#era x asher

[mud404]

brainrot

[gaymalaise]

woaw more things omg

u all should check out my fics btw ahah https://archiveofourown.org/users/gaymalaise

[randomestfandoms-ocs]

Gilmore Girls OCs ✤ Taylor Swift Albums (x)

Red: Brady Mariano 1989: Sienna Elliot Reputation: Charles Gilmore

Tag List: want to be added?

[coynelaundry]

At max meter, "Evade" becomes "Energy Burst." If Burst hits the Core, it is put into the "Core Flip" state. This gives the user of Energy Burst exclusive control of the core for a moment after a brief delay. Some abilities can be used before Burst to skip that delay, or "Instant Core Flip."

This is a 2-minute demonstration of how each striker is able to do this!

[mo-chi-zuki]

all strikers W.I.P

I'm making a huge piece of all the strikers in game (and the new girl coming out soon)

I have a solid chunk of the roster done so far so here's were I'm at currently

[ak319]

Dark J.M x fem!reader

-- ★ The Sins Of My Father ── Oneshot

Syno: Who knew that an innocent fling from your side would cost you so much...if only you knew. // ranch era, Jack is in it too, he is older, reader was born on the ranch. Warnings/MDNI: strictly platonic! restrictions, reader (19) being called names, abuse// I don't condone such behavior irl! ✰ 4.6K

★ m.list

"Did anything unusual happen... when you last went to town?"

You perk up from sorting your drawers, turning to see Jack leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed, his gaze heavy.

"Unusual? As in?"

Jack exhales sharply, masking his irritation as he steps inside, his boots thudding against the floorboards. He looms over you, watching as you continue your task.

"Just... anything. Did you see something weird or-?"

"No," you cut in, frowning. "I just went to the butcher and then to the general store-"

"Yes! There. At the store-"

"Jack, what are you on about?" Your patience is wearing thin. You finally stop what you're doing, turning to face him fully. "Nothing happened, alright?"

His eyes narrow. "So you were with Pa the whole time-"

You sigh, standing now, more exhausted by his relentless questioning than by the day's work.

"Yes, Jack. I was with Pa. We sold what we had, then came back. The usual. What the hell is going on with you?"

"Relax, alright? I'm just asking. And I can."

Your jaw tightens. "Even if it gets on my damn nerves!?"

Abigail came into the room, drawn by the escalating argument. "Whoa, whoa-what's going on here with you two?"

"Jack, again with playing some kind of lawman, Ma. I'm sick of it."

"What you showing all this attitude for, huh?! I said I can and I will!" Jack stepped closer, his presence looming, but you didn’t back down. You squared your shoulders, ready to push him away, but Abigail grabbed him by the collar and yanked him back before you could.

"Off to your business. Leave her space."

Slam.

You exhaled sharply, rubbing your temples before turning back to your drawers, sorting through them a little too aggressively, your scowl deepening. First, your damn strict father, and you just had to get blessed with a brother who just had to be both protective and paranoid. Did the gang life make him like this, or did he care too much? You didn’t know. You could never imagine what the three of them had faced. But either way, it got under your skin.

❀˖°

Earlier that day...

"--Yeah, a shitty shot I know." Jack ate his sandwich as his friends chatted around the table about their hunting trip.

Asher squinted, his chewing slowing as he spotted someone entering the café. "Isn't that... Amis?"

Jasper snapped his head up, and Jack followed his gaze, frowning. "Yeah, it is."

"Who?"

"That... uh, brown-haired boy over there," Asher answered before casually returning to his food.

"You guys know him?"

"Ohhh, plenty," Asher drawled, smirking. "But more than me... I'd say Jasper does."

Jasper scowled at the nudge, his jaw tightening. "No, I don't. We ain't pals."

"Oh, come on~. Not gonna tell Jack? I thought you did."

"Tell me what?" Jack leaned forward, eyeing Jasper. "C’mon, spit it out."

"It's nothing, Jack." Jasper shot Asher a glare. "He just likes to run his damn mouth. Nothin' you gotta worry about-"

"Don't be soooo pissy about it, Jas," Asher teased, grinning. "It's not a big deal. You're the one makin' it one."

"I know it's not. You’re the one-"

"Just tell me! C'mon. If it ain't a big deal, then tell me."

Jasper rolled his eyes and took a slow sip of his drink. "When I went to the store which, by the way, is owned by his family--Amis asked me about you. I asked why, and he said he wanted to talk to you. I kept pressing him on what it was about, and he, uh..."

"He what?" Jack leaned in, his eyes sharp with curiosity.

"He's apparently got interested in that girl you brought to the shop once..." Jasper hesitated before adding, "I told him she was your sister, and he just said, ‘I know. That’s why I wanna... talk.’"

Jack’s face fell instantly. His grip on his sandwich slackened as his eyes flicked toward Amis, who was now leaving the café completely oblivious to the trio watching him.

"Quite peculiar," Asher mused, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Out of all the patrons that might visit his store, your sister is the one he's interested in-"

"Shut up, Asher."

Asher just raised his hands in surrender, chuckling, while Jasper busied himself with sipping his water, looking anywhere but at Jack.

Jack’s jaw tightened. "And what did you say in response? Don’t tell me you gave him our address or something."

"Of course not! I just said... 'good luck, buddy'."

Asher let out a low whistle, his chuckle deepening. "Yeah. Good luck indeed."

And that was what had pissed Jack off for the rest of the day which, in turn, had made you pissed.

❀˖°

A week later, the wagon rattled along the dirt road into town, dust swirling up in its wake. You sat beside your friend Clara, who lived across the ranch, stretching your legs out as best you could in the cramped space.

"You ever think about just up and movin' to the city?" she mused, adjusting her hat against the morning sun.

You snorted. "And do what? Sit around in some fancy house all day, drinkin’ tea?"

"Beats dealin’ with cow shit and your overprotective brother."

You groaned. "Yeah...Jack wouldn’t care if I was in the middle of Saint-Denis or the damn moon, he’d still find a way to hover." You leaned in to whisper. "He's being extra annoying these days..."

Clara laughed. "He does have a way of actin' like someone's gonna kidnap you the second you step out the house. Maybe~ he’s got a point."

You shot her a glare. "Don’t you start now"

Up front, John exhaled through his nose, the closest thing to a chuckle you'd get from him. "Jack’s a pain in the ass, but he ain’t wrong to be cautious."

Dammit, he heard it all-

You folded your arms with a quiet yet... annoying look that spoke a lot of words.

John glanced back at you. A brief scolding look in his eyes didn't go amiss by you. "Just don’t get too comfortable out here."

You didn’t argue, but something about his tone made you shift in your seat. You just knew that this little chat of yours with Clara is now gonna result in a lecture once you get home. 'Gossiping about your family matters with outsiders--yada yada'

By the time the wagon pulled up outside the general store, the familiar scent of fresh bread and dry hay filled the air. John hopped down first, unloading the supplies from the back.

"I’ll be next door," he said, hoisting a sack over his shoulder. "Don’t take too long."

You and Clara headed inside, the store bell chiming as you stepped onto the worn wooden floorboards.

"So... about the move," Clara murmured, still caught up in your earlier conversation. She picked up a tin of biscuits, turning it over absentmindedly. There was a quiet sadness that made your chest ache.

"Yeah... it's happening," you admitted. "I overheard them talking the other day. But don’t worry, I’ll visit." This was the reason there had been this tension around the house. The hushed conversations, the way your father’s gaze lingered on the land longer than before as if trying to memorize every inch of it. This ranch wasn’t just a home, it was his life’s work, built with his own hands. And now, he had to walk away. Start over.

And no matter how necessary it was, leaving still felt like losing.

"You better, (Y/N). And I will too, I promise."

You wanted to tell her how much it hurt, how the thought of leaving made nostalgia settle deep in your bones. But this wasn’t just a choice. It had to be done. Even after your father had walked away from his past, leaving the dirt and danger behind, there were still risks. Ones he never spoke of. Ones he never let you see. And ones you couldn't tell Clara about.

"But hey...we are still here...it's gonna take time to move." She nodded returning the same hopeful smile as yours.

You then browsed the small display of necklaces , running your fingers over the delicate chains while she lingered near the bonnet section.

"H-Hey..."

You jolted slightly, turning to see a familiar face. He worked at the store, but you still didn’t know his name. This was the first time you’d seen him on this side of the counter.

"Hey..."

"Amis."

"(Y/N)."

"Um… need help?"

"......Um--No I am good-"

"This one would look g-reat on you." You glanced at the necklace he pointed to.

Hm. Not a bad choice.

"How much is it?"

"Free!"

Wait-

"I mean-uh… yeah. Free for you..." His voice trailed off into a mumble, cheeks tinted pink.

You squinted at him, realization dawning as warmth crept up your own face.

Oh.

You would be so dead if your father saw this. But a free, beautiful necklace? Just this once couldn’t hurt… right?

"...'Kay...I’ll take it. Thanks, Amis." You hesitated for a beat before gesturing Clara over. She was holding a hat, her expression skeptical as she glanced between you two.

"And hers?" This time you softened your voice on purpose.

Amis blinked. "Uh… ye-ah. Free too!"

Clara arched a brow. "Well, ain't that generous."

