#and then because i don't save as I go i had to start over one of them when my photoshop crashed..........

[sparrows4bats]

So, I love the idea that Damian tries to hide his relationship with Jon. Not for any neferarious reason, he just doesn't want his family and the overprotective loon that is Dick Grayson in his business, and Jon agrees because he is convinced Batman will make an exception to his no kill rule.

The boys decide they want to keep it private for a while so they can figure out how to be in a relationship without outside pressure and expectation.

To accomplish this, Damian tells 3 people.

The first is Alfred, obviously. The Butler knew he was in love with his best friend before he did.

The next is Cassandra because Damian knows he can not hide anything from her, and any secretive endeavour in this family will need her co-operation.

The last bat he tells is Duke because he is pretty chill and helps Damian come up with excuses and escapes to see Jon, and for some reason, no one questions him.

They have close calls such as the time Dick notices him wearing a Metropolis Jersey or that time Jon stayed over and almost got caught by Jason the next morning.

Luckily, he can fly fast enough that no one notices his missing shirt when Jon literally jumps out the window in panic.

Stephanie starts to get suspicious when Damian comes back from 'errands' giddy and smiling.

But overall, it's been peaceful, and Damian finds himself falling in love in the quiet moments he and Jon snatch together.

It's not without its issues, especially when people start trying to flirt with either of them. Jon almost loses it in the Watchtower when another hero asks Damian out right in front of him.

Jon all but drags his boyfriend to his side for the rest of the meeting.

They decide to tell their families when they move in together in a few weeks because Damian really is running out of excuses to go to Metropolis.

They have speeches prepared and dinner reservations, and Damian even hid the kryptonite.

It's a plan.

Unfortunately, they forgot to factor in Talia.

Damians mother shows up one evening and barges into the Batcave in a fury.

"Damian Thomas Al Ghul Wayne!"

Damian pales "Mama?"

Talia crosses her arms "Am I your mother? Don't you tell your mother important things Damian?"

Damian gulps. "Mama I was just-"

But Talia is having it. "You are engaged and didn't bother to introduce him to your mother!"

The rest of the bats start shouting questions at Damian as well. Dick is clutching his pearls while Stephanie is shaking in excitement over potential gossip.

Damian is gaping at his mother now. "We're not engaged!"

Talia raises a brow. "Don't lie, the Super bought a ring!"

Damian feels his brain melt out his ear while he hears Steph shout, "You're dating Jon!"

His father is scarily quiet.

All of his siblings are screaming now, save Cassandra and Duke, who are smirking.

They are interrupted by a blue blur entering the cave.

Jonathan Kent is suddenly on one knee in front of a very red Damian.

He takes a moment to glance at Talia. "Thanks for ruining the suprise."

The woman tsks remarkably similar to her son, but Jon doesn't pay her any mind all his focus on his wonderful boyfriend.

"Day, I swear I had a way better plan than this, but I love you and can't imagine a world without you at my side. Will you Marry me?"

Damian grabs him in a kiss while says yes over and over again.

And despite the suprise, the cave is silent while they take in the scene until Talia starts talking about a League combat ritual he will have to complete before the engagement is approved while Bruce listens intently beside her.

Steph starts interrogating Cass while Dick and Jason start looking for the hidden kryptonite.

Damian and Jon ignore them lost in their own little world until another blur enters the cave.

"Jonathan Samuel Kent!"

[chardama]

Some late night contributions

Dick and Bruce do fight the older Dick gets. Which leads to Jason going over the Drakes whenever their arguing gets too much. This causes Tim and Jason to be close friends early on. Dick also goes over whenever Bruce ticks him off. Jack accepts this. He's getting along with his neighbors! And tim is socializing with people around his age! Bonus points! Dick and Jason are also exposed to all the spooky crap happening in Drake manor. Timmy not batting an eye at the food coming to life. Jason and dick watch as Jack literally flies around the kitchen ceiling, trying to capture flying evil toast.

"So you're dad's an alien?"

Tim, trying hard not to let ppl know Jack is actually possed. Tim who has spent DAYS without sleep curating a new identity for him unless shit hits the fan takes the blessing handed to him.

"Yes. He is. The fall made him forget his human years. We're working in it."

Dick: "cool." *texts Bruce and Alfred that jack is alien confirmed.*

Because Jason and Tim are so close, tim starts to realise when Jason's withdrawing. Tim then asks his dad if he can keep an eye out for Jason with his spooky powers. So when the entire Ethiopia fiasco happens, Jack manages to save Jason. This is also how Jack reveals his ghost king form. Jason gets injured by the Joker, but Jack does save him from the explosion.

Bruce and dick see the form, but their minds can't really comprehend it. (You can put your own description here tbh). Tim (who snuck on the bat plane) can see it because he's been exposed to Danny's ectoplasm so much. When asked for a description later, he lies through his teeth and gives the best description of a warped alien he can.

Jason doesn't die, though he is too injured to be Robin. Tim tries to take the mantle but gets stopped by jack bc 'Jason nearly died and you think im gonna let you go out there untrained!? Hell no!"

I actually had an idea where Danny like, shrinks down and pretends to be robin. Only to keep the sightings up and not let the media question Robin's where abouts.

The other option is , Jack tells Tim he can only be a vigilante after some proper training. Because he's getting memories from when he was vigilante, and he didn't have much help.

So Robin is down for nearly a year and some. Jason decides not to be robin anymore. He makes his own name.

Now tim, coming into his liminal abilities thinks he wouldn't make a good robin. (Im playing with the ages and timeline here) plus its also taking him longer to train because new abilities keep making themselves known

By the time tim is properly trained, it's a few months before Damian has arrived.

Now Damian is another subject in itself. When he gets to the manor he expects Grayson and Todd. There are no files on Drake, however.

Drake is apparently their neighbor that is a regular visitor. Regular enough to spend nights. Regular enough to spend the current summer there while his father is away. Damian classified him as a civilian at first when Grayson told him that tim wasn't a vigilante.

Yet.

Cue Tim giving Damian a run for his money. Bc Damian is a little snot nosed kid and has issues. Tim can sneak up on him. Tim can track him in the dark. Tim doesn't make any noise in the manor. He leaves behind no traces. He's caught all the knives Damian had thrown at him out of the air because tim is used to catching flying stuff from his dad.

Tim, currently at the end of the hallway, eyes glowing lazurus green as he holds one of Damians throwing knives.

He demands to know what pit demon is in the manor. Because this ain't natural. Todd and Grayson only shruggs.

"He's half alien." Grayson informs him. Damian would call bs if he didn't have decorum.

"You get used to it." Todd says. "Just don't let him stay in the kitchen too long. Things will start floating."

Jackson Drake? Yeah, he ain't human. Bruce is sure the man is a meta. Maybe a poor alien in disguise because Bruce knows he's a disaster sometimes but Jack takes the cake. 

The Drakes were their neighbors. Archeologists. Famous for bringing rare artifacts home and are the largest donors to the Gotham Museum. 

Then the accident happened.  

Jackson Drake had a serious fall while getting their latest artifact. A certain ring and crown that belong to an ancient king. He was rushed to the on-site medics and had to be air lifted to the nearest hospital. He had been in a coma for two weeks. A nasty bruise to the head and when he had woken up it was as if he was a different man. The media was all over it. It got worse when the change in attitude resulted in the divorce. 

Timothy Drake ends in the custody of Jack Drake.  Timothy knows that the man that woke up from the coma is not his father. But the new jack treats him so much better than old jack. The new jack actually listens to Tim. Actually helps him out with homework. Doesn't yell. Doesn't hit Tim. He lets time babble about everything. He even FEEDS Tim. He NEVER leaves him home alone. 

Tim knows that the new ring on his father's hand (that he had never taken off since that expedition) is the cause of it. Or maybe it's the floating crown that sometimes appears when new Jack shows him a ‘trick.’ he likes New Jack. He doesn't want New Jack to go away. 

Which is why he has to keep Bruce Wayne- (THE batman) away from his new father. The detective would suss new jack out immediately.  Because new jack treats Timothy well but he sucks at being human. 

It would help… if New Jack would stop calling the Waynes for every minor inconvenience that happened to Timothy that a regular person should know. 

Ex. 

Jack: tim is sick. 

Bruce, handing the phone to Alfred. : any symptoms-

Jack: he's green, but thats normal because im green sometimes.  But he's not doing all the things I do when im green-

Alfred: such as…?

Jack: well he hasn't learned to walk through walls yet. And he hasn't gotten ice breath though he is a bit cold. His hair isn't white yet.

Bruce, overhearing this: what-

Alfred: nausea perhaps? Has he eaten anything to make his stomach turn?

Jack: we did have some seafood from that new place by Mr.Freeze

Bruce, louder: W H A T

Alfred, writing down a list of supplies and recipes: we'll be there in a moment. 

[sourkiki]

THE DEVIL WEARS UNIFORM. (TEASER)

SYNOPSIS: With the annual Winter Gala just around the corner, it's a must for students to bring a plus one for the event. It's also the chance for heirs, influencers and future CEOS to make headlines and names for themselves. When a scandaulous rumor erupts, involving Riki's involvement (possibly him being involved with a rival school’s heiress), his image and the Dance Club's sponsorship, is at risk. The funder threatens to pull out of funding unless he clears his name. To save himself, Riki approached you with an outrageous deal: "Pretend to be my girlfriend. We hate one another, right? So this'll be easy." You agreed nonetheless, due to personal reasons. However, things didn't go as planned and you're starting to realise this might be a bad idea. Or was it?

CONTENT: rich kids x fake dating au, college au, dancer! 西村力 x fem! reader, enemies to lovers, reader has family and personal issues, angst, hurt with comfort, tooth-rotting fluff, misconceptions of one another, lots of plot, happy ending, will add more when fic is finished.

NOTE: ngl, i didn't planned on doing a teaser but after asking some moots, i decided to do it because uh, this fic is gonna be over 10k wc! i swear im working on the jake fic guys... i swear.. anyways, send an ask off-anon or comment here to be added when the full fic is out, xoxo. don't let the teaser fool you, this fic WILL have a happy ending, trust.

It’s a well-known fact that you and Nishimura Riki are enemies. The moment you’re placed in the same room, breathing in the same air is when all hell breaks loose. Snarky remarks are ruthlessly exchanged between the two of you while you bare your teeth at one another. You’re the President of the Student Council, a role-model to the school body and in the teachers’ eyes, you are the best student they ever had. You have everything—the looks, the grades and the talent in what you do. 

Nishimura Ni-Ki, on the other hand, is the leader of the dance club. Ever since he joined, he had made names for Decelis Academy, bringing home countless trophies, way more than what could fit on the shelves for display purposes. He’s the total opposite of you—a troublemaker, known to cause trouble, leaving them behind in his trail. He’s reckless and annoyingly smug. Not to mention, he’s popular with the girls too. 

With the annual Winter Gala happening at the end of the current semester, students are required to bring a plus one to the gala. It’s a place for everyone to showcase what they are made of, to secure a spot in the corporate industry. To you, the gala is a stage for you to secure your dream career of being a lawyer. 

While you were busy running back and forth, juggling between your duties and studies, you didn’t expect for Riki to approach you out of nowhere. It happened when you were packing up for the day, ready to leave when the boy entered the council room. Unlike his signature charismatic, arrogant demeanor, he was nervous. Riki nervously fidgeted with his fingers. This was your first time seeing him acting like this, a huge difference to how he usually carries himself. 

“Riki? What brings you here?” You asked, curious. 

He raised his head, an unreadable expression on his face. “I need you to be my girlfriend. Fake girlfriend.” 

Silence. 

“What?” You gaped at him, dumbfounded. 

Riki ran a hand through his platinum blonde hair, looking stressed and more importantly: uncertain. “Look, you know about the rumor between me and Hana. There’s a chance the sponsorship for the Dance Club might be revoked and I don’t want that to happen.”

At this point, he was getting desperate. You crossed your arms, eyes focused on him. “And? How does this link to me being your fake girlfriend?”

Rki scratched the back of his neck. “It helps by getting her off my back and… you get to stop the rumors that you’re too cold to date anyone. 

You blinked. “Excuse me?” 

He winced. “Look, people love to gossip about you and me. If we date, it’s a win-win situation. You get to prove that you're not some emotionless council robot, and I get to fix my image before the sponsors pull out.”

You stared at him, stunned. “So, let me get this straight. You’re asking me to be your fake girlfriend to clean up your mess and patch my reputation at the same time?”

Riki hesitated before nodding. “Basically… yes.”

The silence stretched. 

Riki’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “You hate me, right? So, you’re not gonna fall for me. And I definitely won’t fall for you. That makes us perfect for this.” 

You wanted to laugh at the sheer absurdity of it. You wanted to mock him, taunt him about how he had shoved his pride aside to beg you for help. But the longer you looked at him, the more you could see a boy, desperate for your help. He wasn’t the annoying, smug and loud Riki anymore. 

You purse your lips. “...Fine, we’ll do this fake boyfriend girlfriend thing.” 

