#don’t ask me where lasko is

[aggro-my-beloved]

the lighthearted threat from Damien did little to mollify the earth elemental tracing gouges in their hardwood floors.

“hux, please sit your fine ass onto this couch. preferably before the opening credits are over.” behind damien sits gavin and freelancer on the lovseat. a few seconds after his demand, freelancer clears their throat garishly and then chuckles at the sound of a crisp bill in their hand.

they add it to their growing fund supplied by gavin. “that’s it, damien,” they then begin singing “don’t stop believin’.”he’s not sure when would be the appropriate time to tell them that gavin’s abilities and charismatic intrusiveness has sniffed out damien being a bottom long ago, and he’s letting them win to unknowingly false giveaways of his position in bed.

then again, it would be nice to witness gavin to go broke over his new partner.

“hey, where’s my cut of that for being your entertainment for two weeks in a row?” before freelancer could answer, gavin quips. “i don’t know, check up your ass. clearly no one’s using it.”

for what it’s worth, he’s playing the part of ‘sore loser’ like an expert.

by this time, the opening credits have ended and moorise is depositing over dahlia, and his boyfriend is…frowning into his mug of hot chocolate.

“what is it?” damien mumbles under the voices emitting from the tv. “nothing, it’s just a little cold, i’ll just…” his knees begin propelling his torso upward from the couch, damien knows at the rate he’s at, he won’t be sitting back down until the end credits now.

he halts him by snatching the cup from his hand. “don’t think so.” he mutters and compresses all his magic to his palms to bring the temperature of the mug to a homely warmth. “why got you so anxious tonight, anyway?”

huxley’s eyes dart back to the kitchen he’d been so close to retreating to, with an engagement ring glinting in a cabinet drawer, wide open. “nothing, dude.”

[samsxowboyhat]

Redacted headcannons BUT some of them are actually cannon

After Vincent got turned and William was positive he wouldn’t go on a bloodlust spree he would sometimes go out and forget he was rich

Asher was one of those overly excited tall scrawny kids who would get colorful bands on his braces

Aaron and Elliot would play as duo characters for every video game that allowed the player to select characters

Gavin would know how to do things but wouldn’t know how he knew how to do them

Laskos powers sometimes happen as a reflex like his fight or flight instinctively turns into float the second he feels his body falling or if he’s on high places(you wouldn’t catch this man on any roller coaster)

Sam has an old outdated picture of him and his grandmother that’s in black and white

All earth elementals are naturally strong, Water elementals are naturally smart, Fire elementals are naturally determined, and Air elementals are naturally focused

Milo and Sam’s family bloodline has/had problems with addiction so they never associate with alcohol or smoking with the fear that they could get addicted

Quinn used to “joke” with Darlin when they were still together by grabbing them and pretending to turn them when they weren’t paying attention and to this day they wonder if he was serious about biting them

Asher was one of those kids who would listen to old metal songs over and over(AND OVER) again until he learned the lyrics

Sam does own a cowboy hat and the Shaw pack(main 8) has made “save a horse, ride a cowboy” jokes(Sam doesn’t know wtf they’re talking about)

Darlin would lie to Gabe and David’s mom about their parents letting them stay over because they wouldn’t wanna go home

Lasko wears sweaters WITH EVERYTHING

Gavin got his music taste from FL when they first started meeting up claiming that he wanted to get closer to them rather than having sex with them

Darlin and Sam were cautious when they had their first time always asking each other if they were okay before, between, and afterwards

David’s contact name in the pack phones is “Davey” but they’ll never admit that to his face(he currently knows that Asher and Angel have it as theirs)

Gavin has nipple piercings and a tongue piercing(he has tried to convince Lasko to get one)

Darlin has a slight degrading kink that you could NEVER get them to admit(Sam found that out when they once started crying and he thought he hurt them and was flabbergasted when they told him to do it again)

ALL of Asher’s shoes are dirty except for his dress shoes and Milo gets so pissed when he wears nice sneakers and creases them or gets them dirty

Angel and Baabe both like kpop specifically Ateez and seventeen

Sam has a house in the woods and prefers a working house over a cute one(he has a porch swing)

Sam doesn’t like talking about his family but could go hours talking about his grandma

David hates the nickname “Dave”(don’t ask me why I just feel like he does)

Darlin once thought they hurt sams feelings and disappeared for days until they came back with a gift for him and waited until he saw it before talking to him(they’re terrible at apologizing and refused to tell Sam where they went while they were gone)

Porter always kisses Treasure's knuckles

FL has once broken a comb in caelums hair(but was so confused when they were able to move their hands through his hair)

The younger Shaw pack had a clubhouse in the woods in an abandoned cabin that Gabe helped David clean up

TS TOOK ME ALMOST 3 HOURS I QUIT(I’m lying:3 GM AND GN It’s currently 4:36 IN THE MORNING)

[p0pp3t]

damn crew hcs because i miss them every day they’re not posted </3

sometimes when gavin is hanging out with his friends he’ll just. flop down on top of them if they’re sitting or lying down. genuine cat behavior. he gets very comfortable, his ear over their heart and their hand in his. he savors every second he gets. he also complains when any of them tell him they wanna get up

“can you move for a second gav? i wanna refill my drink” “just say you hate me.”

(for someone with such severe self worth issues) damien pampers himself SO much when if comes to hygiene. matching fragrances across all his products, shower steamers, bath bombs, candles, the whole deal. on friday nights you’ll find him wrapped in a plush bathrobe with a matching headband pushing his hair back, a clay mask smeared on his skin. he has a book in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, with some soft classical instrumentals pumping from the tv speakers. huxley loves coming home to find him so relaxed

sometimes, when he’s upset, huxley will go out into the backyard and lie in the grass for a while - letting the solid ground hold him and the soft grass caress him. other times, when he’s very upset, he’ll dig a hole and lie down in that instead. he feels safer, grounded (ha) and closer to his element. damien checks on him periodically with offerings of snacks and water

lasko is something of a fashionista (it might be why he and milo got along as well as they did at the E&E games) - he’s very meticulous about his closet; every item is lovingly sorted by type, color, material, and season. he frets whenever his “best” pieces are still in the laundry and no combination of the things he has on hand looks “good enough”. he’ll say it’s about being presentable but he also really just likes feeling pretty. dear assures him that he always looks lovely and helps him find an outfit he can at least tolerate for the day. such a diva

freelancer has an absolute BLAST on karaoke night. they’ve sung at least three (3) lovey-dovey duets with each of their friends and aim to do even more. (at first damien took some convincing with a direly serious “you love me, right?🥺”) as of late, their favorite singing partner has been dear - they’re always happy to indulge their freelancer and both their voices just blend so beautifully

in their quiet nature, dear has picked up on a lot of campus gossip when the people around them thought no one was listening. sometimes their students will come up to them and directly fill them in on the most recent, hottest rumors. they know how to keep a secret, but if damien needs dirt on another staff member he always knows who to ask

and speaking of - don’t let their professional appearances fool you; damien and lasko are total suckers for gossip. when their lunch breaks align with dear’s, nobody on campus is safe from their shit talk. lasko has a surprisingly sharp tongue where he feels it’s warranted

[annahxredaxted]

*tap tap* is this thing on? Oh right.

