#but no hope and jen romantically

[bibridlizzie]

Lizzie gets captured. Hope and Jen come to her rescue and feelings are discussed. (Hizzie, Jenlizzie)

For TVDU femslash week Day One: Knight in Shining Armor

[sixlane]

any regulily headcanons if you ship them :D

hello lovely anon! ok sooooo i do not personally ship regulily im sorry to disappoint, but i think the way they interact is soooo interesting and very much worth exploring so i will use this as my opportunity to rant about them. also disclaimer: most of this is pulled straight from my conversations with renn @malchai so this is as much their post as it is mine.

so lily and reg seem to be parallels in a lot of ways. both younger siblings who feel left behind or neglected or hated by their older siblings. both very good at hiding their emotions. both have had roles assigned to them by others that they suffocate under. but the spaces they occupy in their lives are very different.

where regulus will always be less than, lily will be more than. lily has this angelic larger than life image. she gets the things she wants. regulus has never gotten anything he’s wanted in his life. <- the implications with james!!! regulus cannot stand to see jily together because he harbors these secret forbidden feelings for james that he will never act on because he thinks he’ll never be good enough. he thinks james looks at him and sees sirius’ little brother or sees a blood purist or whatever. if he ever wanted to be with james he would have to work for it. and lily just has him. just like that. and all she had to do was be lily. and this goes for other things too! lily gets good grades easily and reg has to study to stay at the top of his class. lily has friends because they like her. reg has friends because he grew up with them. (i also must add that almost all of this is reg being an unreliable narrator. a lot of this stuff is not actually true. (i see lily as someone who does have to work hard to maintain her perfect girl image. reg’s friends do actually like him regardless of whether they grew up together or not. james being with lily is 100% about james and not about lily at all.)) then there’s lily’s thoughts about reg. “while she has to work to be taken seriously because she’s muggleborn, regulus already has status simply because he’s a black, so she’s incredibly jealous of that. there are people who consider her lesser just for existing while regulus will never experience this. people expect regulus to succeed, while lily has to be perfect to be deserving of a place” (renn, our dm’s). and then there’s everything with sirius. “depending on interpretation of canon, if sirius wanted regulus to come with him and regulus refused, lily probably wouldn’t understand that either, because here is his older brother wanting him and regulus turning his back on him. if lily had gotten that from petuntia, she wouldn’t have hesitated. all she ever wanted was to be acknowledged by petuntia” (renn, our dm’s). and then you turn it around and regulus does want sirius, he just doesn’t know how to reconcile that with sirius leaving, so he looks at lily who is a gryffindor and is part of this new family that sirius chose instead of him! (<- more stuff from the rane dm’s). all this to say, their relationship is complicated! i think i’ve said this before but their like or dislike for each other doesn’t have much to do with the other but more to do with themselves.

[tolerateit]

Jen’s 1K Celebration!!! For @maimyoutoo

you are in love // new romantics // state of grace // ivy // my tears ricochet // the story of us // safe and sound // the great war

[mejaemin]

easy- lee jeno

wc: 0.8k

summary: loving lee jeno comes so easy to you

warnings: fluff, best friends to lovers, implied fem reader, definitely not proofread or edited im to emotional for all that bs rn

an: piece of advice to everyone- love is NOT easy despite what im saying in this fic :( im literally in the trenches rn feeling like crying every second over a man i have yet to even speak to !! this drabble is the product of my emotions and what i WISH love felt like for me so i hope you all enjoy this little thing ab one of my comfort people :>

───── ⋆⋅ ⊹ ⁺ 𐔌 ᩧ ຼ ͡ ৯ ♡໒⁀ ᩧຼ ꒱ིྀ ⁺ ⊹ ⋅⋆ ─────

loving jeno has always come easy.

it’s nearly second nature when you lift your head up or your energy picks up just from sensing his presence in a room. you don’t even notice how your head ends up on his shoulder whenever you sit together, or how easy it is to say “i love jeno!” whenever he’s brought up when he’s not around. it’s so easy to excuse the emptiness in your heart for having a bad day when it’s really because he’s not with you, and on top of that not even in a romantic way.

loving jeno comes so easy to you that when your friends accuse you of being in love with him, your heart rate quickens and your cheeks heat as you quickly shoot down the idea. it’s so easy and so natural that whenever you’re upset you look at old videos and photos of him your smile comes back like it never left. whenever you miss him you can ask to facetime or for him to send a photo and he always says yes.

loving jeno is so easy that when you call him your favorite nickname, jenjen, that he always says he hates, you feel a sense of pride knowing he won’t let anyone else call him that. when you ask him to get something or do something for you, he’ll do it without question, but if your friends ask that of him he’ll say for them to do it themselves. your heart flutters at the exclusivity of his affections.

loving jeno is so easy that you always know how he feels or what he needs. for almost any of your other friends, you have a folder in your notes app that consists of their likes and dislikes or any other info on them. with jen you don’t even have to think twice about it. there’s a pout on his lips? you already know to scoot next to him and give him a hug. he’s upset? all he wants is your company. let him rest his head in your lap and maybe take a nap. don’t worry about asking him to let his thoughts out, you already know he will when he’s ready and you’re the only set of ears his worries will fall upon.

loving jeno is so easy that when you finally come to terms with your feelings, things make a little more sense. your ongoing question of why you care so much for your best friend finally has an answer; you’re in love with him. when you meet with him again, you don’t even feel nervous at this crush, you feel confident that no matter how things go, he’ll never leave your side.

loving jeno comes so easy to you that the next time you hang out, you’re not as responsive because you’re hung up on how to confess. you know that even if the outcome isn’t what you want, you’ll still be together but you want to make sure you say it in a way you won’t regret. you care so much for him you want to make sure you say it the right way. however, when he puts a hand on your thigh and asks if you’re okay with the sweetest, most concerned look in his eyes, it all spills out and your strategic confession falls apart.

“..jeno?” you ask softly.

“what is it? don’t be scared, you know you can tell me anything.” your nickname falls off his tongue so smoothly that your fear of rejection finally comes and you nearly tear up.

“jen i really can’t hide it anymore so i just have to tell you okay? please don’t be mad i don’t care what your response is just listen, okay? i really, really like you jen. more than a friend does. at this point, i’m already sure i love you. i don’t care whether or not you reciprocate, because i really just love you so much.” you sniffle, a tear dropping from your eye. “i really can’t hold it in so i’m sorry, but i love you so much and i really want to be more than just your best friend so please-“ jeno cuts you off with a soft call of your name, your real one.

“please, you didn’t have to work yourself up so much. i feel the same way. i should’ve been more obvious.. don’t you know i’m only this way with you?” he smiles, the hand on your thigh moving up to your cheek to wipe your tears.

loving jeno comes so easy to you that when he leans in and your lips finally connect, your heart is finally full. all the broken pieces of your life come together and you feel complete, like you have nothing else to want or wish for, because now you have your best friend. in every way you wanted, he’s now yours.

───── ⋆⋅ ⊹ ⁺ 𐔌 ᩧ ຼ ͡ ৯ ♡໒⁀ ᩧຼ ꒱ིྀ ⁺ ⊹ ⋅⋆ ─────

[ennn]

Agatha x Rio Fic Recs

We're a couple of weeks out post-finale and I've read enough fics to recommend a new bunch! You can find my first pre-finale recs here – usual YMMV disclaimer applies. In no order:

— real hot ghoul shit – by @tadpoleeater

WIP. Rio's finally done pursuing. Agatha's been introduced to reality TV. It's hilarious with emotional gut punches – just like the show!

— one good honest kiss (and i'll be alright) – by @tadpoleeater

5 times they kissed. Messy, beautifully angsty, but hopeful at the end.

— now I understand, and it’s time to leave the woods – by @paddingtonfan69

Romantic, moving, absolutely heartbreaking, while also silly at times. This second chapter has perhaps my favourite backstory scenes.

— you’re here, there’s nothing I fear – by @paddingtonfan69

Titanic fic. Rio and Agatha chance upon each other on Rio's work trip. That iceberg is really inconvenient.

— you'll never get away from the sound of the woman that loves you – by @alilbitgaywrites

WIP. A fix-it fic but it's going to hurt a lot before it gets better. Also some of my favourite backstory scenes. The banter, the tragedy, the beauty, the heartbreak.

— you wouldn't last an hour in the asylum where they raised me – by @alilbitgaywrites

For more fluff and less angst (there's still angst, it's these two of course there is). Rio wants a vacation but Agatha can't stop summoning her to her crime scenes.

— primal night – by Palmarion

AU. Rio is death, Agatha is human and they meet one Halloween night at Rio's bar. Nicky happens unexpectedly. A comforting romantic story.

— coven of chaos – by @trickofthelights

WIP. Crack but taken so seriously and written fantastically well. Rio/Agatha/Wanda and their very weird found family. Everyone lives!

— death is no parenthesis – by @littledata

WIP. This time it's Rio who's stuck in a spell and Agatha is the one doing the nudging. Too bad about the creepy dreams of death.

— A Wretched Soul – by @motherconfessors

WIP. Porn with plot... with a side of food? Agatha makes a new deal with Rio so she can get her purple back. What Rio's asking for is surprising.

— how the dead walk – by obsetress

Ghost!porn with plot. Agatha and Rio have a messy reconciliation. Ghost sex is really tricky, especially when feelings are involved.

— because i could not stop for death (she kindly stopped for me) – by shy_one

WIP. Their many meetings over the centuries, over numerous misdeeds and murders. A dark, beautiful, epic journey.

— the path ahead – by @a-couple-of-notes

A happier canon-divergent ending. Jen opens a school for witches, her remaining coven members return to help. Charming and hopeful and healing.

— Rabbit Heart – by @sapphoshands

Post-finale scenes featuring our favourite Señor Scratchy.

[multimilfs]

My Two Cents on AAA EP6...

The hateful response to episode 6 has unfortunately solidified a thought I've been thinking for a while (and hoped I was incorrect on);

People don't care about true storytelling anymore.

