#but whenever i try to idk make an effort
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perfectly-uncapable · 2 years ago
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randomly saw your tags and you sound like you could use a hug, friend 🫂
awww thank you! i was being really dramatic, honestly. i literally had to go "what did i post that was so worrying???" and then an "ohhh bike got stolen"
really appreciate this tho :)))
#i was also just a bit too exited about the barbie movie avant premiere lmao#and i think we can still go#but i hate that i have to go like -oh are we still going with just the three of us then-#bc it is not THEE most logical now bc the whole plan was also to host a party after and now my cohost cant go so do i still do that??? i ca#but also if like 3/6 people cant come it feels rude to keep the plan going?#but also we could postpone it to...just go to the movie ig#but on the other hand there is only one avant premiere event?#but idk not going to the event also just feels rude to even consider towards the people who ARE available#bc then it's as if theyre not good enough to go alone with#which is completely not the case#but aaaaah none of these plans are going smooth and i feel so annoyed at everyone all the time about it#which is really unfair of me to do bc everyone but me still has exams so OFC stuff isnt smooth#but also everything i try to get exited about gets countered with people just not keeping their agendas free or doubts or idk#i just FEEL like i always prioritise this friend group#but it really FEELS ... TO ME... that its not the same for everyone?#and its not rational at all too bc i KNOW i could prioritise way better and i also KNOW people cannot control when their mom plans a trip o#or when they have to work or give a camp or idk#but whenever i try to idk make an effort#it feels like the universe is against me#and idk this is probably just what being in you twenties is like#and right now its just a piling of all these different things that makes it feel more serious i guess#but idk...no girls trip...no gent fest with everyone together...no barbie premiere...half the group going abroad next year...#i dont blame anyone i know its hard and circumstances are forcing it#but i do feel sad about it#and i also feel hella petty that i really put a lot of effort into the google doc and consulted multiple sites and thought of everything#for people to then go -yeah but the transport- and -we dont need half the things on that list-#*and i took that personally gif* bc i know none of them said that to be rude#lmao love how i said i was just being dramatic and then added this rant lmao#needed to sort these feelings out real quick to see which ones i need to adress and which ones are irrelevant#Anne you have done nothing wrong ever (but also no one rlly has in this situation) but yknow not frustrated with u or smth
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blighted-lights · 5 months ago
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the way that ravage clearly loves and idolizes megatron genuinely makes me ill you have no idea. like this is someone who clearly still adores megatron despite being betrayed by him. and on the other side, the way megatron interacts with ravage in this entire scene is so,,, he's tired. he isn't at all what ravage idolizes and he knows that. he doesn't know what he is anymore but he's not the valiant savior ravage needs and wants him to be, and he Knows it.
ravage is clinging to a version of megatron that no longer exists (or maybe never did in the first place, and only existed in ravage's mind) and megatron no longer has anything to cling to so he rejects his past completely. these two make me ill.
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mad-hunts · 6 months ago
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thinking about barton doing baby talk to his kids, even though he was eighteen when marcy gave birth to both matilda + louis and thus was a COMPLETELY different person, is honestly both super surreal to me and also surprisingly... sort of makes sense. because barton can NOT bring himself to be mean around babies; i mean at all, and this man loved his kids so much, which 😭 well — let me just say that his behavior has greatly changed since then, to say the least. though barton still believes he loves them in his 'own way'
#OF MONSTERS AND MEN: musings.#ahhh yeah... i just. idk what this mood is that i'm in right now but i just pictured barton being one of those dads that their toddler-#kids seem to ADORE but like 😭 obviously he is no longer the same person because man's used to be able to comfort them relatively-#well and actually made more of an effort at emotionally supporting them. though i guess part of the reasoning for this could be that-#barton was trying to hold back his quote unquote 'blood-thirst' at this point and be like everyone else buttt now he doesn't care about-#fitting in with the rest of the population much at all. because his main job is literally to serve criminals (albeit medically) and he's a#freaking ORGAN tr*fficker for crying out loud. but the strange thing is is that this trait of his where he just can't be mean to babies-#has carried on throughout all these years with him + whenever barton's around one he mayyy or may not sometimes get baby fever 💀#so yeah. that's fun LOL but idk it just makes me a little sad thinking about how good barton used to be with them whenever they were small#and now with his mental health pretty much being on a steady decline + him seemingly turning more and more monstrous by-#the years it's always a gamble with the mathis kids as to whether they'll get to see a glimpse of this again or if they'll just get more of#the same father who provides for his kids physical needs such as food and shelter but not so much emotional needs + can be manipulative-#as HELL sometimes too#tw: mental illness.#tw: manipulation.#tw: mentions of organ trafficking.#tw: emotional neglect.
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tearingdread · 5 months ago
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havin a normal one 👍
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sherlock-is-ace · 9 months ago
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#gonna be depressing in the tags for a moment#pls excuse me#but whenevery i see a pair of friends that are like soulmates together#who laugh and scream about what they love and have so many things in common#i always become the personification of ''i want what they have''#ever since i was a child i would pray (you heard that right lol) to get a best friend who shared my interests and passions#(and who was gay but that's included in interests and passions lol tho i didn't know it at the time)#i dream with the sitcom worthy friendships with the you get the key to my house and you can come in whenever#we just spend days sitting together and not even talking just being there#or the next best thing. find it online!#but that will never happen and i need to accept that#not even for lack of trying... i even went to a hobby class for a whole month trying to make friends irl#but it's impossible for the simplest reason... i don't enjoy it!#every time i try to do something new and out of my comfort zone i fail misserably because it's literal hell to me#how can i make a friend if i cannot talk to people?#online or whatever?!#i can't even talk to the people i know from school or whatever#i put in so much fucking effort and freak myself out!#and it's not working and it won't work and idk what to do about it!#so yeah i don't think i'm capable of having meaningful relationships actually#and i need to really accept that cause otherwise i will forever dream with it#like i need to stop trying to chase after it it's just not gonna happen#i guess people have these feelings about romantic partners? well not me lol#anyways...#angel talks#personal
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saltyfilmmajor · 2 years ago
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Adulthood really does feel like you don’t have time for your friends sometimes and it blows
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synthville · 2 years ago
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plus unfortunately for me i think r7 is done. splitsville. endpoint will be the 3rd stage of gay divorce when you can finally grab drinks and reminisce on the relationship with resigned fondness lol. just completely over in any way that matters (sorry to the silent subtleties of queerness girlies but that’s almost never done well when gay people aren’t at the helm and with this show in particular they simply refuse to address certain things as a major cop out)
anyway. what im getting from finally giving in to reviews and interviews and my own lesbian eyes is that going forward it’ll be awkward exes to renewed friendship probably shown through their seamless work dynamic. and they’ll leave things on a ‘maybe someday’ note. which, seeing as they even didn’t try in the actual present is beyond bullshit. but a mutual agreement to end things with both obviously having feelings they refuse to act upon because the writers are hateful hacks i can take.
what would be absolutely intolerable to me would be if seven has clearly moved on (with a blessing from raffi to go have starfleet sponsored spinoff adventures no less) while raffi just carries this torch forever. because fuck that. it’s one thing to have her be the one to nudge them along when they’re both in it but to have only her pining after the fact? hellish. like it’s actually deplorable to me.
#im sensing and noticing and realizing and what ive concluded is that i hate it here#‘seven and raffi will always respect and have love for each other’ ENOUGH let them fuck on the bridge or cancel the show#other ick would be 7 ending up w dude like even as i typed that out snakes started manifesting in my home#basically i am bereft#but trying to make my peace with the fact that my expectations will simply never be met#bc i refuse to let this show take me to the edge#they’ve already made a fool of me i cannot continue to hold on to hope#im at the okay sure stage of grief idk lol#bc even if by some miracle there’s a quickie get back together at the end it would be pathetic#wasted all that time for what#won’t actually show any intimacy or love or physicality between the one gay couple but im supposed to clap?#stop playing!#it’s the way they’d have been THE couple for me if there was even an ounce of effort#all that conflict and complexity plus a side of stupid? delicious!!#and yet.#feels like they’re that couple that in 10 or 20 or whenever the fuck this franchise is finally on its last legs#and they’ve exhausted all other options whoever’s the showrunner for the last resort pre post sequel whatever#will make a desperate twitter thread talmbout how these two finally found the way back to each other once again#as if it means anything lmao#to that i preemptively say: rot.#& ​the fact that this was the one trek show to reel me in of all things?#when beyoncé said ​take a minute girl come sit down and tell us what’s been happening#i was the dodo she was addressing!#r7#.rfi#stpk
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an-emo-trashbag · 2 years ago
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trying to finish the hunter playlist I made for the millionth time
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normalonside · 8 months ago
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As an white autistic who unlearned several prejudices and stereotypes:
Idgaf how autistic you are, stop being racist.
