#i think this was only an excuse to draw noah

[tikosblogg]

The Scars We Bare….❤️

Summary: After a traumatic accident leaving your body scarred for life, Noah makes it his mission to remind you of your worth.

Warning: piv sex, unprotected sex(don’t do that), slight choking. Body worship?, mentions of blood, fighting. Let me know if I forgot anything.

A/N: This is a little heavier than I usually write about, but I thought it was so sweet. I’m sorry if it’s trash, I wrote this while watching Summer slam🤪

The energy inside our house was insane, the house pulsing with the music and the laughter of friends. the ambiance was alive—a perfect backdrop to celebrate the end of their successful tour. I had always been the glue that held this ragtag bunch together. Growing up alongside Noah, and the guys meant our lives were intertwined in a way that made this party feel like a reunion of sorts, no matter how long we’ve lived together or how often we saw each other while they are on the road.

As I mingled among partygoers, I felt an undeniable sense of pride for these guys who had worked so hard, now basking in the glow of their accomplishments. But tonight wasn’t just about them; it was about me too. I had hopes of taking my relationship with Brent to the next level.

Brent is the first relationship I’ve had since my accident 4 years ago. We have been seeing one another for about a month, and in my gut, I felt tonight could be the night we solidified what we both wanted. Nobody has seen my body since that traumatic day, except for Noah. My family lives out of state, so as soon as I was released from the hospital Noah moved me in here.

He was my rock during the whole ordeal and helped me heal. Our friendship is a special one, that I hold dearly in my heart. He bathed me, cooked for me, cleaned the cuts and incisions on my body everyday. He was the shoulder I cried on, about my insecurities of my forever changed body. Always reminding me that I was beautiful. He has helped more than I think he realizes.

Excusing myself from a lively conversation with Noah and Jolly, I slipped outside to check on Brent. The cool air hit my skin, refreshing yet a little uneasy. I dialed his number, only to be met with an annoyance I couldn’t quite place. "I've been here for the past 45 minutes," he huffed, the edge in his voice making me flinch.

My stomach twisted as he gave me his location. I ended the call, worry gnawing at the edges of my mind. What had gone wrong? He’s never sounded so annoyed with me. I shook it off and decided to find him, determined not to let it ruin our night.

When I finally spotted him, leaning against the wall of the house with his arms crossed and an unimpressed look on his face, my heart sank. Why did he look so displeased? I swept in for a hug, wrapping my arms around his body, hoping to draw out a little warmth. He hesitated for just a moment before returning the embrace, but the spark I had anticipated was absent.

"Hey! Glad you made it," I chirped, forcing a smile even as a twinge of frustration bubbled within me. He didn't reply, only allowed me to grab his hand and lead him inside.

As we entered, I could feel the vibrant energy shift slightly. The laughter and chatter continued, but the warmth of the party felt overshadowed by the tension emanating from Brent. I introduced him to the guys Noah, Jolly, Folio, and Nick—all of whom were mingling and laughing, filling the air with their unique energy. However, I noticed something peculiar: the way the guys eyed Brent, especially Noah. There was a hint of concern in his gaze, the kind that screamed, I’m onto you.

Ignoring the unspoken judgment from my friends, I pulled Brent closer, trying to ignite that spark between us. We stood there, surrounded by music and laughter, yet he seemed distant, his smile faltering as the guys began to chatter amongst themselves.

“Everything alright?” I whispered, leaning closer to him. I wanted an opening, a doorway into whatever was bothering him. But he merely shrugged, his gaze wandering, refusing to engage. I softly grasped Brent’s hand, politely excusing us from the group. I led him through the crowd of party goers, and up the stairs to my room.

As I closed the door behind us, the thumping bass of the party dwindled into a distant murmur, the laughter of friends fading away as I turned to Brent. The vibrant energy of the gathering felt worlds away, and the four walls of my bedroom suddenly wrapped around us like a protective barrier.

“Brent,” I started, my voice wavering slightly. “I’m really sorry if I overwhelmed you back there. I just wanted you to meet my friends. They’re like family to me.” I stepped closer, finding comfort in the small space between us. “I like how you’re different from everyone else,” I reassured him, reaching to cup his face. “I want you with me, Brent. I really like you, and I was hoping tonight could be something more.”

At last, he looked up, a smirk playing on his lips as he wasted no more time, and leaned in and captured my mouth with his. The kiss ignited something deep inside me; I melted into him, the world beyond my bedroom eclipsed in a frenzy of sensation. But then, as he pushed me down onto the bed, his body pressing into mine, I felt a rush of vulnerability sweep over me.

His lips were a warm trail, moving from my mouth and down the length of my neck. Nervousness coiled in my stomach, mingling with the thrill of it all. What if he hates the scars? But I shushed that voice; if Brent liked me, he would accept all of me, flaws and histories included.

When he finally pulled away, his eyes dark with desire, he removed his shirt, revealing his toned body. I felt my pulse quicken. The intimacy of the moment escalated as he reached for mine. But then, as the fabric glided off my skin, a sudden silence enveloped us. Brent froze, his expression shifting from desire to something unreadable as his eyes traced the long scar running down my chest, then mapping the smaller scars scattered along my ribs and stomach.

“Are you okay?” I paused, my heart pounding painfully against my rib cage as I reached up, uncertain and vulnerable.

The moment hung heavy in the air; he shook his head vehemently, climbing off me so quickly that the sudden loss of his warmth sent a chill racing down my spine. I sat up, confusion flooding my senses. “What’s wrong? Did I do something?”

Brent stood there, the remnants of our intimacy dissolving between us. He tugged his shirt back on, the fabric crumpling around his torso, and ran a hand through his hair, the gesture laced with frustration. “Why do you have scars all over you?” His voice was low, a mix of concern and discomfort.

As the words spilled from my lips, the weight of the memory resurfaced. “I was in a bad car crash four years ago. I had to have open heart surgery,” I explained, trying to keep my tone steady. I watched the color drain from his face, his brows knitting together in discomfort.

A long sigh escaped him, heavy and laden with an emotion I couldn’t quite decipher. “I’m sorry,” he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. “But that’s...bad. I didn’t expect…” He trailed off, shaking his head again as if trying to clear it.

“It makes me feel… kind of squeamish to touch them” he admitted, his eyes glancing away, avoiding the testament of my past etched upon my skin.

My heart plummeted, the weight of rejection crashing down upon me like a tidal wave. I had let the hope and excitement build, only for it to crumble in an instant under the realization that my trauma had repelled him.

“I think we should just end it here. sorry,” he added, almost mechanically, before turning to leave the room. The sound of the party resumed its vibrancy, a stark reminder of the dissonance between our worlds.

I watched him walk out, feeling an emptiness settle into my chest. The door slammed behind him, and I sank back into the bed, wrapping my arms around myself as if trying to shield those scars from the world. Noah, My friends, my family—they had embraced me, scars and all. Why couldn’t Brent?

I lay there, staring at the ceiling, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. My thoughts spiraled, wondering if my scars were always going to be a barrier, a reminder of a past I couldn’t erase. The party continued downstairs, but all I felt was the silence of my room enveloping me, a somber echo of what had just transpired.

I finally stood from my bed, my body shaking with each sob leaving my mouth. I walked straight into my bathroom, insistent on washing his touch, and this night from my tattered body.

Noah stood with Jolly and Nick, their voices a distant murmur, but his attention had drifted. His eyes were locked on the staircase that you’d just walked up with Brent. There was something about Brent—a way he carried himself, a cocky swagger that made his skin crawl. He didn’t like the guy, not one bit.

Fifteen minutes later, Noah’s unease was proven justified. Brent stomped down the stairs, his expression unfazed and arrogant. He brushed past Noah and the others, heading straight for the kitchen. Noah tilted his head, a knot tightening in his stomach. Where were you? He silently decided to confront Brent.

As he stepped into the kitchen, Noah maneuvered himself silently, standing a few steps behind Brent’s shorter stature. He was leaning against the counter, deep in conversation with some random dude whose name Noah didn’t care to know. Eavesdropping came naturally to him; he would justify anything if it meant looking out for you.

His heart raced when Brent’s laughter cut through the air. “Yeah, I was about to get laid,” he sneered, “until I saw her mangled scars. who the fuck would want to touch that?”

The breath in Noah’s lungs turned hot and escaped his body, choking him as Brent's words sank in. His fists clenched tightly, and he felt the world around him shatter. He could almost hear your voice, the way you’d always brushed off your past with a smile, how brave you were in the face of your demons. But Brent—he had the audacity to belittle you. That was it. Brent had fucked up.

Suddenly, the current conversation shifted; the guy noticed Noah standing there, confusion flickering across his face. It alerted Brent, and he turned around, the mocking grin fading as he saw the fury etched on Noah’s features.

“What’s your problem, man?” Brent started, but Noah didn’t give him a chance to finish. With swift motion, Noah reared back and swung, his fist connecting hard with Brent’s face. The impact sent Brent flying backward, crashing against the counter, glass bottles tumbling to the ground in a cacophony of shattering chaos.

Loud gasps erupted from the partygoers outside the kitchen, a wave of shock sweeping through the crowd. Brent scrambled to his feet, wiping blood from his lip, rage igniting his eyes. But it was too late to back down. Noah launched himself at Brent, tackling him to the ground, a flurry of punches raining down on him, fueled by the anger and pain he felt for you.

“Get off me, you psycho!” Brent shouted, trying to push Noah away. The struggle was chaotic, a whirlwind of flailing limbs and outrage. Just as Noah readied another blow, Jolly charged in, pulling Noah back with surprising strength.

“Noah, stop!” Jolly shouted, his grip firm as he held Noah at bay. “What happened!”

Noah was seething, panting heavily as he glared down at Brent, who was trying to push himself back up, shaking with anger and disbelief. “Get the fuck out of my house,” Noah growled, his voice low and menacing.

Brent’s eyes widened, the cockiness draining from his face. He looked around, seeing the eyes of the few witnesses, the trepidation in Jolly’s grip, and the fire behind Noah’s glare.

With a rage still shimmering in his veins, Brent muttered something under his breath, stumbling out of the kitchen and pushing past a few confused guests. As the tension dissipated, the music seemed to swell once again, an unsettling backdrop to the upheaval that had just occurred.

Noah, freed from Jolly’s hold, took a moment to catch his breath, the adrenaline of the fight slowly beginning to wane, replaced by a deep concern for you. He didn’t care what anyone else thought of the scene he just created; all he could think of was you and how he could protect you from people like Brent. The real battle would be making sure you knew how much you were worth, scars and all.

The steam curled and twisted upwards like tendrils of a ghost, enveloping me in a cocoon of warmth and moisture, yet I felt anything but comforted. My sobs echoed against the bathroom tiles, reverberating with the music of the party that throbbed beneath me. Laughter and music pulsed through the floorboards, but they were alien sounds in this moment, distant and muffled, a reminder of a world I felt unfit to join.

With trembling hands, I wiped my tears away, attempting to compose myself. “Y/n?” A soft voice echoed through the bathroom, as my breath hitched. “I’m fine,” I called out weakly, trying to sound more convincing than I felt, but the tremor in my voice betrayed me. Just as I braced for another wave of tears, the shower door opened and Noah stepped in.

his clothes still on, clinging to him like a second skin. His arms wrapped around me, and I melted against him, the warmth radiating from his body bringing some semblance of solace. I could feel the steady beat of his heart through the fabric of his shirt. The gentle thump soothed me as I softly cried into his chest, his hand combing through my damp hair, as if he could weave away my pain with each passing stroke.

It took a moment to gather my composure, but when I finally pulled back to look at him, I noticed the water swirling around our feet, tinted a soft pink. Panic flared within me as I glanced down at his hands, noticing the cuts marring his knuckles. “Noah, what happened?” My heart raced at the thought of him getting hurt.

His response was almost too casual, a hint of bravado underneath the weight of his words. “I beat Brent’s fucking ass.” The smile that flickered onto my face was unexpected, born from a blend of relief and admiration. I laid my forehead against him, the warmth of his body a protective barrier against the world below.

Noah was gentle, taking the shampoo from the rack and lathering it into my hair, his fingertips pressing against my scalp in a way that felt simultaneously tender and powerful. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the comfort of his presence, letting him wash away not just the remnants of the night, but the anguish that had been clawing at my heart.

He grabbed my loofah, and bodywash, bathing me next. Sending me back 4 years ago, when he did this for me everyday. Once the water turned off, he wrapped a towel around me, the fabric covering me in warmth as he stripped off his wet clothes, every inch of my cheeks heating more at the sight. He returned, focused, practical, and somehow that made my heart swell. Lifting me effortlessly onto the counter, he took the cotton pad and my makeup remover, carefully cleaning away the smudged remnants of the night while stealing glances at me, gauging my reactions.

