#i just ate some gold fish and it reminded me.

[roseandgold137]

Hi. I need more janethelena content 😭 I am absolutely starved and I love your work. So. Sandsmark-Drake family hcs 🙏💕🤗💖?

I think abt them so much but it’s so difficult to actually put things into words so sorry if this doesn’t fully make sense lol 😭 I’m also gonna keep at least this list as when the kids were toddlers/~5/6 for convenience bc that’s when the fic will be happening, but I might reblog with hcs for when they’re older

Cassie hated courgette but loved cucumber. She once mixed them up and cried for three hours straight when she was three. Helena tried to explain that she could just… not eat them. Cassie didn’t listen she ate them anyways. And was absolutely devastated about it

janet sleeptalks. Once she did it when Helena had just got back from a late shift at the museum (which needed Wonder Woman intervention bc the haunted statues came to life) (average Helena sandsmark experience) and Helena almost had a heart attack

tim has no sense of what they look like until he’s like four 😭 he’s in crèche drawing helena with purple skin and blue hair and Janet with green skin and rainbow hair and Cassie as some kind of red shape in the corner, and then getting upset when they ask who’s who

Helena bought Cassie and Tim kid archaeology sets one Christmas, had a lovely day, looked out the window later that afternoon and saw at least three flower gardens completely destroyed

janet cooks the most amazing food, like she’ll start off “sorry it’s not great I threw it together from scratch” and it’ll be the best thing you’ve ever eaten.

tim (age 2) spent half an hour trying to make a snow angel one winter then cried bc it “looked weird”

Helena LOVES fish. She has fish paintings. Fish keychain charms. Fish fossils. She finds out bruce goes fishing with dick sometimes and immediately invites herself.

janet meanwhile LOVES dinosaurs. Again dinosaur everything. She had a paleoart phase during her divorce arc bc she wanted to try something different that didn’t constantly remind her that she just left a perfectly happy (if perfectly platonic by that point) marriage

cassie bit people. And showed Tim how to bite people better (he hadn’t even grown teeth at this point so she eventually gave up bc he “wasn’t biting right�� like girl he has nothing but gums pls)

tims fav Disney princess movie is sleeping beauty bc Cassie wouldn’t let them watch any of the other ones for years

helena once broke into the house by accident bc she forgot her keys but she was so tired she didn’t even think abt what she was doing until she’d already picked the lock

cassie ran an illegal pokemon trading card cartel on the kindergarten playground and wasn’t revealed as the culprit until like a decade later + another one that isn’t necessarily a drake sandsmark household headcanon but it’s a funny (to me) fact abt the every good gold digger verse

Jack met Hal after he and Janet divorced, set Hal and Janet up, things didn’t work out, so janet turned around and set Hal up with Jack instead. Obv that didn’t work out either but it’s funny. To me.

[jloves-pp]

the Story of Merida and Hiccup-chapter 11

chapter 11-the white dragon

The princess was taken aback as she stepped into the huge hall. Made of wood and stone the hall had tapestries of dragons and Vikings on the walls. It was filled with wooden chairs and benches, above a big fire pit hung a gold dragon statue. Merida have never seen anything so amazing.

"Well, it's not that fancy of a hall" Hiccup said seeing her looking around.

"Are you kidding me, it's beautiful" Merida said grinning.

"Well...er…thank you" Hiccup said. They were soon joined by the others with food.

"So, what's Scotland like? Fishlegs asked "I've heard that Scotsmen dine on the blood of their enemies and throw them into a pit filled with wolves"

Merida couldn't help but find this funny

"No, we don't that. We only eat meat, veg and fine wine" she said taking a chicken leg.

"Oh, that's what my dad told me" Fishlegs said.

"Me too" Astrid added "My parents told me they fought blood thirsty creatures covered in fur".

"You mean Bears" Merida replied. She noticed the confusion looks on their heads. "Bears are animals who roam the forest, we used to hurt them but we stop since…"

"Oh, it sounds like something happened there" Astrid said.

"You have no idea" Hiccup murmured knowing that they would need to tell Merida's story. They chatted and ate, he was surprised at Merida who was gobbling down her food, without a care in the world.

The days she spent in Berk were paradise for Merida. Hiccup showed her around the village, the Viking men and women were kind and friendly to her which reminded her of home. She'd seen so many dragons breeds, met her new friends dragons and learned about their different abilities. One time, Merida and Hiccup found a group of Terrible Terrors. Hiccup handed some pieces of fish to Merida and she happily fed them. One of the Terrors placed its head on her lap, Merida gently stroked the small dragon's head. Enjoying being with these wonderful creatures.

Merida loved to explored the island whether it be on foot or in the air. Hiccup showed Merida the cove that he and Toothless had first become friends.

"Ok, just hold it right here" Hiccup said holding his princess's hand as they walked towards the entrance. Merida covered her eyes from the sunlight but soon she could see she took in a breathtaking sight. Surrounded by rock walls, there was a peaceful lake with a waterfall that glistened in the sunlight. Giant trees towered over them their roots snaking down the rocks below.

"It's beautiful" Merida manage to say. Hiccup smiled at her, happy to share this special place. Without warning, Merida quickly climbed down the rock. Hiccup and Toothless quickly join her "It's so peaceful here, it's a perfect hiding place".

"Well, it wasn't by choice. Toothless fell into it and of course he couldn't fly out until I made his fin" Hiccup said. The dragon rushed over to the lake, to find fish. Merida sat on a nearby rock, watching the Night Fury. She was reminded of her mum as a bear, trying to fish. Hiccup sat next to her and started drawing.

"Want to go swimming together" Merida suddenly asked. She saw Hiccup stopped and turning red.

"Ur… Mer…we can't. We shouldn't…..I…I…" he said flustered.

"Hiccup, I'm joking, don't worry. I don't know if" Merida replied before rubbing her arm. Now regretting what she'd said. Hiccup could see Merida was also nervous about having an intimate moment like swimming together but mostly, seeing each other's bodies.

"Hey, hey. It's ok. Let's take our time with things" He reassured his princess, taking her hand and softly rubbing her knuckles. "Maybe one day we can and anyway you're beautiful".

"Thank you" Merida and gently kissed his cheek. Just as she pulled away, Hiccup turned and kissed her on the lips. She was stunned but instantly kissed him back. They were enjoying this moment of passion when the sound of flapping wings put a stop to their magic moment.

"Hey lovebirds" shouted Tuffnut.

"Are you two coming?" called Snotlout.

"We're heading for the cliffs, come on" Astrid said before they flew off. Hiccup and Merida smiled to each other and got up and raced to Toothless. Soon they we're flying across the sky with their friends.

When the dragons landed, the riders relaxed on the stones while their dragons played.

"So there no dragons in DunBroch?" asked Fishlegs.

"No, most people don't believe they exist" Merida said holding Hiccup's hand while his arm rested around her shoulders.

"So, what's in DunBroch?" Astrid said.

"Well, we have sheep, cows, hawks, horses oh and bears" Merida said, counting them on her fingers.

"My mum saw a horse once, she said it had four legs, one big eye with a upper human body and no flesh" Tuffnut said. Everyone, including the dragon looked on in confusion. Even though most of them never seen a horse they could tell that wasn't right.

"No, that's nothing like a horse" Merida finally said.

"Oh, still she dreams about it. Always goes white" Ruffnut said.

"Speaking of things aren't as their seem." Snotlout said "Are you sure you're a princess?"

"Aye. Why?" Merida asked.

"Because you don't act like a princess"

"Oh, and what, pray tell. Should a princess act like" Merida asked crossing her arms.

"Well, something like this" Snotlout announced as he stood up and said in a high pitch voice "Oh look at me, I'm a pretty princess. I love wearing fancy dresses and singing about love" as he pranced around.

"Oh, I can only talk to animals and wait for a man to save me" Tuffnut said as he twirled around. The two boys were laughing with the other teen.

"No, I'm not like that at all" Merida answered.

"Definitely not" Hiccup added as he hugged Merida close. Just then, they heard the dragons growling. The teens looked over to see them watching something out at sea. "What is it bud?" Hiccup asked Toothless as he and the others joined them. The Night Fury pointed his head in the of the direction of the disturbance and Hiccup pulled out his telescope to see. "oh"

"What is it?" Merida asked.

"See for yourself" Hiccup said and handed the telescope to her. Merida put it up to her eye, it took a moment but she could see a large boat.

"It's a ship," cried Merida.

"A dragon hunter ship to be exact" Hiccup answered. Merida knew what he meant. Hiccup told her there were Vikings who still hunted dragons. "Ready for a dragon rescue" Merida heard Hiccup asked. Merida didn't need to answer, she was ready.

They didn't waste any time, they all got on their dragons and flew off.

"Should we take Merida back to Berk" Fishlegs asked.

"I'm perfectly fine coming along" Merida said crossly as she held on to Hiccup.

"She's more than capable to join in" Hiccup mentioned before they flew higher. Merida knew that the best way to do this was to use the element of surprise. "Ok Fishlegs, Snotlout, you distract them on the left. Ruff, Tuff, you take the right. Me, Mer and Astrid will jump aboard to save the dragons".

"Ok" "On it" the others called as they flew into position. With Hiccup on Toothless and Astrid riding Stormfly they hovered just near the ship. Merida took out her bow and pressed the button to release it to its full size, as she fasten the string, she saw in time the first dragon fire at the boat. They heard cries and shouts before the twins on Barf and Belch had sprayed gas and then lit the gas to cause a fire.

"Ok let's go" Hiccup said, and the teens shot down on their dragons, making the Viking men on the deck scatter in fear, Toothless and Stormfly landed. The girls jumped off with their weapons in hand followed by Hiccup, who was walking up to a unconscious man to retrieve the keys. "Ok, got some but we need more".

"We'll look for more!" Merida said, as the girls ran off while Hiccup and Toothless began to open the cages. Merida and Astrid were battling the Viking men, as one released the dragons, the other would fight to defend and search for the remaining keys.

"Nothing here" Astrid told Merida before pushed an unconscious Viking out of their way. Merida had unlocked a cage containing a Monstrous Nightmare and its babies, they quickly flew out of the ship like the rest of the captured dragons.

"We need to keep looking" Merida quickly said, when they suddenly heard something roaring beneath them. "Did you hear that? There are more dragons below" Merida said looking at Astrid.

"What are we waiting for? Let's go" Astrid replied, the girls soon found the trap door leading to the deck below, Astrid easily opened it with her axe. Merida climbed down and Astrid was about to jump….

"Don't you dare" shouted a huge man who'd suddenly appeared before them. He lunged his enormous axe at Astrid. The blonde haired girl had let go of the trap door to defend herself.

The hatch slammed shut, Merida could only look up as she was suddenly in the dark, as her eyes got accustomed to her surroundings the rays of light were visible around the edges of the hatch. It seemed like nothing was down here, Merida readied her bow, just in case when a loud bang came from behind her. Stealthily, Merida walked towards the sound. She realised there was a cage built into the back, she looked through the bars and found nothing but darkness. She wasn't sure where the sound had come from but she knew whatever made the sound was definitely here.

Merida turned for a second when she felt someone or something was watching her. She turned back to find two huge bright blue eyes looking straight at her.

The princess backed off as the eyes followed her from side to side, to Merida's surprise, white scales appeared around the eyes to reveal it was a white dragon. At first glance, the dragon looked like Toothless except being white and it's fins and body were different she thought it looked like a female dragon.

Suddenly the white dragon lunged at Merida but failed. Merida noticed that it was chained to the wall and muzzled. The redhead couldn't help but feel sympathy for the white dragon. Seeing her locked up and tied down, she knew she needed to free her. As the White dragon pulled and struggled to be free from her chains, Merida quickly broke the lock with an arrow. The lock fell to the floor which caught the attention of the white dragon. Growling, the dragon watched as Merida slowly walked in toward the dragon.

"I'm not going to hurt you" Merida reassured "I'm going to release you" but the response she got was a loud roar from the dragon. The Redhead wasn't sure how to calm this dragon down, watching the dragon as it pulled on its chains, it gave Merida a warning look, although she couldn't help but feel that there was something familiar about her. "I know it's the worst thing in life, being cage up, treated like an prop, use by others to they own desires and longing to be free" Merida softly said. The white dragon slowly tilted her head, showing that she was listening. Merida went closer before sitting a few feet away. "You know, I wonder what its like to fly. It's wasn't too long ago that I flew, and it's the most incredible feeling. You love the feeling of flying, don't you?"

The white dragon nodded which made Merida smile. She took a few more steps closer till she was next to the dragon. The dragon looked directly at her. The princess saw the dragons face now up close, it began to make a sound, to Merida's surprise it was a purr, the dragon was purring softly. At that moment, both of them stared into one another's eyes. Merida could see in the dragon's blue eyes an untameable fire and reckless wonder that she had. It was like looking in a mirror, seeing herself in this dragon, she could tell that the creature was thinking the same thing. Merida remembered Hiccup telling her when he met Toothless he too saw himself in the Night Fury.

Suddenly there was a loud bang, they both looked up to find one of Vikings coming through the hatch.

"Let's get out of here" Merida quickly said. She removed the dragons restraints. Luckily Hiccup had given her some lockpicks before they had boarded. She unlocked the chain from the wall when one of the men appeared. Merida and the white dragon hid against the wall as the Viking walked over to the cage.

"I know you're in here girl!" the huge man called out. Merida heard heavy footsteps coming closer. She quickly pulled out an arrow and place it her bow. The white dragon looked over and watched as Merida crept in the dark. "You must have a death wish" he growled. Merida readied herself as the Viking opened the cage door and walked in. "You should be scared; this monster is the deadliest thing on this earth".

"Ha, the only monster here is you!" Merida said bravely as she entered into the light, her bow ready.

"Oh, what pretty little thing, you are. Shame to spoiled that pretty little face of yours" the man sneered although he looked a bit surprised to see a young girl here.

"I would say the same thing but I can't" Merida replied which made the white dragon smirk. Merida kept a straight face, not wanting to show any weakness.

"I surprised you're not dead" the Viking said "Maybe I should get" he stroked his sword gently with evil grin, but before he could come close, Merida shot him in the shoulder. He screamed while Merida fastened another arrow. "Why you little.." the mad man grabbed Merida and caught her around the neck. Merida tried the break free but it was too difficult he squeezed tighter.

She may have passed out if it wasn't for her new friend. The white dragon roared and dived at Merida's attacker. The princess tried to get her breath back as the dragon held the man down. After coughing, Merida grabbed her bow and got to her feet.

"We need to go. He's not worth it" Merida said to the dragon. The white dragon gave one last roar at the frightened man before both girls walked out and locked the cage. Ignoring the shout of the Viking, Merida heard the commotion above them. She looked over to the dragon who was showing her back as if saying "Come on, hop on".

Merida climbed on, holding on as the dragon blasted through the door and flew out. It was hard to hang on with no saddle but the redhead just managed it. They were right above the ship, now the deck had fires dotted around, all of the cages were empty and she could see the dragon riders in the air. Merida tried to see Hiccup, Astrid and Toothless anywhere, then she finally spotted Astrid, reaching to her dragon, but just behind the blonde Viking was a other Viking man. Quickly, Merida place an arrow in her bow. As the white dragon hovered, Merida aim and fired it. The arrow flew and pinned the man's hand against the wall. Astrid turned and punched him in the head.

"Astrid where's Merida?" Hiccup asked looking around worried.

"I think she's fine, come one" Astrid reassured him before they jumped on their dragons. She didn't know how but when she saw the arrow, she had a feeling she knew who'd fired it.

Merida and the white dragon watched the others fly back to land and they followed. They reached the foggy cliffside and landed, Merida slid off the white dragon with ease. They landed the other side of the cliff the others so didn't see them.

"I think it makes us even, thank you" Merida said, her new friend purred then both heard the freed dragons roaring in the distance. Merida could tell the white dragon needed to go. "You need to help, don't you" Merida asked. The white dragon growled as if to say "yes" but the princess could see she was torn. "You're a free spirit, the last thing I want to do is to tie you down" the dragon seemed to physically relax hearing those words. Merida wanted a dragon since meeting Hiccup and Toothless but this dragon was much like her that she couldn't take her. The dragon noticed the sad look on Merida's face. The dragon came closer and licked the girl's cheek, making Merida laugh. "Thanks, we'll meet again one day. That's a promise".

Suddenly a thought came to Merida, she remembered Hiccup's story when he placed his hand on Toothless's head. She also remembered the feeling when she'd done it. Without thinking Merida reached out her hand. The dragon flinched making the princess stop, seeing this, Merida closed her eyes and reached out again. At first, the dragon was unsure what the human was doing but something was drawing her. She slowly pressed her head against Merida's hand. The redhead opened her eyes at the touch. She could feel what she had with Toothless but it was ten times stronger. Both knew they had a bond. An unbreakable bond.

The dragon pulled away and smiled, Merida couldn't stop smiling either. She never thought she'd have a dragon as a friend.

"Merida!" They heard Hiccup shouting. Instantly the white dragon took to the skies. Merida watched as she turned invisible, as if disappearing into thin air.

"Merida" The princess turned to see Hiccup running up to her with the Night Fury behind him. He ran up to her and kiss her. Merida felt his relief and worry in it, she kissed him back to reassure him. "Oh Mer, I was so worried…"

"I'm fine Hic" Merida said rubbing his cheek to calm him. "I managed to escape on one of dragons and landed here".

"Oh, and the dragon?" Hiccup asked and Toothless purred curiously.

"Oh, it flew off" Merida replied which was true.

"I'm just so glad you're ok" Hiccup said before holding on to his princess.

They then heard footsteps and the others joined them.

"Merida, thank the gods you made it" Astrid said.

"Aye, I'm glad as well" Merida answered.

"Well, we better get back home, it's getting late" Hiccup said. They got on their dragons and set off into the evening sky. Later that night, the teens sat around the fire, enjoying meat and telling each other about their rescue.

"You should have seen me firing fireballs at those suckers" Snotlout said proudly.

"Yeah, before you fell off Hookfang before they shot at you" Tuffnut said and Ruffnut chuckled. Snotlout look on sulkily.

"I noticed a few new species of dragons. We definitely need to study them" Fishlegs said to Hiccup.

Merida couldn't help but think of the white dragon when she heard that. She thought about telling them but after meeting her, she knew she wanted to stay hidden. She also knew Hiccup would drop everything and go off to search for her. She didn't want to keep this from him, but even if she wanted to she did not know where to start.

"Merida, what's wrong?" Hiccup asked. She saw Hiccup and Astrid looking concerned.

"Oh nothing, just tired. Too much excitement" Merida reassured them. She felt Hiccup's arm around her, she smiled at him as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Mer, were you the one who shot that arrow that stopped my attacker" Astrid asked Merida.

"Aye"

"I knew it, thanks. I'm impressed. From that distance, you definitely need to show me your skills tomorrow" Astrid commented.