Riki’s face lit up like a light bulb, flashing you a boyish grin. A grin that suits him shockingly well. Well enough to make your heart flutter. “Great! Looking forward to working with you, girlfriend.” 

You can only pray that this will go well. Or else, you might lose everything. 

~ 

“You want to what?” Riki asked in disbelief, unable to believe what he just heard. 

You didn’t turn to face him. Not yet anyways. You didn’t have the courage to do so. You faced the front, choosing to stare at a random spot of the view spread out before you. A gentle gust of wind blew past your face, caressing your cheeks in a light, fleeting kiss. The moment would’ve been romantic if you didn’t break it with your words. 

“I want to break up, Riki.”

“I heard you the first time, but why? Why so sudden? We were doing well and the gala’s next Monday. You can’t enter without a date,” he replied, frustration lacing his words. 

You snapped. 

Spinning around at lightning speed, you fully faced him. Riki paused, faltering at how wrecked you looked. Your eyes were swollen, red and tears brimmed in them. Some tear droplets trickled down your face. Your fists were tightly clenched, arms trembling with barely held back self-restraint. You harshly bit down on your bottom lip. Not hard enough to draw blood but hard enough to inflict pain but hard enough to ground yourself. 

“Because this is starting to feel real to me! The way you treated me, the way you looked at me, like you actually love me, is scaring me!” You exclaimed at the top of your lungs, voice cracking mid-sentence. 

Silence. 

Riki couldn’t speak. He chose to stare at you, eyes wide and jaw slackened. “(Name), I—” 

“Stop, I don’t want to listen to your excuses anymore. I told myself this was just an act from the beginning, for me to protect my reputation. The reputation that I worked blood, sweat and tears off to get to where I am. But you… you made it impossible.”

He attempted to take a step closer but you stepped back. Your action made his heart tightened, as if he was stabbed right in his chest. He curled his hands into fists. 

“So that’s it? You’re just gonna walk away? After everything we’ve been through?” 

You steadily met his gaze. “I have to. Because if I stay, I’m afraid I’ll fall deeper. And I can’t afford that. Not when I’m the only one feeling this way.”

The living room felt like a vacuum, void of any sound. The only noticeable sounds were your heavy breathing and sniffling. 

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, robotically grabbing your bag on the way out as you headed to the door, slipping on your shoes. 

Riki didn’t chase you. He didn’t call your name or move an inch. He merely stood there, feet rooted to the ground, watching as you stepped out of his sight—his life. As he watched you vanish, he couldn’t help but wonder if letting you go was his biggest mistake. 

regular taglist: @emisluvr, @chuhees, @jun2ki

the devil wears uniform taglist: @franboesawi, @zerocoded, @enhxlvr,

[gigiszn]

hiii, can u do nam-gyu x fem reader in the games but as DARK FREAKY EVIL SMUT oneshot into eventual ANGST 👹 ur writing is so good and beautiful and i esp rlly like how u do angst 🫶🏼 You WILL deliver (rip my heart out and stomp on it, pls & ty) 🙏

an: genie does as you wish..... you shall be delivered a wild dark freaky smut as the first course and for dessert a nice angst to REALLYYY rip ur heart out!! but THANK U SO MUCH for ur compliments i really appreciate it especially because i thought my angst writing sucked hahaa, enjoy ^^

since i was given pretty much entirely creative freedom i ran with this one and im so happy this story really let me improve on my angst writing, i think this is one of my best so far!

if you guys like this one please request more in my inbox for any show! requests are always open <3

SMUT + ANGST!

tw: dead dove do not eat, begins with smut without plot, ends in angst, knife-play, dubcon, blood-play, sucking blood, overstimulation, p in v, dom!nam-gyu, sub!reader, sexual sadism, dacryphilia, spanking, hairpulling, creampie, hybristophilia, begging, oral (m receiving).

wc: 3.4k

۫ ꣑ৎ ｡°‧⭑.ᐟ

"Fuck, fuck, fuck!" You wailed, holding onto the walls of the stall Nam-Gyu was currently pounding the life out of you in. His fingers pinched your nipples, twisting them in ways so painful it made you forget who you were.

To be honest, you weren't really sure how you got in this position. Sure, you had taken a liking to Nam-Gyu after he had so selflessly saved your ass so many times, so you were obligated to let him fuck you so hard you couldn't breathe.

Your head was relentlessly pounding against the brick wall behind you, and the small blood droplets forming on the top of the toilet Nam-Gyu had you pinned over made him hornier, angrier, and rougher. Like an animal in heat, your hips bucked up against Nam-Gyu in a violent rhythm. Your hands slid up under the back of his tee shirt, gliding along the sweat-sleek skin. His lips left your mouth, wetly kissing and biting his way down the other side of your neck.

Tension was building up deep in your core, and the shivers that sailed down your spine from his kisses made it tighter and tighter, until his mouth closed on your nipple and it broke,

"G-Gah! Nam-Gyu!~" You whined out. You felt the vibration of his groan on your breast, feeling your walls clench around him as he continued thrusting into you. The overstimulation made your pussy throb and swell, only heightening the sweet and savoury feeling Nam-Gyu had.

"S-Stop..! Too much!" You begged, though your groans and hips jutting upward spoke otherwise. He grabbed your chin, forcing your eyes to face him. Flashing you a sadistic smile, he wrapped your hair around his calloused hands into a ponytail and yanked your head back.

“Mmm, Y/N,” Nam-Gyu moaned in an unexpectedly low growl. And, surprisingly, it was music to your ears; you loved the way it rolled off his tongue as he winced at you, the way his voice sounded, the fact that it was your name that he was saying. Even the way his voice seemed to quake. It made you tighten up around him as your face turned a lovely shade of pink.

As your orgasm subsided, a wave of renewed passion crested within you and you pushed your body hard against him, your hand flailing toward his arm, him that you wanted to be on top. Without your bodies parting, Nam-Gyu picked you up, sitting down on the toilet, dick still engraved in your hole. You gave him a wild grin and sat up, wiggling yourself down onto him as far as possible. His eyes closed and his jaw twitched at the sensation, letting out a grunt as you set a new rhythm, grinding and bouncing yourself against him.

“Im going to torture every last inch of you.” 

You don't see that Nam-Gyu has a dull make-shift knife in his hand. He had placed it in the stall's trashcan so it couldn't be found until this very moment.

A sharp, piercing sensation starts over your left nipple and you scream out loudly, only for it to be covered by the large and rough hand of Nam-Gyu that you'd much rather have in your hole, curling and rolling in you. The pain felt good with the stimulation of his cock, and you finds yourself writhing against his hands, trying to find some way of release. This earns another cut from Nam-Gyu, this time over your right nipple. Your tears begin streaming down your face, awakening another side in Nam-Gyu he didn't know he had.

"Fuck, keep crying like that, baby.."

Your own pussy is pulsing intensely once again from Nam-Gyu's feral moans. They come from deep within his throat and elicit shivers down your neck. 

“Quit being naughty, Y/N/N, or I'll cut you harder."

“Gyu, please..” 

"If you don't listen, I guess I'll just have to punish you."

Nam-Gyu lifted you off his dick, a relief yet an inconvenience as the pain you had felt previously was just beginning to subside with the irreplaceable feeling of pleasure hitting your core from his dick.

Now, you were bent over, hands holding yourself up against the stall door. Nam-Gyu was stood behind you, rubbing his cock around your vagina's entrance from behind. But, instead of pounding himself into you,

SLAP!

As he began to massage your behind, Nam-Gyu murmured, “Do you know why I’m doing this?”

“I don’t know why you possibly would,” You replied, voice oozing with desperation to please the man you're sure you'd end up dying for.

“Because you’ve been acting like this. Disobedient. Talking back. You’re going to get ten spanks, and you’re going to count them for me. We’re going to start light, okay?” Nam-Gyu grinned innocently, though the two of you knew there would be nothing light. You gulped and nodded, quavering slightly.

Nam-Gyu gave a light tap to your rear with the back of his large hand.

“One.” You counted, almost casually. Was he really going to be that light?

In response, Nam-Gyu gave you a little swat, not yet enough to hurt, per say, just sting a little.

“Two,” You muttered, sounding distinctly confused by his softness.

Another swat, now harder, and you winced slightly.

“Three.”

This time it was a smack that left your rear tingling even after the pain was gone.

“Four,” You mumbled, still sounding wretched at the mere thought of disappointing your Nam-Gyu.

Unconvinced that you'd learned your lesson, Nam-Gyu snapped his wrist again, this time so hard you swore you felt goosebumps raise and pinches of blood to rise in your ass.

“Five.”

“Halfway there, baby,” Nam-Gyu drawled, and struck once more, much harder this time, a red handprint left on your cheek that Nam-Gyu hoped and prayed would stay forever.

With a high whine and the arch of your back, you hissed, “Six.”

Nam-Gyu bit his lip, seeing the precum dripping from his dick. How unfair of you to make him wait to shove his cock in you and cum inside your sweet insides with this punishment?

Without another word, his dick was inside of you again, knife still gripped tightly in the hand that wasn't busy spanking you. Nam-Gyu physically restrained himself from shoving that shank deep into your neck, something you should truly be grateful for.

Nam-Gyu's murmuring and moans get louder. This time it's a desperate pant and he knows its high time to provide you and himself with a second release. With one fluid motion, Nam-Gyu throws the knife to the side and fucks you mercilessly, his veiny, thick, cock stabbing your insides just as he wished his knife would. His shaft goes all the way in, sliding in with a lewd shlurp. You let out an almost pornographic like moan as Nam-Gyu rocks into you. His fingers claw into your S/C thighs, leaving red marks. 

“Fuck!” You cry out as Nam-Gyu slams you down onto his dick. A white substance shoots out of you, Nam-Gyu now scissoring your insides with his fingers and cock, your milky cum coating his fingertips as blood drips down from your nipples and head.

“Fuck, baby, I'm almost there...just a few more...ngh!”

You cry out in unison as Nam-Gyu's cum fills your hole. Semen drips down the your legs as he pulls out, your knees wobbly as he supports you with his knee between your thighs, unintentionally continuing your overstimulation. Nam-Gyu laughs, throwing his head back at the sight in front of him, before sucking on your wounded nipples. If your blood were to be his last meal, he wouldn't have it any other way.

۫ ꣑ৎ ｡°‧⭑.ᐟ

It was the jump rope game. After the first time you had sex with Nam-Gyu, you finally felt like everything was okay. You had him by your side. It was all you needed. Of course, you were 100% oblivious to the objectifying stares he would give you, wanting to just fuck you in front of everyone without a care in the world, picturing his dick in you as a triangle guard shot you both for your indecency. It was sick indeed, but you were both sick, weren't you?

You had done your best efforts to keep Nam-Gyu at bay since last night, as he lost the drugs that were quite literally his lifeline. In an attempt to appease him and keep his mind from running wild, you spent the night sucking his dick and fondling with his balls. It would work for 5 minutes, his slender yet crack-knuckled hands curling your hair into his fists, pulling your head down like a steering wheel and guiding your fleshy pink tongue down to swirl around his tip. He'd orgasm, toes cramping as his eyes rolled back and tufts of your hair were pulled out. Then he would begin fidgeting again, fiddling with his thumbs and chewing at the nails until you found another way to pleasure him all over again.

You watched the rope slice through the air, back and forth, back and forth, its movement hypnotic, mechanical, almost cruel in its precision. The sound it made wasn’t just a whoosh — it was deeper, heavier, like a whip wrapped in steel cutting through fog. You felt the thud of it vibrating in your ribs every time it slapped the platform, and each time it did, you swore the sound echoed behind your eyes.

Your feet stayed glued to the floor, though your legs felt like jelly — shaky, untrustworthy. You didn’t dare blink. Not even once. Your eyes burned at the edges, stinging from the dry air, but you held them open, wide and unblinking, like if you so much as looked away, you’d die before even stepping onto the bridge.

You weren’t alone — everyone else stood frozen beside you, a row of statues carved from tension. But inside your chest, everything thrashed. Your heart wasn’t just pounding; it was clawing upward, trying to escape through your throat. You could feel the beat in your ears, thudding in time with the rope’s swing. You tried to count the seconds between each pass — one, two, three — but your breath kept catching, short and sharp, like your lungs didn’t trust the air anymore.

Someone had used too much cologne. You smelled it now, sour and stale, mixed with the cold tang of sweat, rusted metal, and something else — something you didn’t want to name. Blood, maybe. The kind you don’t see but feel in your nose.

Your fingers twitched. You didn’t mean them to. They just did. A small spasm, a protest from the tension locked in your shoulders. You noticed your hands were clenched so tight your nails had left little half-moons in your palms. Your jaw ached. You had no memory of tightening it.

Your eyes darted, just for a split second, to the body that hadn’t made it. It lay crumpled beneath the bridge, broken in angles that weren’t meant to exist. You looked back up, quickly, ashamed for having looked down at all — like somehow, witnessing it made you closer to becoming it.

The rope kept moving. You could hear the faint hum of machinery overhead, the soft scuff of shifting shoes as someone behind you repositioned their stance. But mostly, you heard your own breath, ragged and uneven, pulled between your lips in shaky sips. Your throat was dry. Your mouth tasted like metal.

