#gave most of them bracelets and/or buttons that we made Tumblr posts

[theforgetter]

anyway the con last weekend was fun! i got merch of TWO!!!!!(!!!) special interests AND my favorite movey AND my favorite tv show AND my favorite manga. and a keychain of a yuri ship. life is so fucking good

[ghostiiess]

my love mine all mine - a sim jake imagine.

synopsis: in which jake decided to dance with you in his apartment kitchen at 3am while playing mitski’s songs

warnings: petnames (baby, princess)

words count: 954

type: fluff

pairing: !non-idol jake from enhypen x female reader!

author’s note: i wrote this while listening to this song… enjoy the imagine!!

english’s not my mother tongue… sorry if i made any mistakes!

You were just finishing cleaning the kitchen table where you and your boyfriend had eaten earlier in the evening when a small gesture slowly touched your back.

A soft melody you knew so well, Mitski's "My Love Mine All Mine," played in the background, adding a quiet and romantic ambiance to your boyfriend's messy apartment.

- My love...? he said so softly you thought he was whispering.

He turned you around with his hands on your hips, then gave you one of his charming smiles... Then you saw him. His white shirt was two buttons unbuttoned and looked wrinkled. He had probably forgotten to iron it... His brown hair was combed and sprayed so that nothing was out of place. His arms adorned with bracelets and his fingers with silver rings that made you fall in love all over again every time he wore them. His neat black pants, accompanied by his most beautiful black shoes, with his white shirt tucked around the belt, matched him perfectly. If you didn’t know any better, you could easily have thought he was straight out of a Cinderella movie: Jake looked like a real prince..

- Jake?

He made a face at you. He hated it when you called him that… His hand moved, letting his fingers take your left hand before spinning you around like a princess in a romantic movie, then letting go as if he hadn't evacuated the butterflies in your stomach.

- Would you dance with me, princess?" he asked, offering you his left hand, the same one he'd used to spin you around.

At that nickname, you grinned even wider, placed your right hand in his left, and watched as he led you toward the kitchen.

Still holding your hand, he stepped back a little, then moved his right knee on his left side as if he was bowing like a prince. Waiting your turn, you did the same and then saw him smile even wider. His smile was bright, brilliant, warm.

As he twirled you a second time, you saw him take your hand and place it on his hip as he intertwined your hands. As the music continued to play, Jake did a little dance step, then stopped.

- I'll try not to step on your feet...

You laughed softly, then began to dance with him. Your steps, your gestures, your dances were as majestic as swans. You moved with such grace and delicacy that you'd think the piano notes of the song were dancing with you as well.

- Do you remember that song?" he asked, and you nodded without hesitation.

Of course you do. It was the song you and Jake met to. You were studying your physics in the study hall of your school when you saw Jake come into the classroom with a wide-eyed look on his face.

‘Uh, excuse me? Do you know where Miss Catherine is? I've been looking for her since earlier, but she's nowhere to be found...' was the first sentence he said to you, before you realized that you were also waiting for her to explain the exercises. Maybe it was luck, maybe the universe had organized things so that you'd meet, but Miss Catherine had never come to explain the theory to you: Jake had. Things went on, and history was made: a friendship that turned into a love affair that seemed new, but had just passed the two-year mark last month.

- You stayed so long to help me with the theory," you replied, continuing the dance. We stayed so long that we almost got kicked out…

Your boyfriend nodded, then laughed. He twirled you once more, then kissed the palm of your hand.

- You're so beautiful, Y/N. You dance like a princess..

You smiled.

- You're dressed so elegantly, Jakey. I’m in my joggings while you’re literally wearing a prince’s outfit!

He shook his head.

- What are you talking about? You’re dressed just fine! You’re so beautiful.. I love this look on you, it might be my favourite..

While finishing his sentence, his nose moved closer to yours, and then your lips touched, causing the world to stop.

- Your lips are so soft. And...

Before Jake could continue, you rested back your lips on his. His arms moved down your back before returning to his original spot: your hips.

Your noses touched, then you saw the sweet smile Sim Jake had on his gentle face.

- I'm glad we met. I never thought I'd say this, but you're the one who brightens my day when I'm sad and makes me feel the best.

Before you could speak, Jake placed his index finger over your mouth, then shook his head.

- Shh! Let me do the talking, baby.

When he cleared his throat, his hands took yours:

- I want to keep living and dancing with you until our heads turn white and our grandchildren look at us and says ‘even at their age, their love is still strong’.

You couldn't help smiling.

- If you only knew how much I love you Y/N.

- I love you too, baby.

He placed his lips on yours, then turned you around one last time.

- As the song goes.... My love, mine, all mine...

Then, as if magnetized, your lips finished the dance together as the last notes of the song echoed through the kitchen, leaving incredible memories in your heads. It wasn't your last dance, far from it: the next one would probably be at your wedding, with the same song playing in the background, leaving your two smiles as the only source of light.

[baby-alien11]

Lover (Y/N Ulrich Universe)

Everyone say thank you to the million of videos of the Eras Tour that have appeared in my fyp on tik tok, because thanks to them this chapter was made

taglist: @volturi-girl-imagines @dessxoxsworld @aonungsgirlfriend @ethanlandryluver @wenvierismycomfort @aliciacat20 @gabbylovesreading @nikfigueiredo

To say you were surprised when you woke up one morning and saw Jack eating breakfast with your dad in the dinning room was nothing, especially because the day before he told you he was filming

Even more surprised when he revealed two tickets for "The Eras Tour" of Taylor Swift for that weekend in Philadelphia, making you scream in emotion and jump in his arms, not noticing Skeet was filming everything

So, thank godness that your passport was renewed, both of you with your cordinated outfits, flew to the city the day before to rest and made sure to be ready for the concert

When the day arrived, both of you put on your costumes inspired by Midnight Rain, that consisted in you wearing a dark blue puffy long sleeve top and straight jeans, and Jack wearing a yellow short sleeved button up with a withe tank top under and jeans, and went to the stadium, were after you gave your tickets, they led you both to the vip section on the floor area, thanks to both of you being famous

"I can't believe we are really here", you smiled in desbelief watching how the stadium started to full

"I can pinch you if you need it", Jack joked hugging you from behind

"Please do it", you joked in return which made Jack to start tickling your sides making you laugh, "I said pinch me, not tickle me!"

"You know I won't pinch you", Jack responded kissing you on the cheek, "While the concert start, why don't we get something to drink?"

"Yeah, sure", you nodded

Without leaving your area, both of you purchased two plastic cups of orange juice and also went to the merchandise spot to get some t-shirts and sweatshirts

"I love seeing all the inspired outfits", you commented watching the arena

"They are so creative", Jack agreed

Interrupting the apreciation of the outfits, both of you heard your names being called, which made you to turn your heads at that direction watching a group of five girls dressed as the eras aproaching the area as most as they could because of the security fences

"Y/N, Jack!", the girls continued to scream

"Hi!", you greeted with a smile, "How are you? I love your looks"

"We didn't expected to see you here", one of the girls said still with excitment

"I had to bring her", Jack shrudded his shoulders, "She loves Taylor"

"Your Midnight Rain outfits are so cool", another girl complimented

"Can we take a photo with you?", other girl asked

"Sure", you nodded

Mannaging to get the closer to them because of the security fence, a few photos were taken with different posses

"Thank you so much", another one of the girls thanked, "You are so Taylor Swift coded, both of you, and your relationship too"

"That is one of the best compliments we've ever had", Jack said smiling, "Actually the best"

"And we also wanted to give you some bracelets", the first girl who spoke

"Oh my God, you are so sweet", you said a little emotional, "But we don't have any to trade"

"Doesn't matter", one girl shrudded her shoulders, "It will be an honor if you accept them"

"Okay", both of you nodded

Recieving one bracalet form each one of the girls, Jack and you ended with five bracelets in your wrists

"This are so cool", Jack commented looking at the bacelets, "Did you make them yourselves?"

"Yeah, and we already trade some of them with other swifties", one girl answered

"I love this fandom", you smiled

After saying goodbye to the girls, both of you continued to enjoy the enviroment and pointing some of your favorite outfits, and having a fangirl moment when Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban entered the area, greeting the both of you like they knew you for forever

"What the hell is happening?", you asked still in shock

"Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban hug us", Jack responded the same way you were, "This is crazy"

"I guess they were right when they say that anything can happen in the Eras Tour"

In the time while the concert started, more fans aproached your area to keep giving bracelets to all four of you, talk and take photos

When the speakers anounced that the concert was about start, Jack and you were quick to put your phones in your purse to enjoy the concert without distractions

During the whole concert, Jack hugged you from behind with his head on top of yours and his arms circling your waist, while yours were in top of his with your hands intertwined with each other

In general, both of you enjoyed the three hours with fifteen minutes of the concert, but your favorite parts were during "Lover", "You Belong With Me", "Love Story", "Enchanted", "Style" and "Wildest Dreams", when Jack sang the lyrics to the songs in your ear almost leaving you in tears because of how beautiful the moment was

Also leaving both of your hearts and voices singing the rest of the songs (the drama during Taylor and the security man during Bad Blood was something else), and meeting more fans and recevieng bracelets and other gifts

In general, it was a perfect date

jackchampion, camimendes, isabelamerced and 97, 381 more

yn.ulrich he was sunshine, i was midnight rain

thanks to nicolekidman for telling us how to pose and keithurban for taking the picture

#TheErasTuour

tagged jackchampion

naiia EXCUSE MEEE, YOU SAY NICOLE KIDMAN AND KEITH URBAN??

› yn.ulrich yeah, we were in the same vip tent

› julrich21 WHY ARE YOU SAYING IT THIS NORMAL

› jackchampion dude, believe us, we freak out when we saw them

nicolekidman it was so nice to meet you both, you are such a sweathearts

› yn.ulrich i literally almost cried when you hug me, it was awesome to be in the same place as you

user928 I KNEW THEY WERE THEM

› user315 THANK GOD IT WASN'T MY IMAGINATION

› user22 WE ACTUALLY TRADE BRACELETS WITH THEM, THEY ARE SO NICE

yn.ulrich, misstrinitybliss, masonthegooding and 150, 948 more

jackchampion first concert together

we laugh, we cried, we sang, we left our hearts in there (and our voices)

#TheErasTour

tagged yn.ulrich

yn.ulrich first of many concerts together babe!!

› jackchampion we need to start planning the next one!!

user301 I SAW THEM FOR LIKE TEN MINUTES DURING THE CONCERT AND HE WAS SINGING LOVER IN HER EAR

› user593 MANIFESTING TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP LIKE THEM

baileybass how was seeing THAT moment during bad blood?

› jackchampion we were confused at first, but then some fans close to us tell us what was happening

[viktoriaashleyyx]

Lucien is here and he is hearing some things he needed to hear. Most of this is fluff.

This is a pro Tamlin, anti Rhysand self insert revenge fic. All characters belong to SJM, but she wasn't treating them right. Tam x reader, Tam x Rhysands Sister (OC), First person narrative. This will also reference Elucien and Neris in the future, but we aren't there yet.

I've read this like 4 times today alone, and I honestly don't think any tws apply. Let me know if I am wrong about that. It does include references to grief and death.

Ch1.

Ch3 > Ch5

Chapter 4:

As the morning sun shone through the massive windows in Tamlins - no, our- bedroom, I untangled myself from his arms and sat up to stretch. I didn't actually plan on what I would wear here, I had no clothes.

I sat with my feet dangling off the edge of the bed, looking out the window, lost in thought of what is to come next. Tamlin awoke and sat up behind me, pulling my hair out of the way to plant soft kisses down my neck and shoulder. His gentle touches brought me out of my daze and back to the present. “I don't know what I am going to wear today..” I shared.

He sighed as he crawled out of bed to stand in front of me. He took my hands, and just held them as I looked up at him, his strong broad shoulders almost blocking the sunlight pouring in. “I might be able to help with that,” he whispered, pulling one of my hands up to drop a soft kiss on the back, “however, I am a little nervous, I had never expected to show this to anyone.” I cocked my head and my expression changed to curiosity.

He helped me to my feet and began leading me to the other armoire in the corner of his room. I had never paid much attention to it, there was so much furniture in this manor I was going to have fun snooping through. “I never fully healed from, what I thought was, your death. The day you left, I encased my own heart in stone, knowing I could never replace you. I spent many years mourning you, the grief was unbearable at times and the stone helped keep it at bay, just enough to save face and carry on with the duties that were expected of me. Many times, I tried to move on, and there were many ways I tried to cope. Some days…" he took a breath, "I would be out shopping and I would see a dress, or a necklace, or bracelet that would make me think of you and I would allow myself the delusion of you being at home, waiting on me to get back. Just for a fleeting moment. And I would buy the dress and imagine your smile when I gave it to you.” I kept my face soft as I listened intensely, trying to encourage him to continue. The pain he must have experienced was… I don't have the words. It broke my heart to see the longing he held for me for so long. He opened the closet, and inside were hundreds of dresses, in all different colors, lengths, and materials. Some were formal, some would be great for a cozy day inside, some I could imagine wearing on a trip to the villages. My mouth dropped open as my face filled with awe, both at the beautiful dresses he took such care in picking out, and the sentiment that he never fully lost hope this entire time. “I allowed myself this little collection, it made me feel like I hadn't given up on you. Something always told me to hold on.”

He began pulling individual dresses out to show me the thought he put into them, “I always remembered how grumpy you would get when fabric was too close to the spot on your back where your wings sit, and your favorite colors were green, pink and black. You loved the beauty of a Spring night, understandably.” I reached my hand out to touch the soft green velvet A line dress he held out for me. There was a large circle cutout in the back with a button that clasped up by the back of my neck, a high neckline in the front and form fitting half sleeves. The dress was fitted at the waist and flared out around the hips, the skirt looked like it would land just above my knees. It was perfect.

I felt so loved in that moment, so understood. I looked up at his face with happy tears threatening to escape. I laughed as I wiped them away, “I love you,” was all I could get out before I wrapped my arms around his neck and kissed him deeply.*

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

We had begun to clean the manor. Most of the work was on Tamlin as the destruction was his doing, but I stayed nearby offering small helps, like dusting and sewing, and company. I would sing silly songs I had learned from the bards I had traveled with and keep our schedule, breaking for lunch and stopping for dinner. He had made me that promise to heal, and he was sticking with it. Though sometimes he would try to work through lunch, or do ‘little’ projects after dinner, I would firmly remind him that healing was physical too, food and rest were nonnegotiables. We had also agreed on one full day a week of rest and fun, usually spent at starlight lake.

Today Tamlin was working out in the gardens, fixing the trellises and pruning what rose bushes survived. I had spent the morning outside with him discussing what new flowers to plant in the empty spaces and sharing stories of the children we once were, running around and playing hide and seek. He confessed to me that I was never any good at it, he could always spot my wings, but he would play along and let me win. I stuck my tongue out at him and scrunched my nose.

After lunch, though, I decided to remain inside while he got back to work as the afternoon sun was getting hot and uncomfortable.

I sat atop the plush green ottoman in the formal sitting room. I hated couches and any chairs with backs as the pressure on my wings caused great discomfort. While I was sewing some of the tears in the curtains, I heard the door open and a set of unfamiliar footsteps walk in. We had been alone here for days, I wondered who it could be. I sat my sewing down and headed towards the foyer, and just as I turned the corner I came face to face with a stunningly handsome male with a golden eye.

“Oh hello, you must be Lucien.” I observed, taking a step back.

“I had heard the rumors, you do bear an uncanny resemblance to your brother,” he responded with a mischievous smile, having to bend slightly to address me. I swear, sometimes I just felt like a damn munchkin.

“If you're just here to insult me you can leave.” I said dryly, narrowing my eyes.

He chuckled “I don't mean anything by it, I know you want nothing to do with Rhysand, you've made that glaringly obvious, and I can't say I blame you. If he wasn't my mate's brother in law I'd never want to see him again either.” He straightened and took a step back, looking me up and down.

“Oh that's right, Elain is it? How is she doing?”

“She's well, you are being more pleasant than they warned me you'd be.” Lucien noted, almost like he'd expected it. The Night court has always hated anyone who didn't submit to them.

“Well, they were standing in my way of accepting a mating bond, and I am not known for my patience. I'm sure you, of all people, understand.” We began walking toward the sitting room. Tamlin had told me all about Lucien, the good and the bad. We had a lot to discuss.