"You're on" Merida replied. Both girls grinned.

"See, I knew you'd get along" Hiccup said giving a sheepish grin which made both Merida and Astrid giggle.

He was right, Merida was having a wonderful time here and had made great friends. At that moment, Merida noticed an outline in the sky. She recognised it instantly as the white dragon, the dragon flew across the moon before it disappeared again. The princess hoped one day they would meet again.

"Good night, Light Fury".

[hometownrockstar]

tier list of foods they'd serve to us during snack time in the before/after school program i went to as a kid

D Tier: ritz crackers (only good with cheese but they didnt give us cheese 😔), pineapple slices, popcorn, veggie straws

C Tier: animal crackers, string cheese, oatmeal (EXTREMELY rare since they can only give it to small groups of kids since it needs a microwave. only this low bc they'd never give me the green apple kind, aka the only good one), pudding cups (same as oatmeal i ONLY wanted vanilla ones but they never gavethem to me 😡 vanilla cups are S tier tho)

B Tier: graham crackers (i was that freak kid who would leave his graham crackers to soak in his cup of water till they got super mushy), wheat thins, peach slices, apple sauce, cheez-itz, those chewy grain bars with the fruit filling inside them??? (CANNOT find them on google...)

A Tier: Cereal with milk (when they brought out the snack tray with milk on it? fucking hype moment.), yogurt, sunchips, frosted mini-wheats (they gave us these without milk for some reason), choccy chip granola bars

S Tier: pear slices, gold fish, apple juice (a rare delicacy), teddy grahams (only the big kids got to have these bad boys 😏)

[myherowritings]

PART 5. THE INHERENT EROTICISM OF BUTTONING SOMEONE’S CLOTHES

SUMMARY. Todoroki Shouto was a wealthy, young CEO who inherited his father’s enterprise. You were a barista at a local cafe who wouldn’t mind some extra cash. One day, Shouto came in during an early morning shift and tipped you such a large sum of money, you were certain it had to have been an accident. To your surprise and complete pleasure: It was not.

PAIRING. ceo!todoroki shouto x barista!reader

WORD COUNT. 3.0k

GENRE. ceo/barista au, fluff, eventual smut

WARNINGS. sexual tension !! and umm sexual frustration ;p, not explicit but prob rated 16+, just read the title of this chapter BAHAHA

A/N. sorry this is coming a little later than planned ! :( but i hope the dressing room scene can make up for it u.u tysm for reading and for all the feedback! enjoy :3 xx sof

SERIES MASTERLIST

© myherowritings — all rights reserved. reposting, modifying, copying, or translating of any kind is not allowed. do not read my writing as asmr. do not plagiarize.

What were you supposed to wear to a shopping date? you asked yourself. Not that today was a date or anything. Though maybe you sort of wished it were… 

The Naruhata Charity Gala was in a little over a week and Shouto would be coming over to pick you up in less than one hour and you still sat in your room with nothing but a towel on feeling more and more hopeless. 

It was a strange dilemma. He met you in your work apron wearing an unflattering work shirt and work pants. And when you met up over the weekend previously, you never paid too much mind on what you would wear. In fact, you were positive he wouldn’t even care how you looked. So why was it such a big deal to you now? 

Probably because of your recent admission of your growing feelings towards him, you thought crossly. 

In your defense, it wasn’t like it was your fault! Right? Seeing someone everyday… Wanting to see someone everyday… Texting regularly about the most random things, having the most banal objects you saw throughout the day remind you of something Shouto did or said… With all those occurrences it would’ve been practically impossible to not start crushing on him! 

Time passed as you stared at your ceiling blankly. If you kept this up, he was bound to show up in your house and find you half-naked. (Now that you mentioned it, that didn’t sound like the worst idea. But it wasn’t something you’d randomly spring upon someone.)

“Get up, Y/N!” you scolded yourself, rolling off your bed and heading towards your closet. 

In the end, you ended up settling for another variation of your usual go-to outfit and called it a day. It happened to be perfect timing since, by the time you finished getting ready, you got a new message on your phone. 

Shouto: Parked in front of your place

Shouto: Sorry I’m a little early. You can take your time getting ready :)

Y/N: it’s okay i’m ready now!! 

After hitting send, you put your shoes on, gathering your belongings you wanted to bring with you, and headed out the door. Excited to hang out with Shouto again, you walked with a skip in your step down the path until you reached his car. 

“Hi!” You waved through his half-opened, tinted window. To no one’s surprise, his car was a sleek black color with dark, tinted windows, and gold details along the sides. If it didn’t look so oddly sexy you would’ve laughed at how cutely dorky he was for matching his car with his credit card. “This is one hot car.”

He turned his head to the side when you entered the passenger’s seat. “Should I turn the AC higher?” 

“Huh— Oh!” You stifled a giggle when you processed the pun he made. “You’re funny, Shouto.” 

He only looked a little confused. “Thank you.” 

The interior of his car was no less—for lack of better term—sexy than the outside. Leather seats, a large screen for the radio and carplay, and the dashboard and side doors lit up a nice blue color. 

“Pretty!” you complimented, poking at the colorful light.

“Want to pick a color?” 

Your eyes widened. “It can change colors?!” 

Shouto nodded.

“Can it be pink?” you asked intently. 

“Light pink or hot pink?”

“Light.”

He swiftly obliged and with a hit of a touchscreen button, the interior lighting changed from blue to pastel pink. 

“Green!”

It turned green.

“Orange!”

Cue the orange. 

“Purple?” 

Purple. 

Once you were thoroughly satisfied with Shouto showing you the whole color selection (you were almost embarrassed to admit it kept you entertained for a good ten minutes), you settled on a bright turquoise that reminded you of the color of his left eye. 

“Ooh, this color! My favorite,” you said simply, giving him a wide smile. 

A faint blush dusted his cheeks as he developed a sudden interest in adjusting his rearview mirror. “Hm.”

Shouto drove the rest of the way in a comfortable silence, occasionally asking how your week was outside of work and what type of outfit you wanted to wear so he could have a better idea on where to take you. 

“Did you eat?” he suddenly asked when he hit the next stoplight, one hand holding the wheel and the other resting comfortably on the gear shift. 

His hands looked nice and slender and soft to the touch. Pretty hands, you thought but shook yourself out of it because you could go down a rabbit hole of examining his hands and going into detail about them. 

You remembered the single, measly granola bar you had due to your rush getting ready. “I didn’t really eat yet, no. Did you?”

He shook his head and pulled into a food plaza with lots of stores to choose from. The two of you agreed on a noodle restaurant that apparently had some of the best cold soba (once you learned it was his favorite food, you wanted to be able to have some with him and today was the perfect opportunity to do just that) and promptly headed to the location. 

In the shop, a waiter sat the two of you down at a dimly lit booth with the perfect amount of ambience that if someone were to casually look over, they might even mistake this outing as a date. 

You grinned at the thought. 

“Excited for the soba?” asked Shouto, examining the smile on your face thoughtfully. 

That’s not why you were smiling, but it was close enough. “Mhm. And the udon. You can never go wrong with noodles!” 

Yes, you got both udon and soba. But in your defense, where else would the fun in life be if not in sugary sweets and carbs? 

As the two of you waited for your main dishes, you ate some fish cakes and edamame while talking about the ways in which capitalism could be dismantled. Rather sexy of him, if you did say so yourself. 

Before you knew it, you were done with your meal and headed back into his car to go fancy-people shopping. On the remainder of the ride, you asked yourself what color you should pick that would match well with both you and Shouto. After all, nothing said a cute couple who totally liked each other going on a totally real date to a gala like color-coordinated outfits, right?

He parked in front of a street of buildings with a dark glass reaching from ceiling to floor with security guards at the door. Just standing near it made you feel fancy. 

“This is a place my sister told me she liked,” he said, leading you to the store front with his hand on the small of your back to guide you. “I hope you’ll find something to your liking.”

You tried your best not to pay too much attention to the warmth you felt both on your back and your stomach from the fuzzy feelings that spread. 

“Hello, welcome!” the both of you were greeted as you walked through the doors. The interior of the store was lined with designer dresses, some long, some short, and all incredibly stunning. There were only a few other patrons in the store, but all of them looked so elegant as they tried on their dresses. “It’s so lovely to see you again Mr. Todoroki.”

Shouto nodded subtly. “Hello. This is Y/N, my date to the gala who’ll need your assistance today.”

“Hi!” you chimed in at his cue. “Nice to meet you.” 

The worker smiled and made her way over to you. “And you as well. I’m Masuda and I’ll do my best to make sure you leave the store satisfied with your purchase! Did you have a particular style or perhaps color in mind?”

“Umm,” you said sheepishly, looking around the wide variety of clothings and unsure where to start. “I’m not too sure. It’s my first time going to one of these things so maybe something comfortable, but also still...fancy?” You scratched the back of your neck. “Does that even exist?”

“Of course— Just have to find something that feels comfortable to you.” She told you to hold on one moment as she disappear into the rows of fabric. 

As Masuda collected some starter dresses for you to try on, a customer walked by with bags of clothes in her hands, her gaze lingering on Shouto, though neither of you paid her much mind. 

“In this setting, you look almost fit to be a sugar daddy,” you said jokingly, looking around in awe at the sophisticated yet lavish dresses. “You take all your sugar babies here?”

“Only the ones I really like,” he teased back. His voice was deadpan but there was the telltale hints of a smirk on his face to let you know he was only messing with you.

The door chimed to signal that a customer left and by then Masuda had returned with bundles of fabric draped on her arm. She led you away in a hurry and you hesitantly looked back at Shouto who followed in a safe distance. Seeing your moment of panic, he gave you an encouraging smile that somehow was enough to ease a significant fraction of your nerves. This may be new and confusing territory, but at least he was here to help you through it. 

Masuda set a dressing room up for you—it was one of those rooms in the middle of the store with curtains that reached the ceiling and mirrors all around—and placed a bunch of outfits she thought would suit your taste. It reminded you of when a bride would go wedding dress shopping with their family. When you had enough outfits for the first round, she told Shouto to sit down on a leather seat in front of your dressing room while he waited for you to try the different dresses on. 

In a way, it felt oddly intimate: Shouto sitting just a few feet in front of you as you undressed, only separated by the veil of a curtain. Would he offer to help button the back of your dress up, fingers brushing against your bare skin? The thought made you feel almost hot inside as you changed out of your street clothes and into the first dress. 

Unfortunately for you, this dress had no such difficult buttons to reach. 

“How’s it look?” you asked shyly as you emerged from the dressing room. 

The dress was pretty and didn’t feel uncomfortable to walk in, but there wasn’t any sort of attachment you felt towards it. In other words, it was simply...meh. 

Shouto looked up from his phone to take in the sight of you. He smiled. “You look amazing as always.” 

“You think so?” You spun around and curtseyed jokingly and he chuckled. “I don’t think it’s bad, but I’m not sure if it’s the right one.” 

“We’ll be here until you find the right one you want, then. Take your time, Y/N.” 

His voice was normally on the deeper side, but it sounded even more sensual and gravelly at this very moment. You felt goosebumps on your arms and it wasn’t just because of the sleeveless dress you currently had on. 

“T-Thanks, Shouto,” you murmured, turning around and walking back into the changing room to hide the look on your face. You didn’t even know what kind of look you had on your face, but you knew it was one that might give too much away. 

It wasn’t fair that he had to be so sweet and caring and thoughtful and handsome and rich… Most guys you met barely fit into one of those criteria, let alone all five. (Sure, the last two weren’t necessary in your opinion, but you couldn’t deny they were a nice bonus.) It was too bad you had no clue how he felt about you. 

There were moments where he felt flirty and teasing, like maybe he viewed you in a more-than-friends way. But other times he was so polite and proper and you couldn’t help but wonder if he was just being nice because that’s simply the sort of person he was to everyone. 

While you were trying to sort through all your thoughts, you completely forgot to change into a new dress the whole time you were in here. 

You saw a shadow at the floor of the curtain before a voice said, “Y/N? Are you okay in there?” 

Jumping at the sound, you scurried to put the next dress on, a blue one with almost translucent fabric and a delicate neckline. Judging from the proximity of Shouto’s voice and the shadow of his shoes, he was right next to you as you changed. 

“I’m okay!” you managed, hoping you didn’t sound as wobbly as you felt. You held the dress closed at the back, fumbling with the fastens. “I just, ah, needed help buttoning this one up.” 

A light ruffle on the curtain then a pause. “Should I...come in and help?” 

Your eyes widened, not expecting him to actually offer to button it up like you fantasized earlier. You fully thought he might called the worker to aide you just so he wouldn’t risk making you uncomfortable. (Not that he would’ve. At all.) 

“I apologize,” he said somewhat tensely after you didn’t respond. “That was indecent of me—”

“No, no!” you said profusely, poking your head out of the curtain while holding the fabric at the front of your dress to your chest. You tilted your chin to meet his gaze with a determined one of your own. “I’d love your help, Shouto.” 

With a dusting of pink coloring his cheeks, he nodded and entered your dressing room. “This dress is a nice color on you.” His voice was loud against the silence. 

Shouto ran his hand down the length of your spine and then up to unfold the column of buttons on your dress that curved inwards at your movement, his knuckles grazing against your skin like lightning striking water. You jolted at the sudden feeling but he didn’t remove his touch when he felt it.

“Sorry.” His voice was low, almost like a whisper. “Was just getting the buttons out.”

“N-No worries!”

His fingers began working on the bottom-most button at your lower back as he applied a steady pressure on the base of your spine to control the motion. Shouto slowly began his way up, fingertips cold to the touch. But you knew that wasn’t the only reason you felt yourself shiver. As he fastened the dainty buttons with immense concentration (much more concentration than was actually needed to fasten buttons, you were sure), you felt the heat of his breath tickling the back of your neck. You almost couldn’t keep yourself from arching your back in a mixture of anticipation and delight at his constant touch. 

When he finished the last button, Shouto let one hand rest on your hip, grasping the fabric between his fingertips to examine its silken texture. Your breath caught in your throat as you stepped back and bumped into his chest, but he was already there to steady you. 

With his arm on your waist and your back leaning against his chest, you made eye contact through the mirror in front of you. You weren’t sure if the pounding you felt was from your heart or his or a combination of both. 

There was something almost erotic about holding each others’ gaze in the mirror after Shouto just helped you dress, the two of you still not letting the other go despite the task being complete. 

“The dress… You look gorgeous,” he said, not taking his eyes off you for one moment. 

You nodded slowly. It did look amazing on you. And it was breathable and soft. (Plus, Shouto liked it, which made you happier than you’d care to admit.) “The only downside would be I need help getting into it.”

“We could get ready together so it’s no issue.” 

“I’d...also need help getting out of it.” 

You held your breath as his eyes darkened, his grip on your waist tightening ever so slightly in a way that made you curve your back before you remembered you were flush against Shouto and he could feel even the most subtle of movements coming from your body. But by the time you stopped yourself, it was too late. He already felt it and you wanted more.

His voice was hoarse. “I could help you with that too.”

Instead of beginning to unbutton the dress like part of you thought he would, he surprised you by spinning you around to face him, your shoulder blades pressed against the cool glass of the mirror and your palms lingering on the muscles of his warm chest. The contrast of the cold glass and Shouto’s body heat left a shiver down your spine.

“And how do you plan to help take off my dress when you can’t even see the buttons?” you said challengingly, a smirk on your face despite knowing full well your body was showcasing just how affected you were by this situation. By Shouto.

He tilted his head to the side in response to your daring tone, hands swiftly finding their way to your back and unbuttoning the top five buttons. It wasn’t enough to completely expose your breasts, but it was enough to loosen the fabric at the neckline in a way that made you gasp. 

“Seems doable to me,” he commented. 

You tugged him down slightly by the collar of his shirt. “I don’t quite believe you. Maybe you should prove it.” 

A guttural noise sounded from the back of his throat as he cupped your jaw and leaned in closer. You inched forward, eager to meet his lips. But before they could touch, a knock came from the wall next to the curtain, causing the two of you to freeze in your spots, bodies pressed against each other in an intimate flush.

“Hello, Y/N?” said Masuda cheerfully, blissfully ignorant about what was about to happen in a public dressing room in the middle of the store. “How are the dresses coming along? Did you like any?”

“Ah, actually…” you trailed off, exchanging frustrated but amused glances with Shouto. “I think we’ll take this one.”

a/n: so...mirror sex/sex in a dressing room as a bonus chapter? u.u why yes of course. i’m one step ahead; did u even have to ask? LMAO and hm i wonder if y/n’s fEeLiNGs~ are reciprocated skfkfkdg ALSO THEY WERE SO CLOSE TO KISSING BUT DIDN’T I CRY hopefully the wait will be worth it ;3

what to expect in the next part:

GALA TIMEEEE

yes y/n finally gets the fancy candy they so desired

we get to see shouto’s sexy penthouse

shouto says eat the rich >:c

[stem-and-chill]

 Village Of Shadows & Yearning For Dark Shadows

– A Closer Look

At the end of the game, it is clear that the folktale story “Village of Shadows” told in the very beginning was about Mother Miranda and the Four Lords all along. Even though the characters in the folktale are different in appearance and behaviour, the key features of the legend stay the same.

The girl in the folktale is presumed to be Rose, the four monsters she encounters represent the Four Lords and the Witch is supposed to be Mother Miranda. The mirror in which the girl has been trapped in by the Witch could represent the four flasks Rose’s body has been sealed in.

This gets confirmed by the revealing of the folktale’s ending, where the father shows up to fight the Witch and sacrifices his life to save his daughter. The concept artwork also confirms that the family in the folktale is based on the Winters family:

However, there are certain things happening in the folktale that are incompatible with the actual role Rose has in the game’s story.

Rose and Ethan:

The problem is that Rose has a completely passive role in the story, since she is a baby and defenseless. She can’t think for herself and is in need of protection, she is the one that needs to be saved.

But the girl in the folktale is an active character who decides her actions. This is more similar to the active role of Ethan in the game’s story. Ethan meets and fights the Four Lords, in the same order as the girl meets the monsters in the folktale:

1. The Bat Lord = Alcina Dimitrescu

2. The Dark Weaver = Donna Beneviento

3. The Fish King = Salvatore Moreau

4. The Iron Steed = Karl Heisenberg

In the folktale, the Bat Lord, the Dark Weaver and the Fish King all willingly give gifts to the girl, in order to save her or to help her endure her harsh environment. The Iron Steed though, is the only one that does not give a gift to her.

Instead, the girl apparently has become greedy and starts to take things for granted. She takes something from the Iron Steed what she thought was supposed to be another gift for her. This action in turn angers the Iron Steed:

Then an Iron Steed appeared, bearing a beautiful, golden gear.

The creature said nothing as the girl approached

and snatched what she thought was another gift.

The horse grew angry and summoned the other monsters.

  This is also testified by the Witch saying to the girl:

“Gifts we gave, but more you took,” she snarled. “So more, in turn, is due.”