The simplicity of his gestures, the kindness radiating from each one, made my insides flutter. He was mending not just the mess on my face but the turmoil inside me too. When he disappeared momentarily and returned with one of his old t-shirts and a pair of my underwear, I felt a warmth. He pressed the towel into my skin, drying me off with an intense focus that made me feel seen, cherished.

He pulled the tshirt over my head, before slipping my underwear up my legs. I carefully lifted my hips from the counter, so he could pull them up over my hips. The deep scary feelings I’ve tried to bury for the past few years, slowly making their appearance.

Once I was dressed, he took my hairbrush and began to detangle my hair with the ease, each stroke a reminder of how he understood me, how he always knew how to take care of me when the world felt too heavy. I watched him in the mirror—his brow furrowed with concentration, his lips pressed together in determination.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice softer than the droplets of water still clinging to the tiles. He met my gaze, kindness dancing in his eyes.

“No need,” he replied with a lopsided grin. “I’ll always be here for you.” The thudding of my heart, beat wildly against my chest. Our eyes stuck in a heated stare down, waiting to see which of caved first. His hand slowly lifted to cup my cheek. His thumb softly rubbed against my cheek, as he leaned in the tiniest bit closer.

“Noah..” I breathed, my voice just above a whisper. The uncertainty that once filled his brown eyes, were now gone. Filled with a darkness, that I was more than ready to fall into. His lips finally connected to mine in a simple kiss. Almost as if testing the waters.

He pulled away for only a moment, before his other hand slob into my hair, pulling me in for another kiss. He didn’t hold back, as he squeezed himself between my thighs, attacking my lips with so much force. His tongue entered my mouth, as he groaned at the taste of me.

I whimpered against his lips, wanting, needing more of him. He pulled away again, resting his forehead against mine as we both panted. “I love you so fucking much y/n, and I’m tired of fighting it.” He shook his head, before pecking my lips again.

I smiled, wrapping my arms around his naked waist pulling him flush against me. “I love you too Noah.” I smiled softly up at him. He grabbed my thighs, wrapping them around him, before lifting me off the counter, and walking us over the threshold back into my room.

He softly dropped me onto the bed, as grabbed him hand pulling him on top of me. I grabbed the towel still wrapped around him, and pulled it loose. He smirked down at me, before reaching up and pushing my hair off my face. “Are you sure about this?”

My eyes flew back up to his before I nodded my head. “I’m positive Noah….please.” Without another word, he leaned down catching my lips into another kiss. As he kissed me, his hand trailed up my thigh, pushing it back and spreading me open.

His tongue slid in my mouth, as his fingers carefully moved my panties over before sinking two of them into me. I moaned against his mouth, as he pulled away smiling. “You sound so pretty baby.” His voice was low, and rough. I whimpered, as I softly bucked my hips into it.

After a few more thrusts he pulled his fingers out, sticking them in his mouth pulling them out with a groan. “And you taste even better.” He lifted himself off of me, grabbing the hem of my shirt.

He slowly pulled it off as I laid underneath him, a rush of warmth and trepidation surging through me. The lamp light in my room, casted a golden hue on everything in the room. It felt as if the world outside had ceased to exist—a serene bubble where only the two of us resided.

Even though Noah had seen my scars a million times before, an insidious wave of insecurity washed over me. As his gaze drifted over the pink lines that traced my skin, I couldn’t help but hold my breath.

A shaky exhale escaped my lips, a reflection of my nerves. Noah, always attuned to my feelings, noticed immediately. His eyes softened, filled with a understanding that spoke volumes. He leaned down, and before I could fully process what was happening, I felt the warmth of his tongue glide along the long scar that ran down my chest between my breasts. An unexpected jolt of pleasure coursed through me, mingled with vulnerability.

He continued his descent, his lips softly placing tender kisses upon each of my scars. With every touch, he seemed to dissolve the doubts that gnawed at the edges of my mind. I could feel each light brush of his lips, each gentle kiss, healing parts of me I thought were beyond repair.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered against my skin, his voice barely above a breath. The words lingered in the air, wrapping around my heart like a soothing balm. It surprised me how true they felt, even after what happened tonight. He looked up, deep into my eyes, his sincerity gleaming like a beacon in the dim lighting.

My pulse raced, and from deep within me, the knots of self-doubt began to unravel. Noah had a way of making me feel seen, as if he could peer into my soul and appreciate every scar etched into it. Each imperfection, every faint line was an emblem of survival, milestones of resilience—but in that moment, they felt less like burdens and more like beautiful parts of my story.

He returned to my lips, kissing me softly, allowing the heat and intimacy of our connection to wash over us. I melted into him, giving in to the moment, and for the first time, I felt as if I could shed my insecurities, if only for a while.

He grabbed the sides of my underwear, pulling them off. He laid back onto me before kissing me hotly, and taking no time to slowly push into me. I gasped, digging my nails into his back at the burning stretch. He grabbed my jaw softly bringing my eyes to his. “Are you okay baby?”

I nodded, lifting my head to kiss his lips. I softly bit on his bottom lip, pulling on it softly. He grunted, as his hips roughly snapped against mine. “Please Noah…” I whined, pulling him into me. He lifted up, caging my head in between his arms. He stared down at me, as he pounded into me mercilessly.

“Fuck baby you feel so good” he groaned, above me. The pleasure on his face made me feral. I dug my heel into the mattress, using all my force to flip our bodies over. His eyes widened in shock, as huge grin formed on his lips. “Fuck baby, you gonna ride me?” He almost whimpered.

My pussy throbbed at his words. Having my big tatted mainly best friend whimpering underneath was not something I ever imagined, but am so fucking lucky to experience. I leaned down, trailing kisses down his throat while he groaned. I leaned back up, grabbing his dick, and hovering back over it.

We both let out low groans, as I sank back down. “Fuck Noah you’re so big.” I whined, slowly rocking my hips back forth. “Yeah?” He breathed, gripping my hips tightly. I nodded my head, placing my hands against his chest.

He groaned at my sluggish pace, as I smirked down at him, enjoying my teasing game. After a few minutes, he was done with my teasing. His hand shot up, wrapping around my throat. He pulled me down until our noses were touching, as a cocky smile made its way to his face.

“You really thought I was gonna let you take control?” He growled, brushing his lips against mine. “I-..” my sentence was cut short, as his hips fucked up into me hard and fast. My nails dug into his chest, gripping on for dear life.

His fingers tightened around my throat as he finally connected our lips into a sloppy kiss. Lips, tongues, and teeth clashing. He pushed me back, making me sit up straight on top of him. He reached up, shoving two fingers in my mouth, as I moaned around them, sucking on them hard.

He slowly slid them out, running them down my throat, down my chest and stopping to squeeze my tit. “C’mon baby. You gonna cum for me?” He panted, continuing his decent until his fingers reached my swollen clit.

I threw my head back with a moan, in love with how he was making me feel. I leaned back, placing my hands right above his knees behind me, as I continued riding him. “Fuuuuck…” I groaned as his fingers sped up.

I felt my orgasm rising with each thrust of his hips, and stroke of his fingers. “I’m gonna cum.” I whined, looking down at him. The sight was beautiful. His brows were furrowed, and his lips were parted, as he released ragged breaths.

“C’mon baby give it to me. Cum on my dick.” He groaned finally looking up at me. As soon as we made eye contact, my orgasm shook my body. “Good fucking girl.” He grunted, as he fucked me through it. I huffed, falling onto his chest as thrusted a few more times finally releasing into me with a groan.

We laid there for what felt like hours, catching our breaths just holding each other. He placed a kiss on top of my head, before gently pushing me off onto the bed beside him. He reached down grabbing the towel he wore earlier, and cleaned us off.

Once we were clean he grabbed my comforter, pulling it over us. He pulled me into his arms, as I snuggled deep into his chest. “I love you so much y/n. You’re the most beautiful person I have ever laid my eyes on. I will spend every minute proving that to you from now on. Please don’t let some dick head make you think differently.”

I felt my eyes well up with tears again, as I placed a gentle kiss to the middle of his chest. “I love you.”

[inmydr3amz]

°⋆｡distractions

​🇳​​🇴​​🇦​​🇭​ ​🇷​​🇪​​🇪​​🇩​

✦ synopsis: in which you're noah's favourite distraction

⟡ content warnings: none just fluff!

✦ word count: 572

✮⋆ a/n: i wrote this instead of paying attention to physics. also i added some decor to his treehouse that wasn't actually in the movie bc i can. also @cxmryns4rchive saw this first ⋆✮

Noah's treehouse is your favourite hideout on the entire Vineyard—the island or his mother's. It's so him—it's got his personality in every corner.

The telescope by the window. The desk with his typewriter he writes all his articles on. The notebook and loose pages of short stories and abandoned articles thrown around on the table. His backpack, his baseball cap, his bat, his ball. The posters upon posters on every wall. The pictures of all his friends. The pictures of you. The bookshelf full of books. The beanbag. The blackboard he writes all his story ideas and leads on and that he lets you—and only you—draw little faces and doodles on. And the couch across from his desk at the opposite end of the room where you and Noah are sitting.

He's laying on the sofa, head on the armrest. You're on his lap, straddling his waist, and he's got his knees drawn up for you to rest your back on. You're holding his hands, tugging them around and playing with them as he caresses the backs of your hands with his thumbs.

He's in his baseball uniform. You love seeing him in it because god he looks good in red.

"Don't you have to leave for your game soon?" you ask, fiddling with his fingers.

He shrugs. "Don't worry about that."

You bite back a smile and tilt your head. "Noah," you scold.

"Y/NNNNN," he mocks.

You narrow your eyes, tonguing the inside of your cheek. For someone on the baseball team who loves the sport so much, he sure likes to find excuses to not go to his own games.

You're about to chastise him a little more when he tightens his grip on your hands and pulls you down into his chest. You yelp, pressing your intertwined hands into the armrest on either side of his head to stabilize yourself.

"Noah!" you shriek.

He laughs, nudges his nose against yours. "You know, I think we should just make out now."

You make a face of faux-annoyance. "Oh, you do, huh?"

He cuts off your grumbling by lifting his head and pressing his lips to yours. You smile into the kiss because fuck if he doesn't melt all your defenses.

"Mmmf—" You try and pull back to speak, to nag him about his game a little more, but he follows your head up and keeps his mouth firmly against yours.

Oh, well. Fuck his game. Making out is a good enough workout for you.

It's a couple more minutes of his mouth on yours and pure bliss before his mom starts calling for him. He doesn't answer. Maybe he didn't hear her?

She calls one more time. Two, three, four—ok, now he's just ignoring her.

"Noah—" you try.

"No," he says tightly, keeping his lips securely against yours. He sits up, a hand going to the small of your back as he slowly guides you to lay down—

"Noah, you're going to be late for your game! Get down now!" his mom yells again.

He groans and throws his head back, finally detaching his mouth from yours. "Fineeee!" he whines. When he turns back to you, he's pouting.

You laugh. "I told you."

He rolls his eyes, the hand still holding yours playing with yours fingers. "Whatever. You'll come and cheer me on, right?"

"Of course, I will."

He smiles and pecks your cheek.

[sorrowsofsilence]

Burning Out • III

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x Fem!Reader

I was lost, but now I'm found Under the lights and in the sounds So let us sing and sing it loud That we're not perfect, but we're proud of who we are.

Noah Sebastian is lost. His crime-filled lifestyle is anything but perfect; but everything changes once he meets you.

Words: 5.4k

General fanfic Warnings: 18+, explicit language, smut, alcohol, drugs, violence, mentions murder/suicide, panic attacks/anxiety, nightmares

Authors note: Chapter Three - One of Us is Broken Glass (EDITED 09-03-24)

new? start from chapter one here

THIS IS A FANFICTION USING REAL PEOPLE IN A FICTIONAL SITUATION! I AM NOT IMPLYING THESE PEOPLE WOULD DO THE THINGS IN THE STORY OR ACT THE WAY THEY DO IN THE STORY, IN REAL LIFE! IT IS SIMPLY FICTION, AND JUST FOR FUN! THINK OF THEM AS ACTORS LOL.

+

“What the fuck are you doing?” I whispered-yelled, furrowing my brows at him in distaste.

“Kiss me,” he pleaded, kneeling in front of me again with an expression filled with fear and distress.

“Excuse me?” I now yelled a bit too loudly as the door below us rattled once more.

“LAPD! Open up!”

“I need you to kiss me, please,” Noah's intense gaze locked onto mine as he begged, “Just this once Y/N.”

I hesitated for a moment but ultimately gave in to Noah's desperate request. His hands gripped the back of my head, fingers threading through my hair as he pulled me towards him. With complete desperation, Noah kissed me intensely.

