#breaking my silence (being on vacation) to complain

[soullessjack]

the jackgirl experience is finding a blog that’s capable of making intelligent thought around jacks character or recognizing him as an autonomous adult and realizing after further inspection that ,8 times out of 10. they’re probably a w*cestie, and then wishing you could take a chemical bath to wash away the interactions

[arcane-vagabond]

.

[konigenblobbity]

Drabble: Hobie Finds Out He Likes Being Choked

Hobie Brown x F!Reader

Warnings: Smut, riding, mutual orgasm, p in v, tits, mention of bondage, choking ofc

A/n: Kindaaa similar to the Hobie with a Leash one but I wanted to post something :p Still on vacation at the moment

—

Hobie has always been in love with watching you ride him, whether he ordered you to and guided you through it, or you wanted to take charge and became more dominant.

In this case you wanted to be more dominant, riding Hobie with your hands braced on his shoulders to help you while his hands were tied to the headboard. His eyes never left you once, not even daring to blink at fear of missing the sight in front of him.

The way your head was tilted back meaning he could only imagine the way your eyes were rolling back and how your lips were probably parted slightly to allow your moans to flow past effortlessly. He wouldn’t complain though, more than happy to watching your tits bounce instead, or how his cock disappeared repeatedly into your cunt.

Just like all the other times you ride him, he can hear your shaky breathing, see how your back arches, how your movements become more inconsistent, how you begin to grind more to make up for your soreness… all tell tale signs you were close.

Since his hands were tied back he couldn’t help much, deciding to grind his hips up slightly to help you in your efforts. Through soft moans he began to shower you with encouragement, wanting to help you fall over that edge.

“I can tell you’re close love. Don’t stop, I wanna feel you shake on top of me” he’d say, his own voice shaky. “Even with your thighs sore you don’t stop~ It feels too good doesn’t it? How my cock presses against your walls just how you like it” the whole time his eyes half-lidded with pleasure.

You didn’t respond, only able to moan out softly and occasionally tremble from the pleasure. “Cmon love, tell me how I can help” you’d just whine at those words, why he thought you could answer him lost on you. “What should I do hm?” He repeated, waiting for a response. It was so sweet how he was trying to help but your tongue was numb.

You didn’t even try to respond, focusing only on the movement of your hips, the way his cock pressed against your g-stop over and over, how when your hips met his- “Cmon love, tell me.” He’d say again and your brows furrow.

Unable to speak and his questions dragging your attention away from what you desperately chased. What you desperately needed. Much to your dismay, Hobie goes to speak again “Should I-“

Without thought you did something you’ve never done before, something he definitely didn’t expect.

Suddenly your hands moved from his shoulders to his neck, silencing him instantly with your grasp. You tilted your head forward again and met his eyes with a half-lidded yet somehow pointed look. “Shhh. H-Hobie, just shush” you mumbled. It was both demanding and pleading.

He was frozen, but as he felt your fingers gently pressed against the sides of his neck he nodded… completely speechless. You’ve been dominant before, but never like this. It unnerved him how much he liked it. He could feel how the pressure from your hands against his neck sent a jolt of pleasure straight to his cock.

You felt how Hobie throbbed inside you, the head of his cock managing to abuse the spot inside you that had you seeing stars. Practically throwing you off the edge of ecstasy.

He watched how your head fell back again, your walls clenched down tight around him. He could feel how your hands gripped his throat tighter when you came. Their grasp not suffocating but restricting enough to have him taking deep inhales. He was falling apart beneath you.

The feeling enough to thrown him over the edge abruptly. His head fell back onto the bed and his hands gripped at the belt holding his wrists to the headboard. “F-fuck… yes, god thats-“ a low groan breaks apart his words, unable to finish his statement.

You continued to grind your hips, no longer bouncing up and down. His hips did the same, both of you riding out your highs. Your head still thrown back and moaning again softly at the warm feeling of Hobie cumming deep inside you while you continued to drain him with your pulsing walls.

Once you both recovered from your post-orgasmic haze your bodies naturally relaxed. Your hands loosening around his neck and he whimpers softly at the feeling. You tilt your head to look down at him and then finally registered what you did.

The red marks on his neck weren’t very dark or apparent, but you could clearly see where your nails dug into the skin of his neck. “S-shit Hobie! I’m sorry, I-I didn’t realize” you say, letting go of his neck entirely, gently cupping his cheek with one hand to tilt his head to the side for a better look at his neck.

He watched your movements and expression of concern with amusement; half-lidded eyes and a lazy smirk on his lips. “Can you untie me?” He asks softly and you immediately reach your hands up. “Y-yeah of course! I-I really am sorry, I feel awful Hobie, I should’ve been more careful” you begin to ramble.

The second his hands are untied, you place your hands on his chest and go to move off of him but his hands immediately grip your hips like a vice “Don’t move. And don’t you dare apologize love…” his voice slightly raspy but still the low baritone it usually was. You look back up into his eyes, not seeing any pain or regret in them.

“I loved it…” you blushed at his words, there wasn’t an ounce of sarcasm or teasing in them. In your shock you only manage to stutter out a soft “r-really?”. When he nods, you can’t help but bite your bottom lip.

You’d be lying if you said you hated doing it to him. He placed a hand on top of one of yours, pulling it up to his lips before placing a tender kiss on your palm.

“Feeling these soft hands against my throat… fuck love the things you do to me” he groans out and moves your hand back down to his throat. You sit in silence, completely taken aback by this discovery. Hobie smirks at your state of shock and decides to use it against you.

“You’re so cute when you get all flustered…” he mumbles teasingly. His other hand reaches up and gently grabs your throat, pulling your face down closer to his own. You didn’t even fight back, at his bold action you instinctively gripped his throat with your hand.

“Fuck… just like that” When he groans lowly you blush, “What? Didn’t think I was boring did you?” He mocked and you chuckled at his teasing and then lightly shook your head adding “Not at all…”

“Good” he leans up and kisses your lips softly. Unable to contain your smile as he did. He gives your throat a quick squeeze and he can hear how your breath hitches “Guess we have one more thing in common now...”

-

Small note: being vanilla or not liking this type of stuff doesn’t make you boring. Whatever gets your rocks off ;)

[madnessr]

Reunited Chapter 1

Summary: 300 years had passed since 1725, where three vampires had lost the only thing that mattered to them. Now in the year 2025, they are reunited with the one person they cannot lose again.

A poly Lestat, Louis, and Armand x Reader relationship

Warnings: Slight gore, cursing, mild angst

Word Count: 5k

Here it is guys! The first chapter to this series. Please let me know what you think, your comments make my day!

Masterlist

The Queen Mary, a ship built alongside the RMS Queen Elizabeth, was constructed to express service between Southampton, Cherbourg, and New York. The intention was to provide competition to super-liners built by European companies in the late 1920s. However, by 1965 the Queen Mary was no longer profitable and soon retired in 1967, retiring in December on the shores of Long Beach, California. 

All of this happened 31 years before you were even born, the notorious ship now growing roots against the harbor, nourishing a reputation for being hunted and cursed. Attracting self-proclaimed ghost hunters and other psychics to try and connect to the ship's past. 

But winds were changing, and in early January of 2023, the descents of Cunard White Star, the original owner of the Queen Mary, announced a revival. A luxurious experience reliving the thrills of the 1920s, promising to carry the Queen Marry across the oceans once more for a final and elegant vacation for anyone who wanted to set sail on history, departing from California and arriving in Italy. 

Social media and dedicated Queen Mary fans went wild over this news, claiming this could be the next generation of the Titanic, while paranormal enthusiasts couldn't wait to explore the ship for longer than just a night. However, you, along with many others, saw the announcement for what it actually was, a job opportunity. 

Inflation being at an all-time high since the 1980s, you, along with 63 percent of Americans who are also living paycheck to paycheck, could use the extra cash, a place to stay was a given, no matter how small the staff rooms would be on the ship, you wouldn't complain. Having nothing to lose, you handed in your resume along with hundreds of others. You felt confident in your chances of being accepted, making a note to highlight your previous career in the American Symphony Orchestra as a cello, and when worst came to shove, you also were a waitress at one point. 

The Queen Mary was not set to sail until 2025, leaving the hiring staff an entire two years to sort and select applications. Leaving you and many others in a state of radio silence. So, you promptly forgot about it. Moving on with your day-to-day life, you continued working ungodly hours, living off unfair wages, and living one day at a time. Until you had the wonderful delight of experiencing your boss, someone you furthermore supported through extra shifts and on days off, made a choice to fire you. 

Or, as she said, "Needing to let go of such a valuable employee due to the current economy." A load of bullshit if she asked you, but she didn't, and with your belongings sitting in the classic cardboard box, you made your way back to your apartment. 

Unlocking your door, letting your feet kick the old wood on its rested hinges closed behind you. You dropped the box carelessly, letting yourself sit on your second-hand couch with your head in your hands. 

You had faced many challenges since moving to America, leaving your family in Austria to make it big in the symphony orchestra only to be eventually let go by an abusive boss. Leaving you as a waitress at Denny's for the past two years. Of course, your family didn't know; how could they? 

You had left them. Had promised and gloated about your upcoming success just to end up in a shabby apartment in a dangerous area and now unemployed too. You were tired and have been for the past two years, but today was your breaking point. Like a cold shower, realization gradually washed over you, forming a heavy puddle in the pit of your stomach. You had failed. 

You wouldn't return as the prodigy you had hoped to be; you wouldn't return wealthier than when you left. Damn it, you couldn't even sustain yourself anymore; the only way you'd be returning is with a walk of shame. How were you supposed to look them in the eyes again? People who unconditionally believed in you, people you made promises to like prayers. 

You were ready to finally give up, throw the white towel, raise your flag, and surrender. You could already hear your grandmother, rotted in old sexist views, present you as an example to your younger siblings. You could practically hear her nasally voice, "Women have no place pretending to be anything they aren't." She always said that; it was almost her slogan. Whenever you had a new idea, when you aspired to be in all kinds of careers, from pilot to singer, she denied every single one. She wanted you to be a wife; nothing more or less was suitable. 

The dawning realization hit you that not only did you fail, but you proved her right too. Your young siblings looked up to you and watched you prove her wrong as you lied to them. Yet, you still pretended to be successful, that you were a part of symphonies, and that employers were constantly looking to recruit you. So not only would you return as a failure, but a liar too.

In your well-deserved moment of self-wallowing, you heard the rusty sound of your mail slit open, watching a letter fall to the floor. You stared at it, silently praying that this wasn't the icing on the cake, and your landlord decided to hand out eviction notices. Then, slowly pushing your lethargic body onto its feet, you hobbled over and picked up the letter. 

Ripping the envelope open carelessly, your eyes scanned the paper. You had been hired as part of the staff regarding the Queen Marys voyage, glancing at your calendar briefly, nearly two years after fucking applying. Due to a staffing issue provided by a system failure, you were hired as part of the waiting staff and, on occasional afternoons, a part of the on-sight orchestra. 

A dry laugh escaped you, flipping off the air as you grinned tiredly. "Not yet, grandma, not fucking yet.." 

The sound of seagulls singing, the smell of seaweed, drying kelp rotting on the shore, and the salty mist of ocean air surrounded you as you passed the crowd. It was boarding day, and you and the rest of the staff members were instructed to board early. But how was that even possible when you had to survive a sea of people instead of boarding a ship. Kids running around, clerly excited, young adults in their groups babbling about the cruise, while you and another worker, Ella, stuck out like a sore thumb in your 1920s-style work uniform. Considering that was when the ship was built and set out to sail, the owner of the Queen Mary only deemed it fitting that the boat preserved its history. 

Along with all the "excuse me's" and "pardon me's," your eyes caught on to a peculiar pair of men. Both sporting shoulder-long locks, one a cheerful blonde and the other a content-looking brunette. Their odd fashion was comparable to yours if they wore formal uniforms. But the clothes looked so ideally suited to their bodies, not an inch of fabric out of place. You just assumed they were history enthusiasts and wanted to match older decades. You caught the gaze of the blonde man, whose laughter and smile stilled as he watched you. A chill traveled down your spine as the eye contact was far too intense for your liking. Ella grabbed your arm carefully, guiding you through the crowd so you two would stay aware of the situation. Finally, you managed to get to the elevator, showing your employee passes before being able to board. 

You glanced out through the glass elevator walls, once again catching sight of the two men from earlier. Yet this time, six pairs of eyes stared at you; a look of shock and utter disbelief fell across their features. There was this incredibly odd, almost indescribable feeling of deja vu washing over you like those handsome faces were familiar. Finally being out of the rush of guests, you had a moment to stare. A man with black hair joined them, his strands of dark locks reaching further down than the others. He looked stoic, calm even, but his gaze connected with yours when you looked at him. He smiled, a gentle soft one that you barely even noticed. But it made you feel something—content. Like the man rarely ever smiled but had done so for you. Before you could fall further into your ridiculous daydreams. You looked away, feeling creeped out as the doors opened, letting you walk up the ramp and board the ship. 

The ship's interior was a work of art all on its own. The lobby, displaying a decorative wall resembling a fountain behind the reception desk, stretched from one corner to another. Several seats and booths were set up to serve as the reception worker's primary domain. Being guided through the halls, past the main entrance seating area. You passed a golden elevator; there was something old-time about it, displaying a large panel to indicate which floor it was on at the top. A large, almost clock-like arrow guided its passage. 

The staff was then split up and shown to their rooms. The halls had a fancy, royally red carpet as the floor. Beautiful golden embroidery gives it a more meaningful design as you pass the countless rooms. Having been given time to settle yourself, you glanced at your room. It looked similar to a standard, single-bed hotel room. A door leads to a closet on your right, being reflected by a body mirror parallel to it. There was a sliding door made of glass on your left, leading to a simple bathroom. A regular-sized bed and a simple bedside table on either side are in the middle of the room. You had put your suitcase against the chairs, flopping onto your bed for a moment to breathe. 

A sharp, almost tapping or knocking sound was heard from your window. Making you snap your head up; nothing should be able to hit your window, considering you were on a ship, high above the waves. Standing up, you glanced outside, watching the night nearly overshadow all the waiting guests if it weren't for the street lamps and store lights. Shrugging, you turned around once more and were later ushered to the restaurant you would serve at with Ella. But, again, given the summary of what was expected of you, you wouldn't be a waitress tonight. 

The restaurant was built to look fancy. Circular tables have neatly, if not ironed tablecloths draped over them. Two plates, four pieces of cutlery, wine glasses, and a white cloth napkin folded in a triangle on each plate. Pointing to the grand chandelier in the room's center, casting the room in a delicate orange glow. Along one side of the restaurant stood a small stage, a few instruments being displayed along with a cello. 

Tonight, you would be entertaining the dining patrons from 6:00 pm till 7:00 pm as the ship's doors finally opened to the public. So, you took your place on stage, skillfully preparing yourself for your session. 

The ship boarded similarly to airplanes, where more exclusive—or affluent passengers got to board first, following up with different groups sectioned by letters. Eventually, the calming silence in the ship slowly became something more welcoming. A soft, joyful buzz of people waiting for their upcoming vacation, or rather journey with bated breaths. 

You, on the other hand, couldn't care less. You were getting good money and had yet to decide if you were even returning to the ship to sail back to America. So instead, you might just stay in Italy for a few weeks. 

There was something so comforting in the idea of just doing as you pleased. No one to find you, just wandering down a road and seeing where it would take you. You were a day-to-day kind of person, and you saw nothing wrong with that. But recently, your days have grown to become boring. 

So, as you heard the loud roar of the ship's horn. You smiled to yourself. You had officially set sail to hopefully new and more exciting adventures. 

Gradually, guests began to appear in the restaurant. So, you started playing a casual, soft jazzy tune. Chatter filled the room, almost like a chorus as you played. You found yourself enjoying the atmosphere; everyone in this room came here for one thing: enjoyment. 

For your scheduled hour, you did nothing but play and enjoy. Playing Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker, Waltz of The Flowers; to Saint-Saëns The Carnival of The Animals. You played it all, a gentle smile tugging at your lips whenever a note hit so beautifully. Sending shivers down your arms and goosebumps, you never failed to get when music was played. 

You hadn't changed one bit. 

Perhaps you would've grown shy while performing if you knew, but this moment had no significant meaning to you. You're just doing your job, simple as that. But what meant so little to you made dead hearts begin to leap again. What it meant for them to see you again, thriving, living, and mortal. Three-hundred unforgiving and torturous years did they spend without you. They spent years getting over your death, and while getting over you wasn't ever accomplished, continuing to survive was. Although blood lacked its taste, the night air its crispness, and music its charm. You stood there on a small stage. Single-handedly providing their miserable lives with color again. With meaning. Although they had long forgotten what it meant to be, or instead feel human again, this was the closest they'll ever get to being so vulnerable. 

Lestat, although having been the most stubborn about accepting your death, was now struggling the most to understand that you were, in fact, alive. Right in front of him, so reachable, so obtainable. But he didn't dare move, frozen in his chair as he watched you. He had dreamed of you every cursed second you were apart, and some part of him didn't want to accept this as reality. Countless nights did he awake in his coffin, arms that had been around you in his dreams now empty. He never minded how cold his skin felt, but nothing was more challenging than the loneliness you left behind. His grief denied him this moment, compared to Louis, who felt nothing but joy; he just couldn't, unlike Armand, who shared the same happiness and disbelief as Louis. 

He was certain you weren't really there. 

To wake up alone after this moment once more, after something that felt so real. So Lestat stayed where he was, silently grieving the only sun in his life that didn't hurt, and enjoyed the sight of you in front of him, alive once more. 

But before you knew it, and any of them wanted to accept, your time was up, and a young pianist came to take your place. You bowed, unaware of the three men who had watched your entire performance with bated breaths. 

