#his clothes are also shades of gray except for the mask which is made out of bone (he’s a god. he can shape the bone into a mask ok)

[foxgloveinspace]

I’m…. Weirdly hesitant to post this one haha. But I’m kinda proud of how he turned out so…. I’ll post.

He’s is a main character from a novel I’ve been trying to write for sometime now.

[vahilor]

Journal entry of my Guerrero Dario. Base colroing, still needs some a lot of shading.

The text is part of the Degenesis story I am writing.

Journal text:

It was sometime late at night and it was still dark outside when Darío suddenly woke from his sleep. He sat up and shook his head slightly. He had not been dreaming, and he found it strange that he had been startled up so suddenly. He looked around. Matador was lying next to him and was still asleep, hadn't even woken up, very uncommon for a dog. He was supposed to feel it immediately when Darío barely moved, He frowned and somehow the dog seemed strangely pale, as if the color was almost completely washed out, like on an old, faded picture.

Darío took a deep breath and slowly stood up, looking at Kira, who was also asleep, but looked just as pale as the dog.

The young Guerrero swallowed hard and it was uncomfortably cold. His gaze moved on to the Tomas and Fynn... even the Scrapper looked pale and Fynn was nowhere to be seen and might had left the house. His blankets and pillows lay tattered and there was no sign of the Hellvetic and his armor. Had he left them ?

Darío was confused. It had become freezing coldand he could see his breath materializing in small clouds in front of him. The Hybrispanian was shivering and slowly walked to the door. Joshua was sleeping next to it.. everything felt liveless... colorless and as if dead.

He cautiously approached Joshua, who was lying on his back, and now that Dario was standing right next to him, he could see that his throat had been cut... blood was streaming from the wound, and the dark red contrasted sharply with the gray of the pool around his head, which was slowly growing larger.

Darío looked at it with horror. Who had done this ? Fynn ? Why? It did not make sense? Who had done it and how had the person come into the room unnoticed... why hadn't the dog noticed ?

He approached the door, his heart beating up to his throat, his hand shaking as he pushed it open.

Darkness dominated outside and the sky was strangely black, yet everything seemed as if the moon was illuminating the landscape, that he could see.

It was deadsilent, except for a distorted, morbid laugh and someone hammering nails into wood.

It couldn't be too far away, possibly behind the ledge. Darío sneaked out of the house and took cover behind the rocks, which felt like ice. He was freezing harder, having difficulty suppressing the shivering that was getting stronger... from cold and fear that was crawling along his spine.

What he then witnessed made it difficult for him not to throw up. Someone was hammering the Hellvetic against a kind of cross, still in full armor. It was torn open at the stomach and somone had gutted Fynn, parts of his intestines still hanging down. Darío had to gag.

Just this gagging betrayed him and the figure hammering Fynn onto the cross turned to him. It wore the helmet and the clothes of a Spitalien, but strangely deformed and the glasses of the gas mask shone in a strangely cold light. The figure gave a strange growl and then screamed, a scream that shook Darío to the core and he started to run back to the house. He could hear more screams answering the Spitalien and he ran as fast as he could, only to see that he was too late. The house was on fire and slowly collapsing. He felt tears gathering hotly in his eyes and then an indescribable cruel pain bored through his chest.

Darío snapped out of his sleep and choked before throwing up next to the makeshift bed, fortunately not on the side where Tomas was sleeping.

He was drenched in sweat and glanced around in panic and immediately got up and grabbed his clothes. They had to leave and quickly. He shook Tomas awake, if he wasn't already, and got dressed while he started waking the others. "Help me wake them all." His voice was almost pleading and Tomas could hear the panic in it.

"Darío, it's all good. You had a dream," Tomas said, just trying to reassure him. "We're all here, they're still asleep." He remembered the last time he had a nightmare and just expected it to happen again. It worried him how upset he was, but he hoped he could calm the guerrero down.

The guerrero was already waking up Fynn and Matador followed him. He just put on his vest and shook his head to Tomas' words. "We have to leave, just believe me." There was a deep urgency in the words, a conviction that made it clear he would would not be able to dissuade him, no matter what she said. Darío knew what the dream meant. If they didn't leave now, they would all be dead in a few minutes.

[stardancerluv]

Gotham Surviving the Pandemic 2021

Part 3

Summary: Roman feels his age

Note: squint at the implied smut…but this just angst and fluff

Roman turned off the dryer and was running a comb through his hair, when he spotted it. Going over to the door, he silently closed it.

Leaning in close, he glanced and didn’t see it. His heart began to pick up speed. Moving so he was practically climbing the black marble of the counter he found the one gray strand. Biting his bottom lip, he plucked it.

He stood back and looked at himself. He moved his head from side to side. No other ones stood out.

As annoyance filled him, making him flushed with anger. He grabbed his aftershave and patted some on his cheeks. Then he realized he could have some there too. He looked at the prickles of growth there as well.

“Roman?” Your voice called from the other side of the door.

“Yes!” His voice sounded like he was being strangled. He cleared his throat.

“Are you ok?” He could hear your concern.

“I’m fine,” He eyed the door and the handle.

“I will meet you downstairs.”

“Don’t be long, I’ll miss you!” You giggled lightly.

Your light mood cooled some of his annoyance, but it also distracted him. He tried to think. “Order me my usual!” He called out.

“Ok, I will!”

He could hear the clicking of your heels as you left. He could imagine the swish of your dress, the way your feet were your shoes. You were so young, so lovely and he was going gray. He had already known there would be a time when his age would come into play between the two of you, but it’s serious now. His annoyance came back as he brushed his teeth. He looked his face over, happy with it. At least his age wasn’t showing there.

There were no wrinkles, except when he smiled. Well, he didn’t mind those.

Dropping his towel, he walked into his closet. He grabbed a pair of fresh boxers. He remembered how you and Victor went shopping before things had locked down. This was one of the things you had grabbed, he smiled.

He had only really begun to smile because of you. It didn’t help that your smile and even more your laugh could be quite infectious.

He pulled on his dress shirt. Eyeing his cufflinks, he settled on a pair of his favorites.

He thought back, damn that was already going on a bit for the pair of you. That virus stole a year of fun and excitement from you two. But he had learned so much about you, and faced a lot of his demons.

Slipping on his socks followed by the very finely threaded slacks, his outfit for tonight was almost complete. Having looped and fastened his belt, he was beginning to feel better.

Grabbing just the right suit jacket for this look he paused. He had this one for a while. It was one of the first ones he wore when meeting you.

Reaching for his phone he dialed his groomer.

To Franco: Need an appointment tomorrow. ASAP.

Franco: You are not due for two weeks, Roman.

To Franco: I can’t wait till then.

Franco: How is eleven am?

To Franco: Good. Bring dye and the straight razor?

Franco: I thought you were enjoying your naturally dark coloring.

He had till the fucking gray.

To Franco: Just bring it.

Franco: Ok, Roman. See you then.

Roman slipped back into the bathroom. Should he wear shades tonight? He slipped on a pair. He sighed, then grimaced at his own reflection. He took the shades off and slipped them into his pocket.

*****

He slipped on his face mask as the music from the club began to greet him. He smiled underneath it as he saw that now a few weeks into being open, the stream of people coming to have a good time was steady. Seeing him, people parted and made room for him. He smiled and nodded.

He saw you speaking with someone. Your mask off since you were in a safe place. The smile across your face was as lovely as ever. The person met his eyes, they shared a nod and walked away. He came over to you and slipped off his mask.

“You look lovely.” He smiled. And you did, the dress hung just right and the heels added that little bit of height, which made it easier for him to enjoy whiffs of your perfume.

You returned the smile. “Thank you, Romy.” You gestured to the person, who walked over their own booth where they sat with friends possibly, Roman wondered. “They hired me to make a piece for their boutique.”

He rose an eyebrow, watching them whisper something to someone sitting with them. “That’s a bit garish. You’re relaxing in my club and they talked business?”

“I suppose, but things have changed greatly now that we’re back.” You sighed.

“They should know better.” He quipped. “I don’t like the idea of them propositioning you while you’re here to relax.” He let a smile spread across his face as he looked over the club.

“Sadly might happen more and more.” You shrugged.

“Be careful of them. Shall we sit?”

“Of course.” You sighed. “Are you ok?”

“Why?” One of the girls brought his drink over. He took a sip.

“You seem upset.”

“I’m not. I’m going to do a round.”

“All right.”

******

You could tell something was wrong with Roman before he even made it over to you. And the closed door. What could possibly be bothering him, you wondered.

Something was up, you watched as Roman slipped his shades on. Sitting back you twirled your ring a little on your finger.

“What’s going on with Roman?”

Victor’s voice broke into your thoughts, you jumped slightly. “Victor, I swear I will never get used to your light steps.”

He chuckled.

“I don’t know. He arrived upset.”

As Roman returned, Victor went and did an opposite round.

*****

“Baby?”

“Yes?” You replied sweetly. He rather liked how the lights twinkled in your eyes tonight. He couldn’t tell you he was feeling particularly old after seeing that gray hair.

“You’re my knock out.”

“I am.” You smiled. “You have made my heart flutter tonight.”

“Oh?”

“You just command the room. So handsome and just… I don’t know but I have always loved it, always will.”

He smirked, that made him feel good. He took a longer sip of his drink. “That’s me, baby.”

“And I get to sit here and be like, that is my fiancé while I see girls drool as you walk by.”

He rose an eyebrow. “Drool huh?”

You scooted over to him. He enjoyed how your fingers felt as they squeezed his thigh. “You better believe it.” He watched as your nose twitched, followed by a glow coming over you. You leaned in close. “You’re wearing my favorite aftershave.” He could feel as you sighed. “If we were down by the pier, I’d let you take me again.”

He chuckled. A dark sense of delight filled him, knowing he had taken you in total disregard of the statues that were supposed to be revered on that pier. He had taken you, and the cries of delight he pulled from you had made him feel very good.

******

Roman, sat down and gripped the arm rests. “Tell me you were tested, and it was negative.” He barked from behind his cloth mask.

The man nodded. “Yes, of course.”

Roman relaxed a little and removed the mask that covered his nose and mouth. He swallowed alright, “Go and look.” He resigned himself to needing to finally getting his inky strands finally dyed.

Soon, he felt Franco’s fingers rove through his strands, he gritted his teeth. Their eyes met in the mirror he set up. “Roman, it must have been a fluke. There is no other gray strands.”

“Don’t you dare lie to me.” He pounded his fist on the armrest.

“I’m not. You had the stress of reopening. The fucking pandemic. It was bound to happen.”

“I don’t-” He stopped himself before continuing. “Fine, well then I need a trim. My edges are getting ragged.”

“Roman, it’s early like I said.”

Roman just looked at him.

He nodded silently. With a swish, the razor sliced through his strands. After the comb ran through it, he looked sharp again.

*****

A smile curled his lips as he felt your fingers entwine in his hair. He had been pouring over some maps and had not even heard your arrival.

He knew by the soft sound you made, that you were pleased with the trim. Did you get a trim today?” You whispered.

“Yes, I did.” He picked you up, your heels feels to the ground as a squeak escaped your lips.

You steadied yourself on his huge table.

“Did you meet with that guy who had the nerve to book you in my club?”

The demure appearance came over your face. “Is that really on your mind?”

“Well, I do still worry about my lovely fiancée.” He laid his hands over yours, the glimmer of the ring catching his eye.

“I like that you worry about me.” You breathed.

He easily stepped between your legs. “I always will.” His hand drifted up your skirt.

You shifted. “Roman, what if Victor and Doll Face walk in?”

He leaned in close. “We better hurry then.”

@spn-obsessed-dean @vintagemichelle91 @xxxeatyourh3artoutxxx @ewanfuckingmcgregor @zodiyack @angel98624 @frenchgirlinlondon @emyliabernstein @thepeachreads @nun@itsknife2meetu @omghappilyuniquebouquetlove @poe-kadot26 @babydoll97-blog1 @hazel-nuss @vcat55 @feelthemadnessinside @johallzy @foreverhockeytrash @frostypenguinoz @professionalclown @chogisss @shantellorraine @xxinvisiblexx @blondekel77 @saphic-stories @drarrylov3r @i-cant-hear-you16 @deadlymistress24 @yesqueenofthelight @generallj @thebeckyjolene @blackmasque @mrskenobi19 @bdffkierenwalker

[the-melting-world]

Goosebumps 🍋

~ In which a pscyhic pirate reunites with a quiet quartermaster...

@midsummer-masquerade

Sun Bai x Jacqui

Jacqui belongs to @apprenticealec

You can read all the fics to Off To The Races: A Midsummer Masquerade here.

Music: "Goosebumps" by Travis Porter

Day 5 of The Midsummer Masquerade ~ Voyeurism

Smut Prompts 9 + 48: "Is it good when I touch you here? Or maybe here?” + “Shall we put that mouth to better use?”

cw: brief mention of death

~ 3k words

Shortly after Rodrigo leaves his quartermaster's side to pursue a masquerade guest with a swan mask, Jacqui starts to feel a familiar, encouraging sensation lightly pressing up the against the nape of his neck...

As much as Jacqui couldn’t get enough of Sun Bai’s telepathic kisses, this was the one time he could pass on them. Especially if it meant he could catch up to the slippery mantis as he took Jacqui on a maddening journey through the Palace corridors.

Though Jacqui was able to keep Bai in his sights – thanks to both of their heights, none of them had a problem getting lost in the sea of people – Bai was always just out of Jacqui’s reach. Yet the pirate continued to taunt and poke the quartermaster with those psychic touches that felt eerily similar to Bai’s lips walking down his spine.

Eventually, the halls grew darker and less crowded.

Bai, Jacqui called out in his own head, knowing that the other could hear him, where the hell are you taking us?

A kiss ghosted across Jacqui’s pressure point, followed by some quiet snickering.

[You’ll see.]

Finally, Bai went still before a pair of tall, metal doors. Jacqui caught up to him and, with breathtaking control, steered him against the wall. This close to Bai’s lean body, barely covered by a dark silk robe, Jacqui could hardly hold back from burying his face in the pirate’s neck. And so he didn’t.

Bai hissed and trembled in what Jacqui knew to be pleasure as he walked his lips up and down Sun Bai’s throat, taking in his scent of rain and whatever herbal tea he last had to drink.

Jacqui reached for the opening in Bai’s robe and slowly dragged the pad of his finger down his chest. “Is it good when I touch you here?” He pulled the edge of Bai’s robe off his shoulder “Or maybe here?” Jacqui whispered as he lowered his head and dropped a kiss to the exposed skin.

To Jacqui’s surprise, it was Bai who eliminated the space between them. “I need you closer.” The pirate sounded desperate, almost whiny.

Jacqui rocked his hips forward and once again rolled his face against his partner’s neck.

“I’m here. Take as much of me as you want.”

Jacqui sensed some of the internal battle taking place in Bai. He didn’t miss a single shiver or shudder from the former bounty hunter. Bai dragged his palms up and down Jacqui’s bare chest and keened his hips forward so his erection rubbed insistently against the quartermaster’s.

[Goddamnit Jacqui, I want all of you.]

He sounded more frustrated with himself more than anything. Jacqui didn’t know if it would ever be the right time to ask Bai how he got this way. Sometimes in the rare quiet hours on the Bleeding Heart, he wondered about Bai’s behaviors. He had seen him without clothes and knew that he didn’t have any scars or brands to speak of. So what was the source of all his avoidance?

There were other peculiarities as well. In the bedroom, Bai had an aversion to being bent over solid surfaces. He preferred to stretch out on the bed or even the floor. He was also content with being on his hands and knees. These aversions weren’t something Bai ever came out and spoke to Jacqui about. The observant quartermaster simply happened to pick up on things over time.

For now, however, his curiosity would have to wait. He wanted Bai just as much as he felt wanted by him. Jacqui used a fraction of his strength to line his entire body up with Bai’s, pinning him firmly to the wall. He fed a hand inside his robe, relishing in the way Bai’s smooth skin rippled as Jacqui’s palm traveled down to his waist where he firmly gripped. Jacqui wanted to feel more of Bai between his legs so he spread his own a little, encouraging Bai to press his thigh in between them.

Jacqui’s other hand came up last to Bai’s head. Soon he was lost in his ghostly white waves, careful not to disturb his glasses as he moved in with deep and tender kisses. By now, Bai no longer struggled with matching Jacqui’s rhythm. His body might have been shivering and losing its grip every time Jacqui flexed his muscles, but that wasn’t the case with his mouth. Bai’s jaw went slack for Jacqui as his tongue came alive and eager to tease the ring in the pirate’s lip.

“We need to find a room,” Jacqui groaned as he drew back just enough to look into Bai’s eyes. Bai was clearly in a giving mood and he didn’t want to be in a place open enough to risk getting interrupted by any of the crew.

Jacqui suddenly had a thought. It made him smirk as he drew Bai’s face up by his chin. “And then maybe we can put that mouth to better use, hm?” He gave him a soft kiss, but immediately regretted his words when he pulled back and saw the look on Bai’s face.

Jacqui wished he could kick himself. If there was one thing Bai had come clean about in the past, it was his vulnerabilities around any oral affection below the waist.

Jacqui stepped back and hid his face in his palm. “I’m sorry. It’s been so long since we’ve seen each other. I totally forgot–”

Bai’s hand came up to rest on Jacqui’s arm. He gently pried Jacqui’s palm from his face. “No. That’s actually something I wanted to…” He swallowed and adjusted his lenses. “Just follow me.”

The room that Bai led Jacqui inside of was almost completely dark except for a spot in the center that was lit up by a single beam of light. There was a cushion on the floor, resting under the spotlight.

Jacqui stopped Bai from going any further. “Wait. Before I forget.” He pulled out something he had carried with from the ship. “This is for you.”

Bai didn’t look at the gift until both of them were under the light. He quietly observed a simple solid black case. Once he figured out how it opened, he discovered the rich velvety interior. It came in a nostalgic shade of green much like the jade stones occupying the piercings in Bai’s septum and bridge.

“For my glasses?” The psychic whispered.

Jacqui smiled as he carefully removed the blue-tinted frames from Bai’s face and set them inside the case. “Yes. So you don’t have to keep replacing them so often. Besides, I figured it would come in handy tonight.” He set the case on the ground out of the light.

“Now.” Jacqui faced Bai again. “What was it that you wanted to show me?”

Bai looked a little lost for words. Clearly, he hadn’t been expecting the gift. Jacqui reassured him by brushing his thumb over the mole close to Bai’s eye.

“You can talk to me with your mind if that’s easier.”

Bai turned his eyes up under the light, which illuminated the true gray in them.

