#dxl week

[saelterlude]

Happy first anniversary to the Link Click Musical!! To celebrate, here is a list of all the specials official recordings that they have given us!

Kay so starting with

Chinese Musical Promo Special Livestream: (I forgot the name of the event hehe)

Faith of Friendship by Wang Minhui and Cai Qi

Words Can't Convey My Love by Shu Rongbo and Wu Yihan (they play these two songs straight, but no worries its not the case for the other proper specials held by encore musical)

100th Performances Countdown Specials: (Yes, this week was a blessing)

Words Cant Convey My Love with LG-CXS swap (roles not character if that makes sense) by WMH, Bai Zhuoming and Wu Hanglu (dont you love seeing wmh cocky confidence slowly and surely crumbles lol, bzm got the rights to get mad at him in the end)

Words Cant Convey My Love with LG->CXS->the girl and QL-> LG by Du Guangyi, Wang Yifei, and Qian Anqi (lets be real wyf took us all by surprise with that entrance and the oh~. its also the source of shy lg in cxs jacket. dont forget the failed streamer disaster lmao)

Faith of Friendship with a push up bet for every ball missed by Teng Chunpeng and DGY (aksnsjks the stupid star formation is great, and the multiple failed shots plss. i love their goofy asses so much)

Forget About It with LG->CXS->QL->LG by WYH, Ding Xingchen and Deng Xialin (i love dxc's twin sister, shes pretty shes great. wyh being a hyper orange cat on stage is also great, dont forget the meme that came from it)

Forget About It with various dialects by Guo Hongxu, Ji Xiaokun and Cai Lu (its the closest thing we've got to how the actual performance goes! special mention go cl needing to read the lyrics off her phone)

As The Saying Goes with CXS as Chen Xiao and everyone else as CX's mom by CQ WMH, DXL, Zhang Jiahao and Zhu Jiayan (chickenchickenchicken, peak comedy, i love wmh going all asian mom lmaooo, yess scold cq into a chokehold!)

Valentine Special:

Words Cant Convey My Love with LG->the girl QL->LG and CXS as CX by DGY, TCP and WHL (dgy wjth the high pitched voice, the almost kiss, the fckin succulent, the fake retching, its perfect)

200th Performances Special:

Words Cant Convey My Love with CXS->Liu Meng, LG taking the confessing role and QL->LG by WMH, GHX and DXL (i love how cheeky ghx looks, and how everyone burst out laughing when he enters. ghx is just terrorizing wmh this whole performance)

300th Performances Special:

Trump Card with CXS and LG hanging by TCP, DGY, WHL, ZJY and Zhou Bo (dgy core strength took me by surprise, its a mess)

1 Year Anniversary Special:

This 15 minutes video contains: (watch me struggle to describe this loveable mess here)

Words Can't Convey My Love by ZJH, Guo Zheyan, and DXL with mahjong cameos (shiguang is in the walls. i promise, it makes sense, its chaos, i love it) by GHX, BZM, ZHB, YHL

Faith of Friendship (doubled! theres too many of them!! and zhb is so tiny wtf. none of them can shoot, wheres basketball god when you need him) by GHX, BZM, ZHB, YHL

Back to The Past by CQ and WMH with WMH belting it whilst a group of raincoat wearing menaces (GHX, ZHB, YHL, CQ) does some cult ritual nonsense. (i am not joking, wmh is singing this angsty song on the verge of tears and getting bullied)

Also, Dive Back in Time with everyone!! (its very cramped lmao)

Bonus! If you prefer it to Weibo, here is a YouTube playlist for the specials posted by niebo! Happy 1st anniversary Link Click Musical! I know I haven't keep up with the clip list but damn I gotta do something.

[heavier-than-average]

hey fatty, as heads up for some chase credit cards you can get 10% cash back at dxl not sure if you have the card but figured i'd mention it

Hey Anon, thanks for the heads up, I actually had found this on my card a week or so ago and put it to use straight away lol

[xltribe]

This week in XL Tribesmen Tribesmen Of The Week Van Bailey we celebrate Happy Pride Month. I wanted to open the month with a person that lives the trans experience. I know it's been months since my last Tribesmen but we are back up and running on new servers that are faster and can handle the growth. What’s one misconception about Big & Tall Men that you hear often? And what are you doing to change it?A misconception I often see is that all Big & Tall Men fit the "brawn" build. I am a shorter person and when I see Big & Tall, I often wonder - does that include me? I would love to model for a Big & Tall brand, however, as a person of trans experience, I do not see that representation out there. I would urge brands to reconsider their model representation. Fashion is for everybody. If you sell the size, create the representation. If you don't sell the size, consider everyone you're leaving out due to styling limitations. Because there aren't bigger darker folks of the size of trans experience in the fashion world, I have done my best to curate spaces to highlight my love of fashion and style. I have worked with LGBTQ+ brands like DapperQ, Qwear, and the Stud Model Project, and am the lead stylist for the bklyn boihood collective. For me, in order to see myself, I have to be brave enough to put myself out there. Fashion for me is ancestral and the way I adorn my body is a means of celebration and survival. Photo credit: Stud Model Project If you could change one thing about your favorite Big & Tall brand what would it be and why?Create more opportunities for people of trans experience to see themselves in your brand. We are worthy of representation. Representation and visibility is life-saving for queer and trans communities of color. So, be more open to having diverse representation of all sizes and heights. Photo credit: Stud Model Project Tell us about your worst shopping experience? And why ? Honestly, going to malls is always a high-stress experience. I have to wonder, will they have my size? Will I be able to find a tailor who's worked with trans bodies before? I have been misgendered in spaces, especially early in my transition and those moments stick with you for life. I remember a few years ago, I was shopping online at one of my favorite stores, ASOS, and they did not have any bigger representation but they sold the sizes. This has shifted in recent years but I see a number of brands selling sizes but then not having bigger bodies display those sizes on their website. How am I supposed to know how it might fit on my body? Am I not worthy of representation? How can I know what's possible if I don't see what's possible? Photo credit: KXJ Apparel What’s on your fashion bucket list?I want to be signed to a fashion agency and model for big fashion houses. While I have walked in New York Fashion Week, I would love to get experience in other fashion weeks, including going abroad. I would love to model for DXL and Savage X Fenty. It would be a dream to be featured in a Savage X Fenty show. Photo credit: Stud Model Project How did you get introduced to the world of Big & Tall fashion?My father is a bigger guy, so I remember going shopping with him at DXL and department stores. I used to love watching him get tailored after picking out a suit. Then, as I got older I realized how there weren't people who looked like me in magazines, fashion shows, or in the media. When I started working with bklyn boihood, I was so inspired that they had representation of all body types in their calendars. I knew once I came on as a stylist and a collective member I wanted to keep that momentum going. XL Tribesmen Tribesmen Of The Week Van Bailey Social media links: Website: https://www.drvanbailey.com/styling Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr__handsome/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dr__handsome

[bluepoke483]

Pokémon Cliffhanger Week Promo (The DXL Verse Style)

[crimsxnrebellion-blog]

Soul Mate

[After a long vacation, I finally got to my second entry for DantexLady Week (month)! And it’s Christmas themed! Hope you enjoy!]

