#but I feel like over time it got more and more distorted and ooc

[hawkssucks]

I do not care for dabihawks

[ieatsaltychildren]

REPLACED

Obey me x replaced!reader

I did use she/her pronouns in this. Theres not a ton of dialogue and was honestly part of a vent💀 Remember that I’m in no way trying to romanticize any of this.

TW!- mentions of an eating disorder, suicide, overdose, death, probs OOC, angst no comfort.

Some songs I listened to while writing this- Rock Bottom-Eminem, The way I am-Eminem, 4 morant- doja cat, Alone-doja cat, 25 to life-eminem. Literally these on repeat😭

Life is hard. We all know this, but why did this have to happen? Why did she have to come along and take them away? Why did they choose to leave me?

I shouldn’t have trusted them. The one time i let my guard down and this happens. Mila, the bitch who took them away. I was nice to her, i tried to be her friend, i wanted to get to know her but apparently she only wanted to see my downfall and the brothers kneeling for her.

I don’t like talking about when she first came, but for the backstory i will. Diavolo thought it would be a good idea to invite another human to be an exchange student. At first i was overjoyed. I wanted to have another human girl to talk to and relate to, but once she showed up everything went wrong. She started framing me for shit she did, and i just stood there and took the scolding i got.

Eventually all the brothers just went to her and ignored me. They only talk to me if they need something done or they yell at me. I still always try to get them to love me, yet i always fail.

She even was able to get the angels, royals, Solomon, mephisto, and even Thirteen and Raphael on her side. Everyone left me. Every day is just a repeat. Wake up late most days, have lucifer remind me of how much of a failure i am, skip breakfast, go to classes, probably skip lunch, go to classes, go back to hol, force myself to eat dinner, eat dinner in my room, and sleep. Every day. Theres nothing to be excited about when i wake up anymore. No more hanging out with mammon, no more being levis player two, no more sleepovers with asmodeus. The only one who remotely cared about me was barbatos. Maybe he could help me get back to the human world but it wouldn’t be any better.

What hurt most was mammon, my first man leaving me. He swore. He fucking swore that he would always love me yet he still left me. We weren’t even dating so why does it have to hurt so much.

Even fucking beelzebub. He always acts so sweet but he left to. They all did. Maybe its good mila came along. She showed me that they weren’t trustworthy. It still hurts though.

I just want it all to be over with. If liliths not gonna kill me then I’ll do it myself.

My lifes been shit anyways. It never got better. It sucks to always wake up stressed. It sucks to always be hoping and praying that ill just die. Mila coming along and replacing me just added onto it.

I have attempted at my life multiple times since she came. Never has it worked. But maybe that will change soon. Maybe that will change tonight. I wonder how long it would take them to even notice, they didn’t notice my failed attempts so why would they notice a successful one. I wonder how they would react, the royals, angels, every single one of them. I already know mila would be happy. Maybe they would feel the same.

The laughter of the brothers and mila snaps me out of my daze. It reminds me of the short lived happiness i once had. The happiness i wish i still had. But soon it would all be over. Once the pills fully kick in I’ll finally be happy.

I have tried overdosing before. It didn’t work last time but it should work now. I have a good feeling. Or maybe thats just the drugs. I didn’t even write a goodbye note to them yet. It’s fine though.

Hearing their laughter in my final moments hurt but felt so good at the same time. It’s kicking in. It’s finally working. Ill be free.

My vision got blurry. I could only hear a distorted version of their voices that eventually faded out. Then it all went black. Its the end

Im free

———————————————————————

It had been a few days since you died. No one knew until 4 days had passed. Mammon needed to borrow money from you for diavolo knows what.

He knocked on your door “Y/nnn, open up I need to ask ya somethin”

No response

He knocked again and yelled “y/n?”

No response

So he went to tell lucifer. I don’t know if he intended on telling on you or was concerned. Probably the first option.

“Lucifer, y/n won’t open her door”

“What do you want me to do about it?” Lucifer sighed sick of his brother’s shit.

“I just need to get some grimm from her”

“Just go in. She’s probably just sleeping”

“Fine then” mammon replied starting to walk out the door.

As he approached your door he got a certain nervous feeling. He just ignored it, nothing bad could happen, right? Wrong.

As soon as he opened your door he saw you dead on the floor, drug bottle in hand.

He stood there frozen. How could this happen?? He was supposed to protect you. He was your first man. He hopes you were just passed out but deep down he knew.

He ended up calling for his brothers. This is the one time they really actually looked at you in months, hell almost a year. Mila was happy, as expected but she covered it up with tears.

Soon solomon, the royals, and angels showed up. Raphael, thirteen, and mephisto even showed up.

They all realized how shitty they treated you. They realized how badly they fucked up.

———————————————————————

I might honestly make another ending where y/n keeps pushing and ends up fucking mila up or goes back to the human world and tries to get her shit straight. Im not sure tho. Might do how they would react too y/n dying AND where you went after you died. I wrote this for 3 hours straight😭😭😭 my hands are cramping

MAYBE THE END

[wendigonamecaller]

Drowning in Light Blue.

Alastor x oc.

Genre: angst/comfort

Tw: pining, Alastor breaks a promise to his mama, Alastor is an ass, references to a hanging tree, demon forms, canon typical gore, oc gets hurt badly, Adam is an asshole, sexist comments, panic attacks, Rosie is so done with Alastor's cluelessness, wingman™ Rosie -kinda-, oc is powerful, Alastor panics and confesses thinking oc was dying, lute slander, OOC ALASTOR, ALASTOR SOBS LIKE A BITCH, Alastor is BAD at emotions. MDNI!! I think that's it.

PT: 1/?

Like and reblog ❤️ // songs I listened to while writing: Trauma - NF. Sorry About Your Parents - Icon For Hire. I WANNA BE YOUR SLAVE - Måneskin.

-♡

Alastor couldn't breathe.

His vision was hazy as he glared into the mirror, his image distorting slightly every few seconds. His breaths came out in ragged quick bursts, and for the first time in a very long time it physically hurt to smile.

His stomach churned like he had eaten bad meat, or drank something spoiled, and suddenly he could hear his mother scolding him vividly.

"Alastor don't you ever hurt a lady, a lady's heart is to be protected, not played with or broken. If you must break it, do so gently. Promise me you'll never treat a lady like she's lower than you."

He had promised her, and then gone and broke Isabella's heart.

This feeling was new to Alastor, and it only occured every time he thought back to how awry things had gone with her.

Isabella had expressed her love to him, and he had merely laughed in the vixen's face.

He was eating his words now.

His throat pinched, and hot tears fought to escape his eyes at the pinching in his chest.

~

Over the course of the next few weeks, everyone focused on preparing for the upcoming battle against Adam and his army of Angels.

Alastor had barely seen Isabella at all.

When he entered the lobby, she left. He was in the kitchen? She suddenly wasn't hungry anymore.

He even tried teleporting into her room to get her attention, but she'd merely tucked her tail and ran.

The stag missed the Overlord dearly. Their bond was one he'd came to cherish more than his and Rosie's bond, they seemed closer in his mind. But maybe that was simply all because she was foolishly in love with him.

And then a week before the Extermination, Rosie had to damn near drill things into his head.

The panic attacks.

Being upset when she's upset or hurt.

Wanting to protect her from the battle.

..Nearly snapping Lucifer's throat when the short King had merely kissed her knuckles as a way of greeting her.

Upset that she'd been avoiding him.

The deepness of the bond he felt he'd had with the vixen.

"You're falling for her, if you're not already in love with her Alastor." Rosie deadpanned after nearly choking on her tea.

"Don't be preposterous my dear! I don't feel those trivial emotions for anyone! Much less a pretty little vixen like herself." Alastor scoffed, not noticing his fatal mistake in that sentence until Rosie was pointing it out with an exasperated sigh.

And then came the day of the battle.

Alastor was on the roof, fighting Adam while Isabella and everyone else were on the ground fighting with Husker, Isabella and Vaggie using their wings to their advantage.

Isabella was back to back with Husk, both of them huffing and letting out tense chuckles as they moved in sync, cutting Angels down as they flew in for an opportunity to kill a sinner.

As Husk is calling his cards back to him, an Angel moves in for the strike and Isabella pulls a risky move. She shoved Husk out of the way and swung her axe backwards, the blade imbedding into the Angel's face.

The vixen struggles to pry the blade out of the Angel's face, only for Husk to take his turn at saving her by shielding her and using one of his cards to slit another Angel's throat.

"Fuck the weapon use your demon form, the stakes just got higher kid!" Husk yelled, bringing Isabella's gaze from the Angel to Adam, who leered over all of them from the sky and began shooting zaps of his power at random.

Sir Pentious and Isabella shared a look, both of them nodding, and then Isabella was shifting into her more terrifying form.

She grew taller, antlers protruding with ropes and vines draping from them with different sized shadows hanging from the ropes by their necks. Seven 'x''s appeared on her forehead, glowing a light gold. Her veins began to glow blue, electric shocks of varying colors fizzing around her claw tips.

The vixen is suddenly eye to eye with Adam, her jaw ticking irritably.

"Isabella, is it? Aren't you supposed to be in your brother's kitchen?" He snarks, grin bright as he chuckles at his oh so fantastic joke.

Isabella gives him a shrug. "I dunno, aren't you supposed to be eating Lute's ass?" And with that, she blasts him with a burst of magic and lightning before he can give a rebuttal.

And that's when it happens.

At the same time that Adam blasts Sir Pentious and his ship with Holy light, a spear cuts through Isabella's stomach and twists painfully.

The vixen falls to the ground and lands with a hard thud, hitting her head on some debris, shortly after, her vision goes black.

~

When Isabella's brilliant blue eyes flutter back open, she's greeted by pristine while ceilings and circus themed wallpaper, the smell of the room was like white chocolate and champagne with a hint of some type of masculine cologne.

Exhaustion still clings tightly to her mind, and she finds herself half-asleep again when suddenly the door to the room is thrown open carelessly and a frantic Radio Demon is searching the dimly lit room for something.

She watches with groggy eyes as his red gaze settles on her and suddenly he's by her side, throwing the covers off of her and checking her body for wounds which he finds in the shape of a wound in her abdomen and a broken wing joint.

Suddenly the Radio Demon is grasping onto her for nearly dear life as he hides his face in her neck and begins to breathe heavily.

Wait, was this really Alastor? Or was she having a fever dream due to her wound?

It's only when something wet hits her neck that Isabella is brought back out of her thoughts, only to realize Alastor was crying and muttering into her neck.

Her shakey hand meets the back of his head and gently scratches at his undercut. The stag stays where he is, pressing his nose into her pulse-point as he mutters into her skin.

"Alastor, I can't understand you when you mumble dear." She muttered as she nuzzled his ear a little.

"I'm sorry..." He muttered, a little louder this time.

Isabella responded by pulling his face away from her neck and cupping his cheeks. Her thumbs gently swiped his tears away, and her lips formed a small pout.

"Darling stag, why're you sorry?" She asked, wiping more tears away.

"Because I broke your heart and I didn't mean too, and then you almost died." He broke after a few moments, and Isabella realized just how deeply vulnerable he was being for her. He really trusted her so deeply that he was reverted to a sobbing boy just by her getting injured.

She felt her heart twinge with sympathy at Alastor's uncharacteristic whimpering, and she gently nuzzled their noses together. "You don't love me, and I accept that, I'll move on, but c'mon Al, you're the Radio Demon. Where's that smile we all know? Because right now it looks awfully melancholic." She pressed, half-lidded eyes staring into his.

"Because that couldn't be further from the truth." He growled, his normal persona beginning to peak through once more.

Isabella tilts her head, confused. "What couldn't be further-" She doesn't get to finish her statement, because Alastor's hands suddenly grasp her face and they're so big they partially dip into her soft brown hair.

"Because I love you, for fucks sake!" He sounded frustrated, and looked like actually admitting that fact hurt him.

"And you loving me hurts?" She asked.

He nodded. "We're both Overlords, with our own territory, we're both powerful, we'd be seen as each other's weeknesses, and that's simply something I cannot bare." He ranted before looking away, his hands dropping to rest on her stomach gently.

Isabella rolled her eyes. "We can merge territory, and so what if someone sees me as your weakness or vice versa? I'm the Witch Demon and you're the Radio Demon. Not much would change anyways, you ran my territory when I wasn't able to and I ran yours when you went AWOL." She growled with a deadpan.

The anxiety in his eyes seemed to melt away just slightly. Alastor cups Isabella's cheek gently and rubs his clawed thumb over her smoothe skin. "The others said you went into your true form and attacked Adam." He commented, his eyes subtly darting down to her wrapped stomach before resting on her own eyes once more.

The vixen nodded. "I did. It was me and Pen's backup plan, but we both ended up being taken down." Her gaze turns sullen, remembering the death of Sir Pentious.

The stag leans in and kisses her forehead. "Not to worry my dear, I'm sure everything will fall into place." He chuckles, cupping both sides of her face again.

She rolls her eyes. "Okay Dapper Dan, just give me a proper kiss." She laughed, and he laughed with her as she pulls him in by his bowtie.

"Anything for you, cher."

[sinnohs-eve]

Greetings, you can call me Eve or Sinnoh. I’ve grown used to both, honestly. I’m a pokeball crafter and I specialize in the Hisuian style of crafting, not the Johtoian style, if that means anything to you. I also do woodcarving as a fun side thing. Usually little statuettes and things.

My team is as follows: Hibana, my Hisuian Arcanine, the light of my life, my partner since I was five. ♀ Malice, my Hisuian Zoroark, my self-appointed guardian. ♀ Foxglove, my Sneasler, my fashion consultant and self-appointed brother. ♂ Cedar, my Hisuian Electrode, resident young lord. ♂

Yes, I only have four Pokemon, no, I have no current plans to get more. Yes, this suits me just fine. No, I will not engage in a competitive or ranked battle, despite how you may bait me. Yes, I will make pokeballs on commission.

Pelipper Mail/Unmail/Malice: On Musharna Mail/Malice: On Magic Anons: Off Sentient/Sapient Pokemon: Allowed Legendaries/Mythicals: Allowed

//ooc beneath read more

heyyy it’s me @/anxiousazure back at it again with another pokemon irl blog because i lack self control!! i also run @/kitakami-zorua-kin @/kitakami-specter and @/unovan-artist (though it is inactive due to lack of inspiration). you can call me azure i use. so many pronouns. honestly as long as it’s not she i’m probably fine with it. check my main blog for more details i guess. uhhh alright mod is an adult eve is a minor (i place them at like 16ish?). use your good judgement and all, anything i deem as inappropriate will get deleted (also i’m asexual, so uh. yeahhh. don’t feel like seeing any of that stuff tbh). i mod have really bad social anxiety so if i havent answered or interacted. i am simply scared. i am very easily intimidated and my brain will continuously go "but what if there's an unspoken Rule you're breaking" and paralyze me.

fair warning! eve’s lore will shift into some darker topics, including but not limited to wilderness survival, near death, near death of pokemon, and the trauma resulting from that. (what, you thought i made a normal oc? extremely loud incorrect buzzer) (eve got hisui'd temporarily as a young child (not at the protagonist. just. wrong place wrong time). space-time distortions are fun :3)

i'll use #eve lore as a general tag when rehashing backstory stuff. #eve posts is the normal, #eve answers is for answering asks, #eve reblogs is for reblogs, #ask eve for ask games. etc etc.

uhhh. eve straight up collapsed during their last ranked battle under Kieran's Championship and has decided to take a step back from competitive battling as a result, though they've yet to officially withdraw from the League Club. feel free to poke at that some more.

anyways the pfp picrew again (same one as russet) is here. eve actually wears the bb tracksuit with a galaxy survery corps uniform top over it. yes there are always bandages on their hands and arms (no it is not self harm- i don't. i don't mess with that). yes i encourage you to poke at it. yes they will lie about it at first.

[handmeyourheart]

Oneshot

Pairing: Mk and SWK platonic.

Summary: MK has been overworking himself to the extreme and doesn’t know how to take a break with the fate of the world on his shoulders. Wukong takes some notice and they talk about the pressure.

Warnings: A bit angsty, maybe ooc for MK but like, angst— he’d be super scared to fail. It’s kinda rough for my first one but It’s just something to tide me over until I start getting requests.

Words: About 1.5k!

MK bit down the urge to scream as his back collided with the ground, effectively knocking the wind out of his lungs and sending him spiralling backwards. After tumbling against the ground for a brief moment before he slid to a stop on his stomach, he pondered why he was doing this again. Worn fingers grappled at the earth by his head, trying to shake off his miserable defeat and get up, but the coarse texture of the mountainside only served to give him no leeway, but instead a few scrapes and the fleeting feeling that even the mountain was laughing at him.

Again, he tried to get up, muscles tense and aching after the extensive and lengthy training that seemed more like the great sage just wanted to vent his anger on his poor, blissfully unaware student. He was innocent here, so why was the training so rough for no reason? MK cast aside the thought with a slight shake of his head, gently propping himself up on his elbows as he glanced at where he’d made impact with the ground earlier, grimacing at the sight of his own imprint having disturbed the rocky surface. Did Wukong really have to exert that much force against him? It was obvious who the winner would be, even if it was just a training session— one MK struggled to even organise with the great sage’s busy schedule. His arms shook at the effort it took to hold himself up, gritting his teeth at the nausea that grew only more prominent, from what was only a gentle reminder that he needed rest to a great force trying to get his mortal body the kind of care that it needs to function. For a moment, the world spun in front of his eyes, distorting like a carnival mirror. The sudden vertigo wasn’t appreciated however as MK had to shut his eyes and regain his breath, lungs convulsing. With every passing moment his mouth felt dry, and no matter how he tried to salivate the sensation he was going to throw up if he received just one more punch to the gut was still lingering, sitting low in his stomach, lying in wait for the perfect opportunity. He wasn’t sure he could vomit at this point, he doesn’t remember the last time he ate, so it would likely be a combination of saliva and stomach acids if he were to but it isn’t something that’s the most pleasant to imagine so he left it alone.

