#cherry returns to sender

[cherrysurf]

when you get this, list 5 songs you like to listen to, publish. then, send this ask to 10 of your favorite followers :3

omg yay i haven’t done these yet >~<

current fav songs rn જ⁀➴

kill yourself (part IV) - $uicideboy$

dope lovers - DPR IAN

heavy - maria’s

pour up (ft. zico) - DEAN

Rain -bts

[prettyboykatsuki]

you know who else is soooooooooo cute and respectful and thoughtful..... ojiro <3 i want to caress his tail

i want ojiro carnally ill admit that openly on any day

[astra-ravana]

Basic Incense and Their Uses

Types of Incense:

• Sandalwood: Protection, healing, purification, pleasing the spirits, consecration

• Cherry: Attracts and stimulates love, new beginnings

• Vanilla: Luck, love, happiness, stimulates memory

• Jasmine: Luck; especially in love, peace, intuition, moon magick

• Coconut: Purification and protection, fertility, love and chastity

• Frankincense: Spirituality, protection, love, prosperity, growth, confidence, an offering to the gods

• Cinnamon: Wealth/money, prosperity, success, focus, amplifies any ritual or spell, third eye

• Myrrh: Protection, exorcism, consecration, purification, peace, meditation, spirituality, offering to the gods

• Patchouli: Money, abundance, attraction, passion, romance, lust

• Rose: Love, self love, safety, calm, healing, purification, connection to maternal ancestors

• Strawberry: Passion, love, luck, friendship, romance, opens/connects root and sacral chakras, goddess offering

• Dragon's Blood: Increases personal power, manifestation, attraction, sensuality, love, favored by many entities as an offering

• Sage: Cleansing, banishing, protection, clearing the air, nullifying negativity, promoting a more peaceful environment, longevity

• Lavender: Psychic abilities, divination, dream magick, protection, purification, beauty, intuition, peace, calming

• Nag Champa: Amplifies a ritual, great for meditation

• Clove: Protection (especially for children), love, money, purification, exorcism, shielding/warding

• Juniper: Exorcism, protection, healing, love

• Allspice: Attracts luck and money, provides extra physical energy

• Copal: Protection, cleansing, purification, connection, spirituality, ideal for cleansing crystals and stones

• Bay: Good luck, manifestation, success, purification, protection, healing, sharpens psychic abilities

• Rosemary: Protection, exorcism, purification, promotes sleep, restores and/or mantains youth, draws love, increases intellect

• Thyme: Health, vitality, healing, cleansing

• Pine: Money, strength, patience, shielding, purification, offer to nature spirits/deities

• Fern: Burn indoors to drive out malevolent spirits, burn outdoors to bring rain

• Benzoin: Purification, prosperity, amplifies mental abilities

• Arabic Gum: Purification and protection of the home

• Blueberry: Keeps unwanted influences away

• Passionflower: Peace, anxiety soothing, promotes sleep, friendship, joy, openness

• Mullein: Courage, protection, health, divination, offering to the dead

• Rowan: Psychic ability, self reflection, healing, protection, power, spirits more likely to obey demands/requests

• Star Anise: Psychic power, manifestation, luck

• Mugwort: Strength, psychic power, spirit communication, protection, astral travel, dream work, visions/premonitions

• Rue: Healing, mental health, comfort, exorcism, love, bonding

• Saffron: Health, wealth, happiness, success, wind raising, manifestation, lust, strength, third eye

• Palo Santo: Clears stagnant/negative energy

• Eucalyptus: Healing, cleansing, physical health, clears tense energy, invigorating, empowerment

• Wormwood: Magick, astral travel, spirit work, dream work, divination, third eye, protection from magick, curses and unwelcome energies, spiritual love, opens spiritual doorways, return to sender

• Lotus: Inner peace and outer harmony, third eye, meditation ascension, recovery, offering to Lilith

• Chamomile: Love, peace, comfort, stress reduction, luck in gambling

• Amber: Manifestation, good luck, success, love, romance, patience, protection, balance, sensuality, pain relief

• Damiana: Sensuality, sexuality, astral travel, love/sex magick, baneful witchcraft, attraction, drawing spells, shadow work, healing trauma, speaking your truth

• Skull Cap: Balance, calm, recovery, anchor to bring consciousness back to the body after astral projection

• Albizzia: Opens you up to oneness, attunes the heart, brings happiness

• Lemongrass: Calming, balance, love, depression relief

• Ginger: Strength, power, prosperity, relationship success

• Oregano: Joy, travel, creativity, love, hand fasting

• Cardamom: Love, lust, charm, mental clarity

• Sweet Grass: Removes malevolent energies, draws prosperity

• Marshmallow: Spirit pulling, protection, cleansing, stimulates psychic power, self-understanding, nurturing, healing, fertility, love, sexuality

• Orris: Love, protection, divination, spirit work, intuition

• Storax: Courage, healing, moon magick, meditation, divination, encourages restful sleep, offering to Hekate

Incense Smoke Divination:

Smoke direction- Up/down:

• Up: Positive spiritual journey

• Down: Challenges, deviation from the path

Smoke direction- Right/left:

• Right: Desires will be fulfilled

• Left: Blocks and turbulent energy

Smoke direction- Towards/away:

• Towards: Reciprocal affection

• Away: Neglect or indifference

Smoke forms a circle:

• Clear circle: Strong vibes, manifestation is near

• Hazey circle: Weak vibes, uncertain manifestation

Smoke forms a Ladder:

• Multiple steps: Elevated spiritual path

• One step: Need to enhance spirituality

Spiral shape:

• Clear spiral: Big, new change

• No distinct shape: Chaos, uncertainty

Smoke splits in two:

• Important life decisions

• Trust your instincts

Many broken corners:

• Confusion, need clarity

Infinity symbol:

• Very auspicious omen

Thick and dense smoke:

• Negative energy

• Change is needed

Abrupt lighting and smoke:

• Smooth/even flame: Clear path

• Choppy flame: Hurdles on path

[queensharotto]

Brittle Doughie’s Cookie Run x Reader Masterlist (Part 8: Summer 2024)

A masterlist of @brittle-doughie’s Cookie Run stories organized by month.

Genre Emojis

😞 is for angst, 🎃 is for Halloween, 🎄 is for Christmas, 🍪 is for Cannibalism, 💗 is for Yandere, 💝 is for Valentine’s, 👻 is for Horror, 🎂 is for Birthday, 💚 is for Yandere!White Lily Cookie, and 😈 is for Ancient Beast AU (Inspired by Cuppajj’s Beast Ancient AU)

The Indents are related to the featured cookies. If there are numerous cookies (Over 10 Cookies Featured), I’ll make a note on that as well. Additionally, I’ll categorize various cookies if they’re associated with a specific hobby, location, food etc.

Also, the ⭐️ will indicate a story featuring one of Brittle’s OCs while ✨ will indicate someone’s interpretation of Y/N Cookie.

Additionally, many people proved art to showcase to Brittle, which will be indicated by this: 🖌️. I will also mention who provided the art.

June 2024 ☀️

• “Lethality” ⭐️

Featuring: White Lily Cookie and Brittle’s OCs

• “Get Along”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and Mystic Flour Cookie

• “Back to Your Tree NOW”

Featuring: White Lily Cookie and the Five Beasts

• “Mothers of the Republic”

Featuring: Madeleine Cookie, Clotted Cream Cookie, Light Cream Cookie and Grand Madeleine Cookie

• “Pearly Contemplation”

Featuring: Peppermint Cookie and Oyster Cookie's Envoy

• “A Warm Welcome”

Featuring: Strawberry Stick Cookie and Mint Wafer Cookie

• “Yin and Yang”

Featuring: Peach Blossom and Affogato Cookie

• “Can’t We ALL Just Get Along”

Featuring: The Ancients and the Beasts

• “Walls of the Baker”

Featuring: The Ancients and the Beasts

• “I Don’t Remember You”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and Mystic Flour Cookie

• “Fishing Season”

Featuring: The Five Beasts

• “Cuddles”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies

• “Corruption”

Featuring: White Lily Cookie

• “Stepparent”

Featuring: Clotted Cream Cookie and Light Cream Cookie

• “Auntie Time”

Featuring: Madeleine Cookie’s Aunts

• “Embracing the Purple Warrior”

Featuring: Purple Yam Cookie

• “Peach Kisses”

Featuring: Peach Blossom Cookie and Dark Cacao Cookie

• “Marriage Ensembles”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and White Lily Cookie

• “Reunited”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and Mystic Flour Cookie

• “The Ivory Prophet Joins the Kingdom”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and Mystic Flour Cookie

• “The Ancient Beast Order” 😈

Featuring: The Ancient Beasts (AU Tag)

• “Bad Endings” 😈

Featuring: The Ancient Beasts

• “The Prophet of Salvation” 😈

Featuring: Beast Pure Vanilla Cookie and Black Raisin Cookie

• “The Manufacturer of Darkness”

Featuring: Dark Enchantess Cookie and Red Velvet Cookie

July 2024 🎆

• “Fork This! I Quit!”

Featuring: Timekeeper Cookie

• “The Lover of Passion” 😈

Featuring: Beast Hollyberry Cookie, Tea Knight Cookie, Pitaya Dragon Cookie and Wildberry Cookie

• “Illusion of Dreams”

Featuring: Clotted Cream Cookie

• “Ancient Heroes Roast”

Featuring: Shadow Milk Cookie

• “Mermaid to Cookie”

Featuring: Crimson Coral Cookie

• “Volition’s End”

Featuring: Mystic Flour Cookie and Cloud Haetae Cookie

• “Amigurumi”

Featuring: The Ancient Cookies

• “Ticklish” 😈

Featuring: Beast Pure Vanilla Cookie

• “Return to Sender”

Featuring: Strawberry Stick Cookie and Mint Wafer Cookie

• “It’s Gonna Be A LONG Ride”

Featuring: Numerous Cookies

• “Hissy Fits”

Featuring: Pure Vanilla Cookie and Shadow Milk Cookie

• “Gwimbly Cookie”

Featuring: Strawberry Cookie

• “Aerokinesis”

Featuring: Gingerbrave, Snakefruit Cookie and the Five Dragons

• “Heartfelt Unison”

Note: Y/N Cookie’s Skill

• “Thank You Y/N Cookie! Your Princess ISN’T in Another Castle” ⭐️

Featuring: Crowned Cupcake Cookie

• “Cookie Flipside”

Featuring: Light Cream Cookie

• “Soda Adventure 2: Draw Your Blade”

Featuring: Cream Soda Cookie and Cherry Cola Cookie

• “Superstar! The Cookie Olympics Event!”

Featuring: Ice Candy Cookie, White Choco Cookie, Choco Bar Cookie, Skating Queen Cookie and Muscle Cookie

• “I’ll Wait For Your Return”

Featuring: Caramel Arrow Cookie, Black Raisin Cookie, Stardust Cookie and White Lily Cookie

• “Raspberry Rose”

Featuring: Raspberry Mousse Cookie and Rose Cookie

• “La Resistance”

Featuring: Black Raisin Cookie

August 2023 🌅

• “Love You or Not” ⭐️

Featuring: Royal Icing Cookie

• “Lines”

Featuring: Royal Margarine Cookie, Pastry Cookie, Parfait Cookie, Twizzly Gummy Cookie and Licorice Cookie

• “Spice and Zest”

Featuring: Crushed Pepper Cookie and Lemon Zest Cookie

• “Keeping Friends Close and Best Friends Closer”

Featuring: Cream Soda Cookie and Cherry Cola Cookie

• “Compliments”

Featuring: Dark Cacao Cookie and Mystic Flour Cookie

• “Tale of the Mansion” 🍪

Featuring: The Juice Bar Regulars

• “A Little Help”

Featuring: Star Coral Cookie

• “Feathered Envy”

Featuring: Blue Slushy Cookie, Red Panna Cotta Cookie, Sugar Swan Cookie, Pilot Cookie, The Cookiemals and Whipped Cream Cookie

Divider Source l Next Masterlist l Previous Masterlist

[krispycreamcake]

♱Lusting for Grief ♱

∘Submission for Diabolik Lovers, Bloody Gift Exchange

∘This is for @failing-to-write-again !!

∘This event was curated by the head of the DL fandom discord server or also known as @diabolik-lovers-weekly

•┈┈┈••✦ ♡ ✦••┈┈┈•

Content Summary-

Reader is stuck between marrying for love or for the reputation of their family. Luckily, the ever so gracious, Karlheinz, himself proposes an alternate route for the latter option.