Lady pushed the stepladder past the front door, her arms overflowing with garland and strings of multicolored lights. She hummed alone to “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as it played from her phone in her back pocket. She only had one more section of the office to cover with the garland before she could finally move on to her favorite part of decorating: the Christmas tree. She had a ton of ornaments (even after decorating her own in her apartment) from years of collecting them, and she loved hanging them from the pine branches and between the twinkling lights. Climbing up to place the star on top.

It had taken days to convince Dante to allow her to decorate the shop. Unlike Lady, who loved the holiday season despite her past, the half demon hated Christmas. Most holidays, she had come to find. They reminded him of the family he lost, and he just preferred to not celebrate them as much as he could. He would indulge Lady and Trish once in a while with dinner together and gift swapping, but this was the furthest he had ever allowed for the celebration. She didn’t know if it was the promise of lowering his debt a smidge, a week of pizza on her, and a few bottles of his favorite whiskey that finally convinced him, or if he just tired of her begging and constant nagging about how the festive decorations would bring in more clients had finally worn him down. Either way, she was happy with the outcome, even if it would cost her a bit of money. It would help Dante in the long run as well, make him a little bit less of a grump during the season.

“You know, Patty will really like this, too,” she said as she mounted the stepladder. Reaching all the way through her fingertips and shifting to her tiptoes, she hung the first bit of garland. She could feel Dante’s gaze on her back—most likely her backside—as she stretched on the rickety ladder, though she knew it was for more than simply appeasing his perverted nature; he was making sure she didn’t fall. She knew asking him to help was out of the question, and he hadn’t offered either. But, she knew he wouldn’t let her get hurt. “Christmas is her favorite, if I remember right.”

“As long as it ain’t pink and frilly shit like she pulled when she first came around, I’ll live with it,” Dante responded. Lady heard the squeak of rubber as he shifted on the couch, the rustle of the pages as he rifled through his magazine. “But don’t start thinking I’m thrilled with this. It’s all pointless to me.”

Lady rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You seemed to be into the season when you were chasing me around with mistletoe, jackass,” she shot back. She had had to hide it to keep him from trying anything funny with it. The threat of making him wear a Santa suit nipped that in the bud quick, at least. “Can’t you just enjoy it? A little? And not by getting shit faced so you don’t remember or really enjoy it anyway?”

When she received no more response than a grunt, Lady returned back to her work. As she twisted the lights into the perfect position around the garland, she was reminded of decorating their home when she was a kid. Her mother had loved the holiday season. From Thanksgiving to New Years, the house was full of the sounds and smells of the season and decorated from top to bottom, inside and out, with lights, garland, tinsel, fake snow and, her favorite, the giant evergreen that glowed in their dining room. She remembered baking all sorts of cakes and cookies with her mom, decorating them with candy and icing. She could feel the warmth of the fireplace as they read stories together, Kalina Ann doing voices for each of the holiday characters.  

Then her mind wandered to what she wished she had. Her own kids to bake and sing and read with in a cozy home. She wanted to decorate a tree with her kids, curl up on the couch with and watch as the children played with their new toys.  

She paused at the last thought, bicolored eyes drifting to the man sprawled across the couch. Though she had spent years trying to deny it, Lady could never squelch her feelings for her fellow devil hunter. They had discussed their feelings on relationships before (even though she refused to let him know it was him she pined for), and they both agreed that their lifestyle was far too dangerous for any serious relationships. Thus, they both kept things casual. Dante moreso than herself, much to her chagrin.  

Lady knew their connection was deeper. It had been fate that they met. They were meant for each other. But, she knew if she ever said anything, Dante would turn her down. She could respect how he felt; it was reasonable because he had a target on his back due to his heritage, and demons with a beef would use someone he loved to their advantage. That didn’t stop her heart burning with a desire to change his mind. To find out if he even felt the same about her.

Lady chewed her lip as she twisted a blue bulb between her fingers. The strand flickered on and off. “Hey, Dante?”

“Yeah?” She heard him sit up, leather crunching underneath him.  

“Do you believe in soul mates?”

She refused to look and kept busy, but she heard him chuckle. “What? You tellin’ me you got a crush on me?”

Lady’s cheeks heated up in a fierce blush. “No!” she asserted, a little too quickly. “Don’t be stupid. It’s a serious question.”

A long silence fell between them, one that made Lady squirm inwardly. Her fingers worked faster and fumbled with the hooks. She just couldn’t keep her mouth shut. Now he knew exactly what she was getting at and their whole relationship, their whole dynamic, would suffer.

She hung the last bit of garland. “Sorry...” she muttered, descending her stepladder as fast as she could without toppling backward. It took everything in her not to sprint out the door without her things. Ditch before things got worse. “I’ll just leave the tree for you, or maybe Patty if she wants to--”

“Wait.”

Lady closed her eyes and cursed under her breath. He really couldn’t just let her leave? Pretend she had never asked?

She turned to face him. The amusement at her expense she expected to see in his eyes was absent. His expression was thoughtful. It slowed the beating of her heart a fraction, but her palms were still clammy with sweat.  

Dante stood and crossed the room to her, boots thudding on the wood floor. He stopped in front of her. Normally, his height didn’t bother her. But, now, as he towered over her, she felt like an ant that he was ready to step on. She tilted her head back to meet his gaze. Those beautiful, ice blue eyes she had gazed into many times, both in real life and in her dreams. In fact, a few of the steamier ones had started quite like this and...no, she couldn’t let her mind wander there. God, she was as bad as Dante!

“I dunno about soul mates. That all sounds like a fairy tale to me. And my life is the furthest thing from that.” Dante paused, and Lady could see him trying to work out the right words. He threaded his fingers through his white locks a muttered a few curses under his breath. Just when she wanted to shout at him to get on with him, he spoke again.  

“I do know that I don’t know where I'd be if I hadn’t met you.” A smile worked its way onto his lips and he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I was a mess before what happened with Verg, and if you hadn’t been here I may have just...you know.”

