#at least by a liiiiittle bit? *hopeful eyes*

[flippinpancakes64]

Would you be willing to write how would the Cullens react to the reader asking to do/wanting to do their makeup?

Doing the Cullens' Makeup

Thank you for requesting and I hope you like it!

I tried to branch out a little and include some more dialogue in this one, so hopefully it’s good.

Edward:

He's a bit hesitant

He is one of the oldest ones

And the most old fashioned one

He will take some convincing

Mostly he just doesn't see why you want to do that

Like you have your own face

You would need to start out small

Put just like a liiiiittle bit of blush on his cheeks

He will never let you do a full face btw

So you're gonna have to settle with giving him some subtle eyeshadow, a bit of blush, and maybe some lipstick

Once he sees that it can still look natural and not super obvious he'd let you do it more often

He does draw the line at leaving the house like this though

Alice:

Of course

You didn't even need to ask

She would just sit there and talk your ear off for however long it takes

She would find it really relaxing

Even if you're not good at it she'd let you do her makeup all the time

She just won't leave the house with it on :')

She would be nice about it though

"Oh, you put blue eyeshadow on me and the dress I already had picked out was orange so I had to change the eyeshadow to be orange!"

Would never ever tell you if it's bad

Now if you're good at it tho...

Sorry that's your job now

She won't leave the house now without you doing her makeup

"Come on we have an hour before we need to leave you need to start my makeup now!"

Will tell anyone that asks that you did it

She's proud

Jasper:

He's old fashioned

But I think he's so old to the point that he knows times are changing and he can adapt

So if you come up to him and ask he'll just be like

"Oh okay guys wear makeup now... noted"

And he lets you no questions asked

He will not leave the house with it on tho unfortunately

At least not with like mascara, eyeshadow, or eyeliner

But he would go out with some blush or some lipstick

He would really enjoy the intimacy of it

And he would love seeing you focus

He would really like the brushes on his face

Overall very relaxing

He wouldn't ever ask you to do it

But if you suggest it immediately he is sat and ready

Rosalie:

1000x yes

She loves being pampered just a little bit

And I feel like she already enjoyed doing your makeup before this

So yes of course you can

She has legitimately zero preference

You want to do rainbow eyeshadow and purple blush?

Okay go for it :)

If you're not good at it she'll still let you do her makeup

She will just sneak off to the bathroom afterwards to fix it up a little

And if you notice it looks different no you don't

"Did you redo your makeup?" "What no of course I didn't you just really did this good!"

Will make any colors you choose work as well

If she was planning on wearing something, oh well she's choosing something else that goes with her makeup

Emmett:

He doesn't care

He thinks it's a fun bonding activity

But he will only let you do his makeup if he can do yours too

And be warned, he is bad at it

He's sort of eye-for-an-eye type

If you want him to go out wearing the makeup you did, then you have to go out in the makeup he did

So yeah best to leave it behind closed doors

He does actually try tho

Full tongue sticking out, really focused on trying to get an eyeliner wing

He just can't

Either way he doesn't mind

If it makes you happy then he's happy

Though he would prefer to get lipstick from kissing you ;)

Esme:

I feel like she has a makeup routine

And by routine I mean this is the makeup she's been doing every day for like 100 years or however old she is

So she is a little hesitant for you to do something different to her

And she finds comfort in the routine

She would let you try though

Maybe like... later at night when she has nowhere else to go

If you do a good job though she'll be pleasantly surprised

And she might even let you do her makeup if there's a special occasion

If you do a bad job though...

Let's just say your skills are solely for before-showering makeup

Sorry :)

Carlisle:

(I have been waiting to use this gif for FOREVER)

Anyway he's from a time when guys used makeup very consistently in higher society

So it's nothing new to him

It's just been a while since that's been popular

"You want to do my makeup? Oh, that's nice that that's back in fashion."

He doesn't mind at all

He won't go to work with it on though

He does have a professional appearance to uphold

But he'll indulge you at home as much as you want

And if you ask him nicely he might even do the makeup he used to do for you

I think it would be funny

He would tell you all of his stories while you work on him

Very fun

We love a man who's comfortable in his masculinity

Vampire! Bella:

I feel like she's never been huge into makeup

In the movies we never see her put any on (not that Kristen isn't wearing any)

And there's no mention of it in the books that I remember

But again she's not opposed

I feel like she'd be really touchy around the eyes

"Stop blinking so much it's just eyeliner." "Sorry it tickles... and it feels weird."

She wouldn't know if you did a good job or not

She's never paid that much attention to makeup or what makes it look good or bad

So she would like it either way

Rose or Alice would have to be the ones to pull her aside and ask if she needs any help with her makeup if it looks bad

And she would say no and ask why because you did it

They just give sort of a "yikes" face

[l0stfoster]

I have never felt more loved in my life thank you for loving me and the autistic tendencies this au has brought out of me 🫶🫶🫶 - paul anon

While we’re at it can we hear more abt the ritual/when paul got the markings? And when darry saw them for the first time how did that play out ??

Also, i saw what he was mfing reading in that one doodle you cant hide from me. Is there ever a time where Paul tries to get rid of his powers and what happens ?? Does he succeed (which I hope he does NAWT)?? Does he fail?? Does he get caught ?? Like i need details its all im thinking about

I need you to know how quickly the grin on my face appeared when I read this. It was instantaneous, immediately a little smirk. Ohhhh how I've been waiting for this one.

There's a LOT of typing because Paul's lore stuff was one of my favorites to create, so everything is below the cut as usual. Though, just to be safe as well. Your question isn't being answered in order, cutting it up a bit differently. The first two questions have little drabble kinda answers with their bullet points, 'cause I had felt silly.

// mentions of child abuse, ritualistic self-harm, and implied passive suicidal ideation

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

When Darry saw Paul's markings for the first time, how did that play out ??

Paul's scars weren't exactly something Darry had been unaware of. More specifically, it had always been the pair of scars horizontally along Paul's forearms that he'd gotten adjusted to seeing. He made his own assumptions. He never asked about them, either, since Paul made his contempt for them clear each and every time he made it a point to keep them covered. He was always in their old football letterman jacket or any other thing that would keep them out of people's view. Darry could argue that he'd never even seen the male without a shirt on, as well, even if they didn't cover the scars themselves. So, when he'd idly kept his eyes on Paul as the male changed; he'd been completely startled (and admittedly, a little panicked) at the large, complicated marking practically branded into his boyfriend's back. The thing that bothered him the most, though, was that it looked too neat for Paul to have done it himself. "..How'd you get that scar on your back?" Darry didn’t know what response he’d expected. Maybe for Paul to wave him off, dismiss it as he always did whenever a sensitive question came up. Maybe this was something all witches had, something that proved their connection to it which needed to be hidden because he'd grown up on the side of the tracks that would've had him killed for it. What he wasn’t expecting was the hesitation, let alone the quiet answer he'd been given. “-I.. don’t know.”

- Darry, unfortunately, didn't get any answers the first time. Paul avoids the conversation real hard every time Darry asks, but this is the one thing Darry doesn't want to drop, just because it seems to freak Paul out so bad. - He only finds out what it is because he snoops a liiiiittle bit (Paul is VERY private with his witchcraft) and connects the dots himself. - The reason Paul's just as confused is because he avoids looking at the mirror or himself at all costs. When he looks for too long, he sees his parents staring back at him; and he hates it. Avoiding it flat-out means he doesn't have to ask himself why he hates it. - Darry recognizes it's magical. Hell, being a fae, he could probably sense any kind of magical connection to it if he tried hard enough.

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ Can we hear more abt the ritual/When Paul got the markings?

Paul doesn't remember when he got the ritual carving on his back, at least, he doesn't at first. It seems that's part of the point when he goes digging through his books, looking for anything familiar to the markings on his skin. The answers he does get just leave him more confused; they're not supposed to pair together. All those runes, the apotropaic symbol- it's all stuff that directly aims to hinder his power, to hide it; and it certainly worked, because the last thing he can even recall about his curse before it surfaced once more was his mom's face, twisted in disgust and oh. Oh. It dawns on him fast; the memory floods his mind way too quickly while pieces connect. He'd always wondered why they owned a book about blood magic when witches didn't specialize in that; his mom didn't even seem to use it, she never used her powers much as it was. As he stares at the pages listing the meaning of all the symbols that adorn his back, he realizes two things. The first thing is that this wasn't in the books, this was made for one reason; originally made with malicious intent. The second thing is that he thinks he knows why the ritual knife he knows always looked so familiar. "This is for your own good." How cruel is it to find out your own mother willingly mutilated you in an attempt to restrain your power?

- Yeah, Paul's mom carved the marking into his back and used her own magic to put his own into remission. She had to make it herself, as no witch would want to take away their own power; hence it not being in the book. - The worst part for him is that he can't bring himself to hate her for it. If anything, it makes him hate his power worse. If his mom hated it enough to do this, then it has to be horrible. - This is how he realizes blood magic might be able to get rid of his power btw </3 - Remission is the only way to hide them without full removal, but the fact that he's always with the cursed now means it wouldn't work. Hence why the rumble awakened it again, because he was surrounded by them. - The ritual carving is part of why he can’t channel his power to its fullest potential, due to actively having the scar of something that was meant to restrain him. - It still holds its effects sometimes, there’s days when Paul’s absolutely incapable of using his powers bc the carving’s ritual was to prevent him from doing it in the first place, and so despite his magic showing back up, it’s still trying to clamp down on it. - As far as he knows, there's no way to reverse it. It's carved into skin, he'd have to be able to get rid of that scar. It'd weaken once his mom dies, though, but that's far in the future. - He likely takes the ritual knife to his own back to "ruin" the carving reading, but even that's not a guarantee to work.

Is there ever a time when Paul tries to get rid of his powers and what happens?? Does he succeed?? Does he fail?? Does he get caught??

- Paul, so far for what we've got written, has tried to get rid of his powers twice via blood rituals. - The first time was while he still lived at home, but the intent for it was a bit different. He wasn't trying to get rid of them permanently at the time, instead he was more focused on trying to mute them to a point where he could control them easier; as his magic is directly tied to his emotions during the early days and his parents grew increasingly pissed the more they showed themselves. - He was also very new to blood magic and the rituals involving it; if he'd started smaller it might've gone better, as a ton of witch rituals, spells, and even potion work require a blood sacrifice-- but this was the first thing he attempted. He went in completely blind, and it. Didn't work out, which is probably for the best. - He needed a LOT of blood for the ritual, hence why the scars on each arm are large and long; he was going to make sure it worked, even if he was being really stupidly careless with the approach-- and then his dad walked in before he finished the ritual. - A reoccurring theme you'll notice is that Paul's (blood heavy) rituals get interrupted before he finishes; they're very focus heavy and the slightest interruption can ruin it. He thinks he's just fucking up the ritual by doing something wrong or not offering enough of his blood. - Anyways, Mr. Holden, being an asshole, was more pissed off by the mess Paul was making; his mother mirrored that emotion, but her anger was because he failed the ritual. She doesn't care that he's actively bleeding out, she's upset that he couldn't successfully contain himself. - As seen in the doodles in here beneath the cut, Paul had to patch himself up; a trip to the hospital would require an explanation or Paul would be framed as suicidal, and god forbid their reputation be effected. He could've probably healed himself to make it easier to at least manage, but his father insisted he had to live with the consequences- and the scars. - Paul's fully forced to hide 'em as well, they're "disgusting" and "something he should be ashamed of"

- The second time, was after he moved into the Curtis home. - I've already made it very loud and clear that Paul carry's a lot of guilt, including generational due to the fact that his great-great-whatever-the-fuck-grandmother was the one who caused the curse. He's fine with his curse for a good bit after easing into the greasers, but watching how their treated makes that guilt grow worse. Sure, HE didn't make the curse, but he's related to the person who did. - A part of him thinks that, if the bloodline ends with him, it'll free the next generation as well. This is why he's so careless with blood rituals even when they're not in the attempt to get rid of his power. Either he successfully gets rid of the curse, or dies trying. In the long run, both options eliminate the bloodline. - (It's good to note this wouldn't work, by the way. The curse is set over Tulsa, and nothing would happen if the witch's bloodline ended. The guilt’s just convinced him that he’s directly apart of why it still exists; and his mom pushed that narrative as well.) - So, after finding out what his mom did to him and learning the fact that he can create his own blood magic spells; he looks into that for a more.. permanent solution to ridding himself of his magic. - Paul does not know the curse is tied to his life force. - He's long since had his own area for all his witchy shit at the Curtis house, since his witchcraft does usually require a bit of privacy (focus related, and he just feels weird being watched doing it) so it was merely a matter of shutting himself in. They're lucky he doesn't know a locking spell - The same thing repeats as it did the first time. - Darry's the one who walks in on him, because Johnny got death flashes about it. - In contrast to Mr. and Mrs. Holden, though, Darry nearly has a fucking aneurysm. He knows absolutely nothing about this blood magic stuff, meaning he's walking in on his boyfriend with his arms cut open, the air heavy with magic, and goddamn how the fuck is Paul not dead because that is so much fucking blood. He thinks it's some kind of self-harm thing (and it technically is, because there's much smarter ways for Paul to get his blood without almost killing himself.) - Paul tries to go "I can explain" but Darry's picking his ass up and dragging him inside - Darry's absolutely horrified, he's so fucking shaken and so is Paul; not because of what he's done, but because he hates that he's freaking out Darry like this. - It's a rough night for both of them.

- Timewing proposed the idea that Paul considers trying again, but he ends up looking at Darry and being soft after thinking abt what could happen just like "..I couldn't do that to him. I've hurt him enough." - Which is very silly we enjoyed it. - If Paul did succeed he would NOT have died immediately. He'd just progressively get weaker and weaker until, inevitably, he doesn't wake up.

Long ass paragraphs I apologize.

[intheticklecloset]

Hellooooo!! I hope you are doing well Nym, I've been thinking of watching Seraph of the end and hearing tickle ideas/moments might be the final nail in the coffin!

I also won't lie, I saw your new special menu and practically ran because your work is always so amazing and cute and never fails to brighten my day

On that note, may I ask for a liiiiittle order of Ranpoe 🍉🥡? I hope you enjoy writing this as much as I'm sure to enjoy reading it