"I’ll-uh, I’ll pack these up for you, ladies."

With that, Amis rushed off behind the counter, leaving you and Clara momentarily stunned. Hidden from view, you both exchanged a silent, wide-eyed conversation, barely holding back your laughter.

Clara: 'What the hell was that!?'

You: I don't know, but damn, what a day!

Clara: He's onto something or rather...into you...

You: C'mon don't be silly---wait you serious?!

Still giggling, you grabbed the neatly wrapped packages from his hands. Amis rubbed the back of his neck, his expression settling into something almost confident.

"See you soon then?.... You’ll always find me here."

Oh, you definitely would, especially if it meant more free stuff.

"Of course. Thanks again, Amis~"

"Yeah, thanks, Amis," Clara added with a smirk.

And with that, you both dashed out, grinning like fools.

The moment you reached the wagon, John gave you a suspicious glance.

"What’re you two showin’ your teeth for?"

You quickly masked your amusement. "Nothing, Pa. Just got some good stuff."

He grunted, eyeing you both for a beat before motioning for you to hop in.

Crisis averted.

From then on, you prayed for every chance to be brought along with your father on town trips. But sometimes, your chores held you back, or he left earlier than expected by the time you were halfway through breakfast, he’d already be gone. And going with Jack? He never did take you. Yeah, that wasn’t an option. Now you had a pretty good idea why he’d grilled you about the store that day....

But what did he actually know? If he had real proof, he wouldn’t have been so vague about it. Maybe he only had some half-baked story. Did he know Amis? The curiosity gnawed at you, just as much as Jack’s sudden need to hold you back from town grated on your nerves. But being a daddy's girl, your father took you when you were available. He loved the company and you loved your new one.

Not that you were doing anything wrong. You were just… buttering up Amis with a few smiles so that the next time you got a chance to be alone, you’d walk out with some free goodies. It wasn’t like your father didn’t give you pocket money. He did. But there was a different kind of thrill in having Amis gift you things, his shy little gestures making you feel giddy. He was nice, awkwardly sweet, and honestly, pretty good-looking.

What was the harm?

And really, who would’ve thought that a ranch girl like you would have a town boy crushing on her? That was a gift all on its own.

❀˖°

The door to your room burst open, his usual way of entering.

"Want to go to town? I gotta buy some stuff."

Odd.

You blinked, momentarily stunned by the offer, before immediately rolling off the bed.

"Of course! Just let me get ready-"

"Don't start getting too fancy now. I ain't got all day."

And then---slam once again.

Jerk.

Jack took you to the store. A bittersweet feeling. You were glad to be out, but disappointed that your usual tricks wouldn’t work, he’d be sticking around, humming to himself, keeping a watchful eye. Every time you reached for something you liked, he shot it down. Anything making you feel good about yourself? "Waste of money" or "useless junk."

You spotted Amis at the counter, deep in conversation with his father, their ledger open between them. Best to avoid them. You trailed after Jack like a puppy instead.

Then, the door swung open. Jasper and Asher strolled in, exchanging greetings with Jack while you stood there, unnoticed.

"(Y/N), here." Jack shoved a list and a basket into your hands. "Get the rest. I’ll be back."

"Huh? Wait-"

What the-?

"(Y/N)... hi. Long time no see."

You jumped but your gaze darted to the door again, mind still reeling with confusion at Jack's departure. "A-Amis. Hey... I was just-"

"Let me help with these." Without waiting for a response, he started placing the remaining items in the basket, then set it on the counter. His gaze flickered back to you, more assured than usual. "Now you...c'mere."

Before you could react, he reached for your wrist, tugging you toward the jewelry section. Your eyes widened, darting toward his father, who was still occupied.

"Amis, wait-" you whispered, resisting.

"Oh, don’t worry. He knows."

His voice was calm, unwavering.

Your heart skipped.

His father... knew? His family... knew?

His father gave you a playful nod before disappearing into the inventory, leaving you cornered with Amis.

"What? Hurry--I have to leave, my brother-"

"Oh, you mean Jack? Relax, would ya? He’s not here." He deftly picked up a bracelet, tying it around your wrist before you could protest. "Just tell me your address so I can bring my family to meet yours or better yet, I’ll just ask him-"

"Are you crazy?!" you hissed, heart hammering. "Do you even know my brother? My father-"

"So what?! You ain't gonna stay unmarried forever or something?!"

He's right though...

"I---I don't know, but-" You swallowed hard. How had a few smiles and playful remarks for free trinkets landed you in this mess? but somehow you found it hard to complain with his yearnful gaze on you.

Shit.

"I, uh...."

"Just tell me. Fine, I’ll do it myself. But I will come. Mark my words. Because I wasn't in for some joke when I decided to approach you. I always have been...serious about the decisions I make. Make em' once but make em' right is what I've been raised with."

Your breath hitched as Amis stepped closer, the warmth of his fingers still lingering where he’d tied the bracelet around your wrist. His eyes dark, and intent held yours like a silent challenge, like he was waiting for you to push him away. But you didn’t. You couldn’t.

You barely had time to react before he leaned in, slow at first, giving you the chance to pull back. But you didn’t. The scent of old books and cedar clung to him, and then, softly, his lips brushed against yours. A fleeting, uncertain press tentative, like he wasn’t sure he was allowed this moment.

The door to the store slammed open, the force of it rattling the walls.

His silhouette was framed against the daylight, his shoulders squared, his breathing slow and measured--dangerously so. His eyes, sharp and dark, locked onto yours first, then drifted down. To your wrist. To Amis’s hand still wrapped around it.

"I knew it." His voice was quiet. Too quiet.

Amis stiffened beside you, but he didn’t let go. His grip remained, steady and firm, like he was anchoring you. Or maybe a straight-up dare , a confession.

Jack took a step forward, and the air between you all shrank into something suffocating.

"You really think I wouldn’t find out?" His voice was low, but the venom in it seeped through every syllable. He wasn’t just mad, he was livid.

You jerked your hand away immediately. "Jack, just listen-"

"Shut up," he snapped, his gaze never leaving Amis. "I ain't talkin’ to you right now."

The heat of humiliation crept up your neck, but it was quickly overrun by something colder.

He was testing you--this was all a test--...how could you be such a fool to fall for this?!

Amis, to his credit, didn’t step back. "You got a problem with me, Jack?" His voice was steady, but there was something else behind it. A flicker of amusement, of challenge.

Jack’s jaw tightened. "Yeah, I got a real big problem with you." He exhaled sharply, flexing his fingers at his sides.

"Well, I don't know what your problem is with me jus' talkin’ to her," came a plain answer. "Somethin’ wrong with that?"

Jack let out a dry, humorless chuckle. "Oh, somethin’s real wrong with it. See, I know your type." His tone was sharp, edged with warning. "Think you can sweet-talk her, huh? Get her all caught up in whatever game you’re playin’?"

Amis tilted his head slightly, a slow smirk creeping onto his face. "Ain’t a game," he said, then glanced at you. His expression softened, but something was known in his eyes. "Is it? Cuz' I am damn serious here, 'bout her-"

Jack didn’t let him finish. He grabbed Amis by the collar and shoved him back into the shelves, rattling tins and glass jars. You gasped as the impact sent a few tumbling to the floor.

"Jack, stop!" You reached for him, but he shoved you aside like you were nothing, barely even looking your way.

"Think you can put your filthy hands on my sister and get away with it?"

Amis gritted his teeth, his hands gripping Jack’s wrists, trying to pry him off. "I care about her!" he snarled back. "And I don’t have to answer to you!"

Jack’s fist met his jaw in an instant. The crack of the punch echoed in the small store, followed by the dull thud of Amis stumbling back into the counter.

Your breath caught.

"Jack! Are you crazy!?" You shoved at his arm, panic clawing up your throat, but he barely moved. Amis wiped the blood from his split lip, chest heaving, and for a second, you saw it, the flicker of something dangerous in his eyes. He wasn’t just going to take it.

Amis lunged.

They crashed into the shelves, sending more goods clattering to the floor. Jack threw another punch, but Amis ducked, ramming him back into the counter. The storekeeper, Amis’s father, rushed forward, shouting, but neither of them listened.

"You act like she’s some helpless little thing," he rasped. "Like she don’t get to choose for herself." His eyes flicked toward you. "Maybe that’s what pisses you off the most, huh? That she don’t need your permission."

Jack froze.

For a moment, the world held its breath.

Then his fist came down again.

This time, it wasn’t just anger. It was fury.

And you knew, if someone didn’t stop him, he wouldn’t stop on his own.

❀˖°

Thankfully he did. For your sake.

And banned from visiting the store. At least, Amis would be safe but you couldn't say the same about yourself.

The ride back to the house was brutal. Jack didn't say a word, but his grip on your wrist was like iron, dragging you through the door before you could even catch your breath.

This time, you didn’t fight it.

Because for the first time, the thrill of it all, the stolen glances, the whispered words, the rush of getting away with something, felt a lot like standing at the edge of a cliff.

And you weren’t sure if you were about to fall…or if someone was about to push you.

The moment you stepped inside, he shoved you, hard, back into your room. You stumbled, barely catching yourself against the edge of the bed.

"Jack-!"

"Enough!." His voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a blade.

