#googy writing

[crackship-connoisseur]

take care of you

Summary: Edalyn goes to investigate the home of her older sister Evelyn after word reaches her that vampire hunters may have attacked. She expects to find any sign of the family's whereabouts but is shocked to discover only one member seems to remain...

Word Count: 19,764

Characters: Edalyn Clawthorne, Evelyn Clawthorne, Caleb Wittebane, Hunter (The Owl House)

CWs: house burning, child abandonment and neglect, death

A/N: i'm not as fond of this fic as i was initially but i feel like if i edit it any more i will explode so this is what you get

~~~~

The rain came pouring down quite heavily, which was not ideal for a vampire out in the night. It didn't necessarily hurt them, but it was still a great hindrance. Messed with their powers. And there were very few trees around to take shelter underneath. 

The clouds were thick and thunderous, completely blocking out the moonlight. But this was no issue for the vampire's ability to see in the dark as if it were day. The figure, shrouded under her dark cloak bedazzled with a ruby button, sprinted between trees as she made her way to the 18th century style mansion. These types of houses weren't necessarily uncommon, but it certainly stuck out  having not been refurbished nor surrounded by similar houses. What made it more unusual, was the very clearly collapsed parts of the house, the structure having been weakened from burning as the wood was charred. It was a wonder how it still stood upright at all.

As Edalyn approached the door, finally sheltered under an archway, she pulled back her hood to get a better look at the place, her mass of bright ginger hair letting loose from underneath. She tried to peek into any windows she could from where she was standing, and glanced around behind her a few times, just to make sure no one, not even a vampire could be there. 

It had been quite a long time since she had visited this house. She remembered touring the place after her sister had purchased it with her human husband. They wanted to start a family together. Edalyn always wondered if it was going to be a large one, from the sheer size of the house, but she knew how much Evelyn liked her space. She had missed so much in person over the years that she only ever got to experience through letters, and regretted being so caught up in her own business now that she was here to investigate devastation. 

Edalyn hesitated on the door handle with these thoughts, quite terrified of what might lay inside, but she inhaled her fear and shoved open the door.

She wasn't really sure what she expected. Possibly the worst, but she was met with stagnant, musty air and the old smell of burning wood. She thought she could detect a whiff of old garlic which made her wince in disgust. Vampire hunters. Just as she suspected. She tried not to let her worst suspicions consume her just yet. There was a chance she'd find a clue of their life, if she just kept looking. 

The first place she looked was the basement, which led to the chapel that would conceal their tombs. If the vampire hunters hadn't been cruel, they would be there, and if they had been stupid, they would only be staked in the heart. Very easily revivable. But as she shoved the stone lid off of her sister's coffin, her heart sank. There was no one inside. She did the same for her husband, Caleb, but he was nowhere to be found either. 

Edalyn stood stunned for a moment, fighting tears that already convinced her of the worst possible outcome. She shook herself from it and tried to reassure herself that they could still be alive. They could have merely escaped the house, and left a hidden note of their location somewhere. Determined, she ran back up the stairs to the main house. 

The young vampire anxiously made her way around every room on the first floor, checking every cabinet, drawer, or dresser, and taking note of the sheer carnage that was left. Indeed the main parlor next to the fourier was partially burnt and collapsed, the heavy rain seeping in. Edalyn did her best to avoid the wet as she looked through the salvageable drawers. She unsurprisingly found nothing, but she figured it was best to do a thorough search, just in case. She knew any secrets would most likely be on the upper floors, in the unused bedrooms. 

She quickly made her way up the grand staircase and stood at the top, pausing for a moment, expecting something, but there was nothing nor anyone there. It was strange. It almost felt like there was a presence on this level of the house, but she could see nothing in the deep darkness of the hallway, not even with her night vision. 

Still, she figured she'd better be careful. She made her way slowly down the hallway, taking in the few paintings and portraits left on the walls. Some of them were scorched, likely from the torches of the hunters. She entered every room she came across, whether they be locked or not, using her supernatural abilities to slip through the cracks in each door. Some were completely ransacked by hunters, others remained untouched, but regardless, she made quick yet thorough work of examining every nook and cranny, desperately looking for any sign that her family could be alive somewhere. 

Her desperation strangely ceased every time she reentered that hallway, for she could feel that odd presence there, and it made her cautious, yet curious. Perhaps it was merely some woodland critters that were taking shelter from the rain that she was mistaken for someone bigger? The presence did feel rather small, but maybe it was trying to make itself small…

Edalyn tried not to let it bother her as she made her way up the smaller stairs at the end of the hallway to the third floor. If there was to be anything, it would absolutely be here. It had to be. She checked in the first room on the right, which appeared to be fashioned into a large nursery, the leftover toys covered in thick layers of dust and cobwebs, but found nothing. The first door on the left was another library, filled with equally dusty books, but still, she found nothing. The second door on the right, the clearly unused grand bedroom that would have been meant for the heads of the house, was exactly the type of place Edalyn suspected would definitely have what she was looking for. 

She quickly entered the room, initially not bothering to take in any of the surroundings, but was immediately hit with a strange wave of despair. It felt as if something horrible had happened in this room, a nauseating chill that she did not feel in any of the other rooms she searched. It stopped Edalyn in her tracks, and she felt as if she could have broken down right there. The reality of the situation could have easily overtaken her, but she triumphed once more in fighting off her tears. She was still holding onto hope of the survival of her beloved sister. 

Edalyn practically tore apart the room, knowing that her sister would have likely used the main bedrooms as a storage for her personal things, and more importantly, as storage for her secrets. A storage for any sort of clue that could lead her sister to her. A storage for something, anything that would prevent even the very idea of this horrid event from being true. Each empty hiding spot only contributed to that sinking feeling. Edalyn checked every inch of that room until there was…

...Nothing. Her hope was rapidly fading. She collapsed into the vanity chair that she had paused at and very lazily prodded at the dusty objects left on the table, until she came to the music box. 

The very music box that she herself had given Evelyn as a wedding present. She very gently wound it up until the lid opened by itself, and the spinning figure inside spun along with the music. 

Edalyn didn’t know what to think. She couldn't fathom how something like this could happen, how vampire hunters could have gotten here. She was certain that Evelyn and her husband were strong and resourceful enough to have fought them off. But the emptiness in the house only seemed to prove otherwise…

As the music ended and the box closed on its own, Edalyn's head fell into her arms onto the table. The heavy feeling in the room finally put enough pressure onto her to force out her sobbing. She sat like that for a good long while, indulging in her worst fears. If they really had been killed, she felt it was her fault. Had she just made more room in her life to spend time with her blood family… maybe she could have been there to help. She did not want it to be her fault. She did not want them to be dead. She was not ready to accept it. She never even got a chance to meet their newborn son…

Suddenly, in the midst of her weeping, despite the suffocating feeling all around her, she suddenly felt as if someone was watching her. Her head shot up from the vanity table and whipped around to the door, but she saw no one.

That feeling was undeniable now, there was definitely someone here, and it wasn't just a woodland animal. She was racking her brain of the possibilities as she slowly stood and carefully made her way to the door. Poking her head out, she looked down either side of the hallway, stepping further out and checking to make sure no one was behind her. She turned to face the unsearched rooms, scratching her head in confusion, when she heard a voice finally call out from behind her.

"Who are you?" The voice sounded quite young, yet strangely rough. 

Edalyn whipped around to meet the face of a young boy who couldn't have been more than sixteen years old, standing rigidly in the entryway of the room she had just come from. He was most definitely a vampire, with his pointed ears, sharp teeth, and piercing red eyes. There was certainly some relief in that. But Edalyn's heart dropped as she recognized the unmistakable features of Caleb's face. 

"You're Hunter, aren't you?" Edalyn said incredulously.  

"Who are you and what are you doing in this house?!" The boy demanded.

Edalyn blinked the tears forcefully out of her eyes and shook her head as if to fight off a hallucination, but when the boy still stood clear in her mind, she began to approach him gently with both arms extended in a friendly manner. If Hunter was alive, it was still possible that Evelyn and Caleb could be. Surely, they wouldn’t have abandoned something as precious as their son all alone here. She still clung to that hope. 

"I'm your mother's sister, Edalyn. You know, your mother Evelyn?" She tried to be gentle with him.

"Don't come any closer!" Hunter warned as he shrank away from Edalyn's gesture. 

She stopped, taken aback by his forcefulness. She supposed he got from her side of the family. Hawthornes could be quite stand-offish. She pulled back and stood plainly before responding to his other question. 

"I'm here because I received word that something may have happened to my sister." She answered. 

The boy looked at her for a moment, quite angrily. 

"Well you're far too late to do anything about it." He finally retorted.

"Word doesn't travel fast when you're out of the country, let alone if you're a vampire." Edalyn explained. 

There was a pause as they stood awkwardly, looking toward the floor, unsure of what to do or say. Edalyn finally met his gaze again, and started to approach once more.

"Please, won't you tell me what happened here? I am not your enemy, I'm not here to hurt you. I really am related to your mother, and I just want to know where she and her husband went." She pleaded.

Hunter’s expression shifted into a worried grimace as he still looked to the floor, before he stepped out of the doorway and reached his hand out, a pinky extended. Though surprised, Edalyn immediately recognized the gesture. A pinky promise. Something that she learned from her whole family. Of course Evelyn would have passed it on. She locked her own pinky with his and shook it firmly. 

