#i hope everyone’s new year is starting off okay and if not .. may i offer you a warm cup of tea & tender hug ??

[tetzoro]

hi !! hey !! hello !! howdy !! how’s everynyannn :3 ❤︎

[navybrat817]

What Happens in Vegas

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader Summary: You get more than you bargained for when you decide to get married in Vegas. Word Count: Over 2.8k Warnings: Drinking, drunk wedding, accidental marriage, supernatural element, dubcon elements, soft!dark vibes, Bucky Barnes (he's a warning, okay?). A/N: I wasn't able to get all 4 birthday stories done, but I hope you lovelies enjoy the ones I plan to share. Here's 1 of 2! ❤️ Beta read by the lovely @whisperlullaby (thank you for spitballing), but any and all mistakes are my own. Thanks to @targaryenvampireslayer as well for letting me scream about this. Divider by the talented @firefly-graphics. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

The fluorescent lights of the strip flashed as you stumbled along the sidewalk. Fast paced and surreal, the city that never sleeps offered a little something for everyone. Entertainment, architecture, adventure. While your intention for the evening was to grab a drink with some friends and nothing more, you decided to do something bolder. Crazier. Because what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, right?

“Goin’ to the chapel and we’re… gonna get maaaaaaried,” you sang, squinting as your guy, date, whoever he was, helped steady you. “Who or what was your name again? Randy?”

“That’s not my name. It’s-”

“Randy. ‘Cause you’re a rando,” you declared, making him laugh.

Forgetting the guy’s name should’ve been your first clue to call it a night and go back to your hotel. Randy was cute enough though and bought all of you drinks. When you told him most of your friends were hitched or close to getting married while you were still single, he joked that he’d marry you.

“Fuck it! Let’s get married!”

Which was how you found yourself on his arm heading to a chapel.

Your second clue to go back to your room should’ve been that none of your friends stopped you. Not a single one told you to stay or offered to go with you, which was strange. Not that each of you hadn’t done stupid stuff before. Letting you go off with a stranger though? In an unfamiliar city?

Bitches. All of them. Noooooo. I love my girlfriends. They’re just DRUNK, like me.

You did feel sad for a second. While your friends all had family who would’ve thrown a fit if they eloped or married a stranger, you didn’t. Your dad would never give you away. Your mom wouldn’t wipe her tears as she heard you say your vows. So who cared what you did?

You sure as hell didn’t.

“Here,” Randy said, pulling you toward a door. “This place is supposed to be really nice.”

“OOOOOOOOH. Reeeeeeeally nice,” you said, gasping once you stepped inside.

You expected cheesy decor to smack you in the face, but instead found yourself in a luxurious entryway. Sparkles of gold lined the sleek floor and walls all the way up to the high ceilings. The art depicted landscapes you only had the pleasure of seeing in dreams. The room almost had a glow to it.

Or maybe it's the alcohol blurring my vision.

A voluptuous redhead walked through a set of doors to greet you. Her heels didn’t make a sound as she glided across the floor. Glancing at Randy, you caught him adjusting the front of his pants. Was he drooling? You found it amusing rather than let it upset you.

“Welcome to the Enchanted Valley where all your dreams come true. My name is Natalia. How may I help you this evening?”

“We’re getting married,” Randy answered, though he didn’t glance at you.

“Is that so?” she asked, tilting her head as she turned her attention to you. The gold from the walls sparkled in her eyes as she waited for your confirmation.

Swaying a little, you gave her a two finger salute. “That is so,” you answered before you added, “Do you also do annulments?”

Snorting, she gestured behind her. “Before we get started, you must be at least 18 years old, must not be currently married, must not be kin, and I’ll need to see a government form of identification. As long as that’s clear, you’re free to proceed with your ceremony. Do you have witnesses?"

“No ‘cause my bitchy friends didn’t come here. I don’t even have flowers,” you said, hiccuping a little. “Don’t tell them I call them that. I love them soooooooooo much.”

“That’s just fine. I’ll ask James and Wanda if they wouldn’t mind witnessing this…” Natalia tried to find the word as her eyes darted between you. “Blessed union.”

Randy followed Natalia like a lost puppy into the chapel as he struggled to get his wallet out. “You single?”

Your eyes rolled in the back of your head. “Why am I doing this?” you mumbled, swaying as you dug your wallet out. “Why didn’t I just get a tattoo or something?”

“Because a ring on your finger is easier to remove than ink on your skin.”

“Holy fucking… fuck,” you said as you looked up. “Where did you come from, you… gorgeous specimen?”

You understood why Randy practically eye-fucked Natalia since you were doing the same with the man in front of you. His steel blue eyes reflected the gold of the room the same way the redhead’s had and you were scared you’d fall into an abyss if you stared for too long. His light brown hair had to be the softest you’d ever seen. If you had to guess, he was at least 6’4” with a broad chest and shoulders and didn’t have the audacity to button up his shirt.

Is his left arm made out of gold? Or is it painted gold? How drunk am I? Would Randy object to me giving this god of a man the ride of his life?

“I’m James,” he said, the timbre of his voice causing your knees to wobble as he held up a bouquet of colorful flowers. “I’ll be one of the witnesses for this blessed union.”

“Nothing blessed about it. I don’t even know the guy. But he said he’d marry me and I said ‘fuck it,” you giggled, taking a step forward. Your shoe caught on nothing. Nothing. You just fell forward.

And the beautiful man caught you in his embrace.

“Careful, beautiful,” he said as he helped you stand upright and placed the flowers in your hand. His touch warmed you as he ran his hands along your bare arms. “You would marry a stranger then? With no friends or family here?”

“You smell really good. How do you smell so good?” You said, putting a hand on his chest with a grin. “Friends are busy and I have no family.”

His brows furrowed and you wondered how pathetic you sounded. You weren’t looking for pity. “Did he give you any token of affection?”

“Mmmmm. You know, he didn’t. We don’t have rings or anything.”

James traced a finger along your cheek. “And he dares to call himself a man,” he whispered, tutting when you leaned into his touch. “Doesn’t seem like he's fit to marry such a delectable creature.”

Eat me up, James.

“It’s okay,” you said, hoping the sad feelings of alcohol weren’t about to hit you. It sucked being alone and you knew you’d come to regret this later, but who cared about tonight? “Do you have gold streaks in your hair? Why are you so pretty? It’s like you’re not even REAL.”

“I’m very real, beautiful,” he smiled, flashing his pearly white teeth as your cheeks got hot. “Do I have the pleasure of knowing your full name?”

“My full name? So formal,” you teased, giving it to him without hesitation as you ran your fingers through his hair. You should’ve asked permission before touching his soft hair. You shouldn’t have touched him at all. But logic left your mind the moment you stepped into the city.

James closed his eyes as he repeated your name, making it sound erotic and sensual. You liked hearing it on his tongue. “You will not marry him,” he whispered, opening his eyes. A ring of gold surrounded his pupils before it went away. Maybe one of the girls slipped a little something into your drink to help you relax more.

Whatever it is, I want more of it.

“Tell you what,” you smiled, booping his nose with a giggle. “If you object with good reason, I won’t marry Randy Rando. Deal?”

James smirked after a moment, a darkness clouding his eyes as he stepped back to shake your hand. “Deal.”

Before you shook it, you noticed a gold ring on the floor by his foot. Did he drop it? “Is that yours?” you said, crouching down to grab it. It wasn’t very dignified how your dress rode up, but he didn’t seem to mind. “Here.”

He didn’t take it from you. “It is mine, but do you not wish to keep it?”

You frowned, confused as you glanced at the band. It had some sort of lettering around the solitaire diamond that you didn’t recognize. “This isn’t ‘finders keepers’. It’s yours. It’s nice, but it’s rude of me to take it.”

With a low hum, he accepted the ring back. “There aren’t many who would return something of value,” he said, slipping it on his right pinky finger. “You have a giving heart.”

“Oh, it… It was nothing,” you said, shrugging a little to hide how badly you wanted to preen at his compliment.

I’m really acting like I’ve never seen a good looking guy before.

He kept an intense gaze on you as he slipped a hand into his pants pocket and pulled out a small stone. It would’ve looked like a normal pebble if not for the gold speckles. “I know this may not look special, but would you take this as a token for giving my ring back?”

Whaaaaaaaat?

“Um. Yeah. Sure. Thanks,” you said, tucking the stone into your purse before you selected a flower from your bouquet. “Would you accept this from me?” you asked, wanting to do something nice.

A pleased look crossed his face as he took the flower and inhaled. Your head spun a little. Something felt different, but you couldn’t put your finger on it. “Thank you,” he said, running his teeth along his bottom lip as he fixed the bottom of your dress. “You really are the most beautiful bride.”

“And you, James, you beautiful, gorgeous, sexy, god of a man, will make the hottest groom when you get married.”

“Hey!” Randy shouted from the chapel when James opened his mouth. “We doing this or what?”

Oh, yeah.

“Wish me luck!” you said, giggling as you went through the doors and not looking back to see if he followed. “Wow.”

It was as if you stepped into an enchanted forest. The colors of the room were lush and welcoming, a blend of evergreen and sage. Flickering fairy lights and flowers adorned the dark brown pues. Natalia stood in front of Randy and a slender woman you didn’t recognize sat on his side of the chapel. The lights were playing tricks on you again when she looked at you, her eyes a flash of red as she smiled.

That must be Wanda. And I’m never drinking again.

“Ready?” Randy questioned when you got to the end of the aisle.

How romantic.

“Yeah, I guess,” you shrugged, looping your arm with his as you held your bouquet. “Take it away, Natalia.”

“Dearly beloved,” she began.

Truthfully, you didn’t pay much attention to the ceremony as Natalia spoke. You didn’t question that she hadn’t looked at your identification card or confirmed anything else she named off. It probably wasn’t a real wedding ceremony. You weren’t going to be Mrs. Randy Rando.

Not when James is here. Wait, what?

“If there are no objections,” Natalia spoke, glancing over your shoulder. “Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“I object,” James announced behind you, making you cover your mouth as you giggled. He did say he’d object with good reason. You wondered what he’d come up with.

“On what grounds?” Natalia asked, smirking as if she expected him to interrupt.

“Because she’s my wife,” he answered.

What the hell did he just say?

“What?!” You laughed louder as you spun around, falling against Randy with wide eyes.

"What's wrong?" He asked, barely holding you upright.

James walked down the aisle toward you, a gold shine covering him from head to toe. Pointy ears stuck out through his hair and his eyes had a hypnotic glow as he smiled at you, his teeth sharper than before. He looked like a beautiful nightmare.

Ready to eat you up.

“You can see me as I really am, beautiful, can’t you?” He asked, a melodic lift in his tone that was both sinister and alluring. “Glamour doesn’t work on mates.”

...the fuck?

“M-Mates? We’re mates? What does that even mean?” You asked, looking at Randy for help. His eyes had a glossy glaze to them, like he wasn’t seeing you. Was he in shock? Did he know what was going on? “Dude, snap out of it. Look at his gold skin! And his pointy ears!”

“She can see you,” Natalia said with pride. “Congratulations, Bucky. You’re finally married.”

“Thank you, Natasha,” James smiled, waving a hand at Randy. His nails looked sharp enough to claw through his skin. “Get rid of him. He’s crowding my bride.”

“I’m… I’m way too drunk for this,” you mumbled, your knees giving out. With unnaturaul speed, he made his way to the end of the aisle and caught you.

“Hey! That’s my…” Randy looked confused as he blinked. “Well, she's not my girlfriend, but. Huh?”

“No, she isn’t your girlfriend. She’s my wife. And when you wake up tomorrow, you won’t remember being here,” he said, nodding over to Wanda. “I’d wipe your memory myself, but I’m not letting my mate go.”

“The fuck are you…” he trailed off when Wanda waved her hand, a ball of red light floating in front of his face.

“You sleep now,” she said as the light touched his forehead, not bothering to brace his fall as he collapsed.

“What the hell?” You slurred as Natalia grabbed his ankles to drag him out of the chapel, Wanda on her heel.

“I wouldn’t worry about him since you accepted my hand in marriage,” James said, touching your cheek with a fond smile. “I’m sorry for not courting you longer, but we didn’t exactly have much time, did we?”

“We’re not married,” you argued.

“By Fae law, we are,” he explained as your eyes nearly bulged out of your head. Did he say Fae? “You returned something of value to me that I dropped, which was you saying ‘yes’ to my marriage proposal.”

“No,” you whispered. That couldn’t be true.

“You accepted my token of my affection, which was me pledging myself as your husband. And you gave me a token of affection in return, which was you pledging yourself as my wife.”

The stone. The flower. No. Fucking. Way.

“I don’t understand,” you whimpered as he propped you up in his arms.

“I wanted a bride, so I came here. You’d be surprised how much of my kind has infiltrated this city. We do love our realm, but your people are so easy to manipulate,” he said, gesturing to the room. “Gambling, drinking, strippers, quick weddings. You just throw your hard-earned money away like it’s meaningless. Your currency goes a long way where I’m from.”

“I want to go home,” you said as he tightened his hold on you, even stronger than he looked.

“You didn’t see me at the bar tonight, but I saw you. I knew you were destined for me,” he continued happily as if you didn’t say anything. “And when he suggested marrying you on a whim, I made sure your friends didn’t try to stop you and that your path led here. Don't worry. They're safe. I wouldn't harm them.”

Who is he? What is he?

You shook your head, surprised that you hadn’t gotten sick from how your stomach turned. “I’m not your wife,” you said, trembling when his entire body began to glow.

“You are not just my wife. You are my queen. Even if you hadn’t accepted my token of affection, I wouldn’t have let you marry someone whose name wasn’t worth remembering. You’re mine,” he said through his teeth, angry at you denying him before he took a breath. “My poor bride. A woman with no family and friends who don’t look out for her. You have me now. And you’ll be happy by my side.”

You bit the inside of your cheek, hoping by some miracle a bit of pain would wake you up. But the creature who called himself your husband wasn’t going away. “This is a bad dream,” you whispered, as if lying to yourself would help.

“Oh, my love,” he said in false comfort. “There are no bad dreams in the Enchanted Valley. And this isn’t the Vegas you know where you can simply write this off as a mistake. There is no divorce in my world. Well, your world now.”

“James, please,” you begged as your heart pounded.

“We’re married now, beautiful. Call me Bucky,” he smiled, smothering your protest with a kiss. Heat spread along your lips and flowed through your veins, wrapping around your heart like a vice. It was enough to suffocate you, but fate wasn’t ready to claim your life yet. “Now sober up. We have a honeymoon to start.”

I couldn't tag Bucky as "fae" without giving some of the surprise away! This idea was inspired by @adayka's beautiful art here. Maybe we can revisit this new couple down the road. Love and thanks for reading! ❤️

Masterlist ⚓ Bucky Barnes Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[unoislazy]

Healing Takes Time

(Part 2)

I wasn’t originally going to make a part 2 considering I just wanted everyone to wallow in their sadness. Buuuuttt there were enough people asking for it so I figured I’d be nice just this once and make a Part 2. Can’t guarantee it’ll be good though.

Disclaimer; NSFW is hinted at but never explicitly stated (may come in a later part if I actually want to continue this more)

————————————————————

A day had passed.

A week.

A month.

A year.

Then a few years.

So much time had gone by and you still stared at your door in anticipation sometimes, hoping Mizu would come walking back in. Even if she had returned to you beaten and bloody asking for you to fix her up, you would in a heartbeat. You missed her more than words could ever even think to describe.

You missed her company, you missed her help, you missed… her.

You had only known each other for a few months but the kiss you had shared lingered with you for as long as you waited. A few times you had almost convinced yourself to stop hoping; she had something she needed to do, what reason was there for her to come back to you? Sometimes you worried that she might have died in pursuit of her quest, maybe you should’ve gone with her, at least you could offer her some sort of help.

Not like it mattered now.

You had no way of telling where she was, if she was okay, or if she even wanted to come back.

You hoped she at least thought of you as much as you did of her.

During the time that had passed, you decided to set up a medicinal shop. At least you would have something to fully focus on with your time instead of spending most of it worrying about a woman who you believed had no intention of coming back to you.

Business was slow at first.

Really slow.

You had to put yourself out there, let people know that you were there and what your purpose was.

Thankfully, as time went on, and the more drunkards that managed to stumble their way in after being harshly thrown out, word of your practice spread throughout the town. Any time anyone felt sick, in pain, dizzy, drowsy, anything at all, they came to you. It almost got to the point people treated you as if you had some magic healing power, which of course you didn’t, just a lengthy amount of herbal and medicinal knowledge.

You were happy and before long you had somewhat forgotten about the strange samurai that had graced your presence all those years ago.

Of course you never fully forgot, but she was no longer in the forefront of your mind. If anything she had drifted into a distant memory of what could have been had the stars aligned for you that day.

You often thought about how you’d feel if she had entered your life once again and you never had a clear answer. You’d feel happy that she had returned, angry that she left in the first place, and afraid that she would leave again. Would she look the same as she did when she left? Would she even recognize you? Would she have come back looking for you or would she have simply stumbled across you.

You had a million questions and most of which you had to come to terms with the fact that they might never be answered.

You yawned, turning over on your bed as you stretched, trying to wake yourself up the best you could to start a new day. Now that you had a business to tend to, days off were not a very common thing, but you didn’t entirely mind. More time to yourself meant more time thinking about things that truly didn’t matter.

You finally rolled out of your bed, throwing your sheet off of you and standing up. Just because you liked the distraction doesn’t mean you had to enjoy every aspect of going to work.

You spent time getting yourself ready, at least making some effort to look nice, before you had finally walked out of your house.

You walked down the ever muddy road, passing by others who were starting their day, some who lived there, some who didn’t. As you walked down the road, you spotted a familiar hat walking about amongst the crowd. You didn’t think much of it, many people wore the same type of hat, you’d be a fool to get your hopes up over something so small.

And yet you couldn’t help but wonder.