[It is easier this way.]

Jacqui wasn’t sure at first, but he thought he heard the space suddenly fill up with the sound of a violin.

[You asked me earlier if I wanted to put my mouth to better use.]

The darkness in the room began to lift.

[The truth is I do. I have. I always have.]

It didn’t take long for Jacqui to realize that they were not alone.

[These sort of things take a little longer for me. But I think I’m ready now, Jacqui. I wanted to make tonight special for that reason.]

Jacqui scanned the room to see that they were surrounded by chairs, which were all occupied. There were two rows. The second row belonged to the orchestra. The first row closest to Jacqui and Bai was full of guests barely clothed and touching themselves in ways that were meant to bring pleasure.

[It’s going to be special because we get to have a witness. Quite a few actually.]

The party guests’ limbs were positioned at odd angles. That’s when Jacqui noticed that they all seemed to be controlled by strings at their joints. He followed the threads up and and up and up until…

[Puppet masters and their “marionettes,”] Bai explained. [It’s some sort of kink magic. I don’t know. All the parties involved are consenting, I promise.]

Jacqui’s heart was causing a lump to form at the base of his throat. He looked back at Bai.

“They’re going to watch us while you–”

Bai collided messily with Jacqui’s mouth. Hot and breathy, he whispered, “While I suck you off – yes, yes. Yes.”

[If you’re not into it, just say the word. I’ll make them go away.]

Jacqui steadied his breath against Bai’s already swollen lips. He cleared his throat and said with calm confidence, “Let them watch.”

Sun Bai didn’t waste any more time talking. He dipped his face against Jacqui’s neck, working kisses down his collarbone and over his chest. His fingers came to Jacqui’s crotch to unlace the drawstrings on his tight, leather pants.

Meanwhile, the orchestra and the masturbating marionettes carried on in the background.

[Do you want to know why I don’t get jealous when I see Rodrigo all over you? Or lose my cool whenever he catches wind of me and chases me off? It’s because I know and more importantly I know that you know: you’re mine. Just mine.]

Bai was on his knees now, dragging his open mouth over Jacqui’s tight bulge. His breath was unsteady under the musical whine of the strings playing in the background. Bai dug his fingers behind the leather and seesawed the fabric down just enough to free Jacqui's cock.

The psychic looked up at the quartermaster as he formed a ring with his index and thumb that he then slid from Jacqui’s base and up until he gently pinched the head. Bai maintained eye contact as he brought his face forward and dabbed the crease of his lower lip with Jacqui’s small spell of precum.

Jacqui’s face burned at the sight. He knew he had no control over the muscles in his jaw. Was he wetting or biting his lip? Was he arching his eyebrow in curious fascination? He had no clue.

Bai was tonguing his slit now, his eyes closed in tranquil concentration. He dug his fingers deeper past the lip of Jacqui’s pants and gave a slow tug, filling his mouth up with Jacqui’s impressive length. Bai took his time salivating over every centimeter of Jacqui’s cock, savoring each ridge, each hidden dimple that he would have otherwise missed if he had simply tried to swallow him whole.

“Bai,” Jacqui breathed, “I want you in my head too. Talk to me.”

Bai’s eyes fluttered open. He gave the softest of smirks, his mouth still full of cock.

[What’s wrong? Don’t like the orchestra that I’ve prepared for you? And here I thought you were a man who could appreciate the more alternative art forms.]

Before Jacqui could respond, Bai’s presence was back.

[Is it getting to be too much? The crowds? The lights? I can turn them off if that’s better.]

Jacqui didn’t know how Bai controlled it, but the room went completely dark. The music was still going and the audience was still getting off on themselves.

[There. Sounds like they’ve seen enough to take care of themselves. Now it’s just you and me.]

The sounds of the marionettes groaning and cycling through their orgasms were only amplified in Jacqui’s ears. That and Bai’s wet, deliberate sucking.

[Show me you’re mine, Jacqui.]

Jacqui bit back a groan. “What do you mean?”

[I know you won’t ever say it outright. Out of respect for your captain. I understand that, but I know you to be a man of action rather than words. So show me.]

The lights came back on. Bai hollowed out his mouth and came to a stop.

Jacqui shook his head. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Bai came off his cock and took a moment to swallow his spit. Then he stood up and kissed Jacqui with such tenderness, the quartermaster felt his heart actually skip a beat.

“You don’t want to hurt me?”

Jacqui shook his head again, his silver ring lightly brushing along Bai’s lower lip. Bai steadied Jacqui’s head by reaching up and tightening his hand in the roots of his locs.

“Then don’t.” He steadied Jacqui’s lips with a kiss. “You know I trust you.”

Bai drifted back down to kneel on the cushion. This time Jacqui was ready. Eager even. He fumbled at his leather still constricting his waist and peeled it down to his knees so his legs could breathe and spread a little wider.

Stay with me, Jacqui called out when he felt Bai trying to fade from his head. The cool feel of wet grass stayed as he worked his cock past Bai’s lips and over his tongue.

[–mmk!]

Jacqui sensed the ebb and flow of Bai’s reactions as he held his face and found his rhythm in it, his own groans barely a whisper despite all of the charged blood that had rushed straight to his extremities.

Bai’s lashes fluttered out of his control. His gunmetal eyes lolled behind them. And then the lights began to flicker, like a strobe, dancing to the music of the marionettes and the violins and Bai’s patient gagging.

Jacqui began to feel Bai’s presence in a new way in the form of a firm, uneven pulse. He realized it was the beat of his own cock every time it kissed the back of Bai’s throat. The sensation was so hypnotic, Jacqui let go of a shuddering breath and leaned into it.

The strobe lights danced for them, Bai’s reactions registering in Jacqui’s vision only as flickers and flashes. The steady, constant beat of his hips took both of them by storm.

“Bai, I’m coming.”

[Yeah, I know.]

Jacqui was seeing stars. His fingers became tangled up in Bai’s ghostly waves. His hips managed not to jerk too hard, but he couldn’t help anchoring Bai’s face downward so his cock could take advantage of the natural curve of his throat. He opened his hips some more as he emptied out his excitement. Jacqui groaned unexpectedly at the sensation of Bai’s esophagus gently nipping the tip of his cock with each desperate swallow.

Despite his efforts, Bai hadn’t been able to get it all down. While the orchestra was wrapping up and the puppet magicians were packing their things and filing out, Sun Bai was still trying to catch his breath against Jacqui’s leg. Jacqui stroked his hair while Bai leaned his cheek against the quartermaster’s damp thigh and waited until his chest stopped heaving.

Jacqui expected that when Bai was ready, he would tuck Jacqui’s cock back in his pants and go about the rest of his night. But Bai stayed, leaving breathy, half-hearted kisses along his partner’s inner thigh.

This went on for some time, to the point where Jacqui’s already damp skin tingled under the tenderness of Bai’s lips and the light brushing of the soft, dark hair from his chin. All the other guests had left the dark hall.

Jacqui, who wasn’t used to this sort of attention, especially from Bai, called out to him. “Babe, you don’t have to do that.”

“I know that.” Bai shot Jacqui a look before he went back to kissing and sighing against him. Jacqui’s face burned under the prolonged affection. He returned to massaging his fingers against Bai’s scalp, which only earned him more delayed reactions that walked a fine line between an exhale and a whimper.

Finally, Bai helped Jacqui adjust his pants before getting back to his feet. Jacqui walked over to where he had set down the glasses case and handed them off to Bai.

“Thank you. I…” Bai hesitated. “I got a room for us. But if you want to go back to yours–”

“I’m staying with you tonight.”

Bai turned around before Jacqui could catch his reaction. “Alright then. It’s this way.”

Sun Bai’s chambers were sleek and free of the usual masquerade decorations. Without many words, Jacqui and Bai helped each other out of the more restrictive components of their costumes until Bai was just in his silk robe. He brought another robe out of the closet for Jacqui, so he wouldn’t get cold. This one was dark blue, almost black. The swirls of gold painted in the fabric were only visible when they caught the light at certain angles.

“You can keep that,” Bai said just as Jacqui was in the middle of calculating the fortune something like this must have been worth.

Soon they were under the sheets, Jacqui’s back resting against the pillows and the headrest while Bai chose to lay his head on the quartermaster’s chest. With one leg draped over Jacqui’s thigh and his arm resting along his abdomen, Bai encouraged him to let down his bun and massage his darker roots. While Jacqui happily went about doing so, running his fingers through the psychic’s pale locks, Bai spoke quietly about his travels since they had last seen each other.

“We got a cat. He’s gray and likes to ride on my shoulders sometimes.”

“He sounds a lot sweeter than Mr. Pickles,” Jacqui mused. “What’s his name?”

Bai offhandedly flexed his wrist. “Gatsby... Don’t ask me what it means. Sascha named him. Probably has something to do with guns.”

The pirates kept chatting until Jacqui started to yawn.

Bai shifted a little. “Hey. Stay up with me. Don’t let me fall asleep either.”

Jacqui arched an eyebrow. “Why not?”

In all the time they had known each other, Bai had never spent the night. This was also the longest he and Jacqui had spent in a position like this. Cuddling seemed a strange word to use, but Jacqui honestly didn’t know what else to call it.

Bai hesitated. “Because…”

Jacqui held his breath. A few beats later, Bai’s confession came out honest and straightforward.

“Because the last time I fell asleep in someone’s arms, I woke up in a pit of dead bodies.”

Jacqui stiffened ever so slightly, hoping Bai hadn’t noticed.

Bai didn’t turn his head to look back at Jacqui. In fact, he didn’t move at all.

“I was nineteen.”

Jacqui closed his eyes as he dipped his face towards Bai’s crown.

“I won’t let you fall asleep.” He wrapped both arms around Bai and held him as tightly as he could. “I promise.”

Sun Bai let out a very small breath.

[Thank you.]

[vannahfanfics]

Face Your Fears

Category: Romantic Fluff

Fandom: My Hero Academia

Characters: Momo Yaoyorozu, Shoto Todoroki

Hey, everyone! Here’s a story for the @bnhabookclub’s Weekly SFW Prompt, “I think I’m in love with you, and that terrifies me.” I also decided to combine it with a prompt from the Bingo Event, “Scary Movies.” Happy reading! 

The tip of Momo’s tongue stuck out from between her glossed lips as she carefully layered the thick nail gel over the little stub of her pinky toe. Once she had covered the small surface with a sheen of the glittering, ruby red polish, she stretched her toes and wiggled them experimentally. There! All done! she thought gleefully and reclined back against the couch. She propped her feet up on the coffee table so they could dry, then looked around to see how the other girls were progressing. Likewise, most of them had finished painting their nails, various colors shining on the clear, manicured surfaces. 

“This was a good idea for girls’ night, Tooru!” Ochako hummed as she admired the bubblegum pink polish decorating her fingernails. The invisible girl, traipsing around the sofa with spring green nails seemingly hovering in thin air, giggled happily as she grabbed a throw pillow and hugged it to her chest. 

“But of course! You feel like a new woman when you get your nails, hair, and make-up done!” Indeed, the girls had been spending the last several hours down in the common room, doing each other’s make-up and hair. Momo sported a set of bouncy curls; she wasn’t used to having her hair down, so she kept compulsively sweeping the corkscrewed hairs from her face. Tooru climbed over the side of the couch to sit beside Mina, who was waving her hands about to dry to pastel yellow polish that complimented her bright pink skin. “Mina, Mina, did you rent the movie?” 

“Sure did!” their classmate responded and carefully plucked a DVD case from the table. “Ta-da! Halloween Slasher 3!” she grinned wildly and flipped the container around to show a masked man brandishing a chainsaw. Momo snickered disbelievingly. 

“Oh, no, not another one of your slasher thriller movies!” 

“Wahhh! Minaaaaa, you know I don’t like those,” Ochako whimpered and pushed her face into a throw pillow with a keening whine. Mina jumped up and down on the couch cushions, completely ignoring Ochako’s meek protests. The girl hopped up and scampered over to the DVD player to pop the disc in, and the whirring of a chainsaw accented by creepy music blared out of the speakers. Ochako squealed at the grotesque splashing of fake blood on the screen. “Noooooo! Hold me, Kyoka!” Ochako wailed and buried herself into the dark-haired girl’s lap. Kyoka scowled surprisedly as the brunette suddenly snuggled into her, but soothingly stroked her tresses of honey-brown hair. 

“Jeez, Ochako, you’re such a fraidy-cat.” Mina whooped ecstatically as she pressed “play” and walked over the couch and coffee table to plop back down beside Tooru. As the introduction began to play, Shoto came strolling out of the kitchen, sipping at a mug of steaming black tea. 

“Hello, ladies. Girls’ night?” 

“That’s right, Todoroki! Sorry, but you can’t join!” Mina grinned over the back of the couch, winking and sticking her tongue out at him. Shoto chuckled and commented that he would never dream of it, but as he whirled on his heel to return upstairs, Momo spoke up. 

“Oh, but I think it’s a little rude not to offer, don’t you?” she fretted, laying a hand against her cheek. “I think we can make an exception, right, girls?” She grimaced a little at a poorly-timed maniacal laugh and scream of chainsaw blades. Shoto peered over his shoulder at her with heterochromatic eyes widened in curiosity. Momo flushed on reflex; Shoto’s gaze was never anything less than intense, with those orbs of piercing blue and stormy gray. 

“I don’t care,” Kyoka shrugged, staring idly at the screen with morbid fascination. Ochako just cried pitifully into her lap, causing Kyoka to stroke her back again. “There, there. It’s not real blood, Ochako.” 

“Todoroki, do you like scary movies?” Tooru grinned as the red-and-white haired boy approached the arm of the couch on which Momo was seated. The boy glanced at the flickering screen with raised eyebrows. 

“I’m indifferent to them. I don’t really find them scary- but I’ll keep you girls company, if you like. It’s not like I have anything better to do,” he responded simply. Momo scooched over a little as he eased himself down onto the couch beside her. The cushion dipped with his weight, making her slide in so that her thigh brushed against his. While Momo blushed fiercely, Shoto only glanced at her out of his peripheral vision. He calmly sipped at his tea, and, still gazing at her, said, “So, you guys did makeovers, did you?” 

“That’s right? Don’t I look beauuuuutiful, Todoroki?” Tooru crooned. Shoto couldn’t see anything but the nail polish the invisible girl was sporting, but he still politely agreed. However, when he said it, he was staring intently at Momo. He reached up to tug lightly on one of the curls framing her face. 

“Very beautiful,” he smiled slightly. When Momo’s face flared red, he suddenly realized what he was saying and snatched his hand away. Blank-faced, he returned to his tea, but Momo could feel his body stiffen beside her. 

“Todoroki, Todoroki!” Mina beamed, draping herself over the arm of the couch to smile giddily at him. “If scary movies don’t scare you, what does?” Shoto blinked and put his hand on his chin thoughtfully. 

“Nothing, really.” Momo found it exceptionally odd, but his gaze slid to her again, and his response almost sounded lifeless. 

“Aw, come on,” Kyoka whined. Her eyes remained glued to the screen, watching the fake blood fly in arcs as the chainsaw maniac went to town on the innocent and ignorant protagonists. She was avidly listening to the conversation despite her rapt focus. Ochako peeked up from her lap, teary-eyed and white-faced from fright. 

“You mean this doesn’t scare you?” she sniffed with a gesture at the television screen. As another burst of homicidal laughter came from the television screen, she screamed and jumped up in Kyoka’s lap to bury her face into the crook of her neck. Kyoka, unfazed, patted Ochako’s head reassuringly. 

“Nope,” Shoto quipped and sipped at his tea again. “I don’t find things like this scary.” 

“What about bugs? Creeeeeepy crawly bugs?” Mina asked, wiggling her fingers to mimic the spindly legs of a centipede. Shoto shrugged indifferently. 

“They’re just bugs.” 

“Clowns?!” Tooru gasped with her invisible hands over her mouth, as indicated by her polished nails. Shoto laughed airily. 

“Why would I find some goofy guys with big shoes and gaudy make-up frightening?” Mina giggled at his response and returned to the movie, squealing with laughter when a girl bungled over her feet and tripped. 

“Bahaha! You moron! Why are you running in those heels?” Shoto chuckled to himself, amused by Mina’s enthusiasm. 

The girls continued to interrogate Shoto about his fears, listing every common phobia that they could think of, but he deflected them with cool, focused ease. At some point, he finished his tea and reclined back against the couch with his hands behind his head. As he responded to Tooru’s question concerning whether or not he was frightened by spiders that wear flip-flops, Momo tucked her legs against her body as a slight chill gripped her. It seemed the dormitory’s air conditioner had kicked in, spreading cold air throughout the room. As she shuddered, she unknowingly fell against Shoto’s right arm, making him stop short in the middle of his sentence and glance at her. It took Momo a minute to realize why he was so startled, and when she did, she began spluttering apologies. 

“F-forgive me! I trembled a little and lost my balance; I didn’t mean anything by it!” Her friends were watching her with expressions of devious amusement, which made Momo blush all the harder. Shoto’s frosty eyes fixed on her with an unsettling intensity. 

“Yaoyorozu… Are you cold?” 

“A-a little,” she admitted timidly. He blinked slowly at her, then reached behind them to grab the throw blanket folded over the back of the couch. Momo sat there, electrified, as he calmly unfurled it and draped it over her shoulder, pulling it together just under his chin. When he smiled kindly at her, Momo felt her heart jump right into her throat to choke her with blossoming affection. “T-Todoroki,” she smiled bashfully and looked down at his fingers where they held the blanket shut. She reached up to take the cloth from him, and their fingertips brushed for just the slightest second. Such a simple touch, but it sent electricity shooting up her arm like liquid lightning. 

“Better?” Shoto asked quietly. Entranced, Momo nodded without realizing it. 

“Better…” Both of them stiffened when someone cleared their throat. Both of their heads whipped to the side to see Mina staring brightly at them with a giddy smile splitting her face. 

“Gettin’ chummy, are we?” Shoto and Momo turned identical shades of crimson. 

“No!” They exclaimed simultaneously. Mina wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and continued to grin at them as she slunk back from her position on the arm of the couch. Momo retreated into the confines of the blanket, deeply embarrassed, while Shoto grimaced and tried to push himself into the gap between the couch cushions and the frame. Silence settled between them, interrupted only by Mina’s snickers and the grotesque sounds pouring from the television. Eventually, the slasher movie ended, and Mina peeled herself from the couch with a loud yawn. 

“Ahh, that was fun! <3 Let’s watch the fourth one next week!” 