With their hands tied behind their back, reader agrees to the King's offer, and now has to comb through life as a siren on land with an overbearing vampire down their neck that has an affinity for fine china.

And so it begins

•┈┈┈••✦ ♡ ✦••┈┈┈•

The weather was uncharacteristically warm that night. Reiji couldn't even focus on doing his nightly dusting before he heard something crash downstairs. His face squeezed and wrung into one of displeasure at the sound of his brothers already causing chaos so early in the day.

He sighed and fixed his glasses with his middle finger before gently resting the duster along one of the table's edges. His footsteps were loud but very rigid, he had made a habit of walking this way so that his brothers may hear him approaching. Like a rattle snake shaking its rattle to let others know the danger they have just put themselves in.

And yet, despite his effort to strike fear into his loathsome family, Ayato was still completely oblivious to his approaching.

"Ayato."

And with that one call of his name, the redhead spun around, shock glossing over his usually bright eyes. Ayato cussed before showing Reiji what appeared to be a broken vase.

"And what is this explanation of this?"

Reiji asked Ayato deeply, watching the glass shardes cover the floor near the stairwell. Broken pieces of what was once a beautiful picture of a cherry tree hand painted on the artifact lay still under Reiji's cold gaze.

"Tch- Don't ask me! Ask Kanato! He's the one who broke it in the first place!"

Ayato dirtily spat out. He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms as he heard the sound of the overgrown and erratic 4 year old teleport into the room and began throwing a tantrum once more.

"Cease your incessant lies Ayato! I had no part to play in this at all! You're just trying to shove the blame on me like always! You and Laito always bully me! Uuu..."

Kanato begins to sob, but not before the fedora clad pervert can sneakily appear above the stairwell. Not wanting to get closer to the scene.

"Fufu~ Someone called?"

Reiji had enough of this back and forth by this point and angrily commanded him to get down here with the rest of them and explain the situation.

"Geez Reiji, calm down. What's got you in a twist hm?"

Laito cooed out as he made his way next to Kanato.

"What's got me in a 'twist' Laito, is that there's a broken vase here that I'm positive does not belong to this family. Anyone would care to explain why it's here and why is it broken?"

Reiji was tired of his brother's tomfoolery, but that still didn't quench the thirst he had for answers. The vase seemed to be well crafted and worth much more than that of human worldly value. There were bits of raw gold painted onto the flowers of the tree the more he examined it and noted that the material was one made only in the demon realm.

"I dunno what happened but Kanato found it outside in a box-"

Ayato began before getting cut off.

"Ah- so that's what it was, who would've thought?"

Laito chimed in carelessly.

"Haa? You've known that it was here this whole time and never told anyone!?"

Ayato bickered back at his brother.

"No no, nothing like that. I just assumed it was for one of you guys so I waited to see who it was meant for."

Laito said pondering the situation for a brief second before returning to his playful stature. Reiji sighed before asking to see the box.

"So that way we'll know who the sender is! Good thinking Reiji."

Laito commented before grabbing either side of Reiji's shoulders and giving a light shake from behind.

"Now tell me again how exactly it broke in the first place. Based on the contents alone this was an extremely priceless gift from the demon realm and I'm concerned as to where that leads us."

Ayato handed Reiji the brown box, careful to not cut himself in the process as splinters were laden all over the packaging.

"Right where was I? Oh yeah- so Kanato found the box originally... But pancake was missing. So I asked him where she could've run off to, and that's when I saw the package. We uh.... Got to talking and landed on the idea that pancake had a secret admirer. And Kanato got upset and smashed through box so-"

Kanato angrily shouted and cut off Ayato.

"I did NOT just throw the box. You know better than to lie and put the blame on me Ayato! He was the one that thought someone was sending her gifts and started shaking it to see what it was, and I tried to grab it from him because I wanted to know too! But then Ayato wouldn't let me have it! So I held onto the box and he just let it go knowing I'd fall! He did it on purpose so I'd fall!"

Reiji sighed and squeezed his nose bridge. He wasn't sure how much of these childish antics he could put up with.

"It says here that this is a gift from...."

Reiji adjusts his glasses before his eyes went wide with shock.

"Father."

The entire room fell quiet. Not for long if Ayato had anything to do with it however.

"That old geezer!? What the hell does he want?"

Reiji glared at Ayato before reprimanding his poor speech and lack of respect towards their father.

"I wonder what that man wants? Perhaps another ploy to get us to act like a perfect happy family he sees on television."

Laito cooed out, but anyone with common sense could taste the passive aggressiveness in his voice. Reiji continued to look at the label, ignoring his brothers.

"I- what?...."

Was all he could muster his lips to say.

"What is it now? Stop keeping us in suspense Reiji!"

Kanato shouted angrily at his older brother. Reiji read the label twice before ripping it off the box as his younger siblings watched in amazement. Ayato had enough of his suspicious behaviour and lunged at Reiji, stealing the label from his cold fingertips.

"Finally! Let's see here.... H-huh!? This can't be right- there's no way..."

Laito looked a bit concerned for a fraction of a second before stepping up and asking what everyone's reaction was about.

"F-four eyes here is- Reiji's getting MARRIED!"

Laito and everyone else fell into shock. By this point Subaru teleported into the room with them hearing the commotion.

"He's getting..... What?"

Reiji knew he needed to contact his father to make sure this wasn't some mistake.

"What exactly does that label say Ayato?"

Kanato asked, clenching teddy tighter.

"It says that... That it's a wedding gift for Reiji."

Subaru cussed out and went on a rant about how the "old man" couldn't just do that and it was bullshit. Shu eventually made his way into the room looking off into the distance and not saying anything. By the time everyone was done conversing, the shock finally set into their veins until all they could feel now was fear. Without Reiji, how would this house even remain standing? God knows Shu's not going to take up that responsibility. Despite not saying anything verbally, they all knew what the other was thinking.

"Hey Reiji so does this mean that- haa!? He's gone!"

Ayato said slightly offended. He couldn't help but wonder what would come of this situation.

........

The sea was harsh as sailors struggled to stay on board their ships, thunder and lightning blocked out their senses. 'People' like you were meant to be extremely careful during nights like these. Rough waters only called for trouble, not just for mortal men but for seafolk as well. Hunting was harder with all the lights people put on their ships these days, humans began getting advanced, in technology and weaponry.

You were built to face the elements, not defy gunshot wounds and spears. Your tail whipped rapidly as you bobbed your body up and down, following the current as your teeth remained clench. Your nictating membrane or second eyelid as more commonly known, was on full display tonight. Even your biology knew something wasn't right. Despite this being perfect weather for some hunting, your gut told you it was best not to.

You tried your best to swim back home, body using its full extent of power to five further and further into the depth of the ocean. Finally you saw what appeared to be a kelp forest. You quickly swam in between the slimy green leaves and stood there, waiting.

Your paranoia began to get the best of you, you watched from below as the ship stopped just above you. Had they actually seen you? Worse yet, today was the day of your coronation. You were meant to be home 2 hours ago. Your parents would kill you.

Suddenly you felt a flipper brush past you, jumping a bit in fright, you spun around and bared your fangs.

"G-geez calm down it's me..."

You 'heard' your brother say. Truthfully it was less hearing and more so knowing. Sound was useless in the ocean and all that would come out is bubbles. Seafolk were able to speak telepathically, a lot of scientists still believe that it was due to evolution since your ancestors originally couldn't.

"Shit... Is dad upset?"

Your brother rolled his eyes as the moonlight shun onto his scales, illuminating the blue and green hues of them. A tinge of purple melting into his pale skin as his long slender tail flipped back and forth keeping himself up. He was different compared to other seafolk. Despite having a tail, he was only born with a single flipper, making him resemble an eel rather than a fish.

"I'm upset with you. Do you understand how many people are waiting on you!?"

He berated you. Despite being your younger brother, he always seemed to act years ahead of you. But it wasn't your fault completely. Being burdened with such heavy responsibilities as the first child of the king made you susceptible to days with no freedom or boring political events. You had a vision for your people sure, but it was tiring sometimes and all you wanted was a break.

"Look I'm sorry- I just..."

His hair made a cloud around his head as the pitch black strands floated about. He was always a traditionalist when it came to how he viewed the world and even himself. Men in their colony would keep the top of their hair short and keep the rest in a singular long braid. Just looking at the jewels adorned on his body was a reminder that that's supposed to be you. You're the one that's supposed to be getting your younger brother put of trouble, you're the one that's supposed to bring honour to your family.

Sometimes you lose your way and that's okay, but having one of the only people that understand the pressure you're under and constantly forgives your childish behaviour isn't. A simple sorry wouldn't do. After a moment of silence, you both swam to your father's castle.

Despite what most fairytales depicted, it wasn't underwater at all. It was a large structure resembling the architecture of 14th century Indian royalty. It was built on a rocky island that was only one of the many small chain islands. Different tribes resided on each island and today was the day they were about to all be under your rule.

Once you and your brother made it onto land, your tail began to seperate into "legs". Your skin still retained it's green and blueish hues, scales littering your legs and fins attached to the back of your calves. Your toes were webbed and all along your body were zebra like markings that were completely white.

Your brother on the other hand was a different story. Once he got onto land, all that remained of him was a singular leg. He would often use an artificial body part to get around on land, but other times, you were there to help him.

Contrary to popular belief, seafolk aren't born with tails, they're born like a regular human with legs. For the most part of their life cycle they're amphibious, but through early ages they stay strictly on land. As they grow older, their fins develop and so does their innate ability to swim, despite needing to be taught exactly how to, the urge to delve into the water becomes stronger and constant.

The jingles of your gold netted attire, attracted the attention of others nearby who either ran to greet you or go to inform the king of your arrival.

Once you were finally at the top of the castle for all to see, your father behind you and a priest near your side, you were more than sure you weren't ready for this. Usually the first born son is chosen to be king by defeating an enemy clan's prince, but your father felt all too much love for you that he decided that certain rules needed to be broken. He enjoyed knowing that he'd leave his kingdom under a matriarchal power such as yourself. But currently you were testing his patience with your half assed speech.

Once the clapping finally ceased and the crown was placed onto your head, you felt bile rise in your throat. God you wanted any and every possible excuse to get out of there as fast as possible, but like the humans say, be careful for what you wish for.

The king took your hands in his and raised them up in the air, demanding cheering from the crowd below. Thunder brewed as rain painted your face.

"My daughter, your new highness, is getting married!"

You ripped your hands away from him and looked as if the world completely fell apart before your eyes. Tears filled your eyes as your father seemed to be the happiest man on earth. The crowd's applause only seeming to mock your distress. You looked across to your brother who seemed to be hiding in the shadows, his head hung low in shame, eyes daring to never meet yours.

"H-how.... Could you!? You-you SELFISH SELF ABSORBANT MAN!"

You felt a hand slap you hard across your face. The crowd went silent as your palm met your cheek. You looked at your perpetrator and all you saw were the teary eyes of a boy you once knew. A boy you once loved. A boy you would once call your brother.

You understand nothing and all you knew that this wasn't what you wanted. These people weren't your family, they were your enemies. Your brother would never hit you, your father would never force something like this onto you. You looked helplessly at the crowd as they gasped and judged you silently.

You ran, you ran as far as those shabby legs could take you.

...........

The night before his wedding, Reiji reassured himself that his father had a greater purpose in mind for this union. Surely, it would prove to be a smart move, one that would strengthen his relationship and prove to his father that he could handle anything thrown his way. Sitting in his study, he absentmindedly ran his fingers over the spines of books on diplomacy and noble bloodlines, envisioning his bride as a refined, obedient woman who would respect the title he worked so hard to build.

He paused, staring into the dim light as a sense of unease swelled. He knew this marriage was a matter of duty, a test to prove his loyalty and worth to his father. Still, he couldn’t shake the stories he’d heard of sirens: tall and powerful, with hearts as deep and restless as the sea. It was unsettling, the thought of binding himself to someone who might lack the discipline and restraint he held so dearly.

He couldn’t afford another woman in his life who wielded power over him. As a child, his mother had been the only woman he’d seen as truly worthy of respect, she held herself with grace and was revered by those around her. Yet for all his efforts, he had never earned her regard. No matter how he tried to impress her, she’d remained indifferent, distant, her gaze seeming to pass over him as though he weren’t there at all. He remembered the countless hours spent studying, practicing, trying to become a son worthy of her attention. But to her, he’d never been enough, and in the end, she was gone, taking with her any hope he’d had of proving himself in her eyes.

