#he did beat me sometimes. just not in a very... traditional way? i guess?

[truckstoptigers]

i keep trying not to give myself any more bruises but like it's either i do that or i throw smth across my room and scream and well. i'm not doing that second one.

[an0nfr0mth3d3n]

Ever heard the ‘Foolish and Bad are divorced’ theory? Here’s totally what happened.

Bad probably lost one of his lovers, and it happened to coincide with Foolish losing one of his lovers, and usually what happens is they seek each other out and cry about it (well Bad cries, Foolish makes a bunch of really sad and deprecating jokes because humor is his coping mechanism).

Well when the coincidence happens, they both end up finding each other and just, venting about mortals and how immortality sucks sometimes, until Bad is like, “gosh darn it Foolish I can’t go through this again. Can you just marry me so we can find love together and not get love-trapped by stupid mortals again?”

(I’m aware the words are out of character but if it was in character the amount of dodging and implying would take up several paragraphs and I’m not doing that)

And Foolish laughs and is like “Aaa fuck it. Might as well try I guess, your stupid ass is the only one who doesn’t leave anyways”

It’s very unofficial, they don’t go to a church or anything, and their rings are just mismatched random rings that Bad stole, but they both have weird and mixed feelings about this.

Bad says he’s sure they’ll love each other eventually (I hc him as demiromantic because it’s on the spectrum and because also that’s me too so yippee)

It takes a day or too before Foolish can’t take it any longer. Not only is it too soon, but when he takes a step back from his grief and actually imagines being in a somewhat romantic relationship with Bad, he wants to puke and roll over and die somehow. Also probably had something to do with the fact that Bad started moving in to his current build project and setting up space there and usually it’s not a promising sign for a marriage if you started the day after absolutely strangling your partner.

Bad also realizes this too. The thought of a traditional marriage at ALL has never sounded appealing. He isn’t one to get domestic with it, and despite trying to set up a home with Foolish sounds unappealing (noooo had nothing to do with the current bruises on his neck right now…) Bad lived for adventure, and liked solitude once in a while, and marriage was just a tether that promised no benefits except for tax purposes and he already evades taxes anyways.

They both fight each other to be the once that divorces the other, and they start by making this EVERYONES problem. They never had a traditional wedding, but they DID go to an official divorce court, making it a point to hire the best talent with divorce lawyers out there. Not that there was much to go on, they were only married for a handful of days, and it wasn’t even official so the lawyers have no clue what to do. They go with it anyways because it’s a totem shark and a demon and they are already beating the shit out of each other in the middle of the court, and the lawyers did NOT want to get in the middle of that.

Bad of course tries to weasel his way into getting 50% of Foolish’s build, and Foolish gets impatient with the court and just attacks Bad himself, fed up at the consistent attempts to steal his build.

They both roll around on the ground, biting, kicking, punching, and both of them are smiling through it. They can lean on each other when times get tough, but Landduo will NEVER stoop to petty human traditions ever again.

(whoops this turned into a mini hc fic)

[lazzarella]

Back again with my Wandee Goodday weekly rambling! I will say that, while I'm still adoring it, the editing is starting to feel weird? Like, I know there's not a cut and an uncut version but sometimes it feels like it.

But! I'm also the kind of person who can nitpick something I love to death, so I'm not going to do that because I'm trying to ~ac-cen-tchu-ate the positive as Mr Mercer wrote. And, like, I'm just here to see two beautiful idiots fall in love XD Anyway! Here we go:

- Dee going straight for the necklace! XD

- HAND HOLDING SHOT!!! Will never get enough of those!

- Love that they don't talk >:) (No, really, I'm not being sarcastic lol I love it haha)

- Aww, I want to know what the souvenir is!!

- Love their apologies! I especially love that he said he'd have let Yak beat Ter up if he wasn't a doctor 🤣

- Seriously, though, his apology made sense! I'm totally extrapolating(?) here but I almost feel like he didn't know why he acted the way he did in the moment

- Okay, kissing only once is silly 🤣 but I'm here for silly! And he did say Yak has to learn to wait, which must mean he does plan on kissing him again. At some point. I can just FEEL Kao's long suffering BFF senses tingling however many apartments away haha

- (I weirdly love being frustrated by shows I love??? Just me??)

- Awww! Love the scene with Yak and Yei <33

- Dee didn't feed him?? Tut tut, doctor! Not taking proper care of your boxer guy

- "Let's pound" uh, sure... But right in front of everyone? 🤣

- Lmaooooo, Cher! I love him! Telling Dee the necklace suits him better haha. I love the way that he and Yei have just accepted Dee into the fold and omg they don't know it's "fake" do they??? I would love to see their reactions

- I loved the whole som tam scene

- Hm. I guess Taem *does* like Yak then? Not really keen on that, but I'll just go wherever the show takes me, IDC

- Yak getting horny watching the others get oil massages lmao love that they used that 'o yeah' sound bite

- (actually, there's a bit in one of the songs that sounds like part of O Yeah by Yello)

- but he got his oil massage!! Dee is doing a thorough job

- Ahhh, Yak asking Yei about the consequences of him losing the fight!!! He looks so young there D: and I'm glad Dee asked some stuff, too!

- Okay, but what is UP with the Nazgûl dude???

- Dee knows Yak's lying!!

- ...wait, how does Dee know about the hallucinations to tell Kao? (Is it really a hallucination when you're asleep? Is that not just a dream? I'm guessing this is a translation thing though) Like, I can infer Yak told him at some point, but it feels like a weird choice to not show that. Whatever, I'm not going to think too hard about it

- Boo, Ter!!

- "No because I must bring my special someone" is the best response to Kwan asking if Dee was asking Ter out! Lmaooo (I paraphrased a bit I think)

- Okay, it's so funny that Dee knows Yak is his special someone and that's why he's asking him, and he's happy to let Kwan and Ter and whoever assume that, but he won't tell Yak 🤣

- "Just one more time" ??? One more time for what? Maybe I should stop watching this when it drops because I'm always half asleep by then lol

- Whatever Yak says about it would be nice to have someone cook for him every day and Dee's desperate 'oh pleeeease let it be meeeee' kinda look lol

- Costume time!!! They looked soooo good in the first ones (I don't know if they're specific characters or just traditional)

- I love how grandma describes dancing but I didn't note it down. Oops! It was lovely, though! And very true—you have to be in sync with your dance partner and you have to give and take equally, otherwise it's not going to work and you may hurt yourself or the other person

- Lmao, they're still pretending! So silly after the kiss and I LOVE IT! XD this is what happens when you don't talk. Please keep it up! lolll

- Tbh, I think Dee's equally afraid if he tells Yak how he feels he'll disappear now (he probably has abandonment issues, I get it! He said that thing about presents making him feel like he hadn't been forgotten about a child, so yeah...)

- Product placement time! There hasn't been much though

- Ooh, they're gonna get married :D

- Aww, that was a really sweet proposal!

- Thor is so much bigger than Fluke... Just needed to make a note of that lol

- More product placement!

- Dee! How are you going to feed your boxer man every day when you only have neatly arranged cartons of soy milk and a bowl of apples in your fridge??

- YAY ANOTHER HAIR DRYING SCENE!!! But this time with a hairdryer!!

- I knew Taem would be the reason Yak wasn't at the ball in the previews!

- gee, there aren't many people at the ball

- FUCK. OFF. TER!!

- Yak is going to rock up at the very last second...

- ngl, I thought Taem was into Ohm as well!

- Just say no, Dee! Just say no!

- I mean, that's a pretty good speech, pity who it's coming from lol

- Phew! He pushed him away! I knew he would, but still

- Yesssss! I actually fist pumped at Dee telling Ter he wouldn't be a good dance partner and that HE'S TOO VANILLA bahahahaha

- He was very gracious about it, too, which makes it even better

- Ooh, Ter's crying! Tbh, I'd feel bad for him if he wasn't a manipulative jerk XD he cries pretty, though

- Poor Dr Kwan!

- Dee waiting for Yak is breaking my heart!! Come onnnnn, Yak!

- YES!!! THERE HE IS! Cinderelly, you shall go to the ball! (IDK...)

- "My prince!" (x 2) Ahhhhhh!!!!!!! MY HEART!

- This is the most awkward dance routine lmao I kinda love it

- Ooh! Slow dance time!

- I THINK I LOVE YOU!

- (So what am I so afraid of, I'm afraid that there's no cure for, a love that I'm not sure of... Uh, ahem, where was I?)

- I think my whole heart leapt into my throat!! That was NOT what I was expecting at all and ahhhhhhhhh it was perfect! And Dee's happy little face!!!!! He's so amazed and happy and ahhhhh I don't want to wait seven days to see what happens next!!

-Also was that a new sing playing in that scene or something that already exists? Kinda sounded like Inn singing but idk

- Okay, but I am SO here for Yak trying to woo Dee next week lol like, he so doesn't have to, but I would definitely want to let the handsome man woo me for a little while too XD

- (I bet when Dee says enough and Yak's little face drops, it's going to be when he says the thing about loving Yak for who he is maybe, but IDK, I could be very wrong)

- Anyway. I THINK I LOVE YOU! Yesssss! Yak was so brave!! <333

[scorpius-major]

#class is now in session!

Ft: Hu Tao, Barbara, Zhongli, Childe, and Gn! Reader

College au!

in which each character gets their own major and school headcannons

𝙃𝙪 𝙏𝙖𝙤

Mortuary science major without a doubt

Gives off chaotic theater kid vibes as well

Has definitely brought an Ouija board to multiple different sleepovers on multiple different occasions

She’s that one friend that gives you oddly frightening fun facts. Facts that make you go “why does she know that?”

“Did you know that if you eat around 10 crushed black cherry pits there’s enough cyanide to kill you?”

Just leaves you sitting there like ma’am how do you know that?

Hu Tao would peer pressure you into joining theater with her

If you have stage fright she’d find a way to expel it from you

In class she can be very committed to work

If you sit next to her however, that’s a different story

has surprisingly good grades ngl

you sometimes wonder how she keeps up with the work while simultaneously goofing off in class

it frightens you sometimes

like she was dead asleep in class one time and nothing would wake her up

until the professor asked her a question

She sat up really quickly and answered it correctly

you just stared at her like🤨

needless to say you quickly stopped questioning her abilities as a student after that

Barbara

choir kid without a doubt

like no explanation needed

no fr barbs literally has the most angelic voice you’ve ever heard

you probably met in a music theory class

let me just tell you this lady is the most respectful roommate EVER

omg her room is always so clean and tidy it’s just like

miss please teach me your ways I beg🧎🏾‍♀️

stright A student without a doubt

her classes are probably all honors too

with the occasional AP

Not exactly a “teacher’s pet” but like is always willing to help them out

She probably becomes a teacher’s aid at one point

please let her tutor you, she loves it

Ayaka

Dancing major without a doubt

she’s taking a business class too

and also studies traditional Japanese calligraphy

listen I didn’t wanna be the one to say it but

she was the kid who reminded to teacher they had homework in middle school

IT JUST MAKES SENSE💀

if you’re a dance major too, she will always partner with you

another respectful af roommate

she cooks too

and it’s absolutely delicious

like she will cancel any takeout you order and will cook herself

another star student

it always surprises you how she can keep up her grades with her 17 different extracurricular activities

Zhongli

let’s be honest he probably is the professor💀

he’d teach world history without a doubt

that or AP English

i can’t see him as a math teacher

most def the teacher that everybody loves

he’s well aware too

i like to think he takes a little pride in being “the coolest teacher”

yeah let’s be honest he probably subtly humble brags ab it in the teachers lounge😭

he’s also the teacher that everybody trys to guess his age and terribly fails at it lmao

Struggles a LOT with technology

when he first tried to use a smart board he got so frustrated he never used it again

probably the only teacher who still uses textbooks and whiteboards

back in his college days I can kinda see him being a philosophy major

but he changed career choices and became a professor instead

Childe

STILL hasn’t figured out his major lmao💀

he fr changes it like every 3-5 business days

without a doubt he got in on a sports scholarship

med avg grades

i can see him struggling in math idk he just seems like the type of guy I can’t explain it

another one who is a really awesome cook

hes probably involved in a frat house ngl

if you’re roommates expect little to no sleep

heavy college fuckboy vibes

but in an endearing way

idk this is really random but in grade school he was the kid at the water fountain who would say “one, two, three, that’s enough for me” whenever someone was more than three seconds

He also would pick a fight with the 8th graders when he was in like 3rd and after he lost he’d tell his friends that he beat up an 8th grader

def a partier

he’d drag you out to parties late at night

but he always makes sure your comfortable and safe at them

love a respectful man fr

please help him in math he’s begging

[ziracona]

I love that phrasing how Julie has taken Sallie- A much older woman than her- under her wing. Kinda precious not gonna lie. Did they ever see much of Sally when she was the Nurse? Also what does Sally think of Julie? Also the moment in ur fic when Kate comforts Sally was very sweet, which makes me wonder do they have much of a relationship too? How was Sally's adjustment to the 21st century, especially in regards to her fear about her mental health? What was it you diagnosed Sally as?

