#hux/darlin

[tommytomatoe]

i need a lesbian version of the redacted universe and i need it NOW! i’d destroy butch sam and smother femme porter it’s not even funny

[penncilkid]

Alright, I'll bite. (Sparked by this post) I'm gonna preface this with some context: 

First off: I'm Black in case you're unaware

Huxley is my favorite speaker. Full stop. You ask me to choose, it’ll always be him. 

Likewise, you ask for my favorite listeners, I will say Starlight and Darlin'. (I'll save my Starlight rant for another day)

My designs for both Huxley and Darlin are Black.

With this in mind, I want to be clear from the jump: I don’t have an inherent problem with these headcanons. If I did, I wouldn’t have chosen then myself. That said, I have noticed that Hux and Darlin are, more often than not, the characters that get headcanoned as POC (specifically Black) in design rosters. In some cases, they are the only POC designs present. Why is that?

Furthermore, the more often I notice this pattern so to speak, the more I sit and think about why those headcanons are so popular. I find my answer when I think about the characters I see headcanoned as white most often. Tell me why it’s "practically canon" for Lasko to be pale with light/white hair. Tell me why white Sam "just makes sense". Why? Because Lasko's a nerdy ball of nerves that stumbles over his words? Because Sam’s a sweet Southern man at heart? Those are not inherently white attributes.

Except they're treated as such. They go virtually unchallenged because they're so widely accepted by fandom. People see these personalities and character details and come up with their vision. So, let's apply that to Huxley and Darlin, shall we?

Huxley: Athlete. Canonically implied to be big, as indicated by statements made by him and other members of the DAMN crew. Classified as a himbo with parallels in Imperium highlighting how some will view him as stupid. Overall chill vibe.

Darlin: Reckless with their safety. Known to lash out/lose control of their emotions when they’re not actively hiding them. Gets injured often because they’re too stubborn to run from trouble. An overall intense demeanor that makes them difficult to approach (at least at first). 

Explain to me why this screams Black to so many people. Is it because Huxley's a dumb jock who you imagine gets stoned all the time? Oh, is it perhaps because Darlin is just so aggressive compared to your Golden Retriever-coded Asher, needing to be calmed down by everyone around them? And here's the thing: I can already imagine people saying, "That's not why I made them Black". Then explain why it "just makes sense" for them to Black. Why them out of a sea of characters? Make it make sense.

Now let me make this clear as well: I'm not expecting every headcanon to have elaborate thought behind it. For one, I get that some people take a more casual approach with designs and such. Not every choice has to have a reason or justification behind it. But when literally 95% of the Huxley designs I see are Black and half of y'all don't even know what a fucking durag is? Saying it leaves a bad taste in my mouth is putting it lightly.

You know what I wish I saw more of? Black Huxleys and Darlins with attached nuance.

Give me a Black Darlin who struggles to articulate how they feel with the people in their lives because they haven't been readily given the language to do so. You want to pair a Black Darlin with a White Sam? Why not talk about how POC have an insanely difficult time getting support from the medical system so not only does it explain why Darlin is so resistant to go to healers, but also gives an extra weight to the fact that Sam was their absolute last resort when injured? Give me a Black Darlin who has been taught their entire life that no one will have their back, that they need to learn how to depend on themself alone, and that's the reason why they struggle to feel like the pack would've cared when the Quinn shit went on.

You wanna talk Black Huxleys? Let's touch on how he's learned to control his emotions/anger because he knows how people will take it if it comes from someone who looks like him. Talk about how his moms teaching him not to use violence speaks to a deeper desire for him not to be viewed as a threat because they fear for his life otherwise. In one of his BAs, he mentions how a lot of people used to sleep with him/flirt with him solely because of his body and he could tell. Do you know how often black men are sexualized and fetishized? Why not talk about it through him? I see people explore that concept through Gavin constantly, where's the energy for Huxley? You wanna make him Black so bad, why not actually put some thought behind it? Because right now, it seems like he gets the "luxury" of being the token Black guy in the DAMN friend group at best.

I know a lot of people are probably going to dismiss this post. I am already anticipating that as I write this. But I'm so tired of pretending like this shit doesn't get to me. Because it does. I've got no intentions of leaving this fandom because I have met so many amazing people and adore Erik's content immensely. But what I am going to do is talk about the widespread normalization of attributing certain personality traits to certain racial groups. Because the non-white people in this fandom deserve better than that.

[angel-shaw]

Y’all I just got out of practice

I wanna write…..

Idk what spasificly tho

I have a prompt idea

So it came from an A/B/O content creator on tictok, I don’t know a lot on the A/B/O dynamic stuff but it was a super cool idea!

It was that the Omaga has like a mermaid tail that stings you (like an electric eel) and Alfas prove their bravery and dedication to courting by decorating it

I really wanna try writing it! But idk what ship to do…

Sooooo who all do y’all want??

@darlin-collins @dollscircus @dominimoonbeam @gumballrightfoots @meepisindahouse

[dominimoonbeam]

The Truth In Your Skin - 8

The Tattoo Shop AU! <3 from the start on ao3.

David/Darlin, Asher/Hux, Milo/Sweetheart with a bunch of other characters making appearances.

tags: tattoos, scars, piercings, getting together, slow burning but I think we’re finally starting to catch, hurt/comfort, angst, romance, found family, past domestic violence

A HUGE thank you to everyone still reading this story and who left such encouraging comments! I love it so much and have a bunch more plans. Hope you enjoy it! <3 <3 <3

The Truth In Your Skin - 8

David spent an hour ignoring Gavin’s innuendos and raised eyebrow, only saved from a full night of it by Gavin’s new friend showing up. They weren’t what David expected, especially not from the way Gavin stared and hung on their every word. They were almost shy, trying to be outgoing but clearly out of their comfort zone. Were they out of that comfort zone for Gavin? David couldn’t tell if their nickname was alluding to something or a joke, like calling someone tall, shorty. Whatever it was, Gavin was clearly head over heels.

Asher didn’t seem to notice much of anything but Huxley, in fact, he was excited in a way David had never seen him before. He was hugely relieved that it was over someone so kind. He’d never really imagined Asher falling for anyone, not because it wouldn’t happen, but because he’d assumed Asher was always falling for people.

He loved people.

He loved his friends.

He dated plenty and only ever said good things, even though now that David thought about it, most of those relationships came and went quickly. Asher’s longest sexual relationship had probably been Milo and that had never been particularly romantic and had ended when Sweetheart showed up.

David talked to Huxley about his upcoming game. He used to watch hockey with his dad but that was a long time ago now.

“I can get you guys tickets,” Huxley said and then laughed a little. “If you wanted. Obviously, no pressure to go.”

“That sounds great,” David said, not missing the way Asher had straightened, eyes widening a fraction at the offer.

“I’ll go,” Darlin said, sipping their beer.

David pressed back a smirk, thinking they’d also noticed the spike of hope on Asher’s face and taken pity.

Huxley beamed like he was really surprised, and suddenly David was happy he’d jumped on the offer, and it wasn’t about Ash getting to go. “Cool. It’s next weekend. I can have some tickets sent to Asher, if that’s okay?” he asked, turning to look straight at Ash.

Asher looked so fucking starstruck that David had to look away.

He watched Darlin drain their beer faster than usual, cough and then say they had to get another, slipping away to the kitchen.

David did the same and asked if Ash or Hux wanted anything. They didn’t. Or, probably more accurately, didn’t want anything from the kitchen.

David found Darlin leaning against a counter on their phone. They jumped when he walked in and then laughed and slouched back again.

David put his empty on the counter next to the growing lineup there. “Want another?” he asked.

Darlin smiled, eyes a little glassy already, and shook their head. They shoved their phone back into their pocket after a couple tries.

“Water?” he offered.

Darlin blinked and then nodded with a grateful sigh. He pulled one of the bottles from the fridge and passed it to them. He didn’t let go right away, their hand over his, the bottle cold.

Asher pocket his head in, “Hey!”

They jerked apart, dropping the water.

David grunted and picked it up.

“Hux has to go early, practice tomorrow, I’m just going to walk him down…” he said in a rush of words.

Darlin snorted. “Okay. Try not to bruise your knees,” they mumbled with a smirk.

Asher gasped dramatically, but couldn’t hold down his surprised grin. “Darlin! Look at you being nasty when you’re drunk… I don’t hate it.”

Darlin blushed and took the water from David’s hand. “M’not…”

Asher laughed. “Not nasty or not drunk?”

“Not drunk,” Darlin said, uncapping the water.

“Sure…” He dragged the word, tossing a look at David he couldn’t read before darting off again.

Huxley shouted goodbyes and thank yous. David went to the edge of the kitchen to wave him off.

“He’s nice,” Darlin said when he came back.

David smirked, leaning against the other counter. “Asher or Hux?”

Darlin screwed up their face. “Hux. Asher’s a shit starter.”

David snorted. “You’ve got that right.”

Darlin tipped their head back to drain the rest of the water bottle and for a second David just stared at them, in his kitchen, drunk, wearing his t-shirt. They were gorgeous in a way he couldn’t begin to explain. Their hair was a mess, their eyes glassy, and their shoulders relaxed like they were half-asleep. Something in his chest ached to see them like that more often.

It occurred to him that this was the first time he’d seen them drunk. They never even got tipsy the other times they’d met up.

Were they drinking because of the conversation they’d had in his room? They didn’t seem upset. In fact, they seemed lighter than they had before—more comfortable.

