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spoilmesweetieforficssake · 11 months ago

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Coming To An Understanding #3

So my idea is to have 10 of these little one shots - most of which I have at least sketched out and partially written so hopefully there won't be too big a gap between. Some are shorter than others, but (at least in my head) they all fit in the same verse and happen in order?

~*~

Melissa tries to distract herself at home that night. She’s cooked, she’s cleaned and now she’s trying to find something on the tv to hold her attention. Nothing does, however. All she keeps thinking about is your face as you’d left school that day, telling her you were just gonna head home that night.

She wants to respect your wishes if you want a little space. You have been practically joined at the hip, so it makes sense, she thinks. That doesn’t stop her worrying, however. You might have put on a brave face and slapped on a smile, but Melissa knows you well enough to know when you’re faking.

Turning off the tv, she throws a few things in a bag and grabs not only her own key, but the spare you gave her to your apartment. She doesn’t let herself hesitate when she pulls up outside your building, slamming her truck door closed decisively. If she gives herself time to think, she’ll talk herself out of this.

She just needs to see you and reassure herself that you’re okay. If she doesn’t all she’s going to do is worry. Slipping her key into the lock, she quietly opens the door, poking her head around the doorframe. “Hey, it’s just me!” she calls out.

You jump at the sound of the door opening, sitting up and looking over the back of the sofa to see Melissa’s smiling face. “Sorry, you should have messaged. I’d have…” you trail off, not quite sure what you’d have done. You try to untangle yourself from the blankets which you have buried yourself in.

“What are you sorry for?” she asks. She leans over the back of the sofa, stopping your fidgeting. “Stop. I didn’t come here to make you get up. I came because you looked sad when you left today and I was worried.”

You look up at her, seeing the concern clearly painted across her features. You sigh, dropping your gaze to your joint hands. “It’s just my time of the month,” you tell her. “I didn’t sleep very well and was just trying to make it through the day, but by the bell I was wiped.”

She lets go of your hands and makes her way around the sofa, coming to sit next to you. “You know you can tell me things like that, don’t ya? I mean, I get it.”

You duck your head, not looking at her. “I didn’t want to ruin your night,” you mumble. “I’m not exactly great company right now.”

“You know you don’t have to be in a good mood to spend time with me, right?” she asks her hand stroking over your thigh where it rests on the blankets.

Raising your head, you meet her eyes, your cheeks flushed. She’s being so nice and all you want to do is cry. “I just…” You shake your head. “You don’t deserve to have to put up with this after work.”

“Hey!” she’s quick to snap. “I’m not putting up with anything. I’m here because I want to be. I’m the one who came over, remember?” she says, a soft smile on her face. “But I can go, if you’d rather?”

You hesitate, and you hate yourself for it. You want her to stay but you feel selfish for wanting it when you just want to curl up with her and mope about the fact that your painkillers aren’t even touching the pain.

She sees your hesitation, and rather than letting her fears get the best of her, that she’s too much, that you just want some time alone, she tries to read your expression. “Let me try that again. Can I stay? As long as it doesn’t make you feel uncomfortable?”

At this, you nod.

“You had anything to eat?”

This time, you shake your head. You’d had a plain cracker when you took your painkillers, but beyond that the thought of standing long enough to make anything had just been too much.

“M’kay, then how about I make something to eat?”

You’re about to protest that she doesn’t have to, but you find yourself silenced by a single finger being pressed to your lips.

“I want a nod for yes, a shake for no,” she tells you. “Are you hungry?”

The rumble of your stomach is all the answer she needs and you blush scarlet at your traitorous body. She removes her finger from your lips, pressing a kiss to them instead before standing and heading to your small kitchen. Peeking over the back of the sofa, you watch as she moves around the space, inspecting the contents of your fridge and cupboards.

“Mac and cheese or grilled cheese?”

You take this as a silent comment on the amount of cheese currently in your fridge but don’t make mention of it. “Mac and cheese?” you reply hesitantly.

She smiles at you. “You know there’s not a right or wrong answer? You want a mac and cheese, you get a mac and cheese.”

Of course, being Melissa, the macaroni cheese is more than just some cheese and pasta. It tastes divine and you all but inhale it. She doesn’t mention the speed at which you consume it, merely taking your plate and waving off your thanks. She returns a few moments later with a glass of water and your painkillers.

She leaves you to it as you take them only to return a few minutes later, your heat pack in one hand and a tub of ice cream in the other, wrapped in a dishtowel. “Shimmy forward,” she instructs you.

You frown, not quite sure what her plan is, but do as she asks anyway. She hands you the ice cream and moves until she can slide in behind you. Guiding you back to rest against her, she holds your heat pack in place with one hand before reaching around you and snagging one of the spoons from the open tub of ice cream you hold.

“Better?”

“I don’t deserve you,” you tell her, twisting to press a kiss to her lips.

She shakes her head. “None of that. I told you, I’m here because I want to be. Now, you wanna watch a movie or keep going with that series we started?”

You’re not sure when you nodded off, but when you wake up with your head pillowed on Melissa’s chest, you’re immediately embarrassed. She made the effort to come over and spend time with you and all you could do was eat the food she made and fall asleep?

“Don’t you dare say sorry,” she tells you, her face serious. “I don’t want or need you to say sorry. I don’t just wanna spent time with you for the fun stuff. I want you to be comfortable with me like this too.”

You sniffle, hating how emotional you get during your period. “Thank you. I just didn’t want to be selfish and ruin your night too.”

Her face softens. “My night isn’t ruined if it’s spent with you. But if I am spending the night we’re going to have to move this to a bed or my back isn’t going to forgive me.”

You close your eyes as she presses a kiss to the side of your head, lettings her words sink in. You only open them again when she squeezes you gently where her arms are looped around your waist.

“Come on, you go get comfy and I’ll tidy up here and warm up your heat pack.”

~ Next

#melissa x reader #melissa schemmenti x reader #abbott elementary

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clarisse0o · 4 months ago

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Camp Wiegman-Part 63

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe : Military School

Words : 5k

Masterlist

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Saturday, February 27th; 11:00 AM - Ingrid’s Apartment.

Our vacation is coming to an end, and you can feel it. A last-minute brunch was organized at Ingrid's before Mapi and Joan's departure in the early afternoon. Jenni and Alexia were, of course, invited along with us. It was an opportunity to spend the last few hours before wrapping up the holiday. I wished it would never end. I was already happy with my previous vacations, but this one far surpasses all the others I've had. The atmosphere was calm, with various topics of discussion on the table. It was a different mood compared to what we experienced just the night before. Lucy, sitting next to me, has had her hand on my thigh since we arrived. Since I told her about my late-night call, she hasn’t let go of me, in every sense of the word. We were both shaken. However, unlike me, Lucy is seriously considering the proposal I was offered. That’s not the case for me. Not at all. I couldn’t see myself moving away from her, from my loved ones, from this city. It caused tension between us, though we understand each other's arguments. I think our situation was noticed because our friends kept glancing at us, as if to ensure we weren’t about to explode in the middle of the gathering.

“Alright. Are we going to keep pretending everything’s fine, or are you finally going to talk?”

It’s Mapi who spoke. Of course, she’s the one who never holds back. I focus on my plate while Lucy tightens her grip on my thigh. A small sigh escapes her.

“Do you want to tell them?”

I can feel her eyes on me. She’s leaving it up to me whether or not to share the news with them. I shrug and lean back against the chair. I have everyone’s attention, except for Joan, who’s still focused on his plate, undisturbed by the tension.

“The gallery called me back.”

“Really?” Mapi exclaims with excitement, then loses her enthusiasm. “Wait. They don’t want you, is that it? Is that why you look so upset? What a bunch of idiots! They have no idea what they’re missing out on if they refuse you!”

I smile despite myself at her mood swings. Honestly, she’ll always have my back, no matter the situation, even if she doesn’t know all the details.

“No, it’s not exactly that...”

“The manager offered her a job in Cardiff,” my girlfriend announces bluntly.

“What!?” Alexia reacts. “What’s going on? Why not here?”

“He’s opening a new gallery and putting together a team, and he sees me as a good fit for it.”

“And what’s next?” Mapi scoffs. “It’s a great way to trap you there! It’ll start with an apprenticeship, then a contract you won’t be able to refuse. We all know how this stor—Ouch!” she yells after being elbowed by Ingrid. “What’s your problem?”

“Stop talking so much. You’re not even letting them speak! And besides, this decision isn’t yours to make. If Ona wants to go, it’s her choice.”

“She doesn’t want to,” Lucy replies. “But I think she should. I mean, this is an incredible opportunity. This gallery is very prestigious, even here in Manchester. To be honest, she won’t find a better stepping stone at her current stage.”

“Oh, are you kidding me?” Mapi snaps. “Now that you two are together, are you trying to get rid of her or something? She trusts you! You have no right to say that!”

“Mapi!” Ingrid interrupts with a disapproving tone. “Lucy is supporting Ona. She’s right—it’s a unique opportunity if a top gallery wants to recruit her. It’s not something everyone gets.”

“You’re kidding, right? Ona freaks out when she’s far from her, and I’m not going to let this slide! She’s supposed to support you and your choices, Ona!” she says, looking me directly in the eyes.

That was the last straw for my girlfriend. She slams the table as she stands up.

“Just because I’m telling her to go to Cardiff doesn’t change anything for us,” Lucy says, surprising us all with her outburst. “There’s life beyond personal relationships, and that’s called a career. Sure, she’s happy with me, but she’d be even happier with a job that fulfills her.”

“Well, there are other solutions than moving miles away,” Mapi counters. “I don’t know, she could apply to other galleries in Manchester,” she adds, gesturing wildly. “Who cares about their influence!”

“Cardiff is just next door, you know,” Jenni chimes in for the first time. “Lucy isn’t wrong. A relationship like this is perfectly doable.”

“Next door?” Alexia scoffs. “It’s a three-hour drive! Sure, it could be worse, but that’s still a long trip to make every weekend. Plus, it’s a gallery. If they have exhibitions, some weekends are going to be off-limits. Ona, knowing you, I understand why you don’t want to go, and I support you.”

A heavy silence fills the room. Three against three, then. I thought their input would help us, but clearly not. We’re back to square one. I glance at Lucy, who sighs as she sits back down, running her hand over her face. This issue is far from over, and we all know it. The tension slowly fades, even as Mapi asks another question.

“When do you have to give them an answer?”

“In two weeks,” I reply. “The manager wants to meet me again. I’ll have to ask Wiegman for permission to leave.”

“She’ll grant it,” Lucy assures me, having already told me this information yesterday.

She even added that she’ll make sure to accompany me. I hope that’ll be the case. Since she’ll remain my supervisor until the end, there’s a good chance.

“Two weeks to think it over, huh... Ugh. No way are you leaving again when I plan to come here.”

“Well, you could just come back home,” Joan, who had been silent until now, suggests.

No one responds before we all laugh. He still seems hopeful for my return... Even though I talked to him this morning before coming here. He wasn’t too open, probably afraid to confide in me. With all this chaos, I haven’t had time to call my mom, but it’s still on my mind.

“Well, I’ve still got to finish packing,” Mapi finally says. “You girls coming to help?”

