#because the ending of the 1st past would make it silly if the story of the 2nd happen IMMEDIATELY after the 1st

[radioactiveporkroll]

Since it’s more than likely that Glorious Masquerade Part II will happened eventually; I’ll be honest, I’d actually prefer the conflict of the story to be relatively more low-key rather then... whatever the hell they were trying to do with Endless Halloween/Spectral Soiree...

[lifid-er-tilgangslaust]

My TUA OC'S

Okay, so, I wanted to share my TUA fanfiction OC's for a long time now. Finally, here they come!

The story which they are part of is called "Kraken & Peregrine" (it's a Diego x OC fanfic), the sequel to it is "Kraken & Peregrine: Here comes the end" (this is still ongoing) and there are a few more sequels to come, as I'm determined to write about all four seasons (and other events related to the story that are still a surprise). The fanfic can be read on Wattpad, under the name of @city_of_angels98, unfortunately, as for now, it's only available in Hungarian (my native language), but if there will be some of you who'd love to read it in English as well, I would be more than happy to translate it for you!

Let's dive in!

#1

Name: Everley Macy-Williams

Alias: "The Peregrine"

Birthday: 01.10.1989

Place of birth: London, England, UK

Love interest: Diego Hargreeves

Faceclaim: Kat McNamara

A little bit about her backstory:

She's one of the 43 children born on October 1st in 1989. Same as everyone else, she possesses the Marigold. Her powers include super speed, and she's also able to open portals from one place to another (she cannot open portals through different timelines, though, only in the timeline she's in). Her mother, Eleonora was approached by Sir Reginald Hargreeves back in the days when Everley was still a newborn, intending to adopt her baby, but she sent him away and decided to raise Everley herself, even though she was young and all alone, without any support system. Everley grows up in the suburbs of London, and she tries to control her superpowers on her own, but she's unable to get fully in charge of them, so she cannot use these powers whenever she wishes, not even when she gets older. She's fierce, brave, hot-headed, empathetic, kind, stubborn and slightly cleptomaniac.

In 2019, a week before Reginald's death, Everley's mother is murdered. After the mysterious circumstances of her death, Everley decides to search for Klaus Hargreeves; she's willing to pay him to contact her mother because she wants to find her killer and get revenge, so her mother can rest in peace. Of course, she arrives at the Hargreeves house at the worst possible moment, on the exact day of Reggie's funeral. And the one opening the door for her is none other than Diego Hargreeves, who reluctantly agrees to let her in - into the house and slowly, but surely into his life too.

#2

Name: Daniel (Danny) DeRulo

Alias: "The Punk"

Birthday: 01.10.1989

Place of birth: Union, Kentucky, USA

Love interest: Five Hargreeves

Faceclaim: Jack Dylan Grazer

His backstory:

His parents died in a car accident when he was only 5 years old. He was adopted and raised by The Commission, as soon as they realized he possessed a power that could make him the perfect human weapon: he can control the inside of the human body (organs, blood, etc.). Yes, he is also one of the 43. They train him and he soon becomes the Number One assassin at the Commission. They send him to missions where he has to kill people countless times, but as the years pass, he grows to realize this is all fucked up and wrong and demands they let him leave to forge a life for himself. The Commission doesn't want to let him go, so they lie to him, telling Danny he can retire "soon", but "until then", they give him another job to distract him from leaving: they send him way past the date of the Apocalypse, requesting he finds out whether mankind would be able to populate the Earth again after such a catastrophe (they are cautious not to let him ever meet Five Hargreeves - I won't spoil why -, even though both of them heard several stories of each other during the years, so he's sent to Europe and Asia instead of North and South America). Of course, outside of this job, they still use his assassin abilities occasionally. Despite his sad past, he's bubbly, kind, selfless, silly, and extremely intelligent, but he can easily be angered.

Years and years pass without his "promised" freedom ever getting fulfilled; at 61 years old he finally snaps and decides to take destiny into his own hands; he tries to escape and prepares himself to deal with the consequences of being a fugitive. But when he tries to tamper with a briefcase, he miscalculates something and the briefcase ends up not moving backward on the time frames of history, but instead, on his body. As soon as he realizes this and closes the briefcase, he's already in the body of his 15-year-old self, with the mind of a 61-year-old. The Commission forgives him, though, and he ends up working for The Handler for a couple of weeks so he can "prove his loyalty again". That's when he hears the story of Five and how the same thing happened to him too. Danny decides he must find and help him out so both can get rid of the Commission controlling their lives once and for all. However, Danny doesn't even imagine that meeting Five will result in him falling for The Boy instantly.

On Everley and Danny's relationship:

As they both happen to join the Hargreeves family almost at the same time, they grow a strong bond very quickly over being "the outsiders", and as time passes, even treat each other as siblings, being loyal af when it comes to one another.

Here's one ship video for you of Everley and Diego:

I have ship videos of Danny and Five too, but Tumblr only allows me one/post. :( I also have trailers and "manips", would anyone be interested in seeing them? I could share them in a separate post.

@old-man-yaoi-55 @5five5five5five5five5five I promised you I would tag you if I ever make this post, so pls pls add your OC's if you'd like.

And PLEASE anyone else who has any TUA fanfics going on, feel free to share/add your OC's here, I wanna know them all ❤️

[libbee]

The girl of her dreams.

🌼 For sun in 1st/7th/8th/12th; venus in 8th/12th; venus in scorpio, sun in pisces, sun in libra (my astro observation).

🌼 Naturally, we assume that it is men who dream of their dream girl, who they like and who they want to be with. It is strange to think that girls too dream of girls - albeit not the girl they want to date but the girl they want to "be". Have you ever sat in a social setting, checking out the faces of everyone and laughing loud/do something quirky to get a reaction out of people? In your mental world, they adore you, praise you, are captivated, bewitched and admire you. Aren't you just so perfect?

🌼 Sit with yourself for an hour and see through your fantasies. The random images, memories, movie scene, music lyrics, conversation - what is it that pops up in your mind? I did this and saw a fantasy of Barack Obama dancing to Cheap Thrills. Well, I know the meaning behind the symbolism because I know myself. This is a symbol of a powerful, important, competent man dancing to a quirky, playful and youthful song - it is the merger of the two fantasies I have, on one hand desiring to be grandiose and on the other hand craving to be carefree and silly.

🌼 I am talking of the PUELLA AETERNUS. The spontaneous, autonomous, dissociative and fanatical archetype of a young girl who is outwardly a mess but inwardly a princess. The eternal child. The eternal youth. Unrealistic adolscent fantasies. Often manifested in motion pictures like movies and TV - so it creates a social pressure to conform to the idea of a woman who is very desirable to the masses. On a personal level, the girl herself lives in the fantasy world of how life is supposed to be, how people should comfort her, react to her and care for her. The paradise of childhood. The birdy in the nest. Flees from the cold cruel world and its realities. Daydreams and reacts to passive fantasies. Fatasies of future, what would be, could be, should be, without taking any actions. She has an imaginary attitude towards life, escaping to temporary comfort and running as far as possible from the reality.

🌼 Her problem is that she is missing a sense of identity, she feels fragmented and worthless. It is too much for her to cross the borders from fantasy to real world. In the modern world, she is expected to get education and do job, but all she wants to do is to be on social media all day. If you know someone like this, she is a puella - a little girl in an adult body with a father complex. Her playful and carefree facade hides deep insecurities. She idealizes the other people and craves their admiration. When the sun is weak in birth chart, it shows a father who was emotionally unavailable, distant and not there - resulting in low self esteem, stunted psychological growth and childish fantasies in the girl. A lot of women are like that, a lot of fathers were not available and active in their daughter's life, a lot of women stay puella even after marriage and children through their 40s 50s 60s. The forever 21.

🌼 If you can see yourself in this archetype, I have a bad news and a good news. A bad news is that you have essentially drifted your whole life in a fantasy. A good news is you can quit today. There is no "closure" or "the end" to your past story. The day you decide to quit is the day you commit to it. That ultimately is the only solution for this trouble. Work. Any work. Chores. Responsibilities. Immerse yourself in something. Study paint write work exercise. Just work. Test yourself. Challenge yourself. Every time your mind drifts to a fantasy, bring it back to reality. Remember that the social media even tumblr is a world of make believe. How many of us are puella but in denial? Throw yourself into the fire of life and let it rebirth you. Break down the ideal imagery in your mind and accept your humanness.

🌼 The shadow of this archetype is the Crone wise "old" woman. She is balanced, disciplined, hard working, realistic, conscientious, controlled and mature. Committed to work and immersed in whatever is her calling in life. She has sacrificed the wonder of fantasy realm. She immerses herself in the external world to find her individuality and to learn skills for life. There is no magical way. Just the practice, learning, practice, learning, practice. You can cultivate these qualities in yourself. Think it is too easy? Why not try. Habits are hard to break, sometimes very hard. Sylvia Plath was one puella who desired reconstruction of her life but took her own life when the conflicts were too much to bear.

🌼 I am reminded of the tarot card two of wands in this context

The globe in his hand is the projection of the inner fantasy world while he gazes out over the bay at the real world, the realities of life, the potential in him, the challenges he must face, the risks he must take. He has to choose a decision, to leave comfort zone, and compare the two worlds side by side. On one hand is the inner fantasy world that he holds in his palm that he escapes to for temporary comfort while on the other hand is the external reality, hardships and worldly successes. You cannot live in your inner world forever. Commit today and henceforth the fantasy world is meaningless to you. I read this somewhere: *"Sometimes people have to injure themselves very badly in order to awaken to what life really is"* - that is sometimes the only solution to life problems. The anxiety and fear never end, you just work through it and claim your life in your hands.

🌼 "If you want to go your individual way, it is the way you make for yourself, which is never prescribed, which you do not know in advance, and which simply comes into being of itself when you put one foot in front of the other. If you always do the next thing that needs to be done, you will go most safely and sure-footedly along the path prescribed by your unconscious. Then it is naturally no help at all to speculate about how you ought to live. And then you know, too, that you cannot know it, but quietly do the next and most necessary thing. So long as you think you don’t yet know what this is, you still have too much money to spend in useless speculation. But if you do with conviction the next and most necessary thing, you are always doing something meaningful and intended by fate." - Carl Jung.

[dropintomanga]

Wind Breaker's Message About Reaching the Top

So I decided to check out Satoru Nii's Wind Breaker, another delinquent battle series, but with a fun twist. The delinquents are the protectors of a town instead of being shunned by the town itself. While the story is standard shonen, the 1st major arc of the manga/anime really drives home how getting to the top of where you want to go is very much interdependent on who you associate with.

The premise of Wind Breaker is about a young man named Sakura Haruka, who is obsessed with being the best delinquent fighter in all the land. He decides to enroll in Furin High School after hearing that the school has some really strong students to fight against. However, he learns that Furin High School is a heroic organization determined to protect its townsfolk from danger. Sakura doesn't care about being a hero, but ends up fighting the good fight due to the influence of Furin's leader, Hajime Umemiya.

Readers learn that Sakura is afraid of people liking him due to people ruthlessly ignoring him in the past. A waitress named Kotoha Tachibana tells him that he'll never reach his goal of the top because he's alone. Once he starts his Furin tenure, Sakura decides to patrol town and hang around his Furin classmates out of reluctance. He starts to experience what it's like to have people who want the best for him. Sakura also meets Umemiya himself, who shows a lot of warmth and silliness despite being the strongest of Furin High. The story really starts to take off in Volume 2 when Furin is challenged by a rival gang named Shishitoren.

Shishitoren's leader, Choji Tomiyama, challenges Umemiya out of boredom being at the top. Compared to Tomiyama, Umemiya shows a genuine appreciation for the people in his life and looks almost always happy. Tomiyama wants to take all of Umemiya's happiness away. Furin and Shishitoren would agree to fight in a 5-on-5 team match to determine which gang will disappear. The two leaders would eventually face off in a clash of what it means to be at the top.

When you ask someone "What does it take to get to the top?", you usually get answers like work hard, grind every day, hone your craft, etc. While those help a bunch, what gets lost in the conversation is the role of luck. Circumstances can change things in a hurry. Let's say that you want to be the best runner in the world, but get into a car accident which cripples you. No grind and honing will get you back there, no matter what.

What also gets lost in the conversation and involves luck to a certain degree are relationships. This applies to something like a job search. What if you're a career-oriented person who wants to be a high-earning executive? Sure, you can work hard. But what helps a lot more is learning how to be around your fellow employees or attract them to you. If you know how to guide them and help them with certain tasks, it goes a long way because those people will help you right back with what you want. There's a reason why people tout networking so much when it comes to job searching. Being around and helping people in work-related stuff gets you very far.

This point is driven very hard in Wind Breaker. When Umemiya and Tomiyama fight, the former tries his best to make the latter understand what he's missing. He bluntly says.

"Your fists are powerless. Do you understand why? It's because you're fighting for nothing."

Tomiyama is driven mad, but Umemiya continues to persist to help him even to the point of getting pummeled himself. Umemiya asks Tomiyama to remember a time where the two gangs once fought, but it was all in good fun over a misunderstanding. What comes next is Umemiya giving Tomiyama a strong headbutt to make him remember what he REALLY needs to be the top. Tomiyama loses consciousness, but remembers that what made him enjoy life was the laughter and camaraderie he shared with his fellow Shishitoren members.

Tomiyama would explain what he felt like when he reached the top of his gang. It's a common feeling that a lot of people, especially leaders, can relate to. A feeling of nothingness; a feeling that no matter what you do, it's all meaningless. There's so much competitive push to be perfect and at the top of everything you do. And it hurts those who never feel they're enough. Then again, hierarchical constructs make them feel that way at times. People at the top can't relate to those below them because they're expected to uphold to a standard that doesn't allow for meaningful friendship.

There's a good amount of advice on what to do if you're a leader who feels lonely. For Umemiya, what he likes is eating food with people he cares about. He wants them to enjoy themselves. That's what drives him to be at the top of Furin and keeps him connected with life. When a now-optimistic Tomomiya talks to Umemiya about leadership in general, Umemiya goes on to give the life lesson of the day.

"I didn't take leadership. I was given the status. You can't become the top when you're alone, right? You can only reach the top by being lifted by everyone under you. It was only possible because there were people who agreed with my vision and wanted to help me.

That's why, when I became the top, I thought my dream no longer only belonged to me. That's exactly why, in order to make this dream a reality, no matter how difficult the path, no matter how unreasonable the climb is, no matter how absurd it gets, I will never lose."

Umemiya is saying words that people who believe in meritocracy will never say. He admits that he was in an environment where he could thrive. Sakura, our main hero, starts to slowly realize this. While still reluctant to accept other people around him at times, Sakura sees its power after his experience fighting a Shishitoren member during the team brawl. He even becomes driven at one point to hit Tomiyama before the leader battle after Tomiyama treated the member Sakura beat like he was disposable despite fighting with honorable conviction.

Acceptance is power. Accepting things around you for what they are. Accepting people for who they are. It opens up all kinds of pathways and important decisions to make. The more you accept someone despite their flaws, the more likely you will find genuine connection - which becomes beneficial when the time comes. It's impossible to live a life where you're an island of one. Acceptance also frees you from comparison and expectations - two things that do lead to bad mental health outcomes.