+++++

NOAH

My earbuds blasted music as I strolled along the sidewalk, glancing at the houses Y/N and I had passed by earlier. A few of them still had lights on despite the late hour, so I kept walking until I reached a cul de sac lined with townhouses. Putting on a ski mask and pulling up the hood of my sweatshirt, I adjusted my backpack straps and began scoping out each house, searching for a potential target. My eyes eventually landed on one with a dimly lit living room and the sound of a cat meowing at the door. Normally, I would avoid houses with lights on, but something about this one drew me in. Was it the cat? I've always been a sucker for felines.

As I approached the front door, I scanned for any security cameras while listening to the cat's cries from inside. When I confirmed that no one was home, and it was just the cat waiting for its owner, I knew I hit the jackpot.

Sighing to myself, I accepted that this was the house I had chosen for tonight's target. Maybe I could take a few minutes to pet the cat before the guilt sets in. Unzipping my backpack, I retrieved my metal tools and got to work on picking the lock. With my phone in hand, I timed myself to see how quickly I could do it; it was the only way to make this mundane task somewhat enjoyable.

Using a tension wrench and pick, I twisted and turned, feeling for the springs and listening for the pins to drop into place. It took some trial and error, but after twenty-eight seconds, the lock clicked open and I stepped inside.

The cat greeted me immediately with loud purring and winding itself between my legs. Kneeling down, I scratched behind its ears as I flipped through its collar with my covered fingers. The cat was large, with an orange-gray coat and white markings that swirled around its

As I stroked the orange cat, I couldn't help but smile at the name - Juice. The cat purred loudly, enjoying the attention. I stood up, knowing I had to get to work quickly. Grabbing my flashlight from my bag, I made my way into the living room. As I went to turn off the lamp to avoid drawing attention, my eyes wandered over the walls adorned with various band posters against the light green paint. My gaze stopped on the sleep token poster above the couch, bringing memories of Y/N's smiling face flooding back into my mind.

Well, I believe Somewhere in the past Something was between You and I, my dear

Shaking the lyrics out of my head, I took it for a coincidence, before looking through various drawers. Nothing, nothing, nothing.

I made my way through the first floor of the house, scanning each room for a bathroom, and searching for valuable medications that I could sell for a profit. The guest bathroom offered no luck, so I decided to head upstairs.

The stairs creaked under my weight as I ascended to the second floor, and once I reached the landing, I spotted another bathroom and eagerly opened its medicine cabinet. My heart raced with excitement as I saw various prescription bottles inside: Diazepam, Adderall, Zolpidem, and even cough syrup containing Dextromethorphan. This was my lucky day, but I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt.

Stuffing the bottles into my bag, I moved through the hallway towards the nearest bedroom. Juice followed me, meowing loudly at my every step. I tried to shush him, but he remained persistent in his demands for attention.

Pushing open the bedroom door, I was hit with a familiar scent of perfume. It took me a moment to place where I had smelled it before.

My eyebrows furrowed as I looked around, trying to figure out where to start searching; until my eyes landed on a collection of polaroids taped above the oak wooden bed. I walked closer, and my heart sank at the sight of a woman's smiling face in each photo.

It was her house - Y/N's house.

I couldn't believe it. Out of all the houses I could have broken into, it had to be hers. Whatever sick strings fate was trying to pull, it’s turned the one good thing that’s happened to me, into a twisted game.

Feeling guilty and scared of being caught, I quickly scanned her room for any valuables before turning to leave. But just as I was about to make my escape, I heard someone opening the front door. Panic surged through me as I fought to think of an escape plan, and my hand instinctively covered my mouth, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Juice?”

It was her. Fuck.

Looking around the room frantic, I debated where I was going to hide. Closet? Bathroom? Under the bed?

“Juju baby? Where are you?”

I heard Y/N's footsteps fade towards the kitchen and took this as my cue to make a move. Every step I took across the room was accompanied by a loud creaking sound, and I cursed myself for not being more stealthy. She must have heard me; there's no way I could make it to the bathroom now.

Juice watched me with curious eyes from the corner of the room, but it was too quiet downstairs, and I knew Y/N was listening. Suddenly, Juice's head snapped towards the door at the sound of Y/N's muffled footsteps coming up the stairs. My heart raced as he ran out of the room, leaving me alone and anxious. I quickly slid behind the closet door, peering between the cracks.

The hallway light flickered on and my breath caught in my throat. Y/N screamed before her laughter echoed through the house.

"Jesus Christ, cat! You scared the shit out of me!" she exclaimed.

Oh god, what am I going to do?

Juice came back into the room and landed on the bed, staring at the closet with wide eyes. As soon as Y/N entered, I knew I had to get out of there.

"What? Are you hungry? Your bowl is full," she said, shaking her head as she pulled off her sweater. This was my chance to escape.

I carefully slid out from behind the closet door while her back was turned. But just as I was about to pass by her, she threw her sweater into the hamper and turned around. In a moment of panic, I grabbed her from behind and covered her mouth with my hand to stop any screams.

She struggled against me but I held onto her tightly.

Why didn't I just run? Why did I think this was a good idea?

With a racing heart, I turned her around to face the mirror, hoping she would see that I meant no harm.

But tears fell from her eyes as she whimpered, looking back and forth between my masked face and the gun in my waistband.

Of course, she would be afraid.

I was a masked vigilante with a gun.

"I'm not going to hurt you," I said softly, my voice trembling. I knew I had to run as soon as I let go of her. She would never know it was me, and everything would be okay because I could just delete her number and never see her again...right?

Y/N's body trembled in my arms as I held her tightly. Even though I squeezed her for comfort, I knew she was far from being soothed.

"I'm going to leave, and you're going to let me. Got it?" I stated firmly, taking a deep breath before closing my eyes and preparing myself to leave this house forever.

"Please don't make a scene," I added, releasing my grip on her body slightly. As I began to step away, Y/N turned around and kicked me with all the strength she had.

"Fuck!" I cried out, doubling over in pain and protecting myself with my hands. As I tried to recover, Y/N fled the room. I knew I had to follow her; there was no way I could escape without her knowing what happened.

"You fucking creep! You followed me!" Y/N yelled, her voice dripping with anger as she pointed a knife at me when I finally exited the room. ""You're a lowlife piece of shit! Get out of my house or I'll call the cops on your sorry ass…Noah."

I locked eyes with her, feeling a wave of shame wash over me as she spoke my name with complete disdain. How did she know it was me? My clothes were different and none of my tattoos were visible.

My body shook with pain and I hunched over, leaning on her door for support.

"Please, Y/N, don't call the cops," I begged desperately.

"Why shouldn't I call the cops?" she screamed back at me, tears streaming down her face. She reached for her phone and began to dial 9-1-1, causing my stomach to drop even further in fear. I couldn't get caught - I had too much at stake.

I pleaded once more, but Y/N pressed the button and I could hear the faint ringing of the operator on the other end. Panic set in and my hand instinctively reached for the gun tucked into my waistband. Y/N's face went pale as she noticed the weapon, her lips trembling in terror. I had never seen anyone so afraid before - not even the woman from our job weeks ago.

"Hang up," I managed to whisper through dry lips. "Y/N, hang up please."

But it was too late - Y/N had already spiralled into a panic attack, gasping for air. We sat there in silence until we heard loud knocks on the front door.

"This is LAPD!"

"Shit," I muttered under my breath, frantically thinking of a plan. Usually, if you call 9-1-1 and then don't answer their call back, they send someone to check on your location to make sure you're okay. But I didn't expect them to come this quickly.

Y/N looked between me and the door, wiping away smeared lipstick from her face. Do I hide? Do I surrender?

My gaze landed on her lips and the smeared lipstick. If only we had been making out... Wait a minute. If we were passionately kissing and she accidentally called 9-1-1, it would explain everything. I quickly removed my sweater and tank top to make it look like we had been getting intimate.

Please play along Y/N, please.

+++++

Y/N

I pulled away from Noah, trying to catch my breath as I noticed the lipstick smudged on his lips. His request was so outrageous that I couldn't help but scoff at him.

"Come answer the door with me and pretend we were just making out," he pleaded, his doe-like eyes pleading with mine. "I'll tell you everything about myself if you do this for me."

I hesitated for a moment, before nodding quickly and allowing Noah to take my hand and lead me down the stairs. He held onto my belt loop as we approached the door, opening it to reveal a uniformed man standing there.

"Hi officer?" Noah said in a confused tone, panting heavily as if we had just been in the middle of a passionate make-out session.

"Evening," the man replied, his eyes darting between us in concern.

Noah pulled me closer and wrapped his arm around me, while I played along by giving the officer a puzzled look and placing my hand on Noah's chest with false admiration.

"We received a call from this location and wanted to check in to make sure everything is alright," the officer explained, eyeing us both suspiciously. Noah must have sensed it, because he pulled me even closer and I rested my head against his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat. Despite everything that had happened between us, our bodies seemed to fit together perfectly, an undeniable chemistry between us.

The officer scanned my lips before turning to study Noah's face, analyzing our deception.

"Oh really? That's odd," Noah furrowed his brows and looked down at me. I chimed in, reaching into my pockets for my phone.

"I didn't call anyone," I said,"I must have butt-dialled while you were...pushing me against the wall," I whispered through gritted teeth, loud enough for the officer to hear.

Noah's lips curled into a sly smile and he even winked at the officer. "I was away on a trip for two weeks, you know how it is."

The officer coughed awkwardly and began to look away, clearly uncomfortable with the situation. "Alright well, stay safe you two. Have a good night."

"We will," Noah gave him a breathy laugh.

I apologized to the officer as I pulled Noah away from the door and closed it behind us. Noah let out a breath of relief, his tense muscles relaxing.

I took a few steps back, still wary of him.

"Okay, now get your shit and go," I demanded, glaring at him. "I never want to see you again." I wiped my lips, trying to forget the feeling of his hands on me just minutes ago, his mark staining my body.

"Please, let me explain," Noah pleaded, holding out his hands and taking a step closer to me. I could see the genuine concern in his eyes and it made my walls start to crumble. But I couldn't let myself trust him again so easily, so I took another step back.

"Fine," I conceded with a sigh. "You have five minutes. And put your shirt on, it's weird that you're standing here half-naked."

I led the way into the living room and plopped down on the couch, motioning for him to join me when he came back down the stairs.

Noah sat as far away from me as possible, closing his eyes and taking in a deep breath. We sat in silence, both feeling a sense of deja vu after our earlier encounter in the park; this time was different though.

"So," Noah began, looking at the carpet.

"So," I echoed, watching him cautiously, "you didn’t strike me as a professional criminal."

"That's what makes me good at it, I suppose." A small laugh escaped Noah's lips before he stifled it. I rolled my eyes at him.

"I know you don't believe me, but I didn't follow you," Noah said, covering his face with his hands. "The odds are astronomical, Y/N. I genuinely have no idea how I ended up at your house instead of any other one in the neighbourhood."

"Then why did you choose this house?" I asked, raising an accusative eyebrow.

Noah shrugged, "I don't know. There's no method to it. I saw your light on and heard your cat, and chose it. That's all."

"Sure," I scoffed, crossing my arms over my chest, "maybe one day you'll admit that you're actually a stalker."

"No," Noah shook his head, "are you even listening to me?"

He sat up straight and leaned over his knees, staring intensely at me. "I swear on anything- God, Satan, whoever you want- that I had no idea this was your house.

“Even over the dead bodies of my parents."

His eyes bore into mine as he spoke and I felt a lump form in my throat. The pain in his expression made my heart ache.

"You have dead parents too?" I asked quietly, the tension in the room dissipated, filling with a sense of knowing.

Noah licked his lips and furrowed his eyebrows. He snapped his gaze away from me and slumped back over his knees, staring at the floor.

"My mom died of cancer," he began, "and my dad couldn't handle it so he killed himself. I was only twelve years old, but luckily my best friends took me in. They're like brothers to me."

My mouth felt dry as I listened to him. It suddenly made sense why he didn't say sorry when I told him about my own parents' death in the park. He knew that apologies wouldn't change anything and sympathy would just feel like pity, especially in this situation.

"So why were you in my house in the first place?"

Noah avoided my gaze, clearly ashamed of his actions. "Stealing, larceny, thievery - whatever you want to call it. It's one of the easiest ways to make money on the streets besides dealing drugs."

"So you're a burglar," I said, nodding and forcing a smile. "You really know how to pick 'em, Y/N," I mumbled under my breath, finding some humour in the situation.

"I wouldn't be doing this if we didn't have to," Noah replied, sinking back into the couch with his tattooed neck on display. "We owe a lot of money to a dangerous man, and this is our only way to keep up with his demands."

"Who?" I asked, my curiosity piqued despite my attempt not to stare at the intricate snake design on his neck.

Noah closed his eyes. "I can't tell you for your safety."

I let out a dry laugh. "My safety was gone as soon as I offered you to sit on my couch."

"Touché," Noah chuckled. "But that's one thing I won't disclose."

"How long have you been...doing this?" I watched him closely as he turned his head.

"Long enough," he answered cryptically.

"How long, Noah? If that's even your real name."

