#even though i'm not looking forward to having all those orders either but at least people will appreciate my hard work

[mildmayfoxe]

you guys would not fucking believe it but i just counted all the prints ive been doing in the past week and a half and it's 109 counting some journals i threw some cover prints on. and 43 of them were two color so really 152!!!!! no wonder i've been feeling fucking crazy!!!

[angel-kyo]

Pay it no mind

Part XXVI

In which reader confesses their feelings to Gojo, but it seems these are not returned (maybe?).

Warnings: reader is on the receiving end of rejection (kinda), and the fact that I'm obsessed with unrequited love is a warning itself. Drinking is mentioned.

Previous: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, Part XII, Part XIII, Part IV, Part XV, Part XVI, Part XVII, Part XVIII, Part XIX, Part XX, Part XXI, Part XXII, Part XXIII, Part XXIV, Part XXV

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What a greedy, selfish prick.

That was what Satoru thought of himself at this exact instant. That was also what he had thought of himself 0.2 seconds after you had left your spare key on his coffee table. And God, had the sound of the door closing behind you sobered him up, but as much as he had wanted to stop you, stop your hand from letting go of the spare key to his place, stop you when you turned around and left; run after you… he did not.

Why didn’t he?

Because they are right, I am selfish.

That was why he was here, at a bar in Shibuya, a nice small place with an Irish theme and authentic Irish beer, or so the owner claimed. Not that he cared for the decoration or that he would actually drink though.

No, he had had enough drinking for a lifetime after seeing you that night with Ikeda.

Another stupid move. In his defense, he had not expected to see you in a couple days after that, let alone expected you to come to his place. He had assumed you would hate him after all the things he had said, that he had finally given you the definitive push into Ikeda’s arms.

“You are cruel beyond repair, and I’m an idiot for falling in love with you.”

He did not even notice the moment those words had already left his mouth. Of course, he had not noticed his own anger either.

Why was he angry though? Satoru knew you had not made any promises to him. He had told himself a dozen times that you owed him nothing, that you had not given him any guarantee.

But he wished you had, and maybe that angered him. Because you had been his friend for the longest time, you had given him everything a friend can give another, and still, he could not prevent himself from wanting more.

As such, he was angry at himself.

A soft sigh left his lips, and he perceived the bartender's pity look for the fourth time that night. He could understand it, because what kind of man sits alone at a bar for a whole hour ordering nothing but glass after glass of water, rejecting every woman who tried to take the empty stool next to him?

The bartender finally saw the strange white-haired man ask for the bill and put too much of a generous tip on the counter.

If every odd man paid like this, he would not mind serving just water forever.

And Satoru would not have minded staying there forever either, because he did not feel like going home to a luxurious but empty apartment. He had always preferred your place, but that was not an option at the moment.

He knew he would have to face you at some point, sure, but for now, he would delay that as much as possible because he did not want his heart to ache more.

As he exited the bar, Satoru felt better for a second, the cool night air and all the water he had forced himself to drink had cleared his senses and refreshened his mind. Maybe there was a path forward, maybe he could mend things with you. That glimmer of hope lasted three seconds.

Then he saw a disgustingly familiar face across the street.

***

“I don’t know what’s his problem anymore, you know,” Haruki said. Or at least you thought it was Haruki, but the man sitting across from you looked like a version of him on his way to have one too many drinks.

When he had called you that placid evening and pretty much begged you accompanied him to go for a couple drinks because he really needed a friend now, you had suspected he had already started his party, and judging by the look in his eyes, he had kept on the pace until you arrived and persuaded him to slow down on the liquor.

Sure, you and him had gone out for drinks once or twice together before but you had never seen Ikeda drunk. In fact, he had never seemed this eager to drink much.

It was not surprising to find out that the trigger for his sudden unsatiable thirst had been his father.

Of course. Only that man can get you this out of character…

Similarly to when you had been younger and Haruki had looked the unhappiest whenever his father was brought up into conversation, the man before your eyes did not look like his usual bright and amiable self.

Haruki’s hand reached for the glass he had refilled. “He already got what he wanted. He wanted out of the burden of having to raise me, so he sent me away as soon as my uncle accepted receiving me.” He sipped his glass.

“And when he died, he did not even show up at his funeral; all I got was a shitty callback from his secretary saying he wanted me to know everything had been arranged, that my cousins would eventually visit to go through personal belongings, but they would not kick me out, that I had to stay there until after graduating.”

You raised your own glass to your lips. What could you say? Despite never meeting Ikeda’s father in the flesh, you could not picture yourself understanding a man who had forced his sick wife to run away from him, who had sent his own son away as to just not see him, and who had not even shown up to his brother’s funeral.

People can be curses too.

“It must have been hard for you.”

The faraway look he had on could easily be a product of the alcohol in his system, but his words reflected true pain.

“He never called after that… Until, well, today. He suddenly remembered he had a son that could help him make ends meet.” His smile was sarcastic. “Isn’t that convenient?”

He laughed bitterly.

“He’s never…” He was refilling his glass when he looked at you. “Sorry, don’t get the wrong idea, okay? I’m not the type to get thirsty at the mention of trouble. It’s just with him…”

That night, you let Haruki vent, talk about all the things he probably did not tell anyone but that, for some reason, he always found easy to tell you, and when it was late and he was a just bit too drunk to find his way home, you walked him there.

He was not as much of a helpless drunk as Satoru could be, and the walk home had certainly cleared his mind enough to make him remember he had this scrumptious imported tea he wanted you to try. You were no specialist, but you still did not find a good reason to refuse him after the tough day he had gone through, so you accepted. One cup and you would be out.

As you tasted a blend that was not that different from what you had at home, in the opinion of your unrefined tastebuds, your thoughts kept drifting to Satoru, as they had also done while you where sipping your drink earlier.

Was that okay? Was this okay? Should you have told Satoru you were going to meet with Haruki?

He had gone abroad to attend “pesky, silly matters”, he said. He would return in the next couple of days. Meanwhile, he had been a bit out of reach as he always was while traveling, and it was not like you to inform him of every move; he was not like that either, so this should be okay, right?

Besides, Satoru had not given you clear indication that you two were dating now, or that you had finally upgraded your relationship and left behind your days as “more than friends, but less than lovers”. However, given the time you spent together now, the cuddle sessions, the holding hands, the kisses, and the fact that he was sleeping in your bed (although still in the most innocent sense of the word) almost every night, would not recognizing your relationship as something romantic be considered the natural progression?

You wanted to tell him that, that you were ready for it, and that if he was in, you were in.

However, maybe you were too proud to bring it up first. It would feel like confessing again. And even though everything about Satoru’s behavior seemed to indicate he would not reject you, it was hard not to be scared.

The sound of something shattering pulled you out of your thoughts.

“Haruki?” You stood up and walked to his room. At some point he had gone there to look for a book he wanted to show you. “Are you okay?”

You found him crouching down to pick up the pieces of the mug he had been holding not long ago.

He sighed without looking at you. “Sorry, I think… maybe I am more tired than I had thought. It just slipped off my hand.”

You had thought he seemed tired, yes, but when you kneeled to help him clean up, there was also a shadow of sadness in his eyes. “It’s too bad, it was one of my favorites...”

Maybe he was still under the influence of the alcohol, but the emotion he reflected appeared to be genuine melancholy.

You tried to help him pick up the pieces of the broken mug, but he stopped you, placing aside the ones he had picked up and taking your hand. “Leave it. Don’t want you to get hurt.”

You looked at your hand in his ,and the fractured handle of a mug in your palm that he then gently removed.

A flash of your youth crossed your mind. Your hand in his.

The first time Haruki had held your hand you had been walking him to the station so he could take his train home after work. It had taken you by surprise, but you had let him. There was something comforting about holding another person’s hand. Back then, the only boy you had held hands with like that and felt that close to was Satoru.

Yes, he had popped in your mind at that moment too, just as now.

Back then, if Haruki had leaned closer as he was doing now, you would have had little to no reason to stop him, but now…

“I can’t.”

Haruki blinked and you felt his hand tighten around yours. “You can,” he said and leaned closer.

You thanked half a life of training for the strength you possessed to stop him with just one arm on his shoulder. “I said I can’t, and I don’t want to.”

When your eyes met his, it seemed the fog in them was clearing. “Sorry. [name], forgive me.” He stood up and sat on his bed. “Please forgive me. I’m don’t feel like myself now.”

You had already guessed so. He was not the type to get out of line. For that, you could forgive him. And he was still your friend, and he was in pain. For that, you could comfort him.

You sat next to him and patted his back as he let some too long suppressed tears out.

Haruki swore he was not the emotional drunk type, but that night he allowed himself to be, to cry for the loss of his mom, for the kind of father he had, for a love lost in his youth, and for the shadows of his past.

By the time the sky seemed to match his mood, and you commented how weird it was to have rain this time of the year, he felt a bit better, so he asked you to stay.

He would not mind sleeping on the couch, because why would he send you home under the rain? No, even if you did not love him as you had in the past, you would always remind him of summer.

***

“Anyway, that’s what happened. I'm sorry I caused a misunderstanding.”

“And the reason you are telling me this is because…?” Satoru did not want to look at Ikeda, so he focused on the coffee he had gotten at the small convenience store the man in question had persuaded him to go into.

“You don’t have to believe me if you don’t want to. I just…” Ikeda sighed.

When he had recognized him across the street, Satoru had felt the flight or fight response kicking in. In one hand, Ikeda Haruki was the last person he wanted to see in the entire world, so he had thought of just leaving as if he had seen nothing, but when the man himself had recognized him too and held his gaze, Satoru had wanted to throw a good punch at him.

He was having this inner debate when Ikeda crossed the street and greeted him.

Apparently, he had been in a restaurant nearby with his coworkers, and when he had seen Gojo, he had thought he should at least say hi.

The idiot.

But when Ikeda said he had actually been wanting to talk to him, Satoru agreed to listen. That is how they had ended up at this small table with two untouched cups of cheap coffee in front of them.

“I just thought you should know what happened.” Haruki shrugged. “And that is, basically, that nothing happened, and I don’t think it will, because they...”

Ikeda wanted to tell Gojo you loved him, but that was still a hard pill to swallow, and it was probably not his place to say it anyway.

"That's none of my business." Satoru's words may have sounded uninterested, but a sharper look would see right through the facade. And Haruki was sharp.

"You are infuriating," Ikeda said and realized immediately that his statement had made Gojo finally look at him. "You always have been."

"What are you...?" Gojo started, but the other man did not let him finish.

"You try so hard to pretend you don't care when you do, and when you know they care just as much."

As much as Satoru wanted to believe it, needed to believe it, those here Ikeda’s words. What were yours?

Did you really care as he did? Did you really love him?

When Haruki heard him say nothing, he stood up and took his still full disposable cup of coffee, although he had no intention of drinking it. “Well, I guess it is up to you.”

Satoru thought Ikeda would leave, but he then turned and looked at him. “Gojo, just one more thing...”

Satoru directed his eyes at him.

“This time don’t be a coward.”

***

When Satoru got out of the shower later that night, or rather, extremely early that morning, despite the awkward encounter with Ikeda, he did feel calmer. It had certainly not been the nicest talk between acquaintances, but it had given Satoru something to hold on to, a possibility his heart had adhered to for a long time.