As you left the scene. One thing was understood between the three of them; the world wasn't the same without you. They had been given one thing they never had themselves, a second chance. One thing was for sure, they won't lose you again.  

Now that it was seven pm, you were finally able to properly explore the renovated ship. Heading out onto the deck, the breeze gently ruffled your hair. A familiar coldness from the night air hugging you close, enveloping your entire being. You leaned over the railing, tall, half-drunk champagne glass in your hand as you chatted and joked with your newly acquired friend, Ella. A little younger than you, she was a college student who had dropped out of her recent major and decided to take a year off. To find what she really wanted to do. 

You couldn't really judge her for it; teens were forced to make such detrimental decisions way too early, in your opinion. But there was more to life than grades and results. 

A soft clearing of the throat could be heard behind you two. Turning around, you still saw one of the gentlemen from earlier. The one with shoulder-length brown hair tied neatly into a low ponytail and old-fashioned attire. You could tell that he tried looking more modern, but the way his dress shirt and waistcoat snatched his waist so beautifully, you refused to believe the man would ever wear modern-day, baggy clothes and sweatpants.

"Pardon my intrusion, ladies; I just wanted to compliment the wonderful cellist this evening." He mused, a crooked smile framing his face. Ella glanced at you, a playful, bowing smirk tugging at her lips before she nodded. "How wonderful; I'll leave you two be then. My break is over now anyways." She mused, quickly slipping away as you stood there. 

Turning your full attention to the stranger, you smiled welcomingly. This was your favorite thing about traveling. The number of strangers you meant along the way, the people, the stories, the lessons. People never seemed to become boring to you; there always seemed to be something there that always kept you intrigued. 

But something about this stranger didn't feel comparable to all those previous experiences. This man seemed to feel so familiar. "Thank you." You mused you weren't shy by all means, but this man and his companion gave you the oddest of feelings. 

"Excuse me," you began. Then, fully capturing his attention with your words, "But have we met before?" The moment the question escaped your lips an expression painted his face you couldn't quite decipher. 

"Mind if I join you?" He asked, keeping a distance before you nodded. Inviting him to stand beside you, leaning against the railing and staring out at the dark sea. The lights from the ship give the only indication of the waves beneath you, the light softly reflecting against the surface. 

"I don't think we have." The man finally responded to your previous question, his eyes watching the light reflection paint the waves beautifully. "I wouldn't have forgotten someone like you." He hummed with a playful glint as he turned to you and smiled, his forearms resting against the railing. 

"Someone like me?" You asked, chuckling at how broad that phrase was. But, of course, that could mean anything, good or bad. 

"It's a wonderful evening." The brunette mused, occasionally glancing at you as you continued sipping champagne. You awaited his reply to your question but gradually accepted that he would leave your curiosity hanging. "It really is. Have you sailed before?" You asked, attempting a light conversation. The man couldn't help but chuckle as if your question had been silly. Now getting your attention, you stared at him, eyes requesting an explanation for his outbursts. 

As if sensing your confusion, he turned around. His elbows rested against the railing along with his back. "Yes, I have, many times, actually." You nodded, "To where?" But, you added, all kinds of travel interested you, so this wasn't strictly special. 

"You'd be surprised where you can go just by ship." But, although you nodded, traveling by ship was rare besides the vacation cruise or exporting cargo. Perhaps you just didn't know better, but you didn't feel like prying or exactly learning anything at the moment either.

"You know, Mr.—"you trailed off, not knowing the man's name. He smiled at the gesture, having no problem filling in the title for you. “Louis de pointe du lac.” 

You raised your eyebrow, finding such a long name an oddity. "Well, Louis de pointe du lac–" You began again but were again cut off, "Louis. Please refer to me as Louis." 

"Well then, Louis, it was a pleasure meeting you." You mused, not noticing the minor quirk of his smile as you said his name.

"Louis!" A loud voice called in a chiding and scolding manner. The man was obviously annoyed, he was the one with blonde hair styled similarly to Louis's. However, his anger seemed to dwindle when his gaze flashed to yours. He stared for a moment, before softly bowing. You raised your hand to try and prevent the man from literally bending to you, but he simply grasped it. A touch ever so gentle as he kissed the top of your hand, cold soft lips meeting your blazing skin. “Pardon me my chérie, I’m Lestat de Lioncourt, at your service.” 

After your shock finally calmed, you couldn't help but chuckle at the theatrics of this display. Bowing sheepishly, grabbing the edges of your uniform as you did, "Hello, gentleman, I'm Y/N L/N."

The soft sound of someone clearing their throat shifted your attention again, directed at the last man with long black hair in the group. "As lovely a name as ever, I am Armand." He hummed, making you realize the soft accents they had. Louis had an American accent, Lestat carried a faint French accent, and the man who had just introduced himself as Armand sounded European. 

"How rude of us to bombard you like this chérie, care to join us for dinner? I'm afraid the night isn't getting any younger you know." Lestat mused, an eager smile stretching at his lips as he chuckled. You smiled at the offer but shook your head in refusal. "Although I'm not usually the type to deny a dinner with strangers, I'll have to pass this time. I'm too tired to provide any enjoyable company this evening." You hummed, slowly stepping away from what appeared to be a disappointed blonde. 

"Perhaps another time." You added, smiling softly as you turned to the brunette. He shook his head playfully, "Don't mind him, have a good night Y/N." You nodded, waving a little as you finally left. Entering the ship once more as you made your way to your room, letting out a small sigh. The first day of anything was constantly exhausting in your eyes, but today sure gave you hope for more eventful journeys ahead of you. 

You completed your routine rather quickly, but it was still odd to feel the occasional sway or shift of the boat. It was very subtle, but you would notice if you focused on it. Removing your uniform, you let it against one of the vacant chairs before hopping into the shower. Luckily the bathrooms were made to look more modern than the rest of the ship; you were a stickler when it came to bathrooms. Being quick to shower, you dried yourself off and put yourself in some loose clothes. You would consider yourself someone who doesn't wear specific pajamas for bed; you would wear whatever was comfortable. 

Laying down after such an eventful day was pure bliss, even though you didn't do anything that was physically exhausting. Your feet still ached from all the walking, your lower back complained from the luggage you carried, and your mental state was even more drained. If there was one thing you were ready for tonight, it was to clock out until someone would bother you again tomorrow. Turning off your night lamp, you were quick to doze off. 

Although your sleep was quick to come, it didn't stay. You sleep in two-hour increments but eventually give up after five A.M. You get dressed, not in your usual work uniform, since you would only have to check in for work late into the day. So at the moment, you were a simple guest. Stepping out of your room, you walked past the halls and suites. But you halted at the loud crash of what you could only assume was furniture tipping over. The noises erupted from the room as if a band of wild animals had been let loose. 

You should have continued walking; this was none of your business. But the thought of it being a case of domestic violence or any other situation where your interference might've helped had you backtracking. You stayed silent, letting your ears strain to make up any conversation through the door. 

"Absolutely not!" A loud yet familiar voice boomed as glass shattering followed the commotion. 

"Why the hell not?" Another voice followed; this was a heated debate between two men. "What are you waiting for, Louis?" A moment of silence, like a glass of ice-cold water, was splashed onto you. You knew these men; this must've been Louis and the other's suite. At least, that's what you assumed. 

You could hear stomping, the screeching of a chair against the wooden floor, then again silence. "Three-hundred fucking years. Three-fucking-hundred! Now you're suggesting that we let her go? Live a human life, a vulnerable, fragile, dangerous human life?" The man's voice, who you pinned as Lestats argued. But the mention of humanity, as if implying that there was something outside of that spectrum unnerved you. We're they rehearsing for some play? 

"No, that's not it, Lestat, and you know that." Louis's voice spoke calmly, but there was a clear, agitated tone. For how long have they been arguing? 

"Leaving her mortal makes her fragile, yes. But turning her could leave her hating us." The accented voice of Armand spoke, making you sincerely wonder who this 'she' was. 

"You're risking everything!" Lestat couldn't believe they had this conversation for the last hour. After your sweet self had retired for the night, there was tension between them. It wasn't until Lestat lured a slightly drunk woman into their room and decided to celebrate his lover's reappearance with a bloody gore fest. Armand had partaken, not with much interest in the human blood-bag, and Louis was his sympathetic self as he drank. It wasn't until Lestat's small comment about how cute you'd look, all bloody and desperate for blood. Fledglings were always so needy once they got a taste, and he couldn't wait to indulge you. Then, of course, there was still the probing question of who would be your sire, your maker. 

But Louis had cut him off, stating that you needed to stay human longer. To grow accustomed to them and eventually to their life. Louis understood where Lestat was coming from; perhaps he would've been more rational if he wasn't so exhausted from their argument. He sat slouched in a soft, red-cushioned chair. Rubbing his temples in an attempt to soothe his headache. He sympathized with you because he knew someone would turn you sooner rather than later. He just couldn't bear you going through the terrors he went through; he could still recall the way you had refused to turn the first time they had all met. They had foolishly allowed you to stay human for a little longer, where you had found yourself in a riot and subsequently lost your life in the raging mob. 

He would be a liar if he said he didn't want to turn you too. To have that security, they had an eternity to properly court you, but you were human. Weak and fragile, with so little time compared to them. 

Armand was the calmest in the situation. He, too, wanted nothing more than to hold you like he had always done, to share his gift with you like he had wanted to all those years ago. But you didn't want that then and didn't seem open to something so life-altering now. The risk of developing a bad relationship through actions rushed by their emotions was too risky, despite his creeping fear at the idea of you being human. If they were on a ship, there would be no civil unrest and certainly no outright threats that could actively harm you. 

His coffin has felt so empty without you; for once in his miserable immortal life did he feel at peace. All of them did, and although they all felt torn. They eventually decided to wait to develop a small relationship before changing you. 

You still stood outside, shaking your head at what you had heard. Utter nonsense, complete nonsensical sentences. Finally, you walked off, unaware that your footsteps had been heard. And three protective vampires were not too keen on the idea of someone knowing about them, about you. 

[jo-harrington]

Best Spring Break Ever (Eddie Munson)

Summary: Spring Break 1986, the way it should have gone.

Word Count: 3.2k

Characters: Eddie Munson, Corroded Coffin (Jeff, Gareth, Dave - Unnamed Freak), Dustin Henderson, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Will Byers, Wayne Munson

Themes/Warnings: No Upside-Down AU, Road Trip, Lighthearted, Boys Will Be Boys in the purest way possible, Nerd, Pop Culture References, one or two sneaky little references to Store Manager Verse (I had to)

Note: So a LONG TIME AGO I dropped a fun head canon that got lost to the cutthroat nature of the tags. It's not necessarily coming back to life per se but and now that I've promised @br0ck-eddie and @somnambulic-thing that I would do more Gen fics, I'm sort of giving it some more juice.

Gonna also use this for @munson-blurbs and @corroded-hellfire and their Flip Flopped Summer Writing event. (I cheated on the length, sue me.)

Enjoy!

You can find my masterlist here.

Please do not interact if you are not 18+.

---

When one thought of words to describe Edward J. Munson, there were plenty to choose from.

Daring, dashing, brilliant, handsome--

"Douchebag," Gareth muttered under his breath.

"Can it, asshole," Eddie snapped from the driver's seat of the van, angling the rearview mirror so he could pin the younger boy with a scathing look. "Or I'll leave you behind."

"He's got a point though," Dave offered. The rearview mirror shifted again, revealing dark brown eyes that narrowed angrily.

"Sorry," Dave sunk in his seat.

--adventurous, non-conformist, a music legend...

But carpool mom had never been a contender.

Until now.

For Eddie, Spring Breaks were never exciting.

A lot of families in Hawkins took the days off school to go out of town. Vacation to someplace interesting or warm, trips up to the beach, or to a distant grandparent's house for a visit.

Eddie always stayed home. He enjoyed the silence of the town and the freedom to go anywhere and do anything he'd like. Wayne picked up some overtime while some of his coworkers were away, so there were a handful of extra hours for Eddie to play his music as loudly as he wanted, and some extra cash to splurge on a few nights of takeout.

This year was different though.

This year, Eddie had the misfortune of being friend, older brother figure, and role model to Dustin Henderson and his band of merry nerds.

The four of whom decided to enter into the All-State Science Fair in May with a project so ambitious and convoluted, they were either going to crash and burn, or get some kind of scholarship long before they needed to think of college.

And of course, when the time came to gather supplies for such an...extensive endeavor, the lowly freshman came to their good pal Eddie to help them procure some interesting items.

That was the thing with Eddie, though. He was sort of known for being the guy that could find things. Yeah, weed and other drugs from Reefer Rick, sure. But the phrases "I know a guy" and "I can try and cash in a favor" and "you owe me one" often passed through his lips, followed by a glint in his eye and a quirk of his lips.

For weeks he got the little idiots various items for their project, but when things on the list began to seem impossible to find--Rick had practically thrown him out when he had asked where to get liquid nitrogen--things started to get a little tricky.

Eddie, not one to let his friends down, complained about the whole ordeal to a friend he had unexpectedly made working at StarCourt over the past Summer--the Claire's store manager--and she had an interesting suggestion.

"Why don't you just go to the Science Surplus store in Chicago?" Eddie looked at her like she'd grown a second head. "What? Don't let the Cool Mall Girl facade fool you. I'd been known to dabble in science fairs and stuff when I was still in school."

"Nerd," he snorted before he waved for her to continue.

She told him about lab coats and machine parts and mystery boxes.

"It might be fun for you and your friends to drive up there and see it."

Thus, the Great Spring Break Roadtrip of '86 was born.

---

Well, more accurately, it was the Great Secret Spring Break Roadtrip of '86.

Because what parent--specifically Claudia Henderson--was going to let their kid spend a few days with no parental supervision? Where the only adult, technically, was Eddie.

She liked him, of course. Shit, most of the kids' parents liked him. But trust him to drive their kids hundreds of miles in a van that looked like it probably wasn't gonna make it 10 miles up the road?

That was another story.

But he was a schmoozer, a sweet-talker, a charmer, and in the end he got them all to agree to a few days up at the Dunes hiking and swimming and grilling hot dogs over an open fire.

If only the parents had been his harshest critics.

"When was the last time you had your brakes checked?"

"And your oil changed?"

"I heard some squeaking when you drove us home from Hellfire. I think there's something going on with your suspension."

"When did you become my pit crew?" Eddie snapped as he leaned against the front of the van and smoked the last cigarette he would have until they stopped for gas along the way.

Dustin, Mike, Will, and Lucas all froze in place. The older members of Hellfire Club leaned their heads out of the van to watch the interaction like the relentless busybodies that they were. Eddie flicked the butt of his cigarette to the ground before approaching the kids with his hands on his hips.

"We just wanna make sure it's safe," Mike was the first to speak up.

"It's safe," Eddie insisted. "I checked everything myself; Wayne wouldn't let me cross state lines if I hadn't."

Mike considered it for a second, then jumped into the van.

Dustin hummed doubtfully and kicked at one of the rear tires.

"Do you have a spare tire?" he questioned. "Just in case?"

Eddie nodded and even offered how to show everyone how to change a tire if the need ever rose.

"Gotta earn your keep somehow."

He mashed his hand on the top of Dustin's head as he passed.

Lucas and Will were last; they had their backs to him, heads leant together as they whispered conspiratorially. Eddie wondered for a moment if they even wanted to go--it was ok if they were scared--until they pivoted on their heels and began a barrage of questions about handling and off-roading and how prepared he was for any emergencies.

He was about to snap at them, tell them to shut up, when he saw a rolled up copy of Car and Driver in Lucas' hand and his brief annoyance faded.

He took a deep breath and stared up into the clear blue sky, begging whatever gods or devils there were to give him the patience to survive this trip.

"Listen," he huffed, "you either trust me and we go, or you don't and we stay. Even if I didn't have a stocked first aid kit--which, I don't, by the way...best you're gonna get are some crumpled band-aids in my glove box--it's not like we have all the time in the world to put one together.

"I promise. Everything will be fine. You trust me right?"

Lucas and Will turned away from him and whispered furiously once more. Before they stood up straight, looked him dead in the eye, and asked something that made Eddie let out a bark of laughter,

"What about Second Breakfast?"

---

They stopped for gas an hour in.

What should have been a ten minute stop turned into an hour. Bathroom breaks all around and then debates over which snacks to get.

"Don't waste all your money," Eddie fussed over them, pulling bags of candies and chips from their hands and stuffing them back onto shelves. "You're not gonna eat it all for one thing. And I'm not gonna clean puke out of my van if you try and end up making yourselves sick."

Suddenly the four freshman were all talking over each other with "mom never lets me have funyuns" and "what if we get the smaller bag?" Jeff, Gareth, and Dave all snickered and watched from afar as Eddie taught them The Art of Gas Station Snacks.

By hour two, the radio stations became unfamiliar, Eddie's mix tapes got boring, and slug bug was impossible. That's when everyone began fighting over the road map to play navigator, even though Eddie insisted that it was Jeff's job, since he called shotgun. But no one cared, especially not when--

"Hey I know our cover is camping at the beach," Mike piped up from the back. "But we're actually going to pass the Dunes. Can we go?"

Some of the others started to agree, mentioning how their moms packed their swim trunks.

"Hey!" Eddie snapped at them and then reached back to jam a finger into the map. "We passed the exit already. Better luck next time."

"But how about on the way back?" Dave suggested. "It's getting too crowded in here. A little fresh air would be nice."

And Eddie would have fought them, the thing was...he kind of agreed with Dave.