idgaf how autistic you are stop being racist😭😭
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anthromimicry · 8 months ago
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“ i feel like i’m pulled back in time to when it happened.” @twcfaces :)
in response to the other's words, silence spread throughout the room almost instantaneously, but it was not the kind that was born out of awkwardness or of any sort of malice — it was a quiet sort of understanding that misao was regarding the other with now. it was undeniable that harvey and two-face, as they were ultimately two halves of one whole, had clearly been through something very traumatic as evidenced by the events that harvey (who was seemingly the host of their body from what she'd gathered from their conversation thus far, though she could be wrong) described to her. so it was important to treat the topic with the respect it deserved... and not to immediately jump to saying that he needed help, because that could be misinterpreted as ' there's something wrong with you, ' which was the exact opposite of what those who practice talk therapy should say to their patients.
misao instead wanted to show him compassion (or, at least, as much compassion as she could given her propensity for having to fake empathizing with her patients perhaps more often than she'd like to admit) and so all she did at first was nod to affirm the other that she was indeed listening. the gears in her mind right now were just turning was all, as she tried to find what the best thing to say to him would be in this moment. misao preoccupied herself with pushing the tissues on the table across from them closer to harvey just in case he might need them. and this gave her the time she needed to finally settle on what she should say, her expression remaining neutral besides the blink-and-you'll-miss-it frown that tugged at her lips, ❝ i see. well, thank you for trusting me enough to share such a personal and difficult story. ❞
misao took a moment in order to let everything he said to her set in more and continued, leaning forward to show him yet another sign that she was in fact very attuned to what he was saying, ❝ i am so sorry that you were hurt, harvey. or would you prefer for me to refer to you through plural terms? it seems as if the therapists before me that have treated you have made you aware that you have disassociative identity disorder... but i know that every system's preferences tend to vary whenever it comes to pronouns. so, i thought i should ask. but we do not have to talk about two-face at all during this session if you don't want to or unless he wishes to join us. i am correct with my assumption that i am speaking to harvey, yes? ❞ making a trust her and forming a safe environment for them in her office was absolutely vital to helping them heal. and whenever it came to people with a disassociative disorder, misao felt it was especially important to establish a baseline with them about their system.
she only had what other psychiatrists had said about the two of them to depend upon currently in her notes, after all, and things could always change / be inaccurate. misao cleared her throat as she rolled her pencil in between her hands, ❝ now, please correct me if i am using the wrong terms here, but if you are comfortable with answering... i'd like to ask you whether this is the first time you've experienced such a thing. i mean, having this feeling that you are being brought back in time to when it happened. because i believe that if you have been experiencing these flashbacks to the past in a reoccurring fashion, that there may definitely be more to it than what meets the eye. ❞ misao grabbed something from beneath the table in front of her and it was soon revealed to be a notebook with a pen.
she carefully slid it over to him, wordlessly at first, ❝ i don't know if you are fond of doodling while talking, but i always keep a set of these in my office for those who are. so feel free. and i realize that it can be intimidating to speak about these things to someone, but i promise you that my goal here is to just help you to the best of my ability. ❞ misao offered him a small smile before settling back in her chair.
he, or they, might desire to have some space to process everything. and she was more than willing to give it to them.
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bonsai-wonders · 6 days ago
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alright i wanna do a notes thing and see how far it goes. also i do mildly need some motivation to do basic hygiene so
< 15 notes > i will make an effort to brush my teeth every night
< 30 notes > i'll try to keep my room as clean as possible for as long as possible
< 50 notes > i will make an effort to wash my face every morning to try and clear up my acne
< 60 notes > i'll try to wash my face every night and morning for my acne
< 70 notes > i'll make an attempt to shower every day (at some point throughout the day)
< 95 notes > i'll probably do this anyway, but i'll have a set bedtime i try to follow consistently so im not as tired and overstimulated in the mornings and during the day
< 150 notes > i'll take part in more gender confirming things, and make an effort to look more masc at my homophobic school (piss off the homophobes)
< 300 notes > i'll try and ask my mom for a somewhat strictly masc haircut. as masc as i can get it
< 500 notes > i don't go out much, but i'll attempt to wear my he/him pin as much as possible whenever away from my parents. i need to find the back of the pin tho (i'll do this whenever i find a back for it)
< 800 notes > i'll make an attempt at getting my friends to use my correct pronouns. they've kind of forgotten and never do it anymore (ugh. but what if i don't-)
< 900 notes > i tell my friends im aroace
< 1000 notes > i'll find a way to post my very first video on yt :> idk what about, but i really want to and have been wanting to (the literal hell is going on-)
< 1500 notes > i'll make an effort to actually eat food at lunch, since i usually only eat a hot pocket or a tiny thingy so maybe this'll help. (idk what to eat tho 😩)
< 2000 notes > i'll find a way to send my favorite yters fanmail (if their po box is open)
< 2100 notes > i'll go to school with a face full of fully done makeup. this doesn't give me dsyphoria at all, but im still scared to and kinda want to.
< 2500 notes > i'll make an attempt to write every single day, to practice and up my writing ability.
< 3500 notes > i'll talk to my parents about starting a workout routine maybe in the morning/afternoon since ive rlly been wanting to just im too lazy to and don't wanna get up early (sigh)
< 5000 notes > i'll try to clean up my diet and actually get in shape (abs here i come)
< 6500 notes > i'll try to somehow convince my (homophobic) mom to buy me an actual binder
< 10,000 notes > i come out to my homophobic christian conservative parents (if i ever reach this istfg-)
unlimited notes, just don't excessively spam pls <3 (if anyone actually participates. it'll be hilarious if this flops lol)
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edit: jesus fucking christ y'all, calm it lol. it's been like an hour-
edit 2: i have washed my face and brushed my teeth for the night. after my phone shuts off i'll clean up my room (+ i added more lol)
edit 3: 99+ activity oml-
edit 4: i upped the notes because omfg, calm it-
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neverendingford · 1 year ago
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#tag talk#the problem with going out and meeting new people to make friends is that so many people are highkey unbearable to be around#they'll fuck up basic scheduling for dates and meetups. they'll flake and message you about it two days later.#literally scheduled a dinner date with some dude and he never showed. texts me an hour later like “sorry I fell asleep” bitch you what?#like. messaging me literally last minute going “hey I've decided to not show up” is better than ghosting.#this isn't the first time something like this has happened. but like. why do people not respect my time.#I try so hard to communicate clearly and be transparent about timeline and schedule and letting people know if something comes up#and I'm not saying I'm better than other people. I'm saying I don't know why other people don't do it too. it feels like the bare minimum.#anyway. my brother was giving me shit for not sticking with friends for more than a few months and like. bro I have good reason.#I'm not going to choose to put in the effort for a relationship with someone if it's constant work on my end and constant let-downs on thei#like. bro I know I'm just some cheap ass to you but I'm still a person so maybe realize that I've put you in my schedule respect that#anyway. not being lonely isn't as easy as meeting new people. you have to actually like the people you meet.#meeting people you hate just entrenches you in the desire to never talk to people ever again.#unrelated. I cooked the best chicken of my life yesterday. milk butter garlic onion and lemon pepper.#crushed and minced garlic. diced onion. milk. butter. lemon pepper. heated in a pan.#then chicken pieces added to sauce in pan for a little bit. then moved to a pan in the oven.#I usually don't like chicken but damn this is genuinely so good. also my parents always cut chicken cross-grain and imo it's harder to eat#I prefer cutting the meat with the grain. idk why but it's so much easier to chew.#oh! pro tip. if you have trouble with milk going bad in the fridge cause you don't use it enough. powdered milk. big adhd tip#I can leave the tin of powdered milk in the pantry for months and then pull it out whenever I need it. no worry about spoiled milk#back to social and people. like. even nice people. I just don't like them anyway. idk why. like. nice polite people. mm too boring#would I like to be able to hold onto friends? sure. is that a reasonable expectation given my track record? no#I wasn't joking when I said I could drop tumblr no problem. it's nice here but relationships are fragile nothing built on air and dust#idk. cursed to a life of eternal loneliness. super fun. don't take this as a call for help. I don't need you to say “I'm sorry you're sad”
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rosetta-stoned-bitch · 2 years ago
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I feel like shit, too many straws on my back and one of them is def gonna break it
#Arushi rambles#It's my bday soon and I've never had a lesser inclination to celebrate it#God ugh#My best friend isn't in town#Neither is my boyfriend#And my anxiety won't shut up about how he's actually forgotten my bday and won't even wish much less send a gift#And recently we've been talking much less too since he went back to his hometown and we went long distance#And it feels like I'm the only one who even wants to talk and it's starting to make me feel really really stupid. So stupid that I get angry#Like I get its gotten really stressful. Since he is back home plus has this whole really frustrating job hunt going and it kinda makes sense#To not always want to talk because of how frustrating life has been lately and I'm really trying to be understanding of it all#But it feels horrible to pick up my phone at 2 in the afternoon and have absolutely 0 texts since last night#Which was also me trying to initiate a casual conversation that we did not even end up having#And it makes me want to completely stop initiating any conversation and it's making me want to stop putting in any kinda effort and ughhhh#idk man#I thought this would be different#If he does forget my bday I don't think I'll stay with him. I'm not making the same mistakes here.#I was an idiot to not recognise lack of efforts in the last one I'm certainly not doing it again#No matter how fckn amazing and consistent he'd been the 4 months he was here.#Maybe I should tell him I'm feeling like shit I know I should but whenever we talk he sounds so down and stressed already#I really don't feel like adding on#Ugh idk
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aesthetically-dying101 · 14 days ago
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You mean my wife?!