“Dante, don’t say that.” Lady grabbed his hand and squeezed it. She knew how hard it was. For both of them. It wasn’t that she didn’t get it; she felt much the same about him. Had he not been there to preoccupy her and keep her company when she needed it most, she might have ended it all herself. Even if they would never be more than business partners or friends as a suppressed part of her hoped, Dante had become something like family. She knew he would be there for her when she needed someone, and she would do the same for him.

“It’s the truth though,” he said, resting his hands on her shoulders. “I had no real direction back then. Yeah, I had sorta started the business, but you really helped me get it goin’. You’ve done a lot for me, Lady. I dunno if that means you’re my soul mate, but I know I don’t want to be without you in my life.”

A lump formed in Lady’s throat and tears stung her eyes. So, it wasn’t an admission of love but for Dante, she figured that was as close as she would get for now. She bit her lip and flung her arms around his neck, shifting onto her tiptoes to hug him. His chest rumbled as he chuckled and returned her embrace.

“I don’t want to be without you either, Dante. Couldn’t.”

Dante held her a bit longer, and just when his heat about put her to sleep in his arms, he pulled away. “And you won’t be. For as long as I can help it.” He raised her hands to his lips and pressed a kiss to it. “Now, how about we get this tree put up? It’s your favorite part of all this, isn’t it?”

Lady nodded, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. “Yeah. Just make sure you don’t mess it up, okay?”

[icequeenoriginal]

Lady: *takes some of Dante’s sundae*

Dante: Hey! I was eating that!

Lady: Now we’re eating it. There’s no I in couple.

Dante: But there’s one in mine!

[rattyoakenbitch]

❝𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞❞ ─ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐧 𝐨𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝

i never really noticed

that i had to decide

to play someone's game,

or live my own life

and now i do,

i wanna move

out of the black

into the blue

❥ content ; gn reader, angst, happy ending, comfort, fluff

❥ warnings ; language, anxiety, dark topics such as sx!c!de, depression, s/h. triggering dialogue. do not read if you’re struggling with sx!c!dxl thoughts. this will not be a safe experience.

❥ synopsis ; n/a, too lazy to write tbh

❥ a/n ; hi!!! please read this!!! okay hi (: if you’ve been following me since 2020, you know i used to write a lot of thorin x readers. obviously a lot has changed since 2020. i gradually stopped being active on tumblr. or i wouldnt write fics that catered to the hobbit fandom, which is a majority of my followers. the reason for that is, well, i haven’t really grown out of lotr / th. it’s not one of those things i’ll ever grow out of. it’s my comfort fandom / trilogy. i just couldn’t bring myself to watch them for a while. didn’t have motivation to write, either. it should’ve brought happy memories, but rewatching the trilogy and trying to write fics about it just made me sad. after september of 2020, i started getting depressed. it only got worse because i can’t afford treatment. i stopped participating in my favorite hobbies. i was m.i.a from all social medias. from the summer of 2021 to now, november 2021, i was, and still sort of am, extremely sx!c!dxl. i’ve watched myself, things, and people around me, change. i moved to a completely different place. ten hours or more from where i grew up. i lost and gained friends. a lot changed within a year. it really scares me. even if i haven’t exactly lived a long life, i still look back on the years that have gone by and it makes me cry. i was an enthusiastic person who would indulge in their favorite activities every day, but now i’ve been reduced to a crying mess. this fic is about that. while yes, it’s still about a fictonal character that shouldnt seem too deep, it’s my most vulnerable fic. thorin has always been my comfort character and though i’m not as active in the lotr / hobbit fandom as i used to be, it will forever have a special place in my heart. it reminds me of innocence and i hope that maybe someone can connect to this. sorry for the long a/n lol if youre still reading this.

Get. Up.

...

Get. Up.

...

Get. Up.

...

What’s wrong with you? Just move your limbs.

...

A heavy sigh leaves your lips.

Like a sloth, you drowsily remove the covers from your body.

“Okay. Getting somewhere,” you whispered to yourself. You use all your strength to lift yourself off the bed to stand. And then..

Nothing.

You don’t move. You don’t walk to your closet to change out of the same robe you’ve been wearing for a week straight. You don’t go to your mirror to brush the knots out of your hair. You don’t go to your bath to wash off the oil and grime on your skin.

You just stand, still as a statue, shoulders hunched, eyelids threatening to shut.

It feels like years have passed before you move again.

Slowly, you make your way to the bath. The once hot water was now cold to the touch after hours of letting it sit there. Thorin had one of the servants fill it before he left your chambers, hoping you would finally use it. He guessed you most likely wouldn’t. You push the robe off your shoulders and let it fall to your feet. Then you climb into the tub, suppressing a wince at the feeling of the icy water prickling your skin like needles.

Instead of sitting there and staring at the wall for hours, you wash yourself the best you could. You rub the dirt off your face and remove the oil from your locks, almost feeling like a completely different person when you step out of the tub.

“Getting somewhere..” you repeat. Picking up the dirty robe off the floor, you place it somewhere in the room and instantly forget about it.

After slipping on some new clothes, you hesitantly look in the mirror. The person in the reflection is startling. But it’s you. Pale, eyes dark and wide in shock. You bring your hand up to the mirror, fingers pressed against the glass, no doubt leaving prints.

What happened to you?

You were a ruler. Or supposed to be. But that thing in the mirror.. That was no ruler. That wasn’t someone anyone should be bowing to. That was a...

y̵͓͗̽̈̌͝ǫ̶͎̹̭͆͜ͅű̸͔̬͂̽ ̴̣̖̭̫̳̗̾d̸͇̪͕͒̋͝͝ȋ̵̘̮̪̘̖̝͋̇͐̇͋g̵̡͕͈̅́u̸̡̚s̸̝̦̱̞̹͒̏́͜t̸̫̤̖͙̭̆͌͝ ̸̡̥̱̾̔̂̌́͠ͅͅm̷̜̖̹̰͍̌͐̆͒͝ë̶̜̖̣̙̜̣́̓̏̈́̈́

You squeeze your eyes shut and press your hands against the sides of your head, as if it would quiet your mind. It did.

Right now, you needed to force yourself to focus on the important things. You had a task; leaving your chambers for the first time in forever.

Your heart was already thudding at the thought of it, and though you wanted to hide under your covers, you pushed open the doors to the outside world. The halls were wide and seemed to stretch on forever. It was almost unfamiliar, but as you walked down them, you remembered..

You remembered walking hand in hand with Thorin, laughing about something silly he said.  You remembered running around, playing childish games with the nephews.  Or running in fear, a burst of fire right on your tail the smell of dragon’s breath filling the air.

You also remembered chatting it up with relatives and friends, talking about everything and nothing as you strolled down the intricate, emerald halls. Occasionally a laugh would echo, followed by more laughter. The sound of comfort and family in your ears.

