#i need to get more art of her. having her as my lock screen AND background isn't enough

[badomensgoodomens]

BAD DECISIONS

CHAPTER ONE.

Noah Sebastian X reader

CW: sex and a ridiculously cringy argument. (p-in-v, shower sex, rough dirty talk)

credits to @emluvsuxo who proofread this chapter and did not tell me how absolutely cringy and shitty it is (xoxo) i promise the other two chapters I've written following this one are better academically, and storyline wise.

tag list at bottom of post.

READERS POV 

Noah currently had me sprawled out on his bed, his fingers pumping in and out. My head was thrown back with pleasure, but ultimately, I was in a different place. He pauses his movement, “you good?” he asks, gazing down at me. I nod, mumbling about how I had a rough day. 

We hooked up often, a stress reliever for both me and him. He wasn’t like other boys i’d fucked, he was slow, meaningful and very set on both ends receiving pleasure. However, I always wake up alone. I wasn’t beginning to care about that factor until now. 

When I woke up the next morning, half naked, I just laid there for a while. Why do I all of a sudden need this man for more than just sex. I mean he wasn’t ALL that.. With his uhm….. Fuck. 

I crave that man from the inside out.

—-----------------------------------------------

After a couple of hours of wallowing in delusion with my hands between my legs, I dragged myself out to the studio. I needed to work on a few pieces and get them shipped out. Art was a big passion of mine, it was a great stress reliever (alongside sex with the god himself; noah.) I was successfully channelling every emotion without taking it out on someone else, and turning it into art. Soft music played in the background as I spent hours focusing on every individual brush stroke, trying to perfect this specific piece. 

I ignored everything for a while, texts from my sister, from my mom, even from noah. I was antsy, and a little dizzy. I was losing daylight, this piece wasn’t even remotely done. I’d have to return to it tomorrow.

I close and lock the door to my studio, heading down the steep flight of stairs to the carpark. I knew Noah went to the gym around here, and prayed silently I wouldn't come across him. I was still incredibly contradicted. Did I really want more from him? 

The sun had set and I wasn't even half way home yet, clairo played softly over the radio. I was overwhelmed, not sure how to feel about noah. Fuck. Why is bags playing? 

Fuck  

Fuck 

Fuck 

Maybe I am in love with him? 

_________________________________________________

NOAH'S POV 

I chuck my phone down onto my bed, rubbing my hands over my face. She hasn’t responded yet. Maybe she's given up on me. 

Fuck. I'm painfully hard and I need her soft skin against mine. I hadn’t told the boys about her, I didn't intend to ever date her, I don’t think. We were merely friends with benefits, I'm not ready for commitment. 

It isn’t like I don’t trust her or anything, I'm just scared, and hurt. Natasha fucked me up real bad, hence why we were strictly friends with benefits. No cheating, no trust issues, just meaningless sex. Even though, now when I smell her perfume, it makes me dizzy.   

My head was resting on my grey pillows as my hips stuttered, my right hand jerking up and down my cock. Soft groans spilled out of my mouth as my hips snapped up. I was seconds away from cumming when my phone rang, it was her, her contact photo illuminating my entire phone screen. And holy shit it made me cum. 

I had taken a photo of her, half naked, standing by the big windows in her bedroom. I’d just fucked her brains out, but she was more intrigued by the moon. I scramble to answer the phone, pulling my pants back up. 

“Hi?” her voice came through my phone speaker. 

“Hi, are you busy right now?” I asked, readjusting my pants. 

Her soft sigh fills my ears, and I almost moan. 

“I’m on my way home from the studio, shower sex sounds good enough for you?” 

I climb out of bed, mumbling a soft yes. 

—---------------------------------------

I pull up to her house at roughly 8pm, letting myself in. She's standing in the kitchen in a pair of paint covered track pants and a sports bra. 

“You’re covered in paint” I grin, watching as she eats a microwavable meal. She looks over herself, an embarrassed smile gracing her pretty face. I swear my pants tighten. 

“Right. Upstairs. Now.” I smirk, slipping off my shirt. 

She turns the shower on and hurries to get her clothes off, discarding her silly little lace thong. My hand reaches the back of her neck, pulling her soft lips against mine. It's a clash of teeth, kisses and moans. 

“Bend over” I growl, spitting on my fingers. She does as she's told, making a show of bending over in the spacious shower. My hand comes down harshly on her pretty ass. I gently trace my fingers over her clit, her breathing quickens.    

I lean my head down near her ear, nibbling on it, taking notice of the way her thighs squeeze together at the dirty things I'm whispering in her ear.

My fingers slip inside her tight pussy, pumping in and out. Her soft moans fill the room, blessing my ears. “Gonna make you cum, huh?” I groan, watching her clench down on my fingers. “Gonna make you cum with just my fingers, you dirty girl.” 

__________________________________

I walk out of the shower, stretching my back. I slip my clothes back on, gathering my stuff to leave. She walks me out, wearing just a tshirt. I clear my throat, turning to face her. She looked up at me, her face littered with a post-orgasmic glow, but her eyes said something different. 

READERS POV

He pulls me in for a kiss, a magical one at that. I was enjoying it for a moment until I could taste a hint of hennessy. I pull away, feeling a mix of hurt. “So you just came here to fuck me because you were drunk?!” the words came out before i could even process them. Surprise washes over his face, “w-what?” he mutters, stepping back a little. I rub my hand over my face, why the fuck did i say that? 

This was going to go south real quick. 

“Am I no good?” 

His face is quizzical, his eyebrows raising. “What? Baby-”

“No. don’t call me that. Tell me, am I no good?” the words fell off my lips in a hurry. I felt sick to my stomach, I was head over heels with this man and I needed to know. 

“What the fuck are you talking about-” 

I cut him off. “Do you actually want to fuck me? Or am I just the only one willing?” I ask, crossing my arms over. My heart hurt. 

“I- we talked about this. We are strictly friends with benefits.” Noah responds, shuffling awkwardly back into the house, not wanting to give the neighbours a show. “You’re not even my fucking friend though! You won’t introduce me to your friends, you only come over for sex!" I yell, shutting the front door. Well yeah. That was the whole point of our relationship, but he could’ve at least been nice enough to. 

I watch him rub his hand over my face. His leg was bouncing up and down. 

“You caught feelings, didn’t you?” 

My stomach dropped, I mean I hadn't exactly been secretive, but it was still terrifying. 

“Why is that so wrong!!” I cried out, tugging at the roots of my hair. Was it because he was some rockstar? Was he just like… using me for my body?  Ironic isn’t it?

He sighs, sitting down on my grey couch. 

“This wasn’t supposed to happen-” 

“Can I be yours?” the words spill out before i can stop myself, a desperate plea. The room is silent again. My hopes are not very high. 

“What-?” 

“Can I be yours? Just tell me I'm yours-" I fumble with my words, avoiding eye contact. It felt like I was being burned at the stake.

Panic sets over his face, I panic myself. 

“We talked about this- i- i can’t do that.” he answers, standing up. Shuffling towards the door. 

“You walk out those doors and you’ll never see me again-” the words were much harsher than intended, but I was at my wits end. Our relationship was boring, just sex and nothing else. That wasn’t what I wanted it to be. God, I felt like some trashy whore.

He faltered his movement slightly, but continued walking. 

The last thing he said to me was, 'I’m sorry.' Those words hung in the air, heavy and final, just before I turned away and never saw him again. It wasn’t just the apology that hit me—it was the weight behind it, the finality in his voice, as if it were the last thing he could offer, and it still wasn’t enough. My chest tightened, and a cold wave of nausea rose in my throat. It was as though his words, meant to bring closure, had instead unravelled something inside me, leaving me hollow and raw. I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think—just the echo of his voice and the bitter sting of what could never be fixed.

The door slammed shut, making the thin walls of the lifeless house shake. Bile rose in my throat, I ran up the creaky stairs, my voice a mixture of pained cries and gagging. 

_______________________________________

For days, I couldn’t stop hearing those words—his apology. It looped in my mind like a broken record, each repetition digging deeper. But as the days wore on, I started to realise something. Maybe the hardest part wasn't that he’d hurt me. It was that I was still holding on to the hurt, still letting it have power over me. I had to choose to let go.

authors note:

yes, I know I made this story out to be so much juicier and written so much better, just have some patience. I wrote this literally like 2 months ago and have increasingly gotten better.

Taglist: @lilcrazy011 @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard

let me know if you’d like to be added

credits: whoever made that divider ily. i swear it was @silent-stories do correct me if I'm wrong.

[euphoricdr3ams]

Untitled

Y/N and Felix have always been inseparable—best friends who shared everything from gaming marathons to dreams of the future. But as their paths begin to diverge, with Felix chasing his K-pop dreams in Korea and Y/N heading to university in Melbourne, the unspoken feelings between them start to surface. What begins as a playful dare at a high school party turns into a kiss that changes everything, blurring the line between friendship and something deeper. As they navigate the chaos of growing up, long-distance, and their own insecurities, they must decide: is their bond strong enough to survive the changes, or will the weight of their dreams pull them apart? A story of first loves, missed chances, and the bittersweet beauty of growing up.

genres: written, childhood friends to lovers, fluff, angst,unrequited love, senior year (highschool), felix and Y/N are aged up to 17, pre-debut,

Trigger Warning: underaged drinking for now

Word count: 5,000

Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Authors Note: let me know what u think, I may continue on with this depending on the interest

Circa Late 2017

“How many times are you going to spam the same move?” Y/N complained, her tone a mix of frustration and amusement. She was knee-deep in the world's longest stock-battle stalemate with one of her closest friends.

“I’ll keep at it until you’re as good as dead. I’m not just going to hand you this win,” Felix teased, a smirk on his face as his Pikachu sent her Toon Link flying dangerously close to the edge of the map. 

Both of them were focused, their palms sweaty, eyes locked on the screen. The usual banter and light teasing that typically filled their sleepovers and competitive match nights faded into the background. All that mattered now was winning—something both took very seriously in their shared passion for gaming.

Y/N and Felix could never really pinpoint the exact moment when their friendship had become so close, when they started to latch onto each other like koalas. If you asked, you'd get two different answers, but the overall theme was the same: when they were together, the noise of the world stopped. Nothing mattered outside of each other. 

It had started with casually sparring at the after-school gaming club, but their connection grew far beyond that. She showed up to his Taekwondo competitions whenever she could, cheering him on from the sidelines, and he supported her at her art competitions. Soon, their families knew each other well, and their worlds began to merge without either of them realizing it. 

“YESSSS! I told you!” Y/N practically bounced in her seat after landing the final blow, finally claiming a win after several failed attempts.

Felix rolled his eyes, grabbing a fistful of pretzels from the snack bowl his older sister, Rachel,  had left out for them. The living room table was cluttered with an assortment of junk food—chips, candy, soda—the works for any gaming night.

“Whatever, this game sucks anyway,” he muttered, though his competitive streak was clearly wounded. He dipped deeper into the pretzel bowl, sulking in defeat.

Y/N, still laughing from the high of her victory, nudged him playfully. “Don’t get salty, just get good,” she teased, grabbing her own snack of choice: gummy bears. 

Felix groaned, feigning indifference. “I need a break. My hand hurts.” He switched off the game, pulling up Youtube  instead. The familiar tunes of his favorite group, SHINee, began to fill the room.

Ever since one of his cousins from Korea introduced him to K-pop, Felix had been hooked. The choreography, the passion, the sheer talent—it was mesmerizing. And lately, he’d been practicing more than just his dance moves. His dream of auditioning for JYP was becoming a real possibility. 

“You’ve been practicing your pronunciation, right? Wanna keep going?” Y/N asked, noticing the slight tension in his voice. Felix had seemed more focused, more driven lately, but underneath that ambition was uncertainty—a vulnerability she hadn’t seen before.

Felix hesitated, but before he could answer, Y/N added, “Oh, wait! I need to show you my new painting.” She grabbed her phone, scrolling to the latest photo of her work in progress.

It was a lotus flower, blooming from the depths of a muddy pond. Felix stared at it for a moment, appreciating the symbolism. A flower that represents rebirth, resilience in harsh conditions. 

“I really like this,” he said finally, his voice soft with admiration. “Your brushstrokes are so detailed… it's amazing. I know that competition money is yours.”

Y/N beamed at the compliment, feeling a warmth settle in her chest. “Thanks. Any little bit helps. Trying to get as much free money for college as possible,” she joked, lightening the moment.

Felix chuckled, though the tension from earlier still lingered in his expression. He opened his laptop, playing around with his pronunciation notes. “Honestly, I thought I knew how to speak Korean pretty well, but when I listen to how fast the locals talk, it’s so different. But I have to try… I really want this.”

The uncertainty in his voice was palpable now. His dream of becoming a trainee at JYP was more than just a distant goal—it was an uphill battle, and he knew it. The doubt crept in despite his best efforts to stay confident.

Y/N’s eyes softened as she watched him. “You bring so much to the table, Felix. They’d be insane not to recognize your talent.”

A small smile tugged at his lips, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. He wasn’t used to showing this much vulnerability, but Y/N had always been the one to see past the walls he built. That’s why he cherished her support—it was real, unwavering. 

“Thanks,” he muttered, the tension easing just a bit as they shifted into their joint practice session. Y/N, though adopted, had always wanted to connect more with her Korean heritage, and learning the language alongside Felix had become one of their shared goals. It was a comfort, knowing that no matter what happened next, they were there for each other, even if they didn’t fully realize the depth of their bond just yet.

Felix took a deep breath, glancing at Y/N. There was something about her presence that calmed him, that made him feel like everything might just work out. At least, for now.

You paused for a moment, glancing over at Felix as he focused on his screen, his brows furrowed slightly as he corrected your pronunciation. It felt so easy, so natural, to be in this moment with him. But something about the ease made your chest tighten, a sudden awareness that this might not last forever.

That underlying fear haunted you both in ways you’d rather ignore. Things were bound to change; time would only push those changes forward. It was naive to think otherwise. Like seasons, you and Felix would grow, shaped by new experiences and separate paths. Still, it was a reality you both pretended didn’t exist.

Late-night gaming sessions became your escape. You fantasized about visiting him during the trainee program, imagining he’d somehow find time to indulge in the college life you both knew he’d never get to live. You clung to the delusion, and so did he, until reality began to shift, pressing its weight on your shoulders.

A week later, the shift became real.

“You got into the University of Melbourne!” your Step mom  screamed from the living room, her voice echoing down the hallway as she rushed to your bedroom doorway.

“That’s great…” you replied, nervous, your voice flat. Your gaze barely lifted from your laptop, where you scrolled through Pinterest, saving inspiration for your next art piece. Watching creative content creators passionately pursue their dreams only made your mind race. Was this the start of something great—or the beginning of a path leading to a bitterly unsatisfying life? Worst-case scenarios flashed through your mind, each more vivid than the last.

“Love, what’s wrong? Your grandpa and I are so excited for you, but you don’t seem that way.”

“It’s not that, Nana. I’m happy. It’s all I’ve been working for. I’m just… thinking about what I have to do to get there.”

“I understand, sweetie, but let’s take a step back and enjoy this moment. This is a huge accomplishment! Sit in it. Celebrate!” She placed a plate of fruit in front of you—her way of showing care, via strawberries. “I’m going to call everyone and tell them how amazing my love is! Going to the best school in the country to become a lawyer—how proud we all are!”

Before you could correct her, tell her you planned to double major in Law and Art Studies, she’d already scurried off. You wanted to shout that you didn’t dream of courtrooms and corporations fighting over copyrights. Your dreams leaned toward helping others, blending the creative skills you’d spent years honing with a career that made a difference.  If you conformed to what your father wanted, you’d likely end up defending multimillion-dollar companies that wouldn’t care if you lived or died. Instead, you want to become a public defender—a career that's emotionally satisfying but doesn’t promise a high quality of life.

