#his eyes are so freakishly blue. the only blue eyed boy i can love....

[actualbird]

look at gatito please

thank you

[accioromione]

ok please I now I need a fic where its the yule ball and ron goes with Fleur and heroines jealous even though she's with Krum

Harry went to the common room to see Ron surrounded by people. He was sitting staring at the wall, and appeared to be frozen in place. Harry subconsciously wondered if a stunning spell had been placed upon him.

‘What’s wrong, what happened?’ Harry said, making his way through the crowd surrounding his best friend. 

‘He just asked Fleur Delacour to the Yule ball’ Fred said, smirking at Harry. 

‘What?’ Harry asked, 

‘Yeah, he just came inside, told us he asked Fleur and sat down...now he won’t say anything’ 

‘He’s just sat there, frozen?’ Harry asked, looking at Ron, who was very pale in the face. 

George shook his head, ‘Merlin Ron, can’t do one thing can you...earth to Ron!’ 

Ron took his eyes away from the wall and looked at everyone around him as if he had just noticed them being there for the first time. 

‘Ron...are you okay? What happened, she’s part Veela you know’ Harry added, putting a hand on his shoulder. 

‘That explains it’ said Lee Jordan, 

‘She - she....she said yes’ Ron said, looking as if he was shocked by his own words. 

‘You’re lying’ Fred said, but Harry knew that Fred wasn’t convinced, as Ron was not the type to lie about such things. And the look on Ron’s face confirmed that he himself was shocked at the information he had just revealed. 

‘I- I didn’t even mean to ask her, I was walking by and something just came over me...’ Ron said, trailing away again to look at the wall. 

‘How in the hell did you get Fleur to say yes.....Ron...I might just claim you as my brother after all’ George joked patting him on the back.

‘Merlin Harry, you got a date yet? Guess being a champion isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be huh?’ Fred joked, and Harry just looked at Ron in shock. It wasn’t like Ron was ugly, but Fleur, well at least this way Ron would be by his side during the champion calling. Now Harry was feeling nervous, he needed a date for the Yule ball, and it felt like there were no girls left. 

As if on cue, Parvarti and Lavander came into the common room giggling. Harry took matters into his own hand, Harry took a deep breathe.

‘Parvarti, do you want to go to the Yule Ball with me?’ Harry asked, causing Parvarti and Lavander to giggle. Their giggles subsided, allowing Parvarti to answer. 

‘Yes, sure Harry,’

‘Brilliant’ Harry said, smiling. Ron and Harry made their way down to the great hall for supper. Harry felt more at ease now that he knew he had a date to the Yule ball, but he could not help but feel a sad longing that he was unable to go to the Ball with Cho. Ron, surprisingly, did not seem to be in high spirits in light of his date, he had become a huge ball of anxiety. 

‘Oh my god she’s going to take one look at my robes and ditch me’ Ron said in panic, Ron had not touched anything on the table. 

‘Relax Ron you’ll be fine, the worst part was over, now that she’s said yes ...well you’re going with her.’ Harry said, putting a spoonful of mashed potatoes on his plate, he found it hard to feel sympathy for Ron’s case. 

‘Going with who?’ Ginny asked, taking a seat at the table.

‘Er....’ Harry said giving a look at Ron, but the look Ron gave Harry told Harry that he was not to tell Ginny who he was going with. 

‘Ummm...I’m going with Parvarti,’ Harry said, Ginny looked put out at this. 

‘Oh, well, that’s great, I’m going with Neville, since I’m not old enough and he asked me...Hey Hermione,’ Ginny said sadly as Hermione approached the three of them. 

‘Hello...Ron what’s wrong? You look as pale as Nearly Headless Nick..’ Hermione added, as she pulled a plate towards herself. 

‘Did Ron not find a date then?’ Ginny asked, and Hermione laughed. 

‘Eloise looking good now Ron?’ Hermione asked, as Ron still looked anxious. 

‘No...he did.’ Harry interrupted 

Hermione did not look at all happy with the news. Harry saw her frown but then replace the frown with what seemed to be an overly enthusiastic smile that did not at all look natural. 

‘Oh that’s great, Harry you found a date too?’ Hermione asked, her smile now freakishly large. 

‘Er...yeah,’ Harry said, 

‘Great now all four of us have dates! Lovely!’ Hermione said, the grin still etched on her face. 

This news seemed to bring Ron’s attention back to the table. 

‘What, who are you going with?’ Ron demanded, 

‘I...I’m not saying, you’ll only make fun of me!’ Hermione said, now blushing. ‘Besides, why do you care, you have a date! Who are you going with?’ Hermione hesitantly asked. 

‘Why should I tell you if you’re not telling me?’ Ron responded. 

‘Fine!’ Hermione said before stalking off angrily, 

‘Who is she going with?’ Ron asked Ginny 

‘It’s her business, besides, why should I tell you when you won’t tell me who you’re going with’ Ginny said coolly. 

Ron did not seem happy with this answer. The next week there was clear tension between Ron and Hermione. Ron kept asking her who she was going to the ball with at random times hoping that she would be caught off guard and answer. It did not seem to work. And although Hermione had dropped the subject of asking Ron who he was going to the ball with, she seemed to be acting very coolly towards Ron, who was panicking more about the Yule Ball as it approached sooner. Harry had no idea how a ball had managed to create such a huge problem between his two closest friends. 

The day of the Yule Ball finally arrived, Hermione had bid farewell early. Ron had asked her why she needed four hours to get ready but she just brushed him off. Ron had left soon after Hermione and Harry had gone up to his dorm to find his stressing about his robes, he had used magic to make them look more modern. And it had slightly worked. 

‘Harry I’m not going, I look like an idiot’ Ron said, slumping on the bed. 

‘Don’t be stupid’ Harry said 

‘She’ll laugh as soon as she see’s me’ Ron said, head in his hands, 

‘Now now Ron, that’s not ball spirit is it’ Fred said, as he entered alongside George into their dormitory. 

‘I look like an idiot’ Ron sighed, 

‘As usual’ Fred said, ‘but fortunately for you little brother, we may have something to help, we used it on our robes, and ours turned out good, news wheezes invention’ Fred said tossing him what appeared to be a sewing needle. 

Ron caught it, ‘what does it do?’ 

George sighed, ‘gives you a massage, what do you reckon it does oh bright one? Did you curse Fleur to say yes?’ 

‘It modifies your clothes, just put it through any piece of the fabric and give it a go’ Fred interjected 

Ron did that and as soon as he did the pin went zooming all over his robes, the frills and laces now gone, and the robe now modified. 

‘Brilliant’ George said, ‘this is for the colour’ he added, tossing Ron a navy blue marker, 

Ron took it, and learning from the needle, took off the cap and rubbed it on the fabric of his new improved robes. It turned a nice shade of navy blue. 

‘That’s brilliant’ Ron said smiling, 

Fred and George beamed, ‘can’t have you embarrassing us, your face is bad enough, don’t need robes ruining it...Harry you look dashing...Gryffindor men, minus Ron, not too bad eh, see you lot on the dance floor,’ Fred said, the twins winked at Ron and Harry and exited their dormitory. Harry took one last look at his green robes in the mirror, and waited for Ron, who had just looked at himself for the tenth time.��

‘Ron...come on... you look fine’ Harry said, looking at the clock, he was due to meet up with Parvarti, 

Ron gulped and took a final look at himself in the mirror. 

‘Right..yeah...well....okay let’s get this done with.’ 

The boys went downstairs and saw Parvarti, who had her hair braided in golden bands, and was in a pretty pink dress robe. 

‘Er.. you look nice’ Harry said awkwardly, 

‘Thank you,’ Parvarti said, looking at Harry

‘Where’s Hermione?’ Ron asked, Parvarti shrugged her shoulders,

‘Right, well, we have to go meet up with Fleur, that’s Ron’s date,’ Harry told Parvarti and Parvarti looked shocked. 

‘You’re taking Fleur’ Parvarti asked, wide eyed 

‘Er..yeah..’ Ron’s ears turned red, ‘I said I’d meet her in front of the hall’ 

The three of them made their way in front of the hall, and sure enough, there Fleur was in silvery robes, looking as beautiful as ever. 

Ron’s eyes widened and his mouth opened in shock, Harry nudged him to get a grip of himself. 

‘Ello Ron...’Arry....I ‘ave not ‘ad zee pleasure, you ‘ar?’ Fleur said, looking at Parvarti 

‘Parvarti Patel...’ Parvarti said in annoyed voice, 

‘Zee gold in your ‘air, it eez nice, I wanted to do so but I felt it would clash you see’ Fleur said to Parvarti, and Parvarti warmed up at her compliment. 

‘You look beautiful’ Ron said with a strangled voice, 

‘Tank you Ronald’ Fleur said, ‘it eez nice that you ‘are friends with ‘Arry, we will all be able to join the champion dancing this way you see’ 

‘Right’ Harry said, ‘well we better be off’ 

The four of them entered the ball and it looked immaculate. Harry had Neve seen in the great hall look so nice. 

‘Ouuuu’ Parvarti whispered at the sight 

‘Zees eez nothing’ Fleur said, ‘In beaxbatons zee decorations would put these to shame’ 

‘Yeah, right , shame!”  Ron said, looking at Fleur in awe. 

‘Champions! Champions!’ McGonagall yelled, and the four of them made their way to her. Harry saw Cedric approach, accompanied by Cho, which made Harry’s heart sink. And then he saw Viktor Krum approach, with a pretty girl in blue robes that Harry did not know. 

Harry looked at Ron to distract himself from looking at Cho, and saw that Ron no longer looked taken with Fleur. Instead he was looking dagger eyed at Viktor Krum and the girl beside him. Harry looked back to see why exactly he was so angry at Viktor and his date, and Harry’s jaw dropped.

It was Hermione.

But she didn’t look like Hermione at all. She had done something with her hair; it was no longer bushy, but sleek and shiny, and twisted up into an elegant knot at the back of her head. She was wearing robes made of a floaty, periwinkle-blue material, and she was holding herself differently, somehow – or maybe it was merely the absence of the twenty or so books she usually had slung over her back. She was also smiling – rather nervously, it was true – but the reduction in the size of her front teeth was more noticeable than ever. Harry couldn’t understand how he hadn’t spotted it before. 

‘Hi, Harry!’ she said. ‘Hi, Parvati!’ Parvati was gazing at Hermione in unflattering disbelief. She wasn’t the only one, either; when the doors to the Great Hall opened, Krum’s fan club from the library stalked past, throwing Hermione looks of deepest loathing. 

Hermione had not yet noticed Ron, but as soon as she did the smile vanished off of her face. ‘Ron?’ She asked, looking shocked.

But Ron did not say anything, he just looked coldly at her. 

Once everyone else was settled in the Hall, Professor McGonagall told the champions and their partners to get in line in pairs, and follow her. They did so, and everyone in the Great Hall applauded as they entered and started walking up towards a large round table at the top of the Hall, where the judges were sitting. The walls of the Hall had all been covered in sparkling silver frost, with hundreds of garlands of mistletoe and ivy crossing the starry black ceiling. The house tables had vanished; instead, there were about a hundred smaller, lantern-lit ones, each seating about a dozen people. Harry concentrated on not tripping over his feet. Parvati seemed to be enjoying herself. He caught Ron and Hermione stealing glances of eachother as they each danced with Fleur and Krum. 

The six of them ended up taking seats next to eachother. 

‘New robes Ron?’ Hermione casually asked, as she sat beside Krum.

Ron’s ears turned red, ‘new hair?’ He asked, both Krum and Fleur looked confused. 

‘You two are knowing eeachother?’ Fleur asked Ron and Hermione 

‘They’re both Harry’s best friends’ Parvarti interjected, ‘it’s well known, kind of funny how everyone is related to a champion’ 

‘Vut? Iz dees true Hem my o nini?’ Krum asked Hermione 

Hermione blushed, ‘well yes, but it wasn’t planned, I didn’t know who Ron was going with and I didn’t say either’ 

Fleur did not seem to be bothered, ‘guess you jus’ attract champeeons, when Ronald asked me I thought, eet was very brave, I also like ‘is red ‘air’ Fleur added, looking at Ron, who turned red at this. Hermione looked simply furious. 

Krum noticed this and attempted to bring his attention back on her, ‘care to dance to this Her-my-oninny?’ he asked, holding out his hand, which Ron glared at, 

Hermione blushed, ‘Hermione, oh forget it, alright!’ and the two of them took off, leaving Ron to glare at them. 

‘Would you like to dance Fleur?’ Ron asked, taking his glare off of Hermione too look at Fleur. 

‘I ‘am a beet tired, zee next song if eet eez better,’ Fleur said, and Ron respected her wishes. Fleur decided that the next song was good enough to dance, and Harry saw her and Ron disappear into the dance floor. 

‘Well, want to dance Harry?’ Harry looked gloomily at Cedric and Cho, ‘I don’t like this song’ Harry lied, Parvarti looked annoyed and remained seated. 

As five songs went by, Parvati sat down on Harry’s other side, crossed her arms and legs too, and within minutes, was asked to dance by a boy from Beauxbatons. ‘You don’t mind, do you, Harry?’ Parvati said. ‘What?’ said Harry, who was now watching Cho and Cedric. ‘Oh, never mind,’ snapped Parvati, and she went off with the boy from Beauxbatons. When the song ended, she did not return. 

Harry decided to go for a walk outside, and took his time doing so. He walked back to Gryffindor Tower alone. 

The Fat Lady and her friend Vi were snoozing in the picture over the portrait hole. Harry had to yell ‘Fairy lights!’ before he woke them up, and when he did, they were extremely irritated. 

He climbed into the common room, and found Ron and Hermione having a blazing row. Standing ten feet apart, they were bellowing at each other, each scarlet in the face. ‘Well, you were clearly happy with Fleur!’ yelled Hermione; her hair was coming down out of its elegant bun now, and her face was screwed up in anger. ‘Oh yeah?’ Ron yelled back. ‘And you weren’t happy with Viktor?!’

Hermione was now pink in the face. 

‘Then there’s no issue then is there! But if you’re so upset about Viktor you know what the solution is don’t you?’ 

‘Oh yeah? What’s that?’ Ron yelled

‘Next time there’s a ball, how about ask me instead!’ 

Ron mouthed soundlessly like a goldfish out of water as Hermione turned on her heel and stormed up the girls’ staircase to bed. Ron turned to look at Harry.

‘Well,’ he spluttered, looking thunderstruck, ‘well – that just proves – completely missed the point –’ Harry didn’t say anything. He liked being back on speaking terms with Ron too much to speak his mind right now – but he somehow thought that Hermione had got the point much better than Ron had. As he had seen, first handedly, how upset Ron was at Hermione being with Viktor, even with a part Veela by his side. And he had seen how livid Hermione was at the sight of Ron and Fleur. And Harry knew that in that moment, Ron and Hermione had developed something deeper than a friendship. 

