#even if it might change in the future or something

[emiel-surreal]

on the flip side, of my experience with being encouraged to transition, nobody has ever outright told me that it's okay for me to be a boy, or that it's okay for me to not be a girl. the closest trans person in my life is my brother, and he's always been the most open minded and accepting of my identity and presentation. he has always validated the way i've explained who i am.

his friends have made jokes like "so has she admitted she's a boy yet?" and my brother would tell me about this. years ago i would resist these jokes (laughing along but clarifying myself), and just say something like "nah i'm not a guy, i just look like this."

more recently i've taken the attitude that, my gender might change in the future and i'm open to that. right now i don't really believe in gender and i don't personally observe it--you could call me agender, antigender, nonbinary, or whatever else sufficiently explains it for you--and it's hard for me to even conceptualize what i'm doing as "transitioning" because it feels more like i'm just embracing what i am. i don't see any start or finish line. the idea of taking testosterone feels a lot like taking any other substance--i didnt transition from sober to stoner, i just started smoking and that's a thing i do sometimes.

even with having unconditional support, nobody has ever said anything to me like "have you considered HRT?" or "do you think you might be happier with short hair?" or "we can shop in the men's section if you want". never. never ever. nobody suggests transness or nonconformity. even with being a "tomboy" my entire life, femininity has been pushed onto me in every way. "get a pixie cut". "these pants will bring out your natural curves". "close your knees when you sit". "maybe just get a breast reduction instead of full on top surgery". "when you get to high school, you're going to start to wear makeup. it's just what happens to girls in high school".

like, be real.

i really think it took hearing about my brother's friends' jokes through him about me "finally" admitting my transness (because seriously, i've always been very tomboyish. i just look like a boy because i stopped masking my personal style a longgg time ago) to get comfortable with the idea. like, yeah maybe i am trans. what would that look like? well, at my last physical i got a recommendation for a private practice to pursue HRT, so we'll see how that goes (when i have the funds for that).

everyone who thinks "social pressure to transition" is real has naturalised the social pressure Not to transition to such a point that they have become incapable of understanding that it's real and exists. "cis guy who likes wearing a skirt has been pressured into becoming trans :(" how about "trans girl who is in the middle of cracking her egg is terrified of being trans and you telling her that it's Okay to be a cis man in a skirt is unhelpful at best and open transmisogyny at worst". you do not see that 99.99% of the social pressure is in the direction of Staying Cis because it is only that 0.01% that feels unnatural to you

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

butterflygirl738 (3)

No tag lists. Do not send asks or DMs about updates. Review my pinned post for guidelines, masterlist, etc.

Warnings: this fic will include dark content such as dubcon/noncon, power imbalance, sickness, medical bills, and other possible triggers. My warnings are not exhaustive, enter at your own risk.

This is a dark!fic and explicit. 18+ only. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: You love butterflies and your mother, but life isn’t that simple. As life gets complicated, and expensive, you find yourself in need and an unexpected miracle presents itself.

Characters: Steve Rogers (CEO/Sugar Daddy)

As per usual, I humbly request your thoughts! Reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed, not only do I see them easier but it lets other people see my work. I will do my best to answer all I can. I’m trying to get better at keeping up so thanks everyone for staying with me <3

Your feedback will help in this and future works (and WiPs, I haven’t forgotten those!) Asking for more or putting ‘part 2?’ is not feedback.

Love you all. You are appreciated and your are worthy. Treat yourself with care. 💖

You stand behind the dumpster. Frozen. The world stacks on your chest. The bills, the doctors, your managers, the butterflies... Everything, from big to small. All of it feels insurmountable. You don’t think you can go on much longer. Not like this. Not on your own.

This is something. Help. Are you too hopeful? Too desperate? So what if you are. This isn’t about your life, it’s about your mom’s.

How many nights have you laid away dreaming of an easy out. Of any crumb of help. Of some sort of relief. This might not be it but you can’t just wave it away.

You click the link. It prompts you to install WhatsApp. You pace in circles as you wait for the pubic wi-fi to download the app. When that’s done, you’re redirected to add a contact; ‘S’. Hm. Mysterious.

You accept and a message blips up.

‘Can I call?’

Your heart jumps. You’re doing this. Doing what? It’s a call. You shake your head and send a thumbs up. Stop shaking.

The call pops up, chiming from the speakers. You fumble and answer, mindless noises squeaking from your throat. You steady the phone and peek out around the bins. Another car draws up to the window.

“Hello? Everything okay?” The deep voice startles you.

You grip the cell and clear your throat, “sorry, I... I never used this before.”

“Hm, that’s alright,” he assures. His timbre is calm and even. That’s so soothing.

“Uh, hi?” You say awkwardly and retreat to hide again. “Um...”

Silence radiates from the speaker. He sniffs.

“Um, how are the butterflies?” He asks.

You blink and look back and forth. “My butterflies?”

“Sure, they come out yet?”

“Oh, uh... no...”

You chew your lip. He doesn’t sound like your typical watcher. You get those aesthetic blogs with girly moodboards or crafting how-tos. He’s a man. And he sounds older. Not old, just older than you.

“Right,” he takes a deep breath. “Look, I’m thinking right now and I don’t think this is something we should talk about over the phone.”

“Huh? Oh?” You sputter in confusion. “Sure. Erm. Thank you.” You put your hand to your chest. “You’re very generous but if you changed your mind--"

“No, I haven’t,” he says firmly. “What I want to say I would like to say to you. In person.”

You laugh, more out of surprise than amusement. “Well, uh, that’s... no, I don’t know. I live... in the middle of nowhere. That’s not possible.”

“I’ll come to you.” He insists.

You stop shuffling around and hum. He’s quiet as you think. Obviously, it’s not smart to meet strangers on the internet.

“You pick the place. Neutral ground.” He suggests.

“Well, you know, I have two jobs and I don’t know if that’s a good idea.” You wiggle your nose awkwardly and cringe. “I should really give you that money back.”

“Keep it.” He says. “I’m willing to negotiate. I’ll give you access to my location so you know where I am. Everything’s on the up and up.”

“Oh, oh,” you eke out nervously. Your mom would be screaming at you. What did I tell you about the internet? But that was when you were young. Just a teenager. You’re an adult now.

“There’s another ten on the table if you just talk.” He offers.

You nearly trip. You let out and oop and catch yourself on the dumpster. The smell of the contents adds to the roiling of your stomach.

“Ten?” You murmur.

“Ten grand.”

“How-- oh, that’s a lot of money.”

“I’d pay more.”

That statement takes your breath away. You look down at your beaten up sneakers. You ground your heel into the ground.

“But why?”

“Like I said, I want to discuss it face-to-face,” he says. “It doesn’t feel right like this so... you send me the location where you want to meet. Send me a date and time. And check the chat.”

“Pardon?” You utter.

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he says abruptly as something scuffs on his end. “I gotta go.”

He hangs up. You stand stunned in silence. You pull the phone away from your face and look down at the screen. Another link. You tap it without a second thought. Shoot, you probably shouldn’t have.

The browser opens a page; a notice at the bottom that says the app work better. Just another thing to download. Above the banner is a map and a flashing dot. You squint and zoom in.

Your brow furrows. You make a goofy face and scoff. New York? Oh wow.

You quickly exit out of all the windows and put your phone away. You inhale and let it out slow. You slink out from behind the dumpsters and head towards home. You’ll take your time and think. You always enjoyed a nice walk, especially when your mom came along.

🦋

“Whatcha thinking of, pie?” Your mom asks suddenly.

You lift your head and open your eyes. You barely remember sitting down. Even just getting home. After back-to-back shifts, you’re worn out. You feel like a sheet hanging in the sun. Each day that hollowness grows.

“Oh, nothing,” you lie. You think of the only thing you’ve been able to think of for the last day.

She nods but you can see she doesn’t buy it. You shrug and clasp your hands together. “Just work. They’re cutting back on labour for the summer.”

“That’s too bad,” she says. “I’m sure you’ll still get hours.”

But not enough...

“I put out an application at the computer reseller,” you say. “But he didn’t seem very impressed. Maybe the coffee place? Couple hours in the morning.”

“Oh, honey,” your mom frowns. “You need a break. You’re always working.”

“I’m fine, mom,” you say.

No, you’re tired. You’re exhausted to the bone and yet when you lay down at night, you can’t sleep. All you can do is lay there and think about doom. About how it’ll be your fault when she dies.

You stand up suddenly at that thought. You try not to let it in. You shudder and cross the room.

“Pie?” Her voice piques with alarm.

“Sorry, mom, I don’t know... I just... I feel like I forgot something,” you shake off the tension. Or try to.

“Ha, I know that feeling,” she says. “While you’re up...”

“Tea?” You offer. She nods. “Alright.”

You go into the kitchen. You flip on the electric kettle and grip the edge of the counter. You lean on it and hang your head. You suck back a wave of tears. You will never forgive yourself if you don’t do everything you possibly can to save her.

You wait until the click. You pour hot water over the ginger and lemon tea bag and take it out to your mom. “It’s hot.” You put it on a coaster. “I remembered what I forgot.”

“Oh?” She wonders.

“I didn’t talk to the building manager about the water. The bathroom sink is still spitting out rust.”

“Ah, right,” she nods.

“I won’t be long,” you say. “I’m just going to fill out a form and leave it in the slot.”

“Be safe,” she calls after you.

You swipe up your phone and hurry to the door. As you step into the hall, guilt scalds around your neck. You don’t lie to your mom. Ever. She doesn’t need anything else to worry about.

You head downstairs. It’s not really a lie if you make it true. You grab one of the forms from the building office and take it with you outside. You fold it up and tuck it in your pocket. You’ll put it in tomorrow morning before work.

You follow your phone signal down the street. Finally, a network pops up. The overpriced knick knack boutique has free wi-fi, who would have guessed?