Instead, you sighed, counting to five as you stared up at the ceiling, willing your nerves to calm before the anxiety could fully take hold.

Ding.

Lix: Sooooo… Did you hear back?

You: Yeah, I got in.

Lix: This is great! Why are you texting so cold? Lol, you should be proud. What’s on your mind?

You: It’s just so much. The parents are great, but I’m thinking about everything I need to get done before I start, and I’m stressed already -_-

Lix: Hey, hey, hey, trust me, I get it. But we can only worry about what’s right in front of us. One day at a time, right? Right? I know I’m right, lol. Why don’t we just hop online and forget about all of this? You can lose again in Smash XD

You: You say that every time, Mr. Lee, and EVERY time I prove you wrong. Lmao. Ok, give me like 10, and I’ll get on Discord.

You smiled, setting your phone down. Felix had a way of pulling you out of your spirals, always knowing what to say to make you laugh—or at least distract you. For a moment, it worked.

But as you stared at your gaming setup, the heaviness crept back. Melbourne was your dream school—not just for its law program but for its vibrant arts community and the chance to live out both sides of your passion. Still, the thought of leaving behind the comfort of your life, and the people in it, especially Felix, was terrifying.

You couldn’t shake the fear of how it would change things. And yet, for now, you clung to the one thing you knew wouldn’t change: Felix would always be there for you.

Two weeks later 

The moments leading up to the audition were some of the most stressful Felix had ever experienced. This opportunity meant everything—a chance to change his life in an instant. Yet, doubts crept in like uninvited shadows. He knew how competitive the entertainment industry was. Thousands auditioned every year. Why would they take a risk on someone like him—a foreigner who doesn’t fit in with the natives?

He let out a heavy sigh as he stood outside the audition venue, his heart pounding against his ribs.

“Felix, listen to me,” Rachel, Felix's older sister, said, her voice steady, offering a small squeeze to his shoulder. “I know you’re nervous, but you’re ready. You’ve been working for this for so long. You’re not just some kid hoping for a shot—you belong here.” She gave him a soft but firm look, as if her words could wrap around him and hold him together. She had always been able to read him, her intuition cutting through his quiet exterior. Even when Felix couldn’t articulate his fears, Rachel could sense them.

Felix ran a hand through his hair, eyes on the building in front of them. “I know. It’s just... There are so many people here, and only a handful get chosen. What if I’m not enough?”

Rachel’s brow furrowed. “Stop overthinking. You’ve got the talent, the drive, and you’ve got yourself—something that no one else can offer. Go in there and show them why you’re our Sunshine.”

Felix tried to nod, but his nerves only seemed to heighten. The choreography he’d practiced relentlessly blurred in his mind. The moves, so ingrained yesterday, felt foreign now, as if his body had forgotten them entirely. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes, exhaling slowly.

This was his dream—his ticket to something greater than the predictable rhythm of Sydney life. He wanted to see the world, to experience everything life had to offer, and to channel that hunger into his newfound passion for dance. But standing here, under the weight of his aspirations, the pressure felt unbearable.

His phone buzzed.

Y/N: Good luck today! Show them the great person I already know you are. Let your light and warmth shine—that’s what will set you apart. I’ll talk to you later when we hop on Steam :D

He stared at the message, reading it twice, then a third time. A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He could almost hear your voice, steady and encouraging, breaking through the storm in his mind. Those words quieted the chaos, grounding him just enough to take a step forward.

The audition itself felt like a blur. The music started, and for a moment, he was paralyzed. Then, like clockwork, the moves came back—sharp, deliberate, and confident. His body knew the choreography better than his mind gave it credit for. By the end, his chest heaved with exertion, but his heart swelled when one of the judges complimented his pronunciation during a short Korean self-introduction.

The waiting afterward was agonizing. Felix paced the holding room, his thoughts looping endlessly. What if he hadn’t done enough? What if this was the end of the road? Yet, there was a quiet reassurance that lingered—the memory of your words. You always seemed to pull him out of the mental traps he built for himself, giving him a clarity he struggled to find alone.

“Congratulations, Lee Felix. Please come to the back room to discuss the details of the trainee program.”

The words hit him like a bolt of lightning. He nearly leaped out of his chair, relief and joy coursing through him in equal measure. He couldn’t believe it—he’d done it. He was in.

Later, in the car, his parents’ cheers filled the air. His mom pulled him into a tight hug, her pride evident even as tears shimmered in her eyes.

“Felix, my son, I’m so proud of you,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “I’m happy for you, but I’m going to miss you so much….”

Felix could feel the weight of her words in the silence between them. He knew what this meant for both of them—his dream was coming true, but it meant stepping away from everything he knew. His family. You.

He didn’t want to leave, not really. But he had no choice. He had to chase this dream.

When he finally got home, Felix felt the weight of the new reality sink in. He picked up his phone and typed a quick message to you.

Felix: You might as well have been my good luck charm. I got in. Details later :)

For now, Felix chose to live in the moment, holding onto the happiness of his success—and the steady presence of you in his life.

With just four months left before everything changed, there was a sense of urgency in the air, but tonight, the world still belonged to you both. The future was looming, but for now, it was all about enjoying the last moments of freedom before things got complicated.

Felix’s voice crackled through the phone, the tiredness evident in his tone. “I don’t know, Y/N. With everything going on for the trainee program... I don’t have time for this kind of thing.”

You leaned back on your bed, staring at the ceiling as you held your phone to your ear. “Felix, come on. You’re not gonna have many chances left to be irresponsible. This could be the last era of your life to just... let be. You deserve it. Plus, I’ve got leftover liquor from last time. You can pregame with me here.” You smirked to yourself, knowing your words might push him just enough.

Felix sighed, the sound almost exasperated. “I don’t know... I have so much stuff to do for the program. I’m so stressed going out would just add to it”

You rolled your eyes. “Ok. lol. Sounds like another day in your life. No offense. What’s one night? You’ve been working your ass off. Don’t you want to enjoy life while you can? I’m not saying we go crazy, but one night won’t ruin your future. You need to relax.”

There was a long pause on the other end, the only sound being Felix’s deep breath. “Okay, fine,” he finally said, with an almost reluctant chuckle. “You’re right. I need to live in the moment, right? Alright, I’ll come. Let me just check on Liv first, and I’ll be at your place around 10:30.”

“I knew you’d come around,” you teased, your voice light and playful.

A few hours later, after too many shots between the two of you, the night had spiraled into a chaotic, unforgettable high school party at Crystal’s parents’ condo. The place was packed with people, most of them barely legal, all drinking cheap beer and dancing offbeat to Kesha. You and Felix stuck together, navigating the crowd, laughing at the awkwardness of it all.

Felix’s voice came through the phone again, a slight smirk in his tone. “Is this really what we’re going to remember about high school?” he asked, glancing at the crowd.

You grinned, holding your cup up to the phone. “Maybe. But I think it’s the people, not the party. You’re not going to remember every stupid thing that happened, but you’ll remember the faces—the ones that were here for the ride.”

Felix sighed, his voice quieter now, as he watched the madness unfold. “I guess... I just keep thinking about how everything’s about to change. It’s hard to imagine how this will look in a couple months.”

You could hear the shift in his voice, the weight of it. You decided to take a different approach, trying to lighten the mood. “Hey, nothing stays the same. And that’s okay. That’s what makes moments like this so important. You’ve got to soak it all in while you can.”

Felix let out a soft chuckle. “You’re right. Yeah, I guess it’s kind of nice to know that we’ll have this to look back on.” His voice turned a little more serious. “Thanks, Y/N. For getting me to come out tonight.”

You smiled softly, even though he couldn’t see it. “Anytime. We’ve got to enjoy what we’ve got while it lasts.”

Felix’s voice softened. “Yeah, we do.”

The party was in full swing, the music blaring, drinks flowing, and chaos everywhere. You could barely hear anything over the chatter and laughter of your friends, but the tension between you and Felix was palpable. It had always been there, but tonight, it felt different.

Mike, drunker than most, slurred his words as he pushed into Felix. “When are you gonna finally make a move on Y/N?” He laughed, oblivious to the shift in the air, pushing Felix in your direction.

Felix rolled his eyes, but it wasn’t the usual playful response. There was something different in his gaze, something more thoughtful than you were used to seeing. The teasing continued, relentless.

“Sure, sure, I bet you won’t ever make a move at this rate,” Mike teased, turning his attention to you now. The conversation quickly shifted, and you couldn’t help but feel the eyes of everyone on you.

“You should just make the first move at this point. What do you have to lose?” Mike’s words hung in the air, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

You hadn’t really thought about kissing Felix, not like this, not seriously. But in your drunken haze, Mike’s challenge hit something inside you. Maybe you should kiss him. After all, what was the harm?

Felix chuckled nervously, shaking his head. “No way, man,” he muttered, but there was an edge to his voice that told you he was conflicted. The idea of it seemed to hang in the air, pulling at something inside both of you. Something you hadn’t let yourself acknowledge.

Without thinking much further, you blurted out, “I’ll kiss him now. It’s really fine.”

Felix choked on his drink. The words left your mouth before you could stop them. Felix’s eyes widened in shock, his mouth slightly parted as if trying to process what you had just said. “Wait, what? You’re kidding, right?” His voice was tight, but there was an unmistakable flicker of something in his eyes, something that hadn’t been there before.

“You just said it,” Mike teased, a sly grin on his face. “Do it. You’re friends. It’s no big deal, right?”

Felix’s mind was spinning, and for the first time, he saw you in a completely new light. The way your dress hung from your body, the way you’d always laughed around him, but now it felt different, like everything was amplified. Felix blinked, his pulse picking up. He didn’t know what it was—whether it was the alcohol, or the way you’d teased him, or how suddenly everything felt so intimate—but he couldn’t deny it.

Felix shifted uncomfortably, suddenly hyper-aware of the space between you. His eyes flicked to yours, searching, but you were already moving closer. The alcohol dulled his usual caution. His mind raced, his heart pounding as your hand reached up to cup the side of his face. Everything in the room felt like it had stopped moving. His eyes landed on your lips for a split second, and in that instant, it was too late to turn back.

The kiss was soft, tentative at first, but it was enough to send a jolt through both of you. Felix’s hands instinctively found their way to your waist, pulling you closer. Something inside him—something he’d buried deep—flooded to the surface. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was everything you hadn’t admitted to each other. The way he felt about you, the way you’d felt about him for a while now, but never dared to say.

Your lips deepened the kiss, and the world outside of you two seemed to vanish. The other people in the room fell away. You were both lost in the moment, but it wasn’t just the alcohol that made your head spin. It was the way Felix kissed you, the intensity of it. The way your heart raced, not just from the thrill, but from the realization that this meant something more.

As you slowly pulled away, your face was flushed, your head spinning. You didn’t know if it was the alcohol, or if it was the fact that Felix had just crossed the line between friends and something else, something you didn’t know how to name.

“See? No big deal,” you laughed awkwardly, trying to cover the pounding in your chest with casualness.

Felix, still caught in the aftermath of the kiss, looked at you for a long moment. His voice was quieter now, almost hesitant. “Yeah... no big deal,” he echoed, but the way his eyes lingered on you told a different story. He wasn’t sure what had just happened, but he knew it had changed everything.

You both tried to go back to normal, but the tension between you was thick. You couldn’t help but notice the way Felix kept his eyes on you the rest of the night, his gaze occasionally flickering to anyone who seemed to show too much interest in you. You were too drunk to notice the subtle possessiveness in the way he glared at the guys who came too close. Felix assumed you only kissed him because it was him, and that was something he wasn’t ready to share with anyone.

As the night wore on, the games continued—Mario Kart, Super Smash Bros.—but the energy was different. Your competitive banter was laced with something unspoken, the kind of charge that buzzed between you both every time your eyes met. You tried to act like nothing had changed, but you could feel it in the air. So could Felix, though he didn’t dare to bring it up.

Eventually, the night ended, and in a blur of too many drinks and too many moments that felt too real, you ended up at your parents' condo. They were away for the weekend, and there was no way Felix would let you walk home alone—even if you weren’t drunk.

As you stumbled toward the door, Felix’s hand lingered on your back, guiding you with a care that was almost too gentle for the way he had acted earlier. The unspoken words still hung between you, thick with everything that had shifted between you two in a matter of seconds.

And somewhere deep down, you both knew that everything would be different now. You just hadn’t figured out if or how to deal with it yet.

Stumbling into your room, you both lazily kicked off your clothes and changed into your pajamas before slipping into the bed. The room was spinning less now, the alcohol haze from the night lifting, bringing some clarity to the situation. Felix lay beside you, feeling the overwhelming weight of the kiss, his mind spinning with thoughts he couldn’t push away. He felt guilty, especially if you had only kissed him because of peer pressure.

He tried to distract himself by doom scrolling through social media, but his head was still racing, and he just couldn’t shake it. The thought of losing your friendship over a stupid dare seemed like too much to bear.

“Hey…umm…” Felix sighed, turning to face you. “You didn’t have to do that.”

You glanced over at him, noting the distress on his face. “Do what?”

His heart was pounding, his voice tight. “Kiss me. You didn’t have to, you know? I just want to make sure… I don’t want to mess things up.”

You smiled softly, your gaze steady and reassuring. “Lix, if I wasn’t cool with it, I wouldn’t have done it. You know how stubborn I am.”

Felix hesitated, his chest still tight, unsure of how to respond. “I know… I just want to make sure, because I…”

You cut him off gently, your voice quiet but firm. “I hear you. But I enjoyed it.” You paused, your mind replaying the moment that felt frozen in time. “My only complaint? It was too short.”

Felix’s demeanor immediately softened. That magical ease you always had with him worked like a balm for his frayed nerves, the racing thoughts in his head calming at your words. He had been terrified that he might have ruined five years of friendship with a single reckless kiss, but now—now things didn’t seem so impossible.

“Well,” Felix said, a small chuckle escaping his lips, “I guess I owe you a second kiss one of these days.”

You smirked, inched closer to him, and whispered, “Why wait? Let’s make it ‘one of these days’ right now. YOLO, right?”

Felix laughed nervously, his heart doing a strange flip in his chest. His mind was still caught between the confusion of his emotions and the weight of the consequences of crossing this line. What was the point of pushing the envelope? Things were already changing in both of your lives; maybe you should just leave your friendship the way it was.

But all that went out the window the moment your lips met his again.

This time, there was no pressure. Just the two of you, lost in the moment. Your lips danced together, slow and intricate, matching each other’s pace. Before either of you knew it, you had shifted on top of him, straddling his waist, his hands finding their place on your hips, his fingers brushing against your bare skin.

Felix had touched you before, but never like this. The sensation sent electric waves up both of your spines, and the world outside of the two of you seemed to disappear. You pulled away slowly, your breath quiet in the stillness.

“That was nice…” Felix whispered, his voice barely audible as he pulled you back down beside him.

You snuggled closer, your voice soft and sleepy. “Yeah. It was. Can we do that again?”

Felix didn’t answer with words. Instead, he kissed you again, and again, and again, each kiss a little deeper, a little more heated than the last. Slowly, you both relaxed into each other’s embrace, falling asleep tangled together, content and peaceful.

Just two friends, sharing a moment, and nothing more….right?

______________________________________________________

Update 4/7: Changed some minor details about Y/N to set up her character for later chapters

Just temperature checking if people like this... If this is something that intrigues you. leave me an message in the ask box.

