#friendship aspire academy

[latestnews69]

Why later life can be a golden age for friendship

Our social goals change in surprising ways over our lifespan – and understanding this can help us build fulfilling connections with others, research suggests.

Do you prefer meeting lots of new people, or spending time with a small circle of close friends? You may think the answer depends on whether you're naturally more of an extrovert or an introvert. But there's another crucial yet little-known factor that shapes our social preferences: age.

Friendship benefits people across all ages, even improving our health and lifespan, a large body of research shows. In later life, friendships can become an especially important source of happiness and life satisfaction. Frequent interactions with a close friend may in fact boost happiness in old age more than those with close family.

One simple explanation for this is that friendships can be more fun, and less tense and fraught, than other relationships. According to a study of Americans aged over 65, encounters with friends were seen as more pleasant than those with family members. These findings contrast with older studies that focus more on close family as the key source of support for ageing adults. Read more

[sleep-0-deprived]

Hello Dimitri!

I really love your works - especially your yandere oc's and jjk content!- I was wondering if I can put in a request for a poly yandere of Geto and Gojo with a bottom male reader? I want to know how this relationship works when they were in their teens and now that their adults (Geto still choose to be a cult leader, also he does not die. My poor heart cannot handle the heartbreak of Geto dying and leaving Gojo and reader behind ). You can make it sfw or nsfw which either one you like! :)

Ps. Sorry for the long request, it is my first time requesting (0///0)

Two psychos is better than one right?~! (Yandere Geto suguru x male reader x yandere Satoru Gojo) ❀˖°

WC:. 5.7k

Tags: fluff-smut, threesome, spit roasting, poly satosugu, trio friendship, friends to enemies to lovers blowjobs, p in a sex, male on male oral, handjobs, ass eating, anal creampies, Yandere themes, dark content x male reader, dub con, non con, manipulation, drugging, Gojo just gaslighting reader

About: satoru and suguru become friends with male reader ending up in an obsession leading to Geto leaving, even after you split ways with him, he stays watching you from afar despite their separate paths they stay holding their obsession leading to trapping you.

A/N: this is a bit of a longer fic compared to others I’ve I’ve wrote, I put all my effort into this one! After some long writers block I’ve made it back around into writing again <33

Before the Riko incident you became a transfer at jujutsu high, you weren’t really strong nor weak, you were the prime balance of an average guy who just wanted to be in the middle- as long as you helped others then that was fine by you, being well known seemed overrated anyway.

You never thought you’d get between the infamous duo, they were tight knit after all, they were all any jujustu student aspired to be and after all you were just a boy looking to make it through the academy without any complications

If you would’ve known the outcome of transferring to this school you would’ve stayed far away, how did you even enter their lives? You were put on their team as a balance, you were put there to be guided and who was better to guid you than you once upper class men Satoru?

You were put on their missions, it started simple, the three of you going against curses together but you noticed very quickly that your friendship meant more to them than what met the eye. The friendship you thought of as normal or even just knowing them out of same interests turned dark far to fast.

What stool out at you the most was during a mission when you were saving a civilian from a low level curse, after a hour the fight was over and you were clean from any wounds, the man just ran up to you muffling his words between tears grabbing your hands.

“thank you—I don’t know what would’ve happened if you didn’t show up!”

The man hugged you and the next thing you knew you tilted your head and suguru was already pulling him off of you pushing the man away harshly throwing him to a wall of a near by store.

“What do you think you’re doing suguru?!”

You quickly ran forward to him pulling him away from the civilian leaving the man running off terrified, your hands reaching up to his uniform shaking him back and forth while yelling at him. All Geto seems to do is stare blankly like he didn’t care what you did in the slightest.

“He touched you [name], nobody should get up close and personal, unless it’s me or Satoru”

“What’s that supposed to mean? You two aren’t my damn keepers, we are friends Suguru- just friends!”

You look at him offended with your lips pressing in a thin line shoving him back and letting him go, walking off pushing past a confused Gojo leaving him tilting his head looking back at Geto with a ‘what did you do?’ Face.

The next few days to pass you avoided Geto like the plague, only being around Gojo when he wasn’t near Suguru.

Sitting in a café during the weekend with Gojo lifting your drink, the feeling was off and you weren’t the biggest fan of how Gojo kept staring over at you but your dad was pushing you to be more like other boys your age, that’s how you ended up calling Gojo on the water day morning after the incident with Geto.

“You don’t have to avoid him Y’know [name]?”

Gojo breaks the silent looking at you with his eyes rolled forwards under his glasses watching your every move when you take a bite of whatever pastries you made him buy you.

“He’s just so damn possesive Toru- it’s like he thinks I’m his property..it’s just weird”

Gojo just gives a shrug, of course he would. Always sticking up and vouching for Geto like he was some sort of fan boy. What did you really expect? Gojo knew Geto before you, they had an uncanny close relationship and knowing all you know now looking back on it that’s the reason Suguru didn’t mind sharing you with Satoru.

“I think you’re overreacting, he was probably just worried about you, I’m sure he did in in good intentions”

“Yeah, whatever you say Toru”

You shove down a few more bites while Gojo takes a sip of his tea, you couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched but you always feel that way. Gojo kept trying to bring the topic back to Geto, trying to persuade you two to make up and apologize but you were just creeped out with his actions.

“Come on? He’s our friend [name] you don’t wanna be the one to put a wedge in our trio right?”

Gojo did his best to speak sweetly to you. Trying to convince you, and if that didn’t work then he’d just whine and make you feel bad til you felt like you just had to forgive Suguru. You didn’t wanna be the reason your friend ship fell apart with them right?…

The next day was a Sunday and Gojo had practically done everything but force you to meet up with Geto. Gojo had used the fact he and Geto were on a mission looking after a girl as the perfect opportunity to finally get you three together.

You hear your phone ringing whilst you lay sprawled out in bed, it’s a Sunday morning after all, it’s the last day of your week to sleep in until next weekend.

“Hello Toru..why’re you calling me so early?..”

“I just wanted to ask if you wanted to come and hangout at the beach today? Me and Geto are gonna be watching after this girl for our mission and I really-really want you there [nicknaamee]”

You just let out a small sigh and groggily open your eyes up begrudgingly mumbling back out to Satoru when you hear his whiny voice on the other end of the phone pleading and going high pitch on the nickname he gave you”

“Fine I’ll come but don’t let him act creepy Toru”

After that day at the beach things fell right back in line, you and Suguru had made up, and Gojo was happy, after all his best friends had made up.

Then it went and happened, some assassin had killed who they were protecting- or so Satoru told you. You weren’t there the day it had happened, you were on another mission with your upperclassman Nanami. Suguru wasn’t the same after that point, he hardly talked to you or Gojo- he would just silently space out staring at you.

Then summer hit and when he had came back he wasn’t the same at all, he was cold and distant and snapped at you over the slightest things. If you spent more time with Satoru than him then he’d give you the cold shoulder until you apologized despite your lack of knowing what you did wrong.

“I just don’t understand why you’re acting like this Suguru?”

You walked along side Gojo after school one day following after Geto, your eyes were wide and your lips pressed firm.

“Hey! Where are you goin?!”

Gojo ran faster than you walking forward more when Suguru stops and turns facing Gojo, their argument starts leaving you chiming in every few seconds standing next to Satoru, by the end of their fight Suguru just turns forward to walk away.

“Suguru wait! What the hell are you doing?”

You stand in utter disbelief for what was happening right in front of you— this couldn’t be happening? Your friendship was splitting up right before you and suguru, the boy that was eerily close around you was leaving you now.

You didn’t think you were going to be that affected over the loss but it left you confused on how you felt.

The days following that incident the team had drifted apart but you and Gojo had a newfound closeness but you couldn’t shake the feeling of always being watched, it felt like all eyes were on you even when you were walking through your dorm, that must just be the paranoia that comes with being a jujustu sorcerer right?

By the time you had graduated from Jujustu high, Gojo was already number one, you were happy for him of course as any friend would be. Eventually by the ripe age of twenty you take up a teaching job at jujustu high after a long time of Satoru pestering you to take the job with him.

“If I take the job will you just shut up Toru?”

“Of course I will! I promise [nickname]”

You eventually get tasked over the same team as Gojo, which you found strange. Not that Gojo didn’t totally pull strings to make them place you two together. The teams you were mentoring were names Yuji, Nobara, and Megumi, the boy that Gojo had been watching after ever since he fought with his father- you think he’s the son of that assassin that killed Riko.

The Jujustu world became hectic, not that it was new but it became crazier than usual especially after finding out that Yuji boy had ate one of the king of curses fingers— how was he even alive after that?

Over the years of being a Jujustu sorcerer you had seen and dealt with many things and you couldn’t deny you never thought you’d see Suguru again, not after what he did to his parents- you had just assumed he was gone for good. For some odd reason Gojo never seemed too concerned it felt as though he knew something you never did.

You remember earlier in the day hearing Satoru asking you to take the subway with him later after classes had ended, something about this new place he wanted to take you too and knowing Gojo and his Expensive tastes you had just expected another luxury restaurant so imagine the confusion on your face when you see a old Japanese style parlor.

You walk right in behind Gojo, following confused seeing the dark colored interior and dim lights, non sorcerers walking out of the place wearing matching robes.

“What is this place Toru?”

“It’s just a parlor ran by an old friend”

The way he hummed those words with a smirk made you feel uneasy, this place felt cultic, the purple walls and candles lit around the halls leading towards a pair of Japanese styled double doors, Satoru opens them ushering you inside. Your senses feel different in this room, it smells sweet and all you can do is feel fuzzy inside, were you being laced?

When you come to again you open your eyes half way seeing two figures hovering above you. Softness is all you can seem to feel right now, you’re laying on something soft, maybe a pillow? It’s fluffy and all you wanna do is close your eyes and succumb again, your body is weak and you only muster up enough strength to open your eyes when you feel a hand undoing your pants.

Your eyes roll around a little in their sockets before focusing in on the two figures, they look like yin and yang- one has white hair, it’s Gojo…is that—

“Suguru?”

His name sounds pathetic when you slur your words looking up at him letting out a little whine seeing his robes, where has he been and why was he dressed like a messiah. What was happening? All those thoughts are postponed when you feel hands pulling your cock out of your boxers.

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you [name], god you know how hard it is to not be able to touch you? To not hear my name from your mouth? It’s torture sweetheart”

“Awe suguru! You told me the cameras I put in his apartment were close enough?”

Satoru and Geto conversation while kneeling before your body, one of them on either side of you with Suguru’s hand on your cock playing with the soft flesh and teasing it. Your body felt too many things to let your mind properly think.

“You’re alive?”

Those words come out shakily with your body shuddering feeling the warm palm of his hand under the base of your cock pulling a few strokes while Satoru leans down more sliding your shirt up your body, lifting your arms up and discarding it while you lay on your back in the parlor. Your eyes seeing candles lit around the room next to a picture of Geto— this was a cult.

“Of course I’m alive? Why wouldn’t i be [name]?…you know me and Satoru will never leave you”

“Look at him Suguru, he’s so loopy, I told you that gas was too strong~”

Your cock pulses in his hand with your nipples erect from the cool air, your body heating up and your cock starting to leak precum.

“What’re you two doing?”

The words fall weakly while you lay on the pillows with your eyes circling in on Geto the whole time he touches your cock, your eyes rolling over to Gojo when he coos words to you talking you through it while your hands tremble pulling at the pillows.

“What we’ve wanted to do since day one [name]”

Suguru hums, leaning in more stroking your cock a little faster and moving his way between your thighs before craning his neck backwards whispering out something to Gojo. Gojo groans and pouts, taking his hands off your body and getting up walking off and out of the room leaving you and Suguru alone.

When Gojo comes back he’s holding a bottle of strawberry flavored Lube, Geto let’s go of your now hard cock and turns you over on your stomach, Gojo tossing Suguru the lube while he squirts the lube all up and down your crack, sitting the lube aside and squishing your cheeks together over and over making the lube smear around in between your cheeks.

“All I can think about is how you’ll taste, I hope Satoru don’t get mad I eat you up first”

Geto leans down kissing your arch and holding your hips sliding them down to your ass cheeks and slowly pulling them apart while grinning up at Gojo, watching the white haired man undoing his slacks and pulling out his cock, Gojo slaps his tip to your lips still soft.

“Toru please-“

“C’mon, suck it hard f’me?”

Before you can respond Geto has his faced buried between your cheeks eating you out like your his last meal, his tongue sliding up and down your crack and back down to your rim.

When your lips part to gasp, Gojo takes that as his chance to shove his cock down your throat making your lips wrap around him gagging and tearing up laying on your stomach with Satoru’s hand reaching down to grab a handful of your locks making you tilt your head back and look up at him.

“How’s it taste [name]?”

You can’t seem to muster a word, feeling Geto’s tongue going flat against your rim and pressing its way inside you while he reaches one hand under you to grab back ahold of your cock, Suguru starts stroking you in time with his tongue while aiming your cock down towards the pillows in jerking motions like he was milking you.

Gojo and Geto share gleaming looks, they were on cloud nine finally getting the intimacy from you they had longed after for years. Gojo thrusts his hips forward slowly making your cheeks bulge with every motion, his cock now fully hardened in your mouth hitting the back of your throat making vibrations around his base when you wail out.

“Poor baby is all delirious isn’t he Satoru?”

Geto smile against your flesh, pressing sloppy wet kisses to your rim rolling his own eyes back at the taste of strawberry and you on his tongue leaving a satisfaction in his stomach with his cock hard under his robes being pressed to his hip.

Gojo keeps stroking your hair before starting to lift your head by your hair and bob your mouth up and down on his cock making you deep throat him to the point your face was buried in his white pubes.

“Sugu—tworu ple~”

Your words come out choppy around his cock. You speak with your mouth full feeling your throat hurting and the hot tears in your eyes streaming down your cheeks being used by the two men unable to put up a fight due to the drugs in your system keeping you weak between the men.

The feeling of Geto’s tongue swirling around your insides makes your head go fuzzy again, you just wanna close your eyes but you can’t because yours are locked on Gojo’s bright blue ones, have they always been as blue as they are now? The look of pleasure on his faces makes knots build in your stomach knowing you’re the cause for his half closed eyes.

“Oh you’re so close aren’t you? Don’t even gotta answer I can tell [name]”

Geto can tell by the way your rim greedily puckers around his tongue and the amounts of precum oozing from your tip that you’re on the verge of your orgasm. His hand keeps working you between your thighs leaving your legs trembling laying on your stomach when a wave of heat floods your whole body making you moan around Gojo’s cock.

Your tip starts to swell angrily under Geto’s thumb, when his tongue laps your prostate it pushes you past your breaking point making you lose it, cumming all over the pillows, staining the purple fabrics with an off white stain making Gojo look down at you with his signature smirk.

“Mhmf— he’s a fuckin squirter Satoru”

“Suguru you should just feel how he’s gagging on me right now-“

They talk about you like you aren’t there, using you for their own pleasures you feel Geto pulling his face from your cheeks with one last lick pulling his tongue out of you leaving your s/c ass all sticky from a mix of spit and lube.

Geto starts lifting up his robes pulling them up over his head throwing them to the side with a smile, wearing black boxer briefs with a prominent bulge inside them with a dark patch of black hair trailing down his abdomen giving Satoru little to the imagination.

Suguru slides his fingers under his boxer waist band pulling them down his thighs allowing his cock to spring forward and press to his stomach.

“I would ask if you’re ready [name] but you probably shouldn’t speak with your mouth full~”

His voice is cold and mocking not giving a damn about Satoru face fucking you like a fleshlight. Suguru pulls your slick cheeks apart again thrusting his cock up and down your crack getting himself lubed up with the mixed substances.

Gojo reached his thumb down tracing over your full cheeks, watching how your throat bulges more and more the deeper he pushes himself inside your mouth fucking your eyes to reverse watching how they looked away from him and into the back of your head with a teary face that could arouse any man.

“I need-air tworu~”

Your drool running down your chin with your cock half limp between your thighs from how Geto jerked you off leaving you already feeling empty. Suguru reaches his hands up and grips your hips tightly nudging his cockhead against your rim watching while it stretches wide in a sad attempt to fit him, his cock feels like it’s tearing you in half.

“Fuck!~ hurts Suguru—“

You gasp when Satoru pulls his cock from your mouth leaving you fishing the purple pillows clenching up around Geto while he lazily pushes in, he doesn’t pay mind to it hurting you, he rubs small circles on your hips before bottoming himself all the way inside you with your rim leaving a little blood in with the lube from being stretched so much you tore.

“Shh, now you know you can take it can’t you [nickname]”

Gojo drops your head letting it fall forward with your teary face in the purple pillows, your lips all swollen and your throat feeling like razors doing nothing but keeping you from screaming anymore. Your voice is weak and all you can do is hold the pillows and let out little squeals around Suguru.

“Suguru- pleasee—“

You get shut up again by Satoru’s cock, he doesn’t tap his tip to your lips like last time, he forced his whole cock back down your drool filled throat making a slobbery mess running down your face while you reach one hand back trying to push Suguru’s hands off your hips.

“Don’t even try it [name] you know better, god you’re still as feisty as the last time I seen you”

Suguru reached one hand forward holding both your wrists tightly leaving promising red marks while he slowly thrusts his hips forward pushing your face more into Satoru’s groin when Suguru starts to fuck you from behind holding you and binding you with his hands keeping you all defenseless but at this point with the way his cock is sliding against your inner walls you can’t even properly think.