But now, you were walking down the cold corridor, the only sound being your small footsteps. You were alone. For a minute, at least. As you made your way to... Well, you didn’t even know where it was you were headed to. But eventually you bumped into two servants. They almost passed without noticing you, but when they glanced your way, they had to do a double take.

“Oh! Your Majesty,” they gasped in disbelief, curtsying shortly after. “I hope we didn’t offend you,” one said. “We hadn’t seen you in so long. It took a bit to recognize you.”

Just their way of saying you look pathetic.

They both gave you a soft smile, but you knew it was out of pity. You didn’t say anything, only nodding before walking off. You swore you could hear whispers behind you, but you didn’t bother. You knew it was probably something like, “Why does the king even keep her around?” or meaner variations. You didn’t blame them. You wanted to ask the same thing.

The past week, you've done nothing but lay in bed and cry. You would cry until you were hyperventilating and aching. You would cry until you physically couldn't. You'd beat your fists against Thorin's chest when he wrapped his arms around you to comfort you. He wouldn't make a single noise, never told you to shut up when you continued to sob and shriek "why?!" over and over. You didn't even know what you were asking him. It was the only thing you managed to choke out.

And Thorin took all of it. He didn't complain, didn't mock you. He didn't force you to get out of bed to attend important meetings. Of course, it hurt him that he had to leave you every day, morning till night time. But you didn't want to be a burden, so you lied to him. You reassured him with a smile, saying, "It's all right, amralime. You go. I'll be okay here. I just need to rest."

Every time, he'd give you sad, worried eyes. And it hurt you that he cared. It hurt you because you were hurting him and you couldn't do anything to stop.

Somehow, you ended up outside. Somewhere in a garden, trees and flowers and fruits surrounding you. You lied on the grass, gazing up at the dark blue & orange sky, littered with thin, white clouds that birds glided through every other minute. The sight was gorgeous. It should've made you happy. You should've been smiling as you soaked in the view. Instead.. nothing.

You stared up at the sky with a blank expression on your face. You were unmoved. Numb. You looked at the sky and thought back to a time where watching a simple sunset made you grin from ear to ear. But even now you didn't feel much. Everything seemed so bleak.

Hot tears gathered in the corner of your ear and spilled down your face. You wiped them away angrily, tired of crying like a child.

"Y/N!"

Two familiar voices brought you back to the present. You sat up, your eyes finding Kili & Fili's. Their mouths were curled up in excited smiles as they ran towards you. You picked yourself up and opened your arms to your nephews, who almost crushed you in theirs. You couldn't help but laugh. You didn't realize how much you missed them until now. Eventually you pulled away, and it took everything to not look down and avoid their gaze. Did they notice you were crying?

"Y/N! It's been too long!" Fili said. "We missed you."

"It's only been a week," you shrugged, trying to downplay it. "But I missed you too. I wasn't feeling well so I had to rest for a while. It might have been a seasonal thing."

"Well you're here now," Kili beamed. "That must mean you're better!"

If only they knew.

"Of course," you lied. "But I wasn't able to make it to the meeting today. I was in bed too long."

"Thorin will fill you in on what you've missed out on. Then you'll be back on track," Fili reassured.

Thorin. Oh, fuck. You've almost forgotten about him. How could you? How could you forget about your own husband?

"Thorin!" You blurt out. "I- mean, is Thorin.. How has he been?"

"The same," Kili said too quickly. "Why do you ask?" It was easy to see through his lies. But did that mean they could also see through yours? What if they knew you weren't actually ill? What if Thorin told them about the nights where you'd throw fits? What if-

"Are you sure?"

The brothers look between each other, then back at you.

"To be truthful.. We've noticed he's been more antsy than usual-"

Fili cut Kili off. "He's stressed out, Y/N. He's worried about you."

You get a pit in your stomach at the serious look the brothers give you. Guilty. You felt so guilty.

What were you putting him through?

"What do you mean?"

You know exactly what they mean.

Kili gulped. "Thorin spoke with us. He told us you were getting worse and he didn't know what to do to help. He said the doctors couldn't do much and that you were just.." He trailed off.

"I need to go." You don't wait for an answer as you make your way out of the garden, your walk becoming a full on sprint. You force yourself to ignore the brothers' shouts and pleas. You needed to find Thorin. It was already dark out. He must've been in the chambers by now.

But when you returned, it was cold and empty. No Thorin. You were alone again.

So you screamed. You screamed your throat raw. And despite the screams, nobody came. So you didn't stop. You didn't stop until you were coughing and gagging and choking on your own breath. You didn't even know why you were screaming. Were you angry? Sad? You just didn't know. As if you were detached from your emotions entirely.

The only thing you felt was heavy. Your heart. Your head. Your body. You needed release. You needed to cut it out.

You found a knife. A small, pocket knife. One of Thorin's. You unsheathed it and weighed it in your hand, before rolling up one of your sleeves. Dark streaks nearly covered your whole forearm. But you found a patch of unmarked skin.

c̵̼͈̪̺̰̦͚̆͌̓̓͊͜u̸̲͉̲̱̐͋̉͑̈͐̄̏̋̎t̵͙̤̬̼̿͊̋̉̈́́̒̈̋͠ͅ ̴̡͎͙̳̬̼̻̭͙͔́̾̓̄̍̏͛̑̿̕̕i̴̢͓͉̯͓̞͓̐̈́͒̀͂̑̈́͜͠t̸̡̢̛̫̳̳͔̝̗̱͇̍̿̅̀̕ͅ ̷͍̥̼͍̬̏̊̀͛ả̵̰͎͉͓͇͛̂̀̈́l̵̢̥̖͉͔̲̫̩̀̈̀̒͛l̴̢̮͔͔̼̥̰̰̍̈̏̀̈́͆͑́͛̚͝ͅ ̵̞̥̜̼͙̠̖̜̆͐̏́̕o̶͖̗̱͐u̷̧̼̝̠͖̲̭͔̦͚̗͒̆̽̆̈́̌́͐̚͠t̷͇͕̙̣̺̺͕̺͉͖͉̔̐̚

You didn't think about it what you did. Like the actions were completely natural. And like before, you didn't stop. Not until crimson pooled on the floor and you ran out of space.

But even then.. even when your skin was crying, you didn't feel anything but a sharp sting and nothing more.

You weren't stupid, you knew you'd die if you didn't take care of your arm. So you bound your arm and finally, no more red. It stopped and you let out an exhale of relief. You were tired. From the running, the screaming, the crying, the bleeding. You collapsed onto the stone, cold floor, bringing your knees to your chest in a fetal position.

