#flower hostess gift

[thefoodiesfithome]

2022 Housewarming & Hostess Gift Ideas

50+ Housewarming and Hostess Gift Ideas for the holidays and beyond

It can be hard to find a meaningful hostess gift. I feel like a lot of times I resort to a bottle of wine at random simply to not show up empty handed. No more. I want a curated list of thoughtful, practical housewarming and/or holiday hostess gift ideas from which I can pull from on these occasions. I’m throwing the housewarming bit in because a lot of these are great gifts for new home owners,…

[cameronspecial]

Let Me Date You, Angel

Pairing: Frat!Rafe Cameron x Reader

Warnings: N/A

Pronouns: She/Her

Word Count: 0.9K

Summary: Rafe wants everything for their first date to be perfect, but unfortunately, it isn't.

Masterlist

They were going to go for Mexican food on Friday night, but unfortunately, Y/N got sick and lost her voice. It disappointed Rafe greatly to have to postpone the date, but at least now he can make it absolutely perfect. The Mexican place he wanted to take her to is now closed for a private event, so he had to rethink his plan. He thought it would be the perfect opportunity to go to the most exclusive restaurant in town. He planned everything down to a t. It was the type of place with a pre-determined menu, so he had to make sure that the menu they had the night of their date was something Y/N would like. He made sure they shipped in the drink she liked. He made sure that he got her the perfect pre-date gift. She wasn’t the biggest fan of flowers, so he got her some of her favourite stationery she likes to use for her notes. This date was going to be perfect and he was going to make sure of that. 

——

The first thing that goes wrong is the restaurant reservation. “I’m sorry Mr. Cameron, but in our system, it says that your reservation is at eight,” the hostess apologizes, looking up from the screen. Rafe shakes his head, “No, no, no. That’s not right. I said seven. I confirmed with whoever I was on the call with that it was at seven. What are we supposed to do until we get a table?” Before the hostess can answer, Y/N steps in to help ease the situation. “It’s okay, Rafe. We can go back to your car and listen to some music. I have this great song that I think you would like.” She takes his hand and they head to his car to do as she suggests with him grumbling under his breath at the stupid person he was on call with. The next thing that spoils his evening is the menu being changed at the last minute. “And the entrée for tonight is a braised duck accompanied by a peanut sauce,” the waiter announces while pouring their wine. 

Rafe’s fist clenches in anger. He specifically told the restaurant he needed to know about menu changes because of her allergies. Now, it makes him look incompetent to Y/N because she told him about her allergies. “Oh, I’m allergic to peanuts. Is there any way to not get the sauce on it,” she politely asks. The waiter gives a tight-lipped smile and shakes his head, “I’m afraid not, Miss. The chef doesn’t like when the meals are altered in any way.” “That is stupid, so you are telling me that my date can’t eat anything because your chef doesn’t want to have his feelings hurt,” Rafe argues, boring his eyes into the man. Y/N smiles at the waiter, “It’s okay. Is there any way we can get the check, please?” The waiter nods and heads to get their check for the drinks printed out.

She turns to Rafe with a smile, “It’s okay, Rafe. We can just go to the campus pub. We can share the nachos.” He wants to argue with her that he can fix this and with the chef that he needs to get rid of the nut sauce for Y/N. Yet, something in him tells him to do as she suggested. “I’m sorry. I just really wanted this night to be perfect for you, Angel. And everything seems to be going wrong,” he tells her, putting his hand in hers. She shakes his head, “I know you do, but I promise, it will still be perfect if we go to the pub. Honestly, I like greasy nachos way more than braised duck.” This calms his nerves a little and he pays the bill so they can leave.

——

The pub is busy. Probably because of the hockey game playing on the TVs, but Y/N and Rafe get a table in the back corner. It’s more cozy and warm than the stuffy and cold exclusive restaurant. The date is going absolutely amazing. They’ve shared so much food. A burger. Nachos. Wings. Fries. They completely indulged themselves in not only food but also conversation. There is never a moment of silence and laughter fills the air. Rafe has to admit that this has been the perfect date. “I just wanted to say thank you for letting me date you, Angel,” he interrupts their conversation. He can’t help himself. He needs her to know how much this means to him because he thinks he found his soulmate. She leans in to give him a kiss and pulls away, “No need to thank me. You found me and I promised I would. But this has been an amazing date. I love it.” He has kissed a lot of people before, but he’s never kissed anyone who's built a fire in his stomach. It tells him what he needs to say next. 

“I know it’s early, but will you be my girlfriend?” he inquires, begging the universe that she won’t say no. She grins at his nervousness, letting him be on edge for a second. When it looks like he is about to cry, she saves him from his panic. Her arms wrap around his neck, “Of course, I would love to!” They pull away from the hug to turn it into a kiss. Once they pull away, Rafe takes a napkin and looks around for a pen. “Here,” she offers, handing him one from her purse. She is so curious about what he is going to write. She watches as he writes down numbers for a list and then writes Rules To Be Rafe’s Girlfriend at the top of the napkin. Boy, does she not know what she got herself into. 

Taglist: @winterrrnight @loves0phelia

[seireiteihellbutterfly]

Birthday Blues

A/n: Happy birthday @actuallysaiyan! Remember Nanami would never forget your birthday and he will try his hardest to make it special.

Nanami is panicking as he talks to the restaurant hostess.

“But I don’t understand - I made the reservations a month ago. How could you have overbooked? Is there no way to get a table for tonight?”

The hostess apologizes and offers to rebook him for next weekend. He sighs, defeated. “Go ahead.” He hangs up and runs his fingers through his disheveled hair.

The whole day had been one disaster after another. He had a gift but the cake he’d ordered was the wrong flavor, a mix-up the baker had apologized profusely for, the flowers he’d sent had been delivered to the wrong address, and dinner, booked at an incredibly upscale restaurant nearly a month ago, was ruined. It was the first birthday after you had been dating for a few months and he’d been under a lot of pressure to make the night memorable. 

He sighed, the tie feeling like a noose around his throat. You were due to come over any minute now. He felt a little despair fall over him; all he wanted was to make your birthday special, to show you how much you had come to mean to him during this time, and it had all fallen apart within a matter of hours. He felt like a failure; what sort of boyfriend screws up his girlfriend’s birthday this badly?

The doorbell chimes merrily, announcing your arrival. Knowing there was no way out of this, he opens the door and sees lovely you, all soft smiles and glowy eyes. 

“Everything ok?” you ask him as you step over the threshold, noting the way his brows were knit together and the little lines around his eyes looking more deeper than you’d ever seen them in these last few months. 

“Yeah.” Swallowing, he leads you to the couch and seats you before settling next to you. He takes your hands, wondering what to say.

“Kento?” you prompt him.

“Y/n…you know how much you mean to me right?” 

Your cheeks pinken and your grip his hands tighter. “Of course. You show it in so many ways.”

He feels his heart clench and with a sigh he admits the catastrophes of the day. “I wanted this day to be so special. To spoil you and make it memorable.” He swallows before continuing. “I had a reservation for us, but there was an issue with the restaurant  and they couldn’t get us in tonight. The baker got the wrong cake flavor. It’s just a whole lot of stuff gone wrong.”

The guilt in his eyes makes your heart melt. You knew him well enough to know this was eating him alive. 

“Kento.” You kiss his cheek, much to his surprise. “It’s ok. I don’t need a fancy dinner or anything like that. I just enjoy being able to spend time with you. And the fact that you took the day off today to ensure that you could be with me, that’s incredibly special.”

He lets go of the breath he wasn’t aware he was holding in. “Are you sure? I feel so bad. Your first birthday after we got together and it’s all ruined…”

“It’s not ruined at all.” You reassure him and pull him into a hug. “Let’s get dinner from another place.”

Relief washes over him. “Tacos?” he asks with a weary smile, and you laugh because they were your favorite.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

AFTER:

You hold up the gift he’d gotten you, eyes as wide as dinner plates. 

“Kento! This is too much!”

The lovely gold necklace and pendant glitter under the light.

“How could you possibly think this birthday was ruined when you got me this?!”

all dividers and banners by @/ cafekitsune

[fireya-x]

— ❥ [ link to my AO3 ] (for full tag lists)

— ❥ [ requests / asks ] (for requests or to say hi! <3)

🌙 nsfw / contains smut

✨ sfw / no smut

— ❥ [ coming home ]🌙 [3,5k words]

three weeks apart is three weeks too long for john.

— ❥ [ caught in the undertow ]🌙 [7k words]

john made the right call that day. it could have cost you your life, but it saved a dozen others - innocent men, women and children. he made the right decision. …did he?

— ❥ [ luna sanguinis ] 🌙 [4/8 chapters, 19k words/??]

when john price is dragged to a fancy halloween party, he finds himself captivated by the alluring and powerful hostess, victoria di corvo. but beneath the opulent facade and intoxicating charm lies a dangerous secret – a world of ancient curses, primal hunger, and a blood-soaked game that will force john to choose between his humanity and a destiny more powerful, and seductive, than he could ever imagine.

— ❥ [ floral misdelivery ]✨ [2k words]

overwhelmed by the task of gifting his mother flowers, john makes a mistake that turns into a chance to show you, his assistant, what you really mean to him.

— ❥ [ mirror image ]🌙 [3k words]

price comes home from a training mission with new recruits and desperately needs to feel to be back in control over something (hint: it’s you).

— ❥ [ family dinner ]🌙 [9k words]

john asks you to pretend to be his girlfriend for one night, to save himself from annoying questions from his family. turns out, you're actually who he really wants.

— ❥ [ keep me breathing ]✨ [22 chapters || 73k words]

one day, captain john price brings his team home, a small house in a london suburb, after a mission that changed everything. you didn’t know that you would soon be back in the field again, chasing demons. if only you knew that sometimes, what you believed to be true wasn’t always as it seemed…

— ❥ [ a private lesson ]🌙 [4k words]

your husband, captain john price, insists on teaching you how to shoot at the range. but you soon realize that his instructions involve a lot more than just handling a gun.

— ❥ [ a million miles apart ]🌙 [2k words]

it's the middle of the night, and the phone is ringing. it's john, and something is wrong... but it's a different kind of urgency.

— ❥ [ when lilacs bloom ]🌙 [5k words]

the aftermath of a mission leaves you shaken, and only john's presence can ground you as you face a new part of your life together.

— ❥ [ the fall of crowns ]🌙 [8k words]

as a sniper, you're not exactly known for close-quarters combat. john price wants to test your limits, and you both end up pushing each other beyond the point of no return.

— ❥ [ the wolf and the nightingale ]🌙 [14k words]

witnessing something you shouldn't have, you're thrown into a world of shadows and danger, placing you in captain price's protective custody.

the safe house you share becomes an unlikely sanctuary as you have to deal with not only the threats that lurk outside, but also the unexpected, forbidden feelings that ignite within its walls.

— ❥ [ champagne dreams ]🌙 [9k words]

task force 141 had taken on an unusual mission for a night: they were playing bodyguards for a retired general's daughter.

captain john price expected it just to be a quick and well-paid gig - turns out, he and you weren’t seeing each other for the first time, though…

[abbyromanoff]

Natasha x avenger!reader where Nat has always been the “man” in relationships with all the women she’s dated but reader comes in, who’s displayed more masc and wishes to be the gentlewoman that Nat had lacked and Nat feels more comfortable with it and feels she’s hit the jackpot with reader?

Jackpot

Pairings: Natasha Romanoff x reader

Word count: 1637

Warnings: fluff, small angst, talks about break ups and cheating, kissing, that’s all!

I forgot to add the avengers!reader part so I’m sorry!! I hope this is okay

No one is permitted to steal, copy, or reblog my work as their own!!

You walked towards the front door of the crappy apartment, your fist colliding with the door as you waited for a response. You held the flowers tightly, your nerves growing more the longer your date took to answer. Finally, she opened the door, letting you release a relieved sigh and move in to hug her gently.

“Hi, uh, Y/N, is it?” You chuckled, nodding and handing her the flowers. She looked surprised as if she’d never gotten a gift handed to her like this.

“And you are Natasha, if I’m correct. Otherwise, I might need to ask for those flowers back.” She smiled a genuine smile. You had only met through mutual friends and, while you convinced yourself that you were done with dating, you decided to give it one last shot. There was something about her that just drew you in, even if you had only just seen her picture.

“That’s me. But, please, call me Nat.” You both walked out after she had placed the flowers in a vase, arm in arm.

“So, I hope it’s okay but, I did drive here on my motorcycle. If you don’t want to drive on that I completely understand-” Nat paused in her step, you soon following her as you worried about what would come next.

“You drive a motorcycle?”

“Yeah, is that okay with you?” You meddled about with your fingers and raised a brow at her now smiley, joyful face.

“Are you kidding? I fucking love motorcycles! I actually drive one myself, it’s my baby.” You laughed at her words as you continued to walk, both with a slight pep in your step. You continued listening to her rambles about her pride and joy, her bike. It had been nearly ten minutes and she already had never felt so comfortable with a date, with anyone really.

“So, would you like to ride on the back or walk? It’s only a fifteen-minute walk but, well, I know how much you love your bikes.” She speed-walked over to your ride and led you to follow, it made you laugh knowing she could already guess which one was yours.

“Just hold onto me, Nat.” She gripped your sides softly and rested her head on your shoulder, the cold from the night immediately being replaced by her warmth.

When you both had gotten to the restaurant, you opened the door for her and spoke to the hostess while looking at her for any clarity you might need. She seemed content, and you hoped that meant there was another date in sight. When you both sat down, you pulled the chair out for her and she thanked you.

“So, I want to know,” She said after nearly an hour into your date. It wasn’t boring no matter how long you spoke, even in the silence, it didn’t feel like it needed to be filled.

“Yes?”

“Why is it that you came on this date with me? I mean, Tony told me how you kept saying no to everyone until he showed you a picture of me, why?” You sighed, chugging down the small amount left of your wine before giving a tight-lipped smile.

“Well, I guess you were just very attractive, and the way Tony described you just made me want to get to know you better.” She laughed, eying you with suspicion before you followed suit to her noise.