“There you go [nickname] you’re so good at this aren’t you? I think he was made for two cocks Suguru”

Gojo’s blindfold hanging around his neck with his large hand around the back of your head holding it in place while he rocks his hips forward making his veins start prodding against the roof of your mouth more showing you he was close.

“Hmfh!~ Toruu”

You whine wanting to reach your hand down and start touching your cock, you needed to come so bad but you couldn’t do anything but depend on them to make sure you got off. Suguru’s cock pressed against your prostate milking your insides with his base stretching your channel to fit his cock like he was trying to mold you.

“Does our boy wanna come that bad?”

Geto asks you with a fake confused tone fucking you a little harder holding your hands behind your back with one hand using the other to reach down and lift your left thigh up forcing his cock inside you at a deeper angle making you feel every vein and curve to his cock.

“Mh hmm-!”

You’re so far gone you can’t bother to care about every messed up thing these men are doing to you, all your mind can process is ‘needa come’ your back arches and you start trying to bob your head under Satoru’s hand trying to earn good graces from him when you look up at him with your wide eyes batting your lashes back and forth like a doll.

“Oh what’s this? I think he’s starting to be a good boy Satoru, you think we should let him come?”

Suguru asks Satoru with a smug smile holding your thigh tight fucking your insides raw with your rim all puffy and wrapped around his cock split open wide now accepting him with ease with the room in the parlor filling up with lewd squelches from the mix of lube and his spit making wet sounds when his hips hit your ass cheeks.

Plap-plap-plap, the sounds silently echo throughout the room while you just stare up at Gojo with a full mouth before feeling his load shoot down your throat spilling all over the back of your throat and running down the roof of your mouth leaving the pungent taste on your lips.

“I think we should let him come Suguru- he’s been actin nice hasn’t he?”

“I think you’re right Toru~ good boys deserve rewards after all”

Geto let’s your arms go reaching back down between your thighs starting to jerk your cock like he did before, fucking you rougher with his chubby cock head pulsing and twitching on your prostate putting a strong pressure in your stomach threatening to break over at any moment.

Satoru’s cock slips out of your mouth letting you finally breath and gasp for air while Gojo stares down at your face stroking his soft cock hard again and aiming it at your fucked out face watching you get pounded from behind by Geto.

“Close- just a little more- suguru pleasee~!”

You start letting out whiny moans and sounds you never new your voice could make when his thumb runs right across your slit, staring up at Gojo the whole time with your teary face ruined and covered in tears and drool with your hair messy from Gojo’s pulling. Geto keeps going bucking his hips forward harshly rutting himself into you going deep as he can pressing his balls to your backside feeling your rim spasming ready to orgasm around him.

When Suguru flicks his wrist holding the base of your cock it sends you over the edge arching your back under him clenching around his cock and holding onto the purple fabric beneath you, orgasming so hard your ears start ringing making everything in the room feel surreal when you come in Geto’s hand.

“There he goes Suguru- oh that’s such a beautiful face you’re making [nickname]”

Your come floods over Suguru’s thumb and spilling onto the pillows under you making you wail and cry at the nearly dry orgasm being pulled from your cock having you stiffening up under the two men with your nose scrunched in a over stimulated pleasure.

“I’m getting close [name], gonna flood these insides”

When Gojo hears those words he starts stroking his cock faster at your face watching his two best fiends fucking eachother with you laying all out of it and fuzzy from the drugs having you limp under Geto when he lets your thigh down to mount you more fucking your motionless body making you feel how his cock nudged you on its own before his flood gates break.

“O-oh hng~ suguru-“

The words come out high pitched and louder than the last when his come floods your anal cavity, the warmth surrounds your prostate in a hot sensation leaving you feeling all bloated and full from his seed, your hole instinctively starts to clench and unclench around him milking the rest of his load out of him while Gojo lets out a groan watching the whole scene play out before him.

“Here it comes [nickname]”

Those words were the only warning that Gojo gave you before his orgasm shoots across your face all over your nose and lips running down your chin, mixing in with your spit and tears leaving you completely ruined from the two men, with two loads in your tummy and another on your face leaving you spent.

“I can’t take no more Toru~ Suguru I can’t-“

“But you gotta [nickname] ! I haven’t even got to feel your hole yet~”

Gojo lets out a whine while Geto lets go of your cock and pulls out of your ass, using his thumb to push any come that oozes from your hole back inside you while he rotates with Gojo letting Satoru get right behind you swapping places, god! At this rate it was gonna be a real long night.

“Toru- I can’t take it”

You droop your head down feeling his hands flipping you over back into your back on the pillows feeling your come stained pillow fabric pressed to your skin making you cringe, Satoru lifts up one of your legs placing it up on his shoulder nudging your sore rim with his cock while Suguru adjusts himself now facing at your head pressing his cock against your come stained lips.

“Don’t lie, we know you can take it [nickname], you were made to take it baby”

“He’s right baby, we know you can handle it”

They don’t take your weak response as an answer, Gojo slowly pushes his cock into your already stretched hole, sliding in easily from Geto’s come and lube. Your chest aiming up at the air arching splayed on your back with your cock red and soft unable to harden from being milked to many times by the men.

Suguru pushes his cock pash your lips delving it into your wet cavern. Your throat bulges again from your now full mouth, your whole body aches and hurts but all you can do is lay still and take it. Gojo gives you no time to rest before he lifts your other leg up in the air holding you in a mating press while jackhammering into you.

“Fuck Suguru, you’re right his hole feels so fucking good”

Geto hums in response shuddering a little when your canines graze over a sensitive vein on the underside of his cock making him reach his hand down choking your throat a little bit as a warning making your fission blur from the lack of oxygen and the way Gojo was fucking you, reaching more spots than Suguru if that was even possible.

“Ah- careful with your teeth baby, don’t chew on it. Suck it”

Your thighs start trembling pressed to your chest with Gojo dipping his face down and burying his face into your pecks like a madman, taking one nipple into his mouth and sucking on it. His hips roll forwards lifting and reaching down to pull your hips, pulling you back onto his cock with your moans being gagged by Suguru’s cock.

“T’muush~ too stuffed Suguru~”

You roll your eyes back into your head looking up at Geto above you with your nose pressed to his balls from the angle he was fucking your mouth at leaving Satoru’s cum all smeared across your face like a sticky mess. Your cock half limp and tender against your inner thigh while it rests on your stomach leaking a little puddle.

“You sucked Satoru off fine, I think you can handle me too [name], now don’t start acting defiant again on us”

The way Geto spoke to you made you whine sadly unable to fight either of them, the drug still in your system and the way they were trying to consume your body whole left you mute sucking on his cock while Gojo pressed his chest up against yours making your toes curl up when he thrusts forward and nails your sweet spot head on.

“Don’t be so mean to him Suguru, he’s just about used up S’ all”

Satoru coos out to Suguru while he makes the pillows dip under the shared weight of him on top of you, Geto’s come swirling around your insides and trickling down your thighs around the base of Gojo’s cock while Gojo bites down on your nipple again only pulling his mouth off of your flesh to speak.

“I’m getting close [name], do’ you want it down your throat or face?”

Geto asks looking down at you feeling his balls drawing up against your cheek signaling he was close to his peak. Gojo on the other hand didn’t care about Suguru’s orgasm, he was too busy trying to chase his own inside your stomach. Your rim starts burning and stinging from being used and gaping around a cock for so long leaving you in painful pleasure.

“On m’ face~”

You whimper out quietly just not wanting to have to taste another load or feel more come inside your stomach. Reaching one hand down whining when you start to touch your cock, it felt like touching a stiff rod, your hand slowly moved up and down it crying to have to pull another orgasm but you needed to come so bad.

“You can’t do that [nickname] you gotta come from me or Suguru, so no touchin yourself”

Before you can respond or complain Satoru has his free hand slipping off your hip and down onto your cock, quickly swatting your hand away from it. His strokes aren’t gentle like yours were, his are fast and unorganized like his thrusts are. Gojo takes his mouth off your nipple and shoves his face in your neck while Suguru keeps fucking your mouth, his thrusts slow down pulling out of your mouth with his cock jumping on its own.

“There we go [name] see what you do to us?”

Your ass feels sore and red from hips slapping against them over and over but before you can complain a hot load shoots all over your face spilling into your eyelashes and into your mouth making you taste his come, he tasted sweeter than Gojo, his semen more thick and less opaque than Satoru’s.

“I’m getting close Sa-Toruu~”

Your voice cracks from a sore face fucked throat, your lips are all sticky and cracked in the corners from opening your mouth too wide, your lips part and ho agape making an ‘O’ shape when Gojo bites at the crook of your neck licking over the red marks he’s leaving on your S/c skin.

Your abdomen starts feeling hotter and more tense making you sweat underneath Satoru when his cock teases your insides making your legs feel like jello up in the air with your knees bent over his shoulders. By the way Gojo was tensing up and the muscles of his shoulders stiffened beneath your finger nails you could tell he was about to come.

“Me too- you’re just milking it out of me [nickname]”

His hand works harder and faster against your cock making you groan starting to orgasm shaking and crying with hardly any semen able to spill from you. Your tip starts leaking barely any pre come, you begin orgasming dry making Geto smile above you happy to know they had milked your body dry, Suguru reaches his hand down stroking your cheek while Gojo plows you between your thighs making the room spin through your eyes.

Soon the feeling of warmth in your gut hits you again letting you know Satoru had just found his release inside you, his semen seeping out of you overflowing your hole leaving the thin strings of his come running down your thighs and staining the pillows beneath the two of you.

“Toruu.. I’m soo sore-“

You whisper out under him reaching one hand up to his neck and grabbing his hair with your other hand still on his shoulder. Rolling your eyes forwards looking up at Suguru with your insides flooded and your face ruined- god you can’t handle these two insane men- They’re something else!

[theofficalnarrator]

Hi I have a req!! Sophia x y/n but make it enemies to lovers ? Uhh u can choose the plot n everything else 😭 thank u hehehehe

OKAY so I tried. I really did :(. It's enemies to lovers and I hope I did a good job (pls tell me I did good or I'm going to start crying). ALSO, so sorry with how long this took! I had midterms and had to lock in 😼. Also, before any of you come for me, this is PURELY fictional. I'm not siding w anyone on the katseye doc matter, guys pls chill 😭. ---

Hater, Hater

Summary: A small argument between the leader and main dancer of Katseye during their trainee days spirals into something far deeper. Following a revealing documentary, Eyekons realize that the subtle fan service and brief exchanges between Sophia and Y/N mask a fierce rivalry. As their reputations crumble and tensions rise, the world watches to see if the two can reconcile their differences and salvage both their friendship and the group's future—or if their feud will tear them, and Katseye, apart..

Warning: Angsty, Fluffy at the end, hate comments, Y/N is an asshole, poor Sophia doesn't deserve any hate

---

The rivalry between Sophia and Y/N didn’t ignite until later in their training at Dream Academy. Among the sea of aspiring talents, friendly competition was a common thread, but for Sophia and Y/N, their relationship had always been more of a cautious camaraderie. They shared a mutual respect, but their interactions were limited—neither friend nor foe.

That was until the Manon roundtable discussion happened. As the girls sat around on the floor and as Manon talked about her experience, Sophia added on: "Well yeah, but last week the instructor had to call your name 4 times cause you were zoning out"

The comment hung in the air, prompting Y/N to blurt out, “Same thing happened with you yesterday.” The moment those words escaped her lips, she regretted them. A wave of fatigue and frustration had compelled her to respond, but her tone came off sharper than she intended—more confrontational than tired.

Y/N's gaze met Sophia's, and the intensity of the glare sent a jolt through her. There was no denying the fire in Sophia’s eyes, a mix of anger and disbelief. “Are you accusing me of something, Y/N?” she snapped, her brows furrowing as the playful banter evaporated into tension.

The heat of the lights and the oppressive atmosphere in the room weighed heavily on Y/N. She had barely slept the night before, her vocal struggles gnawing at her confidence, and the sight of Sophia’s effortless talent only deepened her envy. It was a perfect storm of emotions that pushed Y/N to abandon her usual restraint.

“No, I’m simply stating a fact. You of all people shouldn’t be berating Manon. Esp—”

Before Y/N could finish her thought, the instructor intervened, redirecting the conversation back to Manon. Y/N maintained her gaze on Sophia, who visibly flinched at the bite in her tone. The hurt flashed in Sophia’s eyes but vanished just as quickly, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.

As the discussion wrapped up and the girls began to disperse, Y/N felt a sudden jolt as Sophia’s shoulder brushed against hers. The Filipino dancer didn’t pause or offer an apology; she simply stormed off, leaving Y/N standing there, grappling with the weight of their exchange and the uncharted territory of their once-friendly relationship.

---

As Mission 3 approached, a noticeable shift occurred within Sophia. It was as if a switch had flipped in her mind, igniting an insatiable drive for perfection. She spent countless hours in the practice rooms, often practicing late into the night, her dedication bordering on obsession. The other girls began to express their concern, whispering among themselves about Sophia's relentless pursuit of excellence.

Y/N, always the one to step in when needed, couldn’t ignore the growing worry for her friend. One evening, she found herself outside the dance studio, bracing herself to confront Sophia.

“Why are you here so late?” Y/N began, her voice laced with a mix of concern and frustration.

“Pack your bags, you're going to sleep,” she ordered, leaning against the door frame, trying to project an air of authority.

Sophia merely huffed in response, her glare piercing through the dance room mirror. She brushed a stray hair from her face, revealing the fatigue around her eyes. Y/N’s heart sank as she took in the sight: dark circles under Sophia's eyes, a pale complexion, and a sheen of sweat from the harsh artificial lights. Clad in a skin-tight black long sleeve and grey joggers, she looked both stunning and worn down.

A swirl of emotions tugged at Y/N—guilt, concern, and an undeniable attraction. But above all, worry consumed her.

“Soph, come on—”

“Don't fucking call me that!” Sophia snapped, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. Y/N was taken aback; this wasn’t the usual Sophia. The intensity of her words, so unlike the playful banter they once shared, struck a chord deep within Y/N.

“I need to perfect this. I’m going to win. I won’t let anyone beat me based solely on popularity. I’m winning on talent,” Sophia declared, her voice resolute yet tinged with desperation.

Y/N took a moment to respond, the weight of Sophia's words hanging heavily between them. “... Good,” she finally said, a smirk creeping onto her face. “You’re actually practicing instead of whining. Maybe you can finally get the choreo down instead of complaining—”

Before she could finish, Sophia stormed over, pushing Y/N against the door. The sudden closeness sent a jolt through Y/N, their faces mere centimeters apart. In that moment, Y/N realized just how much she enjoyed this fierce side of Sophia.

Sophia’s angry words flowed, but Y/N found herself lost in the intensity of the moment, hyperaware of the way Sophia's hands gripped her shoulders.

“Are you even listening, you bi—”

“You're really pretty when you're mad,” Y/N interrupted, her voice barely above a whisper.

The moment Sophia pulled away, Y/N's eyes widened in surprise, a rush of confusion flooding her thoughts. The distance between them felt palpable, charged with unspoken words and emotions.

“Y/N, wait—” Sophia began, but before she could finish, Y/N had already swung the door open and stepped out into the hallway, leaving Sophia's words hanging in the air like a fragile thread about to snap.

Sophia rushed after her, but her heart sank as she halted in her tracks. The sight before her made her stomach twist: a camera crew stood in the hallway, their presence a stark reminder of the reality they were living in. How much had they overheard? Had they captured the vulnerable moment that had just unfolded between them? Panic gripped her as the questions raced through her mind.

Before Sophia could gather her thoughts or confront the crew, Y/N brushed past her, her expression a mixture of determination and hurt. The moment felt heavy, suffocating, as Sophia remained frozen in place, watching Y/N disappear down the corridor.

That night, Sophia refuses to speak during the confessional about Y/N.

---

For the next week, the tension between Sophia and Y/N hung in the air like a thick fog, suffocating and unyielding. The other girls sensed the shift, their usual flow disrupted by the unspoken rivalry that had erupted overnight.

After some back-and-forth, the plan was set in motion to get the two to talk. The girls decided on a trendy restaurant downtown, hoping that the lively setting would ease the tension and coax Sophia and Y/N into a conversation.

As they arrived at the restaurant, the group was seated at a long table, laughter and chatter filling the air. But Sophia and Y/N sat at opposite ends, the distance between them almost palpable. The other girls tried to keep the mood light, cracking jokes and sharing stories, but the tension lingered like a shadow.

As the dinner wrapped up, the girls decided to walk home together, the bustling streets of Seoul lit by the warm glow of streetlights. The air was crisp, and laughter echoed through the night as they strolled, but Y/N and Sophia hung back a little, the girls leaving them behind intentionally.

The group chatted animatedly ahead, but Y/N and Sophia fell into an awkward silence, the tension between them gradually increasing with each step. The camera crew was nowhere to be seen or simply forgotten in that moment. The sounds of the city surrounded them, but all Y/N could focus on was the presence of Sophia beside her. She stole glances at the girl, who walked with a slight bounce in her step, her earlier intensity fading into something softer.

“Are you really going to ignore me the entire way home?” Y/N finally broke the silence, her voice tinged with frustration.

Sophia’s gaze flickered briefly to Y/N before returning to the path ahead. “What do you want me to say?” she replied, her tone clipped.