Self-awareness sets in. You look around the dark streets. You open up WhatsApp. You think, biting the tip of your tongue as you do.

It has to be somewhere far from home but not too far that you can’t get there. And it has to be between the appointments and work. Ugh. Okay. You got it.

You type in the place and time. A week isn’t too soon? He’s probably busy. He sounds important. You can only guess. You don’t know anything about him. That’s a sobering realisation but you already hit send.

The reply chimes loudly in the quiet night. That’s quick.

‘I’ll be there.’

Simple. To the point. A complete answer that answers nothing at all. What are you doing?

🦋

You place the coffee on the table and sit. You stare at the dark brew. It’s the cheapest size and roast, but that flicker of guilt remains. You could use that two bucks for something better. Even after that generous donation, you’re still in the red.

You check your phone quickly. The last message was about an hour ago. ‘We’re still good?’ and you confirmed. ‘See ya then’.

You cross one foot over the other, your toe wiggling anxiously. You watch the brim of the cup. You put your phone next to it and look out the window. A woman passes by with her stroller and another child dancing around at her side. You smile.

You sit back and check the clock above the counter. Each number is a coffee bean. It’s cute.

The place is busy. The door jingles between the voices of customers and employees. The grind of the machines and puffs of steams are near constant.

You chose the place deliberately. Partly out of embarrassment. You didn’t want to meet him at a chain place. You thought he might judge you for that. Well, you are begging for money online. It doesn’t really matter.

You put your hands on the side of the mug. The warmth does not comfort you. Your stomach is tangling in on itself. You should have got tea. You don’t know if you can handle caffeine right now.

The clock ticks past the hour. He’s late. That’s alright. He doesn’t know the town. He could be lost. You could check his location... no, you haven't dared to do that. It feels like a violation.

Or this could all be a cruel joke. You cringe. Did you just waste your own time?

It’s only two minutes.

A kid jostles by your table and your chair jerks as their toe catches. They sprawl over the floor and their mother shrieks their name. You get up and kneel by the lanky third grader.

“Woah, you okay?” You ask as he sits up and rubs his elbow.

“Oweee,” he grimaces.

“Are you bleeding?”

“No,” he pouts. “I’m okay.”

“Here,” you offer your hand.

You help him up. His mom comes over in a huff. “Liam!”

“He’s okay,” you say. “Just a bruise.”

“Oh, thanks. I’m so sorry about him.” She sends him the mom eyes.

“It’s fine. He’s just a kid.”

She harrumphs and grabs Liam by the arm, “come on. You can wait to have your cookie.”

You back up and turn to the table. Your coffee sloshed in the chaos and a puddle surrounds the base. You go to grab napkins from the counter. As you mop up the mess, a chair scrapes. You look up as a blond man stands. He picks up the tall mug and heads in your direction.

“Here,” he opens his hand as he approaches. “I’ll throw that out for you.”

You stare at him in confusion. You recognise his voice. You hand over the wadded napkin dumbly and gape. He brushes by and goes to toss the bunched tissue.

He returns and gestures to your seat. You sit and he puts his cup across from yours. “You need a refill?”

You shake your head. He sits and pushes his shoulders wide. You watch him. You remember him coming in. He’s hard to miss. Tall, broad shoulders, neat hair, and a pair of dark aviators. He wears jeans and a sage linen button-up.

“I’m sorry,” he begins. “I was watching you.” He looks around. “Can never be too sure who you meet on the internet.”

You nod. “Wait... how do you know it’s me?”

He looks down and points at your wrist. “You wore that in a video. You were showing of that monarch and I remember the bracelet.”

You look at the charm dangling from your wrist. You blink.

“Right,” you say.

“You know, most people wouldn’t have been so helpful with that kid.” He says.

“Oh, uh, stuff happens. No one was hurt,” you shrug and twine your fingers together. “Um...”

“So...” he fills the void. “Do I call you butterflygirl738 or do you prefer something else?”

You give a tight-lipped smile. You’re here. He’s here. No going back now.

[cozycottagetarot]

Where You Bloom Bold

Links: Reading Masterlist | Ko-Fi | Personal Readings - open

About This Reading:

This reading is a sample from my latest offering on Patreon and marks the beginning of a new chapter over on my new blog, The Enchanted Chapter (@theenchantedchapter). Cozy Cottage Tarot isn’t going anywhere! I’ll still reblog new readings here, but from now on, all new posts will go up first on the new blog.

I’d love for you to follow along and step into this next dreamy chapter with me 🦋

Elle x

The focus is on where in your life you are currently playing small. The full version includes how you can begin to change that and how or where it will help you bloom.

Just so you know, I read tarot and oracle cards using their literal meanings, card imagery and intuition. These readings are primarily meant for entertainment purposes. The contents of this reading are not meant to act as or replace professional advice of any kind. Please only take what resonates and use it to reflect if you feel called to.

Decks Used: White Numen Tarot, The Citadel Oracle, The Deadly Apothecary Oracles, Seasons of The Witch Lammas Oracle

How to Choose A Group:

Take a deep breath or ground yourself in whatever way works best. Whatever option you feel most drawn to is your group. If you feel drawn to multiple groups, that’s okay too.

Read the section that belongs to your chosen group/s and remember to take only what resonates.

🌿 Roots & Reckoning

I did ramble a bit since you were my first group 😅

Where you’re currently playing small…

Cards: ten of wands, six of swords, page of swords, the captain, the champion, the puppeteer

It seems like you’re on a journey of moving from one chapter of your life into a new one. This transition has been one you’ve been waiting for for a long time. There are all sorts of emotions attached to it, good and bad, but the issue isn’t that these emotions exist; it’s that they are heavy. They are heavy, and you’ve become so entangled in them that you might not even be able to recognise where you begin and these feelings end. But you’re at a point in your life where, as you move into this next chapter, you have to put these feelings down. I think this is something you’ve been working hard towards. You’ve stepped up and become someone who could navigate all the hardships that life threw at you, one after the other. Help might have been limited or nonexistent during these times.

You’re moving from being burdened to being full of joy, excitement and happiness. You’ve got all these new ideas of what good/positive things can happen for you in the future. You’re finally getting the chance to explore who you are unfiltered and what way of expressing yourself feels right.

So, how does this tie into how you’re playing small?

When you were navigating these responsibilities, struggles, whatever you choose to call them, you were on your own to carry them, but you weren’t alone. You carried these weights alone because there was no one to lean on, or you felt like you couldn’t. The specific cause of it had to do with your relationship with working with others. Maybe others didn’t acknowledge how much effort you were putting in. Maybe you didn’t ask for help. Maybe you did, but no one came to your aid.

Despite this, you worked towards an achievement of some kind. An achievement that allowed you to move from one chapter to the next. However, it feels like you’re holding yourself back and playing small in terms of how you celebrate this win and embrace the next part of your story with open arms.

You’re not giving yourself the full credit you deserve for not only this win, but how hard you’ve worked to get there. It feels like you’re trying to downplay it.  It’s like you’re afraid of what people will have to say if you embrace this next chapter boldly. Like you feel the need to apologise for evolving as a human, for finding happiness. There’s nothing to apologise for. This is your win. You can have gratitude for any help you received, and you can feel resentment toward the fact that you may not have received any. But release any feelings and obligations.

If you like this sample and you want to read the full reading, you can access it through my Patreon here. ✨

🍯 Thorns & Honey

Where you’re currently playing small…

Cards: the magician, ace of swords, queen of wands, the patron, the thief, the diviner

Honey, you are magic in all the best ways possible, but it’s like you refuse to let it be. You’ve either had or are on the cusp of having some kind of mental breakthrough, and it feels like this could be regarding something that has the potential to be big. The ideas won’t stop coming, and it’s almost like everything is finally falling into place. But the thing about having these ideas is that simply holding on to them in your head isn’t enough. You have to be willing to actually see them grow and bloom in the world outside your head.

I think you’re every bit capable of seeing this idea manifest in your reality, and I think that you know you’re capable of it too. The problem is it’s almost like you’re afraid of your own power. You’re familiar with the idea of “with great power comes great responsibility”, and the responsibility of it is what is getting to you. This could be because you don’t feel ready, you don’t know how to start, or maybe you’re worried that if you try to assert yourself as an authority or someone capable of executing your idea that you will be being dishonest in some way. You’re not, and you won’t.

You have this vibrant, magnetic energy around you. Your ability to create and be creative is at a high for you right now. However, you’re playing small by not having the (full) confidence and belief in yourself. Maybe you have a fear of being seen, or you’re afraid of success and the attention and demand that would follow, so you play small in an attempt to stay in what is familiar.

I think that you’re leaving things to divine timing and intervention. But you haven’t done enough work yet to say what happens next is out of your hands. This breakthrough is your opportunity that you must grab onto with both hands before you claim to let fate do the work. You have to start paving your way. I’ve been pondering how ‘the patron’ ties into this. Originally, I was going to say this idea could have to do with you starting some type of endeavour that involves mentoring or coaching others on a certain topic. If that resonates with you, then by all means, take it as a confirmation. But what I really think this card is trying to highlight is that you’re playing small by telling yourself you need more experience. Once you have more experience, then you’ll be ready to go to the next phase… but you have everything you need to bloom right now.

If you like this sample and you want to read the full reading, you can access it through my Patreon here. ✨

🌹 Roses & Rust

You’re my more straightforward group so keep in mind that the messages are a bit shorter because you’re mainly doing what you need to be doing.

Where you’re currently playing small…

Cards: four of cups, the hermit, seven of swords, the dancer, the muse, the catalyst, the sentinel

I don't feel like you're playing small, but I do feel like you're standing still. You strike me as someone who likes to make sure you can navigate your internal and external world as swiftly and seamlessly as possible. Because of that, it feels like right now, you're more focused on reflecting, trying to map out the pros and cons of what paths and opportunities are available to you at the moment.

