#i know this because they're his brand that he doesn't let anyone else touch.

[cator99]

Woke up from a 2 hour nap to a house-neet meltdown in the group chat that could have easily been summed up as a reminder for everyone to use the space in the fridge more effectively but regardless i wondered to myself what this could possibly be about maybe all the produce I've been getting is increasingly becoming an affront to his carbs-only lifestyle and the kale I got that takes up half the crisper drawer was the final straw. Went out to the kitchen to check. Open fridge. 25 cans of pop now stuffed into the top and bottom shelf.

[shankss-magnificent-ass]

Imagine King catching feelings for you

Kaido: ah, there he is, King this is the new navigator for the main ship

King: [eyes you in disinterest] I see

You: hello, I look forward to working with you.

King: I'm sure you do.

You: [ignores his rude comment]

Kaido: would you show them around the ship for me?

King: I suppose

You: [opens the door and gestures to it] Lead the way handsome.

King: [looks at you in surprise]

During a dinner

King: [sees you're not touching your sashimi plate]

You: [notices him looking] Do you like sashimi?

King: ... Yes

You: I'm a tad full at the moment to eat mine, could I get your help with it?

King: [wastes no time taking the platter from you] I take it you don't like sashimi?

You: it's not that, I'm just not in the mood for it.

King: [can't tell if you're lying] Good, because I don't know if I can work with someone who doesn't like sashimi.

You: but it would mean more for you.

King: [pauses because he didn't think of it that way before] ... So you're going to give me all your sashimi from now on?

You: [smiles at him] Maybe, if you've been a good boy.

King: [feels unfamiliar emotions stir within him]

After that dinner

You: [goes to King's rooms] King?... King, Kaido wanted me to deliver this course log to you to review for tomorrow... Huh, I'll just leave it on his desk with a note.

King: [exits the shower with just a towel and sees you kneeling on his desk chair and scribbling something down]

You: [turns around to see him trying to duck into another room] King? Is that you?

King: [freezes, knowing he's been seen]

You: wow, I've never seen you without your mask, [realizes this is a breach of his privacy, so you should your eyes] Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to look, I promise I won't say anything to anyone.

King: [grabs his sword and stands over you]

You: [looks up when you hear the blade slide out of the sheath]

King: [feels dread and guilt fill his chest when he sees the look of terror in your eyes]

You: why?

King: I can't let you leave now that you know what I am, the government can't know that I'm still alive. I won't ever go back to being someone else's lab rat.

You: I understand. [Lowers your head in acceptance]

King: [can't bring himself to kill you, so he throws it down] damn it all, get out of my chair.

You: [scrabbles out, and silently watches him sit down and make a call using his den den mushi]

King: Kaido, the new navigator knows

Kaido: ehh? I just got them, do you know how hard it is to find a decent navigator and you're telling me you already killed the brand-new one!

King: I haven't killed them.

Kaido: They escaped you, are they at least wounded?

King: [gets comfortable in his chair] No, they're standing right before me.

You: [had a perfect view of his thighs and the v of his hips peaking out of the towel, and now you can see up his towel, so you look away]

Kaido: what's the hold-up?

King: [sees you looking away, so he leans forward, takes your jaw in his hand, and makes you look at him] We can't afford to lose our only navigator while out at sea. I want to keep them by my side in the meantime.

Kaido: [can tell he's not hearing the full truth] ... As long as it doesn't interfere with their duties, you can do whatever you want with them.

King: thank you

Kaido: now good night [hangs up]

King: [puts down the receiver, and runs his thumb over your lips] ... If you try to leave my sight, I will kill you without hesitation. You will stay by my side, and do everything I say. I do not tolerate disobedience, do you understand me? [Gently shakes you to get his point across]

You: [feels tears well up in your eyes]

King: [feels guilty] I'll have servants bring your things, you'll sleep here, with me, from now on... I'm not doing this to punish you, I'm doing this for my own safety, and because I don't want to kill you.

You: [sniffles] I understand

King: [can hear your distress in your voice and it makes him feel sick] Through that door is the bathroom, go bathe while I make a few calls.

You: [slinks into the other room]

King: [calls the kitchens to deliver your favorite desserts, and calls the servant quarters to have them bring your stuff to his quarters]

After your shower

You: [exits the bathroom wearing a clean kimono]

King: [lounging on the couch, in front of a rather impressive spread of sweets] Your things have been moved into your new room.

You: I'm getting a room all to myself?

King: no, you'll be sleeping with me, I need to know where you are at all times

You: we'll be sharing a bed?!

King: yes, now please help yourself to these sweets, I did order them for you.

You: you did, why? [Goes directly for your favorite dessert]

King: You were distressed, and this was the only way I could think of to help you feel better... Your distress is understandable, I know this isn't ideal for you, being practically chained to my side... And while I can't let you go, I just wanted you to know that... I don't want you to worry or be afraid of me, because I'm not going to hurt you. I can't risk going back to what I was before Kaido, I won't go back to it.

You: ... You mentioned the government earlier, I take it you were held captive by them.

King: yes, it's why I wear the mask.

You: [can see him practically squirming in his seat] Really? And here I was thinking you wore it because it was a fetish.

King: well it is, but it's not the sole reason I wear it.

You: Sasaki owes me 800 Berry then.

King: you people were betting on me?

You: to be fair we bet on everything, there's not a lot to do on a boat in the middle of the ocean.

King: [sighs dramatically] That's true, but back to the topic at hand, I usually kill people for finding out what I am.

You: but not me, what makes me so special?

King: I don't know.

You: [ruminates for a moment] How did seeing me distressed make you feel?

King: uncomfortable, guilty, I dunno? I just didn't like it.

You: hmm I see, so you don't want to kill me, seeing me upset disturbs you, and you have anxiety if I am out of your sight.

King: believe whatever you want about my reasoning, it changes nothing.

You: ... One final question

King: [rolls his eyes, and crosses his arms] Fine, final question.

You: when you were on the call with Kaido, why did you make me look at you?

King: I didn't like that you were looking away.

You: I see.

King: ... Why did you look away?

You: I could see up your towel.

King: How much did you see?

You: some of your balls, and most of your shaft.

King: [feels arousal and embarrassment well up in him] Are you finished with your food?

You: I believe so.

King: come, I'll show you the bedroom.

You: [follows him and takes it in] Why are there no lights?

King: because it's time for bed [gets settled in bed when he notices you haven't moved] are you coming or are you sleeping on the floor?

You: that bed doesn't look like it'll fit both of us?

King: [rolls his eyes, grabs your arm, and pulls you into the bed up on his chest.] It's just fine, relax and go to sleep, I won't do anything.

You: [rests your weight on him and struggles to get comfortable]

King: [agitated because you're so close to him and he's experiencing new emotions he didn't know he had] Would you stop fidgetingñ

You: I'm trying to get comfortable and avoid kicking you in your dick!

King: [realizes how aroused he is by having you so close] tsk, do it quickly.

The next morning

King:[wakes up empty-handed, panics, and looks around until he sees you]

You: [asleep on his wing, face nuzzled into his down feathers, and has handfuls of his flight feathers.]

King: [mental cogs slide into place and he realizes he's in love with you] Oh fuck [sits up]

You:[awakens with a shriek when the surface below is yanked out from under you]

King: [sits up on the side of the bed with his hands covering his face]

You: [pushes your upper half up onto your palms as you twist to look over at him] What's going on?

King: [ looks over to see you half asleep, messy-haired, and your kimono had loosened in your sleep and was now only closed over your lap and under the obi belt, giving him an eyeful of your shoulders, the center of your chest, and from mid-thigh down]

You: it's like five in the morning, what's going on? [Reaches out and pulls on his feathers]

King: nothing, go back to sleep.

You: [doesn't need to be told twice, and plops back down and wiggles back into a comfortable position]

Bout a week later

King: [has so much pent-up tension he's basically a walking time bomb that everyone avoids]

Kaido: what have you been doing to him to make him so cranky?

You: I have absolutely no clue.

Kaido: well you better do something about it before he snaps and burns down my ship.

You: [ goes to King's room to find him tensed up and hunched over his desk] Kaido wants me to do something.

King: what now?

You: he wants me to fix whatever I've been doing to make you so cranky.

King: [scoffs] You haven't done anything.

You: [climbs into his lap, straddles his thighs, and cups his cheeks] And that might be what I'm doing wrong.

King: [relaxes at the softness in your voice, but pulls your hands away from his mask] This is my problem to deal with.

You: can I please help, I'll do anything.

King: anything?

You: [nods] anything

King: [wraps his hands around your hips, and pushes you down so you're seated on his lap]

You: [feels the heat rolling off the erection trapped in his pants] Oh my

King: [guides your body to gently rock against him] You said you'd do anything, and it's your fault it's like this. Don't you think you should take responsibility?

You: [huffs, but puts your back into grinding down on him] It's been days since I moved in, why didn't you tell me sooner?

King: I was already keeping you captive, [Grunts and starts to pant as he tilts his hips up to get more friction] It felt like I would've been pressuring you into something non-consensual.

You: I see [slows your movements to a halt]

King: [huffs and bucks his hips in frustration, pulling on your hips to get you to move again] Don't fucking stop, please.

You: [goes slow] Tell me, is this just lust?

King: [desperate] It can be anything you want it to be, please I just want you.

You: is this all you want? My body?

King: I'll take whatever you give me, but I'll always want more. I'm so fucking greedy for you. I want it all, I want the sashimi you don't like. I want fun evenings out, and restless nights in with you, only to be followed by quiet passionate mornings with you. I want you to look at only me, smile at only me, to fuck only me. I'll take whatever you give, just please give me this, [Presses his thumbs into the softness on your belly] even if it's only this once.

You: you're in love with me?

King: [slumps pathetically into his chair in defeat, and looks at the ceiling] Fuck ... Yes, I am. I am in love with you, and spending every night with you pressed against me has made me insatiable.

You: [giggles]

King: [flips you off]

List of Up-and-coming works || Master list || Twitter| Kofi || Patreon

[eunxhan]

Ꮺ Anon Requested ⨾ Polyamory/harem relationship with head over heels bottom subs,, one is a cute shy guy who loves m reader so fucking much he doesn't mind getting cucked and stuff as long as it pleases reader,,another one is a hot sexy model who's very proud of his body, always taking care of himself so you'll praise him when you fuck him, taking care of his hair well so you can easily pull them,,, kinky sub who's into wild plays, totally devoted to reader and would do literally anything like damn.. Another cold aloof kind of man,, people are intimidated by him and he's all strong and one man army stuff.. Yet when it comes to reader he's just a mess like damn,, all these pretty, smart, strong subbies also has reader's personal brand on his skin,,, they're so head over heels they do anything for reader's acknowledgement,,,

Ꮺ Eun Replies ⨾ Oh my, It is lovely to see my sweets still active. I have been thinking about this entry the moment I came back in this platform. How I've missed all of you.. I did wrote them separately but I decided to write and post another where they all meet in the future. But anyways, what should we name these three?

•◦✦────•◦ᘡᘞ •◦────✦◦•◦•

Ꮺ Disclaimer — NSFW.

Reader ⨾ MALE. YOU/YOUR.

Words used ⨾ 1578

Links ⨾ My Navigation

•◦✦────•◦ᘡᘞ •◦────✦◦•◦•

Let's say, you're an average guy with a typical 9 to 5 job. You couldn't care less about what anyone has to say or do to you, yet three men managed to catch your interest. One of them being Shy!sub. It's not like you guys have been together since childhood; you only met during middle school.

Shy!sub is incredibly shy and easily embarrassed. He tends to blush a lot, especially around you. Even the slightest touch or intimate gesture from you can make him flush red.

Shy!sub is used to your rantings while playing with him, and sometimes, you being a little shit happens to take your anger out on him during your calls. He never says or complains about it; he just listens or sometimes even apologizes to you.

Shy!sub enjoys playing video games with you, even if he's not very good at them and you call him out for jt. He just finds it relaxing and a great way to bond with you. He often cheers you on during your gaming sessions.

Not only does he enjoys gaming, Shy!sub has a secret love for romantic movies. He often watches them when you're not around, dreaming of the day you and him will have your own romantic story.

