#guess I have to sort out my thoughts before continuing on this project
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Rambling about uni and the future and all that (quarter-life crisis stuff lmao)
Brief mention of eating disorders (not in a venting way, but a thinking about misunderstandings about them way)
Because like. If I wanna do research. It seems that going to mcfucking grad school is the best way to go. Either that or working in a lab as a research assistant with super inconsistent hours, with like 12 hours a week when I AM needed, in a position that's apparently typically intended for students. And like. I need to support myself lol so. No thanks! Wish someone told me this earlier but eh, no one tells us shit these days except how to apply to retail
And since connecting the dots that like. They need someone to do receptionist duties at mental health centers and stuff. Like that's what I wanna do. That feels like an impact I can be happy with. I'm not selling someone their organic kale or some shit. I'm not busting my ass for some corporation that doesn't care about me or the customers they're serving. I'm helping someone get the help that they need. Someone struggling in ways that I really sympathize, and in some cases, empathize with, and I really care about helping them, regardless of if it's an issue I have personal experience with or not
I can't be a counsellor or a therapist or w/e. I just can't. I can't do that without compromising my own mental health and stability. I'd take on my clients' problems too much, I wouldn't know what to do when they're having a particularly emotional moment. All sorts of issues. I've made my peace with that now. But mental health professionals need a receptionist, too. So I can help connect the clients with their counsellors/therapists/whatever
Look, I need work that I feel fulfilled with in some regard. I look at my dad and see how resentful he's gotten with regards to work, he doesn't give a shit about it, it causes him so much stress, and that bleeds into his personal life, his relationships, his mental health. Every year he gets closer to retirement, the more he and my mom talk about how he can't wait to free himself from his work. I've seen this for as long as I can remember. And I've long since told myself that I'm not gonna put myself in that position if I can help it. If I can't avoid it, I'll go down fighting like hell to. I'm going to fight tooth and nail to get myself doing something I at least give a shit about, that I won't grow resentful toward
I thought that research was my way to getting that. Fuck, isn't it just such an incredible thought? To contribute to research, the expansion of human knowledge, especially in ways that can be used to help people, maybe even inform public policies? Inform people how to help the next generations live a happy life, what helps us an harms us, guide people to living in harmony and recognition of each other? Maybe help the next generations avoid the pain you've felt yourself?
But it turns out that's a hefty goal, one that takes years and years and YEARS of work, incredible effort, not for the faint of heart, with incredible complexity and high expectations. And honestly? This may just be the escapism of cottagecore fantasies talking here, but I just want to live a peaceful life. I just want to be able to support myself and those I love, while being able to indulge here and there. That feels like it shouldn't be such an impossible goal, but in our current hellscape, it sure sounds like idealism, doesn't it?
And with every day my parents get closer to retirement, I need to prepare to support myself. I need to save my money for the impossible dream of having enough for a down payment. I need consistent income. And I need it soon. So grad school? Not only would it mentally break me, but it would take way too long to get me to a place I need to be
And I haven't even mentioned the fact that it seems that working in research also necessitates teaching, which is something else I've long since decided I can't do! I can hardly do public speaking when I'm a student presenting a project, and I can hardly explain complex topics on the spot, and I'd need to be able to adapt presenting information in ways I wouldn't be able to. Not to mention the fact that I'm terrible at evaluating schoolwork— whenever I've had to review peer work, I struggle providing feedback because I don't want to hurt their feelings, but I need to be fair and objective and just... I can't do it lol
So like. I've been doing a bunch of thinking lately. And I need to pursue a different career path. But I'm practically done this degree, and I've been taking classes required for honors, so I think this is my one chance to live out that dream I've had of doing something worthwhile, research that can inform people. And I want to do a project on eating disorders, because they're so, so misunderstood, even among the psychology community. Whenever they teach them in classes talking about abnormal psych, they always focus on the surface level topics, never the ones that, quite frankly, people struggling with eating disorders need help with, need to talk through and work through and have someone understand. It's so much more than an insecurity about your appearance. It's so much more than a focus on weight. And I need people to understand that. So I intend to help them learn. So I might as well do an honors thesis on this topic, then move onto a life that I can be satisfied with
#personal#this is so long lmao#guess I have to sort out my thoughts before continuing on this project
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Weaker - Viktor X Reader (Study Date Part 2)
This is part 2 to Study Date - as requested and crossposted to Ao3.
Description -
Viktor takes you to the lab, and then takes you in the lab.
1.8k words
Part 3
F/M. 18+. Smut. Pussy Eating, Sex , Dirty Talk, Semi-Public.
The colours of the books in the library seemed much more vivid as you moved to stand. You could not help but be both intimidated by Viktor and irresistibly drawn to him. The events of what just happened were written in blaring red pen across your thoughts and you wobbled a little as you stood up.
“Careful now, we cannot have you passing out before you even get to the lab” Viktor smiled, steadying you with his hand.
You returned the expression. Even looking at him, knowing what you had just been reduced to, was difficult. You felt as though your face was betraying your memories and that if you were to continue, soon the whole library would be alerted to the complete arousal you were drugged by. Almost as if some imaginary announcer would come over the loudspeaker and announce to everyone the slight noises Viktor’s hand made as he-
“(Y/N)? are you okay? You look a little pale; did I take things too far?” He whispered.
“No!” You reply, a little too quickly and sharply, “No, not at all. You have just made me so weak”.
“Weak in a good way?” He asks.
“Yes, definitely in the good way”, you clarify.
He appears happy with this, collecting his things into a bag, and placing the unnecessary extra books back on the return rack. Viktor is the only person you know who is both bold enough to finger you in the library, but also caring enough to double check with you afterwards that it was okay to finger you in the library. You chuckle to yourself. You would never have guessed he was so- out there. Or maybe you would, you had often fantasised about him doing similar things, but you would never have thought that they would leave the confines of your imagination.
The walk to the lab from the library was not too far. There was a passageway that fed between both, and this was the path Viktor took you down. You chatted as you walked. There was no awkwardness, he was as smooth as ever. Any visual signs of stiffness were hidden by his cool outward kindness and personality.
“I mentioned to you earlier about my project. Ill happily show you what I am working on if you are interested.” He suggested
“I’d love to see; it is some kind of robot if I am correct?” You reply.
“Me and Jayce are putting together some concepts to form a sort of robot - yes. Though there are a few other more… personal things, I’m working on.”
You wondered what this could be as you approached the lab. Passing through the large outer door, the lab was cold but intimate. To the centre was a large diamond like window, open fully, a thick breeze washing through. You had only visited this place in passing, bringing about notes and paperwork and strange little contraptions. It wasn’t a place that was widely accessible as it was usually kept just for Viktor and Jayce. It felt quite alien to be here, like you had walked into some mysterious world in which you were a little out of your depth.
“Water?” Viktor calls to you.
“Oh, yeah! Thank you!” You reply.
He fills you a glass from the water station labelled “DRINKING WATER- NOT COOLING FLUID.”
“We had an incident a while back” Viktor references the sign, “Jayce was a little chilly for a few days.”
You laugh, it was easy to imagine. Viktor props himself against the edge of the main table and hands you the glass, watching as you drink most of the water. You hadn't realised just how thirsty you felt.
“Better?” He suggests.
“Much”
“It’s a good idea to keep your fluids up, considering how much you lost earlier” He grins.
You suddenly cannot drink more water. You flush red, but play it off coolly, sitting on the edge of the table not far from him and placing down the glass.
“It’s also a good idea to keep your fluids up considering how much more you are about to lose.” He adds.
Viktor closes the gap between the two of you, standing in front of you between your knees. Even with you sat down, he stands face to face.
“Do you know how long I have wanted to do what I have done to you today?” He asks, “For months I have watched you. I have sat next to you, hard and aching, waiting for the right time, for when I felt right touching you. I need to taste you.”
Your stomach is in knots once more, the wetness from not too long ago is now feeling extra sensitive as you begin to pulsate. Him confessing his need for you fills you with unexpected courage. You place your hands on his back and pull him in gently, closer. You press your hips against his, the table height aligning them both. You angle your face upwards, and lightly plant a kiss against his lips. He accepts and deepens it, testing the waters with the tip of his tongue, enveloping you and drawing you in until both tongues are dancing and passionate.
His hands are wandering as you feel his weight against you, they find first the edge of you face as he holds it, then your hair, following down to your shoulders, round to your breasts. He applies pressure; hands of a scientist feeling and curiously undoing, testing and taking apart. He gropes at you harder, and you feel him, firm and straining against his clothes.
He begins to undo your shirt, slowly removing it and sliding it off your body, at the feel of you in a bra he breaks the kiss, looking down in admiration at you before him.
“Ah, Miss (Y/N), you’re perfect.”
You catch his eyes as they gaze back up at your face, you hold them there, not removing your stare as you reach forward for his zip.
He grins, a laugh escaping, “Oh no, I have waited too long to touch you to be hindered by my own cock.”
He pulls away rapidly, searching around the room. He finds his chair, pulling at it until the wheels oblige and it drags in between your knees. He sits down, head level with your hips.
“I am adamant Miss (Y/N) that I taste you.”
He places a flat hand against your chest, pushing you down gently until you lay flat on his desk. When in this position, you can see up and into the sky through the other looking large window.
“Viktor, the window is open” You feign complaint.
“You were quiet enough in the library, I am sure you can behave for me again.”
His hands raise your hips, sliding down your clothes and underwear, leaving you almost bare in front of him. Your legs are closed instinctively, and he reclines back in his chair enjoying his view.
“You are hiding from me, (Y/N). Spread your legs for me. I want to see all of you.”
You hesitate out of nervousness but widen them for him. You watch the clouds in anticipation. The chair creeks and the wheels squeak. Viktor slides the flat of his tongue directly up the centre of you, gathering up your earlier wetness and sweeping it over your clit. He wraps both arms around each for your thighs and holds you down tight as he demolishes you.
You cry out loudly at the surprise of it, but he doesn’t stop. In fact, he increases his speed and pressure, curling and flicking his tongue around your clit desperately. You grab onto wood of the table to keep yourself from shaking.
“Oh God, Viktor- “
If he replies, it is buried deep inside of you as he continues to work, his whole face wet.
“I have changed my mind. I don’t want you to behave for me. I want to hear you; I want to know what I do to you. Let Piltover know.”
“Viktor!’
He replaces his tongue with an addition of two of his fingers. He tests you carefully when inserting to ensure you slide open for him and he meets no resistance. He rhythmically pushes his fingers inside of you, working you up and then crashing his palm against your clit. He sometimes breaks rhythm to rub you with his open palm. He utilises the whole of his hand when his tongue is not busy.
“Viktor, I need you. “You cry out.
“I’m sorry, I can hear you over the sounds of my hands.”
Louder this time, you moan, “Viktor please, I want you to fuck me.”
The outside world is somehow quieter, but you are not very aware of your surroundings, a blurring realisation sweeps over you that you do not care. All you need is Viktor. Viktor is restraining himself from releasing his cock and taking you. He is twitching and sensitive and very aware of just how easy it would be to give into his urges and fuck you into the table. He wants to focus on your pleasure. He adds another finger. Your moans are too much for him, you are too much for him. You weaken him and suddenly he is inappropriately touching you in the library, you always make him come undone. He debates whether to give you what you want.
“Viktor, please- “
With his face buried, he undoes his belt, buttons and zip, freeing himself. You are unaware of this as your vision is still fixed on your view of the labs window.
“Please what?” He asks in amusement.
“Please- “
As you say the words, he pre-emptively enters you, catching the words in your throat. You shout out loudly. You may hear mutterings from the street below, but you aren’t sure. Viktor makes an ungodly noise as he enters you, almost falling over the edge himself. His hands are now fixed in fists on either side of your waist as he pounds into you against the table.
He feels the pressure building. He needed this, needed you. He fixates on the way you look underneath him, splayed out on his desk all for him. He watches the open window, the people walking by below. If they were to look up, they would see him. You grip him, the sides of you holding him tightly, pulling him in, contracting against his length.
Viktor is about to make you undone. With each thrust the feeling doubles and you feel tighter than previously as your body works up to its release. You try to warn him but the only sounds escaping you are unintelligible.
A sudden hard thrust sends you over and you cry out. “Viktor, I- Im- “.
Viktor knows. He has felt the clench of you around him and feels you grip him tighter than before, pulsating and spasming. This is enough and he can’t control himself. He pushes deep inside and fills you.
“(Y/N)- “
Words seem to have escaped the both of you. Breathless, panting and messy, you cling to each other.
Viktor stays inside you for a little while after as he begins to soften. Seeing you filled with him, so vulnerable and bare, it rewires an emotional response. Something in him changes and softens more for you than it already was. He holds you for a long time and does not let go.
#viktor x you#viktor x reader#viktor smut#viktor lol#viktor league of legends#viktor arcane#request#smut#arcane
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BELOW 18 PLEASE DO NOT INTERACT. THIS WORK IS NSFW! KEEP OUT! [THIS WORK IS PURELY FICTION] | Pinned Navigation | Chapter one of CREDENCE | [Alhaitham x AFAB! Reader] Synopsis: In the heart of Sumeru, thrives the peaceful and unique kingdom to which governed by the monarchy. A young prince experiences a strange succession of dreams to which a mysterious woman comforts him. Wouldn't it be delightful to make this dreams into a reality? Words: 5.4k (NOT BETA READ)
Tags: AFAB! Reader, slight teasing, Prince! Alhaitham x Goddess Reader. Pronouns for AFAB reader are she/her. Alhaitham slightly obsessed with you. Alhaitham raging thoughts about you (look at what you did to this poor man!) So far, this will be main tags, more will be added on the following chapters. A/N: OKAY, I SINCERELY APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO UPDATE FOR MONTHS. I know I should've posted this around August but I was so busy and experienced writers block so I went to travel and did girly stuff just to get back on track so I sincerely apologize for the very late upload. I'm currently working on the third part since I planned on making this having four chapters. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoy this and upcoming chapters! - xoxo Circe𝜗𝜚 [Credits to this beautiful artist for the Alhaitham fanart, this was one of my inspos for this work!]
TAGLIST: @ayumneedsleep @zetianzz @surfacecigarettes @flwerie @yxnnu (If you want to be tagged for the upcoming chapters, comment to do so!)
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This was rather unexpected, you thought to yourself. He was different and that bothered you. Was he not satisfied to see the literal woman of his dreams come to life? The thought itself made you furrow your brows as you tagged along him and his pet.
Upon reaching his study, the motif itself was very much like the monarchy and himself. Cabinets filled with scrolls and another separate cabinet that are yet to be filled with scrolls of whatever he is working on. His study was open and wide, the heart of his study was his huge table decorated with weighing scales and papers piled up and two papyrus papers were scattered open in the middle that somehow looked like a map that is yet to be filled up.
"Have a seat," Alhaitham spoke, instructing Jihad to sit down to which the feline responded with a chuff before settling himself down and yawning.
You stood there by the door that was just closed and watched him unfold in his usual setting. I guess Alhaitham would call this his own man cave. He gazed at you and heaved a sigh. "I meant you, of course. Have a seat, don't mind Jihad."
In return, you only replied with a small nod and found a seat just beside the cabinets. You decided not to sit and to stand and observe the scrolls piled up. Your eyes are busy with the tags and labels of each scroll. Alhaitham on the other hand kept sitting by his table and crossed his arms.
The probing has begun, he asked numerous questions to which you replied. He didn't ask where you came from, he was objective, thus only questioning matters regarding the further regions of the sands. From hidden mausoleums to locations to mark, he continued to seek the pursuit of knowledge for the expansion project. It was quite strange, here you thought that he would be asking you rather personal questions. It did bother you but of course, it would not let you falter.
"Your highness..." one of his servants came inside after knocking. "...it is dinner. The young lady is invited to eat as well, said your father."
Alhaitham replied with a nod before the servant left. He then gazed back at you before he stood up and spoke.
"You heard him."
Oh the knock of this guy. You thought.
Dinner was quite fine, the sorts of foods that would satisfy one's appetite. Alhaitham exchanged a few words with his father and his father to you. At some point, the question directed towards you was answered by Alhaitham.
"Please eat, I will answer my father's questions." He whispered to which you only replied with a slow nod as you took a spoonful of the desert.
The following days were the same, this time it was different. You were actually helping him out with the mapping. You could see how delicate and neat he works with the maps. Not only that, he was detail oriented as well. Asking you questions about what was within that small area or what notable features did it possess. He was indeed more than just a prince with a face, he possessed an aristocratic and wise quality.
It was because during mapping sessions, guards and scribes would randomly enter his study chambers and update him with the ongoing plans and treaties that he, of course, would indulge himself and the queries.
"If you'll excuse me, I will return in a short while." He left his markers and tools used for outlining the maps scattered at the table. You replied with a small nod and watched him leave the chambers whilst talking to one of the scribes.
This day, the mapping was almost finished but he was summoned by his father. Leaving you alone in his chamber. It was afternoon and the chamber was filled with rays of the sun that beamed, highlighting small spaces within his study. Come to think of it, no matter how busy this man is, his study was undeniably neat. Not a single scroll was misplaced nor scattered around the floor. You would expect that this man had no time to organize yet his room differs from your expectations.
His study was a wide room with an open space in the middle with a long and rectangle shaped table. Beside it was a red sofa filled with plush pillows on each end. You took the liking of comfortably sitting and observing the space he usually works on a daily basis. A whiff of the incense laced your nose, inhaling the comforting scent. A little while later, Jihad entered the study with a big yawn as he slowly walked towards the sofa.
He was a big feline but such a baby when his prince was near him, demanding for rubs. As you stayed in the palace for quite some time, Jihad has grown fond of you. He would greet you with his successions of chuff or nudge his head against your knees, a cue to pet him to which you spoil him. Surprisingly, Jihad took the big pillow he usually sleeps in by dragging it with his teeth and placing it near your feet and comfortably laying himself for a short nap.
"You know what, Jihad..." you spoke, stretching your arms and back before you took one of the pillows and patted each side. "...a nap doesn't sound bad after all."
And just like that, you lie down and slumber visits you. On the other hand, Alhaitham was discussing with his father. The usual one, expedition and mapping. Not until his father mentioned how you were.
"What do you mean?" Alhaitham asked, not looking at his father as his eyes were too fixated from the pieces of figures in his father's embossed maps.
"Do you even know her name?" The king paused from placing a few more pieces.
"That's rather a strange query, your grace." He took one of the pieces, a triangular shaped piece, and placed it near two smaller pieces with the identical shape.
Of course, he didn't know your name. It didn't cross his mind to know or ask what was your name. Not that it didn't curious him, he simply just didn't feel it. Now the thought of what your name was, he recalled addressing you as 'hey' or 'woman' a couple of days ago. Strange and certainly infuriating.
"Do you know her name then, father?"
"My, of course, son."
"Good for you."
The king only sighed at his rather indifferent attitude. Truth be told, he was genuinely curious about you. Everything about you was a mystery that is yet to be revealed. In an outward perspective, he did not care. To which you and probably the king, finds strange.
He was quite aware of how you and his woman of dreams looked alike and how similar your voices were. On top of that, the little fluid and elegant manners you had as you carried yourself in helping the young prince further expanded his curiosity. He found you rather strange but in his mind, you and that woman of dreams of his were different and he rejected the idea that it was you personified.
"She's quite a pretty woman herself, don't you think?"
"Hm, she is, I suppose?"
The talk about you went on for hours, only for Alhaitham to reply in such a stingy way. After a few more talks, the prince decided to go back to his study to check the scrolls.
It was the same routine everyday, to the point that it seemed like a loop that never ended. At this point, your plan seemed like a written reminder that you somehow never did.