  The narrator of the folktale and the Witch claim that the girl has become greedy. In the credit song “Yearning for Dark Shadows”, which is told from the girl’s POV, she confirms this:

Warm and full, I approached an Iron Steed adorned with gold,

and I grabbed what I thought was mine.

Mine, Mine, Mine!

  The repercussion and punishment of the girl’s actions and greediness is to be trapped inside a mirror. This could be taken as a classical lesson that folktales sometimes try to teach children: Do not stray away from your parents. Do not trust strangers. Do not assume that everyone you meet will give you something for free.

Assuming that the active role of the girl represents Ethan, then his interactions with the Lords is in contrast to girl’s interactions with the monsters. The first three Lords did not give Ethan a gift (Rose Jar) willingly, like their counterparts in the folktale do. The only one who gives Ethan a Rose Jar back willingly is Heisenberg (even though not without further work), whose counterpart in the folktale was the only one to not give a gift.

The gift giving of the Lords is reversed in the game’s story. The same goes for their behaviour, as their folktale counterparts seem to be worried about the girl’s condition, while in the actual story neither of them cares about Ethan or Rose.

The girl in the folktale represents on one hand the passive role of Rose’s situation in the game (getting trapped by the Witch in the mirror = getting trapped by Mother Miranda in jars). But on the other hand the girl also represents the active role of Ethan throughout the game’s story (meeting and fighting the Four Lords Lords in the same order; the reversed gift giving situation).

At the end of the folktale, Ethan’s active role of the girl is now given to the father’s role, who shows up to fight the Witch and sacrifices himself:

- But the Witch was strong and Father yelled, “Save our daughter!”

- Even now, the burnt forest is a grim reminder of Father’s sacrifice.

  Rose fully takes now over the role of the girl, who has been freed from the mirror (jars). This also means that the active role her father had before is now passed on to her. This is confirmed by the last sentence appearing:

- The father’s story is now done.

  In the “Yearning for Dark Shadows” song, new lines are added to the folktale story and to the POV of the girl:

Hello, my tears, because of you, I am who I am.

Hello, sorrow, because of you, I am who I am.

Long, long, ago I did not know who I was.

And in the deepness, I was lost and now...

These lines are fitting for both Rose and Ethan. The girl talks about her journey seen through her own eyes, which could allude to Ethan talking about how he met and fought the Four Lords. The lines of the chorus specifically could be an expression of his emotions, the moment he found out about his true nature (having died and turned into a Molded).

Because Miranda’s discovery of the Megamycete, her studies and experiments in the village are ultimately the source for everything that happened to Ethan during the Baker Family Incident and the reason why he is no longer a normal human.

From Rose’s POV the lines could allude to her feelings about her father and also about the troubles of her own origins, as it is shown in the post-credit scene.

  The gifts of the Four Lords:

However, there is an interesting note to make on the gift giving situation of the four monsters in the folktale. It is a big focus there and the turning point of the folktale’s story. The Iron Steed stands out compared to its companions, because it does not give a gift to the girl and is the one to cause her entrapment.

The same goes for Heisenberg’s role in the game’s story. Like the Iron Steed, his role in the game stands out from the other Lords, because he is the only one of them who reaches out to Ethan and honestly wants to team up with him. His backstory and motives are also different to them, since he is the only one to have seen through Miranda’s manipulation and schemes, and wants to be freed of her.

The other Lords are loyal to Miranda, fully believe in her and take actions to get her approval and love. Some time ago, Miranda approached the Four Lords, took them in as their children and infected them with the Cadou. This action is seen by Alcina, Donna and Moreau as a form of gift or recognition.

Alcina believes that she must be Miranda’s favourite child due to her generousness:

“She gave me this castle, obedient daughters, everlasting life, did she not?

Am I not her favorite? Am I not special?” - Alcina Dimitrescu’s Diary

  Donna is happy to be able to make her doll come to life, thanks to the Cadou infection and is excited about the effects of the flowers, that she probably received from Miranda first:

“Mistress Donna seems happy. It might be my imagination, but I feel like her doll Angie is even more lively than before. [...] We had a mighty fine conversation.

Something about receiving a gift of power from Mother? [...] I mentioned this to Donna and she seemed thrilled by it.” - Gardener’s Diary

  Moreau still utterly believes in Miranda and seems to see her as his actual mother. Even though he is ashamed of his mutated appearance, for which she is the source of, and despite himself noting that Miranda seems to not really care about him. But the thought of her abandoning him still frightens him:

“But if Mother does then... what will happen to me?

I'm not her real child... Would she abandon me?

No! I don't want that!” - Moreau’s Diary

  The only one who does not see his powers as a gift is Heisenberg:

“We’re merely a bunch of failed Cadou experiments to her. [...]

What a joke. I’ll never forgive her for what she did to me. [...]

Miranda just didn’t change my body, she took my dignity.” - Heisenberg’s Diary

  The four monsters in the folktale, who give a gift to the girl could be a representation of Mother Miranda, handing over the Cadou to the Four Lords and with that their future powers. Each Lord’s unique power is already depicted in the form of the folktale monster. The girl in that moment, could be a stand-in of each one of the Lords, thankfully accepting the gift:

- “So, she clothed herself and smiled with joy.”

- “So, the girl ate and smiled with joy once more.”

Village of Shadows:

Then the Bat Lord appeared! He greeted her warmly and bit his own wing.

“Come, child. Quench your thirst,” he said.

So, she drank the thick, dark blood and smiled with joy.

  Yearning for Dark Shadows:

Within the darkness, cold and silent,

A voice called out to me:

“Hello, lost child, come quench your thirst and drink this pint, to bring you joy”.

  It’s interesting that the Bat Lord exactly suggests what Alcina has to do, in order to control her mutation and due to her blood disease. She needs to drink blood; the girl in the folktale does the same:

The girl also gets called “child” by the monsters, which is what Mother Miranda calls the Four Lords.

  Again, the part that stands out is the role of the Iron Steed aka Heisenberg:

Village of Shadows:

Then an Iron Steed appeared, bearing a beautiful, golden gear.

The creature said nothing as the girl approached,

and snatched what she thought was another gift.

The horse grew angry and summoned the other monsters.

  Yearning for Dark Shadows:

Warm and full, I approached an Iron Steed adorned with gold,

and I grabbed what I thought was mine.

Mine, Mine, Mine!

As explained above, the girl has gotten greedy and now assumes something that was not yet given to her, which marks the first step into her entrapment. The growing greediness of the girl could be an allusion to Mother Miranda herself. Just like the girl, she has become greedier and more selfish over time.

In her pursuit, she took in Heisenberg as another one of her children and experimented on him. His anger and hate for her stem from this trauma and is the origin of his antagonizing side towards her. Just as the girl took something from the Iron Steed without asking, and how its anger towards her is the result of her action.

The line about the Iron Steed summoning the other monsters may be interpreted as a hint to Heisenberg’s Soldats that he creates in his factory to fight against Miranda’s lycans.

Ultimately, everything leads to Miranda still not stopping there, but taking away yet another child (Rose), tearing her body apart and sealing her in jars. She abandons an entire village that was dedicated to her, and people who were loyal to her, only to get what she is truly after. She also calls Rose “her daughter” throughout the game, and even at the end she believes that Rose is Eva Reborn.

  Conclusion:

The girl and the monsters of the folktale may represent more than just one side of the story. Or they can be a metaphor for more than just one character.

Everyone’s side of the story in the game is assembled in the characters of the folktale. Together they all represent the themes of “family” and “greed”.

I am most certainly overanalyzing things, as I do not believe myself that this much thought was put into the folktale story or the song lyrics.

But who knows...

[thehollowwriter]

Some Finn and Jade fluff :)

Aquamarine

Silence reigned over Mostro Lounge. It was well past closing time, and the once bustling restaurant was now empty and lifeless.

The light shining from the glass bordering the area cast a ghostly aquamarine hue over the polished wooden tables and floor, and the leather of the couches.

The neon pink, purple and blue lights danced beautifully alongside the aquatic colours, decorating the Lounge and giving it an almost ethereal feeling.

Finn Clearcove sat on one of the couches, hat and scarf placed neatly next to him, and watched the grand array of fish swimming about just beyond the glass.

It was so nice to do this after work. Sit down, rleax, and enjoy the peace. It brought about a feeling of nostalgia, brinnging him back to old times.

Surrounded by water, the current rippling his hair, the comfort of the pressure of the depths as he moved along the ocean floor. Hiding in the seaweed, chasing crabs, helping his father hunt and prep meat to sell to the Ashengrottos... a simple, but pleasant life.

The quiet was something to savour, as things were going to get loud for his birthday tomorrow.

"Still awake, I see?" Finn jolted and snapped out of his trance at the smooth, sultry voice, spinning around to be met with the tall, shadowy figure of Jade Leech smiling at him, sharp teeth barely visible past his lips.

"J-Jade- My apologies I-" "No need to apologise~" Jade purred. "I am simply here to let you know that I will be locking up soon. It would be rather unfortunate if you were trapped in here."

"Ah..." Finn flushed. That damn eel never failed to make his heart race, even though they've recently been spending much of their time together.

"Um, thank you. Sorry, I... I get distracted by the scenery." Jade's smile widened just a fraction. Olive and gold eyes looked him up and down. "I know. I've seen you here many many times. You look so... at peace."

"Well... yes, you could say that." Finn giggled nervously. His stomach wouldn't stop doing flips. "It reminds me of home." "Ah yes." Jade hummed as he thought back to past times.

"You lived in the neighbourhood. Your father was the butcher. It's a shame, you were always so shy. We could never find you in the kelp forest." "That was kinda the plan..." Finn mumbled.

Jade watched the cookie cutter shark with keen interest. He was playing with his hands and staring at his lap with flushed cheeks.

How cute.

After a moment of thought, the moray eel had an idea.

"Come." Jade extended a gloved hand. Slender. Larger than Finn's. "I would like to show you something."

One year ago, Finn would have fled for his damn life ar such an offer, but now... now he knew Jade a little better. They were not simply peers. They were... friends. He knew Jade had no ill intentions. Towards him at least.

Finn took his hand, screaming inside at the feel of tue other's fingers linking with his own, and allowed himself to be led closer to the glass. "Look." Jade pointed, and Finn had to squint and strain his already sore, tired eyes.

He followed the direction of Jade's finger. Past the fish, past the kelp, past the rocks and the shrimp and the coral.

There.

There was a cave. And deep within the blackness of that cave was a light. An aquamarine and green light.

Finn was not unfamiliar with bioluminescence. Hell, he was bioluminescent due to a type of algae he ate. But the shape looked odd...

It took a minute or two to click.

"Are those... mushrooms?" Jade nodded, and a proud smile shone through his usual one. "Indeed. After many months of hard work, I managed to cultivate a species of mushroom that cam grow underwater. Of course, neither Azul nor Floyd would let me display them, so I hid them in that cave for me to look at." He looked at Finn with a pointed stare. "You are the only person to know about this."

Both a statement and a warning. Finn knew better than to tattle anyways. "Of course." An awkard silence followed, and he coughed. "Well... good day for the Lounge, wasn't it? Azul was very happy."

Jade nodded. "Indeed. Sales were. boosting. And your customer service was outstanding. Ah" He paused. "And speaking of customer service, I must thank you for getting that little piece of information. It helped us find the student who's been cheating the system Azul worked oh so hard to make. You're getting close to earning Employee Of The Month."

"O-Oh. That." Not quite where he expected the conversation to go, but Finn wasn't one to complain about praise. "Thank you. For such a proud student... he sure caved in easy to the forgettable bartender."

His lips curled up just a fraction, revealing his own pointed teeth, and as such his cute mask slipped. An amused, almost dangerous tone filtered into his voice. "It was quite... funny."

"Mm, I can imagine." Jade reached forward moved Finn's forest green and turquoise hair out of eyes, revealing those gorgeous aquamarine irises that glinted with slight sadistic glee.

As adorable as Finn was, one did not get into Octavinelle without the dorm traits, and the little cookie cutter shark was as sly as they come. His birthday was sure to bring more customers, since that charming nature fooled many a student.

Jade was... enraptured by this boy. He made him feel things he had never felt before. He struck chords in his heart and sent spikes through his soul.

These feelings... Jade wanted more. He wanted to experience more. He wanted to make sure they would never bore him. Which is why he was here.

"Ah, yes, before I forget." Jade handed Finn a small woden box, wrapped in a turquoise bow. "This is for your birthday tomorrow. Do not open it until you wake up. As much as I'd love for you to receive it during your party, this is something more... private." He did not elaborate further.

Finn nodded slowly. "Alright then." He held onto the box carefully and checked his watch. "Oh my! I need to get to bed! I'm sorry, goodnight, Jade!"

Watching he small mer scramble for the exit and handle the box like glass, Jade a smile. A soft, genuine smile.

Finn's eyes slowly fluttered open as sunlight filtering in through the window forced him awake. He met out a little groan and covered his face with his pillow.

It was his birthday.

He was not against birthdays, but at NRC, they unfortunately meant interacting with a person who was going to interview him and then shove a pie in his face.

Not a very pleasant experience at all.

Large crowds. Huge crowds, even. Azuk liked milking birthdays for all they were worth. Even worse, Finn was going to be the centre of attention. At least Jade-

Jade.

Just as the dread started to settle in, he remembered the box.

Finn sat up and gently took it into his hands. There was no telling what would be inside. This was Jade Leech, after all.

He delicately hooked his fingers under the lid and lifted it off, scared to even scuff it.

Finn looked into the box and let out a cry of surprise as he picked up what was inside.

A necklace.

A nautilis shell necklace to be precise.

It was the most beautiful shell Finn had ever seen.

Blues and golds of various shades decorated it, and it wasn't painted on. This seashell was real. Colourful and fully intact, it was a true rarity.

After taking a moment to process it's beauty, Finn's face exploded into a rose red as he realised what had just happened.

Thhe culture under the sea was very different to on land. And sinde Jade and Finn were from the same place, there was no possible way to view this as a misunderstanding.

The facts were as clear as day.

He had received a courting gift from Jade Leech.

..................................................................................

A/N: So yeah I hc that merfolk give jewellery/shells as gifts to show they wish to date.

Also Finn is gonna self-destruct

[bloodycassian]

LEATHERBOUND - Reader x Cassian - (I think I missed this request but I think someone req’d something similar) Reader is a librarian in Illyria when Cassian comes in asking for help finding something.

Cassian's favorite time of year in Illyria was the winter days where the sun was out. The winds were harsh enough to stun his wings, but the rays from the sun were warm enough for a perfect contrast. Not letting him freeze, but not letting him get too hot either. 

The muddiness also became packed ice instead of the mess it had been over the summer. It was still messy in the more trafficked areas, but not nearly as bad. He couldn't hide the joy that rept into his heart at the sight of so many Illyrians taking joy in the season. Small winged children threw snowballs at passerbys from a ledge. A broad winged male scared them off with a flyover. Cassian entered the small shop, the smell of dust and worn carpet whirled around him. It was comforting in a strange way. It reminded him of being a child. Innocent and curiously exploring different shops at his home.

The bell above rang in a dull tone. He looked up and saw the shotty repair job on the ringer. Not exactly as it had been when he was a child, it seemed. "Stay right there!" You called from the back, putting away the stack of books you held. They clattered into the bin loudly. The sound of rustling made him curious.

"I'm just here for-" He called, starting to step further into the room. The books lined the short walls, and the stacks in the middle looked percaiously stacked. They were organized, but the bottom of the stack seemed stained. He doubted the resources for another bookcase were available. 

"I know, just dont move. I just cleaned the carpet." You brought a towel from the front desk over and placed it beside the small outcropping of hard wood you had laid out for anyone first entering the store. "This is the last building in Illyria with carpets. I'd like to keep it that way." You said when the dark haired male gave you a pinched look. He bent and began taking off his boots. Boots that looked far too new for the likes of an Illyrian. 

Watching him do so, you noticed the two Siphons on his hands. Then the one on his knee. Your head went fuzzy. What had you done to deserve a visit from the Lord of Bloodshed? He noticed your stare and gave you a wolfish smile. You didn't flinch away from it. The wind howled at the gaps in the stone, and you cleared your throat.

"So what do you need?" You asked, crossing your hands behind your back. Ready to be of service. Hopefully he wouldn't demand too much of your small store.

"You said you knew. So you tell me." He said with a sly smile. You stammered, sweat slicking your palms. "I didnt mean- We have several ah..." You looked away, at the different categories of spellbooks and history of Prythian. Shame fell in your gut at the bottom layers of books that made the stack in the middle of the room.

"I'm looking for a cookbook. One with Illyrian recipes." He stepped to the carpet, his dark socks immaculate against the worn pattern. 

"Is the high lord a fan of home made treats?" You laughed at the odd request. Then covered your mouth, the embarrassment turned your ears red. "I'm sorry-" "No, its fine." Cassian chuckled, pulling a book off a shelf. It was of the first war, and was bound in dark leather. "He does. But the book isn't for him. The high ladies sister, actually." 

The one of hellfire and stone or the one that seemed to be a ghost? You dared not question him. "A solstice gift?" You asked, showing him over to the small cooking section you had obtained over centuries. They weren't of much use in Illyria, but the few travelers found them fascinating. 

"Yes, she's had a rough year." His voice was somber, but the hope still lingered in his eyes.

You let the words sink in. The silence wasn't uncomfortable, his presence was warm and welcoming, actually. As if he was putting off a vibe of 'I'm safe.' You handed him a complete cookbook full of basic recipes and baking. The cover was so worn the title was unreadable. Dark spots stained the inner pages, you knew because you'd borrowed the book several times. "We all have." He flicked through it for a moment, smiling. His teeth were immaculate, and a bit extra pointy on his canines. The sight of them sent a thrill through you.

"I recommend the sweet dough. It's spice free, the only thing you need for it is pine needles and sap." You flicked the pages to one you had bookmarked. The opposite side was full of different types of cakes to make with minimal ingredients. 

"I'm too familiar with it." He laughed, shaking his head. Some fond memories from long ago lingered there. He could recall the scent of the bread with full accuracy. The way it the needles would char on top of the dough if there were too many. 

"How much do I owe you?" He pinned the leather under his arm and pulled a satchel from his pocket. Your heart raced at the glimpse of so many gold coins there. 

"Ah- it'll be Twenty silvers." You said, embarrassment coating your tongue. He didnt even look like he was carrying and silver. He eyed you speculatively. "Twenty silvers for a full book?" He asked. You nodded, trying not to wring your hands. He fished a gold coin from the pouch and held it out to you. "Let me get you some change... it may take a second." You fumbled to the desk where you kept your coin inside a spellbound box. 

"Dont worry about it. I'll be back another time." He called, setting the book on the floor to pull on his shoes. "Lord Cas-" You began to protest.

