#i figured an e offering wouldn't hurt

[herluminouswitch]

e-offering for Lord Hermes Diaktoros¹, psychopomp and guide to us all, especially those who travel and the roads we roam.

i thank you for guiding my path this tumultuous week and always. i honor your role in my safe passage. blessed be.

¹epithet from theoi.com, translates to guide or messenger.

[steddie-island]

Plenty Implied

Written for @steddiesongfics and @steddiebingo Song: Baby, It's Cold Outside Prompts: Under the influence (R1), winter (R1 and 12 days of Christmas) Rating: E | WC: 2,343 | Tags: Alpha Eddie Munson, Omega Steve Harrington, getting together, first kiss, snowed in For full list of tags see ao3 | Divider credit

This wasn't how Steve had expected his night to go. He'd expected the blind date his mother had set him up on to suck (it had). He'd expected there to be a kerfuffle over the bill, no matter which of them paid (his date had). He'd expected the night to end with him and Robin cuddled on the couch, eating cookies and ice cream while they talked about how bad his mother's taste in dates for him was.

The getting home part was where everything had gone wonky. Even if he hadn't locked the keys in his car, the snow had piled up so fast that he wouldn't have been able to make it out of the parking lot.

Maybe if he'd left at the same time as his date then he would've been able to get out. But he hadn't, he'd stayed behind and finished the wine he'd ordered while watching the Alpha behind the bar.

Now here he was, sitting in the corner of said Alpha's couch while Eddie puttered around the kitchen. He hadn't yet decided whether Eddie living above the restaurant was good luck or not. It would depend on if Steve's mother found out he'd started the evening with one Alpha and ended it with another.

"Marshmallows or no marshmallows?"

Eddie's voice pulled Steve back to the moment. "Marshmallows," he said, looking towards the kitchen.

When Eddie joined him again he was holding two mugs piled high with whipped cream, marshmallows, and… chocolate shavings? As if the cocoa wasn't surprising enough, it was brought out in matching Garfield mugs.

"I sort of thought you were joking about making cocoa." Steve took his mug and held it close. The warm scent of chocolate and cinnamon wrapped around him. It mixed surprisingly well with the scent of Eddie — tobacco and leather.

"Stevie. I would never joke about hot cocoa." Eddie didn't sit down beside him right away and instead crossed to a table pushed against the wall. Steve watched nimble fingers flip through the vinyls until he'd found what he wanted.

"…Really?" Steve laughed as the voice of Ella Fitzgerald filled the room. "Isn't this a little on the nose?"

"Maybe that's why I picked it." Eddie grinned as he took his seat. "Did you get ahold of your friend?" He gestured to the cordless he'd given Steve before stepping into the kitchen.

"No. She didn't answer, I figured I would try again in a few minutes." Steve flicked his tongue out to try and clear a spot for himself to drink out of through the whipped cream. Rich chocolate flavor exploded on his tongue, followed by the subtle burn of alcohol.

"I think Ella was on to something, there's definitely more than chocolate in this," he teased.

Eddie's rumbling laugh made Steve shiver. "I just figured it would help warm you up," he said. His nose wrinkled in a way that made Steve want to lean in and kiss the tip of it. "…Was that creepy? I can make you some without, I just remembered you having wine earlier, didn't think it would hurt—"

"You were watching me?" Steve asked.

"I didn't say that." Eddie arched one brow as he took a long drink. He licked the whipped cream mustache away before Steve could offer to do it. "But yeah, I was. It's always fun to be an innocent bystander for the trainwreck dates."

"Trainwreck!" Steve barked out in a laugh. "You could not tell it was a trainwreck from all the way over by the bar."

"Trust me, you work with people as long as I have, you learn to pick up on things." Eddie settled in against the couch with one arm stretched out along the back of it. "If that's what you count as a good date, I would hate to see what counts as bad."

Steve settled back, too, with his hands around his mug and his body facing Eddie's. "It wasn't the worst date I've ever had. Just… awkward."

"What is the worst date you've ever had?"

Another laugh bubbled up as Steve drained half of his mug. "It'll take more than one mug of hard cocoa to get that out of me."

"You're not serious." Eddie watched Steve with wide eyes.

"I fucking wish I was joking!"

It had taken more than one hard cocoa, but just barely. Steve had managed to get through to Robin (who, to her credit, only panicked a little at the idea of Steve being with a guy neither of them knew, and she only demanded his full name, address, a physical description, and his license plate number in case Steve didn't show up again once the weather had cleared up). Once the cocoa was gone and Robin knew Steve was somewhere safe for the night, they had switched to a bottle of bourbon Eddie had brought home from work.

There was something about Eddie that Steve found comforting in a way he hadn't found with anyone but Robin in a very long time. Maybe it was because Eddie hadn't even blinked when Robin had demanded to speak to him, too. Maybe it was because he looked tough and rugged, with his ripped jeans and his motorcycle boots and the tattoos covering his arms, but he had at least two Garfield mugs in his kitchen and he listened to Ella Fitzgerald on snowy nights.

Eddie's laugh was big and bright and Steve found that he wanted to wrap himself up in it because it warmed him even more than their drinks had. He was just warm, and Steve found himself slowly gravitating closer and closer to Eddie's end of the couch.

If Robin was here, she would be telling him that he needed to be careful. He fell too hard too fast and he always got hurt for it. This night, though, Eddie, it all felt different. This wasn't even a date, Eddie had just been nice enough to offer Steve somewhere to warm himself up for the night.

Now Steve wanted to offer Eddie somewhere warm, too.

It was a stupid line brought on by a horny thought, and Steve nearly spat out his drink.

"You good, man?" Eddie asked as he reached over to lightly clap Steve on the back. His scent was even stronger when he was this close.

"I'm good." Steve wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and cleared his throat. "Just— stupid thought. I think I need to take that as my sign to head to bed."

"Okay." Eddie tossed back the rest of his drink and started cleaning their dishes up. Steve reached out to help and Eddie stopped him with a wave of his hand. "Stay there, I've got this."

"I can help," Steve insisted. He stood up and grabbed their empty mugs. "Besides, I'm, uh… going to need some pajamas, if you have anything I can borrow?"

"Oh fuck, right!" Eddie put the bottle of bourbon back down on the coffee table and hurried down a short hallway to what Steve assumed was his bedroom.

While Eddie was gone Steve carried their dishes to the kitchen. He rinsed them out and left them to be washed in the morning. Eddie could still be heard rummaging in his room, so Steve took a moment to be a little nosy. He let his fingertip curl around the cabinet door.

Eddie didn't just have a Garfield mug. There were juice glasses with the fat orange cat on them, and were those dinner plates? Steve lifted one up carefully to get a closer look— Garfield in a night dress and cap, beside Odie in a rocking chair.

"Not what you expected, huh?"

Caught, Steve put the plate back and turned to Eddie with pink cheeks. "I was just wondering, after I saw the mugs. I would say I'm not usually that nosy, but…" He shrugged. "I would be lying."

Eddie grinned wide and Steve once more found himself watching the way the corners of his eyes crinkled.

"It's something I got into with my uncle," he explained. "We watched the cartoons together. It's something we bonded over when I moved in with him." He held something out to Steve. "I don't actually have any clean pajama pants…"

Steve unfolded the shirt. It was soft and worn, with a few tiny holes around the neck. Clearly this was a shirt that Eddie had had for a while, one he loved. And he was offering it up to Steve to use for the night.

Whatever resolve or sense of propriety Steve had left flew out the window. He'd wondered earlier what his mother would think about him having dinner with one Alpha and then going home with another one entirely.

Finding out her son not only went home with a stranger, but that he was the one who made the first move, might've sent her to an early grave.

Steve didn't let that stop him as he closed the distance between them. His hand cupped Eddie's cheek, thumb stroking his jaw, and then their lips were pressed together.

Eddie's lips were soft and warm. He tasted like chocolate and alcohol and Steve would never get enough.

"Look, I know it might be forward," he murmured. "But you smell so good, and you're so nice, and I would kick myself if I didn't shoot my shot."

Warm air brushed Steve's mouth as Eddie laughed again. Steve was becoming addicted to that, too.

"I got you tipsy and didn't give you pants to sleep in, and you think you're being forward?"

"Giving me pants would've just made it that much harder for you to get into them, wouldn't it?"

Eddie actually groaned, but then his mouth was on Steve's again and Steve's back was pressed against the lip of the counter. "Fuck, that was cheesy."

"Says the man with the Garfield collec— hey!" Steve yelped as he was lifted up onto the counter. Eddie was slim, lean, but there was a strength in his arms that was surprising.

Eddie's lips trailed over his jaw and up towards his ear. "Don't pretend the Garfield collection isn't what won you over."

"Was I that transparent?" Steve murmured. His legs came up to wrap around Eddie's waist, his arms draped around those wide shoulders.

"'Fraid so." Eddie pressed a kiss to the moles on the underside of Steve's jaw. "You know… if seeing my dinnerware made you want to jump into bed with me, I can't wait until you see my pajamas."

Steve threaded a hand into Eddie's soft hair and stole another kiss that was almost teasing. "Oh, baby. I don't think either of us could handle that."

Neither of them stopped smiling as Eddie lifted him off of the counter, as they bumped their way down the hallway.

Steve was far from a blushing virgin, had been around the block more than few times. None of his partners had been like Eddie, though.

Eddie's mouth left a trail of fire as he played connect the dots with Steve's moles. His fingers stoked Steve's pleasure higher and higher, until his thighs shook and there was a patch of slick on the bed beneath them, until he'd fallen apart not once but twice.

Eddie was right there after, too, kissing Steve's shattered edges and melting them until they were fitted together and he was whole again.

When Eddie finally settled over him, when they were finally joined as one, it was with their hands threaded together on either side of Steve's head.

It wasn't rushed. It was slow and languid, with kisses to eyelids and cheeks and chins, with Eddie sucking marks into Steve's skin and Steve urging Eddie on with his heels.

They came together with a cry from Steve and Eddie panting Steve's name into the hollow of his throat.

Afterward there was an ease with Eddie that Steve hadn't gotten from other partners. There was no hasty cleanup, no scrambling for clothes. Eddie just rolled them away from the wet spot. He kissed Steve gently, then slipped out of bed to get a wet washcloth to wipe them both off.

Steve slipped into the shirt Eddie had brought to him. It was even softer when it was on. Eddie's scent was there beneath the laundry detergent scent, too.

Eddie wrapped around him when he got back into bed. He tucked the blankets around them and buried his face in Steve's neck in a way that showed Steve wasn't the only one feeling a little scent addicted.

Sleep was just taking over when Eddie's voice roused him again.