You abandoned your usual path to your shop, making your way in the general direction of the hat owner, but not making it obvious that you were heading towards them. After all, if it hadn’t actually been Mizu you wanted to at least have the ability to deny ever heading towards them in the first place. You made your way over, dodging and weaving between the people who walked through the busy street and just as you had made it over you saw,

A man.

A man who looked nothing like Mizu.

You knew it, you shouldn’t have gotten your hopes up, but why listen to your consciousness. You sighed, walking away from the man and heading back on your original path. You knew it wouldn’t be her and yet there was still a part of you that believed she would come back. You felt like an idiot, more than that, you felt like an absolute moron.

Why were you so hung up on this woman that you spent a few months with several years ago. You should be over her by now, you knew she’d have to leave eventually and she did, what was your issue?

Your issue was you loved her. Oh how you hated admitting that, but you loved her more than you had loved anyone in a long time. You both knew she wouldn’t stay, you both got attached, but it felt like you had gotten more attached than she had, and you hated it. If she truly loved you the same amount, why couldn’t she just stay with you? Why did she have to leave?

You wanted to move on, you had to move on, but you couldn’t. No one else had caught your eye since, and you were certain no one else would make you feel the same way she had when you had spent time together.

You too never went far, only sharing that one simple kiss and yet it was all you needed to confirm that you truly loved her.

You sighed again, finally reaching your shop.

It wasn’t common for doctors or anyone with medicinal practice to not just go to peoples houses, but you liked doing things differently. Besides, most of the people you treated were cast out and likely didn’t live around here anyways.

You set up your usual things, tending to some of the plants and herbs you kept around, making sure everything was in its place before you waited.

Oftentimes you wouldn’t get many sellers in the morning, most people were still waking up and going to their own jobs by this point in the day, but you thought it necessary to at least be ready for anything one might deal with during the day.

You sat waiting for a few hours before you finally had someone walk in. A very tall and lanky man that wore a blue outfit. If it hadn’t been for his face, you might’ve thought he was Mizu. He simply asked for some help with soreness which you treated and sent him on his way. After him, the rest of your clients began to pour in, all asking for different treatments and medicines, most of which were just really simple solutions.

You definitely enjoyed your job, helping people was something you always loved to see.

Your day continued on, people going in and out all day until you had gotten a different client.

“Just one second!” You called from the other room, having heard the door slide open. You had been moving some of your things around, giving yourself more room and organizing a bunch. You don’t know why you did it considering you always ended up rearranging things, but it never hurt to at least try and have a system. You wiped your hands clean of the dirt that was never there as you entered the man room again.

“Okay, what can I help you w-”

You froze.

Standing before you was what at first you thought to be a man, but upon closer inspection you realized that standing before you was no man, it was…

“Mizu?” You asked, you felt almost as if you had just been imagining it. There was no way that she was standing there right in front of you, not after the several people you had confused to be her throughout the day, this had to have just been one of those times… Just to an extreme and unhealthy amount.

The woman before you held an expression you couldn’t read entirely. She looked as if she was happy to see you but there was something else hidden in her expression that you couldn’t quite grasp. You cautiously walked towards her as if you made any sudden movements she would just fade away.

You were now standing in front of her, a bit of a distance between you two, but you were still close enough to see the details on her face. You very carefully reached up, your hand grazing against her skin as you took her glasses off, her blue eyes never looking away as she let you do so. Your other hand had now come up, cupping her face as you dropped her glasses on the ground. All the emotions you thought you’d feel were there, but they were much stronger than you originally anticipated. At that moment though, all you felt was relief. She was alive, she came back, and now she was standing in front of you.

You didn’t know how to express your feelings in any other way than moving forward and kissing her much like you had done the day you left. You both leaned into the kiss, all the yearning and desperation you had held back for so many years came back full force as you held her gently between your hands. She too had moved you closer, not wanting to let you go after so many years of being apart.

That was until you pulled away for a moment, the one question still running through your mind,

“Why did you leave?” You asked, your eyes filled with the pain of several years alone as you stared at her. She averted your gaze at first, clearly not wanting to answer as she went silent.

“We both knew I'd have to.” She finally answered, still not wanting to look at you.

“I knew you wanted to but you didn’t have to.” You argued, you knew she was going to leave regardless and there was no changing her mind when she did. But that foolish part of you still had held out hope that she would just change her mind and stay with you, and that foolish part of you is the reason you were hurt so badly now. If you hadn’t held onto that hope for so long, you wouldn’t have gotten hurt.

“I did. I had to finish what I started.” Mizu claimed, and she stood by that claim. It was the truth after all.

“And how long did that take to finish?” You asked. If she had come back right after she had finished her task, you wouldn’t have been so angry, but instead it only fueled your anger as you realized she had gone quiet.

“What, so you just stayed away? Why?”

She stayed silent.

“Mizu. Why?” You persisted. You tried to keep your anger up but your demand for answers slowly began to turn to pleading. You were upset, you wanted to be angry, but in reality you were just hurt. You held out hope for so long that she would return and yet she never did, you thought she died, you thought maybe she had been left badly wounded, but no. She had finished her mission and just refused to come back to you.

“Why?” You asked once more, her silence was the last thing you wanted right now, you wanted her to say something, anything.

“I was afraid.” She finally admitted. Her eyes were shut, she didn’t even want to see the look on your face as you processed what she had said.

“Afraid of what? What could you possibly be afraid of?” You scoffed. In your mind she was a samurai, someone who had faced death and laughed in its face several times. In your mind, she had absolutely nothing to fear.

“That when I returned you wouldn’t see anything but a monster.” She began. You couldn’t see it but her eyes had ever so slightly begun to tear up, she covered it smoothly, not wanting you to notice as she continued, “I was afraid that you would realize that I am nothing more than just a demon with a sword.”

You simply stared at her for a moment.

“Have you learned absolutely nothing about me?”

Her eyes finally shifted towards you, confusion riddling every inch of her face.

“I don’t care about any of that, Mizu.” You began. Now finally having your answer to why she had stayed away, you no longer felt so angry, if anything you were more upset with the fact that she assumed you would react in such a way. “I don’t care what color your eyes are or how good you are with a sword and I certainly don’t care that you’re a woman.” You lightly joked, earning a small exhale in acknowledgement from Mizu. You made your way back over to her, now standing in front of her just as you had done before.

You had spent so much time worrying over her only for her to be avoiding you because of a silly assumption she had made on her own.

“I'm sorry.” She quietly said, her eyes not meeting your own as she continued, “It’s a habit. I just kind of expect it at this point.” She admitted with a shrug. You frowned, hearing such a hearvy admission as if it was nothing that upset you. You knew you wouldn’t be able to change her way of thinking but you could at least try and convince her about how you felt.

“Well what’s important is that you’re back.” You said with a smile. “You plan on staying right?” You asked, your smile dropping for a moment as you awaited her answer. You didn’t want her to leave again, you didn't want to finally be able to feel her again just for her to disappear as if she never existed in the first place. Any amount of distraction in the world wouldn’t be enough to keep you from the despair and anger you’d feel if she had left a second time.

“Of course I am.” She confirmed, a slight smile gracing her face as you happily hugged her. It would be a bit of a weird adjustment for the both of you given your new schedule but those were issues for future you to worry about. Right now all that matters was you and Mizu, and a very much still open medicinal shop that still had clients waiting for help. Once you finally realized this, you had given a place for Mizu to wait as you had continued to help clients, sometimes she even gave her own input on things, having needed certain items for certain issues herself. Although her expertise mainly centered around open wounds and gashes which, surprise surprise, was not all that common when you weren’t going out of your way to fight people every chance you got. You appreciated the help nonetheless.

The sun had already set as you finished up for the day. Mizu had helped you put some things away and get everything ready for the next day. You were beyond delighted to see her again, even just watching her put things away was enough to send you soaring. She might’ve been on the leaner side but Mizu was still uncommonly strong, and you couldn’t help but admire her any chance you got, of course when she wasn’t looking. You certainly weren’t giving her the heavier items to lift for that exact reason, who would ever think to do such a thing?

Once you both had finished up, you slid the door behind you both and began to walk back towards the direction of your house.

“I missed you.” You admitted quite out of the blue. It was clear you both missed each other but neither of you had outwardly said those three words yet, so you figured you’d be the first. Little did you know just the effect they had on Mizu, no one had ever said something like that directed towards her, she felt so… loved.

“I missed you too.”

One wouldn’t expect a relationship that has such little time to blossom to actually thrive but you two worked very well together.

Once you had finally made it inside, you both got yourselves situated and comfortable. Mizu took a small look around, getting used to her surroundings just like she once had. You could see a faint smile on her face as she walked about, looking at the decorations around your home, most of which had not been changed but two or three had been replaced. She then stopped and began to stare at the painting that she had sat and stared at so many times before.

“Hey Mizu?” You called for her, gaining her attention as she looked towards you. You had only changed to a more comfortable outfit, if anything it had resembled what you had worn the day you met Mizu, but something about her shifted.

“Do you mind helping me with this?” You asked, referring to something that you couldn’t tie from behind your back. She obliged, not many emotions could be seen on her face, but she definitely looked deep in thought.

You had made your way over to her, turned around and waited for her to finish tying whatever you had needed help with. However, you couldn’t feel her tying anything, in fact you couldn’t feel her moving at all. That’s because she wasn’t, she had waited for just a moment before she leaned over your shoulder, whispering quietly in your ear,

“How about we make this easier and just make up for lost time?” She teased. It was a small gesture but it was enough to send what felt like a whirlwind through your stomach. You turned back to look at her expecting her to be joking considering you had never heard her speak in such a way but when you had turned back you were met with eyes that were filled with a certain kind of hunger.

She wasn’t joking.

And you’d be damned if you were going to miss this opportunity.

[ihrthoney]

heartbeat

pairings: singledad!draken x f!reader

warnings: fluff, angst if you squint

word count: 2.2k

an: part two

To say Draken was nervous was an understatement. His fingers have been anxiously tapping on the table for the past five minutes. It’s been almost two years since he last went on a date. Inui had continuously nagged him to get out there again, in his words, “You look like you’ve aged 30 years from the stress.” The blonde rolls his eyes at the memory.

The restaurant was a bit too fancy for his liking but everyone insisted the food was good, pushing him to try something new. As if going on a date in who knows how long isn’t the ‘something new’.

Draken tries not to look toward the entrance too much, he doesn’t know who’s about to walk up to the table. All Hina told him was that she was a very good friend, it was harder turning her down given how naturally kind Hina was. A few more minutes pass until he sees someone from his peripheral vision walking straight toward the two seated table.

Like the gentlemen he was raised to be, Draken gets up from his seat to pull out the chair in front of him, waiting until you sit down to take his own.

“You must be Ken Ryuguji!” you stick your head out, and the smile you wear on your face is so inviting that he can’t help but smile back and reach his hand out to meet yours, a gentle shake as he introduces himself, “My friends call me Draken but Ken is just fine too.”

His hand engulfs your own, and you take note that he’s very gentle considering his height and appearance, “I’m yn, It’s nice to meet you. I hope I didn’t make you wait long.” Shaking his hand, he dismisses your worry. Draken was a punctual person but his nerves made him arrive at the reservation earlier to mentally prepare for the night.

Taking in your attire, Draken can’t stop the compliment from leaving his lips, “You look beautiful tonight.” He softens at your flustered state, the voices in his head only get louder. A million ‘What Ifs’ start to plague his mind, and he’s suddenly even more nervous than before.

Your gentle voice shakes him from drowning, “Hey, are you okay? If this is too much for you then we could just call it a night. I’ll even tell Hina it went well so she doesn’t-” The shaking of his head silences you, “No, it’s okay. I’m sorry, it’s honestly been a long time since I’ve gone on a date.” There was that smile of yours, “Don’t worry, I get it. Especially with this setting, it’s hard not to be nervous.”

It was a waste of a reservation, one he’ll pay his friends back for, “Would you like to go somewhere else? I know a place that serves some good ramen.” Draken could see the relief wash over your face at his offer, “I would love to.”

He tips the server for the inconvenience of leaving, then pulls your chair out and guides you to walk out first.

The cool night breeze hit his skin, goosebumps covered his skin. Noticing how your arms hug yourself to shield from the harsh temperature drop, he shakes off his jacket and drapes it onto your shoulders.

Hesitantly, you push your arms through the sleeves, the jacket swallows you and Draken can’t help but think about how cute you look, “Thank you, you didn’t have to.”

Draken smiles, “I can’t have the lady cold, now can I?” It’s not often he is so openly affectionate, but there’s something about you.

-

Arriving at the shop, the sign outside reads Sugoaku. The twins may own the shop but their food doesn’t disappoint. Upon entering, the twins turn around to welcome whom they thought were new customers, but seeing the familiar tattoo the twins’ smile becomes more genuine.

“Hey Draken! What brings you here?” Smiley greets, standing next to his brother at the front of the table. Before he can reply, you notice the man with blue hair nudges the former and glances at you.

“Oh shit!” Such a loud response causes Draken to sigh. Turning to you, “I’m sorry about him, even after all these years he has no filter.” A glare is pointed at the peach haired man who ignores the taller man by grabbing menus.

Your date pulls your chair out, gesturing for you to sit then taking a seat beside you. “This is yn, yn this is Souya Kawta, you can call him Angry. He’s one of the owners of this shop.” The man, who you learned is Souya... Angry?.. gives you a small smile and nod; To which you politely smile back.

“We used to all be in a gang together.” This information is quite shocking to you, maybe the tattoo should’ve been a giveaway but you found no issues with tattoos, unlike society. Excitedly, Smiley points out the picture he has framed.

Moving your eyes, you slightly squint to get a better look when you hear Draken ask if they can see it up close. After ordering, the picture is laid in front of you and your eyes scan and absorb all the little details.

“There were six founders, I was one of them, alongside my best friends.” The expression you gave him clearly asked, Really?

He nodded at your curiosity, pointing out all the members and telling you the story of how Toman formed, what the goal was, and so on.

Even though your food was served, he continued to talk about Toman. The raven didn’t mean to ramble so much about the past. Toman was his pride and joy.

With the way you looked at him, he couldn’t help but keep talking about his past. The way you stared at him with genuine interest, asking questions, he felt his youth come back to him, even for the night.

Being so hypnotized by the way Draken looked when talking, neither of you noticed the looks the twins were giving each other. While waiting for the food to settle, you all talked a little more, getting to know each other before you and Draken decided to grab dessert.

Smiling, you waved the twins goodbye, “Thank you again for having us, I’ll make sure to stop by again!” Side by side, you and Draken walked towards an ice cream place you knew. But before you guys could reach it, he pulls you towards a bench.

Draken was nervous, he really enjoyed the date and he knew after dessert he’d have to drop you home. The conversation before you guys depart for the night weighs heavy on his mind, he doesn’t want to get his hopes up. He won’t allow himself to hope.

There’s a slightly uncomfortable silence between you two, it looks like he wants to say something. “An extra scoop of ice cream for your thought?” He laughs at the bribe, opting to look at his hands than your eyes.

Taking a deep breath, he confesses his worry, “I’m afraid it’ll scare you away.”

“I just learned you were a founder of the top gang in Tokyo about an hour ago. It may have been your life but to a bystander like me, gangs are scary. I don’t think-” Biting the bullet, the raven interrupts you,

“I have a kid.”

Your lips shut tight at his words, and just as he feared there’s a silence-

“Oh? That’s it?”

Just like you, Draken’s got a confused look on his face, “What do you mean ‘That’s it’?”. He was expecting you to freak out or ask a million questions, that’s what Mikey did when he learned he and Emma split.

“I mean, we’re almost in our 30’s. Normally couple’s this age have kids.” His eyebrows furrowed even more, slightly alarmed at your calmness.

He questions you, “Right but I’m a single dad, doesn’t the idea of someone with a kid intimidate you?”

“Are you asking me to help raise your kid?” Draken was baffled at your own question, quickly replying, “No, of course not!”

There’s that gentle smile you beamed at him earlier, “Then you have nothing to worry about, Draken.” You place your hand atop of his, “I’ll obviously help you as much as you want or allow me to… I was afraid you were going to tell me you had a foot kink or something.”

Draken’s face was one of pure disgust, “I should be offended you think so low of me.” Pulling your hand away, you slightly smack his arm, “You thought it would scare me away! I was genuinely thinking of things that would!”

For the first time in a while, Draken genuinely laughs. A laugh that has him let go of any worry and doubt he had, while you pouted at him making fun of you.

He can’t help but think about how beautiful you look, the way the street light makes your eyes shine. Raising a kid is not like taking care of a more behaved Mikey, he was always the more logical one out of his friends (save for Mitsuya) but with you, he feels young again.

His heart beats a little faster, he’s excited to see where things go with you. After the jokes die down, you, sweetly, ask questions about his kid.

A flame lit under the man, he’s a proud father and pridefully tells you about his two year old son who’s name is Haru. The way he animatedly talks about his son makes your chest ache in the best way, your chest feels warm at the way Draken loves.

Although hesitant, you ask, if he was up to it, about Haru’s mother. He then explains that they were still great friends, having grown up with each other, and that having a kid made them grow into people who weren’t compatible anymore. Draken has no shame in complimenting Emma, she was his first love and the mother of his child, but he makes it very clear that they are not together and havent been romantically involved in a long time.

To be completely honest, hearing about his first love being the mother of his child made your heart drop but that was a thought for another time.

Time passed between you both that when Draken finally checked the time, realization struck him that any ice cream shop would be long closed for the night. He apologizes profusely but you laugh and shake it off, “I had a great time with you tonight, Draken.”

“Please, call me Ken.” He wants to kiss you, he really wants to kiss you. Being with you felt like he could finally let go of the air he’s been holding in, he feels relaxed. Draken wants more of you, he feels a little embarrassed talking so much. He wants to know about your first love, what you did after school, your favorite food so he can learn to make it. The smile on your face makes him want to love every flaw you have, he wants to learn to love you.