Having finished eating, Alexia and I get up to follow her to the bedroom. Lucy stops Joan, who wants to come with us, and encourages him to keep eating. He’s the only one who hadn’t finished yet, as he tends to take his time. I thank my girlfriend, who must have understood we needed some time alone to talk. It’s the first time I’ve set foot in Ingrid’s place. Her apartment is smaller than Lucy’s. For starters, it only has one bedroom, compared to Lucy’s three. However, I had the chance to see the bathroom, and for an apartment, it’s quite spacious. Of course, everything is quite modern. From the outside, the building doesn’t look old. She lives right in the center of Manchester. That was surprising. I imagined her living outside the city, like Lucy, but I guess I was wrong. Contrary to what you might think, you can’t hear anything from the outside world. It must be well insulated. When we arrive in the only bedroom, I notice it faces the back, overlooking a small courtyard. The place looks more peaceful here. I felt compelled to linger by the window, for whatever reason. Probably to delay the conversation. Mapi didn’t share that sentiment.

“No way! I can’t believe this!” she fumes.

I turn around to see her pacing back and forth while Alexia has flopped onto the bed like a rock. I don’t hesitate long before joining her. The conversation is going to be long, especially with Mapi in this state. She’s aggressively pulling clothes from the wardrobe, which I note is Ingrid’s. It seems we’re not the only ones moving forward in this new life. Yet, it’s quite contradictory to what she told me earlier.

“She seriously thinks this is what’s best for you!? Are you sure she knows you well, because that’s not the impression I’m getting!”

“Stop getting worked up like this.”

“I’ll get worked up if I want,” she says, throwing clothes into her suitcase one by one. “Honestly, I had a lot more respect for her before today.”

I sigh, casting a glance at Alexia. She doesn’t seem inclined to come to my rescue, judging by the way she shrugs. Clearly, those two are on the same page.

“She didn’t say anything wrong.”

“She wants you to go to Cardiff!”

“She’s only thinking about my professional well-being! She wants me to be fulfilled.”

- "And then what? Do you think you'll be away from everyone? Now that I've found something to build my life on here, you're leaving again! It's out of the question, I'm warning you!"

I laugh softly as I fall onto the bed. I stare at the white-painted ceiling. She's right. I can't just drop everything here when I've barely started forging a future. There are other galleries. I just need to apply. Anyway, I wasn't planning on accepting his offer impulsively. I already know a couple that broke up because of a career decision. I'm not going to make the same mistake.

- "What do you plan to do?" Ale. asks.

- "Negotiate at first. Then probably write some resumes. We need to talk about it more seriously with Lucy. She's not entirely wrong."

- "Did you two argue?" she continues.

- "No, not really. We didn’t raise our voices, even though we weren’t on the same page."

- "That's good. Anyway, the decision is yours to make."

I nod, though not very convincingly. I don't know where this is headed, but it doesn't feel good. I didn’t need any last-minute tensions to ruin the end of our vacation.

- "I think I would have preferred if he’d said no instead of making such an offer. To be honest, I expected this answer considering the kind of gallery it is."

I've had time to do some research since the interview. I didn’t know who I was dealing with before. If Lucy says it’s a golden opportunity, it’s because it's one of the most renowned galleries in Wales. they've established themselves in the big cities, and now they’re targeting smaller ones, according to him. Working there would be a great boost for my resume...

- "Oooh, I know that look," Mapi says, cutting through my thoughts. "Don’t even think about it. Have you forgotten what it was like being away from Lucy? Right now, you’re not thinking about it because you’re in your bubble, but wait until classes start again. You’ll remember what it feels like to have distance between you."

I bite my lip, thinking about her words. I hate to admit it, but she’s right. It’s unthinkable. Just look at my nightmares. Since I've been back in her arms, they've disappeared completely. I’d be curious to see if they come back when I return to school. If they do, I'd better keep it to myself. Wiegman might send me to see a therapist like she threatened before the holidays, and that's definitely not happening. But we’re not there yet. It’s not time to think about that. There’s more to it. I feel safe by her side, and being alone in an unknown city is definitely not a good plan. The idea of Lucy following me is simply impossible. She’ll be too busy with the renovation and opening of her gym. It’s truly a headache that I need to deal with.

- "Well," Mapi sighs, seeming to have finished packing. "I’m going to check the bathroom one more time to make sure I’ve got everything, and then we can head out."

The time is indeed approaching. Their flight is scheduled for early afternoon so they can arrive in Barcelona tonight. If it were up to Mapi, she probably would have flown tomorrow, but she agreed to change the date to accompany my little brother. It’s his first trip, and I have no doubt the time difference will affect him. I stand up, intending to head to the living room, but Alexia, who’s now sitting, stops me.

- "You know, I don't completely agree with Mapi's words, but she's got a point. I don’t know everything you’ve been through like she or probably Lucy does."

I part my lips to defend myself, but she continues before I can say anything.

- "But I’ve seen who you were before Lucy came into your life and who you are now. I’m not sure what to make of it, to be honest. Just don’t make any hasty decisions. You’re the only stable friend I’ve had lately, and I don’t want to lose you."

I smile at her heartfelt confession. I had always wondered if Alexia had any friends because she never talks about the people around her outside of school. I think I have my answer now. She probably never had the chance to get close to anyone because of her chaotic life, which is a real shame. She’s a fantastic person, and I don't regret meeting her at all.

- "How could you think I’d abandon you after school? You’ve managed to reach the same level as Mapi in my life, so even if I had to leave, we’d stay close. Now come here, you silly girl."

I open my arms, and she doesn't hesitate to accept my embrace. It’s actually the first time I’ve initiated it. She squeezes me so tightly I almost can’t breathe, but I say nothing. She must need this. She probably thought I didn’t care about her as much, but she’s wrong. She’s been a huge support to me this year, and I’m not going to forget that.

- "Thank you," she whispers.

After exchanging a smile, we head back to the living room. Our friends were deep in conversation, thankfully not about my job offer. As soon as I sit down, Lucy pulls me close and kisses my temple. I smile, leaning into her. No matter if we disagree, as long as love remains, I'm fine.

- "Are you okay?" she whispers.

I nod to reassure her. I’m not in the best shape, but she doesn’t need to know that right now. Knowing her, she probably suspects something anyway. Nothing is resolved, but now isn’t the time to discuss it. Time flies, and before long, we're cleaning up and preparing to leave. Everyone pitches in, and just before 12:30, we head out. Jenni and Alexia have already said goodbye to the apartment, preferring to go home rather than come with us. With just five of us left, Lucy took the initiative to drive us to the airport. The journey is long and silent, leaving me deep in thought. Why does something always have to spoil my happiness? It’s really unfortunate. I snap out of my reverie when Lucy places her hand on my thigh. Normally, I love that, but right now, it doesn’t lift my spirits. Instead, I look into the rearview mirror, where everything is just as quiet. Even my brother isn't saying a word. He must sense the tension; otherwise, I have no doubt she’d be chatting away the whole trip. Finally, we arrive at the airport. We accompany Joan and Mapi through all the necessary steps before boarding. It’s strange not to be the one traveling this time. I help my brother with each step; it’s definitely not something she can do alone.

- « Ona?" she calls out to me.

We’re alone at the baggage check-in, and it’s the first time he’s spoken. Mapi is at another counter while the others wait on the other side.

- "Hmm?"

- "You’re not going to break up with Lucy, are you?"

- "Why would you think that, huh?" I ask with a small smile.

- "Well, you both seem sad. I don’t want you two to break up. Even though she takes you away from me, she’s brought your smile back."

I blush slightly as the attendant chuckles, clearly having overheard. I try to ignore him to respond to my brother.

- "We’re not breaking up, Joan. We just have a disagreement. It’ll be sorted out soon."

- "I hope so. Because even though I pretended otherwise, I actually like her. As long as you both make your decisions with your hearts, everything will be fine."

His words make me smile. I ruffle his hair before we rejoin the others. Kids can be so perceptive when they want to be. He gave me the answer to my questions in a single sentence. We finally reach the boarding gate. The flight leaves in a few minutes. We’ve found seats, and Joan has taken advantage of the moment to sit on my lap. He snuggles against me, kicking his legs gently.

- "I don’t want to go," Mapi sighs.

- "It’s just three little months."

- "It’s going to be so long without you," she groans. "Next time, you guys are coming to me."

- "Mom wants us to come anyway, so we’ll visit one weekend."

- "You’ll come with them, right?" she asks her girlfriend.

- "Of course," she confirms, giving her a small kiss.

I smile sadly. It must be just as hard for Ingrid. You quickly get used to the good things. I’m glad Lucy and I weren’t already together when I used to go back home. It was hard enough then; I can’t imagine how I’d have felt if we’d been dating. It must not be easy for the girls either.

- "Are you okay, love?"

I look back at Lucy and nod. She smiles gently, running her hand through my hair, and I close my eyes for a moment, savoring the gesture. I definitely couldn’t part from her. I lean in to kiss her, and Joan, still sitting on me, groans in disgust, forcing me to pull away gently. Lucy laughs, looking at him.

- "Did you enjoy the vacation?"

- "Yes!" he replies, nodding enthusiastically. "Can I come back?"

- "Of course. We just need your mom’s approval," she answers.

- "And when are you guys coming back?"

- "Soon. One of the upcoming weekends," I tell him.

Lucy nods in agreement. We haven’t talked about it yet, but with my mom insisting and what’s going on with Joan, it would be a good idea to go as soon as possible. The intercom announces that the boarding gate is now open. The way Joan burrows into me tells me he’s been dreading this moment. I hug him tight before we stand to accompany them to the gate, ready to say our goodbyes. Mapi bids farewell to her girlfriend while I crouch down to remind my brother of a few final instructions.

- "You’ll behave, okay? And make sure you listen to Mapi during the flight."

- « Yes, Ona," he answers indifferently. "I’m going to miss you."

He catches me by surprise, wrapping one arm around my neck and the other around Lucy’s waist, who was standing next to me.

- "I’ll miss you too, sweetheart. We’ll see each other soon, I promise."

I kiss him cheek, giving him one last hug. Then he turns to Lucy to do the same. Meanwhile, I take the opportunity to hug Mapi.

- "Everything will be fine," I tell her.

- "Shouldn’t I be the one telling you that?" she giggles. "We’ll keep in touch, right?"

- "I promise. We’ll see each other soon anyway. And then you’ll come here, so there won’t be any more problems."

She gives me one last hug and then hugs my girlfriend before taking Joan’s hand.

- "Don’t worry, I’ll bring him back in one piece," she teases me.

- "I sure hope so," I chuckle.

- "Text us when you land," adds Ingrid.

- "I won’t forget."

She comes back to give her one last kiss before finally leaving. We stay in our spots until they pass the first flight attendants and the corridor. They turn around one last time, and we exchange a final wave before they disappear around the corner. That’s when we turn to leave.

- "Well, there you have it," Lucy comments. "Things will be calm again."

- "Oh yeah," Ingrid sighs. "It’s going to feel almost boring now."

- "No kidding," I giggle.

- "Do you have any plans for next weekend?" Lucy asks.

- "I don’t think so. Why?"

- "Well, I was thinking we could go visit. You want to go as soon as possible, right?" Lucy asks in return.

I nod. She wraps her arm around my shoulders. I smile softly, snuggling against her.

- "Well, I suppose we can do that, but I won’t be able to go every weekend," Ingrid warns us.

- "That’s not our plan, don’t worry," Lucy reassures her. "Alright, let’s go buy our tickets, and then we can head home."