There is a possibility that you're afraid of ruffling feathers, and if that's the case, then I feel like that's where you're playing small. You're denying yourself the opportunity — and the right — to fully explore your options on your own terms, without worrying about what other people have to say or think about it.

The energy here feels very muted. It's as if the cards are pointing towards a disconnection from yourself, and that’s what’s coming through now. You're usually someone who's more optimistic — a lover, a romantic of life in general, not just of people. But for some reason, you’re keeping yourself closed off in your external world, and as a result, it’s creating stagnancy internally too.

You're playing small by not embracing your inner dreamer — that lively, vibrant spirit that lives within you. You have to free yourself of this, because it is time for you to change. Something in your life is ready to shift.

By not making any moves, by closing yourself off, you’re actually stopping the very changes you might be hoping for from happening. It’s time for you to shake things up on purpose. Let change be your intention, not something that happens to you.

Rather than change pulling you away from the things you want or are working towards, it might just be the thing that brings you even closer to them.

Maybe you’ve experienced some kind of betrayal recently, possibly in the last few months — and that’s what’s caused this shutdown. If you’ve been searching for inner guidance and it’s felt absent, that could be a strong reason why.

If you like this sample and you want to read the full reading, you can access it through my Patreon here. ✨

[luesmainblog]

it's not just AI and tiktok, either. everything from tech companies to politicians to commercial entities to religious organizations are adding to this problem; they don't want you to think, because then you might Question, and you might demand Change, and you won't be as easy to control. I think this is the thing we need to emphasize with people. when you're talking to someone who hasn't been using their critical thinking skills for a long time, you can't expect them to know from context why that's a bad thing. you need to spell it out that they are actively putting themselves in danger. that taking the time to think things through and put that effort in will genuinely make their life more enjoyable and fulfilling, and it's a skill they need to develop, not something they just 'can't do because it's hard'. you gotta emphasize that it won't be hard forever, not if they do it every day. i sincerely forsee a lot of the people my age and younger having extremely bad midlife crisies when we hit 40 or so. because we've seen this before, in a different form. people who grew up following the rules and not really thinking about their future - just Assuming that they should get a stable job and a spouse and kids and a sensible car because That's What You Do - and then woke up one day realizing they had no sense of self and they've wasted their youth and a lot of things suck, actually. if you've never watched a middle-aged person have the dawning horror strike them that the kids going out to protest probably have the right idea and aren't just causing a fuss over nothing, it's a pretty humbling sight.

for any teachers - college or otherwise - who want to fight against this issue, there actually is one simple solution you can start with. it's gonna sound ridiculous, but remember that we used to do this all the time: have them do their papers On Paper, by pen or pencil, in the classroom. if it's going to be a multiple day project, have them keep their project there in the classroom. in the school's wifi, block every generative Ai you can think of - and when you find another, block that one, too. strongly encourage the use of a library - physical paperback sources and interviews they've done themselves. adjust how you do things and how you run your classroom to make it as difficult to use GenAI as possible. cut them off as much as is within your power so that it's not even an option.

Generative AI has destroyed academia.

In the next few decades we’re going to have thousands of people who don’t really know anything, and can’t do any critical thinking.

[yuurei20]

hii yuurei! first of all, i want to thank you for the effort you put into this blog, seriously you’re doing god’s work here.

sorry if this has already been answered but i was watching some of your videos on youtube and noticed that some of the students come from a non-magical family. is there any info on how magic and genetics are related? or why does some non magical parents have magical children? thank u so much!

Hello hello, thank you for this question! m(_ _)m You are very much too kind!!

Jade has a comment in Vil's birthday vignette where he seems to assume that Vil's mother must be a mage after learning that Vil's father is not:

🐬: So your father is not a mage. Then your magical abilities must have come from... 👑: My Mother? Perhaps. Who can say?

And this is a fascinating assumption for Jade, personally, to be making, because we just recently learned that both of his and Floyd's parents are magicless:

But maybe it is a common assumption in the Twst universe that being able to use magic yourself must mean that one or another of your parents can, as well, even if this is not Jade's personal situation?

Looking at a list of mage-parents vs. magicless parents (above), we have not received confirmation for most, but we know for 100% canonical certainty that Jade/Floyd and Epel were all born to on-screen-confirmed magicless parents :>

Whereas Epel follows up with the information that both his grandmother and great-grandmother are mages we have not received such information about the twins (as of this post), and it would be fascinating to learn if they are an example of mages suddenly appearing in an otherwise magicless family or if maybe they have mage-grandparents, too! 🦈🐬

Concerning how magic and genetics are related and how non-mages are having mage-children: I do not think we have received any in-game explanation!

Deuce has a line of, "there are rumors that your magical potential is determined at birth," but I think this might be less so a confirmation of a genetic connection being a requirement and moreso a comment on magic pool size?

Malleus has argued that this is untrue ("the more you use (magic), the better you get, regardless of your inherent talent for it"), and we have seen an example of this in game: Riddle 🌹

Riddle himself explains that he can't be certain if he had any special talent to begin with, because his mother decided she would be giving birth to an "exceptional mage" and then forced it onto him starting from when he "was in the womb."

This is confirmed by Idia, who says that Riddle actually isn't "some kind of prodigy," but his magic pool was increased artificially.

Back to the original question, I do not think we have ever learned if someone being a mage or not is connected to genetics in the Twst universe, with the only insinuation we've had in-game being relayed by a character who, themselves, came from magicless parents 📝

And while there are in-universe rumors that even if you are born a mage your potential is determined at birth and there is nothing you can do to change it, this has been disproven by characters like Malleus, who says otherwise, and Riddle, who is living proof that anyone can become powerful, as the size of one's magic pool is something that can be increased through hard work :>

Will be interesting to see if this area is to be expanded upon in the future!

[better-setterv2]

Hi! How are you? Idk if you are not comfortable writing about things that happen in real life (you Can change the name) but i would love to read about reader reaction to lewis liking his ex picture! With a happy ending he thank you

𝒩𝑜𝓉 𝒥𝓊𝓈𝓉 𝒜 𝐿𝒾𝓀����

Authors Note: Hi all! Here is a quick request I completed today when I should have been doing class work…Enjoy! Lots of love xx

P.S I hope this meets the expectations of what you requested and doesn’t seem rushed

Summary: After discovering Lewis liked a sultry photo of his ex just before her engagement announcement, the reader confronts her insecurities. Only to have Lewis reassure her with a heartfelt proposal that proves she's the only one he wants.

Warnings: bit of angst

Taglist: @hannibeeblog @nebulastarr

MASTERLIST

࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊

The sun was barely rising over Monaco when you woke up to your phone vibrating with back to back notifications. You almost ignored it - another group chat, probably, or your best friend sending TikToks before her morning coffee. But then you saw her name.

Nicole Scherzinger.

And beneath it, two posts.

The first was a sultry black and white shot of her in a body hugging satin dress, cut high on the thigh, one hand tangled in her hair, the other resting just above her hipbone. She looked radiant. Wild. Free. The caption was a simple black heart.

The second post was a carousel - a ring, a kiss, a sweeping view of Italy.

“Yes a thousand times.” The caption said.

And in the likes?

Lewis Hamilton.

Your heart dropped.

You stared at the screen, feeling everything go unnaturally still the room, your breath, your chest.

You weren’t the jealous type. Not really. You’d seen the pictures of them before, the old red carpet photos, the gossip columns, the recycled headlines. You’d told yourself that was the past. You were his present. His future.

But something about him liking that photo the sultry one, the one posted right before she announced she was engaged…made your stomach twist into knots.

It was like seeing a private moment you weren’t supposed to witness. Like a secret you hadn’t been let in on.

You stared at the photo again. Then again. Then at the comments. And then, finally at the name highlighted among the hundreds of thousands of likes.

Your boyfriend’s name.

Lewis emerged from the shower a few minutes later, towel slung low around his waist, humming something low under his breath. He stopped when he saw the expression on your face.

“Hey. You alright?”

You didn’t answer right away. Instead, you held up your phone.

His brows pulled together. “What’s that?”

“You tell me.” Your voice came out quieter than you meant it to. “You liked her photo. The one where she’s practically naked. And then she posted that she’s engaged.”

Lewis blinked, stepping closer. “I - what? Wait, what are you talking about?”

“She posted a sexy photo,” you said, trying not to sound petty. “Then minutes later posted her engagement. And you liked both.”

His face fell.

He crossed the room, taking your phone gently from your hand and scrolling through the posts. You watched his expression go from confused to frustrated to instantly guilty.

“Shit,” he muttered. “I didn’t even notice the second one.”

“Not sure that makes it better,” you said, trying to keep your voice from cracking. “I know I’m not her. I know you loved her once. But you liking that picture, it felt like you were looking back. Like some part of you still misses it. Misses her.”

“Hey. No.” His voice was sharp but earnest as he crouched in front of you, hands on your knees. “That’s not it. I promise. I didn’t even see the engagement post. I saw the first one when I was half asleep last night and I just scroll, double tap, move on. Mindless. It didn’t mean anything.”

“It meant something to me.”

That’s what broke him.

He sat down beside you on the bed, his head in his hands. “I’m sorry. I was careless. I didn’t think about how it might make you feel, and that’s on me.”

You stared down at your hands. “It just hurts. She was such a big part of your past. And sometimes I feel like I’m just standing in her shadow. That no matter how far we go, she’ll always be that part of your life that people compare me to.”

Lewis reached for you, gently lifting your chin until your eyes met his.

“You’re not standing in anyone’s shadow,” he said softly. “And you never will be.”

You stayed quiet, your heart aching in that vulnerable way you hated, the kind that made you feel small. Replaceable.