"Just Cassian." He corrected, grunting as he pulled on the boots. "Call it a tab." He winked and eyed the ripped, hole filled curtains of the front window. How they swayed in the breeze that drifted in from the rocks. 

"I'll be seeing you." His eyes scanned you, and you nodded. "Be seeing you." You said back, your mouth dry. He was intimidating in the ways you'd never thought of. Not in a scary way, but in a sly way that made your heart race. The bell over his head dinged hollowly as he exited, shoving the book into his backpack. You tried not to stare as he left. 

+ The Solstice party was a success as it normally was. Nesta kept to herself in the corner with Amren while everyone else exchanged gifts. Elain's eyes lit up at the book, and she hugged Cassian with heart. "I'll be making you something tomorrow." She promised. Cassian felt the flicker of cold over him and shot Az a look. They glowered at one another. 

Rhys leveled a look at both of them that got them to straighten up. Feyre handed out mugs of hot cider. Mor brought around a bottle of liquor to mix with it. The night was warm with friends and joy. Besides the cold corner where Nesta sat. Cassian did his best to ignore it. As did everyone else. 

He was nearly the last to leave. The cider had effected him more than he thought. But it warmed his insides against the cold wind of Velaris. He wrapped his wings around himself to shield from the cold. He thought of the librarian who had given him the book. His mind drifted to the rest of that day, how Devlon had even seemed cheerful. 

He wondered if you were doing anything, if you had any family celebrating with you. If you had a mate that spoiled you. His heart kicked up at the thought of it. He hadn't noticed a ring...or any tattoos to signify a mating bond. He couldn't recall much else. He had been stunned by the beauty and simplicity of you and your shop. He couldnt remember if you had wings. 

The frustration ate at him. He had to know more. He needed to know if you had a good solstice. He made a plan. "It would be good karma" He told himself, entering one of the several shops on the way to the townhome. His excitement made it nearly impossible to sleep that night. + "Happy solstice." A voice called from the front door. You hadn't heard the bell chime. 

You rushed to the front, making sure that the carpet hadn't been ruined. The curtains whipped from the wind outside. The enormous Illyrian shut the door with a firm gentleness that made your heart race. His hands wrapped around a small wooden box. Well, it was small in his hands. 

"It's the day after solstice. Happy late solstice." You corrected, striding over to him and giving him a look about the shoes. They looked incredibly clean. "You still need to take them off." 

"I know. You need to open this first." He forced the box upon you and stooped to begin unlacing the boots.  "What-"

"Just open it." He stood and followed you to the counter. Heat flooded your cheeks, you hadn't gotten him anything. Not that you could afford it, or even knew what he would want. "Why did you get this?" You asked, trying to hide the tension in your voice.

"So you dont have to cook that sweetbread again." He said with a grin, staring at you. At how your hands delicately removed the lid from the box. Then at your stunned reaction at the waft of spices that spilled from the box. "Cassian-" You breathed, utterly speechless. 

"I have a request too...So you can't say its too much. It's for me too." He went to the shelf where he'd gotten the cookbook for Elain. "Make us these, and we'll call it even."

"Cassian... I'm not a cook. I dont bake." You laughed when he pointed at the spice cakes in the book. "Maybe ask the sister-" You pushed the box toward him, the heaviness of it screamed 'expensive' to you. Guilt marred the joy of receiving the gift.

He pushed it firmly back to you, locking eyes. He noted the way you tensed at that stare. He eased, trying to ignore the scent mixing with the smell of leather and spice. "I want you to make it, using these." He patted the top of the box. 

You debated with yourself. The male carried around more gold than you'd ever seen. And he wasn't worried about it. You figured if it was a gift then he genuinely wanted you to have it. You sighed and took the box, placing it under the shelf beside your bag. Your wings pinched at the movement. 

You ignored how his eyes lingered on your scarred members. You were used to it from some males, but never one as important and high ranking as him. He shook himself and refocused, pulling himself out of the rage he was feeling at the sight of your ruined wings. 

"Any other requests?" You sighed, feigning annoyance. His toothy grin made your stomach do flips. 

[twilit-hyrule]

So I feel bad cuz I’m pretty bad at actually drawing my ideas and uploading them... I have a bunch of doodles and concepts on my ipad that I haven’t finished yet 😅. Pokemon teams, superhero AU, some angst etc. (I have a lot of notes and stuff but comparatively few drawings).

So I decided to just upload some wing designs I have for the boys since I’ve seen some Wingfic stuff going around again! (The writing in-between is just a small info dump on which birds inspired me/what I based their wings on for anyone who is curious! So feel free to skip it or guess the birds before reading (it’s always two bird species per Link btw.)).

(I’m begging, pls ignore the akward standing pose I used for all of them. And the face markings! They look weird...)

I based Sky’s wings on a golden pheasant, and a red macaw. Felt fitting to give him red wings! And I couldn’t miss up the opportunity to add some master sword coloration with the purple and blue hues.

Four is obviously based on a hummingbird (long-tailed sylph to be more specific!), but the second bird I used as inspiration was the quetzal. It added the red underside and the long green feathers that would trail after Four (they would also be a bit longer than they are here).

Both him and Sky (and the hylians in their worlds) are very colourful compared to the others, because the bright feathers wouldn’t attract danger in their eras (the monsters were sealed away (Four) or couldn’t reach them above the clouds (Sky).

Time’s wing structure is based on owls, so he is also the most silent during flight! I wanted his wings to be gold-ish in colour so I based him on a barn owl, but I also wanted something more dangerous for him (barn owls are surprisingly small). So I added some golden eagle into the mix.

(His wings are also the most plain(?) I guess, since I had trouble imagining him with something more decorative/complicated)

I’d imagine when he turns into the feirce deity the wings grow in size and turn snow-white (like a snow owl, maybe with reflective silver instead of black markings?). Maybe grow some white peacock feathers for the tail too, he can afford to be flashy XD.

Twilight has the biggest wingspan of them all. I based him on a bearded vulture (they have the 6th biggest wingspan of all birds! Well, according to one lazy google search at least...), since I thought it fitting that he is a bird with a lot of negative stigma attached (like with his wolf transformation, vultures are rarely -if ever- considered good). They also eat bones, which also matches! And yes, their eyes are red which looks pretty damn cool.

The second bird that inspired me was the turquoise browed motmot (long tail feathers), but I’m still fighting with myself about whether I should make the feathers on the outside turquoise or not... either way I really like the sunset colours :)

For Wild I chose an osprey, I wanted a bird that mostly ate fish and lived near bodies of water because of Mipha.

...admittedly that reasoning made more sense in my head.

However! I was also inspired by magpies. Wild will absolutely pick up and keep any shiny object that he finds! Hurray for scavengers!

Eagle-ish wings! I based him on the secretary bird, it seemed extra enough for him. Though I just really like the look of those birds (really pretty!). Mixed with some major mitchell’s cockatoo for the beautiful fade from pink/light red to white.

(I’d imagine he’s low-key jealous of Sky and Four because their wings are so colourful.)

Again, like with Four, I went with the obvious choice; a seagull. Though I also sprinkled in some bluejay for the beautiful feather coloration.

Wind really likes how closely his wings match those from Warrior (since he looks up to him) both their wings have a softly fading colour on the inside and feathers darkening in layers on their backs. He just thinks it’s neat.

The first bird I looked at for Legend was the southern carmine bee eater, it has a pink-ish body and a blue/green crown of feathers on it’s head. I mean, that just screamed Legend to me.

The second bird I chose was the peregrine falcon, the fastest bird in the sky! After all, Legend is the only one of the chain to always wears his pegasus boots.

One of my personal favourite wing designs! Hyrule was mostly inspired by a starling, I wanted him to appear more... magical? And the white spots remind me of stars (well, it’s a starling). The inside of his wings is very loosely based on the great grey shrike, a slightly brutal bird, which fits well with the consensus that he lives in the grittiest Hyrule.

(They impale their live prey on on thorns for anyone who is curious.)

———

If any of them look kinda strange, it’s probably because I tried to make them all look unique. With the exception of Twilight. I wanted him to look slightly similar to both Wild and Time (main reason why I am contemplating adding some blue-ish colour). Brown and yellow/gold from time, and that dark border on the edge of his primary feathers was inspired by Wild (like Twi he is also mainly brown).

I also actively avoided making their wings green because most of them already wear green tunics, and that’s just too much.

[babbushka]

please can i have 9 from the nsfw prompts with pale please;)

2.2k, NSFW (rough sex at the dinner table, naked woman clothed man spanking, PIV, fingering, dirty talk)

The first time you sigh, Pale doesn’t think anything of it. You sighed sometimes, for lots of different reasons. Not everything had to fuckin’ mean something. It was a lovely evening, Pale was home early from work, you had the day off so he gave you some money so you could pamper yourself from head to toe, he cooked up a big delicious dinner -- if he says so himself, which he does -- and he even turned on the stereo set to play some soft music while you both ate.

The second time you sigh, Pale debates bringing it up. But then he figures nah, you’re the type of woman that says what’s on her mind. You don’t dilly dally around your opinions like some of these other broads do, trying to get their men to guess at what’s botherin’ them. No, that isn’t your style, not usually anyway.

“Alright,” He levels you a look, setting his fork down on the third time that you sigh, eventually giving into the bait and asking, “What’s the fuckin’ matter with you?”

Your eyes widen at the sharpness of his voice, and it’s then that Pale realizes maybe you didn’t know you were makin’ all them huffing puffing sounds as you pushed your dinner around your plate.

“Nothin’!” You frown, shruggin’ with one of your shoulders in that way of yours that meant something was definitely wrong. “Nothin’s the matter. It’s just...”

“Just what, c’mon, spit it out sweetheart you know I can handle it whatever it is.” Pale steels himself for something disastrous, holds his breath.

“You didn’t fuck me this morning.” You announce, sounding halfway between sad and annoyed, and if Pale had been chewing anything, he’d be choking.

“What?” He stares at you with a frown, and you shrug again, waving your hand around, sounding too much like your feelings are hurt when you explain;

“This morning. You left, without wakin’ me up, you know. Without givin’ me a good morning.”

Pale wracks his brain, because that didn’t sound right. That didn’t sound like Pale, not fuckin’ you or at the very least makin’ out with your cunt before he had to go to work. But then, oh right, he remembers that he had to leave too early, and wanted to be sweet to you for once, wanted to let you get your rest. Especially because,

“The last time I woke you up on your day off, you threatened to scratch my eyes out with your nails.” He reminds you, pointing the fork in your direction, belatedly noticing, “Which look real good by the way, I like that color.”

“Thank you I got them done before lunch, I thought I’d try somethin’ new out.” You brighten up for a moment, holding your hand out properly for him to take a good look at, before sighing again, “But you didn’t fuck me, and I’ve been thinkin’ about it all day.”

Raising your brows at him from across the table, he catches the desperation in your voice. That was the edge he had heard: you were hungry, but not for dinner.

“Oh, I see.” He pushes himself back from the table then, real slow-like.

It’s an invitation, one that you take immediately. Standing up from your chair, your hand trails along the table-cloth as you round the corner and settle yourself between his spread legs. From here, Pale can appreciate the tight, short dress you’ve got on, the gold chain around your throat, the diamonds in your ears. You look like a million’ fuckin’ bucks, and he’s hard in his pleated trousers because you’re all his.

“Do you?” You whisper, your voice gone all sultry as you bite at your lip. “Do you really? Because it’s real mean to make a girl wait all day long, especially when she looks like this.”

Tantalizingly slowly, you reach behind yourself and grasp at the little zipper that holds your dress up, tugging it down down down, the dress loosenin’ around your body and fallin’ to the floor as it goes.

“Are you asking me to fuck you stupid right here?” Pale’s gaze immediately goes to your breasts, his hands rushin’ up to give them a firm squeeze, thumbs rubbin’ circles over your nipples as they stiffen against the cool night air, “Is that it?”

“I’m not askin’.” Your eyes glint.

With one quick movement, Pale’s surging up to kiss you, hot and heavy right on your mouth, messing up your pretty lipstick, smudging and smearing it all around. And then as quickly as he’s there, he’s pulling away, turning you around and bending you over the table at a nice clean spot that doesn’t have any dishes, kickin’ your feet apart.

He doesn’t waste time shoving one of his hands between your legs, because of course you ain’t wearin’ any panties, of course not -- why would you when it’s just the two of you here in his apartment?

“Christ look at how wet you are baby, been wet for me all fuckin’ day huh? Did you touch yourself and think of me? Think of how I can do it so much better for you?” He drapes his body over you, relishes in the way your ass is already pressing against the hard line of his cock in his trousers.

Pushing his pointer and middle finger all the way up into your pussy, it’s all you can do to gasp out a moan and clutch at the tablecloth. He wishes he could watch the way his fingers disappear into you, but he’s glued to your back and biting sucking licking at your exposed shoulder, drinking in the sound of your moans and that’s good enough for now.

“Yes!” You push your hips back back back against his hand, grinding down as they crook and curl up inside you, searching for that special spot that has stars dancing behind your eyelids, “Fuck I love your fingers, you make me feel so good Pale.”

“My little slut can’t go one day without somethin’ up her cunt, ain’t that right. I’m sorry sweetheart, I shoulda known better, shoulda given you somethin’ to hold you over ‘til I came back. But I’m here now, I’ll take care of this pussy just the way you need.” With his other hand, Pale fumbles around with his belt buckle, wrenching it open so that he can yank down his zipper and fish out his cock.

“Please! It’s no fun comin’ when you ain’t here.” You moan as he slips in his ring finger too, the stretch of all three making your knees turn in, your thighs shake.

“That’s what I like to hear baby, spread your fuckin’ legs for me.” Pale grunts, and you do as he says, knowing you’ll get the best fucking of your life for it -- because that’s what every time you have sex with Pale feels like.

Barely the tip is in before you’re already having to take deep breaths, having to steady yourself and open up your hips, because of how fucking huge his cock is. You’d been together for damn near two years, and it still always came as a surprise. He rubs the head of his cock through your soaked folds, and even though he fingered you open, it’s still an effort to thrust himself in, his cock so big that if you didn’t know you could take it, you might panic.

“Shit you’re tight, damn, relax for me, one day without my dick ain’t an eternity, your pussy remembers, just relax.” He’s right there, draped over your back again, his mouth right on your ear as he coaxes you and soothes you, and he’s right, even though it doesn’t feel like it.

“It feels like an eternity! Oh fuck, yes Pale, keep goin’ please, please I want more.” You moan when your body listens, when you let your hips widen, your legs spreading even further, thighs already shaking and toes already curling as he manages to push in deep deep deep -- bottoming out with only a few more thrusts.

And then, once it’s in, Pale’s pulling out -- thrusting back into you so hard that the sound of your moan is swallowed by the scrape of the table against the floor, as he builds up a brutal rhythm that has you holding on for dear life, your mouth dropped open from pleasure.

“Got you trained for my cock don’t I? Ruined you for everythin’ else, just my girl. Goddamn you’re beautiful. You know I don’t get to see your back all that fuckin’ often?” With his fingers pulled out of your pussy, Pale keeps one hand on your hip to steady you, and slaps your ass hard with the other one, the sound of sweaty skin smacking together going straight to his cock.

“Yeah ‘cause I’m always layin’ on it.” You laugh brightly, the tail end of it dissolving into a throaty moan that has Pale sweating in his fuckin’ dress shirt, has him biting down against your shoulder, marking you up.

“When’s the last time I told you you’re perfect?” He grunts as he thrusts into you hard hard hard, fast and steady, his cock pulling out and then slamming right back in, slapping your ass again so hard that you’re keening, that you’re shouting out his name.

“Pale! Tell me again anyway -- oh! Oh right there, fuck, oh my god!” Your shoulders jolt and shiver, because he’s found the spot his fingers had missed, and he’s got to press you back down onto the table when you try and snap up from the surprise of it.

“That’s it baby feel how deep I am inside of you, I’ll treat you right, make you come so hard.” Pale pets back your hair as he grinds his cock into your pussy, his dick hard and throbbing inside the tight clutch of your velvety walls.

You’re getting fucked so hard that your feet are barely on the floor anymore, legs kicking up from the sheer overwhelming sensation of being so full.

“Yes!” You moan, clenching and squeezing around him, wanting to give as good as you get, “Yesyesyes, more Pale, harder I can take it.”

“That’s fuckin’ right you can, my best girl, fuck, fuck you’re so good on my cock, I could live here, right inside this pretty pussy that’s all for me, feelin’ you come again and again. You want that? Want to be my little cockwarmin’ slut forever?” He grunts, punctuating his sentences with slaps to your ass, licking up your cheeks where tears have spilled over, your chest heaving against the table, begging for more.

“Yes!” You keep pushing back against him, chasing the feeling, hot pleasure coiling up inside your stomach, rising on the edge of tipping over, you’re so close, just a little more, that’s all you’ll need -- and Pale knows it.

“Gonna come all over me?” He asks, but it’s more of a plea, and he kisses at your throat as he fucks you through your tears.

“Y-yes!” Your body is pinching up then, and you’re hiccuping around a moan, and your pussy throbs and pulses around him as you shout, “Oh fuckfuckfuck -- !”

“Attagirl.” Pale doesn’t let up even as you come, even as the slick drips down your thighs, soaks into his trousers. The hand that’s resting on your hip reaches around and toys with your swollen clit, making you whine out his name, “That’s okay baby keep sayin’ my name, let the neighbors know who’s treatin’ you right.”

“Pale...! Pale oh -- oh I’m --!” You shudder again, whole body goin’ through it, as pleasure crashes through you hard, hard enough to pull Pale over the edge too, and he presses you against the table a little more forcefully under the weight of his own body going limp on top of you.

After a moment, when you’ve both had the chance to catch your breath, he blindly reaches behind him until his hand manages to grasp his chair, and then he’s sitting back down onto it, taking you with him.

You look like a fucking mess, completely glassy-eyed and smiling like the cat that got the damn cream, and Pale doesn’t want you anywhere or anyway else all night, saying as much, “You better just sit here for the rest of the night.”

“Oh yeah?” You giggle, love drunk in the best way, your bones like jello.

“Yeah, it’s safer here.” He kisses your cheek, wishes he had a cigarette to light up. He could go get one from his jacket pocket, but then he’d have to get up, and there’s no fucking way he’s doing that.

“Okay. But my dinner’s over there.” You protest, settling firmly on his cock that’s still hard, still pumping you full of his load.

“Yeah well, shoulda fuckin’ thought about that before you decided to go and be a brat.” Pale sighs, making you lightly swat at his chest. “Alright alright alright, you can have some of mine.”

Brightening up at that, you reach for his fork that had gotten all jostled in the meanwhile, and reach out to pluck something off his plate, being nice enough to let him have the first bite, before eating the rest.

“And then when we’re done eatin’, I’ll fuck you again. Ya know, for good measure.” Pale licks across his teeth, making you grin, because as far as you’re concerned, he’s got a whole day to make up for.