“It’s true!”

“You are so holding back! C’mon, I want to know the real reason.” You hadn’t told many people, but for some reason, you felt comfortable with her. You felt like you could tell her the truth and she wouldn’t judge you or block you afterward.

“I guess I just, I don’t know, I guess I just didn’t want to date anyone for a while at the time. I had recently gotten out of a five-year relationship and Tony knew that, of course, he did.” She cut you off with a quick, ‘I’m so sorry’. You could tell she felt bad for asking now hearing only part of your story, but you didn’t blame her one bit.

“Don’t be. We, uh, we got engaged three and a half years in and I thought she was the one, I really did. That was until I found out she was screwing around with her boss behind my back. Then we broke up and I just felt like I was nothing without her. I wasn’t able to sleep for months because I was so used to having my arms around her, and I isolated myself to the point I lost most of my friends. But Tony didn’t give up on me, he can be annoying at times but he truly is the greatest friend you’ll ever have. And that was about a year ago so he would try and set me up with people he knew, but none of them really stood out to me, and then I saw you. You looked absolutely stunning, you really did. And even tonight you look, like, astonishing, it’s crazy. But it wasn’t just the looks that drew me in, it was your smile. I could tell you were a total sweetheart with the kindest soul and, while Tony didn’t describe you all that well, I just knew I couldn’t miss this opportunity. God, you should’ve seen the look on his face when I agreed, I think he was finally starting to run out of women in his phone.” Her eyes were glossy with tears as she looked down at her drink, thanking all the Lords that she didn’t bail on you. You weren’t like the others who were just looking for sex, you truly wanted to know her for her.

“I…I’m truly at loss for words, Y/N. No one’s ever said those things to me.” You looked at her like she had just told you she murdered someone. And while she didn’t say that, she’d have to save that conversation for another time.

“Are you kidding? Jesus, what assholes. How could someone not fall in love with you the second they meet you?”

“Are you insisting that you’re in love with me already?” She remarked playfully and reached her hand across the table to grasp yours.

“Hm, I don’t know, am I?”

“Maybe that’s something we’ll have to discuss on a second date?” She asked with a small sense of hopefulness in her voice. She really did want to see you again, she felt like she was already drawn to you after one night.

“Maybe it will be.”

You two were both walking to the bike, hand in hand, grins covering both of your faces. Your cheeks had been hurting with how often she’d pull a smile from you, but you weren’t complaining and neither was she.

“You know, you said you thought my smile was beautiful, but I really think yours is so captivating.” She said once both of you had taken place on the motorcycle. You looked back at her over your shoulder and shook your head happily.

“Well, thank you, Nat, but I don’t think it’s anywhere near as precious as yours.”

“Just take the damn compliment!” The two of you drove home in peace. There wasn’t much talking, but it wasn’t exactly easy to do with the loud engine. Nat clung onto you, hoping she wouldn’t have to let go. But, as always, the time came quickly and the next thing she knew you were walking her up the stairs to her apartment. Your arm wrapped around hers as your hands were interlaced with one another.

“You didn’t have to walk me all the way up here, you know.”

“But what if I wanted to?”

“Well, then I guess I can’t really argue with that, now can I?” Her door was right in front of you now and you two stood across from one another with barely any distance between you. Your eyes couldn’t strain away from her plump lips as you imagined what it’d be like to feel them against yours. She was no better, admiring your body up and down as she stopped at your lips.

“Kiss me, baby.” You did as asked and brought your mouth forward, feeling her hands come to your chest to rest on you. She sighed happily into the kiss, it had been so long since a kiss held more than just a quick fuck.

“You think I’ll be able to see you again?” She asked with uncertainty.

“Of course, you will. Besides, it wouldn’t be long until I needed to see you again as well.” She had started to open her door until something stopped her, how could she have forgotten?

“Uh, one more thing. I’m…I’m an avenger. And, well, that comes with many risks and many hours spent dedicated to my work. If we’re going to make this work I want you to know that I won’t always be free.” She thought this might’ve been the deal breaker like it usually was with anyone else, but no, you didn’t give her a weird glace or walk away, you stayed.

“And I wouldn’t expect you to be. I’ve seen how committed Tony is to being Iron Man so, trust me, I wouldn’t expect you to stop working just for me.” And with a quick hug and a kiss on her cheek, you left. She watched out the window as you drove away, hearts nearly bubbling in her eyes.

“Well, Liho, I hope you had as fun of a night as I did with your turkey bowl.” Were cats even allowed to have turkey? She didn’t know, but what she did know was that you’d receive a text from her very soon and that Liho might have another parent in the future besides Nat, who could already tell Liho was sick of her.

[bunniandhoney]

pls I need jacob w a Latina reader🫶🏻 can be smutty or fluffy🤭

I’m feeling a wee bit of fluff for this.

—

imagine you all had been dating for a while, like you are spending so much time together that your family is definitely trying to figure out what’s going on. Your mom, bless her, already knows that this is about a boy and she’s been waiting on this moment your whole life. She gives a slight smirk every time you leave for a date or if flowers are sent to the house.

your dad on the other hand is pretending not to notice, but he’s horrified because you’re clearly no longer his little girl.

your little cousin is finally getting confirmed this weekend at her church and your parents, as her padrinos, are giving her a party after. your mom has suggested that this is a good time to bring your “friend” around. and boy was that an idea lol!

Jacob is slightly nervous when he pulls up to your house that weekend, vigorously running his hands through his curls. He pulls out three flower arrangements from his backseat and heads to your front door. When he rings the door bell no one answers, but he knows people are there because of the music. Just as he is about to ring the doorbell again he see you coming from the side of the house.

“Hey baby, you made it!” you say greeting him with a kiss on the cheek.

“Yeah, I rang the doorbell, but nobody answered! Oh and these are for you.” he replies handing you a bouquet of red roses.

“Come meet the family!”

As soon as you all make it into the back yard, Jacob is welcomed with open arms. You lead him around, introducing you to your tios and tias. Your tios are definitely strong arming those handshakes, but Jacob is taking it all in stride. Your tias on the other hand are pulling him in with a kiss on the cheek, like they’d known him forever.

Your mom just might like him more than you after she receives her flowers from him. “Why don’t you ever buy me flowers?” She says hitting your dad on the shoulders. He walks away grumbling under his breath about Jacob showing off. She is playing the perfect hostess as she shows him around the house. When she stops in front of the mantle Jacob’s eyes stop on a doll that scarily looks just like you. When your mom sees where his eyes are locked she pulls down the doll

“Te recuerdas mija? mi muñequita” recalling the memory of her baby girl.

You know what’s about to come next, and suddenly your cheeks are heating up as your mom reaches to replace the doll with the baby pink and white laced photo album. Jacob is still confused, until the first page is open and a picture of 15 year old you is on the page.

“Mama, él no quiero ver esas fotos”

“Y, ¿porqué no? estabas una princesa !” she says tearing up.

You’re shaking your head in embarrassment as your mom shows Jacob the pictures. You never thought you’d regret matching the rubber band to your braces with the bright pink ball gown or the amount of curls you claimed you needed because big hair was essential back then. She shows your dad gifting you the doll and switching your shoes. But when she turns to the picture of you dancing with your chambelan de honor Jacob turns to face you. “Who was that?” he says squinting at you.

“Oh that was my ummm—“

“tu primero novio, no te recuerdas mija?” your mom interrupts, clearly confused about your lack of memory of your quince.

While Jacob’s Spanish is minimal he definitely knows the word for boyfriend. “So you keep pictures of your old boyfriends huh?”

“what? no!”

He raises an eyebrow in skepticism

“Don’t worry, I’ll be up there in our wedding photos!” He says with a big grin.

You and your mom turn to him shocked. But he just turns back to the book wanting to see more of your quince pictures.

Your mom looks up at you, laughing “guapo y romántico, que bueno mija!”

Watching him laugh with your mom you know you’ve picked your forever. 🤍

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

hope you liked this one was sugarplum! 🤍🧚‍♀️

this was so fun, but was having flashbacks of all the times i’ve been one of the damas😭 and my mom has been a madrina like 4-5 times, so stressful!

please send in more requests, i’m having a ball over here!

——————————————————————————

oop also translations:

Te recuerdas mija? mi muñequita: do you remember my daughter, my little doll.

Mama, él no quiero ver esas fotos”: Mom he doesn’t want to see these pictures!

Y, ¿porqué no? estabas una princesa !: And why not, you were a princess!

tu primero novio, no te recuerdas mija: Your first boyfriend, you don’t remember

guapo y romántico, que bueno mija!” : handsome and romantic, how good!

[thewritetofreespeech]

With Christmas coming, could I request Gojo's s/o inviting the students and Nanami over for an extravagant Christmas dinner?

“Satoru! Can you please go get dressed?”

“Why do we have to get dressed up?” Gojo whined as he came out of the bedroom, still in his pjs with his house sunglasses on, holding a Christmas mug. “We’re literally putting clothes on to sit around the house. It all seems silly.”

“It’s just part of the season.” You replied. Already dressed and lighting the candles on the table you had just set. “Looking your best is just part of the aesthetic. So please go change.”

“Hmmm…forget that. Let’s lock the door and cancel the party. I have a better plan of unwrapping you for Christmas.” Gojo purred as he came up behind you. Wrapping his arms around your waist and nuzzling into your neck as you giggled.

“As fun as that sounds,” you told him, “I already cooked & decorated. So, you’re not getting out of it.” Gojo huffed and gave up on his advances, before sulking off to their bedroom defeated. “And make sure you wear that tie Nanami got you! I’m sure he would appreciate it if you wore it at least once.”

There was a noise that sounded like an affirmative from back in their adjoining bathroom, just as the doorbell rang.

You rush over to the door to grab it and, no surprise, find Nanami there. “Right on time!”

“Thank you for inviting me.” He replied in his usual monotone. Handing you your hostess gifts before closing the door.

“You didn’t have to bring anything. I told you that over the phone.” You told him, but still cooed over the flowers.

“It’s rude to show up empty handed.” Nanami reasoned, taking off his shoes. “The wine is for dinner. The flowers and chocolate are for you. Don’t let that idiot take it from you.”

“Whhhaaa? Nanami! Don’t be like that! Why can’t I have any??” Gojo whined as he came back into the main living area. Dressed and freshly pressed. You weren’t sure why he waited so long if that was how quickly he could get ready.

“Because I assume you haven’t done anything for this.”

Gojo flinched like he had been literally stung, muttering ‘I moved a table…’ before the door rang again.

“Merry Christmas!!” Yuji greeted enthusiastically.

Followed by a more somber Megumi adding, “Merry Christmas [Y/N]-san.”

“Merry Christmas Yuji, Megumi. My, don’t you boys look sharp.” You compliment as they come in past you.

“Thanks! Nobra made us go shopping with her because she said everything we owned was trash, and not fancy enough for a party.”

“She’ll be coming later with Mai-senpai and Toge-senpai. She said she had some extra last minute shopping to do.” Megumi explained while Yuji was still taking off his shoes. “These are for you.”

“Awww…boys. You didn’t have to get us anything.” You coo taking the presents.

“We wanted to.”

“I brought pickled plums!”

“Pickled plums?” You ask Yuji curiously, who seemed so excited as he thrust the container forward at you. “Isn’t that more of an autumn thing?”

“Yeah. I guess. But my grandpa always liked them, so we had them at Christmas still. I don’t know, it just doesn’t feel like Christmas without them to me.”

You realize that Yuji was subconsciously not be talking about the plums. You forget, with everything terrible going on around him and all of you, that he also lost his only living blood relative earlier that year. “Well, I like pickled plums too. Why don’t we find a bowl to put them in on the snack bar while I finish getting everything ready?”

“I can help!”

Nobara and the second year’s show up not long after that. Nobara complained about the Christmas Eve crowds and that there wasn’t anything in the stores. She still managed to compliment your outfit and table setting; snapping a few pics when no one was looking for his Instagram story.

The dinner was as lively as you thought it would be. With a group this size, and this eccentric, it was bound to be. You hung back for a minute by the sliding glass balcony doors with your wine, watching everyone enjoy the evening and your hard work, when Gojo came up to you. “You did good kid.”

“You think so?” You ask. Clinking your glass with his. Sparkling water since he didn’t drink.

“Yeah, everyone seems really happy. Give them a break for a while to forget. That’s why you decided to do this right?”

“I mean partly.” You couldn’t deny it was one of the reasons. “But, I don’t know. I like having people in the house. Take a moment to be grateful and enjoy each other.”

“And that, Tiny Tim, is the true meaning of Christmas.”

“Are you guys talking about A Christmas Carol?” Yuji pipped up from the table with the other teens. “Are we gonna watch it??”

“What’s A Christmas Carol?” Megumi asked. To which Yuji looked shocked.

“What’s A Christmas Carol????”

“It’s a dumb old movie that adults make you watch once a year.” Nobara told him.

“It’s not a dumb old movie! It’s a holiday classic! George C Scott? Patrick Stewart? Ooo! We should watch the Muppet one!”

“Do you even know what a Muppet is Megumi?” Mai asked, to which Megumi just hid in his cup.

“Can we watch it Gojo-sensei, [Y/N]-san? Please, please, please!”

“I don’t think we own it, but if it’s something you can stream, I don’t see why not.” Yuji gave an excited ‘yoohoo!’ and rushed over to your entertainment center to press all the buttons and try to find it.

“I’m gonna to go help him before he breaks something.” Gojo told you before pressing his lips to your temple. “Have I told you today that you’re amazing?”

“You could stand to mention it more.”

“Well, you’re amazing, my little Christmas angel.”

You giggle at Gojo and let him go help Yuji find his movie (secretly with equal enthusiasm). You take another long look, and a deep sigh, before you rejoin the party.

It was good to spend the holidays with family.