So like Umemiya would suggest, let the winds of acceptance break into your heart and get you to a top mental state of mind.

[pikespendragon67]

Well, the ParaLive anime certainly…ended

Not sure if I feel like getting screencaps so I’ll post my thoughts below

Pros:

-I liked seeing Haruomi being more proactive in investigating why Paradox Live came back & him reclaiming Chisei’s medal from Scientist-kun

-The idea of Phantometals being sentient metal that could only thrive on trauma makes for some great sci-fi horror

-Episode 3’s my favorite. I’m biased towards TCW as a group as a whole, but the full episode really showed their dynamics well

-1st episode’s set up & animation was great

-I actually like the hot springs episode since that gives the characters room to breathe outside of the stage battles

-Shiki getting his own gospel part of the rap to save Kanata was nice

-On that note, Fadeaway was a great original song that worked in place of Rooftop

Cons:

-Holy shit AKYR got screwed over hard in terms of story. I think the member with the most development was Satsuki. Iori could’ve also investigated behind the scenes with Zen and that would be how they found out about Shura. They even had a repeat of their main dance sequence. Poor guys. I appreciate more Hokusai screen time but him just telling important moments could’ve been better presented

-Yeaaaaaaaah the 3D animation definitely downgraded after episode 1. I was willing to look past TCW’s for, again, bias, but every group aside from BAE felt stiff. I know the focus is their Phantometal illusions & raps, but I feel like they could’ve used the music video visuals as reference. Episode 12’s was just wonky

-Scientist-kun as I call him I felt had promise as a villain but he went nowhere. If he was going for the benevolent savior route a la Maruki I could understand why he’d want to “become one” and forget all traumas. Or if he was batshit insane and thought that trauma powered Phantometal could act as an energy source. That could’ve worked in the Yeon Conglomerate’s favor, and they could get trauma easily through a group like the Suiseki. Hell if he turned out to be Chisei trying to bring back the old days that would’ve been great for the endinf!

-so. nayuta was in a coma but then just. popped up at the end. He did that in the audio dramas, sure, but I was kinda hoping Shura would bust in and save him

-aside from shiki we never got TCW’s traumas did we. Or Zen’s.

-I feel like this adaptation should’ve either stayed completely faithful to the audio dramas (probably have an OC that’s like an interviewer to act as the surrogate audience) or did their own thing entirely. They tried to mix both and it felt jumbled/rushed as a result. Granted, can’t expect 24 episodes in 1 season these days, unless we’re REALLY lucky, but I would’ve had like 3 episodes dedicated to each group with some sprinklings of lore in the background myself. 1 episode to introduce the group, and 2 episodes for their stage battles (with possibly in between times to show the inner workings of AT)

-And now for the elephant in the room: boy howdy was this BAE focused way too much! Specifically Allen. Again I know we need a lead, but lessons were recycled because of this focus and it felt silly at the end to rap at blob Kanata. like sir as a distinguished fan of hip-hop how do you not know what trap music is

Overall I know for a fact if a season 2 is made that the new groups are going to be screwed over big time in spite of 1NM8 being relevant for AT, Amprule for BAE, and GokuLuck being in the finals for Road to Legend!!!!!!!!

[little-peril-stories]

The Prince of Thieves (new and improved) - looking for readers!

For the last few months, I've been working on editing The Prince of Thieves, a story novel which was originally published on Tumblr and ao3 between October 2022 and June 2023. As I work through the last few chapters and prepare to write the new opening, I thought I'd put out some feelers...

By the end of this month (hopefully), I'll be seeking feedback on this manuscript!

I would love to connect with folks who are:

okay with whump (I would never call my writing gory, but there is LOTS of angst, captivity and restraints, hopelessness, torture, illness and bodily injury)

comfortable giving honest feedback on the characters and story

willing to point out any particularly egregious typos once in a while if/when you spot them

fine with it being pretty. uh. long. let's ballpark 150k? will give a final word count when it's done.

able to use Google Docs or Microsoft Word

able to provide feedback by ***February 29, 2024

***If I take too long to finish editing, this date will get moved back, of course. :)

✨ express your interest here. ���

Details below the read more!

Here's the silly tongue-in-cheek blurb:

guy and gal get arrested and tormented by super cool, totally normal constable while pals on the outside freak out and make bad decisions; fun 1800s prison vibes with a side helping of angst and chosen family

Below is a more blurb-y blurb:

The goal of Iustitia aecum, the notorious thieving gang, is to steal from the rich and give to the poor. For a few years, that’s exactly what Jamie, Will, Colette, and Geoff (as the gang’s inner circle) do; they slip through the fingers of the law time and time again.

One day, everything goes wrong.

Will, by a stroke of fateful misfortune, falls into a trap meant for Jamie, the real leader of IA, and ends up in prison—in the custody of Constable Baden Hatchett, an officer who is willing to do whatever it takes to get Will to crack so he can bust IA and bring all its members to justice.

With execution—his brother’s and his own—hanging over his head, Will resolves to take his secrets to the grave, swearing not to betray the only family he has left.

Bree Cooper is one of IA’s runners, privy to no secrets save for one she learned by chance…that she was never supposed to know. When she, too, falls into the hands of the constabulary, she is forced to reckon with her past (a complicated history with Constable Hatchett himself) and her future (the gallows).

Will and Bree’s lives were already intertwined, and when they find each other again behind bars, they will rewrite the stories fate has planned for them—together.

Genre: drama, historical/period piece, whump / POV: 1st-person most of the time, 3rd-person for flashbacks / Narrators: multiple (5 of 'em)

sneak peek to see if the style is for you:

It’s cold up here on the roof of the boarding house—that’s why no one else is up here, probably—but there’s something delightfully bracing about the wind scrubbing the day’s dust from my skin while the stars gaze down. It’s delicious, almost wicked, to peer into the city streets from so high. Up here, no one else can see me. Up here, no one can say a damn thing when I pull up my sleeves. There’s no one to gasp or gawk as I reveal the soft, scandalous flesh of my arms and trace my fingers along, throwing into sharp relief what must remain invisible at all other times: black-as-night ink painted on the canvas of my skin. It’s a shame the tattoo would send me to prison if the constables saw it, because it’s beautiful. Sometimes I just stare down at the details—the leaves bursting from a tree in full bloom, the ring around its swirling, entwined roots. Would anyone else, other than my fellow runners or the constabulary, know what it means if they caught a glimpse? I’m not so sure, but they’d certainly be confused if they saw it on my arm. Silas Cooper’s daughter, tattooed like a common criminal? A gentlewoman like her? How? Why? What happened? I scowl into the night. Breanna Cooper died with Silas, or at least I like to think she did. When I think back on the girl who stumbled, dry-eyed, away from her father’s deathbed and then ran from the man she was supposed to marry, out into a chilly autumn night much like the one I’m gazing into now, I don’t recognize her—don’t recognize myself. That girl ran into a life of nothing, yes. But isn’t that also what she ran away from?

✨ express your interest here. ✨

Friends who have already read TPOT, you are welcome to do a reread if you want, but there's never any pressure, ever. 💕

Thanks for your time!

[prelovednikaidou]

devotion :: gojo satoru

genre: angst

content warning: historical fantasy setting, 1st POV, afab reader

trigger warning: past child abuse, forced child labour, mention of suicide, enslavement

author's note: this is a 10 chapters story. enjoy !!

It was winter. Yes, winter. If my memory is still true, it was winter when I met him. The harsh weather where the dry wind were strong, the little-to-none sunlight that came through the cracks of the broken roof, the biting cold that slowly consumed ones body with no heat - it was winter when I almost died and he saved me.

Can I count it as a help? Perhaps he just didn't wish to witness a death in his life thus why he reached out his hand or maybe, he just felt guilty if he didn't help a dying person. None of them mattered to be honest. I was still saved by him at the end of the day.

I knew him at one glance. Gojo Satoru. His name sounded elegant and rich, coming from the mouth of a slave like me. I never received a name. People called me "Hey" "Hoi" and "Dimwit" for most of the times, so only recently I figured out that those weren't names. It did make me feel a little embarrassed. How silly, for me to be happy that I finally have something that belong to me when I never did.

His appearance was beautiful too, benefitting to his name and aura. But he didn't suit this place. He was better suited in a lavish mansion with tons of servants lined up to serve him. He deserved to be in a shaded area where his pale skin wouldn't be burned by the hot sun. He deserved to be in a place where pretty people go. Anywhere but this place.

Yet what was he doing here?

I often met him in the back of the kitchen, rummaging through the leftovers from the dishes I was supposed to clean. While it was dirty and disgusting to eat from someone else's leftovers, I understand how it felt to be so hungry that even biting your own arm won't reduce the hunger. Being hungry for people like me isn't simply craving. It means that my body is at the final limit and if I still couldn't eat, then I will die.

So it became a routine for me to sit in silence while I picked up any edibles from the plates, separate them to a small piece of cloth. It did take a while for him to come so when he did, I often saw purple bruises on his cheek. That must have hurt a lot but he remained quiet. Both of use ate from the food I saved and none of us said anything. Not that by asking him, "Is it painful?" would change anything. I've been hit like that before. I knew the answer.

There were times where he didn't come to eat too. Sometimes, he went to disappear for days and when he returned, he barely looked like a human. I didn't say anything. I only looked at him, pulled the hem of his clothes while he trotted behind me and entered my room. It wasn't a room. It was an abandoned storage room for alcohol. It reeks of a heavy stench and mould, it was also humid and hot.

"Sit down, I'll see your wounds." I said. His blue eyes were so beautiful but they didn't shine.

Gojo Satoru complied to my words and showed his torso. The bulge of his ribcage could be seen from the malnourished body, sickly thin and the dent inwards his tummy was so deep. Was he kicked? I wonder what he did.

I grabbed the dry bread I hit under my ragged pillow and took the water I collected earlier. Soaking the bread into the water until it became soggy, I crushed it to smallest pieces until it diluted into the water. He couldn't eat because his mouth was full of blood. Was he missing tooth? Or did he get his tongue cut off? I didn't realise that while I was stirring the cloudy and lumpy liquid in the broken bowl, I was crying.

What did we do for us to suffer like this? Should we just kill ourself for this pain to end? Would this life get better if we continue to believe that fate has arranged everything for us?

"Don't cry." He said. It was barely heard but I knew that even forcing himself to speak would be so painful. The purple deep marks around his neck must have broken his voice cord. We both knew that tears won't do anything. I didn't cry when I was slapped so hard that I fell sick for days. I didn't cry when my stomach felt like twisting my inside dry. I didn't cry for what happened to me because I accepted the reality.

Yet it took another living person, who experienced just like what I did, for me to understand that we were indeed suffering.

"Toru, do you want to continue living like this?" I asked.

His eyes were deep and dark, hiding everything from me. I couldn't see clearly anymore as tears rushed to the damp of my eyes so heavily, and I put down his food. Holding his fingers that were full of callous and missing nails, I smiled to him and asked again,

"Toru, do you want to continue living?"

At that moment, I saw how Satoru was indeed a strong person. Under such a heavy condition, he continued to live and live, worked his bones to death and never stopped but me?

I couldn't live like this. I didn't know when it happened but every time I closed my eyes, I have the fear of not waking up. Ironic but I should be glad that I'll be dead, right? But no. I needed to wake up everyday because if I died, what would happen to him?

What would happen to the boy who sought mw out through the rain, the one who brought me to the highest roof when the flood was wiping away the villagers?

What would happen to him? I wasn't ready to let him go. I wasn't ready to acknowledge the fact that I had always been reliant on him. I knew from the moment he saved me from the clutch of the old mad man, that I will go everywhere he goes.

"I am in pain, Toru. My tummy hurts and I've been peeing blood. I'm going to die, Toru. But I don't want to leave you. I want to stay with you for the rest of my life. But my body doesn't allow me, Toru. I don't fear death but I fear of not meeting you anymore. I fear that I have to wait for years in the grave until I can meet you again but what if you go to Heaven and I don't? What if this is the last I can see you? You're in front of me yet I've already planned on missing you. What should I do, Toru?"

"Then don't leave." He said.

In his eyes, there was a small face reflected. My face could be seen in his clear eyes and he calmly stroked the side of my cheek, he winced a little and for the first time in my life, I saw the two tail of his lips quirked into a smile.

A smile that is gentle, a smile that didn't mean any harm towards me and a smile that resemble the innocence of a young boy where he said,

"Wherever I go, I'll bring you with me. We will grow out of this place and I will take you to mang places you have never seen before."

I saw he took something out of his pocket, a small round ceramic container and before long, he uncapped the lid and it was a lip rouge. Gojo Satoru had the proudest face at that moment as his shaky fingers swapped over the red cream and slowly reached for my lips.

I could never forget how relieved he looked when his trembling finger finally landed on my chapped lips. Rubbing his thumb over my bottom lip, the crack in his voice could be heard as he whispered,

"Alas, good people deserve good things."

His sincere smile as he applied the lip rouge over my lips, the clear eyes of his where he never looked down on me, the soft tone he used when he talked to me -

how could I not devote myself to you?

>> Chapter 2

Taglist: [comment because my google form isn't working]

[sly-merlin]

okey dokey! I'm gonna be a father!

Requesting pregnant reader scenarios, wanna see more of the guys’ duality balancing domesticity and impending fatherhood, and running the world, ya know 🙏🏾😎🤔😀 Just throwing the idea out there since you said we could. Y’know things like ‘I’m trying to leave to set up a meeting but her back is sore & she wants ice cream so one of u needs to suddenly be available. now’ & other things ig. I imagined Ty Kun, John Jae or Kun in as leader & probably hc or jaemin as the wife-sitters (lol)

Since you didn’t specify the unit,I did this with the few members from hyung line. This got so long that I ran out of ideas so let me know if you want me to write for some other members.  though j incorporated your ideas but i based it on the concept of them managing the treats in both hands. This is my first time doing reactions so leave some feedback if you wish! Have a nice day everybody.

(7 members) Ft. Taeil, johnny, taeyong, yuta, ten, jaehyun + kun

TAEIL 

"Let me message you back!" Taeil whispered into the phone and raised his body to observe your sleeping form. Your head was securely resting on his arm and he let out a relieved sigh as it was one of the few Lucky days when you were not thrashing around in your sleep. Day after day, you were getting uncomfortable with your heavy belly and all he could ever do was keep you company in your frustrations. He couldn't risk waking you up so he tried his best to complete the task in the painful position. He fidgeted with the phone for it was impossible to handle a 6 inch of metal device with one hand. Struggling with the grip for a few more seconds, he finally managed to send johnny a message regarding the inquiry.

Ask tae He has ab eztra key 2 my ofice.

Maybe he should turn his autocorrect on for situations like this!

Thinking his work was done, he locked the phone. just when he was about to put it on the nightstand on a blind guess, it vibrated again! 

John: He is out! You need to come asap.

He stopped to watch out for any movement from your side and when there was none, he shifted to his phone again.

Nt my pblm. 

He couldn't understand why johnny was being so persistent when everyone was under strict orders to not call him after 10 p.m unless someone was dying!

John: Jungwoo is in trouble with police. I need his fake ID!