Lewis stood, turned and went to the drawer in the corner - the one you never really paid attention to. He pulled out a small velvet box and held it in his palm for a second before walking back over.

“I wasn’t gonna do this yet,” he said. “Had some grand plan in mind. Something in Italy maybe next month . Somewhere romantic. But maybe what matters more is doing it right now to show you it’s real. That it truly counts.”

He sank to one knee.

You gasped softly, lips parting, eyes darting between his face and the box in his hand.

“Liking that photo? That was a mistake. But the biggest truth in my life is this - I don’t want her. I don’t want anyone else. It’s always been you. You’re the one I want beside me when I’m tired, when I win, when I lose. You’re the one I think about when I land in a new country, when I’m stuck in traffic, when I’m lying in bed staring at the ceiling.”

The box opened, revealing a diamond ring that glimmered even in the soft morning light. It was timeless. Elegant. You.

“I want a life with you. A messy, honest, ridiculously beautiful life,” he said. “Marry me. Let’s make our story the one people talk about.”

You covered your mouth with your hands, breath trembling. The pain in your chest had softened into something warmer, fuller.

“Yes,” you whispered. “God, yes.”

He slipped the ring onto your finger like it belonged there, like you belonged. And when he kissed you, it wasn’t performative or perfect. It was just him sincere and sure and a little shaky, like he’d been holding that love in for too long.

࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊ ⊹ ˑ ִ ֶ 𓂃࣪𓏲ᥫ᭡ ₊

Later that night , social media buzzed again only this time, it was about you.

A new post. From Lewis.

A photo of the two of you curled up on your sun soaked balcony, your ring front and center, his lips pressed to your temple.

Caption: “Some things aren’t for the timeline. But this? This love? I want the world to know.”

There were no more doubts after that.

Not because of the ring.

But because of the way he looked at you every day after, like you were the only person who ever mattered.

Because you were.

Every quiet moment after in the slow mornings tangled in sheets, in the late nights when sleep wouldn’t come and the world felt too loud, he looked at you like that.

Like you were the calm after every storm.

The choice he made a thousand times over.

The beginning and the forever.

And when he held your hand in public, when the flashes went off and whispers of "Is that his fiancée?" rippled through the crowd, he didn’t let go.

He didn’t flinch.

Because you were no secret.

No rebound.

No shadow.

You were it.

His love. His future. His home.

And the whole world could watch, because he finally had everything he’d ever wanted.

And this time, he wasn’t letting go.

[trainer-from-unova]

contagious

english ao3 Ⓢ spanish ao3 Ⓢ masterlist Ⓢ 𝄞

ship: robert reynolds x oxe nurse afab!reader

summary: bob will not hurt anyone if you stay at his side, so you stay with him even if you don't want to. "nurse then a servant, just an appendage live to attend him so that he never lifts a finger"

au: canon divergence, oxe experimented on bob inside the vault, bob is a superhero, bob obeys val, sentry living homelander's life but without a team

c/w: the dove is alive and you can eat it but have in mind that there's a dove, horrible day at work for poor y/n, kidnapping and stockholm syndrome but not really but the vibes are there, you're his trophy ...and maybe much more, forced bonding and relationship, nurse/patient, boss/assistant, minor character death, light angst, mentions of mental illness and instability, open happy ending, humor, consensual sex, piv sex, unsafe sex, semi-public/bathroom quickie

a/n: his hair isn't described so you can imagine him blond or brunette, and english isn't my first language so sorry if something's weird expressed and even if you read it here please leave a kudo in ao3!

word count: 4169

It had probably been the craziest and most intense night of her life, and she was sure it had been the craziest and most intense night of the others, especially the military she was assisting. She had hardly slept, eaten or drank — but at least she wasn't hurt, she was just too busy ...and worried. Not for her in particular, but for all the people who had been injured, and those who might be injured in the future by him and 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

She was checking the wounds of a serviceman when she heard a commotion that caught her attention, a crowd of able-bodied servicemen heading towards her. For a moment she thought maybe they were going to bring her more patients, ask about the condition of their comrades or something like that. She didn't expect them to come after her, leaving her no time to react and try to resist, handcuffing her feet, hands and even a muzzle like Loki after the famous battle in New York.

It's as if her mind had been read, because while she was wondering what was going on and why she was being treated like that, Mel appeared and approached her to inform her, not very enthusiastically:

"He* wants you... I'm sorry."

She wished she could have slept on the helicopter flight to New York, but it was so short and she was so confused, nervous and scared that it was impossible. All that was compounded when she arrived at her apparent destination: The Watchtower.

When they helped her off the helicopter they made her walk across the helipad to the inside of the penthouse. To her surprise there was Valentina, and next to her was Bob, completely changed — he looked like someone else. The place was turned upside down, with broken glass on the floor, broken furniture, bullets and some traces of blood. She guessed what had happened, and all the aforementioned sensations were further aggravated. She looked worriedly at Bob as he slowly approached her, reaching up to remove all the handcuffs and muzzle with his telekinetic powers, causing them to fall to the ground.

She had the option to speak now, and she had many questions on her mind — so many that she didn't dare ask any of them out loud, as she didn't know where to start.

"It's time for you to go," he said raising his arm, looking at the soldiers behind her and to her sides.

"No!" she said worriedly, stepping forward. "Please don't hurt them."

"Yeah, listen to her and behave yourself," said Valentina a few metres away from them, in front of her and behind him. She looked at her, just as she looked at Mel standing next to her. "That was the deal."

At first she thought it was Valentina who wanted her, but now she was seeing that she was completely wrong. She looked back at his arm, which was still raised, but now, instead of being in attacking form towards the soldiers, he was holding out his hand for her to approach him and merge with him in a grip.

"What do you want from me?" she asked with bated breath.

"Everything," he answered, very sure of his answer. She had never seen him so sure.

Being a nurse she'd had enough of a run-in with him, you could say they'd grown fond of each other (even though she knew she shouldn't feel that way about him for many reasons) and had a good bond. It shouldn't surprise her that someone as traumatised, disturbed and lonely as he was had fallen in love with her when he was under her care. She knew of many cases of patients falling in love with nurses and viceversa, it was like Stockholm Syndrome.

"You won't hurt anyone?"

"If you're next to me."

She wasn't thrilled with the idea, but did she have any other choice...? He was out of control, mentally unstable, and her freedom had to be the sacrifice. Maybe she couldn't change him, but she could control him so that he wouldn't hurt anyone.

"...Then so be it," she said as she approached him and accepted his hand, causing him to smile sweetly and shyly at her. She knew herself well and always knew she was very helpful, but she never imagined she would be so helpful. That's why she became a nurse — it was vocational, she always wanted to help.

"And I now pronounce you man and wife," said Valentina rolling her eyes. "But the honeymoon has to wait, the press is waiting downstairs," she said pointing behind her, turning to head for the lift with Mel.

"There's a bed upstairs, take a rest, okay?" he reported as he stroked her hand with his thumb, before releasing it and going to the other two women's side.

She couldn't, or rather, shouldn't be surprised at such a change of mood. She nodded doubtfully and watched him walk away as she listened to Mel inform Valentina that the cleaning service was on its way to clean up the mess. She stood there, processing it all and feeling his eyes on her until the lift doors closed. The military stood there, and wanting to be alone and rest (if only physically) she took Bob's advice, going upstairs and into the bedroom there. She knew that, military or not, she had no way to escape, and if she did she would probably make the situation worse and not be able to run far.

The decor was sparse and the lighting horrible, but there was a television, so she turned it on to watch even a little of the press conference while she looked around the bedroom, full of hairdressing tools and fashion designs. She browsed the hangers on the dressers and the papers she found while occasionally glancing up to look at the screen, but always paying attention to what was being said. When there was nothing more to look at she lay back on the bed, watching Bob on the screen.

If he didn't excuse himself then she would excuse him: she knew that all this wasn't his fault, that he was only a victim of his circumstances, just as she was now. He was alone and needed company, and above all love. She didn't have the feeling that he was going to treat her badly in any way, but she was shocked and nervous about how her life was going to change from that moment on, so she couldn't help crying. That was the straw that broke the camel's back, exhausting her further and causing her to fall asleep.

Maybe to say that she was kidnapped was too strong a word, but she was very limited and watched over by Bob, Valentina and her employees. And unfortunately no one missed her, as she had no family left and the few friends she had could be counted on the fingers of one hand, apart from the fact that for work and personal reasons she had lost contact and trust with them. They were the typical friends who only met every few months to catch up over a drink.

So much studying nursing for nothing... But she was still getting a salary, a good one. Now her job was to live with Bob, and as unstable as he was it was sometimes difficult, but she always tried to be loving and put on her best face. She had to raise his self-esteem when it was too low and lower it when it was too high. She had to calm his delusions of grandeur, reminding him why he took the serum to convince him to do good and not to kill anyone, especially Valentina. She always wanted ______ to be present whenever she met with him, even for boring marketing meetings.

But she was a heroine, in her own way. Part of her felt useful and satisfied to know that by being by his side she saved many, and apparently himself as well. She couldn't help but begin to feel special that she was so loved by a God, however prefabricated and mentally unstable. Besides, he told her she was a Goddess — his Goddess.

Luckily it wasn't all bad. Now she lived for free in the penthouse of a skyscraper with incredible views of Manhattan, she had maid and kitchen service that did everything for them, and Bob didn't force her to do anything that made her uncomfortable — he just wanted to hold hands, hug her, cuddle with her, have her stroke his hair... At most he dared to kiss her on the cheek and look at her lips too much.

But touch makes affection. As time went on, and in the moments when he was mentally stable and cheerful, she couldn't help but begin to find him adorable. Nothing was a lie anymore, nothing was forced anymore: the hugs, the cuddling... Even holding his hand was now natural, and she had even started to kiss him on the cheek as well. The first time she dared to do so, she couldn't help but laugh when she saw his surprised face, and how shy and blushing he became. She also blushed when he dared to compliment her, and the instinct to protect him intensified.