“What?” Darlin asked, crinkling the bottle, smashing it down and putting the lid back on.

David shrugged. “You’re okay?”

Darlin blinked, bottle in hand before tossing it across the little kitchen and right into the trashcan. They smiled. “Yep.”

“David!” Gavin called from the living room with a particular lilt to his voice that promised this was going to be hilarious.

Darlin pushed off the counter and he followed them out of the kitchen, back into the party.

 -

 “Thanks for coming,” Asher said as they walked down the stairs, wincing since it was the second time he’d said it. Maybe shots had been a bad idea.

“Thanks for inviting me!” Huxley said for the second time too, realized it, and blushed.

For the first time ever, Asher wished there were even more stairs to the ground floor.

“I really like your friends,” Hux said, the back of his hand brushing the back of Asher’s. “They’re really nice.”

Asher smiled. He loved his friends. “Right? David pretends to be a grump but you’re already used to him and Gavin can be a lot sometimes but—”

“No, it’s great.”

“Right?” he beamed. “He’s got a way with people. But did you see him with his date? He’s got it so bad.”

Huxley laughed, nodding. “Yeah. They look really cute together though.”

Asher sighed, the tension of Huxley meeting everyone easing inside him. He wanted them to like each other. He wanted Huxley to appreciate these people because Asher did and because, for the first time, he really wanted this person he was bringing in to stay.

“So, Sweetheart and Milo are like… a thing, right?” Hux asked when they reached the tiny lobby of the first floor.

Asher laughed. “Oh, yeah, one-hundred percent. They’re the only ones who don’t know it.”

Huxley nodded, still puzzling it out. “But their friend, Lasko?”

Asher shrugged. “They’re not exclusive.”

Huxley’s mouth made an O. “That explains some stuff Gav was saying…”

Asher laughed. “Yeah… “

They both stood there, looking at the door and the snow softly falling outside.

“Well—” Hux started to say.

Asher had already turned and pushed up on his toes. He curled a hand behind Huxley’s neck and gently tugged him into the kiss. It was soft, eager but with an obvious question. The question he felt pounding through his whole body. When Huxley didn’t immediately respond, Asher broke the kiss and stared at him.

Hux wasn’t drunk. Ash had made sure to keep track of how much the other guy had to make sure he’d be okay heading home. As it was, he had a friend coming to get him.

Asher sucked his bottom lip and dropped back to his height. He felt heat rising into his face. “I’m sorry. I—”

Huxley leaned down and kissed him again, one big hand on Asher’s hip. Asher groaned, throwing his arms around his shoulders. Huxley pulled him up against him, lifting him off his toes and parting his lips to deepen the kiss. Asher shivered at the surprised groan Huxley gave when he stroked his tongue piercing. If he liked that, he was going to be in for some serious good surprises.

Asher was about two seconds from throwing his legs around the other man’s hips and trying to climb him, when a honk sounded off outside.

They fell away from each other in a rush and then laughed, still holding hands. Huxley pulled him close again, stealing a softer kiss and stroking his thumb against Asher’s jaw. “You’re coming to my game?”

Asher nodded. “Definitely. Text me when you get home?” He blushed. “You know, just so I know you made it okay?” Fuck, that sounded pushy, didn’t it?

Huxley beamed, nodding. “Definitely. And maybe we can go out sometime this week? Before the game.”

Another honk.

Huxley winced. “Okay, I gotta go before you get complaints from your neighbors.”

Asher nodded, letting him go. “Th-Thanks for coming!” he said again and then groaned at himself.

Huxley smiled, half out the door. “Thanks for inviting me!”

Cold air swept in around him but Asher didn’t feel it. He stood by the heavy door to watch Hux climb into the idling truck and then pressed his forehead to the cold glass when he had gone.

By the time he got back upstairs, Gavin had everyone playing a drinking game.

Darlin was wedged on the couch so close to David that they were very nearly in his lap.

Asher wasn’t sure what had shifted between those two tonight, but he was looking forward to hearing about it. Darlin seemed more comfortable with everyone, and closer to David, than before. David, for his part, did not seem to mind one bit. His hand pressed to Darlin’s back, subtly stabilizing them as they threw back a shot.

Around three the party finally broke up.

Milo and Sweetheart lost their date to Gavin and his Deviant, the two groups leaving one after the other.

David was on the couch, looking more than ready to fall asleep.

“Darlin… You want to stay?” Asher asked, when Darlin came back from the bathroom, rubbing their neck like they might be about to go.

“What? No.” Darlin was drunk. Definitely drunk. And, as it turned out, a funny drunk.

Which was better than Sweetheart who was the loudest drunk Asher had ever met.

“You can’t drive,” David said.

“I know. I’ll walk. Don’t worry about it,” Darlin countered.

Asher looked at David. They were definitely worried about it. Asher touched Darlin’s arm. “Hey! Stay a little longer? I have this creepy fucking game and you’re going to love it.”

“Why would I love that?” Darlin asked, almost comically suspicious.

David tried not to smile.

Asher pulled them along gently to the couch, hitting the lights on the way. “It’s so eerie.”

“Why would I love that?” Darlin pressed but sat down with a little nudge.

Asher picked up the controller and sat down in the corner opposite David.

He started up the game, dark lighting and, low ominous music. Darlin sank back into the couch, eyelids heavy as Asher tapped buttons. David stretched an arm along the back of the couch and gave Asher’s head a little scratch.

Asher tossed his friend a smile, David almost asleep too and Darlin slumped into his side.

“Good job,” David whisper-mumbled. “Tell me how things went with Hux tomorrow?”

Asher nodded, getting comfy too. He felt like they had plenty to talk about tomorrow.

[artbykays]

Omg y’all😭😭😩💕💕 the amount of love you guys have given my redacted art makes my heart beat faster 😘😘

I will be taking a short break from redacted art! As much as I love drawing my listeners and the guys, lately it has felt like on here and TikTok I only can draw them cause that’s what gets views. Don’t worry, once the Milo audio drops, I’ll be back cause MILO AND GUY BACK TO BACK?!?! Whew.

But I’ll propose post some stuff I have in drafts/sketches I never finished. Also let me know what you guys are into! I’m into a lot of anime and I even have a JJK animatic in the works. So let me know what anime or shows/movies/games you’re into and maybe I can do stuff for that! My ask box is always open here, and you can find me on TikTok or Instagram with the same handle😘

Thank you guys once again💕💜💜

[deezbignutz]

Ages of Redacted characters cuz why not ig

Sam is 45 years old

Vincent is 44 years old

Avior is 37 years old (coalesced 37 years ago)

Gavin and Aaron are 34 years old

David, Asher and Milo are 31 years old

Lasko and Elliott (kinda) are 30 years old (Elliott was adopted 30 years ago)

Huxley is 27 years old

Caelum and Damien are 25 years old

More stuff under the cut

Sweetheart and Milo met when he was 23

Baaabe and Asher met when he was 25

Angel and David when he was 26

Freelancer met Caelum the he was 18

Lovely and Vincent met when he was 40

Elliott confesses to Sunshine at 26

Freelancer met Gavin when he was 30

William has been a Vampire for around 505 years

Elliott met Brachium when he was around 5 (? i think?)

Will turned Vincent when he was 20

Sam graduated from D.A.M.N. when he was 24

Sam got turned when he was 29

David was 24 when Gabe died

Freelancer met Lasko when he was 26

Freelancer met Damien when he was 21

Freelancer met Huxley when he was 23

Sam confessed to Darlin when he was 42

Inversion happened when Sam was 42, Vincent was 41, Avior was 34, Gavin and Aaron were 31, David, Asher, and Milo were 28, Lasko and Elliott(?) were 27, Huxley was 24, and Caelum and Damien were 22.

Elliott left CloseKnit and met up with Aaron when he was 28 (?) and Aaron was 32

Milo shifted back again when he was 29

Damien and Huxley confess their feelings for each other when Dames was 23 and Hux was 25

David proposed to Angel when he was 29

Baaabe proposed to Asher when he was 30

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk

[vegafan69]

redacted drawing ideas because god prevented me from drawing

maybe i should pick up a pen. if anyone draws these ideas tag me PLEEEAAAASEEEE :333 or fics too??

some of these are nsfw ‼️ but i do leave a warning dw 🙏

─ ✦ vega

vega drinking whiskey seductively, but the whiskey is the sweet tang of sadism (thank aster for this ;))

prime | imperium vega and their appearance differences (imp!vega probably has more scars and sharper claws)

vega when he first coalesced vs modern vega vs reformed vega

NSFW ‼️ imp!vega putting the collar on pet :)

─ ✦ david

teen!david with gabe learning to shift

david crying at gabe’s hospital bed 🥰

the pack having fun as toddlers

that one button snapping scene in david’s valenweek ;)

david and angel’s encounter at the restaurant

─ ✦ asher

his terrified face at “make it two” YOU KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUUUUT.

guy getting scared at asher’s big dog form

david helping asher with his tie before the wedding

NSFW ‼️ baaabe using toys on a blindfolded, tied up asher :3

dancer au !! i think he’d like nct and ateez :3

─ ✦ milo

MILO EATING THE RUNWAY SERVING THE RUNWAY!!!

model au. milo fits gucci. give this man a sponsorship rn

him crying to sweetheart in the shower after the inversion

him laughing at christian getting wreckt by morgan

─ ✦ gavin

him reading a book.