🍋 Lemonade Special Order 🍋

~~~

“Huh? Where’s my last chocolate bar?” Ranpo frowned into the basket between him and his partner, rifling through it as though it would magically make said item reappear from thin air.

Poe frowned back at him, a tiny crease on the corner of his mouth tipping the detective off that he was nervous. “But…you brought three of them. I thought they were for us to share. At least, I assumed one was for me…”

Ranpo stopped his rifling and glanced up very slowly at the taller man, who shrunk back a tiny bit. “You ate it?”

“I thought you said we were sharing this picnic,” Poe defended himself, though that worried crease never vanished. “We split everything else.”

It had been nice, actually. Poe didn’t get away from his work much, so while at first he was stressed that Ranpo was dragging him from his desk and writing tools to enjoy a lunch in the great outdoors, after a while he’d relaxed and actually found himself having a good time. He’d considered himself lucky to have a boyfriend that looked out for him.

But now…

Ranpo closed the top of the very stereotypical picnic basket and blinked. “You know I love my snacks, Eddie.”

“I…I’m sorry,” Poe tried.

“Now I’ll have to tickle you.”

The poor writer barely had a chance to register the wiggling fingers Ranpo was teasing him with before he’d been pushed onto his back on the blanket, said fingers digging roughly into his sides and ribs. He desperately tried to suppress the shriek that rose up in response, but after only a few moments he couldn’t help but toss his head back and cackle into the warm spring air, gripping the detective’s arms as he pleaded, “Nohohohohohoho, I’m sohohohohohohohory, Ran!”

“Not good enough,” his partner said matter-of-factly, though if Poe had been at all coherent he’d have seen the teasing smile on the smaller man’s face. “I won’t stop until I have you snorting with laughter.”

“Whahahahahahaha?! But thahahahahahahat’s embahahahahaharrassing – Rahahahahahahanpo!” Poe tried to squirm away, but his boyfriend plopped himself on his lap to keep him in place, tickling wildly along his ribs, sides, and belly – the trifecta of ticklishness that always had the author begging for mercy. “Plehehehehehehehease, stohohohohohohohohop!”

“You know what I want to hear~”

Then Ranpo found the special spot that made Poe spasm like he’d been electrocuted, his laughter heightening to the point it went silent, followed very shortly by a loud, adorable snort.

“There it is,” the detective said with a grin, slowing to a stop as promised. He chuckled as his boyfriend regained his breath and brushed his bangs from his eyes. “I’m just messing with you, Eddie. The last chocolate bar was for you – I just wanted an excuse to tickle you. You never let yourself really laugh unless it’s just the two of us, you know?”

Poe blushed, bringing his hand up to rest atop Ranpo’s on his cheek. “Thanks, Ran.”

Ranpo grinned with pride and leaned down to kiss him. “Anytime.”

[outrunningthedark]

I'm always under the impression that "It was never meant to happen, but it happens anyway" has a bit of a show-off element in it, because in my opinion proving you can adapt to changing situations (i.e fandom's opinion) show much better capability than long-term planning.

So yeah, I usually side eye TPTB of a show with a slow burn ship who says "It was never meant to be a ship" because it implies the crews and actors/actresses are crap at understanding the memo (why do you work with them then?). They had plans to make it happen, but either they don't know how to get there or they want to see the fandom's reaction before committing to a story that people may not like. Then again, funny accidents may happen and some are unplanned and I tend to be suspicious/negative so yeah...

I totally get you and I (personally) think that's what probably happened on The Rookie and has been happening on 9-1-1. Showrunners and writers have two actors with clear chemistry and it's like "I can see the potential, but let's see how the audience feels before we commit to canon." because you *should* want to be sure that the ideas circulating in your head will pass the test when the time comes. And then the explanation is "Well, we weren't set on going that way, but everyone loved it!" so the showrunners/creators get the credit for listening to their audience (which, tbf, is a factor, but those folks put that ship on screen for a reason; they were hoping for a positive response). With 9-1-1, Tim (and now Kristen) can hand wave all he wants, but the fact of the matter is that *something* happened during pre-production of s2 for him to decide that Buck and Eddie would be the next pairing when Maddie and Eddie was no longer an option. And that same season was when Buck and Eddie both end up officially single in an episode that "jokes" about them being cute together (2x18). Fast forward to the Buckley-Diaz family arc in 3A and...can't argue with the evidence, tbh. The show wanted us to get used to the idea of those three as a team so that they could come back to it when they felt the timing was appropriate. (I still say there was an opportunity to treat Buddie like a standard slow burn from s3->beyond re: lingering glances, visible jealousy around love interests, moments where they're maybe a liiiiittle too close, but that would mean enduring the wrath of the #queerbaiting critics, which Tim hates! Homophobia is a factor, too, but that's on Tim for not at least establishing Buck as bi (queer) already...not even when TK though he was being hit on...*sigh*)

[chocolate-hooflepuff]

friendly reminder that the weasley twins (gred & forge, yes) at 13 years old,,, hurled snowballs at voldemort’s face ;) and never got murdered for it- but- oh wait..... have a good day(or night) !! :)

[fwoosheye]

Title: Holding on to Dreams - Chapter 1: The Ambush

Summary: A Linked Universe fic. The chain is travelling through an unknown forest in the middle of a draught when they're suddenly ambushed. Legend have a tool to help with that, but things don't quite go to plan

Also available on AO3 and on Fanfiction.net

This is half-submission to Whumptober 2022 - I was planning on posting it anyway, though I might've taken the opportunity to lean into the whumping a liiiiittle bit more than I had planned

CW: ambush, serious injury, impaled, blood loss, magical exhaustion, unconsciousness

Chapter 1: The Ambush

It was their second day in an unfamiliar forest, and five days since the chain had appeared in what they suspected was Wars' Hyrule. It was surprisingly hard to tell when there was no civilization near and in the middle of a drought on top of that. 

The chain walked on an unfamiliar path, dry leaves crunching under their feet and the branches above barely giving them shade from the unforgiving sun despite being so densely packed together. It had even gone so far that the various members of the chain had shed their armor and outer layers to avoid getting a heat stroke – well, most of them anyway. Wild had donned his Voe Armor and seemed unbothered by the heat, and Sky was borrowing his Sapphire Circlet, while Legend had donned what he called "the Cheer Outfit". Wars kept making fun of the veteran's get up, but nobody could deny that whatever magic the pink two-piece contained did increase the group's energy. For everyone but the wearer of said magical garment that was.

"Why did we have to end up in a drought", grumbled Legend and wiped the sweat off from his face. "We haven't seen a single monster and it's too goddess damned dry to risk lightening even a small fire and make some cooling elixir."

The captain snorted. "Don't jinx us, cutie ."

Legend's glared at the knight. "Call me ‘cutie' one more time, pretty boy , and you'll have to sleep with an eye open tonight."

"I'm curious though", interrupted Four, and Legend noticed his eyes almost looked violet. "Where did you get that outfit? How does it work?"

The veteran shrugged. "In Hytopia, during my sixth adventure. As for how it works it's a mix of hidden runes, good old fashioned enchantments and some special fabrics. So even if I didn't like the designs of all outfits they all had their uses."

"Even this one? I thought you only traveled by yourself before us, and I know you said this garment only gives the wearer's teammates extra energy."

"Eh, yeah, I wasn't exactly alone there. Hytopia is a very …odd place. Let's just leave it at that."

"Come on!" said Wind and bounced up to him. "Can't you tell us something more? Like, do you have any pirate themed stuff?"

"Yeah actually, I have a coat that le-"

The guttural screeching and snapping branches that interrupted him were their only warning as at least three dozens of bokoblin, lizalfos and moblins from various eras descended upon them. The heroes swore as they drew their blades and went to counter attack.

Perhaps Legend wouldn't be the first to admit it (he had a reputation of snark to uphold after all) but they were all highly competent warriors. Even so, armorless and exhausted from heat against black blooded monsters that outnumbered them more than three to one? And in an environment that was far better suited to the monsters than themselves on top of that? Those were bad odds, and he knew he wasn't the only one who had gotten some nasty cuts.

With a grimace Legend shield bashed the lizalfos in front of him and jumped back, grabbing the unnaturally cool medallion that hung from his neck.

By Nayru he hoped this would work.

Channeling all of his remaining energy into the medallion he raised his sword skyward.

"ETHER!" he roared, channeling his fear, anger and pain as well as his hopes, dreams and determination into the icy spell, urging it to freeze every foe around them.

He almost didn't feel the stabbing pain in his side.

△ △ △

Warriors was no stranger to battling several strong enemies at once, but he usually had more room to move about on. 

At least I can trust these guys to watch my back just like I watch theirs, unlike some squads back home , he thought grimly as he cut down his third overpowered bokoblin and blocked a swing from a moblin with his shield. But there was no denying they needed something to turn the tide or they would be truly overpowered by the infected beasts. He wanted to use his fire rod, but with how dry their surrounding was it would cause a forest fire which they could not afford – especially without knowing its nearest exit.

The veteran's cry of "ether" startled the captain so bad he almost failed to parry the moblin's overhead strike, but the biting cold that followed caught both of them off guard. As suddenly as it had appeared the chill left, leaving the moblin in front of him frozen solid. A quick look around confirmed all monsters were frozen solid, including the lizalfos in front of the veteran whose spear was-

"LEGEND!" he cried out and dashed to the pink haired boy, catching him under the arms just as the veteran's leg threatened to buckle and cause him to glide off the barbed weapon through his side. He adjusted his grip so he could apply pressure to the wound, eliciting a grunt from Legend. Hyrule looked rather green as he began to examine the damage, the rest of the chain watching in tense anticipation. Eventually Hyrule stepped back and released a shaky breath.

"It somehow managed to miss all the vital organs, but just barely", he said. "But I can't even begin to heal him as long as the spear is still there, and that barbed spearhead might rupture something beyond my abilities if we try to remove it the same way it came."

"But...but there's a frozen monster stuck to the other end of the spear", said Sky. "How will we be able to remove it?"

"The gold… gauntlets…" Legend grit out. "Twilight…"

Time pulled swiftly off the mentioned objects and handed them to the rancher. "What's your plan, Legend?"

The veteran looked up with a hazy gaze. "Giving him… magic strength… he should… be… able to… crush it… with… one hand…"

Twilight looked uncertain as he pulled on his successor's gauntlets. "Are you sure? It would still probably move and that would also cause damage."

Wild pulled out his slate. "What if someone holds the spear both in front of and behind Legend and let me use Stasis on them while you crush it? That should keep it from moving, right?" 

Sky stepped up and firmly grabbed the spear. "I'm ready whenever you guys are."

Warriors nodded and looked down on Legend's hanging head.

"Stay awake, Vet", urged the captain and pressed down harder on the wound, causing Legend to hiss. "Focus on my voice. I need you to tell me what your type is until they're done."

The younger hero grumbled. "Girls with red hair and freckles GAH and a singing voice like a siren."

"I meant your blood type, you dingus!" he snapped, vaguely registering the rest of them getting into position and Sky being in a yellow frozen state.

"What the -OW FUCK- is a… blood type?"

War tried to not feel disturbed at how the pale Legend was in contrast to the blood, both his own and the black of the beasts, that splattered his cheek. He pressed even harder on the wound and winced at the sharp yelp that action elicited. 

"You know, what kind of blood you have in case one of us matches and can donate a little?" The others were counting down now.

"Is there… any other than one? …What do you… want me… to say..? …Blue?"

A sharp crack as the spear was splintered kept him from making a crack about blue blood being for royalties, and the moment Wild released Sky from the stasis Warriors gently lowered Legend to the ground. Hyrule instantly shooed away the others except Wars and Twilight with orders to tend to their own wounds. He held a twisted up rag by the veteran's face.

"Legend", he said carefully. "I'm gonna need you to bite down on this when I remove the spear, can you do that for me?"

His only answer was a grunt and miniscule nod, and the traveler gently placed the rag between his teeth. Then he turned to the captain and the rancher.

"Wars, I want you to hold down his shoulders. Twi, you hold the legs and hips. And whatever you do, do not let him move ."

They got into position while Hyrule knelt behind Legend, placing one hand on his side and the other gripping the spearhead.

"I'm gonna try to pull it out in one go, alright? On three. One. Two. Three!"

The scream that tore out of the veteran's throat when Hyrule removed the spear quickly died out into whimpers and the young hero went completely limp. Warrior looked down on Legend as Hyrule quickly made sure there were no splinters left. Four handed their healer a water canteen and with a quiet thanks Hyrule washed  the gaping wound before he began to heal it. Warriors squeezed the hand of the unconscious veteran with a strained grimace.

"You better not kick the bucket on us, Leg, I know a girl who's just your type. She'd probably be able to soften up your closed off little heart too."

△ △ △

Wind had been hoping that shattering the frozen enemies into smithereens with his Skull Hammer would ease off some of his tension, but even after the last monster had been turned into pieces he felt no better. Four was monitoring not only Legend but also Hyrule who had passed out after giving his all to heal the veteran. Twilight and Sky was doing a quick patrol of the area, just to make sure there were no monsters left nearby to ambush them again, Warriors were looking over monster spears for some reason and Time were placing more frozen monster parts around the small fire Wild had lit to brew something he called "Hearty Elixirs". By the looks of it, he had just finished a third batch.

Everyone was blatantly ignoring that they all were covered in blood – mostly Legend’s blood – since they didn’t have any extra water to spare to clean it off with.Only wounds and hands had been cleaned.

Wind sighed and wiped off his hammer before heading over to Warriors.

"So what are you up to?" he asked.

The Captain looked up with a hum. "Oh, I'm looking for the two best spears to use for a makeshift stretcher. I have two spare tunics we can pull over the spears but I want to be sure they won't break in our grips."

"Oh… I didn't know one could make stretchers in that way. How did you learn that? And shouldn't we make one for Hyrule too?"

Warriors gave a weak chuckle and ruffled Wind's hair. "General Impa taught it to me. And we've been considering it, since it would probably be for the best for Hyrule, but…"

"But that would also mean we'd be down to three fighters", Time continued, giving Wind's shoulder a squeeze. "The risk of encountering monsters so soon is pretty low, but if it does happen one more blade might make all the difference."

"I… I see", Wind said and glanced over to their downed friends. He had seen Hyrule heal people enough times – though never to the point of him passing out – to know that the healed area had a higher risk of  rupturing again if put under too much stress, so Legend would need that stretcher and it would likely be Time and Warriors who'd carry him. And as scary as it was to see Hyrule having exhausted himself like that, it would be safe for someone – probably Twilight – to just carry him. That would leave him, Four, Sky and Wild as the only ones left for possible defense. And if they lost one more… It would be harder.

"I'm gonna check on them", he declared.

"Please send Four over while you're there", Warriors said. "I think Wild broke his sword again and he's the best to inspect the weapons for a suitable replacement."

Wind nodded and went over to the smithy who barely seemed to notice him.

"You got that look on your face again, Four", Wind said and plopped down beside them. "What are you thinking about?"

"Just thinking about when Dot drained herself of magic", Four answered and brushed away a sweaty lock of hair from Legend's face. "She was bedridden with a fever for a day and once she got out of bed she was still complaining about how everything felt distant and unreal. Took a couple of days before she felt like she was truly back in her body again. Figured both Legend and Hyrule are gonna go through that."

Wind hummed. "That makes sense. Pity none of us knows how to make magic replenishing potions. Anyway, Wars was wondering if you could go through the loot and check if any of the weapons might suit Wild. He thought Wild's sword broke and it's not like we have access to a forge right now, so…"

"Sure. Could you keep an eye on Legend and Hyrule for me? Just to make sure they stay stable?"

"Aye aye!"

Four moved away and Wind scooted over so he could sit closer to both the veteran and the traveler. Carefully he checked their pulses. Hyrule's was kinda weak, but steady, and he had a slight fever too. Legend's pulse meanwhile wasn't just weak, it was fluttering and his skin felt almost cold. Considering that Four had mentioned magical exhaustion causing fevers he had expected Legend to have a fever too but… was that because of the blood loss? 

Wind didn't really dare to remove his eyes from them, heck, he barely dared to remove his fingers from Legend's artery in case it stopped beating, and it felt like he sat there for hours but it was probably closer to mere minutes as the sun was still high. He let out a sigh.

"How are they doing?" asked Sky as he and Twilight came back to the camp from behind Wind. The sailor gave a helpless shrug.

"About the same as before. I wish they could wake up soon, I have no idea what I'm doing."

"Yeah… that's what I feel everytime too but you guys still trust me to heal you", Hyrule weakly mumbled beside him. Wind shot to his feet like a canon.

"Hyrule! You're awake!"

"Am I?" asked the traveler and didn't seem to be aware of the others coming over. "It doesn't feel like anything's real."

"That's because you're suffering from magical exhaustion", Four told him. Hyrule furrowed his brows.

"Magical exhaustion? What did I- oh. Oh. Is Legend okay?"

Time patted his shoulder. "He is alive, thanks to you. He is not out of the woods yet, but now he's got a fighting chance at least."

Hyrule looked around with a confused frown. "We're all still in the woods though?"

The group's chuckles were somewhat strained, Time gently ruffled Hyrule's locks.

"So we are. Hm?"

A dark swirling portal appeared at the edge of the camp. 

"Well, not for long it seems", Warriors added. "I'll go fetch that stretcher."

Time nodded. "Good. Four, Sailor, and Sky, I want you three to load any gear you three and Wild can't carry on Epona. Wild, make sure your fire is put out properly and buried under frozen monster parts, we don't want to risk a forest fire to blaze up when we leave. Twilight, I want your help to keep Legend steady when we transfer him to the stretcher, then I need you to carry Hyrule. Any questions?"

The heroes all shook their heads and set out to do their tasks. As nobody had really packed up anything, it was all really done in a jiffy – though Wind and Four ended up having to wait for Legend and Hyrule to be moved from their bedrolls before they were completely done. Eventually they all stood before the portal, Time and Warriors holding the stretcher, Twilight giving Hyrule a piggyback ride, and Wild holding some monster sword in one hand and Epona's reigns in the other. Sky, Wind and Four also had their swords drawn.

Wind took a deep breath and squared his shoulders. 

"Well, no time like the present, I suppose", he said and walked up to the portal, feeling Sky falling into step beside him. He looked up at the older hero. "You ready?"

Sky nodded and gave him a smile. "I'm ready."

Together they stepped through the portal.

[solomonish]

making funny faces during a boring zoom call with lucifer? 👀✨

Ficlet Requests! (CLOSED)

this one is a liiiiittle dumb but i could not get this vine out of my head while writing it so.....i hope you still like it LOL

but i’m soft for Lucifer being so stressed and being too tired to have his many fronts up and he is just SOFT and looking forward to spending some TIME OFF with you......

making funny faces behind the computer while the other one is in a boring Zoom meeting - Lucifer

“After today, I don’t want to hear anything about humans and their simple-minded political faces ever again.”

“Oh, believe me, I know the pain.”

Lucifer stopped glowering at the paper on his desk and looked up at you, appearing rather frazzled - for him, at least. “Perhaps that is a remark I should have kept to myself.”

You shrugged, holding back a smile. Lucifer was never this scattered, not unless he was truly at his wit’s end. “No? I’m agreeing with you.”

In his efforts to expand the reach of future exchange programs, Diavolo had opened talks within the human realm and assigned most of them to Lucifer. Though it meant less paperwork, which meant, to your relief, a week of forcing him to get a little bit more sleep, it also meant Lucifer had to spend countless hours of his day discussing a program that you already knew the people he would be talking to wouldn’t understand. You had taken to hanging out in his office, quietly doing your own work or reading and just providing him the comfort of company. The meetings were supposed to be confidential, but you supposed a little white lie was generous treatment coming from Lucifer himself.