“How some of the redacted boys would react to being asked if they could suck their own dick would they?”

David: what the hell? No! Are you filming me? Stop that!

Asher: hell fucking yeah I would! *waves to the camera*

Milo: don’t you ever fucking ask me that again… the hell? your not even filming my good side!

Sam: I..uhm.. can you repeat that? Wait is this being recorded?

Vincent: of course I would. *thumbs up*

Gavin: why wouldn’t I? Ohh don’t forgot to film from my left yeah?

Damien: what the fuck..? No, no.. I.. get out of my face. And turn that camera off!

Huxley: I..I’d have to think about that dude.. but maybe. wait where is this going..?

Lasko: e-ex-excuse me? I-I-I don’t think that’s app-appropriate.. is that on? Oh fuck..

Guy: why yes yes I would *smolders at camera* hello there~

Aaron: no comment. Wait what. Why are you filming this? Some sort of workplace documentary?

Ollie: w h a t.. I don’t.. maybe. *waves awkwardly at camera*

Geordi: oh.. what an.. interesting question, I’ll have to uhm.. sleep on that..

Porter: of course.. I mean after all who wouldn’t.. hi there..

[arrowfleur]

Redacted characters but as random pieces of media that mean a lot to them…

(Or that remind me of them since I’m almost certain Brachium has never played Five Nights at Freddy’s)

BLAKE & BRACHIUM: FNAF 6 end speech, Blake: You played right into our hands. did you really think that this job just fell out of the sky for you? No, this was a gift. For us. You gathered them all together in one space just like he asked you to. All of those little souls in one place, a gift. For us.

Brachium: It’s in your nature to protect the innocent. I’m sorry that on that day. The day you were shut out and left to die. No one was there to lift you up in their arms. The way you lifted others into yours. And then, what became of you?

GAVIN: Fleabag, oh early Gavin GETS this show. “And sometimes I wish I didn't even know that fucking existed. And I know that my body, as it is now, really is the only thing I have left, and when that gets old and unfuckable I may as well just kill it. And somehow there isn't anything worse than someone who doesn’t want to fuck me.”

DARLIN’ : Isle of Dogs “I am not your pet. I don’t like you. I don’t care about you. I won’t wait for you. I bite.” “I’m not a violent dog. I don’t know why I bite.”

FREELANCER: Fantastic mr fox speech, ‘I think I have this thing where everybody has to think I'm the greatest.And if they aren't completely knocked out and dazzled and slightly intimidated by me, I don't feel good about myself.’

DAVID: The last of us: yeah he cried, yes he had to pause between flashbacks, no it didn’t remind him of anybody.

LASKO : Bojack horseman, free churro episode ‘Suddenly you realise you’ll never have the good relationship you wanted , and as long as they were alive, even though you’ll never admit it, part of you, the stupidest goddamn part of you, was still holding on to that chance. And you didn’t even realise it until that chance went away’. ‘I’m your son, all I had was you!’

[capitalisticveins]

SURPRISE D.A.M.N CREW GENERAL HCs ‼️

I don’t like making hcs on my phone but Friendsgiving yesterday rlly motivated me to just do it

— Caelum likes to chew on his shirt when he’s bored

— Dear has 5 umbrellas even though they live alone

— FL has no idea AI art exists

— Dear likes to buy Lasko ties

— Caelum thinks cats are adorable but is absolutely terrified of them

— Gavin is shit at golf, bowling, and basically every sport in existence except for gymnastics, cheerleading, and table tennis

— Huxley can flex his tits

— Lasko buys every fan except Lasko brand fans

— Dear hasn’t played Mario Kart before but when they first played with Lasko they decimated him

— Damien’s favorite kind of animals are the hairless ones

— Caelum can’t hopscotch

— FL can’t be trusted to go grocery shopping for people because they have shit willpower and no common sense they will buy the wrong brand of item you want and buy 3 packs of pizza rolls for themselves with the person’s money

— Huxley can’t jump rope properly because the rope can’t go around his body

— Damien has a schedule of what to wear and when. He wears specific shirts on SPECIFIC days of the week.

— FL has a child safety lock on their computer for Caelum and Gavin

— Everyone has to tell Damien where they’re going whenever they leave their houses

— Dear somehow got everyone’s number before Friendsgiving and asked everyone to point out Lasko’s use of Mahogany/Burnt Sienna on the letters

— Gavin isn’t allowed inside Max’s Rustic Pizza anymore

— If Damien would let him, Huxley would touch lava, like seriously slap it

— FL likes to dress up as Aang for Halloween

— Lasko and Damien are the only ones to own a bidet

— Huxley owns a mermaid dress

— Gavin owns a fur coat

— As a kid, Huxley was too shy to ask his moms to peel his oranges for him so he just sorta ate them with the peel on until he was 11

— Gavin is banned on tiktok

- and twitter

— Caelum’s wings flap like a hummingbird’s

— Huxley is the only member to buy proper sweet snacks. Lasko buys offbrand and Damien doesn’t buy sweets

— Gavin’s favorite cartoon character is Bugs Bunny

— Despite popular belief, Damien is willing to wear an itchy ugly christmas sweater

— Dear owns a border collie

— Lasko writes fanfiction

— Huxley’s luck is fucking amazing when he plays DND, so much so that it pisses off Lasko and now whenever they campaign with others he makes Huxley the dungeon master

— Damien doesn’t know how to skip

— Gavin can make his own alcoholic beverage at will

— FL isn’t from Dahlia. They’re from NY, but have never been in NYC

— Dear has a very strong opinion on Dasani. I don’t know if they strongly dislike it or strongly like it, but they feel very strongly about it.

— Huxley heard the news about the Summit online, saw it was hosted by Vincent and Lovely, recognized Lovely’s name, and went “wait a minute—”.

— Damien has thought about burning his baby pictures when Huxley found them.

— He attempted to do it when Gavin found them.

— FL has a sweet tooth and since Huxley is the only member to buy sweets, they sneak into his house and consume most of it.

After Damien moved in with Huxley he once woke up at like 2am to get a glass of water and saw FL hunched over sucking the frosting off of the mini cupcakes Huxley buys and chugging milk out of the container, their eyes were glowing in the dark and there was a ton of containers on the floor.

Damien went back to sleep without saying a word. When he woke up all traces of FL being in the house were gone and they don’t recall the night ever happening. No one believes him.

The only reference to the night happening is that all the snacks he saw FL eating were gone.

