#i messed around for quite a while until i found out what worked w my style and what didn't

[quirkle2]

OBSESSED with how you draw sans,,, he's so lovely and shaped!!!! and the expressions are beautiful, and that art has the Quirkle Thing where it's all soft and warm and like a visual hug. and the details are beautiful, you've converted me to the "sans has reading glasses" agenda and I'm stoked about it. anyway I love you, I love your art, I hope 2023 is gentle to you!

CRIES???? oh mgygod thank you,,, it's rly fun seein what aspects of sans meld w my style and which ones dont. the more cartoony facial structure lets me play around w it a lil bit and i can mess w clothing hanging off thin bones instead of muscles n skin ! so so glad u like it im always worried abt people not likin non-lu art of mine GVEYIAV

[banj0possum]

Hello, I'm the person who requested the yandere orc and I just wanted to say I loved it! At the end of that request I said I would ask for minotaur if you didn't do orc. But I still want to request yandere minotaur because I am a big fan of how you write yandere stuff. So can you please write yandere minotaur x reader.

(I would like it if the minotaur was just a hunk of muscle that no one would dare mess with, but becomes putty for reader. If you have another idea, use it!)

Flowers For My Cleric

Yandere! Minotaur x GN Reader

Edit!! Nsfw content removed! Replaced with some extra fluff!!

🌾 Ashvan was a part of a clan of warriors, ones that are feared and respected for their strength and brutality throughout the land.

🌾 He's seen fighters of all kinds from the biggest orcs and golitaths to the smallest goblins and kobalts. He's seen almost everything and everyone on the battlefield.

🌾 But nothing prepared him for you.

🌾 You looked so small and soft compared to everyone else. So out of place from the rough and tough warriors with bodies decorated in scars and tattoos.

🌾 It was during a welcoming feast that he first met you. You were the newest member of the clan and everyone welcomed you warmly.

🌾 He asked one of his close friends what your deal was and he learned that you were supposed to be their healer.

🌾 Vibrant music played in the tavern, but all he could see and hear was you and your adorable little laugh.

🌾 Your smile shined like the sun and your movements were so graceful and soft.

🌾 You went around meeting everyone, occasionally healing a fresh wound or two until he came face to face with you in all your glory.

🌾 "H-hi.."

🌾 "Hi!.."

🌾 He's almost crumbling at the sight of you. It's the first time he's ever been nervous.

🌾 Never before has he felt such a feeling, not even when he was facing the deadliest foes. How is a big and tough minotaur like himself shaking at the feet of such a gentle creature?

🌾 You start to laugh awkwardly the more he just kept staring at you. You pat his arm comfortingly before moving on to greet the rest of the clan.

🌾 It felt as if he was touched with the finest silk!

🌾 You'd run into him quite often while in the clan. You'd see him laughing with his friends with confidence and pride in his walk, but the moment you say hello, he'd be reduced to a stuttering babbling mess trying to say hi back. His friends would have to bring him away from you so he won't embarrass himself further.

🌾 "O-oh! Hello cleric! W-we were just uh..going to spar, you can join us if you want..b-but you don't have to! I mean you're probably busy but I would love to have you there..n-not to spar though! I mean you can..but you can watch..I-I'm not calling you weak or anything! You probably can take care of yourself pretty well, b-but if you ever need anyone to protect you, you know..o-only if you want to-"

🌾 He follows you around sometimes, pretending to be doing something else like carrying around some supplies or sharpening his weapon. When you turn away, he would have a lovesick smile on his face.

🌾 If you catch him staring, he'd panic and try to hide behind a barrel or crate, doesn't really help that he's a large minotaur. You'd giggle at the sight of a tall and fearsome creature hiding from you as best as he could with his tail and horns peeking through the crate.

🌾 "M-me? Hiding? Noooo! I-I don't need to hide! I-I'm a warrior!..heheh.."

🌾 His friends would try to help him out, telling him advice that may or may not work. I don't think gifting your crush the head of your enemies is pretty romantic though...

🌾 You would be fixing up your medical supplies when you feel a tap on your shoulder, you turn around and Ashvan would be towering above you, shakily offering you a small, sort of roughed up bouquet of wild flowers in his large cloven hand.

🌾 Some of the stems look a bit bent and most of their petals have fallen off, but it's cute either way.

🌾 "C-Cleric! I uhm...found these uhm..flowers and uh..thought of you!..Well they're small and cute..n-not saying you're small! I-I mean you are because I'm bigger and stuff and uhm...j-just take them.."

🌾 You giggle and thank him, taking the flowers from him. He huffs out from his snout as your hands touch. As you take the flowers from him, he grunts, nodding as he awkwardly walks away.

🌾 As soon as he's out of sight, he's giggling like a little schoolgirl at the thought of you liking his gift, he's going off to get more flowers for you if you don't mind.

🌾 He might confuse normal plants he finds cute as flowers, so you now have a vase full of yellow wheat he got from a field one day.

🌾 The first time he was sent to be healed by you was like being in heaven. He watched you closely as you gently healed the gash on his chest as if it was a seam on a fabric.

🌾 He took the time to study your face, how you stuck your tongue out or pursed your lips when you concentrate, or the way you ghost your delicate fingers over his rough skin, it took a lot not to swoon as you touched his chest.

🌾 "You're uhm...very good with your hands! hahah.."

🌾 Yes he steals your clothes, and its ok because you have more anyway that he'll also eventually steal...

🌾 He would get hurt on purpose to see you again and be touched by you, going to bed that night and fantasizing about you coddling and cooing over him. Hey! Even a big burly minotaur wants to be treated right!!

🌾 But for now, he's just a shy and nervous bull man who adores you from far away <3

[fandomgirl800]

Anchor

(Mr. Paradox x Reader)

Warnings: grammatical errors

!SPOILERS! for Deadpool & Wolverine

Word count: 2686

Summary: (Y/n) gets teleported to the TVA by agent Paradox who wants her to work for the TVA despite her being clumsy. It seems like a normal job, until…

(A/n): After 3 years of a break, I return with a fanfic that my friend inspired me to write (thank u 💐). There were no fanfics for Mr. Paradox, since the movie is still new, but I thought I could write a few. Also this is my first attempt to write for him.

(Y/n) fell through a portal in a smaller office with a scream. She was quite shaken up as she got up from the ground and looked around. The office was not very spacious, rather small, smaller than she was in for a day in her past jobs. In the middle of the small room was sitting a man in a suit, he looked almost bored.

"W-what...?"

"Before you start asking questions," he started with a very British accent and glanced at a file, with a frown. Then he gave her a questioning look, and there was the awkward silence. He took a deep breath and continued, pointing on a chair in front of his table, "Here, sit."

(Y/n) sat down quietly.

"I-I want to employ you..." he stuttered.

She raised her eyebrows, "Is this the office I sent the application to two weeks ago?"

"What?"

"You know you could have called, I am already employed in a different office as a secretary," she spoke quietly, but slightly smugly.

"No you're not," he rolled his eyes, "This is TVA or Time Variance Authority. I am an agent Paradox."

"Agent? Like... Avengers type of agent?" she raised her eyebrows, "Or just a normal agent? You know I haven't even sent my application here, you must have found my..."

"Enough!" he sighed, "(Y/n) (Y/l/n), if I may, you don't have a choice in deciding whether to work here or not, you will work here..."

(Y/n) slightly frowned, her eyes carefully scanning Mr. Paradox, "Okay 'agent'..." she scowled, "What are the details then, how do I work? Where? How much do I earn?"

He was the one to scowl now, "There are no such things... It seems like you still don't understand. Follow me," he pushed through the small space between the wall and his table, walking out from the small office. Glancing back on the doors, (Y/n) noticed that it said 'Janitor room'.

"Wait, you're a janitor?"

"No?" he scoffed, "The room is just in the stage of intense rebuilding on a proper office."

She nodded and followed him through the TVA, looking around. From time to time he glanced behind at her.

"We do manage time and space here," he spoke and pointed to multiple of the screens on the wall.

"Whoa... Are you sure this is a job for me?" she raised her eyebrow. Mr. Paradox looked very unsure, "Yes."

"Why me?"

"Because you're important for your timeline. You're the anchor," he pointed to a smaller branch, "I want you to work for us, for a special project of mine."

"Who is ‘us’?" she asked and looked around. There was no one behind the tables around them.

"The officers are not here currently..." he spoke and brushed his hair with his hand, "I could use a sandwich... Wait! No, don't touch that!"

He noticed (Y/n) reaching for a couple of buttons. She immediately drew her hand back, "Alright."

"You could have messed up the stats!"

She just stood there awkwardly, "Alright."

"No! That is not alright!" he said and noticed that another smaller branch was created, letting out a displeased grunt.

"I suppose you will fire me now boss..." she spoke timidly.

Mr. Paradox turned to her and sighed, "No! I didn't even begin showing you things around. You will get used to this."

He gave her a look up and down, "Come on, chop, chop, we shouldn't waste time."

(Y/n) was now wearing uniform for TVA agents, nervously fiddling with her hands.

Mr. Paradox still kept reading the same file over and over, while (Y/n) found something much more interesting in the archives. It was a woman named Tess. There was a picture of her, occupation - time agent, and with red letters - terminated. (Y/n) shut the file quickly.

Terminated?

Glancing back at Mr. Paradox, she noticed that he was blushing, shutting the file on (Y/n) that he was reading quickly and moving to another one.

"Uh- boss?" she asked quietly, "What happens to the agents that don't do well?"

Mr. Paradox turned to her on a squeaky chair, "They get re-schooled, or sent to the void. Why do you ask? Don't you have something better to do? I told you to look for the other anchors from other branches."

"But why?" she asked, "For TVA I would expect the place to be a little more electronic and less paper."

"Oh we have that, but we're not fully electronic," he said and fixed his red tie.

"Then why aren't we using the easier search method?" (Y/n) accidentally dropped a stash of files and they spilled on the ground.

Mr. Paradox uncomfortably gulped, "Because I... I can't get to the files right at the moment. You see they are fixing my access card and we can't get to those files without an access card."

(Y/n) would listen closer, but she noticed a file on agent Paradox. She quickly snatched it and placed it under her vest.

"Oh look at that time. I suppose we should go to have dinner," she said and hurried over to her employee room.

Agent Paradox walked to the smaller cafeteria place they had at the TVA, (Y/n) shortly followed. It didn't take much time, she noticed that most TVA agents, officers or even soldiers were looking at them.

They both picked up dinner quietly and went to sit.

"No, don't sit next to me..." he began whispering, but (Y/n) already sat down.

"Why not? You haven't told me that others don't look really friendly," she said and a look of fear crossed her expression.

Instead of answering he quietly ate his sandwich and walked away. That's when she realized that the TVA personel weren't looking at them both. Only at Mr. Paradox.

After hours, as she was explained that she would have to stay in TVA for some time, she walked to her room and lifted her pillow on the bed. The file was still there, it was very dusted. Proof that the electronic versions took the spotlight now.

She began reading the files to find that he attempted to go rogue a few times, failed an attempt to get a date, something called time ripper, attempted destruction of branches, stealing multiple sandwiches from the cafeteria... Of course, breaking rules, reschooling. So naughty...

(Y/n) sighed and then freezed. Attempted destruction of branches?

She remembered the moment when he explained to her how the anchors work. That she was the anchor. Also that without the anchors, the branches begin to slowly wither. Was that the reason she was here? He wanted to destroy her timeline?

(Y/n) ran through the TVA, looking for exit until she didn't bumped right into Mr. Paradox, which resulted in him spilling coffee on them both.

"You should watch where you're go- Oh (Y/n) it's you..." he spoke sighing, "I-"

"Yes I know... The coffee...I am sorry," she nodded and then noticed that he had someone following him, "Who's that?"

"That's your new co-worker, agent... I forgot his name. Now I have to go to change, excuse me," Mr. Paradox said with a very displeased tone and walked back towards his office.

"So agent (Y/l/n) is it? Didn't know you and Paradox were on the first name basis already," he teased, typical bad boy. That weird haircut, expression of a risk taker trouble maker.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

"You heard him clumsy... Agent 'I forgot his name'," he chuckled.

"You're being rude," (Y/n) tilted her head and frowned.

"Sorry beautiful, pleasure to meet you," he spoke and walked forward to the main room. Great. All those questions she had about agent Paradox and now she had an annoying co-worker. His words left a little blush on her face.

"Agent (Y/l/n)?" Mr. Paradox was standing in the doorway staring at her a bit coldly.

"Yes sir?" she turned to him. He looked almost quite sad.

"Go to work," he uttered and followed the newbie.

Time went by. She lost count of hours, possibly days she spent there. She wasn't exhausted, she wasn't aging, but she grew closer to her co-worker seeing and working with Mr. Paradox less and less. From time to time he walked to see them in the main place where they worked, giving them short glances.

(Y/n) almost forgot about the file she was hiding under the bed. It was getting dusted again. (Y/n) and the rebellious guy that she just called newbie - because he never told her his name - were building something from the spare parts. It was slowly beginning to look like a cube.

"Why do you think the boss wants this?" she asked, putting away a smart tool that she almost got cut with a few seconds ago.

"Whoa carefully darling, we don’t want you to get more clumsy than you are," the newbie spoke and pulled up his safety glasses, "I don't know. But he got me out of my world after some things went wrong."

(Y/N) could hear a nervous clicking from above where Mr. Paradox was sitting.

"By the way thank you for the flowers, I don't have a clue where you got them from. They made me happy. How did you know my favorite color?" she smiled. The chair above squeaked and Mr. Paradox walked away from his usual place.

"I didn't get you any flowers darling," the newbie shook his head clueless, "But I can next time."

She shook her head and looked up at the doors that closed the moment Mr. Paradox exited the room.

On lunch she didn't sat this time next to newbie, but next to Mr. Paradox, "You didn't had to go all Mr. Darcy on me over there you know," she sat down next to him as other TVA members gave him displeased looks, but most of them ignored him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," he said, "I'm your superior, you shouldn't..."

"What? Sit with you? And who am I supposed to sit with?" (Y/n) frowned.

"Anyone else, your co-worker or anyone," he said grumpily, eating some dessert.

"Didn't have sandwiches today?" (Y/n) asked. He just shrugged.

"Anyways... Thank you for the flowers, they-"

"I didn't give you flowers," he uttered, lying.

"Alright..." (Y/n) stood up and walked back to the workplace, a newbie rushing in her steps.

Mr. Paradox just sighed and leaned on the table, hiding his face in his hands.

One day, she walked into the empty workplace. (Y/n) stumbled to the main screen console and pressed a couple of buttons. It wasn't as complicated as the first day. She didn't look through the time lines, but through the history of TVA security recordings from this room.

She spotted Deadpool, Wolverine, some other people, Mr. Paradox being the boss of the place with many many officers and some soldiers. She sighed and kept rewinding the footage until she didn't spot a familiar woman. Tess. The one from the file she found.

