche is a little bitch. Arataki Itto is a himbo. Kuki Shinobu is holding it together by a thread. Beans.

Fox Tricks - This is probably the only Eimiko-centric thing I genuinely like as the characterization is top-tier, the writing is top-notch, and the realism is unmatched. Recommend to anyone willing to read through it.

noir!Fischl - What if Fischl consumed noir novels instead of fantasy ones?

Mora for a Myth 'verse - Arguably my best example of abusing how open Genshin Impact's worldbuilding is to make something better, featuring Beiguang.

Teyvat University of Fuck-Ups- I Mean Allogenes - Featuring familiar faces in a University AU as well as a healthy dose of characterization.

scarlet and amethyst - There is always that one crazy person in the fandom that latches onto a rarepair and makes it their mission to produce nothing but content for it. This is one of them and I salute them.

About Tengu Courtship - A Sara-centric fic on how and why the hell she's feeling things for Itto and vice versa.

the ragnvindr-alberich get along sweater - A slew of lore, headcanons, and character interpretations meet in a Modern AU that makes sense.

A Cat Visits A Winery - Diluc and Diona interact and grow closer as they bond over things they didn't quite expect to.

An Unexpected Duet - In which Barbara begins to develop a friendship and feelings for a certain bard, prompting an interesting path of character development.

Resurrection and Mayhem - Qiqi does not want to lose her main source of coconut milk, so she resurrects Childe as a zombie. Hijinks ensue.

contemplation, empathy, praxis - An Al-Haitham-centric collection that features him being put in situations and interactions that he would not be in ideally.

unfocused - A fanfiction that caused me to not only reach Ao3's character limit for the comments but had me compose a whole essay on it. The following smut also never broke the established character for a second.

let everyone be a part of you, a little - A collection of one-shots featuring interesting character interactions not usually present in-game and their varying headcanons. Some of my favorites.

occupational hazards - A Fontaine-centric collection featuring some of our favorite characters as well as dealing with a good chunk of the Archon Quests. Arguably some of the best stuff I've read.

Multi-Chapter Fics -

Scary Love - This fic took me the fuck out. You have to read it for yourself to really understand where I'm getting at. It slaps hard.

A Hypostatis' Guide to Godhood - Featuring Klee as its adopted child. It's not finished, but it slaps regardless of it. It gets technical, but this didn't stop me from having a good time.

All In A Day's Work - One of the only Noelle-centric fics that not only characterizes her well, but manages to stay true to its tags of 'crack treated seriously'. Also features NPC love, which is always a good thing to have.

how to human - A Razor-centric fic featuring Razor trying to learn what it is to be human as well as who he is. It made me cry inside.

Broken Wings - This one surprised me. The writing is one of the best I've seen for a premise like this. It's a genuine treat I go back to from time to time.

Teapot Tales - The dream of shoving characters into a space and watching how they interact like scientists observing a petri dish.

How To Finish Your Bucket List Before You Die- A Guide From Kaeya Alberich - The title is self-explanatory, but it's done so tragically well that I had to put it here. Came out way before anything substantial was done to canon, but still captures Kaeya's character perfectly.

The Meaning of Bromance - In which a card game sends Thoma on errands, stirs Itto into a bout of manic desperation, and spurs Ayato's typical scheming. Truer to the characters than usual. A good chuckle.

Circles - In which Lisa's house is burned down by accident and Klee inadvertently becomes a catalyst for two folks to get together.

Cake Crumbs - In which the trope of being a fake couple for a discount for food is taken up a notch.

Ragnvindr Brothers Mortuary and Co. - In which Crepus' death unlocks a morbid curiosity in the boys instead of the canon-typical fallout.

The Final Campaign - In which Diluc finds a leather-bound journal in his father's study and the nostalgia comes punching back with a vengeance only abated by seeing it through to the end.

throw me to the unknown (and hope for my return) - In which Venti has a rough time and Beidou is there to help him out of it. Featuring some other character interactions.

adrift - In which Tama's cat ends up with Kazuha in the end.

A Tengu's Flock - In which Sara delves into what 'home' really is when a kind elderly woman opens up her own, only for Sara to find out who inhabits that home and bond with them as well.