“Maybe you could start with ‘I’m sorry’ for pushing me against the door,” Y/N shot back, her irritation bubbling to the surface. “Or how about acknowledging that we’ve both been acting like idiots?”

Sophia stopped abruptly, turning to face Y/N, her expression a mix of anger and hurt. “You think I wanted that to happen? You think I wanted to feel… whatever that was?” Her voice trembled slightly, betraying the strength she tried to project.

Y/N felt her heart clench at Sophia's admission. “No, I don’t think you wanted it. But it happened, and now we’re stuck in this weird place. I don’t want to fight with you, Sophia. I don’t want to feel like this.”

Sophia scoffed and snapped back, “You don't have to do this because the girls are pushing us to. I know you hate me.”

Y/N stepped closer, her heart racing at the shift in the atmosphere, her eyes filled with confusion as the two crossed the street. “... hate you? Soph, I never hated you.” The Filipino stopped, turning to make their eyes meet.

Sophia’s eyes softened, and for a moment, it felt like the tension that had been suffocating them began to lift.

HONK! The two girls jumped, realizing that they were blocking traffic and quickly ran to the other side of the street. Once they made it over, a silence passed between them—this time, much more comfortable. The words were unspoken as they caught up with the others, but it was there. The understanding that this whole ordeal was nothing but useless. They had better things to worry about.

---

The final couple of months went by, the two contestants somewhat at ease. The were used to their familiar limbo from prior in their trainee days. The underlying tension and awkwardness was still there. It wasn't uncommon for Y/N to feel Sophia's eyes glaring in jealously during dance practice or Sophia to feel Y/N's during vocal tests. Some of the looks were different, more.... alluring. Like the time Y/N was practicing in a crop top and caught a certain Filipino's eyes glued to her waist and abs. Or the time Sophia decided to sing at a local open mic at some random cafe with the other girls and caught a certain dancer watching her starstruck and open-mouthed.

The first time they actually had a conversation was after the final announcement ceremony. The two were backstage, alone sitting side by side. The other had gone god knows where and with who, leaving the two to awkwardly scroll on their phones to avoid any confrontation. Sophia, the less used to silence finally sighed, locking her phone and placing it down on the empty chair next to her where congratulation bouquet was sitting. Y/N felt the Filipino's eyes bore into the side of her head, but Y/N ignored her, acting as if the article about jellyfish mating was far more interesting.

"I'm sorry,", Y/N's head whipped to meet the side of Sophia's whose eyes were downturned.

"...for?"

Sophia huffed slightly as she pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "Don't make me say it.... you know exactly what. I'm sorry." A beat of silence passed over them and Sophia thought that the other girl hadn't accepted her apology until she spoke up.

"I'm sorry, too." Sophia turned her head as she heard the soft-spoken girl's voice go even lower in volume. Eyes avoided one another, but heads nodded in acknowledgement.

"We cool?" Sophia asks.

"... yep, cool."

"Cool."

"...Cool."

Sophia went back onto her phone after the conversation ended, this time with relief and the edges of her lips upturned. Y/N went back to her article, the tips of her ears tinged pink, nothing about jellyfish mating going through her skull.

---

The next passing months caused the two to create somewhat of a limbo. They talked and conversed like they did in their early trainee days, the awkwardness slowly passing over. The Kats seemed relived as they saw their two friends actually see eye to eye.

Eyekons didn't. There was quite a lot of speculation of the few interactions the two had in public. However most chalked it up to one thing: the two were surrounded by 19 other girls, it is inevitable that one relationship out of Katseye was a bit weaker as they hadn't interacted during Dream Academy.

That was until the documentary dropped.

y/nlover3000: That Filipino had some audacity for bumping shoulders like it was Y/N's fault. Y/N was the most right! sophiaenthusiast: Siding with Manon of all people? Those two weren't even close!! Y/N clearly didn't like Sophia and she never deserved the #1 spot ynsleftpinkytoe: no wonder Y/N doesn't interact with Sophia, I wouldn't either if she was being a bitch to me for a year.

And those were just the nicer comments. These comments flooded the official Katseye's socials over new and old comments. While Y/N, who didn't participate in many TikTok's and Reels wasn't the most affected, Sophia could see the hit immediately. She'll never forget the way that her heart dropped seeing the first comment on her new TikTok being a comment about how she didn't deserve to be in the group for being a bully.

Was she? She asked herself. All the girls had talked it out afterwards, unraveling their stories and eventually seeing eye to eye, even apologizing when needed. The two saw eye to eye, but clearly both had underestimated the impact of the documentary and the public's opinion on it.

That's why the two sat in front of a table with Geffen and Hybe management. The topic of discussion? The two's relationship in the public eye.

"People think you two hate each other," Missy, one of the Geffen staff spoke.

"We don'-"

"I know you don't Sophia," Missy interrupted the Filipino ," However, the public doesn't. They've jumped to conclusions and already formulated opinions. Lara and Manon have worked it out in their own unique way. You should too."

Son, a Hybe staff member, spoke up ," You both have a mandatory vlog-style video together due by the end of the month." He put up his hand to stop either from speaking ," I don't care what you say. Megan and Yoonchae barely interacted, and after their video, people have started calling them Katseye's power duo. Such video can reduce stress."

The next 30 minutes of droning is over the same topic. Y/N zones out after 5 minutes, more interested in counting how many dots were on the new intern's tie. .... 34, 35, 36-

"That's all for tod-" Y/N was already on her feet, nodding politely at the staff and walking out. Son sighs and turns to Sophia. "... please, figure this out..."

---

As Y/N stepped out of the conference room, the weight of the discussion hung heavily in the air. She leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath as she tried to process everything that had just been said.

Meanwhile, Sophia remained seated, her fingers tapping anxiously against the table. She could feel the pressure mounting, not only from the management but also from the public’s scrutiny. The comments had stung, and she was acutely aware of how her actions had been perceived.

After a moment, Sophia exited the room, catching up with Y/N in the hallway. The two stood in silence for a moment, the tension palpable. Y/N finally broke the silence, her voice low. “So, a mandatory vlog, huh?”

“Yeah,” Sophia replied, crossing her arms defensively. “Great idea, right? Just what we need.”

Y/N let out a humorless laugh. “I mean, it’s not like we’ve been in the best place to film something like that.”

Sophia turned to face her, frustration bubbling to the surface. “You think I’m the problem? You think I want this to be awkward?”

“No, I don’t think you’re the problem,” Y/N replied, her tone defensive. “But we both know that things have been tense between us. We need to figure it out before we go on camera.”

---

Later that evening, they met at a cozy café, the atmosphere warm and inviting. The café buzzed with the sounds of laughter and chatter, creating a comforting backdrop for their conversation.

“So, what do we want to say in this vlog?” Y/N asked, pulling out her phone to take notes. “We should probably address the rivalry head-on.”

Sophia nodded, her expression thoughtful. “Yeah, but we should also highlight how we’ve grown from it. I don’t want to come off as defensive. I want to show that we can move past this.”

“Right,” Y/N agreed. “And maybe we can share some funny moments from our training days. Show the fans that we’re not just competitors but also friends.”

Sophia’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “Like during vocal evaluation, when you burped into the mic”

Y/N looked up, her eyes glaring, but not ass sharp as before. She responded with her own snark, " No, more like that time you tripped during the group performance and fell into my arms?” As Sophia's huffs, her cheeks tinging pink, Y/N leans closer. "Wait... Does that mean you fell for me, Laforteza?"

Sophia huffed as she turned her eyes down to Y/N phone looking at the ideas for the vlog. "We should go somewhere l-like here. A cafe. Maybe the aquarium."

As Sophia listed off places for their rendezvous, Y/N smiles softly, listening to the cool melody of the Filipino's voice.

---

The vlog was had done numbers. More than the documentary, earning more recognition. All that recognition was mainly positive. It seemed to shed light that the two weren't just closed off rivals, but actually two friends who just interacted differently. The two's adventure to the aquarium (alongside matching instagram posts), cafe trip, and bookstore visit were all highlighted in the vlog:

ynsoph12: Sophia getting Y/N a book that she was eyeing at the bookstore? Oh my god, my Y/NSun heart!!!

ynsmalewife: Y/N refusing to let Sophia pay and carrying all their bags was so cute! Literally wifey material

manonlover: Lmao they weren't friends all along guys, they were secretly dating #YNSun

---

That hashtag was trending among Eyekon social media. The vlog was supposed to make the girls look like friends, but quickly swerved into romantic lovers territory. The managers simply shrugged at the girls saying "you guys are popular. What more do we need".

Clearly their rivalry was okay... right?

ynsupremacy: Hybe and Geffen trying so hard to make Y/N and ****** seem all coupley. Y/N clearly didn't want to be there ynf0rever: Sophia making fun of Y/N for her vocals is so mean. Idk what you guys mean when you say their friends, LET ALONE a couple. I would dump her if that was true. sophsun24: Sophia was clearly uncomfortable w Y/N flirting w her #getridofher

Okay... maybe not. There were still plenty that hated one of the two. It was taking a toll on the Filipino. She rarely went to sleep in the past couple of days, busy scrolling through twitter and reading about herself.

"Soph?" In the dead of night, Sophia hears her door open, a familiar voice echoing through the chamber. Another beat of silence gets interrupted by a sniffle from Sophia. "Oh... Sophia.."

The words call a damn to break as she feels the ex-rival come up and hug her in bed. She wraps her arms around Y/N, sobbing. It's all so sudden and normally the Filipino would rather shit into her hands and clap than ever show weakness if front of the main dancer. But right now? The two are the same person, struggling with the same issue.

The two stay in that position for some time. Thank god Yoonchae had decided to have a sleepover in Megan and Lara's room.

As the last remnants of tears dried on Sophia's cheeks, the room felt lighter, filled with an unspoken understanding. Y/N sat beside her, their shoulders brushing, a comforting presence that made the heaviness of the moment dissipate.

“Hey,” Y/N said softly , “...I’m here for you. We all are.”

Sophia rests her head on Y/N's shoulder, her eyes glistening with a mix of vulnerability and gratitude. “I just felt so overwhelmed.”

Y/N nodded, understanding the weight of those emotions. “It’s okay to feel that way. We all have our moments.”

As they sat in silence, the atmosphere shifted. The tension that had once filled the room began to transform into something softer, more intimate. Y/N reached out, gently taking Sophia's hand in hers, their fingers intertwining naturally. “You're a good leader, you know?” Y/N said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Sophia smiled faintly, the warmth of Y/N’s words wrapping around her like a comforting blanket. “I don’t always feel strong, but having you here makes it easier.” The air between them thickened with unspoken feelings, and Y/N could feel her heart racing. She glanced at Sophia, who was looking back at her with an intensity that made her breath hitch.

“Y/N,” Sophia said, her voice trembling slightly, “I… I don’t want to lose you again.”

Y/N’s heart swelled at the confession. “You won’t. I promise.”

Sophia couldn't hold it back any longer. She leaned in, capturing Y/N's lips with her own in a soft, tentative kiss. For a fleeting moment, the world around them faded away, and the chaos of their lives melted into a serene stillness. It was as if time had stopped, and all that mattered was the warmth of Y/N against her.

But as the kiss lingered, a wave of uncertainty washed over Sophia. She became acutely aware of Y/N's stillness, the way she hadn’t responded in kind. Panic surged through her, and with a sudden urgency, she pulled away, her heart racing as her fears began to materialize

"I'm sorry, I-"

"Just shut up, Laforteza." With that, Y/N closed the distance once again, their lips meeting in a soft, tentative kiss. It was a gentle exploration, filled with the sweetness of their shared history and the promise of new beginnings.

As they kissed, the weight of their past struggles melted away, leaving only the warmth of their connection. Sophia’s hands found their way to Y/N’s face, cradling her gently as the kiss deepened.

When they finally pulled away, both girls were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other. Y/N’s heart raced, a mix of exhilaration and disbelief coursing through her.

“Sophia…” Y/N started, her voice shaky with emotion.

“Shh,” Sophia whispered, a soft smile gracing her lips. “Let’s just stay like this for a moment.”

In that quiet space, they both knew that their relationship had transformed into something deeper, something worth cherishing.

They weren't enemies. They were kinda friends. They were most defiantly into one another.

--- THE END ---

Hey.... sorry for how late it took, I was too busy w Comp Sci and writing a research paper. Sometimes I feel like we often forget that the people online are also people outside of their profiles. Like SophiasLeftEyebrow02 is a lawyer and ManonsArmpit just moved into her first apartment in NY. Anyways, hope you enjoyed... :) ALSO!!! Who should I do next???

[pinchofhoney]

Hi, could you write something for Coryo x reader were the reader is close if not equally as evil in the end. How would that relationship work? idk just a thought I had use it if you wish

crack in the mirror

coriolanus snow x fem!reader

word count: 1.8k

warning: i think none

summary: Many cling to the belief of their own goodness, until they meet someone who's just like them.

a/n: hii, thank you so much for your request!! i hope you'll enjoy what i've written for you!<33

pages that may interest you: masterlist ♡ taglist ♡ who i write for

taglist: @watercolorskyy

gif is not mine, credit to the owner

How did it all begin?

With the 10th Hunger Games, where your academic excellence earned you the role of mentor to one of the tributes.

It was a time of innocence and youthful ambition, back when your paths met within the shadowy corridors of the Capitol's Academy. You and Coriolanus were close friends, unstained by the cruelty that life had in store for you and you pretty often looked back on those days, memories of laughter, shared dreams, and an unwavering friendship etched in your mind.

The two of you were bound by a shared ambition, shining among the brightest stars, each destined for greatness in the eyes of those who believed in you. The world was your playground, and you were determined to conquer it. Little did you know how that fateful year, with its trials and tribulations, would set the course of your life on a much darker path.

As the mentor to Treech from District 7, you hadn't yet embraced the darkness that would soon consume you. Back then, you were as eager as your colleagues, hoping to prove your worth, do your best, and guide your tribute to victory. It was pretty cruel twist of fate that Lucy Gray Baird, with her haunting charm and cunning nature, would change the course of everything.

In the heart of those unforgettable 10th Hunger Games, within the unforgiving arena, your dreams and aspirations slowly began to twist and corrode. Ambition transformed into ruthless manipulation, friendship into subtle deception, and innocence into a devouring thirst for power. The venomous snake mutt that took Treech's life before your very eyes became a symbol of the ruthless transformation that was gradually overtaking you.

That year marked the beginning of your involvement in the Games and the emergence of a darkness that would one day reflect the very core of President Snow himself. The metropolis watched, captivated by the spectacle of the tributes battling for their lives, while behind the scenes, a bitter change took root.

As you stood alongside the other students in the viewing room, preoccupied with the tributes, a chill ran down your spine. You didn't yet grasped the feeling, but something fundamental had shifted within you. You couldn't shake the realization that in the Capitol, victory meant survival, and survival allowed for anything. Lucy Gray's actions, no matter how brutal, were merely a reflection of the society to which you belonged.

Coriolanus tried to hold onto the purity of your friendship, to keep the darkness at bay, but you were the values he progressively ignored. Ambition has a way of distorting even the best intentions, and the path you had chosen was covered in shadows and secrecy.

As the Games progressed, the transformation hastened. The bonds you had formed with others became instruments of manipulation, and you enjoyed your newfound ability to bend their will to your desires.

The suffering of each tribute, each extinguished life, stoked the icy flames of ambition within you. You clutched to the logic that to climb up the Capitol's hierarchy, you had to be willing to destroy all who stood in the way. Your heart grew cold, your smile more deceitful, and your soul darkened, much like the future President of Panem that Coriolanus didn't yet realize he would become.

The Games ended with Treech taking the third place, a result you considered an absolute failure. It served as the catalyst for your final descent into the abyss. You had only tasted a little bit of success, and you hungered for more. The purity of your friendship with Coriolanus had been definitely tarnished, and the darkness that enveloped you continued.

The 10th Hunger Games and the Gamemakers marked not just the beginning of a change within you, but also foreshadowed the dark days to come.

You and Coriolanus would be leaders of a world where cruelty and manipulation held authority.

You had come a long way since those innocent days at the Academy, where laughter and shared dreams were the currency of friendship. As the Head Gamemaker, you wielded power over life and death, orchestrating the annual Hunger Games spectacle that captivated the Capitol.

Your importance in the Capitol was undeniable, but the bonds of friendship that once connected you to young Snow had weakened, stretched to their limits, and threatened to break. Since your graduation from the Academy, the warmth of your interactions had been replaced by a chilling formality. The echoes of your former closeness had grown faint, drowned out by the sounds of the ruthless Games you helped design.

Coriolanus, still crawling in his presidency, remained in your life as a hint of your teenage years and shared mentorship past. He was both intrigued and disturbed by the ideas you injected into the Games each year, but he never consciously acknowledged the rot that had taken root within him as well.

As the Head Gamemaker, you reveled in the dark art of power, where tributes became pawns and suffering was blend into the very fabric of the arena. Your ambitions had propelled you to the highest echelons of Capitol society, but the biggest cost had been the destruction of the humanity that once defined you.

Determined, you made your way to the meeting room, eager to introduce Coriolanus to your plan for the 23rd Hunger Games.

He was already there, wearing an expression that mixed curiosity with apprehension. You greeted him with a cool nod, fully aware of how your interactions had grown more formal over the years.