She was speaking with Mr. Paradox. (Y/n) slightly raised the volume and listened.

"Tess I really love you, you're my life, I'd put you before the TVA anyday."

(Y/n) leaned on the squeaky chair and listened to Tess's cold answer.

"I would never love you in this timeline, or any other."

(Y/n) sighed and let the footage play a bit forward seeing Mr. Paradox looking into different branches where he was married, or at least dating Tess and... Was he crying?

"(Y/n)..." the doors behind her opened and she quickly returned the console to the same state in which it was a few minutes ago.

"Boss I didn't..." she paused, seeing him with a broken nose. Again. He held the baton. Behind her on the main screen that watched the flow of the time, one branch began slowly withering.

"Is that the branch of the newbie?" she frowned, "What did you do?"

He let the baton fall to the ground and walked to her, "I had to."

"What did you do to the newbie?!" she stepped back. Mr. Paradox noticed, and sighed, "He was fired."

"Fired? He was definitely more capable than me. Are you sure it had nothing to do with your goal to decimate the branch timelines? You want to speed the process of it because it's too slow or something? Because an agent you used to work with broke your heart?" she took a deep breath, noticing his hurt expression.

"Yes I know. I know that after your last attempt to destroy a branch, you were sent to reschooling. I see it didn't help."

"How do you know?" he asked, scowling.

"I found your file. I know you gave us a task to build you a time ripper. Please tell me you didn't do it just because..."

His silence told enough and now (Y/n) scowled, "You know they will catch you again. This is an incredibly bad plan. Even for you..."

Mr. Paradox just stood there.

(Y/n) walked to the pruner and picked it up.

"What are you doing?" he sighed, "Be careful with that. I don't want you to accidentally prune yourself."

(Y/n) pruned the parts of time ripper, "It wasn't finished anyways. Void can do what they like with that bunch of scrap."

She noticed increased worry on his face, "I won't tell... Just tell me the reason I am here."

"I wanted to accelerate the erasure of the time branches. They shouldn't be. But with the anchors they were still going, so I figured out a plan that would accelerate the process too," he said, "You know the rest."

"Then why am I still here?" (Y/n) threw the baton away, "Why wasn't I 'fired' too? And what happened to Tess, was she fired as well?"

Mr. Paradox walked down the stairs and sat on the close table, "Tess was the one who came up with the plan of erasing the branches. She hated the idea of being with me in any way. And well… Higher ups found out about her plan.”

"Why? I mean you're such a good boss, the best I ever had, and a nice guy besides the long list of bad things in your file..."

He paused, "I wanted to destroy your universe."

"Then why haven't you?"

"I couldn't, I... You fit into TVA so much and you're good with the papers," he lied.

(Y/n) crossed her arms.

"Your co-worker got fired because he flirted with you, and that is not allowed in the work space..." he continued stuttering.

"And the flowers from you?"

"Those were simple romantic gestures from me, not flirting. Also the hallway is not considered as a work space."

"Alright... Just... Don't try to destroy branches again," she shakes her head and walks out from the room to get some air.

Later that day, he knocked on the doors of her employee room. She immediately opened, "I think I should go back to my universe."

Mr. Paradox held something behind his back, "That's sudden... But I understand. I can send you right back," he said, disappointment seeping from the tone of his voice.

"Wait... Will my universe be alright if I stay here?" she sighed again. What was wrong with her heart and mind all of a sudden?

"Yes it will... As long as you stay here, your timeline is secured," Mr. Paradox nodded.

"What are you hiding?" she asked, leaning on the wall.

He blushed, giving her the file with her name, "I admit, I read your file a couple of times, as you read mine. I know you weren't the best worker in your universe. Very clumsy. But I was wondering if you wanted to sit next to me in the cafeteria next time? If you will stay, that is."

She smiled a bit and nodded, "okay boss."

"You can call me just Paradox."

"Will I ever learn your real name," she smiled.

"Maybe."

[i-am-a-l0st-gh0st]

Hi! Would it be ok to ask for some lyney x reader dysphoria or gen gender comfort? Like the reader being very dysphoric about their body voice etc and lyney would comfort them and maybe help them look more male-ish for example? Sorry if this is quite specific lol... Been reading your stuff for some time now lolol!

Feeling sick of myself- Lyney x TransMasc reader

Guess i'll try be someone else T/w- Gender dysphoria, petnames, Summary- You can't find your binder anywhere, and your staring get dysphoria A/n- Hi! This is a great request, i was actually gonna do one of these some time. I'm a trans person myself so this hit kind hard. And thanks for reading my stuff! Hope you like it.

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Taglist form!

Raining dizzled down outside while you were cuddled up in bed not daring to get out. Well at least not until Lyney had come home. Usually you’d be up doing some hobbies or something, but you didn’t feel like it. You couldn’t find your binder anywhere, and every part of you just felt dysphoric. Clothes were strewn all around your room after the failed search for your binder.

A little while later Lyney came home, clutching a bouquet of your favourite flower. You hadn’t been awake when he’d left so he thought he did something special when he got home. Well until he was met with you crying in bed.

“Oh, mon amour. What's wrong?”

You sniffled and shuffled towards him. “I can’t find my binder and I just don’t feel very good… about myself.”

He pulled you closer, almost not letting you breathe. “Can you tell me all about it? I want to know what's making my boyfriend upset.”

“Well, it's stupid.”

He looked at you like you had killed his cat, how dare you say something making you upset is stupid. Whatever it was it was definitely important enough to hear about it.

“No, No, if its making you upset mon amour, its not stupid.”

You weren’t entirely sure how to describe your situation, you hated your whole body for not looking how you wanted it. You hated that you had been stuck with this body. You hated in your current situation you couldn’t do anything about it. 

Once you explained what was happening, he only pulled you tighter giving you gentle kisses, like you were a hurt puppy. He set to work finding your binder. Much like you did he practically turned the house upside down looking for, plus he found your favourite outfit. About 10 minutes later he returned holding the item you had been looking for all day.

“It was sat in the clean washing baskets.”

How could you not have thought to look there, you messed up the shared room for nothing. The next issue was your hair, it had gotten too long and every time you looked in the mirror all you could see was the old you. So Lyney offered to cut it. He’d had experience cutting both Lynette and Freminet’s hair so surely cutting your hair back to normal wouldn’t be too bad.

After he was finished you put your binder on and looked in the mirror. You could see what you saw earlier as much. Lyney came up from behind and squeezed you tightly.

“Look at my handsome boyfriend.” He placed a kiss on your lips, and pulled you in closer. 

“Thank you Lyney…”

“It's the least I can do Mon amour, You are my boyfriend, it's my job to make you smile.”

Taglist

@pandragonsoul

[mudandmire]

✨WIP Sunday✨

It's not as satisfying as Wednesday, but life and work is a thing so ta-da.

A couple of things:

After a lot of consideration I've decided to change the name of 'Ghost' to 'Once it Slips Through Clenched Teeth.' You can entirely blame the Iliad because I had an assignment based around it and found the quote "once it slips through a man's clenched teeth" and the whole stanza I basically fell in love with but that part in particular? *chefs kiss* I think it fits the story I want to tell better, and honestly going into this I had no idea what to title it so the song I listened to while writing the first chapter or so was the only thing that came to mind. I don't necessarily like having to change the title, but I'm not happy with it being 'Ghost', feels too contemporary, so y'know what? I'm changing it.

Chapter two is on it's way, maybe I'll just use this list to justify myself to myself lol. ANyway, yes chapter two is in the works it's currently 7k and it's. It's gonna be long because I'm not even halfway through yet so bear with me I'm s l o w and writing clever, scheming people is h a r d.

I'm gonna post my Azris Week stuff on ao3. I thought about doing that during the event week but I was a mess and I've also never reached that level of productivity and probably never will again I was on f i r e. So, I'm doing it now :)

So I leave you with this little chapter two snippet (excerpt?) of the fic hereby known as Once it Slips Through Clenched Teeth -

What catches, sinks in, and drags forcefully a memory from the back of his head is the color of his hair: dark. Near black. It curls at the nape of his neck Eris finds as he completely stills to watch him pass. Little swoops of it brushing against the collar of his shirt.

Eris' hand falls to Fir's head instinctively, ignoring the nudge of his nose into his leg.

Dark hair.

A scream rends through his mind, a ripping sensation curling through his chest as he holds back a gasp through a locked jaw.

'Please!' He had heard someone shriek. Cold under his face, cold under his body, cold everywhere.

Eris clutches at his head, the sudden turn of his stomach emptying it completely so those voices, faceless but for a crimson haze, echo into it freely.

There was another one. The one who didn't scream, or beg, or drag him because suddenly the bruised aching along his shoulders and back makes sense.

What was the voice—

'She doesn't even know your name.'

A lash through the air, the sting of remembrance along his bones, his back. Eris stiffens until everything hurts. The memory isn't complete, isn't nearly whole enough to know faces or names.

But—

Touch. He remembers touch like silk dragged over skin. Chills rake through him, as if trying to replicate it. The trees had haloed above his head, stretching impossible, sepia fingers into a watery grey sky. At that point he had figured he was dead already, but the numbing in his feet and hands told him he wasn't quite there yet.

Fir whines, low and distressed as his head presses into Eris's hip. He doesn't move, just lets Eris's hand stay clenched in the fur of his neck.

The picture it made, the trees and the sky, had been broken by a dark head of hair.

Dark like the servant boy, feathered like the wings of a raven, no face under it.

There had to be a face.

Pushing at the dwindling remnants of the memory, he scrambles at the seams of it to find any hint of a facial feature.

"—or lordship?"

Anything. Eris squeezes his eyes further closed, ignoring the wet pressure of Fir's nose digging into his thigh. He runs through the things he knows of this figure; invisible tendrils through the hair, scraping over the voice, but no matter how he angles the picture a face never rises from the dust of it.

Inexplicably—he's angry.

"Your lordship, are you alight?" One of the sentries reaches out to grab his shoulder, a friendly shake to make sure he's not going to fall over.

Eris's eyes open with a flash, flicking his hand away in a dismissive gesture.

...

*gestures wildly* See? See?? I work, I do the thing, I am doing the thing I've just never done the thing before so I'm s low but I try and do the thing f ast because I wish to please the lovelies.

Here's the Iliad quote if anyone's interested:

“I say no wealth is worth my life! Not all they claim

was stored in the depths of Troy, that city built on riches,

in the old days of peace before the sons of Achaea came—

not all the gold held fast in the Archer’s rocky vaults,

in Phoebus Apollo’s house on Pytho’s sheer cliffs!

Cattle and fat sheep can all be had for the raiding,

tripods all for the trading, and tawny-headed stallions.

But a man’s life breath cannot come back again—

no raiders in force, no trading brings it back,

once it slips through a man’s clenched teeth.”

- Achilles' reply to Odysseus

[rebouks]

hi! do you have any tips for making good quality screenshots in ts4?

Hi! Let's see what I can come up with..

LIGHTING/GRAPHICS MODS Easy to use/install, lighting mods can change the look of your game drastically with little effort! I use a few:

no-glo

no-blu

graphicsrules override

I use this camera mod too, much less drifty...

Softerhaze makes some bomb ass lighting mods too.. I just switched from twinkle toes to sunblind and I am in LOVE - gamechanger lemme tell you.. so pretty! LOOKIT!!

RESHADE I'm still using g-shade at the moment but after recent events, I'll probably end up switching back again when I can be arsed. The effects you can achieve with reshade presets are amazing tbh.. and it's real fun to mess around with and create your own! Tho lots of people have made awesome ones if that's a bit much for you. If your PC can't handle it all too well you can always just switch it off until it's time to take screenies as well.

COMPOSITION Kinda hard to explain but basically, composition is what's in your frame and how you line it all up. I'd recommend reading some photography guides to get the gist of the concept.. but honestly, the more you mess around the more you'll get the hang of it. I've always loved photography and sims screenies really aren't so different. If you use reshade there's even some templates for thirds/the golden ratio etc you can slap on top for practice. Personally I don't use 'em cos I prefer my own judgement (that sounds rlly obnoxious but we're rolling with it). I found a template to show you what I mean! (ngl I was stoked that the first screenie I thought of for being a good eg. almost perfectly fit into this golden ratio shit LOL) but let's keep in mind how long I scooted around to get a good shot of this.. pretty sure I deleted about 10 other failed shots of this but shhhh, it's trial and error!

ANGLES/FOCUS The way you take a shot and how you angle it can change the whole feel of the image. For example.. in this image I tilted down and bit and filled over two thirds of the shot with the man, he's a big character and quite an intimidating guy so I think it helps get the idea across without pointing it out (at least I think so but idk I could also be talking outta my ass)

Similarly in these two shots below.. the first with the guy on the left gives the feel that he's in control here. The "camera" is tilted above him slightly and he's all up in your face, making the woman look much smaller in comparison. BUT! If you flip around to the second image, tilt down a bit and switch the focus to her, it makes him look more insignificant and less in control. I hope this makes sense??

EDITING/PHOTOSHOP ACTIONS ETC Personally I don't use photoshop actions but there's plenty out there to do the work for you! I think Intramoon? maybe.. has made a few but idk, you guys feel free to jump in with any suggestions! You can also smooth, fix stuff, change the mood/lighting, all sorts.. my advice on this is patchy at best tbh cos I just faff around until I see what I like lmao.. which leads me on tooooooo...

FUCK AROUND AND FIND OUT Lol.. but seriously! I don't know what I'm doing. I've never taken any classes or read up on much, I always just jump in and see what happens. Fuck around with reshade, fuck around with camera mods, fuck around with composition/focus, fuck around with photoshop or gimp or w/e.. just mess about for a while and have fun! I promise you'll get better.

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers CHAOS LINEAGE ー Laito [02]

ー The scene starts in one of the empty bedrooms at the Violet Manor

*Thud*

Yui: Nn...

( ...Huh...? When did I fall asleep in a bed...? )

( Besides, I don’t recognize this room...Where could I be? )

Laito: Seems like the Princess has finally awoken from her slumber. Good morning, Bitch-chan~

Yui: Laito-kun...?

Laito: What’s this? Are you still out of it? Perhaps I got a little too excited and had a tad bit too much of your blood?

My bad~ Your blood was simply too delicious, I couldn’t stop myself.

Yui: ( I see...I must have lost consciousness while he drank my blood... )

Did you carry me here?

Laito: I sure did! I realized that I’d be in trouble if Carla found out that I just left you for dead there.

By the way, this will be your room from today onwards, so you can make yourself at home.

Yui: Yeah...Thanks.

Laito: You’re welcome~

I know it’s under the assumption that I’ll watch over you, but getting to spend time with you alone like this is such a privilege. 

I can leave figuring out how to become Supreme Overlord to Carla and the others, while I don’t have to bother with any of that annoying stuff. 