arrogant gavin. he’s a dick but i want it. he’s just so fucking hot

him noticing damihux’s feelings for one another

─ ✦ lasko

dying violently

imp!vega ending imp!lasko. holy fuck that scene made me bust everywhere

─ ✦ damihux

hux’s moms inviting damien for tea

practicing magic tgt

damien comforting hux crying at a sad movie

hux bringing random animals home and their home being an absolute zoo

huxley and david are gym buddies idc

─ ✦ porter

once again pushing my lawyer!porter agenda

him being vulnerable and confessing to treasure

porter’s life before turning

porter during the BA. those eyes preying on treasure

NSFW ‼️ him coming from the masochism :) he can cum on my face anytime

him and vincent beating the shit out of each other

─ ✦ vincent

him and porter beating the shit out of each other

his relationship with william, before and after the summit

him and lovely in the rain

lovely accidentally blowing up light bulbs

NSFW ‼️ pre-turning lovely using electric on vincent

─ ✦ sam

brushing darlin’s wolf fur

riding a horse. whats a cowboy without a horse

trying to figure out video games

darlin’ drooling at his c- tits :333

sam dancing to his favorite country tunes

teen!sam running away from an abusive home 😊

─ ✦ aaron

(pre-dating) aaron and smartass having the most intense screaming matches ever

aaron, eli and their partners hanging out

NSFW ‼️ smartass sucking him SO HAAAARD under the table like holy shit just BOBBING ON THAT CAWK MMGNFFGH 💦💦💦

─ ✦ the balance

blake dragging a scared sunshine into the basement

bestie dying and all of us laughing in the background

elliott and sunshine’s reunion

brachium yearning to be free again

d’deridahn breeding blake no im kidding. like. hes inside of blake. yk

bestie dying ahhahahha

─ ✦ caelum

playing on the switch :3

him as a mii. HOLY SHIT THAT WOULD BE SO CUTE I LUV MIIS

─ ✦ guy

yapping to honey about his murder mystery fiction ideas

making pizza

fool!guy with huge dark circles around his eyes

NSFW ‼️ him filming his playtime for honeyyy :)

okay that will be ENOUGH. if you do have suggestions rb this and lmk, i can make more :)

tagging my beautiful mutuals and people who can draw @deezbignutz @ashertickler @infinitelovewiithoutfulfilmentt @free-boundsoul @messenger-of-stupidity @youeverjustseeadog @yournewmusictaste @breezysuffers @capitalisticveins @dukecollinsbf @achios @porters-fangs @n0r @pagesupinflames @cozy-collins @stupd000 @ilovealotofwomen @laskosprettygirl @chmease @aurorialwolf @plaqying @marlowlvsu

[propertyofsamcollins]

I started with Huxley, and now sam is the love of my life

Can I just like ask?

Who did you start with and who are you currently pinning?

I started with Lasko, now all over David _(:3」z)_

[asmrrpaddict]

More random head canons. Some funny, some sad, some sweet, some spicy.

Guy and Honey were each other’s first time.

Darlin’ was Sam’s first post turning.

FemSH can’t have kids.

As a human Porter had a dog named Sebastian who he nicknamed Bas.

Vincent’s favorite place hang out as a teen was the arcade.

Freelancer loves Avartar: The Last Airbender and will randomly call the D.A.M.N. crew by the characters, Damian=Zuko, (Iroh if they are training), Hux=Toph and he loves it! Dear soon became Katara, but they make a clear distinction between Aang and the Avatar. They call Lasko Aang for being an airbender, but they call themself the Avatar for using multiple elements. They also call Gavin Appa for the fact he can transport them, but Gavin pointed out that that’s not the only reason. 👀

Lasko surprised the whole crew once by greeting Damian with a Flameo Hotman! Hux and FL laughed for 10 minutes.

Asher belts Adele full volume while driving.

Hush would love pineapple pizza.

At previous Summits, if someone asked Vincent about his life before turning, he would often use plots from 80s movies.

Gavin has a secret love of anime and only Freelancer knows. Although Hux also loves anime, Gavin is still reluctant to talk about it.

Freelancer likes true crime documentaries, but turns them off if Caelum drops in.

Porter and Treasure don’t know that both of them like taking walks in the rain.

One of Angel’s favorite movies is Teen Wolf. David doesn’t know this and is confused when he finds Angel going through his yearbooks to see if he was on the basketball team.

Vega is grateful Warden stayed, but feels like they’ll never fully trust him or care about him. He doesn’t know he’s wrong.

Post Inversion effects head canons for those not in the arena:

Angel doesn’t go to bed until David gets home. They may fall asleep on the couch, but they won’t go to bed without him.

Darlin’ keeps at least one hand on Sam all night.

Baabe wakes up every time Asher gets out of bed.

Lasko, after realizing his friends still care about him and he works on not comparing their traumas, sends random checking in texts to the group chat they share.

William also sends check in texts to Sam, Vincent, and Lovely.

SH will sometimes ask Milo to shift just so they can hug his wolf form. Milo doesn’t understand why, but they love seeing him able to shift at will and is grateful his shifter form was strong enough to break the barrier and save their family.

When Milo starts to panic about anything, he goes back to SH holding him when he had his breakdown. He feels their arms around him. His heart syncing with their’s and he feels better.

Porter watched videos and got updates from William regarding the Inversion, but no matter how much he and Vincent hate each other, he still felt bad for him and Lovely for Lovely’s turning. He was surprisingly grateful Sam was there for them. The first question from his mouth however was if Lovely’s turning was consensual.

One very long sappy one to finish out so the Inversion ones aren’t the last.

When they were younger, right after Darlin’ moved to Daliah Gabe took them, David, Milo, and Asher to a movie, ice cream, and out to a place where they could shift. This gave the kids bonding time both as humans and wolves. He held races and watched Asher show Darlin’ play fighting. It took Darlin’ a while to get the hang of being around wolves their own age, but once they did they had a blast. Darlin’ started running too fast and wasn’t watching where they were going and trip hurting their leg (not bad). David ran to them and through their link kept telling them it was ok. They were ok. Darlin’ was too panicked and shaken to shift back so David stayed in wolf form with them. Gabe watched the whole time to see how David handled it once he realized Darlin’ was fine and not in any danger. David calmed them down by laying next to them and just being there listening to each other’s heartbeats. Milo and Ash on each side checking on their pack mates. Ash gave Darlin’ a little lick on their head which made them smile to themself. After they were better, David nuzzled up under Darlin’s front leg and helped them stand. Darlin’ whined as they stepped, but David had them, reassuring them the whole time as they got back to Gabe who reached into the truck and grabbed sets of clothes for each wolf. David helped Darlin’ into a covered area and once they were stable he left them to change, but came back when they were both dressed to help them to the truck. Gabe had a first aid kit ready. They got back into the truck when the teens started to go silent. Gabe glanced in the mirror to see Milo leaning on Ash’s shoulder and David and Darlin’s heads together, all sound asleep. He chuckled and drove home.

[replaycamera2]

Midnight Snacks with Redacted Characters

• For all the grief he gives Angel for it, David does keep a single pack of instant ramen on standby in a location he refuses to disclose. He’ll dress it up a bit with a soft boiled egg, some frozen veggies, tofu, leftover meat, whatever he can find.

• Asher isn’t much of a cook, but if Baaabe is hungry in the middle of the night he loves to make some Nutella on toast.

• Milo doesn’t like waking up in the middle of the night as he’s super groggy, but if he and Sweetheart are hungry he’ll throw together some yogurt, berries, and granola before flopping back down.

• Vincent and Lovely don’t need sleep or human food anymore, but occasionally they both get a hankering for a midnight McDonald’s run. They always get it to go and eat outside.

• Sam constantly has to deal with Darlin’ rummaging through the pantry in the middle of the night like a damn raccoon. He won’t let them gorge themselves on chips, instead making them a packet of instant oatmeal before dragging their nocturnal ass back to bed.

• Gavin will never say no to a late-night 7/11 run, though in the interest of keeping Freelancer alive during the day, he’ll rift there himself and come back with whatever snacks they want (provided they’re not too caffeine/sugar laced).

• Avior loves cuddling Starlight throughout the night, content to stay awake and watch them sleep. If they wake up hungry, he’ll magic up some scrambled eggs on toast before cuddling them back down and using just the tiniest bit of dreamwalking magic to help them get back to sleep.

• Lasko tries to make sure he’s not hungry before bed but if he or his partner wake up hungry he’ll make a big mug of hot chocolate (or chocolate milk).

• Hux has a seemingly bottomless supply of granola bars that he keeps for snacks. He keeps a box in his nightstand as well, “Just in case.”

• Damien has a horrific habit of making a protein shake if he’s hungry in the middle of the night. Hux is trying to help him break it.

• Ollie has an undying love for leftover midnight pizza. He swears up and down midnight pizza hits different in a Michelin star way; Babe is convinced it’s the sleep deprived delirium talking.

• Aaron hates getting woken up by Smartass in the middle of the night so they go ninja-mode lifting themselves off his chest. They’ll usually just munch on some dry cereal right out the box before heading back to bed. Aaron secretly does the same thing and has yet to be caught drinking milk straight from the carton.

• Ivan likes having chai and cookies if he and Baby are hungry in the middle of the night. He’s a firm believer that warm drinks and cuddles make a happy, sleepy Baby.

• Elliott is that bitch who makes an entire box poptarts at 1AM. He’s not sorry and he is sharing.

• James likes to have apples and peanut butter for a late night snack. He tries not to eat anything too heavy that’ll slow him down in the morning.