"The expedition begins in two days, I suggest you get your best sleep since we're heading to the sands." Alhaitham spoke, without looking at you, afterall, he was a busy man with a scroll on his right hand and a pen on his other hand.
"I'm coming?" You stopped petting the feline.
"I will accompany you with a few of my chosen travelers and men."
"Oh..."
"Your ladies have also prepared your tent and things, do you wish to bring anything else?"
"Uh...I-I suppose I'll be thinking about it."
"Hm, tell me what you'll be bringing so I will get them to prepare it. Understood?"
"Yes," you replied, looking at him as Jihad nudged his head gently against your cheeks and chuffled. "Thank you."
Come to think of it, your world revolved a bit of eating savory meals, having to experience luxurious baths almost everyday, a free stroll around the extravagant palace, watch people do stuff for you, dressed up with the finest silk offered by the palace, and of course, having a premium closeness to the prince by being his aid. Suitable just for a goddess like you. But alas, do they even try to know what you truly are? Does HE know or even try to know you? Shame that you will never know.
It was no doubt that the prince had a charming face and a mysterious personality that entices a few faces from different kingdoms. Princesses and high ranking courtesans seemingly throwing themselves to the young prince's feet, offering themselves to him as an act.of devotion. To which of course, he politely declines. These ministrations and how he reacts to it somehow made you curious over the past few days that you couldn't help but want to ask. However, you decided to ask a different and a more serious query.
"Alhai- I mean, your highness, is it okay if I ask something?"
The young prince stopped what he was doing and slowly turned and tilted his head, enough for you to see the side of his face.
"Call me 'Alhaitham', we're in my chambers." He spoke. "I'd like you to call me by my name, so refrain from addressing me formally."
"Why so?"
"Is that what you're initially asking then?"
"No."
"Hm, then I'll only answer you if you do as I say." A small smile formed on his lips.
Truth be told, Alhaitham wasn't fond of questions. It was like a meticulous task for him and it tired him out. However, there are such exemptions to these matters especially when it comes to you. Of course, he could only think of it as a way to return his favour because you had assisted him for almost a month on his ongoing expedition. Think of it as him being a gentleman.
You slowly nodded with his instructions and slowly said his name. It was new, you were so used to calling him with his honorary titles, but the prince himself granted you permissions to casually call him his name. Oh, what a beautiful name, you thought to yourself.
"Alhaitham."
"Hm? What is it?" He slowly shifted his body, dropped his pen and scroll to his table, and faced his body to you. Now he was welcomed with this... rather innocent view of yours. You were sitting by his carpet while his dear feline rested its big head on your lap. Your sincere eyes meeting his hawk-like gaze, plump lips, and such beauty.
Alhaitham wouldn't deny it but your beauty would be considered as the realm's delight. Such beauty you behold, he wonders what kind of alchemy create such ethereal beauty like you. And then he realized something, your beauty alone had a choke hold on him and he realized it late.
"I have come to notice that you have suitors, women coming from different regions." You started slow but with an obvious topic to which you already prepared the rejection of answering your curious query. "Why do you not entertain them?"
You asked, seemingly patting the head of Jihad yet you never really looked at him.
Alhaitham paused for a moment, and pondered, what the real answer is to that question. Was it an academic curiosity that urged him to convince his father to explore the desert that genuinely kept the young prince in a hectic place? Perhaps the idea that marriage was far from his perspective as of the moment, considering he never was in a position to rush matters that revolved around tying bonds with anyone? Does he even see himself falling for someone? Of course, but when will he start to do so? Was there really a remarkable person that could persuade the heir to the throne?
He only stared at your petting to his Jihad as he sighed, he wasn't really sure what to tell you. Although this question wasn't new to him considering the king has nagged him about it ever since he was of age, he somehow had a peculiar feeling. He silently commended you on how you questioned him about serious matters, but as an outsider to his personal life, you really had the guts to ask him.
Maybe answering you wasn't much of a hassle, after all he had the time in the world to either reject your query or keep your growing curiosity company.
"I suppose if I tell you, then you will keep it a secret?"
The answer he gave you made you look up to him, never in beat would you think Alhaitham would set aside his usual work for a question that can be answered with a word or two. You slowly gave him a small nod, signaling that you had your senses focused on him. Alhaitham picked up your nod and took his chair, gently dragged it, and placed it just in front of you. He sat and slowly lowered his upper torso to level your face. The proximity between you and him now closer, finding yourself having a close up view of him and the very details of his astonishing beauty.
"How about this," he whispered, he was serious but there was a hint of playfulness in it. You couldn't tell if he was either serious or not, he was, after all, unpredictable. Something he had naturally. "I'll give you three statements, two of which are lies and one is the right answer."
"...and?"
"Of course, you have to guess the right one. In return, you will be doing the same." He crossed his arms and rested against the comfortable seat of the chair. Laid back and composed as ever. "If either of us had the wrong guess, a dare will compensate for it."
"I never expected the young prince to be playful, might as well amuse me by playing truth or dare?" you let out a low chuckle and caressed the feline's cheek with your thumb. Alhaitham replied with a soft scuff, since when did you start to get that kind of sarcasm?
"I'm keeping your curiosity company, might as well leave you and Jihad alone so I can work peacefully."
Never in a millennium had a man genuinely amuse you in such humor. Come to think of it, he was always serious and never replied much nor replied. You have to conclude that he was like a living machine, so to witness him in such proximity in this situation was never on your plate.
"Alright, young prince," you cleared your throat and now looking at him, your attention undivided. "Entertain me, if you please." a soft reply, you spoke.
Upon your response, Alhaitham let out a ghostly smile before he shifted his position. Alhaitham started, positioning himself by leveling you. He leaned once more, whilst he rested both his arms at each thigh, arms supporting his weight and legs partly spread.
"The kingdom of Sumeru is vast and yet to be discovered. Despite our lineage being at the throne for years, some parts itself is yet to be uncovered." he started off. Each word leaving his mouth made you gently nod, absorbing the words he said.
He continued his story coming from his past royal lineage being unsuccessful of searching through the vast sands due to the lack of equipment and knowledge of what lies ahead. Among the few of his ancestors have passed because of unexpected circumstances of their expedition during their reign. Fortunately, through the sacrifices of his kin, the present throne is able to push through the expedition and further survey of the area.
"The sands fascinated my curiosity since I was a young scholar." he crossed his arm yet he kept his gaze focused at you, never breaking it. As if he really had no intention of keeping his eyes off you, not that you'll escape. "I have no intention of taking the crown to begin with, I intend to spend my time as a man who seeks knowledge and the grain of wonders of the dunes of Sumeru."
You replied with a hum, that somehow adds to your hypothesis regarding him finding you and how this curiosity and ongoing questions somehow simply align themselves to give you answers. You weren't in a rush nor had the realization you had initial questions about how he was determined to expand his knowledge and the past aspirations of his kin to broaden their expansion.
"That leads me to saying that I do not wish to marry." Alhaitham's tone was relaxed and monotone, leaning by the soft backrest of the chair he sat.
Shifting, he rested his right hand by the arm rest and his left hand supporting his head as he paused. He looked at you, observing your curious face as he took a pause. Surprisingly, he somehow found himself pleased with this view. Not that he felt that he was superior looking down on you, it was more of how you looked. How effortlessly you made him look at you in awe with your beauty. Those curious and innocent looking eyes you had, spoke for you. It felt like you didn't even have to utter a word for him to digest what you're thinking. Perhaps it is true what they say: the eyes never lie.
"Why?" you gazed at him.
"I am not in a rush nor has it ever crossed my mind," he replied.
"I doubt."
"Who are you to doubt me?"
You let out a soft chuckle with his question.
"I don't doubt you, my prince." you replied. "I doubt how it never crossed your mind."
Alhaitham, interested with your answer, slowly let his curiosity tiptoe. Perhaps it was the perfect time to open your subject to him. The reason why you are here, the reason why you're infront of him, and why he even has the opportunity to speak to you. Of course, you didn't want to surprise him with everything. You had other plans, after all, who doesn't like the chase?
"Perhaps not marriage."
"Then?"
"Perhaps you had someone in mind." you lowered your voice but sure enough that Alhaitham heard of it, he never recalled anyone being so pesky in his mind. He was after all a busy man, he was.
"How can you confirm this suspicion then?"
"I think that leads us to me answering your little game, your highness."
Delightful but terribly annoying on how you seem to know or even assume he gave out the wrong statement but alas, he would never know your true potential if he did not give you the chance to speak. He never belittles anyone's academic and intellectual capability, it was just that he never truly had to try hard to prove anything. But here you are, it seems like someone like you knows how to bite.
"Go on."
"Based on the structure of your statements, I concluded that you were telling the truth regarding the matters of your family's lineage dating back and your history with the dunes." you started, confident but sure. You sat upright but never forgot to pet the asleep feline by your thighs.
"This also leads me to sum up that you do not have plans nor initial plans with the crown, I can recall a certain interaction with the king. He mentioned, nonverbatim, that 'the prince truly amuses me for he is the only heir of this dying lineage of kings, yet he spares no time to reckon keeping up this dynasty of honorable kings.'" With a smile, you looked at Alhaitham.
Perhaps the young prince looked down on such a peculiar woman like you. He often had the perception that you were just an odd woman looking for trouble near the site. He wasn't new to women performing such an act just to get his attention. That in case he was presumably correct, he paid no attention at all. Truly, you were more than just a delight to his study chambers, you intrigue the young prince.
Your assertion kept the young prince amused. In a way he could never comprehend with simple words. Something ignited inside him that his chest felt heavy, in a sense that it also wanted to break free. He could hear the hitch of his inhale and heavy yet silent exhale.
There was something about you that kept Alhaitham's feelings exalted at the present. For such an ethereal looking woman with a peculiar habit of surprising anyone, you did so much aside stir up feelings from him that he could not comprehend what it was. It was warm yet a chill would run his spine.
“Perhaps you can say that marriage itself has never been in the status as convenient to you but to say that you had no person to think of intrigues me a lot, sir.”
“You're doubting me?
“I distress your majesty, perhaps let us put it in this way…” you sat up and fixed your posture. Surely, this would sound ridiculous but oh well, better have said it then regret it afterwards.
“You’re assuming then?” Alhaitham argued, keeping up his neutral expression while internally being entertained with her little show.
“No-” you said.
“Suggesting?”
“Your highness-”
“Are you a matchmaker then?”
With his rapid interruption, you heaved a heavy sigh, admitting defeat as his interruption unfortunately got through your nerves. You didn’t wish to be annoyed at the young prince, it was pretty much obvious that he was doing it on purpose. Alhaitham somehow finds it rather…amusing.
“Your highness, I think we should call it a night.” you closed your eyes, trying to compose yourself. “You have errands tomorrow.”
Alhaitham let out a low chuckle, seemingly enjoying his small victory of trying to get into your nerves.
“Ah, and they say escape is defeat.” Alhaitham shifted his seat and made himself comfortable by leaning onto the back cushion of the seat. His eyes gazing at your defeated look, eyes looking away and your plump lips pouting. He was never the type to exasperate anyone just because he wanted to lest he never experience the annoyance from someone who does it randomly.
But here you are, looking incredibly annoyed yet delicately beautiful without any effort. He must admit that he never came across any woman with such sharpness and wit, still blessed with her beauty and grace.
“Apologies, I must have you at wits end.” He spoke as he stood up from his seat.
He walked towards the center of his chambers. At the center of his chamber lies a square pool filled with varieties of fresh flowers and lotuses that float the pristine water. He took one nilotpala lotus and a single zaytun peach and sat back at his chair just near you.
You watched him closely come back to his seat. He placed the zaytun peach just at his table for he kept both of his palms busy with the lotus.
“I do not think this is an appropriate gift for making amends with you but…” he looked at the damp and freshly bloomed lotus in his palm before he gazed at you. “...allow me to offer this lotus to you, they say it only blooms at night to reveal its beauty.”
He gently took the flower and handed it over to you. Taking the flower, you placed it and carefully cupped the delicate lotus. You never had the opportunity to see it bloom, thus this was a sight to see to you.
Unbeknownst to you, Alhaitham came to know that you had taken a liking to these delicate lotuses. He observed you sit by the pool of the garden, looking at your reflection and the lotuses that are yet to bloom. He knew you would sit hours just for it to bloom but to no avail, you eventually wasted your afternoon just for it to bloom.
“This is a nilotpala lotus.” you spoke, observing the intricate parts of the flower up close. You had a waft of its floral and sweet scent. “I’ve always wanted to see them bloom but I do not get the opportunity to see them fully bloom.” You looked up to him with bliss and with a smile.
“Is that so?” He knew, of course. He wouldn’t say it. Perhaps this would be his reward and somehow, he felt a sense of contentment seeing you in such bliss. He took the peach, effortlessly tore it in half, and gazed at you
“Truth is, your answers are all correct.” he admitted defeat with a sigh, he slowly took a bite from the other half of the peach, his eyes never leaving you. Upon hearing him, a little smile formed your lips.
“So, you have someone on your mind?”
He then propped himself by sitting at the red carpet, just in front of you
“Indeed,” he answered.
You were surprised by the prince’s offering. He was acting unusual in a way that intrigued you. He was the busiest person inside the kingdom and never did he spare time for such trivial matters that would slow him down. And now, he’s eating a peach in front of you. You could only watch him savour the sweet peach, another bite and the juice of the fruit ran down to his chin.
Instinctively, you wiped the juice from his chin with your thumb. He caught your wrist, guided it near his lips, and pressed your thumb gently to his lips. Upon your thumb making contact with his lips, he briefly closed his eyes before he bore and gazed back at you. Alhaitham’s eyes were half lidded and seemingly focused on you, never did it cross his mind to let your thumb break from his lips.
You were dumbfounded by the sudden action, as much as you wanted to break free from the contact, you found yourself unable to do so. As if you turned into a statue, unable to react nor say a word. For a few moments, the both of you stayed still as if trying to savor every second of the moment.
He took the opportunity to study your face. There was no doubt that you looked exactly just like the woman in his dreams. There was no flaw, no inadequacy, no spot for him to point out and convince himself that you are not her. You are her, he’s starting to believe. For days, he never had any particular dreams about that woman again. Could it be that the dreams were no longer needed because you are here? The mysterious woman in his dreams was in front of him, thus the dreams were no longer active, he theorized.
“My prince,” a soft and hushed voice called his attention back and it was you, flustered and heart racing from such sudden intimacy the prince showed.
He only let out a small chuckle, pressing a small kiss by your thumb before he looked at you. “Who are you, really?”
He gazed at you with such curious and longing eyes, as if trying to decipher and unravel the hidden divinity of you. He then kissed the knuckles of your hand, to the back of your palm, his lips touching and leaving kisses through your arms, now reaching to your shoulders and leaving a small peck to your shoulder. He then drew his lips closer to your ear, inhaling, before he spoke.
“Tell me, please.” he rested his forehead to your shoulder, his ministrations leaving you breathless and speechless. Your body started to heat up from the proximity between you and Alhaitham. He left a single kiss by your neck before he cupped your cheek and gazed at you with such intensity.
He gazed at you, expecting that your eyes might at least give him answers he is looking for. You could only return the gaze with your doe like eyes scanning his face with visible frustration etched in his face. There was so much intensity between the proximity between the two of you. No words uttered from thereon, only deep breaths and fervent exchange of gaze.
Your faces were inches away, almost like the space between the two of you was edging the both of you. Alhaitham was the kind of man who knows what he wants, he had no business with being indecisive nor mingling with people being indecisive even at the most little matters. But at this very moment, this proximity had him questioning his ability to recognize and decide. Seems like his logic and to rationalize was slowly slipping away from his mind.
“Won’t you?” he whispered, his cheek against your cheek. This was completely different from the dreams he had with you. This was the closest thing for a dream to come true. You could feel your cheeks and nape heat up. Goosebumps running through your skin, his delicate touch seemingly adding more fuel to the fire.
And when he couldn’t resist you anymore, Alhaitham left a soft and long kiss against your plush lips. This was beyond comprehension, everything was happening all at once. A while ago you were anticipating a plausible argument and now, the esteemed and sought after prince of Sumeru is at your level and kissed a goddess who hindered herself from the growing world.
Just before Alhaitham could deepen his kiss, a presence of two women entered his huge chambers. Just by the hallway, stood two ladies-in-waiting. They didn’t dare to interrupt nor get closer to the rather peculiar situation between the prince and you. They couldn’t comprehend what it was since Alhaitham’s back was facing them, and the kiss was angled in a rather hidden manner. As curious as they may seem, they dare not to probe their majesty.
“Your highness, we apologize for interrupting,” one of the ladies spoke, her head hung low.
Alhaitham slowly broke the kiss, his eyes half lidded. You couldn’t deny it; this man was attractive– no, he is a beautiful man. To say that he is simply attractive is an understatement, what more when the prince himself yearns more kisses from you. Upon hearing one of your ladies-in-waiting speak, you quickly hid your face by his side, as if wanting to disintegrate yourself from the embarrassment.
“Hm,” Alhaitham hushed. “What is it?”
“We came here to escort our lady back to her chambers. It is late and she was supposed to sleep an hour ago.” she spoke, softly.
Hearing this, Alhaitham let out a ghostly smile. “Yes, your lady here has fallen asleep on my carpet.”
Your brows furrowed from his answer but you knew it was a better reason than telling them what had actually happened.
Alhaitham looked at the ladies, instructing them with his usual tone as if nothing happened. “Prepare her bed, I will be carrying her to her room.”
To which they nodded and left his study chambers
And just like that, Alhaitham picked up a soft white linen from his bed and carefully covered your body so that it would not be exposed by the cold breeze of the evening. He carried you in a bridal style and still you never spoke nor looked at him again. Everything was fresh and surreal, you kept thinking about it and you never noticed that you were already being laid by him at your bed.
You quickly hid your face upon reaching the bed and covering yourself with the blanket.
Alhaitham only looked at you, but deep inside, he knew what you felt. He could’ve done so much if he wasn’t interrupted but he also knew it was better that things do not escalate as he wanted to know more about you and what you truly are.
One of the ladies escorted him out of your room when he spoke.
“Be sure to fill her vase with fresh padisarah flowers by the morning.” he stopped his track as he reached outside her room. “See to it that you get a big jar and place nilotpala lotuses to it, let her tend to it once it arrives.”
The lady nodded in response.
“Dress her tomorrow, we will be having a stroll by the royal garden and city.”
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A/N: See ya guys on the next chapter. If you wanna be tagged, comment! | Pinned Navigation | Chapter one of CREDENCE |
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project partner
k.bakugo
-in which you and bakugo get paired to work on a school project together ,sfw. angst!!!!! tw no happy endings ..
maybe you should’ve been paying more attention but your hero analytics class was so boring you genuinely couldn’t stop yourself from getting distracted.
it’s not like the view outside the window is any more interesting- at this point your just looking at anything in an attempt to drown out your teachers voice.
you catch a pair of birds on a tree outside- watching as they shuffle around each other awkwardly. god you wish you were one of those birds right now. you really hate this class.