Yui: ( Supreme Overlord... The way they talk about it makes me assume that it’s common knowledge but what exactly is going on? )

( This isn’t Kaminashi City...I don’t recognize the Church I woke up at, nor this manor... )

Laito: But Carla loves to work his little brothers to the bone, you see. He’s always so nosy, ordering us around. 

I don’t care if he’s my brother or not, I’m starting to get sick of it.

Yui: Brothers...

( Laito-kun and Carla-san? How...? Then what happened to the others? )

( Could it be that they also had their memories manipulated, just like me...? But why exactly? )

Laito: What’s wrong? You’re gazing at me so passionately. Are you...trying to seduce me, perhaps?

Yui: I-I’m no...Kyah!

ー He pins her down on the bed

*Creaak*

Laito: Your blood has such a tempting scent. It could probably win any Vampire over.

To be honest, I thought about doing all sorts of things to you while you were asleep. 

Yui: Eeh!?

Laito: It’s such a shame you woke up before I had the chance to. Oh well, it’s even more exciting for me when I get to actually see your reactions, so I suppose this works into my favor.

Yui: W-Wait, I want you to hear me out first!

Laito: Don’t worry, I’ll be gentle with you. 

...Aah, I guess I shouldn’t. You’re the type who prefers to suffer, aren’t you? 

Remember how happy you seemed when I forced that spoon inside your mouth? 

In that case, I better put you through hell.

Yui: ( Despite everything, Laito-kun is still his old self...! )

Laito-kun, please. Listen to me. 

( I want to get some facts straight...and figure out this situation. )

( Besides, if Laito-kun’s memories are all messed up, I want those to go back to normal. )

Laito: What you have to say, huh? ...Fine, I’ll listen.

Yui: Really!?

Laito: However, if it’s something dull, I’m going to punish you, okay?

Yui: ( Uu...I have a bad feeling about this, but I need him to listen to what I have to say, or we’ll never get anywhere. )

O-Okay.

Laito: Nfu~ How courageous of you. Spill the tea then?

Yui: O-Okay. To be honest, I’m not quite sure what is happening myself either...

But it seems like we’ve gotten caught up in some mysterious events.

Laito: Heeh, that sounds rough.

Yui: ( I can tell by his face that he doesn’t believe me at all...But I can’t give in. )

My memories were messed up until yesterday as well...I was convinced that I am indeed Eve who has been asleep at the Church. 

However, that’s not actually the case. My name is Komori Yui...I remembered that. 

Laito: Is that your name? I thought your name was ‘Eve’.

Yui: You are actually called ‘Sakamaki Laito’ yourself. You are the fifth brother of the Sakamaki family. 

Laito: Sakamaki...? 

Yui: It’s not just Subaru-kun, but Shuu-san and Reiji-san are your brothers as well. 

Also, you, Ayato-kun and Kanato-kun are triplets.

Laito: With those two guys from the Orange House? We’re triplets?

Heeh~ That’s rather intriguing. Did you come up with that on the spot? You might have potential to become a storywriter.

Yui: ( He won’t believe me at all... )

I had been staying at the Sakamaki manor and you...are my boyfriend.

Laito: Heeh...Boyfriend, you say?

Yui: ( Eh? That smile just now...I have a bad feeling about it. )

Laito: If you are telling the truth, it’s pretty impressive to have a family of six. What were our parents like?

Yui: Eh? Well...

( They’re Karlheinz-san and Cordelia-san... )

( It’d all be new information for Laito-kun so...I’m not sure if I should tell him under these circumstances? )

Laito: Hmー? Seeing as cat’s got your tongue, I assume they must have been pretty bad parents to the point where you can’t tell me? 

Or perhaps you were deeply involved with our parents in some way? Which is exactly why you can’t talk about them. ...Correct?

Yui: ...! T-That’s...

( I guess you could say Cordelia-san and I are deeply connected in one way. )

( My heart ーー belongs to her after all. )

Laito: Well, I don’t really care about the parents. There’s some other juicy details I’m more interested in. 

ー Laito leans in close

*Thud* 

Laito: Say, Bitch-chan. You mentioned that we are lovers, right?

Yui: Y-Yeah...

Laito: However, I don’t remember dating you at all. 

That means you lied about the fact to try and grab my attention, no?

Yui: I-I’m not lying. The two of us...we actually are dating...!

Laito: Look at how desperate you are. If you want my attention that badly, just say so honestly.

...I don’t mind, I’ll tend to you. Let’s have some fun together?

I wonder where you’re most sensitive? Nn...

*Sluuurp*

Yui: Hyaah!

( I-I made a weird noise...! )

Laito: Your neck must be your weak point for you to make such sounds? 

Yui: T-That’s not true. 

Laito: It’s not very nice to lie, you see? Besides, you seemed rather nervous while telling your story earlier.

The thin layer of sweat makes it taste very sweet. How about another spot?

*Rustle* 

Yui: No...N-Not my clothes!

Laito: It’s fine. Today I’m in the mood for just a small glimpse of skin.

Yui: ( That is far from being ‘fine’! )

Laito: What’s this? Your skin is nicely flushed. The scent of your blood has become sweet and rich as well...Nn.

Yui: Ah...Nn...

( I can’t...It tickles, my voice keeps slipping out...! )

Laito: Fufu, you’re sensitive here as well? I wouldn’t mind sucking your blood, but you’ll have to wait today.

You kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time while you were asleep, so now I’m getting my revenge.

Yui: Nn...Haah...Revenge, you say...?

( Even though he’s the one who chose to watch me as I slept... )

Laito: What’s wrong? Your breathing has become ragged. I wonder if you’re going crazy from not being stimulated enough?

I get really turned on from seeing you fall victim to the feeling of pleasure...Nn...

*Smooch*

Yui: ...Nhah... 

Laito: ...Fufu, so your earlobes are sensitive as well, huh? You’re crying out so sweetly.

I suppose I should leave a mark so it’s easier to remember your weak spots...Nn...

Yui: Ah...

Laito: ...Come on, take a look? There’s a bright red mark right above your chest, see? This is one of your weak spots. 

Yui: ...

( This is bad, at this rate, I’ll get caught up in his flow...! )

Please, let me continue my story...I want you to retrieve your memories.

Laito: What you told me earlier? As intriguing as that was, bringing it up at a time like this is somewhat of a turn off. 

Yui: But, it’s the truth and...There’s something wrong with you right nowーー

Laito: ...Shut up. 

Yui: ...!

Laito: I’m trying to make it clear that I’m not in the mood for it right now.

Yui: ( This feeling...It’s as if we’ve gone back to the time when we only just met... )

...I-I’m sorry...

Laito: Nfu~ Exactly, just like that. Girls are so much cuter when they’re obedient, you see? Makes it easier to deal with them.

Of course, I can get a kick out of someone acting a little feisty as well, but don’t push it too far, okay? That’ll only piss me off.

Yui: O-Okay...

( I wonder how I can get him to remember? )

( I don’t want his memories to be gone forever... )

( However... )

Monologue

The way Laito-kun messes around with me,

solely out of sheer enjoyment, following his instinct.

Almost as if all the time we spent together up till now,

was slowly fading away from inside him. 

That made my heart ache incredibly painfully. 

I want him to remember. 

Yet, at the same time I hesitated.

Laito-kun has a strained relationship with his parents. 

A trauma so deep and dark,

it simply cannot be expressed through words.

Taking that into account,

I suddenly became uncertain whether retrieving his memories,

would make him happy or not,

as I tightly closed my eyes and simply waited for time to pass by.

ー The scene shifts to the hallway of the Violet manor

Yui: ( In the end, yesterday passed with Laito-kun toying around with me all day... )

( I wonder what my next step should be? I’d love to take a bath and think it through but... )

Excuse me...Laito-kun? I’d like to go to the bathroom...

Laito: Yeah, I know.

Yui: Then why are you following me?

Laito: I’m in charge of watching over you after all. I will follow you anywhere.

Of course, this also applies to when you’re taking a bath, understood?

Yui: ( At this rate, he’ll probably follow me inside the bathroom as well...I have to lose him somehow! )

Laito: I mean, doing it in the bathroom is kind of nice as well, don’t you agree?

Yui: D-Do what?

Laito: Isn’t that obvious? Sucking your blood.

Yui: I-I’d like to take a bath alone so I can relax...

ー He moves closer

Laito: You say that, but your sweet scent has grown stronger? You’re looking forward to it, aren’t you, Bitch-chan?

Yui: I-I’m not.

Laito: Haah...It just keeps on growing more intense. I don’t think I’ll be able to hold back. Perhaps I should have some right here, right now?

Yui: Y-You can’t, not here! Somebody could pass by...

Laito: But that’s what makes it so great! Having them watch closely as we become entwined with each other. ...Fufu.

Being watched gets you even more aroused as well, doesn’t it?

Yui: No, I don’t!

Laito: Liar, liar, pants on fire~ Want to give it a try then? I’m pretty sure you’ll grow addicted to it.

Kou: You really get a kick out of the weirdest things, don’t you, Laito-kun?

Yui: K-Kou-kun...!?

Laito: Aah, perfect timing. I was looking for an audience.

Kou: I could hear you. But I’ll pass.

If I can only watch when she smells so good, I’ll definitely get hungry as well.

Yui: ( T-Thank god...Seems like I’ll be able to avoid any weird situations. )

Laito: Hmー In that case, you should suck her blood alongside me.

Yui: ...Eh!?

Kou: You don’t mind? Hooray! I’m actually starving right now!

Yui: W-Wait! I’m obviously not agreeing with that!

Laito: Ehー? But why? That’d only make things even more exciting, no?

Come on, just try imagining it? How our fangs will slowly sink into your skin, that is.

Soft nibbles on one side, intense blood-sucking on the other...I wonder what kind of sounds we’ll be able to get out of you?

Yui: ( W-What now...? I can’t get this feeling out of my mind. )

Selection

→ I’d prefer just Laito-kun (♡)

Yui: In that case, I’d prefer it to just be Laito-kun...!

Laito: Heeh? I didn’t think you’d personally request me~

Kou: Haah? Excuse me?

You’re fine with a freak like him sucking your blood, but you don’t want me to do the same?

I don’t get that.

*Rustle* 

Yui: Kyah!

Kou: Come on, ask me to suck your blood as well.

Yui: Ugh...

( He’s glaring daggers at me...It might be best to just genuinely do what he asked of me... )

P-Please...suck my...blood...

Kou: Atta girl, good job!

→ I want Kou-kun to suck my blood too (🖤)

Yui: ( I don’t want someone other than Laito-kun to suck my blood... )

( But who knows what will happen if I refuse... )

I want Kou-kun...to suck my blood as well...

Kou: Heeh, I already knew that Laito-kun likes to refer to you as ‘Bitch-chan’, but it seems like you’re actually the real deal.

To be honest, I kind of expected Eve to be someone a little more pure.

...Oh well, I won’t say I dislike being yearned for~

Laito: Okay~ You can go first then, Kou.

Kou: Yay! I’ve been so curious about Eve’s blood.

ー Kou approaches Yui

*Rustle* 

Yui: ( ...J-Just as I thought, having someone other than Laito-kun suck my blood makes me flinch... )

Kou: Well then, time to dig in~ ...Nn...

ー Kou bites her

Yui: Nn...Ah...

( It feels different from Laito-kun’s bite... )

Laito: Haah...Look at you, Bitch-chan, your cheeks flushed and eyes watering...

Does it feel good to have Kou suck your blood?

Yui: That’s not...

Laito: Untrue, right? See? ...The scent of your blood has gotten richer. It proves that you’re feeling good.

Yui: Nn...Haah...That’s not true.

Laito: Aah...I’ve gotten excited just from watching you squirm around in pleasure.

I’d love to enjoy the show for a bit but...

ー Laito approaches as well

Laito: You want me to join in on the fun as well, don’t you? ...Nn...

ー He bites her

Yui: Aah...

Laito: Fufu, your body’s quivering. It must truly feel amazing...

Say? I’ll suck from your arm as well. I believe it’ll make for an entirely new sensation? Nn...Nnh...Haah...

Yui: ( ...Ah...I’m going deeper and deeper down this rabbit hole... )

( Now isn’t the time for this...I haven’t gotten a single step closer in getting out of this weird situation... )

Laito: Your blood is truly addictive...Uu...

Yui: Laito-kun...?

Laito: ...It’s nothing...I just felt a little dizzy, that’s all...

Kou: ...Huh? ...For some reason, my head’s spinning as well...

Laito: ...You know, I guess we got ‘drunk’ on Eve’s top-quality blood...?

Kou: Ahー You might have a point...We don’t get our hands on blood quite this delicious every day after all. 

Yui: ( The blood’s getting to their head? This has never happened before though. )

Kou: Come on, what are you getting distracted for? I’m still not satisfied yet. 

Yui: Eh? No way...

Laito: Look at you playing the part of the tragic heroine. You really are a natural at seducing men, aren’t you?

You’re such a naughty girl, Bitch-chanーー Nn...Hah...

Yui: Uu...Aah...

( My blood is being sucked by not just Laito-kun, but Kou-kun as well... )

( Like this, I’m treated like mere prey, similar to how I had just arrived at the Sakamaki manor... )

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

[dane-ffxiv]

Prompt #29: Sidequest (Free Day)

A late start to Dane's day meant the sun shone brightly during her outdoor routine. Something she enjoyed, of course, but the peace and solitude granted before sunrise outclassed any other condition. She devoted her morning to sleeping in and rotting away, wonderful things when her restless body allowed it.

It was close to noon when she planned her run. Ten laps around the ward, and walk the final stretch; her way of cooling down while taking in the scenery. The sun followed her at every turn.

She spotted two children arguing by the lake. They hadn’t been there a few minutes ago. As usual, the Raen was nosy enough to listen, but still minded her own business until one of them began to cry. Ah, hells.

“Everything okay?” Dane approached them, trying not to look suspicious. She was a stranger, after all, and didn't want to scare them away. But they seemed too distressed to write off someone who might help.

“...My bracelet fell into the water.” One of them answered. She looked younger than the boy next to her but nearly identical, so they must have been siblings. Two Midlanders with matching black hair and green eyes. “I-It's important. We have a matching pair.” She sniffled, pointing to her brother's wrist. He showed it to Dane and nodded.

“Would you like me to look for it? I'm a good swimmer.” She offered, but didn’t wait for their response and began untying her shoes. The decision had been made before she even asked. Both children stood frozen, confused by her willingness to help. But a simple dive was the easiest task on the star; she carried the blessing to breathe underwater and swimming had been part of her career for several turns.

The water looked fairly deep, but she managed to see part of the lakebed with enough penetration from the sun’s light. “It'll be just a second.” She smiled at them from the dock and dove in, beginning her search.

Unfortunately, it took longer than a second. Longer than a few minutes, even. With proper visibility, Dane still had to navigate between rocks, weave through submerged tree stumps, and inspect nearby obstacles like sunken rowboats. It was a good thing she saw the brother’s bracelet beforehand; she caught sight of so many random keepsakes and jewelry pieces along the way. Someone else could play treasure hunter. She just wanted to make those two kids happy.