Taeil’s scoffed a bit too loudly causing you to stir.  He paused in his actions only to continue when he noticed your even breathing. Weighing the options, he concluded that Jungwoo must have forgotten to pay for the food again or something like that otherwise if it was work related then johnny would have been screaming at his door and not through the phone.

Not his 1st time. dw too much. Jst send him some food so he wont cry like last tym.

He deserved that much punishment! With that he switched the device off and wrapped his arm around your waist, returning to the warmth he got to experience only at night times.

JOHNNY

You were on edge since the day you got yourself tested. You could blame it on the suddenly changing hormones or the never present johnny but one thing was sure that you were missing him more than ever. Johnny on the other hand, avoided going back home for the sole reason of finding himself incapable of taking care of you and his dangerous job. That’s why he had assigned hendery to be at your beck and call. He was a medic and since the other medical emergencies could be handled by xiaojun and renjun, hendery had no problem in spending some time with you. His company was full of funny stories of other members and silly jokes. Despite his endless efforts to distract you, the thought that your daughter’s father was missing the growth of his own child always remained at the back of your head. You couldn’t understand how all of a sudden his workload had increased so much that he barely had any time to even see your face let alone talk to you for a few minutes. But all your worries vanished the day he returned and sarcastically ordered hendery to show his donkey self out of his house to never come back again.

“I managed to prepone some important weapon deals”, he bowed gracefully to acknowledge his own achievements, making you chuckle at him, “and I’ve been rewarded with three months of holidays so I shall be spending these months making up for the lost time and creating new memories” he completed, kissing your forehead.

"I never said I need you 24/7. A few hours at most would do John" you said, knowing how his absence would affect the black neos. 

"Yeah. But then I realised what if my baby girl mistakes hendery for her father. Can't let that happen now yeah!" 

Masked under jokes, you were very well aware of the real reasons behind the toil he had subjected himself to! It was all for you and your baby girl and you knew he would do it again and again even if it meant the end of his life!

TAEYONG

 From sharp cold deadly glare to the dragon tattoo that adorned his neck and arms, fellow criminals had every reason to fear this man. His name, in the underworld, screamed  cursed royalty. But that was Lee taeyong, leader of black neos.

The taeyong standing right in front of you, struggling with multiple boxes of boards was anything but scary. Cladded in baby blue hoodie and black boxers, he was reading the manual, knocking down the structure again and again as he repeatedly found something missing from it. 

"Leave it tae. I can complete this later on. Come and eat now." You whined and suggested while taking bites from the creamy pasta he had prepared earlier. 

"what do you mean i can complete this later on. Do you find me incapable of making a crib?"

Yes you did!

But that was not the answer you could give when he was clearly trying his hardest. It was indeed baffling as to why the man who could assemble a weapon with his left hand was unable to join the pieces of a crib with both!

"No tae. You were out for three days so maybe you are just too tired to concentrate!" You explained in the politest way possible that clearly didn't reach him properly. He let out an audible gasp at what felt for him to be the accusatory tone.

"Eat your pasta and watch me complete this in half an hour! You'd regret saying that to me!"

Why was he the one with mood swings?

Just like other bubbling thoughts, you gulped down this one too and nodded enthusiastically, giving him a thumbs up as if you would never doubt his capabilities.

But you knew, he might have started the task but he was surely not going to be the one to complete it!

YUTA

“How about sakura?” hyuck suggested. Looks of disapproval were exchanged across the room and sound of mark hitting hyuck’s arm resonated in the living room.

“Cliche!” jaehyun laughed.

“Yes. We aren't naming our daughter sakura and that is final. She’s one of a kind and her name should also be!” you announced your arrival in the room and sat on the floor, making yourself comfortable between yuta’s legs. He wrapped his arms around your belly before leaning his neck to greet you with a sweet cheek kiss.

“Yes. What y/n wants, y/n gets. No sakura!” he held his one hand up in the air, forbidding any further discussion on the name.

"That's not fair!" Hyuck whined only to be dismissed by a wave from you.

"Just because it's not hyuck's choice doesn't mean that you have got right to choose by yourself. The baby is a part of this family so we get to decide what's best for her!" Ten exclaimed loudly getting everyone’s attention.

“How about ayaka?” kun suggested, entering the room with a trolley full of snacks. As the recommendations poured in, the snacks were passed to everyone. Days like these were rare and from the past two months, these rare days were spent daydreaming about the very first child in the black neos house.

“Akira? It’s quite universal you know.” mark joined in, reading the meaning of the name in different cultures and languages.

“Haru”

“No kai!” 

Somewhere in the conversation, yuta’s hands had travelled from your tummy to your sides. He knew the little brushes of his fingers had started to work on you as you swatted his hand away with yours. It only encouraged him and he tickled you on your sides more and more, getting the desired reaction. Your body being more sensitive and responsive than usual, you wiggled in his arms and squealed loudly enough to get everyone’s attention. Suddenly his hands stopped as he heard a whiny shout.

“Why are you bugging her?” hyuck hollered, “can’t you sit still for once? Let her breathe for a freaking second. You wanna tickle! Tickle me. Come tickle me but Don’t bother her!” 

You were aware of hyuck’s sudden outbursts of protection for you but this was truly something new! And you new tickles were not the reasoning behind his irritation. Sakura was!

“Le-let’s play a game”, kun interrupted before haechan’s frustration would land him into some trouble with the elder, “we’ll write all the suggestions into paper and whichever y/n chooses would be final. How does it sound?” 

Everyone hummed along to the idea. Looking over at Hyuck, you noticed a sudden glint in his eyes that spoke trouble. He was clearly planning something evil and until it was all fun and games, you had no trouble for his intentions.

“Since when did you get a bodyguard hmm?” yuta whispered, planting another wet kiss on your right cheek. 

“Yua.” you said.

“What?”

“We are naming her yua! When are you gonna tell them that i’ve already decided!” leaning backwards, you said in a hushed voice meant only for his ears.

“When they are tired enough to play any more games. Till then, let’s have fun. Look at hyuck, he’s surely gonna cheat and mark and renjun are going to strangle him.” yuta chuckled against your ear, making you laugh again. Life was good!

TEN

“Xiaojun! Xiaojun! Show yourself you good for nothing potato!” you winced at the volume of ten’s voice. Even though he was outside the room, his vocals were irritating. But you held your tongue from scolding him as he was the only one you could rely on at the moment. 

“Xia-

“Did bella bite you again? why are you shouting at-” xiaojun squinted at the wall clock and adjusted his glasses, “at 5:30a.m?”

“Half of the world is up you hibernating bear! y/n is craving ice-cream. You know better than to refuse her so go to her. Your service starts right now.” 

Xiaojun scoffed and remained glued to the stairs. Ten raised a brow questioning him but instead of answering him xiaojun came up with one of his own.

“And why aren’t you going?” 

“Switchblade prince is called so I gotta go. I don’t think you want her to wait!.”

Xiaojun groaned when ten shot him a wink and left the living room. Of course he had no trouble in tending to your demands which as a medic, he understood very well but ten’s cockiness wasn’t something he was ever ready to handle.

“y/n! What does our prince wanted to eat this early in the morning?” he smiled at you, plopping down on the edge of the bed.

“Apples and bananas.” 

“I meant what ice cream flavour do you want?”

“Ice cream? Who said ice cream? I want bananas.” you answered him, confused at his confusion!

It was only then that xiaojun realised that switchblade prince was never called in the first place. Ten had fled. Due to fruits! He was contemplating as to what extent he should be manipulating ten’s words while telling you about his betrayal when you spoke up.

“Umm. i guess we can eat mint chocolate as well. I’ll eat a banana chocolate sandwich first then we can both watch a movie and finish the ice cream. What do you say?”

Ok!  Maybe revenge could wait. Ice cream would be a priority here! 

JAEHYUN

If your husband was cocky, you were seriously too many steps ahead of him and it has taken only 10 days for jaemin to realise that you were just jae's cup of tea and no one else's, at least not as a 4 months pregnant woman. 

"Why are you sitting on the floor?" Jaehyun laughed at jaemin sprawled on the floor like a toddler. 

"Noona screamed at me" jaemin mumbled, hiding his face in his neck.

"Oh jaemin! Why did she do it? Were you teasing her again. You know that she doesn't take sarcasm too we-

"No. She threw up the food i made for her and that too thrice since yesterday. I got angry so i told her to eat up or else i won't be making anymore for her. She threw the pillow at me and ordered me to never talk to her again! I mean it's not like i was showing real anger! She's hungry since yesterday. If she won't eat up then she'd be sick. What did I do wrong! Now I made her favourite pasta and she won't open the door for me."

Jaehyun sighed and crouched down to jaemin's level. He knew your emotions weren't in your control anymore but jaemin wasn't wrong either. He was just doing what was right for you and unintentionally, you had ended up hurting the poor boy. Jaehyun patted jaemin's hair before he told him to inform taeyong about his possible absence from the upcoming meetings and activities.

"You can't do that." Jaemin said the obvious.

"Do you want her to eat or not!" Jaemin frantically nodded at him before running off to the main office.

Heating up the pasta, jaehyun made his way to your shared bedroom in black neos. 

"Baby open up it's me!" He knocked at the door and hearing his voice,you immediately opened it. 

"You are here!" You exclaimed, feeling beads of moisture in the corner of your eyes.

"Aww. Now is not the time to cry." He cooed, entering the room with the tray. Placing it on the coffee table, he turned around and hugged you just the way he missed you.

"I'm sorry for being occupied and only coming back at night. But I'm here for a few days so let's get you all happy like a seal!" He laughed, ruffling your hair.

"I-i yelled at jaemin for no reason." You confessed not being aware that he was already filled in by the younger boy. 

"You wanna apologize?" You nodded as he squished your cheeks in his hands and leaned in to kiss your pouty lips. 

"Later on! Now's the time for evening lunch and getting this food in your tummy without it backfiring!" 

You laughed at how smoothly he eased your worries. After eating properly, you apologised to jaemin which he accepted but not before crying like a little boy he was!

Bonus :

KUN

"Yangyang what the heck are you doing near y/n. I told you to keep your meaningless books away from her!" Kun felt like his blood pressure would shot up anytime soon.

"What are you talking about?"

"Oh really? What's the book that you are reading to her?"

"How to walk like a pro when you are only 2 months old! I want the baby to be high class like me."

Kun's hands found refuge in his hair as he groaned at the boy. Now he needed to read all the books that could possibly reverse yangyang's teachings.

"There is no such book available."

"Yeah that's why i wrote it by myself. Pulled an all nighter but when the baby would start walking at only 2 months of age, you'd thank me!"

[marblesphere]

I want happy ending😂, so I continued the one shot. The first part is on the link above this.

Xiao x reader part 2

*3rd Pov*

He finally found her, right in the middle of a flower patch. Xiao drops his spear. He quickly cradles [Your Name]'s body. Warmth quickly slipped away from her body. For the first time after the Archon's war he felt fear again. Lifting her, he quickly rushes back to the inn.

Verr Goldet quickly called for a doctor the moment Xiao showed up with badly injured [Your Name]. After putting her in the care of Verr Goldet. Xiao wastes no time to visit Zhongli. His Archon must have some kind of way to cure [Your Name].

The doctor shook his head, Verr Goldet clamps her mouth, his husband quickly catches her and lets her sit down in a chair.

"...You should clean her up and… we'll wait for Lord Xiao." Huai'an said.

"...How? Why? She is still so young…" Verr cried.

All Huai'an could do was comfort her without a word. After collecting herself, Verr cleaned up [Your Name]. She prays that Xiao will bring whoever that can cure her.

Not long after she finished, Xiao came back with Zhongli in tow. Zhongli takes a look at [Your Name] and shakes his head. Xiao is shaken. His whole body is trembling. Slowly he walks to the bed, caressing her cheek, his thumb swipes the part under her eyes and then her lips. How strange, she looks like she is just sleeping peacefully.

Once again, his karmic debt stole someone precious to him. He really can't take it anymore. The angry voices of his karmic debt are getting stronger and louder. Even though it was less painful when [Your Name] stayed by his side. "Foolish mortal…" He pressed his lips to her cold one as a tear slipped down from his eye.

"Wait.." something caught Zhongli's eyes. "Xiao, did you ever give something to her?" The Geo Archon asked.

"...I gave her an amulet and trinkets made from sage skill, to keep malicious intent away…" Xiao answered.

A small glowing light finally caught their attention. "...This is… the amulet I gave to her last year." Xiao said.

"...There is a way to save her now."

Xiao snaps his eyes to his Archon. His being is full of hope.

"...We need to turn her into an adeptus. She is not dead yet. Her soul hasn't completely left her body. But even so, the chance is small." Zhongli spoke out.

'Turn her to an adeptus and let her suffer from that very own immortality?!' His mind is reeling. Part of him doesn't want to turn her into an adeptus. Being an adeptus and attaining immortality is not as enjoyable as those foolish mortals thought to be. But another part of him doesn't want her to die.

"...Is there no other way?" Xiao finally uttered out.

"No. This is the only way. We also need to hurry. Right now part of her soul is inside that amulet. You subconsciously put a small piece of your soul there. That amulet is anchoring her soul. But this won't last long. We need to call for the other adepti to help if we are going to turn her into one." Zhongli said.

"....Understood." Xiao gritted his teeth. Even if after [Your Name] woke up and hated him for it. So be it. It's his fault in the first place, he shouldn't have softened up to her and rejected her from the start. It's all his fault that [Your Name] is in this condition.

Usually when someone is going to be an Adeptus, they will need to take a trial of earth and heaven. But there is another way to turn to an Adeptus without taking the trial. Of course the risk is way higher than the trial. You need to directly take some blood and a lot of energy from an Adeptus. It needs to be pure Adeptus, that's why Yanfei and Ganyu won't cut it. The most important factor is, the blood of the Adeptus has to be compatible with the human or the human will definitely die. Humans can't stand the power of adeptal energy, so they need the blood of an adeptus to mix in their body. With mixed blood, hopefully they can withstand it.

Xiao has called all available pure adepti. After listening to this side of their story. Most of them won't agree to this risky method. Not only the receiver will be damaged even the giver would be too. And there's also the blood compatibility thing.

"I will do it." Xiao said. "I will be the one to give her the blood and energy. All of you just need to give your energy to me. I will convert it to mine and transfer it to her. I will be the one to bear all the burden." Xiao said.

"Have you gone mad, Conqueror of Demon? You are sacrificing yourself to a mere mortal girl?!" Mountain Sharper ridiculed. Never in a million years will they hear the cold blooded Conqueror of Demon willingly sacrifice everything just for a single mortal girl.

"She is not a mere mortal." Xiao hissed.

"Indeed. What kind of mere mortal girl she is, if she can withstand the prolonged interaction with an adeptus." Zhongli chuckled. "And even managed to open the heart of the vigilant yaksha. Which even us adepti couldn't do in our lifetimes."

"...Indeed. From this aspect, she really is not qualified as a mere mortal girl." Cloud Retainer chuckled.

"...It's not like there's no human become an adeptus in the past. Rex Lapis has spoken. We just need to follow it…. And, I am curious how this will end?" Moon craver said.

"Hohoho...Of course it will turn out to be alright. [Your Name] is a gentle child. I am sure all of this will turn out to be alright. You have my full support, Conqueror of Demons." Granny Ping laughed.