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

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

Tagging some Pale loving friends!

[courtofcravings]

Another you (1)

Context: In which you get stuck on a planet and have to save kirk, whichhe admits feelings for you and ya both land in the Med Bay.

Warning: Some blood, needles, minor injuries. mild choking

Feb 2nd/21

I always find it funny that my go-to thing is to have the reader afraid of needles, but I myself am actually trained to give vaccines and take blood.

This was also my first Kirk x reader in a long time// It’s hard to write flirty confident characters because it is the exact opposite of who I am, yet it’s the personality i love in my men and women so xoxo

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

Dr. McCoy was again trying to coerce you down to the Med Bay; he really thought offering to get the Captain involved would change anything. “I’m telling you right now, Y/N, you can’t go on your away mission without your immunizations for this planet. Have you have heard of the Quazulu VIII Virus, no? That’s because there is a vaccine for it!”  

“Dr. McCoy, It will be a quick up and down to the planet to grab some specimens; I won’t stay for diplomatic reasons like the rest of the party is.” You justified to him. You had almost finished packing everything you needed from the research ward before your ship’s chief medical examiner ambushed you.

“As a scientist, I’d figure you would be one of the most appreciative of vaccines.” He replied, helping you collect tubes from the drawer beside him. “Ah contrary, as a scientist, I am well aware of how dirty hospitals and MedBays are.” The doctors face contorted,

“You do realize you are going on an away mission, on a un sterile planet. There is a risk of injury; are you just not going to receive first aid if something goes wrong on the planet?” He’s not wrong, and you knew it. You just hated needles. They grossed you out.

“I won’t get hurt then,” You confidently stated, which earned a scoff from the young doctor.

“What if I bring the vaccines to your research lab? And gave them to you here?” You admitted that wasn’t a bad compromise. The Med Bay gave you more of a bad feeling than needles do. You always found that most people you had to bring to the Medbay or hospital didn’t always come out. You just couldn’t shake the feeling of dread when you go in.

“Fine.”

“You remind me so much of Jim.” He said while pulling out the vaccines. He had the vaccines here!? He already knew I wouldn’t agree to go to the Med Bay and thought ahead. You really have left an impression on the doctor.

“Who? And you really knew I’d say yes?” Referring to the cooler filled with the vaccinations. “Ah, you see, they are not just for you,” He said. Taking one of the two doses you needed into one of his hands and pinch “Done.”

Oh, that wasn’t horrible.

The doors swooshed opened behind you, but you couldn’t open your eyes, knowing there was another needle coming. “Bones, you called me here?” Immediately recognizing that voice as Captain Kirk

“You Actually Told The Captain On Me!?” You stood up to look accusingly at Dr. McCoy. He only shrugged his shoulders, looking between the two of you. “You need to get your inoculations, Jim; why don’t you explain to Y/N here how important it is to get them before an away trip,” He said while getting another dose ready. “You do have a lot of experience of finding out the hard way.”

You met the captain’s eyes, so blue. “Captain,” You correctly addressed him, “Y/N, will you be coming tonight?” He asked, his voice so alluring. 

“I will, sir,” He smiled at you, taking a seat. “So, Bones here is giving you trouble?” He grabbed your backpack, taking a glance inside at what you were going to bring. It reminded you of a kid who couldn’t sit still.

“Bones?”

“Do not call me that,” Dr. McCoy said fast. pinch “Ouch, I wasn’t ready for that one!” You growled, rubbing your arm, earning a small laugh from the captain sitting across from you. You watched Dr. McCoy draw up his last dose for you and started to feel sick to your stomach.

“Captain, I believe you were explaining to Y/N how important the vaccines are,” He asked the Captain. Funny, it’s not often that Dr. McCoy will address the Captain formally like that. You think Captain Kirk noticed as well as he looked caught off guard.

“Well, as your Captain, I have to inform you that it is mandatory, and Starfleet regulations to get your vaccines before the away mission. Otherwise, you can compromise the health of my crew,” He said professionally. Looking at bones with a thumbs up.

You couldn’t help but get distracted by his deep blue eyes while he talked more about it. You were not really paying much attention to his words. “All done,” Dr. McCoy said, cleaning up his tray of discarded utensils. You were so distracted by the captain you didn’t feel that last pinch.

You pulled your blue shirt back down to entirely go over your arm, “Well, if that is everything, I should be preparing for the away mission,” The captain said, dismissing himself.

“No, No, No, Jim.” Dr. McCoy stood up fast, grabbing the Captain by his arm before he could get out of his chair. “You just lectured Y/N on the importance of inoculations; I do believe it is your turn,” You figured that was why the doctor brought those extra doses. This was his plan all along.

“For the well being of the crew and all,” You spoke up, paraphrasing his own words. Dr. McCoy let out an agreeable laugh, while the captain just sat there, defeated.

“Alright, alright, just make it fast,” The captain lifted his shirt enough to sneak his left arm out. Your first instinct, of course, was to look around the room at literally anything else.

“I was just telling Y/N how alike you both are; I mean, she’s basically another you,” Dr. McCoy said. You couldn’t help but scoff at this, you and the captain having something in common? Sure, but you being basically like him? Definitely not.

“What gave it away? Was it the height? We are pretty close in height,” The captain responded, a playful smile on his handsome face.

“Maybe, It is our common interest in specialties on the ship? You know, being captain and being a biomedical engineer are very similar jobs.” You asked, teasing the doctor. He only responded with a sigh and poked the Captain with the needle, making him jolt.

“You know Y/N; I think he might be right. I am certain he was referring to our matching taste in clothing.” The Starfleet uniform being all match except for the colours. Where scientists wore grey or blue, the captains wore gold. Gold was definitely his colour.

“Nope, he is definitely talking about our boobs; they are just so alike,” You said, a giggle ripped from the captain, making him move back slightly.

“Dammit, Jim, stay still.” He said, giving the last dose to the Captain, then turning back to look at you, “You know you’re both just proving my point,”

“Well, then that’s just double the fun for you, Bones,” The captain said. He was taking his leave before the Doctor comes up with more to poke him with. After two years on this ship, bugging Dr. McCoy never got old.

“I couldn’t imagine being stuck on an away trip with the two of you,” Dr. McCoy said while grabbing his bag. “Hey, Bones, that’s kinda hurtful,” You responded, using the nickname the Captain used with him.

“Dammit, Jim,” Bones muttered under his breath, leaving to go track down more officers before the away trip.

-----

The trip mission for you was supposed to be simple: collect some plant samples with specific regenerative properties. This would help in your designs of tissue regeneration equipment you worked on in the lab aboard the enterprise with Dr. McCoy.

Unfortunately for you, It seemed something went wrong, you’re assuming with the diplomatic party that came down with you. You only took fifth-teen minutes to gather enough samples to fill your small bag, but when you used your comm to contact the ship, no one responded.

As a matter-of-fact, no one on the mission on the planet was answering either. You hoped they hadn’t forgotten you on this planet and left, unlikely, but still a thought. You didn’t remember where exactly the other group got transported to, and it was still a debate whether you should leave the last known location they had of you, but it was getting dark.

You needed shelter and possibly a fire. It was far too cold on this planet for you to stay extended out in the elements. So you started walking, with no means to defend yourself and no map of the jungle-like terrain. You couldn’t help but think bones may have been right about laughing at you confidently declaring nothing will go wrong.

“Y/N to enterprise,” You repeated every few seconds, waiting for any response as you trudged through the thicker bushes. Soon it was dark and cold. You could barely see anything, and it was getting too dangerous to walk around.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw the faintest light. Maybe it was your crew? You thought about following it, but you also thought of that fish that used a light on its head to lure its prey back on earth. Maybe you are about to be angler fish food; You don’t think they make vaccines to prevent that.

Maybe it is called “not being stupid and walking toward the scary lingering light.”

But where else was there to go. So, against your better instinct, you started walking towards it. Although, the closer you got, you figured out it was a fire and not some carnivorous fish. Picking up the speed and getting closer, you could clearly hear voices. Thank goodness

You have always been told you had two left feet for a reason, so of course, before you could enter the camp, you tripped and ate dirt. Getting up on your knees, you backed up slowly. You seemed to have cut your arm open on something, possibly a branch, when you fell. Great, now you’d have to admit to bones he was right.

Captain Kirk and the rest of the diplomatic crew were tied up, surrounded by another species. It seemed someone- a woman was attempting to speak to them in their language.

They didn’t seem to be responding to her in the same kind tone. Every so often, she’d stop and talk to the captain, translating for him, you figured. Maybe some sort of negotiations or clearing up a misunderstanding, but it did not seem to be going in our favor.

You lowered yourself deeper in the bushes and looked around the camp. There didn’t seem to be any device blocking the signal you could spot, so why wouldn’t the comms work, you wondered. You did, however, find Starfleet-issued phasers, more phasers than you had men. You suppose this meant you guys were not the only Starfleet officers caught by this group.

You watched as the conversation turned sour, and one of the species took what looked like a long fork and put it through the captain’s leg. Yup, This is definitely not good. The same one who stabbed the captain untied the translator and the two other men, walking them out into the forest in the other direction, to where you had no idea. This left Captain Kirk alone, guarded by two others.

You ever so slowly made your way around the camp to the phasers, laying on a flat table with other confiscated items. Your arm was not letting up pain-wise or blood wise, but you knew it wouldn’t matter much if you couldn’t make it off the planet. Grabbing one phaser at a time, you managed four.

Although taking a look at them, you realized you were way in way over your head. Too far in over your head. Getting stranded on a planet with a lacerated arm was fine; watching your crewmates get tied up and minorly stabbed was fine because you could have helped. There was a solution in sight, but now?

Looking down at the phaser, you had no recognition on how to use it; you were now too far in over your head. Starfleet trained you on a basic low power phaser; the highest setting was three. This phaser had so many buttons, far too many than necessary, you thought.

Taking a deep breath, you put two phasers in your bag and slowly made your way behind to where Captain Kirk was tied up and bleeding. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to untie the Captain, you watched the two guards pace around the camp, talking. You needed a distraction, but what could you possibly do?

You snuck up to the Captain silently, but you knew there wasn’t enough time to do too much before they’d glance in your direction. Grabbing the Captain on the shoulder reassuringly, “Don’t make a sound,” The last thing you wanted was for him to be surprised by you sneaking upon him and startle the guards. “I have no idea how to use this, so I really hope you can move and are not completely out of it from blood loss!” You whispered urgently, putting a phaser in his still tied up hands.

“Y/N?” The captain whispered, “Don’t do anything stupid,” You loved his esteemed confidence in you.

“I don’t have enough time to finish untying this knot,” It was so close to coming undone, but you heard one of the guards pacing this way, so you left. You watched the captain look around, but you were hiding in the bushes already. He started to loosen his hands subtly.

Now time for your distraction. You walked around the campsite again, furthering yourself from the captain. “Hey!” You screamed at the guards, hopefully taking the guard’s attention of the captain. “Hey!” You shouted again at them, waving your arms in the air with one phaser in your hand. The guards started slowly approaching you; however, you hadn’t really thought this far.

“Okay, I know you can’t understand me,” You pointed the phaser directly at them, “But I know you understand this, and I...I don’t want to hurt you! So don’t come any farther!” You yelled pointlessly as they kept on approaching you, towering over you. Up close, in front of the light from their fire, you could clearly see their leathery skin, their large muscular frames, and very large weapons in hand.

“Hey, I mean it!” You said, waving the phaser at the one to your left. They were approaching faster with no sign of stopping until they were in front of you. One put their hands on your throat, your feet dangling in the air as he started to choke you. You knew they could crush your throat in a second if they chose to but instead decided to apply pressure slowly.

A loud sound echoed in your ears; It definitely belonged to a phaser. The guard let you go, both of you falling to the ground. And you couldn’t stop the intense coughing fit that erupted from you, your body trying to get as much air in as it could. Distantly you heard the second guard fall to the ground. A hand was on your back as you coughed, “Are you okay?” It was the captain.

After catching your breath, you stood up, looking at the captain. He was standing beside you, phaser in hand, with blood rushing down his leg. “You’re the one with the stab wound,” You responded hoarsely, slightly concerned. “This is nothing,” You reached under his arm so he could support his weight more onto you, “Let me help, sit down over here and let’s tie something around your leg,” He let his weight fall on you slightly. To be honest, you probably would not be able to carry all his weight, especially since your arm was starting to throb.

Sitting him down, you reached into your bag, looking for anything you could use as a makeshift tourniquet. Thankfully, you packed a mini first aid kit. Yes, it was extremely small, holding only a few items; you knew it had a small roll of gauze in it. He let out a laugh when he saw you pull out the little red box. “Laugh all you want, but this could potentially help save your life,” You said seriously.

“That’s not why I am laughing,” You looked up at him curiously, waiting for him to continue his explanation. “I’m sorry, but.” You wrapped a long strand of gauze around his leg, pulling and twisting, as you were taught. “I have this deep, stab wound, and you pull out the smallest first aid kit that I have ever seen in my life,” You took an alcohol swab and wiped his wound gently, cleaning it as well as you could.

“I find it extremely funny that when I looked into your bag this morning and saw it, I thought it was cute, you would bring it,” You looked around to see what dressing you had, not a lot. “I thought it was cute you’d bring a small little first aid kit when we have an on-hand medic come with us.” You ripped his pants just slightly so you start dressing it, “And now you are providing first aid to me with it, in the field, I don’t know I just find that funny” He finished looking down at what you were doing before deciding maybe watching isn’t the best idea.

“I don’t know if I should pack dressing around… this fork thing, or if I should take out the object and dress you properly.” You leaned back on your legs and looked up at him.

“Leaving it in would be safest because I can’t be sure if it hit an artery or not, and you’d bleed out.” You paused, letting him take in the information, “On the other side if I don’t take it out and we have to move fast, it could potentially do more damage.”

“Take it out; we need to get moving to find Uhura, Sulu, and Montgomery.” You were slightly nervous about doing this; killing your captain does not look good on a resume. You opened the dressing packages, ready to work fast. The tourniquet should have stopped any bleeding; you should be safe to pull it, you hoped.

And with one fluid motion and no warning for the Captain, you pulled it out, throwing it to the ground. You placed one hand on the wound to keep pressure and reached for the dressings. The groans of pain were agonizing to hear come from him; however, you knew you had to keep going and get the wound bandaged up. You had wished the small kit had medication or pain relievers of any kind to help him, something you’d need to remind yourself to add for next time.

“I am so sorry; I know that must have been pretty painful for you.” You said sincerely. It was over, but he was still breathing hard, reeling over the pain. He reached toward you, leaning forward, and rested his head on your shoulder. You put a hand on his head and brushed his hair with your fingers, staying like that for a few minutes, peacefully.

“Your arm, there is blood on the sleeve,” He said, grabbing your arm to inspect it; however, you pulled it away, “I scratched it on a branch, it hurts but it’s not bleeding anymore. Besides, I used all the dressing on you- being the more urgent injury.”

“We need to move; they might have heard me.” You helped him stand, and he continued to use you for support. “It’s so dark. I have no idea how or where we’d find everyone.” He reached into his pocket and grabbed a phaser, “They went to their nest. It should be north; there is a map of the terrain on the phaser we can follow,” And with that, he pressed a button of the phaser, which also turned on a flashlight. “Captain, do you think you are in any shape to fight? I was surprised you were able to stand up long enough to take down those two guards.”

“I am fine. I can fight, don’t worry about me.”

“Which, by the way, thank you for saving me back there,” You had never been that close to dying before. “Y/N, it is me who should be thanking you. Without you, I am fairly sure I would have bled to death tied up at that camp.”

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

Part 2

I enjoyed writing it so I hope yall liked it

[methoxyethane]

“Gather up all of the crew, it's time to ship out Bink's brew, sea wind blows, to where, who knows? The waves will be our guide…

“O'er across the ocean's tide, rays of sunshine far and wide, birds they sing of cheerful things, in circles passing by…”

Lance followed the sound of singing all the way to the beach. The sea shanty was farmilair in words, but the normally cheerful song was being sung in a slow minor key, turning it into something soft and beautiful to the ear.

“Bid farewell to weaver's town, say so long to port renowned. Sing a song, it won't be long, before we're casting off...”

Normally Lance wouldn’t feel any urge to randomly follow anyone’s voice to an unknown location, but there was something about this one that was… compelling. Alluring, even, and though Lance’s senses were on high alert and warning him of imminent danger, he couldn’t seem to stop his body from following the sound of that seductive voice all the way to the rocky ends of the shore.

When he finally arrived at the source of that enticing song, he saw someone sitting on a rock, half in and half out of the water. Long black hair spilled down their back like ink, and at the sound of footsteps approaching in the sand they turned around, revealing the most stunning pair of violet eyes Lance had ever laid his gaze on.

It took a second to even notice that it was a man, so caught up was Lance in the stranger’s beauty. But of course it was a man, he had the low beautiful voice that only a man would reasonably have, but Lance had been too bewitched by the song to even think of noticing that fact.

The stranger locked eyes with Lance, and slowly smiled. “Cross the gold and silver seas, the salty spray puts us at ease~” He continued to sing, and Lance, not sure why, found himself stepping closer still. “Day and night to our delight, the voyage never ends…”

It was, he realized as he rounded the rock to face the beauty he’d followed, a mermaid. That should have also been obvious much earlier, like, as in when he noticed the stranger was shirtless and sitting in the water, but. Well, Lance could be forgiven for not figuring it out until he saw the smooth shiny red tail leading down into the ocean.

“Yohohoho, yoho hoho… Yohohoho, yoho hoho…” The merman sang, locking eyes with Lance and smiling. Lance moved closer still, within reach of the beautiful creature, who was slowly reaching out a hand to Lance.

Lance put his hand in the merman’s, eyes never straying from that lovely violet gaze for even a moment. He was drawn closer still, close enough to be a breath away from the merman’s face, close enough to kiss…

And then the merman grinned, toothy and razor-sharp, and Lance had half a second to think “Whoops,” to himself before the merman was tilting his head and sinking his teeth directly into Lance’s neck.

He had jerked back in time to prevent any arteries from being hit, but not fast enough to prevent being bitten. Fortunately for him, that didn’t last long - after just a moment the merman - no, the siren’s eyes were blowing wide, and he reeled back, releasing Lance’s throat and spitting his blood into the water like he’d just tasted something rancid.

“What the fuck?” The siren coughed, glaring at Lance like he was the one who’d done something offensive. “What is that, why do you taste so... wrong?”

Lance stumbled back a few steps, clutching at his already-healing bitten neck. “What the fuck, dude! You just tried to EAT me!”

“Of course I did, that’s what sirens DO!” The siren defended hotly, still glaring daggers at Lance. “I’ve been singing here for two days waiting to lure someone in, I finally catch someone and you’re completely inedible! What is wrong with you that I can’t eat you, you freak?”