He knew in his heart that this would never happen again. Ever. His wife would see him for the man that he was and even more. She'd respect him and obey him and fear him and... Love him? She'd hold him and laugh with him and read and- no. Reiji made up his mind. This woman would have no control over him nor his heart. He didn't care what methods of punishment he needed to take into consideration, he just knew that he needed to be above her and everyone else.

.........

While Reiji sat alone in his study, you paced your quarters, the weight of your fate pressing down on you with each passing moment. Only tonight had you learned the true nature of this marriage, a cruel twist hidden behind the whispers and wary glances exchanged among your kin. You had always known your family harbored secrets, but you never expected to be bound to one, thrust into a union with a stranger for reasons that no one would speak of openly.

You clenched the edge of the vanity table, your fingers digging into the polished wood as anger pulsed through your veins. Tomorrow, you would become the bride of a stranger, a vampire prince whose name was whispered around you but whose face you had never seen. You knew nothing of him, only that he came from a world so different from your own, a world of shadows and secrets. A shiver ran down your spine at the thought of what he might expect from you, this man you were bound to without choice or warning.

The idea of surrendering to this life unsettled you, and a part of you longed to flee, to lose yourself in the open sea, far from the web of silence and secrets that had trapped you here. But you knew you couldn’t turn your back, not yet. Instead, you steeled yourself, vowing that if you were to face this marriage, it would be on your terms. Let the vampire prince try to break your spirit, he would find himself standing against the untamed force of the sea itself.

Your thoughts turned to your kingdom, the vibrant underwater realm that had always been your home. You could almost hear the echoes of laughter from your people, the gentle sway of the currents carrying their songs of joy. Yet, beneath that melody lay an undercurrent of worry. You knew the weight of your responsibilities, the expectations that loomed over you like a shadow. As the current queen, you were supposed to be a guiding light for your people, yet all you felt was uncertainty.

Caught in this emotional storm, you felt torn between your own desires and the needs of your kingdom. Part of you yearned to escape, to dive into the depths and leave this impending marriage behind. But how could you abandon those who relied on you? Your heart ached at the thought of your younger brother, who had always been there to pick up your slack. He bore the burden of expectations with a grace that you often envied, navigating the intricacies of royalty as if they were second nature.

How could you let him shoulder this alone? He had sacrificed so much for your family, standing by you in times of need, embodying the strength you sometimes lacked. The thought of failing him filled you with guilt. You couldn’t let him down; he deserved a sister who would fight for their kingdom, who would step up when it mattered most.

..........

The grand hall was illuminated by the soft glow of candlelight, casting flickering shadows on the elegantly draped walls. The air was thick with anticipation, the rich scent of blooming night flowers wafting through the open windows. Guests filled the pews, their hushed whispers mingling with the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore, creating a symphony of expectation.

At the altar, Reiji stood, his expression carefully composed, though his heart raced with a mix of excitement and dread. Flanking him were his five brothers, their casual banter a thin veneer over the turmoil roiling beneath the surface.

“Tch... I can’t believe four eyes is really going through with this shit. I thought he was supposed to be the smartest of us.”

Ayato whispered to the group, moreso to himself than anyone else.

Laito looked off into the distance, his gaze momentarily lost in thought.

“Why wouldn’t he? This is everything he’s ever wanted.”

The weight of his words lingered in the air, a subtle acknowledgment of the pressure their brother faced. But just as quickly, he snapped back to his usual playful demeanor, a sly grin spreading across his face.

“I just hope his new bride has a good pair of legs. It'd be amusing to see Reiji finally let loose and have some fun fufu~"

Subaru’s expression soured instantly, and he shot Laito a sharp glare, the muscles in his jaw clenching.

“Seriously!?”

He snapped, barely keeping his voice down.

“That’s all you care about? Reiji’s throwing himself into this for our father, and all you can think about is some pathetic joke.”

Beneath his anger, there was something else, a hint of sadness, a weariness at watching yet another brother pulled into the relentless cycle of proving oneself to someone who would never be satisfied. It seemed to Subaru to be a constant variable among them.

“Relax, Subaru,”

Laito replied, shrugging nonchalantly, though his smirk faltered for a second.

“It’s a wedding, not a funeral. Might as well keep things interesting.”

Subaru rolled his eyes and was about to retort back but was interrupted by Kanato.

Kanato’s frown deepened as he clutched his teddy bear closer to his chest, casting a wary glance at Laito.

“You shouldn’t say such things.....”

He muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.

“Teddy doesn’t like hearing such… unpleasant words.”

He hugged the bear tighter, as though shielding it from Laito’s careless remark.

“Fun?”

He scoffed, his expression twisting into a pout.

“Reiji wouldn’t know fun if it bit him. He’s just doing this to prove something...like he always does.”

Kanato’s voice took on a sulky, almost whiny edge.

“All he ever cares about is being ‘important’ to Father. He acts like he’s so much better than us, but he’s just as desperate.”

Kanato hummed in thought for a moment before adding on.

Kanato’s gaze shifted toward the aisle, almost lost in thought as he muttered to himself.

“It would be boring if he broke his new bride before they even get started. But I suppose it would make things… entertaining. Maybe he'll finally crumble."

Subaru scoffed at his brother's thoughtless remark.

“You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

Subaru's voice was laced with venom. Sure he hated his brothers, but in times like this, they were the only ones they could rely on. Kanato simply shrugged, brushing Subaru’s reaction off.

“What? Teddy and I think it’s only fair.”

Before Subaru could respond, Shu shifted, glancing up with a half-lidded gaze. His expression was unreadable, and for a moment, his piercing eyes rested on Reiji.

“You’re all wasting your time.”

He murmured, his tone quiet but laced with a hint of sadness. He sighed before responding.

“Reiji’s been chasing Father’s approval for as long as I can remember. He thinks this will finally make him happy.”

Shu’s gaze softened slightly, as though remembering the years they had spent in tense rivalry. Though Reiji’s resentment toward him ran deep, Shu couldn’t ignore the reality that they were still brothers, bound by blood and bitter memories.

“But if this marriage is just another game for him to win…”

He let out a sigh, his voice tinged with disappointment.

“He’s setting himself up for a lonely life.”

He leaned back, closing his eyes as if to detach himself from the scene.

“Not that it matters,”

He added quietly.

“Reiji wouldn’t listen to any of us, anyway.”

They all fell in a somber silence. No one had anything else to say. They couldn't, it was just too much.

The murmur of the guests faded to silence as you entered, every gaze turning toward you. You stood in the entryway, bathed in moonlight, your figure luminous as you took your first step forward.

Your dress was breathtaking—a gown crafted from woven seaweed, embedded with jewels that caught the light with every movement. Sapphires, emeralds, and shimmering pearls adorned the deep green and blue fabric, each piece glinting like ocean waves in moonlight. The dress cascaded around you in flowing patterns, trailing behind like a living shadow of the sea itself.

Golden bands wound around your wrists and neck, twisted into intricate designs that announced your lineage to anyone who dared question it. Tiny shells and coral pieces were woven into your hair, crowned by strands of delicate pearls. In place of a bouquet, a garland of kelp and sea flowers draped over your hands, an offering from the ocean that spoke of your world beyond this one.

Your skin carried the faint hues of the sea, light blue and green, shimmering softly as though kissed by ocean tides. There was a fierceness to your beauty, an untamed quality that felt powerful, ancient, and strange. As you walked, each step was measured and full of grace, and yet I could sense something more....a quiet strength, perhaps even defiance, beneath the calm expression you held.

As you finally reached the altar, Reiji’s breath caught in his throat. At 6'5", you towered over him, a striking figure that commanded attention. The way you moved, so confidently and gracefully, made him acutely aware of the space between you. How effortlessly you filled it with your presence. He had expected beauty, but the sheer magnitude of your stature and the shimmering hues of your skin left him momentarily speechless.

It was as if the very air shifted around you, drawing the eyes of all who gathered. In that moment, Reiji felt a rush of emotions, intimidation, admiration, and an undeniable spark of intrigue. How could someone so magnificent and unlike anyone he had ever known become his bride?

........

Two weeks had passed since the wedding, and life in the castle near the shore had become a dance of mischief and challenge. Reiji sat in the sunlit library, a heavy tome propped open before him, its pages filled with complex theories about etiquette and social conduct. You lounged nearby, legs crossed, and glanced over at him.

“What are you reading this time?” you asked, your tone dripping with mockery. “Another guide on how to be a proper gentleman?”

He glanced up, slightly defensive. “It’s called The Art of Nobility, and it’s quite insightful.”

You scoffed, shaking your head. “You need a book to tell you how to be a normal person? Isn’t that an oxymoron?”

Reiji felt irritation flare inside him. “This is important, you know. Understanding how to navigate our world—”

“Oh please, you’re drowning in a sea of nonsense. You think reading this drivel will make you more refined? You’re just pretending!”

With each jab, you pushed him closer to the edge, and he struggled to maintain his composure. “I’m not pretending! I’m trying to—”

“Trying to what? Live up to some outdated expectation? That’s just sad.”

“Sad?” Reiji snapped, unable to hold back any longer. “What do you know about it, Ayato?!”

The slip hung in the air, shocking both of you into silence. As the silence hung in the air, Reiji quickly cleared his throat, eager to move past the awkward moment. “I didn’t mean to—”

“Who’s Ayato?” you asked, curiosity piqued.

Reiji froze, his eyes narrowing slightly as he adjusted his glasses. “My brother,” he replied, his tone clipped.

You raised an eyebrow, genuinely curious. “What’s he like?”

He hesitated, the question lingering in the air. “It’s complicated,” he finally said, his defensiveness surfacing. “I have my own responsibilities to manage.”

You nodded, sensing the tension in his voice. “I get that. Families can be... complicated.”

Reiji felt an unfamiliar urge to share, but he quickly suppressed it, recognizing that he had already revealed too much. “We should focus on our duties,” he said, trying to sound authoritative.

“Of course,” you replied, your tone calm. “I didn’t mean to pry.”

He took a step back, feeling the weight of the moment press down on him. “Right,” he said, his voice tight. “I’ll... I’ll see you later.”

Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heel and left, the air between you heavy with unspoken thoughts.

The next day, Reiji was pacing the halls of the castle, lost in thought about the previous evening’s awkward exchange. He was trying to shake off the unease when he heard muffled voices coming from the other room.

Curiosity piqued, he approached the door to your quarters, where he could hear your voice, thick with emotion. As he leaned closer, he caught snippets of the conversation—your tone was strained, and it was clear you were upset.

“...I’m fine, really. It’s just... difficult,” you said, your voice cracking. “I just wish things were different.”

Reiji hesitated for a moment before gently knocking on the door. “Is everything all right in there?” he asked, his voice calm and collected, though he didn’t genuinely expect a response.

When you didn’t answer immediately, he pushed the door open slightly, peering inside. The sight of you, tears streaming down your cheeks, caught him off guard. You looked vulnerable, a stark contrast to the strong facade you usually wore.

“What's wrong?” he asked, more out of politeness than genuine concern. His instinct was to remain distant, but something compelled him to check on you.

You glanced up, surprise flickering in your eyes. “I... it’s nothing, really,” you said quickly, wiping your tears with the back of your hand.

“It clearly isn’t nothing,” he pressed, the irritation in his voice surfacing. “If you’re going to cry in the castle, at least have the decency to do it quietly.”

You took a deep breath, attempting to regain your composure. “I didn’t mean to disturb anyone. It’s just... family stuff.”

Reiji felt a flicker of interest but quickly suppressed it. “If it’s family, then it’s not my concern,” he said, trying to sound indifferent, but there was an edge to his tone that revealed his discomfort.

“Right,” you replied, forcing a smile that didn’t reach your eyes. “Thanks for checking, though.”

He nodded stiffly, feeling the tension in the air. “Just try not to let it affect your duties. We have a lot to handle.”

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away, the encounter leaving him with a strange sense of unease. The sound of your muffled sobs lingered in his mind, but he brushed it off. Emotions were not his concern; he had his own burdens to bear.

........

The rain tapped gently against the windows of the sunroom as you lounged on a cushioned chair, staring out at the grey skies. You had hoped for a day to explore the gardens, but the weather had other plans.

Reiji entered, shaking droplets from his hair, looking somewhat annoyed. “I had plans for today, and they’re all ruined by this weather.”

You smiled, glancing up at him. “We could find something to do indoors. There are plenty of games in the study.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Games? You think that will keep my mind occupied?”

“Why not? It could be fun,” you suggested, standing up and moving towards the shelves. “Or are you too busy being the perfect son?”

Reiji’s expression softened slightly at your teasing. “Fine. What do you have in mind?”