"You think roses would be appropriate?"

"Hmm?" Steve cracked one eye open. "For what?"

"Feel like I owe your date a thank you after this."

Steve lightly smacked Eddie's hip. "You don't think there's someone else you should be thanking?"

"Oh, right." Eddie nuzzled down against the top of Steve's head and held him that much tighter. "I'll have to get some for your mom, too."

"Eddie!" Steve dissolved into sleepy giggles that he tried to stifle against Eddie's shoulder. "That's still not who I was talking about!"

"I know." Eddie pressed a kiss to the corner of Steve's mouth and gathered him impossibly closer. "Thought you might like breakfast more than flowers. Figured I would save flowers for our first date."

"This wasn't a date?" Steve asked. "What would you call it?"

Eddie took so long to answer that Steve was almost sure he'd fallen asleep, too. "Our meet cute. But we should probably leave out the sex when we tell our future grandpups."

Steve couldn't stop the purr that started in his chest.

Even if there was talk tomorrow about what he'd done, and if it made its way back to his parents, he'd met the Alpha of his dreams, someone who collected Garfield memorbilia and talked about pups before they'd even technically been on a date.

They fell asleep wrapped up together, with Steve's purr still rumbling on and the snow falling down around them.

[fictionalreads]

Hello do you think you could do this one the reader and Mike are married and she knew about Lockwood but Mike didn't believe her because of Rita, reason, and they had an argument he said something that he should never said and she got kidnapped while being months pregnant 😦😦😦😦

A/N: HIIIII!! I'm so sorry this took so long, I was out of town and then had to get back in the rhythm of things once I got back. Writing for Mike (where it's his story and he's not playing the role of narrator for the sake of Armando) was different. I included Rita but I just couldn't make her the reason he didn't believe reader, I just felt like she and the reader wouldn't have beef so that was changed but I tried to stick to the rest of your request. I hope you enjoy this! 🥰 Title from Forget How to Love by Meghan Trainor

I Know Your Words Shouldn't Hurt Me, But They Hurt Me

Fandom: Bad Boys Movie

Pairing: Mike Lowrey x reader

Warnings⚠️: Um... Relationship issues? canon typical violence even though its mostly talked around

You knew when you married Mike Lowrey that he was used to doing things alone, that moving as a unit didn’t come naturally to him. Sure he had Marcus and they were a well oiled machine, but it didn’t start that way and at the end of the day Marcus had a family that was his priority no matter how much he loved Mike.

But Mike was your priority, you’d go through hell for him.

He knew this, but after relying on himself for so long, he didn’t always come to you first. His initial reaction to anything was to internalize and figure out a solution, only coming to you after he failed on his own. You were used to it, but it didn’t make it less hurtful every time he did it.

You on the other hand, preferred talking it out with him. You liked to explain the issue to him, not looking for him to fix it, but rather to vent it out to someone you trusted, someone who would let you think through it all out loud, sometimes offering his own two cents. You usually were able to solve the issue on your own while talking it out, but having him as a sounding board made you feel less alone. Mike was good at listening to what you had to say.

Which is why you were so surprised when he was dismissive about your concerns.

“I’m telling you, something is off with Lockwood,” you insisted.

“The man is one of the best U.S. attorneys I’ve ever worked with. He’s part of the reason AMMO exists and has tried a lot of high profile criminals that nobody else would touch cause they were afraid of the blowback.”

You shrugged, having already thought of this too. “The best criminals hide in plain sight, gain your trust and make sure you’d never think of them.”

“This ain’t Scooby Doo, alright? This is the real world, let’s get back to reality please.” You knew he didn’t mean anything by it, not really, but it felt like a dig.

“You don’t believe me? You think I’m making it all up?” You were defensive, ready to 

“I never said you were making it up, I’m just not convinced. What proof do you have?” He placated.

He had you there. There was no concrete evidence, nothing specific that made you feel like Lockwood was hiding something, but you just knew he was.

“I don’t have any, it’s just a gut feeling. Intuition or whatever you want to call it.”

“Intuition? You want me to investigate a man who will probably be the next mayor of Miami cause you feel something?”

He was being dismissive at best, belittling at worst. It irked you, especially because you knew he had done exactly that for others before. So why not for his wife?

“Would you do it if it was Rita?” It was a bit bitchy to ask, considering Rita had been nothing but kind to you despite being Mike’s ex. You had thought she’d be a point of contention for the two of you when you first started dating and you found out he worked with her all day, but it wasn’t. You weren’t using her now to pick a fight, just to prove a point. You knew if any of the AMMO team had come to him with the same amount of information you had, he’d chase every lead until there was nothing left.

“What?”

His surprise was warranted so you clarified, “would you look into it if Rita came to you and said she felt something off about Lockwood?” 

“Why are you bringing Rita into this?” His evasive answer made the hairs on your neck stand up. Why wouldn’t he answer the question? You were prepared for him to say yes and for you to point out the hypocrisy of his answer, but him refusing to answer? It put you on edge.

“Why are you ignoring the question?”

“I’m not.”

“Then answer the question. Yes or no?”

“Where is this coming from?” Another avoidance.

“Yes or no Mike?”

“Yes! Okay? Yes I would.”

“Why?”

“Why what?” He knew exactly what you were asking and honestly you were almost afraid of what this was leading to, but you couldn’t seem to stop yourself, to diffuse and come back with a calmer head so you pushed some more.

“Why would you do it for her and not me?”

“Don’t do that.”

“Is it because she’s a cop?”

“Y/N,”

“Or because you’ve known her longer?”

“Y/N,”

“Is it because she’s dating him and therefore closer to him?”

“Because I trust her!”

And wasn’t that a slap in the face.

“And you don’t trust me?” You whispered.

“Y/N,”

“What are we even doing if you don’t trust me Mike? What was the point in exchanging vows and being together if you can’t trust me?”

“I didn’t mean that.”

“You still said it.” Mike was at a loss for words, staring at you, hoping you’d understand but you couldn’t. The man you loved just told you he didn’t trust you. You had never felt so unmoored in your life. Everything about your relationship had just shifted in your view. “I’m gonna go stay in the guest room for the night,” you managed before turning away from him.

That had been the last time you saw him before he became a wanted man and you were kidnapped by McGrath. What you wouldn’t give to go back to that night and talk it all out instead of allowing hurt feelings to run the conversation. Now you could be killed before you got the chance to fix things.

You had faith in your husband’s abilities but McGrath held you and Marcus at gunpoint, blocking Mike’s view of himself.

“What you don’t know is one of ‘em can’t die.”

What the hell? Since when did one of you become immortal? What the hell was he doing? You missed his and Marcus’ exchange because you were so confused by the first statement, only jolted out of your thinking by the gun going off. Mike had shot Marcus to get him down and then shot McGrath. It was over, and Mike was running to you.

“I trust you, and I love you. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before,” were the first words out of his mouth. He cut your restraints, pulling you into his embrace.

Too high off the adrenaline of the past day, you couldn’t have a real conversation about it with him so you let him know it was okay with a joke. “Bet you’ll never doubt my intuition again.”

He laughed and went to say something when you both heard Judy over the comms saying she’d found Armando. He looked at you in a panic, clearly not wanting to leave you but needing to get to Armando. “Go, I’ll check over Marcus and get us back to the team.” He didn’t waste another second, running to find his son.

It was later when you were escorted to an ambulance that you saw him again, rushing to get to you.

“Everything alright?”

The medic looked at you for permission to speak. “It’s okay he’s my husband.”

The medic nodded, answering his question with, “Its just a precaution sir. We just want to make sure there’s no hidden wounds that are being masked by the adrenaline.”

You were helped onto the back of the ambulance and the medic began her examination, checking your head for wounds and asking if you were hit at any point, blacked out or fell into something hard. You answered in the negative, stating you were pushed around a bit but not hit or thrown into anything. Any falling was the result of trying not to get hit by a bullet or the chopped that crashed. When it seemed she was about done with her examination you spoke up.

“Is it possible to do an ultrasound?”

“Ultrasound?” “Of course.” Mike and the medic spoke at the same time.

You reached out to grab Mike’s hand, tears in your eyes. “Yeah, an ultrasound.” Mike looked dumbfounded and you continued to look at him even as you spoke to the medic, “My OB said I was about nine weeks.”

The medic noted the information and readied the ultrasound. Before long the sound of your baby’s heartbeat filled the air and the fear you’d been holding back burst through you in the form of relief. Uncontrollable sobs wracked your body knowing you had managed to keep your baby safe. Mike held you closely, trying to calm your breathing.

You knew the two of you had some tough conversations in your future but right now all that mattered was that your little family was safe.

[loganwritesprobably]

– Shanks & Buggy & Reader with the 2° or 3°genre, prompt (e.) ✨

Oh this pairing has so much potential, but I like it being platonic. Switches up the vibe a little. You've given me a little too much power with that choice, but I think the end here manages both..

Content/Warnings: Shanks & GN!Reader & Buggy, hurt/comfort, hurt/no comfort, childhood friends, background character death, arguing, yelling, end of friendships

You, Buggy and Shanks had been friends for as long as you could remember. Your first few years had been rough, or at least everyone assumed so considering you'd been picked up by the Roger pirates as a three year old after Shanks of a similar age had identified you and wanted to play with you. A year later had come Buggy, and on the Oro Jackson the three of you were raised to be pirates. Shanks was always the strongest of the three of you, while Buggy was the most sensitive, and you were the smartest. Between the three of you, you would've made a brilliant pirate crew.

Would've. That was the key word. Past tense.

Roger had been executed, and the skies had opened up to scream their protests. Rain poured down over the three of you as you trudged through Loguetown and away from the execution platform. You couldn't bare to look at it anymore. Shanks was up ahead, leading the way, while you followed, hand in hand with Buggy.

You paused near the docks, and you took a few steps away from the boys to look out at the sea. It wouldn't be the same without him. You'd wanted to stay with the crew until you were at least sixteen, but you'd not been with them in over six months and you were only fifteen. Shanks and Buggy were hardly older than you. You'd been abandoned.

Your ears perked up as you heard yelling. Buggy. You whipped around to look for the danger, and realised it was you in trouble - Buggy was yelling at Shanks. You rushed over to their sides, stood just between them, trying to figure out what had happened.

"He isn't going to go looking for the One Piece." Buggy muttered, and you could hear how betrayed he felt, and some part of you felt the same. You looked at Shanks with slightly widened eyes.

"Shanks.." you murmured, searching his face in hopes you could understand.

"We can all still sail together." Shanks offered, but the offer was lame, it fell flat. He didn't even sound confident about the offer.