You barely had time to react before Abigail rushed in, her eyes wide with panic.

"Jack! What the hell are you doing?" She grabbed his arm, trying to yank him back, but he didn’t budge.

"You--" He rounded on her, eyes wild, chest rising and falling in sharp, furious breaths. "I caught her red-handed, ya' hear me!?"

"What?" She recoiled slightly, her hands trembling, but her voice was firm. "Jack, you’re scaring her!"

"Oh, now you care?" He let out a sharp, humorless laugh. "Now you wanna act all protective?" His eyes flicked toward you, cold and burning at the same time. "Where was this energy when she was runnin’ around behind our backs, makin’ a fool outta herself? Huh?"

"What are you talkin' about?! Jack, stop it-"

"Did you encourage this?" He took a step closer to Abigail, towering over her, his voice rising. "Did you tell her it was fine to act like some goddamn tavern girl? Let some town rat put his hands all over her?"

"Jack, stop! Don't talk to Ma like-" You pushed yourself up, your voice shaking more than you wanted it to.

He turned back to you, his eyes flashing. "And you-!"

The force of his voice alone made your heart slam against your ribs.

"You think you’re grown now? You think you can do whatever the hell you want and nobody’s gonna say shit? Guess what-" He leaned in, and for the first time in your life, you didn’t recognize him. "I say shit."

Abigail grabbed his arm again, harder this time. "You need to calm down son-"

"I ain't calming down!" He whirled on her again, voice breaking with rage. "She disrespected this family, and you’re sittin’ here defendin’ her like she ain’t bringin’ shame on all of us! It's all you fault for spoiling her! You think Pa's gonna take this lightly? You think he won’t have her locked up in this goddamn house for the rest of her life?! Maybe he should!"

The words felt like a slap, like something inside you had been ripped apart.

Abigail’s face twisted with horror. "Jack…"

His chest heaved. His fists were clenched so tight they shook. At that moment, the image of his mother, when he was just a kid, technically fatherless as she barely scraped by for both of their sakes, flashed through his mind. And then you. You. Imagining you being ruined the same way. Some son of a bitch doing that. You holding a child who would grow up craving what he got so late...

The past haunting memories crept back in, and once again, he allowed to hear himself. To see himself.

"Jack Marston you better either sit down, talk like an adult or get out. I ain't allowing you to run your mouth like that!"

The silence that followed was thick, tense.

His lips parted slightly, like he wanted to say something, but he didn’t. He just exhaled sharply, raking a hand through his hair before storming out, slamming the door behind him so hard the walls shook.

Abigail let out a shaky breath of relief.

You just sat there. Staring. Frozen.

Like the air in the room had turned to ice.

Abigail sat beside you, her hand hovering close, unsure if you'd flinch if she touched you.

"Hey...it's okay," she whispered, though you both knew it wasn't. "Start off by telling me what even happened?"

Your wrist ached, and your mind raced. Jack had never handled you like that before. Never looked at you like, like you were dirty. Like you'd done something shameful.

And now, he was going to tell him.

Your stomach twisted.

John.

You scrambled to your feet, but Abigail caught your arm gently. "Wait. Ma-"

"I can't-he can't-s-stop him! No!" You barely knew what you were saying, the panic clawing at your throat.

"He's already gone," she said quietly.

And she was right. By the time you made it to the window, all you saw was Jack riding off toward the fields, toward the west fence where your father worked.

"I--I'll talk to him dear, don't worry." You knew that would be useless. A confrontation was bound to happen. God knows what your brother might be spewing out there.

You are done for.

❀˖°

John didn't raise his voice often.

He never had to.

His silence alone was enough to make a man confess his sins, and his stare, cold and steady, could cut deeper than any belt.

John stood calmly staring down, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the wooden floor. You sat stiffly on the edge of your bed, hands clenched in the fabric of your dress, nails pressing half-moons into your palms.

"So," he started, voice quiet. "Jack tells me you've been lettin’ some town boy put his hands all over you." The way he phrased something so pure....it even disgusted you.

"I-"

"Don't." The single word was sharp, cutting off whatever pathetic excuse was about to leave your lips.

"You think I raised you to let some town fool string you along like some cheap whore with his soft hands and a silver tongue?" He bent down slightly. "Is that what you are?"

"No!" you burst out with a whimper, shaking your head. "It wasn't like that Pa--I swear---I didn't-"

"Didn't what? Didn't break my trust?" He tilted his head, watching you like a hawk watches a wounded rabbit. "I thought you had more sense than this. But I see now that I was wrong."

Your throat tightened, stung.

"You ain't goin' back to that store," he said, voice firm, final. "And you sure as hell ain't seein’ him again."

"Pa-"

"You stay away from him. Or I'll make sure he don’t come sniffin’ 'round here."

You swallowed hard, heart hammering.

He never made empty threats.

"That boy don’t love you, girl. He wants to take what he can get and leave you with nothin’ but a ruined name and a bastard child."

The words struck like a lash, hot and humiliating, but the anger that bubbled up was stronger. Stronger than the fear. Stronger than the sting in your throat.

Did he think every man was like him? A coward who ran when responsibility became too heavy? Who left your mother and brother behind for a whole damn year, as if they were something he could shed like old skin?

You knew. You’d read it secretly in his journal. Someone else had written it, but it was his story. His shame. And now he stood before you, acting righteous, condemning you for something Amis hadn’t even done.

And then there was Amis. Amis, who wanted to make you his responsibility before anything else. Amis, who wasn’t ashamed.

And yet, here he was, spitting venom. Mocking the one boy who saw you as worth choosing first. Dare mock that.

If only they would fucking listen. If only they’d let you speak.

You lifted your chin slightly, looking up at him through the blur of unshed tears. And before you could stop yourself, the words tumbled out.

"Ju-st.... like you did to Mama?"

The silence that followed was sharp, deadly.

And you should’ve stopped there, you knew you should have, but the words kept coming, hushed, bitter.

"At least he…wants to marry me-"

Your ears rang the next second. Your face burned where John’s hand had struck, but the worst part wasn’t the pain-it was the look in his eyes.

Disgust.

Rage.

Like you were something rotten, something that needed to be stomped out before it spread.

"You wanna act like a whore?" John’s voice was low, deadly. "Then you’ll be treated like one."

Before you could move, he grabbed you by the hair and yanked you forward, his grip cruel. So cruel that for a moment you forgot all his love and even the fact that he was your father. You gasped, trying to wrench away, but he was stronger. He always had been.

"You thought I wouldn’t find out!? You thought I wouldn’t hear about you throwin’ yourself at some town boy like some desperate-"

"P-pa-!"

Your side hit the wooden dresser, knocking the breath from your lungs as he shoved you. A porcelain dish toppled and shattered on the floor, shards scattering around your bare feet.

"You’re gonna stand there and lie to me after what Jack saw!?" John advanced again, his voice shaking with fury. "You led him on and now he wants to marry you?" He let out a bitter laugh, dark and humorless. "That he ain't just got his head full of dreams and his cock full of need?"

Tears stung at your eyes, but you refused to let them fall.

"N-Pa--p-lease-"

"I know everything," he growled. "I know how girls like you end up. I know exactly where this road leads." His fingers dug into your jaw, hard enough that your teeth ached. "And I ain’t gonna have a bastard child under this roof. You hear me?"

You trembled, heart hammering so hard you felt sick.

His hand flew across your face again.

The impact sent you to the floor this time, sharp pain exploding through your cheek. Your vision blurred for a second, ears ringing, but you barely had time to recover before his boot slammed down next to you, making you flinch.

"And you don’t ever speak about your mother to me like that," he said, voice low and dangerous. "Not ever."

Your whole body trembled, curling in on itself, but John wasn’t done.

"You ain't leaving this house," he spat. "No town, no store, no runnin’ off with Jack or anyone else. You’re done. You hear me?"

Your breath came in short, shuddering gasps.

"You’ll do your chores, stay inside, and keep your damn mouth shut. I will not have a daughter of mine actin’ like some damn coquette."

He cut himself off, fists clenching.

"You stay put. Think about what you’ve done."

The door slammed behind him.

Leaving you in the wreckage.

The broken dish. The pain of some fresh wounds you now began to feel on your feet and arms. The aching, throbbing pain in your cheek. The fear settling deep in your bones and your tongue tasting blood.

You curled into yourself on the floor, arms wrapped tightly around your knees.

You weren’t going anywhere.

Not now. Maybe not ever.

taglist: @necktattooed

[sweetprfct]

Please Please Please

Aaron Taylor-Johnson x Fem!Reader

Summary: An unexpected coffee accident turned your life upside down into a world full of glamour and flashing cameras everywhere you turned. You thought with Aaron by your side, it was going to be easy to navigate, but it turns out life in front of the flashing cameras isn't so effortless after all.