The softly glowing amulet starts shining brightly, as if it has been listening to them. It suddenly broke and a glowing sphere entered [Your Name]'s body. Xiao quickly cradles her body to his. He can feel the warmth of the body now.

"Quick! The soul has returned to the body. It will leave soon if we don't do anything." Zhongli instructed.

Xiao bites his wrist, fresh blood quickly flows and drips down to the white mattress. He takes a gulp of his own blood and feeds it to her. After making sure [Your Name] gulped it down. He starts transferring his adeptal energy. [Your Name]'s body starts glowing as it is enveloped by Xiao's adeptal energy. It seems like they are compatible to each other. Granny Ping is the first one to support Xiao by giving him her energy. The rest followed soon.

*1st Pov*

"~~~♪ ~~~ ♪" I hummed the tune as I weaved the flower crown. The smell of Qingxin is really calming. Right now, I am in the middle of the Qingxin flower field, making a flower crown for Xiao. "Finished." I giggled.

"What are you making?" An amused voice of Xiao asked.

"Flower crown!" I exclaimed happily. "Here." I stretched out my hands. Xiao bends down and lets me put the crown on his head. "So pretty." I cooed.

"You are the lovely one." He caressed my cheek using his thumb and then put a crystalfly on my hair. He takes his seat beside me. I lean against him as he loops his hand around my shoulder and stroking my head gently. Just like this, the two of us in this world are the happiest. His skillful hand is really putting me to sleep. He seems to notice me dozing off. "Sleep." And I feel a feather light kiss on the crown of my forehead.

When I woke up. I am in Wangshu inn. The moon is already hanging on the curtain of the night sky. I see Xiao is just looking at the scenery from the balcony. "Xiao…" I called.

"You have awoken." His eyes softened. I join him in stargazing, cozily trapped in his arms. He rests his head on my shoulder.

"~~~♪ ~~~ ♪" I started humming that tune again.

"[Your Name]" He whispered softly.

"Hm?" I closed my eyes, just relishing the fact we are enjoying each other's presence.

"....You should wake up."

My whole body freezes. I turn to look at him. His gaze, full of tender loving and hint of sadness. Xiao tucks a strand of loose hair to my ear. "...Xiao...I…don't want to..." I shook my head.

"[Your Name]... You already know the truth of this world." He pressed my head against his chest. I didn't say anything. I don't want to say anything. "...I am waiting for you."

"...No...you are not…" I clenched my hand.

"I am. You just need to wake up and everything will be alright." He coaxed gently.

"Xiao… already has someone dear to him…. It's not...me." I mumbled.

"Silly mortal. You know that's not true." He chuckled, his chest rumbled, sending a pleasant feeling to me.

"It's true." I puffed my cheeks.

"It's not." He rolled his eyes. "You shouldn't jump to conclusions too quickly." He poked my forehead.

"I...I…But, I have investigated her. She is perfect. Everyone sings praise to her whenever I ask." I sulked.

"That's the problem."

"Problem?" I blinked.

"She is too perfect, almost abnormally so. There's no speck of dust on her. Even adepti are not as perfect as her." Xiao said.

"...Then, what did she do to them? She is just a normal girl. She didn't do anything extraordinary…" I blinked.

"That's why you have to wake up. I have a feeling, "I" know the reason."

"Why can't you just tell me right now?" I whined, shaking his sleeve like a brat.

"Because, if I did. You won't wake up anymore." He rolled his eyes. "Or, do you hate me now?" Xiao cupped my cheek, making me stare at his piercing gaze.

*poof* I blush at the close proximity and bury my face in his chest. "...Not fair…" I grumbled. "You know well I yearn for you. I could never hate you." My voice is muffled.

"I know. After all, this is the world you created." Xiao wrapped his hands around me. "I am but a piece of soul that slipped into the amulet. Go forth. "I" will answer everything you want to ask. Do not be afraid. "I" treasure you more than you know." His voice echoed as I felt a kiss on the crown on my head. The scenery faded, leaving me alone in the darkness.

"How do I wake up?!" I yelled.

""I" am calling for you." His voice faded.

A loud inhuman screech caught my attention. I turn my body. There, standing in front of me is a majestic gigantic bird. "...A phoenix…" I murmured.

The bird of an ancient legend. It's said to be able to reraise itself from the ashes of its predecessor. The majestic bird screeches one more time and lowers itself to me. As if beckoning me to come over. His golden eyes never leave mine. "...I see… It's you." My feet automatically walked toward it. I stretch out my hand and the bird leans its neck to me. I wrap my hands around it as its wings envelop me.

*3rd Pov*

3 days. It has been 3 days since the ritual. Zhongli has told him the ritual is a success. Right now, [Your Name] is only sleeping. As to why and when she will wake up. Not even the Geo Archon knows. All Xiao can do is wait. He never knew waiting was this painful. Not even when he was battling his karmic debt is this painful.

For the second time in his lifetime, he is glad he doesn't need to sleep. The first time is when he is having nightmares. Not needing sleep is quite a solution on its own. And right now, he can keep guarding her, without letting any detail be missed out. His hand on her. He is praying to whatever deity out there, just so she can open her eyes again.

"Adeptus Xiao…" A soft voice called. Xiao frowns when he hears that voice.

"What are you doing here?" His voice was cold without any emotion.

"I…" Yue Mei opened her mouth, but she couldn't say anything. Don't be so cold to me? She should have known what caused this.

"That charm won't work on me anymore." He growled. He really is holding back his anger. That mortal is still Liyue's citizen.

Her eyes widened at his claim. 'He knows.' She trembled. She finally realized how terrifying the vigilant yaksha is. But the previous image of him is still overlapping now. "I.. I love you.." She blurted out.

"You...love me…?" He turned to her, piercing gold eyes meeting trembling toffee colored doe eyes. "You used charm to bewitch me and have the guts to confess your false affection to me." He snarled as he took each step to her.

Yue Mei flinches and takes a step back each time he advances, until her back hits the wall. Xiao stops 4 steps away from her. He is disgusted, he doesn't even want to breathe the same air as her. Then he remembered his actions for the past one month. He groaned inwardly, he felt dirty. This girl is really a troublesome mortal.

"Disappear. Don't show yourself in front of me anymore." He turned his back to her. "You better dispose of that charm. It might work right now, but it won't work forever."

"Then… tell me. What should I do to obtain your love." She cried, collapsing on the floor.

"Nothing…" Xiao turned his back to her, walking back to the bed.

"What?"

"You didn't need to do anything. Because even if you sacrifice everything to me, I still won't look at you." Xiao continued to sit beside [Your Name], using his thumb to trace a circle on her hand.

"Please… don't leave me alone."

"You seems to still not waking up from your dream. The one you love," He quoted. " is the charmed version of me. You only need the nice version of me. Not me entirely."

"It's not true… I…"

*1st Pov*

"...Xiao…" I called softly, surprised at how hoarse my voice is. My mouth feels like I have eaten iron. So disgusting.

"[Your Name]" Xiao hugged me, though making sure not to be too tight. I can feel soreness all over my body. I notice the perfect girl on her knees crying from the corner of my eyes.

"Ummm…" 'Did I wake at the wrong timing? Great job [Your Name], you really have a knack for timing the bad timing.' "...Xiao… can I have water…?" I blinked.

"I will get it from Verr Goldet." He said as he disappeared in a breeze.

"....Um… Miss Yue Mei… are you okay…?" I asked tentatively. I mean having my love rival on the floor crying is not something I expect to see when I wake up. And I do know something is different about me. With those kinds of injuries, I should have never survived.

"...Tell me… why are you not afraid of vigilant yaksha?" She asked.

"...?" I titled my head not understanding her question. "Why should I be afraid of Xiao?" I blinked.

"He is not...as gentle as I imagined to be." She answered.

"If you are talking about how he scares people, then yep, Xiao is borderline rude actually. I mean, he didn't show up at all for the very first month after our meeting. Even though I kept waiting for him. But, Xiao is gentle. Because of his gentleness, that's why he put on a cold exterior. It's all to protect us." I smiled remembering the memory.

"...Do you love him that much? Even though he can kill you in a heartbeat?"

"Yes. I love him the most. If by chance he killed me, then there must be a reason. So, I will stay around as a ghost to find out then." I giggled.

"I will never hurt you." Xiao said as he appeared with a water pitcher and a glass. He hands me a glass of water.

"I know." I answered after I took a sip.

"If by chance, I will hurt you in the slightest… I would rather…"

"You can't kill yourself, okay. If you did. I will kill myself too. In a world without you is the same as death. I don't have anymore to lose in this world. If you are gone. I will follow you."

"You can't!!"

"I can. That's why you have to live." I said.

"You are impossible." He murmured.

"I know. You have told me a lot of times. You also said I am clumsy, an idiot, a foolish mortal, foolish child, snotty brat, stubborn human and…"

"Stop. You don't need to say anymore." He groaned. "You need to rest." He laid me down on the bed.

"Eh? But I…" I protested.

"Rest." He commanded.

"....yes…" I sulked.

The two of us realized there is still one more person in this room when we heard a giggle.

"I see… I finally understood the words that Adeptus told me." She wiped her tears. "Adeptus Xiao, I am sorry for my unsightly behavior." She bowed. "And this… I don't need it anymore. Please tell me how to dispose of this." A charm rested on her palm.

"Just burn it." He huffed.

"Understood. Then...ummm...Miss please get well soon." She smiled and then she exited the room.

"Xiao…" I looked at him.

"Rest."

"...I want to know how I am still alive." I said quietly.

"...I… will tell you tomorrow." He refused to look at me.

"Xiao…" I struggled to sit up. I cupped his cheeks using my hands. "No matter what you do. I am sure you have your reason. Please tell me. I won't hate you. In fact right now, I am grateful I am still alive and can see you." I smiled.

"I… turn you to adeptus…" He whispered, his golden eyes refusing to look at me.

"Adeptus? I thought humans have to take the trials of heaven and earth to become an adeptus." I blinked.

"You...were half dead when I brought you here." He said shakily as if the unpleasant memories surfaced. "Zhongli-dono tells me the only way to save you is to turn you into an adeptus. There is another way aside from taking the trial of earth and heaven. You need pure adeptus blood in your body and pure adeptal energy being pumped to you. I gave my blood and my energy to you. The other adepti help too. They transferred their energy to me and after I converted it, I gave it to you." He said.

I felt a jolt of worry when I heard that. "Are you fine now? Have you recovered your adeptal energy? What should I do to help you recover?" I fired a barrage of questions.

"I am fine. I have recovered. There is no need to worry about me." Xiao grabbed my hand on his cheek and placed a kiss on my pulse.

I feel my pulse quicken as blush coats my cheeks. "You really are weird. You are fine when you approach me by yourself. But everytime I take initiative, you become embarrassed. How cute." The vigilant yaksha is no more, right now in front of me there is only the devious yaksha.

"X...Xiao…" my eyes darted nervously.

"Hm?" He hummed as he placed another kiss on the side of my neck. My breath hitches, I can clearly feel his mouth curls to a smirk.

Then, I heard a gasp that was not mine.

"Hohoho, as I thought. Everything will turn out to be alright." Granny Ping laughed.

I push Xiao away and voila, Granny Ping and other adepti including Zhongli and Ganyu are standing on the entrance. Ganyu is peeking from the gap between her hands.

"I take it you are alright now." Cloud retainer said.

"Y-yes. Thank you for checking me up." I bowed, my voice was clearly too high pitched.

"Hohoho. I am glad you are alright. It seems there are no complications. We should take our leave and leave youngsters on their own devices." Granny Ping laughed.

"...Xiao… don't go too hard on her. She is still recovering. Ah… this is youth." Zhongli spoke like a true old man.

Our faces combust to flames. The adepti quickly dismiss themselves, leaving only the two of us. The atmosphere has turned awkward.

"I will let you rest." Xiao said.

I grabbed his sleeve before he could disappear. "Stay. I… have something I want to talk about."

Xiao sits on the edge of the bed. I clench and unclench my fist on his sleeve. "Xiao… what happened… with Miss Yue Mei?" I asked. "I want to know the truth."

Xiao sighs. "She wore a charm made by adepti. That charm has the power to attract people. The downside of that charm is, it becomes useless if it were known to other people. I...was bewitched by it too. That's why…" He gulped.

"...I see…" A weight I didn't know I have seems to be gone now. "I see…. I thought… I thought you prefer her more than me."

"Foolish mortal." He rolled his eyes. "I will never leave you, [Your Name]. Not now, not ever. I will stay by your side, until you don't need me anymore." He pressed a kiss to my forehead.

"Then, you will have to stay by my side forever. Because, I won't get tired of you." I smiled cheekily.

"I know." He leaned in and closed the gap between us. The kiss is short and sweet. He groans a little after he pulls back.

"...Did I do something wrong?" Now I am worried, I...have never kissed someone. I might be not doing it correctly.

"...No." He put his head on my shoulder. "I don't think I can wait for you to fully recover before I start carving for you." His arms tightened around my waist.

"Xia...nnnn…" I clamped my mouth shut when I felt him nipping my neck.

"[Your Name]..." He murmured, his hot breath is fanning my neck. "You are making it harder to resist." He mumbled as he dragged me down back to the bed. He slips in the cover with me. His arm wraps securely around me. "Sleep."

"Xiao…" I called as my sleepiness started to kick in.

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, [Your Name]."

Omake

The moon is illuminating a certain room in Wangshu inn.

"Xiao….what happened to my amulet?" I blinked when I noticed my empty neck.

"It broke." He deadpanned.

"Broke…?" Tears drip down to the mattress.

"W-why are you crying? Don't cry." The panicked yaksha tried to calm me down.

"...rry…"

"Eh?"

"Sorry, I broke it. Even though it's a gift from you." I hiccuped.

"...haahh.." He sighed. "I can just make it again. There's no need to cry." Xiao wiped my tears.

"But, it has a piece of your soul. When I wear it, I feel you are always with me."

"...You have me here, yet you are crying for a piece of soul." He let out a low growl.

"It's not just a piece of soul. It's a piece of your soul." I protested.

"...I will stay with you. You don't need it anymore."

"But, I want it. What if you can't be with me. At least, I will have the amulet accompanying me everywhere I go." I mumbled.

"Everywhere you go?" He raised his brow.

"Yes. Everywhere….I...go…" *poof* A not so innocent thought just passed through my mind.

"What did you think about [Your Name]? The smirk came back. The devious yaksha has come back. Xiao leans so close, that I keep leaning back until I fall down to the mattress. Xiao traps me using his body. I can clearly smell Qingxin from him. My eyes darted around, trying to find a nonexistent escape. And part of me didn't really want to escape.

'So close!!!'

Xiao suddenly leans to my exposed neck. "Xiao...what are you-!!!!" I feel a small sting on my neck, before something wet is lapping on the spot. 'X….Xiao bit me…?' I am sure my face right now is the same as a tomato, my eyes swirling.

"[Your Name]." He breathed out.

"Xiao….nnnnn…." He pulled me to a dizzying deep kiss. His wet muscle quickly establishes dominance in my cavern. I fist his top so hard that I am sure it is crumpled. When he pulled back, I was still not processing it. My head is still dizzy from the kiss, mouth panting, and the mixed drool on the side of my mouth.