After rummaging through the study, you found a deck of cards and challenged him to a game. As the two of you played, laughter filled the room, the tension of earlier days dissipating.

“Do you always cheat?” Reiji asked, mock indignation on his face as you grinned, adjusting your strategy.

“Only when I have to,” you replied, your eyes sparkling. “Maybe you should try it sometime.”

As the game progressed, the playful banter turned into genuine conversation. You shared stories about your upbringing and the pressures you faced, while Reiji opened up about his past and the shadows of his brother’s brilliance that loomed over him.

“I’ve spent so long trying to prove myself that I forgot how to enjoy life,” he admitted, a hint of vulnerability in his voice.

“Maybe you don’t have to prove anything to me,” you said softly.

Reiji's mind reeled. His body becoming temporarily paralyzed as he analyzed your words. He couldn't explain the lump in his throat and he didn't want to.

........

The grand dining hall was alive with laughter and the clinking of glasses as guests celebrated your recent achievements. You sat at the head of the table, sharing stories and soaking in the compliments when Reiji’s sudden outburst shattered the festive mood.

“Enough!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the hall, silencing everyone. You blinked, shocked at the sudden intensity of his words.

“What’s wrong, Reiji?” you asked, your heart racing as the eyes of every guest turned toward you, the laughter dying down into an awkward silence.

“It’s just—this is ridiculous! You stand there, taking all the credit for everything, while I’m left in your shadow!” he exclaimed, frustration evident in every word.

You felt heat rise to your cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and anger washing over you. “I’m not trying to overshadow you! I thought we were celebrating our success together.”

“Celebrating you, maybe,” he shot back. “It feels like I’m a footnote in your story, and I’m tired of it!”

“Reiji, you need to calm down,” you said, trying to maintain your composure while the guests exchanged bewildered glances.

“No! I can’t just stand by while you steal the spotlight!” He slammed his hand on the table, the noise reverberating in the now-silent hall.

Your patience thinned. “This isn’t the time or place for this! You’re embarrassing me in front of our guests. If you have something to say, let’s say it privately.”

Reiji’s expression faltered, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but he stood firm. “Maybe you should reconsider how you present yourself if you want my respect.”

You took a deep breath, frustration boiling inside you. “Leave us,” you commanded, addressing the guests. “This conversation is no longer appropriate for this setting.”

The guests exchanged confused looks but complied, rising from their seats and filing out of the dining hall, whispering amongst themselves as they left. The door clicked shut, leaving you and Reiji alone in the suddenly quiet room.

“Now, can we talk?” you said, your tone firm yet calm.

He rubbed the back of his neck, tension evident in his posture. “I... I didn’t mean to lose control like that.”

You crossed your arms, studying him intently. “But you did, and it’s not the first time. Why is it so hard for you to accept that I have my own strengths? I want to work together, but I can’t do that if you see me as a threat.”

God Reiji would do anything right about now to just vanish off the face of the earth. He was losing his mind, his self. Nothing could quell the ache in his battered heart. He took a deep breath before speaking.

"You could never be a threat to me."

And with that he was gone.

The garden was peaceful, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant sound of water creating a calming ambiance. You and Reiji stood beneath a large oak tree, the moonlight filtering through the branches. The earlier tension from the dining hall lingered in the air, but you sensed that he needed more than just words of encouragement.

Reiji leaned against the tree, arms crossed over his chest, his gaze fixed on the ground. You could see the weight of his thoughts pressing down on him, and your heart ached for him.

“Reiji,” you said softly, stepping closer, “I didn’t mean to push you. I just want to understand.”

He remained silent, the shadows playing across his face. You could see the turmoil in his expression, and instinctively, you reached out to touch his arm, offering warmth and reassurance.

“I know things can feel overwhelming,” you continued gently. “You’ve always been so dedicated to your duties. But you don’t have to carry everything alone. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

He glanced at you, eyes filled with a mix of gratitude and uncertainty. “It’s not that simple,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. “There are things... things I can’t share.”

“Why not?” you asked, your brow furrowing in concern. “I want to help, but I can’t do that if you keep pushing me away. It’s okay to be vulnerable.”

Reiji looked away, the vulnerability in his gaze quickly masked by a wall of stoicism. “You wouldn’t understand. My past... it’s complicated. I don’t want to burden you with it.”

“Reiji,” you said, your tone firm but gentle, “everyone has their struggles. I may not know the specifics of your past, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be here for you. You don’t have to face everything by yourself.”

He inhaled deeply, trying to mask the emotions threatening to spill over. “It’s hard for me to accept help. I was always expected to be perfect, to uphold a certain image.”

You took a step closer, your heart aching at his words. “You don’t have to be perfect for me. I admire your strength, but I also see how hard you are on yourself. It’s okay to let that facade drop, even just for a moment.”

Reiji turned to face you, his defenses wavering as your kindness washed over him. “I’m scared,” he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. “I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“You could never disappoint me,” you replied earnestly, your eyes locking onto his. “It’s okay to show me your true self. I promise I won’t judge you. I just want to be close to you, to support you, even if I don’t know everything.”

For a brief moment, Reiji seemed to consider your words, his walls faltering. But then he took a step back, the distance between you seeming to widen. “I need time,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “I’m not ready to share everything yet.”

You nodded, respecting his need for space. “That’s okay. Just know that whenever you are ready, I’ll be here. You don’t have to hide from me.”

He looked at you, a flicker of appreciation in his eyes, though uncertainty lingered beneath the surface. “Thank you. You’re... you’re too kind.”

“It’s just who I am,” you replied with a soft smile, trying to lighten the mood. “I’ll always be here to remind you that you’re worthy of love and support, no matter what you’ve been through.”

Reiji’s gaze softened, the tension in his posture easing ever so slightly. “I appreciate that,” he said quietly. “It means more than you know.”

You stepped back slightly, giving him the space he needed while still maintaining a comforting presence. “Whenever you need me, day or night, I’ll be here. Just take your time.”

As you both stood in the moonlit garden, a sense of understanding began to weave between you, a promise of support in the midst of unspoken fears. While Reiji still guarded his past, he felt the warmth of your kindness enveloping him, a beacon of hope amidst the shadows of his insecurities.

........

The moonlight spilled across the balcony, illuminating the space where you stood, arms crossed against the night air. The cool breeze offered a fleeting relief from the warmth of your thoughts, but it couldn’t erase the tension that lingered between you and Reiji.

He leaned against the railing, staring out into the night, the weight of his unspoken thoughts palpable. You both had spent weeks navigating this uneasy partnership—an arrangement rooted in obligation and resentment. At first, the two of you were like oil and water, clashing at every turn. But now, as the days passed, the barriers you had built began to show signs of wear.

“Why do you keep looking so serious?” you asked, breaking the silence. Your voice held a hint of challenge, but deep down, you were curious.

Reiji turned to you, his expression a mix of frustration and contemplation. “I was just thinking about how strange this all is. We’re forced into this arrangement, and yet... it feels different now.”

“Different how?” you probed, crossing your arms tighter.

His brow furrowed as he considered his words. “At first, I couldn’t stand the idea of being tied to someone like you. You were impulsive, carefree... everything I’m not. But now... I don’t know. It’s not half bad.”

The admission hung in the air, and your heart raced at the unexpected turn of his thoughts. “What are you saying, Reiji? Are you really implying that you’ve come to tolerate me?”

“Maybe more than that,” he said, stepping closer, the distance between you shrinking. “You’ve challenged me in ways I didn’t expect. I’ve never been good at opening up, but you’ve somehow cracked through my walls.”

A wave of warmth flooded through you, surprising both of you. “I guess I’ve had my own struggles, too. At first, I hated being here. I thought I’d be trapped in a life I didn’t choose, forced into a marriage that meant nothing.”

His gaze softened, curiosity replacing some of the tension. “What changed?”

You took a deep breath, the weight of your confession threatening to spill out. “I was forced into this marriage because of my father’s debts to your family. He was desperate, and I didn’t want to see him suffer. But now... I’m starting to feel like maybe this isn’t as awful as I thought.”

Reiji’s expression shifted, surprise mixing with something deeper, perhaps understanding. “You mean to say you’ve grown to appreciate this situation?”

“I’ve grown to appreciate you,” you admitted, your heart pounding. “Despite everything, you’ve become... more than I ever expected. I don’t think I can keep pretending this is just a business arrangement.”

Silence enveloped the balcony, the gravity of your words settling in the space between you. Reiji’s eyes widened, and for a moment, it felt like time stood still.

“I thought this was just about duty,” you continued, your voice trembling. “But it’s become so much more for me. I’m scared because I didn’t plan to fall for you. I didn’t want to like you. It complicates everything.”

He stepped closer, the vulnerability in his eyes undeniable. “And what if I said I’ve felt the same? That beneath all my irritation, I’ve found myself drawn to you in ways I never imagined?”

Your heart soared at his confession, the tension between you shifting. “Then maybe we can make this work. I want to fight for something real between us, something more than just obligations.”

Reiji hesitated, the flicker of hope igniting in his gaze. “You’re willing to take that risk?”

“I am,” you replied, feeling the fear that had gripped your heart begin to melt away. “I want to be with you, despite our past. I want to see where this can go.”

The air crackled with tension, and in that moment, you both understood the weight of the leap you were about to take. As the moonlight enveloped you, the realization that your feelings had shifted became undeniable.

Reiji reached for your hand, his grip warm and reassuring. “Then let’s explore this together. No more hiding from what we feel.”

You nodded, a sense of relief flooding through you. “Together,” you affirmed, feeling the distance between you dissolve as the promise of something real began to take root.

In the quiet of the night, beneath the vast sky, you both stood on the brink of a new beginning, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead, together.

Word count: idk probably too much

From Author: I had so much fun writing their dynamics and I really wanted to do a slow burn but I realized I probably crossed the word limit halfway in and unfortunately had to shorten it. But I loved having this opportunity, I wanna say thank you for @bubblespalace for curating this event, she's working hard to keep the fandom alive and I'm glad I had a chance to be apart of that!

[brittle-doughie]

[Masterlist #2]

[Masterlist #1/Main Page] >>> HERE!

Brittle’s Cookies

[Cookie Run Ovenbreak/Kingdom]

Wayward Soul (Parfaedia Cookies)

Tribute Day (Brittle OCs/Cookie Kingdom)

Five Nights, Five Dragons (The Five Dragons)

The Fool (Shadow Milk Cookie)

Spooky Cookie Tales: Watched

The Tale of the Forced Hand (Beast Cookies)

Long Time Friend (Hollyberry Kingdom)

One with the Wind! | Looking into the Wind, Piercer of Darkness Update Teaser for CRK

Feathered Envy (Dessert Paradise)

A Little Help (Star Coral Cookie)

Tale of the Mansion

Keeping Friends Close and Best Friends Closer (Cream Soda and Cherry Cola Cookie)

Superstar! The Cookie Olympics Event!

Draw Your Blade! | Looking into the Valorous Sun Tournament Update for CROB!

Cookie Flipside: Light Cream Cookie

Heartfelt Unison (Y/N Cookie skill)

Return to Sender (Strawberry Stick and Mint Wafer Cookie)

Volition’s End (Mystic Flour Cookie)

Illusion of Dreams (Clotted Cream Cookie)

The Lover of Passion HCs (Beast Hollyberry Cookie) | The Ancient Beast Order AU

The Manufacturer of Darkness

The Prophet of Salvation HCs (Beast Pure Vanilla Cookie) | The Ancient Beast Order AU

The Ancient Beast Order (Ancient Beast AU)

I Don’t Remember You (Dark Cacao and Mystic Flour Cookie)

The Walls of the Baker (Ancient and Beast Cookies)

Yin and Yang (Peach Blossom and Affogato Cookie)

Pearly Contemplation

Get Along (Dark Cacao and Mystic Flour Cookie)

Lethality (Lethal Company x Cookie Run)

Living Legend (Y/N Cookie Concept)

The Lone Giant

Longing Tide (Sea Fairy Cookie)

The Plague Approaches! | Looking into The Awakening of White Apathy Update for CRK!

No Class (Sachertorte Cookie)

Late Arrival (Dark Cacao Cookie)

Dust to Dust (Caramel Arrow Cookie)

Cocooned (Mystic Flour Cookie)

Mystic Flour is Coming…

The Wishful or the Regal (Lotus Dragon vs. Longan Dragon Cookie)

Gotta Go (The Ancient Cookies)

Under the Castle…

Timeless Kingdom - Deliciously Evil Banquet (Reader Insert)

Remember Who?

