#i should try giving him an outfit with more feathers/wings stuff

[mint-is-here]

i drew ariel (he's my oc(i still need to figure what exactly they are because it has been hard. are they a literaly angel since he was ispired by those biblically accurate angels?? a being from an alternative universe that merger with ours??? a shapeshifting alien?? I DONT KNOW) in an alternative design because i wanted try and put more eyes in them

ill probably stick to the ribbons but yeah

havent done any pencil drawings in a while(tried doing more digital stuff recenlty) so this was fun:D

[letterboard-fantasy]

Sins and Virtues Breakdown [a sinfully delightful assortment, if you will/ih]

*this post is sponsored by Pins and Four supporting my special interests/hj

First, I'll hand you all this handy chart :) it has the sins/virtues and their latin names skdjnsn

I think here is where I'll talk about color schemes and the specific versions of the sins and how I theme them, and maybe I'll even throw in some costume tiers. And virtue talk tooooo

Cardinal Sins and Heavenly Virtues:

Luxuria [Lust] + Castitas [Chastity]

Okay so *looks at Luxuria! Sastre*/ih

For Luxuria, I portray Lust in a couple different ways. Of course, there's the suggestive version of Lust that comes to mind... but I also think of Lust in a materialistic type of way. Like lusting for power, status, the stuff of the sort where it isn't the suggestive kind but something deeper that's... a bit harder to understand. I guess you could imagine them as a dark temptress, trying to draw you in with different promises,,, whether it's power, money, or something... more seductive skfjdjfn

Color Palette wise… and costume tier wise... I imagine Luxuria has a rich purple pink black color scheme! Especially with an all black outfit with a dark pink/purple accent to draw your attention to… all their curves 😏/ih I also think heart shaped horns would be SO FUN cause when I drew Luxuria! Sastre, he had this set of horns that kind of curl in on themselves but if I can make them curl into the two halves of a heart???? OOOOOO I also think they’d be dressed in form fitting clothes and leather while also having that dramatic feather boa incorporated into the mix. Omg and a little sharp spade tail… 🤭

I’m going to keep using Sastre as my example because he has that Luxuria skin and I can’t properly articulate my ideas otherwise so/ih but just imagine him tying you up with the feather boa and pulling out closer???? Like woooahhhhhh there buy me dinner first/ih and those cold metal claws gently holding your face like you’re a squishy potato/j

I think Luxuria definitely has the markings of a upper class A tier. Like fancy and alluring but just not quite S tier,,,

———

Chasity... man, Chasity is a weird one because it's like abstaining??? But in a wider lense, with this lense of lust, it's got this sense of hard work and abstinence. Abstaining from temptation, both of the suggestive kind and of the materialistic kind. Bare bones, only the necessities,,,

For colors, I think a white and light purple/pink color scheme would be so brilliant, especially with these golden accents. I think Castitas would dress up in lots of lace and gems where it’s covering and more fitting yet also 👁️ 👁️ like very beautiful very elegant like it should be so gentle and so pure yet,,, and wings,,, wings..!!!!

Castitas is definitely an A tier type of virtue I am telling you. Like fancy but contained delicate looking with its strengths… they’re definitely an a tier type of skin,,,

Gula [Gluttony] + Temperantia [Temperance]

For Gula, I don't portray Gluttony in the uh "traditional" sense I guess? While Gluttony is more known towards the comusption of food specifically [ie eating too much food] I like to think Gluttony should be more of the excess consumption of anything! Food, media, power, etc.

It's an indulgent sin, it shouldn't just apply to food and/or food-like sources. And it should be indulging to a greedy degree! That's what it means to be a glutton >:) This means indulging in every good thing. I also think that Gluttony is CONSTANTLY hungry. Like, they ever get full, they can just eat and eat and eat.

Gula seems like they’d work WONDERFULLY in blue!! Black and bright neon blues,,, with lots of fun gradients… I’m thinking no horns for Gula because I feel like they should have an indulgent outfit from head to toe,,, having an extra af hat onto of their head seems like such a good idea I- wahhhhh

I feel like the only way to portray Gula in all their glory is to give them the Sins S tier slot I’m sorryyyy I’m totally not playing favoritism here/ih it’s just in my head, right??? Load them up with details and accessories to show that indulgent, over the top, gluttonous nature feels like it would be an S tier worthy outfit, ya know???

———

Temperantia... should be a healthy balance. Not too much, but they also know there's no harm in treating yourself. They strive to treat others more than to treat themselves, and want everyone to have a good time! For them, it means taking a step back away from the spotlight and allowing others a chance at happiness. They share most of their food, they give away excessive items they own, they surprise their friends and loved ones with luxury... :)

Temperantia… I’m thinking that similar to Luxuria and Castitas, that the virtue and sin should have the same colors but with black/white added into the mix! So, Temperantia would have blues and white, with gold accents as well. It should be decorated... but still simple.

Temperantia is definitely an a tier,,, not too detailed but still pretty,,,

Avaritia [Greed] + Caritas [Charity]

Avaritia... For Greed, it's all about cravings! On the surface level, it's easy to mistake Gluttony and Greed due to them both being about excessive consumption... but while Gluttony wants everything it can get its hands on, Greed wants only the best of the best, and believes if it cannot have something, it MUST be destroyed. Gluttony will give up something to pursue something else, but Greed won't stop until it is theirs or completely destroyed. Because if they can't have it? No one can.

Avaritia having a black and yellow/golden color scheme. She’s a fabulous bitch/ih I imagine Avaritia is a smaller sin (like a child??) because have you ever met a child? They are either the sweetest little things or they will make your life a living hell. I have seen kids break toys in half because they couldn’t have it. No one can and you’re paying 15 dollars for a broken toy./lh I also feel like a younger looking Avaritia can get so much out of just having that child like cuteness,,,

Avaritia could be an S tier but I think only one sin can have an S tier so A tier be upon thee/ih

———

Charity and Kindness go hand in hand because it's all about helping out others. Charity handles bigger projects, and they live to help others. Their whole live revolves around helping others at no cost. I think Caritas and Humanitas would be siblings skjdnsknf

Caritas… I think a white and gold color scheme would be amazing in them. Like just so gentle and holy seeming,,, I feel like a long, flowing dress would be so nice and fitting. Especially if they pull things out of their sleeves Ayato style/ih like just imagine them walking over and whipping a whole thanksgiving meal out of their sleeve like “did someone say they’re ✨ hungry? ✨”

I think a-tier would be nice for Caritas but give them an s tier accessory that just lets them pull shit out of thin air/j Actually no I haven't chosen the Virtue S tier slot so *throws it at Caritas*/ih

Acedia [Sloth] + Diligentia [Diligence]

Like Gula, Acedia is seen in a different light with me. While Sloth is normally associated with laziness aka doing nothing, for me, it's more of a sluggish, bare minimum type of laziness. Instead of doing nothing, Acedia does the bare minimum, and everything they do is done with as little effort as they can get away with. This means letting others do the work, facing the blame, and taking the fall. It's all about doing the least amount of work possible by using others to your advantage, which I personally think makes for a scarier type of character. Because they get so far doing so little...

Acedia… I imagine Acedia breaks the color palette mold… like I think dull greens and dull yellows/off whites and dull pinks,,, because Acedia gives off these gentle sin vibes and I think neon and dark colors would take away from those softer/gentler sins vibes. Having knitted, oversized sweaters,,, with oversized sleeves… and having soft hands and round faces and even a little travel pillow,,, with all these different earthy flowery elements to it. And imagine a Sakura goddess outfit for Acedia,,, wahhh

Acedia’s base is definitely an A tier type of costume!! Don’t ask why just know I’m right/ih

———

Diligentia is probably the most polar to it's corresponding sin, to be honest. I feel like diligence can be a great virtue! They're smart, har working, flexible, but when does hard working become tiresome? Where does Diligence draw the line between working hard and burning yourself out, you know? I feel like it's a pretty thin line... maybe you should take Sloth's advice for once. Take a break, get a snack and have a rest.

Diligentia,,,, I think they’d keep with the virtues theme. Having a white, gold and yellow/green color scheme, and wearing a suit of some kind or being just very well put together, very well dressed.

A tier a tier a tier-

Invidia [Envy] + Humanitas [Kindness]

For Invidia, I think classical envy works so well! Envy is one of the more personal sins, and they're definitely a harsher, more sabotaging sin. They're a resentful, terrible mess. Similar to Greed, it either wants something or it wants to destroy something. But unlike Greed, their desires are hyperspecific, and it revolves around tearing someone down while building themselves up. They're like a leech, sucking out everything one has, bleeding them dry. And once they're finished with you... well, pray you never become a target in the first place.

Invidia is similar to Luxuria, where it’s a deep purple/pink with black but I think while Luxuria is more purple, Invidia is more pink. Pink with envy,,, I also like to think Invidia is a sharper sin, having spikes and binding and claws,,, like sharp, fabulous and ready to kill. Which, good for them. Oh! And pearl colored accessories!! Like a pearl snake,,, pearl belts,,, pearl earrings,,, with golden jewelry and sharp edges. I think Invidia would have three sets of horns instead of two like the other sins. I just think it would be neat andjskdks

A tier moment/ih

———

Humanitas babygirllllll Kindness is such a simple and nice virtue,,,, similar to Charity, it's all about giving what you have to help out others. By helping others, you can help yourself and make the world a nicer place! Kindness is like offering someone your umbrella in the rain,,, and sharing your sandwich with the kid who doesn't have a lunch. Kindness does it because it makes them feel good! They do a kind deed and it makes them smile knowing they helped someone, even if it's something small.

Humanitas,,, is definitely white, gold, and pink, especially light pinks- with flowery and flowy sleeves and such,,, I’m also thinking they and Acedia could have matching Sakura goddess outfits wahhh

I think that an A tier would fit her, even if her original variation was an S tier sdkfjskdfjn

Ira [Wrath] + Patientia [Patience]

Ira Ira Ira!! Okay, so Wrath. Wrath. Wrath!! It's my favorite sin because it's so versatile... Anyone anywhere can feel wrath for any kind of reason... at any time??? Like. woah. It's the mother [father? Parental figure???] of all sins I mean come onnnnnn. Your lusting advances get rejected? You feel wrath. Your feast is interrupted by some rude random? Wrath! Your envious deeds don't work out how you intended it??? Wrath!!! Like it is, without a doubt, the culmination of all sins.

Ira is definitely has a black and red color palette, and they are definitely wearing some kind of leather studs type of outfit, and they're very sharp and rough looking. You've probably already seen a version of my Ira heheheheh

They're probably gonna be an a tier,,,,

———

Patientia is... just that. Patience! Being patient and kind with others in comparison to Wrath's harsh and quick-to-anger personality, Patience is like a gentle soul-healing hug,,, take your time sweetie, I know you can do it <333

I think Patientia would have a gold, white, and red color palette,,, with golden leaf accessories,,, I imagine that they're a gentle, elegant virtue, like a mom friend! I want them to look soft and gentle in comparison to Ira!!

I think that Patientia could definitely be an A tier,,,,

Superbia [Pride] + Humilitas [Humility]

Superbia... I see Pride as an overflowing, excessive amount of self-confidence. Someone who's TOO confident in themselves or others to the point it's harmful. They tear others down to make them seem more important. They can't take a hint, and they can't BEAR being proven wrong. Because HOW could they be wrong? You must be mistaken.

Similar to Gula, I'm thinking of a black and blue color palette... but with Superbia, I think dark blues would be fun to use,,, with silver as the "royal" type of color... Superbia should look extremely upper class, kind of like a prince or princess...

Superbia would be an A tier... thinking of like Runaway vibes???

———

Humilitas is the opposite, where its like... being humble of yourself but uplifting of others in this case! Unlike Pride, Humility means recognizing that... you're not the shit honey! Sit down!/ih

Okay okay okay Humilitas. I'm thinking, no, I know it'll be two different blues [bright and deep blue], white and gold,,,, with thick, long white hair and constantly closed eyes,,, with big sleeves... heheheheh

Humilitas is definitely an A tier,,,

Vanagloria [Vainglory/Pride?] + Vanitas [Vanity]

what the fuck is Vainglory. What the fuck is Vanity???? How are these both not sins??? huh??? huh. huh! Okay so Vainglory and Vanity are a cardinal sin/heavenly virtue BUT NOT one of the big 7. Vainglory is kind of like... craving the praise and respect of others [so in this case, the big 7] but in such a way you don’t mind harming others to get it…

I think Vanagloria would have an exclusively monochrome color palette,,, so it's in all black, white, and silver,,, or a tight outfit with over-the-top metallic accessories to flesh out a "boring" interior with a almost goddess-like exterior,,,

Vanagloria... I was honestly originally thinking of an SS tier skin because I think that Vanagloria could be,,, like,,, the "creator" of the 7 sins and likewise with Vanitas,,, but shhhhh

———

And Vanity [the good kind???] is like pride but in a healthy amount. Being proud of your accomplishments and others without damaging other's self worth and feelings! I think.

So, I'm thinking to oppose Vanagolira, that I could do a total rainbow color palette, like all the "good" colors, everyone wants a bit of what Vanitas has, ya know?

I will just *gestures you to Vanagloria tier explanation*

So I guess [based off the explanations above] that the in theory costume tier list would go something like this?????:

SS Tier costumes:

Vanagloria and Vanitas

S Tier Costumes:

Gula and Caritas

A Tier Costumes:

Castitas, Luxuria, Temperantia, Avaritia, Diligentia, Acedia, Humanitas, Invidia, Patientia, Ira, Humilitas and Superbia.

Of course, there's the playable versions of them [think Genshin or Honkai] but i will NOT get into that, because that's a whole 'nother can of worms. this alone took like 3 days SIT DOWN/ih

I'm also thinking what other characters would be included like,,, in the overworld it isn't just the sins skdjfnksjfn

if you want more you will have to wait because Barriere won't write itself ksjdfnksjfnkjf/ih

[demonicheadcanons]

Obey Me Brothers + Little Affections

AN: Keep thinking about the little things each brother would do to express affection. Some warm fluffy stuff because we all need it. Enjoy!!

The hair drying one on Lucifer’s sparked this entire thing thanks

Lucifer

- Washing and drying your hair. You know if you get your hair washed at a hairdressers and they just. Go to town with a towel drying your hair? He finds it hilarious and loves doing that. You’ll hear him chuckle, unable to see him because your face is covered by the towel. He’s softer towards the end but initially when trying to get most of the excess water his only concern is not actually hurting you. He’s also genuinely trying to help, just having a little fun with it at the same time.

- Continuing on from this, Lucifer will ruffle your hair. If it doesn’t really upset you, he loves to make a mess of it, and he grins at you, your hair sticking out every which way.

- The second his brothers aren’t around, he seems to canonically love holding your hand under the guise of keeping track of you or comforting you. Its partially true - the MC gets into trouble easily, so its good to keep a hand on them. However, the comforting affect goes both ways.

- Sharing information with you implies a close bond (or at the very least, a strong curiosity, like when he hints at where Mammon’s card is / when he talks about the album) and it means Luci cares about you a lot. He likes to talk about his interests and introduce you to things he cares a lot about. A lot of the time this comes in the form of music, because it’s something he’s able to enjoy whilst still doing his work.

- Doing origami or other paper crafts together? Really relaxes him. It’s so peacefully intimate and cosy. You sit together at his desk, work documents hidden out of sight for now, and make whatever you can out of colourful little bits of paper. He likes making flowers, although he’d never say it out loud, but he makes you countless crowns with paper flowers of all different kinds. You walk in one day when he’s taking a break from work and he’s got paper cranes lining the entire length of his desk. He calls you over and puts one on your head for absolutely no reason before acting like it never happened.

- If no one else is around and he’s feeling a bit daft, he’ll sweep you up into his arms with no warning and just hold you like that, staring directly into your eyes with a daring and loving smile on his face. This happens most when it’s late at night and all the coffee he’s had is starting to wear off and he feels a little more relaxed and open. He’ll carry you to his room to cuddle, too, if you don’t have anywhere else you need to be. Just pray none of his brothers encounter you two because he’ll set you down on your feet immediately and he won’t help you up if you fall.

[[Other Brothers under the read more]]

Mammon

- Fist bumps!!! He passes you and holds his fist out, and pouts if you don’t immediately bump your hand into his. Do the snail or turkey thing once and he falls in love with it. Lucifer, tired and stressed after a lot of work, decides for once to go along with giving him a fist bump because he’s too tired and no one else is around, and Mammon does the snail thing. The look on Luci’s face is worth everything that happened after. But when its you, Mammon just smiles and beams at you. He’s really happy.

- Sitting so close together that you can’t possibly move without disturbing the other. Sides fully pressed together even if he doesn’t have an arm around you or your hand in his. He likes the constant contact, it’s healing. So heavily invested in whatever you’re watching that the two of you simply don’t realise how close you are until the episode ends and you realise you’re leaning your full weight against him and his face is red but he’s smiling so softly you can’t bring yourself to move.

- You’ll have to start the habit, but, tackle hugs. You see him in the distance somewhere and sprint over and tackle him full force. He’ll act mad at first, especially if he trips and falls over or he’d been talking with someone else, but he holds onto you tightly and his face is beautifully flushed. After a while he’ll do it too, although he’s a lot gentler, but if you hear him call your name you need to turn around quickly and hold your arms out. He’ll lift you up into the air and twirl you around once or twice before just, going on with his day as normal. You hear his laughter as he walks away, bright and bubbly and confident, exactly as he should be.

- The absence of insults is important for Mammon. He’ll tolerate it if it’s every now and then but he’ll really notice if you’re always kind to him, he pays attention and holds tightly on to every compliment you give him. When he feels low he finds you and holds you in his arms, fingers playing with the loops in your jeans, as he recites off every nice thing you’ve said to him, hoping you’ll reaffirm them. Did you mean it when you said he was one of the most caring people you’d ever met? When you said his eyes made you feel at home?

- He likes feeding the crows with you. It’s something he does without telling anyone, but one day he takes you out along with him and the crows take a liking to you instantly. He likes how you look with his crows standing proud and confident on your arm, your hair a mess from their flapping wings as you laugh and try to get the last bits of food out from the bag.

- If you style his hair and put random accessories in it - anything from silly plastic hair clips to flowers to feathers - he’ll keep them in all day. He doesn’t care who sees because his MC spent their time doing this for him, and he’s happy to tell anyone who dares criticise him.

Leviathan

- He’s awkward with any affection at first, but he actually builds up to quick tight hugs when he’s really happy. If he’s incredibly excited - just won tickets for something, or some idol liked his comments - expect to be tackled in a hug. He gets flustered after, but if you hold tightly onto him he won’t let go immediately.

- If they even vaguely relate to his own interests, Levi will try hard to be invested in anything you really enjoy. For example, he’ll watch your favourite shows with you or try and read things you enjoy, etc.

- At the same time, Levi will share his interests with you. It’s not something he can really avoid doing as it’s ingrained in him to ramble about his special interests, but it will come in seemingly smaller forms - for example, he’ll hand you his headphones one day, blushing, and ask what you think of this song, or he’ll show you a paragraph in a TSL book that has particularly good rhythm or evokes a lot of emotion. If he lends you his books or DVDs it’s practically a proposal.

- You two have full conversations with Henry as he swims about in his tank. About silly and pointless things or very serious topics, from jokingly scolding him to venting about the future and about school and such. It warms Levi’s heart.

- Horn pats. When he’s in his demon form, pull him down to your level and pat his horns. He’s so flustered he can’t move the first few times, but one day he’ll start coming up to you and asking you if you want to do it. He likes being able to be in his demon form, and likes that you’re comfortable with him even when he doesn’t look as human.

- When he’s very comfortable with you, he likes to wrap you up in surprise hugs and laughs if you try to squirm your way out of his grip, a brilliant mischievous glow in his eyes, any self-consciousness long forgotten.

Satan

- I’ve said this before on another post but Satan likes to pet your hair and run his thumbs over your palms, pressing into them gently like he’s touching the pads on the paws of a cat. He traces circles and presses kisses into your palm and over each finger tip and knuckle, like it’s his own form of worship.

- It takes a long time to build up the confidence to do so but I can see him like. Playfully nipping at your skin if he presses light kisses against your shoulders or neck. If it makes you laugh or blush he smiles against your skin.

- If you fall asleep somewhere he’s the first person to go get a blanket to throw over you - he’d rather just let you sleep if you’re somewhere safe instead of disturbing you to lift you elsewhere, and risking waking you up. Occasionally he’ll kneel down beside you and stay there with a book until you wake up, and he’s fallen asleep like that once or twice.

- Just. Talking. Laying down together and going from topic to topic, saying whatever crosses your minds with no filters and no judgement. Letting time pass by with the comfort of the other, laying on your back in the planetarium or library or in his room, wherever there aren’t books piled up. No responsibilities except to listen to the other, and every now and then you laugh and he feels like maybe this could be home.

Asmodeus

- Sharing things, whatever it is. Food, clothes, jewellery. Taking a necklace off and putting it on him because “this would go so well with your outfit,” or holding out your fork and telling him to try some of your food, it tastes heavenly. Perfume, as well, is a must - he wants the two of you to smell the same.

- Like Mammon, he likes to have some kind of contact with you at all time - holding hands, an arm across your shoulders, anything. But the main point of contact he truly adores is if he has his hands on the skin of your stomach or back, even in the most innocent way possible. If his arms are around you and you’re comfortable with it, he’ll tuck his hands under your shirt and trace shapes against your hips, stomach, back, lower ribcage. Wherever he can. It’s something he’ll do absentmindedly without everything thinking about it, and it recharges him when he’s low on energy.

- He actually really likes working alongside you, whether it’s school work or something related to a part time job, or a potential business idea. He’s smarter than anyone would give him credit for and he loves how you look when you’re deep in thought, trying to solve something, and how your eyes light up as you figure it all out. He’s not one to just give you the answer to things, so if he knows something and you don’t he likes to hint at it like it’s a game. When you guess the answer right he presses a kiss to the tip of your nose and beams at you.

- Late night phone calls where you talk about whatever’s keeping you awake. He doesn’t mind who’s calling who, he wants to ramble or listen to you at any given moment and he’ll give up his sleep if it means you can get something that’s bothering you off your chest. Similarly, there is no greater comfort for him than getting to complain to you about something or other, something that’s genuinely bothering him and that’s stuck in his head. He feels like it only disappears when you take a hold of it for him for a little bit.

Beelzebub

- Sharing food, obviously, means a lot to him. Feed him bites of your food, give him anything you don’t want, and he’ll love it. He especially loves if you share food that’s important to you in some way, and you’ll find him giving you little bites of his food too the closer you two get. It means a lot to him when people embrace the fact that he eats so much, instead of scolding him for it or making jokes about it.

- He really likes holding hands. Your hands are so small in his and yet you trust him not to injure them as you pull him along. He feels possessive sometimes but isn’t outwardly affectionate enough to do anything about it, and the last thing he wants is to make you uncomfortable. It’s the perfect thing for him.

- Stacking random things on the other. Sitting cross-legged in a park, pulling daisies out of the lawn that’s about to be mowed anyway and gently placing them into each other’s hair, on the other’s shoulders and laps. If you’re laying in his bed he’ll take random light objects off his night stand and place them on top of you. There’s no purpose and no intention, and yet it makes him smile and gives him butterflies, and he laughs if you glare jokingly up at him but let him continue.

- Run your hands through his hair, down the sides of his face, under his jaw. Anywhere. He melts in an instant, mouth slightly open as you poke his cheeks or tickle his neck and shoulders with feather light touches.

Belphegor

- Nap. On. Him. Any time, any where. Snuggle up to him, lean your head against his shoulder or bury your face into his neck or lay down on his lap and just rest. He blushes every time and it takes him a second to recover. Sometimes he’ll angle himself so he can lean against you two and he’ll fall asleep as well.