Said and done. We head toward the ticket counters, taking our time. Then we make our way back, with a stop to drop Ingrid off. I let her sit in the front so they could chat. Once I’m alone again, silence returns. I avoid looking at Lucy, preferring to watch the world outside. Manchester is a very vibrant city if you pay attention.

- "Are you going to stay quiet for much longer?" she asks me.

- "Can’t I?"

- "No. Not when you’re thinking so much."

I look down at her hand, palm up, resting on my thigh. I get the message and take her hand in mine. She brings it to her lips and kisses it.

- "Talk to me. You know I don’t like it when you shut yourself off."

- "Was the answer you gave me last night from your heart?"

The question hangs in the air. I don’t dare look at her, afraid I’ll regret it. My sister managed to plant doubts in my mind. What if she was speaking from the heart? What if, as Mapi suggested earlier, she really wanted me far away from her? It’s hard to believe that of Lucy, but nothing is impossible. She sighs softly, squeezing my hand.

- "Cariño-"

- "Answer my question, Lucy," I interrupt. "It’s not a complicated one."

- "If this is about trust or-"

- "That’s not an answer," I groan, finally managing to look at her.

I don’t know why, but her evasion irritates me. As long as she doesn’t give me a clear answer, the doubts will remain. She’s not looking at me. Usually, she’d at least glance at me, but not this time.

- "No. Of course not," she finally answers. "If it was a choice made with my heart, I’d make sure to keep you by my side all the time."

- "Then why tell me to accept?"

- "It’s the reasonable answer, Ona. That will always be my first response. I thought you knew that by now."

- "So what? If we both have a problem talking openly from the heart, then we have a problem."

- "I just want what’s best for you."

- "I know, but that’s not what I expect from you. Well, it is, but not when it means pushing me away at the same time. Do you want to know how I’d feel if I accepted this offer? Imagine how I felt when you rejected me; it would feel just like that. Why do you think Mapi flipped out when she found out?! She knew exactly how I was feeling!"

My voice resonates in the car. I raised it on purpose. I want to provoke a reaction from her. I want her to hold me back. If she doesn’t, I honestly won’t know what to think anymore.

- "I—... Wait, let me park."

I realize we’ve arrived at her building from what she just said. She lets the silence linger as she parks the car, just as she said. As soon as the keys are out of the ignition, she turns toward me and grabs both of my hands again, holding them tightly and pulling them close. I force myself to look at her. She looks shaken.

- "That’s not my intention, baby. I’m really sorry if you took it that way. It’s just that, I was raised this way, you know? Making the reasonable choices, it’s what I do… I don’t want us to fight about this."

After everything she’s told me about her childhood, I can only understand. I don’t know much, but from what I’ve gathered, she was very focused on school. She probably didn’t have many friends, which is why she’s so close to Jenni. It always surprises me because, at my old high school, she would have been one of the popular girls. She probably would’ve been at hers too, but she turned down that role. After all, if she was bullied as a kid, I can understand her. Rejecting labels allowed her to make the best choices for her future, without having to worry about anyone. She never had to follow her heart because she wasn’t close to anyone but Jenni. She always seemed to follow her everywhere, so naturally, the reasonable always triumphed for her without question.

- "I love you, baby. If you want to stay here, I’m not going to push you away. It’s just that, I’m about to reach my goals soon. If I wanted you to accept this offer, it was so you could achieve yours with the best chances possible."

- "But there are other options, even if they’ll take more work. I’m ready to make sacrifices, Lucy."

- "I know, and we’ll talk about it. There’s no need to get so worked up. I’m not pushing you away, far from it," she teases gently, wiping away the tears I hadn’t even realized were falling.

- "We should never have involved others in this..."

- "No, we shouldn’t have," she smiles. "But it’s okay. What’s done is done. Besides, no matter what anyone else says, or even me, the final decision is yours, no matter what. I won’t be mad if you turn down the offer. Quite the opposite. Just don’t make any hasty decisions. Don’t focus only on me. As much as I don’t want it, we don’t know what tomorrow holds for us and many other things. You need to think it over carefully."

I nod, letting her gentle caresses on my cheeks soothe me. My doubts have finally eased. She’s not rejecting me. She just wants me to make the right decisions without regrets. I need to make this choice for myself, just as she has always made hers... Her words managed to plant some doubts.

- "Will you always put your goals before your relationship?" I ask curiously, opening my eyes.

- "No. It’s hard to explain, but I feel like you’re the person I’ve always been waiting for in my life... Since the day you agreed to be with me, you’ve become my priority. And anyway, as I said, my goals are being met right now, so I don’t think I’ll have any more for a long time, if everything works out."

- "Thank you," I reply, blushing. "Can I have some cuddles now?"

- "Of course," she laughs. "As many as you want, once we’re back in our apartment."

- "Our apartment?" I catch her slip.

- "Ours, yes..." she confirms with a hint of anxiety before continuing. "I’d like you to move into my apartment. For now, just on the weekends, but once school’s over, I want it to be permanent. I want you to stay here and live with me, my love."

My heart skips a beat. We had talked about me staying here after Camp Wiegman, but I didn’t expect her to make it an official request. I blink back the tears filling my eyes before throwing my arms around her neck, shouting "yes" over and over, making my girlfriend laugh as she catches me effortlessly.

#woso #lucy bronze #woso community #ona batlle #barca femeni #woso soccer #lionesses #sefutbol fem #ona batlle x lucy bronze

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localplaguenurse · 11 months ago

Note

Playing a game with Pantalone but everytime one of you loses you have to remove one article of clothing and suffice to say you lost all your clothes rather quickly and now he's smirking on how shall he indulge in you this time

I thought this was a predator/prey situation at first, which would have been pretty pog, but then I remembered the dumb strip poker joke I made the other day and realized that’s probably what you were talking about-

So that’s what I’m gonna write

CONTENT WARNING: Playing strip poker, no full blown smut but still suggestive. I might circle back to this in the future because I have ideas, but I’m not in a super smutty mood. Honestly it’s more silly than anything, but 18+ please. Also I have only played the Luigi poker minigame so shhh.

You hate this game, you don’t know why you keep agreeing to play it, and you hate that it was all your idea to begin with. It sounded like a fun way for you and your husband to spice things up a little, and in general seemed like a fun way to bond. Sure, you figured he’d win the first few times you played, but you weren’t complaining at the time. Surely, he wouldn’t win every time, right?

… Right?

You glare at your hand because you don’t want to glare at Pantalone. It’ll mean you have to look at his stupid smug grin over his winning streak. You see it every time he suggests you two play a few rounds of strip poker. Tonight is no different, and though you love his face so much, you cannot stand looking at him right now.

You don’t question if you’re losing because you have terrible luck or if you’re just bad at poker anyways. You know it’s both. It also can’t help that your husband is very good at taking chances and placing bets. He never makes a decision until he’s certain of the outcome and that it will work in his favour. You find this trait very admirable, except for right now.

“Darling, are you alright?” Pantalone asks, faux concern lacing his words. “You’re shivering a little.”

You’re currently hugging a pillow to your bare chest, both to give yourself some dignity, and because you’re nearly nude. “I’m fine.”

He chuckles. “Well, if that’s the case, have you decided what your next move is?”

“I-I’m still thinking,” you grumble, body cold but face burning hot. Truth be told, your hand is shit. The only thing you have going for you are two fives, and that’s it. That may as well be nothing with how your game has been going. Pantalone’s only lost the shirt, and you’re pretty sure it’s because he felt bad for you and threw that round. You don’t know what’s worse, him pitying you, or that he still decimated you.

You take two cards out of your hand and discard them, leaving only the two fives and an ace. You’re already certain you’re losing the round anyways, so you might as well see if you can get another ace, or maybe a five. Just something to make your hand better than being just above trash.

“Interesting…”

“Shush.”

You pick up two new cards and place them in your deck. Let’s see, you had a five of hearts, five of diamonds, and an ace of spades. You’ve picked up–

No way.

You blink, trying not to let your shock show (your poker face isn’t that great, either). Those two new cards consist of an ace of diamonds, and a five of clubs. Holy shit. Holy shit. That’s a full house! The only way Pantalone can beat that is if he gets 4 of a kind, a straight flush or a royal flush. You actually have a chance! Not a chance of winning the game, Archons no, but you’ll be keeping your underwear on for a round longer.

You smile, and present your hand. “Full house.”

Pantalone’s eyebrows widen, and he smiles. “Oh, goodness! Look at you! You’re starting to get the hang of this now. That is very impressive, my darling.”

You cross your arms, giving him the smug grin he’s been giving you all evening.

He sighs. “That… makes this all the more painful, I’m afraid.”

You watch as Pantalone lays his cards down in front of you. Your eyes widen, and your jaw drops.

“... Absolutely not.”

“I’m afraid so.”

“Are you kidding me!?” you ask. “A royal flush?! No, no I refuse… You did not just get that!”

“I assure you, darling,” he purrs, “I got it fair and square.”

You glare at him and his cards. An ace, a queen, a king, a jack, and a ten of hearts. Of course it has to be hearts, too.

“Now then, I think you know the rules.”

“Fine, fine, you win.” You move the pillow from your chest and toss it at his head. It makes contact, which makes him laugh. “I know the drill.”

“My my, you make it sound like such a horrible fate,” he teases. “Sure, I may have won again, but I think we both know this will be… equally rewarding for us, no?”

You roll your eyes. “Easy for you to say, champion strip poker king…”

“Oh, my little darling,” he coos in such a patronizingly sweet voice, “where’s the fun in being such a spoilsport? Don’t you enjoy playing with me?”

“I do, but it’s just frustrating that you’ve won every game we play.”

Pantalone laughs. “Then I suppose you’ll have to get good, as people say. Now, about my prize...”

#ask #sheepy!#pantalone #pantalone smut #pantalone x reader #idk if i need the pantalone smut tag but may as well get my bases covered

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merakiui · 1 year ago

Note

I made breakfast + Jade bc he'd be a teasing lil shit and I love him 👉👈

-🦈

Omg this prompt with Jade… 🦈 anon, you’re a genius!!!

(fwb dialogues)

Half-dead and horribly hungover, you wake to the smell of breakfast. It’s a delicious beacon amidst the crushing burden of morning exhaustion. Groaning lowly, you bury deeper beneath the duvet, your face pressed into the pillows.

Clad in sweatpants and a mushroom-print T-shirt, his hair a rightful mess, Jade pokes his head into the room minutes later. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”

Your response is a not-so-beautiful moan. “I look and feel like shit.”

“Then shall I amend my wording? Ah, but Sleeping Monstrosity doesn’t sound very pleasant now, does it?”

You turn over to greet him with a scowl. “I’m not in the mood.”

But it was my fault for calling him. I always do that. Why did I even decide to drink in the first place? I never make good decisions when I’m inebriated.

He beams, unbothered by the ice in your eyes. He presents the tray with minimal flourish, held at arm’s length. You stare at the contents—plates piled high with pancakes, accompanied with dozens of sides and toppings. It feels like a buffet despite the portion being meant for one person.

“I made breakfast.”

“No shit. Why?”

“Is it not common courtesy to feed your guests?”

“I wouldn’t know. I like to leave before breakfast.”

“So I’ve learned.” He moves in closer, lowering to sit on the edge of the bed, testing just how far he can go before you push him away. “Aren’t I fortunate to have you to myself just a little longer?”