Idly, you thought of how literal those “deals with the devil” politicians were always accused of making might have been, and you smirked to yourself.

“Something funny over there?” Lucifer asked, apparently not having returned to his work yet. He wouldn’t get the irony - or worse, he would and it would offend him. You shook your head.

“I’m just happy this is your last meeting.”

Lucifer sighed, one of those world-weary breaths that left your own chest aching. “Yes, that would make two of us.”

Eyes drawn to the laptop in front of him, he gave you the signal to keep quiet and fixed his hair. It wasn’t messy to begin with - at most, a few strands were misplaced from him running his fingers through them. As he fussed with himself, you moved to sit in one of the chairs opposite him. A moment before he clicked on his camera, he gave you one more smile - one that was tired, yes, but also soft, silently promising to thank you later on for your company while he suffered.

You could hear the voice on the other end and quickly realized that it was a language you couldn't speak, so instead you marveled at Lucifer as he fell into conversation with ease. Even if he was a powerful demon with all sorts of spells up his sleeve, it was still attractive to see the extent of his ability. You could tell there was no translation spell helping him out, and you rested your chin in your hand as you watched him. Briefly, Lucifer glanced at you, his quick gaze still oozing smugness, and you stuck out your tongue. Before he could catch himself, he huffed out a laugh.

The voice on the other end stopped mid-sentence before saying something that sounded like an accusation. Though the flat face he put on was expertly crafted, you could tell Lucifer was barely hiding his irritation. After excusing himself in a way that pleased the person on the line, Lucifer gave you a warning glance.

You took that as a challenge and sucked in your cheeks, giving him the best fish face in response.

He would've stared at you with a mixture of disappointment and confusion if he wasn't trying to keep his attention on the computer screen. Every time he glanced up at you, as if checking to see if his eyes were deceiving you, you pulled a different face. Lucifer was smart, though, and learned to just keep his eyes off of you to avoid any distractions. In order to steal his attention back, you picked up his tape dispenser.

You were purposely being obnoxiously loud with the tape as you peeled it off, sticking it to your face in an attempt to keep your nose pressed down. Every noise has Lucifer cringing, and you saw he had one hand over his mouth to hide his expression. Pleased with yourself, you kept wrapping your face up with tape until Lucifer, voice curt, finished up the meeting hastily. He fumbled with the touchpad, ensuring that he was actually done with the meeting, and then shut the laptop with a little more force than necessary. He turned his unamused gaze to you, taking in how ridiculous you looked with tape holding your nose down.

He didn’t even need to say anything. You were aware of how stupid the situation was, and before you knew it you were giggling at yourself. Even though he tried to say something haughty, he was doing a poor job of hiding how frustratingly adorable you looked, struggling to unwrap yourself from your own contraption. And when you winced and complained about the tape being too strong, he decided that was punishment enough for your antics.

[clefairymuke]

Hiii! I just read your announcement i’m so happy you are my favourite fanfic writer EVER! I can’t wait to see whats to come! Anyway, I have a request for a fluffy aot oneshot :3 (set in season 3/2 ofc bc 4 is too angsty) I have this idea of an Armin x Reader or Levi x reader , where reader is rlly smart about titan stuff which helps them in a mission outside the walls and Armin/Levi notice this and kind of compliments them ?

(sorry for my english it isn’t my first language, and i’ll probably send a lot of requests i’m sorry I really love your writing you can ignore me if i’m annoying) C

you’re not annoying at all omg!! your english is great. thank you so much for sending a request! i'm gonna be honest, angst is literally my fucking life. idk if i’ll ever be able to write anything without including a little bit of angst lmao. i took a liiiiittle bit of freedom with the prompt because reading it put this idea in my head that i absolutely couldn’t get rid of. i hope you enjoy it!! <3

________________________________

Pieces | Levi x Reader

pairing: levi x reader

themes: fluff, angst, hurt/comfort

tw: mentions of death and violence

word count: 1147

Returning from a mission outside the walls was never easy. The cart that carried the bodies was always full of soldiers who paid the ultimate price in the name of humanity. It puzzled you at times; you wondered why those willing to give everything they had for freedom they may never get to taste were the ones that had to wind up dead; was it not cruel? Why were the best souls, the ones ready to achieve freedom for people they had never even met no matter the cost, always deprived of a full life?

The idea threatened tears to your eyes as you shut the door to Levi’s suite behind you. You ran your hand through your hair as you noticed his absence; you hoped he would return soon. As you practically fell onto the couch on the far side of the room, your tears fell too.

Of course, you were used to death -- even comfortable with it -- as was required of any soldier. Every so often, though, a mission would leave you in shambles. You would witness as a starry eyed cadet or a long-serving friend was torn to pieces in front of you, and it would be too much to handle. Every few missions, you would fall to pieces.

After your first few months with Levi, he started to notice this pattern. At first, he considered that you weren’t fit to be a soldier -- sitting next to someone sobbing after a successful mission would make anyone think that. Soon, however, he came to the conclusion that you didn’t show your compassion in the same way he did. He would pack the patches of fallen Scouts in his desk drawer while you came apart only yards away, and he would be there to pick up the pieces.

You tucked your knees into your chest and recounted the mission over again in your head, seeing the faces of all those who didn’t return. The hot tears did not cease running down your face. You turned your head toward the door as it clicked open, your eyes meeting one of Levi’s boots against the wood floor before they traveled upward to see his face, as emotionless as ever. It took one moment of looking at you for his eyes to soften.

He walked across the room, away from you, stopping silently at his desk. He pulled the patches -- at least ten of them -- from his jacket and laid them to rest among the others within the drawer, the smallest of frowns crossing his lips as he pushed it closed. He stood there for a second, eyes shut and his hand still grasping the handle of the drawer -- a moment of silence, you could call it. Your sniffles brought him back to reality.

He walked carefully over to where you sat, his grey eyes soft with understanding as he placed his hand on your cheek, wiping a tear away with his thumb. He sat next to you, his arm coming to rest around your shoulders. He pulled you tightly into his chest and allowed his other hand to cradle your cheek, silent permission to let it all go. And so you did. You felt your tears soak through his shirt almost immediately as your chest heaved with pain.

“I know,” he whispered into your hair, placing a kiss on the top of your head. “Listen to me.” He pulled you gently away from him, holding both sides of your face so that you would look him in the eyes. You nodded at him, your blurred vision still able to discern the concerned lift of his eyebrows and the worry in his pupils. “Do you know how many lives you saved today?” He still whispered, his own form of a comforting tone that you had come to find solace in. Still, you shook your head at him.

“You knew exactly how to distract that abnormal. Using the flares was genius, and you thought of it so quickly. So many more would have died if not for you,” he told you, drawing shapes on your cheeks with his thumbs.

“People still died, Levi. I didn’t do much of anything. You ended up killing it. You should be congratulating yourself,” you replied, voice groggy from tears and breaking every so often.

“I wouldn’t have had an opening to kill it if not for you. The only person I know that understands titans better than you is Hange. You don’t realize how valuable you are, love.” You could see in his eyes that he hoped this would be the end of it -- that you would accept that many more would’ve died had you not been there, and you would cheer up. He knew better than his hopes, however, and thought it would take more. He was okay with that.

He started again, voice unwavering, “Ever since you joined the Scouts, we’ve come so much further. You’re the smartest person I’ve ever met. Today aside, you’ve saved hundreds. I’m not sure what would’ve happened if you weren’t with us today.”

You nodded, the heaving of your chest coming slower and your tears becoming sparse. He wiped away what was starting to dry with the back of his hand, never letting his eyes leave yours. He kissed your forehead, letting his fingers trail through your hair, softly pulling out knots as your breathing slowed.

“That’s my favorite thing about you, you know,” he continued softly. “How smart you are. You know so much about them, and it makes you a better soldier. The more you know, the better you understand. That’s why it’s so easy for you to solve problems like that abnormal today. The way you think, it just -- it amazes me.”

You felt the beginnings of the smallest smile come to your lips, relishing in his praise. Levi wasn’t the most sentimental of people; compliments are few and far between in a typical day. You leaned your head into his neck, finally calming enough to enjoy the warmth radiating from his body. His hands were unexpectedly soft as they ran under your shirt to rub your back in the most comforting manner you’d ever come to know.

“I love you, you know,” he whispered, lips pressed against your temple. You let your arms loop around his waist and lifted your head to look up at him. 

“I love you,” you answered, knowing tears stained your red, puffy face. You knew he didn’t mind. His hand caressed your cheek with the most gentle of touches as he pulled you in for a kiss, first grazing your lips with his as if he was asking for permission before kissing you deeply and without restraint.

A few more months from now, you knew, you would be here again; but it didn’t seem to matter as long as he was there to pick up every piece.

[moody-blues-requiem]

Is it okay to request an NSFW au where Bruno is stuck in Diavolo's body instead of dying, and he and his s/o make love afterwards to celebrate him living despite the circumstances?

This has some end of part 5 spoilers but also gets really canon-divergent, and also starts angsty (me, writing angst??? what??????) but gets all soft and sweet. I hope you enjoy!!

n/s/f/w under the cut!

It’s going to take some time to get used to it all. 

Bruno was dying, you knew something was wrong but you didn’t figure out just how serious things were until you reached Rome. Knowing you were going to have to give up your last minutes with Bruno to fight the boss instead was devastating, but you held back your tears. Now wasn’t the time to cry. You blink and there he is, the man behind it all, Diavolo. You blink again, and you’re sleepy, the adrenaline is pumping through your veins like fire but something pulls you under and you black out. You come to, eventually, and Giorno is impaled upon a row of iron spikes, except it’s apparently Narancia? And Narancia who is apparently Giorno isrushing to his side. His quick movements are able to get him down and close the wounds, but he needs a real medic, badly. The boss appears to be working with you now, except that’s not the boss, that’s Bruno in his body. 

Giorno-in-Narancia’s-body figures out that Diavolo is hiding in Bruno’s body. He grabs the stand arrow, tears streaming from his cheeks, and strikes the body of his friend down. 

The next few minutes are an absolute blur. Everything was suddenly very, very bright, blindingly so. Lying on the ground with your eyes squeezed shut, you felt like you were being tossed around on stormy ocean waves. It lasted forever and it lasted only an instant. But eventually, your eyes opened, back in your own body. Your teammates were starting to stir themselves, Mista looking just as sick as you felt. Narancia remained on the ground, but upon carefully reaching out to his wrist, his pulse was still there. 

Giorno was kneeling on the ground in front of where Bruno’s body once was. On his left was a golden figure, a twisted, nightmarish reimagining of his stand, and on his left, was Diavolo. You nearly screamed for him to watch out as you saw Diavolo begin to move, but the man only put his hand on Giorno’s shoulder. It was still Bruno. 

--------

Time passed, as it tends to do. Narancia and Abbacchio got to share a hospital room while they recovered from their wounds. Trish promised to stay in touch, but “would rather die than deal with gang shit ever again”. Giorno ascended to Passione’s metaphorical throne, and got a spiffy new outfit. And Bruno learned to deal with his new body. 

He never let the gang see, but being trapped in Diavolo’s body broke something inside of Bruno, at least for a while. He stopped sleeping, barely ate, and avoided mirrors at all costs. You cut his hair to match his old style, even offered to dye it for him, but he said he didn’t want to mess with the chemicals. Sometimes at night you’d wake up to him crying in the dark bathroom. But one day, the tears stopped. “I’m done mourning this,” Bruno said to you one morning, as you handed him a cup of coffee. The sun had yet to rise as you two sat outside under the purple sky. “This isn’t Diavolo’s body, this isn’t my ‘new’ self. It’s me.”

You held him until the sun rose, carding your fingers through his silky hair. His hand rested on your thigh, brushing little patterns into your skin with the pad of his thumb, the way he always did. 

---------

Even with Bruno accepting his new body, it took a while before he was confident enough for the bedroom again. He got used to his new junk like he got used to the rest of his new body, but he figured at some point he should probably put it to use. Diavolo-- no, *his* length didn’t hide anything, it was nearly as long flaccid as it was when erect, and it was just a little bit longer and thicker than his old dick was. Surrounded by a well-manicured tuft of pink pubes, Bruno had to admit, he looked pretty appealing. And judging by how he caught you staring, he knew you agreed. 

“Does it, like… feel any different?” you asked, gently palming his erection. 

“It’s still a dick,” he replied. “I think it looks more different than it feels.”

You placed your palm under the shaft, letting it rest in your hand. “I think it might be a liiiiittle heavier? But maybe I’m just nitpicking--”

Before you could finish, Bruno had reached down and unzipped his dick (“Gross, Bruno!” you shouted, jokingly making a face at him), holding it in his hand and pretending to think hard. “I think it’s pretty close to the same.”

“Put that back on!” 

He laughed, reattaching his member. “That didn’t kill the mood too much, did it?”

“A little.” You looked down, and back up, putting on your best doe eyes and batting your eyelashes. “But I think you can make it up to me, signore.” 

You two teased one another like you had before, sharp banter laced with witty innuendos and Bruno’s signature brand of weirdness that was also somehow incredibly sexy. But when it came down to it, the moment of him lining up at your entrance, ready to push into your dripping core, he hesitated. It was almost an out-of-body experience, things felt… off. 

“Bruno?” you asked. “Is everything alright?” 

“Yeah,” he said, but his voice sounded distant. 

“We don’t have to keep going if--”

“No! No, I mean,” he stammered over his words, leaning his head down against your chest, pink hair tickling your bare skin. “It sounds silly, we’ve had sex lots before, but. I’m nervous.”

Bringing a hand up to rub gently over his back, you smiled softly. “It’s like first-time jitters all over again, huh?” Bruno nodded against your chest. “Maybe, I dunno, maybe Diavolo was a virgin--”

“Babe,” Bruno said, suddenly serious, green eyes looking up at you. “The man dressed like the head of a whorehouse instead of a mafia. He definitely wasn’t a virgin.” 

The two of you dissolved into giggles, and you pulled Bruno into a tight, loving hug. The sound of slow but passionate kissing filled the air, your lips meeting your lovers’. Bruno broke the semi-silence first. “I want to keep going, if you do.”

“I do,” you replied. “How about we switch, and I top tonight?”

“I think I’d like that,” Bruno nodded, slightly breathless from the kiss. “Very much.”

Rolling around on the bed to switch places, you settled your legs on either side of Bruno’s waist, his tall erection still standing upright and already brushing against your wet folds. You rubbed over him a few times, teasing his shaft and letting him feel just how badly you wanted him, before lining up his tip with your entrance and slowly, slowly sinking your hips down. Bruno bit his lip, watching his cock disappear inside of you, nodding to tell you he was ready for more. When you finally reached the base he threw his head back in a lust-fueled moan; the voice was slightly different from the old one, but the cadence and how he looked back up at you, love and passion burning in his eyes, biting his lip, was all so very, very Bruno. 

You worked up a slow but steady pace, bouncing on his lap, savoring the way he filled you up perfectly. Your hands gripped his hips like handles, nails slightly digging into his pale skin. Bruno always made the most beautiful noises in the bedroom, even with a slightly different voice his moans sounded like heaven. “Oh, oh, yes, amore!” he would cry out between gasps, snapping his hips up into you. “M-more! Please, god, mmmmore…” His hands found your own hips, bouncing you harder. The old Bruno was strong, but this body was stronger. He moved you over his lap with ease, murmuring “I’m close, love, I want to… can I…”

You leaned down, pressing your forehead against his own. “Cum in me, Bruno.”

Bruno slammed you down onto his lap as his hips bucked up and he came, releasing ropes of hot cum inside you. Your own orgasm hit from the overwhelming pleasure of it all, getting to be with your boyfriend once again and listening to every grunt and groan he made as he emptied his balls in you. Your walls contracted around him, making Bruno’s vision momentarily white out as a hard wave of aftershocks hit his whole system, pushing him directly through a second orgasm. 

When he finally pulled out, a line of thick cum followed, slowly running down your thigh, before being pushed back into place by Bruno’s deft fingers. You collapsed, laying down beside your boyfriend and pulling him into your arms. He leaned up for a quick kiss before resting his head on your chest, contentedly listening to your heart thrum as you came down from all the excitement. 

No matter the time, place, circumstances, or even what body his soul rested in, nothing felt more comfortable than being held sweetly and safely by his love. 

[sensational-fools-9]

SF9 Hi-Touch & Concert experience

As some of you know (?), I was at the Berlin concert last Sunday with a friend and I thought I might want to write about my experience!! I’ll put it under the cut for everyone who wants to read it, because it got a liiiiittle too long after all lol.

First off, the concert itself was LIT. They did a huge deal of my favourite songs, including one they didn’t do in the US, so hearing that was a pleasant surprise!! 

Their live vocals are no joke and their performance and stage presence are overwhelming. That was the third kpop concert I’ve been to, and as expected, every group so far had a very unique feeling about them. With SF9 what I noticed and appreciate very much is their honesty on stage. Like, I could feel just how happy they were to meet us and to perform for us, and how genuine they seemed - during the show as well as afterwards. And dear lord they are so handsome, Inseong was the first member I saw and I was just blown away by his sheer beauty, I tried filming the first song and f*cked up right when he walked in and I saw his face dkaslfjas. All of them just have amazing stage presence - they’re fierce when the song calls for it, they radiate emotion for their calmer songs, and all of them are just so charismatic. And they also learned a lot of phrases in German to talk to us and that was honestly so touching that they put in so much effort for their Fantasy.

Speaking of Fantasy - the other fans there were pretty chill too, I didn’t see a single one who wasn’t a multistan, and the Jaeyoon stan freaking out about the special fansign event two rows behind me in the vip line was a whole experience wow (bless u girl, there’s far too little people who bias our busan man)

But now for the actual Hi-Touch! All members did it with one hand, Dawon and Hwiyoung with the left one, the others with the right one also all their hands are so soft it’s unbelievable. The order (this time I could actually remember it lol) was as follows:

Inseong - Jaeyoon - Youngbin - Dawon - Hwiyoung - Rowoon - Chani - Taeyang - Zuho

Inseong: A while before the concert I was thinking about how I wished Inseong and/or Jaeyoon would be the first people for the hi-touch, cause I felt like they would be really good at calming the nervous fans (ergo: M E) down, and I wasn’t disappointed. He’s so beautiful with the pink hair (not that he isn’t without ksajfdlka) and he really took a hold of everyone’s hands as far as I could tell. He was so friendly and straightforward, that I felt at ease immediately. I’m usually a socially anxious person but with him being first - as well as the fact that all members just give me a feeling that I can trust them - I went through the hi-touch rather calmly. He also said something in English, I think it was a greeting but at this point I really can’t remember anymore.