The members of Corroded Coffin were used to just the four of them and their band equipment. Now there were seven of them, on top of all their backpacks and sleeping bags, Eddie's guitar, and a cooler full of snacks and drinks. There was too much noise, too much arguing. One absolutely rancid fart had been tooted without admittance, which led to everyone just ripping one without a care in the world.

On the other hand, did he really want to have to clean sand out of the van once this trip was over?

"Alright," he finally shouted over the others, causing them to quiet down. "If everyone behaves the rest of the way, we'll see about making a stop at the Dunes on the way back."

---

Their accommodations that first night were less than ideal.

Rick had mentioned something once about forest preserves and camp sites once when he'd driven up to Chicago to meet up with some fishing buddies. So Eddie figured renting a campsite would be fun, not to mention cheaper than a motel. They'd sleep under the stars, just like he'd promised all of their parents, grill some hot dogs and roast marshmallows for s'mores.

It would be great.

But building a campfire was harder than it looked--especially when you had six sets of eyes on you--the ground was hard to sleep on, and then at some point in the night, a storm rolled in and they all had to pile into the van to stay dry.

Chalk it up to Murphy's Law.

"Should have sprung for a cabin instead," Jeff joked as they all struggled to fit in the back of the van after they all sought shelter inside.

Come morning, they were all tired and sore and grumpy, and Eddie drove through McDonalds for steaming hot hash browns and egg mcmuffins to shut them all up.

Then they finally reached their true destination.

The American Science and Surplus Center was an unassuming building in a busy suburb north of the city. Busier than Hawkins, at least. Eddie had to drive around the block several times before he realized the entrance was in the back of the building, gravel parking lot and all.

As soon as they set foot inside, it was a sensory overload, but it felt like home.

Colorful signs everywhere, aisles filled with bins of bottles and beakers and corks and machine parts. There was a man who looked like he stepped out of Doctor Who by the cash register, and about a dozen lab skeletons situated around the perimeter of the store dressed to look like famous scientists.

All of the boys scattered once they picked their jaws up off the floor and they, quite literally, spent hours scouring the store finding one amazing thing after another.

Dave and Jeff went to the back corner where there was a display of army surplus. Garerth found an entire aisle dedicated to models and kits. Eddie walked around picking up things at random. Things that just seemed interesting and weird, his imagination putting different bits and bobs together to create mini figures for mechanical foes for the next--and maybe last--campaign he created as the DM for Hellfire.

It was a bittersweet moment for him.

And the kids? Well, they were either the worst customers in the world or the best. They were running around, throwing things into baskets, trying to figure out how much of this or that they needed for their project.

This was a once in a lifetime trip so they were determined to get everything they needed now.

Of course, that ended up causing a problem. Because there was only one of a certain item on their shopping list and Dustin wasn't the only person to grab it.

Eddie heard the commotion before he saw it.

"I need this."

"So do I."

"I touched it first."

"Well I saw it first. Finders keepers."

The other freshman were quick to jump into the verbal tousle, disrupting everyone in the store, and Eddie was quick to abandon his own shopping to go and see what was wrong.

Only to find the dweebiest tug of war on the planet: His four little sheepies versus three equally dorky-looking boys. It was a flurry of gangly limbs, sweaty hands, mom-provided haircuts, and pressed khakis as they argued over the one thing all of the kids seemed to need for their respective projects.

Eddie figured it was better to intervene before someone got a nosebleed from stress.

"Hey guys, cut it out, what are we arguing for?"

"Who's this?" the apparent leader of the other kids snapped. "The barber shop is down the street if you need a haircut Bon Jovi."

"Alright Revenge of the Nerds, calm down," Eddie snapped. "Just trying to make sure this doesn't end in a bloodbath. What's going on here?"

"We need that air pump," Dustin nodded down to the box he was holding onto for dear life.

"Well so do we. And we saw it first."

The kids started talking over each other again until Eddie whistled sharply.

"How about," he suggested and dug into one of his pockets and pulled out a shiny quarter, "we flip a coin?"

"No way!"

"No chance!"

"This air pump is ours," the rival nerd scoffed.

"What if we just beat you up and took it?" came a voice the next aisle over. Eddie glanced over his shoulder and shot daggers at his nosy friends.

"Not helping Jeff!" he hissed and turned back to the kids. "It's either a coin toss or nothing."

Eventually, both groups agreed, and Dustin was even gracious enough to let the other kids call it. Eddie flicked the coin into the air, the nerd called heads, and then time seemed to slow.

Eddie's thoughts raced through all of the possibilities. He really couldn't give a shit about these other nerds but...damn they deserved a fair shot at it. And his friends...he didn't want them to come all this way just for disappointment.

There was a clink as the coin hit the ground and bounced.

Then another clink.

Then a clatter as it landed.

Tails.

---

Another hour passed victoriously in the science surplus store and everyone's mood went up exponentially.

Eddie spent a little extra cash to get a soldering iron that he found in a clearance bin. Dustin and Lucas got to explain their whole project to the wannabe timelord, who was excited at the prospect of flash freezing ice cream. Not to mention Dave, who flirted with the evening manager as she came in for her shift; he even got her number, the lucky schmuck.

The sun was setting by the time they made it back outside, chattering happily about their finds, but they stopped in their tracks as they found the rival nerd standing near the van with a tall, polished boy in a letterman jacket beside him.

"This them?" the jock asked the younger boy.

"Yeah," he glared at them all and then pointed at Mike. "And that's the one who flipped me off."

Eddie could feel Mike tensing beside him--obviously regretting what he had done in the throes of victory--and he took a step forward, hands held in front of him to show he meant no harm.

"Hey guys listen," he started. "What are we doing here? What's fair is fair. We flipped a coin."

"My brother said it was rigged," the jock accused.

Eddie snorted, "how could I possibly rig a coin toss? Here I'll even show you the quarter."

The jock, curious, took a step forward, despite his brother whining for him to "just beat them up already."

Eddie shoved a hand in the pocket of his jacket and rooted around for a moment, before swiping his sneakered foot across the ground, sending gravel and sand and whatever else made up the parking lot into the two boys' faces.

"Go, go, get in the van," he hollered to his friends, who immediately crossed the lot and piled into the vehicle.

Once the doors were locked and the key was in the ignition, they all hollered in triumph, Gareth even yelling for Dave to "hit 'em with the pressed ham" as they pulled out of the parking lot.

And Eddie wondered if it was cowardly for them to have done what they did. For him to have done that.

He didn't want to be known as the guy who ran from trouble.

But hearing his friends' laughter, knowing their safety was ensured, he figured that sometimes running away was ok.

---

Dinner was reminiscent of something out of a heroic legend.

The IHOP off Route 64 had become a mead hall with drinks sloshing over the edges of cups and laughter and cheers in abundance as they regaled each other with more fantastical versions of the non-existent battle they'd just survived.

As though Eddie had been Beowulf and his foe the dastardly Grendel.

"He had to be 7 feet tall," Lucas awed. "And like...400 pounds."

"I'm never worrying about Jason Carver beating me up again if we survived that guy," Mike agreed.

"You're gonna have to fail again this year so you can stick around and protect us Ed. At least until I graduate," Gareth told Eddie, who protested that he didn't even do anything.

Then everyone erupted into a good-hearted merriment again.

Eddie felt a little bad for the waitress who would clean up after them, but he couldn't do anything to stop his friends joy and excitement.

Instead, he left a very generous tip once they left.

Their second night of camping was much more successful than the first. There were no attempts at a fire and no s'mores to be had, but Eddie broke out his guitar and strummed some familiar songs that had everyone asleep in no time.

Almost everyone.

He stayed up for a little longer though, smoking and staring up at the sky through the canopy of the trees. There was something special being out here, and he wondered if all of the heroes in his favorite stories felt like that, seeing all of their companions safe and asleep under their watch and the watch of the stars above.

There was a rustle of a sleeping bag and Dustin looked over at Eddie with bleary eyes.

"Why're you still up?" he asked. "Gotta take a dump or something?"

Eddie snorted and crushed the butt of his cigarette underfoot.

"Just thinking," he waved a hand dismissively. "Get back to sleep. Gotta drive back in the morning, and we need to hit the road early if you guys still wanna go to the beach."

He was about to take his own advice and settle into his sleeping bag when Dustin called his name again.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"I dunno," there was another rustle as Dustin shrugged. "For driving us out here, for getting all of the stuff we've been asking you to get, for protecting us...for being our friend."

"Don't mention it Henderson," Eddie smiled warmly. "What else was I gonna do? Let you guys lose the science fair."

"It's more than that."

"I'm sure that Harrington would've helped you if I hadn't."

"Steve's a cool guy but seriously," Dustin insisted. "He wouldn't have done all of this for us."

Eddie didn't know how to answer that, so he just hummed and closed his eyes.

The last thing he heard before he fell asleep, to dreams of guitar solos and bats and epic adventures...

"Best Spring Break Ever."

[mashup-writing]

Backstage Brainstorm (Resident Lover; Cassandra Dimitrescu)

-------------------------------------------------------

Requested? ❌

"Hurry home, let's never leave the house."

Summary: It hasn't even been a week since the Romeo and Juliet play had It's closing night but Cassandra, the ever sky-reaching star, is already trying to think up her next play that will be shown on the Campus theatre next year. It's up to you to convince her to get some much needed sleep.

Warnings: None

Genre: Fluff

Resident Lover Masterlist

01-11: I swear, there was someone who asked me to make a Cassandra fluff fic but I can't find it in my inbox so now I'm not sure if I just accidentally deleted it or if it was in the RL Server that someone asked..

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Light assaults your eyelids and you can't help but groan in sleepy annoyance. It's not bright enough to feel like sunlight, plus there's a lack of warmth in the air. You're forced to slowly blink your eyes open as your mind starts to wake itself up in the attempt to decipher what the light source is.

You turn in the bed, arm extended to reach for...

Cold sheets?

You crack one eye open to find the culprit behind the brightness: Cassandra's over on her writing desk, with the night lamp turned on as she types away on her laptop, occasionally turning to a book by her hand before turning back to her laptop.

You untangle yourself from the sheets before slowly getting up and walking over to where the theatre director is.

"Hey there."

The clicking of the keycaps stop as you place a soft kiss to the top of Cassandra's head, keeping a hand buried in her hair even when you've pulled away. She tilts her head up to meet your gaze, and a sheepish smile grazes her lips as you raise your eyebrows at her. A silent question of "What are you up to?" conveyed clearly enough by your expression.

Cassandra sighs, taking your free hand in her own and placing kisses on each of your knuckles. It puts a smile on your lips, it was a habit Cassandra has developed ever since the two of you had started officially dating which she does whenever you're in very close proximity and she's gathering the words in her head before letting them leave her lips.

"A rough script draft of the play that I'm thinking of bringing from pages to a theatre stage. For this incoming year I was thinking Frankenstein, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, or Faerie Tale- I'm thinking Innsmouth but I still have no idea how we'll be able to set the stage for the parts that require an oceanic backdrop.."

The Actress has looked back over to the book on the table and her eyes skim the pages with a very focused look in them which you would have found cute if not for the very dark bags underneath.

"Incoming year."

Cassandra looks back over to you with a raised brow. "Huh?" is the only sound that leaves her mouth. You shake your head in fondness, how she's both basically a genius and a dumbass all in one is something that will never cease to surprise you. She offers no complaints when you take your hand out of her hair and go about saving the file on her computer before shutting it down. The look you sent her when she tried to start complaining was enough to shut her up.

You take both her hands in yours, gently pulling her up from her seat before leading her back under the blankets. Cassandra settles into your arms, head tucked underneath your chin. The sigh of contentment she lets out results in a chuckle from you.

"Much better than hunching over a desk isn't it?"

There's a beat of silence before Cassandra begrudgingly agrees with a muffled "I guess so." that could've been mistaken as nothing more than a grumble. But you know better.

"Vacation's just ended, Cass. I know you're in love with the Theatrical Arts, but now's the time for you- For us to catch up on sleep and take the breaks that we deserve."

She places a kiss to your collarbone, agreeing with a hum before nuzzling back into her comfortable position being tucked underneath your chin.

"You've got a point that I refuse to argue, and that's coming from someone in pre-law so you know you've won big time."

You both laugh, and the air in her room is filled with the essence of comfort. There's no place you'd rather be and even if you can feel that sleep is starting to creep up on the both of you, you can't help but try your best to delay it in favor of hearing Cassandra's voice for just a little longer.

"How come The Shadow Over Innsmouth was your first choice?"

"Well, the book literally starts off from the point of view of this traveler in a bus who ends up in an almost-abandoned village off a coast. He's heard stories about his destination but he's also very skeptical cuz most of the rumors legitimately sound like the story-tellers are off their fucking rockers-"

Cassandra's words start to slow and slur, and you're having difficulty in stopping her words from blurring together.

There's faint traces of bright sunlight peeking through the curtains of Cassandra's room, but it bothers neither Juliet nor her Romeo as the two both start succumbing to the inescapable pull of sleep.

The only sound that can be heard within the room is the faint synchronisation of the lovebirds' breathing.

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01-11: Cassandra fluff!! Cassandra fluff!! Cassandra fluff!! I still can't believe that this Campus heart throb has the "Tamest" cult ending possible.

[nanamis-bigtie]

Round 3: Let's Meet

about, rules & navigation | previous round

Enough time has passed for you to consider a face to face meeting. With an exception of one unpleasant failure, all other candidates have managed to keep your attention and trust. There are only some finishing touches for you to finally make up your mind. And you're curious what they have to offer when it comes to a casual date…

Remember you vote for a character you don't want to advance further! The character with the biggest number of votes will be eliminated.

Profile One: Toji Fushiguro ELIMINATED

Profile Two

Except for the sudden few hours long break you've been texting for the entire day and a good part of night. As a result, you oversleep and miss the breakfast buffet. When you complain about it, blaming him for your empty stomach and extra cost you spent on a meal in a cafe, he spam-teases you with a photo session of his breakfast. Looking at the amount and quality of dishes on his table you realize you massively underestimated his wallet at the first glance. He must be stinking rich.

He offers to pay for your lunch if you agree to keep him company. It's tempting but you haven't yet made up your mind about seeing him face to face.

Around 2pm he disappears for his snorkeling again and the silence it leaves has you antsy. It's weird how quickly he got you used to his chirping and almost constant buzz of notifications. You almost pounce at your phone when he finally shows up again, filling the conversation with a photo session. It has your tum churn with envy; you would love to dive in tropical waters too, watch colorful fish and warm your feet in soft, pink-ish sand of the beach where the classes are taking place.

Of course, he has to tease you about it as well. He has quite a mean strike to him—not too mean but enough to prick a little. When you point it out, doing your best to not overdo either, he catches you with a quick:

"hey if youwant we cann go tmrw together? my treat"

Profile Three

It's really hard to get a photo out of him, you realize in the midst of the second day of intense texting. You don't ask outright but you know already he's smart and able to read between words without a problem—he had to understand your intentions but for some reason refused to let you know he did so. It only adds to the impression of him being camera-shy, but no matter what, you want to see a little more of him before you decide to meet him.

You don't want to sound too pushy, so you send a casual selfie first, hoping he won't avoid the memo this time. He doesn't. He makes you wait a little but eventually you get to see your treat. He's sitting by the table in what you judge to be a hotel bar by the pool, his shirt is half-open, revealing hair on his chest, and he tries to smile despite the nervous stiffness visible all over his expression. Nevertheless, he presents himself in a more appealing way than in his profile pictures.

His face and body are your main focus, but you still spot an interesting detail: a ticket pinned to the table by a frappe glass. Another bird watching trip? As always, you don't need to pry to get all the info you want—soon you learn he's going for a day-long cruise around the bay, with a stop on an uninhabited island nearby.

"Do you want to go together? They still had plenty of free seats when I booked mine."

Profile Four: Shiu Kong ELIMINATED

Profile Five

Food is a recurring topic between the two of you but with time you learn more and more about him. That it's his first vacation in a very long time and that he was simply forced to take a few weeks off. That he's abandoned his fruitless job and now helps his good friend and his sister to set up their own bakery. That cooking and baking are his secret hobbies he once hoped to do for living but his life had different plans for him. That he's fluent in three languages. And that yes, this is his natural hair color.

He even manages to surprise you when, after you've teased him asking if the carpet really matches the drapes, he shows you a little friskier photo, with his swimming shorts pulled down enough to show you the happy trail and a little glimpse of pubes. Nothing indecent but for him it feels almost scandalous.

He spends a lot of time on the beach, you realize, and the closeness of your hotels sticks at the back of your head whenever he mentions he's taking a walk or wading in the sea. He hasn't asked you about the name of your hotel yet but it's enough of torture that you know a way to his. Such opportunities don't happen often, and it'd be criminal to let it slip once it happened. You have it at the tip of your tongue but you're stubbornly waiting for him to do this step. And finally—

"There's a nice bar nearby my hotel with exquisite sunset views. Maybe you would like to meet for a drink tonight?"

Profile Six

Well, this escalated quite... quickly.

You send each other more and more selfies, each bolder than the other. It feels only a matter of time when one of you breaks and shows a full nude first but there seems to be an unspoken rule of not doing so, at least not before you get to see each other without the lenses of a phone camera. He keeps a very respective distance, too. At some point his compliments start leaning to the erotic side but they never sound vulgar. He has quite a poetic way of expressing himself if he wants to and you start getting a feeling, he's not an athlete, as you thought at first, but rather an academic or a writer.

He refuses to confirm nor to deny, wanting it to be a sweet mystery to be revealed, if you will ever want to meet face to face. Intriguing bastard.

That's the closest to a date proposal he's made and the topic dies for so long that you're suspecting he's waiting for your move. Who can't blame him with that intimidating appearance of his, he must have met enough refusals to think more now. Though, it's still surprising that, despite boldness in his voice and presence, he doesn't take any initiative in this one field.