“I understand the pull, but I am a very patient person. 300 years however? That is a long time.” He sat on the couch across from me, and I picked up my sewing once more. “I can see some progress is getting made, tell me how is Tamlin doing now that you're back?”

“He's doing well, we have a plan set to rebuild the court and our reputation. I don't know what version of him you knew, but he seems to be getting back to his former self.”

“That's good... I regret ever leaving him, especially when he was so down, you must hate me for it,” Lucien admitted. I glanced up to meet his gaze, the expression on his face remained cool and flat, but I could see the spark of pain that flashed in his eyes. He and Tamlin had been friends for centuries, did he really think all of that would be thrown away after a few bad years?

I sat my sewing down again and looked directly into his eyes, raising my chin and leaning forward slightly, “I don't. And neither does Tamlin. The ‘cauldron’ blessed you with a mate, Lucien, you deserve to follow your happiness. As someone who has been through Hel and back to return to their mate, it would be hypocritical of me to look down on you for doing the same.” Lucien looked up at me in almost shock, why is it that everyone who has been in my brother's company has been utterly speechless at even the smallest acts of kindness? “You served this court well for many years, suffered with it, defended it, I cannot write that off just because you have a personal goal to reach, a goal that would make your life better in a way this court cannot.” My voice was stern and I left no room for argument. “You were hurt by actions and decisions Tamlin made, you were well within your rights to leave and protect yourself. And I'm almost positive Tamlin has very similar sentiments to give you. So no, I do not blame you for what you couldn't do, I thank you for what you did do.”

“Thank you for that. It's not something I hear often, especially these days.” Lucien spoke softer, his coy demeanor falling into calmness as he realized that I had no ill intent toward him.

I returned to my sewing, “That is sad to hear. If you ever need a non judgemental ear to vent to, you can always talk to me. I hope one day you can look past the face I bear so much resemblance to and see me as a friend. I know you've had it rough.” I offered.

“You shouldn't have to pay for the sins of your brother just because you look alike.”

“ Yes, but until he does, the debt is still owed.” I countered.

Just then Tamlin came back inside, he headed straight for me to give me a kiss and a rose he had plucked. He looked absolutely delicious, his bare chest glistening from sweat and his sun kissed muscled arms seemed to have gotten even bigger. If Lucien wasn't sitting across from us right now… yum. “We have company, love” I said, breaking the kiss.

He turned around, “Lucien! How have you been, my friend?” Lucien stood up and they embraced each other.

I could swear I heard a muffled “it's good to have you back.”

Tamlin turned to me “excuse us, love, we have some things to discuss.” I gave them a smile and a nod.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, Sky,” Lucien bowed slightly to me and they were off to the office. I continued sewing the curtains back together.

I am not very good at sewing, the repairs were obvious, but I have always found scars to be beautiful. The repair after pain, will always be more beautiful than pretending the pain never happened in the first place.

♡♡♡♡

A few hours later, the three of us sat down in the rebuilt formal dining for dinner. Tamlin in his spot at the head of the table, and Lucien and I on either side of him. Tamlin had hunted a boar yesterday, and I gathered some potatoes, carrots and onions still growing in the vegetable garden, so pot roast was on the menu tonight. I'm sure it's not as extravagant as the last proper meal Lucien had here, but it was never going to be.

“You look like you have many stories to tell. What is the most interesting thing you have learned in your travels?” Lucien asked me. He definitely seemed to be feeling better after his long discussion with Tamlin.

I thought for a minute, I had learned so many wonderful things. “That we are not fae.” Tamlin choked on his drink and Lucien raised an eyebrow at me.

“You're always saying odd shit, I love it.” Tamlin laughed innocently, more as an encouragement to elaborate.

“I have traveled through many realms, I have met the Scoia'tael, the Night elves, Blood elves, Void elves and the Night Fae. In no other realm was I considered a fae, and when I came face to face with what was considered a fae, it was, well, unsettling. We share many characteristics with elves, such as our aversion to ash, and yet we are not affected by iron. I have seen other fae burn to death with just a single scratch of an iron blade. That rumor did not manifest out of nowhere. I believe the true rumor is that we are even Fae at all. Of course, it doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, it's just what I found most interesting.”

Lucien sat back in his seat and stared at me, intrigued. “I don't know what I was expecting but it certainly wasn't that,” he breathed. Tamlin grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a quick kiss. “So, how did you manage to make it back to Prythia?”

Ugh, this story is long and painful, to explain it would take days. “I made a deal with the mother herself, Freya. I had to complete the Trials of Tyr. Most of it was just utter nonsense,” I dismissed, doing my best to avoid even letting them know I can weld a blade, and how easy it is for me, “but for the final trial I have to say I am a little amused with myself.”

“Oh?” Both of them listened intensely.

“It was a riddle, they tried to trick me, and, usually, I am no good at riddles but I beat this one with just an innocent question.” I racked my brain trying to find the best way to explain this that did not raise further questions. “They brought out a pin of around 10 utterly normal goats and told me ‘If you wish to return to your shapeshifter, you must first find ours. Which is Loki?’ and without even glancing at the goats I just asked them, ‘Is this assuming Loki is not still chained up under the mountain? Ya, know, with the dripping venom and whatnot? For killing Baldur?’ Apparently it was a trick and none of them were Loki. They were more annoyed than amused when they tossed me back,” I shrugged innocently.

Both Tamlin and Lucien laughed out loud. “A witty one, she is,” Tamlin gushed to Lucien, gesturing to me.

“I would say, ‘wise’ is a better way to describe it.” I corrected.

“And because I know I will be asked,” Lucien added carefully, “do you think you will ever be willing to talk with your brother?”

I rolled my eyes. “Talk? Maybe after we rebuild, if I feel like it. I know I've been gone for a while and his contributions and behavior could have improved, but what I saw when I walked in, the first image I have of him, is not easily forgotten.” I took a sip of my wine, “When do you plan on returning to Night?”

“I don't have a solid plan in place, I honestly didn't expect the manor to be in this good of state when I initially stopped in.”

“Your room has been cleaned, as well. Nothing inside was damaged, it just needed to be freshened after so long. You will always have a place here, that will always be your room.” Tamlin offered. “You have an open invitation, come and go as you please.”

“Well, since I can see you making a genuine effort now, is there any way I can help rebuild?” Lucien asked.

“Actually, we do have a meeting with Tarquin in a few days. As an experienced emissary, would you be willing to help me schedule meetings with the others? I understand you are estranged from Autumn, and me from Night, but if you could just help me deliver some letters to Day, Dawn and Winter, it would be greatly appreciated. We can't do this alone, we need alliances.” I could easily do this myself, but if there is one thing I know about building friendships, is ask for help, even if it's small. People feel closer to you when they feel they are needed.

*authors note: this is actually something I have done with my own grief surrounding my sisters death. I have a small collection of dresses and jewelry that remind me of her that I will never wear. I'm saying this to let you know that grief is messy and grief is weird. However you choose to deal with yours is valid as long as it is not hurting yourself or others. ❤️

Tag list: @rin-u-pos @ladythornofrivia @rcarbo1

Lmk if you want to be added to the tag list

[helplesspuppet-bsd]

I Missed You

 

Warnings: None 

Tetchou x Gn! Reader

 

Enjoy the pure fluff 

You still remember the day when you gave Tetchou that gift. 

“Hm, what’s this? A bracelet?” Tetchou asked as he looked at you and you nodded with excitement “Put it on Tetchou.” You said, happiness and excitement pouring from your voice. Tetchou let out a small chuckle, and complied with your demands, he looked at the bracelet, seeing that it was white and had a button with a simplified picture of the sun on it.  You showed him yours; it was black and had the same button and had the crescent moon on it. You pressed the button and Tetchou felt a vibration from it, he looked at it until the vibrating stopped and looked at you after it did. “I thought, since you’re always home at the ungodly hours of the night, I thought this could be a good way to let each other know we miss each other.” You explained as you felt heat reach your cheeks turning them red.  Tetchou only went up to kiss you, you, of course returned the kiss to your loving boyfriend. “I love you, my Blossom.” Tetchou whispers in your ears as he places his head on your shoulder.  It was a magical day, Tetchou treated it as if it was the most valuable treasure in the world. To him, it probably was. You feeling the vibrations of the bracelet from Tetchou pressing the button on his bracelet made your heart go in all different directions. The comfort Tetchou felt when he was having a rougher day than usual when he knew you were missing and thinking about him from the bracelet.  Even when you two had the bracelet, Tetchou would still tell you how much he missed you, before he kissed your sweet lips. 

Tetchou was currently in a meeting with the rest of the other haunting dogs, he wasn’t scared to keep the bracelet hidden from his team, although they hadn’t seen it yet. Halfway through the meeting he clicked the button, the click was quiet enough, that it would’ve gone unnoticed if Jouno wasn’t in the room, he could care less about if he clicked it during the meeting, if he missed you, he missed you. 

“Tetchou, what did you press?” Jouno asked, slightly annoyed with him not paying full attention to the meeting. Jouno’s question caught the attention of the other Hunting Dog members. “Oh, I just miss my lover, this lets them know that.” He explained rather simply as he looked at the bracelet as he watched the sun image to light up and feeling the bracelet vibrate. 

“You have a partner?” Fukuchi asked as he looked at Tetchou  

“Yes. And I would die for them.” Tetchou responded with no hesitation as he looked at Fukuchi. The rest of the Hunting Dogs look at Jouno for conformation Jouno shrugged “What, he’s telling the truth. I don’t know how he managed to get someone to deal with him, but he did.” Jouno said while giving Tetchou a light insult. 

“Tetchou.” Teruko said with a stern voice, Tetchou looked at the smallest Hunting Dog “You need to introduce us to this lover of yours one day!” She said with a smirk “I will have to see what my blossom says.” Tetchou responds as he looked away from Teruko with his eyes now closed as he heard the chuckles of his co-workers at the silly nickname he called you. 

The day ended as he was making his way back to the home he and you shared, that was provided to him by the government due to his position in the Hunting Dogs. 

The house wasn’t large. It didn’t need to be. It was the perfect size for both of you, and maybe a few more additions to their already perfect life. 

He felt his bracelet vibrate again once he was near, he could look up and see his house in the near distance. He smiled at it. A few more minutes and he entered the house quietly, wanting to hug you, kiss your beautiful face and tell you how much he missed and loved you. 

He found you in the kitchen, grabbing a drink, Tetchou stopped for a second, really taking in just how beautiful you are, before he walked up to you and wrapped his arms around your waist from behind, burying his head in your shoulder. 

Tetchou hummed “I missed you my Blossom...” He whispered you turned your head to look at him before chuckling “I missed you too, Tetchou.” You responded as you looked at him, as his closed eyes open. “I can tell. You pressed your bracelet so many times today.” Tetchou then said as he leaned up to kiss your temple and making his way down to your cheek and then your neck. Placing gentle, loving kisses on your tender skin. 

“I love you, my Blossom.” Tetchou whispered in your ear as he led you to your shared room and laid down with you cuddling up t him. 

“It’s getting late, sleep. I will be here in the morning. I promise.” Tetchou whispered, it was getting late, and you snuggled up to him, closing your eyes and falling asleep next to him. It was something that never happened often, so it made this much more special to you and Tetchou. 

Tetchou looked at you with a fond smile before he fell asleep himself, peacefully in his arms. 

[taylorsv3rsion13]

we never go out of style || c.f.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

words : 2.7k

synopsis : things were always rocky for conrad and you. after the whole break up, will everything be the same the year later? or will it all turn to shit.

Every year since we were little kids we would celebrate mine and Belly's birthday. We were born on the same day, but a year apart. And it seemed to make us closer. Susannah would decorate the house and Laurel would make us pancakes every year and Conrad would draw a sun with syrup all over my pancakes. It was like a holiday for us.

"Happy birthday, sweetie!" My mom said over the phone as I was calling her.

"Thank you." I said, smiling.

"Okay, I won't keep you away for long, I know you're waiting for your pancakes." She laughed through the phone.

"Bye, love you!"

"Love you too."

I finished getting ready, putting on all of the makeup and jewelry I needed.

My outfit was normal, just wearing a teal tank top and a green cargo mini skirt.

As soon as I came out of the room Belly did too.

"You're looking hot." I said to her as we made our way down the stairs. She was wearing a floral patterned birthday dress.

"Morning!" We shouted in sync as we came into the kitchen.

Steven and Laurel were making pancakes, Jeremiah and Susannah were decorating, and Conrad looked like he didn't want to be there.

There were various smiles with "hey" and "Happy birthday!"

Susannah came to us first, hugging us, "There are the birthday twins!" She exclaimed.

Jeremiah hugged Belly as Steven hugged me, "Happy birthday." They both said to us before swapping.

"Belly Button's getting old finally!" I exclaimed as I gave her sixteen punches on the arm.

She was quick to return, hitting me even harder seventeen times as I screamed around the kitchen.

Laurel raised an eyebrow at us before giving us a group hug, "Happy birthday, beautiful girls."

"Did you call your mom?" Susannah asked as she plated some fruit.

"Yes, she was the first person I talked to."

"Your Minnie and Mickey Mouse pancakes are ready." Laurel smiled.

Belly looked at her mom for a moment, "I'm actually not that hungry..."

I looked at Laurel, "I'll take a pancake or two."

"Okay, how about presents?" Susannah asked.

"You're going to love mine." Jeremiah said, yet I don't know who he was talking to.

Conrad didn't say anything, eating his cereal in peace. He ignored me, but did wave hello to Belly.

Belly opened her present from her mom first. It was a beautiful book.

"It's a first edition. I got it from a rare book dealer." Laurel smiled.

We all noticed how Belly didn't have much emotion with the book, "Turn to the bookmarked page."

"That's the poem Susannah would repeat to us." I said, reading the page.

I grabbed the present that she had given me. I unwrapped it to reveal the most gorgeous cover I've ever seen on a book. It was Little Women.

"Oh, wow." I said, looking through the pages.

"Your mom said it reminded you of home."

I looked up to Laurel, "Thank you so much."

"Girls, open mine now!" Susannah squealed as she handed us our gifts.

Belly revealed a black velvet box, while I had a white one.

She opened hers, and a pearl bracelet was inside.

"Oh, wow." Belly exclaimed.

"These were pearls that my mom gave me for my sweet 16. Now Y/N, open yours."

I opened the box and there was a gorgeous pearl necklace.

"Those were also from my mom. She gave them to me when I was a debutante." She smiled as she admired Belly and I.

"Oh Y/N, I have another gift for you." Susannah said.

I looked at her, puzzled on why I would have two?

She handed me another box, this time it was a velvet red. I opened it and there was a golden chain with a sun in the middle. I immediately recognized it as a matching necklace, needing a moon on the other side.

"Isn't there supposed to be a moon as well?" I asked.

"I'm not sure, maybe someone else has it." Susannah shrugged. "I just thought it reminded me of you."

Jeremiah jumped up, "Ooh! I'm next."

He handed us his somewhat neatly wrapped gift.

Belly was given a charm in the shape of a key.

"It's for good luck. So you can pass your drivers test." Jeremiah smiled.

I opened mine revealing a golden bracelet with a heart charm.

"Thank you so much, Jere." I smiled.

"Think fast Y/N!" Steven said as he threw a present at me. He also threw one at Belly. "Open them at the same time!" He urgred.

We both ripped through the package, opening and unfolding a Princeton crewneck.

"Oh my god you actually got in!" I exclaimed as I ran to hug him.

"No, not yet." He smiled.

Laurel looked at Steven, "I didn't know you were still considering Princeton?"

"Well I'll probably get scholarships and Dad said I could get some financial aid." Steven explained.

The room got silent and tension was high.

"Uh Conrad, do you have a present for Belly and Y/N?" Susannah asked.

He passed Belly a black velvet bag. She opened it, taking out a silver infinity necklace.

His attention then turned to me, "Sorry, I forgot."

"Oh yeah, don't worry, it's cool. I wasn't expecting much anyway." I smiled, trying to actually hide how I felt.

It did hurt. He remembered Belly's birthday, yet he couldn't even remember mine. Which was the same day.

There was a lot of tension in in the room as everyone looked at each other.

"Uhm, so I have to go. I promised Cleveland that I'd show him some knots today."

I watched as he got up from his seat and left. I didn't want it to affect me, but it really did.

"Happy birthday Y/N, and Belly." He said.