“Okay, Ken. Thank you for dinner, thank you for trusting me enough to tell me about your son and his mother.”

Ignoring every voice telling him to take it slow, “Would it be okay if I kissed you right now?” The surprise on your face makes him want to take back his question in fear you’re going to reject him but instead he’s fortunately greeted with a loving smile,

“It would be more than okay.”

The hand that layed atop of yours moves to cradle your jaw, holding you ever so delicately. Ken’s other hand moves down to your waist, slowly moving you closer to minimize the gap between your faces.

Theres a moment where you just stare into each others eyes, a soft gaze adorning both of your faces. He’s so close that you can see the patten that decorates his eye, before it closes and your eyes copy.

Plush lips meet in the middle, the sound of crickets around you. There’s another breeze that sends chills down your spine but worry not, Draken pulls you closer. The kiss deepens, but the energy stays light and gentle despite how rough his hands feel.

You kiss until you’re both satisfied, until you start needing longer gaps of air, until the night air becomes too cold and he walks you home with your hands intertwined. Shamelessly, he asks you to stay the night (nothing like that, he just doesn’t want you out of his arms yet), you decline his offer for now, saying distance makes the heart grow fonder, he grumbles at that.

If Mikey were to see him right now, he’d point and laugh, calling him a sap. He can’t wait for you to meet his friends.

Begrudgingly, your date lets go of your hand, kissing you a million more times before bidding you goodnight. He gives you his number, telling you to never hesitate to call or text him. You add a heart next to his contact name, and he claims the cold air is the reason his ears turned red (you both know he’s lying.)

Laughing, You tippy toe and give him one last long goodnight kiss, whispering to him before entering your apartment,

“Goodnight Ken, get home safely. I can’t wait to see you again.”

The door closes shut but he feels the door to his heart slam open.

© ihrthoney. reblogs & feedback are greatly appreciated𑁤

[vitaminseetarot]

Poll PAC: What Your Next Birthday Celebration Will Be Like 🎂🎉🎁

Sup y'all, welcome back to another PAC reading. This time I'm doing a special 1 year/birthday/poll topic of choice themed pick a card! This is also a special one as VitaminSee now has 300 followers! Holy crap thank you for your support everyone! I haven't been able to get on Tumblr for a while, so I apologize if it seems like I've dropped from the aether. Life is starting to enter its hectic phase right now! Thank you so much for your patience. I'm waiting for life things to straighten out (lol as if life ever does) before I go ahead and offer some basic paid readings, which I hope to do in May.

This topic is for the next birthday you have coming up, whether that's tomorrow or next year. For my selection, I was recently lucky to have found the Wild Wisdom Companion book among a vast pile of discounted books. It's based on the Wheel of the Year. I thought this deck was perfect for making piles themed around the progression of the year and how our birthdays respond to the passage of the seasons. Pick whichever one of the Spring themed card you like most down below:

Pile 1 - The Unfurling 🌱 Pile 2 - The Wind 🕊 Pile 3 - The Door 🗝 Pile 4 - The Alchemist 🍾

Pile 1 - The Unfurling

Sagittarius - Expand, Level Up, Shadow, Isolation; XVII Star, 3 of Cups, XXI World, Ace of Wands, 5 of Cups

Hello, pile 1! Your birthday is going to be the start of great expansion. Your first three oracle cards spell it out so clearly! Sagittarius is all about shooting for seemingly farfetched goals and striking the target anyway. There is so much growth going on in your pile. You're probably anticipating your next chapter to be one of reaching beyond the horizon and feeling ready to do so. Ideas or wishes that seemed impossible may be coming closer to being within your grasp. Your life is ready to take it up a notch immediately after your next birthday, where things may begin to feel like they're accelerating. Don't worry about the turbulence, it's all a part of the movement. Breaking out of your comfort zone may feel scary, but something about your next birthday will set off a chain of events that will propel you to a new phase of life.

I have a feeling that many who choose this pile will be in a transitory stage of life, like you're getting ready to start college or a new job around your birthday. It's not just another year older, this next one will be extra meaningful in terms of receiving something you've been longing for in quite some time. It's something you've been greatly eager to begin. I don't any sense that you'll be looking back too much once you go forward, since you'll be thrust rather quickly in your next chapter.

But it's still okay if you're experiencing anxiety over it, even if it's something you've really wanted. Anxiety, doubt, and fear are not necessarily indicators that something isn't right for you. It's normal to get cold feet in this context. A sprout breaking from its seed shell is no small feat; it requires a great amount of momentum and motivation. Congratulate yourself for having come this far. Let your birthday be a chance to celebrate this. Give yourself the opportunity to commemorate with friends, if they wanna help give you a birthday to remember then let them. They may feel the vibe as much as you will on that day. Don't be afraid to take that day trip out to a new place you've never seen.

What's interesting about the Isolation card is that it shows two cups. There is meanwhile a Friendship card in this deck with only one cup. So I don't know if the words were swapped with the images or what, but the sense I get is that you will very likely be in good company during your birthday. They may want to take you out dancing (the Ace of Wands is reminding me of disco lights). However, even in the midst of the event, you may feel the urge to hide away from the crowd. I'm picturing someone stepping out of a house during a party. You may need to catch your breath at times in order to process the emotions you're experiencing, as you have a lot of energetic, lit up cards just before the five of cups.

Again, getting in dark negative moods is normal when you're facing a big new stage is not indicative that things will go wrong if it's something you know you're looking forward to. If you end up spending most of the day with friends, find some space to be at peace by yourself so you can even out your feelings. These intense moods will come and go on their own, so make sure to stay balanced (and not too overly caffeinated lol) on your birthday.

Pile 2 - The Wind 🕊

Third House - Communication, A New Day, Ball Pits, Family; 10 of Swords, 5 of Cups, III Empress, Knight of Pentacles, 4 of Cups

How's it going pile 2? I couldn't help but notice you have two pairs of swallows in your reading. Birds may have some significance for you, maybe you'll go birdwatching or even get a pet bird. For a small number of you, the birthday could involve a plane flight out of home for a quick trip. Could you be visiting family members? There's a lot of communication going on, for sure. Even if you're not traveling out by flight, you may have family members show up to take you out somewhere. They may be insistent on seeing you, talking to you, and spending time with you. The phone might blow up first thing in the morning with notifications and voicemail.

But I'm seeing a lot of hesitance in your tarot cards. You may be feeling tired or burned out and not necessarily in the mood to celebrate. The previous year was a doozy for you so perhaps catching up on sleep is more of your priority. Ever get the feeling of wanting to sleep because life is overwhelmed and you're like, "I give up (for now)?" and call it a day? You need to give yourself a chance to recuperate around your birthday, before during and after. Have a break so you can fully recover and receive all that the coming year has to offer you.

That means letting loved ones in your life, be they bio family or chosen family, understand that you'd rather have a small get together or a chance to rest every now and then if you're invited out somewhere. If you choose to go out, there's nothing wrong with taking it slow and easy, or doing something casual like grabbing some ice cream and sitting by the riverside to ponder the next year. Communicate your feelings instead of bottling them up in an attempt to keep up with everybody else. Don't let anyone convince you of how you should celebrate, it's your day your rules!

Others of you who have a little more energy, a little more of that "last year sucks, I need to go out and do something fun to sweat it off!", I feel like the ball is emphasized here with Knight of Pentacles beneath Ball Pits. Some of you looking for more action and noise may choose to go to a ball game, or spend time at the arcade playing pinball with friends. It could even be mini golf. Whether you are the low energy (calm) or high energy (excited) seeking type, getting the chance to have some fun is important, as long as it feels right for you.

This is the pile most likely to get some kind of surprise, be that a party (high energy) or a surprise gift (low energy). There will be a sense of being pampered. Some of you may get a larger number of gifts than you may have expected. You may receive a very beautiful gift, something you may treasure for a long time. Whatever it may be, allow yourself to thoroughly enjoy it and express that joy. Let yourself embrace gratitude, being mindful of what you have now regardless of how your last year has been and how your next year will be. For your next birthday, try to focus on the present (in both meanings).

Pile 3 - The Door 🗝

South Node - Past, Let Your Light Shine, Bubble Gum, Winter; Ace of Cups, 9 of Swords, 3 of Pentacles, XIX Sun, Page of Wands

Hey pile 3! For your next birthday, I'm definitely seeing you go outside to celebrate. There may be an actual party held outdoors, or you might choose to go out somewhere. I'm seeing parks, possibly national parks or natural trails. I'm getting the feeling of warm sunshine, the weather will likely cooperate perfectly on your day. You could be cruising through town, going from store to store (the 3 of pentacles reminds me of a mall here). Your birthday feels expansive and adventurous, ready for something new.

A small number of you may wish to engage a little bit in the spotlight, or you may be placed into a position of receiving more attention on this day. If you wish to, your birthday would be a great day to showcase your talents or passions, since I'm picking up a bit of Leo energy in this pile. With lips in Bubble Gum, you could be giving a speech? I'm picturing an actual toast, if you feel the strong urge to speak out then do so, let yourself be heard. I'm also seeing people sing for you at restaurants, so if that isn't your style, it's best to find a place to eat that doesn't do that sort of thing.

This birthday could be like your own version of a New Year's Eve celebration. Some of you may actually be born in the winter or around New Year's, so holidays and birthdays could tie in together. You're wanting your birthday to stand out amidst the traditional festivities (I've known many people born around Christmas who hate having their birthday gifts thrown under the tree, so you're not alone in that frustration!). You may get the idea of doing something out of the ordinary. Let yourself take the spotlight--it's your special occasion!

There's a message in your pile of letting old things go as you step into a new age. Old things from the year prior may still be sticking onto you, old issues from unresolved matters may pop up. They could be on the more practical side, like needing to sign something or finish a task on time. Be ready to step into the future unafraid--now is the time to shed the baggage. Your birthday can be the fresh start to a bright new trip around the sun, but you gotta give yourself that chance. If something needs to be resolved, and you got the time, tie up your loose ends beforehand so it's not weighing on you as you celebrate.

Your birthday is a threshold to an exciting new time for you. It may be like a breath of fresh air. I keep hearing "refreshed" and "invigorated", so this may be how you feel at the end of your birthday. You may do something that makes you think, "huh, why don't I do this more often?" That could be the key for you to step into something brand new. Will spending time with your friends refresh you, or going to a concert and discovering a new band that you will fall in love with as it warms up the show? Or may you desire to spend more time out in nature? Lean into what lights you up, listen to what engages you, and move from there.

Pile 4 - The Alchemist 🍾

Imum Coeli - Roots, Snow Day, Forest, Transformation; 3 of Cups, 6 of Cups, Ace of Swords, XII Hanged Man, 8 of Swords

What's up, pile 4? Your birthday is looking to be the absolute warmest and coziest out of all the piles. Many of you may identify strongly with introversion. I'm sensing a lot of you have your birthday around autumn or the cooler times of the year when most people are ready to bundle up in blankets or sit by the wood stove while awaiting the first signs of frost. Many of you may get a lucky chance to stay at home instead of needing to work or go to school, so you'll have the day off to plan out what you want to do. Others of you may desire to take time off if you have the chance to, I would go for it especially if you've been feeling the need to rest. You may live near trees or desire to be out in nature as a way to kick back.

I'm seeing someone invite a few friends over to watch old reruns of favorite shows while baking. It could be a gathering of closest friends, I'm not getting the sense that it'll be a big to-do bash. This day will be short, sweet, and simple. It's a good day for doing hobbies or spending time indulging in the gifts you were given. Some of you may rather spend time with family or those you live with instead of inviting people over. You and your family may share a special way of celebrating birthdays, I don't know of any birthday specific cultural traditions from the top of my head but you may have special rituals unique to you and your family. Either way, I get that you'll have a modest celebration that's nevertheless full of camaraderie and relaxing activities.

The description for the Alchemist card says "Allow Transformation", and you have another Transformation card. You may be doing a lot of transmuting on the inside, working through old stubborn patterns and limiting beliefs around this time. I'm seeing the ball of flame near the snow as if you're melting old self-sabotaging blockages away to make room for more growth in your coming year. This flame, this transmuting energy, is making way for the new to arrive.

The Hanged Man being tangled up in vines beneath a forest makes me think that you've been hung up on something that needs to be let go. You must prune in order to effectively grow. Too much in a small space can lead to cramming and confusion. You must deal with the thoughts tangling themselves up in your mind before cultivating the thoughts you want in their place. Changes may happen slowly on the outside, but when certain patterns are fully cleared out things can really take off.

So, for example, let's say you've wanted to sign up for a ceramics workshop for your birthday, or spend the day cleaning house (if you happen to find cleaning therapeutic). To do so, you'll need to not only free up your schedule, but free your mind of thoughts trying to convince you that you can't learn or can't clean. Perhaps it's difficult to not see the forest as just a bundle of trees. But a forest is more than trees, it's an entire system that supports itself in a perpetual cycle. Don't fill up your days with too many tasks, especially on your birthday. Pace the day with both the things you want to do and the things you have to do. The time around birthday will show you how to integrate the best of both worlds. We can have cake and eat it too, it's just a matter of pacing and doing things one at a time.

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2024, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[exhaslo]

hi I love your work <3

Is it okay to write a miguel o’hara x reader and the reader has a personality similar to regina george and he brat tames her + an age gap <3!

I can try! I haven't seen Mean Girls in a hot minute, but I'm sure I remember her personality. Totally going to have some fun with this~

Also, so sorry for how late this is!!! Trying to catch up with the sea of requests now!!!

Warning: MINORS DNI, smut, oral (f receiving), teasing, orgasm denial, dirty talk

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

Miguel let out a scowl as he watched the new recruits go through a new training session both Peter and Lyla had begged him for. Something about helping the new Spiders learn how to do certain things and yada yada. Miguel only agreed just to shut Peter up and to have Lyla stop shoving the program in his face every five minutes.

However, Miguel was quick to learn that he should have turned this offer down.

The main reason for this grim thought was you. Miguel had been watching you since the training began. You were one of the brand new Spider women who joined and were a rookie. It had only been a month since you took on the role of 'Spider Queen'.

A name so suiting for you. It wasn't long until you took control of the training session and had everyone nearly serving you. For someone only five years younger than him (23), you were the textbook definition of a brat.

--------

"Oh my gosh! You did such a good job with that backflip!" You gasped, cheering on a fellow Spider.

"Thanks! This was my first time," The Peter said with a laugh. You just smiled and waved until he left,

"Ugh, the form was so off. Hopefully he keeps practicing." You groaned lowly.

"May I remind you that this training is for newbies? Including you?" Miguel said with a harsh tone.

Your eyes sparkled as you turned towards Miguel. The leader of the Spider Society, the head honcho, the man you were hoping to try and win over. It was no lie that when you first laid eyes on him you knew that you wanted him to be yours. Who cares if he was little older than you?

"Sorry, can't help it. I was a cheerleader so my flexibility is higher than most." You cooed, rubbing your arm against his. Miguel scoffed,

"Enough to dodge a bunch of Goblin bombs?"

"...Yes...?" You questioned, unsure of what the hell a Goblin was. Miguel just smirked,

"We'll see about that."

Your jaw nearly dropped as you watched him walk away. That man was so hot. You were already wet in your suit. Letting out a small huff, you knew that you had to make him yours somehow. You just needed to keep winning him over.

--------

Miguel was about to lose his patience with you. It had been only two months since you joined and while yes, you were doing better than the other rookies, you were still a headache. It felt like you made it your life purpose to give Miguel more sexual frustration.

The man wanted to put you in your place so bad.

Every time you had something smart to say, Miguel had to hold himself back from disciplining you. Instead, he would say something equally snarky to get you to stop, but that was never enough. You kept getting bolder with your antics.

It started with your suit being too tight. Or a casual rip here and there. Then you kept offering to help Miguel, your arm slipping and you falling on him every now and then. It was torturing him and Miguel was unsure if he could hold himself back the next time you do something like that.

What's worse? Miguel enjoyed your brattiness. He had already thought of so many ways to fuck you into submission. He imagined how'd you look with his cock inside that smart mouth of yours. Or your slutty moans and begs for him to fuck you.

Miguel was just waiting for you to slip.

Waiting for you to finally learn you lesson.

--------

It was going to be just another average day for you. You had given yourself a pre-masturbation session to get you in the groove to bother Miguel. You were hot and ready to hear that man groan in frustration.

Entering his office with a skip, you smiled devilishly as you saw Miguel brooding up in his platform. With a snap of your wrist, you swung up to where he was. The second you landed, you heard that wonderful groan that sent a waterfall to your panties.

"Awe, missed me that much?" You cooed. Miguel glared towards you, his red orbs more prominate than before,

"(Y/N), I have a very small amount of patience right now." He hissed. You huffed childishly and sat on his desk, your legs slightly spread,

"But I need the attention~!"

--------

Miguel shivered as he caught whiff of your arousal. Oh no, he could not control himself. You needed to learn when to leave him alone, and Miguel was finally going to show you.

Webbing your hands to his desk, Miguel grabbed you by the hair and grazed his fangs against your neck,

"¿Por qué no puedes escuchar por una vez? (Why can't you fucking listen for once?)" He groaned lowly, licking up to your lips, "I'm going to teach you some manners."

"I'm such a good leaner," You said with a smirk.

Miguel just snorted before crashing his lips into yours. Hopefully you were a fast learner too, but Miguel was going to make sure to torment you. His hands already against your clothed cunt, rubbing circles around your clit as he kissed you,

"You like being a fucking brat, do you?" Miguel hissed as he watched you twitch and squirm, "No one's ever stopped to show you how to behave."

"Why don't we release my hands and I can be a really good girl for you?" You hummed. Miguel chuckled as he pushed you down against his desk,

"It wouldn't be a lesson if you helped," He used his talons to rip a straight line down your suit to your cunt, "My, what a sight. Already twitching for me?"