• Anton loves some warm pumpkin soup for a midnight snack. It’s always homemade and he always keeps a little on standby just in case his partner needs it.

• Guy will gorge himself on candy in the middle of the night. Honey keeps finding his stashes but Guy just keeps finding new places to hide his Sour Patch Kids. Honey’d check for secret compartments in the drawers if they thought Guy had the handyman-ness for it.

[moronkyne]

TAG GAME (jellos version)

CLAIM - One song that you associate w/ a redacted character - One Audio from one of the boys - & A very specific Headcanon ill go first Where is my mind? - Pixies (Samuel Collins OR Darlin') HBS Hux & Dames confessions (extended vers) Lovely owns a prop knife that looks bloody if you hold it in a certain angle. Tag 3 people! @cocoathekoala @vind3miat0r @irl-clowm

(join the disc!)

[angel-shaw]

This isn't a continuation technically but i guess it is. I am taking @dollscircus (tumber) StraightFowardIdiot (Ao3) work with yandere Sam, and building off that idea:3

TW: any that come with the imperium really. Darlin is mean to Sam, Sam loves it. Mention of torcher, malnourishment and other such things. (It’s only for a short while and they are ok)

Lemme know if I missed any trigger warnings and I will add them:3

Sam was enjoying his new title. King Samuel Collins. It suits him quite well. With his new found power he had been thinking back, thinking back to when he had no power. When he was forcefully turned and forced to start turning other people. He hated himself and Alexis for it all. He only had one good thing during that time. And that one thing was his darlin.

A wolf who found him exhausted on the street one day after he turned more than one person. He was going back to where he stayed but collapsed on the side of the road. His darlin had found him unconscious and took him back to their place. Why? He never got to find out. They took care of him well he was sick, then kicked him back out. After that he started to watch them. Closely. Every second he could he spent looking at and watching them. They hated him, or at least they acted like it. One day Sam helped them after he found them injured, and he just never left after that.

They were rude and unkind to him but he never held it against them,because he loved them.He knew something happened to them and he would wait more than an eternity to find out. Over time they started to at least start to trust him. He still went to his work and still turned people but he always went back to them. His darlin was mad a lot, he couldn't blame them, not with what he heard them muttering about under their breath. They hit him and yelled at him alot, but they also wined out his name at night when the nightmares got too bad, they found him blood just in case until he was freed and named a mass maker, then they just brought him blood to feed on. They took care of him the time when he got blood drunk off of spoiled blood.

They hated vampires, that never changed, they trusted one and he not only hurt them but the people they cared about, they were not going to trust another so easily. He didn't ask about his darlins past when he was with them, he knew they didn't want to talk about it, but he regrets it now. He regrets not asking about themselves more. There is nothing to do about it now, all he can do is look back on the times they had together. He remembers back to the first time they showed him affection. They tied him up in their basement, nothing other than the chain and ropes on him. They left him there the entire day with a blindfold on and then took him to the moon once they got back.

Sam blushed lightly at the memory, he remembered that night extremely well. It was after he became a mass maker. It was their form of celebrating him. They obviously didn't like Sam turning people, it was why they had such a hard time around him, but then he was free. They were happy that they finally had him. He might have been called a yandere but they were just as obsessed over him, and he loved that feeling. He would do anything for them, he still would. But he would never have the chance to listen to them again, not hearing them quietly talking in the few quiet moments they had shared together, not them barking directions or orders at him, not even their small wines he had a love-hate relationship with. Never again would he be able to hear them, because the same bastard that made them hate vampires, killed them. He killed them and their alfa in a fight, taking the one damn thing that made this damned world worth it.

Sam rose from the statin sheets he was lying in, he could feel tears starting to form in the corner of his eyes. He rubbed his face, ridding it of any signs he was about to cry. He threw off the blanket and kicked his feet from his new bed. The bed that was fit for a king. The old king that slept in it, now locked in a separate room, not too far from where Sam was but far enough. He didn't regret turning the old king and taking his place, for all he cared he too could be held accountable for his turning, Sam saw it fit that he was responsible for Damien’s . Not to mention that Sam found it absolutely disgusting how he treated his old concert, and how stone cold his face was when they were executed. Sam didn't understand how someone could watch the person they were meant to love and cherish above all else be executed so willingly.

He got out of the bed, shaking his head as if to shake away the thoughts he was having. He picked it up after months of living with his Darlin, watching them do it whenever they got upset with a pack member and even him later on in their dysfunctional relationship. Sam shook his head harder, before walking over to his (giant) closet, pulling on some pants and a shirt. The clothes were soft, a lot softer than his old wardrobe. He was largely able to fit into Damiens old clothes but he liked his style how he had it.

Sam walked down the halls, the tapping of his heels echoing through the walls. He stopped in front of his news progeny door. Opening it slightly to look inside. He was met with his progeny’s progeny sleeping on the bed he didn't care to take out and his actual progeny laying on the ground, not asleep but just laying there. He didn't care to ask why, instead just closing the door once more and continuing to walk. Sam didn't know where he was walking in honesty. He didn't know the place fully, he hadn't taken the time to look around yet. He suddenly felt a sharp feeling stab at him, not physically, no it was something else. He didn't know what, it went as soon as it came yet he still turned around quickly. His eyes locking on a door he knew led to a dungeon.

He walked back to it, slowly putting his hand on the doorknob. He took a grounding breath. Why was he so nervous? It made no sense, he was the strongest person here. But what he felt didn't feel like he had to fight, it felt different, it sparked something protective in him. Like how he felt when he gained feeling for his Darlin. As soon as he realized the feeling he threw open the door and rushed down the stairs. This place should be empty. Even if there were people down here when he took over they would be dead by now, if anything because of starvation. As he walked he could see a dull light in the distance. He looks into each cell briefly as he passes, each one empty.

Until he sees them. Curled in on themselves breathing softly,shalowly. He stops, he can see the body shaking, whoever it is is covered in dirt and muck. He can smell dried blood. It isn't till a few more seconds passes that he recognizes the smell of the blood. “D-Darlin?” he whispers softly in disbelief. The figure in the cell gasps and holds its legs closer to their body. Sam tore open the cell door and rushed in. He didn't touch them, but he wanted to. “Hay, Darlin, is that really you? Oh gods please tell me it's you” He whispered softly. Darlin sniffled and slowly moved their head so they could see him. “S-Sam?” God they sounded broken. “Ya, ya Darlin it's me. You're going to be ok, can I touch you?” he whispered. After a second of a disbelieving staring Darlin crashed into Sam, Throwing their arms around him. He held them back, he could feel how weak they were, he could feel how much thinner they were, their strength all gone. Sam let himself fall back when they collided, just holding them as they sobbed into him.

They stayed like that for a long time. He couldn't feel any tears, they must have been down there, trapped for a long time. Soon darlin pulled back, looking at sam's face. “Sammy….I've missed you so much…how did…how did you find me…” Their voice was small and strained, it sounded like it hurt them to speak, nothing like the strong study voice he adored so much. “It's all right darlin, I'll explain what's been happening. Let's get you out of here first.” He continued to speak quietly. They nodded sharply and he curled his arms around them, picking them up as if they were going to brake, and to be fair it felt as if they would.

Sam stood up slowly, feeling them in his arms. They were so light… He felt them still shaking and their breath still ridged. He walked slowly back up to the halls, making sure he didn't shake them much as he went. He continued back to his room, opting for that over the medical room he didn't know the exact location of. He passed his progeny’s room but did not stop this time, heading to the largest room in the place. Once he reached there, he lightly set Darlin down on the soft sheets. “Hey Darlin, you're safe now. I've got you” he whispered sitting next to them. They smiled weekly, reaching out their hand to close it around his.

It wasn't until he knew they were asleep that he left their side. He quickly got food for them, as well as a healer he had made friends with before he became a mass maker. The healer healed darlins wounds as much as they could, there were a lot of new scars that made sams teeth hurt. He wanted to rip apart whoever made them. After the healer was done they told Sam that they were extremely malnourished and dehydrated, as well as very weak physically. Sam didn't know what happened to them and he couldn't help but worry, he was told they were dead, how they were alive and why they were in the dungeon. He would get all those questions answered when his darlin was ready and he didn't know how long that would take.

Once Darlin woke up Sam was at their side. Telling them that a healer came in and took care of what they could. Sam held them in his arms as he fed them small types of food. Before picking them up and taking them to his bathroom to run them a nice shower and bath. He could tell they were embarrassed by the small blush on their cheeks but they leaned into his soft touch. He wasn't expecting them to do so, not with how they used to act, he knew they were getting better but this was an entire new level, they were leaning into him because they finally felt safe for the first time in however long. It broke his heart. Once they were clean Sam ran a bath and sat behind them as they rested on his chest.

“Sam…” They whispered, scared to break the peace they just got back. “Yes darlin?” Sam replied in a soft but normal volume. “What happened..I know you must have questions about me but I….I don't want to talk about it…yet at least.” Sam kissed their head, their hair was a lot thinner than what they used to have but he would make sure it would be back to what they once had soon. “Of course darlin, you don't have to talk about it till you are ready, i'll tell you what's happened since you've been gone.”