[littlejuicebox]

Highharvestide Day

(Astarion x Female Reader)

-----

This is the fluffy twin to my other mostly-smut piece An Early Highharvestide Feast. Setting: Several in-game spoiler warnings, 4 years after BG3, "good" ending, Unascended Astarion x Cleric Reader Notes: Took a break from my WrenxAstarion fic to write this Thanksgiving-themed 2-part story. I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by friends and loved ones and all the warmth and comfort of love and life. And as always, I love to see comments about what you liked in the story, it inspires me for other fics! And if you like my writing, please check out my passion project: WrenxAstarion. Rating: PG-13 Word Count: 3K

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You are a ball of nerves as you place the final touches on the table settings. It’s such a silly thing, you think to yourself. These people have seen you with crimson drops of blood splattered across your face and broken bones poking out of your flesh; they’ve watched you violently behead a Drow and smelled your musk after a week without a bath. And yet, here you are, meticulously straightening the cutlery, hoping to impress your merry band of misfits. Not that any of them care, and you know it, but you cannot help yourself. You want to give them the best, just like you always have.

The staff are fluttering about the dining hall, placing vases around the room according to your exacting instructions. You smile at the containers filled with blooms from your own garden, the very same arrangements you’d been working on the night prior before you were interrupted by your husband and more... strenuous activities. You’d fallen behind schedule from his distraction and had to enlist the help of the staff to finish the arrangements off earlier today, which Astarion had considered a win for his side in your ongoing fight over trying to remain humble (you) vs. taking what you deserve (him). Absently, you thought that the arrangements weren’t quite as perfect as they would have been if you’d done them yourself... but the small sacrifice had been worth it, in the end.

Astarion saunters through the heavy oak doors of your dining hall, Scratch in tow. The dog was practically your husband’s shadow, nearly glued to his thigh at all times, and as much as the vampire pretended to be annoyed, you noticed even now that his hand was absently brushing against Scratch’s ear as the pair headed toward their favorite woman in all of Faerun. He is carrying an ornately wrapped package in the crook of his arm as he meanders to your side, eyebrow cocked slightly as he examines the room. “Darling, everyone will arrive within the hour, it’s time for you to dress.”

Your eyes gloss over the tables one more time, checking for any final imperfections, before you turn to greet your husband with a kiss on his cheek. “Yes, my love… and what is that you’re holding?”

Astarion chuckles, glancing down at the bundle in his arm, feigning nonchalance. “What dear, this beautiful package? Oh… nothing, really. Just a small Highharvesthide gift for my beautiful hostess.”

He turns the package over to you with a chaste peck to your lips, and you shake your head in amusement at the rakish man. The silver-haired elf tries to hide his anticipation and anxiety by gripping softly at the scruff around Scratch’s neck, but you can feel him eyeing your face for signs of a reaction.

It’s become commonplace that Astarion brings you a present for nearly every significant occasion; spoiling you with any number of ostentatious things you wouldn't dare to purchase yourself seemed to be his love language. For your first anniversary, he’d filled the bedroom to the brim with countless rare, night blooming plants for your garden. You two had made love surrounded by a canopy of flora and the sweet aroma of flowers, and he'd asked the staff to plant all of them on the grounds the following day. It had been a beautiful gesture, and marked the start of your ongoing infatuation with your garden.

But you do know how long your husband mulls these gifts over in his head before finalizing his decision. The mere suggestion that you are not thrilled by his selection would crush Astarion's sensitive heart; he quite literally revolved his existence around you in so many ways. You are easily pleased, of course, by any gift from your spouse… but you are always sure to adamantly express the feeling to your love, less he get the wrong impression.

You place the gift on the table and unwrap it to reveal a beautiful, mulberry-colored gown. The dress is made from velvet, and the neckline drops into a sharp V. Delicate gold embroidery follows the neckline down to the center of the gown, trailing to the hem; the same pattern is echoed along the cuffs and up the sleeves of the piece. Atop the dress sits a dainty golden circlet, the metal fashioned to look like vines, tiny garnet gems positioned in a setting reminiscent of flower petals, the jewels appearing framed as the flower pistils. It’s all breathtakingly ornate, and you gasp in a mixture of surprise and delight as your fingers run along the golden thread.

“What do you think?” Astarion asks, head cocked to the side as he watches your reaction. You can sense the smidge of trepidation in his tone as he tries to hide it from you.

“It’s absolutely perfect, my love.” You turn and beam at him, watching as the subtle signs of tension ease from his jaw and eyes. “Thank you, truly. I don't think I could've envisioned a more perfect gown for tonight. I am meant to wear it tonight, aren't I, my Star?”

“Well, I was so hoping you would, my dear.” The vampire responds, all fangs and flirtations as he closes the few inches of distance between your bodies and wraps his arm around your waist, planting a smattering of featherlight kisses below your ear before whispering. “It will give me such a delectable view of your collarbone all night… and I might need the distraction when the wizard starts prattling on about Tara for the millionth time.”

You laugh and roll your eyes at your husband before grabbing his hand in yours and squeezing. “It's really a gorgeous ensemble. You've outdone yourself, once again. Now let’s go and get ready… I can hardly wait to see everyone.”

-----

You are dressed in your new gown and circlet, Astarion standing just behind you as you two ready yourselves by the front entrance. His doublet is a golden tone, highlighting the embroidered details in your own gown; his chest serving as your background. Even though it goes unsaid, you know the decision on his part was intentional; Astarion's keen vermillion eyes never miss a detail. You had sneakily designed something for your husband, which he’d been given as your both dressed. You knew full well that he’d had a gift planned for weeks and you would never dare to be the one empty-handed; he’d received a beautiful set of cufflinks in the shape of your initials, made from solid gold. The vampire fiddles with his gift as he waits, glancing down every so often to admire the gesture with a small smile and significant affection.

The Duke is the first to arrive, pulled in a horse drawn carriage with several guards and a beautiful half-elven woman by his side — his betrothed, Euphemia Gauthier. You curtsy to Wyll before he takes your hand and laughs. “Such formality from an old friend?”

He wraps you into a hug before moving to Astarion and clapping a friendly palm upon the man’s back. “I trust you two remember my beautiful flower, Euphemia?”

Euphemia smiles as you both turn to her and offer your greetings. You know her to be from old noble blood. She is undeniably graceful, well-spoken, and kind. By all accounts, she is Wyll’s perfect match. Her mega-watt smile turns in your direction, and she takes your hand in hers as she addresses you. “Lady Acunin, have you given further thought about my betrothed’s offer? As you know, Counsellor Atherwinde will be retiring next year, and my darling Wyll is growing anxious to have you take the spot.”

You feel Astarion’s eyes bore into you as a flush spreads across your cheeks. You hadn’t mentioned the offer to him, since you were still mulling it over in your own mind. It came with several obligations and the unfortunate need to step further into the public eye. There would be influence and the ability to advance so many of your political interests, sure. But was it worth the cost? The vampire's fingers gripped into your waist for just a moment, a silent signal to you that he would not be letting the matter rest.

You aim to say something, but Astarion cuts in, speaking towards the half-elf woman; the slightest pitch in his tone, however, lets you know every word is directed to you. “Lady Gauthier, I am sure my beautiful wife is giving the offer the upmost consideration. Who better to fill the position than the woman that saved us all from becoming mindflayers… I can’t think of a single soul more fit in all of Faerun. And I am certain that Duke Ravengard and Lady Ancunin would be aligned. It sounds like an excellent opportunity and one that would be quite difficult to pass up.”

Wyll is positively beaming at this response, practically taking Astarion’s words as a guarantee of acceptance. “Enough of this political talk for the evening. We will have many more nights to discuss… but for today, let’s enjoy the company of old friends.”

-----

Everyone else arrived quickly after Duke and soon-to-be Duchess Ravengard. Gale by teleportation circle, Lae’zel and Shadowheart together on horseback, Karlach carrying a barrel of cheap booze that she unceremoniously placed in the center of the dining room (to Astarion’s dismay), and Halsin on foot with a dozen children following behind him.

The event was lively and filled with an excited, jovial air. A pianist had been hired for the occasion, and the rich sounds coming from the keys mixed with the soft crackling of fireplaces added beautiful background noise to the dining room. Every sconce in the house was lit, and the various candles around the dining room, their wax colored in an array of autumnal tones, provided a beautiful, homey glow. The entire setting wrapped you and your friends in a blanket of warmth and comfort.

Night took over the manor, and the flowers inside their vases bloomed, almost as if on cue, as the food was brought about. The spectacle brought forth several compliments from your friends, lighting your heart aglow. It would have been tradition for you and your husband to sit on opposite ends of the long mahogany dining table, but you had quickly waved off that formality amongst your closest friends and instead sat on Astarion’s left. One of his hands remained clasped firmly in yours most of the night, while his other hand held a golden goblet repeatedly filled with wine. He'd dined on several chalices of animal blood earlier that day, but a plate was still placed in front of him for show. Halsin's cantankerous brood sat at another table parallel to the adults. They were creating quite a ruckus and tossing scraps at an excited Scratch, and you chuckled while thinking the beast was living possibly the best day of his life.

Karlach told of her time in Avernus, and the many efforts Dammon made to fix her engine once and for all. Astarion had helped Karlach secure another position by contract with Zariel, one where she was not actively fighting in the hells… but it still was not the perfect solution, and she was only granted a few weeks of reprieve every year. After a few more years, she would hopefully be out of the hells for good... if Dammon managed to pull through on a permanent solution so she could remain on the material plane. Something told you that Dammon was quite driven by yearning for your red friend and spent all day and all night working to turn Karlach's dream into a reality, and you prayed every day to your gods that his experiments would be a success.

Shadowheart and Lae’zel had spent much of the past four years with the cleric’s parents and traveling around the Sword Coast. The unlikely couple hinted at a possible wedding in the near future. Astarion couldn’t help but chuckle beside you at the irony of it all, a small smirk on his face as he locked eyes with you. But he held back his silver-tongue, knowing he had no right to judge, since he'd initially held a blade to the throat of his beloved.

Gale delivered a most interesting piece of information. He stated he'd pursued many tomes and scrolls and had finally come across a documented successful case of the Wish Spell not more than a month ago. He’d sought out the sorcerer named on record and found the elven man at his residence near Candlekeep. Gale did not feel he was quite prepared to perform the spell on Astarion without disastrous results, but he spoke about the sorcerer with reverence and infatuation akin to the tone he’d once taken when telling of Mystra. You didn’t press further, knowing Gale would reveal everything in his own time, but Astarion shot you a knowing glance before, somewhat surprisingly, genuinely thanking the wizard for his continued efforts and raising a glass to their continued friendship.

Halsin was proud to announce his new community was thriving. Several of the tiefling children your group had rescued were growing to be active members of the society and expanding their efforts. You were thrilled to hear that Mol had turned out to be quite the leader, and Halsin’s influence had pushed her toward benevolence. Arabella was reportedly doing quite well in her studies of the Weave, and spent her breaks with her friends. Halsin hinted at a need for further aid from the city, which both Euphemia and you implored Wyll to look into. The two of you exchanged conspiratorial glances as Wyll gave a good-natured sigh and shot a look that practically said, ‘Women, am I right?’ to a bemused Astarion from across the table. But the Duke promised Halsin with a hand to his heart that he would bring it up at the next meeting.

Astarion had spent most of the night in relative silence, apart from a chuckle or quip dotted throughout the conversation. It was clear he was happy to be in the presence of friends and listen to their exploits, and though he wasn’t particularly loquacious that evening, the soft smile that stayed plastered to his face as he drank from his goblet caused you to make a mental note to host more events within your home. He’d never acknowledge it, but his condition had the poor side effect of being a dreadfully isolating experience, and the man quite enjoyed the company of others. He claimed to need only you in his life, but you knew that was just the expression of romantic love and loyal dedication that overflowed from his heart. Perhaps it was a slant truth that he wanted to believe, despite your knowledge and understanding otherwise.

When people began their departures, everyone was fully sated and thoroughly drunk. Lae’zel and Shadowheart were the first to bid their farewells to the others and stumble drunkenly to your guest chambers. As you watched them walk away, you were all but certain they were about to commit some deplorable actions between the silken sheets you’d put out for them. Your suspicions were confirmed to be correct when the rest of you heard someone bang into the wall with a moan before several giggles and loud shushing gravitated down the hall.

Karlach heaved a heavy sigh as she stood, knowing full well that her guest room was located right next door to the couple's and lamenting the fact that she would have to listen to their incessant lovemaking all night. She had plans to go visit Dammon in the morning, and turned in shortly after Lae'zel and Shadowheart. She took her time hugging everyone around the room and placing a sloppy kiss on Astarion's cheek, intentionally and effectively ruffling his feathers. You'd always felt that, apart from you, Karlach had been the vampire's favorite campmate. The instinct was always reaffirmed every time Astarion allowed Karlach to smother him with affection and, although he acted annoyed, he always let a smile reach his eyes for a moment before slipping the perturbed mask back into place.

Wyll and Euphemia made you promise them to give an answer by the start of the New Year and you reluctantly agreed to the terms as the Duke helped his betroathed into the carriage and bid you both farewell with plans for dinner at his home in a few weeks time.

You’d become quite enamored with a sweet girl named Winifred that had joined Halsin, white wildflowers adorning her red hair. She was not but ten and already showed significant talent for healing spells, as displayed when a tiefling child pulled out a loose tooth at the children's table and began bleeding quite profusely. She gave you a hug as you bid your goodbyes to all the younglings, and you promised Halsin you would stop by within the next few weeks to show her a few more spells. He thanked you both and then called to the children, all of them following obediently behind the druid like a gaggle of ducklings behind their mother.

Gale was the last to depart, opening another portal as he turned to the two of you. “I will keep you both abreast of my progress. Watch for my scrolls. And please come to Candlekeep soon… I would like to introduce you to both to Tharren; he’s eager to meet the vampire I’m hoping to aid and our famed heroes of Baldur’s Gate.”

The wizard presses a platonic kiss to your cheek and wraps Astarion into a hug, the vampire reacting to the embrace like a cat responds to being held by their least favorite family member - stiff, awkward, but otherwise accepting. Your love even relents toward the end of the embrace and wraps his arm around Gale in response, for the first time ever, before the wizard steps away. Gale’s eyes flit between you both as he waves and disappears in a flash of blue light.