[mrnightingale]

DBDA Character Appreciation Week: #4 Niko Sasaki

I love her sm!!! Outfit ideas here by @katygorl

The yellow one is w a pastel highlighter, and the other two w colouring pencils and greyish purple and violet highlighter. I really like this one, I think I'm starting to find a colouring technique I don't completely hate!!! Whoohoo! (Btw in the purple one, the flowers on her top and boots are two different types of Violets, and she's holding a pink sea glass bc palasaki my beloved ones, they're matching ✨✨✨).

Words can't explain how much I love Niko, she's incredibly sweet and friendly and empathetic, and I love her dynamic with practically every character in the show, but what I love the most is that we can actually see on-screen how much she grows through the chapters, how stronger she's getting. I love DBDA because it portrays how different people deals with their feelings in a realistic way, how every teen has their own problems and it takes them with the care it deserves, it doesn't feel exaggerated but every topic is given the adequate seriousness it requires, and honestly is such a masterpiece in the storytelling and pacing through the chapters between the cases and their own character arcs that their evolution doesn't feel rushed at all, but then you look back and see how much they changed, and is really heartwarming.

I love Niko because at first she's locked up in her room and doesn't talk with anyone, and slowly starts opening up with Crystal, and the boys, and then you think she's okay, but she's not. Dealing with depression and mental health issues it's much more difficult than it might seem from the outside, because one day you're feeling Good Enough to go and talk to people with a smile on the face, but that doesn't mean you're really okay. That just means you're feeling Good Enough to keep the mask on through a conversation. And Niko feels pretty realistic and natural to me because healing requires time, and support, and the agency is supporting her but they're not rushing her up to join on cases until she's ready, and that's beautiful. I think it's beautiful bc it shows a healthy environment that provides comfort and support and she's getting better thanks to it, and thanks her own hidden strength, and they're helping her realize where that strength comes from.

And, idk, as I have already said millions of times, I really love Niko and Edwin's relationship, it feels so genuine and heartwarming and bro I want the Niko to my Edwin soooo bad. Help. But my point is. I think the best word I could find to describe their relationship is "comfort" bc they can be themselves with each other, talk about their problems without pressure, knowing that the other will accept them no matter what and will help and support them and, idk, the scene when they're watching Scooby Doo while Niko writers the letter to her mother and Edwin is just there, not intervening but just saying there so she's not alone, idk, it spokes so deeply to me. Like if they could face everything as long as they have each other. I know there's always been Charles and Edwin, and they fighting together against everything, but the relationship w Niko is set in a different emotional basis and I think that's something Edwin needed, being able to talk about his feelings, and the same with Niko.

Brooooo help I love this show so fucking much, it's a masterpiece in every aspect but I'll never stop rewatching and looked amazed by the characters. They're unapologetically queer, and real, and they deal with the Life, and oh fuck, Life is hard as hell, Life is a kick after kick and punch after punch and somehow we have to keep living through it, and I feel so seen when I look at the screen and I can relate with some things that I used to think they were so personal and that I was alone w that, only bc there wasn't any representation of it. We're not alone dealing with Life, and this masterpiece of art that it's Dead Boy Detectives shows it perfectly.

It's queer and flamboyant and bizarre, you have ghosts running for their afterlifes, you have a psychic dealing with her toxic demon ex-boyfriend, and a quirky witch and her familiar twink that actually shows real abusive relationships, you have a Cat King whose only relationships are shallow, and a Night Nurse that knows everything about everything and still has a lot to learn, and you have Niko, a lonely, aloof girl with two dandelion spirits in a bell jar in her room, a girl who grew up with the support of their friends and started to live again, and love again, and love Life, and still, she gave her life for their friends.

And her death matters.

[yxngbxkkie]

freak accident (b.c)

welcome to the third installment of mechanic!chris 🫢 i had thought of this idea the other day as a way to make it angsty but it's still pretty fucking cute 🤭 i do hope you guys enjoy it! ✨️mechanic chan for life✨️

feedback is greatly appreciated 🥰

You're out shopping for dinner tonight when your phone starts to ring. You furrow your brows, wondering who it could be since Chris is working and Hyunjin's at an art exhibit.

An unknown number is printed on your screen, and you reluctantly answer it. “Hello?” You start walking through the aisles again, waiting for whomever is on the line.

“Hi, this is Dr. Brown at SNUH. Am I speaking to Y/N?” You stop in your tracks at the question, feeling your heart begin to race.

“Yeah, yeah, this is Y/N,” you say to him, moving to a more secluded area in the store.

You can hear the background noise of nurses trying to speak to him, only to be hushed. “I'm calling in regards to Chris. There's been a slight accident at his auto shop and was rushed over here,” he explains the situation.

“Is… is he okay?” You ask, your breathing picking up.

“He's stable. I can give you more information on what happened when you get here,” the doctor states.

You nod your head, abandoning your cart as you rush towards the main doors. “Okay, I'll be there as fast I can,” you mutter before he hangs up.

As you're almost running to your car, you take deep breaths to stop you from having a form of attack. Tears pool in your eyes, every scenario of what could have happened runs through your mind.

The drive to the hospital doesn't take very long, thankful that traffic is on your side today. You quickly lock your vehicle and rush inside, stopping in front of the admitting desk.

“Hi,” you're out of breath, feeling the palms of your hands get sweaty. “I'm here to see Christopher Bang.”

The woman behind the desk nods and types in the patient's name. You tap your fingers against the desk, waiting for her to give you a room number.

“He's in room 203,” she tells you, making quick eye contact.

“Okay, thank you,” you mumble before walking over to the elevators. You take it up to the second floor, finding a sign to where 203 would be as soon as you step off.

You see a doctor and a nurse standing outside one of the rooms, finding out that it's Chris’ room. You walk closer to the pair, capturing the attention of the nuse.

She nudges the doctor, motioning her head in your direction. You clasp your fingers together as you make eye contact with Dr. Brown. “Y/N, yes?” He asks, holding a hand out for you to shake.

“Yes, hi,” you greet him with a bow, shaking the older man's hand. Your gaze flickers toward the small window in the door, seeing Chris lying on the hospital bed. “What happened?”

The doctor releases a deep breath. “He was working on a vehicle when it fell from the lift,” he starts, earning a gasp from you. “Thankfully, he wasn't completely under it and that he's quick on his feet. The situation could've been worse. He broke his left leg in two places.”

“Oh my god,” you mutter while stepping up to the door.

Dr. Brown gently rests one of his hands on your shoulders, reassuring you. “He'll be okay. The surgery went well. He had a couple of plates and screws put in. It'll somewhat be a long road to recovery,” he mentions.

“Is there anything he'll need to do?” You ask, tucking some hair behind your ears.

“There will be some follow-up appointments with orthopedics. But, that won't be for a few weeks. I'll have our nurse write down instructions you'll need for the healing process.”

You nod your head before opening the door. Both the doctor and nurse decide to let you have a moment with Chris alone. You gently shut the door behind you and walk over to the chair next to his bed.

Your eyes look at the cast on his leg, seeing that it's almost up to his knee. A frown, etches itself on your lips as you place your hand on his. You let out a couple of deep breaths, squeezing his hand in yours.

“I'm glad that it's only a broken leg,” you say out loud, not talking to anyone. You bring his hand closer to you, kissing the back of it softly.

Chris’ upper body stirs, making your movements halt. You watch his eyes slowly flutter open, squinting at the bright lights. He releases a tired groan, tilting his head towards you.

“Y/N?” He calls out your name, making your heart flutter.

You scoot closer to the bed and squeeze his hand. “I'm here,” you whisper loud enough for him to hear.

He smiles at you while lacing your fingers together. “I'm so happy to see you,” Chris mutters, turning his head again before closing his eyes.

“I'm happy to see you too, baby. I'm glad you're okay,” you mention, standing up from your chair.

You keep your hands intertwined and bring your free hand to his forehead. You brush the hair out of his face, listening to him hum continuously.

“I don't know what happened,” he mentions, smiling at the touch of your fingers. “It all happened so fast.”

“It's okay. The only thing that matters is that you're alive,” you state before leaning down to kiss his forehead.

A knock on the door captures both of your attention. The nurse from before walks in with a sheet of paper. “This is everything he'll need to do during recovery and the appointments he'll have,” she says to you while handing you the paper.

You grab a hold of it, your thumb stroking the back of his hand as you read through it. “Okay, thank you,” you smile at her, setting the paper on the table beside you. “When is he being discharged?”

“He's all set now. There's a wheelchair and a pair of crutches right outside the door,” she informs you before leaving.

“Chris, baby,” you softly call out his name, watching him open his eyes again. “Do you want to stay at my place during recovery?”

He tilts his head towards you and shakes his head. “You live on the fourth floor,” he mumbles, causing you to chuckle. “I live on the first floor. You can stay at my place. I also have a spare bedroom you can use.”

You laugh some more, combing your fingers through his hair. “What? You don't want to sleep in the same bed as me?” You joke with him, helping him sit up.

“I do, I swear,” Chris groans, leaning into your body. “I didn't know if you wanted to.”

A hum leaves your lips. “Such a sweet man,” you sigh before pulling away slightly. You stroke his cheek, watching him blink. “Are you going to be okay? I gotta grab the wheelchair.”

He nods his head, pursing his lips. You know what he's asking for, and you smile at him before planting a kiss on his plump lips.

“I'll be quick,” you mumble against his lips, placing one more kiss on his forehead.

~

You slowly walk behind Chris, eyeing him as he crutches into the kitchen of his apartment. It's been a few days since he's been discharged from the hospital, and he seems to be taking it really well.

He slumps into the chair, releasing a hefty sigh. “This is exhausting,” Chris laughs, lifting his head to look at you.

“You're doing well, though,” you grin, tapping his chin.

“Thank you for staying with me,” he mentions, grabbing your hand. “I couldn't ask for a better partner.”

Your cheeks blush, and you shrug your shoulders. “Of course, baby. I… I love you,” you tell him for the first time.

It's been a couple of months since the two of you started dating. He's not like any other guy you've been with. He's such a sweetheart, and he treats you like an absolute queen. It didn't take long for you to figure out that you loved him.

Chris stares up at you, his lips parted at the sudden phrase. “You love me?” He whispers, squeezing your hand. You giggle, nodding your head in answer. “Even like this?”

“Chris, baby, yes,” you laugh.

“I love you. I love you so much,” he says while resting his head against your stomach.

You wrap your arms around him, leaning down to kiss the top of his head. “Now, what do you want to eat?” You ask him, opening his fridge to take a look inside.

“You wanna just order something? I haven't had the chance to go shopping,” he mentions with a pout.

“Sure, baby. Maybe later I can quickly go get some groceries,” you mention, having him move into the living room.

Chris walks into the living room before lowering himself onto the couch. You grab the pillow beside him and tuck it under his leg, keeping it elevated.

“If you do, I'll give you my card,” he says as you sit down next to him.

He places his hand on your thigh, stroking the inside of it. “I can pay for it, it's okay,” you reassure him, linking your arm with his.

He groans, resting his head against the back of the couch. “Baby, it's my place. Let me pay for my groceries,” he whines.

“You can get them next time,” you wink at him, patting his good leg.

“Fine,” he reluctantly agrees, squeezing your thigh.

You cuddle into his side after grabbing the remote. He combs his fingers through your hair as you find a movie to watch.

Chris looks at his food delivery app, trying to decide what he wants for lunch. “Do you want to get a variety of things?” He asks you, showing you his phone screen.

You quickly glance at the screen and nod your head. “Yeah, that's fine. It is pretty late, and we haven't eaten anything yet,” you tell him, moving your gaze from his phone to his face.

He smiles at you fondly, moving some strands of hair out of your eyes. “Man, I really love you,” Chris sighs, shaking his head. You giggle at his reaction. “I know it's only been a couple of months, but after this is over… I wouldn't mind you staying here.”

Your heart skips a beat, sitting up slightly. “Are you saying you want me to live here?” You ask him with wide eyes and flushed cheeks.

“I've enjoyed the past two days even though my leg hurts,” he chuckles.

We'll see when you're all better,” you giggle, patting his chest. “You might get sick of me.”

Chris scoffs and playfully rolls his eyes. He hooks a finger beneath your jaw, turning your head before kissing you. “I'll never get sick of you, baby,” he mumbles against your lips, planting soft pecks after.

You kiss him once more before grinning. “We'll see, lover boy.”

~

tagging: @strawboorybunny @reddesert-healourblues @spacegirlstuff @moon0fthenight @foxinnie8 @like-a-diamondinthesky @prettymiye0n @meloncremesoda

[venusdotcomm]

toy [t·​oy]

noun: toy; plural noun: toys; modifier noun: toy

an object, especially a gadget or machine, regarded as providing amusement for an adult.

— content index; fleshlights, “creampie” , twitter porn

— authors note; some more horny bullshit for the masses <3 can you guys tell I like writing for armin? also ! feel free to send suggestions, i need inspiration.

armin got a new toy.

sure, it only took a total of six months and thirteen days to gather the courage to buy one in the first place, but, he got one, and boy was it pricey.

is this really something I want to spend my hard earned money on?

he asked himself as he watched the money leave his account, along with his dignity. he felt like a complete loser, that feeling only intensifying upon receiving his long awaited item.

ever since he moved away for college, armin has made a vow to unshelter himself little by little— not that it was his idea to begin with. connie and eren were often the type of people to make decisions for him, and he was the type to go along. (ahh, the art of peer pressure.)

it’s just something to start…

that’s what he told himself as he tore open the box, tape sticking to the cotton of his white t-shirt as he hastily attempted to pull it off. all he wanted was to get his hands on it, to feel the soft, squishy silicone under his finger tips. to get his money’s worth out of this hunk of high quality plastic.

he felt like a joke. a complete and utter joke.

that wasn’t gonna dissuade him from using it though.

he was only human, right? he had needs and wants like everyone else…he deserved to have something nice to help him take care of them.

that was his excuse for the way he fucked himself silly. hot pants leaving his lips as he replayed the video for the umpteenth time, getting lost in the throaty moans of some trashy pornstar he found on twitter. liking the way her voice made his cock throb each time he buried himself to the hilt, stretching out the silicone with every slaphappy thrust he made until his hips haulted and all he could do was whine. his jaw going slack as he emptied himself into his newly purchased toy, eyes locked on the set of tits that were displayed on his laptop screen.

god, he was such a loser.

but at least he’s got a new toy.

[problematic-yuri-poll]

Problematic Femslash Ship Tournament - Losers' Round 1

Timeless Glamour - Mariah May x "Timeless" Toni Storm (All Elite Wrestling) VS. Kirianthe - Kiriona Gaia x Ianthe Tridentariius (The Locked Tomb Series)

No official art for Kirianthe, so submitter opted to provide a book cover. Tumblr cropped it bad but you get the gist.

Info and propaganda under cut! This will not be spoiler-free.

Problematic elements for Timeless Glamour:

Mariah seduced Toni as part of a plan to become and then replace her, culminating in a violent betrayal and breakup so bad that Toni had a second public mental breakdown about it. All while Toni was in an altered mental state after public mental break #1 and arguably disassociated from reality.

Problematic elements for Kirianthe:

Does it count as necrophilia if one of them is a ghost possessing her own corpse

--

Propaganda for Timeless Glamour:

These two women kissed on screen and then got covered in each other's blood and if that doesn't appeal to you idk what to tell you. Mariah broke Toni open with the woman's own heel the second she no longer needed her, and then proceeded to carry that bloody shoe around for weeks before having an intense and bloody match for the women's world championship. Also, pre-breakup she put her head on Toni's breast all the time which in my book is a win for lesbianism.