Sam explained what all had happened since he thought they had died. Darlin was devastated to hear it all but stayed quite well as Sam explained it all. From the day he was told they died to him taking over the crown. They swayed gently in his arms, playing with some of the bubbles on the top of the water. “So..basically…the imperium is dead and vamps are all supreme and because you are the one who started it all they just stay out of your way and let you have what you want?” “The army of progeny helps with that to but ya pretty much.” “heh, I guess so…what about the pack? You said that they are alive ‘cept David..But you said the other where ok, how are they?” “They're all right, I don't talk to them much but I have some eyes on them, Asher has been a good Alfa and they tried to help take down the Imperium, they are safe, other people won't mess with them, especially not other vamps, they all know they are under my protection.” Darlin smiled “....Thank you…it means alot that you have been keeping an eye out for them…I knew David died that night… the prison guards wouldn't shut up about it” “Oh, Darlin im so sorry” ''Its fine..I..I actually changed my mind. I want to get it out of the way…” “All right Darlin, I'll listen, I'll let you know if I have any questions.”

Darlin started telling Sam what happened. They didn't remember the start of it all, one minute they were fighting Quinn with David and they passed out, then they woke up in the dungeon. The guards were cruel to them, barely feeding them or giving them water, and when they did it came in dog bowls. They whipped them alot to, they refused to get close to them in any way so all the torcher came from a distance. Getting frozen or boiling water thrown onto them or other such things. Then one day the guards didn’t come back, there was a lot of noise but they didn't know what was going on, then they were alone. The other prisoners started screaming and such but they all eventually fell quiet. They got hungrier and hungrier but refused to die, no matter what. Then Sam found them.

Sam figured that the guards were amosent the people that were killed during the fighting, but he would double cheek to make sure. Sam spent the rest of the day taking care of his darlin. Dressing them up in comfy, elegant clothes, getting them the nicest food he could, making sure they were drinking water.

Over time as he took care of them they started looking better, he got a freelancer to help with their hair, he knew they still used it as a stim. He watched as they pulled at their thin hair and get more upset when it came out so he made it a priority to help fix that. He continued to take care of them and they started getting more of their personality back, they were a lot more submissively skittish then their old aggressive skittish. He started helping them around,never wanting to leave their side but also not wanting to overwhelm them with meetings and such, so he left them in his room whenever he had a meeting. He also made sure his progeny and his one he turned knew they were there and that the two of them were to listen to his Darlin no matter what.

Months passed and he started to see his darlin again, they weren't scared to yell at Damien or Huxly and they started working out. Sam was more than pleased when we saw them working out for the first time, his tightening pants proof of that. He sat and watched them until they noticed him. “Oh shit, sorry Sam, I didn't see you come in.” “no no darlin you're good, i'm enjoying the show” “heh i can see that.” Sam blushed as looked away. “It's good to see you working out again darlin.” They walked closer to him, “Sam..I'm sorry for how I used to treat you, it wasn't fair and I-” “No! No darlin you never have to apologize for any of that!” Sam interrupted, quickie standing in front of them, placing his hands on their hips. “I wasn't even supposed to be in your house but I loved you, I DO love you, I loved how you treated me, I was yours and I loved doing anything and everything you wanted from me, please don't apologize for any of it!” He started with his voice louder than he normally used but quickly lowered his voice as he continued to talk. Darlin looked shocked until their eyes narrowed. “Oh? You liked being tossed around and treated like a pet?” They said eyebrow raised. Sam was going to respond but nothing came out of his mouth as he felt his face flush, so instead he nodded.

His darlin smirked and put their own hands on his hips and jerked him into them. He gasped in surprise and they took that opportunity to kiss him. After the moment of shock he kissed back, running his hands up their sides to wrap them around their neck. After months they felt almost exactly as they used to, strong, sturdy, and hot as hell. They knew it too, they loved to flex it, randomly picking him up when he wasn't expecting it. The first time they did it they scared him.

Now his Darlin easily pushed him around, nothing like they used to, just small shoves whenever he made them blush or such. In honesty he missed their harsh nature, he missed them shoving him out of the way when they wanted something, shoving him into a wall as they bit at his skin.

Sam was pulled back into the present as Darlin pulled at the buttons on his shirt. “Mmm~ you liked me pushing you around? You like being my little, pathetic vampire bitch~?” They growled into the kiss, their grip on his hips tightening. He opened his eyes again,wondering briefly when he closed them, he looked up at his mates eyes. He nodded. “Yes~, i've missed you so much Darlin” He could feel them smirk as they dipped their head to kiss his neck. “Fuck~”

They suddenly bit him harshly, him crying out loudly as they drew blood. They spit the blood out of the mouth and grinned down at him again. “Like that?” Gods he missed that cocky face. ‘Y-yes” He managed to choke out, before he felt a sharp pain though his face, they had smacked him, “Yes what.” “Yes Master” He whispered out, face red. “That's a good pet.” They smiled sweetly down on him for a brief moment, making sure that he really was ok with it, they were met with an extremely flushed Sam smiling like a dumbass.

They snorted a laugh and picked him up, carrying him like a princess despite his title as King. Sam if possible would have blushed even harder. He kept his face in the crook of their neck as they walked down the halls, he could feel eyes follow them as they went. Who wouldn't stair, a wolf was carrying their king like he was a fragile doll, which was funny in itself, seeing as he knew they were about to absolutely reck him.

They get back to the room and Darlin doesn't think twice about the fact that the two news additions are in there before throwing Sam onto the bed and getting on top of him. Sam on the other hand, does, about to shout out for them both to leave Darlin cuts him off with a kiss. Biting his lips as they do, he’s mindlessly grinding up into them as their teeth mix with the kiss. It isn't until Damien lets out an embarked squeak that Darlin looks over at the two. “The hell are you two still doing here? Get the hell out.” They growled, the other two didn't waste any time before dashing out. Not before darlin had seen Damien's reaction to the scene in front of him. “Heh~ looks like your progeny is a little whore Sammy~”

Sam rolled his eyes and pulled them back to kiss him again, “I couldn't care less right’ now Darlin” He laughed as they grinned and bit at his neck again. They didn't make another comment, instead flipping the two of the over so Sam was straddling their chest. “Fuck! Fucken hell Darlin, i forgot how hot you are under me~” his comment earned him a harsh smack to his thigh, he bit his lip to stop a shout. “You love it when I hit you dont you bitch.” They smirked as they rubbed the spot they smacked. Sam nodded as he started to grind down onto them. “What do you want, Sam?” Sam started to answer but was cut off by a sharp smack to his face and flipped back to his back, he took a sharp breath of surprise and darlin grabbed his cheeks, shaking his face as they growled in his ear, “I dont give a shit what you want. Why the hell would i?” Was all he could make out before he felt his pants being ripped off and darlin grabbing his dick harshly.

He gasped as he felt the cool air hit his half hard dick before darlins hand quickly remedied the cold. “I want you in me” He heard them say before he could feel them push themselves partially down onto him. His breath came in short harsh increments as he could feel them swallowing him. “D-darlin you didnt-” He was once again smacked, this time on his thigh, “You think i don't know. Fucking dumbass, of course I know I didnt prep, I dont give a shit right now. I said I want you in me so ill fucking have that.” They ground out though their teeth, holding back their pained gasps and moans.

He nodded sharply as their ass met his thighs as he bottomed out. They leaned down, catching their breath as they kissed his neck. They took awhile to get used to his size again, especially because they only had his pre cum and whatever they used of their own wetness to shove him inside in their impatience.

After a few minutes of them getting adjusted and Sam peppering their hair with kisses as they waited, they started to move. They start slow but after the first few bounces they speed up. Smacking themselves down on him. Sam moaned as they claimed him, marking his neck with their teeth as their nails raked down his shoulders and chest.

His teeth ached to be in them but he didn’t. He knew better. Instead he had his hands on their hips as he met theirs with his. Darlin moaned uncontrollably as his hips sped up more and more, until they smacked his face, not hard but he could feel a sting, and scolded him.

Sam fought to keep his hips down, still occasionally thrusting up into them. Every time he did they punished him, whether it be a smack or them sinking their sharp teeth into him and ripping his skin,either way he loved it. He could feel his core sing every time their bodies met.

“F-Fuck darlin-“ He panted out, “Darlin ‘m close. God ‘m so close.” He could feel their smirk against his neck. “Good~ Ahh~ fuck. Sam,” His name sounded like a prayer on their lips, “Cum with me~ come on Sammy. I want you in me while I finish”

He couldn’t say no to them, he never could. He nodded frantically and was rewarded with their lips on his once more. The kiss was desperate and messy as they moaned together.

It wasn’t much longer before the two of them finished together. Later Sam would learn that multiple of his staff as well as his progeny were made well aware of his and his Darlin’s activities by the time their joined noises came to a stop, and he honestly could not care less.

The two of them sat there for a while,basking in their glorious afterglow,until they started to feel sticky and gross, or at least until Darlin started to feel sticky and gross. Sam couldn’t care,he was just basking and he wouldn’t be the one to stop that ever, expecily just to clean up.

His darlin carried him to the bathroom and washed him and themselves off, slowly pressing kisses to his skin. Once they were done they dried them both off and got him back to the bed, where they threw the messy blankets off the bed to be washed later, and set him down. They climbed in with Sam and cuddled him close to them.

They both fell asleep soon after, holding each other. Just how they should be

[dominimoonbeam]

The Truth in Your Skin - 14

ANGST! Okay, so we're adding some body image moments to the tags here and a sexual harassment tag. I feeeeel like you're all well and truly buckled up for the threat of danger and angst in this fic because of the Quinn past (and possible future, who knows, I'm dramatic like that) but this isn't Quinn or Darlin, so we're adding a new tag!! <3 <3

Thanks for getting this far. Hope you enjoy the fic! <3 From the start over on ao3.