- He likes those kind of monkey hugs where you wrap your entire body around him and he can bury his face in your neck and hold on as tight as he wants. He’ll walk around like that until you get to the attic and he can throw you into his pile of pillows and blankets, and he flops down on top of you and clings onto you again, trying to hide his face because he’s smiling so wide his cheeks hurt.

- He loves playful, back and forth banter. He’ll tease you constantly, loves if you pout at him, loves it more if you retort with something and keep it running for a while before the two of you start laughing.

- Being childish. He’ll stick out his tongue at you or pull a sudden face and he expects you to do it back immediately. If you don’t he’ll poke and tickle you, telling you how disappointed and hurt he is.

- Headbumps! But not too hard. Gently bump your head against his shoulder to get his attention and he’ll pat it. Bonus points if you nuzzle into his hands then - he’s hard to fluster but you can hear him swallow as he starts to go red. You’ll immediately have all of his attention to yourself.

- Belphie is the king of silent conversations. The tiniest gestures, nods, tilts of the head. He can pick up on all of them, knows exactly what you’re trying to say without you saying it, to the point where sometimes you won’t even realise you’re not talking aloud.

[dodo-begone]

See's Dodo and anons reaction to last ask.

Me: externally blushing like crazy. Internally AAAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHA *squealing noise s*

Well you know what they say the show must go on.

Wilbur was the first of the royals to really notice, after all most of his time with you was spent inside in the library since he had convinced his father to allow him to teach you instead of hiring teachers, but you never had less than two layers of clothing on even when indoors you had a large shirt and coat on. Even if it was winter now you were first brought to the castle in summer but you attire remained the same a shirt two sizes too big and a coat also large on you it was a small wonder you didn't suffer form heat stroke, maybe it was a case of those being the only clothes you owned well that wouldn't do it would be a poor showing if visiting diplomats thought they treated their (new sibling) guests with such little care and honesty buying you a new wardrobe didn't even make a dent in his personal finances. Still it was strange that both you and Tommy insisted on your new clothes being a size or two too big and also made of lighter cloth not the wool that was so common for winter attire but at the very least your and Tommy's insistence meant that he got to choose the colours of the outfits in return. Of course the main colours were white and a navy blue you were a member of the Royal (family) Court now it was only right you wore their colours, still the insistence on lighter materials for your clothes did worry him a little the winters were harsh he didn't want his (sibling) little brothers friend getting sick maybe he should bring this up with the others maybe they would know why you never took off that coat.

Techno hadn't noticed the whole coat issue until his twin pointed it out but now that Wilbur had he couldn't stop noticing it. Even when you spared with him you didn't take off the coat heck you never wore armour saying that armour only slowed you down, you had even balked, gone pale when he offered you enchanted iron armour turning down the gift and walking swiftly away. At first he and chat had felt rather rejected (sibling rejection arc, pog, e, e, Technosad) after all you had even if reluctantly accepted Wilbur gift of a new wardrobe but you were rejecting his gift, he had wanted to give you armour so he could teach you his style of fighting but you didn't want that apparently. Though now he thought about it your and theseus's apparent insistence on lighter fabrics and the rejection of the iron armour might not be as coinsidental as he might have thought, after all he had seen you shivering a few times when you thought he wasn't looking but you had refused the much warmer wool for cloth so it wasn't just you being stubborn did, did you have some sort of skin problem or other ailment that caused you pain or irritation if you wore heavy clothes or armour. Oh of course you would go pale at the idea of wearing iron armour if that was the case plus it would explain the constantly wearing a coat since you probably didn't want them to know out of misguided fear of their reaction after all he had seen how superstitious some peasants could be about such conditions from his time training new soldiers. Theseus would know you did have such a condition after all you were practically joined at the hip, but it was getting very late, tomorrow he would find Theseus and ask if he knew the reason why now he needed to find his father.

Tommy most certainly did know the reason why you never wore armour and always had a coat on. He was currently sat on your bed, both of your backs to the door, preening the reasons why you letting out quiet chirps as he helped straighten and re-aligh your feathers, after all your wings didn't exactly appreciate being covered by your coat the whole day he couldn't even imagine how much worse your wings would have been if Wilbur hadn't listened and just gotten a heavy wool coat. He remembered when your wings first came through a few years ago when your friendship was still new, you had been complaining about a rash that had suddenly appeared on your back a few days prior only to fall to the ground in pain mid sentence, he was honestly grateful that his family didn't keep track of their potion supply considering how many regen potion you needed when your wings came out leaving rather large exit wounds on your back, if he wasn't able to get those potions he didn't even want to think about what could have happened to you. Now you were here though and he couldn't let anyone know about your wings if even a servant or stable boy saw it would trickle back to his brother and his dad if Philza found out he would never let you leave, you would become as trapped as him maybe even more so due to his dad's instincts. Unfortunately since both of your backs were to the door neither of you spotted the winged watcher peering through the cracked open door.

Philza was on his way to his newest (child) guests chambers after his eldest two had come to him with worrying news about their newest ( family member) permanent. Wilbur told tales of light clothing even in winter while Techno quiet shared his own worries of them being ill and hiding it from them but to him those weren't the signs of illness no they were signs that you were like... no he should get excited it was probably an illness after all his investigations had shown that it wasn't just bandits that ravaged his nation but hybrid hunters a particularly disgusting breed of bandit that targeted hybrids to sell as pets or in the case of winged hybrids to harvest their wings as decorations. That infuriated him after all he had founded this nation to be a safe haven for hybrids but due to his own negligence they were hunted down, if you were like... him it would be a small miracle that you hadn't been taken by those hunters. Reaching the room in question open a crack he went to knock when he heard a soft chirping pausing he looked through the crack to see his youngest preening his (baby bird) guest's wings, rushing back to his own chambers he could just hear chat cawing ( baby bird, dadza, dadza, protect, keep, baby bird) he couldn't keep the massive grin off of his face as it all came together. Of course you didn't wear heavy clothing you had been hiding your wings it would mangle your feathers if you wore heavier clothing over them, the iron armour was rejected because you couldn't wear it full stop even with your wings out your bones wouldn't be able to take the weight since they were partly hollow, oh he had a little bird to teach flying and how to properly preen. His emotional high crashed though as he realised that you ran your farm alone, were you alone when your wings came through, its was the worst pain on could feel wings slowly ripping their way out of your back plus you could easily bleed out or get an infection if the open wounds weren't taken care of properly, oh you poor dear no wonder you were so attached to Tommy he was the only flock member you had. No longer though he would look after you he knew his sons had grown to care for you as much as they had Tommy, his more bird like instincts rejoiced at the thought of a fledgling joining his little flock.

Ender-anon

This is quite a bit longer than I thought it would be also first time writing hybrid reader.

sorry i took so long to answer this!! This just rlly intimidated me and anxiety went brrrr- but anyways lemmie get into this ask!!!

YOU FUCKING DESERVE THE RECOGNITION MAN UR STUFF IS SO FUCKING POG

god i rlly love royalty aus, did i ever mention that??? i just lOVE- ANYWAYS

So Wilbur's curiosity about your clothing choice only lead him to believing that what you wore was all you could afford in your previous life. He wasn't exactly wrong. And even with the new clothes you got when you moved into the castle, you refused to wear them. It was rather peculiar. Wouldn't you want to get out of those nasty and worn rags you called clothes? But you were new to the castle. He went with the presumption that the shock from the change was frightening. You must've kept your previous clothes as a safety blanket of sorts. Though after a few nasty looks sent your way over your apparel and your very obvious discomfort about it, he decided to take the executive decision to give you clothes that fit your taste and the taste of the court. Your choice to have oversized clothing confused him, but Tommy's insistence just made him presume you were self conscious of your body. To be fair, he wasn't half wrong but he was.

At the rejection of his gift, his and chat's disappointment were more than evident. Was his twin better or something? Like you accepted his gift, although reluctantly. But you still accepted it. And yet you didn't accept him. Looking back on your fear of the armor, he thought more into it. Yes the skin issues was definitely something to consider, but maybe trauma? No, trauma of armor would be strange, right? Maybe you had a family member who wore armor yet died in front of you despite their armor being worn to protect them. Or some other fear. Yea, the skin issue would be much more reasonable, actually. He'll just bring it up with father, let him know of the possible issues with their new family member.

One of the activities you two did on the daily was straighten out your feathers at the end of the day or when they were bothering you. Though the latter only happened when you two were in private. Nobody could know your secret, after all. It was for your protection and to preserve your freedom. At first, when your wings were coming in, he was absolutely terrified for you. What the fuck was going on? This isn't normal! Oh god oh fuck what is he suppose to do?! With an oversupply of potions thanks to the paranoia of attacks on the family and accidents during training, it was beyond easy to take what he needed for you. If anyone was questioned about it, he could easily say that some trainees took some.

OMG ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE ME FUCKING CRY WITH THIS PHILZA PART?! BEACUSE I WILL CRY THIS IS SO MF CUTE- I JUST CAN'T I LOVE SO MUCH- I CAN'T ADD ANYTHING TO THAT PERFECT- I COULDN'T RLLY ADD ANYTHING TO WHAT YOU SENT ME AND I APOLOGIZE. I JUST LOVE AAAALLL OF THIS

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

A request for something that might be hilarious: Sooga railing Kohga hard and dirty, as is tradition, but there's someone stuck in the room (snuck into Kohga's room to grab/steal something and hid in the closet when the husbands came in or something) and forced to secretly spectate. Cil, Von, Zelda, Revali.... doesn't matter who. Just hilarious awkwardness XD

I had JUST the pairing in mind for this!

"This is RIDICULOUS! I KNOW it's in here!"

"What makes you think he took it?"

"Because Kohga is a petty, pot bellied idiot."

"And I'm here because?"

"He likes you. In case we get caught."

Mipha was there with Revali in Kohga’s room. He had somehow convinced her to join him in searching for a bottle of precious oil he was missing, convinced that Kohga stole it from him. Mipha looked at the door, then back at Revali. Using the party as an excuse to stifle through his things felt wrong, but Revali was a very adamant bird.

"Can you at least be careful? You might break something!"

"I'm going to break HIM once I find it. My feathers do NOT settle properly without it!"

He kept digging through his things, trying not to make it look like someone had been in here. That was when Mipha heard the door. In a panic, she grabbed his hand, and dove for the closet, shutting it, and putting her finger over her lips, letting him know to be silent. They both poked through the crack of the dresser, watching a lovesick Sooga give kisses upon kisses to his Master Kohga.

"Hey hey, easy you dog! I'm not going anywhere!"

"Can't help it. Cil had been ogling you all night, and it really got on my nerves."

"Oooh a petty pounding! I can get behind that~"

Sooga pulled Kohga’s clothes off surprisingly quickly, and Mipha had to cover her face as soon as she saw what was happening.

"Oh my gosh- we HAVE to let them know we're in here!"

"Sooga is going to kill the BOTH of us, and I'm not leaving without my feather oil! Just block it out, I know it's in this closet, so I'm going to keep looking."

Revali tried to be quiet in his search, unlike the now nude yiga in front of them. They both heard Kohga yelp from the sudden slap on his ass, before hearing him damn near giggle to himself.

"You are being SO bad, you dog!"

"Based on that laugh, you want me to do that again."

Sooga didn’t wait for an answer, delivering another smack to his ass, making Kohga jump. Mipha HATED hearing it. She was invading their privacy, being near them during such an intimate-

"God Sooga has a huge cock."

"Revali! What happened to your oil?"

"Right right- sorry I got distracted."

"You are PERVERSE!"

"Like you've never wondered how big he was. That Yiga outfit BARELY leaves anything to the imagination!"

"It's RIGHT in my face, of course I wonder, but that's not the POINT! Did you find it?"

"No, I haven’t. He's hiding it SOME-"

She clamped her hand over his mouth, upon hearing movement close to the closet. They both peeked out, in time to see Sooga sitting back down, and hoisting Kohga back into his lap. He rubbed his cock against his now oiled up hand, making Kohga chuckle.

"Shit...you aren’t gonna be gentle with me, are you?"

"Do you want me to be?"

"HELL no. If you're too nice to me, I'm fucking leaving you."

"Noted. You remember the safe word, yes?"

"Ugh. 'Porgy'. Hate it, but it works."

"I'm just making sure, you know this is all about you. Everything about me, is about you."

Sooga grabbed handfuls of his ass, nice and firmly, before sinking Kohga down onto his cock. He was gentle as a breeze. For a second. Mipha wasn't looking, but within a moment, the air was full of loud, repetitive, wet slaps. Mipha wasn't pure physically, but knowing she was listening in on this, it made her cover her ears. Then it got worse.

"Fucking shit-you pansy, I said FUCK ME."

Given how he cried out, something told them Sooga was more than happy to obey. Sooga's hips slammed against Kohga’s thick frame, and in mere seconds, Kohga was shouting swears upon swears. From cussing him out, to swears Mipha swore she hadn't ever heard of.

"Oh my god Revali."

She couldn't make the noises stop. She was contemplating just running out of the closet, when the noises were suddenly properly muffled. She looked up at Revali, who had both of his wings at her ears. Was HE suffering? Absolutely, but that didn't matter to him. What mattered was sparing poor Mipha. Even at the cost of hearing Kohga’s ass slam against Sooga’s cock.

"Hey hey hey, don't you f-forget, I'M the one who goes first, you idiot."

"I w-wasn't-"

"You're throbbing. I know you like fucking my ass, Sooga. I know sometimes you touch yourself thinking about it. But I get MY fucking load before you stuff this ass. Get it?"

"Y-yes Master Kohga. Absolutely. P-pardon me f-"

A loud moan escaped his lips when Kohga lifted his hand up, and clenched around Sooga’s throat.

"You don't get to fucking BREATHE until I cum. So you better get to fucking, big boy."

Sooga did as he was told. Despite Kohga’s hand, Sooga did as he was trained to-getting Kohga off upon his demand. And Kohga did in fact, cum, but a moment later. It was a hell of an orgasm, given the fact that some of his cum splashed against Revali's foot. Mipha saw the panic in his eyes, and kept his beak shut with her palm, making his panic scream muffled. She looked at his foot, and after making sure he wasn't going to scream, she took off her blue scarf, and cleaned Revali's foot.

"It's okay, it's okay, keep calm now."

She didn't want to use it, but it was something she could clean off rather easily later. Even after she wiped it off, he still shook it wildly, disgusted.

"Ew ew ew. I'm going to kill him for THIS now. Thank you, Mipha."

"Thank YOU. I didn't have to listen to ALL of that. Now we'll just wait till they fall asleep, and sneak out."

Kohga laughed just outside.

"Holy hell, there was DISTANCE in that one! I should get a trophy for that shit."

"I can think of an alternate reward~"

"God you have NO recharge time. It hasn't even been a MINUTE."

"Knowing I can make you this happy, it makes me ever eager for you."

Kohga snickered, bumping his mask against Sooga’s.

"Alright, alright. Let's put Cil to shame then, boy~"

Mipha and Revali looked up at each other in horror. They weren't being scared anytime soon.

[sofiamantegafan110]

RATING HELLFIRE GALA OUTFITS (LONG POST ALERT!)

EMMA FROST- 1. I LIKE THE ONE-PIECE OUTFIT AND THE HEADGEAR. PLUS, THE SHOES ARE PRETTY. THIS IS MY FAVORITE LOOK OF THE THREE. 10/10

2. I LIKE THE CROWN AND THE POWER-GIRL-STYLE BOOB WINDOW BUT THE OUTFIT COVERS EVERYTHING. IT’S SO UN-EMMA. 5/10

3. I LIKE THE BEAD-STYLE DRESS AND THE GLOVES BUT THE SIDE-SLIT THINGIES REALLY PUT ME OFF. I MEAN, DOES SHE EVEN HAVE LINGERIE UNDER THERE? THERE’S A LOT OF PERVS IN THE X-MEN. WHAT IF, LIKE, TOAD OR FABIAN CORTEZ TRY TO TAKE A LOOK UNDER THERE? PLUS, NOTHING CAN BEAT THE FIRST OUTFIT. I GIVE THIS A 8/10

ROGUE- I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS OUTFIT. THE PERM, THE SUNGLASSES AND THE COLLAR. IT’S SO FITTING. 9/10

ANGEL- I MEAN, I LIKE THE HAREM PANTS BUT THE REST JUST DOESN’T LOOK THAT INTERESTING. 4/10

RACHEL SUMMERS- 9/10. I LIKE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE TOO BUT I JUST DON’T THINK IT’D SURVIVE THE COMPETITION.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN- 9/10. IT’S A GOOD OUTFIT BUT I DON’T LIKE THE ARMORED CHESTPLATE.

STORM- EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS OUTFIT IS AMAZING. I LOVE THE HAIR AND THE STORM AESTHETIC. 10/10

KATE PRYDE- 6/10. I LIKE THE SLEEVES, THE COLLAR AND THE BONE-PIN THINGIES BUT IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE SOMETHING SHE’D WEAR.

PENANCE- 10/10. MONET IS FASHIONABLE AS ALWAYS. I LIKE THE HEADGEAR, THE HAIR, THE PANTS AND THE GLOVES.

MARVEL GIRL- ALSO 10/10. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE HAIR, CAPE, SHOULDER PADS, SLEEVES AND THE CROWN-THINGY RADIATING AROUND HER HEAD.

CYCLOPS- 6/10. CYCLOPS ISN’T THE MOST FASHIONABLE X-MAN BUT I DO LIKE THE VISOR AND THE COLOR SCHEME.

MASTERMIND- 2/10. THE VICTORIAN ERA DOESN’T SUIT HIM. NEXT!

SELENE- SOMEONE COMMENTED THAT SHE HAD A NICKI MINAJ- STYLE PONYTAIL WHICH I LIKE AND UNLIKE MASTERMIND, THE VICTORIAN LOOK IS A BIG HIT FOR HER. BUT MEANWHILE, IT DOESN’T MATCH UP TO THE OL’ CORSET AND LINGERIE. 7/10

MADROX- 5/10. NOT SURE ABOUT THIS ONE.

SUNSPOT- 9/10. IT’S PRETTY GOOD. AND I DON’T LIKE A LOT OF HIS LOOKS.

WOLVERINE- 9/10. IT’S NOT AS GOOD AS THE OTHERS BUT I LIKE THE YELLOW AND BLUE COLOR SCHEME. THE GLOVES ARE GOOD TOO.

SYNCH- 10/10. THE JACKET IS THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS OUTFIT BUT IT’S TOO GOOD TO PUT ON A LOWER SCALE.

CANNONBALL- 3/10. THE COLOR SCHEME’S THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS.

SUNFIRE- 4/10. THE MASK IS THE ONLY THING APPEALING TO MY INTERESTS.

POLARIS- 10/10. SOME PEOPLE MIGHT NOT LIKE THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SHE’S BEING STRANGLED BY A POOL FLOATIE BUT I THINK IT LOOKS GOOD.

NORTHSTAR- 3/10. THE HAIR’S THE ONLY THING I LIKE ABOUT THIS.

DAKEN- 2/10. REALLY, DUDE? YOU’RE WAY TOO GOOD-LOOKING FOR A TUX.

AURORA- 10/10. THE DRESS IS A NICE TOUCH.

PRODIGY- 10/10. WORK IT, DAVID! HE LOOKS PRETTY GOOD PULLING OFF A DRAG QUEEN OUTFIT. I ESPECIALLY LIKE THIS WINGS AND EYE MAKEUP.

EYE-BOY- 9/10. NICE WORK, TREV. LETTING YOUR EYES SEE THE LIGHT. I LIKE THE DRESS-THINGY.

BISHOP- 8/10. I LIKE THE RED. AND THE SUNGLASSES.

SEBASTIAN SHAW- 1/10. NO. YOU WEREN’T FASHIONABLE BEFORE THE EYEPATCH AND WHEELCHAIR AND YOU CERTAINLY AREN’T NOW.

PYRO- 5/10. IT’S ALRIGHT BUT BASIC.

BANSHEE- 4/10. NO COMMENT.

ICEMAN- 3/10. NO, BOBBY. JUST NO.

PSYLOCKE- 10/10. THE DRESS, THE PURPLENESS AND THE HAIR ARE ALL JUST SO AMAZING.

MISTER SINISTER- 2/10. BASIC.

EXODUS- 7/10. GOOD BUT IT JUST LOOKS LIKE THE STUFF HE USUALLY WEARS.

HAVOK- 8/10. THE COAT IS SO STYLISH. IT’S A NICE TOUCH.

MYSTIQUE- 10/10. THE EVIL QUEEN LOOK ALWAYS SUITED HER AND THE FEATHERS HELP.

DAZZLER- 10/10. I LOVE THE SPARKLES. ALISON ALWAYS TRAVELS IN STYLE.

LOA- 9/10. THE LIONFISH DRESS AND SPINES ARE GOOD BUT SHE’S MAKING A MOVE ON MERCURY AND IS TRYING TO RUIN THE BEST RELATIONSHIP OF KRAKOA.

MERCURY- 10/10. SHE’S LIKE A PSYCHEDELIC RAINBOW. IT’S SO COOL THAT SHE CAN PULL OFF NAKEDNESS. HOPEFULLY SHE WON’T GET TOGETHER WITH LOA. REALLY, LOA JUST NEEDS TO SHOVE IT. GO CESSILY! YASS KWEEN!

NIGHTCRAWLER- 5/10- BASIC. NEXT!

PIXIE- 10/10. I NEVER THOUGHT I’D ADMIT THIS BUT THE GOTHIC LOOK IS PRETTY. AND LET’S NOT FORGET ABOUT THE PERM AND BUTTERFLIES IN HER HAIR.

MIRAGE- 6/10. NOT SURE ABOUT THIS BUT I DO LOVE THE SKIRT.

KARMA- 9/10. I LOVE THE PINK.

MAGIK- 10/10. SHE’S REALLY PULLING OUT ALL THE STOPS. IT’S AMAZING.

WARPATH- 4/10. THE SPIKY SHOULDER PADS ARE NICE BUT THE REST; NO.

MAGNETO- 6/10. I LIKE THE STEAMPUNK PIMP STYLE BUT IT’D LOOK GOOD ON SOMEONE ELSE. LIKE WIND DANCER. WHY COULDN’T SOFIA GET DRESSED UP FOR THE HELLFIRE GALA?! WHYYYYYYYYYY?????

THE UNIVERSE IS HORSESHIT.

FRENZY- 10/10. LOVE THE BLUE, THE HEADGEAR AND THE DRESS AND SLEEVES. SHE’S JUST SO AMAZING.

WIZ KID- 10/10. ONCE AGAIN, HAVING FEMALE ATTIRE WORKS PERFECTLY. ARE WE SURE WIZ KID ISN’T ACTUALLY GENDERQUEER?

KHORA- 10/10 OUR NEWEST ADDITION IS WORKING IT. THE HAIR AND THE LOLITA-STYLE IS SO AMAZING. IT’S TOO BAD SHE DIDN’T ACTUALLY APPEAR IN THE ISSUE. WHY COULDN’T KHORA APPEAR IN S.W.O.R.D.’S ADDITION TO THE HELLFIRE GALA CROSSOVER?! WHYYYYYYYY???????

THE UNIVERSE IS HORSESHIT. AGAIN.

MANIFOLD- 10/10. I LIKE THE JACKET.

JUBILEE- 8/10. THE DRESS IS GOOD BUT MAYBE SHE SHOULD DO MORE WITH HER HAIR.

GAMBIT- 5/10. JUST NO.

MONARCH- 8/10. I DIDN’T LIKE THE OUTFIT BUT I LIKE THE MONOCHROME LOOK.