"...Irresistible." He wiped the drool on my mouth. He pressed a kiss on my forehead. "Today, I will let you go. Remember, when you recover, I just have to show you how much you don't need that amulet anymore." He smirked.

The blush that has finally faded away, comes back at full force.

[bleachhaven]

Soutaicho’s Secret Admirer (Shunsui x Reader) — Part 3/6

Author’s Note:

I know I said I’d have something for you this weekend, but all the love ya’ll showed Part 2 of this story had me super inspired that I just sat down and wrote this out. After all, feedback is what fuels writers xD There should be a few more parts left after this. I know I know...the 2-parter story has evolved into a 5-parter :P

First off, thank you so much for all the love! Secondly, I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

A very special thanks to @sexintheseireitei​ for all the encouraging words! This chapter is dedicated especially for you!

--

Read Part 1 and Part 2 first...

As much as Nanao-chan strictly insisted that today was just like any other day, the bits of pink and red popping up all over the black and white of the seireitei said otherwise. Of course, Squad 1 was devoid of such nonsense, despite Shunsui's several clandestine operations to host a party in the 1st for the last decade. He had been sternly thwarted by his fuktaicho who did not believe this day to hold any meaning at all.

Maybe that's why it was that much more fun to bother her thoroughly with something she would definitely think to be too extravagant.

"Happy Valentine's Day, my sweet, sweet, Nanao-chan," Shunsui said with a cheeky smile, plopping the gift down on her desk.

She stared at the little teddy-bear donned in red bows and holding a red plushy heart saying "sweet, sweet, Nanao-chan!"

Her gaze turned upwards towards him. "This is a highly inappropriate gift to give to your fuktaicho."

"Ah, but we are practically family. And you are my sweet, sweet, Nanao-chan after all..."

"Hmm..." was all she said in response.

Even if she said she hated the gift, she dared not move it. She allowed the fluffy thing to take space on her desk and carried on working.

Shunsui continued to stare at her, waiting impatiently and expectantly. She continued to look over another expense report from the 11th for property damage, but Shunsui didn't move.

Finally she looked up. "Did you need something?"

He pouted at her. "Did Nanao-chan forget?"

She wanted to pretend and feign ignorance but she just couldn't do it. She has clearly gone soft in the past couple of years if his pouting face could make her cave this easily.

"Fine," she sighed, and reached into her desk drawer. In her hand was an assorted box of chocolates all complete with a white ribbon tied into a bow. "Happy Valentine's Day, Taicho," she said.

"Why, thank you, Nanao-chan! You really shouldn't have," he said making Nanao snort a bit. He was already opening it as he sauntered towards his side of the office.

On top of his desk was...well, nothing but paperwork, and he had to say he was just a little bit disappointed. He had been wondering what his beloved Secret Admirer would give him this Valentine's Day. Truthfully, it was all he had been  looking forward to this week. But there was no love letter hidden beneath other official mail or left on top of his window sill.

He sat down at his desk and pulled out his latest project. He popped in one of Nanao-chan's chocolates, the taste of salted caramel teasing his taste buds, and spread out the fancy lavender colored paper.

After all, she wasn't the only one with a way of words.

Even after becoming the Soutaicho, he continued to write a few chapters for "Rose-Colored-Path." Sure, that was mostly erotica but writing a love letter couldn't be that difficult, could it?

He already had a bit written out. He was still trying to figure out how to tell this sweet Secret Admirer he would want to get to know her, without making it sound like either its a command from the Soutaicho, or as if he was a complete and utter lecher trying to score a night or two of fun.

Then of course there was the bigger problem. How in the world was he to get this love letter to her? He still had no clue who she was let alone if she was actually serious about the things she said. It was both frustrating and romantic.

Right now, as things were, it was mostly frustrating.

It was in times like this that he desperately wished Juu was around. He was certain his best friend would have had some kind of solution or at least some words of wisdom to offer to this heartbreaking dilemma. Or maybe he would have admonished Shunsui for falling for someone he hadn't even seen yet. With Juu gone, and with the position he now held, he had no one to talk to about things that bothered him.

He had no peers after all. Being the man at the top was not easy. He knew it would be a difficult job when he stepped up to it, but he had no idea that it would be this lonely.

All of his quiet sighing and restless shuffling naturally drew Nanao's attention.

"How difficult is it to read through a missive and stamp your seal of authority?" Nanao asked, stepping up to his desk. He tried to hide what he was working on, but Nanao's sharp eyes would not be waylaid. "Unless...you are not working on the paperwork as you were supposed..."

"No, no!" Shunsui insisted, knowing the lavender paper was peeking through his hands. "It's just a bit of difficult paperwork. Strictly official business, I assure you, my dear Nanao-chan."

"Oh I see," she said, and Shunsui hoped she really didn't see at all.

"What is it?" he asked warily.

She had a strange smile on her face. One that had Shunsui wanting to run for cover. It did not bode well when Nanao-chan bared her teeth like that.

"Does this have anything to do with...your Secret Admirer perhaps?"

Shunsui could swear he tried to remain expressionless as to not give anything away, but maybe his heart stopped a little."I don't know what you are talking about."

She raised a brow at him. "Really? Do you really think anything would get by me in this office? That I wouldn't notice the fancy little letters you've been hiding from me?"

"You knew?" Shunsui asked, a bit shocked. And here he was thinking he was being so hush hush about the whole thing.

Nanao rolled her eyes and returned to her desk. "It offends me that you thought I didn't."

Interesting turn of events this turned out to be. He couldn't help but wonder. If Nanao-chan did indeed know all about his Secret Admirer...maybe...

"Do you know who it is?"

Nanao, who had picked up her paperwork again, smiled down at the form before her. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't," she said non-commitedly.

"Please, Nanao-chan! Don't be so mean to your Taicho. Just tell me."

She shook her head, denying his request. "I'm not telling you anything about anything. Now, please either do your work, or run along and let me do my work in peace."

"So mean," Shunsui mumbled, picking up the brush once more and dipping it in ink.

However, the whole conversation planted a terrible thought in his head. What if there really was no Secret Admirer? What if it was some elaborate prank on the poor lonely Soutaicho by someone? Maybe the SWA was having a laugh. He wouldn't put it past Matsumoto-san honestly. Or even his own Nanao-chan. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. And the more it made sense, the more it made his mood plummet.

But he didn't want to believe it. He longed for these letters to be true, for it was too late now. He was halfway there...falling for a nameless, faceless woman who had romanced and seduced him with just a sweet words. How cruel would it be for it to now turn out to be nothing more than a prank?

A few minutes passed by, the silence broken only by the scratch of brush on paper. Then a commotion outside startled Shunsui out of his reverie.

A sharp knock, and a bid to enter, was followed by an officer of the 1st relaying some strange information of something or the other that Squads 11 and 12 had gotten up to. A fight or a brawl.

Nanao sighed, standing up from her desk. "Not again."

"It's alright, Nanao-chan. I'll take care of it. You carry on with whatever it is that you were doing," Shunsui said making a move towards the door already. His mood was feeling low and this was the perfect excuse to get out of the office for a while.

Once he was gone, Nanao cleared up the completed paperwork on his desk to be sent to the relevant divisions. If the little lavender paper got stuffed between some forms and approvals, it was purely an accident. If that specific set of forms ended up in Squad 13, it was surely unintentional. If it was found by the third seat of Squad 13 it was only because their squad was without a fuktaicho still and all the paperwork fell upon her.

Nanao definitely couldn't have predicted any of that after all. But then again...Ise Nanao almost always knew exactly what was going on, did she not?

—

Shunsui was in a glum mood when he finally returned to the office. Nanao had left a message with another officer to let him know that she had a SWA meeting so she would be leaving the office a bit earlier than usual to attend that before the Valentine’s Day Party at the 8th.

He almost thought to go straight to said party. Lisa had continued with his silly tradition as the current Taicho of Squad 8, and she went all out. He dared not be too late and risk all the good sake provided generously by Squad 6, and the cellars of  Kuchiki manor itself, running out. But he had to finish his love letter, even if he knew he might never get to send it to the relevant individual...if there even was an individual in the first place.

When he stepped in, he couldn't see the lavender paper on his desk. Truth be told, he couldn't see anything on his desk at all.

It was covered with a huge, and by huge meaning gigantic, bouquet of red roses. He shunpoed to see if there was a card left for him, and there definitely was.

Dear Shunsui,

I have to say I don't need a special day out of the year to show you how much you mean to me. Still I know how much you enjoy this day. I used to love the parties you threw back then. Yadomaru Taicho carries on the traditions but I feel it's not just the same. Not without you.

Every day feels like a day dedicated to love when thoughts of you haunt me always...but what a beautiful way to be haunted indeed.

Happy Valentine's Day, Shunsui!

These roses may one day fade, but my love for you never will. I've loved you for a lifetime already, and I know I would love you for another lifetime more.

These are chocolates I made especially for you, infused with your favorite sake, just the way you like it. Every time you taste one, I hope you'd think of me thinking of how much I yearn to taste you.

With love,

Your Secret Admirer

He picked up the box of chocolates he hadn't noticed earlier as it was hidden behind the elaborate bouquet of roses. It was an elegant box with a pretty pink print of sakura blossoms, tied together with a pink bow. It almost looked too pretty to undo. Almost.

He slowly opened it and popped a cute heart-shaped chocolate into his mouth, savoring the taste of delicious chocolate mixed with the mild bite of the sake. It tasted absolutely divine.

He was floored. If this was a prank, it was truly an unnecessarily elaborate one.

But he allowed himself to cherish this moment in the solitude of his now quiet office. Handmade chocolates and flowers...it was something he would do for someone he was romancing. Now to be romanced by someone so extravagantly, it felt truly amazing. He couldn't believe someone made these with her own hands just for him. He didn't think he had something so sweet done for him in a very long time...maybe not forever.

He was the one who had always played the role of the romantic, the seducer, the lover...it did indeed feel nice to have this kind of charm turned on him.

But as much as he devoured the attention, he also felt strangely dismayed. Instinctively, he was a giver. It applied to his family and friends, and it definitely applied to his love life. Even if it was a summer fling, he still treated his companions with respect and adoration. In whatever way possible, he tried to give everything he could to those he loved and valued. It was not in him to not reciprocate. He didn't know how to not be a giver. It wasn't in his nature.

This time, he truly desperately wanted to shower his admirer with so much love and affection, and it killed him inside to not know who she was...

—

Read Part 4 next!

Get added to the Tag List here!

Or check out more of my work through the Masterlist here!

[sylvie-writes]

Pixie

pairing: steve rogers x wife!reader x daughter!sarah rogers

prompt: Dec 12 - Elf On The Shelf 

warnings: none that i can think of! 

word count: 1814

author’s note: pardon any mistakes! this is my first entry for @the-ce-horniest-book-club Home For The Holidays!

another a/n: I’m sorry that the writing style on this isn’t superb. I have a lot to do today and I totally forgot about this, yet I still really wanted to write it. Hopefully you all still enjoy! xoxo

PART OF MY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION (check the tag for the masterlist)

(gif below is not mine, nor do i take credit for it

“Look, Daddy. Teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” Zuzu looked to her father and he sweetly smiled down at her. “That’s right, that’s right.”

With that the movie ended and the credits rolled. Tonight was the first day of Steve’s holiday break, allowing him to spend some family time with you and Sarah. Since Steve was still trying to catch up on new movies and such, you suggested It’s a Wonderful Life. It was released just a few years after he went into the ice so you assumed he would enjoy it, as would Sarah. The toddler shared a love for vintage things just as he father. To her, it was so fascinating that Steve was from another time that she always begged for stories. 

At the moment, you three were curled up on the couch in your humble and small Brooklyn apartment. Sarah’s tiny figure was half laid on your lap. Her head was resting on your sweatpants-clad thighs while her own legs were tucked into her body to retain warmth. As for Steve, you were leaned up against his chest, laying at an angle while the man remained faced forward, one muscular arm wrapped around your shoulders. Occasionally he’d turn his head to shower you in some form of affection. 

“So, how’d you like the movie, Stevie?”

Steve shifted in his seat, now enveloping you with both arms, careful of Sarah who was still sleeping. He smiled down on you with a dopey yet adorable and loving smile. 

“I think that it was a great suggestion, doll.”

With vigor he immediately cut off your unspoken words and kissed you deeply. Suddenly, Steve’s not so innocent kiss was cut short when Sarah made you both remember her presence, the ever so quiet and sleepy “eww” making you both laugh. 

“Well hello, sleepyhead.” 

Sarah pushed herself up from her laid out position and tiredly scrambled to her feet. She then ran to stand between Steve’s legs and leaned forward to lay against his chest. 

“M‘sleepy, Daddy.”

Your daughter’s eyes started to close and Steve took that as a sign to go ahead and scoop her up in his arms. Steve did so and then bent over a bit for you to kiss the dozing little girl goodnight. 

….

As Steve helped Sarah get ready for bed, you got did your nightly routine as well. Once you had finished and made it to bed, Steve soon joined you, the two of you ready to turn in for the night. 

By the time the lights were out and both you and your husband were sleeping soundly, it was a bit past midnight. 

For a few hours you slept comfortably, occasionally intertwining your legs with Steve’s and such, especially since that man was such a bed hog and he didn’t even know it. 

Around four in the morning you suddenly popped up having remembered one important thing. 

Today was December 1st.

To the average person it was just another day, but to your daughter Sarah, it was the time for her elf on the shelf, Pixie, to arrive home for the holidays. You mentally scolded yourself for forgetting such a thing as Sarah had been talking non stop all week long about Pixie’s upcoming visit. She was so excited and her little friends at school told tales about their elves on the shelf making your daughter even more excited. 

Without second thought, you popped out of bed despite your body screaming at you to go back under the oh-so inviting sheets and to wrap yourself into Steve’s warm embrace.

As you had gotten out of the bed, you pushed Steve’s heavy arm off of your waist, and let’s just say you could have been a bit gentler with your actions.

“Woah (y/n), what’s wrong?”

Somnolent yet very much alert, Steve now sat up in the bed, even reaching to turn on the lamp, blinding you both. 

After a bit of a hiss, you scurried to his side of the bed to turn off the nuisance of a light. You had calmed down a bit and just quickly ran your fingers through Steve’s messy hair while kissing his forehead and purposely coaxing him back to sleep.

“I have to go and find Sarah’s elf on the shelf. She’ll be heartbroken if Pixie isn’t out tomorrow morning.”

Steve nodded having understood the matter. He then got out of bed despite your pleas for him to go back to bed. 

From there, you and Steve spent a good half an hour searching through your shared closet in search of that disguised cardboard box that held a select few of Christmas decorations, including Pixie. Sarah has always had a knack for finding tucked away gifts or just anything you’ve hidden from her for that matter. That is why you and Steve decided to throw the elf on the shelf and its accessories in that box so she wouldn’t find it. 

Eventually, you found said item. The whole process would have been faster if it wasn’t the middle of the “night”, but with it being so early in the morning, you two had to carefully dance around each other in hopes of not waking your sleeping angel. 

Together, you and Steve quietly tiptoed down the squeaky hallway. One would think that after all of those stealth missions, you and Steve would be able to handle sneaking around your own apartment, but alas, children are a lot more attentive than the enemies you have dealt with in the past. 