You scoff when he gathers a bite of pancake on the fork and offers it to you. “Don’t get used to it.” Throwing your dignity aside, you close your mouth around the utensil. “Not bad.”

“Consider it a token of my gratitude.”

“For what?”

“For calling me. I do so enjoy our midnight mischief.”

Your brow furrows. “I didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”

“Are you sure you’re not mistaking accidental for intentional?”

You snatch the fork out of his hands. “I’ll block your number and never call again.”

A smirk curls on his lips. You think he almost wants you to go through with it, if only so he can laugh when you inevitably come crawling back.

“We’ll see.”

“Just you wait,” you threaten around another morsel of pancake.

Jade chuckles. “It’s difficult to take you seriously when you’re stuffing your face like a hamster.”

“Can’t help it. Food’s good.”

“I’m pleased it’s to your liking.” Jade’s gaze flickers from your face to your hand. “If I may ask, why were you drinking alone?”

“No reason.”

“That’s not what you said last night.”

You struggle to recall that, but from the way his eyes twinkle you suspect he remembers it well enough to recite it verbatim.

Intending to spare yourself the embarrassment, you heave a great sigh and force the words out. “My friend announced they’re getting married, and that makes me the last one.”

Jade blinks, stunned. You’re beginning to wonder what version you told him in the midst of your intoxication.

“The last one?”

“The last one left. I’m not married. Yet. Obviously. Otherwise I wouldn’t be…here.”

“Obviously not,” he echoes. “Well, if you’re so devastated, why not find someone to marry?”

“You say it like it’s easy. Where am I gonna find someone who wants that?”

Jade opens his mouth and immediately shuts it.

Neither of you says anything else regarding that matter. Maybe it’s for the best. The future is scary, but a future with Jade is even scarier. Because that would mean opening your heart to him. Because that would mean recognizing what he is to you.

Because you’re not here for the breakfast, and it’s not just drunken desire that leads you to his doorstep. It’s muscle memory, but you won’t acknowledge that. Neither will Jade. Not yet.

#twisted chit chat #🦈 anon #meraki dialogues

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nokiatelava · 1 year ago

Text

✿✿Leaving Me✿✿

Author's Note - Hi guys!! I'm kind of just planning on going along with the plot of ATWOW, obviously adding my own storyline here and there with Awpxey. But! I hope you guys enjoy the story!!

Summary - After finally being able to heal from your injuries, your parents break news to you and your siblings. You're moving away. Far, far away. Across the great ocean to a clan that calls the sea their home. You go to find Awpxey after your parents finalize their decision. Now Awpxey is choosing his own. Stay at the forests of Pandora, or move across the sea with you.

Warnings - i don't think there's anything significant?, trying to talk back, jake's mean for like a second, arguing, crying, cute bf & gf moments, kissing, admiring, swearing, moving, decisions, stress, grandma - granddaughter talk, advice

The last bit of swelling left your face over the last few weeks. Talking was a bit easier now and you could see clearer.

Just a few days ago you were able to go back to your family’s hut.

You don’t know what compelled your mind to make you think you would be staying there for long.

It was a supposedly “normal” day. You were used to the silence that sat around the hut, your family not talking to each other much.

You felt almost estranged, you were feeling so happy and energized now at the fact you were healed. But it was as if everyone got used to how it was while you were injured.

It was always silent.

It made your happy mood deteriorate. And in doing so, it ruined your happy thoughts. So it only left you feeling sad.

Just like everyone else.

But on this “normal” day. Something still felt off. The air felt stiffer then usual, it was something with your parents.

They had been off since the whole situation, but something told you, something else caused this.

It was around lunchtime when your mother called everyone to the table. Thinking nothing of it, you all sat in your usual seats, waiting.

After sitting in silence for sometime your father spoke up.

“We’re moving.”

You furrowed your eyebrows in question.

“What do you mean we’re moving? Like to a different hut or-” He cut you off.

“We are moving.” His voice became harsh. “Far away. We need to get out of here. We’re set to leave tomorrow. And I’m stepping down from Olo’eyktan.”

Your heart dropped, your mouth opening in disbelief.

Moving? Far away? Stepping down? What is going on?

“What?..” Your voice came out in a quiet whisper, tears building but you tried your best to blink them back.

Your mother put her head down, looking at her lap.

“Mama is he being serious?” You looked between your mother and your father. Trying to ignore the tears that left your siblings.

“I’m being serious Y/n. This isn’t some kind of joke.”

You didn’t want to believe him. You didn’t want to.

You shook your head, “we can’t just leave here.” You motion your hand to the hut.

“This is all we know! This is the only place we call home!” Your mother’s hand went up to her eyes.

“I know that Y/n, but there’s nothing we can do-”

“Yes there is! There is, you can’t just give up so quickly!”

“It is not safe here-”

“So fight back!” You stood leaning over the table.

“We can’t!” Your father mirrored your actions.

“We are not equipped enough, there is not enough of us. There’s no, “fighting back” we can do.”

You still shook your head.

“You’re Toruk Makto, gather the other clans! Do everything you did those 17 years ago and fight back!”

“It’s not the same! Do you even understand how many people we lost back then? Because of that War? Thousands of the people died fighting for their land!”

“Exactly! So the loyal Na’vis, and the ones who can participate can join and fight back! We’re not leaving here!”

“We are Y/n! And that’s final!”

You wanted to hit him.

Never in your life had you ever wanted to strike your father.

But you wanted to right now, and wanted to hit him hard. Knock him straight.

But you turned and left. Walking out the hut and ignoring the few calls of your name by your siblings and your father.

You wanted to escape. Wanted to be down in the forest and accept the comfort of The Great Mother and her creations.

But you couldn’t.

Those evil demon bastards are infiltrating your home and destroying the land around it.

They’re taking your home away. And because of that, you had to leave.

You don’t know where you were going, your feet walked you in whatever direction and you let them.

You didn’t feel as if you were living in your body. You felt so disconnected and far away, wishing for the comfort of somebody, the embrace of somebody.

When you found yourself at the entryway of a hut, you finally looked up.

You were at Awpxey’s kelku, and that made you crack a small smile. But it dropped as you remembered what you now have to tell him.

You were met with his back, he was facing the other way as he fiddled with something in his hands.

He was alone in the hut. And he must have felt your presence as he turned his head around.

His eyes lighting up as he saw you.

It all only made your heart hurt more.

He then realized your solemn expression and stood up, walking toward you slowly.

“Y/n? Are you okay?” You let out a sob as you ran into his chest, his warm skin only coaxing you to cry more into his chest.

“What’s wrong yawne? Talk to me, I’m right here, right here with you, okay?”

You couldn’t even stomach the fact you would have to tell him you’re leaving.

Where is that going to leave the two of you? Do you have to break up now as there is no way of communicating?

“A-Awpxey..” You cried, squeezing him closer to you as you hiccuped and sobbed.

“It’s okay Y/n, talk to me when you’re ready. I’ll wait for you.” All you could do was quickly nod into his chest, continuing to cry.

Once you felt that all the tears were somewhat out your system, you took a deep breath.

“I-I have to tell you something Awpxey.” Your chest stuttered as you felt your eyes cloud again, but you only rubbed the feeling away.

“Okay, you can tell me.” He nodded, running his hands through your hair.

“Come sit on the floor with me, right here okay?” You held his hand as you let him guide you to sit on the floor with him.

Your hands shook with a frenzied tremor, wiping your eyes you took another deep breath before looking into Awpxey’s eyes.

“I-I’m moving Awpxey.” You swallow as you try to breathe. “Really, really far away. A-and my dad is stepping down from being Olo’eyktan, and I don’t know what to do.”

You started to cry again, and only tucked your face into the crook of Awpxey’s shoulder.

“I don’t wanna leave.” You sobbed.

Awpxey rubbed your back as he was trying to process the information.

“I’m going with you.”

You froze, silence encompassing the hut, the only thing really being heard were your rough shallow breaths.

“What?” You sat up, looking straight at him.

“You’re doing what?” You blinked at him quizzically.

“I am going to go with you. I do not care if you don’t agree.” You opened your mouth shocked.

“Awpxey, what? N-no you can’t come, I can’t let you do that, no.” He has his family here, his parents, he can’t just leave them.

“Awpxey you can’t just leave, what about your parents? You’re not just gonna leave them are you?”

“I would. Just for you.” You gasped at his words.

“I love you Y/n, I love you so much. I See you. So I’m going to go with you.” He caressed your cheek.

“I want to mate with you one day, I can’t just leave you.” You leaned forward, kissing him as a way to express your love for him.

“But you haven’t even asked them yet Awpxey. What if they say no?”

“Knowing my parents? They’ll definitely say yes, they probably want me to move out anyway.” You stared at him, scared of how nonchalant he sounded.

“And what if they don’t want you to? What if they want you to stay here with them so they know you’re safe?”

Awpxey shook his head. “They are not like that Y/n, trust me.” You knew he was — somewhat — right. Itxä and Puo are two very understanding people. And always wish what is best for their son.

Which in their book, you are.

“They’ll definitely let me go with you. When do you leave?”

“Tomorrow. My dad didn’t say when, but knowing him.. It’s definitely in the morning.” You let out a broken chuckle, trying to revert your mind from the subject at hand.

Awpxey continued to rub your back. You felt his eyes on your face and could see him staring from your peripheral.

“What?” You said with a giggle as you turned towards him.

“Nothing.. Just looking at you.” He smiled as he continued to look.

“Why?” You asked, feeling a bit embarrassed by how lovingly he was looking at you.

“Because I love looking at you.” You felt a heat tread into your cheeks. “You know Y/n, I don’t think you take all the credit you get for your beauty.”

You tilted your head in confusion, “what do you mean?”

“You are just so beautiful. And sometimes I feel like when people tell you that, you don’t believe them.” You chewed your lip, knowing that what Awpxey was saying was true.

“You’re very observant.” You nodded. “Got it from you.”

You smiled, “really?” You asked mockingly.

“Yeah, got it from that people watching you taught me.” You felt a bit shocked.

He actually started doing that because of you?

“You actually started doing it?” He nodded, “why wouldn’t I? It’s actually very fun, entertains if you will.”

You laughed, “you’re becoming a little mini me!” Awpxey joined you in your laughter, “I wouldn’t mind becoming that.” He shrugged with a smile.

For a moment, you both only stared at each other. Looking at each other’s features.

“How do you feel about little admirer, hm?” You smiled at the tease and pushed his nose with your finger.

You could hear his tail smack lightly on the floor behind him.

“When are your parents coming home? So you can ask them? I don’t wanna be here when you do.” He furrowed his eyebrows, “why?” You only shrugged.

“It’ll make me feel weird.” He nodded but brought up another point. “Where are you going to go then? I know you do not want to go home.”

You rolled your eyes. “Too observant.”

He smiled, pulling your cheek. “Learned from the best.”

Over the next few minutes, you spent some more time together.

“I’m going to go home.. I-I have to pack my things.” You felt reluctant, you didn’t want to leave the forest, or Awpxey at the moment either.

As you both stood, Awpxey held your hand. “I know this is hard for you Y/n. But always, always know that I’m going to be here for you.” You nodded, trying to sniffle your tears away.

“I’m going to be there with you forever because I’m going with you.” He whispered teasingly in your ear. You laughed as his breath tickled your ear. “Awpxey!”

“I know, I know. Now go, get ready so we’ll both be packed by morning.” You turned back to look at him. “You’re very confident that they’ll even let you go.” You looked worryingly.