[cursesthemusical]

so I finished my raphie fic, the one that snippet earlier was taken from. the fic is called A Promise of Forever, and I’m not honestly sure how I feel about it. It’s a lot shorter than my other oneshots, and the style, especially at the end, is really different than anything else I’ve written.

idk. it’s almost more like a poem than a fic? it feels a bit snooty, honestly, like it’s trying too hard to be deep or whatever. 

read it under the cut if you want to. I’m not totally sure about the ending and I might completely change it before posting on ao3, so we’ll see what happens there.

also, keep in mind that it’s not beta-ed, which might be why it feels so strange. 

hope you like it, and do tell me what you think of the ending.

Classical music plays as Sophie walks slowly down the aisle, golden hair caught in a bun encircled by intricate braids, green eyes gleaming beneath dark eyeshadow, lips stained the crimson red of fresh blood. The people in the pews turn, watching her with various expressions on their faces, and she smiles, her eyebrows narrowing wickedly. Her gray silk dress rustles around her feet, the billowy train supported by three rats. She looks forward, her gaze focusing on silver haired boy standing in the front of the ballroom. For a moment, she sees his hair curl and turn to gold, and she stumbles, memories flashing into her mind at dizzying speeds.

A ballroom much like this one. 

A golden boy on his knee.

An arrow turned to a daisy with a flash of pink.

A mother, begging for a kiss.

A ring of black swan gold, carrying a promise of forever.

A father, begging for his life.

A golden boy, not so golden anymore, lying in a pool of blood.

A dark haired girl screaming as she was sent back to a town that could barely hold her.

A silver boy on his knee, gazing up at a golden haired, silver souled girl.

And a yes.

When she looks back up, Rafal’s hair is back to silver. He’s as stunning as she is in a black suit with silver accents and a gem of black swan gold in his silver crown. Their outfits match. Matching outfits for matching Evil souls.

She continues walking, black high heels clicking on the polished wood. In the seats near her, Hester and Anadil are shooting fearful glances at each other, then Rafal, then Sophie, and back to each other. To think Sophie used to call them friends. When she’s Queen, there will be no friends. There will only be servants.

Rafal extends a hand to her once she’s only a few steps away from the raised dais at the end of the ballroom. She lays her hand in his, pale skin on pale skin, so unlike golden Tedros, and he pulls her up with a gleaming smile. At least his smile isn’t much different from Tedros’, with those white teeth and softening eyebrows. She knows Rafal’s Evil, just as Evil as she is, but when he smiles, it’s hard to remember. 

When he smiles, she can almost imagine he’s her happy ending.

He is her happy ending. He is her only happy ending now.

Now that Agatha’s gone.

She steps up and turns to face him, hoping her smile looks real. They stand, eyes locked onto each other, icy blue and emerald green. One of Anadil’s rats comes scampering up the aisle, holding the two rings, both made of shiny black swan gold, on a velvet cushion. They each take a ring without looking down, and Rafal takes Sophie’s free hand.

“With this ring, I thee wed,” he says. “I promise, Sophie, to give you forever.” His voice is soft as he slips the ring onto her finger, and she stares at it for a second before taking his hand.

“With this ring, I thee wed. And I promise, Rafal, to love you with all I am.” Thankfully, she’s pretty sure Rafal can’t feel the slight tremble in her hand as she puts the ring over his finger. They clasp hands and turn to face the audience.

“May I present,” Rafal says in his silky tone, “Queen Sophie of the Woods.”

At that, people start clapping, though Sophie thinks it’s not because they’re happy but because they’re scared of what she and Rafal will do if they don’t. She likes it that way. She is a Queen now, and that certainly warrants fear. 

She casts a smile into the pews, a gleaming smile of wickedness and true evil. Already she can feel the black swan gold of her new ring soaking into her skin, intoxicating her with the silky promise of forever.

~

Two days after the wedding, Sophie stands on the balcony of the School Master’s tower, Rafal behind her, staring out at the sky. The sun is just setting, filling the Woods - her Woods - with orange and pink and gold, like a beautiful fire burning the kingdoms to the ground. She turns to Rafal. “What are you thinking of?”

He hesitates before saying, “You. My beautiful bride.”

She knows he’s not telling the whole truth, but she doesn’t press. The feeling that filled her body when he called her his bride is threatening to make her explode. Because though she may be a Queen, she’s just a girl. She’s eighteen years old, and she’s in love, and that love will kill her, one way or another. Right now, she can’t bring herself to care. She feels so light, like she could go soaring into the air and never have to come back down.

As if Rafal hears her thoughts, he puts his hands on her waist. “Shall we?” he murmurs, and she nods, bringing her gaze upwards to the heavens. She hates to look at him when he’s flying. There’s something in his eyes, something she’s almost scared of.

After a few seconds, Sophie feels herself lifting up into the air, Rafal’s arms around her back, protecting her from the memories. When they’re so high up, nothing matters. There are no princes or princesses threatening to ruin Sophie now, just the rising moon, so close she feels like she could reach out and touch its silvery surface. 

“Isn’t it beautiful?” Rafal says, his words flecked with gold. She doesn’t quite know what he’s referring to, her or the sky or something else entirely, and she doesn’t answer. They gaze at the moon together, king and queen.

She should be happy.

~

Over the next few weeks, all Sophie can think about is that this is what she’s been dreaming of since she knew what happiness was, and yet. 

And yet it’s not enough.

Rafal isn’t the problem; she’s pretty sure about that. He’s everything a prince should be, charismatic and loving and of course, handsome, with those eyes made of ice and the hair, shining as silver as the glow of the moon. And of course, he loves her. Every night he takes her flying, whispering promises in her ear and kissing her neck, his lips warm and real and right there. 

Life is nice, too. Her days are spent in the School Master’s tower, and she has everything she might want there. A beautiful pink bathtub with a gold rim. Perfume in all the scents she can think of. One hundred pink gowns and heels that match each gown perfectly. A bed with the finest fluffy sheets and goose feather pillows. But for all her luxuries, she tosses and turns in her bed every night, with not even the melodies of the stars able to lull her to sleep.

So it’s her. Her doubts that are ruining her happily ever after. She misses Agatha with every fiber of her being. She knows she shouldn’t. This should be all she needs, Rafal and queen and her kingdom. But Agatha, greasy haired, bug eyed Agatha, is still holding on to her heart with those freakishly pale fingers, and as hard as Sophie tries, she can’t let her best friend go.

True love, she’s starting to realize, isn’t enough. 

~

The days have started to blur together. Rafal’s kisses taste like the bitter taste of sugary sweet licorice, leaving her craving more when he pulls away even though she knows she can’t last for much longer. When they go flying at night, she doesn’t feel light anymore - she feels heavy, fearing she’ll sink as soon as she looks away from Rafal. The hands that once protected her are now chains, grasping her so tightly that she can’t let go.

Does she want to let go?

She doesn’t know.

Without Rafal, she’d be nothing. Though he brings her into the night sky, he is the only thing keeping her grounded.   

Queens are not helpless. Queens are graceful but strong, always standing up to their enemies.

But Sophie’s never heard of a tale where your enemy is your true love.

~

And now she’s falling, she’s falling, she’s falling and she can’t even see what’s above her, only icy eyes capturing her in their gaze, surrounding her with frost, and she can’t do anything to stop its spread and she doesn’t even want to even though she knows she has to if she wants to survive--

-- but maybe she doesn’t want to survive --

-- and Rafal’s smiles aren’t kind anymore, they’re gleaming with evil --   

-- Agatha Agatha please come back please save me please --

-- but there’s no Agatha and wasn’t Sophie the one who banished Agatha back to Gavaldon so it’s her fault and she wouldn’t be here now if she’d just been better, it’s all her fault --

-- Agatha’s voice in her mind, telling her it’s too late --

-- and emerald eyes staring up at the sky because when did it get this cold? Her teeth are chattering, she’s freezing, and there’s a silver haired boy with fire in his palms, fire in his cheeks, fire rushing up to hold her, to embrace her, to protect her -- 

~

and if she turns her head ever so slightly and looks out the window where there used to be Woods, there is now only fire.

~

As she burns, she tries to remember what day it is. She is still as youthful as she was years ago, blonde hair and smooth skin untouched by the cruel waves of time, sustained by Rafal’s magic and the life of the Woods.

Try as she might, she cannot remember anything except sweet, sweet poison and icy eyes and silver hair and love that wasn’t really love, but she couldn’t tell the difference until it was too late, and it’s too late and things could have been better but they’re not, this is how it is and she can’t escape it.

Her breath is coming in raspy puffs now, hanging in the air for a moment before vanishing. She has to let go.

“Sophie.”

She looks forward and she’s catapulted to a moment, long ago, walking down an aisle in a beautiful ballroom, gray dress rustling around her legs, gazing at her true love. Her true love, who’s staring at her now, something like pity in his eyes.

“It’s sad it had to come to this. For a while, I thought you could be the one,” he muses, not trying to hypnotize her anymore. He doesn’t have to. She’s pulled in, and she’s not going to come back out.

“But I suppose it wasn’t to be.”

She crumples to the ground, gaze drifting in and out of focus. The fire has settled down to a warm feeling in her heart. It’s almost peaceful.

Slowly, she raises her arms, letting her eyelashes flutter closed, and welcomes his poison.

[keelywolfe]

Fluffy Bingo Drabbles

Notes: More from Fluffy Bingo Drabbles from By Any Other Name!

The list is here.

Finished:

1. Cold Morning 2. Rainy Nights

Newest!

3. Cuddles 4. First Kiss 5. Family Dinner

Still to come!

6. Swingset

~~*~~

Cuddles

The sun overhead was still cheery and hot, uncaring that autumn was fast approaching. Hot enough that Edge wiped the sweat from his skull with the cleanish wrist of his gardening glove. His fault for coming out to the garden without a towel but now that he’d gotten started, he didn’t want to stop.

Next to him, laid out on a clean cloth, were carefully separated bundles of freshly cut herbs. When he could, he preferred to grow his own, and someday his cilantro would thrive instead of ending up as withered little brown stalks. It was something to strive for.

He heard the telltale footsteps in the grass and took them as the warning they were, hardly grunting when sudden weight was sprawled against his back, two lanky arms draped over his shoulders pulling him back into an awkward embrace.

“Hello, love,” Edge said absently. He set aside his clippers and reached up to clasp Stretch’s forearm, returning the hug as best he could, considering that most of it was behind him.

“hi, babe.” The greeting was coupled with a hasty kiss pressed to the side of his skull, uncaring about any lingering perspiration, and Edge couldn’t help a faint smile as his husband immediately launched into, “did you know that you need a certain amount of hugs every day for optimum health?”

“Is that so?” Edge couldn’t help a tiny, disappointed sound when his most current hug drew away. He watched Stretch flop down on the grass next to him and asked, “And what is the requisite number of hugs for optimization?”

“according to the study, we need four hugs a day for survival," Stretch ticked off on his fingers, “eight hugs a day for maintenance and twelve hugs a day for growth.”

“I think we should cut you off at eleven,” Edge said dryly, “if you get any more growth, you’ll need new pants.”

“please, like you wouldn’t love a chance to take me clothes shopping,” Stretch scoffed. He scrambled back up and practically into Edge’s lap, hugging him again, this time properly from the front. “that’s two. i’ll have to come back for the rest, figure we gotta space out the dosage so you don’t get too much at once.”

“I may need a few extra, to make up for any missed doses.” He’d meant it to fall teasingly, but the way Stretch’s arms tightened around him to the point of pain meant the joke had fallen flat.

“Love—” Edge began, hesitantly.

Only to grimace at the particularly sloppy and somewhat moist kiss that Stretch pressed to his cheek bone, right next to the crack that scarred it, incongruous when paired with a sudden fierce whisper, “any hugs you ever missed, ever, i’ll make up to you. i promise.” Edge closed his sockets and though Stretch didn’t protest, he felt the soft whoosh of breath from his husband as his own grip tightened, holding him closer still. No past hurts could ever take away from the comfort of this embrace.

All too soon Stretch loosened his hold and Edge reluctantly did the same, letting him escape.

“anyway, let you get back to it.” Stretch scrambled to his feet and if his eye lights were suspiciously bright, Edge said nothing, “be back soon to give you another dose, yeah?”

“I’ll be waiting,” Edge said softly. He watched Stretch wander back inside at a pace that could charitably be called a mosey, then got back to work.

His next dose would be coming soon and he didn’t want to miss it.

-finis-

~~*~~

First Kiss

redacted

-finis-

Notes:  (sorry, we'll see it eventually 😁)

~~*~~

Family Dinner

The restaurant was a simple diner, owned and operated by the same family for twenty years, though these days it was usually the son who took his smoke breaks out back by the dumpster, not so much as to have a cigarette, but to breathe air that didn’t smell like hot metal and grease from leaning over the griddle.

Breakfast was served all day, specials available on Sunday, and the stuffed cabbage meal on Wednesdays very nearly required a reservation if one wanted even a chance at getting some.

The waitress, (no blood relation, but family nonetheless) looked up from writing on her pad at the clank of the bell over the door, her ready greeting dying on her lips as she mutely watched their newest patrons walking in.

A group of Monsters, skeletons, of varying heights and appearances, but that was not what left her speechless. In fact, she knew two of the shortest ones, they were regulars to the point she wordlessly brought extra condiments when they ordered the Farmer Breakfast special, extra hash browns. The tip was generous enough to make up for stomach-churning sight of a plate doused with an entire bottle of ketchup and the puns bad enough to make even their sour-faced busboy snicker.

A guy was with them this time, a human guy, pretty nondescript, skinny with brown hair, nothing to write home about, but that also didn’t leave her, and most of the diner, staring.

No, that was the fine coating of dirt that stained every one of them, from skull to sneakers, was it racist to think that they looked like they’d only recently dug themselves out of their graves? One of the skeletons in the back, a tall, red-eyed drink of mud with freakishly sharp teeth was wiping fruitlessly at his skull with what looked like a filthy wet nap. The rest of them only stood at the entrance by the ‘please wait to be seated’ sign patiently, though one other tall boy was poking hopefully at the little gumball machine at the side.

“heya, doris!” That jerked her back into action. She hastily finished with her current table, (two orders of Adam and Eve on a raft) and scurried over to the familiar ketchup boy.

“Hey, hun,” she said, eyeing his companions. “don’t think you’ll fit in your regular booth.”

He grinned up at her and gave her a wink, “yeah, our moment of booth has come. do what ya can, we’ll be happy to plant our bones anywhere.”

He sounded a trifle weary and at least two of his companions looked as if they were stifling themselves. Well, they were filthy, but they didn’t stink, and they weren’t leaving a trail, so she shrugged and led them to the back of the restaurant, where there was a large corner booth.