Ways of Cookie and Egg Care (The Dragons)

I Know You (Stormbringer Cookie)

Dessert Report (The Ancient Cookies)

Legendary Group Chat

A Brave Advice (Reader Insert)

The Perfect Vessel Doesn’t Exi- (The Five Beasts)

Time Balance Shenanigans (18+)

Hiding H/N, Seeking Beasts (The Five Beasts)

Welcome Back, Handycookie (TBD Update)

Flower from the Other Shore (Cherry Blossom Cookie)

Loyal Until the End (Caramel Arrow Cookie)

Costume Bond: One Heart for All, All Hearts for One.

Ingrained (Herb Cookie)

New Faces at the Witch’s Castle

Let’s Get Rolling! | Looking into the Lights, Camera, Action! Event for CROB!

What If: The First.

The Gist of The Dangerous Exchange

Let Me Be Your Princess (Princess Contest Cookie)

The Earthbread Big Seller

Bake It Till You Make It: Tasty Delights

Even More Heartbreak (Alt) - Mermaid’s Lament (White Pearl Cookie)

With Baker’s Love (Valentine’s Day 2024 Special)

A Cringe Day for Chocolates

A Witch’s Castle? [Witch’s Castle Introduction]

Storm Warning (Black Pearl Cookie)

The Cookie Run Horror - Concept #2 - “MASH”

Y/N Cookie Interactions

Reason to Stay (Elder Faerie Cookie)

Final Days (The Five Beasts)

Forced Connections

League of Evil Cookies

Spooky Cookie Tales: Prikaza

The Corrupted or the Fooled (Abyss Monarch vs. Black Pearl Cookie)

Off to Wish Camp! | A Look into CROB’s 7th Anniversary Update

Can’t Take What Isn’t Yours

Halt! The Restriction Mayhem Update

The Greedy or the Honorable (Pirate Cookie vs. Captain Ice Cookie)

Satellite (Stardust Cookie)

Cookie Details: Y/N Cookie (Mercookie Ver.)

I Remember You (Lobster and Mocha Ray Cookie)

The Heroic or the Meditated (Hero Cookie v. Ninja Cookie)

Eggcellent Easter Short

Grass is Greener Part 1 (Lilybell and Blue Lily Cookie)

[fancyfeathers]

I am very invested in your William and author reader fanfic, I must say it is very interesting. Would it be alright if I trouble you a little?

May you write a chapter where reader has gone missing right, and reader does actually outsmart William for the very first time? to the point where HE'S the one crawling back?? and is amazed? and begging her to come back? and she's not having it.

If it is too much, you may ignore this>

Thank you. Love you sm!!!

YES!!! Omg yes, I already started thinking about this with the idea of her being in a writer’s club or friends with other authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis who would help each other with their works and what not.

So like her friends who heard about her disappearance and after writing mysteries and murders alongside her, they are completely ready to find her.

And Then There Were None (Yandere William James Moriarty /w Author Darling Masterlist)

No one would be able to tell anything was wrong at first glance when they saw William James Moriarty, to anyone outside they would see nothing wrong, to anyone besides Louis and Albert he would still behaving as normal…

But his brothers, William is on edge, but in the best way possible, like when Sherlock is at his heels and all because his darling beat him at his own game, truly remarkable. He thought that she would only be off for a week or two but over a month has passed and every time he thought he found something the trail ran cold. Then the cherry on top of it all was every hint he found that ran cold related back to her books, like she was mocking him and what he had done…

And it was thrilling.

Then one evening after William had returned home from teaching at the college, Louis had also returned home from the market and fight as he was going to unpack-

A letter fell from the basket, and it was addressed to a Professor William James Moriarty, the name inked in red pen.

Louis handed the letter off to William when he was speaking to Albert in the drawing room over tea, telling him it was in the basket but he had never knew it was there, so someone must have slipped it in. William opened the letter as he sat up straight in his chair…

“I'm where the drama unfolds with arias grand,

Where masks may conceal a mysterious hand.

Within these walls, stories old and new,

Echo in halls with a theatrical view.

Where am I found? Seek the stage's grand spree,

Where performers enchant with operatic glee.”

Meet us at the answer at 8:00 PM tomorrow night, show them the letter and they will let you in. Bring your brothers, or leave them, I really do not care.

The letter was not signed, but the riddle was written in the same red ink, slightly smeared. The answer was obvious, an opera house, the question was who sent this and why? It was clear it was connected to his darling, so hopefully this was not a trail that goes cold.

So William follows the instructions hoping alone since this was obviously going to be a passive encounter since it was in public, and upon arriving to the theater and seeing all the members of the audience flocking inside, the sender was among the crowd.

While the other patrons showed their tickets to the staff at the door, he showed the letter and a small smile comes across the man’s face as he tells William to go to box five and that they were already waiting for them. Then as William made his way to the box and pushes open the door to see two individuals, a gentlemen reading a newspaper and William could tell was years old, and then sitting next to the man was her, his darling. Then as the door shuts behind the professor, the one reading the paper speaks up without looking at him.

“A counterweight supporting an opera house's chandelier fell through the roof and crashed into the audience, injuring several people and killing one. Imagine if it was the actual chandelier instead, what would have happened? What do you think, Professor Moriarty?”

“It would have resulted in a fire most likely, and due to the unique design of the chandelier more people would have gotten injured and certainly more than one would have died-“

“Hm, I thought so as well, good to know what I wrote in my book then was accurate.”

William glances at his darling who is just sitting there, not looking or speaking to him. The other man laughs at this and sets his paper down to look at the professor, a gleeful smile across his face.

“She almost refused to come, but we need to have closure on this whole affair so we can move on with our lives. A shame though, I quite enjoyed tracking her down with the others, it was like a competition to figure out what happened to her and who did it, and a bonus to beat the culprit at their own game, and it seems like I was the one to win, Professor William.”

William’s eyes drifted to where his darling sat in the box, her eyes still not going to meet the man who was publicly called her husband but who was in reality her worst nightmare.

“And if I may ask, how do you two know each other?”

“At an university funny enough, we were both invited to give lectures on our shared field of expertise, we became friends almost immediately and exchanged letter for a number of years when I lived in France, along with meeting up with a few of our colleagues to review our work-.”

“So you are an author as well, I do not think I have read any of your works.”

“Hm, that is a shame seeing as this meeting point revolved around my masterpiece, but I suppose you would like to cut to the chase.”

“Yes, as fun as this has been, I would rather her return-“

“Return with you? But that would mean you won, but you clearly did not, you lost. I invited you here so we can put this behind us.”

The man cut him off with a smile as if nothing was wrong, and it sent an almost thrilling shiver down William’s spine. He was about to reply to the man but then-

“Could you please leave William and I alone?”

She spoken up for the first time during this entire meeting, her eyes now snapping to glance at William for the briefest moments. The man gunned in response to her, standing up from his chair to leave the box, but as he passed William, he grabbed his shoulder-

“You may know how to murder people but rest assured so do I, after all both her and I write about it for a living. So try anything and I promise one of your friends will not be alive in the morning.”

The man’s cheerful tone had all but faded away and William hummed in acknowledgment to the threat right as he slipped out of the opera box, leaving William and his darling.

“Do not worry, he is bluffing, he does not have the heart to kill and nor do I.”

“Dearest…”

“I… I wanted to say goodbye, I figured it would be to cruel not to even after all the times you have done to me.”

“And how long do you think you can run?”

“Longer and faster than you can, and that became clear in my absence, you could not find me, so I think I will be fine. But I suppose if you find me again it is fair game, so… hm, what was that thing you told Mr. Holmes on the train with Louis and I that one time…”

She hums for a moment as she stands up from her seat, adjusting the gloves she wore as she prepared to leave. She stand before the Lord of Crime, looking him dead in the eye.

“Catch me if you can, Professor Moriarty.”

With that, she walked passed him, leaving the box and him alone as a smile came across his face…

“Oh you smart little thing…”

[bargain-bin-ask-memes]

✧༺♥༻∞　Magic Chocolates!!　∞༺♥༻✧

Send in a chocolate to transform and alter my muses body! These chocolates can stack so giving a muse multiple will either grow or change them times the amount given! (Example 3 milk chocolates would be 3 cup sizes!) Viewer Discretion is advised!

Milk Chocolate: My muse gains breast, or their breast increases by a cup size!

White Chocolate: My muse starts lactating!

Marshmallow Chocolate: My muse becomes pregnant with a baby!

Raspberry Creme Chocolate: My muse becomes horny!

Peanut Butter Chocolate: My muse gains a cock, or add an inch to their cock length! Chocolate Covered Cashew: Fills my muse ass/pussy with a load of cum!

Oreo Truffle: My muse gains five (5) pounds!

Mint Chocolate: My muse loses five (5) pounds!

Orange Pecan Truffle: My muse’s stomach is filled with a little water!

Vegan Chocolate: My muse’s stomach is inflated with a little air!

Pumpkin Truffle: My muse’s ass gets bigger!

Cheesecake Truffle: My muse’s body gets an hourglass figure!

Butter Toffee Chocolate: My muse gets animal ears and a tail (up to the sender)!

Lemon Chocolate: My muse gains six inches in height!

Lime Chocolate: My muse loses six inches in height!

Cherry Cordial Chocolate: My muse’s lips plump up.

Fudge: My muse grows a little all over!

Caramel Chocolate: My muse becomes a Hucow!

Almond Chocolate: My muse becomes a giant/giantess!

Lavender Chocolate: My muse becomes a bimbo!

Coffee Chocolate: My muse is returned to normal!

[io6nha]

k.sn — tell me !ㅤ

ぬ̳ ‣ PAIRING ♡% !ㅤㅤsunoo x reader

ぬ̳ ‣ SYNOPSIS ♡% !ㅤㅤsunoo was a senior (and a friend) whom you’ve adored for so long, but the idea of becoming his girlfriend honestly is like a far fetched dream. not until a random person with a pseudonym of ‘s’ that shared a bit of similarities to kim sunoo himself started showing interest in you.

ぬ̳ ‣ GENRE ♡% !ㅤㅤfluff, romance, non idol au, highschool au, friends to lovers, a bit of crack, slice of life ????

ぬ̳ ‣ WORD COUNT ♡% !ㅤㅤ3.2k

ぬ̳ ‣ FEATURING ♡% !ㅤㅤkim minji & pham hanni of newjeans, hueninh bahiyyih of kep1er, shin yuna of itzy, anthonny from boys planet

the weather has been cold for a few days, but the burning sensation in your cheeks will likely keep you warm for the rest of the year. as you buried your face in the thick hoodie you were wearing before crossing your legs, a smile slowly formed on your face. the song in your earphones had just reminded you of your lover and how you became a thing.

너도 날 좋아할 줄은 몰랐어, 어쩌면 좋아 너무나 좋아, 꿈만 같아서 나, 내 자신을 자꾸 꼬집어 봐 너무나 좋아 (i didn't know that you'd like me too, what do i do? i'm so happy, in case, it's a dream i keep pinching myself, i'm so happy.)

you sigh and rise from your seat, stretching your aching body. you've been exhausted this week with all of the schoolwork and errands you've had to run. you feel an arm sling over your shoulders; it's hanni, a friend you've known for a long time. “wow, you look exhausted. have you ever rested?” she worriedly asked, probably because of the dark circles peeking through the soft makeup you were wearing. “not really; i don't have much time, this week has been such a pain in the ass.” you grumbled, a sour expression on your face as you tidied up your belongings. they followed you outside the room, where the lockers for your class were placed. when you open the door, a slew of light pink paper flowers falls out. you picked them up only to discover that they were scented as well. minji notices a card in your locker and points it out. “is that a note?” “it must be! looks like it has something written in it. can we look at it, y/n?” hanni inquired, only for you to nod, still perplexed by the situation, as you slowly stood up, hands full of paper flowers. your two friends squealed with delight. “it seems like someone has a secret admirer!” minji exclaimed, her deep voice soft, but you were certain that a few of your classmates had heard the news, making your face flush. they both assisted you with the flowers on your hands before hanni handed you the letter.

‘like these flowers, i hope our love also blossoms. -s’

니가 날 혹시 안 좋아할까봐, 혼자 얼마나 애 태운지 몰라, 그런데 니가 날 사랑한다니, 어머나! 다시 한 번 말해봐 (do you know how long i've waited for this? do you know how long i've been dreaming for this? but you love me too, oh, my, say it again.)