"A pinky promise." She said, a glint of comfort in her otherwise melancholic voice. 

Hunter smiled awkwardly at her, but he became much more relaxed, having established a foolproof method of trust in his mind. He remembered his mother established such a gesture as only a thing amongst family, and if this stranger knew of it, she was surely family. 

"Now tell me," Edalyn began, finally rubbing her face dry. "Why did your parents leave you here?"

Hunter slowly looked down to the floor again, a grim expression coming across his face. He hesitated for a moment as he shrunk completely in on himself. 

"They're dead." He blurted out forcefully, as he turned to walk away.

Edalyn gasped, and stood in her place in shock before she realized the answers to the flood of questions entering her mind were walking down the hall. She could feel her grief welling up inside her, her denial shattered. She wanted to hound his boy with more questions, but she realized by the look of him, that he probably really didn't want to talk about it. Her demeanor became more solemn as she followed quietly behind him. 

"Was it the hunters?" She whispered, barely able to speak. 

The boy met her eyes over his shoulder, his own clearly wet, and he simply nodded. 

Edalyn could no longer hold back her own tears. Not only were her fears confirmed in that she had completely lost her sister and brother-in-law, but their child had been left alone with this trauma for who knows how long, living all by himself with no one to raise him. She had a million more questions, but the instinct to ask them was not more powerful than the instinct to comfort. 

"Oh Hunter, I'm so sorry." She choked out.

She gently grabbed his face as he now turned toward her before she pulled him in close and held onto him tightly. This was her nephew, and she was determined to make sure that he was taken care of, above all else. 

"H-how did you know my name?" Hunter asked, rather bewildered by the intense emotions. 

Edalyn pulled away from the embrace, keeping one hand on Hunter's shoulder and the other wiping at her cheek. 

"Your mother told me about you, in her letters." She answered, her voice quivering. 

"She wrote you letters?" Hunter inquired.

"Yes. But then they stopped coming… and I got worried…" Edalyn replied. 

She looked to the floor, seemingly trapped in a daze. She tried to gather her memories and thought process from before she came here. The daze only lasted a moment before she breathed a heavy sigh, and continued. 

"I figured it was fine for a while. They were probably quite busy raising you. But then I heard that nobody, not even their closest friends had heard from neither Evelyn nor Caleb, and that there had been a great commotion at the house." She paused in thought.

"No one would elaborate, so I came to investigate myself." Edalyn finished. 

The emotions were hitting her again. She pressed her hand over her eyes as if that would work as flood gates. Hunter could see her lips contorted into an intense frown. He mindlessly seemed to copy her expression as he reached his hand over to hers placed on his shoulder in a gesture of comfort. He could hear her take in another shivery sigh in an attempt to compose herself. 

"I have so many questions to ask you." Edalyn could barely get her words out. 

"We should probably sit down for it." Hunter smiled awkwardly yet again, trying to ease the tension. 

He took her hand in his and began leading her through the rest of the hallway and back down to the first floor. She followed him wordlessly all the way into a larger drawing room that hadn’t been affected by the fire at the back of the house. It almost seemed to function as more of a back porch as there were very large windows that looked out into a garden in the backyard, with an accompanying greenhouse. The pouring rain that came with the storm had ceased enough to see that said greenhouse and garden had become rather unkempt. 

"Do you want me asking questions? I don't know how fresh it is in your mind." Edalyn asked as she swiped off some of the dust on her chair and her spot at the table, before promptly sitting down. 

"It's alright. I'm fine with it I think." Hunter said, sitting cross-legged with his hands folded neatly on the dusty tablecloth. 

Edalyn was surprised at his manners, compared to hers where she sat slouched back in the chair, hands folded on her lap. She couldn't be bothered to perform such etiquette after all the blows to her emotions. She wondered if maybe Hunter was so rigid because he was nervous. She was little more than an acquaintance at this point. 

She twiddle her thumbs in her lap for a moment, trying to gather her thoughts to coherence. 

"Do you remember anything that happened?" She finally asked, looking up from her thumbs. 

"Not really. It was such a long time ago. I think I must have been five." Hunter responded, instinctively looking away from her gaze.

Five years old. This was a complete shock to Edalyn. This poor boy had to fend for himself at such a young age, barely older than infancy. And no one came to his rescue. She couldn't imagine what kind of life he could have been living. 

"How long have you been alone?" She anxiously continued her questions. 

"Close to eleven years I think. I've been losing track lately…" Hunter replied. 

"How have you been able to survive? I mean, no one taught you how to catch your own food. What have you been living off of?" Edalyn hounded as she mindlessly leaned forward in her chair. 

"I live off the rats and mice that come into the house." He admitted. "It's not a lot but it's been enough to get me this far." 

Edalyn pulled back in disbelief. She placed her hand on her forehead as if to brace herself for some explosive emotion. 

Hunter looked at her a little worried. He knew his situation wasn't ideal, but he had gotten so used to this lifestyle that now meeting someone who led a much more normal life than he did, he felt embarrassed. Edalyn seemed to notice his expression and sighed. She leaned forward in her chair, far enough that she could reach Hunter's hands with her own, and took them in hers.

"Hunter, I know you're probably used to living like this, but the fact of the matter is, it is not a normal way to live for a vampire." She began. 

Hunter flushed at the gesture. It had been such a long time since he got any sort of familial affection. Getting it now was overwhelming. 

"I know we've only just met, and you might not want me in your house, but I feel as though it is my obligation as your next of kin to be the one to look after you from now on." Edalyn continued. 

She didn't know how hard she had to try to convince him to let her stay, if she even had to at all, but she still figured she'd give it some honest effort anyway. Even if he declined her care, she would just take care of him from afar, as best as she could. There was no way she was leaving this boy completely alone ever again. 

Hunter didn’t respond at first. All of his emotions were slowly reaching a point. He had gotten so used to being alone, fending for himself. He had come to accept it as his way of life. But now with the prospect of a family member returning, offering the safety and care he had been needing for a long time, he slowly started realizing just how much he had been struggling. And he had tried so desperately to cling to the memory of his parents for any semblance of comfort, but they had been fading more and more from his mind. 

The more he thought about it, the more he realized how truly grateful he was that someone had come into his life with the promise that she would care for him just as his parents did, and how much luckier he was that it happened to be a blood relative. 

He tried to stifle his emotions in the time that these thoughts raced through his head, but it was hardly any use. 

"Please stay." He finally choked out as he could no longer hold back. 

His head suddenly fell forward onto the table and he began hysterically sobbing, his hands still locked with Edalyn's, tensing in hers. She instantly got up out of the chair that was seated across from him at the table and plopped herself  in one right next to him. She then gently pried him off of the table and into her arms, letting her cloak drape over both of them. Hunter only clung to her as tightly as he could, burying his face in her chest as he cried. 

"It's alright, it's alright." Edalyn spoke softly above Hunter's broken sobs. 

She gently stroked his unkempt blond hair as she tightened the embrace, and let her own tears flow. 

"I'm here to take care of you." 

[michaels-reality]

I hope whenever I decide to post more of Tomzy, you love him like I do

[dykebeckett]

I’m too tired and I think the gummy amount I had wasn’t enough to do much so. I’m getting in bed before nine. 👍🏻

[elericelery]

"The Elliot." My final comic for my comics class. Four more pages under the cut. Thank u for reading <3

[that-hippie-user]

"who's the writer here, googie? cursing is for the bourgeoisie." is the single greatest statement ive heard, and i'm calling them googie from now on.

No, Google Docs, there is a distinct difference between "cussing" and "cursing."

[bossboo]

Writing a very emotional scene abt like. Mental illness and struggling to do basic things and feeling guilty abt it and Google Docs corrected "do you think" to "do you tahini" which brought me STRAIGHT out of the scene bc now all I can think of is someone coming up to me in the depths of depression and saying "hey. Do you tahini?"

[adollt]

i love googie

[borathae]

↳ Index [Snippet #50 - Roundie]

"When Jungkook accidentally gives himself a bowl cut."

Genre: Slice of Life, Fluff

Warnings: just Kookie being the cutest and roundest, she teases him for messing up his haircut, and he playfully bites her cheek for it, they're so in love, snuggles and kisses hihi

Wordcount: 1.3k

a/n: i don't have to mention what i was inspired by LIKE he is so cute you have no idea i love him so much it's actually insane :( this is also something that ogc!googie would do so i wanted to be self-indulgent and write it ihihiih <3 have fun besties 🧡

“No!” 

You heard your husband exclaim this one small word around twenty minutes ago and haven't heard a word from him since. Only the blow dryer, which has been running the last few minutes, can be heard.

You and Jungkook are on a romantic holiday in Japan because the land is especially nice this time around to explore by motorbike. You are currently staying in an Airbnb somewhere in the Japanese mountains. The architecture and furniture is traditional with a hint of modern and the house offers a small private spa area. You and Jungkook have already enjoyed it earlier today, but decided to call it quits for now. You currently find yourself on the sofa in your pyjamas, relaxing with a good book and a cup of tea, while your husband locked himself up in the bathroom. 

Except for his very enthusiastic and shocked “No!” you haven’t heard from him. That changes however right this instant when the blow dryer stops and the door unlocks. 

“Baby?” 

“Yes, Kook?”

You can’t see him yet, talking louder to make up for the distance. Judging from his voice coming closer, he is walking to you. 

“So, remember how I told you that my hair is getting too long?” 

You set down your book.

“What did you do?” 

“Okay so, hah, funny story. So okay, you know how we met when we were both nineteen, yeah?” 

“Yes?” 

“Okay cool and I looked really sexy and handsome and mature?” 

“Thinking back, you still looked very boyish back then, but I guess yeah you did. Why? What did you do?” 

