#i don't live in the us so my impression is merely that

[poetess-trobadour]

"It's a mean world that I've known

Never got no good doin' what I'm told"

My (unpopular) take on zodiac vibes, part 6♍️✨️

[mcflymemes]

PROMPTS FROM WICKED *  assorted dialogue from the screenplay, adjust as necessary

it's good to see me, isn't it?

no need to respond. that was rhetorical.

because there has been so much rumor and speculation... innuendo, outuendo... let me set the record straight.

why does wickedness happen?

that's a good question.

like every family, they had their secrets.

one thing led to another, as it so often does.

i'm right here. i always will be.

you want to see something wonderful?

what have you done this time?

now you've made your sister cry.

you see... it couldn't have been easy.

as you can imagine, i have much to attend to.

is it true you were her friend?

you must understand, it was... a long time ago.

remember, it's not goodbye, it's farewell.

they're going to miss me so much.

you know what i believe? strangers are just people i've never met.

what? what are you staring at? do i have something in my teeth?

let's get this over with.

i for one am sorry that you're forced to live with this.

it's my intention to major in sorcery.

perhaps i could help.

offering to help someone you don't know with a skill you don't have. i'm sure everyone's duly impressed.

i could care less what other people think.

i doubt that's true.

i'll miss you.

if anything should happen to her...

you can of course come visit me whenever you want!

how tragically beautiful you are.

i just need to find my room.

this was my chance. my new start.

magic is merely the mind's attempt to wrap itself around the impossible.

i shall tutor you privately.

thank you for covering for me.

how long have you had this talent?

if you can learn to use your powers in the right way...

do you really think this is fair?

i'm just shutting the door.

i saved you some space, by the way.

how did you do it? tell me.

i can keep a secret.

some of us are different.

we cannot escape the past.

the past helps explain our present circumstances.

who is responsible for this?

it's all right. i have no friends.

once you learn to harness your emotions, the sky's the limit.

this is much bigger than just some words on a chalkboard.

is this how you go through life, running amok, nearly trampling anyone in your path?

i guess there's a first time for everything.

were you looking for something? or someone?

i met the rudest person last night.

what do you do for fun around here?

i would do anything for you.

it was nothing. i love helping others.

i'm about to have the happiest night of my life!

i don't follow.

what's in the punch?

i don't feel sorry for you! you're great!

my personal opinion is that you do not have what it takes.

i hope you prove me wrong. i doubt you will.

i can't watch.

it's not like it's your fault.

may i cut in?

that was your very first party?

you tell me a secret.

you really don't have to do that.

i can't wear things like that anyway.

pink goes good with green.

i'm afraid it's out of our hands.

you're not being told the whole story.

somebody's got to do something!

you think i'm really stupid, don't you.

you don't need to be scared of me.

you think i want to be this way?

so i should just keep my mouth shut? is that what you're saying?

you're bleeding.

this is your chance to make good.

i've heard so much about you.

i am changing my name.

don't you cry. you're going to have the wonderfullest time.

something bad is happening to them. they need you.

what did i tell you?

you've known all along... from the moment you met me.

you must trust me.

that's why i need you.

i meant every word about you having a home here.

[cosmicplexus]

Mars In Men Part 1

11 January 2025, 22:02(Gemini Moon transits make this so much easier)

Note: Based on my experiences of heterosexual men, but I'm quite positive there are similarities with queer men🤍

🥀I often get questions from friends regarding how to know if he's truly attracted to you and what he's attracted to. While I do love sharing my knowledge and observations and wish I could share this knowledge with every girl, I advise you guys to not use this to force yourself where you are not wanted. You are worthy and deserve better and you should use this to avoid getting your time wasted. Without further ado, let me share...🥀

♂️Aries Mars ~ He's attracted to confident women; your go-getters, bold and daring kind. He loves women that are sexually expressive and he may be the type to like women that live a lifestyle centred around fitness, sport or some sort of physical activity. He likes fit women and is attracted to women that are body conscious and constantly work at maintaining their body. Meekness may turn him off, which is ironic because he seeks submission, but prefers to tame more dominant women.

♂️ Taurus Mars ~ He's a beauty digger. If beauty is the magnet then he's the coin. He likes conventionally attractive women. He's moreso into curvier women and just like the cancer mars, he may like his women on the really thicker side(There is obviously exceptions to this). He tends to look for beauty first then everything else after. He's the type to fall in love off looks alone. He likes a woman that constantly adorns herself, more than the libra mars man contrary to popular belief. He prefers for the woman he chooses to be more than easy on the eyes. He's impressed by a good dressing style. He's impressed by women with something going on for themselves as he values having money and people with money. Another way to his heart is through good food.

♂️ Gemini Mars ~ While he's an intellectual and may lean more towards brainy women, this man has an air of superficiality. He prefers a conventionally attractive woman, but may create an exception if he finds her mind attractive. Overall this man likes to be mentally stimulated and literally does get turnt on from intellectual conversations. He's attracted to knowledgeable women, the witty kind and he likes for his women to have a youthful side to them, keep up with the trends and be cool.

♂️Cancer Mars ~ This may sound weird to some, but he's attracted to women that model after the maternal figure he had growing up, could be his mom or other figure. He's attracted to nurturing women that he feels have a maternal thing to them, but he attaches a look to it. He's a sucker for plus-sized women and while there may be exceptions, I don't advise slim women to entertain this man. He automatically perceives your more curvier women to be maternal and nurturing regardless of whether it's true or not. He has a breeding kink, but may be all over the place about it which may result into him planting his seed in multiple gardens.

♂️Leo Mars ~ He's the flamboyant kind so he gravitates towards those he feels he'll be proud to show off. It could be in their looks, dressing sense or even accolades. He's attracted to a woman that represents herself quite well in public merely on the basis of appearances. While he wants to be at the center of the spotlight, he wants someone that'll look good sharing some of the spotlight with him. He's attracted to self-assured women and may be the type to want you to have some clout to your name. He may not be comfortable with women with more buzz than he does.

♂️Virgo Mars ~ This man is very picky and more judgemental than the usual. He looks for cleanliness in a woman more than the average man. Any sign of disorder may turn him off. He's attracted to ambitious women with something to their name. He likes women who make their own money. He's attracted to a woman who's put together. He wants to be able to brag about your accolades. Determination and hard work are a turn on to him more than the usual man. He may not be too particular about the physical specifications, but neatness will always do wonders with this man. He's also quite the intellectual, but for more practical reasons and a woman with a sensible mind is someone he wants by his side.

We're at the end of part 1...stay tuned for part 2

~cosmic plexus ©🌻🌻🌻

[messiahzzz]

i have seen several posts around that addressed how discouraging gale from taking the crown of karsus is “keeping him from realizing his true potential.” that tara is merely upset at his choice, instead of being utterly devastated at the loss of her little love. that it’s not a bad ending per se because to get there he didn’t need to sacrifice 7000 innocent souls in the process. gale isn’t continuing the cycle of abuse either, he still appears to love tav and does come back for them to offer them ascension. he wants them to be equal, so it can’t possibly be an unhealthy dynamic, right?

but what of gale himself, his own convictions, values, and everything he holds dear? everything flawed and human that shaped him into the person he is?

player: are you saying you want to ascend? claim godhood?

gale: no, not like that. i don't want to join them. i want to better them. a god's powers, paired with a mortal conscience, a mortal heart.

gale’s motivation for acquiring godhood is that he will able to aid mortals in a way no other god has ever done before. he won’t hide behind pretense nor require blind devotion of his followers. he will understand and be able to empathize. he wholeheartedly believes that he will be different - he will act.

gale: [..] the gods could aid us if they wished, but instead they cower behind ao. so let us act ourselves.

gale believes that by becoming a god he will kill two birds with one stone: aid mortals and acquire enough power to quash any of his insecurities and enemies in the process. that by ridding himself of every perceived flaw he'll finally feel like he will have enough to offer - maybe, just maybe he'll even be content. his flaws are merely holding him back from becoming the best version of himself, and by ridding himself of everything fallible, he will be whole. maybe this is what all of his suffering has led up to. maybe the orb chose him. maybe the reason he had to endure all the pain, isolation, and excruciating loneliness was so that he could realize that he was meant for something even greater. after all, power feeds ambition. and what is more powerful than a god? his convictions were certainly naive, he possesses enough knowledge to know better. don't get me wrong, part of him definitely wants to spite mystra a lil. but his intentions at that time were mostly pure. a reflection of his self-hatred and feelings of inadequacy.

player: this is wrong, gale. that power will corrupt you, even if you can seize it.

gale: it won't, i swear to you. it's merely a tool - a means to an end.

once we meet gale at the party in his new godlike form, it is apparent that even with all the power at his fingertips, he has reached no greater knowledge about himself. his insecurities are still as present as before, he merely is less subtle in his compensation - repeatedly highlighting his grandeur and how dull life on faerun is compared to the wonders of elysium. it is also genuinely crushing to see how little he thinks of himself even now.

gale: i was nothing. a drifting dust mote of a wizard, abandoned by my goddess, my powers lost, my reputation destroyed. and look at me now. i'm their proof.

any perceived dismissal of his Greatness™ is met with immediate disdain.

gale: a bold decision to treat a divine being with such cold indifference.

nodecontext: aloof, annoyed you weren't impressed with him

gale: you mortals do love to live dangerously, don't you?

nodecontext: the slightest hint of a threat - you've probably made an enemy here today. or at least, you've lost a friend.

he is still desperate to impress. emphasizing what an honor it is that a new-born god chose to bless their little soiree with his presence. gaze upon all his divine glory! gale has now become the embodiment of everything he criticized about the gods. his original intentions and plans are discarded and long forgotten. he assuages his erstwhile companions by telling them to simply pray to him, in case they should ever require aid. if they're lucky and their ambition pleases him, he might even deliver.

player: what does the 'god of ambition' offer to his followers?

gale: i 'offer' them nothing. i inspire them to seize their destinies for themselves.

player: interesting, so you help mortals help themselves?

gale: precisely. though that isn't to say i'm averse to the odd bit of direct encouragement.

gale: [..] my aims are set a little higher than offering cursory blessings to just any half-decent spellcaster.

gale: regardless, ethical quandaries are more the remit of my mortal devotees. they do love to talk, and faerun is starting to listen.

aiding "any half-decent spellcaster" is unbefitting of his status. he isn't concerned with questions of ethics and morality either. deeming such matters beneath his divine capabilities.

once gale has ascended and established his domain, what remains of the gale we knew? what of his mortal heart?

minthara: your ambition is not cruel, but you fear that if you indulge it, you will lose yourself in the mysteries of the weave and unravel the world.

minthara: you are afraid of so many things, and it is that fear that keeps you true to yourself.

gale did lose himself and ultimately became one of his biggest fears. considering that his existence as a being of pure ambition leads him to constantly seek out greater heights, it isn't farfetched to believe that raphael's prediction will indeed come true.

player[astarion]: ambition? finally, a god i can get behind...

gale: i assure you, this is merely the prelude to a far grander vision. elysium's in for something of a shake-up.

all that remains of gale is a thin veneer of the person he used to be. what he presents is a hollow echo of the old gale. he does retain some of his mannerisms and quirks, but he is definitely a lot colder and more condescending. if his personality already changed that drastically after a duration of only 6 months, what will he inevitability turn into when he has eternity at his disposal?

essentially, you are aiding gale in the eradication of himself. eradicating everything about him that made him into the loveable, charismatic, awkward, kind, buoyant person he was. everything about him that he perceived as defective, flawed, and lesser-than. before, his hubris was merely an expression of his own discontentment and low self-worth, but now he is hubris incarnate. all of his worst qualities have been amplified.

gale: i am ambition incarnate. as indistinguishable from that most potent sensation as mystra herself is from the weave. and word is spreading.