“Coryo,” you began, saying the familiar diminutive you'd used back at the Academy. The warmth of that old friendship may have cooled, but the nickname had grown in you, a habit you couldn't shake when you were alone with him. “I've prepared something truly phenomenal for this year's Games. Something that will cause goosebumps on the skin of every viewer, let alone the tributes in the arena,” you said, locking your gaze with your old friend with a mysterious smirk on your lips.

In response, Coriolanus leaned in with growing curiosity. “Please, continue,” he urged, which only caused a wider smile on your face.

You gestured toward a holographic projection on the wall, revealing a sinister, genetically created creature. Its elongated limbs, razor-sharp claws, and grotesque, misshapen features created a nightmarish creation.

“This,” you declared, “is the Umbra Noctis. It's a creature designed to terrify and torture the tributes in ways they could never have imagined. With its ability to blend into the shadows, it will stalk them relentlessly, striking fear into their hearts.”

Coriolanus observed the creature, a mixture of fascination and consternation in his eyes, narrowing the gap between you. “But how does it differ from the mutts we've used before?”

You leaned in, your voice dropping to a chilling whisper. “It carries a venom that induces hallucinations, distorting reality for its victims. The terror it inflicts will be as much psychological as it is physical.”

As you detailed your plan, the room seemed to grow colder, and the weight of your shared darkness pressed on Coriolanus. You described the various mutants and horrors destined for the arena, all designed to heighten the tributes' fear and despair.

“I want the 23rd Hunger Games to be remembered as the most nightmarish ever,” you declared. “A spectacle that reveals the true depths of human darkness, concealed behind the Capitol's glittering facade.”

As the weight of your words settled in the room, Coriolanus’ initial curiosity gave way to a growing skepticism. He couldn't help but question the depths of darkness you were willing to immerse.

“Isn't this,” Coriolanus began, his voice cautious, “perhaps too much, even for the Hunger Games? We want to entertain, to captivate the audience, not to... terrify to the point of despair.”

You turned to him, your gaze firm, and for a moment, the professional mask slipped, revealing the abyss beneath. “Coryo, don't you see? The Capitol's fascination with the Games is not just about entertainment. It's about the harsh reality that we, as a society, have become as ruthless and depraved as the Games themselves. We are a reflection of the horrors we create.”

Coriolanus eyed you, his features a blend of recognition and disquiet. Your words had hit the spot, reminding him that he, too, played a role in Panem's transformation as its president.

You continued, your voice now nearly a whisper, “The darkness, Coryo, is not just within the arena but within us. The Games merely show what has always been there. It's a reflection of who we've become, and it's time we faced that truth.”

For a brief moment, Coriolanus seemed to confront his own rottenness, an unsettling truth that had long been concealed in the shadows of his conscience and the room fell silent.

With measured steps, you circled around Coriolanus, stopping in front of him. You met his calm gaze, finding in it the shadow of chaos, reflecting his soul.

Your eyes wandered over his attire, and with a calculated, gentle touch, you adjusted the rose on his chest before gracing him with a faint smile.

“Look at you,” you began, taking a step back, creating a clear distance between you. “Remember when you used to fear Dr. Gaul? And now, what have you become?” your next question followed swiftly, with no pause for his response.

“You're the man who sends innocent kids to their deaths every year, a cruel reminder to the districts of who hold the power, who is in control. And I? I'm just one of the instruments in your hands.”

Your words hung in the air, and as Coriolanus opened his mouth to respond, you silenced him with an unspoken urgency. “You might tell yourself that you can sleep soundly, shifting the responsibility onto me and my team, washing your hands clean of the blood. But deep down, you know it's a lie, don't you?”

Coriolanus met your gaze, a blend of defiance and self-denial in his eyes. He had always been skilled at pushing the truth aside, shielding himself from the reality he had become.

“You're mistaken,” he finally said, his voice tensed. “I have a duty to maintain order, to ensure the Capitol's dominance. The Games are a means to an end, a necessary evil.”

Your expression remained unwavering as you countered, “But do you truly believe that, Coryo? Do you truly believe it's as simple as maintaining order? The depths of cruelty we've reached, the horrors we've unleashed, they go beyond mere necessity.”

He opened his mouth to respond, to argue his case further, but a hint of doubt flickered in his eyes, betraying the internal struggle within. The truth you had spoken, the darkness he had tried to repress, clawed at the edges of his conscience.

“That's what I thought,” you said with a note of satisfaction in your eyes, and resumed presenting your plan as if nothing had happened, not paying attention to Coriolanus' confusion. However, the shift in the room's atmosphere was palpable, and the unspoken tension lingered.

[mysteryshoptls]

Rollo Flamme Common Lines

Level Up 1: I'm sure an ordinary mage would be pleased by this.

Level Up 2: For you to grant me such power... How fascinating.

Level Up 3: Are you sure? You may come to regret this decision eventually.

Level Max: Does it not seem ironic for someone like me, who has no magical aspirations, to have achieved such mastery as a mage?

Vignette Level Up: How difficult it is for you here. It must be a challenge indeed to reside in this academy populated by such malefactors... If you should require any counsel, I would be willing to lend an ear.

Spell Level Up: One must have a thorough understanding of magic so as to not become addicted to its power.

Friendship Level Up: I have no recollection of ever accepting such gracious hospitality... How dubious. You would do well to tell me honestly of whatever nefarious plans you may have. What, you have none? ...If that is true, then this is even more troublesome.

Friendship Level Max: I cannot help but pity you for residing in a place such as this while unable to use magic. If you find you cannot suffer these wicked mages, you should come to me. I shall gladly lambast them.

Uncapped: This feels good... I am ashamed of myself for feeling that way.

Groovification: Just watch. I shall continue to devote myself to my studies to be just as virtuous and pure as the Righteous Judge.

Lesson Select 1: Hmph, this is fine. I shall showcase my abilities so as to not bring shame to the Noble Bell College name.

Lesson Select 2: These are the courses available at the renowned Night Raven College, so surely they must be educational, yes?

Lesson Select 3: I cannot help but wonder if I will learn anything worthwhile while visiting another school...

Lesson Start: I shall do my best.

Lesson Finish: Hmhm, that was a rewarding lesson.

Battle Start: The inferno will consume you!

Battle Won: I have unfinished business to attend to.

Requested by @poorunfortunatesimp.

[belladonnadawn]

Before you/After you

"I love you, it's ruining my life." As the future heir of Serulla, you have your mind set and path in order. But everything changed once you met him– Zaros. (What happened eight years ago) Zaros Kymen Atha'lin x Reader

Everything is set in place ever since you were born. The road that you're taking was taken before, the thought comforts other– but it cages you. Every moment and every step you take was for Serulla— they hold your present while you hold their future.

For you, the small talks are for formalities, the conversations are for information, and connections are for upper hand. You'd often glance at the ladies, with how they easily converse with one another. You'd quietly observe viscounts laugh with each other.

You would be lying if you said that you didn't want to find a connection like that. A conversation with no intent, a friendship without negotiations. You tried in the past, but to no avail. No one seems to scratch the surface, no one seem to try.

Academy seems to aid with your loneliness. The more work and tasks they gave, the less you have to ponder about whatever thought your mind can conjure. For a moment, it did not matter that you're the heir to the throne, nor you're alone.

You quickly adjusted to the academy, it helped that some of the topics and subjects interests you. Even if you're having a hard time with other subjects, you have mentors to guide you through. The life was monotonous, but somehow, you found comfort in that.

The cafeteria is bustling with students packed with their snacks and stories. Sounds of metal and glasses along with conversations and laughters filled the area. You wished that those noise would visit you often, but that is almost impossible.

"Is this seat occupied?" A blonde young man asked, tearing your attention away from your food. As you looked up at him, his eyes widened, recognizing you. There was the familiar look in his eyes, one that you're almost used to seeing in other people's faces.

"I apologize, I did not—"

"Please seat, it's alright," You quickly spoke. It was strange, but a part of you wants him to stay.

He sat down, a flicker of intimidation in his gestures. He was careful, as if waiting for judgement. You wanted to roll your eyes at how tense he is— it was almost ridiculous.

"What's your name?"

He looked at you, clearly taken aback by your question, "My name is Zaros, your grace. Zaros Kymen Atha'lin."

"Zaros, nice to meet you."

You held your hand out and to your relief, he accepted.

Somehow, life in the academy became bearable. The monotonous mundane life that you usually led became tolerable. Awkward lunches and small talk became comfortable silence as you continued to spend time with each other. It also helped that you share some classes with him.

The more you spend time with Zaros, the more you know him. Zaros is filled with dreams and aspirations. You can't help but admire his outlook in life. He was a breath of fresh air and it felt like you finally found what you were looking for.

"Once I finish studying, I'll make sure to apply what I learned in my community. Giving back what I can is the least I can do for the people who I grew up with," His eyes filled with hope and aspirations– almost as if he can grasp the dream that he longs for.

Your heart warmed at the sight knowing that he's few steps away from achieving what his heart wants.

"What about you?" Zaros stopped his steps, tilting his head as he tried to examine you.

"My dream is to lead Serulla with honor and integrity. I want to continue its legacy" You answered, dictating the same words ingrained in your brain ever since you were a child.

Zaros only tiled his head at the answer. "But what about your dream?"

You looked at him with surprise as he asked the question once more. This time, you knew what he meant.

"I want to see the world myself." The words flow freely from your mouth as you let your guard down to him for a bit.

Zaros held your hand, giving it a gentle caress, "What's stopping you?"

Serulla is a wonderful nation; the more you explored it the more you loved the place and the people. You can't help but thank Zaros for his guidance. He showed you places you haven't seen before, leading you to paths that you never thought you'd traverse.

You seized your free time with him, often advancing your studies and sneaking past the guards so you can explore the kingdom more. Both of you knew those moments were limited, but you made sure that it was worth it. You and Zaros became inseparable and you wouldn't have it the other way.

"Just close your eyes. Do not peek," Zaros continued to guide your steps as his hand covers your vision.

"Oh, please. If this is one of your tricks, I'm punching you," You chuckled, anticipation building up at his said surprise.

"It's none of that. You can trust me."

Zaros halted his steps and so did you as you finally arrived to your destination.

"I present you the most beautiful view in Serulla." As he removed his hand, your eyes finally adjusted to the view.

What welcomed you is a beautiful landscape showcasing the city. The view from here was high enough to make everything seem small and distant. Cold breeze gently touched your skin; as you inhale, you feel yourself floating– soaring the skies.

You glanced at the man beside you. His soft gaze made your heart beat faster, but you didn't mind. A soft smile plastered in your face made his smile widen.

Then you felt it: the warm feeling in your chest, the heat in your cheeks, and the security that you never felt around anyone but him.

Zaros placed his arm around your shoulder, "Did you like it?"

You leaned to his touch, not minding the physical contact. With a smile, you answered, "I love it."

People are intrusive and curious. You understood that it will never change, but it still irritated you.

Once people got caught wind of you and Zaros, rumors began to spread. Some are almost harmless, but most of them are ridiculous. Whenever you hear it, you can't help but roll your eyes. It did bothered you at first, but you learned how to pay no mind.

After the exam, unwinding is something that you looked forward to; the park was the perfect place for that. A soft sigh of relief escaped your lips as you felt the grass beneath you. Being confined in the halls made you appreciate the nature. You finally found a way to break free from things that was weighing you down.

Your eyes wandered at the lush surroundings: the fresh flowers, the beautiful butterflies, and the clear blue sky.

As you looked around, you felt as if you're being observed. To your disappointment, you saw a group from the academy, whispering to each other, giving you not-so-sublte glances. You tried to ignore them, but you found more and more people looking at you like a spectacle– exchanging words as if dissecting you right then and there.

Taking a deep breath, you focused in your surroundings once more, ignoring the feeling of their suffocating scrutiny. You are a public figure, get used to it. The words repeat in your head like a mantra, but it didn't help. Your clothes felt tighter, your heart beats faster, and everything around you feels smaller and sma—

"Ignore them," His voice seems to pull you awaw from your thoughts that you almost drowned you. As you gazed at him, the weighing feeling in your chest gradually fades.

"I know a spot," Zaros smiled, holding his hand out and you happily took it.

That moment, you knew that he knew you in a way that no one would.

"The academy seems to treat you well," Your mother spoke with a soft smile, carrying a hint of pride in her voice. Her presence always soothes you. She always carries this grace and elegance in her actions and words; it was those traits that made you admire her as a leader and a mother.

You nod, a small smile visible on your face as you recallled your life in the academy and with Zaros. Back then, it was the topic that you dreaded to talk about, but now it felt like a distant past.

"I'm seeing a new side of you. It makes me wonder if you're ready to take after me," She spoke with a hint of joke, her gentle hand tapped against your cheek. For a moment you did not see Queen Roena— you saw a mother gently scolding her child.

A chuckle escaped your lips, "I still have a long way to go, Mother. My studies are well taken care of and I am not falling behind," You spoke, trying to appease her.

"I understand, my dear. Your little tardiness and unruly behavior is just bothering me," A small sigh escaped her mouth. "Few years from now, you will hopefully rule Serulla. I expect responsibility and strong sense of duty."

"Mother, I was just having fun with a friend. I assure you my studies are still my priority," You insisted like a petulant child.

She held your hand, giving it a gentle squeeze as she looked at you, "I know, dear. As a mother, I advise you to be wise and careful. Trust is a gift not quickly given. Some people have different intentions."

You felt a cold coil in your stomach, not liking the direction where she was headed. It felt as if you knew what it was about— who it was about.

"Zaros, that is his name, right?"

You nodded, you wanted to open your mouth to defend him, but your mother immediately spoke.

"I apologize for intrusion. I know that you're growing up and being your own self, but I cannot help but worry about your current behavior and the rumors circulating around you and that man. Threats and dangers are everywhere, you have to be wary. Sometimes you need to listen to others, maybe they're seeing another perspective that you're blinded by."

A feeling of dread and hurt filled you at her implications. You're in another predicament once again, choosing between yourself and Serulla.

"Please, I speak to you as your mother. I cannot take another heartbreak, I cannot lose you," She caressed your cheek, her eyes filled with hurt as she recalled the distant past.

"Of course, mother. I will choose what is wise for us and Serulla." You spoke, cursing yourself as the words escaped your lips.

If you were able to condese the rumors that circulated, it will only boil you down to one thing:

The heir is a gullible fool, led astray by a traitor.

The future heir of Serulla is either a genuine dunce or seemingly a dunce. It was an insult to the ruler to raise someone as ignorant as you. You can't help but believe it. After all there's a thin line between losing your inhibitions and losing yourself.

You spent your days pondering about the rumors, considering your mothers words. Maybe they are right, maybe they saw something that you didn't. Gathering your resolve, you decided to face the possible truth. You have been led astray by him, it was now time to get your life back.

"Why did you befriend me?"

Zaros chuckled out of bewilderment, "That's a strange question."

"Just answer it," Your gaze sharp, catching him off guard. You saw him falter at your firm voice, leaving no room for friendly banter.

"Because I thought that we can be friends," Zaros spoke carefully, looking at you in the eyes, trying to figure you out. He could feel the tension filling the air– gone was the comfortable silence.

"Is that all?"

"You're asking as if you want to hear a specific answer."

"And if I do? Because it's strange how a person like you could take a liking in having a connection with me? Unless…" You glanced at him from head to toe.

"Unless what? Say it," His eyes daring, not leaving your gaze as he braced himself.

"Unless you're after something more valuable than friendship. Even others can see that."

Zaros' eyes widened, scoffing at your accusations, "Is that how think it is? After all the times you spent with me, you decided to believe them? That's preposterous." He let out a bitter chuckle.

"I am just considering their opinions. You can't blame me for being careful, especially with how desperate people can be," Your words venomous as you spoke.

"I may be 'desperate', but at least I am not a pathetic being whose worth is attached to a throne destined for them."

"Well, at least I am not desperate enough to intrude in someone's life!"

His jaw tenses as he clenched his fists, all the hint of the previous connection and bond gone in his face. "Maybe they were right. Maybe you're truly a fool. And if I am being honest, Serulla is doomed to fail under your guidanc—"

Silence filled the room after the loud sound of your palm making a hard contact in his cheek.

“You are a disgusting leech who won my trust, only to break me after. Knowing you is my greatest regret, I never want to see your face again.”

Before he could respond, you immediately left the scene.

As you walked down the hall, your chest felt tight and your mouth felt dry. You tried to ignore the stinging in your eyes, but before you can prevent it tears starts to well up.

You knew that there's no coming back after the words that you exchanged with each other. The bridge was burnt, you made your choice. Whether you'll truly regret what occured, you have yet to know.

Divider: Cafekitsune

[mrs5sn0w]

Serenade of Shadows

I : A Dance of Shadows -> II : Whisper of Deceit -> III : A Symphony of Heartbreak -> IV : Fractured Reflections -> V : Shadows of Allegiance-> VI : Echoes of Decent

Series Masterlist

Young!Coriolanus Snow x Fem!reader

warnings: Arranged marriage, MILD ANGST, unrequited love, friends to enemies, enemies to lovers

Reader's surname : Flare

Time frame: Before, during and after tbosbas

Synopsis : In the events of Panem's political dynamics and the 10th annual Hunger Games, Coriolanus Snow and her find themselves entwined. Standing at the brink of an enforced union, 6 years later, their mutual trust unravels amidst a damaging misinterpretation, prompting Coriolanus to believe the wrong. As the glacial barriers guarding his emotions begin to melt, a revelation of profound feelings unfolds, initiating a sprint against time for redemption.