Yeah haha that’s just how she is. Julie sees life more in power dynamics than tradition to age.

They saw her some. She was one that they tried to copy skills from. They never talked to her though. Sally likes Julie. Sally likes anyone who is nice to her, and she has no reason to dislike her. She thinks she’s odd, but she’s had a lot of odd friends by now. She likes to talk to Julie about realm stuff, because Julie won’t be uncomfortable, and sometimes can guess at killer things better than the survivors. Julie is also very feminine, if in a femme fatale way, and Sally is too, so they enjoy having someone to like, dress shop and go to a salon with.

Kate and Sally are definitely friends. She reads to Sally a lot, and takes her to do outdoorsy stuff, even horseback riding. Care of Sally initially fell to Kate amid the chaos, since everyone else was indisposed, almost dead, or with another priority. That never faded. And Sally thinks Kate is a very charming rural woman with great sense and a good voice. They have plenty of fun.

Sally adjusted pretty well. It in a way helped she was blind, because she never had a like ‘captain America times square’ moment to be forced to see. Things were more gradual, and introduced almost always in a very positive and friendly environment. There’s a lot like video games and cellphones and the internet that she finds very mind boggling and has some difficulty adapting to, but mostly she handles it very well. Having Benedict, from even longer ago, helps her a lot. I think she feels a lot less lost and alone when he asks her to help explain something she’s grasped quicker, as a 19teens woman, than him as an 1860s man.

Her fear about her mental health was strong for the first year, but eased after. She knows the people with legal custody (as gross as that is to say about a grown adult, it is sadly legally /still/ how this country treats the disabled) over her are trusted and going to keep her free, comfortable, cared for, and with them. So proof beats out worry eventually. She’s still anxious around strangers, about her seeming crazy, or out of time, or just being blind, but the others never make her go alone anywhere, so she’s usually protected by a mob of her people.

Diagnostically, I’m not sure there’s a clear cut answer. Hallucinations, paranoia, confusion, dissociative amnesia, etc, are all caused by essentially supernatural mind control and years and years of gaslighting and manipulation and being driven insane. She’s a psychotic, but more specific definitions, though might apply, I’m not sure what they’d be. There’s a lot she deals with, but some is from the Entity’s manipulations, some is the result of physical trauma, as some is the result of PTSD from the things she’s endured, both at it’s hands, and losing her kids. Diagnosis are really just the names for frequently occurring symptom clusters, because grouping makes them often easier to predict and treat. I’d just say in Sally’s case, I haven’t found one (or more) especially useful names for her symptom clusters.

[nerdyenby]

Yellow time :D I’m watching Gem

Aw the team skins are so precious

This team is everything, I don’t know Ant very well but I love Gem, Jimmy, and Shane and the vibes are already incredible

Who is slandering yellow???

Jim… what do you mean you don’t like sands….

“What’s our weakest game?” “None? Nothing” I love Shane

Gem’s silent awe at the fnaf skins 😂

Rocket Spleef

Either way Shane’s gonna cry, I guess

They’re getting so many kills lol

I feel like I haven’t heard people call Shane “Fire” in actual years, he’s just Shane or fbm in my mind

Gem is so right all the time

Grid Runners

Team games are simply the best

Their comms!!! /pos

Does Shane have a photographic memory??

UPPIES RAHHHHHHHH /pos

“Abysmal who?” Say it louder for the people in the back

Jimmy’s “OH!” Was so funny oh my gosh

Battle Box

That round against blue was so nice

Yeah their initial strat was the way to go

They killed it!!!

All top 15?!?? My streamers <33

Sands of Time

“Jimmy… daddy” and everyone losing their mind

Ant is clowning lol

Their comms are so good

There are so many mobs down Gem’s tunnel it’s absurd, was she not lighting up spawners?

Oh my gosh voices counting down are in my top ten sensory no nos

Ace Race

They’re so sweaty 😂

Omg spiderman

Gem first place!! I don’t care that it was early and only for a few seconds, it counts

Yo I haven’t seen anyone find that skip yet!!

2ND!!!!!

“Abysmal who? We’re cracked!!” Yeah you are!!!

Shane gonna need an intervention

Parkour Warrior

Ant being all “I guess I’ll stick around” 😂

Gem spotting the missing slab is so hermitcraft of her

“Live laugh love” “Live laugh love, gonna get it tattooed on me” “Yeah�� if we win, bet?” “Bet” “No don’t- no I take it back!!” Them

I like that they all stayed in the call and it’s still absolutely silent

I was genuinely caught off guard when Gem meant it when she said “one more try”

“I would just give up, you know what I mean?” We all gotta hear it sometimes

Gem is not bad at parkour, who told her that?? She’s got solid game sense and control, it’s just not her forte and she beats herself up over it

“Guys, I’m pretty sure they were right on this one, that was pretty abysmal” nooooooo Jimmy ;-;

Hole in the Wall

Everyone losing their collective minds in hitw is my favorite MCC tradition, it’s been too long

“Jimmy and Shane, killing it, let’s go!!” “Chilling in a hot tub, five feet apart though” “Five feet apart, yep” “I hate you both” I love them

Two top ten!!!

Shane and Jimmy being the exact same person for three rounds straight

“Did we just become best friends?!” Jimmy /pos

Gem top ten!!!!!

Sky Battle

SHANE!!!!!

“You’re crazy, you’re crazy, I just threw up, you’re crazy” Jimmy #1 fbm stan real and true

Rip, good game and good vibes, solid team, got messed up by game order :/

Dodgebolt

We love some red support <333

The fnaf appreciation

Gem is an Aimsey believer, as she should!!

Everyone poking at how long this dodgebolt is but they all feel like this to me lol

Everything Antfrost does is to spite AntVenom, real and true

Trash talking Sapnap is always the move lmao

Not abysmal pogchamp

[darry-rules]

Night Shift

I work the night shift at a local mom-and-pop convenience store at the front of my neighborhood. We sell snacks, drinks, milk, bread, all the normal stuff that people need but aren’t willing to make a traditional run to the grocery store for. There was talk about adding a gas pump out front, but it hasn’t happened yet.

As a result, the night gets a bit slow at times. Of course, we got our usual druggie who strolls in to get his soda or to use the restroom, but sometimes I’ll sit at the counter for nearly an hour before someone strolls in.

It can get a bit boring at times, but I’ve always got a good book or a Youtube video to keep my mind occupied. I’m supposed to clean the store in the slow periods of my shift, and I do, but that never takes me long. Each night, usually around 1-2 am, I finish the chore list and find myself surfing the web or plopped down enjoying some novel.

The night of the encounter was like any other day. It had been slow. The store was quiet. No one had come in for an hour. I was re-reading my favorite Stephen King book, when I heard a thudding sound coming from the inventory room. I jumped at the noise. I know, not very manly of me, but I hadn’t expected it. Besides, I was at a pretty intense part of my book. I looked up at the digital clock sitting on the counter, it read 3:12 am. I didn’t really think anything of the noise. I just assumed it was something that fell off one of the shelves.

Even still, I felt a chill crawl its way down my spine. I remember glancing outside, and seeing a sea of thick fog blanketing the landscape. This wasn’t too uncommon. There was a lake across the street from the store, and occasionally fog would drift in. Still, I couldn’t recall a time when the fog was quite as thick as this.

I remember thinking that something could be standing out there watching me, and I wouldn’t even know. But it was more than that. At that moment, I knew there was something out there. It was instinctual, a primal sense developed over years. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and goose flesh began to break out all over my arms.

I was too frightened to get up from my spot at the cash register. I knew that I ought to investigate the sound in the back room, but I couldn’t get my body to respond. I sat there, unable to look away from the glass front door, trying desperately to peer through the thickening fog. I couldn’t see anything; but I was certain that if I turned away now, then the thing in the dark would rush forward.

The fear was multiplying, growing into a living creature trying to tear its way from my stomach. I felt cold sweat begin to pour from my brow, streaming into my open eyes and causing them to sting. I couldn’t blink. I was too worried about the consequences if I did, when I saw it.

Two pinpricks of light cut through the dense fog, temporarily blinding me. My panic rose to a crescendo, and my heart beat out of my chest. I half ducked behind the counter, when I saw the figure approaching the door. My hand slid across the underside of the counter to find the panic button that would alert the police, when the door swung wide.

A burly man in a green jacket and black pants came strolling in, an amused look on his face. He looked at me, raised an eyebrow and said, “Hey mister you ok? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I sighed, and felt a physical weight lift off of me. I looked at him, and said, “Yeah sorry man. You just startled me, couldn’t see you approach the door until you opened it with all that fog out there.”

“Hey I hear you there. I could hardly see the road in front of me. Honestly, it’s a bit unnerving out there, it makes you think some strange thoughts,” said the man, looking a bit pensive.

“Right, I could’ve sworn that someone was out there. I mean I guess you were,” I said with a nervous laugh.

“Yeah, I was. It’s nights like this that makes one think,” said the man seriously.

I felt uncomfortable with his answer. He just remained there motionless, staring at the door to the back room. I still hadn’t investigated the noise in the back and the man’s blank look made me feel uneasy.

The silence in the room was beginning to weigh on me, and I couldn’t take one more moment of it.  I asked, “Think about what?”

The man smiled a toothy grin, and said, “Life, death, and all the moments in between.”

“I try not to think about the first two too often. After all, who can truly know?”

“Anyone can, if they are willing to pay the right price for it,” said the man, a hungry look gleaming in his eyes.

“You might be right. There is always a price to pay for knowledge. I mean I’m pretty sure Adam and Eve learned that lesson, and aren’t we still paying for it today.”

“True enough I suppose, but how is one supposed to live when one doesn’t know the reason for existence?” asked the man.

“I guess it is our duty to do the best with what we have in front of us.”

“And damn the truth huh?” replied the man.

“What truth? No one’s truth is true. Many claim to have the answers, but few have more than just hot breath.”

“Because many are liars, the truth doesn’t exist? That doesn’t seem to be an accurate conclusion either,” said the man.

“Does there have to be a singular truth? Why must it be universal? Can’t something be true to one and not true for the other?”

“I would say that truth by its essence must be true to all, or else it isn’t the truth. A truth true to you but not another is not the truth at all, it’s merely a solution. Are you content to live a life of solutions rather than one of true knowledge?” asked the man.

“The question is superfluous. Of course I’d rather live a life of universal knowledge, but who knows such truth?”

“And if I claimed to know the truth, what would you say to that?” questioned the man.

“I’d say you’re either insane or a liar.”

“Honest enough answer. But I am neither. I am something more. When one sees the truth they know it, so look and see for yourself,” said the man.

He took a couple steps forward, coming fully into the light, and I noticed his features for the first time. He had a severe look, a hawkish nose that looked as if it had been broken at least once. The landscape of his face was a jumble of cracks and wrinkles, dominated by a large scar that started right below his nose and continued through his lips stopping at his jawline.