“Come on kid! Where’d all that vigour from this morning go?” The monkey king's encouragement soured as he thought of it like negative feedback, clenching his teeth together from his spot on the floor until his molars ground together. Usually, MK was super enthusiastic about these training sessions, always one to be super positive no matter how hurt he got and take it as another experience and another lesson on how to better improve. But this MK was tired, sleep-deprived even, having fully overworked himself to the extent of this shell of his former personality who was only trying to get the things on his to-do list done so he could rest for once. This MK also had the fate of the world resting on his shoulders and it's not the most stress-relieving activity to try and be good enough to stop the end.

He’d realised that he hadn’t moved at all, gathering his strength to try and sit up from the ground, despite the protest of his muscles as they objected against the action. After struggling to reposition himself sitting upright, it seemed his mentor had finally noticed something was off with his successor, sauntering over to the heaving MK.

“You alright ‘bud? You seem pretty out of it.” He’d stoop down to survey his apprentice, the slightest hint of concern lacing his voice, he did worry for the kid, but his ego could make it difficult to show.

“You kicked me in the face, I’m doing so good.” MK deadpanned, lifting his gaze to meet Wukongs humourly, mouth twitching at the idea his facade wasn’t being the most convincing right now. But he shrugged it off, hoping that the simian would just write off his behaviour just this once. Wukong however was not as amused by him avoiding his gaze, lifting an eyebrow in necessary suspicion.

“Yeah okay, we’ll end it here. You’re pretty roughed up today.” He’d comment, eyeing MK’s clothes. To be fair it did look like he’d been dragged against a dirt road, plus he just appeared flat out exhausted. It was only out of consideration that Sun Wukong let him off, scrutinising the importance and necessity of MK improving though he couldn’t always do something like this, it genuinely seemed like the kid needed a break. At the mention of the session being over, said successor seemed to just deflate exponentially, falling back onto his back with a sigh and a half hearted, ‘thank the heavens above’, which Wukong definitely scoffed at.

The monkey brought his hands together, lightly pushing his tail against the other's forehead. “Now would you be so kind as to explain what’s up with you? Your movements were sloppy if not effortless and— woah, that’s a sharp look. Hit a nerve? Come on, MK, you know I only want to teach you.” He raised his hands defensively at the glare he received, now quite curious as to what was bothering the boy to this extent in order to cause such uncharacteristic hostility.

MK brought a hand to comb through his hair, “Sorry, sorry. I’m just stressed, I think. Though it’s pretty normal for me now as the Monkie Kid, I just,” He paused to consider his words, unsure of how to phrase it. It was difficult to interpret his thoughts when he was just so wound up and didn’t really know what to do. He sent a look back over to Wukong who only reassuringly motioned with his hands to continue. “It’s a lot sometimes, it isn’t always easy to handle. Sorry I gave you an attitude about it, I’ve missed out on a bit of sleep but I didn’t want to worry anyone.” MK admitted guiltily, raising his hand to scratch at the back of his neck. Even if he hadn’t mentioned it they were all likely to notice eventually, he just hadn’t been willing to entertain that idea. The monkey king sighed gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulders.

“Look, kid. I’m not the greatest at this whole reassuring thing. Never really been my whole shtick, solo flyer troublemaker on the rise.” He clears his throat at the irrelevant piece he’d added. “But you’re a good kid, and you’re doing great, much better than I could’ve hoped for. It’s good to have worries but just, don’t let it get to your head. It’ll get all mangled up in your little MK head and stuff like this’ll happen. You’ve got us don’t you? Me and your little gang of misfits. They’ve got your back, so show your appreciation by not balling it all up and put your MK smile back on! We missed ‘ya buddy!”

MK gave the monkey king an appreciative gaze, behind all the fronts he put up the guy really did seem to care, he just went about it in his own way. “Thanks, Wukong. I really needed that.” He smiled gently. Wukong just waved it off, grinning smugly as he achieved reinforcing MK’s fortitude. Despite the reassurance however, the deep pit in MK’s stomach refused to leave, feeling as though it was congesting his intestines, it was either that or he was just really, really hungry.

“Here’s a suggestion— why don’t we go grab something from Pigsy? Kicking your ass really took it out of me, I’m starving.”

“Sounds good! Then I’m passing out, into another dimension I’m so tired.” MK joined Wukong in his laughter, feeling a bit better about the whole thing. And besides, it’s nice knowing he really does care, even if it isn’t always apparent.

[omgrachwrites]

Park Avenue Princess - Matt Murdock

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader

Characters: Matt Murdock, Reader, Frank Castle

Summary: After an unsuccessful night of trying to get over your ex boyfriend, you all but run out of the bar and into a man that you would never associate with in a million years. Though, you knew it was okay because you’d never see him again.

Warnings: lil steamy, angst, fluff, ooc Frank.

Disclaimer: Frank will be ooc!

Words: 1460

A/N: I hope you guys enjoy this part, please let me know what you think! Frank has literally only just come into Daredevil but I love him and wanted to write something with him in! There will be a sequel to his once I get to know Frank’s character more! For the record, I love Josie’s bar! I love you all! xxx

Sweat glistened on your body as your back arched right off the silk sheets and your mouth opened in a silent gasp, you pouted as a strong hand was placed on your hips to hold you down. You threaded your fingers through the thick hair and pulled, making your lover groan from between your thighs. You cried out loud, your voice high pitched as Matt drove you to your climax.

Matt lifted his head with a cheeky grin as he wiped his rosebud lips with the back of his hand as he kissed his way back up your body until his lips hovered over yours, “delicious as always,” he muttered before kissing you. You sighed against Matt’s mouth as you tasted yourself on his tongue as you kissed him back.

You giggled and rolled over so you were straddling Matt, gazing down at the beautiful man below you as his chest heaved. Smirking down at him, you stroked a finger against his rough jaw, “now it’s my turn to rock your world, Matty,” you cooed.

Matt laughed as he wrapped his arms around your waist, “is that a promise, Miss Y/L/N.”

“Oh, absolutely,” you breathed as you leaned down and kissed him deeply.

The bar was a complete dive, you wrinkled your nose at the scent of stale beer and you cringed as the patrons noisily played pool. You normally wouldn’t be caught dead in a place like this, but you were out with your best friends from high school and they wanted to cheer you up. For them, you would do almost anything. Sitting in this bar on a Friday night was just proof of how much you loved them.

“Come on, Park Avenue Princess! Don’t look so glum, we’re only helping you to get back on the horse,” your friend Jack snickered, his thick accent was distorted from the swill that passed for beer that he’d been drinking.

You glared at him as you took a tentative sip of what passed for a vodka martini. Though, you knew he was right, Matt had dumped you about three months ago and you knew that you needed to stop wallowing. But, it was hard, you missed Matt more than anything, everywhere you went, you looked for him. You looked for someone that you didn’t even know anymore. According to Matt, he had fallen out of love with you – maybe you had been too highly strung for him – but you could tell that something else was going on.

“So, you decided to bring me to a bar where he’s a regular?” you laughed.

“Look on the bright side; if he comes here tonight then it’ll be like ripping a band aid off, better to get it over with. It’s just a shame that he won’t be able to see how beautiful you look,” Molly, Jack’s girlfriend said kindly as she placed her hand over yours.

You smiled at the pretty girl as you squeezed her hand before turning back to Jack and you narrowed your eyes at his smirking face, “I’m not a Park Avenue Princess.”

At your words, Jack threw his head back as he laughed, “shit, Y/N! You live in a fancy apartment complex, with a doorman and you’ve still got enough dough to buy those designer shoes,” he nodded at your shoes as you scoffed and rolled your eyes, “must be that fancy college degree.”

You were the only one in this friendship group that had gone to college and they had always held it against you, “it’s not that fancy,” you laughed as your other friend Tony brought over a fresh round of drinks and he scoffed at your words, “I’m still the same Y/N from high school, the same Y/N that grew up in Hell’s Kitchen,” you promised them with a smile.

These people were your best friends and you certainly didn’t think that you were any better than them, “want a game of pool Y/N?” Tony asked with a sly smirk and you couldn’t stop the shudder and wince that ran through you at the mere thought, “I rest my case, Your Honour,” he said with a gleeful laugh.

“Fine!” you stood up, feeling determination boil in your chest, “would a Park Avenue Princess suggest doing shots of tequila until we black out?” you smirked as you were answered with a resounding whooping cheer.

You shoved and pushed your way through the sea of sweaty bodies until you finally got to the bar and put your order in, shouting over the booming music. You heard him before you saw him; his soft and tender voice in your ear caused your heart to plummet in your chest. That was the voice you had missed, the voice that had whispered dirty things to you in the middle of the night and gave you words of encouragement in the daylight.

“Y/N? I heard your voice, I thought I’d meet you here, you certainly never came here with me,” you winced at the note of hurt in his voice and you turned to him with a sigh.

His hair was dark and wavy, you itched to run your fingers through it as he stood there looking like a million dollars in that suit of his. His beautiful chocolate brown eyes were hidden behind his glasses and his mouth was set in a firm line, “I’m here with my friends Matt,” you picked the shots up and Matt gently rested his hand on your elbow.

“Y/N,” his voice was gentle as he cooed to you and you couldn’t let him lure you back in with his sweet and honeyed tongue, “we should talk, please just allow me to talk to you.”

You sighed sadly as you shook your head, knowing full well that he couldn’t see you, “I think that you’ve said everything that you’ve needed to, Matt,” you longed to ask him why you weren’t good enough for him, “excuse me,” you ignored his calls of your name as you made your way back over to your friends.

It was an amazing thing; you found that you could actually have fun, even in a place as wretched as this. You hardly spared a thought for Matt as you downed numerous shots of tequila, smiling as it warmed your insides wonderfully. You felt absolutely fine as you drank with your friends, until there was a lull in the loud rock music. You heard the most beautiful tinkling laugh and you glanced in the direction that it was coming from and you wished that you hadn’t.

A beautiful blonde woman with a kind smile was sitting with Matt and his friend Foggy. Matt smiled at her and he leaned closer to her so she could whisper in his ear. You wondered if she was the reason why he’d dumped you. He used to look at you like that and it felt like a knife to your heart as hot tears pricked behind your eyes. You shouldn’t have been so upset, he wasn’t yours anymore but you couldn’t help it.

“I can’t do this,” you muttered as you got up from your seat; it had all started off so well.

“Y/N,” Molly sighed and you forced out a smile as you looked at your friends.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m just gonna get a cab, I’ll call you when I get home,” your friends nodded at you sympathetically.

You weaved your way through the bar and by the time you got to the door, the tears were freely flowing down your cheeks, why weren’t you good enough for him? You bumped into someone as you got out into the warm night air of Hell’s Kitchen.

“Sorry,” you mumbled, looking up at the tall man. He was dressed in a jacket, even in this heat with black jeans and boots, he looked very menacing. The stranger had rough but handsome features; never in your life would you associate with a man like him.

He frowned down at you as he saw your tears, “you alright doll?” he asked in a gruff voice and you nodded, swiping at your eyes, “need a cab beautiful?” you flushed and nodded, trying to look anywhere but him.

The stranger huffed out a laugh as he flashed a smirk at you, his gaze lingering on your bare legs as he hailed a cab. With a hand on your lower back he helped you into the cab, “have a good night, ma’am.”

“Thank you,” you forced out a smile as he closed the door. As the cab began to move, you found yourself craning your head for one last look at the handsome stranger. You could stare at him without shame; after all, you would never see him again.

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

@smiithys​ @elayneblack​ @amelie-black​

[rallamajoop]

...and the unironic joys of better living through chemistry

How do I love Venom: The Hunger, let me count the ways…

It’s by far the shippiest Venom/Eddie story to come out of the character’s heyday. It’s the only story of the era to treat Venom’s violent wild-animal instincts not as an immutable fact, but as something that can be managed. It pulls off an aesthetic like nothing else that was being done at the time.

And then there’s the way it says, Does the world around you seem sinister and foreboding? Do you lie awake at night contemplating metaphorical oceans of despair? Well shit, son – have you considered you may be suffering from a mundane neurochemical imbalance, and a round of the right meds could clear that right up for you?

It does all this without breaking the atmosphere, without a whiff that our story has been interrupted for a Very Special Message about mental health.

In the near-decade since I was first prescribed anti-depressants, I don’t think I’ve read another story that lands the message “Sometimes, it’s not you, it’s just your brain chemistry,” so well.

Fair warning: if you have not read The Hunger, I am about to spoil every major plot point. If you have, well, maybe I can still give you a new appreciation for a few details you might have missed.

It’s a strange book, whatever else you take from it. It’s almost the only thing either author or artist contributed to the Venom canon, and it’s so different stylistically and tonally from the 90′s Venom norm that it feels like a tale from some noir-elseworlds setting instead of 616 canon. When you take risks that big with a property, you leave yourself precious little landing space between 'unmitigated triumph’ and ‘abject failure’: if this book hadn’t absolutely nailed it, I’d be dismissing it as edgy, OOC dreck. Fortunately, if The Hunger is nothing else, it is a story that $&#@ing commits – to basically everything it does.

Now, I'm not going to tell you Venom: The Hunger is a story about overcoming depression, because I don't know whether author Len Kaminski even thought about it that way while working on it. There's always space for other readings, and this one take is not gospel. That said: holy shit is this thing unsubtle with its metaphors. And with that in mind, let’s start by talking a little about Kaminski’s take on Eddie himself.

As I may have mentioned before, I like to divide 90′s Eddie into two broad personas: the Meathead, and the Hobo.

Kaminski’s Eddie nominally belongs in the angsty, long-haired Hobo incarnation, but that’s a bit of a simplification: this version certainly has plenty of angst and plenty of hair to his name – but nowhere, not even at his lowest ebb, does he doubt that he and his Other are meant for each other, which is usually Hobo!Eddie’s primary existential quandary.

He’s also taken up narrating his own life like a hardboiled PI.

So that’s... novel.

The only other time Eddie’s sounded like this is, er, in that one other Venom one-shot Kaminski penned (Seed of Darkness, a prequel that sadly isn’t in The Hunger’s league), so I think we can safely file it under authorial ticks.

Then again, Hobo!Eddie’s always been one melodramatic SOB, so maybe this is just how he’d sound after learning to channel his angst into his poetry. You can’t argue it fits the aesthetic, anyway.

We’d also be remiss not to mention Ed Halsted’s art, which I can only describe as gothic-meets-noir-meets-H.R.-Giger. Never before or since has the alien symbiote looked this alien: twisted with Xenompoph-like ridges and veins.

But Halsted doesn’t treat Venom to all that extra detail in every panel. Instead, the distortion tends to appear when the symbiote is separated from Eddie or out of control – and I doubt you need me to walk you through the symbolic importance of that creative decision. More importantly, Halsted’s art provides exactly the class of visuals that Kaminski’s story needs.

Did I mention this is a horror story? You might be surprised how few Venom stories really fit that genre, but if all those adjectives about Halsted’s style above didn’t clue you in, this is one of them.

Anyway, with that much context covered, let’s get into the main narrative of this thing.

As our first issue opens, Eddie’s world has become a dark and foreboding place. He’s not sleeping, though he mostly brushes this off. (Fun fact: trouble sleeping is one of those under-appreciated symptoms of depression. Additional fun fact: the first doctor ever to suggest I might be suffering from depression was actually a sleep specialist. You can guess how that appointment was going.)

Just to set our scene, here’s all of page 1.

Eddie’s narration has plenty of (ha) venom for his surroundings, but the visuals are here to back him up: panels from Eddie’s POV are edged in twisted, fleshy borders and drained of colour, the people rendered as creepy, goblin-like creatures. A couple of later scenes go even further to contrast Eddie-vision with what everyone else is seeing:

As depictions of depression go this is a little on the nose, but then, you don’t read a comic about a brain-eating alien parasite looking for subtlety, do you?

Eddie  doesn’t see himself as depressed, of course. As far as he’s concerned, he’s seeing the world’s true face: it’s everyone else who’s deluding themselves. He’s still got his symbiote, so he’s happy. He’s yet to hit that all-important breaking point where something he can’t brush off goes irrevocably wrong.

But he’s also starting to experience these weird... cravings.

He just can’t put a name to exactly what he’s craving until a routine bar fight with a couple of thugs takes a turn for the horrific.

(I include this panel partly to point out even in The Hunger, the goriest of all 90′s Venom titles, you’re still not going to see brains getting eaten in any graphic detail. We don’t need to to get the horror of the moment across. The 90′s were a more innocent time.)

Eddie himself is horrified when he comes back to himself and realises what he’s done.

Or rather, what his symbiote’s just made him do.

Kaminski doesn’t keep us in suspense about why, though. Eddie may have just done something horrific, but there’s a reason, and it’s as mundane as a vitamin deficiency. He’s bonded to an alien creature, after all, and his symbiote is craving a nutrient which just happens to be found in human brains. And if Eddie can’t or won’t help it meet that need, it’ll do so alone. 