Jaeyoon: WOW. He is a sunshine. A literal sunshine. He smiled so brightly I think I automatically just smiled back at him. I don’t know how to describe it well in words, but his happy aura just blew away all remaining nervousness I still felt sakjdflsa. He’s really amazing, such a warm and welcoming person. You can feel the fire inside of him and that he would make such a good hype man LOL. Also if u don’t wanna poke his dimples after having seen them in rl what r u even doing

Youngbin: OOF THE LEADER. This is getting tricky because the hi-touch went by so fast and with some members my memory isn’t as good as with others, but I remember getting a very... leader-like feeling from him (duh). His charisma is overwhelming really. He seems like a person you’d automatically respect, but also someone you can put your trust into. (Also fun fact: he and Taeyang walked past us just before we could enter the venue and wow he is so powerful truly, and also kinda smol but that might just be me cause I’m far too used to being surrounded by tall people lol) Oh and not to forget his BEAUTIFUL eyesmile!!!

Dawon: Now Dawon caught me a little off-guard, because he was using his left instead of his right hand. So I only touched his hand very lightly only a few days later I realized that was the perfect position to try intertwining fingers akjfldkas. My friend says she was confused because he was dressed like staff and I was just like???? Really???? Yeah, I don’t remember him so well, but I got the feeling he was really tired that day and not in top shape :/ He still did so well though!!

Hwiyoung: OH MY GOD. So my first reaction to Hwiyoung was thinking how he looked so much more handsome in reality than on pictures???? Like if I had to pick a member who seems the most different in rl and in pics or videos, I’d say it’s him. I just remember looking at his eyes and then his whole face and thinking how it seemed kinda more... even? Like we know he’s handsome in pics and stuff but in real life? UGH. He did the hi-touch with his left hand as well, so with him too I only touched his hand very lightly.

Rowoon: OH LORD KIM SEOKWOO. He is TALL, but didn’t seem as tall as I expected him to. I think he leaned down a little (my friend’s comment on that: f*ck off, I know I’m smOL kasjfklasj). I also remember thinking to myself that I should finally start saying “thank you” to them as I had originally planned, but then he said “danke” and I was like... what? HE SAID DANKE. IN GERMAN. IN REALLY GOOD GERMAN. I still hear that in my head kasdjflkas. So naturally I was too shooketh to continue my train of thought so I just,,, did the hi touch and moved on without saying anything whOPS. This is entirely his fault. Also my friend says he had SUPER SOFT hands and we both agree he didn’t seem as gigantic as he is!

Chani: Really I can’t remember much about him except he was sMOL and his hands too were SMOL and I finally managed to say my first “thank you” of the evening to him ksljfak. Friend says he wore his usual Chani-face and now that she mentioned it I remember it too skaldfjsak

Taeyang: With him too I managed to thank him, and I was genuinely surprised how BIG his hand was like???? WHOA there, maybe it was just in comparison to Chani’s but still. Also someone on twitter said he was sitting down for the hi-touch but I??? honestly??? don’t remember???? Anyway we all know how beautiful he is but LET ME TELL YOU if you ever see him in real life???? He is really one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen, and so so graceful as he walked past us outside the venue.

Zuho: He was just,,, exactly like you’d expect him to be. As I mentioned, the whole group appears so honest, but with him especially I noticed how he fooled around on stage as usual, but also how he treated us fans exactly like you see him do in vlives etc. I will spare you all the details here or this part would get far too long (me? biased af? naaahhhh....). This is super funny though because my friend usually just goes through these kinds of situations calmly at least on the outside, but she told me when she saw him and he smiled at her she just blacked out and froze up just before touching his hand because she didn’t expect him to be THAT adorable aksljfas. As for me, I was surprisingly fine with him. He didn’t say anything if I remember correctly (my friends says he said “thank you” very silently tho??? not sure...), but it’s like instead he conveyed with his body language that he was happy to meet us but you could also clearly feel the respect he has for us. It’s difficult to describe. His hand was soft as well, but I had the feeling it felt a teeny tiny bit rougher than the others’. I was gonna say something different to him but then didn’t have the courage after all and just said “thank you” - which I still regret a little bit tbh. 

Still, I feel like Zuho was the perfect person to send us off in the end, just like Inseong and Jaeyoon were perfect for getting started. Overall my hi-touch experience was a really good one, unfortunately the staff wouldn’t let us spend more than two or three seconds per member *coughcough* maybe mmt should value quality over quantity when it comes to selling vip tickets with hi touch next time *coughcough*, so my friend unfortunately got pushed forward a few times - I was lucky with that though and could pass through without getting shoved around by the staff (also shout out to that one staff guy hyping everyone up just at the start of the hi touch line lol, he was great).

10/10 would do again, and I can’t say it enough just how safe and secure and appreciated these nine guys make you feel as their fans - even more so when you meet them for real!

Another little thing that I’m sure happened at the other concerts as well in the respective languages: all their German pronunciation was sooo so good, and Tyang even introduced himself as “der Sonnenschein der Gruppe” = “the sunshine of the group” and WOW their German just sounded so good. I also remember Jaeyoon repeatedly fucking up “euch” from “Ich liebe euch” = “I love you”, and the other members correcting him akljfa. Inseong did most of the English talking and kept throwing in German phrases, it was great, in general they talked a lot of English to us so the translator at the venue didn’t have to do much, and in the end Zuho yelled “Auf Wiedersehen” and I sincerely hope someone recorded that :’D

And that was my (and my friend’s) concert experience! If anyone has anything to add, feel free to share your stories^^

[hermannsthumb]

Can we have bad boy! Newt loving the shit out of geek! Hermann? Like a grease au?

and this ask i got a liiiiittle while ago…

Anonymous said: Greaser!Newt is so perfect because Hermann is a shy, sensitive sweetheart with a horrible, horrible father, and greaser!Newt is a bad boy rebel with a heart of gold who will rescue Hermann from his terrible father

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) ask and ye shall receive…..takin another little study break to write this….. for @newts-geiszler bc i love her and also we were talking about this in our dms earlier……have some “50s but they dont suck” au where newt and hermann are like in community college or something in a Small Town (so grease but not high school lol)

Hermann’s not sure what he did to gain the attentions of someone like Newton Geiszler–to be cursed with the attentions of someone like Newton Geiszler–but for the first time in his life, Hermann is grateful for them. Newton is obnoxious. He’s loud. He’s grimy. He’s tattooed. When he’s not pestering Hermann while they’re meant to be doing lab work, he’s tinkering on that ridiculous motorcycle of his, or he’s terrorizing the streets with it, or he’s screeching along to his guitar, or he’s kicking his muddy boots up on tabletops or tossing his leather jacket over chairs or–generally, making an undesirable nuisance of himself. He’s everything Hermann hates, wrapped up in one convenient scruffy, stocky little package.

More importantly, he’s everything Hermann’s father hates.

Which is why he’s perfect.

Hermann finds Newton lounging at a booth in the back of the diner–boots kicked up like usual, hair slicked back, shirtsleeves rolled up–and staring off into space as he downs a milkshake. When Hermann slams his cane on the linoleum floor and says “Newton,” Newton jumps and chokes on the milkshake and nearly knocks his glass over.

“Hermann?” he says, coughing, and blinking in bewilderment. He scrambles into a proper sitting position and adjusts his thick eyeglasses, as if he can’t believe Hermann’s really standing in front of him. 

“Last week,” Hermann says, “you invited me out to go dancing.” Multiple times, in fact. Hermann can admire his persistence.

Newton adjusts his glasses again. “Uh,” he says. “Yeah. I did.”

Hermann grits his teeth a moment before he continues. “If you’re amenable, and the offer still stands–”

“Yes!” Newton blurts out, face splitting into a wide grin, and–in his excitement–upends a salt shaker into his lap. “I mean,” he says, clumsily picking it up and brushing himself off, “yeah, that’s–” He runs his fingers through his greased hair. A little curl falls forward. He shrugs. “Sure.”

Hermann doesn’t buy Newton’s indifference for one second, but he doesn’t say anything, lets him have his little act. (That morning, Newton was almost begging Hermann to let him carry his books to his next class.) “This Friday,” Hermann says. “Come over to my house at six exactly. We’ll have dinner first.”

Newton’s smile returns, considerably…dopier. “Dinner,” he repeats. “You sure you don’t just wanna come here? I’ll buy you whatever–”

“No,” Hermann says quickly. Newton shuts his mouth. “It has to be my house.”

Newton nods.

“Six exactly, Newton.”

“Should I–” Newton runs his fingers through his hair again, considerably more nervous. “Should I wear something nice? If I’m meeting your folks and all.”

Hermann looks over Newton’s messy hair, his week-old stubble, his crooked (partially broken) eyeglasses, his creased leather jacket, his cuffed and stained jeans, the outrageous ink that swirls over his forearms, the smudges of motor grease on his shirt and neck. Hermann shakes his head and smiles serenely. “No,” he says. “As you are is perfect, Newton.”

“Keen,” Newton says, beaming away back at him.

Hermann has ulterior motives, of course. There are no other circumstances in which he would willingly invite Newton Geiszler into his household. Lately, Hermann’s father has been even more controlling and infuriating than usual, and–it’s juvenile to want revenge, Hermann knows, he’s freshly done with his teenage years, his time for rebellion has come and gone–but Newton’s just the type to get perfectly under Father’s skin. Especially if Father thinks they’re dating. He’ll take one look at Newton’s tattoos and his motorcycle–when Newton shows up half an hour late to their routine five-thirty dinner–and–well–Hermann can’t wait to see his expression.

And it’s not dishonest to Newton. He gets a date with Hermann out of it, something he’s been begging for for months. Years. Since Hermann moved to America and they got paired together as lab partners and Newton took an odd shine to him. He’s doing Newton just as much of a favor, even if he doesn’t remotely intend to put out. (Which is what he’s sure Newton’s after. That’s what all his type–loud, rebellious, swaggering–are only ever after.)

To Hermann’s dismay, on Friday evening Newton shows up on his front porch at five-thirty exactly in significantly less filthy jeans, bearing a bouquet of flowers that he thrusts at Hermann the moment he opens the door. “I’m sorry, man,” he leads with. “I know I’m early–”

“No,” Hermann sighs, and accepts the flowers glumly. They’re beautiful, unfortunately. “You’re right on time, damn you.” Newton didn’t even ride the motorcycle. He just walked.

To Hermann’s further dismay, dinner doesn’t go anywhere nearly as badly as he hoped. It doesn’t go smoothly, not by any means–Father blanches wonderfully when he sees the tattoos and the state of Newton’s hair, and even further when Hermann explains that Newton lives on the other (“bad”) side of town, and things become tense when Newton talks about the possibility of space aliens for five solid minutes and follows it up with a rousing endorsement of socialism–but there’s no yelling, no chairs thrown halfway across the room, no demands that Newton leave the house at once and never return. Newton does not leap from the table and call Father a capitalist fascist pig. He doesn’t talk about his latest dissections in excruciating detail. He deflects all of Hermann’s desperate attempts to ignite one of their usual petty arguments. He doesn’t even put his boots up on the table (and Hermann even made sure to set out the good tablecloth). 

When he and Newton set off, Hermann makes sure, at least, to inform his father he hasn’t the slightest idea of when they’ll be getting home and that they shouldn’t bother waiting up for them, and hopes that the implications of debauchery and Newton ravishing him in the backseat of some car on lover’s lane haven’t gone right over his head. Newton holds tight to Hermann’s arm the entire walk to the dance hall and blabbers on endlessly, about how good dinner was and how he can’t cook “for shit”, how cool the evening’s gotten, some probably-illicit experiments he’s doing in his uncle’s garage, if Hermann saw that new film about the giant insects from outer space (or something along those lines), how excited he is that Hermann finally agreed to go on a date with him, how nice Hermann looks, how handsome he is, how his sweater brings out his eyes, how he hopes he likes the flowers (he grew them himself, in his uncle’s backyard), and not once does he mention how dreadful Hermann’s father is, not once does he try to get fresh with Hermann like Hermann expected, not once does he appear anything less than entirely enthusiastic to simply walk next to Hermann.

Hermann…does not know what to think.

When they reach the dance hall, Hermann finds a spot against the wall on the outskirts where he intends to wait until Newton’s decided he’s had his fill and takes Hermann back home. (Hermann can dance, but it can be difficult and strenuous on his leg, so he prefers not to.) But rather than separating from Hermann immediately to dance and mingle with the rest of the young and stylish and hip (and probably find someone easier to score with than Hermann), Newton follows him and sticks tight at his side. “You don’t have to,” Hermann assures him. “Really, Newton. Go off. Enjoy yourself.”

“I am enjoying myself,” Newton says, smiling. “Anyway, what kind of a lousy date would I be if I ditched you?” He starts swaying along to the music of the band on the stage, hands shoved in the pockets of his leather jacket. “So you really didn’t see Them?”

Hermann shakes his head slowly.

“It’s playing at the drive-in this weekend,” Newton says. “I could take you tomorrow night.” He goes pink. “Only if you want to, I mean.”

Something strange stirs in Hermann’s chest. He evades the question. “On your bike?”

“My old man’ll let me borrow his car,” Newton says. “He knows how I–that you–” He blushes harder. Hermann stares at the floor. “Nevermind. Uh.”

To Hermann’s utter surprise, he has a good time with Newton. Newton’s running commentary on everything from his experiments (which Hermann has decided are absolutely illicit) to the music (which Newton enjoys, even if it is a bit slow) eventually becomes entertaining rather than merely bearable. He fetches Hermann drinks whenever he wants. He keeps complimenting Hermann, too, as he had on the walk over. He even manages to coerce Hermann out onto the dance floor during a particularly slow song, and if Hermann settles his head against Newton’s sturdy chest and allows Newton to wrap his arms round his waist as they sway together, it’s only because it’s the proper way to dance with one’s date.

Newton lends him his jacket for the walk back home, since Hermann looked cold, apparently, and it’s both too-short and too-big at the same time. It smells like Newton, hair grease and sweat and cologne that Newton, earlier, confessed he stole from his father for the night, and Hermann draws it tight around himself as he listens to Newton chat away happily.

Guilt builds steadily in his gut. 

“Did you have fun?” Newton suddenly says. “I had so much fun.”

They’ve reached Hermann’s front gate, and they come to a stop just outside it. He supposes he’ll have to say goodnight to Newton, now. That’s the proper date procedure. Will Newton ask him on another one? Will he try to kiss Hermann? Will he ask to come inside? But Newton does none of those things; he simply stands there, watching Hermann. Waiting for him to make a move. Hermann chews his lip. “Newton,” he says.

“Yeah?” Newton looks so happy, damn him.

“I didn’t–” Hermann taps his finger on the head of his cane nervously. “I haven’t been entirely fair to you. You should know–”

“–that you only asked me out to piss off your old man?” Newton finishes, not losing his smile. “Hermann. I’m not an idiot.”

Hermann supposes he should be embarrassed about being found out that easily, or mortified, or ashamed, or a whole host of other entirely appropriate emotions, but instead he just feels irritated. “If you knew, then why in the hell didn’t you play along?” he exclaims. Newton can pick fights with Hermann every day of the week, but not the one time it really matters. “You were positively civil!” 

“Look, don’t get me wrong,” Newton says, and snorts derisively. “He’s a total fucking square, man, and I would’ve loved to, but–” He shrugs, and grins a little sheepishly. “It was nice pretending that you wanted to be my guy and go dancing with me, even for just a night. I’ve never gone on a date before or anything like that. I really did have fun.”

Hermann’s irritation fades back into guilt, with a healthy dose of embarrassment and mortification and shame this time. “I’m sorry,” he sighs. “I’ve misjudged you very badly, Newton.”

Newton waves his hand. “And I screwed up your plan. We’re even.”

They stare at each other. Hermann’s not sure why he’s not yet opened his front gate–Newton, obviously, does not expect another date, nor a kiss, certainly not an invitation inside. Hermann reaches for the gate. Then he stops, pulls away. “Er,” he says. “There’s that film tomorrow night. The one you like. With the–ah–the insects. We could always…”

He does not finish his proposal, but he does not need to. Newton is beaming, and it’s shy, and sweet, and–it’s hard to tell for certain, in just the moonlight, but–his blush has returned. (Newton is loud, and messy, and obnoxious, but he is also intelligent, and funny, and very, very good-looking.) “I’ll lay on the horn for five minutes when I pick you up,” Newton says. “Stomp through your front garden, too. I’ll be a regular delinquent, Hermann, your old man’ll be forbidding you to see me by next Tuesday.” 

The thought excites Hermann more than he anticipated–Newton, the no-good town delinquent, stealing away with Hermann for what can only be scandalous purposes. “I don’t doubt it,” Hermann says. He casts a glance up at his house, and the houses surrounding; all the lights are turned off, meaning everyone’s likely turned in for the night, but… “Kissing me goodnight in full view of the neighbors certainly wouldn’t help our case.”

“Oh,” Newton squeaks, and then he agrees, very enthusiastically.

[ask-these-fantrolls]

Stray Dogs Lie

A Yandere!Belshn/Reader drabble written on request a long time ago.  I’ve cleaned it up a bit for your enjoyment!

Note: This is NOT canon in any way, shape, or form.  This is from a set of drabbles where our favorite cowboy daddy is just a liiiiittle less stable than he is in canon!

You wince as you try to pry the metal trap from your leg. 

He insisted that they were meant for the coyotes that frequented his property, but you never did believe him. Not fully.  You especially didn’t believe him now. A muffled yipe escapes your throat when your blood-wet fingers slip from the trap, causing it to snap back into the muscle of your shin.

The sound of boots crunching on gravel alerts you to his approach, causing you to start to panic ever so slightly.  You grasp at the chained trap binding you to the ground, cursing the fact that you’re not strong enough to rip it from its inset concrete post. His chipper whistled tune echoing through the cold desert night somehow chills you more than the actual drop in temperature. He was getting closer.  And to think… that same tune sounded like a beacon of hope just a few perigees prior.

You had gotten lost- horribly lost. After your car broke down on a desolate back road and you found your palmhusk without signal, walking really was your only option.  But… after hours, you realized that your surroundings had changed completely, with the road no longer in sight.  You were sure you were going die with the impossibly hot summer sun beating down on you.  And… Soon enough, dehydration and tiredness took their hold in your poor body, leaving you a heap in the middle of nowhere.  You accepted this death- nobody would even notice you were gone.  Just another one of the nightdropper zombies that absently roamed Alternia.

But, that’s when you met him. You don’t know how long you’d been face-down in the dirt and sage brush.  It could have been a few minutes, or it could have been hours, but the faint sound of a cheery tune carried through the air finally pulled you back to your senses.  Ah, right.  There was music that played in the afterlife, right?  This was that- you’d died out alone in the desert and buzzards would be feasting on your corpse by morning.  Or… at least, that’s what you first assumed.  

“You alive darlin'?” A deep voice called from above you, making you struggle to turn your head to see its source. The figure knelt beside you, gently brushing some hair from your face, “It’s okay, don’t move too much,” his voice jovial, yet calm.  Maybe you were just delirious… but he sounded safe, and comforting- your savior from the wilderness!

You couldn’t have been any more wrong.

Soon enough, you felt something beneath you; a pair of strong arms lifting you into the air and adding a strange twang to your pusher and a disgustingly romantic element to the terrible scenario.  “Yer safe now,” His voice sounded distant, your eyes closing without you wanting them to, “I ain’t gonna let nothin’ hurt ya...”  The next thing you remembered was the inside of a cozy room and the sounds of cooking coming from further into the house.  

You made you way to the center of the hive, finding Belshn Lloane humming away in the little country kitchen as he piled heaps of hashbrowns from his skillet and on to a plate.  He greeted you and wiped his hands on the apron covering his chest, urging you to sit and eat.  The morning was spent peacefully- the bronzeblood stuffing you full of carbs and liquids and encouraging you to tell him a little more about yourself.  Everything about him felt a little fake- just a bit too good to be true. Every warning alarm was flashing in your head… but he was just so nice. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to stay just for a little while?  