You give him a little nudge, an innocent question about his plans for the next day.

"I don't have anything particular in mind. But I heard there's an interesting photography exhibition in the town's art gallery. There are a lot of good restaurants in that area, too, if you'd prefer a lunch?"

Profile Seven

Having his compliment accepted, he dares to step out of his shell bolder and bolder. Honestly, if he talked to you as he does now from the very beginning, he would make a much better impression on you. You're somewhat proud of yourself, for being able to encourage him to be himself around you.

You must admit—you love those unexpected fruits of your labor. He's becoming an open book in your hands and a puppy on your leash at the same time. You ask, you receive, no questions asked, except for that little expectation for the favor to be returned (that has more in common with looking at you pleadingly than demanding anything). You're dictating the pacing so you're shamelessly using the benefits of it. At some point you even dare to ask for a nude or at least a little friskier photo. You don't get it, but your eyes still nearly pop out at what you're offered.

It's a straight-out-of-the-pool mirror selfie, his hair wet and his swimming shorts clinging to his legs—and the view of his body forces you to sit down. You would never suspect he's going to be so ripped, not after the show of the divorced dad vibe in his gallery. If not for his face visible, you would be ready to assume he cheated and sent you someone else's photo. You still take an extra careful look, but the photo doesn't seem to be in any way edited.

Well, now you have to check if it's true. And luckily, you're soon offered an opportunity.

"I hope I'm not being too forward but—would you mind a casual stroll around the old town together?"

Profile Eight

Despite the pressing impression of falling into a tourist trap instead of finding company for a few steamy nights, you let the conversation unroll—and soon enough you realize he's not trying to advertise anything but not-so-smoothly tries to investigate what you would like to do. Your polite interest in everything must have confused his poor soul and, when out of options, he finally admits you've bet him in his own field, with a pouting emoji to go with it. What a cutie.

After this, the pacing of your messages eases a little and becomes more casual. He switches to sharing his favorite music with you, discussing movies and shows you both saw, spicing the casual conversation with a little bolder selfies. For a cute face he has his body is quite athletic, in a rather slim than buff way. He claims he doesn't do any particular sport but likes to be active. This season he's developed a liking for swimming in the sea, together with a group of new friends he met when exploring the cliffs.

He's talked about those cliffs before and you must admit it has stroked your curiosity the most. Having a better insight in his life and hobbies now, you realize it must have been his authentic passion that grasped your attention. You can't help but ask for more about them. What's so special about them? What can you do there? Can he guide you to the best viewing spot?

"can you swim? you can rent a boat but they look better when youre IN the water. dont worry about stamina if you can at least float i can get you there"

Profile Nine

Given his shy nature, you're preparing yourself to be the one who will propose a face-to-face meeting. He's not good with hints so trying to guide him in that direction would be a certain failure. You can either wait for his move—or do it yourself.

You don't have a problem with that—you're just still not sure if you really want to meet with him. You've chatted lots already but because of his nature you haven't gathered as much information as you would with a more open conversation partner. You need more time. And you have a feeling so does he.

The fact that his evenings and nights are busy (and that he sleeps past noon) goes against you as well. At least you're rewarded with some behind the scene shots and snippets from concerts held at his workplace. It looks like a really fun place, one you would gladly visit even without any Tinder schemes and dating intentions. It's clearly one of the establishments with an addictive vibe, pulling people close no matter what their music preferences are. Even those who aren't into live shows would have a good night there.

You don't say anything outright but he spots your interest and keeps feeding it. Entranced by his shyness you've managed to forget he's smart and attentive. No wonder his next move feels especially bold for him.

"i think tonight's show may interest you. if you want i can arrange a ticket? free ofc"

Profile Ten

The more you unpack about him, the more really unexpected surprises you dig out. As he keeps denying modeling accusations, you can't help but press the matter of his career until he caves and sends you a link to his workplace profile on Insta. Self-defense training? Now, that's not what you expected. He doesn't look like someone who knows how to throw fists.

He's on some of the demonstration videos—and once you see him in motion, you're taking everything back. He's fast and smooth, throwing his training partners—often big, heavy men—around as if they weighed nothing. Having now more comparison to other people around him, you also realize he's much bigger than he looked in his profile pictures.

But, overall, what has the biggest impression on you is his voice. It's a crime someone like him is teaching how to beat creeps instead of working with it. He should do audiobooks, radio, podcasts, audio dramas... Anything that could utilize his beautiful, smooth voice to its fullest. After the initial shock of seeing him in action, you pay more attention to the way he speaks, each sound crawling straight into your heart and pulling on all the right strings. From comments under the videos, you learn you're not the only one who's entranced.

Of course, you wouldn't be yourself if you wouldn't let him know about your new weakness. You're curious what he is going to do with such a powerful weapon in his hands.

"I would love to whisper something nice for your ear only, but maybe a cup of coffee first? I know a cozy and silent place, perfect for the first audio impression."

[oldiesstationlover11607]

hiii i love your writing !!

could you write a tyler joseph x reader where reader knows who tyler is and they get stuck in an elevator together? but she tries not to let on that she knows who he is and they hit it off really well. a little angst maybe?

<333

🍁anon

Elevator - Tyler Joseph x Reader

Relationship: Tyler Joseph × Reader

Warnings: none!

Word Count: 1464

A/N: hello 🍁 anon! fall is my favorite season so i love ur emoji choice! it's nice to meet you btw :) hopefully u like this! feel free to continue requesting!!

I’d been on holiday for about a week now, halfway through the break I’d quote-unquote “deserved.” I hated being away from my work. It’s part of who I am—it is who I am. But my boss had quite literally threatened to fire me if I didn’t take time off. I’d just come back from dinner at the sandwich place my mom had recommended and was 100% ready for bed. I stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the seventh floor, glad to finally have a moment to myself after a long day of tourist attractions.

Just as the gleaming silver doors were about to close, a tattooed hand slipped through, and they opened again. I knew that tattoo. Three lines across the wrist. I had the closest thing to that tattoo I could get without injecting ink into my wrist—three hair ties placed perfectly around my arm. Regardless, I knew the tattoo and the person attached to it. Tyler Joseph.

My little sister loved his band and would fight me for the aux cord to play their music. Not to mention the several posters of his and that other guy’s face sprung about her room. I froze for a second, recognizing his face almost instantly. I wanted to say hi, I wanted to tell him I liked his music—despite the number of times I complained enough for my sister to turn it off. But I swallowed that thought, determined not to make things weird. I’ve met famous people before; this should have been no different. I pretended not to notice who he was and stared straight ahead.

“Sorry,” he said with a polite smile, pressing the button for the eighth floor.

“No problem,” I replied, my voice steady, though my heart beat a little faster than I’d like.

The elevator began its smooth climb. It was quiet, and I caught myself glancing at him, trying not to be too obvious. He was... just a guy, right? I focused on the numbers lighting up above the doors, reminding myself to keep it together. But suddenly, the elevator shuddered and came to a jerking stop. The lights flickered briefly, and I lost my balance for a second, grabbing the rail for support.

Tyler pressed the emergency button, frowning slightly. “Looks like we’re stuck.”

“Yeah,” I muttered, more to myself than to him. Just what I needed today.

He let out a breath, leaning against the wall. “Hopefully, it won’t be long.”

I nodded, leaning back as well. It was strange being in such a confined space with him, pretending I didn’t know who he was. But I figured it was better this way—less awkward, less pressure. Still, the silence felt heavy, and I couldn’t help but feel a little self-conscious.

“So,” Tyler said after a moment, breaking the thick silence, “you here for work or vacation?”

I swallowed, my mind still racing from the fact that I was stuck in an elevator with him. “Vacation,” I replied, keeping it short. “Against my will, mostly.”

He chuckled lightly, but there was something distant about his expression, like he wasn’t really here. “Same. Well, kind of. It’s supposed to be a break, but I’m bad at that. I enjoy my work.”

I let out a soft laugh, finding it easier to relate than I thought. “Yeah, same here. I feel like I should be working, even though I’m supposed to be enjoying myself.”

“Funny how that works,” he muttered, his voice quieter now, almost like he was talking to himself. He ran a hand through his hair, his eyes drifting to the floor. “Even when you get time to relax, it’s hard to actually relax.”

I knew what he meant, and there was an odd heaviness in the air, like the conversation was teetering on the edge of something deeper. I wanted to ask—wanted to know what weighed on him—but I stayed quiet, unsure if it was my place.

“I don’t know how to turn off,” I admitted, more to break the silence than anything. “Even now, I feel like I should be doing something productive. It’s stupid, really.”

He didn’t respond right away, his gaze still fixed on the floor as if lost in thought. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer, almost weary. “It’s not stupid. I get it.”

There was something in the way he said it, a kind of quiet exhaustion that hit me harder than I expected. For a moment, I forgot who he was—the lead singer of a famous band, the guy whose lyrics my sister screamed at the top of her lungs. He just sounded... tired. And I knew that feeling all too well.

“I guess it’s hard when your work becomes your identity,” I said, not realizing how close to home the words would hit until they were out in the open.

He looked up at me then, something shifting in his expression, like maybe I’d touched on something personal. His lips twitched into a small, tired smile. “Yeah. It’s like... you can’t escape it, even when you try.”

I nodded, feeling a weird, growing connection. But at the same time, I couldn’t shake the tension that was building inside me. Part of me wanted to say more, to let him know I understood—that I knew who he was and why this hit home for him. But that part of me was overruled by the fear of making things weird. He didn’t need another stranger prying into his life.

The elevator remained still, the hum of machinery the only sound for a while. I felt restless, stuck not just in the elevator, but in my own head. Why was I holding back? It wasn’t like he’d care. He probably forgot people the moment they left his sight.

“So,” I started, my voice coming out more hesitant than I intended, “is it... hard for you to, you know, get time off? I imagine you don’t get many breaks.”

Tyler let out a short laugh, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “You have no idea.”

I bit my lip, unsure how to respond to that. Something about the way he said it made me think there was more to the story. But again, I wasn’t sure I should push.

“I’m sure it’s not easy being recognized everywhere you go either,” I added cautiously, testing the waters.

He looked at me, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if he was trying to figure out if I really knew who he was or if that was just a passing comment. I could see the shift in his posture, like he was preparing for something—maybe for me to mention his name, to fan out.

“I know you know who I am,” he chuckled under his breath. I let out a sigh of relief. 

“Was it that obvious?”

He nodded, probably used to fans pretending they didn’t know who he was.

“Yeah, but you seem cool,” he smiled. 

“Well, that’s a relief,” I muttered, though I could feel the awkwardness settling in.

But before he could say anything, the elevator suddenly jolted to life, the hum of machinery filling the silence. The floor numbers lit up again, and we began moving.

“Yeah,” Tyler agreed, but he still seemed to be studying me, his expression thoughtful. There was a pause, and then he asked, “So, you said you’re here on vacation. What do you do when you’re not... being forced to take time off?”

I hesitated for a second, then decided there was no harm in telling the truth. “I work in the film industry,” I said. “Mostly behind the scenes—editing, production stuff.”

His eyebrows raised slightly, genuine interest sparking in his tired eyes. “That’s cool. Must be a creative job.”

“Yeah, it’s... intense, but I love it.” I shrugged, feeling a bit more relaxed now that we were back on neutral ground.

The doors dinged, and we reached the seventh floor. As I stepped out, I felt a small tug of curiosity and... maybe something else.

Tyler cleared his throat before I could go. “Hey, I know this is random, but... you seem really cool and I’d love to hear more about your work. Maybe we could grab a coffee sometime?”

I blinked, caught off guard by the request. “Oh, um, yeah, sure.”

He smiled—this time a little more genuine—and pulled out his phone. “Could I get your number? No pressure or anything.”

I gave him my number, trying not to think about the surrealness of it all. Once he had it saved, the doors began to close again.

“See you around,” he said with a nod.

And just like that, the doors slid shut, leaving me standing in the hallway, wondering how a simple elevator ride had turned into... whatever this was.

//

REQUESTS OPEN!

[alcoholfreenayeon]

Chaeyoung Girlfriend HCs Pt:4

A/N: And it is finally here! Literally have nothing else prepared for today so this is it. I’ll hopefully be posting the requests by end of next week. My classes start soon as well…

SFW HCs

She had been wanting to try out this one dessert for a while but for one reason or the other just wouldn’t get the chance so you secretly learned to make it for it.

It took you a couple of tries to get it right, the first try was….well, you were pretty sure it wasn’t fit for human consumption. The second wasn’t great either but atleast it was edible. Well, somewhat edible. But the third try was good, you were happy with it and when Chaeyoung came by she was really touched by your effort and said she’s happy with it but you insisted that she taste it before saying anything else.

And then Chaeyoung took a bite, then another and then another as it looked like she couldn’t stop herself. “How is it?”, you ask her, knowing she liked it. She just looks at you, her mouth stuffed and smiles happily, her cheeks flushing.

Chaeyoung took you to a sudden vacation, she said she was going to be busy with tours soon and wanted to spend some time with you properly before she was too busy. You had no complains. Except for her going all over the world without you of course.

The two of you were sitting at the beach on the sand, her finger tips on top of yours as you both watched the setting sun. Light gusts of wind blew over the calm sea, the waves flowing peacefully and everything was just so perfect. You commented that it would be nice if you both could do this forever. This caused Chaeyoung to stiffen a bit and she slowly put her hand over yours, holding it tightly.

“Marry me then….”, Chaeyoung said quietly. “Huh!”, you looked at her, completely taken by surprise. She looked back at you slowly, you could see the nervousness and panic slowly settling down on her as the silence grew louder.

She looked like she wanted to say something but you ended up speaking before she could, “No ring, no getting on your knees, huh…but I’ll make an exception for you since you are cute”, you reply with smile. You sounded calm but in truth your heart couldn’t have been beating faster.

Chaeyoung blinked slowly and then suddenly hugged you, laughing in happiness, holding you tightly, hoping you wouldn’t notice her getting teary eyed. You were the same and were hugging her back tightly blinking quickly hoping the tears wouldn’t flow.

You both stayed like that, hugging and snuggling in silence as it grew dark and cold quickly. Until it became too cold to stay and you both made your way back to the hotel.

After your endeavors, you both started to call your family and friends to tell them about the good news. Naturally almost everyone was surprised but they were all extremely happy and excited too, teasing and congratulating you both.

NSFW HCs (kinda)

Chaeyoung had chosen a really expensive and big room for you both to stay at for the trip. Like, the room itself had 2 floors inside it big. An elevator, balcony, pool, all the works.

And was there a better opportunity go try out all of those things throughly? Probably not so you both made the most of it. Pool sex, balcony sex, everything and overall the day being much more tiring than you’d have expected but it was definitely worth it.

Entering your room, Chaeyoung stopped you from getting on the bed, a mischievous smile on her face. “You wanted me on my knees didn’t you?”, she said holding your legs and taking off your shorts.

There wasn’t much you both did except lay and hold each other than that one thing from Chaeyoung though. You both were too happy at the moment to do anything else.

Lately Chaeyoung had been quite busy so you two couldn’t spend a lot of time together. It was a bit annoying at first. But quite exciting when you began to sneak in during her shoots to “help” her during her breaks. Or when during the concerts she was alone in the dressing room. The VIP pass she got you sure helped a lot.

Since you both got engaged Chaeyoung had become a lot more bold and would often pin you down to make out randomly before things got really heated. But she didn’t always let it go that far. She sometimes said that “you didn’t earn it yet” or “that she has something special planned if you can control yourself for now”.

She had also become a bit of an early riser lately and as a byproduct of that, morning sex was almost always on the cards. Especially since Chaeyoung is quite playful in the morning.

Since Chaeyoung had become more dominant, you ended up becoming more bratty towards her. Soon enough she revealed her strict side to you. You didn’t know how authoritative she could sound. And the way she looked at you, her eyes always looking down at you, like you weren’t worthy enough to be looked at her. For some reason you kinda liked that look.

Chaeyoung’s willpower was tested to the maximum when you went to visit her parents. You had been teasing her a lot lately and she wanted to jump at you. But she also was too conscious of doing anything too much at her parent’s house.

She promised to give you a really good massage when she finishes her tour and you are looking forward for that.

[applesontheground]

quiet coyote ⛓️

CHAPTER TWO for making me feel like i’m guilty | AO3

hiiii all, although spring break is now far from over i come bearing the next chapter to my little escapade dealing with a real doozy of one for this particular reader 😋

p.s. if you're waiting for the man himself, i got this last chapter of mostly exposition before we meet him. buckle up, hope you're ready, hands and feet in the rig at all times, etc etc .

SFW | Word Count: 2,796 | Rusty Nail x Female Reader contains more exposition, drinking, ment. that reader smokes on&off, the jokes get a bit sexual but nothing too fun ⬅ continued from take me far from here ➡ continued in 'cause i tread too softly 🎼: x (charli xcx voice) bumpin' that fic playlist one more time <3

Picking things off a shelf and getting gas in our cars sure aren’t resources that are made in house. More often than not, they’re brought to us. That isn’t to say it’s always done by mail. Sometimes, it’s by truck.

Kind of corny, maybe rework that line and not use it as the hook.

“We sure don’t count on the weather being perfect, or the truck to be running smoothly. Not like [the public] seem to.”

Great quote, even better replacing the words he did use to describe the public.

The poof of an industrial-sized pillow – powerful enough that it sounded like it slapped – hit you square in the chest, making you fumble the notebook in your lap. Dean crowed from behind a Mike’s Hard in his hand and groaned, “Come on, [Y/N], I told you there’s no point in that stupid story.”