Author's Note: Welcome to my new era. I know most of you have read my JQ fics, but I've moved on these last several months now. This prompt was originally requested by @metal-redcherries for a JQ fic, but I decided to twist this a little bit and turn it into an ATJ fic. Anyway, enjoy! :)

Wordcount: 3.4K

Disclaimer: 18+

chapter one - chapter two - chapter three - chapter four - chapter five - chapter six - chapter seven - chapter eight - chapter nine - chapter ten - chapter eleven - chapter twelve - epilogue

“So, I know that we’re lacking staff at the moment, but we are working on getting some more hires…”

Your boss, Keith’s, voice slowly turned into a ringing sound in your ears until you had tuned him out. You swatted your hand in front of your face as a small fly flew in front of it. Your eyes slowly shifted towards the many plants that were sitting on the back corner of Keith’s desk. The plants were creating a new habitat for small flies, and it was annoying you lately. It was all over the office area and sometimes, it would enter your own office. 

Keith had mentioned that he bought some new spray to get rid of the small flies. His plants were too important for him, so he couldn't get rid of them that easily. He loved them and took care of them in the years he had been in this company. The fly problem was resolved quickly, but there were still a small amount that would live within his office. 

It had been a long week, and it was only Thursday. You still had one more day to go, and you were dreading for this meeting to be finished so you could go home. Keith had called you and Asher, his two leads of the department, to break the news that the lab production was expanding, which meant more work for the team with less people. 

You work at a genomic lab, and your position was a chemist lead for five months now, which meant more responsibilities and more document work than lab work.

Same goes for Asher. 

Asher had asked Keith the question of how this was going to work given the less people you all currently have. Keith was currently explaining everything to him. You had tuned them out for about five minutes now as Asher continued to question him. Asher has always been like that. You have known him since freshman year of college, and he always asked ridiculous questions that were unnecessary. 

No one questions Keith’s decisions. Ever. 

And yet, here he was. 

You didn’t understand why your supervisor, Max, wasn’t the one who told you this. Besides the fact that he was barely at work all the time, Keith was the director of the chemical production that went on in the lab, and he already had enough on his plate. You couldn’t help but shake your head slightly at the thought of how unreliable Max could be. 

“Anyway, we won’t be doing this right away.” Keith’s voice suddenly resurfaced back to your attention. “I already made a proposal for hiring new staff so hopefully, we’ll be able to get some new people around here.”

“And we will be the ones training them?” Asher asked, sounding insulted. 

Jesus fucking Christ. 

You rolled your teeth over your lower lip as you watched Keith’s reaction to Asher’s question. You have learned how Keith reacts in a certain way to certain people. You knew that because you have done one on one’s with him and have developed a better relationship with him than he and Asher could ever have. Keith’s eyes sparked in a way that he couldn’t believe he was hearing Asher’s tone of voice.

You didn’t blame him. 

Asher was being rude. 

“As a lead of this team, yes.” Keith answered. 

Oh, here we go.

“As a lead, it’s part of your job to train new hires and support them when they need help. As a lead, you're there for your team to ensure day-to-day priorities and provide proper instructions to certain tasks. It’s what a good leader does.” Keith continued, his voice growing serious. 

The corner of your lips lifted, holding in the smile that was slowly creeping up on your face. Asher was slowly sliding down his seat as Keith continued to explain that if you have any questions or concerns, you both could always talk to Max or talk to him privately. 

Asher anxiously scrambled out of his seat as soon as Keith dismissed the meeting. 

“Have a good day, sir.” You murmured as he gave you a curt nod and a warm smile. 

Keith never had a problem with you. 

Asher, however…

You watched as Asher exhaled a deep breath as if he had been holding it in the last thirty minutes or so. His cheeks were a shade of pink as you both walked down the office area and stopped in front of your office door. 

“I don’t know why you keep questioning Keith.” You murmured. 

Asher gave you a glare and rolled his eyes. “Because don’t you think it’s a little ridiculous that he is giving us more work?”

“You heard Keith. He already is going to hire more people.” You argued. “You know how he is. He probably already submitted that proposal a long time ago. I won’t be surprised if he already found people to hire.”

Asher scoffed lightly, shaking his head. “Why do you always defend him?”

You couldn’t help but roll your eyes. You have known Asher all through college, and you could sense the behavior he projected whenever he was upset. It honestly annoyed you, even now. The behavior he tends to portray was just inappropriate and irritating. 

You saw that flick of idea in his green eyes for a moment. You shook your head immediately before he even said the words. 

“Do you..” He looked around the office, making sure no one was around before whispering, “Do you have some crush on him?”

The disgusted feeling immediately washed over you, making your stomach turn at the gross accusation he just threw at you. 

Was he fucking serious?

Your brows raised in surprise before anger took over you. “What the fuck is wrong with you?!”

Asher rolled his eyes, “Oh, come on!”

“You’re fucking disgusting, you know that? Jesus Christ! What the fuck is wrong with your brain?” 

Asher’s eyes immediately turned into guilt as he saw the anger that sparked in your eyes. The tension in his shoulders relaxed as he exhaled a sharp breath.

“I’m sorry.” He murmured, his eyes dropping down to his feet. “I’m just… I’m just upset.”

You shook your head in disbelief and turned around to open your office door, but Asher was quick to grab you by your wrist. 

“Wait.” He said. “I’m sorry, okay? D… Do you have plans for tonight? Do you want to get dinner?”

You couldn’t help but scoff at his question and slipped your wrist away from his grip. You couldn’t even look at him right now. You didn't have the energy today to give him some patience and understanding.

“Yeah,” A hint of irritation through your voice. “Sara and I have Pasta Thursday tonight.”

“Right.” Asher nodded. “Okay, well, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Rolling your eyes, you entered your office and gathered your things together. It was the end of the day, and you were thanking your little stars above that it was almost the weekend. You couldn't believe you had to deal with that bullshit. Asher was getting on your last nerve lately.

Pushing the thought away, you zipped up your bag and yawned softly, shaking your head to wake yourself up. It was already 3:30pm, and you still have to hit traffic going home. 

Walking out of the double doors of Genome Dynamics, the Los Angeles heat greeted you. It was starting to cool down from the afternoon air, but it was still hot. It was mid-October, and you were ready for the weather to start getting cold. You walked down the parking lot and threw your bag on the backseat before sliding yourself in the driver’s seat. 

Maybe a little coffee would help you a little bit. 

Your favorite coffee shop was just five blocks down, and you decided to make a little pit stop before going straight home. 

Entering the shop, the delicious smell of coffee immediately greeted you. It sent warm shivers down your body. You loved the smell of coffee, and you loved the atmosphere this coffee shop always had. The shop wasn’t too crowded. There were only a couple of people waiting in line and a couple people sitting around the tables, their eyes focused on their laptop or book. 

You ordered your favorite mocha blended coffee and waited on the other end of the counter for the barista to make your drink. As you waited, you felt your phone vibrate in your hand and Sara’s name appeared on your screen. 

Sara: Got the goodies! On the way home now!

You couldn’t help but smile and text her back. 

You: Great! I’m fucking starving! It’s been a long day.

Sara: Same. Got some tiramisu for dessert too! 🤭

You: Great. I’ll see you soon.

You gazed up from your phone when you heard the barista call your name. You saw the girl set the delicious blended coffee on the counter. Instantly, you mentally cursed yourself when you saw the whipped cream on top. You totally forgot to tell her that you didn’t want any whipped cream, but it was too late. It wasn’t that big of a deal, so you just let it go. You grabbed the coffee carefully and made your way towards the other counter to grab yourself a lid and straw.

Although, you didn’t make it all the way because as this day already been unlucky, you weren’t paying attention and immediately hit something hard the moment you turned around. For a moment, you thought you were that tired that you hit the wall that was behind you but when you slowly looked up, you were greeted by a man. Not just any man. 

You knew this man. 

His curly brown hair was a little longer than you usually would see him in. It was pushed back from his forehead. His beard was trimmed nicely. He was wearing a white button up with a navy blue striped vest along with navy blue trousers that matched with his vest. His white button up and navy blue vest was now soaked in whipped cream and blended coffee. 

Motherfucker.

A small gasp slipped through your lips before stalking towards the counter and grabbing some napkins. 

“Fuck.” You muttered under your breath. “I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you!” 

You wiped the bundle of napkins on his shirt, and jesus, you couldn’t help but think how he felt almost like a rock. There was nothing in his body but just muscles. He didn’t say anything as you continued to wipe off the coffee from his clothes.

“Of course, my clumsy self would do this.” You murmured, wondering if you were talking to him or to yourself.

Maybe both. 

“My brain is fried, and I can’t think anymore for today. I’m so sorry for this. I swear, I didn’t see you there. I was way too distracted over some stupid pasta waiting for me at home—”

You heard a low chuckle that vibrated through his chest where your hand was. Your eyes slowly gazed up at him. His one brow raised, one corner of his lips was lifted, while his blue eyes were staring right into yours. 

Fucking Aaron Taylor-Johnson. 

“Do you always ramble on like this, darling?” His British accent slipped through his voice, and you wondered if this was some sort of stupid prank. 

“I… uh…” You stuttered, taking a step back. “Been a long day.”

Dimples indented his cheeks as he smiled at you. He looked down at the mess you made on his shirt, and you knew that it probably cost hundreds of dollars for just that one shirt alone. 

“It’s alright.” He said, reaching for more napkins and dabbing it on his shirt. “Accidents happen.”