GLORIANA- 9/10. PRETTY DRESS, PRETTY WINGS, PRETTY COLORS BUT I’M GETTING KINDA BORED OF THIS.

RICTOR- 8/10. THE VINE IMPRINT ON THE CLOAK IS HOT.

DOMINO AND SAGE- BOTH 9/10. I THINK THEY SHOULD’VE DONE MORE. I’M NOT POSTING THE PICS OF WOLVERINE, BEAST AND KID OMEGA BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME.

WELL, THAT’S THAT. ENJOY!

[acephysicskarkat]

Duet

I was just packing up from practicing in my garage when Rosetta shot bolt upright.

Rosetta’s my dragon.  She’s mostly a blue, but there aren’t any blue breeds that are crestbacks, so there’s definitely some other stuff in there.  Her crest is also malformed, so it flops over to the right all the time instead of standing straight up like crests are supposed to.  When I got my undercut, I made sure it flopped over to the right as well, so we matched.  She seems to appreciate the ‘do when she’s riding on my shoulder.

Anyway, Rosetta’s awesome. Smarter than some people I’ve met, although to be fair I’ve met some really dumb people.  Also, I’ve managed to teach her to play the drums.  Some dragons have an amazing sense of music.

In this case, though, she’d apparently heard something in the bushes – yes, even though we’d both just been rocking out for the last twenty minutes.  I don’t know how her ears work.  I put down my electric guitar and went to have a look…

…and found a white dragon.

I looked up a lot of dragon breeds when I was a kid and obsessed with them, so I recognised him as a purebred at once.  Specifically, he was a seraph – a rare and very expensive featherwing breed, with a long, wavy feather sticking out the back of his head like a ponytail.

“Hey there, little guy,” I said, keeping my voice gentle and sing-song – at least, as far as I could. “Someone’s gotta be missing you. Come on, I’m not gonna hurt you…”

Cold fangs nipped at my fingers, but after a few moments, the newcomer seemed to decide I could be trusted.  A heart-shaped tag on a simple but expensive-looking collar told me that this was Ludwig, and gave an address.  Needless to say, it was on the rich side of town; if you lived anywhere else, getting a seraph would probably leave you in a cardboard box.

“You up for a trip, little buddy?” I said, and  Ludwig hopped up onto my wrist.  “Great. Let’s go find your owner.”

***

The house Ludwig’s collar pointed me at wasn’t the biggest in the district, but since my house is basically six rooms including the garage, which doesn’t even have a car in it, it still made my place look like a shoebox.  And here I was carrying a dragon probably worth as much as a car.

Some low, shitty part of me whispered that I should just run away and sell the thing, but I felt the comforting weight of Rosetta on my shoulder and shut that thought down.  I knew how I’d feel if Rosetta went missing. I wasn’t going to inflict that on anyone, not even for a big sack of money.

I was just about to knock on the door when it swung open and all my brain’s resources were assigned to Being Gay simultaneously.

She was gorgeous. Blue eyes, a tight ponytail of night-dark hair, wearing a tailored shirt and elegant pants, carrying a handbag that probably cost more than anything I’d ever owned and holding a bundle of Missing Dragon posters with Ludwig’s picture on them and the legend “IF FOUND, CALL GWYNEIRA” and a number I couldn’t quite make out.  Standing there in my leather jacket, pride pins on full display, an old skirt, hand-repaired glasses and big, tough boots, I felt like a nail driven into a classical painting.  I had no business being here and I knew it.

After a frozen second, her face broke into a smile.  “You found him!  Thank you so much!”

“Uh.”  My brain whirred for a few agonisingly slow seconds, and then some parts of it kicked into gear.  “He was hanging around my garage.  Must have heard my music and thought it sounded interesting.”

“Oh, a fellow musician!” she said.  “What instrument, pray tell?”

“Well, I dabbled when I was a kid, but these days I mostly stick with the axe.”

“Axe?  You mean a weapon?”

“No, I mean an electric-” A stray neuron sparked back to life. “You’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

She gave a too-innocent wide-eyed look and then started laughing.  After a few moments, I did too.

She reached out, and Ludwig hopped across from my wrist to hers.  She waggled a finger under the dragon’s snub little nose and said, “I hope you won’t be pulling any more disappearing acts, Ludwig.”  Ludwig gave a smug, catlike smile and hopped up to her shoulder, and she turned back to me, reaching into her bag.  “I didn’t have time to put the posters up, but I was planning to give a reward for finding him-”

Take the money, Vetra, you dumbass, the parts of my brain that were functioning said.  Your amp is so old it was designed for the mandolin. Take the money, stick it in a jar, and when you have enough money, buy an amp that isn’t held together with baling twine.

Then my mouth, operating entirely independently from those parts, said, “Don’t worry about it.”

“Are you sure?”  When my treacherous head nodded, she said, “Then at least allow me to buy you dinner.”

***

I was crammed into the only halfway decent dress I owned and had eaten something about half the size of an actual proper meal, but somehow I was still having a great time.

“So then we found the drummer hanging from the tree, in his underwear, rope around his ankle, and all he had to say when we let him down was, ‘I hate chipmunks.’”  Gwyneira choked back a laugh, and I shook my head.  “The band didn’t last long after that, although the bass player still crashes on my couch when he’s in town.”

“Such an…adventurous lifestyle,” she said, and sipped her wine.  

“But I’ve probably rambled long enough.”  I stabbed what I had been assured was the correct fork into a too-small morsel of chicken and said, “You said you were a musician, but you haven’t even told me what instrument.”

“Oh, how rude of me.” She cut a slice off…well, I don’t speak French, so whatever it was she was eating, and said, “I’m a violinist.”

“Huh.  Just as a hobby, or-”

“Professionally.”  She adjusted the cuffs on her suit, an outfit choice that was just deeply unfair.  “Have you ever studied much classical music?”

Show her how smart you are.  “Tell the truth, uh…I never really got into it.  I like my music with a bit more impact to it, you know?”  I mimed shredding on the air guitar.  Nailed it.

“I think I can show you plenty of impact,” she said, her delicate features arranged into a cocky smirk. “Come to my place tomorrow afternoon, and bring your…‘axe’.”

***

Rosetta took a deep breath and spat lightning into the amplifier.  For some reason, dragon thunder-breath doesn’t just charge a battery; it keeps it charging.  I scratched her behind the ear, and she grinned up at me, then spread her wings and soared over to the drums.

Ludwig raised his head from the piano, and Gwyneira started to play.

Notes didn’t fall from the violin; they rose, soaring into the air like birdsong.  Her voice, just as high and pure, mingled with it, underscored but never challenged by the slow, measured notes of Ludwig on the piano.

It was beautiful, but I wasn’t just here to listen.

I was here to play.

As the notes from the violin started to die away, I flicked my plectrum between my fingers like an old-time riverboat hustler playing with a coin.  Rosetta chose the tempo, her bunched-up claws striking the drums, a drumstick wrapped in her tail striking a cymbal, and my axe sang as I began: not the high, pure note of birdsong, but the howl of an iron wolf.

After a few bars, the piano started up again, but without its previous dignity and reserve.  Ludwig, apparently, relished the chance to cut loose a bit.  His claws struck the keys with speed rather than precision, keeping up with the beat of the drum and the snarl of the electric guitar, mixing in the occasional, perfectly timed glissando.

Then the violin’s song started up again.

Gwyneira’s eyes were closed, but she was keeping up with the much faster tempo like she was born to it, her bow dancing over the strings.  Her violin and my guitar weaved notes around each other, twining together like the tails of dragons in love.  It was like we were instinctively opening spaces for the other to slip into, letting the instruments work together rather than battle for dominance.

It was the kind of jam session you usually only get once in a lifetime.

***

Anyway, that’s how I met my girlfriend.

I own some nicer clothes, now.  I speak a little French.  And, you know, I’m starting to get along with classical music.  I mean, give me the faster ones any day – you should hear my cover of Rondo Alla Turca on the electric guitar, it’ll knock your socks off – but, you know, we meet halfway.

And I mean halfway.  Gwyneira looks like a goddess in anything, but when she’s let her hair out of its ponytail?  When she’s at a rock concert, just letting it all out, headbanging along? It’s amazing.  She’s amazing.

There have been challenges – you try finding good homes for an entire clutch of half-seraph, half-mongrel dragon hatchlings sometime – but we’re going pretty damn well.  She’s even talked about starting a proper band �� weaving classical and rock together.

And if that never comes to pass?  If we can’t get a gig or find a good rhythm guitar?  At least we can still jam together.

[shewhowantsmouseears]

morgwing meet-up messy drabble

My year-long-fic-break has been slightly broken, but don’t expect too much. I had enough brain juice in me to write this 3 page silliness.

Still riding the high from @queenie-draws-stuff ‘s rad Morgana redesign, I decided to write a potential “how they met” deal, combining the original Fungus Amongus quotes/situation with Queenie’s Goth Rock set-up.

Additional notes now I think of them before jumping right to what is basically “mel enjoys writing simps”

The Band uses a We Will Rock You style song (been listening to this cover) to hypnotize her fans into attacking Darkwing and the gang.

Halestorm’s cover of Bad Romance is definitely suitable for attacking and flirting with Darkwing at the same time.

At one point, Darkwing gets her guitar away from her and he’s confident “Ahaha! Now that I’ve taken away your magic, you’re helpless!” And Morgana smiles... then bursts into cackles. “Oh, Dark Darling... my guitar isn’t the source of my power. It’s merely a conduit.” (”a... a what”) “In other words...” her hands and eyes glow. “It’s time for the encore, baby.”

OKAY TIME FOR THE SHORT WRITTEN THING ITSELF

In hindsight, this wasn’t the best plan, but in his defense, it worked all the time on a TV show he’d watched as a child. Darkwing paused to think about that train of logic, and pondered if perhaps he should stop trying to plan his investigations that way and instead follow his own instincts next time.

 “OWWWWW BONES DO NOT BEND THAT WAY!”

 If there was a next time. He had assumed the whole goth rock mutant monster image was just that, an image. The guy with two heads, the girl with one eye, the behemoth of a drummer? All of it was just costumes and acting! So when announced his presence in his typical overly dramatic fashion, he assumed they would cower in fear before offering their assistance. Instead, they had jumped him and were now holding his arms behind his back and threatening to tie his limbs into knots. As he continued to squirm in place, he once more tried to plead his innocence.

 “I’m here to HELP!” He cried out, nervously noticing the two-headed terror cracking his knuckles while the one-eyed wonder was pulling out various sharp instruments from her purse, and they definitely weren’t the musical kind. “I was just looking for clues! You know those robberies that have been happening around here, right?! There’s a connection between them and your band!”

 “And now we’re about to disconnect your head from your neck!” Said the left head, and the right headed nodded vigorously.

 Darkwing winced, as the others advanced on him, the grip on his arms tightening. If this was his last day on earth, he really wished his last words to Gosalyn hadn’t been “Remember to run the dishwasher after homework.” He closed his eyes, his brain struggling to think of how to get him out of this sticky situation…

 “HEY!” A sharp - yet familiar – voice broke through the scene. “What’s going on here?! We do not treat our fans this way! Put him down!”

 It took less than a second for Darkwing to recognize the voice – this was the singer of the band, after all. When Gosalyn had showed him the link to her new favorite indie band, Darkwing had taken a compulsory listen without paying attention to the visuals, as he was busy trying to pin down the strange case of robberies where the victims couldn’t remember being robbed at all. The singer was definitely talented, a strong but sultry voice that Darkwing certainly wouldn’t have minded listening to on a loop. But it’d been also terribly distracting, so he hadn’t tried to give the music video any attention. Once again, this proved to have been not the best idea in hindsight.

 Because then he would have prepared for the absolute bombshell that walked through the curtains.

 Darkwing opened one eye to see his savior, and then both eyes were not only open, but they were also quite wide in shock. The woman in question was a leggy stunner, her black and white hair parted over one side and trailing down her eerily pale feathers like a shadowy walk lit by moonlit. Sharp green eyes pierced right through his heart, analyzing him as he stood there in a slack-jawed stupor. She adjusted her blood-red guitar over her back, the crimson and black spider-web outfit giving him the feeling he’d be the fly that eagerly walked into this parlor any day. She rested one hand on her hip, and snapped her fingers – even her nails were unique – long, sharp, yellow, and deadly.

 Darkwing had no more time to realize he had a type and she was it when he was let go and dropped to the floor. As he scrambled to get up and dust himself off, the one-eyed woman huffed. “We caught this weirdo sneaking around here, Morgana.”

 Morgana held up a hand, signaling for silence. “I got this, Cornea.” She looked Darkwing up and down once more before smiling in amusement. “I believe this is where you introduce yourself.” She offered her hand to shake. “Nice to meet you, mister…?”

 “D-Dingwing Dork.”  Darkwing sputtered, his palm feeling incredibly sweaty in her delicate hand. He was quick to realize his mistake, yelped, and fumbled with his hands and hat as he tried to make his brain calm down. “DARK! Darkwing Duck! Dark-Darkwing Duck.” After a hard throat clear, he tried to pretend he hadn’t made an absolute fool of himself several times, tipping his hat politely, doing a gentlemanly bow, and ignoring the various eyerolls of the other band-mates. “At your service.”

 “What an unusual name,” Morgana commented, lightly tilting his beak up with one of her fingers, closing the gap between them for a few but very, very personal seconds. “But then you appear to be very unusual… I like that.” When she pulled away, it was a sheer miracle Darkwing didn’t fall forward, though he certainly leaned in enough to make it a close call. “We were just wrapping up rehearsal. We want to close up shop early, what with all those midnight robberies going on.”

 Darkwing stopped for a second, befuddled. “Hang on. How did you know they were midnight robberies?” He was fairly certain that was something the press hadn’t leaked, and he’d only just figured out the timeline a day before.

 Morgana froze in place – eyes quickly shooting to her fellow players – before rolling her shoulders, readjusting her guitar so that it slid back into her arms. “I… deduced it.”

 Maybe if Launchpad and Gosalyn were there – the former to ask more questions, the latter to smack some sense into him – Darkwing would have taken greater notice of that lengthy pause. Instead? She deduced it, he thought, his heart doing cartwheels. My kinda woman. Despite his clear problematic infatuation, his brain did have enough cells left to ask another important question. “Isn’t it kind of… peculiar… to hold a rehearsal this late?”

 Morgana plucked a few notes off her guitar, walking back onto the front of the stage, the curtains now perfectly parted to show the moon shining down from the ceiling – the venue, such as it was, had certainly seen better days. But now the various holes above seemed to be an improvement rather than something that needed fixing. “I enjoy the night,” she answered, and then playfully added, “Besides, the sun is so harsh on my skin.”

 “You know…” Darkwing casually strolled up to Morgana’s side, his previous predicament forgotten already, “I’m something of a creature of the night myself.” He wiggled his eyebrows.

 Morgana chuckled quietly. “I bet we have a lot in common, Darkwing. In fact…” She lightly nudged the guitar’s neck into Darkwing’s actual neck, enjoying the audible tiny ‘eep’ his flustered mouth made. “I bet we could make beautiful music together.”

[milasartblog]

Value of the messenger

Sometimes there is a moment where we have to stop and think about all the things we did, all the things we achieved, all the people we've met and all the decisions we chose. For some of them we feel pride and happiness, to others - sadness and regret, to some even a confusion and feeling of emptiness that we can't explain. It can take a day or even a week to analyse ourselves and make some conclusion. Today was such a day for angel Anoli. It's been a long time since she and Chris became a couple and are in a relationship, since she gain friends and began to take care of nephilim. Time flew fast, and yet slow at the same time. During such period of time, one question was still bothering the messenger. How long will all of this last? How long will her relationship with Chris last? She is not a mortal anymore. Before all of this, things were simple for her: she was just an angel wandering around and sending positive messages to people that need it. But now....she can't help but think about what if one day...her beloved one dies? Is there a way to prevent it? If yes, what price is required? How high is the price? How much time does it require? How painful will it be? If there is no way...does it mean that she became an angel for nothing? Does it mean that she has to break up with him, even if it makes both of them suffer emotionally? So many questions and almost no answer. She didn't want to worry her boyfriend and friends, but at the same time she couldn't handle such questions on her own. And so, she decided to organise a meeting with her guardian, Michael. Anoli was sitting on one of the building's roof, waiting for archangel to show, while watching the beautiful sunset and enjoying the cool wind caressing her hair and wings. The waiting was not so long as Michael finally appeared.

Michael: Good evening, Anoli. You called me?

Anoli: Good evening, Michael. Yeah, I was wondering if-...You're in human clothes?

She examined Michael's outfit as the archangel giggled awkwardly.

Michael: Sorry, I was just on my way to Lucifer.

Anoli: Oh, I see. Sorry if I interrupted your meeting.

Michael: Don't be. If you need help with something, I will do my best. Besides, knowing Lucifer he will definitely find something to do. I will apologise to him later.

Anoli: Hehe, true.

They smiled and giggled as Michael walked closer and stood next to Anoli, watching at the sunset for a couple of minutes.

Michael: So, about what did you want to talk with me? Is Liya causing troubles again?

Anoli: Oh, no, it's not like that. I mean, she sure still does her pranks and stuff, but less. Plus, she is teaching Nazeel how to use fire magic.

Michael: Umm, won't it cause the fire at home?

Anoli: Yeah, but not trusting her is also not right. She is one of my friends after all, and not allowing her to grow up and become wiser will be not right from me. Plus, with Lucifer it would be much greater fire than with Liya.

Michael: Hehe, true. I'm glad that you can do such decisions. You become wiser and wiser, Anoli. I'm so proud of you.

Anoli: Thank you, Michael. But I called you for...another reason.

She looked down sadly, which made Michael be concern a bit.

Michael: What is it, Anoli?

Anoli: I....You know that I'm in a relationship with Chris, right?

Michael: Yeah, I do. You told me a lot about him. Did something happen between you two?

Anoli: Oh no, it's not like that. It's just....can an angel live with a human? I mean, as a couple, as a family.

The archangel didn’t expect such question to be, which made him think for a moment. 

Michael: Well, as a rule, angels are not supposed to be in a relationship with a human. They're guardian angels, they guard and guide human to the right path. Any physical contact with human can cause some troubles, and-

Anoli: So I was not supposed to be in a relationship?

The messenger was stunned. Realising what he just said, Michael tried to get the situation under control.

Michael: No no no, dear, you still can be with Chris. Just with you it's different and...kinda complicated. Since you were a human before, it's understandable that you want to be in a relationship with him.

Anoli: But that's the problem. I'm no longer a human, Michael. You resurrected me as an angel, gave me a new life, new goal. And as an angel I was supposed to follow the rules, right?

Michael: Well, technically yeah, but-

Anoli: Then does it mean....that I have to break up with Chris? Make him forget about me? About others?

Michael: What? No, you don't have to. Like i said, as a rule it should be like this, in practice anything can happen.

Anoli: But aren’t angels supposed to follow the rules and laws? I have already broken this rule and now....now i'm having the sense of anxiety. A feeling that....one day I will lose my angel disguise and that I will not be able to be with Chris anymore.

She looked at Michael with upset and crystal from upcoming tears eyes. Realising what he just said, the archangel was lost for a moment, words couldn't put themselves together. And yet he couldn't admit that as an angel she did broke the rule of being with mortal. But no big consequences followed yet, right? Moreover he gave her new life outside of the Heaven, so basically he broke the rule too, right? He looked down with upset look, while Anoli looked at him with the question she was hoping to get the solution from it.

Anoli: You must have seen situations like this before, right? Maybe there were angels like me who also were in love with their humans and whom you have helped them be together, right?

But Michael only shook his head sadly. Angel’s face was now hopeless.

Michael: I’m sorry, Anoli, but...most of angels have followed their rules and even if they had feelings to the mortal, they had to erase their memories about them in order to not burden them and not to spell out the secrets of Heaven. I’m not even talking about giving the immortality to the mortals they have interest in. I hope you know why.

Anoli: ...Because of the balance between life and death.

He nodded as Anoli looked down. Tears were coming right away. Anoli tried to hold them, but her soft nature prevented her from doing it. The guilt crawled on Michael’s back to the every inch of the feather. But what could he do? This is something that no divinity dares to do. He felt that Anoli realises the consequences of such actions and yet he knew that it was not something she wanted to hear.

Anoli: Sometimes I even ask myself if it was worth to become a messenger, if it was worth to agree with you. No matter what I do, it’s always not enough. Was it really worth if you can’t even enjoy the life fully, can’t be in love with the dearest person to you, can’t be...free?

She sat down on the edge of the roof, hugging her knees and burying her face into her arms and knees. For a couple of minutes they were like this, silent. Suddenly Michael remembered one thing that his brother Gabriel told him, about Sybil and her decision to be with human she is supposed to guard. It was so controversial for them, but in the end he and his brothers had to accept Sybil’s choise. Taking someone’s freedom of speech and action away is not according to the angel. But would such example help in this situation? It’s not a secret that times in Heaven have change, but not that drastically like in Hell. And yet, it was worth a try, he thought. Michael sat down next to her, carefully putting his hand on her shoulder. Anoli flinched, but...didn’t push it away.

Michael: Look, Anoli, I admit that...my action towards you was not right. But it’s not technically right also according to angel’s rules.

Anoli:...Really?

Michael: Yes. You see, I saved you from an unfair death out of...my own will. And THIS is something that was not written in the rules. So, technically, I broke the rule too. Do you want to know why?

Anoli: I...I think you told me before, but it won’t hurt to remind.

Michael: I did it because when I was watching over you, I noticed a spark in your soul. No matter what happened in your life, you did your best to stay positive. You wanted to bring this positivity to everyone, which is not possible for everyone. Of course right now you realise that sometimes there are “not really” nice people, and yet you didn’t give up on it. That was something that...made me feel like getting close to mortals, to learn something from them too. And because of this and thanks to demons’ influence, not only me, but some other angels began to be interested in mortal realm too.

Anoli: Really? But what about the rules? 

Michael: Like in mortal realm, Heaven laws sooner or later also face some changes. It’s inevitable. Just it took us a long time to realise it. Some of them tho are still active, like the immortality one.

Anoli: I see....So, my resurrection as an angel made a push to the changes?

Michael: Your situation was one of those that helped us to move from the dead point. Plus, there is only few messengers that can bring the light even if there is no hope. They’re little helpers that value even more than just a simple guarding task. And I’m saying the truth. Plus, who knows what Liya would do without an angel like you.

He smiled to Anoli sincerely, drying her tears kindly. Anoli thought for a moment, then smiled.

Anoli: You’re right. Even if I’m not able to bring happiness to everyone, I still have dearest people to me. But it still didn’t answer my question.

Michael: About that....I...will try my best to search for a solution, but no immortality.

Anoli: Really? You will...really look for other way?

Michael: However, all this is still up to your partner. When the time comes, you two should think about it carefully, and only then I can do something. 

Anoli: But won’t it cause troubles for you? You’re an archangel, the face of Heaven.

Michael: I...I know. But not helping my ward is also not right from me. So, I will see what I can do, but it’s all up to you and your partner.

Anoli: I see...Heaven’s laws are sure complicated.

Michael: Hehe, agree. 

They looked into the horizon for a moment. The sun almost disappeared under the blanket of the night, promising to come back another day. 

Anoli: Thank you, Michael.

Michael: Huh? For what? I didn’t do anything.

Anoli: And yet, you gave me a hope that we still can do something. Together. As friends and as a family.

Michael was surprised for a moment, but smiled too as they looked at the horizon again. It was getting darker and darker and soon it was time for Michael to go to the meeting. He looked at Anoli as offered a hug. The angel looked at Michael and after a couple of seconds hugged him.

Anoli: You need to go now?

Michael: Yeah, Anoli. Even if Lucifer has enough patience to wait for me, I still have other duties to do. But don’t worry, even if I don’t have the solution now, I will do my best to help you. No matter what?