Now, giving us that explanation so quickly is an interesting creative decision: this is a horror story, and horror lives in what we don’t know. Wouldn’t it be all the more horrifying had the symbiote been unable to explain what’s going on, leaving Eddie without the first real clue as to where this monstrous new hunger had come from?

The Hunger doesn’t take that route though, and I love it. Eddie isn’t a monster, this isn’t his fault: he has a fucking condition, and wallowing in his own moral failings is going to get him nowhere. You might as well try to cure scurvy or rickets with positive thinking. Just like depression can make you feel like an utter failure at the most basic parts of being human, and all the affirmations in the world won’t fix it when it’s fundamentally your brain chemistry that’s the problem. Or like addicts aren’t weak-willed for struggling not to relapse, they’re dealing with genuine chemical dependency – or even like how someone who’s trans isn’t at fault for being unable to reconcile themselves to the bodies and the hormones they were born with by pure force of trying. Free will is more than an illusion, but we’re all messy, biological organisms underneath, and your own brain and biochemistry can and will fuck you over in a hundred wildly different ways for as many wildly different reasons and it’s not your fault.

We aren’t monsters. But if we do, sometimes, find ourselves identifying with the monster, there might be a reason for that.

(Ahem)

I’m just saying, that’s fucking powerful, and we need more stories that say it.

Anyway, in case you missed it during that tangent, issue #1 closes with the symbiote having torn Eddie’s heart in two itself free to go hunting brains without him.

I’m trying not to get too sidetracked at this point talking about Kaminski’s take on the symbiote itself. Suffice to say there are broadly two schools of thought on how it ought to function while separated from its host: the traditional ambulatory-slime-puddle version, and the more recently popular alternative where anything-you-can-do-with-a-host-you-can-also-do-without-one. I’m not much of a fan of the latter, personally: if your symbiote doesn’t actually need a host, I feel you’ve sort of missed the point. (The movie takes the route of saying symbiotes can’t even process Earth’s atmosphere without a host, which is a great new idea that appears nowhere in the comics, and I love it. Hosts or GTFO, baby!)

Kaminski has his own take, and I can only wish it had caught on. Without Eddie, the symbiote becomes an ever-shifting insectoid-tentacle-snake-monstrosity, driven by an animalistic hunger. It’s many things, but it’s never humanoid.

If you absolutely must have your symbiote operating minus a host, I feel this is the way to do it: semi-feral, shapeless and completely alien (uncontrollable violence and cravings for brains to be added to taste).

Issue #2 comes to us primarily through the perspective of the mild-mannered Dr. Thaddeus Paine of the Innsmouth Hills Sanitarium (yes, really).

Yeah, he’s not fooling anyone. Meet our official villain! He joins our story after Eddie is picked up by the police and handed off to the nearest available institution, on account of how completely sane and rational he’s been acting.

Naturally, Dr. Paine soon has copious notes on Eddie’s ‘crazy’ story about his psychic link to a brain-eating alien monster. Fortunately for Eddie, Paine also runs some tests and makes an interesting discovery. 

Congratulations, Venom: the ‘vitamin’ you were missing officially has a name!

Finding the right meds isn’t always this easy. I got lucky – the first ones my psych put me on worked pretty well – but I have plenty of friends who weren't so lucky. In fact, the treatment for Eddie's problems is so straightforward it arguably has more in common with, say, endocrine disorders like thyroid conditions or Addison’s disease, which differ from clinical depression but present many similar symptoms (but can sadly be just as much of a bitch to get correctly diagnosed – please do read author Maggie Stiefvater’s account of the latter when you get the chance, because forget Venom, that is a horror story).

‘True’ depression remains much less well understood by medicine, either in its causes or how to effectively treat it. But simply having a name for what was wrong with me made so much difference, and that’s an experience I imagine anyone who’s dealt with any long undiagnosed medical condition could relate to. It put my life in context in a way nothing else had in years.

(I can’t speak to the accuracy of the way phenethylamine is portrayed in this comic – a quick google suggests there may be some real debate that phenethylamine deficiencies have been overlooked as a contributor to clinical depression, but having no medical background, that one’s well beyond me. Either way, scientific accuracy really doesn’t matter in this context – it’s how it works in-universe for story purposes that we should pay attention to.)

Since this issue is mostly from Paine’s POV, we don’t get Eddie’s reaction to having a healthy amount of phenethylamine sloshing around in his brain again, just the assurance that treatment appears to be ‘completely successful’.

He’s still a paranoid, hostile bastard though. Meds can turn your life around, but they won’t make you not you.

But even if Eddie’s feeling better, he’s still psychically linked to someone who isn’t. Symbiote-vision still comes through drained of colour and edged in viscera.

That’s the thing about meds: they won’t solve all your problems overnight. If you’ve been depressed for a while, there are good odds you have problems stacking up. But working meds can be a godsend when it comes to getting you into a space where you can deal with your problems again, whether said problems are doing-your-laundry or all the way into not-giving-up-completely-and-just-accepting-you’ll-die-alone-on-the-street.

For Eddie, ‘dealing with his problems’ begins with stealing a keycard and busting out of the asylum.

Of course, that’s the easy part. How do you solve a problem like a feral symbiote? Like any good 90′s comic book protagonist, Eddie tackles it by putting on his big-boy camouflage pants and kitting himself out with weapons and pouches while quoting “If you live something, set it free. If it doesn’t come back, hunt it down.”

We can add this to the list of things I love about this comic. Even if The Hunger is a weirdly-stylistic tract about depression at heart, it’s also still a goddamn 90′s Venom comic, and not ashamed to be.

We’re into issue #3 now, and back to hearing the story from Eddie’s POV.

Eddie is very much aware that his symbiote has murdered innocent people while they’ve been separated. Even if this is the result of extreme circumstances, there’s a good case to be made that the symbiote is too dangerous to be allowed to live. Plenty of heroes would treat it like a rabid dog at this point.

But Eddie isn’t a hero, he’s a mess of a character and an anti-hero at best, so we don’t have to hold him to the same standard. He’s well aware his symbiote may be too far gone to save, that he may have to put it down – but that’s only his backup plan. He wants to help it. He wants it back. He’s down in that sewer with screamers and a flamethrower because he knows all his symbiote’s weaknesses, but he’s also carrying a large jar of black-market synthesised phenethylamine, because if he can just get close enough...

Depression can’t make you a literal monster, but it can make you an asshole. Miserable to be around, lacking even the energy to care who else you’re hurting. The depression doesn’t excuse that, but it makes everything harder, and it’s that much easier to sink back into your spiral when everyone around you has given up. It can make you think everyone around has given up even if that isn’t true.

So to have Eddie here say, in effect, I don’t care how many people you’ve eaten, I know it wasn’t your fault. I still love you. You’re still worth fighting for – god, does that get me right in the id.

There’s still a whole issue left at this point – we’ve still got to deal with our real villain, Dr. Paine, who we’ve just learned is into eating brains himself and torturing his patients recreationally, and who wants to capture the symbiote for his own purposes. There’s the scene where Eddie and his symbiote finally bond again, and Venom beats up all Paine’s goons while singing David Bowie because like I said, this is still a 90′s superhero comic and this is what Venom does.

But for our purposes, I'm going to skip to the penultimate page of the story, because the way it mirrors our opening page is really lovely.

Remember that shot of Eddie dealing with a beggar back at the beginning of the story, thinking about how these people would 'get their despair all over you'? Here he is again, cheerfully forking over the last dollar in his pocket to the next man to ask him for change. For all the gothic atmosphere and gore, it’s moments like this that make The Hunger easily one of the most positive, uplifting Venom stories ever written. Funny, that. (I could probably write a whole other essay on sympathy for the homeless as a recurring motif in Venom stories, but that... well, whole other essay and all that.)

What’s Eddie learned from this experience? Don’t take your symbiote for granted. Is ‘symbiote’ a metaphor for mental health here, is paying attention to its needs an allegory for paying attention to your own? I still don’t know how literally Kaminski meant us to take this, but it’s a lovely note to end on no matter how you parse it.

At the end of the day, The Hunger isn’t flawless. The conflict with Paine ends on a thematic but slightly unsatisfying note. Eddie makes much of his symbiote's loneliness and desire for union, but when the two of them are finally reunited, the only reaction comes from Eddie's side. In fact, the symbiote seems to have no response to being able to return to Eddie at all, and that’s an omission that bugs me.

But Kaminski is more interested than any other writer of the era in the truly alien nature of the symbiote, in its relationship with Eddie from Eddie’s side, and though plenty of others talk about the symbiote's love/hate relationship with Spider-man, no-one else had the guts to portray their relationship this much like a romance.

And Venom: The Hunger is no less interesting in the context of Len Kaminski’s other work. You don't have to look far into his Marvel and DC credits to pick up that the guy has a real thing for monsters. (“All of my favourite characters are outlaws, misfits, anti-heroes,” he says, in one of the very few interviews I could find with him, “I wouldn't know what to do with Superman.”) He's written for vampires, werewolves, victims of mad science, and all of three at once, littering his work with biochemistry-themed technobabble, melodramatic monologues, gratuitous pop-culture references, and protagonists who must learn to embrace their inner demons. So The Hunger represents more than a few of his favourite running themes.

For our context, his more notable other work includes Children of the Beast, in which a werewolf must make peace between his human and animalistic sides, and The Creeper, in which a journalist must make peace with the crazy super-powered alter-ego sharing his body. In fact, The Creeper and The Hunger share so much DNA (including an evil doctor posing as a respected psychiatrist who uses hypnosis on our hero while he's trapped in a mental institution) that it’s quite the achievement that they still feel like such very distinct entities beyond that point.

The human alter-egos of both werewolf and Creeper even use prescription meds while wrestling with their respective dark sides. The difference, in both cases, is that these are stories where meds play their traditional fictional role – and that's a role that could be as easily filled by illegal drugs or alcohol without making any substantive difference. You see, if a protagonist is using them, it's a sign of unwillingness to tackle their 'real' problems. Even among work by the same author in the same genre, The Hunger represents an outlier. And that's just a little disappointing – at least to me.

In real life, of course, prescription meds are no magical cure-all elixir. Depression meds that work for one person may not work for another, or may not keep working in the longer term. Everyone has heard stories about quack doctors who prescribe them to the wrong patients for the wrong reasons, about lives ruined by addictions to prescription painkillers, or the supposedly-damning statistics about how poorly SSRI's perform in rigorous clinical trials. The proper way to treat depression is obviously with lifestyle and therapy. People will still airily dismiss medications that we all know previous generations got along just fine without, or suggest that figures like Van Gogh would never have created great art if they hadn't been mad enough to slice off an ear. I mean, the fact you think you need those bogus mediations is probably the best possible sign of just how broken you are, right? Who do you think you’re kidding?

Our popular fiction loves stories about manly men who bury their trauma under a gruff, anti-social exterior and come back swinging at the world that broke them, bravely refusing even painkillers that might dull their manly reflexes. Other genres make space for broken people confronting their demons in grand moments of catharsis, finally breaking down into tears when someone gets through to make them face their problems. "I could barely make it out of bed in the mornings until I found a doctor who started me on this new prescription" is not only wildly counter to the accepted social narrative, it's a hard thing to know how to dramatise.

 Even other Venom comics have been guilty of this.

Believe me, I recognise all of this, and just how much progress we've made in the last few decades. But I haven't the slightest doubt that for so many vulnerable people, the stigma against prescription medications does infinitely more harm than those same meds could ever do. And just having the right to externalise my problems into it's not you, it's your brain chemistry, may have helped me more than the meds themselves.

(And again, no, being prescribed SSRI's didn't fix me overnight, but I honestly don't know if all the talk therapy and tearful conversations with family members in the world could've got me as far as I've come without them.)

I love Venom: The Hunger. It's no-one's idea of high art, but it doesn’t need to be. There is a whole other post’s worth of things I love about it that I’ve already cut out this one as pointless tangents, and that may actually be it’s biggest drawback as a go-to example: I fully recognise that I would not be making this post if The Hunger hadn't also also grabbed me as a great bit of Venom canon, being the massive fan and shipper that I am. Other people who are just as desperate as me for more stories with the same core theme, but not into weird 90's comics about needy goo aliens, probably won't get nearly as much out of it as I have.

But if it sounds anything like your jam, maybe you'll enjoy it as much as I did.

If nothing else, it proves that you can make a viscerally satisfying story out of a message that shockingly unconventional. And you may even have people still discovering it and falling in love with it 25 years after the fact.

[ihopethisendswell]

The part where you get basic info on my Pokémon oc's so you don't get confused when I post about them.

This is gonna be a long post. I have like 8 total. 16 if your counting the secondary protags (my version of May and Lucas for example,which I won't be going over in detail cause I'm not insane). Might want to check my timeline 9 it's pinned or just check bulbapedia if your confused about the ages. If you have any questions feel free to ask. I hope you enjoy :)

Name :Jin Amachi

Gender: " I am nonbinary. I they/ them pronouns, but I'm alright with he/ him as well.

Age:

12( when started journey in Hoenn( Emerald)

22 by SM/USUSM

26 by SWSH

Basic info: With all things said and done, Jin is grateful for their journey. They learned a lot, even if they had to stop two extreme environmentalist along the way. They know the two meant well, but it's just too bizarre for it to happen. Though the two seem to be in a better place now. They're happy for them. They're father and them talk more now. It's still awkward, but better. They know he's trying his best, and they will do the same. It's much better than back then. But no need to worry about the past.

If anything, they're more worried about the others.

Kenji Elm

Gender: " I'm getting sudden dejavu. But I'm a boy! The best boy! Don't call me a girl, I will cry. And because I'm not one! So don't. Anyway have you heard of-" * starts to ramble*

Age:

10 when journey started in Johto( HGSS)

17 by SM

21 by SWSH

Basic Info: Kenji Elm is not the biological son of Professor Elm. He was adopted at a young age, and he doesn't know who is birth parents. Not that he cares. He's more than happy with the family he got( though he wonders when they'll throw him away like his parents did). Energetic and always willing for an adventure, Kenji is generally on the move!( He's so sorry if he's being annoying please don't leave please)

He has a vast amount of interests, but his two favorites are painting and battling. Battling is obvious, he's the champion of the Indigo League, but he always had an artistic eye. But his favorite pastime is hanging out with his friends! When he gets the time of course. He's sometimes wonder how he was able to hold the title of champion for so long though haha ( his win was a fluke he knows it he knows it) .But yeah! That's Kenji! Always there with a smile! Our little golden boy! 😁

Name: Danica Yamamoto

Gender: "I'm a girl. She/her pronouns. They/ them is cool too. Don't mind Kenji, he talks a lot." *Offended Kenji noises in the background*

Age:

11 when journey started in Sinnoh( Platinum)

18 by SM)

22 by SWSH

Basic Info: Giratina and Arcues are quite alike, the more she thinks about it. Though, the rest if Sinnoh, quite possibly the whole world would disagree with her. Giratina is " the lord of darkness". It's followers have a history of not being....the best. Giratina resides alone in the Distortion World, paying for it's past sins. Clearly, Giratina and Arcues are nothing alike.

Hm? Oh. Right. Pardon.

Danica grew up in Twinleaf town, with her best friend Barry. Those two are almost polar opposites. Barry is always moving, going fast, and doesn't wait for no one( except Danica and Emmet). Danica can go fast, possibly faster than Barry, but likes to take things slow. Both can be quite chaotic.Barry has a bit of a temper, Danica's chill. Both are cases where you should run when they are angry. Like. Very angry. The two bounces of each other well,and hang out regularly with Emmet, even with their busy professions ( Danica as champion, Barry as Frontier Brain and Emmet as a professor). Danica loves baking, and would often be making poffins and other baked treats for her, her pokemon and others ! She's also a bit of a nerd, so you'll also find her in a library or two. Her pokemon are her babies, and she hopes to have plenty of battles with them in the future!

.....

But really. They are quite alike. Both are beings of great power. Both have a following, even if one is less seen. Both are feared. They are feared greatly. Do they fear each other? Did Arcues banish Giratina in fear of the world or in fear of losing control? Did Giratina learn it's lesson after eons of being in the Distortion World? She could never tell. It doesn't really open up much, only going back to said Distortion World on its own Accord( it felt wrong to be it's "owner"). Though it do comes back, surprisingly. Maybe because she asked it to. To make sure Cyrus doesn't die in there. He still won't come out. She doesn't understand why. It's been years. Has he learned his lesson? Giratina seems to be fond of him. Affectionate. Cyrus never objects to this. So he must right? Right?

Ah, getting off topic. They're quite alike, being feared by the masses. Even if Arcues is mostly beloved. It's a god. It has such power. They're both feared. They themselves must fear as well . It must get lonely....... She thinks she gets Cyrus now.

Name: Alexis " Alex" Jones

Gender: " Um, hi? I'm just a dude. Use he/ him pronouns.....yeah"

Age:

14 when journey started in Unova( BW)

18 by SM

22 by SWSH

Basic info: It's so funny, the more he thinks about. He was so excited, despite his worries. He was going on a journey. A gym challenge. Pathway to champion. He was going to do that! With his sister and his friends! On his birthday! It was perfect! It should have been perfect! But everything just went wrong.