The Academy bore witness a friendship that would echo through the corridors of time. In the their youth, Coriolanus Snow and her forged bonds that transcended the boundaries of academic pursuits.

Their journey through the Academy was a dance of shared laughter, intellectual banter, and the unspoken friendship that defined their connection. She was a vibrant force of creativity, and Coriolanus Snow was no different.

"Coryo, have you ever wondered what lies beyond these walls? The world beyond our textbooks and exams?"

Snow, his eyes focused on the distant horizon, considered the question.

"The future is a realm of uncertainties, Flare. I prefer to focus on the present."

She persisted, her enthusiasm undiminished. "But what if we could shape our own destinies? Break free from the expectations of the Capitol?"

He regarded her, a hint of curiosity in his gaze. "Our paths are preordained but the Capitol is our life."

Their classes became a sanctuary of shared aspirations and mutual understanding.

As the sun dipped below the Capitol skyline, casting a warm glow across the Academy courtyard, she broached the unspoken realm of their connection.

"do you ever think about us? beyond the expectations placed upon us?"

Snow, caught off guard, allowed a rare smile to grace his stoic features.

"What do you mean ?"

"Forget what I said, the reaping day is coming, do you think they'll announce who's gonna get the Plinth Prize ?"

She knew it must be him who gets the prize. She knew he needed it more than she does.

In those fleeting moments, beneath the shadows of the Academy's pillars, a subtle dance of emotions unfolded.

His face sparked a smile, hoping that it would be himself who got the prize,after all, he wouldn't want his hard work to go into waste.

"I hope so..." he let out a long breath while looking at the smiling girl in her red uniform

Unbeknownst to him, she harbored a sentiment deeper than friendship, a quiet flame that flickered in the recesses of her heart.

Reaping day approached with a sense of urgency, the anticipation hung in the air, threading through the classrooms like an unspoken undercurrent.

One evening, in the dim glow of the Academy library, she dared to tread the delicate ground of vulnerability.

"I would really fail any exam just so you can get the prize, Coryo."

He met her gaze,

"Why would you do that ?"

She gently grabbed his hands

"you're the one who has every reason in this world to get it more than anyone, you're Coriolanus Snow, look at how far we've come, you're gonna be someone amazing in Panem."

His heart stopped beating, confused at how she was reacting. No one believes in him like she did. No one had faith in him like she did.

A gentle smile was plastered across his face,

"you're gonna be an amazing woman as well. Panem is going to look at you one day and be grateful that you are born into this world."

Their final days were a montage of shared dreams and sidelong glances, the unspoken understanding between them growing into something deeper.

Yet, in the delicate dance of emotions, Corio remained oblivious to the blossoming romance that she harbored.

The Reaping Day arrived, casting a pall over the top 24 students of the Academy. She wore a stunning nude colored corset dress, that embraced her curves, featuring sleeves that gracefully hug her arms. The dress emphasized her collarbones, adding an elegant touch. Her hairstyle complements the look with soft waves cascading down her shoulders, framing her face and enhancing the overall sophistication of the ensemble.

Coryo and her sat side by side, hearing the announcement from Dean Highbottom of the obligatory mentorship to the tributes. They sat as names intertwined in the cruel lottery of tributes.

A silent understanding passed between them, a shared acknowledgment of the dangerous journey that awaited. They did not know what they were getting into.

"District 8, boy, y/n Flare"

Her eyes looked over the screen of a boy named Bobbins, hope glimmered across her eyes, only wishing the best for her tribute.

"District 12, girl goes to Coriolanus Snow"

As Lucy Gray Baird is called forth as a tribute during the reaping day, her demeanor contrasts the somber atmosphere. She wore a dress that catches the light, its colors reminiscent of the wild.

Despite the gravity of the moment, the district 12 female tribute's gaze holds a spark of defiance, and her posture exudes a quiet strength. The curls of her hair cascade down, a vivid contrast against the muted tones of the crowd. In that pivotal moment, Flare knew that Lucy Gray stands as a symbol of resilience and individuality.

Snow and Flare locked eyes,

they were saying good luck internally to each other.

Snow and her were determined to make a winner out of their tributes.

She was impressed with how Bobbin managed to captivate the audience by explaining five different ways to kill someone with a sewing needle.

Then, when she was asleep during the night of Day one, unbeknownst to her, Snow had left the academy to the arena on a mission to get his friend Sejanus out.

Coriolanus Snow experiences a tumult of conflicting emotions when he killed Bobbin, Flare's tribute.

The act weighs heavily on him, and a sense of remorse and unease lingers.

Coryo grapples with the harsh reality of the Games and the choices it forces upon him, questioning the morality of his actions. The incident leaves an ineradicable mark on his conscience, he decides never to let this be known.

Especially her.

Her eyes widened, a sudden jolt coursing through her body as fact that her tribute died sank in. Her breath caught, a sharp inhale betraying the shock that gripped her. The world felt suspended, and disbelief etched itself across her face, a mask of astonishment and heart-wrenching realization.

There was no recording of her tribute dying, which is impossible. Bobbin could have not died suddenly.

Someone must've killed him.

Her brows furrowed, caught in the turbulent mixture of emotion. Confusion knit lines across her forehead as she struggled to make sense of the unfolding situation.

Then anger simmered beneath the surface, her eyes flashing with an intensity fueled by frustration and disbelief. It was a storm of conflicting feelings, each wave crashing into the next, leaving her torn between the chaos of confusion and the fiery surge of anger.

The air around her crackled with unresolved emotions, a volatile blend that painted her expression with a mix of perplexity and a smoldering indignation.

She eyed the boy who she had feelings for,

"It's not fair, there's no record of anyone killing him, the broadcast must've been frozen or someone must've sabotaged him" she insisted

With a remorseful gaze, he uttered, "I'm sorry, Flare," his apologetic words weaving through the air, a confession concealed as she remained oblivious to the intricacies of his furtive actions.

Her heavy steps lead her outside the room, a storm of anger in her eyes and a resolute determination fueling every step, driven by a resolute need to unravel the mysteries of what actually happened.

___

"I need to know the truth" She whispered in a hushed tones, slipping a bundle of cash to the shadowy figure.

As she gazed over the surveillance camera, a tidal wave of emotions crashed through her, leaving devastation in its wake.

Sejanus and Coryo running for their lives as Bobbin chased after them. She then witnessed the gruesome murder of her tribute and mentee. The betrayal cut deep, an unseen dagger thrust into the core of her trust. Shock mingled with disbelief, and a profound ache settled in her chest.

The echoes of their shared moments, the laughter, and camaraderie, now tainted by the stain of his actions, echoed through her mind.

Anguish painted her features, and the realization of his betrayal felt like the shattering of something precious. In that moment, innocence crumbled, replaced by a raw, searing pain that marked the end of the girl who once believed in him.

She whispered, "Coriolanus Snow, how could you?"

The elusive figure responded, "Truth has its own price, my dear."

Faced with an intricate choice, even in betrayal, she sought salvation for Coriolanus,

'Protect him, even if it means sacrificing Sejanus.' she said to herself.

The web of deceit tightened, capturing Coryo in the damning revelation despite her desperate gambit to shift the blame to Sejanus.

The clacking sounds of her heels sounded through the hallway as she made her way to Dean Casca Highbottom.

"I have something to report, Mr Highbottom."

As she began unraveling the narrative, detailing Sejanus's involvement, a chilling revelation interrupted her desperate plea.

"You do know that your dear Coriolanus has been involved in cheating." Shock seized her as the revelation unfolded – Coriolanus Snow, the very person she sought to protect, exposed for his deceit.

The weight of betrayal and the magnitude of his cunning unfolded before her eyes. In that moment, she stood frozen, grappling with the stark truth that shattered the illusions she held.

What more did he do ? Who is he becoming ? This isn't the Coryo she knew.

Dean disclosed Snow's cheating endeavors, providing Lucy Gray with a compact powder with rat poison and a handkerchief bearing his father's emblem.

Her efforts to shield Coriolanus crumbled in the face of Snow's deceit.

"You did this because you knew he killed your dear tribute ? Poor little girl, how stupid"

"How did you-"

"Oh I know dear, I know..."

Dean's stern words echoed the futility of her attempts to protect someone who had betrayed not only her trust but the very essence of the Games' integrity.

Then came the turning point, a twist of fate that would cast a long shadow over their friendship.

Dean's voice cut through the tense air like a blade.

___

"What about Lucy Gray ?" Snow worriedly asked

"I would be worried about your own future if I were you" Dean spoke

"Miss Flare, your dear friend, has been quite forthcoming about your involvement."

Snow, unaware of the orchestrated trap, felt the ground beneath him tremble.

"Flare?" he questioned, the word heavy with disbelief.

Dean nodded, his expression a mask of stern authority. His accusatory gaze bore into Snow as he spoke with calculated precision.

"Miss Flare has disclosed your attempt to cheat in the Hunger Games. She provided detailed accounts of your covert actions, betraying not only the trust of your fellow tributes but also the integrity of the Games."

Snow's eyes widened in disbelief, a storm of emotions churning within him. "Flare? She told you about this?"

Dean nodded, maintaining an air of authority. "Yes, Snow. She confessed, hoping to shield you, but the truth has an uncanny way of surfacing."

"Also, she was feeling rather....furious that you killed her tribute"

The revelation left Snow grappling with a profound sense of betrayal, as Flare's desperate gambit to protect him morphed into an unexpected accusation that threatened to shatter his carefully constructed world.

The revelation hung in the air, a sinister turn of events that spun a narrative of betrayal. The trap tightened, ensnaring Snow in a web of deceit orchestrated by the very person he trusted.

Accusations of betrayal surfaced, linking her to covert strategies that backfired in the arena. The Capitol, always hungry for drama, reveled in the narrative of treachery.

Betrayal, however, was a phantom that haunted the shadows of truth. Snow, consumed by the bitterness of perceived betrayal, severed ties with her.

The friendship that weathered the storms of academia crumbled, leaving behind the echoes of what could have been.

Emotions surged through Snow like a tumultuous tide, his initial disbelief morphing into an overwhelming sense of anger.

The disclosure of Flare's admission, initially perceived as a protective act, now felt like an unexpected betrayal.

Dean's words, delivered with meticulous precision, only added fuel to Snow's rising fury. The burden of betrayal pressed heavily on him, as the realization dawned that Flare, in her attempt to shield him, had unintentionally entangled him in her admission.

Snow's eyes glowed with resentment, and an intense anger gripped him, a blazing fire stoked by the unforeseen turn of events, jeopardizing not only his standing but the very core of everything.

---Present Day----

Stuck in the present, their eyes mirroring the weight of untold histories. The grandeur of their wedding day was now tainted by the lingering shadows of a friendship lost.

In the quiet of their shared existence, as the Capitol reveled in the celebration of their union, the dance through time echoed with the poignant melodies of what once was. Snow, bound by duty, and she, she trapped in a loveless union, were left to navigate the intricate steps of a dance that transcended the boundaries of past and present. The grand wedding, a tableau of splendor, concealed the intricate dance of hearts left in the shadows.

taglist : @randomgurl2326

[purrincess-chat]

Adrien Agreste's Road to Recovery Playlist CH1

Happy Christmas! You all voted, so here we go~ The sequel to Marinette Dupain-Cheng's Spite Playlist: Remix has begun.

Summary: The day Hawkmoth was unmasked was a day marked in Paris history as a celebration, a triumph, a victory, but for Adrien Agreste it was anything but. Left to grapple with his father's villainy and a yachtful of childhood trauma, Adrien finds himself spat back out into a world that no longer knows what to think of the face they once revered, and neither does he, for that matter. Who is Adrien Agreste? And what does he want? The answers lie at the end of a long road filled with painful memories, secrets, and of course, black cat ears.

Rating: T

Read on AO3

For those who don't like sodium chloride content and therefore, haven't read MDCSPR, I've provided a quick summary of MDCSPR that includes everything you will need to know going into this fic as it is a direct sequel, though this fic contains no sodium content and is entirely an exploration of Adrien's character amidst the fallout of learning the truth about his father. If that interests you, here is what you missed:

Quick summary of MDCSPR for those that never read it, but who want to read this:

After the events of Chameleon, Marinette changes schools because of Lila’s influence over her classmates and because she was almost akumatized. She enrolls at a private art academy full of incredibly rich and talented classmates. There she meets a new group of friends:

Macy Chanteur: a tall, perky, brown hair, brown eyed girl with the voice of an angel who has been recovering from an eating disorder. Modelled Marinette’s center-piece design in her summer fashion show. Former wielder of the rabbit Miraculous (Bunny). Dating Martin.

Eliott Chasse: a black trans boy with aspirations to be a famous actor. Starred as Chat Noir in a community play. Somewhat of a flirt. Bi panic incarnated. Former wielder of the fox Miraculous (Malin). Dating Lisette.

Martin Michel: a lanky brown hair, green eyed boy with glasses. Very smart and a skilled photographer, one of his photos was featured on the cover of Style Magazine (Audrey’s company) after Marinette’s fashion show. Shy bean. Former wielder of the turtle Miraculous (Emerald Shell). Dating Macy.

Gabrielle Burton: a tall red-head with green eyes. Formerly wealthy, formerly the school mean girl. Friends with Marinette. Former wielder of the tiger Miraculous (Tigress).

Lisette Auclair: tiny blonde girl with brown eyes. Makeup fanatic. Shy bean. Secretly savage. Pastel bitch. Just a tiny little fairy. Former wielder of the mouse Miraculous (Souris Rose). Dating Eliott.

During her time at her new school, Marinette helped her new friends change into more confident individuals who stand up for each other and others. She even helped a few of them find the courage to confess their feelings to one another. Shortly after she transferred, she and Alya’s friendship fell apart after Alya was akumatized. Alya spent the rest of the story trying to figure out what went wrong and who to trust.

After Marinette transferred, Adrien began visiting her to check in and keep in touch. He often relayed Lila’s influence over their classmates. Chloe tried to enlist Marinette’s help in taking Lila down (because she’s stealing all the attention away from her), but Marinette refused. After Lila taunted Adrien about Marinette, he joined forces with Chloe to attempt to out her as a liar, but the two were unsuccessful.

Adrien realized that he cares deeply for Marinette, and eventually the two started dating. The rest of the class remained torn on who to believe in the Lila vs Marinette debate. However, when Lila accused Marinette of pushing her down the stairs on a school field trip to the Louvre, most of her classmates turned back to Lila’s side, prompting Marinette to join forces with Adrien and Chloe to take her down. They devised a plan to make Marinette famous by pitching a fashion line to Chloe’s mother who helped Marinette start her brand by hosting a fashion show.

After the show’s success, Marinette’s brand took off, and she was propelled into stardom that she and her friends used to perform a lot of charity work, but more specifically, they performed all of the acts Lila claimed to have done, thus rooting her lies out from underneath. When Alya caught wind of all of their accomplishments and realized Lila lied, she outed her in an Instagram live, thus bringing her down once and for all.

On the same night as Alya’s Instagram live, Ladybug and friends finally defeated Hawkmoth, a revelation that rocked Adrien to the core. He spent several months in a hospital wrestling with mental demons inflicted from his abusive childhood. Around the end of November/beginning of December, he left the hospital only to find that his mother had succumbed to her illness and passed away. He attended her burial alone, then returned to his old home to retrieve a few items before it is set to be demolished and turned into a new foundation for akuma victims to help heal their trauma. (funded by Marinette). He parted ways with Nathalie and left to meet Marinette at the train station where they both gave their Miraculouses back to Master Fu who headed to London to finally be with Marianne. After their goodbyes, they returned to Marinette’s home where her parents set up a spare room for Adrien to stay with them.

(Epilogue) Several years later, he and Marinette return to Paris from NY where they both live while Marinette is in school and training under Audrey Bourgeois. Adrien visits his father in prison for the first and last time to tell him how happy he has become when not under his control. He and Marinette enjoy tea with friends, and after they leave, Adrien brings her to the Trocadero to the exact spot he was standing when he fell in love with her as Chat Noir all those years ago. He asks her to marry him, and she says yes.

This story takes place between the events of Adrien moving in with the Dupain-Cheng’s and the epilogue. Specifically, it begins the very same night that MDCSPR ended on. The Adrien and Marinette of this story are not canon’s Adrien and Marinette as they have already been through the events of MDCSPR. In particular, this Marinette is now a famous fashion designer, and Adrien is essentially a traumatized orphan trying to find where he fits in in the world. This story follows his road to recovery with all of its ups and downs. Keep the epilogue in your thoughts as you read this. It will help XD Enjoy!

Without further adieu, here is Adrien Agreste's Road to Recovery Playlist CH1:

Chapter 1

♪♫ Easier to Run ♪♫

The soft brush of Marinette’s fingertips on the nape of his neck should have been relaxing, but Adrien was still on edge. It was a losing battle really. Laying against her chest on the couch, while she played with his hair, warm and safe. Last summer, Adrien would have considered it bliss and fallen right asleep, but he didn’t want to close his eyes, a fact that became increasingly frustrating the sleepier he felt. He could tell her to stop, but after 3 months apart, the last thing he wanted was to let go of her, even if the steady rise and fall of her chest only made his eyelids heavier.