You were a fool.  You were smitten at first sight.  You told him everything about yourself.  

You told him about having just gotten your degree and about moving to a brand new town for a new life. You told him of your estranged relationship with your lusus and how you didn’t think you’d even told them when you were leaving.  You told him of how reclusive you had been in during your education and how you appreciated what he did, but honestly didn’t think anyone would have missed you if you’d never made it out of that desert. Stupid.

His grin only ever wavered when you yourself seemed to falter- when you broke down at his kitchen counter.  When you lamented to him about feeling worthless.  You didn’t know what it was about this troll that made you so at ease- was it that sultry southern drawl?  Or maybe it was his large and unassuming brown eyes?  He looked kind, if not having been through a life of hard work.  The bronzeblood stood from his seat, clapping you gently on the back.

“I can’t right put someone so down on yer luck out in th’ cold, now can I?” He spoke with a conviction that seemed so charming at the time- like he just wanted to take care of you and wouldn’t take no for an answer, “I got an extra room here! Why don’t y’all stay here while yer car’s fixed? ‘M Sure it’d be a lot better’n payin’ fer a hotel all th’way in th’city,”

Stupid.  Did you even ask if he’d called someone to fix your car?  Did you even bat an eyelash when he pet your hair like some sort of doll?  Did you even fucking question it when he gave you new clothes to wear like some southern belle housewife, even when they weren’t your style at all?  No.  Because when you were met with kindness, you always ate it up.  First came excuses- the sun being too hot or your car not being done, or it being too late in the day for you to reasonably go out!  Just stay with him another day.  Stay in his bed another night- he’d be good to you.  But… then came the orders to stay in and his cold glances when you tried to go, the way he clung to you so possessively and how rough he became with you at night on days you mentioned leaving.  After a while, you just stopped asking about it.  Belshn knew best.  He would let you know when you were ready to go…

  But now that he had found you again, out bleeding into the dirt, having escaped for the second time over the past five perigees of being cooped up in his cozy little farm hive… You knew he would never let you go.

“Now, why’d y’all go an’ do a plum fool thing like that, sugar?” He asked in his same happy little tone, but you no longer heard kindness in that tender southern drawl, “It’s okay, don’t move too much.  We’ll get y’all patched up in no time,”

[heartbreak-tm]

Reversible Campaign | Ryuunosuke + Guy | Trial 6 | RE: Jojo, Hiro | ATTN: Hiro

Ryuu wasn’t that smart…or maybe he was smarter than he gave himself credit for…he wasn’t too sure but he really didn’t care that much to think hard on it. He had something else to be thinking hard on and that was at least the identity of one of the people…and something struck him. He raised his head at Hiro’s reaction…what if he keeps pushing it?

“Y’know…I’d like t’see this pussy try it. What if I keep mouthin’ off? They watchin’ us huh? Gon’ drop an anvil or somethin’ on m’head? Would be a real weak ass move in my opinion. What, head honcho can’t handle this? They gotta ‘lotta balls to be laughin’ at me in those notes so I think they can handle this. What ya so scared of Hiro? It’ll be my head caved in. Don’t worry.”

Ryuu lulls his head over to look at Jojo. He felt bad for him…him getting so worked up over this but his words made more things connect in Ryuu’s brain. Maybe he was about to look like an idiot…but at least he was thinking of moving in a direction.

“Maybe…they can’t break…maybe they scared of the big boss…Couldn’t be me.”

This false bravado…putting on a show of confidence and strength…Ryuu hasn’t had this confidence in years…but even though he looks and sounds the part. The man who had his arm on him would be able to feel the shaking of his entire body. Fear…in the face of possible death.

“This…maybe…I’m reachin’ here…but eye of the storm. The safest part of the storm…what lands Jojo there? I have a little bit of an idea but…I need to hammer it in. So let me be clear…Hiro…what part do ya have in all this? We lookin’ fer someone that can fit the Unkie…ya said yerself ya fit that…and ya got a sister…ya told me that weeks ago…so maybe ya really are an uncle too but…maybe it’s somethin’ more or somethin’ less…fuck if I know…Besides that we lookin’ fer someone that could build Chuu…well tell me if I’m wrong but…were ya lyin’ bout bein’ involved in mechanical engineerin’ a few hours ago…were ya just tryin’ t’take th’ heat off Dax or were ya bein’ genuine?”

Guy glanced to Ryuu nervously, removing his gloves as he did. Now, while Guy had his own theories already fabricated in his head, Guy wasn’t so sure about accusing anyone just yet. But when Ryuu spoke up, and had the same suspicions no less…

“…Now now, Ryuu-chan… What am I gonna do with you, barking up the tree already? Nothing good might come out of bullying like that. Ah, no matter… You’ve brought up points I’ve been thinking about too, hmhm~!

Plus, nothing wont hurt us. Our job is to find out why we’re here, isn’t it? This is different from breaking the rules, so, I think we’re free to use any method we want.”

It inspires him, his hold on his arm tightening. Guy was hesitant before, but if Ryuu decided it was about time to become aggro… Well, this might as well be their last trial. If it was time, it was time.

“The notes, I think the ones on Hiro were a liiiiittle more than just suspicious. Yes yes, I’m talkin’ about how it almost sounds like that he must be involved one way or another. I mean, it literally says 'strictly business’, in plain view, doesn’t it? What else could that mean? And why else would the note writer be calling him useless? And why would the writer’s plans sound oh-so independent on what or how he might act next?”

Ryuu’s shaking grew ever more strong the more Guy spoke…perhaps now more apparent to more people than just Guy. He held his partner tighter…in the hopes that he could quell his fear of being correct…this is all just a bunch of bullshit..Hiro couldn’t…

“Does it kill ya? Full o’surprises…sounds so much more personal than any o’the shit written ‘bout the rest of us.”

The more Guy speaks out his thoughts, the more… bad he felt. He didn’t want to accuse Hiro, or anyone at that matter, but the trial was going to go nowhere if no one was going to point fingers, if not even raise one. But still, to match his partner, to match wavelengths with Ryuu as a form of comfort, he keeps his confident face just as strong. Hoping that it was enough to count as reassurance, that so long as they braved through this together, they’ll be fine. They’ll be safe.

“Furthermore… Mimo isn’t the only person who says the nickname 'Chuuchuu’. When Hiro and I were having a quaint little tea party and art show with Chuu the other day, he sure called Chuu that, as well.”

The suffocating feeling in his chest tightened. He was almost done… Just because he was saying it didn’t quite mean he didn’t want to believe it, but fuck, a lead was a lead, right?

“And lastly…”

But still, Guy’s accusatory energy drops, just a little.

“…well, who else would scream the word 'gross’ over and over, only to call Chuu by that nickname right after?” He shakes his head. “None other than the residential germaphobe, right?”

He couldn’t namedrop him anymore. It hurt too much. He considered everyone here as a friend, so to accuse someone so extensively like that…

…Well, it’d really be no different from every other trial they’ve had.

[survivorreelsmagicwithin]

Episode 7- “#MarshmallowMoves”-Landen

I can't tell if I'm in trouble or not. They voted out Nick, which is something I really really didn't want to happen. Kevin is acting strangely towards me. The only person I feel like who is being genuine with me right now is Dan. I'm not sure if I should keep pretending that everything is fine, but I'm pretending that the last vote didn't bother me. 

1 hour and 33 minutes later

I hope the relationships I made before that disaster of a vote are real still. That's all I'm hoping.

Today's immunity challenge is a luck challenge. There is no way to be "good" at rock-paper-scissors unless you are playing real-time. For this reason I have chosen to use random.org for all of my guesses. I hope that luck is on my side with my matchup. Also, I went to Potions Class today and looked in some cauldrons. No potions left behind. Thinking I will try luck potion tomorrow. Hopefully I'll be lucky and get an idol. Probably not. 

YAYYYYY!  Another week with no tribal and I am very thankful because the one we had was wild and I don't have to deal with anything like that again for AWHILE!  I should be staying up to search right now but I am about to head to bed and then make my search time earlier for tomorrow, woohoo! I feel like after tribal something like a merge might happen?? maybe? I feel like it should be about time! 

so Hufflepuff won (YET AGAIN!) and I'm feeling pretty great about that! there's not much to discuss about the actual events on this tribe, it's pretty much same old same old positioning. like stale cardboard! however, we got an exciting little hint of something at the immunity challenge today. it seems like there's going to be something coming up after tribal tonight, and particularly, i would guess that it will be a merge. of course i could be wrong and we could be thrust into another swap (a horrible outcome, really) but i'm hoping it's a merge. i've had a lot of paranoia about what would happen during a merge ever since the messy Jess rocks vote, so i just am excited to get it over and done with!! that being said i'm also not just like, throwing myself to the wolves of fate or something. i've also been doing planning ahead and thinking about the merge. specifically, i'm trying to calculate where numbers might go. right now, we have a group that is configured like this: -5 hufflepuff -4 Ravenclaw -3 Gryffindor -1 Slytherin (i know, crazy... and it's my least favorite one. UGH!) obviously, this puts a liiiiittle eensie teensie tiny target on the hufflepuffs' back, now doesnt it? and that's not very cute for me, someone who is very much IN hufflepuff - has had no time to form the strong relationships that kevin has with the other side - has burned the 1 ravenclaw and probably 1 of the gryffindors here on this tribe - and hasn't done any looking for spells! no, no, thats not very bueno at all, i'd say. of course, everything could be shaken up if kevin is taken out, but i'm not expecting that. it'll probably be a jacob or autumn boot.. i'm praying for a jacob boot but who knows. honestly just taking out that wildcard, one who is very fitting to his house mascot as a snake, that's something that would be VERY appreciated. i know i can't trust him after our experience in 2020 and it's not just bc i hold a grudge it's because i know the type of player he is, and that's not a type of player i can work well with in this game. Anyway, this brings us into the question of what the hell i am going to do to survive at the merge, and honestly, i have no fuckin clue. the good news is i do not think juls would be on board with a plan to vote me out, or at least she would do her best to vouch for me. as soon as we merge my sights will be set on autumn, too. i need to secure her loyalty and form a strong friendship with her, she's always seemed like a cool person and i wanted to do it anyway, but knowing i need to have her and juls on my side, makes this bond even more crucial. The bad news is Owen on this tribe, is a VERY dangerous player, will come into the merge with an army of 3 strong fellow Ravenclaw, and, last but definitely not least concerning - he comes into the merge with a strong relationship with Ruthie. This is VERY bad for me, because I know that if Owen decides to get Ravenclaw to target Hufflepuff and for some reason the Gryffindors (or potentially Jacob, if Autumn gets targeted, or even worse, Jacob AND autumn if Kevin goes home), he won't be going for Ruthie. If he's not going for Ruthie, he's not going to go for Lily, not to mention I highly doubt the Gryffs will go for her anyway because she's so lovable. Having Lily as my closest ally is a risk/reward, because when I enter the final rounds like 8, 7, 6, etc, she will be a HUGE shield for me and someone that will take off a lot of the heat on my name. But i need to get there, and that means i can't get taken out for being an extra vote for her during the early stages of the merge, i have to find my own way to survive. There is always the possibility they would target Max, but I have to be VERY careful in just assuming this, because i also know Max is probably going to look like a tempting goat to most people. he's not very great socially (at least individually) and he's not very active with his mom kinda grounding him all the time, like he just looks like an OTT goof and he'll probably come across as easy to manipulate once his ally Landen gets blindsided! I'm very worried that'll be the perception. So i need to start taking action now to make sure this early merge doesn't go down a dark path i see as a possibility. Step 1. Owen and Ruthie, Today. This is CRUCIAL. I am going to talk to Owen about game today whether he likes it or not, I'm going to drag it out of him and i'm going to fight like hell to get him to trust me even a little bit. I know I can be a good social player and I KNOW i can talk convincing game, but I also know Owen is very good at social skills and reading me so it's going to be a bit of a cagey death match with this one. I need to make sure Owen feels good about me moving forward into the merge and that I can "repent for my Sins" so to speak after basically throwing him up for crucifixion during the Jess boot round. If I can get owen into the idea of possibly an alliance of me, him, and ruthie, then maaaaybe i could protect myself a bit from him. perhaps i could also very subtly hint that lily is the one that's been coming after him harder than i have, i have to be careful with that because if it gets back to her i'm fucked, so i'll keep an eye out on the conversation and see how the tide's going and if it's worth hinting at. i also need to discuss with Ruthie and figure out what her other pregame relationships are, and see where we can get ins. I know being honest and open game talk with Ruthie earlier is what got her trusting me a bit more, so I want to just expand on some of the personal stuff I've been building on with her in the past couple days and just really start hitting the game talk home. Step 2. Max and Chips. If i can drive this wedge further, it would be faaanfuckintastic. I need to re-iterate to people that I DONT got Max's back. If people start pushing the narrative of me and max as a thing, or me as a hufflepuff strong person just because of the jess round, i'm screwed. so i'm going to have to be very careful to Make sure everyone knows exactly how willing I was to cut Max. When i get to the merge, the FIRST thing i'm going to do is literally have like, an hours long call with Kevin. I want to establish to him that i'm his extra number, his goat, his whatever he needs. I want to tell him how i was ready to sacrifice Max, i want him to give me ALL the details. Of course if Kevin goes home before the merge this is going to be a million times more difficult and so that brings me to Chips, my key plan today besides working on Owen is going to be to work on Chips. I don't want to give Chips too many promises I don't plan to keep because I don't see myself working with him super long-term, but I do want to Get a better read on him. Right now Chips is just an enigma to me and I need to get into his head, maybe at least get him to open up a *little* bit more, bc our game relationship right now is just a mess, he's so hard to talk to about these strategic things at times, even before the jess boot but especially after. as far as the other people go, the ones i didn't mention - owen's ravenclaw buddies, joanna, jules, and dan - who's to say they're even really tight with owen! I'll be curious to meet them, specifically Jules is someone that strikes me as someone I'd get along with. I also see a lot of potential for me to get along with Dan but we'll have to see on that one. I'm going to try to work on my relationships with Ravenclaw once I hit the merge too, but I'm gonna be careful because if I come on too strong, they'll consider me even more of a threat and that'll give them more of a reason to target me instead of Lily or Max. i know i'm in a precarious position and that's not even to mention spells, but I'm really trying to think over every angle here, and i think with some luck on my side and hopefully, some Kevin on my side, i can utilize kevin, lily, juls, and max as tight shields for my game, and continue working my way through the middle to make it alllll the way to the end. #MarshmallowMoves. i know this was an ESSAY so thanks for sticking it through. i really hope i don't write all this for nothing, because i'm starting to get excited that the big leagues are almost here, it's finally time for me to stop winning immunity every single round and actually experience the game, and i would hate for it to get cut short so soon. Game on wizards, cus this honey badger DONT care! >:D *flashes my claws but not in a furry way* haha thanks. bye ^_^ <3 

So..... once again, I lost a BEST FRIend to ROCKS! I swear I’ve got some kind of curse. Every time people have gone to rocks for me in games, it’s always my closest ally that leaves. And this time is no different :( I’m so sad Jess is gone, but I know she’s rooting for me, and that’s what will get me through this. I know I should’ve known better than to leak everything Ruthie said but I really trusted that juls chips and jess would act in their best interest. Apparently it was Landen who told Ruthie..... so I dont know. Maybe I accidentally told Landen the things Ruthie told me!? Or maybe someone else threw me under the bus. Either way, all bets are off now. I want to get to a merge with dan Jules and Joanna and paint a huge ass target on these hufflepuff nerds. I’m boutta hex the shit out of those four til they’re all out of this game. I WILL! Get my revenge for jess. But to do that it’s basically about winning challenges to merge which thankfully we have done. People tried hard on the music video thankfully and then we got lucky with attack defend balance. All I can hope is we MERGE NEXT!!! There’s a bounty on my head and if we don’t merge soon I’m heading to Azkaban :(

I’m soOoOoOoOoOoOo paranoid! I feel like it would be such a good move to get me out this round because I’ve been so loose with my powers. I feel like all it will take is for Jules to want jacob here more than me, tell everyone about my powers, and then have everyone vote for me!!!! Do I just waste powers tonight to make sure that doesn’t happen? Maybe. 

I think jacobs going home :c which is so sad but he’s not really trying, it’s really quiet tho so anything could happen, joanna might still be upset I lied last round and flip things on me who knows !!

Maybe Jacob is actually going home this time? Idk, last time they said Jacob and Nick went home so who knows what these people are telling me.

The good news I pulled off the Nicholas vote. The bad news is we're back at tribal but are we even surprised lmao https://media.giphy.com/media/l4pTsh45Dg7jnDM6Q/giphy.gif the tea is I'm mad but I'm not pissed because I only want people who are down for the cause. It's gonna be all hands on deck once we hit merge and I don't have time for any disloyal non-Hufflepuff people. So Gryffindor constantly losing really means Owen, Chips, and Juls will actually live to see merge, all three of whom I know will join the coalition. Nicholas and Jacob on the other hand would probably link up with Hufflepuff and that's what I don't need. So if we merge tonight, it's a 7-5 breakdown with Hufflepuff being outnumbered. Mind you that depends on everyone in that 7 cooperating with each other but let's be optimistic and assume that everyone recognizes ALL of Hufflepuff is still in the game. And if you ain't Hufflepuff, you can and will get snuffed so don't fall for the hype at merge and any member of Gryffinclaw who does is dead to me. Ok now Imma need y'all to go ahead and merge us thanks

IT BETTER BE MERGE!!!! IT BETTER BE MERGE~!!!!!!

I can't remember if I wrote one of these or not this round so here is another... Things are quiet on the Hufflepuff tribe and I'm nervous about the swap that i think is about to happen!!  It has been kind of quiet today. I've talked to Owen a lot and Landen, Lily and Juls a little today.  Being safe is nice but it will be fun to start competing for things individually. If we do merge I am excited to maybe work with Dan.  I want to be on his good side, lol, but he is a good player and I feel like if he doesn't go home tonight he and Owen will single handedly win every individual immunity. 

We won the random.org immunity! I think we will likely merge now that numbers are low enough. You can not find an idol by brewing luck potion. You suck at brewing potions. Duh!

Y’all I’m fucking screaming!!!! I found a third power lmao. I’m gooped! I found the riddikulus charm or something and I had to play a fake advantage at a tribal in order to power it up and I used Raffy’s rat ass to make it happen! I’m not sure what my power is rn but I’ll add it to my vote steal and my idol 😌

[mzargentum]

You’re The Boss (PromptoXOC) NSFW

Word Count: 10,064

Warning: Rough sex, language and Dom!Prom. 

Song: Easy by Sky Ferreira.

Special Guest: Six Ulric. Created by @insomniasix Love you, deary! 💕

Part II

“Bye, guys! Come again!”

A young man waved a couple goodbye as they exited the tea shop. Pulling his apron over his face to wipe what felt like a pool of sweat from his blonde brow.

Prompto Argentum was a 20 year old photography student that attended Crown City University. Despite being an average student in highschool, Prompto got in on a full scholarship thanks to a certain best friend putting in a royal favor. Full paid tuition, books, the whole deal. Although, even if your best friend is the Prince of Lucis, you still need to eat…and rent needed to be paid.