It was the man’s eyes that made me feel the most uneasy. They were as black as tar, and they drilled into me. Making eye contact with the man was like looking directly into a black hole, they seemed to draw you deeper. There was a little light shining in the middle of the man’s pupil. I watched as it bounced and glowed, coming closer than drawing away. It was as if it was beckoning me to follow.

When I saw that gleam, I wanted nothing more than to follow it, and damn the consequences. There was a beauty to the way it pulsated that held me captivated. I looked and saw and knew that there were secrets to be found in those depths. I also knew that if I followed the light, there would be no coming back.

But I didn’t care.

I wanted to know. I wanted to see. The mysteries of the universe were held in that gyrating light bobbing in the abyss. I felt my soul beginning to be ripped from my body, torn from my essence and sent spiraling down that black tunnel towards that brilliant light.

It was that same crashing sound I had heard from the back room that broke the trance. I looked away from those eyes, and I came smashing back to reality. My mind was scrambled, and it took me a second to get back into a normal state.

The creature standing before me was just as confused as I was, clearly not used to its prey escaping it so easily. For a moment we looked at each other in utter shock. The man smiled at me showing ragged, pointed teeth. I looked away in disgust, trying to feel for the silent alarm button on the bottom of the counter. My hand brushed the button and I pressed it with all my strength.

The man remained standing there absolutely motionless. He could’ve been a statue for all I knew. He didn’t breathe nor did his heart beat. Those black eyes never blinked, and I didn’t dare make eye contact with him.

Finally, he looked down at his watch, and said, “The time is nearly here.”

With that the man turned and strolled directly out the door he had come. I watched him walk casually into the fog. I couldn’t see clearly, so I’m not entirely sure what I saw. But still, the figure almost seemed to melt as if it was evaporating into the mist.

One moment he was there, the next he wasn’t.

To this day, I still don’t know what I saw that night. I do know this, there are things that walk in the dark that man knows nothing about. It’s best to avoid certain watches of the night. I stay at home these days. I work in the safety of the daylight.

Once I tried to watch the security footage. All that can be seen is the front door opening and closing. Then about five minutes later it happens again. No man can be seen, but still something opened that door. You can see my lips moving as if I am talking, but there is no audio and the conversation can’t be heard.

And that’s the proof.

I tried to watch the back room footage. All that can be seen is a box of sodas busting as it falls from the top shelf. Then a few more minutes pass, and the whole metal rack holding the boxes of soda is knocked over.

I don’t know what saved my life. I do know this, I am still alive, and I intend on staying that way. I’d like to be able to explain to you what happened that night, but I am just as in the dark as you might be. Stories are supposed to wrap up nice and neat into a perfect little ribbon.

But when does life follow those rules?

We each live and die on this rock. We love, we hate, we fight, we make peace, and many of us don’t even know why we are here. I don’t claim to know the answers. All I know is this. I am still breathing, and some answers aren’t worth the price.

[allthemusic]

Week ending: 22nd September

Sometimes listening to the charts like this throws you up a forgotten treasure. Sometimes it's aggressively awful. Sometimes its in the middle and easily forgettable. But once in a while you get something else, something you can't quite categorise so easily. This, I would posit, is one of those songs. It breaks the great-to-terrible spectrum entirely, by dint of just being bizarre.

Close the Door - The Stargazers (peaked at Number 6)

There is nothing this song reminds me more of than a bad acid trip. If you told me that this was a lesser known early Pink Floyd oddity, I would not in any way doubt you. This is music they could play to drive you actually, medically insane.

We start with a high-pitched child's voice going "bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah" in a sing-song playground way, except something's been done to it, or it's been recorded such that it sounds uncannily like Crazy Frog's 1950s ancestor. It's a modern enough vibe that I actually stopped straight away and checked I'd got the right song, that's how weirdly 2000s it sounds.

Cutting straight across this, if you can imagine, is a chorus of what sound like grown men shouting Look out! which is all the intro you get before the Stargazers proper launch into the song, imploring you to Close the door, they're comin' through the window / Close the door, they're runnin' up the stairs / Close the door, They're hangin' off the ceiling / Those - bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah - are everywhere!

I think the most nightmarish thing here is that it's never specified what "they" are. They're clearly appearing in some number, and obviously unwanted by our main character, who is introduced gardening, before he them coming, warning everybody around him to get into the house, before attempting to hit them with a cricket bat - strong post-apocalyptic fantasy vibes. I'm imagining a world ravaged by attacks by small, malevolent, fanged goblins or pixies, or something of that ilk (Nac Mag Feegle?)

At the end of every verse, our main character gets a couple of lines, and he sings like a drunk pirate with a head cold gargling nails. Once you've got past this, you can hear about how They got into the kitchen, they got into the sink / They went into the cellar and poured themselves a drink / They got on the piano, ran up and down the keys / And soon I was a-standin' in 'em right up to me knees. I think this is meant to give a sense of lovable mischief-makers, except it all just sounds terrifying.

And then they're gone, and we get a comical, slowed-down verse about how Now that all the fuss is over, I sink into my chair / This house is all a shambles, but really I don't care. And... fair enough? You've had an ordeal, you've earned it. Except our main character can't catch a break, because as soon as he announces that I'm going to take it easy, try not to think of them ... You guessed it! Bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah-bah-dah - here they come again!

I'll not beat around the bush. This is a fever dream. I don't like it, but I do kind of respect its commitment to weirdness. It's working in a long-established tradition of children's novelty songs, it's got strong Alice in Wonderland vibes (and the Disney film did only come out four years previously) and it's also reminiscent of some of the worst 1990s and 2000s cheaply-produced novelty tracks. You could have easily sold a re-vamped version of this to me as a kid without even adding very many changes.

In some ways, this is a song that could have been a hit at almost any point, just by sheer weirdness. It doesn't make it good, but I like how strongly it commits to the bit. I also enjoyed the shock value of the Crazy Frog-alike at the start - you can absolutely imagine it cutting through the radio fuzz and hooking kids nationwide with its pure silliness and wanton chaos.

Favourite song of the completely-bizarre bunch: Close the Door

[unnursvanablog]

I was going to say that it's been a while since I watched a currently airing drama but then I rememberd that I did indeed watch Queen of Tears as it was airing… I was just kinda bored by it.

I picked up Frankly Speaking mostly because it looked cute enough, I liked the leads and I just wanted to have something to watch while I wait for the second part of Bridgerton to be released on netflix. I haven't really been keeping up with new kdrama releases this year, or at least not really been into or interested in many of the shows. I guess that once I managed to cure my reading slump I landed on a kdrama slump. Ether that or the traditional romcom and other types kdramas just have lost their luster for me a bit - but I have also been in this weird limbo lately where I can't really seem to muster up enthusiasm or enjoyment in most things.

I am sure it will pass, and who knows… maybe one of these cute little romcoms that are on the horizon will actually manage to make my cold, dead heart beat and at least allow me to enjoy myself. Although, I must admit to feeling slightly overwhelmed by all these kdrama releases lately.

Frankly Speaking is endearing enough and the first three episodes felt brisk without being overbearing or info dumpy about the characters or their backstory. The whole situations that these people find themselves in are very over-the-top and nonsensical. Them being stuck in a lift or that husband coming and causing the male lead trouble and all all feels quite far-fetched at times or make no sense but it's all just a way to get the plot going for a silly little romcom, so I just shrug or roll my eyes and keep on watching.

I do wish there was a slightly more focus on the female lead and her backstory apposed to the male lead, but that can come with time - although kdramas often forget their female leads in the second half of the show. I do however feel like she is mostly just… there. But her being a single mother? love that!!! (or maybe she took this kid in or something).

I do however tend to enjoy romcoms that focus more on the female lead oppose to the male lead.

I enjoy the variety show setting a lot actually, but then again I have always enjoyed that setting in previous dramas that I have seen, so that doesn't surprise me. There isn't too many things that are outside the box when it comes to the characters, the over-the-top humor and all that that you often get in these romcoms. Sometimes that is grating, but I feel like it depends on the actors and both Go Kyung Pyo and Kang Han Na manage to make those more humorous, outlandish or sometimes quite childish scenes quite endearing, for the most part.

I will admit that I find the idea of the male lead that has sort of built up the image of a rich man, from a rich family while actually he is hiding the opposite from the world and that he just seems to be able to shut up and keep those lies going because he is too honest now quite funny and interesting as a premise. It kinda minds me of Chansung's character in What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and I loved that character in that drama.

[reidsnose]

hair tie

overview: spencer and the reader start carpooling to work together

genre: fluff!!

a/n: i really dont know if this one is any good i just thought the idea was cute but let me know what yall think :)

masterlist

-

-

spencer was startled by the sudden knock, guests were rare in his little apartment, let alone this early in the morning. a bit paranoid he put his hand over the gun attached to his hip, just in case.

what surprised him even more than the unexpected knock was seeing you through the peep hole when he got to the door.

"y/n? are you ok?" he worried, scanning you up and down quickly to make sure you weren't hurt.

"no um i'm ok," you nervously chewed on your lip, "i was going to call you but i don't have your cell yet. oh my gosh this is going to sound so weird."

you were relatively new to the BAU and they were all very welcoming. the only person who seemed a little bit more closed off was Spencer.

it was true, he was avoiding you a little bit, but only because you were the most beautiful human being he had ever seen; which only made you that much more intimidating. he was afraid. what if he said something stupid? what if the second he opened his mouth you started thinking he was just his IQ. but you were fully a part of the team now. he would have to at least be aquatinted with you.

"its ok, you can say it." he encouraged kindly, causing you to visibly relax.

"ok. oh before i ask i want to preface this by saying you could totally say no i completely understand its a super weird thing especially because we barely know each other." you took a breath as he nodded, a slightly amused smile toyed with his lips.

"i understand the implications. proceed." he mentally slapped himself for wording his thoughts like that.

"do you maybe.. wanna drive to work together? i heard you talking about how you take the train and i also heard that you have an aversion to germs and i drive by your apartment to get to work anyway so i-" you cut yourself off, looking up and seeing him staring at you wide eyed. "i'm sorry this is too weird i over stepped my boundaries and now you dislike me even more. i'm sorry for interrupting your morning. um, you're going to be late for work if i don't leave you alone so ill just- sorry. i'm sorry."

truthfully, this was one of the kindest things anyone has ever offered to do for him. and you offered it with genuine kindness, no ulterior motives to try and get something from him. he stood stunned. how were you so beautiful AND kind. and still somehow a little intimidating.

"we're gonna be late" he called out.

"what?" you turned, having already walked a couple steps from his apartment, your heart beating a bit faster at the sound of his voice.

"you said i'm going to be late. but were carpooling. so we'll both be late," he said matter-a-factly, grabbing his coat and satchel.

"YES!" you laughed, a cracking a wide smile and punching the air triumphantly.

you leaned against the railing of the stairs as you watched him lock up. he was tall and slender and very handsome. so handsome. not handsome like morgan, handsome in a way you were sure you'd never seen before. an incredibly unique and scarce handsomeness that only Spencer Reid had. you tried to forget those thoughts as he began walking towards you.

"i don't dislike you, by the way." he blurted as the two of you walked down the stairs. he felt bad that he made you think he isn't fond of you; the problem was he was too fond of you.

"oh! thats good i've been trying to think of every interaction we've ever had because i was afraid i might have said or done something."

"truth be told," he huffed out a breath, "i was kind of intimidated by you."

you laughed a real, genuine laugh from deep in your belly as you reached your car. the sheer coincidence of the situation as well as your entirely non intimidating nature was seriously laughable.

"you cant be serious! did Garcia tell you?" you asked, completely dumbfounded.

"tell me what?" he asked back, confusion lacing his voice.

"that i was intimidated by you!" you confessed.