Anoli: Promise?

Michael:...Promise.

They kept hugging for one more minute before saying goodbyes to each other and come back to their casual routines. Even if the problem is still in the air, there is still a light of hope at the end of the tunnel.

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

And that's another story for the universe^^ A little update on our universe, to show that it's still alive XD Hope you will like it^^

Anoli and Michael belong to @wildstarfan and @milasartblog (both me)

Sybil belongs to @captainthane

Okaria et Feria belongs to @wildstarfan and @captainthane

[third-generation-female-warrior]

Ordinary Date

Ahaha! So I did write something for Valentine’s Day, now that it’s basically over, but it’s still 9:40pm my time, so it counts! So, sequel-ish to The Path we Walk and prequel-ish to Goodbye Winter, with Talbott and Ravenclaw!Alexus, my favorite pairing to write about, it seems. It’s not a fic of the Valentine’s Day Ball sidequest, this is kinda AU-ish on what I think their first date would really be like. First date hymns, poetry, angsty stuff, the world’s smallest canon complaint, preppy-nerds-who-pine, banter, little proof-reading, this did not go remotely the direction I thought it was gonna. Things started out so nice for them. He made her feel like an ordinary girl, if only for a few hours. But she was not meant to last a whole night, it seems. Rated T, 6,000+ words.

-

The soft glow of the street lanterns casted an orange glow onto the otherwise pearly white snow that rested to the sides on the main street of Hogsmeade, dulled grey by the night’s gentle darkness. It wasn’t snowing, but the clouds looming in the sky suggested that fact would change. There was a gentle coldness in the air, not a biting freeze, but it still made the breaths of the passersby illuminate a smoky puff as they walked along the wet cobblestone path. Their breathes would turn orange or yellow as the air would catch the soft light glow of the window shops. The people walking in front of the warm interiors would only have half their face casted in light, the other halves of their bodies turning to near translucent shadows.

Talbott Winger watched people turn into silhouettes, only seeing shadows as they walked from shop to shop.

He stood on the opposite side of the street of the Three Broomsticks entrance, the adults and the students pouring in and out of the establishment, walking hand in hand, or storming out furiously, one girl running out, crying. It must have been a date gone wrong. It was Valentine’s Day, after all.

Talbott’s first Valentine’s day with Alexus Johnson, the girl from his year he gave his heart to on accident and against his better judgement. It was not a deathbed confession, but she was recovering after being tortured by a dark witch when he confessed his mutual attraction.

A lot of their relationship milestones seemed to be an accident. He accidentally let his guard down enough for her to become his friend. She accidentally confessed her feelings first. He accidentally got feelings for her, more than he knew what to do with.

He just didn’t want to accidentally ruin tonight.

He was waiting outside the Three Broomsticks because that’s where they agreed to meet. She was discharged from the Hospital Wing earlier today, and he left while her friends dragged her to the dorm room to “get her ready” even though Alexus herself was wildly protesting.

Talbott was anxious, even if he would never admit it. He would never admit he was anxious or that he consulted his dormate, Andre Egwu to help him pick out an outfit.

Andre was ecstatic, almost insultingly so, to help Talbott dress for such an occasion as a date, and while throwing different clothes from Andre’s own wardrobe onto Talbott’s bed, he admitted to giving the girls tips about what should be Alexus’s outfit for the date.

So, that was how Talbott ended up standing in the cold while wearing some dull tan overcoat over a light grey pullover sweater and that was over a white button-up shirt. Not to mention, blue jeans. Overall, he was kept warm, which Andre must have accounted for. Maybe a little too warm, as the back of his neck was burning. Maybe that had nothing to do with the heat of his clothing layers. He let out a breath, that smoky breath that visibly danced in front of his face before disappearing the next second. He gently placed a hand over his chest, over the feather charm on his necklace. He pressed down, feeling it against his palm, against his skin. He was nervous.

God, who would have known he would be nervous taking out the girl he really liked?

They both agreed to no grandiose plans, as Alexus was still technically in recovery and they both hated grandiose plans. Talbott knew what his ideal date entailed, and he had a decent idea of what Alexus would enjoy for a date.

So why was he so nervous?

“Talbott!” he looked up and his heart stopped.

There she was.

“Alexus,” he said as she walked up, not quite smiling, but he stared at her with something soft in his eyes.

She wasn’t alone, but he saw only her, his vision tunneling as her appearance was stunning. She wore a neck dress that was a deep, royal shade of blue that cinched at the waist and swayed around down her legs with each step, ending just above her knees, the rest of her legs covered by black, opaque tights. White lapels peaked over the collar, and a fitted dark grey cardigan hugged her torso.

Alexus walked in the middle of a trio which consisted of her, Badeea Ali, and Penny Haywood, the three girls linking arms, walking to Talbott like they were moving down the aisle, giving their daughter away for a wedding. Maybe that was a semblance of their motivations, but in reality, he knew they were just making sure she made the walk to him, as they were rather unsure of all the spells that dark witch had used on Alexus just recently, unsure if there would be any lingering effects.

As they reached him, Alexus broke from the girls and slid her hand into Talbott’s waiting one.

“Thank you,” she said to them.

“Have fun!” Penny waved off cheerily.

Talbott nodded his head to them respectfully before they disappeared into the Three Broomsticks. He watched them leave before looking down at Alexus. He brought her hand to his lips for a second. “Are you ready to go?”

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t,” she replied, smiling at him.

He returned her smile before leading her away, down the street of Hogsmeade.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I feel you’d prefer to avoid crowded places today,” he started as they walked.

“I’d prefer to avoid crowded places any day, but since the rumors of my dating habits have been picking up, I would prefer to be away from as many other students as possible.”

“As you wish,” Talbott said, winking at her.

Alexus rolled her eyes, still smiling. “Since when do you watch The Princess Bride?” she asked.

“Since you mentioned how good it was in five letters after fourth year,” he chided.

“It was good!” Alexus said defensively.

“Well, you always were a sucker for romance. Who would have known?”

She poked his side. “You have no room to talk, Mr. Read-Poetry-to-the-Girl-in-the-Hospital.”

He stopped walking and looked down at her. “As I recall, you enjoyed being read to.”

She stood on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I never said I didn’t.” She walked further along, dragging him with her a few steps until he started walking on his own, again, taking the lead.

“You’re… impossible,” he said with admiration and burning cheeks.

“You’re paradoxical,” she retaliated as she fell into step with him. Before he could question her adjective, she continued. “Where are we going, anyways?”

He frowned, but let it roll off his shoulders. “You can fly, yes?”

“As gracefully as the day I first transformed.”

“Oh dear, we might be in trouble then.”

He laughed as she nudged his side with her shoulder.

“The Courtyard, Alexus. The Clocktower Courtyard.”

She raised an eyebrow. “You have me escorted all the way to Hogsmeade just to fly back to Hogwarts?”

“Well, eventually. I thought you’d enjoy Honeydukes first. You can tell a lot about a person by the sweets they enjoy.”

He stopped as they reached the front of the shop in question. She didn’t even realize that’s where he had taken her.

She opened her mouth, probably to say something smart back to him, but he was already opening the door for her like a proper gentleman and ushering her inside from the cold.

She gave him a look that was half a smirk and half a challenge and half a battle of wits when they left.

He just winked back and grabbed her hand, walking with her through the shop. There were other students, more crowded than they both would have liked, but also not as busy as a place such as the Three Broomsticks. There were other couples, walking and poking around the shelves.

“So, what is your favorite sweet?” Talbott asked as they made their way through a natural path of the store. He inspected a box of Bertie Bott’s Every Flavored Beans.

“Not that. Too much risk,” Alexus replied, scrunching her nose at his selection.

“You break curses in your spare time,” he pointed out, almost laughing.

“Ever since Jacob gave me a wasabi flavored bean when I was four, I’ve been rather weary of them.”

He laughed and kept the package. “Then I’m definitely getting this. I’ll give you the good ones.”

“Oh, you’re such a gentleman,” she said, sarcastically before reaching up. He found it incredibly endearing that her fingers barely brushed the bag of liquorice wands, straining to grasp them before she caught the plastic with her fingers, pulling it forward just a centimeter before pulling it closer until she could slide it off the edge slowly and into her palm.

“You could have asked for assistance or a step ladder you know,” he said, trying not to burst out laughing, but there were tears in his eyes from the strain of holding himself back.

“Sod off, Talbott,” she muttered before looking at her parcel. “These are my favorite.” “Liquorice wands?” he asked, glancing at her hands.

“Ever since I was little. My mum…” she stopped and looked at him cautiously.

He caught her look before turning away, trying to make his demeanor as eased and nonchalant as possible. “Continue,” he assured her.

“My mum always bought these when she went to a wizard market. Jacob and I would pretend to duel.”

Talbott laughed lightly. “See? I told you, you can tell a lot about a person based on the sweets they enjoy.”

She rolled her eyes. “What about you? What’s your favorite?”

Talbott hummed and put the peppermint toads he was holding back onto the shelf. He grabbed her empty hand with his own before leading the way to another aisle. He picked up a displayed cardboard box with a saran wrap window, showing off the gelatinous sweets inside.

“Jelly slugs?” Alexus asked incredulously while Talbott beamed, like he was the creator of the confections.

“They’re right and proper when you have a craving for sweets, Alexus,” Talbott said seriously.

“They’re good, but I didn’t think they’d be your favorite sweet,” she shrugged.

“Oh? What did you think would be my favorite?” he asked, added the box to his collection.

She hummed, thinking before letting go of his hand, disappearing behind a shelf before reimaging, walking up to him and shoving a box of ice mice into his hand.

He stared as she pressed her lips together, eyes lit up with something wicked.

“You know,” she said, voice shaking with restrained giggles. “Because… well, birds of prey tend to enjoy mice.” She laughed as he gave her a pained expression.

He grabbed her hand and pulled her with him as he put the box back. They looked at other sweets when they were approached by a wiry and young employee with a tray in his hands.

“Chocolate raspberry fudge?” he asked. “Free samples for Valentine’s couples.”

Talbott looked at Alexus before taking two off the tray, thanking the employee.

“Are you fond of raspberry?” she asked.

“Very, when it’s paired with chocolate,” he replied, handing her a small square of the pink and brown treat.

They ate them together as they finished their shopping and walked to the register, Talbott grabbing two bottles of butterbeer on their way. They paid before they left the shop, still talking about the sort of treats they would enjoy in their childhood.

“Muggle candies, have you ever had those?” Alexus asked.

“I can’t say that I have.”

“You’d love them. If I make it to summer, I’ll be sure to buy a bunch to share with you.”

He looked at her. “If?”

She blinked. “Uh, when,” she corrected herself, “I mean, when I come back from the summer.”

He stopped, his grip in her hand making her stop as well. She turned to him, reluctantly meeting his piercing red eyes.

“Do you not think you’re going to make it past the Final Vault?”

“It’s- it’s not that, Talbott. I just… can’t guarantee it,” she looked down and held his hand tighter. “I have to be realistic.”

He sighed and kissed her head. “That is the path you walk?” he asked.

She nodded and pressed her head against his chest.

He wrapped an arm around her. “Then I’ll walk it with you. I promised you that much, Alexus.”

“You’re… paradoxical,” she muttered before pulling away.

“What do you mean by that?” he asked.

She looked up at him and sighed before pressing a kiss to his cheek.

He admired her, that orange glow illuminating half her face, her emerald eyes shining even brighter as the moonlight casted it’s soft mercury glow onto the other half.

He felt a compelling force that almost pushed him down, if only to… well, he wasn’t sure. He felt some great pull towards her, a desire for something but he didn’t know what. He saw that in her eyes, he saw so much in them. That mysterious and compelling force.

She leaned back, taking her hand into his. “Let’s go back. The long way, yeah?”

He nodded and walked with her back down the street of Hogsmeade.

They didn’t talk. They didn’t need to talk, which was not an infrequent occurrence with them. Sometimes, the only thing they needed to say could be expressed with the silence, the energy that they could feel passing between them.

As they got to Hogwarts, it was around dinner time, so not too close to the curfew, but it was close, so Talbott and Alexus knew they had to be careful about avoiding any teachers or other staff members as they walked past the Great Hall.

Eventually, they walked outside and into the Courtyard. They held hands still as they sat at the base of the fountain.

Alexus took a deep breath and closed her eyes.

He smiled before opening the two bottles of butterbeer, setting one down next to her before he took a swig from his own.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked.

“Nothing, actually,” she replied, opening her eyes and grabbing her bottle. “Just… the sound of the fountain, and the silence of the night, it’s always relaxing, to me. I missed it, while I was in the Hospital Wing.”

“Yeah? You sneak out here often?” he asked, reaching through his bag, pulling out his box of jelly slugs.

“Not as often as you go to the Owlery for the same reasons,” she replied before taking a long drink from her bottle.

He gave a small chuckle and opened the box. He selected a strawberry and lime flavored slug and bit into it, leaning back before looking at Alexus.

He was startled to see her looking at him, that intense look, where the expression holds the million thoughts running through her head faster than light, every single one causing the most minute shift on her face, but at the same time, all those million thoughts were about one subject. Him.

Her eyes, catching the moonlight again fixated on him, one eyebrow raised, the other pressed down in the lightest furrow, a crease in her forehead because of it. Her lips, pursed together, mostly hidden under the hand that she pressed to her mouth, one corner of her lips only just lifted and visible next to her thumb. Anyone else might have seen a soft neutrality, a few thoughts, a contemplating look. He saw that and so much more.

The way something lit up in her eyes when he looked at her, the flush in her cheeks, a centimeter rise in that one corner of her lips. He did that, by looking at her.

He felt that great pull on him again, like there was something inside his chest, in his instincts that was gripping him, trying to move him forward. He wondered if this was what being under the Imperius Curse was like. Something was trying to control him? No. He’d read personal recounts from survivors, about the effects, and this was not that.

But what was this pull?

Alexus slid her hand over his and reached over him, grabbing one of his jelly slugs for herself. She bit the head off and chewed before laying her head on his shoulder.

He moved his arm to wrap it around her lower back and pulled her closer.

“I hope the lack of eventfulness was okay for our first date,” he murmured, pressing his lips to her crown softly for a second.

“With my daily routine? Lack of eventfulness was the best thing you could have planned. Thank you for making me feel ordinary for the night.”

He chuckled. “Somehow, I don’t think you can be ordinary, Alexus. You are… fantastically remarkable.”

“And you are fantastically corny.”

He laughed, turning away from her to hide his little outburst, which made her laugh.

“Corny, but appreciated,” she assured him, gently putting a hand on his chest reassuringly.

He looked down at her, at the laughing grin on her face, and as she was wiping away a tear from her eye, he leaned down, tilting his head.

He kissed her.

So suddenly, he kissed her, soft lips meeting softer lips, eyes closed, her hands sliding across his arms to wrap around his shoulders, his hands moving to cup her face.

As suddenly as he kissed her, he pulled away, taking a couple deep breathes, watching her, eyes wide, mouth agape with a breathless panting. Her cheeks grew warm rapidly under his hands.

“I-I’m sorry… I don’t… uh… I don’t know what came o-”

She cut him off by leaning up and kissing him this time.

It was hard for him to say how long passed before one of them pulled away again.

When they kissed, he discovered in about five seconds that time became lost. The world was lost. Stars twinkled around in the sky above them, water trickled into the pool behind them. Talbott could swear he felt the ground move beneath them. Until it was all lost. There was nothing around them, there was no world, no stars, no water, no ground.

Just her.

Just him.

Just them together, connected in the purest form of a kiss.

When it was over, when they were pulling away from each other, the noise of the world slowly came back. There was that water trickling, soft insects calling in the night. An owl hooted somewhere far away, a wolf howled in the distant forest. Heavy footsteps clacked on the stone floor nearby, and it was coming closer.

Talbott and Alexus looked at each other before at their supplies from Honeydukes.

“Conceal it!” she whispered quickly, whipping out her wand, Talbott following suit. They quickly casted the disillusionment charm over their bags and bottles before pocketing their wands. They nodded to each other before assuming their animagus forms, Talbott as a brown eagle, Alexus was a chihuahuan raven. They flew up, right to the end of the courtyard as some… unknown person walked into the courtyard.

Alexus watched, ready to fly away at the first sign of trouble. Whenever dark-hooded figures with most of their faces obscured walked in her general area, it was never good, and they always seemed to be for her.

Talbott let out of call, a warning one.

Alexus looked at him, where he was perched on a ledge that overlooked the courtyard.

Alexus got ready to fly away, waiting for when the stranger would least likely be bothered by two non-nocturnal birds. She watched as the wizard stalked around the courtyard, poking stone with his wand.

As his back was turned, Alexus called out to Talbott, and they both spread their wings to take off. This was something they had to report, and fast.

They flew up, Alexus aiming for the sky to disappear into when there was a terrible, fiery pain in her right wing. She cried out, the vocalization coming out as a pained caw.

The wind was rushing through her feathers from her rapid descent.

She landed on her side, curling her arm into herself, black feathers swaying onto the ground around her.

“Alexus Johnson, small raven. Right there in the registry where any one can read it,” the wizard said, making his way over to her.

Alexus groaned, slowly sitting up, her wand in her grip, but she couldn’t lift her arm, it hurt too much to bend it. Her cardigan and shirt sleeves had already been burned or blasted off.

“It’s a chihuahuan raven, actually,” she corrected the wizard as he pointed it wand at her. “The base of the neck has a white coloration, native more to the Mexico and western United States area.”

The wizard didn’t say anything as he stood over Alexus.

Alexus smiled and set her wand down. “I’m not coming quietly. In fact, I’m not coming with you at all,” she assured him as she slowly rose to her feet, eyes trained on his wand.

“You know what ‘R’ wants, so you might as well make it easy now. Before we make you abide by our ideals.”

Alexus laughed lightly. “No.”

There was a screech and Talbott descended, talons extended, right towards the dark wizard’s face.

While he was distracted, Alexus stooped down to grab her wand with her left arm.

“Get away!” she shouted to Talbott.

He flew off, and Alexus sent a powerful blasting spell at the dark wizard, sending him flying back across the courtyard, landing in the fountain.

Talbott landed next to Alexus, turning back into human as he did. He pulled out his wand and kept it trained on the wizard.

“Do we run?” he asked.

“No, he’ll slip away.” Alexus walked to the wizard, ready to attack if he moved. “You go get a teacher, Dumbledore, Filch, anyone. We can’t let him get back to ‘R’ when he knows.”

Talbott didn’t want to leave Alexus alone, but he knew she could handle the wizard better than he could. But he still hesitated, looking at her.

“Talbott, go!” she insisted as the dark wizard started to stir.

She wanted to watch him leave as he ran into the castle, but she was too terrified to take her eyes off of the dark wizard.

“So… ‘R’ must be getting more desperate, if they’re just sending any idiot to try and retrieve me,” she commented as the wizard slowly sat up from the water.

“What can we say? Your work with the Vaults continues to be impressive.”

“I believe I have given you my answer already. Incarcerous!” Ropes sprang from the tip of her wand and coiled tightly around the torso of the dark wizard, binding his arms to his sides.

She walked over and grabbed his discarded wand, kicking it further across the courtyard.

“You gave us the wrong answer,” the wizard said, nonchalantly.

“Ferula,” Alexus muttered, pointing her wand at her burn. Bandages delicately wrapped around the injury. She’d find Chiara for a more permanent solution.

“It is cute that you think ‘R’ is giving you a choice.”

“Stupif-!”

“PROTEGO!” Alexus shouted, twirling on her heel, slashing her wand up, throwing up a quick shield to counter the second assailant’s attempt to stun her as they came up from behind. The force of her opponent’s spell on her shield made her slide back a few inches.

“You didn’t think I’d come alone to collect such a… volatile target?” the man asked, inching his way out of the fountain as Alexus faced the new dark wizard.

“I was certainly hoping, but I guess no one wants to be alone today,” she muttered, planting her foot behind her. “Expelliarmus!”

The wizard dodged and sent his own spell back to her, causing her to jump to the side.

“Locomotor Mortis!”

Alexus tripped as her legs were bound together. She swore under her breath and gripped her wand as the wizard advanced upon her.

“Flipendo Maxima!” she shouted, trying to buy herself more time, but he blocked that too.

“Stupify!”

All Alexus saw was red sparks and then stars. Lights and shadows swimming in the darkness of her vision. She groaned and turned on her side, towards the fountain. Vision was slowly coming back to her, her surroundings blurred.

Semi-conscious…. Semi-conscious was better than unconscious, which could have been the outcome with the stunning spell.

She saw the two dark wizards at the fountain as blurred figures, coming in and out of focus. “She really got you, didn’t she?” the second assailant asked as he undid the ropes on his companion.

“She had a bird friend, another animagus. Little bastard got my face, went to get help.”

She looked at her hand, extended, laying on the ground.

Her wand…

She had a wand.

“We better get out of here quickly.”

She moved her fingers, brushing along the stone. It must have been knocked out of her grip. Then, she felt it. That familiar wood, the warmth in her fingertips as she found her wand. She gripped it firmly and looked back at the two. The second one was helping the first wizard up out of the fountain. She pointed her wand at the ground by them. “Bombarda!”

The second wizard jumped back as there was a small explosion at his feet, the first wizard falling back into the fountain.

She sat up as the second dark wizard whirled around to face her.

“Everte Statum!”

“Lacarnum Inflamari!”

His robes caught on fire as she was sent rolling back across the courtyard, stopping when her body collided with the far wall, a sharp pain in her torso where the spell hit her.

“PUT IT OUT!” the wizard shouted, stomping on his dark cloak rapidly.

“My wand!” the other one shouted, jumping out of the fountain and looking at the dark ground.

If Alexus wasn’t reeling, she’d be laughing, but as the pain was subsiding, she slowly climbed to her feet as the wizard just shrugged off his robe, revealing his face.

He was a gruff-looking figure, with patchy black and white facial hair on his jaw, his head shaved, a massive scar on his scalp. His dark eyes pierced Alexus as he raised his wand.

Where was Talbott? Should it have taken him this long to get help? Was he on his way with Dumbledore and all she had to do was stall?

“I told your friend, I wasn’t going to come quietly,” she said, raising her wand as well

“And I told your friend, I’m willing to take you in bloody if that’s what it takes.” He shot a spell at her, and she jumped to the side before firing her own at him.

“What did you do to him?” she asked, trying to keep her voice bold and even.

“Just gave him a full-body bind so he wouldn’t have to get any pesky teachers involved. Someone will find him, but you’ll be gone by then.”

Alexus set her jaw. Talbott would be terrified. She couldn’t let him be any more scared than he already was with her in her danger. But more importantly, they got to Talbott. They hurt him. She couldn’t let that slide either.

If Talbott was in that courtyard in that second, only he would have seen the darkness in her eyes, like a thunderstorm overtaking clear, green, rolling fields. A brewing and dangerous storm that made it seem like the sky was about to explode, Heaven’s fury being unleashed like Hell’s wrath.

Alexus focused her wand on the men in front of her as the wizard finally found his wand and joined his partner.

The air became still for a second as the intensity of the silent rage culminated in her chest.

“Incendio!” she shouted, waving her wand in arch before herself, sending a wall of flames to the men in front of her.

They only had time to wave the flames away in one swoop before she thrusted her wand forward, at their feet.

“Confringo!”

The bald wizard threw his arms in front of his face while his friend jumped back as shards of stone flew up in all directions from their feet.

She sent furious spell after furious spell, making them dodge and jump out of the way to avoid serious injury. Now that there was no backup, she had to win.

“Expelliarmus!” she disarmed the bald wizard, his wand flying behind him.

He looked at the discarded wand behind him before back at her. “Who knew you had such a weakness, Miss Johnson? Don’t worry, weaknesses aren’t allowed in ‘R’ so that will be fixed soon enough.”