A familiar shape caught her eye and she recognized the missing bracket tangled in pondweed. It looked out of place only being submerged for mere minutes and hadn’t even reached the bottom. The dangling roots kept it afloat.

When she surfaced and pulled herself onto the dock, the pair appeared inconsolable. The brother became a sobbing mess during her absence, too, which confused her. They rushed to her side as if she had just returned home from a war. Offering the salvaged bracelet to the sister failed to calm them down.

“Wh-What’s wrong? I found your bracelet. I don't think it's broken…?” Dane inspected it and she was right; still in one piece although it was wet and green with specks of algae. They continued to cry, and only after a few moments did the young girl shake her head.

“You were down there… for so long. W-We thought you drowned trying to find it…” She rubbed her eyes. “We didn't want you to die…”

Oh.

Dane knelt in front of the two to comfort them, but she must have looked awful in her drenched workout attire. “It’s okay, it’s okay! I said I was a good swimmer, right?” She tried to laugh it off, which worked. Barely. Both siblings stopped crying and wiped the tears and snot from their faces. “I’m a pro. I can hold my breath for ten minutes!” Technically not a lie, but stretched quite a bit. Better than mentioning a blessing.

She didn’t say anything else, and the three sat in silence for a few minutes while the kids composed themselves. Another attempt to offer the sister's bracelet back, which she accepted by holding her arm out. Dane secured it around her wrist. “There you go. Safe and sound.”

“Thank you, miss.” The brother mumbled while she slid her shoes back on. She flashed another smile and nodded, wet hair sticking to her face and horns.

“Don’t ever be afraid to ask others for help, okay?”

Then she was off, again, without waiting for a response. A sudden burst of energy to fuel her final sprint home. Another productive workout, another meaningful day.

And she managed to get a good swim in.

[fe-fictions]

Good day/night! :]

Might you have some spare Henry crumbs laying around? I've been on a crowman high lately and you write him so well! <3

(Here's some Henry taking care of a sick wife and baby!!!)

The family had taken a brief, albeit very fun and relaxing, trip in Plegia. Morgan being only eight months old certainly made things interesting. Having the whole family there to enjoy the beauty of Plegia outside war time was fun.

Plus, you were both Plegians, so it was nice to learn about your roots.

It was a magical time. Or at least, it would have been. You woke up the morning after you came home and found yourself unable to get out of bed.

You had a fever, your head was pounding, and you were a snotty mess of misery. Henry was amused until he heard baby Morgan bawling down the hall. You both caught, according to your husband, the Plegian swine flu.

No one was immune from it, not even sweet, innocent little blood bags like Morgan (Henry’s words, not yours).

So Henry quickly went from teasing you and being fascinated by how miserable you were to going into full-blown panic.

Like any disease, a baby catching it had a higher risk of complications. Most recover, Henry explained while frantically scribbling an urgent letter for Maribelle to tie to one of his crows, but itty bitty babies could suffer serious health problems.

Henry got to work on preparing you a bucket of cold water, a second bucket for the kerchiefs you would be blowing your nose into all day, and a third bucket in case you couldn’t keep your food down.

You didn’t.

“Gods, Henry- did you have to send that filthy animal to me? I’m literally down the block! It would take you fifteen minutes to-”

“Fifteen minutes is a waste of time! Morgan and Robin could be dead by then! And if it’s either of them, it’s no joke, nya ha!”

“Then why are you laughing?”

“It’s nervous laughter!” He chuckled again, though judging by how pale his face was, it seemed to be true. 

Maribelle simply scoffed and hurried to the bedroom, ready to treat her friend.

“Robin, darling! Oh, you look positively ghastly!” She gasped, drawing the mask over her mouth and nose. She pulled on her medical gloves, a stave at her side and a big pouch of herbs on her belt. “The Plegian swine flu is no joke...it’s very rarely found in Ylisse, but when it travels with you…”

“I-it’s a disaster.” You wheezed, not before you were overcome by coughing. “Anything y-you can do will be a welcome remedy.”

“Luckily for you, there’s nothing here that herbs and plenty of rest won’t fix. Now Morgan might be a little trickier, given his age...but we can at least get started with you.”

Maribelle was quick to send  Henry off to grind up the herbs, preparing some disgusting concoction guaranteed to get your body back to normal.

Presuming Henry could put it together.

“Now, when did you start to feel ill?”

“W-well, if I’m honest… It started around-”

Crash

“Ah, gods- I broke the cup!!”

“-The time we got home, last night. It was late-”

Smash

“The pestle’s shattered!!”

“-And I just thought I was tired, but...my head feels about the same as-”

Bang

“The herbs are everywhere!!”

“HENRY!!” Maribelle shouted out the door, “What in the gods’ names are you doing?!”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make a mess!” Henry apologized, his voice shaky and unsure. “I-I just meant to help a bit, but it looks like I’m making things worse, nya ha!”

“Why don’t you come and sit,” Maribelle pinched  her brow, “Just settle down until you stop breaking things.” 

You watched as Henry wandered back into the bedroom, looking surprisingly pale and nervous. You had never quite seen him in such a way, before.

After all, it was always good times and weird vibes with your husband. Since when did he become the anxious type?

“I’ll be right back, Robin. I’ll get your medicine.”

“Give some to Morgan, first.” You asked, “I can wait.”

Maribelle nodded to you before taking off, leaving you alone with your husband who was bouncing his leg and fidgeting with his hands with a nervousness that you’d never seen before.

For a few moments, it was quiet, listening to the rhythmic, rapid tapping of his heel against the stone. Eventually, though, you would have to snap him out of it.

“Henry, a-are you all right?” You questioned as gently as you could. Henry started to nod, giving you a cracked, faux grin. Then he paused, his smile fell, and he shook his head.

“Well, if I’m honest? No. Not at all. I feel like I’m dying inside.” He admitted. “I mean, you’re sick, and so is Morgan! My two favorite living people! And there’s not a thing I can do about it- I mean, he’s just a baby, and we’ve only been back together for a year- I dunno. It scares me, y’know? Which is impressive! When’s the last time I’ve been genuinely scared, right! Nya ha ha!”

“There’s nothing to be scared of, Henry.” You tried to assure him. But he shook his head, folding his arms tightly.

“You don’t know that! All it takes is one thing to go wrong and it could be bye-bye wifey, or even bye-bye baby, and I...oh, I couldn’t handle that. Nope, not one bit.” 

It was certainly a reasonable concern. 

“Henry, sweetheart...come here.” You held your hand out to him, insisting he sit with you. You weren’t sure if it was the exhaustion or the pain that numbed your sense of worry, but you were far calmer than he was.

He took your hand, revealing trembling fingers. You squeezed it tightly, trying your best to comfort him despite your situation.

“Maribelle will take care of us. We’ll be okay, I’m sure.”

“But you can’t be sure!” He sighed shakily, “Anything can happen when it comes to Plegian flu. It can either be nothing at all, or really bad! And you never know until it happens. If something bad did happen to you or Morgan, I just...I don’t know what to do! You already told me I’m not allowed to re-animate either of you if you croak, so...I’m out of options!”

“I’m standing firm on that, just so you know.” You informed him with a soft smile, “But, Henry...there’s no value in worrying for worrying’s sake. W-we really shouldn’t be concerned with the unknown until it comes.”

“That’s easy for you to say, you’re not the one having to take care of both of you! What if I mess up?! What if I make it worse!! I already broke Maribelle’s mortar and pestle, there are herbs everywhere, a-and I just-”

“Henry,” You pressed a finger to his lips, “You’re overthinking.”

“B-but I just...I worry about you guys…”

“I know.” You beamed at him, stroking his cheek. “But please, try not to worry. We need to wait for Maribelle’s diagnosis, and we can go from there, okay? It’ll be easier if we take it a step at a time.”

“Gosh, Robin...how’re you able to stay so calm all the time?” He looked at you incredulously, “I’m about ready to pop out of my skin and just run around like a headless Risen!”

“Experience.” You laughed. 

Maribelle came in not long after, informing you both that the flu didn’t appear to be as bad as it could be. 

“Morgan should recover within the week, though we’ll need to make sure he receives two doses of medicine each day; one in the morning and one at night. Henry, you’ll have to make it for him each day- is that something you can handle? Or will I be making more visits this week?”

Henry shared a look with you, seeing your encouraging smile. He took a deep breath and nodded.

“I can handle it, I promise!”

“Good. Morgan’s going to be counting on you. Robin, you should need more rest than anything else, but I’m recommending you take one dose each evening; it will help you sleep better, and it’s strong enough that it should hold you the next day.”

“That’s fine by me.” You agreed; the less disgusting, bitter herbs you had to ingest, the better.

“Your recovery time will be a bit longer than Morgan’s, though, judging by how you’re doing… I’d say two weeks at minimum; a month-and-a-half at most. Now if you want, I can have Lissa or Libra come and help take care of you, so that Henry can focus on caring for Morgan. Or, we can simply send Morgan off with a wet nurse while you’re here.”

“N-no, I-!” Henry interrupted before you could reply, putting a hand to his chest. “I can handle it, Maribelle! After all, if I can’t take care of my family, what kind of man would I be? Just a sad bag of bones and sinew! Not good for anything but crow food.”

Maribelle glanced over at you, looking for some sort of response. You knew she was still wary of Henry, especially now that she was out a very lovely mortar and pestle. But you were confident in his abilities.

“He can take care of us.” You told her, “I trust him.”

“Well...if you insist.” She conceded, earning a whoop from your husband- and an apology for it shortly after when he realized you weren’t to be around loud noises with your headache. “I’ll be coming to check up on you twice a week until you’re all better- until then, Henry, we’re counting on you!”

“You got nothin’ to worry about, Maribelle! We just take it a day at a time, and it’ll be great, nya ha!”

“Robin, if anything changes, or you need help...please don’t hesitate to call me or the other healers immediately.”

“I will.”

“I do mean anything, dear.”

“...I will.”

“If Henry does one thing wrong-”

“Hey!”

“I got it, Maribelle.” You chuckled, waving her away. “Thanks for your concern. We’ll be sure to call for you if we need anything. But I’m positive Henry will take care of us just fine.”

“You can bet your organs on it!” He grinned, giggling happily with his wife’s support. Maribelle gave him a long, hard look, but eventually took her leave. 

Henry was quick to move Morgan’s crib into the bedroom, guaranteeing that he could keep track of both of you and ensure you were both recovering nicely at the same time.

While it was heartbreaking listening to Morgan’s discomfort and those tiny baby coughs, it helped to see him improve day after day.

You did end up recovering about a week after Morgan, all thanks to Henry. He made sure to give you only the best. Most of all you were just thankful that none of you could get the Plegian swine flu ever again.

Especially since he bought Maribelle a replacement mortar and pestle that came from a questionable source, covered in animal bones and bird skulls and...you really didn’t know what corner of Hell he summoned them from.

At least there wouldn’t be another opportunity for him to break anything else of Maribelle’s, seeing as you wouldn’t be getting sick again.

You would take extra steps to ensure that just so he wouldn’t frighten Maribelle with another horrifying “gift”.

[cyber-streak-extra]

{Series: Lost and Found}

-

{Title: It’s Been So Long}

-

{Fic Description: The bunny had been wandering for so long. He wandered. Until he found the house—the family.

Grieving. As the couple continued to grieve, they found an animatronic—they found the rabbit.

The young one remained unaware-unaware of the truth. They discovered the rabbit.}

-

{Chapter: Prologue}

{Chapter Description: Bonnie wanders—the rabbit’s been doing that for a long time. But, thing’s change.}

The rabbit took a slow step forward on the pavement, carefully trying to avoid any of the cracks that happened to be laid out in front of him.

Ears twitching, Bonnie looked around. Recently, there didn’t seem to be much happening around here—nobody seemed to be out.

Although it was always rather late when the rabbit chose to wander, it never really stopped anyone, he’d noticed somewhat quickly.

There were almost always at least a few people also wandering—either by using a vehicle, or simply walking. He thought he saw more walking, rather than driving.

It usually never bothered the rabbit—but, he never wanted to deal with them. He never found himself in the mood to do so.

So, that was why, quite frequently, he found himself hiding. ...Or, well, at least trying to do so. Being a tall animatronic rabbit, who was typically loud, he knew it would be hard.

Compared to whatever happened in the night—if someone happened to be wandering, he was far more prepared for when it came to the mornings.

The night’s... it was always rather quick, and he found himself panicking. He never had too much time to think of a spot, with how fast someone was approaching.

Bonnie glanced down next to himself, still trying to avoid any of the noticeable cracks. I can’t believe they didn’t notice a robot on the ground.

Coming to a sudden stop, as the rabbit placed a fuzzy paw on his face, a noise escaped him that caused the rabbit to flinch.

Bonnie could always hear a lot of noises coming from him—although, this was one occurred more often. It was like... a raspy groan, he supposed.

The rabbit began to mess with the strap of his guitar. He never liked many of the noises—especially not the noises coming from within him—whatever was in there.

He usually found himself trying to ignore the noises. Sometimes, he was successful—but not very often, unfortunately.

It was worse—the noises, when it was rather quiet. Because then, there wasn’t much else that he could listen to—and he’d rather it be anything else.

He continued messing with the guitar’s strap, ears still slowly twitching. Could I turn my ears off? The rabbit tilted his head.

Is that possible? He tilted his head to the other side, slowly blinking. In the process, he heard a sort of whirring noise, followed by a click.

The raspy noise from earlier escaped him once again. Thinking back on it, from the time he was still at Freddy’s, he knew there were people who worked on them all.

Bonnie narrowed his eyes. What were they called? They had a name, right? He let go of the guitar’s strap, arms dropping to his side. Tech...nician? Mechanic?

Did they have a tag? He tried to lean back against a tree or a wall—only to realize far too late that he hadn’t been behind anything.

The rabbit found himself stumbling backwards—trying his best to not finally fall over, and undoubtedly cause a loud noise. Was anyone around to hear?

When he started going backwards, the rabbit took notice that he was accidentally stepping on some of the pavement’s cracks. He would’ve frowned.

Bonnie outstretched an arm to the left, and wrapped it around a nearby tree, finally coming to a stop. He heard a noise from himself—it sounded more like a sigh this time.

Looking around, he realized that he was no longer standing on the pavement from earlier—instead, he was standing in some freshly cut grass.

It felt weird under the rabbit’s feet, and he found himself awkwardly shifting around, while leaning against the old tree.

Glancing behind himself, he spotted a few small houses. There was no light coming from inside of any of them. Did anyone hear that?

For a few more seconds, he remained staring at the houses, but nothing seemed to happen—nothing seemed to change.

The rabbit turned back around, slowly making his way back onto the pavement, as he stared up at the night sky.

Among many of the stars up there, he could spot the moon—but the old rabbit noticed that it didn’t seem to be completely there.