She left them with menus and a promise to return and headed to the kitchens. She came back with a fresh pot of coffee, wordlessly pouring for everyone who held out their plain white mug as she tried to pretend she wasn’t listening to the low chatter.

“told you it wouldn’t work.”

“c’mon, it totally worked! not a single broken bone!”

Louder, uncaring of possible eavesdroppers, “If your standard of success includes a level of acceptable injury, then you and I are going to be having a very long discussion tonight.”

“…no broken bones and nothing caught on fire? look, andy even kept both his eyebrows!”

“I do like having eyebrows.”

“Yes, and we did not even have to call for legal counsel this time which is of course not something we have ever had to do after an experiment before.”

“…bro, you and me need to have a talk, too.”

“done nothin’ but talk since we got here. all of ya shut it and pick somethin’.”

“I think I’ve already consumed my daily allotment of grease simply by touching the menu.”

“get the soup, babe. fits, since you souped in and saved the day. actions speak chowder than words.”

“Ugh, Papy, your delivery and timing could use some work.”

“I’d agree. If you’re so terribly eager for more action, we can have that discussion now.”

“…wow, check out everything on this menu, whew, breakfast all day, who wants pancakes!”

“…pancakes sound good.”

“Pancakes, yes.”

“yep. pancakes makes perfect.” Doris’s blue-hoodie regular shifted his gaze from the menu to her, “think we’re ready to order.”

Doris set aside the coffee pot and got out her pad, her pencil poised over it as she looked at her usual, unusual, group. As if they hadn’t just dropped an entire cabinet of curiosities right into their plain little diner and tonight on her own smoke break, tapping ash onto the cracked asphalt by the dumpster she’ll tell the busboy about them. He’ll tell his girlfriend the next day in hushed, humorous tones, and she’ll tell someone else, gossip traveling on slow words about the liminal space created in a corner booth on an absent Thursday.

For now, Doris is only thinking of her tip, shoving the question of ‘what didn’t work’ and ‘experiments??’ to the back of her mind as she asked briskly, “All right, boys, what’ll it be?”

-finis-

[miraculouskpop]

MKP Series | The Beginnings

☆ Miraculous KPOP | AU Series ☆

Title: The Beginnings

Characters: Amber, Sehun, Jungkook, Jungyeon, Lisa and Jimin + Kwamis

Synopsis: Before they were ever heroes, they were simple people. A basic introduction to everyone meeting their kwami for the first time.

Words: 4941 ( yeah it’s freaking long whoops )

A/n: This will go according to the Miraculous Ladybug timeline/canon where Marionette, Adrien to Alya and eventually Chole will receive their miraculouses, and then AU listing of who receives their miraculous first.

🐞 Amber / Ladybug 🐞

Wait.... Wait.... Wait.

Something’s not processing correctly. Or is she perhaps hallucinating? Amber blinked a few times, and that thing still wouldn’t budge from its position. The moment she laid eyes on this drastically different... spotted looking creature with those freakishly huge blue eyes gazing at her, Amber had reached the deep end. She’s insane, she has finally lost her mind! She figured her intense scheduling and homesickness couldn’t be that bad, but yes, it’s severely bad. So, so bad to the point she’s literally seeing things that shouldn’t be seen.

And then, it opened its mouth.

“Hello! My name is Tikki-”

“Oh my god!” Okay, she didn’t mean to overreact like this, but it‘s rather inevitable. The thing just freaking like, opened its oddly human shaped mouth and talked to her! And she’s suppose to remain calm? The girl backed away as her mind reeled with questions, and more importantly, how to GTFO this dorm quickly and safely as possible. The thing seemed suddenly concerned by its rather worried look, “Oh, no! It’s perfectly okay! You’re safe with me.” It smiled.

Okay, what the hell is going on here? “How can you even speak? Why are you here? And what exactly are you?” Amber’s hand fell on the desk behind her, fingertips brushing against what felt like a book. She quickly grabbed the book and swung at the creature, but it missed by the margin. The thing now appeared upset with its hands- well, no, but it might as well be called hands, resting on its hips.“I would gladly answer all of your questions if you could please calm down. My name is Tikki, and I am a kwami, okay? I am a goddess the embodies the power of good luck! I am presented specifically to you because you are selected to be the next Ladybug.”

The next...”what?” How does- what, why?

“You see, remember when you helped that man from earlier today?” The question had Amber’s mind reeling back from this morning. In fact, she do recall assisting an elderly man across the street even when she was running late... “Yeah, but what does that has to do with anything?”

“You helping that person showed great consideration that most people do not have these day. He decided to select you as the next miraculous holder because of that simple act, which is why you received the earrings on your bed.” The girl glanced at the red polka dotted earrings discarded on the edge of her bed and raised an eyebrow. “Errm...great...? But I don’t even wear earrings, so...” She trailed off. C’mon, it really doesn’t fit her masculine style. She always worn majority of her clothing monotone with rusted color, and not to mention her hair doesn’t exactly compliment those earrings, anyway. 

“Amber, those earrings weren’t given to you simply for no reason. You will be gifted with supernatural abilities far greater than you can fathom!” Wait. How does this thing- okay, kwami or whatever, knows her name? “Well, I can give them to Krystal or Sulli. They’ll love it, and I’m just a simple girl who’s trying to survive life right now.” A fleeting thought made Amber pause. Abilities? This was already surreal enough as it is, but becoming a superhero? That’s one of her hidden desires she’d kill for whenever she’s reading Marvel comics. Imagine that, a rookie girl like herself trying to attain fame while adjusting to a new country and trying to maintain her own identity while fighting crime. Sounds like an interesting plotline, but still, none of this makes sense and everything’s happening all too suddenly.

“Amber...” The kwami flew towards her so abruptly that the poor girl nearly went cross-eyed. “This is serious. This is not a dream, nor a hallucination. I am a hundred percent real as any other person with the exception that I am not a human being.”

...She must’ve lost it.

“No Amber, you did not lose anything. In fact, I believe taking the role as a new Ladybug will greatly boost your confidence level as a person and find characteristics that you yourself might be surprised by!” Everything felt too unrealistic to be considered as definite truth, and yet the more Amber thought about it, the more she felt curious. However, within the midst of curiosity held deep reluctance. She wasn’t exactly popular by male standards and many people were not fond of her presence... Accepting this offer will only add more responsibilities and insanity to her already chaotic life.

Even so, the child within herself sprang free at the possibility of being more than average. Someone... important. With a sigh, Amber folded her arms and gave the ladybug a careful look, “Okay, fine.” She said, “I have no idea what’s going on and I can’t say I believe you at the moment, but uh, I’ll pretend that I do.” She’s hoping to wake up an minute now... any minute...

“Great! I’ll tell you all about it. But first, you need to wear those earrings.”

“No.”

“Amber...! You have to wear the earrings.”

“Over my dead body. Do I look like an ultra feminine Sailor Moon to you?” Amber showcased her point by flashing her rugged black hoodie, cap and shorts.

“Why would it matter when inner beauty is key?”

“...No.”

“You won’t be able to transform until you wear them.”  

“Well, I can have my roommate wear them unless really needed.” She didn’t want to deal with the hassle of wearing accessories. It’s already painful enough being coated with pounds of foundation and makeup... “Devastation is near, and if we allow him to destroy the country then it’s only a matter of time before he conquers the entirety of this world!” Tikki exclaimed. Although too many questions invaded the girl’s mind, but she didn’t allow the thoughts to fester as she slowly placed each earring into her ears with a dreaded sigh.  

“Okay, fine... what now?”

“Oh Amber, this is a wonderful progression! I am so happy you have accepted your new role as Ladybug. Let me explain that in order to activate the miraculous is to call me by my name, and say, “Spots on!” And I’ll transfer into the earrings to give you power.” Amber pursed her lips in thought.

“So, you want me to say it now?” Her roommates and managers is literally across the room, and here she is talking to a mystical ladybug? Okay. Tikki nodded eagerly, “It would be the first stepping stone to greater things. I’m sorry for rushing you, but I thought maybe this way could influence you...” 

“Sure, I guess.” She felt a little embarrassed about this, but...”Tikki, spots on...- woah!” Amber didn’t get the chance to blink before a streak of red zipped across the room and into her small pair of red earrings.

🐺 Sehun / Wolf 🐺

He’s tired. Very tired. So tired it feels like sleep is clinging onto his body similar to that of hungry leeches. All he wanted to do is plop onto the bedsheets and pass out, but he knew his manager would not approve of him sleeping without at least taking a shower. Well, it’s not like he usually sleep without showing regardless. But whatever. God, what time is it, anyways? Sehun glanced at the clock and nearly did a double take. Crap, is it eleven o’clock already? He could’ve done other things if it wasn’t for his hyungs nagging him to stay...

The boy closed the door behind him with a sigh. His baggy clothes felt suddenly sticky and wet along with his stringy bleak hair falling between his face.

Ew.

A loud growl rippled through Sehun’s stomach as he frowned. Neither did he realize how hungry he was until he walked towards the kitchen in absolute happiness, only to then find the refrigerator completely empty. “Great...” Sehun grumbled as he closed the refrigerator door, then whipped out his cell to send his hyungs a text to pick up some more food. He checked the cabinets to find a few packets of ramen noodles stashed near the corner, so it’ll have to do for now. In the meantime, he should probably prepare for bed. After quick shower, the young boy went to the kitchen to prepare some ramen. While waiting for the water to boil, Sehun gazed at his cell phone for any response from his friends. Well, guess he say former friends now. After being scouted by SM and accepting their offer, none of his friends have been supportive of the decision, and perhaps it wasn’t the best choice he made. Even so, Sehun figured that maybe it’ll all work out in the end.

Guess not.

He didn’t mean to cause a rift within the friendships, but none of his friends had responded to him lately, so... it kind of hurts. Maybe this is his entire fault. He just wanted to be something more than...- nevermind. He sat his cellphone on the countertops and snatched the black box laying idly on the table. He happened to find it on his bed this morning and never bothered to opened it. Perhaps one of his hyungs gave it to him as a gift? Curiosity peaked his interest as he opened the box.

It’s a watch. Looks pretty neat. Sehun looked at the object a little more until a flash of bright light blinded him. With a high pitched squeak the teenager dropped the box. What was that? Did a light bulb blowed? He felt a little embarrassed for responding rather... badly, but the moment he glanced at the counter something completely grasped his attention.

Wolf. Thing. Flying?

No. Nevermind.

...And yet Sehun cannot look away.

It’s staring at him with those bright yellow eyes. Nope. Not real- “are you going to continue staring at me like that or do I have to introduce myself?”

“What the absolute fuc-”

“Ah ah ah...” The thing tsked, “No swearing within the perimeter of my presence, please.” Did- did it just talk? Sehun gawked at the flying animal thing as fear suddenly gripped him tightly. He couldn’t move, and even if he wanted to speak no words seemed to utter from his mouth.

“Let’s get things settle here. My name is Apollo, and I am a kwami god gifted with tremendous power of power and protection. I shall be your new guardian since you have opened the box. And that,” it pointed at the watch, “Will be your new miraculous to wear in order to transform into the appropriate hero.”

...What?

“W-what- why are you talking?!” OhmygodIamseeingshitwhatthehellisgoingon- “This is a trick, right? Someone’s pulling my leg...”

“No legs are pulled here, child.”

“Why are you talking!”

“Am I not allowed to speak?”

“No! I mean, I don’t even know what you are-”

“I just stated that I am a kwami.”

“Like I know what the hell that is!”

“Perhaps if you opened your mind and closed your mouth, then you can finally comprehend my words.” The thing ( yes, thing. ) retorted. Sehun felt immediate irritation creeping on him the longer he stood. This is severe amount of BS someone did, and whoever the person is Sehun hopes that person’s ass gets kicked to another dimension.

“We kwamis are presented to people who carry heroic qualities about themselves. Well, unfortunately, not all of the kwamis per-say, but most of us. However, there are people who abuse kwamis for self gratification, so that is why the master guardian shields all miraculouses from the public.”

“Okay, great, nice, but can you find someone else to harass? I’m trying to eat and go to bed, so-.” A second later, the wolf thing hovered directly in front of Sehun with its topaz eyes searing into his soul, “You. Are. Appointed.” It emphasized its husky voice on each word, “Do you honestly believe I am going to waste my infinite time with an obnoxious human being like yourself? Please, if that’s the case then I would’ve been freed from this unnecessary obligation!” It barked, “But of course, I have my mandated responsibilities just like you humans do, and so, it is not an option for you to reject me.”

“What are you saying?” Why does it feel normal talking to this thing? The thing released a long drawn out sigh. It backed away from Sehun slowly and stood on the table, “Me Apollo. Me a kwami. I give powers. This? MIR-AC-ULOUS...” Sehun growled. This piece of crap is obviously insulting his intelligence, isn’t it? “Okay, whatever, stop it.”

“I’ll cease to belittle your minuscule intelligence once you grasp the basics of communication. Oh, and by the way... do you happen to have tea? Goodness, after decades of being trapped in that miraculous I’m rather famished!” It flew in and out of the cabinets until a box of green tea packets fell on top of Sehun’s head.

And here they are at the table with a bowl of ramen and a cup of tea. How did this even happen? Honestly, at this point Sehun cannot even remember...

“So, that watch is actually some mystically enhanced jewelry piece?”

“Ah, not quite. Most jewelry pieces are small and dainty. I take pride of this watch! An enormous progression of history if I must say so myself.”

“Right... I’m going to be a...?”

“Miraculous wielder and protector of other active miraculouses. An occurring through divine or supernatural intervention, or manifesting such power. ”

“Kind of like a shounen hero?”

“Whatever you see fit.” The kwami, Apollo, stated before lapping up the bits of hot green tea. Sehun laid back within his chair as he allowed the information to process. Hm...hero, right? It reminds him of those typical shounen- well, moreso shoujo animes where there’s tiny talking animals introducing a new power to the main characters. Perhaps it’s the same thing with these uh, kwamis, right? Actually, why is he becoming comfortable with this? He should’ve called the cops on this little freak and have him experimented on. But then again, he’s not that heartless...

“Alright, whatever, fine. I’ll accept.”

Apollo looked up in surprise, “Hm, quite an immediate response. Are you sure you don’t need anymore time?” He asked.

“Nah. Honestly, I got nothing to lose besides my already draining sanity. And besides, it’ll give me something better to do than train. Didn’t you say you weren’t going to take “no” for an answer, anyway?”

“Hm, indeed. I had expected a series of denial and rejection from you, but I was wrong.”

“Great.” Sehun removed the watch out of the box before fiddling with it. He noticed the intricate designs encased around what appears to be a figured wolf within the center. The roman numerals rotated around the wolf with little and big hand aligned at twelve. Eventually, he slipped the watch onto his wrist and relished the coolness of it.