"Why don't we go practice driving?" I asked Belly, trying to take my mind off of things. "So you can drive us to get Taylor as well."

She squealed excitedly, "Yes!"

I got up from my seat, heading over to go out the front.

"Hey Y/N?" Susannah called out.

I turned to her, "Yeah?"

"You okay?"

"Of course I am." I smiled reassuringly.

I sat in the passenger seat while Jeremiah sat in the back.

She made a sharp right and we all went flying.

"Whoops." She laughed.

"Dear god, Bells." I said as I held onto anything I could grab on to.

The bus pulled up as we stood there, waiting for Taylor to come out.

"You excited, Bells?" I asked.

"Yeah." She said, but I could tell there was a part of her that wasn't excited.

"Twenty-bucks she's gonna call Jere, Jeremy." I said.

The girl emerged from the bus holding a handful of balloons and a bag.

"Oh, my god!" Taylor exclaimed as her and Belly ran to each other.

"Taylor!" I said as I ran to hug her.

"Here, let me take that for you." Jeremiah said as he took her bags.

Taylor smiled looking up at Jeremiah, "Thank you, Jeremy."

I laughed at Jeremiah as he just stood there smiling.

"So, should we head home?" Jeremiah suggested.

"Ooh, actually, let's make a stop first." Taylor said, making eye contact with Belly and I.

We sat under an umbrella as Jeremiah placed down a banana split with three spoons for us.

Taylor dug in first, "I would literally eat this every day if I could."

She also pulled out a gift for Belly. And another for me.

"Oh wow, these are cute." I said as I opened my present, revealing a blue bikini.

"I know right, it's hot." She said.

Belly opened hers and it was a white bikini.

"Y/N?" Taylor called out as we hung out in the pool.

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Where's Conrad?" She asked.

"Oh, I don't know." I shrugged, swimming over to Jeremiah and Steven.

After a couple of minutes in out own little groups, Taylor suggested to play chicken, which we all agreed to.

"Dibs on Jeremy." Taylor smiled as she made her way to Jeremiah

"Oh, great, that means I'm stuck with Steven." Belly said sadly.

"Wait, what about Y/N?" Jeremiah asked.

Belly looked at me, "Oh, do you want to go on Steven?"

"No it's fine, you guys can play." I said.

There was a few complaints from Belly and Steven about being each others partners, so Taylor and Belly switched.

"Okay, three, two, one, go!" I yelled as they began fighting in the water.

The fight lasted less than a minute with Taylor and Steven falling into the water.

"Woo!" Jeremiah and Belly exclaimed in excitement. I gave them both a high five.

On the other hand, Steven and Taylor were bickering about who's fault it was that they lost.

"Hey guys!" A familiar voice said.

I turned my head around and Nicole was walking through with Conrad.

"Hey, Nicole!" I said.

"Hi. Happy Birthday you two." She said. "Are you guys playing.. chicken?"

"Yeah, it was Taylor's idea." Belly said.

"Hey, I'm Taylor." Taylor said from behind Belly.

Belly smiled, "She's my best friend from home."

"Yeah, I'm just visiting for the weekend." Taylor added.

"Oh, that's cute." Nicole said.

"Do you guys wanna play a real game?" I asked.

Everyone in the pool said yes.

Jeremiah had helped me set up the net and then the games began. I was on the girls side and Nicole and Conrad sat on the edge of the pool, dipping their feet in the water.

The boys groaned 'No!' as us girls cheered for our point.

We did a couple more rounds, as we all laughed a lot. This was definitely one of my favorite summers. Being with everyone, like nothing ever happened.

"You're not ready." Taylor smirked to Steven.

"You're on."

Taylor hit the ball, and it swerved, hitting Nicole in the head.

"Ow." Nicole said.

"Oh my god, I'm so sorry." Steven said through in-between awkward laughs.

"Taylor." Belly said sternly before turning back to Nicole, "I'm so sorry, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry. You guys keeping playing." Nicole said to us.

"Feel better Nicole!" I said as she began walking back into the house with Conrad.

Conrad stopped in his tracks, just looking down at me.

"Have fun playing." He said.

Dinner was just as I'd imagined. It was gorgeous and vibrant.

Susannah had made the girls all flower crowns as well, for Midsommar.

I sat in between Jeremiah and Conrad again, but we added another chair next to Belly, because Cam Cameron was here!

Throughout the dinner, Jeremiah kept question Cameron, making fun of him almost.

Somehow Jeremiah got on the talk about kissing dead animals and then kissing Cameron, which made me kick him hard in the shin.

"Ow." He exclaimed.

"Oh shut up."

"I don't mind at all, in fact-" Cameron said as he kissed Belly on the lips.

I'm not even joking. All of our mouths fell open.

From beside me, Steven and Jeremiah both pretended to retch.

"If you guys don't shut up." I said loudly over their obnoxious noises.

It got into our embarrassing moments throughout our childhood at the Fishers as well, but Conrad stayed silent the whole time.

"Hey, I was thinking. Maybe we should go out to Nicole's party?" I asked

"Yes!" Taylor and Belly exclaimed at the same time.

Conrad's eyes met mine for a second before dropping. He didn't seem happy with what I said.

I laid on Belly's bed, staring up at the cieling.

"I think Conrad still hates me." I stated.

Taylor and Belly turned to look at me.

"Why would you say that?" Belly asked.

'I don't know. When I brought up Nicole's' party, he just seemed to go quieter than normal.

Taylor laughed a little, "It's fine Y/N. He's just a dumb boy either way."

I sighed knowing she was right.

"Look at us," Taylor said as we looked in the mirror, "We're hot ass bitches."

She was in the hot pink mini dress, Belly was in a knit crochet top with beige pants, and I was in a halter white and blue top with jeans.

As soon as we walked into the party, a man came down the stair banister, wooing.

And then to the right of the house was what I'm guessing was a dining room. Lot's and lot's of cakes and desserts with 17 and 16 candles.

"Y/N, you guys came!" Nicole's voice said as she made her way through people.

I laughed a little, "Hi, Nicole! You look gorgeous." I said, hugging her.

"Me? Look at you. You look like a goddess."

Nicole lead us through the house and they followed behind. Well everyone but Taylor. She had decided to find a drink for herself.

"Guys, look who's here." Nicole said to the girls.

Nicole began lighting the candles.

"Is this for us?" Belly asked.

"Who else would it be for, Belly?" Nicole asked with a smile.

"Thank you, guys." Belly and I both had said.

"Okay, well, girls, make a wish." Nicole motioned towards the two cakes.

The topic with the group got onto Conrad and how he was.

"He's not talking to anyone else. He's usually just to himself." I said

"Okay well new topic." Nicole said, not wanting to talk about Conrad, "Have you asked anyone to the ball"

"Oh, no. I'm waiting for the right person." I said, giving Nicole a smile.

I looked past Gigi who was saying something to Belly about asking Cam to the ball. Anywho, past Gigi was Conrad. He was messing with his hair and he was laughing and smiling.

I couldn't even lie. He was attractive.

He made eye contact with me as he drank a large part of his beer.

I couldn't like him again though. But there was part of me that knew it could happen again. Susannah told me to believe in second chances.

I don't know what happened really. I was just watching the boys play their little ping pong drinking game and then Belly came out all mad.

"Hey, can we leave?" Belly asked Cameron.

"Oh yeah, yeah." Cameron said.

"Y/N, you need a ride home? I don't want to take you away from the party." Belly said.

"It's fine. I'll give her a ride home." Conrad jumped in.

I looked at him questioningly, but he didn't look back.

"See you later, Bells!" I called out to her as she began to leave.

Jeremiah looked at me.

"What?" I asked.

"Fill in for Cam Cameron please."

I rolled my eyes playfully at him, "Fine, scooch over."

After an hour or so, we all were ready to leave. By now I was drunker then I probably should've been. So drunk that Conrad had to help me to the car and into the car.

He sat in the drivers seat as I just stared at him.

"You're like the moon to my sun." I sighed, touching his hair.

He grabbed onto my hand, putting it back into my lap.

"Y/N, you're drunk." He said to me.

"Noo, you're drunk." I said to him, booping his nose.

I came down stairs the next morning. Jeremiah already in the kitchen, mixing himself up one of his smoothies.

"Hit me." I said to him as I groaned and propped my head on the table with my arm.

He laughed, splitting his smoothie with me.

"You drank a lot last night for such a small girl."

"I shouldn't have." I said, gulping down a large amount of the drink.

Belly came down the stairs soon, grabbing the box of cereal and pouring some in her mouth.

"I'm guessing you and tay-tay haven't made up yet?" I asked.

"No." Belly said with no emotion.

At the party, Steven and Taylor were making out and then Belly had walked in.

"You guys want to do a muffin run?" I asked.

"I'm always up for a muffin run." Jeremiah smiled. Belly also agreed.

"Can you get the keys from Conrad's room? Jeremiah asked.

I nodded, "Yeah sure. Is he home?"

"No, he dropped you off at home and then spent the night at Nicole's" Jeremiah explained.

"Oh um." I stammered, "Do you know where he keeps the keys?"

"Uh, they should be in his desk." Jeremiah said.

I never really was in Conrad's room often. But it didn't look much different than the last time I had seen it. It was obviously boat themed which was cute.

His drawers were messy inside. Nothing was organized and there were like 5 condoms.

There was also a black velvet pouch which I took out. Yes, I'm nosy, but I wanted to know what was inside.

I opened it and saw a moon bracelet.

I put the bracelet charm against my sun charm and it fit perfectly. What the hell was wrong with him?

When we went home, I drove Belly and Taylor to the bus stop.

I sat in the car with Belly as we watched Taylor wait in line for the bus.

"You're not going to say goodbye?" I asked her skeptically.

"I don't want to talk to her." Belly said, not making eye contact with me.

"Come on Belly, she's your best friend. She loves you, especially if she came out here just for your birthday."

Belly sighed, "Fine."

Once she came back in, she seemed mad, but I didn't care.

"I know i'm only a year older than you, but just take my wisdom for once." I joked, "Boys might come and go, but your best friend is once in a lifetime. You're lucky you have someone like Taylor. We never know what the future will hold, so you have to hold tight to that relationship."

Friends come and go. Boys come and go. But best friends stay. They're real. That's what I loved about the Fishers and Conklins. They were my best friends and they always stayed. Every single year.

[anothersoulless]

Red Windows {Cloud Strife x Reader}

I've been gone for a long while working on like, 10 different drafts on and off while also managing life (it's stressful rn, ngl) but let's get to a different thing I wanted to do (so I have more stuff to work on :3)

Considering Spotify wrapped was released a bit ago, I will work on OneShots based on my wrapped, they're gonna be smaller though, since I'm trying to rekindle my passion for writing. Also, of course, I keep my right to skip any song, the only songs I 100% will do are song in my top 5, also song I already based a OneShot off do not get a second one unless i want to. Anyways, I know I ALREADY wrote something with this song, but I'm gonna be honest... I hate it. So let's change that! (this one is a lot better but I still don't like it, anywho)

First up:

The music in the club was loud, nearly deafening as you sat down near the bar, your drink right in front of you. The main lights were dimmed, wildly coloured spotlights roaming on an automated path through the room, some device near the ceiling creating a colour-changing star pattern on the floor. There was a dance floor at the farthest wall, even though most people just danced wherever they wanted to. The barkeeper was rushing around behind the bar, due to some misfortune, all alone this evening.

Taking another sip of your drink, you watched the crowd. It all seemed to blur together, like it was all distant, until you looked back at your drink, the liquid a light blue hue due to whatever juice the mocktail was mixed with. Some people were obviously singing along with the music, their voice drowned out by the bass running through you body, shaking the floor and glasses. Watching over the crowd, your eye got caught on multiple couples, some just looking great, some dancing in a ridiculous manner, others getting a tad bit too handsy. Adverting your gaze again, you downed your drink, ready to leave. It hadn't even been your idea to come here, and yet he was the one who was late.

You made your way to the barkeeper, sliding the money over you owed them, some additional dollars added, as you left. You bid the guard near the exit goodbye, wishing him a good day and leaving the estate, going up the stairs to ground level. Immediately, there was a big commotion, two people arguing about something. It was definitely the guy who checked everyone and gave them the bracelet, arguing with someone about their ID. You pulled out your phone, while walking up, already pulling up the chat with your date, writing only a meager "I'm leaving, thanks for the heads-up" and sending it. You pocketed your phone and looked towards the commotion, stopping dead in your tracks.

"Please, I swear I'm 18, how else would I have a Tattoo? I really just forgot my ID, doesn't my driver's license prove enough?!" But the Guard was unyielding, despite his logic being flawed, still denying the blonde entry. The blonde with the unique hairstyle and the striking outfit you had been looking out for all night. A blonde with a tattoo on his lower arm. It were too many similarities to be a coincidence, especially after he begged to just talk to his date waiting inside, since his phone died. You went up to him then, tapping him on the shoulder. "Cloud?" The blonde turned around, dressed in a loose, white button-up without a tie, a bit messy on his figure, yet still charming, paired with grey dress pants and black dress shoes.

He was confused, not immediately recognizing you, taking a few seconds to register. "I'm sorry, I swear I would have been here on time, but I was in such a rush I forgot my ID at home and-" you smiled, stopping him with a hand hold up "I heard, it's okay. Let's just do this another day" Cloud seemed a bit defeated, before he perked up. "Wait, uh- I... I know a place we could go, if.. if you still want to?" You blinked a few times, debating. "Sure, are you driving?" He nodded, leading you to his vehicle. You didn't know what you expected, maybe something like a car, definitely not a motorbike, though. With a bit of help from him, you got on, before he gave you a spare helmet and his riding jacket, which you happily accepted. You could tell he was a lot more careful when riding, a lot more tense. Maybe he didn't want to scare you? It was kind of cute really. And your hands felt warm thanks to his body heat, which made you wonder just how warm he was when he wasn't subjected to cold evening air. Shrugging that thought aside was probably a bad idea, considering you could just feel his muscles under the shirt, now the only thing your mind focused on. They weren't rock-hard, still a bit squishy and you hoped to god he hadn't noticed when your fingers dug into his flesh a bit, or, if he noticed, that he thought it was because of the motorcycle.

The Place you two ended up at looked nothing like the club he had chosen originally. It was a bit run down, made of wood and looked a bit messy with the string lights and the huge sign reading Seventh Heaven. Cloud let you get off the bike first, then parked it and turned to you with an apologetic look. "I know it's nothing like we planned and definitely not what you thought, if you want to leave-" you smiled and cut into his words. "It's okay, it doesn't matter where we eat or drink, we wanted to get to know each other, one as long as it's good i don't mind." He smiled. "It's the best, even if it looks a bit sketchy" You gave him back his Jacket and he packed away everything, before offering you his arm. You took his hand and he led the way, up the stairs and through the double doors. There was a woman behind the counter, gorgeous, and she already looked tough from a bit away. She looked up and surprise crossed her face. "Cloud?" She then looked at you, and before she even asked who you were she seemed to already know, instead asking what had happened for you two to end up here instead of the 'fancy' place that was the original plan.

The bar was empty, but it looked clean and lived in, loved even. Cloud didn't hesitate, striding to the counter and sitting down after you. He let you introduce each other, before he explained that she was a childhood friend who had already helped him many times in various situations. She was nice, saying she'd even give you two something to eat, as you and Cloud started your date. "So, childhood friends?" He nodded simply. "Yeah. Tifa and I have been... Through a lot of complicated-" he paused, for a minute. "It's not like we even dated, god no" he blushed at that thought. Embarrassed. "It's just a lot of complicated things we've experienced together." You smiled cheekily, sipping on the drink in front of you, shimmering just as blue as Cloud's eyes and resting you head on you hand, before you teased "So she's no one I should worry about?"

He sputtered, nearly choking on his drink, as he rushed to reassure you, while you simply chuckled. "Don't worry, I know how it is. It's good to have such a close friend, really." Your date smiled then, a small smile but it was there. "Yeah. I don't have many friends, admittedly. You don't really make a lot of friends when you have my last and my job and... Well, I've been alone a lot. Tifa was there when I needed her and I got some real good friends afterwards as well. They're good friends, all of them"

Cloud was always very vague about his job and past, but you didn't mind. It was not your place to pry. Not yet, anyways. Maybe someday... You looked at his glass, the drink a ruby red, so clear and vibrant it nearly looked like it was a crystal itself. "So, I know people always wonder, so, did you already have a girlfriend?" He pondered. "I wouldn't call her that. She was a very close friend but it was never more, even if the lines blurred sometimes." There was another faint blush. God, you just loved the way his cheek turned a light pink. "We're still close friends. You'll probably meet her some day."