A genuine, well-rounded story is built with so many moving parts and players. Agatha, while being the main character, is not the only important piece on the chess board, she's just the one we're focused on. Billy (or Lilia or Jen or Alice etc etc) are just as pivotal to the outcome.

We have the opportunity to witness some of the most heartfelt, beautiful storytelling in years and the second the story pivots to build out plot, there's a riot. Torches and pitchforks and for what? For answering questions people have been asking since episode 1? For adding another layer to the lovingly-crafted onion that is the story of Agatha All Along?

I love Agatha and Rio. I've been dying to see more of them since episode 1, but if your response to a potential ship is to render the rest of the story irrelevant, why are you watching the show at all? At this point just wait and watch the clips of the ship once the show is all over. Or write fanfiction like the rest of us if things don't go your way.

Rio and Agatha's relationship isn't the point. It's a bonus. It's a wonderful treat woven in—just like Billy and Eddie. To quote this post from the brilliant @the-scarlet-witch-22 ;

"...reducing Agatha Harkness to just being one half of a romantic ship is doing such a disservice to her character and the entire purpose of Agatha All Along."

Agatha is brilliant, cunning, and interesting; with and without Rio. She is a whole woman. She is not half of a character without a partner. And Agatha All Along is not half a show for prioritizing plot over romance.

Also, is it not worth celebrating that not only do we have a lovely, explicitly queer character in Billy Maximoff—but also that we have the privilege of seeing him fleshed out, where years ago he'd have been killed off-screen (or worse)? That he is a key player? From someone who spent years watching queer characters die left and right, it is a gift to live in a time where they not only get to live, but have relevance. It is a gift to watch Billy's story evolve alongside Agatha's.

There are valid concerns in the ether, but don't let fear become hatred; the second it does, we're no better than those who want to see all of us gone.

[swee7dream]

hi vixy! i miss you sm 😞🫶 being here is just not the same when i'm not interacting w/ you (ノ_＜。) and im here in your inbox for a request!

remember when i always gush about your use of endearments? atm, im craving for a hc fic of 7dreamies using their favorite endearment/petname/nickname for reader >< i absolutely think that they have their own ways and the oddest yet the most endearing nicknames for their special ppl and i think about it everytime i read your fics bcuz there is that kind of spice of it in your works (*^-^) and i love it ^^

i hope you're doing well, love! have a great day (人´ｴ`*)♪

xoxo, wynnie.

7dream's nicknames for their partners nct dream x f!reader

genres fluff, established relationship warnings feminine pet names used, quasi-suggestive but not really ( renjun ) author's note omg not the love letter in my inbox !!! love u 5ever wynnie . sorry the bulletpoints are kinda short, i tried to make up for it in the mini-fics ! ty for the request + i hope u like it !

mark lee (ᓀ‸ᓂ)

a very simple, casual guy

babe, dude (romantically), my girl

he can’t even tease you when you tell him it gives you butterflies because he’s the exact same way, giggling into his hand and turning away to hide his silly grin from you

call him dude though? he’ll be sulky until the next day (as if, he melts into a puddle with just one kiss)

“dude,” mark calls out from the hallway, still unsure where everything is still, being your first sleepover. “have you seen my charger? i don’t know where i left it.” “i dunno, man. you should ask your girlfriend.” “wow…” he extends the word in between laughter. he shuffles in his slides back into the bedroom, doubling over your body laying comfortably under sheets. “you are my girlfriend.” “nuh-uh. i’m your dude. your bro. your homeslice.” you over-emphasize the last word, flicking your tongue like a snake. “more like my homewife.” he giggles, reaching up to peck your lips. “that was terrible.” “come on! that’s worth at least half a point.” “negative eight thousand points.”

huang renjun ૮ ˙Ⱉ˙ ა

my love, darling, sweetheart

in my heart of hearts i view huang renjun as the definition of a romantic

maybe he won’t have diamond necklaces for you every date night, but he always makes sure to show his love in the small, important things

he has your favorite snack for when you get home, changes the bedsheets when you forget to, and refills the soap bottles in the bathroom before you even notice you’re running low

“you took care of the dishes.” renjun jumps in his seat, not even hearing when you came in. “i did.” he turns from his canvas to look at you, smiling as you’re already wrapping your arms around his waist. “how was your day, my love?” “exhausting. you are the sexiest man alive, you know that?” you mumble into his hair. “for washing dishes?” “so hot.” you nod, squeezing him tighter. “gee, thanks,” he chuckles, reaching a hand up to scratch your head. “how about a bath? wash away all that exhaustion.” “join me?” you pout. “of course, darling.”

lee jeno ૮ .◜◡◝ა

doll, baby, babydoll

you are a living, breathing doll to him and everyone needs to know!!!!!

he forgets he’s literally mr. ferragamo sometimes and just stares at you with super heart eyes like:

wow (ෆ人ෆ) that’s my baby

“what about this one?” you spin in to give jeno a 360. “i really liked it in the store but i’m not so sure about it now.” “you’re the prettiest girl ever, doll.” jeno sits with his legs spread, his hands in the middle holding the edge of the chair he sits on. “pretty, pretty, pretty.” “thank you, jen.” you look at him. “but i’m asking about the clothes. i don’t know if this shade suits me! or maybe it’s the texture of the clothes? actually, it might be the material.” “everything suits you. if it doesn’t, it’s because the designer was stupid. you’re the pinnacle of fashion, babydoll.” “you’re silly.” you giggle, walking toward him to dig your fingers into the back of his hair. “you don’t think i should return it?” “absolutely not. you look great in red, baby.” “this is white, jen.” “whatever. gimme a kiss.”

lee donghyuck ʕ˙Ⱉ˙‧:ʔ

baby, sunshine, sweetheart (derogatory)

outsiders looking in eavesdropping on your conversations don’t know if you’re about to bite each other heads off or make out against the wall

what else could you expect from haechan ‘dating is so boring, let's be best friend and act like in a relationship’ lee

you feel a dark energy looming over your shoulder, as you often have since saying yes to your first date with hyuck. you continue to feel it as your card taps on the reader, beeping happily at the successful payment, unaware of the incoming chaos. “oh heck yeah! thanks for the food, sis!” haechan’s hand sneaks around to hold the back of your head, pulling you into a deep kiss. he only squeals like an anime girl as your hands slide up to push him away and turn to the cashier, apologizing profusely and failing to convince them that you’re not, in fact, related. “thanks for treating me, sweetheart.” “hey siri, search shooting ranges near me.” “wait, baby no-”

na jaemin ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭

lovey, princess, my muse

fun fact: he loves being called prince. having matchy matchy names makes his heart full and gives his life purpose (his words)

i put those three down but honestly, it really depends on the day. he’s constantly making new ones every single hour

he sees you in the flowers growing in the cracks in the sidewalk (‘petal’), in the songs of the birds outside (‘birdy’), in that one painting he saw back in a museum in italy (‘angel’)

“oh wait, i like these!” you swipe through some candid photos jaemin took of you of a trip you two took a while back on his phone. “how come you didn’t send me these?” “if i sent you every picture i took of you you would think i’m a crazed stalker.” “i know you are and i still love you.” you smile at him before turning back to the phone screen. “urgh. you’re always changing my name in your contacts. what is it now?” “munchy.” “munchy?” you stare at him with your eyes furrowed, having turned in slow motion as if you heard him wrong. “that was the name of one of the tortoises we saw at the zoo. he was so cute. it reminded me of you when you eat pasta. so you’re munchy.” “…okay, jaem. thanks, i think.”

zhong chenle (ᯟ︿ᯏ)

babe, dollface, beautiful

surprisingly, not a big petname user. not at first at least

but one time he clocked you getting pouty and in your head and learned that you liked being called sweet things other than your name.

“what’s wrong with your name? i like your name, dollface.” you can see something switch inside of his mind. “mmm, okay. i’ll try.”

“i miss you…” even through the phone, chenle can’t help but smile at your voice. “please don’t die.” “i’m at the grocery store for ice cream you asked for, dollface. i’m not gonna die.” “what if you get hit by a car?” you sniffle, hormones overwhelming you. “i’ll survive.” “how do you know?” “i just do. you should know by now i’m superman, babe.” “fly home, le. wanna cuddle.” “don’t threaten me with a good time.” he chuckles, phone pressed between his ear and his shoulder as he places your ice cream—and a couple other things he thought you might appreciate—on the counter to be rung up. “stay put, beautiful. i’m coming.”

park jisung (∩˃o˂∩)

babe, dude, pretty (used EXCLUSIVELY behind closed doors)

bro gets embarrassed just breathing air, you think he’s gonna have the guts to be cheesy with you in public?

even calling you babe in public has him with his voice lowered.

it’s really counteractive considering being so shy about things brings only more attention to him from his friends

“could you pass me my phone?” jisung’s request flies over your head as the group conversation is alive and well around you. “babe,” he mutters, finally getting your attention. “can you pass me my phone?” in good 7dream fashion, all the boys ‘ooh’ at him, haechan and mark fangirling obnoxiously. “baby darling sugarplum angelface!” donghyuck mocks, laughing at jisung holding his head in his hands, being consoled by your rubbing his back. “could you pass me my phone, my darling sweetheart pookiebear cupcake?”

author's note i fear i'm running out of themes for fic headers !!!!! why was i not blessed with the moodboard bone all my other lovely mutuals have D:

[pitchsidestories]

book lovers II Emily Fox x Reader

masterlist I word count: 1360

a/n: hi, this oneshot won the poll by far, enjoy. Plays in the same universe as Arsenal Book Club.

pairings: Arsenal Wfc x Reader (platonic), Emily Fox x Reader (romantic)

For the new season, Arsenal’s book club met again. Emily was excited, this time she would be the host.

She had prepared everything. From turning her living room into a cozy reading spot to organizing snacks and wine.

There was just one more thing to do. And for that she needed to ask her teammates.

“No, she can’t be part of the Arsenal book club, Emily!“, Leah cut her off because she could fully phrase her question.

Emily frowned at her teammate. She couldn’t understand why they didn’t want you around, only because you played for Chelsea.