"what? this guy in Texas called me a pipe cleaner with eyes! how could i have possibly intimidated you?"

he looked around your car trying to subtly profile you. thats when he noticed you had put hand sanitizer in the passenger side door. and you had pushed the seat back to accommodate for his long legs. it was just two little things, two ways you put a little extra effort in to make him feel welcome, but he was 100% positive if he thought about it too much he would cry. he felt the need to do something like this for you. not to get even or anything, but simply because he wanted to make you feel the way he felt right now.

"i don't know! you're so tall and smart and you seemed quiet but i guess thats only because you were avoiding me. are you sure garcia didnt tell you?" you laughed, watching the road.

now it was his turn to laugh, "no i swear, Garcia didn't say anything about that to me!"

The two of you continued driving, either talking or sitting in a comfortable silence. and this little carpool became a tradition. the two of you arriving and leaving work together every single day, causing the two of you to become closer.

you had to admit, every morning and evening you spent with Spencer made him just seem more and more perfect. unbeknownst to you, the exact same thing was happening with him.

he noticed, one day, as you were pulling your hair up to tie in a ponytail, your hands alternated searching your wrists for a hair tie but there wasn't one there. once he noticed it once, he started noticing it constantly. on a case, in the office, in the car, at a bar. you always seemed to forget your hair ties.

so he went to the store after you drive him home one day, and got a few packs of hair ties. after paying for them, he put one on each wrist and the rest in his satchel, so next time, when you needed one, he'd have it.

he felt like such a creep, constantly watching you to see when you would try to put your hair up. of course the rest of the team took notice, though they had noticed your obvious incline towards each other, Spencer was clearly acting a little weird.

and then it happened.

the two of you were partnered to go to the crime scene on a case, and you went to tie up your hair before you entered the scene. he could hardly contain his excitement, his mind moving a mile a minute trying to decide how he wanted to give you the hair tie. he watched one of your hands search your wrist, but this time it pulled off a little black band and started looping it around your hair.

he couldn't believe it. he finally had a chance to make you feel a portion of the way he felt when he saw your effort in making his car Spencer-friendly, and new he had to think of a new way to do it.

snap.

he looked over and saw you holding what used to be your hair tie, now no longer a band, but a completely useless elastic line.

"you've gotta be-" you muttered to yourself, but your sentence was interrupted as Spencer nonchalantly jutted his wrist towards you. "what are you doing?"

"take my hair tie." he stated simply, trying so hard not to blush. this became even harder as your fingers graced the skin of his wrist while you pulled the hair tie off.

"oh! thank you! you're a life saver!" you breathed, cracking a wide smile as you used it to tie your hair up.

you couldn't help the butterflies going absolutely insane in your stomach. why did he have a hair tie? does he tie his hair up sometimes? why have you never seen it up? you tried to suppress a smile, that would be completely inappropriate for a crime scene.

but you couldn't suppress the warm feeling in your chest. because that was always there when Spencer was around.

-

ultra mega super cool taglist:

@mac99martin @imhreid @spencersmagic @hollydaisy23 @raelady1184 @a-broken-pact @padfootswife

[faetxlity]

A Bit of Peace

Lambert/Eskel (2758 Words) Rated: E - Ao3 Link

Based off of THIS post by @whataboutthefish

Summary: Eskel wants a bit of peace around the keep but the hot headed trainee won’t let him have it.

      Eighteen, angry, and more pent up than a chort in season; that was how they described Lambert. The young soon-to-be-Witcher snapped and snarled at everyone older than him -and even a few younger trainees who had more pride than sense- no matter how many beatings he was put through for it. He cursed, he destroyed, and he spit in the face of every tradition and code Kaer Morhen held dear.

 “He needs a good fuck to set him right.” More than one Witcher muttered late around the fires. Eskel was inclined to agree. Sometimes.

 He himself was just old enough to demand respect from both elders and younger adepts, established in his own right as a damn good Witcher. It was this little fact that kept half the Keep from dragging Lambert into a storage room and wiping that permanent scowl from his pouting lips and giving him something to be bowlegged about. Because if anyone was going to put the pup in his place it was Eskel. Unfortunately, honor had stayed his hand each time there was an opportunity to do so. That same honor did not stop him from following the little Wolf into the baths late one autumn evening after listening to him curse Vesemir from one side of the mountain to the other and back. Whatever he'd done had earned him a lashing that he was clearly hoping to soak the sting out of.

 It certainly didn’t stop him from sinking into the water across from him with a sigh and muted “You can’t keep letting your anger control you. You need a damn outlet.” He almost added ‘pup’ to the comment but refrained. Barely.

 “What do you recommend, oh wait let me guess- you want me to suck your cock? Very original.” The sneer that twisted his face was unattractive. He was so expressive that his face already sported deep lines around his eyes and forehead, like a map of emotion. If he ever smiled it would be cute.

 “If you think it would help I wouldn’t say no.” Eskel stretched his arms wide on the edge of the pool and closed his eyes as he continued “Or in the reverse.”

 That stopped the young pup in his tracks, whatever spite was on his tongue halted and reformed.

 “Why in the thrice damned hell would you want to do that?”

 “Because I enjoy it.” Not necessarily the act itself but the effect it had on a partner was exquisite. He could go on his knees for hours just to feel that rush as someone lost control because of him, a hand in his hair and trembling thighs around his ears. That was damn close to bliss.

 They were joined by other Witchers then, technically Lambert wasn’t allowed in the springs at that time of day but he was the one survivor of his year and just a few months from his medallion - if Barmin and the others decided he was worth one after all the trouble he’d caused. No one was going to run him off when Eskel seemed to have given him permission.

 Eskel stayed in the water until he was lightheaded with the heat and then, only as he passed Lambert to be on his way, did he speak again.

 “Feel free to come to my room if you want to take me up on that offer.”

 He never really expected the mild effort to bear fruit. It took all of two days for Eskel to open the door to his room find Lambert sitting on his bed, seemingly come through the window if the snowprint on the sill was any indication. He’d heard the whispers that Rennes was pissed, spitting mad over an insult thrown out at lunch from their resident foul mouthed pup but he’d not expected to wind up in the middle of it.

 The door was heavy when it fell closed, a sort of finality in the sound of it. Lambert wasted no time in pushing forward and into Eskel’s chest with the demand to “strip”.  One might have thought he knew what he was doing.

 Vicious, wild, needy - there were many ways to describe the way Lambert kissed and the less generous of men would simply leave it at fumbling and unskilled. His lips were chapped, hands fisted hard in Eskel’s undershirt, and it was Eskel’s grace that saved them both the pain of a chipped tooth. But for all of that the pup was desperate, unwilling or unable to pull away to help Eskel in the simple task of undoing his own laces. He kissed with a desperation found in the adrenaline after a fight, the reunion of lovers, and the fervor of a dream.  

 Eskel tended to be slow to arousal, no longer twenty and better pleased by the slow spread of warmth in his belly than an inferno and fumble behind a barn but the simple fact that he was wanted with such desperation went far to getting him hard and willing.

Lambert broke free of their kiss with a gasp.

 “Wanna suck your cock.”

 And that was how Lambert ended up on his knees between Eskel’s thighs while the older Witcher sat on his bed wondering when exactly he had lost control of the situation. Lambert was no more skilled there than he was in kissing- no one to practice with. Eskel realized. He’d known that Lambert was the last of his group, the one of thirteen to make it to the end, but it was the first time he really thought about it. What being the only one meant.

 For him it meant that Lambert wasn’t careful, he scraped teeth along sensitive flesh while trying to find the right angle and his shoulders were set with years of tension that did nothing to ease the bob of his head. Lithe hands alternated between holding and stroking the length that he couldn’t fit into his pretty mouth and Eskel was almost too aware of the sounds and saliva dripping from an occupied mouth. It wasn’t good, not really. It was hot and wet but those were the only saving factors.

 “Slow down.” He urged, hoping that the young man’s known hatred of all things authoritative didn’t extend to this. He had potential to make it good, he just needed to listen. Lambert surged forward, seemingly intent on choking himself. “Lam-“ The pup had a Witcher’s strength when he knocked Eskel’s hand aside. For just a moment he had been able to touch the soft fluff of his hair. “Shit- you need to-“

 He needed to stop before he hurt himself but he wouldn’t listen. It took just seconds more for him to push too far too fast and he retched, body convulsing as he fell backwards onto the floor. All before Eskel could even get his hands on him.

 Too his credit, Lambert didn’t lose his stomach. He twisted and coughed, gagged and shuddered, but he kept his stomach. Before Eskel could assure him that it was alright he lunged for the door.

 Shaking hands fumbled the lock and he cursed violently, voice wrecked.

 “Pup.” Eskel stood to follow, wrapped one arm around Lambert’s thin waist and dragged him back against his chest; kicking and writhing all the while even with his feet in the air.

 “Fuck you! Let me go you fucking whoreson!” He spit while landing a hard kick to Eskel’s shin. If Eskel hadn't been going soft before he was after that. The tirade continued for a minute - everything from calling him a cruel bastard to damn pervert until Lambert seemed to realize Eskel wasn’t doing more than holding him. He wasn’t even really trying to stop Lambert from hitting him. He just wanted Lambert to be still, just for a moment. That was all he’s ever wanted out of this stupid endeavor. A moment of peace.

 “What is this?” He rumbled. “What’s under your skin?”

 “I just want-“ Lambert bit his tongue so hard that blood blossomed in the air. Eskel waited, blood rushing in his ears as he fought down the urge to bite at the column of Lambert’s neck. “I need- shit- I’m lonely and no one here is fucking- I can’t do it. Nothing is right.”

 He doesn’t shush him, it feels wrong when the pup is trying so hard to explain himself but he did press a kiss to the tendon in his neck. It was as much for his own benefit as for Lambert's.

 “I understand.” He somewhat lied as he pet over the shaking boy’s ribs and let him stand on his own two feet, providing support as needed. “Now tell me, do you want to continue? Let me show you how to do it right?”

 It was instinct to nuzzle forward against the curl of hair beneath Lambert’s ear. To give in to the desire to kiss the salt from his skin and breathe him in. Just as it was instinct for Lambert to tilt his head and give Eskel more access. Gently he sucked a mark, the first of many.

 “Yes. Yes, I want it.”

 “Good boy.” He was not proud of how he tore Lambert’s shirt off of him but he was delighted by the gasp it drew from the pup. With purpose worked his way down the pup’s throat as his hands wandered over his chest to find wonderfully sensitive nipples. He hadn’t been allowed to play earlier and he intended to take his time then.

 Pulling his lips away from Lambert’s skin was difficult but worth it. So very worth it to be able to gaze at Lambert face when it was open and honest. For the first time in memory there was not a trace of anger in him and it was beautiful. Damn near pretty really.

 He's got dark lashes that rest above sharp cheekbones flushed with pleasure, long enough to give a working girl jealous pause. His lips, full and bruised but soft, are parted around whimpery little noises no one else on the continent had the pleasure of hearing. His nose was already crooked from too many breaks but it doesn’t detract from his beauty. It's a warrior's imperfection for Lambert was a fighter and for the moment he’s Eskel’s. His efforts in getting Lambert off had gone far in renewing his own interest in the proceedings. Lambert arched into a twist of his nipple and Eskel’s cock slid along between his cheeks.

 “Pretty thing.”  The front of Lambert’s trousers were dark with precum and he had half a mind to see if the boy could cum from just this. But he wasn’t cruel. He slid one big paw into Lambert’s braies and stroked the backs of his fingers over the length of him. It took no more than that for Lambert to gasp and cry out, falling fully into Eskel’s chest as he makes a mess of himself.

 Eskel used his teeth to tug at his earlobe and whispered.

 “Ok little wolf, let’s start that again."

 He stripped Lambert down where they stood and then helped him to lay on his back, head nestled in the pillows. Eskel had more than the average Witcher, preferring to sleep half sitting even at home. It made a perfect spot for displaying a pretty, desperate pup. “There’s not a Witcher in this keep who won’t know what I’ve done with you.” He growled, pressing Lambert's knees wider. The boy was already half hard again.