You pictured Thorin walking through the large chamber doors, looking heroic and strong as ever. He'd find you on the floor in a puddle of your own blood and tears. "Oh, amralime," he'd say and pick you up, taking you to bed with him. He'd hold you and never leave. Tell you it's going to be all right. Tell you you're beautiful, even with the dark bags under your puffy eyes and your red, tear stained face.

But he wasn't here to do that. The doors remained unmoving. The room was still and quiet, save for the shaky cries leaving your mouth.

You waited.. seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours. Thorin didn't return for a while.

The loneliness was suffocating. You thought you would die if you had to go another second without him. When you needed him the most.

But finally, exhaustion took over and you drifted off to sleep. No thoughts, no worried, head empty. For once, you were at peace.

"Y/N! Can you hear me?!"

He was crying.

Your eyes shot open at the shout of your name. You sat up quickly, almost jumping into Thorin's arms while he kneeled by your side. But you were weak and Thorin..

Oh.

"Y/N.. Why is there blood?"

You only stared, at a loss for words. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. You fucked up.

"Why is your blood on the floor?" He pleaded, voice cracking. "Please, talk to me, amralime."

For a moment, you were numb. Shocked at how fast everything happened. But it hit you. Suddenly you were very aware.

Thorin had walked in. He found you on the ground, unconcious, a small puddle of rust smelling blood underneath you, and your light robes soaked in crimson. There was a knife beside you as well. That's just something nobody should ever see. And Thorin saw it. He saw his significant other, and presumed them dead.

The realization was overwhelming and you felt awful. But still, you hadn't said anything. What was there to say? "I'm sorry"? "It's not what it looks like"? "Relax"?

"Y/N, please, say something. Why?"

You opened your mouth and no words came out. Instead, your chin began to wobble and you broke.

You clung onto Thorin like you'd die if you let go, burying your face in his chest, sorries and I'mso f fucking sorry ohgods ple ase don't h hate me s falling from your mouth over and over.

Thorin shushed you, embracing you tightly and making soothing motions up and down your back.

Your cries subsided and the room felt peaceful for once, despite the previous events. Thorin hummed one of his lullabies as he scooped you up and sat you down on the bed. He went to grab another one of your robes, but you wouldn't let him.

"Thorin. I want you to stay. Please."

"I'm not leaving you, my love," he spoke gently, caressing your face in his hand. He swiped his thumb across your cheek, drying the silent tears that couldn't seem to stop.

Still, you shook your head and held onto Thorin's arm until he relented and climbed into bed with you instead. You both stripped down to your undergarments, your soiled and bloodied clothes forgotten on the floor.

You huddled close to Thorin, your legs intertwined with his and your head resting underneath his chin. He enveloped you in his arms securely, unwilling to let you go ever again.

"You scared me.." He muttered tiredly. "I can't lose you, too, Y/N. Don't let me lose you, too. We've seen so much death. Lost so many people. I don't know if I could do this without you." His voice trembled, and you knew he was crying.

"Thorin," you started, but realized you didn't know what to say. Just.. "Don't cry. I'll be here when you wake up. You won't lose me. I'm right here." You pressed your head against his chest, feeling his rapid heartbeat that gradually began to slow.

"I can't do this without you, too," you whispered.

Thorin pressed a kiss on your forehead.

"Rest, Y/N. We're okay."

"I love you, Thorin."

"I love you, amralime."

For once, change wasn't so scary. Because it was going to get better.

[dxlpartyboat]

Anyone still up for a DxL Week 2020 lol

[greycupgame-blog]