"But that's our dream Shanks - the one piece." You replied, inching closer to Buggy. You hated to choose sides when they bickered, but you all knew a choice had already been made.

"I just.. I don't know. Maybe it isn't mine anymore." Shanks whispered, but he might as he might as well have screamed it. Not his dream anymore?

You took Buggy's hand in your own, and laced your fingers. Both of you needed the support.

"You know, most people only deal with one idiot. You pick a best friend, and you put up with them for life. I thought you two would be the death of me. But it looks like I'll be picking sides before that happens." You said to Shanks, and Buggy squeezed your hand to reassure and comfort you. You watched as Shanks took a single step back, scared and betrayed, then he spun and took off in a sprint, away from the two of you.

You and Buggy leaned heavily against each other, tears rolling anew down your faces, eyes already sore and cheeks red and splotchy. You thought you'd cried your share of tears already, but of course there was more. Buggy held you, and you held him in return. For a long time the two of you stood there in a tight embrace, crying and letting the rain wash away your tears.

"We'll start our own flashy crew." Buggy said, and you smiled despite the tears and just nodded, not trusting your own voice. Yeah, you didn't need Shanks.

Requests are open! See below links for my other works, and how to leave requests. I write both canon/canon and canon/reader requests for your enjoyment

AO3 | Fanfic Masterlist | Request Rules | Fic Trades Guide | WIPs

Tags: @claryeverlarkf

[putschki1969]

Hi Sarah! Hope you are well! I will be in Japan on January 15th, so i can't lose the incredibile opportunity to go to the concert. I waited for the general lottery hoping that it would be aviable on the international e+ stite, but unfortunatley it seems it is not the case.

I tryed with sos japan but they are not answering me, and with bridge but they told me they are full or requests and so can't help me.

I would appreciate it very much if you can suggest me something to get these tickets. Thank you!

Hello there!

I am so sorry for the late reply. You sent this while I was travelling last week so I didn't notice the new message in my inbox. I am happy to hear that you will be in Japan next January. Of course you'd want to use that opportunity to attend the Kalafina, I totally understand.

However, I am afraid we are already at a point where it's pretty tricky to get tickets.

Ticket sales are scheduled for the following dates: ■Wakana/KEIKO Fan Club Advanced Lottery October 10, 2024, 11:00 - October 20, 23:59 ■Hikaru X (formerly Twitter) Advanced Lottery October 25, 11:00 - November 4, 23:59 ■General Ticket Lottery November 9, 11:00 - November 11, 23:59 ■General Sale November 16, 10:00 -

We have gone through all the ticketing stages and it appears like there are no more tickets left on the e+ general sale. This is actually quite surprising since I didn't expect the concert to be sold out so quickly. The venue is huge and judging from everyone's dismissive reactions on Twitter, I had assumed that not many people were actually planning to attend. Guess the mood on Twitter didn't reflect the high demand of the general public.

From what I could tell, almost everyone who applied for the Wakana/KEIKO fan club ticket lotteries won a ticket so they must have had a lot of tickets available for those. A majority of all fan club members seems to have made use of that preliminary lottery because for the subsequent Hikaru lottery, there were quite a few people who didn't manage to win a ticket. The same applies to the general lottery. I saw several tweets of people being sad that they didn't win anything during that. Unfortunately, the general lottery period was very short so it would have been necessary to contact SOSJapan or a similar service very early in advance to figure out what you needed.

The general sale was over super quickly too so there are currently no official options available.

They might have plans to offer some left-over tickets on the overseas e+ site but they haven't announced anything yet in that regard. Knowing Space Craft, they will totally ignore Kalafina's overseas fanbase so I wouldn't count on that....

I know that a lot of tickets were bought by shady resellers who are now offering them for crazy prices on some random sites but for one, that's illegal so I wouldn't recommend going down that route and two, it would be a real hassle for a foreigner to even get their hands on one of those resold tickets so meh, not the best idea.

Your best bet right now is to ask around in fandom spaces and see if anyone got spare tickets. The good news is that many people applied for more than one ticket (myself included). The bad news is that most of those people will already have found someone to give their extra tickets to (myself included).

I will ask here on this blog and see if anyone can offer a spare ticket to you. If there's no one, you will have to ask around on other sites. You should probably check out the cantaperme forum or a number of different Kalafina Facebook communities and a post on Twitter can't hurt either (although you'll have to tag everything properly so the post reaches a good amount of people).

【Request】 Kalafina Anniversary Ticket

Does anyone still have a spare ticket for the upcoming Kalafina Anniversary Live? If you do, please contact me or @red------moon directly. Thank you!

【Update】 Spare Ticket Found

Great news! @hadi-sama has some spare tickets and is offering them to fellow loyal fans who are still in need of one. Thank you so much for your swift reply! @red------moon, please be sure to contact either me or him ASAP to figure out all the details. Thank you!

[aimfor-theheart]

Act III

|| kaeya alberich x afab!reader || E/18+ || hurt/comfort/fluff || wc: 22k || masterlist ||

When you, a beloved artist and performer of Mondstadt, attract the attention of the Fatui, there is only one person you seek out for help; the infamous Cavalry Captain of the Ordo Favonius, Mondstadt's beloved bastard.

minors and ageless blogs dni, 18+

❀ for you are the world (as i am in pieces) - @lorelune ❀

a/n: a whole ass year later and i have finally finished this behemoth of a fic. i will be including an intro of sorts below the cut, but the rest you will have to read on ao3! it just got too big! but i am sooo so so happy to have it done though. if you are still reading all this time later, THANK YOU! thank you for reading and thank you for waiting! and of course, thank you to my beloved @lorelune who beta read this last part and has offered me constant support and feedback!! also go check out their diluc fic (linked above) as part of this collab — it's really wonderful! i would love to hear how you feel about this ending/what you think!! enjoy!

tags: afab reader (she/her pronouns but is rather gender fluid/binds her chest sometimes and presents both femme and masc), alcohol use, kidnapping, mentions of stalking/full on stalking from the fatui to the reader, emotional smut, mentions of heartbreak/abandonment issues, bodyguard au technically, fake dating au technically

SCENE I

On the sloping, icy bends of Dragonspine. The sky is gray, snow cutting across the landscape in large, harsh flakes–the wind howls like a lone dog. You stumble through the snow, shivering harshly, gripping the fur of Kaeya’s coat around your shoulders like a lifeline. Dark blots of Fatui members urge you to keep walking. 

Your teeth chatter relentlessly. 

Out of fear or cold, you can no longer tell anymore. You have resigned yourself to focusing on one foot in front of the other. Stepping into thick, wet snow, and watching each foot carefully make ground. The wind cuts across your face viciously. You burrow down into the one relief you managed to grab–the fur of Kaeya’s coat. 

You think of him and feel the pressure of tears in your head once more. You sniffle. You stumble. 

The moment you do, you’re being barked at by a member of the Fatui to hurry up. 

Your legs are burning both from exertion and from the cold. You’re hardly dressed properly; they’d barely let you grab anything. They’d barely let you do anything at all. 

They forced you to write the letter; one of them had demanded that it felt real and there were no tricks to be had. In your haste and through your tears, you hadn’t been able to think of anything overly clever. No ciphers or sonnets or songs to uncover a true message to. However, you’d emphasized certain letters, tracing them boldly under the guise that the pen wasn’t working well, parsed through words that would give you those letters to form an easy message, one that you hope Kaeya would catch;

Help. Dragonspine. 

The letter itself had perhaps been too on the nose, perhaps a little too raw, but the Fatui member who had watched the argument transpire had urged you to mention it. To—

“Break his heart thoroughly, so that he wouldn’t dream of coming after you.” 

But you’d left your clues and now it was up to Kaeya to find them. 

To—to trust you, to know you—that you wouldn’t have left him like this. You wouldn't have left for Liyue. To know there is more than just the letter, but another one of your neverending puzzles. 

You hope he notices his missing coat. You hope he knows instantly that it could never be true, that you’re in danger. And you need him, now more than ever. 

Tears burn your eyes, pressing in your temples. Your throat aches. You’re not sure you have any more tears left to cry. They freeze out here on your cheeks, burn against your skin as the cold seeps into your skin. 

Even if Kaeya comes for you—even if he figures out your little message, it doesn’t change the argument. It doesn’t change what was said or what has become of the two of you. 

I don’t love you. 

The words ache fiercely, deep in your chest. 

You stumble. 

One of the Fatui members barks at you, harsh and sharp, to stand up. Get up. Keep moving. You grit your teeth. 

You force your legs to move, to make you stand. 

You keep walking. 

Tears break your lash line. 

The wind cuts sharply against your face, freezing them. 

Even if he’s a liar, does it matter?

If he can’t be open, if he can’t say it, then it may as well be as if he doesn’t love you, anyways. 

It’s all the same outcome. 

You choke on a sound, a whimper that could’ve been a sob if you had the energy for it. 

You sink your hands into the fur of Kaeya’s coat, gripping at it, desperate, and half-sick with your hope. 

With your despair. 

The shackles rub your wrists raw; something that subdues your Vision. You don’t even have your fire for warmth, can’t even call on the inner heat that resides inside of you. 

No, you think bitterly, mournfully, it’s just cold.

So cold. 

And you are alone against the harsh, gray sky. 

You breathe out, let it puff in front of you in a blast of small warmth.

One foot in front of the other. 

You pick your head up, you glance behind  at the world below—at your city and your land. You glance like you may be able to see all the way into Mondstadt, like you could see all you love now in hindsight, so far away. 

For a brief, rash moment, you feel like screaming, seeing how loud it would be. Would it echo across the lands? Would the winds carry it back to your city? Would your Archon hear you? Does he see you now? 

You turn back to face the winding slope of the mountain, like the curved, jagged spine of a dragon. 

You had never hoped to discover how the mountain received its name. 

One foot in front of the other. Deep breath. 

You cling to fur, half-sick with despair. 

With hope that burns and gathers in your eyes. 

***

❀ Read the rest of this part on Ao3 ❀

[chiriwritesstuff]

Meet Me at the Farmers Market - 8. Compliance

Farmers Market! Joel Miller x Confident! Plus Sized F! Florist Reader

Series Masterlist

Series Summary: What does a Contractor do in his spare time? Sell his wood carvings at the Saturday Farmers Market, of course! A Grumpy x Sunshine Joel Miller series collective of one shots, Updates every Saturday!

Chapter Rating: E, MDNI (18+)

Word Count: 1.9K

Warnings: Roleplay, This is FILTHY, Too much porn, not too much plot, Daddy needs to EAT, ok?, Talks about OSHA Compliance, Wear the proper PPE if you're going into a job site, okay?