You didn’t even give him a second blink, picking up the scattered notebook and grimacing out of a mild rage. He had caused your prime draft page to get bent out of shape, creased right on the corner at a position that went over the writing. “Prick…” You murmured to yourself, closing the book and gathering the bundle of pens from where they had splayed out on the bed amidst your writing.

It felt better to work on over getting drunk in another shoddy hotel room, you had decided as you watched the other four well into doing just that. For people trying to make it to Vegas, they sure were taking the magic out of all the drinking to be done there. Maybe he was right: This wasn’t worth it, but it was something for you to feel purpose through.

“Leave her alone, will you?” Natalie complained, smiling drearily through a haze of lemonade-flavored vodka on her breath. Dean quickly blew air through his mouth, similar to a raspberry, and he held his hands up. “Fine, you know what? I’ll leave our sweet little [Y/N] alone. Besides, we only brought her along for the car.”

You looked up again and nodded quaintly. Silence fell over the room, Mel and Heather looking up from their lovebirding to gawk slightly. When he smiled in his well-earned infamy, you retorted in a voice more desolate than you intended, “Well, at least we’re all being honest while getting shitfaced.”

The awkward quiet continued, Natalie giving a nasty look to him as you leaned over and took a Jell-O shot off the nightstand, downing it as you stepped out for some air. It did sting, as much as you hated to admit it. Maybe you were being a little too uptight for a vacation, you grimaced through the sickly sweet flavor of gelatin marinated in what tasted like straight gasoline.

You walked out to your car, a ginger tap of your hand curled into a fist on the hood as you made your way to the passenger side. The glovebox swung open, and revealed the one thing you wished hadn’t followed you out here, because the ugly thing about it was that it brought you comfort to see it still there. A plastic box of cigarettes and a lighter saved for the unfortunate event that you’d need something of the sort.

One long stare, the fresh image of Dean in your head and realizing it would mean that got the better of you, made you slam it shut. You paced to the backseat door and leaned up against it, staring at the sky with nothing but bubbling anger you were trying to take back down to a simmer, a powerless lump in your throat that finally came out in a quiet hiccup from swallowing the Jell-O shot too fast.

A final affirmation got you to push up and off the car again and walk back towards the hotel room, still needing something to relax but deciding you could find it elsewhere – or at least, wait on it a little longer.

Stale was the state of the group in the morning, and stale was the toast on your plate at another run-down diner planted somewhere far from any civilization.

You held your forehead, trying to chew some soggy hashbrowns as Natalie murmured, “Well, the lady at the counter told me we’re on the right path towards Vegas.”

“Oh, now we want to go?” Dean took a sip of his coffee, grimacing through it because he had refused any sugar or cream, “Thank fucking God, thought we’d just go die in the middle of the Mojave or something.” You hated his voice, but that did get a smirk out of you as you looked down at your plate, trying not to remember the shot of vodka you had taken with Mel and Heather before bed. One just hadn’t been enough, but the aftertaste of it all was far worse than anything your lackluster breakfast was offering.

“Remember-“ Dean gestured his mug to Mel on the other side of the booth, almost falling back asleep while Heather had stepped away to use the restroom and left him against the wall, “Marriages are quick and easy out there. I say tie the knot with her.” The other boy snorted, looking at the table as he reminded him, “I’m waiting until after graduation, if anything. Not during a fucking Spring Break.”

“Why not?” Dean shrugged, “I’d be tonguing a girl myself if we hadn’t brought these two killjoys.” He smiled in mocking kindness towards you and Natalie on either end of the benches, and you finally asked after unintentionally swearing to silence all morning, “Do you ever think before speaking? Just wondering.”

“He doesn’t.” Natalie quickly answered, losing track of just how much hot sauce she was putting on her scrambled eggs while glowering over at you before shooting her early morning ire back to the adjacent boy. You smirked slightly as Dean huffed, “What, [Y/N]? Do you want to get married, or something?”

Just as quick as you had spoken, you were silent again, only giving a dry chuckle. When he started to speak, you grinned at Heather sitting back down, and held up your hand.

“Dean, do you know what this is?” You asked, your middle and ring touching your thumb with both index and pinkie sticking straight up. Dean stared for a long pause, Natalie’s own grin growing as you scoffed, “What, never saw this at summer camp as a kid? Or just in general?”

“Sorry, I’m good with my hands but not that good, whatever that’s supposed to be.” He pointed to your fingers sticking upwards, and you rolled your eyes so heavily that you had felt the strain somewhere behind them in your head.

Heather explained, “It’s the quiet coyote symbol.” She held the same sign up next to yours, looking at Dean with a matching smile to the rest of the girls, “It’s for kids who just can’t learn to shut their mouths.”

You nodded, hand releasing in favor of taking your own coffee as Dean laughed. “You guys are fucking corny.”

“No,” Heather corrected, “Just good with our words.”

“And our hands.” You added, making both girls groan in shock. You were laughing for the first time since you had let these four in the car with you, catching the glances from other roadies sitting in at the commotion you all were causing from the uproar.

Back on the road, your friends had asked if your car could make it all the way out there for a couple nights of insanity, hookups, and whatever Las Vegas would bring the group. You had assured them it would be easy, but even driving it now made you second guess yourself. You were absolute trash at tuning up, oil changes, all that automotive care despite having knowledge to back you up, and something worth taking care of under your hands. It was a secret, and one of your lamented shames.

Still, it had gotten you through most of your run in college thus far. If she didn’t give out in the next year, she might even take you to graduation. You could have some faith in your car, just as you had faith in your story you were picking up on the way.

“What if-“ Mel spoke up from the backseat, staring out his window, “I drive, and [Y/N] can take a break?”

“Already said no,” You promptly responded, but Mel then begged, “Hear me out, hear me out before you say that.” You glanced at him in the rearview, then digressed as he looked back. “If someone else drives for you, think about what work you could get done.”

Natalie turned her head and added, “Get some desert photos, shots of the truck stops we pass?” Your hands flexed a bit on the wheel, and you finally gave a tilt of your head in thought. Mel had more trust in his pinkie toe than Dean when it came to people asking to take the wheel, and the suggestion was kind if it was genuine.

“Just think about it. Next stop is in an hour.” Mel patted the shoulder of the driver’s seat, sitting back again with Dean and Heather scooting over a bit to reacclimate him.

“It’s good you have something outside of this trip, we’re kind of losing the plot.” Heather then mentioned, and you smirked as Dean rebutted, “You’d rather read about blowjobs in restrooms and crank snorting than fucking Vegas.”

“Tomato, tomato.” Natalie concurred, making you grin a little more honestly now.

The next gas station came faster than you had hoped, the possibility up in the air as you tried not to linger on possible shots for your story, the golden stretch of land going on and on while on the road to your destination. No wonder people without a mind for direction, or an instinct and humility to ask for help would get lost out here.

Pulling into the shade of the awning covering the gas pumps, your friends all leapt out, eager to stretch their legs and grab some road fare. You could humor an Arizona tea yourself, finally stepping out yourself. Mel was lingering, pretending that something was waiting for him with a pebble on the blacktop of the station.

You finally crossed your arms, and said, “Mel?”

He perked up, and you smiled to your own puddles of soft brown dirt that had blown in from the desert and crackled beneath your shoes before moving from the front door of your car. “Be careful, alright?”

The smile it got from him made you finally let go of your insecurities of letting someone else drive, and he assured you, “Of course I will, [Y/N]. Seriously, I passed my driving test the first time and all that shit. Never been pulled over, nothing.” You handed him the keys, and then asked, “I’m running inside, be right back. As long as I can trust you.”

Turning away, Dean was coming back to the car with a suspicious black bag of whatever he was going to subsist off of. You didn’t give him or it a second look, pulling your wallet out of your pocket to consider what you had for gas and a few treats. It could be alcohol, but he isn’t going to be driving.

You swung open the door, pressing up against it to remain out of the way for a man leaving, even held the door open for him without a word, smiling curtly as you looked inside the store. As you walked in, Natalie scampered up. “Hey, I think that guy’s driving a-“

“[Y/N]?” Heather cut her off, pointing out the window. You hadn’t even gotten up to the front counter before turning around, eyes registering as you grew rigid, anger rising fast.

“Fuck.” You spat, and then looked at the girls, “Look, take my wallet. I want $25 on Pump 2, and…and get me a fucking Arizona.” You turned back around, the purr of a significantly large engine nearly drowning you out as you started to holler over it, at your car.

“What the hell are you doing!?” You asked Dean, who had sat behind the wheel and started honking at you to drown you out, “Absolutely fucking not.” You stared with wide, bewildered eyes and a sharp scowl at Mel, who yelled back, “He fucking burgled the keys from me!”

Jiggling the door handle, Dean held the keys up and gave you a confused look. You slammed your fist on the hood in a final warning, and finally he stopped in his tracks, rolling the window down. “I’m just-“

“You fuck with me, I’m not filling this tank up, and we aren’t going anywhere.”

His eyes boggled, and he even gawked slightly at the different tone of your voice, hitting the final marker of your tolerance, the last rung of patience left as you gripped the edge of the open window, and you spat, “I’d tell you to go fuck yourself, but this is the only reason you brought me on this trip with you, right?”

The girls approached slowly, and Dean winced, “Sheesh, you’re still on that? I didn’t know you’d get so butthurt about me wanting to help you write your story.” You glared, simmering back down and holding bitter eye contact. You then asked, “Did you buy any booze?”

“No, just pop rocks and cactus cooler…” Like a hurt little kid who was getting scolded in detention.

Your hand slipped off the windowsill, and you muttered one more thing before going to the backseat, “Fuck, fine. Just don’t crash her, and don’t touch the fucking CB radio.”

Things had been tense and quiet in the car after that, you sulking in the backseat and rereading your scribed interviews. You didn’t even have the heart to try and take those photos everyone had been talking about, and the only time your attention was snapped forward was when Dean would hit a pothole, or veer while adjusting to your car. Your eyes would burn holes into the back of his head, and everyone would merely observe in an almost fearful watch to see if that would make you lose your temper again.

It wasn’t a proud moment, but one you had been biting down since last night. Natalie reached over, planting an Arnold Palmer between you and Mel. You smiled, but even that felt like you were just smoothing over a snapped twig with masking tape.

Dinner was lighter, you getting up to approach “suspecting” truckers, start asking the counter of the diner layout of the restaurant as a whole if anyone wanted to give you an interview. You got a couple short questions answered, thanking them with another stride in trying to help your mood. Still, as you had turned away, a wolf whistle made your spirits once again choke in the dust like a tumbleweed outside the window, rolling on through the night with a wonder just what direction you were fumbling in and where it all lead towards.

Sitting back down, Heather put a hand on your shoulder, and you once again sighed the heavy emotions off in favor of hearing the easy tone of Mel’s voice. “Hey, [Y/N]. Dean thinks we should drive through the night, but we all agreed since you have the car…uh, you make the call.”

“We’re going to what?” You then echoed, looking at Dean as he quickly began to vomit an explanation up for you. “Yeah, it might be best since we lost some time already, getting a little lost when we first made our way out here.

“I don’t think it’s smart to overtire ourselves with driving all night.” Heather pointed out, but Natalie quickly asked, “Well, what are we going to do when we get there anyways? Drink at some bars, go back to our hotel rooms…?”

“Drink there!” Dean beamed, “Just like we’ve been doing already. Might as well do it back in the city everyone putts out here for, right?”

“Sure, I guess,” Heather sat back in the booth, “But again, it’s [Y/N]’s decision, I guess.”

Closing your notebook, staring down at your chicken picatta that had long gone cold, you then looked back up at Dean, who added, “You can drive to start, and when you get sleepy…” He looked at Mel, “He can take over, not me. Since you got your panties all in a knot over me doing it.”

Another pause, and the speaker over your head started humming an old ABBA tune that Dean started to mouth along to: Honey, I’m still free. Take a chance on me…

You set your fork down after picking at your plate for a minute, and simply responded with a question.

“We’re close enough to just keep going, aren’t we?”

[itsybiggy]

Stuck With Me: Peter Parker x OC

Cute Peter Parker slow burn, less spiderman action more just good ol awkward Parker.

Peter has been in a bad mood all month, but with soon to be divorced parents, trying to figure out what's wrong with him is the last thing Lani needs. Thankfully summer break is here. Lani, Ned, Peter, and MJ set off on the summer vacation road trip to California. Drama ensues

🕸️Chapter 2🕸️

Chapter 1

Master list

•🕷️🕷️🕷️•

He left me on read. He never does that, like ever. My thoughts begin to wander to attempt to make evenly winged eyeliner.

So much for keeping it positive.

Intrusive thoughts pile up in my mind. I'm not dumb enough to really believe that Peter now hates the mere thought of me; but the little "read" under my text makes me anxious all the same.

I being wracking my brain. Thinking of everything I have said to him in the past weeks. I mean maybe I said something to make him upset or did something and just not realize it. But honestly, it only makes me smile as I recall the jokes we cracked and fun we all  have had. Nothing bad is really coming to mind.

My screen is still void of any text notifications.

I check my refection in the mirror, smiling. I usually try to stay positive when it comes to my appearance. And I definitely can't complain of how my butt looks my black maxi skirt. I adjusted my white crop top, making sure the tiny cross stitched spider was visible. After a quick click of my off brand Dock Martins I decided humidity was a virtue and mirror time was over.

It was already 5:15, I didn't feel quiet ready but Ned would be waiting.

~15 minutes later~

"GET IN LOSER WE ARE GOING SHOPPING!" I yell as Ned walks down the apartment stairs.

He gets in the car "Hey."

"Hey." My smile drops and I hope it's subtle. The tone of his voice worried me. Silence between us is uncommon. I squirm a bit in my seat.

Seeing as he isn't going to make conversation, I speak up.

"Did you get the texts from me and Michelle?" I say.

"Yeah, I have no idea what's wrong with him. Maybe we will figure out tonight" he says quickly, shrugs and looks out the window. Silence fills the car again.

I know you can't sound like anything over text, but Ned sounded a lot peppier when we were messaging. What was going on with my friends?

"We should go see a movie after."  I make a lame attempt to kindle a conversation.

Ned seems to perk up a bit at this.

"Yes! The Joker is out!"

I laugh at this, I'd never been much for DC superhero comics. Especially when they are made up. It didn't really make a lot of sense why someone would make up a superhero and a supervillain when there are plenty to choose from that are real. Movie production companies have tried to profit off of rising superhero stars. The movies are never as good as the up close and real action.

I shrug "I'll see whatever you want bubby."

He winces at 'bubby' and goes back to looking out the window.

I feel my face getting hot. Ok mental note, after being called bubby for 3 years Ned now doesn't like it.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH MY FRIENDS! Blasts in my mind. My only hope now was that Michelle was normal.

___

To my relief she was. We got to the diner at 6:04, Michelle sitting down at our usual table in the back. We try to sit in the back as to not disturb other customers. Our laughs are usually boisterous and frequent not to mention the cheeky jokes. And all being on the decathlon team, heated arguments or "debates" on some old dudes theories or such tend to heated. But we are high tipping customers so we don't worry about it too much.

"Hey guys surprised to see you have made it here alive." She jokes.

"I don't know where you got that I was a bad driver!" I motion for Ned to take a seat before I slide in next to him.

"Oh I think you know." She winks.

"what?" I look at her, perplexed before she shakes her head.

"Speak of the devil" she said just as Peter walks through the door.

The little bell at the top of the door gives a joyful ring. Peter flinches but his body quickly moved back into its slightly hunched position with a frown on his face. Oh great.

"Hey Peter!" I say as he sits down next to Michelle.

He looks into my eyes and gives a slight smile. But says nothing.

A waiter soon comes around with menus "Can I get you started off with anything to drink?"

"I will have a coke." Michelle starts.

"Same." Peter mumbles.

"Sprite." Says Ned cheerfully.

"Tea for me please and thank you." I say brightly, I had to stay positive. I am with my friends to get away from negativity, not have more of it.

Once the waiter left we all began talking. Peter slowly starts engaging more, and it seems to feel right again. Something about him is definitely off; though that does make me very worried about him, I know now was not the time to ask. I will just do my best to cheer my moody friend up.

I smile, mentally stepping back from the conversation, contentment filled my heart. There is nowhere I would rather be and no group of people I would rather be with. I mean they are the only friends I have...

Good Eats has become a favorite of ours. We started eating here for dinner or after school almost every weekend, for about 3 years now. It was cheap for the quality of simple yet delicious diner food. But it's usually pretty quiet in the evenings— (we learned the hard way to avoid it during the mornings where the line is out the door.) —a steady stream of customers usually taking things to-go. Which I don't get, a big part of this place being great is the aesthetic. It reminds me of a 70s diner and most likely opened then. Yellow booths, a jute box always playing great oldies music, kinda ugly wallpaper, and warm lighting. And the store owner is a really nice guy. He usually brings his grandkids. It's always funny when you get rung up by a 10-year-old or have your water refilled by a 7-year-old. Since we have been coming for so long so often, the owner has a special discount for us "I've got to treat my best customers right!"  he always says I'm pretty sure it's just a %10 student discount. We usually tip as much much as we can.

I snapped back into reality when I heard my name. I didn't really know who it came from.

"What?" I said shacking my head out of the clouds.

"We were asking about the van. Summer break is almost here, when is Caroline gonna be ready?" Ned asks

"Oh right, I would say just in time for school to let out." I say.

We have been planning our summer break since school started this year. It will be our last summer vacation ever, so it had to be epic. I always get excited butterflies from it, but it is usually mixed with dread too. Dread because I know when I get home my parents will be officially divorced. Not that I haven't known this was coming or that it needs to happen. It definitely does, I have a cup bruise on the side of my head to prove it.

No, nope stop! I feel my eyes watering. Internally I let out a big sigh. This summer vacation has to be perfect. I don't know what I will do if it's not.