“Are you interested in testing your abilities?”

“I don’t see why not.” If he’s going to become one, might as well get used to this. Then again, he’ll have to see once he wakes up tomorrow.

“Very well. Then call me by name, and then say, “Howl through.” I will enter into the-”

“Apollo, howl through.”

“But I’m not-finished!” The poor wolf kwami did not receive the chance to finish his sentence before he was sucked into the watch.

🐱 Jungkook / Kwan Kat 🐱

As far as Jungkook can remember it’s been exactly seven months, twenty-eight days, thirty-two hours, six minutes and forty seconds since Ladybug and Wolf appeared on the scene. The moment he knew that there’s something more than life itself. He became a huge fan of the heroes and started a Naver fansite dedicated to the two, taking up majority of his time just like rookie idol training and school. Perhaps even more than school itself.

Whenever an attack happens in the city, Jungkook quickly excuses himself and whips out his camera to take good quality photos of the duo and akuma. On most conspiracy websites, it’s been theorized that akumas originate far from the city... a possible manipulator of some sort? It’s recognized that the perpetrator feeds off toxic emotions of anger and sadness. It kind of reminds him of those villains where they attack from a distance, almost as if...

“He’s using us as pawns.” Everyone groans around him.

Jungkook frowned, “What? It’s the only way possible. After all, no one have managed to find the culprit behind these possessions?” He can’t help it! There’s so many possibilities out there, and the only resource he has is Ladybug and Wolf. Note to self: make sure to interview Ladybug and Wolf soon... “C’mon Jungkook, there’s other things to talk about besides them. Can’t you see they’re way out of our league? Let them handle it.” Jin said.

“I know, but...”

“But nothing! You’ve been talking about it nonstop since the incident happened months ago. Do yourself and everyone a favor and stop. You probably think they’ll bend their knees for someone as average as us? Yah, give me a break!” Yoongi scoffed as he scooted out of his chair. The other rookies glanced at the round table as Yoongi continued to lecture Jungkook, “I have yet to see them interview anyone, and frankly, I doubt they care about us, let alone you. They believe they are so special because they have powers? Yeah, no.”

“...They...have normal identities, too...” Jungkook shrunk in his seat slowly as Yoongi relentlessly berated him until the elder walked away in frustration, leaving the poor boy alone in silence. With a sigh, the maknae pushed away his food and left the table. He could feel the anger rising in his chest reflecting over the incident. The further he focused on it, a sense of dark energy radiated from his mind...

They’re wrong.

He cannot be moved. Or else it’ll consume him, too.

.

Is he dreaming? No, he can’t possibly...

There stood Ladybug and Wolf. His heroes. On top of the balcony asking for him, Jeon Jungkook, to help them personally? The boy wiped his eyes as he edged closer outside the window. But honestly, what can he do? He doesn’t have much to offer them, let alone anyone else, so...-

“We’re not asking if you’re physically capable. We’re interested in your willingness to help us.” The wolf boy stated.

“B-but what can I do? I wanna help... though, why are you guys asking me? There’s so many people out there that’s better than me! I’m just a freaking fanboy!” And everyone teases him about it at school. Ugh... just thinking about the humiliation yesterday still recoils deep in his stomach. He’s not good at talking, either! Won’t he just embarrass them if he decides to help? Jungkook was lost in his own thoughts he never noticed Ladybug closing in on his personal space until he looked up.

“True. We could find someone better, but a friend of mines gave me a recommendation about you. I think if you stopped doubting yourself, then you can go far. So, are you interested or not?”

Is he? This might be his one time offer, so- “yes!” Yes, YES! Jungkook nodded as Ladybug smiled, “Good. Here, you’ll need this.” The heroine pulled out a tiny black box and handed it to the teen. Without a second thought Jungkook opened the box, only for a spark of light to startle him, “Woah!”  The light disappeared, and the boy was met with a flying black kitty with protruding green eyes.

“Ah! I finally awaken...!” The little kitten yawned, “Geeze, tell that master he needs to give us play time. Being locked in that box can surely strain my body. I don’t have nine lives for no reason, you know?” Jungkook looked at the cat in confusion, “Uh...” he didn’t know what to exactly think, but before he could voice his concerns the cat looked at him nonchalantly.

“Name’s Plagg. Kwami here that gives powers of destruction and uh, I like cheese. You know? Typical hero stuff.” The cat flew around him in what seems to be skepticism, “Hm... You look pretty decent for a fifteen year old boy. I’ll give you credit. Anyways, wear that black ring and I’ll give you my powers!”

“I-”

“Hey, not trying to rush, but we actually have to deal with some batshit akumas screwing everyone over, so can you speed it up?”

“Wolf! You could at least wait another minute.” Ladybug snapped at her partner. Jungkook quickly pulled out the ring and slid it on his index finger.

“Now what?” Excitement flourished through his veins as his heart grew erratic by the second.

“Now you say my name, “Claws out!” you’ll be the next Kwan Kat.” The cat said. Jungkook glanced at Ladybug and Wolf with their expression reflected his own of eagerness and pride.

This is going to be amazing!

“Plagg, claws out!”

🦊 Jungyeon / Pako 🦊

Okay, so,

Jungyeon was suppose to be babysitting her cousins. Not fighting them. However, some shit happened while they were acting like the little shitheads they were and transformed into bigger shitheads. Of course, it’s terrifying to watch them destroy her house, and then proceed to destroy the outskirts of the city, so it’s pretty bad.

However.

Ladybug, Wolf and that new black cat dude is on the scene beating her cousins assess in ways that’s probably problematic if they weren’t demon creatures. It’s also disappointing that she’s stuck here trying to do something when in fact she’s unable to do anything. And then, she watched her cousins multiply. Two to four, four to eight and eight to sixteen. They’re like cells going through osmosis, they won’t stop! Okay, this is really bad. And it’s her fault! “Oh no... what am I suppose to do now?!” Jungyeon can’t stop panicking. How is she going to explain to her aunt about this situation? She’ll never be trusted again!

“Jungyeon!” Huh? She felt a pair of strong arms scoop underneath her legs and the poor girl found herself screaming on the top of her lungs.

“Shit! Quiet down will you?!” Wait, it’s the Wolf kid! Hop, leap, jump, Jungyeon found herself far away from the city as she saw Ladybug and that black cat. Wolf set her carefully on her feet and plopped a black box in her hand.

“Take it.”

“What the?” She was completely dumbfounded, but it didn’t take a blind man more than three seconds to piece together the information.

“You’re only borrowing it since I sense the necessity of it. After we’re finish you must return it back to us.” Ladybug stated.

“Oh, okay. This is where I become a hero, right?”

“Pretty much.”

Well, if you can’t beat them, join them. With a simple shrug, Jungyeon flipped open the box and watched a red fox appear from it.

“Hi! My name’s Trixx and-”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Magical thing that give me powers. No time, gotta kick ass so sorry.”

The little fox folded its arms with a huff, “Well, rude much?” It muttered.

Jungyeon hooked the necklace around her neck, “I need a power up,” She beckoned.

“Ever heard so much of a ‘please’?”

“Please, and thanks.” A large explosion took everyone by surprise.

“Okay, fine. Just call my name and say, “Let’s pounce”-”

“Trixx, let’s pounce!”

🐝 Lisa / Honii Bee 🐝

“Pollen, what do you think of this dress?”

“Hm...” Lisa watched the little bee observe her carefully, “Well, I think some pink would go nicely with it.” the kwami said.

“Very much true. I wear way too much yellow for my own good...” After finding her tiny friend a month ago, things been rather exciting for Lisa to say within the least. And she started loving the color yellow. Yellow outfits, yellow bedsheets, yellow jewelry and she even dyed her hair yellow. Unfortunately, her stylists demanded she changed her hair to red...

The obsession with the color yellow is disturbing everyone around her, but Lisa doesn’t see much of a problem. After all, it only embodies her friendship with the buzzing insect. Of course, she had to keep this friendship a complete secret. Maybe it’s a good thing she accidentally found that hair pin! “Come on Lisa, you don’t want to be late. You have to meet with your managers at the photo session today!” Pollen motioned the girl out the door before zipping into her yellow purse. 

Even when she could fight along side the miraculous team, she preferred going solo. Especially at night where she can be free than any other person...

Hehe.

🌌 Jimin / Feather Juno 🌌

He noticed.

He’s not that stupid.

The frequent absences, the piling excuses, the nervous body language.

If one thing Park Jimin knew it was understanding the minuscule details. Generally speaking, he would’ve confronted Jungkook long time ago, but he decided to wait patiently.

“Jimin-”

“I’m sure it can explain itself better than you can, Jungkook.” Was he pissed? Somewhat, but not quite. However, his patience was thinning and he’s tired of the lies.

“...I’m not suppose to tell anyone.”

“So you don’t trust me, huh?”

“That’s not it-”

“Sure sounds like it!” Okay, he lashed out. He didn’t mean to, but he couldn’t help it. Jimin watch the maknae cower beneath him as frustration nearly consumed him whole. “Why don’t you trust me? Am I not your friend? Your brother? Or... you don’t want to confide in your friends anymore?” He whispered. He felt hurt.

Jungkook remained tight lipped.

Fine then.

Jimin haven’t spoken to Jungkook since. And it’s only been what? Four days? Until that happened. And by that, Jimin means another akuma attack. It’s been a freaking year and he’s still not used to this. Regardless, Jimin found himself pressed against the fence by this apparent monster with its hot breath smothering his face.

Wow, guess this is how he’s going to die, huh? He haven’t even apologized yet...

A sudden force whipped the monster away and Jimin found himself on the muddy ground, inhaling large amounts of air as his lungs burned. He looked up to find a black cat with solid grey eyes staring at him, “Are you okay?” He asked.

“Y-yeah...- wait, where’s Jungkook? Ah! He’s still in there! I-I have to do something!” Jimin suddenly remembered.

He’s scared.

The young man pushed himself to his feet and tried to run, but the cat clad in black snatched him by the wrist.

“What are you doing? Let me go!:” Jimin practically screamed, and yet the cat shook his head, “Jungkook’s fine.”

“How do you know?! You know nothing of him!”

“Have you considered looking in front of you?”

...

No. That’s... that’s not possible... is it?

“It is, actually.” The cat smirked. And now looking at it, the features and hair, earrings and outfit seems to- “J-Jungkook?” Jimin stuttered.

He’s shocked.

“Yes. I was wondering how long it took you to figure it out.” The cat boy snickered and flicked his belt-like tail in amusement, “Just address me as Kwan Kat, and everything will be okay.”

.

It wasn’t okay.

It took Jimin a complete week to process things. Sure, he speculated many things, but he never concluded his maknae was Kwan Kat. Now it brought fears Jimin never knew existed within himself until now. Nightmares of his Jungkook dying a horrible death, and he wasn’t there to save him. Worse, Kwan Kat sacrificing his life to save him, when he has nothing to contribute to society. He couldn’t bear to face Jungkook, not now, and when he did...

“Hyung, you can’t tell me to give up my alternative lifestyle because it’s unsafe!”

“How can you willing risk your life knowing it could be your last? You have so much to live for!”

“And that’s why I’m living it. To protect everyone around me and-”

“Have you considered the possibility of dying a horrible death? Abandoning your friends and family because you wanted to play hero?”

“You see? This was the reason I couldn’t tell anyone, especially you, Jimin.” The words hurt worse than a knife’s dagger, but Jimin stood his ground.

“Fine, but you gotta bring me along with you.”

“What? No way.”

“I have to make sure nothing happens to you.”

“And what if something happened to you? Then I would’ve failed my job as protector.”

“Then... we can fight together.”

.

“Here.”

“What is it?”

“It’s a miraculous box. I asked Master Fu if I could borrow a miraculous, and it took a lot out of me just to make him budge. You can help on certain occasions just like Jungyeon, but it might not be often.” Jungkook placed the box inside Jimin’s hand, “I picked out a pendant because I felt like it suits you. So, you’re going to help me today. Don’t abuse it.” The maknae warned as the elder opened the box.

“Eep!” Jimin nearly dropped the box the moment light flashed, and out came a...? “Well, aren’t you a handsome young man!” the thing squeaked.

“What are you-”

“Kwami. Mystical god that bestows supernatural abilities. I see Jungkook decided to select me today, wee! It’s been eons since I last seen the world. Okay Jimin, ya ready for playtime?”

“Uh-”

“Alright kiddos, who woken me from my nap?” Plagg maneuvered out of Jungkook’s back pocket with a firm frown, “Kook, you better buy me more cheese today.”

“Ugh, you gotta be kidding me! I don’t have any money right now.” The boy whined in annoyance.

“Your problem, not mines. Oh, sup Dusuu, I didn’t see you there. Strange way to have our reunion.”

“Plagg, it’s great to see you again, brother!”

Okay.

This is... not normal. 

“Come on Jimin, I’ll tell you more about it.” Jungkook finished with a smile.

[riveires]

circuits

@twentysixdegrees​

JOOHYUK

it’s certainly an upgrade from freshman year. at least now he doesn’t have to worry about having the right ratio, or making sure to have anywhere from five to twenty dollars on his person to get into a party. the only downside is that he’s pretty sure that their friend group is expecting him to help host at the next major holiday-ish party, and he’s not sure if he’s ready for that just yet. he…doesn’t even have an apartment off campus; he’s in the dorms with joonho, so that’ll be interesting to see how it all plays out–joohyuk is severely distracted.

he’s spacing out on this mildly interesting story about how steph had to walk home barefoot from her latest chem 3 exam because joonho’s getting hit on by a girl who’s like three degrees of separation from any of them. it’s just morally wrong. how can joohyuk leave his best friend and the only roommate he hasn’t scared off by his odd hours in the hands of a total stranger? 

so he thinks up a lie. believable enough to not arouse suspicion–

“i need you,” he states to joonho, looking him straight in the eye. all this after just walking away from steph and jake mid story. “beer pong duo upstairs getting too cocky after 2 wins in a row.” his smile to the girl is too easy to be truly fake. joohyuk is genuinely happy to steal joonho away. “sorry, he’ll catch up with you later. we’ve got a title to defend right now.”

he’s such a freaking liar.

there’s no guilt though. two beers, a cup of the seriously strong mixed juice, and three stupid dare shots in, and joohyuk doesn’t feel much. except for how warm joonho’s palm is in his. they’re holding hands, and he’s dragging him upstairs where the pong table actually is, but he directs them toward a sharp left, where the hallway is dimmer, and the little bay window overlooks the street in front of the house. “i lied.” he shrugs, letting go of joonho’s hand and sitting on the little seat that’s got a worn out cushion. “i’ll lie less in the new year or something, i don’t know.”