Summary: Joel catches you in improper PPE, so you do what it takes to not get shut down...

A/N: Hello there!

I thought I would give you all a little treat before Christmas! I will be posting another chapter on Christmas day, so enjoy this little bit of fun before then!

This chapter takes place before Pt. 4.

"Hey Joel, good morning!"

You peek out from your office at the back of your shop, a bright smile on your face as Joel shuffles into the barren space, still a construction site riddled with pieces of reclaimed wood. Coffee in one hand, iPad in the other, Joel ambles toward his worktable in the corner. "Mornin'," he grunts, a subtle grin appearing as he secures his tool belt, slung low on his jean-clad hips.

Casually strolling over, you join him, smoothing out your overalls and adjusting your oversized flannel, your hair neatly woven into braids. "What's on the agenda today?"

"Figured I'd kick things off with the display cases, checking out the designs we agreed upon. Found some great pieces of oak at the reclaim center-" Joel's words trail off as he finally notices you, his eyes widening, mouth slightly agape. You catch him mid-sentence, twirling a pigtail around your finger, biting your lower lip, a mischievous glint in your eye.

"Something the matter, Joel? See something on my face?" you tease, offering a small, playful smile.

His Adam's apple bobs as he pivots back to the plans laid out on his worktable. "No, you just look pretty today."

"Oh, do I?"

"Well, those overalls are all wrong, being that they're short and all, and those boots," he motions to your feet, "Are they OSHA-regulated? Don't want you hurting your pretty little feet."

You laugh, a sound that fills the shop. "Just trying to keep things interesting around here, Joel. Wouldn't want you to think work is the only thing worth looking at." Your eyes appraise his form as you slide between him and his worktable. "You don't look too bad yourself," you tease, drawing a finger down his chest to his toolbelt. "I love a man in uniform, especially when they wear it so damn well."

Joel's eyes widen in surprise, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, I aim to please," he says, his voice husky.

"Do you now? Is it because I'm paying you?" you cheekily reply, "If I put on this hard hat, maybe you'll look the other way if the city asks about my compliance. I would hate to be shut down for something silly like my attire."

"Well, with an ass like this," he grabs it for good measure, large hands caressing the span of your cheeks, squeezing as he groans, a wicked smile on his face - "I think we can work something out, don't you think, baby girl?" He starts to undo the straps of your overalls. "I think that we should take this off, it's not protective enough for those legs of yours," he slides the denim past your hips, letting them drop to the floor as he licks his lips in anticipation. "Mmm," he moans, "Turn around for me, I need to get a good look for my inspection." He turns you around as he takes in your ass, the fabric of your thong devoured by your asscheeks. He slides a finger between the fabric and your ass crack, barely grazing your slit. "Very, very nice," he mutters to himself. He raises his fingers coated with your slick to your face. "Wet already, baby?" he asks, his eyes blown. "Fuck, what am I going to do with you? What are you going to do to make your indiscretions up to me?"

"I can't afford to be shut down, Joel." You plead, grabbing his hands as you take his slick-coated fingers into your mouth, your eyes never leaving his. He pulls them back with a satisfied pop. "I'll do anything, please Joel."

"First of all," he whispers, his fingers undoing the buttons of your flannel slowly, "I'm gonna need you to redress with the proper PPE-" he says, opening your shirt and exposing your breasts as he groans in appreciation, grabbing the safety vest on his worktable. "Put this on, and sit that pretty ass on the table." You shrug off your flannel, smiling as you grab the vest from his hands, shimmying it on. "Like this?" you ask, your nipples peeking out through the neon mesh as you lift your hips onto the table, spreading your legs more to present yourself to him.

"Just like that, baby, that's much better," he says as he settles himself between your legs. "You know, I shouldn't be drinking coffee on an empty stomach, maybe I should get something to eat," he kneels down, settling himself on his knees as he takes in your pussy, his fingers slipping through the flimsy lace between your slit. "You're fucking drenched, look at you, is this honey all for me?" You nod as he slips his fingers through your folds, closing your eyes in pleasure. "Uh uh, baby. None of that. You keep your eyes on me, Daddy needs to eat."

You arch your back and whisper something incoherent, spreading your legs wider to accommodate his broad form. "Please Joel, can't have you working on an empty stomach…"

"Well," he smiles as he slips a finger into your cunt, his finger so thick that you flinch at the sudden intrusion. "If you're offering… Fuck Sunflower, she's crying for me. Absolutely fucking weeping." he takes a deep breath as he pulls the fabric of your thong harshly to the side, ripping it off of you as you yelp in surprise. "Joel! those were my favorite panties!"

"You can just write them off, hazards of the job, right?" he replies, the flat of his tongue diving into your folds as he feasts on your cunt like a man starved. "You keep your eyes on me as I feast on this pussy," he mumbles as he devours you, gripping your thighs as he locks his eyes on you. "Try not to blink, baby, watch me finish my meal. Gonna have to prep you to handle some heavy machinery, can't have you getting injured on the job site."

"Fuck Joel, just like that, I'm so close baby…" you mumble, harshly grabbing onto his hair as he moans in appreciation. He slips another finger into the warmth of your cunt as he continues to lick and suck, the sound of your wetness obscene as it echoes in the vastness of your empty shop.

"You think you can take one more? I need to make sure you can take it, baby."

"Please Joel, I can take it, give it to me-" you stutter, your body shaking as he leads you to completion, the safety vest spread wide open as you play with your nipples, tweaking the pointed buds as you shift your hips, tilting them as he continues on, the tip of his tongue flicking your clit. "I'll be so fucking good for you, Joel, please- I'm gonna…" You gush into his mouth, the wetness of your slick coating his beard as you ride on his fingers, your body taut and tight as your thighs quiver. You haven't gotten used to being used so thoroughly, feeling faint as he smiles in satisfaction, wiping his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt as he rises onto his feet.

"Fuck, baby, best breakfast ever. Do you think I prepped you enough to handle my machinery?" he cheekily smiles as he settles himself back between your legs, your hands blindly reaching for the buckle of his belt, quickly undoing it as you reach into his jeans.

Your eyes widen as you pull his hard cock out of his boxers, the tip red and angry as precome starts to leak from the slit. "Fuck Joel, is this going to fit?"

"We'll make it fit, baby" He breathes as he notches the tip at your entrance, his eyes locked onto your cunt as he pumps his shaft, his hand going to your folds and gathering your slick, pumping his cock once more as he wets the shaft. It's so fucking unhinged, so fucking obscene with the noise it makes, squelching as he guides himself to you once more. "Let me just test it with the tip, let me work you up to take me, okay baby? I'll make it fucking fit."

"Shit," he roars as your cunt envelops his wide tip, his hips pushing into you back and forth in shallow thrusts. He buries his face in your neck, licking and kissing down to your breasts as he slowly adds inch after inch until he's fully sheathed inside your channel, his breaths short as he allows you to adjust to his size. "Fuck, are you ready, Sunflower? Can I move?"

"FUCK Joel, you're so deep like this!" you cry, wrapping your legs around his waist as he lowers you down onto his worktable, capturing your lips in a kiss fervently, all teeth and tongue as he starts to pound into you in earnest. You claw at his back, your fingers grabbing onto his shirt so tightly you swear you hear a rip, crying into his neck "Please, Joel, please fuck me harder! I can take it! I can take it all!" He slides a hand under your ass and tilts your hips until he's hitting that spot, so delicious you're rendered speechless. A tear falls down the slope of your cheek, you swear he licks it off you as he kisses you once more.

He stands upright once more as he takes in the sight of his cock buried into your pussy, your slick dripping down your thighs as you make a mess of his worktable below, your plans ruined and soaked. "Fuck baby, you feel so good, so fucking perfect, so perfect for me… I'm going to come, do you want me to come in this pretty cunt?" he mumbles incoherently, "Are you gonna milk me, baby?"

"YES yes yes yes" you nod absentmindedly, wrapping your arms around his neck. "Fuck Joel, come inside of me, let your cum drip down my legs as I work today, let everyone know who owns me…" He collapses on you as he plunges into you one last time, filling you with his hot release as he kisses you. "Fuccckkkkkk," he says as he kisses your neck, his breath hot as he attempts to steady his breath. "I didn't think you would be into roleplay, honey. It was so fucking hot, we need to do this again."

You smile as you push him off, removing the safety vest as you grab your clothes on the floor. "What time is it? Tommy should be heading over soon, need to make sure he doesn't walk into a warzone-"

"Let him walk into one, I don't care," Joel says defiantly as he buckles his jeans.

Like clockwork, there's a tap on the window, still covered up with an easy mask. "Hey! Anyone in? Joel? Sunflower?" Tommy's voice calls out from behind the door. "Let me in, alright? It's hot as fuck outside!"

You smirk as you fiddle with the straps of your overalls. "Speak of the devil," you say, kissing Joel once more as you make your way to the door. You put on a smile as you let Tommy in, Joel back at his worktable as he hurriedly rolls up the ruined plans.

"Took you guys long enough," Tommy chides, handing you a cup of matcha. His face scrunches as he takes a whiff of the store. "What is that smell?! It smells fucking awful!"

Joel throws the safety vest onto himself as you laugh, walking back into your office as Tommy looks back in confusion. "What?" he exclaims. "It does!"

[voidandabyssal]

Uh random prompt: of your favorite brothers, what’s your interpretation on how they would react to someone they care about (Romantic or platonic writers choice) getting turned into an amalgam?

ohhh, this is hard! I have too many favourites!

UT Sans:

when he first finds you he's horrified.

he was suspocious at first when Alphys kept putting off your arrival home. Eventually he decided to go looking. Finding you and the rest of the amalgrams horrified him. He despretly tries to figure out a way to fix you and the other amalgrams

He spends months locking himself away in his own lab trying to help you. He pushes everyone away, even you, as he works himself to death for a cure.

It's only when Papyrus drags him upstairs and lectures him for pushing him and yourself away.

Once Sans gets it through his head that this isn't the route to go, he takes breaks and spends more time with you. Helping you get used to your new body.

he and Alphys decide to keep you and the other amalgrams in her lab, as it has the best equipment, and if something goes wrong they have access to some of the most advanced tech in all of the Underground immediantly.

While he and Alphys trie to figure out a cure, you remain in Alphys lab, though you are allowed to leave whenever you want

He treats you as he normally would. Making the same dumb puns and pranks that would make you laugh.

Sometimes he treats you more delicatly then he needs to.

UT Papyrus:

Like Sans, he grows worried about your sudden disapreance from the Underground. He frequently calls you and messages you, asking you how you are, where you are and if your okay.