Shy!sub looks at you as if he's admiring a piece of art, even if you're just there yelling and getting mad about something ridiculous. You can tell that he wants something else. But if you call him out on something, Shy!sub hates confrontations and avoids them at all costs. He would rather keep the peace than engage in an argument, even if it means holding back his true feelings.

Shy!sub is the type of person who's too soft for people like you to handle. He does your chores because he knows you're exhausted from your job or school, and even cooks for you.

Shy!sub enjoys cooking for you, as he sees it as a way to show his love and care for you. He often tries out new recipes, hoping to impress you with his culinary skills. If you point something out or compliment his cooking, be ready to see him almost everyday in your kitchen.

He acts more like a boyfriend than a best friend. One call of his name, and he's dashing towards you like a loyal dog ready to do what you ask. With him basically living with you, Shy!sub can sleep easily. He is afraid of the dark and often sleeps with a nightlight on. He sometimes asks you to sleep with him when he's feeling particularly scared.

Shy!sub never admits this but he secretly loves it when you get angry, as it shows your passionate side. He often provokes you, hoping to see your fiery temper.

When both of you started to have some intimate moments, Shy!sub got even more embarrassed but he never stops trying to tease you with his every move. He basically lives with you now from how much time he spends with you. Everything escalated quickly when you got home and saw him wearing something he normally doesn't wear.

Shy!sub looks so damn adorable in his light bubblegum pink lingerie, but you decided to keep it in your pants and let him explain what he was doing. You could tell he was about to burst out crying when you walked in on him.

—

Shy!sub's eyes widened as he realized you had caught him in his new attire. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his heart raced, fearing the worst. The lingerie, a gift from a secret admirer, was supposed to be a surprise for You. But now, with you standing in the doorway, the moment had been ruined.

You, on the other hand, couldn't help but admire the way the lingerie hugged Shy!sub's curves, accentuating his hourglass figure. The sight of Shy!sub in such a delicate and feminine ensemble stirred something deep within you—a desire he had never felt before. But he knew the time was not right to act on it.

"It's... it's for you," Shy!sub managed to stutter, his voice trembling. "I wanted to surprise you. I thought you'd like it."

"Wow, I've never thought I would see this coming from you. Someone who is known to be easily embarrassed over everything." You could see the vulnerability in Shy!sub's eyes as you reply to him. It was a rare sight, and it tugged at your heartstrings. You knew Shy!sub's affections ran deep, and you couldn't bear to see him so distressed. So, with a smile, you stepped forward and gently placed a hand on Shy!sub's cheek.

"You look amazing," You said, his voice soft and reassuring. "And I appreciate the thought. But remember, you don't need to do anything to impress me. I love you just the way you are."

Shy!sub let out a shaky breath, relief washing over him. He leaned into your touch, grateful for your understanding. The moment, though awkward, had brought them closer. From that day on, You began to see Shy!sub in a whole new light. Your words and gentle touch calmed Shy!sub's nerves. The tension in the room shifted, and a new energy filled the space. Shy!sub's heart fluttered as your hand lingered on his cheek, your thumb gently caressing Shy!sub's soft skin.

Emboldened by your acceptance, Shy!sub leaned in, his lips brushing against yours in a feather-light kiss. It was a tentative move, a test to gauge your reaction. But you responded with a hunger that surprised them both. Your lips met in a passionate kiss, your tongues dancing and exploring each other's mouths. Shy!sub's hands roamed your body, feeling the contours of your muscles through your shirt. Your hands slid down Shy!sub's back, cupping his rear and pulling him closer.

The lingerie, once a source of embarrassment, now became a symbol of their growing desire. The soft fabric rubbed against your body, igniting a fire within you. Shy!sub could feel your arousal pressing against him, and it sent shivers down his spine. His mind were somewhere else as he softly groans in your ears, his mind tells him to beg you to do something more to him.

You both broke the kiss, panting and flushed. Your eyes were dark with desire, and Shy!sub's lips were swollen from your passionate embrace. The room was filled with a palpable tension, a promise of what was to come.

"Darling," Shy!sub whispered, his voice heavy with need. "I want you. I've always wanted you." he whined at the end. You didn't need to be told twice. You scooped Shy!sub into your arms and carried him to the bedroom, which made him more excited.

•◦✦────•◦ᘡᘞ •◦────✦◦•◦•

Confident!sub, a charming and flirtatious individual, utilizes his natural charisma and wit to captivate those around him. Easily drawing in his audience, he leaves them craving more of his company. His tactics to garner attention, however, are solely to attract the cameras. When it comes to you, his dearest, he's wholly devoted.

His sarcastic nature and high tolerance levels add an alluring challenge to his persona, making him even more magnetic. For you, though, his sarcasm serves as a playful means of aggravation.

Confident!sub is confident in his physicality, maintaining his desirable physique through rigorous workouts. Brands and designers clamor for him to be the face of their new products, well aware of his pickiness when it comes to endorsements.

In his pursuit of physical perfection, Confident!sub adheres to a strict regimen of body care. His routine, from head to toe, takes a full three hours, with shower time not even included. If you need the bathroom while he's in there, you'll have to resort to forceful measures.

During his photoshoots, Confident!sub teases you with his movements and poses. He'll gaze hungrily at you, performing his job with you as his little assistant, always present in the room. If you're absent, his temper flares. So, sad to say that you're always with him in and out.

A possessive streak emerges in Confident!sub when he spots you admiring other models. With him in the room, half-naked and expecting your adoration, he takes offense at your gaze wandering to less attractive individuals. If you curse at him for his tantrums, his anger intensifies, believing you should have been fixated on him.

Confident!sub is unfiltered in his communication, voicing his thoughts at any given moment. Be it day, night, place, or time, he'll share his uncensored musings. With a bored expression, he'll casually mention desires like you satisfying him behind a door post-shoot or gripping his hair. One time while you were having breakfast, he mumbled something about how he dreamed about you pounding him for a photoshoot.

Despite his outward confidence, Confident!sub harbors insecurities deep down. He worries that one day, his looks might fade, and he'll lose the adoration he currently enjoys. So with you having around him, he dares not to let you go. He hates it when you look at other models that he finds intimidating. Whenever you reassure him about his insecurities, expect not getting out of the bedroom for atleast two days.

Confident!sub hates being touched by strangers. He becomes uncomfortable and edgy when people he doesn't know try to touch him. He's only comfortable with you touching him. You should be lucky that someone like him allows you to touch him, his words not mine.

——

After a long and tiring photoshoot, Confident!sub was ready to unwind. With his manager having rented a hotel room for him, he of course invited you to join him, knowing full well what he had in mind. You, aware of Confident!sub's intentions, eagerly accepted the invitation.

In the privacy of the hotel room, Confident!sub wasted no time in expressing his desires. You pinned him against the wall, his hands roaming your body with a hunger that could not be satiated. With you, equally aroused, gripped Confident!sub's hair, pulling him in for a passionate kiss.

Confident!sub's hands slid down to your body, undoing your pants with a swift motion. He wasted no time in freeing his own arousal, rubbing it against yours before he could let you rub against his entrance. With a swift thrust, you entered him, filling him with your length.

The room was filled with the sounds of him screaming your name and the wet sounds. Confident!sub's moans echoed off the walls, a testament to his pleasure. You, gripping onto Confident!sub's hair, praised him for his skill and good looks, encouraging him to continue his plea.

Confident!sub, driven by your words, moving his hips at the same pace as you with a fervor that was almost animalistic. Your hands gripped on his hips, pulling him closer with each thrust. Him, lost in a sea of pleasure, could only hold on for dear life, his moans mingling in the air.

As you both reached your climax, Confident!sub's moans grew louder, your thrusts becoming more erratic. Him, gripping onto you tightly, felt his own release building. With a final thrust, you both reached, your bodies trembling with the force releasing.

•◦✦────•◦ᘡᘞ •◦────✦◦•◦•

Intimidating!sub, a formidable figure with a history in the military, bears scars on both his face and body. His imposing physique and commanding posture are enough to convey his cold and strict demeanor, deterring others from approaching him. Even children and pets are frightened by his aura.

Despite his chilling exterior, Intimidating!sub has a soft spot for his beloved. At the mere sound of his name, spoken by you, his defenses crumble. He prefers to reserve his genuine smiles for private moments, sharing them only with you.

In terms of protection, Intimidating!sub is unparalleled. His presence alone is enough to deter potential aggressors, as if he were a guard dog watching over you. His menacing appearance suggests he'd defend you with ferocity, ready to "bite" anyone who dares to bother you.

In private, Intimidating!sub reveals a sensitive side. He cries during movies or deep conversations, seeking your comfort. With his head resting on your chest, he finds solace as he weeps, trying to express his feelings or explain the emotions triggered by a film. He's known to shed tears privately if his actions upset a child or pet.

Intimidating!sub is an intellectual powerhouse, capable of answering nearly any query and solving complex mathematical problems in a matter of seconds. He's like a human calculator, with an uncanny ability to memorize information. This makes outings with him effortless, as you need not consult your phone for calculations or searches.

Eager for your affection, Intimidating!sub leans on your shoulder, a subtle request for attention. He demands your love, regardless of your current engagements. If he's bold enough, he'll wake you to share a tender gaze.

Embarrassed by his nocturnal desires, Intimidating!sub awakens from wet dreams, seeking solace in the bathroom. If he gathers the courage, he'll attempt to rouse you, his eyes pleading softly.

——

After Intimidating!sub woke you from your slumber, you noticed the flush on his face, a testament to his embarrassment. A soft whimper escaped his lips, "Please help me with this..." Your eyes followed his gaze downward, where you found his hardened length, throbbing and grinding against the material of his pants.

The sight was too enticing to ignore, and as he offered you a small, tender peck on the cheek, you decided to give in to his desires. You guided his hand to release his length from its prison, letting it spring free. The tip glistened with pre-cum, a clear indication of his arousal.

Intimidating!sub's eyes locked onto yours, pleading for your touch. You obliged, wrapping your hand around his shaft and beginning to stroke him gently. His breathing hitched, his face contorting in pleasure. You teased him, speeding up and slowing down your strokes, drawing out his pleasure.

As you continued, Intimidating!sub's body grew more tense, his hips bucking involuntarily. You could sense his impending release, and you leaned in, taking his length into your mouth. The sensation of your warm, wet mouth enveloping him sent him over the edge.

Intimidating!sub cried out your name, his body trembling as he came. You swallowed his release, showing no signs of discomfort. When you pulled away, he collapsed onto the bed, his body slick with sweat.

You climbed on top of him, straddling his hips, and lowered yourself onto his still-hard shaft. He gasped, his hands gripping your hips as you began to ride him. The intimacy of this moment, with the dominant figure now reduced to the bottom, was intoxicating.

•◦✦────•◦ᘡᘞ •◦────✦◦•◦•

@𝑬𝑼𝑵𝑿𝑯𝑨𝑵. Do not repost, plagiarize, translate, or adapt my work/theme without prior permission and/or confirmation.

[suuuupernovaaa]

pxen

pxen [p’ɛn] n. functional clothing (item of)

Based on this request.

Lo'ak reaches out, touching the delicate woven poncho that his sister is wearing. It's not the kind of thing Lo'ak would typically notice, but something about it has caught his eye. There's a sparkle to it, something woven through the fabric that catches the light, very similar to the na'vi skin in the darkness of night.

"Where did you get this?" Lo'ak asks. Kiri looks down, and then shrugs.

"It was just with my stuff. It's really pretty, though. Tuk found one too... and mom."

"Huh," Lo'ak says, and his attention is then drawn to the carpet under his feet. A rug, brown and maroon, intricately woven and brand new. "This is new too, right?"

Kiri looks down, following her brother's gaze. "I think so. Looks clean."

"Huh," Lo'ak repeats, and then shrugs and moves on with his day.

xx

Even though I knew this day would come, I've been hoping to put it off for as long as possible. It isn't so much that I don't want to meet Neteyam's family, it's just that I'm worried to disappoint them.

As much as Neteyam hates it when I point it out, he's special. Not just because of the things I love about him, like his quiet sense of humor, his easy-going smile, his strength and his compassion.