A/N: a short nanami story bc hes just so.. awooga? Idk if thats the right word but yeah. protective nanami is so scrumptious
warnings: someone being mean?
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The courtyard of Jujutsu High was alive with the sounds of effort: sharp exhales, the rhythmic thud of feet hitting the ground, and the satisfying crack of Yuji’s staff against a wooden training dummy.
You stood at the center of it all, tall and commanding, as the trio of students—Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi—moved through the drills you’d designed for them.
“Keep your stance lower, Nobara!” you called, watching as she lunged forward. “If you’re too upright, you’ll lose your balance against a larger curse.”
“I’m always balanced,” she shot back with a cheeky grin, but adjusted her footing anyway.
You chuckled, shaking your head, the cool breeze carrying the sound to where Megumi stood, quietly but fiercely focused as always. His precision was commendable- but you knew better than to leave him unchallenged.
Because if you did, something would get bitten by his shikigami's.
“Fushiguro,” you said, walking over to him, “you’re relying too much on the shikigami. It’s a team effort—you and them. Don’t just send them in to clean up. They’re not tools.”
Megumi’s eyes flickered with acknowledgment, and he gave a curt nod, his focus unwavering.
“And Yuji!” you turned to him, shielding your eyes from the midday sun-fuck it was too bright. “You’re doing great, but stop hesitating. Trust your instincts, not just your strength.”
Yuji grinned, giving you an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
“Got it, sensei!”
From the periphery, Nanami watched.
He stood a distance away, arms crossed, his polished demeanor as unyielding as ever, but his sharp eyes softened whenever they lingered on you. Though the students referred to you as “sensei,” Nanami knew you had yet to internalize the title, you said it made you feel old. But you carried the role with such natural ease, yet humility kept you from embracing it fully.
Unbeknownst to you, two other instructors lingered at the edge of the courtyard, observing your session with undisguised skepticism. One of them, a senior professor from a separate class, let out a dismissive chuckle.
“She’s passionate, I’ll give her that,” the man muttered to his companion. “But enthusiasm doesn’t make a teacher. She’s a little too green for this, don’t you think? I mean, who even let her—”
A voice cut through the air like a razor.
“You mean my wife?”
The words landed with weight, heavy enough to still the bustling courtyard for a brief moment. Even Yuji paused mid-strike, blinking as though he hadn't heard corretly.
Nanami stepped forward, his strides measured but deliberate, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the vicinity. His tone was calm, his volume controlled, but there was no mistaking the underlying steel in his words.
The professor, taken aback, turned to face him, his mouth slightly agape.
“I—what?”
“My wife,” Nanami repeated, his voice firm, the emphasis on the word clear and deliberate. His brow furrowed just slightly, and he tilted his head, as if daring the man to question him further. “The one you’re so casually criticizing. Do you have a problem with how she’s handling her students?”
The professor faltered, clearly blindsided. “I didn’t—I wasn’t aware—”
“That much is obvious,” Nanami said flatly, cutting him off. “Because if you were aware, you would’ve chosen your words more carefully. My wife is more than qualified, and if you’d taken the time to observe her work—properly, not from the sidelines—you’d know that.”
The air crackled with tension as Nanami’s gaze bore into the man. The professor stumbled over his words, trying and failing to form a response, before finally muttering, “I didn’t mean any disrespect.”
Nanami raised an eyebrow, his expression one of mild disbelief.
He clicked his tongue.
“Didn’t you?”
There was no malice in his tone, but the weight of his disapproval hung heavy in the air. The professor, thoroughly cowed, mumbled an apology and hurried away, his companion trailing behind him.
Satisfied, Nanami turned his attention back to you. You, who had remained blissfully unaware of the exchange, too focused on correcting Yuji’s form to notice the brief storm brewing on the sidelines.
“Nanami-sensei!” Nobara called, her voice breaking the tension. “Is it true? Are you two married?”
Yuji’s eyes went wide. “Wait, for real?! Sensei’s married to Sensei?!”
A lot of sensei's in one sentence.
Megumi just sighed, muttering something about how obvious it was.
You finally turned to face Nanami, confusion etched across your face.
“What’s going on?”
Nanami approached you, his expression softening the moment his eyes met yours.
“Nothing to worry about,” he said simply, brushing an invisible speck of dust off his sleeve. “Just clearing up a misunderstanding.”
“...Okay,” you said slowly, still puzzled but willing to take his word for it. “Well, since you’re here, care to give me some pointers? The kids could use a demonstration.”
He gave you a small, almost imperceptible smile, the kind that made your heart flutter no matter how many times you saw it. “Of course,” he said, his tone warming.
“Anything for you, sensei.”
You rolled your eyes and groaned.
And as the students watched in awe, the two of you moved seamlessly into a demonstration, your movements synchronized like a perfectly choreographed dance.
Nanami’s earlier confrontation was all but forgotten—except in the minds of those who’d witnessed it, where the words “my wife” lingered, a reminder of just how fiercely he would always defend you.
A/N: as i said, short n sweet, but yeah, nanami for the win
Masterlist.
:)
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madaqueue · 2 months ago
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CARVE ME UP AND EAT ME
there was almost no information on the mysterious cult nestled into the mountainside near your hometown, with even less knowledge about its leader. curiosity sets you on your path to investigate, but something else manages to keep you.
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pairing: vampire!suguru geto x f!reader
themes/content: dark content (dubcon). smut. cult leader suguru, blood drinking/feeding, like mind control-ish? idk i was making up vampire rules here, pet names (little lamb), fingering (reader receiving), p in v (missionary). 18+, MDNI (wk: 7.6k)
a/n: HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!! thanks for getting freaky with me this month, it's been such a blast and i love you all!!!! hope you get to dress up and have lots of yummy candy tonight :) mwah!!!!!
quintober masterlist | main masterlist
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People rarely came back from the mountains.
When they did, they were…different. Months, even years having passed from their disappearance, and suddenly returning with no memory of it. As though their time away suddenly ceased to exist. They couldn’t recall what they had done, who they were with, anything that could help the townspeople pin down the mysterious group making their home in the depths of the woods.
Any efforts to catch the so-called cult were obviously futile - the town lost enough soldiers that the leaders decided it was pointless to send anymore sacrifices.
So, there was a sort of peace. Well, less peace, and more a silent war, a battle of contempt, one that left everyone on edge. Whenever someone went missing, the entire village stood on edge, waiting but never searching.
But you were trained well, oh so well.
“Never go out at night.” “Never stray from us.” “Never get lost.”
“Never go into the mountains.”
They praised you for your obedience, feeding it to you from dirtied palms, making you kneel before them to drink from it. It felt good to be good.
Obedience is strength.
Their orders pulled at the strings of your muscles, dictating your actions, your movements, your very thoughts. They pulled and pulled and pulled until you were stretched taut, desperately tightening you into a form they deemed desirable.
It was only a matter of time before the strings snapped.
The fight was blurry now, nothing more than screams and tears and broken expectations so sharp you worried you may cut yourself. Your feet hit the ground outside your parents’ home faster than you could breathe in the burning air, cold in your lungs.
You had always obeyed.
So now, perhaps you could enact your final act of disobedience. The one thing that had been taught to you so deeply until it buried itself under your skin.
The path up the mountain wasn’t nearly as dangerous as others made it seem. Truthfully, it was shockingly well-maintained, the occasional branch snapping under your feet but no other obstacles.
What could even be so bad about this place, anyways?
The people who returned were never injured, always fed and clean and cared for. They always came back in a fresh set of robes draped over their skin, no signs of markings or damage painted across their bodies.
The options weighed heavy on your tongue. Either you’d reach the cult’s temple, or you’d die trying.
Either way, you’d be acting on your own. You’d be independent, free. With an exhale, you blew the remaining obedience into dust, joining the stars sparkling overhead.
The moon seemed pleased with your choice, at least, guiding your path clearly through the woods. Whenever the ground below your feet disappeared, you knew you had misstepped, returning easily to the worn-in gravel placed along the way. Eventually, the trees became sparse, no longer guarding you from whatever lays ahead.
It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust before focusing on the building before you, a gentle glow illuminating the temple through its exterior screens. It was certainly different than you imagined, expecting high stone barriers walling off a great fortress, leaving you to wonder: could masses of soldiers truly not pierce the paper screens protecting this deadly palace?
Yet, you couldn’t help but feel welcomed; it was unimposing, the warm lights flickering inside a definite sign of life. How many people call this their home? How many people serve here?
The wooden steps leading to the entrance creak slightly below your weight, palm hesitantly resting on the sliding door. Doubt flashes across your mind, the pull of your family threatening to tug you back home - should you turn around, forget this silly stunt and return to the life you had known?
Before you can move, the screen slides open in your grasp.
“Do come in,” a soft voice calls from inside as light floods your vision.
Your weight makes you stumble forward as your feet move on their own, carrying you into the room. It’s nice inside, the smell of sage lingering in the air as you make your way to the center. Before you is a man, his green and gold robes hanging loosely from his shoulders, the bare skin covered only by inky locks cascading down his back. His position looks almost leisurely as he kneels, his eyes scanning your figure.
“Sit.”
And you do - your knees buckle as you lower yourself to the ground.