Soon after he tracks you down in the hidden lab. Unlike Sans, who sorta just sneaks in without Alphys knowing until he's already seen everything.

Papyrus just bursts in, greeting Alphys like an old friend while looking for you. He's friendly, but serious in his mission to look for you. This is where you were last seen after all.

When he finds you, his soul is crushed. The pain your in, the fear you must feel. It hurts him so bad.

He envolps you in a tight hug, not letting go. Even when he hears and sees the other Amalgrams and Alphys.

He immediantly tells Undyne everything, who then tells Asgore everything.

Asgore informs the other amalgrams families and orders Alphys to immediantly start looking for a cure. All other projects put on hold, or handed off to other scientists.

He takes you back to his home. Papyrus is optimistic that you'll eventually get better.

He drags you out for patrols and puzzles and for training. Anything that can get you out of your head, and push the memorys of recent happenings away. Even if its only for a little while.

Regardless of whether a cure is found or not, I believe that Papyrus would still take care of you. He wouldn't mind, he loves you after all.

UF Sans (red):

Initially he dismisses your lack of communiction with him.

You'd gotten into an arguement and you'd stormed off. Just needed a few days to cool down, that's all.

Though when you don't turn back up after a few days, no calls, no messages. He gets worried.

Red teleports into your home. He tears the place a part looking for you. When he doesn't find you and instead finds an e-mail from Alphys offering a job as a lab assistent.

Reds not stupid, he knows Alphys and her fucked up games. He immediantly teleports to the lab, ripping the place a part looking for you. Red ignores Alphys furious screeches and questions.

When he finds you he lashes out. Throwing as many attacks at Alphys as he can, he doesn't give up until Undyne and Edge have arrived.

He drags you back to your home. Trying to patch you up as best as he can, holding your melting body with bandages and monster candy.

Like UT Sans, he throws himself into his work, trying to find a way to cure you. This time though, he doesn't work with Alphys.

He feels terrible. Red feels as though he could have prevented this whole thing from happening if he just wasn't so lazy. Red works to combat his lazyness, in order to prevent something like this from ever happening again.

He keeps you in his home. Hiding you from the rest of the Underground.

If people knew what you were, well, too many people would get the wrong idea. So he keeps you in his home.

He tries to keep you as happy as possible for the meanwhile.

UF Papyrus (Edge):

Edge immediantly notices something is amiss when you don't respond to one of his many Undernet messages.

He embarks on a patrol for you as soon as possible, finding all the clues to your whereabouts, one after the other.

Edge is one of the quickest skeletons to find you after you've turned into a amalgram. Only a few hours afterwords.

Unlike Red he does not attack Alphys and instead pins her to the wall. Demanding an explanation. Once she explains that she was ordered to find a way to make Monsters stronger, he releases her.

He takes you back to his home immdiantly. He places you in the shed. It sounds harsh, but if Alphys is to be believed then people could be looking for you.

Like UT Papyrus, he tries to keep your spirits up with training and puzzles.

Even if that training is just you two figuring out how to cook lasgana and not burn down the kitchen.

[walldwellereater]

*Y o u j u s t w a n t t o g o h o m e*

*You're still in pain when the guards force you to your feet*

*One of them pulls out a taser, and you get the message that you don't have a choice but to walk through the pain*

*The guards take you through numerous rooms, making you go first "so The Good People won't be an issue"*

*You wonder how many monsters are in this place*

*At least 3, you think*

*You reach a large room, with a massive window and leveled seating leading to a larger door*

*Reminds you a bit of an amphitheater*

*Might as well put a bit of a play on*

"So glad I get to be an experiment for you sadistic f*cks."

"Keep your mouth shut Z-919, and maybe you won't be hurt."

"C'mon, least you could do is tell me what you want outta me."

*You look out at the ocean, not paying attention to whatever the captain had to say*

*You know he wouldn't tell you*

*As you look out, you see a green glow in the distance*

*What the...?*

*YOU NEED SOME HELP?*

*You're surprised by the sudden voice in your head*

*You can tell it's from whatever that glow is*

*And if it's offering help, you are certainly in no position to say no*

*You nod*

*BE READY TO LOOK AWAY*

*That's... both concerning and reassuring*

*The creature gets closer, and you can see it clearer*

*It's a very large shark, covered in glowing green eyes*

*You hear the door behind you lock*

"You aren't taking anyone!"

*The voice from the turret speaks again, and what looks like a.... doodly face made in MS Paint? appears on the screen where the number would be*

"Sir! Z-317 is approaching!"

"Sir! Z-779 locked us in!"

"Sh*t."

*A countdown appears on the screen where the face was*

"A MINUTE!?"

*The glowing shark is here, and you feel.... strange*

*You want to look at it*

*But it told you not to*

*You turn around, and see the lesser guards are staring at it*

*One of them collapses, with the other soon doing the same*

*You see blood starting to pool around their helmets*

*Not the time to focus on that, You can break out!*

*You feel a something under your skin in one of the first places to go numb during the second shot*

*It wants out*

*The skin covering whatever it is tears away, and you feel it*

*A large tentacle tears through the back of your suit, stabbing directly into Captain Ward's helmet*

*You've killed him*

*You're... free*

*For now, at least*

"Thank you."

*ARE YOU OKAY?*

"Don't get caught again." "I'm leaving."

*The face disappears from the screen*

"I'm... fine."

*I DOUBT THAT*

"And I don't have a choice."

*You have to find your bag*

*You need that light*

*Thankfully Captain Ward was wearing it*

*You go to grab your bag, noticing the blood soaking the bottom, and grab your gummylight*

*The gummylight is red, seems that it got dyed by the blood*

*You test to see if it works*

*Other than the light being red now, it seems fine*

*You turn to face the shark*

*You figure that as long as you weren't being compelled to look at it, you could*

"I'll make it up to you."

*YOU DON'T NEED TO*

"That won't stop me from tryin."

*You leave, taking one last look at the shark*

*And you start your new life*

[Day 19- Three eyes]

[Updated version of @ask-eyefestation saving 919's *ss, now featuring: P.AI.nter!]

[I'm a day late and it's 2:35 am]

[If it has problems, it's not my fault]

[thronesforkings]

Relationship Alphabet: Haitani Rindou

I'm alive, I have been seeing many writers do the alphabet prompt lists and I was inspired to do the same. Since at the moment writing a whole fic sounds a bit much, have this compellation of head cannons and drabbles.

Relationship Alphabet Prompts by: @danses-with-dogmeat

Haitani Rindou x Male/GN! Reader (You/Your)

Warnings: Full of personal HCs on stuff that isn't fully explored or explained in cannon, mentions of fights, mentions of low self confidence, mentions of Ran, one letter has nsfw themes

Extra: I wrote this in one setting, this might be a bit messy since there is no edits.

If you enjoy this then likes and reblogs are appreciated!

If you would like to see other characters with this list then do send in a request!

Content under the cut

A) Attention. How much attention do they want in the relationship?

Often being known as Ran's shadow when they were growing up and only having his brother, he would love the attention and want as much as you will give him. Though he will only allow major attention when in private since he does have a reputation to hold.

B) Baby. Do they want a family? Why/why not?

Family is a strange concept to Rindou, he only grew up with his brother and didn't have much of parental figures around. He wouldn't have a strong leaning towards one or the other, building his opinion off of what you want.

If you want kids then he will be happy to learn and raise kids or adopt kid(s) and show them the best home life you and him can offer.

If you don't want kids then he is fine with that and is secretly glad since he doesn't want to share your attention.

Bonten!Rindou would be a bit more hesitant for children due to his line of work, he doesn't want to put others in danger if they don't have a reason to be.

C) Cuddle. Do they like to cuddle and show affection? How?

This man is touchstarved, he loves to cuddle. He is like a cat, constantly needing to be attached to you someway.

When at home, he will hold you on his lap, in bed, while standing, anywhere he can hold them he will. He finds comfort in holding you close, reminding him that you are there and won't leave him.

D) Dates. What are dates with them like? What do they like to do?

Do not let him plan a date. He is the worst since he sticks to places he likes and goes to often, which means it's highly likely that one of his friends will see him and crash the date. He tries, he does, but he likes routine and familiar places.

Bonten!Rindou is a different story though, he will find whatever his s/o is comfortable with with ease. Big fancy dates? He has 10 places that you can pick from and many other options. Private dates? Tell him where you want to go and he just needs to make a phone call. Something that isn't fancy or expensive? He will try his best to make sure that you get the best while not making you uncomfortable.

E) Equal. Do they prefer to be more dominant or submissive in the relationship?

Public? He makes sure that he is the dominant one in the relationship.

At home? That's a different story. He loves to be taken care of and pampered, having spent his life taking care of himself, it gives him good feelings when you take care of him. He will do the chores that you don't want to do, do the shopping if you aren't feeling up to it or don't want to, basically anything you don't want to do he will gladly do since you are so caring to him.

F) Fights. How do they handle arguments? How quick are they to forgive?

Rindou has only ever known fists and blood. When he would get in arguments with Ran, a punch was often thrown. He isn't the best with his emotions and has trouble processing them in a healthy way and you know this.

If you two get in an argument then he will lock himself in your room or go somewhere were he isn't around you, since he doesn't want to hurt you. After some time you message him and ask if he can come and you two can talk.

When this happens it is often peaceful and you are very patient with Rindou as he tries to express his feelings and communicate in a healthy way.

ˢᶦᵈᵉ ⁿᵒᵗᵉ: ᵀʰᵉ ᵒⁿˡʸ ʳᵉᵃˢᵒⁿ ʷʰʸ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗʷᵒ ᵈᵒ ᵗʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᵇᵉᶜᵃᵘˢᵉ ᵃᶠᵗᵉʳ ᵒⁿᵉ ᵃʳᵍᵘᵐᵉⁿᵗ ᵒᶠ ʸᵉˡˡᶦⁿᵍ, ᵉᵃʳˡʸ ᵒⁿ ᶦⁿ ʸᵒᵘʳ ʳᵉˡᵃᵗᶦᵒⁿˢʰᶦᵖ, ʸᵒᵘ ʷᵉʳᵉⁿ'ᵗ ᵍᵒᶦⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ˢᵗᵃⁿᵈ ᶠᵒʳ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵃⁿᵈ ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʰᶦᵐ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᶦᶠ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵉʳᵉ ᵍᵒᶦⁿᵍ ᵗᵒ ᶠᶦᵍʰᵗ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᵗʰᵉʸ ʷᵒᵘˡᵈ ʳᵉˢᵒˡᵛᵉ ᶦᵗ ᶦⁿ ᵃ ʰᵉᵃˡᵗʰʸ ʷᵃʸ, ᵃⁿᵈ ᶦᶠ ʰᵉ ᶜᵃⁿ'ᵗ ᵈᵒ ᵗʰᵃᵗ ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᶦᵗ'ˢ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵃ ᵗʰᶦⁿᵍ ᵃⁿʸᵐᵒʳᵉ.