He just needed to talk with you.

That thought made him connect his cellphone to a charger after it being dead for over a day. He had just not bothered to look through his messages, so the screen lit up with notifications. Among those, one caught his attention: a missed call from you, from just a couple hours ago?

Odd.

“Why would they call in the middle of the night?” he wondered aloud to himself.

Satoru was going to check if you had left a voice mail, but right then, a call from Shoko came in.

“Gojo?” Shoko asked when he picked up without waiting for Satoru to say anything. “It’s [name].”

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Note: Sorry for being gone like that... I've missed you all. As for more important matters... Anyone caught up with the manga?

Thank you for reading!

Next: Part XXVII

@mavs-stuff @witchbybirth @crookedlyaddictedone-blog @tqd4455 @maybe-a-bi-witch @mo0nforme @maliakealoha @zacatecanaaaa @blushhpeachh @astriarose @missesgojosatoru @ba-ks @sukunasleftkneecap @songbirdlully @cole-silas @heijihattorisgf @chokesonspit @hersheyzzz @smolbeanzzz @luciledreamz @avidreadee123 @moonmalice @ratscandaler @sadmonke @allie-jay @username23345 @spin-garden @ashehateaccount @kayzens @blehtotheblehtothebleh @stellasloth @bloopsstuff @cheesemachine44 @tetsuski @rosellerinfrost @catowru @bi-narystars @wondermilka @fortunatelyfurrygiver @shrxui @cc1306 @chili-paste

[sandy-the-glader]

Hi!! If it’s okay, can I please request an Adrian Chase x soft and innocent!fem!reader where they are coworkers at Fennel Fields, him being a busboy, and she is a waitress. The two of them have feelings for each other, Adrian just trying to get the confidence to ask her out. A group of guys come in every week are super loud, rude, and also make Y/n (who is taking their order) very uncomfortable, and when Y/n turns down their advances, they say some very mean things and make her cry. Adrian is absolutely FUMING, literally having to hold himself back from going at them right then and there, instead following her to the kitchen try to calm her down (in his own Adrian way), promising to “take care of it” . She 100% thinks he means kicking them out, but the group of men get a “visit” from Vigilante… the group “disappears” without a trace “, never to bother Y/n again.

Adrian softly kissing a very relieved Y/n when the men don’t return to the restaurant, she doesn’t know about Adrian’s Vigilante side nor does she know the fate of the group of men, but Adrian takes it as a compliment nonetheless

The Protector

Character: Adrian Chase x InnocentFem!Reader

Type: Fluff/Comfort, Angst

Length: 2.7k words

Summary: Request above!

Trope: Best friends to lovers, Co-workers to lovers

A/N: I have not done anything for Adrian in a while and I love him so much aaaaaaa! I bent the request ever so slightly. Also, let me know if I should make a part two of this but it’s Adrian’s POV 😉

"God that group is back." I hissed. "How do they always manage to get seated in my section?" Me and Adrian eyed them from the kitchen.

"I don't know but they never tip well either. I think all the tattoo ink got into their brains or something." Adrian glared at the noisy group. I smiled at his joke. He always lightened the mood and I was forever thankful for that.

"God it's twenty minutes until closing why do they always come in here late?" I grumbled folding my arms.

The group was dreadful and I have no idea how they haven't gotten in any section but mine yet. They've been showing up the past 3 weeks on Saturday nights and past close. Me and Adrian had plans ruined because of those guys. I've been working here for 1 year and a half (Adrian for longer) and I've never had a worse group of customers.

Usually, the worst is an old lady who asks for the manager when the food isn't exactly to her liking. Or a group of teenage boys who don't buy anything they just sit there and be as loud as possible.

Sometimes me and Adrian went to see movies together on Fridays or had plans with friends and I loved it. That's what made me look forward to the end of the week but with this lousy group of 40-year-old biker guys trashing the tables and leaving sometimes a zero-dollar tip was starting to have the opposite effect on me.

"You know I can take the table for you. I know they're pretty shitty guys." He looked at me and I shook my head softly. His green eyes dazzling in the heat lamps made me almost take back rejecting the offer. When he looked at me the way he did it made my heart flutter. They were so careful and easy.

"You take over my shifts all the time Adrian. The least I can do is deal with one unpleasant table. I can do it." I looked back at him with determination. Besides he was only a busboy, not a waiter though I'm sure he could do the job just fine.

It was true though. Every time I was sick he took over no questions asked. Sometimes he even encouraged me to call out sick when all I had was a cough. He was my best friend after all but he always went above and beyond with the way he treated me.

Sure my other co-workers were nice like Taylor treated me nicely but never as nice as Adrian. From the get-go, he was kind to me always guiding me to where things were or making small talk with me to help get me though my shifts. He was never afraid to give me a hand in anything I needed.

He looked very unsure of my decision but he didn't protest as I left to deal with said table. Though I could still feel his eyes glued to my back. I pushed open the door and

I strode over there with a sudden burst of confidence. I could do it. Then when It's all over me and Adrian can go back to his apartment and watch movies all night like usual.

As soon as I reached the table that confidence slowly started to melt away.

They were a group of 5, all big-looking, and they were like I said a biker gang. Sometimes I hate my job.

"Hello I'm Y/n I'll be your server today can I get you any drinks to start with?" My hands trembled as they gripped the sides of my apron. Whistles filled the air as the men's eyes wandered across my body. Some even leaned over to get better looks at me.

"Looking good honey!" I laughed nervously trying to be as polite as I could to them.

I felt so incredibly uncomfortable. I felt my cheeks getting hot. I was even embarrassed to be close to them. I cleared my throat trying to get them to reply to the simple task at hand.

"Waters for all of us." What I was sure the group leader spoke out. "Please, baby." He added. His group let out an array of deep chuckles. I felt sweat start to appear on my skin. I smiled and walked off in the back. As soon as my backs were to them my smile vanished off my face.

Oh god, it's barely been 5 minutes with them and I already want to leave. Once I got back there Adrian was still standing in the same spot looking at me with a pleading look.

"Don't look at me with those eyes." Those pleading begging green eyes.

"You can still take my offer you know." He pressed his lips together. "Because you look like you need that help. It's not like a bad look or anything but you look kind of helpless. In a good way." Adrian rambled. I've known him for so long I could decipher any message he gave me.

"It's fine I can handle it," I said firmly. I wasn't going to let them get the better of me. Just seeing and having Adrian here made it better.

He was a complete nerd and I loved having someone like that. I loved hearing him talk about DND and all of his hobbies. Then I got to start doing it out of work too.

We even set up a DND campaign at one point. It was a little confusing at first but playing with him made me understand. The memories of us together made me way more relaxed.

I poured those glasses of water and put them all onto a tray and held it with one hand. I pushed the door open almost spilling them in the process and walked back to the table.

"There she is!" One of them shouted. I placed all of the glasses on the table without a word trying to keep my cool.

I watched some make extremely disgusting gestures. Just 20 more minutes and you can go home. Just 20 more long excruciating minutes.

"She's a beauty isn't she fellas?" The main one asked. I swallowed thickly not excited for their replies. I did not have the energy for this today.

"Oh definitely would talk her home. You single honey?" One of them eyed me.

"Uhm yes, I am I'm just not looking for anything like that right now." I lied trying to get him to understand the message.

"Nah she's lying they're always in the market." My feet wouldn't move. I felt scared. Uncomfortable. Where's Adrian? I shouldn't have taken this table. "Come give me a chance honey!" He begged. Can't this guy take a hint?

"No, thank you I'm sorry." I tried to stay as polite as possible. "What would you guys like to-" I was instantly cut off.

"It's not like her makeup hides much." They laughed. I felt ashamed to be here.

"And she could smile more. Where's our cute smile sweetie?" I couldn't smile to save my life. I would not give them what they wanted. My lips trembled.

"Nah her smile would be ugly too we can't ask for something she doesn't have." The table erupted in laughter.

"Look at her she's a doll. She could get any guy she wanted."

“Maybe she’s a slut. No wonder she's not in the market she just sleeps around!” Barked another.

I looked up to see Adrian cleaning some dishes from a couple tables in front of them.

He was looking at me because he had clearly heard that nasty remark. His eyebrows were furrowed and he looked red with anger. He was seething and I could see his hand gripping the rag he was holding tightly.

Then the dam in my eyes broke. Tears started to brim my eyes and I stormed back into the kitchen quickly. As I left I heard them start to laugh louder. I shoved open the outside door and sat on the picnic bench we had out there.

I leaned my head in my hands and let the tears spill over my cheeks. I couldn't think about anything other than their words and how humiliated I felt. I felt like screaming at them but I just couldn't. That wasn't how I was.

Who did they think they were? Coming into our restaurant and treating me like shit for what reason? Do they have nothing better to do with their life?

I heard the door swing open and I tried to cover up my sniffling but it was no use. It slammed shut and I heard quick footsteps trot over to the bench. I already knew it was Adrian so I let him sit next to me. As soon as he put his arm around me it all came rushing back out.

"Hey hey, I'm right here." He whispered softly, I wrapped my arms around his back and in that moment he was all that mattered. I just wanted to have Adrian by my side. He awkwardly patted my back.

"Thank you." I wiped my cheeks which now had mascara smeared down them. "I'm a mess," I complained to him. He didn't say anything he just kept holding me. I knew he could struggle with comforting and with words in general sometimes. "You don't have to stay here you know. I'm already in trouble for abandoning my table i don't need you getting into it too." I frowned.

"Oh no, I'm staying." I snuggled myself into his side. "They don't deserve you. They're dicks who don't know how to treat women and that feels like a crime. They had no right to insult you like that." I nodded trying to listen to his words but I still felt shitty. "And that's like so not cool." He said and finally, a small smile spread across my face. He let out a built-up sigh of relief that I was starting to feel a bit better.

"I know. It still hurts though."

"No matter what those guys say they're so wrong." I looked up at him and he was already glancing at me. "You look so beautiful without makeup. I'm not saying you look bad with makeup on I mean like the complete opposite." I started to grin at his ranting.

"Thank you A. It means a lot." He enjoyed the small nickname. He continued to rub small circles into my back relaxing me.

"But those guys will never bother you again." He said still heated by the situation. "I'll make sure of it and because I really like you okay?" He confessed. "And seeing you hurt like that hurt me." he stared at the ground.

The confession threw me off. I always stressed about him liking me but hearing those words fall from his lips felt bewitching. I pulled away from him and looked at him eye to eye.

"Oh fuck I mean!" His cheeks grew pink. "Like I like having you as a friend not like in like I've been crushing on you since I've laid eyes on you and have been dreaming about you or anything because that would be like..." I leaned closer to him and brushed my thumb against his cheek. His face was warm and soft beneath my hand. "crazy." He whispered finishing his sentence.

"Don't lie to me right now Chase." I frowned. He sighed as he realized he'd been caught.

"Okay yeah, maybe I really like you." His eyes never once left me. "And maybe I have been dreaming about you since I first saw you."

"You better not be joking with me right now. Or I will continue to cry ."

"Okay um do not cry again please I already handled the first time poorly. But I am certainly not kidding." I moved my hand from his cheek to his hand which was much larger than mine.