nodecontext: palpable, almost unsettling excitement from him - hint of megalomania

he put his trust in tav, trusting their judgment and relying on them to nudge him in the right direction. after all, they had plenty of opportunities to show him that they are an ally worth following and confiding in. but in the end, the prospect of what he could be, the things he could give them, the enemies he could yet conquer, won over the desire to simply accept him and help him rebuild a life on solid ground. tav denied him the unconditional love he craves most out of their own selfish desires.

tara: you were looking out for him. i expected better of you.

as i've already mentioned, gale desires nothing more than to be seen, accepted, loved, and valued. having a partner who wholeheartedly supports and believes in him is enough to make him feel content. most importantly - he just wants to live. to enjoy life with everything it has to offer. his ambition can’t be quenched because he hungers still. believing that only by acquiring more power will he finally be enough and reach said acceptance.

we see in his good ending that his own contentment was even able to influence and (temporarily) sate the orb's ever-present hunger:

gale: [..] or perhaps the orb's hunger was fuelled by my own, and my contentment influences it in much the same way.

gale: that's how i feel with you - content. it's a rather unfamiliar feeling, i must say. not something gale of waterdeep ever craved.

it is devastating that he doesn't reach the same feeling of fulfillment if he chooses to pursue godhood, and is instead compelled to continuously surpass his own accomplishments. not being granted rest or reprieve.

gale: i achieved everything we hoped i would, and still i'm not good enough for you?

gale pursuing godhood isn't evidence that he "has been evil all along" or that he "just waited to be unleashed" either. we can't diminish tav's influence in this outcome, they are after all an extension of the player. able to steer every companion toward a path of redemption or to enable them in their worst traits. fandom has already established that by letting astarion ascend you are actively supporting him in becoming the very thing he despises most, putting your own ambitions and idea of what you want him to be above his healing, this is no different.

tara: the gale i knew wasn't like this. he recognised his mistakes. he was contrite. all he wanted to do was live.

tara: unfortunately, he fell into company that turned his gaze towards foolishness. yes, i mean you.

player: gale is his own man, tara.

tara: false. he was mine. though now he belongs only to his own pride.

yes, the epilogue cutscene is beautiful and there is something bittersweet and romantic about his love for tav being one of the few emotions that remained a constant throughout the past 6 months. he didn't need to come back for them, but he did cause he loves them still. no matter how warped his definition of love may be now. while it is abundantly clear that tav ranks lower on his priority list than they did before, his commitment remains.

gale fears isolation, hoping to never return to the time when he was hopeless and alone, stuck inside his tower. by heading in this direction he is once again creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

tara: [..] if i pretended you hadn't turned tail on every lesson you set out to learn, i'd have no right to call myself your friend.

morena may as well have already resigned herself to her son’s death. elminster partly blames himself. for his lapse in judgment, as well as being the one who plucked him from obscurity in the first place. mourning the kind, bright-eyed boy who cried at the scorched roses in his neighbor's garden. tara won't be here anymore to care and look out for him either. he has lost his oldest and dearest friend, the one who witnessed his downfall from grace and never left his side. who believed him to be the finest mind AND the finest wizard she's ever had the pleasure to know. who was certain that he’d find a way out of any crisis no matter the circumstances. ...and if tav declines his offer to ascend with him? what does he have left?

gale: yes, i am rather radiant, aren't i?

tara: don't flatter yourself, gale. you've debased yourself in ways i could never have fathomed.

tara: goodbye gale, i hope the heavens are worth it.

gale’s godhood ending deals with the loss of humanity, the loss of oneself, and everything one holds dear. it is a devastating and bone-chilling narrative. it is a tragedy.

gale: i hope you don't think less of me. great ambition should not come at the expense of what you already hold dear. i see that now.

if gale could see himself, he would be horrified at the losses he deemed necessary to get here. he would be horrified at what he’s become.

[yourlocalsmutwriter]

Unsurvivable ride - Fernando Alonso x reader

Fernando Alonso wasn't the type of person who loved to boast. Sure, when he was young, he was cocky. Impressing female reporters with his card tricks or the fact that he could crack a walnut with his neck. A line that didn't make it to air was him saying, "So you don't need to worry about sitting on my face, I'm strong, I can take it, see?" right after. And even with "Fernando is faster than you," even with the "villain" comments in drive to survive, he wasn't prideful. He was just honest. You wouldn't see him flaunting his wealth or doing noveau rich stuff. Yacht aside, luxury cars aside. Yes, he had those things but didn't ever mention them or use them as props, the way some of the other drivers did. Fernando Alonso was the king of quiet luxury, old money. But, with every job came its little quirks. And in Nando's was the new car. 

Don't get him wrong he loved the Valkyrie. It was truly a beautiful car. Fast, too. Perfect for him. But having to prep your shared Monaco living room for it was not fun. Fernando loved having pictures of you two around, the framed memories were a must-have. Whether it was in the tax paradise where most F1 drivers lived, in Spain, to even his garage. Everyone was seeing that Fernando was with you. It was almost funny to see new people guess the nature of your relationship. With you being closer in age to your 20s than your thirties, people assumed you were his relative, a cousin, or perhaps a sister. Some even thought you were his daughter. Then he pulled out the vacation pictures of himself, taking down your swimsuit with his teeth. That cleared up the fact that you were his girlfriend. All the pictures were gone for the day. Any magazines or books that didn't seem like they fit him. Your clothes that hung on the hooks, everything. Truth be told, now the living room looked white and sterile and, thus, perfect for a video. Fernando had to film, and it was fun. Driving around the streets of Monaco in this custom beast didn't suit him still. But he had to do it again and again. That was in his contract. 

Despite him having to take it around all the time, you didn't get a chance to ride in it for a long time. Truth is, you avoided it. The two seater was way too fancy for your taste. You couldn't shake the sinking feeling that you'd scratch it just by opening the door or something. So you didn't even come near it. Took public transport or walked. Used the excuse of "I know it's Monaco, and people don't film you as much, but in this, they definitely will.". And that was literally the point. The Aston Martin marketing person called it a mere exposure theory. Show something to people enough, and they will remember it. Then something about the car creating organic word of mouth and this driving sales. Nando thought it was a little ridiculous that all he drove week in and week out was an Aston Martin. Especially after Brazil. 

But duty called. And the word of Lawrence Stroll and co was law. So Nando took the Valkyrie out, again and again. Finally, he managed to get you in it. Seeing you in the Valkyrie did something to him. Maybe it was the triple header. Maybe it was you in a mini dress pressed up against him. With the seat belt between your perfect tits, he was a goner. Lord knows how he made it to the restaurant without slipping his fingers inside of you while driving with his left hand. It was a miracle. The fancy restaurant he had picked out had no vallet. Only an exclusive underground parking. Fernando got out of the car with a plan in mind. By the end of the night, your first ride in the Valkyrie was going to be a memorable one. 

Everything went smoothly. Then it was time to go. Fernando put on an Oscar worthy performance of looking for his car keys. A pat down of his jeans, a scrunched up face, a low swear in Spanish. All the while, they sat snugley in his jacket pocket. 

"I must have left them on the dash. The car, it has this app that lets you do certain functions remotely. Can you look after I've rolled down the window, doll." He asks. Sometimes, he loves how serviceable you are. Others would call you ditzy, but he knew that all you ever wanted was to be a good girl for him. So you didn't question why the Valkyrie's windows could be opened remotely. You assumed it had something to do with its confusing butterfly doors. Fernando rolls it down, and you twist your body inside. At his plea to "really look, make sure the keys aren't somewhere on the floor," your entire upper body is pretzled in. Leaving your ass to stick out. And that's when Nando strikes like a viper. The window moves up. Not enough to hurt you, but it is definitely enough to make you stuck. He unlocks and locks the car again to taunt you, to show you that he wants you there. 

"Can I touch you, pretty girl?" He asks, but you can already feel his fingers near your bare legs. He's flipped up your skirt, completely exposing your underwear. As soon as you say yes, he traces the seams of it, enjoying how you get excited over that. 

"Look at you, already getting wet for me. We'll have to be quick here, princess. Is that okay with you?" He asks, and he's happy when you practically beg for that. Truth is, he can't stand to tease you right now. He needs you like a fish needs water. Fernando wasted no time in taking off your panties and putting two fingers inside of you. He curls them and tries to get them to hit that spot inside of you. When he uses his other hand to rub your clit, you're a goner, clenching against him. But he doesn't stop.

"You got yours, doll. It's time for me to get mine." He says. Fernando's belt clangs on the concrete, his pants pooled against his ankles. He takes his fingers out of you, and you can hear a loud suck as you guess he puts them in his mouth. The same fingers wrap around his shaft as he guides himself inside of you. The position is driving you both crazy. You can feel his deeper than usual, and you can't squirm away from him. You're at his mercy, and he has none. He thrusts inside of you, almost bottoming out and then slides almost all the way out. He squeezes your ass and hips. Watches himself wreck your pretty weeping pussy with his cock. Feels you get tighter against him. Sees you cum and then clench against nothing as he pulls out. Wonders whether his cum might somehow damage the paint as he watches it on your thighs. 

"There goes one incentive to keep driving this thing. Now I'll think of this every time I get in it." Fernando says, to see you squirm and tell him to shut up. Yep, he was gonna make you warm up to the Valkyrie, one way or another. 

[amarynthian-chronicles]

May I have this dance?

Sebastian Solace x Reader

"Surely, you must be joking."

"Quite the contrary."

He fiddled with the old gramophone, making a few final adjustments in order to get it to function properly once more. All the while he was casually holding his cigarette with his third hand, elegantly tapping the ash away when necessary.

Sebastian had amassed an impressive collection of vinyl records, arranging them according to his tastes. He had done so in a similar manner with his books and research files. You loved watching him sort out his inventory.

It was so unusually domestic, the mingling scents of coffee and cigarette smoke, the presence of warm blankets and pillows on the sofa he had hauled from an unspecified location in the vast facility. Undoubtedly from various loungers that the scientists would once find comfort in before the breach in security.

You cleared your throat, trying to get his attention once more.

"Seb, be realistic. We cannot dance together. I don't even know how to"

"I am certain the youth refers to this as a "skill issue" nowadays. Painter had discovered a whole thesaurus of modern slang, heaven help us all."

"I am not even going to comment this. My point still stands. Besides, you do not even have legs."

"What I do have is creative solutions to complex problems. We crush obstacles, do we not? Ah, there we go. Good as new."

He placed the needle on a record.

Music. Soft jazz, soothing yet playful, unpredictable in its rhythm, improvising, moving from whimsical and exciting tunes to the more melancholic melodies. In many ways, it conveyed Sebastian's own soul perfectly.

He offered his clawed hand, grinning and waiting for you to inevitably accept his offer. Reluctantly, you accepted.

His tail began to tap in a certain rhythm against the floor, as if setting the tempo you should follow along with the music. Confused, you saw his other two arms approach you, all three serving as if they were makeshift dance partners.

Before you knew it, he was making you move and sway as if you were a combination of a puppet on a string and a music box ballerina. He made you twirl, glide, turn, almost hypnotic.

At a certain point, he snapped his fingers, and suddenly the room was completely dark, save for the lone light of his esca.

"See? You do not need to know where to go or what to do, you are only to follow as I say. Trust me and you will never have to worry about anything ever again."

"Seb, I am tired."

"I am sure we can get a few more pirouettes out of you, pet."

"Well, at least I am getting free cardio training here."

You took deep breaths as your puppet master played with you, demanding yet gentle, firm yet rewarding you with tenderness when it was due. As you were about to collapse, he caught you, pulling you into his lap.

Soft kisses were placed on your head, cheeks and lips.

His body began to sway, akin to the ocean waves, his arms cradling you.

Sebastian was truly like the ocean itself, simultaneously a cooling haven that embraced you in your feverish nightmares and a cold unyielding tomb that one could not escape from. A devil is merely a fallen angel, after all.

You whispered, closing your eyes.