“but it was hot down there and i know how uncomfortable you get when there’s a lotta body heat.” nose scrunching, he can even call himself out on his bull (but he’s not sorry). joohyuk reaches behind him, fumbling with the latch on the window. he pushes it out so that it opens an inch or two, letting the cool winter air hit his back. he shivers. “sorry if you were really interested in her. didn’t mean to cockblock you.” opening his legs slightly, he leaves room for joonho to settles himself wherever he wants: against the railing of the stairs, up against the wall, or right in between his legs.

he’s laid the cards out on the table. it’s joonho’s turn now. 

JOONHO

Only two drinks in and Joonho finds himself slipping. Outside, the temperature is well into the negatives, making it the coldest night of the  month, yet his face is flushed, full in its hot tomato glow. Punch drunk Joonho is a sight to behold, blue moon rare. New Year’s Eve, after all, is only an annual occasion, one that he’s fully committed to getting properly smashed for. Except there’s one problem. Some friend of a friend of a friend by the name of Stacey remains as a firm obstacle between the refreshments table and wherever Joohyuk stands in vicinity. As it turns out, there’s some use to being this freakishly tall: he nods at the appropriate intervals of conversation, but his eyes continue to trail well above her shoulder, lingering shy and uncertain on a certain boy’s distinct side profile before sliding back to his companion. Somewhere in the midst of her sweet talk and the single hand that snakes up his chest, it suddenly becomes all too clear just exactly where she keeps pushing towards: neither the friendly game of Kings Cup in the nook nor the “dancing” in front of the T.V., but to the unoccupied bedroom at the end of the corridor. The thing is, Joonho might’ve said yes. She’s pretty enough, smokey-eyed and full-lipped to match, and he’s pliant to the touch. Fooling yourself is easy when there’s the warm burn of rum running through your veins: that this blood rush is for the way her gaze dips, for the swell of bare skin below her neckline. But like all other illusions, this one shatters just as quickly as it had been conjured. He’s whisked away before he knows it, the hand that folds into his centering him back down. It’s earth to Joonho again and he’s saved by the bell, all thanks to Joohyuk, no less. A fact that has his flustered expression shift into one of visible relief. Even more so, when it turns out that the destination his roommate has in mind is something a little more to his liking. Snowflakes fall in thin flurries, the sidewalk below a thin strip of white. The Christmas lights continue to flicker on the front porch. Placing one arm against the ledge, Joonho inhales sharp, then lets go in a slow stream. He feels cooler, better even, but judging by the lopsided grin still plastered on his mouth, not anywhere near sober. “I don’t mind.” He leans against the side of the window, all nonchalant, the hitch of a chuckle light in the baritone of his voice. In vino veritas, isn’t that what it is? Even in Joohyuk’s half-assed excuses, there’s a little bit of truth there, he reckons. Or he’s only buying into the damn thing because he’s quietly loving the way he looks at him like that as he says it. Or just how he looks. Like that. Washed over in the dim orange glow. Barely half an hour to midnight and subtlety has yet to check in at the door; an entirely new invitation present and ready and spreading itself out for him to take. But he won’t move that close, not right now, only marginally, to tap at his ankle with his foot. “Don’t tell me you were jealous, man.”

JOOHYUK

isn't it strange, that when you're fooling around, completely sober, in the middle of the day, you could be pressed skin to skin and yet think nothing of it? yet in a situation like this, where there's still a few inches between then, but there's alcohol involved at a time close to midnight--joohyuk is overthinking every little detail.

the confirmation from joonho about how he really feels about miss-too-close has him mirroring joonho's stupid face. the expression that, for the last few weeks, has made him feel all sorts of ways that he'd rather not think about. joohyuk does his best impression of that smile, but he knows that his version isn't nearly as megawatt beautiful as the original. "good. glad to know that if it were between me or her you'd pick me."

a casual sort of terror starts to creep through hims. he's never been nervous in front of joonho before, and he's rarely nervous in front of people in general but tonight? tonight he's nervous. he knows by the way blood rushes through his system, with the way he instinctively reaches out to settle his right hand onto joonho's hip. he's always been chased, never quite the one doing the chasing. "jealousy doesn't look good on anyone, not even me." his other hand rises to the level of joonho's waist, index finger threading through a beltloop and pulling him just a little closer. "would it have inflated your ego if i said yes?"

there's a need here. it rises in between them, and joohyuk wonders if he's going to break first. it's like that drinking game, where you just keeping adding splashes of soju into a glass full of beer. titanic, was the name of it if he remembered correctly.

damn, that shit really doesn't matter right now.

"joonho, it's really close to midnight. if you're gonna try and find a new year's kiss you better go prowl the floor now." is joonho shuffling in or is he pulling him closer? either way, joohyuk leans in, lips brushing against joonho's jaw.

it barely comes out. it's more of a vibration of sounds against skin, but it's loud enough. "otherwise it might just be me." 

JOONHO

The course of this evening has been something of a losing battle. Composure slips beneath him slow, fine sand through the pinch of an hourglass. With it escapes the number of excuses Joonho could possibly come up with, out by the glass. He's on the high-end of some type of mood, molten amber, liquid smooth. A single touch shouldn't unravel him so completely. Doesn't. But instead, there's the flush that blooms right underneath where Joohyuk's hand presses ever so light.

Spoken envy: in the daylight, it might have looked out of place—jarring under the exposure, perhaps quick to be brushed off as a joke. Here it takes on a whole other pretense, the warmth in his breath palpable, voice a low rumble in the dark. It's enough to send a shiver down his back. 

"That right?" Teasingly, he tilts his head. "I don't know. You haven't really given me an answer." Downstairs, the murmuring grows louder. Pop, then the hiss of champagne flowing free to fill to the brim. Someone dials up the volume of the television, and the announcer's booms are muffled by the walls. A little over three hours away, Times Square hums with anticipation. From a bird's eye view, the sprawl of city lights would look like a dizzying blur of stars, bright against the thin, nocturnal chill. 

All that, and through the thick haze of his inebriated state, sinks the realization, we’re alone now. His lips are the closest they’ve been, light against the line of his jaw. His heartbeat echoes loud in his ears. 

“The floor’s too far.” 

Slowly, Joonho’s hands trail up to cup his cheek, the full weight of his stare unmoving. 

Downstairs, the countdown begins. Ten, Nine, Eight. 

Half moon eyes, full mouth. The room begins to fade out. 

“I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

JOOHYUK

what is it about this time of year? the weather? the holiday magic? the restlessness of having too much to do but not enough to finish, all at the same time? earlier in the day he couldn't possibly stay still, but now he can barely remember to breathe.

Seven. Six.

"guess you'll never get a proper answer." a question without a resolution, a night that feels too long, a countdown that's steadily ending. it's like he's just been completely submerged in water. everything is muffled--the sound of party-goers probably stampeding to crowd around the tv, the names of absent friends being called frantically--he thinks he might have heard theirs at some point, too.

"there's more important things to worry about." joohyuk feels sluggish, his heart's pounding but his limbs almost seem locked into place. is he losing his courage? his cool? maybe he shouldn't have offered in the first place if he wasn't ready for each and every potential response.

'the floor's too far.'

Five. Four.

but then--clarity. with joonho fully settles in between his thighs, his legs wrap around, heels tugging him close. close enough until there's no room left to separate them. "you're so close." he murmurs it while melting into joonho's palm cupping his cheek. "you're better than anyone downstairs, wouldn't want it any other way." he always did talk too much. "happy early new year, babe." a stuttering exhale, and he surges up to meet joonho halfway.

joohyuk wonders if joonho can taste the smile on his lips.

JOONHO

Up until now, he's held it all in. Every pipe dream, every what if, every hint of wishful thinking that surfaces in the wakeful hours closed away, out of sight, out of mind.

But his imagination has never come anywhere close to this. He almost doesn't believe it—this proximity, the feel of Joohyuk's skin, and this possibility that unfurls between them, nocturnal and blooming slow under moonglow and the warmth of their breaths.

"I won't push for one, then." 

 Three, 

The chanting grows, the anticipation building beneath their feet. Outside, the spectators step into the street, one by one, eyes to the sky in wait. The first few whistles are set off in the distance, but none of the matters. Not when they're like this, right here, right now.

Joonho leans in close.

Two,

"So are you." 

Their lips touch. 

One. 

All around, it erupts into celebration, cheer and pure jubilation in a ring of echoes. The fireworks go off singing, bursting into blue and gold against the endless sky.

Angling his head, Joonho presses closer, closer than close, reveling in the pulse of it all for what it's worth. He feels the grin on Joohyuk's lips and smiles back, in sheer delight. His heart soars. 

Happy New Year's. 

[FIN]

[10monthsandoneday-blog]

Shortaki Week, Day 6:

Also on Ao3

First, Previous

Soulmates / Proposal / Shelter  Edit: I’m so, so sorry D: tumblr ate my read my read-more! Sorry! Thank you for reading Last of the fics for this, the other two are comics (which i’m noticing people prefer :o) )

Warning for potential for future polyamory (there’s mostly just teasing towards that idea and it can be taken as platonic). Also there’s a bit of swearing. 

Helga had known who her soulmate was since she was almost three years old. The words carefully sketched into her wrist had been quite clear and distinctive. They were the first words she’d learned to read.

Olga had taught her, in one of the few quiet moments where their parent’s attention was on something other than the elder girl. Helga was two, and hadn’t yet developed an apathy for her sister, so she was happy for the help and attention.

Olga had pulled Helga onto her lap and pointed out the words, letter by letter. “Hi,” she said, tracing the word with her finger. “There’s the ‘h’ and there’s the ‘i’ and together they make the word ‘hi’. Mkay?” Helga nodded seriously. Olga giggled. “Then, there’s an ‘n’ and another ‘i’ and then ‘c’ and finally ‘e’. What’s that spell, Helga? Can you guess?”

Helga thought for a moment, then shook her head sadly. “Sorry.”

“Oh, sweetie, you don’t need to apologize.” Olga cuddled her sister for a moment. “It spells ‘nice’. Like when something is good and you like it.”

Helga smiled at her hopefully. “Nice big sister?”

Olga squealed a little. “Nice baby sister too.” She began tracing the last word. “That’s ‘b’, ‘o’, ‘w’. Which spells ‘bow’.” She grinned sweetly at Helga, tugging on the big, pink bow atop the little girl’s head. Helga giggled a little. “So, as a sentence, it says, ‘Hi, nice bow.’ Baby sister, your soulmate sounds like a sweetheart, just like you!”

“Hi, nice bow,” Helga repeated softly, beaming as wide as she could. She brought her hand up to the fabric, clutching it a little.

She vowed to always wear it.

Smiling, suddenly curious, Helga looked at Olga. “What’s yours say?”

Olga’s smile became slightly fixed. “Oh sweetie, that doesn’t matter.” Her hand wrapped around her own wrist, shielding words Helga couldn’t even read. “I’m not my soulmate’s soulmate, and that’s okay.”

Helga gave her a horrified look. “But why? You’re pretty and smart and know ev–every–all the stuff.” She traced over the unreadable words.

‘My name is Mai, do you know where room 209 is?”

Her big sister gave her a sad smile. “Because sometimes, the person you love doesn’t always love you back.”

“Maybe, they don’t know?” Helga said optimistically. Olga looked even sadder.

“Sometimes, it’s nicer to not tell them, because it’ll make them sad.” She shook her head then, and grinned, wide and plastic, around the sadness in her eyes. “Now, enough about that silly stuff, I wanted to teach you piano!”

The next year, as she drifted further and further away from her elder sister, and continued to be ignored by her parents, Helga trekked the twelve blocks to her new preschool. It was raining, a dog stole her lunchbox, and she got mud all over her new jumper, and her bow. It was the worst day her young brain could remember having. She was cold and sopping wet by the time she reached the building.

Suddenly though, the rain stopped. There was a warm, sweet voice from behind her. It made her heart jump in her chest.

“Hi, nice bow.”

She could be excused, then, for the next word to come out of her mouth. “Huh?”

Helga turned then and looked at the face of her soulmate. He looked like sunshine, beaming at her. She loved him immediately.

“I like your bow, ‘cause it’s pink like your pants.” Then he shuffled inside and the rain came back.

Staring at the beautiful boy, she didn’t even feel it.

Later, after the teacher had cleaned her up, there was roll call and Helga learned the sunshine boy’s name: Arnold. She held the precious word as close to her heart as the first three.

She was desperately looking forward to after snack, when there would be free play and she could go say ‘hi’ back. Perhaps she would compliment the nice hat he was wearing, with its pretty blue color. Maybe she could tell him how much she liked the interesting shape of his head, or his sunshine smile. Maybe she would start with an apology for such an uninteresting soul mark.

At snack time, though, the older boy, Harold, stole her crackers. And that was when things began to go very wrong. Arnold walked over and held out his own crackers in offering.

“Want mine?”

For a moment, she stared at his open face, then at his hand, holding the plate of crackers. She nodded and he handed them off. As he waved goodbye, she noticed the odd, long collection of words tangled around his wrist. She blinked, but she was too far away to read it (if she even could).

It wouldn’t connect until a little while later what that would mean.

At that point, though, she was simply filled with elation at his kind gesture. She stared as he made his way back to his friend with the funny hair who held out one of his own crackers for Arnold. She sighed helplessly and stared at the boy with the oblong head, hands clasped together.

Then the laughing began….

——

Helga was certain by the time she was four that she was not Arnold’s soulmate. Her heart ached at that, and she knew she could never tell him. Arnold could never know that he was her soulmate.

After she decided that, she made herself a bracelet–like the one she saw Olga wearing all the time–and covered up the carefully written script.

The bracelet covered up her soulmark, and her hateful words covered up her love.

Because her love for Arnold didn’t simply go away because she knew she was one half of a soul (but, oh boy, did she try). No, it simply grew with each passing year. As he continued to be sunshine personified, she fell more and more in love with the unknowing boy.

She didn’t get a good look at Arnold’s soulmark (which remained uncovered even as he got older) until she was six and a half. As she sat next to him, she eyed his wrist as she pretended to work on their school project.

“You have a funny lookin’ head. I like it. Wanna play blocks?”

She’d known from almost the start that she wasn’t his soulmate, but it still kind of hurt to get the confirmation.

(Which might have been why she took out her heartache by dumping glue on his head.)

——

When Helga was almost ten, she confessed her feelings to Arnold. She told him everything. She told him about the stalking. She told him about her shrine, and about all her poetry.

….She told him almost everything.

She couldn’t tell him about her mark. She couldn’t bear to. Because to have that part of her rejected would be horrible. But what would be worse than rejection would be obligation.

She couldn’t do to Arnold what had happened to her mom.

Miriam had never had a soulmark, but Bob had had hers. So, though they had nothing in common and barely knew each other, they had dated and, eventually, married. But Helga wasn’t blind. She could see how trapped in her marriage Miriam felt.