“But I already invited her.“

Leah almost choked on her wine. The room went quiet immediately.

The blonde defender turned to the others: “Girls, you agree with me, right?“

No one dared to answer.

Kim finally looked up from where was busy setting up a laptop so Jen could join in from the US. She sighed: “It’s just a book club, Leah.“

“With Arsenal players!“, she replied, rolling her eyes.

“Viv and Jen are still part of it and they don’t play for us anymore.“, Beth countered with a casual shoulder shrug.

“But they’re former Arsenal players. They still belong to the family.“

The discussion was interrupted by Jens voice: “Cheers, mates.“ Her smiling face appeared on the laptop screen. She looked tired, her hair was tied up into a messy bun and she clearly sat in her kitchen with a mug in front of her.

“Hi, Jen. What time is it in Cali? Did you get up for this?“, Kim greeted the other scot.

Jen nodded proudly: “It’s eight in the morning but I’m ready. I got our book, a cup of coffee and I’m only slightly jealous of your wine.“

“And I’m jealous of your coffee so I think that’s fair.“, Kim smiled.

Beth appeared on her side and pressed her face closer to the screen: “Is that Deyna in the background?“

“Yes, she slept here. Why?“, Jen replied nonchalantly.

Beth played innocent: “Just asking.“

Deyna waved into the camera: “I loved the book. Jen and I read it out loud to each other in the evening. Would recommend doing that with your p-… friends.“

The Venezuelan football player blushed slightly.

Leah rolled her eyes once again, this time with a smile: “Sounds totally like something friends would do.“

“Shut it, Lee.“, Jen laughed.

While the other Arsenal players were busy discussing their former teammates’ love life, Emily sneaked out to let you in.

In the hallway, she greeted you with a long kiss.

“You’re here.“

“Of course. Sorry for being late, got some snacks.“, you smiled and apologetically held up a huge bag.

“You didn’t have to. We have more than enough.“

“I thought food might be the way to their hearts.”, you explained sounding hopeful. Noticing the two familiar faces who appeared behind your girlfriend made your grin grew deeper.

“Hi Lotte and Lessi!”

“Hey y/n.”, Lotte responded with a warm smile on her lips.

“Great to see you.”, Alessia chirmed pulling you into one of her famous bear hugs.

“It’s been forever.”, you nodded.

“Sadly, you’re not in our team anymore.”, the English defender sighed.

“What do you mean?”, Leah intervened curiously.

“We all played together for the North Carolina Tar Heels.”, the Blonde forward stated.

“You did?”, Vivianne threw in surprised.

“Yes.”, Emily confirmed.

“What a coincidence.”, the Dutch player remarked.

“It’s.”, your girlfriend agreed.

“And now we’re all reunited far away from North Carolina.”, you observed happily.

“All in London.”, Lotte stated.

“Disgustingly cute.”, Katie commented, wrinkling her nose.

“Can we get to the book now?”, Kim asked with a tortured smile on the face.

“Please.”, you replied.

“Yes, come on. Sit down.”, Emily requested, touching the empty place beside her on the comfy sofa. Gladly you sat down next to your lover.

“Cheers, y/n.”, Katie toasted you grinning.

“I almost thought you’d knock my head with your glass, McCabe.”, you shook your head laughing.

“You’re lucky I didn’t even though you play for Chelsea.”, the Irish footballer growled.

As an American you didn’t think much about the rivalry between Chelsea and Arsenal until you arrived in England and met people like Katie or Leah who took this very seriously.

“But we’re both Emily’s friends.”, you reminded her softly.

“You don’t have friends on the Chelsea team, huh.”, the Ireland captain joked teasingly.

“Not true. They just don’t like to read.”, you protested.

“Oh, these girls here don’t read either except for fellow bookworm Emily.”, Kim told you.

“What?”, Emily gasped.

“Yes, you’re our book nerd and apparently y/n is at Chelsea.”, Leah smirked amused.

“Sounds like a perfect couple to me.”, Beth chuckled at the blonde defender’s observation.

“Two book lovers. Yes, indeed.”, Jen added.

“Actually.”, Emily begun, her cheeks turning slightly pink as all the eyes of her teammates were on her.

“We’re.”, you continued.

“A couple. Who would have guessed.”, Katie rolled her eyes at the pair of you.

“Is no one surprised?”, your girlfriend wanted to know smiling.

“Do you want us to be?”, Beth returned the question in a sincere voice.

“The derby said everything to be honest.”, the lionesses captain admitted winking.

“The derby?!”, you exclaimed.

“Yeah, you were there?”, Leah questioned unserious clearly, she knew you were a part of that game.

“Yes, I remember it all too well.”, you confessed.

You bit your lip, thinking back to that day and wondered if you were really that obvious a few weeks ago.

Katie smirked at you: “And let’s just say it wasn’t only sportsmanship that we saw afterwards.“

“Trust me, some people would still say it was only true sportsmanship.“, Beth laughed.

Leah wrinkled her nose and teased: “Oh yes, a girl consoling another girl with a kiss, such sportsmanship.“

You felt the blood rush into your cheeks.

Embarrassed, you tried to hide your face in Emilys neck: “Oh god, you guys!“

Emily laughed, patting your back: “They’re always like this.“

“I think I like them… Still annoying though.“, you commented as you looked back up again.

Leah raised one eyebrow: “Says the Chelsea player.“

You looked at your girlfriend for help but she just shrugged: “Sorry, I can’t save you from this lifelong gooner, love, if you keep saying such things.“

“What about the love you until the day I die promise?“, you asked her, playfully pouting.

Beth grimaced in disgust and turned to Arsenals captain who looked like she was suffering: “Kim, I think they read too many romance books.“

Kim sighed in response: “I just want to have one book club where we actually get to read and that doesn’t turn into some kind of dating show.“

The book club ended without much reading so you and Emily read the book over the course of the next few days. Once you finished it, you placed both your copies onto your shared bookshelf. There was a large collection of books already and almost no more space.

As you turned away from the bookshelf, there was a loud crack, then an even louder thud. You let out an involuntary shriek before you took in the books at your feet.

The lowest shelf had collapsed under the weight of all those books.

“Uhm, Em?“, you called for your girlfriend.

“Yes?“, she yelled back from the kitchen.

“I think we need to make another trip to IKEA… or get rid of some books.“, you half joked.

“Why?“ She appeared in your living room and took in the situation. “Oh my god.“

“It broke under the weight.“, you explained.

Your girlfriend smiled fondly but shook her head: “Have you ever heard of an e-reader?“

You glared at her: “That’s nothing compared to ink and paper! Besides, I’m not getting one just because of your deal with kindle.“

“Okay, fine. We’ll go buy you another shelf.“, she laughed, defensively raising her hands.

You smiled: “Thank you. Food will be on me, you can choose whatever you want.“

Emily nodded slowly, already thinking about what to get at the Swedish furniture store: “Okay, we have a deal.“

“Better than your kindle deal.“, you laughed and stepped around the scattered books to kiss her.

[poisonlove]

Omg! You're taking requests!!! ME haaappy! 'cause i have one eheh

Jenna xfemreader

where you find somewhere a love letter for you, actually.. The first part is really sweet, a classic love letter but the second part is.. quite interesting: the anonymous writer describes in detail what they would like to do to you and with you.

You want to find out who the writer is but a suspiciously nervous Jenna tries to stop your "investigation".

Have a good day:)

I actually like the idea a lot. Transitioning from a romantic sentence to something more sensual is something that had crossed my mind before, but I hadn't found a prompt for it until now.

I've made a few changes, but I hope you'll still like it. Enjoy reading!

I NEED YOU | J.O

As I open the locker in search of books for the next class, I notice a folded sheet atop my science book.

Arching my eyebrows in confusion, I scan the school corridor, trying to discern the mysterious sender. The only people around seem engrossed in their cliques, completely oblivious to my perplexity.

With a mental shrug, I abandon the search and focus on the letter, smiling shyly at the unexpected gesture. In an era dominated by technology, receiving a handwritten letter has become a rare and special occurrence. I delicately grasp the letter, running my fingers over the crumpled paper that evidently forced its way through the cracks of my locker. I flip the letter several times, searching for any name on the outside, but all I see is a completely blank sheet.

"Hey y/n!" The voice of the basketball team captain, Isaac Ortega, resonates in the corridor, grabbing my attention. I turn and smile at him, considering him one of my closest friends.

Isaac's brown eyes fixate on the sheet in my hands, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. "Do you have a secret admirer? Uyy," he whispers, attempting to grab the letter.

With a smirk, I snatch it away, tucking it into my backpack pocket. "Mind your own business, Ortega," I say absentmindedly, rolling my eyes slightly irritated.

Isaac raises his hands in surrender.

"Anyway, see you after practice?" he asks curiously. "I think so… now I have to go, I have a class," I reply quickly, grabbing the necessary book from the locker and carelessly stuffing it into my backpack.

My eyes shift along the figure of Jenna Ortega, Isaac's younger sister, passing by us. Jenna wears her classic earphones, walking elegantly in the corridor. Dressed in ripped jeans and a red and black plaid shirt, Jenna exudes a mysterious aura. As her eyes briefly meet mine, she gives me a small smile before continuing on her way.

I knew Jenna only by sight; however, our conversations were limited.

"Hey JEN!" Isaac shouts, trying to catch his sister's attention. Jenna stops and removes an earphone, turning towards her brother. Isaac grins widely.

"Remember that you have to come to practice today… you promised," Isaac pouts, feigning innocence, and Jenna rolls her eyes, responding with a raised middle finger.

I chuckle softly.

"I love you too, Jenna," Isaac exclaims with fake sorrow, smiling and giving me a quick wink before turning away, draping his arm over the shoulders of a guy walking beside him, most likely a teammate.

I sigh and start walking towards my next class.

(...)

With a heart beating fast, I step through the classroom door, and the breathlessness betrays my sprint to avoid being late. A hurried glance around reveals a reassuring scene: the teacher hasn't arrived yet.