The bodies, the blood, the pressure to " be a hero"( intentional or not), it was all too much. Too much. Then- then he was a coward. He fled it all. Even after saving the day. It was stupid. So stupid. And the people in his life had a right to be angry. Why wouldn't they? He deserved it, really. But now things are better(?). He has a daycare to co-run, he's gradually learning his way as a pokemon medic, and he still has his pokemon( the ones that were lucky enough to survive). He's so grateful for them. He doesn't battle, though. No, he's never doing that ever again. He's caused enough harm( he hates how he stares at trainers battling). He's no good anyway( he hates how bored his team looks half the time) . He doesn't understand why people insist that he is( he hates that he has this itch, this desire). He doesn't understand why they look so disappointed when he says he doesn't battle anymore( he hates that he misses the rush, the strategy, the freedom of it all). He's fine with what he got. He's no hero.

.....Why is his aunt calling him?

Name: Evangeline " Eva" Ortiz

Gender: " Hiya! I'm a lovely lady! I use she/her pronouns, please and thank you!"

Age:

14 when journey started ( B2W2)

16 by SM

20 by SwSh

Basic Info: Eva! Eva my Beloved. Eva's fun, y'know? Always moving, helping, laughing, smiling. Life of the party! She rivals Kenji with that winning smile. Not to mention that she's a great battler! It's almost like she was born for this. Maybe she is! Who knows. But what she do know is that she's Unova's Champ and she gotta defend her title! And protect her region! Though she probably would have done that without the title anyway haha! Hmm what else? Oh! She loves technology! For some reason that surprises a lot of people that don't really know her, but she does! She's a bit of a tinkerer if she do say so herself. She likes it when people compliment on her skills it makes her more confident in them. Even Col-

No.

....

Ahem.

Anyway she's pretty talented. But that comes from a lot of hard work! And luck. But lots of hard work.( And also luck). Aaaah, that should that's it? Well, she does tend to be distant, b-but she's busy, yeah? Don't worry about it. Oh! One more thing. It's not really a big deal, just a random fact.

She hates the cold.

Name Jude Bellrose

Gender: "...... Why do you care ?" ( E: Jude don't be rude! Al: No no, she has a point.) *Ooc: Jude is genderfluid. Right now, in this post, she's using she/ her pronouns, but she also uses he/him and they/them*

Age:

18 when journey started in Kalos( XY)

20 by SM

24 by SwSh

Basic info: Death has a way of teaching you things. Jude learned a lot from it. She learns to not take it for granted, both death itself and the one that is dead.She learns to be humble. She learns to be kind.

Jude was, and still is, prickly. She's not rude my any means, unless she is, but she's just hard to become friends with. She used to have this philosophy of trainer and pokemon; they should be no emotional bonds. They're not here for that. They're here to win. And she did. Until she didn't. Her first pokemon died. It devastated her. Her pokemon, surprisingly, comforted her. And then another one died, and her pokemon comforted her again. Star, her Staraptor, was strong. So strong, and yet it died, and she cried and get pokemon cried with her. She never felt so loved. Not saying that her mother doesn't love her, the opposite really, it's just things have been....complicated. Couple that with strangers turn( begrudgingly) friends, and Jude's heart turned all warm inside. Not that she'll ever admit that outloud.

Jude is a kind person, despite her prickly nature. She loves the world around her, loves her friends, loves her pokemon. She respects death, despite the pain she causes her. The world itself of beautiful as it is, which it's such a shame that a capitalist fool a certain someone couldn't see that way( poor Sycamore).

Jude is a good trainer, despite her loss. She knows this. She'll prove it too the moon and back. If only a certain someone thought the same for himself.

Aster Mahina

Gender: "...." "Mizzz Aster is a girl! She uses she/her pronouns! Zzt."

Age:

11 in SM, where her journey started

15 by SwSh

Basic Bio: Aster doesn't hate Kanto. She doesn't. She was born there and lived there for 11 years. She just doesn't want to back. But she has to, cause she's " the first champion of Alola and as champion" yada yada yada. Like. She gets it. Being Alola's first and currently only champion, you gotta make an impression. She gets that. She still doesn't want to go. Even when she's been there, like, 4 times now. There are some good things in Kanto though. Lillie is there. And seeing Lillie physically is always a plus. She also gets to see Uncle Red, Uncle Green, and Aunt Blue. Kenji, while not living in Kanto, is champion of the Indigo League, and it's always fun with Kenji( she loves his art). But. Like. She still doesn't want to go.

But she also likes being Champion. That means she's strong. And since she's strong she can protect her mom. But she can't protect her mom when she's all the way in Kanto! What if he comes back? What if goes to Alola when she's away? She knows that her mom is strong, she knows that but still!

No. No it's okay. Her mom is strong. Lillie is strong. Gladion is strong . Hau is strong. Guzma is strong. They're all strong. She's strong.

She is strong.

Name: Naomi Einar

Gender: "I-I'm a girl! She/her pronouns please!"

Age:

15 in SWSH, which is the start of her gym challenge in Galar!

Basic Info: Hop is pretty convincing, she realizes. Or maybe she's very weak willed. " Let's do the gym challenge together!" He said. He had that look in his eye. She couldn't say no. Or she could, but that would make him upset, and that's the last thing she wants.

If she's being honest with herself, she's scared. She doesn't like big crowds, the attention. They'll be so many eyes on her. So many. A-and then there's Lee and her cousin, Alexis. Hop has made her sit down and watch almost every single match Leon has had. He's an amazing trainer. A-and her mum would tell her stories about Alexis. He was a hero! He stopped an evil team and everything! She can't live up to that! She never even battled before, why would Hop-

No. It's okay. It's okay. She- she'll just quite after failing the first gym. She can handle the embarrassment. And then she'll cheer Hop on when he wins against his brother. Yep. She'll do just that. Okay. Okay.

.....

Everyday, Slumbering Weald seem to intrigue her more and more. It's almost like it's calling her. Da?

No. It- it'sprobably nothing.

[secret-engima]

Title: the storms are coming( life is slipping)

Hmmm this title is so good I’ve been poking it for a while now, because it could be used for SO MANY THINGS. hgfhgfgf.

Something angsty probably.

.... *swats with newspaper* NOT THAT PLUNNY. Get out of here I’m not ready to have another FFXIV plunny I don’t even have enough lore data to know what to do with my first one.

..... Yea okay that one works instead.

Gonna blame @sparklecryptid for inspiring this with the many delightful “Yeet WoL into Eos” fics.

*rubs hands* buckle up wild ride and OOC behavior inbound.

FFXV/FFXIV AU where WoL dies. WoL dies and he is alright with that, is at peace with that, because his death will save those he cares about. And who knows, if he’s lucky, his death may even ease the burning Light under his skin.

Except - it doesn’t do that second one. Not really.

Because secretly, this WoL is not FROM Eorzea. He was from another world first, and those who guard it finally came back to claim him, now after all these years of fighting and hardship and too much Light under his skin.

Somewhere on Eos, the boy-who-was-once-Warrior-Of-Light gasps back to reality, choking and sputtering on the shallow water he is lying in. He fumbles blindly, confused and off balance because his limbs are smaller than he remembers, frailer, his scars stand out on his pale skin like they are fresh when they should be old and his hands and feet and legs are smaller than they were. These are child limbs again, not those of an adult who has lived-breathed-fought-died. He crawls out of the old pool tucked amid the ruins of what looks to be some kind of beast tribe shrine (it looks too fancy for the tribes, but who else would build such a thing to the Fulgarian?), turns around and looks at his distorted reflection in the ripples and dark water.

He is a boy again. That makes no sense. Even with a life as strange as his, it makes no SENSE. He looks the same age as he did years ago when he-.

Got lost.

And fell between the veils of worlds.

He breathes and shivers in the cool morning air, his adult tunic more like a lopsided dress on him now, and wonders if- if he went back. If he’s back there now. The world he was born in that no one else had heard of.

If maybe he can find his blood family again. And- and finding them won’t make up for what he’s just lost, what he already aches for, but ... it might be nice. To meet the people of his fading childhood memories.

He reaches experimentally for magic and isn’t sure if he should laugh or cry when he feels it come to him easily (he can still feel the Light under his skin, exhausted and drained from what he’s just done and woken up from, but not gone). He pushes experimentally at the spells Y’shtola tried for years to teach him, because his body aches all over and a healing spell would be nice, but as always, healing spells elude him entirely. Any other magic or class he could learn with enough persistence and practice, some he had picked up with ease even, but healing is beyond him and it is Very Inconvenient. Especially now.

Instead, he sighs and summons Freyja, his favorite Carbuncle, because he is very lost and in no condition to wield any of his swords even if he had them. Freyja chirps at him in question, gold fur bright in the light leaking through the jungle canopy, and when she sees him she starts fussing. He lets her for a while, and then they go to find civilization.

They find it, and then immediately run away, because everyone took one look at him and got that Expression™ on their face that he knew too well from being the WoL. That mix of disbelief and reverence and desperation and NOPE not doing that when he’s tiny and half naked thank you.

He manages to hide in the wilderness for a week before his magic use gets him noticed and some human foresters track him down. They know his name, which unnerves him, and it takes a while for them to talk him into following them. He keeps Freyja summoned the whole time, which draws even more staring and whispers of a “Messenger” (what is that, it sounds familiar but he cannot place it).

They take him “home”.

It’s a noble’s manor.

There is a woman in the doorway, heavily, heavily pregnant. So heavily pregnant she should probably be sitting down relaxing somewhere, not standing in the entryway waiting for them with tears in her eyes, but he knows her, knows her face and voice and the touch of her hands on his cheeks and even though he is an adult and a warrior and a killer of Primals he cries when his long lost mother pulls him as close as she can despite her swollen belly.

To them, he’s been missing for six months, and he has to hide his face in Freyja’s fur to muffle his tears at night over that (it’s been years for him, so many years he’s forgotten his last name until now, only clung to his first through all his adventures, he’s lived and LOVED and LOST and now it’s all gone and he is a child only six months gone in their eyes.) They whisper over his many scars and his mother cries over it, and he cannot tell her that they are not as raw and fresh as they look, etched into a de-aged body like this, but rather gained over many years of combat and trial. Instead he holds her hand, or presses a careful palm over her belly to feel the kicking inside because he is alive, he has a mother, he has a SIBLING about to be born and as grieving and world-lost as he is he clings to that. To the promise that he will protect this little sibling with all he is and all he has, even if he has to play the child and relearn this culture that reveres six of the Primals (or- not Primals? He isn’t sure. Is this world truly like Eorzea or is it far more different than it seems). Even if the storms come and his life slips away again beneath burning, burning Light, he will protect this little sibling.

This little sister.

He is the first one to hold his baby sister after his mother and the doctor. He cradles her close while Freyja purrs excitedly on his shoulders and when he kisses her tiny forehead, he can feel the Light under his skin reaching out to cradle her tiny candle of newborn magic, protective and strong and ready to tear down worlds to keep her safe.

“Hello Little Lunafreya,” he whispers to the sleeping baby, “It’s a joy to meet you. My name is Ravus, I’m your big brother.” He inhales the smell of hospital cleaners and fresheners, exhales slowly to restrain his tears of joy, unaware of his mother’s shocked gaze as his dual-colored eyes glow with starfire, “I’m going to keep you safe, alright? No matter what.”

(Later, Ravus will be a teenager, and the king of Lucis will come with his injured son. Later, Ravus will meet the little Prince and feel the budding Light in his bones, the promise of a burden Ravus knows far, far too well, and his promise of protection in the face of all things will extend to this little child, this little Chosen who does not deserve the fate that comes from being included in Prophecy. Later he will research the Prophecy more thoroughly in between playing with his sister and the prince who Freyja has practically adopted.)

(Later, Niflheim will rain machine men and monsters from the sky, and Regis will gape in shock as the one called General Glauca is crushed into the earth with magic unknown and untold, as the invasion of Tenebrae is bloodily ground to a halt long enough for both the Lucian and Tenebraen royal families to escape with their lives because of one boy.)

(As Ravus Nox Fleuret, eldest child of house Fleuret and Warrior of Light, holds his hands up toward the sky with glowing, starfire eyes and smiles cold and eerie and too old for his sixteen year old skin. Calls to the invaders with a voice like dragon’s thunder, “Don’t touch my family.”)

(Later, a technically refugee in Lucis because he was more concerned with protecting Luna and his mother then rampaging through an army, Ravus will pry from Regis’s desperate, guilty lips what the Prophecy really means for Noctis and Luna. And instead of raging or despairing, Ravus will smile that eerie cold smile again that looks like fangs.)

(It would seem he has another Draconian to kill.)

(And the other Astrals will stay out of his way if they know what is good for them)

[kenbunshokus]

this is a (super late) update to this fic rec post! i was planning to just keep editing and updating that post, but it’s been so old it no longer appears on tumblr search system and all, so here we are. be ready for some old school zosans in the mix

all complete

absolute favorites will be noted with a ♡

list will be updated as i find more

story count: 30 fics

last update: jan 5th 2020

CANON-VERSE

Goings On by clarify  ♡

Zoro and Sanji understand each other, and sometimes have a very similar sense of humor. Even though they're worlds ahead of most, sometimes they can't help but to act their age.

easily one of my favorites. zoro and sanji are completely in character, being themselves and comfortable in each other’s spaces. for anyone who thinks zoro and sanji can’t get along in canon, this fic can easily prove them wrong.

Part Timer by 8ball ♡♡

Sanji really, really doesn't want to give Zoro a job at his restaurant. Zoro doesn't really even want to work there in the first place, but, well, there’s this thing with Sanji, and this thing with feelings and the whole thing is pretty damn stupid all together.

Zeff just wants grandkids. He’s too old for this bullshit anyways.

a wonderful, heart-wrenching, roller coaster ride of a post-series fic. this fic is not just a mere fic — it’s a zosan magnum opus with guest appearances by so many other characters, lots of crew hijinks and a must-read for everyone who craves for a happy ending for these good boys.

Say It Again by 8ball

Zoro tells Sanji how he feels. And then again. And again. 

since we’re talking about 8ball i just want you to know i’d rec everything they’ve ever written, but special mention to say it again — a classic miscommunication trope fic done well where the miscommunication stems from fundamental misunderstanding of each other’s principles and views instead of just some plot-convenient coincidences. and soft zoro. god, he is soft.

The Wedding Night by cuethe-pulse (lj)

Zoro had never expected any of this.

major character death warning. don’t let the first few scenes fool you. note the warning; the last few lines were like a punch in the gut for me, except, you know, the good kind of punch. also, a quick rec of a drabble by the same author to soothe the pain after this one.

Roronoa Zoro: World’s Greatest Bug Killer by insaneidiot ♡

Sometimes, Zoro's life really sucks. He should've known better than to make fun of Sanji's bug phobia, though...

zoro’s internal monologue is hilarious  — until today, this author is still my go-to expert on zoro’s voice, especially his more sarcastic side.

Quitting’s Easy by insaneidiot

Sanji decides to quit smoking. This is not quite so easy as he thinks it will be. Also, his crewmates (excluding Robin and Nami, of course!) are assholes.

fun, fun strawhat hijinks and oblivious sanji. the crew dynamics and especially sanji’s voice are pitch perfect. there’s a hint of luffy/nami that you can easily scroll past if it’s not your thing.

I can’t stop thinking that i can’t stop thinking by hieiandshino ♡

In which Brook changes tactics and Zoro is not amused. Everyone else is, though.

holy shit is this fic hilarious. i love comedy fics that manage to slip in thoughtful observations and character study in between the hijinks, and this fic pulls that off with flying colors. 

The Walls See All by threesipsmore

Reiju hides a snail cam in her brother's room.

fun short fic from reiju’s pov. there’s never enough zosan set in whole cake island arc and this fic delivers.

Stormbird by Judin ♡

The Straw Hats' first landing in the New World is on Arashi Island, where it looks like they'll be spending a fun week attending the local festival and making new friends. Until they spot a strange pirate ship in the harbour, and Sanji starts behaving oddly. The Straw Hats become entangled with the mysterious Gently Pirates, a crew that harbour many secrets, and whose captain is a man out of Sanji's past who has the power to tear the Straw Hat crew apart. 

it cannot be overstated how wonderful this fic is, and how it could’ve fit into the canon just nicely, like a better-written one piece movie, except with zosan. not only are sanji and zoro in character, every strawhat gets a spotlight and has pitch-perfect voices. brook is especially lovely in this fic.

Unintended Consequence by itsmylifekay

A group of marines charge, Zoro slices through them, and in that instant Sanji feels his own eyes grow wide. Because there, on the arm now outstretched towards him, steel glinting in hand, is the stupid bracelet he’d given Zoro. The bastard is actually wearing it.

there’s a reason this is the most kudo-ed zosan fic on ao3 right now — it’s so soft without being ooc, and there’s a quiet undercurrent of affection laid throughout the fic that will warm you up from the insides.

Somewhere Between Sorrow and Bliss by srididdledeedee

Sanji has never cared for winter.

He can see himself, is the thing. There are bits and pieces that poke through, but it’s not all him. It’s like staring in a fractured mirror. He knows, intellectually, that the person staring back at him is himself, but his face is splintered and his shape is distorted and his body is wrong.

a fantastic character study on trans!sanji and how he comes to terms with his identity with the help of his crewmates. supportive strawhats are always a lovely addition to a zosan fic

Give In To Love by libbylune

Zoro knows better than to think about it too much, but between the rowdy festivals and ancient unexplained temples on this island, it's hard to forget about wanting Sanji.

i love how this fic puts as much focus on the boys after the confession as it does before the confession. a good case fic with its own unique island adventure and i’m always a sucker for soft!zoro

Laundry by libbylune

Dealing with Sanji makes Zoro develop a lot of opinions about clothes.

there’s absolutely nothing hotter than bi!sanji who’s completely comfortable with his gender identity and sexuality. also gay disaster zoro fumbling his words whenever sanji is around is 1) accurate 2) hilarious.