"What can I say? You're a good teacher."

Miguel just smirked as he spread your legs out for him. Your juices still flowing so nicely. You had already given yourself some pleasure before hand, but that was not enough. Glancing up at you, Miguel smirked as he licked and sucked against your clit.

"Hah~ W-Wait-" You gasped, body twitching as you felt slightly sensitive after abusing your clit yourself.

"Be a good girl and shh," Miguel hummed.

His tongue swirled and sucked against your clit. Your body squirming and trying to move against your face. Your moans were getting louder as you started to whimper his name. Your pussy started to clench as you arched your back. Right as you were about to cum, Miguel stopped and pulled away.

"N-No...I-I was...almost there..." You cried, trying to rub your legs for friction. Miguel kept them apart, watching you struggle,

"You haven't been behaving lately. Why should I give you that release?" Miguel asked. You panted heavily, feeling your high slowly disappear,

"I-I'm sorry! Please, Miguel! I'll be good!" You begged.

Miguel thought for a moment and returned to your dripping pussy. He licked against your clit, enjoying your desperate moans. Moving his tongue down towards your hole, Miguel resisted a smirk as he cried out his name. Once you were about to reach your high again, he stopped and moved away.

"Miguel! Please!"

"Will you promise to behave? If you don't I'll have to keep teaching you these lessons?"

"Yes! Yes! Please, Miguel! Yes!" You cried.

Miguel chuckled, watching you struggle after being denied of your orgasm twice. He finally decided to give you what you want and returned to eating you out. Despite your bratty behavior, you tasted so sweet.

Feeling you grind against his face, Miguel swirled his tongue inside your hole as you finally cam against his face. Licking up your juices and his face, Miguel moved away from your cunt. He wiped his face and watched you catch your breathe.

"Good girl. I'll give you a new suit, but if you come back and behave, I'll give you something even sweeter." Miguel hummed as he freed your hands.

-------

You laid against his desk, breathing heavily and feeling fucked out. Who would have thought Miguel was so talented with his mouth. If only he didn't torture you. Honestly, now you weren't sure if you should still be a brat, or behave to finally fuck him.

Slowly sitting up, you watched as Miguel returned to work by getting you a suit. A slight smirk formed against your lips as you made your way over to him, your hands reaching his buldge,

"I think you need some attention too~"

"Now, this isn't behaving, is it?"

"Guess I need another lesson?"

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

I hope you enjoyed!! Again, so sorry that this was late!!!

[babygirlbenji]

Last Train To London - Mason Mount

A/N: This is just pure sadness. It was fun to write, I'll give you that, but you may need a tissue. Mason, buddy, in this fic, ya done fucked up.

Listen to this while reading:

Warnings: Angst

It had happened slowly, then before you knew it, you and Mason were like passing ships in the ocean. 

Your relationship had always been steadfast. You were the couple everyone wanted to be, everyone wanted what you had. His family adored you, especially Summer, who loved going shopping with her Auntie Y/N. His mum swore up and down right from the moment she had met you six months into your relationship that you were it for him, that you would be the one he would marry. He’d shared the same sentiments. In your nearly four years together, the fans had grown to know and adore you on a level no football wife or girlfriend had experienced before. You were so popular among the Chelsea team, it was no wonder you were almost as popular as Mason was, and you didn’t even play for the team. 

In the weeks leading up to his move to Manchester, however, you had noticed a distinct change in Mason, and in your relationship. Date nights had gone from three or four times a week, to maybe once every fortnight. He spent much of the evenings on the phone or on Zoom calls with his agent, with the medical teams, with Manchester United representatives. The morning cuddles in bed had been replaced by a swift kiss on your forehead before he hurried off to training or the gym. You had initially put his distance down to the fact that he was busy upping his whole life to the north, and his occasional snappiness to the fact that he was incredibly stressed about the rumours. He was getting hate from everywhere, the fans, media outlets, even people on the street. Calling him a traitor, disloyal, every name under the sun. 

Once the transfer was completed and you and Mason had relocated to Manchester, you had hoped that your relationship would improve. You put in every effort you could; making sure you put extra effort into making sure the house was spick and span for when he came home, ensuring the fridge had all sorts of food for every occasion, making sure you looked good even when you were going to bed. 

And yet, you could tell none of it was good enough. His heart had drifted, you could see that. You were holding on to false hope, and it was exhausting you. You spent hours awake at night, noticing that some nights he wouldn’t come home until three or four in the morning. He would shuffle about downstairs, and the next morning, you would find him crashed out on the sofa, eyes red and his hair messy. 

You’d asked him if he was okay, if your relationship was okay, and all he had offered you was a shrug, saying he’d talk when he was ready. You’d sigh, knowing you were losing him, and there was nothing you could do about it. Once, he’d got angry that you had sighed, saying there was still a lot going on. You’d ended up having a shouting match that lasted well into the night, and you cried yourself to sleep on more than one occasions.

The loneliness you were starting to feel crept in even more. You missed your friends in London, you missed Chelsea, you were never particularly keen on moving up north, having been a born and bred Londoner. Although Kai and Sophia were now in North London, you would rather be closer to them. You didn’t want to admit to them that you and Mason were having issues, but you didn’t know where else to go. 

Sophia had been so helpful, offering her and Kai’s new home to you anytime you needed it. You’d asked her not to tell anyone, but you figured one way or another people would find out. Sure enough, one day, when Mason was out somewhere, Ben sent you a message.

Benjamin: Hey Y/N, just checking in. How are you holding up? I know how difficult it is moving to a new place. We miss you down here. Lots of love x

You had stared at his message for about five minutes, before you rang him. He picked up on the second ring.

‘Benji, I’m not okay,’ you croaked through the lump in your throat.

‘What’s happened, darling? Talk to me, I’m right here.’ And so, you told him everything. About the arguments, the loneliness, the distance…

‘I just don’t know what to do, Benj. I feel like we’re miles away from each other when we live in the same house. What did I do wrong? What happened to us? I thought we were endgame. What do I do?’ He sighed, making the line go crackly. 

‘You’ve done nothing wrong. I think everything’s gone to his head, and without wanting to be blunt, he’s realised what he wants and what he doesn’t want.’ His words sent a stake through your heart, but you knew he was right. Mason was falling out of love with you. 

‘I just never thought this would happen.’ 

‘Me neither. All of us thought you guys would last. So, what are you going to do?’ You looked down. You knew what you had to do, as much as it shattered your heart. 

‘I’m going to pack my things, as much as I can into whatever bags I have, and get on the last train home to London. It’s late, I think the last train to London from Manchester leaves just before midnight. I just can’t hold on any longer, you know? I’ve been miserable for weeks, and he’s barely noticed. I can’t remember the last time we hugged, kissed. I need to do this for me.’ 

‘I’ll pick you up, text me where your train gets in and I’ll be there. You’re not going through this alone, Y/N, I promise you. He’s the idiot for losing a wonderful girl like you.’ As devastated as you were, his words made you feel slightly better knowing that you weren’t going through it alone. You’d been through a break up before and had been completely on your own, and you were glad you had your people around you. 

You and Ben talked a little while longer, before you hung up, promising to tell him when your train would be getting in. You sat up from the sofa, knowing you had to pack a bag or two. 

It was nearly 11:30 at night when you’d finished packing. Placing your bags by the door, you made sure you had all your important things, like your passport, driving licence and your phone. You would iron out everything once you had things sorted out in London.

As you zipped up a little shoulder bag with all your necessities, the front door opened. You heard Mason drop his bags down, and you knew by the pause of movement that he had seen your bags. He walked slowly into the dimly lit kitchen, where you were standing with your phone in your hand, pretending to look at something just to avoid looking at him. You knew if you did look at him, you’d reverse your decision. 

‘What’s going on?’ Mason asked, voice full of confusion. You braved it, and looked him dead in the eye, hands on your hips.

‘I’m leaving. I’ll be on the last train back to London.’ He opened and closed his mouth a few times, reminding you of a goldfish.

‘What? What are you talking about?’ You let out a soft scoffing laugh.

‘I’m going back home. I’m breaking up with you, Mason, I can’t do this anymore. You have barely looked at me the last few weeks. I get it’s been stressful, I get you’ve been busy, but you don’t think you could have told me what was going on? You’re barely here anymore, I barely see you. And when I do, it’s like I’m seeing a stranger. When was the last time you hugged me? The last time you kissed me? This just doesn't feel like home.’ Your voice broke on the last sentence, and you looked down. You couldn’t cry. Not now, not in front of him. You had to wait until you were on the train home to let it all out. You could listen to sad music and let it all out. ‘The last four years have been amazing. We have grown up together, basically. And we’ve made the most amazing memories, hell, the Champions’ League, the Super Cup, World Cup, Euros, it’s all been a dream come true. But we have to face it, we are not happy together anymore. And I need to do what’s best for me, because I feel like a stranger in my own home.’

His face was a mix of anger, disappointment and downright heartache. He knew he’d lost you. He knew you well enough that you had made your mind up, and there was nothing he could do to turn back time and make it better. 

‘I have tried so hard…’ Your voice broke again. ‘I have tried so hard to make us work. I kept the house tidy, I put food on the table, I was there to listen but you never talked. You never made any effort after we moved up here. I dare to think this started even before we moved up here.’ He stepped closer, and it was then that you could see the tears pooling in his eyes. ‘I really hope you find the girl of your dreams, Mase. You deserve that. And I hope this move was worth it all.’ You looked down at the promise ring he’d given to you on your second anniversary. Sliding it off and gently placing it onto the counter, you took a deep breath. ‘Goodbye, Mason.’ 

And with that, you walked past him and collected your bags. Your Uber was waiting outside to take you to Manchester Central. As the car sped away, you saw Mason running out of the house, yelling your name. 

‘Y/N! Y/N, please wait! I’m sorry…’ His pleas faded as the car drove away. The driver looked at you through the rearview mirror, but you stared stubbornly out of the window. You couldn’t turn back now, he had to feel the pain you had been feeling the last few weeks. You had so many things to sort out when you were back in London; a job, a flat, your car, everything just seemed so overwhelming. 

As you climbed onto the high-speed sleeper train bound for King’s Cross, you texted Ben to tell him that your train would get in about 3 in the morning. He messaged you back:

Benjamin: No worries, will bring food. Keep strong, I'm so proud of you x

The train pulled away, and you rested your head against the window. Your breath fogged the glass as the lights of Manchester gradually faded away, giving way to dark fields and the occasional small village. Your phone pinged with another message:

Mason: I’m so sorry. 

Then another.

Mason: Please forgive me. 

And another.

Mason: What can I do to make things better? 

You looked at his last message. What could he do to make things better? Rewind the last few weeks? You sighed as your finger acted without thought and blocked his number. You then went onto Instagram and blocked his main verified account, then his private account. Before you blocked his private account, however, you had a final glance at the photos of your relationship that littered it. His main account was football focused, but anyone who followed his private account could see he’d worshipped the ground you walked on. Tears were falling thick and fast down your cheeks. What had happened to you? You locked your phone, resting your head on your arms. 

The future was uncertain and your heart was aching, but you were going to be back in London, surrounded by your people. You knew that somehow, some day, you were going to be okay. 

[spooky-pomegranate]

Eyes on Fire (pt 1)

*Enemies to Lovers inspired by the Year Zero music video*

Papa Emeritus II x Reader (18+) Word Count: 6k Read on AO3 Part 2

Summary: You've recently been promoted to the role of Imperatrix under the reign of Papa Emeritus II. But what happens when you despise the man you'll be serving and the job promised to you isn't what you expected? Has dark magic already sealed your fate inside the Ministry's walls or will you carve your own path forward?

(Dividers by @wrathofrats)

It was supposed to be a promotion. 

A new job, with a new expensive wardrobe and a new suite on the beautifully built western side of the Abbey. It was supposed to be a step up. An upgrade. An opportunity to serve the Dark Lord like none you’d been offered before. That’s what everyone had told you. 

But this… this didn’t feel like a promotion. 

“I’m supposed to do what?!” 

Sister Imperator sighed and rolled her eyes. She’d clearly become exhausted by your never-ending barrage of questions.

“Sister, don’t make me repeat myself. I said after Papa has finished his meal you will undress.” 

The other sisters in the room hadn’t flinched when Imperator explained how things would work here in Papa’s private dining room. Although in their defense Imperator had rattled off your new to-do list like it was nothing more than a simple set of chores: set the table with the fine china, light the fireplace and black candles, serve Papa his meal from the kitchen, and then once he’d finished eating strip naked and offer yourself to him. 

Feed him then fuck him.

That was your new job. 

That’s what you were supposed to do.

“Well what if we don’t want to ‘offer ourselves’ to Papa?’” You said adding a pair of finger quotes for good measure.

“Seriously?” One of your sisters asked while the rest looked at you like you had seven heads. 

You wondered then if everyone else knew what to expect because no one mentioned to you that you were going to have to fuck Papa sideways after his afternoon tea and finger sandwiches. You were pretty sure you’d remember something like that. 

“This is part of your duty Sister. Unless of course, you would rather be somewhere else,” Imperator spoke nonchalantly with the wave of her manicured nails. “I can arrange for you to return to the gardens if you’d like.” 

“No, no.” You shot back. “I don’t want that.” 

It wasn’t that you had anything against Primo or the lovely earth ghouls who worked in the greenhouse but gardening, plants, digging around in the dirt… those weren’t your things. You’d hoped to be placed in the library when you were first informed of your promotion to Imperatrix. Getting lost in the countless books, hiding away in one of the library’s many corners, and reading in front of one of the large marble fireplaces sounded practically godlike to you. Plus you doubted the sisters who worked there were expected to bend over for Papa after putting away texts and tomes all day. 

“Okay well then sisters,” Imperator started, clasping her hands together, “you are all dismissed. Present yourselves to the kitchen staff at 6:00 o’clock sharp. Do not be late. The kitchen will inform you of tonight’s meal and then you may begin to prepare the dining room accordingly. Any more questions?” 

Any more questions? You had a million fucking questions. But the look in Imperator's eye quieted you. It was better not to ask them. You’d rather not piss her off any further or else you’d end up on her shit list and somewhere truly awful like Nihil’s office. One by one your fellow sisters filed out of the dining room, laughing and joking about god knows what. You were truly too zoned out to care. You turned to follow them into the hall, but a hand reached out and grabbed you, pulling you back into the dim dining room.

“Hold on sister, let’s talk.” 

Imperator's cherry-red nails dug into your skin and she spun you around, offering you a weak smile, her thin lips spread and the corners of her eyes crinkled. She led you to a thickly cushioned chair before the roaring fire and motioned for you to sit. You obliged and she pulled a chair from the table to sit beside you.  

“I want you to answer me truthfully. You will not be punished for anything you say during this conversation. Do you understand?” You nodded and Imperator reached forward to pat your forearm much like a teacher would congratulate a mischievous child for finally falling in line. “That’s good, dear. Now let’s get to the bottom of this. Are you embarrassed to take your clothes off?” 

If you had been drinking you would have spat in Imperator's face. “No. No. Definitely not.” You loved your body, imperfections and all. 

One of Sister Imperators eyebrow’s cocked to the heavens. “You’re a virgin then?” 

“What?! No.” You were many things, but even then a virgin wasn’t one. 

“Are you scared he won’t be… gentle?”

You eyed Imperator at her careful choice of words. It was common knowledge amongst everyone in the Abbey that Secondo liked to party and since his ascension tales of his exploits had only grown more and more wild. Lately, it was becoming harder to separate rumors from truth, but the ghouls had told you what he was like on tour. Multiple women every day. Brothers too. Half a dozen bodies warming his bed each night like clockwork. Almost all walked or limped away covered in marbling black and blue bruises, their skin looking more like Jackson Pollock paintings than naturally colored flesh. 

“No, that’s not it,” you answered truthfully. 

“Then what is it, sister? Help me understand.” 

Imperator asked you to be honest, but you wondered if there was a line hidden somewhere in the sand. Could you really speak ill of a Papa and get away with it? 

You turned your head and looked at the tall grandfather clock in the corner of the room. Like everything in the church, it was beautifully ornate bordering on ostentatious. Intricate depictions of dark angels were carved into dark mahogany and inlaid with bits of 18 carrot gold. The fallen angels' wings pointed upward toward an onyx statue of Baphomet, who perched like a gargoyle on top of the clock and stared down at you with ruby eyes. The second hand ticked and ticked. You watched as it passed the twelve and continued onward like Sisyphus in his incessant journey. 

Tick. Tick. Tick. 

How long could you sit in silence before Imperator would ask a ghoul to carry you to the infirmary for a psych eval? A few minutes? An hour? An eternity? 

Tick. Tick. Tick. 

Imperator tapped her clawed finger against her chair. 

Tap. Tap. Tap. 

Your time was up. 

“Sister,” she said squeezing your arm. You looked back into her hazel eyes. They were gentler and kinder than they had been before. It was… surprising. 

It wasn’t often Sister Imperator softened. Running the church wasn’t an easy task and over the years You’d seen her hold things together with tenacity, strength, and the occasional iron fist. It still gave you chills thinking about the first time she’d turned her fury your way. It’d happened during a particularly rowdy Lupercalia festival years ago. You’d challenged Mountain to a drinking contest but it was still early days in the church for you and none of the ghouls had bothered to mention their tolerance was insurmountable higher than humans. You’d ended up wasted before the first bonfire was even lit. 

The night ended after Imperator found you emptying your stomach down the front of a statue in the main courtyard. You vaguely remember she hadn’t cared that it was Dew’s idea to climb the stupid thing. But what you do remember was all the screaming she’d done when you broke off a small piece of Lilith’s marble nose on your clumsy descent. 

But right now the angry fire that was always hidden inside of Imperator wasn’t aimed in your direction. Right now she was offering you something else. Pity? Sadness? Sympathy? It was hard to tell exactly what was behind Imperator's eyes… but whatever she was aiming in your direction it left you with a sour feeling deep in your stomach. 