“Did you ever wonder what I looked like when I was fifteen?” 

“Jeon Jungkook stop the riddles, what did you do?”

He crosses the corner, appearing in your vision. You instantly crack up, coughing out laughter and pointing your finger at him. He gave himself the roundest and cutest bowl cut ever, looking like a teen with it. 

“What did you do? Baby, oh my god”, you laugh loudly.

“I cut the bangs too short. I tried to save them by cutting the sides, but then I had to match the back too and I gave myself a bowl cut.”

“You look so adorable, I can’t believe it”, you say, stumbling to your feet so you can run to him and touch his hair, “you have the roundest head ever. You’re basically a circle.”

“I’m not a circle. Baby”, he whines and pouts.

You snicker, fluffing up his sides. They instantly fall back into their natural bowl cut state.

“I can’t believe it, you turned yourself into a boba ball. God, look at you. It’s like you aged backwards.”

“It’s the same stupid hairstyle I had in middle school. Baby, please tell me I’m handsome, I’m a sad doofus right now.”

“You’re the most handsome circle ever.”

He nudges you gently, furrowing his brows.

“Shut up, you’re not helping.”

You cackle, now fumbling with his bangs. 

“Of course you’re handsome, my sweetie. I’ve never seen you with your hair like this before, I love it a lot”, you say and tug on his bangs softly. They instantly bounce back into their bowl cut state, reflecting the lights from just how shiny and round his hair is. You snicker, “god it’s so cute. You’re adorable.”

“I'm neither cute nor adorable. I’m manly and sexy. Urgh, I ruined myself.” He whines and drops his head on your Shoulder. “I'll accept it if you divorce me now.”

“Divorce-ha!” You laugh loudly, giving his butt a playful spank, “you dramatic baby, you. I already told you that I love it. You’re very handsome and of course, very manly and sexy.”

He lifts his head, giving you a small grin. 

“But…also very cute and adorable.”

He furrows his brows, opening his mouth.

You instantly silence him, “which is a good thing because it means I wanna cuddle you even more often.”

“Wait. This is a good thing”, he says, making you chuckle.

“It is. Gosh you, let me take a picture. You’re so adorable.” 

“If you must.”

Despite his initial complaints, Jungkook ends up posing with pouted lips and his hand throwing up a peace sign. It’s his signature pose he does in pictures and he looks very adorable tonight. You giggle at the picture, putting it as your lock screen. You show it to him.

“Look, now when someone asks me about you, I can tell them I’m married to a roundie.” 

“You”, Jungkook points his finger at you. “Stop it.” 

You cackle. 

His features soften, a warm smile washes over his face. He gives up with a fond scoff and a little chuckle, closing the distance by grabbing your waist and pulling you snug against him. You and he sway from side to side, looking deeply into each other’s eyes. You have your arms hooked behind his head.

“You’re lucky that you’re so cute, otherwise I would have to bite your cheeks for your annoying antics”, he says.

“Mhm bite my cheeks you say? Ohoho mister what a thread, especially coming from a life sized choco ball such as yourself.”

“Yah”, he complains and gives your buttocks a squeeze. 

“Sorry, sorry last one I promise. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself”, you snicker, rubbing his neck in apology. 

Jungkook chuckles, rubbing his hands over your buttocks innocently. 

“It’s insane how good it fits you. Up close, you can really tell that you fucked it up, but it looks so good on you that it’s not even bad that you fucked it up.” 

“Is it really bad?”

“No, not at all. Your bangs are a little choppy, but it’s cute. Very handsome. Gosh”, you squish his cheeks, “your eyes look even prettier with this hair. It’s like they’re supporting each other’s roundieness. You’re seriously so handsome.” 

Jungkook smiles shyly, “thanks, heh. Roundieness isn’t even a word by the way.”

“It is now.” 

Jungkook simply furrows his brows and goes in for the attack. He bites your cheek. Gently of course. 

“Yah”, you step back, wiping the saliva from your skin. 

“I warned you and you wouldn’t listen. Consequences of your own actions, missy.”

“Don’t talk to me about consequences of my own actions, Mister Accidental Bowl Cut Which Aged Him Back Decades.”

Jungkook laughs and hugs your waist. You chuckle.

“Come on you, let’s go to bed and cuddle.”

“Yay cuddles. I swear today drained me. I almost fell asleep in the hot spring.” 

“Baby, you fell asleep. I had to hold your head so you wouldn’t accidentally drown.”

“I guess I did. I couldn’t help it. It was warm and cozy. I felt very relaxed.”

You and he get under the same blanket. He lies down on his side, you face him. His bangs fall to one side, now looking like those typical two thousand tens bangs every teenage boy had back then. 

You play with them, eyes spilling over with love.

“If I had met you back then, I so would have had a crush on you.”

“Really?”

“Mhm totally. You would have been my type. You are my type, but you get what I mean.”

“I do, yeah.” He smiles and reaches out to play with your hair. “You would have been my type too. Your mom showed me pictures of you when you were a teen and I would have had such a crush on you back then.”

“Oh god”, you chuckle, “I was such a mess though. Did she show you the pic of my clip in leopard print hair strands I rocked with black eyeliner?” 

“Of course she did. You totally rocked them.”

“No I didn't, I looked ridiculous.”

“At least you didn’t look like a circle.”

You laugh, “mhm maybe, but you’re the most handsome circle I have ever seen”, you say, pushing him to his back and climbing on his lap.

Jungkook holds your hips instantly, purring his words as he gazes at your lips.

“Yeah? I’m a handsome circle?”

“Mhhm the most handsome.”

“Hah, come and kiss me, baby.”

You smile, he smiles, sharing a breathy chuckle and little moan with you.

“Kiss me, please.”

“Fuck Kook, I can’t get enough of you”, you say and pull him into a deep kiss. 

[hypnobeauty]

A Chance Encounter - a cho hyun-ju x reader fic (part 6)

summary: a story about how you and hyun-ju met and the following years of your relationship. part 1 / part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 cw: no use of y/n, reader is afab, fluff, sexual tension, slow burn, pre-squid game, slice of life. a/n: greetings from the south hemisphere! sorry for keeping you waiting, i’m living my latino summer rn! anyway, ed sheeran wrote 'kiss me' in 2011 so i could write this chapter in 2025 (i stand in defense of '+' - it was the soundtrack of my sophomore year). enjoy xx and as usual, comments are welcome <3 oh before i forget, now crossposting to ao3 as well!

Aein (애인) – “Sweetheart”

Naekkeo (내꺼) – “Mine” or “My Sweetheart”

taglist: @strayteez3staner @dekiruxxx @jeongteen @sunnysurvives @3leni @etta-huracan @honeyhyunju @basoressia @antisocial-aina @googie-jeon @christinamadsen

part 6. close enough to feel

the restaurant was warm and inviting, its wooden interiors glowing under the soft light of paper lanterns. shelves lined with small potted plants added a cozy touch, and the quiet hum of conversation mingled with the soft clink of glasses. it was a friday night, and although the restaurant was mostly empty when you arrived, it felt like the calm before the weekend rush.

hyun-ju had chosen the place—“playing it safe,” she had said in her text—and it felt perfect.

it had been just over 24 hours since you last saw each other, but in that short time, the two of you had texted almost constantly. what started as a casual exchange about the restaurant quickly turned into a rhythm of sharing little details—your morning routines, the neighborhoods you lived in, the songs stuck in your heads. by the time you wished each other goodnight, you felt like you’d known her for weeks instead of days.

when hyun-ju confirmed the date the next morning, you couldn’t resist teasing her. “i’m not letting you run away again,” you had texted.

her reply had been instant: i wouldn’t dare.

*

at 7 p.m., you entered the restaurant, shrugging off your coat and hanging it in the small closet by the door. you slipped off your shoes, exchanging them for the provided slippers. the mismatched socks you’d hastily thrown on in a hurry before leaving made you grin—one striped, the other solid blue.

you walked in, scanning the room for hyun-ju. the air was warm, carrying the faint scent of soy and sesame, and you spotted her almost immediately at a table tucked into a corner. she stood as soon as she saw you.

she was dressed in loose black pants and a sleek black turtleneck that left her toned arms exposed. the simplicity of her outfit only emphasized her natural beauty. as you approached, her eyes flicked down to your mismatched socks, and she laughed softly when you wiggled your toes.

“i’d have worn a nice pair if i knew i’d be getting naked tonight,” you joked, earning a blush that colored her cheeks.

but she didn’t look away.  hyun-ju met you halfway, and for a moment, you both stopped, unsure of what to do. your eyes locked—hers warm and dark, yours wide and searching. the electricity in the air was palpable, her floral-spicy perfume enveloping you and making your head swim. for two charged seconds, you weren’t sure what to do—hug? shake hands? something else entirely?

the moment broke as the waiter brushed past, murmuring an apology. “oh, sorry!” you said, stepping aside.

“please, have a seat,” hyun-ju said, motioning to the low table set with cushions on the floor.

you settled in, feeling the soft fabric beneath you, while hyun-ju sat a few cushions away. the space was intimate, the mismatched artwork on the walls and small potted plants adding to the restaurant’s charm. soft jazz played in the background, mingling with the murmured conversations.

the menu lay open between you, a buffer against the initial awkwardness.

“this place is lovely,” you said, glancing around.

“i thought so too,” hyun-ju replied. “i haven’t been here before, but it’s been on my radar for a while.”

“are you a foodie?” you asked.

she tilted her head, considering. “i guess i like trying new things. i’m pretty open-minded.”

you smiled. “that’s nice. i like to think i'm just like this as well.”

hyun-ju chuckled, her shoulders relaxing as the conversation moved forward. soon, the table filled with small dishes—pickled radish, kimchi, steamed vegetables—while the two of you swapped stories.

*

as the main dishes arrived, the conversation drifted to work. hyun-ju brought up your job at the advertising agency, saying she’d been curious since you mentioned it the day before.

“graphic design,” you explained, your fingers tracing the edge of your glass. “i love telling stories. and i’ve always been a visual thinker, so doing that through colors and shapes just makes sense to me. advertising felt like the right mix of creativity and practicality.”

“practical creativity,” hyun-ju mused. “i like that. i’ve never met a graphic designer before.”

“what about you?” you asked.

her chopsticks hovered mid-air as she hesitated. “i’m… between jobs right now. but i was in the military, a sergeant. special forces.”

you blinked, startled. “wait—what?”

a small, shy smile tugged at her lips. “twelve years. i enlisted right out of high school.”

“that’s… incredible,” you said, awestruck. “twelve years? that’s a whole life.”

she nodded, her expression softening into something wistful. “it was my life. the structure, the purpose—it was everything to me.”

“well, i’ve never met a special forces sergeant before,” you countered, grinning.