Problem Conversion - In which due to varying circumstances, Faruzan and Al-Haitham interact, with much being exchanged between them.

adoration - In which there is an Adelinde-centric approach to the Dawn Winery dynamic, in varying points of time.

Little Lioness - In which Jean is somehow turned into a cat, and the events that follow.

Kuki Shinobu's Day Off - In which Kuki Shinobu ends up getting sick, so Itto and the gang have to pick up the slack and try to take care of their deputy.

Carved in Stone - In which the Arataki Gang is founded, featuring some deep character analysis and tribulation

One Shots -

Lone Wolves - An intricate and wonderfully thought-out coming-of-age one-shot featuring the trio of Bennett, Fischl, and Razor and their unbreakable bond.

stubborn - In which Kazuha is recovering from an injury and insists that he's fine, but Beidou has none of that. Featuring Baizhu, the acceptable use of a syringe, and decent hurt/comfort in the midst of sickness.

Grow Forward - Collei takes the first step to improving her relations with Cyno and Tighnari offers her his support in doing so. If 3.5 didn't exist, this would be an acceptable subsidiary.

looking out for you - Ragbros without the pinch of angst but accompanied by diabetes-inducing fluff. It gave me whiplash to see them depicted as such, so now you have to experience it too.

clinical horror - Ningguang hates the dentist, but her tooth aches. And yes, Beidou forces and half-drags her to the dentist anyway because pain medication will only do so much.

Perilous Brunch Bunch - The Chasm gang gets some brunch and hangs out together, from the NPCs' point of view.

my home without seasons - Kaedehara Kazuha finds another place he can call home.

Butter Knife - Canon-divergent and goes into the speculative question of what would happen if Diluc properly lost his mind.

Kitties on Board - The Alcor suffers under a plague of cats, or that's what the captain of said boat would call it.

Like a Pair of Hunting Birds - Shenhe and Xiao in a character study with some interesting peeks into some of their shared traits.

consequences of one [1] sakoku decree - Ganyu deserved to go off a little and her reasons are entirely justified.

a knight and a nun walk into a bar - Kaeya and Rosaria have a few drinks, and a lot more that wine is spilled.

I Heard You Like Cocogoats - A prank war between two individuals that will inevitably have people caught in the crossfire.

calm after the storm - Diona grapples with who Diluc is and what she pictures him to be.

Rest Day - In what world would Chongyun's exasperation boil over into hatred? This one, but only speculatively, of course.

The Tale of Klee and the Gender Reveal Bombs - Who gave the child specializing in the making of pyrotechnics access to smoke bombs?

saraba pasara - It's Qiqi's birthday, and it comes with some baggage.

"But that'll hurt real bad!" - A punch here, a dented guard there, and the varying miscommunications that arise as a result.

Dawn Winds, Heed My Vision - Diluc bears witness to his Archon in the midst of dissociation.

to new beginnings - Freminet stumbles upon the Hydro Dragon and they become friends.

[wenwenbittercake]

Chapter 1: Save Me🏹🥀🏹🥀🏹🥀🏹

(I guys I am back with another older man with a daddy issued y/n. I am so glad with how my past works had been doing so here is another series. Hope you enjoy.)

Run. The only thing that’s going through her head was to run. Run even if the sole of her feet throb from pain. Run even if her lungs burn. She needs to run. The snarls and lazy steps crept from every corner of the forest. Y/N has no destination, no place to hide. The only thing she could do now is to run. Out of nowhere, Y/N tripped from the tree root, causing her to fall flat ass on the hard forest floor. A behind her slowly starts to close its distance from her. Due to exhaustion, y/n struggle to get up immediately. Hopelessness fills in her head, she starts rethinking her life decision to lead to this very moment. Start regretting every wrong she made. Is this it? Is this the way she goes, being torn up into pieces by walkers?