 “Does that get you going? Everyone knowing that you’re a dirty old- ah!” Eskel dipped down to take the pup’s cock into his mouth, laving his tongue over the silky flesh and cleaning him of his own cum. Lambert squirmed, oversensitive and unsure whether he should press into Eskel’s mouth or get away. It was cute.

 The hardened flesh jumped with he sealed his mouth over the head and sank down on it; usually he would tease some and see what noises he could coax from that once-abused throat but not that night, not with the trust laid at his feet. This was a demonstration and a promise all in one and he would do his task well.

 “Eskel!” Lambert gripped his hair on the right side of too hard and tugged. “Fuck- I can’t!” He sucked hard in response, his tongue dipping into Lambert’s slit before pulling off.

 He felt almost cruel when he turned his head and bit a mark into the pup’s thigh. At least, he would have if Lambert’s cock didn’t spurt cum as he shuddered through a second orgasm in near as many minutes. Eskel shuffled back, smoothed his palms down the inside of Lambert’s thighs and cupping his calves, not digging in but holding him steady.  His chest was heaving like a racehorse and Eskel decided swiftly that a break was in order. He slid his hands up the length of Lambert’s body, mostly unscarred, until he himself was prone above the young man. Flipping them so that Lambert laid half atop his chest was laughably easy.

 “You haven’t-“ Lambert squirmed, pressing his thigh firmly against Eskel’s cock. It took all his control to keep his hips still.

 “There’s time, let me hold you for now. Enjoy the afterglow.”

 The others wouldn’t believe him if he said Lambert was a cuddler, capable of tucking his face against another’s neck and being soft and pliant. That he was sweet and needy underneath the curses and hatred. Eskel wanted to show them all how they’d been wrong; he never wanted to Lambert from his sight.

 The kiss he bestowed on Lambert’s pouting lips was lazy, an open press of mouths and sharing of breath. His tongue swiped over and then behind the pup’s teeth, exploring the taste of him and then allowing him to clumsily do the same. Lambert took too long poking around the busted tooth where his lip didn’t close right and he turned his head away.

 “S’not polite to linger on things like that.”

 They kissed again and again until Lambert pushed himself up and said,

 “I’d like to try again.”

 They rearrange so that Eskel is propped against the pillows and Lambert is laid between his thighs, arms wrapped around a folded fur for his own comfort.

 Never let it me said that the boy couldn’t learn.

 He started slow, licking around the base and working up to the head of Eskel’s weeping cock.

 “That’s it.” He praised. “Keep going.” Lambert took him shallowly into his mouth, one hand sliding up to work what he couldn’t fit. It was slow but good and rather than watch Eskel tipped his head against the wall and slipped fingers into the boy’s hair. Lambert stiffened but once satisfied he was doing no more than petting he relaxed back into his task.

 There was no rush to finish, just varying pressure and heat as Lambert learned what made the Witcher moan and shift his hips, what made his toes curl into the blankets. Whenever Lambert's jaw tired he switched to laving the shaft with his tongue before taking him deep as he dared once more. Eskel's orgasm nearly caught him unaware and rather than give warning he used his grip in Lambert’s too-soft hair to drag him up for a kiss, finishing on both their stomachs. Laying his claim.

 “That was good.” He rumbled, kissing Lambert’s jaw. “Perfect.”

 The squirming began again and Eskel reluctantly released his hold. “Use my shirt.” If Lambert was going to clean up at least Eskel could stake one last claim on him. Lambert wiped his stomach almost aggressively and turned to drag his clothing on jerkily with jelly-like limbs. The effect was clumsy and Eskel frowned.

 “Hey, hey pup look at me.” Lambert froze but didn’t turn. “Lambert, come back here.” It was the wrong thing to say as the young man started toward the door. Annoyance crept in and he sighed.

 “Lambert, I want you to stay. It’s warm and I’ll bring up breakfast in the morning. Ain't no need to leave after you're done, not here at least.”

 He’d never know if it was his plea, the food, or the promise of warmth that lured Lambert back into his bed but one of them worked.

 They slept back to front, Lambert safely tucked in Eskel’s arms and Eskel with his nose buried in the curl of hair at the back of Lambert’s neck.

 Eighteen, exhausted, and desperate for a bit of kindness, Lambert slept and Eskel got his peace.

[clouds-rambles]

hey hey! could you possibly do just some random headcanons for klee , qiqi , and diona with the reader as a older sister/brother? if so then thanks!

omg yes of course. Klee banner rerun when so I can complete the family?

Pairings; (Platonic, Separate) Klee, Qiqi, and Diona x reader

Warning(s); cute sibling shit be warned, alcohol mention on diona’s

Keep reading under the cut!

Klee

Being an elder sibling to Klee definitely is a task to behold, especially since your mother isn’t here and your sister had been joint entrusted to you and the knights of Favonius

The best way for the knights to describe you is a ‘pain in the ass’ at least severity and a ‘instigator of chaos’ at worse. How are you supposed to say no to your cute baby sister?

Whenever Klee is in confinement you’ll always find a way to sneak in with a few snacks and some toys. The two of you can sit in that room for hours playing with the model horses

Sometimes when Klee is upset she’ll do practically anything to find you, which isn’t limited to breaking out of the knights headquarters and roaming town just to latch onto you

You’ll pick her up without much word and ask her questions as you go about your chores for the day

While both you and Klee had been granted visions you can’t help but pale in comparison to your younger siblings antics. The only way of showing yourself these days is wrapping Klee’s bombs in the power of your vision so they don’t hurt anyone

On days you’re tasked with looking after Klee you’ll often find yourselves somewhere deep in Mondstat causing general trouble for camps of hilichurls and the odd ruin guard

Full of childish wonder Klee loves to run headfirst into fights often with no regard of either of your lives.

In all fairness she’s a kid and you really don’t want to ruin her childish wonder with harsh reality's of death and major injury

About once a week Klee will ask you to make an extra meal for a picnic and the two of your make a trip to the camp at the foot of Dragonspine peak

Klee loves dropping in on the alchemist as much as she loves dropping in on you. And you’re pretty sure you see Albedo’s eyes light up when he sees Klee

Klee loves trying to help you cook, like most kids do, you’ll get her to wear her cute lil apron and you’ll give her something messy to do with her hands. 

She’ll ask to help when you’re making bread so, unless the bread is a gift to someone, you’ll give her enough dough to make a roll and after its baked she’ll happily eat the roll for lunch. Jean tells you that she’ll come into her office telling her all about how Klee had made the bread

You swear you can feel your heart skip a beat. How is your baby sister allowed to be so adorable?

Qiqi

While you truly weren’t the one who found Qiqi, it was Baizhu who came into the pharmacy one day with a small child in his arms

After much quizzing along the lines of ‘Did you just kidnap a child!?’ ‘Put that child back where it came from, or so help me’ Baizhu just explains how he found Qiqi. A zombie!? That’s possible!?

Being a ever present figure in Qiqi’s life she doesn’t ever forget you, you love to see her little eyes widen in delight when she sees you 

You’re always more than happy to accompany her on her trips to find herbs, it’s almost scary how Qiqi seems to know the location of every Liyue native plant and ore. 

Sometimes the two of you will sit on the roof of Bubu Pharmacy and watch the finches fly about 

Sometimes you’ll find Qiqi getting upset about how she can’t reach or do something that she had given orders to herself to do. So, if you can pick her up and let her get the item, or if you both can’t get it you’ll say the command words “I love you most” which make her previous orders nul and void

Qiqi tries her best to remember as many thing about you as she can, she truly loves you and often thanks the archons for giving her such a great sibling

When Qiqi introduces you as her sibling it makes your heart weep. You love that kid so much that seeing her call you anything close to family can, and has, made you cry

Although Qiqi does technically live with Baizhu she often spends most nights with you, opting to the nice bed you have set up for her and an hour or so of fairy tales to tell her

If you wake up after Qiqi in the mornings you’ll often find her snuggled between your arms, while she may dislike the heat greatly Qiqi cannot help but feel protected when she sleeps in your arms

Sometimes you’ll also join Qiqi while she’s exercising around Liyue Harbour. You can’t help but feel like a proud mama whenever you see her going about her daily chores and activities

Diona

Not long after Diona left for Mondstat you had decided to follow. While your father may have been distraught at your sisters departure he is in fact a grown man, and you refuse to leave your little sister alone, no matter how safe the streets of Mondstat are

You’re careful to not drink around your sister, you know how she feels towards your dad, and in all honesty you feel much of the same. But about once a week you like to meet up with friends and share a pint, or three. Diona often mentions it back handily the next day but she’s cute so she gets away with it

No matter how much Diona hates her job as a bartender you can’t argue with the fact that she makes the best mixes no matter how hard she tries not to, seeing her fume to you after another concoction of hers turned into a success is so funny to you

In all fairness your sister is very much independent, so much so it makes you wonder if you should have stayed with your dad. But on Diona’s days off she loves to walk about town with you perched on your shoulders as you go about the daily chores

As much as Diona refuses to see your father you often write him letters to see how he’s doing. While being an alcoholic was what drove you apart, you’re still concerned about his health. The last thing you want is the death of your father on your hands so close to the death of your mother

Diona doesn’t remember your mother much, but she can guess much. Driving your father to alcoholism upon her death must have meant she was a pillar for the family. The face you pull at the mention of your mother means she must have been a great one. Diona has never asked how she passed, she doesn’t think you or your father have the heart to tell her

While the two of you have moved out of Springvale indefinitely the weekly practice of hunting for the weeks meat is a tradition by no means dropped. The thrill of the hunt is exhilarating to the both of you and defiantly puts both your feline genes to the test

Sometimes if Diona has a particularly bad nightmare she’ll wake you up, no matter the time of the night, just so she can sit with you and get her mind of the nightmare. And when your sister falls asleep in your arms? Well you’ve got to put her back to bed. What a cutie

[fruitcoops]

Hi, Eve

Rose here from yesterday, thank you very much for the Birthday message, I wasn't expecting you to read it let alone reply but I was looking for Coops kids Birthday fluff specifically. It doesn't matter if you don't have time however as I don't want to be a bother.

Hello Rose, and happy (belated) 20th birthday! Sorry for the wait--I really wanted to get this one right to celebrate such an important number. I hope your day was absolutely fantastic! SW credit goes to @lumosinlove, but Stella is an OC

Combined with asks for Sirius lightly making fun of Remus' accent and Remus yelling at a game show (@nazar4114)

“Medusa!” Stella shouted with all the force in her thirteen-year-old lungs. Remus leaned forward on the couch. “Medusa!”

The front door opened with a creak. “I’m h—”

“Yes!” they cheered in unison as Nicole answered correctly. Remus turned and gave Stella a double high-five, feeling his heart squeeze at the vivid joy on her round face. “Good guess.”

“I knew she was gonna get it,” Stella said with a pump of her fist as she turned back to the show and folded her legs underneath her.

“Gonna,” a familiar deep voice mimicked from the doorway. Paper bags rustled before footsteps stopped behind the couch; Remus tilted his chin up without sparing a glance, and Sirius pressed a laugh-laced kiss to his cheek before dropping one on Stella’s head as well. “You sound too much like your dad.”

“Love you, too,” Remus said wryly.

“I’ll take ‘Myths and Moths’ for 400, please.” Nicole’s voice snapped his attention back to the screen, and Stella narrowed her eyes.

“Daily Double!” the automated voice announced. Stella gasped; Remus bit his lower lip. “This mythical shield was wielded by Athena, and is sometimes said to be made of goat skin.”

“Aegis,” Stella whispered, then raised her voice. “It’s the Aegis, Nicole. You know this.”

“We know you do,” Remus said, scooting forward. “You just guessed whose head is on it.”

Nicole’s buzzer went off with two seconds to spare. “What is the Aegis?”

“Hell yeah!” Stella whooped.

Remus turned to her and raised his eyebrows. “Excuse you.”