A devilish grin spreads across his lips as he follows your motions. For a moment, his gaze locks on yours, deep purple eyes staring back.
“Quite an obedient little thing, aren’t you?” he purrs.
Air rushes into your lungs through a gasp, but you can’t stop the muscles in your neck from nodding.
What the fuck is happening? Why can’t you control your body?
As fear begins to course through your nerves, the stranger in front of you lets out a breathy giggle. “Good, that’s very good,” he muses.
When he rises to stand, your heart drops as you realize just how deeply you may have fucked up. He’s tall, easily towering over you. The bottom of his robes graze the floor as he circles you quietly - no, silently.
The sound of his humming vibrates in the air - you want to look at him, monitor him for any malicious intent, but you can’t bring yourself to turn your head.
When he’s completed his course around you, he returns to his seat on the floor. Perching himself on the balls of his feet, he leans forward. Cold fingers wrap around your face, pushing your cheeks together as he easily maneuvers you in his grasp. His eyes burn your skin as you realize:
He’s inspecting you.
With a pleased huff he releases your head, settling back across from you. That same smirk rests across his lips as he speaks. “Tell me, why did you come here, little lamb?”
The sound of your voice hits the air before you realize it’s yours. “I ran away.”
“Oh?” With a tilt of his head, his eyes crease. “Well then, I suppose you’ve found your new home. Welcome.”
Silently, he rises once more. This time, he extends a pale hand out to you. “I can show you to your room, if you’d like.”
At his words, the tendons within your body relax, more at ease. Finally under your own control, you raise a hesitant arm. Is this what you want?
Your palm rests lightly upon his.
He smiles.
“Good choice,” he whispers as you rise to your feet.
The temple’s grounds are beautiful, even in the dark. Flickering candlelight lines the stone paths as you walk through tended gardens, over wooden bridges and small streams. He guides you to a house near the back, tucked safely into the mountainside.
The paper slide shudders as it opens, revealing the outline of a bed covered in crisp white sheets.
“You can sleep here tonight. If there is anything you need, do not hesitate to call for me,” he informs you, each syllable floating through the night air.
With one swift motion he turns, returning down the path you came from.
“Wait!” you call - as the command settles, you sheepishly cross your hands. Dark hair falls over his shoulder as he turns to face you. “How…how will I find you?”
His eyes close as he laughs. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll find you.” And with that, he disappears into the darkness.
The sun rises hesitantly here. It peeks its head through the translucent screens, barely illuminating your room enough to rouse you. When you finally wake, your thoughts swirl in confusion for a moment - where are you? what happened? - before you remember the previous night, the path beneath the watchful moon, the man who led you here.
Despite the unfamiliar environment, the warnings carved into your skin about the dangers of this place, you can’t bring yourself to feel afraid - after all, if he wanted to hurt you, he surely would have by now, right?
There’s an ache in your muscles as you stretch your arms overhead, bare feet resting upon the wooden floor, cool from the morning air. Idle hands begin searching the room as you open the hand-carved drawers, the scent of pine still lingering on them.
In the first, you find fresh sets of sheets. Below that, cleanly folded towels.
Moving to the next chest, your eyes widen as you scan its contents. Inside lie beautiful silks in every shade - your palms run over blues that mirror the sea, pinks the color of sunrise, greens brought from the forest floor. Each one feels more extravagant than the last, and as your awe clears, you suddenly feel ashamed to be holding them. They slip through your fingers as you shy away in embarrassment, your dirtied skin unworthy of touching them. They aren’t yours, after all - you’re nothing more than a guest here.
Turning to the closet nearby, you swing open the heavy doors, only to be met with even more luxury, this time robes hanging in neat rows.
You shouldn’t take them, but then again, the man did say anything you needed was yours…and you could use a new set of clothes after your travels last night…
Hesitantly, you pull one of the kimonos from the rack - in your hands, it catches the morning sun, small threads of gold reflecting across the room interwoven with the purple cloth. Sliding into it, you can’t help but notice the way it fits you perfectly, the length extending to just above your ankles, the sleeves resting gently along your wrists.
It feels foreign on your skin, surely you look like a fool, nothing more than a child trying on their parent’s work clothes. Glancing around the room, you search for a mirror to confirm your suspicions, but none seem to catch your eye. Oh well, you sigh, you’ll just have to face everyone looking like a stranger.
Stepping outside, a cool breeze brushes past your cheeks, your arms wrapping the robes tighter around your body as you fight off a shiver. It must be colder at this altitude, no longer afforded the protection of the very mountain you now reside on.
Small pebbles crunch beneath your feet as you make your way along the temple grounds. You try to retrace the path you took from the main house last night, but it quickly proves useless, your memory already foggy. Maybe it just looks different during the day?
Nevertheless, you don’t mind being lost here - the area is truly beautiful. Flowers fill the green spaces, ones you’d never seen before, shades of purple and red dotting the meadows. In the distance, tall trees poke against the horizon, leaves dancing in the wind.
As you wander, you pass identical buildings to the one you stayed in last night. Had you walked past all of these on your way there? Surely you would have remembered them, right?
This time, of course, the lights inside are off. There’s no use for them under the sun that’s now settling into the sky above. There are fewer clouds up here, you realize, perhaps another effect of the altitude.
By the time you find your way back to your new home (only able to identify it by the screen door left ajar), darkness has begun growing along the grounds, insects chirping their nighttime songs from nearby trees.
Sliding your shoes off, the smell of something tantalizing hits your senses.
You hadn’t even realized how hungry you were until you’re suddenly faced with the most delicious looking meal sitting upon the table. Steam rises from the bowl of salty broth, and for a moment you overlook the fact that someone must have been here to deliver it as you hurriedly shuffle to sit down, scooping noodles into your mouth with the chopsticks resting nearby. Finally, the ache in your stomach eases as you slurp the remaining liquid, allowing it to practically dribble down your chin.
A long shadow is suddenly cast along your room from behind you.
“I’m glad to see you’re enjoying dinner.”
Your spine shoots straight up as you turn, wiping your face with the back of a suddenly clammy palm.
“Y-yes,” you stutter, attempting to hide the utter lack of manners in how you had ravenously consumed the meal.
The man from last night stands in your doorway, leaning against the frame as he crosses his arms. That same smirk spreads across his features.
“Thank you!” you suddenly blurt, aware of your impoliteness. “It was…very good. Thank you.”
Another light chuckle dances across the air. “Please, no need for formalities. I’m simply glad you are enjoying the food. It’s been quite some time since I’ve had to make something for someone other than myself.”
Questions lie along the tip of your tongue, but before they can escape, he turns with a wave. “Well, I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
“Wait!” You internally curse yourself again for the interruption, but one question in particular was burning its way through your throat. “I realized I never learned your name…”
“Oh,” he smiles through thin lips. “My name is Suguru, but most call me Master Geto. You can choose whatever name you like.”
Warmth floods your face at the title, and further at his informality. “O-okay.”
With another small flick of his wrist, he continues the path away from your room. “Anyways, goodnight,” he calls into the darkness ahead.
“Goodnight, Master Geto,” you murmur to yourself.
Your second day is all too similar.
You wake.
You dress.
You wander.
You eat.
This time, Master Geto does not stop by your room at all. You’re beginning to wonder what he does all day - hell, you’re beginning to wonder what anyone here does all day, not having seen a single other person.
All that free time leaves you to fester on your thoughts.
When you were a child, you heard the rumors of this place. At first, it was a sort of commune, a community where disillusioned and lost souls could go to find purpose. But when they stopped coming back, the stories twisted into more sinister adaptations. It was a religious group, who worshiped their leader as a false god. Then, it was a sex cult, who offered their bodies to him as a form of salvation. After that, it was a political power who strove to overtake all of society and enact his rules as law.
Time after time, story after story, it was always him at the forefront: some mysterious man who cornered and compelled his followers to obey.
And yet, you find yourself doubting it. How could he lead if he was never present? More than that, who could he lead if there were no loyal servants here to be led?
It didn’t add up.
The townsfolk were known for fear mongering - perhaps it was nothing more than a way to avoid losing any more citizens, to prevent them, too, from joining the strange man in the mountains.
But then again, you can’t quite shake the power you felt radiating from him when you were in that room, the way he so easily manipulated your body (and your thoughts) with nothing more than his words.
The thoughts string together in your mind as you pace the temple grounds during your walks, the only routine grounding you to the passage of time.
Today the sun struggles to shine through the clouds, a general greyness cast upon everything. It’s been almost two weeks, and you’ve barely seen him at all. Occasionally he’ll stop by your room, but only hover in the doorway, never entering. His voice always seems so calm when he speaks to you, offering simple observations about your meals, as though he was slowly investigating your preferences (not that he needed to - you were grateful simply to be fed - but he persisted nonetheless).
Tonight, you return to find the entrance to your room closed, the candlelight from inside casting a welcoming glow. As you slide the shoji open, a familiar scent fills the space. Your mouth waters as your feet carry you forward on instinct.
With the first bite from the bowl, you nearly moan in pleasure at the taste.
“Is it good?”
This time, you don’t jump at his silent approach. Glancing over your shoulder, you smile through a full mouth. “It’s incredible.”