“and yn, you’ll be partnered with uh- bakugo.”
wait what?
oh you’ve got to be kidding me.
you don’t even know what you’ve been partnered to work with him on? some sort of fake hero interview? god could your day get any worse.
you did not like bakugo. not one bit.
you didn’t like his ‘better than everyone’ attitude. you didn’t like the constant stupid scowl on his face. but most of all you didn’t like the way he spoke to your friends.
at the beginning of the year you’d made a conscious effort to befriend most of your classmates. never shying away from a conversation and offering your assistance whenever needed.
you knew what it was like to be strong, you’d always been a step ahead, seemingly excelling in everything you did. you guessed you had that in common with him.
however, what you didn’t have in common with him was his treatment of your classmates. you had never once wanted anyone too feel inferior to you, even if they were.
sure you were teasing- often joking around with many of your classmates but it was all in good faith. nothing like the actual insults bakugo often hurled at them.
you didn’t like him. not at all.
staring at aizawa with wide eyes he only gives you a shrug. you have absolutely no idea why he thought it would be a good idea to pair you and bakugo together- you’d never even spoken a word to each other in this class.
after reading out the rest of the pairings he dismisses the class, encouraging you all too make plans with your partners about scheduling time to work on the project he’d just given you, explaining you had a week to hand in two fully fledged professional looking interviews, one of your partner and of yourself with the other playing the interviewer.
you weren’t worried about your performance at something like this, being friendly and talking to people had never been a problem for you- at least not until it came to the blonde who was now making his way towards you. his signature frown on his face.
he huffs as he attempts to make himself comfortable in the seat next to you, still somehow looking incredibly uncomfortable.
you glance around at the other pairs in the room. brewing with jealousy as you see everyone already getting along- seemingly paired with someone their known to be friends with.
the boy beside you attempts to speak before you cut him off-
“okay look- i don’t want to be here any longer than i need too and i’m sure you don’t either.” you would normally grimace at the harsh tone of your voice- except it’s bakugo, so instead you continue on.
“i’ll spend tonight watching recent hero interviews too see what types of questions are currently trending, i’ll put us both together a series of questions we can ask each other.”
it’s better you do all the work, it means he can’t surprise you with some stupidly rude question. you don’t have to get along with him. you just have to do the project- get a good grade and go back to ignoring him.
“send me a copy of your schedule so i can work out a time that suits us both to film the interviews- they shouldn’t take too long, most interviews only last a little under an hour now a days.”
you don’t look at him as you speak to him, instead opting to drawing little cats in the corner of your page as you explain your plan to him.
“oh um- okay.” he pauses slightly before continuing speaking. “yeah- um i’ll send you my schedule.”
that was oddly easy? of course your glad he didn’t fight you on this, but to say you weren’t expecting at least a little challenge would be a lie.
deciding not to dwell on his weird behaviour you take this as a win- you get to dictate your entire project which is obviously what you’d rather. when the bell rings to signify the end of the day your beyond thankful to it for getting you away from the increasingly awkward silence your having with bakugo at the moment. getting up you don’t even bid him goodbye as you meet up with your friends while leaving the class to make your way to the dorms.
it’s jirou and mina you meet at the doorway- immediately accepting their invitation to join them on their walk home.
the walk isn’t long- you listen as your friends catch you up on the work they’d done with their partners during class- expressing their excitement to work on something more media based.
“so uh- how’s having bakugo as a partner?” you roll your eyes at your pink friend. it’s no secret that your not a fan of bakugo. infact you go out of way to make it very clear to your friends your feelings about the boy.
“it’s weird. he’s totally letting me do all the work- of course i’m not complaining but i thought he’d try to argue with me with at least once.” explaining how he’d acted to your friends you feel just as confused as you did in class.
“wait- you mean he didn’t argue with you once? not even a single time?” confirming minas question you keep walking. it is weird. you don’t think bakugo has ever done a paired project without being utterly horrible to whatever pour soul had been paired up with him.
“i mean are we really surprised? i can’t think of a single time he’s ever actually insulted you.” you look at your purple haired friend as she talks. she’s right.
you don’t know why, but since the beginning of first year bakugo had never once said anything mean to you. not since you’d kept up with him on the quick assessment on your first day.
it’s weird. god it’s so weird and your grateful someone else has noticed it. he’s always so mean. never thinking twice before hurling abuse at the rest of your class while he seemingly never even thinks of throwing some at you.
you rather it that way. it gives you the perfect excuse to never have to speak to him.
“wait your right…” mina currently looks deep in thought before a sly smile erupts on her face. “maybe he’s got a crush!”
you can’t help the laugh that bubbles in your chest. bakugo?? a crush?? even the idea sounds crazy. not once in your three years of being at UA had you ever heard of bakugo even being remotely interested in anything like that with anyone.
“bakugo definitely does not have a crush on me- are we sure he even has a romantic bone in his body?” jirou beside you laughs at that, a small chuckle escaping her. “it’s not the craziest explanation- maybe he’s got a soft spot.” you shoot her a kidding glare.
“don’t be silly guys. i’m sure there’s an actual reason- maybe he just can’t think of anything bad to say about me.” your thankful when the girls next to you both burst into giggles- giving you and opening to change the subject.
the idea scratches the back of your head the whole walk. you can’t stop thinking about it as you make your way into your own dorm, showering and changing before beginning to work on your project- your thirty minutes into the most recent mirko interview when you decide you need a break.
dinner. that will definitely solve your problems. your just hungry.
making your way into the kitchen your hopes of getting your mind off bakugo are immediately shut down as you see his figure behind the open fridge door.
for fucks sake.
it’s too late to turn around now. sucking it up you made your way over to one of the cupboards before taking out some bread- you’ll just make a sandwich. something quick to get you the fuck out of this kitchen.
you nearly make it out- your so close.
“so uh- how’s the project going?” your being punished. your now completely certain someone out there has something out for you.
“um yeah it’s going fine- i have your questions all written out i’m just getting started on mine.” you forced to look at him quickly when you place the bread back into the cupboard. it’s clear he’s just back from a very intense work out. the sweat in his hair makes that evident. he looks good.
what the fuck? you turn away quickly before he notices your quick stare as you pack up your food ready to take into your room.
“you did my questions first?” there’s a slight surprise in his voice as he questions you.
“uh yeah it was easier. there’s a lot more male heros so it was easier to find interview questions compared to females.” it’s a logical explanation- you miss the way his expression drops slightly when he listens to your reasoning.
“is that all your having to eat?” this is weird. is he making fun of you? no that’s not it. there’s not a mean tone in his voice- instead it’s something like concern.
“i’m not really hungry. just wanted a quick snack-“
“you should eat more.”
you need to get out of this kitchen. why is he being so nice to you? okay maybe he’s right. a sandwich is definitely not a hero course student meal but your currently far to confused and far too tired too care.
“goodnight bakugo.”
you don’t wait for his reply as you quickly make your way to the door, desperate to get away from whatever the fuck is going on right now. you debate making your way to minas room to debrief what just happened but decide against it. she’ll probably attempt to try and convince you about her stupid crush theory again and there’s absolutely no way that’s true.
the after effect of your late night hits you like a truck in the morning, after groggily getting up and forcing yourself to get ready you rush to class- nearly missing the bell while you step in only a few seconds before your teacher.
you spend the entire period in complete silence- focusing mainly on keeping yourself awake long enough to get home and go straight to sleep. your keeping your face up with your hand while it threatened to fall when you receive a note from your left.
you okay? you look like your seconds away from biting your desk. -k.b.
why on earth did he sign his initials on this stupid note as if you didn’t just watch him place it on your desk. you decide to take a minute to calm yourself so you don’t end up writing him back a mess of profanities.
you don’t even reply at all, deciding instead to crumple the note up extremely loudly before placing it in your pocket. you miss the dejected look on his face but you do hear the scoff. that bitch.
you can’t wait for the end of this stupid project, hoping that by the end of it you and bakugo will be able to go back to how you were before. he can go back to terrorising the rest of the class while you go back to ignoring him.
it’s beyond weird that he’s starting to talk to you. you assume he feels obligated because he’s your partner but you’d rather he just ignored you outwith strickly work related conversations.
your packing up for class when he nexts approaches you- placing a piece of paper in your hand as he walks by your desk.
“it’s uh- it’s my schedule.” right. you did ask him for that didn’t you? did he put this together last night? it’s extremely detailed- compiling exactly what he does everyday seven days a week, even having slots for studying and meal times.
scanning it over quickly you realise the only free time you share is saturday afternoon- tomorrow.
that works. if you get your interviews completely done during the weekend it means that this weird situation you’ve found yourself in with bakugo will be over by monday- it’s perfect infact.
“i’m free tomorrow afternoon too- i’ll meet you in the common room at 1 and we can spend a couple hours on it. hopefully we can have it done before dinner.”
“yeah um- that’s fine i’ll meet you at 1.” okay great. you take note of the fact this is the second plan you’ve made without bakugo arguing with you.
you leave the class in speed after that- wishing your friends a goodbye as you let them know you won’t be walking with them today, wishing to run straight to bed as your far too tired to spend time with them right now.
it’s hours later when you finally wake up- 7pm your clock reads. you’d really hoped that you would just have been able to sleep though the whole night- it seems the universe has other plans for you as you hear your stomach grumble. great.
your making your way down to the common room when you hear a mixture of voices from behind the wall.
“yeah it’s great- but bakugos the luckiest for sure. he’s working with yn on this and she always does well on this shit. maybe it’ll bring your hero media grade up.” it’s kaminari you hear first. your ears perk up when you listen to a mention of your name.
“yeah bakugo how is it? it’s gotta be great working with her. i’m totally jealous.” you manoeuvre quickly to hide yourself fully behind the wall now. they’ve not realised your here yet. you intend to listen fully to what they have to say about you.
“it’s alright- i guess.” you wish you could say you were surprised but alright? if he calls doing all the work for alright then you’ll never do anything for him ever again.
“come on bakugo there’s got to be more to it than that? you finally get her to talk to you yet-?” huh? what does he mean by that? finally getting you to talk to him?
“shut up shitty hair- it’s- no i haven’t!” he’s getting increasingly more frustrated as he continues.
“every time i attempt to make conversation she shuts me out completely. i- i don’t even know what im doing wrong.” his voice sounds rejected as he finishes his sentence. he’s been.. trying to talk to you?
why? it’s the first thing that crosses your mind. why after years of being in the same class- years of mutually ignoring each other why would he now make the decision he’s interested in talking to you?
you can’t listen to any more of this. forgetting all about your hunger you hastily make your way back to your dorm- attempting not to draw notice to yourself.
somehow finding yourself more tired than you were when you first made your way downstairs you flop yourself onto your bed with a confused sigh.
you just don’t get it. trying to wrack your brain for reasons why bakugo would all of a sudden decide he’s interested in you- you fail to find a logical reason.
maybe you should just sleep it off- after your interviews are done tomorrow you won’t have to speak to him ever again if your luckily. you can spend your days avoiding him during classes and in the corridors. it shouldn’t be that hard.
his friends words repeat in your mind. finally get you to talk to him? had he been interested in you for awhile? and for what?
maybe he had been looking for something to make fun of you for- it’s the only explanation you can come up with.
forging yourself to stop dreading over it you take that as your answer. bakugo katsuki is attempting to get close to you so he can find something to poke fun at you for.
you know in your mind that’s not it. even in your tired state you realise that the excuse your giving yourself isn’t the truth. however your far to exhausted- and apparently still hungry to let yourself stress over it any longer as you fall back into sleep.
your alarm wakes you up at a sharp 10am. it’s your emergency alarm for when you accidentally sleep in. fuck.
you have three hours before your supposed to meet bakugo and your already riddled with anxiety over it. waking up late forces you to miss your work out for the third day in a row- maybe you’ll be able to get one in later tonight.
opting to just start getting ready your able to take your time- an outfit choice isn’t needed, you’ll need to wear your hero costume if your doing “hero work.”
it’s 12 when you begin to start thinking about getting something to eat- your ready to leave now, your aswell heading down to the kitchen early.
your heading to your door when you get a knock, opening it expecting it to be one of your friends your shocked when you see- bakugo?
in his hand is a brown bag- the little logo of a local bakery is crumpled but you can still make it out, in the other is a coffee of some sort.
“you didn’t eat last night. picked you up something after my run.” of course he’d went on an early morning run- your almost jealous of his work ethic.
he got you breakfast? it smells good. you can’t remember the last time you went to that little bakery, you’d forgotten how much you missed it.
“how’d you know how i take my coffee?” his eyes shift to the floor at your question- nervousness clearly evident in his voice.
“i uh- i asked raccoon eyes. she said that’s always what you get.” of course he went to mina- it’s not wonder she keeps making crazy assumptions about the two of you.
you offer his a small smile when you answer him- maybe the first you’ve ever given him. “thank you bakugo.”
his eyes go wide at that- “um yeah it’s no big deal- i was getting something anyway.” did he eat it already? your foods still warm- it feels as though he ran straight here after getting it.
“you ready to go?” your snapped out of your trance when you tell him yes- picking up your bag you make your way to the training room that had been set up specifically for this project.
it looks like a real interview set- in the middle of the room is a long table with two chairs- both situated with microphones with a camera catching them both in shot.
you begin to set up straight away- bakugo insists on working on your interview first as a thanks for doing the rest of the work and you take him up on the offer, settling yourself into the seat of the interviewee as he situates himself beside you.
he looks slightly different from how he normally does- less angry, you think. he’s really gotten himself into character- dressing himself a smart-ish shirt, he’s put on his reading glasses, he looks kinda cute.
the lighting of the set is definitely doing wonders for him- you just hope it’s doing you the same justice. he coughs slightly next to you- seemingly to get your attention.
“you ready to go?” he’s looking at you patiently- urging you to take your time.
“i’m good to go- just try stay on script yeah?” your joking with him- similarly to how you would your other classmates. maybe this project isn’t so bad.
he does infact follow the script perfectly in the beginning- opening up your interview- introducing you to the “audience” as he begins the questions.
it’s the usual stuff- questions you’d answered a million times. who inspires you? why did you decide to be a hero? what type of hero do you wish to be? blah blah blah.
“if we asked your friends to describe what it’s like to be your friend- how would they describe it?” you love questions like these- you feel it gives fans a real feel for not only you as a hero- but you as a person.
“i’m hilarious- obviously. but if we’re being completely serious i’d probably describe myself as helpful? i always find joy in being able to help my friends with things their struggling with- it helps i get too tease them about it too.” you flash the “interviewer” a smile to only be met with a deadpan expression.
did you say something wrong? you thought that was a perfect answer- it paints you as a kind but funny person. what’s his problem?
“why do you do that?” his interviewer tone is gone now- seemingly given up on his part.
“do what?” your voice is laced in confusion but in reality your angry. it had been going so well up until now- no arguments, no insults- just getting the project done and now your going to have to start the whole interview all over again.
“your nothing like that- at least not to me.” he’s grumbling as he says it- looking directly at you with that same frustrated expression.
“what are you talking about.” your firm when you say it- edging him to just get to the point of whatever tangent he’s about to go on so you can get back to work.
“you-? it’s just you! your fuckin’ friends with everyone- it pisses me off.” your mouth is slightly agape- what does who your friends with have anything to do with him? you don’t reply.
“it’s just- everyone fuckin’ loves you- apparently your so fuckin’ great to everyone but i can never get that out of you-“ anger is rising in his voice as he continues- getting more and more frustrated as he keep struggling to explain how he feels.
“your always such a fuckin’ bitch to me- always ignoring me- never giving me the time of day and everything thinks m’ fuckin’ crazy because your just soo good.” your anger is suddenly matching his- your such a bitch to him?? does he have any idea about the way he treats people?
“oh that’s fucking rich coming from you- your maybe the biggest asshole i’ve ever met. no wonder i don’t wanna speak to you.” your furious- who does he think he is?? that he thinks he can dictate how you act towards people.
“what?” the tone is his voice is changed now- the anger that was there a second ago seems to have vanished- now replaced with sadness.
“and you ignore me too!- don’t act like our lack of communication is all my fault.” now it’s his turn to be in shock- he doesn’t think he’s ever seen you act like this before.
“your right bakugo- i am a bitch. i’m a bitch to you because i can’t stand you. i don’t like you, not one bit. your a horrible classmate- i can only imagine an even more horrible person just going by the way i hear you speak to people.”
you take a deep breath before you continue- finally allowing yourself to actually look at him- your vision a little blurry from anger, but you can see it clear as day- the complete expression of hurt written all over his face.
you wish you cared- you wished you maybe felt a little empathy for the boy but you don’t- you can’t. you’ve listened to the way he’s treated people for years and now that you’ve started you can’t stop.
“you don’t do it to me- i don’t know why and quite frankly i don’t care. but i hear it, i’ve heard it for years and i wont shy away from it anymore- i believe you to be a bad person bakugo, you’ll make a great hero- maybe. but that won’t change the fact i truly believe you to be a bad person.”
he still doesn’t say anything- the hurt in his face somehow even more evident as the tears threaten to spill from his eyes.
“right.”
he gets up without saying anymore more- grabbing his coat as he makes a b-line for the door- leaving you alone in this stupid interview set.
he’s such an idiot- and too think he really had a chance- of course you would see him for as he was.
he loved you- he had for years.
and you completely hated him.
#bnha#mha#mha x reader#fanfiction#bnha x reader#mha x female reader#mha fanfiction#bakugo katuski#bnha bakugo katsuki#bakugo x reader#katsuki bakugo x reader#mha bakugou#bakugou x reader#katsuki x izuku#bakugo katsuki x reader#angst#mha angst#mha x reader angst
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Body a Day #8: Football
Coach Bryce could feel his hair turning gray as he thought about the team’s current dilemma. “It’s a real shitshow,” he sighed, looking over to gauge the reaction of his beautiful coworker, Sharon Fletcher; she was a renowed researcher at the university and the target of the coach’s heart.
Ever since the two of them had met, Coach Bryce had tried to ask her out for some kind of date, but she was either oblivious or uninterested. However, such a cold reaction only served to fuel Coach Bryce’s passion.
Today, Sharon was once again uncaring to Coach Bryce’s bemoaning. She simply unzipped her lunch-bag and pulled out her meal. Bryce spoke again, voice just a tiny bit louder so she could definitely hear, “All of my players, suspended. Can you believe it?”
Finally, Sharon’s gaze met the coach’s. “All of them? Oh wow, I knew that they had done something wrong in that party last week, but I had no idea it was something of that magnitude.”
“Yeah, well… can’t say they don’t deserve it. But we’ve got a game coming up, so we’re gonna have to just concede it,” said Coach Bryce. He inwardly smiled to himself as he saw the normally stoic Sharon’s expression squeeze into a look of genuine sympathy. At least he had that small comfort in such turbulent times.
However, Sharon’s expression quickly turned into something akin to a predatory grin. A shiver went down the coach’s spine as she began to titter. “Tell me something, Coach Bryce,” she said, leaning in to whisper into his ear. “Can I trust you to keep a secret…? And also sign an NDA beforehand? I think I have a solution that’ll make both you and the Dean happy.
Coach Bryce, neck sweaty and goosebumps running down his arms, just said, “I-I’ll do whatever you want.”
~o~
The Delphi Project was the university’s pride and joy. It was also the most highly-guarded secret the university had. “Delphi was where Apollo’s oracle rested and delivered her visions of the future. It was believed to have been the center of the world by the Ancient Greeks, and…” Sharon continued the history lesson, but Coach Bryce soon stopped listening. Instead, he fumbled around with the buttons of the uncomfortable lab coat he had been given prior to entering. Not only that but the goggles were annoying as well.
“Please do not remove that,” said Sharon with a tight tone and a forced smile. “Lab policies, as I’m sure you’re aware. Right, coach?” Embarrassed, Coach Bryce gave a grunt of affirmation, and Sharon continued the tour. She continued to speak some nonsense or another before stopping in front of a large machine with two pods that resembled tanning booths connected to it. “The Delphi Project concerns itself primarily with human consciousness. Essentially, it is the next step to reaching the digitization and transfer of ‘the soul.’ Some of us here even believe that this is how humanity can reach this place called ‘Paradise,’ or ‘Nirvana.’”
“Oh yeah, heard of their music once or twice," said Coach Bryce, enthusiastic now that he could participate in the discussion. "Dunno if it’s my cup o’ Joe, to be honest, but to each their own!” he said with boisterous laughter.