He's special because of who he is, and who he was born to be. His birthright makes him special. Eldest son of Olo'eyktan. Were Neteyam ugly, harsh, stupid and cruel - the true opposite of himself - he would still be above my station.

He would still be too good for me.

And yet, here we are, walking hand in hand to meet his parents, so that he can introduce me as his betrothed. His intended mate. I had always told him I did not want his family to know about me, but never really told him why, until last night.

"Why now?" Neteyam had asked when I told him I was finally ready to meet his parents, moments after he took my hands into his and asked me to be his mate for life.

"Because I know now, truly that you love me. I don't need to be afraid anymore."

He had shaken his head and brushed a tear from my cheek. "I've loved you since the moment we met."

So now we approach their home, and even though I am secure in my relationship with Neteyam, I am nervous about being accepted into their family. He reassures me over and over that they will love me as he does, they will be thrilled for us, but it doesn't stop me from feeling sick to my stomach.

"Neteyam!" Taruk Makto is the first to greet him as we enter their tent, looking up from where he sits, and it's overwhelming to be in such close proximity to our clan leader. I bow my head as he looks from me to Neteyam and back at me again. His wife, Neytiri, is seated at his side, and turns her attention away from the arrows she is sharpening to look at us.

"Dad," Neteyam says, "Mom. I want to introduce you to Y/N."

He lets go of my hand, and places his arm around my waist, pulling me close to him. After only a moment of hesitation, Neteyam's parents rise to their feet. As they do, I feel movement behind me, and glance to see Neteyam's siblings entering.

Kiri is wearing the shawl I made for her, and Tuk has a dressing wrapped around her tail that I crafted. Beneath our feet, I notice a rug I just finished a few days ago. It makes me feel a little more at ease and at home, to be surrounded by my creations.

"Nice to meet you, Y/N," Olo'eyktan says, and I touch my fingertips to my forehead, and then bring them down in a formal greeting. I repeat the gesture for Neteyam's mother.

"I've been, uh, spending a lot of time with Y/N. She's really wonderful. She's better on the loom than anyone else in the clan. She made the rug we stand on, and Kiri's poncho, and many other things I've brought home. She was just too, uh, shy to own up to her talent."

Neytiri turns around, looking on a nearby table, and grabs another poncho I made. This one is green, more earthy than the sparkly one Kiri is wearing.

"This, too?" Neytiri asks, and I nod. "This is beautiful. They're all beautiful. Truly, unlike anything I've seen. You made these?"

"I did," I reply a little nervously. "I wanted to give them to you myself but, since we hadn't be introduced, I had Neteyam bring them to you."

"I asked Y/N to be my mate last night, and she said yes," Neteyam says suddenly, and a hush falls over the room.

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest, wondering which way their reactions will go.

Confusion? Anger? Disappointment?

"Wow, that's insane!" comes a cry from Lo'ak, and he reaches out, extending his arms to me for a hug. "Another sister, I guess! I mean, I've got enough, but you seem okay." He wraps me in strong arms, and I return the hug, so grateful that he's broken the silence.

When Lo'ak releases me, I turn anxiously to see Neteyam's parents, and the scene is exactly what I would have dreamed up if I hadn't been too scared to imagine this day.

Netytiri holds her eldest son in her arms, and over his shoulder, she smiles serenely at me. Jake has his hands outstretched, one on his wife's shoulders, the other on Neteyam's.

"I wish you had brought her here sooner, so we could get to know her!" Neytiri says.

"You guys are scary," Neteyam replies, and his father laughs. Neytiri reaches out, extending a hand to me, and I place my hand in hers.

"I have known something was going on with my son. He is as happy as he has ever been, smiling like a moron from morning until night. I was waiting for this moment." She holds one of my hand in both of hers, grinning at me. "You are welcome in our family. Now we can give you gifts in return, for the beautiful things you have given us."

I shake my head, feeling embarrassed at the tears pricking behind my eyes. "No, you don't have to do that. I like making those things."

Our chief hugs me next, quickly and a little awkwardly, and the relief I feel is palpable.

Quick acceptance is a surprise. I had imagined at least a little resistance, but I hadn't counted on Neteyam's parents putting his health and happiness above all else.

How could I? I didn't know them, hadn't known that besides being Olo'eyktan and the next Tsahik, Neytiri and Jake were just parents who loved their children.

We leave the tent much later, after hours of talking and celebration, and before we get too far away, Neteyam pulls me into his arms and presses his lips to mine in what feels like a long overdue kiss.

"I knew they would love you, just as I do," he whispers, his lips still touching mine.

[amazinglyegg]

Paladin Danse headcanons because I love this little dude

Doesn't like being talked about behind his back, even if they're saying positive things about him. If he's talking about someone not in the room he's bringing up the things he said in that conversation next time he sees them because he thinks they deserve to hear the praise/critique.

Never really looks at the little things in life. The smell of brewing coffee, the way the sun rises over the trees, the calming ambient chatter of a shared living space... it all goes unnoticed by him. He finds himself thinking about the future constantly, and it takes someone who consciously points it all out to him for him to learn to live in the present more.

LOVES learning, although that passion dies down a bit while he's in the Brotherhood, partially due to grief/trauma and partially due to the Brotherhood indirectly teaching soldiers that outsiders are bad and the Brotherhood is always right. His love gets rekindled when he joins the Minutemen.

Doesn't really believe he has PTSD and pushes away medical help because he sort of feels offended that he was diagnosed despite his skepticism. The type of person to think "I don't have PTSD because I don't have any flashbacks, I just have nightmares and intrusive thoughts and sometimes I feel the same overwhelming emotions I felt when the trauma happened... but none of those are flashbacks!" (spoiler alert, man, not all flashbacks look like they do in movies).

Touch starved but not in the "cute clingy boyfriend" way. More like the "cringing away from touch because it's physically painful" way. He hasn't gotten any sort of physical contact in SO LONG and it's seriously fucking with him.

I was going to make a separate post about this but this man would fucking LOVE laser tag. He would be IN HIS ELEMENT. He would be THRIVING. Let this guy play a game of laser tag with some other soldiers please it would be great enrichment for him.

Strangely passionate about socks. Yes, socks. Do you have any idea how GOOD high quality socks feel?? If you complain about any sort of foot pain he has sock brand recommendations for you. He's the sock equivalent of "It's 'cause you're always on that damn phone" that parents use. "Danse my head hurts" "It's because you didn't get the socks I recommended to you" "????"

Will drink as a social activity, but mostly drinks alone. Also a sad drunk.

Would love any and all fidget toys he gets his hands on. Probably refuses to use them because most of them are colorful and "toys", but if you manage to sneak a fidget cube or a tangle in his hands while he's sitting around? That bitch will be used non-stop until he leaves it somewhere and forgets about it. Will probably adjust whatever action he's doing so he can keep one hand free to keep fidgeting.

Doesn't like anything that sticks to his hands or makes a mess on surfaces, like slime, putty, paint, mud, etc. If you hand him slime he will touch it once and then leave to go wash his hands.

Sleeps hot, probably without a blanket often because he overheats. Tosses and turns a lot. Does that thing where he can sleep through basically anything but the second you try to tiptoe past him he will shoot awake.

Keeps Cutler's and Krieg's dog tags in his bedside drawer. Doesn't do so with anyone else's, not because he doesn't care about any of his other teammates who died, but because he knows if he let himself keep doing that the drawer would get filled way too quickly. That realization was at about the same time he "toughened up" a lot more and fell into the commanding officer mindset he's still in today.

Doesn't like needles. He'll get shots and whatever if he needs to, obviously, but unlike most other undesirable things he'll actually complain about it a bit instead of acting like the tough guy. Probably looks away whenever he needs to get stitches.

Eats a ton of food, not so much water. Will absolutely demolish several servings of pasta and then complain of a dehydration headache, completely unaware that the last time he drank water was 7 hours ago.

Likes training new recruits, makes him a bit nostalgic for the old days with him and Cutler. Tends to be a bit soft with the ones that really remind him of Cutler, but in the type of way where he pulls them aside just to say "You did really well today :)" completely oblivious that the poor initiate assumed they were going to get reprimanded and are now having a mini panic attack.

[thorniest-rose]

i feel like there just needs to be more of eddie obsessed with steve’s hips, thinks his subtle curve, the shape of his hips, down to his thighs is so gorgeous, especially when he’s jutting a hip out. every time he has to walk by steve he is unnecessarily grabbing his hips and letting his hands linger before moving along. murmurs a quiet “sorry”even tho he’s not. it gets steve all flustered. openly stares at his hips when his hands are on them, when he’s leaning against a wall, or carrying something on em like a box, maybe even a toddler. wants to squeeze and bite and leave finger shaped bruises on those hips.

oh my god, I've been obsessed with this ask since you sent it in and feel fic brainworms starting. I'm convinced that Eddie would be in love with Steve's hips. The two of them are roughly the same height and weight, but there are these small differences in their body shapes and one of them is that Steve has more of a curve to his hips. And as soon as Eddie sees it, this subtle feminine curve, he can't stop thinking about it. Is always staring at them when Steve wears his tight jeans, getting hard every time Steve pops his hip when he's feeling sassy. Steve has thicker thighs too, and the combination of his hips and his thighs makes Eddie's mouth fill up with spit whenever he sees him, jaw clenching, like he's going wild, snapping at the leash like a starved dog. He sees Steve getting changed one day and the sight of those hips without anything on goes straight to Eddie's dick, has him jerking off the moment he's alone, locking the bathroom door in Steve's house so he can shove his jeans down and fuck his hand, fantasising about fucking Steve's juicy fat thighs, his hands squeezing his hips until they're mottled with painful purple bruises. Imagines, just as he's about to come, biting down on Steve's hipbone until he bleeds, until he wears Eddie's bitemark like a tattoo, of the shape of his teeth being scarred into Steve's skin so he can't ever fuck anyone else without thinking about Eddie, without seeing it on his body whenever he's naked in the mirror. He wants to bruise and bite Steve until he becomes his. Because that's the way Eddie loves, and he can't love Steve unless he's branded it into his skin.

It becomes so much worse the afternoon he goes to Steve's house and Steve's chatting to a neighbour, and Steve's holding her toddler, this sweet little thing, and he's a natural, cooing at her and laughing in a way that makes his nose crinkle, and he has the kid propped so naturally on his cocked hip, like his body was meant to hold a baby. Like his hips were made for it. This sets off a whole new breed of fantasy, one Eddie never let himself indulge before. Fantasies about making Steve his pretty little housewife. Of knocking him up with his kids. And he knows it's not possible, doesn't even want kids that much, but it doesn't stop how much he wants to watch Steve mother and fuss over a baby that Eddie's given him. Or how much he wants to watch Steve's body change and grow, his stomach swollen, his thighs even thicker, hips rounded like the ripest fruit. Eddie jerks off so much thinking about he feels like he's going insane. Thinks about Steve being his knocked-up little housewife and he barely has to graze his dick before he's coming all over his hand.

And he knows Steve doesn't even like him back in that way. That it's just fantasy. A dumb fixation he needs to stop. Until the night he's leaving Steve's house after hanging out and he reaches out and squeezes Steve's hip as he says goodbye. Just a small touch, though dipping into the wrong side of too hard, too rough, heart tripping and dick chubbing up at the plump curve of it in his hand. He thinks Steve will jokingly push him away or flinch, but as he squeezes, Steve's eyes flutter closed and he moans.

[monathedefiant]

ricky september is racist but there's hope for him. . .

right?

ricky might not be racist in the same way as lindy and her little friends. but he's grown up in the same white supremacist culture as everyone else. there's nothing in the culture he's exposed to that's challenged the racist ideologies that he's grown up with as just a part of life. he's not racist on purpose, That's Just How Things Are and that makes his brand of racism just as bad if not worse in some ways.

it's the kind that sneaks up on bipoc when we feel safe and when we've let our guards down. a moment that happens so quickly that we can almost tell ourselves we're being ridiculous. . . until it happens again, and again, and again. like when the doctor tries to explain the codes to ricky who then cuts him off to assert his own knowledge while giving a skeptical up and down look. as if he's perturbed that someone that looks like the doctor would assume they have knowledge he doesn't.