Language of Swords by HaveMyWeedCookies ♡

It took them for a while but finally, Zoro asked if Sanji wanted to hold his sword.

i love fics that explore zoro’s relationship with his craft and his swords, and adding zosan into the mix is something i didn’t know i needed. an interesting outsiders pov zosan in the pov of zoro’s swords.

Ghost of a Chance by sabershadowkat

“I know, for sure, that I didn’t expect to miss everyone so much, including you.” Sanji cut a glance at Zoro and rephrased correctly, “Especially you.”

this fic handles tropes that are usually associated with character death fics, but manages to end it with a happy ending. zoro’s devotion here is heart-wrenching.

Idiot Romance by sabershadowkat

"This has to be a joke," Sanji muttered, poking at the colored petals. Zoro couldn't have just given him flowers.

a classic  — this is literally the first zosan fic i’ve ever read — and a lovely one at that. sanji is oblivious and zoro attempts romance, not that zoro ever needed to.

festival night by thisislegit

“ANOTHER FEAT BY THE WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN, JORIRI.” The woman turned to Mr. Mohawk and with faux sympathy said, “Oh! Sorry, sir. Maybe next time. We can’t always beat the best, but we can do our best and that’s what matters. Do we have any other takers? ANY OTHER TAKERS READY FOR THE STRONG MAN CHALLENGE? HOW ABOUT YOU SIR? MADAM? YOU OVER THERE? ARE YOU INTERESTED?”

“What kind of shit name is Joriri,” said Zoro and Sanji in unison.

i’m an absolute sucker for fics that have zoro and sanji simply hanging out and enjoying each other’s company, comfortable in a way they couldn’t with their other crewmates, and this fic exemplifies that. just them being little shits and having fun with one another.

No Victory in Hesitation & the Past Has Its Lessons by EudaimonErisornae & vageege

Zoro has a lot of things he wants to say to Sanji, but he just needs one more day. || Zoro tries to fix a mistake he made in the past.

major character death warning. i died a little bit inside after reading this tbh. there are some devil fruits-explained time travel hijinks, but mostly it’s this looming, grim inevitability of death that’s written so pervasively throughout the fic that really got me.

Imperatives by dollcewrites

Zoro is confident in saying that Sanji is a man who doesn’t do what he’s told. Which is why, when a command accidentally slips from Zoro’s lips during foreplay, he is expecting to hear the cook’s scoff as he continues to do what he pleases.

i don’t tend to do pwp, but this isn’t just one — it’s a completely in-character piece about their relationship and dynamics.

when you say by bluewalk ♡

It's a long time in coming. Usopp can promise, but.

this fic is as much sanuso as it is zosan, and usopp here is — still very much usopp, but also a very beautiful take on his character as someone who spent a lot of time behind sanji’s back, and realizes that when he watches sanji’s back, he gets to see zoro’s, too.

a complete guide to falling in love by ThousandSunny

Sanji was trained in the Bridal Arts; this does not go unnoticed by the rest of his crew.

while the main ship is still zosan, the fic also focuses a lot on zoro and sanji’s relationship with the rest of the crew, and it’s one of those fics that really makes you realize how much of a family the strawhats is. a lovely read all around.

destructivity is a poison that run through our veins by wasteofmind

Zoro thinks that, someday, they are going to kill each other.

a dysfunctional take of their relationship. it’s fascinating in the same way a car crash is fascinating  — there’s an undercurrent of something violent, something visceral. this is one of the fics that inspired me to write migratory animals.

ALTERNATE UNIVERSE

Ocean’s Child by 8ball  ♡

Here's the truth: Zoro couldn't swim. He fell in the water and sank like a stone because there had never been anyone to teach him how to move his arms. He forgot that if he screamed for help the water would get in his mouth, and he even opening his eyes hurt.

Here’s the other truth, the one that stays a secret: a mermaid saved him.

a fascinating retelling of the one piece canon with mermaid!sanji. it feels a lot like a love letter to the seas, and it’s mesmerizing how sanji’s mermaid backstory is seamlessly weaved into the one piece canon.

with you by Cirro

How to find your life partner in three easy steps: 1. Punch them in the face 2. Insult their cognitive abilities 3. Embarrass them so much they agree to marry you

a wholesome two-part modern au series. my personal favorite is the second part, where sanji brings zoro home to meet zeff — complete with the two of them teasing sanji in their own ways.

The Proper Reaction (or What To Do When Your Son Brings His Boyfriend Home by three_days_late

Holidays at the Baratie were always hectic, but it's nothing Zeff can't handle. Sanji's new boyfriend, on the other hand...

on the topic of meet-the-family: the only thing more fun than zoro meeting zeff is zoro meeting zeff and the entirety of baratie staff. also includes one of my favorite line about bi!sanji: “sanji loves nice girls and bad boys”.

Exclusive by cuethe-pulse

Zoro loves Sanji, Sanji loves Zoro. Zoro wants to be exclusive, so Sanji should, too. Right?

this is a circus/bakery au. yes, you read that right, and yes, it works. i went into this fic with a lot of doubts and came out very satisfied with how fleshed out everyone in this au is, and i’m forever in awe with how the author can set up an entirely separate, vivid universe with so few words.

Delivery by styx_in_the_mud

Sanji is stuck delivering pizzas when Patty is out of commission for a while. Zoro likes to order pizza after training. Both of them are sort of idiots, but Zoro can be smooth as fuck if he puts his mind to it.

a fun, in-character au with good ol’ banter and cute get-together.

The End of It All by xpiester333xx

Humans have been forced underground due to the effects of a chemical weapon that has made surface life impossible. Sanji lives in one of these underground colonies and though he dreams of bigger things his life has been mundane; spent following strict rules and obeying higher commands. Or it was, until a stranger shows up and changes everything.

the author labelled it as sci-fi au, but I personally think it’s more dystopian-like? either way, while this fic is on the long side, it manages to keep everyone in character until the very end, which is something that can’t be said for a lot of fics.

well, there we go! feel free to drop me an ask if you want to rec me fics or ask for a more specific/themed rec list; i’ll also update this post regularly !!

i also have an ao3 donutsandcoffee if you want to see my take on these dorks o/

[legendaryjohnmarston]

Coming Home

Summary: Being a hero was awesome. Henry would know. Every kid's dream, right?

At some point it had been Henry's. And between the flashy costumes, the feeling of doing something good, and just the hero life in general was enough to make him gloss over the never-ending bruises and occasional nightmares he still got after all these years.

Being a hero was awesome...until it really wasn't. Until nights like these.

Word Count: 2,880

Fandom: Zenyverse

Warnings: Minor character death, mild mentions of blood. If there are any other warnings someone would like me to put please feel free to tell me!

A/N: I wrote this mostly just for myself and @zackmartin (I'm just a dumbass who forgot about it lmfao) but I'm just gonna put this here. I'd like to point out that I've never watched on ep of Suite Life so I have no idea if Zack is ooc or not ehfhfhd. I'm also gonna reread this and edit it later. Henry does not have a good time basically, but the ending is happy.

Being a hero was awesome. Henry would know. Every kid's dream, right?

At some point it had been Henry's. And between the flashy costumes, the feeling of doing something good, and just the hero life in general was enough to make him gloss over the never-ending bruises and occasional nightmares he still got after all these years.

Being a hero was awesome...until it really wasn't. Until nights like these.

Living nightmares. The worst ones, because he couldn't wake up with the knowledge that it wasn't real.

It was only a small fire. It shouldn't have been a problem. He helped the fire fighters get the small family out of the building, was about to call it a night when he heard the worst thing a hero - a parent - could ever hear.

"My baby's still in there!"

Henry didn't hesitate or wait for any more words before he was bolting to the only window he could manage to enter into and threw himself in, landing in a heap, surrounded by a ring of fire and smoke.

He hated burning buildings, but he didn't waste any time searching the rooms, keeping his body as low as he could. The smoke tried to claw his way down his throat and his eyes stung viciously but he hurried on, knowing that the more time he was in here, the less time there was to get out.

He was three rooms in when he heard the most hair-raising screech he'd ever heard pierce his ears. Upstairs, from the sound of it. Henry took off running to the stairs, bounding up them as carefully as he could in his haste, the wood groaning around his weight as he weaved his way through the endless debris as the flames burned his skin raw.

A piece of metal, from what looked like it was once a part of the railing, caught his leg halfway up. Henry cursed, feeling his hands to the new wound. His hands came away covered in fresh red, but he bit his lip as he attempted to climb the rest of the way up. His head was getting too wozy, and he had to swallow multiple coughs as he made it to the second floor. There wasn't any time to focus on his leg; not that it was his biggest concern at the moment anyways.

The door to the room he assumed the scream was from was on fire. Henry swore that the soles of his boots started to melt when he kicked it in, embers clouding his vision as it collapsed. At this point the pain in his leg and the smoke was enough to bring tears in his eyes, only from them to be burned away from the heat as he whipped his head around desperately for a sign, any sign.

On the bed was a small lump, and Henry rushed over as soon as he spotted it, praying that it was the child. With shaking hands he shook it, relief washing over him when a head of soft, curly hair moved to his position. The child looked up with him with their eyes half closed, and they gave a loud, wheezing cough. Henry swallowed harshly, grabbing a nearby blanket - one not covered by ash or currently on fire and tucked them into it - cradling them to his chest.

"You'll be ok," he tried to assure, hoping they couldn't hear his voice crack. The child coughed weakly in his arms.

Henry smiled softly at them before placing the blanket over the child's face, loosely enough so they could still breathe but still a cover to attempt to protect them from the flames. With a deep breath and roll of his shoulders he took off towards the stairs, gasping in as much stale air as he could while his chest heaved with the need to cough, heading towards the window he entered from.

The child was still coughing slightly when Henry jumped out the window, glass shattering from where his foot hit some of the remains, landing harshly on his shoulder as he tried to roll. The cool air was an instant relief, and after sitting in the grass, his body still aching and burning while he gulped down clean air like he was drowning, he finally looked down to the bundle in his arms.

"Hey, you're ok now-" he rasped as he moved the blanket from the child's face.

It was alright. They had made it-

His breath caught in his throat, grip tightening around the child as he looked in horror.

No...I was- they were fine- too late?

Henry wondered distantly if the child in his arms had dreamed of being a hero one day.

They would never get that chance.

He felt....numb. Looking down he could barely feel anything. It was like his body wasn't his own and he was watching from a distorted camera.

Then he heard the screams.

It was the wails of someone who had lost the brightest thing in their lives.

"My baby!" A woman cried, the man beside her covering his mouth with wide, horrified eyes.

They were the screams of parents, and it was exactly what shook Henry out of his shock.

He stood up on shaky legs, stumbling as he tried to meet them halfway. He tried to blink away the burning in his eyes as he handed them their child.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," he gasped, but it only made them cry harder.

"No, no," the father kept repeating, hugging the child to his chest as the mother clung desperately to his shirt. "No, no, please."

It wasn't the fire itself, the emergency responders told him afterwards. Smoke inhalation. He had done the best that he could do.

His best wasn't good enough.

Henry wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and cover his ears, but he managed to limp away, his leg throbbing as he let his feet carry him on auto pilot. Back home, where his husband and kids were waiting for him.

The trek back was hazy, barely a memory in his mind as he popped a gum into his mouth and changed back into his clean clothes as he quietly slipped through the door. He heard footsteps from the kitchen - Zack's, coming closer - and the exhaustion slammed into him like a truck at the same time his breathing picked up. He just wanted to wrap his arms around his family, take a shower, and maybe sleep for a week.

But every time he closed his eyes he could see the blood covering his gloves, felt the heat lick at his face, could still hear the poor child's scream-

Henry couldn't hold back the sob that finally escaped his throat, tangling his trembling fingers into his hair as he cried.

"Henry?"

Even after all these years, he couldn't save everyone. After all these years, it still never got any easier.

"Hen?"

What if that child had been Izzy? Or Felix? What if one day Henry couldn't protect them? What if Henry woke up one day and found Zack-

He scrubbed his face with his shaky hands, squeezing his eyes shut as he desperately wished for this nightmare to end. 

"Hey- Henry, hey, look at me." Zack was in front of him, reaching out towards him cautiously.

Henry shook his head, tears trickling down his cheeks, "I can't- Zack, I can't."

Zack pursued his lips together, an uneasy look flashing across his face. A wave of guilt washed over him, and he stuttered out broken apologies between his gasps for air.

"It's ok, Hen, you're ok," Zack tried to sooth, but his skin felt like it was burned when he tried to touch his arm. Henry jerked back, shaking his head and trying to explain why but no words came out and Zack looked so scared and hurt because of him, and the child was still screaming screaming screaming-

"Dad?" Izzy's voice called behind him. Henry inhaled sharply, wiping his face and turning to see both Izzy and Felix in their pajamas at the bottom of the stairs. He swallowed roughly as he made his way over to her, watching as her reaction shifted from confusion to alarm. Felix stood behind her, eyes flickering between him and Zack.

He kneeled in front of them, wincing as his knees protested painfully. Felix made a small noise, and Henry gently pulled them into a hug. Two pairs of arms immediately returned it, and Henry squeezed them tightly to his chest, wanting nothing more than to be able to keep them there forever.

They pulled back slightly after a moment, but Henry kept his arms around them for a little while longer, opening his mouth to say something only to close it again. There were too many words he wanted to say but each one died on his lips before they could even be born.

"Dad?" Izzy tried again, voice shaky. It finally snapped something in him, and he gave her the best smile he could muster, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'd do anything for you two. I'll always try my best to protect you two, you know that, right?"

They both nodded. Felix's eyes were wide with unshed tears, and Izzy was worrying her lip between her front teeth. Henry hated that he caused this, but the child was still there, in his mind, and their parents' cries still ringing through his ears, and he was choking back tears as he pressed a kiss to each of the foreheads. He convinced himself to stand up, letting go of his kids as he turned and headed towards the door.

"Hen?"

Zack's voice rang out, and Henry paused, the invisible hand around his throat getting tighter.

"Come back to me," Zack whispered to him, barely audible from across the room, and Henry turned to give him a small smile.

"Always."

Then he was gone, with nothing but the sweater he was wearing earlier and an echo of the child's screams following his footsteps like a lost puppy.

~~~

It was three in the morning when he finally caved from roaming the streets to booking a hotel room for the night.

His phone hadn't stopped buzzing in his pocket all night until it finally died and remained silent. He would've charged it, but he didn't think of bringing a charger, and he didn't want to trek back out to buy one.

Luckily, there was an old wired phone on the dresser next to the bed. Henry took off his shoes and buried himself under the bed covers, flailing around for the phone without looking.

He didn't know what Charlotte and Jasper were up to, so he called the next person that came to his mind. It rang once, twice, then finally there was a clicking noise halfway through the third.

"Hello?" Came Ray's groggy voice, and Henry let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Ray." He whispered, voice raw. "Ray, I'm sorry, I just…"

Ray sighed as a shuffling noise echoed in the background. "Rough night?"

"Yeah."

Ray hummed, "I'll leave you on the phone. Get some sleep, I'll be here if you need me."

"Thanks," he mumbled, listening to the hum on the other side. It was somewhat comforting to listen to the various noises from Ray's side of the phone as he closed his eyes, allowing it to drown out everything else. It wasn't the first time a sudden 3am call to Ray had been made on a rough night, but it had been a while.

It was soothing in a way he couldn't explain, having someone who understood on a deeper level what he was going through. The lack of warmth next to him was unusual, but Henry was still able to slowly drift into a light slumber.

And it was the dial tone that he woke up to, the early rays of light peeking through the blinds. Henry groaned, the empty spot next to him snapping him back to reality far too quickly for his liking. It left his stomach tied in vicious knots.

Hanging the phone back up, fairly sure that Ray had probably sent him a text he would be unable to see at the moment, Henry sat up in the bed, allowing the rough covers to slide off his body as he swung his legs over the side of the bed.

He didn’t have much of a plan. It was Friday, so it was likely Izzy and Felix would already be at school, unless Zack didn’t send them today. And he really wanted to go home, but it still felt too overwhelming for now.

Breakfast was off the table, too. He didn't think he'd be able to hold anything down at the moment.

So he kind of just...stopped. Only got out of bed when he needed to use the bathroom and had the TV running as background noise as he tried to process what happened. Around noon he made a quick stop to the convenience store next to the hotel to pick up a charger and sandwich.

He was right. Ray had texted him this morning, saying he had to go. Charlotte and Jasper had texted their group chat earlier last night, Zack had also texted him, saying to come home when he was ready, and he had at least two dozen messages from Piper. The thought made him chuckle slightly. It really was hard to tell who was the oldest between them sometimes, even now. He sent quick texts to let them know he was ok before turning his phone off, rubbing his hands down his face as he sighed, the sandwich on the bedside dresser untouched.

He knew what he was doing wasn't healthy. Not in the slightest. He was running, trying to avoid what had happened even when the memory of last night still was burned into his head. He knew what had happened, but he knew that in order to fully process and come to terms with it he needed to talk about it.

Knowing this, Henry waited until the thought of going home didn't make his stomach twist, later into the evening, then quickly checked out of his room and started heading back. The memories of the night before still put too much weight on his shoulders, but it lessened enough for him to be calm enough to talk about it.

The child still followed him home, but it was quite over the loudest thought in his head at the moment - his family.