You stare at the spot where the portal just dissipated, a slight drop in your chest as you take in the absence of your friends. There is a soft moment of silence that you sit in with your husband, the first moment of quiet all night. Astarion pulls you toward him as a breeze runs across the lawn before he places a kiss in your hair. He murmurs into your ear before pressing another kiss along your cheek. “My darling, I will let you have your night… but tomorrow we will discuss Wyll’s offer, yes?”

You nod and hum in agreement, knowing you cannot outrun the conversation forever. But for tonight, all you desire is to bask in the afterglow of beautiful memories and the warmth of your husband's love. The silver-haired elf spins you and places soft kisses along your collarbone, which he’d been pointedly admiring by almost vulgarly running his eyes along your chest at every opportunity. He trails up to your neck, resting his lips for a moment on that familiar spot at the crook of it before snaking his tongue out to subtly trace over the faintly raised puncture marks.

“Now, my sweet, let’s head to our bed chambers. I’d quite like my dessert. I’ve been staring at that darling neck of yours all night and it’s taken almost all of my control to not splay you out on the dining table and take you in front of our closest friends… though I do think a fair few of them would’ve enjoyed the show. If not for the children, who knows what I might’ve done?”

The flush in your face rises, aided by the heavy amounts of wine and brandy you’d consumed that evening. Astarion makes his way up to your lips and delves his tongue into your mouth, soft at first, but with growing intensity as the kiss lengthens. Before long, your legs are wrapped around the vampire as he carries you to your bedroom, fully intent on making love to you until the sun rises and eternally thankful for his little treasure that the gods placed in his path when he least expected it.

[xanadontit]

Ugh

I'm sure a basic thank you note would be fine but...any ideas on a thank you/hostess gift for Insane Owner?

My dilemma: she bounces among 2-3 homes, two of which are in Newport Beach; she has VERY specific tastes; she's always on some fucking diet and isn't a big drinker (although she was throwing back cocktails and wine lol).

So my usual go-tos like flowers, a picture frame/candle, and/or food and wine-type thing don't feel right.

A note is fine, right? I make, like, $5 a year and should not be going crazy spending on someone who buys out the Ralph Lauren home store.

[ladylooch]

Best Thing I’ll Ever Do - Lio x Savannah (Part 3)

A/N: This chapter really encompasses a lot of what you all wanted to see with Lio and Sav in this part! I am really loving the way Lio is showing up for Savannah in these parts. I just... the way he has grown, both for her and himself... it's beautiful! Courageous! Aspirational! We love you, Lee 🥰

Word Count: 4.7k

Trigger Warnings: infertility, mentions of blood, pregnancy/birth

Part 1 | Part 2| Part 4 |

Inside a bright room atop a Manhattan skyscraper, Savannah delicately arranges the ‘Oh Baby!’ sign hanging down the gorgeous, flower wall filled with roses. The wall is fake flowers, but looks so real, Savannah didn’t believe they were fake until she ran her fingers over them. The flowers are dotted with the theme of the day which is delicate little butterflies, just like the baby they are celebrating today. 

Baby Girl Wood #2 is due in 6 short weeks. Or long depending on which one of her parents you’re talking to.

“My ankles are already swelling up.” Lucie complains from where she is sitting at the bar, sipping on a strawberry lemonade. She extends her legs out in front of her, baby pink skirt hitting just below her knees. She evaluates each ankle while sipping consistently from her straw. “Oh! She loves sugar.” Lucie chuckles, rubbing over her rounded belly where the baby presumably moves. 

Savannah glances over, throwing a sweet smile as Lexi pats her daughter’s shoulder comfortingly. Behind them, Mack, the hostess of the baby shower, is adjusting the little gift bags on the table by the door, making sure they are all aligned and in place.

“Soph did too. Would practically punch through my skin when I had lemonade.”

“I can’t relate. Lio was always fighting people in my belly, I swear.” Emma adds in her two cents. Savannah smirks, turning to call towards her.

“So his punching people started young?”

“Ha!” Emma points at her future daughter-in-law. “Yes. I’m sorry.” She cringes. “I tried. Too much of his dad in him.” Emma pauses, looking over Savannah’s work. “Wow, that looks so real. I am in love with the butterfly touch. That was a great idea!” Emma walks over, inspecting it up close as Savannah steps back to be in line with her.

“Thank you! I am satisfied.” Savannah confirms, crossing her arms over her chest while continuing to look with critical eyes.

“Perfect.” Emma murmurs, then wraps an arm around Savannah’s upper back. “How are you?” Savannah turns, meeting Emma’s eyes. She can tell Lio and his mother spoke this morning. How much of her recent struggles Lio shared with her, Savannah isn’t sure. But nothing has been easy since Connor and Lucie told them they were expecting a baby. 

The heartache and immutable circumstances Savannah thought she had come to terms with no longer felt resolved. It was easy to say this was all okay, but being thrust into a pregnancy journey with someone they are so close with has changed everything. Some days, it takes everything for Savannah to get out of bed. The mere act of existing weighs on her. Lio has been so patient and understanding. Savannah isn’t sure how she is going to get out of this funk. It’s never gripped her this hard before. But she has also never loved anyone as much as she loves Lio, or planned a life with someone to this extent. 

Every step closer they take towards forever- the wedding, the honeymoon, discussing if they are going to move- it all seems like a magnifier on this gaping hole Savanna has eating through the ventricles of her heart. She loathes herself for reverting back into old habits- retreating within, staying out of the house longer to avoid Lio, and the negative self-talk when she sees mothers with their children. It’s all so immature. She should be past this by now.

In an act of asserting willpower and taking back control, Savannah offered to help Mack plan the baby shower. Emma had been helping, but stepped aside when Savannah offered her time and creative mind. Getting immersed in the world of Pinterest and all the different options for showers had been surprisingly therapeutic as long as Savannah ignored the reason for the party. 

This morning, when she woke up and Lio mentioned it sounded like Connor and Lucie settled in on a name for their baby, everything shattered inside Savannah again. She hit the wood floor, collapsing under the crushing weight of knowing she will never have this moment. She will never be able to understand what it's like to have people celebrate her pregnancy. Though she has faced this thought before today, it reopens the wound every moment she remembers.

“I’m good.” Savannah assures Emma, leaning in to hug her soon to be mother in law. Emma squeezes her back hard, fully like a mama does, and it takes several calming breaths before Savannah is sure she won’t cry from the sweetness. She cannot wait to officially join the Meier family. She is hitting the jackpot with Lio’s family. 

Not long after the flower wall is completed, guests begin to arrive. The list consists of mostly family, a few of Lucie’s college friends, and the Rangers WAGS. They all arrive together as a group, descending into the room like gorgeous runway models. Savannah smiles when they see her, offering a wave. The group grabs various drinks, then comes over to where Savannah is standing by the table of quick shower games. 

“Hi Savannah!” One of them, Whitney, exclaims. The two women hug, then she is introduced to the other three women: Gianna, Crystal, and Kyra. Whitney and Savannah know each other from a few mutual friends, Lucie included. 

“Nice to meet you.”

“Savannah is engaged to Lucie’s cousin, Lio. He plays for the Devils.” Whitney fills in for the group. 

“Oh! I know!” Kyra giggles. “ I love your content on TikTok.”

“Oh god. Thanks!” Savannah starts to blush. While she loves creating content, she feels a little awkward when she sees someone in the wild who has seen her stuff. It feels like the other person knows so much about her and she knows nothing about them. Like a one-sided relationship Savannah never knew she entered into. 

“Congratulations on your engagement!” Gianna notes Savannah’s ring. “It was recent?”

“Thank you! Yes, not long ago.” Savannah switches her glass to the other hand so she can extend her fingers out to show off her huge, square cut engagement ring. “It’ll do.” The girls laugh.

“So, when is the wedding?”

“Next summer, we are planning on July.”

“Here?” Whitney asks. 

“Yes! We finally decided on getting married here in the U.S. We were going back and forth on different places in Europe, but with the unknowns of the hockey season, it felt safer to plan for here. You know cause the cup.” 

“One day our lives won’t revolve around a silver cup.” Whitney jokes.

“Keep dreaming. They never stop talking about it, girls. Even after they win it.” Lexi says as she walks past towards Mack by the windows. The girls laugh at the former captain’s wife.

“Well soak it up! It won’t be long before everyone transitions into baby discussions. Unless you already have them?” Crystal comments.

“Oh no, we don’t and won’t have any.” Savannah clears the air. The silence that falls over the wives is awkward immediately. Savannah chews on her bottom lip for a moment, then takes a sip of her mimosa. 

“That’s nice. Kids are… so much work.” Gianna says assuringly. “You’ll be able to travel and do so much more without them.”

“Yeah.” Savannah nods, swallowing hard. All these things she gets to do that she would trade in a heartbeat for a baby. “That will be nice.” She smiles weakly. 

“And you’ll actually get to sleep at night. No late night feedings or changes or just the non-stop screaming. Unlike this girl.” Crystal murmurs, grabbing at Lucie’s forearm as she walks up to the group.

“What about me?”

“We were just telling Savannah that not having kids is the right choice.” Lucie’s face drops in utter horror. She looks over at Savannah so apologetically.

“Some things aren’t a choice.” Lucie snaps, glaring at her shower guest.

“It’s okay, Luc.” Savannah interjects immediately. The group of girls fall into confused silence. “I actually can’t have kids. I would if I could.” Savannah nods as she speaks, waving her hands awkwardly as she explains.

“Oh my god, I am so sorry.” Crystal closes her eyes and shakes her head immediately. “I should not have assumed.”

“Probably not.” Lucie mumbles, clearly annoyed. 

“It’s okay. Seriously, I’m fine.” Savannah plays it off to the group.

But after that, the party isn’t the same. Even after Lucie walks Savannah to a private corner to check in on her. 

“This is your party. Stop worrying about me! I am fine. I’m having a great time and I am hating how much of this is feeling like it’s about me. It’s about you and this perfect butterfly who is joining us soon.”

“Sav, I love you and I know you’re struggling, even if Lio keeps trying to shield your pain from the world.” Lucie sighs. “You know you can talk to me?”

“Yes.” Savannah nods. But they both know why she won’t. Lucie is currently pushing it’s little feet out of her ribs. 

At the end of the shower, Connor and Stella Wood pop in as the guests are starting to disperse. Stella bolts in, attaching to Mack’s waist immediately. 

“I saw Uncle Davey!” She announces.

“You did!? Did you keep him in line?”

“Um, well he tried to eat my pancakes, so I stabbed him with the fork.”

“Oh…” Mack hides her hand to laugh. “How did that go?”

“Not good. I had to go to timeout.” 

“They shouldn’t be giving us another baby.” Lucie jokes.

“Who is this they?” Mack asks her sister. “Y’all know what you did.”

“And I enjoyed it. Ready for more of it this weekend.” She grins at her husband who chuckles. 

“Plenty of it.” He says into her hair. “You ready? I got the car packed, bags are in there. Got Stella’s here for her adventure.” He holds up her purple duffle bag. Lucie and Connor are heading to the coast for a baby moon while Lio and Savannah take Stella for the next few days. 

“Where is my pillow!?” She shrieks, running away from Mack to her dad.

“In here. I put it on top.” He assures her. 

“Okay. Where is Uncle Lee?”

“He is at home waiting for us.” Savannah assures her. 

“Let’s go then.”

“Stella. Patience.” Connor snips a bit at her, clearly annoyed with her attitude. Him and Lucie share a look. His wife chuckles, then wraps an around around his waist.

“Okay, Stell, we are going to go. You’re in the best of hands this weekend, so please be kind and respectful and listen to the adults, okay?”

“Okay. I love you!” She bounces up on her tip toes, puckering her small lips for a smooch from both her parents. 

“I love you.” Lucie responds.

“Love you, bug. Be good. We will see you on Tuesday.”

“Yeah.” Stella nods, then swallows hard. She grips Savannah’s hand tightly which makes Sav’s heart beat stronger in her chest. Stella and her are in a great place now. It was touch and go in the beginning but the little girl has begun to cling to her just like she does to Lio. It’s the ultimate sign of love from a five year old. 

Lucie and Connor pass around hugs and appreciation to the remaining family members, then walk hand in hand to the elevator to begin their long awaited baby moon. Savannah looks down at Stella’s hand still resting in hers. 

“Should we go see what Uncle Lee is up to?” Savannah asks. 

Stella grins up at her, ready to rush across town to see her favorite person in the world.

- - -

(Lio)

The sound of the quiet crowd clapping at the Yankees game filters to Lio’s ears as he lightly dozes on his couch. Savannah is on her way back to their apartment with Stella and he is taking the last few moments of quiet to his full advantage. He pops one eye open when the crowd cheers exceedingly loud. A double. Nice. He scratches at an itch on his nose, then crosses his arms over his chest, wiggling deeper into the couch cushions. 

A faint whine is heard from the hallway. It grows increasingly louder until he recognizes Stella’s sobs. Lio bolts up, rushing over to the door to open it. His eyebrows raise in surprise when he sees his fiancé on the other side of the door. Stella is propped on her hip as Savannah is loaded down with various different bags. 

“Whoa.” He says as he takes note of the tears streaking the makeup off her cheeks. “What is going on?”

“Help me.” Savannah snaps.

“Okay.” He reaches for Stella, taking her into his chest. The little girl presses her wet cheek into his shoulder, hot puffs of hair hitting his neck with each cry.

“Ow.” She whines to him. “Ow!” She yells harder when he doesn’t react.

“Okay, Stella is hurt. Are you hurt?” He asks Savannah. 

“No. Just.. she skinned her knees.”

“Okay.” Lio grabs the bags from her left hand, ushering her into the apartment completely. “What happened?”

“I don’t know what to do with children! That’s what happened!” She throws the remaining bags in her hands to the couch, then rushes from the room. Lio stares at her in confusion. The bedroom door shuts hard and loud, making both Stella and Lio jump. 