After spending a few minutes tediously assembling Pixie and her accessories, you and Steve finally came to design a finished project you both thought Sarah would enjoy. 

You and Steve had decided to set Pixie on the kitchen counter with her own bowl of cereal as Sarah was always up before you both. The little miss would be preparing her bowl of cereal and hopefully catch sight of her elf friend. 

Steve looked to you and groggily grinned, the two of you now a bit awake from the minimal adrenaline rush. 

Unfortunately, that lasted for a very short time because the minute you laid your head on Steve’s shoulder, your eyes shut and apparently you unintentionally fell asleep. It was no use fighting the sleep as it was inevitable at this point. Steve just chuckled at how easily you succumbed to the slumber as you were just energetically talking to him not even seconds ago. He then tenderly placed his hands upon your back and scooped you up bridal style, carrying you back to bed for a few more hours of much needed sleep. 

That morning you and Steve both woke up, same time as usual, and to no surprise, found Sarah in the kitchen. Although, before you both rounded the corner to step foot into the kitchen, you heard Sarah’s voice as she attempted to whisper. Looking to Steve with furrowed brows he looked back at you with shrugged shoulders. It wasn’t until you quickly peaked your head around the corner that you realized she was talking to Pixie. 

When you both found that out, you decided to stay behind the wall for a minute more to let her finish telling the elf what she wanted for Christmas. Luckily, either you and Steve were always to overhear what she’d ask for from Santa. Of course she still wrote a letter to Santa and you both would use that, but sometimes she’d drop a few things here and there to elf on the shelf. 

Though this time when you heard her request, it caught you off guard. 

“Hi Pixie, Mommy and Daddy are sleeping right now and I wanted to tell you this now before they wake up.”

Sarah placed her finger to her lips and made a shushing sound. You quietly laughed as did your husband. 

“Anyway, Daddy never gets to stay home for Christmas and I know this is a lot to ask for, so I wasn’t going to ask for anything else. I was hoping you could tell him I said this. As Mommy says, it’s always better to ask in ‘vance.” 

With that Sarah blew a kiss to the elf and turned back to her bowl of cereal. 

As quietly as possible, you once more turned to Steve who was practically breathing down your neck. Little had Sarah known that her father had indeed taken off the whole month of December. 

Sarah was just an angel, but what really tugged at the strings of your heart was when she asked for this and was willing to sacrifice a few silly toys just for her father to stay home this year.

That child was just as selfless as her father. 

Communicating with your eyes, both you and Steve silently agreed to tell her now. That way she’d still ask for some real gifts because what’s the fun in Christmas for a kid if they can’t open something from under the tree? 

So maybe you and Steve liked to spoil her during Christmas…

What? Sarah was your only baby and as any parent would do, you’d spoil her, and only because she was such a good child. 

With that, you and Steve finally walked into the kitchen where Sarah excitedly greeted you both. 

“Hey honeybun, Daddy and I have something important to tell you.”

You rested your forearms on the kitchen counter, where Sarah sat directly across from you. 

Steve came to join you by your side, a bowl of cereal in his hands. 

Sarah set down her spoon and intently looked at you both. 

“You know how I’m not always home for Christmas, hon?”

Sarah sadly shook her head, looking to Steve who was currently talking. 

“Well… I was able to talk off some time so I get to spend all of December with my two favorite girls!”

Immediately Sarah jumped from her chair, making you freak out for a second, and then she ran around the counter to hug Steve who welcomed her with open arms.

She wrapped her arms around Steve’s neck and he swayed back and forth as you watched the adorable interaction between the two. 

When you both weren’t looking, Sarah discreetly waved to Pixie and sent her a quiet “thanks.” 

Steve’s crazy frequency of hearing undoubtedly picked up the sound and he tried to look over his shoulder where Sarah was resting.   

“Did you say something, doll?”

Sarah picked her head up from its place on Steve's shoulder and she leaned back to be face to face with the man. Nodding her head “no,” she kissed his nose and you adoringly smiled at the two. 

Needless to say, that was the best Christmas gift Sarah could have asked for. Well, besides for the puppy she put on her list. And no, you and Steve didn’t cave on that one. 

[caitsyoi]

I made a post about the Seraphites, so now I want to make one about the WLF. This post is mostly about the WLF's home base, aka the stadium and the area immediately around it. I've included some of my favorite pictures, and my thoughts and observations about where they live and their culture.

Under the cut again to keep things nice and clean.

I gotta say, this blew my mind when I first saw this as Abby. The WLF really have their shit together. Multiple power sources, a bunch of the resources FEDRA left behind, and multiple food sources. The field has cattle, sheep, and chickens plus some farming. On the steps they have even more areas for farming. They have a way to collect water, and even people to design and string up their logo everywhere.

It makes sense, supposedly thousands of people live here (you can't see it unless except via glitch, but there is also baseball stadium immediately next to this that they might also occupy).

We only see where Abby and other soldiers (perhaps squad leaders?) live. They have a pretty cushy life, two per luxury box (the rooms NFL teams overcharge for that run along the upper level of stadiums). Mel also mentions a special area for young families, I wouldn't be surprised if these areas were further divided. Perhaps there is also housing for larger families and single people who aren't soldiers or squad leaders. I very much wonder if those who join the military get better housing than those that work as farmers (or dishwashers, teachers, laundry washers, cooks, etc.). As mentioned earlier, Abby and Manny live in a luxury box, and there are 112 of those in the stadium this is based on. That's housing for 224 people, if they all live like the people in Abby's hallway. That would mean there has to be more housing in other parts of the stadium.

This stadium was once used by FEDRA, and you can see the concrete barriers they left behind along the edge of the field. They have to have more cattle than this, to feed all the people that supposedly live under the WLF. There is farmland around the stadium (more on that later), so maybe they mostly let them graze out there, then move some in when they plan on slaughtering them soon.

I love that they have wind turbines AND solar panels. You can see the influence that the Fireflies had on Issac and the WLF, they really focus on stability and restoring what was lost (at least when it comes to comfort). So they have electricity, sustainable food sources (and multiple kinds too), and a way to collect water (you can't see it in this shot, but they use a system similar to Jackson's, just on a much wider scale).

They teach a curriculum similar to what was taught to kids before the outbreak. We only see two classrooms, but from what I can tell they try to give the gives the type of education they could have received in the old days (as best they can, at least). Both the teachers you see are pretty young, which makes me wonder who taught them.

Most of the kinds you see in class are pretty young, like less than 10. These look a little order (they are outside the stadium in the market area, which I will talk about more a little later). I wonder how long WLF children are required to attend school (I think I saw a sign for 1st through 6th grade, so at least that?). I imagine they get a basic education with some broad looks into various topics, and maybe the ones most apt for study are selected to do specialized careers like teaching or meteorology. Other children are probably pushed into farming or the military portion of the WLF. Regardless of what they study, they probably also get a heavy dose of WLF propaganda. That aligns with how gung-ho many of them are to fight.

I wonder if military service is compulsory, like everyone has has to do at least so much time and then they can do other things if they want. Or maybe they make it so you don't have to fight if you don't want to, but those that do get better perks.

Most of the WLF you see appear to be in their 20's or 30's, or at least the fighters. That would mean they have spent most (if not all) of their lives under military rule, and they would have a special allegiance to the WLF since they manage things so much better than FEDRA did. Plus, you know, all that propaganda. I imagine they are told a lot about how the WLF is restoring society and how the WLF saved them from FEDRA/Scars/infected.

Sorta related, I thought of an WLF AU. Ellie grows up in Seattle under the WLF, perhaps with Riley and Dina and the other characters from canon. So many interesting things can be done with this, but that's for another post maybe.

This is one the cafeteria's the WLF use. I believe this is one of a few, although this is the only one you see. There is also a butcher and small market for clothing and items here too. They prepare food here, but I think the majority of cooking is done in an area set up for it in the stands.

They have posted meal times for groups A-F, and separate meal times for children and the late night patrol. So maybe this is the only cafeteria? Each end is blocked off, so maybe they use some of the corridor that circles the stadium for more living quarters.

This is also community space where they can play games, chat, or read. There also seems to be a mix of soldiers and other workers eating together, as well as young families (there is at least 1 or 2 women with young babies in here).

This little detail was super cute to me, but it also tells you a lot about WLF society. Everyone has a job to do, there is a role and place for everyone to contribute.

I'll talk more about this in another post (titled "It's Silly to Call a Post-apocalyptic Group 'Fascists', but Still the WLF Is Pretty Messed Up"), but an important thing to remember about the WLF is that everything comes down to Issac. He has the final say on everything, he makes all the major decisions, he picks squad leaders, he decides who needs to be punished, he's basically the Supreme Leader. Issac has been shown to be somewhat progressive with some things (you can follow whatever religion you want or none at all in the WLF, the WLF has no problem with LGBTQ people, you can get medical waivers for military duty, they provide support for pregnant women and parents, etc.), and in other ways he is very much the opposite (he punishes anyone who disagrees with him - this could be a relatively light punishment of a crappy assignment or it could be a beating, then there's the whole attempted genocide thing). Anyway, my point is that there are good things about the WLF, but also there is a serious darkside.

Anyway, when I saw this lady and her baby I immediately thought of Dina doing this with JJ while she gardens.

I absolutely loveeeee this little detail. A mural for the fallen. This really reminds me of some stuff you could see today, just replace the wolf with an eagle and make the uniforms camo.

There are 46ish names on this wall, so I wonder if it is continuously updated or if there are multiple murals, because they definitely have lost more people than that over the years. Also, there are about 150 people at the FOB (the amount of bodies at the FOB, yes I counted) that will need to be added. Maybe the war with the Seraphites just really exploded in the last few weeks (or maybe longer) leading up to Ellie's arrival.

I love that you can pause during the ride with Abby, Mel, and Manny to look around the outside of the stadium. Immediately outside there are train tracks and what appears to be a large market running along side of it. This is on the west side of the stadium, I believe. A major highway intersection is also nearby.

The market has all sorts of goods, food, gas, clothing, cleaning products, TVs and other electronics, records, and even more. I wonder if this is some sort of intake area for any goods they bring back to the base. But who runs these little shops? From some notes you can find we know their economy runs on trade, so how does this work?

Once you get past the market area, you see a pretty vast section of farmland. I loved this shot because it also shows one of their rain water storage areas. They mark this water as to be used only for irrigation, so they must use something else for people to drink and bathe with. Or maybe they just filter some water for people to use, and the rest goes to the plants.

In the background you can see the wall and a guard tower. There is a larger wall (like much larger, I'm talking maybe 5 stories) around the QZ, and a smaller one that runs around the stadium.

This is labeled "Checkpoint #4", so I'm not sure if that means there are other gates, but this is the only one we see in game.

The wall is pretty thick, and you can see these guard towers spaced out all alongside it (much like in Jackson). Once you leave the walls you are immediately surrounded by the wasteland that is post-apocalyptic Seattle.

[darklightmiwxo]

MIW history

Hello I want to make a history and facts post of MIW. I been a fan for a few months so I may miss some stuff out. New fans can check this out to understand more of the band.

Motionless in white members:

[IMG=OAA]

Name: Chris motionless (cerulli)

Full name: Christopher Cerulli)

Age: 34

Birthday: October 17 1986

Zodiac: Libra

Birth place: Scranton Pennsylvania

Height: 6'1

Role: main singer

Relationship Status: single

Chris says he doesn't want to get married.

Fear: heights and flying

Personality: a really kind person who cares for his fans he's funny and has a dad humor. Everyone just see him as a dad to them.

Interest: Chris really loves dogs. He plays video games halo and call of duty he plays it all the time. His fave bands is slipknot,marlin manson,korn,HIM,and more rock bands.

[IMG=EOZ]

Name: Ricky Olson (horror)

Full name: Richard Alison Olson the third

Nick name: Rick

Age: 32

Birthday: September 1st 1988

Birth place: Seattle WA

Lives: Scranton Pennsylvania

Zodiac: Virgo

Height: 5'6

Uni: he studied film production in college but dropped out for the band.

Role: rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist

Relationship status: taken by Jamie L

Fear: dying alone,being hated,failing

Personality: he's a calm sweet person he's very smart and also really kind. He's a good caring friend. However he can be a troll sometimes and mess around with everyone because he loves doing it. He loves his fans so much. He's a shy boy.

Interest: he loves to write,draw,edit,take photos, record videos,run his YouTube channel,create a mini sketch video to post on his channel, being a director,he loves cats and reading books.

Ricky fave bands is: muse,HIM,afi,slipknot,BMTH,Ariana grande,Ellie goulding.

[IMG=NEP]

Name: Vinny Mauro

Full name: Vinchenzo Mauro

Nick name: vin,chenzo,sachetti

Nationality: Italian American

Age: 27

Birthday: Nov 22 1993

Birth place: jersey shore Pennsylvania

Zodiac: Sagittarius

(he's also a Sagittarius Scorpio cusp)

Height: 5'6

Uni: vinny study computer programming but he dropped out of college to join the band in 2014

Role: drummer

Bands: MIW,suffer club,trap demon

Relationship Status: single

Fear: being hated by people

Personality: in most of Ricky vlogs vinny seem extroverted he is loud around friends and has lots of fun being silly. But in reality there is a side to him that isn't easy to see you can see it in his twitch stream. He's actually really introverted he said this himself. He's calming and sweet he interact with fans a lot and making sure fans respect each other. He loves to be alone in his room for many days avoiding human contact. Vinny mention being too shy to go up to new people but he is fine if people go up to him. He doesn't feel comfortable talking to new people. He likes being alone.

Interest: creating rap beats,playing video games,making music,dogs and cats,playing drums.

Vinny fave artist are: Fall out boy,paramore,korn,panic! At the disco,HIM,my chemical romance,arch enemy,maroon 5,emeiem,Ariana grande,dua lipa,Mack millo,doji cat,bring me the horizon,pierce the veil,sleeping with sirens,all time low,black veil brides,Rihanna,linkin park,green day,evanescences.

[IMG=XHH]

Name: Ryan Sitkowski

Age: 30

Birthday: Jan 8,1991

Zodiac: Capricorn

Birth place: Pennsylvania

Height: 5'11?

Uni: he dropped out of college to join MIW

Role: lead guitarist

Relationship Status: taken

Fear: spiders

Personality: Ryan is a chill person he's shy and caring to fans. He's also a troll he loves to mess around with his friends.

Interest: guitar,video games,trading card games.

Bands: the same as the rest of miw probably.

[IMG=QFE]

Name: Justin morrow

Age: 32?

Birthday: May 11th

Birth place: Caledonia, New York

Zodiac: Taurus

Height: 6'1

Role: bassist

Relationship Status: married

Fear: ?

Personality: Justin is a kind chill person who cares for his fans and his friends. He left ice nine kills to right away help MIW on tour. Justin is also a troll he loves trolling his friends.

Interest: videos games but not a nerd like the others,bass,cosplaying,putting makeup on.

Bands: the same as MIW

Motionless in white history:

The band started in high school of 2005

Chris,Angelo,Frank p,Kyle white being the first members of the band. Later after college and the bands demo releases Josh joined the band. Frank moved to bass. Micheal and TJ join as guitarist. Later on micheal left the band and Chris met Ryan. Ryan then joined as guitarist of the band. Chris met Ricky in 2009. Frank left the band and Ricky was the new bassist for MIW.

