#i swear they'll move past this soon

[deadhands69]

Something More [epilogue]

Katsuki Bakugo x gn afab reader

MDNI

Warnings, etc: previously fuckboy!bakugo, now husband!bakugo, oral (f receiving), swearing.

part 1  -  part 2  -  part 3  -  part 4 -  part 5  -  part 6  -  part 7  -  part 8 

Here's an epilogue for Something More, if you're not up for all eight parts before this - it still holds up as a short one-shot.

There are pros and cons to being married to Great Explosion Murder God Dynamite (or Dynamite, as he had been going by since opening his own agency.) The good far outweighing the bad: he has spent the past eight years of being with you, trying to be the absolute best partner you could ever have. He cares so deeply. He's smart, funny, and organized. A thoughtful gift-giver. A great cook. Massively supportive of you. Oh, and he's fucking hot. The list could go on for days.

One issue/ Fairly frequently, the media attacks your relationship with him. It's usually at a time when he's already down, having made a mistake or snapped on a civilian in a viral video. Sometimes they'll question you about his personality at home. More often, they bring in girls he slept with in college and imply he's not relationship-material. It used to catch you off-guard but by now, you can predict it.

Yesterday Katsuki yelled at some reporters to "fucking jump already," when they blocked his car on a bridge. Today you had an interview. Perfect timing.

"How'd it go?" your husband yells towards the entryway as soon as he hears the door softly shut. His blonde hair pokes out from under the hood of his sweatshirt; by the looks of it he hasn't moved from the couch since this morning. After the incident, his PR team forced him to take a mandatory four day break "while the dust settles." It's day two and he's handled it as well as expected.

"You know how it went, it was a fucking disaster," you laugh, dropping onto the cushion next to him.

"Told ya you didn't have to go," he grumbled into your shoulder, engulfing you in his arms. "You could've stayed home with me."

"It's on in a minute," you say, reaching for the remote.

"Ughhhhh, I don't wanna watch this," he complains but makes no move to change the channel.

"It'll be fine, I promise." Reassuringly, you run your fingers through his hair while he lays his head in your lap. He grunts in response.

You watch yourself walk out and take a seat across from the host. The lights and colors looking bright on your massive TV compared to the muted decor of your living room. No matter how loud the volume is, you both prefer watching everything with subtitles.

Interviewer [Hi, and welcome to Echo! The number 8 pro hero!] You [Thanks, happy to be here.] [crowd applauds] Interviewer [We're happy to have you! Now, our friend here is married to the controversial number 2 pro hero - Dynamite.] You [Happily married, yeah. But I'm really not here to talk about my husband. Do you have any questions for me?] Interviewer [Of course, all in good time! First, we have some spicy new information to debut to our studio audience on the explosive hero's previous love life.]

You watch yourself roll your eyes on screen, knowing "previous love life" is a pretty strong term for Katsuki considering that he'd never had an actual relationship prior to you. He stirs nervously on your lap.

"I hate when you have to deal with this shit," he mutters.

"Just watch," you whisper, kissing his forehead before returning your eyes to what you know is about to unfold in front of you. Bakugo tenses as the screen continues flashing quotes from various girls he slept with in mid to late college. They're just trying to get a rise out of you.

Interviewer [So, Echo. What do you make of all this?] You [What do you want me to say, your 'spicy new' news is from nearly a decade ago.] Interviewer [This is the person you married. That can't feel great, can it? To go home to - this?]

The TV host is gesturing wildly towards the quotes still displayed on the projectors above you. Her face is set in a disgusted scowl. This is in stark contrast to you, slouched in your seat looking mildly amused by the reaction. If you're already here, you might as well have some fun with it.

You [Are you trying to sl** -crowd gasps- shame my husband? I know who I go home to and I'm not going to sit here while you reduce him to who he's slept with. He's an amazing hero and he's saved thousands of lives since then, why don't you ever talk about that?]

Katsuki exhales the breath he'd been holding since the interview started. His shoulders slump forward, relaxed. The corner of his mouth turned slightly up in a smile. You're so busy staring at his beautiful face, you miss the interviewer asking you a personal question about your sex life, looking up only to see yourself walking off the stage. A muffled "I'm fucking done," can be heard as you're tearing the clipped microphone from your jacket and push past your manager.

Sitting up, Katsuki turns the TV off and rubs the messy blonde hair from his face.

"That could've been worse," he smirks at you before leaning in to murmur into your ear, "happy I still get to be your slut."

Your breath catches in your throat. He's never said anything like that but still knew the affect it would have on you. Immediately, you're gripping his sweatshirt and shoving your lips into his. He helps take your uncomfortable interview clothes off, his sweatshirt and gym shorts sliding off easily.

Briefly, he pulls you to his mouth in a passionate kiss before pushing you back to lay against the arm of the couch. His spiky hair tickles the insides of your legs as he lowers himself between them. After a few light kisses, he firmly presses his tongue into you. Spreading you with his fingers before licking up and down your slit. Ruby eyes stare up at you as he slides his middle finger in, knowing exactly how you like to be touched. His mouth returns to nip lightly at your clit between flicks of his tongue. Adding another finger, he speeds up his movements.

In what feels like no time at all, you find yourself clenching around him inside of you. Thighs pressed into his ears as you grip a handful of his hair, moaning as much of his name as you can get out. The pressure builds and releases just as intensely.

"F-fuck-k," you sigh over the nearly splashing sound of his fingers thrusting into you. Eventually, he slows and you lighten your grasp on his scalp.

Kissing his way up your body, he comes to rest just under your jaw.

"Have time for more?" he asks, insatiably nipping your neck.

"About that. My PR team also put me on a two day leave after the interview. So, it looks like you'll be stuck with me for a few days."

"Perfect," he smiles at you lovingly before kissing you deeply again.

If you made it this far, thank you so much for reading!!

m.list

Taglist: @anonymity-222 @k1tk4tkatsuki @arsonfrogger @dragonscribble @kalulakunundrum

@screaming-dough @rikislove @gold24fish @ita606 @arc6021

@pikachuzhc @jeanbabygirl @nemisimp

[seth-whumps]

yet another wonderful whump word(s): don't move.

"don't move. your ribs are broken. stay still, let me wrap them."

"i told you not to move."

"d-don't move. you're not caretaker, you're not real, don't move, i'll shoot you--"

"hey, there you are. no, don't move. you got pretty banged up. the nurse will be in to take out the tube soon, stay still, okay?"

"don't. move. stay completely still. they'll walk past you if you behave."

"woah, hey, hey! it's just me. don't move--oh, come on, i just got you a new cup! keep your feverishly wild limbs INSIDE of the bed, please. i can't afford to get you another glassware set."

"don't you dare move an inch. i swear i will kill you right now."

[emithecharmer]

Lilac

Mentions of a car accident (not really?), Swearing, kissing, Seungmin is kinda a simp ngl ���🫣, friends-to-lovers

Sorry for any mistakes!! I haven't been sleeping much lately.

"Woah, the purple's back!" You cheered as you walked into your best friend's dorm.

"You like it?" Seungmin asked, running his hand through it.

"Yeah, it's makes you look even cuter." You cooed, smushing his cheeks in, resulting in him pushing you away with an eye roll.

"Where's everyone else?"

"Went out for dinner, they said they'll bring us back some." You frowned.

"Did you want to go out with them..? I hope I didn't keep you home."

"I live with those bafoons, I hardly ever get to see you." He said, making you chuckle.

"What should we do?" You asked.

"Wanna go watch the sunset? We could go to that little beach you like, we'll get there just in time if we go now." Seungmin said.

"Wah! You're so smart!" You said, bouncing in excitement.

"Let's go! We'll take my car." You said, practically bolting out the door, leaving Seungmin to silently watch you with a fond smile, regretfully turning away to lock the door.

.

"Thanks for driving." You said.

"It's only fair, you did drive almost 3 hours to come here today." Seungmin stated.

"Chivalrous as ev-"

"Shit-" Seungmin slammed on the breaks as a car darted out infront of you two. He put his arm on your chest, trying to shield you from hitting the dash, but that only resulted in him hitting the steering wheel with his forehead.

"Min, are you okay?" You asked quietly and he nodded.

"There's no one behind you, let me drive." You said, about to unbuckle, but froze when he grabbed onto your hand.

"We're almost there, I'm fine." He said, moving his hand down to your thigh, gripping it tightly.

It was almost too tight, but you let him hold you anyway, even if he wouldn't admit it, he must've been scared.

.

"Let me.." You rushed out of the car and to his side, checking to see if he was hurt.

"Minnie, you're gonna have a bruise, and there's a small scratch." You said, running you fingers slightly over his hair, moving it up so you could see the bruise starting to form under the small cut.

"..Are you okay?" He asked, standing up and shutting the door.

"Yeah, I'm fine, thanks to you." You giggled nervously and scanned his movements as he walked, trying to see if there was any sign of more damage.

"Hey, I'm fine okay? I promise that it probably looks worse than it feels."

"Should you call someone? Like your manager, maybe Chris..?" He shook his head.

"They're stressed as it is, this will only add to it."

"Minnie, you hit your head pretty hard-"

"Y/n, I'm fine, stop worrying!" He laughed, pulling you closer by your shoulder and rubbing it softly.

"Look at the sunset." He continued.

"It looks like your hair. This has to be the prettiest thing I've ever seen." You said, looking at the sky.

"Yeah, it really is." Seungmin said, smiling at you.

.

"I know this is getting annoying, but are you sure you're okay?" You asked quietly, turning to look at your best friend, who was flopped on the sand beside you. He smiled as he opened his eyes and squinted at you.

"I'm fine. Promise."

"It's getting pretty late, should we head back soon?" He hummed softly before nodding.

"Few more minutes."

"Min...Look at all the fireflies!" You squealed.

"There are a lot out here." He said, sitting up and looking around.

"Now you see why I love this beach so much." You said, looking out into the water, which was pitch black now, due to it being well past 10pm, but you always had a wild imagination.

"Yeah..me too." Seungmin said, making you turn to him and raise a brow.

"You're not even looking at the beach." You laughed, rolling your eyes at him, but he only smiled softly, making you freeze.

"Uh.." You trailed off as your gaze went down to the ground.

"I'm sorry, I completely understand if you don't think that way about me." He said.

"What way exactly would that be..?" You asked quietly, your eyes still on the sand, and your hands now running through it.

"I'm in love with you, Y/n. I have been for a while.."

"How long is a while?" You pressed, smiling ever so slightly as you looked up at him.

"Since the day I met you and you walked in and fell right on your ass." You gasped as you slapped his forearm, making him laugh loudly, falling back onto the sand.

"Nevermind!" You exclaimed, throwing your hands into the air. Seungmin caught onto your hand as you let them down, holding it softly.

It was silent for a few seconds before you turned your body to his, scooting closer.

"I do feel the same way."

"And what way would that be?" He relayed your question back to you.

"I'm in love with you, Kim Seungmin." You said, leaning over his face and kissing his bruise softly.

"And thank you for keeping me safe." He smiled as he let go of your hand, only to bring his up to the back of your head, pulling you back to his lips, stopping right before they came together.

"Always." He said, leaning up slightly to kiss you, smiling sweetly when you sighed into it.

I would like to take a moment to remember Moonbin. Please pray for the family and that he's in a better, pain free, place. I never really listened to Astro, but I can't imagine how hard this must be for the family, his members, and the fans. I would like all of you to really reflect on what you post on the internet, take a moment to stop and think 'Would -blank- be proud of what I'm posting?' You have to realize that these are real people, with real emotions and feelings, you would never say that to someone in person, so saying it behind a screen is just cowardly, and might cost someone their life. I realize that not everyone on here is like that, but there's enough out there. Please, please, think before you post.

[jxtina-86]

Strong

There's a nursery to be built, promises to be made. Promises that I'll be damned if I break. RomanReigns/Alexia. See here for the rest of the series/order to read.

Warning: Language/Hints of smut

Rating: MA

Italics = flashback

Because we need each other We believe in one another I know we're going to uncover What's sleepin' in our soul Acquiesce, Oasis

I lean against the doorframe and watch as Lex slowly packs away the final pile of baby clothes. All that remains is the white chest of drawers and the boxes of furniture left to be assembled. The room still carries the air of fresh paint, despite the windows being flung open for the past few days. Three walls are now coated in a pale grey, the fourth covered in grey and white chevron wallpaper – the shade matched by Lex's expert eye and carefully applied by a professional, despite my own willingness to undertake the task myself. Although that was before I realised how difficult it would be to match each sheet to the next in order to keep the pattern in line.

I did win the task of painting though. Mainly because Lex had been banned from undertaking any such job by Dr Ash, who'd looked aghast at the suggestion that she'd be putting together the nursery together single-handedly in my absence. Turns out Pregnant Lex is feistier and more determined than ever.

“All the tools are here,” Lex turns to me, pointing at the box on the floor. “And please read the instructions before you put together the crib because I don't want to come back to find that half the screws are missing because you just guessed or something.”

“Would I do that?”

She raise an eyebrow. “You put up a shelf last week that fell down after twenty-four hours because you didn't follow the instructions.”

I push off the doorframe and step towards her, taking the bag of clothes from her hands and pulling her into my arms instead. “I promise to read the instructions. And not to let Seth near the power drill. Or let Dean near a hammer. Happy?”

She scowls. “I'm being a total control-freak aren't I?”

“Wouldn't have it any other way, baby girl.” I lean down and press my lips to her forehead, my hand curling over her waist and across her ever expanding belly.

“I just feel so useless,” she murmurs against my chest, her own hand coming down to rest on her bump as well. “I told you we were jinxed by calling this one Pumpkin. Why didn't we stick with Blueberry?”

I chuckle. “And I told you we grow 'em big in my family.”

“Yeah, don't I know it.” She rocks against me. “What time is it?”

“Almost ten. They'll be here soon.”

She nods, stifling back a yawn. “I swear I'm going to fall asleep in the middle of my pedicure. They turn that chair massager on and I'm a goner.” She pokes her belly. “All because someone decided that 3am was the perfect time to start practicing somersaults.”

“Why didn't you wake me?” Guilt and frustration washes over me. Guilt because I slept through whilst she was awake. Frustration that I missed out on seeing our baby move, the actions becoming more and more visible every time. Actions that I've witnessed once or twice in real life, but mostly on video with Lex's giggles in the background.

“You were tired,” she shrugs.

“You know I wouldn't have minded.”

“I know,” she smiles up at me. “Next time. I promise.”