Propaganda for Kirianthe:

haters to even more haters to begrudging friends (who maybe possibly hatefuck i like to tell myself) dealing with the fact they're both trapped working for the worst God ever

[drownedrow]

I’m new to the Raphael fandom but everyone is so nice here :-) everyone is so sweet and accepting of dark content and all the fan arts and fics are SO good!!! You all make me less shy and I’m totally inspired to write my own longfic/dark doc I’ve been putting off since forever!! Majority antiship spaces are so soul draining

Awww!!! That's so sweet!💞

Yes the Raphael lovers are generally pretty accepting of all kinds of content, we're talking about devils in the Hells, it's nice that very different interpretations of him can exist so easily. He has a lot of interesting little bits and bobs that make him so fun to shake and twist. My little weirdo.

Aha that's so nice! I need to recommend some people who make lovely Raphael focused content besides my own that I just adore!

Art:

Oniishi does amazing art, I've commissioned them before and they were wonderful.

Crimson-Nemesis makes adorable art, lots of cute Raphlep.

Raccoonattack makes suchhh GOOD STUFF. Meph shows up sometimes...even Gort rfoeragvsdeg ugh OBSESSED!!!!! And they draw a lot of Fem!Raphael which I just loveeee.

Noxarionart this person is mostly on blue-sky which I barely use so I linked their tumblr but their art is some of the sexiest shit wrfsfrres drooling.

Jasmindarnell not sure they actively make Raph art anymore but one of their pieces is currently my lock screen so I'd be remiss to miss them.

Fanfics:

SharpLittleClaws Hottest Raphael PWP fanfics /TO ME/ (I like him bottoming/being switchy.). When I tell you the CHOKEHOLD "Pretty Gilded Cage" had on me.....yum.

Aqeldroma She writes mostly Durgetash but she has two Raphael fics and I love them both. I will caution I again enjoy Raphael very flawed and fucked up and I like to see him whumped bad, but if you liked my stuff you'll probably like hers. Her long-fic with him I doubt he'll end up winning in, but I am a Raph/Gort connoisseur and she feeds me.

Misterkingdom Not really active but feeding a Raph/Gort lover with many a fic. They made some excellent fics that honestly have inspired me. Droit Du Signor is my favorite.

Not_Rin Actually not smut so far lol, Black Earth that Made Us is another HoH Enver long-fic with the author's OC Slyvie (Enver and her are twins), I very much like canon characters a lot of the time but Slyvie enchants me. Can't wait to see where it goes and have been enjoying it immensely so far. It is not super Raphael focused which is why it's at the end but this fic needs more love.

Bonus:

Akelan has made some really nice fanart for me just because he's a sweetheart. He mostly does Durgetash but he's awesome, both his art and writing are great. :3

Oh-Moth does mostly durgetash but he’s drawn twoooo really wonderful Raphael pieces and their art in general is just awesome.

Tinselace writes Mephistopheles focused fics, I love her work very much, yay MEPHYYYY.

Anyhoo, you should write what you want, I hadn't written in years and the Forgotten Realms sucked me back in so much, it's so nice to have a creative hobby to focus on, once I finish Annals I have a FORTY TWO (outlined to chapter 35 lol) Raphael/Gortash Warlock AU I am so so excited to start working on. I totally get that it can be soul-sucking, the only other fandom I've ever been in was Naruto and it was pretty chill there but I've seen some stuff especially devils adjacent- looking at some OTHER devil focused franchises (Never watched but Hazbin Hotel I get stuff bc of tag overlap) and omg...thoughts and prayers. Idk I truly do believe art is art and a story is a story and the world is better to have more creative work in it. I personally find writing about traumatic and dark stuff so cathartic lol. Even if I was writing to three people I would be writing, because I love these fucked up little men so much, so please don't hide your fucked up story under a bushel. Like please write your story and tag me when you do. ^^

[anniesannex]

You’re So Art Deco

Chapter one

Sugar daddy !Johnny Cage x reader

Description: you are a struggling college student who needs some cash. Your friend suggests a sugar daddy but you wouldn’t do that. Right?

A/n: this is literally my first time posting my writing like ever so I’m a little nervous to be doing this.

With a dramatic sigh, you enter the dorm you’ve been working so hard for you’ve barely had to relax in. Between school and work you’ve barely had time to sleep. Luckily you had a day off the next day.

“Bad day?” Grace asked as she brushed her long golden locks. “I don’t know why you don’t just quit that shithole (Y/n).” Of course she wouldn’t.

“Because I need the money Grace.” You sigh as you take your hair down. “Or else I can’t cover what my scholarship doesn’t.”

“You’re literally killing yourself though.”

“Grace.” You Sighed. “I love you but I don’t want to engage in this conversation right now.”

“If you need the money I’m sure my dad ca-”

“I’m not taking money from your dad, Grace. I appreciate that you worry about me but I can’t.” You pull out a pair of sweatpants and a hoodie. Shedding the uniform for your shitty minimum wage job.

“Can you at least tell me what happened today.”

“The usual, rude people treating me like I’m fucking stupid, my manager being a sexist freak, and of course that guy who keeps trying to hit on me came in.”

“I fucking hate that guy.” Grace spat. “You sure you don’t want to come out with us tonight (y/n/n)? It’s not the same without you there.”

“I’m exhausted Gracie, as much as I’d love to I can’t.” You got your laptop to work on your school work.

“Why not get a sugar daddy?” Grace suggested. “It’s definitely help. Plus you can get to bang some hot dilfs.” She winked as you rolled your eyes.

“Girl I’m not getting a sugar daddy.” You sighed. “By the way where’s the Tito’s?”

“I just got a new bottle, it’s in the fridge.”

“Thank you so much.” You grabbed it out of the fridge and opened it. “You’re literally the best person ever. Y’know that?”

“You seem to tell me that a lot. Thank you (y/n).” She smiled. “But take it easy with the Tito’s tonight. I don’t wanna have to put you to bed again.”

“I will.” You paused to take the shot. “Have fun tonight. Tell them I said hi and that I miss them.”

“Will do.” Grace grabbed her bag as she left the dorm. As you continued to work to you thought more and more at the idea of having a sugar daddy. It would definitely take a load off you. After the debating the pros and cons you signed up for a dating app meant to find sugar daddies.

“I really hope I don’t get fucking scammed.” You sassed to yourself as you made your username. Once you had an account you looked through all the possible matches you had. None of them really piqued your interest as you looked through them until-.

“Ooo he’s kinda hot!” You exclaimed as you ready his username and bio.

Johnny, 49

@JohnC95

Sagittarius

6’1

Hobbies: martial arts, long walks on the beach, and looking in the mirror.

Looking for someone to spoil ;).

You had clicked to accept him as a possible match when the words ‘it’s a match!’ Appeared on screen. It was only a matter of seconds until the first message came in.

@JohnC95: ‘well hello there gorgeous. It seems like we’ve matched.’

@y/n:’ it seems like it haha.’

“What the fuck is going on right now?!” You thought out loud.

@johnC95: so what are you doing right now?

@y/n: working on course work and drinking.

@johnC95: she’s educated I see. Also are you old enough to be drinking?

@y/n: I’m old enough. So what are you doing?

@johnC95: sitting through dinner w/ execs. Discussing my next film. Although I’d rather be w/ you, doll ;).

Film? You wonder what he does.

@y/n: that’s sweet of you. What do you do?

@JohnC95: I’m THE Johnny Cage.

Johnny Cage? That’s definitely a scam. You were rolling you eyes as you typed.

@y/n: I don’t believe you. send pics.

@JohnC95: better yet why not FaceTime?

You blushed at his boldness but typed as you got up from your bed.

@y/n: what abt the ‘execs’?

@JohnC95: said I had to take a call. They can wait on me.

@y/n: just let me get into something that isn’t pajamas and I’ll be on the phone.

@JohnC95: will do doll!

You look in your closet for something that was cute. It had been a while since you were in something other than your work uniform or pajamas so you had forgotten what most of your closet looked like. You had been rummaging around until you found a black dress with a red jacket a pair of tights and leg warmers to go over heeled boots. After putting that on you spent a little time on your hair and put on a little makeup before typing.

@y/n: I’m ready ‘Johnny’.

Within a few seconds the laptop had begun ringing. You nervously hit answer, wondering who was going to be at the other end.

“Wow you’re gorgeous.” Johnny spoke as you sigh out of relief for not being scammed. “See I’m really a big ol’ pile of sexy goodness.”

“Thank you Johnny. Sorry about doubting you.” You apologized.

“It’s fine, so what are you drinking?” Johnny asked.

“Tito’s. Just titos.”

“Wow straight vodka, you are bold.” Johnny paused. “What’s your Venmo?”

“My Venmo?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s (y/n)14. Why?” You had questioned.

“Just check it. In two seconds.” Johnny’s face had be taken over by a fuzzy screen as he seemed to be doing something on his phone. As you pulled out your phone to check your Venmo.

From JohnC95

$600.00

“For talking to me on the phone.”

“Johnny, I can’t accept this.” You started “I’ll se-”

“I want you to have it. I like you, (y/n).” Johnny looked sincere. “But I should go. I’ll talk to you very soon Doll.”

“Good night Johnny Cage.” You smiled. As the call ended and you got ready for bed again. You wondered how in the hell managed to find Johnny Cage on a sugar daddy dating app. Wasn’t he like married? You decided to look it up as you got back into bed.

“Christina Ford and Sonya Blade. Both divorced.” You spoke. A new dilemma came across your mind in how the fuck you were gonna tell Grace.

“Oh fuck.” You groaned at the thought. Before you heard a ping from your laptop.

@JohnC95: goodnight Doll, sweetest of dreams :).

You thought of a response back as you put the money into your account. It would help towards paying for college.

@y/n: night, Cage. Enjoy those Hollywood executives.

You flopped your head back down on the pillow as you heard the door to your dorm be opened.

“Holy shit. The night I had.” Grace sighed. “You were right t-”

“I FOUND A SUGAR DADDY AND ITS JOHNNY CAGE!”

[howler-moon]

Caitlyn Arcan.......

I'm currently dying of the flu all that's keeping me alive is thinking about arcane because my head hurts if I look at bright colours for too long or listen to anything with more than three syllables. (Update after writing I genuinely don't understand my original point for writing this im so out of it but its too much to not post now so i think i just wanted to info dump about caitlyn because i NEED ACT THREE I NEED IT NOW PLEASE PLEASE PLEAE PLEAS)

Anyway I do believe some people are missing that its not just Cassandra's death that is motivating Caitlyn to make the worst possible decisions known to man, although it is the thing that tips the scale for her. All this started way back in S1 E4 when Jinx went to steal the Hextech research. While Caitlyn was on duty she blew up a building as a distraction, killing 6 of her colleagues and almost herself according to Jayce. This incident alone already seemed to shake her up as she spent the majority of her time recovering absolutely obsessing over the case and who the culprit is (Vi herself says "and I thought Power could get obsessed" upon seeing her research she was LOCKED IN). Branching off from this, this incident also almost cost Caitlyn her job, something she has fought tooth and nail for against her mother's wishes and barely gets any respect in the field despite being like the only Enforcer who was good or even cared about her job (RIP Grayson). Say what you will about the Enforcers whether you don't care or despise what they stand for but you can't deny how important that job is to Caitlyn. Its her main source of independence ("she'd do anything to keep me from seeing the real world") and being forced to work behind a desk because of Jinx's attack would absolutely destroy her.

Skipping ahead to episode 9 we all know about the shower scene.......That shit is mad scary like hello?? It's like a direct parallel to the attack where she first met her as well. The smoke/steam clears and Caitlyn just looks up in dread to see Jinx's art sprawled across the wall. Except this time, instead of being some unfamiliar symbol out in the open, she knows what it means. She knows who it belongs to and that person is inside her home. In her bathroom no less, while she was brooding in the shower lmao. She genuinely could not be any more vulnerable in this situation and now she has been kidnapped and brought to some Mad Hatter esque tea party in some dingy run down factory in the middle of no where with the Silco and Vi causally tied up beside her. She's absolutely terrified too she flinches and begs Vi to the best of her ability not to shoot her, only for Jinx to go and threaten to do it instead. Keep in mind Caitlyn probably has no idea why Jinx wants her dead. Like she might have some idea but not to the level that the audience does simply because she is not informed by the humble dramatic irony. When she finally does break free Jinx ever so causally beats the shit out of her in the blink of an eye and of course to top it off once she wakes up again she's watching a nuke fly straight to her mother's exact location.

I don't think I need to explain why her mother dying would upset her. That was a massive blow (wayheyhey), and dramatically worsens the obsession we saw in S1. But the memorial.........guys think of the memorial........... Now let it be known to the court that this part was Ambessa's doing. Ambessa was the one who organised the attack on the memorial, but Cait doesn't know that. She wouldn't have taken Ambessa's offer if she did. To Caitlyn this is another thing Jinx has done, another attack directly on her for no reason other than to be cruel. To rub it in her face. Gassing the streets and engaging in police brutality is NOT the way to go trust me I was just as appalled as everyone at the start of S2 E3 like genuinely hand over my mouth saying "thats a war crime" to the screen over and over like she would hear me, but it did not come out of nowhere for no reason (whether good or bad). Caitlyn voices her frustration of "why is peace always the justification for violence" but she probably believes violence is a justification for violence considering her reactions to the memorial and Warwick's attack on Stillwater. She's not one to lead with violence but she will follow with it if properly provoked, and my god have people been provoking her. The time she shot Sevika, her initial hostility when captured by the Firelight's, up until The Grey, Cait has only responded violently when someone acted violently towards her/Vi. She only starts acting out first after the memorial but she still believes it's in response to what Jinx has done to her, even when it's people who have nothing to do with her. I think Ambessa further trains this response into her with their little spars as seen in S2 E6. When Huck jumpscares Caitlyn in S1 E6, she does pull her gun out on him yeah I'll give you that, but she doesn't do anything to him. It's more of a warning or means to defend herself as Vi is bleeding out on the floor behind her in this dingy little hole full of Shimmer addicts and she does talk it out with him. Whereas as season later in S2 E6, as soon as she sees Vi she does not hesitate she goes STRAIGHT for the kill, jumps down and fucking body slams her before even realizing who she was.

Anyway yeah I'm becoming ill again my point is, like every character in the show everything Cait has done has been building up since day one. It's not good that shes doing anything to get revenge but when you look at it from her perspective its like damn girl what did she do. Yes she's in a privileged position yes she works for the police but she's still human dawg how would you react to the situations she has been in. Mel is literally feeding into government corruption yall didn't care when she told Jayce to lay off with the Hex gate restrictions to keep the rich people happy and yall still love her (I love her too).

The parallels between Jinx and Cait go absolutely crazy they're both the same and on opposite sides of the spectrum at the same time. I understand why people prefer her more so than Cait, she's more of the underdog we've known her since she was a child and the majority of the things that happened to her happened when she was very young which makes it more tragic I am not denying that she is as relatable as a terrorist can get I love Jinx<333 Jinx my pookie Jinx my beloved <333 But I also love Caitlyn because she's silly and a girlfailure. My point is that I find it so weird that the Arcane fandom can hate a character for doing something bad and refuse to see their side of things when literally every character has done something bad if not worse and their side they have no trouble seeing/accepting. Except Ekko, Ekko genuinely has done nothing wrong in his life I've never met an Ekko hater in my life and if they exist I don't believe you.

If you're wondering what my opinion is on Jayce its that I appreciate what he adds to the story but I would hate to have a conversation with him. Not because I hate him but because I'm on my period right now and he would act like it's a cancer diagnosis

please dont hurnt me

[misguidedasgardian]

I need to... (6)

... Think

MASTERLIST

Summary: You almost forgot…

Pairings: Aemond Targaryen x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Cursing, modern au, mentions of cheating and past relationship, reader and Cregan are orphans :( might miss some warnings

Wordcount: 3.2 k

Notes: Thank you all for reading, I'm having such a fun time writing this. I already have the groupd's summer vacation plan and THEY ARE GOING TO BE SO AMAZING!