She froze, only for a second, but that was enough for the other wizard.

“Diffindo!”

The air stilled again.

Alexus pressed her hand against her stomach, shuddering as she felt something arm and stick saturating her clothes and hand. Gulping, she pulled it away and held it up in front of her face, even if she already knew. In the moonlight, she saw the dark stain on her hands.

Before she could do another thing, before she could even think about healing herself, the first wizard snapped his wand at her.

“Petrificus Totalus!”

Eyes widened, mouth slightly agape, wand outstretched, bloody hand near her chest, she became frozen.

The first wizard rushed forward as the second one went to retrieve his wand.

“There we go,” the first one muttered as he moved his wand over her injuries, healing her slowly.

“Don’t need to kill ya, just needed you stunned enough.”

Alexus moved her eyes, watching him as the wound disappeared, like it was never there. He patted her head when he finished. She would have broken his hand if he could move.

“Ready to go?” he called back to the bald wizard as he picked up his wand.

“Take her wand from her first. I’ll bind her, you unfreeze her.”

The first wizard snatched her wand from her hands and took a few steps back.

Alexus watched the bald wizard and he raised his wand at her. “On three.”

“One… Two…”

“THREE!” Alexus looked past them just in time to see the red sparks before the first wizard was sent flying forward, skidding at her feet.

The bald wizard turned around only to be knocked back the same distance, his back colliding onto the wall behind her.

“Excellent knockback, Mr. Winger!” Professor Flitwick complimented, pocketing his wand after knocking the second assailant.

Alexus had never been more relieved to see her head of house and the Headmaster before, but it was Talbott’s presence who reassured her the most. He was okay.

He gave no acknowledgement, instead, running over to Alexus.

He cupped her face lightly and looked down at her. “Are you hurt? Are you okay?” he asked.

She wanted desperately to collapse into his arms. For him to hold her as she felt her legs could no longer support her. But she couldn’t. She could just control her eyes and even then, she couldn’t stop the heavy streams of tears that spilled, cascading down her cheeks, catching on his hands.

“Mr. Winger, I believe she is petrified at the moment,” Professor Dumbledore stepped forward. “Allow me.”

With a wave of his wand, Alexus stumbled forward, right into Talbott’s waiting arms.

She closed her eyes and stifled a sob in his chest, wrapping her arms around his torso and hiding her face into his chest.

“Are you okay?” he asked again, softly, cupping the back of her head with his hand, holding her close to him.

“Miss Johnson, are you hurt?” Professor Dumbledore asked.

Alexus pulled away and took a breath, quickly collecting herself. “My arm, it got burned.” She extended it to show the bandages she had placed on her arm.

“I see. Mr. Winger, will you please escort Miss Johnson to the Hospital Wing to be treated while we take care of the mess here?” Dumbledore requested.

“Yes, Professor. We’ll go straight away.”

Talbott gently placed his hand on her back and they began walking, but hadn’t taken more than two steps when Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.

“Miss Johnson?” he called, prompting them to look back.

“Yes, Professor?” she asked hesitantly.

“Your wand, don’t forget it please!” he held up her wand, which he retrieved from the first wizard.

“Oh! Right, thank you, professor,” she said while walking over. She took it and nodded in thanks before walking back to Talbott. They finally left the courtyard, silently.

He kept his hand on her back, reluctant to not feel her with him, but she didn’t mind. She stayed close to him as they walked.

When they went into the Hospital Wing, it was filled with mostly petrified students. But there was also Chiara Lobosca, attending to a girl who looked sickly with a very runny nose.

“Just take this potion before bed and your cold will go away by the end of the night. Be mindful of smoke in the ears,” the Hufflepuff was advising the girl as they approached.

“Chiara,” Alexus said, softly.

She turned around, a pleasant expression on her face, but when she saw Alexus, the bandages, the blood, her eyes turned as big as the moon.

“Alexus!” she almost cried, quickly walking in front of her.

“The slice was healed, I’m not bleeding anymore, but I am faint from the loss of blood I did experience, but the most severe injury is my arm, it’s burnt under the bandages I applied. I was in a duel. Don’t tell the Circle yet.”

Chiara blinked, processing, before nodding and she quickly guided Alexus to an empty bed.

“Are you okay?” she asked, gently extending Alexus’s arm out and unwrapping the bandages.

“Barely. Talbott got Dumbledore and Flitwick just in time,” Alexus winced at the movement.

“Thank you, Talbott,” Chiara said, looking at him before back at Alexus.

She looked at the burn before back at Talbott. “There are bandages in that cabinet. Can you please get them for me?”

He nodded and walked over to the cabinet while Chiara gently traced her wand on Alexus’s wound.

Alexus flinched and wanted to yank her arm away, but the skin slowly started to mend.

She bit her lip and turned her head away from the healer and tried to suppress any cry or outburst.

“There we go, you did good,” Chiara assured her before pocketing her wand again.

Talbott came back with the bandages.

Chiara took them and began dressing the wound, slowly wrapping the bandages loosely over the area.

“It will take a few days to heal fully, but there shouldn’t be any scarring as long as you leave it alone.”

“Thank you, Chiara,” Alexus said. She gently moved her arm back and looked at the bandages.

“Remember, if you want to talk about it, I’ll always listen,” she reminded.

Alexus looked at Chiara, incredibly touched. “You’re too kind,” she said, smiling softly. “I’m good for now. I think now is a good time to call in the night.”

“Goodnight, then, you two. Hope your next date is safer!”

Talbott walked into a hospital bed and slammed his leg into the railing while Alexus nearly fell off her bed.

“Who told you?” they both asked, almost shouting, making the healer jump back.

“Penny! Penny told me before she went to help you get ready!” she quickly said.

Alexus groaned and buried her face into her hands. “Hasn’t she ever heard of stylist-client confidentiality?” she cried.

“Oh no,” Talbott muttered under his breath, remembering Andre.

“Well, you two better get going! Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help!” Chiara quickly and pleasantly excused herself before walking to another student across the Wing from them.

Talbott looked at Alexus, resigned.

Without a word between them, they both walked out of the Hospital Wing.

The second they closed the doors behind them, they looked at each other.

Alexus gave him a weak smile. “Thank you. You… definitely saved my life.”

“I’m sorry that your cardigan got ruined.”

Alexus snorted and looked at the burnt off sleeve that now ended at her bicep. “I can remedy it… I think.”

Now he snorted. He looked down the hall and sighed. “Let’s head to the Common Room, before Snape or someone deducts house points for being attacked after hours.”

She laughed and grabbed his arm gently before leading the way.

“Hopefully, our sweets are still there by the morning, we can get them then,” Talbott said.

“They were still invisible by the time we left, so they might be,” Alexus agreed hopefully.

“I’m sorry this… didn’t end up how I wanted it to,” he looked down at her.

“You don’t have to apologize, Talbott,” she assured him. “It was magical. I had a really great time.”

“I’m glad.” He glanced at her and took a breath. “The… kissing… was that okay? I should have asked, and-”

“I wouldn’t have kissed you back if it wasn’t,” she assured him. “You don’t have to worry, you gave me an amazing night. I was ordinary for a couple hours. That’s the best thing you could give me.”

He gently nudged her side with his arm. “I told you before, you’re incapable of being ordinary. You’re… the most… remarkable girl I’ve met.”

She smiled. “You make me feel remarkable, Talbott. I’m really just doing things that need to be done. And sometimes, doing those things…”

“Lead you down a hard path?” Talbott completed for her.

“Yes. You’re the one I want to walk with me. I know that now. I realized that when I was dueling, oddly enough.” She looked forward.

“Oh?” he said, not pressing her to continue, but he still wanted her to say more.

“It’s… that dark wizard, he told me he petrified you. I… lost it. I was scared. You could have been hurt, I couldn’t just… let them get away with that.”

He looked at her, not sure of what to say. He was stunned, but unharmed. Dumbledore and Flitwick had stumbled upon him in the hall. All he could say was that Alexus was in danger before running off. He was terrified for her. He thought she was going to die and it would have been his fault for not being better. That he could have done more. Just like with his parents.

He just brought her hand to his lips and kissed it gently before they continued walking.

The common room was almost empty, students tired from a night of festivities, winding down, talking to one another about their dates and otherwise.

“Hey,” he tugged on her hand before pulling her to a nearby bench, gesturing to sit down. “Before you go up to your dorm, I had… one more thing planned.”

She tilted her head, looking at him quizzically.

He gave a small smile before pulling a small box out of his pocket. He held it out to her.

She took it and gave him a small smile before opening it. Her eyes widened when she saw the contents.

“Talbott,” she said softly before grabbing the silver braided chain and pulling the necklace out.

There was a single charm, a brown eagle feather.

“From my own wing,” he muttered.

She looked at him before kissing his cheek. “I love it,” she whispered before quickly fastening it around her own neck.

“I’m glad,” he said, relieved.

She admired the feather before looking at him apologetically. “I didn’t… get you anything, but… I was thinking… I could maybe… read a poem to you?”

He pulled out a small booklet from his other jacket pocket. “I’ve been waiting all night to open this.”

She snatched it from him. “Reyes’s Handpicked Poems!” she exclaimed.

“I may have already marked a couple,” he said, a little slyly, a self-satisfied smile crossing his face as she eagerly thumbed through the collection. “It’s not as hefty as The Romantic Collection we fight over, but there’s something charming about knowing these are the author’s favorites.”

She stopped on a page and quickly skimmed it. “Found one,” she muttered before leaning against him. He quickly wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on her head, closing his eyes

Come see me, Eros Where the woodland sings of their secret songs of the evergreen

Come see me, Eros In the break of the trees Where Apollo touches the land where lovers meet

Come see me, Eros In this forestry dream Surrounded by nymphs and Demeter’s love

Come save me, Eros Follow me down Where Hades’ lips kiss away the light

Come save me, Eros From Thanatos’ grip that’s keeping me away from you

Talbott sighed. “That’s a sad one,” he muttered.

“It’s heavily symbolic, which just adds weight,” she agreed.

“Death of the Lover… what a perfect poem to end Valentine’s Day on,” he muttered sarcastically.

She closed the book and looked at him. He waited for her sarcastic rebuttal, but instead, she kissed him.

He was shocked, but he wasn’t going to complain, and instead, placed his hand on her cheek, closing his eyes.

“Oh dammit all to Hell, they’re kissing!”

They pulled away quickly and turned to see Tulip Karasu fuming. Alexus didn’t like the look in her eyes before the mischievous Ravenclaw ran to their dorm room. “BADEEA! TELL TONKS PENNY WON! I’M OUT FIVE SICKLES!”

“Oh… Merlin’s saggy left…” Alexus grumbled before burying her face into her hands while Talbott sighed.

There were better, more romantic notes to end their first Valentine’s date on, but this was not one of them, it seems.

[shigarakis-fifth-hand]

Class of 1-A Imagine

The entire 1-A class got hit by a quirk swapping villain! It’s all randomized and I spent a bunch of time on this! Please draw what they would look like and dm me!

Lida

 - He was lucky enough to get Denki’s quirk

 - Didn't even notice for a few seconds

 - Only realized when he couldn’t run anymore

 - His engines were simply gone ~ POOF!

 - It was only when he looked at his hair and saw bright yellow

 - Immediately runs away as fast as his weak, human legs can take him

 - When they tell him what happens, he forces Kaminari to tell him how to use it

 - “I don’t know, you just... do the thing.”

 - “Well what thing because on page four of using your quirk, it says that...”

 - When Iida gets the hang of it, he doesn’t like to use it

 - He’s terrified of hurting someone, and since he isn’t experienced, he doesn’t want to go brain-dead either

Asui

 - She got Deku’s quirk

 - She doesn’t like how big her arms get

 - All Might immediately helps her since he doesn’t want her to break any bones

 - She doesn’t fully grasp the concept and chooses not to use the quirk

 - She’s seen how bad Deku can get

 - She is overjoyed at something else though

 - “My tongue Mina! Look at my tongue!”

 - Everyone finds out Asui has a beautiful singing voice

 - She’s almost sad to get her own quirk back

 - But it’s okay

 - She can’t hurt herself with her own quirk ~ribbit

 Aoyama

 - He was able to get Sero’s quirk

 - “Well you didn’t hear this from me but it’s truly unfashionable.”

 - “Look at me, the human tape dispenser of 1-A.”

 - “Ugh, I can’t even wear my fur jacket because my elbows are too thick.”

 - “Sero, how do you wear long sleeves with this thing?!”

 - Aoyama doesn’t want to use the quirk, it’s just not “flowing with his vibe”

 - He wears his fancy jackets for the entire month after the quirk wears off

( a picture of Bakugo trying to help Kirishima learn about molecules ^^^^)

Kirishima

 - He got Momo’s quirk

 - At first he’s sad, his unmanly quirk is gone for an entire week!

 - But then he realizes that he can walk around shirtless for an entire week

 - “It’s for my quirk!”

 - He likes being able to make food in an instant, he just doesn’t like it when Aizawa insists that he know the basic molecules of certain things

 - “When am I going to use this? I will never have to make an umbrella in my life!”

 - He likes to stick to food, especially liking that he can make any meal better than Bakugo

 - “Dude! I could solve world hunger from my abs!”

 - “Woah, imagine if I could make a car from my abs.”

 - “Can I make wings like Hawks?!

 - When the week ends, Kirishima is kinda disappointed 

 - But Bakugo is happy he got his cooking buddy back

Koda

 - He got Uraraka’s quirk

 - He’s super excited honestly, he likes being able to fly

 - “I feel like a feather.”

 - Ochako is happy to be able to teach him how

 - “Let’s just stay indoors. We don’t need you floating off to space.”

 - Koda almost wants to go to space

 - Once he learns how to use it, he uses all his time zooming around the dorms

 - Once Aizawa takes them outside to train, he just floats around in the air

 - Aizawa lets him

 - He knows this precious baby needs some relaxation with the clouds

 - He also likes the birds

 - He can’t speak to them though, which is frustrating for him

 - “How do you not remember me? I fed you dinner last night!”

Ojiro

 - He got Tokoyami’s quirk

 - One second his tail was there, the next second it was a mean looking bird

 - Ojiro likes taking his bird on walks, he doesn’t really know what to do with it

 - He talks to the bird sometimes, and for some reason he can understand it

 - “Dark Shadow seems too emo. Let’s try Gregory.”

 - The bird agrees 100%

 - When Ojiro is training, Gregory is too powerful sometimes

 - “How do you control your own shadow?!”

 - Training sessions with Aizawa is just one big mess for Ojiro

 - Nothing gets accomplished accept Ojiro talking to Thompson and Thompson trying to attack anyone who gets close

 - Ojiro is so excited to get his tail back, but it sad that Tokoyami won’t take the same request

 - rip Gregory

( Sato’s reaction to getting Mineta’s quirk^^ )

Sato

 - Sato has Mineta’s quirk

 - Sato doesn’t come out of his room for the entire week

 - Everyone understands

Hagakure

 - She got Sato’s quirk

 - She makes a bunch of sweets as an excuse to eat all of it

 - But that’s not a big deal at all to her

 - She’s not invisible anymore!

 - The moment she realizes that she isn’t invisible, she goes crazy

 - She’s actually kind of tan

 - Not only that but she’s gorgeous!

 - Thick brown hair, green eyes, and she’s so skinny

 - Her face alone has everyone in 1-A dropping dead

 - Some of the guys can’t believe it

 - They’ve chatted with this girl for months and had no idea

 - She wants to ask Ojiro on a date, but what happens when the quirk wears off

 - It does wear off, but nobody cares

 - They always knew she was pretty, and this just confirmed it for sure

Shoji

 - He got Hagakure’s quirk

 - What’s not to love about being invisible?

 - The strange part to him is that he can still see himself

 - All of his extra arms are gone!

 - That’s sad, all of his shirts were custom for those arms

 - He borrows clothes from his friends

 - It’s funny to see a robe and bunny slippers walking around at midnight though

Deku

 - He got Todoroki’s quirk

 - It’s okay though! He’s got his creepy notebook!

 - Todoroki gladly give him teaching on how to use it

 - “Remember, flames do damage and ice can be used to capture things.”

 - Deku knows all of this from his “research”

 - But that doesn’t stop them from spending everyday training together

 - It’s fun... and “helpful”

 - Deku loves being his own microwave and freezer

 - He accidently catches things on fire from time to time

 - He got scared by a movie and froze half the couch

 - Todoroki kissed him and he burned half his shirt off

 - “How do you control this thing?!”

Ururaka

 - She got Mina’s quirk

 - “Yay! I got acid hands! I got acid hands!”

 - Mina makes her wear oven mitts

 - She accidently burns a hole through her bed while having nightmares

 - “High five! Wait... never mind.”

 - “Mina, teach me how to do the thing!”

 - Also let’s not forget that Ochako has pink skin, horns, and alien eyes

 - “Ooh, I look so cute!”

 - Ochako spends most of her time posing in front of the mirror

 - “Look at my horns Kirishima!”

 - “Mina, look at my eyes!”

Denki

 - He got Iida’s quirk

 - Whenever he runs, he ends up going sonic on people

 - “Denki, take a lap!”

 - “I don't think you want that Mr. Aizawa.”

 - Whenever Denki tries to use Iida’s quirk, it’s always a quick fail

 - So far Denki has taken out a trash can, Present Mic, tripped on a basketball, run into a tree, faceplant into dirt, and accidently swallow a bug

 - The worst part is that Denki sleep walks

 - Running into stuff, tripping over a potted plant, falling down a flight of stairs

 - “This is better than being brain dead I guess.”

 - Denki spends most of his time making fun of Iida by waving his arms like a robot and trying on multiple pairs of glasses at once

 - Iida demands that Kaminari trains

 - “Kaminari, you will read all of these books on how to operate engine legs or else!”

 - Kaminari must admit the engine legs are cool

 - Except when Kirishima put hot dogs in them

 - The entire class room smelled like burnt meat

Jiro

 - “Cool! I look like a frog!”

 - She got Asui’s quirk

 - Her hair turned green, her tongue grew, and her pupils dialated

 - “Asui, look at this!”

 - She uses her tongue to swing off the dusty chandelier when Iida isn’t looking

 - “Ew! They should make tongue condoms!”

 - Jiro and Ochako have a blast teasing Mina and Asui

 - “Ribbit bitch! Your frog queen has arrived!”

 - Denki gets Jiro a crown to wear around the dorms

 - Ochako buys the four girls frog onesies

 - “So kawaii!”

 - Jiro never was into swimming until now

 - She likes that her fingers don’t get wrinkly

Sero

 - He got Ojiro’s quirk

 - “Dude, look at my tail!”

 - Bakugo makes fun of his “backwards dick”

 - It’s funny, but not that funny

 - In return Sero whips him with it

 - “I feel like a monkey!”

 - Sero hangs from everything he can

 - “This thing has more muscles than I do!”

 - He goes to a playground nearby with Denki and swings off the monkey bars

Tokayami

 - He got Koda’s quirk

 - “I’ve never been much about nature. Too much light, not enough darkness.”

 - Bakugo jokes that he can finally talk to his pigeon brothers

 - “Dude! The birds love you!”

 - And everyone is right

 - As soon as Tokoyami walks outside, a pigeon lands on his head

 - “Why did that pigeon just speak to me?!”

 - Tokoyami is scared of the outside now

 - “I can hear their voices still!”

 - Tokoyami has a panic attack over being able to hear the animal voices

 - “Why do ants sound so manly?”

Todoroki

 - He got Bakugo’s quirk

 - “I’m not asking that bastard for help.”

 - Instead, he goes to Deku for training

 - “Deku, you have that stalker notebook still?”

 - Bakugo’s quirk is like his own quirk

 - “Seriosuly? Just heat?”

 - “Kind of basic if you ask me.”

 - Once Bakugo hears that, he goes beserk

 - “Icyhot!”

 - “Oh no no, you can’t call me that anymore.”

 - Todoroki likes propelling himself in the air with explosions

 - Bakugo’s quirk is too loud, like his personality

 - He doesn’t like using the quirk honestly

 - “It's not very good, very violent, and I don’t like getting sweaty.”

Bakugo

 - He got Kirishima’s quirk

 - “Yea bro, you can get hard too now!”

 - Mina tries to stop him from saying that

 - Poor bby doesn't understand

 - Kirishima tries to help, but Bakugo is having no part in that

 - “How difficult can your quirk be Shitty Hair?”

 - It isn’t easy though, especially when Bakugo is forced to be shirtless.

 - He’s used to his hero outfit covering his chest

 - Bby is a little self conscious

 - The best part is that he doesn’t sweat that much

 - “Fuck yea! I don’t smell like fucking cinnamon and caramel!”

 - Bakugo does miss his explosions and hand grenades

 - Your quirk is too boring Kirishima, and it’s not loud at all

Momo

 - She got Aoyama’s quirk

 - Her immediate reaction is to read a bunch

 - “Aoyama! Wait up, I have so many questions!”

 - Next though, she has fun with it

 - “It’s so pretty!”

 - Along the way her and Aoyama become friends

 - He brings her pain releivers to help with the stomach pains

 - “It sucks but at least it’s pretty.”

Mina

 - She got Jiro’s quirk!

 - Immediately her skin isn’t pink, her horns are gone, and her eyes turn bright blue

 - She’s still as spunky as ever though

 - “Dude! Imagine all the hot gossip I can listen to!”

 - Mina tries the teacher’s lounge with Asui and Ochako, only to hear Aizawa and Present Mic planning a date night

 - “We should totally go as well!” Mina offers

 - They go on all sorts of “spy missions”

 - Mina also likes being able to tan with Momo from time to time

 - She does miss her horns though

 - She realizes quickly that Jiro’s earphone jacks are also Bluetooth

 - Jiro just never told anyone before

 - When Mina gets her quirk back, she is so happy to look “normal” again

Omg this took all day! Please comment down below your favorite combo and if I should do another one! Love you all! Stay safe! <3333

[gamebunny-advance]

Kind of A Downer

I think I’ve come to accept that the stuff I make gets attention mostly based on subject rather than the content.

And that’s fine since I cover relatively niche subjects (or niche subjects within popular fandoms), so the folks that like that stuff must be really into it like I am which is cool, but still... I can’t help to be a little... I dunno, disappointed about that I guess? Everything about this situation is my own fault, I’m not blaming anyone for it. It’s just how I’m feeling.

Anyway, sorry to bring y’all down, it’s just something I had on my mind. They’re not finished, but I’m gonna go ahead and post what I’ve done for what I’m calling the “Mahou Smash Project” so far. Right now it feels less like, “What if all the Brawl fighters were magical girls?” and more like “What if all the Brawl fighters wore skirts?”, but I’m working on it.

This is roughly the first sketch I did to flesh out the concept. It’s a little more difficult to think of stuff for the non-human characters without just giving them bows, but I’ll try to think of more ideas. Kirby is actually based on an outfit he had from “Super Kirby Clash” that’s called “Magical Girl”. I like it as a shoutout, but I’d also like to do something more original.

No matter how many times I tried to let Mario keep his cap, I felt like it never really went with the rest of the outfit, so I chucked it. I really liked the idea of giving him head wings to call back to his “wing cap” from 64, but it conflicted with Pit being in his group that already has a wing motif, so in later sketches I scrapped it. (His stars also conflict with Kirby, but there are so many star/space themed fighters on the roster, so I don’t think that part is as noticeable). Otherwise I really fell in love with the initial design and it doesn’t really change that much over my several iterations of him.

Originally Link’s inspo was from “Ojamajo Doremi” since the hats were kinda similar. I tried to incorporate a lot of triangles in the design to represent the triforce, but I’m not sure how I feel about the inner dress yet. I like the shape, but I’m not sure if it suits him. I might wind up giving him shorts later.