A sigh of relief grazes my lips, easing the tension in my shoulders. The chance to avoid the stern gaze of the teacher grants me a moment of tranquility. With a stealthy step, I head towards the farthest corner of the classroom, finding refuge near the window.

I place my backpack on the desk and sit down, releasing a sigh of frustration.

With a resignation barely perceptible, I begin to diligently retrieve the materials for the new lesson when my gaze stops on it: the letter. An aura of mystery envelops it, and the curiosity creeping inside me is irresistible. The paper, still neatly folded, lies among the books and notes, ready to unveil its contents.

With hands slightly trembling with excitement, I grab the letter, fingers gliding over the smooth surface as I observe its external appearance.

"Good morning, everyone," the voice of the literature teacher dances through the classroom walls, interrupting my brief moment of intimacy with the letter. I avert my gaze from its surface and observe the authoritative figure of the teacher starting to write on the chalkboard.

"Turn to page 75 of the textbook; today, we'll delve into Shakespeare," the teacher announces with authority, outlining the day's agenda. The succession of murmurs in the class, coupled with the rustling of pages turning, creates a vibrant background of activity as everyone prepares for the lesson.

The letter, momentarily forgotten in my hand, returns to the center of my attention with an irresistible pull.

I decide to open it.

Y/n… what I wanted to write in this letter is something quite simple: I like you, and a lot.

"So, Isaac was right," I mutter to myself.

I love everything about you; you're intelligent, beautiful, and incredibly interesting, not to mention a wonderful person. Your eyes were immediately my downfall, the way they light up when you're excited or when they gaze upon me makes me feel excited and, at the same time, as if a shiver runs down my spine.

"I seem to know her…" I think with curiosity.

You make me feel things I've never felt before in my life, thoughts for a girl that had never crossed my mind until I saw you for the first time. I still remember our first encounter, even though I was watching you from afar. We were doing gymnastics, and Jessica spilled water on you, something I still owe her thanks for.

The way you lifted your shirt to reveal your toned stomach to dry your face… it caught the attention of my eyes.

Something in me ignited.

"However… what a peculiar way to confess their feelings," I suppress a smile and continue reading the remaining lines.

Returning to things I like… your lips. Goodness, they are a daily temptation I always want to indulge in. I just want to place my lips on yours and kiss you until I run out of breath.

Your hair… it looks so soft, and I desire to wrap my fingers around it, playing or simply caressing you.

Your smile… voice, laughter… they are all things I like and want to see every day, especially causing and being the recipient of it.

Your hand…

I raise an eyebrow in confusion reading the latter.

I would love to grasp it and intertwine my fingers with yours, check if your skin is delicate, feel the strength of your large hand over mine, completely overshadowing it.

That hand I want to caress my face, running the thumb over my lower lip, gently putting the tip into my mouth, wishing for you to suck on it.

"This letter is taking a strange turn," I think carefully.

I want that hand around my neck, gripping slightly to make me understand to whom I belong, that hand that will later trail along my body with cunning and strength, slender fingers skillfully working on my flesh.

"Damn…" my cheeks flush with red as saliva begins to fade.

I want that hand to spank me if I misbehave… I want that…

"Miss l/n, could you answer the question I asked you?" The teacher's voice diverted my attention from the letter, and with flushed cheeks, I looked into her eyes, receiving a reproachful gaze.

"Can you repeat the question?" I timidly ask, nervously swallowing saliva.

"Where is Romeo and Juliet set?" she asks again. "Verona," I immediately reply, causing the teacher to blink in surprise. "Correct… well, let's continue with the lesson," she begins, and I roll my eyes in annoyance, directing my gaze back to the letter.

I want you to make me feel like no one else has made me feel: possessed. I desire your hand to possess me; I want it to be rough with me because I'm not delicate like a porcelain doll… I simply want you to use me as you please.

I cross my legs, feeling warmth in the lower abdomen.

I want to feel your fingers inside me, enveloped in my warmth, giving me pleasure until exhaustion. I want to see your eyes hooded with excitement as you continue to penetrate me with your fingers again and again, without diminishing the intensity.

I want that tongue working on my bundle of nerves; I want to feel its full length along my intimacy, making me sigh and moan until I'm breathless. I want you to put it in my mouth, letting me taste myself; I want you to keep licking even if I've already come…

I love your name, and I want to moan it every night, day, second of my life… something I already do within the walls of my room.

"Oh my God…" I bite my lower lip. "This girl is making me feel… uh…" I think to myself, unable to ignore the dampness between my legs.

I want you, I want you y/n, I desire you ardently.

—Anonymous.

I fold the letter and begin to contemplate the room, analyzing what I had read. I don't know how, but I would find out who this girl was.

I needed to know.

[yoursicklilbaby]

Guys I feel so alienated grieving over this finale, because it was a hell of a show, it was so queer, so marvelous, a damn good witchy one. But I have many things to say and they are brutally depressing.

Well, there’re seem to be a lot of people who truly loved the ending and I expected myself to be one of them, because this show gave so much to my queer self. I believed that Killing Eve story is engraved in my heart as the drama for life, for Lonely Hearts Enthusiast as me. And it was fixed only due to my dear writer Luke Jennings, author of the original novels, who has written two new KE books during these two years, resurrected Villanelle and made it fabulous. It helped, it was a cure, but still the show–the damn 4th season–will always be a squeal of pain.

As for Agatha All Along…oh boy. It was a sweetest, the gayest, the funniest playground for me, mostly all the time. I felt like these rainbow witches bestowed upon us all their confidence, radiant sexuality, profound love and complications, twisted fortunes, relationships that had a longstanding history spanning centuries. It felt like I’m 12 years old again in a school сamp, and everything is so cool and fun, and there’re gorgeous high school girls and everyone is your crush, and nothing bad can happen because it’s really a little Switzerland for all. However, teachers tell you that you need to ski at 7AM, and it’s obligatory, and the road is slippery, your equipment is old, it’s so hard that sometimes you feel like you won’t make it to the end.

Down down down the road down the witches road…such a bittersweet dream. But who’s the dreamer?

Billy being a baby queer-ent with all hopes and courage, believing in happy endings, seeing good in the most evil characters. It’s you, it’s me, it’s us. And in the end everyone’s either a witch killer, or self-sacrificing hero. God, Billy, why it had to be so dramatic? I know, this is Marvel story and it was envisaged to be like this (meaning Agatha becoming a ghost). But still. Marvel was always about a lot of action and fun, for all drama under the rain we had the DC universe, didn't we?

But let’s cut the shit and get straight to the point, I actually wanted to talk about Rio. Rio Vidal is a new character, brilliantly portrayed by Aubrey fucking Plaza, I may say she made this hero so real, formidable, exceptional. Rio is not even in the comics yet, so there’re many things we don’t know about her and we were craving to know. But do we have a chance for that in the nearest future if Agatha will be busy looking for Tommy with Billy? I doubt that. And for the record, I don’t give a flying fuck about Tommy’s existence.

I’ve read an article in Them media and that brought me to tears again. If there was AgathaRio last kiss, does it mean we will never see them together again? Did Agatha really mean she didn’t want to see Rio’s face ever again, without even a proper talk, even after ‘she’s my scar’ revelation? Is Death always supposed to be the enemy of all? Will Agatha ever be able to forgive her, if Rio used to be the love of her life? If it was Billy’s sick fantasy does it mean he kinda summoned death on that road?

I listen to Rio’s theme in my playlist and cry for her. She has a black heart and it beats for no one but Agatha. Agatha never reacted to this like she didn’t care at all, did she? She has a tender spot in her heart for twink boys, and I know why but I hate it. I wanted this story to be sapphic, without changing the direction that much.

Moreover, I didn’t quite get why the hell Rio was so desperate to kill Agatha if she was so not okay about it in the end? They lost me there, I rewatched the first episode and tried to figure this out but I’m not sure that it was more than just a dominating game. Why did she want her horizontal (that part we got) in a grave, full of purple flowers, mushrooms, daisies and succulents? So romantic, yet so pathetic.

And still I was excited to watch Agatha’s and Rio's battle. Green and Purple striking each other’s bodies, there was so much passion in it, wow. It supposed to be so fucking hot, but instead this scene was interrupted by Billy’s performance.

God, Billy, I loved you as a character, but I loved you more as a sidekick, not another boy genius who suddenly develops his character and steals everybody’s thunder. He literally stole Agathario's thunder and blasted Rio, even when Agatha got her purple back. Twice.

Seriously guys, it felt like when you are trying to have some quality time with your girlfriend but her dog is jumping around and inviting you to play. With all due respect, you’re the sweetest Shiba Inu puppy, but why wouldn’t you just fuck off for a sec, because we’re having a moment here?

So was it Billy Maximoff All Along in the end of the road? Maybe that’s why I’m so angry right now.

Take a breath and dance with death, my love cannot be turned.

My love cannot be turned, even though there was so little dancing and too much thinking, to my liking. And it is so fucking sad.

[mr-ys-phantasma]

🌙 Moon Phases 🌙

Agatha Harkness X Fem!reader

Word Count: 1493

Chapter 35:

Jen helped keep Lilia focused on the present and not let her mind wander or get distracted by anything that might slow them down.

Those swords were still hanging above, and everyone doubted would remain there if you kept losing time.

As if the room had heard your thoughts, the ceiling slowly started to go down; bringing the swords closer and closer to you.

"We didn't even put any cards down!" Agatha shouted, glaring at practically anything.

The road was starting to get on her nerves.

"Maybe no cards are as bad as the wrong ones." Billy suggested.

You looked at Lilia again, who seemed for a moment to be lost somewhere else; her mid wandering off to a different memory of the past.

You grabbed both her shoulders and shook her faintly. "Lilia! Focus on me!" You shouted, trying to bring her back to the present. You were not sure what was going on, but now it was neither the time nor the place to question her. "We need your Tarot Expertise"

Wasting no time, Lilia walked towards the table; her eyes immediately falling on the cards both Billy and Agatha had put down.

"Who massacred this spread?" The old witch questioned, making the two culprits point a finger at one another.