To do that to Arnold was just unthinkable.

So, she kept that part a secret. And when the time came that Arnold gave her a way to deny her own confession, to go back to hiding her love from him, she gladly took it. With that, she went back to loving him in secret.

—-

When Helga was ten and a half, she went to the jungle on a class trip.

She knew the real reason the trip had came to be–that was, so that Arnold could look for his missing parents. Arnold didn’t know that she knew, but when push came to shove, she obviously helped him out.

Of course, accidents were bound to happen, so Helga shouldn’t have been surprised to lose her bracelet. She shouldn’t have been surprised that Arnold noticed it.

She was surprised by both, mostly because Arnold was not the only one capable of being oblivious.

She had passed out after the waterfall. When she had awoken, Arnold was tending to her. Had she had time and ability to be alone just then, she would have swooned over it. There was an odd, almost blank look on Arnold’s face though. He seemed upset about something. Helga chanced a question.

“What’s wrong, Football Head?”

Arnold blinked and made a bad attempt to smile at her. “Hi, Helga, are you feeling better?”

She scowled at him. “I ache like no tomorrow and I never want to look at water again, but I’m just peachy. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong.” He was lying, badly.

Helga gave him a flat look. “Spill paste-for-brains, You’re no good at keeping secrets.”

Arnold scowled. “But you’re great at keeping secrets,” he said, voice hard. He tapped her wrist.

Her bracelet was gone.

“Ah,” she said, sitting up and lifting her wrist to look at Arnold’s neat handwriting. She had avoided looking at the thing too much over years, to avoid more heartache than necessary, but the script had shifted and changed somewhat, as Arnold’s handwriting had improved.

“Helga, please don’t lie. Is that mark mine?” Arnold’s voice was quiet. It lost the edge it’d had. Now, he just sounded kind of sad.

“Yes,” Helga murmured. She stared at the ground. She couldn’t bear to look at him.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

When Helga replied, her voice came out sharp as glass. “What exactly was I supposed to say? ‘Hey, Football Head, along with being freakishly in love with you, you’re also my soulmate, but I’m not yours.’”

“Yes.”

Helga felt like crying. “Why? Why would I do that to myself? And more importantly, why would I do that to you? You already have a soulmate.”

Arnold grabbed her hand. She looked up at him, past the burning and blurring building up in her eyes. His face was intense. “Because you are my soulmate Helga.”

Helga blinked away the tears in her eyes and scowled, pointedly staring at his wrist. He followed her gaze and let out a short laugh. “I guess you haven’t been stalking me close enough, if you don’t know about the other one.”

He let go of her hand and pulled off one of his shoes, followed by a drooping sock. Etched into the fine knob of his ankle, in the purple pen that Helga preferred, was an single word.

“Huh?” Helga echoed herself from so very long ago.

She was very confused. It must have shown on her face, because Arnold spoke.

“I’ve always had more than one soulmark, it runs in my family.” He blushed. “Grandpa says it’s something to do with having a lot of room for love in our hearts.”

He’d said the word. He’d said the word that had freaked him out so much on that rooftop. He’d said it while talking about his soulmark.

Helga might’ve swooned slightly. But, she was still confused. “But if that’s mine, then who does this mark belong to.” She pointed back to his wrist.

Arnold grinned. “That’s Gerald’s mark.”

Helga wasn’t actually that surprised. But…. “I was almost certain that he liked Phoebe, and he’s never seemed to like boys like that….”

Arnold actually grinned cheekily at her omission of him seeming like that. “He does like her, and he’s pretty certain he only likes girls. The marks don’t have to be the d-dating kind of love. I’d’ve thought you would’ve known that.”

Helga shrugged shyly. “After I’d decided you didn’t have my mark, I didn’t really wanna think about it…..”

He gave her a sympathetic look and then glanced at her hand briefly, before grabbing it. “So, um, if it’s okay with you, can I give you my answer to what you said on the roof of FTi?”

Helga gulped but nodded.

He gave her the sunshine smile and began speaking. “Uh, well, I’m still only ten, so I don’t really know if it’s completely in the r–rom—the dating way, but I think I might love you Helga.” Then he leaned forward, kind of slowly, and pressed a chaste kiss to her lips. It was the utter opposite from Helga’s kiss almost half a year before, but Helga melted.

She would take Arnold’s kiss over the first one any day.

“Hey, guys, are you in–”

Helga and Arnold pulled back from each other to stare at Gerald. He was grinning widely, arms crossed.

“We were just–”

“He was only–”

“There was a bug–”

Helga sent Arnold a flat look at this and rolled her eyes at Gerald. “We were kissing.”

Arnold went beat red.

Gerald sighed in mock sadness. “Guess that means you’re off the market then, Arnold.”

If anything, the blond boy went redder, slouching against Helga. “Gerald.”

Gerald held up his hands in mock surrender. “Anyway if you two are done with the smooching–”

“Gerald!” Helga and Arnold said together. Their faces were now a matching shade of red.

The other boy laughed. “We really should get going.”

Even with Arnold helping, Helga wobbled as she got to her feet. She wasn’t sure how much of it was from her impromptu trip down the waterfall, and how much was from just the last few minutes. After she took a moment to get her balance, the trio were off once again.

Their moment was set to the side, to be picked up after Arnold’s parents were safe.

—–

When Helga was fifteen, she broke up with her soulmate.

Arnold was going to go live with his parents in San Lorenzo. Or, at least, he had the opportunity. He had been debating it, and he’d been leaning towards staying in Hillwood for Helga.

But she knew how desperately Arnold coveted his time with his parents. And she knew that he would miss either party he left behind. So, Helga made the choice for him.

She put a hand on his cheek, brushing away a stray tear. “Darling, I’ve had you for thirteen years, they’ve had barely five.”

“Helga, I….”

“They need you, Arnold, and as much as I–” need you. “–want you here with me….you need to go with them.”

They were both crying then, hugging and pressing kisses wet with tears to each other’s faces. She breathed in his warm smelling hair, ran soft hands over the lovely shape of his head, listened to the soft hitching of his breath, and committed it all to memory.

Finally, she pulled away, still leaving one hand pressed to his cheek. He leaned into it, almost desperately. “It’s only for a couple years,” she told him.

He turned to press a kiss to the palm of her hand and she resisted the urge to start crying again.

“I’ll miss you,” he told her, rather plaintively.

She gave in to a few more tears. “Oh, my dearest, you know I’ll miss you too. But, please, smile for me, and enjoy the time we have left.”

Arnold gave her a variation of the sunshine smile. Since they had started dating, Helga had seen many different versions of his special smile. But she had never seen this one:

This one, where he was smiling around the shards of a shattered glass heart.

She immediately burst into more tears. “I love you,” she wept.

Arnold folded her into another another hug, and she nosed into his shoulder, shaking them both with her crying. “Oh Helga, you know I love you too.” His voice cracked as he spoke, and Helga felt tears in her hair.

That wouldn’t be the last time either of them cried that night.

——

When Helga was almost eighteen, she proposed in a letter.

It’s the first letter she’d sent to Arnold. She had written more than a hundred letters over the past two and a bit years that her soulmate had been gone, but she could never bear to send them. It felt like sending her heart through the mail, and it would rob her emotionally to do so too much. Arnold had sent her plenty, and she cherished every one she got, but she never sent any back.

That wasn’t to say she didn’t keep in contact with her technically-ex-boyfriend. They spoke on the phone whenever he was able (Bob did not appreciate the long distance fees, but she could care less what he thought). And whenever Arnold had an internet connection, they made good use of their Instant Messenger.

But the only letter she sent was also the only one she would ever have to.

“My Dearest Arnold,

Surprised? Me too. I didn’t think I would ever get up the guts to do this, but here I am, writing you a letter with actual paper. And, of course, my purple pen that we both adore. I know we’ve talked over the phone about why I haven’t done this before, but I still wanted to apologize. You’ve been so very, very patient with me, and I still say I don’t deserve you.

Also, I wanted to remind you that you’ve got a hundred and twenty-five letters (and counting!) waiting for you here when you get back.

Anyway, before I get to the actual reason I’m writing this thing, let me fill you in on what’s been happening since the last time we talked on the phone (mostly because I’m a chicken-shit and want to put off what I’m writing this for, but what can you do).

Gerald and Phoebe are still together–though Gerald has said that he’s still waiting for you to come home to him….and I think he was only half joking. (I swear the two of you’s romantic/queerplatonic/what-the-fuck-ever tension is as bad as his and Phoebe’s was. When you get home, me and Phoebe are probably going to lock the two of you in a closet until you talk it out or make out.)

I’m not kidding dollface.

Grandpa and Grandma and the borders are all fine. Oscar finally got around to taking his GED and he actually passed. Suzie is over the moon. Mr. Potts proposed to Lola, freaking finally. Mr. Hyuhn is over that nasty bout of bronchitis. He’s doing good now–and Mai Hyuhn has all but officially moved in to help out around the boarding house, now that grandpa and grandma are nearing their nineties (though with that social work job of hers, she can only give up so much of her time). They all say ‘hi’.

Actually, speaking of Mai, I’ve been, maybe, working on a matchmaking project–probably since, with you not around, I have to get rid of all my hopeless romantic-ness somehow. I don’t think I ever told you, but the reason I was so convinced in grade school that I wasn’t your soulmate, is because that’s what Olga said about her soulmate–that they’d already had a soulmark for someone else. But, I noticed a few weeks back that Mai keeps both her wrists covered, and I asked her about it (yeah, I’m as rude as ever, what else is new?). She says she found one of them, but the other one she hasn’t seen since high school–and she even showed me them. And one of them totally matched with Olga’s. So, lately, I keep setting the two of them up to run into each other. Mai’s definitely catching on, but she so doesn’t mind, and Olga is more oblivious than you used to be. Hopefully they’ll figure things out before you and I are in our thirties or something.

So. Um. I was thinking of coming up to visit you soon. I know my last visit there didn’t go so well (what with me being sick the entire time), but I really miss your dumb face. Like a lot. And I was thinking about some other stuff too. The last couple times we talked on the phone, we talked a bit about getting poli sci degrees, and about me being a writer, about you doing something with all your experience in San Lorenzo. We did talk a bit about colleges, but what do you think about UoW? It’s got a bunch of good programs and scholarships, and it’s only about a three hour drive to Hillwood. What do you think?

Heck, to save on financials, we could get married before we go!

…That wasn’t how I wanted to put that sentence….But I’m forcing myself to keep it.

I know we haven’t officially gotten back together yet (though I don’t think we officially ‘broke up’ either), but I’m serious. I’ve thought about this for a while now, and I genuinely want to marry you Arnold.

The question is though, do you want to marry me?

I’ll wait for your answer before I do anything serious.

(I maybe might have already bought you a ring)

Love,

Your Helga”

Arnold was in Hillwood within a week, at her door.

“You asked me to marry you through a letter,” he stated blankly as Helga opened the door.

Helga blushed, but couldn’t help but grin. “Hello to you too Arnold.”

Arnold blinked, and then laughed and pulled her in for a hug and peck on the lips. “Hi, My Helga.”

She hugged him back. “I missed you,” she whispered into his neck. His hold tightened.

“I missed you too.”

When he eventually pulled back again, his eyebrows were raised. “You asked me through a letter to marry you,” he said again. “You said you bought me a ring.”

Helga’s laugh was nervous. “I can’t tell if you’re mad at me for it or not.”

“I’m not mad,” he reassured her. “And I shouldn’t be surprised, but you’re so good at surprising me.”

They smiled at each other for a moment, but after a bit, Helga shifted uneasily. “So, I assume, if you’ve made a rather impromptu visit to Hillwood, you have an answer….”

He beamed at her, and it was the sunshine smile, wider than she had ever seen it before. “Of course I want to marry you Helga.” He rubbed the back of his neck, laughing sheepishly. “I was actually planning to propose to you when I got back officially….you’re not the only one who has a ring….” His last words were a mumble.

Helga tugged him in suddenly for a kiss, joy rushing through her veins like sugar. Arnold kissed her back, his delight just as obvious as her own.

“I love you, soon-to-be Mr. Shortman-Pataki,” Helga said, pulling back just enough to murmur against his lips. He grinned against hers.

“Well I love you back, soon-to-be Mrs. Pataki-Shortman.”

Then he went right back to kissing her and that was all they did for a time.

——

“You know I wasn’t kidding about Gerald and that closet.”

“I know.”

“I might do it at the wedding.”

“I wouldn’t even be surprised.”

“Yeah, you would.”

“Yeah, I would.”

[pinknerdpanda]

Bad Blood - Part 1

Characters: Reader x Roy, Sam, Dean

Summary: You stop at a small cafe in Louisiana on your way home from hunting with the Winchesters. There is something about the man behind the counter that makes you hungry for more than just the pie.

Warnings: Violence, Language, Pre-Smuttiness

Word Count: 2262

A/N: This is the first part of a series I am working on. Part 2 is already done and I am starting part 3 next. Future parts will be NSFW and I will be sure to put that in the warnings. The gif is not mine - thanks Google.

Your feedback is so appreciated! :)

Thanks to my Soul Sister @wheresthekillswitch for beta’ing this for me and for always encouraging me. Also thanks to @emilywritesaboutdean who kinda pre-beta’d this like a long time ago when Lee was working on her 400 celebration and I needed help moving forward. You are both incredible writers and I am privileged to call you my friends. The support and love you guys and @arryn-nyxx give me on a regular basis is beyond words. I love my squishes.

Tags are below - please send me an ask if you would like to be added or removed from my tag list! :)

Bad Blood

Part 1

Guidry’s Cajun Cafe - Carencro LA

You have seen your fair share of shady places, but this one - with its battered walls and rickety tables and mismatched chairs may well top your list. You eye the empty barstools lining the counter to determine the one least likely to put your ass on the floor. You decide on the one closest to the cash register, perching gingerly upon it.

The run-down cafe is nearly empty, unsurprisingly so at 12 am. The smell of coffee makes your stomach growl and you immediately turn over the chipped stoneware mug in anticipation. The sudden squeak of a swinging door is soon followed by soft melodic whistle, both sounds cause your head to jerk up from the menu in your hand. A man wearing a green apron appears behind the counter. He approaches you holding a pot of coffee in one of his large hands.

“Evenin’ ma’am,” he drawls, his voice is warm and intoxicating. One side of his mouth quirks in a grin as he fills your cup.

“Thank you.” You return the smile as you meet his gaze. His brilliant blue eyes are mesmerizing.

“Can I get you anything ‘sides the coffee t’night?”

“Uh...yeah...actually. Do you have any, uh...pie?” You groan internally as you stumble your way through your reply. Get your shit together. What is the matter with you?

“I believe we got one slice left.” The grin on his face widens, causing the corners of his eyes to crinkle slightly. “How d’you feel about cherry?”