He only smiled, “I know they’ll let me go, now go back little Ms. Sully.” You laughed at the name and waved goodbye, him doing the same.

“Wait, Y/n!” You hear Awpxey call your name from behind you, making you turn around.

“Yes Awpxey? What is it?” He’s approaching you in a small jog.

“Come here.”

Before you could even get a breath out, he had grabbed your face. Smashing his lips onto yours in slow kiss.

It caught you by shock at first, but you slowly relaxed into the kiss and closed your eyes.

When he pulled away, all he had was a smirk on his face as he had seen your purple cheeks.

“You didn’t give me a goodbye kiss.” You embarrassingly cover your face with your hand, trying to hide how hot your face had gotten.

“Awpxey!” You squeal, trying to hold in your laughter.

He grabbed a hold of your wrist, trying to pry your hand from your face.

“Let me see you!” He continued to tease you as he tried looking around your face.

“Awpxey, I have to go!” You giggled.

He let you go, still laughing. “Bye Y/n.” He placed a kiss on your cheek.

For some reason you froze. Your cheeks felt hotter again as you brushed your fingertips against the spot.

You smiled sheepishly, shyly leaning forward and placing a kiss on his cheek.

“Bye Awpxey..”

It was Awpxey’s turn to mirror everything you had just done.

You smiled at him before turning and leaving, the soft smile still stuck on your face.

While you walked home, you couldn’t feel nothing but dread as your hut came into view.

Eywa, how bad you didn’t wanna be here right now.

When you walked in, everyone glanced at you, but you paid no mind to that as the only thing that took your attention was your home.

What used to be your home, at least.

All you saw was the inside of your home, technically completely empty instead of all of the things that were yours that were left in place.

Every movement that was made echoed, and it made your heart slow.

You were actually leaving. Your parents are really making you leave home.

“Come on Y/n.. Pack your stuff.” You heard your father’s gruff voice behind you.

Tears clouded your vision, and you clenched your fists tightly as your breath picked up. The pain in your palms went unnoticed as your fingernails continued to dig into the skin of your palms.

But you decided not to act on your emotions.

So you took a deep breath and started to pick up your things.

Minute after minute, your chest ached more and more as you had to pick up all the memories of your home.

When you were finished, you had a good two bags full to the top full of all your items.

Tops and loincloths, jewelry, and trinkets. The bags held everything.

Everything you’ve ever known, ever loved.

“Where are we going to sleep? Since there’s obviously nothing in here, for us.” You knew you were being sour.

But you had every right to be.

Your life is being taken away from you. How are you specifically supposed to feel?

You felt this feeling of hate, towards your father.

What did he want you to do after telling you, you all had to move away? Prance around and dance?

You had a sneer on your face as you waited for his answer, tapping your foot on the floor, urging him to hurry up.

“We’re going to stay at your grandmother’s hut.” He sighed and you felt a pang of guilt run through you as you seen him pinch the bridge of his nose, squinting his eyes shut as if to think.

“She’s being kind enough to let us stay there.. So let’s say thank you to grandma when we see her okay?” The small childish tone was obviously directed towards Tuk.

She was still too young to barely even comprehend what is happening right now.

She smiled up towards Jake, nodding excitedly.

“I love staying at Grandma’s house!” The words made your stomach hurt.

Does she even know this will be the last time she’s staying over there?

You decided to just step in. “You sure do, don’t you?” Grabbing her hand with a small smile and leading her out the hut. Trying your best to just get the night over with.

The rest of your siblings followed reluctantly, knowing what they have to do once the night is over.

Knowing they will never come back to their home.

It all felt unreal, it was unexpected, and it was too rushed. You felt as if the decision was rushed.

You wondered if your parents even really thought about what they were doing. You would have never thought that, that night in the forest would lead to this.

The last experience you had in your homeland was miserable. You were beaten to a pulp, the last thing you saw was the trees, and the beautiful night sky you loved.

You felt as if you never were actually even able to bask in the beauty of your home. You try to pull your mind of all the memories you have in the forest. But you’re barely pulling any, all you can think about is that night.

If this was planned earlier you felt like you maybe could have done something else. Do something else, be someone else.

You love it here. You want to stay here.

But you can’t.

Because now you’re moving away. Moving away to somewhere cold. You’re moving away to somewhere that you have to become a different person, act a different way, and practice different customs.

You didn’t want to do that. You didn’t want it to come to this.

All the things you could have done. Time was lost. There was too much lost time. You could have been running with the wind through the forest just yesterday, happy to be in the environment your Great Mother had created. Even with the knowledge you’d have to be leaving the very next morning.

Or if you hadn’t even went on that little outing. You could have been sitting in your hut, full of everything that it had before. Making bracelets with Kiri and Tuk.

So much lost time.

Before you even blinked, you were at your grandmother’s hut, walking inside. You don’t even remember walking over here.

This is not how you wanted your last night here to be.

In a blur, you were all setting up your sleeping mats. There was barely any small talk between everybody, small words being exchanged here and there.

You took a deep breath through your nose, trying to implant the smell of all the herbs deep in your lungs.

You loved the smell.

It was so nostalgic, a smell you always loved since you were a child coming to see your grandmother, Mo’at.

You loved her so much. You didn’t want to leave her. Your eyes watered for the umpteenth time that day as you thought about the fact you were leaving family behind.

Mo’at watched you keenly, studying you body movement, it’s language.

She knew you were angry, she can feel it coming from you. She felt it before you even arrived. And she didn’t want her granddaughter to have such hate in her heart.

She planned to talk to you when everyone fell asleep, which she knew would be soon.

A few minutes later, everyone was saying goodnight as the climbed into their mats. For about an hour, all that was heard was the shuffling from all of you tossing and turning.

Slowly, everybody around you fell asleep one by one. You sighed as you sat up, rubbing your eyes trying to produce some sort of feeling of on-coming slumber.

You gasped quietly when you looked up, only to see your grandmother sitting up, staring directly at you.

“Y/n.” She said expectantly, her small smile barely visible from the dark engulfing the room.

“Grandma.” You stated, your words floating in the air as they reached her.

“Hm.” She said, turning her head while her smile grew.

You are telling her everything she needs to know already.

“Come, come over here child.” Mo’at’s hand beckoned you to come closer as she got up and moved from her mat. Heading toward a small private area of her hut.

You stood quietly, stepping over the sleeping bodies of your siblings before silently standing before your grandmother.

She patted the spot next to her, “sit with me?” A small smile flashed on your face as you nodded, taking a seat next to her on the sitting mat padding the ground.

“What’s going on grandma? Why aren’t you sleeping?” She looked towards you, a look on her face.

“Why are you asking me questions I’m going to ask you?” She shrugged as she ignored what you had asked her. She chuckled, “what is going on with you Y/n? Though I already know what.”

Furrowing your eyebrows in confusion, you looked at her questioningly.

“What do you mean Grandma?” She laughed silently again.

“Because you make it obvious. Your body, your eyes, your ears, your tail, your heart.” Your grandmother shook her head, “your soul is vulnerable, you are technically putting it on display.”

Not really knowing what to say, you only responded with a feeble, “sorry grandma..” That made her laugh quietly again.

“There’s no need to apologize for something such as that. You are sad right now Y/n, very sad.” Her hands came up to your head, threading her fingers through your hair softly.

You could only nod in agreement, not knowing the fact your feelings were so presentable.

"I know why you are sad Y/n." Mo'at whispered next to your head. A solemn look in her eyes as she continued to brush her fingers through your hair.

You gave a broken chuckle as the tears started to cloud your eyes once again. "What is making me sad grandma?" You asked sarcastically.

This made Mo’at frown, she felt a strong pity for not only you but herself too. She knew that as soon as all of you left, she would be and feel completely miserable.

But she couldn't act on her emotions because all she could do was hold it all together for the sake of the people.

What would the clan do if their Tsahìk was completely low with grief? Mo’at had — no has — a lot to grieve for, but she has no time to grieve.

No time to think.

She’s quick with what she has to do, always by herself — mostly not — with her thoughts.

She tries her hardest to not think about those days.

Those days in which everyone was a bit younger.

Those days when her whole family was still together.

“You’re leaving..” Mo’at whispered as her nimble fingers continued to brush your hair.

“And I know you’re very sad to leave. Leave here, your home.” She pursed her lips as she tried to fight her tears.

“Grandma.” You whispered out in a breath of realization. “I’m sorry grandma I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

You sat up straighter, placing your hand on her back before she chuckled. She pulled your hand off by your wrist.

She held your hand, pressing a kiss to your knuckle as the tears fell from her eyes.

Yours following soon after.

“I remember when you had just made it into this world..” She smiled at the memory as she rubbed your knuckles.

“Your cries were piercing, very loud. But you never cried much.” She squeezed your fingers.

“You are still very quiet now Y/n. But promise me, when you leave here and you join this new clan. Promise me, you will use that same exact piercing voice when someone does you wrong.” She looked deep into your eyes to show the sincerity of her ask for promise.

You nodded, “I promise grandma. I promise I will, if they either do it to me or anyone else.” She smiled.

“Remember that boy you yelled at all those years ago? During your craft class?” You laughed quietly at the memory.

“Son’tuk?” You giggled as you thought of the boy.

“Mhm, that was the very first time you had used that strong voice of yours for defending yourself. You always stayed quiet to yourself. You still do now obviously.” She rolled her eyes.

“But before when you were younger it was.. Worse.” You grimaced as all the memories of your younger self came back.

“Everybody was so shocked. You had become so loud, I didn’t even expect it.” She laughed.

“What did you tell at him for again?” You curled your lip to a sneer.

“He was talking about me, Kiri, and Lo’ak. Specifically our hands. He was shit-talking right in front of me, to me! And I told him to stop multiple times and he didn’t.” You shrugged.

“Well, that day made history!” You both giggled.

For hours after that, you and your grandmother spoke about anything and everything.

After a bit, your eyes became heavy, that familiar pressure behind your eyes. You tried your hardest to fight it, because you knew this would be your last night here.

Your last night to enjoy these moments with your grandma.

You wanted to savor every single second, but the stress from the day and the continuous conversations started to make you feel exhausted.

“G-grandma..” You whispered before falling asleep against her, she laughed quietly. Looking down to your face and examining your soft but fierce features.

“Oh how I’ll miss you. I’ll miss you so much.” Mo’at whispered as her eyes watered. Her breath was shaky as she combed your hair with her fingers.

Leaning down she pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead.

“I’ll love you no matter where you go Y/n. You are forever my first grandchild.” Tears platted down onto her thighs, and she slowly wiped her eyes so they wouldn’t worsen.

Minutes later, Mo’at began to drift off and fell asleep also.

Hi!! So I’m going to continue this on in another story obviously!! But I wanted to start working in the other one right when this one finished so I can post them both like on the same day? Probably might not be smart, but regardless!! I didn’t want to do the whole nine yards of the Sully’s meeting the Metkayina, it would end up being wayyy to long. But I hope you all enjoyed the story!! Sorry if there are any spelling errors! Thank you so much for reading 🤍!

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mercillery · 3 months ago

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Could you write about Ryuya Ryudo? I'm in love with this man (relationship overview?)