About a year ago, the young plebe applied to this hole in the wall tea shop at a dead end road in uptown. As soon as he walked in, he caught the attention of every female in the cafe. His unruly blonde locks were the first thing they noticed before his freckle dusted cheeks and pearly white goofy grin behind a pair of cherry red cat lips. His tight black t-shirt plastered against his lean muscular build with his grey skinny jeans that curved perfectly over his ass. His lighthearted voice that was as warm and crisp as a light campfire and those big…beautiful cerulean eyes. Like the ocean glistening against the sunlight.

Astrals above! He was gorgeous! 

It was like sunshine itself had walked into the cafe that day. All the girls practically begged for him to work there eliminating any reason for an interview. The ladies adored his charm, and he exhibited a rapport with the guys. Prompto Argentum was everyone’s favorite. 

As time went on, people came and went. Friendships were made and lost and after 8 months, Prompto was promoted to assistant manager of the cafe which was great for business, but not so much for Prompto. Managing time between classes, his friends, his hobby and sleep was difficult, but the pay was nice. 

The only real issue with it was that Prompto didn’t have a car. Sure, generally walking wasn’t so bad. He could admire his surroundings along the way with his trusty camera and from work to home was only about 15 minutes. However, from home to school was about a 45 minute trek on a good day and there weren’t many of those. 

A few months ago, the university built a small hangout for students. It was a small cafe that served food, coffee, tea, you name it and they were always hiring. Prompto contemplated moving on campus for a while. Tuition was already paid for, he wouldn’t have to worry about rent, it would be easier for him to save up for a car and he could focus more on his photography than he was usually able to nowadays. It was pretty much the perfect package. There was only one thing keeping him here…. 

 *door chime*

“Heeeeyyyyyyyyy!!!” 

Her. 

A lightly accented voice, as pure and sensual as a the hum of a viola, rang through the man’s pierced ears before he looked over his apron to view her.

“Hey, Muerlin!” 

Various customers, as well as the working associates, greeted the shoulder shimmying girl as she shuffled past the tables toward the counter. 

Muerlinian Zephyr. The 20 year old punk rock foreign exchange student from Tenebrae. She attended Crown City University on a full scholarship, a friendly favor from the Tenebraen princess, Lady Lunafreya, her older sister, no less. She was an artist and was currently studying various cultural techniques for painting. Her prime focus was finger painting, which wasn’t taken too seriously among most, although her work, even compared the more exceptional brush work, was among the finest Prompto had ever seen and out of the 10 student pieces hanging in the university’s art gallery, 5 of them were hers. 

Although they attended the same school, they had never met in person until Prompto’s first day of training as assistant manager. 

It was a rather nice day. The sun was out, there were no clouds. Prompto had just nailed this super complicated photography project that he had been working on for over a month. A+. There was almost no foot traffic on his way to work and it wasn’t 9,000 degrees outside. Took him 30 minutes on the dot sparing him about 25 minutes to chill before his supervisor showed up. Added bonus: they were playing one of his favorite songs and he showed up just as it started. Prompto proceeded to lightly hum the tune to himself as he put on his apron. 

 "I know it sounds funny, but I just can’t stand the pain. And I’m leavin’ you tomorrow. Seems to me, girl, y’know I’ve done all I can. Y’see, I begged, stole, and I borrowed“. 

The blonde lightly swayed to the music as it built up to the chorus. 

 ”That’s why I’m easy“. 

He suddenly stopped. A soft, delicate accented voice cut through his concentration like a knife. 

What the- 

He jolted his view upward to locate the source. 

”I’m easy like Sunday mornin’“. 

…And that was the first time he saw her. Standing behind the bar getting hot water from the filter to make her tea. 

”That’s why I’m eeeeeaaaaasy“. 

Her voice was rich and feathery like vanilla. Smooth and soothing. 

”I’m easy like Sunday moooooorninnn“. 

Prompto barely paid any attention to his supervisor for he was constantly distracted by Muerlin’s beauty. He watched her sway to the music, from behind the counter, as she busted tables. 

Her silver hair just barely brushing against her shoulders. It was clearly rarely brushed, but was like silk. Her dainty ring coated fingers ran through it with ease as she looped her hair behind her left ear, that was riddled with earrings, exposing her small crystal gauge. Her bronze skin gleamed in the cafe’s horrible lighting. Her lips were always glossed with a light grey. And her eyes….pure teal. Like a lagoon in some mystical forest covered by her circular lens glasses. It was hard to believe she was real. 

“Hey there, Sugar! ‘Bout time you got here!”, Cindy Aurum, another associate and one of Muerlin’s friend, greeted. 

“Sorry, I know I’m late. Traffic was absolute shit today. Y'know how it is”. 

“Well, now that yer here, we can start makin’ some real money”.

Muerlin giggled as she approached the counter. “What? Prom’s not enough for that anymore?”

The young man chuckled and scartched the back of his head. “C’mon, I only made 1,500 gil”.

“Yeah! This segment! I’m over here makin’ 200 at best!”

“Wow, Prom”, the girl leaned over the counter toward the blonde, “you must be brewing up something other than tea”.

His cheeks lightly flushed at her comment. She giggled at his expression.

“I’m just kidding”, she said hoping over the counter to head toward the back.

“Gods Almighty, girl! Are you wearing anything under that “cocktail dress” o’ yers?!“ 

Prompto raised an eyebrow at Cindy’s question. 

Cocktail dress…? 

Looking over, he noticed it wasn’t a cocktail dress rather than a slightly wrinkled long sleeve navy blue button up shirt, that was probably 3 sizes too big for her, with grey undertones rising from the bottom. The sleeves looked like they were just slightly rolled up to uncover her hands, but they covered just enough so her ring covered fingers would be exposed. The button of the shirt was unbuttoned.

 "What? I’m wearing shorts! See?“ 

Muerlin lifted her shirt and showed Cindy her lace black shorts. 

Muerlin wasn’t a fan of pants unless they consisted of shorts and leggings. She claimed that she needed to be able to “bust a move” at a moment’s notice if anyone ever asked why before proceeding to perform some random dance to demonstrate her point receiving nothing less than a hearty giggle from anyone who happened to witness it. If Prompto was lucky enough to be working when she had on shorts, he’d get a glimpse of the crystal stain glass lotus tattoo that took up 90% of her upper thigh. The blonde would become lightheaded at the sudden blood rush to his head…..and not the one on his shoulders. 

Luckily, today was one of those days. 

Unfortunately, when Muerlin lifted the unbuttoned bottom of her shirt, she briefly exposed her crystal belly button ring along with the stain glass mandala that circled it. Noticing a sudden tightness in his jeans, Prompto swiftly averted his attention to her apron under the counter and crouched down proceeding to grab it.

“Don’t you think that shirt’s a liiiiittle too big for you?”

Prompto tried really hard to seem normal, and it worked.

“Too big? Shoot, I think she looks mighty purdy. ‘Cept one thing…”

Muerlin raised her eyebrow to her button nosed blonde friend. 

“I know!”

Cindy shouted before she unbuttoned the first 3 buttons of Muerlin’s shirt slightly revealing her cleavage. Prompto lightly bit his lip as he witnessed the interaction.

“There! That’s much better. You looked like you were near ‘bout to choke to death. Ain’t no needa hide that bouncy bosom o’ yers. Gotta let the girls breathe!”

“Like you?, Muerlin chuckled at her friend.

“Precisely. Ain’t no shame in flauntin’ the goods, y’know? Why, ya prolly even got a young tiger like Prompto here ready to pounce”.

Like you wouldn’t believe.

Muerlin turned her gaze toward the tall blonde, he immediately shifted his gaze to meet hers, removed from his trance. Cindy giggles.

“Huh??”

Muerlin chuckled lightly. “No, he’s definitely looking at you”. She grabbed her apron from him before heading toward the back. “I’m gonna make some more samples!” The silver haired girl shouted from the back room in her usual cheerful tone.

“Okay, sugar!”

“Rather crude…don’t you think?”

A light chill rushed up Prompto’s spin as he turned around to see Loqi Tummelt, one of his other associates let alone his least favorite, lightly glaring at him.

“What?”

“Is that how you “woo” all your women, Argentum?

“Ugh”, Cindy grimaced at Loqi’s comment, “what’re you yappin’ ‘bout now?”

Hearing the commotion, Muerlin silently approaches behind her friend and her boss. Loqi, noticing Muerlin, smiles at her presence before hopping over the counter.

“Anyone who cannot appreciate beauty beyond the skin doesn’t deserve it”, he complimented Muerlin while insulting the plebe.

“And anyone whom is a creep shall be stoned”, Prompto mocked Loqi in a dramatic Shakespearean tone receiving a hearty laugh from Cindy.

Muerlin stifled a laugh by clearing her throat.

“Now, Prom”, Muerlin placed her hands onto her hips and smirked at the tall freckled blonde, “don’t be mean. We’re all family here, right?”

She smiled wide looking point blank at Cindy.

“That’s right!”, Cindy responded wholeheartedly.

“Right! So guys, do me a favor?”, the girl slowly backed up toward the samples she was making in the back room. She snapped her fingers and pointed at the two blonde men. “Don’t kill each other”. She winked at them with a click of her tongue before finally turning and skipping out of sight.

Cindy chuckled at her friend’s suggestion. “Don’t count yer chocobos just yet”, she joked. “And on that note”, Cindy stretched her arms and back, “my work here today is done”. Prompto looked toward the clock. 2:15pm.

Jeez, that’s it?

It had only been 5 hours since they opened and Prompto had been there since 8:30am. It felt like it should’ve been at least 5 and he was going to be there until 10. Uggghhhh…

Cindy removed her apron tossing it under the counter before grabbing her bag. “Ya’ll play nice now or lil’ Muerlin in there will tan yer hide, y’hear?”

Prompto chuckled nervously, “yeah, wouldn’t want that, would we?”

Loqi chuckled at Prompto’s nervous response. “I don’t think I could ever upset the fair Muerlin”.

“Suuuure”, Cindy rolled her eyes at Loqi’s reponse. “Well, bye now!” she waved at the boys as she strolled past the tables and out the door.

“Don’t be a stranger, y’hear?”, Prompto playfully imitated her voice receiving a hearty giggle from the girl.

“Oh, shut it, you!”, Cindy replied with a smile before the door shut behind her. Prompto smiled lightly as Cindy disappeared from sight.

“It’s rude to stare, Argentum”.

Prompto’s smile faded as his tranquil manner was interrupted by his associate. His slimy voice genuinely gave Prompto a headache. He wasn’t really one to hate anybody, but he REALLY couldn’t stand Loqi. He always felt a need to get under Prompto’s skin on anything and everything he possibly could which to anyone else, it would seem rather stupid to intentionally piss off the boss, but Prompto was pretty sure he couldn’t fire someone just for being annoying. Still…

He had a remarkably punchable face.

“Loqi, do you really have room to talk?”

“What?”, the irritating blond retorted in offense.

“I mean, you stare at Muerlin just as much as any other guy that comes in here. And, for some reason, you think she likes the creepy poetry”.

“Hmph…because you’re a real class act yourself, Argentum”, Loqi chuckled sarcastically.

“Hey, never said that I was. Actually I know I’m not…I’m just sayin’ that you don’t need to try so hard just to tell her she’s pretty”.

Loqi paused for a moment before lightly chuckling at his superior. “Green is not a good color on you, Argentum”. He turned toward the bar to start making his tea. 

 A confused Prompto forwarded his brow at his associate. "What?“

 "I’d stick to black…it’s more slenderizing anyway”. 

 Did this smug motherfucker just imply that he was jealous??? Of him?! Prompto scoffed. 

Please. 

His eyes shifted to Muerlin as she emerged from the back room with four pitchers in hand. She playfully stuck her tongue at the blonde and crossed her eyes as she walked by emitting a chuckle from his lips.

She was so silly…and adorable…and…his.

He couldn’t help, but stare at those bronze thighs as she strutted by a group of frat guys sitting at a table. Much to Prompto’s dismay, they were admiring them just as much as he was….maybe a little too much….DEFINITELY too much.

And Muerlin was far too nice to tell them to fuck off.

The way they perused her body, undressing her with wandering, lustful eyes. Like they wanted to just tear her out of her clothes and rail her on the table themselves. I mean….he wanted the same, but that’s all they wanted. They didn’t know her like he did and they didn’t care. They wanted her for nothing more than their beds.

How dare they?

She deserved more than that. She WAS more than that. She deserved someone who truly cared about her….maybe even loved her.

But he could never be that….because she would never want him…and he was her boss.

“Muerlin, my dear”.

Prompto’s eyes darted to the side as Loqi approached Muerlin offering to take one of the pitchers from her hands, she smiling lightly and complied. Prompto scoffed before rolling his eyes, refusing to make eye contact with the young lady gazing upon him from a distance.

“I’m going on break”, the beautiful blonde huffed pulling his apron over his head and retreating to the back room. His usual glow had dimmed.

Muerlin watched him, worry in her eyes, completely ignoring the babbling boy standing beside her.

“Muerlin. Muerlin, did you hear me?”

“Huh?”, she snapped out of it realizing she was still holding the pitchers. “Oh! Yeah, sorry. Thanks, Loqi. Um…I’ll be right back, yeah?” She handed him the pitchers with a light smile before skipping toward the back room.

Peeking around the corner, she noticed her statuesque God of sculpted white chocolate thunder sitting on a wooden crate, his leg crossed over his knee, playing King’s Knight. Though he didn’t look like he was really enjoying himself rather than he was just using his favorite game in attempt to occupy his thoughts.

Look at him.

His arms looked so strong propped up against his leg. His sleeves barely able to hide his toned biceps. Like he could easily pin a body against the wall…or throw someone on a bed. He was always so cheerful, but the way he stared at his phone. Those forwarded blonde brows, that intense focus…it made her legs quiver. 

She remembers the first day she saw him about 4 months ago when she first started the job. 

It was so early. 

Like waaaay too fucking early. 

All her classes were in the afternoon so she wasn’t used to being up at 8am. Muerlin had never met the assistant manager before and at that time, she didn’t really care who they were. 

When she walked in, the place was nearly vacant and her boss was currently no where in sight. So she took it upon herself to make a hot black and chai tea to wake her up. She silently slipped to the back room to brew her tea. Noticing the music was off, she switched on the radio and light music flowed through the speaker. Unknowingly alerting her confused boss. He wasn’t expecting anyone for another half hour. 

She finally finished brewing her tea. The sweet aroma of hot cinnamon and coconut filled her nostrils. Holding it with both hands to warm her fingers, she shut her eyes as she absorbed the scent filling her tired face. 

Turning the corner to return to the counter, she was abruptly halted by a solid figure, startling her enough to fully wake her. 

“Agh..!!” the figure hissed slightly. 

She opened her eyes to see the tall blonde Prompto standing before her. 

Wow….he was really cute. 

She blushed lightly at the boy’s light freckled face, his eyes were SOOOOO BLUE. A deep blue like the oceans at night. His hair made….no sense…like a Picasso painting. 

Magnificent. 

What was wrong with him though? He looked like he was in some sort of pain? His gaze was lowered to his chest, face winced. She lowered her gaze to the giant stain on his red t-shirt. 

Her cup was 98% empty and the half that wasn’t splattered across the floor was on HER BOSS’ CHEST. 

“Oh, Gods! I’m so sorry!”

Muerlin panicked setting her cup on the bar and lightly flailed with her other hand emitting a light giggle from the blonde. 

“No, it’s fine. I didn’t mean to startle you. I wasn’t expecting you until later”. 

His eyes twinkled lightly as his gaze softened. He was sincerely sorry, yet HE was the one covered in hot tea. 

“What was that? Let me make you another one”, he kindly offered. 

“Don’t you worry about that. Come on. I’ve got an extra shirt in my bag”. 

She hurried toward the rack in the far back of the room to retrieve her backpack, quietly cursing herself the whole way. 

“Muerlin, you bloody idiot. What a brilliant first impression. Fuck me!” 

The blonde stifled a chuckle as he listened to her lightly accented swearing as she shuffled through her bag to find the shirt. 

“I like to wear rather large shirts for me so I should have something in here that would fit you”, she explained as the man approached. 

“There we are!” 

She pulled out a short sleeved black v-neck. A rather deep V at that, and turned to hand it to the young man. 

She felt her heart hammer against her breast. Her breathing shortened, her skin flushed at the sight of her blonde boss. He had just finished removing his shirt exposing his lean muscular build. 

His broad shoulders dusted with light freckles, his solid pectorals and stomach. She squeezed her legs together as hope of getting some relief from her rising heat, before realizing she had been staring for way too long and reverted her gaze to his own. The way he looked at her….he had been staring for quite some time, but not at her body. Not at her exposed cleavage, her legs…but her eyes. He was looking at her. 

And she was looking at him…..

For way too long. 

She cleared her throat. “Here ya go”. The girl shoved the shirt against the man’s chest. The impact brought him back from his trance. 

“Oh, thank you”. He gently took the shirt. “Um…when do you need it back?”

“Keep it”, the girl quickly replied. “Huh? R-really?” The boy seemed confused.

“Yeah, and to make it up to you, I’ll wash this one”. Muerlin replied with a smile. “That way it’ll smell like lavender and vanilla”. 

Prompto blushed lightly at her comment….lavender and vanilla. Like her. 

“Well, are ya gonna try it on?” 

He nodded. “Oh. Yeah”. He stuttered before pulling the shirt over his head. It fit him perfectly. A little too perfectly. Muerlin bit her lip lightly as she watched him straighten himself out. 

The blonde giggled. “How do I look?” He asked the girl with his usual goofy grin.

Fuckin’ delicious. 

She dramatically fanned herself. “Why, Mr. Argentum, I do declare”, she replied imitating a southern belle. 

He chuckled at her comment before joining in on the act. “Now, lil’ lady”, he clutched onto his belt, “what’ll ya have?” 

“Chai and black…shaken, not stirred”. 

“Gotcha. One ‘Prompto Special’”, comin’ right up”. He snapped his fingers pointing at her and clicked his tongue to his gesture before spinning around to remake her tea. 

Her cheeks stung from how much she was smiling. He was so sweet and fun…like a chocobo. She had heard of him at school from the photography students, as well as seeing his pictures in the photo gallery. He was talented. She always assumed it was so easy to take a picture…but to do it well. That was a skill. 

A moment later, he returned with her drink handing it to her with a dramatic bow. “Malady”. 

Muerlin giggled as she retrieved her drink from the boy. “Why thank you, good sir”. She took a sip as he watched waiting for her response. 

“Mmmmm…”, she sighed as she lifted her smile from her cup, “that’s so good…much better than I usually make it. Well done, sir”. 

“Prompto”. 

She raised an eyebrow to him. 

“Just….Prompto”. 

She lightly blushed, illuminating the light freckles upon her nose. 

“Muerlin…..just Muerlin”. 

“Nice to meet you…Muerlin”. 

4 months later. 

After seeing him almost every day, spending hours upon hours with him and she still hasn’t told him what she felt. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something about the blonde plebe….it gave her a fuzziness in her stomach, a warmth in her heart…and between her legs. 

Ugh…he was her boss, but…why did it feel so…right? Why was it becoming more and more difficult to resist him? 

A light chuckle erupted from Prompto’s throat. 

“Hashtag: Paw Paw takin’ a nap nap, LOL”, Prompto lightheartedly imitate Cindy’s southern twang. 

Most importantly….what made her think she possibly stood a chance against her cute button nosed friend? 

They had so much more in common…not like a lowly punk from Tenebrae. Hell…it was clearly super easy for Cindy to bring him out of his funk from earlier. She couldn’t possibly have done that. 

Besides…he was her boss. 

He was Cindy’s too, but she could easily quit here and make a living in Hammerhead. This was all Muerlin had…so she’d never get the chance. 

Warm tears emitted from her eyes as she came to her realization. Her light sobs alerted the blonde of her presence completely shifting his attention.

“Muerlin?” 

Shit. He can’t see me like this. 

She quickly fixed herself up before turning the corner toward him. 

“Yeah?” 

“Are you okay?”, he stood taking a step toward her. 

“Who me? Oh, yeah yeah. Of course”, she replied, obviously trying really hard to keep her cool despite her unknowingly stepping away from him. 

He frowned slightly at the action. Was she….trying to run from him? 

 “…are you sure?”, he asked taking a couple more steps and gently reaching out to her. 

“Y..yeah, absolutely”, she turned away from him shuffling further away, “I just….wondering if I could take my break now…grab a bite before, y'know…evening rush?” 

“Uh..yeah, sure. I could make you something if you want”, the blonde offered in hopes she would accept. 

“No, no…it’s alright”, she smiled sweetly, an obvious void in her eyes. 

“…I don’t want to interrupt”, she added in a sigh before grabbing her backpack and exiting the shop. 

Interrupt…interrupt what? 

Prompto’s eyes filled with worry as he watched her hastily race past the pane windows on the side of the cafe. Agony in her face. Did he do something…?

“Oh, dear”. 

Prompto glanced over at Loqi who was looking rather satisfied with the situation. 

“What?”, Prompto softly barked at his associate, growing increasingly annoyed.  

The bratty boy chuckled at his boss. “You tell me”. 