He raised an eyebrow. "It is. Noah Sebastian, if you want to be specific. My friend Jolly always referred to it as "the grand fuck up," and it all started when I was fourteen. Since then, we've been paying off our debt every month.”

"And what exactly is 'the grand fuck up'?" I asked, noticing the letters on Noah's knuckles for the first time as he ran his thumb over them.

"It was my first job, and Jolly said I needed to do it to become a man and join the pact," Noah explained, his eyes fixated on the letters. "I stole an expensive car without knowing it had something valuable in it. The car belonged to a notorious criminal who caught us, giving us two choices: death or working for him. We chose to work off our debt and be free once it's paid off."

"Who is included in 'we'?" I inquired.

"My three friends and me," Noah replied with guilt evident in his voice. "I screwed us all over, and it's been seven years of nothing changing."

Noah closed his eyes, trying to hold back tears and the guilt that consumed him. My heart softened, wanting to comfort him and take away his pain.

"What does your tattoo say?" I asked, shifting the topic.

Noah looked at his fingers again, blinking rapidly. "Bad omens."

"Bad omens?" I repeated.

He moved closer to me and held out his hands for me to see. Without thinking, I took his hands in mine and studied the words etched onto his skin.

"An omen is a sign of things to come," Noah explained, watching my fingers trace over the letters. "But everything that comes our way seems to be bad."

"That's no way to live," I shook my head, turning sideways on the couch to face him.

"I've always lived that way," Noah shrugged, giving a small smile.

My heart ached at his words, reminding me of my former self stuck in a cycle of hopelessness and despair. A year ago, I would have said the same thing if someone had talked to me about possibilities and starting fresh. But I had worked hard to leave that behind and create a new life for myself. It was possible, but Noah was still trapped in his never-ending cycle, unable to see any glimmer of hope or change.

“I don’t even feel real anymore unless I’m in pain,” He confided, the agony evident in his voice catching me off guard. “It's not like I enjoy this cycle of suffering, but it's become my norm. I don't know how to function without it.”

Noah scoffed and looked away, trying to distract from his words. “Sometimes I wish I could just give up. Maybe then I'll see my dad again.”

My chest clenched at his words and I sat up on the couch, pulling my knees to my chest. “What keeps you going?” I prodded, intrigued by this mysterious man.

“My brothers. I have to fix things for them and make up for what I've done.”

“And after that? What then?” I pressed, completely invested in his enigmatic words.

Noah fell silent, his gaze fixed on the ground, lost in his thoughts. I wanted to know what was going through his mind, but we sat in silence once again, the only sound coming from the soft ticking of the living room clock. Juice had emerged from hiding and cautiously made his way into the living room. He let out a small meow and jumped onto the couch next to Noah. After sniffing him, he rubbed his head against Noah's sleeve.

“I don't know,” he finally whispered in a despondent tone, raising his hand to gently pet Juice's fur. The hair on my arms stood up as I watched Juice melt into Noah's touch - immediately accepting him and showing him love.

“You look like you could use a hug,” I surprised myself with the offer, standing up and opening my arms to invite Noah into my personal space.

He looked at me with surprise, asking "Huh?"

"Come here," I motioned for him to stand up, and after a moment of hesitation, he did.

Noah’s lanky figure approached me, and I wrapped my arms around him, pulling his body towards mine in a protective embrace. I stood on my tiptoes to place my head in the crook of his neck, squeezing his body against my chest. Noah’s breath hitched in his throat as he held himself stiffly before easing his body into our entwined limbs. His arms held me close, his head resting against my own. As his chest shook through his complacency, I breathed deeply, sighing into our hug. Noah joined me in a deep exhale, listening to our breaths as we held onto each other, exchanging memories through our hold.

I’m sorry you lost your parents. I’m sorry you’re stuck. I’m listening.

“You don’t have to carry it all yourself. Humans aren’t made to be solitary creatures.” Boldly, I held my hand against Noah’s head, capturing him and all of his wounds. As I ran my fingers through his hair, Noah’s shoulders began to shake.

Can one of us be saved?

I can't forgive you, but I can't look away I have to tell myself it's better, better this way It's killing me

Soft sobs left his lips, his body vibrating through his tears.

Don't wait for the light Just fall asleep, embrace the night

The man crumbling before me was not a terrible person. He was merely a lost soul, fastened to routine and never-ending affliction.

Perhaps, I can be another step to helping him find himself. He reminded me so much of my past; I couldn’t leave him.

Even if I got hurt in the process.

+++++

NOAH

Y/N's arms were a haven, comforting me with her gentle embrace. Her fingers ran through my hair, unearthing deep-seated memories as she held onto me.

It was hard to believe that just an hour ago, everything had been a chaotic mess. Yet here I was, crying in this woman's arms. I didn't deserve such kindness, especially after invading her privacy and trust like I did.

I hadn't opened up to anyone in a long time. My only family were Ruffilo, Folio, and Jolly; they were the only ones who saw my pain. But Y/N's touch had broken down all of my walls, causing me to completely shatter. It was baffling how someone I had only met less than 24 hours ago could have such power over me. Yet here I was, vulnerable and exposed in her embrace.

How could she be so kind and selfless? She listened and understood. Her parents were gone too. She knew the feelings of abandonment.

Keep telling myself that I was the victim You were the one that pulled away I've got a cold heart, this is the sad part I don't think I can change

But the difference was that I was corrupt. I was not the good guy; my presence was tainting her.

Can one of us be saved? I feel like I'm better, better in a grave Better in a grave Better in a grave

“What’s the next step from acquaintances?” she tried to lighten the mood, giving me a small laugh.

I pulled away, my body already infected with the remembrance of her touch against my limbs. I wiped my eyes, face reddening at the embarrassment. I can’t believe I just cried on some girl’s shoulder. She was no longer just some girl.

“I mean, I don’t know if we should even be considered friends. I broke into your house.” I scoffed, wiping my nose with my hoodie sleeve as I sniffed.

“What about acquaintance-squared?” Y/N said, “I think now that I know you’re not just Noah, we’ve upgraded.”

I laughed, “Level two friendly strangers?”

Y/N joined me, the sound that left her body angelic. Part of me wanted to listen to her melody forever.

I knew then that I was fucked. Her hooks snagged me this morning, but now they were embedded, scars bound to be permanent. There was no way I could just leave her as a forgotten memory as I had thought earlier.

She knew too much.

“Sit down. I’m going to make you something to eat.” Y/N said, smiling kindly. My phone began buzzing in my pocket; I knew it had to be one of the boys.

I immediately shook my head in protest, “No Y/N, I should go.”

“I don’t mind.”

“I don’t deserve your hospitality.” I pulled my phone out and checked the caller ID. It was Ruffilo. 32 missed texts.

Jolly: You alright?

Jolly: Almost done?

Jolly: It’s been almost two hours since I’ve heard anything.

Jolly: You should’ve been done within the first hour.

Jolly: Your location says you’re still there; where are you?

Jolly: Noah answer your fucking phone.

My anxiety must have been visible on my face when I saw the messages because Y/N noticed and asked, "Where do you live? Can I at least give you a ride home?"

I shook my head, "It's fine, I can walk."

But when Y/N checked the time and saw that it was three in the morning, she insisted, "Noah, it's not safe for you to walk alone at this hour."

I almost scoffed at her concern, but instead placed a hand on her shoulder and reassured her, "Y/N, I'll be okay."

She made a frustrated face and pouted her lips, which for some reason sent my heart racing.

"Noah," she marched towards the front door and grabbed her keys while slipping on cow-shaped slippers. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight.

"Let's go pretty boy."

"I'll walk," I said firmly, putting my phone back in my pocket.

Y/N furrowed her brows again and glared at me, causing butterflies to stir in my stomach. What is happening to me?

"You look cute when you're angry."

Y/N opened the door and pointed outside. "You think I'm cute when I'm angry? Then I'll be fucking gorgeous if you're not in my car in two seconds," she seethed.

I raised my hands in surrender and chuckled, "Okay, okay, I'm coming."

We squeezed into her small silver Chevy Spark and I joked about its size. "Could you have gotten a smaller car?"

She turned up the heat before fiddling with the music, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, I must say I didn't expect to have an over 6-foot-tall thief in my passenger seat."

I rolled my eyes, knowing she had a valid point. The guilt gnawed at me once again. Y/N pressed play and the song blared through the small speakers. She turned to me and asked for the address.

"If you know where the Marlborough Motel is, that's where we're headed."

Y/N's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she looked at me. "Wait, you actually live near there?" Her expression crumpled in sympathy when I nodded. But I refused to accept her pity. We lived in that rundown motel, but it was still better than nothing.

She drove out of the driveway and towards our destination while one of us listened to the song blasting through the car speakers, its lyrics piercing my ears.

You played the cards, you know I wanted to see Behind the curtain, always pulling the strings in my head

But now I think it's time to cut the ends I won't make the same mistake again

Once she dropped me off, I would leave her behind forever. I had to, for my sanity, and hers.

“I mean, housekeeping must be a blessing?” Y/N said gently, giving me a quaint smile.

“Yes, I enjoy the smell of cheap laundry detergent and a stranger filtering through my stuff.”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I gazed out the car window, taking in the rows of illuminated houses and streetlights as they passed by. Exhaustion weighed down my body, but I couldn't bring myself to close my eyes. Jolly was going to have a fit when I got home - especially now that I had dragged someone else into this mess and failed a job. Just another checkmark on the list of my screw-ups. And to top it off, I had nothing to show for all the trouble I went through.

But then my mind snapped back to reality as I remembered my backpack - the one with the gun inside. The one I had carelessly left behind at Y/N's house. Panic set in as I realized she would find it, along with all her prescription medications neatly stored inside. My heart raced at the thought of her finding those bottles.

My throat felt tight at the realization, but I swallowed the nerves, reminding myself that I’d never see her again after today. I’ll forget about her, and this. I won’t need to see her disappointment.

You got what you deserved And that was me You saw me at my worst You saw the worst in me

We arrived at the motel and I sighed, realizing the light was still on. No doubt the boys were still up waiting for me. Y/N and I sat quietly for a moment before she turned to look at me.

“Well, level two friendly stranger.” Y/N coughed, breaking the awkward silence in the cramped vehicle. I looked at her and forced a smile. She smiled back, but my heart ached with the realization that this would be our goodbye. I studied every inch of her face, trying to imprint her features into my memory. I knew I couldn't face her again after this.

"Thanks for this wild adventure," she chuckled. "It was definitely a confusing situation, but I'm glad you were my first criminal experience."

Unsure of how to respond, I attempted to make a joke. "And thank you for being my favourite victim."

My own words stung as they reminded me of my past felonies, but I supposed she truly was my favourite victim. If it wasn't too messed up to say something like that.

"Will I see you for your usual coffee?" She asked, hope seeping through her eyes. How could she want to see me again?

"Yeah," I replied with a forced laugh, lying through each breath. "See you then."

I stepped out of the car and turned to wave before opening the door to the motel room. My heart ached as Y/N drove away.

Goodbye.

Tell me that I'm wrong Tell me that I'm wrong

Chapter four

Tags:@crimson-calligraphyx @lma1986 @spicywhenspeaking @sammyjoeee @shilohrosechicken

@princessmarshmallowx @laurpartyprogram @cookiesupplier @nojoyontheburn @lacktoesandtoddlerant

@veronicaphoenix @er3nslovergirl @cncohshit @scrumptiousfestivalpost @melcchs

@flowery-mess @mentallynot-here @judging-from-afar @darkmxgician @badomensls

@hoe-for-daddywise @philomenie @xxkittenkissesxx @venturethroughtheveil @thefallennightmare

@blend-in-with-the-madness @reyadawn @deathblacksmoke @Anameunmusical @sitkowski

@anything-more-than-human @into-the-grey @amelia-acero @rumoured-whispers @artificialbreezy

[zombeebunnie]

i hate how excited i'm for TE , my head is full on theorist mode, i genuinely think it's the only indie visual novel that got me hooked. i think about it at least once a week.

thank you for writing thank you for releasing the demo.

and i refuse to die before TE full release

Thank you for your kind-hearted words, it made my day! I can't wait for the day when Trembling Essence is completed, I enjoy reading theories here and there since I can't say anything due to spoilers. Enjoy this wholesome doodle of Noah taking a nice nap! Excuse any mistakes, I finally had time to draw again. :,D

[the-uraniumverse]

So sorry I've been dead schools been kicking me into several gutters and art requests soo

What was Noah for halloween I wanna draw a very late Lana

no bc i was literally abt to dm you the same question after answering the inbox 😭

i actually never thought that out 😀 maybe matching with lana but idk what he'd wear

only thing i had in mind is that i think halloween would be his excuse to wear a pretty skirt

[spicywhenspeaking]

If I'm There: Chapter Fifteen

read from part one here!

summary: Noah and Natalie meet in high school and developed a relationship through their love of music and art. Falling in love, innocent and young, they think nothing can keep them apart. However, sometimes in the pursuit of your dreams the things we love the most get left behind.

warnings: underage drinking, unprotected sex (ope), mentions of depression and alcoholic parents.

taglist : @lma1986 @cookiesupplier @notingridslurkaccount @blackveilomens @thisbicc @thebadchic @laurpartyprogram

When I read New Moon for the first time I thought Bella was being dramatic, sitting in front of her bedroom window just staring as time passed and seasons changed. How could your boyfriend breaking up with you leave someone such a shell?