Just as the walker was going to reach her face, an arrow shoots right through its skull. A relief went through her until she started to wonder where the arrow came from. Her questions were solved when the owner of the arrow came into view. A redneck with a crossbow appears out from the trees. He comes to check if the walker is dead then he pulls out the arrow stuck in the skull of his victim. You look shocked, your E/C eyes as wide as a doll’s. You worry what he might do to you as you know damn well that humans are more dangerous than walkers, but right now you have no choice, you’re starving and weak, the only living thing you can depend on right now is this redneck.

The man turns to the direction of the snarls and groans coming from the forest. His eyes panic. He looks at your form up and down.

“Can you walk?” He asked which sounds more like a demand.

You hurriedly nod. Then, in a split sec. He pulled you up and started taking off. The throbbing pain in your leg makes you stumble a bit. The impatience shows when he picks you up as easily as a sack of beans in bridle style and starts running. You don’t know if the man will lead you to safety or danger but you have no choice. You are in the mercy of the man’s hands and you let yourself to be. You hope this isn’t another reason to regret as you fainted in his arms from exhaustion.

This is how you met Daryl Dixon. The hot headed, nothing but troubled brother but also the one who saved you without knowing anything about you. The night he brought you to the camp, Shane was against bringing you in. His actions were justifiable as no one knows anything about you or where you are from, but Daryl. He stands up for you, fighting with Shane even to keep you in the camp. With the pity of Lori you are able to stay in the camp till this day.

You help Carol cook food with the squirrels and other animals Daryl hunted for. Even though the Dixon brothers contribute much to the campsite, no one seems to like them. Their poor manners and etiquettes made them unlikeable. So, this led you to be the only one who brought food to the Dixon’s trailer. You knock on the door, hoping Daryl would show up so you could thank him. However, the other brother shows up. Merle Dixon, with a toothpick between his teeth and a nonchalant look on his face that tells you he’s nothing but trouble.

“So, what do we have here?” “I’m here to give your share for the day.” You said as you passed the stew bowl to him. “And I also want to thank Daryl for saving me.” “Ohh, you wanna see my baby brother?” He grins. “Well, it would be nice but he’s busy it’ fine.” You said nervously. “Nah, I bet he won’t mind at all, why don’t you come in? Daryl’s out hunting. You can wait right here till he comes back.” You were quite worried about the offer. You feel like walking into the trailer would be walking into a trap. “No, no thanks, I can just wait in the kitchen.” “Are you sure?” “Yea, yea, I’m sure.” You hurriedly run back to the camp’s kitchen.

Still feeling quite uncomfortable with the way Merle started at you. What you don’t know is the ill intentions that loom behind the eyes of Merle’s gray eyes.

Daryl walks back to the campsite, with squirrels and a rabbit. He gives it to Carol for her to cook and before he leaves, Carol pulls his arm.

“Daryl, I need to talk to you.” Daryl looked annoyed at first but seeing the concern in Carol's eyes, he decided to hear her out. “What is it?” “It’s about Merle.” “What did he do this time?” Daryl sounds unamused, it’s his brother’s nature to cause trouble. “I don’t like his intentions on Y/N. She told me, while you were out hunting, Merle invited her over. She thinks he’s just being nice, but you and I both know Merle ain’t nice to no one without expecting something back.” Carol looked dead in the eyes to Daryl, a glare that he had never seen. “What am I supposed to do about it?” “Just tell your brother to keep his dick in his pants.” Carol said as she continued aggressively chopping carrots.

Daryl walks back to the trailer almost stomping on the way. The slams the trailer door open, causing Merle to jump from his bed.

“Why the fuck you being so dam loud?” Daryl didn’t even bother answering his question. “I heard back from Carol what you did.” “What did I do this time??” “I’m talking about Y/N.” “Ohh, her. She came over while you were gone to give the stew. She said something about wanting to thank you. I was hoping she could thank you in another way.” He grins wide, making an inappropriate gesture. Daryl feels grossed out by the thought of it. No way he’s going to let that happen to you. “Fuck no, it ain’t happening. Not on my watch.” He slams his crossbow on the table. “What’s the matter little brother? You catching feelings for the new girl?” “What? No, I’m saying this because, Carol will cut your dick off if anything happens to Y/N.” “Nope, I think it’s more than that.” Merle stood up going face to face with Daryl. “Let me tell you somethin little brother. Girls like Y/N don’t go for runaways like us. They think they are too good for us. She may seem all sweet and nice now but at the end of the day, they all run into the arms of a richer, more noble man.” He said as he pats Daryl’s shoulder and went out of the trailer.