Imperator called your name and the uneasy feeling only worsened, “Tell me sister why don’t you want this?” 

“I’m just not interested in doing that… with him.”

It wasn’t a lie. But it wasn’t exactly the whole truth either. You’d never say this to a member of the high clergy but the only thing you really wanted to do with Secondo was smack him upside his bald-headed ass. 

“You know sex with a Papa is an honor?” Sister Imperator said, finally letting go of your arm and sitting back in her chair with a sigh. “Of course, no one will ever force you to do anything you are uncomfortable with but you should know many of your sisters would love to be in this position.” 

“I know that and I am grateful,” you lied. “Is there something else I can do? Can I help in the kitchens or the classrooms? I can do secretarial work if any of the Cardinals need an extra hand. My Latin isn’t great but I’m a decent typist. Or I could help in the choir. I don’t know if they need help but I’m sure I could make myself useful. If you think that’s a good idea of course. If you don’t agree then never mind. I can do whatever for whoever.” 

You were rambling. Panicking. 

You didn’t want to offer the greenhouse, but maybe this was the moment you should? Primo was nice enough and even though Mountain wasn’t your drinking buddy anymore he was still your friend. You wouldn’t thrive but you could survive. Thankfully Imperator spoke again before the landslide that was tumbling inside your brain could spew any further out your mouth. 

“For now sister you will help the others prepare Papa’s meals. After he’s eaten you can excuse yourself. You will wait until he has left the dining room and then you may clean up with the others. Does that sound alright?” 

“Yes, Sister. Thank you, Sister.” 

You bowed and dismissed yourself before Imperator could ask you any more embarrassing questions. If you hadn’t felt her eyes piercing the back of your head as you walked away you would have run out of that room and sprinted across the front lawn and into the woods until your head was as clear as the sky.

But you couldn’t do that. 

You weren’t a junior Sister of Sin anymore. 

You were an Imperatrix now. You had to follow some rules. 

You wandered through the halls of the Abbey until you found the office of Cardinal Terzo. 

Unlike his older brother, you didn’t have any issues with the third Emeritus. His flirting was fun and harmless and he had a wicked sense of humor. There’d been a time when you’d thought a night in his bed might be fun but Terzo was a bit too much drama for you in the end. His highs were high, but his lows… well for a grown man he could certainly throw a temper tantrum. 

It was fitting that before you reached his door you heard his voice. He was singing along with an opera song, something sad and moody tinged in a haunting darkness that seemed to breathe into everything within the Abbey’s walls. Your Italian was shit, but you guessed from the way he was lamenting the song had something to do with a lost lover. It was beautiful. You smiled to no one but the portraits in the hall. Terzo might be a drama queen but fucking hell could he sing like a fallen angel. If you hadn’t come here with a mission you would have sat down in the hall and listened for as long as he sang. But duty called. 

“Cardinal,” you shouted, banging loudly on his door. “Cardinal Terzo?! Sister Imperator sent me.” 

“Bella!” Terzo flung open the door and dramatically wrapped you in his arms, swinging you around the room in an airtight waltz. “Dance with me, bella.” You both laughed as Terzo dipped you dangerously close to the floor. An old record player in the corner of the room spun, continuing the song Terzo had sung.

“Mia cara, you are here for the keys to your new suite, no?” 

“Yes, Cardinal,” you answered as he brought you back to your feet and kissed your hand. 

“We must celebrate then! Today is a big day for you.” Terzo let you go and moved behind his large desk in the center of the room. He opened a drawer and pulled out a bottle of brown-colored liquor, waggling his eyebrows playfully at you as he held it up.

“This whiskey is a personal favorite Sorella,” Terzo said pulling two crystal glasses from the same drawer before pouring the liquor and filling each glass nearly to the top. “It’s smooth, rich, and warms your insides. I find it’s a crowd favorite. Not unlike your favorite Cardinal, no?” Terzo winked at you with a devilish smile on his lips. “Would you like a taste?” 

Tuesday at noon seemed like a great time for a whiskey right? Fuck it. You’d earned this, plus you had hours before you needed to be back in Papa’s dining room. 

“Sure why not,” you answered, taking a step closer to Terzo. 

“To the drink… or to me cara?” 

“Just the drink Cardinal.” 

What is it about alcohol that makes time move fucking sideways? Is it the ethanol disrupting pathways in your brain? Or is it the company you keep while downing an entire bottle of whiskey in the middle of the afternoon? Either way, the sun was lower and your spirits were higher when you finally stumbled out of Terzo’s office. 

Two hundred and twenty-four. 

You stared at the emerald green numbered etched into the door. Two hundred and twenty-four. This was your new home. You pulled out the brass key Cardinal Terzo had given you and slid it into the slot. The massive wooden door gave way with a heavy push. 

If the halls on this side of the Abbey were as beautiful as a painting, then your room was the goddamn Louvre. Every inch of your new space was so gorgeous it was practically dripping in an ostentatious opulence that the Dark Lord would be proud of. Vaulted ceilings gave way to arched windows framed in dark rich wood. The same deep brown also made up a large four-poster bed in the center of the room and to the left of your unbelievably comfy-looking bed, two plush and tufted armchairs faced a black marble fireplace. On the other side of the room, a massive armoire towered next to a set of wooden double doors. You squealed as you ungracefully tripped over the threshold and rushed toward the doors. 

“What’s behind door number one,” you giggled as you threw open the doors with a flourish. 

Your jaw dropped. 

“Fuck me, Satan…” 

Inside was your bathroom. Your glorious, beautiful, and perfect private bathroom. 

Dark emerald tiles stretched from the floor and crawled up the high bowed walls like ivy. In the center of the room, a clawfoot tub begged you to forget about your duties and soak until you became a pruny mess. A black marble vanity ran the room's length and another fireplace cemented itself across from a set of floor-to-ceiling mirrors. Everything was bathed in a pretty orange glow as the sun streamed in through a trio of gothic windows. 

A smile crept across your face. 

If this morning Imperator had tossed you into a hole, and this afternoon Terzo lifted you out, then this room, in all of its glory, helped set you free. It gave you a pair of wings and let you fly. You felt lightheaded and happier than you’d been in a long time. All of this was yours. Silk sheets, marble fireplaces, porcelain tub, all of it was yours just to serve a bitter bald man some steak and potatoes.

“Ya know if Satan won’t fuck ya I will.” You nearly jumped out of your skin before whipping around to see Mountain posted up smugly in the doorway. 

“Jesus fucking Christ Mountain! What the hell are you doing here?” 

“Well, I came to say hi and see your new place. But now I’m thinking I might take a bath in that tub right there. This place is pretty nice.” Mountain ran his clawed finger over your marble countertop. “You sure it’s yours?” 

You smiled at Mountain. While the large ghoul had been on the quiet side when you first met him ages ago, he’d opened up like one of Primo’s flowers in spring since then. He was kind and patient, traits all earth ghouls seemed to share, but he was also funny and sarcastic. You loved that most about him. 

“Very funny,” you said striding up to Mountain and punching him playfully in his broad shoulder. “You live in a den underground. What do you know about nice? A shoe box would look nice to you.” 

“Ooooo she becomes an Imperatrix and suddenly she’s sassyyyyy.” 

"Yeah. Yeah," you murmered, walking past Mountain back into the main chamber of your suite. He followed your trail like the giant Saint Bernard he was. 

“You nervous about tonight?”

You jumped up onto your bed and let your feet dangle over the edge. 

“I told Imperator I didn’t want the job.” 

Mountain raised an eyebrow, “Why would you say that?”

“Because I don’t, Mountain.” You hopped off the bed and paced back and forth in front of the fireplace. “Maybe I’m not like everyone else.”

“What does that mean?”

“I’m just... I'm not desperately trying to sleep with an Emeritus.” 

“I’m guessing you didn’t say it like that to Imperator,” Mountain eyes stayed on you watching you sympathetically, as you wore a hole in the finely polished floor. 

“No. I didn’t. She’s letting me keep the job for now though. Minus the fucking I guess.” 

“So you get all this,” Mountain motioned around your room, “just to be a waitress?” 

“Guess so.” 

Mountain paused for a moment and you turned to face him. He looked stunned. Brow wrinkling. Hands plunged deep into his brown curly hair. “That’s… that’s surprising.” 

“Why?” 

“Well despite living underground I do know some things Sister and one of the things I know is that Papa Secondo gave you the nicest suite in the Abbey.” 

“What!?” 

You knew that assigning Imperatrixs their new wardrobe and housing was under the discretion of the Papa in charge. That’s why you weren’t surprised to see emerald color sheets and tiles in your suite. But why would Secondo give you the best room? Did he forget what happened between you all those nights ago? This couldn’t be right. Mountain must have been mistaken. This had to be some type of ill-informed gossip swapped over half a dozen drinks in the ghoul dens. This was the kind of nonsense you had just spent the last few hours yapping on about with Terzo. Nonsense. Nothing more. 

“How do you know that? Who said that?” 

“Primo.” 

Fuck. Primo didn’t gossip. Primo barely talked to anyone but his plants. This wasn't nonsense.  

“That’s how I knew which room was yours. He told me this was your new place. He also told me this was where he kept his most favorite Imperatrix when he was Papa.” 

“Really?”

“Really really.” 

“Fuck.” 

Standing in Papa’s dining room you felt dumb. Really, really dumb. Like a box of rocks, four cents short of a nickel, got into the gene pool when the lifeguard wasn't watching… dumb. 

At last night's ceremony, when it was announced six new sisters would serve in Papa’s dining room, you hadn’t thought much of the number. You’d just accepted it as a normal thing… six sisters feeding one Papa. Sure. Fine. Whatever. Weirder things happened in the church. Truthfully, you were just excited that you wouldn’t have to use the mildewy communal showers anymore. But now, standing in Papa Secondo’s dining room with your five fellow sisters you realized you should have known the ministry would want you to be more than just a waitress. Papa didn't need this many people to prep and serve his meals. It wasn’t like he needed twelve hands to lay down a single set of silverware and yeah there were a lot of candles to light, and his meal consisted of several courses, but this wasn’t hard work. The six of you had finished Imperator’s lengthy checklist in a matter of minutes. God, you felt so dumb.

With nothing left to do but wait for Secondo you found a chair by the fire and plopped down. The grand clock in the corner ticked and ticked. The rest of your sisters found other places around the room to perch. 

Tick. Tick. Tick. 

“Do you think he’s going to want all of us tonight? Like at once?” A shy voice asked.

It was Sister Rose who broke the silence. Like the rest of the women in the room, Rose was gorgeous. She had long black hair that cascaded effortlessly past her shoulders and down her back, her green eyes resembled the color of Secondo’s formal robes, and she always smelt like sweet vanilla and honey. Someday you really should ask her where she got her perfume. 

“I don’t know,” Sister Katherina said hopping off the buffet table. “But I hope he picks me. He slept with my old roommate, Lionara once and she still hasn’t shut up about it. Mind you that was two years ago and she’s fucked half the clergy since then.” 

If Sister Rose, was beautiful like the night, with dark hair and dark eyes, then Sister Katherina was pretty like the sun. She had blonde hair, bright blue eyes, and was sweet as sugar. You’d often seen her with the siblings in the bakery, whipping up sweet treats with her trademark wide smile. You weren’t friends with many siblings, you preferred the comfort of ghouls, but you could see why so many people liked Katherine. Like sunshine she was easy to like. 

“Eh, no offense Katey, but Lionara wouldn’t know good dick if it slapped her in the face. Besides I have a feeling he’s only taking one of us tonight. So I wouldn’t worry if I were you.” 

You rolled your eyes at Sister Luciana's words. Like both Rose and Katherina, Sister Luciana was stunning. But unfortunately for everyone on the planet, Luciana knew that. How she found anyone to put up with her attitude was beyond you, but for some reason the brothers all lined up to grovel at her feet like she was Lilith incarnate. Luciana was proof that apparently, you can have an ego the size of Mount Everest and still get laid. It shouldn't have been a surprise she’d assume Papa would fuck her first. 

You were about to defend Katherina when the clock chimed… one, two, three, four, five, six, seven times. On the final note, the door opened and he appeared. 

Papa Secondo Emeritus was a tall man. In every room he entered, he towered over everyone and everything. You wouldn’t mind his height, you liked a tall man… or ghoul, but Papa’s looming height combined with the intensity of his permanent scowl made people feel small. Siblings hid from him when he strolled down the halls and his confessionals were as sparsely attended as the 9:00 am weekend masses. 

You weren’t much different from the rest. You never felt warm and fuzzy around Secondo like you did the Ghouls or his brothers. But if you were a betting sister, you’d wager he liked it that way. Hell, you wouldn’t be surprised if he’d never smiled before in his life. His face was probably incapable of it. And you’d sure as fuck never heard him laugh. Everything was always so serious with Secondo. “We must put Satan first” this… “we must be conduits for him” that. You’d think for a dude who fucked so much he’d be less uptight. But that wasn’t Secondo. He was as bitter as a penny. 

As Secondo stepped into the room and walked to the head of the table, you felt the air leave the room and the shadows grow darker. He paused behind his chair and gripped the back of the seat so roughly his leather gloves squeaked. Then one by one he eyed each of your sisters, taking his time to dissect them in silence. 

As you shifted from foot to foot waiting for your turn to be scrutinized you wondered what he was looking for. Maybe he was just deciding which of you he’d fuck first, contemplating which body part he’d use for whatever pleasure was in his wrathful head. Or maybe he was thinking about which of you he wanted to get rid of first. 

Along with his insatiable appetite for flesh, Secondo had a reputation for being quick to anger. None of his assistants ever lasted more than a few months and the ghouls on his last tour told you horror stories about blowups backstage. 

Then of course there was also your own experience with Secondo’s rage. It happened a long time ago but you’d never forget it. The way he’d spoken to you. The fire in his eyes. The vitriol he’d spewed, chewing you up and spitting you out like you’d been worth nothing. It had been a nightmare he might have forgotten but you never would. 

If you’d still been drunk you probably would have reminded Secondo of that night. You would have told him off and splashed some of the expensive red wine from his table on his stupid painted face. But you weren’t drunk. You were floating somewhere in the buzzed phase, where the edges of your vision were a bit fuzzy and your inhibitions weren’t entirely free. 

With a soft click the minute hand on the clock moved and it was suddenly your turn to be dissected. Secondo’s mixed-matched eyes met yours… and then it happened. 

The entire room burst into a bright light. Like a flashbang, pain ripped through your eyes and you pinched them closed, staggering backward. A sweltering torrid heat started to burn. It swept over your arms and face and sunk into your clothes. Then it dawned on you. Something in the room was burning. You forced open your eyes and squinted against the light.

Your jaw fell slack.  

It looked like someone had doused gasoline onto every open flame. The fireplace roared and flashed angrily like thunder and lightning and fire from every black candle was shooting high into the air, licking the ceiling and threatening to consume you all in its blaze. 

Someone in the room screamed. 

But just as quickly as it started… it was over. The heat, the sound, the light burning through the dark room all of it was gone in another flash. 

For a moment you wondered if you were seeing things, if maybe you were still drunk, or worse if your sanity was slipping away from you. But then you looked back at Secondo and you knew… he’d seen it too. Uncharacteristically his painted mouth hung open and his pupils were dialed wide. 

“Sei tu?” Papa whispered. “Por favore…sei tu?” He was so quiet you almost didn’t hear him.

“Are you alright Papa?” Sister Luciana asked, but Secondo ignored her. His eyes snapped from the black candles back to you. 

There was something about looking into Secondo’s eyes that was like staring into the sun. You’d forgotten what his eyes looked like from this close a distance. He’d turned his gaze on you like this only once before. That stupid night so long ago but when he’d looked at you then his eyes had pierced you. Like a sword, they’d hurt and stung. But this … this didn’t feel like that. This felt different. There was no pain now. All you felt now as you stared at one another was the warm summer sun. 

It felt good. Really fucking good. 

Papa tilted his head and you mirrored him, like two diametrical opposing species discovering each other in the wild for the first time. If he was working some sort of dark magic you weren’t ready to break the spell. You wanted to feel like this… just for a bit longer. 

“Ehhhhhmmmm,” Sister Luciana loudly cleared her throat and Secondo tore his eyes from you. The moment, or whatever that had been, was over. The sun moved behind the clouds. 

“Papa,” Luciana said several octaves higher than her normal speaking voice, “won’t you please have a seat.” 

Was she really not going to acknowledge the fucking weird ass shit that just happened?! The fact the entire room was almost just consumed by flames?!

You snapped your head around the room and to your shock, no one else seemed to share in your dismay. In fact, no one else seemed to care that the entire room had almost just burned down. Everyone was smiling and obediently staring at Papa, just like they had been before the flames had erupted. 

Secondo nodded at Luciana and took his seat at the head of the table. 

You wanted to scream. 

He had seen it. You were sure. Secondo had definitely seen it too. 

What in the actual name of Satan was going on?! 

Sister Luciana continued on oblivious to your internal turmoil, and took care of Papa’s wine, seductively licking her lips as she poured his pinot noir. The rest of your sisters started their work as well. Mind still reeling from the flames, you did your best to focus on your own task, eventually falling in line and working in tandem with your sisters to fill Secondo’s plate with all sorts of meats and veggies. 

After a moment when his plate was finally piled high, Secondo held up a hand. As Sister Imperator had instructed, you knelt by his feet and clasped your hands in prayer. 

“Dark one, we are one in your blood,” Secondo started, “A conquered people rising from the ashes of your burnt wings. Command us. Open wide the gates of Hell and come forth from the abyss to greet us as your brothers and sisters. We invite you… willingly.” Secondo's voice wavered on the last word and then he paused, closing his eyes and tilting his head toward the ceiling. 