It never looked as nice back at the pizzeria. Bonnie tilted his head, still staring up at it. He remembered staring out the building’s windows.

He remembered staring out of one a lot—especially when there didn’t happen to be a guard. Staring out the window, or messing with his guitar, or doing anything with the others.

Anything that would cure their collective boredom, at least. Even if it was just for a little bit. He wasn’t sure that they had ever found one—a cure.

Bonnie tore his eyes away from the moon, and looked down—seeing that he was back on the pavement, before straight ahead.

I’ll figure all of that out later. The animatronic gave a little shrug. Slowly, he began walking again—he was less careful, not noticing any further cracks.

It was still pretty dark out, the stars and the moon were out, Bonnie knew that. What he didn’t know yet was the time. Is it going to happen soon?

The rabbit needed to get somewhere before... well, before whatever the time was that it typically happened... happened. Maybe it’ll still be a few hours?

_____

The rabbit sat crisscross on the stage, staring down at some drawings that he’d taken off of the wall. I’ll put them back later.

His ears twitched at a repeating noise, and Bonnie wanted to frown. He looked away from the drawings, and stared towards one of the walls.

There, right in the middle, was a black circular clock. It always made a noise—ticking?—when the time went by... which was... practically always, Bonnie knew.

Although, he could never understand what it said, and he had never cared that much, either—not enough to try and figure it out.

The ticking was annoying—yet it still helped the rabbit figure out something about the people who typically stayed in the office. What were they called again?

Even if he couldn’t understand it, he knew that once all of the clocks were a certain way, then the person inside of the office would leave.

...As long as they weren’t caught, at least. The previous person hadn’t been able to leave, Bonnie certainly knew that. Golden Freddy had gotten them.

From beside him, the rabbit heard a rather excited giggle. Turning, he realized that it had belonged to Chica, who was staring at the hallway.

Tilting his head to the side, the rabbit followed her gaze. There, he was quick to notice what had gotten her so excited—and the rabbit’s grin grew.

The curtains of Pirate’s Cove were open, and Foxy was no longer inside of it—instead, he was standing right where the hallway began. Ooh...

Are they gonna be fast, too? He found himself wondering about the guard. Typically, the answer was... ‘No, not really.’

Foxy, grinning, glanced back towards the stage for a single moment, before he took off running down the hallway.

Bonnie waited, alongside Chica. He didn’t remember where Freddy had gone, but it didn’t matter much—the bear was returning now.

He only seemed to realize what was going on when Chica, more excited than Bonnie, poked at the bear, and then pointed at the Cove and hallway.

The bear chuckled, and waited, alongside the blue bunny and the chicken. Bonnie’s ears started to twitch again.

A moment later, a scream erupted—or, rather, two. One sounded more mechanical—Foxy, no doubt. The second was far more human.

Bonnie’s ears shot up at the sounds, before quickly lowering. He thought about trying to cover them���but the rabbit doubted that would do much.

A few more seconds went by, and it was silent again—no more screams, at least. The three of them could hear footsteps coming from the hallway.

Foxy was quick to come into view for the three, coming out of that hallway. He stopped by his Cove for a moment, adjusting the hold he had on the man.

Suit time. Bonnie thought, watching the fox. He’d started moving again, carrying the man over his shoulder, rather than dragging him.

He looked around for a moment, and caught Freddy’s gaze. Freddy pointed at the fox, and then the room off to the side—the one that had the suits.

Bonnie never went in there very much. He thought it was weird to see other parts of himself and the others. Once, he thought he saw something move.

But, he couldn’t just not listen to the animatronic bear. Got it. Bonnie nodded, hopping off of the stage to go assist Foxy with the man.

_____

Bonnie couldn’t help but suddenly pause, staring at the animal that wasn’t too far from where he was standing. Did it see him, too?

The little gray animal kind of looked like him... except that it wasn’t an animatronic or anything. What’s it doing?

There had been a lot of drawings back at the pizzeria, all taped to the walls. He thought it was fun to inspect them—especially when feeling really bored.

There were drawings that he couldn’t exactly make out—that none of them could. Like many of the... Foxy drawings? Were they his?

But among the many other drawings, Bonnie could remember a few strange ones—he looked different in them. He never seemed like an animatronic.

He kept his gaze on the little animal. Is that what they were trying to make me look like? Bonnie tilted his head. It’s cute!

As Bonnie finally chose to take another step forward, the noise caused the little animal to look around, before running off. Aw...

Is everything busy? Or sleepy? The rabbit animatronic wondered. Besides what he’d just seen, he couldn’t recall seeing or hearing much else.

Although, he guessed that was more of a good thing. It meant that he didn’t have to deal with being seen—or having to deal with whatever spotted him. He wasn’t in the mood.

Bonnie kept going. He looked to his sides, but aside from the one moments ago, there wasn’t anything else. Are many of those usually around here?

Messing with his guitar’s strap, the animatronic felt his mind drift. What are the others up to? Are they just doing the same thing? His ears twitched.

They’d all been at the pizzeria for a long time—Bonnie knew that, but not exactly how long. He just remembered waking up on the stage.

I did things before that... Bonnie continued messing with the strap, his grip on it tightening. I did... but what? I did.

Back when he was still there, he’d done a lot of performing with the others. It was usually just the three, though. Foxy was out of order. Nobody knew of the other bear.

He could remember being nervous the first few times he had to perform. Partially because he never had—and the rabbit was worried about messing up.

Though, he was glad that the last part had never happened—unless there was a malfunction. He was programmed for it—he wouldn’t mess it up.

What would they be wanting to do? Bonnie stopped fiddling with his guitar’s strap, but he didn’t let go of it. Hm...

He remembered Chica—no, it hadn’t been her. It had—but that hadn’t been the name. Susie. The rabbit remembered now.

Although the rabbit didn’t know why, she’d started calling herself Susie. Bonnie liked that name. He thought it fit rather well.

She wasn’t the only one. Another Freddy that not many knew about—although Bonnie knew he heard a nightguard talk about a “Yellow bear” once.

Cassidy. The bear had used that name, and Bonnie had liked that one, too. Both were really nice.

He remembered asking Cassidy about it once. Had I ever said anything to Susie? He had been wondering about it for a while—and Cassidy was always hard to find.

Cassidy’s answer, Bonnie remembered, was that it “felt familiar.” He wondered how—and the bear had felt the same. Cassidy didn’t know.

Was it the same for Susie, then? The rabbit wondered. Why did the names seem familiar to them both?

The rabbit’s ears twitched. He remembered speaking with Susie once—shortly after they’d both managed to get the nightguard. He hadn’t lasted the first night.

During their conversation—that Freddy had eventually joined, while also helping put the man in the suit, Susie had mentioned something about a dog.

They all had favorite animals. Or, at least he thought they did—Freddy had mentioned something about cats once. There’s so many.

Though, Susie, she mentioned dogs quite enough. Weren’t there a few dogs once? He wondered. If there had been, she’d probably been rather excited.

Maybe she’s out, and trying to get herself one? The rabbit silently giggled. I wonder how well that would go.

_____

Bonnie found himself staring out one of the windows close to the entrance. Every now and then, a car would zip by, but that was about it.

The man was here—a new one, after they’d all dealt with the previous one. When he’d passed by the stage, he had avoided looking at them all.

Bonnie knew that there was a worker here, but he just... didn’t feel like dealing with him. Not really.

The others hadn’t moved yet. Susie and Freddy were still in their usual positions, and Foxy was still inside his Cove. It wasn’t very big, Bonnie noticed.

He didn’t have a clue as to where Cassidy could be. The bear just... suddenly appeared out of nowhere every single time.

The blue rabbit kept staring out the window. They all seemed a little messy, but still clear enough for him to see through it.

Another car zipped by. Then another. And another. Why are so many people out around this time?

“Bonnie.”

His ears twitched, and as they did so, he tried to ignore the noise coming from them. The blue rabbit kept staring out the window.

“Bonnie.” The voice repeated.

The rabbit’s gaze drifted away from the window, and down at the ground—at his feet. He reached for his guitar, only to realize that it was back on stage.

He could hear the name being called—the rabbit could hear Cassidy calling for him, he knew her voice. But...

Why did something about it feel... off?

As he finally started to turn around, he simultaneously shook his head. I’m sure it’s fine. Maybe... maybe I’m thinking too hard? Maybe it’s nothing...

_____

Bonnie came to a stop, nearly tripping and falling over a few rocks that he had failed to notice, but managed to stay standing.

While there were several houses in front of him, the blue rabbit was far more focused on the main one—which was a bit larger, too.

There was a blue truck and a dusty orange minivan in the driveway. Just by looking at the place, he could tell that it was more than just one story.

The outside of the house was a rather light brown, while the windows and doors—at least the ones he could see, were white.

Pool! The rabbit heard his thought‘s proclaim. Bonnie began to look around further. What?

He spotted a dark brown gate to the right, and the animatronic began moving closer. He peered over it, and to what it led to.

There, while it seemed like a typical backyard, the rabbit could easily spot a rather large inground pool. Although, it was covered.

Huh. The blue rabbit blinked, tilting his head. ...Am I really good at guessing? Never thought I was.

As he started to back away from the gate, he looked back up at the sky. It’s starting to get brighter...

Usually, the rabbit felt upset or nervous when it started getting like this. But, not this time. Not today. It was different than the other times.

He’d gotten to where he wanted to be—the rabbit was finished. He’d been wandering for a while, trying to find... well, a place, and he had.

But why? The rabbit’s thoughts continued as he looked away from the sky. Slowly, he made his way over to the home’s front door.

He stepped onto the fuzzy mat, and stared at the door. How am I going to get in?

The blue rabbit looked around for a second, gaze drifting towards one of the windows, before back at the door. Key?

Or... Bonnie reached forward, grabbing the knob with a fuzzy paw, and turned it. I don’t think...

Much to the rabbit’s surprise, when he turned it, the door opened without a single problem. Huh. The animatronic shrugged.

He stood there for a second, before peering inside. It was rather dark inside—none of the lights were on, and nobody seemed to be around. Sleeping?

Knowing that he could be loud, as Bonnie stepped inside of the quiet and dark home, he tried to be far more quiet than he had ever been.

The blue rabbit turned around after a second, choosing to close it back. He didn’t know how to lock it—if he could.

Slowly and quietly, or, well, attempting to do it like that, the animatronic began taking a closer look around.

_____

The boy stood in front of the game. After having gotten a prize, he wanted to play something—before getting more of of the cheesy pizza.

Although, just as he placed the plushie down beside him, and was about to start playing, the boy heard a noise. He looked towards it.

There, a yellow rabbit was standing not too far from him. When did they get here?

“Hey, kid.” The yellow rabbit—Spring Bonnie, spoke up first. His tone was gentle, and there was a hint of excitement.

“Yes?” The boy tilted his head.

“I’ve got a big surprise for you!” Spring Bonnie answered, chuckling. They moved a little closer to the boy, still grinning.

A surprise? He liked those—those were always exciting, weren’t they? At least if they happened to be a good one, at least. Not one filled with bad news.

A bad one was if he was told something horrible about one of his parents—like if they were in the hospital. A better one, he thought, was a surprise birthday party.

Spring Bonnie continued. “Let’s just say that it might involve some cake—some special treats—and a certain blue bunny!”

A second later, the yellow rabbit gasped. “Oops!” He placed a fuzzy paw over their mouth. “I think I just ruined the surprise... didn’t I?”

The boy frowned. He quickly moved away from the game, and closer to Spring Bonnie, who seemed a little upset over the reveal.

He reached forward, grabbing hold of Spring Bonnie’s other paw—the one that wasn’t still placed over his grinning mouth.

“No, no!” The boy began, trying to reassure them. He shook his head in the process. “It’s alright, Spring Bonnie.”

The boy gently tugged on the yellow paw. “Come on, let’s go!”

Spring Bonnie chuckled, then nodded, and removed his paw from his face. “Alright!”

The boy found himself being led by Spring Bonnie, holding their hand. “I know you’re going to absolutely love it all!” They commented.

He nodded, smiling excitedly. I think so, too.

[soaps-hoe-141]

Back Together

Part 29

Pairing: Soap x Ghost

WC: 3.4k

Synopsis: Soap sees himself for the first time, it isn't what he expected

Warnings: Don't think so

Christ he was getting tired of these white walls and laying around on his ass like some kind of freeloader. Even the company of the team was beginning to get dull to his hyperactive mind, especially when Laswell had to go back to the States for who knows what. Watcher had gotten pulled off the team for a few days to fix the technical glitch with the drones that had put him in danger to begin with, according to the young man. Though when he'd said, "I've gotta go clean up someone else's mess before it actually gets someone killed next time," Soap gathered that it was his idea to put himself on the drones' case, not command's. The rest of the team had been sticking around, lazing about except for when nurse Allbright was around. The strict nurse had caught wind of the smoking incident and every time she was supposed to be there Price would disappear with his duffel bag for a while to avoid being yelled at by the surprisingly scary woman.

It wasn't until she showed up a couple hours early one day that she caught the Captain metaphorically with his pants down. Price was dozing on the bench by the door when the hinges creaked open beside him, Soap looking up from where he had been watching Ghost working on a Rubik's cube that Konig had showed up with this morning. A small distraction for the both of them. And even though he couldn't work the cube with his own hands right now he was enjoying watching Ghost in all his frustration trying to get the colors to match.

Allbright stopped in the doorway, glancing at all the men in turn until her eyes landed on the motionless Price who was employing some kind of 'If I don't move she won't see me' tactic as if the woman was a damn t-rex or something. She did in fact see him, he was the first one she saw actually even though she had looked at all the others before settling her attention on the brunette. Soap watched curiously as she moved around to his front making sure there was no one else he could look at besides her. Not that your eyes could ever look anywhere besides her when her temper was flared and she was giving you a nice long lecture about safety and hospital protocols.

Still he didn't move, not until her hands found her hips and she set an even glare on him, "Captain how is it that you are probably the worst influence on my patients when there are quite literally two cases in this very room whom a team of psychologists couldn’t hope to unravel?" He turned an even look up to her face, eyes traveling slowly until they landed on her chocolate brown eyes. "Yes Captain Price I'm talking to you," her lips pursed as she watched him give a small smile in an attempt to calm her obvious frustration.

Finally his deep voice answered, dripping with a charm it seemed none of them knew he possessed, "I don't know what you're talking about, love."

She held up a finger at him, a quick look of annoyance flashing over her already frustrated face, "No. Don't call me that Captain, I'm either Nurse Allbright or Major Allbright, not your bloody love." She huffed out at him and then glanced at the duffle bags against the wall. Her quick glance had turned into a narrow eyed stare as she asked, "If I look in your duffle bag right now Captain am I gonna come across contraband that would warrant your removal from the hospital?"

Price stayed silent for a couple tense seconds that prompted her to turn to look at him again, "No, Major Allbright, not at all."