You chuckled then, "Some day, huh? Looking to repeat today even before it got really started?" His cheeks turned even brighter, and he stammered a bit, definitely flustered beyond compare now. "It's not- I- I didn't mean that, it just slipped out." You laughed, and patted him on the arm. "Think about what you say better, next time" Next time. Some day. A promise of another meeting. Even if he failed to meet you on time. Even if it wasn't the best date ever or ideal or anything like it, you got to know him well. Probably even better than you would originally have, and there was just something about him. Those really bright blue eyes and the blonde hair and the soft, light paper skin had caught your attention. Paired with his tougher build, you didn't know what to expect, but he was a perfect mix of both.

"I have dated a few before. The best relationship I had was probably with a girl from a different neighbourhood, a poor one. My parents didn't approve, but she was the sweetest girl ever." You explained. "We broke it off because we realised we didn't click like that, and we stayed friends as well." His eyes rested on you, studying you. You looked back at him and smiled sweetly. "You know, every time I look at you, I have one thought in mind: pretty. How can you actually be so beautiful?" He blushed at your words, scrambling for words yet again and looking away. "It's weird how you can't handle compliments. Surely, you must have gotten these a few times, no?" He shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. I just... Never cared about the person saying it." "Awe, so you care about me already? It's our first date, and you're already falling for me."

In a flurry of braveness, he looked you dead in the eyes, "what if I am?" Dear Lord, you nearly felt your soul leave your body, this man had really no idea what he was doing, nearly killing you like that. You stayed silent, air whipped out of your lungs and thoughts racing through your brain, too fast to grasp. And then a whisper: "That wouldn't be a bad thing" Both of you blushed, and the evening went on. A small homely meal later, a few drinks in your system, your arm religiously brushed against his, your shoe bumping against his chair more often than before, sitting closer together now as well. You laughed and you ate and you drank. Then he had to stop, still wanting to be able to drive home. You decided to call it a night, a sense of uncertainty washing over you two.

You didn't want to push it. It had been a really fun night. He fumbled nearly every step along the way, but still managed to make it even better than expected. When you went to the bathroom, you took a pen and a piece of a bill that you left in your pocket and scribbled down your number on it, folding it. Considering he hadn't asked for your number and simply did everything via the app you two met over, you figured maybe this would push him in the right direction without pushing too far.

You returned to the counter, tapping Cloud on the shoulder. "We should probably call it a night. I have to work tomorrow, and you can't drink anymore because you need to drive, so I'd say this is a fairly good place to stop." He looked at you, from his sitting position, for a second, before he stood up. "Yeah, you're probably right. Do you want me to drive you home, or is that too soon?" You shook your head. "A little bit too soon, Cloud." You bid your goodbye to Tifa before returning to Clouds bike. "Don't worry about me getting home. I'll have a friend pick me up in a few minutes. On another note... I really had fun tonight. Somehow, even when it first looked like you had just ditched me, you made it... Probably my best date ever. Thank you for that. You leaned up to kiss him on the cheek, and handed him the paper.

"Call me if you want it throw it away if you don't. I hope I'll see you again?" He smiled again then, leaning down a bit. Your faces were so goddamn close, mouths nearly touching. "You definitely will" and then he kissed your forehead and smiled as he drove off. You look back at the bar. Tifa standing in the double doors and shaking her head, smiling. He still had to work on some of his etiquette, but he was doing really well. And you? You simply smiled, a giddy feeling in your chest, while the corners of your mouth refused to lower even an inch.

[nightowlfandom]

Villain! BNHA AU- Our Little Apprentice: Episode-Todoroki Pt1

CHECK OUT MY MASTERLIST HERE!!

X RATED PROMPT LIST| NON X RATED PROMPT LIST

Triggers- Fem! Reader, talks of cheating, violence,

Episode-PROLOGUE| Episode-Deku| Episode- Bakugou

Leggo!

Now playing- Episode: Todoroki

...

O.R.C.H.I.D- Kink Unlocked : Temperature Play

(Flashback)

“Y/N please let’s talk about this!”

“Talk about what?!” you snapped. “The fact that I FOUND you with your tongue down some girl’s throat?” your voice wavered. “AND DO NOT TELL ME IT WAS FOR THE CAMERAS.” you held out a threatening finger. “How could you do this to me?”

“Y/N I would never! I didn’t! My agency thinks I should be with her to boost my reputation! They probably fabricated the whole thing with someone who looked like me!”

“What did you say in response?” you asked. “When they said it...what did you say?”

He was silent.

“So this is about your fucking agency.” you laughed harshly. “Forget old quirkless Y/N and her clumsy ass...do you think that excuses what you did?”

“Y/N this isn’t about you being quirkless- Maybe to them but-!”

“I don’t believe you...you were wearing the bracelet I gave you for your birthday that one year...the one you suddenly lost the minute you went mainstream...Remember?”

“Maybe the others are right...you’re probably just insecure but that doesn’t mean-.”

Your face faltered as those words left his lips. “Insecure?” You cut him off. “...M-me being hurt that I saw you or someone I thought willingly kissed someone else for publicity is me being insecure?” you dared to ask. “Me already having to deal with people telling you I’m a charity case...is that it?” you crossed your arms.

“That’s not what I said-”

“THAT’S HOW IT SOUNDS...I watched you kiss her like you kiss me...without so much as a hitch!”

“Y/N you’re emotional right now. Let’s please talk about this! How can I prove to you-”

(Flashback end)

“Y/N? Y/N!” Izuku waved his hand in your face, snapping you out of your daze. “Did you hear me?”

“Huh?” you raised an eyebrow. “Sorry, I didn’t. What did you say?”

“I said you did a good job on the heist.” he repeated himself. “In both regards.” he winked. You felt your face heat up. “How did everything go?”

You all had returned to the warehouse. You had been zoning in and out since everyone was talking about...shit- who cared.

“A few troublemakers but I made short work of them.” you replied. “They weren’t well armed at all.”

“Well thanks to your device, we were able to successfully extort that asshole and get what we wanted, what was it’s name again?” Tenya asked.

“O.R.C.H.I.D. Short for Operative Really Cool Hyper Intelligent Device....I was 16 when I thought of it don’t judge me. She’s the most powerful super computer in the world.” 

“What made you build her?” asked Izuku. 

“I was build as a homework helper for Y/N while she was still in school. Then she gave me hyper intel to allow me to interact as humans do...along with this totally fabulous style.” the silver haired avatar gloated. 

“Aren’t you scared she’d turned against you?” Shoto asked, making you roll your eyes.

“Y/N is my creator...I’d never turn against her...you on the other hand. One command and you’re all dust.”

“She’s kidding.” you shook your head. “O.R.C.H.I.D, behave.”

“They all have muscles, they shouldn’t be scared.” your A.I rolled her eyes.

“Okay, you’re being muted.” you pressed a button that completely folded up your super computer back into a laptop sized disk.

“That still impresses me no matter how many times I see it.” Izuku shook his head.

“T-thanks.” you stared down at your fingers. “Not that I’m grateful to be here but, do I actually have a place to sleep or am I just gonna stay here with a blow up mattress.” you half joked. 

“Oh we all have our own bedrooms. I’ll show you yours now if you want.”

“That’d be great.” you nervously smile.

“G’night Y/N~” Denki sang as you passed him. “Feel free to come to my room any time.”

“No one is gonna let me live this down are they?” you whispered to yourself.

You got your answer in the form of a smack to your ass, courtesy of Katsuki who hadn’t stopped smirking since all you to the warehouse. Of course. “Y/N is easily the best piece of ass I’ve ever had.” he boasted, not caring if you could hear.

“God the things I’d do to her-”

“You and me both dude.”

“I can’t wait to bed her over and-”

“Good night, Y/N.”

“Go die, Shoto.” you spat in response as you and Izuku left the board room.

“Dude what did you do to make her hate you so much?” Kirishima asked as you walked farther down the hall. You and Izuku stopped outside a door with your name written on it in black permanent marker.

“It’s not much, but-”

“It’s perfect.” you waved him off. It was twice as big as the shoebox bedroom you used to live in. “A paint job is all it needs.” you nodded.

“Great. Um...I’ll leave you to it then...Hey Y/N?” 

“Yeah Izu-” he cut you off with a very quick peck on the lips.

“I’m really glad you’re here...really.” he grabbed your hand. “I really did miss my best friend.”

“I missed you too Izu.” your faced heated intensely like it did did when he gave you a heart-shaped cookie with your name on it for Valentines day once. “Just don’t make me regret this, okay?”

“I won’t. I promise.” he whispered. “...Night.”

“....Have nice dreams.” you called quietly as the door closed. “ORCHID, set up.”

“Setting up!”

You grabbed your handheld keyboard as you sat on the cute little twin bed they had picked out for you. “Why am I doing this?” you sighed. “I’ve always fought for the greater good.”

“...Well, and I’m sorry to say this...the greater good hasn’t treated you well since you were a child and I was only as big as a cellphone helping you with your homework. I know I’ve been against this...but maybe you should be making the world pay.”

“Weren’t you just reprimanding me for doing this like 12 hours ago? anyways...That’s what I’m afraid of. What if I have to fight the people I call my friends.”

“According to my data, no one in your graduating class has taken up hero work. All of them are imprisoned...or doing the devil’s work.”

‘Really?” you raised an eyebrow. “So it was only me and my naivety. I guess I thought since I finally got a quirk of my own, I owed it to God or whoever else was listening...cuz I thought it was a blessing.” you began undressing yourself from your day clothes.

“When you built me, you promised to use my data to help people. But you never said which side you’d fight on...you’re allowed to change your mind at any time...remember that. I just want you to be happy.”  

You nodded as your AI companion assured you. You missed your friends and Izuku was right. Humanity sucked ass. “Okay then.” you pulled your shirt over your head.  “Fine.”

“Y/N, someone’s outside your door.”

“Huh?” you looked up at your screen. 

“Not outside anymore.” a new voice grabbed your attention 

“DUDE WHAT THE FUCK!” you sent a power blast at Shoto who had barged in.

“Too slow.” he smirked, stopping it with an ice shield. “To think I can encapsulate your quirk in my palms...much like I’ve encapsulated your heart, Y/N.” he hummed as he shut the door.

“GET OUT!” you yelled, not caring if the whole damn compound could hear. You hid behind your discarded clothes. “WHY ARE YOU IN HERE!”

“I assumed you were hungry so I was told to bring you dinner.”

“And you couldn’t knock like a regular FUCKING PERSON!” you seethed. You ran behind the bed and bent down grabbing a bunch of random clothes out of your duffel. “Or leave it outside the damn door!”

“I’ve been acquainted with your body on more than one occasion Y/N.” 

You grumpily put of a pair of pajama shorts and the first shirt you saw sticking out. “Fuck off.”

“You kept my shirt?”

“Huh?” you looked down. It was a plain black button-up that you instantly recognized to be his. You stole it from him when you slept over at his place one night. “Whatever-”

“Y/N...” Shoto began. “Can we talk?”

“About what?” you crossed your arms. “I have nothing to say to you!”

“I never cheated on you...”

“This again!” you seethed. “Shoto, I am NOT worried about that right now.” You noticed he was holding a plate. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Pizza rolls and mozzarella sticks...your favorite midnight snack as I remember.” he smiled as he set it on the table. 

There was an uncomfortable silence between us, and you hated it. 

“Remember when we first met?” he broke the silence.

“How could I forget...” you huffed.

Flashback

“Need help with that?”

Your body froze as the helping hand came out of nowhere. The book you had been trying to reach was put in your hand with ease.

“Um...thanks!” you smiled nervously. You had already heard rumors from some of the girls around, but at the same time they told you not to get your hopes up.

“I’ve never seen you around here, I can only assume you’re new?”

“Mhm? Y/N L/N..I’m that quirkless girl you may have heard about.”

“Oh, really? I didn’t hear th-”

“Don’t lie. Please, it will make it easier for us to get along.” you laughed stiffly.

“S-sorry, I just didn’t think you wanted to talk about it.” he smiled. “If it’s any consolation, I also heard you were quite beautiful...”

“From who?”

“My conscious.”

“What?” you went wide eyed.

“I ...I don’t know why I said that....” he froze. “I’m sorry.” he rasped. 

“N-no, that’s okay.” you giggled. “Um....I liked it.”

(End Flashback)

...

“To think we’ve come so far since then.” he mused. 

“Well, things change.”

“To think something as trivial as a mistaken kiss-”

“Is that what you call it, you were practically dry humping the girl.”

“Oh, now you’re being dramatic on purpose.” he glared. 

“Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t think the ‘unce unce’ music affected your brain too” you scoffed, crossing your arms. “Seriously, it’s like you don’t even remember!”

“Y/N...are we talking about the same instance?” he raised an eyebrow. “I am very lost right now.”

“Well you shouldn’t be! You’d think you’d remember your own birthday party!”

“Birthday party?...You’re not talking about the kiss?”

“Of course I’m not talking about the kiss! I’m talking about the club!”

For some odd reason he looked hella confused. “Y/N, what on Earth are you-”

“You don’t remember walking out of a club on your 18th birthday like 7 years ago? Before graduation?”

“Y/N, I have no idea what you’re talking about!”

“You are so unbelievable!” You seethed. “You don’t remember being at The King of Hearts Club in Tokyo.”

“Of course I do, it was my birthday, but Y/N...I left like 3 hours after I got there to go to your place!”

“Oh really, because I went there after Bakugou called my phone saying you were drunk as hell and needed to be picked up.” you scoffed. 

Now YOU were confused. How did he not remember?! “I wonder-....”

“Wonder what?” he asked.

“ORCHID can access video feeds...if she can get the footage- or at least coordinates”

“Already on it!” your AI companion spoke. “Shoto Todoroki entered The King of Hearts club at 8PM and left at 11:15PM”

Now you were even more confused. “But I got there at arounf 11:30...I SAW him!...Show me the camera feed! The Red Room is where I saw him.”

“Showing camera footage of The Red Room of the King of Hearts club Jan. 11th, 7 years ago.”

You watched in complete shock. The screen showed someone who very much looked like Shoto from the back, but what really killed you was the fact that the person you thought was Shoto morphed into someone else. You saw yourself on camera stomping off 45 seconds before he morphed back into someone completely different.

“My files show that the person in question has a quirk that allows them to take on the form of another.” O.R.C.H.I.D spoke. “They were arrested 3 years ago for attempting to impersonate the U.S president and is currently in the Los Angeles State Prison.”

You didn’t know how to feel, what to do, but you knew one thing....

Shoto was telling the truth...

“Oh my god.” you covered your mouth with your hands.

“I never cheated on you Y/N...I swear on my life.”

“I...I blamed you...I said I never wanted to see you again.” you whimpered. “I said those awful things to you.”

You felt your soul start to ache. 

“No- don’t do what I think you’re about to do.” he ushered up to you and held the sides of your face. “Don’t say what I think you’re about to say.”

“Shoto I spent the last 7 years of my life hating you-”

“And I sent the last 7 waiting for the day I could redeem myself.” he replied. “It’s not your fault, What you saw was your reality in that moment...whether you knew it or not. When you told me what you saw I knew something was wrong but I knew your trust in me was so fucked from the whole agency thing, that I couldn’t get you to believe me.”

You telling Izuku who also kicked his ass the next week wasn’t any help either....

“I- I...” you felt the tears sting your eyes. 

“Shh, don’t cry...please don’t cry.” he began pecking your lips. “Shhhh.” He rested his forehead against yours, and you were full on crying now. He wrapped his arms around your, holding you close for the first time in years. He always wanted to do it, he just didn’t think it would be under this circumstance. 

“I am so sorry.” you sobbed into his shoulder. “Shoto I-”

“Shh, it’s okay.” he laughed. “Please don’t cry...” 

Shoto tightened his hold on you, but you couldn’t see him clenching his fists. Watching that footage sent a chill up his spine that could curdle blood. He spent years wondering what he did only to be framed...this wouldn’t go without a little visit to the states...but for a...courtesy visit...but first-

“Y/N...” he made you look at him. “Look at me.” he held your gaze. “Oh, I missed you so much baby~ Did you miss me?”