MIW got more popular in 2009 when they tour around the state's in a van. Tj left the band a year later to join escape the fate (Ronnie radke of falling in reverse old band and bless the fall singer Craig band) Ricky then became the new rythmn guitarist of the band. Ghost (Devin) join as the bass player of the band. During the infamous album creation Angelo was feeling ill he couldn't play drums well anymore he gets tired easily and his drum skills wasn't good at all he was eating bad that it make him weak. He couldn't drum anymore so he left the band. The band had other drummers help record their albums. Brandon was the touring drummer for the band till the end of the reincarnated album. The band met vinny and he became the new drummer he was in the reincarnated music video playing drums but you can't see him much in the music video. Vinny then became a member of MIW not a tour drummer anymore but a actually member of MIW. Josh left the band around this time. In the graveyard shift era after the making of the album the whole band kicked ghost out of the band because the fans told the band what ghost did to fans which was very gross. The band kicked him out and Justin from ice nine kills join the band as bassist then he quit ice nine kills to be working full time for MIW. Disguise is the first album where the whole current members of the band created songs without other people doing it for them.

Chris history from high school to now:

Chris grew up in Pennsylvania. He met his friends who end up being the band members of the band he wanted to create he wasn't expecting to be the main singer. At a young age Chris started getting tattoos everywhere.

Chris cared about the band and just went for it.

Demos of the band was created. Chris is a perfectionist he wants the album to be perfect so he was judging everything in order to make a album he liked. Band members left but he didn't quit the band he try to find new band members and try to meet new bands. He worked hard for the band he carry the whole band and make sure the band was doing well. Chris thanks Ryan and Ricky for being the most loyal band members staying with him all these years and not leaving him. Chris had the fear of failing the band breaking up and Chris dreams crushing down but Chris didn't let that happen at all. And here we are today.

Ryan Sitkowski college to now:

Ryan dropped out of college to join MIW at age 17. He was new to the band and Josh didn't like him at all. Ryan was at a young age traveling all over the state with the band. Ryan haven't shared much of his life on the internet he kept it more private. Ryan got a girlfriend and then when the lockdown happen he started streaming on twitch to interact with fans and made a discord too.

Ricky Olson high school to now:

Ricky is the oldest of his siblings. When Ricky was young he was playing with his friends sports and something hit his tooth so half of Ricky teeth is fake. He mention he cry to his mom on the phone because of it. Ricky in middle school wanted to be in a band because his friends played instruments and he wanted to join them. Ricky in high school was a shy boy who had a few friends but they were mostly fake friends. Ricky Olson begin to play guitar and write stories because of the inspiration of Ville Valo from HIM. He became obsessed with HIM. Ricky was in a band in high school as the lead singer but was kicked out for sounding like Ville valo. One of Ricky dreams was to be in a band and also a film maker. In college he study film production. While also working in band merch booth selling band merch to people. But since Ricky was too shy he got yelled at for not speaking up and selling more. Ricky was in a bad time around 2008 and 2009. He share this in a blog years ago about this. He was in a lost place had a bad past and he was thinking of the past all the time and future worrying about failing the future he wanted to be in a band but he was so lost he had no idea what to do in his life. He would day dream about being in a band and then cry to sleep every night about his life. He had depression and gave up with everything in his life. He drank achoul every day. One day on his sister 16 birthday Ricky was drunk coming home from work to go to his parents house his sister was sleeping in her bed.

Tw// self harm and suicide attempt:

Ricky was laying in his sister's bed he cut his arm with a knife it was a lot Ricky was sobbing while watching the blood going down his arm to the floor his dad saw what happen and ask Ricky what happen. Ricky was sobbing and yelling he wanted to die many times. He passed out and went to the hospital he lost a lot of blood and the achoul level was really high he drank way too much. He almost died. He end up getting better and went to see a therapist. He went to see MIW with a friend. Ricky met Chris and the band thought Ricky was cool so he invited them to stay at his house. Chris text Ricky being like should join our band. Ricky would often say idk if I should he didn't know if he would be good enough for the band.

He later on join and quit college but Ricky mention still feeling depressed while in the band. Josh ballaz disliked Ricky when he joined too. 2 years later Ricky moved to rythmn guitarist but he wasn't used to playing guitar since he mostly did bass so he often made mistakes on guitar. He was still learning to play guitar. Things got better for Ricky. But his dream job was always filming he does some film stuff on tour and at home. Though he knew he probably won't be a film maker for movies like he dream of doing he makes whatever he can make. Ricky has stomach problems he often went to the doctor because of it.

Vinny Mauro childhood to now:

Vinny is one of the youngest children of his family. He has many siblings. Vinny mention on stream that he had a bad past. He mention that his dad would take achoul all the time and not give a fuck about vinny. Vinny mom would always go after Vinny. Vinny as a kid was a trouble maker he would disobey his parents and think it was funny. His mom would throw stuff at him and threaten him. His dad gave him a drum set so vinny end up learning to play drums he self taught himself to play drums. He listen to music and got into new types of music he likes all types of music. In middle school a girl that he liked asked him if he can play paramore on drums and vinny played it for her.

In high school vinny was a outcast and loner he made friends in his neighborhood but at school he had no friend. He didn't fit in with anyone. He mention in Ricky Olson podcast his high school life. Ricky ask him how he didn't find friends in high school. Vinny mention saying he didn't fit in with anyone he is also a shy person so he doesn't go up to new people. He was more a loner and was fine with it. Vinny went to uni to study computer programming but he didn't like it at all he was often bored he posted videos of him drumming on his YouTube channel. He knew a guy who knew MIW. MIW was looking for a drummer and they asked vinny to try out for drums in another country which was Australia. Vinny dropped out of college and told his parents what he was doing they weren't happy about that but he end up going over there trying out drums but he was very nervous. He met the band and then went to start drumming. Chris and Ricky were in the same room as vinny they were watching him play drums. Chris being very judgemental. He often scares Ricky when he's on guitar and Ricky fear to make a single mistake in front of Chris and vinny felt that fear. He even said I think I mess up a few times on drums. After he finish drumming. Ricky and Chris went to talk said not a single word and vinny was sweating so much thinking he made a mistake and he won't be part of the band. Later on Chris made vinny part of the band. Vinny became the tour member of the band then he became a member of MIW.

Years later vinny decided to interact more with fans since he had time to so he livestreams on twitch and has discord to interact with fans.

The lock down happen and vinny spend time interacting with fans. He lives with his friend in a house together. But something about vinny these few years mostly months to now that was starting to show. Vinny was suddenly showing signs of depression he often tweet depressing stuff but each year got worst for him. 2020 was the start of vinny's down fall. He had so much self hate he hated his hair,his body,his looks everything about himself he hate. He even tweeted saying I'm sad so I'm going to make a song. He release alone. Even he tweeted about something sad saying 2020 was a bad start for him and Ricky ask if he was ok and hoping vinny was just joking around. During December vinny had back pains because of a sneeze that hurt his nerves so vinny was in so much pain and he didn't see a doctor he thought he could fight it himself just taking pain meds to him. In Jan of 2021 the start of vinny down hill. He was in so much pain he couldn't leave his room or chair he couldn't even drum. He was very depressed. He hated life so much. A month later he got better and went back to streaming but still he was struggling there was some bad stuff happening anyway with him. The covid shot made him sick Saying he didnt eat anything for 4 days he felt like throwing up he even woke up in the middle of the night thinking he was going to do it and other stuff that made him depressed. Around April of this year small amount of fans notice something was going on with vinny he mention so much self hate about himself. In May he mention he was fine but a week later he said he was depressed and talking about what happen months ago and years ago. Sharing something about his family past and he stopped himself saying he doesn't want to get too into it. Vinny mention that he was eating food once a day because he felt like he is fat for over eating food all the time so he end up just eating dinner only everyday. He done it since the beginning of March and still is doing it. He wanted to loss weight. So he doesn't want breakfast and lunch but he eats dinner.

Around may vinny was in rock bottom he talk to no one at all even Ryan was 30 mins away from vinny and he ask him why he didn't go to see him and vinny said he didn't know why. Vinny mention saying he talked to no one for a week straight he also mention he isn't the kind of person to go up to people he said he's very introverted. he stopped streaming for weeks because he was doing bad. He said he felt burnt out and tired.

He took his break off social media for many weeks. Around this time many fans notice vinny was really not doing well.

Then he return to streaming around the 18th of June. Just to say hi he said he miss his fans but he plans to stream again a few weeks later. He mention that he have been avoiding all human contact and was staying in his room playing video games and drums all day still with the once a meal thing he does. Vinny said he's not depressed but people ask him about his depressing tweets and he said is it really depressing. Someone ask him why he is listening to sad music and he said am I not allowed to enjoy music. Now more fans are worried about him. Many more fans noticing that vinny isn't ok and he's hiding it.

That's basically all of MIW history I could give.

I will update and add more to the list later when something new happens. The vinny stuff is true I been watching his streams a lot and he mention those stuff so I just wanted to share what he said. I been a MIW fan for 8 months so I may not know Ryan and Justin as much as the others. Since they don't share much about themselves.

Hoping you enjoy this. Free feel to comment somethings I forgot to add.

Please don't argue about ghost ok. Ty

[fanfic-scribbles]

Dinner Date Chapter 17

Masterlist

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Overall Story Facts:

Fandom: MCU Captain America/Avengers

Story Summary: Steve Rogers has a girlfriend. A prickly, generally asocial girlfriend, but they make it work. They have more in common than some people might think.

Quick Facts: Romance – Steve Rogers/Reader – Female Reader

Story Warnings: Reader-insert that verges on OFC, written in 1st person past tense

Chapter 17: A For Effort

Chapter Summary: Steve struggles sometimes. It’s definitely not world-ending, unless cataclysmic laughter counts.

Chapter Word Count: 1186

A/N: Within me are two wolves. One thinks Steve is very good with his hands, the other thinks he would fumble ridiculously with a bra clasp. Somehow, both of these wolves co-exist and find the latter idea really fucking hilarious. I sort of earn the M rating with this chapter but it’s just suggestive, not really explicit. I thought the next thing I’d post would be a Bucky/Steve/Reader one-shot I’ve been working on, but it’s a little longer than expected. It will come eventually, but for right now enjoy this very silly thing.

 ~

I really loved Steve’s hands. The way his fingers curled, the feel of his strangely smooth skin against mine– calluses were no match for constant healing, apparently. Sometimes after a long week of hard, constant training there might be a ghost of a new unfamiliar ridge, but at that moment I felt only the inner curve of his knuckles and lines of his fingerprints as his hands gripped the skin of my sides while his lips and tongue pressed against and tangled with mine.

My shirt was still on, but it was bunched up so much that its presence was essentially a technicality, and one that Steve removed quickly enough. He kissed me again as soon as the cloth was out of the way, but I laughed into his mouth and pulled his shirt so it snapped back against him. “Doesn’t seem fair,” I said in between kisses. “Why am I always shirtless before you?”

“Ladies first,” Steve said, with a smirk too delicious looking not to nip at.

“Oh?” I grinned as he kissed down my neck and I leaned my head back to give him as much access as I could. “Does that mean I get to be first in everything?”

He chuckled while nibbling at the crook of my neck and I shuddered at the pleasant ripple of goosebumps that trailed out. “Now you’re getting it,” he said, hands moving up my back towards the clasp of my bra.

“Such a gentleman,” I said and sat up straighter to prepare for the release.

“I try,” he said and worked on the catch.

…And worked on it.

And worked on it.

And worked on it.

I waited but he was no longer nibbling at my skin, as his chin rested firmly on my shoulder. “Are you okay?” I asked, trying not to laugh at how much trouble he was having with a few tiny metal hooks.

“I’m fine,” he said, like he knew how much trouble I was having.

I waited, but the longer it took the harder it was to keep a straight face– and when he accidentally snapped the band against my back I burst out laughing and drowned out what sounded like a bunch of apologies.

“I take it back, I’m not sorry at all,” Steve grumbled, having stopped to better pout while still holding me. Or maybe he stopped because I had been moving too much– I had laughed pretty hard.

“Aw Steve.” I kissed his shoulder and used his arms as a guide to get my hands back to the clasp. Or I tried to– his arms were big and right in the way of where I was trying to bend mine. “Come on; let me take it off and we’ll get to the good stuff, okay?”

“No,” Steve said and adjusted his body so he was pressed even closer, but he made up for his stubbornness just slightly by trailing a line of kisses down my neck. “I can get it.”

Normally I would have given him the benefit of the doubt, as it was a bra and not a lock on Fort Knox, but the way he fumbled with the clasp was wreaking hell on my self-control. If I laughed too much, one or both of us might get knocked out of the mood, and as hilarious as this was, I was looking forward to having sex now and teasing him relentlessly later. There would be plenty of time for laughter in the afterglow. “Steve,” I said gently and bit down hard on my lip to keep from laughing when his thumb slipped. “Steve, I’ll show you how to do it.”

“I don’t need you to show me,” he said, still grumping. He was too close to allow me to turn to look at him, but I could mentally pinpoint the exact shade of red he was just by the quiet tone of his voice. “Are you okay wearing this death trap?”

I rolled my eyes and rested against him. “It’s actually one of my more comfortable ones,” I said. I was then struck by a horrifying thought. “And if you break it you will get no sex ever again.”

“If I wanted to break it I would have,” he said but some of the tension in the main band lessened. Then I heard a familiar ‘click!’

But before I could congratulate him on getting one single hook undone, I heard, and felt, an equally familiar ‘snap!’

I tried to hold it together, I tried, but… “Steve…”

“Don’t.” His voice was nearly a growl.

I tried to breathe to keep from hyperventilating and repeated a mental mantra of ‘don’t laugh don’t laugh don’t laugh don’t laugh.’ “Steve…did-did y-you…undo it…a-and then…re-…do…”

He dropped his head and swore with more venom than I had ever heard from him and that was it; I lost it and burst out laughing. I laughed so hard I almost missed him say, “You know what? I don’t care about having sex ever again; come here,” and so I barely pulled away in time before Steve could annihilate one of my least obnoxious pieces of clothing.

Honestly, it was fine. Sex could (and would) happen again someday. I would have had to find a new bra eventually anyway. But this kind of mocking was once in a lifetime and I intended to milk every second of it, even if I did have to do so while dodging a super soldier to prolong my poor (best ever) bra’s life. “It’s okay Steve, it’s cute. A little–” I shrieked when he charged me, but he only barely snagged a shoulder strap, and my momentum pulled it so it snapped back against my skin really hard. “Fuck!”

“See? It’s terrible and you should get rid of it,” he said and caught me around my middle. He then picked me up so my legs instinctively wrapped around his waist, and he pulled the back of the bra apart until the hooks and eyelets popped off and scattered across the floor. Before I could bitch him out though he mashed his mouth to mine and kissed me, hard and rough, like he was trying to devour me, and most of my newfound aggression went into what was now, honestly, a better use of my time and energy. And certainly more productive, considering how bullheaded Steve was.

Said point about his obstinacy was proven after I was laid on the bed when he pulled back and said, “I’ll buy you a new one. A better one.”