He lied easily but there wasn't a single shred of belief in her eyes as she moved towards the wall of duffles anyway, despite his loud protests. Price moved quickly which prompted smirks from the rest of the team who were all too interested in how the man was going to handle this to interrupt their Captain’s scolding. "Move Captain, I can't have you burning down the hospital because you can't be bothered to walk down to the smoking area that the hospital specifically provides for your kind."

The brunette was beginning to falter as he said, "Come on Major, there's no need to cause a fuss. I'm just trying to keep my Sergeant some company right now cause the poor man's bored out of his mind." He gestured with a hand to Soap, a hard look finding the Scotsman over the woman's shoulder that said help him or suffer the consequences of betrayal later.

Soap cleared his throat then and nodded, "Aye lass he's just keeping us all company. Say, would you mind looking at this here, it started hurting last night?" That caught her attention, dragging her eyes away from the Captain and then around to the Sergeant laying in bed. She cast one glance behind her as Price grabbed his duffle and made his escape. Soap gave her a half smile when her eyes landed on him once more, the frustration turning on him, "Sorry bout that Major, cannae have you biting the Captain’s head off. I've got to have him to help me get cleared with medical later on."

Allbright shook her head and despite herself a smile found her lips, "Just between us," she paused to glance at the others still in the room as well, "I wasn't going to have him removed either way. I don't blame you, I'd hate being stuck in here too." She gave a light chuckle of amusement as she moved beside the bed, "How are you feeling today though? No panic attacks in quite some time, your wounds are healing nicely. You feel good?"

Soap gave her a slow nod, "Aye I do actually. I'd like to move around though, I'm not the biggest fan of bedrest ma'am. Makes me ache more than a thirty kilometer run, and I can say that with full certainty."

The nurse nodded her understanding and gave him a pleasant smile, "I've got good news for you then. Today, you're gonna be showering all by yourself. The doctor said the wounds in your hands were closed enough now that you're cleared to submerge them in water. And since the staples are out of your leg and shoulder you are cleared for full range of motion as well, not just those stupid stretches you have to do laying down in bed." Soap was sitting up now, excited at the prospect of finally cleaning himself rather than letting Allbright dab away at his skin with that nasty feeling sponge he despised. Before his excitement shut his mind off to the rest of her words though, she added, "But no overdoing it, small things first. We can build you back up to the heavy lifting ok?" Allbright waited for his understanding nod before she turned to glance at the others in the room then, "I'm gonna stand him up so unless the lot of you want to see your friend's arse I suggest you take a walk."

Gaz and Konig quickly stood and nodded, stopping at the door when they noticed Ghost hadn't moved. Instead the big man was leaning forward in his chair, a questioning look in his eyes at the Scotsman. The ever present guard dog waiting to see what his injured master would order him to do. When Soap gave a minute nod of his head the big man finally stood, following the other two out to the hall, albeit reluctantly. Allbright gave the Sergeant a reassuring smile as she pulled the sheets down. She backed up then, “Alright Sergeant, I’ll let you do it by yourself but if you need to take a break there will be a chair in the shower for you so suck it up.”

Soap nodded and sat up, feet finding the floor as he tested the leg that had served as a dog’s chew toy. It took him a few minutes to limp his way to the bathroom but eventually he made it, leaning against the wall for a quick moment to take a breather. She laid another hospital gown down on the sink along with a towel on the towel rack as he stepped into the shower, “I’ve got it from here lass.” The door shut behind her and he braced against the chair as he sat himself down. The gown slid down over his shoulders, the tie loosening around his back as he threw it outside the bounds of the shower and leaned back. He stared down at the newest scars on his body, some still scabbed over while others were raised on his skin; the nerves on the first layers still numb when he ran his fingers across them, he doubted he would ever feel those patches of skin again.

Bandages off and thrown away in the new trash can he looked at what would be the worst scars on his skin soon. The mangled leg that doctors had pieced back together, the holes in his hands that still ached whenever he saw or moved them, and his shoulder which he couldn't even see but knew had been torn apart whenever it hurt just to shrug or lay back. When he reached around to turn the water on he flinched forward for a moment when the pressure drove into the wound, forcing himself to remain still as he got used to the feeling. It took a second for him to relax into it, taking a deep breath before he reached for the soap, lathering it over the scars with cautious hands. He knew he would have to go to rehab for…well everything. Allbright had already made that clear, and a psychologist as well whenever he made it out of here. Especially if he ever wanted to be cleared to operate again and to be quite honest he wasn't sure he could ever do anything else, this was literally all he knew now. Sure all he currently remembered was the worst of it but he couldn't see himself doing anything else even despite the current issues with his psyche.

His fingers still did not close around anything completely unless he was in the middle of a panic attack with adrenaline coursing through his veins so he was struggling to hold the slippery bar of soap in his hands but he finally got into a rhythm. By the time he reached back to shut the water off his hands were aching from the use, but he found he welcomed it, they would get better and he would get used to the feeling that he knew. All of his muscles were tensed throughout his body from stretching down to clean his feet, his thigh and calf having screamed at him to stop even though he didn’t listen. Soap grabbed the towel as he stepped out, bracing himself against the wall with a wince. He dried himself off and limped for the sink, hands bracing painfully against the cold corners while he steadied himself.

It wasn’t until he looked up, blue eyes staring at an unfamiliar reflection for the first time since he got back, that he actually let himself feel any kind of pain. Dark brows furrowed and the reaction felt alien, fingers reaching up and running across the scars there, both new and old. He didn’t feel his racing heart in his chest nor the panic inching its way in at the stranger staring back at him, but he did see the face going pale, the sweat beading up across his brow. “Fuckin hell,” he muttered when he touched the long jagged scar that ran through his brow and down his cheek, probably from one of the times they hit him with the pipe. The lightheaded feeling finally clued him in to what was happening, to the attack that he was threatening to spill over the precipice of. “No, fuck you, you stupid fucker we are not doing this shite again. Keep it together, keep it together,” he closed his eyes against the reflection staring back at him shaking his head against the unstoppable tidal wave that wanted to consume and drown him.

How does a person not even recognize their own reflection? Is it possible to look at oneself and feel like it didn't match? That you didn't belong in that skin? It had to be possible cause that was what he felt as his fingers began to tighten on the corners of the sink, body rocking forward into it. Pain was lancing through him, a shallow attempt to ground his racing mind. He was an impostor in his own body, merely taking another man's memories and piecing them together to get the story of his life. They were not his memories, they were not his story, they were not him and the realization made his heart ache even more than every injury he was still nursing. His head was under the incoming wave, a single hand reaching out was his last hope at being saved.

A steady, calm force finally wrapped around his fingers, jerking him up from the rising tide and trying to pull him out. “Soap? Allbright said you sounded upset, what’s wrong?” The Scotsman felt his fingers release from the counter, taking a breath in and holding it for a few seconds before letting it out slowly. He was ok, just don't look in the mirror, don't look at the eyes of the dead man staring back. It was ok, he would be ok.

“I look like a well skelped erse,” his voice sounded strained, high enough in pitch it gave away his distress and the tension even as it rose more. His throat felt tight around the lump in his throat, mind still wanting to break down and release all those feelings despite the Scotsman who was refusing to allow it, desperately suffocating the urge to bawl like a child in the corner again. Not again, he refused to do that again, he was better than that.

There was a quiet moment before Ghost rumbled out, “English MacTavish.”

His head shook as he lifted his hand to his face, rubbing against his forehead as he tried to ground himself again, another memory flooding in from Las Almas that made him want to scream. Stop telling him everything about that man, he never should have gotten the first memories back, why would his mind do this? Create two beings that could never coexist with one another because the other was lying dead on a concrete floor a thousand miles away. “Man I’m fuckin ugly, and not even a word from a one of ya to tell me. I look like someone tried to skin a fuckin deer on me face.” Even despite his distress he was still trying to make light of the situation, the other man, the memories of his old self, telling him that was the proper thing to do, that it was expected of him. That if he could just make himself and the other person laugh he would be ok, that was a lie.

There was a quiet huff from the other side before Ghost answered, “You’re not ugly Soap. They’ll heal, and no one on the team cares what your face looks like.”

“But I do, Ghost! I dinnae even remember myself, thought I was looking through a fuckin window for a second. I cannae show my face out there if I cannae even look at myself!” He was spiraling, he knew he was spiraling and it didn’t even matter, how could he stop this feeling of not being right, of being in the wrong body? It was hell. “Fuckin hell!” His volume jumped as he fought the war inside him to keep his cool, to not lose himself again when all his brain seemed to be able to do was pull him further down into the dark depths.

The calm voice returned through the wood, the strong hand holding him above the water refusing to let go, “Soap you are not ugly. You will be fine.” There was a pause before he finally seemed to consider something and said, "I'll be right back. I promise." The other side of the door went silent, and he shuffled back to sit on the closed toilet, towel wrapped around his waist while fingers ran through short locks of hair that didn't even feel like his own. Soap could feel himself sinking, the life preserver Ghost had given him didn't stand a chance against the incoming tsunami of thoughts that were trying to flood his every sense. Trying to take this new man and thrash him against the rocks until he was beaten and bloody and without a limb left to keep his head above the water.

As he dipped below the surface again, one hand still clinging painfully to a life preserver that seemed hell bent on sinking with him, the door beside him creaked on its hinges, pushing open before someone stepped inside. His hands were on his face, covering it from the sight of the other man. There was a tightening in his chest as he leaned away from the person, seeing them squat in his peripheral vision until they came into his field of view. The familiar skull mask looked up at him, hazel eyes catching his attention before Soap slipped his face further behind his palms. "It's ok, Soap. Here," he held out some black fabric in his gloved hands, the Scotsman staring at it for a few moments. Without thought he reached for it, taking the smooth fabric between his fingers and holding it there for a moment, studying it. Before he could do anything with it, Ghost spoke again, "It's yours."

There was a painful lump sitting in his throat now that not even swallowing could dissipate. Soap couldn't get his fingers to respond again though, trying to grab at the hem of the mask unsuccessfully. Ghost watched and he swore he saw pain in those eyes, shame even, like the man believed this to be his fault or something. It wasn't, the Scotsman knew that much at least, he'd gotten to this point due to his own inadequacies, he didn't need anyone's help to be an idiot. Finally, he whispered shamefully, looking away, "I can't do it. They won't work unless I'm trying to fuckin kill someone." He glared down at his unresponsive digits, wishing he could replace them like his mind was trying to replace the man he'd once been.

The big man squatting before him didn't miss a beat though, he grabbed the mask, spread it at the hem, and slid it over his head in a single, swift movement. Ghost didn't even touch him to do it, mindful of his sensitivities at all times it seemed. What he had done to deserve a friend like this he doubted he would ever know, and that was meant quite literally.

The fabric on his face felt foreign against his skin, but as he took a deep breath in he inhaled the strong smell that always accompanied the Lieutenant. Pine flooded his nose, muscles relaxing nearly immediately at the smell, almost as if he'd enjoyed that smell many times before. He probably had seeing as he was in such close proximity to the big man all the time. It took a couple seconds for him to regain his thought processes, blinking to clear his foggy vision as Ghost pulled him onto the life raft finally and out of the tsunami's path. "Tapadh leat mo chridhe," he didn't expect the man to nod at him, feeling a bit of panic that he might have understood what he had said for a moment.

The Lieutenant immediately put that thought to rest though when he said, "You've really gotta work on your English, Soap. I don't know what the bloody hell you're saying." Soap gave him a half smile, a little huff of amusement leaving him before he watched Ghost stand up nodding at the gown on the counter, "You need to get some clothes on. Allbright still has to put fresh bandages on you before she can leave."

Blue eyes flicked down to the gown before he nodded, "Oh yeah, I'll be out in a second Lieutenant. Thank you though, for the mask. It…It means a lot." Ghost gave him a quiet nod and shut the door, leaving Soap to finish changing with thoughts dancing around his mind that had no business being there to begin with.

[ventithedrunkbardehe]

Hawks x reader (18+)

So this is the other request from my dear friend... Guess gonna burry myself again after this just like with the Doppio one T - T. After this I’ll go back to writing you guys’s requests <3

Before we start there are some thing to know (my friend wrote these): Hawks is the boss, Y/N is an assisstant, they have been together for months an they live together. Right now Y/N is on a break from work. And they are both bratty ppl. (Oh and this was written by my friend I just got asked to write it properly so all the credit goes to mah friend <3 They have these wild ideas but I still love ‘em)

You were feeling needy since you woke up.The night was getting close, so Keigo should be arriving soon. Or so you thought as your phone buzzed in your hand.

‘I’m so sorry I still have some work left so I’ll be arriving home later than expected. Good night babe’ - You read Keigo’s message, feeling disappointed since you had a suprise prepared for him.

‘It’s okay I’ll go to sleep then. Good night.’ - You wrote back to him, and headed straight to the bed.

After a while you woke up to the feeling of hands wrapping around your waist.

“Welcome home...” - You said in a quiet and tired tone.

“Did I wake you up?.. Sorry.” - He said as he pulled you closer. He satred carresing your body as he felt quite tight clothes on you. He looked down and saw the one pieced black lingerine hugging your body. Before he could process you already turned around and grabbed his face, looking deeply into his eyes.

“Do you like what you see darling?” - You ask in a seductive tone. He got on top of you and started kissing you.

"'Hope this gives you an answer." - He said as he started kissing and sucking your neck. He started removing your lingerine as he kissed further down on your body. You back arched againts his mouth as he sucked on one of your breasts while massaging the other.

"K-Kei'-" you moaned as he went further down on your body. You lifted your hips so he can slide the lingerine off of you, then he threw it away somewhere in the room.

"I guess I'll have my dinner then." - He said as he dipped himself between your legs and started eating you out. He put your legs up on his shoulders as he repeatedly continued with his kitty licks. Your hands found its way to his hair and pushed him closer to you. Your back arched as you got closer and closer to your climax. It was one final lick to your clit that caused you to cum on his tounge, which he gladly swallowed.

As he got back on top of you, you tried to push down his pants with your feet but you failed. You got embarrased a bit when he chukled seeing how desprate you were.

"So desprate, are we?" - He said as he took off his pants with his boxers. Before he could go on top of you you sat up and made him lay down.

“Hm?” - He hummed as you started kissing his inner tights, leving some mark there, getting closer to his member. He moaned, as you kissed the tip of his cock.

You slowly lowered your head on his lenght, and started bobbing your head keeping eye contact with him, and what you couldn’t take in your hand took care of it. He became a moaning mess while trying to resist from his hips to thrust up. You put your hand down from his lenght and fastened your pace causing him to fail and thrust up into your mouth. You gagged a bit but still continued. His moans grew louder as he got closer and closer. After a few more bobs he shoot his cum down on your throath. You swallowed it and licked his member clean.

After he regained his strenght he flipped you on your back and got back on top of you like he did before. He lifted your legs up to his shoulders and posotioned himself at your enterance.