“Um....mhm.” you sheepishly nodded.

“Then...why don’t we celebrate a little...hm?”

“What do you mean by that?” you had completely forgotten your hunger at this point.

“Let me show you~”

... To be continued (Coming Soon)

I just wanted to say....um...thanks for being patient with me...um...I haven’t been okay...but I will be..I promise. 

[urlocalwormtoday]

I don't know what it is, but the inherent intimacy of just giving someone a bracelet you made or a pair of pants or a spare book to read is so quiet on so many levels but so powerful.

I hear it like wind chimes on the front porch. It's always there, always rattling and beautiful. I feel it like how I feel the dread of the future, like how I feel hot water burning on skin, like how I feel the aching behind my eyes after a lonely night of crying.

I see it in the laugh of a friend. In the smirk after a corny joke. In the pins and buttons attached to backpack straps and purses. I know it's there, in shared glances and in wearing the same shirt and in loving the same things.

There's love here, always and forever. Even when we're apart. Even if it's not the traditional kind. Even if it's strange and old and lovely. I remember the smell of their clothes. I remember their favorite animes. I remember their favorite games.

I look down at the bracelet in my hand and think, 'at what point did I do something strong enough to deserve this?'.

I remember watching a friend handmake a rubber band bracelet for me specifically. I still have that bracelet. I still have the one Zee gave me. It's all still here, even if it's been lost or broken. I've never forgotten.

Collecting pieces of other people is the most tenderly powerful thing you can do, I think.

Me and Zee have matching Crane Wives shirts. Me and Madi have matching skins in COS because we play together so often. Me and that same rubber band friend were born on the same day. We joke that we're twins.

I've put my friends back together when they began to crumble. I've led them to shore when they were lost in the thunderclouds above, piercing through the dark like a lighthouse. I can't fix the broken boards. I can't fix the tattered sails. But I can surely lead them home.

Every piece of you will echo into a piece of me, the same way rubble from the ceiling of a damp cave falls into water and rests the bottom.

The water never forgets. The cave never forgets. The rubble has a new home, among mossy pebbles and stagnant water that hugs it tight.

[cyberpunkonline]

Hey there, gamer fren! Buckle up, because we're about to dive headfirst into the pixelated time capsule of the 16-bit era, where video games pushed boundaries, buttons, and occasionally, a few more than that. Grab your joystick, my 90s rebel, as we explore the most controversial games that made Mary Whitehouse clutch her pearls and the censors hit the panic button.

Setting the 90s Scene: A Blast from the Past

Before we embark on our journey through pixelated provocations, let's set the stage. The 90s were an era of frosted tips, slap bracelets, and some wild societal norms. It was a time when over-the-top action heroes were all the rage, and people seemed to think shoulder pads were an essential fashion accessory.

In the world of video games, the 16-bit era was a wild west of creativity. Developers were pushing the limits of technology, storytelling, and, occasionally, good taste. Some games, in their quest for edginess and boundary-pushing, left parents, politicians, and pundits clutching their Walkmans in shock.

Hot Coffee and Controversy: "Mortal Kombat"

"Mortal Kombat" wasn't just a game; it was an outrage sensation. Released in 1992, this iconic fighter was infamous for its graphic, over-the-top violence. Spines were ripped out, heads were decapitated, and buckets of pixelated blood were spilled. This gore-fest had parents petitioning for stricter game ratings faster than you could shout "Finish Him!"

But wait, there's more! The Genesis version of "Mortal Kombat" featured a code that unlocked a "blood mode," which was like cranking the violence dial up to eleven. It wasn't just the uppercuts that were jaw-dropping; it was the moral outrage that followed.

Banned in the USA: "Night Trap"

Next up, we have "Night Trap." This Sega CD game was a full-motion video thriller that put you in control of a security system in a sorority house. But here's the kicker – it was accused of promoting voyeurism and even had scenes with scantily clad actresses in peril.

This game, along with the controversy surrounding it, was one of the key factors leading to the creation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). So, while "Night Trap" was banned in some places, it also played a pivotal role in shaping the game rating system we have today.

Pixel Passion: "Leisure Suit Larry"

Now, let's talk about Larry. "Leisure Suit Larry" was a series known for its saucy humor and risqué themes. Larry Laffer, the hapless protagonist, was on a quest for love in all the wrong places. With its suggestive content and mature themes, Larry's adventures had tongues wagging and critics clutching their pearls.

Hellish Horrors: "Doom"

Enter the gates of Hell with "Doom." This first-person shooter brought gamers face to face with demons, gore, and a visceral sense of violence. "Doom" wasn't just controversial; it was a moral panic waiting to happen. Critics feared that it could corrupt the youth and turn them into bloodthirsty fiends. But for gamers, it was a thrill ride into the darkest corners of gaming.

Thrill Kill: The Game That Never Was

Now, let's talk about a game that pushed the envelope so far it got locked in a padded cell. "Thrill Kill" was a fighting game that was so violent and sexually explicit that it was never officially released. The game's content was so over-the-top that it became the stuff of legends, a game so controversial it was deemed too hot for the market.

Carmageddon: Driving on the Edge

Last but not least, we have "Carmageddon," a game that turned racing into a gleeful vehicular manslaughter extravaganza. Players mowed down pedestrians and rival drivers in a race to the finish line. Unsurprisingly, this vehicular violence stirred up quite a storm, with some countries even banning the game or demanding that it be censored.

Conclusion: Are We Better Off Now?

So, Tengushee, the big question is, are we better off now? The 16-bit era gave us a taste of gaming's wild side, pushing boundaries and sparking conversations about content and responsibility. It paved the way for better regulation, more diverse storytelling, and a more nuanced understanding of what video games can be.

Sure, the controversy was wild, but it also led to growth and maturity in the gaming industry. Today, we have a thriving landscape of games that cater to every taste, from family-friendly fun to mature and thought-provoking experiences. So, while we'll always have a soft spot for the pixelated provocations of the 16-bit era, it's safe to say we're better off now.

Thanks for taking this radical trip down memory lane, joystick wagglers. Until next time, keep those game controllers charged, and remember, the 90s may be gone, but their spirit lives on in the pixels of history.

- Raz

[shy-sapphic-ace]

I want to talk about my day yesterday presenting my pride flag bracelet project at school! :D (if you're not interested feel free to scroll by)

So yesterday at school was the day where the students graduating from my school in my program (International Baccalaureate, or IB) have to present their end-of-year project, that they create themselves and set their own criteria and use to learn new skills and gain new experiences and such. I had all year to work on it with the help of my personal project mentor, my old science teacher who helped me set my schedules and organize my stuff. The presentations lasted the whole day with IB students of the other grade levels coming during the day and in the evening, we presented to our parents, some graduates of the program, and the parents of kids who possibly want to join the IB program at our school.

So my project was to make a total of 315 bracelets with the colours of 21 different pride flags (rainbow, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, omnisexual, aromantic, asexual, aroace, abrosexual, trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, genderqueer, agender, bigender, trigender, demiboy, demigirl, and demigender) to sell this summer at the pride parade happening in Montreal. All the money I would make is going to Jag, an lgbtqia+ organization. I also sold some bracelets to students at my school on Valentine's Day and I was offering some during the presentations as well. This was my poster:

I got to stand beside my friends for the presentation, so that was fun. Anyway, here are a few nice things that happened during the day:

One of my friends bought like ten bracelets for herself and her friends, and she'd invited over some more of her friends to see her presentation and they bought some too!

One of her friends had a really nice colourful button-up shirt and I wanted to compliment it but I was too shy, but when they asked to buy an asexual bracelet they complimented me on my shirt and my hair!! So I told them I liked their shirt as well.

A bunch of adults (and some students) said while reading my display "wow, I never knew there were so many flags! I only knew about the rainbow one!" and most of them looked genuinely interested to learn about the different flags and their meanings. A lady also told me "oh my gosh, more people should know this! This is important!"

A young kid, maybe 10-11 years old here with his mom, listened to my presentation and told me it was cool, and asked me if I was lgbtq myself. I said yes, lesbian and asexual, and I pointed at the corresponding flags on my display, and he gave me a thumbs-up and said "Awesome! I support you". (Seriously it was so cute)

I got complimented a lot on how nice the bracelets looked, and how much time it must've taken to make them.

There was also this retired teacher who used to work at this school and who always came back for the project fair, the first openly gay teacher in the school and the former leader of the school's Rainbow Alliance Club, who came by to compliment me on my project, he bought two bracelets and gave me five dollars and told me to have a happy Pride this summer.

And there was this really nice old man who came to see my project, listened really attentively when I explained it, asked me questions about the organization the money was going to, and then took me by the shoulder and said "I think it's wonderful that in this generation, you can do a project like this and present it. Back when I was your age, you couldn't do something like this, and it's just amazing that it exists now. Who are we to judge others, right? Good job on the project." and he called his wife over to show her all the bracelets I'd made and she said they were beautiful.

So anyway I had a really god time even though I was exhausted by the end of the day. It was so nice to have people genuinely interested in my project and the pride flags, and I can't wait to sell them at the Pride Parade this summer! (:

[m1dnyt3-w0lf]

The Day They Met

Turquoise Team Origins

Jade carefully removed the vent cover and placed it beside him. He looked down at the room he was about to enter. It was a wide room with multiple artifacts in glass cases. His eyes went from one to another until he found his prize, a bracelet made in complete black material save for green knobs and a green line going around the bracelet. He quickly grabbed a spray can from a bag next to him and shook it. He pointed it outside the vent and sprayed, doing as wide a sweep as he could. He watched carefully for some time. When nothing happened, he breathed in relief. He didn't have to worry about lasers, just as the Buyer said. He pulled out some rope and a pulley system attached to a large suction cup. His hands moved quickly as he attached the rope to himself and the pulley system. Then, he stuck the suction cup against the vent wall, an echo sounding down the vent shaft. He huffed, knowing he'll have to move quickly. Without a moment of hesitation, he fell out of the vent shaft and began to lower himself down to the floor below. Once firmly on the floor, he detached the rope and hurried to the bracelet, double tapping a glass panel that sat below the glass case. A holographic screen projected from the glass panel asking for a code. Jade pinched the bottom of the screen and pulled toward himself, effectively pulling out a hidden keyboard. He typed the password the Buyer gave him and hit enter. The screen flashed red.

"Fucking prick!" He shouted under his breath as alarms sounded around him. Jade didn't have time to react as the doors to the room broke open and many armed guards rushed in, followed behind by several scientists and the Buyer. Jade glared at them all, his green eyes boring into the deep brown of the Buyer's.

"Excellent job, Neo, if that even is your real name. You truly have made a breakthrough in the name of science." The Buyer said. Jade frowned deeply.

"Whatever. Just give me my money and I'll be out of here." He said coolly, keeping himself on guard. The Buyer smirked.

"And let you have another chance to steal from us? I've read your file, Neo. You're the most skilled thief in this city, and from what I see, there's a hefty bounty over your head." Jade's calm expression turned to one of anger as his brows knit closer together, and a snarl turned his lips down. The Buyer, however, wore a shit eating grin. Jade knew the Buyer thought he won, and, for a moment, so did he. He looked between every armed guard and scientist, attempting to plot his escape. He thought of every bit of information he was given and researched about the place and the bracelet.

"What's so special about a bracelet?" Jade asked.

"It's not just a bracelet. It's a highly powered piece of tech." The Buyer responded.

"Isn't everything else in that facility?" Jade had already decided to fluke out on the mission.

"This one is different. It's practically an entire army against your wrist! It has the latest in impenetrable armor and claws sharper than razors. Night vision, thermal, trackers, you name it!"

"Whoop-de-do-da. What are you paying me?" Jade didn't bother to look at the Buyer. He seemed too occupied by the throwing knife he was twirling around.

"Five million." Jade's movements stopped immediately, giving the Buyer a side glance.

"Five million? Must be an important anniversary with the missus." He dryly jokes. The Buyer simply kept that professionally strained smile. Jade looked back to his knife, twirling it again.

"I'll do it."

"Good. Now, before we get into details, I have to warn you about it."

"And that is?" He found it annoying when his clients would dramatically pause.

"You can not let this bracelet touch your bare wrist."

"Oh yeah? Why's that?"

"It'll latch onto you and won't come off. Scientists there haven't created an off button in your terms."

Jade's eyes shifted to the bracelet. If what anything the Buyer said was true, it had to be that. His eyes met the Buyer's. Time to play a little game.

"Alright, you've caught me." He said in a bored tone. Jade took off one glove and tossed it on the floor.

"The greatest thief of all time bested by a scientist. Whaddaya know, logic does beat stealth." The Buyer chuckled, the joke making no sense to Jade. He decided to play it up.

"You're right. I was such a fool to think I'd ever outsmart such a smart man." He tossed his other glove and slowly started to roll up his sleeve. The Buyer gloated in the praise.

"And here I thought it would be harder from everything I heard about you. I suppose everyone else was simply incompetent." Jade blew some of his hair out of his face, completely failing as the hair barely moved.

"Right, you are." Once his wrist was completely exposed, he smirked. "Although you forget one thing."

"And what's that?" Jade met the eyes of the Buyer again, his gaze no longer showing anger but determination. The Buyer's eyes widened.

"You never see stealth coming." Jade stiffened his arm and swung it hard against the glass. Surprisingly, it shattered upon impact, but Jade was sure he broke his wrist when he hissed upon impact.

"Fire! Kill him!" The Buyer shouted, moving the guards into action and letting loose a deadly rain of lead. Jade hit his wrist against the bracelet, unfortunately taking a few shots into his legs and lower back as the bracelet began to expand and crawl against his body. The bullets began to clang and ricochet against the expanding material until it completely coated Jade, temporarily locking him in darkness.

"Hold your fire!" The Buyer yelled, muffled by the suit. Jade's breathing was quick and shallow, hissing at the pain of his shot wounds.

"Beginning healing protocol." A robotic female voice spoke clearly in his ears. Jade didn't even have the chance to react when a cooling sensation filled the areas where he had been shot. They became numb before a sudden, heated pressure dug into the wounds, making Jade cry out. Just as fast as the heating sensation came, it left, leaving Jade feeling as he did before the wounds.

"What the-"

"Voice recognition applied. Host found."

"What?" His question was left unanswered as a screen in front of his eyes brightened up and showed him the outside world. There stood the scientists and guards in front of him, staring in awe and uneasiness. Jade slowly stood, the metal somehow feeling lightweight. The surrounding people stumbled backward, making them even more uneasy.

"Eighteen hostiles counted. How do you wish to proceed?" The woman's voice spoke into his ears. There was only one thing he wished to do at this time.

"Escape."

"Flee protocol activated. Finding the best route." Next thing Jade knew the suit was moving for him. He couldn't resist even if he tried. He was forced to run full force towards the exit.

"Fire! Fire at him!" The Buyer yelled as him, the rest of the scientists, and some of the guards dove out of the way. The remaining guards rained fire on Jade as he ran, the bullets ricocheted with ease, shooting off into the floor, other cased items, the walls, and the remaining standing guards. Most were shot, and some stopped shooting and dropped to the ground. Jade managed to escape into the hall. The suit didn't stop. It kept forcing Jade to run.

"Approximately five floors to the nearest exit. Calculating the best possible route." The woman's voice said calmly as the alarm in the building rang.

"Search faster!" He cried out as guards began to fill the end of the hall.

"Calculation complete." Suddenly, the suit skidded to a stop and jumped with enough force to destroy the ceiling above, landing Jade into a vent. A map appeared in front of his eyes.

"In five feet, take a right." The woman said calmly as the vent was suddenly showered in bullets. Jade did his best to crawl as fast as he could out of harm's way, despite knowing the suit was impenetrable.

"No need to tell me twice." He muttered. He continued through the vent, following the woman's instructions and eventually escaping the line of fire. It was then that his thoughts finally caught up to him. There wasn't an off switch to this thing. That's what the Buyer said. How was he going to get it off? Was it like a parasite of some sort? He was going to have to worry about that later.

"Drop from the vent in three feet." She said calmly. Jade approached the vent and peered through the slats, only seeing glimpses of lab equipment.

"I think that GPS of yours is wonky." He muttered.