The words loom in Daryl’s head. There is some ounce of truth in what his brother had said. Girls like you don’t deserve to be with runaways like him. You don’t deserve to live in the world that he lives in. You deserve better.

(Thank you for reading my fan fiction and I hope you enjoy. Don't forget to heart the post if you enjoy so I could continue my future works. 🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀)

[lydiahosek]

Reconnection

[My contribution to the @inklings-challenge Christmas challenge, and a follow-up to my 2022 story "Connection". Thank you for hosting and merry Christmas!]

“…Hi everyone. Merry Christmas! At least, it should be Christmas by the time you get this. Right now it’s November 15th.”

In fact, it was December 27th when Arlo Connors’ transmission reached his family back on Earth. The first days had been spent by the Connors with the vague concern for him that always regrew in the back of their minds between messages. In a consolatory sort of coincidence, though, it arrived smack in the middle of the annual Christmas party, and the entire extended family (minus two strep-stricken cousins at home in bed) gathered and hushed to hear his voice.

Ever the dutiful son/brother/grandson/nephew/cousin, he first addressed the high points of the last transmission he received from them. He wished Jessamine well in her audition for the role of Claire in her school’s production of String Bean Salad Summer, complimenting the snippet of “One Tiny Seed” she had sung into the receiver. Jessamine shifted in her seat – she had ended up in the ensemble and was still a little stung about it. He advised Aunt Sybil on the glitch with her smart microwave that she had described. Sybil had to be stopped from bustling off to the kitchen to try the repair at that very moment. He congratulated Tim and Nadine on their one-year anniversary. They smiled and clasped hands – he would be an uncle in five months and didn’t even know it yet.

“Everything up here is going mostly according to plan. The biology team says the plants aren’t doing as well as they thought – something to do with the artificial atmosphere. But Alonzo and the rest of the techs’ gadgets are all working fine. A few might even get adapted for commercial sale…We passed Pellonia about a month ago. For once everyone just dropped what they were doing and stared. It looked like a big, cloudy orange. I tried to take a picture, but you know. It’s not the same.

“The big news is that I actually took a spacewalk last week.” Arlo described the simple but urgent malfunction with the ship’s thruster that required his direct attention, the process of being dressed in the spacesuit, and the combination of wonder and dread that filled his heart as he moved along the edge of the ship, his tether to it, to humanity, no wider than a garden hose. Several of his audience hung on his every word with little technical understanding but agonized suspense, forgetting that the account itself was proof that his time outside the ship had ended without incident.

“It sounds silly, but I kept thinking of the first time I jumped off the diving board at Uncle Harold’s pool. The same sense of something exciting, somewhere new to explore, all by myself, but also having to be alert, not get lost in it or…disaster. I was talking about it with Val…that’s Valeria Munroe, if Mom still has the article with the group picture saved…What am I saying, of course she does.”

Hetta had already whipped out her comm pad, opened her “Saved” folder, and retrieved the news article announcing the mission with its accompanying photo of the entire crew. She hovered her cursor over a few different faces before a text box appeared over one with the title “Valeria Munroe” and a brief biography. She smiled to herself and nodded. “She’s pretty.”

“Mo-oomm!” Arlo’s siblings chorused on his behalf.

“Anyway, it got me thinking, and I know it’s really early to say this, but…this trip’s going to be my last.”

A wave of confused, dismayed whispers swept through the room, followed by one of harsh shushing.

“I…I had always thought about the things I had made that I was sending up there…up here…that something my hands had touched was going to be sent past other planets and asteroid fields and onto worlds I had never seen and couldn’t even imagine. And even more than the pay bump and the…I dunno, ‘prestige’ as opposed to being a ground guy, I wanted to see for myself what I was working for. And now I have. And it’s not like…I don’t regret it, but I know I can’t maintain it. Just like I couldn’t stay outside any longer than it took to do what I had to do. It was beautiful, I was closer to it all than I’ve ever been, but the connection back was so thin, just like…sorry, I…”

Here they heard an unintelligible voice in the background and Arlo’s, muffled, saying “No, I’m fine.”