Sharon’s smile seemed to grow even tighter and her voice became the tiniest bit more strained as she spoke. “Right. Well, as I was saying, the purpose of this machine is the transfer of consciousness. While we have been able to digitize and transfer the human consciousness—the soul, as some would call it—we haven’t been able to find any sort of machine with the space large enough to store it. Nothing… except for another human vessel.”
In other words, the only thing that could be transferred is one person to another. It took a few more explanations for Coach Bryce to understand that, but he got the basic idea. Once he understood that, he could guess what was Sharon’s plan.
“So what you want to do is transfer other people into the bodies of my team, so technically we can still play while still punishing the knuckleheads.” Technical or scientific knowledge wasn’t his forte, but his mind was still crafty and strategic. Once he understood all the pieces on the table, he could put them all together quickly. “Will the Dean even agree to this? Seems… kinda risky. And will my players be okay once this is all over?”
Sharon smile sweetly and assured him that all tests have shown that both parties have suffered no side-effects from the experiments they’ve done. “However, if there is even a single dissenting voice, we will not go through with the experiment. That last thing we would want to do is carry this out without anyone’s explicit consent. We are strict with ethics here. As for the Dean, I believe I can convince her. Delphi is our pride and joy, even if we can’t be out and proud about it. Of course, there is one more caveat to this whole thing you must agree to, coach.”
~o~
To say that the players were shocked and horrified would be an understatement. Coach Bryce gathered them all in the locker room to break the news, which only made their voices even more irritating as they echoed in the small room. Some of the players cried foul, others argued that his was invasive to their rights, while a few let out a few swears about letting a bunch of losers parade around in their bodies. “All right, that’s enough!” Coach Bryce shouted. “I know it’s a weird prospect, but if we want even the slightest chance of making play-offs, we can’t afford to forfeit this next game.”
As always, it was easy for the coach to rile up his players. None of them dared to argue when Coach Bryce brought up the incident that put them in this Catch-22. “And, if I’m being honest… I’ll be in the same boat as y’all,” he said, looking down to avoid his team’s shocked looks as he recounted what Sharon had told him.
“Day of the game, I’ll have to borrow your body in order to properly observe the test subjects during our most important trial run. Don’t worry, you’ll only lose your body for a weekend, at most,” Sharon had said with a most bewitching smile.
Thinking about her tone and voice as she said all of that, Coach Bryce couldn’t help but grow the slightest bit aroused. He hoped that none of his players could see how flushed he was recalling that night. Of course, he also omitted that last part—there was no need for the team to know how uneven the whole deal actually was.
“Even after all of this, we’re still a team!” Coach Bryce suddenly cried out. Not only did he need to convince those last few fence-sitters, but he also needed to distract himself before he got hard in front of all the players. He hadn’t been able to get off properly ever since a messy break-up with his former girlfriend, so Sharon’s siren voice kept bouncing around his skull.
A nice speech would be a good distraction for now. He continued to bellow out platitudes about staying together and how they were all in one boat at the end of the day. “So, please consider. This may be our chance to not throw away everything we’ve worked all semester for. Think about it. Later… we’ll put it to a vote. If we come to a unanimous vote, we’ll go through with it. So if anyone feels uncomfortable, we’ll decline and throw the match.” He retreated back to his office and took a deep breath. Already, there was a plan forming in his head.
When Coach Bryce returned to take the vote, he made sure that the votes could not be anonymous. Just by glancing at the expressions on the players’ faces, he could tell that the majority was willing to go through with it, but there were a few sparse dissenters spread throughout the crowd. However, when he asked, “All in favor?” everyone raised their hands. The peer pressure assured that their fate was sealed. Coach Bryce nodded and told the team that he’d email them Sharon’s instructions.
Later that night, Coach Bryce jerked himself off as he imagined the idea of Sharon being inside of him.
~o~
Game night came and went, and nobody in the audience nor the opposing team suspected any foul play. All the players performed as well as they usually did, baring a minor hiccup or two. The only anomaly that anyone noticed was Coach Bryce, usually watching with a red-face and barking orders at the team, was perfectly stone-faced the entire match, even when the team just barely clutched out a win.
Later, Dr. Sharon Fletcher looked down Bryce’s thick, hairy hands. Due to the various tests they’ve run with Delphi, being a male wasn’t new to her, but she was still surprised by just how masculine the coach was. “Ah, I got distracted again,” she said to herself as she returned to the report on her laptop. It was difficult to type at the speeds she was comfortable with, but that was the price to pay for valuable data at such a close distance.
“Overall, subjects found themselves quickly adapting to their new forms, which supports to the hypothesis that muscle memory is one of the most important factors during learning. It’s possible that…” Coach Bryce’s thick, masculine fingers stopped and stared at the screen. It was one of Sharon’s most frustrating part of being a scientist. She loved getting her hands on interesting data and interpreting it, but it was when she had to stop and write down her thoughts that she found herself unable to commit for long periods of time. “This will revolutionize the field of learning, but…” She let out a sigh before packing up her laptop to leave. Coach Bryce’s office, with all of its football posters, brights flags, and pictures was not the ideal environment to sit down and type out her reports. She would continue in the library tomorrow. With that settled, she left the office and began the trek to her home for the weekend.
Just before Sharon transferred into Bryce’s body, he had given her a copy of the key to his apartment. “It’d be odd if they saw my entering and leaving your home,” he had told her. Well, he had elaborated on the point for quite a while, Sharon hadn’t been interested in his hearing his logic. Her thoughts then and even now were, Why bother caring about who sees you spending time with you? It was nothing to do with how well you can do your job.
Either way, Sharon took the bus to and allowed his muscular legs to carry her to Bryce’s apartment. She thought about it as another opportunity to further her research, but there was something so fascinating about just moving about with Coach Bryce. His natural, mature gait was addicting. Just for research’s sake (her own fun), she continued to walk around the hallways and even up the stairs, forgoing the elevator. Even after climbing several stories, she didn’t even feel the least bit tired. In her old body, she would’ve been halfway dead and anemic by the time she reached Bryce’s apartment, but now she was hardly out of breath. Fascinating, she thought to herself, mistaking her lust for curiosity.
Without thinking, Sharon made her way to Bryce’s apartment and began to shed off his clothes until her borrowed body was clad in nothing but a shirt and a pair of boxers. Oh, huh… I hadn’t meant to take off so much of his clothes, she thought to herself, but her body had moved without her knowledge. Still, Sharon saw no reason to not allow it to continue. It was better to allow the body to continue its natural habits.
![Tumblr media](https://64.media.tumblr.com/057e799292534059d6c68d5329286667/7720619f0bd6aef3-20/s540x810/f45452f0c5f057e324969f4029e4e1fc51ea72c0.jpg)
It was for that reason that, after drawing a bath, Sharon dipped Coach Bryce’s into the bathtub and relaxed his sore muscles. “Phew… oh, this feels so nice,” said Sharon. After such a long day of experiment, research, and overworking herself, it was nice to relax in a bath. If she could, she would spend all day in a bath and enjoy this nice, burly body. She raised his arms and rested them behind his head, apparently a natural position for the coach to be in with a bath. With soap and a loofah sponge, Sharon explored Bryce’s body. His personality wasn’t anything special, but she enjoyed the way that his body moved whenever he worked out in the gym or in the field outside in the lawn. The sweat dripping from his bearded chin was nice. Usually, Sharon wasn’t really interested in dating men, but their bodies were nice to look at.
And, as she groped and massaged various parts of Bryce’s body, Sharon realized just how nice it was to touch them like this. “Ohh… ohh…! Oh my god!” Somehow, this was the most sensitive body she had ever transferred into. Was the coach simply that much more sensitive than the other hosts, or was the process itself magnifying the sensitivity to touch? Sharon’s scientific mind was going on overdrive while just about every part of her was busy indulging in Coach Bryce’s appealing and overly sexual body. “C-Coach Bryce, y-you’re so… ngh… ahh…!” The moans that escaped his lips drove Sharon insane as well. It became a feedback loop: Sharon, hoping to draw out more data and more moans from Coach Bryce groped his body, which only drew out more automatic moans from her borrowed lungs.
It was also the strength and the sheer amount of command that Sharon had. The thick, almost sausage-like, fingers and powerful core and moved at her command. Coach Bryce was like a glove for her to put on, nothing more. The power behind it was intoxicated. Each muscle obeyed Sharon, and it was because she deserved it.
Coach Bryce’s body stiffened as it felt the inevitable happen. The waves of pleasure that nearly threaten to shatter her very mind. Sharon grit her borrowed teeth, groans of guttural and masculine ecstasy only just barely restrained for the first few torrents of cum that launched high into the air. However, Sharon could not contain it for much longer. She tilted her head back, tongue sticking out as Coach Bryce’s hips thrust on their own as the last of the world-shattering climax erupted through the jiggling, hairy frame.
This is the first time I’ve ever masturbated with such intensity, Sharon thought to herself. She had explored the other test subjects—other professors and coaches at the univerity—and Coach Bryce was definitely her favorite. She had to test out just how and why his body was so sensitive. Yes, she needed more tests. She needed to take over the bodies of all her previous test subjects and continue to explore and compare the pleasure that came from each of them. Only then would her hunger for pleasure and data—two things that were basically the same to her—would be satiated.
Of course, that should be easy to accomplish. Just about every person in campus owes me a favor, and the Dean will certainly enjoy this delicious data—especially if I record it all for her. I wonder how much freedom I can have if I offer to give the Dean such an opportunity? I’m sure she’ll love it now that we know it’s perfectly safe.
Sharon sighed and sank even further into the warm, now slightly milkier, water. Her new muscles certainly seemed to enjoy the sensation. Now all she had to do was to just enjoy the weekend in the perfect body for it.
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okay so i kind of.......wrote a lot more than i really intended to, but long story short - years ago i had this headcanon/au of sorts that birchpaw/fall saw ashfur and hawkfrost at the lake together, standing over firestar. mostly because when you squint at that whole sequence it kinda doesnt add up in canon, but its not canon that birchfall saw anything - it's just me taking this what if scenario and expanding on a side character
anyways this was kinda a quick project so its not perfect buuuuuut i wrote something so ! enjoy :)
birchpaw is back at camp doing everything he can to avoid the worried looks of his clanmates when his mentor stops him.
"hey, birchpaw," the fur on the back of birchpaw's neck stands up, and he slowly turns to the other tomcat. "are you okay?"
birchpaw does the best he can to keep the nervousness out of his voice as he answers: "i'm fine, ashfur. really. i- uh, i mean, i really just wish i had...been faster, that i had..."
he can't look at ashfur's face. not now, maybe not ever again. he knows that as soon as he meets his eyes, he won't be able to stop asking questions:
what were you doing with a riverclan cat? why didn't you help firestar? did the other cat threaten you? did you-
"you did the best you could, birchpaw," ashfur tells him gently; he pauses, flicking his tail-tip, before murmuring: "come on, let's go over to the apprentice's den to talk. i can tell you're shaken up."
and you're not, birchpaw wants to say, but he's a coward. this is his uncle, his mother's twin, and he doesn't really know what he saw, anyways. maybe ashfur had been standing there, sure. and maybe firestar had been clearly injured, clearly dying - well, ashfur isn't a medicine cat. he couldn't have known that, even if birchpaw had been making a lucky guess. but maybe hawkfrost threatened him, or maybe he lied to him-
you don't believe that at all, he thinks.
but he follows his uncle all the same to the apprentice's den; whitepaw is comforting her father at the medicine cat den while leafpool treats firestar's wound. no one is around - they're all either out searching the territory to make sure hawkfrost didn't have any accomplices, or with firestar's family on the other side of camp.
"you did the best you could to get help as soon as possible, birchpaw," ashfur tells him softly; birchpaw is staring at the grass between his paws, not looking at the other tom. "everyone knows that. i'm sure firestar does, too."
"right."
"but i could scent your fear-scent," ashfur continues, "and it does seem like you didn't go straight back to camp after telling firestar about blackstar. why?"
birchpaw's whiskers quiver. he shouldn't be scared - if anything, ashfur should be worried. he's the one who didn't do enough to help.
but the look in ashfur's eyes. the blank, distant stare as he watched firestar gurgle at his paws.
even the badgers didn't look at sootfur like that after they killed him, birchpaw remembers.
"i....," birchpaw's voice wobbles. "i thought i scented another cat, and i was worried," he clears his throat, trying to stop the shakes, "about you. i thought- i thought maybe you were...in trouble, and i...."
ashfur is quiet for a long time; if birchpaw wasn't so scared - why should i be scared? he's my uncle and my mentor, he wouldn't....he'd never.... - he'd look up, joke with him. pretend like it's all a big joke.
but those eyes. that look. the sounds firestar was making.
"so you didn't go straight back to camp," ashfur says with a disappointed sigh, "and firestar lost a life."
birchpaw's heartbeat skips. his paws shake. "wait," he says, his voice becoming shrill. he doesn't want anyone else to hear, but- what ashfur's saying, it's not...that's not right. that's not how it went. "wait, i- i did go back, as fast as i could, and i told squirrelflight-"
"you waited to tell her, you mean," ashfur tells him, frowning. "and he lost a life because he lost too much blood."
"but i didn't....i'd never..."
"it probably wasn't your intention," ashfur murmurs. "but that's how it happened. what if it was his last life? firestar and i trusted you to do one simple task, and you couldn't do that. you can't even look your uncle in the eye when he's talking to you."
birchpaw quivers as he slowly lifts his eyes to look into his uncles. ashfur's dark blue eyes stare back at him, just as emotionless as they did hours before.
"that's better," ashfur tells him, but it doesn't feel better. all of this is wrong.
"i was just trying to help," birchpaw whispers. "i didn't....i saw..."
"what did you see?" ashfur asks him, with a tone that birchpaw's never heard him use before: it's low, angry.
it's terrifying.
"um," birchpaw stutters. "i don't- i don't know. i don't know what i saw."
i saw you. i saw you and hawkfrost.
"if you don't even know what you saw," ashfur says slowly, "then maybe you shouldn't say anything. not to me, or to your mother. not to firestar."
birchpaw slowly lowers his gaze. how did today end up like this?
"you didn't see anything out there, birchpaw," ashfur continues. "you're an apprentice - you don't know your left paw from your right paw."
"okay."
ashfur stares at him for a long moment, sighing. "i'm not trying to scare you, birchpaw," he murmurs, "but i don't want you to get in trouble for firestar losing his life. sometimes we make mistakes; i don't want this one to be the defining moment of your apprenticehood."
shame burns through birchpaw - shame that he can't stand up to his uncle and tell him that this is all wrong.
but more shame that there's a part of him, deep down, that knows ashfur is right. if birchpaw had been quick enough, firestar wouldn't have lost a life. hawkfrost would've been stopped quicker.
and maybe....maybe ashfur was just trying to help firestar. maybe in some way, he's embarrassed because he couldn't help him, either. is that what this is about? trying to save face, because brambleclaw once again saved the day when ashfur couldn't?
"i want to be a good apprentice."
"and i'll help you do that," ashfur tells him, his voice becoming warmer. "and we'll start by making sure that today stays behind us, forever. okay?"
"okay."
it doesn't feel okay.
--
the rest of his apprenticeship goes by largely uneventfully. ashfur isn't exactly the same as before he and squirrelflight drifted apart, but he never speaks to birchpaw the way that he did the day firestar was injured.
he becomes a warrior by the name of birchfall. he makes friends, falls into an easy routine. he even still spends time with his uncle - with each passing day, the events from that afternoon become a faded memory. sometimes it plays out differently in his mind - there's days where he thinks he did see ashfur try and help firestar. where he heard him tell hawkfrost to go away.
(and maybe it wasn't as bad as he thought it was back then if the memory keeps changing. if it really was so awful, wouldn't it be the same? was he just trying to make ashfur out to be a bad cat?)
everything in thunderclan is mostly calm, until ashfur gets lionpaw as an apprentice.
he's heard cats joke about being jealous when their old mentor gets another apprentice - how it's weird, seeing the cat who taught you everything teaching someone else the same things, telling the same jokes.
he's still ashfur's nephew, so he knows that his former mentor still holds a special place in his heart for him - but it's not exactly that jealousy that other cats talk about that he feels towards lionpaw.
he feels...strange, seeing them together; there's this weird fluttering feeling he gets when he catches ashfur's expression as lionpaw walks away from him.
sometimes he can hear a voice in the back of his mind, screaming at him to go and get between the two of them. to protect lionpaw.
but ashfur....well, it's ashfur. outside of that one afternoon moons before, he's a normal warrior. he wouldn't...
so birchfall does what he did over a year prior; he buries the feelings. he can't trust his eyes - that's what ashfur told him before. he doesn't know his left paw from his right paw.
(except that he's a warrior now, and a damn good one, so why-)
that changes one day, when the talk of thunderclan is how lionpaw and ashfur got into this huge fight - claws drawn, teeth bared. ashfur scratched up pretty badly, spiderleg had told him, shaking his head.
i knew that was going to happen, he's not a medicine cat or particularly gifted, but he knew. he knew, he knew, he knew, he knew.
i knew he was going to hurt him, birchfall watches as lionpaw trudges into camp, surprisingly fine physcially - ashfur is the one with the injuries, blood dripping on the camp floor as he trudges to leafpool's den.
lionpaw is standing there after all is said and done, after cats talk to him to ask him if he's okay. standing there in the center of camp, alone.
birchfall is only foxlengths from him, watching, and the thought slips into his mind easily: i should tell him that i know what ashfur is really like. that i saw the same look in his eyes that he probably saw. that he watched firestar die inches from his paws and did nothing to help him.
he almost does it, too. the memories from that day come back, flooding his vision - ashfur's dark expression. the white flash of hawkfrost's teeth. firestar's gurgles.
i'm so sorry, firestar.
"why are you staring at me?"
birchfall snaps out of it quickly; lionpaw is staring at him, amber eyes narrowed.
"what?" birchfall blinks. "i wasn't staring at you."
"yeah, you were," lionpaw tells him, shaking his head. "weirdo." lionpaw hisses under his breath.
and before birchfall can say anything, do anything, hollypaw and cinderpaw bound up to him to talk to him, stealing the moment away.
birchfall watches the apprentices for a couple more seconds before he turns away.
he didn't see anything that day. it's his fault that firestar lost a life, anyways. that's all anyone would be able to see - firestar is one pawstep closer to being gone forever because of him.