You held back a chuckle at the scene, and if you were not racing against time to avoid impalement; you would have definitely enjoyed the moment more.

But alas, your time was ticking, and there wasn't exactly any true indication of how long you had before the trial was over.

"Who's the querent?" Lilia asked next, looking at her coven.

Billy looked around at the women for a moment. "You mean the subject? Me. I guess I'm the queer-ent." He was amused by his own bad joke, but the smile disappeared as quick as it came the moment you slapped the back of his head.

He turned to look at you, one hand placed against the spot you had smacked him; lips parted in a theatrical hurtful expression.

"Now it's not the time for pun jokes," you reminded him, surprising the teenager with the fact that you knew what a pun was in the first place. "Just get your reading so we can get out of here,"

You almost pushed him towards one of the chairs and forced him to sit, as Lilia took the seat across and grabbed the deck before passing it to him.

"The querent shuffles and cuts." She informed as the coven gathered around.

Agatha rolled her eyes. "Lilia, we don't have time for this."

"Shuffles and cuts," she repeated stubbornly. Billy immediately obliged. "Now, please ask your question."

Of course, nothing could go smoothly as Jen and Agatha started to argue again; honestly making you wonder if they also had some sort of former romantic relationship.

Their arguments were not helping with the situation, pressuring Billy more and taking time from the reading.

The two witches continued and dragged Lilia with as tried to defend the rules of the Tarot to Agatha; who clearly had no respect for this particular witchy art.

It was only you who noticed the swords coming down once again, the roof slowly approaching as your end was getting nearer and nearer with each passing second.

"Ladies," you called then out, hoping to stop them while refusing to take your eyes off the swords; fearing if you did, one would kill you in the next second. "Ladies!" You called louder, hoping to be heard above their arguing and the mechanism pulling down the sword covered roof.

Billy was watching all this time, seeing the swords coming down and no one able to help; cause this was on him. At that moment of thrill and worry, at the face of certain death; he dared to ask the one question he had deep within his heart.

The very same question he feared to even think feared to get any answers to.

"Am I William, or am I Billy?" He asked, practically shouting above the noise.

"That's a very good question," Lilia said with a gentle smile, knowing in most detail of his feelings on the topic; considering he did take over the body ofna dead boy and pretended to be someone else's son. "This is the Safe Passage spread," she continued explaining and pulled out the first card. "The first card is you, the Traveller. Next comes What's Missing, the reason for your quest. Here is the Path Behind, wounds suffered, lessons learned. Here is the Path Ahead, a space for growth and discovery. Of course, you will face obstacles preceding a potential windfall. Uou must overcome all to reach your destination."

As Llia explained each card placement on the spread and what would represent depending on the card, Jen, you, and even Agatha were listening intensely; equally drawn by Lilia's words.

Jen was the first to notice that Agatha was actually paying attention for once and did not seem ready to comment, which was odd for her.

"What, no snide remarks?" Jen teased, always in the mood to try and rub some salt on Agatha's wounds and prove her wrong.

Of course, Agatha was not going to make it any easier for her. She kept her chin up. "Made sense to me."

You rolled your eyes, cleared your throat, and moved to stand between the two women. "If you two are done. Time is ticking, and this is Billy's reading, not yours. "

Being called out like that and realizing you were making a valid point, they just mumbled under their breaths, but the two witches did not dare to continue their little quarell.

You looked at Lilia, who nodded faintly in appreciation for stopping the noisy duo from interrupting any further. You replied with a head nod of your own, though you could still not shKs the feeling that something was off.

The Tarot Cards were definitely Lilia's trial, and yet the questions were about Billy's Path. It just didn't click right in your mind, simply because this was not how the trials worked.

Each trial circled around a deep fear for each member, a fear they had to face, and a challenge that needed to be overcome as a coven.

So, if it was Lilia's trial, why was there nothing about her journey in the cards? Why the sudden focus on Billy?

While you were contemplating those questions in your mind, Lilia proceeded to draw two cards for Billy; the Magician and the Sun.

Yet both those cards did not seem to please the trial, for the swords changed and one landed top close to Jen; causing her to grab your upper arm subconsciously as she moved more into your personal space.

That was not something that Agatha liked, evident by her hard glare towards the Potions Witch; envy and jealousy flashing in her blue eyes... when she noticed.

The swords shaking and as she dared to focus on one, she saw it detaching from whatever invisible string was held; heading straight for Lilia.

In a surprising act of selflessness, Agatha tackled Lilia off the chair and to the ground; just as the sword pierced her chair.

An involuntary gasp left your lips, and your hands covered your mouth, eyes wide at the near death experience that you just witnessed. If Agatha had been a second slower or if she hadn't managed to push Lilia down with the first try...

You shook your head, trying not to think about the outcome.

Instead, you simply stood there and watched as Agatha was forced off; Lilia clearly fought her despite the magicless witch trying to explain that she had just saved her life.

Once both women were up again, you passed a hand over your hair; having almost forgotten the odd but rather unique crown of ice on your head.

"Something we did was wrong... there is no other explanation, " you commented, trying to ease your beating heart.

Jen looked at you. "Yeah, but what are we doing wrong?!" She asked, her tone elevated as she was getting equally stressed. "We followed damn Tarot Rules, Lilia doing the reading as is her trial. So what do we do wrong?"

Jen's words seemed to trigger something within Lilia's mind as she started to realise everything. Her time slips, the random flashes she would get a those years... it all slowly started to make sense.

And she finally had an answer.

"Because he is not the Querent," she suddenly said as she sat at the edge of the chair; unbothered by the sword that had almost impaled her and made her one Vlad the Impaler victims. "I am. This is my reading"

And with those words, she stopped shuffling and cut. Her fingers touched the first card, and her mind's eye immediately got a time flash; the name of the card was known to her before she even turned it.

"The Queen of Cups"

Chapter 36

[darsynia]

Hey, I hope it's ok to reach out like this but I'm back on tumblr with a new account after being away and am very lost, and as I love your fics, I'd love any recommendations for blogs to follow (in addition to yours, of course)!

I'm looking for non-dark Steve x Reader or Steve x OFC content. Preferably the fluffy/romantic/happy kind, although the torture-the-cinnamon-roll-before-a-tooth-rottingly-happy-ending will always be my jam too. Smut is ok! Am also open for Bucky or Tony as the male lead!

So any recommendations you (or should you answer this publicly, your followers) might have would be super welcome.

I hope you're having a good week and again, if this is silly, feel free to discard!

Well this was such a lovely thing to find in my inbox, given how much I like yours! I predictably Darsy'd this, setting up a bunch of links so I could offer a 'must-follow' list as well as some masterlists to dive into. I agree with @steviebbboi that if someone else had asked, I'd stick you on here 100%!

We'll start with some authors and masterlists (some have a mix of dark and fluff), in no particular order (I'm making Bucky purple. He'll get over it. Or he won't, and that'll be fun too) EDIT: I forgot the blog names are blue for me. Steve, you're pink now, I don't make the rules:

@ronearoundblindly Steve Series | Steve Oneshots | Bucky

@anika-ann Steve | Bucky

@stargazingfangirl18 Steve | Bucky

@navybrat817 Steve | Bucky

@targaryenvampireslayer Steve | Bucky

@thezombieprostitute Steve | Bucky

@buckets-and-trees Steve | Bucky

@witchywithwhiskey Steve | Bucky

@nicoline1998enilocin Steve | Bucky | Tony

@holylulusworld Steve | Bucky | Tony

Next we have a list of folks who make this corner of Tumblr a delightful place to be! Authors whose fics aren't quite the fluff you're looking for, readers we can't live without, mutuals who light up my life; this venn diagram is a complete, lovely mess.

@krirebr @bigtreefest @biteofcherry @sweater-daddiesdumbdork @brandycranby

@jaqui-has-a-conspiracy-theory @steviebbboi @whiskeytangofoxtrot555 @buckymorelikefuckme @caplanbuckybarnes

@eralen @nekoannie-chan @nowandjenn @secretswiftymarvelfan @rogerswifesblog

@petite-madame @rogersideup @levans44 @jobean12-blog @heli0s-writes

@deliciousangelfestival @jesevans @mrsevans90 @jamneuromain @mischief-and-tea-by-the-sea

Full disclosure: Ro helped me with a few names here, and I just followed you *waves* so please don't be freaked out that I just followed and stuck you on a list! You come highly recommended!!

Thanks for asking, it's an honor and a delight to have an excuse to boost up some truly great blogs on here!

Had to add this, too. Tumblr told on me:

Ps. that thing where you try to remember a really lovely person's username and you can't and you remember it a half freaking hour after you posted... (or a day later! Argh, I'm so sorry Jen! @late-to-the-party-81 absolutely deserves to be on this list. If it is any consolation I totally did the 'leaving out someone obvious' with wedding invitations and it never doesn't feel bad!)

[dumbasslesbi2]

But I Thought You Had a Girlfriend?~ Chapter 1 (Agatha x Rio Students AU)

Chapter 2

Summary:

Agatha and Wanda are top students while Rio and Alice are delinquent students that everyone seems to dislike. However, Agatha can't seem to stop the crush she has on Rio even if all the rumors are true. The includes the rumor that her and Alice are dating. Rio also can't help but think the same, even if she thinks Agatha is dating Wanda. Will it all change when they're assigned as partners for an AP Art project?

Notes:

Hey y'all! I got a surprise for y'all, this one's gonna be a mini series! I'm thinking either 3 or 4 chapters, still undecided but ya this should be fun! Hope y'all enjoy, as always please tell me if there's any misspelling or grammatically incorrect stuff, I have dyslexia so sometimes I miss so stuff.