“Sounds great. I’ll have that.”

“Comin’ right up.”

He turns on his heel to get your pie, offering you a glimpse of his back. This man is huge, though definitely not freakishly tall like your friend Sam. The thought of Sam and his brother Dean makes your eyes roll.

Those crazy sons-a-bitches nearly got you killed. Three days ago, they’d called, asking for your help to take out a nest of vamps in Baton Rouge. What could go wrong?

Well, as it turns out, everything.

According to their research, the nest had contained no more than half a dozen bloodsuckers. They’d been keeping a low profile in the area, but the signs were all there; seven missing in the last eighteen months and four bodies, all drifters, with their throats ripped out and not a drop of blood to their name.

The Winchesters tracked them to a run-down shack out on Highway 61. The dense foliage obscured the building from the road, providing a prime spot for the vamps’ homebase. The sliver of moonlight in the inky sky gave off little light making it impossible to discern distinct shapes.

Dean found a secluded spot to stow his Impala and the three of you exited the vehicle quickly. The elder brother popped the trunk and you stifled a giggle as he propped it open with a sawed off shotgun.

You’d only been hunting with these boys a few other times and each time you’d found something new to be intrigued by.  Sam and Dean had battled and taken out every kind of evil thing you’d ever heard of and a handful that you hadn’t. Their reputation was known far and wide in the close-knit community. In your few encounters with the handsome brothers, you’d grown to appreciate their trademark cunning and intellect and they’d quickly earned your heartfelt respect. Dean’s cocky attitude and confident swagger, however, had the innate ability to frustrate the shit out of you and this was no exception.

In the hours leading up to your arrival, you’d tried and failed multiple times to get the green eyed man to share his strategy to take out the nest, each time receiving the same self-assured grin.

“It’s simple, princess. We go in, chop their heads off and celebrate with a beer for a job well done.” His use of the nickname “princess” annoyed you, but you chose to let it go for the moment.

Dean turned, passing a machete each to you and Sam, his own gripped tightly in his large hand, before slamming the trunk closed.

“Ok, we good?” His tone was determined and focused.

“What’s our play here?” you asked again, hoping for a proper answer this time.

“I told you, get in, get out, beers. Any questions?”

“That’s it?” you barked, frustration sharpening your tone.

Sam glanced at you empathetically. He seemed to understand your need for detail, but you assumed that his years on the road with Dean had helped him learn to cope.

“Oh I’m sorry, princess, do I need to draw you a diagram?” Dean retorted as he stepped closer in an attempt to intimidate you with his large frame. He gestured vaguely toward the highway. “Look, there’s the road if you want out, but I suggest you start walking now if you want to make it back to town by morning.”

Your blood boiled as you squared your shoulders and your eyes narrowed. You stretched your neck to meet his gaze.

“Listen here, Winchester, call me ‘princess’ again and it WILL be the last time.  You called me, remember?” You jabbed your finger into his chest to emphasize each word. “You need me, so you can back off with your badass male-dominance, ‘I’ve got a big dick’ bullshit. All I want is a plan. You wanna waltz through that door and get your ass ripped to shreds, be my guest, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to let your over-confidence put me in the ground.”

A muffled sound made your head whip around. Sam’s eyes glittered with suppressed laughter and his scruff covered dimples threatened to emerge. The sight was infuriating.

“What’s so funny over there, Sasquatch?” you growled through clenched teeth.

“Nothing.” he said. His attempt to wipe the smile off his face failed. “Nothing at all. I just love watching you refuse to take Dean’s crap. It is just so...refreshing.”

Dean grunted and you looked back at him through slits. “Well, what’s it going to be, Dean. You gonna keep up this asshole schtick or are we going to do our job?”

“Fine. Y/N.” He spit out your name like a curse as he leaned back against the car and sighed. “Sam and I will take the front door, you go round back to catch any trying to make a get-away. Chop chop and we are out of here. Capisce?”

The half dozen vampires turned out to be 15 and the “shack” - an expansive abandoned motel. When everything was said and done, you were all three bleeding profusely, each needing an indeterminate number of stitches, but the nest was eliminated. You limped back to the Impala in silence, chucking your blood-coated blade in the trunk before falling into the back seat and slamming the door.

Dean slid carefully behind the wheel, letting out a deep breath as Sam took his seat.

“Y/N…” Dean’s tone was soft and tinged with remorse but you cut him off.

“Just...don’t. OK? They are dead, we are breathing. Let’s just be done. I need a shower and you promised me a beer.”

Dean nodded, throwing the car in reverse before tearing off down the road.

The soft rattle of a plate against the counter draws you out of your thoughts. You smile appreciatively at the man. “Thank you. This looks delicious.”

“Bon appetite. The name’s Roy,” he offers a large calloused hand and you reach to shake it instinctively, your brain entranced by the sparkle of his eyes and his perfect white teeth.

“Y/N,” you manage, swallowing hard, the feel of his hand wrapped around yours sending a current down your spine.

“Nice to meet ya, y/n. What brings you to this part of Louisiana this time ‘a night?” He releases your hand and leans on his elbows, crossing his arms on the counter in front of you.

“Passing through on my way out of Baton Rouge.” You tug at the collar of your jacket nervously, wincing at the sting of fresh stitches near your collarbone. His eyes follow your movements, pupils widening briefly as the edge of a bandage peeks out from under the collar of your t-shirt. You drop your hand to the steaming mug. “I just needed to stretch my legs a little before I settle in for the long haul back to Texas.”

The sound of someone clearing their throat grabs Roy’s attention. “‘Scuse me, darlin.” He straightens and winks at you, scooping up the pot of coffee and heading toward the booth in the far corner.  

You shake yourself, a voice in your head scolding you for being so awkward. The last few days with the Winchesters have done a number on you. It’s not that you’re attracted to them, but damn are they attractive. You don’t usually go for the pretty-boy, straight from the cover of the plaid-appreciation edition of GQ type. But between the adrenaline of the past few days and the close proximity of the brothers, you are more than a little worked up, and the way Roy is looking at you isn’t helping matters.

Roy makes his way back up to the counter, placing the pot of coffee back on the warmer and grabbing a towel while whistling softly. You study him carefully out of the corner of your eye. His hair is cropped short and his carefully trimmed beard is peppered with grey. His neck is thick and his fitted white shirt hugs his broad chest. The sleeves are rolled up exposing his massive forearms, muscles flexing as he wipes down the counter. You have the sudden image of being pushed against a wall, that muscular chest pressing into yours as one of his thick hands winds into the back of your hair, his lips crashing into yours in a heated kiss.

“How’s it taste, cher?” Roy’s sultry voice breaks your thoughts, making you yelp in surprise. You look up wide-eyed, finding him much closer than you’re expecting and you suck in a quick breath.

Roy raises his hand in front of him, quirking an eyebrow. “My apologies. I wasn’t tryin’ ta frighten you.” You notice his a tinge of sadness in his eyes and a part of you wonders what put it there.

“Sorry.” You smile, shaking your head. “Sorry...it’s just been a long couple of days.” You scoop a forkful of pie and place it in your mouth, closing your eyes in delight as the sweet taste hits your tongue. “This is amazing,” you practically moan.

Roy’s face brightens and a wide smile graces his lips. He seems to enjoy watching you savor each bite as much as you’re enjoying eating it.

The sound of footsteps from behind you is soon followed by the squeak of a hinge and a dull thud as the customers from the far booth head outside. Roy makes his way to the door, flipping the switch on the open sign.

“Oh shit, you’re probably needing to close down…” You try to stand too quickly, but lose your balance as the stool begins tipping over, your foot still entwined in the bottom rung. Roy’s strong arms are on you suddenly as he deftly steadies you and the barstool in one motion. Leaning into his firm chest for support, you untangle your foot from the offending furniture. Your breath hitches as his scent fills your nostrils and your gaze shifts slowly upward to meet his. Roy swipes gently at your parted lips with his rough thumb.

“You had a lil’ som’thin’ on your lips there, cher.” His voice is strained.

He wets his lips and the sight of his tongue sends a heat coursing through your body. Slowly, his hand slides to the back of your head and then his lips are on yours, a feather-light touch. Winding one hand around the back of his neck, you press into him. Your eagerness granting him permission, his tongue dips into your mouth and you moan into his kiss.

A growl vibrates through his chest as his hands slide down the length of your body. One hand lands on your ass, squeezing firmly and you arch your back. Roy kisses a trail from your mouth to your throat and his tongue stops to trace the vein in your neck, the sensation sending waves of heat straight to your core. You swivel your hips and press your thighs together, searching for some kind of friction.

You quickly untie the strings of Roy’s green apron from around his waist, pulling back just enough to pull it over his head and throw it aside. He releases the grip on your body, reaching a hand behind his head to grab a handful of his shirt and yank it off as you shed your jacket. His fingertips fall to trace the hem of your shirt before hooking his fingers under it and removing it from your body. The look on his face as he drinks you in is almost predatory.

His eyes lock onto the patch of white just over your collarbone and he goes completely still, the color draining from his face. You study him, glancing down self consciously to note the blood that has begun to seep from your wound, a bright red spot beginning to spread through the fibers of the bandage.

There is nothing human about the sound that escapes Roy’s throat, and your eyes shoot up to meet his. Pupils dilated, chest heaving, mouth agape as he turns around on his heel. It takes your lust-drunk brain half a second to put the pieces together.

Read Part 2 Here

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[theartificialdane]

Galactica, part 236

In this we celebrate Thanksgiving from New Orleans to Long Island, and some have a jollier holiday than others!

Thank you @veronicasanders @toriibelledarling and @samrull for all of your amazing help and support <3

“Not too late to back out,” Bianca said, as their car service pulled up to her parents’ house outside New Orleans.

“It sort of feels like it’s too late…” Courtney answered.

“Nahh…” Bianca slipped a hand around her waist, pulling her close. “We can be at the Ritz in 25 minutes...room service...a fireplace…” Bianca kissed her neck as the driver unloaded their luggage.

Courtney rolled her eyes. “Let’s call that Plan B.”

Bianca grinned and let Courtney drag her out of the car. She held her hand, leading her up the walk, pausing for a second to say, “Brace yourself,” as she pushed open the door.

Courtney’s stomach was in knots. She had met a few of their family members before while she and Adore were in college, but this was different. She didn’t know whether it was good or bad that Adore wasn’t here - she’d chosen to spend the holiday with Alaska’s family in Pennsylvania. On the one hand, she’d have been another ally, but on the other hand, it may not help her cause for everyone to have a constant visual reminder that she’d started out as their baby sister’s best friend and was now dating their oldest sibling. She had a moment of panic when, swept up by a flurry of siblings and nieces and nephews and cousins, Bianca dropped her hand.

“Courtney! You look great, how’s it going?”

Courtney turned gratefully towards the familiar voice, giving Eddy a hug. “Hi! Thanks, how are you?”

“Pretty good, no complaints.”

“Congratulations, I hear you and Rose got engaged last week!”

“Yeah, well...you know, I finally accepted that you would never return my love, so…”

Courtney laughed, shaking her head. “Please stop, you’re gonna get us both in trouble.”

“Baby!” Bianca wrapped an arm around her, pulling her away from Eddy. “Jesus Christ, I thought I’d never find you again. Come meet my sisters.”

Vanessa and Liz were polite, if slightly icy, looking Courtney up and down. “It’s lovely to meet you,” Vanessa said.

“That’s a cute dress, reminds me of that designer B’s friends with...what’s her name, Bianca?” Liz asked pointedly.

“Her name is Miss Fame, and that dress is Marc Jacobs. You nothing literally nothing about fashion,” Bianca replied, then turned to one of her cousin’s kids. “Chloe! Hi, pumpkin! How’s school?”

Courtney forced a sunny smile. “I don’t know the designers either. I just liked the print.”

“Right,” Liz said, with a slight eye roll.

“So Courtney, my daughter really likes your album,” Vanessa added. “I told her she had to wait a few years to watch the videos, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t listen.”

Courtney’s cheeks reddened a little. “Sorry.”

“I mean, it’s not your fault. They’re just a little racy for a seven year old. Hey, Maddie!” She beckoned her daughter over to them.

“Yeah…” Courtney cleared her throat as a girl with dimples and dark curled bounced over, hugging Bianca around the waist and looking up at her shyly.

Bianca lifted the seven year old off the ground.

“You’re Courtney, right?” she asked shyly.

“Hi, yeah, you must be Madison.”

The little girl’s eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”

“Well, I mean, I follow your mother on Instagram. So I get to see pictures of you all the time.”

“You /do/?”

“Yeah, I think your dog is really cute.” Courtney smiled, relieved to have someone else on her side, even a seven year old.

“I think YOUR dog is really cute! Oh my gosh, can they be friends?”

“Kylie would love that!”

Madison grinned. “Wanna see my American Girl Doll?”

“Definitely.” Courtney allowed the small child to lead her by the hand into the other room, thrilled to be stepping away from the mayhem.

***

“Sit still little man.” Katya smiled as she took a step back to admire her handywork.

Ivan was all dressed up, his chubby little cheeks red and his blonde hair water combed. Katya had bought his blue dress shirt and pants so he could match his daddy, Katya herself wearing the blue sky dress Trixie had made for her so many years back after she got out of rehab. Katya knew she should properly connect the dress to something sad, her time in upstate New York at the rehab clinic one of the hardest things she had ever had to do, her family abandoning her and the memories of the kind brown eyed man keeping her up at night as she had twisted and turned, but she didn’t. It had been made for her by a man that loved her, and she was going to wear it to every joyous occasion she could, and the first thanksgiving with her son was definitely just that.

Katya reached over and picked Ivan up, the little boy smiling his cute mostly toothless smile filling her with joy as he grabbed her hair. Katya laughed, gently freeing her blonde locks from her son’s grib.

“Let’s go show daddy how cute you are, huh?”

“Dada!”

“That’s right little man.” Katya kissed Ivan’s head and made her way towards the kitchen where Trixie was cooking up a feast with the help of Laila and Pearl.

***

“Apa kebar, are you sure I’m saying it right?”

“You’re saying it perfectly lovely eyes.” Sutan smiled as he walked up the steps to his mother's little yellow house, Violet’s hand in his, his girlfriend holding Frida’s leash and the small box that contained her gift to his mother. Sutan had tried to tell Violet time and time again that she didn’t have to bring anything for his mom, but his girlfriend still insisted every time, just like she stumbled through the greeting ritual of his culture, her words clumsy but her intend so clear you couldn’t do anything but love her.

Violet nodded, and Sutan reached out to ring the doorbell, his mom opening the door, a big smile on her face as she hugged them, Sutan getting kisses and warnings that he was getting too thin, Frida even treated to a gentle pet as his mom accepted Violet’s gift of a simple, but beautiful vintage headscarf in a pale yellow with a kiss to Violet’s cheek as well.