HOWEVER!!!

ricky's reaction could also come from feeling underestimated. he's a pretty boy pop star who's brand is bright, flashy, and geared toward teenagers. he's probably used to people assuming he's dumb because of his outward appearance, despite the fact that he goes out of his way to learn and take in knowledge.

so, part of ricky's reaction is "how dare someone who looks Like That speak to me That Way" and the other part is "i may be pretty and popular but i know things and don't need to be coddled about something so simple".

i say this because ricky's interactions with the doctor (for the most part) don't feel that different than his interactions with ruby. he gives them both the same boyish grin he gives lindy when they first meet. he doesn't do a double-take at the doctor's presence. ricky doesn't make the doctor feel out of place in conversation or question the doctor's knowledge. to a certain point, he doesn't even seem rejecting of the information the doctor's giving him. more just overwhelmed and pretending not to be. hence the hand by the ear thing which reads more as self-soothing that anything else.

that being said, i can't read that skeptical up and down look as anything but a manifestation of the passive racism he's unknowingly learned to live by all his life. that look says "who do you think you are" in a way it doesn't toward ruby and i can't ignore that.

just as important, though, is ricky's potential to go against the grain of what's been ingrained in him. the world he lives in has been whitewashed to hell and back. the history books favor the "victors" (read: oppressors) over the Ugly Truth. i doubt it describes the Great Abrogation as anything but a benevolent necessity (when it was clearly an act of colonialism). we don't see anyone with anything close to radical ideologies, and they definitely aren't there to share those thoughts with any of the named characters. not to say they don't exist (and isn't that the perfect nugget for fic based off this episode??) just that they get no air time. even if ricky feels that something is off in this society, where would he learn the type of truth that could truly radicalize him?

while we don't get ricky the anti-racist, i still see potential in him. he frequently takes breaks from social media to touch grass and read books. he's open to new experiences even when they're scary or difficult. we see how lindy struggles that first time not depending on the dot and bubble even just walking around. let alone seeking out information. ricky put himself through that multiple times (ON PURPOSE!!) to learn how to walk and to gain an appreciation for reading.

which tells us he's willing to learn ideas that challenge the status quo. he's also willing to share what he learns with others. if given half the chance, ricky might've been just as bad as the rest. maybe i've got my head in the clouds and am refusing to face the Very Clear Facts.

but the man is dead and we'll never known for sure. so, i'm choosing optimism because like why tf not ya know. plus, i just like the idea that even someone steeped in a shitty society can still unlearn the bad and do better. i do after all live in the u.s. and support palestine so *shrug* i'd like to think ricky's no more damned by being born into a White Supremacist Wonderland than i am from living in a Nationalist Nightmare Zone.

[iamthecomet]

Com- if you’re still taking requests and should feel so inclined a lil rain Aether comfort for your fellow unholy trinitier? Love you Kay bye smooch

Anything for you, Kro. ♥

Something's up with Rain. Admittedly the water ghoul has had a harder time adjusting to life topside than any of the others. He's always been a little shy, reserved, distant. Aether tries to involve him in more things. To make it clear that he is welcome, that they want him here. But Rain always keeps his distance. He stays on the outside of ghoul piles, always in a position that means he can slip away in the middle of the night. On movie nights he sits on the floor next to Mountain, close enough to touch but not actually doing it. He curls into himself instead knees draw up to his chest, chin pressed to his kneecaps as he fixes his eyes on the screen and doesn't look at anyone else. But today is different--worse. Aether doesn't want to seem weird. He watches all of them like this. He can feel them all, his power connecting him back to the world and his pack. Despite Rain's self-imposed distance, he lives in Aether's chest, connected.

So, Aether knows when it's normal and when it isn't. Today, isn't normal. The usual calm ebb of Rain's existence feels tense, roiling, a deep sea thunderstorm.

Rain doesn't finish his tea at breakfast, or his food. He takes two bites of his lunch.

He misses every single one of his marks during rehersal in what seems less like forgetfulness and more like non-compliance. He plants himself halfway up the steps between the keyboards and the drum kit and stays there. He plays flawlessly. But he doesn't move. He doesn't look at anyone. Aether thinks about going over to stand near him, to check on him, but he watches as Dew tries to do the same thing. Aether hears the growl Rain emits from where he stands. Dew snarls back, but doesn't get any closer. And Aether doesn't push. Not yet, not here. Not in a room full of expensive equipment. Sister will have him sent back to the pit if he's the reason Rain floods the room and fries everything.

He lets it simmer. The whirling that is Rain in his chest, turns into a maelstrom. Rain doesn't say a word at dinner, he pushes his food around. He pushes his chair back just as Cumulus starts talking about the movie they're going to watch tonight, and leaves. Not bothering to look at any of them as he does. The table descends into silence.

"Does anyone know what that's about?" Aether asks. There's pain now, where Rain resides in his body. It's a dull ache, insistent. Aether looks around the table, at a series of worried faces. But no one has an answer. Even Mountain, who is usually privy to more of the water ghoul's thoughts than anyone else just shrugs. "He was fine yesterday," Dew says unhelpfully. Aether pushes his plate away. "Don't wait for me for the movie."

He goes to Rain's room first. He gets no response when he knocks. The door is unlocked when he tries it, and the room is empty. Rain's boots and coat are gone. Aether leaves the Abbey. He finds Rain at the lake. He's sitting cross-legged on the edge of the dark. Moonlight casts over his form, catching in his dark curls. Aether half expects Rain to get up and bolt as soon as he knows he's there, but he doesn't. He doesn't move at all except for his body to sag down, shoulders curling into each other as Aether gets closer.

"Rainy--"

"You don't have to do this," Rain cuts him off. His voice is flat, cold. Aether sits down next to him, their knees bumping as he does. "Do you want to talk about it?" "There's nothing to talk about." Aether looks over at him. Rain's eyes are fixed on the lake, on the reflection of the moon on its glassy surface. "I can feel it, you know." "Feel what?" Rain asks, his voice is dull like he's asking out of duty, not because he actually wants to know. "You. All of you actually. Right here," Aether rubs his chest absently like if he presses hard enough he will feel them branded into his skin. "So, I know you're lying." Rain huffs out something that could almost be a laugh, there's cynicism in it. He still doesn't look over. "I don't belong here." The words send a shock of pain through Aether's chest, like just saying them is splitting Rain open. He believes them, wholeheartedly. Aether reaches for him and then stops, unsure if that's going to help or make it worse. "You do." "You don't have to come out here and talk to me out of pity you know? I know it's all a lie. You just put up with me, all of you, because you have to. You can tell me the truth." Aether does touch him then, reaching out to put his hand on Rain's knee. He half expects Rain to pull away. He doesn't. But Aether can feel how cold he is under his hand. He can feel how hard Rain is shaking. "Rainy, we love you." Rain scoffs. "You don't have to do this to make yourself feel better, Aeth. It's fine. I can handle it."

"Look at me."

Rain turns his head to face Aether, it's slow. Aether immediately realizes why when he sees the unspilled tears in Rain's eyes.

"It would be better if you stopped pretending you wanted me--"

"We do want you," Aether squeezes Rain's knee. He puts his other hand on Rain's cheek. Rain closes his eyes. Aether can feel the way he fights against leaning into it. His heart breaks a little more. "You do belong here. We love you. You're part of our pack. You're one of us, Rain. You always have been."

"I suck at it. I don't know how to--I can't do what you all do with each other. I can't fall asleep watching movies curled up in between you all. It's not--my thing."

"That isn't a pre-requisite for us to love you. No one cares about that. Give me your hand." Aether takes his hand from Rain's leg and holds it palm up.

Rain hesitates, but listens, sliding his hand into Aether's. Aether brings them both up to his chest. He places them right over the place Aether feels Rain the strongest. Directly in the center of his chest. Aether focuses on it. He tugs on the strings that attach him to Rain. T

He doesn't have the words to make him feel better, to make him believe that he belongs here. That Aether loves him with every fiber of his existence. Rain is a part of the universe that is Aether, and the easiest way to prove that is to show him. Aether closes his eyes. He grips Rain's hand a little harder. He latches onto the power in Rain's body, and he pulls.

Rain gasps, lurching forward as if Aether pulled on him physically. And then, he goes silent. Aether knows he can feel it--that he can feel all of them, wrapped through his body like lifelines. A circuit. A solar system. "I'm...Aeth...that's--"

"I would never lie to you, Water Lily," Aether whispers.

Rains tips further forward. His forehead bumps into Aether's. All Aether can smell is petrichor. All he can feel is Rain. He opens his eyes to meet cerulean blue eyes, searching his. Rain's hand flexes over his chest. "It's so much," Rain breathes. The churning in Aether's chest has calmed, less frantic. Close like this, connected, Aether can feel Rain's awe, the shock. Aether tugs on the connection a little more, just to try to open it up a little. Rain lets him--either because he wants to know more or because he's too stunned to resist. "I don't know how much of them you can feel," Aether whispers into the small space between them. "But I can give you this, just so you're sure." It's easy to funnel a piece of himself into Rain. It's the same muscles he flexes for healing. Rain's hand grips tight at his shirt when he does it. His eyes go wide.

"Is that...you?" "Yes. So you'll know what I feel, for you. You don't ever have to doubt that I love you. That I want you. That you belong here. Magic doesn't lie."

Rain sags into him, forehead slipping off of Aethers to thump down onto his shoulder. Aether cuts the connection, and he drags Rain into his arms. Stroking one hand up into his hair, dragging through the curls as Rain shudders against him.

Aether knows it's a lot, maybe too much. Forcing that connection, shoving himself into Rain's chest like he wanted to make a home there, it's an overstep. But it was easier than trying to talk through it. Dew carries a piece of him too, from a night just like this. Aether would give himself to all of them if he could--just so they could experience one-eighth of what he does. So they could feel the strength of their bond, the permanence of it.

Rain clings to him like Aether's a liferaft. "I can still feel you." Rain rubs absently at his chest, his voice breathless against Aether's neck. Aether nods. "Now you'll never have to doubt it again."

[death-rebirth-senshi]

Tagged by @daggertongue

How to: Rate your OCs based on how they handle cuddling/being cuddled.

I don't have as many fun ocs as you but I'll run down my little list of bioware dudes <3

Ezra Shepard: 10/10, he will cuddle with anyone anywhere, and very often initiates physical contact with anyone he's close to, platonic romantic or whatever. It was very difficult getting Jack used to this in particular, but they managed to power through. He tends to bonk helmets with Tali.

Miles Shepard: 5/10, he is a very sociable and kind and everyone loves him, but he's always keeping a professional distance in a way most people will either not notice or consider entirely appropriate given that he is their Commander after all. Even with Kaidan he prefers small touches and hand holding; any outright cuddling is initiated by Kaidan, and he has to sort of force himself to accept that such a thing is allowed. Only when they're alone, mostly late at night when he's too tired for distance. Even still, sometimes he enjoys it, sometimes it's just too much. Even years down the line with all shame unlearned, he's not up to cuddling 100% of the time, though it's at least around 80% by then. They have a million other rituals to to show affection. He's not really cuddling with anyone else.

Alim Surana: 2/10 pretty much everyone, 6/10 for Zevran. He is just not much of a cuddler by nature. He also likes to keep a professional distance from people, doesn't trust easily, and shows his affection in a myriad of other ways if he actually likes you. (He frequently doesn't like people, but will strongly pretend he does if he has a use for them; how comfortable he is with physical touch is the greatest indicator of how real it is). Even with Zevran they often don't quite cuddle per se. Zevran's head in his lap; shoulders touching; laying on top of each other; but seldom really tucked in each other's arms or holding one another in bed. Alim likes his space, and Zevran is fine with giving it to him. Even when they're at they're closest and least ashamed of it. For a second I thought to add Morrigan to the list, but honestly I don't think she's much for cuddling either, and their friendship with each other is stronger for it.