107th Grey Cup Championship

The 2019 CFL Grey Cup Season finisher Calendar has been set after the culmination of the standard season on Saturday.Following a 81-game customary season six groups progressed to the 107th Dark Cup End of the season games for the privilege to win the title of the Canadian Football Class. The Edmonton Eskimos 8-10 will head out to take on the Montreal Alouettes 10-8 at Molson Arena in Montreal Que. CA in the East Semi-Last on Sunday November 10 2019. The game will be broadcast by ESPN2 at 1:00pm ET.Edmonton secured the "hybrid" recognize this season which is granted if a fourth-place group in one division completes with a superior record than the third-place group in the contrary division. Edmonton completed in front of the third-place group in the East the Toronto Argonauts 4-14. 107th Grey Cup 107th Grey Cup Festival 107th Grey Cup Championship Grey Cup Champions Grey Cup Championship Grey Cup Final Grey Cup Game CFL Grey Cup CFL Grey Cup Game Grey Cup Time Grey Cup Start Time Grey Cup TV Channel Grey Cup TV Coverage Grey Cup Halftime Show The Calgary Stampeders 12-6 will have the Winnipeg Blue Aircraft 11-7 at McMahon Arena in Calgary Alta. CA in the West Semi-Last on Sunday Nov. 10. The game will be broadcast at 4:30pm ET by ESPN2.The Saskatchewan Roughriders completed with the best record in the Western Division at 13-5 while the Hamilton Tiger-Felines completed on the Eastern Division and the whole group at 15-3. The two groups get an elimination round bye and will have division finals. Hamilton will have the Eastern Last on Sunday Nov. 17 at 1:00pm ET and the game will be broadcast by ESPNews. The Western Last highlighting Saskatchewan will pursue at 4:30pm ET on ESPN2.The 107th Dark Cup is planned for Sunday Nov. 24 2019 and it will be played at McMahon Arena in Calgary Alta. CA. The game is set for 6:00pm ET and it will be broadcast by ESPN2. Grey Cup 2019 107th Grey Cup 2019 107th Grey Cup Festival 2019 107th Grey Cup Championship 2019 Grey Cup Champions 2019 Grey Cup Championship 2019 Grey Cup Final 2019 Grey Cup Game 2019 CFL Grey Cup 2019 CFL Grey Cup Game 2019 2019 Grey Cup The 107th Dim Cup will highlight the two most elevated scoring offenses in the CFL clashing for Canada's top football prize. Outside the chances and sums there is substantially more going on at Sports Interaction.SIA will have more than 100 separate wagering occasions attached to the game in the game and outside of it also. We should begin with the national song of praise. The CFL workplaces have been cryptic about this however for reasons unknown, the incredibly famous Calgary Charge Showband will play out the national hymn. SIA has set the aggregate at one moment and 10.5 seconds. Do you suspect? Is it accurate to say that you are going over or under? It's even cash in any case. The coin flip will decide first belonging and there are three individual props for that flip at Sports Collaboration. Who will win it? Will it be heads or tails? At long last will the victor of the coin hurl additionally win? These props are a straightforward yes or no answer. Grey Cup Live 107th Grey Cup Live 107th Grey Cup Championship Live Grey Cup Championship Live Grey Cup Final Live CFL Grey Cup Live Grey Cup 2019 Live Grey Cup Championship 2019 Live Grey Cup Final 2019 Live 2019 Grey Cup Live It's the primary year in the CFL for Irons who gathered 208 yards hurrying and one touchdown in 11 games played this season. He additionally snatched 59 yards receiving.His best by and large execution went ahead July 13 against the Calgary Stampeders when he ran for 61 yards and got 20 yards noticeable all around. The touchdown returned on June 22 against the Toronto Argonauts. Hamilton completed the season in the lead position in the East Division at 15-3 and face the Winnipeg Blue Aircraft 11-7 at the game in Calgary on Sunday.He was predominant during his secondary school profession and left Mouat as B.C's. unsurpassed driving secondary school rusher with 6175 yards and 76 touchdowns. He additionally settled a solitary season record in 2012 with 3204 yards surging. He earned Commonplace Most Significant Player praises following the 2012 and 2013 battles. Grey Cup Live Free 107th Grey Cup Live Free 107th Grey Cup Championship Live Free Grey Cup Championship Live Free Grey Cup Final Live Free CFL Grey Cup Live Free Grey Cup 2019 Live Free Grey Cup Championship 2019 Live Free Grey Cup Final 2019 Live Free 2019 Grey Cup Live Free Irons was drafted 22nd in general by Hamilton back in May after a few in number seasons with the NCAA's Ohio College Wildcats. He scored eight touchdowns and 831 yards hurrying at the Athens Ohio based school in 2018. The Catamounts completed last season with a record of 9-4 and won the DXL Frisco Bowl with a 27-0 win over San Diego State on Dec. 19. The Canadian Football Group CFL has disclosed JUNO grant champs The Sea shores as the SiriusXM The opening shot Show represent the 107th Dim Cup introduced by Shaw in Calgary on November 24.The Sea shores and the Calgary Charge Showband join an elegant melodic line-up which as of now includes Keith Urban as the star of the Opportunity Versatile Dark Cup Halftime Show. Both The Sea shores and Keith Urban's exhibitions are a piece of the continuous association between the CFL and Widespread Music Canada that remembers for game music restrictiveness and customary season joint efforts as a major aspect of the Thursday Night Football arrangement. Grey Cup Live Stream 107th Grey Cup Live Stream 107th Grey Cup Championship Live Stream Grey Cup Championship Live Stream Grey Cup Final Live Stream CFL Grey Cup Live Stream Grey Cup 2019 Live Stream Grey Cup Championship 2019 Live Stream Grey Cup Final 2019 Live Stream 2019 Grey Cup Live Stream Six-time World Relationship of Walking Show Groups WAMSB champions the Calgary Rush Showband and a visitor vocalist from the Youthful Canadians School of Performing Expressions have been selected to open the night's merriments by playing out the national song of devotion. Starting at 6 p.m. ET/4 p.m. MT the communicate will air live on TSN and RDS – Canada's home of the CFL. The Sea shores discharged their introduction studio collection Late Show in 2017 gathering across the board approval while building a devoted fanbase all through the nation. Outline besting hits Cash and Shirt which held the No. 1 spot on the Board Shake Graph for nine weeks earned the band the 2018 JUNO for Achievement Gathering of the Year.The SiriusXM The opening shot Show execution reunites the band with the CFL in the wake of having played at Hamilton's Tim Hortons Field as a major aspect of the 2018 Thursday Night Football Show Arrangement. Grey Cup Live Stream Free 107th Grey Cup Live Stream Free 107th Grey Cup Championship Live Stream Free Grey Cup Championship Live Stream Free Grey Cup Final Live Stream Free CFL Grey Cup Live Stream Free Grey Cup 2019 Live Stream Free Grey Cup Championship 2019 Live Stream Free Grey Cup Final 2019 Live Stream Free 2019 Grey Cup Live Stream Free Not long ago the Toronto-based group of four discharged its third EP The Expert featured by the main 10 singles Interest and Snake Tongue. Notwithstanding supporting any semblance of The Drifters and Foo Contenders The Sea shores has been exhibited in some of the world's biggest performances including Osheaga WayHome SXSW Austin City Cutoff points Download and the sky is the limit from there. Watch Grey Cup Watch 107th Grey Cup Watch Grey Cup Championship Watch Grey Cup Final Watch CFL Grey Cup Watch Grey Cup 2019 Watch Grey Cup Championship 2019 Watch Grey Cup Final 2019 Watch 2019 Grey Cup The Calgary Rush Showband is contained 165 performers shading gatekeeper and artists between the ages of 15 and 21 from Calgary and region. The gathering every year performs at in excess of 200 occasions including shows marches and walking field show filling in as melodic represetatives for its namesake. This past summer the Calgary Rush played host to the esteemed WAMSB Big showdown where the Showband guaranteed its 6th world title. In acknowledgment of the accomplishment and the gathering's help of the network Calgary City Board announced July 29 2019 as Calgary Rush Showband Day.

[jenjisdrawings]

so I saw the prompts for dxl week on tumblr and western was one that immediately stuck out for me!

So here's the start of Lady's floating head and her faithful steed, Geryon... doing a good job of stealing a Devil Hunter's faust hat!

[cherryinerror]

Looking for Angels in the Darkest of Skies

Characters: Dante and Lady Summary: If he’s the King then she’s eating the pomegranates.

---- There he is, KING, her charming devil, there he is. And all those things, well, they used to be people too, they used to come around and walk among the living but now they kneel in front of a bored ruler, their faces distorted and wrong, some limbs missing, others bent out of shape. Perpetual ache.

They kneel and worship HIM, the great son of Sparda.

HE responds by sending them away, no end in sight, no plans against the divine. There is no divine. The crowd dissipates, leaves HIM alone, and no one dares to utter his name, no one. But she has nothing to do with their cowardice, nothing to do with their fears and sins and sorrows.

She stands before his eyes, unarmed, unguarded, naked and exposed. Certain rituals need to be performed exactly as the writing dictates, each step must be followed, no room for hesitation.

The KING hides his surprise behind a smirk, bares his fangs and claws to the woman in front of him. "You don't belong here," he says, a guttural tone that shakes her to the core.

"Neither do you," she responds, head held high.

"Are you sure?"

"You have a family," she spits out the words, dares him to rebuke her. "You have a home, Dante."

It's a cheap shot, using the name like that, talking about a life HE can no longer claim as his own. It prompts him to stand, walk away from his throne, and he's tall and there's nothing that she can use to connect the demon to the human, not even his blue eyes remain, no, not even that.

Dante towers over her, he's so close, so damn close and it's him and she misses him, she misses him so much. He strokes her cheek with the back of his hand, careful not to hurt her. It's funny; she thought she'd be nervous, thought she'd be terrified and yet all she feels is relief.