"You better not be because I like you too." He blinked a few times trying to determine if I was the one joking around this time. He moved a stray piece of hair out of my face and tucked it neatly behind my ear. His eyes flickered down towards my lips and back up to my eyes. Was he really about to kiss me right now?

He swiftly closed the gap between us and captured my lips in a phenomenal kiss. Maybe he wasn't all nerdy after all because damn he knew how to kiss. Sure I have barely kissed anyone my whole life but he made it feel so right. He slowly pulled back to look at my face.

"Was that okay? If it wasn't I can totally like stop. I don't mind at all." I squeezed his hand and hugged him.

"It was perfect. Thank you." For having such a shitty night he made me realize the better. Like how the stars seemed to shine just a bit brighter than before and the moon was glowing just a little more than it just had. All because of Adrian

"How about I go deal with them and I also go grab our stuff since it's about time we clock out we have a fun relaxing night tonight?" He proposed.

"I would love nothing more."

"Good. Now you wait here!"

-

Once I got inside his apartment I immediately collapsed and melted into his couch with a loud dramatic sigh. He had probably the most comfortable apartment imaginable.

"Oh shit." I heard him hiss.

"What's wrong?"

"I was supposed to drop by the store after our shift to grab some things from the store..." He trailed off looking sheepish.

"Go ahead, Adrian. I know it will be all you talk about if you don't." He nodded before muttering a quick 'thank you' and leaving.

I had a really long day in general so as much as I wanted to I did not feel like waiting up for him. I left my work bag on the couch and wandered to his room.

His bookshelf overflowed with books and tabletop games, His bed was slightly messy from the morning, and it felt like him. I dug through his dresser to find this shirt that had a cool-looking dragon and a D20 on it. I took off my apron and work shirt and threw it on. I really hope he doesn't mind.

I threw my shoes somewhere on his floor and crumbled onto his bed. God his blankets were so soft.

-

It had been an hour before Adrian finally made his way home. He took off his mask and suit and tucked it away in the hall closet once he got home. He'd deal with all the blood later.

He walked through the hall and pushed open the door to see his best friend asleep on his bed in his shirt. He couldn't be happier to come home to this. She finally looked at ease snuggled beneath his covers.

Adrian scooted himself into his bed and joined her. He placed a small gentle kiss on her forehead and spooned her.

"They won't hurt you again." He whispered before allowing himself to drift off to sleep with her in his arms.

-

I waited afraid week after week to see that group come back but they never did. Nor the week after that or the next. I soon started to get curious about what Adrian meant when he said he'd "deal with them." Did he get the manager involved? Did he really have that strong effect on them? Maybe he even beat them up. He's too soft for that right?

Anyway, I was just happy to be with the one I've crushed on for so long. It felt good. Better than anything has ever been.

Tonight we were staying in on the couch while we waited for the popcorn to finish in the microwave of his apartment. The smell drifted through the room making me even more hungry than I was before.

"I'm glad they're gone." I looked up at him. His glasses glowed from the light of his phone.

"Me too. I hate seeing you upset." I leaned on his shoulder and my eyes wandered quickly over to his phone. Just a quick peek it wouldn't mean anything. He was texting Chris who according to him was his guy best friend. I had met him a few times for drinks after work and he was a pretty alright guy. I scanned the words and...

I finally got to use the chainsaw on those guys :)

What does that mean?

[envy-of-the-apple]

hii!!

i just saw that your requests are open. 🥹

i was wondering if you'd be okay with a request for a Soul Mate fic with a short!reader (5ft - 5ft2) who wears glasses x Yandere!Bakugo?

would it also be okay if the reader was written to be very sweet and caring to other people?

if you're not okay with the request for the reader's height/ glasses/ personality being too specific, then please, please ignore me.

thank you so, so much either way. 🥹

didn't specify which bakugou:))))

Yandere!Bakugou Mitsuki x reader

Doormat

(Warnings: toxic relationship, yandere, possessiveness, manipulation)

You tried to be a kind person.

You looked out for others, you cared deeply for your friends, you tried to make your parents proud of you. Eventually, your reputation became what you wanted it to be: dependable, responsible, kind.

Mitsuki had a habit of taking advantage of that.

"Again?" Suda scoffed.

You give a timid smile. "Sorry, but Mitsuki had a bad day today, so we're just gonna stay over at her place."

"Right." She rolls her eyes. "A bad day. Let her throw her trantrum alone. C'mon, we've been looking forward to this for a month! And suddenly you're just gonna ditch me like this? Those tickets were expensive!"

"I'm sorry," you repeat, truly apologetic, "Is there a way you could get a refund-"

"It's not about the tickets." Suda cuts you off. "It's about her. Seriously, when's the last time we've ever hung out with each other? I know you're in love, but can you really not see the way she's hoarding all your attention?"

Your mouth opens and closes. You don't know what to say to that.

Thankfully, you don't have to say anything.

Hands wrap around your shoulders, and a face nestles into your shoulder. The faint smell of something sweet floats in the air.

"Who's hoarding all your attention?" Your soulmate asks. She kisses your cheek.

Suda rolls her eyes at the blatant affection.

"Hey, Bakugou." She states. Mitsuki ignores her.

"What're you doing, here?" She asks you instead. "I asked you to wait for me after class, right?"

There's an edge in her voice that makes you shift around nervously.

"I needed to talk to Suda about the concert," you reply, "and also I was thinking I could-"

"Great! Since you're done with that, let's go home then." She interrupts, swinging an arm around your shoulder.

When you look behind you, Suda is shaking her head. Your stomach flips.

"A new cafe opened. Let's go there," Mitsuki says.

"Oh?" You give her a glance. "I thought you just wanted to go home. Didn't you say your professor really pissed you off-"

"C'mon." She bumped your shoulder with her own. "That was hours ago. Don't worry 'bout it."

You frown. If Mitsuki had gotten over her gripe so quickly, you wished she would have at least told you. Then, you wouldn't had to have that awkward conversation with Suda.

"Besides, I need to treat my soulmate out now and then, right?" She traces her name on your wrist.

Ah, there it was.

How the universe decided you two were the perfect match, you wouldn't know. Bakugou Mitsuki was top of her class, head of the cheerleading squad, an extremely useful quirk, came from a rich family, made people's heads turn. You were a quirkless nobody. You always feared that your soulmate would reject you because of how useless you were.

Mitsuki just calls you hers.

Maybe that's why you were so lenient on her demanding nature.

She pulls you through the cafe doors. You let her order for the two of you because 'its your first time here, obviously you're not gonna know what's good' even though it's her first time here too. A part of you wants to look at the menu, but she's already telling the waiter something and he's whisking off. It's fine. Besides, she's paying.

He comes back later with something too sweet and way too much whipped cream to ever be considered coffee. You don't complain. It's good. Mitsuki always has good tastes.

"Good right?" She reaches over, flicking away some whipped cream on the side of your cheek before popping her thumb in her mouth. You flush at her brash behavior.

"It's amazing." You honestly say. "Thanks for bringing me here."

She gives an affectionate smile.

"I just love spoiling you, sometimes."

You look away bashfully. She laughs.

It's a nice date. Mitsuki tells you about her project, how annoying everyone in her group is. If you could, you'd listen to her talk for hours.

But someone always tries to ruin it.

You don't know him, but he doesn't cast you a glance. Clearly, he's only interested in one person. He sits next to her with an easy-going smile. Flirtatious. You frown, sucking on your straw.

"Hey-"

"No." She instantly cuts him off. Just like that. No fake coddling, no polite smiles. She doesn't even glance at him. You hide your smile behind your drink. Your girlfriend's funny sometimes.

He puts his hands up immediately, scoffing with an amused smile. Then, he looks at you. Barely a glance. You don't even notice.

Mitsuki does.

The tone instantly shifts. She hisses, red eyes narrow to slits.

"Fuck off." She says, a sharp bite in her tone. You're grateful it isn't directed at you.

It surprises him. He doesn't expect it, clearly. Her voice is enough to jolt him up as he stammers through his words. When he's out of her sight, her lip curls into disgust.

"C'mon." She tells you. "Sick of this place. We're leaving."

You frown, looking down at your drink. She's already done with hers. You're only halfway through yours.

You stand up anyway, obediently following behind her.

She's still seething. You know she doesn't like it when people look at things that are hers. You know that well. When your fingers slip through her own, she relaxes, just the tiniest bit. You give her a shy smile.

Her grip tightens around yours.

You tried to be a kind person.

You looked out for others, you cared deeply for your friends, you tried to make your parents proud of you-

What a fucking lie.

You were just a doormat. You weren't kind, you weren't caring, you just bent over backwards for people. You needed to please others around you like a dog. You needed others to love you so you could love yourself.

It's why you were perfect for Mitsuki. You were too scared to ever say no to her. Hers to mold into her own image, a perfected being.

You were made for her. Of course you were.

You two were soulmates after all. Together forever.

[ohkkotsuu]

𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓. maki zenin

ৎ୭ PAIRING: maki zenin x f!reader (she/her pronouns, afab anatomy)

ৎ୭ ABOUT: having maki as a girlfriend is to be treated like a spoiled princess! nothing but the best for her favorite girl.

ৎ୭ CW/TW: SFW. no-curses au, maki is kind of despised by the zenin clan but she still has A LOT of money, this is like a sugar mommy fantasy im not gonna lie but with TONS of affection and no sex. reader is the daughter of a lesser family. everyone is around 21-26. reader is not exactly a bimbo, but i wrote that thinking about a bimbo-way of acting. this is kinda of nonsensey?

ৎ୭ A/N: english is not my first language and I wanted to write about Maki buying stuff to her gf. this is my first time posting anything I write, im sorry!! i hope you like it.

MAKI is used to disobeying zenin clan's orders. she owes them nothing, and never will. despite her insistence on breaking the rules, they refuse to let her out of the gilded cage that is this family. so she makes things difficult for them.

she thought things couldn't really get good. that even with her eternal struggle, she would still be forever subjected to a putrid rockbottom with no escape. no light, no guiding star. there's when you show up.

the first time she sees you is at a diamond viewing party. of course, a jewel auction for the three clans to squander their wealth, but also for the heirs — the real diamonds — to come forward and form bonds. if not for the arranged marriage, then for the fun and drinking. the illusion of choice gleaming in the eyes of those naive ones makes maki's stomach turn.

most heirs are annoying. she has no idea where mai is (and frankly, she couldn't care less), the youngest boy of the kamo clan is being annoying. everyone is completely stressing her out, not realizing it's all lambs heading to the slaughter. in their lives there is no real life or joy. they will enjoy their families' dirty money, but they won't be happy. everyone is pretending everything is fine, and it's getting on maki's nerves.

so, she grabs a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray and leaves the party, her feet leading her to the most secluded place in the house: the garden. only issue is, you had the same idea. sitting on an elegant bench and surrounded by flowers, there's you. it looks like a damn movie scene, she thinks when her heart skips a bit. you don't seem willing to put on a mask to please your family either, if you're sitting on a cold night alone in an elegant garden.

she can see you're trying not to shiver, but the sleeveless dress they've chosen doesn't help against the biting cold. at least the zenin gave her a white (fake) fur coat courtesy. then she walks over, takes the fur off her shoulders and puts it on yours. you look up at her, frowning. you look cute when you frown, she thinks.