"What will become of us, Seb? We are playing in this illusion, knowing that all of this is ludicrous."

"We live on stolen time. Our old lives are forfeit and we can only move onward. We take, we scavenge, we defy probability itself."

"What are we to each other?"

He combed his fingers through your hair.

"Fleeting hope. The same type that a ghost feels in a house with new tenants, desperately wishing to be seen and heard once more. Even for a final time."

Hot tears ran down your cheeks.

"Hope is such a cruel thing, Seb."

He kissed each tear away, savouring your sorrow.

"We lie in the Abyss. This location defies physics itself, it rebels against every possible known law of water mechanics. So shall we. Doomed to fail, given to death, we shall rise once more, wearing the Reaper's cloak as our own."

[lokisprettygirl]

Step Out Of Line (Bill Skarsgard! Eric Draven x Female Reader) (Alternate Universe) (18+)

Read chapter 6 here // Series Masterlist

Chapter 7

Summary : Eric realises that you are not a dream but a fruition of his Karma.

Warning: 18+, smut, non consensual sex, mention of drug addiction, grooming, mommy kink, age gap relationship, emotional cheating, marital abuse, sexual abuse, consumption of weed

“And why are you suddenly so interested in this?” Dolly asked you so you chuckled. If there was an Oscar for acting in real life, you'd get one right about now.

“I have always been interested in that, you should know that, I'm your daughter” you began speaking, she was still eyeing you suspiciously so you groaned as if to get real with her..

“Fine ..the truth is-” you paused before you continued “Daddy really didn't leave much for me .. I lied. Sure there was some money, but it's going to run out sooner or later, especially now that i don't have a job..and its fucking expensive to survive on your own” you said to her as convincingly as you could “And then I heard you talking to your friend in the hospital and i saw my chance here”

“So this is why you had been clinging to him?” She asked you and you finally saw the opportunity to manipulate her further into this.

“Obviously, do you think I'm interested in him?” You laughed in her face as if it was a joke, the mere idea of you being into him.

“Why wouldn't you be? He's a pretty boy”

Well for once you couldn't refute her claim.

“Yeah but..if I had to choose between him and his money.. I'd take his money, the same way you would” you made dramatic gestures with your hands to prove your point.

“So you're blackmailing me now??” she asked as she crossed her arms.

“Call it whatever you want mother, i just need a significant cut from his trust fund and in turn I'll help you secure it from him” she scoffed as you said that.

“And then?”

“Then you two can fuck off, go live in one of his father's mansions or whatever” you answered and you could see the wheels turning in her head. She was just falling right into the trap you had laid out for her.

“Yeah well he'd need to sign those papers for that to happen”

“He will if you play your cards right. Just remember, you can't treat him horribly and expect him to still give you everything, he's not eighteen anymore so just do your best impression of being nice like you did in those three months before your wedding” you gave her a tight lipped smile.

“He told you?”

“Well he trusts me..he's gullible” you chuckled even though your eyes teared up, the sound of your own voice made you want to smack yourself. You sounded exactly like her.

************

As Eric heard your footsteps approaching he laid back down on the bed with a thud and pretended to be asleep. His cheeks were still damp from the tears.

As you reached near him you caressed his hair before you reached down to kiss his forehead.

“I'm sorry” you whispered softly before you moved to the couch, apologizing to your father as well as you had to lie on his name to protect Eric.

He turned his head as fresh tears spilled from his eyes. You were sorry? For what? For faking being sweet to him because you were interested in his money? For pretending to care for him all this time?

Your cruel words kept replaying over and over again in his head. A part of him still didn't want to believe it even though he had heard it with his own ears. The way you both spoke of him with such disgust and contempt.

Was he really just a tool to be used by you two? He was only valuable because he had money? Did he not deserve any kindness for who he was as a person? As a human being? Your words truly made him believe that, it proved that love wasn't real in this world, if it was he'd have been loved by his mother, by his wife. By you.

But it didn't exist.

Next morning Eric didn't come downstairs so you made his plate and were about to go see him when your mother blocked your way.

“I think i should go feed him today” she said to you, an evil smile lurking on her face “Just doing what you suggested” she winked at you so you smiled as you handed her the plate.

At Least this would ensure that she had no intention of hurting him right now.

As Eric saw Dolly entering the room with his breakfast he grimaced internally. The conversation between you and her still haunting his every breath. He just wanted to disappear from here, run far away so none of you would be able to hurt him anymore but he felt helpless in more ways than one.

“Hey baby boy i know you're upset with me” she began speaking as she fed him a bite of the scrambled eggs and toast before she placed it down on the nightstand and moved closer to him to cup his cheeks.

“Forgive mommy baby, I was just stressed and seeing you like this, I just lost my mind” she whispered softly as she kissed him.

It was all pretense, she planned this with you. You. Everytime he thought of your betrayal, his heart twisted and churned in a painful vice. Maybe this was what he deserved, that's why nobody ever really loved him, maybe his worth lied in what he could offer, that's why nobody wanted to be around him if it didn't benefit them..

In the afternoon Dolly was off to one of her lunches and you finally got the chance to go see Eric. When you entered his room you asked Taylor to rest if he wanted to so he stood up but Eric interrupted.

“Stay” Eric said as he opened his eyes “I need him to stay..” you looked at him confused as he said that. Usually he'd always perk up at the idea of you two spending time together so this request bothered you. You looked at Taylor and gave him a nod so he sat back down on the couch.

Approaching Eric's bed you sat down at the edge to caress his head but he tilted his head to the left to turn away from you.

“I want to sleep.. please go” he said to you, his voice lacking any emotion as if he was speaking to a stranger.

“Umm ok..i..are you okay? Did she hurt you?” you asked him, your voice was sweet as ever, it was all fake though. Just pretense. He had to remember that.

“No, she was fine for once, that must make you happy”

What was he even talking about? He tilted his head and closed his eyes so you decided to leave him alone for now. Was he upset with you because you didn't come see him for breakfast?

You knew you needed to speak to him later. As you left he broke down in tears again so Taylor immediately got up and was by his side.

“Hey man..what is it? Are you in pain?”

“Yess…i ..” he sniffled “Can we get out of here please? I need to get out of this house” he said between his heavy breaths, he was panicking, your words from last night constricting his every breath.

When you saw Taylor taking Eric for a walk you felt even worse, you wanted to join them but Eric asked you to not bother which only confirmed that he was upset with you.

Later that evening you finally entered his room with determination and asked Taylor to take a break.

Eric was standing near the window, his back facing you, just staring into the distance so you approached him.

“Hey what's going on?” You asked him nervously, you just knew something wasn't right with him and you wanted him to open up to you.

“Stop it y/n..just stop. You don't have to pretend anymore” he said to you as he turned to look at you,eyes tearing up with heartbreak and anger, but his words made you even more confused.

“Stop what?”

“This act.. pretending that you care about me”

“What are you talking about? Did my mother say something?” He chuckled as you said that.

“You know what the difference between you and your mother is?” He asked as he took small steps towards you , you had never seen that fire in his eyes before, not even when he was hurt by Dolly.. That pain, that hurt, it was haunting..

“What's the difference?”

“She's so vile that she can't hide it” he snickered “She tries to disguise her true nature but she can't do it for long-” he paused as he looked at you from head to toe “but you? You're so much worse, so vicious, you pretend so good you fooled me into believing that I mattered to you”

Your eyes welled up as he said that. Why was he saying that to you? What did you do?

“You do matter to me Eric..more than you'll ever know “ your voice broke as you spoke.

“No I don't. All you need is my money ..just like she does”

Your eyes widened as he said that. That's when you realised that he might have heard you speaking to her last night.

“No Eric no .. whatever you heard it's not true..I was lying to her ..not to you” you tried to explain but the look on his face made you believe that he didn't believe you one bit.

“No you're lying now y/n.. you made a fool of me just like she did and i fell for it” he said as he reached closer to you, his tears rolling down his cheeks, you brought your hand up to wipe them away but he turned his head.

“You really think I'd do that to you Eric? You have known me for seven years, do you really think I'm capable of it? Capable of being so cruel to you?” You asked him, lips trembling, voice shaking but you somehow kept your point. You won't be able to save him from her if he'd push you away from him.

“Well you're your mother's daughter it seems but somehow even worse if it's even possible” he spat at you. That hurt, it truly hurt in the deepest corner of your heart, but you didn't blame him, if you were in his place you'd have felt the same.

“Why? Why the fuck should I believe you now? After hearing how you speak of me behind my back, do you really think I'd believe anything you'll say now?” he asked, voice dripping with despair and anger.

“You have misunderstood me Eric..please believe me” you pleaded him with your eyes but it didn't faze him, he had heard enough.

“No you shouldn't, and if you don't believe me then I won't try to convince you otherwise, I won't manipulate you like she does, I won't say anything if you don't want to listen” you said as you broke down in tears.

“Then get out ..leave me alone” he turned around as he said that.

“I can't do that either Eric” you mumbled softly before you collapsed on your knees, it was too much, all these emotions , you had never felt this way before. You had never felt so scared of losing someone.

He looked at your broken form and something inside of him begged him to listen to you, maybe he misunderstood? But he clearly heard you telling your mother that she had to be nice to him so he'd sign the paper, that you were clinging to him because you were interested in his money too.

But maybe just maybe it wouldn't hurt to listen just once, even if you'd like to tell him lies or make up stories to pull him back in, he still wanted to hear you, he wanted you to look at him with care and love in your eyes. He wanted to forget the way you had spoken of him last night.

His feet moved closer to you voluntarily as he bent down on his knees to reach your level.

“What are you doing to me y/n? Both of you” you wiped your tears as he questioned you, taking a deep breath so you could speak without breaking down again.

“That day of your accident when we were at the hospital, i heard her talking to that bitch friend of hers- Bethany” you began so he glared at you, still not willing to believe whatever will come out of your mouth next.

“She said that she was afraid you were dead and i thought that she finally felt remorse for how she had been treating you but then she said that she just had to keep an eye on you until you were 25 and that you could go to hell after that” you looked him in the eye as you continued, you really needed him to believe you.

“When you told me about the fund, I just connected the dots, i know my mother Eric, money has always been her most favourite thing in the world, that's why she married him.. my dad.. but when his business failed, she showed him her true colours”

He looked in your eyes, trying to find insincerity and lies hidden in those beautiful irises but all he found was genuine worry you had in them for him.

“I couldn't save him from her..i didn't know how, I was just a child..but I can't watch her take everything from you too” You sniffled between your tears, your breathing getting ragged because of how overwhelmed you felt.

“Last night..i …I heard you .. talking about me like that” he said as he looked down.

“I know..I'm sorry, but it's not what you think ..i swear on my dad's grave it's not what you think” you said to him as earnestly as you could.

“So I had been a jerk for no reason?”

“No no no..you had a reason..you had a very good reason Eric, I'd feel the same if it was me in your place..but I'm not fooling you or playing with you, I'm fooling her.. this way she won't hurt you on purpose and I'll be able to collect evidence against her” he looked at you all perplexed as you spoke of evidence.

“Evidence?”

“I'm recording everything..every conversation with her.. things I can use against her later” his eyes welled up with fresh tears again as you said that.

“All for me?”

“All for you”

Eric didn’t speak right away as you responded.

He just sat there, staring at you like he was trying to decide whether to reach for you… or run away from you.

You didn’t push him either. You let the silence sit between you both, allowing him to process the truth even if he didn't believe them as truth yet.

“She kissed me today,” he said, almost laughing, but it was bitter. “She kissed me like I was a child. Like she had ever cared for me” Your stomach dropped as he said that. You never wanted her to touch him again but you couldn't stop her either, as long as she wasn't hurting him you were fine with the pretense. “But i know she doesn't..I see it now”

He said to you, his gaze fixed on yours as he spoke.