“You mean there’s more?” Ochako wailed in dismay and looked at the pink girl tearily. “Please! I can’t take it! Can’t we watch a rom-com next week or something?” Mina tsked and waggled her finger at Ochako as she squatted out to remove the disc from the DVD player, then grinned. 

“I’m kidding, ‘Chako! Of course we can watch something cute next week.” Ochako exhaled deeply in relief and melted over Kyoka, who was scrolling through her social media feed now that the film had ended. Mina tossed the DVD back onto the coffee table to return to the rental kiosk later and stretched her arms above her head. “Ooooo-kaaaaaay! I’m off to bed, ladies! Girls’ Night Plus Todoroki was fun!” Shoto smiled at Mina.

“Oh, yes, I had a good time.” 

One by one, the girls filed out, leaving Momo and Shoto alone. Neither of them made any move to rise from the sofa; they stared dully at the blank black screen. Momo had begun to sweat within the confines of the thick blanket, so she shrugged her arms out of it, letting it cover her legs. The silence deafened her, ringing in her ears, so she broke the silence before she could go insane. 

“Todoroki… I’m glad you decided to join us tonight,” she offered lamely, looking up at him. He grunted and continued to gaze levelly at the television, so Momo studied his profile. He really is pretty, she thought absentmindedly as she drank in his sharp jawline and silky two-toned hair and gorgeous heterochromatic eyes. When the blue one flickered to her, she blushed pink, but found herself unable to look away. Slowly, Shoto turned to face her, and retook one of her curls to rub it softly between his thumb and forefinger. 

“How could I refuse when such a beautiful girl asks me to join?” Momo laughed nervously, thinking that surely he was teasing, but his expression remained deadly serious. Her spine straightened like a steel rod as his fingers traveled up the crimped length of her hair to brush over her jawline, then traced a path up to her cheekbones until he cupped her cheek. Momo drew in a breath as fireworks exploded through her nerves, painting invisible crackling lines all over her face. “You all wanted to know what I was afraid of.” 

“Y-yes…” she murmured and swallowed thickly. Her heart thumped hard in her chest, so loud that she thought surely Shoto could hear it. She shivered slightly as Shoto leaned in close, and her eyelashes fluttered as his warm breath puffed over her face. 

“I think I’m in love with you, and that terrifies me.” Momo swallowed again as his expression grew slightly sad. His thumb traced arcs over her cheek in gentle motions. She licked her lips nervously, and then asked, “Why would that scare you?” Shoto smiled warmly, seemingly a little relieved that she hadn’t rejected him outright. 

“I;ve never felt so strongly about someone as I do for you… I don’t know what to do with myself. I’m afraid I’ll mess it up.” Momo couldn’t help but snicker a little. Shoto blinked at her, confused. She smiled affectionately and leaned into his touch, raising a hand to cover the one that held her cheek so tenderly. 

“You’re doing pretty good so far.” Shoto chuckled. He inhaled deeply, then pressed his forehead to hers, gazing deep into her eyes. 

“You’re so beautiful, Momo.” The brazen use of her first name sent butterflies fluttering in her chest, spreading a bubbly giddy feeling finer than any champagne through her body. She smiled sweetly and pressed against him, bumping the tips of their noses slightly. Shoto’s gaze dropped to her lips, shiny with lip gloss, and he worried his bottom lip with his teeth. “Momo… Can I…” He trailed off when he glanced back into her eyes, because his answer swam within the gleaming dark depths of her irises. Slowly, he angled his face, and both their eyes drifted shut as he pressed his mouth to hers in a sweet, titillating kiss. Momo hummed at the foreign but not unwelcome sensation of his lips sliding smoothly over hers in gentle ministrations. While his one hand remained on her cheek, his other trailed up her arm, leaving fireworks behind. 

They both sighed in contentment when he pulled away. Momo’s eyelashes fluttered as she came down from the small high, and then she smiled sweetly. 

“So? Still afraid?” 

“Not as much,” he laughed lightly. “Guess it’s true that it gets better when you face your fears.” Momo giggled, and once more, they grew lost in each other’s gazes. Just as Momo considered kissing him again-

“I KNEW IT!” The two sprang apart with startled yelps as Mina screamed from the entryway/ She was nearly sobbing as she filmed the two of them with her cell phone. “Momo, baby, you’re doing wonderful!” 

“Mina!” Momo whined. Shoto had laid himself down on the floor between the couch and the coffee table, and resigned himself to a grim and embarrassing death. “This is what you call an invasion of privacy!” 

“Look, when you guys make bedroom eyes in front of us, you relinquish your right to privacy,” the pink girl shrugged. Momo’s face turned that much redder. 

“B-b-b-b-bedroom eyes?!” 

“Oi!” came Aizawa’s grumpy voice as he opened his bedroom door to glower at them. “It’s almost lights out. Stop screaming and go to bed!” He made to shut the door, then opened it back up and glared shiftily at Mina, who was whistling innocently. “And you- no extortion or blackmail.” As he slammed the door shut, Mina wailed and stamped her foot. 

“Booooo! You’re no fun, Mr. Aizawa!” 

“What were you going to do with that footage?!” Momo exclaimed as she slapped her hands to her cheeks. Mina stuck out her tongue and giggled deviously. 

“You’ll have to find out~!” 

“Minaaaaaaa!” Momo howled as the girl skipped off back to her room. Momo flopped onto her belly against the cushions, groaning. “How mortifying…” She had to smile at the girl’s shenanigans- at least they kept things interesting.” Humming, she rolled on her side to run her fingers through Shoto’s hair as he remained face-down on the floor. “You okay?” 

“I just want to die. Nothing unusual.” Momo snickered and played with the curling hairs at the base of his neck. 

“She’s only teasing. She probably won’t do anything with the video.” 

“But she’ll tell everyone and their mother,” he complained as he pushed himself up on his elbows and pouted at her. Momo giggled and cupped his face as he sat up on his knees in front of her. 

“Oh, yes, she’ll definitely do that.” There was already a chorus of stomping steps and startled “Whaaaaaaat’s?” floated down from upstairs. Shoto groaned and leaned forward to press his forehead against hers, then smiled amusedly. 

“Ah, well. I suppose it can’t be helped.” Momo hummed affirmingly. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his nose. In response, he grabbed her waist and rubbed little circles into the plush skin there. He then grimaced uncomfortably. “I don’t want to go up there.” 

“Shoto, we can’t stay down here.” 

“Why not?” 

“Because! Come on. You’ve faced one fear; what’s another?” Shoto whined as she rose from the couch, letting the blanket fall from around her body. He remained kneeling on the floor, clinging to the hem of her nightshirt, and she nudged him with her painted toes. “Come on, Shoto. Better get it over with.” 

“Fiiiiiiiine,” he grumbled, obediently rising. He remained clinging to the hem of her shirt and pressed his face into her curled hair, nearly smothering himself. “You can do the talking.” Momo snickered and patted his shoulder affectionately. 

Who knew Shoto had such a fascinating fear? She thought amusedly as she toted him up the stairs. I would’ve never guessed…

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free toperuse my Table of Contents!

Tag List: @deliathedork @simplybakugou @lovelusional @wesparklebitch @gallickingun @songsforbnha @bnha-violetnote​

[elmidol]

The Shackles of Fate - Two (NSFW)

Dark Faerie Tale AU

Read on AO3

Read Chapter One

Summary:  If one misses curfew it is not only their life that is on the line, but their very soul. You are unlucky enough to encounter the fallen faerie prince when you miss curfew. He decides to claim your soul for himself rather than turn it over to the Master he has been enslaved by. As you are drawn further into his world, you learn more of your own past and how it is connected to the stories of your childhood.

Pairing: Kylo Ren/Reader Ben/Reader

Warning: dark fic, dub con, oral

The Shackles of Fate

Two

It smelled of damp soil in the place that you awoke. Your eyelids fluttered open and you discovered that there was an extreme lack of light. Darkness pervaded the area—was it a room? Normally when you were in bed there were traces of shadows that played along the walls. There was none of that where you now were. You inhaled deeply and worked to rely on your other senses in order to ascertain your current location. It occurred to you that this could well be limbo. Purgatory. The pit of Snoke’s stomach after he had consumed your soul. There were countless phrases and terms that would equate to the same thing. If not for the feel of moss under your fingertips, you would have truly believed that you had met death for your failure to make curfew. You sniffed the air once more, however, to reaffirm that there was a distinct lack of a gastric aroma.

 One unfortunate fact of your childhood was that, as the dark faerie had stated, you had had no parents to comfort you. They had abandoned you as an infant, leaving you behind to be raised in the orphanage owned by the Plutt family. That was where you had met and befriended Rey. She had been there only a little while longer than you had. Never once did she give up on the possibility that her family would return for her. You, on the other hand, had escaped into the faerie tales and rejected the possibility that your parents had loved you. It hurt you more to think that they had wanted you only to leave you there.

 Of the many household chores that you had been assigned, it was cleaning the toilets that had forever instilled the memory of regurgitated stale beer. You had done all that you could to ensure that the outlook you had on life remained overall positive. That was the very reason you had embraced and adored tales of faeries in your youth. Your becoming a nursemaid had been due to your growing desire to bring laughter into the lives of children as a means of preventing them from experiencing a similar childhood to yours and Rey’s.

 Present circumstances did not dissuade you from believing that you had chosen the correct path for your life. The governess that you worked alongside, a woman by the name of Rose Tico, had quickly become a dear friend; and she, too, believed that you had a gift for working with the younger children in the household. Though Rose was only twenty-two years of age, her word held much weight in your opinion. She had always been wise in repeating the rules regarding surviving Snoke’s power. If you had given more heed to them, such as the at morning ensure the clock is not broken portion, you might not have wound up there.

 Where there happened to be.

 In darkness where not even the white material of your nightgown could be seen, that was where you were. You touched your hands to the clothing. You could not help but wonder how filthy it was. When you returned home—you firmly believed that you would be returning; you were willing to fight tooth and nail to do so—you would invest in a nightgown that was a darker shade. The current one would undoubtedly need to be tossed out. Allowing yourself to think of these mundane plans helped you to keep a level head. You had since risen to your feet and had started to tiptoe through the darkness. One hand outstretched in front of you, wiggling your toes between each step in search of anything that might bring harm.

 You froze when light broke through the darkness. You squinted and shielded your eyes. A silhouette emerged, obscuring a generous amount of that brightness. You gave a quick sweep of the room to survey your surroundings in case you were again sealed inside. A shout for help lodged in your throat. You did not know if you could trust the individual. Were they yet another prisoner of the faerie? One of the guards?

 Perhaps, despite his words, the faerie prince did intend on carrying out his duty of ripping your soul from your body. Not wanting to do something did not always equate to refraining from committing oneself to the dreadful task. Much as it had been in your room, there were no weapons that you could use to defend yourself. Except, of course, your fists. Your childhood had resulted in you knowing basic defensive maneuvers as well as how to properly throw a punch to break someone’s nose. Rey had also instructed you on other techniques that she had picked up during her travels.

 “I can deliver you no harm. You are his guest.” Guest was certainly not the term you would have used. You clenched your teeth in order to bite back any retort you had for the female speaker.

 All the same, you stepped nearer to the light when the other being shifted towards the left in a gesture of welcoming. You repeatedly blinked as your eyes struggled to fully adjust to the brightness. Something touched your shoulder, prompting you to jump. You spun around, your hands lifting to touch the material that had been placed on you. Relaxing, you tucked your arms into the sleeves of the travel shawl. You were grateful to have an added layer to your attire given that the wetness from the moss was causing portions of your nightgown to become rather transparent.

 The faerie standing in front of you was dressed in earthly colors. Her wings were different than those of the dark creature that had entered your bedroom. These were a translucent pink. The faerie’s face was obscured by a mask and every bit of her flesh was hidden by her clothing.

 “Should you find yourself in need of nutrition, provisions will be provided.” The faerie offered a brief bow of her head then walked around you, leaving you to your own devices.

 You knit your brow in confusion. You twisted at your waist one way then the other, searching your surroundings once more. There were wooden shelves that held filled bottles and glass jars. Curled up in a corner underneath those shelves and observing you was a small feline. Its tail reminded you of a lizard, as did the tongue that flicked out from its mouth. The sound that emerged from it was a coo.

 Upon closer inspection of the jars and bottles, you discovered the contents were things that made your stomach turn. You fought off the urge to gag upon noticing the pinkish organs that you strongly believed were human. One of the jars held coagulated blood and another ashes. Recoiling from the collection, you were relieved to find that the feline did not move to follow you when you walked in the direction of a different door than the one the faerie had exited.

 Lanterns lit your path in the garden that the door opened to. You looked back over your shoulder, wondering what the hut you had just left was normally used for. It had not been a prison cell as you had started to fear. The stench of damp soil gave way to the various perfumes offered by the flowers in the garden. They mixed together to produce a calming aroma. You had never seen such plants in your life, although they did bear a certain resemblance to some of the illustrations in picture books.

 The lanterns did not illuminate your path near as much as you would have preferred. They were spaced apart enough where shadows played on the ground and the darkness threatened to drown you every few inches. One bush of the bushes that was easily visible had berries you could have plucked off and eaten if you had wanted to.

 You knew better than to allow anything too close to your mouth. Stories had long told of humans becoming trapped as servants to the fae when they ate or drank from this realm. Governess Tico did not neglect her duty to keep the entire household, including the staff, informed of these precautions and rules. The children that you looked after knew more about imps than faeries; those more malevolent creatures specialized in stealing children away to serve in the demon king’s army. Their souls were kept in a constant state of agony until they had worn out their use, at which point the imp would officially harvest the soul for Snoke’s meal.

 You considered yourself lucky that you had been met with a faerie instead of an imp. You did have a strong dislike of faerie dust though, or at least when it was used to assist in your abduction.

 Guest my ass, you thought, your lips puckering forward in a sour expression.

 You drew the gray travel shawl more tightly around your body. In the distance you could hear voices and the occasional laughter, some of it dry and humorless. You ignored those sounds. You used the lanterns as a guide; they carried you deeper into the garden and farther away from the voices. With any luck, you would find a portal to take you back to your realm.

 “You’ll be disappointed—the portal will not open for you.” The yelp that left you had your cheeks growing hot with blush. You recognized the voice and turned to its owner.

 An absence of his helmet had not been what you had expected to find. Your eyes darted about the features of his face, which were far different than you had believed they would be. Despite having seen his jawline while he had been on your bed with you, you had not expected the rest of his countenance to also look human. His brown eyes had an intensity to them. You could not decide if you would refer to them as fierce or deep. They drew you in rather than repelled you. Because of this, you chose to think of them with the latter term. His hair was longer than you had seen on men where you lived. Your fingers twitched at the thought that those locks could very well be as soft as they appeared. The light curls looked much like feathers to you.

 “You’ve been watching me,” you said, your tone less accusatory than the situation might have warranted. His jaw twitched. You watched his lips begin to purse only to settle back into their former frown of indifference. When he failed to reply verbally, you tried once more. “I hadn’t thought that your eyes were made for a darker world.” Instantly you felt a sense of regret over your poor word choice; faeries had not always been denizens of darkness.

 His wings stretched out an inch to either side. They folded in a similar manner to a bat’s, although their texture brought to mind a moth. “The helmet?” His natural voice caused you to relax. You nodded a single time in response to his inquiry. “There are obstacles that exist between realms.” The way he spoke had changed, his tone adapting a sardonic quality. It was akin to the moments you found yourself explaining the most basic of rules to the younger children for the umpteenth time. You wondered how old this faerie prince was. That information had not been readily available in any of the tales that you had heard.

 You digested the minute amount of information he had willingly provided. First, there was a portal, likely nearby given that he had felt a need to comment on it. Second, as he had stated, it would not open for you. Faerie magics were strong and it had been such forces that had once held Snoke back from your realm. You were not arrogant enough to believe that you could break them.

“Why did you bring me here?” you asked, your level of impatience winning.

When he spoke, it was not to answer your question, but to pose another. “You truly don’t know what you are, do you?” You, having glanced in the direction of the voices of the other faeries, laid your eyes on the faerie prince. His lips were curled at the corners in amusement, his eyes pinching. It was clear that he was holding in his laughter, though a breathy exhalation from his nose managed to break through. You waited for him to tease you while revealing whatever it was he believed he was going on about. You were left disappointed.

With a huff, you decided to change tactics. “Why did you put me in that hut?”

“To carry you over my threshold would have ramifications I doubt you would be prepared for.” He had worded his reply well. Your eyes widened. The prince’s smirk appeared once more and he turned his back to you. Each time he spoke, your gaze had lowered to his mouth. His canine teeth were more pointed than a human’s, although you would not refer to them as fangs since that brought to mind a vampire. You were beginning to believe that, in his own way, he had been merciful. When he had stated that he did not wish to kill you, he had meant it and acted in a way to prevent your death.

If things were as simple as that, he would be able to break free from the demon king. There has to be more.

You ran the fingers of your right hand through your hair, tucking some back behind your ear. The faerie tilted back his head. You could hear him sniff the air. Shoulders rising, you took a step in retreat. You were at a loss how to handle this behavior. The obvious statement of it’s not human would have made you roll your eyes; understanding this, though, did little to help you from feeling self-conscious.

The faerie twisted around, closing the distance between the two of you before you had a chance to react. His wings extended their full length. You turned your head to the left so that you could take in their full size and design. You had barely enough time to react to them closing again, this time wrapping around your body and pulling you against their owner. You braced your forearms against his chest, looked up at him, and glared. You would have verbally protested his actions had he not spoken first, informing you that he was masking your scent with his own. After the female faerie had referred to you as a guest, you had dismissed the idea that others in this realm might be interested in targeting you.

Your soul, according to the treaty signed by those who summoned the demon king into the human realm, belonged to Snoke as an offering. It had never been known for certain how it was that the faeries, imps and demons were able to sense who had failed to meet curfew. It was not as though those marked lived long enough to learn this secret.

A breeze rustled the leaves in the trees and bushes. The faerie’s wings shifted off of you to once more wrap around only their owner’s body. You looked down at your clothes and found that dust coated the material. The same dust that had previously knocked you unconscious. It seemed to have more than one use. You pinched the front of the travel shawl, rubbed your fingers together through the material, and inspected the digits. None of the dust had clung to your flesh.

“It will soon be morning.”

You looked up from your fingers and met the faerie’s gaze. “You will take me back to my home—I haven’t eaten anything.” His shoulders shook in silent laughter, one of his gloved hands concealing the lower half of his face. “I…” You released a strangled noise, temporarily at a loss for words. Recovering, you tried again. “I refuse to remain your prisoner!”