Darlin/David, Milo/Sweetheart, Asher/Huxley

chapter tags: sexual harassment, body image issues, violence, communication issues, avoidance, doubt, hurt/comfort

The Truth in Your Skin - 14

“So… You’re apartment hunting?” Asher asked.

Milo nodded, sprawled out in Asher’s chair and scrolling on his phone. “It makes sense.”

Asher raised a pierced eyebrow and leaned against the wall. “Right… Because you’re a couple.”

Milo raspberried but didn’t take his eyes off his phone. “No, because we’re great friends and even better roommates. You should see these listings they were looking at. No fucking way they’re moving in with some stranger. Do you know how many creeps there are out there?”

Asher laughed. “So, the logical step, is to get a bigger apartment so that the two of you can be… roommates?”

Milo nodded at his phone.

The back door thumped shut and David walked in. “What’s going on?” he asked automatically as he started setting up the shop.

Asher waved a hand at Milo. “Looks like the idiots are officially moving in together… as roommates.”

David glanced over at Milo and then huffed a laugh. “Sounds about right. When are you two going to get a pet?”

Milo sat up, seeming to just then realize David was there. “We were looking at cats the other day.”

Asher laughed and David tried not to.

Milo frowned. “What?”

They laughed harder.

Milo rolled his eyes. “Fuck you guys. Are we still going to that out of town game this weekend?”

Asher nodded. “Yeah. Road trip!” His smile got sly. “You and Sweets sharing a hotel room?”

Milo wrinkled his nose. “Of course. Why would we pay for two? That’s stupid.”

“Yeah… you two are all about frugality,” David agreed in a mumble.

The front door chimed.

“That’s probably my one o’clock.” Asher shooed Milo out of his chair on his way to the front. He was still smiling when he stepped out to the front desk and saw the vaguely familiar face waiting for him. One of Huxley’s teammates had called about getting a piece done and set up the appointment.

After handshakes and niceties, he led him back.

Milo was gone, probably off to pick out curtains with Sweetheart. God, they were hilarious. He wasn’t sure he’d ever known any couple more fucking coupley than those two.

“Nice place,” the client, Colt, said.

David turned the music on on his way to the front with a stack of paperwork in hand.

“Thanks,” Asher said, gesturing him to have a seat and pulling out the sketch they’d talked about. It wasn’t a big piece.

Colt clapped his hands. “I’m getting the VIP treatment right? The Huxley special?”

Asher laughed and shrugged. “Sure.” He put his gloves on and told the guy to drop his jeans. He wanted to tattoo on his thigh, after all. He was already shaved, so it was just a matter of disinfecting the area before putting the stencil down. “You’ve got other tattoos right?”

“Oh yeah.” Colt nodded, pushing a sleeve up to show ink from wrist to elbow.

“Good, then this shouldn’t be any surprise.” Asher smiled and prepped the needle. He had a couple more clients today and then he was meeting up with Hux for dinner.

He settled into a good position and then gave the guy one last look. “You’re good?”

A thumbs up and a big grin.

Asher started the needle. “So how long have you and Hux played together?” he asked, starting the linework. Not everyone liked to talk while they got work done but Asher was great at rolling out questions if they liked the distraction.

“Years,” Colt said. “I gotta say, I was real fucking surprised when he started bringing you to events.”

Asher didn’t look up from his work. “Yeah? Why?”

Colt snorted. “I mean, you don’t exactly look like most of the puck bunnies, you know? And Hux has never brought a date. We were all starting to think he was like, not into anything, you know? Turns out he’s just into weird.”

Asher stopped, suddenly feeling heat rush his face. Weird?

Colt laughed. “But who’s not into weird sometimes, right?”

Before Asher could even start to unpack what this guy was saying, a big hand slid over the back of his head.

Asher shot to his feet, knocking the hand off of him.

Colt stared up at him, looking so honestly confused and smiley that Asher thought he might have hallucinated this conversation. And then he noticed the very obvious erection bulging the front of Colt’s boxer briefs.

Asher frowned. “Do you need a minute?”

“Oh, I’ll last more than a minute…”

“Dude, you see that I’m holding a needle, right?” Asher held it up.

Colt grinned. “Yeah. I figure, you mark me and then I’ll mark you. Like with Huxley.”

Asher felt like his brain was rebooting too slowly. What the actual fuck was happening right now?

It wasn’t like he hadn’t had clients flirt with him before. But this was…

His heart pounded in his throat but he just stood there, caught between work and whatever the hell this guy was saying to him. Did Huxley think that? Had he said that? No. No fucking way.

And then, before he could finish that brain reboot, David came out of fucking nowhere.

Colt’s surprise was worse than Asher’s, because David grabbed him by the front of the shirt and hauled him up out of the chair, his jeans still around his ankles and two lines of a tattoo on his thigh.

Asher flicked the needle off, still stunned, but listened to the guy shouting and laughing and trying to calm David on that awkward drag to the front door.

The bell chimed and David threw the other big guy right out onto the street. His voice was so low that Asher couldn’t catch the words, but there was definitely a threat there. And then the door closed with another snap of the bell and the locks slid into place.

Asher felt like his face was on fire. He hurried to move before David came back, starting the process of cleaning up his station just like he had a thousand times before.

“Who was that?” David asked.

Asher shook his head and shrugged.

David caught his arm to make him stand upright and stop trying to clean up. He put one big hand against the side of Asher’s neck and made him look back at him. There were so many questions and concerns in David’s gaze. “Who the fuck was that?” he asked again.

Asher sighed. “Just some guy from Hux’s team. He said he wanted a tattoo. I didn’t know he… would…” He waved a hand, floundering for words.

David nodded, that angry crease in his brow. “You’re okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, of course.” Asher took a step back and gestured at himself like it was proof.

“Ash,” David said, voice weighted in seriousness.

Asher looked at him.

“You can punch clients that pull shit like that.”

“What?”

“You hesitated. I know this is our business and you’re used to being the nice one, but you can turn that off and just kick them the fuck out.”

Asher nodded. That made sense. Yeah. And he knew where that line was out in clubs. Asher could definitely handle himself.

“Just imagine it’s someone else.”

“What?”

“Imagine it’s one of Milo’s clients and what you’d do then.”

Asher laughed, surprising himself and relieved to feel that gross feeling in his chest loosen. “Milo would have punched him.”

David snorted. “Bad example.”

Asher sighed and nodded, shaking it off. It wasn’t his first time dealing with a creep. But this guy had known Huxley, had talked like… “What an asshole,” Asher said with a shrug.

David nodded but his mouth pinched, eyes still on Asher.

Asher realized he was still worried and laughed, clapping his shoulder. “Look at you playing hero, though! Damn you were quick to haul him out.”

“Haul who out?” Darlin asked, walking in the back door with a big yawn like they’d just woken up.

“I had a creepy client and David straight up bounced him!”

Darlin stopped, blinking at them. “Seriously?”

Asher nodded, back to cleaning up. He wanted to get rid of every bit of evidence this guy had been there… but he didn’t rush, because he could still feel David sneaking glances at him. “Turns out Davey missed his true calling—bouncer.”

Darlin smiled, shrugging out of their jacket. “I thought you said his true calling was line cook?”

Asher shook his head. “New true calling.” Weird. He was weird. Did Huxley think he was weird? No way Hux said that sort of stuff… right?

-

Huxley stood in the locker room, frowning at his phone after practice. Asher had cancelled on dinner last night and wasn’t sure he could meet up tonight either. That was okay, of course, but… But there was something off about it that Hux couldn’t quite explain.

-are you ok? He typed the words but hesitated to send them, just staring at them. Was it somehow too needy to ask? They were still new, and Asher wasn’t saying anything was wrong. He was just… off?

The sound of some of the other players coming down the hall spilled through the doors ahead of them.

Hux sent the question, leaning against his locker and watching the screen.

The group of his teammates burst into the locker room on the other side, unaware of him for now. Which was great, because as soon as they spotted him, there was no way they’d let him mop around with his phone.

“You’re an asshole, Colt,” Riley said, putting a laugh on it but sounding like he was actually mad. He didn’t usually get mad, so it almost took Huxley’s focus from his phone.

His message was read. Asher was typing…

“You saw him! Why wouldn’t I try to get some strange too?” Colt snapped back on the other side of the lockers, gear thumping into the floor and benches.

“Huxley’s going to lay you out if you don’t watch it,” Riley warned.

Huxley looked up at his name. What the fuck were they talking about?

Colt sputtered. “Hux loves me. And it was just a joke. That fucking freak didn’t even finish the damn tattoo!”

Huxley heart pounded. His text conversation bumped up.

-yeah

-100

-see you tomorrow maybe?

Hux still had his phone in his hand when he came around the lockers.

Riley saw him first, standing straighter and looking more resigned than caught. Probably because he wasn’t the one caught, right?

“What?” Colt barked and then turned to see Huxley right there behind him. Hux wasn’t sure what the hell he was talking about, but the flash of panic and guilt on his friend’s face before he covered it up with that ugly twist of attitude told him too much. Colt had definitely done something. “When—”

“What did you do?”

Colt shook his head. “Nothing. What are you talking about?” He wouldn’t tell him. He had never admitted to shit when he fucked up.

Hux held up a hand, having to pull it back to keep from pushing the guy in front of him. His moms always said no pushing off the ice. Problems should be handled with words. He looked at Riley. They’d all played together for years. Riley looked angry. Which was why Hux was pretty damn sure he should be angry. “What did he do?”