Lasko believes him but FL won’t let him tell Damien he believes him (it has happened to Lasko too and that’s why he buys offbrand).

— Gavin has accidentally killed someone with a rift.

— Caelum too but he doesn’t know.

— Dear is gonna buy Lasko rash ointment for Christmas with no malicious intent whatsoever.

— Damien owns the same amount of shoes as Milo.

— Gavin can’t swim. Gavin’s bad at a lot of things.

— Caelum can swim with water wings. Caelum’s good at a lot of things.

[milogreer]

really wanna write rn so help me choooose

no promises it’ll get done ‘cause, you know… life… but i wanna be able to at least try to focus in on one. i miss writing 😔

also some little snippets of each one that might help y’all decide 🤭

shaw pack scaredy cats

“You wanna what?”

“It’s not that big a deal, I do it all the time.”

Milo looks at them like they’ve gone crazy. “Tank, if my Ma finds out I snuck into an R-rated movie, I’ll be six feet under before you can even blink.”

“You just don’t wanna watch the movie ‘cause you know you’ll chicken out first.”

“And you just don’t know the kinda hell Marie Greer can rain down on you. She’s scarier than any movie.”

Tank rolls their eyes. “Then it’s your turn to ask David for a movie. I did it last time and he spent ten minutes chewing me out about how his copy of Alien had dried pizza sauce on the back cover.”

“Maybe if you didn’t eat like you were raised in a barn-”

“Don’t be mad at me just ‘cause you chickened out when you thought the cat was gonna die-”

“Hey, that is a very reasonable response!”

Tank laughs, dispelling any further argument. “Okay, okay. Fine. I’ll talk to David, see if he can pull a movie for this weekend.”

the morning after

Blake stirs, mumbling something incoherent as he buries himself further into the duvet, and Bestie stills their hand from looping a lock of his hair around their index finger. When he doesn’t say anything further, they continue, touch feather-light.

Another quiet moment passes before Blake sniffles, nudges his head up into their hand, and manages a slurred, “S’wrong?”

“Nothing,” they whisper, switching to run their hand through his hair, curls soft beneath their fingers, willing him to fall back asleep. “Sorry for waking you up.”

He grunts dismissively, peeking open one eye. “What time is it?”

They pause. It’s just barely four in the morning - they’d only slept two hours before being unwillingly and inexplicably dragged out of the depths of sleep. He’ll worry if they tell him the time.

“Early.”

As expected, Blake’s brows furrow. “How early?”

“It’s fine,” they say reassuringly. “I haven’t been up long. I was just thinking.”

A pause. The air feels heavy all of a sudden. When Blake speaks, his voice is low.

“…Can I ask what about?”

working overtime

“And I was supposed to be free tonight, I was right on track to get all my stuff done, but- but then a professor from down the hall had a family emergency and so she wasn’t going to be able to finish the banner for the rally at the end of the week, so she asked me to do it and I, I, I mean, I couldn’t say no, you know?” Lasko pauses very briefly to suck in a breath. “I would’ve felt so bad because she put in a lot of work and to, to not have her project done and displayed is a shame, I mean, I know she was really excited for it, so if I can finish it for her, then I want to, I just,” he expels an exasperated breath, “I wish it wasn’t at the expense of our date night. I-It’s been a while since we were able to actually go out together, I’m so sorry I can’t make it, I know I said it already, but-”

Dear catches his hand as he paces by where they’re sitting on his desktop, nervous hands flitting through the air as he speaks, then brings it to their lips to place a gentle kiss on his knuckles. Taken off-guard, Lasko goes quiet and still, his rambling tapering off with a soft oh.

“It’s alright, Lasko. I’m not upset.”

Big pleading eyes blink at them from behind his glasses. “Really?”

“Really. It’s sweet of you to want to finish her project for her.” They tug him closer to stand between their legs, looping their arms loosely around his neck and taking great satisfaction in the flush that immediately consumes his cheeks. “Did she leave instructions for you?”

His voice is pitched a touch higher when he responds, “Mhm.” Then he clears his throat, the initial embarrassment ebbing, and says, “She’s very, um… detailed. I hope it doesn’t take too long, but.” He makes an uncertain sound.

sweetheart’s first pack party

They gratefully accept the wine glass he offers, clutching it like a lifeline.

The hand on their hip tugs them a bit closer to him. “Don’t look so nervous, sweetheart. Might be a room full a’ wolves, but no one’s gonna bite.” He leans away slightly, taking a purposefully long moment to check them out, gaze dragging slowly down and then back up their body. Their heart flutters at the sly grin that paints his face. “Well, one of them might. But he’ll ask first.”

Sweetheart exhales a wavering laugh, rolling their eyes and turning their flushing face away.

“Is it that obvious?”

His smirk turns into a slight grimace. “Ash says you’ve got your investigator face on and it’s freakin’ him out a little.”

This time their exhale is a sigh, an attempt to expel some of the anxious energy trapped in their chest that buzzes like a beehive. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to parties like this. My family never did Solstice parties and even if they did, I think this would still be nerve-wracking because…” They falter, nails tapping their glass. “I mean. You know. This is my first one and, I don’t know, David and Asher have always been nice to me-”

sweetheart’s will likely be the only one that gets an actual name bc i have an OC for them more than anyone else, though i’m working on bestie atm so they might get a name too :)

[vanillaheartzxx]

*sigh*

random ass questions i have about redactedverse

(will be updated regularly (maybe, hopefully) and will take headcanon answers & speculation with alacrity 💓)

if a canon answer to any of the questions is revealed to me i’ll put a (🩰) next to it

♡︎THE QUESTIONS♡︎:

is starlight empowered? (🩰 yes)

does david know that darlin and quinn have a blood pact?

can vamps feed off each other? (🩰 yes but get drunk)

do baabe and ash still live in an apartment?

is blake’s listener actually empowered? (🩰 yes)

which types of empowereds are moon-bound and which are sun-bound? (🩰i learned them!!)

can wolves give birth to non-wolfs and vice versa?

is being empowered DNA at all? (human-borns being an exception, but it makes me wonder even if someone is human-born, are they only a human-born because maybe an ancestor was empowered? would it really just be random like that? it was probably said in the imperium i just refuse to rewatch)

what are the limits to a vampire’s “aliveness??” apologies for my shit phrasing (to explain further, sam said coffee doesn’t do anything, and i heard alcohol doesn’t effect them either, which makes me ask if they still need sleep. i think it’s they can sleep, but don’t need to. i wonder what else works and doesn’t or what kind of things effect them and don’t)

can vampires have babies? (they ARE dead, right? so no? idfk) this is such a weird question SORRY

is david shaw an orphan?? (🩰yes)

when would have gabe stepped down from alpha if he didn’t die? (like gabe’s dad didn’t give him the pack, gabe formed it himself, so would he have like given it to david when he died of old age? or when he wanted to retire idk)

where do the redacted boys get their income?? (i’ve had this one on my mind FOREVERR, like does the security job really keep ALL of them afloat?? what about before that? or what about the freelancer, or the damn boys (besides lasko). like were the wolf boys really able to buy HOUSES with the income from the security job? i get their mates have jobs but?? and i get demons don’t need jobs because they don’t need housing but what about the freelancer do they gotta pay for everything with their imaginary job??)