WARNINGS: GENDER NOT SPECIFIED + NOT PROPFREAD

NOTES: RYUYA RYODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA THE MAN YOU ARE

Ryuya Ryudo, as the calm and composed ruler of the Land of the Sun, brings all that zen energy straight into his relationship. Think of this: you’ve had a stressful day, maybe everything’s gone wrong, but Ryuya’s just there—chill, unbothered, and ready to help you find your inner peace again. He’s like a walking stress-relief app but, you know, way better because he actually listens. He’d make sure you feel secure and supported in every way possible, both emotionally and physically. It’s like having your own personal security blanket, but with muscles and a great sense of responsibility.

His sense of duty doesn’t stop at the gates of his country—it extends right into his love life. He’s the type of guy who’s always making sure you know your worth. You’ll never go to bed wondering, "Do they even care about me?" because Ryuya’s got it covered. He’s the kind of partner who will hype you up like it’s his full-time job. If you’ve got a wild dream, like becoming the world’s greatest kazoo player or starting a cupcake empire, Ryuya is your biggest cheerleader. “You’ve got this,” he’ll say, without a hint of doubt, even if the odds are wild. He believes in you so much that eventually, you start to believe it too.

Now, Ryuya’s no dictator in the relationship. He’s not here to control or micromanage your every move. His leadership style? All about compassion, understanding, and knowing when to step back. You’ll never catch him mansplaining or talking down to you. Need advice? He’s got you, but he’s not shoving it down your throat. His wisdom is more like gentle nudges in the right direction, not a GPS barking orders at you. He trusts you to figure things out and make your own decisions, and he respects your independence. Honestly, he’s just there to give you that occasional “Hey, you’re doing great” and to make sure you’re never feeling small.

He’s basically always got your back without hovering like a helicopter. He’s supportive without being overbearing, strong without being controlling, and calm without being indifferent. He’s basically a human embodiment of a supportive leader—steady, reliable, and full of belief in you, even when you’re not sure you believe in yourself. And honestly, what’s better than that?

His Tengentsu basically makes him a human mood detector—he can literally see everything, including your feelings and thoughts, so there’s no hiding that “I’m fine” when you’re very clearly not fine. Even without his magic eye, the guy’s naturally empathetic. It’s like he’s got emotional Wi-Fi and is always connected to your vibe. You could be silently fuming or feeling down, and he’ll pick up on it before you’ve even had a chance to sigh dramatically.

But don’t worry, he’s not the type to be all up in your business like, “Hey, tell me everything right now.” No, he’s way smoother than that. Ryuya’s approach is more like, “I know something’s up, but I’ll wait until you’re ready.” He’s not here to interrogate you; he’s here to be that safe space you can retreat to when you feel like opening up. It’s like having your own personal zen garden, but one that talks and makes tea.

He’s not one to get all worked up. You could be having a full-on meltdown, and Ryuya will be there, calm as ever, like, “Okay, let’s take a deep breath.” It’s honestly kind of impressive—his chill is unshakable. His presence is like that perfectly timed deep breath you didn’t know you needed. When you’re around him, you just know everything’s going to be okay. Whether you need a pep talk, a hug, or just some quiet time together, Ryuya’s got it covered. He knows when to drop a word of encouragement or when to just sit in silence with you—like a human-sized weighted blanket but with cool eye powers.

This guy deals with all kinds of people every day as a leader, so when it comes to emotions, he’s got the grace and patience of a saint! If you’re ever frustrated or overwhelmed, he’s not the type to rush in with that classic “Just calm down” or “It’s not a big deal.” Nope, Ryuya knows that’s not how feelings work. Instead, he’s right there, helping you process things at your own pace. Need to vent for an hour? Cool. Want to cry into a bowl of ice cream? He’s got spoons ready. 🥄🥄 (two for you and him).

He’s fully aware that everyone has their off days, and he’s not about to judge you for it. Feeling insecure? Having a rough time? Ryuya’s the kind of guy who’ll remind you of all your best qualities in the most genuine way possible. He’s got a way of making you feel like you’re hearing it from someone who really believes in you, not like he’s just trying to cheer you up with empty words. It’s like, “Oh, you forgot you’re awesome? Don’t worry, I’ve got a whole list of reasons why you’re amazing right here.” And before you know it, he’s pulling out a comically long list with the title “100 reasons why you’re awesome.”

And when it comes to disagreements, Ryuya’s approach is top-tier. He’s not the type to get defensive or hold grudges—seriously, you’d have to do something really wild to ruffle his feathers. If there’s ever a misunderstanding or mistake, he’ll sit down and talk it through like the calm, collected man he is. You could practically call him your personal therapist—minus the bill. He’s all about hearing your side and explaining his own, and he does it with so much patience that you almost forget you were arguing in the first place—it almost embarrasses you.

Even with the weight of being the Shogun on his shoulders, Ryuya always finds a way to make time for you. You’d think with all those responsibilities he’d be glued to his desk, buried under scrolls or dealing with emergencies left and right. But nope—this guy’s got skills. Even when things are hectic, he’ll slip away for a quick moment with you or send a sweet message through one of his trusted retainers. It’s like he’s got a secret power for squeezing in romance between shogun duties.

And when he’s with you, he’s really with you. No distractions, no rush—just meaningful, quality time. Whether you’re taking a stroll through the countryside, enjoying the peace and quiet, or having a long, deep chat over tea, Ryuya’s fully present. It’s like you’re the only person in the world that matters to him in that moment. He values every second you share, and he’s not about to take any of it for granted. You’ll always feel like his top priority, even when the world is on the brink of chaos.

Speaking of chaos—yeah, even if the world’s about to fall apart because of, let’s say, a certain someone cough cough Lucius, being with Ryuya makes it feel like none of that matters. It’s like the universe just pauses when you’re together, and the only thing that exists is the two of you. With him, it’s almost like chaos has taken a vacation. You could be in the middle of a crisis, and he’ll still make it feel like everything’s perfectly fine, as if world domination plans are just minor inconveniences when you’re holding his hand.

If there’s a hint of danger, he’s already ten steps ahead, using his influence and that trusty Tengentsu of his to handle it before it even becomes a problem. He’s quietly protective, basically—but it’s not like he’s going to follow you around with a worried look or try to micromanage your every move. No, he’s more subtle. he’s got this almost ninja-like ability to keep tabs on things from a distance, making sure everything’s safe without you even noticing.

Listen, he’s not about to make you feel smothered or like you can’t handle things on your own. Instead, he’s all about ensuring your safety while giving you the space to live your life the way you want. It’s like having a secret guardian who makes sure everything’s smooth sailing—one minute, there’s a threat, and the next, it’s been quietly taken care of, and you’re none the wiser.

He’s like this with everyone in Hino Country, really. He cares about his people, and he’s not taking chances when it comes to their safety—or yours. Ryuya would never risk letting you or anyone else get hurt, even in the smallest way. So yeah, he’s protective, but he’s got finesse. It’s not overbearing; it’s just him making sure you’re safe, all while letting you feel independent. It’s like being protected by a stealthy, caring force who knows how to be there without being there.

When it comes to physical affection, Ryuya’s approach is all about quality over quantity. He’s not the type to be glued to your side or constantly showering you with grand, dramatic gestures. Instead, his affection is all in the little moments—the kind that might seem simple on the surface but carry a ton of meaning. Maybe it’s a hand on your shoulder, a soft brush of a stray hair from your face, or a gentle hug right when you need it most. It’s never over the top, but it’s so him—a warm, steady reminder that he’s there, and he cares deeply.

He’s not someone who needs constant physical touch to feel connected, but that doesn’t mean he’s distant. On the contrary, Ryuya finds comfort just in being close to you. Whether it’s sitting beside you during a quiet, peaceful moment or standing protectively by your side when things are tense, his presence is a constant, reassuring force.

And that’s the thing—you’d always feel a sense of safety and ease, even when it’s just the two of you sitting in silence. Ryuya has this way of making you feel deeply loved without needing to say a word. You just know he’s there for you, and that’s enough to make everything feel right. It’s the kind of affection that sneaks up on you, the kind that makes you realize, “Wow, this guy really cares,” even when all he’s done is sit close or hold your hand for a moment. <3

#ryuya ryudo #black clover Ryuya ryudo #Ryuya ryudo black clover #black clover x you #black clover x y/n #black clover x reader #black clover headcanons #blackclover

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late-to-the-party-81 · 8 months ago

Text

Who vibes for Vibranium?

AN: Have a little short and sweet, sort of cracky Stucky sexual shenanigans story. Enjoy!

Beta’d by @metalbvcky but all errors are my fault.

Likes are loved, reblogs are golden

Mood board by me and dividers by @firefly-graphics

Join my tag list here

Master list | Stucky Bingo Master List

Summary: Steve likes to be indulged. It's a good thing Bucky likes to indulge him. Even if he's a thieving little big brat sometimes.

Relationships: Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers

WC: <1k

CW: AU: Not Canon Compliant, teasing, suggestive dialogue, Super-Soldier sexy shenanigans, discussion of impact play, discussion of bondage, Steve Rogers is a little shit, Soft Top Bucky Barnes, Bratty Bottom Steve Rogers, Fade to Black.

Bingo Fills and Challenges:

@stuckybingo I4 - Vibranium

“Come on, Buck. It’ll be fun.” Bucky pulled a face at Steve’s wheedling tone. He wasn’t convinced.

“Fun? Just sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.”

Steve sidled up to him, wrapping his arms around Bucky’s waist, looking into his eyes and doing his best Little Shit ™ pout. “Don’t you miss being able to hold me down. Like really stop me from moving.” Steve nuzzled into Bucky’s neck and Bucky let out a huff.

“I miss it,” Steve continued, letting his teeth scrape over Bucky’s throat. Bucky closed his eyes and tried to think of the Presidents of the United States. “I miss feeling all helpless under you.” Steve’s fingers slipped up under the back of Bucky’s shirt and started to draw light patterns over his skin, making him shiver. “One vibranium arm can only do so much and I can’t work out a way for you to use my shield to help.”

“Steve,” Bucky cautioned. “This isn’t really a conversation about informed consent if you’re trying to get my dick to make the decision and not my brain. It’s cheating.”

Steve raised his head with a grin. “Is it working though?”

Bucky rolled his eyes, knowing he’d already lost the fight. “You’re such a punk, you know that?”

“But I’m your punk, and you love me.”

“Unfortunately so,” Bucky agreed. “Now, if you wanna do this, first you gotta hand ‘em over.”

Steve let go of him and practically skipped across their apartment. How a 6”2’ supersoldier could move like that Bucky didn’t know, but he couldn’t say it wasn’t stimulating to watch. It was also kinda cute, the way that Steve was getting giddy at the thought of doing something ‘kinky’.

As two queer guys who’d grown up in the 30’s, neither were strangers to things that were nowadays termed as kinky, but no matter how long they’d been together, and how many different things they’d done, Steve was always enthusiastic, as though it was his first time, every time.

When Steve returned from his little sojourn into his study, he was practically vibrating - ha! - with energy and he passed over his new toy with a grin.

“Do I even wanna know where you got these from?” Bucky asked. Of course this was the question that made Steve look a little embarrassed. His neck flushed pink and his left hand came up to brush over the hair at the back of his head.

“I - uh - may have found them in the cache of recovered HYDRA hardware that Fury keeps in the upstate warehouse.”

“Steve Rogers,” Bucky let out, teasingly. “Are you telling me that you - the great and righteous Captain America - stole these Vibranium handcuffs?”

Steve startled “No! Not stole. Just - umm - borrowed.”