A laugh track played from the sitcom on the living room TV Adrien had stopped watching, a heavy fog descending over him. His eyelids drooped, his vision clouding over. He took a sharp breath to wake himself up again, but the effect lasted less than a second. It had been a long day—leaving the mental hospital, saying goodbye to his mother, Nathalie, and Master Fu. Plus, M. and Mme. Dupain-Cheng cooked him a feast worthy of a king to celebrate his homecoming. He really shouldn’t have eaten that extra slice of cake. The sugar-high he’d been riding was about to run out, and he was crashing fast. He cursed himself when Marinette nuzzled closer, pressing a soft kiss to his temple, and his exhaustion took control.

The blackness was nice at first, but purple light filled his mind, flashes of deep grey eyes glaring up at him. His eyes flew open with a jolt, and he let out a sigh.

“You okay?” Marinette asked.

She was as perceptive as ever. It was one of the things he loved about her, but it made it hard to maintain the mask.

“I’m fine.” He assured her.

“Are you ready to go to bed?” She shifted to look him in the eye.

He smiled up at her and shook his head. “I don’t want to get up just yet. Let’s just stay like this a while longer, please?”

Marinette searched his expression, blue eyes filled with worry. She laid back down after a moment, seemingly appeased, and Adrien’s battle against his eyelids resumed. When he was in the hospital, he could pace in the privacy of his room or call in a nurse if his nerves became too much to bear, and although he knew the Dupain-Cheng’s would be supportive, he couldn’t bring himself to tell them about the nightmares. He was already burdening them enough.

A couple minutes passed—or maybe it was twenty—and Marinette clicked off the TV. Adrien sat up, stifling a yawn as Marinette stretched. His phone read midnight, the start of a new day. The second longest day of his life was officially over, but the sleep haze only brought with it flashes of things he’d rather not think about.

“We should go to bed,” Marinette said, her voice low and gravelly.

“Or we could stay up and play video games.” Adrien flashed her a grin, but she wasn’t biting.

“I’m exhausted, aren’t you?” She stood up.

“Oh, come on. It’s been months since you’ve kicked my butt. Just one round.” He took her hand, tugging her back to the couch, but she stood her ground.

“I’ll kick your butt tomorrow,” she said around a yawn. She stooped to give him a quick kiss, smoothing her thumb over his lips. “Good night.”

Adrien sighed as she headed for the stairs, jumping up to chase after her. “Wait, give me a real kiss good night.”

She paused on the bottom step with a moan, and Adrien flashed her a pleading look. A coy smile curled on her lips as she wrapped her arms around his shoulders. He pulled her in, kissing her long and deep, but as his lips parted to invite his tongue into the equation, she pulled back with a giggle.

“I love you so much, but I’m way too tired for that. I’m falling asleep on my feet,” she said. 

“Five more minutes.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I’ve missed you.”

With a relenting sigh, she leaned in again, running her fingers through his hair. He held her close, memorizing how her body felt against his. It wasn’t completely deceptive. He had missed her, achingly so, but her pity only lasted another minute.

“Go to bed, minou.” She squished his cheeks together. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Oh, come on. We used to stay up later than this talking on the phone.” He teased. “You’ve gotten soft.”

“Bold talk coming from M. Bloodshot-Eyebags.” Marinette cocked a hip. “Why do you want to stay up so bad? Do you not like your room?”

“No!” He insisted. “No, it’s perfect. I just… You’re right. It’s late. We should go to bed.”

Marinette quirked a brow, so he leaned in to kiss her.

“Good night, mon ange.” He flashed her a smile that faded the moment she turned around and headed up the stairs.

Rubbing his hands on his soft pajama pants, he stared down the dark void at the bottom of the stairs that led to his room. Stony eyes flashed in the abyss, and Adrien averted his gaze with a huff. Squeezing his eyes shut, he mentally sifted the image from his brain. He couldn’t stay awake forever. Shaking himself to relieve the tension in his shoulders, he made his way down the stairs, making a pit stop to the bathroom, but he could only scrub his teeth for so long before he ran out of toothpaste on the brush.

Reluctantly, he found his way into his room, but unable to bring himself to get in bed, he opted to pace instead. It got old quick—4 paces from the door to the wall, 5 paces length-wise. For the first time, he missed the massive room of his childhood. He could pace for hours there. With a defeated grunt, he flopped onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling. The bed was comfortable, and although his muscles were screaming to melt into its embrace, he couldn’t give in.

The old building creaked, and the thin walls did little to drown out M. Dupain-Cheng’s snoring. Adrien drummed his fingers on his chest, curling and uncurling his toes before jumping up and resuming his pacing. 4 paces across, 5 paces deep. 4 across, 5 deep. The walls were too close. Adrien swore they got closer with each lap, and the air in the room seemed almost too thick to breathe. He needed to get out.

Stepping with the balls of his feet, he quietly crept back upstairs to the living room. He took deep breaths, running his hands down his thighs, and paused at the base of the stairs leading to Marinette’s room. M. and Mme. Dupain-Cheng would be upset if they caught him up there, and the last thing he wanted was to make them think he was taking advantage of their hospitality. But he just needed to be near someone.

Just one more kiss good night. That was all he needed. A hug and a kiss… a really, really long hug.

His feet found each step with haste, but when his hand curled around the trap door handle, they locked into place on the final steps. Hands clenched tightly and feet glued to the stairs, Adrien stood frozen like a statue in a museum. His breath hitched, a trembling hand shooting up to catch it. His shoulders shook, and for a moment, he worried he might be sick. Creeping back down the stairs as quietly as he could, he scrambled for the kitchen sink, breaths rapid and shallow. He flicked on the faucet in anticipation, but the sensation passed after a few moments. He sat up, turning the water off, and ran his hands over his face.

It was selfish… He was being selfish, always running to Marinette with his problems. And she’d always do her best to fix them because that’s the kind of person she was—always looking out for those she loves. But he couldn’t expect her to fix everything. Even still, his restlessness showed no signs of ebbing. He needed fresh air to clear his head. Just for a minute.

He found a black Marinette branded hoodie in the closet in his room and pulled it on, then laced up his sneakers. Locking the front door behind him with the key M. Dupain-Cheng gave him earlier, he headed down the stairs and out into the night. The brisk cold almost sent him right back inside, but the air was so much clearer. He blew warm breath over his hands and rubbed them together. Summer was a distant memory in the mid-December frost.

Tucking his hands under his arms to keep them warm, he paced the sidewalk in front of the bakery, hoping the movement would warm his muscles. Just one minute, then he’d go back inside. A breeze blew past, cutting right through Adrien’s hoodie, and he ground his teeth together to keep them from chattering. He needed to move faster to stay warm. A quick run would do the trick, just around the block. Then he’d go back inside.

He picked up the pace, venturing down the pavement with increasing speed. The dreary streets were empty as Adrien ran, street parked cars that had long gone cold as their owners fled indoors. He ran past Francois-Dupont, flashes of his time there playing in his mind. He remembered his first day, how nervous and excited he’d been to meet people his age. To have a normal life. A life he’d still never quite managed… but he’d met Marinette there and Nino. And Plagg… The day Ivan was akumatized.

Adrien’s mind filled with gray, and he shook his head to clear it, pushing his legs to run faster as if he could put physical distance between him and the memory. He rounded the next corner and pressed on, cold air burning his lungs, but he couldn’t stop. Not when he passed Nino’s block or his old Chinese tutor’s house, not even when he passed the street corner he and Ladybug used to meet up at. The corner he and Marinette would meet at.

Marinette… Ladybug. His partner. His girlfriend. He wanted to see her, but it was too late. She’d be asleep by now, and he shouldn’t disturb her. Even if she’d understand and listen. Even if she’d hold him and comfort him. Even if she loved him. She’d always love him. So, why couldn’t he tell her he was struggling?

The rubber soles of his shoes skittered on a patch of ice, losing their traction, and Adrien hit the cold, hard pavement with a yelp. Pain shot up his leg as his knee collided with the concrete. He rolled onto his back, chest heaving with each breath as he stared up at the towering buildings blocking the night sky.

What was wrong with him? Why was normal so hard for him? Normal people were at home asleep at this hour, and Adrien Agreste was outside, lying in the middle of the sidewalk because he was too anxious to close his eyes. Everyone kept asking him how he was doing, and most days he told them he was getting better because that’s what they wanted to hear. But was he? Some days he felt like he was, but others… They all wanted him to be fine. He wanted to be fine. He coveted their normalcy, but it always hovered just above his grasp.

He wanted to go to school and make friends, but his father forbade him from seeing them most days while plastering his image on every billboard in town. He gained fans and wealth, while other kids played games at the park. He became a superhero with a double-life, fighting bad-guys between fencing lessons and modeling gigs. Other kids ate dinner with their families. He filmed movies that normal kids went to see, posed in clothing ads that normal people bought. His father spent the majority of Adrien’s life making sure he stood out from all the rest — making sure he’d never fit in. He became a supervillain that threatened the city, just to ensure Adrien would always be talked about. To ensure that he’d never be normal.

Everyone put him on a pedestal, but he’d trade everything to be the one looking up from the crowd. To not have to feel the way he felt. To be home in bed with pleasant dreams instead of lying haunted in the middle of the sidewalk, staring up at his ghosts in the rooftops.

He missed Plagg.

“Having trouble sleeping?”

Adrien shot up, blinking at the arms crossed in a bright pink coat. Clouds of steaming breath billowed from her mouth with each heave of her shoulders, cheeks flushed from the cold. Fuzzy pink pajamas were stuffed haphazardly into winter boots, and the blue eyes looking down at him were creased with concern.

When Adrien remained quiet, Marinette shifted her weight. “Me too.”

Adrien balled his hands into fists at his sides. “How did you find me?”

“I heard you downstairs, and I got worried. When I came out of my room, you were heading out the door, so I followed you. It’s a lot harder keeping up with you without superpowers, but I’m kind of an expert at following you.” She crouched beside him, brushing his hair out of his face as she cupped his cheek. “You okay?”

He leaned into her touch, a hot tear slicing down his cheek. He couldn’t tell if he was relieved or embarrassed to have been found out. Mostly, he just loved that she cared enough to chase after him. At the shake of his head, Marinette pulled him into her arms, and he locked his arms around her waist, his quiet sobs muffled by her thick coat. He savored her warmth, a shiver creeping up his spine.

“No one expects you to heal all at once, Adrien,” she murmured in his ear. “I will always be here for you, and so will Maman and Papa and all of our friends. We all love you, and we’ll be with you every step of the way through all of the good and the bad. You don’t have to run and hide.”

“I’m sorry.” His voice shook. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m-”

“It’s okay.” She squeezed him tighter. “I’ve got you. Always.”

Always.

Marinette pulled back, taking his hands in hers. “Come on, let’s go home. It’s freezing out.”

“Yeah…” Adrien let her help him to his feet, wincing against the pain in his knee. He did his best not to limp on the way back to the bakery, keeping a tight grip on her hand.

Marinette shook herself when they were back inside. “The good thing about living above a bakery is the brick ovens keep the building warm in the winter.”

“I’m partial to the lingering smell of fresh croissants,” he said.

“That’s another plus.” She flashed him a smile, and he felt one tugging at the corners of his own lips. “Come on, let’s get you in dry clothes.”

She toted him up to the apartment, only letting go of his hand when he needed to change, but her fingers trailed up his bare back as she helped him out of his shirt. He shivered, goose bumps dotting his skin while she helped him into fresh pajamas. Her hands were small and dainty, but they kept him grounded enough to crawl into bed. Marinette laid beside him on the edge, running her fingers through his hair. He really had missed her touch.

“Can I ask you something?” he asked.

“Anything,” she said.

“What are your nightmares about?”

She paused mid-stroke, her fingers warm on his scalp. Shifting to look him in the eye, she pursed her lips. “It’s always that same day. You’re there crying on the ground, but I can’t ever reach you. No matter how hard I try, you’re always just out of reach.”

“For me, it’s my father. The moment that purple light fades, and all I see are his eyes glaring up at me with hatred and anger. I see those eyes everywhere, like he’s still looming over me. It feels like I’ll never be free of him.” Adrien squeezed her hand.

“We’ve been through too much,” Marinette said. “But we survived. Miraculously.”

“Barely.” Adrien grunted. “Is it weird that I miss how things used to be? For the longest time, all I wanted was to defeat Hawkmoth with you. To ride off into the sunset when the day was saved. It sounds selfish, and maybe it is, but now, I wish things could go back to the way they were. Fighting by your side, both in and out of the mask. I’d never been happier.”

“I know what you mean.” Marinette resumed playing with his hair, and after his stint out in the cold, he was grateful for her warmth. “For the longest time, I always thought that Hawkmoth was our biggest enemy, and that once we defeated him, things would go back to normal. We could be happy and free, but everything has been way more complicated on the other side of things. Those days seem so simple now.”

“Nothing’s simple anymore.” He sighed. “Do you think it ever will be?”

“Mmm.” She hummed. “I hope so. I think you and I more than deserve it.”

“Yeah…” He stifled a yawn.

“You should get some sleep. It’s been a long day,” she said.

“Will you stay with me?” he asked.

Marinette leaned to kiss his forehead and laid her head beside his on the pillow. “Of course, chaton. I’m here.”

Reluctant, but too exhausted to fight it any longer, Adrien closed his eyes. His body ached from his fall, but the bed was soft and warm. The steady brush of Marinette’s fingertips on the back of his neck helped ease the tension in his muscles, and he finally drifted off to sleep.

His nightmare began as it always did, but instead of shying away from his father’s piercing gaze, Adrien reached for Ladybug’s hand. When he turned to face her, her mask vanished in a flash of pink light, and Marinette smiled back at him. He wrapped himself in her embrace while she stroked his hair, warm and safe.

“I’m here, kitty. I’ve got you. Always.”

[short-wooloo]

From Jediism to Judaism: Star Wars as Jewish Allegory, by Daniel Perez

A look at some of the Jewish elements – coincidental or otherwise – of Star Wars.

A long time ago in a place far, far away...

It is a period of civil war. A new government has declared the practice of the old faith a crime punishable by death, disbanding an ancient order of sages and sending many into exile. Rebel fighters, striking from a hidden base, have won their first major victory against the evil Empire, stirring a spirit of defiance among the populace. Outarmed and vastly outnumbered, the ragtag band of rebels – aided by an all-powerful, all-permeating Force that binds together all life in the universe – remain the only hope for restoring peace and freedom to their people.

It's one of the greatest epics known to mankind. No, not Star Wars. The above synopsis is actually the story of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish festival that commemorates a miraculous victory of Israelite insurgents against the tyrannical Seleucid Empire roughly 2,200 years ago.

With Star Wars Episode VII set to premiere in just a few short weeks, I got to thinking about how certain aspects of the Star Wars universe are eerily similar to the history, beliefs, and teachings of the Jews. Now George Lucas did not set out to create a fantasy universe full of Jewish references, but the connections are nevertheless there. So let's put the “Han” back in Hanukkah (Harrison Ford, by the way, technically a member of the tribe) and look at some of the Jewish elements – coincidental or otherwise – of Star Wars.

A Galaxy of Hebrew Names

The heroes of the Star Wars series are members of a “rebel alliance,” basically Maccabees in outer space. It's right there in the name: Jedi. The Hebrew letter yud is often anglicized as a “J,” and syllables occasionally get dropped in translation. Hence, a Biblical name like “Yehoshua” makes its way into English as “Joshua.” It's not much of a stretch to see how “Jedi” can be derived the original Hebrew word for Jew, “Yehudi.”

Remember Luke Skywalker's Jedi rebbe, Grand Master Yoda? Is it just me, or is his peculiar syntax reminiscent of someone whose first language is Yiddish (“Yodish”)? More to the point, his name sounds a lot like “yada,” the Hebrew word meaning “to know.”

And how about those Skywalkers? Luke Skywalker might sound like a gentile name, but that name was clearly chosen to alliterate with his twin sister Leia (Leah). Also keep in mind that their parents were an interfaith couple. The father, Anakin Skywalker, played by the unmistakably un-Jewish Hayden Christensen, tried to convert to Jediism, but as we know he ultimately turned to the Dark Side instead. Their mother was Queen Amidala, portrayed by the beautiful and talented Israeli-born actress Natalie Portman. Suffice it to say their marriage did not end well, and it wasn't until much later in life that their children discovered their Jedi-ish identity.

Learning Academy

When an aspiring Jedi Knight goes to the Academy, he or she must complete what is essentially an apprenticeship with one more learned in Jediism than they are. Similarly, a future rabbi's yeshiva experience will consist largely of chavruta learning (studying with a partner – lit. “friendship”). Fun fact: The name for a young, unmarried yeshiva student, “bochur,” actually means “chosen” (as in “The Chosen People”). The idea of a foretold “Chosen One” who would “restore balance to the Force” was a theme running throughout the Star Wars films, wherein Anakin Skywalker was recognized for his extraordinary potential as a Jedi. As mentioned above, he went “off the derech” and became the villainous Darth Vader. In Return of the Jedi, however, Vader/Skywalker fulfills the “prophecy” when he does teshuvah (our term for repentance, which literally means “return.” Whoa. Return of the Jedi!), thwarting Emperor Palpatine to save his son's life, and ultimately, the galaxy.

Of course, if you tell a young rabbi-in-training that he is the “Chosen One,” it sounds cool and dramatic and is technically true, but then, the same can be said of all of his classmates.