“Good,” he laughs softly, “I’m glad. I was worried it wouldn’t be as good as you remembered.”
“Master Geto,” you swallow, “this is delicious.” Through another bite, your voice lowers, “It’s just like the oyakodon my parents used to make.”
“I know.”
The statement catches you momentarily off-guard, questions catching in your throat making you nearly choke.
He senses the change immediately as your shoulders close off, confusion building behind your eyes. “I apologize if I overstepped,” he begins, uncrossing his arms and allowing them to hang loosely by his sides in the slightly oversized robes, “I remembered that dish being popular in town, so I thought it might bring some comfort.”
“Oh,” you hum, tentatively chewing another bite. It’s a reasonable explanation, you suppose, even if it leaves more uncertainty swirling in your lungs.
After a moment of silence, his presence in your doorway begins to feel…awkward.
Normally by this point he’d have left with a wave, fading into the darkness outside. But not tonight. Tonight, he stays, swaying slightly within the entrance.
As your gaze covers him, the traditional robes remind you - perhaps you were being even more rude than you expected. You still knew very little about him, but maybe he abided by more traditional laws, one that forbade a man from entering a woman’s sleeping quarters without her permission.
(You always thought those rules were a bit silly, but now was not the time for debate - now was the time to learn more about the man lingering outside.)
“Would you like to come in?” You place the question into the air as you swallow the final piece of your dinner.
His grin threatens to tear across his cheeks as he nods politely. “Of course.”
As he approaches the table inside, his presence suddenly feels overwhelming. Even though he’s not physically much larger than you, something about him suffocates the space, his soul spreading out until there’s no room left. It’s stifling.
But when he sits across from you, it gets sucked back into himself. You can breathe again.
“How is the temple?” he asks easily.
“It’s beautiful,” you muse, “but…where is everyone?”
“Everyone?” He cocks his head to the side. “Oh! You mean the others. They aren’t particularly active during the day - you know how hot it gets here.”
In an instant, it feels right - the memories of the brisk mornings become hazy in your mind, replaced with the sun beaming overhead. Maybe you even returned to your room with sweat glistening along your skin after a particularly long walk.
Suguru notices the way your vision clouds over as the experiences rewrite themselves. If you were more present, perhaps you’d be able to decode the emotion flashing across his face as his nose scrunches and eyebrows furrow.
He stands suddenly, pulling you from your internal trance.
“Well, I suppose I should be going now,” he hums, gliding seamlessly to the doorway once again. “Goodnight.”
Before you can breathe a question, he’s gone, the rattling screen door the only proof of his existence.
You think you’re going insane here.
When you fled, you wanted to find something exciting, a new experience, an act of defiance. You wanted something to fill the emptiness in your soul and make you into something else, someone stronger, someone braver, someone more than the obedient little girl you left behind.
But now, with every repeated step through the temple grounds, you feel yourself collapsing inwards. The support beams inside you aren’t strong enough, cracking under the weight of loneliness.
Why wasn’t anyone here?
Why wasn’t anyone helping you?
Even Master Geto’s presence became desired, in spite of the slight unease that brewed within your stomach when he was around. It was like an addiction, as though he knew just how to feed you enough of him to keep you coming back, to keep you starving.
Ironic, isn’t it? That here, in a place with all your needs met, with delicious meals and extravagant clothes and plush beds, you find yourself destitute. Hunger pangs shoot up your chest as you eat alone, the robes begin stifling each breath, too hot even as the days grow colder. Every night you become increasingly acquainted with the wooden beams drawn above your bed.
You’re empty.
On your thirty-first night, after hours laying alone in the dark, you wonder if perhaps the moon would have any advice for you. She’s always watched over you, maybe she could guide you.
Outside, the gravel shifts beneath your feet. The candles are lit once again, lining the paths throughout the grounds. You’ve never seen anyone light them, and yet every night, their flames continue to burn (not that you need them, of course - you’ve grown accustomed to this place, steps tracing it like palm lines).
So you trust your legs when they carry you forward. Until you’re once again at the entrance of the main temple, the same warmth flickering from inside.
The door slides open easily, the hesitation that used to live in your muscles now replaced with tired indignation. You no longer have to wait for Master Geto’s command to enter (even though you want it, you want it so badly, to be told what to do and where to go and how to act and what to think until you’re nothing but his little puppet because then at least you could be something).
A part of you expected him to be in his chambers given the late hour. But a more possessive part hopes he’d be here, waiting for you.
Your lungs breathe a sigh of relief as you feel his gaze. He smiles as you stand in the doorway.
“What’s my little lamb doing up so late?” he coos, beckoning you inside.
Rubbing your eyes, you take your seat on the floor next to him. “Couldn’t sleep.”
It’s been some time since you’ve been here, you realize - perhaps since the first night you arrived - but it feels comfortable, the scent of smoke lingering in the air. And Master Geto is here, too - that surely helps.
“I see. Tell me, would you like me to make you some tea?”
Your head nods on its own, perhaps an effect of your recent insomnia.
Silently, he rises, moving easily through the room to collect his arsenal. Armed with a maroon teapot and a single cup, he returns to where you rest in the center of the room. Dark liquid pours into the mug before he places it in front of you.
The first sip burns your tongue slightly, but you avoid wincing - you wouldn’t want to seem ungrateful. You wouldn’t want to push him away.
Deep eyes watch your every move, drinking you in. That quiet discomfort is back, but you shove it down with a forceful swallow. After all, if you seem distrustful, it may make him unhappy, or worse, leave you. After so long without him, you’re content to sit under his blanket of silence.
“How are you enjoying your time here?”
Your throat catches for a moment. Should you tell him it’s killing you, eating you alive and breaking you down? Should you tell him how much you’ve missed him? No - surely he’d think you strange, you barely know each other despite the time you’ve spent here.
“It’s been…comfortable.”
He tilts his head through a thoughtful hum. He allows the quiet to choke you for a moment before he continues. “And yet, you’re here at this hour. Tell me, why?”
Your lips are moving on your own, fighting against your better interest. “I’ve missed you, Master Geto.”
“Oh?” He seems pleased with your response, letting out that tantalizing little chuckle. “What is it about me you’ve missed?”
This time, you’re able to stifle your voice before it betrays you. Through another sip, you let the words simmer on your tongue before he speaks again-
“Tell me.”
“I missed being told what to do,” you blurt, nearly spilling the tea that had been resting behind your lips.
Thin lips tug into a smirk as he eyes you, and you can’t help but feel you’ve answered correctly, even if it was against your will.
That fear bubbles inside your chest once again, but this time it’s tainted with something else, something hot. Something you would be tempted to call desire.
Adjusting his weight, muscled legs sprawl before him. “Come here, little lamb,” he purrs.
So easily he pulls your strings. In an instant you’re crawling towards him, until you’ve settled upon his lap, head resting on his shoulder. Perhaps a month ago you would have been scared at how easily he maneuvers you to his will, but after countless days left with only your own thoughts to drive you, it’s a welcome reprieve. A body is a heavy thing to carry alone; there’s no harm in letting someone else borrow it for a moment.
Slender fingers card through your hair, melting you beneath his touch. Until all that’s left is a fluid form in the outline of your flesh; it makes it all the more easy to shape that way.
“You must be tired, poor thing,” Suguru hums into the crown of your head.
“Mmm,” you hum in response, eyelids fluttering closed.
“Go on then, sleep.”
And your vision melts into his darkness.
When you wake, everything feels stiff. The room, your body, the blankets cocooned around you. Stale air sits in your lungs as you rise from the bed.
It takes a moment for your eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room, landing on wood floors and drawn shades. Everything is covered in a fine layer of dust except you, the only living thing here.
Nothing moves except for your breathing, no sounds besides the mattress creaking as you stand. Your thighs are tense, aching with each step forward. At least your robe is comfortable, even if it’s not the one you remember falling asleep in.
That memory itself feels fuzzy - how long had you been here?
But the slippers on your feet are warm, and you don’t feel that gnawing ache inside your stomach anymore. Maybe it doesn’t really matter.
Sliding the bedroom door open, you wander into the hallway. At the end, flickering candlelight casts a glow across the familiar carpet, the same as in the main building. Oranges and greens blur in your vision as you make your way to it, and your heart picks up its pace as you walk, drawing you in.
It lurches when you see him.
Master Geto.
“You’re finally awake, my little lamb.” His voice is smooth like silk, softer than the sheets that had cradled you as you slept. “Come in.”
The room is beautiful, dark reds and browns lining every surface, especially the bed he lays upon. The material is cool on your skin, flushed from sleep.
“You slept for quite a while,” he hums, beginning to slowly run his fingers over your hair. “Do you feel better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Why thank me?”
“I think…I think it was because of you.” The sentence trails up at the end, leaving it a question. One he does not decide to answer.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, Master Geto.”
His lips spread into a smile as he rises, silently moving to the teapot resting in the corner. With his back momentarily to you, it’s easier to remember all the questions you ought to ask - how long was I asleep for? where is everyone? why am I here?
But they’re too overwhelming, too big. You aren’t sure he’d answer them, anyways - you aren’t sure you’d want an answer. It’s easier to not ask.
“I’m not sure I should stay here anymore.”