You’d never heard this prayer before. You wondered if he was coming up with it on the fly. It was tradition to recite the anti-Nicene creed before a meal… but Secondo was Papa. You supposed he could say whatever he wanted. But when Secondo spoke again he surprised you. He sounded sadder. Or maybe frustrated. It was difficult to tell since he switched from English to his mother tongue. 

“Mi dispiace se non ho fatto abbastanza per farti piacere. Starò meglio. Per te. Lo giuro. Nema.” 

For the rest of the meal, Secondo acted as you expected. He took and you gave. He demanded more wine, more meat, more potatoes. All of his words came to you as orders instead of asks and you indulged him, bringing him everything he desired. But you did withhold one thing from him. For the rest of the meal, you refused to look Secondo in his heterochromatic eyes. You stared at the floor, out the window, at the food piled high on the table. You kept your eyes anywhere but on his. 

As Secondo put the last bite of his steak into his mouth you took your cue to leave and slipped out the side door and into the butler's pantry. But you weren’t alone for long. One by one, your fellow sisters joined you, each a bit disappointed they hadn’t been chosen by Secondo. First was Sister Madaline, then Sister Sarah, followed shortly thereafter by Sister Morgan. When Sister Rose and Sister Katherina joined you in the pantry together moments later you almost scoffed. Of course, Secondo would pick Luciana. She’d practically eye-fucked him during the appetizer. 

You snagged an apple from a bowl and then hopped up on the granite countertop, hoping Luciana’d at least make it quick.  

“Are we allowed to eat those?” Sister Sarah asked staring hungrily at the apple halfway in your mouth. Imperator had informed you that it was your choice when you ate. You could go to the siblings' dining hall before or after Papa ate. Apparently, like you, Sarah had chosen the latter. 

“Honestly, I don’t know,” you said, munching on the apple, some juice falling ungracefully to your chin. “But these are really good. You want one?” 

“Fuck, yes.” 

You smiled and tossed Sarah an apple from the bowl.

“Anybody else wan-” The sound of dishes shattering interrupted you. Your sisters exchanged wide-eyed glances. Good, you thought. You weren’t the only one hearing things this time. 

“Someone s-should probably go look,” Sister Rose stated nervously. “Just… just to make sure she’s okay, right?”  

It wasn’t surprising when all eyes fell on you. Just as Secondo had his reputation, so did you… and you weren’t known as a rule follower. 

“Fineeeee,” you sighed, hopping down from your perch, “I’ll check it out.” 

You walked toward the dining room door, dropped to your knees, and slowly pushed it open just the smallest crack... just enough that you could see a sliver of the dining room floor. On the ground plates and glasses were smashed. Wine soaked into the carpet and food was scattered everywhere. 

You moved closer inching the door open just slightly… and then you saw Luciana. She was lying naked on the table. Papa stood still clothed in his dress shirt and pants between her thighs. His gloved hands squeezed her throat as his hips slammed into her again and again and again. 

Secondo was fucking Luciana like he didn’t care about the bruises he’d leave behind or if she had enough air to breathe. There was no love here. No gentleness. No kindness. No intimacy. This was brutal. This was feral. This was rough animalistic sex and nothing more. 

But Luciana didn’t care. No, she seemed to love it. 

“Papa. Papa. Papa,” she chanted his title. “Just like that Papa. You feel soooooo fucking good Papa. You’re so biggggg Papa.” 

You wondered if she was faking it, laying it on thick to stroke Secondo’s ego. You didn’t have a great view of Papa or his “big” cock… but you could tell he was ferocious. Even if he was silent, even if he refused to look her in the eye, even if this was the most impersonal bout of rough sex you’d ever fucking seen in your life Secondo was slamming so hard into her you worried the table was going to splinter and break in two. 

Back and forth. Back and forth. Back and forth. Creaking and moaning. Screaming and panting. You watched it all crouched from the doorway. 

“Fuck Papa. I’m… I’m so close.” Luciana reached up to cradle Secondo's face but he stopped abruptly. He pulled away from her and his eyes darkened. 

Your breath hitched.

“No,” he growled coldly. “This is an offering. Nothing more.” Secondo grabbed Luciana's hand and slammed it down onto the table beside her head with a loud bang.

You jumped. The big brass key to your room slipped from your pocket and clanged loudly against the tile floor. 

“Shit.” 

You slapped your hand over your mouth. Shit. You had not meant to say that out loud. 

Shit. 

You hoped he hadn’t heard that. 

But it was too late.

He’d heard you. 

Secondo’s eyes met yours. 

The warmth you felt when the candles flared swept back over you, one by one igniting your nerve endings into smoldering embers. But the candles weren’t burning any brighter. The room wasn’t getting any hotter. Secondo was simply watching you... and you watched him back, staring directly into the sun that was Papa Secondo. 

Even as he stepped back toward the table, even as he pounded into Luciana harder than he had before, even as she screamed… you stayed and met his gaze. You let Secondo watch you as he fucked her. You let his stare burn you. 

“Papa I’m gonna…” Luciana began to shake, her legs twitched and back arched as she started to careen over her edge, Secondo’s relentless thrusts finally catching up to her. 

“Please… please… just… oh my god!” She cried. 

“There’s no god here,” Papa grunted through gritted teeth, the first sign that he was close to his own end. 

Then like a marionette, Luciana hurtled over her edge. She went limp on the table, her back flat against the wood and her legs splayed open wide. But Secondo didn't slow down. He just kept pushing, kept moving, kept staring directly at you as he fucked into Luciana over and over and over, ignoring her overstimulated whimpers and soft cries. And you stayed. Your knees stayed planted on the floor, your hand stayed glued to the wooden door, and your eyes remained on his. You stayed until a voice called out to you. 

“Sister, what’s going on?” 

Quickly you shut the door and spun around. From beyond the now-closed threshold you heard Secondo roar. Five sets of concerned eyes met yours. 

“W-what?” You stuttered. 

“Sister, what’s going on in there? Is Luciana okay?” Sister Sarah repeated herself, having put down her apple some time ago and moved to huddle with the rest of your waiting sisters in the middle of the pantry. “Yeah.” You blinked. “Yeah. She’s fine.” 

“Are you sure?” Sister Morgan asked, offering you a hand and helping you stand from the unforgiving cold tile floor. Your knees ached as you reached your full height. How many minutes had you been kneeling for? How long had you been watching? Better yet why did you watch? And why did he let you?

Your head was spinning. 

“Sister?” Morgan asked again. 

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m sure. You guys have heard the rumors about Papa right?” You added with a half-hearted laugh. “Well, they’re definitely true. Papa’s just a bit… enthusiastic.” 

Enthusiastic. It wasn’t the right word, but you weren’t about to go into detail on what you'd just seen. Knowing Luciana she’d brag about this whole affair with a megaphone in the courtyard soon enough. The sordid details would come out in the wash. They always did in the Abbey. Your biggest worry now was that you’d be part of the dirty laundry. That maybe while you had looked at Secondo and he at you, Luciana had seen you both. 

Shit. 

You pinched your brow and sighed before leaning against the marble counter. Every minute you had to wait to clean up the dining room was going to be agony. This was supposed to be a promotion. So why was this job starting to feel more like a nightmare? 

(Part 2) (Follow along on AO3 HERE)

[amberluvsbugs]

My reaction to the news you just posted:

I saw your 'I lost someone' post a few days ago, and I have no clue what was going through that person's head for them to do that. Neither you, your co-workers, nor anyone in the fandom who may be suffering from illness deserved to be deceived like that.

My heart goes out to you, and I hope you're doing okay now. 💖

(If you're comfortable clarifying this for anyone who didn't see that post and may want to know the full context (no stress if you don't want to ofc), was Ari initially claiming to be dying of cancer or was it something else? Either way, it's still disgusting what they did.)

thank you it really means a lot. ;;;; In case anyone didnt see the post I made a while back, this is the full story for clarification: This all started on April 29th when I received a DM from my co-worker Toby, saying that a Poppy Playtime fan and friend we will call Ari, who he told me was 18 and has come to know for a solid year, was set to be sedated on May 6th due to having an incurable cancer. Because of this, he wanted me to create an illustration for her before she passed which I immediately took up the offer. Now, for clarification, I don't trust what anyone says in the PPT community. I am aware of how immature and dangerous the community can be. But when it's coming from someone I know and trust, I put my trust forward on that person. I don't mess around when it comes to someone nearing their death. So I got in contact with her, made sure she saw the illustration I made for her, and for the past week after work hours, I would talk with her in VCs and chill at every chance I got to make sure she was happy and having a good time. She acted very kind and sweet to me and so many others who would join the VC as they also soon came to know of her upcoming passing as well. On Saturday, May 4th we hosted a podcast for her as a subtle final farewell to the whole server. And on Sunday evening at 5 pm, me and Toby talked with her one last time in a private vc until she had to take her final leave from Discord. At 6 pm, me and Toby stayed on call listening to the Caretaker album fully (as we both had a big fascination for The Caretaker album, Everywhere At The End Of Time) as a sort of timer to let us know when she had passed, as we knew in 6 hours she would be sedated. At 1 am on Monday morning, The album finished. We both cried so hard it gave us headaches. I only got to really know her for a short time, but at that moment, she made such an impact on me and so many others in the PPT server and community. We had made art dedicated to her and I had even laid out a post for her. Everyone was mourning over Ari’s departure and for 4 days me and Toby were a MESS of emotions of grief. That was until I received a message from Toby on Thursday, May 9th, saying he needed to speak to me urgently in call. Toby told me that he had been watching Ari's activity and found something off with it as it had recently gone active a few times. I told him that maybe it was her friend having access to her account in her passing but Toby immediately showed me proof of the activity that's been going on in another server and on her Roblox account that she had. And that's when we needed proof or confirmation. For the past 4 hours, we did our research to find leads on her. We eventually found her school which apparently confirmed that she was 14, NOT 18, and we got in contact with her parents and asked them about Ari to which they were confused about this whole thing and told us that she was here. Which CONFIRMED that she was still ALIVE. We filled in on the parents for what Ari did and she is no longer going to have access to her electronics. We were both devastated at this point and absolutely furious. Everything we did for her, and the community, was all for nothing. She used and fooled us by a means to get attention and to specifically get in contact with Toby and be forward with him as a minor. We dedicated hours and days to her, mourned and cried for her, all for it to be crumbled down into a fake death. We were beyond disappointed, me especially as I don't take kindly to this sort of thing. I don't get mad. In fact, I try to be a kind person to everyone, but the fact someone would take advantage and play death like this to us for attention is disgusting and just wrong. I have moved on from this but please don't make this a big deal. They were 14 and this will not stop me from doing what I love for the PPT community or whatnot. It's just a life lesson I will take to heart and be careful to not put my full trust in someone unless I have clarification that they are indeed going through a death-like situation like this.

[in1-nutshell]

May I request a sayain buddy whose like goku and loves fighting and eating and is always up for a good challenge, and can the interaction be with young justice acting as their wild-card if things go south.

First time writing for this kind of Buddy, lets do this!

Hope you enjoy!

Buddy the Half Saiyan and meeting the Young Justice

SFW, Platonic, Slight Familial, Half Saiyan Buddy

YOUNG JUSTICE

It was Constantine’s fault.

Scratch that, Constantine and Zatara’s fault.

The League had contacted them both to help with a mission that required to summon ‘help’.

Constantine and Zatara were trying to do the spell, but their bickering and arguing messed the spell up.

And out popped a dizzy 10-year-old with a strange hair style on the floor.

Buddy rubs his head as he tries to sit up. Zatara: “Look what you did Constantine!” Constantine: “Look what I did!? You’re the one who—” Buddy: “Umm, excuse me?” Both men look at the slightly frightened boy. Buddy: “Do you know where I am? One minute I was with my brother and Mr. Piccolo and the next I’m here.” Zatara: “Mr. Piccolo?” Constantine looks lost in thought before his eyes widen. He walks over and offers the boy his hand. The boy looks at the hand curiously before taking it. Constantine: “What’s your name kid?” Buddy smiles a bit. Buddy: “I’m Son Buddy!” Constanine: “… Son Buddy… As in Son Goku?” Buddy smile widens. Buddy: “Yeah! You know him?” Constantine: “… Oh Fu—” Zatara: “Constantine! Wait how do you know his name? And know who Goku is?” Constantine: “My personal life is my personal life, Zatara.”

The two men explain to Buddy that he was accidentally sent to their world from his.

IN their world, his world was simply a manga, a comic.

They are a bit surprised that Buddy does take the news… a bit well.

Yes, the boy does freak out a bit, but not because he was in a new universe.

Buddy was worried for his family and friends that would soon need to fight the Andriod’s.

They needed all hands-on deck!

They needed him!

It was at that moment that Batman and some of the other Leaguers came in.

Buddy is just confused as more people in funny looking costumes come in.

He gets a bit wary feeling certain power levels, but most of them seem nice enough.

One of them, Batman he thinks, tells him that until he could get back home, he was going to have to stay with the Young Justice.

Meanwhile with the team…

Everyone is wondering who Batman is bringing in and why to, and quote, ‘Don’t fangirl’, for some reason.

After initial introductions (and making sure certain members did not crowd the poor boy) Buddy starts making friends almost instantly.

Aqualad was a bit curious when Batman brought a 10-year-old to the cave.

But that didn’t stop him from being as polite as possible.

He does not know what to do with the kid when he takes a moment to size them up.

It made him feel a bit uneasy, but soon Buddy smiled and waved at the group.

The Atlantean has seen fast eating before, he has Wally as a teammate.

But NEVER had he seen someone eat so much and so fast before.

Kaldur doesn’t understand when Wally and Dick tell him NOT to spar with Buddy, to leave that to Connor.

… But he could not resist those puppy dog eyes.

It was a trap.

Kaldur is on the ground, eagle spread and feeling the pain. Buddy is just sitting on his chest looking at him curiously. Buddy: “You, okay? I didn’t hurt you too bad with the warmup right?” Kaldur: “I am fine—did you say warm up?” Buddy grins as he hops off Kaldur’s chest while stretching a bit. Buddy: “Yeah! When are we going to start the real fight?!” Wally has a bucket of popcorn and watching the entire thing. Wally: “Buddy, I think the only one here that could beat you right now is Connor.” Buddy stops stretching a bit before thinking. Buddy: “Makes sense, he does have a higher power level than you guys.” Kaldur: “What’s a power level?”

Connor does not know what to think of this little boy.

He does his best to not interact with him.

Little kids= weak right?

Connor told this to Robin, and he still hasn’t stopped laughing.

Isn’t too phased by the sudden appetite the kid has.

I mean he’s seen Wally eat fast too, what’s the problem?

…Gets a bit concern when he learns that is not normal for human behavior.

Only starts to get close when Buddy tells the group that he is half human and half Saiyan.

Another not fully alien in the team, he’ll keep an eye out for him.

Is borderline annoyed when Buddy keeps on asking him to fight.

Superboy snaps as his fist goes to punch Buddy in the face. Buddy only stands in place as the fist in only smushing part of his cheek. Connor gives him a surprised look while Buddy only smirks. Buddy: “Finally, a real fight! Come get me Connor!” Connor lunges forward but narrowly miss the 10 year old’s body and is kicked in the back. Buddy: “And stop holding back!” Wally and Robin are watching intently from the sidelines. Wally: “This is the greatest day of my life.” Robin: “Do you think he’d fight Superman?” Wally: “Not in base form, maybe Super Saiyan or Super Saiyan 2.”

Connor did prove to be much more of a challenge than the others.

He even made the half Saiyan put in a bit more strength and a couple of Ki blasts when things got a bit hairy.

Connor gets his behind served time and time again.

But the pair have bonded and that’s what counts.

M’gann loves the little boy.

Even more when she hears he is part alien.

The Martian is the nicest of the group.

She reminds Buddy a bit of Mrs. Briefs.

M’gann has used her shapeshifting abilities to change her hair to look like Buddy’s.

Is happy to cook anything for Buddy.

M’gann pulls out a tray of slightly burnt cookies. M’gann: “Would anyone want more?” Most of the team groans with funny stomachs… except Buddy. Buddy: “Yes please!” Connor: “How!?”

Artemis, Dick and Wally are the first ones to know right off the bat who Buddy is.

Dick and Wally know the manga and Artemis learned the basics after hearing too many conversations between the two.

Since the three of them have more background knowledge on the half Saiyan, its easier for them to bond.

That being said the trio have a hard time not saying any spoilers.

Especially finding out which Saga Buddy is in.

Out of the three of them, Wally is the one who can keep up with Buddy’s speed.

Artemis and Dick managed to use their weapons on Buddy for a while before the kid quickly adapted to them.

Like father like son.

Buddy is looking down in front of the three of them. Buddy: “Hey… do you think I’ll be as strong as my dad? I mean I’m not a Super Saiyan, but I defently get stronger right?” The trio have flashbacks to Gohan and Buddy’s Super Saiyan 2 transformation and the entirety of the Buu Saga. Dick pats Buddy on the head. Dick: “You’ll get stronger.” Artemis: “Just remember to keep training, you and Gohan.” Buddy beams a bit at the response. Wally: “Yeah, you and your brother better keep up the good work!” Buddy smiles before thinking a bit. Buddy: “Brother’s?” All three teens freeze noticing the mistake. Buddy shrugs. Buddy: “I guess Trunk’s is going to be like our little brother.” Artemis, Dick and Wally internally: “Like father, like son.”

Buddy is not allowed to leave the cave too often as the days turn into weeks.

The half Saiyan did get cranky at the lack of room and getting bored of fighting Connor all the time.

Thankfully, Buddy is allowed on missions that need extra back up.

It’s during one of these missions that Buddy finally turns Super Saiyan.

Wally was not crying in the background, and you can’t prove it.

Thankfully, its around this time that Constantine and Zatara finally get the portal ready for Buddy to leave.