I had a really hard time with Pit since his outfit is already kinda magical. The most I could really come up with was to add a few more embellishments and make some accessories less “bulky”.

I think Tabuu is actually the second sketch I did when I thought of the idea. At first I was planning on combining this AU with the human!AU to make designing the non-humans easier, but I decided to challenge myself and just keep everyone as they were. It’s a shame because I think this hair suits his design a bit better than the original, but if there ever is a final version of this project, he’s gonna stay bald. His ability is: Morpho Anguish

Of course I had to try these two at some point. R.O.B. has a royal motif to represent how he ruled over the lesser ROBs, but it’s a little difficult to think of accessories he can realistically wear while keeping most of his original silhouette and get across that he’s a magical girl too.

Unlike other designs where the idea for the costume preceeded the ability, I thought of GW’s ability first and then the costume. His ability allows him to “cook” anything into existence from food to people, but he can only do the “complicated stuff” with his cookbook, which is in Tabuu’s possession.

Another sketch of these two. This is when I realized that Mario’s wings would overlap with Pit’s. Speaking off, it’s not super obvious, but I eventually settled on “ballerina” as a theme for Pit so I could distance him a bit more from his original outfit. Specifically he’s inspired by “Swan Lake”, thus the first iteration of the feather skirt appears.

TBH, Wario isn’t super inspired yet. At first it was just a take on Mario’s outfit, but I think I’d like it come a little closer to his WarioWare design since that’s his default in Smash. The crown and cravat is supposed to represent a “W” though, so that’s something.

The most recent iteration of Pit. I let him keep his bodysuit so he could retain some modesty since I draw the skirts on so short, but I honestly think it clashes with the rest of the design. I’ll have to find a way to incorporate more blue into the design if he’s gonna keep it.

Mario is mostly the same from previous iterations, so Luigi takes a lot from him, just a “little” different. I like the striped socks as a shout-out to the Mario & Luigi games, but I don’t like how he takes some of Mario’s red when Mario doesn’t take Luigi’s green (I tried giving him the green striped-socks, but they didn’t look good). I might take them out if I iterate on him again. Luigi’s ability is: Electric Moons.

Another tough one since her design was already kind of magical. I feel like all I did was shorten her dress and add some bows, but sometimes that’s all you really need to do. Her ability is: Blooming Rosales

Originally she was going to be more “knight” themed and keep her helmet since her power suit reminds me of those medieval suits of armor, but I can’t really draw armor, so I chickened out of it. It’s not super apparent, but her skirt is supposed to be transparent. If I come back for her, I think I’m going to work on making her an actual suit of armor so that there’s more difference between this and her zero suit form. Her ability in this form is: Stellar Cannon.

I feel like this is less “magical girl” and more ”Judy Jetson”. I like it, but I think it should be frilled up a bit more. I wanted to add some more flower detailing to represent the pikmin, but I think it really clashed with the “old-timey astronaut” thing he’s got going on. It’s still on his helmet, but it really sticks out, doesn’t it? His ability is: Plucking Gardens

Last two. I might find a way to reintroduce their hoods, but I love the idea of a hat that’s comically small. The pompoms on their hats and shoes are supposed to invoke cherries since they’re often drawn as a pair, but I don’t think it really comes across that way. Popo’s ablity is: Icy Flurry. Nana’s ability is: Freezing Snowfall. Together their ability is: Twin Blizzard

[watermelon-pxpsicle]

ℙ𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 ℙ𝕖𝕣𝕗𝕖𝕔𝕥| ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕜𝕤 𝕩 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕𝕖𝕣

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕆𝕟𝕖||𝔻𝕠𝕨𝕟𝕝𝕠𝕒𝕕

𝕏𝕏𝕏

{•N/N•}=nickname

{•M/L/N•}=mother's last name

𝕐𝕠𝕦𝕣 ℙ𝕆𝕍

I wait patiently in my chair checking my notes on this week's modeling session. In pure boredom I start to do that leg thing that people do when they need to get out extra energy. Before I look up though I can feel warm calloused hands covering my eyes. "Guess who?" I chuckle and say "Hm, well I suppose my only guess would a certain man with wings who is late to his modeling session" he laughs and says "aw come on, I'm not late you're just always early!" He takes his hands off my eyes and says "I'd never be late for a modeling gig with you" he gives one of his famous smug smirks and I roll my eyes.

I lead him back to the hair washing chair and continue to wash his hair. "So how’s hero work?” He sighs and says “Stressful, I guess but it’s nothing I can’t handle” he says it with a cocky smirk but I can’t help but feel sad for him. Hero work certainly does look stressful and it’s a shame that the hero commission can’t give the heroes just a little bit more free time. Although I guess it’s not like villains are just going to give them some days off to chill and just relax. His wings make it a bit difficult for him to lay down in the chair so he usually just sheds all his feather into a pile and just leaves them there, until he uses them again. It’s kind of weird to just have hawks feathers all over the place, but I’ve gotten used to it.

Once I'm done with washing Hawks's hair I blow dry and brush it. After I'm done with perfectly brushing it though he just has to run his hands through it. "H-hey! What are you doing that for!" I rush over and he chuckles. "Aw come on, I was itchy! It's not my fault that you buy high-class shampoo. Besides I like having you brush my hair" I sweat drop and go back to styling his hair until it's back to its fluffy, clean, and neat self.

Next is makeup. I don't have to add too much makeup to Hawks since he already has flawless skin, but fixing his bird eyeliner usually helps the aesthetic. It wasn't until the first time I tried wiping the little triangles under his eyes that I found out that that was part of him. We laughed it off anyways, but I still felt embarrassed inside and curios on how he just happened to be born with eyeliner on. When applying the eyeliner I have to be careful to not to touch Hawks too much, since he's ticklish and last time I did that his wings ruffled and spread and knocked over the chairs.

I can almost hear his breathing when I'm applying the makeup, maybe scared of getting ticklish again or just from staying still for a period of time. After I'm done he relaxes again and he follows me to his changing room. When he's in the changing room I check my phone to see any text notifications from the date I had last night. Although it seems as though I'm cursed to be forced alone, forever.

When Hawks comes out he notices my slightly saddened expression. "Hey chickadee, whats got you down?" I look up at him surprised and try to put a smile back on. "Oh nothing, just was spacing out that's all" He nods but I can tell he doesn't believe me. When we're around less people he asks again. "Seriously though, are you okay?" I sigh "I don't know, I guess right now my love life is slowly dying, although not like it was strong in the first place" Hawks looks a little taken a back by what I just said and a little sad too.

"I mean, all my friends have boyfriends. I'm just a twenty two year old who hasn't had one in what feels like forever" I exhale and look back up at him. "I'm sorry, I really shouldn't be talking to you like this. Super unprofessional of me let's do the photo shoot now" he was hesitant to move or talk back first but Hawks eventually followed me to the shoot. "So anyway I was thinking about matching the tones of your outfits to compliment the backdrops to really get a whole aesthetic going. And anyway I was also thinking about- Hawks?" I snap once trying to regain his attention. "Hawks?" Snapping gains got his attention and he turned to me.

"Hm? Oh! Sorry spaced out there for a bit" we continued the shoot without any further problems with him and his tendencies. We actually got it down fairly quick. "Anyway we'll reschedule for next time?" He nodded "yup just as usual" I go to exit and then I hear him mumble "look forward to seeing you again" I turn around making sure I heard him correctly. "Hm?" He looked a bit a flustered and just said "ah, I meant- I mean, um Bye!"

"Uh, yeah sure. Bye!" I exit the building a bit confused but eventually shrugged it off. "Just bird stuff right?" No matter the cause I go back to my cozy studio loft and sigh. "It's only Four O clock, but I still feel tired" maybe I should make something to eat. After I made something to eat I sat down on my couch and started sketching new ideas for different fashion and jewelry lines. I also brought a bag of popcorn with me. Eventually I put my hand in the bag and nothing was left in there except kernels. Looking around I realize the sun has already started to set. "Did I really just spend three hours non-stop drawing?" I shrug and decide to get to bed.

𝕋𝕚𝕞𝕖 𝕊𝕜𝕚𝕡 𝕥𝕠 𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕩𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕪'𝕤 𝕃𝕦𝕟𝕔𝕓

"Aw come on {•Y/N•}! You need to put yourself out there. Here it's a free app, just get it" I sigh listening to my friend, Alex's lecture about why I should get a dating app. "Listen here you've been single for way to long girl friend. It's time you go get yourself a man!" "Alex I'm honestly fine, it's sweet that you're doing this for me, but maybe I'm just not destined to meet someone" I take a sip of my drink and look down at my purse.

"Hey can I borrow your phone I want to know what the weather is tomorrow"

"don't you have your's?"

"Yeah but I left it in the car"

I reluctantly gave her my phone and before I knew it she was giggling. "What?" I look over and realize she already downloaded the app!

"A-Alex!" She puts her hand up just to drop and give me one of those "Oh please" looks and showed me my phone back. "Look hun you already got a match" I look down at my phone and notice that I did get a match. "Hold on, really?" I scroll though the person's name and it read 'Keigo Takahiro' he didn't have a picture but it seemed like none of these profiles did. "Hey why aren't their any photos here?"

"This app is made so people don't focus on looks and focus more on the person. "But then you could be talking to a creepy old man!" She just shrugs "you could be doing that too on any other app". Wait so you put my name as {•N/N•} {•M/L/N•}?" She nodded. "I mean you're kind of well known. Since your always around Hawks it's probably better if people don't read your profile and just say 'omg it's that one girl who always around hawks'"."I suppose" although I wasn't really listening I was scrolling through his profile. I didn't find anything that really stood out to me. "Hm his favourite food is chicken, he likes heights, he has a stable job. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all" alex smiles "see? I told you so, soon enough you'll be out here with kids" I roll my eyes and laugh "oh please no let's talk about marriage before that"

ℍ𝕒𝕨𝕜𝕤'𝕤 ℙ𝕆𝕍

𝔼𝕒𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕕𝕒𝕪

"I don't know Miruko, I just want a girlfriend" she looks at me weirdly and says "don't look at me I already got myself a girlfriend, and trust me I don't think I'm going to be needing no man anytime soon" We're lying in a parking lot because apparently I crash landed there and Miruko came because she thought there were carrots involved. I sigh "I didn't say you, Although you know {•L/N•}?" she jumps up and says "you mean your fashion designer?" I nod "I think I like her" after a few minutes of silence she says "dude, I know. You tell me this everyday" Then it looks like she gotan idea "hey! You should get a dating app!" I blink "what why?" "To get your mind off {•L/N•}! Since your obviously not going to make a move anytime soon" I think for a while "but what if I don't want to get the app?" She shrugs and says "then have fun complaining to me that you want a girlfriend everyday even though you found a girl but are too scared to make a move. You should just put your self out there. You'll be surprised" I look down "I don't know Miruko I think I'll pass" she then goes off to leave "suit yourself with loneliness!"

"Wait!" I shout back already regretting what I’m about to say. She turns back "yeah?" Defeatedly I pull my phone out of my pocket and hold it towards her. "Can you at least help me set up the account" she laughs and grabs my phone. "But wait, what if people only like me because I'm a pro hero and the publicity they would gain?" She looks up at me "just change your last name, and this app doesn't allow you to add a photo" I lean over "why?" She chomps into a carrot and says "something to do with love isn't about how you look or whatever, but I made your account, just fill out some of the other stuff"

"Hold on, am I going to be cat fishing people?"

"Course not! Just change your last name to your mom's last name!"

"Oh, okay"

Once we get my profile ready I hit done and wait a while. Then my phone buzzes "hey look you got a match!" I look on my phone to see '{•N/N•} {•M/L/N•}' I scroll through her profile and think to myself what's the worst that could happen right? “Hey, I gotta go, but have fun with your online dating!” I wave goodbye and check my phone again. It’s not my ideal way to finding a partner, but besides, this is only to get my mind off of {•L/N•}. It’s unprofessional of me to have feelings towards my employee, I mean I’m technically her boss and yet I have these, these.... feelings! That I can’t get rid of, and I just, I just want to.. I don’t know what I want to do with my feelings.

Miruko was right, I really do need to get my mind off her. She is just my fashion designer. That’s it, nothing else. Just my really attractive, kind, and nice employee. If there is some god out there,I hope they will at least send me a sign! Then my phone pinged.

||{•L/N•}||

Hey you free in two weeks? I was thinking maybe Wednesday at 9am

||Hawks||

Yeah why? Taking me out on a date lol

Could this be it? A sign from the gods? Maybe a push that {•L/N•} and I are meant to be?

||{•L/N•}||

To discuss your next fashion line silly :)

||Hawks||

Oh Okay

This girl is going to be the death of me, and hopefully {•M/L/N•} will be able to breathe me back to life.

𝕏𝕏𝕏

[linyi-is-dreaming]

Lost Feather - 02

EXO Chanyeol x Y/N

Summary: Y/N was a guardian angel for a long time. She is secretly in love with another guardian angel whose name is Park Chanyeol. When Chanyeol was not paying attention to the woman he was supposed to take care of, everything went badly bad. The one he should have had protected killed Y/N’s one. The judge blamed Y/N for not taking well care of the one she should have had protected. Even though it has been Chanyeol’s fault. He was the one who never went to his boss to tell him that she should not be protected by anybody as she seems to be a very evil person. Y/N on the other hand took the blame and with that she lost all her power. The most painful was the removal of her wings. Now, that she lives a normal life as a punishment, she tries her best to handle everything as well as she can but the unexpected always happens when you least expect it. As she expects her new assistant, she finds Chanyeol in her office instead. Will she be able to forget to forget him or is she ready to move on?

CHAPTER 02

Chanyeol’s eyes are moving between the clock and Y/N’s bedroom door as he waits for her to finally get up. Every minute of waiting feels like an hour. When he decides that he is waiting far too long, he gets up and walks to the door. Before he even touches the door handle, he walks back to the couch. “What am I even doing?”, he asks himself as he walks back to her bedroom door. Chanyeol does not want to interfere her privacy once again but he does not want to miss the bus either. If he can manage to prevent the metro, he would try his best to do so. The thought of using the metro, disgusts him the longer he thinks about it. Chanyeol turns his hand into a fist and knocks on her door three times. As there is no sound coming from her, he knocks again. “Y/N? Are you awake?” Nothing. Not a single beep is hearable. “I am coming in.”, he announces as he opens the door. “I should have come in earlier! What the hell happened in here?”, Chanyeol wonders as he cannot believe his eyes when he sees how the room looks like in comparison to what it looked like the night before. All kinds of clothes were lying all around the room. Almost no space is uncovered by clothes. As his eyes land on Y/N, he sighs deeply. “Wake up!”, Chanyeol shouts as he tries to make his way to her bed. There were too many clothes, pillows and all other kind of stuff which he could trip over. “Wake up! Wake up! We cannot miss the bus. Come on, get up!”, Chanyeol commands as he shakes her by her shoulder. “You really do not want to get up, huh?”, he asks as he rips the blanket from her.

“Hey!”, Y/N yells as she tries to grab her blanket but Chanyeol is much faster. Not even the cold breeze of air on her skin seems to wake her up properly. Y/N starts to move and for a moment Chanyeol believed that she would get up, but she only moved to get a better grip on her pillow which she hides her face in.

“Hey my ass. You are late! I already dressed up, showered and have eaten. What have you done?”

“I am exhausted.”, she answers into the pillow in which she still buries her face in. “Go away!”, she says to him as she waves a goodbye with her hand.

“Too bad. You wanted to go to bed late. I told you, go to bed like fifteen times before I fell asleep.”, he comments as he tries to take the pillow from her. “It is really not my problem if you feel exhausted. Now, get up!”

“Okay. Just give me five minutes.”

“Do I have to carry you to the bathroom?”, he asks as he lets go of the pillow.

“Yeah, yeah. Come back in five minutes.”

“Are you serious?”, Chanyeol asks as he walks to the other side of the bed to pull her closer to him by the feet.  

“What the-”

“You will get up. Not in five minutes but now.”

“You cannot make me. What do you want to do about it anyway? I am too heavy for you to drag me around this apartment.”

“You think so? Watch me.” With a fast movement, he pulls her even closer by the ankles. “Sit up!” Before she could even sit up correctly, he puts his arm around her waist whilst the other hand picks her up by her thigh. “Let’s clean your teeth.”, he says as he starts to walk out of her room carefully.

“I am thirsty.”, she pouts. “My neck feels so dry.”

“Okay, then we go to the kitchen first.”, Chanyeol says as he takes her in a better grip to hold her over his shoulder. “I dare you to fall asleep.”

“Put me down! Park Chanyeol!”, she tells him. But Chanyeol ignores her and places her on the kitchen counter instead. “What the hell do you think you are doing?”

“Making sure that we will not drive with the metro.”, he answers as he grabs a glass and fills it with water. “Here.”, he comments as he hands the glass to her. “Hold it tight.” As soon as she holds the glass in her hands, he picks her up again to bring her into the bathroom.  

“I cannot drink when you carry me like that!”

“Not my problem. You should have gotten up earlier if you like to enjoy a glass of water in the morning.”, he tells her as he places her feet on the bathroom floor. Whilst Y/N drinks her water slowly, he puts the toothpaste onto her toothbrush. “Put the glass beside and clean your teeth.”

“Why are you so bossy? I am actually your boss.”

“You are?”

“I mean, kind of.”

“A boss who cannot get out of bed? I guess I have to be the boss at your home then...”

“Dream on.”, she tells him while she cleans her teeth. “It is still my apartment.”

“Stop talking or the tooth paste will end up on the mirror.” Chanyeol looks at the watch on his hand. “Argh! I will get your clothes in the meantime.”

“Huh? No, no.”, she comments while she tries not to spit the toothpaste.

“Oh yes, yes.”, Chanyeol says loudly as he leaves the room. Quickly, she cleans her mouth with water before she follows him.

“I dare you to pick something too sexy!”, she screams as she stands by the doorframe of the bathroom. “Hey! I just told you something! Did you even hear me?” Y/N wants to follow him, but not with a toothbrush in her hand. Therefore, she walks back inside the bathroom. “This day will end up in a disaster...”, she tells herself quietly.

“Too Sexy?”, Chanyeol wonders as he goes through her stuff. “Oh my!” Chanyeol could not help himself but wonder how she could find anything in here. Pullovers are mixed with the summer clothes. The jackets are next to swim wear. Gloves are next to the underwear.

“What do you mean with oh my? Everything is right where it is supposed to be.”

“What are you doing here? Wash your face and comb your hair. You are worse than a toddler.”, he scolds her as he continues to go through her clothes.

“I will comb my hair on the bus.”, she yawns as she sits down on the edge of her bed.

“No, I will not take the bus with Ms. tousle-head. Go and finish up. I am almost done here.”  

“I cannot wait to be alone again. The mornings were so much calmer.”, she says annoyed as she walks back to the bathroom. Unbothered, he continues to shake his head whilst he picks the first pair of light jeans and the first t-shirt, he sees. As he returns to the bathroom, his eyes are falling on her immediately. With a sigh leaving his lips as he leans above her to make her notice him.

“Out of the bathtub!” She might nod her head, but the rest of her body does not move an inch. “Stop nodding and move.”

“Let me just rest my eyes. Just for a moment.”

“Argh!”

“Be a little quieter. Just a tiny itsy bit.”

“Y/N!”

“Oh, come on. Were you never so exhausted? Is there no sympathy you have for me?”

“No, my sympathy for you is out of sale. Here, put these on.”, he tells her as he hands her the clothes. Carefully, Y/N gets out of the bathtub.

“Thank you.” Chanyeol nods and walks towards the door until he hears a little giggle. It was not just a small giggle. More a ‘I knew you would mess up’-giggle. “Uhm, Chanyeol.”

“Yeah?”, he asks as he turns around.

“Do you want to pick the whole outfit for me or just some parts of it?” Chanyeol’s eyes keep scanning the clothes in her hands until he notices what he almost forgot.

“Damn, I forgot the socks.” Quickly, he snaps his finger as he is about to continue to leave the bathroom.

“And more...” He narrows his eyebrows as he turns around once again. The confusion about her words are clear to read from his face.

“More? What else did I forget? You have the rest in your hands.”

“Not really. My underwear is not here. I do not like to walk around without underwear. I tried it, but no. It feels too weird to walk around like that.”

“Do you... Do you not wear anything underneath this...? I mean, under your pajamas.”

“How funny would it have been if I would have been sleeping naked...”, she laughs as she sees his pale face expression. “Are you okay?” For a moment he says nothing at all. The only thing he can do as he goes through their conversation, is to nod.

“Do you usually...?”, he tries to ask. Embarrassed of losing control over his voice, he looks away for a second. Chanyeol clears his throat before he looks back at her. “You know... Do you... without underwear?” Y/N watches him as he seems to swallow hard.  

“Did you try to ask me if I usually sleep naked? Who does not? There is nothing better than that.”

“You could catch a cold! Are you trying to get sick on purpose?”

“Oh, come on.”

“It is not healthy to sleep naked. I am pretty sure! Because what if you lose your blanket when you are sleeping naked and it is cold within your room?”

“Then I do know that you will be on the other end of the blanket.”, she jokes. Y/N waits for a moment before she claps her hand loudly. “Do you want to see a show or can I get dressed?” Chanyeol looks away as he walks out of the bathroom.

“As I would have not seen it all before.”, Chanyeol says quietly but still loud enough for her ears.

“Why are you acting weird then, when I tell you that I sleep naked?”

“Forget it!”, he yells to make sure she hears him. The closer he moves to the couch, the more he feels his legs are giving in. “Why is she doing this to me?”, he wonders as he lands face first on the couch.

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ

As soon as Y/N locked the door of her apartment, she has been rushed down the staircase by him. All the begging to take the elevator was for nothing. The bus stop is only a few streets away but having Chanyeol next to her, stresses her even more. When they are only two streets away from the bus stop, her lungs start to ache. “Faster! Faster! Y/N, faster!”, Chanyeol yells at her as he sees the people waiting at the bus station from a distance.  

“Stop pulling me! My arm is about to fall off.”

“You still have another one. I can already see the bus station from here.”

“I am starting to sweat. This is not healthy.”

“Stop complaining! If you would have gotten up much earlier….”, Chanyeol scolds her as an idea pops in his head. With a quick movement, he picks her up to put her over his shoulder. “Is this the only way to get you somewhere in human form, huh?”

“Chanyeol, you better run.”

“Why?”

“The bus is coming.” That is all it takes to make Chanyeol run. If there would not be so many cars to stop them to cross the street, they would be there already. “Forget it. We are too late. You can stop running now.”

“Somebody, stop the bus!”, Chanyeol yells as he runs to the bus station. “Hey! You! Sir! Stop the bus!”

“I cannot see who you are screaming at but I think they cannot hear you.” Just as Chanyeol arrives at the bus station, the bus drives off. Disappointed, he puts Y/N back to the ground and looks angry at her while he rests his hands on his hips as he tries to catch his breath. “What are you mad at me for?”, she asks innocently.

“You are asking why?”, he questions in disbelief. “How are we supposed to get to work now, huh? Your car does not work, the bus is gone-”

“Well, we can still use the metro.”, she interrupts him as she places her hands on her hips as well.

“How could you have had worked as an angel when there is this much of an evil personality in you?”

“You used to love this side of me.” Chanyeol shakes his head as Y/N starts to walk towards the metro entry. “No need to run. We are at work on time if the metro is not overfilled.”

“If you would only have gotten up a few minutes earlier...”

“Yeah, yeah. Blame it on me. So usual.”

“I hate the damn metro.”

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ

“Stop looking this disgusting. It was a short trip to work, was it not?”, she asks him as she opens the door of the building. “Okay, the burger smell was disgusting but that was for like, a minute? The rest of the ride was fun.”