Kamil Hawke: 9/10 that man is a cuddler but he does have to know you first. But that threshold is often a lot smaller than most think. He's most affectionate with his family; Mother, Carver, and Bethany, when they were there with him. It at least can never be said that he didn't hug any of them enough. Anders he keeps almost possessively close, rarely taking a hand off him, having him wrapped in his arms as often as possible. But you'll also frequently catch him cuddled with Merrill, who joyfully welcomes such behavior, and Isabela, who always says she can't stand it, yet never pushes Hawke away; "If I don't let him he'll pout all night," she'll say, and this is technically true. He has...more of a warrior's bond with Aveline, Fenris and Varric, that makes him typically keep his distance, but if the mood strikes you may find him wrapped around them as well.

Bonus round for my tarnished priest guy Cedric because Elden Ring is on my mind: He plays up being very stoic and unemotional, both as a Confessor warrior priest and later as he tries to dress himself up as a Paladin of the Erdtree; but once he gets past his blocks and issues (aka has a prostate orgasm) he is a huge cuddlebug and the hard part is getting him off of you.

tagging @fury-brand and @nautilusopus I know you guys have fun ocs at least. No pressure though.

[jekyllnahyena]

Alright I got wedding brain. I have to go to ten weddings this summer. So for Hyde and Cody. Who is Cody best man if they were to get married?

(this whole thing turned so much more unhinged than I ever thought possible, I would be sorry, but u asked me and if there's one thing I've proven, it's that my brain turns things weird)

I mean, my first thought would be Rex, wouldn't it?

Despite the distance that has built itself between Cody and most of his siblings, Rex stuck. But that has to do with the fact that Rex is the younger sibling, one that looks up to Cody and. And. Eh. Fuck it, this is going so off-topic, but I'm gonna get rambly because u just accidentally touched on some very specific Cody problems.

Cody has issues with honesty, with emotional closeness, with a superiority complex and a shit ton more. He solves problems, he's a leader and untouchable in battle, he's been the judge and the jury and the executioner for his siblings for most of his life.

He's The Marshal. And that's what his siblings start to see. So there isn't really anyone that, eh, deeply close to him? And I have yet to work out on who exactly the people will be? (look, most of my Cody and Hyde stuff is based purely on vibes and ridiculous ideas)

I like to think that got close with his batch again, because he did notice these things and started to unearth some of the stuff he's practically branded into his skin the same way his scar is. But I feel that choosing a best man would be something were he began spiraling, ending up with trying to be as diplomatical as possible and shoving everything else behind a very tight wall. It's a stressful time, ok, some of it all will bubble up again.

If I'm being completely honest, I've got no clue. Maybe he wants it to be somebody of his batch, because for once he just wants to be the second oldest and nothing else, at least on that day. Maybe somebody more outside of things, there are some friendship's he's built up again, funnily Monnk and Lockup and Fox come to mind for me, but this all goes down to the biggest thing of it all.

If those two ever were to be married, it would be only the two of them, on a whim, at some morning and only later would they tell and plan a party to placate people and let them share it all because that is still the thing warming Cody's whole being. He loves his siblings more than he loves the world, the galaxy, himself, but that's the crux of it all, innit?

It boils down to a few things, they're already living together, Cody has his room, Hyde has theirs, they have their routine built up already and it's just something ridiculous like getting taxes and realising it would be cheaper to be married, they already own a business together. Or maybe because the idea springs up and why the fuck not? Living without you would feel like losing a part of myself, so they sit down over breakfast and discuss it a bit and what a big wedding would and include but instead go, 'it feels right this very moment, doesn't it?' and Hyde asks how to say the words, it's not like they've looked them up beforehand and tried to see how they'd feel on their tongue, right?

Because here's a small fun fact, Hyde doesn't want a big wedding. They're terrified of the idea.

An after party? Fuck yeah! Big wedding? Hell no.

So knowing of a mandalorian wedding would be them being together and saying words and that is enough? Everything Hyde could ever dream of. Those two can deal with the outrage of it all afterwards because that is still Cody, The Marshal and one of the most well-known figures of the war and you married in your ratty lil kitchen?????

And for Cody, getting married was absolutely never on his agenda, he's still learning to live without a war. But I think something he really, really wants on those days that he's soft and comfortable and not worrying about literally everyone else but himself because man, that savior complex is seated in his fucking Bones, he just wants a bit of peace. And in front of people would mean a shit ton of responsibility and stress and chaos and him spiraling again in ways he does not want to touch, you know? Afterwards, he'll probably get all of his siblings together, plan the whole thing by himself and make sure that everybody is taken care off, but that little thing stays between them.

(also sending u so much energy for that summer! I've watched one of my sibs spent pretty much all of may to september going to weddings. there were like three free weekends, shit can get exhausting.)

[casspurrjoybell-29]

Enduring Ties - Chapter 5 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

This military camp was far larger than the old one and full of a fresh set of leering faces and suggestive comments aimed in Cailan's direction.

They didn't bother Cailan terribly much anymore.

He knew he was safe with his master at his side and there was nothing new in the things they said.

It infuriated Liam, however.

He knew better than to challenge anyone in a brand new place where he knew so few people but by the time the four of them made it to their new tent his teeth were clenched and he was squeezing Cailan's hand hard enough that it hurt.

Liam took a deep breath in, let it out, then looked down at their joined hands and released his grip.

"Sorry, love. Did I hurt you?"

Cailan shook his head and stroked the back of Liam's hand.

"I'm sorry they upset you."

"You're sorry? No, I'm sorry those filthy animals talk to you like you're a common whore. They have no class. They don't understand what you are or how you should be treated."

"Don't think they really care," Tris commented as he tossed his bags down on the floor of the tent.

"I don't either, actually but I'm pretty polite to whores too."

Liam let out a long sigh.

"You know, sometimes I hate it here but then I think back to how my family treated him, how my school friends did when I let them near him and I realise the only difference is that the language they used was less crude. They were no kinder to him."

"Yeah, I mean, that is kind of the thing with being a slave, right? Doesn't get you a whole lot of respect."

"Can you not have power over someone without being cruel to them?"

"I guess but if what you want and what someone else wants are the same thing or if they're not but you're not gonna do anything about it, what do you need power over them for? Power's for making people do what you want instead of what they want, right?"

"I suppose you could describe it that way but it doesn't have to be an awful thing. We're all part of power structures, whether in our work or in our personal relationships. They can be caring and mutually beneficial."

"Listen, I'm not trying to make any statement on your personal relationship with your slave. I don't know anything about any of that. All I'm saying is once you scale it up to the whole thing, to the institution of slavery, things are gonna get ugly because the whole point is not giving them a choice in things because if you did they wouldn't wanna be your property."

"I do," Cailan said.

He didn't normally intrude on Liam's conversations but Liam was starting to look upset.

"I want Liam to be my master. I want to serve him."

"Huh, okay," Tris said. "I'm glad you're doing what you want to be doing."

Liam's eyebrows lifted.

"What, no lecture about how he's been brainwashed into it?"

"I mean that seems like a thing that could be true but I don't know shit about shit so what am I actually gonna say? And what would the point be? He's still gonna be a slave. If he's happy, well... good. I'm glad."

"Well, I appreciate..." Liam started to say but he was interrupted by the sound of someone smacking the side of the tent near the flap.

That was the equivalent of knocking on a door in these places.

Without waiting for a response, a man with curly dark brown hair stuck his head through the flap.

"Ah. You're here. Hello."

"Hamish," Tris said as the man entered the tent.

"Liam, this is Hamish, the man who made this all possible."

"Oh, Hamish," Liam said. "It's nice to meet you. I've heard a lot about you."

"People do tend to have a lot to say about me."

Hamish's attention narrowed in on Cailan and his head tilted ever so slightly to the side.

"Wow, you do look like you were expensive. Is your hair real gold?"

"No, sir, just hair," Cailan murmured.

Liam's wrapped his arm around Cailan's waist.

"I can give you a few strands from his brush if you're curious but I do ask that nobody but myself touches him. I hope that was communicated clearly and that we have an understanding."

"Relax. About the only thing that turns me off is timidity. And women, I suppose."

Hamish thought for a moment.

"No, actually, women are fine, they just don't turn me on. An important distinction under the right circumstances."

"Well, I... yes," Liam said. "What about everyone else? I'm told it should be safe to leave Cailan alone in the tent here."

"He'll be fine," Hamish assured him. "We have a bit of a community here and as a community we have a bit of a reputation. Of having sex with one another. That's our reputation. Which is an issue because it's technically illegal, and more importantly icky, at least in some people's eyes. Anyway, the point is that none of us would be all that safe alone but we have our tents together here and we keep an eye on one another and nobody bothers us all that much."

"Thank you, I appreciate it," Liam said. "There was a tent where slaves could be left during the day at our old camp but I really dislike leaving Cailan with other slaves."

"Why? Isn't it good for him to be able to make slave friends?"

"See, I thought so too but they're mostly poorly trained children who are treated quite cruelly by their masters. It's not a healthy environment for him. It was a situation there that prompted me to make this move, in fact. A man came into the tent while Cailan was there,and while he only touched his own slave he did it in front of the others. In front of Cailan. I don't want Cailan exposed to that sort of thing."

"That's fair," Hamish said. "I wouldn't like to see that either."

Cailan bit down on the inside of his cheek to suppress a frown.

Liam had been upset about that situation when Cailan had told him about it but he hadn't brought it up since.

Certainly not in relation to this move.

He had been excited for the promotion and had talked about getting to see Cailan more but nothing else.

Liam pressed a kiss on the side of Cailan's forehead and murmured...

"I know."

"Hmm?" Hamish asked.

"Oh, I didn't tell him that was what motivated all of this," Liam explained. "It makes him feel guilty when I prioritise his needs but on balance I think it's more important that he understands that I will."

Cailan ducked his head.

He hadn't told Liam about that incident expecting him to do anything about it or even with the intention of seeking sympathy.

It had simply been something Cailan thought Liam ought to be aware of.

In retrospect, he wasn't at all surprised that Liam hadn't forgotten about it as quickly as he had pretended.

As upside down as it seemed, Liam did prioritise Cailan's needs.

"Well, seems like everything is fine hare," Hamish said. "Welcome to the camp, hope you enjoy your time here, stay away from Simon he hates you on principle and if you need anything don't hesitate to come and see me."

"Uh..." Liam started to say but Hamish had already left. "Well, he's... interesting."

"You'll like him once you get to know him," Tris said. "Everyone likes Hamish."

"Oh, no, I think I already like him but he is strange."

"And he was looking at the two of you like he'd never seen anything like you before, so what does that make you?"

"Sometimes when things are mostly not very good, being strange is necessary," Liam said.

"Come on, Cailan. Let's see if we can find something to put those flowers of yours in before they wilt any more."