“you're going to freeze to death here. keep the coat, I don't need it.” she says simply, sitting beside you without asking. but she didn't need to ask. you were happy.

maki took a sip of champagne, and you took a moment to study her. the black dress hugged her curves and showed off her muscles well. she had an aura of confidence, her hair shorter than most women's. it looked like she'd been through hell and come out stronger. though, you thought, not even Dante could have written such a beautiful, angelic figure.

“so, i'm Maki.” she introduces herself with a smile. you smile back at her. “and you are?”

and that's how it started — the gateway to her paradise.

maki hangs up the phone without a second thought. she doesn't care which idiot wants to marry her. she has everything she needs right here, now, in front of her. she wants to focus on that. you're in an expensive mall coffee shop, finishing your orders when she gets the call. another marriage proposal, another refusal.

“Maki?” your soft voice pull her out of her thoughts. it's like being called by an angel. because that's what you are. her angel. “are you alright?”

“yes, darling, don't worry.” she gives you a reassuring smile and moves her hand to rest over yours on the table. it makes you smile and one day, she swears she's going to combust over your smile. it is the most important smile of her life, the smile she will protect without hesitation. “is the coffee good, angel?”

the petname makes you flustered. you nod, sipping on the coffee. it's the kind of stupidly expensive store, even for a coffee shop. the seats are comfortable and the food is simply delicious. your girlfriend loves to spoil you, after all.

“yes! it's so nice.”

“perfect, dear. do you wanna go to that clothing store after you're done with your food?”

maki can go a little overboard sometimes, but spending money on your favorite things is her way of her showing love. gift giving. moreover, it's an excuse for her to see you trying on nice clothes, feeling good, turning around to show her the extent of the fabric. to her eyes and her eyes only.

the store is so fancy, and has every kind of dress, and it's perfect. she totally let go of her schedule, because no matter how many boring meetings the zenin want her to lead — sitting on a comfortable fancy sofa and watching you twirl in cute dresses is a much better way of spending her time.

“Maki, look! this one is so pretty!” the dress you show her, your favorite color, is amazing on you.

maki is sprawled out in the elegant sofa with light-tone pillows. the whole appearance of the store makes her much more evident, the dark green hair and the black and white laid-back suit make her look powerful. but that's the fun in your dynamic: she's the resting bitch face girlfriend, and you're the one in a cute dress, spending her money like it was your own. because is. all of her is yours.

“yeah. it is.” she smiles softly, raising one of her arms and moving her index finger to call you. “babe, come here. you like this one, right?”

you nod, coming closer. god, you're so pretty, she can't help but think.

her heart is yours, completely in love with all the ways you act. her soul is intertwined with yours, fate decided to bring you together permanently, that's the feeling she has. she is absolutely and completely lost when it comes to you — no one can take her love like you do. and nobody can love her like you do.

maki holds the hem of the dress, feeling the fabric between her hands. she meticulously evaluates, but her biggest focus is on your smile, your happiness — and of course, the dress actually looks great on you. it's a perfect win-win: you look comfortable and pretty.

“so let's take this one too and a couple others. pick whatever you want.” she moves her head to look for an employee. next to your girlfriend, on the same sofa, there is already a pile of dresses of your size. “excuse me, my girlfriend wants to see more dresses like this.”

she says the title with possession, smirking. she grabs one of your hands and bring it close to her mouth, pressing a kiss to the back of your hand.

“anything else you like, angel? buy anything you want. we'll be using my card.”

anything for her favorite girl.

©OHKKOTSUU on tumblr.

[whumped-by-glitter]

Day 6: Nonhuman whumpee / Reluctant Whumper / "Run!"

Bonus Alt Prompt: Forced to Hurt

Day 5 Here <

⚠️CW: Whipping, Blood, Captivity, Muzzles, Mention of Past Torture, Non Sexual Nudity.

Let me know if I forgot anything, but it should be pretty tame today.

This week was very busy, sorry I'm so behind!

story under the cut!

Thunk.

Thunk.

Thunk.

Youngest lightly hit the back of their head on the white cinderblock wall they were leaning against. The sound was the only thing breaking up the monotony of the white room. This was almost worse than the waterboarding several days before, at least they thought it was just a few days before. A week or more could have passed for all they knew.

Thunk

Thunk

There was nothing to do here but ruminate on their regrets. They wished they could take back those last words they said to Leader. They recalled seeing the pain in Leader’s eyes when they said them. They wondered if Leader would come break Whumpee out and just leave them to rot. It’s what they deserved after all they had done after all.

Thunk

Thunk

Thunk

They wondered if Whumpee was in a cell somewhere just like this, maybe even on the other side of this wall. They wondered what torture Claudio put them through. They wondered if they were alright.

Thunk

Thunk

The back of their head was beginning to go numb from repeatedly against the wall. They sighed and stood up. They stretched and began to pace the limited area. They had counted the tiles multiple times, there was about 30 and a half. They could stick their arms out in either direction and touch wall. They continued to pace in little circles to warm up, having never been given new clothes.

All at once the door to the tiny cell was flung open. A guard threw some clothes at youngest.

“put these on, you’re coming with us,” he ordered. Youngest could see another guard just outside the door.

They hurried and dressed, grateful for anything to cover up. The guard that was in the entry of the room then stepped into the threshold to bind them with shackles and cuffs.

Youngest fought back hard with every bit of strength they had. They scratched and clawed, getting punched several times in the process. Youngest  even biting the guard and drawing blood.

The guard hissed, drawing back. They looked livid. “Feral mongrel,” he growled, leaving the room, door slamming.

Youngest slid down the wall, shaking from the adrenaline and fear. Relief flowed into their chest, replacing the earlier anxiety. At least they were safe for now.

They soon returned, however, the other guard slid in immediately behind the first, holding something. Youngest tried to fight again, but their efforts were in vein. once the handcuffs were on the second guard approached with whatever he had in his hand.

Youngest began to struggle again as they realized what it was, but the first guard had them held tight.

“I’m not some kind of animal!” they gritted their teeth and thrashed their head.

It was all futile though. In the end youngest felt a leather strap being tightened and buckled around their head as a metal cage closed in around their mouth and nose. They could hear the distinct click of padlocks behind their head.

‘muzzled!’ they thought angrily, glaring daggers at the guards. The edges of the cage were already digging into their face from it being buckled too tight.

The second guard then retreated from the room to give them space. The first guard add shackles to Youngest’s ankles and shoved them forward out of the room. Shackles caused them to trip and fall, the guards just laughed cruelly before hauling them back up.

They were taken to some kind of courtyard through a set of solid steel doors a short ways down the hall. Youngest raked their eyes over their surroundings, the yard couldn’t have been more than maybe 20 feet squared. The dirt under their feet was a reddish brown, looking like clay. The solid windowless brick of the building went up about 8 feet, before pushing in, creating a ledge. The rest of the building continuing up had windows. Their eyes landed on a figure standing on the ledge, peering down at them, Claudio.

“Nice of you to join us, Dipshit!” Claudio mocked, “that’s your new name by the way, dipshit.”

Youngest just glowered up at their captor, trying to look menacing through the ridiculous muzzle strapped to their face.

“I heard you were quite a wild animal, gave my men quite a hard time. This would have been much easier on you if you had only played nice.” Claudio snapped and another captive was drug out.

Although the dry dust created too much of a cloud for youngest to tell who it was, their heart stopped. They feared it was Whumpee.

The form was dropped next to them. Relief and fear rushed through Youngest when they discovered it was not Whumpee…. ‘Where were they?’

Their gut further twisted when they realized that although the person was not Whumpee, it was in fact still someone they recognized. “Andrew?” Youngest questioned, eyes widening, also relieved to find they could speak through the muzzle. The man was part of the Intel division at the same agency they worked at. At least they were pretty sure it was Andrew; it was hard to say for certain under the bruises and cuts.

Andrew made a muffled noise through his gag.

“Now then Dipshit, I believe this is a friend of yours? They won’t seem to give us the information we want about your headquarters, so you’re going to get it out of them.” Claudio nodded at the guards to unlock Youngest’s handcuffs. “I owe you a huge thank you by the way, we only captured him because they were out confirming your whereabouts.” The arms dealer grinned wickedly.

One of the other guards that had brought Andrew out was securing the man’s wrists to a post as youngest was being handed a cat-o-nines flogger, studded with metal.

Guilt flooded them. Youngest began to shake, they couldn’t, this, not this! They would take waterboarding a hundred more times before this. Youngest shook their head, trembling, and threw the flogger into the dirt.

 “I will not cooperate with this.”

“you’ll do it Dipshit, or I’ll just have you both killed here and now,” Claudio retorted calmly.

Youngest took a deep breath trying to steady them self. “Fine, alright, I’ll do it,” they grumbled, reluctantly taking up the flogger. They did their best to reason with them self that them doing it was probably better than some guard doing it.

‘crack’

They threw the first lash, aiming just to hit Andrew with the tips of the falls to avoid doing damage with the spikes. They looked over to the guards, then to Claudio who just nodded for them to continue.

‘crack’

This one drew a little blood, but Andrew was still silent and had not reacted.

“Harder, you hit like a child, dipshit,” Claudio taunted.

“Stop calling me that!” Youngest screamed, anger gripping them. They lashed out with the whip out of frustration with everything they had before they even realized what they were doing.

‘CRACK’

Andrew screamed, being hit with not just the tips this time, but the entirety of the falls. Blood trickled down their back.

Youngest immediately dropped the cat-o-nine, crying at what they had done. They had hurt someone innocent, they had hurt one of their own!

“Good, just like that you dumb little dipshit. Keep going!” Claudio ordered.

Youngest, swallowed, fighting down their emotion. They had to keep going to keep them both alive.

‘CRACK’

‘CRACK’

‘CRACK’

Blood was now flowing down Andrew’s back. He was shaking from the pain.

‘CRACK’

Again and again, he made the flogger come down on the other man’s back. He had lost count around 20 but was urged on.

Andrew’s pained screams had become broken sobs, his voice long since cracked from screaming.  Youngest’s clothes were splattered in blood, the whip was coated with it. It looked like something from the horror movies Whumpee and themself used to watch together. But this wasn’t a movie, this was real life, and worse, this was their doing.

Youngest dropped the whip for the last time. They began to hyperventilate. Trembling from head to toe, they slowly sunk to the ground, falling to their hands and knees. They wretched at the sight of their ally’s blood. The blood that they had drawn. They were supposed to be the hero, how could they do this.

“Continue Dipshit.” The order felt like ice in their veins. They simply responded by shaking their head.

“I said keep going!”

“I-if I continue, they will die.” Youngest choked out.

“Then they die, you don’t stop until I say.”

Youngest again resisted, not moving a muscle. They didn’t even bother to wipe the blood splatter that was on their face.

“Have it your way then,” Claudio hummed, pausing for a moment, “slit the spy’s throat.”

The guard nearest to Andrew began to step forward, service dagger in hand.

Youngest began to scream, “stop! No! Stop! NONONONO!”

their vision began to haze. Soon the screaming almost sounded like it was coming from someone else, and they were watching events unfold as if they were an observer. They saw themself begin to go out of control but were helpless to stop it. Their body gave off a faint glow as they cried out, desperate to halt the execution that was about to unfold right before their eyes.

All at once everything fell pin drop silent. Everything was frozen in time. They felt their throat and chest burning, and an eerie feeling crept across their mind at the sight of statues that were once moving people.