will christian and amanda get back together?

will milo ever finish prey?

how many shaw pack members and how many solaire clan members are there? (and how many members do we know so far? i feel like we know a lot of name but they don’t have any voice but i’m not sure HOW many names we’ve heard)

should i buy redacted merch? 🤭

(SOME ARE SPECULATION BUT CRÉDIT TO @pinksparkl FOR MOST OF THE ANSWERS 🫶)

(hopefully more questions with go here ♡︎)

[aestheticpearl]

— 𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐝

[𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫] lasko moore

“you’re doing it again” you say glancing over to where lasko is sitting and staring at you with the biggest heart eyes you’ve ever seen. he turns bright red once he realizes that’s he’s been caught and starts trying to stutter out an excuse.

“do-doing w-what?” he finally manages to get out after struggling to find the right words.

“looking at me with those eyes” you smile at him.

“w-what eyes?” lasko lets out a nervous laugh.

you stand and walk over to sit with him on the couch, making sure to sit very close.

“the ‘i’m so in love with you’ eyes” you say kissing his flushed cheek gently. lasko feels dopey with you and can’t help but act that way, you don’t mind though clearly since it makes you laugh; he loves making you laugh.

“i can’t help it” he says finally facing you. his eyes widen when he realizes how close you are to his face. “h-hi”

“i love when you do that” you grin.

“love when i do w-what?” lasko asks while glancing to the side for no particular reason .

“when i get really close to your face like this you always go ‘hi’ and it’s honestly one of my favorite things to do to you cause i love the reaction you give”

“o-oh, i didn’t realize i did that” you nod.

“i love it” you say before leaning in to kiss him.

lasko melts into your lips, he has always though that your lips taste heavenly and soft— something like cotton candy and salt water taffy. he wonders if you’re aware of how much your kiss effects him, not in a dirty way just in a ‘wow i’m so in love with them and how they kiss me’ way.

lasko pulls away to hold your face in place as he drinks in your features before deciding to smoother you in kisses which makes you giggle at the sudden action.

“ahh i’m being attacked” you laugh though you also don’t do anything to stop said attacks.

“i’m just loving you” he says before place a final cheek on your cheek with a big ‘mwah’ sound to follow it. “i can’t look at you or kiss you now? let me love you sweetie”

“i do let you love me” you laugh as you place your hands over his. lasko’s hands have always been so warm and yours always seem to be cold but he doesn’t seem to mind. he’s always happy to hold them. “you’re being silly”

“you don’t like silly me?”

“i love silly you” you remove his hands from you face as you pull him in to plant a kiss on his nose. “you love silly me?”

“of course—” lasko’s statement is quickly cut off as your freezing hands find their way under his shirt. “ah—ah hey y-you k-k-know i’m tic-ticklish there!” he says while squirming away from your touch.

you can’t hold in your laughter at the sight of him wiggling around on the couch trying to avoid the cold touch.

“you can’t escape the cold breeze boy, i’m everywhere”

after almost five minutes of squirming around on the couch and almost falling off twice, lasko finally manages to grab your hands and stop your tickle attack on him. in the end he’s panting and holding onto your hands tightly in case you decide to go for it again.

“alright i’m done i promise” you smile and he weakly smiles back and sighs in relief.

“oh thank goodness” he lets go of your hands and you lay back on the couch to wave him over. he lays against you and you pet his head to calm him. “i can hear my heartbeat in my ears.”

“i really got you going huh?” you smile.

“definitely my work out for the week” you laugh again before kissing his head.

“i love you breeze boy”

“i love you too sweetie”

please reblog to show support ✧·˚ ༘ * ༄

i am so in love with how the lay out for this song turned out oml, requested by @morgansplace

.love always <3 pearl

.masterlist

[ashturnedtomist]

Song Lyrics that Remind me of the Redacted couples <3

Lovely & Vincent: “You take the breath out of my lungs, can’t even fight it, and all the words out of my mouth without even trying,” - Speechless, Dan + Shay

Angel & David: “My accidental happily ever after. The way you smile and how you comfort me, with your laughter. You were not a part of my book, but now if you open it up and come take a look, you’re the beginning and end of every chapter,” - Never Knew I Needed, Ne-Yo

Asher & Baabe: “It’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do. Hey baby, I think I wanna marry you,” - Marry You, Bruno Mars

Milo & Sweetheart: “Let’s start the day with breakfast in bed, think I’m gonna love you ‘till I’m dead. I can’t wait to buy you things, a brand new diamond ring. This is more than just a fling,” - Something About You, Eyedress

Sam & Darlin’: “I will not ask you where you came from, I will not ask and neither should you. Honey, just put your sweet lips on my lips, and we should just kiss like real people do,” - Like Real People Do, Hozier

Gavin & Freelancer: “I know that I’m feelin’ so much more, than ever before. And I’m giving so much more to you than I thought I could do,” - Fly Love, Jamie Foxx

Damien & Huxley: “We don’t know where we’re going but we know where we belong. And, oh, we started two hearts in one home. It’s hard when we argue, we’re both stubborn, I know. But oh, sweet creature, sweet creature, wherever I go, you bring me home,” - Sweet Creature, Harry Styles

Lasko & Dear: “And I know I’ve kissed you before, but I didn’t do it right. Can I try again, try again, try again?” - Pink in the Night, Mitski

Vega & Warden: “Deadly fever, please don’t ever break. Be my reliever, cause I don’t self medicate,” - my strange addiction, Billie Eilish

Bestie & Blake: “Don’t you know I’m no good for you? I’ve learned to lose you, can’t afford to. Tore my shirt to stop you bleedin’, but nothin’ ever stops you leaving,” - when the party’s over, Billie Eilish

Avior & Starlight: “Look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do. Yeah, they were all yellow,” - Yellow, Coldplay

Sunshine & Elliott: “When I’m without you, I’m somethin’ weak. You got me beggin’ beggin’, I’m on my knees,” - Sugar, Maroon 5

Aaron & Smartass: “I figured it out, saw the mistakes of up and down. Meet in the middle, there’s always some common ground. I see what it’s like, I see what it’s like for day and night, never together ‘cause they see things in a different light like us,” - You and I, One Direction

Ollie & Baby: “And when I start to build my future, [they’re] the main component. Call it dumb, call it luck, call it love, or whatever you call it, but everywhere I go, I keep [their] picture in my wallet,” - Cupid’s Chokehold/Breakfast in America, Gym Class Heroes

Honey & Guy: “I don’t wanna go to school, I don’t wanna take the call, I just wanna be a fool and get lovesick with you,” - Lovesick, Peace

Geordie & Cutie: “You’re coming back, and it’s the end of the world. We’re starting over and and I love you, darling, and I am done, dear,” - I Want You, Mitski

Anton & His Listener: “I sit by myself, talking to the moon, tryna get to you in hopes you’re on the other side talking to me too,” - Talking to the Moon, Bruno Mars

Side note: what do you think Anton’s Listener should be called? Or Lasko’s?