her expression shifted slightly, a flicker of pride softening her features.

“do you miss it?”

“every day,” she admitted, her voice tinged with nostalgia. “but things change. you adapt.”

your hand brushed hers briefly, a small gesture of comfort. the contact sent a spark through you, and you found yourself lingering just a second longer than necessary. “i’m sure you’ll find something that gives you that same sense of purpose again.”

hyun-ju smiled at your words, though there was a hint of something unspoken in her eyes.

as the conversation meandered from work to life again, you learned more about her—a childhood scar from a chihuahua bite, you teased her, calling it a “battle wound,” and she laughed, her eyes lighting up in a way that made your chest feel tight, the high-stakes rescue mission she once led. each revelation deepened your admiration for her, and you found yourself wishing you could shield her from the world’s harshness. you noticed that whenever the topic drifted towards talking about family, hyun-ju would get a strange look on her face and subtly change the direction of the subject. you made a mental note about it.

*

another bottle of soju arrived, and the night grew even warmer. hyun-ju poured you a glass, her movements precise and deliberate.

“you’re supposed to drink this in one shot,” she teased.

“i’ll pass out,” you said with a laugh, taking a careful sip.

“i’d carry you,” she said, a teasing smirk curling her lips.

your eyes flicked to her arms and you winked. “i don’t doubt that.”

her cheeks flushed, and you noticed the way her lips puckered slightly as she drank. you found yourself staring, your gaze lingering longer than you intended.

“you’re staring,” she said softly, her tone teasing.

you blinked, caught, and smiled sheepishly. “sorry. you’re just… distracting.”

the air between you grew heavier, charged with unspoken longing. at some point, you found yourself brushing stray strands of her hair behind her ear, your fingers lingering against her cheek. her eyes locked onto yours, and before you knew it, her lips were grazing yours—a tentative, breathless moment that felt like the opening of a door.

the moment your lips brushed, it was like the world tilted, shifting its focus entirely to the space between you and her. it wasn’t a kiss, not really. it was a question, an invitation, a whisper of what could be. her lips were impossibly soft, grazing yours in a way that sent shivers down your spine.

you could feel her breath on your skin, warm and sweet with the faint taste of soju. her hand, which had hovered uncertainly near your arm, finally rested there, her fingers brushing against the fabric of your sleeve. the weight of her touch felt deliberate, grounding, and yet it made your head spin.

her eyes flicked between yours, searching, waiting for some unspoken confirmation. you gave it with a tilt of your chin, leaning into her space just enough to erase any doubt.

this time, when her lips met yours, it was intentional. the world around you dissolved. the faint jazz, the clinking glasses, even the soft murmur of the other diners—all of it faded into nothing. all you could focus on was the press of her lips, the way they moved against yours as if memorizing the shape of you. 

it wasn’t just a kiss—it was the unraveling of something unspoken, a thread pulled taut between you and hyun-ju finally snapping under the weight of your mutual longing. her lips were soft, impossibly soft, and as they brushed against yours, a shiver coursed through your body. it wasn’t just the physicality of it; it was the vulnerability, the rawness of baring a piece of yourself and finding it met with equal fervor.

hyun-ju’s other hand, hesitant at first, found its place on your waist, her fingers curling gently as though afraid to hold on too tightly. her breath was warm against your skin, mingling with her perfume, and you were certain you’d never forget the way she smelled, the way she tasted—you could try to describe it but it was something distinctly her.

for hyun-ju, the kiss was a revelation. it wasn’t just the softness of your lips or the way your hand rested on her shoulder—it was the way you leaned into her, as though she were a safe harbor. she hadn’t realized how much she craved that, how much she needed to feel wanted, not just for her strength or her discipline but for who she was.

she’d wanted this—ached for it, really—from the moment you walked through the door. but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon, hadn’t expected you to close the space between you with such certainty. she thought she’d have more time to prepare, to silence the voice in her head that whispered she wasn’t ready, that she wasn’t enough.

but then you leaned in, your hand brushing against her shoulder, and all her defenses crumbled.

she’s kissing me, hyun-ju thought, a mix of wonder and disbelief coursing through her. she’s kissing me, and she knows. she knows everything, and she still wants me.

her other hand moved close to your jaw, hesitant. she wanted to touch you, to feel the warmth of your skin beneath her fingertips, but the voice in her head was loud, insistent. you’re not ready, hyun-ju. you don’t deserve this yet.

but when you sighed softly against her mouth, the sound silenced every doubt. it was more than physical; it was a conversation, a promise, a question. it asked, can i trust you? and it answered, yes, you can.

your lips moved together in a slow, deliberate rhythm, each kiss deepening the connection between you. she let herself hold you, let herself sink into the moment, and for the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself feel.

the kiss deepened, and with it came a cascade of emotions—desire, longing, fear, hope. hyun-ju’s mind raced, a jumble of thoughts she couldn’t quite untangle. what if i mess this up? what if i’m not enough for her? what if she changes her mind? but then your fingers slid up to brush against her jaw, and the tenderness of the gesture quieted every doubt.

you felt the tension in her body—the way her hand hesitated on your waist, your face, the way her breath hitched as the kiss deepened. it was as though she was holding back, caught between wanting to give herself to the moment and fearing what might happen if she did.

does she feel this too? you wondered, your heart pounding in your chest. does this mean as much to her as it does to me?

you wanted to tell her, to put into words the way she made you feel. how her laughter had warmed you, how her stories had captivated you, how her presence made you feel safe and alive all at once. but words felt inadequate, so you let the kiss speak for you.

for a brief, perfect moment, it felt as though nothing else mattered—not the restaurant, not the other diners, not the world outside. it was just you and her, suspended in a moment that felt both infinite and fleeting.

and then, the world intruded.

the sharp clearing of a throat shattered the moment, and you pulled apart, startled. hyun-ju’s hand lingered on your waist for a fraction of a second before she dropped it, her cheeks flushed a deep crimson.

the waiter stood a few feet away, looking anywhere but at you. “uh… sorry to interrupt, but the kitchen is about to close. if you’d like dessert, now would be the time to order.”

you couldn’t help but laugh, the sound bubbling out of you like a release of all the tension that had built up. hyun-ju joined in, her laugh low and warm, and for a moment, the awkwardness melted away.

“yes, uh, give us a minute,” hyun-ju said, her voice a little breathless.

you glanced at her, your heart still racing, and found her looking back at you. there was something in her eyes—something raw and vulnerable that made your stomach flip.

as the waiter shuffled away, you leaned in slightly, lowering your voice. “that was… unexpected.”

hyun-ju smiled, her lips still a little swollen from the kiss. “in a good way?”

“in the best way,” you replied, your gaze dropping briefly to her mouth before flicking back to her eyes. her eyes met yours, dark and smoldering, and for a moment, you thought she might lean in again. instead, she reached for the menu, her fingers brushing yours as she slid it toward the center of the table.

“what do you think?” she asked, her voice still a little breathless.

“something sweet,” you said, your gaze lingering on her lips before flicking back to the menu.

the two of you settled on a small bowl of adzuki bean ice cream, and when the waiter returned, you handed him the menu with a smile.

as the waiter left, hyun-ju leaned back slightly, her eyes still locked on yours. “i can’t believe we’ve been here for hours,” she said softly.

“it doesn’t feel like it,” you replied, your voice equally quiet. “talking to you… it’s easy. i don’t want it to end.”

hyun-ju’s lips curved into a small, shy smile. “me neither.”

when the dessert arrived, the waiter placed a single spoon on the table. hyun-ju didn’t hesitate, scooping up the first bite and holding it out to you.

“open,” she said, her voice soft but teasing.

you obeyed, parting your lips as she fed you. the ice cream was velvety and sweet, but it was the intimacy of the gesture that made your cheeks flush.

“good?” she asked, her eyes watching your every reaction.

“delicious,” you murmured, your gaze lingering on hers.

hyun-ju took a bite herself, and you couldn’t help but watch the way her lips curved around the spoon. the small, appreciative hum she let out sent a flutter through your chest.

the back-and-forth continued, each bite a quiet act of care. at one point, you tried to grab the spoon from her, but she laughed, holding it out of reach.

“you’re impossible,” you said, laughing as you leaned closer, your hand brushing against hers in an attempt to snatch it.

hyun-ju grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “and you’re persistent.”

finally, you gave up, settling for dabbing at the corner of her mouth with a napkin when a bit of syrup lingered there. the touch was brief, but the way her lips parted slightly at the contact made your heart race.

*

when the bill came, you insisted on splitting it, and hyun-ju eventually relented. as you zipped up your coats in the entryway, a group of rowdy men stumbled past, one of them bumping into you hard enough to make you stumble.

hyun-ju’s arm shot out, catching you around the waist before you could fall. “watch it,” she hissed, her voice low and sharp as she glared at the man, that in turn mumbled something incomprehensible.

“it’s okay,” you said softly, your hand coming up to touch her face, turning her attention back to you. “it was an accident.”

her gaze softened immediately, her hand still firm on your waist. “are you okay?”

“i’m fine,” you assured her, your other hand finding hers where it rested on your side.

outside, the chill of the evening air bit at your cheeks, but the warmth between you was enough to stave it off. you stood close together under the awning, her hands tucked into her pockets. she wanted to reach for you, to hold your hand, to feel your warmth again, but she hesitated.

“this was really nice,” she said softly, her voice almost lost in the stillness of the night.

“it was,” you replied, your breath visible in the cold air. “talking to you… it’s easy. i don’t want it to end.”

hyun-ju’s gaze met yours, and for a moment, she forgot how to breathe. she could see the sincerity in your eyes, the way they softened when you looked at her, and it made her want to believe that maybe, just maybe, she could be enough for you.

you stepped closer, your hand brushing against her arm. “is this okay?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper.

hyun-ju’s breath hitched, and for a moment, she couldn’t find the words. but then she nodded, her voice trembling as she said, “yeah. it’s okay.”