“I ruined it.” You said. “I can pay for it. I don’t know. It’s probably going to cost a whole paycheck. I can barely afford my own clothes, but I don’t mind. I don’t know, maybe I can pay you monthly or something or get you something cheaper, but I’m not even sure if you would want that. I mean how would I pay you monthly? I’m a stranger. You probably don't even want to see me again—”

You were rambling again, and you were out of breath when he chuckled at you once again. 

“It’s not my personal clothes.” He cut you off. “It’s my costume for the movie I’m filming.”

Your eyes widened from his small commentary, and it didn’t make the situation better. Some Director or someone from the costume department would probably sue you now for ruining a movie costume. 

Fuck. 

Aaron laughed softly when he saw the panic that washed over your face. You didn’t understand how he was this calm, and how he was okay with all of this. 

“It’s alright.” He reassured you. “Although, I’m not sure how the costume department will react to the artwork you made on their costume.”

There was a hint of tease in his voice, but you didn’t find it funny. Your heart was beating a million miles per hour, and he was over here teasing you? 

Teasing you! 

“I’m kidding.” He laughed. “They have some detergent to get this out. I always make a mess on set with my costumes whenever I eat. It’s not a problem.”

The reassurance in his voice finally made your shoulders relaxed, and he probably saw it too because his grin widened. Your conversation was interrupted when the barista called his name and set his drink on the counter. 

“I’m sorry again.” You murmured.

“It’s okay. I’m Aaron, by the way.” He held out his hand.

As if you didn’t know him. 

You introduced yourself and shook his hand, giving him a small smile. 

“Nice to meet you.” He said. “I’ll see you around… hopefully.”

He squeezed your hand softly before walking around you to grab his coffee. You took a deep breath and threw the half empty coffee cup that was still in your hand and sped walk towards the front doors of the shop. 

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

You didn’t even dare to look back at the coffee shop as you walked straight towards your car. You drove off almost immediately and found yourself on the freeway in just five minutes. You mentally cursed yourself for always embarrassing yourself in front of someone that was famous or important. It was like your brain always knew how to short circuit in situations like these. 

Arriving at your apartment building, you tapped your foot impatiently inside the elevator. When the two doors slid open, you walked down the hall and inserted your key on the keyhole to unlock it. You were greeted immediately by the smell of your favorite pasta and garlic bread but somehow, you lost your appetite now. 

“Hey.” Sara smiled, setting the plates on the dining table. “You’re a little later than usual. Busy day?” 

Sara’s your roommate and best friend. You also met her in your first year of college. She was your very first friend on campus, and the two of you were always two peas in a pod. Even now.

“Uh no.” You set your bag down on the floor behind the sofa and walked towards the dining table. “I stopped by at The Insomniacs.”

“A coffee?” Sara raised her brow. “This late? You’re not going to sleep tonight.”

“It’s fine.” You shrugged, feeling more exhausted than ever now. “Coffee doesn’t affect me like that anymore. I'll still be sleeping like a baby tonight.”

You pulled out the chair and sat across from Sara, your eyes studying the pasta and garlic bread that was sitting on the table. You have been thinking about this pasta all day but looking at it made your stomach turn. 

“Besides,” You added. “I didn’t even drink coffee.”

“What do you mean?” Sara handed you the plate of garlic bread. 

You grabbed a few pieces for yourself and set them on your plate. “It ended up on someone’s shirt.”

“What?” Sara’s eyes widened. 

You explained everything that happened from being too exhausted from a long day of work to deciding you were going to grab some coffee. Then, you told her how you grabbed the coffee from the counter and the moment you turned around, you bumped into someone.

“Not just someone.” You said. “Guess who?”

“Your ex?”

You made a disgusted face. “No! Someone famous.”

“I don’t know. Leonardo DiCaprio or something?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “No, it was freaking Aaron Taylor-Johnson!”

“Shut up!” Sara’s eyes widened as she grinned excitedly. “ATJ?! You spilled your coffee all over ATJ?!”

You threw your head back and groaned in frustration before leaning forward against the table and buried your face in your hands. You shook your head as the scenarios replayed in your mind. 

“I’m such an idiot.” You mumbled through your hands before looking up. “It was embarrassing, Sara! The worst part? He laughed about it.”

Sara chuckled, taking a sip of her wine. “I’m sure he found it cute. Besides, he probably won’t even remember you. He has thousands of fans. You’ll slip away from his mind in like a day.”

“Thanks.” You said sarcastically, eating your pasta. 

“You know what I mean.” Sara smiled. “It’s so funny how you always run into celebrities.”

You looked up from your pasta with wide eyes. “What do you mean by always?”

“Did you forget that you ran into Jennifer Aniston in a bathroom once?” Sara scoffed. 

Oh, yeah. Sara would never let that one go. 

It wasn’t your fault. Your childhood friend, Hannah, had dragged you down to an after party event. It just happened that Sara’s—and yours— favorite actress was in that event. You also embarrassed yourself in front of her by stuttering and rambling on about how much you loved her movies and her. Jen was sweet enough to take a picture with you and a video for Sara. 

At the end of the night, you wanted to slap yourself for acting so stupid.

“Well, maybe if you get out of Pasadena, you’d see more celebrities.” You teased her. 

Sara’s job was located in Pasadena. She worked for NASA and even if you didn’t actually understand what she did over there, you knew Sara loved her job. Meanwhile, your job was located in Burbank. A lot closer to Glendale, where you both lived. Also, a city swarming with celebrities sometimes since the Warner Brothers studios was located in Burbank. 

“No, thanks.” Sara replied. “I actually love my job.”

“Yeah?” You leaned back against your chair. “How’s space going? Is there some comet about to hit us or what?”

Sara almost choked on her wine. She wiped the corner of her mouth with the napkin before tilting her head at you. 

“What happened at work?” She asked. 

Sara knew you only would ask that question when you weren’t having a good day. 

You rolled your eyes. “Asher being Asher.”

“That’s nothing new.” Sara argued. “What did the idiot do now?”

You sighed and reached for your glass of wine. As much as you loved the pasta, you couldn’t eat any more of it. 

“Keith pulled us into his office, letting us know about more production coming and that he was planning to hire more people.” You sipped your wine for a moment. “Well, you know how you don’t ever argue with Keith? Well, Asher did. He threw all these questions, which Keith shut down instantly. Asher was all aggravated after the meeting.”

Sara chuckled softly, shaking her head. “Oh, Asher.”

“Then, I told him to quit acting like that and he accused me of having a crush on my boss! Like what the fuck? That’s fucking disgusting!”

Sara laughed. “Oh god. You know he’s acting like that because he likes you, right? He has liked you since we were in CalTech.” 

“And since CalTech, I have told him I’m not interested.” You scoffed. “He needs to move on.”

Sara chuckled softly and sipped her wine, while comfortable silence surrounded the dining room for a moment. You and your friends, including Sara and Asher, met in CalTech. The first year, Asher wasn’t shy about his feelings towards you, but you never liked him like that. Despite the fact that you were still friends until now, that was all that was ever going to be. He was also a complete opposite of you, and you never liked his behavior whenever he got upset.

Later on that night, you and Sara shared the tiramisu, while Sara told you about her day. Then, you helped her with the dishes and eventually retired into your own rooms. As you laid on your bed that night, you stared at the ceiling and let out a deep breath. 

Your body and mind was exhausted.

Just one more day, and it's the weekend. 

__________________________________________________________

AN: Anyone who wants to be tagged, please let me know :)

[yourdarlingness]

✦ Our Life: Beginning & Always ~ themed　NPT

╰　DAY 5 of @rumblepumm ' s event !

NAMES ︙　cove . seashell . shoal . shoaliette . sholiene . ocean . oceanide . lake . river . riverine . aqua . aqua(mu)rette . aquamarine . coralle . coralette . creek . everett . evelyn . eve . teary . tearie . tweary . tearfall(e) . teardrop . poppy . popp(i)ette . poppeine . lee . lily . leslie / lesley . lynn . francine . jackie . ari . aria . arielle . claire . elizabeth . liz / lizzy / lizzie . lizette . elyssa . elysia . reagan . noe . lain . macy . baxter . bax . baxley . barley . oakley . alexander . oliver . ollie . spade . mono . vince . victor . vincent . vinny . chester . derek . darren . dylan . daryl . darcy . darlene . devon . jaime . jamie . james . jay . taylor . harper . ash(e) . paula . pamela . pauline . miranda . randy . marissa . margot . sage . faith . melissa . terry . alex . robin . radley . marshall . max . chase . jeremy . archie . jayden . jonathan . misery . miserine . miser(i)ette . kyra . kyla . kylie . kyrelle . kier . sydney . chantel(le) . eleanor . shiloh . scout . asher . willow . adam . scott . jude . jade

PRNS ︙　sea . wa / wave . sea / shell / seashell . sea / foam / seafoam . sea / bun / seabun . wae / water / waterfall . pud / puddle . su / surf . ae / aqua . tea / tear(y) . shy . cry . fi / fish . swi / swim . co / cor / coral . pop / poppy . li / lily . da / dance . ste / steps . rhy / rhythm . mo(e) / mono . wa / waltz . fe / fetch . fri / friends . mie / mis / misery . si / silly . lo / love . ado / adore . he(a) / heart . 💧 . 🌊 . 🐚 . 🦈 . 🦑 . 🦞 . ⛴️ . 🚢 . ⛵ . 🎹 . ♠️ . ♣️ . 🖤 . 🎧 . 🎵 . 🎶 . 🎼 . ⚽ . 🏈