"Nonsense." She replied. Suddenly, the suit forced him to punch the vent cover out and drop in. He gasped, bracing for impact. He felt himself land but not the shock of impact he should have felt. He looked up, seeing the vent twenty feet in the air. He should have felt the shock, or at least some pain. What the hell is this suit? No time to think about that now. Later. Jade tore his gaze from the vent and looked around the room. He was right about all the lab equipment, but he stopped in his tracks when he saw the glass chamber in the middle of the room. Inside the chamber was a wash bin, a toilet of some sort, a bed, and a girl. Jade couldn't help but freeze, staring right into her terrified eyes. When his gaze finally broke away from hers, he noticed the animal ears where human ears should've been. What the hell is this place?!

"Take the exit on your left." The woman said calmly. Jade looked to the left, seeing double doors. He looked back to the girl, she seemed almost feral but he was sure it was the fear. He's seen the same look many times. He sighed and walked closer to the glass. The girl quickly scuttled backward, pressing herself against the opposite end of the chamber. Jade took in the glass, giving a small knock. The glass sounded with a dull thud, a clear sign it was thick. Jade recalled how the suit broke through the ceiling and vent with ease and figured thick glass shouldn't be a problem. He pulled his fist back and punched as hard as he could. His fist punched through like he was punching paper. The entire glass chamber started to shatter but didn't break apart. Jade withdrew his fist, seeing pieces from the edges of the break fall out. Experimentally, he pushed the edges and watched as they broke apart with ease.

Fascinating. He thought. He then dug out a doorway through the glass and entered the chamber, the fallen glass making a satisfying crunch under his feet. He approached the girl slowly, lending out a hand to her as he crouched.

"Let's get you out of here." He told her, hoping he sounded as kind as he meant. Fear still showed on her face before her head suddenly tilted to the side. Jade waited patiently, knowing he was equipped with the most powerful piece of armor in the lab. He was worried for the girl who now placed her hand on his own. He had never put someone else's life under his care. He had always worked alone. He didn't even make friends within the Clan of Thieves, but something told him he couldn't leave this girl behind even if she wasn't human. So with one swift movement, he had her in his arms bridal style and ran out of the chamber and towards the doors. He burst through them and came upon an office of sorts. The alarm was blaring, and the desks that filled the large room were empty. He felt the girl shivering and looked around before he spotted a blue pull-over jacket laying over one of the chairs. He set the girl down and handed her the jacket.

"Put this on." She nodded and did so with no resistance.

"Okay, where to next?"

"Huh?" She asked, confused. Her voice was soft and hesitant, as if she was afraid to even speak. What the hell did these scientists do to her?

"Take the stairs down Hall B." The woman said.

"Which way is Hall B?" He asked, the girl still looking at him in confusion. Jade's vision was filled with a bright red and flashing arrow pointing to his right. He turned his head as the arrow vanished, a sign reading "Hall B" above a hallway that led out of the office area.

"Oh." Then he scooped the girl back into his arms and ran, glad the suit was no longer directing his movements. He shifted his hold on the girl to ensure she stayed in his arms and had no danger of falling. He followed the instructions the computer lady in his suit told him, taking detour after detour when guards would appear until he was finally cornered in another large office area, windows spanning from floor to ceiling. He held the girl close as the Buyer suddenly pushed his way to the front of the army of guards.

"You've got nowhere to run now, Neo! Give us the bracelet and the girl, and you'll be on your merry way with your money. No need for this to get bloody." He called out. But Jade spent ages learning people's body language. He learned to notice weak points and when the perfect time to steal would be. This was one of those times.

"How high are we from the ground?" Jade muttered quietly. He noticed the girl's ear twitch but didn't respond.

"Approximately forty-three feet." The woman replied.

"Chances of survival from that fall?"

"There is a one-hundred percent chance of survival."

"The girl included?" Her ear twitched once more.

"Come on, Neo, do the right thing." The Buyer said as the guards moved closer.

"Affirmative." The woman said, making Jade smile.

"Okay, you've caught me. Again. I'll do the right thing." His grip tightened on the girl, then he shoved himself backward into the window with all his might, enhanced by the suit. The window shattered, and the girl in his arms let out a loud scream as she clung to him tighter.

"Initiating height protocol." Jade felt things shifting behind his back and hoped the protocol was a giant bouncy castle.

What he didn't expect was to hover.

Several inches away from the ground, their fall had stopped completely. Jade wasn't sure how it was possible, but he was able to safely get on his two feet. He looked up to see the Buyer and several guards at the window. Jade immediately started to run, the suit forcing him to change course when he ran the wrong way. Bullets began to whiz around him, striking his back or the ground around him. The girl jumped at each impact and tried her best to minimize the small screams that tore out of her throat. Jade swiftly made it past the gates enclosing the facility of Florset and kept running until he found a safe spot within the town a couple miles away. It was in one of the back alleys that he finally set the girl down and leaned against a nearby wall to catch his breath. Never in his life had he ever run so much, the stitch in his side that stabbed straight into his heart a clear indication he pushed himself too much. The girl simply watched him, eyes wide with curiosity.

"You have successfully escaped. Mission accomplished." And just as quickly as the suit had enveloped him, it had undone itself back into the bracelet that now sat snug on his wrist. This was the first time the girl was able to see the boy in front of her. She had never seen such a person before. The scientists were always well groomed and stoic, while the mysterious boy who had saved her seemed a mess. It took Jade several minutes before he had properly caught his breath and was able to speak again. He looked at the girl, sizing her up and furrowing his brows.

"What's your name?" He wasn't sure if the scientists even gave her one. She stood silent for a few moments, eyes seeming to go unfocused and focused again on him.

"Midnyte."

"Midnight?"

"M-I-D-N-Y-T-E. Midnyte." He had to admit, he was surprised.

"Huh." The girl hesitated before asking.

"A-and yours?" She asked. Jade gave her another once over, the visible eye narrowing slightly.

"Neo." She nodded.

"Thank you for saving me."

"No problem." He looked around for any passerby who may be going down the alley. When the coast was clear, he looked at her again.

"I'm going to find you some clothes, stay here until I return, got it?" She nodded. He nodded back and pulled up his hood before walking out into the street. He'd never needed to take care of anyone but himself, so the fact he was now walking about, stealing a pair of pants here, some shoes there, for someone else was insane. He looked down at the bracelet, watching as one of the green knobs gently glowed the lime green color it was adorned in. He might have bit off more than he could chew this time.

Let me know if you'd like to be tagged/untagged for future OC works!

@symmetricalkazekage @post-apocalyptic-daydream @raphsmuneca @thelaundrybitch @eveandtheturtles @scholastic-dragon @tinkabelle19 @miss-andromeda @leosgirl82

[mnm-inc-miles]

7/19/2023

Joey replayed the words in his head. Though he was grateful to Robin for most likely accurately translating the small set of instructions for the bracelet his brother wore, he was frustrated that it gave them basically no answers as to how to take it off.

He whispered out loud, as if hearing the words would somehow make it clearer, “This bracelet, when adorn to an individual, must serve out its purpose before it can be removed. It is unbreakable and any attempt at premature removal will only strengthen its bond to the wearer.” He paused and sighed, shaking his head. He had to find the leader and see if he could get more answers. He glanced at his feet, Mort by his side waiting for his part of the job, should it come to that.

After having finally taken out the Lamia, he didn’t have much time to think, and trusting his company to finish the rest of the battle, he took leave to find the leader who he had correctly guessed wouldn’t be in the same room as everyone else. Honing his senses, he closed his eyes and listened, smelled, and practically tasted her location, so he moved swiftly, following his instincts.

“There you are,” she mused, her back to him as he found the doorway. “Pleased to meet you, my name is Annahiz, I understand that you seek knowledge from me then wish to destroy me.” She turned around to face him.

“I don’t have to, if we can come to an understanding.” Joey spoke, cautiously entering the room.

“You would trust me to follow through on some sort of compromise?” She raised a brow, then practically danced across the floor to meet him face to face, teasing him. His body stiffened slightly, as her fingers danced across his cheek and neck. He could feel her trying to control him, his body rigid and fighting her magic. “Oh, how easy it would be to just…break your neck and suck out the delicious juices.”

He moved swiftly, swinging his Katana around as she jumped back and grabbed her own sword, engaging in swordplay. The tryst lasted only ten minutes before Joey had managed to pin her against the wall, his sword through her stomach and her body twitching slightly from the pain. She had a smirk on her face, “What is it you want, child?”

“Tell me how to remove the bracelet and release my brother.” He pulled out a new weapon, a sort of switch blade made of silver, and held it to her throat.

She laughed maniacally, “Unless you have magic that is not of this world, then the bracelet remains until I’ve drain him of his blood.”

“Why do you even want it anymore, didn’t it make you sick.”

She smirked, “Yes, clever trick, but I know silver when I taste it. We can detox him once we catch him again, then all will go according to plan.”

“Take it off him,” Joey growled, pressing the blade into her skin.

“I told you how it works,” she winced.

“There’s got to be another way.”

“Well sure, I could always remove it myself, but now why would I do that? It’s the only thing keeping me alive at this point, isn’t it? I now have leverage…”

Joey pushed a button on his switchblade and the blade suddenly ignited in flames. He pressed it against her neck, and she squirmed uncomfortably, letting out a significant cry of pain. He then dug the blade into her shoulder, twisting it and growling, “You have no leverage because I have means to figure it out the hard way if I must. You are expendable.” He then pushed the flame blade into her side, “Release my brother, or I will kill you.”

“What kind of person are you these days Dermot. Sounds to me like you don’t value life anymore.”

“Not when that life doesn’t value that of others…” he removed the blade and turned off the flame and switched it back into its holder, pocketing it carefully.

“It’s in my nature, plus isn’t it the philosophy of your people to treat others the way YOU wish to be treated, and not an eye for an eye?” Her hand reached up and touched his face once more, sending chills down his spine. “I can see why she loved you…”

Joey knew he wasn’t going to get anything from her, so in one fluid movement he removed his sword from her stomach and took off her head. She grunted in pain and then cackled. “Good luck saving your brother, you couldn’t manage with the others…cute you think this time is different.”

“Mort…you can burn her now.”

She laughed cruelly, “This is far from over.” Joey moved quickly, finding his way back to the others to assist in taking out the rest of the vampires.

[sstan-hoe]

𝑺𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝑵𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝑪𝒊𝒕𝒚

𝒑𝒂𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 — lloyd hansen x fem!reader

𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 — he loved you that night, you didn’t want that night to end but it had to after all he was your mission and you had to finish it…right?

𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 — SMUT, minors dni, oral (f receiving), unprotected sex, dom!lloyd hansen, cream pie, nipple play, dirty talk, degrading kink, light choking and kinda cum eating if you squint

𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆 — okay, okay, first time writing lloyd hansen and it is smut which we know I suck at but people seem to like it. this one is over 3k words and idk if I made a good lloyd or not, @georgiapeach30513 you judge haha, reblog and comment! follow @sstanhoe-updates to get notifications everytime I post!!!! and I feel like all of my fics can have part twos but I never do them so who cares

There he was sitting at the bar wearing a light blue almost white cashmere polo shirt, it had a diamond shaped pattern. The collar and buttons were a beautiful navy blue which reached through all the diamonds.

In his right hand a glass of scotch and his pinkie was adorned by a silver ring while his left wrist held a simple yet expensive watch. The man wore simple black trousers that fitted perfectly with his top.

The hair was combed back with enough gel to make it look natural and his was almost shaved clean except the moustache under his nose. It wasn’t for everyone, but it suited him.

All in all, he looked classy yet extravagant.

That man is Lloyd Hansen one of the deadliest – if not the most – assassin the world has ever seen.

But that brought him a lot of enemies that wanted him dead including your boss.

‘Hansen is a man, and a man can’t resist a pretty little thing like you, seduce him then kill him’, those were the exact words your boss said to you.

You wanted to improve his words. Even though he was a man he was still dangerous and could probably – definitely – kill you with his dick still in your vagina.

Taking a deep breath, you strode towards the bar with confidence.

“One Sex on the Beach please,” a smirk sneaked on Lloyd’s lips as heard your voice.

He saw you before you even saw him. Outside the bar wearing a black bodycon dress that hugged your figure perfectly and pushed up your breasts along with black Louboutin with their signature red sole.

Your wrist was embellished my a silver bracelet that matched you necklace and hoop earrings with the intention of looking elegant which you accomplished.

Unlike him though you only dressed like this for tonight and Lloyd knew that.

The assassin also knew that your boss set you up to kill him and he had to admit you weren’t bad at your job and tonight he wanted to find out how good.

By far Lloyd learned that you were able to hack his system – which he realized though and gave you false information – and trace him. Well, he wanted you to but still didn’t make it easy for you.

The only thing missing was your combat and will to kill, but he would find out soon.

“Is anyone sitting here?” you questioned him with a smile. “The seat is all yours,” he answered politely with a hint of dryness.

Not letting it phase you, you half turned to him and put your arms in front of you pushing up your cleavage.

“Why is a handsome man like you sitting all alone here?” his face turned to you after you began speaking. A small smirk sneaked on his lips, “I always thought this was a line men used.”

“Well but it did get your attention, so I guess it works,” you gave him a satisfied look, “however you didn’t answer my question.”

“I’m here for a work trip sunshine…now what drove you here?” a pet name was already a good direction.

“Loneliness…my boy- ex-boyfriend cheated on me with one of his co-worker’s and I caught him in the act,” you lied swirling the liquid in you glass around. To make the story more believable you let out a hurt sigh.

“But I guess it’s my fault. When we had sex, I couldn’t even have an orgasm and I wasn’t really present the last few month, I was too busy with work.”

Okay that wasn’t even a complete lie, you were busy with work and because of that you didn’t have time to do it yourself and your actual ex-boyfriend couldn’t make you come which to be honest was part of the reason you left him.

A chuckle came from Lloyd’s side as he listened to you. “Sunshine, I don’t think it was your fault you couldn’t get an orgasm and that ex of yours could’ve just done it himself.”

“Are you sure? There nothing wrong with me?” you looked up at him through your lashes.

This may be a cheap move, but you could really use an orgasm and that man next to you looked like a god.

Maybe you could kill him after you had your orgasm…that would prevent you from possibly having to give him head and getting his cum all over your face. You hated it when your ex-boyfriend would force you onto your knees to cover your face with his seed.

“No, sunshine and I can convince you from the oppisite,” he held out his hand while he spoke, “I got this big empty suit, and I could use some company.”

“Oh, with pleasure.” Lloyd gently pulled you up from your seat and led you to the elevator.

His right hand travelled down the small of your back around your waist pulling you against him. You giggled at his action although you didn’t know if that was in character or you.

The moment you stepped inside that elevator your back was pressed against the wall.

Llyod’s pressed his lips on yours without hesitation you kissed him back. Your lips glided over each other smoothly, his felt soft and warm.

His hands went down to your thighs and in one go he lifted you up causing you to gasp which gave Lloyd the chance to slide his tounge inside your mouth. Your hands grasped his shoulders for support.

The sound of the elevator didn’t stop the two of you instead Lloyd deepened the kiss.

You really thought that man couldn’t get any hotter and then he carried you effortlessly to his room.

He set you down gently and let his hands trail up your body coming to a halt on your neck. Lloyd slowed the kiss down ending it with a teasing bite on your lip. “Let’s get down to business sunshine,” he whispered against your lips.

You felt hot and the kiss left you wanting more. Never in your life have you been kissed like that, it made you feel special.

In a swift motion Lloyd had you in the room on the king-sized bed which was oh so comfortable.

Laying back you propped yourself on the elbows. Wanting to kick your heels of the assassin stopped you, “nah sunshine those stay on.”

Instead, you angled your legs and spread them apart revealing your naked cunt.

“Sunshine what a bad girl you are…” Lloyd shook his head before getting on his knees in front of the bed. He took your ankles to dragging you to the edge licking his lips.

You felt his hands move back to your thighs, they were so big and rough yet so gently and soft at the same time. With his hands Lloyd pushed the fabric of your dress up to get a better look at your pussy.

Then his hands on your thighs tightened, blunt nails dug into your flesh. The man lifted his head, “look at me.” You looked deep into his beautiful blue eyes and then…he kissed down to your pulsing vagina.

He kissed the bud of your core receiving a whine from you, “please.”

Lloyd did nothing but giving you pouty lips mocking you. He enjoyed the fact that he had you needy for him in a matter of minutes.

With his hands holding your thighs in place you didn’t have much room to move, but one thing you could do. You closed your knees around Lloyd’s head keeping him right in front of your heat.

You looked him deep in the eyes tightening your knees behind his head.