Thanks to your injured ankle you had missed the rest of spirit week, you had won the hall decorating competition, BUT, had lost the whole thing… the engineers won, again…

You were bummed that you had missed it, BUT, tomorrow you were allowed to resume your activities, and you were glad because you were losing it being locked up in your dorm room, and you were even more glad because a classmate of yours, and Rhaena, told you the freespot in the Arts school was filled with someone else other than Alys

She didn’t get the job! you could breathe easily now.

And your ankle had finally healed

That day, Sara came back from classes with snacks and face masks to celebrate, and you placed a green goo on your face as you watched movies as you snacked happily

You hair in a messy hairdo, pajamas at six o’clock, and a green facial mask in your face, the both of you, and you believed it was a good idea to answer the door to whomever was knocking, asking him to come in

It was Cregan

“Why everytime I see you I have something on my face?”, you asked, now feeling embarrassed

He looked at the both of you watching a funny movie with an entertained look on his face

“Hey you”, he greeted, “Now that it's been two weeks since your little accident, I was wondering if you wanna’ catch the last week of Arthur Deyne’s screening”, your face lit up, not that he could see it, because of the  the green goo

“I’d love to”, you whispered

“Tomorrow at five?”, he asked, you nodded 

“You came all this way to ask her?”, teased Sara, he just looked like she struck him on the face, “all across campus?”, you thought about cleaning your face with your pillow but that would be even more strange

“Well, uh, no I just… didn’t have her number”, 

“Well… we can easily fix that, can’t we?”, she asked, as she typed on her phone, “there it is weirdo”

“Alright… “, he chuckled, he then looked at you, “see you tomorrow”

“See you”, you whispered, he waved awkwardly, and left. Sara turned to you with a silly grin on her face

“Nop, no”, you said

“You have a date with my brother!!!!”, she screeched 

“NO”, you sentenced

“You do!”

“We are only watching a movie”, you muttered, standing up from the bed, you needed to wash your face 

“(Y/N and Cregan… sitting in a tree…”, she forgot the lyrics of the song, and she opened her mouth in thought, “.... kissing!”

“Very original!”, you teased

“You are going to be so cute together, my roomie with my brother”

“Sara…. I don’t know…”, you muttered

“Yes!”

“Oh I don’t want to be that girl”, you whined with teasing smile, Sara cackled

“You won’t!”, she said

“I don’t want to ruin this!”, you said, pointing at her and then at yourself, “I love you Sara, you are my friend, I don’t want to lose you over a boy!”

“You won’t!”, she laughed, “Cregan is not like that! she is actually a very decent man” 

“I chose a man over a friend once, and I don’t want to do that again!”, you tried to reason

“And I’m telling you that you won’t have to!”, she insisted, “my brother is a genuinely nice guy and I promise you that if it works out it's going to be amazing, and if it doesn't… it will end gracefully, and we won’t have to separate because it didn’t work out!”, she explained

“I don’t even know if he wants to…!”

“He does!”, she said, giggling, you sighed

“Let’s see, alright?”, you said, not that convinced. You liked Cregan, you did. but it felt strange, you remembered what it was like when you liked someone, had a crush, your stomach flipped, butterflies inside, you start to feel nervous, to say something foolish, or do something, the expectation running high, you wanted him to notice you

Is he looking at me?

Does he think I'm pretty? smart? funny? nice?

When you saw Cregan it wasn't like that, you felt calm, some sort of relief, like you were glad he had arrived

The problem started when you believed or thought about doing something else

Even thinking about being with someone, or going on a date, or being intimate, made your skin crawl, your stomach made summersaults

But he was so nice, a normal guy, would he… wait for you? would he mind spending time with you expecting… nothing, in return?

“Alright let’s finish the movie”, she said, seeing that you got lost in your thoughts 

You didn’t even get to do that, and your phone dinged

Hey, it’s Cregan 😊

Hey - you texted back -

So now you have my number… 

Indeed, I’m excited about the movie tomorrow - you texted easily, looking over at Sara who was just too distracted to notice, you didn’t want to hide from her, but you certainly didn’t want her to build up her expectations 

Mee too, they say is the best one yet! - he texted quite quickly

Do you want to meet up at the cinema? I will need directions though haha - you said cheekily

I’ll meet you in your dorm and then we can take a bus or sm, don’t worry, I’ll guide you ;)

“Great! 4:30 then? it sounds silly but I like to watch the trailers for the upcoming movies

It doesn’t sound silly, I like to watch them too - you smiled warmly

Oh great! - you teased - you are shaping up to be a hell of a good movie partner -. were you going too far? you felt nervous

Well, let’s see how you like the popcorn - he texted with a blushing smiley face

Sweet, with M&M’s in them

Really? never tried them - well at least he didn’t say no at the gate… like Aemond..,

No

You had to stop that right now

You couldn’t compare

Never 

You are missing out, but how do you like your popcorn? - you asked him

Sweet too, See? we were made to watch movies together haha - that text made you feel so nervous, but good nervous 

Well, yes, I completely believe in movie soulmates - you texted with a small giggle

Sara leaned in and shrieked in your ear

“I wanna’ wear emerald green in my maid of honor dress”

“Very funny”, you mocked, she smiled widely 

You were so determined to not make it look like a date, that you dressed in jeans, a nice shirt, but a hoodie over it, and a big jacket and beanie, it was still very cold outside, and a pair of boots, you did payed attention to your face in more detail, putting some makeup on, nothing very fancy…

“you look lovely”, Sara teased, “you just text me a winky face if you are not coming back at night ok?”, she kept teasing, but she finally let you go to meet Cregan outside

There he was

Dressed in a Maroon color henley, leather jacket, jeans, and urban black sneakers, he even wore a thin scarf and a beanie of his own. When he saw you, he smiled, and you just then

Felt something fluttering inside your belly

“Hey”, you greeted, but then you got all serious, “Arthur”, you called, and he smiled

“Winston”, he said back, all serious, like Arthur Deyne called the owner of the mafia hotel in the movie 

You giggled as he leaned in and kissed your cheek in greeting

“Ready?”, he asked

“Can’t wait”, you teased

“I think if its a good idea we take the Trolly art”

“You still hae trolleys?”, you asked all excited, he laughed

“Yes, we needed to help defrosting as much as we could as a state so we brought back all the goods”

“I love that”, you started walking out of campus in a comfortable silence, you haven’t been out in the town much, you needed to see the capital of the North

Contrary to the State of the Crownlands, the cities of the North were smaller, but there were more of them, king’s Landing was the biggest city, and then the others were small towns all around, but in the North, all cities stayed and grow in similar rates, so Winter’s Town wasn’t a metropolis, still held that beautiful and quiet town feeling…

The snow still lingered as you watched the well and softly lighten streets

“Winter’s Town is so beautiful”, you look up at him, who was taller than you, and catched him looking back at you, and smiled warmly

“i can see it”, he whispered, “your face says it all”, you chuckled, embarrassed

“What face?”, you mocked

“Your face of wonder and marvel”, he said back, you giggled, feeling again the butterflies 

You arrived at the small station and soon enough the Trolley passed, you climbed up and led you to the center of the Town, as Cregan stated the small cinema was

And when you got there… It looked like the one from an old movie, preserved since it was built many years ago. Even though it was Friday, it was mostly empty, because probably it was the last week of screening, the movie had premiered a month ago 

“Do you wanna get the tickets and I’ll get the snacks?”, you asked

“Sure thing”

Was this a date? you didn’t want to make it look like one, you didn’t want to think it was… so you went for the snacks, even though bought the “couples” combo, big popcorns and two sodas… you didn't get the M&M’s, there wasn’t any at the concession stand. And as you were going to struggle to grab it all in only two hand, Cregan met you there, taking the sodas off your hands

“Got them”, he said calmly

“Thanks”, you whispered, you smiled at each other, every little interaction about him and you felt like something meaningful, everytime you looked into his eyes made you believe this meant something for him, and in a second, you found yourself wanted this to be a real date

You started to walk to the screening room

“I brought you something”, he whispered, juggling with both sodas to take something out of his jacket pocket

You gasped when he offered you a huge package of M&M’s 

“You remembered”, you said

“Of course I did, I was so curious to try it and I remembered the cinema doesn't’ sell them”

“Good job Arthur”, you teased

“Anytime Winston”

The movie… was incredible

Not romantic by any means, so you didn't have much instances to lean into Cregan or him to lean into you, not that you expected it, but you were still a bit nervous, but you jumped and gasped together and complimented the actions sequences, and he devoured your favorite snack as much as you did

And you cried at the end and he surrounded your shoulders with his arm to comfort you.

When it ended, you both couldn’t stop talking.. you talked and talked and kept talking, about the movie itself, about the ones before, about which one was your favorite, you talked so much, neither of you wanted the night to end, and when you reached the trolly stop, you looked at eachother expectantly

“Want to walk?”, you asked, and he nodded enthusiastically

The campus was near, but like half an hour walking, but you kept talking, and when you shivered he offered you his arms and you coiled yours with him and he dragged you near him, so you could get warmer together.

And then the heat of the movie died down, and the talk became more personal

“Did you always want to come up here for school?”, he asked

“Well, I was like sixteen when I realize what I wanted to study, so I discovered this school of design was the greatest, and, we were ebay friends with Jace, and we both agreed we were going to come here together, to fly off the nest”, you told him, “an adventure”

“And what took you a semester?”, he asked lightly, he probably knew trough Jace, but you appreciated that he wanted to know trough you

“Well, I had a boyfriend”, you answered with a shy smile, “he convinced me to follow him Dragonstone U, and… well… “, he knew, he had known about Alys, so… “I decided to take a leap of faith and have trust in us and our future, it didn’t work out”

“I’m sorry”, no he wasn't but you didn't know that

“Well, I’m just relieved it happened so early on, and not two years into the future, you know?”, you asked, smiling, he chuckled

“Oh yeah, I get it”, he said, “do you still talk to him?”

“Oh no”, you said, “never saw him or heard from him since last semester”, that by now, it was like two months ago.

“And you are happy you followed your dreams?”, he asked, and when you looked up at him, you saw something in his eyes…

No… this wasn’t a date, he wasn’t that into you, he just wanted to see the movie, he just wants to add you to the friend group

“It’s been a long time since I’ve felt as happy as I am now”, you confessed, “this is everything I’ve dreamed of and more”, you said, “Even if they say the first year is the most difficult one, I love the career, and I’m so happy to have Jace back in my life, and I’m happy I met you, and Sara, and Ben, and reconnected with Baela and Rhaena…”

“I’m glad, and I’m more glad I’m part of that dream”, he teased and as you looked at him, he winked, you laughed 

“Did you ever know you were going to study business administration here?”, you asked

“Yes I did actually, completely predictable”

“You never thought about going South?”

“Well, when I was underage, it was more difficult for me”, he said

“Why?”

“My parents passed when I was twelve, and my uncle wouldn’t let me out of his sight”, he said

“I’m sorry”, you whispered

“It’s alright, i’m glad he had me stay here”, he said, “this is my home, and I will have plenty of time to travel once I finish my studies”

“You are right”, you said

“What about your parents?”, he asked

“They are also gone”, you said back, “I was ten”

“I’m sorry”

“Is fine, I have my godmother who took me as her own”, you offered with a wide smile, “I love her”

“She sounds lovely”

“She is”, you said back. And you chit chatted all the way back to campus, and when you finally arrived back, you didn't want to part ways, but it was already late to go eat something, and you were running out of time, you really didn't want to 

And then you were in front of your dorm, and you didn't want to part ways from him, and he didn’t either, you could tell… you looked at each other expectantly.

“It's late but… I think the tavern is still open for an hour or so… would you like to…?”, and then something caught his attention over your, you looked at him and then you turn to look too.

A beautiful girl was walking your way

blonde, sharp blue eyes, dressed in a puffy pink jacket and white wool knitted beanie, jeans and fluffy boots

“Arra?”, asked Cregan, and when you looked back at him, he look like a child had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar

“Cregan, I was looking for you”, she said softly, looking at you but then completely ignoring you

“What are you doing here?”

“I came to talk to you”

“I’m busy”, he said defensively, and suddenly, you felt like you were playing the third wheel

“It’s alright”, you said, “we can raincheck”

“Yes you can raincheck”, she muttered urgently. Cregan sighed, and looked at you with puppy eyes

“You are not staying?”, he asked her, “in town?”

“I’m staying with Alyssa, but no, I’m just here for the weekend”

“Then you should talk”, you said, and something inside you didn't like it

“Raincheck on the tavern?”, he asked you, and you smiled and nodded, he leaned in and hugged you, you hugged him back

He waited for you until you reached the glass doors of the dorms, you looked back and the blond had approached him,he looked annoyed

And now you were more annoyed, as you find yourself wanting this to have been a date. 

You arrived back in the dorm and Sara was sleeping, a thing you appreciated and sneakily took your clothes off and got inside the bed, it was cold… 

You grabbed your phone, questioning yourself…

Aemond haven't reached out

Well… You had blocked Aemond, his brother Aegon from instagram, (not that he would contact you) and unfollowed all your common friends, more like, his friends from college who he made you hang with… because you couldn’t bare to see him, and you truly believed that if you saw even a glimpse of him, you would get a panic attack. So maybe that’s why you haven’t heard from him again

Even though he had a huge ego, you found it weird he didn't even reach out to curse you or tell you how bad of a person he thought you were. 

And that is when you decided to check your mail, the spam box

And oh there they were

Hundreds of emails

Of another account, but it was clearly him

Even reading the titles you saw his own journey of mourning your relationship…

Denial

“...Maris said you left, and I don’t believe you would do something like this…”

Anger

“...It’s alright, really, now I see how selfish and short sighted you really are…”, he even dared mentioned Alys in that one, the audacity

Bargaining

“...The baby isn’t even mine, that whore lied to me…”, that one you read, Alys tried to baby trap him, and he made her do the Amnio, which was a very dangerous DNA test, and it turned out it wasn’t even his

Depression

“...I can’t believe I lost you, and I'm begging you to give me another chance…together we could rule the seven states…”

And Acceptance never came 

You thought long and hard about it… now that you had time to cool off… 

No, the anger was still there, and you couldn’t forgive him, not ever, he was a nineteen year old man, yes she was older, but he wasn’t a kid, he knew exactly was he was doing, besides, you were not compatible anymore… he dind’t make you happy any longer, and it took you to see him fucking another woman to realise it

No aspect of your relationship was making you happy

Only the praxis was left 

You had made the right decision, even though you did feel like you had things left unsaid, in a relationship that had meant so much for you and your families, since you knew each other since forever…

But coming back to the present...

Who was that girl? they clearly had unfinished business, but before that, has it been a date? did you wanted it to be? he had been so thoughtful and kind... you liked him!