“Sorry.”

“Are you two going to do this the whole afternoon?” Sirius asked from the kitchen, obviously amused. “We might need to get the neighbors some noise-cancelling headphones.”

Stella blew a dark lock of hair out of her eyes as she flopped her head back. “It’s almost final Jeopardy, papa. We have, like, ten minutes.”

Sirius blinked at her, then shook his head. “I swear you two share genes.”

“Ope, you caught me,” Remus said over the noise of the commercial break. “When I was 20 and had literally never left Wisconsin, I went and had a secret kid in Maine who looks terribly like you just so that someone would watch Jeopardy reruns with me thirteen years later. Oops.”

“It’s the truth,” Stella said with great gravity. “I remember.”

“Mon dieu,” Sirius muttered, though he couldn’t keep a smile down. He had never been able to hide around Stella, not once in the three years since they had adopted her. It was one of the things Remus loved most about him. “By the way, nobody under the age of fourteen is allowed in the kitchen for the next…hour. Ish.”

Stella squirmed around until she could rest her arms on the back of the couch. “What if I get thirsty?”

“I’m sure you can invoke birthday privileges and ask your dad to get something for you.”

“Birthday privileges?” Remus scoffed. “Nobody in this house has a birthday today. Yours was last month, and mine’s in March.”

“It’s my birthday,” Stella said.

“What? No, it’s not.”

“Yeah-huh.”

“Your birthday is in June.”

“It’s today.”

“Or maybe July?”

“It’s today, in December, when there’s snow,” she insisted, throwing herself back against the pillows. “Come on, dad, that’s not funny anymore.”

Remus raised his eyebrows. “Is somebody too old to find their poor old dad amusing now? Can you go back to being twelve so somebody will laugh at my jokes again? I know, I know, we're super lame compared to all your friends’ parents—”

“So lame,” Sirius agreed from the kitchen.

“—but I like to think we get one more year of pre-teen cuteness before the teen angst takes over.”

Stella sat up again with a groan. Looking at her, Remus saw a mix of himself and Sirius that had always baffled him, considering they had adopted her comparatively late in her life; beneath it was something uniquely Stella. Maybe it was her double-jointed elbows, or the board-straightness of her hair next to their curls, but there was no mistaking that she was her own person through and through. He loved that about her. “I’m not going to be a terrible teenager.”

Sirius poked his head around the edge of the kitchen—his nose was adorned with a smudge of flour. “Can I record that for future use?”

“Non.”

“Ooo, using the French,” Remus hissed. “That transformation is already beginning.”

“It’s not like you were bad teenagers, right?” She settled upside-down on the couch with her flamingo-patterned socks high in the air.

“I almost convinced Grandma to let me dye my hair blue, but otherwise I was pretty good.”

“I was terrible,” Sirius laughed. “I didn’t talk to anybody for a solid three years.”

Stella frowned. “How? I think I’d die if I did that.”

“He’s stubborn,” Remus stage-whispered.

“I heard that.”

Stella suppressed her laughter as best she could, but she was about as good at hiding her emotions around them as Sirius was. She didn’t really giggle—the amount her voice had deepened over the past three years always gave Remus whiplash—but her laugh had the same cadence as it did the first day they heard it. While Stella had been quiet at first, it only took love and time to bring her out of her shell. Within a year she settled into their lives like she was always meant to be there.

A thoughtful look crossed her face. “This is my last year before high school.”

“Does it feel different?”

“Not really.” She paused, then shrugged. “And a little. I don’t feel older. It just feels like there’s stuff I won’t get to do anymore.”

“And a lot more you will get to do.” Sirius left his dishtowel on the counter before joining them on Stella’s other side. “You can drive soon, you’ll get a longer curfew, you get more freedom…”

“I guess.”

“What are you going to miss?” Remus asked as she toyed with the hem of her shirt. It was a basic Lions FAN jersey; he was fairly sure she bought it to be ironic. That, and she only wore one of theirs if she was upset with the other, or if one needed a boost at a game.

“I dunno.” A few beats of silence passed. “My classmates. My team. It feels like everything’s going to turn upside down.”

“You can still keep in touch with your friends, and I bet your team won’t be too different,” Sirius said quietly. “Even if it does, that doesn’t mean you have to give all of them up. People change in different ways. They come and go on their own time.”

“There’s going to be a lot of upside-downs over the next couple years, kid.” Remus offered her a smile. “But you’re going to be just fine.”

“You two sound like such dads right now.”

“This might shock you, but that’s because we are.”

The corner of her mouth tugged up and she lolled her head to the side to look at Sirius. “Is the cake done?”

“Fifteen more minutes.”

“Will you watch final Jeopardy with us?”

“What’s the category?”

“US Presidents.”

Sirius exhaled through his nose, but nodded. She grinned and turned herself upright to snuggle against his arm. “You just enjoy watching me lose.”

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

“Alright, is everyone ready?” Sirius called from the kitchen.

“On three,” Remus said, raising his phone camera. “One, two, three!”

“Happy birthday to you,” over a dozen voices sang. They were off-tempo and so out of key the composer was probably spinning in his grave, but Stella’s clear joy didn’t waver for a millisecond even as her cheeks reddened. “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Stella, happy birthday to you!”

Finn, of course, dragged out the last note. So did Leo, Logan, Kasey, James, Lily, and Talker in varying degrees of awful harmony attempts. It was terrible, and beautiful. “Make a wish,” Sirius said softly as he set the cake down and stepped back. His eyes were the brightest quicksilver Remus had seen in many moons.

Stella closed her eyes, took a breath, and blew as hard as she could—the entire room erupted into cheers when all the candles went out. She was laughing and blushing at the same time when Remus turned the lights back on, though the humor won out in the end and she helped pass plates of cake to her many aunts and uncles. Like every year prior, Regulus managed to smear a bit of frosting on her chin, only to immediately deny it with great offense when she noticed. It was becoming a bit of a tradition—one that Remus never grew tired of.

I know what I would wish for, Remus thought as he looked around the table at their patchwork family. Celeste, Dumo, and his own parents had no doubt spoiled their first grandchild with ‘cusp of adulthood’ gifts, and Natalie and Lily would certainly steal her away after cake for some girl time. Finn and Logan would remain the fun uncles while Leo and Regulus kept their thrones as the cool uncles; Stella would interrogate Jules on the intricacies of high school for at least an hour before they destroyed everyone in a snowball fight. The world they built together had a place for everyone.

I would wish for this. This, for us, forever. It wasn’t a bad eternity to imagine.

[itsstrawberrymochi]

Hi there! I was wondering if I could request some headcannons of what it would be like to be in a relationship with sanemi, rengoku, and gyomei, separately of course ❤️ thank you I’m advance

Kny characters dating headcanons

YES YES I’ve always wanted to make one of these ^^ to make things better you added some of my favorite boys ~Kyō and Nemi ~ uhhh no offense Gyomei

Also thx for the request @ethereal-tooreal

Rengoku

🔥-He’s a sweet, loving and passionate lover

🔥- He is also a very supportive boyfriend

🔥- If you start something new he’s right behind you every step of the way and he’ll always try to find ways to help you become even better

🔥- Rengoku loves to buy you nice smelling perfumes/colognes,oils or lotions and whenever he hugs you he likes to try and guess what scent you’re wearing

🔥- “ mmmm are you wearing lavender today my love?”

🔥- “Wow Kyō, you’re getting better at guessing”

🔥- Rengoku loves to bring you cute little stuff animals when he comes back from a mission, he especially gets them if they remind him of you

🔥-“Darling look at this stuffed chicken I got you, it reminded me so much of you!”

🔥- “Umm Kyō you think I look like a chicken?”

🔥-“A very cute chicken!”

🔥- Oh so your name is y/n? Yea not anymore when dating Rengoku

🔥- He calls you every single cute name an s/o would call their lover expect your actual name

🔥- So expect him to call you darling, my love or his person favorite my little flame

🔥- If he calls you by your real name be a little bit worried

🔥- Speaking on names, before you two even started dating he always called you y/n-chan because he always admired you and found you cute 🥺

🔥- You’re going to hear me say this more than once but Rengoku is a slut for forehead kisses, because you’re shorter than him and he thinks it’s very convenient

🔥-Rengoku is almost 6’0/ 177 cm so there’s a slim chance you’re taller than him BUT if you are taller than him or the same height he’ll tip-toe to give you the forehead kiss and he never gets embarrassed to do so

🔥-He loves it when you play with his hair, and he doesn’t mind how many colorful or childish clips you put in it

🔥- He loves to take you to festivals for dates and when you two go he buys you literally anything you look at

🔥- He also loves to go restaurant hoping with you, you both decided to try every ramen shop in Japan and to determine which sells the best one

🔥- If you’re a Hasira like him, he’ll always save you a seat near him for pillar meetings

🔥- He loves going on missions with you that way he can spend more time with you and he can protect, but he doesn’t always go and he never makes a fuss about it. Kyō strongly believes in your strength and he knows you can protect yourself

🔥- If you’re not a slayer, and he’s off on missions you and would usually spend your time playing, cooking or baking with Senjurō and sometimes Mitsuri. When he comes back home he just leans on the door way looking and you two and fawning over how adorable the sight is

BONUS

🔥- Since you spend a lot of time at the Rengoku estate his father always has something negative to say about your presence but Rengoku being the amazing lover he is, always defends you and is not afraid to say something back to his father

Sanemi

☁️- He is the definition of a tsundere

☁️- Ok I know we’re all tired of hearing it but it’s TRUE

☁️- He’s so sweet and gentle with you and a literal demon to other people

☁️- He never yells or gets mad at you unlike with others

☁️- And if he does he regrets it after words and immediately apologizes

☁️- Behind close doors Sanemi is extremely clingy and he always wants to be wrapped up around you

☁️- but in public he isn’t like that because he hates PDA, so that means no kissing, hugging or anything of that sorts

☁️- Even though he doesn’t want physical affection in public he’ll still treat you way better than anyone else and is still calm and gentle with you when others are around

☁️- and because it’s Sanemi no one dares call him out on his major shift of behavior towards you

☁️- Sanemi is definitely the listener in the relationship, he much rather you talk about your day than his

☁️- but maybe he’ll rant about how stupid he thinks his Tsugukos and the other pillars are from time to time

☁️- If you’re a demon hunter he’s going on every mission with you, it doesn’t matter if you’re an extremely strong hunter or the weakest he’s still going with you because he wants to protect you

☁️- If you’re not a slayer he’d ask you to move into his estate with him, he doesn’t really care if it’s still the early parts of your relationship he’ll still ask, he asks because you’ll be close to him most of the time and with that he can easily protect you if a demon attacks plus he likes your company but he didn’t tell you that last part

☁️- He also got you a cute little puppy to keep your company while he’s away on mission because he doesn’t want you to be lonely but instead of telling you that he used the excuse it’s to “ protect” the estate from intruders

☁️- Like any normal couple you both have fights and it’s usually about him being overprotective with you, him getting jealous or when he doesn’t listen to you when you tell him to be more careful because he can be very reckless

☁️- To summarize your fights, it’s usually person A is trying to help person B, but person B is too stubborn to realize that

☁️- Sanemi loves to give you hugs from the back, that way you can’t see the smile on his face

☁️- He is the type of s/o who does everything for you but will never admit it

☁️- For example he’ll be the one to buy all the groceries or clean different rooms in the house and when you ask about it he always says you did it and you probably forgot you did

☁️- You and Genya are definitely close, he treats you like an older sibling, Sanemi acts like he hates it but deep down he’s just so happy that the two most important people in his life can get along

☁️- Speaking on Genya he actually had a small crush on you the first time he met you, but it wasn’t serious, he respects his brother and would never make a move on you , the crush was more of an innocent childhood crush

☁️- mmmm how to put this in simpler words........Sanemi is well a bit motherly towards you

☁️- but it doesn’t come off so because he’s so aggressive with it, he always makes you eat all your vegetables or something a strict mother would want their child to do for their well-being