~~~

When Henry finally made it to their house, the kitchen light was the only one on. He shuffled around a bit in the driveway, resolving that the sooner he got this over with, the better. He needed to apologize for running out and scaring the three of them like that, and there was no way he could do that if he didn't get inside. Clearing his throat he slipped through the door as quietly as possible, kicking his shoes off as he listened for any changes or movement. Hearing none he continued in, stopping before he entered the kitchen. Zack was looking out the window from across the room, his back towards him.

Henry cracked a slight smile. Even when he couldn't see his face he knew he was the prettiest person he'd ever seen.

"Hey." He greeted quietly, wincing at how rough his voice still sounded.

Zack jumped, spinning around with a relieved smile on his face, "Hey yourself."

Henry ducked his head slightly, awkwardly standing in the doorway. Zack was watching him carefully, but when he opened his arms Henry wasted no time in bounding over, the warmth from the embrace a warm relief from the cold haunting of the last day.

"You wanna talk about it?"

"Not really. Just...A really bad night. I'm sorry."

Zack hummed, moving from his back to comb his hands through Henry's messy hair. "Don't be. I saw some of what happened. On the news."

"...Oh."

"Yeah. I'm sorry you…" Zack cut himself off, shaking his head with a sigh. Henry's heart tightened.

"It's ok."

"It's not. What you have to deal with, what you see…"

"I manage."

"Do you?"

Henry could only shrug, burying his face in Zack's shoulder. He breathed in deeply, forcing his shoulders to relax as Zack's grip on him tightened.

"Izzy and Felix are at Piper's." Zack whispered. "She offered to watch them for the night."

"Does she know?"

"Yeah. She wanted to know where you were at, so I had to tell her."

"Guess that explains why my phone was blowing up last night," he chuckled quietly, bringing his hands up to Zack's shoulders.

"It's only because she worries."

"I know."

They both lulled into a comfortable silence. He didn't know who started it, but Henry realized that at some point they had both started swaying to the soft music that came from the old, beaten radio on the counter.

"I'm glad you're ok," Zack breathed, pressing a small kiss to his nose. Henry sighed as he knocked their foreheads together. "I'm glad you came back."

He wasn't fully ok yet. But he would be.

"I promised I'd come back to you. Always."

[shreddedleopard]

I remember looking for good Rivetra fics and stumbling upon yours by chance and now I can't imagine anyone else paired with Levi but Historia! Rivetra who?! It's a bummer there are only a handful of RivaHisu fics out there and personally for me, it's such a pet peeve when the author goes rogue and distorts everything we know and love about our favourite captain. OOC Levi is no fun to read. But your story could pass for chapters from the manga. It feels canon in every sense of the word and at no point did I think "Levi would never say that". Can't wait to read more from you and that canon-verse story about a young Historia and Levi resisting their feelings sounds like everything I've ever wanted!!!!! I'd be first in line if you were ever to post it.

Lastly, I'm someone who read AQR on Fanfiction. Will you still be posting there?

Hey Prachidas!

Oh man, your words have made me grin so hard - I am not worthy! You’re way too kind 🥰 Thank you!

I have to say, I’m a sucker for Rivetra fics too - check out SlingzArrowz stuff if you haven’t already! 😉

I’ll definitely be carrying on writing content for this ship - I love lots of other Levi ships too, like Rivetra and Levihan, but I always find myself coming back to our Captain and Queen with fondness.

I think the hardest thing about writing Rivahisu and trying to keep Levi in character as much as possible, is figuring out when to have him hold back and when you can have him yield a little ... my personal head canon, which comes from the way Historia challenges him in the manga, is that he finds her both infuriating and endearing ... or perhaps infuriating because she’s so endearing haha. She’s a young, beautiful and kind girl who takes up her role as Queen finally knowing her own mind and being determined to make her own choices in life, and with her new-found power over him in her elevated role, he’s not always sure how to handle that change in her from the submissive, agreeable girl he first met. She trips him up, but in the best ways. I love that reversal of power between them - it’s a refreshing scenario for Levi; he’s so used to the younger soldiers being intimidated by him and falling into line without much resistance. From his smile when Historia punched him back in the day, I think he sort of enjoys the challenge she presents. I just want to see more of that dynamic in the manga - not necessarily romantically, but even just as close allies.

Sorry, I got carried away and that all only semi-relates to your ask! 😂 I do this!

I will absolutely still be updating on fanfiction.net - that's always been my go-to. The story isn't completely updated on AO3 and Wattpad, although I’m getting there! But even when they are, newest chapters go on fan fiction.net first 😁

Thank you so much for your ask, and again for your lovely comments! I’m so grateful you took the time to send them.

SR x

[bottlesandcats]

Pardon My 15x20 Rant

I woke up this morning with Thoughts, so time for a ranty post. Be prepared this is going to read more like word vomit than anything, but I just wanted to get my thoughts down on paper. No one may even read this bc I don’t have a lot of followers but it feels good to just get this off my chest and out into the Universe. Warning, there is a gratuitous use of caps.

So....I see so many fans on Twitter saying how beautiful and perfect that ending was and, I have to say, I’m truly bewildered by that.

 Even if you aren’t a Destiel fan, I’m not sure how you could’ve found that ending to be remotely satisfying. See list of non Destiel-related reasons below (bc I’m trying to see this from the perspective of someone who isn’t in that part of the fandom):

1. The MOW was crap; wtf was with the Halloween masks? When have we ever seen that with vamps? The dumbest shit I’ve seen. 

They trotted out some extra from season 1 like it’s supposed to be some fun little Easter egg. Why are we supposed to give a shit about her? I didn’t even remember her with the flashback. Who are you, again? NM, I DON’T CARE. It also honestly made no sense to feature a MOW episode after everything that just happened, it wasn’t necessary. It was clearly just a means to an end to get Dean killed.

2. They shoved some random family, for Sam, into the last ten minutes of the episode. Sam’s kid is named Dean? OF COURSE HE IS. And that whole father-son montage was so clunky and awkward, I would’ve been more convinced if you told me Sam actually just wandered into some anonymous woman’s backyard and started playing ball with her kid. 

We’ve seen how emotionally invested Sam gets in his relationships and we’ve had such beautiful moments: Sam/Jess, Sam/Madison, (even Sam/Ruby), and of course Sam/Eileen. And now we are supposed to care about Anonymous Brunette Woman #4? GTFO. I’ve seen some people saying they couldn’t get Shoshanna bc of COVID, but give us something to indicate it was Eileen. Have Sam sign something to her from across the yard; IT’S THAT SIMPLE. But no, not one single mention of her in either 19 or 20, after Sam nearly broke when he lost her in 18.

 I couldn’t even feel happy for him bc I had 0 emotional investment in this life of his. And it was all just rushed through so we could get to the “good part” where Sam dies and is reunited with Dean in Heaven. 

Also small note, what happened to Dean’s dog???

3. The wardrobe department really needs to reconsider some of their life choices. I’ve seen tufts of cat hair in the corners of my house that would’ve made a better wig than that rag they threw on Jared’s head. It was so ridiculous, I started thinking this was going to wind up being some big gag like The Mystery Spot” and The Trickster was going to pop out. 

And why did Jim Beaver’s beard look like they spray-painted cotton balls brown and glued them to his face? It was honestly distracting. 

4. After 15 years, and FINALLY achieving freedom and happiness, Dean gets taken down by a rebar and a Vamp-mime. The only way I could justify this to myself was that, now that they are no longer God’s puppets he’s not bending the rules for them and they don’t have that death-defying luck on their side now. But even that is weak. After all his fighting, sacrificing, and wanting nothing more than to chill on a beach with Sam and Cas, this is what he gets. This was a show about defying destiny, THAT WAS THE WHOLE PLOT OF S15.

 Dean always said he figured it was his destiny to die bloody, and that’s exactly why he shouldn’t have gone out this way. STORY ARC, WHAT’S THAT? Cas told Dean, when he first met him, that good things do happen. So basically, the only way Dean could get his happiness was to die? What a heart-warming message. 

5. Dean’s lack of emotion over the loss of Cas was the most OOC I think I’ve ever seen from him. Dean DOES NOT accept the deaths of those he loves in any way. He does not cope, he does not move on, he does not happily eat a bunch of pie. We’ve seen how Dean has handled Cas’s death in the past. It’s...not good, and it only became more unhealthy as the show progressed, with the last time (before 18) having Dean literally killing himself. Even in 15x19, we still got that desperate heartache from him with Dean demanding that Chuck bring Cas back. We also saw him sleeping amongst a pile of empty liquor bottles, which is very on-character for him. But in 15x20, he’s the one telling Sam they need to move on and keep living (oops) over a giant tray of pie slices at a county fair. Even Sam feels off. One minute he’s all “I’m sad about Cas and Jack” and the next he’s putting a pie in Dean’s face and is like “I feel better now!” You’ve got a direct in with God!Jack now, and we know from 15x19 that God can pull beings out of The Empty bc he did it with Lucifer! THAT WAS YOUR IN, YOU IDIOTS. You ask Chuck to bring back Cas, but not the one to whom he was a father to????????? 

6. Even if you weren’t a Destiel shipper, you should still be disappointed in the noticeable absence of Castiel, especially since he was left with such a cliffhanger of character development and was mentioned multiple times in episodes 19 and 20. He was a pivotal part of the show for 11 years. Even if you take out the Destiel stuff, the boys have called him their brother numerous times. Dean’s call him his best friend. Wouldn’t his ideal Heaven have his best friend in it?

7. I’m not going to rail on the scene between the brothers while Dean is dying. I didn’t really get Wincest vibes from it, though I never put much stock into that side of the fandom anyway. My one issue is this was the “love confession” moment they gave us. Dean dying in a barn and telling Sam he loves his baby brother. *SNORE*

8. The big reunion moment we were hoping for? They wasted it on Dean’s car. A FUCKING CAR. Yes, I get the Impala is important to the story, but come the fuck on. NO CHICK FLICK MOMENTS. MUCH BRO. 

All-in-all the whole ending felt like 1 step forward, and 15 years back. After all the character development and story arcs, it’s like they just threw it all out the window. Nothing changed. Everyone was back to where they started: Cas working for God, Dean being a good soldier and dying bloody doing the only thing he knows how to do, Sam being left to pick up the pieces with some distorted version of an apple pie life where he was basically just living to die so he could be with Dean again. I felt like the lesson was that the only way you get what you want is to die. It was gross. It was a disservice to the actors, the characters, and the fans. I can’t begin to even see this as fan-service bc I’d love to know who the TPTB thought they were serving with this garbage. And honestly, I don’t think they knew either. I feel like they were so worried about pissing off all the different subsets of the fandom that they went as safe as they could. *slow claps* Way to go, guys, really groundbreaking stuff.

At the end of the day though, it’s my fault for being disappointed. I shouldn’t have expected so much of a show that had mostly cis white men working behind the scenes. A show that’s killed almost every female character who stepped up to the plate (also, POC anyone? Nahhh). A show that took their one real LGBTQ character (also female), killed her and left her body in a bathtub (FRIDGING IS FUN) for absolutely no good reason. A show that, at the end of the day, is just a show about a couple bros who kill monsters, on the CW, and the CW is hardly the go-to place for real boundary-pushing content. A show that has managed to drop the ball at almost every opportunity though we, as a fandom, have continued to lower the bar for them.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 100 times? 

So with all that being said...

Peace out bitches.

[dylan-o-yumm]

Dante request.. uh, you did some nero in heat stuff awhile ago... what would dante be like... if you’d like to answer

Warning! This is my first Dante request and also my first Dante smut, so I apologise if he is a bit OOC or something. (Is he in heat, or is he just wicked horny? We will never know…) 

“Dante, calm down! We’re not exactly alone right now” You hiss quietly, elbowing the kin of Sparda in the ribs as an attempt to get him away from you while you eye everyone around you suspiciously. Trish, Lady, Nero and Vergil are all in the room with you, doing their own things as you try to push Dante off of you. However, you can’t seem to stop him from curling his arms around your waist from behind, enveloping your smaller frame with his biceps while he shamelessly grinds his manhood into the curve of your backside. 

You know it isn’t the best of times for Dante right now, since he’s coming up on his mating season, but you’d think he’d be able to control himself a little more, especially when there are other people present. You couldn’t lie though, feeling his impressive length rub against your ass was getting you a little riled up, filling your mind with all the dirty things you want him to do to you. You hated to admit it, but you wished everyone would just leave so you could hurry up and get exactly what Dante wanted from you. And what you so kindly wanted to give to him. 

“C’mon, babe. Let’s sneak away for a bit.” Dante leans down to whisper seductively in your ear, a slight rumble sounding deep in his chest when he speaks. It sends shivers down your spine and makes goosebumps rise along your arms. He continues to roll his hips against yours, seeming uncaring of the other people in the room while his lips capture the lobe of your ear. He sucks before slowly sinking his teeth in, applying more and more pressure by the second. 

You’re not exactly worried about the others looking over and seeing a desperately horny Dante, since he was always all over you anyway, no stranger to PDA. However, you are a little worried that with his urges getting more and more uncontrollable, he’d end up tearing both your clothes off and taking you right there in front of everyone. Sure, it would get everyone to leave right away, but you didn’t exactly want your friends, especially Vergil, to see you naked and a moaning mess for the pizza lover. 

“You smell so good, I just wanna eat you up” He growls with slight distortion in his tone, meaning his devilish side was beginning to break through. You bite your lip to keep from making any inappropriate noises, his own scent and touch doing things to you, making you lose your mind a little. It doesn’t look like your friends will be leaving any time soon, so perhaps sneaking away was the best option. 

“We can go to my place, if you can hold off for a little while longer?” 

“Yeah. Yep, let’s do that. Get in the car, now” Dante peels himself off of you quickly, settling for grabbing your hand forcefully and pulling you towards the door. He doesn’t say anything to anyone, probably to keep from showing the bulge in his pants as he pushes the front door open and walks out. You yank his hand a little so you can stop and say goodbye to everyone, using the excuse that you’re exhausted and Dante is just taking you home. 

You’re pretty sure all of them know exactly whats going on, but you’re thankful no one brings it up. 

“I’m driving. I don’t trust you not to crash when you’re like this” You declare as you pinch the keys out of his hand that he had just pulled from his pocket, slipping into the drivers seat quickly so Dante can’t argue. You sigh as you sit down and close the door beside you, waiting until Dante slips in the passenger side with a pout on his face.

He spreads his legs and places one hand over his bulge while the other hand reaches for your thigh. You glance at him with raised eyebrows and he smiles a shit eating grin, pinching your inner thigh before trailing his hand upwards a little. You quickly slap your hand over his, stopping him from going any higher as you stare him right in his lust filled eyes. 

“Keep your hands to yourself until we get to my place, or you’ll be using nothing but your hand to get yourself off for the extent of your mating season” You smile sweetly, watching as Dante’s grin dies down back into a pout. 

“Damn, babe. Who knew you could be so evil.” 

~*~

Dante managed to keep his hands to himself but you did feel a little bad since his leg wouldn’t stop bouncing and he kept adjusting his pants the entire trip to your place. You knew his “heat” or “mating season” was pretty tough on him some times and he couldn’t always quite control it, especially around you, but you were thankful he wasn’t the type to get possessive and aggressive when you were around other people though. 

“C’mon, you sexy devil. Get inside then we can mess around” You laugh as his hands slip around to grab your breasts while you fumble with the keys to open your front door. He was pressed up against your backside once again, lips sucking and kissing your neck both softly and roughly. He liked to lead a trail of soft kisses up the side of your neck then come back down with rough sucks that were sure to have your skin nice and purple by tomorrow. 

By the time you got the door open, Dante didn’t waste any time. He practically pushed you inside while he shrugged off his coat and dumped it on the floor, too occupied in grabbing you and pulling you in for a hot kiss. His stubble burned along your cheek but you loved it, pressing yourself against him even more to the point where your lips were throbbing against his, becoming swollen quickly from the intensity of the kiss. 

His large hands came around to squeeze and kneed your ass while he led you backwards, causing you to stumble into a wall. He pinned you easily, pressing his chest against yours while one hand continued to firmly grip your ass and the other snuck around to the front. His fingers toyed with the band of your pants for a few seconds before he finally slipped the item of clothing down your legs effortlessly. 

“Damn, you smell delicious. Do you have any idea how hard it was to keep my hands off of you in the car?” Dante all but purred in your ear as his hand snapped your the band of your panties against your hip, causing you to bite your lip from the slight sting it caused. 

“Well, sorry I didn’t want to crash and die” You breathed heavily, trying to sound bratty and sassy but your voice betrayed you. 

“What’s done is done, I’m just glad I get to finally do this…” Dante trailed off as his hand raised in front of your face. You watched as his digits became darker and longer, his nails growing into sharp points as the palm of his hand looked rough and armoured. It was odd seeing just his hand change while the rest of him was still human, but it didn’t stop you from sucking in a sharp breath as you felt one long claw slide down the side of your neck. 

He applied more pressure as he slid it further down, clipping the collar of your shirt and tearing the fabric as he went down, between the valley of your breasts, down your stomach and over your navel. Your shirt split directly through the middle, falling open to reveal your bra and the now red line his claw left behind on your skin. 