“s? who could it be?” you wondered aloud. “what if it's kim sunoo? that senior you've been crushi- mhm!” hanni responded, but was cut off by minji's hand covering her lips. “remember how only the three of us are aware of her feelings for that senior? what if his classmates from our grade overhear you? i heard he's really close friends with that cat-looking boy, yang jungwon, i think.” minji reprimanded, forcing the younger to apologize. “i completely forgot about that, my bad.” a small smile formed on your face at the thought of your own crush sending you these scented paper flowers, and the note written on top was the cherry on top, filling your stomach with butterflies. “but isn't that a bit impossible? he's too preoccupied with other things and most likely doesn't have much time for love.” you replied, an unintentional pout forming on your lips. minji ruffled your hair, giving you a comforting feeling. “the sender will probably come out at some point.” she said, making you nod. “mhm, but if it's not sunoo, i'm not interested.” you responded, returning your belongings to your locker before the three of you proceeded to the outdoor cafeteria.

kim sunoo, sunoo. he's your current crush, and you've been interested in him for the longest time. you've had a crush on him for about a year. you first met him when he came to tour the campus shortly after you had transferred. you remember how kind he was because he was always concerned about how you were doing. sunoo was still in touch with you weeks after your tour with him, but your messages had recently stopped. you realized the reason why the two of you had stopped talking. he's probably preoccupied with his schedule as a newly appointed student council member, and he has a lot on his plate. he's a senior who is only a year older than you, and a senior who is adored by many, as you've always heard good things about him, and you haven't doubted every good thing you've heard. you also always supported him whenever he had performances at school or joined activities because you wanted to see him grow because seeing him do something he was passionate about always gave you an unexplainable and booming feeling. you can still remember that night when he took you with him to clear his mind. he sang songs to you to help him relax on a cool and clear night by the beach. his voice had become ingrained in your mind; it was something you wished to hear every day. it was just as charming as his face and personality. you still have the video from that night, which you treasure. to say the least, you adored sunoo.

while the three of you sat on a table, a senior named yuna approached you. “hello! you're y/n, right?” she inquired, tapping your shoulders to get your attention. “that's me, yes; can i help you in any way?” you turn around and smile at her. “a friend of mine asked for a favor and asked me to hand these to you,” she teased, handing you a bag full of goods. “oh? thank you so much! please let them know i really appreciate it!” “no worries; i hope you enjoy the snacks. i think my friend really likes you.” she responded before walking away with a friend. you placed the pink paper bag on your table to inspect what was inside. you were greeted by another card containing a note.

‘i hope you enjoy these with your friends, i still do not have the courage to show you who i am so this will have to do for now. - s :)’

tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, 나를 사랑한다고 날 기다려 왔다고, tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, 내가 필요하다 말해, 말해줘요 (tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, that you love me and that you waited for me, tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, say, you need me, tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me.)

a red velvet-flavored bento cake, a bag of mixed chocolates, and three strawberry milks are contained within the paper bag. “woah, your admirer is really thoughtful. he considered us too.” minji exclaimed, making hanni nod. “i bet he's a really good person. i like him for you already.” you chuckle, slapping hanni's arms. “eh, you know i won't be interested unless it's sunoo, right?” you respond, opening the bento box and handing your two friends their own utensils. “but what if it's actually sunoo?” hanni asked, poking the straws in your drinks as she passed them to you and minji. “no, i don't want to get my hopes up like that.” you said as you snapped a photo of the snacks before diving in. “but aren't the clues giving it away? sunoo had recently dyed his hair pink, and the initial too!” hanni explained, convincing minji to agree with her. “that actually makes sense; now i'm wondering if sunoo is giving these to y/n.” “well... i just hope it's him.” you replied, a small smile forming on your lips as your cheeks turned a soft shade of red.

the months passed, and your admirer never failed to send you a gift or a note on a daily basis. it felt like he knew you personally because the flavors of the snacks he'd give you were also your favorites. valentine's day, february 14th, was today. you weren't expecting much today, but here you are, not even halfway through the day, with three different bouquets and a few single flowers. there were no teachers at the time, so students had free time. “yuna-unnie is looking for you!” a classmate of yours called out for you, which immediately drew your attention, and you rushed out of the room to meet her. “unnie, happy valentine's day! how may i assist you?” you greeted her with a smile as you handed her a flower; the two of you had been a little closer because she was always bringing you gifts; her and your admirer must've been really close. “happy valentine's day to you too.” she replied, also handing you a flower. “y’know, here for the usual. s wanted me to give this to you.” she added, smiling back as she combed her fingers through her hair before handing you the pink paper bag, which was a larger size than usual. “thank you, unnie!” “no worries; i'll get going now. happy valentines again!” yuna waved goodbye as she walked towards the elevator after you hugged her. you then hurriedly returned to your seat inside your classroom. you decided to read the card that came with it, and what you discovered shocked you.

‘meet me in the garden after class. -s’

어쩜 내 가슴이 이렇게 뛰니, 가슴이 정말 터질 것 같아, 네가 날 볼 때면 전기에 감전된 사람처럼 전기가 올라 (feel my heart beating wild, just like a drum whenever you are near, can’t believe you’re here, pinch myself every time you’re next to me, hoping it’s not a dream, can’t believe you’re here.)

the prospect of finally meeting your admirer sent a rush of adrenaline through your body, and you motioned for minji and hanni to approach you. as you opened the gift your admirer had prepared for you, you handed them the note. while they were squealing beside you because of the letter that came with the gift, you on the other hand, are currently in awe. it was an oil painting of you and a pink-haired boy... wait, what? pink hair?! you immediately scanned the boy's face, and lo and behold, the painted boy had fox eyes. you were starting to believe your friends that sunoo was behind all of these gifts, but you didn't think much of it because you didn't want to get your hopes up. “after a few months, he's finally having the courage to confess and meet you face-to-face; good for him.” hanni exclaimed. when she saw the painting in your hand, she screeched louder than ever, and minji had to cover her mouth. “woah, is that a real oil painting?” minji wondered, astounded by the gift. “he must be extremely wealthy; oil paintings are extremely expensive, as far as i know!” she added. you had not anticipated receiving such expensive gifts. “how much do oil paintings cost?” you inquired of minji, who simply shrugged her shoulders. “anthonny! how much are oil paintings?” hanni asked loudly, too lazy to leave your table. “ranging from 130,500 won and higher, i believe! it truly depends on the artist. why?” replied the boy in your class known for his artistic ability. the price made gave you shivers down your spine. “nothing! just curious.” hanni replied, also taken aback by the price. all that cash for a small painting!? geez. not wanting to damage it, you carefully placed it back in the box. the three of you then got together to talk about something else to fill the time when there isn't a teacher around. “hey, i think i haven't given you guys any chocolates yet.” bahiyyih said, reaching into her tote bag and pulling out a few heart-shaped boxes, one for each of you. you, minji, and hanni all thanked her before hugging her. “me and my older sister made it last night; i hope you guys enjoy it!” she added, before approaching another of your classmates. “we most certainly will! thank you again!” you respond, blowing her a kiss, which she returns.

the day flew by quickly, making you feel even more anxious. you were finally meeting the boy who had been showering you with gifts for months. as the bell rang, signaling the end of classes, you stuffed your belongings back into your bag. “goodbye, class. do not forget your assignment.” your teacher said before leaving the room as the entire class said their goodbyes to him. you stretched, wondering how you'd handle all the gifts. “y/n!” minji called out to you as she approached, making you turn your head to her, “we can take care of the gifts you've received. we'll just be waiting for you in the outdoor cafeteria.” “oh, really? thanks a lot!” you replied, hugging her. “now go, get your lover boy.” she teased, patting you on the back and making you roll your eyes at her. “see you guys later!” you said as you walked out of the room, smiling. minutes felt like seconds as you took a few steps closer to the garden's entrance. you notice someone with pink hair standing there. you make the decision to follow him. but wait... his frame appears to be very familiar.

it was sunoo!

tell me, tell me, tell me you want me, want me, want me too, tell me, tell me, tell me, you love me too, love me too.

you let out an audible gasp, causing the boy to turn in your direction. his cheeks turned a bright pink. “oh- hey, y/n.” he said awkwardly, his hands still pacing at his back, unsure what to do. “hi, sun.” you trailed off, still stunned. is this really happening? you pinched your arms hard enough that they turned red and you yelped. “why did you do that?” sunoo inquired, concerned. “well, i wanted to see if i was dreaming or not.” he laughed at your response as he handed you a bouquet of flowers. “here, i arranged them myself.” sunoo said with a smile that warmed your heart. “if you're still skeptical, it's true.” he patted your head. “i'm s, the person who's been liking you for a few months now.” he explained, his face slightly lowered in shyness. his ears were turning bright red, which you found adorable. you jumped up and hugged him after hearing his confession. his giggles sent shockwaves through your body, making you brightly smile. this day could not be more perfect for the two of you. your heartbeat is audible as the heat on your face grows warmer by the second. you've been dreaming of this day for months, if not a year. you liked sunoo so much that the thought of him gradually liking you back seemed impossible. but here you are, holding a bouquet of flowers and hugging your long-time crush in your school's garden. you still can't believe he's right in front of you, telling you that he's the one who's been sending you gifts and making your heart skip a beat with the notes that came with them. you pull away, your smile still on your face. “can you tell me that again?” you ask, looking right into his eyes, the glimmer and adoration in your eyes making his heart swell. “i like you, y/n.” he replied, making the pink-haired boy giggle at your instincts. “but isn't it fair? you never told me you liked me back.” he added as a pout formed on his lips, making you peck it. “kim sunoo, i like you as well. i've liked you ever since.” “ever since?” “mhm! i think i've liked you for over a year now.” you admit, twiddling your fingers as you felt nervous, which sunoo noticed, making him hold your hands. “to be honest, i never noticed it.” he replied, reaching for the large teddy bear resting on the bench where he sat while waiting for you. “well... i tried not to show it to you because i assumed you weren't interested in love.” you replied truthfully. your eyes widened as he handed you the teddy bear. “is that for me?” you ask, pointing to yourself and nodding. “yep, also the chocolates and other snacks in that bag.” he said, pointing to the pink paper bag on the bench. “i heard you got a lot of gifts, so i'll be helping you carry them. i'll accompany you on your way home.” he said confidently, as if he won't take no for an answer. “isn't your house the other way?” you ask, concerned that you'll bother him as sunoo walking you home will make him arrive home later than usual. “i don't mind. plus, you're my soon-to-be girlfriend, so i should be taking care of you.” he said, a smile on his face. the prospect of being his girlfriend made you smile, smacking him lightly on the arm. “hey! don’t joke around like that.” “who said i was joking? i really want to be your boyfriend, but of course, i have to prove myself to you and your family first.” he replied, helping you with everything you had in your hands as the two of you bicker while leaving the garden, hearts full of nothing but love and happiness.

니가 날 혹시 안 좋아할까봐, 혼자 얼마나 애 태운지 몰라, 그런데 니가 날 사랑한다니, 어머나! 다시 한 번 말해봐 (do you know how long i've waited for this? do you know how long i've been dreaming for this? but you love me too, oh, my, say it again.)

“earth to y/n.” sunoo teased, poking your cheeks. “oh, i’m sorry!” you apologized, an embarrassed smile forming on your lips. “what were you daydreaming about, pretty?” he asked, lazily placing his arm around your shoulders to keep you close as he laid back on the booth you two were seated at. “well, the song i was listening to reminded me of how we got here.” you replied, sipping the warm chocolate drink he bought you. “you really treasure that moment, don’t you?” he teased, ruffling your hair. “of course i do!” you respond, letting him drink from your cup before letting him have a bite of the bento cake he brought with him to your date. “y/n?” he called out your name, resting his head on your shoulders as you hummed in response. “i think i love you.” the four-lettered word made you stop everything that you were doing. “what?” you ask, dropping your pen on the table and taking off one of your earphones. “i said i love you.” he clarified before hugging you. there it goes again—the feeling in your heart when he confessed to you was replaying.

“and i love you too.” a contented smile formed on your lips as you started to play with his hair. “i love you more.” he replied back, making your eyebrows furrow. “no, i do. i love you most.” you retaliated, emphasizing every word to prove a point. “well, i love you to the moon and back!” sunoo copied the way you spoke and also emphasized every word, raising his eyebrows at you. “hmm... i love you to the multiverse and back!” you obviously were taking no chances of losing, making your lover stifle a laugh before responding. “y/n, i love you from other galaxies light years away and back.” “hey! is that even farther?” “honestly, i don’t know. all i know is that i love you so, so much.” you and sunoo just continued to bicker until the two of you burst out laughing because of your shared competitiveness, also making the old couple beside your booth quietly laugh.