“You might have enjoyed the damn metro but this child did not slobber on you, did it?” Y/N laughs for a moment before she is able to stop herself from doing so. "It is so funny to have a stranger's child's saliva on your arm."  

“I cleaned it off of you. What is your problem?”  

“How can you like the metro so much?”  

“Most people do. Do not think about it so much.”, she says as she cannot hide her smile any longer.

“Good morning, Ms. Y/L/N.”, the lady at the front desk greets. “I am glad to see that you are doing alright. Oh, good morning to you too Mr. Park.” Chanyeol tries his best to smile as friendly as he could, because a good morning will not leave his lips today.

“Good morning to you too. Should I not be alright?”, Y/N asks as she steps closer to the front desk. “You look a little pale, are you not feeling good?”

“I am hanging in. I mean the last pregnancy was easy but this one... But that is not why I said what I said.”, the lady explains. “I was just worried because the bus that you usually take, had an accident according to the radio news.” Y/N’s eyes move to Chanyeol as his eyes meet with hers. “Two busses crashed into each other. Seems to be some kind of trouble with the brake, they meant.”

“The bus I usually take, had an accident? Are we not lucky, Chanyeol?”

“You are living near each other?”, the lady questions surprised.

“Not exactly.”, Y/N tries to explain but Chanyeol interrupts her. When Y/N discovers his evil grin, she fears for the worst.

“We know each other for years. We just lost each other and well, destiny. You know.”, he says with a wink towards the lady. There is almost no second between his wink before her cheeks turn red.  

“Alright. I think that was a nice good morning talk for now. We still have a lot of work ahead of us.”, Y/N says as she pushes Chanyeol to keep walking.

“Aw. I just started to warm up to this beautiful lady.” The red cheeks from the lady turn even more red as she uses her hands to cool down her face.

“She is already married and has a child with him. You can see as well that they will have another one. What is wrong with you?”, she asks quietly as they walk along the hallway.

“Jealous?”, he wonders amused.

“Me? No.”

“You are cute.”, he says as he pinches her cheek.

“If you do not want me to break your leg, stop that.”

“You would not use your powers to do so.”, Chanyeol says very confidently. The confidence is soon gone when he sees that she looks so serious. “You would not do that, right? Um, Y/N?”, he asks again as there is no answer by her.

“Just be careful.”, she says as she speeds up her steps.

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ

“Finally! I am starving.”, Chanyeol announces as he takes a look into the cafeteria. “It is almost empty. Are we late?”

“The others mostly eat an hour earlier. I always come here later when the most people left.”, she answers as she checks her emails on her phone.

“Are you telling me that I could have eaten something an hour ago?”

“You could have.”

“I am hungry and I do not take it as a joke.”

“Me neither. I only had this little cupcake from the shop at the metro station.”, she sighs as she hands him money. “Whatever you want, this amount will cover practically anything here.”

“Cool.”, Chanyeol comments as they step forward to the waiting line. At first, Chanyeol did not notice it, but the lady behind him seems to study all his moves. When he starts to notice what she is doing, he looks at her for a second before he turns his body to Y/N. He puts his hand around Y/N’s waist and moves his nose along her neck. “Play along. This woman is creepy.”

“Who?”, Y/N wonders.

“Behind me.”, he answers as he places a kiss on her neck.

“Go on and everybody will think that we are dating.”

“Too far? Sorry.” As Y/N is next to order, he lets go of her. When he looks back carefully, he notices that the woman is looking back at him. As this woman fakes a smile, he ignores it and turns away.

“Shall I wait or take a seat already?”

“Wait for me.”, Chanyeol says before he orders his food. “It smells so good.”

“Why did I know that you would go for that food?”, she jokes as she chooses their table. “It looks nice over here.”

“But over there is a window seat.”

“Did I pay or did you pay for us?”

“But Y/N-”

“If you pay the next time, you can decide where we will sit.”

“Fine.”, he says to end their conversation.  

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ

Halfway done with his meal, he discovers a man who walks directly towards their table without food in his hands. “Do you know this guy?” Y/N turns over quickly to see who he is talking about. Chanyeol did not need to ask if she knows him, her smile said it all.  

“Hey!”, the man greets happily.  

“Hey.”, Y/N says back shyly. That they kept eye contact the whole time as Chanyeol would not be sitting there, makes him feel sick. He feels weird as he watches them starring at each other without saying anything to each other. They kept looking at each other even when this man is sitting down next to her. Loudly, he places his hand on the table. Startled, both look at him.  

“Oh, too loud? Sorry.”, he apologizes. “Hello, we did not meet yet. My name is Chanyeol.”  

“Uh, you are the new one! Y/N’s assistant.” If this guy would stop with his flirtatious smile, it would help Chanyeol to keep his neutral facial expression.

“Yeah, that is me. The one who is on working on Y/N’s side. And you are?” The disrespect within his tone makes Y/N turn to him immediately.

“Not afraid to speak up.”, he notices. “Jongin. Kim Jongin. I work on the floor above you. Financial department.” If Chanyeol would have not noticed his jealousy, he would have breaking out in an alpha like behavior for sure. The more of Y/N’s blushing he sees, the more he feels the need to shake his head. Jongin’s flirtatious eyes makes him want to punch him. “You should show a little respect for the people who are working here longer than you, Chanyeol.”

“For you it is Mr. Park. Secondly, I am obvious older than you. Should you not show me respect, seeing it from this perspective?”

“So, we do not call each other by first names?”

“We can. Depending on the tone you use.” Jongin starts to smile to not show how annoyed he is with him. “So, Jongin. How come you two know each other so well even though you do not work with each other?”

“Relax. No need to sound like her big brother.”, Jongin jokes. “I just thought because you seem to come along with Y/N, I will be nice to you as well.”

“Uh, that is what it is...”

“I am sorry. What did you just say?”

“I am wondering, are you guys friends?”

“We?”, she asks with big eyes.  

“Who else is sitting at our table?”

“Do not speak to her like that.”, Jongin intervenes.

“You could answer as well.” Before Jongin could even answer, his phone rings.  

“Damn. I have to pick up, this call is very important.”, he states as he licks his lips. “I hope you two enjoy your lunch without me.”, Jongin says as he turns away.” "See you around, Y/N.” Chanyeol waits a few seconds until there is enough distance between them and Jongin.

“Seriously?”, Chanyeol sighs.

“What?”

“Seriously him?”, he repeats as he points at the direction in which Jongin left.

“What are you even talking about?”

“Those eyes,”, he tells her as points at her eyes with his fork. “Are telling me you fell for this fool.”

“No, I did not-”, she stutters as her voice shuts down.

“Do not lie to me!”

“I am n-”, she speaks before her voice is gone again. “I respect him as a colleague.”

“Liar! Your red cheeks, this weird avoiding of his eyes. Did you forget that you cannot lie to me? Your shaking fingers, this constant smile. I mean, I did not expect you to be alone but him? Come on. You could do better.”

“Nobody but him has asked me out so far.”

“I did!”

“You do not count! You were not here.”

“So?”, he wonders. “I was not here physically, but my mind was with you. Look-”

“Are you jealous?”

“So what if I am?”, he confesses. “I, at least, can confess. But you?”

“No reason to point the finger at me.”

“I just want to warn you. Guys like him, they date girls like people choose desserts. Once they got a taste, they are gone. If he breaks your heart, I warned you.”

“We already went on a few dates.” Chanyeol drops his fork in shock.  

“What?”

“Yeah... it was nice.” she says as she seems to drift off whilst she continues to play with her food. “It was really nice.” Without even recognizing her doing, she bites her lips.

“Nice? Your day dreaming over nice?”, Chanyeol wonders until he realizes what it means. “No, please no!”, he says as he puts his fork into his rice. “Do not tell me you ended up having sex with a guy like that.” Y/N continues to eat but slower than before. “Y/N?”

“We might have done what you are thinking of. But that is none of your business!”

“None of my...? Y/N. Are you for real?”

“Do you see me laughing?”  

“Oh no! Stop seeing him. He is no good. This guy will hurt you.”

“You are just jealous. Are you trying to tell me that he wants to kill me?”

“Yes, I am jealous but it does not change that you are a toy to him.”

“How do you want to know?”

“Hello?”, Chanyeol asks as he leans back in his chair. Slowly he points up and down his body. “Did you not recognize that I am a man? I know what is going on in a man’s head.”

“You do not know him.”

“I do not need to know him. His actions told me everything I need to know.”

“Please. Just stop.”

“How many colleagues of yours did he date? How many possible former sex partners of his are working here?”, Chanyeol questions. Her red cheeks and smile are fading the more she thinks about his words. “I did not mean to make you sad. Just realize that he is an ass. Not the good kind.” Y/N takes a bite and looks at Chanyeol who struggles to eat as well. “Something I can do to lift your mood again with my stupid timing?”

“Shopping.”

“I do not have my own money yet.”

“I do not care. I will pay. You need clothes anyway.”

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ  

“Thank you for the clothes, Y/N. I will give you the money as soon as I get paid.”, Chanyeol says as he puts the shopping bags into the living room. Even though, Chanyeol found everything he needed within forty minutes, he decided to let Y/N search through the shops for something else. The guilt of making her sad, made him continue the shopping trip. After another hour had passed, it was time to go home and that made Chanyeol more than happy. “I am really thankful for all the dress advice of yours.”

“No big deal. It is kind of my job, isn’t it?”, Y/N questions as she walks into her bedroom.  

“Do you want to order in? You only have instant meals in your freezer.”, Chanyeol says loudly. It is loud enough for her to hear it into her room. “That was quick.”, Chanyeol comments as he sees her walking out with the dress from yesterday as well with the same jewelry from yesterday. “You are weird! It looks good on a weird lady like you.” As no answer comes from Y/N, he takes an instant meal from the freezer and puts it into the microwave. Chanyeol is more than happy to see her this happy again. The way she walks into the bathroom looks like she would be dancing. “Hurry up! The food is almost done.” Even though, the instant meal is already ready to be eaten, Y/N is still in the bathroom. He eats a few bites from it as he gets bored form waiting before he wonders what the reason could be for her to take so long. Automatically, he moves to the bathroom but before he even knocks, she opens the door widely. “Why did you dress up?”

“Can you stop asking me why I do what. It is my apartment in the end.”, Y/N tells him as she walks pass him into the kitchen. “Uh, good choice. That is my favorite instant meal. I hope you like it too.” Chanyeol, did not really listen, he had too many questions on his mind as he follows her like a puppy.

“Yeah, it is not that bad.” When Y/N turns around, she sees the confusion in his face. “Where are you going?”

“I have a date.” No, you do not, Chanyeol thinks as he sees her grabbing her clutch.

“You have to watch over me! What if something bad happens!?”

“Nothing will happen. Just do not cook and do not light the candles. You will be fine.”

“Y/N, you are not going out. Definitely not with him.”

“Who says I am going out with Jongin?”

“Uh huh! It is him.” Y/N rolls her eyes as a response. “Why him? Do you want to get your heart broken?”

“I did not say it is him.”

“Is it him?”

“That is not the point.”

“Tell me, come on. We know that you cannot lie to me. Just tell me.”

“Stop it.”

“Y/N-”

“Stop the pouting. You will not make a decision for me!”, she tells him as she puts on her shoes.

“You are right.”, he says in a sad voice. “Have fun.” Y/N can hear the sadness in his voice but she knows if she gives in, he might will try it again to keep her from going out by the next time as well. “Just go. I understand that you do not want to date me anymore.”

“That is not the case.”

“Does that mean, you want to date me?”

“I... What I tried to say is that...”

“Nevermind. Have fun.”, he says as he looks back on his food. Chanyeol feels defeated as he starts to wonder, what he must do to make her see that he is not worth her time.

“Thank you. I see you later!” Chanyeol watches her as she leaves through the door. With a few quick steps, he reaches the window from where he tries to see where she is walking to but as she is quickly around the corner and with that, she is out of his view. With a bad feeling, Chanyeol walks back to his food. All kinds of thoughts cross his mind as he is remembering the hickie that she had last night. Only a few more bits fit in his stomach before he starts to feel sick. He looks at the food with disgust. If that is her favorite instant meal, why did she not eat it then, he wonders. Angrily, he finishes his food and to his regret, his stomach feels more than just full. Somehow, his feelings are telling him to stay awake until Y/N would be back but his eyes are feeling as they would shut any moment. He puts the dirty dishes into the basin as he sighs. Chanyeol checks the time as he walks towards the window. No, Y/N is still not in sight and Chanyeol starts to dislike it even more. Once he lied down on the couch, he falls asleep instantly.

ଘ(੭*ˊᵕˋ)੭* ̀ˋ

Almost like an alert, he wakes up as he hears her heels. Slowly, he sits up to stretch himself. “Hey, you are finally back.”, he says. He can see that Y/N seems to be in a hurry to get rid of her shoes and jacket. Even though, Chanyeol is walking towards her, she storms pass him into her bedroom. Chanyeol saw her face for maybe three seconds but he could see that something was wrong. The jacket that she threw into the corner, the shoes which were lying separately on the floor, look not like Y/N’s usual doing. He starts to pick up her jacket to hang it up but his eyes always move towards her bedroom even when he puts the shoes together next to the wall. As he approaches her bedroom door, he can hear someone cry. As he opens the door, he can see how she lies on her side and how she holds the pillow to cry into it. “What happened?”, he asks carefully as he sits down next to her feet.

“Nothing. I am fine.” Chanyeol approaches her slowly. At first, he waits for her to say something else but when she says nothing else to him, he sits down on her bed. Carefully, he wipes over her cheek.

“Does not look like it to me.”, he says in a calm voice. “Did he do something to you? Did he hurt you?” Y/N just shakes her head in response. “What is the problem then?”

“You were right. You were absolutely right.”

“Oh, Y/N.”, he sighs. “I am sorry.”

“No ‘I told you so’?”

“Not today.” With a slow movement he cuddles up behind her. As she says no word, he spoons up along her body. “You are not the only one he sees, right?”, Chanyeol asks as he moves his hand up and down her upper arm.

“He is seeing another girl as well. Well, at the beginning he met up with three other girls but the other two did not like this idea of his either. Jongin never told me that he is only seeing me but I truly believed it. I even slept with him because I thought he is not the guy to do something like that.”, Y/N confesses. “This idiot pretended as it would be normal to date a few people at the same time just to have fun nights with different people.” Chanyeol puts his hands on her shoulder to calm her.

“If he does not see how perfect you are, it is his fault.” These words felt so warm, which makes her eyes fill up again. “Why are you starting to cry again? I mean it, you are perfect just the way you are. Do not waste your time on people like him.”

“Why are you like that? I never said that I love you back, still you treat me as we were a couple.”, Y/N asks as she sits up.

“I do not know either. My love for you just makes me kind, I guess.”, he jokes which makes her laugh. “Uh, a nice smile. I love it.”

“I am not ready to say what I feel for you. What you did for your protégée was wrong.”  

“I know. I know that you cannot do it yet. I am not expecting you to say it as you still feel betrayed by me.” With a fast movement she turns around to face him.  “I should have not been so focused on you. I should have done just my job but I could not focus. I cannot change what she did.”  

“You knew that she planned to kill my protégée. The way you tried to manipulate her to not do it, did not work. Instead of turning to our authorities, you let her get away.”  

“I thought that I could prevent it to happen. I am sorry what happened to yours but she is paying the price for her actions now.”  

“Great. You should have seen his kids! They cried for weeks and what do I, the fool, do? I stepped up for you. Telling them it is not your fault. I told them that I was too late. I only could greet his soul because he bled to death.” Chanyeol pulls her closer until her head lies next to his neck. “I lied to protect you even though you were at false.”

“I was there. I was watching over the kids after the incident.”  

“You were not there.”  

“I was there, when you were not. I knew you did not want to see me, that is why I stayed away from you. But I felt guilty for what happened and I kind of wanted to make it right. Even if it is jut helping them to fall asleep.” When she looks up at him, she can see his wet eyes. “I am so sorry for his family.” Slowly, she wipes the tear of his cheek with her thumb.  

“If you would have only told them-”  

“I know... It would be so different now.” She can feel his hand in her hair as he places a kiss on top of her head. “I know, such things are the ultimate betrayal but I never meant to betray you. I was scared, I never had to take care of someone like her.”  

“I started to trust you. I saw you more than just a stress relief at that time.”  

“I realized that.”  

“But still you said nothing? Why did you wait until the day they took my wings?”  

“Because you needed to know. I was a coward. I just wanted to be close to you, even if you would use me. As long as I am with you, I would be alright.” His voice makes him sound so vulnerable, but still he smiles at her. “But here we are. I am not able to lie to you and you cannot lie to me.”  

“I do not know what to say.”  

“You do not have to say anything. I waited for years to finally talk to you. I waited months until we had our little thing. It took me only one day to lose what I built up with you. I am not afraid to wait again, because you are worth it.” Y/N listens to his words carefully. The way he speaks is calming her and it fills her up with some kind of warmth within her chest. Almost as everything else would not matter as long as he would be there. “Whenever you are ready, I am here. I am not leaving.”  

“Why did you not come to me? Why did you not become my guardian angel?”  

“I was not allowed to. When the one I should guard, killed yours... I wanted to come to yours... But you were there before me. I wanted to give you my powers as well to make him survive but I came too late. You told me to stay away afterwards. You blamed me for her doing. I am sorry, for everything that happened but I am not sorry that I love you. I tried to find you, but since you were no guardian angel anymore, I could not find you.”  

“Is that why you were begging them to bring me back?”  

“Yes.” Y/N’s eyes are not able to look away from his eyes. “Even if you cannot forgive me, do you think you can give me a chance? A chance to get to know you like a boyfriend would?”

“I cannot answer.”, Y/N says as a tear escapes her eyes.

“You do not have to-” Chanyeol stops to speak as he feels her lips on his.

“I can show you, but I am still insecure about us.” Chanyeol nods as he places a soft kiss on her lips before he pulls her closer.

“We have enough time on our hands.”, he assures as he pets her hair. “For now, you need to sleep.” Y/N only nods as she places her hand above his heart.

“Your heart. It is beating so fast.”

“I know.”

“Even though I told you that I hate you?”

“Even if you tell me to die. My heart beats for you.”  

[memesiders]

Part 3

Death x OC Office AU

(Idk if you guys are even still interested in this but it's helping me get back into writing so imma keep posting it until y'all tell me "STOP!!!" Also I'm on mobile so I can't do a "keep reading" thing I'm so sorry I know it must be annoying)

“Do these leggings make my ass look to big?” I stood sideways in front of the mirror, studying my butt. Today was my first official day on the job, and I was nervous as hell.

“Everything makes your butt look big,” Neema answered, giggling. I scowled at her and stuck my tongue out, turning back to the mirror.

“Seriously, is this okay? Professional enough?”

“Ugh, it’s fine!” She joined me in front of the mirror and grabbed the hem of my baby pink top, pulling it down over my butt. “You look great, alright? It’s not like you’re gonna go to meetings or anything, right? No need for stuffy clothes.” I smiled a little and nodded. She was right, but I still felt uneasy. Maybe my outfit was too casual. “You don’t have time to change anyways, it’s almost eight thirty.”

“Shit!” I grabbed my phone and bag, running out of the room. “Love you, don’t answer the door for strangers!” Neema had gotten a three-day suspension from school after the incident, not that she minded. I hated leaving her alone, but she was sixteen and I had to stop babying her at some point, even if I didn’t like it.

“Go kick ass at work!” she called after me. I picked up my small box of things next to the door and said one last goodbye before running out.

I barely made it in time to catch the bus. I paid the two-dollar fee and searched for a seat, weaving through people. A demon standing in the aisle moved forward as much as he could to allow me to pass, his leathery wings barely missing my face as I squeezed by. Getting hit by wings wasn’t fun, I knew that from personal experience. I ducked behind an angel who was preoccupied on her cellphone and spotted an empty seat, breathing a sigh of relief. I plopped down and set the box next to me, checking the time. Eight forty.

It should only take me ten minutes to reach the office if traffic is light. I mentally cursed myself for not leaving sooner; arriving late would not be a good look for me. Amber had emailed me on Thursday to let me know my schedule and tell me who would be there to show me around. She also informed me that this was a trial run. At the end of three months, Death would decide whether or not I really could be useful. I was hellbent on proving myself, though my mission had gotten off to a late start.

I sighed and checked my email but I had nothing but spam and notifications telling me that my favorite items were on sale. Too bad I didn’t have money to burn, otherwise I’d have been excited by the news. I closed the app and checked another site, my mood not getting any better. All I saw were pictures of friends and families having the time of their lives, vacationing in the Caribbean or announcing their engagement. Apparently, my cousin was pregnant with a baby boy, oh joy. I groaned to myself as I continued to look through my timeline, feeling worse about my situation. I wanted to be able to take my sisters on vacation; hell, I wanted to be able to afford to buy them lunch one day.

I wanted to be able to buy Neema all the manga she could ever want, and make enough so Safiya never had to work another double shift again. I wanted to be able to take care of them for once.

I logged off and threw my phone in my bag, trying to ignore my pathetic self. I had a job, and that was good enough for now. I’d be able to help buy groceries and pay bills; the fun stuff could wait. My stop came up and I gathered my things, making my way back to the front. The angel from earlier was still on the phone and hadn’t noticed me. She turned to get off as I was trying to get past her and smacked me right in the face with her large wings. I fell back into one of the seats, my face stinging and mouth full of feathers.

The person in that seat shoved me forward and I stumbled to the exit, getting off as fast as I could. I set my box down and spat out the feathers in my mouth, plucking a few out of my hair. Today was definitely not starting out the best. I grabbed my things and started down the street, attempting to hold myself high. Nothing was going to ruin this, not even what had just happened.

I crossed the street and arrived at the large black building, my heart leaping into my throat. The last time I’d been here, I’d been forcibly removed. Now I was coming back as an employee. Well, temporary employee, for now. I exhaled the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding and pulled open one of the glass doors, walking in. The lobby didn’t look any different than it had the last time I saw it; black leather sofas and chairs pressed against the walls, magazines stacked neatly on glass coffee tables. The floor and walls were made of black marble, as was the front desk. There was a waterfall on one of the walls with a small pool filled with pennies. I’d tossed one in yesterday, wishing for the job I was now about to officially begin. I smiled and felt a weight lift off of my shoulders; this was a new beginning.

“You’re late.” I flinched and sucked in a sharp breath, twirling around. Leaning against the wall was Death, a frown plastered on his face and an eyebrow arched.

“You scared the shit out of me,” I hissed, taking one hand off of the box to place over my heart. “Do you get your rocks off by sneaking up on people?” He cocked his head slightly and I bit my tongue. That probably wasn’t the smartest thing to say to my new boss. “I, uh, I mean…” He stared at me silently, the quiet between us growing awkward, at least on my part. I shook myself. “I’m not late.”

“It’s nine o’ two.” I snorted. Shit, bad idea again. “I told you nine sharp.”

“I know, I’m sorry. There was a problem at home and then the bus-” He put his hand up, cutting me off, and pushed off the wall.

“Come,” he said, crooking a finger. I refrained from rolling my eyes and followed him. He looked at me for a moment and reached out, touching my hair. I jerked back a little and his hand returned with an angel feather in hand. I blushed. “Run in with an angel?”

“An inconsiderate one,” I replied. He hummed in amusement and nodded, turning back around and walking. My eyes wandered his body as I walked behind him, gaze settling on his ass. Nice. I was so caught up in appreciating him I nearly ran right into him when he stopped. “This is Nora.” I quickly looked up as he turned and gestured to the red-haired woman behind the front desk. “She’ll be your coworker and mentor. If you have any questions, ask her.” I smiled at the woman and shook her hand. “Now, I trust I won’t be hearing any complaints about you? After all, you can take whatever I throw at you, right?” I squinted my eyes a little, giving him a sickeningly sweet smile.