TITLES ︙　the alluring mermaid/merman/merperson . the heart of the sea . the [x] / prn who was washed ashore . prns graceful/tidal wave . prn whose soul is pure . the [x] with a peaceful life . prn who surfs . the lady / maiden / [x] of the deep sea . the one who sets sail . the [x] in the sea of stars . prns aquatic adventure . the [x] in coral reefs . prn who swims with fishes/sharks/etc (any aquatic animals) . the [x] of the blue waves . the seashell collector . the master of waltz . the born dancer / prn who is a born dancer . the ballroom dancer . the divine dancer . the charming dancer . the Victorian-era emo man . the one of all smiles . prn who is monochromatic . prn who moves flawlessly . the dancer of arts . the one with conflicting feelings . the [x] whose story begins . prns prologue . prns beginnings . prns start of dreams . prns opening acts/chapter . the [x]'s new beginnings . prns new chapter . prns divine plot twist

[x] — any nouns　;　examples below

the angel who was washed ashore

the ghost whose story begins

the boy of the blue waves

sorry that its long :3

[freakingholland]

"Law of attraction" – Asher Millstone x gn!reader

A/N: There aren’t enough HTGAWM fics here on tumblr so here I am with this little something for Asher! If you want to talk about the show or if you have ideas for some imagines feel free to slide into my asks 😊

Warnings: swearing, mentions of exam-related stress

Summary: The Keating 5 and reader are preparing for exams. Who would have thought that exam anxiety could give somebody enough courage to express their romantic feelings?

Set around season 3, post vacation but pre-jail era.

Word count: 1K +

If you enjoyed my work: Ko-fi.com/freakingholland

questions/requests/ideas here! - rules here

masterlist

my AO3 archive is here

-

September meant no more partying, but more preparations for the fall exams. You were stuck in the evening-lit library alongside Laurel, Asher, Michaela, and Connor. Wes did not take part in the study session since he was stolen by Annalise. They were preparing for a particular case with the help of Bonnie at Annalise’s place.

You could feel your eyelids becoming heavier and heavier. It was an nth hour of staring at your books, scrolling through documents and researching papers. The palms of your hands were stained with yellow and pink highlighters. You were sat between Laurel and Asher.

You glanced up from your notes to visually check on your friends, not wanting to disrupt them. Laurel’s eyes met yours and she smiled slightly. Tiredness was visible on her face as smudged mascara created a shadow underneath her eyes.

You looked to your right, heart skipping a beat as you caught sight of Asher, hunched over his notes, his posture sagged from exhaustion. The gentle blue light from his laptop’s screen reflected in his pretty brown eyes, giving them a shimmering hue that accentuated his warmth. His usually well-groomed hair was tousled and slightly disheveled.

His presence had a soothing effect on you, managing to lift your spirits even though he looked visibly tired. You couldn’t help but wish you could retreat to the comfort of your apartment with him. Yet, despite the butterflies in your stomach, you couldn’t muster the courage to admit your true feelings for Asher, leaving you trapped in longing for something more.

What if he doesn’t feel the same? What if saying something changes everything between you two? The thought of losing the closeness you have—of turning something so natural and easy into something complicated—keeps you quiet, even as your feelings for him grow stronger.

“So… I’m trying to remember this definition of Res Ipsa Loquitur and I keep messing it up. It’s so fucking long. Mind if I recite it to you and see if it sounds right?” Ash asked whispering, leaning into your ear.

“Go ahead.” you responded.

“Okay, here it goes: the thing speaks for itself, it refers to situations where the nature of an accident-- implies negligence due to the mere occurrence of the event.” he paused for a second.

“The doctrine—umm… allows a plaintiff to establish a presumption of negligence without direct evidence… provided the event is of a type that does not normally happen without negligence, and the instrumentality causing harm was under the-- defendant's control.”

You nodded with a grin.

“That sounds pretty solid.”

“Thanks.”

He exhaled heavily and leaned back in his chair crossing his muscular arms over his chest.

He shook his head no.

“Dude I’m so tired.” He murmured.

“I can tell. Me too. I could really use a nap.” You also leaned back in your chair.

“Mmm… a nap.” Asher reached out to grab his cup of now cold coffee. After taking a sip or two he turned back to you.

He laughed at his own thought.

“Remember that damned Civ Pro final?” He said.

“Oh yeah, you came out looking pale as fuck.”

“Seriously, I thought I was about to pass out right there in the exam room…”

“I’m starting to freak the fuck out if I’m being honest.” He exclaimed.

Michaela overheard the conversation and chuckled slightly.

“And what is that supposed to mean!”

“I told you to start reading that a week ago. But you guys were too busy with Annalise’s cases.”

“Aaaas alwaaays.” She added mockingly.

Ash only rolled his eyes in response to her remark.

“You’re not the only one who’s stressed out, but we got this.” You tried to reassure him.

He spaced out for a couple of seconds.

“You are right angel. We got this.”

He stood up abruptly and reached out to grab both your mugs.

“Anyone else wants some more coffee?”

You could feel your cheeks burning up. You eyed Ash up and down as he was making his way out of the room when your eyes met with Michaela’s. She gave you a wink and smiled.

*

The hours ticked by, and the evening grew darker.

The silence was suddenly interrupted when Oliver burst into the library, a cheerful grin spreading across his face as he carried a plastic container full of freshly baked cookies.

“There is absolutely nooooo way in hell that you made those!” Laurel said jumping up from her seat and walking towards Oli.

Oliver tilted his head pretending to be offended and smiled at her.

“It’s good to see you too! I did. You all look like you could use some glucose.”  he said with sympathy in his tone.

She quickly took one of the cookies and bit into it.

Everyone stopped in their tracks and locked their gazes on Laurel to see her reaction.

“Okaaay these are… not too bad actually.”

“Gimme one I got to try!”

Michaela reluctantly bit into a cookie. She started nodding after taking two more bites.

“Not too bad huh?”

“Okay alright… pretty good Oli. Good job hun.”

He walked towards her and embraced her in a hug, making sure not to spill the cookies.

*

As the study session wrapped up and everyone started packing their bags, Asher turned to you, his eyes a mix of exhaustion and excitement.

"You know," he began, his voice softer now.

"Once we get through these exams, I think we deserve a break." You looked up, curious, as Asher continued.

"How about we celebrate with dinner? Just the two of us?"

The sudden invitation made your tiredness fade slightly as you quickly considered the offer.

"Dinner sounds nice. "

Asher's grin widened, clearly pleased with your response.

"Great, it’s a date then” he said, his tone playful yet sincere.

The others exchanged quick glances but pretended not to hear, letting the moment pass without interruption. With that, you headed out of the library, finally chatting about other, less boring matters.

You delicately poked Ash’s side. He looked down at you and hummed.

“Sooo do we have a plan for the dinner or-?”

“Mmm… I was thinking of something low-key, maybe just some good food at my place and no textbooks in sight?”

“That would be perfect.”

-

A/N 2: Part 2 soon? Yes? No? :)

[mysweetgeo]

Could you do 14 and 16 off of list three for the Valentine’s Day prompts with John please? 👉🏻👈🏻

hello love! i am soooo so sorry about the very very long wait for this—i found myself quite busy and in quite a writing slump. i hope this is worth the wait !

Cupid's Arrow

Request: Could you do 14 and 16 off of list three for the Valentine’s Day prompts with John please? 👉🏻👈🏻

14: “I’ve been hit with Cupid’s Arrow.”

16: “Why? Because I’m in love with you, that’s why!”

Pairing: John Lennon x Reader

Warnings: Only a bit if swearing, dare I say a bit mild for good old Lennon.

Not written with an extremely specific era in mind—sometime after George and Pattie married in January 1966.

You and John Lennon hardly had a conventional relationship—if you could even call it that. 

Yes, that John Lennon.

You were currently one of the many personal assistants to Brian Epstein, therefore making you an assistant to The Beatles.

You’d ‘landed’ the gig when the lads had first taken off in Liverpool—you had worked at NEMS for Brian ever since you were able to work as a teenager.

While you loved your job, you did find many aspects of your work incredibly stressful, you had to make deadlines and phone calls like any other assistant.

But worst of all—you had make sure that any food orders were perfectly correct or else you’d never hear the end of it from John.

You got on perfectly well with all four of the boys, in fact you’d gone to school with George up until he’d been placed at Liverpool Institute for Boys.

Each of them had your heart in one way or another:

Paul (an endless flirt) always greeted you first thing with a smile that would make any girl weak in the knees and a very chipper, “Good morning, love. How’s it?”

George was very kind and always asked about you and your family and if you’d heard about one craze or the next—always in the know and wanting to make sure you were up to speed. 

Ringo was the friendliest, he always would offer to walk you in the building if you arrived at the same time and you were always invited to his home for tea. You and Maureen got on wonderfully and it was always such a joy to be invited to the home of a Beatle even if you saw the lads nearly every day. 

John, on the other hand was always pulling anything and everything he could on you.

He always seemed to have a wise remark to say in response to anything you said or did, no matter what it was. 