--
birchfall keeps his word for the moons to come; lionblaze becomes a warrior with hollyleaf and cinderheart. whitewing - his longest friend, the molly who withheld her warrior ceremony for him, just so he wouldn't be alone,
(and was there for him on the nights when all he dreamt of was the lakeshore, never asking him what woke him up shaking)
well, they become closer and closer until they're not really just friends anymore, and one morning she bounds up to him to tell him that she's carrying his kits. that leafpool had just told her moments before, and she couldn't wait to find him.
and it finally feels like maybe birchfall is at peace - maybe starclan isn't angry with him after all. maybe that one thing that birchfall didn't do years ago - it'll be okay. firestar is alive and happy, with grandchildren now.
the fire rages through thunderclan not long after, but thankfully there's no casualities - he grew up hearing the stories of the one from years ago, back in the old territory before he was born, and he's glad that everyone was okay this time.
well.
he heard berrynose say that everyone had been looking for squirrelflight, her kits, and ashfur for awhile - that ashfur had turned up, laughing. he wouldn't say what was so funny, though.
he didn't think much of it, until he saw the way ashfur was acting after the fire. the way he leered after squirrelflight and her kits; hollyleaf's eyes glaring back in defiance, lionblaze's hackles raised, jayfeather's avoidance.
i don't want any part in this, he thinks, focusing on whitewing and their future together. i didn't see anything. i don't know anything. ashfur isn't dangerous.
he repeats the mantra more often than he'd like; at night, he dreams of the lakeshore for the first time in years and wakes up shuddering against spiderleg's side. his older brother shakes him off, confused, but birchfall can't meet his gaze, or anyone elses.
i didn't see anything. i didn't see anything. i didn't-
and then just like that, one day ashfur is found dead on their territory.
someone said that a patrol found him in a river, throat torn out.
it doesn't feel real to birchfall until he sees his uncles body laid out in the center of camp, with ferncloud's muzzle pressed into his fur.
that's my uncle, he thinks as he watches spiderleg lead icepaw and foxpaw to their mother, trying to comfort her. he was my mentor.
you don't know what you saw. it's ashfur's voice, clear as day in his mind as he watches his clanmates gather around the tomcat. you don't know your left paw from your right paw. you're just an apprentice; how can anyone trust you after what you did?
firestar walks over to ferncloud and dustpelt, murmuring a few kind words to them. birchfall can hear his leader's voice carrying over the wind, mentioning something about dogs, about bravery.
he watched you lose a life, birchfall wants to scream, but he can't move. he stood there and watched you gargle for breath and did nothing.
birchfall shuts his eyes. no. no, it was because of me, because i decided to take too long to go back to camp, his mind can't decide what's right or wrong. it's my fault, that's what....that's what ashfur says, and...and now he's dead, so....
"birchfall," whitewing's voice is soft; he jolts, eyes wide as he looks at his mate. she leans against him, whiskers drooping. "this is so sad. i mean....ashfur, i just- i just talked to him yesterday. he was asking me about the kits, if i was feeling okay..."
you wouldn't want to be with me if you knew what i did, ashfur had never threatened him after that day, but birchfall knew that was what his uncle was conveying to him every time they talked after that day. that he could tell everyone, and everyone would know it was birchfall's fault that firestar lost a life.
or....or wait, maybe that wasn't right. not anymore.
maybe he should blame himself for not saying anything all these years. he could've told firestar and had ashfur punished, and he didn't.
the realization burns deep in his chest; he can barely register what whitewing is saying.
ashfur knew that if you said something, any cat could probably figure out that something about his story didn't add up, birchfall thinks, his heart thudding. and you were just too stupid to realize you could have said something years ago.
"birchfall?" whitewing says, frowning. "hey, birchfall. are you okay?"
birchfall's fur raises. "i'm okay," he tells her, taking a deep breath. "all things....you know, considering, i..." he shakes his head. "i'm gonna get some air, okay?"
whitewing touches her nose to his. "i'm here, you know that, right? i've been here for you since we were 'paws."
that stings more. i could have told you years ago, birchfall touches his nose back to hers, and turns away. i can't say anything now. she'd never trust me again, i kept this secret from everyone because i was too scared of my uncle. and now he's dead, and now....
birchfall resigns himself not to think about it anymore. he can't.
he can't. he won't.
--
after his daughters are born, birchfall wants this to be his new purpose in life.
forget about the lakeshore. the foxtrap. hawkfrost. ashfur. firestar is fine now; thunderclan is fine. sure, maybe there's been some earth-shattering secrets that have been revealed, but- all in all, they're mostly fine.
ivypaw and dovepaw mean the world to him; he can't imagine being without them.
he looks at them and wants to do right by them; they'll never know the fear he's carried for all this time, the same.
he'll teach them to say something if they see something; to be outspoken, brave.
but he can barely keep his head above water; it started when he met a cat from the dark forest one night. who promised him that he could make up for the mistake he made years ago; that he could do right by firestar. by thunderclan.
he trains every night but it doesn't make the shame go away. it won't scrub off after he bathes himself. nothing works.
it's not until the wall is lifted over his eyes - after his daughter, ivypool, a warrior grown - tells him what the true intention of the dark forest was.
all the moons he spent there, training, trying to prove that he could make up for what he did - gone.
and after the battle with the dark forest, both his mother and firestar are dead - killed by the cats that birchfall wanted to impress. wanted to show that he could be better, that he could be stronger.
how did everything go so wrong? he thinks as he watches his father crouched over his mother. dustpelt won't even look at him; he doesn't know about firestar, but he knows about the dark forest. and he hates him - despises him for training with the cats who are responsible for ferncloud's death.
he's right.
"birchfall," whitewing's voice jolts him out of his thoughts. "please. i want to talk."
it was inevitable - he knows that it's over between them at this point. he follows her out of camp regardless, deep into the territory. there's birds in the trees, chirping quietly amongst themselves, and everything is in bloom, yet nothing is beautiful to him at this moment.
whitewing turns to face him, her green eyes sad. "can you just tell me why?"
birchfal looks down at his paws, just like he did years before when ashfur told him to keep quiet.
"i'm sorry," he tells her, and she scoffs.
"i'm sorry isn't an explanation," she meows. "just....why, birchfall? why would you train with cats like that? and why- our daughter was there too, why wouldn't you try and convince her not to? what's wrong with you?"
i'm a coward.
"that's still not an answer," he hadn't realized he said it aloud. he finally looks up at his mate - probably soon to be ex-mate. "you need to talk to me. you're not a 'paw anymore."
and for some reason that burns more than anything else.
you're not a 'paw. you should have said something. you should have told everyone what you saw. and you didn't. it's your fault. all your fault. everything-
"i need to tell you something," he finally says; the story is bubbling at the surface. ashfur is long dead. firestar is dead. his family hates him. whitewing is going to leave him anyway; what else does he have to lose? brambleclaw might exile him, might not; he might not care what birchfall does.
whitewing is silent; birchfall opens and shuts his mouth a few times, trying to find the words, until he meows:
"i saw what happened to firestar on the lakeshore, that day when hawkfrost from riverclan died."
whitewing frowns; she looks taken aback, and blinks a few times.
"i....ashfur...he told me that he scented blackstar on our territory," the memory comes back hazy at first, but starts to clear as he goes on: "he said to tell firestar about it. i did, but....a few minutes later when i was heading back, i could scent another cat. and i remembered ashfur was out there, and i was worried for him, so i followed him and the other cat so i could protect him. and..."
the gurgling. the look on ashfur's eyes. the sound of the water lapping at the shore.
"ashfur was standing with hawkfrost over firestar's body. he was caught in the foxtrap and....ashfur, he...." birchfall shuts his eyes. "you should've seen how he looked. he didn't care at all that firestar was dying. i ran away, i didn't....i didn't know what to do. i thought maybe i didn't see anything at all, so i just told squirrelflight what ashfur had said about blackstar when i saw her. i thought....i thought maybe if she caught ashfur and hawkfrost, it'd....she'd know what to do, more than i would....."
birchfall stares at his paws. "when i got back to camp and brambleclaw had killed hawkfrost, ashfur told me....he said i didn't see anything, and it was easier to pretend i didn't see anything. and he was...he was right - i should've just gone back to camp right away. i should've just done the right thing, not been a stupid 'paw. i should've...it's my fault that firestar lost a life. he'd still be here right now if i just had listened back then, 'cus he'd have an extra life, and..."
birchfall trails off, shaking. "so that's...that's why i wanted to train at the dark forest. because i let firestar down. because i didn't say anything all these years, and i should've....i mean, what if ashfur had hurt someone else? and i just sat there and let it happen."
it takes him a moment after everything spills out to realize that whitewing is very quiet; he finally looks up at his mate.
she looks so sad watching him; and there's a bit of anger in there, too.
"he threatened you?" whitewing finally says; birchfall winces.
"i don't....maybe, it doesn't really matter."
"you were his apprentice and his nephew," whitewing tells him firmly. "of course it matters. he knew he was manipulating you, and that you just wanted to please him, so you'd do anything to make sure you wouldn't make trouble."
whitewing's tail lashes, and she shakes his head. "that- i can't believe he did that to you, that he made you think...."
"whitewing, it's-"
"it's not your fault, birchfall," her voice is gentle, yet he can tell she's holding back so much rage, rage for ashfur, pain for firestar's death. "if you really think for one second that you have anything to do with firestar laying in that clearing right now, you're completely wrong. that was tigerstar, first of all, and ashfur's fault years ago."
"but-"
"you went to help your mentor, and you were intimidated into keeping this a secret," she tells him, stepping closer. "and now you think that because you didn't say anything, that that's worse than what he did."
"i should have said something," birchfall tells her, harsher than he means to. "i mean - for starclan's sake, whitewing, i- i saw, and i didn't do anything. i'm no better than he is-"
"you are twice the cat that ashfur was," whitewing meows firmly. "and if i had even....if i saw him right now, i'd slash his ears for doing that to you."
whitewing shakes her head, looking at him. "all these years," she whispers, frowning, "all these years, and we- when you were in the apprentices den, having nightmares..."
"you couldn't have known," he mumbles. "i didn't tell you."
"and then....birchfall, i..." she presses her noses into his neck; birchfall is stiff from shock.
"i thought you were breaking up with me," he tells her, aghast; whitewing sucks in a breath, pulling away.
"what?"
"why not? after the dark forest, all of this...."
"i'm disappointed in you for training with the dark forest," she tells him softly. "but your mother is dead, and you....you've been holding this in for years, birchfall. i can put off asking you about the dark forest for awhile; i.....i didn't know. all these years, and i had no idea you were punishing yourself for ashfur's crimes."
when she puts it like that, a small - a tiny one, really, nothing huge - light begins to flick in his mind.
i've been punishing myself, he thinks, and it strangely makes a lot of sense - thinking about the lake all these years has felt like punishment. refusing to get close to firestar out of shame was his way of punishing himself, telling himself what he did was wrong.
"i don't know if i can tell anyone else," birchfall tells her in a whisper; whitewing nods, brushing her muzzle against his.
"that's okay," she meows, "because now i know, and now i can shoulder it with you."
"it's not a very romantic secret." he doesn't say it like a joke, but she still smiles a little.
"it's not," she shrugs. "but no one helped birchpaw back then; i'm here for you now."
#i ended it a little abruptly cus i just needed to finish it lolll#wc#shark noises#if it doesnt necessarily flow well im sorry its just a quick project
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Nuna Pt 1
This is a sort of fanfic and gift for @muppenthings. I absolutely love her artwork and the characters she has created, and I really wanted to try and write a story including one of her characters and one of my own creations, an axolotl mer. I hope to write more even though I've created way too many projects for myself at once. Hope you enjoy!
Like so many times before, she found herself curled up at the bottom of a tank. This one was much more cramped than any she had been in before. Back at the aquarium, her tank had been large enough for her to swim around in, though every which way there would be prying eyes watching her every action. At first, it had been amusing to stare back at the wide-eyed humans, even doing things to elicit a reaction. But as the years passed, even that grew dull. The aquarium hadn’t been the worst, that’s for sure. At least there she wasn’t alone, though the company wasn’t the most pleasant, it was company.
It felt stupid, but she almost wished she was back there now as the walls of this new tank closed in around her, only just big enough for her and only her: no sand, no rocks, no nothing, just cold glass.
She wasn’t sure how long she had been lying there when a noise other than her shuddering breaths hit her. Glancing up, she saw the warehouse garage door open and two humans walking in. They headed directly for her. She glared at them, feathery gills curling forward.
Without giving her much more than a glance, the two men grabbed either side of the tank and hoisted it up. Still glaring, she moved around as much as she could, just wanting to make their job harder. They didn’t seem to care though and were soon lowering her back down onto a cart. One of them lingered and teasingly tapped on the glass before signaling to his partner to start pushing.
The wheels beneath her rumbled and screeched as they began to move. They headed towards the open garage door. She squinted as sunlight hit her as soon as they had wheeled out of there. Once her eyes were adjusted, she peered through the glass. Wherever she was, it was by the ocean. Several boats were lined up along a pier that they were wheeling her across now. They took a sharp turn and began down a portion of a dock that cut right through the lines and lines of boats.
As they passed them, Nuna averted her gaze. So many of those horrible things in one place couldn’t mean anything good.
“Which way was the enclosure for this one?”
The other man looked incredulously at the other, “How the hell should I know? I thought you knew which way it was so I was just following you.”
“Well, I was waiting for you to tell me I was going in the wrong direction. I’m guessing they’ve either made a new place for her somewhere in the bay.”
“But she’s freshwater! Shouldn’t she be in-”
“The other one's freshwater too, and he seems to be doing just fine. Now come on.”
They continued down the docks, passing boat after boat. Making a sharp left, the tank was heaved up a wooden incline. The two men were both grumbling once they had reached the top and didn’t make it very far before one of them began to complain again.
“How much further do we have to push this thing?”
“I uh…” the taller of the two looked around, “I don’t know.”
His partner scoffed, “You don’t know? Well then why am I even listening to you?”
The other suddenly shoved himself away from the cart, “Because I’m the one actually trying to figure this out here!”
“Yeah well, you haven't figured out anything!”
“Well if you’re so wise, why don’t you-”
As they continued to argue, Nuna simply tuned them out and instead peered through the glass at her new surroundings. Her heart nearly leaped out of her chest when she peered over the edge of the concrete pier and saw water below. It looked to be salty in nature but that didn’t matter, it was open water!
She peered over her shoulder as a plan began to form in her mind. The two men were still fighting, their argument only getting more heated by the minute. Her gills uncurled and twitched with anticipation as she looked back down at the water. One chance, she had one chance at this.
As much as she could in the limited space, she situated herself as far from the side of the tank facing the ledge. She breathed, large blue eyes staring down the glass wall. With as much force as she would muster from both her hands and tail, she threw herself forward.
The tank lurched forward as she slammed into the glass. Grimacing as dull pain blossomed throughout her body, she looked back over her shoulder. The two hadn’t noticed a thing. So relieved she could cry, she did it again, and again, and again. The tank inched its way further and further off the cart with each blow.
Finally, after slamming herself again and again against the glass, the tank’s edge teetered on the cart until it began to fall forward. Nuna pressed herself against the glass and watched as it toppled off the cart. Her stomach dropped as her view of the sky was replaced by the approaching water.
The tank hit the water’s surface and she was slammed back against the glass, the force of her head hitting it causing it to crack. She groaned, clutching her head as it throbbed painfully.
As the tank began to sink, she heard yelling from above her and looked up to see the faces of both the men staring down at her. They both looked dumbfounded. Nuna smirked up at them as the entirety of the tank slipped beneath the surface.
The open water surrounding her was an inviting shade of blue, seeming to stretch on forever. It had been so long, so long since she had been able to stare off into the depths and not be met with a child or researcher's face staring back at her. The ability to swim endlessly through it was just within her reach. All that stood between her now was oh-so-familiar glass.
Her eyes fell upon the crack her head had made. Raising both her fists, she began to pound against the glass. Low cries of desperation slipped out of her as the crack began to grow and she began to hammer against the surface more feverishly. Come on, please, please!
The glass gave way and her fist soared right through it. Her fingertips tingled painfully at the unfamiliar salt water, it seeped under her nails and stung. She gritted her teeth and continued to shatter the glass. The whole panel suddenly gave way and she instantly swam out.
Her skin stung all over the moment she swam out into the water. She let out a pained cry, screwing her eyes shut. It was most painful on her belly, which was decorated with scales and offered many crevices for that burning salt to burrow into. She curled into a ball, rubbing herself all over, trying to soothe the pain.
Slowly, it began to dissipate. The stinging began to dull. Nuna cracked her eyes open, clutching herself as she gasped for breath. I’m ok. I’m ok. She slowly unfurled her tail and gills.
I-Im, I’m free. She thought, letting out a pained laugh. Her face split into a smile and she continued to laugh as she swam loops. I’m out, never gonna have to see a human again! Never gonna have to deal with tanks! Never-
She froze as soon as she felt it, sensed it. Her gills twitched as they felt the shift in the water. Something moving. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she gazed into the blue abyss. Nothing. She squinted, still nothing.
Her tail flicked nervously as she continued to sense… something. Maybe someone? Her eyes brightened. What if it was another mer? Someone… someone who could help her? Nuna began to wrack her brains, how did you say hello again in mermish? Oh gods, she had practically forgotten her own language.
“Hello?” she called out in human, the only language she had.
No response.
“Hello? Is… is someone out there?”
This time, she heard something, but it wasn’t a voice. It was a low rumble. Her tail flicked as her bones seemed to rattle. Wh-what… what was-
Something began to emerge. Its outline was barely visible but what she could see of it was massive. What was worse was it was becoming clearer… it was getting closer.
Nuna’s eyes widened, she spun around on the spot and began to swim in the opposite direction. Another low rumble rang out, causing her tail to swish more frantically. She looked over her shoulder and all the color drained from her face. Whatever it was had also quickened its pace, she could vaguely make out a face with two orange eyes.
She whipped her head back around and tried to propel herself forward with her arms. Even if she had no idea what it was, there was no way anything that big could be anything else other than a threat to her existence, a predator. Her eyes began to sting as hysteria began to overtake her. It’s- it’s gonna get me! It’s gonna eat me! T-this will all have been for nothing! She shook her head, no, no! You won’t let it! You won’t!
Suddenly, the ocean all but stopped, and in its place was a large rock wall. She came to an abrupt stop, whipping her head all over, looking for where else to go. The low rumbling of the creature was getting louder, she didn’t have much time. Seeing nowhere else to go, she dove down.
She was quickly met with the sandy sea floor, faced with the same problem. Looking around, her eyes lit up as they landed upon a small opening in the rock face. Without a second thought, she darted through it. It opened into a small cave, just big enough for her but certainly not that… that thing!
Heart still hammering against her ribs, Nuna swam over to the furthest corner of the cave and tried to make herself as small and unnoticeable as possible. Please… Just… just go away. Just go-
A low rumbling rattled her bones as her surroundings darkened. Her entire body was trembling like she was in frigid arctic water. The water around her seemed to shift and she could hear whatever was out there moving. She looked to the cave entrance and slapped a hand over her mouth, preventing herself from screaming.
Where the entrance had once been, there was now an eye. A piercing orange eye nearly the same size as her entire body. It blinked as it began to survey the cave with pronounced slowness. Nuna froze, holding her breath. Her heart plummeted when it flicked over to her curled-up form. Its pupil dilated.
The eye suddenly whisked away from the entrance and for a moment, she uselessly hoped that it had lost interest. All those hopes were crushed when the cave gave a great shudder. She cried out as two long and clawed fingers longer and thicker than her entire being, slammed through the entrance. They began to try and wiggle their way deeper in, flipping and turning every which way, all their movements directed her way. She pressed herself against the cave wall so hard it was starting to hurt and squeezed her eyes shut as the cave continued to tremble almost as much as her.
After what felt like an eternity of panicked, quaking, darkness, it stopped. A low and short rumble caused Nuna to crack open her eyes. The thing’s fingers had withdrawn and had been replaced with that same orange eye, fixated right back onto her. It squinted and let out another rumble more like a deep whine this time.
She remained silent as she stared right back at it, bracing herself for it to continue to try and get at her. But it didn’t. Slowly, after giving her one last look, the eye pulled away, leaving the cave entrance open.
For a few agonizing minutes, she waited. Waited to see if it would do anything else.if it would come back. When she heard nor saw anything, she slowly left her spot against the wall.
Tentatively, she swam over to the cave entrance and went to peek her head out. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw movement below her. She shrieked and darted back to her place against the wall. Once again, the creature’s eye blocked off the opening and fixated upon her. A second or two later, it went away again.
Nuna breathed, clutching at her chest as she slid back down onto the rock floor. It’s out there. Right outside, waiting. She swallowed and looked back towards the entrance. No doubt right below it, the creature was poised and ready. Her head slumped against the wall; she’d just have to wait it out. Wait until it loses interest and swims away. She bent her tail and hugged it to her chest. She’d just have to wait.