when your lips met this time, it was slower, deeper, laden with the weight of everything unspoken between you. hyun-ju’s hand slid up to cradle the back of your neck, and she let herself get lost in the moment, her doubts momentarily silenced by the warmth of your touch and the feel of your tongues dancing together.

when the headlights of your approaching rides illuminated the street, you pulled apart reluctantly. hyun-ju’s fingers lingered on your arm, her eyes searching yours as though trying to memorize every detail of your face.

she turned her head to the side, glancing at the street, her profile illuminated by the soft glow of the streetlights. the curve of her cheek, the elegant line of her jaw—it was a sight you couldn’t resist. you leaned in, your lips brushing against the smooth skin of her cheek, trailing down to the edge of her jawline.

the faintest sigh escaped her lips, barely audible but enough to make your heart race. your hand, which had been resting lightly on her neck, slid down to her collarbone, your fingertips grazing the hollow there. the way she tilted her head slightly, as though inviting more, sent a rush of heat through you.

“aein,” you murmured against her jaw, your voice soft but filled with longing.

she closed her eyes, her breath hitching as your lips lingered. her hands, which had been resting at her sides, moved instinctively to your hip, her grip gentle but firm. for a moment, she let herself get lost in the sensation—the warmth of your breath on her skin, the tenderness of your touch, the way her body seemed to respond to yours as though it had been waiting for this.

“our… our rides are here,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

you hummed in agreement, but your lips didn’t stop their exploration. you pressed another kiss to the curve of her jaw, your mouth brushing the sensitive skin just beneath her ear.

“hyun-ju,” you murmured again, the sound of her name carrying a weight that made her chest tighten.

she squeezed your hip softly, her fingers pressing into the fabric of your coat. “we ought to get going,” you whispered against her skin, though your tone betrayed your reluctance.

“yes, we do,” she replied, but her voice wavered, as though she were trying to convince herself.

when she turned her head to face you again, her eyes were dark and searching, her lips slightly parted as though caught between words. her hands moved from your waist to your face, cupping it gently, her thumbs brushing against your cheeks. for a moment, she simply looked at you, her gaze drinking in every detail—the curve of your lips, the softness in your eyes, the way you leaned into her touch as though you couldn’t bear to be apart.

i want to take her home, hyun-ju thought, her chest aching with the intensity of her desire. i want to kiss her until the world disappears, hold her, touch her, take care of her.

and yet, the voice in her head was louder now, insistent. you’re not ready, hyun-ju. you’re not worthy of this yet. she deserves someone who’s whole, someone who doesn’t carry this weight.

the conflict tore at her, a war waged in silence as she held you in her hands. but then your lips curved into a soft, hopeful smile, and for a fleeting moment, she let herself believe.

she leaned in, her lips capturing yours in a kiss that was both tender and desperate. it was slower this time, as though she were trying to memorize the feel of you, the taste of you. her hands slid to the back of your neck, her fingers tangling in your hair as she deepened the kiss, pouring every unspoken word into it.

but just as quickly, she pulled away, her breath uneven and her eyes filled with something you couldn’t quite name.

“hyun-ju,” you whispered, leaning forward, but she stepped back, her hands falling to her sides.

“i have… we have to go now, naekkeo,” she said softly, her voice tinged with regret. “it’s late. let me get you into your car.”

her words felt like a wall going up, and you were left standing there, your hands barely brushing hers, your lips parted in a silent plea. the warmth of her touch lingered on your skin, and you wanted nothing more than to pull her back into your space, to hold onto the connection that felt so fragile now.

hyun-ju took your hand gently, her grip firm but careful, as though afraid you might slip away. she walked you to your ride, her steps purposeful but her heart pounding with every step. when she opened the door for you, she hesitated, her eyes meeting yours again.

you stepped one foot inside the car but turned back to her, your gaze full of unspoken questions. “hyun-ju, i…” you began, your voice trembling slightly.

before you could finish, she reached for you, her hands cradling your face as she leaned in for one last kiss. this one was softer, more restrained, but no less charged.

“goodnight,,” she murmured against your lips, her voice breaking slightly on the last word.

you stepped into the car, your heart heavy but full, and watched as she closed the door behind you. through the back window, you saw her jog to her own car, her hands tucked into her coat pockets as though trying to hold herself together.

[bringerofdarkness-fancomic]

Oooough I’m not normal about Exnic. He’s so googy he’s so gooby wooby he’s so blorbo.

video response for you!! :DD

(can't listen right now? no problem. here it is in writing/as a transcript to some degree for you under the cut. 👌)

On January 13, 2024 at 8:06 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, Anonymous asked: "Ooh I’m not normal about Exnic. He’s so googy he’s so gooby wooby he’s so blorbo."

I get it. I understand completely. If there's anyone around here who is not normal about Exnic the Hedgehog, it's me. The guy who made him. Primarily because he is a big, BIG reason as to why I haven't dropped Bringer of Darkness to begin with… for the last two or so years.

Every time I would, uh, take a break or… put the comic on hiatus for… you know, the last two or so years. It doesn't seem that way because… it's been on a backlog. I've had each page scheduled out in advance.

So, there was no breaks between each Friday, unless I meant there to be, unless something came up, or I chose to schedule it early, but primarily attempted to post every Friday since… July of 2024.

But, yeah. Exnic is such a huge reason as to why I haven't dropped Bringer of Darkness. 'Cause like, every time I'd stop, eventually I'd just think about him and go: "Ooh, I need to work on Bringer of Darkness again, I miss my ugly rancid little son, my — my gooby wooby. My little gloinky sploink. My little guy."

So, eventually I'd come back to it, and I'd work on it again. Just 'cause of him. And it feels really, really weird that he is just not in the comic anymore currently.

Um… he's been here, truthfully, since the second page of the comic, since, you know, the cover wasn't really the cover. It was just made originally as a ten page milestone and was tweaked to be a cover when I posted it to Tumblr. Right? I needed to make a good first impression. So I tweaked that piece and I made it into the cover.

So truthfully, Exnic has been in the — in the comic proper since the second page. And to have him just no longer be there just feels weird. It's like: "Where'd he go? Where's my son? Where did he go? Why is he gone? And I know why. I know why. He's just, uh… he's just… preparing.

In truth, I didn't want him to overstay his welcome. It's just… that's the thing. I love him so much, but I don't want him… to like… just… be there all the time, right?

So. After the prologue now I'm going to have to like figure out how to limit his appearances, which sucks because he's — I love him. But. I get it. 'Sall I'm saying, I can understand the feeling of not being so normal about Exnic, primarily because I am not normal about Exnic.

I just want to add, for no other purpose than because I think it's funny, but. We've got two more pages, technically, left of Bringer of Darkness' prologue. I know. I know, it's weird to have a number and be like: "Wow, this is how long the prologue is. Wow!"

I tried to go for thirty pages, so the thirtieth page would come out on Valentine's Day, but I realized it — it didn't need that many pages story wise. So it's twenty-nine pages now. And, uh… something you got to look forward two is the official Bringer of Darkness comic dub by me and my friend, [blue-devil-gamin].

Tails' lines need to be recorded so it's not done yet. So we don't know when that's coming out, but you will be able to hear him… eventually. And I think if you haven't heard what his voice sounds like, because there is a clip… somewhere… of what he sounds like.

I don't know if I… I-I definitely did reblog it here from my main… my main blog, so it does exist. You probably will be able to find it, but. Yeah, you will be able to hear eventually. And, uh… yeah. What am I talking about at this [point]? I don't know.

Regardless. the next stage is to figure out how I'm going to write Chapter One, 'cause the-the last two or so years was spent finishing the prologue and now I'm like: "I know where I want to go from here. I know what I want to do."

I've got plans, right? And I'm figuring out his dynamics with certain other characters. It just feels weird to me now that I have to be like: "Okay. Chapter One. I have to write this now. And stuff."

It's just… I know what I want to do with Bringer of Darkness, but uh… to be able to take those first few steps into getting to that point is just. Huh? What? Right? So, yeah. For you… you get a very special recording of me talking about the gooby wooby. Exbonk the Honchsplonk, right? So….

I hope you like that. I'm gonna stop talking now. Not because I feel bad about yakking your ear off, but because I can't record for an hour and then just post that on Tumblr, so.

Technical reveal that this has been edited, just because I find it weird that I somehow did not mention Exnic by name when I said there's a clip of his voice out there. I guess I was just so deep in my own head that I thought people would just immediately understand who I was talking about, but I really just said, "You'll be able to hear him eventually," and uh, did not elaborate on that.

So, just for that purpose alone, I have decided to tact on that audio clip so you don't have to go looking for it.

[The video switches to Exnic's voice, of which has an accent and an echo to it.] Not quite. Hello. Glad you can make it, Miss Rose. Considering we have a lot to discuss after all.

[The video switches back to the creator of Bringer of Darkness' voice.] Just for extra clarification: the voice for Exnic is Mr. Nub Productions on YouTube. And uh, this was recorded after we had a little discussion as to what Exnic would sound like.

So, this is for you and anyone else who might be listening. You welcome, and have a great day. [Kissing sound.] For your forehead.

[crackship-connoisseur]

bloody desperation

Summary: After returning home from the vampire manor, expecting to clear the air of his situation, Jim learns that he will be forced to go through with his arranged marriage to Claire. In an act of desperation, he drinks the vial of vampire's blood given to him by Hunter, with the promise that it will help him.

Word Count: 1,619

Characters: Jim Lake Jr, Claire Nuñez, Ophelia Nuñez, Toby Domsalski, Barbara Lake (Trollhunters), Hunter (The Owl House)

CWs: blood drinking, physical illness

A/N: i wish had written more fics to actually build up to the context for this but alas my writing style is fucking rancid and its a miracle i even wrote a single fic for any of my aus at all. oh well. if you have questions shoot me an ask