“And this…” he added before leaning forward to capture your lips with his own. You shrugged your now ruined shirt off and let it fall to the floor as Dante’s tongue invaded your mouth, sliding over your teeth and prodding at your tongue. Both his hands came to your chest, squeezing and massaging your breasts while he rutted against your thigh. It was now that you realised both his hand was fleshy and human again. 

“Mmm… Dante…” You moaned against his mouth, fisting his shirt in your hands and arching your chest into his touch. He growled like a wild animal as he cupped your bra in his hands and ripped it completely off your body, tossing the item behind him like it was nothing. You wanted to pout since you loved that bra and now it was ruined, but his fingers quickly coming to pinch and roll your nipples into hard buds made you completely forget about it. 

You make a move to grab his shirt, wanting to tear it off him but one of his hands sneak down your body and into your panties, causing you to shudder and forget what you were wanting to do. He takes a moment to look down your form, biting his lip with a cocky smirk on his face while he watches your chest heave and your hips press into his palm. You want to smack that look off of his face but his middle and index fingers find your clit, applying pressure and making your knees grow weak as you lose all the ability to think properly. 

“I love when you get like this. You can hardly speak, can’t you?” Dante chuckles, his voice slightly distorted. His fingers circle your bundle of nerves a few times, in time with the massaging and pinching of his other hand on your breast, before he slips his digits down further, collecting your wetness and smearing it all over your heat. 

“F-fuck off, Dante” You whimper, closing your eyes briefly to regain some composure. You hate and love how effortlessly Dante turns your brain to mush whenever he’s like this with you. 

“But we’re just getting to the good part, babygirl” The devil hunter grins as he pushes his two fingers into your soaking, wet heat, burying them as far as he can before curling them just right. You moan at both the feeling of his expert hands and the nickname he gave you, curling your toes and gripping Dante’s shirt so tight your knuckles almost turn white. 

You slide a hand down his clothed chest, feeling every curve and dip of his muscles and defined abs, but you didn’t stop there. You keep going down until your palm brushes against the large bulge of his pants, hearing him sigh as he closes his eyes. His fingers still inside you as you stroke his clothed erection, usually he wasn’t so sensitive but maybe since his heat was coming up, he wasn’t able to control himself.  

You watch his face, the way his eyes shut for a moment, only to open back up with a new look of hunger, dominance and power. His lips are parted and hot breaths fan over your face as he pants loudly, getting lost in his demonic urges. Suddenly his fingers start moving inside you again, but this time faster and harder. His palm presses against your clit while his fingers pump in and out of you at a brutal pace. 

“D-Dante!” You squeal as your legs clamp around his hand, feeling your orgasm quickly approaching as his fingers brush your g-spot over and over again. He sounds like he’s growling as he leans forward to suck on the flesh of your neck, trailing down to your breasts to bite, lick and suck your sensitive nipples. 

“That’s enough foreplay, I can’t wait any longer. Sorry, babe” Dante huffed against your chest. You knew that that was his way of warning you he was about to stop what he was doing, but it didn’t stop you from whining and pouting when he pulled his hand out of your panties. So close to your release, yet so far. 

With hooded eyes, you watch as Dante pulls his slick covered hand up to his face, licking his lips as he stares at your fluids dripping down his fingers. You breathe heavily, slowly calming down and stepping away from the edge of your orgasm as your walls throb and clench, desperately wanting to pulse around something thicker than his fingers. 

Dante’s crystal blue eyes meet yours, a devilish smile appearing on his face as he brings his hand closer and closer to his mouth. You unknowingly hold your breath as you watch him suck his wet fingers into his mouth, wrapping his lips around his digits and slurping on them. You practically see his eyes darken, his pupils expanding at the taste of you on his tongue.  

“Dessert before dinner” He winks as he takes his fingers out of his mouth and grabs your jaw with his now spit covered fingers. He pinches your cheeks a little, causing you to open your mouth slightly before he leans in. He doesn’t kiss you, instead he sticks his tongue out and licks your open mouth, as if wanting you to taste yourself on him. And you definitely can. He slips his tongue inside your mouth for a brief second, making sure you really get a taste, while also making you whine that he isn’t properly kissing you. It’s like he likes to make you crave every little thing. 

You thought you were going to fall asleep with how heavy your eyelids felt, but Dante likes to keep you on your toes. Or, off your toes for that matter. You have no time to respond as he kicks your legs out from under you, catching you effortlessly and lowing himself to the floor with you. Your back presses against the cold floor and you have to chuckle at the fact that you’re only a foot away from the front door, clearly unable to keep your hands off of each other long enough to get to the bedroom. 

Dante pushes himself up onto his knees after giving you a surprisingly sweet kiss, giving you what you wanted but only for a brief moment, which makes you crave his sweet kisses even more. You can’t help but giggle as you watch him literally tear his shirt off of his torso which makes him poke his tongue out at you as you snort. He throws the now shredded shirt god knows where before looking down at you as he rubs his hands up and down your thighs. 

“Hey I tore yours, it’s only fair I tear mine too” He shrugs with a grin as he comes back down to lie on top of you. Your hands instinctively go straight into his hair, tangling your fingers in the silver strands. “Don’t hurt me, but I’m going to ruin your cute little panties too” Dante grins as his hands grip either side of your panties and rip until the fabric falls of your body. 

“Hey! Y’know you could just slide them down my legs like a normal person” You huff, tugging on his hair as a means to hurt him, but he just groans as his eyes roll back, clearly loving the feeling of you tug his hair. You shake your head and chuckle, deciding to give in and tug some more just to see him have that same reaction again. 

“One, I’m not a normal person. Two, whats the fun in that?” Dante asks with a dopey smile. 

“Oh, shut up and fuck me, lover boy” You tease, pulling him closer to you. 

“Yes, ma’am” Dante smirks, rolling over to lie beside you on his back so he can take his pants off. You watch as he wriggles out of them and tosses them over to where his shirt apparently landed, then rolls back on top of you, grabbing your thighs and propping them up on his hips. You wrap your legs around his waist and cross your feet, digging your heels into his butt to hurry him up, feeling needy beyond repair at the moment. 

Dante grabs his hard member with one hand and gives it a few quick strokes before lining up at your entrance, teasing your hole with the tip. You can feel his precum smear on your heat, mixing with your slick and causing you to bite your lip in anticipation. 

He tries to be gentle, you can tell, but the urges must be too much for him to be able to control himself as he abruptly thrusts fast and hard into you, bottoming out immediately. You cry out and hiss in pain, but that pain quickly turns into pleasure as Dante starts rubbing your clit with two fingers, soothing the pain away so he can slowly move his hips without hurting you again. You figure he can’t control himself enough, along with his demonic side, to be still inside you while he waits for you to adjust to his size, usually you’d be mad but this is the only time, what with his mating season and all, that you’ll let it slide.  

He hisses and lets out a deep breath, clearly struggling to be gentle at the moment. He’s so thick and long, that even if he went slow with you, there was sure to be a little bit of pain no matter what. Your nails scratch down his back as he begins rolling his hips, angling his hips at just the right angle to hit your sweet spot over and over again. It definitely helps with soothing and replacing the pain with pleasure. 

“Oh, god. Don’t stop…” You moan into Dante’s ear, holding him close as he snaps his hips faster and faster. Your walls clench around him, wanting to pull him deeper inside you, trying to swallow him while you roll your hips up to try and meet his thrusts. The sound of skin slapping against skin echoes throughout the house along with the sound of your moans and Dante’s deep growls and huffs. He’s like a dragon, with his hot breath fanning over your neck and face as he pants. 

Dante rubs circles on your clit, causing your legs to shake as he times his fingers with his thrusts. You look down and see the bulge of his cock protruding trough your stomach, both disturbing you and turning you on even more. It felt amazing, having him so deep inside of you that you could see the head of his cock pressing against your insides from the outside. 

“I’m almost there, babygirl. Think you can hold on a little longer?” Dante growls in your ear, his voice completely distorted now. This wasn’t your Dante talking, it was his inner demon. You were honestly shocked he hadn’t devil triggered by now, since every other mating season you had been with him for, had resulted in him fucking you while in his demonic form. Not that you minded all too much, he could easily pleasure you in either form.

“I’m almost… I’m close too” You pant, holding him and digging your nails into his back. His hands hold your hips, keeping you from wriggling around too much as he pulls all the way out, only to slam back in. He repeats this a few more times until you’re screaming his name over and over in time with the snap of his hips. 

Suddenly, he’s pulling you up with him and rolling you over onto your hands and knees as he kneels behind you, cock having never left you as he moves you around. Your face presses into the cold ground while your hips are held up in the air by Dante’s large hands. The new angle causes him to press impossibly deep inside you, making your cheek sting from scraping against the floor from his harsh thrusts pushing you, but you don’t have the ability to care at the moment. 

A hand comes up to your face, pressing against your head and pushing you into the floor to keep you still. You look behind you as best you can without moving your face, watching Dante struggle not to transform while he’s inside of you. You can see the fire in his eyes, the usual cold blue now a hot and terrifying red, but it doesn’t scare you in the slightest. 

You’re sure you’re scratching the floor to the point were you’re making marks but again… you can’t find it in you to care at the moment. You’re also sure your face is covered in sweat and dusted in a deep pink shade. You can feel Dante’s hands transforming from human to rough, scaled demonic armour, pressing against the side of your face, only to turn back into human. Over and over, like he’s battling himself. 

You have to admire how much control he’s managing to keep this time around. Last time Dante was going through his mating season, he triggered almost immediately. 

“Cum for me, babe” Dante grunts, leaning down to press his chest flat against your back so that he can sink his teeth into the flesh of your shoulder. The pain sends you over the edge, causing you to cry out a loud moan as your legs shake from your intense orgasm. Your walls spasm around him, locking him inside you until you grow weak and can’t tense your muscles any longer. 

Dante repeats the same actions from earlier, pulling all the way out to slam back in violently, causing you to shudder and shake from overstimulation. You keep a tight grip on his forearm, curling your arms around to grip the arm pinning your face down. You’d be certain you were making him bleed from digging your nails into his skin if it weren’t for his superhuman healing ability. 

He lasts about an extra minute before his hips stutter and he stills inside you, throbbing angrily as he shoots white hot ropes of his seed deep inside you, coating your inner walls. You watch as he transforms completely now, his whole body turning into his demon form. Though you expected it at some point, you can’t help but cry out from the added length and girth from his cock as he transforms while he’s still inside of your sensitive heat. 

His large wings knock into the wall and scratch the floor. Theres an added heat radiating off of his body as his once soft skin now feels hard and armoured. You take a look at what his wings are doing, noticing one twitching oddly from the corner of your eye, only to find it half embedded into the wall. He looks up also, sighing as he shakes his wing to try and free himself. 

“Shit. Sorry, I’ll fix that.” You can’t help but laugh at the big scary demon hovering you while panicking over a broken wall. You tap his arm, not trusting your voice to tell him to move at the moment since all your shouts and crying out had made your throat sore. He takes the hint, peeling his large hand off the side of your face and slowly pulling out of you, which makes you whimper from both the loss of contact and the feeling of his large member sliding against your sensitive walls. 

You roll over onto your back again, staring up at the big, fiery demon before you with a dopey smile. You can’t tell his expression but the way he’s breathing makes you wonder if he’s just tired or if he’s ready for more, but either way your human body needs a little bit of rest. Your hand reaches out to brush along his sharp jaw, feeling his heat seep into your palm and warm your entire body, even more than you already were from your previous activities. 

You look down your body to see a whole bunch of little red and purple marks that he had left behind from either his hands or mouth, surprised you didn’t notice him marking you earlier. Looking back up at him, you pull him forward, having to push yourself up a little bit to meet him half way as he bows his head for you. Your lips make contact with his forehead and the immediate reaction you hear from him is a deep purr from his chest. 

“I hope you’re ready for round two. My demon isn’t exactly fully satisfied.” 

(This was meant to be Dante in heat but I feel like it’s just a regular Dante smut???)

[eryiss]

Request: The Training Retreat

Summary: With the Grand Magic Games fast approaching, Freed suggested that he, Laxus, Lucy and Natsu train together for a week. In the isolation of a forest, the two couples get closer and unlikely friendships are made as their magic improves. [Fraxus and Nalu Oneshot]

This was based of a request by tumblr user @allnalufraxus, who asked for something with both Fraxus and Nalu. This took a lot longer than it should have, but I'm quite happy with the result. This is also the first time I've properly written Lucy and Natsu, so please forgive any OOC behaviour.

You can read this on FanFiction, Archive of our Own, or under the cut. Hope you enjoy it ^.^

The Training Retreat

If you were to ask Laxus what he expected his week to entail, it wouldn't be this.

He found himself standing at the kitchen of an old cabin in the middle of a forest, chopping carrots beside Lucy Heartfilia of all people. The two weren't exactly the most friendly of members in Fairy Tail with one another and their interactions had mainly been born more of politeness and obligation rather than out of actual fondness to each other. And yet there they were, cooking side by side in relative comfort.

They both looked out at the large window, to a small clearing in the forest. Bost Freed and Natsu were outside, engaged in a fight that seemed heated and vicious. The view was slightly distorted by Freed's runes, but it was clear that they were both giving it their all.

Laxus felt a small swell of pride run through him.

The entire thing had been Freed's idea. The Grand Magic Games were coming up fast, and there had been a rumour that all four of them would be participating. Training was an obvious necessity, and Freed had been the one to propose that the four of them have a short retreat where they would train intensively with one another. He had justified it by saying that being less familiar with each other's fighting style would help them deal with unforeseen foes, as well as bringing them closer which would help them if they were placed on a team together.

Freed had approached Natsu before he had Laxus, and the Fire mage had jumped at the chance. Almost everything had been organised before either Laxus or Lucy knew about it, no doubt so that neither could stop their plans with any objections they may have.

"I had no idea you could cook," Lucy commented as she took a pot of boiling water off the heat.

"Most people don't," Laxus shrugged. "I learned when I was travelling, needed something to do and eating out wasn't an option since I had no money. Got a cook book, started to do some recipes and found out I liked it."

"Well that cottage pie thing you made last night was amazing," Lucy grinned, carefully pouring the chopped vegetables into the pot. "D'you cook often?"

"When I can, I try to," Laxus placed the knife down, stepping back to allow Lucy access to a cutlery draw. "Freed's a pretty good chef as well, so we always eat well. He does most of it on the missions since he knows how to work with an open fire better than I do, so whenever we're at home I'm usually the one making food."

Lucy chuckled, and Laxus quirked an eyebrow at her un confusion.

"Sorry," She smiled. "It's just weird, you know, to think of you two being so domestic. I kinda think of you as actions heroes, funny to think of you scheduling meals."

"Well, if you wanna know a secret, we also do laundry," Laxus said with a small grin, and Lucy laughed. "We sometimes even polish our silverware."

Over the few days that they had been in the cabin, Lucy and Laxus had gravitated towards each other in a small way. There was something of a friendship forming between them, and Laxus found himself happy about it. He was still not comfortable with his new place in the guild – years of antisocial behaviour had left an impact on him – but had found he enjoyed having platonic relationships with people outside of the Raijinshuu.

"And you're one to talk," Laxus continued. "You dating Dragneel. There was a theory going around when he was younger that the only feelings he had were being hungry and being angry."

Again, Lucy laughed. "He's not that bad."

As if to disprove her point, Natsu screamed 'I'll kick your ass' as he charged at Freed with a raised fist.

"That's not helping my point," Lucy said after a moment, and Laxus smirked. "But he's actually a lot more emotionally intelligent than people give him credit for. He can actually be really sweet when he wants to be."

Laxus didn't doubt it, Natsu was definitely an emotional person, so it made sense. Still, it wasn't an easy task to envision the brat being romantic.

"Give me an example," Laxus challenged, slowly adding the chopped mutton to the pot of vegetable.

"Well, okay, a couple of weeks ago!" Lucy said, smiling. "I got home from a pretty bad mission with Erza late in the night, and I was exhausted and starving, and he was in my apartment waiting for me having cooked us both a curry and some rice. Then he ran a bath for me once I'd eaten and let me read to him until we fell asleep. It was a nice night, actually."

It did indeed sound like a nice night, and undoubtedly more thoughtful than Laxus would have expected from the other Dragon Slayer. But still, in some twisted way, he saw the younger man as something of a younger brother. And what is a pseudo-older brother for if not for teasing.

"How did he get into your apartment?" He smirked. "And if it's anything other than breaking in, I'll give you two thousand jewels right now."

Lucy was silent for a moment.

"I said he was more thoughtful than people give him credit for. I didn't say he was a completely different man."

Laxus laughed, placing the stew he was making back onto the heat. He reached up to the crockery cupboard and started to set the table. Lucy had pulled out the remainder of the cutlery and began placing it down beside the plates. It was a small thing, but Laxus was thankful. Even in such an inconsequential action, they were working well as a team. It was a lot better than what Laxus had expected when Freed informed him about their retreat.

Both of them quickly looked from the table and towards the open when a sudden rush of orange spurted up. It was clearly Natsu's fire, and Lucy frowned as she watched as the flames in the area cordoned off by Freed's runes died down.

"I thought they weren't using their magic?" She questioned, watching as Natsu's charged forward with his fists alight. Laxus walked beside Lucy to watch.

As he did, runes plastered themselves over Natsu and he fell to his knees. "It was. They're just fucking idiots, apparently."