“You’re an eager one huh. You want it sunshine?” he sucked the inside of your thigh intending to leave a hickey, “then beg for it slut.”

The feeling of his wet, warm tounge smoothing your skin made a quite moan leave your lips.

“Please, please eat my pussy, pretty please?” you looked at him with pleading eyes. Lloyd licked his lips as he stared at you hungrily. His eyes left yours and went to your dripping core, “is that all for me? wet like bitch in heat.”

His moustache grazed over your bundle of nerves, the sensation made your legs twitch.

Only a second later he latched onto your pussy, tounge diving into your leaking hole, licking, moving up and down. You let a pornographic moan go as Lloyd nudged your clit with his sinful tounge.

His right hand left your thigh and sneaked around to your core, two of his finger entered you without warning while his tounge kept devouring your clit.

Lloyd curled, moved his fingers inside of you hitting that spot and together his actions made you feel pure euphoria. “You’re already so tight around my fingers sunshine…imagine how you feel wrapped around my big fat cock.”

At his words you squeezed your pussy together causing Lloyd to groan, “I will make you come harder than you ever did before and then, then imma fuck you till you can’t walk sunshine on every surface in this room like the little slut you are.”

That god’s forsaken man dirty mouth, “oh sunshine you can barley take my fingers…how will you be able to take my cock?”

You cried out in pleasure, “fuck Lloyd!” His voice turned you and worked you closer to your release. “Say my name – louder,” the assassin loved the way you called for him. Your mouth opened but only a pathetic came past as a knot was forming your stomache ready to explode.

His movements slowed and he lifted his head catching your eyes, “I know you’re close sunshine, but until you do as I say you won’t come…”

Lloyd pumped his fingers at a torturous pace keeping on the edge of your orgasm.

“Lloyd!” you screamed as loud as possible which to be honest wasn’t very loud. “Sunshine…I get this icky feeling that there is something missing,” he said acting as if he was thinking.

Once again, he curled his fingers inside you hitting the spot. It gave the knot another nudge but not enough to tip off. “Lloyd, please let me cum…please, please!” A satisfied grin spread across his lips.

“Cum, cum for me pretty sunshine,” he picked up his pace adding his sinful tounge again. Your walls clutched his fingers, thighs shaking violently and the knot in your stomache exploded, breath knocked out of you lungs, “Lloyd!” You eyes rolled in the back of your head while Lloyd fingered you through your orgasm.

You were out of breath as you came down from your high, your thoughts were all over the place.

But as Lloyd hands left your heat and felt your thighs up it hit you like a truck. The mission, you had to kill the man who just gave you the most powerful orgasm you ever had. Now or never, you thought.

Your legs were already in the right place however you closed them around his head as hard as you could now. With momentum you pushed Lloyd over.

The fact that his moustache landed right on your sensitive clit caused a moan from you.

“Oh god,” you whispered to yourself. You got what you wanted now on to kill him. “little slut is still so eager for my mouth?” His face was covered with your pussy giving him no real chance to see what you were doing.

You pulled a knife from your bra wanting to stab him in the arm first that would cause a distraction and then you could aim for the chest.

Lifting your arm, you stabbed into his arm or at least you thought. Lloyd was quick enough to catch your wrist with his other hand right before you could hit him.

In a swift motion he turned the tables back around. The knife fell from your hand in shock as he pinned you back down. Your eyes widen while he only looked at with a smirk and something that you couldn’t quite make out.

“Really sunshine? You just used me for an orgasm?” that bastard was mocking you and then he whispered your name, “I expected better from you.”

A short hint of fright passed through your expression, “what? Did you really think you could kill me this easily? Sunshine, I did my research and just a tip your first mistake was calling me by my name cuz I never gave you mine…”

You wanted to smack yourself for that small but fatal mistake. You were so lost in the moment that you forgot what was happening.

“I’ve seen you fight, seen what you can do.” You put on a glare at his words, “what are you trying to do?” “Well, you own me an orgasm.”

He unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants pulling out his cock. Your eyes skipped down to his hard member, he was thick and at least 6 and a half inch long. Veiny and rock hard. “You know I gotta admit I was already hard for you when you walked in that bar but trying to kill me? That just made me harder.”

“Then I hope you like this,” you said before lifting your knee and pushing it in his ass.

His body fell over your while he tried to catch himself, he let go of your wrists. You rolled him over once again however this time there was no bed anymore causing both you to fall to the ground.

Quickly you tried to stand up, that was when a gun catched your eyes on the nightstand. You were almost standing when Lloyd grabbed your waist pulling you back down right on his cock. Both of you groaned at the feeling. You squeezed him, he filled you perfectly.

“God, you’re so tight sunshine.” His head fell back on the ground as he bucked his hips up.

You hated and loved how good he felt inside of you. Lloyd gripped your hips moving you with his rhythm. You needed more now moving up and down his cock by yourself.

“Let’s find out how much you can take,” Lloyd said flipping you over, your back hit the ground and his cock hit deep inside you at the new position. Moaning you put your hands on his shoulders, “take it off, take that fucking polo off.”

With a grin he let go of you and pulled his polo over his head revealing his naked chest.

Your mouth watered at the sight of his perfectly sculpted chest, he looked like I god. You fingers traced over his toned chest, “you’re beautiful,” you whispered.

Lloyd’s grin turned into a smirk only then you realized what you just said.

You hand clasped over your mouth in regret. The man over you shook his head taking your hand and interlacing his fingers with yours, “believe me if I didn’t think you were the most beautiful woman, I’d ever seen you wouldn’t be under me and alive.”

For anyone else this might have sounded sick, but you grabbed his neck pulling him into a searing kiss. He gently bit your lip making you open your mouth, Lloyd turned the kiss from passionate to dirty as he gave you an open-mouthed kiss.

Then you squeezed his cock with your walls at the feeling, he growled and began pounding in your pussy with all his strength.

Lloyd felt the need to play with something, so he took his hand from yours to rip your dress open as the other one was occupied holding himself over you.

You didn’t care you only wanted him.

You cried out, gasping, moaning into his mouth. Arms holding onto his should leaving red scratch mark. “I love the sounds you make when I fuck you,” he muttered.

Everytime, he snapped his hips against yours you could make out slap sounds from his balls hitting your ass, “look at me, be a good girl and look at me.” You looked up, you saw his tensed face that lead you to believe he was about to come.

His hand kneaded your breast, thumb circling your hardened nipple but without giving you time to prepare – not that you ever could – he put his head down latching on to your nipple. His tounge felt cold stimulating your nipple.

Your hand travelled from his shoulder into his hair pulling hard on the light brown hair as he bit down on your nipple.

“Milk me dry sunshine, come on…” closing your walls around him once again you arched your back.

“You love this, don’t you? You love it when I degrade you. Let me hear how much you love it.” Your moans grew louder and louder, “cum for me you little slut and then you’re gonna milk me and take every drop I give you!”

The familiar knot that formed in your stomache snapped with a loud shout of Lloyd’s name, throwing your head back as your thoughts were consumed by the blissful feeling in your veins.

You squeezed around him while pulling at his hair, scratching his scalp with your nails, you felt his cock twitch in your cunt and then he filled you with his seed.

Lloyd continued fucking you, “yes fill me up, please Lloyd.”

He let go with a groan, there hand that previously played with your breast moved to your throat pressing slightly down.

As told, you milked every drop of him. Slowly he withdrew himself from your hole. His cock was covered in a mixture of his and your come. With a grin he watched his come leak from your hole before pushing it back in, “We can't let anything go to waste now can we?”

He pulled his fingers back out, they were now too covered in cum. Lloyd lifted them to his mouth, licking them clean, making a delighted noise.

“We taste amazing sunshine, wanna try?” You nodded weakly, he dipped down to kiss you.

You could taste the light salty note on his tongue as she thought with yours over dominance.

“We really do taste amazing,” you giggled after pulling apart, still in the post-sex bliss.

Lloyd removed himself from above you, not thinking you tried to stand up but your knees buckled almost in. The assassin teasingly shook his head and picked you up in bridal style, “told you I'd fuck you until you can't walk.”

He laid you down on the king-sized bed which you realized was very comfortable. You watched him walk to the bathroom to get a wet cloth.

Coming back he was only in his boxers, cock tucked back in.

Gently cleaned you up, sometimes your thigh would twitch when he touched your sensitive skin. After he was finished he helped you out of your dress and stripped off your shoes before laying down next to you and pulling the comforter on top.

You wrapped your arm around his middle, and laid your head on his chest while he put his arm around your shoulders to pull you close.

“I still have to kill you, you know,” you mumbled with closed eyes.

Lloyd chuckled in return, “you could try or come and work for me.” Confused, you opened your eyes looking up at him.

“I have to kill you, I can't work for you.”

“Killing me the first time didn't work, there are no second chances,” he shrugged, although he would probably give you as many chances as you need.

Playfully you hit his chest, “you try killing someone after you just had an orgasm.” “I could kill you right now…”

For once it was your turn to smirk, “no, no you can't, if you wanted you would have already done it.” Your fingers traced patterns over his chest.

“That's quite an assumption there, sunshine.”

“If you really did your research you would know I'm a good judge of character,” you smiled to yourself as you felt Lloyd caress your back. “Well then I guess you just have to trust me not kill you in your sleep or…”

“Or I work for you? I can't, my boss would have my head.”

“If you work for me then no one and I mean no one will hurt you.”

You cocked a brow, “not even you? I don't know anything about you besides what I got from files or other people. What is this for you?”

At the beginning of the night Lloyd had two ways this would go; fuck you and kill you or fuck you and make you work for him. But questions like this were in neither of them an option.

“You’re a great addition for my team and the best fuck I had in years, I may haven't really seen you in action besides on tape. I mean come on were you already so fucked out that–,” Lloyd couldn't finish that sentence as he got hit by you on his shoulder.

“Ouch, what I'm saying is. I wanna see where this goes,” he fake pouted and gently took you chin between his fingers, “why is your face so small?” he suddenly asked.

“Shut it Donkey Kong, I will work for you now sleep,” a last chuckle came from Lloyd before you completely drifted off.

reblog and comment!

[thatrandomwriter]

Rooftop Romance

merle x reader

warnings: swearing, gore, sexual language

“You sure he’s worth it?” T-Dog asked, skepticism written across his face.

“Him and Daryl are our best hunters. They may both share about three brain cells, and Merle is about the biggest asshole I’ve ever met-“

“Hey, fuck you,” Merle cut in. I ignored him.

“But the fact is we need them to survive. We’ll make it out of the city, but you need to go before the others leave without you,”

T-Dog looked conflicted, but after a few seconds he dashed out of the door, racing down the stairs. I pulled the door shut, locking it behind him. There was a strong chance that I had just ensured my own death as well as Merle’s. The sound of the dead beating on the door almost as soon as T-Dog had left seemed to give Merle the same idea.

“Well fucking come on then princess, I ain’t getting any younger over here.” He had that god awful smirk plastered across his face. “You know, there’s a lot I can do with these hands. Maybe I can show ya once I’m free,” he made a crude gesture with his cuffed hand.

“Maybe if you didn’t say shit like that all the time, someone might actually wanna fuck you. You’re disgusting, you know that?”

Instead of waiting for his no-doubt even worse reply, I walked over to see what had been left in Dale’s toolbox. It was mostly screwdrivers and spanners, nothing of any use to me, but I noted a hammer and most importantly a hacksaw. Hopefully it would be strong enough to get through the metal of Merle’s handcuff.

“Call me disgusting all ya like, everyone knows you want a piece of this,”

My cheeks grew hot and I fumbled the saw, almost dropping it as I walked over to him. It was a humiliating feeling to know that he was right. To know that despite what a piece of shit he was, over the few weeks I’d known him, I had developed some form of feelings for him. Merle had found me while out checking the camp’s perimeter with Shane. Having just escaped the city, I was exhausted and terrified, and just about ready to collapse on the forest floor and give up. Of course, Merle’s reasoning for taking me back likely had more to do with wanting to fuck me than anything else, but I wasn’t entirely convinced that Shane would have taken me back if Merle hadn’t been there to bear witness. We weren’t exactly close, but we shared a fondness for drinking and he taught me a few things about using a crossbow. I didn’t fool myself into thinking he wanted anything more than a one time fling with me; he flirted with just about anything with tits. But some small, stupid part of me still hoped for more.

I sat next to him, pulling his hand toward me to get a better look at the handcuffs. When I looked up, he was staring into my face with another stupid grin. I sent him a glare back.

“Come on now, don’t be like that. Last I checked we’re all alone up here, no-one needs to know, part from maybe a few walkers,”

“Would you quit it? I’m trying to save your life.”

“Jus’ trying to lighten the mood. You should really try lightening up sometime, wouldn’t kill ya,”

I rolled my eyes, corner of my mouth twitching upwards slightly.

“Looks like cutting through the cuffs is gonna be a no go, but this pipe you’ve been cuffed too looks pretty old. It’s worth a try at least,” I lined up Dale’s saw, and began working at the metal.

“So I’m gonna be stuck with a friendship bracelet from Officer Friendly?”

The thought made me laugh a little.

“It’s not like you don’t deserve it; threatening everyone with a gun wasn’t exactly your best moment.” I teased. In his defence, he had most definitely been high as a kite when he’d started pointing the gun. Not that that really made it any better.

“I wasn’t gunna shoot em. Definitely wasn’t gunna shoot you, ya far too beautiful,” Merle said.

“And so’s Andrea, right? And Lori, and Jackie, and every other woman who isn’t trying to eat us,”

“I dunno, some of those walkers ain’t too bad,”

I hit him on the shoulder.

“Can’t I make a joke? Or are ya gunna get jealous, hmm?”

I stopped talking to him after that, focusing instead on trying to make any headway with the pipe he was handcuffed to. After an hour or so, I had only made a tiny dent in the metal. Merle was getting increasingly annoying, and the sun was starting to slowly set in the sky. If we wanted to leave today I’d have to hurry; travelling the city in the dark was a death sentence. At least the walkers at the rooftop door seemed to have given up, or gotten distracted by some other unfortunate souls. They had stopped pounding on the door some time ago.

The saw blade bent slightly, but I persisted, determined to succeed, speeding up. Under the strain of my sawing, the blade bent sideways, and suddenly snapped under the pressure, coming clattering to the floor.

“The fuck did you do?” Merle demanded.

“The blade wasn’t strong enough. It couldn’t get through the pipe. I’m sorry.” I felt suddenly numb. I couldn’t look at him. I’d failed. I’d failed him. He was stuck here, to starve or to be eaten by walkers.

“Are you fucking kidding me? I’m gonna fucking die up here, god fucking damnit. Look at me, the fuck did you do?” He grabbed my shoulder with his free hand, gripping me hard, shaking me, forcing me to meet his eyes.

“I’m so sorry,” It was one of the first serious, genuine things I’d said to Merle, and it was a death sentence. Tears pricked my eyes. I didn’t have the energy to hide them.

“No. Fuck that, we’re ain’t done yet. You got a knife, right?” He was still staring into my face, but desperate anger had shifted to urgency.

“Yes, but it won’t cut through metal,” I said.

His grim expression told me that he had already figured that out.

“You can’t be serious. You want me to- I can’t,” There had to be another way.

“You got no choice. It’s my hand or my life.”

It took me a few seconds to process this. The only way out would be to cut off his hand. And I would have to be the one to do it.

“Fine. But I’ll do it first thing in the morning. We don’t have time to get out of the city before it gets dark, and I don’t want you bleeding out overnight.”

“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you cared about me,” His shit eating grin was back. Only Merle could look this smug after discovering his hand was about to be cut off.

“Good job you know better then,” I smiled and sat next to him, looking out over the darkening city. At least we were stuck somewhere with an impressive view. The setting sun sent orange streaking through the sky, bathing buildings in a warm glow. I glanced to my side. Merle appeared to also be taking in the sunset in a rare moment of silence.

*

“I’d do the same for you ya know,” Merle said, breaking the silence after a few minutes.

“No you wouldn’t.” I replied. It wasn’t something that upset me, it was just a fact - if the roles were reversed, I had doubts that Merle would have stayed on this rooftop even for Daryl.

“Course I would. Yer one of the only people I can stand in that group, not to mention ya got a mighty fine ass,” He grinned over at me. I couldn’t help but smile back.

“You mean it?”

“Yeah, course I do. I could stare at it all day,”

I hit his shoulder with mine.