I lean down and kiss her softly, groaning as I hear the doorbell sound. “Perfect timing as ever.”

Lex grins. “Like that was going to turn into anything else.” She winks at me, pulling back to head towards the door.

I watch her go, my head titling to the side as I take her in from behind. Her body is fuller than ever, but in the best way possible. She might complain about her swollen ankles and feet, the puffiness around her cheeks, the stretch marks working their way over her belly, how her bellybutton has gone from innie to outie, but to me she is more gorgeous than ever. There's more of her to love and hold, my hands stretching over her belly whilst I nuzzle at her neck and whisper how much I adore her and how incredible she is. I sound like a walking cliché, but I don't care. I may be on the road, working hard to provide for the three of us, but that's nothing compared to what she has done over the last eight months, growing and nurturing our baby inside her.

I promised her that I would still love every inch of her no matter what and I make sure that I do just that every time I come home. Even if recently, that's just been through kisses and hugs because Pumpkin has become so big that it's difficult to anything else. Not that I am complaining, no way. I'd rather spend an evening with Lex snuggled against me on the couch, than put her through any discomfort just to get my rocks off. Although sometimes she surprises me, like this morning when she joined me in the shower, leaning against me with a lazy grin on her face as her soapy hand grazed against mine.

“You coming?” Lex calls out to me from the stairs and I quickly follow her, reaching the bottom as she opens the front door.

“Are you sure you're not having twins?” Siobhan exclaims as she pulls Lex into a hug.

“Nope, just those Reigns genes doing wonders,” Lex shoots me a grin over her shoulder. “Pumpkin's getting the cardio in already, gonna come out of me already crawling knowing my luck.”

“Gotta start 'em young,” Seth chuckles as he too hugs Lex before reaching out to bump my fist. “Hey man, Dean and Becca are just pulling up outside.”

“Thanks again,” I tell him. “Appreciate it.”

He waves my thanks away. “Whatever. But you're paying us with beers later, right?”

“Of course, bro.”

“Take it we've got strict instructions from the boss?”

“I heard that, Rollins,” Lex pipes up, but Seth is saved by Becca coming through the door, closely followed by Dean, who nods at us over their heads.

“You're not allowed near the power drill,” I tell Seth, who scowls. “Hey, don't look at me man, I don't make the rules!”

“We've known that for a while, dude,” Dean chuckles as he claps me on the back. “You okay?”

“Yeah, man. You?”

Dean nods distractedly and I inwardly smirk as I watch him eying up Becca's hand on Lex's stomach.

“Not you as well,” Seth groans, causing Dean's eyes to cut to him.

“What?”

Seth cocks an eyebrow. “The misty-eyed look, bro.”

“You're one to talk.”

Seth opens his mouth to retaliate, but Siobhan pipes up instead. “So, how long do you need us to keep Lex out of here? A couple of hours long enough for you to read instructions, ignore them, mess up, start again and finally finish?”

“Such lack of faith,” Seth shakes his head. “We are completely capable of putting together a crib and shelving unit.”

“Considering past experience...”

“That wardrobe's still looking good though?” Dean points out.

“You never told them huh?” Lex raises an eyebrow at me.

“Told us what?” Dean queries.

“The wardrobe door fell off about a month after you put it together,” I confess with a smirk as Dean and Seth frown.

“Wow, way to crush 'em,” Becca giggles before reaching out to rub Dean's arm soothingly. “Just maybe make sure those screws are extra tight on the crib, yeah?”

“You not gonna stick up for me?” Seth asks Siobhan, who shakes her head.

“Nope. The day we put together that TV unit will haunt me forever. I had to wrestle the tools away from you before you caused a fatality.” She glances around with a grin. “And now that we've successfully bruised all your egos, maybe we should go?”

Lex steps towards me, reaching for her purse on the table behind. I take the opportunity to pull her into my side as she passes.

“We got this, don't worry,” I tell her. “Just enjoy today.”

“Hard to enjoy when I'm imagining every worst case scenario of you three with tools and flatpack furniture.” But her tone is light and she's smiling softly when she looks up at me. “Thanks,” she murmurs quietly. “I know it means a lot... For you to do this.”

She leans up to kiss me, her breath warm on my cheek and then my lips. I fight hard not to linger, but I can't help myself, my arms wrapping around her for a second longer than necessary. Her bump presses against me, her giggle soft against my lips as I shake my head when she tries to draw back. But her hands grasp mine and pull them apart. She looks up at me with a knowing smile.

Goodbyes have never been our thing. No matter for how short or how long.

Hello is where we're good.

**

My hands feel clammy as I walk up the narrow stairs, my suitcase scraping loudly against the wall, the bag on my back feeling awkward and heavy. I feel like I'm in high-school all over again, walking up the stairs to pick up some girl for a date, my tongue thick in my mouth, my mind blank of anything coherent.

Only this isn't high-school.

And it's not a date per se. In fact, I'm not sure what this is. I haven't been sure of anything since I first saw her. I do my best to keep things as normal as possible. The last city we met up in, I tried to keep us away from the hotel for as long as possible. I took her out for dinner, the conversation easier than I imagined and I found myself wanting it to last longer. So we walked around afterwards, her hand slipping into mine the second we left the restaurant, her body brushing against mine at any given opportunity until eventually, I couldn't help myself and I pulled her hard against me, my mouth claiming hers. I'm still so desperate to prove that I can be the ultimate gentleman, but the second her body is pressed against mine, reminding me of all the delicious ways it dips and curves and how incredible it feels in my hands, I can't help myself. I want to feel all of her on me. I want to taste every inch of her. I wrap her around me, groaning as her legs grip my waist tightly, her fingers digging into my hair as I splay my own hands across her back, down to her waist, her ass as I slide her up and down my dick with ease.

And when I have her like that, the only gentleman thing I can do is make sure that it's ladies first.

I round the final curve of the stairs and pause. Setting my suitcase down with a thump that echoes around the hallway, I wipe my hand on my jeans. I'm about to knock when I hear the lock click and the door slowly opens. My heart pounds furiously, my mouth going dry as Lex appears, her long dark hair pulled into a loose braid that hangs over one shoulder, her fingers plucking at the loose end as she bites her lip. She leans against the doorframe, one bare leg crossed over the other, the hem of her black silk robe resting mid-thigh, the matching belt cinching in her waist, the neckline plunging to reveal the swell of her breasts.

“Hey,” Lex breathes and my gaze flickers up to her face again. She smirks and I can feel my face flush.

“You look amazing,” I blurt out before I can stop myself, my need to have her so painfully obvious in the rasp and roughness of my voice.

“Thanks,” she smiles. “You look good too.”

She steps back to let me in, her hand brushing over mine as she takes the handle of my suitcase and wheels it inside to set by the door. As I turn to close the door, I can already feel her hands on my shoulders, easing the straps of my backpack away and setting it on top of my case. I exhale slowly, as I roll my head forward to release the tension in my neck.

“Better?” she asks, her hands sliding down my back.

“Yes.” I turn back to face her, but my gaze is drawn to the room behind her. Normally, I would never pay much attention to our surroundings, one hotel room is the same as another as far as I'm concerned. But today is different.

Today I'm stood in her lounge, taking in the couch strewn with cushions and blankets, the coffee table covered in magazines and papers, flowers in jars on the window sill, pictures of friends and family decking the walls. The kitchen lies to the right, the refrigerator door completely covered in old postcards, take-out menus and polaroid snaps and on the counter next to it, I spy an empty glass of wine and wonder if she is just as nervous as I am about being in her personal space.

“Sorry, it's a bit of a mess,” Lex murmurs.

I shrug, my arm automatically moving to around her shoulders, pulling her against my side. Wisps of hair tickle my hand as I lower my other to slip my fingers under her chin and slowly rock her head back so she looks up at me. “Don't apologise. And anyway, I didn't come here to see your apartment.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

I chuckle. “Ain't not use in playing innocent with me, Lex. Not when you're all dolled up this...”

“Dolled up like what?” she shoots back as she unwraps herself from my arm. She turns to face me, but takes a step back so she's out of arm's reach. “I wear this all the time...”

“Then how comes I've never seen it?”

“Maybe because you're so damn impatient every time we get behind closed doors?”

“I'd say you're as bad as me.”

To her credit, she blushes but she's quick to correct herself, the coolness never leaving her voice. “But this time, we've got all the time in the world.”

“True.”

“We've got time to appreciate all the little things...”

“Lex, you know full well there ain't anything little about me,” I grin as I take a step towards you.

She giggles. “Oh, I know that, big guy,” her eyes pointedly drop to my crotch before they drag up slowly, roving over my arms and chest before settling back on my face. “And now I've got all the time in the world to make sure I cover every inch...”

I swallow thickly as I watch her hands drop to her waist, her fingers slowly untying the knot. “Yeah?”

“But it's all in the details,” she tells me. “Like how you bite your lip when I trace your tattoo with my fingers... Or how your eyes squeeze shut when I lick from your hip down to your thigh... All those little things...”

I take a step towards her, my hand reaching out to slide around her waist. Only this time, I feel bare skin, the silk slipping back to reveal...

“Fuck, Lex...” I groan as I take in the blood-red lace that covers her breasts, the panties in the same colour that hug her hips.

“All in the details,” she smirks against my lips.

**

“Stop dicking around and pass me the damn drill!” 

“No fucking way, bro. If Lex said you can't using the drill, then I'm not gonna argue.”

I chuckle to myself as I make my way upstairs, beers in hand.

“Scared of Lex, Ambrose?”

“Fuck you, man. I ain't scared of shit.” There's a brief pause. “Just don't fancy pissing off a pregnant lady.”

“Wise man,” I tell him as I round the corner into the almost completed nursery. “And you,” I turn to Seth. “Should know better.”

He huffs as I pass him a beer. “So what's the point of me being here if I can't actually do anything.”

“Hold shit together, pretty boy, whilst the real men do the work,” Dean grins as he accepts his own beer.

“Real men, huh?” Seth scowls. “How's that crib coming along?”

I flip him a finger in return. “Just fine.”

“Yeah, Lex'll be real impressed with the progress you've made.”

I look at the corner of the room, where it's taken me around an hour to construct the base of the damn thing. The instructions are already well-thumbed, the staples holding them together starting to loosen from the amount of times I've gone back and forth through them trying to make some sense of the diagrams.

“Fuck you,” I mutter under my breath, causing both of them to chuckle.

“We're nearly done anyway,” Dean nudges Seth to move his hand that's blocking one of the screw holes on the shelving unit. “We can give you a hand.”

“No, it's cool. I got this.”

“Why are you so determined to do that shit on your own?” Seth asks.

“I promised Lex.”

“She's not going to know if you let us help though.”

“Not the point.” I take a swig of beer and pick up the instructions again.

“Leave it,” I hear Dean mutter and then louder: “Becca said that Shiv was gonna stay down here for a bit with you guys.”

“Yeah,” I reply distractedly. “Just in case I'm not here when it all happens.”

“You know Lex sent her a pregnancy book to read,” Seth says. “Have you seen those things? Jesus.”

“Hang on, so if you're not here, Shiv is gonna be with Lex throughout the entire thing?” Dean asks.

“Pretty much. I mean,” I frown at the instructions and then reach for what I think is the correct piece of wood. “It's not like I don't want to be here...” I trail off.

I don't like thinking about it. I don't like the idea that I'm going to miss the birth of my first child. I don't like the idea of Lex going through this without me. I have every faith that Siobhan will make a great birthing partner for Lex, but it's not the same. Lex and I have discussed this many times over the last few weeks, but it still doesn't make it any easier.

“Surely the company understand though, right?” Seth says quietly.

“Sure. I get a couple of days extra off to be with her and the baby, but it's just not so easy to predict when. It's only a few weeks till her due date. It could happen next week or it could happen two weeks after the due date.”

“Sure, sure...” I can hear him chewing his lip. “Pretty shit though if you were to miss it.”

“Yeah,” I exhale. “Missed so much already. Classes, check ups. Oh and this...” I stand and tug my phone out of my pocket and thumb through it. “Lex filmed this the other week.”

I hand the phone over to Dean, who hits play. I turn back to the task in hand as I hear the sound of rustling coming from the phone and then Lex's voice: “Look who says hello...”

“Holy crap,” Dean breathes. “I didn't think you could actually see them moving.”

“Yeah, that was the first time you could actually see it. I mean, it's happened again when I've been here. But I just... I dunno. I wanted to be there for the first time. Not watching it on a recording, a few hours after because I've been driving or something.”

“I doubt Lex will let you miss out on anything though, bro,” Seth hands me back the phone over my shoulder. “Your phone is always kicking up a storm with texts and photos from her. Pun intended,” he chuckles.

I crack a smile of my own. “I know. But the birth is different.”

“I hope you're not suggesting my girlfriend films your wife giving birth.”

“What? No!” I cast a scowl behind me. “I missed out on being there right at the beginning, when Lex found out. I don't want it to be the same at the end.”

“Sure, I mean, you guys don't know what you're having either right?”

I don't answer Seth, faking interest in the next step of the instructions, hoping he doesn't notice.

“Yeah, I wouldn't like to find out over the phone or something,” Dean agrees with him. “Dude, you'll be there.” He reassures me. “You'll make it. Even if it's not for the beginning, you'll be there for the end.”

I grunt in response, desperate to pull all my thoughts back to here and now, where I can control what does and doesn't happen.

Because that's the worst thought of all. Being completely and utterly helpless, whilst Lex goes through pain that I can't even begin to imagine. I can't bear the thought of watching her suffer, no matter how amazing the end result will be. And if things go wrong... I shudder at the thought.

I don't want to admit to Lex that I feel like this. Every time we talk about it, I can sense she's holding something back and I wonder if she thinks the same of me. But this what Lex does. She buries away her fears, because she wants to show me she's strong. She's determined not to crack, not to show how vulnerable she can be.

**

My phone starts to ring just as I exit the rental office, keys in hand. I grin as I see Lex's name flash up on screen.

“Hey, I'm just about to get in the car.”

“Ro... About that...” she pauses. “I'm just going to be honest with you.”

“Okay...”

“These next few days aren't really a good time for me.”

I frown. “Something come up with work? That's cool, Lex. I can occupy myself during the day if that's what you're worried about.”

“No... It's not work. It's me.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I'm fine...”

“So...”

There's another pause.

“I'm on my period, Ro.”

I chuckle and I can almost see the scowl forming on her face. “What's so funny?”

“Lex, you don't have to cancel on us just because of that.”