☁️- His motherly nature always comes off as a threat

☁️-“Ok dumbass if you don’t eat all of your greens that’ll be the only thing you can eat for the week”

Or

☁️- “Y/n if you’ve been up for too long go to bed now or I’ll beat you tf up”

☁️-but don’t worry they’re all empty threats..... I think

☁️- Sanemi does anything you ask him to do, so if you want to go to the festival he’ll go but he will mutter out a few complaints on the way

Gyomei

🪨- He’s such a gentle giant

🪨- Because of his large size, at the start of your relationship he was always too scared to hug or kiss you in fear that he may hurt you

🪨- So before any hug or kiss from him he would ask if he can do it, you told him he didn’t have to but it took him while fall out of his habit

🪨- He is very gentle with you but unlike Sanemi he doesn’t mind showing his gentleness with you around others

🪨- He loves hand holding, he really enjoys feeling you warmth against his own

🪨- Plus he has big and soft hands, so hand holding is always a delight

🪨- He strongly believes that a relationship is built on communication and trust

🪨- He is not the type to shy away from his feelings and always tells you how he really feels

🪨- During your relationship you’ll never have to worry about him being dishonest or feel like you two are pulling away from each-other

🪨- Even though he’s been blind for a while and can take care of hisself just fine, he doesn’t get mad if you help him out here or there

🪨- because he is blind he has bit of trouble recognizing who’s walking up to him but he always knows when you wak to him because he memorized the sound of you footsteps

🪨- If you are a slayer he loves helping you train and he’s constantly telling you ways you can improve your breathing style

🪨-Also he’ll rarely go on mission with you, it’s only because he doesn’t want you to depend on him too much and he wants you to become strong on your own, if he ever dies he’ll be glad to know you’re going to be just fine without him

🪨- While you are on your mission he’ll pray for you and your safe return

🪨- If you aren’t a hunter he would train you and teach you his breathing style in his dojo, and it’s not to make you be apart of the demon corps but rather to mane you have a good chance of survival if a demon ever attacks, but if you do want to become a demon hunter he would be against it at first but eventually let you join

🪨- I know this is a dating headcanon butttt once your relationship with him is more mature he’ll definitely ask you to marry him. He’s more of the traditional type so he definitely thought of marriage more than once in your relationship and was very excited to pop the question

[wrenhyperfixates]

We Make a Pretty Good Team

Pairing: Loki x reader Summary: It’s game night at the Avengers Tower, and you find the perfect partner in Loki. Warnings: ‘tis but fluff A/N: Just another self-indulgent, fluffy story. Hope you enjoy :)

Tag List: @lucywrites02​​ @frostedgiant​​ @lunarmoon8​​ @twhiddlestonsstuff​​ @lokistan​​ @lowkeyorlokificrecs​​ @gaitwae​​ @whatafuckingdumbass​​ @castiels-majestic-wings​​ @kozkaboi​​ @cozy-the-overlord​​ @birdgirl90​​ @myraiswack​​

Disclaimer: Gif not mine 

“First Saturday of the month. You know what that means,” Tony hollered to the Avengers scattered about the Tower.

“Yes!” Thor boomed. “Be prepared to lose.”

“Funny,” Clint laughed with a roll of his eyes. “I was just about to say the same thing to you.”

“What is happening?” you asked, somewhat bewildered, as the heroes came into the room. “What’s significant about Saturday?”

“Oh my gosh, that’s right. You just missed the last one. Every first Saturday of the month we have a game night,” Nat explained.

You’d been part of the team for just under a month, having officially joined on a Sunday. So, it was true that you’d yet to experience their apparently traditional game night. It sounded like a great deal of fun, though, especially because the Avengers had become your second family in the short time you’d known them. Well, you’d actually known Nat and Clint for years, since you all worked for SHIELD. In fact, they were a huge part of the reason you were an Avenger now. A few months ago there was a particularly dangerous crime ring, and they’d specifically requested you as backup. You’d clicked with everyone immediately and, numerous transfer papers later, here you were.

“Sounds exciting!” you told them. “What are we playing first?”

“Well actually,” Bruce said kind of sheepishly, “it’s not that I want you to sit out, but they’re all team games, and we don’t have an even number of people.”

“So we have a team of three,” Nat said, as if it were obvious.

“No way. That’s unfair,” Tony argued.

You bit your lip, feeling like maybe you were intruding on something you shouldn’t be a part of. It was their thing, after all, and perhaps there was simply no room for a newcomer. As they continued to bicker about whether one larger team mattered or not, you considered just slipping away. That’s when you noticed that there was someone missing.

“What about Loki?” you said. “He would make the numbers even.”

Much to your surprise, everyone burst out laughing. You nervously ran your sweaty palms on the legs of your pants and let out a small laugh, though you weren’t quite sure at what. Once their cackling died down, you dared to ask what was so funny.

“My brother never attends these games nights,” Thor informed you. “He isn’t one for group activities, as I’m sure you’ve noticed.”

“Well, have you ever invited him?”

“Once or twice,” Tony said. “Listen, if you want to try to make a social butterfly out of Reindeer Games, be my guest. In the meantime, we’ll work out a feasible way for us all to play.”

You rolled your eyes and scoffed a little, standing up to go find Loki. It was honestly ridiculous that they still treated him the way they did. Sure, he likes to be alone sometimes, but that doesn’t mean he likes being lonely. Not that he’d ever actually admitted to you that he was, but you knew. It was blatantly obvious in the way he sent longing glances toward the rest of the team when you gathered together. You always made sure to ask him over, an invitation he usually accepted. Everyone else had laughed the first time you’d done that, too. They’d only ever asked him a few times, and it was right when he was new and still so lost, so alone, so afraid. Why they took that to just be his permanent disposition, you didn’t know. Regardless of how insensitive they were to his situation, your inclusivity had brought Loki out of his shell a bit, and a friendship had blossomed between you.

A short walk later, you reached his door. You stretched out a hand, but hesitated to knock. Doubt gnawed at the back of your mind. Maybe he truly was not a fan of board games, and then you’d be interrupting his night. After all, he must have a tradition of his own if this happens every first Saturday. Still, you knew that was usually not the case, and steeled yourself against the uncertainty.

“Hello, my little mortal,” he greeted you, opening the door. “Is everything alright?”

“No.”

“What is it? Are you ill? Hurt?” he questioned, jumping into action and shepherding you to his couch.

“No, nothing like that,” you laughed, though you were touched by his concern. “It’s just that it’s game night, and we don’t have an even number of people.”

“Oh? And I suppose that you are asking me to join,” he mused as you nodded. “I am not usually invited, and I am notorious spoiled sport, just ask Thor.”

“Well, people say a lot of things about you, and they’re usually not true.” He shrugged his shoulders. “You don’t have to play if you really don’t want to, but will you? Please. For me?”

“For you, my little mortal, anything. After all, how can I resist those puppy dog eyes?”

You giggled and led the way out of his room, ignoring the thumping of your heart when his hand accidentally brushed yours. Nat and Tony were still bickering about the teams when you arrived, but were quickly stunned into silence when they saw Loki.

“Brother! Good to see you’ve decided to join,” Thor greeted, breaking the somewhat awkward silence. “Shall we begin then?”

First up was Cranium, and you could tell that everyone else was divided into their usual teams: Tony and Bruce, Clint and Nat, Thor and Steve. You rubbed your hands in excitement, ready for some friendly competition.

“Yes!” you shouted a while later, after you and Loki answered the final question right. “We win!”

Everyone else’s jaw hung open, shocked by how serious of a competitor you were. Not to say you were mean-spirited or gloated or anything, but it was obvious you took game night very seriously. Loki was a little surprised too, but he relished in the infectious energy of your feisty spirit. Not to mention he absolutely loved to be on the winning team.

“Congratulations, guys,” Steve said. “Don’t expect to get as lucky in the next game, though.”

The next game, apparently, was charades, which you and Loki absolutely dominated again. The two of you worked as a well-oiled machine, guessing the simple ones like sewing and the more obscure ones like whale watching with ease. Loki was also surprisingly knowledgeable about Midgardian movies and literature. The two of you high fived, having just edged out the competition.

“Wow, good job guys,” Nat congratulated. “Tony and Bruce usually win that one.”

“Way to rub it in,” Tony groaned, flopping back on the couch.

You could tell a part of him wanted to accuse Loki of cheating but, having no real evidence and not wanting to start a fight, restrained himself. Instead, he contented himself with just mumbling how much of an outrage it was. You, however, were on cloud nine.

As the next game was set up, Loki pulled you onto his lap, instilled with confidence after his latest wins. Of course, if anyone were to ask, he would just say he was saving room on the couch. It would have, though, been a lie.

“Ready for a clean sweep, my little mortal?” he whispered, his breath surprising cold on your ear.

“Bring it on!” you whispered back with a wink.

The last game of the night was Pictionary, and by now everyone knew you and Loki were the team to beat. Unfortunately for them, you got this win, too. The Avengers let out a collective sigh as you shouted a victorious whoop and hugged Loki.

“Good game everyone,” you said, starting to help clean up.

“What are you doing, my little mortal?” Loki questioned, half joking. “Do you not know the losers have to clean up?”

“Not sure that’s actually a rule, Rock of Ages,” Tony grumbled.

“Fine, I’ll help,” he replied, placing a singular piece back in the box. “There. Now it is time for our victory lap.”

Then he scooped you up bridal style using his superhuman strength and began running you around the Tower in his arms, both laughing the whole time. He finally brought you to a stop on the balcony of his room.

“You’re ridiculous, you know that right?” you said, still chuckling.

“Perhaps. But we deserved that after an excellent showing.”

“I guess so. As much as it pains me to admit it, we should probably go easy on them next time. We’ll just win one a night, ok?”

“That’s my little mortal,” he happily sighed, wrapping his arms around you. “Always looking out for others. Always looking out for me. Thank you for inviting me along tonight.”

“No problem. It was a lot of fun. We make a pretty good team.”

“Indeed.”

A comfortable silence settled between you, and you rested against Loki, whose arms were still wrapped around you. He felt more relaxed and happy than he had in a while. He knew he’d ask you out someday, but right now he was still too shy, this friendship still too new. One day he would, though, and he couldn’t wait to get there and to every day after.

[themonotonysyndrome]

REDACTED verse -  A dinner and a show

Prompt: any | any | competition

Word Count: 2,460

Author/Team: LadyMonotone

Fandom/Original: Redacted ASMR (Vincent Solaire/Lovely)

Rating: T

Triggers: Explicit implications

Summary: It's a tradition within the Solaire Clan that the King would visit his progenies from time to time. Tonight, Will is coming over to Vincent & Lovely's apartment for dinner. What's not a tradition is the karaoke competition that comes afterwards. 

ConCrit: Y

I don’t know what happened. This oneshot just went out of my control but I had so much fun writing it today! I hope you guys enjoyed it! 

Also, I just realised that all the characters in my oneshots have been eating lately. Oh my god, I got so hungry when I was writing them that I subconsciously includes food in some of the scenes 😭 Food is my love language so I guess it’s cute that the bois and their lovers would sit down and eat together. 

That being said, I hope you guys will crave Korean food as much as I am in this oneshot! 😅

-

“Vincent? I need your help. Can you tell me what’s Will's favourite colours?”

“Lovely - ”

“Because I have some formal outfits in our closet, but they don’t mean shit if Will hate the colours.”

“Lovely, hang on - ”

“Is he allergic to perfumes? Colognes? I have some soft-scented bottles that should be Vampire-friendly! I think? Most of them are floral though… oh! Does he have a favourite flower? Do you think I should buy some before he comes over?”

“What? No, Lovely, I think you’re working yourself up - ”

“I know you bought some blood bags for dinner but do you think we should cook some food too? Does Will like to eat? Shit, I knew I should have bought some groceries yesterday after class!”