While the Star Wars films don't feature Jedi trainees delving into sacred texts (it doesn't make for the most exciting movie montage), some of the greatest rabbinic books of ethics and Jewish philosophy would be right at home in any Jedi library. “Duties of the Heart,” “The Path of the Just”....tell me these don't sound like the reading list for a hero of the Light Side.

The Force

While Jediism isn't a theistic religion per se, its practitioners do teach of a Force that, in the words of Reb Obi-Wan Kenobi "...is what gives a Jedi his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together." That almost sounds like some sort of Chasidic teaching – just replace “energy field” with “entity” or “consciousness,” and “created by,” with “that creates,” and what you have starts to come across less like new age hippie talk and more like an introduction to Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism.

One idea that devout Jews of all stripes share, is that God, the creative “Force” that sustains all, is the source of a Jew's power. “Ein od milvado,” there is none besides Him. The Jew expresses his or her connection to the universe by striving for an ever closer relationship with its Creator.

Another aspect of Jedi belief is the notion of balance, the idea that the Light Side and the Dark Side are both aspects of the same Force seeking equilibrium. The religions that branched off from Judaism tend to show the Creator and Satan, or “The Devil,” in an adversarial relationship, almost a sort of de facto dualistic theology with a God and an anti-God, if you will. Judaism maintains that the Satan (lit. “Accuser”) is the angel associated with temptation, and prosecution in the Heavenly Court. He's basically Slugworth to God's Willy Wonka. He's got a dirty job to do, but in the end, we're both serving the same Boss.

Judaism also teaches that the source of Light and Darkness are One and the same, as it says in the prayer book: “Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who forms light and creates darkness, Who makes peace and creates all things.” The source for this line of liturgy can be found in the Hebrew Bible, Isaiah 45:7: “Who forms light and creates darkness, Who makes peace and creates evil; I am the Lord, Who makes all these.”

Incidentally, one of the traditional names for God – invoked particularly by the Jewish mystics – is HaMakom, literally “The Place.” The deeper idea conveyed by this name is that the Creator does not exist within the universe; the universe exists within Him. It sounds a lot like The Force. The key conceptual difference between the fictitious all-uniting Force of Star Wars and the Shechinah or “Divine Presence” is that the former is impersonal and passive, the latter is an omnipotent consciousness that actively intervenes in human history, speaking with Prophets and working miracles until this very day.

So if you see the new Star Wars movie, directed by Jeffrey Jacob Abrams (who couldn't sound more Jewish if his name was Saul Cohen or Herschel Rosenblatt), perhaps you'll be able to seek out and appreciate the surprisingly Jewish flavor of the Star Wars universe.

Happy Hanukkah, and may the Force be with you!

[tawus]

African/African-American/Black

Do The Right Thing (1989) On the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.

Goodbye Solo (2008) This film is touching and humorous. It is the story of an unlikely friendship between a struggling but happy cab driver from Senegal, and a tormented southern man with secrets.

Lincoln (2012) As the Civil War continues to rage, President struggles with continued fighting on the battlefield during the civil war but he also fights with many inside his own cabinet with his decision to emancipate the slaves.

Malcom X (1992) Biographical epic of the controversial and influential Black Nationalist leader, from his early life and career as a small-time gangster to his ministry as a member of the Nation of Islam.

Straight Outta Compton (2015) The group NWA emerges from the mean streets of Compton in Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and revolutionizes Hip Hop culture with their music and tales about life in the hood.

The Color of Friendship (2000) Mahree Bok is a white South African teenager and a product of the Apartheid system raised to view dark-skinned people as second-class citizens. Piper Dellums is the daughter of an African-American U.S. Congressman living in Washington D.C. When Mahree is chosen to spend her time as an exchange student at the Dellums's house, she is shocked on her arrival to discover that the Dellums are black, and the Dellums are just as surprised when they realize that Mahree is a white South African.

The Color Purple (1985) Based on Alice Walker's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Color Purple is a richly-textured, powerful film set in America's rural south. It is a brilliant drama about a black woman's struggles to take control of her life in a small Southern town in the early 20th century.

The Help (2011) This academy award winning movie takes place during the civil rights movements of the 1960’s, when an aspiring writer decides to write a book about the African-American maids' point of view on the white families they work for and the hardships they experience on a daily basis.

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Cambodian/Chinese/Vietnamese

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) A senior chef lives with his three grown daughters; the middle one finds her future plans affected by unexpected events and the life changes of the other household members.

Holly (2006) In Cambodia, Holly, a 12-year-old Vietnamese girl, encounters Patrick, an American stolen artifacts dealer. The story follows their strong connection and her unrelenting efforts to escape her fate.

Last Train Home (2009) A couple embarks on a journey home for Chinese new year along with 130 million other migrant workers, to reunite with their children and struggle for a future. Their unseen story plays out as China soars towards being a world superpower.

Lost in Paradise (2011) Khoi, naive twenty-year-old travels to Ho Chi Minh City from the countryside to begin a new life. It's his first time in the big city and he's looking for a place to live.

Raise the Red Lantern (1991) A young woman becomes the fourth wife of a wealthy lord and must learn to live with the strict rules and tensions within the household.

Sentenced Home (2007) This documentary follows three Cambodian-American men, brought to the U.S. as children by their refugee families. They were raised in the grim public housing of Seattle, among gangs and other realities of that life. Bad choices as teens altered their lives forever, when immigration laws after 9/11 provided no second changes for such children. Though they were raised in the U.S., speak to one another in English, even think in English, each is sentenced to return to Cambodia - separated from family here, possibly forever.

The Joy Luck Club (1993) The story of four Chinese women who immigrated to the U.S. and their first-generation daughters. When one of the women dies, her daughter plays Mahjong with the older women and begins to really learn what her mother endured in China and of her sisters who were left behind. Daughter from Danang (2002) Separated at the end of the Vietnam war, an "Americanized" woman and her Vietnamese mother are reunited after 22 years.

The Last Emperor (1987) The story of the final Emperor of China.

The Quiet American (2002) An older British reporter vies with a young U.S. doctor for the affections of a beautiful Vietnamese woman.

The Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000) The plot centres around three sisters, two of whom are happily married (or so it appears).

Three Seasons (1999) An American in Ho Chi Minh City looks for a daughter he fathered during the war. He meets Woody, a child who's a street vendor, and when Woody's case of wares disappears, he thinks the soldier took it. Woody hunts for him.

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South Asian/Indian

Bhaji on the Beach (1998) Hashida, an 18-year old Asian woman, lives with her family in Birmingham. Her father wants her to become a doctor and next month her medical school is going to start. Secretly, she has a black boyfriend – which is an absolute faux pas in some Asian cultures – and has now discovered that she is pregnant. She joins a small South Asian women's group on a trip to Blackpool, a trip that holds life-changing experiences for all.

Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Teen-aged Londoner Jesminder Bhamra chases her dream of being a professional soccer player while dealing with the objections of her traditional Sikh family.

Gandhi (1982) A biography of Mohandas K. Gandhi, the lawyer who became the famed leader of the Indian revolts against the British rule through his philosophy of non-violent protest.

Slum Dog Millionaire (2008) A teen in Mumbai, India who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" When he is suspected of cheating, he is arrested. During his police interrogation, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.

The Namesake (2006) A tale of a first-generation son of traditional, Indian immigrant parents. As he tries to make a place for himself, not always able to straddle two worlds gracefully, he is surprised by what he learns about his family and himself.

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Disease/Mental Illness/Disability

My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown (1989) Christy Brown, born with cerebral palsy, learns to paint and write with his only controllable limb - his left foot.

The Theory of Everything (2014) A look at the relationship between the famous physicist Stephen Hawking and his wife.

Ray (2004) The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise to stardom during the 1950s and 1960s.

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own.

Still Alice (2014) A linguistics professor and her family find their bonds tested when she is diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease.

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LGBTQ+

A Single Man (2009) The story of an English professor, who one year after the sudden death of his boyfriend, is unable to cope with his typical days in 1960s Los Angeles. It is a powerful story of his grief and pain for the loss of someone he truly deeply loved.

Boys Don’t Cry(1999) This film is about the true life story of Brandon Teena, a young woman who is going through a sexual identity crisis. She cuts her hair and dresses like a man to see if she can pass as one. She lived life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.

Brokeback Mountain (2005) This film tells the story of a forbidden and secretive relationship between two same-sex cowboys and their lives over the years.

Milk (2008) This film tells the story of American gay activist, Harvey Milk, and his struggles as he fights for gay rights and becomes California's first openly gay elected official.

Philadelphia (1993) In this movie, a lawyer, working for a conservative law firm, is diagnosed with AIDS. His employer fires him because of his condition. He tries to find someone to take his case but all refuse except one willing small time lawyer who advocates for a wrongful dismissal suit in spite of his own fears and homophobia.

The Danish Girl (2015) A fictitious love story loosely inspired by the lives of Danish artists Lili Elbe and Gerda Wegener. Lili and Gerda's marriage and work evolve as they navigate Lili's groundbreaking journey as a transgender pioneer.

Transamerica (2005) A pre-operative male-to-female transgender takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she fathered a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York.

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Hispanic/Latino(a)/Mexican

A Day Without a Mexican (2004) One-third of the population of California is Latinos, Hispanics, Mexicans. How would it change life for the state's other residents if this portion of the populous suddenly vanished? The film is a "mockumentary" designed to show the valuable contributions made every day by Latinos.

Babel (2006) Tragedy strikes a married couple on vacation in the Moroccan desert, touching off an interlocking story involving four different families.

El Norte (1983) The Guatemalan army discovers Mayan Indian peasants who have begun to organize, hoping to rise above their label of "brazos fuertes" or "strong arms" (manual laborers). The army massacres their families and destroys their village to give the new recruits no choice but to follow and obey. However, two teenage siblings survive and are determined to escape to the U.S. or El Norte. They make their way to L.A. - uneducated, illegal immigrants, alone.

Mi Familia (My Family) (1995) This epic film traces over three generations an immigrant family's trials, tribulations, tragedies, and triumphs. Jose and Maria, the first generation, come to Los Angeles, meet, marry, face deportation all in the 1930s. They establish their family in East L.A., and their children Chucho, Paco, Memo, Irene, Toni, and Jimmy deal with youth culture and the L.A. police in the 1950s. As the second generation become adults in the 1960s, the focus shifts to Jimmy, his marriage to Isabel (a Salvadorian refugee), their son, and Jimmy's journey to becoming a responsible parent.

Sin Nombre (2009) A Honduran young girl and a Mexican gangster are united in a journey across the American border.

Under the Same Moon (2007) Heartwarming story about a mother who leaves Mexico to make a home for herself and her son (Adrian Alonso). When the boy's grandmother dies, leaving him alone, he sets off on his own to find his mother.

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Immigrants/Undocumented

Crossing Arizona (2006) With Americans on all sides of the issue up in arms and Congress in a policy battle over how to move forward, Crossing Arizona tells the story of how we got to where we are today. Heightened security in California and Texas has pushed illegal border-crossers into the Arizona desert in unprecedented numbers (estimated 4,500 a day). Most are Mexican men in search of work, but increasingly the border-crossers are women and children wanting to join their husbands and fathers. This influx of migrants crossing through Arizona and the attendant rising death toll has elicited complicated feelings about human rights, culture, class, labor, and national security.

Dancer in the Dark (2000) An east European girl goes to America with her young son, expecting it to be like a Hollywood film.

El Norte (1983) The Guatemalan army discovers Mayan Indian peasants who have begun to organize, hoping to rise above their label of "brazos fuertes" or "strong arms" (manual laborers). The army massacres their families and destroys their village to give the new recruits no choice but to follow and obey. However, two teenage siblings survive and are determined to escape to the U.S. or El Norte. They make their way to L.A. - uneducated, illegal immigrants, alone.

In America (2002) A family of Irish immigrants adjusts to life on the mean streets of Hell's Kitchen while also grieving the death of a child.

The Terminal (2004) When an Eastern European immigrant comes to American to fulfill a promise to his father he finds himself stranded inside JFK airport, making it his temporary residence when he cannot enter the USA nor return home.

The Visitor (2007) A lonely economics professor in Connecticut life is changed forever - and for the better - when he finds a couple of illegals, who happen to be living in his New York apartment.

Green Card (1990) A French man wanting to stay in the US enters into a “short-term” marriage to an American woman so he can get his green card. Complications result when he gets caught lying.

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Indigenous

Avatar (2009) A paraplegic marine dispatched to the moon Pandora on a unique mission becomes torn between following his orders and protecting the world he feels is his home.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007) A chronicle of how American Indians were displaced as the U.S. expanded west. Based on the book by Dee Brown.

Once Were Warriors (1994) A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.

Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) In 1931 Australia, government policy includes taking half-caste children from their Aboriginal mothers and sending them a thousand miles away "to save them from themselves." Molly, Daisy, and Grace (two sisters and a cousin who are 14, 10, and 8) arrive at their “school” and promptly escape, under Molly's lead. For days they walk north, following a fence that keeps rabbits from settlements, eluding a native tracker and the regional constabulary. Their pursuers take orders from the government's "chief protector of Aborigines," A.O. Neville, blinded by Anglo-Christian certainty, evolutionary worldview and conventional wisdom.

Smoke Signals (1998) Young Indian man Thomas is a nerd in his reservation, wearing oversize glasses and telling everyone stories no-one wants to hear. His parents died in a fire in 1976, and Thomas was saved by Arnold. Arnold soon left his family (and his tough son Victor), and Victor hasn't seen his father for 10 years. When Victor hears Arnold has died, Thomas offers him funding for the trip to get Arnold's remains, but only if Thomas will also go with him. Thomas and Victor hit the road.

The Spirit of Crazy Horse (1990) One hundred years after the massacre at Wounded Knee, Milo Yellow Hair recounts the story of his people-from the lost battles for their land against the invading whites-to the bitter internal divisions and radicalization of the 1970's-to the present-day revival of Sioux cultural pride, which has become a unifying force as the Sioux try to define themselves and their future.

Whale Rider (2002) On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their History dates back a thousand years to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. Whangara chiefs have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand culture, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai must fight a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.

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Middle Eastern

Baran (2001) In a building site in present-day Tehran, Lateef, a 17-year-old Turkish worker is irresistibly drawn to Rahmat, a young Afghan worker. The revelation of Rahmat's secret changes both their lives.

Incendies (2010) Twins journey to the Middle East to discover their family history, and fulfill their mother's last wishes.

Schindler's List (1993) In German-occupied Poland during World War II, Oskar Schindler gradually becomes concerned for his Jewish workforce after witnessing their persecution by the Nazi Germans.

The Band’s Visit (2007) A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town.

Turtles Can Fly (2004) Near the Iraqi-Turkish border on the eve of an American invasion, refugee children like 13-year-old Kak (Ebrahim), gauge and await their fate.

Wadjda (2012) An enterprising Saudi girl signs on for her school's Koran recitation competition as a way to raise the remaining funds she needs in order to buy the green bicycle that has captured her interest.

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Pacific Islander/Polynesian

Balangiga: The Howling Wilderness (2017) 1901, Balangiga. Eight-year-old Kulas flees town with his grandfather and their carabao to escape General Smith's Kill and Burn order. He finds a toddler amid a sea of corpses and together, the two boys struggle to survive the American occupation.

Moana (2016) In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the Demigod Maui reaches an impetuous Chieftain's daughter's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right.

Once Were Warriors (1994) A family descended from Maori warriors is bedeviled by a violent father and the societal problems of being treated as outcasts.

Princess Kaiulani (2009) The story of a Hawaiian princess' attempts to maintain the independence of the island against the threat of American colonization.

Whale Rider (2002) On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their History dates back a thousand years to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. Whangara chiefs have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand culture, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai must fight a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.

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Women

Āfsāīd = Offside (2006) Struggle of Women in a country that excludes them from entering the stadiums.

The Help (2011) This academy award winning movie takes place during the civil rights movements of the 1960’s when an aspiring writer decides to write a book about the African-American maids' point of view on the white families they work for and the hardships they experience on a daily basis.

Suffragette (2015) The foot soldiers of the early feminist movement, women who were forced underground to pursue a dangerous game of cat and mouse with an increasingly brutal State.

Water (2005) The film examines the plight of a group of widows forced into poverty at a temple in the holy city of Varanasi. It focuses on a relationship between one of the widows, who wants to escape the social restrictions imposed on widows, and a man who is from the highest caste and a follower of Mahatma Gandhi.

Whale Rider (2002) On the east coast of New Zealand, the Whangara people believe their History dates back a thousand years to a single ancestor, Paikea, who escaped death when his canoe capsized by riding to shore on the back of a whale. Whangara chiefs have been considered Paikea's direct descendants. Pai, an 11-year-old girl in a patriarchal New Zealand culture, believes she is destined to be the new chief. But her grandfather Koro is bound by tradition to pick a male leader. Pai must fight a thousand years of tradition to fulfill her destiny.

Ooh amazing, thank you for this! ❤️

I've watched Slumdog Millionaire, Brokeback Mountain, and Schindler's List. And read a Penguin Classics abridged version of Rabbit-Proof Fence as part of my English learning back in my teenage years. Some of the others I'm familiar with tho have yet to watch; and others are completely new to me

[mindthewitch]

Hey so, there's this arcane silco/reader fic that's absolutely captivated me so far by @thisishwrworld and you should definitely read it

(BTW it doesn't use Y/N which is something that often drives me away from reader fics)

Summary below the cut!