The two mages watched their respective lovers through the windows for a little while longer. Natsu managed either to overcome Freed's runes, or just ignore them, and charged at Freed again. Freed used some quick walls of runes to protect himself from the attacks, before slamming the sole of his boot into Natsu's stomach. He piled another rune onto the man's chest, and the dragon slayer was shouting in pain again.

"Freed can be pretty vicious when he wants to be," Lucy commented. "More scrappy than I thought"

"Suppose you've only seen him when he's had time to plan out a fight, huh," Laxus frowned a little. "When he's on a mission and there's impromptu fights, he's always like this. He's just as good without his magic as he is with it."

Lucy looked up to the blonde with a teasing grin. "It's cute how proud you are of him."

Laxus didn't say anything, but his cheeks reddened. "Fuck off."

Lucy laughed again, leaning on the counter to better watch the fight happening between the two men. It was oddly mesmerising to watch; despite his desires to fight almost every member of the guild, Natsu rarely managed to actually have full on fights. Well, he did, but those fights were often in apocalyptic moments, and appreciating his fighting style wasn't an option when that was happening. It was fun to see him go all out on a foe who wasn't an actual danger, and Lucy was going to make the most of it.

Even visually, the fight was beautiful. The combination of Natsu's flickering flames and Freed's shimmering runes was oddly entrancing. Almost hypnotic. But, as they watched the two men get more and more heated, Lucy noticed something.

"Why doesn't Freed use his sword like a… sword?" She asked, frowning.

"He tries not to when he can avoid it," Laxus explained. "It's mainly used to channelling his runes, it makes his casting quicker and spells more detailed. Don't exactly know how, but he seems sure it helps. And if he can fight with his fists, he'd rather do that. Stabbing someone is pretty…"

"Permanent?" Lucy offered, and Laxus nodded.

"He used to use it more liberally but changed after the harvest festival. Something of an atonement I think," Laxus shrugged. "Speaking off, I haven't thanked you for using that spirit to grow out his hair. It was good of ya, after all we did."

"That's no problem," Lucy smiled, almost mischievously. "You like guys with long hair huh?"

Was she teasing him? That wasn't something he had expected to happen. But he could deal with that too.

"Yeah," He agreed. "Gives he something to hold onto when I fuck him."

Lucy's reaction was fucking hilarious. There was a moment of disbelief where she slowly turned towards him, an expression of shock, small amount of horror and a hint of respect on her face. Laxus cocked an eyebrow at her, silently challenging her to bite back, because he had more than enough ammunition to tease her right back. She decided not to say anything.

"It was a nice attempt, but there's something you don't know," Laxus continued, smiling. "I've been a dick longer than you've been breathing."

"No arguing there," Lucy replied, seemingly having recovered. Laxus let her have it. "Should we stop them?"

At Lucy's question, they both looked out of the window. Natsu no longer had any runes on him and had punched Freed with enough force to send him flying into the back of his own runic walls. The resounding thud of Freed hitting his magic, a clearly painful act, made Lucy wince, but Laxus didn't seem bothered by it.

"They can handle themselves," He went back to dressing the table. "You wanna put some salt in the stew?"

Lucy watched as Freed stood up, wearing a determined grin not unlike Natsu's. "Sure."

~~~

When Natsu awoke the next morning, his limbs were tangled up with Lucy's. The cabin had only king-sized beds, but the lovers had somehow managed to curl up against one another in the centre, with their covers thrown to the floor. This always happened when they shared a bed; Natsu was warm naturally and apparently hugging him was like hugging a heater, so Lucy had stated. It apparently made summer unbearable.

The dragon slayer carefully removed himself from his girlfriend, holding a snort when Lucy let out an undignified snore. That was something he would have to bring up later; hopefully in front of Freed and Laxus, just to make it more embarrassing.

He grinned at the thought and left the bed.

After going through his usual routine of stretching, cracking his back and lighting his hands for a quick second, Natsu threw on his clothes from the day prior and left the bedroom. The hallway of the cabin was still dark – which made sense as it must have been about six in the morning – but he managed to make his way to the kitchen without bumping into anything.

He got himself a glass of water and leant on the back of the counter. He had always woken up early, there was probably a reason for it but Natsu didn't care enough to figure it out. He liked the mornings, it was relaxing. People assumed he didn't like the quiet, but he did. Just in moderation.

As he drank the water, he frowned. Every few seconds there was a sound of something being hit. A dull, repetitive sound.

Alarmed, he turned to the window and readied his magic, but calmed when he saw the source of the sounds. It was Freed, standing outside of the cabin with a large axe in his hand, which he slammed down into a chunk of wood. The dragon slayer frowned a little, he hadnt expected anyone else to be awake this early in the morning, let alone doing something so physical. He placed the empty glass on the counter and walked to the kitchen door, not caring for his coat.

"Morning Freed," He greeted, voice chipper but still tainted by sleep. Freed snapped his head around and replied with a polite smile.

"Natsu," He greeted. "I didn't wake you up, did I?"

"Nah," Natsu assured him, walking to Freed as he raised the axe again. He placed his hands behind his neck, watching as another log was cut. "I always wake up this time, didn't expect to see anyone else. You normally cut wood this early?"

"No. After our fight yesterday I crashed early," Freed confessed, moving the cut logs into a basket. It was half full. "As such, I woke up early and thought that I might as well do something productive. Laxus said that it seemed as though storms would be hitting us soon, so we'll probably want fire wood, so this made sense."

Natsu nodded, sitting on the grass and looking up at the sky. Clouds were forming, so it probably would start raining pretty soon, so getting firewood was a good idea. Not that Natsu was worried about being cold.

"Y'know, I sometimes forget, but you're a badass," Natsu commented with a grin, and Freed glanced towards him. "I guess I always forget because when I wanna fight someone in your team, I default to Laxus, but you're really fucking strong. Haven't had an actual stalemate for a while."

"I'm glad I could be a challenge to you," Freed smiled, bringing the axe down on the wood again. "And I agree, it was nice to spar with someone I'm not familiar with."

"We should do it again some time," Natsu suggested, grinning. "Then I can learn how to kick your ass faster."

"You're implying that you won," Freed looked back at him, posture almost challenging. "The only reason you lasted so long was because I showed mercy. I could have crushed you by increasing the influence of gravity with a literal click of my fingers."

"And I could have burned off your nuts, try fighting after that," Natsu grinned, unaffected by the threat.

"Well, if that's the case we should fight again some time, but with less restrictions than we had before," Freed offered. "Make it a real challenge."

Natsu grinned wide and made a note to remember the offer; he was never going to turn down an opportunity to spar with someone when he didn't need to wear down their will. Honestly, he shouldn't have to bother people that much to train with them. They were in a damn guild; they should want to improve how they fought and increase their magical skills. How was Natsu the only one who saw it like that?

The dragon-slayer leant back on the cold grass, looking up to the still visible stars. He knew some of the constellations now, thanks to Lucy teaching them to him. It was nice to look up at the stars while he could, it made him feel close to his girlfriend, weirdly.

With Lucy in his mind, Natsu clicked his fingers.

"Hey Freed, you like to read right?" He asked, and he heard Freed's movement stop.

"I do," Freed nodded. "Why?"

"Well, I don't know if you know this or not, but Lucy really likes to write. And she's been writing this novel for like, years and she's finished the draft. And she wanted me to read it, so I did and it's really good, and I told her that but she's still putting off sending it to a publisher," Natsu explained, hands moving around as he did.

"That's understandable, it can be a nerve-wracking experience."

"Yeah, I get that, but it is really good. So I was thinking that maybe you could read it," Natsu sat up again, grinning enthusiastically at his idea. "Then you'd see how great it is and you could tell her. She knows you've got good taste and you won't just say it because you have to. Maybe it'll give her a confidence boost."

"I'll certainly offer when we get back to Magnolia," Freed assured him, and Natsu brightened further.

The dragon slayer grinned and leant back against the grass again, letting the wind slowly cool him as the sun started to rise. After all the fighting of the day prior, it was nice to have a moment to calm down and look at the sky. And Freed was a pretty calming presence, when he wasn't making everyone fight each other through the town. Maybe they could be friends; someone who could calm him and nearly beat the shit out of him was something Natsu was always looking for.

Although, despite knowing each other for years, he didn't know much about Freed as an actual person. In the past, he had been standoffish to the point where even Natsu had given up trying to be friends with him. But now he was more open, and this was a good enough time to try and get to know him.

"How did you and Laxus get together?" He asked. Better to dive right in. If Freed didn't want to say, he wouldn't.

"We just sort of… did," Freed replied, looking deep in thought. "We have always been close, and after Laxus returned from his exile, we got closer. One night we kissed, we talked, and the next day we had our first date. And now we're here. How about you and Lucy?"

"I realised I liked her, then I asked her out and she said yes," Natsu shrugged. "Why make it complicated."

"That's an admirable attitude to have," Freed smiled a little. "It turns out Laxus and I had feelings for each other long before we kissed, so perhaps if either of us had that attitude then we would have gotten together quicker."

"Maybe, but I sometimes think I rush into things, y'know," Natsu shrugged. "I charge in, don't think things through. Wanna change that, be a better boyfriend."

"Well, your 'charge in and to hell with the consequences' attitude has saved a lot of people a lot of times," Freed said, placing the axe down and sitting on the log he had been chopping wood on. "And I wouldn't worry about your relationship. You're very open about who you are as a person, and Lucy is a smart woman. She would have known what she was getting into, and I expect she rather likes it."

Natsu tilted his head in thought but smiled. "Thanks Freed. Oh, and Laxus just woke up."

"You can tell?" Freed asked, placing the chopped firewood into the basket.

"Well, heard a thud and then a load of cussing. So either he stubbed his toe and it hurt, or he just moves around in bed and tells side-dressers to fuck off in his sleep," Natsu grinned, jumping up with too much energy for the time of day that it was.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Freed laughed. "But if he is awake, I expect he'll still be tired enough that we can convince him to make us breakfast without him putting up a fuss."

"You're devious, Justine. I like it," Natsu laughed, putting his hands behind his neck again as he walked to the cabin.

"I'm glad," Freed smirked. "Because you'll see just how devious I can be when I pound your ass into the ground next time we fight."

Natsu grinned. "Looking forward to it!"

~~~

"We should do this again some time," Lucy smiled.

The four mages were standing outside of Magnolia train station, having just returned from their training retreat. Natsu was leaning across her shoulders, partly to be closer to her and partly because the motion-sickness still was leaving him queasy. Laxus also seemed affected by the journey, though to a lesser extent. He was refusing to maintain eye contact with anyone and kept wincing when he moved his head too fast.

"We should," Freed smiled, raising his bandaged broken arm. "Though hopefully with better results."

"Sorry about him," Lucy laughed. "He goes all out."

"I knew what I was getting myself into," Freed laughed, smiling good naturedly. "And I like to think I gave as good as I got, even if all his bones remain intact."

"You did," Natsu groaned, looking up to reveal the bruise on his jaw. "You've got a good right hook, anyone ever told you that."

"It has come up, hasn't it Laxus?" Freed smirked, looking to his boyfriend with a glint in his eye.

"Once or twice," Laxus muttered, having been on the receiving end of Freed's punches whenever they sparred together. "But yeah, this was good. Nice to spar with someone I'm not used to. Especially you, Blondie. That whips a pain in the ass, you could beat half the assholes we'll be fighting without your spirits."

"Thanks. I doubt they'd want that, but that's a good compliment coming from you," Lucy smiled, before looking to Freed. "I can bring the manuscript over to the guild tomorrow, if you still want to read it."

"I'd love to," Freed nodded. "From what I've heard, its rather good."

"He's biased," Lucy laughed off the compliment, but Natsu frowned.

"Doesn't mean I'm not right," Natsu shouted, but covered his mouth a moment later as vomit threatened to leave him. He continued to speak through his hands, which muffled his words. "You'll see. It's great."

"Well, you can make up your own mind," Lucy said, pushing Natsu away. "We should get home before he pukes. I don't think Aquarius will appreciate being summoned to clean it off the sidewalk. Again."

"Of course," Freed nodded a little. "I look forward to reading your manuscript, and to doing something like this again if we ever get the time."

"Me too," Lucy smiled. "See you both soon."

"We shall," Freed agreed, and Laxus made a small noise in place of a goodbye.

The two men watched as the younger couple began to walk towards Lucy's apartment, Natsu swaying slightly as he tried to walk without Lucy's assistance. Freed didn't say anything, knowing Laxus was just as bad as the other dragon-slayer was – albeit hiding it better – and would need some time to recover.

After a few moments, they began to walk to their shared house in silence. It was a nice moment, the two of them appreciated silence between each other, and Freed allowed a small smile to grace his features. It had been a nice week, actually.

"So," Laxus said after a while. "You and Natsu have some weird rivalry going now. Didn't expect that to happen."

"Me neither, but he is good to train with," Freed laughed.

"Say that again when he's beating down your door in the middle of the night because he wants to fight," Laxus chuckled, and Freed smiled.

"I'll set up runes to stop me from hearing it," Freed grinned. "And as you find it so funny, I'll make sure the runes don't affect you. Just so you have something to laugh at when you wake up."

Laxus chuckled, wrapping an arm around Freed's shoulders.

"And speaking of things that I didn't expect to happen, you and Lucy have something of a friendship forming," Freed continued, and Laxus shrugged. "It's nice you're starting to make friends with other kids your age."

"Fuck off," Laxus laughed, nudging Freed with a grin.

"And such language. Maybe she's a bad influence," Freed smirked.

"You know that sounding like my grandfather ain't exactly a turn on," Laxus deadpanned.

Freed didn't reply, instead laughed and leaned further into his boyfriend. Laxus grinned, tightened his grip on Freed, and continued to walk with a smile on his face. This had been a good week.

[themattress]

I GRADE: Cyrus - Final Fates

Diamond/Pearl: Cyrus fails to control either Dialga or Palkia to destroy and remake the universe in his own image thanks to the hero and the Lake Trio. After being defeated in battle by the hero, Cyrus swears to try this plan again someday, as he won’t stop until he becomes a god. He and his minions then go into hiding, with the rest of Team Galactic going legit.

Platinum: Cyrus successfully controls both Dialga and Palkia, but is prevented from creating his new universe by Giratina, who drags him into the Distortion World. Giratina’s rage disturbs the balance between worlds, and Cyrus plans on capitalizing on this to make his goal happen anyway. The hero defeats him and Giratina, which stabilizes the worlds’ connection. Cyrus has a momentary breakdown before electing to stay in the Distortion World in order to unlock its secrets, hoping that he can find a way to make his perfect new world without spirit yet.

Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon: A version of Cyrus from a reality where he was successful is encountered in Rainbow Rocket Castle. His first instinct is to seek to enact his plan to remove spirit from this world as well, but after being defeated by the hero, he decides against it and shows signs of reconsidering his view of spirit as a thing that makes living creatures weaker.

TCG: Per the rules of the game, Cyrus can either triumph or he can be defeated and end up with his deck in the Discard Pile, which is the equivalent of him being arrested.

Anime: Cyrus begins creating his new universe that will supplant the old one by controlling Dialga and Palkia, but Ash, Dawn and Brock break this control. As Cyrus’ new world begins to vanish from existence, a completely delusional Cyrus jumps into it while screaming about how it’s his and his alone. Cyrus and his universe are then wiped out by Dialga and Palkia. 

Generations: Cyrus successfully controls both Dialga and Palkia, but is prevented from creating his new universe by Giratina, who drags him into the Distortion World. Rather than raging, Giratina is tranquil, as it sees a kindred spirit in Cyrus. Cyrus feels the same way and even feels like the Distortion World would make a good home, thus he chooses to make it so.

Pokemon Adventures/DPA: In both of these mangas, Cyrus is defeated at the Spear Pillar during the D/P-based section of it and has an epiphany about how he was wrong all this time. In the Platinum-based section, after thinking this over more, he officially reforms and disbands Team Galactic, although Saturn, Mars and Jupiter remain by his side out of loyalty. 

And now, my personal ranking, countdown-style:

7. Anime - Cyrus doesn’t even get to fight in this version, ever, and he takes himself out like an idiot...and in a pretty disturbing way, all things considered, as if Atsuhiro Tomioka wanted to top Hunter J’s death from the previous episode, which just creates an anti-climax.

6. Diamond/Pearl - Cyrus fucks up his own plan and then just...leaves, having learned nothing and vowing to start the same failed plan all over again? What a freaking let-down!

5. TCG - A standard TCG fate, nothing much else to say about it. 

4. Generations - Well, he’s got a home and a friend. That’s nice, but it doesn’t account for how he’s going to pull in the rest of humanity, since Cyrus isn’t just some lonely guy, he’s got a Messianic complex that demands he take charge of humanity’s “evolution” into what he considers an idealized form. If he’s just totally content with this, it’s OOC behavior for him.

3. Platinum - A great open-ended fate, with Cyrus still having learned nothing just like in the D/P games, but now with his original plan to ascend to godhood utterly demolished beyond a re-do and now he’s going to have to endure his own self-imposed Hell in order to come up with a new one. Whether he’ll ever see the light or not can be left to the player’s imagination.

2. Ultra Sun/Ultra Moon - What’s this? A hint at redemption! Excellent!

1. Pokemon Adventure/DPA - I don’t know why redemption fits an omnicidal madman like Cyrus so well, but it does. Seeing him learn a better way and find a new lease on life is just as satisfying as seeing it with Archie and Maxie; maybe even moreso given his backstory.