Colt rolled his eyes and threw his helmet at his locker. “Come on! I didn’t do shit!”

Hux didn’t look at him. He just looked at Riley and waited.

Some of the other guys were looking shamefaced and anywhere but at the scene.

Riley nodded.

“Shut the fuck up!” Colt warned before Riley even started. But it didn’t stop him.

“Dipshit here went to your boyfriend’s shop to get a tattoo yesterday. He ran his mouth and made a move. Like he thought he was getting a happy ending or something. Got kicked out.”

Huxley stared, trying to process that. Ran his mouth? At Asher? A happy ending? He swung toward Colt, who jumped back for the first time in their friendship. “What the fuck?”

Colt laughed, hands up at his sides. “Dude! I was just messing around! It’s not my fault if goth puck bunny took it serious!”

“What did you say to him?”

“What?”

“What did you do?” Huxley ground out each word, the whole fucking locker room gone silent around them.

Colt’s face twisted from surprised to scorned. He shoved forward, pushing into Huxley’s space. “You can’t blame me for wanting to know what’s got you drooling over that metal-faced freak! Is it the tongue ring?” He grinned. “Is it—”

Huxley snapped his head forward, the same way he had a hundred times on the ice, knocking his head right into Colt’s. It should have hurt, but it didn’t. Colt fell back and as soon as he had the space, Huxley threw a punch that turned him face-first into the locker and sent him sliding to the floor.

Riley nodded like this had been the obvious and only outcome, back to working his gear off. “He told your guy he wanted the Huxley special. Only got a couple lines into the tattoo before he got kicked out.”

Colt groaned on the floor, coming to.

Huxley looked at his phone in his hand again and those last messages from Asher telling him they were 100 when they definitely weren’t. He stepped over Colt and grabbed his shit from his locker before storming out.

He called Asher on his way to his truck. What was he even going to say? What the fuck had happened?

Colt had said so many mean things. Had he said that shit to Asher? Had he hurt him?

Asher didn’t answer and Huxley shoved his phone back in his pocket and unlocked his truck.

-

Asher rubbed the steam off the mirror in the bathroom and then stepped back, music blaring through the apartment. He pushed his wet hair out of his face and looked at his reflection.

Weird.

Why did it keep coming up in his thoughts? Why did he care?

Weird.

It had never bothered him before.

David thumped his fist on the door and shouted over the music, “We’re heading out. Be back tonight!”

Asher nodded even though no one could see, still looking at himself. “Yeah. Have fun!”

He waited, wondering if he’d heard the door shut. It was impossible to hear.

Why hadn’t he just gone out with Hux tonight? He missed him. But his stomach hurt when he thought about actually seeing him. He’d have to tell him what happened… Would he even believe him? What if it was something he’d said to his teammates? What if he was embarrassed? What if Asher really was like a weird fling?

“Fuck.” He dropped his head forward, scrubbing a hand over his face. He had never been insecure like this before. But he liked Huxley. Like, really really fucking liked him. What if this was a real issue?

He looked at himself again, leaning closer, eyeing those piercings in his face.

No one was home.

He took the piercings out, trying not to think too much about what he was doing and why. It wasn’t a big deal. He was just looking at something. He put the last one down, his chin low, and forced his eyes up to his reflection again. Reaching up, he covered the ink on his temple sneaking out from his hairline, tilting his face so as not to see the one on his neck. His heart hurt.

No.

Nope.

He shook his head, even with tears in his eyes. He couldn’t change who he was and he didn’t want to. Even just thinking about it was hollowing him out in a way he could tell would wreck him. He liked Huxley a lot, but what was the point if Huxley didn’t really like him? What was the point if he tried to be someone else?

He picked up one of his eyebrow bars but a bang on the bathroom door made him jump and drop the damn thing. “Damn it!”

“Ash?” Huxley called over the music, Asher barely registering the familiar voice before the door was open and they were staring at each other.

Asher blinked and then huffed a laugh. This had to be the worst week. He was totally naked, piercings out, in his bathroom with the music still blasting through the apartment and looking at the last person he wanted to see him right now in the doorway. “Hi.”

-

Huxley had caught David and Darlin in the hall on their way out on a date. He could hear the music through the apartment door.

It was sheer luck that David let him in. There was no way Asher would have heard him over the music.

He realized pretty quickly that he was in the bathroom and almost barged in before thinking better of it and knocking first. But then he heard Asher swear inside and opened the door anyway.

They stared at each other.

Asher was naked and gorgeous but… but all his face piercings were out.

“Hi,” Asher said.

“Hi,” Huxley said and then winced because he had just busted in on the other guy. “Sorry. I tried to call. We…We need to talk.”

Asher’s tight smile fell, along with his chin. He nodded and grabbed his briefs, pulling them on. “Yeah. Yeah, okay. Let me get dressed and I’ll meet you in the living room?”

Huxley nodded and backed away, turning down the hall for the living room and trying to figure out how exactly to have this conversation. How was he supposed to ask about what happened when Asher hadn’t told him? He wanted to apologize but he wasn’t even sure for what.

Asher took longer than he’d expected but when he came down the hall, Huxley realized why. His piercings were back in. Well, all but one of the eyebrow studs.

He went to the speaker and turned off the music, and then he stayed there across the room from him, leaning against the wall, waiting.

“I heard… I heard Colt came to your studio yesterday,” he said, watching Asher. He looked so far away, his arms folded and his shoulder against the wall.

Asher winced, gaze finally meeting his but it was a mix of anger and nerves. “He came onto me.” The words burst out of him, like he thought Huxley might have thought otherwise? “He… He’s kind of an asshole.”

Huxley nodded, stepping closer. “He’s a huge asshole,” he agreed. “I’m so sorry that happened. Whatever he said… I’m sorry, Ash.”

Asher blinked at him and then slowly pushed off the wall, arms unfolding. “Is this… Is this what you wanted to talk about?”

Huxley felt as confused as his boyfriend looked. “Yeah? I mean… this is why you cancelled on me, right? Why you’re avoiding me?”

“I’m not avoiding… I was just…” He sighed. “I just needed to think and I knew when I saw you, I’d have to tell you about it and I wasn’t ready.”

Huxley nodded. That made sense. “I wish you felt like you could have told me what happened yesterday, but I get it.” He took another step closer, wanting so much to close that gap between them but scared that it wasn’t just physical. “Wait. What did you think we were going to talk about?” What else could there be but this?

Asher exhaled hard, almost a laugh but too tight to make it. He shrugged. “I mean, I thought you were breaking up with me.”

Huxley almost lost his footing. “What? Why?”

Asher waved a hand. “The whole Colt thing and what he said about…” the words cut off and he looked sick. “I just—”

“What did he say?”

Asher shook his head, one hand going to his brow, touching the stud that was there and then the spot where one was missing. He wouldn’t quite look at Huxley. “I don’t know, man. He just threw me and I guess I thought… And he seems like the kind of douchebag who’s going to tell everyone he got what he wanted even if David threw him on his ass, right?”

Huxley took a step closer, catching those fragments of information. “You thought I’d believed him?”

Asher winced and that hand moved from his face to his scalp, clawing fingers through his hair. “I mean, maybe? You’ve known him longer than me.”

“I don’t know him,” Huxley said. “I’ve played with him for years, but I don’t know him. I don’t want to know him. But I want to know you, and you wouldn’t do that. I’m sorry this happened. Can you… Can you tell me exactly what happened?” And why it had clearly freaked him out so bad? This was more than worrying that he’d believe some lies.

Asher exhaled some of that tension in his lean body, finally taking a step closer to Huxley, meeting him in the middle of the little living room. “I’m sorry. I guess I just spun out.” He touched Huxley’s wrist, the gesture somewhere between casual and exploratory, like he wasn’t really sure what would happen.

Huxley turned his arm, collecting Asher’s hand in his, relieved beyond belief for that contact and that invitation to nearness. His other hand touched the side of Asher’s face. “No, dude, don’t downplay it. You’re upset.”

Asher smiled but it was a ghost of the real thing. “I’m okay! So much better now.”

Huxley nodded slowly. This was all still new and he was just as tempted to lean into the idea of getting back to how they usually were, but Asher had looked so hurt… “Listen. I know you can handle yourself and you can probably handle whatever this is, but I’m right here. You could tell me. Sometimes it helps to say it.”

Asher stared up at him, so close now. His thin smile fell and after another stretch of thinking, he dropped his head, looking at a point on Huxley’s chest. “He said some shit about how he was surprised to find out you were into weird. …who’s not into weird sometimes? he said. He wanted the Huxley special. I was starting a thigh tat and he grabbed the back of my head. Said I’d mark him and then he’d mark me…just like you.”

Huxley had to hold his breath to keep from reacting. Fury fluttered in his chest, but he focused on Asher’s cheek so soft under the sweep of his thumb. This wasn’t about his anger.

Asher sighed, cringing. “I wasn’t scared or anything. I could have tossed him out myself. I just… I thought he was a friend of yours and then I had to wonder if…”

“If I’d said that?”

Asher closed his eyes and shook his head. “I know you wouldn’t but… I mean. We’ve been going to these team get-togethers with the other partners and families and I get it. I stick out. What if I am just some strange you’re getting out of your system?” As soon as he said it, he winced and shook his head again. “I’m sorry.”

Huxley gently lifted his face to get him to look at him. “Hey. No. We’ve been together for a few months, man. You get to have doubts and I am so fucking sorry I didn’t notice you were worried about this. You are the kindest, funniest, sexiest person I have ever met. You’re not strange or weird. You’re you. You’re perfect, Asher.”