~~~~

"Please, won't you excuse me for a moment." James forced a cheerful tone as he let go of Claire's hands. 

The news was far too unbearable. He needed a moment to collect himself, so he briskly made his way into the nearest bathroom. He hunched himself over the sink, one hand gripping it firmly, the other over his mouth as he tried not to let any horrified sound he'd make escape. 

This was a disaster. He was going to be forced to go through with this wedding. He had hoped to come here to sever all of his ties, make up some excuse as to why he could not marry Claire, but he was met with that wickedly cheerful hostility that he had come to know so well from Claire and her family. 

He had to think fast. He surely would be seen if he tried to escape on his own. He knew now there was absolutely no reasoning with any of them. He pressed his hand into his chest to try and stabilize himself and then…

… he felt that firm little glass tube attached to the string around his neck. The vial of Hunter's vampiric blood. He instantly pulled it out from the layers of fabric he had stuffed it under to hide it. He examined it very carefully, the thick red liquid sticking in thin layers to the edges of the empty part of the glass as he swirled it slowly around. 

This was his escape wasn't it? Hunter said to use it in case of an emergency. This certainly felt as dire as one. He had explained mostly how it would work to him the night before. That it would create some kind of mental connection between them, and James would be able to contact him through telepathy, but only at certain times of the night. 

He had to make up his mind quickly. Surely if he stayed any longer in this bathroom, everyone would come to question him. He felt totally and completely helpless. There was no way he could fight off all of the people in the house by himself. But he was scared of what it would do, terrified of how it would transform him. Worse yet, what if it compromised their location, the location of the vampires? 

Though there was no one at the door, no voices calling for him, absolutely no one to bother him, he felt suffocated with pressure. He made up his mind. He knew Hunter was strong and could help him, and would help him at any cost. 

He pulled the necklace off of himself, rather dramatically yanked the cork out of the vial, and with little hesitation, he tipped his head back and pressed the opening of the vial to his lips.

James didn't know what he expected. It tasted like blood. A thick irony substance that slid disgustingly down his throat. He tried not to gag it back up by swallowing handfuls of water with it. That seemed to do the trick. 

He breathed in deeply and his exhale hunched him over into the sink. He inhaled once more to stave off the nausea and lifted himself up just enough to look in the mirror. There didn't appear to be any immediate changes. He never could have guessed how long it would be before the effects took hold, but he supposed there'd be some sort of noticeable instant change. 

He pondered over it some more as he examined himself for any signs of vampirism. He didn't feel anything changing within his body, so he soon came to the conclusion that he would be safe for now. 

Content with himself- well, about as content as he could be in this stressful situation, he breathed once more to prepare himself for his social duties. It was if they had read his mind, for he heard a knock on the door, and Claire's voice with it.

"Are you alright in there?" She inquired 

James swiftly opened the door to meet Claire's worried look. He suddenly let go of the door handle that he clung to, as it felt unusually hot. Much hotter than he ever recalled, but at least it hadn't burned him. 

"Perfectly fine, dear." James tried to keep himself together. 

Claire's quizzical expression revealed that she didn't seem to quite believe him, but they had too much to get on with tonight for her to ensure further. She simply accepted him at his word and held out her elbow for him to grab as she spoke. 

"We're all waiting downstairs. It's time for dinner." She said matter-of-factly.

James slipped his arm around her elbow to lock them together, and they very mechanically made their way to the dining room. James wondered if that door handle could have been made from silver as they left. 

In the dining room, they were greeted by a great deal of Claire's family, as they had lived close enough to attend the dinner rehearsal, and of course Tobias and James' own mother. 

"Well, here they are! The two betrothed!" Claire's mother Ophelia exclaimed triumphantly. 

They both smiled quite awkwardly as everyone stood from their seats and waited for them to take theirs. James could feel that nauseating pressure building up inside of him that he always felt at the prospect of this wedding. He wasn't sure if it was his nerves, or the blood finally taking effect, but he tried not to care about it either way.

He and Claire both shuffled their way to the end of the table, where there were two grand chairs for them to be seated in. They stood there quite awkwardly for a moment, the defending silence of the crowd only growing louder for James, before he realized he was supposed to give his rehearsed speech. 

He could hardly remember the words now. Claire glanced at him nervously, waiting for him to speak. James cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak, but Claire seemed to want to take executive decision, and produced her own speech. 

"We thank you all for coming, on this holy night of love, for we are truly blessed and grateful for the union of these two families." She chanted out quite confidently, more than James would ever be able to muster. 