You weren’t even on the bridge yet, but your body already felt like it had been through the game.

Your eyes locked back on the rope. You tried to read its rhythm again, tried to convince yourself you could time it right. But your knees were buzzing, not with energy, but with that strange numbness that came right before collapse.

And still — your focus slipped.

Because even as your life hung in the balance, part of you was somewhere else. Behind you. Off to the side. Near Nam-Gyu. He hadn’t spoken much since the last game. His hands shook even when he was sitting still. His voice, when it came, was hoarse, quiet, like the weight of everything was pressing on his windpipe. You’d seen the way his eyes flicked around like he was looking for something he’d lost, and you knew what it was — not just the drugs, but the piece of control they gave him. The illusion of calm. Of survival.

You’d never seen him look so breakable. Not even during the worst of it.

And now, when you were supposed to be thinking only about when to jump, when to move, when not to die — you were thinking about him. About the way his leg bounced when he thought no one was watching. About the half-bitten skin at the edge of his thumb. About how much it scared you that he looked so far away even when he was right next to you.

The rope swung again. You flinched.

And for a second, it wasn’t fear for yourself that caught in your throat.

It was him.

You didn’t notice Min-su at first. You were still watching the rope, still trying to breathe like a person instead of an animal cornered by fate. But then the hush around you shifted — not louder, not quieter, just sharper, like the air had turned blade-thin.

You followed the others’ eyes and saw him — Player 125 — standing a few feet away from Nam-Gyu, holding something small and glinting between his fingers. The necklace.

Your stomach flipped.

Nam-Gyu’s posture snapped into focus the second he saw it. The slouch drained from his shoulders like someone had yanked him upright with a string. His face sharpened — mouth parted, pupils dilated, like a drowning man who’d just seen the surface. You could see his lips move, but the words didn’t reach you. Didn’t need to. You already knew what he was begging for.

Min-su grinned.

Not a kind grin. Not even a cruel one. Just empty. Then, without warning, he turned and threw the necklace — a single, casual flick of the wrist — and it arced through the air like something sacred and doomed, landing dead center on the bridge.

Your breath hitched.

Nam-Gyu didn’t hesitate. Not even a beat.

He ran.

You shouted something — maybe his name, maybe just a sound — but it was swallowed by the clatter of his shoes slamming onto the metal platform. The rope was still spinning, still slicing the air in its brutal rhythm, and somehow, he dodged it. One leap. Two. He landed near the necklace, knees bending, eyes wild. His hand shot out and grabbed it, yanking it up with all the urgency of someone clinging to a heartbeat.

He cracked it open with shaking fingers. You couldn’t see the inside from where you stood — but you didn’t need to. The way his face dropped told you everything.

Empty.

He stood there, frozen for just a breath. Then his eyes lifted — not toward Min-su, not toward the dolls, not even toward the rope — but toward you.

You met his gaze. Everything in you screamed to move, to reach for him, to do something. But you couldn’t. You were locked there, feet rooted to steel, arms dead at your sides. The way he looked at you wasn’t angry. It wasn’t sad.

It was tired. So, so tired.

He jumped once more, as if his body hadn’t realized his soul had already given up.

Then the rope came.

It struck him clean across the waist. His body folded, spun, lifted just slightly from the ground before being flung sideways. For a moment, it looked almost gentle, like the wind had simply picked him up.

Then he was gone.

Swallowed by the gap beneath the bridge, lost to the dark like a breath exhaled too hard.

You didn’t cry. You couldn’t. There wasn’t room for that now. There was only the sound of the rope continuing to swing — heartless, steady, unchanged — as if nothing had happened at all.

You watch as the others begin to cross the bridge one by one. Their footsteps echo sharply on the metal, some steady and sure, others hesitant, trembling like leaves in a harsh wind. Each movement draws them closer to the other side — closer to survival, or whatever fate awaits beyond this final stretch. But you remain rooted where you stand, unable to move, trapped in a cyclone of thoughts spinning wildly out of control. Time distorts around you, every second stretching and collapsing all at once.

Your chest tightens painfully, as if a thousand invisible hands are squeezing you from the inside, crushing your ribs like fragile glass. It’s a raw ache that cuts through your skin and lodges deep in your bones, making each breath feel like dragging air through a narrow, burning tunnel. Panic rises in waves — sudden, fierce, drowning — sweeping over you again and again. Your heart pounds erratically, thudding against your chest like a wild drum in a storm, each beat sharper and louder, pushing dizziness and nausea to the edges of your mind.

Your breath comes ragged, shallow, caught in your throat like broken glass. You clutch your sides instinctively, fingers digging into your sweatshirt, but the pain only tightens its grip, unrelenting. The bridge creaks beneath you, the rope slices through the air with a ruthless rhythm, the distant murmurs and gasps of other players become muffled and far away. Sounds blur together into a thunderous roar, yet inside, all you hear is the pounding of your own blood and the desperate hammer of your thoughts spiraling downward.

Confusion claws at your mind, twisting memories and fears together into a suffocating knot. You want to scream, to shout, to tear your way free — but your legs refuse to obey, trembling and numb, as if nailed to the cold steel beneath you. The air tastes metallic, thick with sweat and fear, pressing heavily against your lungs. Every inhale is a battle; every heartbeat feels like a countdown to an ending you cannot stop.

Slowly, the crowd thins until it’s just you and Player 222 left. The space between you feels impossibly vast, even as you stand close enough to hear each other’s uneven breaths. Your eyes meet hers, and in that silent exchange, the weight of everything — every loss, every fear, every hope — settles between you like a shared secret. There are no words, just a raw understanding: this is your final game.

Your thoughts blur like a storm of fractured glass, shards of memories and panic flashing through your mind. Then her voice, soft and steady, breaks through the chaos — the last words she says to Player 456 hang in the air, filled with farewell and quiet strength. You barely catch them, but you feel their weight pressing down on you, anchoring you to this impossible moment.

Her hand reaches out, trembling violently as it finds yours. The warmth of her palm is fragile yet real, a tether in the storm that shakes your whole body. Your fingers close around hers, hands clammy, shaking uncontrollably as if trying to hold on to life itself.

Together, you take a step forward. The edge of the bridge rises beneath your feet, narrow and unforgiving, the last thin line between you and the void. The world narrows until all you can feel is the cold metal against your soles, the faint vibration of the rope whipping behind you, and the rapid beating of your heart in your ears.

Your legs tremble violently, trembling not just from fear, but from the crushing weight of grief and exhaustion. The silence around you is heavy, filled with the unsaid and the undone — the futures that will never be, the dreams broken beneath this cruel game.

Then, in that infinite moment before the fall, something inside you shatters and lets go.

A smile creeps across your face — slow, uncertain, fragile. It’s the first real thing you’ve felt in days, a spark of something unbroken. It blooms, growing warmer and stronger until it spreads like wildfire, burning away the cold despair that clung to your bones.

The smile twists into a laugh — wild, broken, almost insane — spilling out uncontrollably, echoing off the steel and dark void. It bursts free of your chest, loud and ragged, and then crumbles into desperate, shuddering sobs.

“I’m coming, Gyu...” you whisper, voice cracking with raw emotion, eyes locked on Player 222 one last time. You see the same mixture of fear and fierce hope in her gaze.

Hand in hand, trembling, hearts pounding as one, you step off the edge together — into the abyss, into darkness, into whatever lies beyond.

The fall is endless. And for a moment, in the quiet between the screams and the rush of air, you feel free.

And then you don't feel at all.

[whywoulditho]

DC released new concept art for the dynamic duo movie where they show Dick and Jason being close in age, sharing a room and working as Robins at the same time

i don't wanna jump on the hate train before we see the actual movie but.. I kinda hate this. I can't believe they're actually going for this concept. It's such a weird choice because i thought it was obvious that each Robin storyline is connected and taking one of them out or not letting them have their own singular arc will defineitely mess up the natural progression of the events regarding this dysfunctional little family.

each robin's relationship with batman is heavily influenced by the previous one. it's a chain of trauma that Bruce tries and fails to break every single time and that's what's tragic about it. when Batman takes Dick in and lets him become his first sidekick, he is strict. he tries to control Dick's every move and raises him to obey orders. a big part of their dynamic at this point is how Batman is always trying to tell Robin what to do and how Dick doesn't follow orders and does his own thing. after years of this controlling behaviour, Dick gets sick of Bruce's bs and gets away from Gotham to redefine himself as Nightwing. Bruce is heartbroken because his son left him, and he doesn't want to repeat the same mistake. that's why he tries a gentler approach with Jason. he puts in the effort to connect with the kid outside of being vigilante partners, he actually tries to be a father figure. he gives Jason more freedom than he ever did to Dick. and as a result of this, Jason is able to go after the Joker by himself and he gets himself killed. now Bruce is actually lost. he hates himself for letting this happen. he will die if he loses another son. so when Tim comes along, he shuts him out of his personal life completely. he won't let this boy put himself in danger for him. he won't let Tim get attached. he has to protect this one. this is why Tim is constantly trying to prove he deserves his place in the Batcave. he's trying to impress everyone, show them he is worthy. and at some point in their arc, Bruce is finally emotionally mature enough to let his walls down. he recognizes Tim's intellect and talent and he actually starts trusting him to have his back in battle. then Damian comes along and he has such big shoes to fill. it's like Tim and Bruce share a brain. they're completely in sync and Tim seems to always know exactly what to do and what to say. Damian is the opposite because he fails to connect with his father. they are too different. the way they see the world, their sense of justice and their idea of punishment is completely opposite to each other's. and now Bruce's challenge is to understand this boy who seems to disagree with him on everything, after getting so used to having a partner who could almost read his mind.

now, if you put Dick and Jason in the Robin costume at the same time, there is no "I was too strict with Dick so i should be gentler to Jason". I assume Batman is just going to be strict with both of them, because he has not one but TWO sons running around in tights and capes trying to save the day and he has to be the one to guide and protect them. so there is no giving Jason freedom. Jason doesn't go after joker and get himself killed. then there is no reason to traumatise Tim by acting so emotionally distant. then Tim doesn't have the insecurities that drove him to be the best version of himself and the best possible partner to the Batman. then Damian doesn't have to compete with an impossible rival. THERE IS NO STORY LEFT. YOU'VE CHANGED THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THE BAT FAMILY.

i know i am over-generalizing a lot of these concepts that were frequently done differently by different authors but i think at the end of the day if you wanna write bat family correctly there should be a chain of batman and robin dynamics, each one connected in some way to the previous one. and if you put the first two of them (who arguably had the most toxic relationships with batman) together, at the same time, you end up removing a huge part of this story. not only do you reduce Dick's importance in Bruce's vision for justice, you also take Jason's influence on the next two completely out of the picture.

and on that note, i have to mention. YOU TAKE SO MUCH AWAY FROM DICK'S IMPORTANCE IN THE DC UNIVERSE. he's supposed to be the first ever sidekick that turned into a legacy hero. the robin who got out of batman's shadow and became a leader for new generation heroes and then even the friggin justice league. he is the pillar that connects this whole fictional universe together. he is the character that paved the way for teenage superheroes in comics. he's THE Robin who also became so much MORE than Robin. now he has to share that spot with Jason? who is (sadly) STILL defined by what happened to him AS robin???

am i being dramatic or is this actually the worst thing they could have done to these characters? i dont even want this movie anymore guys 😭

[theserpentsadvocate]

I do disagree, but mostly with the take on Mr. Bennet! (Hopefully this reads as enthusiastic conversation and not a lecture - I get very excited when I'm interested in things.) The reason his daughters have few options is because he's lazy and indolent and self-satisfied - it's explicitly stated that he never bothered to save any money because he assumed he would have a son (who could help him break the entail and provide more money to his daughters), and that even when he realized that wasn't going to happen, he just decided it was too late to start saving and didn't bother. All his daughters could have had much better prospects if he'd bothered to bestir himself, but he doesn't like bestirring himself, and he's selfish. (And it's not impossible for him to come up with a large amount of money, even if it means self-denial - when he finds out it isn't his brother-in-law who bribed Wickham to marry Lydia, he says that he's relieved because if it was Mr. Gardiner, he "must and should* have paid him", so it would have been possible for him to come up with (roughly) ten thousand pounds**, even if not all at once or right away. But that would take effort, and Mr. Bennet hates effort.)

*in this context 'should' means 'would' to Austen's contemporaries, not 'ought to'

**for additional context, this is Darcy's entire annual income, and I believe that he's the richest man in Austen save only Mr. Rushworth - he's very wealthy

I agree with you that Mr. Bennet is often portrayed as benignly neglectful, but in my opinion he's not - he's malignantly neglectful, and deliberately so, most obviously when he insists on letting Lydia go to Brighton because he just doesn't feel like putting up with her and his wife whining about it if he doesn't give permission. I don't doubt that he does care about his children, but that is almost never enough to take precedence over his self-congratulatory sarcasm (the part where he forgives Elizabeth for being right when he was wrong, when his decision nearly ruined their entire family, oh my god) and his reluctance to make an effort in nearly anything (he's repeatedly indicated to be slow and unreliable at answering letters, for instance). He certainly doesn't respect his daughters, even Elizabeth: he calls her 'silly' along with the rest of them, only deigning to say she has 'something more of quickness', and he dismisses and belittles her very serious and reasonable concerns about the Brighton trip. He's easy to like at first blush because he's funny and snarky and most of his targets (mainly his wife, also several of his teenage daughters) are ridiculous, but he's actually a very bad husband and father - especially in spending years insulting his wife in front of their children and also being mean to said children about their interests.