He lowered the limb from his face in unison with stepping around you. The faerie circled you, his eyes in constant motion. You tugged at the hem of the shawl’s sleeves. Did wearing their clothing seal your fate? The tip of his tongue peeked out from between his lips. The faerie took a step towards you and you took one back. He repeated his actions, you yours until you felt the hard surface of a tree trunk against your back, blocking you from going any further. His hands cupped you through your nightgown. You grabbed at his wrists, your eyes wide and glued to his face. He was meeting your gaze. “Don’t fight it.” He bent two fingers at the knuckles. Straightened them and bent them again. Short, slow strokes. He teased you through the thin layer of clothing that you wore.

You trembled at his touch and averted your gaze. You knew that you had not outright rejected him. What if you did? The words refused to form on your tongue as the warmth of pleasure blossomed in your stomach and pooled lower. Your panties were becoming damp. The faerie prince prodded at you, his gentle strokes coming to an end.

“Have you ever touched yourself?” he asked. You bit down on the insides of your cheeks to keep from answering. “Some go to bed early to do so.” Teasing you, reminding you of your failure. You shrunk in on yourself then straightened as his fingers resumed petting you. “I cannot take their souls.” An admission that he played the role of voyeur. He applied more pressure, managing to work open your outer lips. He fucked his fingers into them. Your wet panties were now making the front of your nightgown wet. “I can smell you like this. You like it.”

A part of you wondered why he was doing it given his prior actions, that he had worked to mask your scent.

“You said you ate nothing?” You nodded. The smirk on his lips was a filthy promise that he sunk to his knees to deliver. “I will.” Once more you were stunned to silence. Your eyes wide, you watched as the faerie prince lifted the front of your nightgown and pulled it over his head. The fingers that had been stroking you now hooked into your panties, tugging them out of his way. His warm breath crept over you. You buried your face in your hands as your body reacted. The wetness between your legs trailed down your thighs and had undoubtedly dribbled onto his face.

Your mind conjured up the memory of that pink tongue between his lips as you felt it dance along your folds. The faerie prince sunk the tips of his fingers into your thighs, working them open, and flattened his tongue against you. You felt it undulate then curl. He pulled all that he could into his mouth, noisily slurping and groaning. If it hadn’t been for the tree, you would have collapsed. Your hands dropped away from your face and you held the back of his head through your nightgown. Tilting back your head, you closed your eyes and rocked against his mouth. The grip he had on your left thigh lessened. He hooked that leg over his shoulder then plunged his tongue into you. You gasped at the intrusion, at the way he felt inside of you. Your hands tugged at him in a futile effort to get him closer. He opened his mouth around you then slowly closed his lips, dragging them along your folds while his tongue again swirled, this time on your clit.

He repeated the act, only this time he flattened his tongue and dragged it up. Moved it in reverse so that the underside gathered more of you. Another lick from that devilish tongue. He started to draw lazy designs that may have been words. As he delivered a final stroke down with the very tip, you were brought over the edge. The world around you seemed to disappear, all sounds drowned out by the pulse in your ears. His hand was on your stomach to keep you from pitching forward. His mouth still on you, tongue greedily lapping up all that he could.

Once he was satisfied, the faerie prince withdrew from your nightgown, your panties shifting back into place. You wiggled to help them. All the while you worked to catch your breath and tried to remember why you had allowed this stranger to touch you. Not that it hadn’t felt good. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand.

“The portal will open and I will return you to your home—until night again comes. Your soul is marked. If you wish to keep it, you will not attempt to escape my protection. The imps can smell humans best of all. I will ensure your scent is masked.” He gestured in a wide arc to the many bushes in the garden. “In here you shall play while I serve the demon king.”

While you murder and ripe out the souls of others, you thought bitterly. Reality hit you hard and you felt physically ill. No matter how merciful appeared and alluring this creature was, he nevertheless was a murderer. A monster, twisted from whatever former beauty he may have been. You pressed your legs closer together and mentally berated yourself for giving into desire.

Turning, you toyed with the flower nearest to you. It was a red blossom with yellow streaks on its petals. You bent down, smelling its sweet scent, which reminded you of a hard candy that had always been your favorite. You lowered yourself onto your knees then sat on your legs. Your hands were in your lap and your eyes did not leave the flower. Resigned to your fate, until you could find a loophole, you asked for the faerie’s name. It came as no surprise that he failed to answer.

“What should I call you?” he asked. You rubbed your thumb along your leg, swiping it back and forth. Four seconds elapsed before you decided to humor the faerie prince by giving your name.

For this you earned nothing more than a grunt of acknowledgment. You rose to your feet and faced the faerie. “Are you...Ben?”

The dark winged creature flinched, drawing back from you as though you had given a great insult. “He was weak and now slumbers.” It was not exactly a no, not in your opinion. “Kylo.” He held out his hand to you. “I will take you home.”

That voice, those words, echoed in your head as you opened your eyes to find yourself staring up at the ceiling of your room. Had any of that truly occurred? Heat exploded across your face at the memory of that tongue. A dream? You touched your shoulders. There was no travel shawl. You sat up enough to push aside your blankets and examine your nightgown. It was clean, perfectly so. Your eyes shifted to the clock on the bedside dresser. It ticked, properly counting each second that passed. You started to convince yourself that it had all been a dream. Which would explain the ease with which the faerie had seduced you. Laying your head back on your pillow, however, you saw something in the corner of your eye.

You shifted on the bed, turning onto your side and staring at the small object that looked to you like a cocoon. Its design was familiar. They were… Your lips parted in a silent gasp. Kylo’s wings had the same pattern, but this was so tiny. You gently touched the tip of your index finger to the cocoon. It opened, one wing sliding down to reveal the face of a slumbering young man. He was nearly identical to Kylo, although his features were softer. More peaceful. Instead of the dark robes that Kylo had worn, this faerie was adorned in white with golden designs. He was curled with his head nestled on his crossed arms and his legs drawn towards his stomach. You carefully nudged the wing aside to see the remainder of his body.

If he were to stand his full height, he would have been just a little larger than your middle finger.

You spoke softly to the small faerie, urging him to wake up. He did not stir. You bit down on your bottom lip. If you were to leave him, there was a chance that one of the cats would enter the room and eat him.

Now slumbers, you thought with an outward groan. You had not even considered that the curse placed on the faerie prince by Snoke ran more deeply than being trapped in servitude. By night his slave, by day…

“I hope you don’t mind living in a pocket,” you muttered, rising from the bed and grabbing fresh clothes. You could already hear movement from the upper floors. The children were waking and within the hour you would once more be Nursemaid. Your predicament would have to wait until lunch hour, at which point you would be allowed to confer with Governess Tico.

[belladonnaandulriched]

the artist | chapter thirty-seven

It was tricky for me to walk into the kitchen on my own but I managed to do it: I had used the wall to my right to help keep my balance. That whole lower part of my back ached with every step, but it wasn't so much agonizing however. All I could think about was breakfast and the fact Chris and Joey were still sound asleep in my bed.

I hoped they wouldn't wake up and come into the kitchen especially with my dad right there across the table from me. I thought about Joey and the fact he had walked in willy-nilly, but I wondered if there was any explanation as to why he was in my room, especially in the times my dad cleared his throat as if about to ask me. But he never did: instead, he sipped his coffee and ate spoonful after spoonful of oatmeal, and kept his eye on his phone screen. It was almost weird to think we had almost returned to newspapers during the thick of the pandemic, given the very sight of it in our mail, but we used it more as part of kindling for the fireplace.

I swore I heard Joey and Chris moaning and groaning as part of waking up, but then again, it must have been the pain in my back doing a number on me, though, such that when my dad finally did spoke up, it startled me.

“So you going to meet up with those boys again today?”

“Um, yeah. I promised Joey I'd make something for him today.”

“I was wrong, Holly. You've shown that you can rule with the arts, even in this world.” Which coaxed a smile out of me. After all the time of hearing my dad tell me that art wasn't worth it, it finally felt like I had mastered some kind of achievement. But there was the soft noises I kept hearing near the back of the house, or so I believed they were coming from back there. I was sure of it, too, especially when I finished my cup of coffee, and stood to my feet, and ambled back to the bedroom to get dressed.

“Don't stay out too late, either,” he continued.

“Wear my mask, too,” I added.

“And definitely—wear your mask. And tell those boys to protect themselves, too.” I held onto my lower back with the back of my hand as I made my way down the hall. As it turned out, there were soft noises emerging from my room, but not in the way I had originally believed: Joey was sitting upright in bed while Chris looked ready to climb out of the window even as I put on my jeans, a black shirt, and my jacket. I ambled over to my desk for my good pencils and an eraser, the latter of which I tucked into my coat pocket.

“You wanna come with me to go visit Dave?” he offered me as he fixed his jacket.

“Blond Dave, I assume?” I asked him.

“Absolutely. I'm sure he and Stone have some good paper laying around, too—they've got to, anyways.”

I turned to Joey as I reached my arms out to relax my back.

“And what're you gonna do?”

“Me? I think I might do the same Chris's 'bout to do th' same thing here. But I think I'll wait, though. Y'know.” He winked at me.

“Of course!” I returned to Chris.

“I assume you're just the one going out the window,” I suggested as I felt my lower back twinge in a dull ache of a pain.

“Unless you want me to pick you up and slip you through this thing like a mail slot,” he cracked.

“Mail slot, is that the male version of coin slot?” I retorted, which made Joey clasp a hand to his mouth to keep the laughter from slipping out.

“You wish,” Chris chuckled for a second, only for his face to return to the usual stern expression once again. He then put one foot up on the window sill.

“I'll meet you outside, though,” he added.

“Comin' up behind ya,” Joey joined in; the last thing I saw before I stepped back out into the hallway was his swinging his legs out from underneath the blankets. I clutched onto my pencils as I ducked out of the back door and made my way around the side of the house to the front yard. I made my way to the sidewalk with my back continuing to ache, but I spotted Chris' car parked near the corner at the far end of the block. I recognized my assaulter right across the street, who resembled even more to a boiled ham, to which Chris saw him and frowned. As I neared the car, and I saw him put on his sunglasses, I wondered what was going through his mind right then. I winced as I climbed into the passenger seat next to him.

“I know that guy,” he began.

“Who, that guy?” I gestured to outside of the car and across the street.

“Yeah. I had the misfortune of jamming with him before the pandemic.”

“How was it misfortunate?”

“Have you ever encountered somebody and you just have this feeling that there's something 'off' about them?”

“Yeah?”

“I did in fact feel that way with that guy, but I was a little afraid to tell him. He was so absorbed in the music that I found him a little hard to talk to...” His voice trailed off as Joey neared the car; he climbed into the back seat and shut the door next to him no sooner had his long black curls settled on his shoulders.

“Alright, Joey—so the two of us are gonna drop Holly off at Dave and Stone's loft and then what?”

“Meet up with Anthrax. Told ya like five times—”

“Dave and Stone live in a loft?” I asked them.

“Quite a bitchin' one, no less,” Chris added. We then drove up towards the garden, but just before reaching the service station where I met Dave, Chris hung a right and we drove down the street towards a long low pale brick building nestled back towards the trees. As we pulled up to the driveway, I caught sight of the neon from the sunflowers and the other plants behind the station: tiny glimmers emerged underneath a thick black tarp and the clusters of trees. How they never managed to get caught was still beyond me at that point.

“So you gonna be alright?” Chris asked me as we pulled up to the front door.

“Of course,” I assured him.

“I mean that was sump'n else when ya got outta bed solo,” Joey added.

“Yeah, seriously,” Chris said, “—I was not expecting that in the least. So, maybe we'll come back in about an hour or so, you reckon, Joey?”

“Give or take, yeah. One of us'll shoot out a li'l text, though.”

Without another word, I climbed out of the car. I shut the door behind me, and the last thing I saw was a little twinkle in Chris' eye, one that came from behind his shades. I had whispered that into his ear while he was still asleep, and I wondered if he was even asleep at all when I did that. I made my way to the front door and knocked on the panel four times. A brief silence.

And then the door swung open and I was greeted by Dave's long blond hair cascading down from the crown of his head.

“Hey, Dave,” I greeted him with a smile.

“Hey, Holly,” he seemed surprised to see me. “What brings you here?” I showed him the pencils.

“Oh, that! Come on in!”

Their loft was small on the inside, as it consisted of a little living room with a plain gray couch before the flight of stairs; beyond the couch stood the tiny kitchen and a small wooden table with three spindly chairs.

“Not much, but it's something,” Dave explained with a shrug of his shoulders.

“Where's Stone?” I asked him.

“Downstairs. Even though he didn't contract the virus, he said he still feels awful enough to warrant a little bout of quarantine.”

“I see.”

“So what kind of art did you have in mind for me?” He showed me a big toothy grin at me.

“You,” I replied.

“Me?”

“Yeah. I want you to pose for me.”

“You want me to do what?” he stammered.

“Pose for me.”

“You wanna—go upstairs and do that? I feel like we'll have more interesting lighting up there.”

“Absolutely.”

He led me up the cobbled stone steps to the top level of the loft, two separate bedrooms on either side of me: right before me stood the bathroom and a closet. Dave strode over the bed on the left and took off his sweater, and draped it over the back of a chair next to the bed.

“That chair right there,” I said.

“Want me to sit here?”

“Yeah.”

He took a seat and I spotted a small bouquet of Hollywood sunflowers on his nightstand. He read my mind and picked those up and held them close to his chest. He shuddered a little bit and I wondered where the thermostat was in there.

“Stone's got a little bit of art paper under his bed,” he remarked. “Some left over from his hangin' out with Jeff from prior to the pandemic.”

“Chris thought he did!” I exclaimed as I made my way to the neighboring bedroom. I peered under the twin bed in there and I spotted a pad of art paper on top of a wooden easel. There were three blank sheets left, but I only needed one. When I returned to Dave's room, he had switched on his lap for a bath of golden light over him.

“Must've lasted him a long time if he had this before the pandemic,” I noted as I took my seat at the edge of the bed. A sharp pain shot up my back which brought me down to my side. He knitted his eyebrows together at the sight of that. I would have to draw laying down again.

“It really did. He'd take sheets and cut them up into smaller pieces. He also wouldn't make something every day, either.” I then lifted the pad of paper, and rested it on the bed before me. I took the hardest pencil I had—I would have to return to the speakeasy for colored pencils for the flowers. For the time being, I had to use the graphite for something more than sketching him down.

“Hold still for me,” I told him.

“Should I take my clothes off?”

“Not if you’re feeling cold, nah—you don’t have to.” He swallowed and reached down to pick up the bouquet of Hollywood sunflowers, and yet he seemed reticent to do so, given he held his hand over the base of the bouquet.

“Yeah,” I gently encouraged him. “Just—you know, hold still for me.”

At one point, I leaned in closer to his face to smell the pot on his hair, except it wasn't so much right up in my face: like a fragrance he used to spray on the side of his neck after he climbed out of the shower. And somehow, that helped me draw those blond waves better with the harder graphites.

His face was interesting to draw with that brow and that nose: it wasn't like Chris who appeared completely uniform, or Lars and his softness, or Joey and his exotic depths. Dave made me think of a goat, from the flared nostrils and the default stern expression. He was missing the little horns on top of his head.

And much to my surprise, drawing him and the flowers didn't take very long, not like when I drew Joey and Will the first time in the speakeasy. I believed that since it was just me and him, I didn't have Lars glancing over my shoulder, but then again I was laying on my side and drawing in an odd position. It was either pain in my back, or a continuous ache in my elbow and shoulder.

I lifted back into an upright position to show him the drawing. I wasn't all too pleased with it because of how I was laying on the bed, but I wanted to draw him regardless of what went on inside my body. His face lit up and his mouth dropped agape.

“Wow!” he exclaimed. “Lemme see—” He lay the bouquet down on the bed so he could take the drawing pad for a closer look. I watched him fawn over this drawing like he was a kid at Christmas. “Wow. Just wow, I'm truly impressed, Holly. Which reminds me—” He raised his gaze back up to me. “—I really hope the rumors aren't true.”

“What rumors?” I asked him.

“Apparently there's this new thing—Stone overheard it while he was in the hospital—that because of the virus returning, the arts are going to be made robotic at some point. Like they can put the soul of a human into them or something. The soul of a human after they died from the virus and put into robots.”

“So I could be expecting to find myself a human amongst machines is what's going on?”

“Probably. Who knows—he admits he was under a bunch of painkillers when he overheard that.”

“Yeah, but I was under a bunch of painkillers and I feel like I can think much more clearly now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it's like—a part of me that never surfaced before is here and now after looking at Joey through the eyes of morphine.”

“I've found that—” He cleared his throat. “—even by drinking the occasional bit of alcohol and taking hits from a bud—these things loosen your inhibitions. They make you do the things you want to do and as a result, they change you forever.”

I inched in closer to him, such that I could feel the warmth from his body. He shook his head at the sight before him.

“Wow,” he remarked in a hushed voice, and he raised his gaze back up to me.

“I feel closer to you now,” he said, “I’ve wanted to come closer to you for a while now.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. You know, ever since you and I met each other, I had a feeling you were a cool chick. You just kinda looked it. You know when you meet someone you get kind of a vibe from them that says they’re of good company? I always got that with you. I always wanted to get to know you better, too.”

“Well... why didn’t you say something?” I asked as I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear.

“We’ve been trying to keep the garden under wraps—you know. It being a post-collapse garden and everything. It’s not even supposed to be there. Stone and I also just assume you have more on your mind. He and I respect you and your privacy that way.”

He showed me a warm little smile for a second before he spoke again and his expression turned solemn.

“I should also tell you something—and don’t say this to anyone, could you? I feel like if other people like Chris or even Stone find out about this, I could come under a hellfire of sorts.”

I widened my eyes at him.

“What—is it?” I sputtered.

“Have you ever wondered why you don’t see Will that often?”

I paused for a second.

“Not ‘til right now, no.”

“Okay. Have you video chatted with anyone before?”

I nibbled on my bottom lip because I promised Joey to keep it a secret between me and him.

“Yes.”

“Have you wondered why no one uses the computer in the back room of the speakeasy?”

“Yes?”

Dave peered over his shoulder, even though we were alone there in his loft. Stone was downstairs in the basement; he returned to me and gestured for me to move in closer.

“I think Will is in the sex industry,” he told me in a low voice.

“And?” I shrugged at that. “I mean, I’ve drawn him before—he is quite the babe.”

“Like the garden, I don’t know if it’s legal here.”

“Oh, shit.”

“Yeah. I’ve been dying to tell someone about it, though, just because it all checks out and again, he could pay the price for it, too. We’re all friends—we all need each other, you know?”