Then his voice was clear again. “I, um…I really miss you. I guess, is the point. And the sky and the trees and…traffic and barbecue smoke and those crummy slushies from Burger Beanie.” He made a noise between a laugh and a shudder. “More than anyone else here does, or did, it seems. The ones who’ve made a career out of this. Maybe they were like this too their first time and just forgot, but…I don’t want to forget. So…yeah.”

Hetta could be heard sniffling off to the side. “Mom,” one of Arlo’s sisters cooed softly, placing a hand on her arm.

Arlo clapped his hands loudly. “So! Now that I know that, I am going to try to strengthen my connections to whoever and whatever I can up here. And you will hear about it all! Sorry this message is so short, but I promise the rest won’t be. ‘Cause when I’m back down there, for good…I don’t want to forget, either.”

He left them with a few more pleasantries, Christmas wishes, and words of love, and then the room was silent. It remained so for the better part of a minute, until Sybil offered to start slicing up the gingerbread cake.

Someone hit the “Play” icon on her comm pad, and peppy, harmonic voices resumed singing. Gradually new conversations began, and gradually they were about topics other than the absent son/brother/grandson/nephew/cousin/uncle-to-be. He would hear all about them, though, in about two months. The best gift he could get, as he and those below continued the wait till the mission's end for the best gift he could give.

[lvrdrm]

small victories — joel miller

warnings: none i don’t think, just joel being emotionally unavailable

a/n: wrote this running solely on fumes im gonna pass out after this, BUT FIRST JOEL MILLER FIC! there’s not much of a relationship here but i’m planning on building it as i go. hope you enjoy! love u. | 0.6k words

joel doesn’t talk to you much, but you know he cares. he’s gentle with you, patient, and protective. his hard exterior never seeming to crack beyond that, his walls were built up so high it was no use trying to break through them. so you didn’t, keeping to yourself as much as he kept to himself.

it was a silent agreement between you both, survive and have eachothers backs. it’s easy enough, he’s methodical and strong you’re smart and agile. your dynamic was easy and it worked, it had gotten you this far.

you just wish he would talk to you more. hes always around but it often gets lonely, only being talked to when absolutely needed. truth is, you can’t remember the last time you had a real conversation with joel other than concocting plans or quick exchanges.

you’d been partners for over a year now and you barely knew a single thing about him, other than him having a brother out there somewhere and a daughter he lost early on. but you wanted to know him, if he had any hobbies before the outbreak or what his favorite color is.

“y/n.” his stern voice knocked you out of your trance.

“hm? sorry, i was thinkin’,” you picked at your dirty fingernails, scraping the muck out from underneath them, “what’s up?”

he stared at you for a few beats, “hungry?”

you were starving but you knew there was only enough food for one of you, you also knew he’d go hungry if you said yes, “no, i’m alright thank you.”

“alright,” joel shoved the can of 20 year old baked beans back into his bag. “we’ll save it for tomorrow.”

“no joel, eat,” your hand made its way to his hand, placing it on top softly. “please.”

he stiffened under your touch, gently pulling his hand away from yours. he shook his head, “i’ll be alright.”

“what was your favorite food before y’know, all this.” it was a desperate attempt to keep him talking, to keep the conversation from ending.

his eyes stayed on the forest floor, he thought for a moment and then he shrugged, “don’t know.”

“c’mon there has to be something! mine was pecan pie.” even the thought of it made your stomach growl.

“i’ve never had it.”

you gasp slightly, “you’ve never had pecan pie? i’ll have to make it for you someday.” a soft smile makes its way onto your lips.

he nodded.

“why don’t you talk to me?” the words came out before you could stop them.

he looked at you for a moment, contemplating. “let’s start heading to bed, gotta be up early.” he sat up from the floor, dusting himself off and grabbing the sleeping bags from the back of bills truck.

you sighed quietly, “okay.”

he noticed the shift in your attitude but he pretended not to. instead he layed the sleeping bags down next to eachother.