At first she had told him to go on dates as an excuse to get out of the tower, now it was because she really enjoyed his company. And to be honest, she didn't feel so lonely anymore. Bob had filled a big void in her life, and she even missed him when she was away from home on a mission. She used to go to museums and other places alone, now she went with him, holding his hand.

"It's beautiful," he whispered looking at the painting in front of them, a romantic scene between a couple from several centuries ago.

"You know," she said in the same tone, catching his attention. "When I was a kid I thought people in the past were very serious, because they posed like that in pictures in Victorian times. Then I found out that they posed like that because they had to stand still for a long time to get the picture right, and seeing pictures like this you realise that they actually loved just like we do, which makes sense, because we're all alive because two people loved each other."

"It's a very romantic way of looking at things," he said looking at her with a touch of tenderness. One of the many things he liked about her was her way of looking at life. Knowing her he understood the meaning of the word "kind".

"Yeah, well," she said, blushing slightly, "I suppose."

"Excuse me," said a female voice behind them, and they both thought it was some fan asking for a photo, since he was a public figure. They both turned and saw a girl, teenager or young adult, with a small sheet of paper in her hand, offering it to them. In the other hand she was holding a small notebook. "I've drawn you," she said shyly.

"Oh my God!" she said, taking it. They both stared at it, amazed and touched. The drawing was done in charcoal pencil and showed them with their backs to each other, holding hands in front of a vertical rectangle that symbolised a painting. "It's the most beautiful thing I've seen here today," she said, and both he and the girl laughed.

"No way," said the girl, blushing.

"It's beautiful, really!" said Bob. "Thank you very much."

"Can we keep it?" she asked, curious and hoping for a positive answer.

"Yeah, of course!" replied the girl.

"Thank you," smiled Bob.

"You haven't credited it," she said, turning the paper over to see if there were any credit behind it, "don't you have an art account?"

"Oh, yeah," she said shyly, "but..." She shrugged her shoulders.

"Well, you should. Could I follow you on Instagram, if you have one?" she asked, handing the picture to Bob to hold while she pulled her mobile phone out of a pocket.

She said yes and told her her Instagram art account. She followed her and then the girl asked if she could take a picture with him, just him. She laughed, because of course she wanted a photo with him. She didn't take it badly, she understood her because if she came across a celebrity with its partner she obviously wouldn't want to take a photo with the partner in it. She took a picture of them together with her mobile phone and the girl left the room where they were. The picture ended up on the fridge in the attic with a magnet.

But was she his partner? For most people, yeah. She wasn't a public figure, but she went everywhere with him so everyone, from press of all kinds to internet users and other workers in the tower, assumed she was his assistant or his partner or both. For Valentina she was, for Mel she was, she had told her few friends that she was (because the truth was too embarrassing and complicated and she didn't want any trouble)... Even for him it was, and even if she didn't have a choice and there were couple things they didn't do (yet) she also started to consider herself as such. She knew she shouldn't feel that way after all she had been through and sometimes she felt annoyed with herself and even with him inside herself, and although she tried to curb that feeling in the end she let it flow, knowing that it was probably the best option whether or not it was a defence mechanism in her brain. With him she discovered that Stockholm Syndrome was contagious.

"You'll be fine," she reminded him, holding his hands to keep him still and comfort him minutes before an interview, waiting for the press to finish setting up. He kept pacing back and forth and adjusting his suit wristbands.

"I'm tired of so many interviews," he said, annoyed and weary.

"People want to meet you, it's only natural..." She shrugged her shoulders. "Show them the man I love," she said, smiling sweetly as he tightened her grip on his hands.

"...What?" he asked confused and surprised. In this relationship he was the only one who said such things to the other, until now. At first he knew she didn't love him in the same way he did, but he knew she was fond of him and trusted that she would love him back in time. He couldn't have imagined it would happen so soon, it had barely been three months since their relationship began. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. "Really?" he said looking at her lips for a microsecond.

"Really," she said still smiling in the same way, releasing him and placing a hand on one of his shoulders and the other on one of his cheeks as she stood on her tiptoes, removing what little distance there was between them and fusing their lips together once and for all.

It was hard for him to react at first, but in the end, as expected, he kissed her back slowly to make the moment last as long as possible while holding her by the waist. He had to pull away from her, but not for lack of air.

"I've waited a long time for this..." He said in a whisper, his breath hitching as his gaze went from her eyes to her lips and from her lips to her eyes, over and over again. "But now really is the worst time because I'm going to get an erection."

"Fuck- I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" she said, surprised and blushing but trying not to laugh, putting a hand to her mouth. "I just wanted to cheer you up, but yeah, I should have thought of that," she said embarrassed, "sorry."

"No no, don't worry, it was wonderful," he said as he shook his head, still holding her close to him.

"Cross your legs or use the cape as a blanket, I'll deal with it later."

"Really?" he asked again in surprise. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, you'd better fuck me later," she said in a whisper, so light that if she had lowered her voice any further he would have had to read her lips. She looked at him seriously but smiling, trying to make him see that she was sure and that she wanted it as much as he did.

"I could do it right now," he said, his voice deeper and his eyes hungrier. "Fuck the interview," he said trying to pull her closer to him if possible, to make her feel how impatient he was, but even though she was looking forward to it as much as he was, she had to be the voice of reason.

"No honey," she said with a laugh. "It's too late to cancel, and you must do it. The sooner you finish it the sooner we can... Okay?"

"All right," he said as annoyed as a small child, which again made her laugh.

They parted but only briefly, for he took her by the hand to go with her to where the interview was to take place, so that, as usual, she would be present behind the cameras. And the interview was hilarious — she couldn't help but laugh every time she saw him settling into the seat where he was sitting, closing his legs, covering himself with his hands as discreetly as possible, trying to use his cloak as a blanket as she had advised... You could see how nervous he was in his hands and eyes, and she didn't know if it was because of the interview or because of what had just happened and what was going to happen soon or both, but it made the situation worse when their gazes connected in the moments when he wasn't looking at the interviewer. At those moments they both couldn't help but blush and had to try to hold in their laughter, even though it was an interview that wasn't being broadcast live.

"Excuse me, where's the bathroom?" he asked a worker as soon as the interview was over. "It's urgent," he clarified, and as soon as he was answered he went straight in her direction to take her hand again, leaving and going to where he had been told as quickly as possible.

"You should be more discreet," she said embarrassed but at the same time laughing as she slung her bag over her shoulder. The situation was surreal.

"I can't be in this outfit!" he replied, just as her.

And when they reached the bathroom he had to restrain himself from blowing the door off with his powers. A man standing there, pissing into a chamber pot, was startled to see them enter because the door burst open, because it was him (and looking like that) entering the place, and accompanied by a woman, who shouldn't be there as it was a male bathroom.

"Uh- Sorry!" she replied embarrassed. "It's just that I have to help him get undressed..." she laughed nervously as they walked towards a cubicle at the end of the room, but she wasn't really lying and just by looking at him you could tell it wasn't an easy suit to put on or take off.

As soon as they were locked in the cubicle he had chosen he put her against the wall, leaning over to kiss her passionately with tongue included while she tried to make as little noise as possible by holding her moans in her throat and taking her purse off her shoulder. Luckily the toilet seat was down and she was able to drop it on the lid, almost throwing it over it. Then she tried to pull his cloak away from his back with her sense of touch in search of the zip on his back. Also luckily that man was soon gone, but Bob's phone, which was in her bag, rang. They both ignored it.

"See why I hate this suit?" he said as they parted, to let her breathe. She nodded anxiously as he reached down to her trousers to pull them down, including her panties. And then her mobile rang, in her pocket. You didn't have to be very smart to know who it was. They both looked at each other annoyed by the situation, but she decided to pick it up, not to answer but to ask not to be disturbed any more as he tried to remove his bracelets.

"Where are you!?" said Mel, stressed as she grabbed them from him and put them in her bag with her free hand. "Val-"

"Too busy!" She said annoyed, motioning for him to turn around to help him unzip his back. "Honeymoon! Give us ten minutes!"

"Ugh-" and they both hung up at the same time.

If they had ten minutes, five were to help him get out of his suit, and he couldn't even get it all off. As soon as he was able to undress his crotch, revealing his muscular pecs and arms (and more parts of his body), they stopped trying to undress him. Good thing he wasn't wearing boxer shorts (because they would wrinkle and show too much, according to the fashion department better to just show off his pack). The top of the suit fell in front of his legs, on the floor.

They would have preferred to do it sitting down or with him holding her buttocks and legs against the wall, but the quickest option was to do it from behind, with one of her knees on the toilet seat and holding on to the cistern while he grabbed her hips.

They would both have liked the situation to be more romantic, comfortable, slow and intimate, but Bob wanted to make her completely his once and for all, he couldn't wait any longer, he'd had enough patience for months and the amorous confession and kiss earlier had provoked him too much, so he grabbed the tip of his cock and brushed her wet lips to make his way in without much decorum.

They both tried to choke their moans in their throats as he filled the void inside her, and she tried to hold on tighter. Instead Bob's hands gripped her waist to ram her, back and forth, watching victoriously as his cock disappeared inside her. He had daydreamed about it many times, in the company of his dominant hand.

He rammed her hard and fast, and she rested her forehead on her hands as she bit her lip, making a great effort not to moan, more and more. But she couldn't help moaning as her orgasm came, arching her back and spasming, but he gripped her tightly to keep her still and from slipping away, feeling her throbbing insides clinging to him.