It didn’t seem to end with him, and nearly everything was a joke—at your expense, not that you particularly minded.

You’d had some indifferent feelings towards John in the nearly 6 year span of your acquaintance.

Today was no different, it was Valentine’s Day and it seemed that each of the boys had their plans set out with whomever they were taking out.

You knew most of the ins and outs of each of their personal lives, Ringo and Maureen were married with yet another kid on the way, George had just married Pattie Boyd not long ago and they were very much still in the honeymoon phase, and Paul had been seeing Jane Asher for quite some time but it seemed to be going nowhere.

You couldn’t quite read John. He never liked to open up about those things with you, but you did know that he was single—at least that’s what Paul had told you the other day. 

You’d put these thoughts far out of your mind while you had a friendly chat with all four of the boys in the canteen when you had all arrived, you were sat beside Ringo at one of the small tables while John and George grabbed a tea. 

George sat to your other side and John had sat across from you, passing you a cuppa across the table with a wink.

You smiled as a wordless ‘thank you’ while George soon began chatting your ear off about his plans with Pattie for the evening—you often wondered how anyone could even faintly consider him the ‘Quiet Beatle’ when you’d never had a moments peace while in his presence. 

George was soon interrupted by Paul, and then Ringo and soon you knew of all three’s Valentine’s plans. 

John remained silent while you engaged in conversation with the remaining Beatles, seemingly taking it all in or perhaps feeling a touch of jealousy at the fact that he didn’t have any plans for the evening. 

The coziness of the conversation was soon over and the lads began working on a quick take with just Paul, George and Ringo—which proved to be a very rare occurrence—and you found yourself lounged on a couch in the control room with John. 

“It’s Valentine’s Day, y’know,” John’s voice broke you from your thoughts.

“Oh, is it?” You asked, playing coy. “I’d have never known. Say, that must be why I was calling for reservations for you lot a month and a half ago!”

John snorted a laugh and gently nudged you with his shoulder, “Oi, not me I’ll have you know!”

You pushed back with a nudge of your own, “Well I know that much—I’d be pretty dim if I thought I was makin’ you a reservation when George is the one who asked!” 

John only gave you a closed mouth smile as he draped his arm on the couch behind you, allowing a comfortable silence to encroach upon the two of you once again. 

A familiar warm feeling in your stomach began to set in, a feeling you felt nearly any time you were alone or in close proximity to John. 

Another take was done before the other three decided to call it a day, it was early in the afternoon and they all likely had other things planned for their loved ones. 

Once your duties were done for the day, you bid farewell to Brian and George Martin before popping your head into the canteen to tell the boys goodbye and wish them a happy Valentine’s.

Upon doing so you only found Paul and George, who thanked you for the regards and for helping with their plans. 

Ringo and John had seemingly already left so you decided to concede and walk back to your car. 

What you found waiting for you proved to be very interesting.

John projected a casual ‘coolness’ as he smoked a cigarette and leaned against your car, a sly smile on his face when he saw you approach. 

“Hey, I was looking for you inside but thought you’d already left—to what do I owe the pleasure of John Lennon leaning against my car?” You asked, mirroring his cool demeanor. 

He let tendrils of smoke release from his mouth before flicking his cigarette to the ground and clearing his throat. 

“I think I’ve been hit by Cupid’s sparrow,” he said in a very serious tone, eyes meeting yours. 

“You mean, ‘I think I’ve been hit by Cupid’s arrow’?” You asked, huffing a laugh. 

John’s face immediately burnt a bright red at his jumbled words, “Well—yeah! It’s not my fault, I’m nervous!”

“Why are you nervous, John?” You asked, tilting your head because you couldn’t understand why John would be nervous, especially when he was speaking to you. 

John threw his hands in the air, exasperated, “Why?” He asked, huffing loudly before continuing, “Because I’m in love with you, that’s why!” 

You knew your mouth had dropped open the moment John had finished his sentence, but you were frozen in place, unsure of what your next move should be. 

“Fuck—I knew I should have waited. I didn’t mean to—“ John cut himself off with a shake of his head, “I thought you felt something similar, sorry I’ve read this wrong.”

John turned to walk by you and back into the studio, but you’d already reached a hand out to grab his arm before he could get very far. 

His head whipped back in your direction, eyes searching yours for anything that could clue him in to what you were going to say. 

“I like you, John. I’m not sure if what I feel is what you could call ‘love’, but I do get a warm feeling inside whenever I’m with you,” you moved closer and placed your other hand on his opposite arm. “I’d like to explore that feeling, if you’ll have me.”

John grinned, his hands coming around your back and pulling you close to him for a hug. 

“That’s better than any Valentine’s present I could have ever received.”

[iamgonnagetyouback]

alright alright prepare for a little spam because I'm about to order one of each from your autumn picnic my love 😚 first, I wanna get to know you better so I'll pick a lot some questions from your Q/A acorns, hope that's okay 💕💕 here we go:

normal questions

6. favorite movie to watch on repeat? 9. what’s your favorite book or book series? 10. if you could live in any fictional world, which one? 18. if you could learn any language instantly, which one? 21. favorite kind of weather? 38. what’s your dream job?

favourites

4. favorite way to spend a lazy day? 9. favorite thing about fall? 13. favorite video game? 17. favorite flower?

this or that

8. chocolate or vanilla? 12. books or movies? 16. pastels or bold colors?

dreams and wishes

2. if you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? 5. if you could be any fictional character for a day, who would you choose? 12. what’s one skill you wish you had? 18. if you could be in any movie, which one would it be?

these are a lot so if you don't feel like it just ignore it haha 💕

thank you for participating, bun!! now brace yourself because I’m about to give you a rundown of all these answers!

normal questions:

favorite movie to watch on repeat? dead poets society, hands down! (neil, my beloved 😭). but if we’re talking series, new girl has my soul, and yes, I still watch all the harry potter movies like I didn’t just rewatch them last week.

what’s your favorite book or book series? “terms and conditions” by lauren asher. it is permanently tattooed on my heart. as for series, the twisted series is my guilty pleasure, basic answer, i know, but true!

if you could live in any fictional world, which one? the harry potter universe without hesitation, but i’m talking marauders era.

favorite kind of weather? the perfect in-between—where it's not too cold, not too hot. spring and autumn are my jam, but if i have to choose between summer and winter, winters win for sure.

what’s your dream job? i’ve always wanted to own a bookstore! but let’s be real—i’d probably hoard every book and never sell a single one. in reality, though, i’m studying to be an accountant (numbers are my life now, apparently).

favorites:

favorite way to spend a lazy day? Scrolling through tumblr and drowning in ‘x reader’ fics—aka the cheapest therapy available. alternatively, binge-watching the same five shows i’ve seen a million times.

favorite thing about fall? the aesthetic and the vibes, darling. cozy sweaters, warm drinks, and all the fall colors—what’s not to love?

favorite video game? i… don’t play video games much. like, at all. oops?

favorite flower? forever a sucker for daisies and tulips. they just scream “soft girl aesthetic,” and i’m here for it 🌼🌷.

this or that:

chocolate or vanilla? chocolate, no contest. i’d fight someone for the last piece of chocolate cake.

books or movies? books, always. let me live in the world of my imagination, please.

pastels or bold colors? pastels, pastel EVERYTHING! soft, dreamy hues that make you feel like you’re living in a fairytale.

dreams and wishes:

if you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go? new york city, baby! i’ve heard about it so much, and i just want to experience the hustle and bustle firsthand.

if you could be any fictional character for a day, who would you choose? lily evans. BUT make it fanon! i am not dying young, okay? i just want to live a day in my life where james potter is obsessed with me.

what’s one skill you wish you had? swimming! i’m dying to explore the deep ocean and see all its wonders, but sadly, i’m veryyyyy hydrophobic. life is cruel sometimes.

if you could be in any movie, which one would it be? dead poets society. i don’t care if i have to pretend to be a boy—i need to live with those boys .

ilysm, mari <333

[mud404]

the agenda 🔫

[gaymalaise]

more os shitposts, for the soul

[secrets-of-everwich]

05-1 Interesting Coincidence

[Click]

[Electronic hum underlies the recording]

{Callie}

Hello, this is Callie Hewitt recording on the 11th October 2021! I’ve been looking for more interesting disappearances, and I’ve found one that may work!

Bartholemew Greene, Cassia Greene (neé Florence), and their children, around a year after the disappearance of the Florences, were the second major disappearances. They were set to inherit Everwich Manor from the Florences, and had only just moved in, when they also disappeared. This was what sparked the rumours that Everwich Manor was haunted, and it was left empty for years, but that’s a story for another time.

Cassia was Henry’s younger sister, and as their parents had died of old age a decade before, the Manor went to her husband. Technically it should have gone to her, but this was the Georgian era and so [sarcastically] obviously the women couldn’t inherit property! That would be absolutely stupid! [normally] Ugh, that’s one part I hate about the Georgian era. Anyway. You’re probably thinking right now ‘But Callie, what about Charles? The body was never found?’. Charles had been missing for a month when the other Florences died, and nobody really seemed to care about either the Florences, or just Charles specifically to look for him, so the house went to the Greenes. Obviously nowadays it doesn’t matter, since there’s no chance Charles is alive, so…

Anyway, the story. Cassia and her children, Ed-

[A knock on the door]

Yes?