Suddenly things began to move again and Youngest realized the burning in their throat was from their own screaming. They then gasped in air, realizing their longs were aching because they hadn’t been breathing.

They found they were all of a sudden toe to toe with the guard holding the dagger. They punched with every ounce of strength they could muster. To their complete shock, the guard went flying against the wall behind him. He could hear yelling, the four guards scrambling, more getting called in.

They snapped Andrew’s chains; they could tell they were quickly losing all control. They felt themself going nuclear. Using their last moments of clarity, they grabbed the intel officer and rushed to the far door, ripping it open and throwing them through it.

“RUN!” Youngest yelled. They hoped the confusion they were creating would at least allow them to escape.

@whumperofworlds, @whumpsandbumps, @3-2-whump, @pigeonwhumps.

Day 7 Here >

That was the last thing they remembered clearly before everything got fuzzy.

*I did not have a beta reader for this, please let me know if there are errors. The word app on my phone sometimes glitches and I don't always catch it on my read throughs.

Event Prompts Here

My Event Masterlist Here

[momowoah]

To add to the seemingly endless list of Chenford/Buddie parallels: both couples had moments before they dated (and before they even truly realized their feelings) in which they opened themselves to the possibility of that relationship and truly considered moving forward with it for the first time. (aka 7x01 is to Buddie what 3x14 is to Chenford) (long-ish post)

In the S3 finale of The Rookie, Lucy and Tim are finally out of their T.O.-Boot relationship, which opens up the possibility of them having something beyond that. Lucy even acknowledges that in 3x09 when she fake confesses her feelings for Tim in order to prove she can handle UC work. Even though the confession wasn't serious, it did bring up the fact that it could've been; Tim specifically actually had to consider how he'd respond to Lucy actually having feelings for him, since he believed her. This whole ordeal resurfaces in 3x14, first when Lucy flirts with him while UC, and later when they talk at the wedding, the first time both of them manifest being interested in each other and in pursuing a relationship. Lucy breaks away from Grey and Nyla to go talk to him (and they exchange looks over it); Tim checks her out; they bring up the flirting; Tim asks Lucy to save him a dance. It feels like they crossed a line, it feels like it's going somewhere, and it probably would've if not for all that happened after. 4x01 basically confirms that by showing both Lucy and Tim laying in bed(/couch), wondering whether or not to get up and go towards each other after a hug and an almost kiss. Although the show never acknowledges what would've happened if either of them had gotten up (and we know at least Lucy would've, because she was getting up when Tim interrupted her), it is heavily implied that during those two episodes they were interested in each other, but it ultimately led to nowhere (at the time).

(Unrelated kinda but we can also establish a parallel between Chenford and mid S2 Madney here. Jackson's death ruined what they could've had back then, but they still managed to have something else.)

(Btw this paragraph will be a little chaotic and I'm too lazy to reread it and organize it sorry but I swear it makes sense) We get this kind of subconscious-ish realization of feelings and openness to a possible relationship with Buddie too. For Buck, that happens in S7. I can't find that interview again for the life of me but remember when OS mentioned a few weeks ago that Buck felt something when he thought Eddie and Marisol had split up in 7x01? I think that was the moment when he finally opened himself to the possibility of dating Eddie (even if he didn't realize that's what he was doing). He had broken up with Natalia after he had realized that their relationship would always be about his death rather than his life and was actively trying to understand how he had changed since dying (if we go by his 6b plot). I think the fact that Eddie was missing from his coma dream is specifically significant for this reason. Eddie was the one major relationship in his life that Buck didn't confront during the coma. He was absent, because Buck wasn't ready to deal with what he meant to him yet. By S7, we see Buck way more open to dealing with his feelings, evidenced by the fact that he finally figured out his bisexuality and by how light that whole plot was/is. Buck was ready to deal with it, even if subconsciously, and I think a part of that was him finally opening himself up to the possibility of Eddie. His vibes in the locker room in 7x01 are a lot like Tim in 3x14 - he wasn't overtly flirting, but he was trying to take that step forward, willing to take that step forward, and only didn't bc Eddie told him he was still with Marisol. Unlike Tim, though, I don't think he has fully closed that door yet. He's redirecting these feelings to Tommy for now, but he's still there with Eddie. He just needs some time to figure it out.

When it comes to Eddie, I think this moment came much earlier and lasted a lot longer. His feelings finally came close enough to the surface (even if they didn't surface completely) when he got shot. In that moment, he reached for Buck, and he never truly stopped. He broke up with his girlfriend really soon after that; he avoided going on dates; he pulled Buck closer to his family life (s5/6 domestic Buddie my beloved) (also by revealing the will); he actually pretty much took Buck out on a date. Eddie was moving towards a romantic relationship for almost two years, completely open to dating Buck, until the cemetery scene. Buck thinks he's finally found his place with Natalia, and Eddie decides to stop pursuing him because he realizes (wrongly in my opinion but shhhh) that he'll never be able to be that person to Buck, because Buck has yet to realize that Eddie does see him and that Eddie sees him all the time. However, he resumes his pursuit in 7x01, because Buck breaks up with Natalia, and that means that Eddie still has a chance. Even Buck's relationship with Tommy points towards it, because it means Buck can feel like that about a man. So Eddie pulls Buck back into his family life by asking for advice and help with Christopher (and probably also through whatever is going to happen with the Diaz family now), starts to fuck up his relationship with his girlfriend (by moving too fast even though he doesn't want to, which was what killed his relationship with Ana), avoids his girlfriend, and indulges Buck's every idea (as seen through the bachelor party). Since the 7x01 locker room scene, he's been fully open to Buck, and Buck has been fully open to him. In conclusion: Buddie will be canon by the end of 8A.

[purplesoulcollection]

Unnatural Love

Part 9 (1) Synopsis : Name has being transmigrated into the world of I'm Not That Kind Of Talent without ever reading the novel. She's not being reincarnated as a human but as a devil as well. Hi There! I want to let you know that this fanfiction story isn't solely my creation. I borrowed the concept from @quqiwo2. I haven't actually read the novel either, just some spoiler to the end.

I hope you'll excuse my spelling and grammar mistake, because English not my first language.

I find myself wishing I had made a different decision earlier. Even if I have no other options available to me now. Because...

"Everyone, this is Adele, my fiancé." Deon said while introducing me to the servants who work in his house. I can easily guess their reaction only with seeing their face; they were shocked and completely skeptical about it. It seems like being known as the Emperor's dog really weigh heavily on his personal life at all.

But their gaze still makes me so nervous...

"Young master, you got engaged to a woman without holding a big party. This is a crime for us." An old butler suddenly responded to Deon. Is he Head Servant here? Because usually the oldest and most strikingly dressed is the head servant.

"It can't be helped, I liked her first."

"Then why does your fiancé wear your clothes like this? You are the noble, why can't you treat her to some lovely clothes?"  He seems to notice my baggy clothes, which are actually Deon's, but you know what? They're super comfy!

"I'm in a hurry to go home, after all we rode horses to get here. It's impossible if she wears those heavy dress." He lied very easily, thanks to his experience.

But here I am, speechless with his flawless lie.

"Young master, you are so mature that you can have a fiancé now. This old man is touched for you." The old butler wiped away a single tear with a cloth in his pocket.

I, who watched the drama, just smiled awkwardly while holding both hands. My hands finally changed color to normal human skin color too.

I’m really looking forward to seeing my reflection in the mirror!

Traveling by horse by the way is just a lie. To have a good reason to wear Deon's clothes because all I have is inappropriate clothes and to blend in with my camouflage as a human woman.

We walked into the human world, and ladies in this world is not known with their strength to walk that far away…

"At least let us change your fiancé's clothes into something more normal to wear!" But the butler still insisted to change my clothes.

I think my clothes really inappropriate in too many ways in his eyes.

Deon looks closely to my clothes too before he said "... Okay."

That was the moment when the maid pulled me away to put on a royal-era dress complete with a corset. I shot him a look of betrayal, but he turned his gaze away from me. He knows he's wrong.

‘Deon, you traitor!’

But at least, I can asked them to not to use corsets. They obeyed and told that it's fine if I don't wear a corset at home, but if I have to go to a party you must wear that.

But I'm confused, for some reason they already have women's dresses here. Is this what his mother left behind?

But it suits me somehow???

Is it possible that it could be like that....

But the more confusing one is…

Why do I have to be the doll of the servants here?

They mentioned that their goal was to find the perfect dress that would suit me best, all while considering my body measurements.

To reach that goal, I need to be caught up in the chaotic debate and wearing a disheveled outfit for nearly three hours.

"This lady looks best when she wears a blue dress!"

"Wrong, madam it looks best when you wear red!"

"Purple is good too!"

I'm tired. Can I just rest even though it's still early? Moreover, I didn't even sleep in order to come here.

“Can you take me to my room? I'm tired of traveling.“

My tired eyes are definitely craving some rest right now. My body also feel so sleazy after all of this.

"We'll escort you right away." They turned away and started talking softly. I have no idea what they're discussing, but my yawn makes me completely indifferent.

Then I went to my room, took a shower (thank goodness this wasn't the era of kingdoms where servants had to bathe their masters), slept like a log.

I fell asleep so fast that I didn't realize one thing.

Whose room is this?

"She’s sleeping?"

'Yes young master. She’s not even touch her lunch yet."

After a moment of silence, Deon tapped his finger on the teacup several times before finally speaking up.

"I'll take care of it. You can deliver her lunch in my room."

"I understand young master."

Only after saying that, Remember go away from Deon.

And after he sips his last drop of tea. Deon got up and went to his room. As soon as he opened the door, he could see Adele sleeping soundly without being disturbed by his presence.

He approach Adele and swipe her bangs from her face. Her expression radiates an otherworldly tranquility. Looks so peaceful and beautiful.

Adele's sleeping face was the new thing he saw in Adele. Adele in the devil's world always looked so alert, nervous, kind of sad.

She always looked like the outsider even if she's devil too in his eyes. Her nature does not reflect the nature of the devil.

He isn't joking when he said Adele looks like a human. Maybe she's born in wrong body. Not that he really care about her race.

Maybe she's suitable enough to be a human here.

She didn't even flinch when his finger touch her face. Maybe she's so tired or she's heavy sleeper.

Whatever the reason, he still wants to touch her face. So he stroke her cheeks and looking at her face before he kissed her. In the lips...

I saw a white roof when I woke up.

I also felt a soft mattress that I haven't felt for a long time. The maid mattress in the Devil's palace doesn't use much foam.

Sometimes I have insomnia because I'm not used to it, I can only fall asleep when I'm tired, no matter the place.

"Already up? " That noise is coming from my end. I'm twisting my head in surprise. The first thing I see is his red eyes staring at me so closely.

"D-Deon, what are you doing here?"

"This is my room."

HIS ROOM!! Not in the guest room!?!

"Could it be that the servants don't know that we sleep separately? That's why we were put together? We have to immediately ask for separate rooms!" I am speaking frantically.

I can't sleep here; I need to leave immediately. But before I could get up, Deon grabbed me and I stopped.

"Don't."

Only then I looked at him, his eyes looks so fierce. Make me flinch unknowingly.

"Why, we're just dating. It's not worth it to sharing a room like this."

"But we already love each other. Why not?"