“gonna be warm enough?”

you nodded softly, quietly settling into your sleeping bag. he followed suit, adjusting himself until he was on his side facing away from you. you chose to face him, your eyes being met with the back of his head. it took everything out of you not to run your fingers through his hair.

“pancakes.” his voice was quiet but loud enough for you to hear it.

“what?” you had heard him but you wanted to make sure you weren’t hearing things.

“pancakes, i really like pancakes.”

you smiled to yourself, it wasn’t much but it was the first time he had rly let you in on something like this. a small victory but a victory nonetheless. “good choice.”

[pickinglilahs]

Blackeclipse for the soul

Part 29; Part 30; Part 31; Part 32 This is the part I've been waiting to write for weeks now Also, I made this a bit longer to make up for the last one

Today was the day.

The Diversion Prank

Operation Discredit Snivillus

The February Moon

It was all going down today.

Remus felt sick.

Reasonably, he knew that everything would be fine, but he still worried.

Remus, Kingsley, and Regulus had blocked out the whole day in half-hour increments. Planning who would be where, when, and as who.

Kingsley and Sirius would take turns being Remus, while Regulus and James took turns being with him in the Shack. Peter and Benji would be releasing twelve rabbits throughout the school during the first two classes of the day (each numbered 1-13 with none of them labeled 9).

Mary, Marlene, Lily, and Pandora had all agreed to be one of the boys for an hour at different intervals, though they weren't given enough information to figure out what the boys were planning. The girls were understandably suspicious, but after Remus and Regulus had assured them that the prank was harmless and no one was going to get hurt, they all jumped on board.

While everything had been planned meticulously, there were too many moving parts, too many things that could go horribly wrong. It was too late to change anything though. At this point, all Remus could do was sit back and wait.

And so, two hours before dawn, Remus gave up on sleep and got out of bed. He hadn't slept a wink that night, even with James and Regulus holding him; he was just too tense. He showered and dressed quietly, taking his time.

Remus came out of the bathroom to see James sitting up in bed, Regulus wrapped loosely around his waist. Rubbing his eyes blearily, James turned towards him and held out a hand. Remus went over, sitting on the edge of the bed, lacing their fingers together.

James kissed Remus' knuckles before using their linked hands to pull Remus farther onto the bed. Remus huffed as he fell onto James; Regulus grumbled in his sleep and rolled over, wriggling until his back pressed against the outside of James' thigh.

James settled Remus between his legs and wrapped himself around the smaller boy. Remus tried to relax, and he did a little. It was hard not to when James was gently rocking them side-to-side and humming softly in his ear.

Then Padfoot jumped onto their bed. He came over, nosing at Remus' knees before lying down between his legs, head on Remus' thigh. Smiling, Remus buried his fingers in Padfoot's fur, scratching him gently behind the ears.