A certain bright and brilliant Undercity girl dreams of becoming a Piltover Academy Lecturer. Alas she has yet to reach such a status.

Working part-time at the Academy doesn't pay enough to support a life in Piltover, so what else is there to do with one's smart mind than educate others. From happenstance or maybe fate, this aspiring lecturer meets a man in search of a competent tutor for his daughter. That man is Silco, Eye of Zaun, and industrialist of the Undercity.

Just how will our heroine navigate a career in the City of Progress while still living and perhaps even thriving in the Undercity with all its quirks?

Set two years after Silco takes Jinx in. POV Second Person. x Reader with no use of Y/N. Features friendship with Viktor.

This is a multi-chapter fic that is IN PROGRESS. I have the story outlined, but not an exact chapter count. The romance will be slow burn though, you have been warned.

[drdemonprince]

When I was in high school, many of my friends were children of university professors and at the time I started noticing the differences in our way of life. The high school is public, pertaining to the state university, and it was for the best students (higher notes from secondary school and higher scores in the admission tests). But they all had these same attitudes about money (they would go for coffee every day after classes to do homework and I really couldn't afford doing that so I didn't socialize as much, I would end going back home or to the library). I'm 37 now and yes, I graduated and have a work but not in academy (kinda adjacent)...

When we grew up and went to college, I just couldn't keep up with their lifestyle and stopped being friends with them because it was obvious that 1) despite always saying I was so smart, they looked down on me for not having as much money as them 2) I realized I couldn't have a genuine friendship with people like that. They all work in academy now, to no one's surprise. And just for the record, I'm not from the US and I don't live in the US

Yep!! I grew up in a quarry town turned college town, so some of the kids were professors' kids, with Ivy League aspirations and big houses and money, and the rest of us were like the kids of mechanics and nurses and former veterans with PTSD and people on dialysis and shit like that. The professors' kids were in all the honors classes and went to prestigious schools and moved out and have money, the kids from the other side of the tracks had babies or got addicted to something or went to community college or a state school and kinda muddled through. I split the difference I guess, state school turned funded graduate program turned shitty part time adjunct work until my writing kinda struck career gold. i would have been so fucked otherwise.

[intooned]

What are your least favorite ships for jaune, Steven, and finn

My LEAST favorite? Woof! Ok, here we go.

Jaune: WhiteKnight: Any woman Jaune ends up with will have to AT LEAST have Pyrrha as a standard. Pyrrha loved Jaune before he accomplished anything, when he was just a sweet, earnest dork who wanted to be better than he was. She met him in the mud and jumped at the opportunity to help brush him off and build him up. Pyrrha heard his aspirations and said "cool, here's the first brick, let's start building you up!"

Meanwhile, Weiss just so happened to glance back at the finish line as Jaune crossed it, literally as a middle aged man, and she all of a sudden has a complete change of heart about him based off of his LOOKS? And nothing else? I loved Weiss' character development as a person, but having her take interest in Jaune on a dime with zero preamble was the most shallow thing she's ever done, and that's saying a lot considering her character from vol 1-2.

He already closed ONE gaping hole in her stomach at Haven Academy, and she never so much as uttered a thank you or acknowledged his presence. Just stood up, struck a pose, and used her summon. No indication whatsoever of a changing perspective or reevaluation of him to suggest any interest in having him fill her other holes in the future. When he expresses that he's glad she's OK, she doesn't even respond to him being their whatsoever, just gets up and carries on. And after the fight no words were exchanged between them, no apathetic eye contact, just nothing at all.

The shmuck fell for her at first sight without even getting to know her (not that Weiss ever gave him the chance to) and she never let anybody hear the end of it. Yet she knows Jaune for years and after all that time still has zero interest and the barest of friendships? Fine, fair enough! But that all goes out the window because of his APPEARANCE alone? A few seconds isn't enough time to take into account how Jaune's character has developed for his character to have been what attracted Weiss. How astoundingly hypocritical that she just wants him for his body after giving everyone hell for assuming the same of him? And one outing to the movies, with oscar in tow, off-screen, with no suggestive interaction afterward is not sufficient enough for anyone to believe anything had changed.

A cliché is cliché for a reason; Weiss didn't want Jaune at his worst, but Pyrrha did. She didn't want him at his beginning, but (according to Oum, by the end of season 2) Ruby did. She didn't want him at his mid, but a literal harem of milfs did. But now, at his best and most vulnerable... that STILL wasn't what had her moist at first sight; his newly well-worn dilf status was the sole factor in her newfound attraction. If you ask me, Jaune deserves so much better than the frigid panties of such a fickle and shallow girl. Especially ironic now that her kingdom, status, and family name are worthless. The gall to thirst after a guy you consistently insulted, for liking you, for two whole school years!

I had really hoped that someone, ANYONE, but especially Ruby would have confronted her behavior with contempt and indignation at her lust for Jaune after her indifference and outright hostility toward him up until that point. Having the both of them as her best friends, Ruby was privy to both sides of Jaune and Weiss' "relationship" back in school. I want to see both Jaune and Weiss happy but as far as we've gotten in the plot Weiss is acting more immature now than Jaune was back at Beacon, and it sucks that the writers are definitely going to smooth over all of that for the sake of giving the ex-heiress what she wants.

Steven: Steven x Sadie: Not much to say other than I can't imagine either of them benefitting or growing from each other's presence in a relationship.

Finn: Fubblegum: Princess Bubblegum is a conniving, manipulative, lawful evil ego-maniac and Finn dodged a NUCLEAR WARHEAD moving on from his crush on her. Heck, Marceline is WAY too good for her. I don't have a single doubt Marceline would give her life for her partner, and Finn was willing to tank third degree burns for someone he liked, and would do that and more for anyone he knew, but Bubblegum? I don't think she'd suffer any major inconvenience for her lover, especially after the bloody CUNT called Marcy "Monster Trash". This may be my diehard Finnceline enjoyer talking, but of all the female characters in the show, none of them vibed on the same wavelength with Finn like Marceline did. After Jake there's no one who's been a closer friend to Finn than Marceline; I'd go so far as to say Bubblegum has been more harm than help for Finn and others in the long run.

[thisishwrworld]

my first ever fan fiction (we don’t count the ones I wrote and deleted at age 14 on Wattpad okay!!)

please go support on Ao3!! there’s only one chapter out right now, but it will be a slow burn multi-chapter fic. during the winter break for my schooling I hope to get even more chapters written and posted!

…

A certain bright and brilliant Undercity girl dreams of becoming a Piltover Academy Lecturer. Alas she has yet to reach such a status.

Working part-time at the Academy doesn't pay enough to support a life in Piltover, so what else is there to do with one's smart mind than educate others. From happenstance or maybe fate, this aspiring lecturer meets a man in search of a competent tutor for his daughter. That man is Silco, Eye of Zaun, and kingpin of the Undercity.

Just how will our heroine navigate a career in the City of Progress while still living and perhaps even thriving in the Undercity with all is quirks?

…

This fic will feature a romance between Reader and Silco. A friendship between Reader and Viktor. And a friendship/mentorship between Reader and Jinx!! Fic is set two years after Silco first adopts Jinx (so Hextech has been discovered and is in the first stages of development.)

[palespawn]

ᵗʰᵉ ʷⁱᵗᶜʰᵉʳ : 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒗𝒂𝒎𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔.

⁰⁰¹. backstory: astarion was born in 1012, an aen seidhe elf, one of the many elves who's ancestors decided to inhabit the continent alongside humans and other species during the age of migration, in contrast to the aen elle ( who moved outer world, to tir ná lia ). he was raised in dol blathanna until he turned 18, and moved to novigrad to attain a higher education at oxenfurt academy. here, he studied law and politics, and after he graduated, had aspirations of becoming a governor in novigrad. all did not, of course, go according to plan― one night, he was attacked by thugs while walking along st. gregory's bridge, and left to bleed to death. a man named cazador found him and offered him eternal life. he did not refuse.

⁰⁰². vampires superiores: cazador, revealed to be a true higher vampire, and prominent figure within novigrad, turned astarion that night and the two centuries that follow bear similarity to his baldur's gate 3 canon. astarion is a higher vampire, however, compelled by cazador to do his bidding, with his base of operations taking place at the passiflora. here, astarion was made to prostitute himself both in and outside of the establishment, and bring only the most beautiful of his clientele to cazador. while cazador, and other higher vampires, do not require blood to survive, feeding enhances their abilities, quickens the regeneration process and increases their strength, which was a necessity in his vying for power. as astarion has the unique ability to charm his victims, hunting for his master was therefore an easier feat but offered little in terms of reward; that which varied from a vermin dinner, to whatever torture cazador deigned to inflict upon him. near 150 years into servitude, and unbeknownst to him, astarion's parents died as humans felled dol blathanna.

⁰⁰³. powerful alliances: cazador and alonso wiley, a powerful gangster and owner of many illegal novigrad establishments, are in the midst of developing a provisory business relationship that would see them take over novigrad in the years to come. this "friendship" went unpublicised until their untimely deaths, committed individually but coincidentally within days of each other. alonso was assassinated in his home, as coordinated by his only son, cyprian wiley ( otherwise known as whoreson jr. ), and cazador was murdered by astarion in one of the many rooms within the passiflora ( this can be treated as a 'side quest' - if aided in the murder he will help later on. if he is not aided/accompanied, this will lead to him feeding on and accidentally killing another patron or patrons within the passiflora due to heightened emotions and bloodlust ). there is speculation that the deaths are connected, due to eyewitnesses of the two kingpins' associates, whoreson jr.'s subsequent elevation and astarion's disappearance. marquise serenity took over the passiflora as it's madame soon after.

⁰⁰⁴. penchant for vengeance: despite being freed of his control, astarion's lust for revenge is not as quenched as he had anticipated. he extends such to cazador's old allies, however, as alonso wiley's death had already been taken from him, he decided to pursue his son instead. this can lead to a potential alliance with ciri and her search for whoreson jr., and subsequent rescue of dudu, and later geralt as a potential informant of ciri's whereabouts, or in tracking down whoreson jr. if your muse also helps him kill cazador, he will offer his support in the battle of kaer morhen/can become a companion. otherwise, he will go his separate ways after assisting in the murder of whoreson jr. if he's not aided in any way, he can become a potential adversary.

⁰⁰⁵. blood and wine: astarion can appear in toussaint either by coincidence, as a helping hand in tracking down the murderous "beast" on the loose, as an agent of said beast or regis, or whatever the plot requires.

note: the details can of course be altered for the sake of fitting astarion within the universe without interfering with the main storyline, especially with muses originating from the witcher universe. this can also include events prior to the games, as he has been alive for over 250 years. i've only read up to the beginning of blood of elves, for reference, but i can always do my research!

bestiary: higher vampire

abilities: resistant to sunlight, can transform into a bat, charm manipulation, deception, regenerative powers.

[rayofsunshyne]

Pinning and Pining Rayne Ames

Synopsis: At the Easton Magic Academy, an unexpected friendship blossoms between you and the Divine Visionary, Rayne Ames. As you spar with each other, will either of you realize the other's feelings?

It was your third year at the Easton Magic Academy. You were just about to meet up with Rayne Ames to practice some sparring.

Your friendship with Rayne was quite an unusual one, as he often kept to himself. Ever since your first year at Easton, you admired Rayne a lot. He was undoubtedly one of the strongest magic users at the school, even becoming a Divine Visionary in his second year.

Rayne always had a lot of fangirls, often whispering about him in the hallways, but never daring to approach him. He has quite a cold demeanor, though you always thought that he used it to mask his emotions. Or maybe that’s just how he is. Honestly, who knows…

Either way, you could say you were one of Rayne’s fangirls, but you kept it to yourself. The chance of Rayne even considering befriending, let alone talking to anyone remained slim throughout the years he was at Easton. It seemed that even his own brother, Finn Ames, had trouble maintaining a close relationship with Rayne.

And yet somehow, you became friends with Rayne — or at least had enough conversations and interactions to call him an acquaintance.

It all started back in your second year. Although you were already quite fond of Rayne, you never had the courage to talk to him. Your second year was mostly uneventful, but as the year drew to an end, the school grounds became a much more dangerous place.

A man called Innocent Zero began terrorizing Easton in search of one of his sons, Mash Burnedead. Mash, a first-year, was quite extraordinary for his lack of magical abilities. Rather than using spells, he fought against all of his enemies purely with his muscles and reflexes. It was even rumored that Mash was magicless, but you weren’t sure whether to believe that.

During one of the standoffs with Innocent Zero and his crew, all of the Easton students ended up being dragged into this mess. Split apart with dangerous foes with no mercy to face, it was a tragic event in the history of the Magic Realm. Innocent Zero and his allies had little care for the lives of the weak, and thus Easton unfortunately faced several casualties in this battle. The sheer cries and screams of their parents when they were told the news still haunts you to this day.

On that day, you were quite lucky. Although you were average in terms of magic capabilities, compared to Innocent Zero’s men, you were outmatched. So, with the luck of chance placing you in a room with no foes, you decided to stay in hiding for the rest of the fight.

That was, until you saw a familiar face standing off someone much more powerful than him. It was Finn. You saw the desperation in his eyes, as he battled, then attempted to flee, but to no avail. The injuries he sustained could no longer lift his pain-stricken body, and his magic power dimmed.

At that moment, you let go of all your fears, your goals, your aspirations, and leaped to save Finn. Rather, you wanted to save him, you believed that you could just grab him and dash out of there unscathed. But you were wrong.

The attack that was going to deal the final blow to Finn was completely absorbed by you. That was the most pain you ever felt in your life. Blood splattered everywhere, as you screamed in agony, looking at the gaping hole in your chest. This was a day you would never forget.

Shortly after, you fell over and lost consciousness. You were practically…dead.

Nevertheless, by some miracle, you survived. And so did Finn.

You woke up to white sheets and tubes all around you. You were in a hospital. Bandages covered almost every part of your body and you noticed a dim night light on the cabinet. The candle wick was almost out.

As you adjusted to your new surroundings, you felt something resting on your leg. Squinting, you could make out that it was a person with yellow and black hair. They were resting their head on your thigh, and it seemed like they had fallen asleep.

However, the physical sensation of this accentuated the pain you were feeling throughout your entire body. You tried to slowly shift your leg’s position, but you accidentally ended up waking the person up.

“You’re…awake…?” This voice sounded familiar, and on closer inspection, it was Rayne?! What is he doing here, you wondered, frantically trying to keep yourself together.

As you stared at him in disbelief, you decided to finally blurt out something: “Um, yeah— sorry that I woke you up…”

Rather than responding to your reply, Rayne softly said, “I’m glad that you’re alive.” You weren’t sure if you were seeing things, but it looked like a tear fell down Rayne’s cheek.

To see Rayne in such a state, it almost felt like a dream. Yet it was real. You almost died. To save Finn. And Rayne patiently waited for you to wake up.

After a long pause, Rayne followed up with, “How are you feeling? Is there anything you need me to get you?” Although he was averting his gaze, seemingly out of shame, you saw his light yellow eyes glisten in the moonlight.

You replied, “I-I’m fine! At least I think I am now… And uh, it’s okay, I don’t need anything right now.” After some thought, you followed up with, “Sorry if this comes off as rude, I-I’m just genuinely wondering… um, why did you visit me? I don’t think we ever talked. O-of course I know you, and uh, I really admire your abilities, but this was just really unexpected.”

“It’s because you saved my brother, Finn…” You heard Rayne’s voice shake, as he said, “And you… you almost died… for him. I don’t know how I could ever pay you back.”

Days passed after that night, and Rayne didn’t show up again at the hospital. Maybe it was out of embarrassment or guilt, but you never figured it out. However, on the day you were discharged from the hospital, you noticed Rayne inconspicuously glancing at you, perhaps checking on your well-being.

Although your only interaction with him was extremely awkward, you decided to suck it up and initiate a conversation. Upon seeing that you were approaching Rayne, he immediately attempted to shift his focus to the idle people at the hospital. Cute, you thought.

“Hey Rayne! Sorry for approaching you out of the blue, I couldn’t help but notice you there and I really just wanted to say…” You bowed. “Thank you so much for everything you did. Without you, I doubt I would have lived to see another day.”

Rayne’s eyes slightly widened as he put two hands on your shoulders and lifted you out of your bow. His hands still gripping your shoulders, he met your gaze. “Please don’t bow. You were the one who saved my family… it’s the least I could do.” Rayne paused for a moment. “I know our conversation on that day was kind of left hanging, but I wanted to ask you: Is there any way I can pay you back? I know there’s nothing that I can do that will relieve the pain and injuries that you sustained, but I cannot sit still and just go about my day without giving you something in return.”

Rayne’s voice was filled with sincerity, but all you could think about was his unwavering hands and intense gaze. Your face turned a tint of reddish pink as you tried your best to keep your composure. “W-well… if you insist, would you mind giving me a few pointers on my magic abilities?”

This first session quickly became a weekly thing, and you’ve been sparring ever since.

And that’s how you met Rayne. Though you’re still quite unsure if you are even friends with him. Sometimes it almost feels like Rayne treats you like a little sister, or as a pitiful rabbit. In any case, you go to your usual meeting place.

Read the rest of Chapter 1 and up to Chapter 6 on my AO3!