[Door opens, sounds of someone walking in]

{Voice} Hi, uh, Asher gave a… Statement, I guess? For your little investigation podcast, I mean. I think I have something you’d be interested in?

{Callie} Oh, Rin! Yes, come in, sit down, actually I’ve been meaning to ask you about something too. Related to the podcast.

{Rin}

Right. Ok then.

{Callie} But, go on?

{Rin}

So, I was just with my grandfather, and he gave me this journal. It has some information on Everwich. Em won’t answer her texts, and X is about to go to work. Ash said he’d get bored, but you’d want to know.

{Callie} Oh my gosh, you came to the right place, yes! It’s your grandfather I was meaning to ask you about, he was involved in an almost disappearance ages ago, so I wanted to hear his statement firsthand, but if you have this, that can also work!

{Rin}

I see what Ash meant that you were obsessed with this. God this is embarrassing. Here

[Pages rustling]

{Callie}

Wait- ‘Jill and Harvey have been acting oddly today.’ … ‘I know why now’ Rin, this is it! This is the missing piece!

[Rustling]

{Rin} Stop hugging me. I barely know you.

{Callie} Sorry…

[More rustling]

{Rin}

… Right. Well. There was… Something else. I did read the journal before coming here, and…

[A pause]

Something’s wrong with Em. Oh, sorry, Emilia. I think it’s related to what’s written in there.

{Callie} Go on?

{Rin}

Well, it started about a week ago. First of October. Em missed school. Before you ask, no that’s not normal, yes that’s why I was worried. She never misses school, not even if she’s sick, she’s too worried about missing up. Believe me, we’ve had to force her to stay home before. So, when she just… Didn’t turn up, I thought that was weird. She’s my best friend, it’s the sort of thing you’d notice, right?

[A pause]

{Callie} Keep going, I swear I won’t judge if that’s what you’re worried about.

{Rin} God, you’re desperate for any little bits of information, aren’t you?

[Sigh]

Well, we called her. I mean, I called her. Ash and X weren’t worried – it was a Chemistry test that day. Asher was more worried about his score. He’s awful at sciences, so Em normally tutors him a bit to get their confidence up, but cause she wasn’t there, Xavier ended up doing it. This was during form time. She said she was ill. Nothing seemed wrong with her, but… I had a bad feeling. I just brushed it off as stress, cause it just so happened that day, both Jamie and Tyler- It doesn’t matter. I tried to talk to Aiden about Em- Oh wait, do you know Aiden?

{Callie} No? Wait- Is he that guy in Xavier’s rugby team?

{Rin}

Yeah, Em’s twin brother. So I tried to talk to him about her, but he said he didn’t know, and didn’t care, he had a big match.

{Callie}

Yeah, Xavier was at that match.

{Rin}

God, I can’t believe I’m talking to you about this, this is so stupid. Em was probably just sick, and finally learnt that we’d force her to go back home.

{Callie} Was there more or was it just that?

[A pause]

{Rin}

Yeah. We went to your haunted house, as you know, you were literally there-

{Callie} Good to get it on tape, though!

{Rin}

Hm. So, we went there, you showed us around. Em seemed pale. And yeah, she’s white, but like. Paler than normal. Her hair too, but I just kinda assumed it was a trick of the light. But over the next week, she kept avoiding us, and we kept finding her in the girl’s bathroom working on some experiment. I say we, I don’t mean X and Ash too, I meant other girls. It was weird. She normally goes to the chemistry labs to do her fun little experiments.

{Callie}

What was she doing?

{Rin}

I don’t know, she had a test tube full of something and was trying to drop some solution of something into it. With no regard for lab safety- You know she used to be my lab partner in year 10, she’d always bug me about how bad my lab safety was. ‘No Rin, you have to put on a lab coat’, ‘Rin, stop, you should put on goggles!’, ‘Rin why are you coming in here with food. It’s for me? Put it outside!’.

[A pause]

Ok, that’s a bit mean. She did appreciate the brownie I got her. But anyway, her severe lack of it in the past week was funny. And not in a ‘ha-ha’ kind of way. So. Yeah. She’s been acting strange. And freaking Asher and Xavier won’t listen when I say something’s wrong, they’re just pinning it down to GCSEs.

[A pause]

I guess I did need to get that out. Thanks for listening.

{Callie}

Wow. So, you think it relates to-

[Pages rustling]

This?

{Rin}

That’s why I had it bookmarked.

[A pause]

Oh yeah, I tried to put my arm around Em, and she ducked out. That’s another reason I think so.

[A pause, muttering between the two]

{Callie}

I think Emilia’s in trouble. It’s definitely that. I think this is the piece I’ve been missing, and it makes sense with what I already know! What with the paler skin, odd actions, something’s definitely up. Maybe Emilia is next to disappear! It’s what happened before C-

[Overlapping]

{Rin}

I don’t care if I sound crazy, you’ve convinced me. I’m gonna go tell X and Ash, I don’t care if they’re busy. I care about Em too much to lose her.

[Footsteps, voice getting quieter]

Thanks so much, Callie, you’ve helped.

{Callie}

Wait, let me take a photo of the-

[Door slam]

-Book.

[Sigh]

Well, that was an interesting coincidence. Um. I now have a lot more information about the Secrets of Everwich. Thank you for listening! I need to go now to update my theories wall.

[Click]

[Radio static for a moment]

[Click]

{Voice}

[Recording glitches, and cuts in and out]

Drat- No, do- Go- Stop- Don’t hur- -nyone!

[Click]

[corestrikefan2653]

We're Back!

It's been nearly 5 months since the Pro League Elimination tournament. A lot has happened since then! It's up to me to catch you all up to speed! Here we go!

After winning the tournament, Demon Drive went on a worldwide tour! X tagged along as their bouncer. They all had an amazing time! Being dubbed the greatest corestrike players of all time really helps with ticket sales.

Rasmus, Kazan, and Nao further devoted themselves to Clarion Corp. They've all been hard at work for quite some time. A few announcements reveal that they're rapidly increasing their Omega energy studies.

Atlas went back to his lab to push his own technology even further.

Juno was finally enrolled in school. So she and Luna had their hands full with school. Especially since I heard that the pair gets into a lot of trouble.

Without her team, Asher has been doing every odd job she can find to support her family.

Zentaro is right behind her. He's also trying to raise money to bring his parents over.

Ai.Mi still plays corestrike as a free agent. She's still really good!

Finii is trying to get famous any way she can. TV appearances. Youtube videos. Livestreams. It's hard NOT to see her!

Rune has been focusing on his connection with Obscura. He's trying to gain control over it. I hear he's making good progress!

Era spent months searching for Kai. Eventually, she finally found him in hotel 700 miles away. He spent a whole 2 months recovering. But he's thankfully better now. Kai may not have been the nicest striker, but I'm glad he's okay.

Me and Dubu haven't stopped striking. Even without Estelle. She went back to focusing on her modeling career. But, we have a new third member: Drek'ar! Since his team kinda also disbanded, he joined ours! And I thought I was intense! Drek'ar is unstoppable on the arena. The three of us are gonna make a name for ourselves.

Throughout all of this, we've managed to stay connected. All of us. We chat regularly online. And we all play corestrike together, despite where all our lives have taken us.

Sure, it may be the off-season. Sure, the game isn't receiving new content often. Sure, corestrike may no longer be the primary focus for everyone now. But we're still here. We're still together. And that extends to our fans. Thank you all so much for staying with us through thick and thin. It's you that keeps this fanbase alive. Your love. Your devotion. Your passion. It's worth more than any title or trophy. From the bottom of all our hearts, thank you Omega Strikers community. Here's to many more adventures in the future. And remember:

Go Strike!

[ruthofroses]

I introduced my best friend to Omega Strikers since me and my other friend needed a third teammate. My best friend (I’ll call her Lucina) decided to play Era to buff my other friend (Let’s go with Ike) while he played X.

Well when we finally went into normal mode Ike totally stomped the other team as X, getting some great awakenings (Quickstrike, Cast, etc) and we absolutely obliterated the other team. But the entire time Lucina was just losing it over, to quote, “X’s himbo lines.” She kept saying how it was super funny Era was so quiet compared to her loud teammate. I was playing Asher goalie and didn’t really score, just kept the ball away from the enemies. But we all worked very well together, and she did pretty good for a relatively new player.

Lucina likes to ship characters / write fanfics (I do too but weirdly enough I haven’t done so with Omega Strikers characters) so when she found out Era liked Kai in canon and not X she was absolutely FUMING. We all had a long laugh (alongside her, dw) and she literally made a whole Google Slides presentation on why Era and X would be a better couple than Era and Kai. Ike and I sat through it, not really partial to either side but finding it incredibly amusing. Literally one of the slides was just “himbo with a goth gf is one of the best dynamics in fiction” with the line beneath it saying “screw you daddy issues.”

I’m still baffled this all happened literally just because Ike and I wanted a third teammate so we didn’t have to suffer solo-queue goalies or backwards forwards.

( I could upload an image or two of the slideshow but I’m on my phone right now and not my laptop, might add it later lmao. )

EDIT: Reblogged with the images, enjoy.