That he was invincible and powerful meant he couldn't get tired, but it didn't mean he could hold back his orgasm if he was too aroused. Instantly he had to pull out of her, cumming on one of her buttocks as he groaned. He would have preferred inside, but he loved the sight of her bare buttocks with his semen as she tried to catch her breath and craned her neck to look up at him with narrowed eyes and flushed cheeks.

He reached out to grab toilet paper from the dispenser to wipe her and himself, but when he noticed the cardboard cartridge with no paper at all he panicked.

"There's no paper," he said nervously in a whisper.

"Wait..." she said opening her bag between the back of the toilet and her knee to find a small packet of wet wipes. She handed it to him and he opened it, wiping her first and then him. "Thank you."

When she got up from the toilet she pulled up her panties as she turned around, pulled up her trousers and then helped him get dressed. When they were ready to leave the cubicle she grabbed her bag to put it on her shoulder again, but suddenly he hugged her. She was so taken by surprise by the gesture that she laughed quietly, but she also returned the gesture with a smile on her face as she stood on her tiptoes to catch him, resting her chin on one of his shoulders.

"I know this hasn't been the most romantic first time, but... I'll make it up to you," he whispered in her ear.

"Tonight?" she asked in his ear, tossing out the idea.

"Tonight?" he asked surprised but pleased with the idea as he pulled away from her to watch her facial expression. She laughed, put her hand on his cheek to stand on her tiptoes again and give him a quick kiss on the lips as they both grinned from ear to ear.

* I imagined and wrote this originally in Spanish and in Spanish that phrase doesn't indicate the gender of the person who wants her... Hence the mystery and the revelation later.

[bwobgames]

She remembers the first time she met Nina.

It was when He took her home for the first time.

They had mistook the deadline for an assignment, and they had to rush part of a project in very little time. Seeing as He lived closer, they made a run for it.

“I should still have an unopened pack of energy drinks and enough coffee for 20 cups so we might just make it”

“Leave that for later, start planning the introduction!”

“This is gonna be worse than my metroid run”

He unlocks his door at record speed, because of course he does.

“I'll get the things I printed. You get settled”

“Alright, grab me a-”

There is a woman.

There is a sleeping woman at the table.

“...There's a really bad intruder at your house.”

“WHAT?!”

He runs over, somehow not dropping any of the papers he messily put together.

“Agh, you scared me for nothing, grab these”

“Eugene who is this.”

Actually, she can recognize her a little. She has seen her talking to him on campus sometimes. New roommate?

“It's Nina. World's number one champion at giving bad first impressions. Hey, wake up”

“Noooo”

“We have visitors”

“awawhat?!”

While that is an expression Marigold could never see on Eugene, somehow this girl looks like him.

She connects the dots

“Your sister?”

“Obviously. Oh, wait. I didn't tell you before?”

“Whoops. Mistake. I'm a bit too used to people seeing us as a pair”

“Excuse me! Are you Miss Marigold? I've been told wonderful things about you! It's a pleasure!”

“Uh. Likewise”

She offers a cold handshake.

At the time, she couldn't understand how those two were in any way related. And her grumpiness at the time didn't help.

How could a man as hardworking as Eugene have a sister who simply decides to take a nap on a table?

Then she found out Nina's studying to become a teacher. In this economy.

Does she have any ambition? Any sense of responsibility? Or is she planning on mooching off Eugene's career?

Nina is everything her parents warned her about.

She helped in keeping them awake that night, bringing drinks and making noise, but due to their busy work they didn't notice.

Of course, as her friendship with Him started to develop, Marigold found it beneficial to befriend his sister. Perhaps befriend is too much. She is now colleagues with his friend's sister.

But that changed the day of her birthday.

They were out of a hard test, going for a walk in the city.

“Ok, I calculated everything and even if I completely fail I still pass, so it's fine!”

“There's no way you failed, you're awesome!”

Marigold is aware that Arnold is only befriending Kevin for his parents connection to the wine industry. And Kevin is in no way worried about his grades because he's aware his parents could sue the teacher easily. Again.

Now Ashley is going to pipe in with something about celebrating, as she has no cares in the world. She is married after all.

“We should celebrate that it's finally over!”

“Yeah!”

This is a great opportunity for Mari for more networking. If she can get them talking about other friends she'll get a bigger network.

Maybe if she gets them a little drunk…

“Wait, Marigold, isn't it your birthday today?”

Oh. Surprise Kevin interjection.

“Oh, I forgot about it”

“We were so busy studying, it completely flew over our heads”

And here's a wildcard, Eugene Coli. Someone with a name like that clearly wasn't a wanted pregnancy.

They are similar, in a way. They are both ambitious, they both need to work their way to the top. They both know what's right.

She can see potential in him. She can see a future where they are strong, on top.

She could use him.

And as she has found out in drunken stupors, he might enjoy it!

They pass a toy shop.

“What about something from here? For the birthday girl? Might make you feel younger”

Well now that's just rude. A lot of her male classmates are still not used to dealing with ladies.

“What will I get from that? An useless thing to gather dust in my room? Please, if I wanted that I would get a Philosophy degree”

It makes everyone laugh, as she foresaw. Thus redirecting their rude comments somewhere else.

A lady cannot be rude. And an entrepreneur cannot risk losing connections.

This is the correct way.

There are many contradictions in her head. She ignores them.

“Let's do a double celebration then, for us and Marigold. Oh! I want pizza!”

.

.

.

.

.

When all her classes are finally over for the day, Nina of all people asks for help retrieving something she forgot in a locker.

Why couldn't she bother someone else was a mystery, but Marigold needs the Coli connection anyways.

She wonders if it's really worth it, it's not like he talks much about his sister anyways. Maybe they grew separately.

But while the data is not clear, she'll go with her.

The weather was lovely.

<PREV START NEXT>

[boyofsorrow]

“What We Never Said”

Rain drummed against the windows of the house in Godric’s Hollow, like impatient fingers knocking on a door no one would ever open. James sat by the fireplace, a half-finished glass of firewhisky in hand. The flickering light sparked against his glasses, but couldn’t reach the cold in his chest. That place—right there beneath the sternum—had been frozen for years. Since that night.

Harry was asleep upstairs. Lily too, unaware of the weight suspended in the air, of the nearly vanished scent of a story never spoken aloud. And James remained below, awake, haunted by a guilt he no longer knew how to quiet.

He held an old wooden box in his hands—the same hands that had once trembled when they touched his. A box no one else knew about. He’d found it at the back of the closet while moving old Hogwarts things. He rarely touched it. Afraid the memories might bite.

He opened it.

A snake-shaped ring, blackened by time. A letter written in silver ink on fine parchment. A lock of black hair, tied with scarlet thread. And a black-and-white photo where two figures barely looked at each other, yet said everything. Just four objects. Enough to make the world sway.

Regulus Black wasn’t just another name on the Black family tree. To James, he was a crack in reality. A necessary break. A wound he never knew how to close.

“James, if you're reading this, I'm dead. So typical of me to leave notes, right? The perfect Black—even in goodbye. I wanted you to know I have no regrets. Not about the betrayal, not about loving you in that forbidden hollow of the world we shared…”

Regulus’s voice—cold like the moon and warm like the last time they met—echoed in his mind.

James collapsed to the floor. He didn’t cry. He couldn’t. Not when the memory of that final encounter still burned inside him.

They’d argued in the old astronomy tower. Regulus had pushed him. James had kissed him. They hated each other for how they felt, and loved each other for what they never said.

---

They had started talking in secret in sixth year. The youngest Black was never part of the Marauders, nor did he want to be. He was cold, distant, disciplined. But his eyes… his eyes always seemed to be hiding an unasked question.

“And what do you think you’re going to change, Potter?” he once said in the corridors, while Sirius and Remus debated the future of the Order.

“Enough so my son won’t have to grow up afraid,” James replied, not even knowing why he said it to him.

Regulus didn’t smile, but lowered his gaze. As if those words had brushed against something broken inside him.

After that, their meetings became more frequent. First arguments, then shared silences. Then, one night in the Astronomy Tower, they kissed. Quick, almost angry. They didn’t know if they hated themselves for doing it… or for wanting to do it again.

James never told Lily. Not because he didn’t love her. He did. In a healthy, bright, peaceful way.

But Regulus… Regulus was the dark side of the moon. The corner of the soul that couldn’t be shown in daylight.

---

The letter was worn, but James knew every word by heart.

“I never wanted to compete with her. I never could. I just wanted to linger a little longer in your shadow, even if it was only at night, and in silence. I know you won’t come for me. I know you’ll choose the straight path, the family, the light. And I understand. I just wanted someone to know I was more than a Black, more than a traitor. I was yours—for a moment. And in this rotten world, that was enough.”

That’s how the letter ended.

James closed his eyes, folded it, and tucked it into the inner pocket of his robes.

He found out weeks later. That Regulus had died. That he’d vanished somewhere deep in the underbelly of dark magic. That no one mourned him, except Kreacher—and James.

And James did cry. But in silence. Because crying for Regulus meant admitting he had loved him.

He stood, the letter pressed to his heart. Climbed the stairs quietly. Entered his son’s room and watched him sleep.

Harry breathed calmly, little fists clenched like he was fighting in his dreams. James leaned down and kissed his forehead.

“Your mother was my home,” he whispered. “But there was a part of me… a dark, misunderstood part… that only he ever touched.”

“I promise you’ll grow up without secrets, Harry,” he murmured. “But there’s one I’ll carry to the end.”

And in the dark, he swore he’d visit Regulus’s grave before the week was over. Not as a Potter. Not as a husband. But as a man who loved another… and never forgave himself for surviving him.

The fire still burned downstairs. But that night, James Potter slept with ashes beneath his skin. And a name on his lips he would never say aloud.

Regulus.

[kaiist]

Hi there! I was wondering if I could get headcanons for the boys (Caleb included) for what they look for in an s/o that isn’t MC. Obviously in the game it would be MC, but if it wasn’t, what type of person would they be attracted to personality wise?