I understand now.

Time isn’t just passing by me, it’s passing through me. School and work blur together, I’m still doing relatively well in my classes but I’m not giving it much effort and my teachers have noticed. Maggie tried to pull me out of my funk and invited me out to hang out, but I constantly came up with excuses to get out of it.

Mom comes home in November and I don’t register her arrival. Maybe if she had been a normal mom I could have been the kind of teenager that could keep up with her cool rockstar boyfriend. I wouldn’t have had to be nerdy Natalie, too focused on school to step away and have fun.

Thanksgiving is as eventful as you could imagine. Mom and Dad are trying to make us seem like a big happy family again like nothing happened. Of course a week later we find Mom’s stash of vodka in her sock drawer and she sobs while dad packs her bag to haul her back off to rehab.

I don’t react. I don’t care.

Nick texts me every once in a while but I usually ignore him. I know that’s mean but I don’t want to hear about the tour or Noah. Who doesn’t reach out at all. Jerk. I take all the pictures I had of us printed out together and shove them in an old shoebox. I throw in the shirts he gave me too, along with the cd and that stupid wolf drawing I kept and bury it in the back of my closet.

“Natty, come on. Let's just get out of the house, we can go to a movie?” Kyle has been trying to make me feel better, he feels responsible for what happened with Noah. I don’t think so, he didn’t force Noah to break up with me. No. Noah did that all on his own. We end up going to see some stupid action movie, I don’t pay attention to it.

Suddenly it’s December and finals are done. The semester is over, only a few more months and highschool is done.

It’s Christmas and Kyle got me a new set of ink markers and a sketchbook. “You haven’t been drawing much, thought a new sketchbook would inspire you.” Kyle says.

I try to smile, turning through the crisp clean pages. “Thank you Ky. I’m sorry, I didn’t get you anything…” my voice disappears. “I just lost track of time.”

He nods in understanding, “no worries sis, you can draw me something” he nudges me and laughs.

“Yeah, of course.” I curl up onto the couch with the empty page in front of me. I end up drawing a skeleton hand sticking up its middle finger. I rip it out of the book and hand it to him. He laughs “thanks Natty, very festive” he jokes and a small laugh escapes me.

A week later it’s New Year’s Eve and Kyle is trying to get me to go to a party with him.

“Come on Natty, you’ll have fun!” He tries to convince me but it’s not working. “Really, I’ll be fine. I’m just going to head to bed early. You should go have fun Ky.”

He reluctantly leaves me and I’m digging in my fridge smelling leftovers when I hear the doorbell.

Walking over I open the door and Maggie barges past me dressed in a beautiful silver body-con dress, her curly hair is bouncy and her make up is sparkly and bright. Perfect for New Year’s Eve. “Um..hello to you too Mags, what are you doing here?” She gives me a once over and huffs an annoyed breath. “Well after you go take the shower you desperately need. We’re getting you dressed up and going to the party Hunter is hosting a few streets away.” Hunter is the guy that works at the coffee shop that’s a year older than us. We work together some weeknights and he’s nice enough.

“Uhhh I don’t know Maggie, I’m not really in the party mood.” I tell her as I pick aimlessly at my oversized hoodie.

“I don’t care. You’ve been sad about that idiot long enough. It’s time to start living again and show everyone what a mistake it was letting you go. The first of the year is the perfect time to start!” She encourages me and ushers me up the stairs towards my room.

Thirty minutes later I’m shaved, moisturized and sitting in front of my vanity while Maggie applies my makeup. She brought a dress for me to wear, it’s a deep cut golden glittering dress that hits me in the middle of my thighs. She brought a matching pair of gold heels and I put on my small gold hoops. She’s finishing up with a light mist of setting spray and moving on to my hair. Maggie thinks I will look good with loose curls with one side pinned back. I decide to let her take full control and when she’s done I look like a different person. Well, not exactly. I look like me, just not like I’m used to. My boobs are pushed up because of the bra Maggie brought for me so they look incredible and my skin is glowing because of the luminous powder Maggie dusted me with. I feel good. For the first time since Noah dumped me, I actually feel good.

I turn to hug Maggie, “thank you.” Her arms wrap around me returning my hug. “You’re welcome Nat, now let’s go party!” Giggling, we run down the stairs together.

Hunter's house is about a ten minute walk from my house. It’s a cold night but when I reached for a jacket on my way out of the door, Maggie told me not too. That “the party would heat me up,” whatever that meant. As we round the block and head down the street towards the party my skin prickles with goose bumps and I rub my hands up and down them to warm up. Maggie sees the house and points it out. It's a big white two story colonial with warm white Christmas lights lighting it up.

The front door is open but thankfully Maggie was right and it's warm inside the crowded house. “Okay, now lets go grab a drink!” Maggie calls out over the music. A DJ that I noticed in the corner of the cleared out living room is playing “We Found Love” by Calvin Harris and I have to laugh at the irony. I follow Maggie to the kitchen where there is more alcohol surrounding the kitchen island than I’ve ever seen. She mixes two cups and hands one of them to me. I hesitate to grab it at first but eventually I take it “what the hell,” I say and take a big gulp. The alcohol burns my throat going down but leaves a warming sensation in my stomach. “Woo! Lets party Natty!!”

Maggie cheers as she raises her cup in toast and takes a sip. The crowd, the loud music and the hungry eyes that have been checking me out since we got here have me slightly nervous. I want to have fun, I want to get out of my funk and have a good time. I take the drink and chug it all down. “Another one please,” I hold out the cup to Maggie and she looks at me surprised. “Alright Natty, careful now. I don’t want you to get sick.” she warns gently. “Trust me, I'll be fine, I come from a long line of alcoholics.” I mean it to come out as a joke but Maggie just looks slightly concerned. “It's just a joke Mags, I’ll be fine.” She nods and mixes me another drink and hands it over.

I take it and we wander out towards the dance floor. It’s only 10:30 so we have plenty of time until midnight. I think the DJ is doing a countdown of songs of the year because now he’s playing “I Love It” by Icona Pop. Maggie and I are dancing and I can feel myself loosening up, swaying my hips and jumping to the beat. I feel more alive than I have in weeks. I am so thankful to have a friend like Maggie.

The next hour is a mix of dancing and drinking, I am playing a round of flip cup in the backyard. My team wins and two other senior boys that I think are on the football team I was playing with lift me up onto their shoulders in celebration. I’m laughing and definitely drunk at this point and when I look up towards the back porch and feel like my eyes deceive me and I have to do a double take.

It’s Nick and Noah. He’s here. Why is he here? He’s looking at me with wide eyes and then looking down at the very large football players that are currently holding me up and his eyes squint into a glare. I tap the boys shoulders and they place me gently back on the floor. “Thanks for the lift boys.” I joke and we share a laugh.

My eyes shift back towards the porch and Nick and Noah are gone…was I just seeing things? I am pretty drunk so It’s likely.

I walk over to Maggie and she’s looking down at her phone texting, when she looks up and see’s me she quickly puts her phone behind her back.

I eye her suspiciously. “What are you up too?” I ask.

She smiles wide and tries to tilt her head to act innocent. “Well…maybe Nick texted that him and Noah were in town…and maybe I told him where the party was.”

My eyes bugg out and I lightly push her shoulder. “Maggie! Why would you do that!! Since when are you two texting?!” She grabs my drink and hands it to me and with the added surprise I throw it back instantly. “He texts me occasionally to see how everything is going? How you’re doing, since you don’t respond to his texts….” I roll my eyes. “I’m not going to talk to them. I don't care that he’s here. I’m having fun and I’m going to dance some more.” I turn and head back towards the house. “Are you coming?” I ask back towards Maggie and she follows after.

Grabbing Maggies hand I get back onto the dancefloor with new found enthusiasm. My hips are swaying and my hands are above my head, my hair is swinging side to side. Maggie is dancing in front of me and I suddenly feel hands on my waist. Looking back I see it’s Hunter. “Nice party Hunter.” I tell him. He smiles, “Nice dress Natalie, you looks hot.” I blush at his compliment. “Thanks.” I don’t know what comes over me but I know my dancing with Hunter is becoming riskier. My back is pressed completely against his front and his strong hands are gripping my waist.

Suddenly I’m being ripped off the dance floor and away from Hunter and Maggie. “What the fuck!” I squeal, turning to see how grabbed me. I see none other than Noah.

“Put me down Noah! Right now!” I yell at him over the music. I wiggle and kick to get out of his grip but he’s too strong and I’m too drunk to figure out how to escape with any of my karate skills. What’s the point of having a black belt if I can’t remember how to break out of a hold after a few drinks. More than a few drinks I guess as the world spins and I’m set back down on my feet in the cold night air.

“Natalie, what the Hell are you doing?!” Noah says in an explosive tone.

It takes me a moment to react. To fight past the feelings of relief in seeing him. To dig deep into myself for the anger. “Excuse me?” I say and my voice is dripping with venom. “Who the FUCK do you think you are?! Wisking in to pull me away while I’m finally having fun!” I yell not caring who hears and his eyes dark around. I fight the compulsion to get closer to him, the need to reach out and touch him to see if he’s real.

He just ignores my yelling and asks again “what’s going on Natty, you’re drunk dancing on some guy? That's not like you.”

I laugh out loud “ha! What happened?! Seriously? Well..let me see.” I say in a mocking tone and tap my finger against my chin. “My boyfriend dumped me and then left without a word, then, my Mom immediately relapsed when she got home from rehab and I fell into a pit of depression that my best friend dug me out of. She brought me out to party tonight and that’s exactly what I was doing. I’m at a party. I’m partying.” My voice despite slurring slightly is resolved. He eyes me up and down, his hand reaching out, hesitating and then dropping back to his side. “You’re barely clothed. You never dress like this” he snides, “and you're drunk. I thought you didn’t drink?” He asks.

“Yeah well, I thought you said you’d love me forever but I guess things change. And you’re drunk too! How are you judging me for that right now and as for the outfit? Everyone else thinks I look hot. I know Hunter did. Should we go ask?” I know I’m pushing him but I don’t care. I move to get past him and he holds out his arm, stopping me. “No need. I know exactly what he was thinking. I saw his face, how he was looking at you like a piece of meat.” Noah’s voice sounds tormented, like watching me dance with Hunter was painful. “Well Noah! He can look at me however he wants! And I can dance with whoever I want and I can kiss whoever I want! And if I want to, I can FUCK whoever I want! You dumped me, remember? You don’t get to come back and act like my big protector anymore.” Forgetting my previous restraint I end up growling out all of this about an inch from Noah’s face. He backs me back up against the wall and keeps the distance the same. We’re nose to nose and I hear a rumble in his chest. “You deserve better than him, better than me.” My eyes roll, “oh fuck off with that. I am perfectly capable of making that kind of decision myself”

We can hear the countdown begin inside the house.

TEN…

NINE…

“I’m just trying to help you Nat, that guys bad news”

EIGHT…

SEVEN…

“Hilarious, that’s exactly what people told me about you.”

FIVE….

FOUR…

“Maybe you should have listened.” His eyes fall to my lips and I can feel deep down that I’m done for.

THREE…

TWO….

“Is that what you wished had happened. That you had stayed away from me?”

ONE... HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

I shake my head and without thinking, maybe due to the drinks or because Noah is finally back in front of me and I still desperately miss him despite the heartbreak. I pull him even closer and kiss him.

At first he’s stiff, hands and body stilled until my fingers toy with the hair at the nape of his neck and he comes alive. Grabbing me back and kissing me fiercely, like a man starved and I’m the only water he’s seen in weeks, months, years.

Fireworks explode in the background and we burst apart when the rest of the party runs outside to watch the sky glitter with a chorus of colors.

Staring at each other, mouths red and swollen from our harsh kiss, he looks me up and down again and says “fuck it, do you want to get out of here?”

I nod silently and Noah takes my hand and leads me away from the party and down the street heading towards my house. Praying to the universe that Kyle isn’t home and pushing away the thoughts that are asking “is this a good idea?” “What’s going on here?” I don’t care. We kissed and everything fell away.

I am so weak.

Apparently so is he, his whole “you deserve better” thing flew out the window the second our lips touched again.

The cold air sobers us up a bit by the time we’re sitting on the floor against my bed awkwardly.

“Um, I found a stash of my moms vodka my dad didn’t catch if you want another drink?” I ask and fidget with the bottom of my dress. His eyes track my fingers on my thighs and he mumbles out a quiet “sure.”