She snorts. “If you think there is a slightest chance–”

“What? No, Lex. C'mon, what do you take me for?” I reach the car and unlock the trunk.

“Then why would you want to still see me?”

“Why do you think, Lex?”

She pauses and I can hear chewing her lip. “I don't know.”

“Yeah, you do.” I load in my suitcase and carry-on and slam the trunk shut. “I'll give you a few hours to figure it out. Do you want me to pick you up anything on my way?”

“Ro, seriously. You don't have to come out here.”

“I know I don't, but I want to,” I tell her as I climb into the driver's seat.

“I have no make-up on, my hair is a mess and I'm in oldest, dirtiest sweats.”

“Perfect.”

“I'm not moving from the couch all weekend.”

“You're really not saying anything that's putting me off, Lex. You gotta try harder than that,” I grin.

She sighs. “You really want to spend an entire weekend with me, when there is absolutely zero-chance of getting any?”

“Yes.”

“I don't believe you.”

“Then let me convince you otherwise.” I start the engine. “You didn't answer me earlier. Do you want me to pick anything up?”

“No,” she sighs again. “Let me know if you come to your senses.”

“Not a chance.”

A few hours later, I'm climbing the now all-too familiar stairs to her apartment. When I get there, the door is on the latch and I push it open tentatively. “Lex?”

“Told you, I wasn't going to move from the couch.”

“Fine, fine.” I make my way inside, placing my bags by the door as usual before stepping over to the couch where Lex is splayed out. I reach out and brush my fingers across her temple before leaning down to kiss her. “You okay?”

“I guess. Still don't know why you're here though.”

“Isn't that what boyfriends do?”

She raises an eyebrow. “Boyfriend?”

“Why not?”

She doesn't answer me, just shrugs.

I shift her legs off the couch and sit down, reaching to pull her up and against me. She whines softly, but lets me anyway, her hair, which is bundled up into a haphazard bun, tickling my cheek as she nestles against me.

“So you really don't know why I'm here?”

She's silent.

“I care about you, Lex. I know this all started out as a bit of a fun, something casual, but I think we both know it's a bit more than that now. I like hanging out with you, just being with you, watching TV, walking around the city whether that's here or Tampa or somewhere else entirely. I like doing stupid shit with you, like playing video games or going bowling or to the movies and just messing around just so I can touch you and kiss you and just be normal people getting to know each other. You make me laugh, Lex. You make me think about things I believe and what you believe and I like just shootin' the breeze with you. And sure, we have absolutely first-class sex as well,” I pinch her side softly and she squirms against me with a small giggle. “But that ain't just what this is anymore. The sex, I mean. It's that and everything else in between.”

“And today?”

I shrug. “I just wanted to see you. I haven't seen you in two weeks. And as much as I love seeing you all dolled up, you are just as beautiful in sweats and nothing else.” I lean down and brush my lips against her temple. “And if all you want to do is curl up on the couch and watch TV and sleep and eat, then I am more than happy to keep you company for that.”

Her eyes flicker up to meet mine. “You're too good to be true sometimes.”

“But all that is the truth, Lex.”

She chews her lip. “I... I guess I just didn't want to admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“That I feel that way too... Like I really did want you to come here today, but I was afraid that if I didn't tell you, you'd have been disappointed”

“I never turn up here expecting anything other than to just see you.”

“The times where you've kissed me hello and it's immediately escalated into so much more says otherwise.”

“I think we're both guilty when it comes to that, don't you think?” I whisper, feeling her shiver in my arms.

“Touche.”

I chuckle and lean back against the couch. “So, what are you watching?”

“See, now you're really going to regret coming here...” she grins back at me as she reaches for the remote.

But she couldn't be more wrong. As she settles back against me, I couldn't think of anywhere else I'd rather be than right here.

**

“You really finished that all by yourself?” Lex's voice is incredulous as we stand in front of the finished crib.

“Of course,” I tell her. “I mean, the guys held some of it together for me so I could get the screws in properly, but apart from that...”

She eyes me suspiciously. “Seriously?”

“We weren't allowed to do anything other than hold shit,” Seth pipes up from behind me. “We even filmed him for posterity's sake.”

“And so we don't get blamed if it collapses in a few months,” chimes in Dean.

Seth hands Lex his phone and she watches it with a raised eyebrow. “I'm impressed.”

“Full of surprises, right?” I grin at her.

She moves closer, passing the phone back to Seth before wrapping her arms around me. “Always have been, big guy.”

I lean down to kiss her and she smiles against my lips. The floor creaks as Dean and Seth make their way back out and downstairs and I'm about to follow when Lex stops me.

“Thank you for doing this. I know it meant a lot to you, but it means a lot to me too that you wanted to do it.”

“Anything for you and Pumpkin,” I tell her, my hand dropping to rub at her bump.

“It feels weird.”

“What does?”

“This.” She gestures around the room. “This is only going to be empty for a few more weeks. And like dinner tonight, it'll be the last time we're all together just the six of us. That's not weird to you?”

“I'd say surreal.”

She chuckles. “That's just a fancy word for weird.” Her hand slips into mine and she pulls me towards the door. “It's just... Did you think a year ago or even two years ago that this would be happening?”

“Sure,” I smile down at her. “I told you our time would come.”

“Maybe I should I have more faith in you,” she nudges me softly as we make our way downstairs.

“I've been saying that for years and you finally figure out that I'm right,” I tease back.

We enter the kitchen to find Becca and Siobhan unpacking cartons of take-out, Dean and Seth already helping themselves. Siobhan passes us both plates and there is a few minutes of commotion and laughter as we all load up our plates and grab drinks before taking a seat at the table.

Lex shifts her chair closer to mine, one hand slipping under the table to rub at my thigh as she picks at her food. I slip my arm around her shoulders and watch her lips twitch into a smile.

“So that's you guys all prepared right?” Becca asks after a few quiet moments.

“As we'll ever be,” I squeeze Lex's shoulder.

“What about names?” Becca asks. “You've both been incredibly secretive about that.”

Lex glances up at me. “Yeah, we've got that sorted.”

“Yeah,” I smile back, my heart beating faster as I think of the name we settled on a few weeks back. A name that we've now started to refer to Pumpkin in private.

“Oh man, you guys are such a tease,” Siobhan groans. “We've taken bets though.”

“Bets? On what?” Lex asks.

“Boy or girl, name, weight and due date.”

Lex glances up at me with a smirk. “And we weren't included because...?”

“Well, you know the names you've chosen.”

“Sure, but we don't know if it's a boy or girl...”

I'm trying my best not to laugh at Lex's poker face as she reasons with Siobhan.

“Okay, fine. You gotta write it down though – we all have. No-one knows each others answers.”

“Perfect,” Lex looks up at me again and winks.

“No offence, Lex, but don't you have kind of an unfair advantage when it comes to the weight?” Dean frowns.

“Excuse me, Ambrose?”

Dean's face flushes. “Well, you've had scans and shit, don't they tell you how much the baby's gonna weigh?”

“Perhaps but I think it's only fair seen as you've all been staring at my bump and trying to guess how much weight I've put on.”

“I think you'll find I've been quite nice in my estimate,” Dean pouts.

“You asked me how much a baby normally weighs and then you looked horrified when I told you,” Becca laughs. “For Lex's sake, I hope that you asked that before rather than after you wrote down your guess.”

Siobhan gets up and walks over to the refrigerator to tear off a piece of paper from the notepad. She hands it over to Lex with a pen.

I watch as Lex writes down the sex, weight and due date. “Really?” I ask her as I see the date. “You better hope that's not the date. I'm on the other side of the country that week.”

“Just our luck then.” She folds the paper in half and hands it back to Siobhan.

“Don't worry,” Siobhan tells me. “I've read the book and everything. Totally prepared.”

“You were all pale after you read the labour chapter,” Seth comments, ducking his head as Siobhan's hand rises to clip him.

“Oh, great,” Lex says dryly. “You'll be just like Ro then. They showed us a video in the class and all the first-timers looked scared shitless.”

“You included,” I remind her.

“Well, excuse me for being slightly anxious about the prospect of squeezing this out of me,” she squeezes my thigh. “You'll be fine, Shiv,” she reassures. “Just hold my hand and tell me to keep breathing.”

“That's the bit I'm worried about,” Siobhan grimaces. “Losing my hand.”

I pull Lex closer to me. “You'll both be fine, I'll get there. I'll be there.”

**

“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Lex asks as I pull back the sheets on my side of the bed. She's propped up against a mountain of pillows, her shirt rolled up to just beneath her breasts as she rubs moisturiser onto her bump.

“What's that?”

“You said you'd be there. For the birth.”

“Of course I meant it.”

“And if you don't, are you going to ever forgive yourself for missing it?”

“Lex, I'll be there.”

“Ro...” she pauses in her actions and turns her face towards me as I roll onto my side. “Be realistic. Despite your assertions that I'm wrong, you never keep your phone with you at shows. Once you've warmed up and changed into your gear, it gets buried under all your crap in your bag. And even if that doesn't happen, there'll be at least a couple of hours when you won't have it with you because you'll be doing meet and greets or meetings with Steph and Hunter or in the ring itself. But that's okay. You can't always have your phone with you in those situations.”

“But someone else can. I can leave my phone with Dean or Seth, any number of people and they can get a message to me.” I move closer, my hand resting over hers. “This isn't the first baby born to a wrestler, baby girl. There are ton of guys who've been through this and they made it.”

“But some didn't.”

“Sure, but I'm not going to let that happen.”

“But what if it does? Ro, c'mon, be realistic. Say you get the message from Shiv an hour after she calls. You bust your gut to get to the airport, there's traffic, there's a flight delay. You've got a show in Seattle a week before my due date. That's a five hour flight. Obviously, the labour could go on for hours, but what if something happens and they have to take me into surgery?”

“I'll be there.”

“You're not listening to me,” Lex says irritably. “What if that happens? What if, for reasons that neither of us can predict, you don't make it in time, are you going to let that hang over you forever?”

“I think the chances are highly–”

“Roman!”

I look up at her and see her face starting to crumple. “Hey... Baby girl...”

“For fuck's sake! Have you any idea how hard it is to sit here and listen to you tell me that it'll be okay and that you'll be there when all I can think of is all the situations where you don't make it and I'm there in fucking surgery, panicking because the one person I want to be there with me at that moment is stuck in traffic or in an airport on the other side of the country or even in a plane where no-one can get hold of him to tell him what's going on?”

I scramble to sit up, pulling her into my arms as tears start to spill down her face. “Hey... Lex, ssh... Don't do this to yourself. C'mon, breathe. Don't cry...”

“I can't help it,” she mumbles into my chest. “It's all I keep thinking about when you're not here. I keep thinking what if it happens now. What then? What am I going to do? Siobhan doesn't move down here for another week, what if it happens then?”

“You know what you do,” I tell her. “You call Dr Ash and tell her what's happening. And then you call a cab or an ambulance, whatever she suggests and then you call me once you're on your way and I will stay on that phone for as long as possible.”

“What if I can't get hold of you?”

“Then you call Seth or Dean and one of them will find me or get someone else to find me.” I work my fingers through her hair gently. “We've talked about this, Lex. We have a plan, right?”

“Things can still go wrong. What if–”

I press my lips to her head. “Someone will let me know Lex. Someone will find me and I'll be on a plane or in a car as soon as I can. The most important thing is that you get to hospital where they can look after you and the baby. That's all you've gotta worry about, just making sure that you and Pumpkin are in safe hands.”

“I don't want you to miss it,” she murmurs. “I want you there, Ro.”

“Hey,” I rock her back so I can see her face. “You know it's gonna take a damn act of God to stop me from being there, right?” I cup her face in my heads, my thumbs brushing across her tear-stained cheeks. I kiss her softly, easing her back onto her pillows before plucking the moisturiser from beside her.

Her fingers stroke through my hair lazily as I pour a small amount of moisturiser onto my fingers and slowly work it into the taut skin of her belly. I lean down further, my lips brushing across the stretch marks that curve up from under the bump.

“Anyway, me and Pumpkin have a deal.”

“A deal?” Lex asks dubiously.

“Yup, no appearances until Daddy's in the room.”

She giggles and then sniffs. “I'm still going to worry, Ro.”

“I know you will.”

I glance up to see her smile down at me. I kiss her bump again, breathing in the scent of cocoa butter. There's no point telling her I feel the same, no need to confirm her worst fears by saying they're mine as well. There have been many times over the years where Lex has been my rock, my anchor, my never-ending source of strength. And now it's my turn to do the same for her.

Even thought, ultimately, she's the strongest out of the two of us.

**

I roll over and switch on the bedside light, rubbing my eyes at the brightness.

I can't sleep. I've been in bed for almost an hour, just tossing and turning, my mind racing, adrenaline still pumping through me despite the three hour car journey from the last town to here. Not even the hot shower could soothe me, not even jerking off to the thought of Lex could calm me.

Reaching out for my phone, I flick through Twitter and then Instagram and my emails for a few minutes and then pause. My mind races through the calculations and I realise that calling her is not an option. Fuck.

I could really do with hearing her voice right now. Even just for a minute or two. She has this way of relaxing me, making me forget my aches and pains, the long days, the weeks that go by where we can only communicate via our cellphones. I mean, I'd give anything to have her in bed beside me right now, just to feel her in my arms, to be able to run my fingers through her hair, to be able to kiss her and hold her. That's all I want right now. That's all I need.

I miss her.

The sensation wraps around my spine, taking a strangle-like hold and I'm so engrossed in the feeling that my eyes go out of focus and I realise too late that Lex's name and face are flashing up on my screen. I'm a second too late in answering and I curse loudly as I hit re-dial instead.

“I woke you up,” she greets me. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to.”

“No, it's fine. I couldn't sleep.”

“Long day?” She pauses. “Stupid question.”

I grin up at the ceiling. “S'okay. It was alright, I guess. Just still pumped up.”

“I caught the end of the show. I was out at a late dinner, but made it back to my hotel room in time.”

A warm glow washes over me. “I didn't know you did that.”

“Did what?”

“Try and watch my matches when you're away.”

There's a rustle of sheets in the background. “I like watching you, but... Oh, never mind.”

“No, tell me.”

“I...”

“Lex...”

“I like watching you, but then, I dunno... I feel a bit down.”

I frown. “Why?”

“I dunno. I guess...” she pauses. “I guess I just miss you.” Her voice is barely a whisper.

I can't help but chuckle.

“I know, silly right?” she sighs.”Ignore me, it's late, I'm tired.”