“Uncle Lee, she’s mad at me! I said I was sorry!”

“Let’s look at you.” Lio says, putting her on the counter. He looks down at her knees, seeing both of them have been skinned down a bit. The left one has dots of blood in it while the other one has red dribbling down her calf. Stella looks down at them with him.

“Look at it.”

“Yeah. That’s not fun. But I think you’ll live.” He assures her. He scoops her back up, carrying her to the bathroom where he can work on cleaning them up. He sets her on the closed toilet, then kneels down at her knees. He wets a washcloth, carefully dabbing at them with the warm cloth.

“No, no, no, no!” Stella says, pushing his hands. 

“Stell, I have to clean it. Those streets are nasty.” Lio sighs, trying to reason with her.

“I want daddy to do it!” She says, bouncing anxiously and kicking her feet.

“How about I do this and we pick out a really cool BandAid from the Disney pack Auntie got you?” He suggests. Stella contemplates. “I bet Mulan is in there.” Stella grins. 

“Yessss!” She holds her legs out for him, allowing him to clean them off. 

“How did this happen?” He asks her, careful of her sensitive skin. He works the soft cloth over her scrapes, pressing through even as he hates her little whimpers. 

“Um, well…” She trails off, looking towards the sky. Lio knows a guilty Stella when he sees one.

“You didn’t listen?”

“Yeah.” She sighs, like such circumstances were beyond her control. 

“We talked about this.”

“Well, I wanted to go into the M&M store! My mama was supposed to take me this week and she didn’t because of my stupid baby sister that makes her feel icky and then Auntie Sav said we could go in after the shower! But, but, then she walked by and I wanted to go back and she said no.”

“And you did what?” Stella pauses, mashing her little lips together nervously. She doesn’t want to say. “Stella.”

“I ran away.” 

“Stella Wood.” Lio gets stern, dropping the washcloth down to his side. “That is not okay.” 

“I-”

“No. You need to listen. To your parents, to me, and to your auntie, especially when you’re out in public. She promised your mama and daddy that she would take care of you. She can’t do that if you aren’t behaving or using your listening ears.” A nasty scowl drops Stella’s eyebrows and lower lip. “You hear me?” His blue eyes pin her in place. She nods reluctantly. “When we are done here, you’re going to apologize to Auntie Sav.”

“But she said I could go and then didn’t take me! That’s not fair!”

“You are 4 years old-”

“-I’m almost five!-”

“Okay, you’re proving my point more. You are almost five years old and I know you understand the rules. You do not get to disobey adult decisions. You had no idea what was happening. Maybe she was trying to protect you from something. Maybe she wasn’t feeling well. Maybe she had a better idea planned for you here at home. But it shouldn’t matter. You need to listen and be respectful of your caretakers.” Stella drops her gaze. Lio looks down at her brown curls, sighing heavily. “Stell, do you understand?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Now pick out your bandaids.” He encourages her, holding open the box for her. She picks an Olaf and an Elsa bandaid because there were in fact ZERO Mulan bandaids, which she was sure to point out. Then Lio got her situated on the couch with a movie and an apple juice box before he headed down to Savannah. 

“Hey.” He calls as he walks in. She is on her side, curled up on top of their comforter. Her head rests on her arm with the opposite hand palm up under her cheek.

“Hi.”

“I talked to Stell.”

“I overreacted.” Savannah sighs.

“She shouldn't have run off.” 

“Yeah. But I did tell her we could go into the M & M store and I was... struggling, so when we got there, I couldn’t stand another second of being out in public. That’s not her fault. Should she have run off? No, but it was an all around fail by me.”

“What’s wrong? Was.. did something happen at the party?”

“You mean did all the Rangers girls look at me like what’s wrong with her when I said we didn’t have kids and weren't going to?” Lio’s eyebrows furrow together angrily.

“What the fuck?”

“It wasn’t intentional, and no it wasn’t all of them, but it felt like it at that moment. Then I just wanted to leave and there was so much of the party left. I kept having to pretend everything was fine and your mom was being so sweet, but also kept coming up and checking in on me and it was all too much.” Lio encourages her to roll onto her back so he can look down in her face. She stares blankly back at him, almost unfeeling and disassociated from the moment. He runs his hand up her thigh to rest on her stomach. Savannah weaves their fingers together there. “Is she okay? I didn’t really get a good look but it looked like minor scrapes.”

“She’ll live. She’s got cool bandaids and apple juice.” Savannah tries for a small smile. She plays with his fingers while he looks her over more.

“Guess Mother Nature knew I would be a shit mom and made it so I couldn’t be.”

“Don’t say that.” Lio responds quietly. “I’m not okay with you talking about yourself like that. I don’t like it. You had an off day, babe. That’s it.”

Savannah doesn’t respond, but she tilts the corners of her mouth up at him in agreement. The worry in Lio’s gut continues to grow. He hasn’t seen her like this in a long time, not since Lucie first said she was pregnant. As the days grow closer to Lucie’s upcoming birth, he gets more and more uneasy. Now, with a sassy and defiant Stella in the house, he isn’t sure this is the best fit for his fiance's mental health. He loves Stella. He was really looking forward to this time together, but he needs to support his other girl too.

“Go back to Stell. I’ll be okay.” She whispers.

Lio doesn’t want to go, but Stella unattended in the living room isn’t a long-term solution. He gives her a kiss, cradling her head in his hands before heading back into the living room. Stella is in the same place he left her, juice box tossed onto the other couch cushion, mouth agape as she watches the scene unfold. 

“I’ll be right back.” He assures her with a gently pat on the head, 

Lio sighs as he steps onto the balcony. He leans on the railing for a minute, taking a breather from the chaos he just came out of. He contemplates what he should do next. 

When he has collected himself, he pulls his phone out to make the call.

“You called me not Lucie.” Mack answers the phone.

“Ah.. yeah I meant to call you.” Lio responds.

“... Oh. I figured it was the wrong button or something.” 

“No. I need a favor.” Lio says, shooting straight with her immediately. This is how they are. 

“Kay.”

“I need you to take over watching Stella.”

Loud silence comes over the phone line.

“David and I had plans that did not involve children.” A hint of annoyance is in her voice. He supposes he doesn’t blame her. He has bailed on commitments in the past. No one has been slower on accepting the changed version of Lio than Mackenzie Hischier. She’s not a forget and forgive kinda girl. He respects that about her.

“Yeah, I’m sorry about that, but Sav isn’t okay. I need to focus on her right now.”

“Okay. I’ll send David to come get her. She loves his truck.”

Lio smiles at the way Mack doesn’t press further and the annoyance has dropped completely. Lucie would be all “mama” with him and ask a million questions, already on her way over trying to fix everything. Not Mack. As long as you give her enough information to make a decision, she takes over with whatever is needed.

“Thank you.” Lio murmurs, closing his eyes in relief. “Sorry to ruin your plans.”

“No problem.” Mack pauses. “Are… you okay?”

“Ahm, yeah.” Lio clears his throat. “Yeah.” He repeats more firmly. 

“Okay. David should be back from his run soon. I’ll send him over after his shower. Are you calling Lucie or am I?”

“I’ll call her. Thank you.”

“Yep. Bye.” Mack clicks off first. Lio chuckles. Now to break the news to Stella.

Stella takes it well, especially when she hears about Uncle Davey coming to pick her up, but Lucie on the other hand is as concerned as he knew she would be.

“What’s wrong with Sav? Should we come home?” 

“No. I’m taking care of everything, but your daughter has this idea that I should entertain her at all times. I can’t do that and do what I need to for Sav.” Lio speaks to the phone while packing up Stella’s suitcase that was already strewn all about their guest room.

“Fair.” Lucie agrees then blows out a heavy sigh. “She just loves you.”

“I know. And I love her. But she has other people here who will take care of her.”

“Mack won’t do the bedtime routine though.” Lucie grumbles.

“I guess I should tell you I don’t either.”

“Lio!” Lucie yells. 

“Lu, what you do at your house is your business, but that is too many steps for me. She gets into pajamas, brushes her teeth and by the time I'm shutting the book she is out. That’s it.”

“How is Lio Meier of all people better at bedtime than me?” 

“Because you have always made things complicated.” Lio says, flipping the suitcase shut again and zipping it up. “Like this conversation.”

“Wow.” Lucie snips. “Okay, well sounds like you all have it figured out. I’ll check in with Mack tonight.”

“Alright. Have a good rest of your trip.” Lio places the small suitcase on its wheels, shoving it towards the door. 

“Lee?” Lucie pauses. 

“Yeah.”

“I asked Sav if it was okay for her to help with the shower, and for you to watch Stell. I hope I didn’t overstep somehow. I would never want something I did to hurt her.”

“No, Luc, you didn’t do anything wrong. She wanted to help with these things. But she is struggling more than I think she even realizes.”

“Okay.” Lucie responds. Her voice drips with sadness, clearly concerned for her friend. “I feel really bad.”

“It’s okay. You can’t fix this.”

“Neither can you.” She reminds him. He juts his lower jaw out in disagreement. 

That’s her opinion. He is still gonna try like hell to.

- - -

Winnie Wood came into the world in a chaotic c-section on a rainy, September morning. Stella had arrived at Lio and Savannah’s the previous night when Lucie’s contractions started picking up.  Despite being put to bed in the guest room, Stella ended up in bed with the adults and none of them slept well after that. Lio has no idea how Connor and Lucie can stand to sleep with her and her flailing limbs on a regular basis. 

Next to him, Savannah rests her temple on the steel of the elevator. They ride up to their place the same way they rode in the car home from the hospital: silent. Stella has been dropped with all her grandparents for dinner tonight and will be back at their apartment later tonight, then home tomorrow to sleep in her own bed with a new baby sister. 

Lio glances over at Savannah as the elevator pauses on their floor. 

“Babe?” He calls to her when she doesn’t move to get out. She startles, clearly lost in another world. 

“Oh sorry.” She sniffs, then walks out past him. He reaches for her shoulder from behind, wanting to pull her back into him to comfort her. Instead, she shrugs his touch off. That hurts. 

He sighs as silently as he can, then waits next to her as she unlocks the door. She walks in, heading immediately towards their bedroom. She abruptly stops before going in, a loud suffering sob coming from her lips.

“Lio, I’m not okay.” Savannah hiccups from the doorway. Lio rushes forward quickly to hold her. 

“I know, baby. It’s okay that you’re not.” He grabs her hand, gently encouraging her fully into his chest. She weakly grips his hand back, blinking her tears down her cheeks. 

“Oh fuck I’m so sad.” She wails, curling over at the waist. “I’m never gonna have that. I’m never going to know what it feels like to hold my baby in my arms.” She starts to cry so hard that no noise comes out of her. Lio wraps an arm around her waist, holding her up until he can guide her safely to the floor. The bed is less than ten feet away but he knows they won’t make it. He sits down next to her, then encourages her to crawl into his lap. Savannah shoves her face into his shirt, smearing black mascara all over the light blue fabric. 

“She already has a baby. Why can’t it be me?” Savannah sobs into Lio’s shoulder. 

“Baby it could be you.” Lio murmurs, feeling brave even as she falls apart in his hands.. “There are so many avenues we haven’t tried. We could try surrogacy. Or IVF.” Savannah pulls away, looking at him like he has grown three heads.

“Lee, you don’t want kids.” Her sadness pierces through the room.

“I want whatever you want.” A look of deep sympathy softens over his face.

“No.” Savannah pushes away from his chest, clearly withdrawing from him again. “I’m not doing kids that way. I’m not forcing you into IVF or surrogacy because I want this and you don’t. I’m not going back on our deal. It’s not in our cards.” Her teeth are gritted shut. She wipes her tears away, trying to get her shit back together.

“Babe, I’ll do it for-”

“Please stop.” Savannah whispers, then purses her lips together to stop the sob in her throat. Her eyes close, steady tears flowing down from her closed eyelids. Lio feels his heart crack open again in his chest. For her. For himself. For them and the things they’ll never get to experience together. He would do anything to give this to his wife. He would give up everything they have to give her a baby. But she won’t even let him try.

Heaviness fills the room between them. While she continues to turn inwards, struggling, Lio holds her tighter, gathering up all of her pieces and keeping them together until she can do it again herself.

Read more Lio and Savannah here

[nonobadcat]

For @oklolnoty

Down the Rabbit Hole - Five Chapters - 20k words - Yandere Shigaraki Tomura x Rabbit Quirk Female Reader

Rating: 18+ readers only - Minors DNI

Whole story TW: Noncon, yandere with kidnapping, severe quirk based discrimination, binge drinking, canon typical threats of violence (reader directed), canon typical death (nonreader directed), oral (give/receive), PnV (doggie), breeding, and expensive designer clothing everywhere.

Summary:

Working at Animal Instinct, the city's premiere hostess club for those who like their girls "pawsitively" attractive, may pay the bills but it'll cost your soul. Playing the brainless bunny girl everyone expected you to be, you were prepared to waste your life selling over priced champagne and sham companionship just to afford rent. When your efforts are rewarded with the client from hell, you try to stick to your bubblegum bimbo persona. However, being called boring by some crusty incel with the social skills of a trashcan is not something your pride can let slip by. ...and finding someone who hates society's games as much as him is not something Shigaraki Tomura can let go.

Chapter Navigation: 1|2|3|4|5 🐇 Ao3 Mirror

Chapter 1: Dumb Bunny - 3.4k words

TW: Binge drinking, quirk based discrimination

“Omigosh he’s back again!”

Plastered against the glossy black bathroom door, Nyanko’s twisted grimace and bristling tail ill suited her glamorous styling. Rhinestone trimmed claws pawed for purchase as an annoyed shriek hissed between tight teeth. It was fortunate that lilac satin squeezed her willowy frame like a vice. The very dress that transformed her bust line from “average” to ���savage” restricted her air intake, keeping her whining to a polite volume.

Twisting the golden cap of your Yves Saint Laurent lipstain back on, you dabbed at your cupid’s bow. “Crusty boy?”