His shoulders stiffen, just enough that the tea nearly spills over the edge of the cup. He sets it down on the table beside you.
“And why is that?”
“I just…” you trail off, holding the mug in your hands. It’s warm, making your palms itch. “I’m not sure there’s anything for me to do here.”
“You keep me company. Is that not enough?”
“It is, but I just…I guess I don’t feel like I’m doing a good job.” It’s easier to speak when you only have to face the steaming liquid held in your lap. “I feel lost without you. I don’t know what to do with my time. I mostly just wander around and hope I see you, or hope you give me something to do. I like that, but I’m not even doing anything. You’re never around during the day anyways, so then I end up festering with my thoughts and just feel worse. I’m losing my mind here.”
A slender finger traces up your neck, tilting your chin so you’re forced to look at him. His eyes hold a dark ice behind them, the kind that would slice open ships and kill sailors in the middle of the night, the kind the sea only makes when it’s craving blood.
“You have a purpose here, little lamb, you just can’t see it.”
You can’t hold his gaze, so you allow it to fall to the pink and red of his lips. “Then tell me what it is! I want to do something, please Master Geto.” Nails leave crescent-shaped marks in your skin as you grip the teacup.
“I can’t tell you, not yet.”
“Either tell me, or I’m leaving.”
You aren’t sure where the words came from, but they shock you as they land. Perhaps some deep part of your soul, some part the moon uncovered on your walk to the temple, growing brighter under her protection.
Fire, then ice flares behind him. He forces his shoulders back, cooling his tone. “Why don’t you drink some tea and calm down a bit, then we can talk about this?”
“I don’t want your tea! I want to know what’s going on!”
“I said, drink.”
The muscles in your arms tighten to bring the cup to your mouth. Liquid is forced past your lips through a choke. It burns your throat.
Once it’s empty, you drop it, the mug clanging against the floor. Tears prick the corners of your eyes in pain, and Master Geto seems tense. Lowering himself to the ground, he gingerly picks up the cup, allowing his palm to graze yours as he rises. Silently, he glides to the corner of the room where steam rises from the still-full teapot.
With everything in you, you force your mouth to move. “How do you do that?” Your voice is hoarse.
“Do what?”
“That,” you stumble, trying to explain. “Make me…do things.”
Six seconds pass before he answers.
“Do you know what obedience means?”
You nod.
“Tell me, what does it mean to you?”
“It means to do as another person says, always.”
Glancing at you from over his shoulder, his eyes crinkle at the corners. “Exactly.” He pours more liquid into your cup, a silent apology in his own misshapen way. “Some must be trained into obedience through leashes and chains, but others are born for it, their souls a softer shape, one that’s easier to mold.”
The mug is warm in your hands as your fingers wrap around the ceramic, accepting it from his grasp.
“Someone like you, for example, was made to obey. You feel it, don’t you? That emptiness when you aren’t being commanded?”
As you nod, something inside you aches, a hole where your autonomy should be. And here is Master Geto, so kindly offering to fill it.
“That makes it all the more effortless to follow someone, you see. I can sense it, the way your body practically begs me to control it.” He explains it easily with a wave of his hand, as though a few sentences could make you understand.
And yet, you do. It feels right to be led by him, molded by him, controlled by him. It’s the comfort you’ve felt, the warmth that clouds your thoughts whenever you’re near him.
“Is that…is that what I’m doing here?” A large hand reaches over to rub slow circles into your back through the robe - his robe, you now realize. “I’m here to follow orders and do whatever you say?”
“No, no, not at all.” A sound close to a laugh brushes through his throat at the thought. “You’re here for something else.”
You finish the second cup of tea - it’s easier to drink now that your throat has already been burned. “Please, tell me why. I promise not to leave, please, Master Geto.”
Dark eyes fall to the empty cup in your hands, then back to you. So powerless in his grasp, the smell of him lingering on your clothes, on your skin, on your breath. An impossible scent to lose, even if you were to run.
“Do you know what a vampire is?”
Confusion swirls in your mind at the question. “Yes? I’ve heard of them, of course. Creatures who live forever and drink blood to survive, right?”
“Exactly,” he smiles, voice smooth like the silk wrapping around your body. “There are other components too, of course. Other powers. The commands, for example. And you’ve heard of those coming back from my temple, yes? How they return with no recollection of their time here?”
“Yes.”
“They were ones who ran - who I allowed to run, of course. They didn’t please me, or they were too weak to keep my company. But as you can imagine, I couldn’t allow them to tell others of what they had seen here, regardless of how stupid some of them may have been. So, they may survive, but the memories must go. And that’s just a fraction of what I’m capable of.” His words rise and fall in pitch, the most visible sign of excitement you’ve ever seen in him, before it flattens again. “Many think vampires are dangerous, but they aren’t, not if they’re able to control themselves. It’s a matter of obedience, you see.”
“Obedience,” you whisper into the empty space.
“If one can stay in control of their desires, it’s barely any different than how a human lives.”
Your hands fiddle with the hem of the robe, teeth chewing on your lip. “Why are you telling me this, Master Geto?”
The finger on your chin trails up until his hand rests upon your cheek. When your eyes finally meet his, he smiles, a gesture you don’t return. Your heart beats loud, pulling you into him.
“You know why.”
And you feel it, in the depths of your stomach. The true weight of his horror, his power, settles like obsidian in your chest. A cough stifles from your mouth from the coal-black dust inside you.
His thumb runs over your lips, pressing down on the plump flesh. You should run, you should scream and beg for help and go back to your parents and pretend this never happened. You aren’t safe here, you shouldn’t stay a moment longer.
All your body can do is quicken your pulse, thrumming up your neck.
Your lips part. His thumb slides past them.
When he smiles, he seems pleased, and you feel warm like the tea spreading through your muscles with each breath. Flickering candlelight casts a shadow across his eyes, and they seem to glow with hunger.
“Are you scared?”
His skin tastes sweet as it settles on your tongue. You slowly shake your head, humming a soft, “No.”
A twitch of a smirk plays across his lips. He didn’t even have to compel you. They spread wider, allowing sharp, whitened fangs to poke through. Your eyes widen and pupils dilate as they dig into his lower lip, red blooming beneath the skin.
“You should be.” He’s leaning forward, until he’s so close you block the light from cascading across his face. In the shadows of your body, he looks monstrous, all flashes of black and white. “And yet, you stay. Tell me, why? What could you possibly hope to achieve?”
Air rushes through your lungs, and the words tumble out in a single breath. “I want to obey you, Master Geto.”
Tilting his head to the side, dark bangs obscure his eyes.
“Ah, I understand now. You really were made for this, weren’t you?”
Sliding his thumb from your mouth, he closes the distance between you. A long finger tilts your chin upwards, locking your gaze on him.
“You want to be good for me, don’t you?”
You nod. You can’t help it - you want to do anything he tells you; you will do anything he tells you.
“Good.” Pink lips brush against yours. His breath is cool as he whispers, “Then lay down.”
The sheets are chilled against your burning skin as your back rests upon them. It’s easier, now, the way you’ve accepted your muscles enacting his will. It feels right to let him pull your strings, letting him shape you into whatever pose he sees fit.
He doesn’t even need to command you to open your legs, large palms spreading your knees apart easily, allowing them to fall with the weight of his gravity. Your clothes are gone in an instant, laid bare before him, returned to your natural form before the god that granted it. It’s only natural.
Hot breath hits your core, cold eyes resting on your face. His thumb trails a path along your skin until it lands upon your clit, each slow circle another rotation around his orbit.
It’s almost too much, your body writhing under his touch, desperation making your hips rut uselessly into him. But he’s just…watching you.
“P-please,” you can’t help but whine, trying to grind into him for any additional ounce of friction. Master Geto simply continues his agonizingly slow pace.
Your gaze meets his for a moment, fire crackling beneath it as his lips tug into a sinister grin, a predator about to consume its prey.
Eat me, your body begs, I’m yours.
Oh, he knows.
His palm opens, sliding two fingers easily into your cunt. Just as he curls upwards, sharp teeth move from poking through his lip into the soft flesh of your inner thighs. For the violence crackling beneath his skin, he’s surprisingly gentle as his canines sink into you.
Because he doesn’t want it to hurt.
Not yet.
The prickling pain tingles your senses as he pulls your first orgasm from you, a faint moan humming in your throat.
When he rises from between your legs, red dribbles from his lips. He crackles with pride, completely unabashed; if anything, he’s proud.
Warmth blankets your body as he crawls on top of you, a wolf stalking a lamb. And you can’t bring yourself to run.
Muscled shoulders bare themselves under the flickering lights as he slowly sheds his robes, pale and morphing, too blurry to focus on. If you were more naive, you’d be tempted to call him an angel.
“You taste so sweet,” he purrs, his face now mere centimeters from yours.
When he kisses you, a mix of metal and cum tangles on your tongues, intoxicatingly you. Every ounce of his weight rests against you until you can’t pull in a breath anymore, your ribs unable to expand below him.
But like always, he grants you mercy.
He pulls back, just enough to let air rush in through your parted lips. Your skin burns where he places a gentle peck to the corner of your mouth.
Because now, you want it to hurt.
And oh, he knows.