His expression appears completely oblivious, contrasting sharply with my anxious thoughts.

"Privacy... Don't you want that from me?"

"In fact, I would be happy if you could accompany me here."

I'm blushing. He is the natural charmer for me with his good looking face and the sincere words.

Hm...

Why is Deon's pitiful face so cute? So dazzling...

Why his face have to be this good? I can't even compare to him!

Is it time to give up? Moreover, the highest quest was also more embarrassing than this. If my quest isn't done, I can't return to my world.

Finally I nodded and Deon was very happy.

To Be Continued

I cut part 9 into 2 parts. Enjoy the story...

[mushroompollution]

The pair are setting up to play a video game together when Elliot's phone rings. "Oh what now," he complains as he fishes the device out of his pocket, only to sigh heavily. "Hold on, it's my sister," he says with a roll of his eyes before he answers.

Leo knows what that means. He settles back against his pillow and opens his book, getting comfortable. It'll be a while.

Those two could chat for hours, depending what all she had to talk about. And since it's been over two weeks since their last conversation, that would probably be a lot.

Though he does love to eavesdrop, Leo also respects his friend's privacy over anyone else's. He tries his best to tune him out and focus on the written words before him instead, but Elliot's loud voice and the way he paces across their room as he talks are hard to ignore. The valet is just about to leave for the common room when he hears the subject shift to a sensitive topic.

"It's not about short notice, damn it, I'm saying-- No! I don't want to go out with her at all! Just because we danced at my stupid birthday doesn't mean-- I don't care that you already sent a letter of approval, I said I'm not interested!! Because I just got-- I-- UGH--"

But by the sound of it, by pure coincidence, Vanessa must have approved a formal courting request. A tactic she often used, by approving and setting dates up for him, Elliot had a much harder time avoiding them. Not without making his family look unreliable and disrespectful, at least.

Leo sighs to himself. Elliot hadn't told his sister anything about Marcel, not about their dates or their breakup. She would overreact, and it would be humiliating if we didn't last, Elliot had insisted. Leo supposed that had been a good call.

Elliot's voice raises as he continues to argue with his sister. "Of COURSE I care about our future lineage, but it's not like it matters right fucking now!!!!! I'm not getting married when I'm still in school, so can you PLEASE back the fuck off?!! No, fuck that!!! I've already got Leo, WHY would I need ANYONE else right now?????? What do you mean what does he-- THAT'S NOT WHAT I-- URRRRGH FUCK YOU!!!!"

He does manage to control himself enough to hit End Call before those last two words. He hurls his phone as hard as he can, at least having the foresight to aim for his pillow.

On his own bed, Leo gives an impressed whistle. He mouths the word "wow" and gives a sarcastic little applause. His friend snaps a furious "SHUT UP!!!" in response.

"so you don't need anyone but me, huh~?" Leo teases. Despite his lighthearted tone, those words seem to resonate inside of him, a haunting, disarming echo.

But Elliot is still on his tirade. "No! Fuck you!! I know what I said and I meant it!!" he yells, doubling down. And Leo does shut up. "I'm sick of dating, and I'm especially sick of formal courting performative BULLSHIT. I don't want to waste my time on some awkward fucking evening with somebody I barely know, who either doesn't give a SHIT about me, or doesn't respect himself enough to speak up when he's unhappy. I'm MUCH happier right here, ordering some fucking delivery, and watching movies all weekend. THAT'S what I want in a relationship!!!!!!! But no, it's all 'everything changes or nothing does,' that's BULLSHIT. I don't WANT everything to change, I like THIS--"

Behind his glasses, Leo's eyes go wide.

"I don't need dates when all I look forward to is getting home to the one person on this miserable fucking planet who actually respects what I--"

But Leo doesn't really hear the rest of that rant. Elliot's voice is eclipsed by something else, that post that Leo had saved on his other, hidden blog.

He doesn't really know what he's doing.

But he sets the book aside and swallows down the lump inside his throat. Elliot's still carrying on as he slides from his bed, walking just a couple steps to catch the other man as he paces by with a firm hand on his shoulder. In one decisive motion, with no time to look back, he yanks his friend down to eye-level by his sleeve, and catches his lips mid-rant.

And just like last time, everything seems to stand still.

Elliot goes completely frozen at first, shocked and confused. But in a matter of seconds, he wraps his arms tight around his valet, pulling him so, so close, with one hand buried in that mess of thick, black hair. Leo's hand shakes on his shoulder. A quiet, contented moan slips from one of them. Elliot takes a step back, the other man still held tight against him, and the back of his leg hits the matress. The two fall into his bed, wrapped in each other, as they both try to selfishly devour this moment.

Finally, though, they separate, both struggling to catch their breath as the weight of their actions settles over them.

"W-what the hell...?" Elliot breathes. He keeps his arms around the smaller man, looking past disheveled bangs and thick glasses into a terrified night sky.

"y-you wouldn't shut up," Leo's response earns a look, and he knows how bad his friend wants to hit him.

Good.

That means that nothing's different.

"So you kissed me?!" though he sounds exasperated, Elliot doesn't yell.

Leo wants to look away. He wants to hide. To run away.

But he has to accept that he won't be comfortable sometimes, doesn't he?

He takes a deep breath.

"did you mean what you said?"

Elliot searches his face for some clue. "Which part?" he asks breathlessly.

"all of it." Leo does glance away, but he forces himself to look back into those blue skies again. "but mostly. that you're happier here..."

Elliot's grip on him tightens up, for just a second. That little squeeze makes Leo's chest hurt in an unfamiliar way.

"Yeah," his tone is gentle, especially compared to his previous tirade. "Of course I meant it. I meant every fucking word. As much fun as that first date was, I was so relieved to get home, get out of those clothes, and just. Talk shit. With you."

"but you kissed me instead..."

"I needed to know..."

Leo finally can't take it, pressing his head under his friend's chin. "i don't want everything to change. i really like the way that we are."

Elliot feels his stomach sink, but confusion rise. "Then why did you--"

"because now i know i want to kiss you, too."

A moment of silence falls, and Elliot gives him another gentle squeeze. Leo feels like he might break in two.

"Okay, but... Why does everything have to change?" Elliot asks, cautiously. The silence threatens to build again. "I know what we talked about. I know the rules and the traditions, and bullshit. I know we'd have to keep it-- keep this-- secret. But..." He takes a deep breath. "I don't like PDA anyway. And I have a feeling you don't either."

Leo shakes his head against the other man's chest.

"Yeah. Exactly. Why do we have to call it 'dating'? Why do we have to call it anything?"

Slowly, Leo looks up at him, eyes wide again.

"what about your duty to your family....?"

Elliot sighs. "I don't know. But I know I'm not interested in seeing anyone else right now, and. Look... When we were at Gil's last week, we uh. Talked. About lineage and... Stuff. About those expectations, and how whatever I do won't exactly be traditional anyway. So. I don't know. I don't want it to fall on Vanessa alone, but maybe I don't have to resign myself to marrying someone I don't want to be around, either."

Finally, Leo can't help but smile. "a lifelong bachelor, with his faithful valet, huh?"

"It's not like Fred was married. Claude was engaged, but I don't think Ernest was settling down soon. So..."

Silence, again. "so nothing changes. except..."

"We just add. Kissing, sometimes."

"in private."

"Obviously."

Leo takes in a deep, deep breath. "i want that," he admits, for the first time.

[invinciblerodent]

man, i know it's not ideal party comp to have two warriors and a mage, but I'm really looking forward to playing Veilguard with Neve and Davrin as Verbena's main party

like, i'm really looking forward to seeing all the dynamics developing, but specifically those two, they really have stuck their pins very deep into my brain

I headcanon that with the both of them being Shadow Dragon operatives, while they didn't know each other, Ver and Neve must have known OF each other: Neve from what I've seen and heard seems to me like she's more of a planner, one to direct the flow of their efforts and supervise, while Ver is a very "boots on the ground" type of person, working both in the setting up, and the knocking down of the pieces with her work as something of a double agent for them. It'd be unlikely for them not to have ever heard word of the other, or used the other's work as a jumping off point, but they've also never personally met, which is why, though unfamiliar, there should be sort of a base level of a strange kinship between them from the start.

(Who knows, Neve maybe even recommended Varric to try and contact Mercar, because she knew that Ver is discreet, and maybe a bit rough around the edges, but principled, and one who Gets Shit Done.)

(She probably really didn't bargain for the mess she's about to have to deal with in Ver, lol.)

Though they are both from Minrathous and parts of the same faction, I'm really interested in how different their approaches to the whole situation are going to be. Because by virtue of simply not being a mage, Ver's experience of Minrathous is very different from Neve's.

Ver in my mind right now is Soporati, raised primarily lower class (I hc that though the background blurb says she's a foundling, she actually lost her parents at around 10 years old), she grew up playing with Liberati children, the most significant figure in her background is a Liberati (and an elf at that), and so her relationship with the underbelly of Minrathous is very personal and intimate, which is partly why she took up work for the Shadow Dragons.

While Neve, just by virtue of being a mage, is either a Laetan or even an Altus (afaik we don't know which yet)- which has to inform her relationship with the city at least somewhat. Even if she is of a lower class of mage (though being as powerful as she is, I doubt that- I don't remember if it's in her short story and I'll have to re-read it, but so far I personally think she might be an Altus, though probably not one with blood ties to the Magisterium), she is still a mage, thus inherently she is head and shoulders above Ver in class.

It'll be super interesting to see how that might affect their relationship, and whether Ver acting as sort of a "leader" (even though Neve is clearly basically the same, only "better") is going to work with their dynamic. My hope is that it'll be sort of a parallel to what my Inquisitor's friendship with Sera was like: shared sentiments, vastly different backgrounds, this time the other way around.

While with Davrin, I've not planned ahead much, but I'm definitely feeling the prickles of theirs being a relationship that's strengthened by their shared senses of duty and principle.

I gave Ver sort of a wariness of Wardens in general (partly because in Tevinter the Order doesn't really have the reputation they have in Ferelden or even Orlais, and partly because I headcanon that in her past, she has seen quite a few hopeless people be scooped up by the Order and then never return), but she'll probably be fairly quick to overcome those reservations as they get to know one another, and see that their understandings of right and wrong aren't really that different.

And then there's also the angle of the whole Dalish elf/Tevinter human kerfuffle in history. With the reveals of Dalish history that we're about to get, I really wanna see them both grapple with how all that they thought they knew about their peoples was wrong, and find solace in the confusion through one another.

Just. One more day, I'm vibrating at a frequency so high, that I'm almost certain I'm going to wind up wiggling out of my skin by tomorrow morning

I'm gonna. Go. And, uh. Bake pumpkin bread or something jesus chrust

[heyclickadee]

Things about "The Outpost" that are still killing me:

1. That airstrip was huge. And by the time we see Mayday and Crosshair on it they've been walking across it for a while, at the rate they’re going. The TK troopers don't see them at first, but once they do, they gather, see this:

These two men, barely on their feet, clearly in pain, one of them unable to keep holding on to his crutch anymore, staggering towards them inch by inch, looking towards them for help--not a single one of the TK troopers offers any kind of assistance whatsoever. No one calls for a medic, no one rushes forward to carry Mayday. They all just stand there and watch. And when Nolan tells them to go, they do, because they probably don't see the clones that differently than Nolan does.  