“I wasn't laughing at you,” I tell her. “I swear. It's just funny because...Well, just before you called I was thinking the same about you.”

“You're just saying that to make me feel better.”

“I miss you, Lex,” I tell her softly, slowly. “I really do.”

There's a long silence.

“I feel...” she starts and then stops.

“Go on,” I encourage gently.

“I feel bad for admitting it though.”

“Why?”

“I knew what I was getting into and I feel like I'm guilt-tripping you if I say I miss you, because there's nothing either of us can do to change any of this.”

“Don't feel bad about it. None of this is your choice.”

A wry laugh echoes down the phone. “It is though, Roman. I made a choice the second I gave you my number. You didn't push me into this, I chose this too. I knew what this meant and I feel silly for thinking that it would be easy to switch off and on.”

“You don't have to hide away from me, Lex. It's okay to tell me how you feel and if you miss me, you miss me. You can't help that.”

“I know. I just thought, I dunno... I just thought I was stronger than this.”

“Just because you miss me, doesn't make you weak,” I tell her gently.

“But it's not fair on you.”

“And you don't have to be strong for me,” I continue. “But I like that you want to be. I like that about you, Lex. I like how you care.”

She's quiet for a moment, her voice small and vulnerable when she speaks again. “Sometimes I feel like I've lost control, like I shouldn't be telling you all this.”

I shake my head. “It's who you are, Lex. I told you, you don't have to hide from me.”

She pauses. “Do ever feel like that? Like you've lost control?”

“With you,” I tell her. “Always.”

**

Five weeks later

I make my way down the corridor, back to the locker room. The place is alive with technicians and production staff all packing up to make a quick getaway to the next town. All I want is a long shower before Dean and I hit the road ourselves.

I push open the door and head inside, grateful for some peace and quiet. I slump onto the bench and close my eyes for a second, listening to my heart pound hard and fast. Cracking open one eye and then the other, I roll my neck slowly and then reach for my bag. Digging around, I curse as I realise I left my phone here, rather than handing it over to Seth or Dean like I always promised Lex I would.

I press the home button and my blood goes cold.

Siobhan

Missed call (10)

Voice mail (1)

I swipe frantically at the voice mail, entering my PIN wrong on the first and second attempt, cursing loudly.

And then:

“Shit, Roman, why aren't you picking up your damn phone? Look, Lex is in labour. Call me. Oh and get your ass back here. Now.”

Fin x

[halfetirosie]

⚡️⛈️🔥I'M HAVING A CONNIPTION🔥⛈️⚡️

(Scales 08 - 10 React-os!)

Maybe if I scream at the screen loud enough, the characters will listen to me!

1) (⊙ᗣ⊙) YOU GOTTA BE FUCKING KIDDING ME!!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE.

YAKUMO IS GOING OUT OF HIS WAY TO SAVE THEM---UNDENIABLY A GOOD/KIND THING, AND THEY'RE SEEING IT RIGHT BEFORE THEIR EYES---AND THEY STILL WANT TO FUCKING MURDER HIM?!?!?!

THESE UNGRATEFUL PRICKS?!?!?!?!

THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH SWEAR WORDS IN THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE TO EXPRESS MY RAGE!!!!! 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

THESE BITCHES LITERALLY WANT TO STAB THE PERSON PROTECTING THEM WHILE HIS BACK IS TURNED?!?!?!

@#^$$%^@@?!?!?!!!!!!

*static*

🎶 Do to the author's over-immersion into the story and subsequent excess amount of anger, we are experiencing technical difficulties. Please wait for us to fix the problem. Thank you for your patience. 🎶

🎶🎶🎶

🎶🎶🎶

*static*

These bitches are not "driven by fear," they are driven by their selfishness. It's so fucking unfortunate, because their actions make it seem like the way Kuya reviles humans is completely correct.

Yes, these particular humans are definitely worthy of Kuya's insults and cursing. But they do not represent all humans. Despite that, I know that this situation is just going to reinforce Kuya's group attribution error---he'll see this village as representative of humanity as a whole, and this, reinforce his general hatred of all humans. 🤦‍♀️

2) I am disgusted.

Kuya said the magic word---selfishness. 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

These two-faced shitbags are so ungrateful.

First they try to bite the hand that feeds them, but as soon as they get a hint of vulnerability from Umi, they latch onto it to take advantage of him again. AS IF THEY DIDN'T TRY TO KILL A PRESUMED MERFOLK [just like they had already done in the past], LIKE, FEW MINUTES EARLIER.

The manipulation is OFF THE CHARTS.

This is a textbook abusive relationship.

3) Okay, I'm getting the sense that Umi is in a Quincy-esque situation.

Like Quincy, he's protecting the village because of some sort of promise with a now-deceased member of that community. (Yes, I know that in Quincy's case his friend later told him to forget about that promise, but my point still stands.)

Of course, unlike Quincy, Umi was never a part of the community himself, and he doesn't have much affection/ investment in the current community. (I don't think him saving the child in an earlier chapter goes against that idea. After all, it's a basic moral principle to protect kids.)

And look, I get it. Whoever he made a promise to was extremely precious; even more so in the context of a yokai's long life.

HOWEVER, THESE BITCH-ASS VILLAGERS DO NOT HAVE ANY REAL RESPECT FOR MERFOLK---OR FOR NATURE IN GENERAL.

Quincy's old tribe aren't particularly nice to him, but since they respect nature as a whole, they don't try to FUCKING MURDER HIM. They leave him be.

But this village??? THEY ARE SCUM.

JUST RUN, UMI!!! I'm sorry, but your friend is long gone. No amount of love for the deceased should bind you to a community that abuses you.

☠︎☠︎☠︎

4) LISTEN TO THE GRUMPY OLD MAN!!! HE ISN'T EVEN WRONG THIS TIME!!! 😭😭😭

THIS VILLAGE IS NOT WORTH IT!!!

Maybe, if their attitudes had changed from the past, they might be.

But they haven't changed. They are still evil.

5) WAIT A DAMN MINUTE---

So, you're saying that the promise wasn't indefinite?

And Umi doesn't necessarily go out of his way to do extra shit for this village---since the relic is almost out of juice???

THEN WHY ARE WE EVEN STILL TALKING ABOUT THIS?!?!

It's not like the villagers are facing certain death here. THEY CAN JUST FUCKING MOVE TO THE MAINLAND!!!! Sure, they'll probably have a tough time adjusting to a new way of life + finding new was of subsisting, but they'll be fucking FINE!!!

6) See, I agree with Yakumo here. Not all humans are bad, and I'm sure that whoever Umi made a promise to was a great dude.

I know I'm just repeating myself at this point, but the evidence is undeniable; UMI'S HUMAN DOES NOT REPRESENT THE NORM ON THIS ISLAND.

🔥🔥🔥 THIS VILLAGE IS HOT GARBAGE!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

7) Just when I think this story can't get any darker---

Bruh. BRUH. 🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢🤢

Do ya'll realize the implications of this?????

Think about it; the merfolk and the humans were NOT friends in the past. They were strangers, and the human villagers massacred the merfolk and stole their land.

Meaning that this relic was never meant for the humans. A merfolk gave their life to make this relic for the benefit of their fellow merfolk, but the humans stole it.

Meaning that these despicable humans, on top of murdering the merfolk, have been desecrating a merfolk artifact for generations.

8) ---BITCH?!!!!! 🤬😡💢🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪

THIS SHITTY LITTLE RAT SECRETLY FOLLOWS THEM, EAVESDROPS, AND IS HAPPY TO HEAR THAT UMI WOULD HAVE TO FUCKING DIE IN ORDER TO SAVE THEIR SHITTY LITTLE ISLAND?!?!?!?!

WHY THE HELL ARE THESE TWATS SO EAGER TO MURDER MERFOLK ALL THE DAMN TIME?!?!?!?!

I DON'T GET IT!!!! HOW CAN A WHOLE GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE SO LITTLE HUMANITY?!?!?!?!

AND WHY THE FUCK IS UMI STILL JUSTIFYING HIS PROTECTION OVER THEM, EVEN WHEN THE CONDITIONS OF HIS PROMISE ARE BASICALLY ALREADY OVER?!?!?!

💢 (╯🔥 ᗣ 🔥)╯︵ ┻━┻

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

....

I have a REALLY BAD FEELING. I really hope I'm wrong, but I feel like Umi might actually sacrifice himself for these ungrateful, hypocritical, revolting scumbags.

And if he does, well....

Idk man, maybe I'll just have a heart attack and die.

😤😤😤

End of report

[khwxbeeda]

The Almost Wedding (Ch.I)

Arjun was this close to murdering someone.

More specifically, he was close to grabbing his dear darling sister by her perfectly styled hair and sticking her neck onto a guillotine. At least then she would shut up and stop bothering him.

"Arjun I swear," Tanishka said for maybe the millionth time in the last two hours, "you had better be on your best behaviour, I won't have you- I don't know- flirting with anyone or something even stupider—"

"Aga majhi bai, I got it," he finally snapped, smacking his palms together in a sarcastic namaskar, making her click her jaw shut. "I'll be quiet the entire time. And Tai, why would I flirt with some random boy? He's probably homophobic, anyway."

Her hazel eyes narrowed in a glare, and he returned it with a flat look before turning around to look in the mirror, running his hands through his hair to separate the wavy black strands and checking his subtle eye makeup again. It looked good— just a little gold glitter on the lid and a smudge of kajal on the lower lash line, bringing out the soft golden specks in his eyes. His lip gloss was transparent, but it was enough to make his Cupid’s bow pop.

Tanishka, finally realising she was being ignored, huffed and strode away. Arjun snickered as the sound of her paayal grew fainter and fainter, then went back to applying concealer. College was a harrowing experience, especially for post graduate medical students, and Arjun was not getting enough sleep. At least the concealer helped hide the designer under-eye bags.

"ARJUN!"

He jerked in surprise, and glared at the open door of his room, cursing under his breath. He almost messed up his makeup, dammit!

"EK MINUTE ALO," he yelled back, twisting his concealer tube shut and throwing it onto the dresser, then slipped out into the hallway.

He rushed down the set of staircases three steps at a time, tugging at his collar and adjusting his jeans so the multi-coloured rhinestones on the back pockets arranged in the bi flag were visible.

He had chosen the basic white shirt and baggy jeans on purpose, because while the rest of the family was wearing traditional clothing, he did not have a single kurta to his name and he had been too busy with his studies to go out and buy one. He often thought he had made a mistake by saying he wanted to become a doctor. He really should have followed Krushna into the modelling industry. At least then he would not have to bust his brain— just his body, and he would have had his best friend with him instead of halfway across the world.

He jumped the last seven steps, and was immediately met with a resounding smack upside the head.

"Aai ga," he whined, rubbing his hand over the back of his head and scowling playfully at his snickering aunt as she walked past, the pallu of her baby pink saree swinging left to right. "Chinu Maushi, don't you get tired of being annoying?"

She tossed her hair over her shoulder and winked. "Nahi. Ata chal, get a move on, they'll be here soon."

Ah. Right. His sister’s suitor.

The Kulkarni family had agreed to a rendezvous to decide if their youngest was compatible with Tanishka, and Arjun’s mother had been going crazy setting the house to rights and getting the servants to clean out every single room of the mansion. Even the unused ones. Arjun had made the mistake of asking if the guests were to be hosted in the second basement, and had gotten a chappal thrown at his head for his troubles.

"Yeah, yeah, coming," he muttered, sticking his hands into his pockets and following her out into the kitchen, where his mother was already directing the servants to prepare food and drinks for the Ganpati festival, which was in less than a week, and for the guests that were set to come in about five minutes.

“Hi, Aai,” he said, leaning down to press a kiss to his mother’s temple, and grinned when he received the weird combination of a harried glare and a soft pat to his cheek.

Lavanya Deshpande was one of the most influential actresses in Bollywood, and at the ripe age of fifty-seven, was the richest producer of the Hindi film industry. Despite being married off at the young age of nineteen into a family that did not treat her well and popping out her first baby at twenty, she had risen to national fame and become a household name by the time she was twenty-six, having acted in over a hundred films and produced several blockbusters through the course of her career. She had divorced her husband at twenty-eight and taken her two kids away, changed her surname back to her maiden name, and proceeded to take the international film industry by storm in a short five years.

“Hi, babdi,” she replied, and promptly shoved something into his mouth. “How does it taste?”

Arjun chewed on the thing for two slow seconds, then brightened when he realised it was a gulaab jamun. He nodded enthusiastically and snapped off two quick finger guns.

“Kadak,” he said through the mouthful of the mithai, and she smacked him upside the head. He yelped, but she smacked him again, the look on her face halfway between fond and exasperated. “Swallow your morsel before you speak, murkha!”

Arjun whined in outrage, but one sharp look from her and he subsided, muttering complaints under his breath and rubbing his head. The kitchen— a large white tiled room with two island counters and a whole baking station that was actually used for making festival faraal and mithai rather than cakes and pastries— had been overtaken by the two workers who were cooking up a storm for the festival, and Arjun sniffed appreciatively at a container filled with saffron milk, only to be pushed away by Aai.

“Nahi, Arjunie,” she said sternly. “This is for the guests, you can have as much as you’d like afterwards.”

Before he could reply, the bell rang.

His mother rose to her feet and glided out of the room, the skirts of her baby blue Anarkali flaring out behind her, and a minute later Arjun heard the front door open and the muffled sounds of greetings from the receiving hall. He exchanged a grimace with Chinu Maushi, and exhaled through his nose. She poked him in the back to make him straighten his posture to appear at least halfway polite, and beckoned him to follow her to the living room.

He took a stand next to one of the sofas and stuck his tongue out at Tanishka, just as Aai walked in with the guests.

Four people— siblings, because the parents had passed away. They walked in behind his mother, who had her socialite smile pasted on her beautiful face, and Arjun's breath caught.

All of them were utterly, absolutely gorgeous.

The two women and two men were wearing well fitted casual ethnic clothes, with the older man and woman dressed in identical royal purple kurta and trouser sets with delicate silver embroidery at the collar, and the younger two dressed in white with purple embroidery. They had matching arched eyebrows, smooth skin, oddly perfect noses, and pink lips that were pulled up into polite smiles that made their dark eyes crinkle at the edges, giving the impression that they were actually paying attention to whatever Arjun's mother was saying.

Bappa knew Arjun was not paying attention.