That said, I don't think Takashi Shimura is a bad choice. He does look seem like he could comprehend a lot of nuance of a really book-accurate Mr. Bennet. Personally I voted for Lionel Barrymore and I stand by it even though it's not popular, because he looks very Dad in that picture, and is there anything more Dad than starting off seeming like the most affable and intelligent person in the room and then slowly disappointing your favourite daughter as she realizes that your flaws are very real? (Some parents have greater flaws than others, of course, and some relationships bounce back easily once kids get used to seeing their parents as people - even Elizabeth's relationship with him seems to end as still a positive one. But Mr. Bennet's specific flaws are a lot larger and more significant than most people usually acknowledge.)

this is a poll for a movie that doesn't exist.

it is vintage times. the old hollywood studios, captivated by the electorate's previous casting of cinema classic dracula, have decided to celebrate jane austen's 250th by releasing an all-new vintage motion picture extravaganza based on her celebrated romance pride and prejudice. whoever is cast will impact the picture's tone and genre, so they are counting on you, the electorate, to deliver cinema magic.

you are the casting director for this star-studded epic. choose your players wisely.

This is one of many polls that will gradually drop over the next few weeks. You can find all the P&P polls under #pride and prejudice casting. If you need a reminder on who's who, here's the Wikipedia page listing the cast of characters. Thank you to everyone who suggested actresses for this poll!

previously cast:

Georgiana Darcy—Mary Pickford

Colonel Fitzwilliam—Albert Finney

Caroline Bingley—Joan Crawford

Charlotte Lucas—Mary Wickes

Aunt Gardiner—Beah Richards

Uncle Gardiner—Juano Hernandez

Mary Bennet—Dorothy Malone

Kitty Bennet—Hitomi Nazoe

Lydia Bennet—Dorothy Dandridge

Mr. Collins—Gene Wilder

Lady Catherine de Bourgh—vote here

Wickham—vote here

[imagine-you]

50 Ways To Say Goodbye [Erik Campbell/Reader] 1/3

Summary: 7 times you killed Erik and 1 time you saved him: Erik Campbell is more to you than just the boy the next door. He's your best friend's brother and your first love. As far as you're concerned, he's your only love. But love brings heartache and anger, and with every heartbreak, you decide to find new and inventive ways to dull the pain. So what if that means claiming he died in a horrific accident? No one ever said true love is easy. Word Count: 5.1k Author's Note: So people on tiktok designated 50 Ways To Say Goodbye by Train as a Final Destination song and then this fic was born. It's lowkey inspired by a bunch of different romcoms, so I hope y'all like it! This starts when they're young, so I figured I would gif a younger Erik.

Read On AO3

The first time you killed Erik it was because of an innocent game of make-believe. You and Julia were princesses from rival kingdoms and Erik was supposed to be your knight in shining armor. He was supposed to ride in on his makeshift steed and ward off the legions of the undead that Julia had set upon your kingdom before waking you from the curse with true love's kiss.  

Halfway through rescuing you from the tree house that served as your castle, Erik gave up in pursuit of the ice cream truck that was slowly passing by your house.  

Once you realized you weren’t going to be saved, you reluctantly climbed down from your tree house and gave up on the game altogether. 

"What happened to Erik?" Julia asked, glancing around your backyard for her brother as she walked towards you. "Did he go home? We weren't done yet!" 

"No," you answered, scowling towards the Campbell house just next door. "A dragon got him. A big one. Burned him to ash," you seethed with all the fury your little seven-year-old body could withstand. Your prince had deserted you for a dessert and you felt betrayed. 

"Ouch," Erik called as he approached you. "Hope I went fast," he quipped before holding out a popsicle to Julia.  

"Thanks, Kiki," she said, offering Erik a sunny grin. 

You rolled your eyes, annoyed that Julia had forgiven Erik so easily. He couldn't just abandon you and expect for everything to turn out peachy.  

"Oh! And what's this? For my princess," Erik continued, revealing the popsicle he had hidden behind his back. He offered you a smile as he handed it to you. "Do you forgive me?"  

You glared at Erik for a good three seconds before you finally caved and snatched the popsicle out of his hand. "Just don't do it again," you warned, tearing open the wrapper and delighting in the fact that Erik remembered your favorite flavor.  

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Erik vowed before using his finger to place an 'x' over his heart.  

"Or I'll stick a needle in your eye," you finished, giggling when Julia snorted so hard she nearly dropped her popsicle on the ground. 

Two years later, you were in third grade and walking home from the bus stop. Julia was home sick, so you only had Bobby for company on the short walk back to your houses. Erik usually walked Bobby home, but he had gone MIA at some point and wasn't on the bus by the time school was over. 

Bobby was only six and didn't have much to talk about except for a girl who kept stealing his favorite color of crayon when they had art time.  

"Have you told the teacher?" You asked, hating that someone was picking on Bobby. With the Campbells as your lifelong neighbors, you had been there for Bobby his whole life. Julia was practically your best friend since birth, which meant that you had come to see Bobby as a little brother. "Maybe I should talk to this girl," you suggested, wanting to ward anyone off from hurting Bobby. He was far too sweet to cause trouble, but you had no issue sticking up for him.  

"Told the teacher what?" You heard someone call and looked up to see Erik waiting on the sidewalk in front of the Campbell house. He looked paler than usual and his hair was sticking to his forehead with sweat.  

"What happened to you?" You figured maybe Erik wasn't on the bus because he went to a friend's house after school, but he was leaning against the Campbell's mailbox like he had been waiting there a while. 

"Julia gave me the plague," Erik answered, sniffling and wiping his nose on the sleeve of his shirt. "Started running a fever so they sent me home. I didn't want Bobby walking home alone, though, but looks like you've got that covered. Thanks for that," he continued with a nod at you. 

"At least you got to go home early," you pointed out. "And I bet you won't even have to go to school tomorrow." 

"Yeah," Erik sighed, reaching out to ruffle Bobby's hair as he passed him. "But hey, if you wanna skip school," Erik started before reaching out to grab your hand.  

You instinctively tried to pull it back, but he held on tight. You had known Erik for long enough to know that the grin on his face never meant anything good. You were proven right when he brought your palm up to his face and licked a stripe right across it.  

"Ew! Erik!" You managed to pull your hand back, looking up at him in horror.  

"One get out of school free card right there," he proclaimed with a proud grin on his face. "Now, we're even," he said before turning to walk up the lawn towards his house.  

You stood there, stunned and disgusted, before dashing for your house. You slammed the front door open before rushing towards the downstairs bathroom.  

"Sweetie?" Your mom called, appearing in the doorway. "What's wrong?" 

"Erik," you seethed as you washed your hands. You decided you didn't get enough hand soap on the first round, so you started to pump more of it into your cupped palm in the hopes it would dispel whatever germs Erik had left there. "He got hit by a bus."  

"What?!" Your mom nearly yelled, panic clear on her face.  

"Not really, mom," you muttered, scowling down at your hands. "But he'll be lucky if I don't push him in front of one next time I see him." 

"You can't let Erik get to you," she said, reaching out and grabbing a hand towel from the bar by the door. "He's just a boy. Even if he is your friend." 

You wanted to argue with your mom. She just didn't get it. Yes, Erik was just a boy. But he was someone you had known your whole life. He was mischievous and protective and sometimes sweet. He liked to make you laugh and hated to see you cry. He put up with all the stupid games Julia and you came up with as little kids and you let him draw on your arm when he got bored. Erik was your friend, but he confused you sometimes.  

"Okay, mom," you finally agreed. "Next time, I won't let him get to me." 

Of course, that was easier said than done when you woke up the next morning with a hundred-degree fever. Your parents had to go to work, but Brenda was staying home with Julia and Erik. So, your mom wrapped you up in your favorite blanket and marched you next door to the Campbell house.  

"Thanks for this, Brenda," your mom said, gently pushing you forward with a hand on your shoulder. "I'll be home by five." 

"She'll be in good hands," Brenda assured your mom, raising her hand in a wave as your mom started back down the porch steps. "Come on," Brenda urged as she started ushering you into the house. "Julia and Erik are in the living room. I just gave Erik the last of the orange juice, but how about some tea?" 

You nodded your head, silently seething that not only had Erik gotten you sick, but was also in possession of the only thing you truly wanted in that moment. You supposed tea would be an acceptable substitute, but you were still going to blame Erik for everything.  

When Brenda dropped you off in the living room, it was to find Julia half-asleep in one of the armchairs while Erik was sprawled out on the couch. Brenda gave you a consoling pat on the back before leaving to go make you a cup of tea. You didn’t feel like sitting in the other armchair, so you flopped down on Erik’s legs, delighting in the tiny bit of childish retribution.  

"Ow," Erik groaned before curling his legs up to give you more room.  

"I hate you," you told him, sniffling when it felt like you couldn't breathe through your nose.  

Erik snorted and you couldn't tell if he was laughing or also trying to clear his nose. "No, you don't," he refuted before reaching out and grabbing the still-full glass of orange juice off the coffee table. He handed it to you without another word before focusing on the rerun of SpongeBob playing on the television.  

You felt a reluctant smile pull at your lips before you took a sip of orange juice. It was still cold and just enough to soothe your scratchy throat. 

He was right. You didn't hate him. But for now, he didn't need to know that.  

You were fourteen and about to start your freshman year of high school. You left middle school thinking of Erik as the annoying pest next door and ended up with the most pathetic crush on him by the time July hit.  

One of the best advantages of having your best friend live next door was getting to share your pool with her every day. You were even nice enough to invite Erik and Bobby over, since they were practically family.  

You and Julia spent most days lounging by the pool and planning out your freshman year. She would go for cheer and track while you would go for theater and volleyball. You didn't even want to play a sport, but you knew colleges preferred well-rounded students and you wanted to have your pick of schools once senior year was over.  

It was nearing the end of June when you looked up from talking to Julia and caught sight of him. You had heard a girl once call Erik 'hot,' but you never saw it until that moment. He was stepping out of the pool and pushing his hair back from his eyes. He was in a pair of swim shorts and a black t-shirt and for one fateful moment you could not stop looking at the way the shirt clung to him. Erik blinked the water out of his eyes and reached up a hand to try to shake out any stray droplets. When he opened his eyes, he was staring right at you, and you felt your breath catch in your throat.  

You were mesmerized.  

"Uh, honeybee?" You heard Julia call before she waved her hand in front of your face.  

"What?" You asked, finally snapping out of your daze.  

"Stare hard enough and you'll burn a hole through him," Julia continued, an amused grin on her face. "Oh my God, are you in love with my brother?"  

"What? No!" You hurriedly looked at Erik to make sure he hadn't heard, but thankfully he was too busy trying to get Bobby in a headlock. "That would be stupid." 

Julia smirked at you, but thankfully let you off the hook. "So, anyway, Charlie and Stefani are supposed to be over tomorrow. Maybe we can go see a movie?" 

"Yeah, sure," you agreed, not even paying attention to what Julia suggested. All you could do was sneak glances at Erik, feeling like you just got hit by a log truck.  

The revelation that you were, indeed, falling for Erik did not do anything for your ability to remain casual around him. You had crushes before, but what you felt for Erik was all-consuming. He was all you could think about. He was all you wanted to see. He was the only person you wanted to talk to.  

You would have rather died than let anyone know you were so infatuated with Erik, but unfortunately, you had not one iota of cool in your body when it came to him anymore.  

You called the Campbell house every chance you got and waited outside on your porch in the hopes you would catch a glimpse of him. The week the Campbells took a trip to see Howard's mom was the most tortuous week of your whole life. You called Julia every day just in the hopes you might hear Erik in the background. You dreamed he would ask to talk to you or at least mention you once so you could know he was thinking about you.  

You knew you should let up, but it was hard when it felt like you had completely lost control.  

A part of you wasn't even sure you wanted it back.  

Your first day of freshman year, you made plans with Julia to meet at her locker after homeroom. You were devastated when you realized you only shared two classes with your best friend, but she made you promise that you would make time for each other throughout the day.  

You were trying to navigate your way through the sea of kids that had overtaken the hallway when you felt someone pull you to the side. You startled, instinctively trying to move away, when you heard Erik's laugh.  

You felt the tension leak out of your shoulders, butterflies doing backflips in your stomach at just the sight of him.  

He had hooked his arm around your shoulders and kept you tucked into his side.  

"Hey, there's my favorite little stalker," he exclaimed with a wide grin.  

You heard laughter and it was then you realized you weren't alone. You were joined by three other boys.  