“Need each other and look out for each other,” I added. “Such that we’ll lie for each other.”

“Such that we’ll lie for each other,” he echoed and showed me a little wink. I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket right then; I checked to find a message from Chris.

“They're coming back already?” Dave wondered aloud, as stunned as me.

“Apparently so. That was fast! He says Anthrax are at the speakeasy right now—each of them wearing a mask and they're all negative for the virus.”

“Good, because Stone put our masks in the wash before he took a nap and I have no idea if it's done yet.”

[xxplinkxx]

Taiyuu spar: Moya vs Yuu

Taiyuu- @taiyuu-high-oct Nanako Yuu- @artibun Kemuri Moya- me   There was huffing, the cold but airy dust had now paved away. Slowly revealing the result. A man loomed over someone else, bamboo-like stick in hand. His brows were furrowed, but not in a bad way. Instead, it was the worrying kind that was on his expression. The middle of the arena was frozen, as the air chilled to such an extent you could see your breath pretty clearly as you exhaled. In the long, but thin chilling silence that followed after Senshi Yasashii and Hiyasu Shimokizu’s fight, a loud, but distant clapping can be heard. It came from one of the two taiyuu teachers who had watched and spectated this fight.

 “Ooho man!~ What~ a~ fight!! You both did very well, no matter who came out triumphant!” Exclaimed the 1-A teacher, the hero Aurora, was ecstatic with how this spar had been, watching it was like you were on a roller coaster! It was said the same with the other battles so far. As they had both been unexpected. These students were full of surprises! Though her student had lost, the many paths paved for potential, and growth was there. She gave a bitter smile as Shimokizu had lost the round, despite the powerful quirk usage.

 Another voice joined in, coming from the 7ft tall hero, Wolfsboon. The 1-B teacher of taiyuu, the enemy of 1-A’s teacher. Crossing his arms, he talked. “Hmph. Honestly, 1-B gained a winning victory, was both unexpected and quite up to par.” Solemnly stated the monotone but serious Wolfsboon. During the spar, he was surprised again and again. He had seen quite the potential out of the quirkless student, Yasashii, in this match. “It seems the principle found quite the unexpected but skillful student. Weak in natural power, but does make up for it in skill. How prosperous.” He commented with a small smile as Yasashii helped Shimozuki up from her icy collapsed position. Both shook hands, bowing to each other, making small talk, and going their separate ways. The duo exited the boxy but greyed arena.

 During that fight, both enemy and frenemy students had cheered the two on. Making critique comments on the two sparrers. Also throwing insults and comments at one another in the spectating border. Especially 1-B’ exemplary student: Ozen Fujinuma and 1-A’ boisterous student: Takakutou Shakou. The two had clashed head-to-head on a one on one battle of words! Yo mama jokes and nasty insults that brought up the weaknesses of some students when they each had their spar. But for now, it was a tie. For now…

 As the two went opposite ways their classmates both congratulated and commented on the fight. Some were good, some were critiques on the fight. One student, Tokachi Ameko, had gotten the task of bringing Shimozuki to the nurse’s office. Senshi had volunteered to help as he was responsible for the gal’ over usage of her quirk. Making her body’s temperature drop. She was chilled, freezing, almost cold to the touch. But, both students of opposite classes did agree the whole thing was unexpected, the hype during the battle was like a rollercoaster ride. Though loud clap was heard as it quieted down the chatter. “M’kay! Now remember kiddos, this is a spar. We’re not here to kill each other! But do keep up the spunk you little rascals!” Aurora stated happily and loudly. Though the spars are coming to an end, the two teachers now know what’s needed to be done!

 Help identify and point out the student’ weaknesses, have them come up with ways to get rid of those weaknesses. They would exert the growth and development of these guys, making them fine heros. “Hmm~ now this is quite the revelation! Next up is: Moya Kemuri and Nanako Yuu.” Exclaimed the feisty Aurora. Meanwhile, Wolfsboon furrowed and twitched a brow, giving a frown. Moya, that cloud kid who always slept in class. It didn’t bother him much, except for the fact the kid was tired all the time that it was unpleasant. He’s spotted moya sleeping outside, always on a cloud, every damn time. I mean if he was that tired then why bother coming to class? Though teaching was unpleasant, at least stay up for it if you were to waste his time. He gave a silent huff as he folded his arms once again, dipping his head backward, facing the clear blue sky. “Let's see if the sleeping kid has the potential per the same as the others” he stated in a serious but quiet tone.

 Meanwhile, in the 1-B spectator area, was Moya Kemuri himself. And boy, was his expression stressed! Anxiety was lingering in his eyes as he was daunting over the fact he might disappoint his classmates! I mean c’ mon-! This was his first fight after all! And on the first day of school as well? It made his pull at his bushy ponytail.. he could feel his anxiety in the pit of the stomach. During Senshi and Shimozuki’s spar, Moya was quiet and didn’t join the others in talking much. But his eyes were sparkling, a starry gaze as how cool Senshi was when they fought to win. Gakusa’ was second because of that unexpected encyclopedia. He did, however, worry for Shimozuki because man- she looked like she would die from making the air too cold. Her skin turning pale with bits of ice stuck onto it, small shivers worsened the more she fought with her quirk.

 Now his name being called made him jolt, flinch even. As his thought process snapped. Eyes were on him now- and damn sure he isn’t ready for them to be. As chatter from earlier quieted down. The clouds on his head were turning into a mixed gradient of dark gray black and light blue. He had always worn a cloth masked over his mouth and nose. Not because he has something to hide oh no- mainly because his stress makes him hyperventilate. Others beforehand had commented on the hyperventilation as ‘rude’ ‘weird’ and a ‘what’s your deal?’ for a variety of reasons. Others had just shifted away from him and gave him looks. So to hide it, he covers it up. Everything went better after that, so now he’ll just cover it up. He stepped onto the arena, stairs were there to get up on it. Think of it as a wrestling arena type of thing. He looked around, still worrisome, as his opponent, Nanako, had climbed up on stage.

 He raised an eyebrow at the gold-colored wings. Oh, those were quite pretty! Though it seems Yuu was making a firm and determined facial expression. A stubborn one looking ready to fight like it’s her last breath. However, Moya just wore a shocked and distressed expression. He did not want this fight to go on- so he furrowed his brows. He set his sights on being determined to end this the moment the fight started. M’kay! Now as always start the battle on the count of three!~” shouted the ecstatic aurora. “1!~” Moya was readying himself, calming his nerves as his clouds had turned a shade of yellow-orange.

 The 1-B students were packed with tension. Not many of them even knew Moya pretty well, better yet know who he even is. So all they can do is, see who’s going to win. Of course, throw insults at the enemy class during this fight. “2!~” Nanako still had that determined expression, as she stared down her tall opponent, moya. A slick drop of sweat dripped down from her right cheek. As she too, was readying herself for this fight and ongoing tension. “3~ -!!!”Aurora didn’t even get to finish the sentence as Moya had already initiated this fight. He had made a quick but airy stance as he clenched the air around his hand. Making the veins of his open hand pop out if you look closely and arch his fingers. Two thick greyed but dulled and charred clouds came from his arm. They were jolting and packed with bold yellow electricity! Flickering here and there you can barely see it as you blink. As it was summoned from Moya's forearm, it connected with h. Resulting in it going straight for Nanako’s neck. As it was about to close in on Nanako's face, she jumped. Her reflexes getting the better of her as she bolted up and off the ground. She only moved by instinct, seeing the cloud at the last minute. Her face was pale. 'I didn't even see that!' she thought, panic binding her facial expression as her brows furrowed. Currently, she was but a few feet up into the air. And it was quite true, the fast and furious cloud was all but a deep black blur to the spectators.  The spectating students let out gasps, some cooed in amazement, some thought it was quite the surprise.

 As she flew Nanako was thinking of a plan, anything. Should she retaliate and edge on Moya in fighting more? No no. He's a fellow student of Taiyuu,... and she'd probably have a guilty conscience of doing it to this guy. So she decided on dodging. Up until she can find the right time to strike. So in the midst of it, she was chased around by the two clouds of bolted lightning. Making her lose stamina, so after ten minutes of this awful chase, she stopped. Flying up at the fastest, remaining speed she could muster. The clouds followed of course, but Nanako did a short spin- stopping her flight and letting herself drop. Having a leg positioned to the ground, as she fell through the two clouds. Both dissipitated, mainly because they kept on going upward, Moya didn't react in time to stop and move them. But as she fell Moya clicked his tongue, snapping his fingers and muttering a 'sorry.' As the seemingly-dissipated clouds reconnected with each other. Their splotches of fluffs going back to form, smashing against each other from behind Nanako. The Nanako who was trying to stop her gravitating fall... Utterly striking one of the wings, the top half at least. Yuu then let out a quick but loud shriek. as she stopped her movements and grabbed the cut wing. She felt like she had been struck by a large pin of lightning! So she stopped all movement focusing on the wing.

 This resulted in Nanako falling to the ground before she fell she was near Kemori and upon falling she managed to grip her body's direction. Which was, afoot to kick moya in the face with. I mean her body was going haywire- in the air at least. She tried to flap and move it but without the other end, she moved in a diagonal direction. Because you know what? She didn't want to go down without a fight.  So she's decided to kick moya in the face and, he was in a daze from exhaustion. So when he saw her foot inches from his face he just stood there in motion, letting himself roll back and crash. And this made Nanako go "Eh!?" Comments of how this was ...an odd thing to happen. With the 2B Ozen commenting on how slow the guy's reaction was. Sure he's got a good amount of power, but it drains his energy and hinders his reaction. A thing hero's needed. Another thing that the cloud kid needed to work on, it was troublesome. Even Wolfhard was stunned...

 But as Moya laid there another odd thing happened. The ground reverberated, as moya's seemingly unconscious body started to hyperventilate. He was shivering- his whole body was. As his pupils were going up and down, in and out. He was blinking in and out of consciousness. Eyes were white, he started breathing more rapidly convulsing even, as the clouds on his head disappeared. a flashback appeared. This made Nanako panic even more- oh god- she didn't think this guy would have such spasms after getting kicked in the face.

 Smiling faces. the two older brothers and his twin, Kanato. But Kanato looked like Lin- It went black. It was like watching a movie- a dream of some sort. As he turned to his left. Confused and wide-eyed, he saw the twins as children. He was standing in front of a short but white-greyed playground brick wall. Plants behind him and such as he was battered and bruised. moya squinted as he was making a worrisome face. He couldn't see this scene very well- it was blurry. He pondered and wore a nervous smile. As he started running he slowly came to a stop. His whole expression dropped, he looked like he was seeing something unbelievable. Younge Moya was- suffocating three others. It was a flashback on the entrance exam- but a continuation of it. It was where the young moya was wearing a darkened expression as it looked down on the three who were starting to choke and gag. Suffocation at its finest as there was a ring or large clouds around them. Parents trying to break in, the children clawing the clouds to get out. With a young Lin, collapsed on the ground behind the younger moya. A bright red handprint and some dirt on the kid. It seems the younger moya had seen his twin gets hurt.

 But now the kids in those kids' faces were turning purple. A wave of panic hit as he ran over to the kids wide-eyed. Moya was all shakey, anxiety was found on his expression as he entered the scene. touching the clouds as one obeyed and vanished. The kid collapsed completely, passing out. But as he was reaching for the other cloud, the small Moya had appeared in front of his face. Everything had gone black, the younger version had an explicted face that was covered in a seemingly black bundle of doodles. It tilted its head at him. Moya was going to question the smaller one when all of a sudden he was tackled by hands? He panicked more as he was being dragged, halfway as he grabbed ahold of the floor. Positioning himself as he leaned forward, an arm down and hand near it. Grabbing the floor. Everything had turned dark, the younger moya slowly turning his attention to the older, present one. The younger one leaned in but...present Moya couldn't see the exact facial expression from the mouth. He did freeze in place. Moya made a desperate face and frown, as the younger one cracked a devilish and sinister smile behind that bundle. He stopped, his desperate expression worsening to fear as childish laughter chimed in. The younger one stopped. Approaching and setting a foot onto Moya's forehead, swiftly pushed Moya into the hole as everything blackened. He felt fear, a terrible one. As he started to go deeper and deeper...thoughts, words, phrases, from Lin came in. A desperate attempt at hope? Maybe. He didn't know as he kept falling and falling, deeper and deeper into the hole.

 Nanako had backed away since the more or so subconscious moya started hyperventilating more, along with the fact the ground was shaking. She then winced in pain, clicking her tongue and biting her lip. One of her wings were cut and damaged! Making her remember those terrible, terrible flashbacks on when her wings were cut and ripped off as she blacked in and out. She bent over as she stood and gripped her head. Man these, hurt, painful too. Her being held harshly and restrained- to tear off the dazzling golden wings.  She subconsciously backed away, an eyebrowed raised and she held her arm out to act as a shield if anything fatal happened. She was in a defensive stance, but moya then stopped convulsing. She still gripped her head but hesitantly lowered her arms to a slight degree. She was starting to worry about the man, maybe she should see if he's ok... I mean this was a spar, and because of the guy's reaction, she thought she broke something...Nanako was going to check up on the cloud kid, she even started to hesitantly approach him. ..But all of a sudden clouds of all kinds filled the arena. Surrounding the butterfly-quirk user as clouds of lightning, gas, acid rain, storm, etc filled up and kept on filling up. Some merged when they touched, but the result was quite a large multicolored and sickly looking cloud.

 Taking up space as much as the arena itself. "What the-!!" Nanako yelled before they all attacked at the same time. Students in the spectating ring braced themselves for the impact, but then a loud voice cut in. Making everyone stop, even the cloud itself. "Nanako Yuu is immobilized! The winner is Kemuri Moya!!" Aurora stated as she cut the eery silence. The cloud stopped, and as it stopped it started to evaporate. At the end of the dust-like evaporation, Moya was there. Standing in the same spot he was kicked into and convulsed in.  It put Nanako in a daze, furrowing her eyebrows, before snapping out of the minute-long daze she panicked while giving a smile that seemed to be confused as what had just happened. What caused Moya to stand back up though? Her martial arts skills surely hit him, he even fell at the kick she gave when she couldn't keep herself in the air.

 "Wh- what-... Is there something wrong?? Did I do something wrong??" Stated the still full of spirit and confused, Nanako. A drop of sweat was located on her right cheek. She had been trying to push the idea of the pain coming from the half ripped wing.

 "No No. there is nothing wrong. It's just that with your wings being cut, and Kemuri' clouds surrounding you, both equal to being immobilized." Wolfhard stepped in and talked in a stern voice as he approached the two. He wore a frown. His eyes were arched and narrowing at Nanako. Her the top left wing was completely torn off, a messy rip though... He then turned at the conscious but confused moya.  "...Kemuri. Go take Nanako to the infirmary to see the nurse." He stated clearly, though passing by the furrowed and concerned moya. He stated something else, quietly and with a low growl. "Take better care of your control. Otherwise, we'd have to restrain and treat you as a villain. You did in fact, almost kill a fellow student with that mystery power box of a quirk." He stated quietly, whereas only moya could hear. There was a disappointment and a serious but angry tone to his voice. Moya could hear it, as he too- was disappointed in himself.  It seems all those clouds had merged collectively, forming a hideous black bolted cloud, but stopped once Moya woke up from Aurora announcing him the winner.

 He bit his tongue as he looked down. "...Yes sir." He replied sadness was in his tone as he looked over at Nanako. She was in confusion, as she tempted to make her way to the nurse's office herself. Stumbling in the process, before moya summoned a cloud under her to catch the fall. Seems that the damage from the wing was recuperating to her head. Making her feel lightheaded, looks like she pushed off the pain. Making Moya concerned, but didn't say anything as the two made their way to the nurses' office.

[sunfirekid]

👀 + Introduce us to your crew, Ship and Captain!

Send me a “👀 + a question” and my muse has to answer honestly!

Alright, this is gonna be a long one. Hope you’re all ready for DDM’s Crews!

“Thanks for the question Anon!  Welcome to the home of the Sun Fire Pirates.” 

With a wide grin he points over his shoulder to the large ship docked behind him. The ship abandons the traditional wood for a more sleek black metallic design with red sun insignias spread about the hull along with some windows so that passengers can see outside. The rest of the ship has different shades of white, gray, and more red spread about. At the head of the ship was a figurehead of a beautiful woman with her hands clasped together staring upward toward the sky. “This here is our ship called the Sunseeker. Believe it or not, it’s actually a flying ship and was made in such a way where my powers can be used to power it, but not only will my powers run the ship it can also be powered by the sun’s natural energy which is why the hull looks so well metallic.”

Moving inside Hiru shows off the four main floors of the ship, not counting the helm or deck. The first stop on the tour of the ship was on the first floor. Hiru showed off what could be considered the living room type area, which was basically a planetarium-like room with a sun in the top right corner of the room being the main source of light with many stars spread about the room. The ceiling swirled with lustrous colors like that of a universe and gave off the feeling that it was moving. Within this room were two of the Sun Fire Crew: “This is Ki, the ship’s Spy and that’s X, the first mate.” Hiru pointed at the two. 

Ki was a fit curvaceous woman of a more tannish complexion with neck length blue hair, yellow eyes currently dressed in a red short skirt, black high-heeled boots, and a fishnet top under a no sleeved white jacket that is zipped up partially, who as soon as she realized what was going on immediately winked at the “audience” with a sultry smile. X on the other hand was a well built dark skinned male with short black hair whose body was covered in numerous scars. He wore an untucked purple oxford shirt buttoned up to the top minus one button with the sleeves rolled up, black slacks, black shoes, and a grey mask similar to a certain Uncle Mask but without the holes and only a purple “X” drawn on the front. Actually, as soon as Hiru entered, the “X” had seemingly taken the form of a question mark.

The next stop on the first floor was the kitchen which just so happened to be attached to the dinning room. The kitchen was adorned in what one could consider professional restaurant level hardware from multiple stove tops, to deep fryers, to multiple ovens, if you could see it in a restaurant kitchen it was here. The adjacent dining room was a fair bit more simplistic as it held a table for the crew to dine and enough chairs to hold each member and guest if they happened to had passengers. Both rooms shared a similar color scheme of red’s and white’s. These two rooms currently had four members of the crew and once again Hiru pointed them out. “That’s our chef Shiro in the kitchen. Over there at the table are our musician Bamboove, who goes by Bamby, and our swordsman Gilver. And the guy frantically cleaning up in the corner there is the quartermaster and helmsman Cody Omega.”