Asher stared back at him, eyes big, hand squeezing his. “Damn…”

“What?”

Asher smiled slowly. “That’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

Huxley exhaled a laugh. “Well, I’ll say it whenever you want to hear it. I’ll say it until you’re sick of it.”

Asher shook his head, leaning in until their hips and stomachs were pressed together. “Not possible.” He kissed him.

Huxley kissed him back, fireworks of relief going off behind his eyelids. The kiss was slow and easy, not demanding or pushing for more, just reaffirming and reveling in that connection. When they broke for air, he leaned his forehead to Asher’s. “I’m sorry about yesterday,” he whispered again.

Asher sighed but it was light now. “Not your fault. I really should have punched him though…”

“I knocked him out in the locker room before coming over here…” he admitted, expecting to feel bad about it eventually but not yet.

Asher pulled his head back to look at him. “Did you really?”

Huxley nodded.

Asher grinned. “Thanks.”

[6-atlas-6]

Redacted headcanons except this time I don't make people cry

Asher and Darlin' have a shared notes app filled with things that (lovingly) piss people off

If Sunshine has any family members or friends that passed away and sunshine started missing them again, Elliott will make them in a dreamscape so Sunshine can talk to them again

Freelancer has drawings Caelum drew up on the fridge so Damien, Hux, and Lasko always assumed it was a younger sibling or family member

You never see Vincent and Lovely apart. Like ever. He's always either hugging them from behind, holding their waist or their hand, etc. You have to specify if you invite them to an event because if one of them is going, the other is following

Lovely sees William as a father/parental figure almost as much as Vincent does

Milo and Vincent have a shared Pinterest board (mostly consisting of clothing)

Gavin and Freelancer don't have seperate clothes anymore. They took each other's clothes so often because they have such similar style that they have a shared wardrobe now

Smartass is like a 5 star chef but they're too tired to cook half the time. Aaron tried it once on their off day and swore he saw heaven

Damien and Huxley have chickens

Dear is the favorite professor purely because they're so flexible and they genuinely care so much about their students. They have a bin full of snacks and a drawer full of water for students, and even a pillow if they realize a student is working themselves to exhaustion

Dear packs two lunches everyday because they know Lasko always forgets his

Similar to Vince and Lovely, Avior and Starlight are never seen apart. Avior is a very clingy demon

Blake pretended to be a dreamwalker because his listener specified how well he helps them fall asleep

[geordikisser]

idol redacted au would be so cute can anyone plz hear me out.

babe, lovely, treasure & darlin’ would be a music idol group and angel + sweetheart would be a duo who collaborated with them

freelancer, damien & huxley would be their own little group in early high school & dropped it when they got to college (gavin found out from huxley)

smartass & darlin’ had their own side gig definitely with honey

and angel, sweetheart & guy would would have their own little track together!!!

“our idol days? gosh that was old news, co worker,,,” huxley laughs bashfully. “cmon i wanna see, freelancer won’t show me,,” gavin groans as hux laughs. wiping a tear from his eyes. “duh! they were lead. they were a bit promiscuous back then,,” his face pales realizing what he said. he suddenly remembers when freelancer & damien told him not to tell gavin anything about their idol days and gavin’s eyes widening and co workers grin made him realize his actions,,

david, asher, milo & sam found out by babe, babe was yapping about highschool as they accidentally mentioned their debutes and sam overheard from the other room.

“idol what.” david deadpanned

i imagine them watching their old commercials and mvs together. angel would be the silent one and darlin’ would be reveling in their embarrassment, not free from their own ofc,,,

babe: darlin’ remember our red dead ad together?

sam: what. (loves rdr)

basically a video of smartass, darlin’ babe and sweetheart as cowboys for a budlight x rdr ad.

sam’s jaw was on the floor as darlin’ appeared on screen.

their hair slicked back lazily as their hair comfortably laid fluffily on their shoulder, the cowboy hat snug on their hat. their chest BARELY showing out from the flannel and the boot cut jeans with a shotgun on their arm. a cigar lit in their mouth.

babe and smartass were relatively similarly clothed, except babe was a slut and a bit more of their chest was exposed and they wore low waisted jeans and boots. they had a lasso instead as well, a confident grin was placed on babes face along side with smartass’s face.

sweetheart was shown as the sheriff and capturing darlin’ and milo was practically struggling to keep it in his pants, seeing sweetheart go to work and cuffing someone did things to him.

AUGHHH I NEED PEOPLE TO HEAR ME OUT GAIS PLZZ

[us3rnam3-r3dact3d]

I was scrolling thru my old posts and found the one about the boys coffee orders and… I disagree with my former self. So…

New and Improved Redacted Coffee Orders

David

It started as a red eye, no sugar, no cream. Eventually he graduated to a black eye. There’s a small coffee shop across the street from the den that he frequents. The staff knows him by name and, while most of them were scared of him to begin with, seeing how giant he is, they warmed up to him. He’s very polite to service workers and tips very well. The owner started keeping his favorite brew (a light roast single origin from Coast Rica) well in stock. Most days, when he comes in, the barista decides how many shots he needs based on how tired he looks.

- [ ] Asher

Frappe all day baby. He knows that there isn’t a lot of caffeine in those, but he’s already hyperactive so it balances just fine. He has a taste for chocolate, but always tries the seasonal ones when they come out. While the baristas hate making his order, they love his personality and always make his, as he puts it, with “extra love.” Ash claims he can taste it.

- [ ] Milo

Cappuccino. Sometimes with a pump of flavor, most often as it comes. Milo is an espresso snob. The man is Italian. Whenever they go to a new coffee shop he orders a solo to see how it tastes. He refuses to drink Starbucks espresso. Will be an asshole about how to pronounce coffee terminology.

(As a side note, Darlin’ orders straight espresso shots and takes them like actual shots. Milo is always horrified and tries consistently to get them to sip it but they simply won’t.)

Sam

Caffeine doesn’t work for vampires, but Sam just likes the taste of coffee. He’s a conoceré who loves fruity notes, unwashed processed beans, and dark roasts. His favored form of preparation is a French press, but he recently got a very nice syphon set up that he’s still figuring out. He takes his coffee with cream and a bit of sugar.

Vincent

Iced lavender lattes. Listen… Vincent is fruity. He’s a fruity fruity man. He likes it sweet and he will take it iced no matter the weather. There’s a late night coffee shop he frequents whose baristas think Vincent is an incredibly attractive gay insomniac.

William

William is more familiar with the early Parisian style of cafes than he is with American coffee culture, and he absolutely misses that. William staunchly stands by the idea that Le Procope was the first cafe in Paris, and that he drank coffee with Voltaire. He loves noisettes (espresso with a drop or two of cream) and has one nightly after dinner.

Huxley

Hux doesn’t drink coffee, but he does call the energy drinks he drinks coffee which drives Damien insane. Dames has started passive aggressively bringing Hux cups of black coffee when he asks instead of his Monster flavor of the week.

Damien

Iced coffee, no sugar, no cream. He drinks it iced because no matter how fresh the coffee is, it still feels a bit tepid to him. Drives him crazy, so he sticks with iced. When he’s feeling a little wild, he’ll add some oatmilk.

Lasko

Canonically, he drinks a doppio americano. I like to think it’s because he is too nervous/ conscientious to ask for something more complicated. He drinks it with two sugars and cream, but he doesn’t really enjoy the taste of coffee. Just the utility of it. Freelancer tries to get him into other drinks, and he enjoys the things that they get, but he never has the nerve to get them for himself when it comes time to order.

Gavin

Gavin has absolutely no interest in coffee. Caffeine does nothing for him, and he doesn’t like bitter things. What he does have, however, is a massive sweet tooth. He likes boba, but the fruity bursting type. His and FL’s favorite coffee shop is a small cafe that serves a wonderful selection of boba. He mixes it up often, but his go to a pink lemonade with blueberry popping boba.

Morgan

Morgan is a tea guy for sure. The potency and intrusiveness of seer magic can be worsened by substances, and that includes caffeine. Morgan doesn’t smoke, doesn’t drink, doesn’t take anything. He drinks herbal tea, sometimes decaf black tea. He likes a decaf London Fog when he’s feeling fancy, but often drinks his tea with just a splash of milk and two sugars.

Guy

Red Bull energy. This man drinks energy drinks like he isn’t blessed by the gods with an unholy amounts of hyperactivity. Since he does have adhd, caffeine often makes him sleepy. He can be found drinking Red Bulls of all flavors at all hours of the day. They’re the only things that manage to get him out of the absolute energy slump he has first thing in the morning, but he has been known to drink them late into the night. He’s also a fan of a vodka Red Bulls.

Aaron

Black coffee. And not good black coffee, either. He likes the instant shit. Coffee so tough he can chew it. He’s had good coffee before. Freshly ground French presses, premium Italian blends, single origins from the heart of the coffee belt. And yet, nothing satisfies him like Folgers instant. Smartass does have a fancy ass espresso machine, but he refuses to use it, and only politely sips the sugar-filled lattes they lovingly make for him.

Elliot

Elliot loves coffee. It’s a byproduct of his trade. Maybe it’s a stereotype to say that all dreamwalkers love coffee, but given that he spends the majority of his day asleep, it helps when he has to be conscious and functional. Elliot loves cold brew, since it’s a really concentrated brew. He makes his own using a very dark roast. He likes it a bit sweet, a bit creamy, but he really loves