Bucky raised an eyebrow and Steve had the good grace to look slightly cowed. “I mean - we might give them back?”

“If they help me beat your ass without struggling to keep you still they are definitely not going back,” Bucky retorted, failing to get the right tone of authority into his voice.

“You promise?” Steve asked slyly and Bucky shook his head in mild disbelief at his bratty boyfriend.

“The fucking audacity,” he said to no-one in particular, and then “Get in that bedroom, Rogers and strip. You’re getting ten for your cheek, and if you aren’t ready when I get in there, then it’s an extra ten.”

“Oh no,” cried Steve with faux despair. “Whatever shall I do?”

“Nothing, if these work.” Bucky took a step closer, drawing himself up to his full height, despite that being two inches less than Steve’s. It had the desired effect though - science might have taken Steve out of his little body, but it hadn’t taken the memory of being in that little body out of Steve. Steve shrank down, now reacting to Bucky’s domineering aura. “You’ll do nothing except cry those sweet tears as I turn your ass red because you won’t be able to get away from me. You won’t be able to stop me. Now - do I have to tell you again? Get in there and strip.”

Steve turned, scurrying into the bedroom as fast as he could with his cock doing its best impression of a flagpole between his legs.

Smiling to himself, Bucky looked at the cuffs, inspecting them and working out how they opened and closed. The last thing he wanted was for them to get stuck, even if the thought of Stark being mentally scarred for life having to come and help remove them was amusing as hell.

“Time to see if these work,” he muttered to himself, before calling out “Ready or not, here I come.”

Over an hour later

“Yup,” Bucky said with a smile as he stretched out. “Those definitely work.”

Steve groaned and buried his head into Bucky’s side, while lying on his stomach. “My ass is on fire,” he complained.

Bucky sniggered. “Quit your whining, you big baby. You only have yourself to blame. And you’ll be all healed up in an hour. Two, tops.”

As Steve huffed against him and threw an arm across his stomach, Bucky picked up the cuffs from where he’d deposited them after removing them from Steve’s wrists. He turned them over in his hands, pondering.

“I wonder,” he said, “if we got a metal footboard whether these would magnetise strongly enough to it that I could use them to keep your legs apart…”

Steve let out a moan that wasn’t entirely one of despair. “Buck, let me recover before you start trying to turn me on again.”

With a smile still on his lips, Bucky leant over and places a kiss to the top of Steve’s sweaty head.

“Love you, punk.”

“Love you too, jerk.”

Tag list: @christywrites, @alexakeyloveloki, @doasyoudesireandlive, @galactusdevourerofworlds, @crayongirl-linz, @mightstill, @nicoline1998enilocin, @km-ffluv, @wheezy-stucky, @kmc1989, @kombatfather1796

#stucky #stucky fanfic #steve rogers x bucky barnes #steve x bucky #stucky bingo

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claiestve · 7 months ago

Text

𝐌𝐢𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 ꨄ Alex

˜”* ❝𝙄 𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙚, 𝙄'𝙢 𝙨𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙮.❞

⎯⎯ ୨ ୧ ⎯⎯

ꜱʏɴᴏᴘꜱɪꜱ: ꜰɪɴᴀʟ ᴘᴀʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅꜱ & ᴛʜᴇ ᴇxɪᴛ

⎯୨⎯ " " ⎯୧⎯

“What do you mean?”

Honestly, you didn’t know what happened. It seemed like, at that moment, your conscience took over. You still debated whether this was a good decision, but no matter what, you could never change the answer. It wasn’t like a ‘good or bad’ thing, but rather a right or wrong. And which one did this fall under?

“[name]! I didn’t mean it like that. I just wanted to be considerate of your feelings.”

“You always say that, Alex. You always say your decisions are made to better both of us. It’s like you think you’re my guardian angel or something.”

“I’m not implying that at all.”

That was such a lie and you knew it. Alex always made a point to be the ‘humble’ one who cared for you more than himself. Your friends used to ask you how you found someone so caring like him. It wasn’t a complete facade but it was an exaggeration.

He could sit in front of your face all day and pretend he was always right. Not a liar just stubborn.

“What would I do without you?” You mocked his tone, “I didn’t ask for you to be considerate of my feelings, Alex. Lord knows if I wanted that, I wouldn’t ask to talk to you and catch up.”

“Look, it’s clear there’s still animosity and I don’t want to make this tension worse.”

“Alex, there’s no tension. I’m just trying to make myself clear. Now, can you answer to my request?”

He sighed, looking around. You didn’t know exactly what he was looking at or for and you didn’t like that it wasn’t you. Even when you were right in front of him, practically begging for an answer, he didn’t want to give you that attention.

Often, you thought about it but you never saw it. How different you two were. Sometimes you’d ask yourself where everything went wrong but you knew exactly where it all went wrong. It was sad though, seeing how you went from being so in love to now standing in front of him getting ticked off by every move he makes.

“That’s… fine. We can catch up,” He cleared his throat, “I am quite interested in what you’ve been up to recently.”

You smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood. It was the least he could do.\

“Great, let’s walk around.”

You smiled at him. It was partially fake. You weren’t exactly happy at the moment but you weren’t upset either.

“So, how have you been? Have you been making a name for yourself in The Big Apple?”

“Well… it’s been great. I mean, the projects I’ve had the privilege to work on have been amazing and I’ve been accompanied by so many amazing people too. I miss home a lot though… and you.”

The last words made you stop. You didn’t need to hear them at all. Maybe if this was months ago when you were still thinking about him every night, but you were healed now. There was no longer a desire to see him or know how he was.

There were days you couldn’t even get out of bed because all you could think about was him. For a while, it felt like he was a resident in your mind. You never thought you’d be okay after the break up so when you were, it gave you a new kind of confidence. However, hearing him say he missed you shattered your heart. Maybe because you lived partly in the dark after him.

“Um,” He tried to refocus the conversation, “How has being a lawyer been?”

“It’s been good. I can’t talk about much, but even if I could, it wouldn’t sound nearly as interesting as your whole photography thing.”

He nodded, looking at you expectantly. Like he wanted you to comment on him missing you. Possibly wanting a reciprocation.

“I didn’t know you missed me.”

“It’s hard not to. You were my everything outside of my career. You meant– you mean so much to me so it’s not exactly easy to let go.”

“I get that.”

He scoffed at that. It felt like he was disappointed with your responses because he wasn’t getting proper validation. He wanted you to want him. Alex loved the way you loved him so what happens when you no longer do?

“I mean, [name], c’mon. You can’t act so nonchalant about this. You hear me, right? I’ve been telling you I miss you and all you can say is ‘I get that’.”

“What? Do you want me to tell you that I missed you too? I did but that’s in the past, Alex. That breakup really fucked me up. I wish you knew how bad it actually was. My existence doesn’t revolve around the love we once had for each other.”

“I still love you. I don’t get why you insist on putting us in the past!”

“Because, Alex!” You start to match his tone, getting as loud as him, “You may love me and I promise I love you too, and I always will but I am not in love with you. There’s a difference. I don’t want to relive that pain so yes, we are in the past so I can heal in the present!”

You stop walking and look at him, deep in his eyes. Seeing him nearly beg for you to run back to him made you feel betrayed.

“I have taken time to heal which is why I thought we could have this conversation but I was clearly wrong. I hope you can do the same, Alex. Trust me, you’ll be so much happier once you leave our relationship in the past.”

You tried to walk away before feeling a firm grip on your wrist.

“You can’t just walk away, [name]! Why do you choose to walk away from us?”

“Because I’m not choosing ‘us’,” You removed his hand, “I’m choosing myself.”

With that, you walked away as fast as you could. You were eager to get out of that because you knew that nothing good would come out of that conversation.

Your friend smiled and reached out to embrace you.

“I’m so proud of you for that.”

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

glad we made it this far um yeah! that shit made me mad and i wrote it sooooo yeah but anyways round of applause for the reader

#zsakuva #asmr #sakuverse #zsakuvaxreader #alex

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ivanttakethis · 4 months ago

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A STAR IS BORN: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH “THE STAR OF SEASON 39” TOV

At the top of Season 39’s leaderboard with 77 points, Tov once again sat down with ALIEN STAGE MAGAZINE for an exclusive one-on-one interview!

————————————————————

Hi Tov, how have you been? I believe some congratulations are in order for your top score!

Tov: Thank you. I’ve been well. It’s nice to see you again.

So tell me, what was it like to earn the highest score of the season so far?

Tov: It was definitely unexpected. After Khoi won his round with 70 points, I was just hoping for somewhere in the top three or five. I didn’t think I would match his score, let alone surpass it. But I guess the audience really liked my performance.

When you saw your final score up on screen, what was going through your mind?

Tov: The shock is what hit me first. I was still trying to catch my breath from singing, so it took a minute for me to register what I was seeing. And then I just kept staring at the screen and thinking: “Is this real?” “Is that really my score?” I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t know if I wanted to laugh or cry.

Let’s talk about your last minute song change for Round 10. We’ve all been dying to know what led you to make the decision to switch so late. What was your thought process? Were there outside influences?

Tov: No, nothing like that. It was a personal choice. I lost someone very important to me in Round 7, and I wanted to honor him with my performance since he never got the chance to see me sing. But the song I originally chose didn’t feel right as a tribute.

I spent most of the time between Round 7 and Round 10 searching for the perfect piece, and only came upon Cosmic Love the night before. It fit so well that I did whatever it took to sing it, even if things were a bit rushed. I wouldn’t change anything about how the performance turned out.

Many are now calling you the “Star of Season 39”. How does that make you feel?

Tov: It’s an honor that people think so highly of my singing and I’m very grateful for their support. But now there’s also a lot of pressure to be as perfect as possible. I don’t want to disappoint anyone.

These next few questions come from some of your fans!

First up, BlueBluBleu asks: “Your outfit in your first round was so inspired! How do you plan your look before a performance? What goes into that?”

Tov: Thank you. My guardian would probably talk your ear off about our process. We started concept work on the outfits right after I was confirmed as a contestant for Season 39. I told Cassio that I wanted all of the designs to fit within the theme of stars and constellations. From there we went through several draft iterations trying to represent a different elements associated with that theme: stars, the night sky, the moon, meteor showers, things like that.

We also tried to incorporate the mood of the songs I planned to sing and the emotions I want to evoke in my performances in the fabric colors we chose. Everything we’ve done has been very intentional.

My first outfit was meant to resemble the night sky. So we started with a midnight blue dress as the sky itself, and then sewed on the diamonds as the stars. Cassio and I chose diamonds specifically so they would catch the lights and twinkle when I was on stage. It came together beautifully.

After I won Round 10, we got right back in the studio to work on my second round dress. It’s a different style from my previous one, but it is truly stunning and still fits my theme.

Next, a question from M00N: “Of the 13 remaining contestants, who are 3 you'd love to sing with and why?”

Tov: I’m very biased about this one, but I would love the opportunity to sing a duet with Himei. She’s one of my oldest friends and we haven’t sung together since our Anakt Garden days, so it’d be like stepping back in time and reliving simpler days. Our voices harmonize well together too. I think My Clematis would be a great song choice. It speaks to our relationship in a way.

I’m also biased on my second choice as it’s another close friend of mine. I’d love to sing with Nyx. He’s such a talented bassist and composer. It would be an honor to sing one of his original songs with him on stage. I’ve been wanting to for years now.