[ofgods]

   BEFORE MAKING THE DECISION TO FINALLY come back to the city, the one thing she promised was that she'd keep her feelings out of the equation. she needed to focus on making amends. after everything she's done, it's the only thing that seemed fair. at least until she's able to make things right, but her love for him has only grown in magnitude over the last eight months. and now that she's seen him? shared space, spoken to him, touched him? it's getting harder to keep her heart from reaching out to him the same way it always has. despite the internal struggle, she laughs at his response.   ❝  you can tell me whatever you want. i'll always listen, even if i don't actually listen.  ❞   she's never been good at that.   ❝  except i feel i should share that every moment spent with you makes it to the top of my favourites list, so it seems neither of us have to do anything special except just be.  ❞   it's nice knowing it's something he still wants to do for her too though.

   her head shakes before giving an answer that would seem to any passerby as being too serious considering the topic, but anyone who knew her would know it's on brand for her. all important things deserve to be taken that way and there's nobody more important to her than him.   ❝  of course not, ya goof.  ❞    heart is a big piece of the puzzle and anyone with a brain knows he has that in spades.   ❝  if your preferred way to practice was strictly through your baking, it wouldn't make you less than. it'd just make your magic yours―but i'm happy to hear you've improved!  ❞   and she is. even if she's disappointed she wasn't around to witness and share in any of the joy that came with his process; she knows she can only blame herself. there's also a twinge of sadness that comes with the thought of how this is proof that he not only wants to move on, he's also actively been doing so. not that she blames him, obviously. all she's ever wanted was for him to be happy, but she'd be lying if she said the thought of him finding that with someone else didn't sting.

   his comment brings another wave of bitter sweetness and while she tries to keep it from leaking onto her features, she doesn't think she's entirely successful considering the feeling only grows as he shares his dream experiences. she keeps quiet throughout, even allowing the silence to hang around after he's finished. a million apologies weigh on the tip of her tongue, though she doesn't let them leave her mouth. it'd be wrong to offer them in a way that feels as if she were doing so in passing. he deserves more than that, deserves better. once she's swallowed them down, she makes good on her end of the bargain and shares some of her own. given her habit of keeping a dream journal for writing purposes, she remembers them with ease.   ❝  mine always felt like new memories, but they were of the same stuff we usually did: us tending to the garden i insisted we make work in our apartment, sharing the jams and marmalades we made together at the end of a season with our neighbours, serenading each other with whatever song came on shuffle while we did chores, me surprising you with a huge blanket fort on date night complete with take out and a movie we never paid attention to. you know, things like that.  ❞   she even dreamed of introducing him to her dad during a trip to philly. that's a story for another day though.   ❝  and that's partly true. i mean, based on what science-minded people will say about dreams, they're reflections of our subconscious and all that. however, it's also believed that some energy vibrations can't reach you when you're awake.  ❞   empirical evidence, while important, isn't the end all, be all of everything. aurea's of the opinion that some things can't be explained, only experienced. she adds on softly,   ❝  i think we made a presence because we were both thinking of each other.  ❞

   her heart soon stutters at his reaction, nearly melting at the sight. there are no words to describe just how empty her life has been without him in it and while she already knew that to be true, there's no mistaking it now.   ❝  that's good to hear because if you tried, we already know i'm not above batting my eyes.  ❞   she says playfully. it was never a trick or something she used to get her way, she only did it because she liked to see the smile he gave every time he indulged her. that and it worked as another excuse to eat away any space that was between them when the moment occurred.   ❝  i think you're always obvious about how you feel,  ❞   something she appreciates, though maybe some of that comes from how connected they are. regardless of the months away from one another, she'd still like to include herself on the list of people who know him best. with the bitterness having finally subsided, her features now bled only love.   ❝  but as a wise man once said, it's nice to hear either way.  ❞   she quickly works to finish wrapping the bouquet he originally came for then walks back to stand in front of him to show it off. she reaches out with her free hand to touch him again as she volleys the sentiment back.   ❝  i'm glad you did too. really, really glad.  ❞   even the universe is saying they should be in each other's lives. isn't it? her hand drops as she turns away,   ❝  anyway, let's put these babies in the cool room while you tell me everything you've wanted to share.  ❞

With his eyes locked on her, he felt like his memory hadn't done her any justice. It hadn't managed to perfectly capture that beautiful smile of hers or how happy and warm it always made him feel when it was directed at him. He was so sure he could've gotten lost in it and the strong sense of home that her presence gave him if her words weren't looping distractingly around in his head. It was hard not to let I'm still going to work hard, though feed into the hope that they'd find a way to work through things, or at the very least, that they'd still be in each other's lives to some capacity in the future. "I guess it wouldn't really be fair of me to keep telling you that you didn't have to while intending to do the same thing for you." His own indirect way of saying he wanted to spend more birthdays, and time in general, with her hung in the air.

There was no use in denying she was right, she knew him too well. Sometimes it almost felt like she could read his mind, which he thought would only really be a problem if he wanted to surprise her with something. That minor problem aside, there was something special about being known that well by someone else. "Do you have to also be good at cooking to be a kitchen witch? Because I don't think I have that down quite yet." A little laughter trailed after his understatement. Even though he gave it his best effort each time, there was always something at least a little off about his cooking. It was sort of perfect then that she was much better at it. "It's improved a little bit though, I think." Any improvement to his cooking skills in the last eight months was largely thanks to Danny. Baked good in exchange for cooking tips and a little company from a friend was a pretty good deal as far as Marcus was concerned.

Whether or not it was a good idea to continue to flirt as if she didn't disappear on him wasn't a debate that crossed his mind. He was far too busy trying to make sure his body didn't follow after hers as she returned to her original position, already missing the brief closeness they shared. "I'd always consider them sweet." It was a bold statement, all things considered, but he stood by it. A thoughtful expression passed over his features as if he was busy carefully selecting what dreams to share, because of course he was going to share something, just as eager to hear what her dreams were. "It's usually a bunch of little day-to-day things, but you know with something a little off in the background." He started, not intending to leave the description so vague while also knowing a lot of the clearer details were lost after he first started to wake up. "Like one time it started back in California at some bakery I used to pass all the time and it was a whole stressful mess, but then we were suddenly talking on the phone. I don't remember anything about the conversation, just that the dream was a lot more peaceful from that point forward. Or there'd be ones where I honestly couldn't tell you what was happening in the dream prior, but they'd usually end at some point after coming home to you." Maybe there was a twinge of pain to be found in those dreams, though nothing about his voice or expression gave that away. "I just assumed you popped up in my dreams in little ways like that because I thought about you a lot." It was hard not to as it often felt like there were so many tiny reminders of her all around him or just small things he was used to immediately telling her about when they were still together.

It almost felt like he was in a dream now, hearing the words please stay. In a way, maybe he should have expected to hear something along those lines with how their conversation progressed, but it still managed to catch him a little off guard. Externally, he was quick to recover, the briefest look of surprise vanished behind a bright smile as he followed her through the shop. Internally, however, there was an odd mix of giddiness and uncertainty. Despite that confusing mixture of emotions, he knew he did want to stay there with her. "How could I say no to that argument?" Whatever errands he was supposed to be running right now hardly felt important when he could be spending his time enjoying her company a bit longer now. His eyes stay on her as he soaked in her words before dropping down to the bouquet in his hand. The question of why she left started to bubble up, but he did his best to keep it to himself for the time being seeing as though they already agreed to have that conversation at a later time. "It's nice to hear either way." Admittedly, he would've felt a little foolish if he was the only one of them missing the other this entire time. "I missed you too, if that wasn't obvious." A sheepish laugh accompanied his words, feeling like he made very little attempts to conceal that or his feelings toward her in general. "I'm really glad I decided to swing by this place today."

[sagau-my-beloved]

um i read through all of this and realised this was quite lengthy so cw: long request haha

hello! first of all, i love all your works and i've been binge reading them the last few days- they give me so much serotonin, i can't- and secondly, i have a request! no pressure or anything, but how do you think the diffeent archons (or anyone else you want e.g. diluc, kaeya, jean for mondstadt) would be like fighting for Creator!reader's affection because they want to be the only one to spoil them? venti would definitely be more clingy (literally grabbing-onto-your-legs-so-you- won't-leave kind of clingy) whilst zhongli and ei might be more possessive in a subtler way, like taking them out on long trips in their own respective regions! maybe zhongli somehow remembers that he can literally create mora and somehow remembers to finally bring his wallet with him (only when he's with you though? childe is not happy about this.) zhongli also probably takes up most of your day just talking about osmanthus wine ngl- ei would probably get teased by miko quite a lot for worshipping you so grandly but still doesn't stop because like... obviously you're the creator, how could she stop worshiping you (for eternity you may say *wink wink*) she would definitely not hesitate closing off inazuma's borders just for you to stay there with her, only. ahaha anyways sorry this wasn't so venti focused and that this request was so long, be as liberal as you want with it :)) remember to take care of yourself and drink water! :DDDDD

Archons fighting for the readers affection:

I can't believe I have officially been branded as the Venti writer— 💀 /j

I swear I write for other characters anon, you gotta believe me, no need to apologize for requesting non-Venti stuff, I promise

And here I am about to contradict myself by putting Venti first-

Warnings: general sagau, yandere shenanigans, vague descriptions of violence, manipulation, codependency, the works

-

Venti:

• So I have to start by saying all the Archons are going to play incredibly dirty

• Venti in particular isn't the type to try and keep you somewhere, unlike the other two—

• He's the God of Freedom of course, it would simply be hypocritical to keep you locked away in his domain

• He makes up for it by going everywhere with you, though

• He's simply desperate for your attention, enough so that he will deal with being away from his precious city if you would prefer to spend your time in somewhere like Liyue

• Might question you on why you would prefer to spend your time there though, is Mondstadt not good enough? Is there anything he could do to make it better??

• Hates hates hates you talking to other people, he gets such an unpleasant feeling in his chest when your eyes aren't on him

• Not above cutting other people off and making a bit of a scene when you're not at least conscious of him being in the room

• Might let you talk to people if he gets to touch you in some way while you're doing it

• Will make a show of nuzzling into you and holding you as close as possible to show the other person they're not nearly as important to you as him

• Will complain to you as soon as the other person is no longer visible, whether they're out of earshot or not

• "It's no fair, you shouldn't need to talk to anyone but me you know. Anything you need done I can do, and they can fix their own problems without you like they did before."

• You can practically hear the bitterness in his voice

• He might actually start hiding offerings you received from others, it's not like you need worship from other people when you have him

• Would never pass other people's offerings off as his own though, believes that he's above doing that and he can provide for you himself

• He's absolutely not above slandering others though

• "You were talking with Ei for a pretty long time earlier you know... I'm surprised you still regard her so highly when she was directly responsible for so many deaths of her own people. Is that something you admire?"

• You better say a very clear and concise "no" to that statement, otherwise you might just find a certain Archon following in her footsteps

• Of course he is willing to change how he acts based on your preferences, what kind of follower would he be if he couldn't do that much for you?

• You seem to like Zhongli a lot, would you like him to be more serious?

• You and Childe we're laughing together the other day right? So is chaotic violence more to your taste? Maybe a sacrifice or two is an order—

• You always seem to smile at the mention of Thoma, he can act like a spouse too you know, you only need to ask and he would gladly cook and clean and praise you with that sweet tone of his

• Venti has quite a bit of experience pretending to be other people, so feel free to tell him exactly who you want him to be and he'll be more than happy to oblige~

-

Zhongli:

• Polite and formal as always, he would certainly never resort to such an undignified display as his fellow Archon

• Prefers to simply just consume your time instead

• Oh you're free? Well, if it's not too much of a bother, maybe you could help him with some of his responsibilities, they just never seem to stop piling up

• Of course, that would keep you in Liyue for awhile, but it's not as if you would prefer to be anywhere else, right?

• His is one of the few nations that doesn't have a ruling Archon, perhaps you could fill that spot for awhile? His people would be forever grateful

• Liyue is always so busy, so much to do, so many problems that just happened to pop up unexpectedly, really it needs you

• And who knows Liyue better than its very own former Archon?

• He's more than happy to help, he wouldn't dream of letting you tackle this stuff alone

• And if some of these many problems require a more hands on approach, maybe stopping by a particularly fancy restaurant to grab something to eat on the way isn't a horrible idea

• He promises to pay, of course he could never force you to take up such a responsibility when you're already helping him so much as it is

• Oh, look, someone needs assistance down near the docks, and the sunset is just so beautiful from there, it would simply be a shame not to stay and watch, wouldn't it?

• And you're always so tired at the end of the day, running around helping people out, the oh so merciful God you are

• You certainly wouldn't decline him picking up the slack in that department, right?

• Of course you're staying with him, no question about it, and he's just so grateful at the opportunity to take care of you like this, away from prying eyes

• You're needed in Inazuma? Well that can't be right, surely Ei can take care of it herself, you can't just abandon these people that have grown so dependent on you here

• "I strongly urge you to rethink your decision. I understand its been a while, but you're needed here much more than anywhere else. Are you not enjoying your stay? Have I not provided enough for you to want to stay?"

• It doesn't matter if you say yes or no, the idea that you're having these thoughts in the first place is concerning enough

• So Zhongli will simply double down, you wouldn't dream of leaving if there happened to be slightly more dangerous and important crises going on, right?

• Maybe certain monsters are starting to get a bit too close to town, there's a stirring in the water that could mean trouble for the future, it seems as if the integrity of some of these old buildings is waning as you now have to deal with the result of more than a few unexpected collapses

• You've got your work cut out for you, there's no way you could even dream of going anywhere with the amount of trouble Liyue is being put through

• And Zhongli is always there at the end of the day, praising and providing, helping you relax from your incredibly stressful day in all ways possible

• What would you do without him?