“Yes!” She groaned, pinning her cat ears to her skull. “Mama-san has paired him with twelve different girls in the last month. Boy’s got a heart made of Teflon! Won’t stick to anyone!”

You raised an eyebrow. “I thought this club was a kurabu? Isn’t the first pairing long term?”

“His dad is some sort of big deal so he gets special treatment, but mostly it's a mutual hate-hate thing,” Nyanko explained, wagging her finger. “He can’t find a girl he likes and all the girls beg Mama-san to let him try someone else. Even Aru didn’t want him and you know she has thick skin!”

“Quirk~ist,” you sang out, tucking your make-up back in the small, pearled handbag. “Just because she has an armadillo quirk doesn’t mean her soul is armor plated.”

Nyanko’s tabby tail swished. “Why does he keep coming back if he’s never happy?” she demanded, stomping her spike heels.

“I like those.” You nodded to the red bottoms. “The flower lace on the mesh is cute.”

“I know, right!” She twisted this way and that, showing off the shimmering details. “Abe-san got them for me last week. I think he has a foot thing but I’m not complaining.” All at once, her hair bristled. “Wait! Don’t try to change the subject! I’m in a real bind here!”

You popped your lips, smoothing down a stray lock of hair. “Oh? Why?”

“Because I’m one of the few he hasn’t chewed up yet!” She shivered and rubbed her arms. “I’m terrified Mama-san will pair me with that creep next!”

“Then quit your job and take Abe-san up on that mistress position. It’s not like he can last more than twenty seconds anyways so you won’t have to do much work.”

Her face fell flat. “Honey, hell’s got your name.”

You kicked off the faux marble tile and strutted over to the petite, raven-haired cutie. A single finger reached out, straightening the curl of her long bob. Patting her shoulder, you flashed her a grin and whispered in her ear. “Then it’s a good thing none of us go by our real names here, isn’t it?” 

She giggled before rolling her eyes towards your new lip color. “Speaking of 'people who just want to take a poor girl away from this place', is that a gift from your one hero client?”

You nodded. “Oshida bought it for me on the paid date. Asked me if he could put some of his cum in it.”

“Guess he’s not as family friendly as his press agent makes him out to be,” she muttered.

“I told him I couldn’t use it if he did because I’d be too addicted to the taste.”

Nyanko flashed you a judgey side eye and pushed open the bathroom door. “How are you that good a liar?”

“Nyanko, what are you talking about?" You plastered on an airy smile. Each word tumbled out wrapped in sweetness. "Everyone knows that bunny girls aren’t smart enough to lie. ♡” 

The words burned bitterly on your tongue.

Nyanko huffed, turning on heel. “I hate you.”

“Hate you more, sweetie,” you teased, following her down the long hall.

Pink tiles with golden veins lead the way to the reception desk. On your right, Animal Instict's main bar buzzed with flirtatious conversation, fake smiles, and exhausted salary men. One of the puppy girls, wrapped in cherry red spandex and ten centimeter black platforms, clung to her elderly client's arm like a fly on garbage. 

"Is Pochi back early from her paid date?" You asked, slipping under the glossy countertop.

"Kiba-san's bunions are acting up," Nyanko whispered, cupping the side of her face. "You know, the bunions that flare up when Pochi wants a fourth helping of foie gras."

You looked the other hostess up and down. Her rosy cheeks glowed as she smoothed her glossy tail across her lap. "She's pounding the champagne again. Her heat cycle must be close."

Nyanko waved her hand. "Don't date the dog if you ain't got the bank."

"Catty of you."

She hissed.

"Ladies," a firm voice warned. "You are on the floor."

You both turned towards a sultry middle-aged woman. Clad in a cocktail dress crafted from delicate golden mesh and rhinestones, her long, peacock plumage glittered every shade from sea green to deep navy in the warm light. She fixed you with a sharp glare before snapping open a fan. Its fluttering teased at her long, fake lashes.

"Yes, Mama-san," you replied in synchrony, bowing your heads to the boss.

She narrowed her eyes, craning her long, graceful neck to inspect your makeup. When it passed muster, she snapped the fan shut. "Honey, Tano-san requested you tonight as Usagi is out with a migraine."

Wow… just going to work his way through the bunny girls, huh? Guy wasn’t even subtle about his fetish.

"Of course," you agreed, bowing again. "Thank you, Mama-san."

Mama-san turned her scrutinizing gaze towards your companion. “Nyanko—” she crooked boney finger— “come with me.”

Nyanko’s ears drooped. “Y-yes, Mama-san…”

Mama-san rapped the cat girl with the lacey fan. “Professionalism.”

Nyanko forced a pained grin before snatching up a hot towel from the stack. “O-Of course!”

You shook your head, selecting a rolled towel of your own and placed it on a silver platter. Then, smearing on an airheaded smile, you followed the leader around the large, gangly money tree. Just past its scraggly leaves, two men came into view.

On the left, dressed in a deep navy sport coat and matching pleated pants stood a solemn faced man in his late sixties. He peered into the entryway’s mirror, fussing with his thinning, silver streaked hair. The wide, rose-gold rolex watch made his wrist look fat and did horrible things for his yellow undertones. When you came into view, he jerked away from his preening. Hungry eyes traced the line of your leg from heel to hem. His thick tongue lapped at the corner of his mouth.

“Tano-san,” your boss guiding you forward. “This is Honey Bunny.”

“It's so good to meet you, Tano-san!” You added a sugar rush bounce to your step. “We hope Usa-chan should feel better soon. I hope it’ll be okay if I take care of you for her until she’s better?”

With a grunt, he took the towel, clumsily groping your fingers along the way.

Mama-san turned to the man on the right. Hiding his face behind a mop of pale blue waves, a surly looking twenty something hunched against the wall. Blazing red eyes stared out from under hairless brows. He tugged at his collar, as if the beautifully tailored Armani three-piece was strangling him. It wasn’t hard to guess how he got the moniker “crusty boy”. Patchy scale peeled from his under eye bags. 

“Shigaraki-san, this is Nyanko-chan.”

Nyanko playfully scratched the air, before speaking out in a voice half an octave higher than her own. “It’s a purr-asure to Meow-chu, Shigaraki-san! I hope we can become good friends!”

He sneered at Nyanko before raking his neck with ratty, broken nails. 

Your coworker smiled so hard you thought her face might tear. “Would mew like a hot towel?”

He plucked the moist terry cloth from her outstretched hand with two fingers. He half-heartedly scrubbed his hands before walking right past her. “Let’s get this over with.”

Nyanko’s tail drooped as she skittered off after her guest. You pressed a coy hand to your lips to hide a grimace.

This was going to be a long night.

One hour into the evening, you would have paid Usa-chan to take her client back. 

At first, you thought Tano simply fumbled his cigarettes due to some nervous condition. However, after the third one in half an hour, you caught beady eyes peering down the front of your dress as you leaned in to light them. He ordered nothing but the cheapest wine on the menu (2.6k yen per glass + the 25% service fee) and nursed his drink like an old woman. Those squirmy hands of his kept “accidentally” brushing against your tail every time he shifted in his seat. Conversation was hard fought and mostly about how much he hated his boss. 

“Are you and Usa-chan related?” he asked for the fifth time that night.

You brushed your long, silky ears back. “Well, I’m a Lop and she’s a Lionhead.”

“Oh. So it’s not the same thing?”

If you smiled any harder your teeth would crack. “I know, right? They sound so similar I always get them confused.” You hoisted the green bottle up. “Here, it looks like you need a refill—”

He quickly covered the glass with his palm. “Let me touch your ears?”

Rot in the gutter, you steaming trash heap.

Hesitant humming accompanied a thoughtful head tilt. “Mama-san kinda sorta told me I’m not supposed to because it’s against club rules or something.” You clicked your tongue and beamed at him. “Makes me sad because I love having my hair brushed. Oh well, right?”

He scooted closer. “You could just ignore her.”

Wide, panicked eyes sold the frantic, high pitched squeak. “Omigosh! But it’d be bad to do that right?”

Rancid breath poured over your bare neck. “I can make being a bad bunny really fun.”

Die.

You laughed, “playfully” shoving his shoulder so hard it pushed him a solid half meter away.  “Oh Tano-san! No wonder Usa-chan loves you so much. You’re so funny!”

…and wringing your floppy neck with your ugly Gucchi tie would be even funnier.

On the other side of the tufted leather booths, Nyanko seemed to fare even worse. 

“So… Shigaraki-san, do you work for your paw-ther?”

“He’s my mentor, not my father.”

“Oh! That’s so neat! So he’s like a father to mew?”

One word grated through gritted teeth. “No.”

Nyanko winced at the harsh tone, her smile shaken for only a moment before she rallied. “Your mentor must be very generous to send you here so Meow-ften.”

“It’s annoying,” he groused, scratching his neck like a dog with fleas. The pungent stench of iron caught on the breeze from the air conditioning. All the women around you wrinkled their sensitive noses.

“It doesn’t have to be.” Nyanko placed one hand on the cream leather next to his thigh and leaned in. A long golden necklace slipped down her décolletage, pointing the eye towards her assets. Pouty lips forced her tongue high against her fangs, playing up an alto’s vocal fry. Delicately, she twirled her hair behind her pointed ear. Dangling diamonds glittered in the dim glow of the teardrop chandelier. Round, golden eyes peered at him from under sooty lashes. “Neh, Shigaraki-san, what kind of girl do mew like?”

The booth squeaked as he scooted away. “Someone real.”

“I’m all nyan-tural,” she purred, letting her free hand trail down her bust.

With a sharp “chcc”, he groped for his cell phone. 

Nyanko cocked her head. “Oh? Nyu like video games?”

“A little,” he muttered, loading up an app. Comic book style red and yellow text exploded across the screen. Four different voices called out: “Hero Center Battle Royale!!!!”.

“Ooooh!” She clapped her hands together. “Which ones do mew like?”

“The ones where the heroes die.”

“Sounds exciting!”

“More exciting than this conversation.”

Fight on, Nyanko-chan!

While your coworker clawed for any hint of mutual interest, Tano leaned back into his seat and manspread until he was pressed against your bare thigh. “Seems like the pretty kitty is having a rough time.”

Awk-ward….

“Really?” You smiled so hard the muscles below your eyes spasmed. “It sounds like she’s having fun learning a lot about a new person to me.”

Face flushed, your patron sipped his wine. “You’re kinda a dumb bunny, aren’t you?”

Yeah… That’s what your university professors thought too. At least, until your grades put you second in your class by only three points. Maybe if they stopped staring at your ears long enough, they would have seen the brain between them.

“Nyanko-chan loves to meet new people,” you chirped back, sitting on quivering hands to avoid throttling your meal ticket.

Tano thumbed his chin. “Wonder if she’s so persistent because she’s gonna go into heat.”

Ew… can you just not?!

"That must be a pain, going into heat.” Beady eyes flashed to you. "You do too, right?"

Gross. Disengage! Disengage!

You tapped your chin. "Huh… I dunno. Maybe bunnies are different or something." 

…cause a three second Google search couldn't have told his horny self that?! Seriously…

Faking a sweet smile you reached for his glass. “Heat or no heat, I think that connecting with others is a reward in and of itself."

And if Tano could connect the dots he would have the decency to GO HOME if he wasn’t going to drink.

He pulled his cup away. "I don't need a refill."

You set the bottle down. "Oh! My bad! I just really wanted to take care of you. You worked really hard after all. You deserve a little rest."

He leaned back into his seat and smiled to himself. "Yeah. Guess I do."

Ugh… Just drunk enough to be a self-centered douchebag, but not enough to get you a sales bonus. This sucked.

He cracked open one eye and glanced at you. "But seriously, aren’t you even a little worried about her or are you just too stupid that to read the room?”

You leaned into your palm, using the thick of your hand to stifle the snarl. “Finding the right fit for every guest can be hard but everyone here loves the challenge.” One ear flopped across your eye. You inhaled, letting the rise of your ribs strain the bust of your gown. “I’m just so glad we have such good chemistry.”

His greasy grin made you nauseated. Greedy eyes drank up your coworker’s long tail and tufted ears. He licked his lips. “Should I offer to save her then? Having two of you around sounds like fun.”

….and entirely defeated the point of coming to the type of classy club where you are supposed to have an intimate, one-on-one conversation with your hostess. Not to mention, you’d have to split the tip. Then again, that assumed this cheapskate didn’t skip it all together.

You bit your cheek until the taste of iron pricked your tongue. Painted lips slipped into a puffy pout. You turned your head, letting tears pool at your lash line. Ducking low to play up the shadows between your cleavage, you pinched his sleeve between two fingers like a schoolgirl tugging on her crush.

“Ah… I suppose it’s true that Tano-san is so cool he could have two women at once.” 

His breath caught in his wrinkled throat.

With a forlorn smile, you glanced down at the connection between you before dropping his sleeve like it shocked you. Your voice pitched high as you hurried out a breathless apology. “Oh! Sorry!” Nervous fingers prodded together as you hid behind one ear. “When I am around a man like you, I-I sometimes just get these instincts...” 

He gulped.

Time to go in for the kill. 

Your eyes danced away from his. “It’s been such a long time since I felt this way, I forgot that it happens. It’s hard, but I’ll try to control myself better.”

Tano reached for your hand, but you pulled it away to bop it into your fist. “Oh! Speaking of instincts, Usa-chan told me once that you negotiated a lot of big contracts for your company. How did you get so good at your job?”

He leaned back into the booth, puffing out his chest. Wrapping one arm over the back of the chair, he crooked his finger at you. “Come a little closer and I’ll be happy to share.”

Ugh… You needed a drink.

“Oh my gosh, Honey-chan he was just the worst!”

Nyanko’s whiskers tickled the side of your neck as she buried her face in your shoulder. You sighed, wrapping your arm around her. The smell of fried food and beer wafted in the summer air. Plump moths collided with the streetlight three paces away. Two wobbly salary men waved. The one wearing a tie on his forehead blew a wet kiss. Your party of three wiggled your fingers and giggled like shy school girls. As soon as they were out of sight, the smiles dropped like corpses on a battlefield.