My last choice would be Cirrus. Their performance in Round 1 was absolutely captivating. Something about their voice has stuck with me, even through all of the subsequent rounds. It’s haunting, but in a good way. Great for songs with a slower tempo. I think I do well with slower songs too. Maybe we could do a ballad together?

And finally CastorKyo4Evr asks: “Which round so far, outside of your own, did you find the most inspired?”

Tov: I really enjoyed Round 4. It was our first duet of the season and it really got me thinking about all of the possibilities duets could bring to the table. There’s a lot of creativity and cooperation that goes into a joint performance and I found it very inspiring.

Himei and Min’s performance was also very high energy. The song choice played to both of their strengths so the audience got the best out of both of them. I think it really represented what ALIEN STAGE is all about: putting on the best show possible.

Since you scored the highest in Row 1, you’ll be the opening round for Row 2. Does that change anything for you, in comparison to your first round?

Tov: It does change things. The field is narrowing, which means the stakes will be higher. Lark didn’t have the chance to perform in Row 1, so he’s a bit of a wildcard to me. I’m not sure what to expect from him.

Then there’s also the added stress of being the opener. I must confess that I’m a bit nervous. But I’m sure Lark and I will both do our best to make Round 17 memorable for everyone.

What do you have planned for your next round? Will you still be singing for that important someone?

Tov: I’m always going to sing for him. But I’ll also be singing for other people who are important to me too. I hope they’ll be listening.

No hints on what’s to come. You will have to wait and see.

Tov returns to the stage with fellow contestant Lark in Round 17 of ALIEN STAGE Season 39!

————————————————————

This interview took place after Post Row 1 - Tov’s Log.

While Tov isn’t known for being overly talkative, Cassio taught her from a young age how to handle media and public relations matters.

She’s kind of like how Ivan was in his Outstanding Pupil Award interview, very good at coming across as pleasant and sociable.

Notice the difference between how Tov presents how things happened versus how they actually happened 👀

She knows she needs to spin this story and convince the AREPH that she’s not a threat.

The important people she planned to sing for in Round 17 were Nyx and Himei. But we all saw how that went…

Thank you to @lookatmysillies for the fan questions!

Khoi belongs to @junebluues.

Himei and Tallis (not mentioned by name, but we all know) belong to @lookatmysillies.

Nyx belongs to @rockwgooglyeyes.

Cirrus belongs to @yunoftheclouds.

Lark belongs to @kamersona.

#tov wanting round 17 to be memorable… oh it was memorable alright 💀#alien stage oc #alnst oc #alnst oc: tov #alien stage fan season #alnst fan season #alien stage season 39 #alnst season 39 #tov interview

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funhouse-mirror-barbie · 9 months ago

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The Decay of Complex Characters and Character Development in Helluva Boss (Stolas and Octavia’s Relationship: Part 1 of 2)

Part 2 here

I’ve seen this in a few different places, but it’s been on my mind in particular since the animated “Look My Way” music video that dropped a while back.

The way the song was updated for the animated music video made the changes to Stolas’ character stick out even more to me, and I really want to talk about what I perceive as some really flawed writing decisions around Stolas’ character.

If you’re a fan of HB please know that I’m not trying to attack the creators or change whatever opinions or feelings you have about the story. If you love this show and this character and they mean a lot to you that’s great! My goal is never to spread negativity or toxicity—it’s always to talk openly about media and how we interact with it. ☺️

I want to start by saying I was a big fan of Helluva Boss, and of Stolas, up until the second season started. And before the second season, my favorite episode by far was “Loo-loo Land”.

(TLDR at the end of the post if you don’t have time to read thru!)

I still really like the episode now, and I especially love the opening scene and song. It’s beautiful, and the song “You Will be Okay” has brought me to tears more than once. It’s one of the best songs in the entire series, and I think the only one that tops it for me is probably “The House of Asmodeus”.

The whole sequence of “You Will be Okay” is both heartening and heartbreaking—it captures the unconditional love and protection a parent promises to give their child, while also expressing the sad truth about that promise that only a parent can know—that you can’t and won’t always be around for your child.

No matter how much you want to protect them from the dangers of the world, you can’t—parents have to let their kids go out into the world and become their own person—the most a parent can do is try to always be there in any way they can for their kids, even if they can’t be there physically.

The lyrics and tone of the song tell us as much. It’s very clear that Stolas is acutely aware that something may happen to him and that he needs to let Octavia know that while he may not be there with her physically, his love for her will always be with her, protecting her.

The build up to the song’s crescendo matching the visuals around Stolas and Octavia bring everything in the scene together really well, and Bryce’s performance is so good that it made me believe for a second that he would keep his promise to Octavia. That he would never abandon her, and would always put her needs as his child first.

That, somehow, he will truly be with her always protecting her, and that she really will be okay.

For a moment it was possible for me to forget the dramatic irony of the situation. That this was the past, that I already knew for a fact that Stolas would cheat on Stella and jeopardize his family life.

The song comes to a close, and through all the seemingly random chaos happening in space around them, Stolas keeps Octavia safe, and lulls her back to sleep. They return to her room, and the scene ends on Via in bed sleeping peacefully.

The whole sequence does such a fantastic job of showing you what Stolas’ and Octavia’s relationship was like when she was a child. She trusts him implicitly, and, at least at this time in her life, he seems to have been a present and loving father.

What makes this scene work even better though, is the transition to the present that follows RIGHT after it.

At the end of the song we get this jarring and sharp match-cut of a teenage Octavia being jolted awake by the shrill screaming and fighting of her parents in the background. In that instant, we as the audience see her going from feeling safe and having a seemingly idyllic childhood, to being a moody and neglected teen with a turbulent and unstable family life.

The music change that accompanies this not only fits the change in mood perfectly, but it quite literally tells us what she is feeling—her whole world is crashing down around her.

To this day, I think this transition is wonderful.

The visuals do such an amazing job conveying the changes that have happened in the Goetia family through Octavia’s perspective. And it’s extremely important because it immediately shows the audience that Stolas broke his promise.

I watched this episode when it came out, and when the only other Helluva Boss story and world-building we had was the Pilot and S1E1-“Murder Family”. While it could be assumed that Stella would not be happy about her husband’s cheating, we didn’t know anything about her personality and how she would react.

So. while it was clear that Stella wasn’t acting appropriately or maturely in the next scene, it was also VERY clear that Stolas was at fault for breaking up their relationship by cheating.

I will be talking about Stella’s character in “The Circus”, and how she is used as tool to absolve Stolas of any wrongdoing in season 2 later. For now, I want to stress that I will NOT be talking about future development of her character here.

After Stella leaves Stolas tries to connect with Octavia like they used to and just continuously fails. It’s clear that she’s still very angry with him for cheating on her Mom, and that his trying to carry on like nothing is wrong is irritating her.

Stolas asks her if she slept well and all she can sarcastically say is “Is that a serious question?”

What Stolas does next to try and reconnect with Octavia is very very important because it shows that he’s still being extremely selfish.

He decides they’re going to LooLoo Land, in a poor attempt to recapture some of their old good memories together and does not once LISTEN to Octavia and what she actually wants to do.

They go, but he uses the trip as an excuse to meet up with Blitzø, and behaves inappropriately and flirts with him the whole time, right in front of Octavia.

This, rightly, is extremely upsetting to her, and she runs away. Stolas follows after her and they have a heart to heart where he FINALLY FINALLY takes the time to listen to some of her concerns and why she is upset.

The episode ends on a happy note-with Stolas asking Octavia what SHE wants to do and what her interests are, and Octavia admitting to Stolas that, “You’re okay sometimes”.

This episode is extremely important to Stolas’ character because it does such a good job of getting across to the audience that Stolas is not a perfect person. That he’s someone who has people he genuinely cares about and loves, but that he can still royally fuck up. He’s sleazy, he doesn’t respect Blitzø’s boundaries, he neglects his daughter, and he doesn’t listen to her, putting his own desires and needs ahead of hers.

And the resolution to this episode is important, not because it fixes everything, but because it is the first STEP in the right direction for Stolas becoming better and becoming the father his daughter needs him to be again.

This episode ends with Stolas meeting the BARE MINIMUM to START making amends with Octavia. He doesn’t even say sorry, just that he would never leave her to run off with Blitzø. There is still a lot that Stolas needs to do to make amends with her, and to repair the ruptures in their relationship.

Due to this, at the time this episode came out, I thought that this was just the very beginning of Stolas’ first character arc—realizing his actions could truly HURT those he cared about, and having to come to terms with the fact that he was in the wrong. That something he did, hurt those around him, and that he would need to take responsibility for that.

“Loo-loo Land” went to such great lengths to show us that Stolas is imperfect. That he is someone who is capable of mistakes and doing the wrong thing, of being oblivious and selfish, and of needing to do better.

And before “The Circus” and “Seeing Stars”, I believed that the writers could develop his character to grow and change and become a better person for his loved ones.

This doesn’t happen however, as again the writers bend over backwards to make sure that Stolas never has to actually directly answer for his mistakes. So much so that they literally don’t let him say “Sorry” to Octavia the next time he breaks a promise to her and doesn’t consider her needs before his own.

After S2E2 of Helluva Boss, “Seeing Stars”, came out, I officially lost any faith in the writers to have Stolas ACTUALLY take ownership and responsibility for the ways he harms those he loves. That first step he took on the path to healing his relationship with Octavia from “Loo Loo Land” has been totally erased, and I can’t imagine whatever resolution they come up with for his character will be satisfying.

I have no doubt that Stolas will receive a happy ending, but I predict it will be one with 0 stakes, and 0 satisfaction, because it will not have been earned. I worry that with any character flaw or upset he causes, another character will be swept under the rug in order to make Stolas appear as if he was always in the right.

As I’ve said before, if that’s the story the writers want to tell, that’s fine. It’s their story, not mine.

I just personally cannot imagine not wanting to explore those character faults and acknowledge them. Maybe, hopefully, I’ll be pleasantly surprised. I’d really like that.

I’ll be following up to this post with a critique specifically of how “Seeing Stars” is very much a retread of “Loo Loo Land”, but in all the worst ways possible.

TLDR;

-In my opinion, the initial handling of Stolas as a flawed and complex character who could make mistakes and be in the wrong was really well done.

-The first canon episode that gives Stolas focus, “Loo Loo Land”, goes to great lengths to show us the ways in which Stolas has failed Octavia.

-This was a great set-up for character development and for Stolas to have to come to terms with his actions and change, but future episodes do not follow through on this set up.

-Will be talking about the episodes that undo the set ups for Stolas’ character development in Part 2.

EDIT:

I made the mistake of missing a part of “Loo Loo Land” where Stolas DOES apologize to Octavia properly—missing this was my mistake—I made an addendum post here that goes over this briefly—Apologies.

#helluva boss critical #helluva boss critique #helluva boss criticism #stolas critical #? I guess? not really? more just examining what I interpret as poor writing choices with his character #media critique #media criticism #long post #HB critique #I don’t know if I want to tag as critical cause I’ve seen some people dunking on the creators #and I just don’t feel comfortable with talking that way about people I really don’t know #I’ve gleaned from some other critique accounts that there is a good deal of drama within the fandom and surrounding the creator #but again I don’t know the creator personally and I also don’t think it’s very fair to chalk every single decision made in a collaborative #to a single person #part 1 of 2 #octavia goetia #poor Octavia

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