"You can't stay."

"Throw me out then."

He inches his face closer to hers, her heart pounds in her chest, she's never been more sure in her life that he truly is a demon. It used to be so easy to forget, he's always chosen humanity, he's always protected it. It's why he's here, down here, hidden from the rest of, well, everything.

A ruler, a king, a GOD, whatever they choose to call him.

"I made a bargain."

"It's not fair."

"Everyone is safe," he says. "You're safe. That's enough."

"No, no, this isn't right. You don't want this, you never did. There must be-"

"You know what I want?" he asks without giving her a chance to guess. "I want you breathing. I want you alive."

"I'm here," she says. "I'm breathing and I'm here."

It's a lost cause. It's always a lost cause with her, she wins all the time. That's how the first kiss happened. A couple of days before things turned into this mess, before Hell became empty, before he was forced to rule in exchange for freedom. Humanity's freedom, of course, not his, never his.

A first kiss and a second and a third and a fourth. The memory of her lips crashing upon his is all he has left now, the only thing that grounds him, that keeps him sane.

"Lady," he starts. "All I have to offer is Hell."

The KING, her king, her devil, the DEVIL, the great son of Sparda.

The love of her life.

"That's all I can offer too."

And they burn. ----- A/N: so the only explanation I have for this is that some people were speculating about DMCV and someone on a forum was like ‘what if Dante actually ruled over hell and he’s always in Devil Trigger mode there?’ and my mind thought of this. because I’m trash and I think that if Lady and Dante were a thing, then she’d find a way to find him in hell like the badass she is. this was going to be my entry for the ‘fantasy’ prompt in the dxl week but I couldn’t resist and also I get to use this as an excuse to write more about them in hell for the prompt so yay.

[jonathanmilliondollarsmile]

So here is me being vulnerable and transparent. I had gotten all the way up to a 6xlt. I have lost almost 180 pounds and I have severe body dysmorphia. Today I forced myself to put on a 1xlt shirt and a suit jacket for the first time. When I tried to go to prom in law school they didn’t make jackets that fit me so this (among other things) is secretly why I never went. So this is me taking one step at a time and being so scared of buying business clothes for the new job that starts in a couple weeks. So what do we think? (at DXL Destination XL) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSksjRDJFI_GvzXcdFRx7939Tys6rtjU2PhxBg0/?utm_medium=tumblr

[atakportal]

5.5'' Display Android GSM/HSPA Cell Phone Quad-Core 8GB+1GB RAM Smartphone DXL

New Post has been published on https://idealz.cloud/2018/08/01/5-5-display-android-gsm-hspa-cell-phone-quad-core-8gb1gb-ram-smartphone-dxl/

5.5'' Display Android GSM/HSPA Cell Phone Quad-Core 8GB+1GB RAM Smartphone DXL

Item specifics

Condition:

New: A brand-new, unused, unopened, undamaged item in its original packaging (where packaging is

Model:

D710U DashXL

MPN:

D710U

Operating System: Android Storage Capacity: 8GB Contract: Without Contract Brand:

Blu

Style: Bar Memory Card Type: Support Micro SD Cellular Band: GSM/HSPA Processor: Quad Core Features: 3G Data Capable, Dual SIM Screen Size: 5.5" RAM: 1GB Network Technology: GSM Lock Status: Factory Unlocked

5.5” Display Android GSM/HSPA Cell Phone Quad-Core 8GB+1GB RAM Smartphone DXL

Price : 83.87 Ends on : 2 weeks

BUY on eBay

[xltribe]

XL's Featured Tribe Men Of The Week From Adrian Mompoint   1. What are your biggest fashion obstacles? My biggest fashion obstacle is finding shoes in my size at stores. 2. Where are you from and how you describe your style? I am from Worcester, Massachusetts and my style is casual wear and I believe a man should always wear a nice pair of shoes and wrist watch. 3. Tell us about your biggest fashion nightmare and if it came true do explain. (attach a picture if you can) My biggest fashion nightmare is not finding a dress shirt that has enough length in the sleeves. 4.What are somethings you wanna see more of from your favorite brands? My favorite brand is Burberry and I would love to one day own a pair of size 16 shoes from them. 5.Where do you see yourself in five years and how do you see yourself accomplishing it? I see myself in five years as a full time actor and I will accomplish it by never giving up. 6.What do you feel is missing in fashion for the men of size? I don't believe anything is missing in fashion for men of size. Thanks to stores like DXL in my area I always find what I need. 7.If you could swap styles with one celebrity who would it be and why? I would swap styles with actor Jason Momoa, because he has a different style. He knows how to work a bowler hat. ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mr.mompoint/ IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7196958/ Adrian M. Mompoint Height: 6'5

[chubstr]

We hit the DXL ‘Time to XL’ kickoff party in LA this week to rep big men’s style with DJ Khaled, Notoriously Dapper, Sundance Head, Zach Miko & more. See even more pics of stylish guys right here: http://bit.ly/2zr2LUX

[crimsxnrebellion-blog]

Comfort

[Here’s my first contribution to DxL Week! It’s not the best, but I wanted to get it done before I left for vacation!]

Dante hardly expected any kindness from the woman he had just met in that damn tower. Neither of them was in any state of mind to help anyone else out. At least, he didn’t feel like being kind. After watching his brother, the only family he had left, topple off a ledge and into Hell where he could have no inkling of an idea if he would survive or find his way back, he felt like lashing out. Screaming. Fighting anything that moved. It didn’t help when they returned to his shop and he found it in shambles, reminded of the fact that he would have to have repairs done for his home to even be livable again.

Unlike Lady, he never would have thought to offer a near stranger a place in the hotel room she had called home for a few months. He followed her into the small room after she struggled to find her key, curses mumbled under her breath. He shut the door behind him but remained awkwardly in the doorway, hands shoved deep in his pockets. There was only one bed in the room and a small recliner. A small TV sat on a stand across the bed next to the door to the tiny bathroom. He felt claustrophobic, and he sighed in relief when she opened the window. The storm had passed, and the smell of fresh rain wafted into the room.  

“Make yourself at home.” His gaze fell on Lady as she shoved her prized rocket launcher, Kalina Ann, in the corner. He still didn’t know how she had convinced the front desk not to bother her and now him about the very obvious weapons they carried. Judging by the look of the place, he assumed she easily bribed them with a little extra money each week.  

Following her lead, he removed his own weapons from his person and his coat. He hung his coat on the headboard and set Rebellion against the wall. Ebony and Ivory were placed on the nightstand next to the lamp.  