“young love, they were just like us back in the day.”

tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, 자꾸만 듣고 싶어 계속 내게 말해줘, tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, 꿈이 아니라고 말해, 말해줘요 (tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, i want to hear it all the time, say it to me again, tell me, tell me, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell, tell me, say, it's not a dream.)

© io6nha, 2023ㅤ|ㅤrequests are open.

[cherrysurf]

BYE RAIN IS ALSO MY FAV

rain fans unite, it’s literally too good 😞 like the hold that song has on me

[synthapostate]

WIP List

I'm going to keep doing this until my head explodes.

Resist Psychic Death - Possessed Newt.

The Tropes Nobody Asked For - A bodyswap AU. This would be complete if I could come up with a concluding paragraph to wrap things up.

I could be writing sweaty nerd sex like a normal person but no - Maybe if I changed the title I could wrap my head around this?

Heating Pad - A cat adopts Hermann.

Miserable, Lonely and Depressed (Pathetic) - The return of Cool Uncle Newt. (He’s not cool, he’s possessed.)

Vampire AU - I mean obviously I had to write a vampire AU at some point. (Comedy.)

Some Days You Just Can’t Get Rid of a Bomb - Newt tries to solve capitalism. I don’t think this is even going anywhere, but I like the title too much to let it go.

Cold as Ice - Hurt/Comfort? Something. Contains no hurt/comfort and has nothing to do with cold or ice, but…it’s…something. A convergence of “whoever will take him” and (numbers) “will never betray me”. Hurt people hurt people, but survivors can be kind.

Newt’s Passion - A sex pollen fic. (No, it isn’t.) (Zom com.)

Other, Funnier Ghost Story - Vampires, full horror. Gore, angst, little bit of body horror. About 20k words so far.

Consent is Sexy - A team-building exercise leads to certain confessions that would not be made while sober.

Cold as Ice 2: Alaskan Boogaloo - Set in Vladivostok and it turned out to be about the Kaidonovskys.

The Worst Thing I Can Possibly Imagine - My genuine attempt to work through something, but then I thought of a punchline so now it’s a funny little shitpost.

Splash - A…feelings thing. The first tentative steps toward getting along.

Caffeine Blues - I swore I would never write a coffee shop au, but…One chapter to go? December is becoming a monster chapter that might have to split again.

Fields of Azure - Newt and Hermann are sent on an outdoorsy team-building retreat with some rangers (possibly by mistake) and both turn out to be full of surprises. Pure fluff.

Stop You Have Enough WIPs - Some silly fluff for these stressful times.

Shoes - Newt’s past catches up with him. Hermann is intrigued.

Groundhog Day - Hey man, these sci fi tropes exist for a reason.

Newt and Hermann Go On Six Dates - I write fluff now 😊💖

Hermann Gets Shot - It is so dangerous to start a fight in an elevator when one of the people you’re fighting has a gun.

Return to Sender - Newt leaves Hong Kong to work for Shao. Angst. Uhhhhh I used that title for something else. What’s another song about letters?

Find Me in the Drift - Some very disorganized ramblings that might be a sequel to Dinner With a Friend.

The Curse of Gottlieb Manor - In which I actually try to write horror on purpose, and give myself the most intense nightmares I’ve had in years. I’m toning it down for the actual story.

Painting the Kitchen - About finding a future after the apocalypse is averted.

Total Eclipse of the Heart - Jake Pentecost doesn’t trust Newt, decides to keep a close eye on him to guard Hermann’s back, and accidentally ends up with two new dads.

A Kidnapping - Um…it’s a kidnapping.

Wake Up, Dr. Jones! - More trauma. Possibly too much trauma actually. Scrap this?

Space Opera - When the first kaiju comes through the breach, Newt fires off a plea for help into deep space. There can’t be just one alien race out there, right? Maybe some of them will be on our side.

Cherry Bomb - Apropos of nothing, Newt decides to bite the bullet and seduce Hermann.

Third Act Breakup - I hate romcoms. Let’s do this thing.

Sweet Siren Song - Newt is doing his biology thing in the Atlantic, Hermann is an inexperienced sailor who shouldn’t be out alone on a day like this, they both get caught in a storm, turns out mermaids are real. (Romance.) (Accidental horror.)

What’s Your Angle - Turns out mermaids are real. (Horror.) (Accidental romance?)

Etiquette and Protocol - Loosely based on a dream, the boys are forced to take an etiquette class because anger management isn’t working. (Protip: if you encourage me to add something to my list, I probably will.)

Am I Blue - In which Newt learns how far Hermann is willing to go to save him.

Mr. Cellophane - Post-war, they go their separate ways, but when Newt is involved in an unlikely lab accident, obviously his first thought is to go to Hermann for help.

Hanahaki - I never thought I would write a hanahaki fic, not because I hate the premise but simply because I had never heard of it until this year and it seemed too specific to intrude on. But when do I ever pass up the opportunity to gorge myself at the angst buffet? Still angst but I have entirely dropped the hanahaki premise.

Time is On My Side - I reuse the tag “Hermann Gottlieb bends all of time and space to his will for the man he loves,” whether it's applicable or not.

Chuck Punches Hermann in the Face - He was aiming for Newt.

I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm - In which Newt owns a space heater, and Hermann does not.

Marriage of Convenience - Lars Gottlieb has a scheme, Hermann will do anything to get out of it, Newt is an agent of chaos, fake dating ensues.

The Allegations - In which Hermann is not beating them.

Perspective - A very nice day. :) (Lie.)

Regency - In which I decide not to let all the meticulous research I've done go to waste. Apparently I'm writing a full regency romance novel, and it will be held to Harlequin's publication standards. (For historical accuracy. I already know I'm too gay for market.)

Alternate Universe - Hermann Gottlieb bends all of time and space to his will for the man he loves. Again.

Genie in a Bottle - I'm putting Hermann through too many shenanigans. It's only because he's my favorite.

Straight to Voicemail - An urban fantasy AU. Possibly horror. We'll see.

Spacewalk - In which the Shatterdome is a deep space colony ship, and I pay homage to my favorite sci fi author.

Search Party - Post-precursors recovery fic, in which Newt relearns that he is the good man Hermann says he is.

Hospital Whump (Take Two) - In which I will NOT get sidetracked by feels, and they WILL end up in the hospital, and there will be both hurt and comfort.

Hermann Holds a Baby - Too dark, might delete.

Blue Christmas - Because I love working on things that wouldn't make sense to post yet.

Dragonslayer - High fantasy AU. Obvious premise, but what the hell, dragons are cool.

[uenodivision]

As close as the darkness of the night was going to veil all over the sky above the town, there was one vehicle with the color as dark as the starless sky driving through the scarlet wind in autumn and finally took its stop right before the peaceful sanctuary of a certain Christian fairy godmother in Ueno.

With almost silent pat on the chill metal, the furoshiki-style parcel was quietly left inside the mailbox in front of her residence until the doorbell is soon heard to the resident of this house, beckoning the nun to rushed over and found the package laying there without any trace of her mysterious sender...

Carefully untying its wrapping cloth, she then noticed a letter placing on top of a box;

“To Heisha-san of Sakurai Clan,

This is our joyous regards from Nara Division! It has been quite rough nowadays after so many events during Hallowern, but here we are delighted to find you the gift to celebrate your special time anyway! Happy Birthday to you, Heisha-san, and also to welcome many more in the future.

May your greatest happiness come find you in no time!

Sincerely,

Nara Division”

Gently glowing in the dark, inside the box was an astounding night light that took its fairytale-like feature after a certain flower known as ‘Lily of The Valley’. And even if this beautiful flower was known to be born with such lethal poison within itself, its flower language was otherwise…

‘The Return of Happiness’

"Wow," Aranai said, whistling as she looked at the nightlight, which was glowing in the middle of the coffee table in the living room. "I'll admit, this is pretty cool. I didn't even know plants could glow in the dark."

"They're, unfortunately, not real, Aranai-chan." Shisuta explained, with a small chuckle as she was sitting down on her living room sofa. "Some plants, however, are able to glow, but only after they've had their DNA spliced with an animal's, like a firefly's. They're called 'bioluminescent plants.'"

"Really?" Aranai questioned, before looking at the plant for a bit, then looking up at the ceiling, deep in thought.

"What is it?" Shisuta asked, looking at her daughter.

"Nothing," Aranai said, still looking at the ceiling. "Just curious, you think we could make it so the cherry blossom trees here in Ueno are able to glow like this?"

"We could, but don't you think that would take away from the cherry blossom's natural beauty?" Shisuta asked.

"...Yeah, that's a fair point." Aranai nodded, before she and her mom sat in silence, letting the nightlight continue to illuminate the entire room.

[antishaman]

[ 𝐑𝐄𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐓𝐄 ] ― sender and receiver see each other again after a period of being apart

The soft spring breeze brought along the ocassional pink petals that would dance around the faces of awestruck tourists stopping every few steps to take pictures of this or that, and stepped on by the uninterested locals who were busy to get to their time sensitive destinations.

Cherry blossom themed limited edition merchandise lined the clean glass of every storefront for blocks and blocks ahead. A fatherly priest walked just behind his two daughters who were eager to shop for the latest trending outfits, new themed hair accessories, and new lip oils. Neither Mimiko nor Nanako could wait another day or two - it's going to sell out right away! - and Suguru just couldn't say no. He carried their bags from store to store, and bought them lunch during their break from shopping.

That is where he saw him the first time. The first time in approximately four years actually.

Suguru turned his head on instinct to scan just down the street when he was waiting in line at a takoyaki stand. Who he saw made him blink and give a crooked grin. Striking blonde hair, sharp and structure jaw line; it was so easy to tell that that was his former colleague. He had put on more muscle, Suguru noticed, maybe grew taller, but that stern frown looked like it was years in the making. He looked like he was in a rush, but never pushing anyone out of his way. Looking down at his watch for the time, yet those dragging feet said they'd rather be anywhere else than where they were actually headed.

'You look like shit, Nanami.'

"Sir, your payment?"

His attention was on the old man who had such a warm smile that brightened up every wrinkle, and he pushed the colorful tray just a smidge closer so Suguru could pay for their lunch. Absolutely revolting. He wanted to throw up. Returning the smile, the priest fished out his money. "Of course," he hummed.

//

So, Nanami Kento was now a diligent salaryman.

Good for him.

Suguru was there to witness Nanami leaving the school, and sorcery behind, and he was there to feel the same pain and anguish that led him to leave. They didn't say much to each other during that time, but there wasn't any need when the slump on their shoulders and the hollow stare in their eyes said enough. Suguru knew that Nanami wouldn't heed him out if he tried to pitch his vision at him, but what he wasn't too sure about is if he was in contact with a particular godly being. Not that that would be an issue, Suguru just didn't want to deal with a potential headache.

He didn't go back to that area for another month. Around the same time, Suguru could only guess that it would've been Nanami's lunch hour. He spied the working man frequenting a sandwich shop, only ever taking it to go, and then heading back to his office. 'My, such a work-o-holic.'

He could be playing a dangerous game by going to this seemingly favored sandwich shop where they rotate daily specials just minutes before Nanami typically arrives, he could be an asshole for sitting at a booth that was in the blind spot for the customers walking in with his tuna sandwich and salad, but one thing Suguru definitely was was giddy in excitement. Was Nanami going to be stunned in shock? Would he be angry with Suguru for defiling the joint he goes to so often by his presence? Would he pop a vessel by how tight he'd be clenching his jaw? Oh, Suguru couldn't wait for these questions to be answered.

The chime of the doorbell rang, and right on time, Nanami walked in.

"Yo, Nanami!" Suguru sang in such a spirited and familiar tone, as if this was something expected, planned, between the both of them. "I recommend getting the tuna sandwich. It's quite plump."

@jikangairodo

[fuckzachariah]

xviii. dancing with our hands tied ; @aleburton

They rolled up to the hotel, the evening heavy and alive around them; a restless writhing atop a smothering blanket. Kylie decided not to duck inside, happy with her outfit and station, unwilling to allow her energy to ebb with the temptation of a bed before her night out. Zach tried to leave the car, distracted and mind abuzz with the following morning, but she snatched him back by the bicep. “Hey,” she scolded, tugging. He passed a glance to her, face like a diamond and eyes like water, looking at him like he was the whole world and she couldn’t fathom it. “Say bye.” Her hand came to his face, urging him closer. When they kissed, she tasted different; that sweet cherry pie gone a little sour as it went down. “Have fun, baby,” he muttered. “I’ll be a good girl, and all the rest!” she assured jokingly. Then he left. The car peeled away from the curb side, leaving him stranded in a strange limbo. Alone, the reality of his circumstance settled gently but heavily on his shoulders, like a soft leaden cloak.