Shiro, an olive skinned, golden eyed, white curly haired, man with a scar right under his left eye that runs diagonally that’s about the same build as Hiru white curly hair wearing a tucked in white oxford shirt buttoned all the way up, white pants, and white shoes with a gold trim to them, peaked out from the kitchen area holding an orange in his hand. “Orange you glad you took this tour?” 

Bamboove, a red panda mink who looks fairly plump mostly due to his fur wearing blue parachute like pants, a jacket similar to Hiru’s but in the colors of green and blue, laughed at Shiro’s pun. “Yo, that’s a good one. Keep comin’ up with puns like those and I’ll be done!” Gilver, a messy white haired fair skinned man with dark brown eyes wearing a black muscle shirt under a blue vest jacket that showed off his tattoo of a white snake winding up his right arm, gray camouflage pants and black boots, instead groaned and shook his head. “I swear, your jokes are even worse than my brother’s….” 

Meanwhile, Cody a fair skinned muscular man with dirty blonde slicked back hair, 5 ‘o-clock shadow and wearing green baggy pants, black boots, a brown belt, continued to frantically clean, not even acknowledging Hiru’s presence.

After leaving the kitchen, the second floor was the next destination as Hiru took the steps that led down into the ships interior. This floor housed the sick bay, workrooms, quarters, and washroom. There wasn’t much that stood out about these areas except for the quarters being separated by a thick wall so that both the men and the women had proper privacy. Throughout the walk around the second floor Hiru came across two more crew mates. 

In the sick bay Hiru pointed out the short tanned woman with neck length blond hair with brown highlights and green eyes. The woman was evidently pretty curvy despite the clothing she was wearing which was a green long sleeve blouse with a white vest over it, an ankle length black skirt with a slit that runs to her lower thigh and white knee length boots. “This is Minami! She’s our ship’s doctor!” At the introduction Minami’s cheeks grew a shade of red as she bowed her head politely barely getting out a “H-hello. Nice to meet you.” 

In one of the workrooms sat a dark skinned man with black hair cut close to his scalp wearing aviator shades, a black jacket with tuffs of white fur at the collar, khaki pants, and black shoes. He was going through all the expense reports as Hiru entered. “This is Kanji, he’s our….” Hiru was cut off as Kanji whirled on the captain, “Damn it Hiru, I set the budget for a reason! You went two beri over!” After a minute of Hiru being chewed out and being “enlightened” on the benefits of following the budget the door closed and Hiru finally finished his statement, “He’s our merchant.”

The tour would continue proper as the next destination was the third floor. This floor housed the engine room and managed the power as well as the water being filtered through the ship. Only one crew member was here but before Hiru could introduce the man of olive complexion with black spikey hair with a tuft of white in the center donning a black muscle shirt with the word “Jackpot” written on the chest, baggy grey pants with a belt that runs diagonal from his waist to his hip that held tools meant for ship building, and flip flops, the larger man spat out his toothpick in frustration, “God fucking damn it. Gilver bought the wrong damn panel, AGAIN. I swear despite having just about everything the same as me the man has no mechanical sense at all.” After his tirade the man turned back and upon seeing Hiru waved with a grin. “Howdy captain. Don’t mind me my damn idiot brother bought the wrong…” Hiru nodded, “I heard. Make sure you tell Kanji so he doesn’t take it out on me again.” Hiru chuckled before pointing at the obvious shipwright, “That’s Tony Redgrave, he’s our shipwright if ya couldn’t guess.”

With the third floor mainly housing the main mechanical features of the ship, that left on last floor, the fourth floor. This floor was the bottom of the ship and housed the training room. This area of the ship has clear evidence of having been reinforced all to hell and contains many crazy heavy weights as well as small bands laced in sea prism stone, mainly for Hiru to use but can also be used by other devil fruit users of the ship. This last area was also where the last member of the crew was. She stopped mid workout to plop herself down atop Hiru’s shoulders with a grin. “Hey cap’ what are ya up to?” Hiru grinned back up at the dark skinned woman who wore her black hair in an afro puff with a purple muscle shirt, a pink headband, white short cargo shorts, black and pink sneakers, and a log pose.“I’m giving a tour of the ship and introducing everyone.” The woman nodded and hopped off his shoulders, her grin beaming all the more, “I’m Ashe! I’m the navigator!” She introduced herself and flashed a peace sign. “How was that?” Ashe turned back to Hiru who nodded and flashed an “ok” sign with his hand. “Perfect.”

Now with the ship completely explored and same for the crew that left one person unaccounted for. “Oh and I’m Lockheart D. Hiru. I’m the captain of the Sun Fire pirates! If ya wanna know more, then I guess you’ll just have to join me for an adventure won’t ya?” 

[yourcoolfriendwithallthecandy]

Crowe Week Day 1- Late Nights

I know, I know I’m very late, but in my defence I didn’t know croweweek was a thing and I didn’t find out until the second to the last day so I know I’m late in my submissions but better late than never. So without further adeu, here is my submission for Day 1 of Croweweek2019 for @crowedeservesbetter this takes place in my Magic and Miracles universe that’s a modern AU. And yes that is the black rose bathbomb by Lush that inspired this fic to begin with. 

Crowe Week- Day 1- Late nights. Magic and Miracles modern AU universe. Rating G. Pairing Crowe/Libertus. 

Crowe was usually always a night owl. It didn’t help that her baby, Raven, still in the womb was one too. Between midnight and 2 am was her ‘must be awake and do my exercises’ time and if Crowe didn’t fall asleep before that, she couldn’t fall asleep until Raven wore herself out and went to sleep herself at 3 am.

But the closer Crowe got to her due date- the more uncomfortable she became and the more the kicks which had sparked joy and giggles before now began to become uncomfortable because Raven was running out of room. Sylva had offered that the moment Crowe went into labor, to call and she would fly Crowe’s and Libertus’ family out who were back home on stand by.

In the meantime, Crowe had busied herself getting Raven’s nursery just the way she wanted it. Raven was going to be an unconventional baby in that the nursery was monochrome. Shades of white, gray and black. Not that Raven would never wear pink or purple or anything like that, but that was the aesthetic of the nursery is all. Crowe made sure all of Raven’s clothes were washed, folded and organized and packed and repacked her hospital bag and made sure that was ready to go as Libertus and Nyx were still taking classes at Culinary Institute of America in New York to become chefs while Lunafreya was in class at New York Medical Collage working on her doctorate nearby and Crowe already did all of her bartending classes during her pregnancy even though it sucked to go through school and not be able to actually partake in what you were making but she made due. So now that Crowe was certified and all that, all she needed to do was focus on Raven and just..waiting.

Sylva and Selena had sent a ‘mommy care package’ with bath bombs, face masks, special shampoos and conditioners and lotions and nail polish and just everything imaginable so Crowe could pamper herself while she waited for Raven to arrive. Libertus and herself had even gone through every parenting class at the hospital to make sure they were ready for this baby.

It was finally week number forty and Crowe was now due any day now. And once Crowe was finished with the last load of ‘baby laundry’ and was done with her and Libertus’ laundry, she decided to make herself a steak, smothered in sauteed mushrooms for lunch and ate it from the comfort of her bathtub as her favorite bath bomb, the black rose by Lush, dissolved and fizzed away in the water and once Crowe was done eating, she washed her face and put on a mud mask, also by Lush and simply relaxed in the hot water.

“Any time now, you can come out.” Crowe muttered to her daughter as she relaxed in the water. Crowe had lost her mucus plug already and Raven had shifted down and was already head down and seated in Crowe’s pelvis and all Crowe needed was to go into labor and for her water to break and she was hoping that Raven would come on her own and if not, Crowe had already made plans to be induced on Saturday and Crowe really did not want to be induced but she couldn’t risk Raven getting too big in the womb and having complications that way.

And then, as if on cue, Otis, Crowe and Libertus’ bulldog got up and stared at Crowe’s belly as if through the wall of the tub and barked and only a few seconds later- Crowe felt her first contraction as her eyes snapped open and she looked down. Because she was in the bath tub, the weightlessness of being in the water lessened the pain of the contraction as she put her hands on her belly and waited, for several long minutes, a few minutes turned to five minutes which turned to 10, 10 turned to fifteen and fifteen turned to twenty and just as Crowe was about to give up and think it was a fluke- Otis barked again and there was another one, and then she felt it, the gush of her water breaking as it gushed between her legs in the bath water and it made her gasp before she squealed in delight and quickly washed her face off in the water and kicked the drain with her pedicured toes to drain the tub as she reached for her phone to call Libertus as she pet Otis and cooed to him that he sensed that it was time for his ‘little sister’ to come.

“Hey, you’re daughter’s coming, the water just broke and I’m getting contractions.” Crowe informed her husband excitedly as she stood up and drained the tub before she had to crouch before she got on her knees when another contraction hit and as soon as all the black bathwater drained she rinsed the tub and refilled it again. The contractions were too far apart to head to hospital yet and she was going to relax and labor in the bathtub and sat back down before she remembered to call her moms and Sylva as well as Libertus’ parents to let them know the baby was on it’s way.

Fifteen minutes later Libertus burst into the house and started hollering for her, clearly already in a panic. “Crowe!” Libertus called out as he looked through the apartment.

“Up here!” Crowe answered before she snickered a laugh when she heard Libertus tromp up the stairs to see Crowe still in the tub, Otis, their bulldog sitting down next to the tub, standing guard over his mama as he had refused to leave her side through any of this.  

“What are you still doing in the tub?!” Libertus asked as he knelt down next to the tub.

“Because this shit is easier to do in the tub. These contractions hurt but they’re not close enough together to go to the hospital yet, they’re only 12 to 13 minutes apart.” Crowe explained. “Once they get like seven minutes apart, then I’ll get out and get dressed and we’ll go. But we’re ok, we don’t need to rush yet. I already called everyone, they need an hour or so to get ready to go to meet up and the flight will take an hour and a half, we have time.” Crowe explained calmly.

“Oh,” Libertus frowned. “Well what do you want to wear to the hospital, I can at least get that out for you.” Libertus said as he got up and kissed his wife before he went to the bedroom as Crowe directed him to pick what she wanted to wear- out for her.

“Lib! Lib! Lib!” Crowe called out as she got a contraction as he came rushing back in and Crowe reached out to get his hands to put them on her belly so he could feel the contractions which woke Raven up who kicked in retaliation to the contraction. Then Nyx and Lunafreya got home and Crowe put on a bra nursing bra so Nyx could come into the bathroom as Nyx and Luna were the first to offer their congratulations as Luna came in and insisted she braid Crowe’s hair while they waited for the contractions to speed up before she washed her hands and put on exam gloves and checked Crowe to see how dialated she was.

“Wow, Crowe, you’re at four centimeters already, you’re doing really good.” Lunafreya informed Crowe since the hot water helped relax all of Crowe’s muscles both inside and out as the water was starting to stain pink.  

Crowe caved and at 9 minutes apart, got out of the tub and had Libertus help her get dressed as they got their go bags and got in the car and Crowe couldn’t look out of the windshield as Libertus drove to the hospital because he suddenly seemed to drive like a mad man and Crowe didn’t want to get worked up and slow down the labor but she did hit him quite a bit and about half an hour after they got to the hospital, got checked in and were shone a room and Crowe got hooked up to monitors and in her hospital gown did everyone arrive from the airport.

Sylva and Luna slipped into doctor terms as they talked about the labor with Crowe’s doctors and nurses as Prompto took pictures of Crowe and Libertus and all their friends who gathered around to support Crowe, filling the room with flowers galore as Crowe’s mothers each got on a side of her as her little siblings hung out in the room.

Once everyone settled down and settled in and hotel rooms were booked and luggage was taken to said hotel rooms, it was a waiting game, all the girls surrounding Crowe to talk catch up as the guys kept Libertus entertained and talking on the other side of the room to let the girls talk and gossip as all the girls then revealed their ‘push presents’ aka bottles of wine and six packs of really good beer before Sylva revealed her own push present, a black diamond jewelry set that Crowe oohed at that Prompto captured on his camera.  

Crowe labored long into the night and right at 1am, she finally transitioned into her final stage of labor and kicked everyone out except for her moms and Libertus and the doctors and nurses and Prompto since he was the photographer as everyone else waited patiently and anxiously outside the room, huddled around the door as they listened closely. Crowe’s BFF Ada doing so the most as she held onto her own five month pregnant belly with Luche right behind her, anxiously rubbing her back because even he was anxious as this was for him a preview of what he’d be going through in just a few months himself.

And at 1:37am, Raven Grace Ostium was born and immediately let herself be known by belting out a very loud scream as everyone in the hallway burst into happy tears as Prompto’s camera was shooting as fast as it could to capture this moment as Libertus was practically sobbing because finally, FINALLY his daughter was there and she was perfect and the labor had gone well and Crowe didn’t have any complications which was all he had been praying for all night.

Within minutes, Raven was cleaned up and Crowe was cleaned up too as Raven was put to Crowe’s breast and got her first feeding as Libertus was still crying and holding and kissing his wife, praising her and marveling at his daughter and once Raven was done nursing, it was finally Libertus’ turn to hold her as he held her carefully but securely and still kept crying and vowing how he was going to be the best father ever and he was going to take care of her and love her and protect her always. Then he let Crowe’s mothers hold her before he let his own parents in so they could hold her and get their first pictures with her before Crowe was moved to her recovery room with Raven on her chest and that’s when everyone else got to see her for the first time and once in the recovery room, everyone else got their turns to hold her.

And then right around three everyone left to go rest for the night in their hotel which was just a few minutes away which left Crowe with Libertus at the hospital as a bed was brought for Libertus so he could sleep next to his wife and rest and recover as the two finally cracked open that beer, Crowe chuckling at fact that finally, after ten months, she got to share a beer with her husband before they went to sleep themselves. It had been a late night, but the best one yet.

[asahi-no-kagayaki]

Rainbow 6 OCs

I!!!!! Finally!!!!!! Finished!!!!! My!!!! Rainbow 6 Siege OCs!!!!!!!!!!! I’m really happy how this kinda turned out jifjfi my new babies i love them. I’m gonna have so much fun implementing them in r6s universe lmao i’m gonna post my first (r6) fic about them soon lol

Also i cant draw shit so i made their (casual-look ofc cuz cant find military-chara sheet thing) character design using Picrew (this website is really great btw) so dont blame me if theyre looking too anime-y jdojofjfo

More info about OCs below!!!!

1. Beruang (’Bear’ in Indonesian) Real Name: Lukman Susilo Sanjaya Age: 37 (As of 2019) Organization: Kopassus Position: Attacker Birthplace: Tegal, Central Java, Indonesia Date of Birth: January 12, 1982 Height: 5'10'' (1.79m) Weight: 177lbs (80kg) Armor: Medium Speed: Medium

Appearance: He wears standard Kopassus uniform but his face is covered by black half-mask and shades. In his free time, he usually wears bland t-shirt and sport pants. He’s kinda hairy, has a little bit of stubble and scar under his right eye. (Casual look:)

Personality: Serious 24/7. Difficult to approach since he only gives necessary/short answers if asked. He never seeks company of other people, and sometimes can be oblivious about things not related to his job. 

Appears stoic, but it’s not because he doesn't have any feelings. He just doesn't know or can't express his emotion to other people except Jasmine. Lowkey insecure about himself, like thinking he's 'not good enough' and people deserves someone better than him.

It's hard for him to have a close relationship with other people other than Kirana because of his insecurity as well his oblivious and stoic personalities. It's not impossible, just hard and take a lot of work before someone could call Lukman their friend or even boyfriend.

Special Gadget: Bear Knuckles - It's basically a pair of gloves shaped like bear paws, used to further increase the power of Lukman's fist (It should be noted that his punch is already strong before he put on the gloves), allowing him to break any surfaces (except steel, for now at least). Yes, it's technically like Sledge's hammer but it's his fist instead lol. Punching a person without holding back with this will likely put them unconscious or heavily injured. 

Unfortunately, it's powered by battery and can only be used a few times before it runs out. It must be charged before he can use it.

Short Biography: As a son of the current Major General of Indonesian's Special Forces Kopassus, Beruang's life was revolved around how to be just like his father. With his incredible strength and agility, coupled with knowledge of various martial arts, a fight without a weapon is what he shines the most. Calm and obedient, Beruang is one of excellent soldier Kopassus had, a War Machine ready to serve under his country.

Psychological Report: Suffers from a condition where he can't express his emotion and low self-esteem where he claimed that he's never good enough. It is believed that harsh training and upbringings from the environment he lived in was the cause of those problems. While he's good at his job, his social skill is very lacking, and he himself appears to be distancing himself with his teammates other than one person.

2. Jasmine Real Name: Kirana Tunggadewi Pitaloka Age: 26 (As of 2019) Organization: Kopassus Position: Defender Birthplace: Malang, East Java, Indonesia Date of Birth: July 18, 1993 Height: 5'5'' (1.65m) Weight: 131 lbs (59kg) Armor: Light Speed: Fast

Appearances: wears standard Kopassus uniform and her face is also covered with black half-mask and shades. In her free time, she usually wears colorful clothes, along with this black-chocker thing she always wear. She has short, neck-length straight short hair.  (Casual look:)

Personality:

She has two personas. A facade she used to manipulates others: Kind, supportive, and positive. And then her real self, which so far only Six and Lukman knows: Lazy, vengeful, manipulative, and cold. She loves gossip, and although usually lazy, she will put a lot of effort into works that beneficial/important to her (such as maintaining her face around other operators or learning 'perfect english' before joining Rainbow). 

But, Kirana is loyal and helpful towards people she thinks as her friends. If they're in trouble, you bet Kirana will try to cheer them up or maybe even hurt those who hurt her friends. She can be easily stressed, which surfaced as paranoia and mild anxiety. She also has abandonment issues, but no one know about this.

Due to her upbringings and her job as a spy, she would do anything to obtain important information she ordered to. Like for example, if someone ask her for intercourse in exchange of information, she would do it as long that information is very important and worth the deal (if not, she wouldn't do it and if they lied about it, she would kill them on site). She doesn't believe in and sometimes even disgusted with people in romantic relationship (like dating/engaged/married/etc), especially those who is in relationship with their workmates, but she's down for one night stand and such.

(It's not impossible for her to be in romantic relationship, but it is very hard to tie her in it)

Special Gadget: White Petals - Five small gadgets shaped together to look like jasmine flower. There's two set of this, one that function like Kapkan's gadget: Putting it on the side of a doors/windows/any openings and watch as everyone that walk through it get electrocuted. It's strong electric surge could even renders someone unconscious. Unfortunately, people could just jumped over/crawled under the gadgets to avoid it when it activates. But the gadget itself is very small, so it can be difficult to spot.