Buddy is saying his goodbyes to everyone. Buddy: “If you ever need my help, just drop by and ask! Bye!” The team waves goodbye as Buddy runs into the portal. Next thing Buddy knows he is standing a few feet from his home. Buddy blinks seeing someone come out of the house. It was his mother with a laundry basket. Chichi blinks too before dropping the laundry basket and racing to her little boy. Chichi: “BUDDY!” Buddy just accepts his fate letting his mother hug and cry. His own tears starts prickling out. Chichi: “Oh my sweet boy! Where have you been!?” Buddy: “Sorry Mom, but it wasn’t my fault this time.” WHOOSH! Buddy turns around at the familiar sound. Goku, Gohan and Piccolo were standing there. Gohan: “Buddy? Buddy!” Buddy smiles widely with his arms open as Gohan barrels into them. Goku lifting them both up into his arms sighing in relief. Gohan: “DON’T YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN! I COULDN’T FEEL YOU! I C-COULDN’T F-EEL YOU!” Buddy just latches onto his twin while Piccolo pats his head affectionately. It was good to be home.

[herotome]

Devlog #125

Hi-ho, Wudge here! Gosh! I missed last week's update.

Happy holidays from Herotome!!

I haven't drawn anything this year-- oh but hmm, I could do a quick edit, here -

Tadah! For anyone who hasn't already seen it, we got those 50 reblogs to make Warden shirtless! A pure version without the christmas lights went up yesterday, just scroll down my blog a bit or check out the #ro: warden hashtag.

I'm pleased with how much mileage I'm already getting from this picture, ha.

Anyway.

Seems like I'm gonna be focused on writing new scenes and drawing expressions for a while. They're some of the more tedious tasks for me, so I'll certainly be looking for every opportunity to do other things on the side - like coding.

Today I've decided that the LI sprites should have their eyebrows on a separate layer from the rest of their face, to offer me the greatest amount of variety in creating new expressions - and I've come up with a naming system for it, too!

I'm looking forward to implementing this. Eyebrow shapes have much, much less variety compared to mouth shapes, so I might even finish drawing every possible eyebrow for every LI sometime soon. I've already gotten a strong start with Warden and Mia's eyebrows.

Speaking of, I did turn in more expressions over on Ko-Fi!

Tadah!! Thank you again to everyone who has donated so far!

I'm realizing that in the set dedicated to Dia, Warden and Mia have the same mouth shape on the upper right side... A fascinating subconscious decision on my part.

Outside of art, I did write... once. Er, it went pretty okay. I'm usually the biggest hater of my first drafts.

I think my goal is gonna be to show off the abilities of all the characters as equally as I can; Warden and Jade have had their time to shine (during the job fair and flying MC home, respectively), and I think MC, Griffin, and Mia are gonna be queued up next.

I'll put the rest under a cut for potential spoilers and further rambling - as always, if you don't see the cut, make sure to check out my blog directly!

I have a good idea of what I wanna do with Griffin (it may or may not involve obliterating your rent debt, and I may or may not have written about that in the first-draft-I-don't-hate).

I've been thinking that this scene would involve a change of clothes btw, and did some fashion concepts for Griffin that I also don't hate;

I'm not super sure what I'm gonna do for Mia's eventual ~special show-off scene~, but I'm sure it will come to me.

For MC, I want to show off her relationship with the city, and showcase how qualified she is for the job in a low-key way. I recently discussed with a friend how Men in Black is a huge source of inspiration for me... Y'all know the scene where Will Smith has his interview and did things differently from all the other candidates?? I kinda wanna capture that vibe...!

And ah... I think that's about it, Herotome-wise.

Wudge-wise, honesty hour - I've had ssssome mild health concerns this year.

I don't want to go into detail; I want to say it's been like... nothing life threatening, thankfully, but a lot of small physical inconveniences that pile up and make it harder to concentrate.

I did rest a lot last week so no worries. <3 It's just that parts of my body have been weird and annoying, and I think it's helpful to acknowledge that the flesh prison can be a weird and annoying place. But I value it! And I'm doing my best to take care of it. Health comes first, etc, etc.

With this new year, I hope you guys take care of yourselves as best as you can, too. The person who's most qualified to take care of you is you!!!

Stay safe and keep warm,

Wudge.

[the-banks-of-lethe]

The New Year and this Blog

Happy New Year everybody!! I hope you've all come into 2025 well and rested, or at least are planning on resting. I find it very fun that the year has started on a Wednesday, Lord Hermes day, as if He was delivering us into this new rotation around the sun (Helios), or so that we may feel His guidance throughout the year. Either way, welcome to the Banks of Lethe - 2025 edition hehe.

Going into 2025, I'd like to hear from you all and what you might like to see here on this blog! While this is not a formal place, just a shrine / devotional blog to Hypnos, I do want to make this a little place where one feels comfortable and seen. So I want to ask if there was anything you would like to see, any concerns or complaints, any suggestions or questions; really, I want to take on the community's advice. Everyone is safe in the arms of sleep, so shall they be here. Feel free to either send an ask, comment, or reblog with anything you'd like to say!

I'd also like to share that I am going on a long spiritual jouney with Lord Hypnos, requiring a lot of dedication to Him, and a lot of self-reflection to start off (though no doubt self-reflection will be an ongoing thing no matter what). I don't want to share too much more as this is still new, and I am still figuring a lot of things out; but potentially I may share later on down the track - that's all you'll know for now.

Partially related to this ( ^ ), I am planning on creating a little informational booklet / zine (whichever you'd like to call it) about Lord Hypnos. This will probably be a seperate post, but if there is anything any of you are curious about and would like to see in there, let me know! (Again, this will probably be it's own post so maybe just think about it for now).

Phew, almost there... To finish off this yapping post, it's Wednesday, so it's poll time!

Okay, now to actually finish this off - I love yall (/platonic) and Lord Hypnos does too. No matter where you are, I truly hope that this year will be one for the memories, one that we can all look back on fondly.

Khaire! And sweet dreams 💙

[cal-daisies-and-briars]

👑👑👑👑👑👑👑 Chimney my beautiful Cinderella here to sweep Prince Charming off her feet

🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮🦮 CRANBERRY ILYILYILY

⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️⚡️buddie wedding don’t be a disaster escape the tv drama curse

🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸 BAD DECISIONS EDDIE I AM WATCHING THROUGH MY FINGERS

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐 May don’t fight the feelings you got thissss

HEY!

Yesss Chim IS Cinderella! Like it's IN THE NAME.

21 for👑:

---

 He knows he’s running short on time. He doesn’t want to disrespect Bobby’s incredible generosity by showing up late. But he can’t quite help himself from stepping forward and kissing Maddie again. 

This time, the kiss is longer and a bit more heated. More confident. He can feel the tips of her manicured nails press into the back of his shoulders a little. 

Chim could stay here forever. He wants to stay here forever. 

But he’s on a curfew. 

He pulls away again. “I really do have to go.”

Maddie nods, a little breathless. “I’ll see you soon?”

“God, I hope so.”

She smiles and squeezes his hand reassuringly. 

“Then go. Have a good rest of your shift, Chimney.”

“Have a good rest of your night, Maddie. And, uh, Happy New Year.”

“Yeah. Yeah, I think it is.”

---

Sorry in advance that the next sentences are my first draft at Cranberry-verse smut (kinda?)

33 for 🦮:

---

“I can stop,” Buck offers.

On the screen, he sees Eddie give a very quick little shake of his head. No. He doesn’t want Buck to stop. 

Buck’s stomach is somersaulting. They’re really going to cross this line, then. Trample over the normal order of things that they might have followed, had they gotten that long-awaited date.

“I think you should do something to make yourself feel better,” Buck suggests, more breathless than he expected to sound. 

“Yeah?” 

Eddie shifts his position a little.

“I think you deserve it,” Buck continues. 

“This is crazy,” Eddie murmurs. 

“Do it anyway.”

Eddie shifts again, switching his phone from one hand to the other. Buck can imagine the other reaching down, snaking beneath his waistband. He feels very warm all of a sudden. Eddie takes a deep inhale as he starts stroking himself, and even translated via FaceTime, the effect is overwhelming on Buck. He feels a pulsing need in his own crotch. 

“God,” he mutters. “I wish I was there.”

“I wish it was you,” Eddie breathes.

Buck wets his lips with his tongue. He’s nervous. More nervous than he’s ever been with this sort of thing.  Because it’s a man. Because that man is Eddie. Because it’s been a while. Because it’s finally, finally, the exact kind of meaningful that he’s always wanted, deep down. He doesn’t know. But he wants to get this right.

“I would take good care of you, if I was there,” Buck promises. 

Eddie’s eyes flutter open and closed, heavy-lidded and dreamy. 

“I’d take my time,” Buck continues.

---

Uhhhhh definitely NO drama AT the wedding? However...

18 for ⚡️:

---

Their next call is to the scene of a fire. 

This should not be especially eventful, considering that they are firefighters and all. And, for the drive there, it isn’t. The transit process? Just fine. 

It’s the rest that sends Buck into a tailspin. 

He spends the ride seated next to Eddie, thighs touching. They’re back being partnered together. Sadie earned her shield a couple months back, and has been working as Ravi’s partner since. Buck is pretty proud of her - and himself, for training her. He liked working with her a lot. But he’s happy to be back where he belongs, in terms of workplace duos. 

Buck and Eddie - okay, mostly Buck - talk everyone’s ear off about the house for the time it takes them to get to the fire. They should possibly be a little less giddy headed towards an actual three alarm fire, but at that point, Buck thinks his mood simply can’t be shaken. How naive. 

It is perhaps due to this focus on the house, which is nowhere near the direction they’re headed in to get to this fire, that Buck doesn’t realize what is in the direction of the fire. In his defense, neither does anyone else! Not even Eddie! Even Bobby, who knows better where they’re going, doesn’t put the pieces together. 

---

It may not go the way you think for Eddie!

15 for 🩸:

---

When Eddie wakes, it’s to the din of Buck trying to be quiet. He’s not an especially quiet person, especially in spaces where he’s relaxed. Maybe months searching vampire spaces covertly have improved those tendencies, but that doesn’t seem to apply to this morning. Buck treads heavily on the hardwood floors, shuffling to change into sweats before joining Eddie in bed. 

Eddie is bone tired. He doesn’t know why last night’s confrontation has taken so much out of him. Certainly, he’s accomplished far more exhausting feats recently. Dealt with much worse. But he feels like he’s been hollowed out, nonetheless. Yet, beyond all that, there’s a sense of stillness. Like some wriggling, writhing dark thing in him has been surgically extricated. The decision he has made has stamped it out. And while the process has exhausted Eddie, he feels liberated. 

It doesn’t matter what he is. He’s going to find a way to live a life that he can be proud of.

---

24 for 💐:

---

“What?” April demands, when she catches May looking out of the corner of her eye. 

“Nothing,” May insists. “Nothing at all.”

“Look, I know I suck,” April sighs. “I’m not an artist!”

“I didn’t say anything!” May protests.

“I played clarinet in high school! I never took an art class I wasn’t forced to take.” April continues. 

May raises an eyebrow. “Well, you seemed happy enough when I suggested the idea for this paint night.”

April shrugs. There’s a smudge of blue across her right hand, and when she lifts it to scratch her head, a little bit of that transfers to her forehead. 

“You seemed like you wanted to do it, so…”

May flushes. 

“I find painting fun,” she admits. 

“Anything is fun when you’re good at it.” April points out. 

“I’m mediocre at best,” May corrects. 

April rolls her eyes. “Well, you’re the second best here.”

“Second best?”

[imabeautifulbutterfly]

The Gym Membership - Part 38 (Crosshair)

Summary: The night at the Battle Axe throwing wraps up

A/N: Hello Lovelies,

Hope everyone is doing well, so I've been working on The Reunion, and rereading Upside Down to get myself back into the mode of writing for that story again. With Upside Down before I start posting the new stories, I'm going to be revamping the story a little. Just making the chapters shorter, and editing things I missed. So I'll be doing that once I"m ready to go for the Upside Down. The Reunion is taking a little longer for me to get into. Not because I don't have a clear direction of where I want the story to go, but rather because I just trying to figure out how to get there.

Have a lovely week.

Love oo

Italics - flashback

Warnings: Snooping, flirting, PDA, anger, tension, accusations. I think that's it, if I miss any warnings, please let me know.

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Mel watched Howzer walk away to join his squad. Tonight was their team building exercise. Although he and Layla bantered and flirted a little neither offered to give the other their number. She wondered if maybe that was because Layla was interested in Crosshair or if it had to do with the glare from Cross. 

His reaction only confirmed what she had suspected for a while. 

“Crosshair, what are you doing?” Mel smirked as she saw him holding her phone and reading whatever message she received. She may have gotten upset about the privacy issue, if this had been a few years ago when she first met him, then maybe she would have yanked the phone out of his hand, but Crosshair being Crosshair, she shrugged it off. She was more concerned if it was Wrecker texting her. Actually, she really hoped it wasn’t from Wrecker, as lovely and sweet as the love of her life was, he was a constant mystery when it came to texting. Sometimes he’d send ‘love you’ texts or ‘miss you’ texts, texts asking how the kids were doing, or if she needed him to pick anything up on the way home, and other times, a lot of times it was downright filthy. 

Cross looked up at Mel from his spot on the couch, “Your phone was vibing.”

She simply nodded, as she moved closer putting the bowl of popcorn on top of the coffee table, “Well thanks, you could’ve just told me, though. Was it Wrecker?”

“No”

“Did I get anything interesting?”

“You got a message from Layla,” he mumbled.

“Oh, I see” Mel took the phone out of Cross’ hand, sitting on the couch beside him. She read it quickly, and responded, “She’s very sweet, isn’t she?”

“Pfft, please,” Cross mocked at her statement, ‘like that viper of a woman could ever be sweet’, he thought.

“Well you have to admit, she’s very pretty, and she’s very considerate. She got matching outfits for the girls, despite the age difference.”

“Sure … I guess. I mean if you like her type.”

Mel arched her eyebrow, biting back a smile, “Her type?”

“You know beautiful, smart, attractive …” Crosshair waved his hand in irritation.

“Well, I find her very easy to talk to, regardless of her outer appearance.”

“Whatever,” Cross grumbled. 

Mel didn’t have to be a genius to see he was struggling on his own, with how he felt about her. Maybe if she could help him to see it was okay for him to feel attracted to Layla, that it wouldn’t be disrespecting Avery’s memory. Maybe, it could help him. Maybe. 

“Is she very different from Avery?”

Crosshair let out a deep sigh, as he thought back to his moments with his wife, “Yes. Avery … She knew how to command a room. She was kind but also didn’t allow herself to have to put up with bullsh…”

“Hey, language!”

“Bull shenanigans?” Cross asked, arching his eyebrow.

“Better”

He rolled his eyes, before he continued, “She was someone who everyone looked up to and relied on. She was hella smart. I mean Tech, Kamarie and her could’ve had a three way tie on who was the more brilliant of the three. Plus, she knew how to handle herself.” A small smile appeared on Cross’ lips, “She was amazing.”

It broke Mel’s heart a little, not having had a chance to know this woman who won her brother-in-law’s heart so completely. She could see he was struggling, but she also wanted him to move on especially since he had stopped all his extracurricular activities since Avery passed. He deserved to be happy, so why not try with someone he was attracted to, “You don’t think Layla is like her in any way?”

“No. Avery was one of a kind.”

“Then is it so wrong to admit, you find Layla attractive?” She turned slightly to look at him face-on, which maybe was the wrong decision seeing as how he slowly turned his head to glare at her, “All I’m saying, is that I noticed how you kept looking at her the other day when we ran into her at the grocery store … and at the gym…”

“Doesn’t mean anything,” he growled out, his hand clenching against his knee. 

“Okay, if you say so” Mel held her hand up in surrender, she knew when not to push, “Just promise me one thing” she moved to get off the couch, “don’t hold back simply because you think you should. Not if she makes you happy.”

Mel was pulled from her thoughts, by loud yellingcoming from Rob. Despite how tipsy she and Zai were feeling, everyone sobered up real quick. 

They all moved to join Crosshair and Rob, ready to intervene should the need arise.

“It’s not possible! You’re cheating!” Rob’s voice covered, over all the other noises. 

“Alright, why don’t you draw a target?” Hunter held out the pen to Rob hoping it would calm him down, as soon as the pen was out of his hand, Hunter moved to stand beside Zai, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her into his side. 

“You’re going to love this,” he whispered in her ear, a subtle smirk appearing.

“Crosshair is great and all,” she teased, “but when am I going to see your skills, habibi?”

Hunter pressed a kiss to the helix of her ear, “Tonight,” he whispered as his hand shifted down to her hip, pulling her almost impossible close to his side. Her face heated as she nudged his ribs, telling him to behave himself. 

Rob walked over to the target beside the one Crosshair was using, placing a tiny dot just outside the centre of the last ring. 

Crosshair simply chuckled as he nodded, “Any restrictions?”

“Yeah, blindfold.”

“Uh, excuse me, but is that safe?” I spoke up at the insanity that was suggested by a very childish man. “I mean anyone could walk out in front of Crosshair and he wouldn’t be able to tell.”

“Thank you for the confidence,” he sputtered sarcastically as he rolled his eyes at her.

“Come on …” I tried to placate him, however Echo stopped me, as he tapped my shoulder.

“Don’t worry, we’ll make sure no one crosses in front,” Echo offered, as everyone formed a semi circle around the two targets behind Cross. 

Sofie offered to tie her scarf around Crosshair’s eyes as a makeshift blindfold, once she’d tied it in place and he confirmed he couldn’t see anything, Cross raised his arm. The tension built as other people started to join our circle to watch after Rob’s loud commotion. 

My stomach was in knots, not because he couldn’t hit the mark, but rather I just didn’t want anyone to get hurt. 

Crosshair moved his arm carefully forwards mapping out the angle, he took in a slow breath, moving his arm back just above his head and released the axe. 

The crowd erupted in an uproarious applause and cheer as Crosshair’s axe hit the makeshift target Rob had drawn not even five minutes before. 