They sat like that for a bit. James humming. Padfoot begging to be petted. Remus swaying gently, surrounded by warmth and love.

~~~

An hour before sunrise, Regulus' wand chirped, as did Kingsley's.

Regulus waved his hand—finally getting the hang of wandless magic—and rolled over. When he went to wrap his arms around James and Remus, however; Padfoot was in his way.

Grumbling and half asleep, he pushed at his brother, trying to get the dog to move. Padfoot just barked happily and licked at his brother's hand and face.

Regulus was about to shift into Beans to bite his brother when there was a sharp whistle. Both boys froze and Padfoot cocked his head to the side, listening.

Kingsley whistled again and Padfoot leapt off the bed and bound over to where he sat on the edge of Sirius' bed. The dog sat between Kingsley's feet and waited, head cocked, and ears perked.

Regulus snorted.

Kingsley arched an eyebrow, daring the younger Black to say anything as he held out a hand toward Padfoot. Sirius shifted back and took the hand, letting Kingsley pull him to his feet. The two disappeared into the bathroom and the trio on the bed looked at each other in amusement and disbelief.

Rolling his eyes, Regulus wrapped himself around Remus and James' waists and nuzzled into Remus' side. Smiling, Remus ran his fingers through Regulus' curls the same way he had been petting Padfoot.

When Kingsley and Siri exited the bathroom sometime later, James put his chin on Remus' shoulder. "I need to get ready," his voice was soft and warm, giving Remus chills.

Nodding, he leaned forward so James could escape. Regulus grumbled at being jostled, but, now that James was gone and Remus was leaning farther back, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to sprawl completely on top of Remus. He rested his hand against Remus' cheek, sending calm through their Bond.

With a chuckle, Remus huffed, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were possessive, Starshine." Remus' hand resumed trailing through Regulus' curls.

The younger boy nuzzled into Remus' neck but grumbled at his words.

Chuckling again, Remus placed a kiss to the top of his head. "Rwy'n dy garu di, Seren Ddisgleirio."

"Je t'amie, Rayon de Lune."

James flopped down on the bed beside them, throwing one arm over Regulus' back. "And I love you both."

He kissed both their cheeks; Remus and Regulus smiling and laughing as he did it over and over.

James' wand chirped and he pulled away. It was 7:30. The sun would be rising just after 8. Regulus gave Remus a soft kiss before rolling off to let him up. Remus sat up with a sigh and moved off the bed with James.

As Remus put on his shoes, he went over the first part of the plan with the others. "Siri, you have the potion?"

"Yup, I'll be going down to breakfast with Reggie as you, and we'll be sitting with his snake friends."

"And you won't be calling them snakes." Regulus chided.

Sirius rolled his eyes but nodded for Remus' sake.

"Kingsley?" Remus frowned and stood.

"I have the cloak. I'm leaving with you and going back to my dorm then coming to ask if Regulus has seen James or Siri this morning."

"And we'll say 'Nope, they're probably off plotting,' because that's a normal thing we actually do."

Remus nodded to himself. "And the girls-"

James came over and wrapped him in a hug. "Peter and the girls all know their part. Lily and Benji will keep them in line. Try to relax, Moonbeam. There's nothing else we can do right now but wait."

Remus sighed and closed his eyes.

Kingsley kissed Sirius before grabbing his things. "We should be going before the sky gets any lighter."

Remus nodded, pulling away from James to grab his own things. Kingsley donned the cloak and James and Remus cast disillusionment charms on themselves.

The charms weren't as effective as the cloak, but that's why they were heading out so early. They were taking advantage of the darkness now, even though the moon wouldn't be up until almost 10 am.

They made it to the Shack without incident. James pulled Remus upstairs and began setting up their nest. Remus, still anxious, let James pull him down to the floor, they sat with Remus lying half on his side between James' legs, his head on James' thigh and their Soulmarks resting together.

Remus closed his eyes, trying to relax as James told him ridiculous stories and tried to distract him.

~~~

Moony was pacing when Regulus came to switch with James. He had left the cloak and a plate of food in the tunnel, unlocking the hatch and shifting as he came through.

The wolf came straight for him, whining and licking his face. Beans tackled him, rolling around and licking him back, reassuring him that everything was fine.

Prongs slipped out while they were distracted, as he had to shift back to fit through the trap door.

Stupid antlers.

Moony calmed considerably as they tussled, rolling and playing and getting absolutely covered in dust. It wasn't until he noticed that Prongs had left that he began whining and pacing again. Beans tackled him, half laying on him to get the wolf to settle.

The next class would be starting up at the castle soon; only two hours to go. The plan had gone well so far. All of the rabbits had been transfigured from random objects and released all over the castle.

Siri had gone to Remus' first class—Runes—while Mary pretended to be James for the first two classes. Kingsley went to Remus' second class—DADA—with Lily pretending to be him and Siri sticking by his side.

Pandora was Regulus at lunch and for their first afternoon class—Potions—. Marleen was Sirius while he was Remus during their Herbology lesson.

All the while, the rabbits were multiplying. Every time one was hit with a spell, be it banishing or a finite or anything else, it would multiply by three. Every new rabbit had its own number, with more getting skipped randomly along the way.

All of the new rabbits were also extra special as they made random—i.e. loud and annoying—animal sounds at random intervals.