"W-wait Kei'..." - You said as he was about to thrust himself.

"Hm?" - He looked at you stopping his motions.

"Don't you dare to stop until you finish... Or I may have to punish you after." - You said and pulled him in for a kiss which he returned.

"Just don't regret saying this babybird." - He said as he thrusted into you.

You moaned as his hand pinned your hands down. His other hand explored your body, finding its way back to your boob, playing with your nipple as his thrusts got a bit faster to your liking. His mouth found its way to your neck leaving hickeys and lovebites on it. He sucked on your sweetspot leaving a dark mark on your neck. He felt you getting thighter around him.

"Getting closer babybird?" - he asked you as you moaned in response. His thrusts got harder and sloppier each time you came first then after a few thrusts he did too.

"Fuck-... You should suprise me more like this..." - He said as he flopped down next to you.

"Mhm... Sure will..." - You said as you turned to him while he chuckled at your response and hugged him close to you. A few minutes later he spoke up again.

“Let’s get cleaned up shall we?” - He said as he stood up, picked you up and started heading to the bathroom.

Hope you guys enjoyed this as well

T - T. If there’s anything that I could improve then pls tell me, love y’all <3

[bloodboundsiege]

out of curiosity, what made you decide to make this into a full fledged visual novel instead of just writing a fic? esp since afaik there hasn't been a demand/outcry for more bloodbound

(this ended up being rlly long, so I'm putting it under a cut. if you don't want to read all of that, the tl;dr is I've been working on an spec adaptation of Bloodbound since 2021, I've been making edits with Choices assets for a little over a year now, and I started messing around with ren'py during my stint in the now no longer active @nightboundthesecond project, and this spinoff is the culmination of all of those things bc I wanted to do something w them).

Anyways, here's the long version:

So...I kind of already did. Sort of.

In summer of 2021, I was going through a pretty bad depressive episode and ended up rereading Bloodbound (which got me back into the fandom as a whole, more on that in a sec). When the dust cleared, I began really heavily reconsidering what exactly I was doing with my life.

I'd been toying with the possibility of doing a film MFA of some kind, but I was worried I didn't have the skillset to get into any grad programs. So, I began teaching myself how to write screenplays by adapting Bloodbound into a spec TV series. From August 2021 to April 2022, I wrote twenty-eight episodes, with three rounds of revisions, which really strengthened my abilities as a writer. I'm currently at a T10 film school getting an MFA. I wouldn't be where I am without doing that. Part of my love for Bloodbound stems from the fact that it quite literally changed my life.

The very nature of turning a book into a screenplay/teleplay is that you have to restructure a lot of plot points so they fit in better with the new medium. With a TV adaptation, you also usually have to build onto the source material. For Bloodbound, that meant fleshing things out and creating new characters to move the plot forward. It also meant exploring things that either happened offscreen or were only brief scenes.

And so when it came time to write episodes for the book 2 adaptation, the huge aspect of that was going into New York City and seeing what Gaius was doing during his hostile takeover. And since I had very little to work with from the source material, I had to come up with a lot of stuff off the cuff. And as I put those storylines together, I was like there's actually some pretty interesting stuff here. This visual novel is based off of that stuff.

@clansayeed and his fantastic reimaginings of Bloodbound and Nightbound had been on my radar for a while at this point, but I wasn't aware of the fake caps he made until I actually checked out his tumblr account. I thought they were really fucking cool. As a little private celebration for finishing the third round of edits for season 1 (and to let myself take a break), I decided to teach myself how to make fakecaps and recreate a few scenes from my adaptation in the Choices format:

I found out that I really enjoyed reworking assets into new outfits and character designs--lowkey, putting on a podcast or a video essay, opening up pixlr, and just making stuff became one of my go-to ways to unwind in the midst of mfa apps and life in general--, so I started making more fandom service stuff for fun and posting them on Reddit. I made a variety of stuff: role reversal AU edits, general dress up stuff, and of course... "on the set of [choices book]: the tv show" fake caps.

I feel like you're not really supposed to say this, but it was kind of validating to me that a lot of those posts did like. Decent numbers. And that kind of motivated me to get better at doing it, especially in the beginning.

And then...It Lives Within dropped. And I think that shifted a lot of how people--myself included--considered what they could do within a fandom space like Choices. Like, if we could make our own shit, why not? I was really intrigued by the idea, and so when there were calls for writers and sprite artists for a Nightbound project, I jumped at the opportunity.

(As a side note, I think the fact that now there are people within the fandom making their own sequels/spinoffs/whatever is gonna be rlly interesting for the general ecosystem of the Choices fandom and its future, but that's a convo for another time lol)

While the team I was on is no longer working on a sequel, being part of that group did a lot for me, and I look back on being part of that really fondly. I think we all were kind of picking up whatever we needed to do, regardless of if it was what we signed on for. For me, that meant teaching myself how to use Ren'py. The thing was, this was still in the really early stages of development, which meant I didn't have a lot of story to play with. So...

I was kind of like. Fuck it. Let me try my own thing out.

The original idea was actually a prequel set in the 1910s, as I'd done an MC set and an LI set based on that very premise, but the problem was that there are so few assets from that time period, and asset creation has never been my strong suit. But then, I thought back to the adaptation I'd been working on.

Some of the strongest writing I think I've ever done was in the episodes where the primary storylines were following Gaius's takeover of New York. I think a lot of the themes of the second book came out in those moments. And as cool as it would be, as much as I've fantasized about it, I don't think Bloodbound: The TV Show is ever happening. So it made sense for me to rework that into a visual novel spinoff.

In terms of the actual framing of this story, I spent a lot of time in the Bloodbound tags in the early days of working on my adaptation. I was deep in those tags. And it's really interesting to see what people expected it to be before its release. Part of it was the assumption of a Clan sorting system. Obviously, that wasn't actually the case.

Additionally, I think a lot of people were frustrated by the fact that Bloodbound's MC isn't really given the option to just. Be bad. Which then makes moments like this super jarring:

So, I decided to put everything I'd learned together. I was working on the GUI/character creation features for Nightbound (side note, the GUI in this game isn't an absolutely perfect replication of the Choices GUI yet and won't be for the demo, but we're getting there), I had a ton of edits I'd made that I wasn't using for anything, and I had a story that I knew could be reworked into an arc about a new vampire in New York City during Gaius's coup.

But with this project in general, it's less about a demand for a sequel/midquel/spinoff within the fandom and more like. I noticed that there were some things people wanted out of Bloodbound and didn't get, and trying to give it to them, because I wanted those things too, and I felt like I had the means to create that. When I've talked to IRL friends about this project (non of whom play Choices), I've just been like "yeah it's a visual novel fanfic" because...it's a visual novel fanfic.

So. That's why.

(This was super long (and felt a little self centered, sorry!), but if you read all of that, I hope it all made sense. All of this is to say that this has been a labor of love for a book series I've been living with for a year and a half, and I want to get part of what I've done with it out of my head. I hope you all like it.)

[cornflakegetmilking]

Bittersweet Cravings

Warning: this fic contains possesion, alot of killing, oh also some saucy moments

Sauce Warning - Sauceless

Chapter 9: Soft and Dangerous

It wasn't long until Jack finally left his room to go to the kitchen and make up his dinner, unfortunately Flakes wasn't around still and was probably still outside. Realizing he was even looking for them he let out a groan and shook his head to focus on his work.

Meanwhile Flakes was out in the garden still admiring the flower they had found which was now more bloomed than ever, this seemed to calm them down a bit from a while ago but not enough to get their mind out the thought of him. They sighed as they gently caressed the flower petals with their finger.

"Do you think even the worse people can learn to love?" They wondered and obviously got no answer as they were talking to flower.

They sighed once more and laid on their back, looking up at the sky, daydreaming of what could be if Jack would ever return their feelings. The idea of cuddling by a fire, laying next to him, being able to give him kiss each day and just being his as a partner and not as some living trophy. They frowned in their thoughts but decided to not overthink it and head back inside as they were getting hungry.

As they were heading to the kitchen they were suddenly stopped by Jack's big hands making them jump a bit before looking up at him confused.

"You really are jumpy huh? Don't bother looking for something to eat i made enough for the two of us..." He was avoiding eye contact.

"Oh!" They honestly didn't think he'd even make extra just for them, so they just nodded and followed him into the dining room.

Jack was quiet the whole time they ate, however he would turn to watch flakes eat every now and then as if he was checking if they were eating enough. Luckily feeding them didn't seem to be much of a problem as they ate quite well, makinf Flakes let out a satisfied sigh. Jack couldn't help but grin.

"It's a good thing i made extra, you eat quite alot!" He teased as he got up dusting himself.

Flakes blushed and looked away with a nervous smile.

"H-heh sorry i was just really hungry i guess... your cooking is really good too..." They fiddled with their thumbs and internally screamed at themself to quiet down.

"Don't worry about it. It's why i made extra in the first place anyways!" He chuckled poking their belly. "Nice to see you're not picky though!"

Flakes blushed and wacked his finger away as they glared at him with a low snarl making Jack laugh.

"Whaat? Im just messing with ya! Look at me im not too picky either!" He chuckled and held on his belly to jiggle a bit.

Flakes watched him as a grin slowy creeped out their lips and slowly turned into laughter making jack roll his eyes and chuckle a bit in amusement.

"Well in my opinion i like your size... you look soft enough to lay down... or maybe snuggle to..." A soft purr leaving their body as they tried to reach out to touch their belly only to retreat their hand immediately, not wanting to make him mad.

Jack rose a brow at their sudden reaction but decided to ignore it.

"Don't bother cleaning up, thats what the maid's for anyways..." He said as he started to walk off only to pause for a while. "I don't want you sleeping outside this time..."

Flakes looked at them a bit confused.

"Well uh... should i sleep in a guest room? I mean i could also sleep on the couch?" They stood up only for Jack to walk back to them.

"No i want you to sleep in my room..." He didn't even stutter, he even seemed offended at their ideas.

Flakes was almost sure they were joking but as soon as they saw his calm expression turn to an impatient one they realized they were serious.

"W--wait but why would you want me in your room? I thought you'd prefer being alone?" Their ears couldn't help but twitch at the idea of even sleeping next to him.

"Yes but i would prefer you being close to me so you aren't too vulnerable to hunters... since you've exposed yourself to people I'm worried about loosing something of too much value simple because i let my guard down..." Jack rolled his eyes a bit before turning to walk to his room.

Flakes was now blushing, their ears twitching rapidly as they couldn't help but feel flustered.

"Am i really that valuable to him?" They thought as they started to follow him, a bit of hope in their heart.

As soon as they got to his room Flakes started to undress to change into something less formal and after undressing with Jack that morning they were a bit more comfortable knowing he wasn't watching them anyways. Or at leastthey thought, as Jack would glance at them while he undressed himself shirtless, he always seen them through the crystal ball or the magic mirror but now he could take in their details, the spots on their skin were such a lovely charcoal black color it almost made them look like a cookie with their brown skin, their fur didnt look too well brushed as some locks of fur would be swooped the other way, he wasn't completely attracted to them however he did admire their uniqueness as he has never seen features like theirs. Finally he looks away as soon he notices Flakes turning to them. Flakes, now in their sleeping garments they turned to Jack seeing he was in his boxers with no top clothing causing them to blush again as they admired his folds and curves before looking away, not wanting to be rude and stare. They decided to wait for Jack to lay down first so they wouldn't have to ask him "stupid questions", so as Jack laid on the right side of the bed they took it as a sign to lay on the left but give Jack his space. It was no surprise that his bed was massive, they wouldn't be too surprised if he had the bed made specifically for his size, however it was rather soft and very comfortable as the bed sheet's cloth was made of expensive silk and the pillows were as soft as feathers... maybe it was made of the fur of something illegal and endangered, it was definitely much better than sleeping on dirt and itchy grass. Letting out a soft purr as their ears twitched in comfort and slowly their eyes grow heavy and start to close. As soon as they had fallen asleep Jack slowly puts a blanket over themself before going to sleep himself.

The next day eventually came and Flakes woke up early like they usually did and left the room to do their new daily routine of making coffee and breakfast, shower and dress up. And now that they knew Jack wasn't a morning person they decided to avoid talking to him until he talks first so they just went on with their routine smoothly. But just like yesterday at some point they were alone in Jack's room waiting for him to finish his shower, they were repetitively looking at his magical mirror that was still covered by the curtains thinking of whether to talk to them or not, as they were eager for some answers on Jack himself. But as they were approaching the mirror and reached their hand out to push away the curtains they stopped to think, if they only get their answers through this magical artifact maybe they would never really have a chance with him... they needed to be brave and talk to him themselves... with that they slowly retreat their hand away.

"Dammit Flakes why are you like this..." They sighed as they looked at their hand wondering what was wrong with them.

It didn't take too long til Jack had came back to the room and dressed himself up.

"C'mon now we shouldn't waste anymore time. " He waved his hand weakly gesturing them to follow.

Flakes only nodded and did as told.

When they arrived the factory Flakes did their duties checking the stocks, the kitchen tools and other equipment and listed whatever was needed. Even checked the cleanliness of the place to see if it needed any deep cleaning done which seemed to be the case as their was quite a bit of gunk in some nooks and crannies, so they decided to take the info to Jack.

"Your bakers don't really do well with the cleaning do they..." They couldn't help but chuckle a bit making Jack raise a brow.

"Oh? And were you any better than them?" He sat on his chair, checking on his papers.

Flakes rolled their eyes before putting their notes down.

"Well i definitely knew better than to leave pie filling on the floor for so long it starts to harden and mold..." They pointed out.

This seemed to grab Jack's attention as the cleanliness of his factory was surprisingly important to him, maybe it was the FDA stuff? With this he sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Is something wrong?" Flakes frowned as they tilted their head.

"Well back then i only had to have a deep cleaning every 2 weeks or so since my bakers would do a pretty decent job cleaning up their mess! But now it's been a week and they already found a way to be slobs!" Jack huffed and got up to his telephone to call someone.

"I-i could try to discipline some of the bakers?" Flakes responded only to receive a laugh from him and make him put his telephone down.

"You? Discipline? Forgive me for my words here but as much as you are "the most terrifying creature of the land" you always let others walk over you like some doormat! Then again your fur also looks like a doormat with how unkept it looks..." he chuckled as Flakes held their ear's fur and blushed in embarrassment. "You're way too kind to others! Its why you got captured in the first place!" He added.

Flakes frowned as they then slowly held the amethyst gem on their collar, they couldn't help but pity themself at that moment and the sad part was that he was right. Sure most of their life they had been nothing but kind to others but it was all cause they didn't want to scare or hurt people, and that all their life they thought being good to others was the best way to live. But then again it was also the reason why they were so scared of people and kept being used by others.

"But if you really want to try go ahead and be my guest but to my concern you are pretty powerless without my assistance!" Jack chuckled as he continued on with his call on the telephone but not before givin them one more comment. "My advice to you little trophy, give in to your hostile urge once in a while..."