Gods you were confused

taglist! <3

@mxtokko@princesssterek @thefandomimagines @iamavailablesstuff @misspascalpunk @sweethoneyblossom1 @ipostwhtifeel @lunamoonbby @ahristata @watercolorskyy @yazzzmints @n4tforlife @littleshadow17 @alexa4040 @speedyballoonpainter @hc-geralt-23 @rayrayredpanda @eralen @yentroucnagol @valeskafics @iloveallmyboys @speedyballoonpainter

[irlpinkiepie]

a short hike: review

(cw: familial trauma, suicide)

it's the spring of 2015, and i am hiding in the bathroom of a hotel in portugal, nervously staring at a tablet screen with the volume turned down. the walls are white, clean tile, the lights overhead bright and sterile, and there are probably noises outside the door, but that door is locked and the bathroom is the only thing that exists for me. the season premiere of my little pony is airing this afternoon, and i need to tune in. that little window to a world outside my family is something i depend on more than anything else.

a short hike is a game i played for the first time months ago and have not been able to stop thinking about since

it's the summer of 2011, or maybe 2012? i'm not sure. my memory is a little fuzzy. i'm in venice, though, i remember that much. there were pigeons? i'm struggling to keep up with my family, we've been walking all day, and it's hot, and i'm tired, and i don't know what's going on, and suddenly my parents are yelling again, can't i handle a little walking, you should be better than this, you're embarrassing us--

the first place i went in a short hike was into the water. it felt right, i think, i've always felt most at home by the ocean. a short hike's ocean is especially good at capturing this comfort; the pixelation and low-poly art style make the expanse of water feel textured, comfortable, like a cool blanket on a hot day; i spend about ten minutes swimming around the water, enjoying the peace and quiet, swimming around and seeing every side of the island, finding my first few treasure chests and getting a sense of discovery and adventure, going all the way out and appreciating the little free-floating lane ropes marking the outer boundaries of the map. i make a point to swim all the way along the length of one of them, relishing in the experience of simply existing in such a tranquil place

but eventually, i make my way back to the starting area, something which the player character claire seems to resent as much as i do. she's bored, dragged onto this family trip as a matter of tradition, and wanting nothing more than to be back at home or to at least have reception on her phone - and that's what brings her on her hike, to the top of the peak on the top of the mountain, in the hopes that it might finally give her a tiny bit of signal to connect to the outside world again. i head off on my quest, feeling scared and motivated and determined

-----

it's the autumn of... some year. i was still a kid. i'm sitting in the backseat of my parents' minivan as we drive halfway across the country to watch one of my siblings play a sport, i don't remember which. i didn't bring anything with me for the drive, because the first i was told about these plans was when i was yelled at for not being ready to go and dragged out the front door. i haven't changed out of my uniform, i didn't even have time to go back and grab shoes. i guess i'm staying in the car on this trip.

a short hike's world is lush and charming and so, so fun to explore. so much of the map is signposted, so it's easy to get to the places where you're trying to go, but there's also plenty of opportunities for you to wander off those paths and find yourself someplace you weren't trying to go. on one of those diversions, a few minutes into my climb, i find a chest that contains a golden feather. these are the main collectible in the game, so prominently important that they are displayed on your screen at all times, and every one you collect gives you additional climbing stamina or an additional mid-air jump - letting you go even further off the beaten path and find more secrets

the motivation for all of this is found very clearly when i follow the summit trail all the way to a cliff face, very clearly not scalable with just a single feather to my name. sure enough, a sign by the cliff lets me know that while it is possible to get away with fewer, i should probably come back with at least seven feathers. i've only found one so far, though, and have no idea how i could go about finding more, besides wandering around a little more and seeing what i can stumble upon? so, i turn around and get to wandering

-----

it's the winter of 2010. i'm eleven years old, and it's the middle of the night, and i've snuck out of the house. i make it into the backyard without being spotted, and then out the gate, and then into the empty field of long grass, and then i lay myself down in the snow and wait to freeze to death. i'm wearing my school uniform and my backpack, so my parents will think that i've just left for school early, and i know no one else would ever care to look for me. i've never had more than a passing conversation with any of my classmates, never even made a friend online, and as i drift off to sleep i think about how happy i am, because for the first time in my life i get to be the one in control.

i find two more feathers, and i decide that's enough. one of them was another lucky treasure chest, but the other was a real pain, floating in mid-air and requiring some annoying platforming to finally reach after more than a few tries, and both required a lot of aimless wandering that gradually became much more frustrating than fun, especially since most of the rewards for exploring aren't the actually useful feathers, but completely useless coins and shells. after just a few minutes of this, i'm sick of being stuck on this island, all on my own, still with no reception; i have to make it to the top. sure, the sign recommended seven, but if i push myself there's gotta be a way off this fucking island, right?

i go back to the cliff face and it turns out, sure enough, if you just wander a little around, it's possible to find another path up the mountain, one that means i don't have to climb that sheer cliff face, one that three feathers is just barely enough to make it through. i push my way forward, as the summit becomes colder, harsher, as the number of strangers starts to dwindle and the map empties out, as your golden feathers freeze up and can only be used once until you warm yourself up. the platforming becomes even harder and more treacherous, but i throw myself at it, over and over, until right as i'm almost at the top i come across an obstacle for which three feathers is just barely not enough, and i can't quite find a way to get past, and i'm struck with the terrifying thought that i might need to head back down there

eventually, after some agonising, i do, and i get lucky - starting from so close to the top, it's easy to glide my way down and fall into places i'd ordinarily need to jump to, and i snag a fourth feather from the top of the lighthouse. i climb my way back up again, the path worn into my memory from the many attempts it took to make each step the first time around, but now with that fourth feather become trivialised. i'm acutely aware that i'm near the end of the game, and i'm reflecting on what a wonderful final experience this is, feeling so proud of my ingenuity and determination to make it all the way through this. i race my way back to the top, so excited to finally get back in touch with... ...mom? why am i calling my family?

---

it's the winter of 2020. i'm 21 years old, and i need to tell my mom the truth. i tell her that i don't feel safe living here with my dad, all the ways he's hurt me, terrified me, tried to convince me not to transition, yelled at me for the tiniest slights, made me feel like i'm worthless unless i'm doing exactly what he wants me to, made fun of my interests, never let me leave the home without permission, made me feel like i was never safe as long as he was around. and moreover i beg her, tell her please, i need you to keep me safe from him. and she smiles and tells me that he loves me and cares about me, even if he's not always the best at showing it, and i really shouldn't be so uncharitable to him when he's just doing the best he can. and i realise in that moment that every time she's told me she loved me that she never meant it enough that she would be willing to side with me. that i didn't feel safe around her, either. a few weeks later, i run away from home without a word.

a short hike is not, as it turns out, the same game for me as it was for almost everyone else who's played it, for one simple reason: i spent the whole game deeply fearful of ever talking to any of the other npcs. for me, the game's island was very pretty but also deeply lonely and isolating, a place that was a huge and constant obstacle between you and your goal, and the route that i took was to either avoid that obstacle, or put my head down and push through it. and the ending was sweet, sure, and i enjoyed it! but it also felt, completely disconnected from the rest of the game, a little random from a protagonist who was upset about being on a trip with family, a sweetness that felt deeply uncharacteristic and that i wasn't sure quite what to do with

and of course it did! when played as designed, a short hike is a game about being placed in this situation that seems uncomfortable and hostile and boring and frustrating and growing to love it, to connect with the other people there and learn to appreciate that other people care about you and want what's best for you, that what at first feels scary and uncertain is actually friendly and fun and worth experiencing! it's about falling in love with the world and relishing in the feeling of that world loving you back, and i was too terrified to ever feel that love myself. the happiest and safest i ever felt in that game was when i had the least expectations, when there weren't any people around or any goals to accomplish, when i could just go away from what was expected from me and wander off on my own and just exist

maybe someday i'll go back and play that version of the game that everyone else knows, the one that my girlfriend recommended to me, the one i see in screenshots and reviews and gushing testimonials. but i treasure the specificity of the experience i had with it, that little snapshot of my childhood condensed into just over an hour of gameplay, a world that i never fell in love with, a world whose most memorable places are the ones that hurt the most, a world i left behind but still feel that pull to go back to. and it was worth going back to, just for a little bit

10/10

[aealzx]

Fishing his cell phone from its pocket wedged under his shell, Raphael hit the speed dial for Mikey. The easiest way to check on him was just to call him after all. Especially since they had two additional bases now that he and Leo were taking turns manning for this rotation. That explained why Leo had been caught since the other three weren’t with him. But it didn’t explain why their alarms hadn’t been tripped. Unless Leo had been outside the base on patrol, like he sometimes did when he was restless.

Okay Mikey that’s five rings, pick up the phone-

“You’re speaking to the greatest turtle of all time, hero of the realms, Nexus Champion, Michael Angelo Spliterson.”

For once Mikey’s voice was a welcomed relief instead of a complete annoyance, and Raphael found himself smirking instead of wanting to throttle him. “I’m gonna beat you for that, bozo,” Raphael responded, more on reflex than an actual threat.

“Awww, but Raphy buddy, you’d actually have to win against me for once to do that,” Mikey shot back. Harmless banter at this point. Despite the hundreds of sparring matches they’d gotten into, Raphael still hadn’t managed to win against Mikey even once. But they had saved each other's lives often enough it no longer truly mattered.

“Well get over here then.”

“Uh, I’ll pass,” Mikey declined quickly. “Got the ole second base to watch over y’know. Can’t leave her on her own. What would Don say if I just abandon-”

“I mean it Mikey. Get over here, Leo’s been caught by Augustine,” Raphael interrupted, ton growing completely serious now.

“HUH-?!” Mikey’s outburst cracked over the speaker and made Raphael pull the phone away from his ear. “Whadda you-?? Start with that you-! I’ll be right there!”

The call ended with a beep before Raphael could give a retort, but he just sighed and lowered the phone to tap a different speed dial. They would need their usual backup for this one, and he also had some words to get out. Thankfully this time his call was answered on the second ring.

“Yo Raph, what’s up? Miss me that much?”

Casey. The one that had been with Leo on base sitting duty that night. “Say goodbye to your son, then get back to home base asap. I’m gonna kill you for losing my brother,” Raphael growled simply, then took his turn to end the call without a goodbye. It would be better to talk to both Mikey and Casey at the same time, in person.

Once both people were contacted Raphael slipped his phone back into its place and approached Don, raising a brow as he was mildly impressed once again by how fast his genius of a brother was manipulating his precious computer. Touch screens and a custom keyboard really sped up his process, as did state of the art equipment. Coming to stand at his shoulder, Raphael remained quiet, knowing Don would speak when he formulated his thoughts enough around what he’d found.

Sure enough, it was only minutes of watching screens flashing by incomprehensibly that Don started his report. “Interesting. I ran an analysis for interdimensional breeches, and there’s a significant outlier from the usual comings and goings of people like the Daimyo and the others we’re used to visiting.”

“So…….,” Raphael started, a request for Don to pause and let him catch up with his own thoughts. “Augustine succeeded in creating an interdimensional machine despite us having stolen what she needed for it?”

“Yes…. and no,” Don confirmed and denied. “It wasn’t stable. The bridge between dimensions was quick, and horribly uncalculated. Like a misfire from trying to modify a weapon. I think she was trying something else, and got more than she bargained for.”

“An accident,” Raphael reworded simply, then sighed. “Great. And we still don’t have enough evidence to get her locked up?”

“Not yet. But this might be a tipping point once we get it solved,” Don responded with a mirthless chuckle. If only it were that simple. Augustine was eccentric, and unstable, but apparently still too valuable for the EPF to be willing to let her go. “I’ve got a good guess where she’s hiding out now. Three of the signatures converge at one point, including the one that matches the readings I’ve remotely pulled from our third outpost. And the location is part of our list of potentials.”

“...Texas? Really?” Raphael complained, raising a brow when the location was singled out on the display.

“Yep. Texas.” Don nodded, then caught sight of an entry register on another screen and turned to meet the one who’d arrived.

“Guys! You gotta help me- I think Leo’s gone missing! You gotta help me find him.” Casey’s arrival to the home lair was announced via a stomping run as he shouted his distress, one of Leo’s swords in his hands. “He went off to do a patrol like he does, but then he didn’t come back, and then I went looking for him to come back here, but all I found was his sword thing, and he never leaves that laying around. I think he got snatched! Do you have a tracker or something on him?”

As Casey started to explain his side of the story, Raphael could only fold his arms as both he and Don stared blankly at their friend. It may have seemed like a weird ploy with ulterior motives, but after having spent so many years with the man they both knew that Casey wasn’t faking anything. He just apparently didn’t have two dots connected in his mind just yet.

“....Did you figure that all out before or after I called you?” Raphael asked simply, continuing to give Casey a dry look.

“What? Uhhhhh…… After-.... Ohhhhh,” Casey seemed confused at the apparent unrelated question. But Don and Raphael could swear they could see the dots in Casey’s mind clicking together as he remembered what Raphael had called about in the first place. “You guys already know. Heheh. Uhm….. So where we going?”

Don could only chuckle as Casey sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. Before he could answer Casey the room gained another body as Mikey came dashing in. “I’m here! Let’s go! Bags are packed! Are we flying or driving?” Mikey rushed, stopping to jog in place once he reached the landing the rest were on.

“Hold on, bro. We haven’t even gone over a plan yet,” Raphael chastised, though he couldn’t hold the amusement from his tone.

“You can debrief me on the plane. Or truck. Whichever. Time’s a wasting,” Mikey continued, still jogging in place. “Did you get to talk to him? Or get a picture? Bad guys love sending kidnapping pictures. Does he look- Oh!”

At the mention of a picture Don clicked a few keystrokes to change the view of the monitors back to the video they had received. Catching sight of it, Mikey abruptly stopped moving, turning to gape at the picture. “Woah….. Ohhhh no, the crazy lady grabbed some other poor mutant ninja turtles inste- wait- is that ME? Mini me? He’s so small. But the orange headband is my thing- ohhhhh we didn’t stop her, did we.”

Raph had to snort at Mikey’s reaction to seeing the other two mutant turtles that had been kidnapped along with their brother. Only then did he start moving to comply with Mikey’s earlier prompting to get going. “Accidental cross dimension kidnapping. Is what it looks like anyway. We won’t know for sure until we ask their names once we rescue them.”

“Alriiiight. Time to finally bash this lady’s head!” Casey cheered, rotating his arm with a fist and moving to follow Raph.

“Ah ah. Not you. People with kids under the age of ten are strictly on backup duty, remember? You stay here and keep an eye on April… and Master Splinter since I’m assuming he’ll be on babysitting duty again. Keep them and Junior out of trouble, alright?” Raphael countered, whipping around to poke Casey in the chest and push him back.

“Awwwww maaann. Really? That applies even for rescue missions?” Casey whined, though he didn’t seem too upset about it. He did get to stay with April and their son after all.

“It applies for all missions. Especially breaking into government bases,” Don confirmed, slinging his prepacked backpack over his shoulders. “I’ve already messaged April, she and Leatherhead will meet you here and infiltrate their systems to give us support. Make sure Master Splinter gets to bed on time too, will you?”

“Guhhhhh, finnnee. Just punch someone good for me, alright?” Casey relented, making a show of throwing his head back in a pout. “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of your dad too. Just don’t take too long.”

“We’ll be back before you know it,” Raphael assured. “You better not eat all the nachos,” he added as a warning, pointing a finger at Casey as he and the others left the raised terrace.

“Stealth plane Mikey. We’re headed to Texas,” Don directed, taking the lead to their underground hangar.

“Texas?” Mikey repeated, pausing verbally to consider a thought. “You think we can grab any kolaches while we're there?”

___________________

Previous Next (image of bloody mouth)

___________________

03 Mikey is just fine X'D He's just at a different, smaller base.

by the way, the 03 boys are in their 30s for this, if it wasn't apparent from them being scarred up and having more armor and stuff X'D

[writeastormsblog]

Show Me My Silver Lining (TFTBL Rhys/Fiona Fanfiction) - Chapter Three

SUMMARY: A fan-written continuation of the lives of the Atlas CEO and Pandoran Vault Hunter. Canon-aligned with TFTBL, but not with game 3. What happened after the vault? How does the beloved duo continue growing together? Rhyiona ship including slow burn, fluff, and banter. Enjoy!