I rolled my eyes but I allowed myself to smile, despite his terribleness. He, seemingly heartened by the expression, came back to kiss me, gentler, and we got right back to business.

He seemed so pleased with himself that I decided not to mention the impetus for the smile was the knowledge that, upon having found a bra that wasn’t awful, I had done the very sensible thing of immediately buying several more just like it.

But that was something I could show him later, as a sweet little surprise. Just for him.

~

Previous Chapter Next Chapter

[chierafied]

20 Questions: Writer’s Edition!

Thanks so much for the tag, @blitheringmcgonagall​ and @the-dream-team​! 💙💙💙 I was really hoping to get to do this one lol

***

How many works do you have on AO3

300 (though I’ve yet to post 8 fics from my backlog there)

What’s your total AO3 word count?

1 281 330

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they?

Three. SessKag (Inuyasha), Jily (Harry Potter) and IchiRuki (Bleach)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

If I did the REAL top 5 fics by Kudos it would be all SessKag and my answers overall are very SessKag heavy as is so I went with top 2 SessKag, top 2 Jily and top 1 IchiRuki instead.

1. Life After Loss

This was not the happily ever after Kagome had always dreamt about. This could not be happening to her, not after everything they had gone through... She never knew that her whole world could screech to a complete halt in a blink of an eye.

SessKag, M, Chapter Fic, 98k words

2. Stranger Than Fiction

The books have been all the craze recently, boasting an epic adventure set in the chaos of Sengoku Jidai. Kagome has steered clear from them; she has spent quite enough time dwelling in the past as is. However, when her roommate and a die-hard fan  of the book series laments the latest plot twist, Kagome realises that the accursed books might be hitting even closer to home than she ever suspected. 

SessKag, T, One Shot, 913 words

3. #Jily

Twitter seemed awash with the hashtag Jily. Lily blinked at in confusion, until she realised it was one of those silly couple monikers people had  bestowed on her and Potter. …Though there was a small dissenting crowd following a tweet from Potter’s bandmate Sirius Black: Jily? Hah! More like LAMES. 

Jily, G, One Shot, 2,991 words

4. Much Tweeting About Crushing

James has a hopeless crush on his neighbour and tweets about it, which is fine. Until Evans follows him. 

Jily, T, One Shot, 3,050 words

5. Miscalculation

Rukia planted her elbows on the table and steepled her fingers. “I want my brother to think we’re dating so I can get him off my back.” Ichigo scoffed at her. “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.” 

IchiRuki, T, Two Shot, 1,820 words

Do you respond to comments, why or why not?

Yes and no? 😅 For a long time I had a policy that I’d reply to comments if I had something more to say than just “thanks”.

Nowadays I reply to nearly every comment I get on AO3. I feel if the people bother to take the time to comment, the least I can do is thank them and I’ve made some friends in the comment section along the years too. But all that said... since I went on my hiatus I haven’t really been replying to my comments on Dokuga much, the clunky reply system there makes it feel like a big hassle which makes it feel draining. 😅

What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

Hmm, Probably either Foil (SK) or Vagary (SK)?

... And I just realised Vagary is another one I never posted on AO3 argh when will the backlog end???

What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

Probably Life After Loss, all things considered. 💙

Do you write crossovers? If so what is the craziest one you’ve written?

I’ve never written proper crossover, i.e. characters from different series interacting but I’ve written crossover fusions i.e. charas from series 1 in the setting of series 2, such as Disney AUs etc.

The craziest one would be probably the SessKag Star Wars AU because I’m not a Star Wars fan and know very little of it but it was requested so... 🙈

Have you ever received hate on a fic?

I got Anon hate at one point from an anti-shipper on my IchiRuki fic on FFnet, it was wild. 🤣

And maybe not as far as hate but the notorious plot twist on Chain of Love (SK) was very much criticised to the point where even years later when I got a comment notification for Chain I would inwardly flinch. 😅

Do you write smut? If so what kind?

I don’t.

I have written and will write a sex scene if the story requires it (most recently in Do I Remind You Of Somewhere You Wanna Be, SK). But they are never explicit in nature, I’m not naming genitals or anything lol. The thing is, if I have to write sex I want to keep it... tasteful, for the lack of a better word. So a term like smut, with connotation to dirtiness would never apply to my writing.

(Back in the day, because I don’t write explicit scenes I did not consider my sex scenes “lemons” either. Which is why I’m still cackling about the fact that Chain once won the 1st place award for a best lemon scene.)

Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes, I have. Chain was posted on Wattpad without my knowledge or permission. It is wild having to file a DMCA over a fanfic. 😂

Have you ever had a fic translated?

I have! Some of my SessKag one shots have been translated to Spanish, I believe!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

I’ve tried, with a close IRL friend of mine, but as our attempts never got very far I wouldn’t say I really have. 😅

What’s your all time favorite ship?

Oof, that’s a tough one. Maybe IchiRuki?

What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

Probably the Bodyguard AU (JL) and the Shotgun AU (JL)? I love both of these stories a lot but I’m very much in the beginning with them and both are ideas I’ve had for years yet have never really been able to actively work on?

What are your writing strengths?

Hmm. I feel my writing style leans towards short and simple so it’s easily approachable? I think I’m pretty good with dialogue. Sometimes, I can do a lot with very few words. And I think I’m fairly good at slipping in little details or giving a sense of backstory, even if it’s a short one shot?

What are your writing weaknesses?

I suffer from a perpetual lack of motivation that I try to combat with having a writing routine. I’m slow to update because unless I’m inspired which never happens or am on a deadline crunch I am perfectly comfortable just adding 300-500 words to my WIP and calling it a day. I loathe editing so I rarely do much else than a cursory proofread before posting.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

My initial thought is why? 😂 I mean I guess I don’t mind but I feel using another language in the fic should be justified and done in moderation. Personally, I probably wouldn’t write dialogue in another language.

What was the first fandom you wrote for?

Okay so the first fic I ever actually wrote/published was a 2nd gen arranged marriage fic for The Belgariad and The Malloreon, my favourite book series growing up. The fic, which fizzled out after 2 or so chapters, was deleted years ago lol

SessKag came second. 😉

What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

*vaguely gestures at the 300+ fics* It’s pretty much impossible to choose among my children but if you put a gun to my head I’ll say Life After Loss.

Tagging: @drosselmeyerwrites @mythicamagic @sagemcmae @stormielikeweather @wbficaholic

[murdereraisuha]

I wrote this for myself to try and organize my current theories on TWST, but I might as well keep this blog going even though I’m out of ideas for card maker memes.

This is basically a rant that starts out with theorizing about RSA, the Cater=Cinderella theory, and Split Card, but then spirals into a Cater character analysis.

For anyone who doesn’t know the Cinderella theory, it’s basically just Cater might have something to do with Cinderella because he has two bossy sisters, and during the ghost marriage there was this whole thing where Riddle needs to rescue Cater before midnight because of some Queen of Hearts rule. 

Spoilers for Cater’s personal stories (including his halloween outfit story) and chat, and chapter 4 of the main story. Okay now let’s get into it. Over 1,800 words geez what am I doing with my life

   Aight so Ace and Deuce don't have their unique magics yet and there is obviously Something going on with Cater so it really makes me think that we're gonna return to Heartslabyul somewhere down the line. We know there's gotta be more stuff with RSA, so that might tie into the Cater = Cinderella theory. Maybe we have a chapter focusing on RSA and Cater will be the main focus or ally for that. IDK man, I'm still kind of eh on the Cinderella theory cause it makes a lot of sense but we already have Mozus being the evil stepmother. Him and Cater are from the same hometown (?) but my concern is that if Cater is a main focus and he gets connected to Mozus then Mozus would also be in the spotlight which would be odd given how nothing seems to suggest that the teachers (except Crowley) getting bigger roles in the story. However, it could always be a situation like with Farena where Mozus is there and some sort of connection is briefly discussed but he isn't important and maybe someone else takes the role of evil stepmother in the story.

   Ok idk so we're gonna go back to Cater. If the Cinderella theory is true, we gotta consider how exactly Cater represents Cinderella. Does he represent Cinderella in the way that he's twisted from her (ex. Azul & Ursula) or that he just takes the role of Cinderella for a chapter (ex. Azul & The Genie)? The fact that he uses dark magic points to it being the latter, that he really is twisted from a card soldier. However, we gotta consider 1. the nature of his unique magic 2. the plot of Cinderella. Though we know he has the ability to clone himself, we don't know how exactly this works. Are the clones identical, or do/can they have differences? In episode 1-15, the Cater clones all have slightly different responses ("はーい" "まかせて！" "おっけー♪") to getting ready to paint the roses. Given how clones don't exist in real life, it's impossible to tell whether this variation indicates actual differences in personality, is just due to the clones' slightly different experiences (like a sort of butterfly effect), or if it's just a decision by the writer so they aren't repetitive. Another thing to note is that in that same episode Cater claims that cloning himself is tiring. If this is the only source for this information, there's the possibility that it just was a lie to let him manipulate the 1st years into helping him paint. Finally, Cater's ability makes me think of Twice from BNHA. Can only the original Cater create clones? Or is he like Twice in that his clones can also make clones, therefore making it impossible for anyone, including himself, to tell who is the original?

  What I'm getting at here is the possibility of Cater having clones that 1. stick around permanently and 2. are significantly different than him. This would create the possibility of him being twisted from both the card soldiers and Cinderella, but he is able to use his clone ability to split up those aspects of himself. One Cater is the card soldier one normally walking around NRC and who has dark magic, but then there's another Cinderella Cater who has light magic. Assuming this is what is going on, it would kind of connect to his two-sided personality, where he presents his bubbly, social-media addict personality to the world but has another, depressed, more private personality underneath. 

  Now, getting into what I mentioned before about the plot of Cinderella, Cinderella normally looks like a humble servant. However, with the aid of the fairy godmother, she completely transforms herself into a breathtaking princess so she can go to the ball. However, once the clock strikes midnight, she transforms back. Basically, Cinderella has the ability of transformation, to have two completely different versions of herself. One version is her true, plain self, while the other is a flashy deception. This information strengthens what I just said about Cater's personality and clone ability.

  Actually, just going into Cater's personality for a bit (yeah, “a bit” lol)... He has a big focus on always being presentable. In his lab coat, he seems pretty desperate to hide all evidence of his true self, claiming that he just failed at putting his magic in the depressed mandrake and then hiding all his other mandrakes aside from the fun ones. This desperation is similar to Cinderella's, with how she flees the ball in a hurry once it reaches midnight so no one will see how she truly looks once the spell breaks. Now, why do Cater and Cinderella behave the way they do? I don't remember Cinderella's exact motivations for attending the ball, but wikipedia says that she had to flee the ball because if the spell broke there she could get caught by her stepmother & stepsisters. What is Cater's "ball"? Well, because of his strong social media presence, his "ball" is basically everywhere, all the time. If something happens on social media that exposes his true self, breaking his "spell", not only can other students see it, but his sisters can also see it.

  Cater hates sucking up to his older sisters, which implies that he has had to suck up to his older sisters and put up his happy front around them too. Just like how Cinderella can't afford to let her stepsisters realize her true identity at the ball, Cater can't afford to let his sisters realize his true self. It's honestly kind of sad; unlike Cinderella, whose stepsisters only showed up later in her life, Cater's older sisters have been around him and making him miserable for all of his life.

  Kinda unrelated, but looking though Cater's chats, in the one he has with Trey they talk about the Queen of Hearts and her love for sweets, Cater remarks that he wants to have tea with her too, leading Trey to say that Cater would be unable to befriend her since they're in different social classes. Isn't this basically a genderbent version of Cinderella, just a commoner, wanting to go to the ball where the Prince is? 

  Now going back to Cater's personality. Even if he does fear his sisters, that doesn't seem to fully explain his 24/7 pep and focus on being magicammable. Now, what if we say that happiness=nobility. In Cinderella, she dresses up like nobility so she can remain in the ball where the actually rich people are. What if Cater is acting happy so he can fit in with the people around him, who are naturally happy enough that they don't need to fake it? Is this a fake it until you make it situation? At the end of his ceremony robes story, after he says he's tired and doesn't care about the ceremony, he says he's just kidding and goes back to talking about the selfies he took that day. Even though he's alone and wouldn't really get hurt for dropping his performance. It gives the vibe to me that his situation is not like Jamil's, where he's fully aware he's unhappy, deliberately acts otherwise in front of others, and tries to eliminate the cause of his unhappiness. Instead, Cater is trying to eliminate his unhappiness itself. He grasps onto magicam because if he fills up his account with pictures of a happy life, it's like he's actually living a happy life.

  This idea I have of Cater trying to fit in also goes along with his focus on the current trends, like in one of his gym uniform voice lines where he panics at the idea of not knowing about a new popular game. Rather than making his own aesthetics or trends, he goes along with the crowd. Sweets and desserts are trendy? Then he'll take tons of pictures of them and say they're super delicious even if he actually hates sweet food. He disregards or evades his own preferences to create the appearance that he's just like everyone else, and he puts effort into staying up to date so he can maintain that appearance.

  Moving on, I reread his halloween outfit personal story. Something that stuck out was the end, when Cater thinks that Lilia wouldn't understand what he's going through. Specifically, Lilia wouldn't understand his 下らなくてどーしよーもない feelings. According to jisho, 下らない can mean trivial/not worth bothering with/worthless, and it can also mean stupid/absurd/silly. Then, どーしよーもない (どうしようもない)  means something that can't be helped, that has no way out of it. Doesn't this seem kind of odd? That he claims his feelings are just trivial then but also he can't help having them? Is this a contradiction? Or is it something like he believes that most people wouldn't have these silly feelings but he specifically is too weak to push past them?

  For self-esteem though, he seems to at least be trying to boost it. Like in his gym uniform story, when he decides to just clone himself and have each one run 1 lap instead of him running 5 by himself, his clones all praise him for the idea. However, this could be a fake it until you make it thing again. The praise does seem a bit heavy-handed. 

  There's also the whole thing in the 2nd part of the story where he talks about all the shallow friendships he has made. He notes that he'd rather have a casual time with people rather than get attached. That plus his family situation... means he's really never had anyone to trust. Anyway, he then goes on to talk about how magicame is amazing for helping him maintain all these casual friendships. So there we have another reason for his social media addiction: not only does it let him create a picture of happiness, he can get tons of feedback affirming his happiness and serving as proof of happiness. How can he possibly be lonely if he has so many friends?

  Both in his ceremony robes and halloween outfit stories have a moment where Cater is tired and admits he's tired but then downplays it. Yeah, the ceremony was tiring, but he got tons of great pictures out of it! Yeah, dealing with guests was rough, but at the same time all the halloween stuff was exciting! This sort of thing is a pretty common strategy for increasing the persuasiveness of an argument. By first agreeing (yes, he's tired) with the opposing view (he is not happy), he can then push his own view (he is happy) and point at his earlier concession as proof that he has looked at both sides of the issue instead of only looking for evidence of his own belief. 

 So basically what I'm getting here is that Cater Is Not Okay. Prevented from building close bonds with friends or family, he's reinforcing his isolation himself through his fervent efforts to never let anyone close and never let his mask drop. He's gone so far as to try and convince himself that he's happier than he actually is through self-deception and social media.

  Alright that’s all I got for now see ya