G) Gratitude. How grateful are they in general? Are they aware of what their s/o is doing for them?

He notices many things you do for him. Some things that you do, he asked why and you explained it to him and he fell for you harder.

He takes notes of the little things and how you keep track of small things and take time to do something if you can. (For example, he doesn't like spice, so you will pay close attention to the spice levels of stuff and will make spicy things less spicy so he can eat them as well).

Not being good with his emotions, he doesn't know how to express how grateful he is, so he turns to physical expression or gift giving.

H) Honesty. Are they honest with their s/o? How important is it to them in a relationship?

Rindou is a very closed off person, he tires his best to be honest with you and you do your best to do the same. He finds honesty to be important and a key foundation to any relationship between people.

I) Insight. How easy is it for them to read their partner? (Mood, thoughts, etc.)

While he isn't the smartest person, he knows how to read body language and facial expressions. It took a bit for him to learn what your specific tell signs were but once he learned them, he knew what to look for. He isn't the best at picking up on behavioural ques or shifts but he tries his best.

J) Jealousy. Do they get jealous? If so, how easily? How do they deal with it?

Being the younger sibling, he had to share things with his brother or got the seconds of his stuff. They only had the two of them and so they were close and shared many things, but Rin is selfish when it comes to you.

K) Kiss. What are their kisses like? Who kissed who first?

He doesn't really know how to properly kiss or how to be super romantic with kisses. He prefers short kisses and kissing your body parts (cheek and hands specifically).

It was you who kissed first and it was after he came over from a nasty fight, you patched him up. You kissed him when he was rambling about something and wasn't listening to what you were trying to say.

L) Love. Who said “I love you” first? How often do they say it? When did they realize they were in love?

Rin said it first, blurting it out after his lack of sleep caught up to him after a fight. You were helping him when he said it and it took a moment for both of you to realise what he said.

He doesn't say it often, but he shows it.

He knew he was in love when he went to your place after a fight, and you were helping him get cleaned up and patched up. It clicked for him that he was in love with how much you cared for him and how you were willing to do this.

M) Marriage. Do they want to get married? How long do they have to be in the relationship beforehand? What would the marriage be like?

He doesn't think of marriage as a big thing, it's just a different term for the two of you being in love. If you haven't moved in together already then that would change but not much would otherwise. He would want to be in the relationship for a good number of years and know that he was still going to be in love with his partner in the coming years.

If you want to get married then he is more than happy to do so. Even if you just mention it in passing, he will save it for later and figure out a plan. He would prefer a small wedding and for it to be more chill than anything.

N) Nickname. What are the nicknames they have for their s/o? Do they like when their s/o uses nicknames?

He often sticks to pet names, using ones he knows you like. The most common ones he calls you are Love, Dear, and sometimes he calls you his dove.

He doesn't mind nicknames, he has been called them his whole life so it doesn't really cross his mind that often. When he hears a nickname that you came up with or a pet name that you call him, he is a flustered mess no matter what. It just sounds different coming from you.

O) Open. How long does it take for them to open up to their s/o?

It takes a good while. He needs to know that you actually care and do want to hear what he has to say. He also needs to trust you immensely before he spills anything.

It helps if you don't talk to his brother much or more often than him since he has been in situations where people have gotten close to him to only get close with Ran.

P) PDA. How do they feel about public displays of affection? What kind of PDA do they show?

Hand holding and maybe a kiss to the hand. he has a reputation to hold up. If it is the middle of the night and no one is outside or around you two, then he is more willing to actually do a kiss to the cheek or holding you close.

Q) Quality Time. What do they like to do for quality time with their s/o?

Doing anything makes him happy. He won't admit it but he loves when you two do something related to music/DJing, fighting and gang stuff, and going on his bike.

R) Reunion. How do they react after being apart from their s/o? How do they cope when they’re away?

He is very clingy, he will hold you and only let go of you for the bathroom. He will never admit that he is clingy and get all flustered if you point it out, but he is a big soft boyfriend and he only has had so many things that he can call his in his life.

S) Sad. How do they cheer their s/o up when they are feeling down? How do they like to be cheered up?

If you are feeling sad then he will get your favourite treats, snacks, and foods and you two will have a movie marathon.

If he is sad, you mess with him to get him to smile and cheer up.

T) Thrill. Do they need to try out new things to spice up your relationship? Or do they prefer a certain routine?

He gets his need for thrill out with fighting, so he is pretty calm with the relationship. He likes to keep it in a blanket routine. It would be boring if it was the same thing everyday but if there is some routine in certain things and then none in other things, he is more than happy with that.

U) Understanding. How well do they know their partner? Are they empathetic?

He does his best to be empathetic and understanding, he has bit of trouble with it but he does what he knows. he is very good at keeping track of what you are currently into, your favourite things, what you have been doing lately, and other things he can store and use for later.

V) Value. How important is the relationship to them? What is its worth in comparison to other things in their life?

He values a long strong relationship at as high as it can be. It is the same value as Ran. He has someone that is important to him and he will do what he can to make sure that you are happy and content.

W) Wild Card. A random relationship headcannon.

He can't cook. Him and Ran can't cook and always ate pre-made meals. The first time he tried to cook you something, you had to explain to him that you need to cook meat in a specific way depending on the type. You two ordered out that night.

X) Explicit. An NSFW headcannon.

Full on bottom. He loves to let you take control and will do anything to please you. He also does the sub role if you two do anything that involves dom/sub dynamics.

Y) Your Name. If they did get married to their s/o, who would take whose last name?

Rin wouldn't really care, he does like his family name and it has a reputation but he loves the idea of having a fresh start. He probably keeps his last name for legal purposes but introduces himself with your name.

Bonten!Rindou would love for you to take his name but he doesn't want you to get targeted so with some help of some connections, legally you have your name but in reality you go by his name.

Z) Zz. How do they like to sleep with their partner? What time do they like to go to sleep/wake up, ideally?

He likes sleep but isn't like Ran. He likes to hold you close and he prefers to have a decently consistent sleep schedule. He likes to wake up early so he has time to wake up and turn his brain on for the day before he has to do anything.

[kmclaude]

Ive been listening to Jesus He Knows Me lately (Ghost just released the music video for their cover and its great) and its got me thinking of an AU were Tiefer goes on to become like a superstar priest/televangelist. Puts on an act about how Jesus saved him from his terrible childhood abuse, Jehan is his protege who he treats as his own son after his father died, maybe he's even got a wife he pretends to love (only in front of others) Absolute debauchery and abuse out of the public eye of course

not me like 'he could marry his sister' no but he sure could marry a wife that looks like her (honestly she fits the blonde t r a d wife look)

i am devouring this, brilliant, debauched, lovely

(honestly I was thinking about a question @idalwaves asked or reblogged about if being a different flavor of christian would like...how it would change tiefer or jehan's relationship to their sexuality or something -- like would bein southern baptist or fundie work -- and anyway it had me thinking about basically how catholicism is perfect for someone like tiefer who is gay and loathes women, whereas something like fundie or southern baptist that expects a patriarchical figure with a wife and kid, the family man archetype, would be painful for him. like torture to have to fake a loving marriage to a woman.)

BUT IT WOULD BE DECADENT god cuz he can be charming, put on a southern drawl (his accent is southern but different southern, cajun southern, and massaged away by a more new orleanian accent flattened out), lie and lie and lie -- has a wife he fucked (timed it all right and everything, natural family planning and all) until she got pregnant (thankfully quickly) because that's what she wanted, that's what was expected -- and if he works extra hard and after hours and away from her and the home its for god, it's the right thing, it's what she signed up for, of couuuuurse he loves her, ignore that he won't touch her except for briefly in public or when she needles wanting another child (and if he knocks her up enough and then crushes some pills in her food or drink to get rid of it because three's e-fucking-nough, well, hey, what she doesn't know won't hurt her...)

AND JEHAN WELL......things could be the same: dead exlover friend's son is left without a father and, well....wouldn't be too odd for him to offer to a new widow and new mother to take her eldest (his godson) under his wing, later even let him live with them (because he only has daughters so far and one day he won't be around -- makes sense to have someone ready to take over after he's gone -- jehan would be perfect for that -- in fact, it's not his idea's, it's God's even, God put it in his heart that jehan would take up after him -- so why not let him spend a summer with them...and winter...and spring...)

and you KNOW he is fucking jehan -- maybe he waits a bit longer than canonically, properly has him under his thumb until he's fifteen or sixteen (very much the adolescens that he finds attractive) or maybe it starts right after nathan died (he's not even attracted to a 10 year old's body -- not that canonically he's into a 12 year old's body either but at least puberty is hitting and it reminds him of him and nathan in their youth and he's not coping well -- but it's a heady thing, power, and he's been able to get wealth and opened doors and it's a far cry from being a beaten faggot whore on his sister's leash being whored out so why not, why not, it's not like jehan's upset about it, he always gets to cum, and it's not like his wife knows, it's not like anyone knows, why not? who's gonna stop him? God?)

basically tiefer would be soooooo much worse. not that he's great canonically but add wealth and power without rules?! (Catholicism at least has rules.) C H R I S T.

(honestly if you wanted to get real fucked up -- televangelism would probably make this also a modern or modernish AU -- say 80s or 90s at earliest making Tiefer being born....instead of 1930s, probably 1950s or 60s...and well....the implications of being able to take photo or video....well.....well....)

[gatheringfantasies]

@illusionoftransience

Continue from here

Perhaps Siusaidh's thoughts about Manako being a grandma type may hold it's own merits course some people may see her as a motherly type as well who has a lot of heart to give. After all, Manako loves eating her own sweets she bakes and tends to enjoy multiple servings which may explain her figure that seemed quite soft.

Her trust and her carefree nature come with the way Cupid was, being a kind-hearted individual who couldn't hurt a fly in normal circumstances and sees the good in others, especially those who can come into this forest and find her cozy home. Then her ears twitched as she heard the guest speaking out to her.

“E-Eh? Manacutie?” The nickname taken her aback, that soft pink blush kept on her face only grew from it not minding the bow. “I-I wouldn't call myself divine- well- I- well- not like an angel since their ranked higher above than we cupids. Still, I'm happy you are happy to learn more about cupids since we're not really that much known and with some uh- poor examples. Oh right! The cookies!”