"Alright let's go over the plans one last time," Peter says.

I smile reaching into my purse, and pull out a small, light pink, piece of paper. 1-10 lists of things we need to do while we are in California. We had decided a beach trip is definitely what we need.

I clear my throat and begin to read.

1. start off at Stark Tower to go over things with Tony such as Hotels, food reservations, and tickets

Did I mention all of this was Peter's early birthday gift from TS himself. We are all pretty jazzed. And by that I mean we about shit our pants when Peter told us.

2. head out across the country stopping at the finest Tony Stark hotels (hotels with penthouse suites that Tony has frequent so much he just straight up bought the hotels.)

3  get to LA and check out our crib

4. beach

5. Disney Land

6. More beach

7. eat at a super fancy restaurant

8. ruins of Mr. Stark's Malibu mansion

9. Santa Monica Pier

10. hike to the Hollywood sign

It was a packed summer for sure, but it had to be the best, it just had to be. My last slice of happiness before I move away with my mom, before I move from Queens to which ever relative my mom decides to move close to. Away from all of my friends, who are more of a family then my real ones. Who have gotten me through so much, stuck by my side through it all. And even feeling upset makes me feel like I'm a monster. I want to support my mom, but I don't want this! I don't want to be away from them. Away...I hate that word.

"You ok La?" Ned asks  his hand rests on my back, lightly rubbing it.

My cheeks grow warm with embarrassment- I was crying. And of course Ned's kind questioning made more tears flow. I quickly wipe my eyes with my sleeve, and give a quick fake smile to my friends. They look concerned, except Peter. He looks almost angry, this made me cry more. Amazing.

"Yeah I'm fine. I-uh-i yawned." I stammer, I yawned wtf, who would believe that?!

"What the hell Lani?! No one's yawns make them cry that much." Michelle said, her voice rose she was almost laughing at the dumb lie that came out of my mouth. But I knew she was just concerned.

Ned quickly drops his hand from my back, my head instinctively turning towards him. He's looking at Peter.

"I'm fine I, I-just." I paused. I had told them about my parents getting a divorce, but not much. More importantly, I hadn't told them I was moving, and I wasn't planning on it till the trip is over. If they knew it would just ruin the whole trip for me. Not to mention I was so scared to even say it out loud, it would just make it seem more real. I tried my hardest to not think about it ever. Yea I know it's is unhealthy, but it's how I'm coping now. Might as well let future Lani deal with it.

"It's just my parents divorce, it's getting close to the last of all the court stuff. I just, can't stop thinking about it." My face continued the hot embarrassed sensation. I felt my under arms tingle and I could feel their eyes in me. My eyes stayed glued on my hands like my left depended on it.

There was a small pause. Oh gosh this is embarrassing.

"Lani, no madder what, you will always have us. We love you." Michelle finally said. Her tender words caught me off guard.

I looked back at her, giving a genuine smile "Thanks, that means a lot."

But the little voice in the back of my mind kept screaming Except they won't always be there for you.

"Are you guys ready to order?" We all jumped a bit as the waiter had finally returned to serve us. She placed each of our drinks in front of us.

After we ordered I had asked if we could just forget I said anything, what I needed was a fun night with my friends. They all agreed and once Ned had brought up The Joker, a new conversation sprung. I was just happy to not discuss anything family related.

___

Once we had all gotten and eaten our food, we decided to head to the movie theater to watch The Joker.

"Ok how about Peter pays for drink, Ned pays for Popcorn, and Lani pays for the tickets?" Michelle suggests as we walk into the theater.

"Um, that's convenient, seeing as you pay for nothing." Said Peter, slightly annoyed "and we should all pay for our own tickets, they are too expensive for Lani to pay for alone."

Michelle give a little snicker before we all decide it was every man for himself/herself.

I walk up to the counter, and smile brightly at the young man at the register. "Four tickets for The Joker, please and thank you."

"Sorry The Joker is sold out." He replies in a monotone voice.

"What?!" Ned exclaimed "but- I just checked online like 5 hours ago."

"Sorry The Joker is sold out" he repeats in the same voice. I don't blame him, he has probably had to say this so many people tonight.

"Hey, guys it's fine we can just pick another movie!" I say trying to lift their spirits.

"It 2 is out." Michelle offers.

Oh no

"Yeah I'm down" says Ned.

Oh no

"Yeah me too" says Peter.

Shit

Three pairs of eyes look at me. I give a sheepish smile. I get scared very easily, they know this, but I'm willing to take one for the team... even if it means I won't sleep for a few da-weeks. "Yes, let's go see It 2" I say in a fake enthusiastic tone.

I turn back to the man at the register "um, four for... It 2 please."

___

The theater is completely empty, which makes it about 1099999373783298xs more scary. It's a pretty popular movie so the rows of seats absent of people makes it feel like the twilight zone. We look around, deciding to sit in the far back.

I see Peter hanging back, walking slowly behind us. Strategically, I begin to slow my pace; slipping behind MJ to sit beside Peter. If there is anything that will distract me from the killer clown, it's Peter. We enter the row and settled in. And Peter grabs my hand.

[argcicle]

I’m breaking my silence on the matter (/lh). gay block men below the cut

trigger warning for mentions of abuse and death, no explicit details

first off, this starts soon after the manberg festival. the turbulent aftermath of tubbo’s execution for pogtopia creates ghostza, a physical manifestation of the influence he’s had on l’manberg. his hair is longer and sits in the loose ponytail that wilbur and techno always talk about, he looks like the young warrior his sons remember, and the green he wears has faded into a calming blue. but he’s intertwined with memories of wilbur and tommy, so he wanders manberg thinking it’s l’manberg. schlatt finds him in the early hours of the morning, and ghostza is so based on phil’s analogies of kindness and allies that he accepts the idea that wilbur and tommy are on vacation. schlatt uses the relationship mainly for the wealth of information about wilbur and tommy, but he quickly becomes enamored with the idea of having a seemingly godly being on his side.

ghostza’s wings are white and you can tell his clothes aren’t supposed to be blue. they look drained of color like his skin does. his eyes are too white to be blue and too blue to be white. if you would see him out of the corner of your eye, he glitches slightly surrounded by deep blue errors. for his happier and kinder demeanor, he’s terrifying to see roaming manberg. schlatt calls him “angel”. quackity’s scared to call him phil in case he isn’t, so he eventually just calls him “blueberry”.

and the enticing thing about this love triangle is that everyone is suspicious of everyone. schlatt wants both of them all to himself, but in the back of his head he knows the two are meeting without him. quackity is stuck between an abusive man he doesn’t want to leave and the only man who treats him okay but who rings the loudest alarm bells in his head (added with the fact that according to wilbur, phil is on an entirely different server). ghostza fully recognizes schlatt as corrupt and abusive once he sees how “l’manberg” is ran, and is trying to help quackity but is worried about quackity’s involvement.

quackity repeatedly tries to convince schlatt of the danger over nice dinners and being the “housewife” he usually tries to resist. a kiss to Schlatt’s cheek before he complains, “we don’t know where he’s from.” after quackity portions out the food for him, “it’s just worrying that he insists he’s their dad. why would he be on our side?” after he hides his grimace while schlatt admires the apron he had gotten for an old anniversary, “there’s no knowledge of him or what he is.” schlatt just rubs his fingers over the frilly edge of the apron with a blank, unemotional grin. “y’know, it’s- you make such good points, you really do doll. can’t help but notice— you’re focusing a lot of attention on phil and not on the country we are running. and really, you’ve made me realize that I don’t know what you are, quackity. I really don’t. would you care to share?” his eyes gleam with a brutal glee that makes his point loud and clear; “don’t mention this again.”

it’s not like ghostza doesn’t feel the pure animosity quackity has, and he shows it every time quackity withdraws from the situation. but he persists. ghostza chases him down, trying to connect with late night walks and fancy dinners. they mainly remind quackity of how he and schlatt started, which reminds him that schlatt is angry and alone and expecting him home. ghostza mainly crashes the few moments quackity finds himself alone, but eventually he finds himself anticipating the moments he gets to relax with this spirit. ghostza tends to be the only real escape he gets from manberg that doesn’t either get back to Schlatt or is taking away precious time to work on the plan with pogtopia.

with something on his side that’s clearly not human, maybe even ethereal in a way, schlatt gets much more erratic. with no knowledge of ghosts, he assumes it must be a god on his side. he takes more risks, stops the very small and very futile steps for his own health and stretches himself thinner and thinner. it comes crashing down in that rusty old van on november 16th. ghostza crumbles down similarly when he sees himself join the server and kill his own son.

it’s quiet rebuilding l’manberg from the crater. ghostza stays in a snowy area (eventually where techno and phil’s cabin is built) to avoid what the living version of him did. he sees the new l’manberg now and he can’t visit the crater without panicking. quackity visits him occasionally, but ghostza finally disappears during their final meeting after schlatt’s funeral.

quackity meets the real phil soon after, and he vaguely remembers walking around l’manberg. the memories aren’t the same, but they’re close and the closeness drives quackity insane. he misses the blue and the glitching but he still loves phil. he’s a welcome escape; quackity expects his stomach to twist seeing his lover while the butcher army’s actively hunting down techno, but it’s just relief. the last time phil and quackity really talk is once the compass is found, a simple goodbye that feels wrong compared to how phil glares at him.

when phil escapes the server, ghostza returns. quackity is mainly wandering; he does that a lot after his second death, but no matter where he is it doesn’t feel right to settle down there. he’s yet to find an area that is far enough away from kinoko kingdom, or las nevadas, or any place with history that doesn’t turn to a bitter taste in his mouth, so he just returns to glatt’s bunker each night to live in the escapism of the gym and a version of his husband who doesn’t always glare at him.

he finds ghostza while wandering, and they walk around the next few days. on november 13, ghostza, glatt, and quackity sit in the gym and talk. it’s cozy, and quackity has to admit he loves sitting with versions of his past from before so many tragedies. it’s a husband who never wronged him and a lover he never wronged. but it chills him to be the only person living presently, sitting with the ghosts of his past. slowly, quackity’s track jacket goes from navy blue to a light baby blue as if to mimic the two men around him. he senses something else is wrong, but he never thinks it could be the impending doom of the nuclear fallout above them.

beaming the infodump rays into ur mind you wanna listen to my schlatt/quackity/philza thoughts you wanna hear me go insane over three minecraft men /j

[ssplague]

Chapter 18

Masterlist

⛔️Trigger warnings: Sex, manipulation, toxic relationships, yandere, romanticized abuse, verbal abuse, degradation, Narcissistic family, mental illness/instability, delusional thinking, drug use leading to inevitable abuse, hallucinations, gas lighting, fractured psyche, co-dependency, enabling

💌Honorable Mentions 📬@angie-1306 @marifujioka @im1nobody @atmyhet @elaineplayz @rainstorm22 @bi-polar-pandas @itadakimasu @cr-33-d @winchescumberholland @po3ticb3auty @maggiecc @lordmypantsaresocool @shoslutt @venussakura @comfycozy @lilmad13 @lunamoonbby @youdoyou-andiwilldome @bookandstar @coffeeginie @bubblebombxbitch @wolfunderthetree @presidentmonica @villanessnoblegirl @ss-aki @agirlwithnokatsuki @lizethecookie01

If you haven’t read my most recent Announcement post, go and check it out, only ONE MORE CHAPTER LEFT.

🛫 ☁️ 🛬 🚏 💍

“This is so exciting! I can’t believe we’re here! That I’m here! That you guys really brought me with you!”

Your arms are spread out as you twirl around, marveling at your new surroundings. The Bakugou’s observe you with amusement as you look around. Katsuki grabs hold of your hand to drag you inside the hotel you guys were staying at. Mitsuki hands each of you a key card, “You two are on floor six and we are on floor three-“ “Okay bye” Katsuki replied, heading towards the elevator. “Meet us down here at 7 so we can go to dinner, ungrateful brat!” “We will!” You call out with a wave as the elevator doors slide shut. “I was worried our room’s would share a wall, but with three floors between us we’re free to fuck as much as we want” You find yourself being pressed against the wall of the elevator, caged in by a muscular arm on either side of your head, as Katsuki continues whispering a tirade of dirty things in your ear.

By the time the beep announces your floor being reached, you can feel your face burning from embarrassment. You slip out from beneath his arm and begin a brisk walk down the hallway. “Hey! Come back!” You don’t, you break out into a sprint instead. “Y/N! Don’t ignore me!” You turn the corner and hurry to unlock the door, squealing once he comes into view and once inside, try to shut the door on him. He’s able to get his foot in and you know your in trouble now. So you start backing away as he stalks towards you, only to end up getting body slammed onto the soft bed in the center of the room. “Got cha now”

“It’s our first night here, why do we have to go to some stupid party?” Katsuki complains as the two of you follow his parents inside some upscale venue. “You didn’t have to come! I told you that you could go back to the hotel after we finished dinner!” Mitsuki snaps back at him. “Hell no I wasn’t going back alone and letting you take my girlfriend somewhere without me!” “You guys-“ Masaru tries to intervene but his wife whips around surprising the bespectacled man as she starts in on their son, “Knock it off Katsuki, we’re here on vacation, Im not interested in hearing you bitch and moan the entire time, so either suck it up or I’ll make sure you sit your ass in the room by yourself for the rest of the week, understand?”.

The anger burning inside her crimson stare wasn’t even directed towards you, but that didn’t mean it was any less frightening. You’d heard and witnessed her getting onto Katsuki many a time but this time was different…The aura surrounding the older woman had began to effect the atmosphere of the entryway; The light hearted, jubilant buzz of the gathering out on the veranda was silenced by the growing tension, was that your heart beating loudly in your ears? Your mouth had gone dry, you thought better of attempting to fan yourself as you broke out in a sudden sweat. It was as if the surrounding air had adapted to that crimson hell fire and rose from its once cool temperature to mimic the stagnant inferno. You feel bad for your boyfriend as he mumbles a quiet “Yes”, you attempt awkwardly rubbing his back, but he’s quick to shrug you off as the two of you follow behind his parents once more.

Of course you hadn’t been too thrilled to come out either, jet lag combined with getting drilled by Katsuki for an hour was enough to put you out. Thankfully you were able to sneak one of your pep pills before dinner, without them you wouldn’t have managed to keep a smiling face on while you were forced to meet so many industry people. Unfortunately, they seemed to have given you an increased feeling of anxiety along with that energy boost. Standing in a group of well dressed people much older than you, you couldn’t help but think; Who would have known the Bakugou’s were so well connected outside Japan?

“Mitsuki you never mentioned you had a daughter!” a voice exclaims from behind you. An eccentric old man in a paisley suit seems to materialize out of nowhere as he hugs the blonde woman. “She might as well be! This is y/n, my prodigy and Katsuki’s girlfriend, c’mere sweetheart” the warmth radiating from “mom” was welcoming as she reached out to pull you closer to her side. A stark contrast to the terrifying display you’d witnessed earlier…God forbid you ever disappoint or anger her. After introductions were made and Masaru had reappeared with a drink for his wife, you seized the opportunity to slip away into the crowd.

So many people were crowded together around the large veranda; Too many conversations abuzz in your ears, the muscles in your cheeks were cramped from the continuous smile you wore. Your pulse sped up with each step you took, sweat begins to form on your brow. You need to keep yourself grounded, you could not have a freak out right now! That’s when you realized something was amiss, or rather…someone.

Where was Katsuki?

Wide eyes shift back and forth as they scan your surroundings in search of a familiar slouched figure, that brooding expression, but neither were anywhere to be found. Seeing a passing waitress you quickly stopped her to ask which way to the bathroom? She directed you with a gentle smile and a quiet voice. Re-enterting the building you walk quickly down a short hallway, make a left turn, and just as you are about to make a right, you hear it, the gruff snarling and crackling pops that could only come from one person.

“-The fuck you followed me here for?! I’m not interested you weird bitch, get your hands off me!”

The shift from fear to fury had come so easily it was like flipping a light switch. You made your presence known as soon as you realized what was happening.,”You have two seconds to get the fuck away from him”. Seeing Katsuki against the wall being felt up by some middle aged stranger had you seeing red. Your heels echoed as they struck the tiles below your feet as you reached the duo in a few short steps. The women turns to face you, keeping your lover hidden from your sight as she sneers at you, “Mind your own business you foul mouthed little tramp, I’ve known blondie here since he was a little boy, we’re just catching up”. Flashing what was supposed to be a seductive wink over her shoulder, Katsuki let’s out a growl of disgust as he shoves her aside to pull you into his arms.

“Get lost, before I tell Mitsuki that you were groping and propositioning her son in an empty hall way like some disgusting back alley predator” you spit vehemently, narrowed eyes locked on the mystery woman as her’s widen upon mention of the Bakugou matriarch. You aren’t able to see the smirk Katsuki wears behind you but you can pick up on his growing arousal as he squeezes your hips, “You heard her, take a Fuckin hike you nasty broad”. The furious female scoffs at the two of you, her gaze briefly falling to the hands on your hips. Teetering on her chunky heels when you stomp your foot, faking a lunge forward. She nearly falls on her face as she stumbles around the corner, muttering curses under her breath.

“I could of dealt with her myself Y’know…” The words have you rolling your eyes, the spike in adrenaline you’d felt was quick to cycle through and send you crashing back into elevated anxiousness. “Gotta say, it’s a hell of a lot sexier how you did it though” you allow Katsuki to turn you around to look at him but his smug smile immediately falters “Hey, what’s wrong?”. Seeing your hands trembling as they clutch at his dress shirt, he’s quick to usher you into the bathroom and lock the door. It’s fancy, with marble floors and a granite countertop, a plush chair is stationed near the door and as he sits down you’re pulled along onto his lap.