No, he was distracted by the visitors' sheer beauty as they pressed their hands together into a namaskar and bowed their heads. If Tanishka was marrying into this, he was envious, because those were some magnificent genetics. Yes, he grew up around big name actors and actresses walking in and out of his house on a daily basis, but that just made it easier for him to recognise real beauty when he saw it.

"—and of course, my son, Arjun." He snapped back into focus and sent his most charming smile towards them.

"Everyone," his mother said, "these are the Kulkarni siblings. Chandan, the oldest—" the criminally handsome man waved— "Charuta, Charita, and Chaitanya, the youngest."

A chorus of greetings echoed around the room, and they all sat down as the house workers placed trays piled with food and drinks on the teapoy in the middle of the set of sofas.

“So, Chaitanya,” Lavanya began, a large, genuine smile curving up her red-painted lips, “how are you, my child?”

Chaitanya gave her wide smile, and Arjun was pretty sure he felt butterflies in his stomach. The boy was pretty, with almond shaped deep brown eyes, pouty rosebud lips and a pointy chin that would have made him look delicate if not for the sharp cut of his jaw and the intelligent curve of his eyebrows. "Mi masta, Madame, what about you?"

The older actress’s smile widened. "Oh, no need to call me Madame, my dear. Lavanya is fine, and I’m doing good as well.” She extended her hand out towards the food. “Please, do eat your fill, and now, shall we begin with the ‘interrogation’?”

She winked at the last word, and the siblings let out identical amiable laughs. Charuta reached forward and picked a banana chip off one of the plates and popped it into her mouth, pretty glossy lips twisting into a pout as she crunched the thing between her teeth. Arjun forcefully dragged his eyes away from the visual and focused on Chandan, who had begun speaking.

"How are we to do this, then?"

He had a curious accent— somewhere between Indian and French, Arjun realised a second later. He exchanged a look with Chinu Maushi, who smirked at him like she knew exactly what was going through his mind. He turned away without giving her the honour of a reply, but he could feel his cheeks heat up. Thank the Gods for his dark complexion that made it difficult for his blush to be visible, or she would never let him live it down.

"How about you ask first?" Lavanya suggested. "Tanishka asks the next question. Both of you have to answer all the questions posed."

Chandan raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at Chaitanya, who somehow managed to make his shrug look elegant. Arjun honestly had no idea whether to be jealous of or attracted to the man. Both men.

"I don't mind if you don’t," he answered, in the same hot accent as his older brother, and Tanishka nodded.

"I don't mind either. Ask away."

"What are you doing, currently?" he asked, tongue curling deliciously over his R's. Arjun had to forcefully drag his eyes away from that pretty mouth. Chinu Maushi gave him a significant look behind his mother's back that said he needed to stop, and he exhaled with a shake of his head— drop it. Thankfully, she did, but not before she gave him another look. Arjun rolled his eyes went back to the Q&A.

"I'm working as a freelance influencer and content creator as of now," Tanishka replied. “I won’t be signing onto Aai’s company, but hopefully in a few years I’ll take up a contract with a reputable agency as an actress. What about you?”

Charuta and Chandan exchanged discreet looks above Chaitanya's head, who was hilariously short compared to his older siblings. Even Charita was a couple inches taller than him. Arjun had no ground to stand on, however; he was the same height. He had no doubt that if Krushna met Chaitanya, he would tease him for his height the same way he did to Arjun.

Gods, he could not wait to tell Krushna about this.

"I'm in the last year of my Master’s degree,” Chaitanya said, leaning forward to wrap slender fingers covered in silver rings around a glass of chilled panha. Arjun’s eyes tracked the movement, only half focused on the rest of the words he spoke. He glimpsed a small tattoo on the inner side of the wrist, but the sleeves of the kurta shifted before he could get a proper look. “My subject is Physics.”

Oh, pretty and smart.

And so the interrogation proceeded, with Tanishka and Chaitanya taking turns in asking questions and answering them. By the end of the hour, half the plates and glasses had been wiped clean, and Arjun knew the general details and history of the Kulkarni family.

Chaitanya was twenty-five years old, and the youngest of the siblings. Chandan was thirty-nine and married with a seven year old daughter, and Charuta was not aiming to marry at all. She was thirty-five, had passed the UPSC exams on her first try after her LLB, and was working as a diplomat in Delhi at the Italian Embassy in India. Charita was a famous actress who mostly filmed in England and France, and had married her husband two years ago at the age of twenty-seven. Chaitanya was currently teaching maths and physics to school students when he was not working on his thesis for his Masters.

Their parents— Nayantara and Dhruv— had passed away in a car accident sixteen years ago, and Chandan had taken the younger two siblings to Paris to live with their maternal grandmother, while Charuta attended National Law University in Mumbai. The three siblings had stayed in Paris for ten years until Chaitanya completed his high school, and then moved to Pune for his Bachelors degree at Fergusson College.

“And what will you do after your Masters?” Tanishka asked him, leaning forward in her seat with a manicured finger subtly twirling with a strand of her hair. Arjun had seen her use that trick before, and he smirked when he noticed Chaitanya’s eyes follow the slide of the edge of the short square nail through the black curl before flicking back to her face.

“Ah, I’m hoping to continue on to a Ph.D,” he said, and picked up his glass of panha to take a sip. “What about you? Are you planning on getting another degree or—”

“On, no,” Tanishka replied, shaking her head so her curls bounced just enough to attract attention. “I have a masters, and that’s enough for me. Frankly, I’ve had enough of being yelled at by professors.” She chuckled faintly as if letting the others in on a joke, and Arjun stifled a snicker when Chaitanya echoed the sound, eyes never leaving his sister’s pretty face.

“Shall we talk alone?” He asked her, and Tanishka smiled her most charming smile, but there was a gleam in her eyes that Arjun recognised— the one that made an appearance when she had gotten what she wanted. “Why not? I know a cafe ten minutes from here that has excellent French press, if you’d like.”

Chaitanya glanced at Charuta for permission, grinning boyishly when she nodded. When he turned back to offer his hand to Tanishka, his grin was a little shy. It was endearing, and Arjun exchanged a look with his mother, who looked like she had won three Oscars in one go. He stifled another laugh.

Tanishka winked at Lavanya as she slipped out of the living room with her hand in Chaitanya’s, Arjun politely excused himself by citing his studies as a reason and slipped back up the stairs and into his room. He shut the door behind him and threw himself onto the bed, pushing aside the mass of textbooks, and unlocked his phone to hit the speed dial for his best friend.

“Haye tauba,” he breathed the minute Krushna picked up the phone, “they’re all so damn hot.”

The laugh that Krushna let out felt like it was setting off the butterfly effect.

———————

Taglist: @orgasming-caterpillar @h0bg0blin-meat @musaafir-hun-yaaron @mrunmione @girlatreus @shanti-ashant-hai @yehsahihai (lmk if you wanna be added/removed)

[therealgchu]

To the Shore Chapter 2 Constellation Redux

i have 1.1 version of Chapter 2 Constellation up. the prologue wasn't radically changed very much; going forward the rest of the chapters will be very different. structurally, they'll remain the same; however, it'll just have a lot more detail, backstory, and character info.

version 1.1 is here on ao3.

some new stuff

Hwa was correct in her initial assessment of the blond woman, Sarah Morgan, in her meeting at the Lodge. The older woman was the head of Constellation, ostensibly an explorers organization. The artifact that Barrett had commissioned Argos to dig up was the most recent acquisition for the group. Hwa listened attentively, but impassively as Sarah explained Constellation and its members. “You should take some time to get settled in,” Sarah suggested, offering a room in the Lodge to Hwa. Her eyes widened, shocked at the offer, it was so unexpected. It was the first time since she arrived that she allowed any emotion to appear, and Sarah paused, looking intently. Hwa quickly regained her composure, regretting the moment of weakness. “Some of our other members aren’t here, but you’ll meet them soon,” Sarah finished.

Hwa nodded noncommittally. She was highly suspicious of any organization that would open their doors and offer a room to a stranger without even doing a simple background check. She could be a thief, or a murderer, or a highly trained assassin on the run from a criminal syndicate, after all. The naivete of this organization made her uneasy and, while her expression remained neutral, she had serious reservations as to what she was getting herself into.

She was thinking about their offer as she watched the mercs take out the last Spacer in the cafeteria of the shipyard. Well, ruminations on jejune organizations could wait, time to work. She snuck out past the cover of the table, signaled to Sarah that there were two unfriendlies past the stairwell, and started moving silently from cover to cover, flowing like gray smoke. Two quick pops and the mercs were down. She motioned to Sarah to move forward onto the stairwell.

Sarah tried to take cover, but as a much taller woman, didn’t succeed very well. She was also as loud as the dock workers trying to land a giant chasmbass. Hwa tried to shut her out as she crept, taking careful aim. Two more spacers never knew what hit them. Sarah popped up and started blasting, taking out two more, clearing the way. Hwa stood up and looked appraisingly at the older woman. She was impressed that such a posh woman could be so effective. And, that mouth! She knew some warehouse workers at the Syndicate who would have blushed at that accomplished level of swearing. That lady was surprising. Hwa would have to re-evaluate her opinion of her.

[thatonefatgumsimp]

OK so idk if I posted it here before, but I had an idea for an mha animatic for Work This Body by WALK THE MOON for Izuku Midoriya (BC idk, that song just screams "Deku" to me-)

Anyways I'm gonna post it here now cuz I hope to draw the frames soon (I have no idea how to animate whatsoever- does that mean I'm gonna give up tho? No. I'll animate it on freaking flipnote on my old DSi if I have to, I will make this animatic so help me-)

So yeah, scroll past if you don't rlly care/aren't interested, but if you are I'm gonna put my ideas for the frame-by-frame (sort of) under the cut:

OK SO! *claps hands* these blorbo thoughts have been marinating in my brain for so long, bro (/gn), you have no idea...

OK so beginning context:

In my au, Uraraka is pan, Izuku is bi, the "Toshi" mentioned in the animatic notes is one of their future kids who eventually inherits OFA. With the context out of the way, IDEA FOR THE ANIMATIC!!!

Piano at the beginning: a couple scenes of the beginning of MHA just as, like a refresher (like maybe a short flash of baby Deku and a look at the sludge monster incident briefly) and title screen

"It was a strange place and a tender age": Izuku standing in front of All Might after the sludge monster incident, All Might offers to help make Izuku a hero.

"I was just a babe in school": shows Izuku happy at All Might's offer and crying, he's still in his middle school uniform.

"Saw them roll their eyes at me": shows Bakugo walking by, glaring in disgust at Deku as he passes.

"Every time that I thought that I was cool": Izuku taking notes.

"Well uh God knows I was no chosen one": Izuku looking at the littered beach.

"That just wasn't my prime": Izuku struggling to move the fridge on the beach.

"Yeah it's just a matter of time, honey, it's just a matter of time": Izuku standing on a clean beach as All Might hands him his hair.

"And I will work this body": Izuku during the entrance exam.

"I will burn this flame": Izuku talking to Shoto at the sports festival.

"Oh in the dead of night and in the pouring rain": Izuku training outside at night in the rain, practicing his kicks.

"Yeah I'm a workaholic": Deku doing Sit ups.

"And I swear I swear": Deku punching and kicking the punching bag.

"Yeah, one day I will beat you fair and square": Deku pausing, sweating, to look at a picture of Bakugo for motivation.

"Show me what you got!": Deku training with All Might.

"Work this body on the floor": Izuku during one of the training exercises, swinging through the air on Black Whip.

"Who do you think you are?": Bakugo watching the same training exercise knowing the form is the same as when he uses his Howitzer.

"C'mon, meet me on the court!": Izuku and Bakugo fighting at night.

"Que ferais-tu? Putain, je ne sais pas!": Izuku and Bakugo working together to save Katsuma and Mahoro from Nine.

"It ain't a matter of 'if', honey": Bakugo being stabbed through the stomach by Shigaraki with that weird tentacle thing.

"It's just a matter of when": a picture of a goodbye note on Deku's hospital bed saying he's running away and he can't risk everyone else getting hurt since the LOV is only after One for All.

"On some Sunday": runaway Vigilante Izuku arc dirty, dusty-ass lookin costume.

"When it's my face in the newspaper again": the news outlets on TV covering the 'new vigilante on the scene' (the very dirty broccoli boi who thinks he can do everything himself smh /lh /aff).

"All the rag magazines": 1A bringing him back.

"Black limousines": Uraraka on the rooftop with a megaphone.

"They'll be gettin in line": Deku training for the big fight.

"Yeah it's just a matter of time, honey, it's just a matter of time.": Deku kicking Shigaraki's ass.

"And I will work this body": second year Deku and Bakugo sparring.

"I will burn this flame!": Izuku playing Uno with his friends and classmates.

"Oh in the dead of night and in the pouring rain": Izuku lightly splashes Bakugo with ocean water and he splashes him back hard.

"Yeah I'm a workaholic": Izuku studying.

"And I swear I swear": Izuku and his friends graduating.

"Yeah!": they throw their caps.

"One day I will beat you fair and square!": Deku talking to Bakugo out on patrol.

"Show me what you got!": Izuku saving civilians trapped in a building.

"Work this body on the floor": adult Izuku and Bakugo sparring.

"Who do you think you are?": Deku on the news.

"C'mon meet me on the court!": Izuku getting interviewed.

"Que ferais-tu? Putain, je ne sais pas!": Bakugo predicting Deku's gonna win the hero rankings #1 and giving him a noogie.

"Ne vien pas plurer": The announcement for the new hero rankings.

"Ver moi….": Izuku is named the new number 1.

Instrumental interlude: Izuku doing great things as the Symbol of Hope and new number 1 hero and past class A celebrating for their friend.

The piano flourish at the end of the instrumental: a pause, seeing Izuku hold his oldest son for the first time with Ochako handing baby Toshi (their firstborn) to him.

"And I will work this body": Izuku showing Toshi (10, quirkless) how to defend himself.

"I will burn this flame": Izuku coaching his son (still 10) as he struggles with push ups push ups.

"Oh in the dead of night and in the pouring rain": Toshi, 14, going for a run at night in the pouring rain

"Yeah I'm a workaholic": Izuku cheering on his son as he does one handed push ups.

"And I swear I swear": Izuku handing Toshi a piece of his hair like 'you are ready'.

"Yeah, one day I will beat you fair and square": Izuku ruffling Toshi's hair as he sends him off to his first day at UA.

"And I will work this body": Toshi training his ass off.

"I will burn this flame": Toshi talking to the vestiges, mainly second, about what they did that helped.

"Oh in the dead of night": Toshi taking notes and strategizing how to be better.