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Muse
G!p Bada Lee x Fem! Reader
Y/n needs a model for a project…
Word count: 1736
Part 1, Part 2
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“As you all know, your final project is coming up. You need to find someone to model your designs, and submit the photos to me, class dismissed”
Y/n pack her things up neatly and put them in her bag. She totally forgot about the project, and with only a month left to hand it in, she didn’t know where to find someone to be her muse.
“Hey, you okay? You seem stressed out” Y/n’s best friend, Noze, said.
“Huh? No, not really. I totally forgot about the project now I don’t even know where to begin.” Y/n replied while walking out the classroom beside Noze.
“Designing is easy, I mean, for you it is. You’re the best in class. The problem is finding someone who’s willing to be your mannequin.”
Y/n hangs her head from frustration, sure she can think of designs quickly but she needs the perfect fit for her designs. She was thinking of making a masculine look for her project. And like Noze said, it’s gonna be hard to find someone to wear her designs.
“I know, Noze. How about you? Do you already have someone in mind?”, Noze tilts her head, thinking.
“I do have someone but she’s a teacher. She would look perfect for my project. I still need to ask her.”
Y/n knew who Noze’s talking about, it’s Ms. Monika, the dance teacher. Noze showed Y/n her designs, pointing out her centrepiece. Noze’s designs showcase a mix of female empowerment and elegance.
“Ooh! Since you wanted to design masculine clothes for women, how about picking someone from the dance class”
“I guess, I mean we could try. Do you know anyone there that would fit?”
Y/n and Noze stopped in front of her car, putting all their belongings in the trunk of Noze’s car and locking it. They made their way to the dance studio just behind their building. Noze said that they’re having their weekly freestyle battle right now. Y/n thought she might find actually find someone once she came in the studio. Most of the people’s fashion have some sort of masculinity in them.
“So? What do you think, Y/n? Find someone?”
“Hmm, I’m still looking. If you can introduce me to some of them, that would be great.”
“Sure sure. I know some of them.”
Y/n lets herself get dragged by Noze as she tries not to trip. There’s only a few people left in the studio as most of the people earlier were students who wanted to watch the battle. Y/n felt Noze slowed down and pulled her to her side. In front of her were a bunch of girls sitting on the floor, some of them are partly passed out.
“Hey Noze! Long time no see!”
“Aiki, we live in the same dorm room.”
Noze introduced Y/n to the crew as she tries to shove Aiki away from her. This is the first time Y/n have seen Noze refuse physical contact. Aiki, on the other hand, continues her stunt.
“So, Y/n right? I’ve never seen you around here before. I’m Lee Jung by the way. First time?”
“Yes, Noze said I might find someone to help me with my project”
“Ooh, what kind of project?” Y/n looked at the person and saw a giant. Maybe not a giant, but for her, and her height, it was a giant.
“O-oh, I need someone to be my muse.”
“Is that so? You got your pick?”, Y/n for some reason can’t keep eye contact with this person. She looked down at her shoes and her hands on her back.
“I’m still not sure, I need someone that would fit a masculine design.”
“I’ll be your muse.” Y/n looked up ready to thank the taller girl. She unknowingly took a few minutes checking her out, imagining the way her designs would look on the taller girl. Her height would definitely accentuate her designs, she thought.
“Hmm…I think that would be great.”
“Great, when should we start?”
“As soon as possible, what’s your availability?”
The taller girl sat down and invited Y/n to sit down on the floor beside her as well. They talked about their availability for the project, ignoring the stares of the people inside the studio. Y/n describes her designs to Bada, talking excitedly. Bada, on the other hand, was just admiring the way Y/n talks. As both of them succumbed in their own world, Noze and Aiki settled down behind them.
“Bada’s so whipped” Aiki whispered to Noze.
“I admit, they do look cute together” Noze whispered back.
“What are you guys whispering about?” Lee Jung asked, sitting beside Noze.
“I was talking about how our leader looked so whipped right now” Aiki answered.
“Ohhh, that’s true. She even insists on helping Y/n with her project”
Y/n and Bada decided to meet up after school tomorrow in Y/n’s apartment. They thought it would be easier since Y/n’s things are already there. Noze and Y/n bid their goodbye to the group and made their way back to the parking lot.
Back in the studio, Bada stood by the door smiling to herself. It’s like her smile is permanently attached to her face. She turned around and saw her members smirking at her with their arms crossed.
“So Y/n huh?”
“Leave me alone, Lee”
Bada started packing her things up trying to get away from her members as quickly as possible. She swings her bag behind her and waddles out of the studio. Aiki and Lee Jung laugh at their leader’s actions.
The next day…
Bada couldn’t wait to see Y/n again, so she stood by Y/n’s classroom door waiting for her class to end. She fixes her outfit, tryna look presentable in front of Y/n.
“Bada? What are you doing here?” Bada turned her head and faces Y/n.
“I was waiting for you. I thought we could go together” Y/n smiled at Bada,she pulled Bada beside her and clings on to her arm.
“Let’s go then!” Bada looked at Y/n beside her, and smiled to herself.
Y/n and Bada walked side by side, their arms still intertwined together. The conversation is full of Y/n’s rant about her professor and her project. Bada didn’t mind it at all, in fact she enjoyed it. Y/n’s apartment is only a few blocks away from their school. They decided to buy some snacks and some drinks in a convenience store beside her apartment.
“Hey Bada, what kind of snacks do you want?” Y/n leaned down in one of the aisles, accidentally pulling Bada down as well. “Oops sorry”
Y/n unlink her arm to looked at the snacks properly. Bada did not like the sudden change, but she was shy to ask Y/n to link their arms again. She settled with pinching a part of Y/n shirt, clutching it. She looked like a kid waiting for her mom to finish. Y/n laughed at Bada’s behaviour, she did not mind Bada being clingy with her.
“I think this is enough, let’s go”
Bada paid for the snacks and drinks even though Y/n insisted on paying. They made their way to Y/n’s apartment and settled on the living room. Y/n places her designs on the table in front of Bada, explaining her approach to the project.
“So I already have some sketches, I might need to make some changes to fit it with your style. I also need to take your measurements”
“Sure where do we start?”
Y/n asked Bada if she’d be comfortable wearing her designs. Bada nodded her head and stood up to let Y/n write down her measurements. Y/n began measuring Bada, standing on the couch to meet Bada’s height. Bada can’t help but to chuckle at Y/n, looking so cute tiptoeing even though she’s already standing on the couch. Y/n snaked her hands around Bada, bringing the measuring tape around her. Y/n hands are fixing the tape’s position around Bada’s chest part. Bada froze in her spot, holding her breath. Y/n notices this and places her hand on Bada’s back.
“Breathe, Bada”
Bada tries to normalize her breathing, letting Y/n work. Y/n wrote down Bada’s measurement and proceeded to measure her waist and her hips. Bada felt herself being lightheaded but she stood her ground. Y/n jumps down from the couch to measure Bada’s legs, kneeling down beside Bada. By now, Bada’s whole face is flushed. Her whole body is in heat. She can feel herself getting hard from all the measuring. She immediately sat down and covered her lap with a pillow once Y/n finished her measurements.
“You okay? Why are you sweating?”
“O-oh yeah, I’m okay!”
“Hmmm”
They both proceed with Y/n’s project, well just Y/n, Bada just sat on the couch watching Y/n. Bada focuses her attention on the snacks that they bought earlier, stuffing her face with gummies. Y/n saw this and asked Bada to leave some for her. Giving her some every few minutes.
Y/n finished most of her designs, putting it on her binder. She turns to look at Bada to see her sleeping on the couch. Y/n stood up from the floor and sat down beside Bada. She made sure not to make too much noise, as she was scrolling through her phone, she felt Bada’s head on her shoulder. Y/n places her hand on Bada’s cheek to help her lean on her. They stayed in that position for a while, Y/n gently placing her head against Bada, lulling herself to sleep. Bada suddenly sat up, and looked around. Y/n smiled at Bada and told her she fell asleep.
“I’m so sorry, Y/n”
“It’s alright, Bada. I fell asleep too, we can continue this tomorrow.”
Bada nodded her head and gathered her things, they walked towards the door, bidding each other good bye and good night. Y/n readies herself to go to bed, when she receives a text. It was from Bada.
Bada: Hey, I just wanna say sorry about earlier. I got your number from Noze btw. Okay goodnight 😊
Y/n: I told you it’s alright. Have a Good night too❤️
—————————
This one is a two-parter. I’m so sorry for not updating for almost a week.
Anyway enjoy reading this one, I’m working on the next part☺️
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"shut up" (affectionately) -- for landoscar pretty please?
EBYYYYY i love you <3
“shut up” (affectionately)
It’s 2 in the morning when Lando finally gets to Oscar’s London apartment.
It’s 2 in the morning and Oscar is probably asleep, and Lando knows how much Oscar values his sleep and he’s probably going to be annoyed at Lando for waking him up but he’s here now, he’s here, and he spent the entire flight and then subsequent car ride hyping himself up and if he doesn’t do this now he might not do it ever and that’s. That’s.
Lando rings the doorbell.
There’s a long silence. Too long. Lando considers ringing it again. Considers how much more annoyed Oscar would get if he was already on his way. Chickens out. Considers it again. Maybe he’s not even home and he made this whole stupid trip for no-
The intercom crackles to life. “Hello?” Oscar. Sleepy. Annoyed.
“Hi, Oscar, hey. It’s uh, me. Lando. It’s Lando.” Lando cringes internally at himself and genuinely wouldn’t blame Oscar for just hanging up on him and going back to bed.
But Oscar surprises him. “Lando?” His voice is a lot softer now. Less annoyed? “What are you doing here? Aren’t you. The race? Congrats, by the way.”
“Thanks, yeah, that’s what I’m here about. Sort of. I guess. Can I come up?”
“Sure,” Oscar says, no hesitation. There should be hesitation, maybe. Lando did like. Technically break up with him last time they saw each other.
“I’m sorry,” is the first thing Lando says when the door to Oscar’s tiny little London apartment swings open. The light filtering in from the hallway illuminates Oscar’s sleepy face, his rumpled appearance. It throws Lando a little. Oscar always throws him a little. Just with how beautiful he is, in an almost adorably boyish way.
“I’m sorry,” he repeats when Oscar stays quiet. “I’ve been a fucking idiot. I shouldn’t have…” Sighs, frustrated, runs a hand through his hair. “Do you remember? The first night we met? I mean you were there, I guess you-“ Lando chuckles a little dryly.
“I joked, then. That you shouldn’t fall in love with me. And you just shrugged and pressed me against the wall of that stupid club and kissed the ever living daylights out of me and I thought. I just never considered that I would be the one falling in love with you.”
Lando smiles a little sadly. “Stupid of me, really. I should’ve known, the very first time I laid eyes on you, bathed in those fluorescent lights you just-“ He laughs, shakes his head.
“These past few months have been some of the best of my life. But I got into my own head that it would never work out. Me gone racing all the time, you with your teaching job. We could just never make it work, you know? So I broke it off. But turns out it was too late because,” he glances up at Oscar, who’s looking at him with an unreadable expression.
“When I was on that podium today, celebrating my first win, all I wanted was to celebrate with you. I wanted to hug you and kiss you and share that moment with you. And I couldn’t. And that's just-“
Lando sighs. “Listen, I’m sorry for showing up here so late, I just wanted to tell you this in case there was a chance that, you know. We could still work, or something. But if not that’s totally okay, I will just,” he gestures vaguely behind him,” get a cab or something. I’m sorry about waking you up, too, I know how you are about sleep and oh my god you totally have class in the morning, don’t you? Shit, I’m so sorry, I should’ve-“
“Lando,” Oscar says, and it’s the first thing he’s said since opening the door and it doesn’t sound angry or annoyed or any of the other things Lando’s been projecting onto him. It sounds soft. Quiet. Fond.
“Shut up,” Oscar continues, the corner of his mouth ticking up into a smile, and then he steps forward, takes Lando’s face in his hands, and kisses him full on the mouth.
Lando shudders, melts into it immediately, momentarily wonders if it would be rude to pinch himself to see if he’s dreaming before he loses the ability to think entirely when Oscar opens his mouth and runs his tongue over Lando’s bottom lip.
When he pulls away Oscar is smiling softly, and Lando’s trying really hard not to pull him back in and never let him go again. Kissing Oscar forever. What a beautiful prospect. But he reels himself in and instead asks, “So that’s a yes? To the trying again thing?”
“That’s a yes,” Oscar says, fondly, and pulls him in for another kiss.
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Hellhound HRT Month 8 (4 Month Wolf , 4 Month Hellhound)
Soooo… It’s me again, and there has been quite a bit that happened here so, let's get started.. (And no, I'm not gonna “write more professionally” for you!).
Okay so, I’ve been discharged from the hospital, my body has built some resistance to the high temperatures, though it’s not really able to handle the highest temperatures for too long yet. At least I don't pass out when I get too happy from eating my favorite meal anymore.
Now to something more troubling… turns out my right leg’s bone ended up growing malformed so they had to re break and fix it together again.. so i’m wearing a full on brace there, and a normal cast on the left one which luckily grew back together well… no idea what caused this kinda unequal thing but uh… not gonna complain of only having one being put back together like a jigsaw puzzle…
Coming back to the heat thing- So… i still can’t breath fire really, but i can sort of… direct the heat towards my mouth and when i bite things.. I can basically cook things in my mouth!
The Nurses also have to be careful when trying to do blood draws… not only does my thick furr make it hard to find a vein to begin with… but… and I hate to make this sort of public in these notes… I HATE needles… And we all know what happens when I get annoyed…
So yeah I actually managed to heat up a syringe with my blood and the nurse dropped it… it broke and god… steaming blood… kinda glowy too? but the glow disappeared shortly when it cooled down.
Now to more kinda… crazy changes… one night i just woke up… but the weird part is… even though i still had my eyes closed… I could see… and pretty well too even though the room was dark! I did open my eyes… and I could tell that I saw… more.. you know how when you close one eye, your brain kinda ignores the blacked out part and you still see just in a smaller field of view?... And when you open your eyes that field of view suddenly gets wider…imagine that feeling… just not with two eyes… but 4… that's right, you’re girl got two more eyes, slightly below my first pair… and a little closer to my ears… they are also smaller than the original pair.. like around… 3/4th of the size. It took me like.. an hour before i was able to close them… kinda weird to access muscles you never had before.
My hands are also growing slightly?... well the arms are getting slightly thicker and gaining muscles, even though all i was able to do was sit in the hospital.. I am also able to pull in my claws into my paws! No more accidental gushing wounds!
So yeah that's about all the changes I noticed!
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[The following texts have been written in a separate notebook.]
Started this little side project to keep my thoughts in order when it comes to the eldritch kinda stuff happening… I remember when I mentioned weird dreams to Mars before… she got quite mad… not at me but at my dreams?... Idk… I am going to write them down though… because I feel like doing that is important so I can make sense of what's happening to my mind.
During those two months, the dreams of the Moon continued…
The form I have in those dreams is always pretty similar, but it’s getting more.. defined?
My body in those dreams is like… mhh.. Like a black silhouette of my body… that's shrouded in thick smoke… barely holding shape.. like one gust would spread me in all directions… I can see… but I can't talk.. I literally don’t have a mouth to do so… at the start i couldn’t hear either but that's apparently different now so i guess.. the more i transition… the more defined my shape gets?.. questions for Mars.
Speaking off, I remember Mars warning me about some tentacle lady-... I wondered if that’s the one I kept seeing in the distance.
Though after one particular night, I KNOW it’s the one…. cause she found me…
Her name is Nyarlathotep… and she hates my guts apparently. I’ll try to write down the conversation as best as I can remember it…
“Now look what we have here, finally I reached you before you went “poof” again. And by the look of your eyes, this time you can actually hear me. Tried calling out to you little … thing… but you never seemed to respond.”
(I tried to say something back but… no mouth… urgh. I did however move my arms, gesturing to our surroundings…)
“Oh this? Welcome in Azathoths dream, the dream of my Mother… My name is Nyarlathotep, and YOU… you are an intruder, brought in by that halfling that dares to intrude into our domain. You humans just love to play with things you don’t understand hm? You have no idea what kind of things you are inviting into your life, thanks to HIS ridiculous idea of “help”. That damn halfling is hellbend of ruining this beautiful dream… and now you are here… but worry not, I got just the thing. "
It was then she held out her hand to me… holding a single pill in her hand that shimmered in an eerie glow. I looked at it but then back at her. She had this grin on her face that would have made my blood freeze if that had been possible at that moment… Her presence at that moment was… similar to Mars… just… different and more concentrated… Was she the same species as what Mars was going to be?
“Just take this, and all can be normal again. After all that fall of yours surely must have shown you that your transformation is unpredictable? You are simply not cut out to become one of us… not that you ever could… Your body is going to burn itself out and you will simply become nothing but a pile of ash… but all of this can be prevented still. Just… take…this…pill…”
To say I was frightened was an understatement… And I could feel this strange pull towards that pill… my body being drawn to it… my head moving towards it as if something was trying to make me eat the pill straight out of her hand..
I didn’t want to- I didn’t believe what she said, I knew Mars wouldn’t have helped me just so I ended up as ashes on the floor-... she warned me from this one-... and yet I was powerless.. my face was just in front of that pill when suddenly.. a glow shined from underneath us… Something grabbed my legs and my head and yanked me away… I could hear Nyarlathotep cursing as I was dragged into the moon itself… And as the glow started to blind me… i could vaguely make out the form of some other being… i don’t know what to make of it.. but it spoke too-... though only a few words before i ended up waking up… “Just in time… wake up, you are safe."
That's when I ended up waking up in my hospital bed… Terrified for my life.. The Fire that shines through my chest illuminated the room in a blue-ish glow… guess that's what happens when I'm afraid. I could tell that the fire was a lot cooler than usual.
But god damn was I afraid to sleep the following nights.
I didn’t see Nyarlathotep in the following dreams… not that every dream happens on the moon but the ones that do I was just panicking. Though… one night… I could have sworn I had felt Mars’s presence… far away… I tried to get closer but I ended up waking up after some distance…
I wanted to call her… tell her from my dreams but guess whose phone is broken thanks to the fall… and i didn’t remember her number… in hindsight could have asked to call the library… but i also didn’t want to talk about this stuff over the hospitals phone line… dunno if they keep recordings or anything… Why am I so freaking paranoid about this!? urgh..
Anyway, now I'm out of the hospital… got an appointment next week with Erian for my 9th month check up, even though I kinda missed the 6th month one but.. bureaucracy.
But before all that… I really need to talk to Mars… cause I would at least know a little more about that stupid bitch that keeps making me sleep with one eye open… And whatever that glowing thing was.
[End of notes]
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[Meeting with Mars]
I decided to go to Mars today. Well “go” is a strong word, i wheeled there.. as in.. a wheelchair. Got me a new phone on the way. The good thing was that the card was still intact, so I was able to plan a meeting. So here I am, at the front entrance of the Thayer library, taking a few deep breaths. I wheeled myself in and approached the counter.
To my surprise, I did not feel that scared when inside. It felt more.. home-y like. Maybe it’s just me being finally around someone that gets me on a deeper level than the hospital staff. I went up to the front desk, and reached over to ring the Bell twice, waiting for Mars to appear. Makes me wonder if she’s the only one working here? big place for one person.. hmm..
I looked around, I noticed the library had changed, ever so slightly. Arrangement of the displays, the tables shifted in different positions, and a stack of new acquisitions building up on a cart outside of the staff entrance. But one detail caught my eye, the desk that Mars normally sat at had a raised almost organic growth forming on the edges. It was a darkish purple and black structure and seemed to be enveloping her space.