Lance bristled like an enraged cat, having heard the word ‘freak’ thrown in his direction many, many times in his life. “Well forgive me for only being half human! Maybe YOU’RE the freak for trying to eat a Fae to begin with!”

“Fae? Goddamn you and your cursed blood, too! Useless!” They were interrupted by the sound of the siren’s stomach growling, low and loud.

Then his words registered to Lance, and he asked, “Wait. You haven’t eaten in two days?”

The siren gestured out to the ocean, which was, on this part of the sea, enclosed by rocks on most sides and a low beach on the other. “It’s low tide. I’ve been stuck here for three days, and I already ate the few fish that were dumb enoguh to get caught in this spot with me.”

Lance looked out over the waters. “You can’t just climb over the rocks?”

The siren glared at him, turning back towards the ocean again. “That’s not your business,” he hissed, but instead of hiding his left arm he only brought attention to it’s mangled state.

Lance stepped forward again, turning the siren around by the shoulder to get a look at his left arm. It looked broken in at least one place and probably hurt like a bitch, and Lance winced in sympathy at the sight of it.

The siren jerked back out of Lance’s grip, slipping into the water and out of reach.

“Wait!” Lance called, wading into the water. “Let me help you,” he pleaded. “I can help you, I promise. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I just tried to EAT you,” the siren reminded him.

“Yeah, which means you owe me for the bite you just tried to take out of my neck. Now hold still and let me see your arm.”

The siren eyed Lance warily, but the water wasn’t deep enough for him to be able to swim out of Lance’s range and they both knew it. Hesitantly, but not welcomingly, he allowed Lance to wade close enough to see his arm, which looked like it had been bashed against the rocks and snapped in two places when he’d been washed onto this shallow beach.

“What happened to you?” Lance asked, activating the little magic his blood awarded him with to begin to ease the swelling and close the bloodied gashes on the siren’s arm.

Violet eyes widened as the siren watched, and more likely felt, the healing magic start to do its work. “I was chased here,” was all he said in reply, and honestly Lance could guess the rest. These shores were not friendly to those who were less than human.

“The bone isn’t going to heal unless I set it back into place. Will you let me do that?”

The siren glared at him, pouty bottom lip jutting out in displeasure, but after a moment he nodded.

“This is going to hurt,” Lance warned, feeling out where the three separate halves of his broken arm were so he’d know what direction he needed to realign them into.

Having figured out what he needed to do, Lance gave the siren no warning. With two quick movements he snapped the bone shards back into place, causing the siren’s pained hiss to turn into a yelp of surprised agony, reeling back and clutching at the arm Lance had just relocated.

“I’m not done yet,” Lance said carefully, beckoning the siren to come back towards him. “I have to heal the bone or you’ll never get out of here in one piece.”

The siren hissed at him again, but after a few moments of hiding in the water, he eventually swam back to Lance to offer his arm one more time.

Lance’s healing magic was not strong, so it took long minutes of the siren’s pained laboured breaths before the bones were knit back into place. Unfortunately for both of them, Lance couldn’t even finish the job before his magic was completely depleted, and he could help no more.

He let go of the siren’s arm, stepping away back towards the shore. “That’s as much as I can do for now. It won’t be enough for you to scale those rocks yet, but…”

Warily, the siren asked, “But what?”

“If you’ll let me, I’ll come back tomorrow and try and finish healing it. And… Maybe I can bring you some fish, too. So you don’t starve in the meantime.”

The siren still looked like Lance had two heads, and he wasn’t sure which one to trust. “And why would you do that for me? Why would you do any of this for me?”

Lance shrugged, and smiled. “Maybe because you’re cute? But probably… Probably because us freaks have to stick together, right?”

The siren sank down into the ocean again, only his eyes visible over the water.

“I’m Lance, by the way.” Lance finally offered, just as he was turning to wade back to shore. “I’ll see you again tomorrow?”

The siren popped his head up out of the water just long enough to utter one word. “Keith,” he said, almost too quietly to hear.

Lance grinned. “I’ll see you tomorrow… Keith.”

Keith ducked back under the water again, but not in time for Lance to miss the slight flush that reddened his cheeks at the sound of his name rolling off of Lance’s tongue.

Huh. So much for sirens being cold-blooded.

—

[platypanthewriter]

Lilies of the Valley

This one’s for you @mourntheantagonist​!  And @cherrydreamer​, thanks so much for the loan of your name!

Harringrove April Prompt day 30: Lilies of the Valley!  Neil had opinions about Billy's mom, and Billy's mom's makeup, and Billy.  What he thought doesn't matter anymore, but Billy's still a little worried about bringing it all up to Steve.  GNC Billy.

When Billy was five, he’d tried on his mom’s gold pumps and her rainbowy nail polish, and she’d laughed and spread her arms for him to stumble into.  “Hey, glitter-bug,” she said, kissing his head all over until he giggled, trying to protect his neck from her attack.  “How’s the prettiest boy in town?” she whispered, blowing raspberries down his chest and stomach, and then finally letting him up once he was giggling so hard he couldn’t breathe.  

She’d let him sit on her fancy vanity stool, spinning him now and then so they could see how he looked from different angles in the three mirrors.  “Oh no,” she whispered, her eyes very wide.  “I thought you were prettiest from this side, but every new side is prettier!  How is it, sir, being the prettiest,” she asked, offering him an imaginary microphone.

He beamed into her face, and cleared his throat.  “You’re the prettiest,” he told her, his eyes big with anticipation, and sure enough, she yelled and scooped him up, dumping him on the bed and cuddling him until they’d both laughed so hard their lungs hurt.  

“You are,” she whispered.  “I made the prettiest boy in the world.”

“You’re the prettiest girl,” he said loyally, and that time she kissed his nose.  “Anyway,” he whispered, “—you have…” he trailed off, reaching up to touch the sparkling powders over her eyes, and the bright greasy red on her lips.

She drew a shaky breath, pushing herself up, and glancing towards the door.  “...do you want to play with my makeup, baby?” she asked, and he sat up too, springing upright so fast they nearly clonked heads.

“Can we?” he asked, keeping his voice low, like hers, but nearly vibrating with excitement.

She bit her lips together, tucking some of his curls behind his ear.  “You know how there are some things we keep secret from Daddy, sweetie?”

Billy squirmed around to face her, nodding, and folding his hands like a grownup.  “Like when you kiss Mrs. Sally,” he whispered, then, belatedly, cupped his hands over his mouth.  

“Like that,” she told him, nodding.  “If I’d kept kissing Sally, he might have found out, and not let me see my lil’ glitterbug anymore.”

“I won’t tell,” Billy said, shaking his head, his heart pounding with the weight of adult responsibilities.  

“I know you won’t,” she told him, smiling, but she looked sad.  “But I can’t do anything that might make Daddy take you away, can I?”

Billy shook his head, wondering, as always, why his mom had married someone who didn’t like either of them very much.  He kind of wanted to ask, but she reached out and held his face, squishing his cheeks together like a fish, and he batted at her hands.  

“Makeup is like that,” she told him, and he frowned, trying to understand.  “If I put makeup on you, Daddy will be very angry,” she told him.  “So we have to wash it off before he gets home, and keep it a secret, just like me kissing Sally, right?”

It didn’t make a lot of sense, because Billy had seen his dad fussing with his hair, and his ties, and he knew his dad wanted to be pretty too—but maybe, he thought, his dad was mad because he was jealous, and that kind of fit.  He nodded seriously, licking his lips, as he wondered what the lipstick would feel like.

It felt weird and sticky, but it looked beautiful, and he gasped as he opened his eyes in the mirror, leaning closer to touch the mirror, and then touching his lips.  

“You’ll smear it,” his mom said, smiling, and Billy yanked his hand back into his lap.  He closed his eyes and felt the shiny powders brushing over them, his mom’s warm hand steadying his chin.  Very slowly, so as not to jar her efforts, he kicked his feet in happiness.

“There,” she said,” rubbing her thumb along his eyebrow, and squinting into his face.  “You’re adorable, honey.  Your mamma did so good.”  She spun him to look in the mirror again, and he stared as she kissed his cheek, and then redid his lipstick, because he couldn’t stop chewing at it, fascinated.  “Other mommies would be so jealous of my lil’ glitterbug,” she whispered.

An hour before his dad got home, she popped him in the bath, leaning in to scrub his face gently, and he sighed to see it go.  

“We’ll play again, sweetie,” she told him, kissing his forehead.

That night Billy’s dad clicked his tongue at her bright red lipstick, and went and got the Bible.  He made them stand, listening, while their dinner got cold.  

“‘Therefore I say unto you,’” he read, “‘Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.’  What do you suppose that means, Billy?”

Billy watched his mom shut her eyes, swallowing, and he tried to think, to get it right, but he never understood the Bible.  He told his mother once that he thought they should have somebody write it all down that talked normal, and she laughed for the whole afternoon, and then told him that was another thing to not tell his dad.

“I thought that school was teaching him to read, and now he can’t even understand language,” his dad said, and Billy’s mom flinched.  

“It means we should think about god more than looking pretty,” Billy’s mom said dully, and Billy watched her, and then his dad, wondering why he’d even wanted to marry her, because she was beautiful and funny and perfect, and Billy’s dad even got mad over things like the neighbor’s Christmas lights.

She didn’t wear the bright colors, after that.

 Years later, Steve was driving back from picking up burgers, and Billy shoved a handful of fries in his mouth, and slurped his soda.

“You ever miss fucking a chick,” he said, weirdly flat.

“Uh,” said Steve, who hadn’t.  “...um.  Uh, d’you?” he asked, warily, and Billy shrugged, unwrapping his burger.  He took a huge bite, grunting appreciatively, and Steve tried to think of what to say.  “What...are you missing,” he asked, slowly, and Billy smirked over.  

“Nothing big, don’t flip your shit,” he said, taking another bite of burger, and staring out at the passing scenery, as Steve tried not to shake him, or bite his lip, or look like he was flipping his shit.

“...what is this,” Steve asked, finally, clenching his hands on the steering wheel.  “You cheating on me?!”

“No,” Billy said quickly.

“You want to?  You wanna break up?!  Where the fuck is this going, Hargrove?!” Steve hissed at him, and Billy sighed, letting his head thunk into the window.  

“No, fuck you, I don’t want...any of that,” he sighed.  “Calm your tits, Harringt—”

“Fuck you,” Steve spat back.  “If you’re fucking bored—”

“No!  I didn’t mean that!” Billy shot back, throwing a french fry at him, and Steve grabbed it and ate it, chewing with his mouth open, and his teeth bared.  “Fuck you,” Billy sighed.  “I just asked you a question, don’t get all pissed.”  He sighed again, lowering the burger to his lap, and frowning past it.  “I just wondered.”

Steve had kinda relaxed, waking every morning and seeing Billy sprawled next to him, his hair in his open, snoring mouth, and he’d forgotten he was Steve Harrington, the guy people left.  “Fuck,” he whispered.

“I just meant the—they’re soft,” Billy said, glancing over, and then back down, his jaw working.  

“You’re saying I need to get fat?” Steve asked dryly, through his teeth, as he pulled into the garage.

“No!” Billy shoved him against the door of the car.  “Forget it.”

“Not likely,” Steve muttered.  Billy shouldered past him into the house, and then ignored him until Steve went to bed, and Steve laid up in their bed alone.  He didn’t cry much, but the couple tears that escaped went right in his ear, and he was tempted to just...go down and throw every porn cassette he’d ever owned at Billy’s head.

 The next morning he got up and made bacon and eggs—he was hungry, even if Billy was being an asshole—and Billy came in and helped himself.  

Billy’s eyes were swollen and red, and Steve didn’t know what to do with that—he’d never broken up with anybody he really liked, he thought, dully.  Maybe it was hard.  “Sorry for trying to have a conversation,” Billy hissed, and walked off, and Steve slid his plate of food aside, suddenly not hungry.  

After a few minutes, Billy stomped back in.  “What, you gonna stay out of rooms I’m in now—” he started, snarling, and then he stopped, and probably took stock of Steve’s head in his arms on the counter, and his breakfast getting cold.  Steve jerked his head up, rubbing his face.  “Fuck,” Billy muttered, grabbing Steve around the waist, and turning him enough to kiss.  “I don’t…” he said, softly, biting his lip.  “I don’t want somebody else.  Don’t be a fucking dumbass, jesus, of course I don’t want someone else—”

“How the hell should I know?!” Steve hissed back, but relaxing, a little, into the kisses.  “You just said you missed fucking women.  I’m not one, if you missed that—”

“I didn’t say that,” Billy told him, taking Steve’s hands.  “I asked if you missed it.  Stroking your hands up here,” he breathed against Steve’s lips, and slid Steve’s palms up where Billy’s sides were shirtless and smooth under his denim jacket.  “Feeling something...elastic, maybe,” he whispered between open-mouthed kisses, and lifted Steve’s hands up farther, to stroke over his nipples.  “Something silky.”

It felt like the conversation had taken a sharp tilt, and Steve felt like the marble in a little maze, trying to avoid dropping through the holes.  “...on you,” he whispered back, to be sure, trying to imagine it.  

Billy was perfect already, he wanted to say, from the little softness over the waistband of his jeans where he’d stopped working out so hard, once he was away from his dad, to stretched pink scars that reminded Steve there were more places to kiss.  But Billy was already withdrawing again, his shoulders hunching as he smirked, and Steve tried a “Keep talking.”

His hands were abruptly fuller of Billy as he leaned in, shoving Steve back against the counter.  “I gotta keep things fresh, right,” he whispered.  “Make sure you still want what I got.  Maybe…”  Steve waited as Billy searched his face, biting his lips, and then took a shaky breath.  “Maybe dress up...a little,” he mumbled, losing momentum, and Steve hurried, feeling the need to catch some fragile part of Billy before it smashed.

“You wanna dress up for me?” he asked, making sure to grin, because it honestly sounded weird, but Billy wanted to—and Steve didn’t really give a shit about flowers, either, but even if they gave him hayfever, he knew to be happy when somebody picked him out a present.  At least, he thought, whatever Billy was talking about was unlikely to make him sneeze.  

Billy’s smirk went a little smaller as he flushed, and he laughed, shaking a little.  “If—if you want,” he said fast, grinning tensely.  “If you...if that…” he muttered, looking a little shiny-eyed, and Steve slid his hands around the soft, scarred skin of Billy’s back, and down toward the swell of his ass.  “Imagine something bright down there,” Billy whispered, breathing against Steve’s jaw.  “You could snap the elastic, pull me over.”

That sounded like Billy Hargrove wanted to wear lace panties, and Steve fought back an instinctive snigger, squeezing him closer, and trying to think of something to say, something that wasn’t “You’d make duct tape hot, babe,” or “Y’know we could not do that, and just fuck,” or anything else that made it seem like Billy’d asked him about something weird as hell, and important to Billy, and Steve hadn’t even listened.  “Yeah,” Steve whispered, not sure what was required.  “Sounds hot,” he said lamely, but Billy relaxed against him.

“Yeah,” he whispered, nodding, and laughing, and stroking his fingers through Steve’s hair so clumsily he almost poked Steve in the eye.  “Yeah, yes, it’ll—it’ll be good, you’ll like it,” he whispered against Steve’s lips.

 The next day Billy disappeared after school, and came home squirming and pink-cheeked.  He wandered up like nothing was going on, resting his chin on Steve’s shoulder, and Steve turned and drew him in.  Billy had his jacket buttoned, for once, and a flushed smirk, and Steve unbuttoned it from the bottom, sliding his fingers up over what felt like soft, elasticy cotton.  It was a clingy little camisole thing, he realized, nearly a tanktop, nearly unisex, but the satin edging around the top, the thin straps, and the bright red put it squarely in the women’s section.  

Billy laughed nervously.  “It’s not even that pretty,” he said, glancing at Steve’s face, and then baring his teeth a little into the distance.  “Fuck, this was dumb, in this little hick town, I couldn’t even find anything—”

It was stretched out across Billy’s chest, not the shape it expected to fit, and his nipples showed around the straps, the soft fabric clinging to his skin.  “No,” Steve whispered, sliding his hands over ropy satin straps, and Billy’s skin.  He ran a finger along the strap and down, his nail catching on Billy’s chest, so he shivered.  “No, it’s—it’s really...pretty, Billy,” Steve breathed, and Billy reddened like Steve had never seen before, his smile widening into a beaming grin.

“They’re just cotton,” Billy whispered, “—but they were red, at least—” 

Steve smoothed his hands over the soft fabric.  He slid his fingers down the back of Billy’s jeans, and felt—yep, he thought, grinning as he felt Billy laugh, another thin elastic edge that definitely wasn’t Fruit-of-the-Looms.  “Just cotton,” Billy whispered again, sighing.  

Steve had bought lingerie before, but he’d never really thought about it for Billy—or even Nancy, who was too ticklish for lace, and liked the spontaneity of showing up and pushing Steve onto his back on the couch more than she wanted to set anything up with candles and rose petals.  He felt a little guilty, though, seeing Billy squirming around, panting a little, his dick hard as a rock in plain cotton briefs, red or otherwise.  “So you…” Steve started, and then stopped, uncertain what he was trying to say.  

“What,” Billy bit out, glaring up at him, which looked...less than intimidating, in what looked like underwear for a kid, or somebody’s mom.  Steve ran his fingers along the line Billy’s dick made in the panties, fascinated, and it twitched.  Billy jerked his knee up, grinning, his freckles fading into his blush.  “Quit it,” he said.  “You’ll make me mess ‘em up.”

“...you like being...pretty,” Steve said, and Billy twitched, pulling his knees up and together.  “No, don’t, uh, don’t pillbug up,” Steve told him, leaning in to hug his boyfriend’s knees.  “Um, how...how pretty?  What...what kinds of…”

“The hell d’you mean how pretty,” Billy growled, warily, and Steve bent his head, pressing a kiss to Billy’s tanned knee.

“You just...want pretty clothes?” he asked, as Billy took a shaky breath.  “I just—I mean, you were talking about...girls.  You want like…” Steve ran his thumb over Billy’s tense, curled toes.  “You want I should paint these?”

“God, will you?” Billy asked, pushing himself up as he yanked Steve into a kiss,  knocking them both off-balance so Steve landed on top of Billy in his soft, elastic cotton, and Billy groaned.

“Yeah, I’ll paint ‘em,” Steve whispered, kissing Billy’s hot face.  “Don’t...really think you can get much prettier,” he said, feeling Billy’s cheek grin under his lips, “—but I’ll help.  I might have something upstairs.”

“The hell would you have,” Billy snorted.

Steve felt indignant for a second, then kind of dumb as he shot back “I could wear nail polish, you don’t fucking know,” before he registered that it probably hadn’t actually been an insult, and he started to feel his ears go red.  He cleared his throat.  “...uh, no, though.  I don’t.  But my mom.  There’s some of her stuff up there.”