"And in the pouring rain": Toshi running up a hill with weights in the snow.

"Yeah I'm a workaholic and I swear I swear": Toshi beating the crap out of a punching bag while training.

"Yeah, one day I will beat you fair and square": Toshi beating his dad (Izuku) at sparring.

" YEAH!": Toshi at, like, 24, in his hero suit with one arm up.

[raspberry-pudding]

3/8/24

It's another one of those days where I tell myself I'm not going to smoke, but I have no idea how well I'll succeed. I made a short post last night, just vague posting and getting a few thoughts off my chest. But nothing deep.

I feel stupid for posting about my addiction, but at the same time it's the only way I know how to possibly find people like me. Who can become very addicted to weed. I don't have any friends to go to about it because they all smoke and are fine -- or at least, they convince me they aren't addicted and that it's impossible on weed. But what else would you call something that you crave so intensely you're scrapping the bottom of a bag or grinder to get one hit? What else would you call something that you can't control yourself from taking as soon as you wake up? What else would you call something that's meant to make you feel good, but after doing it every day, all day, for several years you get stuck in a cycle of giving in, swearing to go sober/quitting, and then turn around and continue doing it? Every. Single. Day. For the past two years I have sworn to finally quit smoking weed but I just can't get away from it. My body feels like it needs it and I'm miserable.

It doesn't even get me high anymore.

More below the cut for those interested, and so I'm not clogging timelines with a long post. My content isn't for everyone. Please scroll by if you think weed isn't addictive and if you argue with me you'll just get blocked. That's not what I need when I'm just trying to recover.

I miss the person I was before I started smoking. I was so productive and successful; I wrote and exercised everyday. My emotions were better regulated. I felt like I could do anything.

I started smoking a lot later than most people -- 24. And as much as I would like to blame my ex for the addiction, I'm more to blame for my own addiction than anyone else. It started when I was writing an essay on Emily Dickinson and the soul, and weed helped me a lot with writing this piece. At least, for awhile. Soon after, I was getting high every evening to work on the essay, but I'd get distracted and ignore my work. It just sort of spiraled after that.

There are a lot of good reasons why I want to quit. First of all, I want to be a better woman. I want to be the strong woman I used to me -- not this weepy bag who can't even stand the thought of driving myself anymore. Where did all my strength go? Where did all my independence and will go? I wanna be a better woman not only for myself, but for my fiancé. He's very supportive of me, and says that we all have our vices -- doesn't care if I continue smoking or if I quit and will support me no matter which I do. But I need to stop smoking for him, too. He deserves sober-me. He's not only the best man, but the best person I have ever met in my entire life. He deserves the sober-me much more than my ex deserved it, but he's hardly gotten to experience it. He deserves a woman who can do anything and be level-headed. Not the emotional wreck I am on weed.

I'm also already a naturally paranoid person. I don't know how to explain it other than ever since I was a kid I've been prone to extreme paranoia. I've always seen terrifying images in my head and I get concerned that they'll actually happen before my eyes, no matter how off the wall it is. Let me clarify, I never hallucinate (not even on shrooms or acid have I hallucinated), I just have an overactive imagination. Weed, obviously, intensifies this feeling. Sometimes the paranoia is crippling; I'm frozen in fear whether it's in bed or at my desk or in the living room. It can become overwhelming.

Third, I want to go back to school. It's nearing the 3 year mark since I've gotten my Master's degree and I haven't gotten any jobs with it. Granted, it's difficult to do something with my degree in my area and I'm a bitch about having to move. But I'm in a dead-end part time job now that's pushed me into wanting something more. Specifically, wanting what my original plan in life was -- get a PhD and become a professor. Focus my career on academia. It's what I'm good at, and it's what I enjoy doing. I've missed the college space so much. I've missed the research that goes into essays and the excitement I used to get while writing. If I go back for my PhD, I can't continue to be on this fucking drug. I can't do the work I need to while being constantly stoned. How do I know? Because I could barely balance the work-weed balance as I was finishing up my MA. Weed stifled my academic work so much to the point that I almost didn't graduate; if I go for a PhD I have to be sober. There's literally no other option. I have to take it seriously. I cannot do the work I need to while getting stoned every day.

I feel miserable and cranky every day, and the good mood I get from smoking only lasts for so long and then I become grumpy again. Yesterday my grumpy attitude ruined a nice evening out with my fiancé -- he says it didn't, but I feel horrible about the ordeal.

I'm ready to quit. I've been ready to quit for about a year now with no success. I think the furthest I've gotten in the past year is 2 days without weed. Since I started smoking, the further I've gone without is a whole month -- I really don't know (or remember) how I did it. I don't know how to start, or how to keep cravings away. I'm just so frustrated, I want my ambition back. I want my drive and energy back. I want to be even better than I was before. But I can't with this drug holding me down and making me completely numb and lazy.

Any and all advice would be greatly appreciated. I really don't know what to do when the cravings start to hit within another hour or so. I guess the good thing is that I'm all out of weed right now, and while I could go get more it would involve going to the bank to get out cash. Hoping that prevents me from giving in today.

Maybe I'll just write on here when the cravings hit. Just write about how I'm feeling until it goes away. I really don't know. I'm just going insane with this kind of lifestyle and I can't do this anymore. I have to become sober again. The good thing is, leading up to this point, I have decreased how much I've smoked. I went from 3 joints a day to 1 joint a day recently. Quitting cold turkey scares me, but I guess I'm about to attempt it, because I really don't wanna drop $100 on something I wanna quit doing.

Again, let me know anything that's helped any of you quit if you're out there and reading. I would greatly appreciate the advice.

Iris🪻

[queenmoonking]

Yandere kratos x y/n

Y/n is a she/her, also there are episodes to this, blue is you red is him, violence, bad word,

Y/n is a shy female, and is not know for he to speak to people or god's, kratos have all was wish to be her...but never really had the heart to say it, he love the fact you and his son is getting along,

"y/n" *he say in a deep voice* "...be my wife" *he slowly put up his blooded hands hoping you take it*

"w-with what?!" *you take a step back, is processing of what just happened trying to take everything in*

*a sinister smirk crosses his face as he steps closer* "y/n. You heard me perfectly" *his voice filled with menace* "I will do whatever it takes to have you by my side" *he reaches out, grabbing her wrist gently* "Join me in matrimony... and we'll see the world through different eyes"

*you try to push him away, but he'll his to stronger*

*laughs deep in his throat* "You can't fight against your destiny, y/n. We are meant to be together" *he pulls her closer* "And together we shall create a legacy. I'll raise Atreus as my own son... and our family will rule over this world!"

"your at your fuck up mind...will this if you have one" *you say in a sarcasm tone*

*ignores her sarcasm* "I have a plan, y/n. Your father has an influence in politics... it'll serve us well" *he runs his fingers down her cheek* "Be mine and I will make your life a blissful paradise. You shall want for nothing. Nothing!"

*you hit him, and cuz him to bleed*

*raises an eyebrow, surprised* "You dare strike me?" *a look of fury in his eyes* "y/n... this will not end well for you" *he clenches his fist, ready to retaliate but reins himself back* "Fine. Have it your way" *stepping away from her slowly, smirking maliciously as he sheds some blood from the corner of his mouth*

*you look at the door behind him, thanking if you can run out*

*notices her intention and swiftly grabs her arm, pulling her back* "Nowhere to run, y/n. We both know this is destiny... embrace it"

"dick head" *you whispered*

*raises an eyebrow* "Interesting." *smirk deepening* "Let's get you ready for your new life, my future queen" *his grip on her arm tightens as he leads her toward his hidden chamber*

*you try to fight him off*

*effortlessly overpowers her, dragging her down a long dimly lit hallway* "You're making this harder for yourself. Come with me and everything will be perfect"

"you can suck a tree"

*grins* "You're just bitter about losing your freedom. But don't worry, you'll soon adapt to our life together." *as they reach his hidden chamber he shoves her towards an empty chair* "Sit down, y/n."

*she sit down, knowing she doesn't have a choice*

*looking at her thoughtfully* "Tell me, y/n... Do you really dislike me? Is it my past deeds or am I not charming enough?" *his gaze flickers over her features as he waits for an answer*

"one you kill, two you hurt people, you don't carol your wage, I know more if you wish to hear it" *you never really understood why that knowledge was in your mouth, you was just moving your mouth give him a reason to not marry you*

*smirks* "Yes, those deeds were a part of my past. But they don't define me anymore" *a predatory light in his eyes as he looks at her* "And now... I have you. You're mine. And that is all that matters."

"you lie to everyone I ever care for" *you say I'm tear*

*leans closer to her* "You... Care for someone else?" *his voice low and dangerous, threatening her* "Are you trying to hide something from me, y/n~"

"I was all ready in love with a aather man"

*pulls away, anger flickering in his eyes* "And now... He'll pay."

*you daily brace into running for the door to exit*

*grabs her by the arm again, preventing her escape* "y/n, listen to me. This isn't some whimsical crush you had for someone else... They'll never compare to me." *he pulls her close, staring into her eyes fiercely* "I swear on my life... You won't regret choosing me."

*you look down* "I hate you"

*gazes at her tenderly* "That's fine, y/n. Eventually... You'll grow to love me." *he captures her chin in his hand, tilting her face up to look at him* "But first... Let's start with acceptance"

The end, of part one

[looniecartooni]

The Mimic and Clutch Sitcom

Based on a recent Bumblekast question prompt

Clutch: Finally... I have control over this place. Becoming manager was a sinch this time. Now all I have to do is hire some more chumps that are loyal to me, then I'll be running this lowly place. First interview, we have- oh no...

Mimic: *walks in the office* Hello again.

Clutch: No.

Mimic: Come on- aren't you even going to let me try?

Clutch: NO! Everytime I hire you- something goes wrong. First you lounge around, then you do things wrong-

Mimic: I'm sorry- what?!

Clutch: Then you argue-

Mimic: I don't do things wrong. And you start half the arguments-

Clutch: Yeah well somehow at the end of the day, we both end up fired!

Mimic: Perhaps you should consider how YOUR behavior ends up getting us fired. I only do what I have to do to get by. You however-

Clutch: Save us both the trouble and get out!

Mimic: Hmph! Fine. Working under you is much more of a hassle than it needs to be. *leaves*

Clutch: Uuuugh... okay, moving on. Ah good- next one is Tumble. He'll be a good, sorry sap I can handle for a while. Come on in, big guy...

"Tumble": Heeeey- fancy seeing you here! I thought you were still a big shot. What'cha doin' workin' retail? *fake chuckle*

Clutch: *visible frustration* Not again- I know its you, Mimic.

"Tumble": Whoa- Mimic's here too? Wow- I didn't expect that guy to fall to minimum wage work either!

Clutch: Get out!

"Tumble": What? Why? I need money too!

Clutch: Alright then- if you're Tumble, then who is that behind you?

"Tumble": *Looks behind* Huh? I don't see anybody behind- *gets pushed out of the office by Clutch* Hey!!!

Clutch: *slams then leans against the door* Oh gosh... I swear- if that octopus gets me fired again, as soon as I get home I'll turn him into sashimi!

Mimic: I heard that!

Clutch: Scram!

After a day full of fake applications and appearances from Mimic, the boss comes into his office.

Boss: Hey Clutch...

Clutch: Oh no...

Boss: Say, I got a couple complaints from applicants and I saw some of the reviews online-

Clutch: Here it comes...

Boss: I just wanted to let you know- while I have admired your work ethic these past couple of weeks, maybe a management position is not right for you. And considering how hostile you've seemingly been... maybe its best we let you go.

Clutch: *wryly smiles, holding back his frustration* Of course... Understandable. *puts his apron on the table and heads out the office door* Oh and by the way...

Boss: Yes?

Clutch: If you did your research properly, you'd come to understand... *does a dramatic Phoenix Wright point* that the boss you are pretending to be was fired a week ago!

Boss: *eyes turn black and white* What?

Clutch: I KNEW IT! YOU CAN'T FOOL ME AGAIN, YOU HASBIN!

Mimic: *shifting back to his normal form* Dang it- I thought I finally had you!

Clutch: No- but the security camera does! Good luck getting hired anywhere else in this area. My rise to the top is secured!

Mimic: Oh- you mean the security cameras I disabled before I came here? Sure- if security notices I broke them while in your form, I'm sure they'll love to talk to you about that too.

Clutch: Wait before? How long have you been planning this?!

Mimic: About a week or so...

Clutch: ... why?

Mimic: I got bored... *walks past him* I'll see you at the apartment.

Clutch: ...

Clutch: I should have just let Eggman kill him...

[samieree]

Born in Flames || Game of Thrones

OC x ?😏

-> Chapter XX ''A necklace and a clasp''

Chapter XXI ''Gentle heart''

Robb thought nothing would surprise him in life anymore. He knew how twisted fate could be and how strange things could happen to you - it was mainly about that necklace out of nowhere. But he didn't expect to be so 'lucky' as to meet Stannis Baratheon, especially here, so close to the Wall, right after defending the castle.

It seems he doesn't deserve even a moment of peace.

He had never met Stannis in person before, but he tried to make a deal with him during the war, but he spurned his help, calling him a usurper.

He was not very pleased with this meeting, and especially didn't want to hear words of sympathy regarding the Red Wedding. Stannis only scratched his wounds and didn't gain his sympathy in any way.

Additionally, standing in front of him while he was sitting comfortably at his desk... He already felt judged and placed below him. He wanted to tell him to get to the point and stop spouting empty words of sympathy that he probably doesn't even mean.

"It's not too late." he finally said, it seemed as if Stannis was finally getting to the point. "Bemnd the knee, swear allegiance to me, and I will give you back the North."

His pride had not suffered enough to make him repent and fall to his knees. True, he would like to take the North back from the traitors who took it from him by deceit, he would like to rebuild the castle, to be able to live there again...

But his own inside was at odds with itself. On the one hand, something tells him that he doesn't deserve it, that he should step aside and let someone else deal with it... But his heart begs him  to not give up so easily, to avenge the people who gave their lives so that he could be saved.  It actually kept him on his toes and helped take his mind off the self-blame.

Maybe his heart will finally speak to that voice that this tragedy is in the past and he must move forward while he still can and try to make amends for his mistakes.

"It's not yours, you can't give it anyone." he replied without hesitation. Some might say it's not very intelligent to speak like that to someone who calls himself the King of the Seven Kingdoms and could easily demand your head, but if the Northmen haven't given up on him, he won't give up on them.