Thank you so much!!

Hello! Thank you so much for sending this in. I won’t be creating a piece for your request because I firmly believe that the boys are only in love with MC in every lifetime (since that’s literally the concept of the story). Because of that, I wasn’t really able to imagine specific types of people they’d be attracted to outside of MC.

That said, I wanted to share something I just saw on TWT—there was a post about Rafayel talking about his ideal type, so I decided to check it out myself on YT. It’s from his affinity 140 video call, and I found it really beautiful and worth sharing!

I’ll discuss and show you more under the cut!

Rafayel is such a romantic character—and intelligent, too. His words were so reassuring, especially for anyone who might feel like they’re not "attractive enough" or who worries the love interests wouldn’t be into MC (which is you, by the way!).

For anyone who’s ever felt like they’re not “attractive enough” or worried that the love interests wouldn’t be into them, this is proof that none of that matters. You are the MC, and to them, you’ll always be the one they fall for—past, present, and future.

What Rafayel said in that Affinity 140 call honestly stuck with me. He said:

“Long hair, short hair, gentle, cute... none of it matters.”

“You can’t define someone by just slapping labels on them, and it's even harder to define what kinda person you're into. No one falls in love with a specific combo of labels.”

This really hit me because it’s such a human and honest take on love. It’s not about ticking boxes or fitting into some perfect mold. Rafayel outright says he doesn’t have a “type”—what matters to him is if someone captivates him. That word—captivate—feels so sincere. It’s not shallow attraction, it’s deeper than that.

He goes on to describe what that feeling is like:

“When she talks, all you have to do is look into her eyes. You can’t help but observe her expressions, especially how she smiles. When she laughs, you can’t help but laugh with her.”

It’s such a gentle way of expressing love, not about appearances or ideal traits, but the feeling of connection. Noticing someone’s smile, their expressions, being drawn into their presence… it’s romantic without being performative.

And this last line:

“In an ever-changing sky, when you meet a particularly beautiful rainbow who speaks to you, you realize she's the only one for you.”

It’s poetic, but also deeply affirming. He’s saying that love isn’t about finding someone who fits—it’s about being moved, being changed, by the right person at the right moment. Even in a constantly changing world, there’s that one person who just feels right—and that person is always MC (again, it’s youuu!).

And honestly? I truly believe what Rafayel said applies to all of the love interests. I’m 1000% sure of it.

[tarotmundomonde]

What's next in your love life? (singles)

for the next 3-5 weeks.

pick a number 1-5 or

(ps. this reading is for practice)

1.🍥 Let's see, what's next in your love life, pile 1. Definitely some 18+ temptation. Someone here knows, how to get around to what they want. They know, how to look good. You could be dealing with a foreigner. It looks like you will be dreaming about the future of your love life. I see messages here. I'm also seeing like literally a waiter/waitress or bartender. So that might be significant for someone. You will also deal with the theme of service. Of being devoted and supporting someone, whether someone wants that from you or they give that to you. There is an energy of black and white, yin and yang here. Balance and harmony. The theme of reciprocation will be important, the theme of someone being consistent with you. Someone is here for you, supporting you, they are serious about you, no hidden agendas.

2.👁️ Let's see, what's next in your love life, pile 2. Illusions, confusion, someone misleading you. They will make it look like there is nothing to be suspicious about, but it's like something stinks, something doesn't feel quite right. This might also be related to online activities, like on social media, apps. There will be the end of a connection. Someone might be acting single, while they are dating someone else. The past is coming through. Again, it's like the cards are talking about doing some digging, asking around. You might end up viewing a connection with new eyes. You might end up feeling like it was one-sided all along. But good things will happen, too. You will meet an empath or maybe you already know them. They are really good at reading the mood. This person understands the lows and the highs of emotions. They are an excellent listener and will not judge you. This person could be a potential lover. It looks like positive changes are on the horizon for you. Resourcefulness, sensitivity, belief, faith, independence and determination. You will level up and you will go through empowerment. The thing is, even if someone "stole" some of your time, even if they tried to use you, they are not you and can never take everything you have from you. Because you are you, you are your own source and it always replenishes itself. Even if one person doesn't see your value, someone else will, someone else will reciprocate. There will be new love opportunities.

3.🐦 Let's see, what's next in your love life, pile 3. If you currently feel stuck, know you won't be for long. It looks like you've been taken for granted, people treating your kindness as a weakness, people judging you, hating on you, mockery, drama, wanting to defeat you, getting ghosted and the like. Whatever the situation has been, no matter, how stuck you feel, know you won't be for long. It looks like there will be a shift in your perspective, you will see things differently. You will realize you don't need to be in that situation and that you are free. You also got a message about occupation. The cards said it's not yours. No matter the gender you are into, your person's occupation seems to make them attractive in other people's eyes. It gains them plenty of suitors. And it looks like they get away with a lot of things. But you, however, seem to be different. It's weird, but it's like you shouldn't be their type based on their occupation. For example they are a celebrity and you are not. Hope it makes sense. You got also 444. There is a message about stillness. You are going through a time of healing and blessings and miracles. Trust your path and journey in love. I don't know, how to put this into words but it's like let the universe and the divine do its' magic and just trust. You are going to heal and be more you. As well as it looks like there will be someone new coming in, new love. This is a real connection, it's pure, it's genuine and authentic. And playful. You know, I'm getting a message about people falling for the real you. The more you allow yourself to be yourself, the more you love yourself, the more you are you, you will attract love. I'm seeing people falling for you. But it's not about your looks, it's about, when you are you. Hope it makes sense. The last message is about laughter is medicine. Have fun, do/try new things. Who cares about the response? If you get ghosted/ignored, you know they ain't your person. Have fun, play, laugh. If you are the type to have a poker face, someone might be curious about you and what your laugh sounds like or they want to see you smile and laugh, so they might try to make you laugh, to be playful around you.

4.🐍 Let's see, what's next in your love life, pile 4. It looks like a new beginning or a level up in a existing connection. Being in tune with others, having the chance to bring in some harmony into your love life or a connection. It looks like you will find out someone is already with someone else and therefore not available. There will be some misunderstandings. It will be related to actions and intentions and to whom someone is attracted to. It looks like you will feel like you need a companion. Someone's girlfriend/fiancé/wife will come through as well. They want to make it clear to you that they are the partner. At this point, it kinda looks like maybe you will try your chance with someone just to find out they are taken. The last message is about lack of change and a lack of magic. Everything is over and you could feel betrayed by this whole situation.

5.👅 Let's see, what's next in your love life, pile 5. It looks like focusing on finding peace and finding closure. But you know, how sometimes that's when that person reaches out? That might happen to you. Or maybe you simply find peace and closure. Something here will make you feel very blissed and very happy. You will receive a gift. It could even be a visit. For some of you it's 18+. There is definitely a reference to the unknown. Especially, if you've been through a disappointment in love, the cards are talking about healing and about new love. There is a reference to meeting someone at either a favourite place or at a new place. It's literally 50/50, because this is not a personal reading. There are new adventures in love waiting for you. You also got a message about a rebel. Someone likes to go against the flow. If you are let's say making progress in moving on, someone here ain't accepting that. You can expect someone to rebel against that. Again a reference to 18+. Someone might be interested in doing only that with you. They are confident they can seduce you into doing it with them. They won't give up. For others, this is about a third-party situation. Someone will not give up on making sure you and someone will not be romantically involved, This is someone jealous and they want that person for themselves.

[solo-walker]

I love comparing Jonathan and Mina to Jon and Martin (because of obvious reasons) and recently I was thinking about equivalent characters of The Magnus Archives and Dracula. And I came to a realisation. The obvious conclusion would be to say that Martin is the Mina to Jon's Jonathan (that sentence looks weird after typing out, but it makes sense, I promise)...but hear me out. Mina is the character equivalent of Jon Sims. Martin is the character equivalent of Jonathan Harker.

spoilers for both pieces of media so proceed with caution

Mina is the one who has to grapple with slowly turning into something monstrous, watching as her humanity slips away before her eyes, never sure if she will hurt somebody she cares about. There must be so much she blames herself for. Jonathan went to Transylvania so that he could secure a better future for her. Maybe if she was more vigilant, Lucy would have ben spared! Maybe if she had been faster, Quincey Morris would not be dead at her feet. Maybe...

Mina is also the one to gain powers of Knowing not unlike our Jon from TMA. The group encourages her to use her powers, sometimes disregarding if that is beneficial to her mental and physical health. Mina is the one to type, transcribe, listen to recordings and meticulously organise the Dracula Case File. Sound familiar? (Mina is so intensely Eye coded it needs a separate post).

Jonathan Harker's character development from friendly bean to living nightmare who is ok with murdering the creatures who have done him and his love wrong is so Martin-coded. Do I even need to explain. Plus being kept trapped in a mentally torturous ordeal by a supernatural entity?? I see you, Jane Prentiss and Dracula. I see you. Jonathan and Martin's isolation over the course of the novel and podcast respectively, in castle Dracula and the lonely.

Mina thinking she is a danger to those she loves, watching one of her friends be changed and taken over irrevocably by a monster. Jon thinking he might hurt those around him and having to watch the change of Sasha into Not! Sasha, a dreadful caricature of the original.

Both Mina and Jon get physically weaker when denied access to the thing that sustains their transformed selves, statements and blood respectively.