You patted Nyanko’s shoulder. “There, there. You did what you could.”

She sniffled, fanning her flushed face. You passed her a tissue. She dabbed at her make-up. Flecks of mascara peeled onto pale paper. Another sob wracked her body. “WHAT DOES HE WANT!?” she wailed.

“Seriously,” Pochi scratched her dangling ears. “Mama-san gave him to me last week. He told me ‘your skills need a level up’. What does that even mean?!” She swished her silky black tail. “Let’s see his mummy lips pull three champagne towers in one night!”

“Three? Were you in heat?”

She sneered wide enough to flash her canines. “I faked it.”

You laughed. “Hot, but scary Pochi-sama.”

She jerked a thumb over her shoulder, motioning to Nyanko’s limp body. “Blame Little Miss Crafty Kitten there. For 30,000 yen, she gave me a run down on my tells and I did my make-up and perfume to mimic them. Worth every penny.”

Nyanko’s blank eyes stared at nothing. “I am a good hostess. I am a good hostess. I am a good hostess.”

You gave her a long side eye. “You charged 30,000 yen for that?”

A shaking hand rose into the air. She clenched her thumb and index finger into a ring.

“And I’m the one going to hell?” you teased, handing her off to Pochi. “Here. I forgot something at the club. You two get going before the last train leaves. I’m close enough to walk.”

“Whatever,” Pochi groaned, hugging the crying cat to her chest. “Come on Nyanko. You had too much to drink.”

With a gentle wave, you watched them as they staggered down the sidewalk leaving only Nyanko's miserable whining in their wake. When the last sob slipped into silence, the false feelings melted from your expression. Every hair on your neck bristled. A hard heel thumped on the pavement. Fists clenched to your side, you dashed off into the nearest alleyway. Wrenching off your expensive pumps, you set them on the ground out of reach. Your vision swam blood red, you zeroed in on the filthy dumpster. All at once, a frustrated shriek tore through the night air.

"SCREW YOOOOOUUUUU!”

You slammed your heel down into the dumpster, leaving a dent in the rust.

"SCREW YOU! SCREW THIS JOB! SCREW EVERYTHING!”

Blow after blow rained down on the innocent trash receptacle. 

"DUMB BUNNY MY COTTON FLUFFY TAIL! I HAVE MORE BRAIN CELLS IN MY MANICURE THAN YOU HAVE IN YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY TREE!

Twisted metal groaned under the weight of your fury. Memories of fresh-from-college job interviews flashed through your mind.

"I don't know that you're a good fit for our culture." "You seem really nice but we're only looking for serious candidates." "Oh…. I have another position you can interview for, sweetie."

Judgey stares and smarmy grins seared your brain. Lava hot rage bubbled through your veins as you kicked the dumpster five centimeters off its axis.

"I'D THREATEN TO RAZE THIS WHOLE SOCIETY BUT NONE OF YOU IDIOTS ARE EVEN SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RAZE AND RAISE!"

Panting and raspy, you heaved for air in the middle of the pavement. With a final huff you tossed your hair, hiked up your purse, and strutted away.

At the end of the alley, bloodshot scarlet eyes were watching your entire tantrum. Just below them, a ghostly white smile glinted in the flickering amber light.

Next Chapter Expected: June 30th, 2023

Expected Completion Date: Mid-Aug 2023

Chapter Navigation: 1|2|3|4|5🐇 Ao3 Mirror

Taglist: @bat-eclecticwolfbouquet-love @shig-a-shig-ah @castershellwrites @smilinghowever @krystalwithakay @iris-goddess @ss-syche @mortallysparklyfun @meameows @magnificentclodpiezonk @betterfettered @utena-akashiya @ventdavi154 @st4rrust @imaginedheroine @the-lady-writes-what @shiggysimp69 @toughbook @naughteehee

[just-jordie-things]

valentine’s day with Megumi?? he’s js to precious omfg 😭 -🌿

Y E S i feel like he would accidentally be so good at it ??

first thing in the morning, you wake up to a 'good morning sweetheart, happy valentine's day <3' which may seem small but it means a lot <3

and when he comes by your room to walk to training together he presents you with a mixed bouquet with your favorite flowers. (prolly one of those ones with a lil teddy or ur fav sanrio plushie too) he's definitely blushing when he gives them to you but you throw your arms around him and kiss him before running off to put them in a vase by your window, so his shyness melts quickly.

tells you all day that he's got the day planned once your done with your studies and training- and no matter how much you press him he won't leak a thing. but he is excited that you're excited :)

at lunchtime he gives you a small box of chocolates, each truffle hand selected by him from your favorite candy shop. despite his protests you make him share them with you. yuuji and nobara are loudly swooning- which is a little embarrassing, but not out of character so neither of you can be surprised.

once the school day is over, megumi tells you to put on your favorite outfit, that it doesn't have to be fancy or casual, just whatever you like. once you're ready, he's there to hold your hand and walk with you off campus. you try to press him for where he's taking you, but he's a steel trap.

once in town, he stops in his tracks before the restaurant he was taking you to. your eyes blow wide at the familiar title above the door.

"uh, 'gumi, you told me not to dress fancy," you worry, "this place is... really nice"

"i know," he beams, placing his hand on the small of your back to guide you in. "come on"

he leads you in, and gives the hostess his name. her face splits with a beam, and happily leads you both through the restaurant. admittedly, you feel very out of place seeing all the couples seated together, wearing much nicer garments than you'd chosen for your date.

but then the hostess opens a door at the back of the restaurant, displaying a set of stairs. you give megumi a look, but he just gestures for you to lead the way. he thanks the hostess when she lets him know their waiter would be up soon.

the staircase is dimly lit but you reach the door to the roof soon enough, and when you step out onto it, your heart melts and your jaw drops.

there's a single table, topped with a pretty lace tablecloth, a bouquet of roses, and a candle. you had the whole roof to yourselves, on a perfect night, with the perfect person.

there's undeniably tears in your eyes as you turn to megumi, your hands clasped as you take in the romantic surprise.

"you like it?" he asks hopefully.

you nod, because you don't think you could say anything without your voice cracking. megumi chuckles, squeezing your hand as he drops a kiss to the crown of your head.

"good," he hums. "I made gojo do us a favor"

when you sit, he pulls your chair out for you. when he sits, he tells you how beautiful you look. the waiter treats you to a bottle of champagne with your orders, and you don't think you could have a more perfect evening.

megumi really had his work cut out for him, because when he finally presents you with your gift. he has to stop himself from smiling too much because he knows he's outdone himself.

when he first shows you the small velvet box you want to scold him for spending too much but he brushes it off and prompts you to open it.

it's a dainty little necklace with a heart, split in half with two stones. your birthstone, and his.

you don't think your own heart could take much more of this romance. you were going to pass out.

he helps you put it on, compliments you a million more times, and you'll never take it off <3 __

happy belated valentine's day everyone <3

[antennaed-shidou]

Red Roses (Reo)

❀ Mikage Reo x f! reader

❀ Warning: not proofread, blood, curse words (?)

❀ Flower Series number 1 The Red Rose

❀ Extras: Work count 2.5k+ The first flower of the series starts with a simple Red Rose and the rich man himself Reo! I love this one so much.

In Which Reo had gifted Reo Rose to {Y/n}

The red rose symbolizes passion and love, at least that’s the broad meaning everyone knows. Reo was standing at {Y/n}’s door with an arrangement of red roses, he kept looking at his watch. Reo didn’t want to be early to the date and seemed like he couldn't wait, but he also didn’t want to be late and seemed like he didn’t want to go on the date.  

Meanwhile inside the house was {Y/n} already-- well kinda she was trying on jewelry that would go well with her red dress. She was rummaging through her drawer, there she found the perfect piece, it was a necklace with a real dried rose petal in it. 

Still outside a waiting Reo, he finally mustered up the courage and knocked on the door. {Y/n} put on her heels and ran to the door. She opened it and there was her date with red roses in his hand.

“Here, I heard you like red roses,” Reo held them in front of him waiting for her to grab them.

“Oh, I don’t like red roses,” When Reo heard her say that he wanted to fall to the ground, how could he get that wrong, “I love red roses.” His sanity came back, he was right. “I love them so much. Red roses are a sign of love, passion, and romance. The best roses to receive from a loved one, and for a date.” She took the flower from her date, “Let me put these in a vase.”

{Y/n} went back inside. She was looking through her kitchen cabinets to find a big enough vase, and when she found one she filled it up with water and put the flowers in the vase. {Y/n} put it on the counter for someone to see when they open the door. 

The door opened and {Y/n} popped back out. Reo looked past her to see the flowers on the counter all pretty. He bought those for the love of his life, and Reo was satisfied with her.

“Are you ready to go?” Reo held out his hand for her to take.

“Ready as ever,” With a big smile on her face she took his hand and let him guide her to the limousine. He opened the door for her and she got in. Reo went to the other side and got in himself. 

{Y/n} had no clue where they were going but never did she question him and let Reo take her wherever he wanted. This was his idea in the first place, “a special date with a special lady,” that’s what Reo said. 

The driver Ba-Ya looked through the mirror seeing the two talking. They were on opposite sides of the limousine with little to no touching. They did love each other and have been dating for a month now, but it still felt new. They didn’t know how to show romantic love from how they grew up and were treated. 

A few minutes later Reo got out of the limo, walked over to {Y/n}’s side, and opened the door for his special lady. {Y/n} fixed her red cocktail dress, when she looked up she was shocked to see where Reo took her. The highest restaurant in Tokyo, [name]. She was so shocked, now {Y/n} wished that wore something else. 

“You look nice, better than anyone else here,” Reo smiles at her looking up and down. He put his hand out for her to grab and she grabbed it, without warning he kissed her hand. That was something new for her and even him. 

The both of them walked into the restaurant holding hands. The hostess greeted them and took them to their seats. {Y/n} was looking around at all the amazing architectural designs on the inside. She had seen the outside plenty of times but never had she seen the inside. Dating a rich man was a nice thing. {Y/n} got Red roses, took her out on nice dates, and was treated like a princess. 

Reo and {Y/n} were looking through the menu trying to find what to eat. They didn’t say a single word until they ordered their food. It’s not like it was awkward, they just didn’t know what to say. They didn’t go to the same college, both had different childhoods. There were so many things they could talk about, but nothing without explaining everything. 

One thing was for sure they did love each other and that wasn’t going to change. The waiter got back with their drinks, {Y/n} got red wine while Reo got orange juice. 

“I didn’t know you drank?” Reo said seeing her take a sip of the red wine she got. 

“Well, when your mom consumes enough wine in her life you would try some as well,” She responded putting the glass back on the table. 

“Your mom drinks wine?” He raised a brow, from all the times he had met {Y/n}’s mom he never expected the woman to be a wine consumer.

{Y/n} nodded her head, “Yup, she's a wine taster, that’s one of her many side jobs.”

Reo interlinked his finger putting his hand under his chin, “Really, that seems like a cool little job.”

“Yeah, she comes home with a lot of wine sometimes. I’ve had it all.” She smiles while taking another sip of her wine. 

That conversation was the leeway into many more conversations that would spark throughout the night. They talked about {Y/n}’s family and how her mom and many jobs since her father disappeared, and then Reo’s family how they always wanted him to run the business but he had other plans in mind. How he and Nagi would be the best players in the world one day. They got their food shortly after as well. 

That led to their college life, how every girl liked Reo and even some teachers. He had good grades and was at the top of his classes, and even Nagi had good grades though he was lazy. At {Y/n}’s college, she wasn’t the prettiest girl and only a few people noticed her, but she was in the top 5 at her college. That was the only thing she had going for her. 

The two ended up talking until they left the place. Reo told Ba-Ya not to pick them up as the two were going to take a little walk around Tokyo. They never ran out of anything to talk about. From when they first met at the park to them going to said park and reliving the moment. The two love birds didn’t notice how far they had walked from the restaurant. 

Ba-Ya had no choice but to find them and get them home as it was getting late now. She finally found them and had to force them into the back of the limousine. She took {Y/n} home but before she could open the door for herself Reo opened it up for her again.

“What do you have behind your back?” {Y/n} asked with a smile trying to look behind his back. 

“Nothing,” His smile said the opposite.

{Y/n} reached behind his back, but that was no good. Reo backed up, making her grab onto his waist and he fell onto the car. “Give up, you're pinned down,” She grinned still her hand near his waist.

Reo now had no choice but to show her the Red Rose he picked up from the park. {Y/n} backed up with a smile on her face that lit up. “You picked one? For me? From the park? That you and I meet at?” 

“All yes,” He giggled at her. 

She seemed so happy, and she was. Red roses were her favorite flowers, the most beautiful flowers in the world. They were the symbol of love, passion and admiration. Along with Red roses having a nice and pleasant smell and when they dry out she could do a lot with them. 

She took the Red rose and kissed Reo on the cheek before walking away. Reo waved one last time before she shut the door behind her. {Y/n} closed the door with a big smile on her face. She put the one flower in its own vase from the rest she got earlier in the day from him. 

Reo got back in the car with red cheeks. He looked back on the moment, she was close to him, and to see her reaction when she got the flower. {Y/n}’s smile was everything to him, it was so sweet and genuine. Ba-ya looked back in her mirror at Reo and a smile appeared on her face. It was lovely to see her master happy with a girl, the exact girl he would describe in her dreams.

-- --- --- ------- ---- -

Reo and {Y/n} were at college both on their lunches. They were texting each other about their day and whether they were going on a date that afternoon. Every date the two have gone on since then Reo has gotten her Red roses whether they were one flower, a bunch of flowers, or a bouquet or the Red Roses.

She loved it every time. Reo would always do something before giving her the flowers, there was a smile on her face every time. {Y/n} loved it every time. She had kept all the flowers and the ones that were dried out she made little projects out of them, some were framed and some were used to make rose water. 