They named him King in the North and saved him, so he has to repay the debt. Maybe they'll give him a chance.

He must think first of all about his people, not himself.

"But it will be." he answered, but he didn't look upset yet. He was very confident, convinced of his victory, even if he had not achieved it yet. "As soon as I defeat the Boltons." exactly... 'as soon as' or rather 'if'. "And I will need the Warden of the North."

"How many men do you have?" Robb asked, instead of answering his unspoken demand.

"Six thousand."

"And how many will die along the way?" he asked, slightly raising an eyebrow. "How many sellswords will leave you when the winter becomes too harsh for them? You won't have enough left to take the castle, let alone the entire North."

"The Lords of the North will follow you." Robb refrained from sighing and looking away. He just demands all the time and has nothing to give in return. "You know this girl, Lyanna Mormont?" Stannis took out a rolled, small letter, which Robb immediately focused on.

"I knew her mother." he admitted.

Involuntarily his thoughts returned to the war. He knew Maege Mormont, for all he knew she had died fighting for him during the war. Stannis only confirmed these suspicions now...

"She's ten years old and the Lady of Bear Island. I asked her to support me and this is what she replied." he handed the letter to Stark to read it himself.

The letter said: "Bear Island knows no King, but the King in the North, whose name is Stark."

"It just proves that they won't bend the knee to you."  he said, shrugging and handing the letter back to Stannis. "If I swear allegiance to you, they will despise me and feel betrayed. I'm sorry, but I respect my people more than you."

The last sentence shattered Stannis' proud, especially since he believed that Robb would be more cooperative in his current situation. But the boy had more spirit than he expected. Does he really need to start threatening him to make him understand that he is in no position to question his decisions?

"I could just hand you over to the Lannisters now and distract them from me, you know that, boy?"

"Don't call me a boy." throughout the entire conversation, Robb never once addressed Stannis by his title. In fact, Davos pointed this out to him at the beginning, but he deflected it with the words: 'He will be king when he sits on the Iron Throne. For now, he is only the rightful heir, which I fully agree with.' "You could have had the Iron Throne a long time ago if it weren't for your pride. But you chose to call me a usurper and despise my support when I still had an army behind me. We could destroy the Lannisters and you would have six kingdoms, instead you have none."

Stannis wished he could somehow respond well to these words and take Robb down a peg or two once and for all, but he had no counterargument to this statement.

* * *

Funny, she spends most of her time as Queen of Meereen in the audience hall, listening to people. Today she was wearing a light, white silk dress with long, wide sleeves and an open back - because of this she wore an equally snow-white cape, which was held in place by a clasp which origin she did not know.

It must have belonged to that boy. She decided not to throw it away or hide it somewhere at the bottom of her trunks, but to always keep it with her in some way so that she could give it back to its owner when she meet him.

Another man entered the room and up the stairs to the place to make his request. Missandei introduced her once again that day.

"Kirimvose syt ūndegon nyke, aōha dārōñe." he said, bowing. "Brōzio ñuha iksis Fennesz."

*"Thank you for agreeing to listen to me, Your Grace. My name is Fennesz."*

"Ziry iksos nēso naejot rhaenagon ao." she replied, smiling at him friendly.

*"Nice to meet you."*

"I can speak common tongue, if you wish."

She was surprised to hear him use common language. She expected that the conversation would be in high valyrian and that she would have to watch her accent, but she was so pleasantly surprised...

"You speak it very well." she admitted.

"And you speak Valyrian beautifully, my Queen. I didn't expect this from someone who came from across the Narrow Sea." she smiled even wider at Fennesz's words. She was always happy when someone appreciated her valyrian, especially since she had a hard time learning dothraki, mainly because of the pronunciation.

"What business do you have with me?" she asked, remembering that there were about fifty more people waiting to speak to her.

"Before you freed me, I belonged to Master Mighdal. I taught his children languages ​​and history. I have told them many times about the history of your family. Calla is only seven years old, but she admires you very much, she would like to be like you." he told about himself.

She felt happy that a girl took her as a role model. It only meant that new generations could change this world and make it a better place.

"I hope I truly deserve her admiration. But... What do you expect from me? What can I do for you?"

"When you took over the city, the children begged me not to leave their house. But Master Mighdal and I agreed that I had to. So I lost my home. Now I live on the streets."

She didn't realize that someone could have a happy home and she took it away from him... But she couldn't show how much it affected her.

"I prepared outfitted mess halls and barracks for former slaves to provide them with food and shelter." she explained. When conquering the city, she thought that it would be difficult to change the system quickly enough so that people could find work and start earning money for themselves, so she organized these places so that by the time of this change, former slaves would not die of hunger in the streets.

So she didn't understand why this man was living on the streets.

"I don't mean to offend you, Your Grace..." he began, and her throat was already tightening. She knew there was no good news waiting for her. "I went to one of these places, but the young people prey on the old there. They take whatever they want and beat us if we oppose it."

What...? Why? Why do they not respect others who were their companions in misfortune? What did I do wrong?

"I will send the Unsullied to each of these places to keep order. You have my word that it will be safe there." she reacted the only way she could.

Soon she won't have enough Unsullied to patrol the pyramid she lives in if they are needed to keep order in every corner of the city.

"I believe you, Your Grace. But who will I be there? What will be my goal? I was a teacher with my former Master, I could pass on my knowledge. I had the love and respect of his children. I was treated well, they are not bad people."

He was right. And that was the worst for her, she can't provide all the people with what they need. In fact, she should consider each case separately, but this would take years. She had no idea how she could solve the problems faster, what laws she should introduce.

And things weren't any better in Westeros. There may have been no slavery there, but the situation was often just as terrible. If she ever manages to control and bring peace to Slaver's Bay, there will be another huge challenge waiting for her across the sea...

A challenge she feels she's not ready for yet.

"Would you like to go back there?" she asked, already knowing what Fennesz was getting at.

"Yes. I want to ask you to let me sell myself to Master Mighdal."

"Sell yourself?"  she didn't expect such a choice of words... "Not to have any rights? Belong to someone again and be at his beck and call?"

She couldn't understand it. Perhaps if she hadn't suffered so much under Tywin Lannister's 'care', she wouldn't have wanted to change her life at all and wouldn't have seen anything wrong with slavery. After all, circumstances alter cases... And this man was apparently lucky enough to have a good man as his Master.

"I'm begging you, my Queen. The young will find their way in the world you are building for them, but we, the old, will not adapt to the changes. We want to live out the end of our lives in places we know, among people we know. Many who are waiting to be listened to want to ask you the same."

She couldn't turn a deaf ear to his request or to the requests of everyone else with the same problem. After all, she was here to help them, not force them into a life that would be a burden to them. They were free, they decided for themselves.

"Slavery doesn't exist in Meereen anymore, so I can't let you sell yourself to someone, it's against the law." the man's expression visibly softened, but she hadn't finished speaking yet.  "But there is another solution. You can make a contract with your former Master. You will work under certain conditions, it may be as before. But you retain your rights, you will be able to quit your job at any time and go wherever you want. This is what freedom is all about. Come to Grey Worm tomorrow, I'll go with you to Mighdal and you can draw up an agreement."

"Thank you, Your Grace. Thank you, really." she clearly made him see purpose in his life again. He smiled, she even thought he had tears of joy in his eyes. He bowed and left.

Before the next resident of Meereen arrived, ser Barristan spoke to her:

"Masters will take advantage of this. They will have slaves again, but they only won't call them that."

"What can I do?" she turned to him and shrugged. "I have to let them work, I can't feed every former slave in the city for the rest of his days." she sighed. "There should be someone - no, not one person, at least several, who will control that no one breaks what is included in employment contracts."

"A new institution?" asked ser Arthur, standing on her other side.

"Yes, composed of people educated in... We should also have a law defining working conditions." she sighed again, placing her hand on her forehead for a moment and then gently combing her hair - so as not to damage her hairstyle. "Will you bring me tomorrow that man with whom I had such a good time talking about law? Azdahr...? I think that was his name."

"You can form a council, my Queen. There will be a representative from each state, making it easier for you to find out what your city needs." Barristan suggested. She liked this idea.

"We'll deal with it tomorrow, remind me." she replied, smiling at him. At the sound of footsteps at the entrance, she turned her gaze to the man who was holding a bundle in his hand. Her first thought was that the dragons had killed some herd again, so the smile fell from her face, but she motioned for him to come over. "You may approach, my friend."

He stopped on the stairs and looked between her and the others standing next to her with frightened eyes. He said something that reminded her again of high valyrian in pronunciation, but the words were different, so Missandei translated him Visenya's words.

Only when she assured him that he could approach her he did so, stopping at the designated place. He began to speak with tears in his eyes, clearly he had been holding them back for too long.

"I brought you..." Missandei started to translate, but the man stopped and did not finish the sentence. "He came from the sky. He was black. Winged shadow." Drogon... "He came from the sky and..." she wanted to tell her to stop. She already knew it wasn't about a herd of goats... The man knelt on the ground and unfolded the cloth, revealing the charred bones of the child. She took a sharp breath, drawing the attention of both Missandei and her knights. "My girl. My little girl."

Everyone was moved by the scene, but only Visenya felt like she couldn't stop the tears forming in her eyes. Missandei looked down, and so did ser Arthur and ser Barristan, although they kept glancing at Vis and how she was bearing the sight.

This was what she had been afraid of all along, that someone would show her the bones of someone killed by one of her dragons. She tried her best not to cry, just sit as a Queen should, without unnecessary emotions, solve the problem quickly and efficiently, and move on.

But this situation had no solution. She can't bring the child back to life.

She can't move on, she can't just block the sight of the charred bones of an innocent child from her mind.

She slowly stood up from her seat, surprising everyone. The man continued to cry as she approached him. Only when she crouched down next to him and put her hand on his shoulder he looked at her with his face flooded with tears, and that was enough for her to start crying too. She didn't care what everyone in this room thought of her at that moment.

Ser Arthur was right, she has a gentle, soft heart that doesn't allow her to look at people's suffering with indifference.

She wished she could tell this man how sorry she was, even though she knew something like that couldn't be forgiven or forgotten, even if it wasn't entirely her fault. No... It was her fault. She should have been the one to control her dragons, not  anyone else. They are hers, so what they do is her responsibility. This girl lost her life because of her.

'I believe that nothing happens without a reason. I believe in you.' Now he believes in her too? When something like this happened because of her?

She started to say something, but then she remembered that the man wouldn't understand her, so instead she reached out with both of her arms and pulled him to her chest, hugging him and letting him cry into her white dress. Tears streamed down her face as she tried to calm him down, holding him to her chest and rocking him gently.

She doesn't know how long she sat there with him.

Hours later, she still couldn't quite get over it, but at least the tears weren't streaming down her face. She had to take a break to calm down before listening to the other people, but all the while she was only thinking about that child.

"What was her name?" Visenya asked Missandei. She and Gray Worm were with her in her private chambers. She told Missandei to take care of this man, talk to him and tell to give him everything he needed and more, even though she knew it would do nothing to ease his pain.

"Zala." replied her friend.

"How old was she?"

"Three."

"Three..." Vis repeated after her. "And she is gone forever before she could even discover the world." she turned and went down the stairs, slowly heading towards the exit of the chamber. "Iēdrosa daor udir nūmāzma Drōgon se Maelia? Daorys ūndan zirȳ?"

*"Still no news about Drogon and Maelia? Has anyone seen them?"*

"Loktysīs ūndan Drōgon sōvegon toliot se zōbrie clis hāre tubissa alāgo, ñuha dāria. Se syt Maelia, īles ūndegīon tōma tubissa alāgo, lēda Drōgon. Pār daor udr." Grey Worm replied. He watched her as she passed him on her way to the door.

*"Sailors saw Drogon fly over the Black Cliffs three days ago, my Queen. As for Maelia, she was seen five days ago, with Drogon. No news since then."*

"Rhaenagon nyke rȳ se bazādas." she replied dryly, although tears began to form in her eyes again.

*"Meet me in the catacombs."*

She didn't want to do what she had just decided to do, but she had no choice. It will break her heart just as much as the sight of those bones broke it. On the surface, it looked like it was an easy decision for her to go down into the catacombs to lock up Viserion and Rhaegal, whom she knew where were because they always stayed closer to her than Drogon and Maelia. They might not have done anything yet, but they were as unpredictable as the other two, and she wanted to do everything in her power to prevent another tragedy.

Two dead goats were thrown into the catacombs, successfully luring Rhaegal and Viserion.

"Stay here." she said to ser Arthur, seeing that he wanted to say something. She didn't want any advice at this point, in her eyes there was no better way out of the situation.

As the dragons quickly jumped down the stairs, she slowly followed them, unable to hold back the tears in her eyes. The two beasts got their paws on the meat and it was her moment to do what was right, what was necessary.

She must think first of all about her people, not herself.

No matter how much it hurts her.

She crouched on the ground, not caring that she would get her dress dirty, grabbed the first chain and moved it along the ground to Rhaegal's neck. Then she lifted it with considerable difficulty and fastened it. Tears blurred her vision as she took the other shackles and placed them around Viserion's neck. She couldn't sit there any longer, she didn't want to look at her own... Children, in chains. Because of her.

Walking towards the exit, she wiped her tears, but it didn't help, because when she heard that the dragons were losing interest in food and wanted to follow her, but they couldn't... What roars they were making... She couldn't keep up with wiping her tears.

But she didn't turn around, even when she left and Unsullied were closing the entrance with a huge boulder. She was about to head back to her chambers, but she saw Arthur hold out a handkerchief to her so she could wipe her tears.

She accepted it, but didn't say a word.

She suffered in silence.

~

-> Chapter XXII ''What the Seven Kingdoms need'' -> general masterlist -> Game of Thrones/House of the Dragon masterlist

[maideninorange]

for the ask game: 🧸 tsuba + tsurubami (if you want!), 👽 tenkai

(TW: There's a brief mention of child abuse and quite a bit of murder in Tsurubami's section. I mean, it's a theory of mine about the backstory of a dictator, so...)

🧸 Tsubakura

Strange things have followed Tsubakura around for as long as they can remember. Not just their own weirdness (though it did drive their parents up a wall once they started experimenting on themself), but actual supernatural things. These things range from very minor like watching Mom's pen levitate without her ever noticing, to as huge as getting an airhead who's almost certainly from another dimension right on their doorstep somehow (they aren't even sure either!).