“Com in com in.” Mani stepped aside, letting the couple and their dog step inside. “Dinner almost done, eveyone in livingoom.” Mani opened the door, Raja and Raven already on the couch.

“Fame, what are you doing here?”

Sutan was so surprised to see his friend sitting in the armchair by the fire, that he didn’t see Violet’s face at all, his girlfriend's eyes widening in horror when she realised that it was indeed her boss, none other than Miss Fame herself, that was in the living room, her gigantic Great Dane napping on the carpet, the three woman playing cards while they waited for dinner.

***

‘’Can everyone go home already? My head hurts.” Betty was draped over the couch, her arm over her forehead in a dramatic gesture.

“Kitty, hate to break it to you, but they’re not here yet.” Shane set some more plates on the table, preparing for the Thanksgiving dinner they were hosting for members of Bach Street Boys with their plus ones. Ruby had nearly suffocated Shane in a hug earlier when he told her that of course she can bring Max, no question about it.

The turkey was still in the oven, but mashes potatoes were already ready, along with gravy, cranberry sauce and an array of other delicious dishes they spend the entire morning making (Or, Shane did. Betty helped cut some vegetables until she announced her cold was getting better of her and she settled on the couch, downing her cold medicine with half a bottle of wine). She was currently half-sick, half-drunk and fully in an awful mood.

“What do you mean they’re not here? Are you making that much noise all by yourself? Ugh.”

At that exact moment, the doorbell rang and Shane hurried to the door to let in Raga and his girlfriend Evah, who carried a tray of pumpkin pie.

“Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Are we first? I brought Ruby the cutest skirt from Japan, I swear she is going to /die/ when she tries it on. Is she really bringing that mysterious boyfriend of hers? Hey, Shane. Long time no see.”

“How was Japan, Evah?” Shane asked as the blue-haired girl climbed to her toes to kiss him on the cheek.

“Amazing as always. I brought stuff for you guys too, so no worries. Where’s Betty? Take this to the kitchen, will you, babe?” Evah practically shoved the tray of pie into Raga’s arms and pranced into the living room, leaving the men behind in the hallway.

“Must’ve missed her a lot, huh?” asked Shane, a little sarcastically. Evah was Raga’s high school sweetheart, a rising star of the e-sport community who made money hosting gaming livestreams. She was very into Japanese fashion and pop culture. Somehow Betty has learned the word ”weeaboo” and rarely called Evah anything else since.                                                                          

“House was quiet without her,” shrugged Raga, handing Shane the pie.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Betty craved death. Even though her fever went down slightly from the meds, her throat was in flames, her head ready to burst open and she also felt nauseous and dizzy from the wine. Evah was showing her photos from the convention in Tokyo she went on, but Betty could barely see anything because of her watery eyes.

“You know how many makeup Youtubers want to collab with me all of a sudden? I only do cosplay makeup, it’s a whole different world, you know? Bets, you okay? You don’t seem well.”

“Yeah, no shit. I’m dying.”

“Oh. Sorry to hear about that. Maybe I’ll go help the boys in the kitchen then?” Evah awkwardly patted Betty’s arm, a gesture Betty completely ignored, and bounced away to the kitchen, her frilly skirt dancing in the air the last thing Betty saw before her eyelids closed.

The next time she opened her eyes, a freakishly tall man dressed in all black was standing right above her, pointing at something. ‘’Sorry, but what the hell is this?’’

“Max, come on. It’s Betty. She’s a little sick, obviously not her best day, give her a break,” winked Ruby from the table, raising a glass Betty’s way with a brilliant smile, visibly way too proud of her joke.

“Can everybody please fuck the fuck off?” Betty whined, grabbing the nearest blanket  and wrapping it around her arms.

“Not really, you invited us, remember?”

“Ugh. I guess.” There was a loud noise and a curse coming from the kitchen which Betty ignored, instead opting for getting up and making her way to join everybody by the table. The cold meds made her hungry.

“That doesn’t answer my question. What the hell is that… statue? Is it like a statement? Does it… mean anything?” Max pointed at the Poseidon statue by the window. It was wearing a scarf wrapped around its head like a turban and was as ugly as ever.

Raga raised his head from a half-finished serving of mashed potatoes and snorted. “That’s Shane’s best friend.”

“Yeah. Sometimes I think he loves that ugly thing more than he loves me.”

Shane was in the kitchen making noise, unable to confirm nor deny the statement. With a shrug, Betty reached for a bottle of red wine that stood alone in the middle of the table, but when she felt a coming coughing fit, she wasn’t able to do anything to stop it. She knocked the bottle over, the wine immediately spilling all over the table and onto Ruby, who was closest, staining her cream white skirt. Ruby jumped to her own salvation, knocking over some glasses and screaming, and caused Evah to cry out, “What the fuck, Ruby, you stepped on my foot!” The guys tried to save the situation but they only managed to make it worse, flailing around. Betty slowly but surely moved away from the table and she was the first to notice Shane in the doorway, defeated, black smudges on his face and white t-shirt.

“Guys?” Nobody heard him. “GUYS!” he screamed.

All the heads turned towards Shane.

“What?”

“I burned the turkey.”

***

Courtney walked down the hall, trying to find her way back to the living room through the maze of the Del Rio’s house, when she paused, hearing her name. One of Bianca’s sisters was chatting with someone, probably a cousin. She stopped to listen.

“...well yeah, it’s just, she’s never taken anyone home before so, you know, I always figured Bianca was holding out for someone, like...I don’t know…”

“I get what you’re saying. She’s like, sweet, but it’s a bit anticlimactic. Liz keeps calling her a gold digger, but that’s not really the vibe I get. It’s more...just...I don’t know…”

“Right? I’m not trying to be mean but I sort of expected B to bring home a supermodel who happened to be a nobel prize winner.”

Courtney closed her eyes, having heard enough, and walked quickly back to their room.

COURTNEY: Your family hates me

ADORE: Yeah, well, they hate everyone. Why do you think I never go home? Did they try to put you in a mental institution?

COURTNEY: No

ADORE: OK so what are you complaining about?

COURTNEY: lol

ADORE: Eddy loves you

COURTNEY: Yeah. We’re BFFs. He was totally my type, when I dated guys. Except he appears to have a moral compass, so...maybe not

ADORE: HA! I’m telling him you said that.

COURTNEY: OMG DON’T YOU DARE I’M ON THIN ICE AS IT IS

“Hey! There you are!” Bianca walked into the bedroom, wrapping her arms around Courtney’s waist.

“Hi, sorry.”

“We’re about to sit down for dinner. I have to warn you...they promised they would make vegan-friendly stuff but my mom just said ‘vegans can eat eggs, right?’ So I can’t really promise that this food is safe.”

“Oh, that’s...that’s alright. I’ll just eat vegetables.”

“I mean, right, but you know you’re in the South. So we count mac and cheese as a vegetable.”

“Well, that’s insane.” Courtney hugged Bianca around the waist and laid a head on her shoulder. “I guess it’s a cheat day?”

“I guess so. Sorry, baby.”

***

“Mmh.. You’re such a good kisser.” Katya smiled, her and Trixie were on the bed, Trixie on top of her, his weight comfortable, her hand in his hair, his shirt open, Trixies soft, plump lips between her own. Katya had taken one look at her husband in his pink Thanksgiving shirt, and she had jumped his bones straight away.

“My sweet bo-” In that moment, Katya realised that the sour smell in the air wasn’t Ivan’s diaper, but rather a very different unpleasant smell. “Is something burning?”

“Oh fuck, the pie!” Trixie sprung up like a pig that had been bitten, racing to the kitchen, a surprised scream coming from outside their room.

“Dude! No! Keep your man boobs in your room!”

“Sorry!”

Katya laughed, the holiday peace truly settling over the little home on the Upper East Side.

***

“We’re flying flowers in from Fiji, they look /amazing/, I can’t wait for all of you to see it at the rehearsal dinner.”

Violet smiled to herself, Raven had been talking about her wedding all through dinner, the woman so excited about the party that she was practically vibrating out of her skin, every conversation with her somehow ending up on the subject.

“Vey nice, vey nice.” Mani stood up, the old woman reaching out to take the dishes, but Violet quickly jumped in. “Let me.”

“You good gil Violet, you vey good gil.” Violet blushed slightly, still proud of the fact that Sutan’s mom liked her so much.

“You’re welcome.” Violet picked up the pitcher of water and the wine glasses before she left the room, Mani and Raven staying behind, but as Violet walked out into the hallway she saw that the door to the backyard was open. Violet felt her heart drop, sure that Frida had somehow gotten out but when she got there she saw Sutan, Raja and Fame all standing together, the three of them passing around what looked like a cigarette. Violet could hear Raja and Sutan laughing together and the low voices of the group chatting. Violet turned around, ready to go to the kitchen Frida that had left the living room came bolting down the hall, the little dog smelling the night air.

“Frida! Frida no!” Violet ran after Frida, not knowing if the gate in the yard was open as she bursted out through the door. “Frida!” Violet grabbed the little dog, the pitcher in her hand emptying out on the grass, the water splashing and hitting Fame’s pants.

“Violet!” Violet looked up, her eyes wide as Fame raised her voice. “What do you think you’re doing-”

“I’m sorry Miss.”

“I don’t care about your excuses!” Fame’s tone was sharp, and Violet felt her stomach clench as she stood up, the pitcher on the ground, Frida in one hand, the stack of plates in the other, Raja and Sutan starring at both of them. “Have you hit your head? When did you become incapable of doing the simple task of not spilling like a toddler? Are you a toddler Violet?”

Violet was just about to respond when she was interrupted.

“Hey, Fame, I know you showed a giant stick up your ass when Patrick left you, but don’t be a fucking bitch okay? Nothing happened and Violet didn’t do it on purpose.”

Violet could see Fame’s chok, the woman’s eyes wide at the way Sutan had just spoken to her, but Violet turned her back, escaping before she could hear Fame’s respons. She knew she should be happy that Sutan was standing up for her, but it just felt humiliating. Like he didn’t trust her to stand up to herself. Violet could hear the talk in the garden pick back up again, Raja clearly mending the situation, all three of them soon laughing together like the old friends they were.

“Eveyone! Time for pie and TV! You come watch movie with Mani.”

“Yes mom!”

***

“Bianca,” Liz defended herself with an eyeroll, arm around her older sister. “I’m not saying it to be a bitch.”

“Right, I know, you being a bitch is just a fun side effect.” Bianca sipped her wine, rolling her eyes.

“I’m trying to look out for you! Look, I’m sure everything is just sunshine and rainbows right now, but really think about this...do you think this girl, this 22 year old, would be with you if you didn’t have money?”

“Well, I don’t know, Liz, I mean, if I didn’t have money...what would I be doing? Like actually no money? I don’t really think she’d be with a homeless person, if that’s what you’re asking, so...what’s your fucking point, exactly?”

“My point, B, is that this girl is clearly playing you. How long into your relationship did she get a recording contract? And now she’s on Housewives? Adore said she was only ever with guys before, and then she meets you, and all of a sudden, she’s a lesbian, overnight? Because of someone old enough to be her mother? More like she saw dollar signs--”

Bianca stood up. “Okay, you’re done now. Thanks for the advice, now you can shut your fucking mouth.”

“Bianca!” Aida exclaimed, passing by her daughters, collecting empty plates. “Watch your language, there are children here.”

“Tell Liz to stay out of my goddamn relationship,” Bianca said angrily, “Or I swear, we’re leaving right now! I am not staying and listening to this bullshit about my girlfriend being a gold digger. Fuck you, Liz--”

“Mija, mija, please…” Aida soothed, putting an arm around Bianca’s waist and a hand on Liz’s shoulder. “Elizabeth, why are you antagonizing your sister?”

“I’m NOT! I’m just trying to help her!”

“No, actually, you’re just being a CUNT--”

“Bianca! Stop!” Aida cried. “You know she’s just projecting because of her divorce, honey.”

“Mom!” Liz said, offended.

“Well, sorry, mija, but you’ve been very bitter. Courtney’s a nice girl.”

“Thank you!”

“I mean, she’s too young for you, but that’s not her fault.”

“Jesus fucking Christ!” Bianca threw up her hands.

***

“Oh god I want to die.” Pearl groaned. She was laying on her side, her stomach growling with all the food she had eaten, the top she was wearing almost painfully tight but she couldn’t phantom getting up to change,

“That’s what happens when you have four helpings of green bean casserole.” Pearl opened an eye to see Laila stand at the edge of the bed, her girlfriend in a band t-shirt and panties, her short legs on full display and if Pearl could have felt hungry in any way she would have fucked Laila into next week.

“You’re not being a very good girlfriend right now…” Pearl knew she was pouting, but it didn’t matter when Laila laughed and got underneath the covers with her, her girlfriend pulling her into a hug

***

Bianca climbed into the bed, wrapping Courtney into an embrace, sucking gently on her neck. “Hi,” she murmured, caressing the skin of her waist.

“Hi yourself…”

Bianca’s hands continued to wander, and her kisses grew heated. She let out a whimpery sigh, tangling their legs together.

Courtney shifted, hands stroking her back, looking up at her with an amused expression. “Seriously?” she whispered. “Are you really trying to have sex right now? There’s like 40 people in this house…”

“Yeah, well, it’s been a very stressful day.”

“No shit. I’m fucking exhausted, B.”

“Please, baby, I promise I’ll make it worth your while,” Bianca wheedled softly, fingertips trailing down her arms.

Courtney closed her eyes. “That’s all I need, for your family to think I’m a nympho in addition to being a gold digger.”

Bianca laughed. “You can bite on a pillow.”

“B…”

“Do you remember Thanksgiving last year?” Bianca breathed into her ear.

Courtney bit her lip, suddenly bombarded with the sense memory of their first kiss, the surprising softness of Bianca’s plush lips, the pressure of her full hips against the kitchen sink, the shivers that raced through her body, the nervous anticipation, the feeling that her whole world was about to shift. If only she knew just how much…

Bianca cupped Courtney’s face in her hand, a thumb tracing her lips in the same gentle way she’d done a year ago, voice an urgent whisper. “I’d never wanted anyone more in my entire life, than the way I wanted you.” Her hips began to roll, pressing Courtney into the mattress.

“Bianca…”

“Did you? Did you want me too?”

A whimper escaped Courtney’s lips as she arched up against Bianca’s body, gripping her ass. “You know I did. So, so much…still do...”

Bianca nibbled a trail down her collarbone, hands sliding under her top. “Let me give you what you need, baby…what we both need...”

“Yes…” Courtney replied, breathless, succumbing to the desire that flooded through her. She closed her eyes, realizing that she’d once again been betrayed by her body, by her weakness for Bianca’s touch.