The second set of White Petals is a gadgets that works kinda like smoke grenade, usually used by Jasmine when she have to run. When thrown, it filled the entire room with a special, thick smokes that not even drone could see through. Unfortunately, it last only for a couple of seconds.

Short Biography: Born and raised in a family where her parents worked as spies, naturally Jasmine herself was shaped to be one. Claimed to be one of the best spy her country ever had, she never failed to complete her mission in obtaining and gathering information. While her firearms skill is lacking compared to other operators, her skill of espionage, her cunning thinking, and her good self-defense skill prove herself to be a spy to be reckoned with.

Psychological Report: Her facade personality seems to be a defense mechanism she put up to make herself appears benign and easy to communicate with, which what she needed for her job so she would be least suspicious. On rare cases someone's grow suspicious of her, she would be stressed which resort to anxiety and paranoia. Regardless, she doesn't have any issues in engaging in large group of individuals and offers genuine help and advice to people she care about.

3. Angel Real Name: Florence Marie Walanda Tambayong Age: 31 (As of 2019) Organization: Indonesian National Armed Forces (Land) Position: Defender Birthplace: North Minahasa, North Sulawesi, Indonesia Date of Birth: April 29, 1988 Height: 5'7'' (1.70m) Weight: 143 lbs (65kg) Armor: Light Speed: Fast

Appearance: Wearing standard Indonesian Army uniform, also wears crucifix-necklace. In her free time, she usually wears long-sleeves black/gray/white/pink shirts with silly designs (like some Indonesian words or random bootleg characters) or sweaters and capri pants. If she's on duty treating operators in the medical facility, she wears lab coat, surgical mask, and white gloves. Also her skin is darker compared to the other two ops. (Casual look:)

Personality: Brutally honest but also cheerful and friendly. She likes to socialize/interact with everyone, joining any kind of 'fun' activities, and laugh the loudest at jokes that’s not even funny. She cares a lot about her teammates' condition, so much to the fact that if she ever see any kind of injury or sickness, she will 'fix' them. She doesn't care if they refuse her treatment, she WILL treat them with or without their permission.

She's very dedicated and focus on her works. Even if she lose her limbs, as long she's still has consciousness and able to move, she will try her damnest to treat injuries and sickness.  

Special Gadget: Nightingale - A first aid kit she named after a figure she idolizes. Said kit is filled with numerous vitamins, boosters, bandages, medicines, scissors, needles, etc. It's equipped with every medical stuff you can imagine, people wonders how the hell can all that stuffs are stored in it. The gadget itself isn't very special, but Angel's adrenaline rush make her performs medical operations perfectly whenever she uses this kit on someone, so it's more like a mixture of a very-equipped first aid kit and Angel's excellent determination to save lives, just like Florence Nightingale.

In game, this could heals or revives operators to full-health with additional 30 health points. Unfortunately, it can only be used thrice before it ran out.

Short Biography: Her involvement in medical world began at University of Indonesia where she eventually got her medical degree. After that, she worked as a nurse in a local hospital before she joined Indonesian Red Cross Society and eventually served as medical staff in Indonesian Army. With her excellent comprehension of human anatomy, she vowed to erase sickness and pain from everyone.

Psychological Report: With her optimism and carefree attitude, Angel has no trouble making friends in every place she stay. However, trauma about her failure to nurse injured civilians back to health in 2009 Sumatra Earthquake took a toll in her mental state. This resulted in her strong dedication and commitment in her job, which usually would be a good thing to have but it made her force anyone with injuries or sickness, no matter how small it is, to be nursed by her. She doesn't take no for an answer, in fear of her past experiences. It is best for one to approach her in a healthy condition.

Trivia:

- Jasmine studied in Airlangga University and got bachelor's degree in Psychology, Angel studied in University of Indonesia and got (obviously) medical degree, while Beruang studied in military academy.

- Jasmine speaks Japanese to some extent, like she doesn't know proper grammar for each situation (Japanese has different grammars for any situation, like speaking in workplace or towards elders for example) but she can understand and communicate in it. She studied it all by herself, mostly because she's a weeb.

- As said before, Jasmine is a big weeb. She watches a lot of Japanese dramas or animes, also plays a couple of Japanese's mobile games like Fate/Grand Order and Love Live. This is what she mostly do in her free time.

- All of them like spicy food, although Jasmine likes sweet food a little more. As such, if they're cooking a meal you bet it will be spicy as fuck.

- Beruang loves coffee while Jasmine and Angel loves iced tea. Both Beruang and Jasmine doesn't like alcohol, although Jasmine might drink wine or champagne a little, while Angel is open to trying variety of alcohol drinks.

- Jasmine's hobbies includes cooking and gaming, Beruang's hobbies are reading history or watching documentary films, and Angel's hobbies are treating patients and jogging.

- Regarding their sexuality, Beruang is gay (still in the closet, only Jasmine knows). Jasmine's down to have sex with anyone so she’s more of a pansexual, while Angel is straight but dedicates her life to her work so much she doesn't care about romance or sexual activities.

- As said before in his special gadget entry, Beruang is strong. Literally strong, his fist could destroy wood in a second without him putting his gloves on. Although without his gadget, he can't destroy bricks and such (might leave a dent on it though). If angry (which is thankfully unusual), he can't control his power and might break something he hold at the moment.

- As mentioned in his biography, out of various martial arts' learned, Beruang is great at judo and silat. He would use Judo technique the most in a fight, though.

- Beruang thinks of Jasmine as his little sister, while Jasmine thinks of Beruang as either her best friend or a dad. They have close platonic relationship regardless, although Jasmine had a crush on him a while ago (before she knew he's gay).

- While regarding Angel, Jasmine and her dislike each other. Beruang is neutral with Angel, and Angel regards him as a friend.

- Beruang's favorite animals: German shepherd. Jasmine's favorite animal: any cats. Angel's favorite animals: Parrot.

[pocketseizure]

When the Moon Didn’t Fall, Chapter 2

The Swamp Witches’ Son

All the clocks in Clock Town have stopped working, and letters have stopped arriving from the Gerudo in the Great Bay. Both the clock master’s daughter and the swamp witches’ son sense that something is amiss. Slowly they piece things together while their world gradually winds itself apart.

Chapter 2/8 ☆ 1,300 words ☆ Also on AO3 ☆ Cover Illustration

* * * * *

Ganon watched the shadows lengthen over the water as the float of his lure bobbed on the placid surface of the swamp. The rhythm of the whirring cicadas interrupted the soft sound of plants growing, and every so often a pair of dragonflies zipped through the air. Otherwise, everything was quiet.

Like his mothers, Ganon was dressed in loose dark clothing fringed with patterns that he had embroidered in gold thread. As he leaned back against a mossy raised root of a mangrove tree, he seemed to blend into its shade. He was not accustomed to long periods of inaction, but fishing helped him concentrate, and he had a lot on his mind.

Several weeks ago it seemed that the moon would fall. This strange meteorological event filled Ganon with an odd type of energy, almost as if the coming catastrophe were something he'd been anticipating. For a few days the creatures of the swamp had grown violent, and he himself was struck with restlessness. It was like the gravid stillness right before one of the hurricanes that tore through the swamp in the fall, sending arcs of electricity zagging across the water. He had gone out roaming deep into the swamp forest, driven by a compulsive desire to search for something that he would only recognize once he had found it.

But the moon did not fall, and Ganon did not find what he was seeking. When he returned, his mothers scolded him as they always did, but it seemed that nothing had happened in his absence. Since then, however, letters had ceased to arrive from the Gerudo in the western bay.

This didn't bother Ganon, for he wanted nothing to do with the women who clung to their rusting eyesore of an island like barnacles. He had spent the first few years his life on the floating iron fortress, and as far as he knew there had been no problems until his mother died at sea. When he was passed to one of his aunts, it had quickly become public knowledge that he was different from the other children. The revelation of his sex aroused malicious gossip and even panic, for Gerudo males were believed to bring calamity and misfortune. Ganon had been too young to form lasting memories of what happened to him, but he had vague recollections of being kept in a windowless room with little light and even less food. Two of the Gerudo elders, Kotake and Koume, had eventually taken him into their care and brought him with them to the Southern Swamp. It was better to be closer to the source of the ingredients they used for their potions, they explained to him when he was older; and besides, they added, they knew how magic worked, and they had no use for the superstitious nonsense of the ignorant.

Ganon had hated the swamp at first. The air was always oppressively humid, with none of the bright sun and brisk salty breezes of the sea. He missed the sparkle of light on the waves and the endless sound of the shifting tides, but in time he came to appreciate the shadows and stillness of the wetlands. He loved the violence of the fierce storms that swept through the trees in the spring and autumn, and he appreciated that, for the most part, he was left alone.

His two adoptive mothers often sent him out to fetch fresh plants and mushrooms, and he harbored no resistance against being ordered to embark on such errands. He had little patience for potion brewing, but he possessed a gift for magic. He challenged himself by fending off the aggressive snapping turtles that waddled through the depths of the forest, not to mention the giant octoroks that lurked in the shallow ponds at the base of the mangrove trees and the venomous golden orb weaver spiders that dangled from the rotting wooden beams of the ruins that rose from the black water.

Ganon often wondered about these abandoned buildings. Who had lived here, and where had they gone? As he grew older, he ventured deeper into the swamp. The monkeys who swung between the low-hanging branches by the Deku Palace chattered nothing but nonsense, but it was from them that he heard of a place called Woodfall, a basin of murky water sheltered within a hidden cove formed by a hollow in the Ikana cliffs to the northeast. Following the vaguest of directions, Ganon had poled a raft over long stretches of water choked with lotus leaves, making his slow and careful way through curtains of gray hanging moss. Eventually he arrived at a vast stone temple half-submerged in stagnant swamp water.

There was nothing there except for a wooden mask fringed with tattered and moldy feathers. It was propped against a tangle of vines on the floor of the vestibule, as if someone had taken it from its proper place and returned it in haste. The small room was clearly an entryway, but its walls and ceiling were solid, and Ganon could see no way of progressing farther into the structure. He briefly considered blasting his way through the walls, but he could feel the presence of something watching him, something ancient and malicious. His instincts screamed at him to leave the mud-stinking silence of this cursed place, and so he did.

But he was not willing to let the matter rest.

The Deku Scrubs told him that the temple was once a site of worship. Apparently, a great giant had been venerated there. When he asked them about where the giant had come from, and why it had been worshiped, and by whom, they simply shook their heads in a leafy rustle of apathy. One of them muttered something about a "skull kid," which stirred a vague memory in his mind that he couldn't quite catch ahold of. It was like when he forgot a word and could only taste the ghost of another language on his tongue, a language that he had never heard with his own ears.

Every so often his mothers sent him to Clock Town to make an emergency delivery when the Deku merchants had other business. He occasionally entertained thoughts of moving to the town and leaving the swamp behind him. There was something about the bright white stones of the outer wall that called to him, but he had no interest in the arbitrary inconveniences of an orderly urban life, and the townspeople annoyed him with their empty pleasantries. He remembered their names and faces because he had to, but he had no friends among them.

A frog started to chirp, and then another, and then a whole chorus of voices filled the swamp. The sun disappeared below the tops of the trees, and its dying light tinged the water a rich maroon. It looked as it did when the moon seemed to be falling and a rank miasma had filled the swamp. Ganon wondered what the connection between the two could have been, but no one he asked expressed any interest in the question. In fact, no one seemed the least bit concerned with was happening with the moon in the first place. Why had no one else been bothered by such things? Not even his mothers, who usually took note of even the smallest details, had betrayed any anxiety that the moon would fall.

Ganon had always felt out of place with his surroundings, but the strange business with the moon intensified his sense of being somehow out of alignment with the world around him.

He gave a few small tugs on his line, but no fish were biting. He should probably head home before it got dark. He knew, in a sullen and neglected corner of his heart, that the potion shop was not his home, but it made no difference. If he didn't belong here, where could he possibly go?

( Link to Chapter 3: A Dim and Fragrant Stillness )

[shadowdarkleonidascrusade]

DGM X ML AU - SUPER HERO DISGUISES

you know how a lot of the time people question how no one knows clark kent is superman because of a pair of sunglasses? okay this is like that except not obvious (especially with allen’s white hair). So I’ve decided to make yet another post about what changes our wielders go through while they in/out of superhero mode. @kitty-ray @faeriexqueen @yugirl-with-dragons

Casual!Allen vs Hero!Allen:

So while Allen has white hair when he’s gone into super hero mode, his hair is normally a light brown when he’s not in disguise. 

His eye color changes slightly when he’s in/out of disguise. 

When he’s not in superhero mode, Allen’s eyes are dark grey, almost like the color of clouds during a thunderstorm.

When Allen is using his miraculous, his eye color shifts to lighter gray mixed with blue.

Also the scar he obtained as a child when mana died is mostly hidden by his mask, so it doesn’t raise suspicion.

Casual!Miranda vs Hero!Miranda:

Miranda has dark brown hair which is normally held up in a bun. When she’s in her superhero persona, her hair is loose and a bit wild.

Miranda also has more confidence in herself when she is in her superhero persona than she is in real life.

CasualLenalee vs Hero!Lenalee

Lenalee has long black hair that flows down to her lower back. She typically wears her hair down out of her persona. 

When in her hero persona, her hair turns dark green and her hair is put into high pigtails.

Lenalee’s eyes are dark brown and when her miraculous disguise is active, her eyes turn purple.

Casual!Lavi vs Hero!Lavi

Lavi has a wild mess of red hair that is held out of his face with a headband. 

When in suoerhero mode, the majority of his mask covers his face so that no one else picks up on the fact that its Lavi.

His voice also sounds rougher and deeper than his usual voice, which helps since Lavi’s voice is pretty distinct. 

Casual!Kanda vs Hero!Kanda

Kanda is usually found wearing a regular pair of jeans with a hoodie (almost all the time) and usually has his black hair up in a ponytail to keep out of his face (why he doesnt just cut it, the world may never know).

When he’s transformed into his superhero persona, his hair color tends to change from varying shades of dark blue to a light purple (it depends on how angry he is and how much power of his miraculous he’s using). 

While Kanda’s eyes are typically a dark blue color, when in the persona his eyes are a light blue.

Also, the pattern of his tattoo/location of his miraculous are visible on his superhero suit and the facial expression of the tiger changes depending on Kanda’s current constitution.

Casual!Alma vs Hero!Alma

Where do I even begin with the changes to this kid omfg

Alma has a tendency to dye his hair color differently every few weeks or so. Currently, his hair color is green at the bottom half of his hair which fades to a dark purple in the middle and eventually up to a light purple at the top. He’s very experiemtnal when it comes to hair color dyes and also cooking.

His Hair color under the magic disguise of the miraculous tends to be black.

Alma’s eye color tends to be light blue as himself 

meanwhile, as a hero, his eyes are a dark green.

Casual!Krory vs Hero!Krory

Krory has one of the least changes to himself when it comes to transforming into his persona.

His black hair is usually slicked black prfessionaly for his job.

When he’s in his super hero persona, he gains a wide white streak through the middle of his hair and his hair gets more wild.

Krory also gains sharper teeth to go with the bat theme persona.

Casual!Road vs Villain!Road

Due to the nature of the miraculous being corrupted by evil, Road’s appearence changes are a little more drastic.

While as her human self, Road has pale white skin with dark blue eyes and matching blue hair. She also tends to dress more in a gothic style.

In her persona, Road has dark grey skin with yellow eyes. She also gains a form of black stigmata symbols across the top of her forehead.

Casual!Tyki vs Villain!Tyki

Tyki constantly changes between his clothing style between that of a high class rich person to a mismatched outfit that you’d find at the thrift store.

When in his persona, his appearence (like Road’s) changes drastically due to the miraculous being corrupted.

His fair complexion is changed to a dark brown.

He gains stigmata across his forehead

He also has yellow eyes, but the pupils tend to be more snake like.

Casual!Cross vs Hero!Cross

Cross is never usually in his hero persona since he doesn’t get into fights very often he usually just runs away if its not necessary so the changes made him when using his miraculous are currently unknown

His casual wear is usually a business formal outfit since he refuses to wear anything below that.

Casual!Tiedoll vs Hero!Tiedoll

Tiedoll is in the same situation as Cross. He hasn’t needed to use his miraculous for some time and therefore his hero persona has not been seen in some time.

Tiedoll’s causual wear usually consists of a mix of paint stained clothing and an old pair of jeans. Although, when it comes to public events, he dresses up for the occasion and doesn’t seem to mind the change in clothing.

The Millenium Earl is never seen out of his persona and the only thing to note is that his persona becomes creepier the more evil he becomes.