My scrutinizing of the mysterious growth was broken by the sound of a loud elevator ding. The staff door then unlocked and swung open as Mars, now much taller ducked her way into the reading room. She was nearly 13 feet and developed a boney crown around her head. Her tail was longer, and the unknown appendages on her back that twitched and articulated grew in number. Something else caught my attention, one of her eyes, specifically the top left one was yellow.. not pink. Looking closer I noticed scarring on her eye and around her neck.
With her entry, the lights of the library dimmed but unlike last time, her presence wasn’t as heavy. The shift in temperature caused my body to steam as she turned her attention to me and looked delightfully surprised.
“Arynia! It’s good to see you again!”.
It took a second for her to process my current state as her expression turned to one of concern.
“Oh my gosh, are you alright? What happened to your legs?”.
It took me a second to actually process the question after seeing her injuries.
“Uh-... I had a bit of an accident while running over some rooftops and uh… fell. My new organ decided not to wait to flare up, literally, and I ended up taking a nasty fall… Just got released from the hospital the other day actually.”
I chuckled nervously, but… I could tell it didn’t help to really ease the situation.
“ Well, long story short i… broke a couple of bones… my legs got the worst of it, probably because they were in the process of changing… and one of them grew together wrong at first- they did manage to fix it however, after getting an animal surgeon for help! Isn’t that kinda-... hilarious?... eh-... ehehe… “
Curse my ears and tail for displaying my actual emotions so well… I didn't even notice my ears were drooped down and my tail nervously clutching my midsection like some kinda belt.
Mars couldn’t help but smile, she let out a nervous chuckle and gave a reassuring pat on the head.
“You were running over rooftops?” She giggled.
“Such an adventurous pup, but I’m glad you’re doing alright. I hope your legs heal quickly! I can promise you, it took some practice getting used to mine after I hatched”.
Mars raised her arm after giving a gentle scratch and returned to her desk. The growths responding to her presence and pulsing with a purplish light in some of the raised sections.
“So, what can I help you with? Looking for a book?”
I shook my head and pondered on how to say what I was here for…
“Well… no, I’m actually here to uh… talk to you about some of those… Nightmares I mentioned before?... The Moon ones? Especially about that… tentacle freak you mentioned…” I shrunk together a little, the last time I mentioned that cracking moon to her… it did not go well.
“She uh… found me… or rather reached me…?”
Mars froze, her expression shifting to one of horror as she listened to me recount my dreams. She looked down at her keyboard, her eyes wide and her claws twitching. The library once more felt oppressive, the lights barely able to combat the darkness as both Mars and I were casted in shadow. Mars’s eyes emitted an intense yellow and pink glow as the growths around her began consuming more of her desk and chair.
I nervously wheeled myself back a little. “It’s uh, good though!... I’m safe! uh… she did seem worried about me?... since she somehow knew about the accident too?... The only bad thing was that she tried to make me eat some weird blue pill right out of her hand-... b- but then some light came from the moon and I got dragged away and woke up! Nothing to worry about-.... right?”
I need to learn to shut up when nervous-
Her head shot up, glaring at me, as her expression turned to one of anger. She ran her claws into the desk, easily cutting through the plywood and leaving a massive gash. Her stare was horrifying, like she was about to lash out at me. I tried to say something but couldn’t help but stammer, desperately trying to ease the tensions of our conversation. Right as I was about to say something, she interrupted, her voice was changed, distorted. She spoke with what sounded like multiple voices at once as she asked.
“You don’t understand… do you..?”
She pushed off the desk, its construction cracking underneath her weight as she stood and glared at me. Her height and piercing glare made it hard to look her in the eyes. Despite my inability, she glared at me with no issue. I felt paralyzed, the chair creaking at the invisible force she pushed down on me with. I gritted my teeth, my chest burning like a desperate flame trying to avoid being snuffed out. It took every ounce of my strength to respond.
“Understand…. what?” I stammer. It’s odd, ever since that flame in my chest started to heat me up, I seem to have forgotten what being cold felt like… I know when I am “less warm”, but not “cold” anymore… but right this moment I got a stark reminder of it. The tiny blue glow that was still fighting the darkness that seemed to swallow this place grew dimmer and dimmer…
“You’re in danger..”
Mars then kicked her desk, the computer tossed aside and the structure breaking and collapsing as she walked up to me. I tried breathing heavily. The closer she got the less oxygen entered my lungs. Mars’s form began to shift, her head splitting into five mandibles as her foot steps turned into floor cracking stomps.
“You and I.. we’re different from the rest… we’re being hunted.”
Mars leans in, her back hunching as her appendages crack and raise into an agitated state. She moves in closer, the glow from her eyes becoming too intense as I try to shield them. I couldn’t breath, I tried to compose myself but I couldn’t, I struggled to stay conscious when suddenly Mars gripped my muzzle. I was forced to look at her and then… I was.. there.. the moon… I felt like I was holding my breath when I noticed Mars, standing at the edge of the moon's cracking surface.
“I’m sorry Arynia… I.. I shouldn’t have done the ritual for you..”
I looked around, it was just us.. did i pass out? How did-... I take a deep breath in, noticing that I finally got a mouth in this darn place-, overall the “smoke” around me was taking on the shape of my real body-... or was THIS my “real” one?...
I walk up to Mars, stopping shortly behind her. “No! You have nothing to be sorry about Mars! I came to you! This is what I wanted!! You can’t believe how much happiness I feel when I look at myself in the mirror! When I see the real me… You saved me that day… I don’t know how long I could have just… accepted what I was before… if I had never gotten this chance…”
I stopped myself from talking more… Listening to it brought up one question in my head..
“Is… is me following this path a burden to you?... I mean… just hearing me talk about this place seems to be giving you so much stress- when all of your transformation is already putting so much on you yourself-... Is it selfish for me to go on?... should i just… stop and find another way?”
Tears were building up in all four of my eyes as my voice quivered.
“I don’t want to be a burden for you… maybe i should have just… taken that pill?... accept what i was and find some kinda way to be happy with it?...”
”Nia.. come here..”
She ushered me forward, closer to the edge of the moon. I took a step, shocked to find no pain or tremble, but a strong leg, ready to move at my command. I took a few steps, the drop off rapidly approaching and revealing the hollow insides of the moon. I was shocked, seeing more and more chunks break away. But as I turned to look in I was horrid to see something looking back. Five pink pupils glared, energy swirling as a low growl echoed into the void.
“I can’t help you Nia.. I want to, but this.. this is my burden..”
Mars shifts her gesture to the eyes as the being shifts its focus back to Mars. I follow the creature's gaze to a sadden Mars, as she sighs and grips her arm nervously.
“I’m.. breaking.. I try so hard to keep this contained, to keep myself from fully breaking. That thing down there, it’s anger, it’s hunger, it’s pain.. is mine.”
She turns to me.
“I can’t help you.. I can barely help myself. That tentacled monster.. it’s called Nyarlathotep.. It's been haunting me for months. It nearly killed me last time we met. I can’t protect you, but there might be someone who can.”
I looked at her in shock- nearly killed her?!... Is that how Nyarlathotep does things-?...
“I didn’t know…” I sigh deeply, looking at the broken parts falling down…
“Kinda feel like a bit of a wimp now that I know of all the things you went through… and are still going through… just piling up on that with my own bullshit.”
I turn to face her again, wiping the tears from my face, taking a bit of a shocked look at my fur covered arm in front of me… before I let it fall again to my side. “So, that person you know, where can I find them?”
I balled my paws into fists, as best as I could at least. “I’ll get better, and then you and I are gonna work on that together!” I point towards the falling debris and the glowing eyes.
“That bitch is gonna have to face not only you but me too now, fuck being scared, i’m not gonna sit in self pity and fear, while the person that safed my life is being tortured by some faceless bitch.”
I tried putting on my bravest face… but I was still shaking somewhat… I guess fear isn’t easily combated by a wanna-be heroic speech.
Mars smiles and gives you a pet on the head.
“You have a big heart, pup, never let anything sour it.”
Mars fully turns and kneels down to be face to face, her features relaxing and returning to its standard state. As she smiles, there’s a shift, the cracking slows, the moon grows stable.
“You’ll hate it but, she works at Erians clinic.. but she’s helped me and I know she can help you too. Her name is Amber Shepherd.”
I tilt my head and chuckle, enjoying the headpats and giving a smile back. “Ohh! That's great actually~ Got an appointment next week with erian anyway, i’ll make sure to ask for her then!”
After Mars was done ruffling through my hair, I put my hands on my sides and sigh. “So uh- this is your place then huh? Weird how I keep coming here then in my dreams, thought it might be a bit of a gathering point for beings like you… and I assume me now.. it’s… nice, if you ignore the part of a sleeping beast right underneath our feet” I said with a chuckle.
“Though I would love to spend more time with you here… I can’t help but feel hungry so… should probably get going and eat something. Thank you for hearing me out, and reminding me of why I'm doing all this.”
“I’m happy I could help”.
The world grew fuzzy as I felt a rush and sudden release as Mars lets go of my muzzle. The pain and numbness of my legs returning as I get reacquainted with the wheel chair. Mars shifts back to her original form, her shoulders shifting as she readjust her stance. Mars smiles and turns back to her desk, the area was coated in this spiked bone protrusion. She looked a bit embarrassed and chuckled.
“Ah… that’s right.. how about you run along and grab something to eat, I need to clean up this mess.. but it was good seeing you Nia.”
I look down at my legs and sighed, nodding as I then looked up at Mars again.
“Yeah, it sounds like a plan. Would love to help ya out with that cleaning but… not really capable of that right now. It was very nice talking and seeing you again, Mars, hopefully the next time we see each other will be under happier circumstances!”
I give the huge eldritch woman a wave, and then begin to wheel my way out of the library.
The adrenaline that pumped through me during this entire situation has made me feel like I’m starving!
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Thank you so much @dawning-mars for coming back in this chapter <3 it was a lot of fun working with you! - Arynia
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You - Schlatt song fic
* ˚ ✦ Song: You - dodie
Summary: A summer fling. Or was it?
Warnings: Alcohol (minor mention)
Word Count: ~1200 words
Author’s Note: This is very much a vomit on a page moment, I missed the old school 2014 ukulele music I would listen to as a teenager and this came to mind as I was listening. It’s quite choppy and maybe a bit confusing. I’m not really happy with it but enjoy it regardless if you’d like :)
I told you I was looking for some empathy
Well you fooled me
Just, a touch and a thought and I was gone
May 4th 2024, 22:46
Parties weren’t your thing. But alas, if you were going to live in LA, if only temporarily, you had to live the LA lifestyle. At least that’s what your friends said in an attempt to sell you the idea of attending. Funny how as soon as you got there, none of them were anywhere to be seen.
Working on a long-term project that had shifted your life trajectory had seemed worth it at the time, but standing on your own in the corner of some sort of ass-kissing festival seemed like hell on earth. You hadn’t even noticed a figure standing beside you until he spoke.
“You don’t look like you’re having a good time.” He murmurs, nursing a plastic cup of some mysterious liquid.
Your head turned, spinning to greet the smug smirk of JSchlatt himself. You leant back against the wall, gripping your drink a little tighter. “I’m not.” You responded, nonchalantly.
He paused, as though thinking of the exact right thing to say. “Anything I can do to change that?”
“You can answer a question.” You turned to face him, one shoulder against the wall. You two were way closer than you’d expect two people to stand and why did no one tell you that this man is so much more attractive in person? “Why does this place just feel like a massive dick measuring contest? Does anyone here have just an ounce of empathy?”
He laughed, a large belly laugh. The sound was like music to your ears, much to your dismay.
And now someone’s gonna get to know the better you
When I was supposed to
Why did it have to be you?
September 8th 2024, 15:22
It had hurt much more to leave than you ever had expected it to. Staring out the window of the long-haul flight, your mind was preoccupied. It was hard to even look back at what happened.
How could he just say nothing? How could he pretend that nothing had happened between you? Was it really all just a bit of fun?
I guess
Now the next time there’s an opportunity
I’ll tread more carefully
My heart’s running out of cellotape
October 13th 2024, 19:24
You tried dating, you tried every single app that suggested being able to build any sort of connection. Anything to fill the void inside you that he had left there.
Even if you got on with them, it just wasn’t right. You couldn’t let yourself open up, many of them fizzled away after dry texts. The ones that you had a date with, you can’t remember a single one that called you again afterwards. But you didn’t care.
After him, no one ever made you feel the same.
You know
How is it I’ve never felt that way before?
I was so sure
It wasn’t going to be you
July 2nd 2024, 10:41am
There had been no apprehension. You two slotted in together like you had known each other for years. You spent almost all your time together. Schlatt postponed his flight, telling Ted that it was to work on the podcast, or he wanted to host a couple meeting in person. But Ted knew it was to spend more time with you.
“Hey man, where’ve you been?” Ted asked, looking up from the couch when Schlatt walked into his apartment. Schlatt waves him off, grumbling something about needing to sleep.
“It’s the middle of the day, the fuck you been doing?” Ted continued his questioning to no avail as Schlatt ignored him and walked into the spare room.
Days of hanging out, cooking you dinner and absolutely thrashing your ass at Mariokart turned into late nights, whispering about your goals and dreams. And then those whispers became sweet nothings, heavy breathing, gasps for more.
Neither of you intended it to be this way, you had insisted that you were just friends. But, that’s not the way it was, was it?
Why do all the red flags,
Just look like so much fun?
I have a habit of
Searching for the damage
To share my love
August 19th 2024, 21:59
You had started to feel more. You couldn’t help it. How could you not?
You knew it was a bad idea, confessing. You’d be gone in a couple of weeks. You had been psyching yourself up for the past few hours whilst curled up on the couch with him, limbs tangled together and a throw blanket draped over you both.
“Jay, can we talk?” You asked, pulling yourself up from his grip to sit opposite him.
He frowned, arms reached out as if you were still in them. “Uh, yeah. What’s going on?”
“I wanted to know where we stand.”
“Oh.”
“Oh?”
“I just thought we were kinda just messin’ around.” He said, scratching the back of his head. His eyes were darting around, avoiding yours. “Nothing serious.”
“Yeah, cool.” You shook your head, a weak laugh escaping your lips.
“You sure? You seemed pretty serious for a sec there.” He said, looking you up and down.
You laughed again, a nervous habit you had as you shook your head again. “Nah, I’m okay. I just wanted to check that we were on the same page.”
I promised to be numb
But somehow you were the one
Now to unwind
Months of a good time
September 8th 2024, 14:41
You noticed the distance immediately. Schlatt went from being at your AirBnB everyday to every other day. Then it was once a week. For a couple hours a time, you would do your business and he would be out, sometimes before you had even made it out of the bed.
He didn’t even say goodbye in person when you had to fly home.
When that flight took off, you knew that this was the end. A single summer in your life that meant everything turned into a couple months that you just wish you could forget. But he was always in the background of your mind.
People will tell me that I messed up
And it wasn’t love
And I’m secretly hoping they are right
September 16th 2024, 17:22
Confessing to your friends from home seemed like a good idea at the time but they immediately were sceptical.
Of course, it was just a classic case of a fuck-boy. It was a fling. It should have meant nothing. The next best thing will come along soon.
But something in your mind told you that it couldn’t have been. There was something more there, there had to be. You had been checking your phone almost obsessively.
Just one text. But there’s just radio silence.
Because
Whatever it was, it was wonderful
But non functional
November 22nd 2024, 02:37
Your phone was buzzing. Who the fuck would be calling you at this hour?
The screen read ‘unknown’, making you frown. It could be anyone. But you knew who you were hoping it would be. You reached over your bed, picking up the phone and clicking that little green button.
“Hello?” Your voice was raspy, throat dry.
“Did I wake you up?” Oh fuck. Oh shit fuck shit. It was him.
“Yeah.”
“Sorry.” There was silence for a moment, like he was unsure of what to say. “Could I just talk to you for a few minutes?”
I really hope I don’t love you
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Books
Small story that I thought of while reading Dazai’s No Longer Human
Also this shouldnt have any spoilers, it's a scenario that never happened in the BSD universe so…
Masterlist
From a young age I have loved to read. Starting with some of Signet's classics and diving into more classics, consuming such media as a young kid tended to isolate me from the other children. They called me weird and peculiar. I used to abhor going to school for that reason, until I realized that perhaps being surrounded by people would only further isolate me.
Being alone as a kid teaches you many things. One, how to read people and what makes them tick. While this may seem manipulative it was only in response to a sense of longing for friends and interaction. Which only served to weird people out even more. Two, to appreciate the silence. While it may seem weird, appreciating the silence, many adults struggle to appreciate the silence seeing it as awkward.
Which brings me to my current predicament. Being in Yokohama, Japan as a tourist, only to find myself locked in a jail cell for taking the train at the wrong time. Talk about bad luck. And to make matters worse someone stole one of my suitcases at the airport. Meaning I lost all of my books. Well, all except one, my heavily damaged copy of no longer human, that resided in my satchel (which the guards let me keep for some bizarre reason that I cannot fathom).
I bit back a sigh as I looked towards the bars for the nth time that hour.
“You know, staring at those bars isn't going to let you out.” A cheerful voice called out, causing me to jolt slightly. I turned my head towards the man, he wore a tan trench coat, and upon closer inspection he seemed to be injured (judging by the bandages he wore).
“I know, I just cannot for the life of me understand why I have been locked up.” I said, trying to keep the lingering irritation from my tone.
The other people in the cell seemed to perk up at my remark. A short ginger in particular seemed interested in my comment. “What do you mean?” He asked, making his way across the cell, standing a few steps away from the taller bandaged brunette. “Don’t you have some sort of ability or something? That's why we are all here, they’re gathering all of the ability users in Yokohama for some sort of elimination project or something.” He continued, narrowing his eyes at me.
I stared at him for a moment, ‘elimination project? This guy must have a screw loose, and ‘abilities,’ he’s gotta be nuts.’ I sighed, “Listen, I’m as confused as the next person. I got here a few hours ago, I'm here on vacation.” I said, irritation lacing my tone at his accusatory gaze. “I was on the train at the wrong time, I guess.” I said, shrugging my shoulders as I spoke. “Listen, I have no idea why we’re all here, okay?” I finished, opting to look away from the duo in front of me and instead towards the bars once more.
I couldn't see it but my commentary brought glances my way. Many curious gazes wondering just who I was to get kidnapped by an anti-ability organization.
A new voice chimed in, “Chuuya, Dazai quit bothering our guest.” I fixed my gaze to the source of the voice, a seemingly middle aged man with semi-long hair. ‘So they do have names’ I thought to myself, ‘although it's quite peculiar, Chuuya and Dazai, like the authors?’
The shorted male—Chuuya—drew me out of my thoughts, giving the older male a small ‘yes boss’ giving me one last glance before he returned to the otherside of the cell. The taller brunette—Dazai—instead gave the male a smile that seemed to have the implication of an underlying threat. “Ah fine, fine Mori.” He said darkly, glancing at me smiling cheerfully, as he made his way to sit next to me on the cell bench (much to my dismay).
“I’m Osamu, Osamu Dazai, and you are?” He asked, returning to the suave persona he had before.
I stared at him blankly, attempting to keep a straight face as the corners of my lips tried to curve upwards. “Your parents must’ve been big fans of his work, hmm?” I asked, “And I’m N/n” I said. ‘Giving him a nickname isn't bad.’ I thought to myself, ‘I’m not sure how much I want a man named after a famous author to know my name, especially an author who tried to commit double suicide with quite a few women.’
He gave me a blank look, “Whose work?” he asked, genuine confusion painting his features.
It was my turn to be confused, “Dazai.” I said.
He nodded, “what about me?” He asked, a new emotion swirling in his eyes: Interest.