Zach unearthed his phone from his pocket, blinking openly at the text on its screen. It was surreal to think of the sender. Though she had been unavoidably real tonight, the existence of Alex still remained out of reach in his mind, as though she existed beyond an impenetrable silvery film. The urgency with which the text had been sent, too, haunted him. His face turned to the sky, the air damp with premature dew. “Mr Winthrop?” He pivoted, a little jumpy. One of the hotel doormen bowed his head. “Do you need any help getting to your room?” Zach eyed him. “Amanda call the front desk?” The doorman’s mouth spread into a thin, sorry line, and he bowed his head again, gesturing to the door. “Just let me know if you need anything.” Zach, exasperated, allowed himself to be led inside. He waved them off promptly, refusing to be escorted further as he headed to the elevator.

Sleep expertly evaded him. Though he turned down the lights, he continued to pace erratically in the silent dark, plagued by their uncertainty. They had not discussed precisely what the following day would entail, if at all. What was it she wanted to say to him? Was it as simple as clearing the air? Or was it something worse, something irreparable? The question of their sustained chemistry was inescapable; it curled like a parasite at his core, twisting and thrashing, feeding off of his anxiety. He couldn’t ignore it. But could he suppress it if they were bound to live adjacent lives? Two parallel lines, never converging, but always close enough to know that a single diverted path could cancel the other’s out entirely. The mini bar had been emptied ahead of their arrival upon request, and he was glad of it; with nobody there to hold him accountable, the itch was insufferable.

Zach was still awake even when Kylie returned back to the hotel somewhere around 3 AM. He had been so accustomed to honesty with her that these past ten hours had been dizzying; it dawned on him as he chose to feign sleep that he had lied to her more times in New York than ever before in California. Funny. “Baby,” she mumbled into the blue dark, crawling dress, heels and all onto the bed beside him, the mattress shifting with her weight. Zach, for reasons he could not parse even from himself, remained steadfast in his inauthenticity. His face was a picture of peace; eyes closed and lips softly parted, exposed chest rising and falling with slow breaths. She landed a kiss on the hilt of his cheekbone, the sweet wafting scent of vodka and strawberries emanating from her mouth that swilled all through him like he’d thrown back a shot hisself. He buzzed all over, electrified with bright consciousness, until she quietly departed to prepare for bed in the bathroom.

Somewhere in the stir of nightfall, sleep had taken him restlessly and held him bound for a few hours before he rose with the dawn. He checked the clock at his bedside; it was just after 7. On his other side, Kylie went on sleeping, the booze strapping her down to the mattress as though by force. Her blonde hair fanned out in a halo on the pillow like a Norse goddess, her face scrubbed of make-up giving her round cheeks and delicate features the unsullied look of a girl far younger than she really was, heart-shaped lips parted in blissful ignorance. He turned away, reckoning with guilt. Though he would have to continue to lie to her, this somehow felt easier than coming clean. He worried they would not survive the blatant act of betrayal, and Kylie would never be able to go on in the informed circumstance of his former relationship with Alex. She would be jealous, insecure, hurt. Then he would have neither of them. Wasn’t it better this way?

Showering and dressing in silence, he watched the sun pull up a blind from Central Park, fastening a glossy casing over even the duskiest parts of the city. Without turning back, he slipped from the hotel room and out into the loving façade. For some reason he felt obligated not to show up empty-handed, as though he had been invited to a second formal dinner and didn’t want to be caught out twice. So, after catching an Uber close to the address Alex’d given him, he armed himself with a coffee a piece from the vendor a block over. He hoped her sticky-sweet order was still the same. Then, hat and hood pulled up and sunglasses pulled down to avoid any stray fan detections, he made his way to the location with a few minutes to spare.

A dance studio silently awaited him, and upon gazing up at the iron lettering standing proud atop the double doorframe, he experienced a bite of nerves sharper than any he’d ever felt before. He almost flinched at the unfamiliar sensation. His cheeks were whipped red with the cold weather, but inside he burned like a wildfire. Zach knew nerves: he had swallowed jitters before performing to 50,000 people, before millions worldwide, but this was different. This was a disease all its own. Detecting no obvious signs of life from the inside, Zach tried his luck with a simple push upon the large doors. They popped open. He breathed, singular and deep, then stepped inside. As he navigated the lobby to the winding corridors hidden beyond it, he followed a faint path of light, like Alex illuminated places as she went.

And so she did. He found her alone in an abandoned studio hall, only one of the seventeen lights activated, framing her like a heavenly beam. He stopped dead in the hallway, the coffees hanging useless in his clasped hands like television props. She looked tiny, beautiful like a curse. Her melted dark hair was once again pulled away from her face and neck, leaving only suggestive waves hanging around her forehead, cheekbones and jaw, and she was clad in pieces that seemed as delicate and as light as the moments they hovered between. Zach entered, clearing his throat and holding out the paper cup. “Morning, Miss Burton,” he rasped in the parody of one of her students, his voice suffering from being unutilized for so many hours. Even as he spoke having approached it all with a lightness, their reality began to settle on him. A little lower now, he approached further still, sentiment gripping him by the throat. “I had to convince myself I would never see you again,” he admitted in a low voice, his honesty surprising even him. “So I would stop fantasizing about how it would go. But, this…” He trailed off, their eyes meeting stopping the whole world in an instant. “It’s so fucking good to see you, Alex,” he breathed.

[optimismxmagicism]

[ 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 ] ― sender offers receiver something sweet ( specify what )

"hmm… let's see." dorothea taps a finger against her chin, feigning deep thought. "i did promise you a treat after that no-good tea party, didn't i? i must've… otherwise, why else would i have this?" with a mischievous glint in her eye, she pulls a small cherry tart from behind her back, offering it with a pleased smile. "here. it's only fair you have this."

“Oh wow…! Thanks so much!”

The mage’s eyes sparkled with excitement and gratitude at the delicious treat offered to him. He was touched as well, that Dorothea remembered their promise. Considering all the chaos happening around them at the time, he wouldn’t have blamed her for forgetting. Admiring the little tart, the sweet and slightly sour scent already had him feeling hungry. “Oooh, cherry, isn’t it? That’s one of my favorites!”

An idea suddenly struck him. He didn’t want to just take Dorothea’s kindness without giving any in return, it just wasn’t his style! “Oh, y’know what? I just bought some tea leaves from the market yesterday! They’re not the fanciest, but how about we share this treat over tea? I think it would be even tastier if we enjoyed it together!”

With a big smile, he reached out to grab Dorothea’s hand. Gently of course, like a gentleman! “How about it? Come on, let’s go! Let’s go!”

[atduhton]

@cultfic / meme : [ 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬 ] - after being informed that the sender has died, receiver is grieving.

it's rip who tells her. kayce is too in his head to say a single fucking word, she'd have lost her shit if she'd heard it from jamie, and her dad's not been seen since day break. beth, contrary to very popular belief, feels things not in spades, but in barrels. 'he's dead,' she stares. 'he's dead, beth. lee. he's gone.' she just stares. arms wound around her waist, the thick woollen cardigan hanging off one shoulder, wrapped around her like a straight-jacket. she's become more than friendly with the five stages of grief over the years, her life time spent in constant mourning for all that she lost. mentally, she adds her brother to the tally. she says nothing in return, even as she stares in to the dark depths of rip's gaze, standing in still silence long enough for her cowboy to grow wary. 'beth?' he calls her name, but she waves him off and turns on her boots, stalking away from him as his outreached hand falls untouched. as she walks back up the drive towards the ranch, all she can think about is wood.

mahogany ? oak ? cedar, or cherry ? lee would prefer a pine box, she thinks as she climbs the stairs up the porch, ignoring the various bodies still lingering on the property, some in wild stock uniforms, others in suits and ties. she doesn't even bother to push past jamie- where usually she would take great pleasure in bumping his shoulder like a child, she carefully side-steps and slips past him through the now open door. who's she kidding, lee wouldn't want a box at all. he'd rather be burned, ashes spread across the valley he was supposed to inherit. she doesn't look at kayce, sitting in the great room with his head in his hands, shaking like a leaf in the wind or an addict going through withdrawal. mind races as she invites herself in to her father's office, rounding the desk to rummage through the drawers until she finds their birth certificates filed away at the bottom with all the other legal documents. she takes lee's. paper in hand, she's a whirlwind of activity as she swings out of john's office and across the floor to the back porch. she still hasn't said a word.

the foreman's cabin isn't far, but she still rounds the lodge and through the growing crowd of people to her car. it starts with a roar, drawing eyes and the steely gaze of her now oldest brother. hers meet his briefly and it's maybe the only civil interaction they've had in years before she throws the car into reverse and screeches out the drive with a cloud of dust in her wake. what could have been a ten minute walk is a barely two minute drive and when she brakes, she throws the door open and leaves the car running. the cabin is as quiet as it always in when lee's out with the herd, or working the boys, or fixing the fences. but it feels somehow emptier as she lets herself in with her key. she hesitates in the doorway, jade gaze drifting around the place her brother will never come home to. she won't cry.

beth knows this cabin well, better since lee moved into it. she had preferred to pass out here on his sofa, waking up in his bed when he'd moved her in the night and he'd taken her place, rather than brave the hollow dread of the main house with her father and her childhood room and the demons she could never lay to rest there. she knows this cabin well, and she know . . . knew, lee better. everything important, everything he didn't care much to keep record of but she made sure he'd had arranged years ago, are kept in a locked box under a floorboard in the kitchen. she takes a kitchen knife and pries it open.

by the time her dad's brought lee's body back home on horseback, she's called their doctor so he'll be there to call time of death, and she's called the funeral director that's handled their family burials since before she was born, and she's argued with the sheriff about wanting an autopsy- that's not her call, and there's no point fighting it right now, so she concedes. she doesn't want to see him, but she forces herself to watch as his body is loaded into the back of an ambulance, it's sirens mute and the lights off as it leaves.

everything after that is a blur. hours of work that she mindlessly pushes through, phone on speaker to jason as she gives him orders from another city all while sitting cross-legged on her bed with photos of lee scattered in front of her. she doesn't sleep much for three days, and she doesn't eat at all. surviving on spiked coffee and cigarettes in daylight, and a bottle of whiskey at night. beth hasn't spoken to anyone but john since, and even then it's all formalities. when can they bury him, are they holding a wake, will they release his body, why are they holding it- when she starts asking questions john doesn't want her knowing the answer to, she stares him down and in the haze of her grief, she blames him.

'this is your fault,' she snarls, words bitten through her clenched jaw as she stands in his office doorway with her arms crossed tightly. 'he died 'cause've you, for - you.' emphasis strikes hard as her chest starts to ache with suppressed and repressed feeling which she swallows with a bitter tongue. 'whatever WAR you're waging daddy, it's gonna kill us all - i hope it's fucking worth it.' he slams his fist down on his desk as he stands, and she lifts her chin as they stare at each other in charged silence. when he crumbles, it's beth who closes the distance and rests a hand on his shoulder. she holds her shit together, because it's what he trained her to do. it's how she was raised. it's all she knows. 'he's with mom, dad . . . he's better off than the rest've us.'

they bury lee, but then he's cremated. beth's sure that's what he would've wanted, but she also knows that it would protect kayce, and she's sure he would've wanted that too. so when john scatters lee's ashes, beth's sitting on the roof outside her bedroom. she's there until the sun sets, and when she climbs down, it's not to her bed that she escapes but to the cabin down the road. beth stands there in darkness, green eyes roaming the space, until she feels rage rise. it's a familiar feeling, one she knows well, and it takes a moment to manifest in a destructive way, but it manifests nonetheless.

she is screaming when she topples the table, breaks the bathroom mirror with her fists, pulls out every piece of glass from the kitchen and shatters them against the wall. she's on her knees breathing raggedly, chest heaving as she finally settles, exhausted with tear tracks drying on her cheeks, in the aftermath of her grief. she doesn't see rip sitting on the stairs outside, but beth hasn't felt this tired in decades and she falls asleep on the ground, slumped against the wall.

she wakes up in lee's bed. the cabin is clean, the evidence of her outburst swept neatly into a corner. and rip's asleep on the sofa. they don't talk about it, but less than a year later, when rip's riding away out of loyalty to her father, her thumb brushes over the faded scar on her knuckle from the mirror she broke that night. it reminds her of lee.