Agatha Harkness had always been the top of classes no matter what. She always needed to have the best score possible on her tests and refused to settle for a B. She couldn’t help herself, she had always been a “Type A personality” since she was little. Agatha was THE A+ student but that didn’t mean she was exactly the top in social settings. Because she was so high achieving she also had been known to argue with anyone and always needed things her way. Because of this, Wanda was pretty much her only friend. Wanda and Agatha had been friends since middle school and have been inseparable since then. She was always bubbly and nice but when Wanda needed help Agatha was always there. If Wanda got into an argument with someone, Agatha was always there to back her up. Agatha was basically Wanda’s guard dog, everyone knew not to mess with Wanda unless they wanted to deal with Agatha. The only person who didn’t care about this was Jen. She was the only person in the school who dared to compete with Agatha and try and beat her perfect scores. This only made Agatha try harder and constantly bicker with Jen.

On the other end of this high scoring social tree was Rio Vidal. Rio had always been barely skating by in her test scores and grades. She cared more about art and gardening than any of her homework or tests. She would skip classes to smoke weed in the bathrooms with her friend Alice or she would go to class but just draw in her sketchbook the whole time. Rio was definitely more of a “Type B personality” when it came to school and thought she would figure out what she would do with her life when she got there. In her mind she was still young and could afford to live life rather than care about school. Her and Alice were deemed as wallflowers and nobody in the school bothered them since people thought they were ”wastes of space” or “bums”. In reality they were just two teens who didn’t know what they wanted but people still thought of them as delinquents. Well actually that was a lie, Rio did know she wanted one thing. She wanted Agatha. However, she thought she couldn’t have her, she thought Wanda had her. A rumor had gone around the school that Wanda and Agatha were dating, which Rio thought was 100% true. It was no secret that Agatha was a lesbian and because of this people thought her and Wanda were dating. In reality, they were just BFFs, Agatha held no romantic feelings for Wanda. However, she did hold romantic feelings for one girl, Rio Vidal. Her and Rio had one class together, AP art. While Agatha did enjoy regular school subjects, she still had a creative bone and found painting as a nice get away from all her troubles. She sat a table away from Rio and would admire her, she thought she was like an angel, flung out of space. However, she thought she couldn’t have her, she thought Alice had her.

Similar to Agatha, Rio was also a lesbian and didn’t make it a secret either. Alice got roped in just like Wanda and a rumor had spreaded saying that Alice and Rio were in a relationship. Rio had moved into town their freshman year and Alice was the only one who spoke to Rio, which caused them to become best friends. They weren’t in a romantic relationship whatsoever and in fact Alice found the rumor annoying because she was trying to get a boyfriend. Alice would constantly joke that Rio had cockblocked her to which Rio would always tell her to give it some time and the rumor would go away, but it never did. Rio found the rumor annoying since she wanted Agatha more than anyone. Rio was happy they at least shared one class together but she was always too scared to talk to her. She knew she had to find the courage soon since it was their senior year and knowing Agatha she probably wanted to go to a four year University like Yale or Harvard, while Rio would end up going to community college which wasn’t bad but she knew they would be separated. What Rio and Agatha didn’t know is that the cards would play in their favors. As part of their portfolio of their AP art test, their teacher assigned them to co work in atleast one piece with randomly assigned partners, which led Rio and Agatha to be paired. “Uh hi” said Rio holding up her hand with a wave, heading over to Agatha’s table. “Hey, I guess we’ll be stuck with each other for the next month” Agatha said with a giggle, trying to play off how nervous she was to be partnered with her crush. “ Ya I guess so, hope you don’t mind being stuck with me” Rio said, sitting down, avoiding eye contact with Agatha. “I don’t mind, I don’t care what people talk. If anything I’m shocked you don’t mind being stuck with me” Agatha told Rio, Pulling out her watercolor sets. “Heh, true I guess, anyways any ideas for the piece? I know you mostly do watercolor paintings but I feel we can do some mix media? I also have some gouache if you wanna try that maybe?” Rio asked, trying to change the subject. “ I’ve never worked with gouache but I’m not one to be scared of trying new things” Agatha said biting her nail while looking at Rio, hoping she wasn’t looking too desperate. Rio on the other hand was trying to calm herself down. While she was good at hiding her feelings, on the inside she was always panicking. “Duly noted, I can bring them in on Monday if you want to try it out?” Rio asked, taking a silent gulp before looking back at Agatha. “What are you doing this weekend? We can try to work on it in my mini studio” said Agatha, writing down her address on a piece of paper. “Mini studio?” Rio questioned. “Ya, my mom’s an artist, you didn’t know? My mom’s Evanora” Agatha said, semi shocked Rio didn’t know. Everyone knew who Agatha’s mother was, which is another reason why people didn’t mess with her. She never liked to gloat about it and wanted to become her own person, outside of her mother’s shadow. However, all she wanted was her mother’s approval of her which is why she always strived for such high grades. Agatha would never admit it though, she refused to admit something so weak as that. She handed Rio the paper, “my number is also on there, text me what times you’re free. My mom’s out all weekend so we should be good for any time you wanna come over” Agatha said, packing her bag before the bell rang. “I have to get to AP Lit right now but I hope you’ll text me” she said to Rio with a smile. “Yeah, I’ll text you later today. Good luck in class” Rio said, immediately regretting saying good luck, she felt like such a nerd after saying it. “Heh, thanks, see you later” Agatha said, blowing a kiss. She could tell Rio was flustered, she didn’t care if Rio had a girlfriend, one way or another she would have her. 

Once lunch started Rio went straight to Alice to catch her up on everything. She texted her as much as she could in her algebra class without getting caught. She really didn’t want to deal with the teacher taking her phone again. “Alice this is fucking insane” Rio said, sitting down at the table. “Rio, you need to tell me everything like now! How the fuck were you able to get not only her address but her number too????!” Alice said in other shock, trying not to scream. “It’s even more than that, she blew me a kiss?!?!? I’m so confused, I thought she was dating Wanda?” she told Alice, also trying to keep her voice down, hoping no one in the cafeteria will hear them. “Well what if it was just a rumor? Remember how people thought we were dating? Maybe they have the same thing going on, there’s no way they’re dating if she’s doing stuff like that in classes. Plus she’s like gonna be valedictorian, I don’t see why miss perfect would ruin her reputation like that” said Alice, biting into her apple. “Thought? Alot of people still think it” Rio said, groaning at the remembrance. “I guess it could be a rumor though. God, I hope its a rumor. I really like her, she’s just so pretty. Like did you see what she’s wearing today? She even-” “Rio, listen I love you but we’ve talked about this. I don’t mind talking about her but I can’t take it when you go off like this” Alice told Rio, interrupting her before she went into another rant. On the other side of the cafeteria Agatha went to Wanda who was talking to Vision, a new transfer student from Britain that Wanda had a huge crush on. Honestly Agatha was hoping the two would get together soon since she felt the two were a good match. “Hey Wanda, hey Vision. Sorry to interrupt but I need Wanda for a moment, kind of a girl talk if you don’t mind” Agatha said to the two, knowing Wanda was about to kill her. “Oh yeah, sure. I’ll see you after school then Wanda?” Vision said, getting up from the table. “Of course, see you after school” Wanda said, smiling up at him. As Vision walked away, Agatha sat down quickly. “Agatha this better be good, I swea-” “I gave Rio my number and address during art class today” Agatha interrupted immediately. “Oh. My. God. Agatha! I'm so happy for you!” Wanda said, putting her arms around Agatha. “Wait a minute, isn’t she dating Alice?” Wanda questioned, looking at Agatha questionably. “And? I’m better than Alice in every way. She deserves someone better if they are. Plus she would have brought that up when I gave her my number and address, what couple wouldn’t have weekend plans?” Agatha said, not caring at all. “I guess but still, you should ask her when she comes over or like bring it up subtly” Wanda said, taking a bite of her lunch. “Great idea Wanda. “Hey Rio do you have a girlfriend”. What am I, desperate? I can’t just ask her” Agatha said with a huff. “Hey, I’m only trying to help. Unless you want to stay single forever” Wanda told Agatha with a pout. “You know I didn’t mean it like that. I’m just stressed out” Agatha said, eating her cafeteria pizza. “I know, I just want you to be happy, you know?” Wanda said, putting and arm around Agatha. “I know, thank you” she said, returning the hug to Wanda. 

Once Rio got home after school she went up to her room and immediately started texting Agatha.

Hey Agatha, It’s Rio from AP Art :). I’m free tomorrow all day so just let me know what time you want me to come over!

Hi Rio! For sure, how does 12 sound? 

Sounds perfect, see you then!

See you tomorrow <3

Rio was freaking out, Agatha sent her a heart. She immediately took a secret screenshot and sent it to Alice who texted her back almost immediately 

DUDE!!!! SHE WANTS U SO BAD

I don’t know about that but I just hope this isn’t like straight girls flirting :(. Like you said, Wanda and her being a couple was probably a rumor, so she’s probably straight 

Rio, ur kidding me. Rio she’s a fucking lesbian. THE WHOLE SCHOOL KNOWS. SHE STATED PUBLICLY SHE’S A LESBIAN?!?!? DID U NOT SEE HER INSTA?!?!?!?

Wait what? You know I deleted Instagram a while ago 

RIO IT’S IN HER BIO

Rio received a screenshot of Agatha’s instagram and in her bio did in fact say “Loud and Proud” with a gay flag emoji. Rio couldn’t believe her eyes and was panicking. How did she never notice that Agatha liked her back? That night Rio almost couldn’t go to bed because of how nervous but excited she was for tomorrow. She was debating if she should take flowers or something as a gift before she went to Agatha’s tomorrow. Rio never expected this to happen but she was more than ready for it to do it. She was going to make Agatha Harkness her’s even if she had to fight to make it happen. At the same time Agatha was in her room on facetime with Wanda deciding what to wear for tomorrow. “Wanda I love you but everything you’re suggesting I can’t wear! She thinks we’re going to be painting! I can’t wear a tight dress like this if we’re painting, I’m going to be ruining my best clothes!” Agatha yelled out, grunting as she was still unsure of what to wear. “Ok but I want her to be shocked, Agatha, we need to show her how hot you can be. Remember that club we went to last week, people couldn’t keep their eyes off of you” Wanda exclaimed. “Yeah, and they were all guys Wanda! Women’s eyes aren’t the same as men, don’t think so lowly of women” said Agatha, still rummaging through her closet. “Agatha I can literally pull up a text from two weeks ago of you talking about Rio in a low cut shirt” Wanda told Agatha in a deadpan tone. “Okay! I get it!” Agatha exclaimed, pulling out more clothes. “What about these overalls and this shirt?” Agatha said, pulling out a striped purple and black shirt with navy blue overalls. “Cute! I think that’s it!” said Wanda, doing a little happy dance. “Also do you think this looks good for Vision?” Wanda asked, showing up a sundress that would hug her in all the right places. “If he doesn’t ask you to be his girlfriend after seeing you in that, it’s over” Agatha said with an eye roll. “Yay! Thanks Agatha! I’m gonna go to bed now so I don’t feel too tired when I see him tomorrow. Good luck getting Rio! Love ya!” Wanda said before hitting the end call button. “Love you too, good luck tomorrow!” Agatha said, hanging up the call. After Agatha got ready for bed she flopped on, hoping the best for tomorrow. She knew everything would go well, just like she always tells herself but she can’t help but feel a bit nervous. She knew one way or another, she would make Rio Vidal her girlfriend.