“And i believed you..it felt.. real with you, your friendship, your care for me, your love, all of it felt very real” You moved closer to him as he said that before you held his cheeks hesitantly to wipe his tears.

“Every moment we have spent together in past seven years, all of it has been real for me Eric”

It has been real, it had to be, you had been with him through thick and thin, through bad and worse, you had seen him at his lowest, his most shameful state and still were by his side. You had offered nothing but kindness and acceptance to him since you returned into his life.

“I'm sorry i doubted you” he murmured softly as he placed his head between the crook of your neck so you let out a sigh of relief.

Eric stayed where he was, his head resting against your shoulder as your fingers threaded gently through his hair.

“I didn’t want to believe it,” he whispered, his voice hoarse from crying, “But hearing you talk like that last night, it broke something in me.”

“I know..i never wanted you to hear it..i should have told you about it” you caressed his back softly as you spoke.

“That's why you apologised last night? Because you pretended to be mean and cruel?” You hummed as he questioned you.

You allowed the silence to fill the gaps between your hearts, words weren't needed at the moment, he was willing to believe in you again, he was close to you again and that was enough.

Once your tears stopped coming you helped him stand up, then you placed a jacket over his shoulder since he couldn't really put on a shirt before you called a cab. You filled a bag with a bunch of stuff in your room before you helped him down the stairs.

“Where are we going?” He asked as you made him sit down in the cab and helped him with the seatbelt.

“It's a surprise” you said to him so he chuckled.

On the way he fell asleep on your shoulder so you reached for his head and caressed it gently like you always did.

An hour later the cab stopped with a gentle thud so you paid the driver. When Eric blinked awake, he found himself bathed in the sounds of rustling leaves and cool fresh air. Outside his window was a lake, the water still and peaceful. “My dad used to bring me here for a picnic when things got bad at home or school” you said to him as you helped him out of the cab. It was a starry night thankfully and the moon was full so you could clearly see each other. You took out a bed sheet from your bag and laid it on the grassy bank before you helped him sit down on it.

“It's beautiful,” he murmured so you stared at his beautiful face, moonlight reflecting on his sharp features.

“It truly is” you mumbled softly before you looked away “Even when I got older I'd come here sometimes when really needed to get away and when I needed to breathe..i thought maybe you needed that tonight as well” his eyes softened as you said that.

“You're trying so hard even after i said those horrible things to you”

He whispered somberly, feeling remorse for even comparing an angel like you to the soul sucking demon like Dolly.

“You were hurt and felt betrayed, my reaction wouldn't have been any different if I was in your place” you spoke gently, understanding his plight. He didn't mean to be cruel just for the sake of it. Besides there was a comfort in his anger, it meant that he cared enough about you to feel so hurt and upset.

“But I believed that fake version of you so easily. Like a part of me had been waiting for you to turn around and say psyche” You nodded as he said that.

“It's just how she had made you feel all this time”

A tear rolled down his cheek as he processed your words.

“I hate that I doubted you. You have done so much for me in the past few days. You made me feel sane again, kept me so safe, so protected that I clung to you like a lifeline and the moment I felt a little scared, instead of speaking to you I tried to cut you off instead”

“You didn't cut me off though, we are still here, aren't we? You're allowed to be scared” he nodded as you said that. You were so understanding, how could he ever doubt you? This morning he woke up with a heavy rock on his chest, he feared his heart would never mend again but being here with you now felt cathartic. You were doing it all for him.

“So this is what it feels like” He said as he turned his head towards you and smiled. Cold breeze running through both of your hair only made the scenery more beautiful. It wasn't really a question though.

“What?”

You asked him but he shook his head. Love. That's what he wanted to say but he held himself back..he was still married even if it didn't mean anything to him anymore. Even if the ring on his finger was like a noose around his neck now, he still was a married man and he had to abide by that.

Late at night as you both returned home, you found Dolly in the living room along with Taylor, who seemed genuinely concerned as opposed to your mother.

“Where have you been?” She asked as she got up from the couch and stormed towards you both.

“This idiot wanted to go out so I took him..i wouldn't have to if you had done your job properly” you stared at her intently, unaware of your double crossing games she smiled as she moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck so he placed his head down on her shoulder, he felt disgusted but he was going to sell the act. He wanted to fight for himself. And for you.

“That's not way to speak to your father y/n.. apologise” she said to you so you rolled your eyes in response.

“Sorry?”

“It's okay y/n” he said as he turned around to look at you before he gave you a small wink.

“He’ll sleep with me tonight” she said to him as she caressed the back of his neck possessively but you didn't want him to sleep with her. Not again, never again.

“Actually my arm hurts a lot so can I sleep alone upstairs?” He asked her softly as he placed his head back down on her shoulder, you could see her anger rising, the urge to control him and break him to her wim getting stronger.

“Be nice” you mouthed the words, pretending to be on her side so she rolled her eyes.

“Of Course baby.. whatever comforts you” she said to him.

“Thanks..mommy” he whispered in her ear before he pulled away from her and asked Taylor to help him upstairs. She kept her eyes on his frame until he disappeared. You could see the silent storm brewing in her head, she wasn't used to being defied, especially not by him.

“That was good.. you keep that up until his birthday and in a few weeks we would both have so much money, we won't even be able to count it” you said to her as you walked past her to go upstairs.

If there was one thing you knew about your mother, it was that she wasn't dumb. You had to be careful about this, too little or too much and she'd catch up on your act.

Later that night after making sure she was asleep you visited Eric, he was awake as well so you laid down next to him. He seemed a little distraught so you caressed his cheek.

“Are you okay?” he hummed as he leaned into your touch.

“Yeah, I had a dream of my mother after so long” your brows furrowed as he said that. You knew how horrible and toxic his relationship was with his mother.

“What did you dream of?” You asked him softly as you propped yourself on your elbows.

“Just her face” he chuckled “She was beautiful..the kind of beautiful that whenever she looked at me so lovingly i always felt as if everything was right in this world” he murmured “But she only ever looked at me like that when we were high together..rest of the time she'd be mean, she'd either hit me or ignore me”

Your eyes teared up as he spoke, this beautiful boy had suffered all his life, when he escaped his mother he ended up marrying someone that was somehow even worse than her.

“Nobody will ever hurt you again” you said to him, determination strong in your voice.

******

Days passed slowly and turned into weeks, he was slowly recovering from his physical injuries, but he was also healing in every other way as well. The casts from his arms came off after six weeks and he had to go to physical therapy so you accompanied him as often as you could.

In the meantime, you’d been quietly gathering evidence against Dolly. You had recorded every conversation with her, each time she shamelessly admitted that all she really wanted was his money. Bit by bit, you built a solid case, especially once you discovered she had been working with a lawyer to finalize the legal arrangements for the fund transfer on his 25th birthday.

She couldn’t even wait a single day.

But what she didn’t know was that you and Eric had a surprise of your own.

On the evening of his birthday, she threw a lavish party in his honor, inviting all her bitch friends to revel in what she believed was her ultimate victory, that she had won this game. She played the doting wife flawlessly, smiling sweetly as she handed him the papers for him to sign.

“I need a return gift for everything i have done for you, you'd give me that right baby boy?” She asked him so he smiled and nodded.

She asked for a gift so he gave her one.

He gave her the Divorce papers.

😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏😏

Taglist @mariaenchanted @malenoradgn @loushaw131460 @wiseyouthinfluencer @muchwita @urmomsgirlfriend1

[ddejavvu]

omg I BEG of u to write a fic about the thing anon mentioned about dbf obi-wan 😭 /nf maybe reader is like anakin's age and her master is yoda.

i also think it would be really interesting if reader tends to be quite similar to her master yoda where she's usually calm and collected and zen and all that, but just cant keep her head clear when obi-wan's around NFNAJFJSKDB i'm already blushing just thinking about it!!! i just know you'd write this beautifully!!! /gen

Brewing and serving a perfect pot of tea is something inescapable as Grandmaster Yoda's padawan. You'd been trained in proper steeping rituals before you were ever trained in lightsaber combat, and you take a bit of pride in your craft even though it's a skill most might consider less-than-impressive in the overall catalogue of a Jedi's skills.

All of that is why you should not have dropped the teapot you'd been carrying upon seeing your master's houseguest, but Master Kenobi catches it with wide eyes and a steady hand. The teapot hovers mere inches above the ground, giving you a measly two seconds to gather your composure before a twitch of Master Kenobi's hand lifts it back up onto the tray you're miraculously still carrying.

You have very un-Jedi-like feelings towards Master Kenobi. You'd never thought much of him- nor anyone for quite some time, but you'd travelled outside of the temple, spent time on other planets, socialized with hundreds of different people in the galaxy, and the auburn-haired man in front of you has recently topped the charts of people you would be attracted to, if you weren't a Jedi forbidden from attachment.

"Sorry." You stammer, heart hammering in your chest from a mix of adrenaline and something else you refuse to name, "I- I lost my balance."

Your master snorts from his place on his tea cushion, a tiny thing at the head of the coffee table where you set the tea tray, "Uncoordinated, you are today, Padawan."

"Yes, Master." You agree miserably, pouring tea for Masters Yoda and Kenobi before pouring your own cup. You want to come up with an excuse, overtiredness or a troubling class assignment on your mind, but there's nothing your master won't see through.

"It's quite alright, dear." Master Kenobi places a hand over your own where you set the teapot down, and your eyes dart towards his own. Your trained Jedi composure allows for you to keep your face in a neutral expression, but there's very little hiding the slight shake to your hands as you reach for the sugar.

"Anakin has a habit of spreading his mechanical projects over our carpets like we live in a junkyard. I know that they're there," The bearded Jedi master smiles, "And every morning I still step sure-footedly out of my bedroom expecting not to be impaled through the foot with a jagged wire. Jedi agility cannot completely remove natural clumsiness."

"Remove clumsiness for me, it did." Your master huffs, squeezing the sap out of some deadly looking berries and into his teacup, "A better Jedi I am, than you two."

"You tripped over your own walking stick yesterday," You point your spoon accusatorily at him, and you nearly lose your conviction when it draws a warm chuckle from Master Kenobi's throat.

"Hmmph. Disrespectful, you are." Yoda gripes, but you see through his stern facade, "Sleep outside tonight, you will."

"Master!' You shriek, nearly choking on both your laughter and your tea, "That's not fair!"

"Don't worry, dear." Master Kenobi stretches his leg out beneath the coffee table to rest against your own, "You're welcome to stay the night in my quarters if your Master kicks you to the curb." He winks, "Anakin is gone on his first solo mission, so the two of us will have plenty of room."

You know the whole thing is one big joke, and you also know that Master Kenobi's offer is nothing but platonic. But still, the invitation, the assurance that you'll be alone with plenty of room- room for what? - you're barely able to nudge his leg back teasingly and glare half-heartedly at your master.

"I'm reporting you to the Council." You decide, but your threats come out weaker than intended due to the continued press of Master Kenobi's leg against your own beneath the table, "You may be the Grandmaster, but the neglect of a padawan is serious business."

"Two nights," Master Yoda snickers, "Two nights, you will sleep outside."

You let out an exasperated groan, but the last of your composure slips away upon meeting Master Kenobi's kind gaze, his eyes twinkling with gorgeous mirth, "You can stay with me for as long as you'd like."

[whatonearthisgoingon]

Demon Giyuu AU

I've been obsessing over Demon Giyuu and SaneGiyuu, so have a little rant/fic about the idea.

There is also some past SabiGiyuu mentioned, but it's minor. Word Count: 2,151

Okay, so Giyuu is on a standard mission against a Lowermoon or minorly powerful but not ranked demon, when out of nowhere someone in the Upper 3 comes along as a reinforcement for the first demon.

Giyuu tries his absolute hardest to kill the demons, to the point where he unlocks the mark. In the end, with the combination of the Uppermoon and lower ranked demon, Giyuu eventually looses, but he's not dead yet, barely conscious and struggling to move. The Upper demon he's against, is pretty impressed with the fight Giyuu gave, and gives him blood, Giyuu too weak to fight back against it. The two demons leave, not waiting to see if Giyuu survives.