“Shhh it’s okay, I’ve got you now princess”

A pathetic whimper escapes you as your head rests on his shoulder, one hand coming to rest atop his chest. Katsuki was here now, you can relax, you aren’t in charge of yourself anymore. The mindless feeling of being controlled had become comfortable now, it just eased the stress that comes along with living in your head. The sugary musk of his scent had become like aroma therapy as you feel the anxiety begin ebbing away. The steady beat of his heart beneath your palm and softly reaching your ear gave you something to focus on. Your breathing soon evens out and you realize how easy it would be to fall asleep like this.

“Who was she?”

Curiosity got the better of you and soon your shifting around in his lap to get a better look at his face. “Nothing you ever need to worry about, I assure you of that” The reassurance was kind, but it wasn’t what you wanted to hear right now, and it was evident by the sudden frown on your face. “Just some model that was at a lot of the shows my parents dragged me to as a kid….she was 18 back then and I was only six” Katsuki pauses, but only for a moment as apparent disgust and disdain for that woman began to sink in, “She’d try to get me to sit in her lap and always make comments about how I was so handsome for such a little kid, it pissed me off to no Fuckin’ end”.

“It’s been years since I’d last seen her, I’d never have noticed her if she hadn’t of clung to my arm squealing like she did, I kept trying to shake her and get back over to you and I’d thought I did when I came to take a piss, but lucky for me you showed up before I had to experience anything too heinous” The two of you share a chaste kiss at the end of his explanation. Your eye lids growing heavy as you go in for another, repeating the action for a few more minutes. Reluctantly the two of you know you need to leave your little safe haven and rejoin the gathering, you are more worried about possibly upsetting his mother than he is.

When you spot the two adults still caught up in conversation, Katsuki squeezes your hand muttering a soft “Fuck this”. You allow him to lead you out of the venue, noticing him typing something on his phone quickly, before returning it to his pocket. The two of you venture off into the night, your hand clasped in his much bigger one. Eventually you find yourselves near a large waterway and mutually decided this was a nice place to sit. The silence is comfortable and your normally agitated lover seems to be at ease.

Who knows when you might get another opportunity like this?

“Would you be disappointed in me if…if I said I don’t think I want to become a hero after graduation?”

You don’t look at him when you ask this, the fear of seeing disappointment reflected in his crimson eyes is too great, “At least not right away I don’t…Now that Ive had the opportunity to explore what I’m truly passionate about, and I realized that I’m no longer limited to pursuing what my parents forced me into”.

The weight he’s been carrying with him since you battled that villain evaporated instantly, Katsuki was elated. He wasn’t going to have to come up with a plan that involved forcing you to quit hero work, you were willingly doing it yourself! “I could never be disappointed in you over pursuing your ambitions princess, you have to promise me two things though…” he pauses and finally you’re looking at him again, eyes expectant, lips parted slightly, urging him to continue. “You do your best at whatever you choose to do and be willing to admit if things get to be too much for you to handle, I won’t have you overworking yourself, got it?” He was being stern but you could see it was just out of love, so you agreed and gave him your word.

It truly was a beautiful night; The city lights were dimmed, bathing the streets in a romantic orange glow, it was all so perfect. Staring out at the calm waves and letting the breeze caress your face, you became lost in the sea of your own thoughts. You hadn’t noticed the way that your lover stares you down; Memorizing every inch of your beautiful face and cementing this moment into his memory for the rest of his days. Katsuki’s positive he’s worked up enough courage now, one hand gripped the box carefully hidden in his pocket. It’s now or never.

“Y/n” You instantly look his way, suprised by how close he is to you. The look in his eyes has you wanting to shy away, all you can see in his expanded pupils is a reflection of your face. Why did it feel like this one moment in time would forever change your fate? It’s as if time stops, the world has ceased its rotation and all the living beings around you are holding their breath as they wait for…what exactly? This is exciting, how thrilling it is to be forced to face the great unknown!

“I’m shit with words, you know that already so…just let me try and get out what I need to say…I love you, from the moment you came into my life you slowly became the center of my entire world…You mean everything to me, I want to treasure you like a most Prized Posession I hold onto and cherish for the rest of my life…So…will you marry me?”

My entire world… For the rest of my life…

“I want someone to come sweep me off my feet and spoil me so much I wouldn’t ever have to even lift a pinkie again!”

“I’d rather meet someone and we both instantly fall head over heels for each other! They would shower me with all the love and devotion in the world!”

The other young girls in your class are so quick to agree with the two air heads voicing their childish fantasies. You sat at your pint size desk contemplating; Would I want someone to take care of me? If true love is involved, than it technically couldn’t be considered giving someone “Ownership” over my mind, body, and soul right?

Thoughts far to complex to be on the mind of a child…

Even though it had only been mere seconds that it took you to answer him; Katsuki was sweating profusely, terror had gripped his very soul, and doubts forced any sort of confidence from the forefront of his mind.

She’s going to say no… She’ll reject me and then probably want to break up afterwards… I fucked everything up, I-

“Katsuki…you.. I…YES! A thousand times yes!” At a loss for words you begin to blink back tears. The man at your feet wasted no time in placing the ring on your finger, refusing to let go of your hand as he stood back up. “Geez shitty woman take some more fucking years off my life why don’t you?!” The aggressive blonde snaps as he pulls you against his chest. You smile as you look up at him, and he couldn’t possibly scowl, not with you grinning so wide flashing your pearly whites at him, “C’mere and Gimme a kiss pretty girl”.

As your lips meet both of your mouths open, intent on deepening the meaningful lip lock but then- “Oh you two are just too damn adorable!” “Honey, let’s not intrude upon their special moment-“ You felt Katsuki stiffen in your arms, while your body went rigid against his muscular frame. Having heard them before actually seeing them, it was no surprise that your now soon to be in-laws come out from behind one of the large pillars holding up the over head walk way.. “How the hell did you even know where to find us? Dammit!” Your irate lover shouts, gripping you a bit too tightly before letting go. “You left your location on, anyway we recorded the entire thing so we’ll be able to share it with everyone back home! Your grandmother’s are going to cry!Both of them never thought you would settle down with someone”Mitsuki replies dismissively as she approaches both of you, immediately pulling you both into an awkward hug.

“Oh no, I hope I don’t look stupid just standing there gawking like I did for a bit…” you laugh nervously, rubbing one of your sleeves once the teary eyed woman releases you two. “No not at all, you both looked great…I’m so happy for you two” Masaru says coming to stand beside his wife, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing his streaming eyes beneath his glasses. “Okay we’ll get out of your hair now, go enjoy the rest of your night kids” Mitsuki smiles at you and Katsuki once more before dragging her sobbing husband back the way they came.

“That reminds me, turn around baby, got one more present for ya” You do so immediately, feeling something rest on your neck, the Weight of what undoubtedly was some kind of charm, rests right above the valley between your breasts. Figuring out what the gift is has you instinctively lifting your hair up and out of the way. “There we go” now that the chain is fastened, the blonde comes to stand infront of you again “Looks Fuckin perfect, knew it would…but still”. Using the front facing camera on your phone you were able to see the jewelry adorning your neck; Instead of one large charm there was two, a golden gernade, and a heart shaped lock with KB elegantly etched into it. The chain was small and thin but it had to be gold, rubies made up the inside of the heart and it had to be emeralds that sparkle around the gernade. “Katsuki…this had to of cost a fortune…I can’t-“ “Well turns out that accidentally stopping a jewelry store robbery has it perks, you’re mine and now everyone’s gonna know it”

As if they didn’t already.

While you two continued your stroll around the city, you realized that the weight around your neck, and especially weighing down your ring finger, were something you’d have to get used to…A constant reminder.

A most prized possession.

When you found yourself outside the door of your hotel room, you couldn’t decipher these jittery feelings in your gut. It was easier to express yourself to Katsuki when he was all you could see; While he was looking down at you, demanding all your attention, all of your affection, and never ending devotion. You followed his commands and occasionally interjected your own, he was always open to your requests. When you could see your own reflection staring back at you in his enlarged pupils, you knew that you were all he could see too. “I dont fuckin’ get it…” Confusion is evident on your face as you stare up at the man knelt between your legs. Clothes had been shed and lay on the floor in a trail towards the big bed in the room, “How one girl came into my life and fucked up all my plans, I’d had for years…I never thought I’d fall victim to any of that mushy love stuff and just Fuckin look at me…Actually, look at you…Yeah, I didn’t stand an ice cube’s chance in hell”. His hands outline your curves, stopping to squeeze at your hips, “So beautiful, you’re perfect…” he breathes, slowly leaning his face down towards your’s. Just as you think he’s about to devour you whole, lips so close they touch when he lets slip a whispered confession, “M’fuckin obsessed with you baby, tried resisting it at first, but I couldn’t get over you even if I tried”.

“I guess it’s a good thing I agreed to marrying you then isn’t it?” You tease, returning the sneer he gave you with a bop to his nose, “I love you Katsuki”. “You too princess” he replies as the tip of his cock breeches your clenching hole “- and this tight Fuckin pussy, tell me who it belongs to again, I must have forgot”. With a heavy sigh you play along “It’s your’s Suki, only yours”. “Damn right it is”

The rest of your time on vacation passed much too fast for your liking. By the time you boarded the flight home your suitcase was much heavier with all the new clothes and other things you’d gotten. Once in the air you couldn’t help but stare at the ring on your finger. It gave you butterflies to think about what your classmates and friends would say. As if reading your mind, Katsuki leans over to whisper “All those harpies back home are going to be jealous of you princess, I’m going to get a good laugh at the looks on each of their faces”. You laugh quietly, turning to kiss him, “That makes two of us”. Lifting the arm rest up and out of the way you Cuddle into your fiancé’s side, snuggling against him until you’re both comfortable enough to get some shut eye on the long ride home.

[dreamingticklee]

Tickle Ache

A/N: fic number 4! just a lotta fluff over here lol

Fandom: Our Flag Means Death

Pairing: Lee!Ed, Ler!Stede

Word Count: 1.3k

Summary: Ed is in a mood. Stede has just the fix!

...

Stede could sense that Ed was in a grumpy mood. He was walking around with a frustrated gait, sighing in irritation, and overall appeared to be bothered by something. So, to Stede's suggestion, the two were currently relaxing in the captain's quarters with Stede reading a book on his bed and Ed laying on the couch. Maybe a little break away from the crew was all Ed needed.

As Stede's eyes scanned the words on the page, he kept looking over and noticing Ed constantly shifting around, as if he couldn't get comfortable. Whatever was bothering him had followed him here, too. 'Did I do something to upset him?' Stede couldn't help but now feel whatever this was about was his fault. Deciding it was time to get to the bottom of it, Stede set his book down.

"Ed, dear, what's wrong?"

Stede's soft voice rippled like a caress through the tension in the air. Ed turned his head to look over at Stede from the couch and saw his kind eyes matching the sweet tone of his voice. But, in Ed's nature, he defaulted to trying to play it off.

"Hmm? Oh, uh, nothing. I'm fine."

Stede tilted his head. "I know that's not true."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Stede slowly stood from the bed and started to walk over to the couch, "You've been grumbling all day and can't seem to relax. Like you're angry about something." Stede sat his way down on the edge of the couch by Ed's legs, putting a gentle hand on the knee next to him. "I just want to help fix it. If I did something to upset you, you can tell me-"

Ed cut him off. "No, no, Stede. You didn't do anything."

A look of relief crossed Stede's face. Honestly, the last thing he'd want is for Ed to be mad at him. But if it wasn't something he did...

"Then what is it, love?"

"It's just...ughhh..."

"Ed, it's okay." Stede gave his knee a little rub of encouragement.

Ed let out a sigh and crossed his arms over his chest. He was supposed to be a pirate, and pirates don't complain about this type of stuff. They don't let it affect them. Pirates don't whine.

Ed pouted. "...my tummy hurts."

Stede paused for a moment, but then couldn't help but let out a huff of a laugh. "Ooh, is that all then?"

"Steeeede, it really does hurt." Ed rolled over to face toward the back of the couch.

"Ed, no, I'm not trying to make fun. I just...thought it was something a little more serious, I guess. But, tummy aches? I'm good at handling those." Stede stood from his spot at Ed's legs and moved towards the end of the couch where Ed's head was currently residing. "Here, sit up for a moment."

Ed slowly sat up as Stede sat himself in the vacated space. Once Stede got himself adjusted, he placed a hand on Ed's shoulder.

"Okay, lie back down." Guiding Ed, Stede helped him settle back in his lap. "Comfy?"

"Yeah..."

"Good." Stede smiled. He then placed a hand on Ed's belly and tenderly began to rub in a soothing back and forth motion.

It was like Stede's touch was medicine, easing the tension in his body and blocking out the pain. Ed let out a happy sigh and closed his eyes.

"Mmm...that feels nice."

Stede smiled and continued on with his rubbing for a few minutes, the two of them contently enjoying the calming silence and each other's presence. However, it came to a point where Stede decided he wanted to change it up a bit. His hand now started to rub in a circular motion, but with each time around he began slowly lifting his palm until all that was left of his hand was just light tracing finger tips.

Ed's breath hitched as his stomach muscles twitched, barely holding in a laugh.

Stede felt his mouth form into a soft smirk. "How does this feel?"

Not being able to answer without letting a giggle slip it's way out, Ed bit his lip.

"Mmmhmhhmhmhm."

"Good, yes?"

"Mmmhmhmhmm!"

"Sorry, what was that?"

Stede broke his pattern to flutter at the strip of exposed skin where Ed's shirt had ridden up, causing Ed to gasp.

"Steeeheeheheeed!" Ed's little giggles were now starting to stream from his chest.

Stede couldn't help but laugh himself. Ed just looked so cute, his fresh giggles sounding bright and childlike. And it felt good to now be seeing a smile on his face.

"Do you like this, Ed?" 

"Mmmhmhhmhheehehheeee!"

"You do?"

"Neeeheheehe n-nohohooo teheheasihihing!"

Stede playfully gasped. "No, teasing?! But it's just so fuuun!" Pausing his tickling, Stede pinched the hem of Ed's shirt with two fingers and leisurely pulled it up to his chest, revealing his whole belly.

"Steeeeeede!" Ed put his hands up to cover his face, trying to hide his blush.

"Yeees?"

"Nooohohohoo..."

"Do you want me to stop?" Stede's voice was smug.

Ed didn't answer, his anticipatory giggles enough of an indication that he was enjoying this. He just couldn't say it.

"Oh, so you want me to keep going then?"

"Mmhmhmhehehee!" Ed couldn't take Stede's teasing, his face feeling hot and red beneath his hands. 

"Then who am I to deny such an adorable request?"

Stede's fingers began lightly skittering all over Ed's belly. Not enough to make him flail or cackle with laughter, but enough to cause Ed's belly to quiver under his touch and produce a happy, airy stream of giggles. Stede just wanted to make him feel good.

Ticklish tingles danced across Ed's skin, making him lightly squirm in Stede's lap. He couldn't deny that he loved this. It felt especially nice after having only felt pain all day and, to put it simply, Stede's touch made him feel loved. He felt cared for. And until he met Stede, those were feelings he never really experienced much of. Yeah, Ed was going to let himself enjoy this. Pirate be damned.

Stede's fingers traveled down and found themselves fluttering back and forth along Ed's pantline which amplified Ed's giggles.

“Steeeeheheeede!”

"C'mon now, Ed, put your hands down and let me see your face!"

"Neeeeheheheheee!"

Stede chuckled. "You can do it!"

Playing along with Stede's game, Ed started to slowly slide his hands down, at first stopping just below his eyes and looking up at Stede.

"Ah, well look at that, you're already halfway there! Just a liiiiittle further!" Stede's fingers now moved up to lightly scribble over Ed's bellybutton.

"Eeeeeeeeehahahahahaaa!" Ed let his hands drop, his bright and joyful smile shining like it was their lighthouse.

Stede's heart swelled as his own smile matched Ed's. "There he is!" Looking at his glowing face, Ed looked just positively adorable, and Stede felt like he was about to burst with how much love he felt for him. His Edward.

After a couple more minutes of skittering around Ed's belly, Stede decided it was time to slow it down and returned back to a calming rub along with some tracing here and there. Still giggling a bit, Ed let out a content sigh.

Stede leaned down and kissed his forehead. "How are you feeling? Better?"

"Yeah," Ed smiled, "much."

______________

The following day Stede was by himself in his room, reading his book from where he left off yesterday, when a voice broke his concentration.

"...Stede?"

Stede looked up to see Ed standing near the doorway, shuffling from foot to foot in his stance.

"Yes, Ed?"

Ed was hesitant, but he continued anyway. "Um...so uh...m-my stomach. It, uh...it hurts again..." Ed stammered his way through, shifting his eyes around, avoiding direct eye contact with Stede.

Stede nearly melted. He knew Ed was feeling fine for Ed had just been up on the deck hooting and hollering while practicing his knife throwing with Jim. 

His tummy didn't hurt, he just wanted more tickles. He had a tickle ache. 

Stede gave him a fond smile.

"Dear, all you have to do is ask."

[cielcius]

THE DEFINITION OF ROMANTIC | BAKUGOU KATSUKI

pairings: Bakugou x g/n!reader

from the writer: dedicated to my dad who had this exact thought and decided that i was worthy enough to bestow this information to and merry christmas loves <3

genre: crack

notes & warnings: established relationship, crappy food, anniversary date

“Wow, the food was actually... really crappy. Did we seriously just pay over a hundred for that?” Anybody would have thought that it was Katsuki complaining about the price and not you, but here you were.

Not even a block away from the restaurant where said crappy food had been served, you and Katsuki walk quietly along the sidewalk, enjoying the views and the silent presence of each other. That was until the silence had been broken.