“Tell you what? I didn’t do anything”. 

“Oh, of course. Clearly”, he gestured in the direction Muerlin departed to, “nothing”. 

Prompto was so close to knocking this douche out on his ass, but refrained at the last second after looking toward the clock. 4pm. 

“LADIES AND GENTS, HAPPY HOUR OFFICIALLY STARTS NOW!!! ALL TEA BLENDS WITH THREE OR MORE FLAVORS WILL BE FREE UNTIL 5!!! ENJOY!!!” 

Everyone’s hands raised as customers began calling Loqi to their tables to take their orders. Loqi reverted his wide eyed gaze back to his boss who was retreating back to his original post. 

“See ya in an hour”, the charming plebe chuckled with a snarky grin and a two finger salute. 

The overwhelming panic that Prompto heard in Loqi’s voice was more than enough to bring a smile to his face. He wasn’t sure who was gonna make it out of this stampede, but one thing was for sure, he was certainly going to enjoy the rest of his break. 

5'o clock rolls around. 

*door chime* 

Muerlin raises her eyebrow at a disoriented Loqi who’s draped over the counter, completely exhausted. 

“What in the world happened to you?” 

Noticing it’s her, he quickly stands and attempts situate himself. “No matter, my dear. Just a small rush”. 

Muerlin looks up at the clock and analyzes the overall calmness of the cafe. 

“Isn’t it happy hour now? This place is usually packed at this time”. 

“Happy hour was a tad early tonight”, the begrimed young man replied in irritated. She stifled a chuckle. Damn. Prompto certainly wasn’t having his shit today. 

“Muerlin”. 

She shifted her gaze to her boss as he exited the back room, retying his apron. He looked rather pleased to see her behind his worry. Although she was just as happy to see him, she was still feel slightly melancholy from before. He noticed this by the fact that she refused to make eye contact with him. 

Loqi, noticing the tension between them, takes the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. 

“Muerlin, my darling, how about I make you a tea?” 

Prompto’s eyebrows forwarded at the associate. 

“Sure, Loqi. I’d like that”, she replied with a smile. 

“Splendid, how would you like it?”, he asked as he dusted himself off, retreating to the bar. She opened her mouth to answer. 

“A chai and black?”, he asked taking the words out of her mouth. 

She gave him a look of approval. “Well, someone’s been paying attention”. 

“I make it my business to”. 

“Well, bravo, sir”, Muerlin lightly applauded him, exaggerating her accent. 

“I aim to please”, he smugly glared at Prompto as he pleasantly addressed the girl before retreating to the bar. Prompto watched him as he walked beside him. He was sooooo ready to kick this guy’s ass. He clenched his fist at the associate’s remark about to give in to temptation before…. 

“Prompto?” 

He quickly reverted his gaze back to the girl standing before him, in all her glory. Hearing her speak to him finally was put his anxious mind at ease. 

“You okay?” 

The worry in her eyes melted his heart. Gods, he wanted to kiss her so bad….and tear her out of that shirt and give her a real happy ending. What the fuck did she see in Loqi? Seriously?! The guy was a fucking tool. Pretty sure he had never even kissed a girl too. Why did he have to be her boss? Why couldn’t he have a car to come see her? Why did Loqi have to fucking exist?

“Fuck me….”, he accidentally whispered out loud. 

“Huh?” 

His face lit up, bright as a tomato, after he realized his thoughts were coming out of his mouth. 

“Uh, nothing. Yeah, all good here”. 

He chuckled lightly scratching the back of his head. She knew he was lying. He looked goofier than usual when he was trying to hide something from her and she definitely wasn’t having it. 

“Liar”, she retorted. Hands on her hips as she stepped closer to the flustered man. 

No. Nonono. What was she doing? 

“What’re you trying to hide?” 

She stepped closer. He backed up a bit. Her exposed cleavage glistened in the light behind the counter. She looked angry. Gods, she was sexy when she was mad… Prompto had always imagined her punching someone in the face. The thought caused a slight tremor in his jeans. 

As he stepped back, Muerlin took another step closer hoping he would give in and tell her what was wrong. She didn’t like when he was upset. It sent her into protective mode…and protective Muerlin didn’t play nice when it came to the happiness of her chocobo. 

“N-nothing”, the man stuttered. His voice rasped. She took this as him trying extra hard to keep this from her which fueled her irritation, when in reality he was severely fighting the urge to throw her onto the counter and take her in front of everyone here and she wasn’t making it easy for him in any way. A moment longer and he wouldn’t be able to resist. He was about to fuck the shit out of her in front of the Astrals and everyone. 

“Why’re you running from me…?” 

She stopped, a light sob choked her words. 

He felt his heart shatter at her hurt tone. It was too much. He couldn’t take this anymore. No more waiting. He firmly planted himself in front of her, her eyes widened at the proximity of their bodies. 

What….was he mad now? 

Her breasts flushed from the heat of his torso. Prompto took a deep breath before he spoke. 

“Muerlin, I-”. 

“Your tea, malady”, Loqi sprang from nowhere with Muerlin’s beverage startling the two. 

“Oh…thanks, Loqi”. 

Muerlin smiled as she took her drink. 

Unbeknownst to her, a visionally furious Prompto barely rose his fist as he glared at Loqi who only responded with a smug grin. 

Self-righteous son of a bitch. 

He knew what he was doing. How he was torturing Prompto and he was enjoying it way too much. 

“Everything alright, MR. Argentum?” Loqi asked reminding Prompto that he was their boss. 

Muerlin shifted her gaze toward the tall blonde. Prompto forced down the flame in his chest, lowering his fist. 

“Yeah”, he replied in a defeated tone before retreating into the back exiting out the side door shutting it behind him. 

“Prompto?” 

Muerlin began to race after him before being gently held back by Loqi. 

“Let him go, my dear. Give him some time. He’ll come around”. 

“S…sure..yeah. You’re right”. 

Muerlin collected herself as best she could as she and Loqi finished out the next few hours of Loqi’s shift while Prompto sat with his back against the door stewing in his agony. He was in love with Muerlin….and he would never have her. 

Around 8pm.

Three hours have gone by…and no sign of Prompto.

Every minute felt like an eternity as she sure grew more and more worried about him as another went by. As traffic started to die so did her patience. Her overall cheerful glow dimmed the more she panicked.

Loqi, noticing her frustration from afar, approached the woman behind the counter. Gingerly placing his hand upon hers to cease her trembling.

“My dear…why don’t you leave early with me tonight? It would seem Mr. Argentum is more than occupied with his own grievances”.

This piece of shit…

Muerlin sincerely hoped that she didn’t legitimately roll her eyes at him despite how much she wanted to. She couldn’t just leave him. She wouldn’t.

“No…no, I think I should stay. Someone has to keep an eye on him. Just in case”.

Loqi sighed in slight irritation…and it was fairly obvious to Muerlin. She knew he didn’t like Prompto. He never did, but she didn’t care. It didn’t matter. None of it did. 

All that mattered was Prompto.

“Alright…well, I’ll leave you to it then”, Loqi sighed in disappointment as he began to depart for the night. “But, my dear….remember if you need me, please do not hesitate to call”.

Muerlin smiled sweetly at him while he left, rolling her eyes when he disappeared from sight.

Not even a minute passed before Muerlin heard the back door slam shut, slightly startling her.

“Prompto?”

“Y…yeah?”

She strolled toward the backroom to greet her chocobo, her eyes filled with worry. She looked like she had been through hell these past few hours. He felt a wave of guilt for leaving her alone with that heathen. He gave her an apologetic smile, his beautiful eyes shimmered.

“Uh…why don’t we start cleaning up? You’re here until 9, right?”

“Oh! Yeah…better hop to it”, she giggled. Her cheerful glow returned to that beautiful bronze face as she hoped back toward the front counter. “Well? Ya think I’m gonna clean this whole place up by myself?”

The blonde chuckled at the silver haired girls remark, scratching the back of his head. 

“Can’t blame a guy for tryin’”.

“Fuck you”, Muerlin giggled.

She had her Prompto back.

8:45.

The two listened to music together and sang. Muerlin busted the tables, swaying to the music…just like the first day he saw her. She was still just as beautiful and radiant as she was back then. He marveled at the woman he loved…his smile faded. Knowing that she wasn’t his…he couldn’t watch her be for anyone else. It would kill him…more than it already was. 

Maybe…it was time for him to accept it. Maybe…moving on campus was what was best…not just for him.

But for her.

Still…he couldn’t just leave her without a goodbye. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if he hurt her like that.

“Hey…so…um…I’m thinking of moving to that tea shop on campus”.

Muerlin immediately turned toward the man behind the counter, a slight stunned by his statement.

Was he serious? He couldn’t be….right?

“Y…you’re leaving?”

Muerlin set her rag down on a table, approaching the counter. The closer she got, the more and more real it seemed…yet the more she wished it wasn’t.

“You’re not serious…right?” He couldn’t have been. “Why…?” Her eyes started to fill with tears. “Was it something I said?”

She races behind the counter toward her chocobo. “Something I did? Anything?”

Prompto lightly clutched onto her upper arms to ease her panic as she rushes him.

“No, no, no….it’s…you didn’t do anything wrong”. He reassured the girl.

She looked so soft and vulnerable…like she just needed a warm hug. He wanted to kiss her so badly….to bury his face into her neck. To wrap his arms around her delicate body and…give her something nobody else could. Let alone Loqi.

“…it’s for…y”, he sighed stopping himself. “…the best. I don’t want to burden you any longer…”. He lightly pulled away heading toward the back.

Burden? What?….No, no…not on her watch.

Muerlin bolted toward the back room, to her beloved chocobo. She wasn’t losing him. Not like this. She stormed after him, yanking him to face her before planting a solid, passionate kiss upon his lips.

It was like ecstasy. Heaven.

His eyes fixated on her the whole time. He was paralyzed from her action. His mind raced with lustful thoughts. 

After a moment, she abruptly pulled away in panic.

“Oh, my Gods….I am…so sorry. I-I don’t know wh….I”, she stammered staring into her paralyzed boss’ face. He looked enraged…his blue eyes turned black under the shadow of his golden locks. “I….I’ll start cleaning, sir..”, she stuttered beginning to run toward the front of the cafe.

She gasped at the sudden latch on her arm. “Yoink!” Prompto yanked her back to her original position, holding her tightly against his chest.

“Just Prompto”, he growled before he crashed his lips against hers, shoving his tongue into her mouth, clutching onto her round ass pulling her as close to him as he possibly could. 

Finally giving into his advances, Muerlin wraps her arms around Prompto’s neck pressing her body against his in the heat of their kiss. Their tongues danced together as Prompto lifts the girl’s bare thigh holding it tightly against his hip as he grinds his hardened cock against her core, her heat increasing every second of their embrace. She released a soft moan at his touch before he pulls away to nuzzle her smooth skin as he ground her heated core against him rather roughly. 

“I’ve wanted this for so long”, the man finally admitted in a breath against her neck. “I’ve waited so long to have you”. He ran her fingers through her silver locks taking in the scent of lilies and lavender…her scent was intoxicating. 

His excitement grew more and more at every grind. Her core was hot. His motions stemming from unfathomable desire made her blood boil. 

She pulled away from him, emitting a pained glare from the man, before she unbuttoned her shirt letting it fall to the floor. He stared intensely at her perfectly round breasts as they glistened in the light. 

“Fuck…”, Prompto exclaimed in a slurred pant. 

“Are these what you want…? I’ve seen you stare…”. 

Her skin was flushed. He shifted his gaze to those big teal eyes. They were like a kitten’s. So soft and innocent, but harboring danger underneath their crystal clean surface. 

“No”, the man approached her slamming his lips against hers once again, “I want you”, he replied between their kisses. 

He cupped her soft cheeks into his hands intensifying their kiss. Muerlin broke their kiss for a moment, removing her lace bra for the hungry young man. To which he returned the favor by removing his shirt tossing it on the floor behind him. They paused for moment, taking their time to gaze upon the other’s features before they re-initiated the kiss. 

Prompto had Muerlin’s back plastered against the wall and lifted her leg again, grinding his solid cock against her heat as he caresses her thigh. He slowly began to kiss down her neck, nipping at her flesh leaving large bruises. She shrieked at the pain, it filling her body with pleasure. She shivered as his tongue delicately grazed over her wounds before he lowered himself to her chest, abruptly clutching her breasts into his hands. She inhaled sharply as his sweaty palms squeezed her flesh. He bit his lip and glanced at the woman before, without warning, engulfing her nipple into his mouth. 

Nibbling and sucking, lapping over the sensitive bud with his wet tongue while he plucked and played with the other with his callused fingers. She whined at his actions, her back arched. 

“You like that, baby…?”, the man growled against her flesh. 

“Yes”. She keened at the man’s teasing, running her fingers through his silky blonde hair. She couldn’t take all this waiting any longer. She needed him….now. 

“Fuck me”, she begged in a pant. Prompto released her nipple as he rose back to his original stance, towering above the woman in front of him. 

“Say it again”, he growled. She yanked him against her body by the front of his pants. 

“Fuck me, Prompto Argentum”. 

He abruptly turned her around so her chest was against the wall, yanking her shorts and panties down before giving her ass a firm slap. She inhaled sharply at the impact. He unbuckled his belt, sliding his pants and boxers down slightly to free his throbbing cock, lightly stroking it as he examined Muerlin’s body. He marveled at the galaxy tattoo that coated her back. Pressing his body against hers, his cock rubbing against her rear. 

“You’re so fucking beautiful…”, the boy hissed against her shoulder placing a light kiss upon her trembling flesh. Her body was so warm…so delicate…

He flipped her back over shamming her back against the wall before lifting her, wrapping her legs around him. She inhales sharply at her sudden elevation.

“Prom…”, she releases in a sigh.

“I’ve got you, baby…”, he whispers to his love staring wistfully into her eyes, “I promise”.

As she returns his gaze, Prompto abruptly shoved his solid cock in her heated core. Muerlin released a startled moan at the sudden penetration. Prompto softly exhales as he embraced the warmth of her inner walls as he slowly thrusts against her. His lips ghosting over hers, absorbing her hot breath as she panted and moaned.

“Gods, you’re so tight”, he whispered against her lips quickening his pace, “you feel so good around me, baby”.

As he begins to pound her against the wall, the sound of colliding flesh echoes through the cafe, along with Muerlin’s screams.

“You like feelin’ my cock inside you?”

“Yes”, she loudly panted against his lips.

“You gonna cum for me, baby?”

“Gods, yes!”, she clutched onto his face, desperately staring into his eyes.

“Do you want me to cum inside you?”

“YES, IT’S STILL OPEN!”

The door chimed as Cindy strolled in. Muerlin let go of Prompto’s face clasping her hands onto her mouth as Prompto quickly, but gently lowered her to her feet, pulling himself out.

“Hello? Prompto? Y’hear?”

As Prompto checked the time on his phone, he noticed it was 9:15.

“Shit!”, he loudly whispered to himself before turning his attention to the naked woman in front of him. “You didn’t lock the door?”, he whispered.

Muerlin shrugged and made a face. “You distracted me”, she gave him a cute whoops face.

Gods, she was so cute. Prompto chuckled at her lightly and shook his head.

“Yoohoo, Mr. Argentuuuum?”

Remembering Cindy was there, Prompto handed Muerlin her button up shirt and apron. Neglecting to put on her bra, panties and shorts for, she quickly slipped them on and fixed her hair before slipping out behind the counter, conveniently perfectly hidden from her button nosed friend.

“Heeeeeeyyyy!”

“Well, howdy there, Shug”, a surprised Cindy greeted, “didn’t expect to see you here so late. Where’s Prompto?”

“Oh, just takin’ a little break”.

“Mmhm, slackin’”, Cindy joked with a giggle. 

“What’re you doing here so late? Thought you left hours ago”. 

“I did, but wouldn’t ya'know it? Left my lucky hat under the counter. My hair was fluffin’ up like a chocobo butt. Shoot, I ‘bout looked like Prompto”. 

The girls giggled as Muerlin retrieved her hat. Prompto still in the back, peeking around the corner, a clear view of Muerlin’s ass and slit as she leaned against the counter with her legs slightly apart, obviously trying to hide the fact she was mostly naked. He stroked his cock biting his lip. She looks so fucking delicious…and he wanted a taste. The thought tortured him. He craved her…and she was so close. But Cindy….she was right there. 

Fuck it…he needed this. 

As the girls continued their conversation, Prompto slowly crawled behind the counter, toward Muerlin. As long as Cindy wasn’t leaning over the counter, he wouldn’t be spotted. As he inched his way over to his lover, Muerlin’s thighs tensed slightly once she noticed him in her periphery. 

What…is…he….DOING?! 

Despite her growing panic, she remained visually calm to her friend. Prompto crawled underneath Muerlin, settling himself between her legs, his face barely an inch away from her core. 

Astrals above…it was like a dream…so unreal how beautiful…it begged for his tongue. He needed to taste. 

He lightly kissed her folds, sending a light shiver up the woman’s spine, before separating them with his fingers. Muerlin tensed slightly in anticipation for what he was going to do next. Prompto slid his tongue within her swirling it around her ridged walls. Muerlin cleared her throat to cover up the hum that slid from it. 

“You alright, Shug?” Cindy asked slightly concerned with the strange sound that her friend just made. 

“Yeah, yeah. Loqi just made me a…tea earlier and I think he fucked it up”. 

She was trying SO HARD to not look like she was trying SO HARD to be normal as Prompto continued shoving his tongue in and out of her heat. She couldn’t really move nor could she be completely still. Her mind was racing. She began to see stars. It became more and more difficult to hold this conversation with her oblivious friend. 

Prompto rose his wandering tongue to her clit sending a shock throughout her body. She jolted upward a bit, slamming her palm on the counter, quickly turning her attention to the window panes. 

“OHMYGODS! Look at that puppy!!!”, Muerlin said in a loud growl. Cindy averted her attention to the window. Conveniently, there WAS a dog outside. 

“AWW, would ya look at that???”, Cindy cooed at the dog, temporarily distracted. As she turned away for a moment, Muerlin’s eyes crossed slightly as she sank onto the counter. 

Prompto’s tongue viciously flicking against her clit, stroking his cock the entire time. Prompto let go of himself to slide two fingers in the woman’s core. She slapped her palm against her mouth as he grazed her g-spot. 

Fuck, he found it…. 

Prompto grinned releasing a quiet mischievous chuckle against her as he continued to flick her clit and began to pump his fingers in and out of her dripping core, grinding his fingers against her walls. 

“What a cutie-pie”, Cindy stated toward the dog before returning to her should be Oscar Awarded friend who immediately straightened herself the moment Cindy pivoted to catch her gaze. 

“I knooooow, right?” Prompto increased his speed and continued to lavish at Muerlin’s now sore clit, he felt her walls tighten against his fingers. She was nearing the edge, but she was fighting off the will to give in while Cindy was standing right there. 

“Y'wanna know something?“ 

“What’s that?“ 

“I think young Prompto there likes you”. 

Muerlin chuckled lightly, but nervously. “Ya don’t say…" 

“Ain’t it obvious? Well…maybe not to you, but I think there’s a lot that’s hiding under the surface of that innocent puppy face”. 

“You have no idea”, Muerlin whispered in a breath, her body so close to caving in. 

Cindy giggled. "I can’t believe you didn’t snap a pic when you saw him without his shirt on. Bet that was a real eye-popper”. 

Muerlin chuckled begging to the Gods to make Cindy leave. She couldn’t take this anymore. She NEEDED to cum. 

“Well, I better skedaddle before Paw Paw busts a gasket. Call ya later, ‘kay?”, she waved to her friend as she turned toward the door. 

“Sure! Later!“ 

The door chimed as Cindy exited. 

Once she disappears from sight, Muerlin finally releases a loud, built up moan as she cums on her lover’s fingers. He slows his pace easing her from her release as she starts to fall to the floor. He quickly stands scooping her up in his arms chuckling to himself as he carries her to the back. 

"Damn…you held out pretty well, little girl”. 

“Fuck you”, she panted. 

He laughed at her exhausted retort before sitting her in the back room chair. She lifted her head, glaring at him as he examined his fingers, covered in her essence before he places them in front of her lips. She takes them in her mouth licking them clean. 

“That’s a good girl…”, Prompto cooed at her. 

He pulls his fingers from her mouth placing a kiss on the top of her head before the cafe phone starts to ring. He checks the time on his phone. 9:35. 

“Probably Six”. 

Prompto’s supervisor, Six, always called for daily analysis. She was like everyone’s mom, but not as strict and didn’t get mad if you swore. Plus, she’d always bring some sort of sweet for everyone working that day whenever she’d show up. 

“Take a break…I’ll be right back”. 

He retreated toward the phone, answering.

“Yyyyyellow”.

Muerlin giggled at her chocobo.

“Hey, Six”, she spoke for a bit as he grabbed the daily report sheet. “Yeah, we had a good day today”.

“What?”

“Yeah, Loqi was a pain in the ass today, but he handled Happy Hour so….”