The cupid gasped as she went to the kitchen and focuses on the cookies making sure they were made to perfection with this sudden arrival of her new guest and acquiescence. Thank goodness they are still in the proper ranged and needs a little more time until they are fully completed without burning them which had only happen a couple of time when she first started baking in her home away from home.

There seemed to be a few potted flowers in the living room as well as one in front of the window to receive plenty of sunlight, to say the least, they were in good condition. Course Manako was allowing Shou to do as she pleased in her home so even if she noticed where she was headed she wouldn't mind finding out there was no basement this also included no floor upwards making it seem like a one-level home. Though, some of the mattress here was made by special means perhaps some traces of magic that clearly wasn't the cupid's.

“Ah!” She got surprised as hopped in placed from the sudden hand on her back! “Yes, yes I'm doing alright there~. Actually. . .~” Turning off the oven she places some pink mittens on and opens the oven. Carefully taking out the fully baked cookies that filled the air with it's chocolaty aroma and places the tray on top.

“I'm thankful for your offering but I don't have anything that needs to be carried. Though, you may grab a drink from the refrigerator there's plenty of milk last time I checked.” Manako smiled though that blush that only had vanish came back as she looks to the side seeing Shou beside her as suddenly as she placed her hand on her back. “T-thank you, I'm glad you think that. I've baked a lot with my mother when I was little. She would teach me all kinds of things, recipes, and other tips on how to properly bake. S-so, I had a lot of time to get uh- s-skilled with my baking that even those I've known for a few love it. If you want, you may grab a cookie right now as long you are careful.”

[monsterfloofs]

V1C3 LORE! V1C3 LORE! I am kicking my legs as I look at them in all all their pride and problem filled glory. I am so so curious to see them tested to their limits for their love, one that’s angry and frustrated and fights back. One that makes choices that would threaten the monopolized near anarchy-like control this dystopian is under. To threaten their pride, their iron fist, their very ego, to have it almost crumble into fumbling scraps when the human they care for is scared and livid and nearly dying from the chokehold of this world. Of them. How would that dent their mind? Dent their company? Rust their sharper edges, worn down by beat burst love from squeezing too hard?

Being robotic they probably just get rid of the source of it all, but it hurts. They can factory reset. Too risky, too much information lost. They could filter through and pinpoint these emotions in a program exposing their soft insides, their code, but they’re too useful. They feel too good. Warping their human to be anything otherwise is no less terrifying of a thought either. That’s a scary part of love for someone like them I’d imagine

Fighting and flowing against and with their human’s every more stings and burns but the mere idea of riddance is like a guillotine.

They are so fascinating and I wanna pick them apart and see they stretched out to their limit. It’s interesting to see these rigid controlling types be bent screeching and rough like metal. Thankfully there are ways in the world to break through steel, softening it, heating it, molding it. V1C3 is so intriguing and I need to study them under a microscope and see them put in situations.

I am extremely normal about them odbskanakqmql (if any of this makes you uncomfortable please let me know)

Alternately:

V1C3: Sex is disgusting and primitive, you have millions of other form of enjoyment and you choose to do so in the most depraved manner

—

V1C3, having installed various sex toys now and definitely known for fucking the human VERY LOUDLY out of possessiveness (and being asked): …

Other robots: So.

V1C3: shut the fuck up-

(^ probably wouldn’t say this but I think it’s a funny thought)

Oh my haha, that is quite a deep dive! I am totally here for it!!

You mentioned looking at what they would go through, but also!!

On the other hand you got the human that is fighting them at every twist and turn. They h a t e them. But then also get to see a side of them NO ONE ELSE SEES. Something quiet and sweet, what does that do to the human of the equation too?? Is it like quicksand?? Slowly realizing that the villian they have hated all this time has a hand on their heart? 8O WHAT THE HECKIE DO THEY DO WITH THAT???

They can't just forget or delete files, and their wounded heart I am sure hurts just as much if not more! To love someone who is so flawed, and possibly a blight on society THAT WOULD BE HORRIBLE!!

It's like you start out trying to figure out how to destroy them, but then save them? Or save myself? Can I do both?

WHEW-- That is some deep stuffs.

Vice was my attempt at making a romanceable baddie, and there are a lot of messy atrings attatched. <: 3

I know I can say, if they dealt with a fiesty protag. it would take them a lot... longer for them to bond with this person? They also may not have as much inaccidental power over Vice. Vice wouldn't trust them too much. It also makes me think if the beanie really despised Vice they wouldn't have taken whatever offer, or Vice wouldn't have been interested? I am sure people despising them is probably a dime a dozen! Why this specific person?

Putting someone that has known activity against his empire in "house arrest" would be a plausibilty for their character and also for them and the protag. to exist in the same space for a while. Taking someone who is important to the human organization and tossing them in a quinessention lavish jail to laugh in the face of their opposition.

Essentially like: "Oh, I think you have had enough time to scheme for a while. You get a time out."

Heckin rood robo-boss >:I Let me have my vendetta.

And also spear jaded remarks at eathother through dealing with one another.

That might... make more sense and work out potentionally?

BUT OH MAN 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Vice with humans is a little more careful, and considerate, even when their irk him. BUT HOLY CROW VICE HAS A ROBOTTO INSULT THEM?? Oh man. 👁👁 I think they'd crunch the poor bbies face into a wall, and ask politely for a new member of staff SKDKDKSKS

WHEEZE HHHHHHH

Oh man oh man oh man--

Yeah please staff... do not piss this one off, they have no mercy for beings who can fix themselves easily..🥺

A cheeky bot... may easily become scrap metal if you say something that Vice deems as rude.

That's why having a sweetie would be so 😳 The JUNK THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH??

"I stole yo car, I broke out of the house again and I am driving down the interstate at 4 am." 😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

THAT RIGHT THERE gets an amused chuckle and a "Must we do this again? You know you can't get far. ♡"

While some other poor folk gets hunted down for so much giving them a sassy comment dkskskkdsks HHHHHH.

But- yes ahaha 🤣🤣🤣

NO, NO YOU'RE GOOD, OH MY GOSH I AM GLAD YOU LIKE THEM 👁👁

Thankfully, due to Vice nature, they would give their hooman a lot of space! So no one has to hear intimate time! Unless... Vice is being an arse... >:I

I also can't really see fiesty protag... really wanting any kind of intimate nonsense with them...? 🤔 There may be a way that works out later?? Thinking about hating someone and human emotions that hooman would be more likely to trad insults.. oh man-- I like you dear anon, get really into those details and try and understand the microcosm that is story!

I wanna be able to see how it all would thread together 🥺🥺🥺 That one would definately be a quintessential enemies to lovers trope though, oh gosh!

Most scenarios kind of would be?? But this one, very much so!!

[aonoexpat]

The rollercoaster that was quitting my job after a week and a half

02-03-2023

Unfortunately, that cafe turned out to be more of a challenge to get away from than I had anticipated. Everything went South last Thursday when the manager called me into the office to talk about my availability, since I had told him I needed more time for busking, because it wouldn't work in the cafe. He was unhappy with me pulling back, and we agreed it wouldn't work out. It seemed like we would go our separate ways perfectly amicably, but then he got back to me and brought up the contract we had, and how it dictated I had to give a 1 week's notice, so I'd have to work another full week. I told him well, the contract also dictates I'm not obliged to work any more than two hours per week. Suddenly, that same contract seemed to lose all relevance to the conversation, and he implored me to just put my head down and work, and not "kick that hornet's nest." This didn't sit right with me, so I had another talk with him about the terms on which we were going to end this contract. He proceeded to tell me how grateful I should be to be offered shifts on the weekend, how "you can't live off of your passion", and even if you try, you "really should cover all your bases first". When I told him I didn't need his advice, he got offended. Our talk was cut short because duty called, so I wiped my tears in the bathroom before getting back to the bar and finishing my shift.

The next day, I called in sick. I was shaking on the couch as I sent the text. I was absolutely terrified. This was not how I've been taught to behave. I have to be professional, I have to be nice, I have to be polite and if my feelings get hurt I should rise above it. I should be a good girl and finish the hours I'm expected to work as I humbly resign because clearly I must have been in the wrong. According to him, I was the one breaching our initial agreement, and he was an authoritative male figure so I felt quite intimidated. Still, my text was accepted and suddenly I was free for the day. That felt wonderfully empowering, and you know what I did? I walked into town and got another job. And another. And another. Now I have my pick of other places that all seem 1000x better than this one.

That Monday he texted me saying how "glad" he was that I was "feeling so much better", because "a friend of his" had seen me busking at the markets Sunday morning (low-key stalker behaviour if you ask me). He told me I was expected to come into work the very next day. This forced my hand a bit, because I had been waiting to officially resign until payday, fearing they might try to withhold my salary once I informed them of my intention to leave. I headed over to Wellington Community Law, who volunteer their time giving out free legal advice to those in need. With their help, I drafted up a resignation message, telling the manager I was not coming in for more than the two hours mentioned in the contract, and even that was a courtesy because he had failed to communicate the work roster to me at least a week in advance, which the contract dictates he must do. He texted me back telling me I was dead wrong, that I was misinterpreting the contract, and to show up for all scheduled shifts or else there would be legal consequences. He even had the gall to tell me I should really get some sound legal advice before making this decision. I told him I already had, and that he could not legally require me to work all the ~45 hours (!!) he had decided to put me on the roster for, because that would be an unlawful availability provision (loved learning the legal jargon for this, thanks wclc ❤️). He told me to write an official e-mail with my "complete concerns" and my decision not to work the required shifts. Luck would have it that I had already been typing away for three days at about a kilometre of text detailing all the broken promises and everything that he had done wrong, including but definitely not limited to some non-consensual touches during work. I ended the e-mail reiterating my (courteous) offer to still work the two hours, and, as advised in a second session with wclc, gave him a deadline before which he was to tell me which hours he wanted me to come in. Suddenly he was very quiet, until I got a text message the next day stating very shortly that I was not required to come into work anymore that week, and all outstanding payments for previous worked shifts would be made within a week 😤

Mind you, my stress levels were through the roof throughout this entire process. I was shaking, I was waking up early, scared to look at my phone, worried about the consequences I had been threatened with. In my most fearful thoughts I saw him coming to my house and trying to harass me. I'd never done anything like this before, and his manipulative words unfortunately had their intended effect on me. I was scared I was actually wrong, that he would sue me, and I would be deported. But wclc assured me I did everything right, and I was happy to be able to believe them over him. The waiting for replies was scary but I'm very lucky to be surrounded by some truly wonderful people here who supported me, kept me from buckling and helped distract me from the stress. "This is not Europe," they told me. "You can just block his number and never go back." It turns out employees are legally in a much better position to start with over here, which is very refreshing.