"This one called our house all the time this summer wanting to talk. It was so cute," Erik continued, ignoring the fact that you had ducked your head, your cheeks heating up with embarrassment.  

"Sounds like someone's got a crush on you," one of the guys commented.  

"She is pretty cute," another boy said. He had blonde hair was wearing a black t-shirt and a backwards baseball cap. There were sunglasses perched on top of the cap and headphones hooked around his neck. He was watching you with a smirk and when he realized he had your attention, he shot you a wink.  

The other two boys were still laughing at Erik's antics, but you didn't want to part of the joke anymore. You pushed Erik away from you before rushing down the hallway, searching out the nearest bathroom. You could feel the sting of tears in your eyes and the overwhelming feeling of shame coursing through you.  

You bypassed the mirrors in the bathroom and beelined right for the stall farthest from the door.  

You felt like a total idiot.  

You weren't sure how long you stayed there in the bathroom. One warning bell turned into one missed class. You texted Julia that you weren't feeling well and during your first missed gym class, you sought out the nurses' office. You called your mom, begging for her to come pick you up, and left school early.  

Your mom had to go back to work, so she dropped you off at the house after making you promise to get some rest. You weren't one to play sick, so you felt bad that you were duping your mom into believing there was something wrong with you other than the fact that you wanted to crawl into a hole and die. You wanted to tell her that you failed. She had told you, years ago, not to let Erik get to you. He was just a boy and boys did stupid things like break hearts and laugh about you to their friends.  

But Erik was more than just a boy to you. Before he made fun of you, he felt like everything to you.  

You had just gotten up to your bedroom when you felt your phone vibrate with an incoming text message. 

what happened??? are you okay? 

You frowned down at your phone before typing out a reply to Julia.  

your brother is an ass and i hate him 

what did he do? need me to beat him up

You snorted before rolling your eyes. You had no doubt in your mind that if you asked Julia to kick Erik's ass, she would do it in a heartbeat.  

no. he's dead to me. as far as i'm concerned, the only thing i want to hear about him is that he fell out a window and hit his head so hard his eye popped out

ouch honeybee 

You worried for a moment that you had gone too far. Erik was Julia's brother and she loved him more than almost anyone. After waiting for what felt like forever, you finally got another reply. 

sorry almost got caught with my phone out but trust me he'll be dealt with

You didn't know what Julia had planned, but as far as you were concerned, you just wanted to forget about Erik. Were you still hopelessly crushing on him? Yes. But remembering the way he used you as the butt of a joke for his friends' entertainment had you wishing you never had to see him again. All you wanted to do now was shut out the rest of the world and forget that you existed for a few hours.  

You were in the middle of reaching out to pull your curtains shut, when you got a glimpse of the Campbell's backyard. What you saw made you freeze in confusion before leaving your room. You got downstairs and out the back door before you forget all about your plan to fade into oblivion.  

The squeak of trampoline springs reached your ears as you approached the fence separating your yard from the Campbells'. You opened up the gate Howard and your dad installed three summers back and walked towards what had caught your attention from up in your room just moments before.  

"Bobby? Shouldn't you be in school?" 

Bobby stopped jumping on the trampoline, letting himself fall to his knees. He bounced and almost overbalanced before he caught himself. "My English teacher brought peanut butter cookies today. She didn't know about my allergy. My throat started getting all itchy and my face was all swollen and then I had to go to the doctor." 

"Well, shit," you muttered. "You're alright now, though?" It was a dumb question. Bobby was jumping on a trampoline, sure, but he had been so excited to finally start middle school. He was looking forward to having a locker and more than just a handful of classes. Now, he was home on the first day because he almost died from his allergy.  

Bobby shrugged his shoulders, but you could see the disappointment in his eyes.  

"Are you okay? You're home too," he pointed out, moving to sit cross-legged on the trampoline. 

"Yeah," you sighed, toeing off your shoes. You figured Bobby was sad and you were sad and misery always did love its company, so why not be sad together? "Just some idiot who hurt my feelings. I'll get over it," you claimed, even though you weren't so sure. "Got room for me on that thing?" 

Bobby's face lit up before he nodded his head. "Always," he promised before reaching out a hand to help you up on the trampoline.  

You lost track of time hanging out with Bobby. By the time it was heating up outside, both of you had stopped jumping, content to simply lie on the trampoline and watch the clouds pass by.  

"Who was it?" Bobby asked, startling you out of your worries about what the next day of school would bring for you. "Who hurt you?" 

"Doesn't matter," you deflected. "It was my fault." 

"You know," Bobby mused, looking over at you. "Mom said I could take boxing lessons if I wanted to. I could teach you some stuff. So, you could defend yourself. Next time someone tries to hurt you, you just break out one of the moves I teach you." Bobby pretended to do a jab before grinning at you. "Show 'em who's boss." 

You felt a smile grace your face as you reached out to bump your arm against Bobby's. "Thanks," you told him. "I might just have to take you up on that." 

Bobby sat up before getting to his feet, being careful not to overbalance and fall on you. "Want to see if I can do a backflip?" 

"Bobby, you know you're not supposed to try any crazy acrobatics on that thing," you heard someone call. "Mom'll kill you if you break your neck." 

You felt yourself tense up at the sound of Erik's voice. All you could think about was the way he laughed at you. How he just thought you were a cute kid with an obsession.  

Bobby shot you a worried look, noticing your unease. You shook your head, not wanting him to worry. Bobby narrowed his eyes at you, obviously wanting to argue, but he stayed silent.  

"Come on," Bobby finally said, reaching a hand down for you. "Let's see who can jump the highest." 

Erik huffed out an annoyed breath. "So, what? You're both just gonna ignore me now?" 

Bobby tried to trip you and you laughed before shoving him so he fell over, taking care not to push him too hard.  

Bobby snagged a hand around your ankle and yanked you down, nearly sending you crashing into him.  

"Look, I know I was a dick, alright? I'm trying to apologize here," Erik tried to get your attention. 

"Okay, okay," you conceded, keeping your focus on Bobby. You held your hands up in surrender, ignoring the urge to look at Erik. "You are the king of the trampoline. I am but a mere peasant compared to you." 

"I'm glad you finally--" Bobby was cut off by a spray of water to his face. He spluttered before bringing up his hand to try to get water out of his eyes. "What?" He blinked at you in surprise before his gaze shifted to just over your shoulder. "Erik," Bobby warned, shaking his head.  

You felt a stream of water hit the back of your right shoulder. You startled before glancing over your shoulder to see Erik standing there with the garden hose in his hand. He had the nozzle pointed in your direction, a triumphant look on his face.  

"You going to stop ignoring me now?" 

You rolled your eyes before swinging your legs over the side of the trampoline and dropping to the ground. "I don't want to talk to you," you directed at Erik before walking towards the fence that separated your yards.  

"Just leave her alone, Erik," Bobby warned.  

"Oh, nice. So now you've turned my own siblings against me," Erik lamented as you let the fence fall shut behind you.  

You made it up to your bedroom before you let the tears fall. You didn't know why it hurt so much. Your whole life, Erik had been your friend. And now, just because of your stupid feelings for him, he had the power to crush you without even meaning to. You knew Erik would never intentionally hurt you. He thought he was just goofing off with his friends. But you had fallen hard and fast for him and you didn't know how to handle the feeling of rejection that was threatening to drown you.  

You sat on your bed for hours bundled up in your comforter. You had put on your favorite movie, but now the DVD menu was just looping over and over while you contemplated your life. You didn't know how you were going to face three years of being in the same school as Erik or his friends. You supposed you could always try to transfer to the private school just outside of town, but Julia would probably kill you for abandoning her to suffer through high school alone.  

As much as you wanted to avoid Erik, your friendship with Julia meant the world to you. You weren't going to fuck it up just for her brother.  

You were snapped out of your thoughts by the sound of something hitting your window. It was a soft clacking noise that almost sounded like rain was hitting the window. You hadn't heard thunder, but you figured maybe it might have started raining. The sound stopped for long enough that you almost managed to lull yourself to sleep. But then there was a gentle tapping at your window that had you jolting upright on the bed.  

Numerous thoughts of serial killers or home invaders raced through your mind. Your dad had talked about cutting down the tree that had grown just outside your window, but you had always loved having it there.  

Now, you weren't so sure.  

You felt like every idiot in a horror movie as you got out of bed and slowly approached your window. The tapping came again, this time louder and a bit more insistent, and you stored up all the courage you had and rushed over to fling back the curtains.  

You weren't prepared for the sight of Erik at your window. He had his palm pressed to the glass, perched precariously on the small strip of roof under your window. You knew that if your dad saw Erik out there, he would cut down your favorite tree in an instant.  

You rolled your eyes and started to shut the curtains when he pulled out his ultimate weapon.  

His puppy dog face.  

Erik knew if he tilted his head down, looked up at you through his eyelashes, and stuck his lower lip out in a pout that you would cave. It worked for stolen slices of pizza, video game defeats, and apparently public humiliation.  

"That's not fair," you said, not even sure if he could hear you through the window.  

Erik doubled down by bringing his hands up, braving letting go of his hold on the roof to put his palms together, a silent plea for mercy.  

You conceded by opening your window. Erik reached out to steady himself on the windowsill, but didn't make a move to climb into your room.  

"I hate you," you lied, reaching out to grab your desk chair before you rolled it towards you so you could sit on it.  

"No, you don't," Erik countered with a grin. "In fact, I think you really, really like me." 

"Alright, good night, Erik," you said, moving to shut your window.  

"No, wait, wait, wait," Erik pleaded before reaching out a hand to try to stall you. He managed to grab your hand, keeping it still. "Just hear me out, alright?" 

"Talk fast," you ordered, trying to ignore that the feeling of his hand on yours had your stomach swooping and flipping all over the place.  

Erik drew his hand back, gripping your windowsill as if he thought that might be enough to deter you from trying to shut it again.  

"I'm sorry about spraying you with the hose earlier. Bobby really chewed me out for that one. I was just trying to get your attention. I know you left school early because I was such a dick earlier. Julia told me and she kicks really fucking hard, you know that?" 

You couldn't help but smile, thinking of Julia tracking Erik down at school just to kick him as hard as she could. Julia was usually such a ray of sunshine, but you didn’t want to make her angry. And you especially didn’t want to hurt her best friend.  

"I'm glad it's funny to you. I don't think I'm ever gonna have kids," Erik winced as he pretended like he was going to grab his crotch.  

You snorted, trying to hold in your laughter, but it was useless. Before you knew it, you had completely lost it, throwing your head back at the mental image of Julia kicking Erik in the balls right in front of all of his friends.  

When you finally managed to compose yourself, it was to see Erik's delighted grin as he watched you. "There you are," he said. "That whole sad, emo schtick is really my thing, alright? So leave it to me from now on." 

"I'll try," you agreed, leaning back in your chair.  

Erik's smile dropped as he leaned forward. "I really am sorry, you know. I like you. You're cool and funny and the only person I know who can kick my ass at Mario Kart." 

"But?" You prompted, knowing that despite all the compliments, your heart was about to take another hit.  

"But I don't want us," he gestured between the two of you, "to get all fucked up. I like what we have. I don't want to lose it. And I’m really, really sorry that I hurt your feelings earlier." 

"Yeah," you sighed, knowing that it was the safest way to get the conversation to drop. You didn't want a rejection, but you would rather have Erik as a friend than not at all. "Maybe I should see if your friend is available," you tried. "The one who thinks I'm cute," you clarified at Erik's confused look.  

"Jay?" Erik asked, letting out a disbelieving laugh. "Uh, no," he refuted with a shake of his head. "He's a total delinquent. You need someone better. A knight in shining armor who'll protect you from all the evil in the world." 

You wanted to point out that once upon a time, Erik had been your knight in shining armor, but you didn’t want to make the pain you felt any worse.  

"He was cute," you replied, shrugging your shoulders. Jay was cute, but he wasn't Erik. You didn't know how you would ever move on from him and you had a really bad feeling that you never would. But Erik wasn't interested, which meant you were relegated to pining away for him.  

"Forget about him," Erik ordered before tapping his fingers against the windowsill. "It's getting late. I should let you get your beauty rest." 

You scoffed, but didn't try to disagree. You had missed out on your first day of high school. You didn't want to fuck up your second day by being exhausted.  

"C'mere," Erik prompted, crooking a finger at you to get you to move closer.  

You leaned forward in your chair, cautious about whatever he had in mind.  

You thought maybe he would give you a hug or try to play some kind of prank on you, but you weren't prepared for the press of his lips to your cheek. "Sweet dreams, Y/N," he whispered in your ear before he was letting himself slide down the roof until he could grab onto a branch sturdy enough to hold his weight.  

You waited until he was safely on the ground before you closed your window. You drew your curtains shut and then pressed your forehead to the wall right beside your window.  

All you could think about was the kiss and his apology and the way he looked when he was begging for forgiveness.  

You needed to forget about your pathetic feelings for him, but you knew it wasn't going to be that easy.  

You were so, so fucked. 