[cassiebones]

Character Analysis: Jennifer Kale

Jen Kale has such a tragic history, just like the rest of them.

I, at first, had thought that she was pretty young compared to the rest of them, but she was already an established midwife by the 1850's (when the Obstetrics thing came about; yes, I googled) and so I believe she probably already had about a century's worth of experience before that. She probably watched the babies she helped birth grow up before her eyes. She watched their whole lives. I wonder how many of them knew who she was and used her as their own midwife.

I had a thought that she might have been Agatha's midwife, which explains how she was the only one who knew about Agatha's son, but she probably would have remembered who Rio is (though it may have been by design that nobody knew about Rio). I'm not sure, but it would explain the history between her and Agatha.

Regardless, I think she and Agatha have some kind of contentious past. Maybe Agatha was trying to build another coven, but Jen caught wind of what happened to previous covens of Agatha and dipped out.

Then she started to hear more rumors about Agatha's escapades and believed them. Because Agatha was known to be a witch-killer. So she wouldn't put it past this witch to trade her own child for a book of dark magic.

And obviously part of her trust issues come from that invitation to impart her knowledge on a society of male obstetrics who she thought recognized her intelligence and respected her. It's probably really hard to trust after going through something like that; it's probably equally as easy to believe all the bad things you hear about somebody universally acknowledged to be a bad person in general. And then to actually witness Agatha's callousness for herself?

But, at the same time, Agatha praised her knowledge during the first trial. She acknowledged that Jen is a smart person. That, while her power was taken from her, Jen still knows a lot of shit. And she uses that intelligence to her advantage (and, unfortunately, to her detriment at times.) Jen is also the person that Agatha looks to when Teen gets hurt, knowing that if anybody could save him, it would be Jen. She trusts Jen in that moment, and it makes Jen trust in herself, despite her bindings.

I think we're all in agreement that all the witches are some flavor of queer, right? I actually just googled and Jen is canonically bisexual, so a win for the lgbtq+! I feel like maybe she had romantic interest in Agatha in the past, but realized that Agatha was so emotionally unavailable as to be a non-starter.

And then there's the killing witches thing.

Like Agatha, I think Jen tries to come off as more confident than she really is. She acts a bit catty to combat the self-doubt, lashes out at those around her. She is definitely suspicious of everybody when she first meets them, though she tries to act "nice" or polite.

I hope that she makes it through the road (despite last night's episode ending) and that she is able to unbind herself. And I hope the man that bound her is buried somewhere awful and that he's being tortured a lot.

Speaking of the man who bound her; do you think he might have had some kind of infatuation or did he hear about this incredibly talented black woman and immediately go "that's a witch; gotta stop her" and then found out she was a midwife (somebody who ferries new lives into this world and does a Very Important Job) and was like, we cannot allow this to continue?

Remember that Jennifer was likely living in the North during slavery. She was working a job that was well-respected and was invited to Boston, where she still would have been free and probably well-respected in her career. She also came from a long line of root workers, which are essentially healers.

And god forbid a woman have interests and talents. Especially in those times.

Jennifer came off as a bully in last night's episode, but I don't believe that to be the whole story. Maybe she was influenced by something. Maybe it was all Agatha's horrifying hallucination. Maybe Jen was just acting out of fear.

Regardless, she is just as multi-faceted and three-dimensional as the rest of them and I have trust that Jac will show that in future episodes.

Only four more to go!

[fionajames]

Lemme request something Void! related. Preferably Sterek. No x reader please. Even just Sterek friendship!

Devoid of All Emotion

A/N: OML TYSM FOR THIS REQUEST!!! I AM SO GRATEFUL, YOU HAVE NO IDEA. Now to explain, I would ship Sterek but the thing is, yk, the age gap, so unless it's an au or a few years into the future when it's more natural, I view Stiles and Derek as platonic soulmates. I really hope you enjoy and PLEASE, TEEN WOLF PEOPLE, SEND REQUESTS.

(divider by @saradika-graphics)

Three seconds breath in, three seconds hold, three seconds breath out. 

Three in, three hold, three out.

In, hold, out.

Three, three, three.

The rhythmic breathing was beginning to ache in his chest as the man exhaled steadily, attempting to steel himself as he stared at the orange hues of sunset. Inside the apartment, beyond the door, he could hear the Sheriff’s attempt at resurfacing whatever remained of his son.

In, hold, out.

Derek glanced to his side, where Allison was gnawing on the ends of her fingernails, glancing to her dad every few moments. He could smell the anxiety rolling off of her, grief twisting with it as she sighed loudly. Emotional pain drifted in the air, stronger and heavier than anything else.

“You’re not my son,” the words floated into Derek’s ears as the tiny flickering spark of hope in his stomach was quenched with the snapping sound of metal being broken. Stiles was gone. He blinked languidly, his own grief growing inside of him. 

Argent was the calmest one present, as predicted, and waves of chilling cool rolled off of him. It was relieving to Derek’s overwhelmed senses, and he focused on that instead of Allison’s frantic panic as they entered the loft.

He followed Argent with monotonous steps, watching out of the corner of his eye as Allison sucked in a breath, positioning herself diagonally from Stiles. 

No, a voice in his head rasped, and Derek scanned the boy’s face hopelessly. That’s not Stiles.

Abruptly the weight of the situation came crashing down on him. That wasn’t Stiles in front of him, that was the Nogitsune, controlling the boy he once knew. Stiles was smart and mischievous, witty and quick-thinking, but he had this bubbly energy that had originally annoyed Derek to all ends. 

But now, he would give anything for a cheerful humorous quip to come from Stiles’ lips, instead, the Nogitsune watched contently, as though everything he’d planned was slotting into place. It was using Stiles’ body like a puppet, and Derek could practically picture the red strings tied to the boy’s every limb, controlling his every move.

Allison attempted to tase the Nogitsune, but it raised its fists effortlessly and caught the electricity. Sure, Derek hadn’t thought the taser would affect the monster, but he hadn’t expected it to catch it. He pushed down the fear rising in his stomach, trying desperately to picture something other than Stiles in front of him.

And then the Nogitsune yanked the electricity, and Allison’s eyes grew wide with horror as the taser was ripped from her grip with careless ease, thrown to the side of the room. 

Rage washed over Derek as he stared at the monster in front of him, controlling Stiles’ body and taunting him without even realising. It was as though someone had taken a blade dripping with wolfsbane and plunged it through his heart, twisting constantly. 

He’d been too afraid to admit it, even to himself, but Derek was aware his anchor had changed. The moment he’d met Stiles’ teary eyed gaze in this very same place, nearly two months before, he’d known. It had taken him a mere matter of seconds to believe the words that came from Stiles’ mouth, and with that Scott’s. He’d nearly killed Jen– the Darach right then and there.

Stiles was a cheerful boy, even if he had darkness inside of him that he rarely talked about. Derek was aware of how soulmates worked, whether they were platonic or romantic, it took a werewolf - or were creature of some sort - to feel the bond. He hadn’t recognised it at first, but Stiles was in fact his other half, and even though there were no romantic connections tying them together, Derek loathed the idea of hurting him.

But this wasn’t Stiles, this was the Nogitsune.

Derek snarled and lunged forward, aiming to grab the back of the boy’s head, only for the Nogitsune to grab him by the arm and twist. A cry of pain escaped his lips as he heard and felt his arm break as his shirt was grabbed and his head was slammed into the table. In one swift motion he was thrown into the pillar, and he groaned when pain erupted from his ribs as his back hit the plaster and he fell to the floor.

Not Stiles, he told himself. Nogitsune.

A click ran through the room, and Derek lifted his head to stare at Argent through the haze of pain glazing over his eyes. The sound of safety being switched off on a gun. Said gun was pointed directly at Stiles’ head. It didn’t matter if it was the Nogitsune, because that was Stiles’ body it was controlling, and a bullet to the head would kill him.

“Argent, listen to me,” the Sheriff began, reaching out a hand as though to calm a frightened animal. “Don’t do this.” Derek rose to his feet, because even though he was sure he’d broken a few ribs and it hurt like hell - even though it would heal - he wasn’t going to just watch Argent shoot his anchor. 

Not just his anchor, his other half.

“Why not?” Argent mused calmly, but Derek could smell the tinge of guilt amongst the collected calm. “I’ve done it before; werewolves, berserkers, I can easily add a Nogitsune to the list.” The Sheriff responded immediately, raising his gun and clicking off the safety smoothly, pointing it at Argent’s head.

Derek saw Stiles’ mouth form an ‘o’, eyes widening and brows shooting up, as though he wasn’t surprised, just amused. It made him feel sick. 

Argent glanced at the Sheriff. “You’re not gonna shoot my son,” the man told him firmly, and the stench of fear spilling off of him was acidic to Derek’s senses.

“You said it yourself, Sheriff,” Argent told him, turning back to look at the Nogitsune. “That’s not your son.” The Nogitsune tilted Stiles’ head mockingly, taunting Argent silently, teasing him. Derek wanted to scream.