“I won’t be any problem at all, Death, you have my word.”

“Sir.”

“Hmm?”

“At work, you will address me as "Sir.” I held back another snort.

“Kinky,” I muttered under my breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing, Sir.” He stared at me for a few seconds, a strange glint in his eye.

“Don’t make me regret hiring you, Miss Banks,” he said. He sounded as though he was already regretting it.

“I won’t let you down, Sir.” He let out a breath that almost sounded like a chuckle and said goodbye to both Nora and I before leaving. I stared after him, a small smile on my face; that man was something else.

“I’m glad he finally found someone,” Nora said. I snapped my head back to her.

“What?”

“To fill the job,” she explained. “I thought I’d never be able to cut back my hours.” Warmth spread through my cheeks and I nodded, smiling politely.

“I didn’t think he’d hire me to be honest,” I laughed. “He must love me.” She laughed and pulled up a chair for me, sitting in her own. I gladly sat down, setting my box in my lap.

“The only love the boss has is for his siblings, I’m afraid.” I frowned slightly.

“Really? I saw him with his brother during my interview and he seemed like he’d have thrown him through the window if he had the chance.” Nora laughed.

“Which one? Strife?” I nodded. “Yeah, I don’t think I’ve ever seen those two get along, though they might behind closed doors; I’ve only ever interacted with them at work.” I nodded slowly. I wondered how people saw me and my sisters. We loved each other to eternity, but in public it could definitely seem like we didn’t care for each other.

Maybe that was how Death and his siblings were?

“Anyways, I’m glad you’re here,” Nora said, breaking me out of my thoughts. “That means I can spend less time at work and more time with my little one.”

“You have a kid?” I asked. Her smile widened and she nodded, grabbing her phone and showing me her wallpaper. It was her, a bald man, and a tiny baby. It looked cute, I guess; a button nose, big green eyes and a head of black hair. I wasn’t particularly into kids. Maybe if I had a more stable life and the right person, but I never really saw the appeal. “Cute, how old are they?”

“Ten weeks,” she cooed, staring lovingly at the photo. “She’s a bit of a troublemaker but I couldn’t imagine life without her. I just want to spend every moment I can with her.” I nodded and she put her phone away, still looking like she was on cloud nine. “I’m lucky to work here. Death was very accommodating and gave me more time off than I deserved, really. When I asked to cut back my hours, he didn’t even flinch; just gave me the time I wanted and told me I’d have to train whoever he hired next.”

I smiled; that was really kind of him. Way kinder than I thought he was capable of; perhaps we’d just gotten off on the wrong foot? “Anyways, enough about me! We should probably get a crack on, shouldn’t we? There’s a busy day ahead of us.”

“Yes, we probably should,” I agreed.

****

The week flew by faster than I was expecting. Nora had showed me around the building and explained to me all of my duties. Faxing, taking calls, making calls, scheduling appointments, emailing reminders and updates, making sure visitors were checked in and given passes, keeping the lobby clean, collect and sort mail, deliver mail on some occasions, and so much more my head was spinning. The fact that she had done so much by herself for so long was baffling. No one person should’ve been able to do all she had. It almost made me regret taking the job. The paycheck coming up was the only thing keeping me sane.

“Just three more days,” I muttered, doodling on my notepad. My stomach rumbled loudly, a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I winced and curled over a little, nausea washing over me like a wave. We were scrambling to save food at home, which meant eating less than was good for us. It had been messing with me lately and today way no different. I felt like throwing up, but I knew nothing would come out if I did. There was nothing in there to vomit up.

“Az, are you okay,” Nora asked, hanging up her phone. I straightened out and gave her a reassuring smile.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I lied, ignoring the pain in my stomach. “Just a little hungry is all.”

“Well, lunch is coming up, so don’t worry; we’ll get some food in ya then.” I nodded at her, appreciative of her kindness. I really wanted to tell her “I don’t have money for lunch! My next meal is probably gonna come out of a trashcan!” but I didn’t. I really didn’t want anyone knowing how pathetic I was that I couldn’t even afford lunch.

“Sounds great,” was all I said. She smiled at me and picked up another call. She was only on the phone for about a minute. “Looks like the boss wants to see you.” I frowned. What had I done? I hadn’t caused trouble; at least, not enough to warrant attention. I blew out an exhausted breath and pushed away from my desk, standing.

“Alright, I guess I’ll be seeing you in a bit.” She nodded and turned back to her computer screen, typing away at an email. I went to the elevators and pushed the up button, resting my hands on my hips. I was confused, to say the least. I hadn’t raised trouble at all. Well, that wasn’t entirely true; some guy had decided to try and get handsy with me while I was delivering some mail. He’d gotten his nose broken.

I’d had to file a report about it but I hadn’t been reprimanded, nor had I heard anything about it since then. Maybe it was just now getting around to Death. I frowned a little; he better not have called me up to his office to punish me. That would piss me off more than anything else he’s done since our first meeting.

The elevator dinged, the doors opening up, and I stepped in. I smashed the top floor button and leaned back against the metal handlebar, blowing a few strands of hair out of my face. I couldn’t help but be nervous. “Maybe it’s not anything bad,” I said to myself. “Maybe he’s just curious about how you’re doing? Or he wants you to do something for him? Something that Amber can’t do? Fuck…” I shook my head and straightened up as the elevator once again dinged. I breathed deeply as the doors opened, and stepped out.

Amber didn’t even look up when I walked out, gave me the go ahead to enter Death’s office. I thanked her and quietly opened one of the doors, slipping in. Death was against his desk, half sitting and half standing, with his office phone pressed to his ear. His face was contorted into a scowl, his jaw clenched tightly and the vein in his neck popping.

“I’m not going,” he growled into the phone, thrumming his fingers against the desk. “I have no need!” The person on the other end was shouting back at him, I could hear it from my position in front of the now closed door. “I don’t care what they want, they have you, War, and Strife; that should be enough for them!" The person they were talking to got even louder, and I could hear it was a woman’s voice. “Don’t threaten me, Fury.” His face was getting red, his eyes burning brightly.

Suddenly he pushed away from the desk and threw his hand up. “As I said, I have no need to-” Fury cut him off. Death still hadn’t noticed me, so I cleared my throat loudly enough to grab his attention. He looked at me and snapped his fingers, pointing to a chair. Without thinking, I obeyed, hurrying over and plopping myself down into the seat; I had no doubt he was angry enough to fire me right then and there if I didn’t listen. I could hear a few of Fury’s words now that I was closer.

Words like “council,” and “party,” and “pull up your big boy pants before I come down there and beat you senseless.” There was also the threat of dragging him by the ear to whatever party they were all supposed to be at. I nearly laughed; this must’ve been his sister, because there was no way anyone else would’ve been able to get away with saying the things she was. After a few more minutes of fighting, Death conceded. “Fine,” he huffed, falling into his chair. “I’ll be there, but don’t expect me to play nice with others.” Fury had calmed down now too, I couldn’t hear her anymore, but I was sure she was satisfied and probably had a smug look on her face. Death said his goodbyes and hung up the phone, muttering curses under his breath. He sighed and rubbed his temples slowly, running a hand through his hair. I shifted awkwardly.

“Are you okay, Sir,” I asked softly, unsure of whether or not I should say anything. He grunted and looked at me, straightening in his seat.

“I’m fine, thank you.” I nodded, tugging at the hem of my skirt.

“Nora said you wanted me up here? Is this about that asshole on the third floor? I won’t apologize for breaking his nose, you know.” Death snorted and shook his head, his demeanor changing. He looked less annoyed than he had just a moment ago.

“Don’t worry, it’s not about that,” he assured me. “He deserved it, and has been properly removed from the company.” My eyes widened slightly; I hadn’t expected that. I thought he’d just get a slap on the wrist or something. Death clasped his hands together and cocked his head slightly. “No, I called you up here to ask how you were settling in. Anything too much for you?” I frowned a little and shrugged.

“Not really,” I explained. “It’s a little difficult having to remember everything but Nora’s been a big help. I’m worried that I might be annoying her with all of my questions.” I laughed a little and the corner of his lips turned up slightly.

“Don’t apologize; I’d rather have you ask a lot of questions and be prepared than ask none and mess things up. I’m sure Nora feels the same way.” I nodded appreciatively. My stomach rumbled loudly and I blushed.

“I’m so sorry.”

“No need. Have you had lunch yet?” I shook my head. “I should probably let you get to it then. It’s around your break time, I believe.” I nodded and thanked him, standing. The world started to swim and I felt my heart leap into my throat, my vision blurring further. My legs gave out without warning and I fell back into my seat, breathing heavily. Death was by my side almost immediately. “Are you alright?”

“Yeah, sorry,” I said, rubbing my throbbing head. “I just haven’t been able to eat much lately.” I bit my tongue after the last word came out and silently cursed myself.

“What?” he asked, concern lacing his words. “What do you mean?”

“It’s nothing, really. I’m sorry for worrying you.” I tried to stand but Death sat me back down. I couldn’t really put up much of a fight.

“What do you mean, Aziza?” I looked up at him, my heart pounding. Again, with the reaction? Why did it make me feel so strange whenever he said my name? I stared into his eyes, my face growing warm, and shrugged.

“There’s not much food in the house so I’ve had to skip a few meals. It’s no big deal, I just have to wait a few days for my paycheck.” He frowned at my words and I gave him a small smile. “I’ll be fine, I just felt a little faint. It won’t affect my work, I promise.” He scoffed.

“Stay here,” he ordered, leaving me. He went to the doors and opened one of them, sticking his head out and talking to Amber. He came back a minute later and sat down behind his desk. “I had Amber order some food for you.” My eyes widened.

“You what?” I squeaked.

“I had her order a cheeseburger. Unless you’re a vegetarian?”

“I’m not, but-”

“Good, then you can wait here until the food arrives.” I stared at him, my mouth open slightly. Had he really just ordered me food? Why? I couldn’t afford to pay him back. Was he gonna take it out of my paycheck? I felt an odd sensation at the thought of him doing something like that for me; a sensation I didn’t know if I liked or not.

“You didn’t have to do that,” I said, trying not to sound too defensive. “I’m fine, and it’s not like you owe me anything. I need to get back to work anyways.” He rested his chin on his clasped hands, studying me carefully. My face grew warm again and I stared back at him.

“Yes, I did have to,” he said coolly. “You work in my building, which means I’m responsible for you. If you collapse on the job then I’ll have to give you time off to recover; time neither of us can afford. Nora will have to keep on full time until you recover and by the time you come back, you’ll have forgotten how everything works. Besides, I can’t have a starving receptionist; your hunger will make you forget things and then I’d have to fire you, and then where would you be? You’d be starving… Again.” I blinked, thinking over his words. He wasn’t doing this out of the kindness of his heart, which reassured me a little, but I was still uncomfortable. Even though it all made rational sense, I still felt uneasy about it.

“Okay, you’ll take it out of my pay, right?”

“No.” I sat up straighter.

“What? You have to; I don’t feel comfortable just letting you-”

“Is it that much of a deal?” He sounded amused. His lips had formed a small smirk.

“Yes, it is. You’re my boss and you’re just buying me food like I’m your girlfriend or something.” He hummed a little and leaned back in his seat, shrugging his shoulders.

“Fine, if it means that much to you, then there is something I’d like you to do.”

“Anything,” I quickly replied, feeling a bit of relief. “As long as I can do something to pay you back.” He cocked his head, a fang peeking out from his upper lip. A shiver ran down my spine.

“The company is hosting a party tomorrow night and my presence has been demanded,” he explained, rolling his eyes. “I need a date.” My eyes nearly popped out of my head. “It’s not a real date, but my sister insists I bring someone; something about she doesn’t want me embarrassing her.” I started to ask why he didn’t take Amber, but he beat me to it. “My brothers will be there, and Amber and Strife are not friendly with each other. Also, she has plans for that night.” I nodded, my stomach twisting into knots. My palms started to sweat and I clenched my hands into fists. I couldn’t exactly say no, not after he bought me food. I didn’t even know why he was asking me; we weren’t exactly friendly with one another. In fact, this was the first time since I’d began working here that we’d seen each other.

“Why ask me?”

“Why not?” I frowned, cocking my head like he’d done not long ago. That wasn’t really the answer I wanted, but it looked like that was the only one I was getting.

“I don’t exactly have the clothing for a party, and I don’t know how I should act.”

“You don’t have to act any way, just be yourself. As for clothes, I’ll have something picked up for you.” This was too weird to get my head wrapped around. “You don’t have to come with me, Aziza.” I flicked my eyes back to his. “I can face my sister’s wrath, don’t worry. I only asked because you seem bent on repaying me.”

“I’ll do it,” I quickly replied. “I’m just worried I’ll embarrass you or something.” That wasn’t exactly a lie. I was worried about doing something embarrassing, I just wasn’t worried about it affecting him.

“Strife will be the embarrassing one, don’t worry about that.” I scoffed playfully and leaned back in my seat. “I’m serious, Aziza, you don’t have to come.”

“I said I’ll do it and I’ll do it.” My words were final. I wasn’t going to back out because I was a little uncomfortable, even though that’s exactly what I wanted to do. Death hummed softly and stared at me, an almost soft look in his eyes. “Just know that I have a hard time keeping a filter on myself.” Death chuckled.

“Perfect.”

[thebleuroseproject]

Jailbreak

Throughout history, there have been tales of demigods and spirits, overshadowed by the greater Gods with complete mastery of the elements and emotions. But they’ve all faded to whispers, sustained only by a few, who know they are truly nothing compared to the millions of people that flocked to their names with their offerings in ancient times: Incense, prayers, cattle, children.

 Some of these beings still live – doing their duties while they still can.

Jared sat in the corner of his cell, shivering from the cold night that filled the room from the singular bare slit of a window. How many days had it been? How long would it be until he was taken to be sold? Did his sister get away before the soldiers came to their house?  It would be a waste to kill her but they only needed him for the debt, presumably.

 The boy sighed in defeat; he guessed he would have to wait to know. If his sister had been captured, he would see her at the auction, eventually. This was an infuriating thought and he had reluctantly concluded there was nothing he could do at this current time, but only after the first two nights had been spent shouting for someone to let him out and punching the stone walls. It had left his hands bleeding and his spirit cracked, and he’d been thinking of ways to escape ever since. Unfortunately, escape seemed nigh impossible with the poor excuse for a window and the heavy iron door keeping him trapped. All he had was a bed equipped with a straw mattress and a thin blanket, the clothes on his back and a growing resignation to being a slave for some aristocrat that the Duke owed money to.

 He got up and started to pace up and down the cell, thinking for a possible solution as he had done many times before. But his thoughts kept circling, and his pace became more irritated with each impossible solution until eventually he threw himself down onto the straw mattress in frustration, attempting to quiet his mind. He almost succeeded until something landed on his nose, making him snort in surprise and then sneeze himself off the bed. What on EARTH was that? Jared’s eyes snapped open, glaring at the floor to see what had offended him and his nose.

 A petal.

 A purple...crocus...petal?

 His cell was two storeys up and it wasn’t a windy night. So where did this petal come from? Jared got up and stepped to the window to look around for purple crocuses, even purple flowers of any kind, but there were none.... until several flew in his face in a windy flurry, causing him to fall back and start sneezing violently, crawling to the blanket to cover his nose that felt like it may fly off his face. He watched as the petals streamed through the window, swirling in one mass to form...a human figure. With a flash and a pop, a small person appeared from the petals, grinning with huge green goggles on its face.

 “Gotcha self into a bit of a pickle ‘ere mate haven’t ya?” It spoke in a curious accent, snapping their goggles back over their head to reveal large light green eyes.

 Jared stared at them in shock, blanket over his nose and mouth, just in case more petals decided to fly into his face abruptly. What was this creature? They seemed human, but they had pointed ears, lilac hair and an outfit that was very exotic, nothing that he had ever seen anyone wear before, not even the occasional glimpses of nobles that travelled through his village. Was it a boy….or a girl? How should he even address it?

 The creature raised an eyebrow at him

 “Didn’t ya mam ever tell ya it’s rude ta’ stare? My name’s Blythe, and before you ask me if I’m a boy or a girl coz believe me I get it so much like you wouldn’t think when I’m savin’ people’s asses the subject of my genitals would come up but oh boy wouldn’t ya be surprised…” Blythe paused to breathe before continuing “Bit of a tangent there , but anyway, I’m a spirit of the spring that shapeshifts sooo at this point it doesn’t even matter. You can call me a they...or an it I guess, but that IS rude.”

 Blythe snapped out of their monologue to address him

 “Anyway, I know your name is Jared, right? Your sister prayed for your safety and there’s not many gods or spirits out there strong enough to answer let ALONE having freedom fall in their range of duties. So, I stepped up to the plate.”

 Jared slowly dropped the blanket off his face and blinked slowly at Blythe.

 “That’s all well and good...uh…Blythe…but I can’t turn into petals to get around and that door is locked.”

 The spirit grinned at him, tutting and wagging their finger

 “Someone hasn’t bein paying attention, didn’t I mention, SHAPESHIFTIN?”

 On that note, Blythe raised an arm, which turned into a huge reptilian foot. With some clear effort, they punched the wall and smashed through it to leave a giant hole, using their small body to shield Jared from any debris. Jared squeaked in surprise at the noise, flinching back.

 “Holy crap!”

 With a grunt, the paw shifted back into Blythe’s normal hand. They turned on one heel to face him, looking worriedly at the door and speaking quickly.

 “Look in all honesty Jared, I’mma need you to co-operate smoothly. This next bit is gonna be scary and shocking and frankly incredible. But I barely have enough believers to sustain it for long. So, no wriggling or screaming, ok?”

 Jared gave them a inquisitive look, and nodded.

 Blythe breathed in, composing themselves...before jumping out the giant hole they had made in the wall. Jared jumped up in surprise.

 “Hey! Where ya going!”

   His last words were drowned out by a roar that forced him to jump back from the window in fear, his survival instincts telling him to get far away from his current location. But there was no such luck for his primal brain as a dragon’s head appeared at the hole, followed by a purple, feathered dragon claw that grabbed him quickly from the room and took off into the night, placing him on its back. Jared gripped the dragon's neck feathers for dear life as the wind bit the tips of his ears, perhaps he should have grabbed the blanket on the way out.

 “Where are we going?” He shouted into the ear of the creature, but it shook its head and pointed to the distance where a large cluster of faint lights shone, sprawling along the edges of a bay and far outward to touch the fringes of the forest surrounding it.

 Efrane City? Is that where my family are?”

 It nodded, and focused on flying from then on. Jared looked back to the castle from whence they had come. Torches were being lit in the windows and small figures ran about on the ramparts. There were no dragons in this area, so most castles didn’t have the equipment - but it was clear this dragon didn’t want to take any chances.

 They landed in a small clearing a fair distance away from the city, the dragon was rather small but still flew low to the treeline to try and avoid detection from the city guard. It landed with a bit an “oof” noise, before plucking Jared hurriedly off its back and collapsing to the ground, shrinking into the small figure of Blythe once again.

  Jared ran over, trying to help them up -

 “Are you ok?”

 Blythe coughed and put a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “That was exhausting. A small dragon for sure but still exhaustin’!”

    With that, the spirit jumped up and dusted itself off, offering a hand to Jared.

 “May I escort you, good sir?”

  Jared shook his head

 “Can we just walk? It was freezing up there.”

 Blythe shrugged

 “Fine, but it’s a bit of a trek, and it’s a tad cold so you’re gonna need this!” Blythe took off their scarf, wrapping it carefully around the boy’s neck.

 Jared reached up to touch the soft material, it was striped with sky blue and grass green - it was extremely warm.

 “Thank you.” he mumbled through the scarf as Blythe trotted away down a small dirt path, clearly worn down by people passing through over the years. They walked in silence for a while, Blythe seemingly oblivious to the curious glances Jared was shooting at them.

 “Are other kids gonna get kidnapped?” Jared finally broke the silence, causing the spirit to glance with an amused smile at him.

 “Nah, I got a friend with the dragons down south. I’ll get them to aggravate the Duke if he does it again. Your friends will be safe.” Blythe waved their hand nochantly, like they did stuff like this all the time.

 “Thank you.” Jared said, surprised and looked down at the dirt path shyly, unsure of how to ask their next question - before finally deciding to wing it.

 “Just what ARE you!” he blurted causing Blythe to stop and think about how to answer. There were times when they didn’t even know just WHAT they were.

 “Good question. I guess you could call me a demigod - not a very powerful one though. “

 “Does that mean you have powers, more than shapeshifting?”

 “Oh yeah! That’s my best one though, as well as aeromancy.” With that word, Blythe hovered into the air, reclining casually while they floated down the path “but as a child of a minor wind god, that was a given. I can also make flowers bloom. But that’s about it.”

 “So... you help people to freedom? If they pray to you?”

 “Yeah, usually. As I said before, there are others like me but we all depend on belief to live. We can’t sustain a form or use our powers without it. I’ve been doing a lot of field work so I’m pretty strong right now but give it a few hundred years, they’ll forget us - they always do.”

  They walked in silence for a while, until the dirt path became cobbled, and the city gate came into view. It was then Blythe landed on their feet, and started to walk alongside Jared, who noticed that they hung their head a little as they walked, as if saddened by the thought of being forgotten. Jared looked at them in pity, imagining what it would be like if everyone he loved forgot him. He couldn’t even imagine the pain Blythe must be going through, watching all the people they helped and loved die, and he imagined they had been through it many times. He placed a hand on their shoulder.

 “I won’t forget you, if that means anything.”

 Blythe smiled slightly, their mask of childlike innocence breaking and revealing a being wise beyond their years, for just a second. Jared saw this flicker and gently squeezed their shoulder, causing them to snap back to reality.

 “I know ya won’t. Thank you.”

 Jared nodded and continued forward, and they soon both arrived at the gate to Efrane City. He didn’t know much about this city, other than the fact it was a large port town filled with many cultures - although the majority was human and elven. Wait, where was Blythe? They had run up to one of the guards and was now talking with them, pointing back to Jared and then laughing. He jogged up to them.

 “What’s going on?”  he asked worriedly, looking up at the nearest guard who seemed amused at Blythe’s curious appearance.

 “Oh, don’t worry Jared, I’m just asking them to let us in.” Blythe bowed to the guard and walked through the gate, grabbing Jared’s arm and dragging him through with them. The city was huge, with tall, weathered buildings. The streets were empty at this late hour, but well-lit to guide anyone who decided to traverse them. Blythe had let go of his arm and was now strolling alongside him casually.

 “Your family are staying at the ‘Lonely Steed Inn’ , I know the owner quite well and she offered to give them part time work while they look for a place to settle.”

 “Really? Thank you!” Jared exclaimed, looking at Blythe in surprise. “How far are we?”

 “Now, ya’ see, the best thing about the Lonely Steed, is that it’s not too far from the entrance.”

 Sure enough, the demigod pointed to a small two storey building with light softly emanating from the first-floor windows. There didn’t seem to be many patrons at this hour - but you could still see shadows in the windows.

 Blythe spun Jared around by the scarf, and started carefully unwrapping it from his neck.

 “Now, here is where I will leave you. Go up to the counter and ask for Tasha - she’s the short, dark skinned grumpy one - ask which room your family are in and then get your own close by. You can see your family in the morning and sort out your work too. Lay low. You know how to summon me.”

 Jared nodded and with that Blythe looped the scarf around their own neck, ruffled Jared’s hair and started walking back to the gate cheerfully, giving Jared a wave as they left. Jared watched them go, and then entered the inn to start his new life.

 From then on, he and his descendants always kept purple crocuses, with a stick of incense burning nearby - to remember the being that saved them.