(art made by using Canva)

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CHAPTER THREE: Human Alarm

“Hey Fi- Oh wow you look tired,” a well-maintained Rhys said from his side of the screen. Not a wrinkle in his work attire, not a hair out of place. The heavy hair gel slicking back his locks definitely helped him look as polished as he did. Fiona, on the other hand, didn’t use gel or live the tame day-to-day office life. “You’ve got hat-hair.” Rhys chuckled.

“Thanks, Rhys. I didn’t notice.” Fiona rolled her eyes, finger-combing her hair. “Really, how would I have known I was tired if you didn’t tell me I looked it? Incredibly helpful. So insightful.”

“Glad you finally acknowledged my great detective skills,” Rhys grinned at her teasing. “So, uh, anyways. Now’s not a bad time to call?”

“Mmm, I was gonna sleep until I forget that I’m alive and alive with the most excruciating body pain, but I guess I can spare some time. What’s going on?”

“Ah, yikes. But aww, you’re so generous. Yeah, so um,” Rhys briefly glanced away from the camera. “Uhh…”

Fiona raised a brow. “Rhys?”

“Ah, well– how do I put this?” Rhys scratched the back of his head. “So uhh… See, well, like. Haha, ah–”

“Rhys,” Her eyes narrowed. Slowly, she asked, “Is everything okay?”

Rhys hesitated. His mouth opened then quickly shut, thinking hard about how to say whatever it was that he wanted to say.

“Rhys, any longer and I’m going to fall asleep on the spot–”

“Wait! IneedyoutocometoAtlas!” Rhys said, or more so spilled. Fiona blinked, registering the spill of words.

Rhys looked antsy. He didn’t look directly at her. Was he simply nervous or…?

Or was there someone else in the room?

Fiona sat up straighter, unsure of what was happening. “Rhys,” she paused. “Can I ask why?”

“Oh, I could just tell you, y’know, when you get here,” he said. “I’d rather you be here first.”

“Right…” Fiona then cautiously asked, “Do I need to bring anything? Like,” she thought for a moment. “Like the tricks up my sleeve?”

Rhys frowned. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Fiona gestured to her sleeve, then briefly shot a finger gun.

“Oh– y’mean your roshambo. Sure, up to you. Isn't it better to keep it on you?”

Fiona facepalmed. “Are you not being held at gunpoint right now?”

“What? No! Where did you get that idea?”

“I can’t tell if you’re covering or being genuine right now. You’ve been glancing away from me and breaking eye contact multiple times. Unless it’s because I’m so pretty it’s intimidating to look at me for too long, my guess was that someone else is in the room.”

“No, no one else is in the room,” Rhys reassured very matter-of-factly.

“Oh, okay. You seemed nervous. I was wondering why you kept glancing off–”

“N-not that it’s because I think you’re pretty,” Rhys quickly said, then cringed. “Not that you’re not pretty either! I mean, cause you are, wait I mean– No, like, haha, I didn’t, ah–”

“Rhys. I’m coming over there to beat you up. And you’re covering the transportation fee. After I show you how pretty my fist is, then you can tell me what you actually need me there for.”

With a long sigh, Rhys finally settled with a small, relieved smile. “Thank you,” he said softly. “I’ll book you the nicest hotel.”

“And I want more fancy meals. On your card, because when it’s out of your wallet the food tastes better.”

He chuckled. “I didn’t expect anything different from you.”

…

Atlas was huge.

Fiona never got around to visiting, but here she was. She had showered and managed to find some clean clothes to wear and some to pack, then Rhys ordered a ride to pick her up and everything.

Being well past midnight, the lobby appeared incredibly spacious without crowds of employees bustling about. Tall glass windows practically built the entire back wall. There was nice carpet and wide staircases leading to the next floor and advanced tech adorning the walls. A few guards chatted here and there, but Fiona got in with ease. Rhys gave her a key card and informed the guards of her arrival. She stepped into the elevator, suitcase in hand, and pressed the button to the top floor.

With a ding, she entered another wide hall. She quirked a brow at the fancy potted plants that sat pretty at the big double doors leading to Rhys’s office. Of course, it'd be weird to expect anything less for the Atlas CEO, but Fiona still found the elaborately polished scene amusing. Maybe none of Rhys’s employees saw him outside of work and specifically on Pandora, but Fiona knew how much his flailing limbs and loud socks and drool juxtaposed the composed atmosphere. Scanning her key card, the doors whirred open.

Rhys stood up from his desk, ready to greet her as she strolled in. “You made it.” He grinned.

“I did.” Fiona smiled back. Her eyes scanned the big room and she was pleasantly surprised at how comfy it was rather than professionally bland. He had a varnished dark wood desk, the typical big cushy office chair with fancy framed certifications from behind, and there were bookcases of tech stuff and many book titles regarding business spiels, no doubt. But Rhys also had warm lights on the wall and framed photos, some of the same Fiona had, of their friends on his desk. There were two big red couches that were well cushioned and definitely nap-worthy, and between the couches was a wide and low fish tank as a glass table; a whole glowing table aquarium. Fiona had never seen such a thing.

“Wow,” Fiona said. “Okay, I’ll admit it. You’ve got a cool office.” Naturally, she went to the couches, set her suitcase down, and sank back into the pillows. “Oh, this is nice. Yeah. Wow, that’s great on the back.”

“Right?” Rhys beamed and puffed out his chest a little. Rhys momentarily dipped behind a door next to his desk, then came back out with a glass kettle and mugs. “I’ve got fresh hot coffee. You want some?”

Fiona cracked a smile. “Why is that even a question?” As he sat on the couch across from her and poured, she leaned forward. “Are these Atlas drink coasters?” She flipped one between her fingers and read a huge letter A.

“Yeah, we’ve got our own coasters! Pretty neat, eh? Gortys thinks the fishes appreciate it more than we do, so she prefers to turn the coasters upside down so they can read it.”

Fiona raised a brow. “Wait, Gortys is here?”

“Not right now, but she does work here. She’s kind of my little assistant.” Rhys shrugged as he handed her cup. “She left hours ago, probably hanging out somewhere with Loader Bot.”

Fiona grinned as she sipped, savoring the warm dark notes of black coffee. She could imagine Rhys bringing Gortys to work, her pointing at everything in the room with childlike wonder, and it warmed her heart just as well. How adorable– the Gortys part, of course. The Gortys part.

“So,” Rhys said. “I’d ask how have you been, but from the call earlier I’d assume busy.”

“Busy is right.” Fiona stretched out her legs. “Been out and about, chasing leads. Even if it’s hard to actually come up with anything leading to the next vault, it’s fun to find loot like it's an egg hunt.”

“You really do love what you do, huh? I mean, you obviously don’t need to do what you’re doing for money.”

She nodded. “I mean, yeah. As you said before, money shouldn’t drive my existence. After being financially taken care of for the long run, I figured I still wanted to do something. I don’t think I could settle for an early retirement, to just exist in one place. It’s not for me.” Cradling the mug in her hand, she comfily slouched. “The more I trained with Athena’s crowd, the more I realized how much I loved being on my feet. The adrenaline rush and all. It’s worth the body pains, no matter how much the body pains suck.”

Rhys gazed at her admirably. “The vault hunter life suits you. I can’t imagine you not being caught up in some wild adventure. You’re great at adapting to anything thrown at you, and it's not something anyone can do. You've got a way of always hitting the ground running.” He gave her the most genuine smile and she felt her face get too warm for her liking. “So really, Fiona. I’m happy to hear that.”

“What about you?” She smoothly asked, deliberately redirecting the focus. She wanted to ignore how the way he spoke of her made her feel some sort of giddiness. “Promethean city boy, big building, full of big plans. You’ve done a great job with the place.”

“I’m living the dream,” Rhys said. “Sometimes I can’t believe any of this is real. I’m worried someday I’ll wake up and this was never here.”

“You worked hard for this,” Fiona found herself continuing. “You earned it, Rhys. And I honestly think you’re the best person to be in this position of power.”

Rhys’s eyes widened in surprise. “You mean that?” He ran a hand through his hair. “Heh, sorry. I just, wow. I didn’t expect that from you all of a sudden.”

Fiona briefly glanced away, slightly flustered again. “I mean it. From what little I’ve seen of Hyperion, sure, you were just as pretentious and ambitious in climbing the corporate ladder. But they didn’t have your character.”

Rhys raised a brow at her. She rolled her eyes. “What I mean is, you care about people. You were a jerk at times, sure. You had your moments. But unlike them, you put people first. You weren’t willing to sell out Vaughn to Hyperion higher ups. You could’ve thrown him to the skags, even though you both stole the money. You helped Yvette survive the crash after she betrayed you to Vasquez, and you came back to check on a couple of con artists well after you got the rights to Atlas.” Fiona shook her head. “Sometimes it’s worrying that someone might take advantage of you with that kind of loyalty. More than anything, though, it shows you’ve got heart. I don’t know much about corporations, but I know about you. So, whatever you choose to research and do, I’m here to support you.”

Rhys wore a shy smile and went a little red in his face and ears. “Heh, well… I don’t really know what to say. Other than, well, thanks. Thank you, Fiona. That means a lot, coming from you.”

Fiona looked at her drink. “What did you put in here? I’m not usually all nice when being honest.”

Rhys laughed. “Just coffee, I promise. I guess that was all you just now.”

“You caught me at a late hour and still coming back from a long week. Don’t get used to this.” Fiona smiled. “So, what do you need help with?”

Then, there it was. In the blink of an eye, his face dropped. The uneasiness from before was suddenly written all over him again. His knuckles whitened on the mug handle. His brows furrowed. “I’m still not sure how to phrase this without sounding weird and super lame.”

“Then it’s probably just weird and super lame, and you should start somewhere.” Fiona shrugged, somewhat trying to reassure him to speak.

“Gee, thanks,” Rhys scoffed, running a hand through his hair. “Well then,” he paused. “I plan on working late into the early morning, and I might fall asleep. I’ll need you to help me stay awake.”

Fiona stared. “Okay…? And you can’t set an alarm, because?”

“Because,” he shook his head, sucking in a breath. “Because when I get nightmares, alarms don’t easily wake me up.”

“Nightmares?” Fiona frowned. “What nightmares?”

“I don’t really want to go into them. That part isn’t really important,” he quickly said, trying to wave off the concern she wore. “I usually take medicine,” Rhys said. “To help me avoid them, or at least make it easier for me to wake up from them. But recently, the pharmacy I ordered from stopped supplying them.”

“So…” Fiona set down her drink. “You want me to be a human alarm clock?”

“Just for a week,” Rhys assured. “I’ll figure out another way to tackle this, I just,” he huffed. “I’ve got a lot of paperwork and meeting plans to sort through. Please? Then when I’m done with work, you’re welcome to go to your hotel room or explore Promethea and do whatever until the next night I stay up.”

Fiona tilted her head, still frowning. “But what about you, when you’re done with working late? Are you not going to sleep between then and whenever you go into work the next day?”

“I will.”

“Won’t you still have nightmares then, too?”

“Yeah,” Rhys sighed. “I will, but it’s when I don’t need to wake up immediately to keep working every minute by minute to finish my heavy to-do list. I don’t do this all the time– I know it’s incredibly unhealthy to be sleep deprived. I just need to get stuff down this week.”

Fiona rubbed her face. “I should’ve slept more on the way here.”

“You can still sleep on the couch. If I fall asleep,” Rhys looked away again. “You’ll know. You’ll uh… you’ll know. Just be prepared that I might yell a little in my sleep. Do whatever it takes to snap me out of it. You’re the only one I trust to do this for me; I don’t want any of my guards or other employees to see me that way.”

Fiona eyed him. He shrunk in posture, eyes downcast, and fidgety. He sat very different from how he was when they talked just moments before. Fiona felt a pang in her chest. She sighed.

“Alright, Rhys. It’s time to get to work.”

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Spoiler but not really: It was actually because he found her pretty. Seeing her face up close thanks to the camera, plus having to ask her to stay with him because he had nightmares, equals a very nervous and embarrassed Rhys.

[jjs-brainrot]

Alright, finally started all of the anime I was planning to pick up for Fall 2024 so time to do my first impressions for the season!

Just as a reminder: This will be my ranking of these shows based purely on how I felt about the first 1-3 episodes. Continuations and anime that I've already read the source material for will be put into a separate rank after the rest.

Overall, I'd say this is looking to be another strong season with a lot of shows I'm feeling extremely excited to keep up with!

A-Tier (sold on it in 1 episode)

Puniru is a Cute Slime: Transgender slime girl who, as stated by the title, is very cute. Hilarious and adorable first couple of episodes. I'm fully in on backing Puniru for slimegirl of the season. Also: HOLY FUCK THE ED IS A COVER OF "THE SHOW" BY ADO!!!

Acro Trip: PG Gushing Over Magical Girls but not as explicitly gay and dedicating half the screen space to a fuckboy for some reason. Very strong start though my opinion on this series will hinge on how much yuri we get and if the fuckboy gets in the way of it or not.

Magilumiere Co. Ltd.: Super neat concept for a magical girl setting and has a very strong start so far. Kana x Hitomi is already my frontrunner for ship of the season.

The Stories of Girls Who Couldn't Be Magicians: Little Witch Academia but it's about the student in the general education program. Easily some of the prettiest backgrounds and art style this season. No matter what, i need to see more of this very pretty show.

B-Tier (strong start but I need a few more episodes to lock it in)

Dandadan: I was going to give it an A-Tier but the abduction scene takes it a full rank down. I'm told that's the worse it ever gets, buuuut I also don't trust shounen fans that much after trying to get through the slog that was Undead Unluck so we'll see.

C-Tier (rough start but has some promise)

Demon Lord 2099: "We have Shadowrun at home". Really hard to tell how this one will turn based off the first episode. Neat concept but could swing wildly in quality.

D-Tier (I'll stick it out but they're on thin ice)

Nothing

F-Tier (lol, no.)

I’ll Become a Villainess Who Goes Down in History: That might be the most bland villainess isekai I've ever watched. I felt like I wasted 20 minutes of my life I'll never get back…

Good Bye, Dragon Life: interesting concept wasted on extremely bland writing. Thought about sticking with it for the Lamia girl but it's so devoid of any personality and as far as snake girls go, she's no jashin-chan…

(S)pecial-Tier (I've already read the source material or it's a continuation)

Shangri-La Frontier S2: HELL YEAH, WE'RE BACK BABY! More "Let Me Solo Her" the anime is upon us!

Natsume's Book of Friends S7: The boy with zero self-preservation skills and his chunky hard drinking talking cat are back!

DNF (Could be good, could be bad, but my brainworms stopped me from finishing episode 1)

Nothing

[swan2swan]

Nothing about this is objectionable.

If anyone on Tumblr, this website that Alex Hirsch, God Bless His Soul, just shouted out despite it being declared legally dead for seven years, God Rest Its Soul, wants to take issue with it in a nine-hundred word essay, as he predicted, you can take it back.

I will match you.

I will match you, and I will raise you.

Gravity Falls was a frontier rush for fandoms. It taught a whole new generation what continuity was, and, in fact, invented the codebreaking format that would be used by other shows. It had confidence. The show started and had an ending point. It was bold in ways that we seldom get to see in this day and age, and I'm getting cliche...oh, hey, someone just recommended Eda! Well, we need more women! I guess Eda can hook up with a dude, she's bisexual, she loves Rayne, or Raine, wow, Hooty's here, too...you can tell I'm padding this out, but the point is, I don't know if Tumblr's as sanctimonious as it used to be.

Maybe I'm just old and I don't interact as much, but I think Twitter and TikTok are where most of the rookie Social Justice Warriors go these days. And I think they've got their issues, but I also think the youths will grow and work out their problems and learn. And Gravity Falls is gonna help with that.