I run out of the room back downstairs to grab two cups, filling them with ice and cranberry juice. Next, I go into the pantry and look behind the five pound sack of flour and still sitting there, a tad dusty, is half a handle of whipped cream vodka. I pour some in each drink and take the cups along with the bottle back upstairs.

Noah has moved to now sit on my bed, his head against my headboard. “I missed your room, it smells like you” he says softly as I hand him the drink.

“Yeah, well hopefully by that you don’t mean you miss my BO. I’d have to call you out for that one” I try to joke and diffuse the awkwardness. He chuckles and takes a sip of the drink. “This is good. Um, butno I don’t mean you’re BO. It just smells good. Like you”

I smile and take a sip of my own drink. “Thanks then, I guess”

We drink in comfortable silence finishing our drinks and refill the cups with another shot of the vodka. There’s not as much cranberry hiding the flavor but the sweetness of the whipped cream in the vodka is pretty easy to get down. The closeness, the renewed alcohol in our systems brings me back into my warm drunken state.

“How have you been Natty?” His eyes are downcast, not risking seeing the pain that flashes in my eyes at his question.

“I’ve been better, but Maggie has been helping me. Nick texts me sometimes, I should be better about responding. How have you been?” I ask, but I keep my eyes fixed on him.

He lifts his head and meets my gaze, “pretty shit without you to be honest, I shouldn’t have ended it like that.” His words are soft and lure me in.

“But you still would have done it?” I ask and take another sip, easing the nerves creeping up.

“I should say yes. I think you deserve so much more Nat. You deserve everything, attention and support and no drama.” His fingers trail from resting beside him to tracing the hem of my dress and I chug down the rest of the cup and set it aside. “What is life without drama?” I ask and fight against the urge to lean forward towards his warmth.

“A life free of sadness and anger?” his voice is melancholy and I feel my heart cracking again.

“Those come with life regardless. They are unavoidable for everyone.” Like an invisible force field shatters, I place my hand delicately on his shoulder, “you brought much more into my life than sadness and anger” I whisper to him, afraid of putting so much of myself out into the open but, the effects of drinking seem to have broken down my boundaries.

“You brought everything into my life” Noah replies and moves swiftly capturing my lips in a firm kiss and I instantly melt into him. Scrambling I slot my things on either side of him and tangle my hands into his hair. His hands grip my waist and move to squeeze my ass and bring me even closer. “Noah, Noah, I need you” I whimper in between kisses and he slides his hands under my dress and squeezes my flesh.

“Fuck, Natalie. I missed you so much” he says into my neck as he kisses up and down. He reaches around and unzips the back of my dress and lets it fall down my arms and around my waist.

He unhooks my bra and I rip his shirt over his head. Instantly he’s on me again, lips kissing and sucking at my skin causing me to squirm and grind down onto him feeling the hard length of him.

He flips us over and pulls the rest of my dress down and staring down at me with burning desire. My head is spinning but I refocus on the feeling of Noah pulling down my panties and trailing a path of open wet kisses towards my soaking wet core. At the first touch I buck off of the bed and a sinful whine escapes my lips.”I missed the way you taste” he moans out. And even with his mind clouded with alcohol he is a master with his tongue and I squirm in pleasure. When he adds a finger my body writhes in pleasure as I fall apart in a cry of ecstasy.

“More Noah, please. I need more” I beg and he stumbles to unbutton his pants, not even all the way off his legs before he’s sinking into my warmth. “Oh Natalie, you feel perfect. You’re everything, so good. Fuck” he moans as he begins to move his hips back and forth causing sparks of white to appear behind my eyes and the glorious feeling of being filled completely.

We’re a tad uncoordinated and unbalanced due to the alcohol but we eventually set a pace that’s causing us both to catch our breaths and moan in tandem. Noah’s hand reaches down to press against my clit and I set off into a second orgasm. My inner walls clenching around him and causing him to lose himself and spills deep into me.

“Fuck.” He gasps out and rests his head against my stomach as we both take a moment to catch our breath.

“Yeah, you can say that again” I respond half asleep.

Noah rolls off and onto the stop next to me, crashing onto the pillow and we pass out wrapped tightly together.

Hours later with the morning sun leaking into my room I groan, wiping the sleep from my eyes and while moving to sit up feeling the arms around me I am reminded of the actions of last night.

I reach over to my phone that is almost dead on my nightstand and I see I have missed texts.

Maggie: ims o drink!!! I’ll call u tmorw LUCV YOU 1:36am

Kyle: staying to make sure my boys get home safe, I’ll be back home tomorrow afternoon. Happy new year nat! 12:45am

“Shit” Noah grumbles as he slowly rises and sees the state of the two of us. “Um..how are you feeling?” He asks cautiously. I shrug “I feel tired, nauseous but also hungry? And my head is killing me” I say to him, “you?” He has his face in his hands before looking up at me. “I’m okay. I'm just- I’m sorry about last night. That was stupid” his voice is pinched and he’s throwing his legs over the side of the bed pulling his pants quickly back on and running a stressed hand through his hair. “What? What are you talking about Noah?” I demand, pulling the blanket higher to cover myself. He pulls his shirt on next and let’s put a harsh sigh. “Sleeping together, that was a mistake.”

That stings. “A mistake?” I whisper, “so you don’t even want to try and make this work?” I ask with agony clear in my voice. “You’re just going to leave? Again?”

“I shouldn’t have come over here last night, it’s not fair to you Nat. I can’t be what you deserve right now and I can’t ask you to wait around for me. I'll just complicate your life” He finally looks at me and there’s nothing I can do about the tears falling from my eyes.

“If that’s how you feel I’m not going to beg you to love me. Just go Noah. Leaving is apparently something you’ve mastered” I don’t care about the spiteful nature of my words. I just roll back over facing away from him as he finishes gathering his things and heads out of my room and out of my life again. I go back to sleep for a few more hours. I don’t cry until I’m showering off the makeup and sweat from the night before.

Kyle gets home and doesn’t ask when he sees my red rimmed eyes just gives me a side hug and tell me it will get easier.

Maggie texts me again later in the afternoon.

Maggie: YOU LEFT THE PARTY WITH NOAH?! Girl! SPILL NOW! 2:35pm

Natalie: Come over? We can have a girls night and I’ll tell you about it. Just understand that I don’t want to ever hear the name Noah Sebastian again. 2:37pm

muawh muawh ! kisses kisses ! I know it hurts but just trust the process....

next chapter

[5wolfdog5]

Cyborg Noah AU

Ok guys I know it sounds crazy but here me out. I think an au where Noah dies and being brought back using ( most likely using Decepticon parts) to turn Noah into a cyborg would be an interesting idea.

Like how willing is Mirage to keep his promise how far would Mirage go to have Noah with him?

Consider the possibility of a Noah being killed only to be brought back as a cyborg.

We already know this isn’t entirely out of the realm for possible for their to be some relation to Cyborgs in the transfer’s franchise. From humans having their minds transferred into Autobot’s.

To a human using a dead transformer to keep them alive.

to a transformer being infused with human DNA .

It’s not so crazy of an idea for Noah to become a cyborg.

Anyway even if you guys don’t like this idea it gives me the perfect excuse to show you guys a preview of a drawing I made for Cyborg Noah.

[kkpwnall]

a bit more of diyc for wip wednesday, per favore? 🥺🤲

hiiiii noah, thanks so much for the ask and the encouragement!! and since it's been a minute since last week's wip wednesday, here's an extra long excerpt just for you. immediately following this snippet:

He digs his own lunch out from under the counter. Swaps half of his ham and swiss for half of Eddie’s pb&j. Slides a can of pringles across the counter between them. Knocks his elbow against Eddie’s and rests there, leaning against the counter and into each other.  “Did you get any sleep last night?” Eddie shrugs, “More than none. Less than some.” Steve snorts. Ain't that the truth. "Yeah, same here. Got any other insomnia tricks we should try?" “I mean, the last time I slept well was...” Eddie trails off suggestively, raising his eyebrows and cutting his eyes to the van outside the window with his lips pursed in a smile. Steve follows Eddie's look, a small smile tugging at his lips too as he nods. Even though he woke up with a crick in his neck, reeking of sex and sweat and rainwater, it's the best he's slept in years. Definitely since spring break.  "That and uh..." he draws his thumb over his palm, working out some imaginary soreness while he holds Eddie's gaze.  Come to think of it, the only times he's slept really well, the only sleep that's felt like rest, has been the times he's slept with Eddie.  “My uncle’s working tonight…” Eddie starts slowly through a mouthful of ham and swiss, finishes with a shrug. “You could come over, if you want to.”  On the one hand, the largest hand, the one that’s easiest and most tempting to reach out and grab, he’s literally dying to get back in bed with Eddie. In every sense of the word. To spend more time with him, to spoil him, to take his time with him… On the other hand— “It’s a school night, Eddie,” Steve flounders. Wants to laugh at himself for such a weak fucking excuse. Wants to bang his head against the fucking counter.

[butterfrogmantis]

Wanted to expand on some of the stuff I wrote down on the religion hc post the other day + expand on the Julian stuff + … oh who am I kidding you guys know I’d just snap up any excuse to draw em rn I make no efforts to hide it /lh.

But on a serious note, the human-au specific notes;

1. Tailor develops his first crush on a classmate at the age of 10 on the boy that sat next to him during his Sunday Hebrew School; Noah Rubin. Noah was an intelligent and studious boy, Tailor finds himself coming over quite shy whenever he sees him, and he has a strange fluttery sensation in his stomach if he thinks about him … hm what could this mean?

2. Tailor talks to his synagogue’s Rabbi Levi. A compassionate and genuine man, Tailor felt safer talking to Levi even before his parents.  As expected, it was good call. They had a very genuine conversation that day about being born the way you’re supposed to be. Levi also knew Modiste and Yarner well enough to encourage Tailor to talk to them openly, which of course also goes well :)

3. The textile trio have a teenage talk some years later. All 3 discover none of them are straight and in Weaver’s case, not cis either.

4. Teen!Tailor meets a local sports star Julian Adkins. Julian is a regional champion ice skater, with the costumes to match. He’s confident, charismatic, charming … at least to begin with.

5.Yeah that smooth personality didn’t last long. Julian’s true personality comes out once he thinks he has Tailor on the hook. Selfish, manipulative, egotistical … Julian was only really after some fashionable clothes and a warm body for free. By the time Tailor got the sense to leave him it had already done some damage to both his optimism and his graduate programme, which he dropped out of due to having to see Julian on campus so much.

6. Adult!Tailor takes up his cousin’s offer to come and be their business partner in a little start up village they’ve heard about in Europe. The town could do with some clothes makers and the three think it would be an excellent start-over. Tailor thinks this might be a good opportunity to make some new friends at the very least … the villagers seem nice :)  

7. Several months after his wedding, Tailor Nudell-Cotter wrote a letter to Rabbi Levi. It mostly wished him well but also thanked him for being the first person he spoke to all those years ago, and reassured him that Tailor was truly happy where and who he was with now. He received a letter back a couple of weeks later that was genuinely proud of him. Tailor keeps the letter in his nightstand. He still looks at it sometimes.

Tailor, Spinner, Weaver (named but not design) and Farmer (c) The Smurfs

Noah, Levi and Julian are mine

[mamasplat]

As tradition when I have two interests I will now be forcing them to overlap

Assigning the XY Rival Cast Elsword Mains.

This is based on a multitude of factors, from gameplay lore and most importantly; vibes. Going in order of who I think plays the most/longest.

Calem | Chevalier Ciel

I almost gave him Ain (Bluhen) or Rena (Daybreaker) because even I will admit this is very self indulgent as I have been a die hard Lu/Ciel main since day 1 and Calem is a literally me type of character, but then I realized this would give me a future excuse to draw Calem in Royal Guard’s outfit. So we are running with it.

Casual player for the most part, but he’s been playing for nearly a decade so he knows what he’s doing and is (partly) the reason for introducing the game to everyone else.

While Lu/Ciel is a two person character, one being Lu, the other being Ciel, he has a Ciel lean in combat. Preferring the Gunblades over Lu’s claws.

Played solo and mainly did PvE for years until Tierno ruined that fact.

Tierno | Furious Blade Raven

There isn’t another character out there I could see tierno picking up, raven is the obviously cool looking pick and he would want to play the obviously cool character.

Pried the information out of Calem that he played this game and then joined him against Calem’s will.

Then proceeded to spread the information about Calem’s mmo habits to everyone else, quickly forming a long term party.

Is objectively bad at most end game dungeons and PvP, but he is having the time of his life so it’s fine.

Enjoys the elstar mini games more than anything else.

Shauna | Metamorphy Aisha

She would pick up laby as an alt when she released, but she is a magical girl through and through. This is a clear cut pick.