[geordiesaffer-blog]

How is everyone doing? Still hanging in there? I sure hope so... I've been keeping busy with my stitching, reading, beginning a new (non-cross stitch)  project (which I'll let you in on some day soon!), trying to limit my news intake, and connecting with family members via Zoom and Board Game Arena . Since this whole strange Covid-19 saga began for us in mid-March, the only person I've talked to face to face is my husband! Such a strange feeling...  My family met up for a virtual game night on Easter Sunday (on Board Game Arena) and it was wonderful to see everyone's smiling faces. My oldest son and daughter-in-law in California, middle son and girlfriend who live 30 minutes away, and my youngest son in the Washington, DC area all connected online for games of Yahtzee and Sushi Go. I basically just watched and coached my husband a bit in Yahtzee as only five players could play at a time.My stitching has been hit and miss--still having trouble settling, but I do try to sit down each day for a couple hours in the evening. I know you've seen these designs stitched up many times, but I hope you don't mind seeing my versions... First, is the Easter Holiday Hoopla design by With Thy Needle and Thread. I fell in love with this cute bunny the first time I saw him and am so pleased with how he turned out. I loved the colors on the chart and chose some similar overdyed threads from my stash to stitch him. He is stitched "over one" on 28 ct. ice blue Jobelan so the stitched area is a mere 2" X 2". I finished him into a circle (just traced a drinking glass to get the shape on the mounting board), padded the board with batting, and added a silk handmade cording trim. A mini-pompom gave his tail a nice fluffy look.  Easter Holiday Hoopla finishThe round piece is simply glued onto a fabric-covered piece of sticky board and placed in a rustic looking 3.5 inch square brown frame. I purchased a bunch of these frames from an eBay seller, years ago, who had used them to display his butterfly collection (no, the butterflies were not included--thank goodness!). They sure have come in handy over the years and can easily be painted. Here is another of the frames that I painted and distressed last year for a different Easter finish that resides with my oldest son and daughter-in-law in California.An Easter finish from 2019--such a cute bunny!My second finish is so bright and cheery! It is called "Easter Wreath" and is a design from Tiny Modernist. The bunnies also have white mini-pompom tails like I used in the Holiday Hoopla finish above. They, too, are stitched "over one" on 28 ct. white lugana. I used the suggested DMC colors for everything except the carrots. I wanted a darker looking carrot so I used DMC 976. And, because of a slight counting error--my carrots are just a bit longer than those charted. Oops! It doesn't affect the overall look so I just left them larger. Ripping out "over one" stitching is the worst, so I avoid it whenever possible! I kept the finish very simple as the design itself is very "busy." Just a handmade cording in that pretty shade of blue that I love so much!"Easter Wreath" finishHere are both of my new Easter finishes together--looks like we had a big party going on on Easter Sunday, doesn't it? Nope--just me and my husband. It was a quiet day, but certainly one we'll always remember due to the circumstances. I didn't even get most of my Easter decorations out this year--it felt like too much of a chore for some reason. I've been gradually learning that now is the time to cut yourself some slack--be kind to others, but also to yourself. These are unnavigated waters and no one really knows what the next day will bring...I absolutely love the pretty teal blues in these two finishes!I also got a very sweet Easter card from my friend, Gabi, in Germany. She knows how much I love stitched bunnies (or any bunny, really!) so she made me this lovely card. Thank you so much, Gabi--I always love hearing from you and being the recipient of your pretty stitching!Easter card stitched by my friend, Gabi, in Germany!Much of my Easter seemed to be spent on the phone reminiscing with my mom, exchanging old photos via text with my siblings, and looking through old photos. The photos below brought back such wonderful memories of times with my three boys--dyeing eggs, hunting for baskets, and making a bunny cake each year. Oh, I miss those days so much. These were all taken in the late 80s / early 90s as you can probably tell by all the red and blue.  I think, back then, clothing designers only made boys' clothes in combinations of red and blue! It's so nice how things have evolved. And yes--they all have the same haircuts--courtesy of my husband. He sure saved us a ton of money through the years by cutting the boys' hair until they became teens. He even cut my hair when it was longer--not sure if I trust him to cut it at this shorter length, though! What are you doing about your hair? Trying to cut it yourself, getting a loved one to cut it, or just letting it grow? And we won't even talk about the hair coloring issue--yikes! By the time this is over, I'm going to have a very wide "skunk" stripe where my hair is parted, that's for sure! Time to let it go gray? I also made a couple of masks for myself and my husband. Oh, dear! I am really  not good with a sewing machine... The first one took me two hours to create, and, although the second one was easier--I do struggle!  I used one of my husband's old shirts for the green checked one (mine) and a piece of quilting cotton for my husband's. They are "okay"--mine is a bit too loose around the sides. I found another tutorial that might work better for small heads on YouTube so I might give that one a try this weekend. Wish me luck!My two masks--pretty good, but I need more practice!Comfort foods still seem to be appearing on the menu at my house and I found this delicious recipe for apple crisp right here. When I make it again, I'm going to try about 3/4 as much sugar and maybe even take it down to half as much. It was plenty sweet!  We enjoyed this as our Easter dessert (and for the next two nights, too!). Have you been whipping up any tasty comfort foods during this lockdown period?Do the apples make this a health food--ha ha!! Watching old television shows seems to be comforting to me right now, too. My husband and I have started watching an episode of Cheers (on Netflix) each night before we go to bed--a light, fun show that doesn't upset us or keep us awake. Honestly, I think we've both been sleeping better lately... And I've begun watching Downton Abbey again from the very beginning. You see, I never watched the final season, so I decided to begin all over again. I absolutely love it-- and I really think I'm picking up on so much more of the dialogue than I did before. The Dowager Countess's (Maggie Smith's) lines are just so delightful, aren't they? "Edith, you are a Lady, not Toad of Toad Hall!" ~ "What is a weekend?" ~ "Every woman goes down the aisle with half the story hidden." I could go on an on! And the scenery, the dresses, the jewels--sigh... All so well done. I still haven't seen the movie, but plan on watching it after I finish the series.  Anyone else have any comfort watching television shows to recommend? So, how many of you have talked to friends or family using Zoom? I had a Zoom get-together with my three sisters-in-law (on my husband's side) on  Tuesday and, after some initial difficulties connecting on my end, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their faces and catching up with them. They live in Indiana, Ohio, and Connecticut so we rarely see each other anyway. We already have plans to meet this way every other week. At the end of our session, the following question was posed to us so I've decided to use that as my "Getting To Know You" inquiry this week:  "Have you found a "silver lining" in this period of being confined to your home?" In other words, few love being stuck at home, but is there something nice in it that you've discovered? For me, that answer is easy! Yes! I've discovered that my husband and I can live together happily and quite easily (other than the occasional disagreement) after he retires. I was truly worried about that, as I was so used to being home alone,   but--so far, so good! How about you?Giveaway Time... I haven't had a giveaway in a while... so how about the chart for this lovely red house sampler? It is simply two pages removed from a magazine (sorry,  I don't know which one) and if more than one person wants it, I will draw a name. All you have to do is: 1) mention in your comment that you specifically want to be entered in the giveaway,  2) answer the "Getting To Know You" question above, and 3) include your email address if I don't already have it. You may enter until April 29th, 2020 and then I'll pick a winner and announce it on my next post. The chart will be folded and mailed in a legal sized envelope to save money on postage. Good luck to all! If you are interested in winning this pretty red house sampler chart, see above!I'll leave you with what, to me, has always been a sign of hope and comfort each time it blooms. This orchid was given to me when my father died on October 31, 2014 and it still blooms almost yearly. Each time it blesses me with these beautiful white and fuchsia blossoms, I think of him and feel like he's visiting me. And this year, that feeling is especially needed and meaningful. It's an absolute perfect time for it to be blooming with all the worries and unrest swirling around us these days, isn't it?This special orchid always brings me comfort...So, more of the same for a while--at least here in Pennsylvania. We are shut down until at least April 30, probably longer. The hardest part for me in this whole thing is being unable to visit my mom--I miss her so much. It is extremely lonely for her having no family https://www.patternspatch.com/1/bunny-stitching-as-the-days-slowly-pass/ https://stitchingdream.blogspot.com/2020/04/bunny-stitching-as-days-slowly-pass.html

[easkyrah]

An Assassin’s Affection 2

The dark-haired female stares at herself in the mirror, staring at every blemish and scar decorating her own face. If she’d been a tapestry, she’d been strung and strewn over layers of needlework, many loose strings and scissors surrounding her.

“Oh, how your kingdom will fall

when you find that your discarded pawn

was the queen all along”

[Nessian Assassin AU]

Varian had patched her silently as she stared blandly at the wall. The faint sounds of water droplets hitting the cement broke the silence, with the atmosphere of the void of emptiness persisting. The empty warehouse had been a meeting point of theirs, just to trade information that leaked through her employer’s mouth or the ones that the streets whispered when she coasted on the rooftops; he just told her anything she asked to ease her mission stuffed into her arms she had no part she desired of.

One of the notorious underground crime lords, he had become one of her unlikely allies as she had posed as one of his escorts to kill one of his contacts��also one of Tomas’s targets. Varian hadn’t noticed her among his personal escorts and immediately ordered her capture, but she’d escape, only to see him the next day, holding a silver dagger through the heart of one of her targets. He offered a deal, and she took it, needing every ounce of help and assistance she could find in this black and dark world where it seemed only monsters thrive.

He slew the last stitch through her, a slight hiss escaping her throat. A tap to her wrist indicated that he was done, and she flexed her shoulders.

She knew Varian had most likely looked her up as soon as they started seeing each other in the most unlikely places that was not meant for a consort. It didn’t matter as soon as he saw her snap the neck of one of the other target’s bodyguards and shoot the target through the head. He knew that she wasn’t pure and what she stood for. He knew who she worked for, and had stood disgusted, not that she blamed him.

Until she could pay off her debts to Tomas for the shelter, however unwillingly, and all the weapons she used, she remained hostage to him. Varian had set up a trust fund in the underground markets for her, and some nights, she would see him surreptitiously dropping a gold coin or two into her bank deposit.

He was the Phoenix’s shadow, or no way near her guardian angel. An older brother of sorts. They had never had a full on normal conservation, discussing this arrangement of theirs, but Nesta didn’t mind.

She pressed a ruby necklace in his hand, the one he’d been eyeing from the shops the last time they’d stood together at the end of the sewers, searching for one of the other crime lord’s one-eyed informats scurrying around.

A faint smile graced his lips and he slipped the pendant into his pocket. She changed out of the hospital gown cut open at the back and into her gear as he washed his hands with brutal efficiency, packing his medical kit. She saluted him as she headed for the door, throwing open the metal panel. However, before he returned her usual farewell with a tip of his hat, and jumped out the window, he whispered a request in her ear, leaving her face ashen for a split-second.

Nesta nodded, and a viper’s smile formed on her face.

The hardest part of the ordeal was shopping for clothes. She had headed for the athletic section, still finding the entirely cotton shirts worthless and unnervingly short pants absolutely ridiculous.

Dismissing one of the store employers who didn’t seem to know the difference between a strain and a sprain, Nesta grabbed a set of blouses and other unnecessary pairs of jeans that would hinder her maximum performance if she was caught in the middle of a fight. The most dangerous enemies knew what her true face looked like without a mask and would most likely be tracking her every moment.

She didn’t like this different approach, and gritted her teeth as she went to the cash register. When the worker dared to short-change her, Nesta called the manager and threatened to sue, pulling up her shades to indicate that she meant business. The tiny man had profusely apologized and let her choose another set of clothes for free, in which she took up, sneaking in a pair of boots when the cameras weren’t looking.

Sighing, she closed her trunk shut, and cursed loudly as her earpiece crackled into existence.

“Get your fine piece of ass over to second base,” Tomas said, and then shut down the link.

Nesta instantly shut her car door, and changed into her gear, sending a blessing for the tinted windows. By the time she arrived at the warehouse, the clouds had matched her mood, gray streaks piercing the air. Soft rain pattered down her windshield, and Nesta shoved her bags under the seat lest one of Tomas’s goons catch sight of her non-contraband materials by any chance.

When she stalked inside, forcing herself to loosen her muscles, the man of her nightmares sat at the head of a table, another of his acquaintances in a black trench suit sitting on his left.

The man turned, and she recognized the one-eyed man. Or at least, now two-eyed man. Varian had pinched out the other orb at as a means of last resort in extracting information when the man wouldn’t speak of Tomas’s plans.

“Hello, Nesta.” Tomas grinned, and gestured to the empty seat to his right. “Why don’t you take a seat?”

Dining with the wolves. Her favorite.

She obediently sat, wondering why he was here. Varian nor her hadn’t tipped him off of who she was, wearing one of her random masks that she fine-tuned to change a bit in appearance every time she hit the streets.

“This here is a man who was attempting to rise to the top of the hierarchy.” Tomas gleefully gestured to his left, but the man showed no indication of hearing. Her employer frowned, eyes flashing. “You see, Nesta, he’s blind because two bitches on the streets took his eye. The first was his employer, and the second a man he wants to kill.”

She slid a dagger out of her sleeve, and glanced at the man warily. Those pinkish, dirty yellow colors swirling around in his eyes were the first sign of infection. He should be demanding treatment, but—

“Tonight, this man will take you, and then you will continue with your latest mission.” Those black eyes pitied against, and Nesta felt bile roll up in her mouth. It had been a month since her employer had scheduled her appointment in the sex trade, choosing instead to use her abilities out on the field where a different type of monster of degradement awaited.

The man, looking straight ahead, placed a pair of steel chains on the table, the clinking sound having her insides shudder. She knew what he wanted to do to her, and her toes curled in protest.

“No,” Nesta said, watching the man’s eyes furrow. “No,” she repeated, this time louder.

“No?” Tomas snapped, almost disbelievingly. “You don’t have any choices here. You have no say and no freedom, and no right to decline.”

Her eyes turned to storm, and her back straightened, a pillar of steel and ice. “You had no right to kidnap me a rape me no more than any other female around here. You shaped me into a weapon when I was weak. You are lucky I continue to kill and pay my debts that I should never had accumulated in the first place. So no, Tomas, look for another girl to pick on.”

“You will respect me!” Tomas roared, and within a second, a whip laid wrapped around his wrists.

She flinched, and he grinned, one smile full of vile and vices. The way he moved that whip—

Nesta lifted her head. “This is not respect. This is control and dominance. This is abuse.”

The other man cocked his head, rubbing a knuckle. Slowly, his head turned towards Tomas, who was breathing heavily. “She’s a bitch, isn’t she?” He lowered his voice. “I don’t need to see her to know what fun she’ll be under me.”

“I may be a bitch, but no female deserves to be treated like this,” Nesta hissed, and flung the dagger outwards, a second following a different path. She didn’t watch them hit their targets as she fled the building, starting the engine.

No one followed her as she jerked the truck forward, the taste of blood clogging her nostrils and the tang of metal ringing in her ears.

The bar was a sorry excuse for one, with cheap shots and disgusting liquid that stung as it poured down her throat. Nesta didn’t care, as long as no one recognized her. She’d braided her hair and changed into one of the fruitless pieces of material that exposed more skin than she’d liked. Loud music drained out any thoughts as she tried to imagine the expressions that would cloud the other trained faces she’s seen walking in the hallways—what they would think when their boss no more.

She knew someone would seek retaliation against her for the second man’s death. There was always unwarranted ties and unspoken alliances that spun through the underground streets, fueling the tensions and cracks in their bittered society. The second man’s eyes had been gutted partly because of her, and his death had been laid in her hands. His last wisps of air, Nesta had decided, would serve as a symbol to others that would seek vengeance against her.

Her blade had flung at an expert arc horizontally that had sliced through his neck completely. A beheading.

An execution. Those soulless eyes had blinked no more.

Tomas was a different story.

It had been unspeakable to lay a hand nor speak a syllable in front of her master. There were no consequences for killing a boss since no one would dare in the first place. Except Nesta knew she hadn’t murdered Tomas with the first blade that had landed directly between his eyes. If she had, she would have accumulated more death and decay her already full plate would have no means of rejecting.

She’d thrown the dagger so softly at Tomas it’d barely pierce his flesh. No, at most the blade would hit his frontal bone and spur him unconscious. He’d bleed out, risk brain damage, but be alive—and live to torture another soul.

He wouldn’t die by her hand. She had made sure of that.

“I need a body to experiment a new drug on,” Varian had whispered in the warehouse hours ago. “By the end of the day.”

So Nesta had obliged, providing him with Tomas’s body.

Varian had headed over and stolen his body, interrogating his last minutes on Earth. He had asked why she’d provided him with this body over the blind man’s; she’d only replied with a sick smile plastered on her face, over their untraceable phone, “It’s him.”

The man who had created this nightmare and kept her under it for years—when she needed respite with peaceful dreams rather than the undulating, poisonous thoughts. The one who had touched her where she had deserved to be worshipped. The man who had broke her when she needed someone to build her up.

So Varian had informed her he had pumped Tomas’s body with morphine and other drugs to keep his brain fluids from leaking and heart beating—so that after the tested the opiate, he could further wreck pain like no other on Tomas’s body.

Nesta had merely stated to make sure that his dick was caught off and he was whipped.

Tomas’s last moments here wouldn’t be pretty, nor would it be grand. It would be brutal and messy, Varian gutting apart each socket and stuffing pins and needles through his sunken flesh.

A cold smile seared her face, and she sipped the cup harshly.

“You’re looking a little tense there, sweetheart.” A male voice, dripping honey, appeared next to her. A large, well-built body slid in the stool next to her. “Can I buy you a drink?”

Beautiful, deep brown eyes with ropes of corded muscle that white-collared shirt could not hide. Each movement had a ripple of tendon as he flexed his arms in a casual manner Nesta knew all too well. He looked oddly familiar as he waved the bartender over, and there was something to that rugged face that sent her on edge.

No rutting way. Even though that shot had been across ten buildings, she would never forget that smirk as her bullet had sunken through the wrong person. Her first missed shot. Her first whipping. Her first realization that she deserved more, than just pain and emptiness.

His own appearance didn’t seem quite as fully relaxed, those arms tense as if readying for a fight. The gauze and pad on his shoulder had her more suspicious. Her nail jabbed it, not too nicely. “Where did you get that?”

The male huffed and flinched as pain shot through his shoulder. “Just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

That confirmed her fears and she flung out of the seat and headed towards the bathroom. A sense of calm rage appeared over her, and senseless feelings of violence and the absence of peace had long nagged at her. Two women emerged from the bathroom, clad in skimpy clothing and red lipstick dotting their mouths.

She froze as they passed her, completely oblivious to her ignorance.

Those mouse brown strands of hair, one shorter than the other, her giggle—the older one’s hand on the younger’s elbow as they sashayed onto the dance floor—

Her sisters were in town.

Nesta cursed herself and the world as she went into the parking lot, the cold air kissing her skin. She found herself shivering for no reason, not when this night was nothing compared to others of being locked outside, chained to a lamppost, where other males would paw and jeer at her.

She didn’t know silent tears had flowed down her face until a thumb gently wiped it away, and the male at the bar stood in front of her. It had taken her entire willpower to allow him to sneak up on her and let him carry on his business. Except she didn’t think he would approach her.

“I’m Cassian,” he offered, his own body radiating heat and warmth.

She deserved to rot in empty coldness for every body that was now decaying and decomposing because of her. They taught her to have no remorse, and to not think except to focus on her next assignment. But Nesta was human and had a family before, so she’d transformed into a shell instead of a truly empty weapon. She’d become fixed between knowing her own mortality and the deaths of others, her mind shattered beyond repaired. There was no healing and mending save for her own injuries.

Cassian stared at her, an unreadable expression on his face. “Crying is just a sign of being strong for too long.” He hesitated for a second before extending an open palm. “Would you like to go out for dinner?”

Nesta looked down at his hand. At what he could give her: happiness and contentment and undeserved fortitude.

So she stared at him, letting that calm mask fall over her face. “No,” she firmly said, and headed towards her truck. She could feel the other male’s eyes burning in hers, and she wondered if he had been outright rejected before.

No.

She needed to think, and Cassian had already started to plague her mind. Too much emotion in too little time—her sisters were here, and Nesta needed to get her hands on that file, and see what Tomas accusations against Feyre had deemed her worthy of death.

As she started pulled the gears in reverse, the male stood outside the bar, his hands in his pockets, watching her go—and flee from him as usual.

“She doesn’t recognize me.” He grinned into his earpiece. “At all.”