[friendlyfaded]

redacted characters as games in my steam library/games folder

vincent-vampire the masquerade: bloodlines. this one should need no explanation. vincent is literally a textbook toreador.

sam-stardew valley. he seems like a relaxing, slice-of-life type gamer. as much shit as he gives the gamecube, you know this man played the fuck out of animal crossing.

gavin-huniepop. yet another assigned game that should need no explanation.

huxley-minecraft. he build in the dirt. that’s all i got.

damien-little inferno. might seem a little on-the-nose, but the themes of escaping the grind of what everyone else is doing, a grind that is actively harming everyone, and seeing what no one else sees to escape that cycle, reads as extremely damien to me.

lasko-huniepop 2. don’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to. (it was either this or baldi’s basics. i’m allowed to slander him, i’m a lasko kinnie)

caelum-wobbledogs. cute lil alien puppies that you can feed and play with and crossbreed to make eldrich abominations that shouldn’t exist. i just know he would fucking love wobbledogs.

vega-fran bow. as much as i adore him with all my heart, vega is just very remor-coded. he beats up children. that’s all i gotta say about that.

milo-prey. 😇

david-destiny 2. i don’t have to explain it. you already know.

asher-sea of thieves. i just know my man is absolutely killing it with sea of thieves. he has a story about trying to take over a ship using a rowboat and accidentally going to the final quest of the game with the crew of that ship instead.

aaron-alien isolation. this one is based on pure vibes. i don’t got much of an explanation for this one beyond delving into a dangerous world your family member is involved in to save said family member.

elliott-valheim. i don’t know a whole lot about elliott, i’ve never paid much attention to his storyline, but he seems like the kind of nerdy guy to really enjoy valheim. plus, co-op game to play with his best friend and partner. it works super well.

camelopardalis-subnautica. he’d find it extremely relaxing and would adore all the fauna in the game. he has never killed a leviathan and doesn’t plan to. his favorites are the reefback leviathans.

avior-detroit: become human. kinda funny that this one goes to avior and not james, but avior absolutely has the vibes of a guy fully realizing that people entirely different from him have such life and value to them and gaining a new appreciation for them.

anton-hydroneer. i feel like he’d enjoy the logistics and openness of the gameplay. plus, the scenery is pleasing and aesthetic. he’d enjoy the foresty vibes of the starting area.

james-pokemon reborn. maybe it’s personal bias, maybe it’s just that the game has a bunch of dark themes involving world-ending disasters and one person being forced to make difficult choices to save it, costing several lives unintentionally and being separated from loved ones and traumatized in the process, but it fits him almost too well.

geordi-skyrim. geordi has logged thousands of hours in skyrim and no one can convince me otherwise. he mains a bosmer and is super proud of his challenge build he did where he followed the green pact for the entire game.

guy-don’t starve. he cooka da pizza. he would make sure you never starve. plus, i feel like he’d be really good at survival games like this, and he’d really enjoy the art style.

[autisticempathydaemon]

Cu-wip-osity Tag Game~!

@gingerbreadmonsters, @zozo-01, @ejunkiet, @romirola, and @pinksparkl, I can't believe y'all would doom me and everyone here KNOWING that I got so much shit in my WIPs how could you do this to me I love you so much

rules: reveal the titles of the documents in your WIP folder and tag as many people as there are documents. let others ask questions about the ones that interest them, and post snippets or explain the contents as you see fit!

putting all those under the cut because I'm not playing about how many there are and some are gonna be nsfw

Multi-chapter Fics:

I know some people (they would die for me): A Prissy Cinematic Universe (PCU) fic where Vincent and William hate, threaten, and then learn to accept Christian as Alexis's boyfriend

close your eyes (I’ll keep you safe inside): A PCU AU (yeah it has it's own AU to the AU that's how in this I am) where Quinn is going after his exes and Alexis is one of them

in a sky full of stars (I think I see you): A Lasko x OC fic where Lasko is crushed on by a ditzy, bubbly Empathy Daemon from so close but so far

all on my own (I know that I'm no superman): A Darlin/Sam-centric AU of the Shaws as firefighters and the Solaires as doctors

in this kitchen, baking (what a mess I'm making): A Great British Bake Off AU formatted as a teleplay/script

me and you (if I get you in a soundproof room): An 18+ Hudson/Unempowered!Neighbor fic featuring voyeurism, exhibitionism, and mutual masturbation.

One-Shots:

these things eat at your bones (and drive your young mind crazy): A PCU fic where Marie meet Alexis and they have an interesting conversation about non-consensual turnings

getting red in the face (you can call me obsessed): A PCU fic where Christian gets jealous of the attention Alexis gets at an event where he's working security

into darkness (your mercy came): A PCU, Alexis & Sam fic with "You came." "You called." vibes

can you teach me (how to feel real): An Anton/Love fic figuring out what Love likes now that they're not obsessed about Marcus

don’t wanna sit still (look pretty): An 18+ Dead Dove: Do Not Eat President Moore/Freelancer fic featuring non-con and forced feminization

could nourish you (could sustain you): A Sadism's Hold!Ivan/Baby fic told in a series of meals

why don't we meet for a chat (the three of us): An 18+ Huxley/Damien/Gavin fic featuring bondage, cockwarming, and cuckolding

I'll teach you (everything I know): An Alexis & William fic telling their relationship in a series of Go games

I cannot explain to you in anything I say (or do or plan): A PCU text-fic where Angel asks Sam if Alexis can be added to the Mates group chat

mister sandman (bring me a dream): An 18+, Dead Dove: Do Not Eat Blake/Dreamer featuring non-con group sex and gaslighting.

I could never rescue you (no matter how I tried): An Alexis & Sam fic exploring atonement without apologies through actions and letters that will never be sent

all that we intend (is scrawled in sand): An Alexis-centric fic exploring the Maker/Progeny bond and her feeling Sam's love for Darlin vicariously

not a day goes by (that I'm not into you): A DAMN Polycule timestamp-fic exploring a day in their apartment

give me therapy (I am a walking travesty): An Alexis-centric fic of one of her therapy sessions

tagging: @dominimoonbeam, @taelonsamada, @horrorscoupes, @lovelylonerliterature, @k9rage, @bvbyphoenix, @letsmakeitwrite, @themonotonysyndrome, and anyone else who'd like to join!