Author's Note: 1. The mature rating doesn't kick in until they're adults. 2. This does have a happy ending, just trust me. 3. This is not canon-compliant with FD6, so there's no Campbell family bloodline curse. 4. If you would like to be tagged in future updates, please let me know!!

[woundedsoul12]

A Word With Friends

Thank you @hedwigoprah for the game and the tag

This week's word is

Métier/Metier:

• Any activity that is pursued as a trade or profession; a calling • An activity to which a person is particularly suited; a forte

Rook x Tarquin Lenaquin? Yeah sure. Medical AU because it's Rotting my BRAINNNN. Enjoy my no personality having assholes

Soft tagging some homies @himluv @mythals-whore @serensama @becausedragonage @davrinsleftpectoral @fenrelmercar @kai-dimir @fiberpunk027 @jenn2d2 @tkwritesdumbassassins @brennacedria @blackwall-my-tiny-husband @operative-arrow @obsessed-with-book-boyfriends @fireheartedpup @bonesandivy @notyourmamasdeerbat @griffongrey @master-of-the-elements @chaoslifeforme @carrieing0n @serstolas @beachhotdog @nirikeehan @basedonconjecture @bygonesigh @redheadsramblings @aetherflowers @in-the-drowning-deep @sandcastlekings @mezzomoment @serialsforbellara @zennihilation @chaosherald @otterpocketz @thatgaymerguyb @biowaredisasterbisexual @officialnostradamus @dags-over-caravans @picathartidae @arcaneschemes @babydinosaur930 @amlusa @rat-spit-village @thrilmalia @guacamolleee @jukkaricity @mothergootz @dialmformud

“Hey you know me, starting shit with admin is my metier. Even more than saving lives or running that busted ass ED.” Lena took another swig then. Glasses tipped over and forgotten as they passed the bottle back and forth. A snort of laughter echoing from Tarquin as he shook his head at her.

“Metier, really?" Tarquin asked incredulously. "Get a few sips of wine in you and you turn fancy on me, Mercar. Could have just said ‘forte’ or some shit like the rest of us poor sods.” She giggled as she nudged him with her foot. A move that did funny things in the pit of his stomach as she leaned back and passed him the bottle. Eyes half lidded as she relaxed on the couch while he watched from his seat on the floor.

“Oh come on, Quin. I thought you liked my bachelor's degree education. Or are you just worried I'll kick your ass at Words with Friends again?”

He grumbled as he took a long sip. More to compose his thoughts than out of any real anger. Being here with her like this- was too raw, too real. Something so intimate it almost felt wrong. A dishonor to his friend's memory as he put the bottle down.

But the wine flushed his cheeks and muddled his thoughts. And when she smiled at him like that, he forgot to hold back.

“Hey don't hate on my JuCo education,” he protested as he slapped her leg playfully. A sharp gasp from her lips at the stinging pain making his mouth go dry as he added, “Not all of us can afford you and Ashur's high dollar learning.”

It had meant to be a tease, but he knew he messed up. Her face falling for the barest of moments before she slipped her mask back into place. The mention of him all it took to throw off their night.

“Lena, I'm sor-”

“Don't you apologize.” She cut off with a frustrated growl. Shoulders tensed as he sensed the unshed tears she held back. She had come a long way these last few months, but if she hurt even half as much as he did she was going through hell. “Look Quin, he was your best friend. And I… like talking about him with you. It keeps him alive for me.”

He nodded slowly as she blinked a few times. Rubbing her face before she motioned for the bottle once more. “Fuck I sound crazy. Probably need a grippy sock vacation.”

“Nah Mercar,” he replied softly as he handed over the wine. His smile one of gentle understanding as he inched closer to her. “If you're crazy, so am I. And we all know I'm not crazy.”

“I don't know Quin. Worked a few full moon shifts with you.” She chuckled as she peeled at the label on the bottle absently. Gaze unfocused as they both floundered for what to say. Both feeling the heat of the growing thing between them. But neither wanting to admit its truth under their current circumstances.

“Hey Quin,” she finally said before taking another drink. The wine almost gone as she passed it back his way.

“Yeah?” He raised his eyebrow as he polished the bottle off. Thankful this was the last one as she placed a soft hand on his shoulder.

“Will you stay tonight? We can each take a couch.”

It had become a regular routine, one he didn't mind at all. She wasn't good alone most nights, and he owed his friend this much.

“Yeah. I don't go in tomorrow anyway.” He shrugged as he stood. Stretching with a loud groan before he leaned down and shoved her shoulder. “But you're buying breakfast in the morning.”

“Shit. I will cook. You're too expensive.” They both chuckled as they settled in. Lights off as he grabbed a spare blanket. Trying not to think too much about things. Especially when it took hours for her breathing to even.

[isetfiretomyself]

Yandere Male Sea God X G/N Follower Reader

Whipping out my personal Oc to save me from this writers block (⁠｢⁠`⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠)⁠｢ Funnily enough I made the concept for them when I had art block lmao. I made the little story when I was too shy to post anything so sitting at nearly 300 follower and making it is so meaningful for me 🩷 -Jay

Trigger Warnings! Murder, Little Bit Of Religious Exploitation, Violence, Delusional Behaviour, Kidnapping...The Reader Hasn't Noticed Yet, This is all fictional I don't condone toxic behaviour irl!

🌊 The God Of The Sea,once known as one of the most caring to his devoted followers now left unseen for a centurie. Many left their faith behind, found new gods to follow or were so blinded by anger they couldn't see a way out.Even other gods weren't aware for their brother's location, They were aware he grew weary of his duties but never thought he'd just abandon everything. Gods and mortals alike had no idea Thee God Of The Sea was now pretending to be a mere pirate. Now going by Ari. He had been on many ships over the years but he found himself being on 'The silent siren' for a ten years. Stealing from other mortals, travelling over the ocean that was his birthright. It was so simple and he simply adored it. Being a God for too much. He wanted to disappear, wanted freedom. He's one of the eldest gods, his siblings hadn't seen the world's decay into chaos like he has.

🌊Ari was looking out to the sea. Blue transformed from shade to shade as the were carried along the waves. "Yo! Ari. Come up here!" He hears his captain call for him to the wheel. "You see that island there?" Ari follows his captains motion towards a small island. Apart from some small fishing boats it looks completely isolated. "One of the only villages that still worship The Lord Of The Sea. Which means they still are some of the only that still have his gifts." Ari had to look away to hide his facial expression. He knew he was still worshipped because he could still enter the mortal realm but a whole island? He'd feel that, it must be more like a few villagers. He took a deep breath and started looking again. He reminds this island. Back when he was a beloved god he still felt some love there. They did indeed receive gifts from him. The crops were to never die of thirst, no matter how raging the storm their home would be protected from the harsh waves that would otherwise of destroyed them by now. But his captain couldn't take those, not even his siblings had the power to turn the waters against their master so there was all but one thing he can take. "You want the trident?" His face hardens. He gave the people such a powerful gift when it looked like him and his sister Wind were to fight.

🌊His captain comes up behind him and slinging his arm around Ari's shoulders. "I trust but you to know our true intentions. With that trident we will rule the sea becomes the new gods!" Ari felt the rage build up in the back of his throat. How dare this mortal try and replace him! Ari smiles and nods. Maybe it was time the sea god's presence was remember. The rest of the crew started yelling and screaming for the two men to run to the end of the ship. "What are they on about?" His captain turned to see a gigantic wave far, far bigger than the ship. His make eye contact with Ari his grey eyes now gleaming blue as the waves. "Nobody and I mean nobody shall take my ocean." The wave falls taking the whole boat down, sinking it into Thee Sea Of Gods domain were all crew were at his mercy.

🌊Now he could kill everyone but it wasn't everyone who had wronged him and he's not like some of his siblings. Washing up on the shores of his beloved island with some of his crew wasn't the original plane. He was to return to his full form, The Almighty God Of The Sea but he was drawn to the island. He felt a call,a prayer for him.

That's where he met you!

🌊 You were assistant of the priest to help decipher the old teachings and words of The Sea God said to him and his ancestors. You were trailing along the beach, feeling the water wrap round your ankles and fully submerged your feet. You hoped that one The great Sea God would communicate with you like he did the priest and your ancestors. You believe he's out there, the villager believes in the priests words but you believe in the sea around you, they say so much and nothing at all. You tail alone the shore trying to figure out how you explain this feeling to others. You sat down in the shallow sea and pray for proof, existence that he wouldn't abandon your island. What you didn't expect was for that wish to be granted in the worst way possible.

🌊You found Ari with his crew on the sand unconscious. You're eyes are drawn to Ari out of all the crew because he laid limp in the water. His bright red hair washed out at the top showing his pitch black roots. You rush over to check for a pulse, when finding one you try to drag him out. His muscular form was a easy excuse of why you would find it so hard to move a literal god but you were resilient and not giving up on him.

🌊 Ari felt a stir as the prayer for help courses through his veins. What he didn't realise is the help was to tear him from the waves. When he's pulled out his eyes meet yours. He recognised your attire as a worshiper. He stumbled from your grasp staggering to he's feet. He wasn't that much taller then you in his human form, "Are you okay?" He recognised that voice, he had answered the prayer and collapsed again. Ari woke up in a medical room with his crew. "Sleeping Beauty final wakes to help us." One of his crew mates says from another medical bed. Ari rubs his eyes "The ship..." He murmured to himself. "Yeah. You don't think that was...him." Another Crew mate got up from a chair and slapped the others head. "Don't be stupid! He isn't about anymore! It's just unlucky... that's all." He sits back down and runs his hand through his hair, "Just unlucky." Ari jumps out the bed walking towards his crew mates. "What now?"

🌊You walk into the medical room. "Hello." You watch them all stare at you like dear in headlines. "I'm (Reader)! I work under the church of the sea. We have a ship from the mainland come the day after tomorrow to give us some supplies. You could join it to get off the island." Ari's lip turns into a snarl. "What is the Church Of The Sea?" He watched your face light up. "Are you alright for a short walk?" His crew mates stayed behind to rest but Ari trailed behind you. The villagers look at him with fascination. His eye liner and faded red hair wasn't something men really wore in the community. "When The God Of The Sea left us a chosen one could still hear his teachings! This gift was past down to the children and the children's child! Who is our priest. He makes sure we keep our gifts!" You walk up a hill. Looking behind you, you see the beautiful ocean. The lights bounce back against the deep blue sea, your view was interrupted by Ari's voice snapping your gaze back to the stone slabs stairs nestled into the long grass.

🌊"Aren't the whole points of gifts is they can't be returned?" He watched as you turned around and kept walking. The tides against the island were the harshest they'd been in a hundred years. Not that anyone would notice. He keeps his promises, his gifts. He's livid that some mere mortal dare claims they talk to him? He'll make them pay. He watches you from a little bit afar. You prayed to him to save a life, unkownly his life. He's not used to people praying to him for such selfless reasons and you are the only pray he can hear. The others pray to the con artist, believing his lies but you define that dirt and still devote yourself just to him.

🌊You take him to an old shrine he remembered getting originally made way before your time. That's when he saw the sly scum bag pretending to talk to him. He subconsciously took a step forward in a confrontational way. Your voice snapped him out of his murderous rage. "This is our Priest! Their sailors ship was destroyed in our seas. They're our guests till the resource ship gets here!" The priest looks over your shoulder to see Ari giving him a glare of the gods, or evils as the locals would call it. "Sailors?" He talks to you like a child, something you haven't seem to notice but leaves a bad taste in Ari's mouth. "There's only one." You looked a little embarrassed "Oh! Yeah they're in the infirmary! This is..." You look back to Ari for his name. "Ari.." he mumbled. "This is Ari!" You say excitedly. This was the first time his name was uttered with pure joy. Not caution, or respect as a god or a pirate but joy as a person.

🌊 "Well. Ari... you're welcome to pray here while you wait for your departure." You looked at the shrine then at Ari. "Do you believe in him?" Ari smirks, he always loves playing this game. "Do I look like I do? Go on what god to you think I'm devoted to?" He looks down at you, smiling. You were a bit embarrassed. "Oh is that really appropriate?" The priest jumped at the opportunity. "The Lord Of Flames, easy." You look between the priest and Ari. Ari smiles, Ah his Twin. How ironic. "Well My Sweet Pearl I'm a non believer." You looked captivated. "But how? They exist!Our Priest hears from The Sea God Himself!" "(Reader!)" The Priest scolds you. He grabbed your arm to tell you off, he didn't want outsiders knowing about the tales he tells the island. Ari hates it.