There were some rather confused glances between the party guests, but they didn't dare interrupt the triumphant and charming Claire. She continued. 

"So let us eat this great wedding feast, to honor this union of love and prosperity." She finished by raising her wine glass into the air, and everyone else followed, before calmly sitting down.

A union of prosperity indeed, James thought to himself, rather irritated. He knew what Claire's family expected of him. He would be the backup in case they ever fell into debt. He would have to pick up the slack should they ever go bankrupt. He was the attempt at saving their wealth, all under the guise of true love since childhood. He couldn't believe all the optimism he once had, all the denial in his heart. To think he only thought he was getting cold feet. This arrangement was indeed systemic. 

Oh how badly he wished he could be in Hunter's arms at this moment. He felt no pressure around him, no expectation of performance. He knew he could be his authentic self around Hunter. But most of all, he just wanted comfort. The comfort he knew he couldn't get the same high from out of Claire. He wished he never left that sweet embrace, had he known this is what he was to come home to. 

He was so focused on his dizzying thoughts that he didn't notice the food being brought out, and plated by the servants. He finally noticed that his mother and childhood friend Tobias were seated to his left, and Claire and her family were seated to his right. As much as he cared for these people, he felt so closed off from them, trapped in a dizzying claustrophobia. It occurred to him suddenly that he truly was not feeling well, and he could tell by the worried expressions around him that it didn't go unnoticed.

"James, are you sure you're feeling alright?" Claire inquired quite softly, a stark contrast to her wild and frantic behavior earlier at the vampire manor. 

She instantly placed her hand on James' shoulder, bracing him in case he fell. 

"I'm certain that I am fine." James blurted rather exhaustedly. He didn't intend for it to sound that way. 

"You look pale, dear." Claire pressed further this time.

"I assure you, I am perfectly okay." James tried to sound convincing, and grabbed Claire's hands in his own to further reassure her.

She could feel how clammy they were. 

"Please, let's just enjoy this dinner." He finally begged, letting go of Claire's hands and trying to sit presentable. 

Claire simply closed up on herself, taking the hint that he did not want her to press him any more. 

The food was just coming around to their end of the table, a plate being served to Tobias, when James suddenly felt a horrible stabbing in his chest. He saw his vision start to go white as he tried to ignore the pain, but it was futile, he suddenly keeled over, clawing at the fabric of his coats and exclaiming in pain. 

He could hear everyone around him start to jump to his aid. That only made him feel worse. His vision completely blurred and he suddenly fell completely out of consciousness, surrounded by nothing but darkness. He couldn't even hear anything anymore. He had no idea what was going on in the outside world.

[armins-main-hoe]

MHA x avatar

MHA navi x Fem!reader

request

Okay so far we only have met the forest na’vi and the reef na’vi. We don’t really know much about what other variant of na’vi there are yet, at least not 100%. I know there was a mention of fire na’vi but then again, we all don’t know much about them that much. But I think I’ll still make some characters be other types of na’vi other than just reef and forest. I might make up my own too, just to give me more options. But I’d honestly love to hear your ideas as well, the one reading this. If you think differently or have another idea for a na’vi type.

So I’m thinking I’m just gonna do head cannons for now, then later on when I can think of an actual plot line, I’ll make a whole fic for this.

I'm only gonna do the main three for now, if you guys like this and want other characters let me know!!

(and i'm gonna write a little smut drabble for the three soon too)

Midoriya na’vi x reader

I honestly think he’d be a forest na’vi, that’s just the type of vibe he gives off.

He’d be really in tune with his surroundings, a keen observer, since he doesn’t come off as the talkative type.

Though he is well liked by the others, there always is one other na’vi who doesn’t quite share the same opinion of him as others.

Despite his constant attempts at dismissing bakugo’s taunts and challenges, he does sometimes find himself not being that confident in his own skills and abilities.

But that changed when he got closer to you. You, a kind and loving na’vi who honestly nobody could hate. You were always there for him. Sometimes you’d find him sitting alone on some tree top, looking out at the view around him. You’d sit down next to him silently.

Together, the two of you would quietly enjoy each other’s presence and relax.

"You are strong Isuku. Stronger than you think."

Honestly, i believe you both would have a puppy love trope, enjoying everything the forest has to offer.

From sharing sweet, juicy fruits to running across thick branches of the trees.

Though you both had yet to make anything official, it was clear to the whole clan that you two would choose each other when the time comes.

While the two of you were what most would consider 'googy-two-shoes', you would sometimes sneak out at night just to spend time together. To go to the trees of souls where the woodsprites would float around you both, softly landing on you both as you hold hands.

Even Ewya would agree that the two of you were perfect for each other.

Bakugo na'vi x reader

Just to keep the rivalry between midoryia and Bakugo, I would put Bakugo as a forest Na'vi too.

The entire clan and the other clans around would know about Bakugo and his feisty temper. Many would look down at him for viewing life through such fire, but not many would dare to confront him about it.

Despite the clan looking down on his behaviour, they were quick to recognise his strength in being a strong warrior for the clan. Even the Olo'eyktan recognised this and praised him for it.

You were a strong huntress, you never missed a shot. Sometimes you would be sent out with the warriors to fight the human machines that would try and invade your part of the forest. Thats when you saw Bakugo and realised why everyone praised his strength. You used to admire it too before you found out how cocky he was.

The two of you would bicker, he would get on your nerves too much and you weren't one to let him do whatever.

As others would pass you both arguing, they would either roll their eyes at your usual antics or laugh to themselves.

Though one day it wasn't so funny. One day, it wasn't a bit of banter. One day you were at each other's throats. That day, you both hurt each other.

Others were quick to pull you both apart. Both of you had busies and busted lips. The amount of scolding you both received from the Olo'eyktan drew much attention from everyone around you. No one had seen the leader that angry.

The Olo'eyktan had sent you both out, out of the clan. Not to come back until a week later. He said that you both must survive on your own with only each other to rely on.

Fair to say even more arguments happened during that week, more arguments that somehow turned into making out.

Nobody saw that coming, nope, definitely not. Who would have thought.

Todoroki na'vi x reader

Now as much as we would like to see the trio together, I would say that this one was a produce of two navi from different clans falling in love.

Lets give him a somewhat decent family in this AU okay?

His father from the fire na'vi clan and his mother from the na'vi that live up in the cold, snowy mountains.

Their love though wasn't appreciated by either clans. They were forced to choose, either stay in love or stay in their respective clans.

They chose to leave their clans and start their own family. But it wasn't that easy. You don't quite realise just how much easier it is to live with a whole clan, where food is shared and and roles are divided.

It was hard. Harder so when other clans around them would not let them enter their territory. But Ewya blessed them both by letting them stumble across a small bit of unclaimed land out in the middle of the ocean. It was small but the land had trees which bore fruits, ocean which had plenty of fish and small cave for shelter.

Even with this blessing, it wasn't easy. Not when one na'vi was used to the harsh heat of the volcanoes and another used to the harsh cold of the mountains.

Though with time they were able to start their own family. Four children. The youngest being Shoto.

Shoto was content with his life, he never met any other na'vi apart from his siblings and parents but that didn't seem to bother him. He didn't know life outside of the island and the waters around.

But that didn't bother him.

You can't miss something you never had.

Not until a young reef girl called y/n who happen to have swam out too far and came across the todoroki island. The young girl who he quickly became friends with and who began to tell him all about her clan by the reef.

Thats when he began to truly wonder what was out there beyond his little island in the middle of the ocean.

@katsuki069

[fibula-rasa]

Favorite New-to-me Films—April ‘24

(listed in order pictured above, L to R)

READ on BELOW the JUMP!

They Came to a City (1944)

[letterboxd | imdb | tubi (US)]

In a thought experiment about post-war Britain brought to life, nine strangers from different backgrounds are spirited away to get a glimpse at a socialist utopian civilization. Their reactions are, as expected, varied.

A film adaptation of the J.B. Priestley play of the same name, They Came to a City isn’t thoroughly translated into something cinematic. The sets are visually interesting, but the film never escapes stagey-ness. Regardless, it’s an interesting film worth watching for its candor on social/political attitudes in Britain in the 1940s and the great character writing and acting. (BTW, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Googie Withers give a performance that’s any less than stellar.)

——— ——— ———

Love in the City / L’amore in città (1954)

[letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)]

This Italian documentary anthology dives into love, in many forms, in the city of Rome. Six directors each give an angle on life in the city. Carlo Lizzani provides a portrait of the lives of sex workers. Michelangelo Antonioni profiles women who attempted suicide over love gone wrong. Dino Risi captures a fleeting glimpse of dance hall life. Federico Fellini goes farcical, recounting a story of a “werewolf” applying to a marriage agency. Francesco Maselli and Cesare Zavattini share a sympathetic narrative of a mother who abandoned her baby. Alberto Lattuada provides a satirical look at men ogling (and harassing) women on the street. 

As with all anthologies, the quality varies. Fellini’s segment was unsurprisingly my favorite (the same happened with Spirits of the Dead (1968)). I also deeply appreciated Antonioni’s tackling of such a sensitive topic and Maselli and Zavattini’s attempt to give a more humane spin on Caterina Rigoglioso’s story.