Giyuu, feeling the changes, calls Kanzaburo to send a message to the Master and the Hashiras, before eventually passing out from exhaustion as the transformation starts.

Eventually the Hashiras find Demon Giyuu where he's relatively calm for a recently turned demon. He found a stream nearby and is calmly sitting in the water. He found out pretty early that he can control the water, so he's making it form into a multitude of pretty shapes. The Hashiras approach with caution, but their guard is soon dropped as Giyuu brightly talks to them, stating how he's happy they found him.

The only Hashiras who aren't convinced are Sanemi and Obanai. So what does Sanemi do? He walks up to Giyuu, and slashes his own arm open, the Marechi blood dripping down. Sanemi: "You're still so human, right? So surely this has no effect on you, huh? Go on, you know you want it!"

Giyuu is trying his hardest to resist, backing away as Sanemi merely gets closer, taunting him with the blood. Giyuu's eyes are transfixed on the wound, and his breath is becoming more labored as he tries to resist the demonic urges. Eventually, he's able to turn away from Sanemi, refusing the blood; that's enough to convince the other Hashiras of Giyuu's trustworthiness, just as it worked for Nezuko.

As the night is still high, they bring Giyuu back to the Water Estate, where the Master is waiting. They have a long discussion over Giyuu's new condition; how he can't be in the sun, the Blood Demon Art, how missions with non-hashiras should be avoided, a supplementary beef and pork diet to hopefully substitute any cravings for human flesh, etc. After the big topics are discussed, the biggest question arises; who will stay with Giyuu, and make sure he doesn't go crazy and hurt anyone for the next few weeks or months, as he has only recently transformed? Who is strong enough to keep him in check? All eyes turn to Sanemi.

Sanemi: "Why is everyone looking at me?" Obanai: "As much as I hate to admit it, that prick is stronger than all of us, minus you and Gyomei. But I think we can all agree that Gyomei won't be the best at watching a demon." Sanemi: "I'm not watching over the demon fuck- I hate him! There's no way that I'll be taking care of him-!"

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

Giyuu watches as the door shuts when the last Hashira leaves, leaving him and a fuming Sanemi in a room alone, after the Master commanded Sanemi to stay with Giyuu. It's quiet for a minute, when Giyuu finally speaks.

Giyuu: "Do you have a certain type of tea you like? I can make a pot-" Sanemi: "Shut the fuck up, this is all your fault." Giyuu: " ...... I'll just make myself one then.." He says as he stands up and walks out.

Sanemi eventually joins Giyuu, because he has nothing else to do, and he's stuck with the damn idiot, so why not have some tea while he's at it. The two sit in silence, drinking tea, until Giyuu speaks.

Giyuu: "I don't have much set up in my estate, so we can live together in yours." Sanemi: "Excuse me?" Giyuu: "Well the Master said we had to stay together, so you can watch me- so I presume we'll be staying in the same estate?" Sanemi: Loudly sighs. "Whatever you dumb shit, sure. My estate or whatever. Just don't make a mess, you hear me?" Giyuu: "Of course."

Giyuu goes quiet again, just drinking his tea, but he has a small smile. He doesn't know how to explain it, or why he's feeling it, but he's really happy that he gets to hang out with Sanemi now.

When tea is over, they pack up some of Giyuu's clothes, and they go to Sanemi's Estate before the sun rises. While Giyuu is putting his stuff in the guest bedroom, Sanemi goes around his Estate, making sure all the windows are shut and covered with curtains. There's no way he'd let Giyuu see him doing something nice or caring for him like that, so he rushes to get it all done before Giyuu is done unpacking.

Later Sanemi goes to bed, as does Giyuu, as they had been up all night dealing with demon nonsense. The next night, they go on their first mission together.

As they are now eating meals together, going on missions together, and living together, the two start growing closer together. The animosity and tension is still there, but it has become to change. Rather hating Giyuu's whole dumb face, Sanemi specifically hates that dumb, stupid, disgustingly pretty, blue eyes. Giyuu's opinion on Sanemi's anger has shifted from one of irritation to a minor annoyance with a small hint of fondness to it; it's what makes Sanemi, Sanemi.

One night, Giyuu is calmly sitting in his room, reading something, when he hears a yell and a crash from Sanemi's room. He gets up and goes to Sanemi's room, finding him freshly woken from a nightmare.

Rather asking questions, Giyuu just sits down, gently taking the shaking Sanemi's hand. He's quiet, and just sits there, being a comforting presence as Sanemi's racing heart rate slowly lowers. Sanemi squeezes and relaxes his hold on Giyuu's hand many times, Giyuu's presence grounding him.

After a few minutes, Sanemi does something surprising. He hugs Giyuu. Giyuu is shocked at first, but doesn't fight against it, hugging Sanemi. They sit like that for a few minutes, until Sanemi mumbles a quiet "Thank you."

That night, Giyuu lays back down with Sanemi, holding him in that hug, his hands wrapped around Sanemi's waist. The two fall asleep together as the sun rises, and they are still holding each other when they awake in the evening.

They have a meal together, acting like nothing happened, then go on the night's mission. When they return they do their usual routine of a meal, getting ready for bed, etc. But this night, Giyuu follows Sanemi to his room for sleep. Sanemi, although confused at first, doesn't argue, letting Giyuu lay down with him. He would never admit it, but last night was the best he'd slept in years.

This routine continues, neither man willing to bring up the developing intimate relationship between them. It's easier to stay quiet and let it happen. But over the next month, they grow even closer. Hugging and hand holding around the house is becoming common. They pick food off each other's plates. They cook their meals together in the kitchen, or over a fire on missions. They spar together at night when they don't have a mission.

A few times when the two are talking and are close together, there is a want for more, when the two's faces are only a foot or so apart. Sometimes when they hug, the hands trail a little lower than they're supposed to.

Sanemi is pissed at these feelings. Giyuu is a man- and he's not even a human man. He's a demon. A relationship like that would be an abomination on two levels. They'd be executed for this shit, Giyuu much more instantly than Sanemi would. Sure, they could run, but neither of them want that, do they?

Giyuu on the other hand, is less mad that he likes a man, but that that man is Sanemi. Because he knows why its Sanemi specifically. Sanemi... Sabito... The aggressive personality, the purple eyes with so much emotion behind them, the scars formed in battle from strength and courage. He fell for the same person all over again. And just like all of the other people Giyuu loved, Giyuu is scared that something drastic will happen to Sanemi.

The two continue their "friendship," while both holding these feelings inside of them, refusing to speak to each other, too scared of how the other will feel, and how the world will react.

Some of the Hashiras started noticing the shift in the two's relationship. Iguro notices that Sanemi isn't irritated by the mere thought of Giyuu anymore. Shinobu notices that Giyuu's fascination over Sanemi has only increased into a shared friendship; she is very happy for Giyuu. Mitsuri is happy that there is less tension in Hashira meetings now, because they are getting along.

The only Hashira who really notices that the two men long for more, is Tengen. And he's pretty sure he is more accepting of that idea, than the two men infront of him are.

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

Ubuyashiki: "I trust Giyuu to be by himself now. He has been a demon for about 5 months now, and has proven that he is safe to be around, and safe to be on missions by himself." Looking at Sanemi and Giyuu "Sanemi does not need to watch over Giyuu constantly anymore." He pauses then smiles. "If the two of you.. wish to separate, Giyuu can return to his own estate."

Ubuyashiki says that with a certain tone, and a soft smile on his face, suggesting that he knows the two will most likely not want to separate. He makes it clear that this is an option, not a requirement. He dismisses the meeting, and Sanemi and Giyuu return to the Wind Estate.

Sanemi: "So? Are you staying or going?" Giyuu: "Well.. I mean, all my belongings are here anyway.." Sanemi: Nods a little "Yeah, they are.. but.. you want to stay here still?" Giyuu: "Do you want me to leave?" He says with a slightly sad tone Sanemi: "No!" Realizes he was way too quick and loud with his answer. "I mean, you make my life easier, help with cooking and cleaning shit.." Giyuu: Smiles a little. "Well, I'll go get started.. I'll make sure there's some ohagi for dessert.." Sanemi: "Yeah whatever, I'm getting a shower.." He walks off, not letting Giyuu see the smile on his face, now knowing that Giyuu wants to stay. After living together, fully on their own choice, for a few weeks, Giyuu decides that it's finally time to talk about what the two of them are. On a night without a mission, Giyuu takes Sanemi outside to the backyard of the Wind Estate, at around 11:50 pm. They're sitting quietly looking at the scenery under a full moon, when Giyuu speaks up.

Giyuu: "Sanemi, what are we?" Sanemi: Confused. "What do you mean?" Giyuu: "Well.. we've been living together for a few months. We go on almost every mission together. We eat meals together. We hug and hold hands. We sleep in the same bed. Is it wrong of me to assume there is something more than friendship between us? We are acting like a couple." Sanemi: He freezes up for a minute, not responding. His first instinct is to tell Giyuu off, 'How dare you think of me as a fag.' 'What on earth are you talking about.' But he doesn't. Instead he thinks about his words, before responding. "What do you think of our relationship? How would you react if a name was put on it?" Giyuu: He's quiet while he considers, then sighs. "I.. I wouldn't mind the title.. But if you do mind the title, then I think we should try to distance ourselves into a normal platonic relationship, because that is not where we are at right now." Sanemi: He considers Giyuu's words, then softly whispers. "I wouldn't mind the title.. saying we're.. together" Giyuu: He finally looks at Sanemi, then takes Sanemi's hand in his own. "Well, can I say 'I love you' then, Sanemi?" Sanemi: Laughs a little as he turns red in the cheeks. "Maybe give it a day, but sure.." He smiles, still avoiding eye contact with Giyuu; if he met his gaze, he would probably explode. Giyuu: "Alright.." He stands up, letting go of Sanemi's hand as he does, then turns to the door. "I'll be in bed. Take as long as you need." Looks inside and sees as the clock strikes as midnight. "And, I love you.." He says as he walks inside. Sanemi: Laughs "You're a fucking dick, Tomioka!" He smiles fondly at Giyuu's antics, before quietly whispering once Giyuu leaves. "I love you too.."

[lefaystrent]

Distractions

Fandom: Sanders Sides

Pairings: all-star cast of platonicness

Summary: The light sides are in a sad state of affairs. The dark sides are pretty good at offering distractions.

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

Logan sits on the living room couch, head in his hands, slumped in defeat. Despair. Failure.

He's slightly jostled by someone else sitting on the couch.

"Aliens aren't real," comes Virgil's voice, definitive and assumedly directed at Logan.

Logan lifts his head enough to check. His glasses have made a mighty impression into his forehead but he doesn't move to adjust them. Virgil is very nearly glaring at him.

"Virgil, you yourself have created power point demonstrations centered around the validity of aliens. Since when has your opinion changed?"

"Since now. Fight me, nerd."

Logan leans back a little to properly look at Virgil. He could be mistaken for fuming, the way his jaw is set and the fire burning in his eyes. But no, he is merely adamant to rile Logan up. To what end though?

"Are you...challenging me to a debate?"

Virgil gives a sharp-toothed, satisfied grin. He is willing to play devil's advocate for a good cause.

***

"Hey, wanna dance?"

Roman windmills his arm in the direction of the sultry voice that whispered in his ear. The faint smell of garlic wifts in his nostrils, followed by a gleeful chuckle.

"Remus!! Get out of my room!"

Remus rolls back on his heels. He folds his arms behind his back and looks into the air, a thoughtful hum on his lips.

"Hmmm, how about no?"

"Leave! Out you pest!"

"Make me!"

"You would force the hand of your own brother?" Roman says far too seriously, and Remus gives him an unimpressed stare. "...yeah, you're right, this is very on brand for you. I don't know why I'm acting surprised."