I stared at him once more, “no not you, Dazai, the author.” I said, exacerbated, he was a famous author. How had this man not heard of him? He shared the name for goodness sake.
He once again gave me a blank look.
I sighed, “Mine has been a life of much shame. I can’t even guess myself what it must be to live the life of a human being.” I said, quoting the very first line of Dazai's most well-known story.
His eyebrows lifted in surprise, “What was that?” He asked, his tone sounding weak?
It was now my turn to stare at him, “The first line of one of his more well known books, No longer Human.”
There was a gasp somewhere in the cell, as more heads turned my way. Dazai grabbed my wrist, “Say another line.” he said, almost demandingly.
Confusion consumed me, but I obliged, taking a deep breath.“ Actions punishable by jail sentences are not the only crimes. If we knew the antonym of crime, I think we would know its true nature. God . . . salvation . . love . .. light. But for God there is the antonym Satan, for salvation there is perdition, for love there is hate, for light there is darkness, for good, evil. Crime and prayer? Crime and repentance? Crime and confession? Crime and ... no, they're all synonymous. What is the opposite of crime?” I finished, looking into his eyes as he stared me down.
“Just who are you?” he asked, a dark look appearing on his face replacing the affable one from before, “How do you use an ability even when I touch you?”
I stared at him for the nth time, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I said, choosing my words carefully as he tightened his grip on my wrist. “I’m just well-read. I know the lines to certain books like I know the roads of my hometown.” I said.
“But that doesn't explain how you know the name of my ability.” He said his tone bereft of any emotion.
“What’s your ability?” I asked, genuinely confused.
He stared at me, looking into my eyes as though he were attempting to decipher something unknown to me. “I see.” was all he said, dropping his grip on my wrist to instead lace his fingers with my own. “What do you think about double suicide?”
“I think that it’s unoriginal.” I said plainly, ‘it's hard to believe he doesn't know of the author, his ideals are similar.’
He gasped, his persona reappearing once more, “Unoriginal, how?!” He questioned, gazing at me as though I had offended him in the worst way possible.
Before I could answer, his gaze turned pointed towards someone behind me.
I followed his gaze to see a tall man with long hair, although most of it was covered with a ushanka. Said man was glancing down at me, amusement dancing in his eyes.
“I’m Fyodor—”
“—Dostoevsky?” I asked cutting off his thick russian accent.
His eyes widened in surprise, although just for a second, and then he was back to smiling. “Yes, I take it you also know of an author with the same name as I?” He asked, glancing behind me at Dazai.
I slowly nodded, ‘so it’s safe to assume everyone here has been listening.’
“Yes, Crime and Punishment.” I said, smiling slightly. “It was quite a good book, one which I’d assume is your,” I paused, internally cringing, “ability?”
His eyes glimmered, as he decided to sit on the other side of me, opposite from Dazai. “Yes, yes it is.”
“I’m quite interested though, what do you mean by authors and books?” He asked, making an allusion to something that went over my head.
I was truly puzzled, were they playing dumb or did they truly not know? “You share the name of a famous author from the Eighteenth century.” I said quietly.
He seemed to revel in my sudden quietness and confusion, leaning in, “and do you know my book well?” He asked, as I began to lean away from him and into Dazai.
“Yes, I read it a few times, once in high school and a few times in college.” I said, my brain swimming in confusion as I tried to wrap my head around everything.
He smiled, leaning back to give me some space, “Do you have any quotes you particularly enjoyed?” He asked, smiling still adorning his features but not matching his eyes that seemingly attempted to dissect me.
I slowly nodded, trying to rack my brain for any good quotes that I could remember. I opened my mouth, “ Crime is a protest against the abnormality of the social order—just that, and nothing more, no other causes admitted, and that's that!"
Fyodor’s eyes shined with glee at my statement, “You are quite peculiar.” He said, eyes glancing to my lap momentarily where Dazai and I’s hand were. “You have no idea of your worth, or your ability.” He said, opening his mouth as though he wanted to say more before looking away thinking against it.
“I don’t know what youre talking about.” I said, the irritation I had pushed down earlier coming up. “You’re messing with me, you have to be.” I said, pausing, “all of you.”
The people in question turned to me confused, “You all share the names of famous authors and then get surprised when someone knows of one of their most famous books.” I paused, standing up, releasing my hand from Dazai’s, and turning my attention to the shorter male—Chuuya. “Let me guess, you’re Chuuya Nakahara and your ability is ‘For Tainted Sorrow?’ ” I didn't wait for his reply. Turning to the older male—Mori. “And you’re Mori Ougai. With the ability ‘Vita Sexualis.’ ”
The two males looked at me, shock enveloping their features. “How’d you-” The shorter tried to ask.
“I told you!” I exclaimed, “I read a lot and you share names with famous authors!”
The room was silent for a few minutes, save the murmurs of confusion at my outburst.
“You should join us.”
I’m leaving this open so I can expand on this later!
Interpret it as you like!!!
#bungou stray dogs dazai#x reader#bungou stray dogs#BSD#bsd chuuya#bsd fyodor#bsd x reader#bsd dazai#dazai x reader
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GG: you said you are asking me permission first and i appreciate that GG: but if you are asking im afraid my answer is no! AT: oKAY, i RESPECT THAT, AT: bUT, i WONDER, GG: what? AT: i WONDER IF A TRULY SELF CONFIDENT GUY, wITH THE BEST SELF ESTEEM THERE IS, wOULD EVEN NEED TO ASK, AT: mAYBE THE BEST GUY WOULD JUST KNOW HE WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL, aND WOULD DO IT ANYWAY BECAUSE IT IS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, aND EVERYONE ELSE'S,
I don't think Tavros is just emulating Vriska here. This is a very Alternian mindset, and it's one we've seen before.
Alternia is, after all, an empire. It's a society whose idea of success is inexorably tied to violence and domination - so if you're trying to be a better troll, you'll probably gravitate to both, even if you don't realize it.
It's not really about your personality, either. Karkat is, by all accounts, one of the more moral trolls in the party - but as we've seen above, even he's got those imperial instincts. This sort of thing is insidious, and once it worms its way into your brain, it can be hard to shake.
Tavros is a very straightforward example. He's finally gained some 'confidence' - and what's his first impulse?
To seize a useful resource from an alien, and use it against her will.
GG: that would be smug and arrogant and would make you a bully!!! [...] AT: yOU'RE RIGHT ABOUT ALL THAT, i'LL RESPECT YOUR WISHES, AT: oR, AT: wILL i? };) GG: nooooooooo dont dont dont dont dont GG: im serious GG: uuuuggghh i think my headache is coming back AT: i WAS jUST, AT: mAKING A JOKE, AT: sORRY, }:(
This dude cannot read a room. Truly, the anti-Terezi.
Oh, leave off.
AG: Next time you decide to open your heart to an alien girl…….. AG: Make sure her chat client isn't 8eing holographically projected for all to see, ok?
This exploit should apply to chat clients of any size, provided the screen is visible. Maybe John's Pesterchum Glasses were a better investment than I thought.
AG: Jade let you down too easy. She's too nice! Someone's got to tear into you for that appalling display, and once again, guess who's shoulders that falls on? AG: That's right. Vriska's, as usual.
Tavros probably does need someone to explain what he did wrong, but it should be anyone but Vriska. This is obviously just going to be more bullying, and no actual advice.
AT: i THINK SHE HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF NICENESS, pERSONALLY, AT: aN AMOUNT THAT IS SOME, iNSTEAD OF, AT: nONE,
Showing backbone against Vriska, eh? Finally, a constructive use for all that confidence.
Progress is progress, even when it's just a minor clapback.
AG: Hey, I'm nice when it matters, [...]
Nope, I'm calling Vriska's bluff. What nice things has she done so far, exactly?
Sure, she made Tavros the rocket chair, but only after mercilessly tormenting him for his physical condition, which she caused.
Plus, this wasn't even a real apology gift. She kept bullying him after that, and is literally doing so as we speak.
I guess she also made Aradia's soulbot, as an 'apology' for murdering her with her own boyfriend. To be precise, she had Equius make it, with horrific results that she should probably have seen coming.
She also thought that it would be 'nice' to tell Terezi that her blindness 'wasn't that bad'. This conversation was kind of complicated, though, and I'm not sure what her actual intention was.
Anyway, it's pretty clear that Vriska doesn't really grok what 'nice' means. She gives Tavros a rocket chair, continues to torment him, and doesn't understand the contradiction, because she doesn't think his feelings actually matter.
[...] and where it doesn't strangul8te the critical development of people I give a shit a8out, ok?
"After all, no one was ever nice to ME, and look how gr8 I turned out! When you think about it, it's actually a GOOD thing that no one ever showed me kindness! It made me strong! Don't you want to 8e stroooooooong, Pupa? ::::D"
I'm reminded of this exchange from Hivebent. Kanaya recommends that Vriska practice some basic self-care, and Vriska completely flies off the handle, furious at the mere suggestion that she should be kind to herself.
Vriska thinks kindness will harm her. She refuses to accept it, and avoids showing it to anyone, which makes her remarkably consistent in her cruelty. I'm willing to bet that there's nothing she's said to Tavros that she hasn't already said to herself.
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Plans for 2025
I sort of missed the season for resolutions, but my January was a little wild! So here are my vague plans and intentions for 2025 now.
I am trying to (1) take my IRL work and (2) my health more seriously, so I am generally trying to (3) cut back on fandom obligations. Mainly wrt big bangs.
Now, I know I have said for maybe the last three years running that I’m not going to do any bangs, and then I. Uh. Ran/participated in a bunch of bangs. But this time for real! I’ll only do a bang if it’s for a specific pairing I am currently really into. I must defeat FOMO. No more entire-fandom bangs and no more well-i-know-that-media-ig bangs.
I’m going to instead try and (4) focus on doing some projects with people that I already know I like working with — I’ve got some things that have been backburnered with at least one or two people. So if I have worked with you in the past and you are in my active fandom (currently marinating in batfam stuff, but that’s subject to change) maybe we can do a little project together 👀
I am not planning on participating in FTH this year, and I’ll only be doing commissions if someone offers me truly exorbitant amounts of money out of nowhere. I am planning on splashing out on the auctions for FTH myself though, I had a really excellent experience last year with both nyoomer and pallas rose. If I can even have half such a dope experience again this year, I would be deliriously happy.
I am also running the @badsexbingo but I’ve automated the whole thing so it shouldn’t require any real activity for me. I’ll be providing some updates to my bingo sheet maker once I figure out the best way to generalize some things. It automatically generates the bingo boards and emails them to people now. I’d maybe like to (5) make some more generalized fandom automation tools? Soft maybe on that though.
So that’s my thoughts on fandom! Recap on goals:
Take work more seriously
Take health more seriously
Step back from bangs and fandom projects with deadlines
Make art in collaboration with people I already know and like working with
Maybe make more fandom widgets and tools.
Some health and work stuff beneath the cut.
Health
I spent a solid chunk of time and money in 2024 running down a diagnosis for my fatigue, and I did get one! It took several thousand dollars out of pocket and multiple specialists, but hey! I got there. I am now working on making lifestyle changes to help the medication work better. So you know, normal boring shit like diet and exercise.
Several people around me, in both my husbands and my own family, died — not young precisely, but not old either — of cancer recently. I’m talking like 40s and 50s. This has pushed me and my brother to be a little more proactive about our health and swap more info on genetic flags and our diagnoses etc.
It’s also pushed me to try and sack more cash away so I can maybe retire before I fuckin die 😬 one side of the family is not making it past 85 and one side of the family gets over 100. Really hard to plan for!
For both health and wallet reasons, going to try to eat out less so I can sack cash away, but it’s like. Fuck doc, I work hard, I can’t have one vice?
Work
Work has been nuts for several years now, and I’m anticipating it continuing to be nuts. All that crazy has been the opportunity I anticipated though, so now I have to put in an extra burst of energy to capitalize on it.
My job offers opportunities for advancement as an individual contributor, so I am not going into management, but I do have to try for an elected technical leadership title :/ some of my cohort from my lab days has gone into early-career management positions by now so I guess it’s time.
I have good name recognition at this point so I feel like I have a good shot, if not this year then next year. But it’s time to put the paperwork together and start schmoozing. It’s exciting but also I’m fucking tired!
But yep that’s it that’s the plan.
And of course, you know, hunker down and endure the next four years while helping out where I can. I am unfortunately in a very red state.
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I love your dabbles!! And time travel is my favorite!
Can we get more if the ironstrange time travel when Tony shows up in the hospital room? Maybe an outsiders POV?
Oooh, one of my favourites of the ficlets and outsider POV! This is a very fun prompt. :D
We could get more outsider-y than Christine, but I felt like her familiarity with pre-accident Stephen would make the contrast more interesting.
It also occurred to me when I was almost done that you might have wanted something a little further along in the development of this timeline, but this is what I thought of when I pondered outsider POVs. Hopefully it is still enjoyable!
-
Christine could hear Stephen’s voice, crisp and animated, long before she approached his hospital room. That could mean only one thing: Mr. Stark was visiting.
In the days after Stephen was recovered from the wreck and before he woke from surgery, Christine had braced herself for denial, or fury, or depression. Operating was everything to Stephen. It had certainly meant more to him than their relationship. She’d braced herself for a viciously rocky road to whatever recovery he could make, and for the first few hours, it had seemed like depression had won the lottery. Stephen had been so silent. It was an unsettling reaction from a man who had opinions on everything, especially everything medical.
And then Tony Stark had arrived and it was like the entire world went screwy.
Not only had Stephen snapped out of his nascent depression, he didn’t even seem to care about his hands. He didn’t denigrate the work of his doctors, he didn’t ask for a second opinion. He didn’t even ask to see his own films! Instead he spent every waking moment—literally—deep in discussion with man he’d once described as the worst possible expression of the military-industrial complex. And that had been after Stark’s establishment as Iron Man. Just because now he’s keeping the bombs for his personal use, Stephen had said once, doesn’t make him a hero.
Honestly, if Stephen hadn’t been in a hospital, closely monitored, Christine would have suspected Stark of… of… something. She couldn’t think of any drug or bribe or whatever that would turn Stephen’s opinion around so dramatically, but it still made more sense than reality! Christine couldn’t even call it a nervous breakdown—Stephen somehow seemed better adjusted than before his crash.
Shaking her head, Christine continued on her way to Stephen’s room. She’d promised herself she’d be there for him, even if the role she’d expected to take had somehow been co-opted by Tony Stark.
“…not sure,” Stephen was saying as she approached. “The first time I was in hospital for a month, but I didn’t have anyone to help me care for myself. Christine tried, but I was… not receptive.”
The first time? Christine didn’t think he’d ever been hospitalized before.
Stephen looked up and saw her in the doorway and any chance at more information was lost. “Christine!” Stephen said warmly as Mr. Stark dismissed a hologram. Christine only glimpsed enough to guess it was some sort of timeline before it was gone. “Tony and I were just speculating when I might be released. I don’t suppose you have any inside information?”
“Ah, no, I’m afraid not,” Christine said, somehow thrown off balance again. “It would probably depend on how much support you have. Your apartment—“
“Nah, he’ll be staying with me,” Mr. Stark jumped in. “I can get you whatever support you need,” he told Stephen. “Nurses, accessibility features, you name it.”
Christine’s gaze flew to Stephen, expecting him to flinch at ‘accessibility,’ but he just nodded. “Thank you, that will help. The sooner I can get out of here, the better.”
“Stephen, are you sure you’re comfortable with that?” Christine jumped in, glancing at Mr. Stark.
“I won’t be freeloading,” Stephen assured her, as if that was the problem. “Tony and I have a big project to get started on.”
“Huge, world changing project,” Mr. Stark added brightly. Then he got a considering look on his face and turned to Stephen. “We’re going to need support staff. Do you think—?”
Stephen hummed thoughtfully. “It wouldn’t have worked before, but this time, maybe.”
“We’ll add it to the list,” Tony said.
Christine could only glance between them. It felt like she was missing half the conversation, but, somehow, she suspected it was a lot more than half.
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Hi hello :3
If you're still looking for writing requests, I have a couple loose ideas. No pressure ofc ofc 🙌✨!!
But!
I think it'd be really cool to see a little sparring bonding sesh happen between One and Casey. I dunno if that's applicable to the story at all, but I thought it'd be interesting for the duo nonetheless. Admittedly, I am a sucker for that trope and for those two.
Also, I guess I'm in the mood for comfort cuz my other idea was just Two having a good day. Just Two getting the break he deserves, or maybe being really pleased with an experiment or project of his. Maybe even Two getting a chance to be silly or monologue or something of that sort :)
Sending over some good writing vibes 🤗🌟!
hello ace hello 🌟🙌
Here is Casey and One train-bonding :)
--
When her senseis finally dismiss the clan recruits, Casey leads the newbie to the Foot Clan’s training area. One trails behind her quietly and Casey doesn’t bother to make any sort of conversation with him. There are a few rookies in the training area when Casey walks in, sparring like newborn ducklings learning to walk. There’s a neatly placed stack of wooden training swords lined up against the wall. Casey grabs one of them off the rack.
“Hey!” she yells, smacking the concrete floor. A loud echo reverberates to the farthest corners of the room. The newer recruits freeze in their places. “Everyone out!” Casey orders. “Now!”
Casey faces One and shoves the bokken into his chest as the rookies scurry away. “Oof— hey! What the hell are we doing?”
Ignoring him, Casey walks over to one of the training swords that were left on the floor. She turns around and points it at him. “Training. What does it look like?”
One huffs. “Screw you, I don’t need any more—” Casey leaps forward, striking swiftly at One’s neck with the wooden sword. THWACK!
The slider stumbles to the side, grabbing the base of his neck, where Casey had hit him. “Ow! Hey!”
She doesn’t stop there. While One is still surprised, Casey kicks his legs out from under him and pins the bokken into One’s shoulder, holding him down. “You are distracted,” she admonishes. “Distractions will get you killed.”
Suddenly, Casey’s falling on her ass. One had jammed her in the knee. He strikes at her chest, but Casey rolls out of the way, stands on her knees, and whacks One’s shell. The slider falls on his plastron. “You can fight better than this,” she scoffs. “I’ve seen it. Something is clearly bothering you.”
“Even if there was, how is that your business?” One snaps, turning on his back.
“Your performance affects everything this clan is working for!” Casey retorts. “Right now, you are nothing but dead weight. If this continues, you will be cut loose.”
One’s jaw tightens. “Why do you care about what happens to me? You don’t know me.”
Casey studies him carefully. While that’s true, she’s seen the way he fights and though she hates to admit it, he’s pretty good. He could be a great asset to the clan… that, and One’s ambition reminds Casey too much of herself. She’s been in this position before, where she was too uncontrolled— even more than she is now— and alone. Nobody really gave her a chance which is why she’s in the same place she was when she started. Years of hard work has only just gotten her senseis’ attention. She just wants to push One in the right direction. For the good of the clan.
But how does she do that? Casey knows she’s not the greatest at emotions but she tries to think about what she would’ve wanted to hear from someone she looked up to. “But I… see you.”
“What?”
Okay, that was awkward.
Casey clears her throat and rephrases. “I mean I can see your strength,” she huffs. “You are driven, but you are angry. I know. I’m angry all the time. I’m still working on it.” Casey takes a deep breath. “You are putting your anger in the wrong places. I don’t care about what you’re going through, do not feed your anger into your emotions, let it be your motivation.”
She waits for a response. Maybe even a comment about how wise she sounds. But there’s nothing.
Casey’s head snaps in One’s direction. “Are you listening to me, Junior?!” she cuts herself off when her eyes meet One’s strict and newly focused gaze.
“Yeah,” he says evenly. “Let’s train.”
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