And let me tell you, I feel like I've grown a couple of centimetres through the whole ordeal. It feels amazing to stand up against somebody like him, somebody who made conversations way more personal than they needed to be, told lies about me to the rest of the staff, and basically told me to let him exploit me, and WIN. The act itself is invigorating already but the moment he texted me saying I wouldn't have to come in anymore, I jumped with joy. I was so scared but I WON. He's never going to apologise to me, nor is he going to like me ever again (which is something I've been taught to feel bad about), but I'll sleep soundly just imagining what his face must have been like when he realised he was wrong. I know I'm not the first person he exploited, but it seems I was the first to walk out like this. I do hope he learns a lesson, or that I might set an example for the rest of the staff.

So if you ever need some courage to stand up for yourself, I've found that listening to these songs helps:

Doja Cat - Boss Bitch

Todrick Hall - Wrong Bitch

Blackpink - Pretty Savage

It really sounds so much easier than it is, but as Rascal Flatts put it so beautifully, you can do what you think is impossible 🤩

[shameofice]

"I hope your travels have not been too difficult, Lady Zhenya..." The crimson haired one sits at Stone Gate, the picture of idleness at first glance were it not for the sharp look to his eyes and the awareness he holds for his surroundings. Crepus stands to pull her chair out for her, gesturing for her to sit and signals to the tea seller for two more cups, waiting until the gentleman has departed. "I hope Our Fair Lady is in good health. It has been some time since I have seen her. I offer you a bottle of each for your trouble of travelling this far..."

-

crepus really is a perfect gentleman--it is a pity that the fatui had changed him so.

of course, zhenya is incredibly loyal to the fatui. she's been in it since she was very young, of course, and devoted her entire life to it, but e even she cannot deny that the fatui changes people from who they once were. she's seen it in crepus, and she's seen it in lady hanagaki, and she's seen it in so many recruits that come in either because they wanted to or they had no other choice in the matter.

"the fair lady is well, and my travels have been peaceful," zhenya replies, giving crepus a light smile as she sits down, crossing one leg gracefully over the other. she's well-dressed, every loose curl perfectly in place despite the long journey she must have been taken to get here. she cuts an elegant figure, back straight and eyes forward, but like crepus, her eyes are sharp and she seems hyper-aware of her surroundings.

one does not make to the age zhenya is in the fatui if they did not play their cards in the right manners.

"how has business been for you?" zhenya's particular visit is not one conveying incredibly urgent information, so a little chatting wouldn't hurt.

[jackiexmiller]

Jackie knew what he meant. She knew what it felt like not to be good enough for someone, it was exactly how she felt with him. And it hurt her to think that maybe, the only reason he would have wanted her, was because he no longer felt like a man Andrea deserved. Like she was somehow was less than Andy, like...if she were to give this a shot, if she were to change, if she were to become everything he needed her to be -- he would still only be settling. Settling for something less than he'd had before. And it causes that burning insecurity within her to amplify, and she feels sick to her stomach for even entertaining the thought. Because even this version of her -- this imagined 'better' version, was still nowhere good enough. And she was not even half of that. "Why must it be the same?" she asks now, void of feeling, numb to the pain she awakened without even trying. "Why must it feel the same? Do you think she's the same person she was before? Do you think death did not change her? A-and if you love her...if you always will then...then shouldn't you at least try?" the words coming off her lips now surprised her more than she could fathom, but all she wanted, ALL she wanted in this point in life was fo him to be happy. And if Andrea made it happen once, then she had the tools to do it again. As did he. "I know now...that you had to carry the fucking world on your shoulders. That you had to be there for people all the time that...that you're tired and you want to scream and that you're so so fucking angry and terrified of that but --- she needs you Lucas. I may not know her but I know enough to know that. She needs you now more than she ever did and...you, well you don't get to tap out -- she's still your wife. You made a promise and you may not know how to deal with all of this but you got to figure it out man. And you will..." her voice breaks, and she looks at him with such confidence now, she wants him to know she truly means what she's about to say. "--because you are the best this world has to offer. You are kind, and smart and loyal you...you're strong and you're intelligent and you're funny and soft and rough and real -- you...you're so real Lucas. You're everything. So don't you dare...e-even for a moment sit here and act as if you're anything less than that."

She had never been good at expressing her feelings, at showing just how deep and true her love could run. But she wanted him to see this, se wanted him to know where her mind was at. Where her thoughts were. They spent so much time hiding from each other, so afraid of showing these dark and broken parts -- and they were more alike than expected, and that was not a good thing. --- He's turned away from her now, and she feels the sea of guilt washing over her, drowning her. She wanted so badly to be the person he could fix, the person he could hold on to, the person he could love freely and easily. The person who could make him happy, who could give him everything. But how could she be that person? When she was not a person at all? She doesn't let him hide, and she tries so hard to turn him back to face her but she can't, and she allows the words alone to greet him, he may not look at her but he can still hear. "Love is...love has never been enough. I don't have to tell you this you...you already know." she wipes her face again, and this conversation should have ended but she wouldn't let it. "My mother she...she loved me, and still she loved the needle more. So much more she left me and I...I needed her. I needed her so, so bad and...it was not enough that I loved her back. It was not enough that I needed her. I -- I have loved so many people before. But I left them too because if I hadn't, they would have left me first and I -- I don't want to be loved anymore I don't....I don't want people to care if I come or go. I don't want people to be sad, or hurt, or broken because of me. I don't know how to express everything I'm thinking and feeling and worrying about, I wish so bad I could because I want you to understand....to know that there's nothing wrong with you. There's nothing bad about you there's....I just love you and it will never be enough because -- I'm me. And I only know how to love with my soul, not with my actions. But that's what love really is -- it's actions, isn't it? It's what we do to show it. It's how we pour it out and I...I don't know how to do that Lucas."

A quiet sob leaves her lips and she wants more than a joint now. She wants to crush up enough pills to make herself forget this ever happened. To make herself feel numb and quiet and peaceful again. --- And then he does something that pushes her forward, finally, and she will move herself to face him now and she will place her hands on his face and she will shut down every part of her brain just to pull him back out. "No, no, no, no....no don't say that. Please don't say that I -- I beg you not to think that it's...it cannot be further from the truth... please..." she pulls him into a hug, perhaps against his will, she did not care. Suddenly she possessed enough strength to lift a mountain, because she wasn't gonna let him go down a spiral. She wasn't gonna let him think something which was not real. "Shhh...you'll be okay, you are and will always be the easiest thing to love. I promise you that, I --- I swear on that, you're...we're all here for you, love, we're all here in whatever capacity we can be here and it's not on you Lucas, that we're all damaged in our own ways. Not everything that is wrong is your fault. You know that, right? You know that all of us...we're doing the best we can. And it's not your job to save us all, to make everything better -- Please don't be so rough on yourself, please I -- I can't bare it."

He remains quiet, words nowhere to be found as he allows her to lean against him, palms rubbing against each other and normally, in her presence, everything was quiet but not now. Now his thoughts were loud, screaming, echoing in his ears, running rampant. His heart thudding against his rib cage with no mercy and he wants nothing more than to cover his ears, as if that would do anything to muffle the noise in his mind, and he scream, God, did he want to just scream. Every word that fell from her angelic lips were like tiny blades slicing through the last remaining shards of his heart, chest tightening as the light in his eyes slowly fades away, tears slowing as he's filled with an emptiness, a numbness that he hadn't quiet experienced until now. "I don't want to go back to that," Lucas will admit softly, emotions void from his voice as he stares blankly ahead of him. "I can't. I love her, I do, I will always love her but it could never be the same. I don't feel what I felt back then. Honestly, I don't think I can feel anything anymore."

The tears that fell down her features broke him, hated being the cause of them, and there's a shift in the atmosphere between them, a distance that he hates more than he hated himself. He wants nothing more than to reach out, to wipe them away but he's unable to move. Every piece of his past that he kept hidden from those he loved, every single thing that he had endured, every hit, every punch, every gut wrenching loss, now out there between him and Jackie, the picture of strength that he had used as a mask destroyed leaving nothing but a broken pile of bones as he lowers his gaze to the sand beneath them until she's pulling him back, her lips against his and for a fraction of a second a spark surges through him and the hope that seemed to be fading quickly, burned again, at least until she pulls away again and even though her frame remains against his own, her head against his shoulder and his arms wrapped around her, he feels a million miles away from her. And he fights the tears that are burning at broken emerald hues as her own tears stain the cloth of his shirt but he loses that battle as they slowly break through, rolling down his features as she speaks again. Any ounce of hope that he had of having her, of being the person that could repair her damaged heart, of showing her that she deserved everything the world had to offer, was shatter in seconds, the broken pieces that laid within his chest now a pile of ash as he's pulling away from her, moving away from her because her words had killed the last remaining humanity that he had clung so tightly to. He's quiet, too quiet as he turns his back to her, hiding the pained expression, hiding the tears that streamed mercilessly staining his cheeks red like the burning within his chest. He was nothing more than a broken shell of a man and he's never felt more lost, more alone. The sun was breaking through the sky and yet the world around him was pitch black and her words continue to pierce through him like a dagger. He had never needed more from her, all he wanted was for her to stay, to give him the chance to show her that she was worth being loved, that she deserved to be loved. Despite everything she said, he still wanted her. The reality of her words, that there was no way that he could have her, the worst pain he'd ever felt. He wasn't sure that they'd even make it out of this trip okay, still friends when his heart still yearned for her, would continue to yearn for her and for a moment he starts to imagine a world where they don't collide causing his stomach to twist in the most unimaginably sickening way.

There's a deep inhale of breath and it's audibly shaky, his hands visibly trembling at his sides before one rises to brush back his locks and his eyes fall shut. "It's okay," he blatantly lies, voice breaking with each word that falls from his lips. "I get it, I'm used to this. Everyone that I love- they leave. I shouldn't have- I shouldn't have expected more from you. I shouldn't have expected you to stay." The exhale of breath from his lungs was just as shaky as the inhale and it's taking everything in him not to allow his legs to buckle beneath him. "I'm not easy to love," the hybrid states. "I'm- I don't know what I am. Loss is inevitable in my life, every turn I take is just another face to face with the grim reaper, begging him to not take yet another person, pleading with him to take me instead, praying to a God that I don't even believe in to take all the pain away. I can't- I'm no good for anyone. Not you, not Andreia, not Briggs or Billie, not Riley, not my mom or my siblings, none of my family. I try to be but I don't- I don't know how to be. So it's fine, Jacks, really. I'll be- I'll be fine."