That devilish smile curls upon his lips, no longer hiding the fangs behind it. Every beat of your heart makes you dizzy, your vision pulsing with each reverberating thrum. You wonder if he can feel it in your chest.
(He can.)
(He wants to claw it from your body and eat it.)
The remnants of blood lingering on his teeth are wiped away as his tongue swipes over them, an innocent white left in its wake. How perfect a sinner’s body can be.
He’s shifting his weight above you, but you barely notice, too enamored by him, too lost in his eyes, in his depravity. The moment your eyes flutter shut to protect your soul, he’s reaching out to you.
“Look at me, little lamb.”
And then, your gaze is locked on him.
And then, his cock is pressing into you.
Lips part, fire shoots up your spine, a cry dies in your throat. It’s burning and tearing and it’s death and everything is too hot and you’re staring into those eyes with flames behind them and you think you’d let him kill you if he asked.
Not that he needs to ask, of course.
Your back arches off the bed as your eyes nearly roll back into your head but they can’t - because it’s not what Master Geto commanded. Because you always do as he says.
Because you always obey.
Instead, tears prick at the corners and your entire body trembles and he’s staring down at you with pity.
“There, shh, that’s my girl,” he coos. He wipes away a tear with his thumb but he doesn’t stop, not until his pelvis is flush with yours and all you can feel is him inside you.
Ragged breaths rack your core, your walls clenching around him from his size alone.
“You’re being so obedient, so good,” he whispers into the shell of your ear. And the sun bursts through your chest.
A slack-jawed smile spreads across your features at his praise, cheeks warm and full of pride. You’ve done everything you were made for - you’ve made Master Geto happy. You’ve been good.
When he drags his hips from you, his tip catching and pulling and gouging any remaining shred of disloyalty from your consciousness, you know you’re his: your mind, your soul, your body. All his, in any way he wants it.
When he thrusts back into you, the emptiness inside you is filled with him.
Him.
Him. Him. Him. Him.
Master Geto.
All you have ever needed.
All you will ever need.
Master Geto.
Warmth blossoms in your chest as he fucks you into the silk sheets. You are his. You were always made to be his. There’s no pain in it, no uncertainty. It’s as things were always meant to be.
But there’s still something missing, something lingering in the droplet of red beading at the corner of his lips.
Eat me, your body pleads, I’m yours.
“Master Geto,” you whimper, “I…I want…”
As he gazes down at you, there’s a reverence behind it - not to you, no, but to your servitude.
“Yes, my little lamb,” he breathes through the sound of skin against skin. “Tell me what you want.”
“Bite me, Master Geto,” you cry, “please.”
And you feel him laugh, his breath hot against the skin of your neck. “Well, how could I deny my most devoted?”
First, it’s the searing pain of his fangs sinking into your skin. An instant later, it’s the burning pleasure of it.
A moan bubbles from your throat, allowing your head to fall back into his waiting palm, cradling you above the respite of feathered pillows. Because for now, he will hold you; you should be held by him.
Suguru is greedy as he drinks.
Grunts and groans echo from his chest, his body never stilling as he plunges in and out of you in pace with his tongue lapping at your pierced flesh. Just as his teeth pull away he strikes them into you again, and again, and again. Puncture wounds grow across your skin, blooming hues of maroon beneath them, stars decorating the sky, each one a burning supernova moments away from exploding.
They mark you for what you are: his.
“You taste,” he pants, “fucking devine.”
Nails claw at his back, your head lolled back into the sheets, limp beneath him. Of course, you’d move if he told you to - you’d die if he told you to.
Each racing heartbeat makes your vision pulse, head swimming as he drinks from you. Your body melts inside him, warm in his stomach.
The friction of his hips between your legs only grows, until it’s burning like the teeth in your neck. Red flames prick your skin, Suguru’s tongue chasing each one to put it out.
His grunts grow animalistic, a beast pulling muscles and tendons until it’s out of breath. Shoulders tense beneath your palms, and your stomach begins to tighten.
“Master Geto, I-”
“I know,” he growls into your neck. Arms tighten around your body, until they cage in your ribs, until you can’t breathe anything but him. “Cum for me, little lamb.”
Warmth floods your senses, numb save for his cock twitching. He bites down harder as his claim shoots into you, thick and hot.
For a moment, you wonder if he tore flesh from bone. When he removes his head from your collarbone, blood dripping down his chin in thick rivulets, it seems all the more possible.
Licking his lips, he groans at the sanguine flavor pouring down his throat, sweet like honey. When he kisses you, his tongue presses against yours until it lingers in the back of your mouth. Sweet like him.
Low eyes meet yours, a thumb stroking your cheek.
“Stay here, with me.”
And maybe, you will.
It’s easier like this, to be his.
It’s easier to obey.
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azrielsshadows42 · 26 days ago
Text
Azriel SFW alphabet
This has been sitting incomplete in my drafts since March so... idk.
Warnings: I don't think there is any other than some self-deprecating, correct me if I'm wrong, unedited
A = Affectionate (how affectionate is he)
Now let's get this straight, this male LOVES you with every fibre of his body and soul, if you need affection he is there in seconds, he is super observant, so you don't even have to ask, he has at least one small shadow that follows you around to make sure you are alright. Whether you just need to hold his hand or you need him to hold you through the night, he has no problems fulfilling your requirements.
When he needs affection however... is another story, he will almost never ask for it, he doesn't want to bother you, and no matter how many times you tell him it's not a bother he will always feel like he is being a burden to you. You will need to learn how to read him better than anyone because he will not make it easy for you.
B = Best friend (what would he be like as a best friend, how does the friendship start?)
He would be an amazing best friend, always knows when you are feeling down and how to cheer you up, it takes a while but once you are close enough the friendly teasing is hilarious. you would definitely have some inside jokes just between the two of you.
At first it would be him only interacting with you when necessary, he will be as polite as possible cause he doesn't want you to be scared of him but he also doesn't really want to spend a lot of time with you 1) Because he has trust issues and is wary of you, it is kind of his job and 2) Because he doesn't want to corrupt you.
C = Cuddles (does he like to cuddle; how does he cuddle?)
Azriel will completely deny it if anyone asks him but... he actually really likes cuddles, this man is so touch starved he NEEDS skin to skin contact. He is perfectly content to just lay with you in the evenings after dinner, admiring your beauty. And while he trains extremely diligently, he secretly loves when he has a good reason not to train so he can wake up next to and actually have a proper breakfast together instead of just leaving a note with promises to see you later.
Once again will adamantly deny it if asked but his favourite way to cuddle is spooning, he likes to be the big spoon, he loves having his arms wrapped around you along with his wings for extra warmth because he knows you love it, just for that extra reassurance that you are safe and haven't disappeared. He could be convinced to be little spoon for a night if you really wanted it, but it would take some pleading.
D = Domestic (Does he want to settle down, how good is he at cooking and cleaning?)
So, I feel like Azriel would absolutely love the idea of settling down, in concept but would be really scared to do so, not because he's unsure of his feelings for you, no not at all, he loves you wholeheartedly sometimes a bit too much he'd be scared because he thinks you might change your mind. That he isn't good enough or he'll taint your innocence what innocence? It will definitely be a few years, maybe even decades before he is certain you won't leave him for someone "better". And even then, he will need reassurance.
Now when it comes to cleaning, this man is over the top, everything is immaculate, there is not a speck of dust to be found.... ever.
But you see with cooking... I don't know, I feel like it could go both ways, he's either stupidly good at it like, bro??? Where did you learn this? Truly Gordon Ramsey level cuisine. Or... he doesn't know what he's doing, at all. He'll try, he will most definitely try to have you come back to a lovely home cooked meal whenever he has the chance to but... it doesn't always ever come out the way he intends it to. But it's the thought that counts and you really can see the effort he put into it.
E = Ending (if he had to break up with you, how would he do it)
There is only one way (other than unfaithfulness) that he will break up with you, and that is if he feels that you, being with him, is putting you in too much danger. This man has waited 500 years for his mate or anyone to love him as wholly as you do, and ending your relationship will absolutely break him. He'll do it very respectfully and considerately, he will seem composed, yet not cold-hearted, but once he's behind closed doors and he is 1000% sure NOBODY can hear him, there will be tears streaming down his face and the only thing keeping him from going back on it is the knowledge that you are safer this way. His shadows try desperately to console him but nothing they do works, only you could calm him once he's at this point.
F = Fiancé (how does he feel about commitment? How quick would he want to get married?)
He has some commitment issues, the idea is daunting to him but he wouldn't be unfaithful to you, even if it would save his life. He would want to wait a few years before sealing the deal, he wants to know you, your soul, every sweet thought and dark desire, he wants to know everything.
G = Gentle (how gentle is he, physically and emotionally?)
Azriel is all about light touches that leave you wanting more, brushes against your arm with his own, light hand holding, small stolen looks across the room, just the sweetest thing. He tries his very best to hide any emotions he might have that would upset you, very aware of whatever emotional state you're in especially when you don't, needs some help to remember that he is allowed to have negative emotions and doesn't have to be ok 24/7.
H = Hugs (does he like hugs? How often would he hug you? What are his hugs like?)
Azriel doesn't mind hugs, if you hug him, he won't stop you and he will sometimes initiate them but, he's more inclined to other methods of affection; forehead kisses, cheek kisses, hand kisses, small adoring whispers in your ear, more kisses, longing looks, did I mention kisses?