“You’re not listening to me at all, Lovely…”

“We have to clean up the whole place too. I don’t know how our furniture gets so dusty so quickly! I just wiped them down a few days ago!”

“...”

“Do you think I should do my hair too? It’s a bit of a mess lately; I could use a trim. Does Will - ”

Lovely's eyes widen as a deep kiss suddenly silences them. Their heart pounds when Vincent brings them close to his chest, trapping his lover in his arms. Lovely's eyes flutter close when he pulls away to press butterfly kisses on their neck. They couldn’t help it; they moan and tilt their head back when they feel fangs delicately drag down their tender skin.

“Vincent!” Lovely hisses, not sure for what, though, when Vincent's fangs pinprick where their pulse is.

“Oh? Are you finally with me again, Lovely?” Vincent breathes, loving how their heart begins to beat faster and faster in anticipation. His chest reverberates when he chuckles deeply. “There we go… I have your attention again, little one.”

They grumbled at the unfairness of it all. Just as Lovely knew all of Vincent’s weaknesses and tickle spots, he knew how weak their knees behaved when he pressed his fangs to any parts of his partner's body. Especially down south.

“I’m serious here, Vince.” Lovely whines. “There are so many things we have to do before Will comes over for dinner tonight. I want to make sure everything’s perfect.”

Vincent gives Lovely a deadpan look. They would’ve coo at how adorable he looks if it weren’t for his Vampiric speed and his habit of chucking them onto the bed whenever Lovely is being too stubborn to listen to reason. “Lovely? A question: are you dating my Sire or me?”  

Lovely blinks; they didn’t expect that. “Uh, you, duh.”

“Then trust me, as your boyfriend,” Lovely has no idea why Vincent emphasised that last word, but they knew better than to interrupt him when he gets like this. “That everything’s going to be fine. Besides, I told you that while this might look like the whole ‘meeting the parent’ shtick, the relationship between a Sire and their Progeny is way more than that.” He patiently reminds them.

“Well yeah, but he means a lot to you.” Lovely points out. Now, why did Vincent look so surprised at that? “So that means he’s important to me too. That’s why this dinner has to be perfect.”

For a moment, Vincent said nothing. He just stares at them in wonderment.

Lovely let out a surprised squeak when Vincent suddenly crushed them in a hug. “How did I get so damn lucky with you, Lovely?” He murmurs, face buried on top of their head. “Sometimes I think that you’re… too amazing to be real.”

So soft and sweet; that’s Vincent. Lovely lets him cuddle them like his personal teddy bear until he's satisfied.

“Now, I need you to do something for me, Lovely. Do you think you can do it?”

Lovely raise an eyebrow. “Depends on what it is, Vince. I haven’t eaten anything yet, so I can only give you at least four hours in bed - ”

“N-Not that!” Vincent hurries to interject, a brilliant red blush runs across his cheeks despite him being a Vampire. He coughs once to get them on track, playfully glaring at Lovely for trying to distract him. “Geez, Lovely. It’s still way too early for… that. But we're definitely going to revisit that. Anyway, I need you to calm down for a second, OK? Will is a pretty chill guy and an open-minded Sire. He knows how much I love you, so you have nothing to worry about.” He gently assures them, rubbing calming motions up and down Lovely's back.

Lovely could feel their anxiety melts away. Just enough for them to finally breathe again ever since Vincent dropped the bomb that William Solaire will be coming over for dinner tonight.

Apparently, everyone in the Clan knows that the King would visit his Progenies at least once a month to check up on them. Just like how a parent would drop by their children's home for a visit, in Lovely's opinion.

“Ok. You win, baby.” Lovely sighs, loving how his rubbing eases the tense muscles. They arch their back like a pleased, spoiled cat when Vincent messages that spot below their shoulders. “Ooooh, yes, that’s the spot!”

Once Lovely's bones feel like they could melt at any time, they throw Vincent a grateful smile.

“Now, there’s the smile I’ve been missing the whole day!” Vincent teases. “C’mon Lovely, let’s plan for dinner before we take our nap. How do you feel about seafood?”

“Oh, I can go for some seafood. It’s been a while.”

“Spicy steamed crabs with scallops, battered pan-fry oysters and some chilled bowl of rice top with raw salmon and sea bass with slices of your favourite veggies? All Korean-style."

“Hell yes. I think we have all the ingredients for that. Wait. Err, can Will handle spicy food?”

"Uh... I have no idea. Maybe we should hold back on that spicy steamed crabs with scallops just in case."

Ever since the two started living together, Vincent really took a shine when it came to cooking and baking. The idea of providing for Lovely makes him ridiculously happy, and besides, him whipping up healthy and delicious food for them results in much richer and sweeter blood flowing within his lover for him to feed on so… win-win!

As the two of them traverse to the kitchen to start preparing the ingredients for dinner, Lovely slowly gain the confidence that their dinner tonight with Vincent's Sire will turn out alright.

And before both of them knew it, the sun had set.

After a fresh shower, the entire apartment is now spotless (to Lovely's standard), and dinner is served on the table, the doorbell rings.

"I'll get it!" Lovely announce just as Vincent finish putting down the plates. They smoothen out the creases on their clothes, roll their shoulders before taking a deep, calming breath and answer the door. Like a soldier marching towards the battlefield.

Seeing his partner's dramatic reaction, Vincent just shakes his head.

As soon as Lovely opens the door, William Solaire greets them. "Good evening. I hope I'm not too early. The evening traffic has been quite a hassle lately. I figured that even if I'm a bit early, I could help you and Vincent in the kitchen." Will explains. In his arms is a bouquet of white pear blossoms, yellow gladioluses and red tulips. When Lovely stares at them curiously, Will smiles knowingly. "Vincent informed me that you don't drink, so I decided that flowers would be the appropriate gift as oppose to a bottle of champagne."

"They're so pretty." Lovely reply, breathless when they receive the bouquet. "Thank you so much, Will! I'll put them in a vase now. Oh, and please come in." They graciously step aside to let Vincent's Sire in.

While Lovely is busy rummaging for a vase in the storeroom, Will and Vincent make small talks over at the dining table. Vincent passes the ancient Vampire a tall glass of blood which Will accept with gratitude.

"Hey, Will. How's it going?"

"I'm fine, Vincent. Thank you for asking." Will reply after dabbing the bloodstain on the corner of his lips. "The Clan is the same as usual; Our Newborn members have finally settled in nicely, much to Sam's relief. I plan to visit them next week."

Vincent tops up Will's empty glass before replying. "That's great to hear." He's about to say something else before a loud bang against the wall in the storeroom stops him. "Uh, Lovely? Is everything OK in there?" He calls out.

"It's fine, it's fine!" Lovely shouts back. "I found the perfect vase for the flowers!"

Vincent groans in exasperation. When Will throws him a confused expression, Vincent is compelled to explain. "Look, Will, Lovely has been freaking out about tonight's dinner the whole day. They think that if it turns out anything but perfect, you're going to be disappointed in them. So just... just play along, alright?"

Will chuckles; his heart warms at the thought that Lovely holds him in such high regard. What an adorable human. "Is that so? Very well then, I will play the perfect guest towards such kind hosts."

And true to his words, when Lovely joins them at the table after putting the vase full of flowers on the coffee table in the living room, Will waste no time in kicking his charm to the max. In between their meal, Will makes sure to compliment Lovely's outfit (which earned him a shy yet pleased blush from Lovely and a jealous kick at his shin from Vincent). He then comments that the spicy steamed seafood dish is his favourite, and when desserts are introduced, Will gently helps Lovely open up by asking about their interests and hobbies.

Will is pleasantly surprised to find one of the many common grounds they share: their love for analysing music.

"I find RM to be one of the most brilliant lyricists in this generation." Will states once his bowl of red bean shaved ice is empty. "His songs are undoubtedly impactful for the youths of today. Not to mention that I'm quite fond of his wordplays."

"You're into K-pop!?" Lovely ask, utterly gobsmacked. Their eyes are wide in shock.

Vincent snorts. "Alexis is a BTS fan. Somehow, she managed to convert Will too."

When Lovely turn to face Will once more, their expression frozen in disbelieve, he adds, "We're planning to catch their concert once the situation permits it."

Will's pop culture admission finally broke the ice. Lovely laughs in delight before launching themselves into an animated conversation about modern music with Will.

However, it wasn't long before their topic suddenly went off the rail when Vincent claimed that he's a better shower singer than Lovely.

"Oh please, Vince, I thought you were dying in the bathroom," Lovely interjects with a roll of their eyes. Vincent splutters at his partner's cruel remark, but Lovely presses on without mercy, much to Will's amusement. He resolutely keeps his mouth shut despite his growing grin slowly making its way up to his face. "Face it, you're tone-deaf. Being a Vampire doesn't magically make you a good singer."

"Those are some fighting words, Lovely. Can you back them up?"

"We can settle this tonight if you want. You and me; we can duke it out in a singing swag off with Will as the judge." Lovey declares with a smirk before they head into the living room. All revved up as if their previous anxiety over dinner had never happened.

"Oh my..."

Vincent turns to Will with a grateful nod. "Thanks for helping them relax. And hey, you don't have to stay if you have some other plans tonight, Will."

Will stares back at his Progeny with a faux, scandalous look on his face, complete with a hand on his chest. "Why, Vincent, where would I be anywhere but here? It's not every day that I get to see you humbled by your lover. Don't think I forget that you were once known as the Playboy of the Solaire Clan."

Shock looks good on Vincent's face. It's cute that he actually forgot how he was before Lovely walks into his life. Oh, Will is going to milk this for all its worth.

"Alright! The system is set up!" Lovely announce from near the TV with a microphone in their hand. "Will, come on! You need to help me prove that Vincent sings like a dying cat. Here, here!"

"Oi, oi! We haven't even started yet!" Vincent rebuke and flits over to grab the spare microphone. "You know what, Lovely? I'm so confident that I'll win this that I'll let you go first."

Lovely grins viciously and accepts his offer. Once Will makes himself comfortable on the couch and signals for them to begin, Lovely open their mouth,

Will couldn't stop smiling as Lovely sings their heart out, and Vincent makes his grand entrance after they're done (singing one of Will's favourite songs in hopes to sway his Sire to his side). Vincent and Lovely are having the time of their life, teasing one another as they sing. Will commits this night into one of his most cherished memories.

*"Dari apa yang aku perhatikan

Manusia mahu senang tapi tak semua mahu berkorban

Dari apa yang mereka katakan

Ada yang jawab jujur tapi selebihnya kuat beralasan..."

However, as the night grows long, Will doesn't have the heart to tell them that they both are horrible singers.

-

Tonight, it's Sam's turn. Will deliver three knocks on his door before Sam swings it open. He looks exhausted, unamused and seconds away from running out of the house.  

"Good evening, Sam."

"Good evening, William. Before you come in, can I ask why my Progenies insist on having a karaoke competition tonight? On the night where they knew you were coming?"

Will begins to smile widely. Both he and Sam could hear a heated argument between Frederick and Bright Eyes from the living room.

"No, you can't sing Bambi, Bright Eyes. I won't allow it! You're going to break the windows!"

"Oh my god, would you let me live, Freddy!?"

"We've been over this; you can't sing! Wait. What are you - put down that microphone - "

Music starts to play at maximum volume, and then,

Sam closed his eyes and sighed deeply and in resignation when Bright Eyes began to sing louder to drown out Frederick's shrieking.

**“Feel it like memalla itteon mam wiro

seumyeodeun danbi

dabi piryo eopji

Because you’re my favourite..."

"I don't know what had happened - and I honestly don't want to know - but I hope you're ready to deal with these two tonight."  

"Why, Sam, where would I be anywhere but here?"

-

These are the English translations & link to the songs that Lovely and Bright Eyes were singing: 

*“From what I can see

People want the good life, but are not willing to sacrifice

From what I hear

Some are honest but others are full of excuses...”

**“Feel it like timely rain that seeps into my dry heart

No other answer is needed

Because you’re my favorite...”