(If you live in the US, the film might be free to watch on kanopy with your library card!)

——— ——— ———

Two Monks / Dos monjes (1934)

[letterboxd | imdb]

When a new monk arrives at a monastery, he is unexpectedly attacked by another monk with a large crucifix. The other monks try to get to the bottom of this insane and seemingly random act of violence and uncover a tragic story of romantic rivals.

Stylistically, Dos monjes doesn’t completely live up to the outstanding gothic-expressionist monastery scenes—the bulk of the film recounting the monks’ past is shot and constructed less adventurously. However, I do think that the execution of a single story told from two different perspectives was strong.

——— ——— ———

Scenes of the Occupation from Gaza (1973)

[letterboxd | imdb | youtube]

Edited together from footage shot by a French news crew, Scenes is a short documentary on the conditions in Gaza following the devastating events of 1967. While an important film historically, it is short and very specific in its subject, so I can only properly recommend it in its historical and political context. That is to say, this film might be lost on you if you aren’t already well-versed or currently educating yourself in the history of Gaza and Palestine. More information about the film can be found on the Tokyo Reels website (info in English is on pages 19-20, the rest is in Japanese and Arabic).

——— ——— ———

Poplar Tree / Тополя (1996)

[letterboxd]

Gorgeously stop-motion animated under the direction of Valentyna Kostylieva, Poplar Tree interprets the Taras Schevchenko poem of the same name. It’s a short story about a woman coping with lost love when those around her wish her to move on.

There is a lovely digitized copy on the Ukrainian animation channel, with no subtitles. However, an English translation of the poem is available here. If you read the poem first, you’ll be good to go!

——— ——— ———

Night of the Seagulls / La noche de las gaviotas (1975)

[letterboxd | imdb | tubi (US)]

A doctor is assigned to a small, seaside village, but when he and his wife arrive, the welcome they receive is ice cold. The doctor and his wife, with the help of their assistant and an abused disabled local, uncover a tradition of sacrificing young women to an undead, demon-worshiping cult of Templar knights.

Night of the Seagulls is technically part of a series, but the films don’t have an overarching narrative, so it doesn’t matter if you’ve seen any of the other films. I have a penchant for supernatural stories that have to do with the sea, so years ago, with no context, I watched Ghost Galleon (1974). My feelings on that film were mixed, but I saw others online recommend Seagulls as the best of the series. I did like this film more, but my feelings are still mixed. A lot of the scenes with the disabled villager are rough to watch and his character on the whole could have been handled much better. The special effects makeup for the skeleton knights was fantastic. I appreciated that the doctor does not dismiss his wife’s concerns off-hand, which is atypical in this kind of story. I also liked how imminent the threat was—the demon knights are already here, so what are the outsiders supposed to do?!

Unique use of crabs.

As an aside, I was struck by how many similarities Seagulls had with the Thriller episode “A Place to Die” especially as they came out within a few months of each other!

——— ——— ———

Hercules in the Haunted World / Ercole al centro della terra (1961)

[letterboxd | imdb | kanopy (US)]

Hercules’ betrothed, Dianara, has been overtaken by dark forces. Her only hope is for Hercules, his best buddy Theseus, and their new friend Telemachus to travel to the underworld and capture the stone of forgetfulness. However, it’s Dianara’s own guardian, Lico, who is behind the plot.

Maybe my favorite new-to-me film I watched this month, Bava’s Hercules is a colorful nightmare and Christopher Lee is pitch perfect as the villain.

——— ——— ———

The Sisters / Le Sorelle (1969)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Diana, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, decides to visit her sister, Martha, at her home in the country. They haven’t seen each other in years, and we learn quickly that their relationship is extremely sordid and neither has dealt with the psychological or emotional consequences of that. It does not end well for either of them.

This was a genuinely strange movie. All things considered, I do think The Sisters would have perhaps worked a bit better/been more meaningful if they were not biological sisters but rather just grew up together (which at points I thought might actually be the case). Great execution of the awkwardness and tension around the men in the film, Martha’s husband and Diana’s suitor, and their slow realization of how profoundly messed up Diana and Martha’s past was. The film touches on so many heavy topics, I don’t freely recommend this. I didn’t even enjoy it, but it was such a unique film, I’m glad I checked it out. It’s definitely going to stick with me!

That said, The Others / Le Altre (1969), which Alessandro Fallay also worked on, I do recommend freely. That one is a sweet dramedy about a lesbian couple in Rome trying to have/raise a baby—essentially the polar opposite queer film to The Sisters.

——— ——— ———

Slayers: The Book of Spells / スレイヤーズすぺしゃる (1996)

[letterboxd | imdb]

Also: Slayers Excellent (1998) & Slayers: The Motion Picture (1995)

The Book of Spells is an anthology/OVA set of three adventures of Lina Inverse and Naga the Serpent, her companion and/or rival, depending on the day. In “The Scary Chimera Plan,” Lina tries to avoid getting chimerized by a crazed wizard, but gets ten extra Nagas for the trouble. In “Jeffry’s Knighthood,” Lina and Naga accept a job as bodyguards for an anemic prince with notions of becoming a knight. In “Mirror, Mirror,” Lina and Naga uncover a rogue magician’s plot to find a long-hidden magic mirror that creates mirror-image dopples of whoever gazes into it.

We watched a whole mess of Lina and Naga movies/OVAs this month. I’ve only seen some of the Slayers TV show and so only really knew about Naga via osmosis. Now, the sound of eleven Nagas laughing in unison will live forever in my nightmares.

——— ——— ———

As always, if any of these films catch your eye, but you need specific trigger/content warnings, don’t hesitate to ask for them!

——— ——— ———

This past month the blog quickly took on a Natacha Rambova theme.

The research I did for my closet cosplay of Rambova, raised so many questions for me about the production and release of her independently produced film, What Price Beauty? (1925), that it became the subject of my next installment of Lost, but not Forgotten.

Cosplay the Classics: Natacha Rambova

Lost, but not Forgotten: What Price Beauty? (1925)

This unplanned theming also informed what gif and still sets I made:

Salomé (1922) 

[This one I actually gif-ed for reference for my upcoming cosplay of Nazimova, which my generous supporters on ko-fi and amazon have made possible! Nazimova cosplay is coming up as the next installment of Cosplay the Classics!]

Camille (1921)

Why Change Your Wife? (1920)  

Forbidden Fruit (1921)

Twilight Q: Time Knot: Reflection (1987) 

[This one had nothing to do with Rambova BTW]

——— ——— ———

As for this month, I hope to highlight some silent stunt spectaculars as I finish putting together the pieces for my Salomé cosplay.

Happy viewing!

☕Appreciate my work? Buy me a coffee! ☕

[dykebeckett]

what if I start writing my eighth doctor queap crossover. I was going to sew but I’m too dizzy but I can write on my phone. My googy doc

[sporksaber]

So i posted a garvity falls scooby doo au awhile ago, but what about the opposite?

Note: i go in a few directions with this, look out for multiple versions in the future.

So theres several elements that can be used as the basis of who takes the place of the twins. Freddy's random uncles. Scooby being shaggy's dog and the automatic connection to mabel and waddles. Velma's parrellell to dipper as the smart mystery solver.

I think freddy and velma hit the closest to the twins (as in my other au) but my heart wants so badly to make it shaggy and daphne. They piss off their rich parents and are sent there as punishment. This is my au i can do what i want.

(If i were to use velma and freddy as dipper and mabel, shaggy would be wendy (which opens up a lot of cameo opportunities for replacing wendy's friendgroup), scooby would be soos, and daphne would be pacifica (or gideon...) (daphne might be gideon.). And that lines up well and i might draw that too but its too obvious... i actually really like it though.)

As they dont line up as well, who takes dipper's role and who takes mabel is harder to pin down. Modern daphne being the go getter outgoing mabel makes sense, but i think pulling from reporter daphne would be more fun. Daphne is dipper, and she is going to get to the bottom of this wierd town so she can write a story on it. (I should rewatch a pup named scooby doo, it was my fav as a kid (via boomerang)).

Onto freddy and velma. Story important characters: wendy, soos, the grunkles (which would be so unbelievably funny (maybe for scooby), gideon, and pacifica. Unlike my other au, im leaning away from gideon and pacifica for this. Freddy takes the place of soos as the handy man, while velma takes wendy's as the teen cashier. (Meaning hotdog water can be robbie, and maybe googie or crystal as cambry because i think itd be a little funny.)

I am actually gonna stick with scooby as grunkle stan. While mqking waddles talk is an option it feels creepy, so he has to be human.

Yeah, that feels right. Might make a few little one shot comics of the different versions, or post some designs and a script or beakdown, or never mention this again because i either got distracted or am drowning in course work.

[tboy-boone]

oh i’m fucking writing hope x googie as milf and dilf for you now i’m so sorry

fic where it's the lore of my seventeen spouses including the long and tragic history of me and mother goggins