Remus shrugs and throws his hands up in the air. "Alright, if you're done bothering me–"

"You're the one who came in my room!"

"I've got better things to do than listen to you whine, Prince Poopy Pants."

Remus goes to stride out the door. Roman watches him, arms crosses and fingers tapping impatiently on his elbow, haughty expression that says he's one push away from snapping.

Remus pauses at the door.

Roman doesn't have time to anticipate.

Remus snatches up one of Roman's Pop figures off his bookshelf and flees the scene. Roman exits stage right in pursuit, screaming.

***

"You can't stay in bed all day."

"Watch me," Patton says, a pout in his voice. He's buried under blankets with only his hair sticking out at the top.

Janus clicks his tongue and scratches at Patton's scalp. It's less effective with gloves on, but Patton allows the contact.

"Or do, I certainly won't judge you," Janus says flippantly.

Patton whines into the mattress, "That implies that someone is judging me."

"I didn't say that. Did I say that?"

"Janus!" Exasperrated, Patton tosses down his blankets enough to reveal his rumpled onsie and impressive bedhead. He stops when he sees what sits on the bedside table that wasn't there before.

"You never came down for breakfast this morning," Janus explains. "Not that I care or anything. There were just so many pancakes leftover that it would be a shame for them to go to waste."

Patton eyes the tray and the stack of syrupy pancakes. His lip wobbles a little. "You brought me breakfast in bed?"

"Don't get used to it."

Patton finds the will to smile and tucks into breakfast. It tastes freshly made and sweet.

[angel-princess-anna]

Tributes to Maggie from the Downton Cast and Crew (Part 2):

Part 1

Hugh Bonneville (in addition to his previous comment):

Elizabeth McGovern:

Joanne Froggatt: "Today we lost a true legend. It’s hard to find the words to pay tribute to the iconic Dame Maggie Smith. I shared a screen with her on very few occasions but was fortunate enough to be in her company on many. She truly was a trailblazer, with the sharpest wit, the greatest talent, the naughtiest sense of humour, she was a force to be reckoned with. She had a charisma that you felt would live for ever (in many ways it will) and underneath all of that a huge heart. Thank you Maggie, for always being supportive and kind to me, for putting many a smile on my face with that sharp wit that no one could match, and for showing the rest of us just how it’s done.

Rest in peace Dame Maggie, my thoughts are with your beautiful family. 🖤"

Lily James:

Tom Cullen: "I remember a very specific part of the conversation Maggie and I were having when this photo was taken. Maggie had been doing a big and challenging scene where she is reunited with her old flame played by Rade Serbedzija. I was stood at the back, out of frame and able to observe these incredible actors at their work. But for whatever reason Maggie felt like she wasn’t getting the scene right. Maggie took the smallest moment, came back and next take, simply, effortlessly, delivered a masterclass. She was extraordinary. The director called “cut” and we moved on. I was spellbound. During our conversation at the window, I asked Maggie what she did in order for her to so swiftly and precisely produce such an elevated performance. I remember her looking me in the eye and saying “Oh darling! I was just holding in a fart!”. I remember us both bursting out laughing. I really wished that she had been just holding in a fart but of course that wasn’t the real truth, the real truth was that she worked tirelessly her entire career to make that scene look easy.

I only worked with her for a short while, but I feel so blessed to have had that experience. She was tough, demanded the best but making Maggie laugh felt like winning the lottery.

My heart goes out to her family, friends, her Downton family and all those she touched with her sharp, agile and acerbic brilliance.

We lost an absolute giant today 💔"

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Tom Cullen (@tom_cullen)

Lesley Nicol: "It's a very close group of people so we're all devastated to think she's not around any more.' [...] "I'd never worked with someone of that calibre, and I thought, I don't know what I'll say to her, it will be really tricky, God she'll probably be really grand. She was not looking for anyone to be scared of her, or in awe of her, she just wanted to be in the gang [...] she was in with the crowd, and just very happy to be part of it all."

Jeremy Swift: "An honour to serve you Maggie."

Lady Carnarvon: "I never saw her on set with a little script, she knew it before she got here [to Highclere]. She worked so hard, to get up at silly o' clock... and to wear corsets for hours on end." [Highclere Castle's post]

Harriet Walter: "She was a true comedian, but also I've seen her playing some incredibly heartfelt, deep, sad roles, which is the huge range of an actress like her. If she was merely funny or merely tragic, she wouldn't quite have made that sort of impression."

Anna Mary Scott Robbins: "I C O N 🤍 Oh Maggie you will be missed 💔"

(special thanks to @lovelikewildness for helping to compile)

[candiiee]

chapt. 1 “First Aid isn’t not as easy as you Think.”

Izuku wasn’t expecting to find a dead lizard looking mutant on his trash bags.

Izuku’s day was going pretty okay so far, all things considered. Kachan was sick today, so the harassment let up a bit.

Sure, he had a few bruises that he hid from his mom using the good ol “I walked into a door that was opening and it was my fault,” excuse, which was technically true. He was a quirkless deku after all. He was practically asking to get hit.

He had made his way home, hugged his mom, who made his favourite, Katsudon, watched some All Might videos, dusted his impressive collection, studied quirk theory, and taken a nap.

His mom had woken him up, gave him dinner, then asked him to take out the trash. And as the good son that he was, he did.

The sky was dark as he left the house, lugging the trash behind him. He was not expecting to see a blood trail, stiffening.

Was someone hurt? Following the trail with his eyes, what he saw made him scream.

At first glance, it was a massive lizard looking monster, blood everywhere.

Bandages peeling off, scars..

Izuku bolted, dropping the trash bag, errand forgotten, and ran back to his room, slamming the door, making his mom jump.

He was dreaming, wasn’t he?

.

izuku forgot everything in the morning, everything seemingly a figment of imagination, a mental block.

He woke up like usual, brushed his teeth, ate breakfast, packed his bag, and gave him mom a peck on the cheek.

“Have fun today sweetie!” Inko said, smiling.

Right. Fun. If only Izuku hadn’t been born quirkless.

He managed his best to smile, “Um, yeah! See you later.”

out the door he went, heading towards school..and saw blood.

Everything came rushing back, taking out the trash, finding a body..

They weren’t there, still right? It was just a figment of his imagination, right?

his morbid curiosity won over, a sickening feeling as he made his way back to where the trash bags were.

dread pooling in his stomach, he dared to look, and..promptly screamed again.

.

You were pretty sure you were supposed to be dead. Considering the ungodly amount of blood surrounding you, anyways. That nap you were taking didn't end up being a nap, as you were once again interrupted by a scream, the rising sun starting to get in your face.

Being kept in one room meant that you never saw the sun, but as it rose and it's rays shined down on you, you felt warm and cozy, not able to bringing yourself to move. Weird.

Slowly, through your body protested, you opened one lazy eye, the eyelid taking it's sweet precious time to let your vision be flooded with color. It was dizzying, honestly, all the different colors. Things had been more manageable when it was dark.

You glanced up, ever so slowly blinking. It's him. The same guy who saw you and screamed. Has he been standing here this whole time? Talk about weird. Surely he had better things to do.

"Y-you're still alive.." he suddenly said, blinking rapidly, eyes wide. You stay silent, not having the energy to even get up, let alone have a conversation with some weirdo. Instead you blinked, hoping he gets the hint to leave. You'd made it this far, and you did not intend to go back to that living hell.

When you don't respond, he stupidly starts to ever so slowly inch closer. It's almost as if he thought he wouldn't find himself dead. Trying to move your tail to wrap itself around his neck, you find it doesn't, instead flopping uselessly to the side.

"You n-need a doctor.." he starts, immediately shutting up as you actually react to his words, putting all your strength into getting up, and ending his life. Your body disobeys you, sadly.

Doctor.

You hate that word, the mere thought of it makes you boil with anger. Many times you had heard him talk to himself, that he was the greatest doctor. You couldn't go back. And if this sad excuse of a boy brought you back, you'd kill him, and wouldn't even let your loss of energy stop you.

Your clear displeasure doesn't deter him, sadly. He continues to inch forward, looking like the mere breeze could make him fall.

.

Izuku isn't a hero, and he knows it. He's reminded of it every single day by Kachan and his friends. But he can hope, right?

So why was he approaching someone who clearly needed help but didn't want it? Because he was a stupid Deku who had a death wish.

You were bleeding heavily, and Izuku wasn't sure if it was your blood or someone else's. Because you were still alive, it was probably the latter. And that scared him. Yet, he could tell you were in pain as well. At first glance, he could see some gaping wounds, from where the bandages covering your arms were starting to peel off.

It was sickening, honestly. He knew he should probably call his mom. But he didn't want to worry her. He didn't tell her about the bullying, so why would he tell her about this?

You must have some type of healing quirk, considering you haven't croaked yet. Otherwise, Izuku would have called an ambulance. But you did need at least some first aid. Luckily, Izuku knew some. (Perks of being bullied on the regular, and hiding it from his mom.) he'd have preferred a doctor, but judging how angry you looked at the mere mention of one, he decided that cruddy first aid would do. Many issues presented themselves though.

1. How was he going to administer first aid when he didn't even know their genetical structure? Sure, you resembled something vaguely human, but considering the small frills on your face, the weird faintly glowy eyes that didn't blink right, the sharp horns on your head, the patches of scales on your arms, face, and neck, and the tail, there was a chance your body would react badly and he'd end up being a murderer at 13. Which by all means, he did not want to be. Sure, stitches and bandages probably wouldn't kill you, but you never know. He was an overthinker like that.

2. The fact that your frill was clearly starting to show, and considering that according to that one book he had that wasn't hero related, it was supposed to be a sign of intimidation to get whoever they were facing to buzz off. And Izuku did not intend to buzz off.

3. How was he going to get back into the house to get the necessary things? His mom was still there, and she didn't leave till 8. And he was weak as hell, so no way was he going to be able to drag you in from the back. Well, he could try and wait for his mom to leave, then drag you in. hopefully no one would see his weak ass self.

4. School. He was pretty sure his teachers could care less about him, but the truth was, they wouldn't hesitate to get him in trouble. They were quirkist like that. And he didn't need his mom to find out he skipped. But.. he could email the school pretending to be his mom and lie that he was sick. Normally he would never, but you could die if you didn't receive help.

He decided what to do. He would wait for his mom to leave, hopefully on time, email the school pretending to be his mom, somehow get you inside, and administer first aid.

Easy.

Oh yeah, and make sure you don't bleed to death while he does all this.

sometimes Izuku hated his inner hero. (ok, that wasn't true, but he was thirteen, give him a break.)

@candiiee 2024

Taglist: @anzs-stuff @thoristhings @dinorawrss @cvnt4him @dokidokidraft @lover-no-lover61 @boomdolle

[r473n]

KUROTSUCHI WEEK DAY 1

Medicine for the brain/12th division/gadgets and body modifications

Here we go folks!!

Interview with Mayuri Kurotsuchi? Yes, please!!

___________ >.< ___________

HELLO! My name is Hisagi Shuhei and this is “Meet your Heroes”!

Today, we have an interesting guest! None other than our very own Kurotsuchi Mayuri!

When I became Editor in Chief of Seretei Communication, I was a little shocked to see that amongst all the many contributors of our dear magazine, Kurotsuchi taichou's column “Medicine for the Brain” was so popular!

Today we ask the man himself to answer some hot questions that I'm sure you all are very excited to know!

S: Thank you very much for taking the time out of your very busy schedule to do this interview with us, Kurotsuchi taichou.

M: I was advised there would be sweet mochi.

S: Um... yes, sorry, they’ll be bringing some tea and biscuits soon...

So, you are one of the most mysterious captains of the Gotei 13 and your fans desperately want to know a little more about you, what would you say is your favourite time of day?

M: my fans want to know that? What a stupid question. Next.