Prompto chuckled, “Yeah, we can’t fire him now”.

“Muerlin?”

He gazed up toward his lover whom was staring at him wistfully. “Yeah…she did great today…turned a bunch of heads”, he chuckled. His eyes widened at Six’s response, his freckled cheeks illuminated as his skin flushed. He scratched his head and chuckled. “Yeah…even mine…”.

Aww, he was embarrassed. Poor thing. He looked so vulnerable and sweet….just like she did at the counter with Cindy. 

Muerlin’s head lowered slightly, regaining her stamina from her little break, shooting a sensual glare at the blonde. She sunk from her chair onto all fours and began crawling toward him.

Oh, no…what’s she doing?

Despite his nervousy, he bit his lip in anticipation remembering his cock was still out and rock hard.

“Uh…y-yeah..I’m here. Sorry…was…uh..little distracted”.

Muerlin giggled seductively once she finally reached him, taking his cock into her hand.

Prompto gasped at her touch, staring at the silver haired woman, his eyes full of lust.

“You alright, sweetie?”, Muerlin heard Six through the phone.

She raised an eyebrow at him, slightly teasing him.

“Yeah..yeah, I just had a random chill”, he leaned against the wall clutching onto the edge of the bar as Muerlin gently circling her thumb against his tip, dampening her fingers with his pre-cum.

His shut his eyes, his breathing heavied slightly, as Six continued asking him about how the day went. She slowly started stroking his shaft. Prompto pulled the phone away putting it on speaker to avoid potential suspicion from Six.

He gazed at his beloved Muerlin, the lust in her eyes piercing into him like lasers. It was driving him mad.

“So…I noticed you and Muerlin are quite the team, huh? Everybody’s favorite. Barely getting any customers for Cindy and Loqi”.

“Yeah…it’s all her…she’s…fuckin’ perfect”, he softly replied beginning to calm down from her delicate touch.

Ooooh, no. We’re not having that.

She wanted to drive him to his knees, like he did to her. He was going to pay.

Without any warning, Muerlin engulfed Prompto’s cock into her mouth emitting a loud grunt from his throat, startling Six.

“Prompto?! What happened?”

“Nothing! Nothing…I fell”, Prompto quickly reponsed with a nervous chuckled.

“Are you alright? Did you hurt yourself?”, Six’s voice full of concern.

“No, no, no…I’m good. Aaaall good”, Muerlin softly giggled as she bobbed her head up and down against his impressive size, the vibrations against his shaft drove him insane. His vision blurred as he started seeing stars. He stifled a moan as her tongue trailed over his flesh.

“Well, okay. Be more careful, ya goof! Anyway, I was thinking…”.

Muerlin quickened her pace, the blonde gripped onto the bar tighter.

“Yeah?”, Prompto trying with all his might to keep his normal tone.

“I know she hasn’t been here for very long, but what would you think of giving Muerlin a promotion?”

“Aw, yeah”, Prompto growled staring at his lover.

“You two would get more time together and she’d be able to close with you more often”.

“Fuck yeah!”, he held onto the back of Muerlin’s head gripping onto her silver locks as she pleasured her chocobo desperately trying to make him cum.

Six giggled at his seemingly enthusiastic response,“I figured you’d like that. You think she’ll be just as happy?”

“It’ll give her a mouthful of happiness”.

“Ugh, Prompto…seriously. You can’t tell me you don’t know how that sounds?”

Prompto brushed Muerlin’s hair from her face and chuckled mischieviously. “That’s the point”. Muerlin looked up to her lover feeling him trying to hold back from him climax.

Fuck, he was way too good at this…

Six giggled, thankfully completely oblivious to Prompto’s seriousness. “You precious little dork. Hurry up and get out of there and get some sleep”.

“Gotcha”, he growled, trying desperately to ignore the knot in his stomach urging him to climax.

“Goodnight, sweetie”.

“Goodnight”, Prompto exhaled with a grin.

The moment Six hung up, he pulled Muerlin’s head away, standing her up holding her tightly against him. His firm grip releasing a soft moan from her lips. Prompto groping her ass with both hands, hissed at his lover.

“Well, well, well…what do we have here?”, he nipped at her neck giving her ass a solid smack with both of his hands. He squeezed them rubbing his cock against folds, between her legs.

She keened at his aggressive teasing. “Damn you, Prompto…”, she growled at him frustrated in her failed efforts.

“You’re definitely in for it now, little girl”, he scooped her up wrapping her legs around him, she inhales sharply at his actions before being carried to the front counter.

Shit…what was he doing?

He placed her down on the counter, settling himself between her legs.

Muerlin chuckled at her love, gently stroking his torso. “I just whipped this counter down, you doofus”, Muerlin joked before her wrists were abruptly grabbed and slammed down to either sides of her head.

“Oh-hooo, trust me”, Prompto chuckled, his voice rusted, before unbuttoning her shirt exposing her flushed breats, “the counter would’ve been the least of your worries if I would’ve did this earlier….like I wanted to”.

Prompto took her soft breasts in his hands, squeezing them, before leaning forward crashing his lips against hers, she lightly biting his bottom lip before he pulled away. The blonde lightly groaning as he pulled away. He firmly placed his hands upon her face, gazing deeply into her eyes, his lips ghosting above hers.

“I’m gonna fuck the shit out of you”, he grunted before he kissed her again, lining himself up with her entrance. “…I’m gonna make you scream. More than Loqi or anyone else ever could”. She keened at his words in between their kisses. “You’re mine…and only mine…and I’ll fuckin’ show them”. He pulled away from her to view her gaze, his eyes gentle and sincere. 

“Whaddya say?”, he panted softly.

“I say….fuck the shit out of me”, she lovingly smiled at him.

He raised an eyebrow at her, a lustful smirk stretched across his face. “Yes, ma’am”.

Muerlin’s sharp inhale echoed throughout the cafe as Prompto shoved his throbbing cock into her dripping heat as hard as he could, pounding away at his lover’s delicate body with incredible speed. He clutched onto her hips, holding her steady. The sound of their sweat covered flesh colliding meshed with Muerlin’s wails.

“Gods, yes, baby! Fuck me!”, she screamed as Prompto continued to aggressively pummel her heated core, a few light moans emitted from his throat.

“Who do you belong to?”, the young man grunted.

“You!”, she whined, her back arched.

“What’s my name?”, he lightly growled.

“Prom”, she moaned. Her voice slide through Prompto’s ears like silk. Hearing her like this nearly sent him over the edge. He felt her body tense up, her walls tightening around him as she was near her climax.

“Louder…I want everyone to hear”. His rhythm sloppied as he leaned forward above her pushing himself in deeper, still viciously pounding against her.

“Prom!”, she screamed, wrapping her arms around her lover, gazing deeply into his eyes. Tears beginning to form in the liquid pools as she started digging her fingers into his shoulders, clawing his freckled skin.

Prompto emitted a hefty groan from his throat at the slight pain causing him to slam his cock to the furthest depths of her core finally sending the silver haired woman over the edge with a pleasured scream just before she felt Prompto’s cock throb as he came, painting her insides with his essence, emitting a loud moan from his lips.

Prompto slowed his pace, bringing Muerlin down from her high. He gazed at her sweat covered body as it glistened in the light before his ocean eyes landed upon her puppy stare, he still hovering over her.

He gave her a loving smile, panting heavily, his golden locks plastered against his sweat covered face. She returned the smile pulling him down for a light kiss as he gently brushed her messy hair from her face.

Their embrace suddenly interrupted by a firm knock on the door, the two throw their heads back toward the door in slight panic. Thankfully Muerlin remembered to shut the blinds whiel cleaning earlier.

“Yo, Prompto. Ya in there?”, a gruff voice erupted from outside the cafe.

“Shit. It’s Gladio”, Prompto whispered pulling himself out of the woman, scrambling to situate himself, running to grab his shirt after he fastened his jeans.

Muerlin softly giggled knowing Gladio would dig into him so hard if he knew.

“Perhaps he has departed and forgot to switch off the lights”.

Wait…that sounded like…Ignis? Muerlin’s eyes widened in panic.

Then that must mean…

“Only Prompto…”.

NOCTIS! 

Muerlin immediately hoped off the counter.

SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! SHIT!

Muerlin turned into a rabbit as she bolted to the back room, a gust of wind blowing past the blonde as he returned to the front. She could take Gladio’s teasing and Ignis’ glare generally intimidated Prompto which she always found entertaining, but the Crown Prince of Lucis???

FUCK. THAT.

Prompto stifled a giggle at Muerlin’s reaction to hearing his best friend’s voice as he pulled his shirt over his head hurrying to the door.

*door chime*

“Hey, guys!”, Prompto gleefully greeted his friends. “Sorry, I took so long”.

“Hmm…”, Gladio suspiciously raised an eyebrow, “and what were you up to?”

“Oh, y’know. Work stuff”, Prompto chuckled, shutting the door behind his friends.

Ignis examined the blonde’s disheveled hair. “Hmph, I see”.

“Good to see you finally taking something seriously”, Noctis poking fun at his friend’s overall laziness.

“Don’t think you’re really one to talk, Noct”, Prompto retorted, Noct flipping him the bird in response.

Gladio made his way to the counter, noticing the smudged sweat stains upon its surface. Leaning his back against it, his arms crossed, he smirked at the blonde.

“Anyone else here?”

Prompto nervously cleared his throat. “Uh, yeah…”.

“And who is might that be?”, the tattooed man pried, torturing the poor man,” one of the girls?”

Dammit, Gladio.

“That would explain why the place is so clean”, Noctis nonchalantly commented.

“It would also explain why your fly is undone…”, the royal advisor quietly addressed to the blonde. Prompto stammered as he zipped his jeans.

“Well..um…I-I…y’know”, he chuckled nervously.

“Hi, guys!”, a cheerful voice echoed from behind Gladio.

All four men turned to a fully clothed, yet barefoot, Muerlin. Gladio, chuckled reverting his gaze back to the blushing blonde, a teasing grin on his face.

“Well, well, I wouldn’t have guessed”.

“Ms. Zephyr, a pleasant surprise, indeed”.

Noctis lightly waved. “What’s up?”

“Eh, same old, same old”.

Gladio chuckled, “I bet”.

Prompto quickly made his way toward the woman. “Hey guys, just give me a sec”, he nervously spouted to his friend’s with a goofy smile.

“Don’t take too long now”, Gladio teased the flustered blonde.

Shut uuuuup, Gladio.

Muerlin smirked at the man, “you’re welcome”.

Prompto chuckled at his lover, rolling his eyes, before pushing her back against the wall. She gazed up to him, biting her lip as he stepped closer.

“Here’s what we’re gonna do”, he gently lifted her chin, ghosting his lips over hers and whispered, “I’m gonna deal with them and finish up paperwork, while you finish your usual closing procedures. We get out of here by 11, head to my place, go for another round and whoever loses cooks dinner. Understood?”

Muerlin places her hand behind the man’s hand seemingly pulling him in for a kiss, before lightly nipping at his earlode.

“…you’re the boss”.

Her words making the hair’s on his neck stand straight up, emitting a light chuckle from her throat before she retreated back into the front of the cafe.

Prompto’s eyes rolled to the back of his head as he exhaled, calming himself down. He looked toward the ceiling in pure bliss, before resting his hands behind his head.

Humming a light victory theme as he returned to the others.

@insomniasix @ravagekamisama @aquathemermaidstripper @digitalkanvas @prettyprompto @a-new-recipehhh

[jolteonjordansh]

Day 4: “Stargazer”

Synopsis: Michael has been traveling on his own throughout the Pokémon world for a couple of years now, sightseeing through multiple regions and experiencing their cultures, talking with their people and seeing the many different customs and practices. He finds himself reminiscing one night in the Hoenn Region, wondering if perhaps the Orre Region isn’t so distant from the rest of the world after all…

Author’s Note: Finally, a simpler prompt! And a bit of a shorter one, because I kind of needed it. I’ll be honest, “Challenger” was the hardest to write so far, mostly because I’m not confident in how I write Pokémon battles. I try to mostly follow the rules of the games but also keep some of the excitement from different mediums like the multiple Pokémon anime series we’ve had as well as Pokémon Adventures. Here, I wanted to illustrate a more mature, reflective Michael who has learned a lot, condensing some of his progression but still showing some of the naiveté that I feel will always be a part of his character—at least my interpretation of his character anyway.

This was a nice, calming one to write, as was the drawing. I drew it one evening while out in a restaurant with my family as I was having a bit of a bad day. This was actually weeks before Orre Week started, but it inspired me to go with these prompts and stories that went along with pictures. So originally, the other sketches were going to be inked like this one, but I ultimately left them as sketches (and did a liiiiittle bit of editing to give them an inked appearance). Here is one of two drawings that are actually inked.

But enough talk. For this one’s simplicity, I hope you guys enjoy it. Click below to the break for the one-shot!

“Gosh, we still have another route to get through before we reach Lilycove City…” Michael sighed as he stared down at his P*DA, viewing a map on its screen. “I suppose even if I’m given a P*DA Map feature, it’s not going to help my poor sense of travel and time, huh Jolteon?”

As Michael looked down at his yellow-furred companion, Jolteon scowled at his trainer with a sense of frustration. Michael laughed anxiously, scratching the back of his head.

“Come on now Jolteon, it’s not so bad. It’s another opportunity for us to camp out. Let’s find a nice spot, shall we?” Michael pushed through some of the tall grass around him, cutting through with Jolteon keeping an eye out for wild Pokémon sneaking around in the night. But the area had generally remained peaceful, with only a few wild Pokémon daring to approach the Orrean duo. Michael occasionally found himself tripping on a stray twig otherwise, never in much danger.

Walking further ahead, Michael then saw a vast lake stretched out before him. It shimmered under the moonlight, with the twinkling of the stars reflecting in its waves. Even Jolteon couldn’t help but stare at the sight, seeing Volbeat and Illumise flying over the lake with their flickering tails that made for a scene one would only dream of seeing in paintings

“Wow, this is gorgeous…” Michael breathed, looking down to Jolteon. “How about we sleep here Jolteon?”

With a bark of agreement and delight, Michael and Jolteon crawled out of the tall grass, with Michael kneeling at the lake’s shore as he pulled out a towel. He laid it on the ground, then sitting on top of it as he took off his fanny pack and set it aside. His camping set-up was a simple one to be sure, and while it had taken time to get used to not having his comfortable bed from his room, he was perfectly fine with it when the weather was normal. Jolteon settled next to Michael’s resting spot, pawing at the ground and preparing his spot before sitting down.

Leaning back on the towel, Michael looked back towards the grassy fields he had just climbed out of as well as the tall trees and flowers surrounding them. He had never seen such tall grass in any of the places he had been to so far—Kanto, Oblivia, Alola, Unova, Fiore, Johto… And he still found he had so much more to see.

“I can’t believe how bountiful the Hoenn Region is… And with so much technology too. Oh, and that the Devon Corporation was willing to show us some of their equipment and even some of their projects in development! I’m glad we got them connected with Makan and Perr, and they were able to all put together the P*DA Map with the PokéNav technology. It really opened some opportunities for us, didn’t it Jolteon?”

Jolteon nodded with a bark of recognition, purring as he enjoyed the soft breeze flowing through his spikey fur. Even he felt a sense of contentment traveling the rest of the world along with his master and fellow Pokémon companions. His ears twitched as he continued to listen to the reflections of his master, his tail wagging steadily.

“I mean, the city we just came from, Fortree City… I know Agate Village was built around nature too, but Fortree followed the concept in a new way. They built them into the trees themselves and are living along with nature itself. It blended in so well…” Michael closed his eyes as he re-envisioned the city, with other locations flashing through his mind. “And then there was the ash falling from Mount Chimney… The snowy, glacial mountains in Oblivia… The tropical islands of Alola… And that massive metropolis in Unova…!”

Opening his green eyes back up, Michael glanced towards Jolteon as he chuckled. “Sorry to go on like that Jolteon. Just… wouldn’t it be great if Orre could be the same?”

Jolteon nodded as he looked towards the stars in the sky, with Michael’s head following the same direction. The sky was colorful with not just a deep navy, but shades of purple and ivory with star clusters. He found himself picking out constellations, his ears taking in the chirps of nocturnal Pokémon around him as he took in the atmosphere.

His eyes then caught a brief white streak across the sky, eyelids widening and letting out a small gasp. But before he could even speak, several more shooting stars followed as the sky began to light with these elements. “Wow! Look at that meteor shower! I didn’t even know there was one tonight! And the sky is so clear…”

Jolteon exhaled with bewilderment as he stared at the collection of meteors burning into the atmosphere, with the reflection of the stars and meteors gleaming in the lake. It were almost as if the lake itself were a window to a parallel world, with even bits of Michael and Jolteon’s reflection in the water. The Pokémon and his trainer kept their eyes locked on the sky together, Michael’s mind then drifting into an old memory.

The night after the Pokémon HQ Lab’s celebration, Michael had walked outside and climbed up to the roof of the lab. This wasn’t an uncommon habit of his, as even in his childhood he had snuck on the roof with his then young Eevee. But that night, he had begun to feel lost in what to do. He had stopped Cipher, returned all of the Shadow Pokémon to their true states and back to their original owners, and had explored Orre to the farthest corners he was aware of. And after all was said and done, he had no goal in mind. And that very night, the same stars shined down on him and Jolteon from his very home, with its own falling stars crossing the skies.

Michael blinked as he heard a distant howl echo throughout the area, snapping him back into reality as he found himself gazing at the same sky. But not once did his mind truly realize the difference between what he was remembering and what he was seeing. Michael then straightened up his stance as he continued to watch the occasional shooting star, a smile suddenly coming across his face.

“You know Jolteon…” Michael began, with his Jolteon looking back over to his trainer. “The stars… are still the same here. They’re no different from Orre, are they?”

Jolteon’s head tilted at Michael’s sudden statement, with a curious whimper coming from his throat.

“Sure, Orre doesn’t have a sort of Pokémon League or wild Pokémon or even a region that’s very lively… But it still has people and Pokémon, doesn’t it? Don’t we all still live part of the same world and live under the same sky?”

Michael then laid back on his towel, with a growing smile on his face as he continued to think aloud with Jolteon soon laying alongside him. “In that case, we deserve to play a part in it. I know we have some complications, but… maybe we can change that somehow.”

Change. It was something people feared. An undertaking that was heavier than a quest around the world for self-discovery. Its results were always a mystery, with no one truly knowing how change would affect the world around them. But it was change that always progressed the world—sometimes for better, yet sometimes for worse. But Pokémon Trainers had not existed without humans and Pokémon making the change to strengthen their bonds. Pokémon Leagues would not exist without humans creating the tradition. So many of the regions throughout the world would not be connected without their communities making the effort to connect with each other. Change dictated and directed the world.

The very word—change—brought a now familiar face to Michael’s mind. A tall and lean young man with tanned skin and brown hair, wearing simply a white cap, green glasses, a lab coat, gray pants and green sandals. The man always wore his huge, enthusiastic grin with his stubble, full with so much energy that he might not have been human.

“Kukui… Professor Kukui strived to put together Alola’s new Pokémon League…” Michael mumbled. “He worked with so many people to put together the Island Challenge, and he never wavered. He was such a cheery guy to talk with, and so understanding of the kind of situation Orre and its people are in…”

Change… Thinking of the word once more, Kukui’s face burned into Michael’s mind with his usual grin and hearty laugh. And with such passion as his, Kukui made change happen. Change that was strong enough to transform an entire region and its customs.

“Maybe… That’s what I need to do,” Michael sat up once more. “If I can bring change to the Orre Region just the same, I can bring it a better future for everyone too. That’s a change that would be for the better, just like with Alola… Don’t you think Jolteon?”

Looking over, Michael then saw Jolteon had now fallen asleep, curled up and gently snoring up against his towel. Seeing his lifelong partner at peace, Michael couldn’t help but smile as he gently pet the yellow canine’s head as he purred in his sleep. Fatigue finally began to settle into Michael’s mind, as he laid back down and turned to his side facing Jolteon. Taking off his hat and setting it down, Michael then continued to pet Jolteon’s soft body as his eyes finally began to shut.

“We’ll… figure it out, I’m sure…” Michael yawned as his mind finally began to settle, with the faint idea of a new Orre forming in his mind. “And when we do… We’ll make a brighter future for the Orre Region.”