Of course, they are not exact parallels of each other. That would just be erasing their originality as separate pairings and characters from wholly different pieces of media. But I just think this is neat

(please please please join me in the TMA-Dracula boat)

[peaches2217]

There were protesters outside of Planned Parenthood yesterday (two upper-middle-aged women wearing anti-abortion signs), which was strange, because it was 1:30 on a Wednesday, not exactly when you normally see them. But hey, I guess facing down protesters who don’t believe you should be alive and that you don’t have the right to exist is sort of a right of passage for anyone seeking care at PP; I’m just surprised it didn’t happen sooner. 😅

They approached me as I got out of my car and told me I deserved so much better than Planned Parenthood. I asked if they were aware this particular clinic doesn’t and never HAS performed abortions. They said it doesn’t matter; they’re all instruments of death for children and instigators of transgender mutilation (or some shit like that, I was surviving purely on cold medicine and caffeine just to survive the commute up there and back so details are kinda fuzzy). I said something like “Ah! Well I’m trans, so that’s good!” and went on inside.

There’s a two-door system in place for the staff’s safety: after entering the first door, you tap into an intercom and give details about your appointment and personal info in order to be buzzed into the second set of doors.

So while I was waiting to be buzzed in, those two ladies were pounding on the door behind me, telling me that God loves me and made me perfect just the way I am, and I shouldn’t try to change His divine plan. I could still hear them going even after getting into the office proper.

When I left about an hour later, one of the ladies was still standing outside (I guess the other one was on lunch or something?). She immediately told me that God made me a beautiful woman for a reason, and that, if only I’d submit myself to His will, He would call me to something far greater — such as birthing my own children and being a mother!

As shitty as these people are, I try not to be rude, because that only makes them indignant, but holy fuck I was trying so hard not to laugh. Easily the worst sales pitch I’ve heard in my life.

As I got back into my car, she finally asked why I felt I had to change my gender to be happy. I told her that I simply AM happy, and that, being a staunch Christian myself, I felt it was part of God’s plan for me. She tried saying something else, but I just shut the door, waved to her, and drove off.

I don’t think I made much of an impact, but I still pray that, however small, my comment might get her thinking. I can hope, right?

The rest of my visit was uneventful. I met my mom for lunch, and she started crying because she hates my facial hair so much, so I held her hand and promised her it’s okay, I know it’s hard for her, don’t worry. She reaffirmed that she wants nothing to do with my surgery; I assured her my hotel’s already been paid for and I’m padding my savings to make up for the time I won’t be able to work, and she seemed satisfied with that.

Then my actual appointment was very celebratory. My team was so excited to hear about my surgery!! My provider actually started tearing up. When I went to make my next appointment, I had to schedule it an extra month out, because otherwise it would overlap with my surgery date. Like… it’s real. It’s all really happening. I’m still scared to be happy and excited because What If™️, but at the same time, I’m actually letting myself look forward to the future. I’m really happy. 🥹

[reformhim]

Michael had always been blessed. Smart, handsome, sharply-dressed, and bound for a career in finance. His future was neatly mapped out, filled with numbers, ambition, and the promise of prestige.

But everything changed after a one-night stand with Chad, a powerhouse on the college football team. Michael couldn’t stop thinking about it—what it felt like to be touched and taken by such a virile, athletic man. The way Chad’s strength overwhelmed him... it stirred something inside he didn’t know was there.

Soon, he found himself shaving his body hair, bronzing his skin under the sun, slipping into tighter clothes, and letting his bulge show just a little more with every passing day. He didn’t even resist. He liked the attention. Craved it.

It wasn’t long before he became the team’s unofficial favorite—obedient, enticing, and utterly devoted. And he loved every moment.

Finance? That felt like a distant dream now. His future might look different than he’d imagined. Maybe one day he’d marry a guy on the team—become his pampered trophy husband, serving his man’s every whim without hesitation.

And honestly? That idea thrilled him more than any corner office ever could.

[mcssages]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His hand graced her cheek again, contouring it and taking her worries away. It wasn’t her intention to conceal the truth like Seven often did. The red-headed hacker knew much about her that the others weren’t privy to. Chaesun would completely understand if that ruffled Zen’s feathers a little. She was relieved that he wasn’t reprimanding her too harshly. Her actions over the past day or two were already regrettable because of the precarious position they placed her in. “ I’m sensitive to changes in light , ” she began, filling him in on exactly what shape her vision was in. If he planned to stick around in her life, he should know so that he can support her. The pretty brunette hated to admit she needed support at all, but today had been an exercise in swallowing her pride. “ It takes my eyes longer to adjust to the dark , and sudden bright light is blinding . ” She didn’t have any glasses or anything of the sort to help her because she could teach a class on how to neglect herself and ignore her own needs.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Since he wanted to rectify that while they were together, she continued. “ Unrelated , but I also have this bad habit of biting my nails and fingertips when I’m stressed . ” She was good at hiding it sometimes. If he looked at her fingers right now, all he’d see was the light pink press-on nails she was wearing. “ I don’t realize I’m doing it, so it gets bad enough that I draw blood . ” That was another thing Seven knew that no one else did. He had watched her do it on the cameras and asked her about it. “ I know I seemed a lot more put-together on the Messenger . I’ve … been alone for so long that some of the ways I’ve learned to deal aren’t great . The last thing I want to do is give you more to worry about. Sometimes I don’t take care of myself , and I can’t admit when I’m sad . ” It was hard for her to maintain eye contact with him while she confessed all of her faults in front of this beautiful boy who liked her somehow.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀One day she’d tell him everything that led her to this point, but today wasn’t the day. There was so much going on that she wanted to keep the focus on the present, not the past or future. There would be time for him to get to know her less serious quirks and her history. It would be hard, and she’d stall as best she could, but her weakness for him was so powerful, she knew she’d crumble and give herself to him completely soon enough. “ So , until I get better at it , if there are ever signs that something is wrong , even just little ones , please … don’t let me tell you I’m fine . ” Fixing behaviors overnight was impossible, and while she was terrified that he’d run from her after the honeymoon phase ended, she didn’t download what she thought was a dating app to keep someone at arm’s length. Zen had let her in on who he was, the good and the bad, and she knew he’d wait for her to be ready to do the same. It was scary and embarrassing, yet the small fraction she relayed felt… freeing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Taking out her phone, Chaesun swiped to the quick settings menu and turned the ‘Eye Comfort Filter’ on. It would irritate her until she got used to it, but it would keep her from straining her eyes. It was a subtle gesture, but a big step for her. Putting it away, she nodded at him, wordlessly letting him know that she was willing to try to improve, too. “ I think it’s safe to say that your mission was a success . The time I spent with you was so precious to me that I want to keep spending time with you for as long as I can . ” If she were well-rested, she might be restless sleeping where he lives, surrounded by him, too excited to memorize every detail, every scent, every feeling, eager to wake up and get to be with him again; however, she had a sneaking feeling she’d crash the moment her head hit the pillow. Things weren’t exactly normal currently, but that was okay.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She had noticed that he wasn’t making any definite statements about whether she could stay past tonight, but just like the issue of her past, she would let that remain in the air between them. “ I can help you find recipes . I’ve gotten really good at researching thanks to this party coordinator thing . We can both work on our cooking . But , for now , we should probably go get dinner before it gets too much later . ” While her shakiness would remain to a degree, she was getting back to a functional place. Her stomach actually growled, a good sign that her body was leaving fight or flight. She let out a soft laugh.

Of course Chaesun needed as much sleep as anyone else, if not more due to the stress she had been under lately. Surely taking a rest now that she was somewhere safe would help to right her in some ways. He couldn't blame her for any difficulties she may have had sleeping the past couple of nights, considering everything that had been going on, but that made it all the more important for tonight to be restful for her. For someone as beautiful as she was, she likely needed even more than the usual eight hours, but he wouldn't push her beyond that. That was the goal he wanted to ensure she followed. Eight hours tonight, and more if she could find it in herself to make up the difference.

He listened to her story, a frown of concern on his lips. Of course he hadn't known about that. Seven would, but that guy didn't tend to give a lot of indication about important information like that. When it came to keeping secrets, it was clear why he was the one that V looked to. But, of course, if Zen had known all about this about their newest member, he would have taken a lot more care in speaking with her so late at night. He'd heard people say that looking at a phone late at night was bad for the eyes and the skin, and while he would normally advise against it for such reasons, he hadn't been aware of how prevalent the former was for Chaesun. “Of course I'd be worried about if you're taking breaks. If you would've been, then I wouldn't have to, right?” He didn't chide her too harshly for this, but he did feel it was worth saying.

His hand settled on her cheek gently to trace over her skin softly. “Everyone appreciates how hard you were trying for the party, but that doesn't mean you should neglect yourself, too. It won't be as fun to celebrate there with you if you're about to collapse the entire time…” He was hoping to be able to spend time with her with her there. Though, of course, she still raised an important point in that explanation. “I'm sure it was an important distraction. But we need to make sure you take care of yourself tonight.” And in the future, if she chose to stay here. There was still quite a lot that was up in the air at the moment. About the RFA, and what their future as an organization would be. He was also concerned about what their future would be, between the two of them. How long she would stay here, he couldn't say, nor was it the time to ask. But as long as she did, he would make sure that she was more aware of herself going forward. She was important to everyone, and not only in her capacity as a party planner. Even Rika, for as good as she had done in planning and arranging these things, wasn't only recognized among guests and their members for her ability to bring people together.

Even so, she was able to crack a joke at him regarding his behavior towards her from the start. Of course he'd come by more often when a new girl had shown up in the group unexpectedly. “I wanted to help make sure your time was well-spent.” On the RFA app, talking with him. Seven and Yoosung didn't know how to talk to a lady (for very different reasons), and Jumin was… Well, he was Jumin. That observation spoke for itself when it came to his conversations with women.

There was an implication in there that she wanted to stick around, and again, he wasn't sure how much he should press on that, considering what had just happened. It was probably best to leave it be for now. “I could stand to learn to do more cooking too. I like the idea of being able to customize everything.” Not because he was picky, but because of his diet. He could lean into healthier recipes more of the time, but of course, there would have to be breaks now and then, and there were a number of recipes he could try out in that time.

[thecomfortable]