🌊 The next day Ari was sitting on the beach with his crew. Some were playing tag, enjoying the only break they've had in years. Ari layed in the sand ,closes his eyes to feel devotion within himself. He gets up murmuring something about a stretch of the legs before finding the shrine again. He sees you praying by it. "Mine if I join Pearl?" You look up. "I thought you didn't believe?" Ari sat down next to you. "I don't believe in God's like I don't believe in royalty. I know they're real but I have no faith." He stares at the shrine. You were so dedicated to him, yet he abandoned his duty years ago. "Why are you still faithful? He's left your island to rot." He said with hatred in his heart, not at you but himself. "He hasn't left...He's talks to the chosen one!" "Do you really believe that? Why that guy? You pray more than him. You give the daily pledge. I think you should be the 'chosen one'." You felt your face heat up at such compliments. You look away embarrassed. "Who has the trident?" He pushes his hair off his shoulders. "How do you know about that? Do others still talk about our island?" You felt yourself get defensive, people think your Islands a threat, unwilling to make deals with some islands due to the rumours. "No,We don't use it. only-" "'Only the chosen one can wheeled it.' Is that what he says." He clenched his fist, why's he hoarding it!? "Ari..your kind but please let laying dogs rest?"You stand up brushing your knees. Ari stands up with you. "Let me come with you." It was more of a demand then a plea.

🌊 He watches you go round the Island picking up shells with locals. You seemed like the islands treasure with how everyone greets you. "What are we doing?" He watches you wade into the sea. "Shells from blessed water is one of the islands most valuable things to sell! We try to do it the day before the ship comes so it's fresh." You watch him from the sand. "You'll be leaving soon." Ari sees you look a little sad, He comes into the water with you. He emerges himself into the ocean, disappearing. "Ari? Ari!?" You feel arms wrap around you before he burst out of the water lifting you up. The locals all giggled or smiled. It's not uncommon for travelers to have flings with locals and they were under the impression that's what this was.

"You're a menace!" You yell out with a smile. His deep voice was laced with something a God hadn't had in thousands of years, Happiness. A genuine smile, a genuine laugh from an eternal being.

🌊 Ari puts you back down. He steps back feeling something crack underneath his feet. A shell cracks beneath him. "Oh erm. Sorry, you're better at all the shell business then I am." He steps back and floats onto the ground. He vowed he'll give you the gift you deserved. He hunted down the 'priest' the fraud. He found him near the highest of hills, gazing upon the sea he claims to be connected to. "You!" His voice boomed out with rage. The Priest looks back. "Oh you're still here...how many I help you?" Ari closed the distance shoving him hard. "You do not hear from the lord, you and your descendants have been lying to these people for years!" The priest laughs in shock. "Oh? So what? It give them hope, why do you care?" "Where's the trident?" The priest looked uncomfortable now. "What? Is that why you care so much for my assistant? Trying to make a profit?" "It is you who wishes to capitalise on the gifts not meant for a single individual till now." The clouds become dark, the water being pulled down to the earth causing heavy rain. The Priest went to look for shade but Ari grabbed him by the throat.

🌊 Ari punched him to the ground. "You talked to them like filth. People like you are the filth in this world that blurred my vision for so long." He rested his foot on the man's chest, pinning him to the mercy of a god. "It's not just you...You were allowed this. Nobody called you or your family out, to comfortable in a mere fantasy to comprehend the truth. Praying to you, instead of me. The only person to stay loyal on this rotten to rock was them and I intend to give them their weight in gold in return." He went to kick his throat in but paused. Ari sighed, a swirling feeling in his chest. "It is time I return to my home but you know how annoying siblings are? Not looking forward to them." The priest coughed in sobs, begging for his life. "Please - please I'm sorry." Now God Of The Sea is a unfair title really, Ari can control all liquid, including blood. He brings it all out pushing apon the priest's sink till it just went pop.

🌊 You were on the beach. You lay under a tree for shelter. feeling your eyes droop as slumber takes you. You awake to the sound of the river flowing steadily by your side. You stir, feeling hands move your head from the grass, when were you in grass and not sand? You open your eyes to see Ari holding you. His red hair now even longer and black was cole. His eyes blue glowed like fireflies. You hadn't noticed till moving your arms for support but you had a trident in your hand like a bride holds her bouquet. "What's going one? Where are we?" You stand up. Holding onto the trident for support you look around to see your surroundings. The land around is limited, water wraps you around making a wall. You step closer and the water moves away with you. "You won't drown, I wish to give you a gift." Ari's hair flowing to his ankles. "My Sweet Pearl, you reminded me of how much my real followers need their God." He sees the realisation on your face as he approaches you. His hands wrapped around the back of your neck as he pulls you in for a kiss. The walls collapsed around them as water submerged them, a dramatic ritual to make sure his family knows you're not to be messed with. He pulls back and you can feel the water fill your lips and go down your throat. You panicked try to breathe till you realise it's not a struggle. You could break in and out just fine underwater, Ari or now known as The Sea God? Chuckles at your reaction. He takes your hand and swims down into the deep,They reach a rock. He holds both your hands around the trident and pulls it to your centre before slamming it to the ground. You flinch a little as a cave opens to a whole new realm. "Your people thought I gave you that to control water, but it was a key to sanctuary to those worthy." He watches your reaction, the face of processing was obvious but he thought it was just adorable.

🌊 His realm was gorgeous, Old towers raised high connecting into ancient architecture. The realm was desolate, "As I expected , Just the two of us. Let me show you around my dear." He takes your hand showing you around where he intendeds to keep you away from harm. Where the new tales of the God returning are filled with his loyalty follower by his side.

[susicheng]

15% ... p.js

wc: 2,472 strangers to lovers - jisung x fem!reader

Jisung is, more often than not, the victim of Chenle's impulsive plans. This time is no different. Except, maybe it is. or Chenle asks Jisung on a date. Jisung gets a girlfriend out of it.

Seeing an incoming phone call from Chenle meant one of three things for Jisung. He was either going to be asked to play basketball, be gaslit, or be lured into an evil plan that he would more than likely end up regretting.

“Jisung, go on a date with me.”

Apparently, the secret fourth option was that he would be asked out. By his (previously?) heterosexual best friend. He could work with that.

“What?”

“There’s a discount at that one restaurant by campus for couples going on right now. 15% Jisung. We have to go on a date.”

“Ask Donghyuck.”

”No, he’d think it’s a date date. But it’s not. We just have to gaslight the employees into thinking we’re dating and get free money.”

“Why would he think it’s a date date? Plus, you’re rich. Why do you need a discount?”

“Because we kissed the other day. Just go with me.”

“…You what?”

“Be ready by 4 tomorrow.”

Jisung didn’t have time to unpack any of the words that were just said to him before Chenle hung up on him. So that was that. Option 3. He was not looking forward to this.

Despite the voices in his head assuring Jisung that this was an awful idea, he was ready by 4. The entire walk to the restaurant was spent with Jisung internally regretting having ever agreed to be Chenle's partner for a project in freshman year. Chenle was more committed to the bit than Jisung expected him to be.

Everything was going relatively smoothly until the waitress approached the table. Jisung had, officially, never regretted anything more in his entire life. Here he was, sitting across from Chenle on a fake date, with maybe the most beautiful woman he had ever seen serving them. This might be the fumble of the century. He had to kill himself.

"Can I get you guys started with any drinks?"

Oh god, you were looking at him. His mouth opened and closed like a fish. Holy shit, Jisung had never fumbled this hard in his life. He couldn't let himself talk because he knew his voice would come out at least 3 octaves higher than it usually did. His life was over.

"We'll just have 2 waters, thanks!"

Chenle swooped in and saved the day. He must have sensed Jisung's internal struggle. Which, by the way, did not calm down until you had nodded and disappeared out of his sight.

"Holy fuck, Jisung. You're so into her."

"Did you see her!?"

"Yeah, and I saw you looking at her like a lovesick puppy. You have no respect for this plan! She's never going to believe we're dating if you keep doing that."

"I didn't even agree to this."

"But you're here. If we don't get that discount, I'm making you pay."

"Fine."

Jisung was anything but fine, actually. He still wanted to die. Every time you approached the table, he had to make a conscious effort not to stare at you longingly. On top of being hopelessly in love with the waitress for his fake date, Chenle spent the entire meal making fun of him. When the waitress was at the table, he had to endure Chenle tossing wiki-how pickup lines at him (Seriously, how can he say "If you were a vegetable, you’d be a cutecumber.” without batting an eye? In front of a gorgeous woman?) and as soon as the waitress left, Chenle spent every available second laughing at Jisung.

"Do you want me to say something to her?"

"No! Please god no. I thought you wanted the discount."

"I do. But watching you try to act normal around our waitress is more entertaining than getting 15% off."

"No. If you say anything I'm burning your Steph Curry jerseys. All of them."

"What the hell!?"

"I'm serious."

He could hardly finish his food. He spent way too much time staring at you as you did your job. It was just too easy to laser-focus on the way you pushed a strand of hair behind your ear as you wrote down a table's orders, or the way you laughed with your coworkers during a brief lull in tasks. He could imagine being the one to pick you up from work in his car (he didn't have a car) and make sure you got home safe. Seeing your smile at the end of his day would have made it worth it.

"Dude."

Chenle's voice snapped him out of it.

"What?"

"You don't even know her name."

"Yeah I do. It's yn, it's on her nametag."

He chose not to acknowledge the bewildered expression that crossed Chenle's face, or the uncontrollable laughter that followed.

Jisung survived the rest of the evening (barely) and endured all of Chenle's teasing until the bill came. He figured his suffering would be over once Chenle paid. Chenle, apparently, did not catch onto Jisung's silent pleas for mercy. He decided to wait until they were collecting their things to leave to deliver his fatal hit. When you returned with Chenle's card, he decided to put the final nail in the coffin.

"By the way, he thinks you're super cute."

Jisung looked up just in time to see Chenle gesturing towards him, your eyes following the movement with shock evident on your face. His eyes met yours, and he almost combusted on the spot.

He was going to kill Chenle and then himself.

Valentine's Day was your least favorite season for a multitude of reasons. Primarily out of jealousy, but also because the restaurant you made the mistake of working at loved to promote themselves through couple discounts around this time. Not only were you forced to watch people in love in the wild all day, but they were also waiting for you the instant you clocked in.

Maybe the most evil part of all of this was one of the couples you were serving today. Both of them were attractive, objectively, but one of them was exactly your type. He stumbled his way through placing his order, he flushed bright red every time his boyfriend flirted with him, and he could barely hold eye contact. He was a complete and utter loser. Unfortunately, you were indescribably into that.

You felt a little bad, watching how they bantered when you weren't checking in on them. That boy always went dead silent the instant you stopped by their table, looking at you almost like he was scared. You wondered if maybe you looked homophobic? Maybe they felt unwelcome in the restaurant, being pretty much the only same sex couple in the establishment.

Having come to the conclusion that this was undoubtedly the case, you doubled your efforts. You went out of your way to make sure they felt welcomed. You even took an extra 5% off of their bill at the end (you really hoped your boss wasn't paying close attention to the checks tonight).

Honestly, you were a little bit confused about their dynamic. Both of them seemed like bottoms. Not that you were stereotyping them. But the little chatty one just had too much twink aura. But he was paying. The taller boy you were into was just too shy. And he wasn't paying. So truly, what was going on here? Maybe you were having problematic inner thoughts. You decided to stop thinking and return the little gay one's card to him.

You thought you were done with that exchange until the little one spoke up.

"By the way, he thinks you're super cute."

He pointed at his boyfriend, who you turned to witness turn paler than a sheet of paper. Your first aid training kicked in faster than your mind processed what was happening. One second, the boy was staring at you like a deer in headlights, and he next, he was passed out in your arms after you ran to catch him.

"Holy shit! Jisung!"

The shorter one ran to join you at his side, seemingly fighting between laughing and panicking.

"I'm gonna assume you guys would rather not pay for an ambulance or an emergency room visit. Help me carry him to the break room. Does this happen a lot?"

"I mean, kind of? Not really but he's socially awkward enough that social situations can make him freak out."

You let out a hum of acknowledgement as the two of you dragged him to the break room. Neither of you were tall enough for this. And this short guy was surprisingly weak, so you were doing the majority of the heavy lifting. One point to tall boy in the "Who is the top?" debate.

Nobody really questioned the two of you barely succeeding at carrying a man twice your size into the back. Which might raise some questions about the empathy of society, but you weren't here for philosophical discussions. There were much more pressing matters. Like the science behind how the hell this short guy could not shut the hell up. Seriously, he had not stopped yapping even once. You weren't even really listening, giving halfhearted replies as you plopped the tall one on the dingy couch in the back.

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Mmm?"

"You can't edit our check or anything, right?"

"I mean, I could. But I really don't feel like it regardless of what you're about to say."

"Awesome. We aren't dating. Like me and Jisung. We aren't a couple."

"Oh."

"Yeah. He's so into you, man. Like so bad. I think he wanted to kill me for flirting with him in front of you."

"Oh, nice."

"Yup. I'm leaving now, you got this though, right?"

"What?"

"Yeah, bye!"

This guy, you learned, was a terrible friend. But you did learn the cute one's name from him. And that he was single. And that he was into you. So there's that.

You were just lucky that your manager had told you that you were cut after finishing the table with the gay couple (who were actually not a couple). As anyone would do, you decided the best course of was to sit on instagram reels after putting a cold compress on Jisung's forehead. He would wake up in a minute, probably.

You were right. He shot straight up a couple of minutes later and caused you to jump approximately 2 feet into the air out of shock.

"Fuck! Oh my god."