“Oh,” Billy said, sitting up.  “You...you’d let me use your mom’s stuff?”

“Why not,” Steve shrugged, pulling him up.  “Maybe she’s got some nylons or something.”

“Holy shit,” Billy whispered, but he grabbed Steve’s arm, pulling him back around.  “You don’t think she’d...she’d think it’s gross, right,” he asked, still smirking a little, like he was trying to keep it up.  “She wouldn’t want some dude wearing her nylons.”

“You’re not some dude,” Steve said, rolling his eyes, “—and if she’s so damn precious about ‘em she can buy some more, come on.”  He drug Billy upstairs—Billy was very manhandleable, in bare feet and a sheer cotton underwear set, and Steve tried not to think about the difference it made—and pushed Billy down to sit on his parents’ chintz duvet cover.  He dug through her drawers, and found some nylons, and brought them over.  Billy laughed, wide-eyed, and Steve reached down and grabbed his foot, thinking.  “...y’know what,” he said, “—Mom used to do all this stuff to her feet, and I bet it kept her damn nylons from running.”

“...you saying I should go get a pedicure?” Billy snorted, and Steve shook his head, squeezing his boyfriend’s toes.  

“Nah.  Lemme see what she’s got, we can figure this out,” he mumbled, pulling out drawers.  “Can’t be that hard.”

“...you gonna give me a pedicure,” Billy muttered, like he didn’t know whether it was a question or not, and Steve was about to roll his eyes when he finally found the right drawer. 

“Oho,” he said, grinning over his shoulder.  “The mother lode.  Come look at the colors.  I mean, they’re mostly kind of pink, but there’s some reds.”

The bed creaked as Billy got up and came over, and his breath hitched.  He reached towards the lipsticks, and then jerked his hand back, and Steve grabbed the reddest one, and leaned to kiss him, softly, opening the lid.  Billy closed his eyes, panting a little, and Steve kissed him again, because Billy’d probably wanna sprawl around looking pretty for a while without anybody smearing it, once he had lipstick on.  

“Open your mouth, babe,” Steve said, and Billy did.  Steve could feel the pulse pounding in the skin under his fingers, but he just brushed the tip over the corner of Billy’s mouth, narrowing his eyes intently.  

Billy licked the tip of the lipstick, and Steve hissed at him, hsht! like Billy was a little kid, or a cat.  “I can’t do this if you eat it,” he pointed out, and Billy laughed.

“It tastes the same,” he said, softly.  

“...you eat it a lot?” Steve asked, realizing he had mouth open in concentration, and his tongue licking his teeth in the direction he was rubbing the lipstick on.  He bit his lips together, smiling in embarrassment.  

“I used to,” Billy said, letting Steve turn his head left and then right, and smiling.  “Mom would dress me up.”

Steve paused for a second, at that, his hand on the lipstick stilling, and then he started again.  “Dunno if I’ll do as good a job,” he said, and Billy laughed again, swallowing hard.  “...maybe I’ll get better with practice,” Steve told him, and Billy grinned, yanking him in for a hard kiss.  “Who-mmmph,” Steve protested, then leaned into it, feeling Billy sigh contentedly, and hum.  

When Steve pulled back, his dick went half-hard just for the way Billy looked, leaning back against the side of the bed in his soft red underwear set, his eyes closed, his grin smeared and lazy.  The red stood out, shiny and rich, and Steve wished—silently, to himself—that lipstick ever tasted even a tenth as good as it looked.  “...jesus, that’s nice,” he said.

“I’m the prettiest, right,” Billy whispered, and a couple tears leaked from under his closed eyelashes.  He sniffled as Steve lifted and turned his chin to fix his lipstick.  “Shut up,” he said hoarsely, even thought Steve hadn’t said a word.

“...just thinking you look gorgeous,” Steve told him.  “You look so pretty, babe.”

“...’life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment’,” Billy said, snorting a laugh, and Steve said “...what?”

“It’s a bible thing,” Billy said, his eyes widening as Steve pulled out a tray of eyeshadows, and held them up to Billy’s face, squinting.  

Steve squinted, decided the green would make Billy look like he had a weird Christmasy disease with the lipstick, and pulled out the other one, pinks and golds.  

“...it means you should worry more about following god’s word than dressing up like a slut,” Billy said, quirking his mouth.  “‘Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.’  Like, God makes you like he wants, you shouldn’t...change it.  Try and...look...different.”  Billy sighed.  “He used to make us say it whenever we asked for new clothes.  I told him I might as well go to school naked, then.”

“I don’t remember the part in the bible where Jesus called people sluts,” Steve said, leaning in to kiss Billy’s cheek, and then concentrating on brushing gold over his eyelids.  

“Just be as nature made you, y’know, don’t...try to be...what you’re not,” Billy said, smirking.  “He never found out I wanted to wear lace panties.”

“Good,” Steve told his boyfriend, then whispered “God,” as he sat back.  “...Billy, god made you a lily.”

“What?!” Billy laughed, scrambling up to go look in the bathroom mirror.  He was quiet for a long minute, and Steve got up and followed, grimacing.

“I’ll get better with the little brushes,” he said, leaning through the door, but Billy was just making kissy faces at himself, entranced.  

“I’m the prettiest boy in the world,” he breathed, and Steve bit back a laugh.  “Come here.”  Steve wandered over to slide his arms around Billy’s waist from behind, and kiss his neck.  “...you like it, right,” Billy asked, and Steve nodded, squeezing him.  

“Come on,” he said, “Lemme do your toenails.”

“Jesus,” Billy said, giggling, kinda, his eyes shiny, and Steve just held him there, letting him look.

 The next day, Billy changed the oil in his car, his nails and lips red, and his face smeared with engine grease when Steve pulled him out from under the car for a kiss.  While he was tinkering, Steve drove clear to the Indianapolis Victoria’s Secret.  “I’m dating an Olympic swimmer,” he told them, having practiced the lie.  “She’s got no tits and these big shoulders, and she’s hotter than anyone else in the world, can you help me out?”

My other Harringrove prompts are here!

[thebountyfucker]

The Royal Affair - Cad

Don't read this without reading the first part!!

Part 1

18+ ONLY - NSFW

Cad Bane x AFAB!Reader (gender-neutral, though reader does wear a skirt.) Tags/CW: power imbalance, claiming, dirty talk, sex as payment, collaring, everything is consensual but Cad is a bit forceful

Here's a link to my masterpost Want to be tagged in upcoming fics like this? Here's the link to my taglist application!

Your gaze followed Prince Cad for most of the rest of the night. He wandered around the venue, making small talk with Lady Sing or Lord Jango. He seemed less inclined to stay with his family unit than some, you noted, and appeared to be most comfortable when conversing with others. He nursed a few glasses of whiskey, but never pushed too far into drunkenness. Though you were sure he’d deny it, he was a royal, and as such, he had appearances to maintain.

Your gazes met many times during the night; at first, his gaze was strictly chaste, but as the night continued on, his gaze became more and more licentious, as if he couldn’t wait to get you alone. A chill ran down your spine, and you couldn’t quite tell if you were nervous or aroused by the prospect.

Toward the end of your shift, you made your way toward him; Cad was leaned against the wall, joking with Lord Jango about something. His gaze met yours and a wide, fanged grin spread across his face.

“Well, well, well… look who it is.” He pushed off the wall to stand straight. “Made up yer mind?”

“Yeah… I want to come with you.” You answered, and he hooked his thumbs into the pockets on his suit coat.

“Good choice. Ya would’ve regretted goin’ wit’ Em.” He replied, glancing up toward the departing Kyuzan clan. Prince Embo offered you a small nod, as if honoring the decision you made. You turned back toward Cad, who had fished around in his coat pocket for a cig. “Come wit’ me.”

There were no other pleasantries as he led you out of the meeting hall toward the adjacent Azvergin Hotel; the hotel, which catered exclusively to billionaires and royalty, was largely a mystery to you. You either had to be staff to said clientele, or a member of these groups in order to be let inside. Rumor had it that one could rent an entire floor, long term, for fifty million credits! You’d never see that kind of money in your life, but you supposed that it was like spare change to the Prince at your side.

He led you inside, through the rigorous security detail which awaited you. The guards hardly regarded you, and you figured that this may be a common occurrence with the Prince. They took your fingerprints and ran a background check - when it came up clean, they allowed you through. Then, Cad led you into the lift and up 15 floors to what you assumed was his family’s floor.

The entire ride was silent, but he kept looking at you, as if he couldn’t figure out what he was going to do with you. This made you a bit nervous, only because you weren’t entirely sure if he was to be trusted. Some girls from your work told you that the Prince would lay claim to his favorite servants and mark them with collars. You briefly wondered if this would be your future too.

Cad offered you a smirk as the doors parted and he led you out into the hallway. The walls were white, with intricate gold crown mouldings; doors lined the hallway, each with carved tags denoting who stayed where. Two guards stood at attention at each door, and servants - mostly women, of varying species - bustled about. Each and every person you passed bowed for their prince, and Cad ate it up. He gripped the chin of one of the servant girls, and leaned down to kiss her straight on the lips. She swooned.

Cad turned back toward you, and gestured toward a nearby door with his head. “Dis is my room. You can stay wit’ me. Dat is, unless you want to sleep in de servants’ quarters.”

“I suppose I can stay with you… if that’s alright.”

“Sure, sure.” He nodded, and the guards pushed open the door for you both; Cad stepped in first, and you followed closely behind.

The room was cavernous - larger than your entire apartment, you wagered - and designed with royalty in mind. The walls were pristine white with gold filigree, and spanned higher than you thought possible. He had chairs gathered in one corner, near a small bookcase. Not far from that was a fireplace, which had seemed to burn real wood, which was hard to find on Coruscant.

On the other side of the door was a wardrobe - it was a modest size for a prince, which was about twice as large as your own closet. And near that was his bed. It was massive, with bedposts at each corner and silver silk sheets. His comforter was pulled back, and you swore you could see restraints bolted to the frame.

Perhaps the rumors about him weren’t exaggerated…

“Should I… leave and get my stuff?” You inquired, standing in the middle of the room awkwardly. Cad glanced over at you as he pulled his suit coat off.

“Whaddya need?”

“Clothes, toiletries.. You know, the basics.” You watched as he tossed the coat on the floor haphazardly, before he went about unbuttoning his black shirt.

“I’ll call de servants fer ya. Dey’ll fetch your things.” He replied, nonchalant. He tossed his shirt atop his suit coat, and sat on the edge of his bed to pull off his shoes. He glanced over at you. “You got a starin’ problem?”

“N-no!” You replied, casting your glance to the floor. He chuckled and sauntered over to where you stood. He took a step toward you, pushing up against you; you took a step back, not sure if this was intentional. He took another step toward you, and then another, until you were trapped up against the wall. He reached out, cupping your chin and tilting it up so you could look him in the eyes.

“Dere ain’t no need to be shy, doll. I ain’t gonna hurt ya.”

“How can I be so sure?” You replied, your voice shaking. Heat pooled in your core, and his ravenous gaze only intensified the sensation.

“If I wanted t’ hurt ya… I would have done it already.” He brushed his thumb over your bottom lip, and it trembled in response. His gaze trailed toward your tantalizing tits. “I think I found yer ‘price’.”

“Oh?” You squeaked, surprised by how easily he could sway you.

“Why don’ we getchu out of dese clothes, and you can show me why it was worth it t’ take ya in?”

“I-.” Your body screamed ‘yes’, but your sensibilities told you that this all seemed to be happening so quickly. But you weren’t sure he’d care if you told him this. He was a Prince, after all. You were sure he was used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted. “S-something tells me you really weren’t trying to save me from the King.”

“Yer a smart one.” He drawled, a dark, hungry look in his eyes. You could smell the whiskey and tabac on his breath as he pressed closer to you. “How else would I get you to come with me?”

That tracked, you noted with a frown. Your life was ostensibly in danger, and this spoiled, entitled Prince used that to get you in his bed. You pushed him off and walked away, but he was not so easily deterred.

“Yer safe, ain’tcha?” He wasn’t wrong. Being with him meant you were safe from the King… but were you safe with Prince Cad? You crossed your arms over your chest and sat down in one of the chairs in the room. Cad followed you over to the chair, but he did not sit beside you. “Don’t be a brat.”

“I’ll be what I want.” You replied, your pussy pulsing to remind you that you were still aroused. You cursed under your breath, but figured that maybe you could make a game of this. You were scorned, sure, but you wouldn’t pass up a chance to sleep with the Prince.

“Is dat so? Do ya need to be tamed? Is dat it?” He crossed his arms over his chest and quirked a browridge. “I’ve dealth wit’ many brats. Ya ain’t special.”

“I don’t like being lied to.” You explained to him, and his expression soured. “If you just wanted to fuck me, you could have told me that.”

“Yeah. Like dat would’ve worked.” He rolled his eyes.

“It would have! I was having a shit day and I would have loved to let off some steam!” You told him, and Cad sat on the arm of the chair next to yours. A small smirk grew on your face as you held his gaze. “You want to fuck me? Hm? You can start by telling me you’re sorry.”

He pursed his lips and turned his head. “Ain’t happenin’.”

“That’s a shame. I guess this cunt of mine is off-limits.” You pointedly closed your legs, and anger flashed in his eyes. You could practically see him trying to work his way out of this and still get what he wanted. But you wouldn’t budge and you could tell that he knew this. It took him twenty minutes before he was able to form the words.

“I… I’m sorry.” He growled through gritted teeth.

“Good. You should be.”

There was silence for a moment, and you figured Cad was sulking because of the apology. Before you could react, he got up and thrust his knee between your legs. You gasped softly as he pressed his thigh to your aching cunt.

“Now listen here… I don’ like dat attitude of yers. Yer in my home - ya don’t get to order me around. Got it?” He leaned forward, boxing you in against the chair. You tried to fight it, but you found yourself grinding your cunt against his leg. He hissed in response. “No sass now? Nexxu got yer tongue?”

“I got… I got what I wanted already.” You told him.

“Words are cheap, doll. You know I didn’t mean it.” He grabbed your chin and tipped your head back, before leaning down to press a kiss to your lips. It was forceful and needy, and you had to fight against pushing him away and digging in deeper. Your cunt throbbed again, and wetness seeped into your panties. You whimpered, and Cad chuckled. “Yer a little whore, ain’t ya? Despite all yer whining, ya still want me.”

He eased away, moving to finish undressing. “Get up and get naked. I wanna see dis cunt of yers.”

“M-make me.” You replied, your voice wavering with lust. He cocked a browridge and pulled you up to stand; he ripped your shirt off, and rucked the skirt down over your ass. You were nearly bare in front of him, and his ravenous gaze on your body made warmth well in your belly. He pulled down your panties, watching with interest as webs of slick stretched between your cunt and the cloth.

“Yer droolin’ fer me, doll. Filthy whore. Do ya want my cock?” He inquired, and you slowly nodded at this. He dragged you to his bed and tossed you onto it. “Show me yer cunt, doll.”

He took a step back, watching as you casually spread your legs open and then parted your labia with your fingers; Cad watched, his hungry gaze scouring over your soaked cunt. He drew in close, his knobby finger slipping inside of you. “Yer wet fer me, ain’tcha? Mmm… so wet and tight.”

You moaned, your head lolling back onto his impossibly soft comforter; your legs spread wider of their own accord, as if anticipating that he would insert his body between them sooner rather than later. You rocked your hips, aiming to drive his finger deeper within. He chuckled.

“Yer just beggin’ fer my cock at dis point… all I need is t’ hear it. Beg fer me.” “Oh Prince…. Oh Prince!” You whined, gripping his sheets tightly. He retracted his finger and drew aimlessly on your stomach with your slick. “Please, I need your cock! Please!”

“I wanna hear my name on yer lips. You know it, don’tcha?”

“Cad… Please….” You begged, lifting your hips to present your cunt to him, trying to tell him that you so desperately needed him to fill the void. He smirked at this presentation, and drew two fingers between your folds.

“Yer cute… I’ll give ya dat.” His fingers danced up and down the slit of your cunt teasingly. You whimpered, wriggling your hips closer. First, he was bitching at you about not giving in, and now he was the one dragging his feet? Entitled prick! “Most of my lays would offer t’ sell me deir families at dis point… just to get my cock.”

“Stupid.” You muttered, and he pressed a thumb to your clit.

“My favorites get special treatment. T’ dem, it’s a good trade.” He smirked as he slowly rubbed circles on your clit. Your body tensed, and your vision went spotty. “Besides, what use is a family t’ dem if dey’re here with me?”

Your toes curled as he dipped his finger into your cunt, only going in to the first knuckle. He rubbed around the entrance as he played with your clit. Stupid, entitled Prince! Fuck, you wanted him so bad...

“Now… what would you offer t’ me t’ get my cock? Hm?” He inquired as he eased his finger in a little further. “Do ya even have anythin’ of worth? You peasants usually don’t.”

“Hey!” You squeaked as he shoved the rest of his finger into you. Another slipped in soon after, and your whole body began to shake.

“Tell me, doll… what would you give to have my cock?”

“Nothing.” You replied as he thrust his fingers in and out of you. You whimpered, grinding your hips against his hand. The heat in your belly threatened to spill over, and your cunt tightened around his fingers. He was quick to remove his fingers from you.

“Ya don’t get t’ cum until ya tell me what you’d give me.”

You panicked, trying to find something, anything, of worth to give him. He wasn’t wrong about you not having much of worth; you worked a mediocre job making decent pay. You didn’t have much in the way of family, and even if you did, you would never offer them to him. This was ridiculous but you were also desperate. In the moment, all you could say was:

“Me! You can have me!”

Cad paused, quirking a browridge at this; a slow, devious smirk spread across his face and he leaned down.

“Is dat so?” He was mere inches away as his slick-covered hand slid down your stomach. “You want to be mine?”

“If - if that means you’ll fuck me… yes!” You cried out, aching and yearning. Satisfied with your answer, he angled his hips and pressed his cock into your cunt. His cock was searingly hot inside you, and filled you up sufficiently; every inch he plunged into you drove you closer and closer to an orgasm. The moment he bottomed out, you came, your body shaking as sparks of electric pleasure shot through you. Your back arched toward him, and Cad wrapped an arm around you, holding you to his chest.

He slowly rocked into your spasming pussy, moaning at the way you desperately milked him for his cum. He would not give so easily, however. He picked up his pace, a high-pitched whine escaping your lips; the ridges of his cock massaged all the sensitive parts of your cunt, and you had to stop yourself from begging for more.

“Ya feel good, doll.” Cad grunted as he thrusted harder into you. You could only whimper in response, your hands gripping your breasts tightly. “My cock feels good, don’t it?”

“Yessss.” You cried out, your toes curling as your orgasm loomed once more. You laid your head back on his bed, closing your eyes to bask in the sensations. He raked his fingers up and down your thighs, which quivered at the touch. There was only so much more you could take before the building tension snapped and you came again.