The icing on the cake–and Sirius' favorite part of the prank—was the steadily growing herd of rabbits following Snape. These rabbits, though they were the multiplied variety, stayed quiet; that is, until Snape tried to speak. Then a cacophony of highly inappropriate and disgusting sounds drowned him out.

~~~

At 3 pm, the moon finally set. Remus and Regulus cleaned each other off and made their way back to the castle under disillusionment charms. They snuck into a closet off the main hall to drop the charms and were soon joined by James.

James beamed at them, wrapping Remus in a hug. "Alright, Moons?"

He nodded, smiling weakly and resting his head on James' shoulder. "Tired."

James nodded and placed a kiss on his head. Regulus kissed Remus' Marked cheek before slipping away and toward his last class. James waited a moment, then pulled Remus out into the chaos of the corridor.

Before they even made it to their seats in the dungeon, Slughorn informed them that class was canceled. Apparently, there was enough rabbit fur floating through the air to mess with the potions, making it too dangerous to hold class. Remus leaned further into James in relief.

James leaned down to ask, "Bed?"

Remus nodded gratefully.

They were joined by Regulus in the entrance hall, his class having been canceled as well. The trio made their way up to the tower and were greeted in the common room with a wall of cheers.

Even Regulus was met with congratulations and slaps on the back. Mary and Marleen rushed up to them, raving about how grateful they were to not have to take their potions quiz today.

The girls had all been warned not to breathe a word of their involvement to anyone, lest it ruin the point of the disguises. Still, the wink they both gave said everything.

Sirius, Kingsley, Peter, and Benji finally came through the portrait hole, setting off another round of cheers. While everyone was distracted, the trio snuck upstairs.

James tried to deposit Remus on their bed—as the boy was half asleep—, but he protested. "Wanna shower."

"Now?" James looked down at him, brushing hair back from his face, "Re, you're half asleep already."

Remus nuzzled into James' shoulder mumbling, "Feel gross."

Having discarded his bag, shoes, and robes, Regulus knelt in front of Remus and began taking off his shoes. Smiling, he looked up, "What? My cleaning charms not good enough for you?"

Remus went to protest, saw the look on Regulus' face, and whined, "Don't tease me. 'M tired and achy."

Both James and Regulus frowned. Regulus stood and put his Marked hand to Remus' face. "You're hurting? Why didn't you say anything, Love?"

Remus leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. "'S not so bad... just sorta there."

James and Regulus shared a worried look. James swept Remus up into his arms and carried him toward the bathroom. "How 'bout a bath, Moonbeam?"

Remus rested his head on James' shoulder and nodded. James sat Remus on the sink counter while Regulus started the bath. James undressed the half-conscious boy quickly, doing most of the work while Remus tried to cuddle up against him.

When James tried to put him in the tub, Remus wouldn't let go. He clung to James with all his remaining strength.

Letting out a worried chuckle, James kept his arms around Remus, half bent over the tub. "Re, Love, I'm not going anywhere. You can let go."

Remus shook his head, burying his face into James' shoulder. Regulus rubbed one of Remus' arms as it clung tighter to James' neck. "Would you like us to join you, Moonbeam?"

Remus nodded, not even hesitating.

Exchanging worried glances, James knelt beside the tub, keeping his arms around Remus, as Regulus undressed. When Regulus was settled in the warm water, he pulled Remus into his lap.

In the brief time between having his face in James' shoulder and Regulus' neck, Remus whined like they were leaving him altogether. As such, he latched onto Regulus when he realized what was happening, legs and arms going around the taller boy in a vice grip.

James quickly shed his clothes as well but paused. The tub was barely large enough for the two already in it; he would never fit. Digging for his wand amongst the pile of clothes he had just dropped, James tried to decide on the best way to expand the tub. Aiming carefully, he cast.

Once the tub was twice its former size, James dropped his wand and climbed in behind Remus. Scooping up water and bubbles, he began gently massaging Remus' back and shoulders.

A content sigh left him as he began to relax. With James' hands washing away the 'gross' and aching, and Regulus running his fingers through Remus' hair, he finally drifted off to sleep.

@starchasersunseeker @poetrypirate @niad4827 @bradley-95147-blog @shyshadows430