He was staring at you like a deer in headlights again. You watched him pinch himself a few times and continue staring at you like you were from another planet.

"You okay?"

"Where's Chenle?"

"The little twink?"

"Uhh. I guess?"

"Oh. Yeah he left. Didn't really give a reason."

"Seriously?"

"Dead serious. Sorry. He seems like kind of a dick."

"You don't even know. Oh my god. He dragged me here because he just needed a 15% discount, which, by the way, doesn't even make sense! I've seen his bank account! I don't think I've seen that many digits anywhere besides the lottery! And he picked me of all people to be his fake boyfriend. Seriously, me!? And then he spent the whole time making fun of me, I didn't even get to enjoy my food. And now he just left me here!? Unbelievable, seriously."

Your smile grew as he continued to ramble about his traitorous best friend. Man, you wanted him bad. He seemed to notice the audience he had, or rather, who his audience was, a bit belatedly.

"Oh man. I just said way too much. You're not gonna make me pay back what was discounted, right?"

"No, the other one already told me it was fake."

"He did?"

"Yeah. Also mentioned something about you being into me?"

"Oh my god."

You watched him visibly shrink into himself. It was cute how embarrassed he got at everything.

"He doesn't know what he's talking about. Don't listen to a word he says."

"Really? That's a bummer, so that means you wouldn't want to go out with me this weekend?"

"Right, yeah."

He paused. He stared at you in silence. His brain was definitely lagging. You watched the realization finally dawn on his face.

"Hold on. What?"

"I think you're cute. I'm off this Sunday if you want to go out for lunch or something. I'd like to get to know you."

"You're being serious?"

"Never been more serious in my life."

"I'm free too." (He wasn't. He had agreed to play basketball with Chenle already. He was cancelling that plan the second he was not longer in your presence).

"Perfect. Are you doing anything else tonight?"

"Besides plotting the murder of my best friend? No, nothing."

"I'm off work now, mind if we walk around together for a while?"

"That sounds great, actually."

You made him wait in the break room for a couple of minutes while you changed out of your work clothes, finally leaving the restaurant together shortly after. Conversation flowed surprisingly easily between the two of you now that he wasn't stuck in his head like he must have been at dinner. It was easy to slide your hand into his, interweaving your fingers and swinging your joined hands lightly. His blush now, you thought, was prettier than it had been during dinner. Maybe that was because it was all your doing that caused it this time.

His voice was soft, but deep, lingering in the air in a way that made you crave to hear his voice all the time. Conversation ranged from what you were doing with your lives (both of you were pursuing higher education, though you went to different universities in the city), to your favorite kind of Minecraft wood (Jisung liked dark oak. That's how you knew he was the right one).

You let him walk you home, like a real gentleman. With a fleeting kiss on his cheek, you walked into your apartment building with your heart a little fuller and a new contact sitting in your phone. Maybe this year you would start to like Valentine's day.

Jisung :) : Just got home Jisung :) : Can't wait to see you on Sunday :3

mel yaps: this is my 600 follower and 127 post gift for all of you, please enjoy the evil bs my brain decides to spew out. also thank u to @jisusung for the assistance with brainstorming for this guy.

#: @f6llsun @i03jae @jeonghansshitester @holyhaech @chenlezip @mi1kteaa @ayukas

[mattyriddlegf]

Starry Sky (4)

Happy Sunday release day! I am so sorry this one is late, I’ve had quite the week. I appreciate all of your support…comment to be added to the taglist! Enjoy!

(Sorry about the spacing! My lack of laptop today made it harder lol)

—————

“Two times in one day, I’m a lucky man” you hear Mattheo’s voice ring in the air. You open your eyes to see him walking up to you with the little brown notebook he’s always doodling in.

You don’t respond but rather just scoot over so he can sit down next to you, just inches away.

“Let me guess, you came up here to escape your friends?” Mattheo asks, raising his eyebrows expectantly.

“How’d you know?” You ask emotionlessly.

“Why do you think I’m up here?” He retorts.

You close your eyes again, tilting your head back against the wall until you smell a cigarette.

You open your eyes again, looking to mattheo as he’s lighting one.

“Are you just always smoking?” You ask.

“Want one?” He responds, holding his pack up towards you.

“No thanks, I don’t smoke” you pause, “you know it’s really bad for you, right?”

“Eh, fuck it” he shrugs, exhaling smoke. The smell was overwhelming already but you don’t move away from Mattheo at all.

You point to his notebook, “what do you draw in there?”

“It’s a secret,” he says, raising his eyebrows, smirking.

“Sure it is” you laugh, “you draw in it during class. I’ll just look when you’re not paying attention”

He stares at you for a moment before speaking, “you know you’re a lot more feisty than I thought you would be” He takes another drag of his cigarette, the smell intoxicating you.

“Oh, because I’m a gryffindor?” You tilt your head.

“You ask a lot of questions,” he responds, squinting his eyes at you.

You stare at him for a moment before looking away, “I’m just a curious person”

“Yeah I know, you and your friends are quite the nosey people” he laughs.

You glance at him again quickly before looking the other way, towards the open sky. The sun was now starting to set, making the most beautiful sunset.

“So what are you going to wear for Dean on Friday? Something hot?” Mattheo teases, capturing your attention again.

“None of your business” you respond quickly.

“Oh come on, this is your first date with him right?”

“Now who’s nosey?” You ask, tilting your head.

“Alright, fine. Just know that Dean is a guy” he responds.

“Yeah I know, that’s why I’m going out with him” you laugh.

“No, I mean he’s a guy. He’s gonna try to get in your pants”

You gasp, “no he’s not! He’s actually a good guy you know.” you try to defend Dean.

“That doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to have sex with you” he shrugs, still finishing off his cigarette.

“Is that all you think about?” you almost laugh, getting annoyed, “I mean, everyone knows you sleep around but I didn’t want to believe it.”

“Then don't.” he responds quietly, avoiding your eyes, “not everything you hear is true.”

You watch him carefully. His reaction was…defensive and almost like he was affected by your accusation.

“So tell me what is true.” you respond, you gaze still fixated on him and his curly hair blowing in the slight breeze.

He looks up to you, his jaw clenched, “it’s getting late, I should go”

Without another word, he stands up and puts out his cigarette before leaving without another word. He was just gone just as fast as he had come.

A part of you wants to know more about him but another part of you is scared to know his deep, dark secrets. Mattheo Riddle was a complex person and you had always known that but now, you had a sneaking feeling that he was more complicated than you initially thought.

You walk back to the Gryffindor house, dinner having finished by the time you started to head back.

When you reach your dorm, Hermione is rifling through her dresser and Ginny is sitting on her bed, relacing her shoes.

“Hey, I made Ron save you some rolls from dinner.” Hermione says upon noticing you walk in.

“Thanks.” you smile lightly before she walks into the bathroom and shuts the door behind her, starting a shower.

Ginny looks up despite being currently occupied and watches you walks over to your chest, grabbing the 3 dinner rolls and jam they saved for you, “you were up at the astronomy tower weren’t you?”

“I just wanted some fresh air…I needed time to myself.” you try to explain to her.

“But you weren’t…” she tilts her head, “alone, I mean.”

“I-” you hesitate, “I don’t know what you mean”

“I noticed Mattheo’s seat at dinner was empty and I also happen to know that he smokes up there quite frequently.” she explains as she continues with her laces.

“Nothing happened.” you say instantly.

She looks up at you and squints her eyes for a second, “I never said anything did happen. It’s just interesting, is all.”

You nod, looking away from her. You pull off a piece of the roll and eat it before deciding to speak up, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure, what is it?”

You hesitate, “when you were with Dean, did you guys hook up?”

She laughs, “what’s bringing this on?”

“I don’t know, I just want to be prepared and if-”

“We did…once. But Dean is the most patient guy ever, if you want to wait, he’ll wait.” she explains.

“Right.” you respond awkwardly. What Mattheo said was eating at you, what if Dean tried to sleep with you right away? What would you do? You definitely were not ready for that in the slightest.

Something else was also gnawing at the back of your brain, why would Mattheo say that unless he thought I looked…good?

There was no way he found you attractive so you settle on the fact that he is just vulgar, it was in his nature.

Still, you wanted to ask him again about what he had said. ‘not everything you hear is true.’ What did he mean by that? The entire school knew his long holding reputation.

Hermione rejoins you and Ginny in the room as the three of you settle and get ready for bed.

“How far into our first book of the year are you? I think I’ll have it finished by next week” Hermione says casually to you from across the room.

“Oh uh, I’m maybe a third into it…I haven’t had much time to read yet” you admit.

“Of course you haven’t, Snape has you doing chores” she rolls her eyes, “you have to talk to Dumbledore about this, he should know that you don’t need to waste your time on Mattheo.”

“For the last time, I’m going to do it.” you respond, “look at it this way, it's an extra opportunity for me to study, not just to help him.”

Hermione doesn’t respond initially but speaks up after a moment, “I still don’t like this…”

“Look, I’ll catch up on my reading and we’ll still have plenty of time to study together.” you shrug, “maybe I need something different this year…I’m always stuck in the same pattern.”

“But you like that pattern.” Hermione responds.

“I did…I mean I do. But it’s our last year here and I don’t want to not do anything.”

The room is silent for a moment, your statement ringing through the air.

“We trust you.” Ginny speaks up for the both of them. Your glance shifts over to Hermione to see her response.

“Just be careful, you know we won’t let anything happen to you.” she says, slightly frowning. You were never going to convince her that this whole thing was a good idea…hell you weren’t even sure of that yet but at least she would stop trying to convince you to say no to Snape.

Taglist: @nala-silent @ltristessedureratoujours @abrielleaguirre @starkeying @muu-5uvii @eneywey

[molar-bear-sims]

very slick, bea... 🤨

[into-the-milgramverse]

Do you ever think about how Amane's warnings were either seen as threats (by Mahiru and audience) or as just test of patience (by Shidou)? Do you ever think about how Amane likely was just trying to protect the ones she cares about? Do you think she didn't actually want to kill Shidou, but felt like she had to to save Mahiru? Do you think that's why she's mad at us for not stopping him?

First MV, shows her helping a (cartoon) cat, getting punished, then promising to be good. Gets voted guilty and punished, giving a message that practicing medicine is bad and deserves punishment.

Second MV, shows what the punishment was and that the cartoon cat was real cat.

Do you think after that first vote result, she started to think of Milgram as the same as her mom? That Milgram has the same rules against medicine? That if Shidou continues to practice it, Milgram will punish both him and kill Mahiru?

Do you think Amane killed Shidou immediately after knowing that he was voted Innocent? Do you think she felt like that was a huge risk and that she'd get punished again, this time for ending a life too early before it was supposed to, but that she thought it was worth it to protect Mahiru from same fate that the cat she took care of faced? Or do you think she waited until she was voted Innocent as well, to get confirmation that it's acceptable to punish someone for breaking the rules? Do you think even then it felt like a risk given how close she was to being voted Guilty again? Do you think she's currently scared of what we'll do now?

Do you think she regrets the decision? Do you think she too blames herself now for Mahiru's death, along with millions of voices that blame her for it?

[philcoulsonismyhero]

I keep getting rejected from conventions that I've been doing for multiple years this year and I heard on Friday that I didn't get Scotland Comic Con, which I've relied on for the last two years to be able to pay my fucking rent over the winter when there's no events, and it makes me want to scream because what the fuck am I supposed to do about it?? I'm making new stuff reasonably regularly, I make really good sales when I get into cons, I go out of my way to be reliable and show up on time and do everything they want exhibitors to do, and it's just flat rejection after flat rejection, sometimes without even the courtesy of a spot on a waiting list or a cursory 'sorry, we got a lot of applicants and we've got limited space'.

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, I don't think I even am doing anything wrong, I'm just getting repeatedly fucked over by event organisers who just see me as a way of increasing their own ticket sales rather than a human being trying to make a living.

And, like, part of me gets that I've been doing this for a while and folks who are new to it deserve a chance to get a foot in the door, but my ability to be charitable runs out when the biggest convention in the country decides no, we don't have enough room in our fuck-off huge venue for everyone so bye, fuck you, that ~15% of your yearly income that you rely on making at this con is just going up in smoke.

I like doing conventions, I'm good at it and it's fun, but it's getting Really Fucking Stressful to have my ability to eat and pay bills decided increasingly arbitrarily by the same five events companies who don't seem to give the slightest shit about anyone.

And I don't know what to do about it because the reason I'm doing this is because I'm too fucking autistic to get a real job, and I got kicked to the kerb by the benefits lot a few years ago because that system's fucking broken too, and the more effort I put in the less work I seem to actually get and frankly I want to fucking break something

[phantom-overdose]

((I swear I lose a little piece of my soul whenever someone says that Pe.eta was "boring". People are allowed to have their opinions, obviously, but I feel like his character is so consistently misconstrued / misread as "boring" and "useless" because people think of KINDNESS as a "boring" or "useless" trait. There's SOOOO much interesting / enticing about Pe.eta as a character that's right there out in the open, you just need to read a little more thoroughly.))