“Say my name.”

“Cad!”

“Say it louder! Let de whole place know who ya belong t’!” He roared, digging his fingers into the meat of your thighs to the point where you were certain they would bruise. A wail rose from deep in your chest.

“CAD!” You yelled out, arching your back and thrashing about as the sensations became unbearable. You were so close! So close! Your cunt tightened around Cad’s cock and he let out a groan at the sensation.

“Ya gonna cum fer me again? Ya gonna cum, lil’ slut?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” You cried, bucking your hips up against his, grasping at any additional pleasure you could get. Cad’s pace was growing erratic, and you knew that he wouldn’t be too far behind you.

“Cum fer me! Cum!” Cad commanded, pressing his thumb to your clit. Your vision went dark as your body when stiff; fluids shot out of you, soaking Cad, as waves of euphoria washed over your body. Through the haze of pleasure, you could feel Cad biting down on your shoulder, puncturing your skin, as he shot his cum deep inside you. Your cunt milked him for all he was worth.

When you came back to your head, Cad was lapping at the blood which leaked from your wound. He pulled out when he realized that you had come to, and went to find a rag so you could clean up. He returned with a towel, and gestured to your throbbing cunt.

“Go on.”

You cleaned up, as you were directed, while Cad strutted around his room. He returned to you with a collar in hand, and you quirked a brow. “For me?”

“Yeah. Ya did give yerself t’ me.” He reminded you.

“I did, didn’t I?” You managed a smile and leaned forward, presenting your neck to him. He clasped the collar around it, and stroked your cheek.

“Dere you are. All pretty.”

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas]

If requests are still open, I have a somewhat angsty one.

You’ve established that Kohga has a fear of commitment. There’s been speculation in the fandom that Kohga is immortal, or at least much longer lived than most humans. Could his fear of commitment derive, at least partly, from the fact that any partners he has will almost certainly die long before him? It’s likely Kohga has already suffered the loss of at least one beloved partner. How would Kohga and Sooga go about discussing this issue?

I. Feel SO DUMB. That I haven't made this connection before??? You right, let's fucking, do something with this???

"Ooh, what about these?"

"Oh those ARE lovely!"

Mipha and Kohga were planning Mipha's big day. As such, jewelry was needed. Mipha had the head pieces ready, but she wanted something more intricate to add onto it. It was a charming Gerudo jewelry store, and they were just having a grand ol' time.

"Sooga, should we do gold or silver? Sooga?"

Kohga turned to look for Sooga, who was right there, looking at wedding rings. Of course. Kohga was going to scold him, but there was...a longing in his eyes. Something that hurt him, and tearing him away from the rings would only deepen the cut. Sooga caught his gaze however, and moved away, joining them once more.

"Apologies. I'd do silver, but I am quite the traditionalist, so."

"Hmmm...silver it is!"

Mipha was too distracted by the idea of her own wedding to see Sooga's strife. But Kohga could see it a mile away. He didn't want to. But he knew.

He had to tell him the truth.

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

"Here you are, Master."

Mipha had long since gone home with Sidon, excited for more planning. Meanwhile, Kohga decided to spend just a bit more time out here, right on the tree above Rhoam hill. Sooga had picked up lunch for them both (fish on rice for Sooga, pork dumplings for Kohga), before sitting down next to his Master. Kohga opened the box, starting to pick at his food. It looked good, but knowing he was going to tell him now was...a lot for him to digest. Sooga ate slowly, as if it'd be rude to eat much faster. He knew something was wrong.

"Master? Is something troubling you?"

"....Sooga. I saw you looking at the rings."

"I apologize. I was in my own world, I didn't mean to-"

Kohga held his finger up to silence him. Kohga took a deep breath.

"I'm not scolding you. I...I just. It reminded me that I've kinda been lying to you. For a while now."

Sooga looked confused, and rightfully so. Kohgs took a deep breath, before exhaling.

"I...I've never been totally against getting married. Because...well. I've been married once before."

Sooga gawked in pure disbelief, and Kohga couldn't blame him.

"You...you were MARRIED?! You said you've only ever had boyfriends or flings-"

"I lied. I'm sorry. I'm a lying liar pants. I was married before. Cil knows about it, but I made him keep it a secret, till the day he died."

There was a silence between them. Nothing but the leaves rustling under the wind's strength. Sooga broke it, speaking, but not looking at Kohga.

"What...was he like?"

"He...was kinda like you. Not as big nor as pretty, but he cared for me. He loved me, he'd do anything for me. He was a long term friend outside of the clan. Dad didn't like it, but we got married in secret. We fell in love right on this hill, actually. I remember it was where we first met, we first kissed...it's a spot that means a lot to me, as stupid as it is."

Another silence. Kohga knew he wasn't taking this well, nor poorly. He was still absolutely fucked by this information, he needed to let him take it at his own pace. He pushed some rice into his mouth. Not out of hunger, but the need to just. Do SOMETHING as he thought.

"What...happened to him?"

"....he died. Sooga, I outlived him. I outlived...a lot of people in my life. My first husband, my mom, my dad, even my great uncle. I outlive a lot of my partners and I'm worried that if I marry you...it's gonna hurt when I outlive you. It hurt the first time, I don't think I can do it again."

Sooga thought about it still. Kohga was getting worried now, Sooga wasn't one to absent-mindedly eat like this. Kohga watched as he fiddled with the rice, processing it all.

"He was. A very lucky man, to have been wed to you."

"...you don't sound upset."

"I'm...sad. Sad that you had to go through that, and I had no idea. Master Kohga, I love you more than words can express. For you to feel pain or sorrow, for a moment, is agony to my soul. I'm sorry you went through something like this. I want to marry you, of course. But not if it ultimately hurts you."

Kohga sighed, slipping his hand onto Sooga's. So big, and firm, just like his was.

"You sound like him. And just like him, you're gonna keep trying to lock me down, aren't you?"

"Well, it's certainly worth a try."

Sooga chuckled, leaning in to bump his mask against his.

"But...I would like the lies to end. You need not lie to me. I accept all that you are."

"Alright, deal. No more lies from here on."

"....your father didn't like him. Would he have liked me?"

"Pfft- in a HEARTBEAT. You're as dumb and as loyal as they come. Hell, HE'D be pressuring me to ask you if his ass was still alive."

Sooga chuckled. There was still something in between them because of this, they could feel it. But through Sooga's swords of devotion, it was nothing he couldn't cut through. It was nothing that he wouldn't go through, for his Master.

For his love.

[asexualzoro]

list of reasons i find Brook ridiculous

for brook’s birthday, ive decided to follow up my other two posts of this genre by dragging yet another idiot swordsman. i have everybrook open on my phone next to me. here we go

- first and foremost his most ridiculous crime is existing. as he’s already so ridiculous as a character, im going to talk only about things hes done

- i want to know, did Brook make a conscious effort to change his laugh to sound like his favorite song? how long did it take? what was the in between period like? what did his crew have to say about this? the rumbar pirates were big on playful teasing, did they let Brook live this down? 

- ALTERNATIVELY: was brook’s laugh already like that? is that why bink’s sake is his favorite song? is that why it was York’s favorite-- oh we only made it two bullet points before i made myself sad

- relatedly i cannot make fun of anything Brook did in his backstory it will make me too sad. hes spared for now

- i DO want to say from a writing standpoint its so fucking ridiculous to me that he mentions twice being a convoy captain in the past and it never comes up again. oda?? why even bother to include something that cool if you weren't even going to do anything with it?? you could have said hes just always been a pirate but no. oda?? oda

- there was that bit where a bunch of people thought Brook was satan and addressed him as such (i think Satan-sama in the original, and the translation i read was like... Lord Satan or Lord Demon or something). not only did Brook never correct them, but he also ran with it and later used this case of mistaken identity as a reason to threaten to eat a man’s heart 

- also both men and women were showing him their underwear in that bit. bi rights

- those satanists let Brook get kidnapped while saying they would try to summon him back. do you think they're still at it

- Brook is older than... basically every old man in the series. Garp, Whitebeard, Rayleigh... all of them. something about that is so weird to me and i cannot place why

- Brook has seen and can prove the existence of an afterlife in One Piece canon and its then never addressed again

- Brook missed so many huge events while being dead. im looking at a timeline rn and these include the obvious, like, roger’s execution and subsequent effect on in-world culture and society and whatever. but also things like the destruction of ohara (which was in his home sea), the founding of the world power known as the revolutionary army (which was about 20yrs ago), and the births of every other member of his crew. wack

- he seems to know about stuff related to the pirate king post time skip, and i wonder if thats because someone told him or he’s just playing along now. maybe he just thinks Luffy made up the term pirate king cuz it sounds cool and he wants to support his captain’s interests

- if he DID ask though, like, who did he ask? his managers? did he pull aside some fan asking for an autograph at a concert like “hey, you look like a knowledgable young lad, mind helping me out?”

- i would love to be there when someone takes the time to explain roger, the pirate king, raffle, the One Piece.... and Brook asks them “what is the One Piece?”.... and someone has to look him in the eye (...or not) and tell him “i don't know” 

- Brook has technically died of fright (his soul left his body), like... at least once? it was luffy’s fault

- Brook was an urban legend on the florian triangle and i doubt he even knows that about himself

- when they're heading to fishmen island Brook gets all scared when they encounter a possible ghost ship and Usopp slaps him

- when captured by big mom he sleeps so godamn soundly and securely that he is harder to wake up than she is and this fact nearly gets a bunch of his crew killed

- Brook is the only character i can think of who has ever broken the fourth wall. he only did it once. maybe seeing the afterlife means he now knows hes in a manga. or maybe being isolated for 50 years just made his head be not screwed on right

- speaking of, there’s a bit in WCI at the wedding where Brook is decapitated. i don't know how it goes in the anime, but in the manga like... no one is shown to have decapitated him. his head just pops off. maybe he was just having fun

- also the bit where he rips the fake face off in wci. when someone calls him gross he cries

- there’s a bit in fishmen island where Brook is trying to ask Nami if he can see her panties (disgusting bastard) and he inadvertently protects her from being dehydrated by some guy they were fighting. except the panel setup reminds me a lot of / mimics ace protecting Luffy from Akainu, and it haunts me

- speaking of bits from fishmen island that haunt me, there's a page where it’s strongly implied Brook fucked a mermaid (maybe two). i will of course include the page here

- yeah. sorry. 

- when Brook first meets the strawhats he invites himself inside because “it’s cold out!” but he later admits in punk hazard that he cant feel cold. he was just lying

- no one introduces himself to Brook except Luffy for the entirety of thriller bark

- half related, Franky cradles Brook in his arms / carries Brook around for like a full scene in thriller bark 

- there's a link two second bit in film gold where the crew is just relaxing while they're planning for how they're going to get Zoro back and they're all shown eating burgers from pirate mcdonalds or whatever. and Brook is eating a burger and hes so messy that hes got burger on his forehead, and Franky is next to him just looking at him

- Brook also wears fake skin in that movie

- Brook has a running gag where he gets upset when things refuse to eat him and i was going to make a joke about it but im wondering if maybe hes just afraid of being left behind........ made myself sad again

- he cries when a dragon won't eat him tho

- Brook admits to reading monster hentai when talking to Sanji and Kin’emon and if i have to be burdened with knowing that so do you

- when hes trying to figure out the weakness of the zombies on thriller bark he overhears one ate a salted fish and lost its shadow and immediately assumes “oh, must have been the fish!” idiot man

- where does his sword cane go when hes not using it. it just appears. where does he store it

- there's a bit where the strawhats all use a combo attack at thriller bark and the first step is firing an electrically charged Brook in a slingshot through oars/oz. he ends up in a wall and no one ever pulls him out. i don't even think the manga shows how he got down

- enemies post time skip regularly assume Brook is dead when they manage to knock the crew out and it makes me wonder how popular of a rock star Brook actually was

- Brook goes on a mini rant to no one while they're descending to fisherman island where he wonders aloud how he sees without eyes and it makes me lose it

- this isn't Brook technically but Nekomamushi is based on a song Brook’s voice actor wrote about his cat.

- Brook literally doesn't have a brain. like i know we all know that but its so fucking funny. we make jokes about other strawhats only having one braincell or whatever but Brook straight up 100% just has a seashell where his brain is supposed to be 

-  why does he have rubber glove looking hands when hes haunting the castle at wano i fucking hate them

- relatedly, there’s a bit where Brook mentions he’s been, at kinemon’s interaction, sitting in a well for like... possibly days? is he okay

- honestly i love everything about Brook’s actions as a ghost in wano bc its so fucking funny but my FAVORITE fact is that Brook is in the wikipedia article about starving skeletons

im leaving you with that. appreciate ur local skeleton today

[vannahfanfics]

Net of Hopes

Category: Angst

Fandom: Kingdom Hearts

Characters: Kairi, Sora

Hey, hey, everyone! I’m back at it again for @sokaiweek​, this time for the Day 6 Prompt, “Celebration”! I decided to combine it with a prompt I didn’t use from last year, “Tanabata,” because who doesn’t love the Tanabata Festival? I hope you all enjoy it!

A cool breeze rolled in from the sea, chilling the muggy, warm July air as it whisked through the streets. The wind ruffled the hem of Kairi’s pink, rose-patterned yukata as she stepped outside, and when it leaped up to frisk at her auburn strands of hair with nimble fingers, she tucked her long tresses behind her ears to keep it from getting in her face. After saying farewell to her parents, Kairi closed the door behind her and paused to cast her gaze to the sky, where the heavenly river of the Milky Way shone in all its glittering brilliance. Tanabata was meant to celebrate the star-crossed love of Hikoboshi and Orihime, who met once a year on the shores of the heavenly river. 

I wonder when our “one day” will be, Sora, she thought, a mournful smile tugging at her lips. She felt like Orihime, trapped upon the shore reaching out with all her might to her beloved but unable to touch his outstretched fingertips. He was somewhere out there, wandering the shores of other worlds like a ghost, and she hoped that someday he would find his way back to hers. 

The toami nets hanging from the eaves above Kairi’s head rustled in the endless breeze, beseeching the salt spray for a good fishing harvest in the coming year. As an oceanic community, much of the commerce depended on the sea’s bounties, so the little basket-like paper creations littered the buildings during Tanabata. Smiling wanly, Kairi reached up to brush her fingertips over the blue paper structure. Maybe she should cast a net of hopes this year, and pray that she reeled in the boy she’d been missing oh-so-sorely. 

Kairi closed her eyes as she breathed in deep, and the salt tickled her nose. Its tangy scent and taste reinvigorated her a bit, and when she opened her eyes again, she was feeling a little less mopey. I promised that I would wait for you, however long it takes, she reminded herself. I can’t be impatient. 

With that promise in hand, Kairi set off for the shrine. 

The buildings were littered with colorful paper creations all swaying in the endless breeze. Strings of paper cranes entreated longevity and a fulfilling life. Kuzukago baskets wished for a sense of tidiness and thrift, the discarding of waste. Kinchaku purses had been strung by those imploring wealth, not only for the wallet but for the mind. Everyone had something to wish for, something to petition to the gods above— and they were all filing toward the shrine, dressed in their best yukatas and bringing their hopes with them. 

Kairi merged with the river of hopes, where she shuffled along under the care of the breeze and the paper crafts swaying within. 

The shrine was tucked away against some tall cliffs, a semicircular arrangement of rocky walls facing the sea. Thick groves of bamboo lined the sand pathway all the way up to the shrine and surrounded it like a crown of green. On the path, vendors had set up shop, advertising various wares and foods. Though not particularly hungry, Kairi found herself sitting on the stool in front of the takoyaki vendor’s counter, watching the balls of batter fry in the pans and enjoying the scent of octopus and chives wafting around her. 

Takoyaki has always been your favorite, right, Sora? She giggled to herself as a memory surfaced, the image of him with his cheeks stuffed full of octopus balls and sauce dripping from his lips. They’d sit at the takoyaki booth for nearly an hour as he ate plate after plate, conversing amicably with the vendor and praising his cooking. 

Strangely, the vendor didn’t ask about him, just handed her the plate of takoyaki with a friendly smile. She ate them in silence, and though they were exceptionally delicious as always, they just didn’t taste quite as good without Sora’s comically stuffed cheeks and hums of delight. 

After finishing her takoyaki, Kairi bid the vendor a good night. It had done her well to sit and eat a while, as the crowd around the shrine had thinned some. She waited patiently in line until she arrived at a small wooden table set up beside the shrine, where colorful strips of tanzaku paper and black markers rested. She picked a blue one and shuffled off to the side to write her wish. Yet, as she set the marker to the paper, her mind went blank; the dark ink spread in a circle underneath the tip, but she could form no words. 

What did she want to wish for? Honestly, a thousand different things. She wanted to wish for him to come home. She wanted to wish for him to be safe. She wanted to wish for him to be strong. Tears blurred her blue eyes as emotion welled up inside of her, and she hastily wiped them away with the sleeve of her yukata. Now was not the time to cry. 

She had promised that she would wait, no matter how long it took, and she couldn’t resent that promise. That promise was her gift to him, a gift to get him through the hard times. 

Kairi took a deep breath and looked down at the paper. Then, she simply wrote, Wishing you well. 

Smiling, she capped the marker and then grabbed some string, looping it through the little hole punched in the top of the tanzaku. She carefully strung it from the bamboo among the thousands of other wishes, filling the green fronds with a rainbow of vibrant pleas to the heavens. A net of hopes, rustling in the sea breeze. 

Though most didn’t stay until midnight, Kairi did. She meandered around the festival, playing the various games and visiting the different food and merchant booths. She bought herself a pretty hairpin that matched her yukata, a rose with pretty pink strings of beads that blended well into her auburn locks. She went back to the takoyaki booth because honestly, he really did have the best food. She played a goldfish-scooping game, and though she didn’t win, she really just liked seeing the pretty golden-red fish swim around in the plastic tub. 

Finally, the time neared midnight. The remaining festival attendees gathered in front of the shrine. The tanzaku had been stripped from the bamboo stalks and piled into a small pit, where a festival moderator waited with a lighter. As the clock struck twelve, they all started up in song: 

“The bamboo leaves rustle, shaking away in the eaves.

The stars twinkle on the gold and silver grains of sand.

The five-color paper strips I have written.

The stars twinkle, they watch us from heaven.”

With a flick of the lighter and a spark of fire, the tanzaku were ablaze. The flames jumped high, little sparkling embers fluttering around before dying with one last orange spark. The paper strips curled up and turned black as they burned, and the smoke rose above their heads, swirling up slowly toward the stars. Kairi watched the gray-white wisps with a hopeful smile. 

She cast her net of hopes, burned her wish with the faith that the gods heard her prayer. And here she would wait with the knowledge that her wish would spread through the stars across worlds and reach Sora. 

I’m wishing you well while I wait for you, Sora. But don’t keep me waiting too long, okay? Next year, I want to make my wish with you. 

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!