[starlitangels]

Office Hours

A few days ago I asked for suggestions for Avior one-shots because I missed him and was going crazy. This one came from @zozo-01 1.9k words

—

Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock!

I scrunched my eyebrows and looked up from my computer. “C… come in?” I asked hesitantly. Who else would be here this late? A few months ago, the only coworker who stayed here so late was Lasko. But after that Inversion, he’d been promoted to the admin board and moved offices. He wasn’t in the general faculty-office building anymore. He’d moved to the administrative building’s top floor.

The door creaked open on its old hinges. “I thought you might be hungry,” a familiar voice said. I jolted, realizing it was Avior standing in the half-light.

“Avior!” I smiled tiredly.

He gave me a concerned look and lifted my insulated lunchbox. “Brought you some food.”

“Oh Avior—thank you,” I said.

He stepped into my office and sat in one of the discount armchairs across from my desk where students usually sat during office hours. “So… how are these term papers?”

I looked down at my computer keyboard. “I… don’t know how to answer that politely.”

“Then don’t bother. It’s just you and me here.”

I sucked in a breath and let my head fall onto my desk. “They’re so… they’re just so… some of them really aren’t trying at all. I have one student—one—who is putting forth an incredible amount of effort to do well in this class. None of the others seem to care.”

Avior sighed. “I know the feeling. To a different extent, of course. But I had a handful of students I stewarded who… didn’t care to learn anything more than the very basics.” He shrugged. “To their detriment, I suppose.”

I hummed agreement and sat up. “Yeah, I suppose so.”

“C’mon. Eat, my starlight,” Avior said, unzipping the lunchbox and pushing it across my desk at me. I drew it even closer and stuck my hand in, pulling out its contents.

“Oh you’re trying to spoil me, are you?” I teased. “A warm thermos of soup after a long, hard day? Someone knows how to do comfort food.”

He chuckled. “Maybe I just know you.”

“Maybe so.”

“Talk to me, my love,” he said as I unscrewed the cap of the thermos and pored some of the soup into it.

“About?”

“Something’s weighing on you. Talk to me.”

I sucked in a deep breath and blew on the soup to cool it off. “It’s just… been a really long day. Long week. Month. Semester. I’m glad it’s almost over.” I rubbed my eyes—then my temples.

Avior was giving me a sympathetic look when I peeled my eyes open. “How much longer is this semester?”

I glanced at the calendar on my computer. “Two weeks. Long enough for me to get these papers graded and review with my students for the final—and then I’m free for a while.”

“Not teaching any summer courses?”

I shook my head. “They don’t need me to this summer. For the first time in…” I grunted. “Years.”

“Really?”

“Again: I’ve been working here for years. I finally have enough seniority that some of the younger professors get to fill in summer courses that I normally would have been saddled with.”

“You’re also only a part-time professor. Isn’t the majority of your job research?”

I shrugged. “In theory. Not often in practice. D.A.M.N. is only marginally better than D.U.M.P. when it comes to the ratio of being overworked and underpaid. I do the work of two people for the wage of one. But I just… I don’t think I can ever leave this kind of space. I… you know me. I have to learn.”

That prompted Avior to break the concerned expression into a smile. “I know, my starlight. I don’t know what you’d do with yourself if you couldn’t keep learning.”

“I’d drive myself up the walls, for one thing,” I remarked. I knocked back the whole lid of the thermos. The soup was still warm but not blistering hot. It hit my tongue with the comforting taste of home. Sure hot soup was probably a little much for June in southern California’s weather but I was comforted by it nonetheless. I set the lid down on my desk to pour a little more soup into it to cool off again.

“Starlight, what can I do to help you?” Avior asked.

“Keep me company while I finish the next few papers? Then we can go home?”

“Okay. I can do that.”

I smiled softly at him and wiggled my mouse to brighten my computer screen. Avior settled back in the uncomfortable armchair, looking around my office. I went back to grading, trying to focus.

It wasn’t my fault that my demon lover was hot and it was distracting.

I barely finished the paper I’d been reading when he came in before I posted my comments and shut the computer down. “Let’s go home,” I said.

“Already?”

“Turns out I can’t focus when an exquisitely beautiful demon is waiting for me.”

He bit his lower lip as he smiled, almost looking sheepish, almost looking impish. “I mean, I can rift home if you—”

“No. I need to be done for the night anyway. I can finish the rest tomorrow.” I almost lunged across the desk to keep him from rifting. He chuckled and caught my hand, sweeping it up to his lips to press a kiss to it.

“Tempting as it is to simply move some things off your desk and get right to it here,” he began, “I think we’d both be more comfortable back home.”

“Mm… but we can table that first concept for a later date, yeah?” I teased.

“Oh definitely. Part of the fun of having a professor partner is getting heated after office hours. Or, at least, that’s what I’m told.” He tugged me to my feet. I knocked back the lid of the thermos again before screwing it back on. I’d eat more of it in the car.

“That’s a hypothesis we’ll have to test.” I put the thermos back in the lunchbox.

“Oh but for it to be a true experiment, it requires multiple tests, right?” Avior drew me close to him, sliding one hand around my waist to rest on my lower back. Dangerously low on my lower back. He leaned in close. The feeling of his magic zinging the skin inside my nose. Magic didn’t necessarily have a scent, but I always felt it in my nose as though smelling something spicy.

His lips pressed to mine. I kissed him back, letting him nibble at my lower lip and stick his tongue in my mouth.

“Repeatable… results?” he added. “To formulate a conclusion… Is that how it goes?”

I’m sure it was, but at the moment all thoughts had been effectively driven out of my head by everywhere he was touching me. I made a noise that more akin to a moan than a, “Uh-huh.”

Avior’s touch—and warmth—disappeared. He took a step back, almost all the way to the door in one stride. A tiny whine of protest left my throat.

Avior just laughed. “Home, starlight?” He indicated the door.

I nodded decisively. “Home.”

—

“So, based on the research, humans eventually came to the conclusion that our magical Cores exist in what we refer to as ‘phased duality.’ How many of you here know how to use Stealth magic to phase?” I asked.

A few half-hearted hands lifted into the air and I caught pursed lips and avoiding eye contact of people who did but didn’t want to admit it. I’d taught plenty long enough to recognize that look.

The door at the back opened. Up the ramp, I saw Avior slide into the room and lean against the wall, folding his arms and looking impassive after shooting me a wink. Very rarely on Terra did he wear his horns on display, and today was no exception. Though I could see how his magic wavered at his head to keep them hidden.

I nodded at my class, trying not to fidget in embarrassment. “Just like a sufficiently-powerful Stealth can pass through walls, simultaneously there and not there at the same time, our Cores are in our chests and not in our chests at the same time.” I took a deep breath, bracing just slightly for what was to come. “Any questions?”