-

Ei:

• Now she's certainly the type to be a bit more forceful about everything

• Inazuma is more beautiful than Liyue and Mondstadt combined, it's vast and different depending on where you are, what could you hope to get anywhere else?

• She's perfectly capable of providing anything you could desire you know, from food to clothing to scenery

• And if you really want something else it can easily be imported

• Ei is the only one out of the three that's still actually recognized as an Archon, she has more authority than both of them put together, she is obviously the most capable of providing for you

• So gtting in and out of Inazuma can still be considered difficult, and it's going to stay that way

• I mean, you're are already here, no reason to make you leaving any easier

• She takes pride in making it so that you don't have to lift a finger

• Now, she wouldnt go as far as to actually lock the room you're staying in, but she does want to know where you are at pretty much every given moment

• "Your grace? Why didn't you alert me that you were going for a walk? I went to your room and you weren't there. Honestly you gave me quite a scare, tell me next time and I'll accompany you ok?"

• You're kind of like her comfort place

• She has a reputation to keep up of course, so acting even the slightest bit soft in public isn't an option

• But around you she can strip that persona for a bit, slip into the role of the one who is cared for and not the one who has to care for so many others

• As such, Ei constantly tries to come up with excuses to see you, to pull herself away from work for at least some time

• The reason she ends up defaulting to about 95℅ of the time is gifts

• There were beautiful flowers outside that she just had to give to you, a specific dish was made exactly to your liking and it was going to get cold otherwise, perhaps the things you requested from way out in Mondstadt came in recently and she felt the need to hand deliver it to you

• No matter what the current excuse is, you're going to end up seeing her more than your fair share before the day is over

• She's a bit too stubborn, or maybe just too embarrassed, to out right ask for affection, but it's not difficult to pick up on the way her touches linger, how she looks at you in a way that can barely cover the heavy desire to lay some claim to you

• It annoys her immensely whenever others decide to act clingy towards you right in front of her

• You are a guest in her domain, it's incredibly unbefitting and disrespectful for them to lay a single finger on you here

• If her looks were as sharp as her sword, their hand would be cut off rather quickly, but she does manage to restrain herself in your presence

• That person is just rather lucky they aren't alone, or it would be a different story entirely

• As much as she hates you leaving, there is no way for her to outright forbid you from doing so, and suffocating you here would only cause you to hate this place, and, by extension, her, all that much more

• Doesn't stop her from keeping tabs on you whenever you aren't in Inazuma though, she has a large network of informants

• And if it looks as if you are in even the smallest amount of danger, she won't hesitate to bring you back here herself

• Back to safety, back to a place where she can keep a closer eye on you, a place where she can personally protect you

[cherrydreamer]

(@mourntheantagonist Happy Early Birthday! I hope you have an amazing birthday week!🎂This little present of a ficlet was entirely inspired by your Billy Hargrove's Exploration of Beauty series and I hope you didn't mind me dabbling in your universe (cause you KNOW how much I adore those fics!))

💅

It all starts when Claudia Henderson decides to try her hand at being an Avon Lady, as a way of earning a little extra money for the holidays.

She's definitely not the most glowing rep for the brand, and she doesn't go in for all the parties and the home makeovers, but she's no stranger to brushing on a little mascara and a bit of lipstick, and there's something about her more natural look that seems to resonate with the less glossy of the Hawkins' housewives. And, more importantly for her customers, their deliveries always come with a few free samples of Claudia's baked goodies, and a little helping of local gossip.

Although there's one customer who doesn't partake in those extra little perks. Susan Hargrove. Max's mom. As much as Claudia would like to get to know her, Susan's booklet and neatly filled out order form are returned by Billy whenever he drops Max off, and he's also the one who picks up her packages, taking the paper bag with a couple of shiny blue tubes and compacts and insisting that Susan asks him to do it to save Claudia the hassle.

It's strange. There's something about it Claudia can't quite work out. Because no matter how many lip glosses or eyeliners or nail varnishes that Susan orders, her look never seems to change. And it gets stranger still when she runs into Susan at the grocery store, and takes the opportunity to ask her whether she liked the surprisingly bold lipstick she ordered recently, only for Susan's face to screw up in confusion before she shakes her head and says she's not ordered anything for the last few months.

Claudia smoothes it over. Apologises and says she must be getting muddled. But as she carries on shopping, it all falls into place. Billy must be buying these things for a girlfriend. A sweetheart. It's romantic really, not the kind of thing she'd have thought would cross the mind of a boy like him. But hey, mustn't judge. And everyone gets a little bit silly when they're in love. And he's not harming anyone, so she lets it slide. Keeps up the pretence for the next few orders. Hands over 'Susan's' packages with little more than a smile. But eventually she cracks, she can't help it, she's curious, and so the next time Billy comes to collect an order, Claudia gives him a knowing wink when she hands it over and says "I know this isn't for Susan, sweetie."

But her cheery smile drops at the expression that floods Billy's face, the way his face goes pale, his eyes big and wide and full of fear, and she wonders if he's embarrassed at being caught out. So she forces that smile back onto her face, and tries to reassure him. She reaches out, taking his trembling hand in hers, an ache in her heart when he flinches back from her gentle touch. And she knows there's something more here. Something bigger than she thought.

"Are you selling it?" She asks, trying desperately to think of any other explanation, "To make a little money for yourself? That's OK, hon, it's clever, actually. Maybe we could go into business together, you could-"

But Billy just shakes his head, clutching the package to his chest.

"Oh," Claudia sighs, "But you're getting it for someone else, right? A girlfriend?"

Billy shakes his head, and Claudia tries again,

"Oh! Is it for Max? Oh honey, does her Mom not want her wearing it? Or, well, her stepdad? He seems a little..." She trails off before she reveals her true feelings about a certain Neil Hargrove, "Maybe I should have a word with Susan. I know I don't have a daughter, but I know it's nothing for her to be worried about. Lots of girls want to experiment with their looks at her age. It's normal."

And that's when Billy absolutely breaks. When his face crumbles and his lip quivers and he shoves the package back into Claudia's hand as the truth comes spilling out before he can hold it back.

"It's mine, OK? It's for me. All that shit in there, I've been getting it for me."

And Claudia gets it then. And ok, it is definitely something more, something a little bigger. But it's nothing she can't handle. She didn't spend a year working as a seamstress for a Parisian drag bar without learning a few things about life. So she makes sure that her smile doesn't even falter, and she taps a finger on the parcel in her hands, "Well then," she says, voice light and breezy, "In that case, let me swap out that eyeshadow. The silver is nice but, honestly honey? The gold is going to be much more your colour."

[zz-chikorita]

Are any of the characters in your Jolly Rogers series wimps when it comes to watching horror? Is anyone a movie buff, or perhaps REALLY into something like the MCU, or a movie snob in some way? If they had a movie night, would they argue over what movie to watch, or all want to see the same thing?

Leon. Is. The. Biggest. Horror. Wimp.

After watching something scary, he can't be by himself and thus will usually have Charizard out with him everywhere he goes, including within his own flat. If he's having trouble sleeping, Char will sleep with the front half of his body on Leon like he's a big ol' weighted blanket.

Leon's favorite thing to do was to put his hands on his hips and puff out his chest, getting all up into Rai's face and forcing their chests to touch. Of course, to anyone else, it looks like they're doing some sort of manly posturing, but in reality, Leon is communicating to him something along the lines of "You got me worked up you rat bastard now find us some privacy and take responsibility."

Also, Raihan loves scary movies, so Lee would watch them with him and then get extremely clingy for the next couple days; he always had to be close by Rai, leaning against him, arms wrapped around him, or curling up in his lap when they're in private. In public, if they walk together, they would always be brushing shoulders.

They've actually had a whole system in place for a long time of various gestures and excuses to touch each other in public that, from the outside, simply look like friendly rivalry. Things like a pat on the shoulder, a light shove, pulling Leon's snapback or Rai's headband down over their eyes. It's all an unspoken code for "I am with you," "I'm still here," "I love you."

Ah, but I've gotten off track.

Guzma is indifferent to horror. He'll watch it cuz Plums enjoys it, but it doesn't really bother him. He's really not a big movie guy in general. There's maybe a few he really likes, but for the most part he doesn't care. He blames it on his shit attention span- courtesy of his many concussions. Guzma gets bored too easily and usually ends up falling asleep during anything they watch. However, the big bad boss man does love himself some cartoons. He used to be embarrassed about it but now he don't give a fuck. If there exists a pokemon world equivalent of Ed, Edd, n Eddy, he would watch the shit out of that cuz I feel like that would be exactly his brand of comedy.

Really the only other thing he'll watch is nature documentaries. Of course, they have to be about bugs. If it's about anything else, he'll fast forward until he gets to the bug stuff. Strangely, he still gets embarrassed from time to time about watching them.

Plumeria is extremely well read and she's also very well versed in the art of film. She loves watching and picking apart movies and watching horrible thrillers or scifi to laugh about the horrible sfx. She loves the MCU just so she can tear it apart for its lackluster writing and gratuitous use of cgi.

Guzma will sit and watch all that stuff with her and listen to her go on and on about it. He doesn't follow half of it, but he listens anyways because he knows how much she loves it.

Based on his personality and demeanor, what movie, or genre of movie, do y'all think he'd pick in this situation? Scifi? Comedy? Drama? Something sophisticated to try and impress Leon? Maybe something scary to try and get the champ to grab onto him in a dark room? Whaddya think?

Just some other quick thoughts on smaller characters: 'Lani loves crime dramas and standup comedy. A. and B. like watching YouTube let's plays together. Charizard enjoys sitting and watching footage of battles with Leon. Golisopod won't watch TV, he'd rather go sit somewhere quiet and meditate. Nanu watches the news and occasionally a telenovela he can't even understand because that's all that's on when he can't sleep at like 4am.

Whenever Team Skull as a whole has a movie night there is so much arguing. Plumeria is obviously the mediator while Guzma is pretty indifferent, unless it's like, a really shitty Adam Sandler movie. It sometimes, but not always, ends with Guzma slamming his fist down and picking one of whatever they're all arguing about so they can all just shut up and watch something. If Leon were to join them on a movie night, all the grunts would be wanting him to watch their favorite movies and asking him what he's seen and what he hasn't. Guzma actually starts getting jealous and ends up putting in effort and picking out one of the few "big boy" (<- Plumeria's words) movies he likes.

[twitcherpated-replies]

Yeah I read it as a kid and it left a very lingering impact on me

to that end >__> I'm actually gonna elaborate/write out more rules for Desmond, some of which contradicts your response, I hope that's okay

William doesn't write the things he discovers about Desmond's affliction down. Leaving a paper trail of a secret is too basic of a rookie mistake for him to make.

Instead, he repeats the rules to himself, over and over, and has Desmond do the same, until they're branded in memory, unforgettable.

Orders can be recieved via writing, spoken word, even hand-sign. But they must be intentionally directed at Desmond; general orders to a crowd don't promp a response, and a written memo intended for someone else diverted to Desmond is just words on paper.

Desmond can't give himself orders, but he can modify the orders he's been given, to an extent. If Bill tells him to run a mile, Desmond can delay following the order far past the obvious intention, telling himself that he *will* run the mile, he fully intends to, just *not yet.* There is some discomfort, but it's manageable.

The trick, Desmond finds, is that he has to actually mean it. His dad wants him to use logic loopholes and finicky turns of phrase to wriggle out of orders, but it's not like that. He can't hear someone say "Go away, Desmond," and pretend they didn't mean right away just so he can wait until they say "Come here" again. He has to actually *intend* to go away, in a second, a minute, whatever. He can't just be waiting on a counter command; he has to *believe* that what he's doing actually falls under the intent of the order.

He tries to tell his dad that, but William isn't really all that keen on the whole *intentions* aspect of all this. It seems kind of obvious to Desmond, from what he's been able to find out about Apples, the thing his dad was experimenting with. They ran on intent, yeah? You could make someone do what you *wanted* them to do. So now Desmond's all wrapped up in what other people want.

They didn't experiment a lot with other people giving him orders before he left the Farm, since his dad wasn't going to let anyone else know. But it was enough to figure out that how much someone meant an order changed how it affected Desmond.