Katsuki lets out a chuckle because if he were being honest, yeah, the food tasted worse than horse shit (don’t ask how he knows, he just does), but if that meant he got to spend even a little time with you, then he’d eat a whole bowl of horse shit (though he’d prefer not to if possible).

Having saved up his vacation days, Katsuki had finally gotten a break from being the explosive pro-hero the public knew him to be, because as nice as it was to finally have achieved his dream career, unexpected things came along the way towards that dream, and some of them were here to stay. He really hopes you’ll stay too.

Though in the end, he has no doubt that you’ll stay. With it being your one year anniversary—hence why it was mandatory for him to take the day off and be able to wake up with you in his arms for the first time in a while—he’s somehow managed to keep that smile on your face that he can’t seem to get enough of. He’ll never get enough of you if he’s being honest.

So he doesn’t mind that your special date had been ruined with food that he could have replicated in your own kitchen at home, he just hopes that you’ll like the—

“Don���t you think horse carriage rides are funny? The horse just shits in front of you, and that’s supposed to be romantic.”

Pushing out a snort, your laugh seems endless as you reminisce over the cliche idea of a romantic date. Besides you, Katsuki is thankful that you’re too busy laughing as he takes a phone call.

“Hey, Bakugou! The horse carriage ride is all good to go, so whenever you guys are ready—” Before Kaminari can fit anything else in, Bakugou seethes through the speaker of his phone as discreetly as he can while you’re still trying to get out of your laughing fit. “Cancel it.”

“What?”

“I said fucking cancel it! Just do it!”

“Katsuki?” At the sound of your voice, Katsuki turns to you with a suspiciously wide grin adorning his lips. “Yes, honey?” He never calls you honey, and at the rare pet name, you narrow your eyes. “Is everything okay?”

Katsuki nods, like a liar, making sure to not do it too quickly to not raise any further suspicion. “Yeah, something at the agency. Don’t worry about it.” With that, he presses a chaste kiss to your forehead before taking your hand in his, ready to drag you back into the comfort of your home.

He hopes none of his friends tell you about the horse carriage.

Extra:

“I guess the carriage ride is off, guys.” At Kaminari’s announcement, the entirety of Class 1-A start to slowly disperse in groups as they make their way home, waving reluctant goodbyes to each other with promises of seeing each other another time. Looking up at the horse, Koda is unable to restrain the pout that falls on his lips.

“Darn, I even got the horse to poop and everything.”

[sunfish-studies]

Moonrise

✄・・・ Feathery Ink [Karasuno Manager Series]

➜ Pairing: Karasuno x Manager! Reader

➜ Warning: none

➜ Notes: This is a separate series from Crisp Leaves. Similar to Crisp Leaves, manager in this story will be portrayed as a girl. She will be tall. This is just my appreciation towards tall girls, you guys are amazing.

Previous:  ‹ Greed › | Next:  ‹ Illusionary Hero ›

↷ SUMMARY ↶

It’s finally summer vacation training camp!

After the fight, Hinata and Kageyama weren’t really talking to each other–Coach Ukai even separated them during practice, Hinata in team B while Kageyama in the other. When practice was over, Kageyama was working on his tosses with Yachi’s help while Hinata drive elsewhere with his bike to practice on his own.

“Ah, he’s with my grandpa.” You asked where on earth did Hinata go, and that’s your answer from Coach Ukai. Apparently, Hinata was training with the previous Coach Ukai at their home. That left you with managerial duties and some extras like buying supplies for the training camp.

The injury you received of course was noticeable by the team–it almost send both Tanaka and Nishinoya into rampage, but you quickly said it’s not a problem and it would heal in no time. While you could make up some excuse for Daichi, Sugawara, and Ennoshita, you couldn’t with Shimizu. With a stern look from, you finally spilled the beans and she promised not to tell anyone.

While Kageyama wasn’t talking to Hinata, he’s definitely talking to you more now–along with walking you home if you chose to stay at practice longer. With that, you learn more about him and how he’s undoubtedly a volley ball dork through and through.

The time you had to depart from school to Tokyo for the training camp at night, he offered to picked up from your house so you could walk together to school.

“C-can I sit next to you…?” the raven-haired boy asked. Of course, you agreed wholeheartedly since Yachi will be sitting next to Shimizu and sitting alone didn’t seem to be fun. At first, you talked about some mundane things and watched a few videos saved in your phone before falling asleep leaning to each other.

“KAGEYAMA!!”

“HOW DARE YOU STEAL A HEADSTART!”

And it incurred the wrath of both Tanaka and Nishinoya when they realized. Thankfully, Ennoshita was quick to shut them up by slapping them on the head and Daichi glared at them menacingly for causing a ruckus.

.

.

“Well, the grand guest finally arrived,” when you carried the big bag filled with your essentials outside the bus, it was immediately gone from your hands. Kuroo plucked it from your grip so he could carry it instead, sending you a small smile.

“Kuroo-san, it’s been a while.” Greeting the older boy, you stepped to the ground.

“It’s nice knowing you stick to your promise,”

“Well, it’s impossible for me to not join the training camp. And,” you looked up to the building upon the stairs. When it was in Nekoma High School before, this time training camp was held at different area–however, you didn’t complain because even during summer, the place was cool with many trees surrounding and breeze swept by. “Why are we in a different place? I thought it’s being held only in one place.”

Kuroo hummed. “It’s a tradition for training camp during summer vacation happened in Shinzen. This place is cool, so it’s great. Why? You wanted to be cooked under the sun instead?”

“I’d rather not.”

“Hinata! Did you grow any taller!? Oh! Otohaku-chan!! You’re looking pretty as always!!”

“Lev, shut up.” Kenma scolded.

.

.

“[NAME]-CHAN!! Make sure to cheer for me, alright!!”

“She won’t, Bokuto-san. And please don’t call her by her first name when she didn’t mention you could.”

Thank goodness, Akaashi had a say because you didn’t know how to reply that without wanting to upset Bokuto in the process. The first match was Karasuno against Fukurodani and it didn’t go well–your team splendidly didn’t sync because everyone went to try the new moves their practicing, resulting they had to take a new kind of penalty.

Along with Yachi, you watch as everyone sprinting uphill. And it didn’t happen only one time, every time they lost a match, they had to do one before walking down and downing their drinks. It went until the last practice–which they splendidly managed to lost.

“Hitoka-chan, could you look over Kageyama-kun and Hinata-kun in my place,” you whispered to your best friend, referring to the duo who’s clearly itching for practice but couldn’t exactly say it clearly as they still in bad terms with each other.

“Yeah! I was thinking about that too!” the two of you nodded in determination.

“Uhm, [Name]-san,” Yamaguchi called out to you, rubbing his nape sheepishly. “I want to practice serve, could you watch over?”

Smiling you nodded, “Sure Yamaguchi-kun! Let me get my notes first, okay?”

The taller boy blinked in confusion. “Eh? Notes? What for?”

“To look over your progress overall,” you kneeled down to put on your outdoor shoes. “I’ll be back as soon as possible.”

“O-oh, okay.” Yamaguchi could only reply that as he didn’t know how exactly–he knew he shouldn’t be flustered or feeling special, but he couldn’t help to feel warmth bloom in his chest. He knew you were an attentive person, and it’s nice to know that applied to everyone on the team even though you’re mostly stick with Kageyama, Hinata, or Yachi.

Jogging towards the sleeping quarters, you could’ve arrived faster to pick up your notebook if Bokuto’s call didn’t halt you from doing so.

“OOH!! [NAME]-CHAN!!” he called out from the third gym. You noticed that he wasn’t alone, Kuroo and Akaashi’s also there and surprisingly Tsukishima. From that, you concluded that Kuroo must have something to do with it–probably taunting the blonde into joining. “Could you throw us some balls!?”

“Eh?” you blinked. “But, I have to get some notes for practice-“

“Just a few, come on!” Bokuto didn’t even give you a chance to explain–instead, he dragged you by the wrist.

So here you were, arranging an apology speech for Yamaguchi while throwing some balls for Akaashi to set. That and giving Lev some glances to check if he’s still alive or not on the floor. The setter already apologized to you in Bokuto’s place, but you immediately dismissed it since you didn’t mind either.

“Geh!? Otohaku-chan!?” Lev must be exhausted seeing as he barely noticed you’re in the same area.

It amazed you on how Bokuto still managed to kill the spikes viciously after series of practice match all day–his stamina is top-notch, nothing less from one of the best players in the country. Watching Bokuto’s spikes meaning also watching Tsukishima tried to block them.

Not once did he managed to successfully shut one out, but with Kuroo’s finally joining the cross was killed almost in an instant. While Bokuto is a formidable opponent in attacking, then Kuroo would be terrifying in defense. No wonder Coach Ukai was making him a great example for a solid blocker.

Tsukishima is indeed smart and calm as he read the opponent’s movement, but,

“Your blocks are pretty weak.” You flinched as Bokuto blurted out what you had in mind regarding Tsukishima’s block–and it sure pissed the taller blonde off. “Your arms are so frail that I’m scared I’m gonna break them. You need to stop the ball like you mean it!”

“I’m still a growing boy!” Tsukishima replied, clearly trying to hide his annoyance. “I’ve just started gaining muscles and getting taller!”

“Talk like that, and the little shrimp is gonna hog all the glory.” Kuroo remarked. “You guys play the same position, right?”

Ouch, you couldn’t help but thought. That hits the sore spot.

“I don’t think it can be helped,” Tsukishima said with a smile after a few seconds of silence. “The difference in natural talent between me and Hinata is too great.”

Before Kuroo could argue, the players of Nekoma began piling into the gym and Tsukishima finally managed to excuse himself successfully this time.

“Looks like you stepped on a mine, Kuroo-san,” Akaashi commented.

“You pissed him off,” Bokuto dragged. “At long last, Kuroo-kun, the master of provocation, has failed.”

“Well, I wouldn’t have thought that.” The black-haired captain sighed.

“Thought what?” Bokuto questioned.

“Karasuno’s shrimp is definitely strange and a threat, but in terms of technique and experience he’s like a baby bird. Plus, he’s really short. I never would’ve thought guy with glasses, who’s far taller and much smarter, wouldn’t only think they’re not equal but actually think the shrimp is above his level.”

Sighing for the second time, he rubbed the back of his head before giving you an apologetic look. “Sorry, I pissed off your middle blocker.”

“I don’t think you pissed him off,” you couldn’t exactly say that it’s fine because it’s not your place to do so. “But you did hit a sore spot, Kuroo-san.”

“Otohaku-san, shouldn’t you get going? We’ve hold you long enough from you whatever you want to do.” Akaashi reminded.

“That’s right, then I’ll excuse myself.” You bowed down and walked towards the exit–you immediately retrieve your note before finally helping Yamaguchi with his serves after being held for some time.

.

.

The next day, you’re helping Eri, Kaori, and Yukie cutting watermelons given by the parents from Shinzen High School. Surely, on this hot summer, sweet and cool watermelons would make anyone’s mouth began watering. It was also a great short break for the boys as they enjoy the watermelon while sitting on the grassy hill beside the gym.

“Do you want extras, senpai?” and just like other managers, you distributed the watermelons while asking if the boys wanted seconds or not. This time, you’re offering a few that’s still on your tray to Tanaka, Daichi, and Asahi.

“Ooh, don’t mind if I do, [Name]-chan!” Tanaka reached out for another slice.

“Me too,” after him, Daichi also took a slice from your tray.

“I’m okay with mine for now,” Asahi politely rejected your offer. “How about you eat some too? It’s quite a hot day.”

“I’ll go it after everyone’s seconds are done,” you remarked, intending to circle around the separate crowds for the nth time but Tanaka quickly interrupted.

“Everybody has their share already! I’m sure they don’t mind.” Your upperclassman commented. “Besides, our beautiful manager deserves to have rest!”

“Somehow, it doesn’t correlate…” Asahi muttered, smiling nervously.

At the end, you ended up sitting down beside Asahi and munching on a slice of watermelon. Your upperclassman was right for one thing–enjoying the fruit in a hot summer day was a great way to cool down, you instantly felt refreshed.

“Sorry, by the way.” The four of you looked up to the call, seeing Kuroo approaching and out of blue apologizing. Surely, your upperclassmen were confused with this except you.

“About what?” Daichi questioned.

“I think I might have pissed off your glasses guy yesterday.”

“What?”

To make it clearer, the cat captain sat down with his back towards you and began explaining the situation occurred the other day–you admired how both parties didn’t once interrupt nor getting things heated up, they knew this wasn’t something big and could be resolved by just a simple apology.

“Wow… Tsukishima actually helped out with free practice even if you cornered him into it,” Daichi hummed in understanding.

“Your manager too, but that’s Bokuto’s idea,” you didn’t know why on earth Kuroo decided to brough it up but seeing your upperclassmen were nonchalant about it (except maybe Tanaka, though he was quickly being shut up by Daichi) it’s also not a big deal.

“So, what did you say?”

“I provoked him and said he was going to lose to your shrimp over there.”

“I’ve definitely noticed that Tsukishima seems to feel inferior to Hinata somehow.” Asahi remarked, probably remembering a few words Tsukishima said to him.

“I’m not sure if this is relevant, but my sister mentioned someone tall named Tsukishima also joined the volleyball team during the Little Giant times.” Tanaka mentioned, surely this is new to all of you because Tsukishima wasn’t the type of person who talks about himself much.

Daichi’s head perked up. “Tsukishima has an older brother?”

“Oh, I’m not sure.” Tanaka quickly replied. “They could’ve just had the same last name and not be related. Do you know anything about this, [Name]-chan?”

“I don’t, but if I know, I think it’s not my place to tell since Tsukishima-kun would undoubtedly be annoyed because of it,” you answered, which made Tanaka hummed in agreement.

“Hey, we’re about to start!” Sugawara called out.

You didn’t know about Tsukishima having a sibling or not, however,

“This is just a club. Why do you put so much into it? It’s because you put so much into it that you suffer later.”

You couldn’t help but think it’s somehow related to what he muttered the night before.

.

.

Yet again when the sky softly bathed in orange glow, Karasuno had to pay their losing with penalty–you along with Yachi and Shimizu also Takeda-sensei and Coach Ukai watched as the boys bolted uphill accompanied by yelling (well, this was mostly Hinata, Kageyama, Tanaka, and Nishinoya).

“Here,” you offered a water bottle for Kageyama. He couldn’t even reply a ‘thank you’ from how harshly he was panting and you could only sympathize with him–more than five matches in a day plus penalties were rough.

“Thanks,” the raven-haired boy finally rasped after downing probably a half of the water from the bottle. You also handed him a towel so he could wipe away the sweat dripping down from his temple.

“So, how’s training going?” you finally asked, which triggered a sighed from him.

“No progress.” The frustration was getting to him definitely–while you were only watching for some time since Yachi’s already there to help him, you understood that Kageyama failed more than he succeeded. He knew he was getting nowhere and time was short, if he’s not geared up it will be a problem.

“I can’t give you any helpful advice but I think you should practice under Coach Ukai’s watch,” you mentioned, and Kageyama listened carefully. “He probably has ways that could help you. You couldn’t do this on your own Kageyama-kun, you need guidance.”

Nodding firmly, he replied. “Yeah.”

“I can’t wait to see your toss,” you then added, giving him a smile. “It’s going to be amazing for sure. You did pinpoint toss to Hinata all this time.”

The boy fell silent for a while, and you almost regretted saying those words–did you somehow step on a landmine? Did you piss him off? Did you touch the nerve-

“I promise to get done and you’ll see it.” The negative thoughts were gone from your mind as you stare at those blue eyes filled with determination. You found yourself smiling at his promise.

“I will be waiting then.”

.

.

“Sensei, what do you think of Tsukishima?” Coach Ukai asked your advisor while the five of you were watching the match between Karasuno and Ubugawa.

“I think he’s taking this seriously,” Takeda-sensei answered, although rather confused from the question.

“How about you, Otohaku?” and you didn’t expect to be involve in the conversation also.

“Uhm… he’s doing his work, but lack of effort? I think he’s not giving his all.” you replied but somehow became an unsure question in the end.

“You’re right,” Coach Ukai remarked. “I feel like Tsukishima gets a passing grade but never tries for 100%. I’m not asking for him to become more passionate, but if he’s not going to give his all, I’m gonna have to change regulars. I need players who can win a match on the court. He’s the tallest and essential to the team. If Tsukishima could become a strong blocker, our defense level would go up a lot.”

“I see,” Takeda-sensei nodded in understanding.

Not long into the game after Tsukishima served, there’s a collision between Daichi and Nishinoya for the ball–at first, it was nerve-wracking because if one of them was hurt it could be bad. However, seeing that the two dismissed it as if it was nothing was relieving.

“Everyone’s so motivated.” Yachi commented.

“Everyone’s more motivated now than I’ve ever seen them before,” Shimizu frowned in worry. “But sometimes it’s almost scary. Collisions like the other day can definitely lead to major injuries.”

Another spike went through but received perfectly by Kageyama, the ball bounced to the air and Tanaka was the second one to get it, passing it immediately to Asahi.

“It’s a little short,” you muttered, noticing the ball was hovering near the net–exactly to where Hinata was. From how he’s staring at it, he’s most likely to steal it–but then he tensed up, snapped his head to the side to give Asahi a stare and stayed in his place in the end.

“Let him know the ball is yours.”

You stared as Asahi successfully killed the ball even with three blockers–grinning from how he stole a score and holding them team together so it wouldn’t become lawless. The attempt was enough for you to let your shoulders relaxed.

“Maybe I didn’t need to worry after all.” Shimizu sighed in relief.

Asahi turned to face you, giving you a smile and an outstretched fist–you immediately returned it with the exact same gesture.