Lady sank down into the recliner with a sigh. Now that he looked, he realized how exhausted she looked. Her eyelids drooped over bicolored eyes, and her posture was limp and bent forward. He knew it wasn’t just the physically demanding trials of Temen-Ni-Gru that weighed on her. She had been through emotional hell and back just as much as him that day.

“I, uh, I can help pay for this,” he muttered, toeing his boots off and tucking them next to the nightstand. “I don’t have much, and a lot of what I have saved is gonna have to go toward fixing my shop, but I can give you something for sharing the room with me.”

Lady glanced up from her boot strings. Even from here, Dante could see redness in her eyes from the tears she shed herself. As if hearing his thoughts, she glanced back down at her feet and kicked her boots off.  

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” she muttered as she lifted the makeshift bandage on her thigh to check the wound her own bayonet had left thanks her own father. The blood stain reminded him that she was human. A formidable, strong, talented human. But human. One that didn’t heal in seconds and wouldn’t survive an impaling or being shot in the face. And yet she still fought demons. She had fought him without batting an eye. “Not now, at least. You can pay me back later. This...hasn’t been the easiest day for either of us.”

He nodded, inwardly relieved. He hated being in debt to her already; they had only met a few hours ago and she had shot a rocket at him after soaring through the air on a motorcycle. Damn...If he wasn’t sure she hated him and they weren’t both so emotionally spent, he might have actually tried to woo her. He had a thing for badass women, but, at the moment, his libido felt nonexistent. He felt lost, and he hardly recognized himself in that moment. If he had looked into the future to this moment but twenty-four hours before, he wouldn’t recognize himself. He would scoff at the puffiness around his eyes, the slump of his shoulders, the fact that he wasn’t on top of the beautiful woman he shared a room with. It was a strange feeling. It made him uncomfortable, though he didn’t have the energy or willpower to do much about it. The bed started to look more and more inviting, lumpy as it looked. But first, he needed a shower.

“Mind if I get a shower?” He managed a smile, though he doubted his really reached his eyes. It felt forced. Dead. “I smell like a demon’s asshole.”

The smile that twitched the corners of her lips matched his. “You really do. For my sake if not yours, please do.”

Dante snorted and headed toward the bathroom. “Feel free to join. We can save this place on their water bill.” The offer was half-hearted. And empty attempt at finding his old self again. At least it distracted him from his troubled mind.

He flipped the switch in the bathroom and closed the door. Leaning against the wood frame, he released a sigh. Hot tears burned his eyes and he finally let them drip from his eyes. His frame shuddered as he fought to hold back his sobs, the screams of anguish caught in his chest. He felt like a failure again. First his mom, now his brother. His hope (small as it had been) to live a life with even one member of his family was extinguished as quickly as it had sparked. He should have tried harder to save him. Convince him to stay. That their stupid father’s home wasn’t meant for them. They were meant to be there. In the human world. Together. Living something of a normal life after all they had been through.  

His fingers curled into his palms as he cursed under his breath and swiped at his eyes. He started to unbutton his jeans when he paused. The only soap in the shower was obviously Lady’s, and the last thing he wanted was for her to find any other reason to put a bullet between his eyes. Now that he had allowed his devil to awaken, he itched to resurface at even the slightest irritation. He didn’t want to give himself a reason to lose control.

Dante opened the door and began to ask for permission to use her lily scented shampoo but paused. Lady had moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Her face was buried in her palm, and the other hand gripped the comforter beneath her. Sensitive ears caught the sound of her soft sobs despite her attempt to muffle them with her hand.  

The sight made his heart ache despite his own sorrows. She just watched her own family burst to pieces as well, and he suspected many of her wounds were fresher than his. He didn’t know the whole story; only that her dad went crazy and killed her mom to break the seal Dante’s own father had place on the demon world and bring literal hell on earth. Gain the power of Sparda and whatever bullshit he led himself to believe. Judging by her rage, she was at least old enough to know exactly what was going on.

Silently, quieter than one of his stature should be able to move, Dante crossed the room to her. The second the mattress sank down beside her, Lady flinched away, nearly sending herself off the edge of the bed. His hand hovered in the air where her shoulder had been, but the glare she shot him lowered it.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare ya...”

“What? Think you can take advantage of me because I’m crying?”

Dante flinched. The sad part was that, if she had been someone else, that might have actually been his plan. “No...I just...I don’t know. I’m shit at this comforting stuff.”

Lady crossed her arms and scoffed. “Then why are you even trying? I thought you were going to take a shower.”

“I was, but I didn’t want to use your soap without asking.” Out loud, it sounded a little stupid to even ask. Though, he supposed the twitch of a smile that he nearly missed as she wiped her face with her hand was worth it. “That stuff ain’t cheap. And I didn’t see anything provided by this shit hole.”

“Help yourself. Never thought a demon could be so considerate.”

The comment stung. It was a reminder that his heritage had caused all of this. That, in some ways, he was responsible for her family shattering to pieces. Did she blame him like he blamed himself?

“I’m sorry.” He glanced away from her, but he could feel her curious gaze burning a hole in the side of his head. “I know this whole thing was because of me. Well...my dad and him being a demon who betrayed his kind but...I’m sure you hate me because of what I am but I am sorry.”

Silence fell over the room for several minutes, one so full it seemed as if the sound of their breathing had ceased along with their words. He should say something else. Even get up to go take his shower and leave her in peace. He had already made the situation uncomfortable, so he should ditch now before he made it worse. Lady couldn’t care less if he was sorry. Not because she was cold, but because he was a demon. To her, he was the worst of the worst. Demons were never sorry.

The featherlight touch on his wrist stopped his train of thought dead in its tracks. He glanced over to find Lady resting next to him again. She wore a small, tight smile despite the tears in her eyes. Guilt and relief washed over him at the same time; he wasn’t sure how to read her reaction. Did he upset her more or was she happy?

“No...It’s not your fault. None of this,” she finally croaked out. Her free thumb wiped away her tears. “You’re different. I know you are. It took me a while to realize it, but I know you’re not evil, even if you are part demon.”  

Her bicolored gaze fell. He took a chance and shifted his hand into hers. She didn’t flinch away. “I’m learning quickly that some humans are worse than demons.”

Dante squeezed her hand. “Yeah...” He smiled as she rested her head on his shoulder. He could have added more. Added how that was a harsh reality he still needed to learn. Something that might help him accept himself for who he was. He couldn’t change it after all.  

He glanced down at the woman resting against him. Her eyes were closed and her breathing had evened out. He chuckled softly to himself and wrapped an arm around her frame to support her. The whole ordeal must have exhausted her more than he thought, though he wasn’t surprised. He didn’t quite mind either. His shower could wait.  

If she could see the good in him—enough to pass out on his shoulder despite her intense hatred of devils—then, maybe someday he could, too.