Most orders were this sort of soft, aching burn that built slowly over time. A few minutes, maybe. And then Desmond would have time to try to figure out how to get someone to counter command it, or to accompolish it in a non-suspicious way, or whatever he had to do.

It was only his dad's orders that had him gasping almost immediately. His dad, his trainer, his mentor--in any role, Bill expected total and immediate obdience from him, and it carried through with Desmond's condition. Most orders faded in intensity with time, even if they didn't have an endpoint built in: Be good, stay quiet, don't touch that. Depending on how serious the person was, how much they meant it, he'd be free of it when they left, a few hours from then, a week. Because no one expected to be listened to forever.

No one, except his dad.

It was his dad's idea, to find out what happened if he resisted an order completely. Desmond knew, in the way a twelve-year-old knows, what would happen, if he didn't follow directions and just let that pain grow and grow and grow: he would die.

"Don't be overdramatic," his dad said. (Desmond didn't think he was being overdramatic, but still he felt a burn in his throat, cautioning him against saying anything more.) "We can't know what will happen until we test it in a controlled environment." (My existence is a controlled environment, Desmond doesnt say.)

The first try is simple. "Hold your breath as long as you can." Bill doesn't mean it, that much, since it's part of a test. So it's a slower burn, as Desmond keeps breathing, big, deliberate gulps of air, getting quicker and shallower as time progresses. He tries to disobey, he does. But it gets all weird, when the longer he disobeys, the less he can breathe, and he knows that's the point, which means he kinda *is* holding his breath, and in the way his dad meant, even.

So. The first test is a failure.

It's a few weeks before they try again. There are other tests in the meantime. But this one, this one's important. They need to know what the consequences of failure are, his dad says. And they have to be careful finding them out, because he doesn't want to hurt Desmond.

(Desmond hurts all the time, now. But he knows what his dad means. He doesn't want to *really* hurt him, doesn't want to *affect his performance*, to *damage* him. Because he cares about him. Right?)

So he takes his time, devising a test that will really make Desmond reach his limit, that he can still be pulled back from.

It's very simple: between his two hands, Desmond holds an inflated red ball, about the size of his head. William tells him, "Drop the ball." Desmond doesn't,

until he does.

He doesn't make it as far as actually passing out. Not this time, or with any of the tests his dad devises. He feels like he can see the thoughts ticking behind his dad's eyes, the ways he could give Desmond a more impossible order, one that wouldn't be so easy to fulfill when Desmond was too wracked with pain to even think. One he was destined to fail, just to finally see what the fail state was, to know for sure.

He doesn't. But Desmond thinks, given enough time, he might decide it's worth the risk, someday.

Every night--or, as the novelty wears off and William goes back to a more distant parenting, every night that William is home--he orders Desmond to keep his condition a secret. "Never Tell anyone about this. Don't try to give them hints or help them guess, don't confirm it if they *do* guess. No one can ever know besides you and I." Every night, layering order upon order upon order, until it gives Desmond heartburn to even think about what it might be like for someone else to know.

It stays with him, after he runs away.

He wears earplugs pretty much all the time, when he first runs. Casual orders aren't that strong, but he's twitchy and scared and has no idea what to expect, and it feels a lot safer to put a barrier between himself and anything anyone might have to say. He gets a cheap pair of headphones and a CD player from someone at a greyhound station and alternates between music and cotton-stuffed silence.

He loosens up, eventually, in Chicago. He can't stay isolated forever, and he needs to be able to eavesdrop if he's going to figure this city out. And it's weirdly, not as big an issue as he thought it would be. People just don't really give him orders. Well, move out of the way, and move along, sure. But mostly people leave him alone. And when they do talk to him, there's not the expectation of command he'd grown used to, from his dad, sure, but also every assassin, that edge of authority, of expecting to be obeyed.

He keeps the CD player, gets better headphones, earplugs that aren't just wads of cotton, finds his way to New York and, years later, behind a DJ booth at a night club called Bad Weather. It's, Good. Better than he ever expected for himself, sixteen and scared, wondering how long it would be before he choked to death on refusal. He knows how to defuse things, knows how to delay when he can't do that, has sorta-friends, we work together and bitch about the same things anyway, that tell him to just breathe, relax, forget whatever it is and take fifteen in the alley behind the bar. They don't know why he needs to hear those words sometimes, but they give them anyway, and he gives back whatever he can. It's good. It's good.

It's one of those fifteen minute breaks, trying to shake off a stranger's invitation to join her in the bathroom, breathe and forget, breathe and forget--that Abstergo grabs him.

A bag over his head, muscled physiques on either side, and a sneering voice, "Don't make this any harder than it needs to be. Come with us, and you wont get hurt."

Desmond swallows down resentment, thick in his throat, and obeys.

time for another "are you familiar with":

Are you familiar with Ella Enchanted? because the idea just popped in my head of, William Miles, in his goal to make his son a better weapon, does something foolish. The assassins don't have any POE, not after the Purge, but they know about them, have studied the technology and made notes when they've had them in their possession.

William tries to create a POE, or at least, emulate the effects of one.

He doesn't start with human trials. He's not that wasteful. But the Apple in particular is *meant* to be used on humans, so it was always going to get there, eventually.

And maybe it was selfish of him. He can see how skilled his son is, silent, observant, a quick learner. He knows, *knows* that given time, Desmond can be the best of them. Can you blame a father for wanting his son to be even better than that?

But things go wrong, spectacularly so. The lab is a ruin; he'll have to start over from scratch, if he even chooses to.

Desmond isn't seriously hurt, thank goodness. He feels guilty, promises himself he'll put more safeguards in place, next time.

Only. Something about Desmond has changed. The boy, always eager to please, becomes even more so. William's barely issued an order before Desmond is seeing to it, at most a grimace of complaint.

Bill's experiment worked, in a way. The power of the Apple, replicated with human technology. Just, not in the way he intended.

It takes longer than it should, to realize something is wrong. To realize *what* is wrong.

When Desmond, eyes downcast, says, "I think there's something wrong with me," Bill thinks he's trying to avoid training. And sure enough, when he tells Desmond to get to it without any more complaining, Desmond does. But a few days later, nervously flexing his fingers and looking up at his father, something defiant in the expression, he says, as though trying to convince himself, "I'm not complaining. I'm just making a statement. I think something is wrong with me."

William raises his brow. "And what do you want done about it?" The boy needs to learn to say what he means. If he thinks he needs to see a doctor, he should say so. There won't be room in the field for imprecision.

To his surprise, tears well in Desmond's eyes, mouth twisting into a pout.

"Crying wont get you anywhere," he says. "Say what you mean."

"If I don't do whatever you say, I get hurt," Desmond blurts, all in a rush. His tears brim over and start rolling down his cheeks as he points in the center of his chest, "A hurt starts here, and it gets w-worse and worse, until it's l-l-like I c-can't breathe--"

"Stop crying," Bill snaps, and Desmond head snaps back like he's been punched. "You're not a baby, there's no need to talk like one."

The tears keep coming, Desmond brushing them away with a clenched fist, but he's not saying anything more, looking up at Bill with pleading, desperate eyes. A little whimper escapes him, and a wince as he clutches at his chest, where hed already been pointing, and it snaps together in a second, Bill going grey as a possibility blooms in his mind.

He doesn't counter his order right away. He waits a second. Two. Five. Ten. Thirty.

(He tells himself he was still putting it together. It was an outlandish proposal, and it took him time to understand. Somewhere, in the place he shovels his guilt into a compost pile from which arrogance grows, he knows that he waited on purpose. Just to see.)

Desmond falls to his knees, writhing, making noises of pain but no words, wheezing and crying, snot dripping from his nose, and something in Bill snaps, a switch flipping from fascination to horror and he reaches out for his son, pulling him into his arms, "It's alright, you're alright, breathe, breathe Desmond, you can cry, you can do whatever you need to do, just breathe."

It is the start of a whole new kind of training.

He finds the parameters of his son's new limitations. What triggers the response, exactly. If it can be avoided. How long Desmond can resist it, and what the consequences of doing so are. How to mitigate the effects of disobedience, to delay pain for when it can be managed. What happens when conflicting orders are given. If there are limits to what Desmond has to obey.

And he orders Desmond, in the strictest possible terms, to never, *ever* tell *anyone* about his weakness, lest they take advantage of it.

Because Desmond will still be an Assassin. Bill had his doubts, at first. But though it's a serious flaw, it can be managed. And in exchange, Desmond is well on his way to being everything William thought he would be. With his condition leaving no room to hold back, no room to doubt, only pushing and pushing and pushing himself to the milestones William *knows* he can reach, Desmond will be the best of them.

(and then Desmond runs away at 16 because literally *having* to follow every order your father gives you is a fucking nightmare, and spends 9 years unable to tell anyone the most important truth about himself *and* trying to avoid anyone figuring it out *and* avoiding running into any assassins because all they'd have to do to bring him home is tell him to go, and his dad won't let him get away a second time.)

I watched it… like… yeaaarrsss ago. I never read the book though XD.

Okay, so in this setup, Desmond’s ‘curse’ comes from the failed experiment to create a POE.

Not gonna lie, this sounds like it could have Evangelion-proportion of holy shit if we tip it to the other side of ‘William Miles recreating POE using Desmond’ but let’s focus on the idea that Desmond must do whatever is ordered of him.

So, in this setup, we need to get the limitation of Desmond’s curse: He feels pain when he disobeys this curse and his chest starts to hurt until he can’t breathe anymore.

What happens when he loses consciousness? Does the curse stop or will it continue to torment him until he dies?

If we go for the first ‘outcome’, this means Desmond could find a loophole by simply waiting until he faints. If it’s the latter then we can have our angst where Desmond contemplates if an order he does not like will be the final and only order that he will ever say no to.

Of course, we do have the ‘Desmond could order himself to no longer obey any orders’ to fall back into and we have an actual reason as to why Desmond never thought of ordering himself.

By the time he had left the Farm, he would have been so frightened by the power this ‘curse’ had on him that the idea that orders he gives himself might be something he had never done.

“I can do this” is a phrase normally uttered but not for Desmond. His own father had erased that phrase in his mind and all he knows is “You must do this”.

So, for him, he would never have thought of ordering himself even by accident and he would definitely try to keep to himself.

Maybe instead of being a bartender, Desmond lives a more isolated life.

He used the training he received (a training that was more painful than it should have been) and lived his life like a ghost, stealing what he needs when he knows no one would be there. A fear that had been ingrained in him when a security guard once tried to catch him by saying “stop!” and his body refused to move until the guard ordered something else.

Another possible solution is a character of your choice who is in love with Desmond ordering Desmond to “only listen to my orders!”. It’s a questionable solution but it will definitely be one that gives us the possibility of a… ‘hotter’ interpretation of his curse. XD

Although…

Soooooo…

You wanna read about an idea that’s quite screwed up and angsty?

Of course you do.

What if…

Desmond’s curse is auditory-only and Desmond realized it when Bill gave him an order via a small note? Any orders given to him that he didn’t hear didn’t count and Bill never realized it because Desmond still did as the note instructed.

But Desmond knew…

He knew that he found a loophole.

Now, his upbringing was fucked up but he never thought of harming himself. He has the self-preservation of a moth close to a flame, sure, but deliberately endangering himself had never crossed his mind.

That’s the reason why he chose to run away.

Because he wants to live.

But then he sees how dangerous it was for someone like him to be around people so he…

Drowns the sounds out.

Using every money he has, he buys the best headphones he could and just keeps listening to music.

He didn’t want to risk the possibility that lyrics could be used to command him so he only listens to music with no vocals, the louder the better.

Until he irreparably damages his ears. But he keeps going, keeps listening…

Because he didn’t realize that he was damaging his ears.

He just thought the headphones were damaged and that’s why his hearing wasn’t as good as before.

So he listened with higher and higher volumes, even tweaking his headphones so they would blast out music louder than they should be capable of.

Until…

Desmond could only hear the silence.

And that’s when he realized…

He was free from his curse.

Tears fell from his eyes and he could not hear the sobs that left his lips.

Were they happy tears?

They were supposed to be happy tears.

So why… why does his chest hurt so much?