These happenings are usually more an amusing inconvenience to Tsubakura. But sometimes, sometimes, they can't help but wonder. Their grandfather had made sure to teach them all he knew about traditional shrinely duties, and sometimes they swear ink seems to move when they are around. Perhaps that is why they latched particularly hard into the exploration of a possible Land of Non-Humans? Not that it matters anymore to them, now that it is far too late to turn back...

🧸 Tsurubami

Tsurubami does not talk about their past too often. They don't even like to think about it too much, actually. But if, assuming you were one of the very few they were close to, they had one word to describe it, that one word would be "stifling."

Sometimes, they talk about many siblings. They talk of the condescending attitude many, even the priest before them themself, took towards their own ability, seeing it as ill-suited for the family line. And very rarely, and only if they were particularly angry (the kind that causes blood to shed), they may mention lashes and being forced to write with broken fingers as a kid as a final warning to certain... condescending rebels.

Not even Tenkai knows every detail. But if there's one thing that is well known about their past, it is that the former priest was quite gruesomely disposed of when Tsurubami eventually overthrew them. Well, that and all the deaths of their siblings, but all mentioning those in particular does is net one a waggle of a couple fingers and a sinister grin.

No one ever underestimated their ability ever again after that.

👽 Tenkai

Tenkai is very, very meticulous about their hair. A lot of barrier builders from Azumaterasu are particular about their appearances, but Tenkai is... unique, in that they care little for fashion and care plenty for keeping their hair free of tangles and frizz. They could easily spend hours on it if not for their duties or, more recently, really bothersome and clingy youkai getting in the way.

Many an investigation has been cut short due to their hair getting soaked with mud in the past. And sometimes it's just the ends of their hair. When Tsurubami was still around, they would often ruffle Tenkai's hair because they found their reaction utterly hilarious and because their hair is so soft. (Well, that and they enjoy being one of very few people allowed to touch Tenkai's hair in the first place.)

Nowadays though, Sukune has tried to fill that role (Key word: tried), but in the end Tenkai mostly takes to playing with their hair when stressed. They find themself longing for Tsurubami's hand in their hair, even though they found it most annoying before, for some strange reason. Oh well. Hopefully they'll be back soon...

[lovrclan-gen]

Cindertail was snuggling with her mate, Emeraldmoor , who was unable to move much given to her recent injury at the encounter with the Fawnclan patrol. They were both watching the kits as they sparred.

"They almost reached 6 moons, they'll have to be made apprentices soon won't they." said Emeraldmoor in a hurried voice, every time she talked her throat hurt from the injury she had gotten. Cindertail focused her gaze on the kits. She knew well that there weren't enough cats in the clan for them to be properly apprenticed, but she had had apprentices in the past, her most recent one was Frogtail, who had recently been named a warrior. The more Cindertail thought of her former apprentice the more she went into a spiral of stress and sadness. She might not be shocked from the whole situation anymore, but all those people she had grown up with, they were gone and into the merciless paws of Starclan. Her other mate, Faithstar had lost all of her lives trying to protect the clan. But she was already in her 5th life.

Cindertail's long and sleek tail slowly wrapped around Emeraldmoor, almost like she was clinging onto the last thing she had, and keeping it close to her.

"Hey, are you ok? This isn't too much for you, is it? I could mentor scrubkit to help me out in the medicine den, I'm still pretty new to it." Emeraldmoor snapped her out of her thoughts and into the real world back again. It might as well be better than being around her thoughts.

"That would be great, having more than one medicine cat around is always helpful" Cindertail let out a comforting chuckle, but soon straightened her face.

"You'll do the Ceremony, right?"

"Yeah, if there would be no leader or deputy I would replace them. Even though I just recently became a medicine cat, I already had a bit of experience with herbs and Starclan!" Emeraldmoor answered.

As they continued chatting, the rest of the day went by. A week went by and it was time for the kits' ceremony.

~

As Emeraldmoor calls the cats for a clan meeting, the kits bounced their way to the snowy clearing.

First, Larchkit came forward and touched noses with Cindertail, she could hear him silently swearing to do his best to impress starclan and be a great future warrior.

Second, Rainkit comes forward, he seems very confident and touches noses with Cindertail.

“I’ll make Starclan so proud! I-I’ll catch a big fat rabbit on my first patrol.. or… or I’ll Kill a fox-!”

“I doubt you could KILL a fox, maybe you would chase it off instead?” Cindertail chuckled and followed Rainpaw back to where they were sitting, chatting along.

Lasty, Scrubkit nervously steps forward, thinking that Cindertail will mentor him as well, instead, Emeraldmoor quickly went up to him and they touched noses, announcing herself as his mentor. He wasn’t very happy about it, after all, he wanted to be a “Brave warrior” like his brothers.

“I want to be a Fearless warrior! Not a stupid, weak, medicine cat!” he complained.

“Scrubpaw, It’s enough that your mom has not one, but 2 apprentices and it’s a miracle that we are all live right now! ….With such freezing weather!”

Her heart couldn’t take it to tell them about how their real parents and clan had disappeared. All the poor apprentices knew was that Cindertail and her were their parents and they all lived alone at the mountains.

“One apprentice is too much for a cat! Let alone two! The pressure would be too much for your mom! And we need another medicine cat anyways, who knows if I don’t recover and die from my injury!” she had said too much, Scrubpaw looked horrified.

“I understand…” he muttered and sprinted at the apprentice den. Eventually the other apprentices followed too. Then Cindertail approached her

“Weren’t you too harsh on him?”

“He needs to learn that I didn’t choose to make him medicine cat just because I didn’t want him to be happy… It’s a matter of survival.. I just want the best for them..”

“I know…”

Results

Larchpaw is now an apprenctice!

Rainpaw is now an apprentice!

Scrubpaw is now a medicine cat apprentice!

[shaevilux]

"October 12th, 0952" the screen read. I looked around the sandy path with scattered rows of trees on either side. I could hear the crickets, the birds, the rustling of leaves in the wind which kicked up some of the dust.

"August 16th, 1026" the screen read this time, before the screen shimmered, froze, and showed a new date. And did so again. And again. Jumping back or forward a few decades.

Before settling on "January 1st, 0256''. I had a feeling that was the earliest date the phone could go. The starting date set by manufacturers. But that did not mean it was accurate.

The time travel messed with it. I cleared my throat, opening the camera app.

"What's happening, Temporomites‽ It's ya boy, Keith! I know the other guys at the Hype Lab are all about using the time machines to head to the future. To check out the will-be-happenings and all that. Buy you know me! I don't do what others do!" I said, panning the camera around.

"Now, I know it doesn't look like much but trust me. Ya boy, Keith, he did it. They said he couldn't. They said no one could. They said it's a dumb idea to even try—dangerous, even! But he's done it. He's here. He's safe and sound. Welcome to the past, Temporomites!" I stopped the recording. That would be a cool spot to edit in a montage of all the scenery and sights of this place.

But first, I had to secure a way back. Or at least, make sure to make a mark so someone in the future would notice it, come here to the past and bring me back.

I just had time to barely think that before a time capsule flashed into existence before me.

Damn it! It was too soon.

I started walking away, down the dirt path away from the capsule, which hissed open.

"Keith! Keith, you asshole!" I heard Ronnie call out behind me.

I continued walking.

"You broke the one fucking rule, Keith!"

I decided the interaction was worth recording, for the drama of it. I took out my phone and turned on video again, making sure we're both in the frame.

"What did you say, Ronnie?" I shouted, not turning around.

"You useless clout chaser!"

"Takes one to know one!"

"We have to get back to the future! Right fucking now!"

"Oooh, since when did PG Ronnie start swearing?"

"For fuck's sake!" Ronnie was catching up to me now, so I broke into a jog, thankful for the stabilisation capabilities of a current smartphone.

"There's a reason why they made that rule!"

"You know me, I bend the rules like we bend the time."

"We bend the time when the time is moving forwards. That's the only way we can bend time, when it's already moving forwards. If you try to bend time the other way, it won't bend. It'll fucking break."

"Ronnie with the dramatics."

"They sent me to bring you back peacefully."

"Jeez, will y'all chill? Get off my dick I'm here for the content!"

"Keith, they're talking about killing you; eradicating this instance of the timeline."

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

"Oh my God, Keith. You have no idea the can of worms you opened."

I stopped and turned around, fear seeping in. Was he speaking the truth?

"So, what? I come with you to the present? And then what? They... They give me a written warning?"

"A written warning? You think they'll just give you a written warning?"

"I... The content—"

"Keith."

"Will they... Kick me out of the Hype Lab?"

"Keith you'll be lucky not to be arrested by the time police."

"The time police‽ But they work for us!"

"No, they work with us. But you broke the rule. The one rule."

"It was never a rule, though! It was just... Not possible."

"You fucking idiot. Keith, you fucked up, big time. And for what? Content?"

"No, please."

"What do you think your fans will say? Your 'Temporomites', right? Is that what you call them?"

"Fuck, Ronnie. I didn't know—"

"What do you think they'll say when they find out Keith... JUST GOT PUNKED!" Ronnie exclaimed, and the invisible camera hovering by his head shimmered and became visible.

"For fuck's sake, Ronnie!" I shouted.

"Hook, line and sinker!"

"Fuck off!"

"You saw his face, guys? Your jackass, edgelord wannabe? 'Please don't arrest me, time police.' Haha!"

"I knew there wasn't a fucking rule!"

"Oh, you knew? But you still fell for it?"

"Goddammit. I'll get you back for this, asshole. Fucking cringe. Imagine going all in acting like a fucking deranged psycho just to get me."

"Seethe some more, loser."

"So, what? You didn't want me to be the first to do this? You HAD to rain on my parade? Cringe."

"You're still the first, I'm just here to see you fuck up at being the first."

"Whatever, Ronnie. Hope you got your footage."

"Oh, I got more than enough. I got—"

There was a splurt of blood, and Ronnie gasped mid-sentence. The arrow was lodged in his throat, the arrowhead dripping blood the other side.

"Ronnie?" I asked quizzically as he weakly raised his hands to his throat before falling, limp.

I was still wondering if this was part of the prank when the second arrow pierced my throat, and I fell, as well.

@apollosbisexualass

The Time Machine was backwards traveling only, and now your stuck in the Medieval Times. You pull out your phone, expecting it to be nonfunctional, but instead find it to be working fine, and the date on the Home Screen reading “October 12th, 952”.

[the-firebird69]

There are a few more things going on The rings are still embroiled and will have the new numbers at Daybridge. They're pretty high. at daybreak. We also have western. hemisphere news that's going to come later too We do have some interesting news. about Jonathan Remalard. in this area here. He has been asked to leave so many times. And she has that it's not even funny. And they told her not to do it. And she's sitting there screwing. there screwing around with the computer. and we said we don't need you and him to harass him everyday. and then started to say we don't get it. And they heard you. saying they just like to play with you because you have all the money They're like there's a guest. for Christ sake. Get a **** clue. So to talk about that and you know it's real We can think that there are weasels using it. and we noticed that they kind of cringe when people say no they are not cringing. They're just idiots. So I'm going to take all their stuff. and all their money we are.. And we have had enough of them. Just pull around bothering him and you think we're going to pay you and your nuts. So starting our program to stop them. and the idiots can't figure any of this out. I mean, swear they can't Yesterday I started to just hit them. and I figured out something. You've got a huge attitude for people with nothing they have.. So they started to figure out what they have. I told our people to get moving. and pull their stuff out and any waited kid. All those dashes and caches are theirs. And then right next door And they should be out. So weed is like an hour. and I went over and I said, what did you get? And I said nothing there was going for the big play. and I said what big play They're maneuvered to take it from them and others. So I said I told you to go get some and said ohh I see. So they're trying to do that. And it's very hard. And I said all that is a weaponry and we're leaving it around. and we can't just go get it. then it's not a game anymore. because we're confined. and they know about it but they ever used to getting beaten And so they're being played. a little bit now. he says that but it isn't a little so we are going to town on them and it does make a lot of sense. and he's been trying to say it right but he can't seem to give it a cross So it's going on now and it is working. That's one thing

- We also have another thing going on this. guy BJA is infiltrated all of them. and he is approaching 50% on all of them. And pretty soon he will be past that and he will be infiltrating until he controls it. And it's taking forever. No, it's not. 50% is pretty high and we suspect it's going to go up faster and faster as they used up their defenses. And then go on to the tunnels at the same time. You're trying to escape. or try to get to the weapons. Now this is going to happen. all day and night. It's another problem. We have solutions. We know about the problem. and we know it's. growing up shrinking. It is not training. It's getting bigger. and you might capture all of it, which is a lot more than we want them to. But people are standing by and watching and not. doing anything. and they cannot be allowed to do so. So he looks at it and we said. if I ever could see what he's doing. I wondered what was up with that and what the plan was. And my son and daughter just said it at a certain point of saturation. They will start invading with these armies that are sitting there. and that's the security areas. And they'll be forced to come out. and they'll blow the bunkers or they will take the bunkers. And that's going on. So he's just sitting there. smiling. 15. Nobody knows. And he's wrong. as he was doing his rounds this morning. He noticed that there was a big force of foreigners. outside the door. of all the very large and all the large globally And he cringed and he says these people being business. in the same get out of the way. And he knocks on the door. So it's what do I do? He said get out of the way. and says What do you mean? So stick your **** **** and get out of the **** way. Have some of them. So he says it's not a bad idea. They'll end up fighting the empire. and he is. stuck there. Kind of. And he is now going to be able to move. So he says back. I don't think I can move and we say we're going to roll over you then. So they get a little angry. and he started. He started to blb And he's talking and talking. turns around and says you won't have a boy anymore. And he heard you'll have a girl. because we're gonna fix him. and we mean it. now get out of the way. So he says today? what should I do then? And we said, get out of the way. here as well. And he's saying he'll get hurt. And I heard our son say they're gonna roll over you and they don't care. and stop threading me, little baby There's a whole bunch of different parties out there. And if you don't roll right over you. And then what's the weapons and don't care about your mouth Let's wait for you to get killed here. So you can hear him mumbling and stumbling. and blabbing And finally he said So I'll go to town on him and sue. And he heard kill that piece of trash. I don't wanna listen to this stupid **** Start wiping his family out That's what he did to me and took away support. She stuffed her heads up his **** But people are not doing that. small enough in his **** is big enough. I've had nothing but reserved for this stupid little sick **** loser. Mental patient. So we went ahead and started to beat on him. and to take stuff. It's hard to hear him whining. We could. He started to say, I told you not to do that, and we said, you started **** us off. We told you to go in, shut up. Now we're doing work on you. You had your chance. and start