S: uh... Kurotsuchi taichou, please, you promised you'd answer...

M: alright then, my favourite time of the day is whenever this interview stops boring me. Soon, let's hope... for your sake, Hisagi san.

S: *gulps* erm... yeah, well, we can skip to the next one, no harm in that... ah, yes! What would you say it’s your biggest weakness?

M: weakness? Who says I have any? Are you plotting against me? Is this some kind of trap?

S: w-what? No! Of course not! Uh... let- let’s see, what about... what is something you regret?

M: leaving my lab this morning...

S: oh... I don’t- uh... ok, ok, let’s try again. What is your biggest strength?

M: Ah, yes, of those I have many. I guess if I had to choose one it would be... my humility.

S: hah-hah... uh... great answer! Some of our readers are interested in what makes Kurotsuchi taichou excited. What makes you drop everything at once and come running, Kurotsuchi sama?

M: that’s easy - a good dissection, of course! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of a shredding, nothing quite as refreshing as sinking my hands into a new specimen and make it spills its guts and secrets, hahaha!

S: sounds... lovely... *cough* You’re a very driven individual, what is the source of your inspiration?

M: another easy one - the pursue of knowledge, that is clear. Science is everything.

S: Fantastic response, sir. Now for a more personal touch... what do you favour, sweet or savory?

M: um... I’d have to choose sweet. By the way where’s my mochi?

S: oh, just arriving, I'm sure. We all know you have one of the most dashing smiles of the entire Seretei...

M: oh, stop it, Hisagi san, you’re going to make me blush under my paint...

S: haha... I'm merely transmitting our reader’s sentiment. So, taichou, what makes you smile the most?

M: nothing brings me more joy than a nice, juicy discovery. Finding a new and intriguing subject to experiment on, to cut up and sample and learn some groundbreaking data.

S: I see... I'm sure your fans will love that answer. What would you say it’s something you could never live without? Science?

M: well, don’t you go answering for me, Hisagi san, you’re taking the fun out of it. Yes, science. But I will let you in on a secret, I couldn’t live without my paint either. Not even in prison did I go without it for a single day.

S: oh, wow! How did you manage that?

M: let’s say I can be very persuasive.

S: I believe that! I don't think I want to make any follow up questions... Would you share one of you pet peeves?

M: those phoney scientists who seek perfection. I abhor perfection.

S: Interesting. Now, we all know you like to change your appearance very frequently and impress us with your fabulous designs... if you have to choose, would you go for diamonds or pearls?

M: Neither, I'm more of a 24 carat gold kinda girl, you see?

S: and it looks so good on you, sir!

M: here we go with more praise, Hisagi...

S: I mean it!

M: I’m going to start getting my hopes high... perhaps you should pop by my lab later on? I have a feeling that you’d be perfect for one of my new experiments...

S: oh, I-I’m very sorry, Captain but I- um... already have plans.

M: Shame... well, my door is always open, and there’s always a free operating table in my personal lab, so just keep it in mind!

S: will-will do. So... uh... yeah, for out last question – please tell us, Kurotsuchi taichou, what's your guilty pleasure?

M: oh... well, I love listening to my test subjects scream, especially the women. There is something about how shrill their voices get when they’re in pain... It does things to me.

S: uh... things?

M: things...

S: uh... ok. So, um, this is the end of the interview... any last pearls of wisdom you would wish to share with your fans?

M: *clears throat* my dear fans, I’d like to inform you that there are some open spots in my division begging to be filled. Whether you are strong or weak, a master of kidou or zanjutsu, smart or dumber than Zaraki... I welcome you all.

S: wow, Captain, that’s so kind of you. I thought there would be very strict requirements to joint the 12th?

M: No! We are open to any and all candidates, whether you’re healthy or ill, whole or maimed. I used up most of my explosives and shields fighting against those damned Quincies, I can’t get very picky, you see?

S: sir, are you... are you turning division members into weapons?

M: my, my... look at the time! I'm afraid I must go, Hisagi san, I'm a very busy man, as you know. This was lovely, let’s never do it again!

Oh! And send those mochi to my office, I'll be waiting!

---.---

This was “Meet your Heroes” with Kurotsuchi Mayuri. Tune in next week for our next episode!

[snapeaddict]

A teacher's trick

For @mmad-lover <3

"I must say, I was quite surprised. The level of precision was that of a third-year; and it was brewed by an average student at best, Miss Ladislaw. Clearly, the discussion we had two weeks ago made a lasting impression. The girl has potential, and it pains me to admit it as I usually have a keen nose for those students with probable skills - I shall keep a close eye on her."

Minerva smirked slightly, although her expression also had something of that motherly fondness one finds in older people's faces as they listen to naive statements from their younger counterparts. That particular smile did not last long, however. She knew Severus would not appreciate what he would qualify as a "patronising attitude" - or what was it that he had said last time? - "ageist condescension". She had not taken it well; then Albus had looked at her with the very same expression, and told her she should know better than to lecture someone who was no longer a student. His amused eyes above the half-moon glasses, the slightly raised eyebrows... yes, Severus might have had a point after all. He was 24 already...

"And what is it that you told Miss Ladislaw two weeks ago?" she asked, her tone as neutral as could be.  

The Potions Master slightly shrugged his shoulders.  

"Merely that I thought she could achieve a satisfactory grade if she applied herself, and that her needing to work harder than some of her classmates for the same results should not hinder her from trying."

Minerva smiled again, then immediately took a sip from her teacup to hide it, pursing her lips.  

"Well, it makes perfect sense." She couldn't help herself.

Severus raised an eyebrow.  

"You told the girl you believed she could do well. You might as well have given that kind of student a bottle of Felix Felicis - it yields the same results."

"We are talking about a student who successfully brewed a Wiggenweld potion, not a Draught of Living Death."

"You understand my meaning."

Severus sighed, although he bowed his head slightly.

"We cannot go about telling every student such things hoping it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. I would not have said it to half of them. If I had, it would not have been more than a white lie. All I can do is make sure they pass - I am no miracle worker."

"Oh, I don't know. It seems to be exactly what those new educative methods are about... you know, from the last board meeting. I thought..." She stared at him, then looked away, lowering her eyes. "I thought I could certainly incorporate some of them into my teaching. Be a bit more mindful. I am rather old-school, I'm afraid."

Severus kept looking at her. Then he simply replied, well after she had averted her gaze:

"We cannot be parents, Professor."

Minerva wondered if his momentary defeated expression had more to do with the immensity of the task at hand - to work at Hogwarts, one had better not gauge the assignment too closely - or with his own mixed feelings towards teaching. She thought it a little paradoxical how unforgiving he was with regard to academics, while he would go out of his way to try and fix things he could never fix, like broken homes and intra-student hierarchy. He was, it had to be said, an unforgiving teacher and a surprisingly supportive Head of House; Albus would certainly provide a satisfactory analysis for such behaviour, although a little too Lacanian to her liking.  

She poured him another cup of tea, which he accepted with a slightly embarrassed nod of the head. The friendliness between them was new and ever fragile. In its present state, it was a succession of extended hands quickly taken away when glares of suspicion, or the occasional snide remark, emerged again.

But she was trying, truly. This evening, she had originally planned, was to further their mutually beneficial relationship.

"You should not be so reluctant to make use of that Pygmalion effect, you know, Severus. It did yield great results with you."

He stared at her, looking genuinely surprised.  

"With me?" he repeated, the intonation quite unlike him.  

"If you recall, you were not very fond of Transfiguration as a boy."

"I shall make no comment on the subject."

His voice was rather cold.  

"You need not justify yourself", Minerva replied gently. This time, she held his gaze. "I know you had your reasons, all of them justified."

You did not feel safe, she wanted to add, but she said nothing. As usual, another thought rushed to complete the former - does that justify anything?  

She knew he would never claim that it did; although they had never brushed the subject, Albus had made no indication that the boy made any connection at all between the bullying, and his joining You-Know-Who. No, it was her; she made a connection. She saw a pattern, some kind of single path he was made to follow, perhaps a personal failure. It was in her nature to self-scrutinise when and only when she formed a bound - empathy enabled introspection as readily as dislike blinded her to any conclusions she might have previously drawn.

She was startled when he spoke:

"Not all of them, no."

She looked at him confusedly.  

"I beg your pardon?"  

"Not all my reasons for disliking Transfiguration were sound", Severus elaborated, smirking slightly.

She stared at him for a second. It was as if he had guessed...?  

"It was too much like muggle magic", he continued, purposely ignoring her expression. "Put a poor rabbit in a black hat; it is transformed into a dove. The coin disappears and reappears. You pull out metres of tissue from the magician's pocket. It seemed to me this was all that this was - magic tricks."

This time, Minerva was fully shaken out of her daze. She looked frankly scandalised.

"Magic tricks!" she repeated, her right hand on her heart. "Tricks!"  

Severus seemed to enjoy her half-genuine, half-theatrical display of indignation. He continued, sipping his tea with exaggerated nonchalance:

"I thought it horrendously inelegant. Turning animals into glassware while we brewed potions the colour of the starry sky... While we learnt to bottle things without essence... "

"I beg your pardon, no matter how you put it, it still is soup you are making down there", she cut sharply.

The Slytherin narrowed his eyes. "Now, Professor, you do not want me as your enemy", he said slowly, putting down his cup in the middle of the English porcelain before him.  

"Oh, but I do", Minerva replied in a syrupy tone. She put down her own cup with every bit of nonchalance he had just displayed. "Potions are just large soups. That is, boiling water with things you put inside of it."

"Transfiguration is but a distraction for children at a garden birthday party."

"... While their parents bake the birthday cake by throwing ingredients into a big bowl in the right order, which is what you do, if I am not mistaken."

Severus raised his eyebrows, now looking amused and somewhat surprised. He thought of a few bitting comebacks - some that he would not have shied away from using a few years later - but hesitated for a second. This was, after all, still his former professor...  

"Well, Severus? I am sure you of all people have a witty reply to offer. You are a man of many talents."

This was enough to stimulate a formidable combination of those replies he was pondering upon - something to do with Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration, its first principle, the impossibility of conjuring up food, the birthday cake, screaming children, ethical considerations about vanishing said children, and a muffling draught. He was about to speak; then, Minerva's words reached him fully. "You are a man of many talents."

He closed his mouth, smiled slightly, then nodded, all without a word.  

You are a boy of many talents, Severus. Be sure to remember this next class.  

"Pygmalion effect", Minerva said, leaning back in her seat. She clasped her fingers, smiling pensively. "You did so well that next Monday. You transformed that match into such a beautiful flower - truly the most remarkable one I had ever seen. I brought it to Pomona, I remember. She said it looked like a Lotus, Bleeding Heart, and Edelweiss had been bred together; it did not exist. It was a pure product of your imagination."

Severus frowned, although more from concentration than annoyance.  

"I barely remember".  

"You got an O. I cannot tell you how frustrated I was that you only got an E for your O.W.Ls. The only one! Nine 'Outstandings' in all other subjects!"  

Severus gave her an ironic look.  

"I am sorry to have disappointed".  

She rolled her eyes. "Do not put words into my mouth. Look", she added, getting up and circumventing her armchair, "I even took a picture."

She pulled out a drawer from the nearby buffet, then searched through its content for a few seconds, smoothly retrieving a mid-size, cardboard-like paper which she handed to him. Carefully, Severus lowered it down on his knees.

On the top right corner, in green ink, the words "Mr Snape - 1972" were written in the neat, strict handwriting that he had known since his first year, although usually in red. Somewhat clumsily this time - for whatever reason - he turned the paper over. It was, indeed, a picture: that of the flower he vaguely remembered, but now could study plainly, with its long petals and queer tear-shaped extensions right at their extremities. It looked more alien than beautiful, but that was not what his mind was occupied with. Rather, his black eyes scrutinised the background in the picture, clearly that of Minerva's personal desk, which had not changed much since then. His eyes went from the picture to the desk, dimly lit by a few candles at this time of the evening.  