“Put it down,” the Sheriff firmly ordered, yet Argent didn’t flinch. “Put it down.”

“Dad, he’s gonna shoot me,” the Nogitsune whispered, fear seeping through its words. But the fear was fake, an attempt to guilt trip the Sheriff into listening. Derek reminded himself yet again; this was the Nogitsune, not Stiles. Not his Stiles. “He’s gonna kill me, Dad.”

“Put the gun down,” the Sheriff repeated, glancing at the body of his son again. 

“Don’t listen,” Argent told him.

“Put it down!” The Sheriff’s voice grew louder and stronger. “Now! Do it! Put it down!”

The Nogitsune turned Stiles’ head, staring Argent in the eyes. And yet, as it spoke, something inside of Derek tinged, and he knew that the words were Stiles’, not the spirit’s. “Pull the trigger, come on.” The Nogitsune was playing it off as a taunt, but Derek could feel the heavy presence of Stiles in the words, begging Argent to kill him so the spirit would leave.

Horror was swimming in Derek’s stomach, getting harder and harder to push down. He wanted to grab Stiles and drag him away, but this wasn’t Stiles. Yet, it had Stiles’ body, and if any harm came to the boy’s body, it wasn’t just affecting the Nogitsune. It was doing well, and he knew that, it was pulling on everyone’s heartstrings and taunting them into doing exactly what it wanted.

Derek hated it.

“Listen to me, you put the gun down now!” The Sheriff shouted, and Derek watched the horror melt Argent’s features, as though he realised exactly what was happening.

“Dad!” Allison pleaded, and Derek wanted to join her in begging them to stop, but he couldn’t drag his eyes from Stiles’ face. Devoid of all emotion, completely void. 

“Shoot me!” Stiles screamed, and yet again, it was Stiles. The Nogitsune couldn’t completely control the boy, but it was manipulating his body language and tone, but the words themselves were all Stiles. Derek despised it. This was Stiles, his anchor, his other half, begging for Argent to put a bullet through his head to save his friends, to save everyone. Stiles begging for his own death. It filled Derek with a new kind of emotion, one he couldn’t quite decipher, but it was strong.

“Put the gun down!”

“Shoot me!”

“Argent, you put it down!”

“Strife,” came Allison’s whisper, and Derek’s gaze broke from Stiles’ face, realisation hitting him. The colours of sunset were fading to darkness, and his heart ached. The Onii were on their way, on their way to kill the Nogitsune, and in the process, Stiles. His Stiles.

“Put it down! Put it down!”

“Stop!” Allison screeched. “Stop it! This is what he wants! This is exactly what he wants!”

“Not exactly,” the Nogitsune intervened, and a rush of sharp coldness like an icy river shot through Derek’s soul, engulfing him in frigid iciness. “I was kinda hoping Scott would be here. But I’m glad you all have your guns out, because you aren’t here to kill me. You’re here to protect me.”

The Nogitsune turned and stepped backwards, between the Sheriff and Argent as four dark figures materialised out of nowhere. The Onii slashed the swords ominously, and Derek hated to admit that the Nogitsune was right. He wasn’t going to let the shadowy figures even brush against Stiles. Never.

And then the two men opened fire on the shadows, and Derek slipped round to meet Allison on the other side, encircling Stiles. 

The fight was a blur, literally, because the Onii seemed to be pure shadow. At some point, one of their swords sliced Derek’s shoulder, and he cried out in pain. They eventually dissipated, and when he turned around, Stiles was gone, nowhere to be seen. The others left shortly after.

A sigh escaped his lips as he splashed his face with water as the ache in his chest grew, licking up inside his throat and burning. His other half was out there somewhere, trapped inside his own body with no control as the Nogitsune continued to puppet him.

The idea sent more rage rocketing through Derek’s body and he leaned his forehead against the wall. Nothing was ever simple in Beacon Hills, and now they had to somehow yank a spirit from a human boy’s body. 

But they would, Derek knew that. Because he wasn’t going to give up until Stiles was back and the Nogitsune was gone. Whatever it took.

A/N: tysm for reading!!! i hope you enjoyed!!!! please send requests, im actually begging you.

(taglist: @skellymom, @techs-goggles9902, dm me if you wish to be added or removed)

[sapphicwhumpblog]

A snapshot of the first day Jen/Peaches/357 spends at WRU. Tagging @paingoes, let me know if you want to be added to the taglist!

This isn’t right. 552357 isn’t sure what isn’t right, but the feeling of wrongness is overwhelming, like a siren blasting. She’s cold, and when she tries to sit up her muscles ache. Her arms and legs are spotted with dark bruises and there’s something dark on her wrist. She squints, bringing her wrist close to her face.

It’s a barcode with a number underneath. A tattoo, says a quiet voice in her head, only she doesn’t know how she knows what a tattoo or a barcode even is. She squeezes her eyes shut, and remembers the taste of cheap beer, neon lights, the buzz of a needle, and then something stabs her behind her right eye. The memory fades, but the wrongness intensifies. Something is missing. She looks at her right forearm again, and for a moment her brain projects a vine wrapping around her arm, but there’s nothing but unblemished skin. The pain in her head intensifies, and she squeezes her eyes shut, burying her head in her hands. Something thick and heavy is around her neck, and it’s too tight, she feels like she can’t breathe.

This isn’t right.

The door opens.

__

Handler Wells is damn good at her job. That being said, she’s surprised that she’s the one handling 552357. It’s only her second year as a fully fledged handler, and the facility has much more experienced Romantic handlers. She wasn’t expecting to get something this high-caliber for at least another two years. For whatever reason, though, this opportunity has fallen into her lap, and now she has the chance to skyrocket to the top, instead of the long, grueling crawl she was expected. It’s a dream come true.  

552357 is curled up in the corner of the white room, in the standard-issue white shirt and black shorts. She nervously looks up at Handler Wells when she walks in.

“Stand up.”

The girl scrambles to her feet, her skinny legs shaking. Between that and her big brown eyes, she reminds Handler Wells of a fawn. “Where am I?”

“You’re at WRU facility 044. Romantic division.”

357 tilts her head to the side, confused. “What does that mean?”

Handler Wells explains, watching 357’s sweet face. As Handler Wells talks, her delicate eyebrows furrow for a moment and her hands clench into fists. It’s quick, but Handler Wells notices. She can sense the chaotic whirl of thoughts in the girl’s head, as loudly as if she was projecting them into the air. 357 still thinks she can run.  She still thinks she's in control. No problem, it just means she needs to learn otherwise.

“Do you have any questions, 357?” The girl shakes her head. Handler Wells tries not to laugh. “All right. Why don’t we get you something to eat?” 357 nods, her jaw clenching.

It’s standard practice to cuff new pets, but Handler Wells doesn’t bother, guiding the girl with a hand on the back of her neck. They step out into the hallway. 357’s eyes dart around, and Handler Wells can feel her pulse in her throat.

She picked out this wing for 357 for several reasons. First, it’s nearby her favorite break room, the one that always has the good coffee. And second, there’s a door at the end of the hallway with a glowing red exit sign. It can’t be opened without a keycard and a passcode, but 357 doesn’t know that.

On cue, Handler Lorenz pushes the door open.

“Wells! We’ve got a problem.” Their voice is wooden—they’ve never been a great actor, but they’re Handler Wells’s best friend and the only one she’d trust to do this with her.

Handler Wells casually takes her hand off 357’s neck to wave back. “This better not be about that twink you were telling me about this morning.”

On cue, 357 drives her elbow into her stomach. It barely glances off, but Handler Wells grunts and staggers back like it’s hurt her. 357 is fast, to her credit, but she’s a mouse in a room full of cats. Handler Wells lets her hope build for a moment, and then jabs a button on the controller for the shock collar.

357 screams and convulses just inches from the door, collapsing into a heap on the ground. Handler Wells holds down the button for almost a minute, slowly walking over to the writhing girl.

“That was a very stupid move, 357.”

357 glares up at her through teary eyes. “This isn’t right. I didn’t want this.”

Handler Wells presses the button again, and 357 screams, her back arching beautifully.

“You signed the contract.”

“No. No, I wouldn’t have. Why can’t I remember anything?”

“You don’t get to ask questions. You signed up for this, and you've been a bad pet.” She drags 357 to her feet and cuffs her hands behind her back. “I was going to go easy on you for your first day. But now I have to show you what happens to bad pets.”

The girl spits at her. “Fuck you.” Handler Wells uses her baton this time, jabbing her in the ribs and watching her struggle as the current courses through her. Handler Lorenz gets her in the back just as she's catching her breath, and her scream is beautiful as it tears out of her throat, her lips stained with blood.

“All right, let’s get you back to your room. Lorenz, help me out.” Handler Lorenz opens the cell door. “Thanks, babe.” She pushes 357 back into the white room, slamming the door behind her.

Handler Lorenz laughs, clapping her on the back. “Nice job.”

“Thanks for helping me out.”

“Anytime. Do I still get first dibs?”

“Obviously.”

Her friend glances through the window at the girl. “How can you be so sure she’ll behave? She’s a feisty one.”

“Not after this.” Handler Wells pulls out her phone, swiping to bring up the room settings.

“What are you doing?”

“Watch.” She cues up the strobe lights and noise. Handler Lorenz makes an irritated noise and jerks back from the window.

“Warn me next time, asshole.”

“Sorry. Anyway, eight intermittent hours of this, then a second dose of the Drip, and then...” She pulls the vial out of her pocket triumphantly. “A special Romantic combo I mixed. She’s going to be so desperate she’ll be begging us to use her.”

Handler Lorenz whistles. “Not bad.”

“I’ve got to nail this.” She grits her teeth, staring in at 357. The girl’s nose is bloody. She can’t cover her eyes or her ears because her hands are cuffed behind her back, so all she can do is squeeze her eyes shut. There are already tears running down her pretty face. Handler Wells presses the button on the controller again, watching her writhe on the floor.  “If I do, I’m set for life at WRU.”