All I was met with were blank stares. The crowd of students in the lecture hall didn’t even know what to ask. I looked around.

“Alright. Looks like everyone is confused. It’s a bizarre bit of anatomy to understand, I get that.” I sucked in a deep breath. “Alright. We’ll expound on it next time. Class dismissed.”

My students stood in a wave and filed out the doors at the back of the lecture hall.

“Professor?” A student approached me, tucking their textbook under their arm. The familiar aura of a Freelancer touched my senses. They were the one student who actually tried on their work. A kind soul who always had good questions. I suspected they were humanborn.

“Yes?” I smiled at them.

They fidgeted. “Do we know why humans can’t bridge with demons?”

My gaze immediately flicked to Avior, up at the back of the auditorium-style lecture hall, before turning back to my student. “Bridging requires Threads. It’s those Threads that weave the bridge. That synchronize the rhythm between the two Cores. Demons don’t have Threads. Our magic has to travel down them from the magical plane and into our Cores. Demons don’t have Cores. Their magic comes from within their own bodies. They don’t need Threads.” I took a deep breath. “Our kinds’ relationships to magic in general is too different to allow us to bridge between us.”

They nodded. “So it has nothing to do with the phased duality of our Cores and everything to do with the fact that demons don’t have Cores,” they said.

Over their shoulder, I saw Avior nod in approval.

“Precisely,” I replied.

My Freelancer student nodded. “Thank you, professor. Have a good afternoon.” They turned and rushed out of the lecture hall.

Once they were gone, Avior and I were alone in the room. I packed up my things into my shoulder bag and slung it on while Avior strolled down the ramp, hands in the pockets of his jeans. He leaned against the teacher’s table at the front of the lecture hall.

“Hi,” I greeted, finally getting the last of my things put away.

Avior smiled softly at me. “Hi,” he replied.

“What’re you doing here?”

He shrugged. “You’re almost done for the semester. Thought I’d drop by and watch you teach for a minute.”

“Why?”

His grin grew playful. “It’s sexy watching you work.”

I burst out laughing. “What, watching me teach?”

“Watching you own the room with your knowledge.” He leaned closer, nose nearly touching mine. “You certainly had… all of my attention, at least.”

“For a different reason than my students, I hope.”

Avior paused for a moment. “I dunno. A couple of your students definitely had energy a Concubus could snack on, watching you. I can’t say I blame them, but you’re mine.”

“Absolutely.”

Avior kissed me, deep and sensually, cupping my face to keep me close. “That was your last class of the day, right?” His whisper brushed across my lips and cheeks.

“Mmhmm,” I replied.

“Office hours?”

“I don’t do office hours on Tuesday.”

“So we get to go home?”

“We definitely can.”

“What are we waiting for, then?”

I smiled. “Let’s get outta here.”

[truekingimperial]

This started off with the Asher halloween vid of decorating or something. Then Echo came in being all “Yall are annoying as shit with your dumbass requests and it made me angry so I’m gonna fucking beat your shit and turn it upside down cos I don’t like your ass”

This upside down world makes it where everyone knows about magic and instead un-empowered humans fear magic and magic users.

INTRODUCTION

D.U.M.P is now I.D.L.E — Imperial Department of Law Enforcement.

The Imperium is the entire world, united. (communism?)

If you are found thinking “shit these laws suck”, youre taken away for “correction”.

Un-empowered Humans:

They are the majority, and at the bottom of the hierarchy.

Humans with no powers are seen as a liability, and their job at IDLE is seen as a “privilege that can be taken from them at any time without prior warning”

Sometimes they’re just used as feeders for demons.

They’d be taken to a demons to spend time in their room for an hour and the demons would feed on them.

D(a)emons:

Their sovereigns, after the cacophony now known as the cataclysm, we’re bound to aria unable to move and used as a source of food.

Anyone who is seen to have a problem with that is sent to earth as a death sentence

People on Aria are taught that demons are feeders who will do anythign for food and should report them to the department to be taken in and put in a jail cell

There are alternates however, there are rumours of “havens” within D.A.M.N, where demons are cared for and safe but it’s just another trap

Empowered Humans:

They are like. The standard? They’re respected, get respectable jobs, can work for IDLE without fearing losing their jobs.

Human borne:

They’re often taken from their homes as soon as they’re found out to be human borne and taught magic and taught to look down on the un-empowered.

Human bornes are taught that, because their magic doesnt come from their parents but from the meridian itself, they have some sort of superiority other empowered humans.

Vampires:

They have little to no restraint. Their one rule is don’t kill anyone who works for IDLE.

Vampires are bound to their makers and I THINK a maker has to turn 100 humans into vampires until they’re free from Imperium’s rule.

These makers are called mass makers

King Imperial + IDLE:

He’s at the top of the food chain. Makes the decisions and upholds the law

Kody and Vindemiator Episode

Slicers are groups of people, usually magic users, who will slash human bornes threads to disconnect their core from the meridian. I think it’s a revenge thing. But only demons can do it.

Kody was a leader of a slasher group who was using Gavin, known as Vindemiator, to slash people’s threads.

Freelancer is a human borne that get’s captured by Kody and the gang

Gavin sees this as an oppurtunity to use FL as a barganing chip to get into a Haven.

Kody says “Halt, incubus! What about my sexual fantasies!!” so Vin burns off his dick

Vindemiator, Hux and Lasko’s Ep

Here we find out that Vin was like “I was never gonna hurt you btw, I just need your help and you can forget about me after” and kinda explained why he’s doing what he’s doing. FL is like “dw bbg”

When they arrive at the gates of DAMN they find Huxley, an enforcer, guarding the gates. HE BROKE MY HEART, BC HE WAS SO MEAN TO GAVIN AND BEAT HIM UP before letting him in after FL asked nicely.

We’re then brought to Lasko, the academy president. He’s like “Human borns are superior, I think Huxley is a little weak bitch that I can step on whenever but the head is good”. He goes on this crazed rant about the supremacy of humanbornes before sending FL to their classes and Vin away to the haven.

Avior’s Ep

Avior is the person who runs the Havens. Starlight is a new recruit to work with him. Starlight asked for the job and Avior was like “you’re a fucking idiot because the Havens are actually a trap to keep demons bound and caged.”

He explains that all demons that are found on sight are imprisoned and then those who hear of havens lead themselves into the department. Because there’s no real safe place for demons. The havens feel like some sort of mercy because atleast they’re going in voluntarily.

Also everyone is using too much magic and the meridian is about to collapse but noone is listning to him. And if the meridian collapses then like, all of human kind will literally die.

Damien’s Ep

We find out that the last Queen, the first to not be an heir of the original lineage to rule the nation, died. Sophia, Damien’s mother, was a very beloved Queen, though maybe not to the un-empowered.