Despite having no experience with a sidescrolling MMO, Shauna is a natural in dungeons. As long as Calem handles the equipment stuff, she can be a handy team carry without even noticing.

Most of her EP goes to making outfits.

“Do you wanna marry me for the dungeon buff?”

Serena | Prime Operator Rose

She would pick up Rose because Rose looks the most like her and that’s Serena’s priority in video games. Making an accurate persona.

She comes in swinging, often playing solo in her downtime.

Pew pew pew, guns, robots, pew pew pew.

Heavy in PvP.

While a lot of her EP goes to costume stuff, she is putting more care into being strong than pretty. But she will do both.

Might splurge a little if a cute collection releases in the item mall, she’s only human.

Might even get an ice burner…probably has a nice house too.

Definitely buys most of her stuff off the board, she is the ultimate farming girl here.

Trevor | Pale Pilgrim Noah

He had a hard time getting into the game up till Noah released.

A little afraid of online games, especially if he’s in a party with random people and messes up.

He still doesn’t play much, still stuck before his final job path.

Overly cautious with item usage.

Panic gameplay.

Everyone enjoys hearing him try his best, it’s very amusing.

[laurajean92]

Nick and Noah - Continued

Just so you know, this will be the only chapter this week as I’m away from Tuesday till Friday night. Enjoy!

Halfway through dinner, Nick and I turned our attention to one another as Mom and Will were distracted. Smiling at him warmly, he covered my hand that rested on the table with his and captured my lips in a soft kiss...

“You okay?”

I nodded...” Apart from the daggers that Anna is shooting me right now, I'm fine.”

He glanced over to her table...” Ignore her. You sure you’re okay?”

I nodded... “i know I'm safe.”

He smiled at me warmly and slipped his hand beneath the tablecloth, pulling my chair closer to his, my eyes widening as he rested his hand on my thigh...

“What are you doing?”

“Nothing, Precious. Relax.”

“Not here.”

He smirked and continued to let his hand trail up my thigh and as it slipped beneath my dress and his finger brushed my panties, I looked over at Mom and Will, thankful they were still wrapped up in each other...

“Nick...”

“Shh, don’t draw attention to us.”

I swallowed and dipped my head as his fingers continued to explore, sinking my teeth into my bottom lip as his fingers brushed the bare skin of my inner thigh, continuing inwards and brushing my folds...

“Nick...”

“Say you need to go to the bathroom. I'm excusing myself to take a phone call. I'll meet you in the women’s bathroom in two minutes.”

“Really?”

“Really, Precious.”

…

Nick excused himself, holding his phone to his chest and Will nodded. Looking over my shoulder as he walked away, he smirked at me and headed in the direction of the bathrooms and I excused myself to go to the bathroom, neither of them batting an eyelid as I rose to my feet and walked away from the table...

…

I stood, leaning against the wall as Noah walked into the women’s bathroom a minute later. Smiling at her, I walked over and crowded her between my body and the door and turned the lock, smirking as she whimpered as I leaned in for a kiss, brushing my lips against hers instead...

“Nick...”

“I love how you say my name when you want me.”

She rose up onto her tiptoes, curling her hands around the lapels of my jacket and captured my lips. Sliding one hand downwards, I played with the material of her dress and slid my hand beneath it once more, dragging my nails up over her skin to the hem of her panties, slipping my fingers beneath the material, groaning as I felt her wetness on my fingers...

“We...”

“What?”

She whimpered as I brushed my lips against hers and gently tugged on her bottom lip... “We should get back. They're going to wonder where we’ve got to.”

“They’re too wrapped up in each other to notice.”

She tipped her head back as I trailed my lips across her cheek to her neck, burying my head there as I kissed, nipped and licked at the skin as I began to stroke my fingers through her folds, smirking against her skin as she moaned as I flicked my thumb over her clit...

“Noah?”

…

“Noah?”

“Fuck! Shit! Nick! Nick, it’s my Mom!”

“I know.”

“So, we need to stop.”

He pulled back and looked at me with his dark, lust filled eyes and shook his head... “You’re gonna cum for me.”

I shook my head... “I... We can’t.”

“Noah? Noah, honey? Is everything okay in there?”

“Yeah, Mom.”

“What’s going on?”

I threw my head back as Nick pushed two fingers inside of me... “Fuck! Nothing, Mom, I'm fine. Just a bit of an upset stomach, I think.”

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine, Mom. I'll be back out soon.”

“I’ll wait here till you’re ready.”

“No!”

“Noah, are you sure you’re okay?”

I rested my forehead against Nick’s chest as he thrust his fingers in and out of me relentlessly and clutched at his jacket as he brought me to the precipice... “Oh, God.”

“That’s not my name, Precious.”

I lifted my head and glared at him... “Nick.”

He smirked and captured my lips in a searing kiss before pulling back as he continued to thrust his fingers in and out of me... “That’s better, Precious. Come on, cum for me, cum all over my fingers while your Mom is stood right outside.”

I bit my lip so hard I drew blood as his words pushed me over the edge and I came, throwing my head back as the delicious pleasure washed over me, my body sagging against his as I calmed...

“That’s what I wanted to do to you the night of the fight. You're so beautiful when you come apart.”

I smiled at him warmly and stroked my fingers through his hair as he captured my lips in a soft kiss, my head snapping to the door as a loud knock sounded on it...

“Noah! Noah, you’ve got one more chance before I call someone to open this door. What's going on?”

I looked at Nick who was smirking, his lips pressing to mine once more as he disappeared into one of the stalls and closed and locked the door. Gathering myself, I checked my appearance and smoothed my hair and dress out before unlocking the door, meeting Mom’s furious gaze...

“What on earth was going on in there?”

“Like I said, Mom, something I ate didn’t agree with me.”

“Really?”

“Yes, really. Let's go back, shall we?”

She looked over my shoulder and into the women’s bathroom before nodding, guiding me away and back through the restaurant to the table...

[concretejunglefm]

Wonderland.

Summary: It's your first time attending a Bad Omens concert since you and Noah have begun dating and while you're keeping things private, circumstances cause for a change in those plans.

CW: illusions towards sexual harassment, mentions of mental health and anger (not directed towards reader).

Dividers: Silent-stories.

AN: this is a series in collaboration with @bloody-spades which the masterlist of can be found here.

Tagged: @fadingangelwisp, @deathblacksmoke, @ichoosetenderomens, @baddestomens (lmk if you'd like to be tagged)

(READER/ALICE POV)

It wasn't your first time in the pit but the moment you feel a guy pushing himself a little too close to you, you start to wonder if Noah had been right that you should've joined Matt in the soundbooth.

As cool as that would've been, you wanted to be closer to the stage. You loved to watch him perform, he was such a showman that he always had you mesmerized by his stage presence, it was just a shame this time you were witnessing it, it was accompanied by an asshole who couldn't keep his hands to himself.

You didn't want to draw attention or cause a fuss, you weren't a stranger to the way people could get a little too close in the pit, but this was different. 

The first time you could've excused it as an accident, but each time you tried to move away was followed by him closing the space again and moving his hands where they shouldn't have been on you, you knew there was nothing accidental about him or his intentions.

You were so far taken out of the concert that you hadn't even noticed the music come to a stop and when you do, your eyes are meeting Noah’s, seeing the irritation clear as day across his features and a flash of something in his eyes you’d never quite experienced witnessing before, but you think it’s rage. 

(NOAH POV)

I’m usually better at keeping my composure and remaining more professional than this, but the moment my eye catches you and I see the uncomfortable look on your face I know something is wrong. 

My eyes shift to either side of you and the people that surround you, catching the guy who seems to be crowding your space the most. I see you move away, or do you best to with the limited space you have and find myself instinctively signaling to Matt who’s at the back of the crowd to cut the music.

“Is there a problem out here?” I’m looking straight down at you but then my eyes drift past to the guy who boastfully chimes back.

“Not a problem here dude. Keep singing.” 

I laugh because this guy seems to think he's a jokester and I already can’t stand him, much less for the fact I know he is much too close to you. It’s taking everything in me not to jump down there and drag him away from you myself.

“Maybe if you keep your hands off the ladies in the pit then I'll go back to singing.” I try the direct approach because maybe this asshole needs a little shame to go along with the ass kicking I'm dying to give him.

“The only lady down here I'm touching is mine.”

That’s it. I see red and my eyes meet yours and I know you can sense that’s what’s happened.

I take a step closer to the edge of the stage and laugh once again into the mic, shaking my head. “That’s funny. Very funny. Because I think you’ll find that’s my girlfriend and I'd really appreciate it if you’d keep your hands to yourself.”

I’m not offering any semblance of a chance for him to rectify his actions, not really, because I can already tell the type of guy he is and by the time I hear another smart ass retort I'm already jumping down from the stage close to the barricade and jumping over it.

I completely ignore the sound of fans screaming and yelling at me, both out of utter shock and excitement. I b-line for you and push myself between you both, protecting you from the asshole who's still attempting to paw at you from past me.

I’m usually a lot more calm and collected than this, but with the right buttons pressed I act on instinct rather than rationality. My hands forms into a fist but I fight the urge to smash it into his face, instead going for the collar of his shirt and grabbing him by it. I have an extra few inches of height on him and even if I look scrawnier in comparison, my strength outdoes his when I begin to easily drag him through the crowd.

“Allow for me to show you the way out, asshole.” I don't have my mic but my voice is loud enough for the fans down in the pit to hear and even when he tries to fight against my grip, tearing his shirt and complaining about it in the process, I don’t relent. It's only once I meet the security waiting close to the edge of the pit that I hand him off. 

He continues his verbal dispute while they lead him out, but my focus is back on returning to you and pushing through the crowd back to where I know you’re standing.

The fans make a space, enough for me to approach you and when I do instinctively reach out, my hands brushing up along your arms as I take you in, giving you a once over to make sure you look fine.

“Are you okay?” My eyes meet yours and I nod when you give me the okay, but I no longer like the idea of you out here in the pit, and solo at that, so I turn and guide you towards the the barricade, one arm protectively around you while I outstretch my other to usher fans out the way. 

When we reach the barricade I brace my hands on your hips, ready to lift you. “On the count of three.” I hit one and two but by three I'm already lifting you and I hear the scream when the unexpected comes with me raising you from the floor.

“You said on three!”

I laugh as you call down to me and I just feign ignorance with a playful; “Did I?” Before lowering you down with the help of security standing on the other side, before I climb up and jump back over myself. 

I reach for the microphone as I approach the stage, ushering you up with me, one hand resting on the lower of your back and when I speak again it's into the microphone. “Now you’re going to sit over here, where I can see you.” I say it in a mock serious tone as though I'm a parent scolding you and it causes the crowd to erupt into a roar of laughter.

This time I lower the mic away from picking up anything I say as I crouch down in front of you, reaching to take your hand. “You're definitely okay, right?” I know how anxious you can be, it’s what makes me so in tune to what you need or want depending on the circumstances and I know how unlikely you are to voice them. It's why I press again to make sure you are okay, to double check, hell even triple check if I have to, just to know that you feel okay and safe.

When I'm satisfied I press a tender kiss to the back of your hand and give a final nod of approval, as if confirming you’re okay and that I am to continue on with the show. It’s not ideal and wouldn't be acceptable, but I'd probably close a show down in a heartbeat just for you. Even if it did result in Matt losing his shit on me.

“And we’re good. We’re good. She’s good. She’s going to stay right there, aren't you babe?” 

I'm back to speaking into the microphone and continuing on with the show, my eyes easily focusing on you as I grin. 

“Well, this wasn't how I planned for this to happen. I guess it's only fair you all understand why I stopped the show. Other than the obvious. We don't tolerate any behavior like that at a Bad Omens concert. You want to act like that, I will personally happily show you the door as you saw there. As for why I did, well like I said, she’s my girlfriend.” My face lights up with the declaration, practically preening over the fact. 

My privacy is something I've always favored and you’ve been understanding of that, particularly in regards to our relationship, but I have no problems declaring it and sharing it sooner than we intended, if the circumstance calls for it.

“So that’s my girlfriend.” I say it again, scrunching my nose and pacing the stage as though a shy child declaring their first crush. “Look at her over there. She’s probably thinking I'm insane.” 

I look back over at you and when I do I catch Nicholas laughing too and nodding, because I know he thinks I am. Hell, all of the guys probably do, though it's not exactly a secret when it comes to you. 

“You’re not in wonderland anymore, Alice.” The remark is more for you, an inside joke that only we and the guys are in on, but seeing your smile is worth making it, even publicly in the middle of my set. 

“I’ll be fine, she said about being down in the pit and were you? If you wanted to come up on stage all you had to do was ask.” I know I'm getting distracted, I can hear Matt laughing in my ear while reminding me to get back to the show, but seeing the smile on your face and watching you laugh, no matter how much you blush over it is worth every second of the delay. 

“Okay, I really should get back to the show now shouldn't I?” I hear a collective ‘yes’ from the fans and nod. 