Back to the date they were going on after college. Reo got out of college a little early so he could pick up some flowers. He went to a little flower shop, asked for a bunch of Red roses, got it a few seconds later, paid, and walked out of the shop with wrapped Red roses. He took a little trip home to get ready, and he texted {Y/n} to wear a cute sundress. 

{Y/n} had just gotten home from college, she dropped off her bag, went straight to her room, and changed into a cute little sundress. She looked at the time and saw the time when Reo texted him he would be on his way. She waited in the living room for Reo to knock on the door. 

Reo got out of the car and walked up to her front door. He knocked on the door. {Y/n} got up from the couch and opened the door. Reo was going to knock on the door again but stopped when he saw her right before him. 

“Someone’s ready,” Reo smiled, holding the flowers in front of him. “I got these from the new little flower shop.

{Y/n} clapped with a big smile on her face, “I’ll put these in a vase when I get back. They seem fresh.” She smelt the Red roses before putting them on the kitchen table. Reo pecked in her house seeing all the other Red roses fresh or old and dried out. 

{Y/n} walked back out, Reo took her hand guiding her to his car. He opened the door for her and she got in. Reo got in on the other side and drove off to their park date. The two talked about their day in person rather than on the phone. They talked the whole way to the park they first met.

They would go once a month and would reminisce about when they first met. They would walk around the park and hold hands. {Y/n} would swing on the swings and Reo would push her, {Y/n} would insist on him joining her but didn’t want to and continued pushing her. {Y/n} would go down the slides and Reo was holding her in his lap. 

They went on a seesaw, they talked for a while about just about anything. They then went to the bench where they first met.

“Is anyone sitting here?” {Y/n} asked, acting like she was holding books in her hands. 

Reo looked at the empty spot, “No take a seat.” He moved over a little to make room.

{Y/n} sat down setting the books, she took out a pair of earbuds and put one in her ear, she took out her phone and played some music. She picked up a book and started to read.

Reo looked over to see the book she was reading, it was called The Trial by Franz Kafka. He scooched a little closer to read some of the words. For him it seemed a little too confusing, but {Y/n} seemed interesting. 

Reo got close to her now side by side, “Mind if I read with you,” He kissed her cheek making her turn to him.

“Stop changing it, Reo!” She gave him a kiss as well, “You make this harder and harder every year.”

“That’s cause I love you,” Reo cupped her face making {Y/n} put the book back down. “I should’ve kissed you all the other times. My love for you is like no other, from the first time I saw you, I wanted you to be with me and no one else. I love you so much, my dear {Y/n}.”

The female's face was hot as the sun, her cheeks and ears red like the color of a Red Rose. “I love you too, Reo Mikage. You are the only person who I can say that to.”

He changed the subject completely, causing her to shove him, “What about when we have kids.”

“Don’t rush it!”

“Sorry,” He kissed her hand. 

Reo took {Y/n} back to her apartment. He walked her to the door and gave a goodbye kiss. {Y/n} closed the door behind her and went to the kitchen where the flowers still remained. She was looking through her collection of vases and she found the perfect one. 

{Y/n} took it out of the cabinet and washed it since it hasn’t been used in so long. She put some water in it and set it by the Red Roses, she then unwrapped the Red Roses. She picked one up and a slight pain erupted in her hand, she dropped the Red Rose and saw a little bit of blood on her hands and the stem of said flower. She looked at the Red Roses to see they had the thorns still attached. 

Reo must have not known he asked for these. But this was when Roses were in their natural form, with the thorns. Beauty can come with actions and there is pain behind everything beautiful. She carefully put all the Red Roses in the vase and set it out for everyone to see. 

The Red Rose, the most beautiful flower in the world to most, their smell was fragrant and used a lot, they are great gifts for lovers as they are the representatives of admiration, passion and love. In their natural form, they have thorns to keep others away, they hurt when you touch them which is why they are removed. Sometimes there's no need to remove them, to some people it can mean the endeavors and challenges one may go through in a relationship, or for the sacrifice of love from another. 

Red Roses are the flower of love, And Reo and {Y/n} love each other more than anything in the world. 

a/n: If you have any recommendations for flowers or characters then please let me know, it's so hard to find flowers and characters to go together. This series was just going to be one but I thought it would be fun to do more.

[terrence-silver]

Terry meeting readers family for the first time please

---

If Terry brought you home, oh, some fifteen years ago to meet his family or his father, freshly out of his green military fatigues, while not agreeing with Terry's choice of partner (then again, there were few would would've pleased the draconic old man in the first place, if any) he would've still had this contradictive notion that you, irregardless of your unsuitability, are begrudgingly something Terry was innately owed to have if you were what he wanted. Having served his country, having wasted precious time in Vietnam away from the family company and all affairs of their household, the way his old man saw it --- having sat in the drudgery and danger of captivity in some backwater jungle dump, risking life and limb when he could've been taking over the firm --- the least life could do as direct payback is give his boy whatever the heck his boy wanted and then some, even if he could've done much better for himself. Such was Silver Sr. All unimaginable contrasts and oxymorons. All 'you owe me this, I'm cashing in on that.' All capital and reparations. The true originator of the words Terry often repeated; Nothing's for free. This is a notion he carries with himself, into the venue of the fateful meeting --- He is entitled to everything he wants. He's entitled to you. Your folks. The family cat and dog.

The white picket fence of your own bubble of suburbia, if he so pleases.

He pleases. He does.

And getting everyone to not just like him --- no --- adore him --- is child's play right off the bat. The vintage sport's car parked out front, a deliberate signal and indicator he could take care of you bound to soften your mother, all mothers, who deep down want a good, secure life for their child as he kisses her hand, ever the gentleman, handing her a bouquet of flowers, peppering her with some softcore wooing she undoubtedly hasn't received from anyone in years. A flex of muscles for you father; a way to impress, conquer, establish himself as the prime shark in the pond as they talk fishing...fishing at Lake Tahoe, at Terry's private vacation resort. One of many. Humbly. He promises your uncle work. Your aunt a trip to the Bahamas at an exclusive thermal hot spring five star hotel to cure her swollen bunions --- offers to help your mom in the kitchen several times (which she, for as much as she was flattered, refuses) and fuck, if he has to promise the next door neighbors a harem of bare ass Hawaiian masseuse girls, then so be it. But, Terry's out to claim and win, and it doesn't take him more than ten minutes (and he does count down the time in his head, having made a bet with himself) before the dining table is set for him like the center of the universe and your whole family is crowded around him, listening to him intently, like some many curious children, plying him with food and drink, smothering him.

He was owed this.

He was owed much, much more.

He was owned a cushion under his feet and your mother actually, disbelief of all disbelief's, places one there for him because she is convinced the wooden parquet of the living room will be cold for him, in spite of the fact he was already given a pair of house slippers, right after serving him with another slice of her signature pie as an appetizer before the main course, beaming after he declared that he might have a Michelin star chef in his employ, but the lovely hostesses' level of cooking by far outmatches it and pretty much everything he's ever tried.

You shoot him a speculative, silent stare.

What?

They all loved him.

Almost like you knew that by the end of the evening, your family will practically offer you to him, like a gift. Insist that he accept you, in spite of the saccharine efforts to win them over, which clearly, weren't quite as tacky as they seemed if they were working. Tell you that you brought home a really good one this time around. That you brought home the best one this time around, in fact. Terry knew that you knew. Not that he thought you were trying to escape him, but taking precautions never hurt anyone. There would be no escape. Not when your family would think the worst of you for it.

That you're fickle.

An ingrate.

He, the one who got away.

-"Another slice?"-

Your mother asks and like melted butter, he smears her with flattery.

She too, in a sense, belonged to him. He could flatter her all he liked.

-"Not if you wanna have my cook back home fired, ma'am."-

Terry wipes his lips with a handkerchief and the older woman erupts into a fit of giggles as she shakes her hand, semi-dismissively, semi-playfully towards him, only for you to fidget by his side, interjecting, like he figured you would. -"You know, mom, it was a beautiful evening, but we really should be going. It's a long drive out to Glendower Avenue and our chauffeur is waiting in the car."- You announce and the sudden stiffness at the table is deafening. Bullseye. Your own family gives you a death glare that nearly makes him chortle --- he tactically suggested Charles, the driver, be invited in for drinks to make himself seem egalitarian, and your family. with humanitarian efforts like that, liked him so much throughout the duration of some thirty minutes or so that the very prospect of being prematurely parted from him was a cause for agitation. It's like you just broke the news that Santa Claus wasn't real or something. Truth of the matter was, Charles was perfectly equipped with everything he needed in the vehicle, but, oh, what a ploy. -"Going? But you only just got here."- Your father grumbles, setting down his fork, giving you a long, hard look of disapproval, clearly won over by those Lake Tahoe stories. Your own old man, doing all of Terry's work for him. Perfect. Your own mother too. -"Yeah, you only just got here! Seriously!"- She adds, shaking her head, salad bowl in hand, verbally cornering you. You only just got here and we haven't even made arrangements for your wedding yet, Terry imagines her saying, even though, by the way things were going, he predicted he wouldn't have to do much imagining. Instead, he plays into it, and he plays clueless too.

All of this?

It was an investment.

An investment to having you by his side.

Ensuring you stay there with every hook he attaches into you.

One of those hooks could be your own flesh and blood.

-"We really only just got here."-

He turns to you, acting the role of a sympathetic suck up, repeating your parents' words back you, and then tension at the table instantly lifts when they all start nodding their heads at his statement and muttering, like they thought him the sensible, mature party. They love me. I'm owed that shit. Terry thinks again, reaching over for you hand and squeezing it atop of the dining table for reassurance, feeling your skin drenched in cold sweat. They'll love me so much they'll ensure you and me are and remain a sure thing.

[ktarsims]

Life Updates and Such...

Soooo.... many things! At the moment, I've finally pulled myself somewhat out of the doldrums caused by lack-of-job + job-search-sucks and am making all the preparations for celebrating the end of this year and the start of a new one.

I think I've binged something like 30+ anime series in the last month or so, along with reading many many books.

Today, I've finally got some bots working in the Creator's Cave discord, to make things a bit easier there. There are more updates I still need to do, but it's a start.

My hope for this week, is that in addition to my preparations for New Year's, I'll be able to actually finish my project of turning some of my flower photos into TS3 art. No promises, but I'm hopeful.

Below the cut, for the curious or nosy, the menu and preparations for New Year's.

Before anyone starts to wonder... two of the friends coming to my place for New Year's are really really into Pumpkin, so this is reflected here. Yes, this is probably too much food and drink for... 6 people, but hey... leftovers.

**Food** 1 frozen lasagna, family size 1 batch homemade mac&cheese (made by not me) Cheeses! (Extra sharp white cheddar, brie, various spreadables, 3 varieties of goat cheese) Crackers! (Ritz garlic butter, rosemary flatbread, 5 other assorted) Meats! (Summer sausage, dry salame, fig salame) Tea Sandwiches! (Cream cheese + smoke salmon or cucumber or jam) Scones! (I plan to make at least 3 varieties, but haven't yet decided which.) Oven ready appetizers! (Takoyaki, bagel bites, baked potato skins, loaded tater tots, mini quiches, mozzarella sticks, and more.) Shrimp Cocktail platter Veggie Platter Sweet Maui Onion potato chips Homemade snack mix (Corn Chex, Rice Chex, Pretzels, Cashews, Pistachios, white cheddar cheeze-its, white cheddar cheese puffs)

**Sweets** Pumpkin Spice Twinkies Iced Pumpkin Cupcakes (this is also hostess brand) Yackwa Korean donuts (gift from a neighbor) Assorted flavors of KitKats Pumpkin Pie yogurt covered pretzels Butter Rum Crunch popcorn Bourbon Crunch popcorn Milk Chocolate cherry cordials Other assorted chocolates

**Non-Alcoholic Drinks** Five different flavors of Martinellis sparkling cider Pumpkin Spice cold brewed tea (caffeinated) Pumpkin Creme Rooibos cold brew tea (herbal) Pumpkin Pie cold brew tea (herbal) Various Gatorade

**Alcoholic Drinks** 'Strong Mead' from a cider festival (gift from friend) Expensive bottle of Sake 'Demon Slayer' 1 bottle Louis Perrier Champagne for ringing in the new year Berenjaeger Green Apple Sake Peach Sake Umeshu Plum Wine Matcha Plum Wine (I'm really curious about this one) Butterscotch Shnapps Pumpkin hard Cider Dark Chocolate Cherry Moonshine Eggo Brunch Sippin' Cream A cupboard full of other assorted things that probably won't be looked at.

[docholligay]

If someone were to visit you, and it were not, say, a last minute decision (I'm so sorry,) what would be an appropriate hostess gift? I'm thinking of Shabbat specifically, but would it be different depending on the meal/occasion? (I'm assuming so)

ahahahah I was in no way mad at you, ever! If anything I was annoyed that I really couldn't show you that I am capable of being a good hostess if I have like, a week's notice.

You asked about me, so I am answering about me, this is not about a general suggestion of hostess gifts.

I do always love things for the shabbat table! Particularly really lovely serving utensils, are something I don't have a lot of yet. I accumulate things, over the years, it's the way I afford it. I like things that are a little fun and unusual but still work for my table. I've had my eye on a horseshoe trivet for awhile, that's a fun thing!

Someone once brought me a really nice cheese board, that was a really nice gift to get and I still use it. I have a fair amount of those now though. I have a bunch of aprons, but I love getting nice aprons.

Oh! Bar stuff I really like but would never buy myself. I like to do cocktails for my fancy dinners and parties. So, like, a crew bottle is the sort of thing I would LOVE to have, but I probably won't ever buy myself. Or vintage glass tiki swizzles. I would love to have one of those glass topping cocktail smoker things.

But honestly I'm happy enough with a bottle of whiskey or a bouquet of grocery store flowers. I care more about feeling thought of then I do about the gift SPECIFICALLY. My go-to gift for a dinner party is nice chocolates. If I'm staying with someone I usually ask them if they want anything from Montana and plan accordingly.

But also, don't feel guilty for asking, I was always free to say no and generally I'm VERY good at saying so!