Crosshair smirked as he pulled off the blindfold, watching Rob examining the axe. He passed the scarf back to Sofie, nodding his thanks, before walking over with a smile and a swagger in his steps, stopping in front of Layla.

“What did you think?” He didn’t know why he asked her, he didn’t even know why his feet brought him over to her. 

“I think I can see why you’re a sniper.”

He leaned into her ear, his voice barely above a whisper, “Ex-sniper, and try not to broadcast that,” he smirked, before heading over to talk to Tech. 

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@justanothersadperson93​ @liadamerondjarin​ @badbatch-simp24​ @spicymcnuggies​ @lady-ren​ @firstofficerwiggles​ @darkangel4121​ @discofern​ @kavecika​ @monako-jinn-stories​ @ladykatakuri​ @avathebestx​ @theroguesully​ @furyhellfire66​ @carodealmeida​ @ciramaris​ @sprout-fics​ @twinkofthedink​ @dindjarin-mandalorian​ @clonethirstingisreal @crosshair-is-the-superior-clone @totallyunidentified @griffedeloup @leotatombs @leotawrites

[alittlextrathatway]

In a world of boys, he's a gentleman

Let’s do a continuation of another AU.

We only have a lyric here which is absolutely fine because it means I get to pick the location.

And the location I choose is…

A diner.

Here’s some Sylvie’s POV for the football AU I started here.

***

She isn’t sure what to make of Matt Casey.

Having only been out of her borderline emotionally abusive relationship for six months, suspicion of all men is top of mind. She didn’t take the job in Chicago with the hopes of a new dating pool. She simply wanted to be free.

In Indianapolis, Harrison made sure everyone knew her as his ex and saw her as some creature he molded into being. To hear him tell it, her knowledge of sports medicine and her skill in accurately treating her patients the first time was all due to him generously sharing his knowledge with her over the course of six years of pillow talk.

They moved through their education together. Same schools, same programs. She’s just as accredited as Harrison. Everyone who directly works with her believes she knows her shit. Her patients rave about her in a way Harrison’s never speak of him. Yet outside their direct circle she became the personification of political correctness. Her successes and accomplishments were chalked up to a ‘women-in-sports-medicine’ diversity agenda.

As if some powers-that-be committee held a meeting once a week and decided these things.

Leaving her home state was the right decision professionally. She’s confident she made the correct choice.

But confidence in her personal life is a little harder to come by. So, yeah, she’s not sure what to make of the veteran star quarterback and team captain.

Especially when he turns out to be the nicest man on the whole damn planet.

Today is the start of that tour around Chicago he offered to her. He insists on shuttling them around and picking her up, refusing to let her meet him anywhere. And then he starts the day with his favorite little neighborhood diner, owned by one of the other players on the team’s family. She hasn’t met every player yet, but this woman knows Matt and hugs him fiercely the minute he walks in the door.

She shows them to a booth in the back and then pats Matt’s shoulder. “You keep throwing passes to my boy, you hear?”

“I’ll try my best, Mrs. Mills.”

She thought Matt was adorable at The Bodens’ backyard party last week, but turns out that was only the tip of the iceberg.

He blushes lightly at the attention and clears his throat. “That’s Pete Mills’s mom. One of our wide receivers.”

“Ah, okay,” Sylvie says, unable to resist pointing a warm smile at him. “Everyone at this franchise adores you. You know that, right?”

He shrugs, trying to brush it off. “When you’re winning it’s always like that. Wait till we lose a couple of games back to back, then we’ll see how much they love me.”

She shakes her head at him with a chuckle. “I’m not talking about you as a player, Matt. I’m talking about you as a person. Donna gave me the rundown of all the players so I’d know what sort of personalities to prepare for and she would not stop raving about you. Not your record or your stats as a quarterback, but you. The guy under the uniform.” There’s a beat before she realizes how that last line may have sounded and she winces. “Not literally under the uniform—I don’t mean they were talking about you being nak—you know what, I should look at the menu and shut up.”

He laughs softly. She feels his eyes following her movements as she looks away from him and down at the laminated menu in her hands. “No, I get what you mean. And I’m very fortunate. I’ve spent my entire career with one team full of good people who try to make the best decisions that benefit the group as a whole. It’s an actual family around here. We don’t just say that, we live it. So, if you get the sense that these people genuinely care about me then you’re right and the sentiment is completely mutual.”

He’s managed to stir up a lot of yearning emotions in her chest and soothe her humiliation all at the same time. It’s fascinating. “Sounds like a good organization to join.” What will it be like to work with people who don’t make you feel as if you need to be looking over your shoulder all the time? “I’m glad I took the leap then.”

“Me too,” Matt agrees, grinning crookedly at her. “So, I have a few neighborhood places I wanted to show you, but first things first today, is there anything you’ve wanted to see in Chicago that you haven’t gotten around to yet?”

She drops the menu and meets his gaze again. “Really?” Her tone is skeptical, she can’t help it. “You’re sure you wanna ask me that? I might give you a laundry list of cheesy tourist traps.”

“Bring it on.”

“Okay, you say that, but how do I know you’re not gonna keep a log of them to judge me by later?” She asks. She’s teasing him. Matt doesn’t seem like the type, but the joke rings a little too true in regards to her past experiences. Matt’s stare rips through her defenses, straight into her heart, and the joking good humor in her expression deflates. She clears her throat and uses her menu as a buffer again. “Sorry. That wasn’t very funny.”

“I’m gonna guess this ex who tried to torpedo your career didn’t let you enjoy a whole lot of things, huh?” Matt asks in a quiet, calming voice.

She sighs, suddenly tired of Harrison’s influence on her thoughts and actions despite leaving him behind in another state. “Let’s just say he wasn’t a lot of fun at parties.”

Matt snorts. “I can tell. I don’t know anything about him, but I can tell. To answer your question, no I’m not gonna keep a log of touristy things you enjoy so I can give you shit about them later. Only assholes do that. If you want to be a tourist today then I’m right there with you. Have you seen the bean yet?”

“You mean Cloud Gate?” She asks with a sharp smirk.

He rolls his eyes, grinning all the while. “Fuck that Cloud Gate bullshit. It’s the bean.”

Just like that her angst floats away and is replaced by laughter, authentically joyful laughter. “No, I haven’t seen it yet.”

“Alright,” he says, declaratively. “We’ll have breakfast and then we’ll go there first.”

“Great,” she says, rolling her lips to keep her besotted smile at bay. “Sounds like fun.”

They’re only a half hour into the day and already he’s gotten more out of her than anyone had since she made the move. That moment at the party where she got caught up in his attentive stare and spilled her guts about Harrison wasn’t a fluke, it seems. Her mind may have been unsure of him up until now, but her heart trusted him from the jump.

She knows she made the right move professionally, and she’s beginning to believe she’s making the right move personally too. In a world of insecure boys, she found a tried and true gentleman. She doesn’t know what the future holds for them or whether or not what they’re starting to build today will lead to anything, but she’s excited to find out.

[loomiseater]

Fifty Shades

Hey everyone! This is a look at the first chapter of my new Christian Grey book! I just started writing yesterday so I'm only on chapter 3. I'll upload the book whenever I fully finish writing it. I plan on doing 3 books just like the films. I'll upload it daily to my Wattpad and Tumblr whenever I finish writing. ALSO! This is a Christian Grey x Black!fem!reader, but you can still ofc read this book if you're not Black. I've never seen any Christian Grey BWWM fics so I decided to write my own. I really hope you all enjoy this! Lmk what y'all think!!

🩶Y/n's Pov🩶

It was around 7:00 AM when I woke up. I was supposed to be job hunting since I recently dropped out of college, and since then, my parents stopped giving me money. I dropped out because I want to do something I love in life, which is acting of course. But I need to be realistic, I need a stable income since my parents weren't providing for me anymore, and I need the money for acting classes.

My parents weren't rich or anything, but their income was stable and they were well off. I'm the fourth kid out of five siblings. My oldest brother, Ryan, is 30 years old; he's in the Navy, currently on duty. I miss him, I haven't seen him for six months. My big sister, Nyla, is 28 years old. We're not on speaking terms right now. We haven't spoken in two months, two months ago I found out her husband was abusing her.

I confronted her about it and tried to offer her help but she didn't want it. You can't help someone who doesn't want help, and ever since, she hasn't spoken to me, I've tried reaching out but she just ignores me. Theres only so much I can do.

My other brother, Miles, 26 years old, is a firefighter. He's not around that much, not because of any drama or anything, but because being a first responder takes up a lot of your time. Then next of course is me. 19 years old and now a college drop out. After me is my baby sister, Aniyah, who's fourteen years old. She just started her freshman year of high school.

I totally forgot I was supposed to be taking a break from job hunting today, my best friend Aaliyah is currently sick so I'm supposed to be interviewing some man for her. Aaliyah works for our local journalists company. And I'm currently sharing a two bedroom apartment with her until I can afford to live on my own.

I stared at the wall for a couple of minutes until I finally got up and started my day. I brushed my teeth, then got in the shower and washed my face while I was in there, it's more convenient. I got out and dried myself off, now putting on some coconut oil, then going in with some vanilla lotion.

I wanted to go with a professional look today so whoever I was interviewing would take me seriously. Aaliyah would not tell me who the man was, she says I'll gasp when I see him though. I highly doubt it.

I decided to go with some basic colors for my outfit since this is a business setting. I may be a broke bitch right now, but my outfits are still gonna eat. I placed in some earrings, sprayed some perfume, and walked into the living room.

Aaliyah was sitting on the couch with some Ginger Ale and Saltine crackers.

"You feeling any better?" I asked as she threw her head back. "No! My stomach is killing me!" She groaned. "Aww, I'm sorry, babes." I frowned at her current mood. She's been like this for the past 2 days.

"Hey, take my car today." She offered but I kindly rejected. "Take it! I'm not gonna tell you again!" She stated. She sounds just like my mom. "Okay! I'll take it." I said as I took her keys off the table. I was at the door about to open it until she spoke up again. "Do you remember where to go, Y/n?" She asked as I rolled my eyes. "It's the 21st century, Aaliyah, I have a gps." I smartly said as she threw a cracker at me.

She missed as I laughed at her and headed out the door.

I pulled up to a building called "Grey House" it had a sleek modern design and was really tall. It looks expensive. I checked in with the woman at the front desk. I had to look at the paper that Aaliyah handed me for the name of the man I was interviewing. "Um- I'm supposed to be interviewing Christian Grey." I said as I looked at the name again making sure that it was right.

She smiled and kindly told me the room number and floor. When I made it to floor twenty, I was greeted by two women who offered to take my purse and was bringing me to Mr. Grey's office. I followed the blonde women down the hallway as I admired the look inside. The floor was white marble, their were glass doors and windows everywhere, along with paintings.

"Right this way." The blonde announced as we stood in front of two double doors. The doors were wide and long with two cylinder handles. I haven't even met this man yet but I for some reason feel nervous all ready. I opened the door, not even noticing the extra step. In result I tripped into the room. "Ounch!"

I fell on my wrists. As I looked up, I saw a man turned around looking out into the window with a gray suit on. His office was massive. I was still on the floor as he turned around and started walking towards me. "Ms. Robins." He stated. I guess he thought I was Aaliyah.

His long legs strutted over to me, he looks so powerful, and rich. "Are you alright?" His questioned with a look of concern as he helped me up. I nodded my head before shook my hand. I finally got a good look at him and thats when I realized who he was. I held in my gasp but my eyes widened. He was that billionaire. He's one of the richest men on earth.

I guess he took notice to my widened eyes. He chuckled a bit before greeting me. "Christian Grey."

"Y/n Walker." I greeted back.

I couldn't read his face, it was like a mix of amusement and curiosity. "Um, Ms. Robins has the flu, so she asked me to fill in." I say as I realize he was probably wondering who I was since I'm not Aaliyah. "So I see." He started off. "So, you're studying journalism as well?" He finished as I shook my head no.

"No- I-um recently dropped out of college." My voice was hesitant, to be honest I was kinda embarrassed. I quickly changed the subject back to Aaliyah. "I'm Aaliyah's friend, she's sick right now so I'll be taking over the interview."

Mr. Grey looked passed me and nodded his head before walking back to his desk. "As I said, I only have ten minutes." That was kind of rude. I rolled my eyes, thinking he didn't notice but he did. He tilted his head, amused at the fact that I would even do that.

I hurried and sat down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. I began to look down at the journal, reading through some of the notes. I mentally picked one of the questions and turned on my recorder. I looked up and Mr. Grey had this cold look, he looked annoyed almost, like he didn't wanna be here. It was making me feel nervous and a bit self conscious.

It was silent for a bit until he stood up and walked over to me, handing me a pencil that had his name on it for some reason. He sighed before resting on the front of his desk. "Ready?" I asked with smile. "Whenever you are." He replied. I smiled again before looking down at the notebook.

"Um-okay. So this is for the special graduation issue on the student newspaper." I explained. "Yes, I'm giving the commencement address at this year's ceremony." He answered. I was actually surprised, this is a man who usually keeps to himself. "You are?" I asked just to make sure I heard right.

He looked liked he was offended by my question so I quickly back tracked. I was trying to look for words to say but I couldn't really think of any. "I mean, um..I know." I softly said. I then looked back down at my paper seeing what else I can ask him. The room was filled with awkward silence until I spoke up.

"You are very young to have amassed such an empire. To what do you owe-" before I could even finish reading the question, he cut me off. "-To what do I owe my success?" He said with an attitude. I looked back down at the paper before answering "Yep.." I awkwardly said.

"Seriously?" He scoffed.

"Yes.." I frowned. "Business is about people." He started off as he walked back to the other side of his desk. "And I've always been good at people. What motivates them, what incentivizes them, what inspires them." He finished. I gave him an apologetic look before speaking up. "No offense, sir, but maybe you're just lucky." I stated. "Excuse me?" I'm assuming no one has ever spoken to him like that.

For some reason he had a smile on his face. "I've always found that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." He said. He stared at me for a bit before he started talking again. "The key to my success has been in identifying talented individuals and harnessing their efforts."

"So you're a control freak." I mumbled lowly just enough for me to hear but apparently he heard it too. "Oh, I exercise control in all things, Ms. Walker." He smirked. I softly laughed at statement before looking back down at my paper. His smirk turned me on, my whole body started feeling hot.

"Do you have any interests outside of work?" I read. "I enjoy various physical pursuits." He said with that same exact smirk again. I licked my lips before looking back down at the paper. I wasn't even paying that much attention to the words, more so just saying them out loud.

"You're unmarried-oh, you were adopted at age four!" I said with shock. I was starting to become more interested.

"Thats a matter of public records." He coldly said. I immediately put my head down not wanting to be in his view, but he ended up sitting down next to me in the other chair. He tilted my chin up with his finger as he looked into my eyes. His icy blue eyes were so beautiful, just like the ocean.

"Why don't you ask me something that you want to know?" He asked before taking his hand away from my chin. My breathing was shallow from his touch, his fingers were smooth, yet rough. I cleared my throat before answering. "Earlier, you said that there are some people who know you well..but I get the feeling that, that's not true?" I sincerely asked.

The room went silent, he was thinking about what to say, no one has ever asked him that deep of a question. Most interviewers just ask him stuff like "How does it feel to be one of the richest men alive", "When are you getting married?", or "How much do you spend in a day?"

Before he could answer my question, the blonde from earlier poked into the room. "Mr. Grey, your next meeting is in the conference room." She announced. "Cancel, please. Me and Y/n are not finished here." He says, not even looking at her, his attention was fully focused on me. My heart started beating faster, that was all the questions I have for him. "Yes sir." The blonde responded.

"Oh- sir, thats all the que-" "I would like to know more about you." He stated. His eyes were filed with curiosity, waiting for me to answer. "There's really not much to know about me." I shyly said. And I was right. I'm only nineteen, I haven't really even been through life yet.

"You said you were a college drop out?" Even though he's correct, I did say that and it did happen, it still felt like a stab to the chest anytime someone says it out loud. "Yes." I pressed my lips together to stop myself from frowning. "Why?" He asked. I lifted my head back up at him to see his head tilted, waiting for me to answer. "What do you mean?"

"Why did you drop out? Money problems? You're parents?" He questioned. "I want to be an actress. It's my dream." I smiled. "What made you fall in love with film?" He asked as he leaned closer into me. I was starting to get nervous from how close he is but I nonetheless answered his question.

"When I was a little girl, my dad would take me to almost every new movie that came out." I started off, thinking about all those soft memories. "Film is something we bonded over, then middle school I joined drama, but I haven't done anything theater wise since senior year of high school." I smiled.

He look intrigued by my answer. "How old are you, Y/n?" He asked as he squinted his eyes. "I'm nineteen, sir. You?" He seemed surprised by my answer. "Why that face?" I asked as he shook his head. "Nothing, you just look really young." He answered. "Thank you?" I didn't know if it was a compliment or not. "You didn't my first question, how old are you, Mr. Grey?" I asked again. "Twenty-seven" he stated. I squeezed my legs, older men are just so much hotter for some reason. I guess he saw my legs squeeze together, he stared at my thighs for a while before speaking up.

"If you're looking to make some extra money, I have a personal assistant job opening." He offered. I softly laughed before speaking up. "I don't think I would be the right person for that job." "I think you'd be perfect for it." He said back as he rubbed my thigh some. I was officially turned on now. I stood up before things could go any further.

"Um- Thats all the questions I have for you." I said as I was now walking out the door. The blonde woman from earlier handed me my purse back as I thanked her. "I hope you got everything you needed." Mr. Grey said as we were now by the elevator. "I did. Thank you, Mr. Grey." I thanked as he shook his head. "Christian." I smiled and pressed the button for the elevator as he tuned me around by my waist.

"In case you rethink about the personal assistant position." He said before he handed me his business card. I took the card from him and thanked him whilst walking into the elevator.

"Goodbye, Christian."

"Goodbye, Y/n."