“You know that’s not what I meant.”

“I ain’t good with the mushy stuff, don’t push it,” He was still smiling, eyes looking into mine for once instead of straying to glance down my shirt.

“Sounds like you care about me, Merle. More than you usually let on at least,” I was teasing him but this moment meant a lot; in short, Merle was shit at showing anyone affection. For him, this was like a declaration of love.

“Yer not gonna make me say it again so drop it,” he huffed.

“I’m just kidding around. And I didn’t just stay here because you’re a good hunter,” I confessed, staring pointedly into the distance to avoid his eyes.

“Course ya didn’t, ain’t no way you’d let me die without getting a piece of this,” It seemed to be his way of lightening the mood, diverting the seriousness of the conversation.

“We should get some sleep, busy day tomorrow.”

*

When the hot sun awoke me the next morning, I found myself nestled into Merle’s side, head on his shoulder, his free arm wrapped around me. I took a moment to enjoy the feeling of his broad body against mine, before pulling away to wake him up. The sooner we were gone, the better.

“Mornin’ “ he grinned lazily.

“You ready?” I asked, and his expression dropped to one of determined focus.

“As I’ll ever be,”

I retrieved my knife and a lighter from one of the pockets of my rucksack. It would have to do as a means of sanitising the blade as I had very little in the way of medical supplies. Shrugging off the button down I wore over a tank top, I folded it ready to use as a bandage for Merle. I could have sworn his eyes slipped down to my cleavage, far more noticeable now the shirt was off, but I wasn’t in the mood to bring it up.

“Can I have your belt?” I asked.

“Don’t need to ask me twice,” He said, the implied innuendo obvious. He unbuckled it with his free hand and tugged it loose.

I strapped it around his forearm, tight as I could make it, a makeshift tourniquet that would hopefully do something to stop the bleeding. It had to be enough.

Merle reached inside his pocket, and withdrew a small bag of white powder.

“You sure that’s a good idea?” I asked, very aware of the dangers we’d face in the city even if he survived losing his hand. Merle being off his face wouldn’t do us any favours.

“Need a little somethin’ to take the edge off,” He tried to form his usual smug grin, but his mouth wavered slightly. I nodded. Who was I to make that decision for him?

I gave him a minute or so, and when he nodded at me, I took my knife to his wrist and began to cut. There was far more blood than I had thought. And despite Merle’s best efforts to remain stoic, and the effects of the drugs, he was in an unbelievable amount of pain. I had to fight the urge to just give up and cry in a corner, but I did it for him. Even when he begged me to stop, to just make the pain stop. His yelling had begun to attract walkers, a few were banging on the rooftop door and the longer this took the more there would be. He gripped my arm as I cut, hard enough to bruise.

“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” I muttered over and over again as I finished, his hand dropping to the floor with a sickening thunk.

Merle was breathing heavily, gasping through the pain. I pressed my shirt against the wound, tying it tightly and leaving the belt in place. There was so much blood. On my hands, my pants, the rooftop.

“Stay there. I’m going to clear the stairwell, I’ll be right back.”

He nodded.

I unlocked the door and wedged my foot under the door to prevent it opening all the way, a walker slamming forward and right onto my knife. It slumped to the floor. Another was quick to take its place. I worked my way through several before they finally stopped coming. Hopefully only a few had been close enough to hear Merle.

I hurried back toward him. The bleeding seemed to be slowing slightly, though it still showed no signs of stopping. He was losing too much blood. But I wasn’t willing to face that reality.

“You think you can stand?”

“Course I can,” he replied through gritted teeth.

I grabbed his good arm and pulled him forward, helping him stand, putting the arm around my shoulders so I could take some of his body weight. He was heavy, but any help I could give him I would.

We walked to the door and I lead him down the stairwell; it wasn’t wide enough for the two of us side by side, but he leaned on my back and I did my best to steady him on the way down. He stumbled a couple of times, no doubt the blood-loss making him dizzy, but we moved as slowly as I dared, me supporting him when he needed it. At the bottom, another walker lunged towards us. It took me a moment to grab my knife and stick it between its eyes, and I kept the blade in my hand after that. One free hand would have to do to help Merle. It was strange, having to protect him like this. Normally I was certain he’d object to me coddling him like this, but he had no choice but to rely on me for once. We made it to a fire exit around the back of the building in a room with several gas stoves. Merle wasn’t looking his best, blood dripping through the makeshift bandage on his arm. He seemed to have the idea at the same time as me.

“Do it,” He nodded grimly and I grimaced, but didn’t hesitate to light the nearest stove, placing a metal tray on top on the flames to heat through enough to cauterise the stump of his wrist.

“We’re gonna make it back, you know. “

“I know,” He said, but it was easy to see the uncertainty in his eyes.

The metal tray seemed hot enough, and I could tell he was gathering the will to do it, slowly, reluctantly unwrapping the open wound. I wasn’t entirely sure Merle could bring himself to. Gently, I took his arm in my hands, unwrapping it myself. Instead of watching the shirt unravel, he stared down into my face. Despite the circumstances, he still made my cheeks hot with the intensity of his gaze which I somehow managed to meet. I reached up, hooking an arm around his neck and a smile tilted the corners of his mouth. He waited for me to move closer first, and when I leaned my face towards his, he wasted no time in bridging the gap between us with a searing kiss. He was perfectly distracted. It was a shame to waste this moment but I did what had to be done, and drove his wrist down onto the hot metal on the stove.

“Son of a fucking bitch!” He exclaimed, yanking his arm away from the stove, and I winced.

“Shit, I’m sorry, but the bleeding’s stopped, right?”

He glared at me through the pain. “You serious?”

“I said I’m sorry, and I did just stop you from bleeding to death,” I smiled tentatively, and he shook his head, still cursing.

“So ya kiss like that fer a distraction? I’d love ta know what the real thing feels like,”

Kissing him had been stupid. But I was in the mood to be stupid, and I couldn’t resist kissing him again. He somehow mustered up that stupid, endearing grin as I pulled him towards me, lips meeting as his good arm found my waist. I could lose myself in the feeling of kissing Merle, all teeth and tongues colliding with no need to be gentle. His hand scooped me in closer until I was pressed up against him, before drifting to my ass with a squeeze. I hummed in pleasure, forgetting to breathe as he kissed me harder. When we finally broke apart all I wanted was to lean back in and kiss him again and again, to stay like this, pressed as close against him as I could be, not thinking about anything else.

“Knew ya wanted a piece of this,” Merle smirked. God he was insufferable. But I was willing to suffer, so long as he kept kissing me like that.

[redorich]

For the canyon au, what would happen if one of the hermits got hurt during a scout? Like, if etho is out scouting, something happens, and he’s unable to message the hermits or get help. Would he be willing to be seen? Would any smpers besides Puffy help him?

Zedaph didn't mean to leave the canyon, honest! He was just looking for a sheep of his own for a completely ethical experiment involving pistons and a perfectly reasonable quantity of peanut butter, thank you very much. He wasn’t about to steal a sheep from someone else’s farm, and for some reason sheep don’t tend to spawn at bedrock level. So really, he had no choice!

Zedaph is rethinking a lot of his decisions. He’s also wondering if he left the jump-powered stove on. Then he remembers that it’s jump-powered, and as he is not currently jumping on it, it is most likely unpowered. Unfortunately, it seems as though Zedaph is going to be eating a lot of cold food for a while if he makes it out of this alive, because he’s not going to be jumping on anything with a broken leg.

Despite his punishment for trying to take a cross-section of something that he now knows is probably sentient (oops), he can’t help but want to go back, to learn more. What is the rate of growth of those red vines? Are they all from the same plant? Are they actually sentient, or is the crimson kudzu in possession of an automatic response to attempted harm? Did the vine know it was hitting him off a ledge which would break his leg, or did it just know “whack human away from vine”? Would the vines taste good in soup? Are they flammable? Could Zedaph theoretically knit a fashionable sweater out of them, and if so would the sweater be capable of independent movement?

He is torn from his musings of a wriggly evil sweater by another thrum of pain. He hisses. There’s... more blood than is advisable. Outside of his leg, that is. Inside his leg is likely less than the advisable amount of blood, and come to think of it, his head’s probably a bit empty as well, seeing as how he’s having so much trouble thinking straight-- well, straight for him. His jumps in logic are incomprehensible to most on a good day, but right now even he can’t follow his own thought process. What was he thinking about again?

Ah yes. The overwhelming pain from being yeeted off a ledge. Come to think of it, the ledge he fell off-- the one he’s sitting leaned against-- is shaped awfully unusually. It must be manmade. Whoever made this is not a good terraformer. Zedaph should bake Scar some cookies. Is Scar allergic to peanuts? Ow. Ow. Ow. Zedaph will need to borrow Impulse’s oven-- or he could set up his own oven with an armor stand that jumps for him?

“Hey there, who are you?” says a female voice. Zedaph looks up. He doesn’t have to look very far up.

Standing in front of him is a woman with a cool pirate-looking coat (red, of course; all self-respecting pirates wear red), with long fluffy hair like white wool and rainbow fringe! Oh, and she’s, like, half sheep or something. That’s cool too.

Wait. There’s something about sheep he’s forgetting... How could he have been so stupid?! He came to the surface in the first place in search of a sheep, and now he’s (kind of) found one!

The cool pirate lady says something, but Zedaph-- well, he does hear it, but it doesn’t process. Words are just mouth-sounds. He is in pain.

“Found a sheep,” he mumbles, “Come back to the canyon?”

“You’re hurt, man,” the sheep-pirate-lady says. She has pretty rainbow hair, and the white parts look like clouds.

She laughs. “Thanks.”

Clearly, this woman is a mind-reader! As well as a sheep. Really, two for the price of one. Zedaph isn’t quite sure what to do with a mind-reader, but his head will be much clearer and therefore able to dream up wacky hypotheses once he respawns--

He gasps, jerking forward and choking on his own breath when he remembers the cold truth. Xisuma won’t be able to respawn him, not for several days. Zedaph doesn’t want to spend that long in the void.

“Woah!” the woman exclaims, rushing to steady him. “You look pretty bad, dude. Let’s get you home or something. Where do you live?”

“Canyon,” Zedaph rasps. “I’m not supposed to tell you that, I don’t think. Can’t remember why.”

The nice woman goes very still. “Hey. My name’s Puffy. I’m gonna take you to the canyon. Do you think you can stand if I help you?”

“Puffy..?” Zedaph squints off into the middle distance, trying to remember something. “She’s the person who keeps coming back to that barrel, isn’t she?”

Puffy pulls Zedaph’s arm over her shoulder and gently pulls him up to his feet. “She is,” Puffy says softly.

“I hope she liked the enchanted diamond shears,” he mumbles.

“She did,” Puffy says softly. “She didn’t even know diamond shears were a thing.”

“I was going to make an emerald flint and steel,” Zedaph rambles, “but it turns out that items made of flint and steel aren’t conducive to being made of not-flint and not-steel."

"Who would have thought?" Puffy laughs, then trips over a vine. Zedaph makes a pained noise at the jostle to his leg, which is dragging a bit on the ground because Puffy is so much shorter than him. She notices this, and rethinks her strategy.

"At this rate, we'll never get back to the canyon," she gripes. "Climb on my back instead, I'll carry you."

Zedaph obliges, but warns, "Tango says I'm heavy.”

“I’m stronger than Tango, I’ll bet.”

The Hermit is actually a bit heavy, but this is a matter of pride now. And also, quite possibly a matter of urgency. The Hermit isn’t responding anymore. He’s still holding on, so he isn’t dead or completely unconscious; still, he’s not in a good state.

As soon as the elevator down to the bottom of the canyon comes into view, Puffy books it. Surely, in the canyon base, the Hermit will have healing potions? He (They? Multiple Hermits?) gave her a whole beacon, so obviously he/they are late-game enough to have plenty of potions.

Stepping into the elevator, Puffy presses the button, then puts her hand on the Hermit’s neck. It’s a bit of an awkward position, since his chin is hanging over her shoulder, but it makes her feel better to have a hand on his pulse. He makes a pitiful noise as the elevator descends.

“Easy there,” Puffy says, “you’re almost home.”

The moment the doors open, she ventures out into the village. The only safe place she knows is the barrel where she leaves her items for the Hermit(s), so she takes him there. Now that she’s looking, she spots shadows, eyes, movements, throughout the supposedly empty village. One such person comes out of the woodwork, sprinting.

“Zedaph!” exclaims a tall, musclebound man. His face is twisted in naked worry as he meets Puffy at the barrel, which she sets Zedaph down on.

The large man, who wears a black shirt with a creeper face on it (does that mean something, Puffy wonders?) scrutinizes the blond man on the barrel for a moment before springing into action, splashing potions and bits of lapis and-- holy shit, is that a Totem of Undying?! When the blond man, Zedaph, seems to come back to himself enough that he could reasonably eat a golden carrot with minimal choking hazard, the new man hands him one. Finally, he turns to Puffy.

“Thank you,” he says. The relief in his voice is tangible.

Puffy shifts awkwardly. “I was just doing the right thing. I noticed, uh, his bracelet.”

They both look to Zedaph’s wrist. It’s got a woven bracelet on it. The textile isn’t astounding, but the pattern on it is intricate. Puffy would know, she made it herself as a gift for the Hermit. As Puffy and the other Hermit look at each other, she realizes that he is also wearing something she made: a pair of fingerless gloves which are now stained with redstone dust.

He catches her staring. “We all have one-- oh, uh, my name’s Impulse, and this is Zedaph--”

“Impulse,” a new blond man hisses from behind the two. Puffy jumps. She didn’t hear him coming.

“Tango!” Impulse greets, suddenly nervous. Why a man as big as Impulse would be nervous when facing anyone, let alone a normal-looking guy like Tango, is beyond Puffy. Maybe Tango’s red eyes have some sort of significance?

“Impulse,” Tango repeats, looking around for anyone that isn’t a Hermit. “You’re not invisible.”

Impulse’s eyebrows draw together in a frown. “I had to see Zedaph.”

“Yeahhh,” Zedaph slurs.

“Besides, if we can trust any of the natives, it’s Puffy,” Impulse insists. He crosses his arms in what should be an intimidating display, but truthfully looks more like a pout.

“You know what Xisuma said,” Tango says. “I’m grateful to have Zedaph back, but...”

“Xisuma would agree with me,” Impulse says stubbornly.

Tango sighs explosively, full of nerves. “Alright, fine, can we at least get out of sight? Anyone could come wandering across the surface and spot us.”

“How many of you are there?” Puffy breathes. Everyone’s eyes snap to her.

“Twenty-four,” Zedaph says happily.

“Zedaph!” Tango admonishes.

Rolling his eyes, Impulse scoops Zedaph up off the barrel like he weighs nothing. He carries the dazed blond man down the path and into a cottage-style house. As Tango goes to follow, he catches Puffy’s eye.

“Sorry,” he says, “nothing personal. Just trying to avoid being explodificated, which means not being seen by the people who live on this server. You get it, yeah?”

He jogs off to catch up with Impulse, and Puffy hurriedly follows. Tango’s got a bracelet like Zedaph’s, but it’s one of the ones Puffy made out of different shades of red. She wonders if all the Hermits wear something she made.

The inside of the house is a bit cramped, but it’ll do. It’s got a bed, at least, so Zedaph’s got somewhere to keep his leg off the ground. This all feels surreal.

“So, uh...” Puffy says into the stuffy silence of the room. “How about that, uh, bedrock?”

Nobody has anything to say to that. Fuck.

Out of nowhere, yet another Hermit shows up. There’s a trapdoor in the wall that, now that she looks at it, Puffy realizes that Tango was hiding intentionally. That’s all gone to shit, though, because a man with white hair and a mask over his face peeks his head out from the hole in the wall.

“Hey guys, what--” The man takes a look around, spots Puffy, and freezes. “...On second thought, I’ll come back later.”

“Wait!” Impulse says to the man. “Get Xisuma, or at least tell him Puffy’s here if he can’t make the trip right now.”

“Karl thinks you’re Mothman,” Puffy blurts out to the white-haired man.

The man looks very self-satisfied for someone who’s only showing a quarter of his face. “Oh? Where does he live? For absolutely no reason, of course.”

“Etho...” Tango groans.

“Oh, alright, I’ll go get X.”

The man leaves. Oh boy, thinks Puffy, this is going to be interesting.