"I wish it could have lasted longer", Minerva said softly, still standing by his side. She had followed his gaze. "It is one of the tragedies of transfiguration - nothing lasts forever."

For a few moments, Severus could not speak. Minerva put a hand on the back of his armchair, looking at him expectantly.

With difficulty, he gathered himself, and finally cleared his throat.  

"I was merely thinking... thinking that if you were to cast a combination of Epoximise and Orchideous spells, and I to brew an Elixir and Revigorating Draught, all of this put to use at regular intervals - it could potentially keep such a flower intact."

Minerva raised her eyebrows, her interest fully sparked. She turned around, searched through the buffet drawer once more, and placed a match in front of him. Her wand was out.

"Brilliant, Severus. What do you say I perform some tricks, and you bring over some soup, so that I can give you another O?

[tagidearte]

"Pongo, the Imp Clown. Some say he used to be a Star, others say that's just his delusional ramblings." -Original Character for a (so far) unnamed Original Story.

I'm still in the early stages of designing him and his "friend" Pinga. However, I decided to share these initial drafts regardless! This way someone other than me can join in on the character design journey! Let's see how much he changes until the final design! Thoughts below.

Concept Log #1 - Pongo

Aka I want to ramble and my friends don't care robot clowns. Really big rambly rant below.

Also no, this is not a d/ca oc. Trust me, making a robot clown/jester is like walking into a laser trap when you've been obsessing over those two for the past three years. The only d/ca inspiration here was making Pongo warm coloured and Pinga cool coloured. If anything, this was more inspired by the Funtimes.

For now, I hate all the outfits. They don't fit his vibe, his personality, his whole persona. He's an imp clown, but he has... Delusions of grandeur. I need to make him more princely, perhaps? I'll attempt that next time. I already have the chibi base, so it'll be relatively quick.

I also want to make his casing... Different. Either paler with pink shadows, or a darker, more solid pink. He's meant to have only warm colours, contrasting with Pinga (you'll see him some other time) who only has cold ones, so no blues or greens... But I must say. Darker pink will probably win. When I painted his face white it looked too much like a Slay Button En/nard. In fact, I added all that eye and lip makeup to make him look less like En/nard.

The coil torso is the most important part. On a final drawing I'll make it have more loops, which should give the impression the thing is stronger and capable of more powerful bounces (which can hurt you if he decides to launch) - but for these concepts I merely half assed it. The star shaped hat with the back cone coming out is my favourite part!

Hope you enjoy his star shaped nipple coverings as much as I did coming up with them! Originally (not pictured here) he was going to have a big star on his chest, to mimic what I see in a lot of jack in a box's boxes. But the nipple coverings were so raunchy and funny, yet still appropriate for younger audiences (in world), that I left them in. Him being a reformed villain (in the media he's built after, inside the world) allows for messing around with the makeup and eccentricity, but we can't go to far - he needs to look PG while being predominantly adult/teen entertainment as an amusement park bot.

For context... Ever since I got into FN4F I've wanted to do something similar - with a location and mascots -, but instead of an USA animal band, I wanted it to be based on a cartoon set in a magical forest (like Noddy from my childhood - with a city of living toys and two imps that lived in the eViL wOoDs-, but funny for all ages rather than so 5 year old centric). Overtime, the thought of sentient robots forced to work - objects that were given a soul, trapped in a synthetic shell that is their body, dependent on humanity and property to it despite technically being alive, easy to manipulate via some changes in code - wormed itself in.

But I never really had the proper setting or characters for it. That, and I have another original story that has plagued my dreams ever since I was 12/13.

Until now.

I won't go into setting details yet. Let me just say Pinga and Pongo are a ping pong pun, because they both bob up and down with coils - Pongo on his torso, which makes him kind of like a jack in a box; and Pinga on his legs, which allows him to jump really high. They are based on cartoon characters that exist in world, from a movies series that ended up with a cartoon too, sort of like disney stuff but... Not disney. The entire mythos of that company's content takes place in one single world/franchise, it just explores different parts of it with each new series/movie/game.

Pongo is an egomaniac, programmed the be flirty to adults, who struggles on the line between property and self. He used to give a lot of trouble to the park, because his AI allowed him to learn new tricks rather quickly... and most weren't really all that safe or appropriate. So, time and time again, he got sent back to fix it. Having his "brain" messed with has made him deeply afraid of not behaving like a machine, which clashes with how self pleasing he is - you just don't realize it at first, because he's programmed to be a flirty little demon with an attitude. It's just that his real attitude is much more... intense.

Let's see if posting this online makes me not put the project aside too quickly lmao.

[vagabond-umlaut]

parterre

Lord Nanami is a knight, yes. A very esteemed one at that. But does anyone know he is an impressive gardener too? Well, he is— for he is the one, who caused these many flowers of these many hues to bloom in the landscape of your heart— so much so that you've not the slightest idea on how to manage them all well.

▸ knight!Nanami x lady-in-waiting!Reader; Historical AU; Tons of Tooth-Rotting Fluff; Crushes; Pining [is it mutual, however?]; Jealousy; Misunderstandings; Teasing; Did I already say this is so sweetly fluffy, you might end up with cavities? Oh. Okay. Cool :); Reader is so terribly down bad for Nanami, it's become a matter of mild concern; She is called a harmless little nickname by the princess here; THIS FIC WAS WRITTEN AS A LITTLE CELEBRATORY GIFT TO NANAMI NATION, AFTER THE FEAST THAT JJK 2.12 WAS FOR Y'ALL ;))

▸ Behold, the thesis I mentioned to you last night, Julie my sweetest pie. 🤭🤭🤭 Hope you'll enjoy reading this! 🫶🫶 @nanamikentoseyebags

▸ I don't own the characters or image used. Divider is by @cafekitsune. Please don't plagiarize, translate or repost this. Enjoy reading! ❤️

Nanami Kento is no simple man. He is one crafted wondrously by the heavens. A veritable evidence, if there ever were any, of the existence of some greater being— powerful enough to make a man such as the knight. Merciful enough to make him live in the same time frame and place as you do.

A wistful sigh falls past your lips as you begrudgingly tear your focus away from the training grounds and direct it to the scalding coffee at hand, though it takes but two mere two seconds before you find your eyes darting to the open window yet again– skimming over the many heads out there– wanting to find only one blond head– heart beating far too many beats when you hear the name of its owner being yelled out once again—

The utterance of your title in court drags you away from your frantic search, to the mildly smiling face of the princess: Sleepy, yes– But a lot more awake than she was five minutes ago. You rush to offer her your greetings, only to stop when she lifts a finger and tilts her head to the side, brows furrowed a pinch.

"That was Kento's name being hollered, wasn't it, Petals?"

You aren't certain which infuriates you more— that the princess used your childhood nickname well into your adulthood– or that she called Knight Nanami by his first name, a privilege he is known to grant to a very select few—

Compelling your face to shift into a smile, you nod. "I'm afraid it was, Your Highness."

"And was it yet another lady cheering for his victory in a match, huh?" she queries, kicking the covers off her feet and landing onto the floor with a loud thud. Wincing lightly, you quickly shake your head 'no'.

"It wasn't, Your Highness. The voice sounded much like Lord Haibara."

A quiet hum comes in response to your observation– soon shadowed over by the off-key singing of rather... indelicate songs, you're certain no one of an upbringing as royal and guarded as your princess should know— before the lyrics pause– all of a sudden– the moment she sits down at the table and looks out the window.

At the ongoing duel between Nanami and Geto, swords clanging and their bare chests shining in the early morn sun.

The very sight making every drop of blood in your vessels to rush to your cheeks, flooding them with colour– whilst your gaze roves with no trace of shame over the well-built physique of the solemn blond– lingering in particular on the toned muscle of his arms and forearms, flexing and extending as his fingers grasp the hilt of the weapon and the muscles in his legs strain against the tight fabric of his slacks, as the knight moves in a spell-binding dance of danger and tact against his opponent.

A huff of a chuckle escapes you when the former lands a solid hit on the latter; no one can match him in his prowess at wielding a sword; making a tendril of pride unfurl in the centre of your chest, only for it to shrivel in the heat of envy the princess' chortle ignites in that very same place.

You make no efforts to stop the words tumbling out your mouth next. Nor the tense frown which nestles into your tinted lips, throwing your face into lines and ridges.

"Is Lord Nanami courting you, Your Highness?"

"What!?!?" Not even an instant elapses before the exclamation leaves your listener. You continue, pretending to be unperturbed by the way innumerable shades of shock and incredulity colour her countenance.

"I mean, you call him by his first name, and he too does the same for you. Besides, the both of you have often been spotted to be strolling in the gardens together, easily chatting and smiling... not to mention the ball held last winter solstice when you two entered the ball, side-by-side— it is not only me who me who wonders so, milady," you add when you notice her back straigthening and she returning the cup to the saucer, "The court is rife with suppositions, on the nature of your relationship with Lord Nanami."

A beat passes in tense silence in response to your expressed musings— before the hush is disrupted by a very grave-sounding query, from the lady across. "What do you look for in a future life partner, Petals?"

"Me?" you ask, index finger pointed at yourself.

The princess gives a nod. "Yes, you, Your Grace."

Your nose wrinkles at such ill-considered usage of such high-ranking titles— nevertheless, you find yourself brushing those concerns away to mull over much more important matters...

A good while passes before you form a reply. Focus zeroing on a tiny coffee stain on your dress, you begin.

"Someone who is calm and collected, stoic and serious. He should be strong too, not just in brawn but in brain and matters of heart as well. He must be strict and disciplined, but must have a gentle, caring side to him too. Won't hurt if he's a traditional romantic, giving me flowers and sweet compliments instead of the terrible comments men say to the ladies these days. And..."

You trail off, losing yourself in your mind, before resuming, in a muted murmur this time, "It might be really nice if he lets me be of those few who can call him by his name– and he becomes comfortable enough, to call me by my name. And accompany me on walks in the garden in the afternoons. And perhaps, even, ask me to the balls where we may wear matching outfits, and present ourselves as a couple before all."

A hand comes to rest over your folded ones. You look up to find a bit too wide smile resting on the princess' lips. She offers your hands an easing squeeze.

Little does she know it does little to ease your turbulent emotions— a feeling which worsens with the observations she voices to you next.

"I was terrified your beautiful mind was tainted by the disease of idle inquisitiveness, as happens to most in this world with age, you know," she hums, standing up and making you sit in her chair, "I'm very glad to conclude, that's not quite the case. However– I cannot say your so lovely mind is disease-free either, my sweet Petals."

Your brows gather together in confusion as you peer at her, eyes in a narrow stare. She continues– smile growing a touch of tenderness.

"Your mind has been afflicted with the awful ailment of lovesickness. And–" she says, putting greater emphasis on her syllables, when you attempt to protest her statement, "it is usually incurable, unless very great feats of bravery are performed by the patient themselves, or in the off-chance, the fates decide to be helpful and the person behind the mess makes the first move— but I must say, Your Grace, you are very lucky to have me as your consulting physician— for I know what will provide you interim relief until either of them happens— want to know what it is?"

You take a moment to consider before returning a slow, unsure nod.

The princess beams. "It's the knowledge of the fact, there's someone who matches every criteria you mentioned, to a T— and that– he has his eyes reserved for none, except one beautiful lady-in-waiting, who stares at the training ground from the windows of the princess' room every single morning— looking as fresh and vibrant as the nickname, the princess insists on calling her."

Your friend pauses for a beat— not that you really notice it over the thrum of your blood in your ears and your heart in your chest— she inquires, "You understood the prescription, didn't you, Petals?"

A high-pitched squeal– so unseemly, so embarrassed, so jubilant– is the only response you manage, retreating into the cushion, hiding the warmth of your face and the stretch of your smile behind your palms.

▸ masterlist