Damien is trying to fill her shoes but everyone doubts him. His partner, Angel, is his childhood friend and an un empowered human.

Having Angel as his consort damages his appearance as a leader cos they dont like those types of humans. Angel is all “More rights for human bornes!!” and Damien is like “Fuckin- Wait a minute- I have to convince these people I’m any good first-”

And they argue and Damien paralyses them and is like “shhh shut the fuck up, we’re meant for each other, so be quiet”

Shaw Pack Ep

So. David and Tank are dead lol. Because of an attack from Quinn. I think Christian was supposed to keep watch or something but he was fucking and sucking somewhere and they died

Asher is the leader of the shaw pack, he still calls it the shaw pack to remember David.

Baabe (i think) is caught stealing some paperwork that Angel left for them to find so they can expose King Imperial’s attempt to cover up the breaking meridian

Sam’s Ep

(Ivan’s) Baby is in a long distance relationship with Ivan. Baby goes to dentist

Dentist is Sam. Oh shit

Sam’s like “Haha, you have no friends. Moone will miss you when you’re gone. I’ll turn you.”

Baby is the last person for Sam to turn before they become free from the Imperium’s rule.

Adam and Vincent’s Ep

Lovely unempowered. Walking around a fucking abandoned carnival or whatever being like “Someone please turn me, I literally hate being human”

And them Vin and Adam find lovely and are like “We were turned from old blood so we don’t have to be massmakers so we’re just gonna eat u cos you taste super good!!”

BTW VIN AND ADAM ARE GAY. When vin was more recently turned, Vin was submissive to Adam but now Vin is like “I fucking hate you” and Adam is lioke “keep sucking, I’m close”

Adam thinks they should drain Lovely right there but Vincent wants to save them for later. Adam disagrees so Vincent snaps his neck LOL

yeah thats everything in season 1 GOD FUCKING DAMN

@truekingimperial @y0ur-enf0rc3r @the-other-pack-member @imperium-sam

@the-other-pack-member

OOC: Alright here's something I'm willing to admit.

I've never listened to the imperium.

I've listened to two and a half audios of that thing, tiny snippets of Imp!Huxley, imp!Damien and professor Moore and nothing else.

I have no idea what I'm fucking doing

[hott-brownn-sugarr]

Hey y’all, I just had the scare of my life today

So it’s currently hotter than Damien when he was gulp gulp gulp gulping down Huxley and I was asking my mom if she knew where our fans are.

She goes “I don’t know where Lasko is.” And I stood there like “she knows? Is this a trick? A test??” Not remembering there is a Lasko brand.

She was like “why are you staring at me so hard?” And I was like “Lasko??” She then gave me a face and then told me to check my brothers closet.

Lasko and Lasko Jr.

I’m a fucking dumbass💀

[bicyclepainting]

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Part Two- Gavin

Gavin finds Freelancer baking in the middle of the night.

also available to read on ao3!

~

It was well past three in the morning when Freelancer gave up on sleep for the night. They tip-toed out of their room, leaving Gavin sleeping soundly in their bed while they decided to make cookies. 

If they weren’t going to sleep, they might as well do something productive. 

When they get to the point of combining the wet and dry ingredients together, they glance mournfully at the electric mixer that Lasko had gifted them for their last birthday. 

It was the middle of the night and they really didn’t want to wake Gavin up— which would happen without a doubt if they turned that thing on. He’d just drag them back to bed, whether they were actually tired or not.

They could basically hear what he’d say in their head, “Rest is rest, asleep or not.” And he’d probably make some kind of remark about having a better time in bed with them versus by himself. 

He’d wear them down before they even got the cookies in the oven, letting the dough sit in the fridge until it molded. Because that’s what always happened whenever they stopped baking in the middle of a recipe, saved dough be damned.

They turn around to see Gavin, nearly jumping at his seemingly sudden appearance. He was leaning against the door frame, wrapped in a blanket and watching them silently.

“Deviant,” he says in a tone that makes them feel scolded and pleaded with at the same time. “Why are you baking when you should be sleeping in a lovely, warm bed with your favorite incubus?”

They barely glance up. “Was I being too loud?”

“The absence of you from our bed is loud enough, my love.”

They nearly roll their eyes at his supplicative affection and go back to mixing the ingredients. How was he always so smooth? He always had those little lines that made their heart melt, even while half awake.

Trying to ignore his little grunt of annoyance at their lack of attention and the shuffled footsteps they heard coming towards them was nearly impossible. Especially when they feel his arms snake around their waist and his head perching on their shoulder, the warmth of Gavin and his blanket settling kindly around them. 

“Couldn’t sleep?” he mumbles. 

They hum in affirmation, still mixing.

“Baking isn’t really going to help that, you know.”

“I know,” they say simply.

“You should come back to bed,” he pleads, “if only to keep me company.”

They start pouring chocolate chips into the bowl to be incorporated into the dough. It was a firm belief of theirs that when making cookies, the one thing to measure with your heart was the chocolate chips.

“Maybe.”

“Deviant.”

And when they don’t respond, they eventually notice his breathing evening out and his head getting heavier against them.

“Gavin,” they warn, “do not fall asleep on me out here.”

“Well if I can’t fall asleep on you in our bed, where else am I supposed to do it?” he grumbles. 

They turn and press a kiss to his temple. “I’ll join you when the cookies are done baking, okay?”

Gavin could have the cookies done in an instant with magic. He’s asked Freelancer before if they wanted his help in that regard. They’ve always turned him down. He thinks there’s something important, something methodic to baking the cookies the hard way— the mortal way, that means something to them. 

So he turns too, kissing them on the lips and moving to make the pair a cup of tea. At this point he knew there was nothing he could do to tear them away from the kitchen. And tea didn’t always help Freelancer sleep, but really how much harm could a good cup of tea do? 

By the time the kettle was whistling, Freelancer was popping the tray of cookies into the oven and setting a timer. 

When Gavin reached for the box of chamomile tea bags, a motion out of the window caught his eye. A snowflake, floating past, illuminated by a streetlamp. Then another, close behind. And more after that.

“Deviant,” he calls softly, “It’s snowing.”

They step next to him, looking out to see the snow. 

“First of the season,” they comment. “Probably won’t stick.”

He hands them their cup of tea, curling his hands around his own. 

“Sure is pretty though. And now it really feels like the holidays.”

Gavin hums in acknowledgment, resting his arm across their shoulders to wrap his blanket around the pair. 

The quiet moment is interrupted by a noise of disgust from Freelancer who, after taking their first sip of tea, mumbles, “You forgot the sugar.”

Gavin makes tea for them often and he does not forget how they take their tea.

“Sugar doesn’t help you sleep,” he says simply, sipping from his own mug. 

They grumble something unintelligible, taking another sip of tea and scrunching their face at the taste. He presses a kiss to their forehead in amusement.

“Happy holidays, Deviant.”