Yeah, Lieutenant Nolan is an asshole. He went from, "I'm probably going to dislike this guy," to, "LOATHE," in my book with a single line. He's a pathetic officer-wannabe who genuinely thinks of the clones as machinery he can push around and direct how he likes. He doesn't see the problem with kicking around someone like Mayday--someone who technically outranks him, I think--or the danger inherent in goading someone like Crosshair, because he doesn't see either of them as reasoning, emotion-having people who may just retaliate if pushed far enough. He's a snake and he deserved what he got. But his malice is more than matched by the TK troopers' apathy.

2. The way that there's ice and snow frozen to Crosshair's armor on the landing strip, and the fact that Mayday can't quite make it to the end of the tarmac, nor is Crosshair able to continue carrying him. They're both so cold and tired. They've both hit their physical limit and it would have been enough if anyone had cared to help.

3. Crosshair is--literally--stripped of everything that marks him as an imperial soldier or a soldier at all by the end of the episode, and most of it is stuff he casts aside himself. His CT number (in a way, when he gives Mayday his name), his helmet that he doesn't even look for (there as SO MANY good helmet metas out there, so I'm not going to get into it), his rifle (which he gives to Mayday to use as a crutch and doesn't retrieve when Mayday drops it), his backpack (I'm guessing it got too heavy so he threw it away to keep carrying Mayday), and even his armor, reflection mirror...sticker...things, and sidepiece (all of which are taken from him after he blacks out. I'm not real happy about the fact that the scientists at Mount Tantiss changed his clothes while he was unconscious). Of course, the last few function a little bit differently than they first ones do. The CT number, the helmet, the rifle, and I guess (?) even the backpack (though to a much lesser extent) are all Crosshair intentionally putting his imperial identity aside in order to help someone he sees as a brother and re-humanizing himself in the process. The last couple--the armor, the sidepiece--that's the writers telling us how vulnerable Crosshair is in his current situation.

4. The SNOW and the way it interacted with the CHARACTERS was just *chef's kiss* Credit to Joel Aron and the effects department, you guys knocked it out of the park.

5. Likewise, while I'm really glad The Bad Batch does list the names of the animators at CGCG who worked on each episode in the credits (because guess what--not every animated show does this. Sometimes they just list the name of the studio), I really want to know which animators were responsible for animating Crosshair this time around. Or at least Crosshair's shots, since the way I think it often works is that an animator will be assigned a series of shots and be responsible for animating everyone in those shots, because oh boy, was that a performance. Crosshair's animation has always been standout, I think partly (partly) because he's a character that doesn't actually talk that much, and says stuff he doesn't mean at least half the time, so there has to be a certain level of clarity and nuance in his performance for the character comes across the way the writers intend (and partly because being an ultra-expressive but taciturn bundle of emotions is a big part of Crosshair as a person). But the team working on this episode took something that was already great and kicked it up another level.

6. I want to know if Jennifer Corbett, the board artists, layout artists, the other writers, the directors, and others high-fived each other when they came up with the ice vulture symbolism and the rock-wings shot. I want to know if they knew we'd go crazy over it.

7. Mayday. Literally everything about Mayday. Mayday my beloved. *cries*

8. The look on Crosshair's face when he's about to pass out and sees the TK troopers coming still messes me up, because it's the closest thing we've gotten to a real smile (one that actually reaches his eyes) pretty much since he was teasing Echo in the med bay in "Aftermath." Crosshair's someone who's come across as to me passively suicidal since the moment he turned around after the droid fight in "Return to Kamino" and saw Hunter and the rest pointing their guns at him. Passively--meaning that he's not going to actually do anything, that he doesn't actually want to die, he’ll survive however he can, but that he's not exactly planning for the future, either. He'll just keep doing what he's doing until it (almost definitely) kills him. And. I mean. Crosshair's not stupid. He knows what killing Lieutenant Nolan means for him. I'm not saying that Crosshair didn't expect to wake up afterwards, or that he wanted to not wake up, but I am saying that he did decide that avenging Mayday and defying the Empire in whatever small way he could was worth dying for. And that he was very, very tired.

9. I'm so! Glad! That Crosshair's growth wasn't centered around Omega, Wrecker, Tech, Hunter, or Echo. We already know that he cares about them. Showing us the lengths he'll go to help a relative stranger instead and making that his breaking point does so much more to tell us that he's grown.

10. The thing that sticks with me most, though, is the fact that this episode wasn't just sad. It wasn't just unrelenting tragedy, or even like "The Solitary Clone," where overriding emotion of the whole episode is despair. I mean, yes, this episode is sad. It's tragic. You have Lieutenant Nolan's cruelty, you have the malice of the Empire, you have the apathy of the TK troopers, the dehumanization of the clones, the soul-crushing way in which Mayday and Crosshair find out that the clones were always going to be replaced, that inevitability, the futility (on one level) struggle that ends in Mayday's death. 

But it's not just that. There's warmth, too. There's camraderie and a little bit of humor. Mayday, a survivor starting to see how pointless it all was, and Crosshair, who's so desperate for companionship at this point that he'd pack bond with a rock, snark back and forth at each other a little bit like old friends. Heck, this is the episode where we get the most profound act of compassion we've seen in the show so far. Mayday didn't have to disarm that mine and save Crosshair, but he did, and it matters. No, Mayday didn't make it, but Crosshair carried him through a blizzard for two days and made sure he didn't get left behind or die alone, even if he couldn't save him, and that matters. Yes, Crosshair's a prisoner now, but he chose to avenge Mayday, grab hold of his own humanity again, and told the Empire where to stuff it, and that matters. Kindness and defiance have their own meaning, even if they don't change the outcome. But the fact that this episode is more than just sad is, I think, why it's so harrowing in the first place.

[daughterofhecata]

for the writer's asks: 2, 3, 10, 19 <3

[ask game]

2. Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project

Well, I'm currently in the process of writing some Bob/Sax, and I'm actually really looking forward to some horny Sax description xD Other than that I'm really excited to write the Whumptober Day 18 fill (I'm doing them pretty strictly in order), because I have a *very* interesting idea for "Revenge / Unreliable Narrator / Loss of Identity" :)

3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway)

Hm, had to think about this for a while, because, uh. I usually just write directly what I want to write and then care about set-up and context later - if at all. But there certainly are a lot of bits and pieces rotting deep in documents that haven't been touched in years, and some of those scenes I would love to share, but it doesn't make sense to do it, because they would need a lot of build-up to hit emotionally the way they're supposed to.

10. How would you describe your writing process?

A very decent mix of order and chaos? I do try to sit down to write/edit every day, I can usually produce like at least 200 words a day, I'm extremely disciplined when it comes to prompt challenges (ie - keeping the word count I#ve set myself, filling all days even if inspiration is sparse, goign in order if I told myself that'd be what I'd do, etc). But I'm also drowing in WIPs, most of which will probably never be finished, my ADHD is the one deciding what I'll work on and most documents are a mess of unconnected scenes that I inevitably struggle to stitch together in the last steps.

19. Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe ‘too often’, trope you can’t get enough of?)

"gelinde gesagt" & "unwillkürlich"... 🙈 Also I love describing people (esp hot older men), even though I'm not convinced I'm particularly good at it, and there is probably too much "character looking at something/someone" happening - the person holding our Creative Writing class even remarked on that after reading a text of just five pages 🙈 And my ao3 is overflowing with fic tagged "Dom/sub undertones" (or varietes of that tag) and/or "Age Difference". And I'm not going to be ashamed of that either 🤷‍♂️😄

[thecookieverse]

Rose Water Cookie does ballroom dancing as well as singing (of course), though he does know a good bit of tango too. 

When he was younger, he met a girl named Cherry Cola Cookie and the two became friends, even developing a mutual crush on each other. Sadly, they never were able to hit it off, as when Devil's Food Cookie challenged Rose Water to a rap battle to prove his worth, Rose Water lost. And while Rose Water and Cherry Cola were and still are on friendly terms, they soon drifted apart as they grew up, partially due to Devil's Food's overprotectiveness, but also because of the embarrassment Rose Water felt upon losing, making him doubt his singing abilities for a good while. 

Thankfully, with encouragement from his sisters  Rose Water was able to regain his confidence, deciding to take up ballroom dancing instead, while still keeping his singing skills sharp. One day he meets Cherry Cola again, though, much to his dismay and shock, she found a new flame: Slushie Cookie. Out of jealousy, and (seemingly calm) desperation to rekindle his old love, he challenges Slushie Cookie to a rap battle in order to decide "where her beautiful heart shall reside". And we all know what happens from there, though instead of being killed by Spirit, he just gets extremely pissed and goes on a rant on how he lost the rap battle against Cherry Cola's dad, feeling inferior after losing trying to get with Cherry Cola twice, etc. 

Of course, he loses, defeated, and riddled with guilt and shame over his sore-loser attitude and the fact he tried to break up a happy couple, just walks back home. It was then he had a revelation: He needed to let it go. Sure, it wouldn't be easy, but it's either that or being riddled with those negative feelings for the rest of his life. And so, he does his best to apologize to Cherry Cola and Slushie, and, after some time, he and Slushie do become friends, or at least on more amicable terms. 

One day, he meets a half cake-monster cookie named Orange Velvet, and needless to say, he found his new flame. This newfound spark changing not only his life, but Orange Velvet's too. 

Lore

Attends Patisserie Academy as a senior.

Younger brother of Rose Cookie, older brother of Black Rose Cookie

Friends with Ackee Fruit Cookie. In fact, thanks to her, he was able to start a dance club in Patisserie Academy.

Relationship Chart

Rose Cookie (Family, Older Sister) "Never cease spreading your passion, dear sister."  Black Rose Cookie (Family, Younger Sister) "Different as she is, I'm glad she's found something she's happy with." 

Orange Velvet Cookie (Love, Girlfriend) "My precious sun shining on my beautiful roses. I could dance with her all day."  Cherry Cola Cookie (Friendly, Sort-of Ex Girlfriend) "She was my old spark, alas, both of us have found new flames"

Slushie Cookie (Trust) "You're still not bitter about the "ugly worm" thing, are you? Or the threats...right?"  Ackee Fruit Cookie (Friendly) "The dance club owes a lot to her"

Whipped Cream Cookie (Trust) "You're just as good as sister says you are, care to teach me a move or two?" 

Raspberry Mousse Cookie (Trust) "I see you've been having eyes for my sister recently..."  Crème Sandwich Cookie (Trust) "It's like you and little sis were made for each other, how adorable~"  Cherry Blossom Cookie (Friendly) "I look forward to her picnics every time"

Appears on Relationship Charts

Rose Cookie (Family) "An astounding performer my brother is. Our dances are different, but the passion is always there." 

Black Rose Cookie (Family) "I appreciate the support, just a little less of the mushy romance stuff, ok?"

Orange Velvet Cookie (Love) "Without him, my life would've been so different...and quite bleaker."

Cherry Cola Cookie (Friendly) "All is forgiven, better a friend than a jealous ex."

Slushie Cookie (Trust) "Don't sweat it dude, past is in the past!" 

Cotton Candy Cookie (Trust) "You have the voice and moves of an angel...Um..." 