Flakes' ears drooped as they slowly left the room. At this moment they felt vulnerable and weak, but something was stirring inside them... they decided to ignore it and decided to do their job, as they observed the bakers they couldn't help but frown each time they saw some mess was poorly cleaned or just flat out ignored making them groan loudly at some point.

"Oh is something wrong Flakes?" The same baker who lost their ear, grinned noticing their annoyed expression.

Flakes only glared at them but decided to ignore him for now, however he didn't like that and in an attempt to grab their attention he decides to spill some pie filling on the floor causing Flakes to growl.

"Being a bit neat with your work won't harm you, you know?" They looked away trying not to loose their cool.

"Sorry I'm just a bit clumsy today! Woopsy me!" He happily chirpped as he drops an unbaked pie ont he floor.

Flakes' ears perked hearing it go SPLAT on the floor and turning back to see the mess. Unbaked crust scattered and pie filling spreading across the floor.

"What the hell is your problem?!" They barked at him only to receive an eye roll from him.

"My problem is this!" He points at the bandages over his missing ear. "Because of you i have this! If you only kept your mouth shut this wouldn't have happened!"

Flakes looked at him more angrier than before.

"I was doing my job?! You wouldn't even have to deal with that if you just did your job right!" They were starting to breathe heavy,their fangs growing like yesterday and feeling their hostility starting to grow they had to leave, they didn't want to hurt anyone after all. "You know what? I don't have time for this!"

With that they start to walk away but not without him saying one final snarky remark.

"Yeah go back to your precious owner! It's all you can do anyways! I don't even understand how you can like some nobody like him!" Oh how he wished he had just kept his mouth shut, cause as soon as he said that Flakes froze in their place and snapped a deadly glare at him.

"I'd suggest you watch your mouth there..." They snarled threateningly.

"Oh and what are you gonna do? Tell on your precious Jacky?" He laughed only causing Flakes to get even angrier.

"Shut. UP!!!" They barked as their fur and hair stood up as they started walking towards him.

"Face it! You are nothing without him! And even so Jack is just some lazy fat nobody! The only reason people know him is for his precious lil trinkets! Am I right yall?!" He laughed once more while looking at the bakers as if looking for some sort of approval only to notice the fear in their eyes, so he looked forward to Flakes only to notice their now hostile reaction.

"You keep your filthy mouth shut! Jack isn't some nobody! Hell he is higher ranked than you ever will be! You're damn lucky he even lets you live still! Look at yourself thinking you're so great when all you have to offer to his precious company is burnt pies and leaving unnecessary messes!" They snarled as their eyes started to change, while the baker stepped back and tried to look for a way out. "And dare you say "its all you can do" to me and that "you're nothing without him"?! I've done more better things for this factory that have pleased Jack's standards even BEFORE i became his trophy!"

They growled in rage as they walked closer to him to forcefully grab the back of his head and drag him to the splattered pie on the floor.

"Clean it up..." They demanded.

"But I-i don't have any cleaning supplies with me right now!" He was shaking and squirming trying to get out of their grip, they may have been a bit smaller but their strength was better than his.

"Oh i know!" They gave him a sharp toothy grin as they then shoved him down onto the pie face first, as soon as they noticed him about to get up they stepped onto his head to force his face back down onto the pie. "I may just be some sort of trophy to him but he knows how to take good care of me and even go so far to protect me and even give me some advices... and if there's one thing he thought me today its to not take shit from anyone LOWER to my level and MESS with me! So make yourself useful for once in your sad pathetic life and use your mouth to clean up this mess!"

The man sobbed as he was forced down to clean the mess, it was not at all sanitary as he never made much of an effort to clean his side of his station, Flakes wanted to feel bad but a part of them felt almost proud of themself that they finally stood up for themself. they were so focused and quite happy with their work, they didn't notice Jack had emerged out his trophy room and watched the whole scenario for himself, he seemed quite entertained and even a bit proud as a wide smile spread his face.

"Look at you putting my bakers in their place! Hehe! Him again too? Tsk well its good you put him where he belongs... I'm glad you took my advice... you're not as awful as I thought you'd be..." He gave Flakes a satisfied smile making their ears twitch joyously.

"A-are you pleased with my work sir?" They cooed softly, but as Jack gave them a few scratches under their chin their they purred as their heart melted and closed their eyes to take in the moment.

"Oh Its more than pleasing to me... you've entertained me well my trophy..."

To be continued

[lovestrucksuggestion]

hey, sorry if this is too much or smth, but i really don't wanna tell anything to my friends i fearike it'd be "too real" AND OBVIOUSLY I WANT IT TO BE REAL BUT, i don't know, i feel like i'll jinx or fuck it up somehow if i tell it;;

hello, again, okay so, a few weeks back we had this thesis project 6 per group and ive had converstaions w all of them except for 1.

by this point i was lamenting over a past love, we werent necessarily together since we were like, idk 14 or smth when it happened and its been 7 years, we kinda drifted apart after graduation since i thought 'it wouldnt last anyway' and i kept rejecting their advances for a year or two, but i still liked them;;; anyway back in 2020 we got in touch again and i told them that i still liked them and i was just dumb and all that and they seemed to return my advances and ofc i asked if they were comfortable and not just going w the flow yknow and they said yes so.

i confessed and they said not yet cause of school stuff but they do like me still and so i said id wait, THEN it was all okay since we joke and all that but they always seem to reject when i ask them directly about us or like even just to meet up or smth, and ofc i get it so i try not to bother them too much until valentine's rolls in and they post smth on ig with them and their friends and theres this girl with a solo shot of her being goofy and smiling and i just.

idk i took it as a sign to stop since he always used to do that w me before so yeh.

and then like with school i just got lost in all it and directed every ounce of my passion so we finished some stuff quite early, theres only 2 big ones of them we needed to do so a member suggested to split the work between us six. one of thems easier than the other so i got grouped with the guy i havent talked to, kinda scared abt it but all was fine. i added him (lets call him graham) on facebook so we could talk in messenger about planning what to do and all that, then after i found that he's friends with another group member who happened to be someone im close with, kinda AND they messaged me so i asked whats up cause i thought it was abt the project and they reply with smth along the lines of "nothing, graham's just rlly overjoyed since u addrd him cause he likes u" AND IM WHAT CAUSE IM P SURE WEVE NEVER MET then he follows it up w "ure his type, smart and hardworking" AND I DONT HAVE THE HEART TO TELL THAT IM A FALSE ADVERTISEMENT CAUSE IM RLLY NOT ALL THAT AND IM SCARED OF DISAPPOINTING ANYONE

anyway they let it be and i didnt think much of it cause maybe theyre just messing around yknow so nothing much happened, we finished the project and everything's all right until we were grouped for another thing through our society/club whatevr and i was kinda nervous since its my first time meeting them and everything was fun actually turns out it was graham's bday last tuesday so i greeted him and we joked a bit cause wednesday's the club thingy, i didnt even know what he looked like since his pfp's from when he was a kid

wednesday rolls in and im in the library with a friend, a mutual friend of ours and he said hello to me and i was so happy somehow??? I DONT REALLY GET IT MYSELF I USUALLY TAKE SO LONG TO ACCLIMATIZR TO SOMEONE BUT LIKE THE CLUB THINGY WENT WELL AND WE WERE JOKING BY THE END OF THE DAY AND I JUST, i think i like him as well?? he even asked to take a picture with me he seemed so nervous i wanted to hug him I ACTUALLY THOUGHT ITD BE OUR WHOLE GROUP IN THE CLUB but it turns out it wasnt so !!!!!!

thursday comes and we messaged a bit (he chatted first, abt the thesis) we were in a seminar and i was a bit late that day so i was at the back and our other classmates r upfront w him so never really met, until a friend of mine and i were going home and we MET THEM ON THE TRAIN ISTG MY HEART WAS JUMPING UNTIL I GOT HOME SMILING LIKE AN IDIOT WHILE WALKING

okay sorry but like, tldr, im a bit afraid that i only "like" him cause he liked me first, yknow after i waited for the previous person and evrything for so long and receiving little to nothing ++ i think his expectation of me's kinda high im neither smart nor hardworking im just anxious all the time so i have to do my work quick or else i'll die and some part of me's still doubting his feelings for me as just a prank cause nsjdhbf idk im not really pretty too so whats up why is this happrning but he's so fucking cute (generally) and i am falling as well and im scared cause we'd be graduating in a year so what if this also doesnt end quite well and i end up losing a friend?

i kinda also wanna just come up to him and invite him for a date but yeh :( and yesterday my phone died and i was stoked to meet him but he wasnt at uni so i was kinda sad then i find out the previous person i like messaged me and idk they were kinda flirty and i feel bad if i leave them again cause ive done it once and i was only left with regrets so what if im just repeating history aaaa its so hard to like manage everything too if graham and i somehow manage to be together im not great at balancing things what if i let him slip away or smth

again sorry for this i just wanted to know what other people think i really wanna shoot my shot at the same time i feel like im a people pleaser so yknow what if im just doing this cause of attention or smth idk huhu thanks in adavmce if u answer this but no hatd feelings if u dont thank u boo

Hello, you seem very stressed out! Please take several deep breaths, put on some calming music and remember that none of this is life or death.

First of all, you're right to let this past love go, it's simply not in the cards and I'm proud of you for recognizing that. Throw the whole man away, if he makes you feel bad(even if he's not doing it on purpose!) you don't need that drama.

I'm not going to diagnose you with anything over the internet, especially not based on one interaction, but I will say that in this ask specifically, you are exhibiting pretty high levels of anxiety and worry that it might be good to speak to a professional about. Your university should have free mental health services, if you have insurance you can call and ask what providers they cover, and failing that, there are many therapists and psychiatrists who offer sliding scale coverage for low income patients.

Alright, now that's done, what needs to happen here is something that I know you will not like, but is pretty much mandatory-you need to have a conversation with Graham. It's okay if it turns out you only like that he's interested in you, and when you get to know him you're less into him. You're not asking him to marry you after all. It's also okay if you're not smart or funny or hardworking (I think you're being too hard on yourself, but even so, it's okay).

If you talk with him and express your interest, you can set a boundary on how you like to be complimented(i.e., low pressure compliments that don't comment on your abilities) and specify if you want something casual just to see how you vibe. Even if you graduate, you might stay together, or you might not. You definitely won't know unless you try.

Also, who cares if you want attention???? you're human, that's totally natural. You're not gonna go to Needy Jail for it.

All that to say:

go to therapy

figure out what you want (in general and from Graham specifically. You can do this in therapy)

stop talking to past love

start talking to Graham about what you want

remember that even if things end up less than ideal, it's okay

[braingray]

10 First Lines Tag Game

Rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent fanfics and tag ten people. If you have written less than ten, don’t be shy and share anyway.

I was tagged by the amazing @fangqueen, and I’m with you on the haven’t-written-anything-in-a-while thing. I keep saying that I’ve been “getting back into it,” but I’ve said that for months now, lol. It has been a rocky process for sure. Thank you so much for your tag! I loved reading your snippets, especially number 10. 👀

My first four entries are from WIPs, since those are technically my most recent even if they aren’t published yet. The rest are in chronological order from my AO3. Looooooong text below the cut.

1. Cleaning out the studio was an all-day endeavor. There were old instruments gathering dust and new ones littering the chairs from their earlier practice, leaving no room for walking when combined with the boxes and knickknacks strewn across the floor. Roy carefully stepped over a fallen mess of rolled-up posters, then sidled on tiptoe around the corner of a CD rack he’d gotten from Ollie years ago, back when CDs were still cool. (Roy/Dick/Joey band AU.)

2. Harley can admit she’s a party crasher. That’s what she’s doing now, since she wasn’t officially invited to Mister Wayne’s fancy shindig at the opera house, but Selina had insisted her presence wouldn’t be a disturbance. Harley believes her. After all, Selina is Brucie’s favorite on-again-off-again squeeze, so she would probably know. (Harley/Selina cross-dressing PWP.)

3. Dick can admit when he has made a bad decision. The thing is, admitting his problem does not actually solve it, so here he is, the day after Bruce fucking Wayne put his phone number in Dick’s contacts list, paying more attention to the man’s texts than he is to his own job. He can feel Tim’s eyes on him from across the locker room, but he waits until he finishes replying to Bruce before he acknowledges the stare. “You look cute,” he says, like he wasn’t just ignoring him for the most eligible sleaze in Gotham City. (Club AU, part 4!)

4. The wind was picking up early tonight. Jason shivered through another gust, the chill biting through his insufficient layers like nothing. There would be no glory in quitting patrol early, though—least of all on Halloween night, when Gotham’s most colorful rogues always liked to create pandemonium. ‘Tis the season. (A Man-Bat/Jason PWP that was supposed to have been for Halloween/Kinktober last year...oops.)

5. Tim sits in the center of a dark garage, feeling hunted. There are two things he knows to be true in this moment. One of them is that he’s sitting on a chair with his arms bound behind it, wrists locked in place by mere cuffs. Nothing he can’t pick his way out of, given enough time. The other thing, the one that makes goosebumps rise on his skin, is that he’s here because he has pissed off the wrong man. (Caught On Tape. JayTim CNC kink—rated E.)

6. Dick had been working at this gaudy little nightclub for months. For a case, of course, and although the term undercover didn’t technically apply since he was using his real name and face, he considered it a near thing. (Let the Whole World Look In. BruDick costume kink—rated E.)

7. He found the Bat in the rubble of their latest engagement.Tonight had been disastrous for a variety of reasons, and with the latest Batarang swipe to the face—close enough that Slade swore it trimmed some stubble—he could admit he was reaching his patience threshold. (Gridlock. SladeBru stuck-in-a-wall non-con—rated E.)

8. The training room was supposed to be empty. Considering the time, with the sun beaming at its midday peak, Dick’s assumption had been that no one would be around to disturb his quest for solitary gymnastics. Damian was at school, and everyone else was usually still sleeping off the events of the previous night. (Whatever We Deny or Embrace. BruDick family fluff—rated T.)

9. Right now, there are a number of things Jason would like to address. An elbow is digging into his ribs, and he isn’t bound to anything, so it’s reasonable to assume he and whoever Dingus here is have been carelessly knocked out and dropped somewhere unsavory. (Boxing Clever. A body-swapping fic with many ships, but mainly SladeJay and RomanDick—rated E. This is only in my most recently published fics because of the final chapter update. This fic is from Kinktober 2020, lol.)

10. Tim was standing outside the door to Bruce’s office, headset hanging around his neck, mouth full of bubblegum, one hand poised and ready to knock. Casual as could be. A simple man on a simple mission who did not anticipate anything other than a brief interaction with his father figure. Inside the office, though, two voices spoke. (The Importance of Knocking. BruDick Tim’s POV—rated M.)

That’s a lot of text, phew. Tagging @withthekeyisking-writer @zeroducks-2 @sladedick !!