Anyway, they're looking for a hundred grand to make Alex Hirsch drink a jar of teeth, so I have to donate, with apologies to my toothphobic partner, who hates anything having to do with tooth loss. This is something I've had to live with, but also, I commiserate with her. I may have gotten distracted, but I said at the start, this is about padding the word count.

Anyway, if you kids are feeling upset about the future...lock in, and not in a "man up" or "woman up" (but kinda) way, and especially not in a "grow up you namby-pamby" way. You need to have faith in your neighbors, even if you don't know if you can have faith in humanity. I'm getting cliche'd again.

Because, look. Sometimes, you get to have Matt...is that Matt Braly?...drawing pictures of Mullet Stan saying "SOUPER MAN!", and have Alex Hirsch narrate it. And you know what? That's worth it, sometimes. Because they're doing it to raise money to help people, and providing YOU, the audience, with great stuff, and there's gonna be art that you can contribute to in the future.

Anyway, the point is, I'm not criticizing what they're doing here, they can do what they want, because it's their imaginations and their effort and that's what's gonna help.

We're going into the Dark Age, folks, but that's far from the End Times. Especially not yours. Be the blazing rays of light you want to be in the world, even if the light only reaches five or six people around you. Give someone a smile, and your life's worthwhile.

Also, always wash your bread knives. Those count. You need to wash your bread knives, kids. And if you don't have a bread knife, invest some money.

Also, as Kristen Schaal says...read a novel.

Anyway, Gravity Falls tried breaking the norms of on-screen romance by teasing some gay background characters once, but they got shot down, as everyone knows. Nevertheless, Wendy is confirmed bisexual, if I recall correctly, and Bill and Stanford are absolutely gay for one another, as has been emphasized repeatedly, so take that, Disney censors. If nothing else, Gravity Falls REALLY pointed out some of the flaws and injustices in the animation industry, which have been broken through since then by the likes of She-Ra, Camp Cretaceous, and Moon Girl...even if Moon Girl poked around and found some NEW barriers. But those barriers, too, will only stand for so long.

I should watch Over The Garden Wall.

Anyway, going back to the above...always recommend the good shows you love. And figure out how to recommend the shows you love! Be encouraging. Learn to communicate with people. And if you learn how to sell people on shows, you might be able to sell people on other things. Talk to your neighbors, learn to communicate, remember to communicate, and stay in touch with longform comments and longform text. Hopefully this didn't get too difficult to read.

You might be able to tell that I am rusty, myself.

I hope I got to nine hundred words. I really do.

But I need to donate, myself. So I'm wrapping it up.

Thank you for reading this far, if you did, and if you didn't:

TLDR: We're gonna make it. We're gonna meke this work. We're going to survive. And you...YOU? You're gonna have fun. I promise.

Also, I think this clocks in at eight hundred words, for which, I apologize. But I did something.

[ferrariswiftiespace]

chapter 5

busy woman - art donaldson x fem!oc

faceclaim mikey madison as emma zweig

warnings no tashi duncan; nsfw +18; my first story; a little of patrick x art but it’s not reciprocated

summary emma zweig always got what she wanted—except for art Donaldson, the one person her brother, patrick, had forbidden her from pursuing. that only made him more intriguing. but emma always get what she wants.

2004

mark rebellato tennis academy

patrick zweig

art and i decided to go to a party that was being thrown deep in the woods, far from the academy. it was friday, and we’d had a long, grueling week—early morning drills, late-night conditioning, and matches that left our muscles aching. we needed a break. something different.

the drive there was reckless in the way all teenage boys drove when they thought they were invincible. art had his window down, one arm resting casually along the frame, the wind ruffling his hair. the music was blasting, some indie rock band he was into that i didn't care enough to remember the name of. he drummed his fingers against the steering wheel, humming along while i checked my phone.

emma had texted me earlier, asking if i was still alive. i rolled my eyes and responded with a middle finger emoji before locking my screen.

“reckon this party’s even gonna be good?” art asked, glancing at me.

“it’s booze and people who don’t have to wake up at 5 am tomorrow. good enough.”

he snorted. “fair point.”

the road was dark, barely lit by the headlights, and by the time we arrived, the place was already packed. cars were haphazardly parked along the dirt road, music pulsing from somewhere deeper in the trees. there were people everywhere—on the hoods of their cars, laughing in groups, some already stumbling from whatever they’d been drinking. the air smelled like pine and smoke.

we stepped out, and almost immediately, someone shoved a beer into my hand. art grabbed one too, cracking it open and taking a long sip.

“let’s find the fun,” he muttered, already scanning the crowd.

we drank. we smoked. we danced, or something close to it. i wasn’t much of a dancer, but alcohol made me care a lot less. at some point, art had disappeared into a conversation with a girl i barely recognized, so i found myself leaning against a tree, watching the fire crackle in the center of the clearing. the heat licked at my skin, the flames making everyone’s faces glow.

then someone called out, “truth or dare!” and suddenly, we were all getting pulled into a circle.

art appeared again, beer still in hand, eyes a little unfocused but amused. he nudged me with his knee as he sat beside me.

“this should be interesting,” he murmured.

the game started off as expected—stupid dares, harmless secrets. a guy was dared to take a shot of hot sauce. someone else had to take off their shirt. it was typical, mindless fun. then, after a few more rounds, it was my turn.

“patrick, truth or dare?”

i scoffed. “dare, obviously.”

the girl who had asked grinned, eyes glinting with mischief. “kiss the person on your left.”

i barely had time to process what she said before my brain registered who was sitting there.

art.

he went rigid beside me, his smirk vanishing.

“oh, come on,” someone whined. “rules are rules.”

i turned to look at him, already laughing. “what, scared?”

he huffed, shifting awkwardly. “it’s just fucking dumb.”

“then do it and move on,” i teased, raising an eyebrow.

art exhaled sharply, muttering something under his breath before leaning in. it was barely a kiss—just a quick press of his lips against mine, chaste and fleeting, but it still sent a ripple of surprise through me. he pulled away fast, shaking his head like he was shaking off a bad idea, reaching immediately for his beer.

the group whooped, someone whistled, and just like that, the game moved on.

art didn’t look at me. i didn’t know why that irritated me.

the bottle spun again. this time, it landed on art.

“truth or dare?”

he hesitated, then sighed. “truth.”

“lame,” someone mumbled.

the girl smirked. “alright. tell us a secret.”

art took a slow sip of his drink, his gaze fixed on the fire. his jaw tightened slightly, and for a second, i thought he’d refuse. but then he said, voice calm but deliberate—

“i like emma zweig.”

the words didn’t hit me all at once. it was like my brain needed an extra second to process them.

then, when they did, my entire body stiffened.

i turned my head to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. he just stared at the fire, like he’d said something as simple as i like strawberry ice cream.

the group around us reacted predictably—whistles, teasing comments, someone nudging me like i was supposed to think this was funny. but i didn’t.

i felt something twist in my chest, something hot and uncomfortable.

i couldn’t decide what pissed me off more—the fact that art had never told me this before, or the fact that, out of every girl he could have liked, he chose my sister.

2019

new rochelle

emma zweig

it was like the third wine bottle art and i were drinking, celebrating his first-place win at the challenger. the room smelled like expensive perfume and spilled alcohol, and i could feel the slight ache of laughter in my ribs. right now, i was straddling art’s lap on the couch, my arms around his shoulders as we both sang off-key to *dancing with a stranger* blasting from the tv speakers. his head fell back in a drunken laugh, his hands gripping my waist to steady me.

“i love this song,” i giggled, pressing my forehead against his.

“yeah? you just love singing it terribly,” he teased, fingers absentmindedly tracing circles on my lower back. “don’t ever audition for anything.”

i gasped dramatically, smacking his chest. “rude.”

he grinned and leaned in, brushing a kiss over my lips before resting his head against the couch. the song faded into another, something slower, and i leaned my weight into him, feeling warm, content, and just the right amount of tipsy.

after a few moments of silence, he murmured, “you know… patrick knew.”

i lifted my head, looking at him. “knew what?”

“that i liked you,” he said casually, his voice thick with alcohol and something else, something serious. “i told him. back then.”

i blinked at him, thinking i misheard. “what?”

he let out a slow exhale, his hands stilling on my waist. “patrick knew. at the academy. i told him one night, and he lost it. and—” he hesitated, rubbing a hand over his face before letting it drop, “—he and i kissed once.”

i stared at him, waiting for the punchline. but he wasn’t laughing. his face was open, a little hazy from the alcohol but clear enough that i knew he wasn’t messing with me.

“…shut up,” i said, half-laughing. “you’re so full of shit.”

“i’m not.” his voice was quiet, steady. “it was a dare at a party. but after… he knew i liked you, and he—” art sighed, dragging a hand through his hair. “it was weird. i think it messed with him.”

i felt my stomach twist, the laughter completely draining out of me. “patrick—he never—” i stopped, my thoughts tangling. “why wouldn’t he tell me?”

“i don’t know,” art admitted. “maybe he didn’t want you to know. maybe he thought i’d take you away from him.” he exhaled sharply. “maybe he didn’t know what he wanted.”

something in my chest clenched, emotions i couldn’t even name swirling inside me. patrick had always been possessive, sometimes even cruel about it—but this? had it really been that deep for him? had he looked at me and seen something i had never even considered?

i stood up abruptly, needing space, needing air. the room felt too small, too hot. art immediately reached for me, his fingers grazing my wrist. “emma—”

“i just—i need a second.” my voice sounded strange to my own ears, uneven. before he could stop me, i turned on my heel and locked myself in the bathroom.

the second the door clicked shut, i pressed my back against it and let out a shaky breath. my hands felt cold. i wasn’t even mad—at art, at patrick. i just… didn’t know how to process it. all those years, all those fights, the way patrick acted around us. had he really been jealous? not because i had someone, but because i had *art* in a way he never could?

i sank down onto the floor, wrapping my arms around my knees. silent tears slipped down my face, but i didn’t sob. i wasn’t breaking down, i wasn’t furious—i was just lost.

a soft knock at the door. “emma,” art’s voice was gentle, laced with worry. “please talk to me.”

i didn’t answer. i didn’t know *what* to say. i heard him sigh, his forehead resting against the door. “i didn’t mean to upset you. i just… i didn’t want to keep anything from you.”

more silence. then, after a minute, “i’m not mad.”

he exhaled, relieved. “then open the door.”

i wiped my face with the sleeve of my shirt, taking a deep breath before standing up and unlocking it. the moment i did, art was there, looking at me with the saddest, most worried expression i’d ever seen on him. his eyes were searching mine like he was trying to figure out how bad the damage was.

my throat tightened, and before i could stop it, my eyes welled up again. art pulled me into his arms instantly, holding me against his chest.

“i got you,” he whispered, one hand cradling the back of my head. “i got you.”

i closed my eyes, gripping the fabric of his shirt, letting myself be held. i wasn’t sure what i wanted to do—if i wanted to talk to patrick, if i even wanted to *know* more—but i knew one thing for certain. i didn’t want to lose art. not now. not ever.

it was almost 3 a.m. when i called patrick. he picked up after the second ring, his voice still clear but not quite awake. i told her i was going to his motel.

i drove the ten minutes to the motel he was staying at. the road felt eerie and quiet, a stark contrast to the buzz of the hotel, where art was waiting. i was trying to gather my thoughts for what i needed to ask patrick, but i wasn't entirely sure how to begin.

at the motel, i told the guard i was heading to room 204. my heels clicked the floor and my coat tied in my waist, when i knocked on the door, i heard some ruffling inside, and then it opened. patrick stood there, wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, his hair a bit messy, and the room behind him was much tidier than i expected—just a few clothes scattered here and there.

we hugged eachother and then i stepped inside, and we sat on the edge of the bed, exchanging pleasantries. he congratulated me for art winning, and i thanked him, but there was something lingering between us, unspoken. it felt like the right moment, so i asked, my voice steady but curious:

"why didn’t you tell me you kissed art?"

patrick's expression shifted, and he looked away for a moment, like he was processing my question and was remembering something. after a beat, he shrugged, his tone softer now.

"why would it matter?" he replied, his voice slightly defensive. "it was a stupid thing... from years ago."

i leaned forward, wanting him to know that this wasn’t an accusation. "but it does matter, patrick," i said gently. "i need to know where you stand. i want to know if it’s going to bother you that art and i are together. i need to know if it affects you, or if you're okay with it. my youngest years, i spend half of them waiting for your approval"

he didn’t answer right away, his gaze shifting as if he were thinking carefully about what to say. i could tell this was more complicated than just the kiss, but i wasn’t angry. i just needed clarity.

finally, he sighed. "it’s... complicated, em. you’re my sister, and i care about you. it’s hard to see things change sometimes. but i’m not gonna stand in your way, okay? if art makes you happy, then that’s what matters now. this all happened when we were still kids, and i grew up to what we are now, i got over it"

i felt a weight lift off my chest, but i still needed to hear more. "and what about you? how do you feel about it? i mean, really."

patrick shifted his posture, running a hand through his hair, and i could tell he was wrestling with something inside. "i’m okay with it, emma. i think. it just... took me a while to process." his voice dropped slightly, almost like a confession. "i never really thought about how much i... how much i cared about you being with someone else. it’s not about art. it’s just about—" he paused, trying to find the right words. "it’s just weird."

i understood that. it was weird for me, too. but hearing him say it aloud made me realize that we both just needed time to adjust.

"i get it," i said quietly. "you’re still my big brother. and nothing's changing that. but i needed to know, because i don’t want to hurt you. you’re important to me, patrick."

for a moment, we both sat in silence, the weight of everything slowly dissolving between us. finally, he nodded, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "i know, em. i’m not angry. i just... i didn’t know how to talk about it."

i let out a soft breath, feeling the tension ease between us. "well, now we’re talking."

patrick chuckled, reaching out and giving my shoulder a quick, reassuring squeeze. "yeah. we are."

we sat in silence for a few moments, both of us just processing everything that had been said. the air between us felt lighter, but there was still something lingering, something unspoken. patrick shifted uncomfortably, his hand resting on his knee as if unsure of what to say next.

finally, he looked up at me, his expression softening. “em… i know i’ve been a lot to deal with sometimes. i—i don’t always know how to handle things with you. i’m sorry if i ever treated you like shit.”

his words took me off guard. i wasn’t expecting an apology, not like that. patrick had always been protective, sometimes overbearing, but hearing him acknowledge it… it hit me harder than i thought.

i looked at him, searching his face for sincerity. “patrick, it’s okay. you were always looking out for me, even if it came off the wrong way.”

he shook his head, his brow furrowing. “no, em. i pushed you away sometimes. i was controlling, and i made things harder than they needed to be. i was jealous and... just trying to protect something i didn’t even know how to protect.”

i felt my heart soften. “i get it now,” i said quietly, my voice steady. “i know you care about me. but i need you to trust me, too. i’m not that little girl anymore.”

he looked at me for a long moment, his eyes filled with something i couldn’t quite place—guilt, maybe, but also a desire to make things right. “i know. i’m trying.”

i gave him a small smile, reaching out to place my hand on his arm. “we’re good, patrick. we really are.”

he exhaled a relieved breath and smiled back, a little crooked but genuine. “thanks for not hating me.”

i couldn’t help but laugh softly. “i could never hate you.”

we sat there for a moment, a quiet understanding passing between us. it wasn’t perfect—nothing ever was—but it felt like we were getting closer to that place where things made sense. where we could just be, without all the weight of the past hanging over us.

“now, let’s just make sure art knows i don’t hate him” patrick said, his tone lightening, and i couldn’t help but grin.

“deal,” i said, laughing. “but don’t worry, he’s too scared of you anyway.”

patrick chuckled, and for the first time in a long while, i felt like we were finally on the same page.

final

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