[itsnothingofinterest]

Saw the ask from linkspooky and you're both definitely right, it's like the reporter lady (and presumably more since she's meant to represent others, I guess?) missed the point entirely. She wasn't in any way wrong to snap at endeavor, at least implying him as the root cause of a lot of bad happenings, because it's the truth right?

I really hope that this direction is not what hori follows through with, cause what it looks like the message is saying here, is that you shouldn't blame the heroes no matter what, even if it is their fault because that'll be 'damaging'. Despite the obvious truth that if someone had checked endeavor somehow in the first place a lot of damage wouldn't have happened. Do you feel similarly?

Also am I sending you too many negative/critical asks? Should I send less?

(in response to this)

Yeah I’m hoping the same too. Like I think I’ve shared with you before that I’m hoping all this unearned hero hype is just an excuse to end My Hero part 1 on a high note in preparation for a part 2; because boy is all this a terrible way to actually leave things.

Because what you said about how a lot of damage could have been avoided if someone had questioned and checked on Endeavor and his family way earlier into things; that’s true going forward too. If heroes keep that infallible air, what’s to stop another hero from abusing their family? Especially knowing how Endeavor's been treated by the justice system. Already horrible enough; but then what’s to stop that hero's victims from becoming a villain(s) to get revenge on that hero and all the heroes like them as Dabi did*?

It’s the main problem I always mention having with the resolution this arc and it's attitude to the status quo is heading towards; everyone’s fighting to restore order and peace, but zero counter-measures are being considered to prevent more hurt or suffering that’ll loop us right back to this chaos. There’s a few who said they’ll look out for one (1) villain-generating issue; but the method they'll do so is the same as what heroes have always done, be inspiring and nice and junk. And let’s be real; if everything that made the League happened under All Might’s nose for 40 years, what are these guys expecting to accomplish doing the same thing? Is it something different? Because Far Cry tells me that's the definition of insanity.

When I said addressing evil is incompatible with not causing a bother, that’s one of the ways I meant it; the kids and those backing them need to take a hard look at hero society and repair the cracks in it to save those who’re falling in them. Or else one of these days, one of those maggots Shigaraki talked about that are crawling back out of them will tear those whole thing down. Or it’ll last 100 or so years and get taken out alongside humanity by the Singularity that everyone was too busy with villains to deal with. One or the other; either way it can’t last.

So again, reaaaaaaaaaaaaally hoping there’s a part 2 to address all that. Or failing that; that the kids suddenly start being very open to the League being right about stuff and how that should influence their impact on hero society. Because otherwise, things aren’t looking good.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also as ever I want to say that no, you are not sending me too many asks. And you shouldn’t worry about your asks being to negative or critical either; since it’s the story, or at least it’s characters’ decisions, that are giving us reason to be critical. Though I would hardly say no to an opportunity to gush over stuff rather than criticize stuff. But either way, I like getting asks; they’re prompts to give my thoughts, with the knowledge people want to hear them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*I'm sure some will say Shoto will be the counter measure to that, he'll stop such abuses. But sorry to burst any bubbles; nothing like that has ever played into his arc. It's always centred on healing the Todoroki family’s damage, and him (alone) not becoming a hero like Endeavor. Besides worries of his own behavior, he's never really thought about other heroes acting like Endeavor.

Now theoretically he could still get the idea to do something about it before series end...but at this point, that's only happening if a) he starts listening to Touya's arguments, realizes he's right, and decides to do something about it less-violently as I outlined above, or b) we get that part 2 where he might get a lot more time to figure things out on his own. So...yeah.

[stillresolved]

@ptternminds sent in: If María had a table to do it on, any kind of surface, she'd slam the pin down on it. Completely misplaced rage, the usual. Arrogance, a sort of elitism she doesn't recognize as such, when she approaches an Avox because everyone else is making her want to set fire to the entire damn place. Her arm doesn't shoot out, but the motion with which she lifts her hand between herself and Aeri is just as sharp. Her fingers unfold to reveal the pin the Avox had adjusted the last time they'd met. "What you did last time...," her voice doesn't bite off as much as her expression would have foreshadowed it to. It's tight. But tightly controlled as well. Putting in an effort. "Could you fix my hair again. Please. It actually held when you did it and they're driving me nuts over there." ((I LOVE SENDING YOU THINGS, DON'T WORRY ABOUT HOW OFTEN I AM IN YOUR INBOX, I'M BLESSED BY GETTING TO HOP IN SOME MORE >:33333 also GOSH María having Aeri's pin is something I can NOT let go, it just had a way too violent effect on me, hope this is okay ♥))

SHE MIGHT HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF HER TITLE, but does not mean the heiress has been beaten out of her. Not completely at least. Kang Aeri would throw herself into the river first before admitting that the brat lifting her hand is enough to make Aeri flinch. It turns out that avoxes are more than less of indentured servants and more like…property. It’s not like her family would go out of their way to rescue her anyways. Meaning one step out of line with any of the guests and it’s a guaranteed punishment of some kind. Usually physical.

Sometimes it’s worse.

( And if it is, Aeri does not tell her love. It’s better that way. Aeri refuses to let her see Aeri sink any lower. )

But still, Aeri bites the inside of her mouth, clipped fingernails digging into calloused palms. It’s atrocious: aside from the mandatory red gowns they’re all required to wear, all with the skirts loose ( she can’t even style it to her own liking ), avoxes aren’t even allowed to paint their nails. It’s as if they want the avoxes to be the walking versions of traffic cones.

Tragic. And infuriating really. For a country that values appearances above all else, one would think to elevate the style of their servants. One is only as stylish as their weakest link after all.

( Not that Aeri ever thought of them. Not until she became one of them. )

The brat reveals a hair pin though– Aeri’s hairpin. She remembers that one: sleek, gold, with a caprice of diamonds on the end sticking up. It was supposed to be worn the day she would have made her debut in the Capitol. 

Of course, that had to go to shit. And of course, her pin ( and now that Aeri thinks about it’s probably her dress too ), had to end up in the brat’s possession. Aeri glares at her. It should be Aeri in those clothes. Just watching the brat’s behavior over the course of the months, Aeri bets the 74th Victor would relish wearing an avox’s dress. The brat’s so obsessed with fighting anyone and everyone in the Capitol, why not let her descend to the people at her level? Most people in the districts don’t know how to appreciate luxury when they see it.

But alas, the brat still is a guest and if Aeri were to refuse, who knows what her ‘supervisor’ might do. She takes a step forward, one loud enough to reverberate across the floor, had she been in high heels, and snatches the hairpin out of the brat’s hand.

( Just because it’s an order doesn’t mean Aeri has to be nice about complying. )

She studies it. The diamonds shine in under the electric lights and the gold, it looks like it’s been polished. Not recently though; Aeri can see the fingerprints over the middle. It’s probably either the brat’s or her idiotic stylists– none of them would think to wash their hands before handling such luxury, would they?

Lips crease together in disapproval before she grabs the girl by the shoulder and spins her around. Now just looking at the pin just pisses Aeri off. Slotting the pin behind her own ear, Aeri gathers the brat’s messy– but what can Aeri do about it; the brat didn’t even bring a hairbrush along– hair into a ponytail. 

The bun forms itself under Aeri’s calloused fingers and once she knows it’s secure, she sticks her hairpin back in. A strand falls over the brat’s ear, much to Aeri’s annoyance, but she doesn’t try to fix that. The brat likes her hair looking half-assed anyways. 

Satisfied with her work, Aeri shoves the brat towards the dressing room once more although she’s quick to follow behind.

They better not be dressing María Castro in her designs too.

[inheartofwinter]

For @microficmay Day 1: Create (current rating: T). Although this is too long for a microfic 🤣

I plan to write a long fic with each chapter based each day's prompt. This is the first time I post a WIP (snippets don't count) or join a daily fic writing challenge, and I'm not sure if I will be able to finish it. For this fic, I don't have anything except a rough outline. But anyway, I hope I would be able to complete it, even if I fail at the challenge.

The Potion Master's Ingredient List

Chapter 1: Chinese Fireball's Blood

The dungeon is dark and dank. It has a smell that Sirius doesn’t know how to describe other than “it reeks of miseries". It is so strong that Sirius can taste it on his tongue. It reminds him of home. Sirius can’t imagine anyone would be willing to live here.

Yet, obviously someone is. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have to be here.

Sirius traces the long path to an oak door. It looks like it would break down with the slightest push, but Sirius knows better than that. The owner of the room behind this door is a paranoid bastard. He must have put at least a dozen curses and strengthening spells on this door. 

Sirius takes out his wand and knocks it on the door in the pattern he was told. The dungeon groans. Opposite the oak door, the stone wall opens, revealing a potion laboratory. 

Of course. That wicked git.

Sirius puts a Protego on himself and steps into the lab. A red light lashes out from inside the lab at his chest and pounces off harmlessly. Sirius snorts.

“Thanks for the warm welcome,” says Sirius to the man standing before a long line of bubbling cauldrons.

Snivellus—Snape; Sirius was told to stop calling him by that childish nickname. He needs to set a good example for his godson—replies in a bored voice. “You’re late.” It irks Sirius. He can bear a snarling, cursing Snape, but an indifferent Snape is another matter.

Sirius wants to retort that they had never set a meeting time, but decides against it. It won’t work on Snape. Instead, Sirius smirks. “I wouldn’t have been late if I had known you were looking forward to seeing me that much.”

Snape snarled. “More like looking forward to cutting you into bits and throwing them into my cauldron.”

Sirius puts his hands on his heart, faking being shocked. “Are you propositioning me?”

Snape’s face doesn’t change but his hand twitches. He must be dying to hex Sirius If it weren’t for Albus ordering them to work together, he must have Sirius kicked out of the lab already. Well, if it weren’t for the order, Sirius would never step foot in this room willingly. Dumbledore needs Snape to create some potion for him, and he wants Sirius to assist Snape. Why couldn’t Dumbledore choose anyone else?

It’s a lie. Sirius volunteered for this mission, before he knew that he would have to see the dungeon bat's mug regularly though. He is done with staying uselessly in 12 Grimmauld Place. That house feels like a mausoleum. Sirius can’t believe that there’s a place capable of making him feel like a walking corpse more than Azkaban. He needs to get out of it. He will bear with Severus sodding Snape if he has to.

“Let’s get down to business.” Snape grabs a piece of parchment on the desk and thrusts it into Sirius’s face. “Get these ingredients for me.”

Sirius looks at the parchment and whistles. “Chinese Fireball's blood? That’s illegal.” The dragon's blood isn’t the only problematic ingredient. All those listed in the parchment are either banned or highly restricted. Sirius wonders what kind of potion they are meant to brew.

“You can’t get it?” Snape raises his eyebrow. Sirius can recognise a challenge when he sees it.

“I never say that. But why don’t you get them yourself?” Sirius waves the parchment. “Licking Voldemort's boots doesn’t yield enough benefits?”

Snape bristles but collects himself at Sirius's smug grin. “If you want to attract the Dark Lord’s attention, sure, I can. Now will you get them or will you not?”

“Alright. I will do you a favour,” says Sirius and immediately runs out of the lab before Snape can reach his wand.

The stone walls slam shut behind him. Sirius rolls his eyes. Dramatic ponce.

Sirius glances at Snape's list. He hopes Charlie won’t be too mad that Sirius wants to take his beloved dragon’s blood.