However, when he does hug you, it's usually from behind so he has an opening for neck kisses or when he's just come back from a long mission and needs you in his arms.
I = I love you (who is the first to say, "I love you"?)
You. Definitely you, if you don't say it, the relationship is never happening. He will wait for you to spell it out, and even then, he isn't sure, like: you kiss him on the lips, stare lovingly at him, shyly say goodnight and he'd be like, she could have meant that as a friend, right?
Cauldron save this male; he is in Jude Duarte level denial.
J = Jealousy (How jealous is he?)
On the outside, not at all, very calm, collected, the most you'll see is a clenched jaw, or his hand might twitch toward Truth-Teller. Unless you show signs of discomfort, he will let you be.
On the inside? The leash on his anger is being pulled, and it has been pulled tight. There is no room for give on it. It is so taught that if a bird landed on it, it would snap. Whoever is in range should fucking run. And whoever it is aimed at should write their will and pray.
K = Kisses (What are his kisses like?)
Like I've mentioned previously, he loves giving you little pecks at random points of the day. However, when you're alone and he is just looking at you, and that wave of adoration hits him... he just can't help kissing you slow.
L = Little ones (How is he around kids?/Does he want any?)
Az gets really awkward around most kids, he tries not to get too close to them. He gets over this when it comes to kids he spends alot of time with, namely his nephew, Nyx.
Azriel is really scared to have kids, and at first he is completely convinced that he doesn't want any, though with the right person, He'll have kids, and he loves them more than the world itself. He resigns from his position as spymaster to fully commit to his family, he's got enough money, and he never looks back.
M = Morning (How are Mornings spent with him?)
Most days he is already training with Cassian before you wake up, but every Saturday, he has a slow morning wit you, or you'll wake to breakfast in bed.
N = Night (How are nights spent with him?)
Some nights you shower together, and it's sweet and wholesome, you do your skin routine and he'll watch with a smile fro the door way. You even manage to rope him into a nightly face mask later into your relationship.
He says goodnight with a million kisses all over, pulling the blanket over the both of you and pulls you in close, holding you no matter how much you move around in your sleep. If you're a sleep walker, no you're not.
O = Open (When does he start revealing things about himself? Is it all at once or bit by bit?)
Bit by bit for sure. Every small thing you learn about him is earned, there is no volunteering of information. You have to extract the lore, have to practically drag him kicking and screaming into emotional intimacy. There are no flood gates. It is a tap that never runs, only leaks slightly. It takes ages to get to everything that happened to him, but it is worth the wait. It always will be.
P = Patience (How easily angered is he?)
For you, infinite patience, he will explain and re-explain a topic as many times as you need. He just comes back from going out while it's that time of the year and you say you need/want something else again, no worries, he'll go out and get it for you, as well as being ready for you to say you forgot to tell him you wanted something when he gets back and go out again.
You are allowed to do things that no one else could do and walk out alive, like pranking him, and I don't mean something that Cassian would do, like hide a weapon of his, I mean like:
Azriel walks into the room while everyone is chatting. You immediately notice his presence yelling his name in excitement, heads turn toward him. Cassian spits out his drink, Rhysand's mouth falls open, Feyre gasps, Mor's eyes widen, even Nesta raises a brow. It takes a moment, then the shock wears off, and Cassian bursts out laughing.
"What happened to your hair?!"
Azriel's brow furrows. "What do you mean?" He could see you desperately trying to hold in your laughter, but failed, and sunk to the floor, not able to breathe from how hard you were laughing. He could see Rhysand also fighting it off, but his face cracked, and he to, joined in, Feyre and Mor were not far behind.
"What? What is wrong with my hair?" Nobody could pause their hysterics long enough to say something. He stood in confusion until Amren, the only one who wasn't laughing at all said "It's bright blue, boy" that for some reason unleashed a new wave of giggles and Nesta cracked a smile.
He looked to the mirror hung in the hall, seeing that his hair was indeed a pastel blue, with flecks of purple near the ends. The truth was, he knew his hair would be an unusual colour today, his shadows had caught you buying the magic hair-dye, but he let you swap out his shampoo, as to not spoil your fun.
Even if he hadn't known, the look on your face said everything. "You are lucky I love you" he said, shaking his head and sighing, your smile only broadened at his words, your arms flung around his mid-section and face nuzzled in his chest. "I love you too"
Q = Quizzes (How much does he remember things about you? Does he remember everything in passing or does he forget everything?)
Little secret, Az is actually quite forgetful, when it comes to dates like your anniversary or the inner circle's birthdays (Including his own) he cannot remember it for the life of him. Luckily, his shadows give him reminders but when it comes to the details, like your coffee order, preferred foods, general likes and dislikes, it's like he has a separate compartment of his brain allocated to only you with unlimited space.
"How did you know I liked (Input song name here)"
"I remember you humming it when I walked into the room"
"When? I forgot about this song."
Short pause
"Eight years ago? Give or take."
R = Remember (What is his favourite moment in your relationship?)
If you ask him, he'll probably say when you said 'I love you' for the first time, or that time you woke up after a peaceful night, just looking at him with love but really, it was when he was pissed at Rhys and Cassian for disregarding his dislike of the Illyrians because they wanted him to 'embrace his culture'.
Rhys had sent him to go talk with Devlon and a number of other camp lords when they both had the afternoon completely free, spending it with their mates as if he didn't have a mate too.
After he got back, he had gone straight to you, and you had listened to him while combing your fingers through his hair. He had finally dragged himself downstairs to give Rhysand the news on the camps with you following behind him a few paces.
You waited outside the door, Azriel had opened it, about to leave when Rhys said he also wanted the report of some other mission by tomorrow morning. Azriel didn't even say anything, he'd just sighed and a muscle in his jaw ticked, then Rhysand had made some comment about his attitude, it was spoken with a light tone, but you had had it with his crap.
You had started berating him, yelling, really laying on it, not even letting him get a word in. Not that he could, he was too stunned.
Cassian had made the grave mistake of seeing what the commotion was. You brought him into it. Both Rhys and Cass had to just take it like children being scolded for taking an extra cookie. Neither would meet your eyes when you were done.
You grabbed Azriels hand, pulling him along as you stormed out. Once rounding the corner, you winnowed both you and Azriel to your house muttering under your breath. The only words he actually caught was "Fuck them" before you pulled him into bed and you simply cuddled for the rest of the night and well into the morning.
S = Security (How protective is he? How would he protect you? How would he like to be protected?)
Az is your personal body guard and the shadows are the surveillance cameras. No one in Velaris is safer.
He needs no physical protection, he needs emotional protection. He needs you to guard his heart like a dragon guarding treasure. He needs you to occasionally remind him to stand up for himself against Rhysand and Cassian because he deserves good things too.
T = Try (How much effort does he put into dates/anniversaries/etc?)
In the beginning, he is trying to impress you, to convey how much he feels for you through the dates as he struggles to articulate the enormity of his love. Like booking out theaters, really fancy dinners, picnics with way too much food and so on it's honestly overwhelming.
He eventually dials it back, finding a good balance of well thought out but not OTT (Over The Top). Every once in a while though, he'll still do an extra something.
U = Ugly (What is a bad habit of his?)
His tendency to shrink into himself when he's in pain, to ignore his needs, to put what he wants on the back burner to focus on everyone else.
V = Vanity (How concerned is he with his looks?)
See, the massive injustice of Azriel is that he barely gives 2 shit's, as long as he looks somewhat presentable, he couldn't be bothered to do anything more.
He wears the same thing every day, washes his face, combs hair, and he's ready.
He is blessed with effortless beauty.
W = Whole (Would he feel incomplete without you?)
He always felt incomplete, before he met you, there was a hole, after he met you, that hole was slowly filled up with your laugh, smile, and touch. If he had to lose you, that hole would be ten times as large and gaping, because the entire foundation of his very being went with you.
X = Xtra (A random head cannon for them)
He likes hiding little things like your keys or glasses (If you have them) so that when you ask "Azriel, have you seen my {fill in the blank}" he can stand there with said object in hand and give it to you, all so you'll give him that little smile and a kiss on the cheek.
Y = Yuck (What is something he wouldn't like either in a partner or in general?)
He can handle pretty much anything. There isn't much that could actually detour him from someone he truly loves. He puts up with Rhysand and Cassian every day for cauldrons' sake, but the one thing that is necessary is silence.
Not all the time, and he loves talking to you more than anyone else, but sometimes, after a long, hard mission, talking and general conversation is not something he's up for.
He just needs a quiet night where you're just next to each other, not speaking or anything just, existing.
Z = Zzz (What are his sleep habits?)
Whenever he collapses is entirely up to the mother... unless his ultimate weakness coaxes him into something more regular. If you just so happened to ask him to come to bed early, or asked him to be in bed by 11:00 at the latest because you struggle to sleep without him, and with the puppy eyes and pouty face too, well... how could he resist? He can't go after you have fallen asleep because you hold on to him, he can't just leave in the middle of the night, you'd be cold, and when you inevitably request that he stay an extra 5 minutes, those papers on his desk just have to wait, his mate is more important.
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