As the music starts back up, the lights follow a little dimmer, the colors changing for the next song in the set and it's fitting for the moment because a song I made out of near spite, with the intention of creating a radio hit on purpose has become something more, something significant and makes my heart skip a beat when I think of you in relation. 

“Good, this is Just Pretend. Now sing it with me.”

When the crowd joins it almost feels like I’m commanding a symphony of voices singing to you and only you, to hope that I'm worthy of you and that I always will be. 

[wakeup-awg]

Before We Hit The Road Again | Part 2

Alex: He let go of her when she moved and watched her sit down with her phone to make the statement. While she was sitting, Alex picked up Noah who was still by his feet somewhere and he immediately shifted in his arms trying to reach for Sophie. “Hey, you know I’m allowed to hug your mommy, right?” he questioned, catching his hands with one of his and bringing them to his face so he could blow a kiss on them causing the boy to pause and then giggle. “Where’d you put your lightsaber anyway, mh?” Noah looked around at that looking for it and Alex put him back down so he could search for it. “Should I be reposting that post?” he asked, “or just leave it uncommented?”

Sophie: When Noah reached out for Sophie she reached out and stroked his chubby cheek. "I don't think he likes you hugging mummy, just like Willa can get pushy with me." she chuckled softly. Once the little boy was toddling off she looked at him as she put her phone down. "If you want to repost it that'd be fine, but it's up to you, it was my mistake." It wasn't like Alex had anything to answer for, she had done it. "God I just feel so stupid." she admitted rubbing her face.

Alex: "Yeah, but both of them have got to learn," Alex said with a shrug before he let Noah walk off to find his lightsaber. "I don't know if it would just draw more attention," he murmured, then shook his head a little bit. "Don't feel stupid, baby. It could've happened to either of us."

Sophie: “Yeah If willa hasn’t learned and she’s almost three I don’t see it happening.” She said honestly with a shrug. “You don’t have to it was my mistake I have to fix it.” She said and she had posted it and now it all she could hope was the people who cared would respect how she felt. “Yeah.” She leaned back on the couch and closed her eyes needing to take a few minutes to relax herself

Alex: Alex let out a soft sigh. Moving over to stand in front of her he leaned down, placing his hands on the couch on either side of her and pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Don't put yourself down over it," he murmured softly. A sudden thud against the back of his leg caused him to yelp out a little and when he turned he saw Noah, who had found his lightsaber and was slashing it against Alex's legs now. "Hey, you never attack someone from behind unless they're already trying to attack you."

Sophie: She felt him lean down and press a kiss to her forehead. “I do feel bad though and I’m going to for a few minutes.” She murmured. When he yelped she opened an eye to see Noah whacking him with the lightsaber again and again. “Bet you’re glad you gave that to him him now?” She said. It was obvious he wasn’t happy Alex was trying to kiss Sophie much like how Willa had been at his age.

Alex: "And that's okay, but I want you to let it go too, okay?" He said and as he leaned in for a quick peck, he felt that first whack of something against his leg and yelped. Noah didn't seem phased by Alex's words, just straight up looked at him and whacked the lightsaber again." I think someone just lost jedi privileges," Alex said and turned fully to hold the lightsaber before it could hit his leg again. "We don't do that, Noah."

Sophie: She nodded she knew if she continued to beat herself up Alex would get upset because she had made an innocent mistake. When he took the lightsaber he glared at him. “Oh yeah he’s Willa just in boy form over me.” She said chuckling. Now watching as the little boy started pushing at alexs legs as if trying to push him away again from Sophie to try and get in between them.

Alex: "Well he's not gonna get me to move away from you," Alex warned as he too the lightsaber to put it aside, which only caused the little boy to now push at his legs. "Excuse me?" he asked as he looked down at his son and shook his head. "I get you wanna get to mommy, but I'm here right now," he started, crouching down to get to Noah's level. "We're gonna have to share you know?"

Sophie: “That didn’t work with Willa she warned.” Remembering what happened when she tried to have this same conversation with the little girl who didn’t like when her and her father was overly close. Noah glared at him and made soft little “no my mummy.” Over and over again. Though he managed to get around Alex and when Alex turned he must have thought he was going to pull him away and turned around and to her shock — well semi shock, bit down hard into Alex’s leg and held on.

Alex: He faintly remembered Willa not being impressed but didn't really know anymore just how bad it had been sometimes, even though Sophie tried to remind him. There was a quick shifting and moving in which Alex tried to calm Noah down and explain how it wasn't just his mommy after all, but the little boy had other ideas and before he knew it he was biting down hard into Alex's leg. "Oh fuck, ow!" Aldx cursed, usually he tried to not curse in front of the kids so much but he simply couldn't help it right now. "Ow, Noah, stop!"

Sophie: When Noah bit into Alex’s leg she remembered that pain of being bitten and she was surprised when they had yelled Willa had let go, she had bitten jack but still Noah on the other hand was not letting go. When he said it again and Noah almost growled Sophie snapped up. “Noah let go of daddy!” She said pulling on the little boy who held on tight as she moved to pry his teeth off his leg and see he had cut through his jeans he was wearing. “Noah that was very very bold.” She said taking him in. “Daddy loves mommy too.” She said. “I think he needs a time out nap time.” She said.

Alex: Noah really wasn't keen on letting go until Sophie came to help get him off of his leg and Alex cursed under his breath, bringing his hands to his leg where Noah's little teeth had torn through the fabric of his jeans. He sat down to look at the wound beneath, grimacing at the pain before looking up. "Oh he definitely needs a time out. Ow, this really hurt.."

Sophie: “Okay let me go put him in his crib and get him down for sleep he’s just going off my emotions he’s confused and then I’ll help clean you up.” She said. “Willa daddy has a boo boo wanna help daddy clean up?” She asked and Willa all but came running over to see what was going on. It didn’t take long before she was back with a first aid kid. “Alright gonna have to take the pants off and get you all cleaned up babe.”

Alex: Alex was more in shock that probably Sophie or Jack had been when Willa bit them. He was still holding his leg, examining the wound with Willa when Sophie came back and he nodded, getting up enough to get the pants off so they could get a bandaid on. "I can't believe he bit through the jeans.." Willa climbed on the couch and moved behind Alex to lean against his back and look over his shoulder to watch what Sophie was doing.

Sophie: “He’s a baby Alex he doesn’t understand. He thinks he was protecting me.” She said. “I was upset and he doesn’t understand why I was upset and that you are close to me and he’s a little jealous just like when Willa bit me and Jack.” She pointed out. “And she got me in my breast a few times. She murmured before she stated to clean it. “It’s just two little teeth marks.” He didn’t have many teeth after all. “Some blood but you’ll live.” She smiled as she cleaned it first before putting a bandaid on it.

Alex: "I wasn't even doing anything but trying to comfort you," Alex sighed softly and grimaced a bit when Sophie cleaned up the marks on his leg before putting a bandaid on. "Noah bit!" Willa said, causing Alex to turn his head a bit to look at her the way she was leaning over his shoulder. "Yes, and you also bit your mommy once. And uncle Jack… - we have to stop biting in this household, okay? You wouldn't want me biting you either," he told the girl who nodded. "Thank you," Alex said to Sophie when she was done. "He totally ripped the jeans though.."

Sophie: “I know and I wasn’t doing anything to you when Willa bit us, kids are confused.” She said pointing that out. “Yeah Noah bit daddy.” She said nodding because she was right. He had bit. “Oh I’ve no doubt Avery will do the same thing I mean apparently we’ve got biters in the family.” She said shaking her head. “We’ll we can rip the jeans a little more and then it’ll be a new rip no one will know a toddler attacked you.” She giggled

Alex: Willa came around and Alex watched her lean down to blow on his the bandaid causing him to chuckle softly. “Thank you, princess. Feels much better already.” He smiled and hugged her to him before she was off to play again. Alex leaned back and ran his hand through his longer hair now, pushing it back a bit before it fell back over his forehead. “I mean I like the jeans so that’s worth a try. Let’s hope our biting toddler won’t be doing that again,” he chuckled softly and reached out to motion for Sophie to sit down with him.

Sophie: A smile on her lips when she tried to blow on the bandaid to help him feel better. “You need a hair cut.” She Said bluntly. “I mean I wouldn’t say hold your breath because Willa bit me twice before she started to learn but maybe he’ll learn faster.” She shrugged as she sat down with him and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Does your leg hurt a lot? I know that mine did when she bit me but she bit me in the breast and arm so…”

Alex: Alex chuckled softly. "I don't know, it's fun this way," he grinned slightly to tease her. He wasn't fully sure yet where to go with his hair, he just knew he couldn't constantly dye it without it thinning out and he hadn't quite decided if it was time to do that again yet. He easily moved his arm around Sophie when she sat with him. "Nah it's okay. It does hurt but not too badly.. I think I was just shocked," he murmured. "At least she didn't tear through your clothes," he teased but he was very aware none of it was actually fun or hurting more or less than the other. "I should probably just get another pair of pants to wear for now," Alex said.

Sophie: “Yeah mhm it’s fun.” She said. “It’s only fun one way and that’s to grab during certain times involving no clothes.” She said, other than that she missed his slightly shorter hair. “Excuse me she bit my bare arm and my nipple Alex, you had clothes on to bite through!” She scoffed. “Let’s get Noah to bite your nipple and tell me how it feels if the pants are better or not.” She protested. “I mean I supposed you can just walk around in your boxer briefs.”



Alex: "Well he's not gonna get me to move away from you," Alex warned as he too the lightsaber to put it aside, which only caused the little boy to now push at his legs. "Excuse me?" he asked as he looked down at his son and shook his head. "I get you wanna get to mommy, but I'm here right now," he started, crouching down to get to Noah's level. "We're gonna have to share you know?"

Sophie: “That didn’t work with Willa she warned.” Remembering what happened when she tried to have this same conversation with the little girl who didn’t like when her and her father was overly close. Noah glared at him and made soft little “no my mummy.” Over and over again. Though he managed to get around Alex and when Alex turned he must have thought he was going to pull him away and turned around and to her shock — well semi shock, bit down hard into Alex’s leg and held on.

Alex: He faintly remembered Willa not being impressed but didn't really know anymore just how bad it had been sometimes, even though Sophie tried to remind him. There was a quick shifting and moving in which Alex tried to calm Noah down and explain how it wasn't just his mommy after all, but the little boy had other ideas and before he knew it he was biting down hard into Alex's leg. "Oh fuck, ow!" Aldx cursed, usually he tried to not curse in front of the kids so much but he simply couldn't help it right now. "Ow, Noah, stop!"

Sophie: When Noah bit into Alex’s leg she remembered that pain of being bitten and she was surprised when they had yelled Willa had let go, she had bitten jack but still Noah on the other hand was not letting go. When he said it again and Noah almost growled Sophie snapped up. “Noah let go of daddy!” She said pulling on the little boy who held on tight as she moved to pry his teeth off his leg and see he had cut through his jeans he was wearing. “Noah that was very very bold.” She said taking him in. “Daddy loves mommy too.” She said. “I think he needs a time out nap time.” She said.

Alex: Noah really wasn't keen on letting go until Sophie came to help get him off of his leg and Alex cursed under his breath, bringing his hands to his leg where Noah's little teeth had torn through the fabric of his jeans. He sat down to look at the wound beneath, grimacing at the pain before looking up. "Oh he definitely needs a time out. Ow, this really hurt.."

Sophie: “Okay let me go put him in his crib and get him down for sleep he’s just going off my emotions he’s confused and then I’ll help clean you up.” She said. “Willa daddy has a boo boo wanna help daddy clean up?” She asked and Willa all but came running over to see what was going on. It didn’t take long before she was back with a first aid kid. “Alright gonna have to take the pants off and get you all cleaned up babe.”

Alex: Alex was more in shock that probably Sophie or Jack had been when Willa bit them. He was still holding his leg, examining the wound with Willa when Sophie came back and he nodded, getting up enough to get the pants off so they could get a bandaid on. "I can't believe he bit through the jeans.." Willa climbed on the couch and moved behind Alex to lean against his back and look over his shoulder to watch what Sophie was doing.

Sophie: “He’s a baby Alex he doesn’t understand. He thinks he was protecting me.” She said. “I was upset and he doesn’t understand why I was upset and that you are close to me and he’s a little jealous just like when Willa bit me and Jack.” She pointed out. “And she got me in my breast a few times. She murmured before she stated to clean it. “It’s just two little teeth marks.” He didn’t have many teeth after all. “Some blood but you’ll live.” She smiled as she cleaned it first before putting a bandaid on it.

Alex: "I wasn't even doing anything but trying to comfort you," Alex sighed softly and grimaced a bit when Sophie cleaned up the marks on his leg before putting a bandaid on. "Noah bit!" Willa said, causing Alex to turn his head a bit to look at her the way she was leaning over his shoulder. "Yes, and you also bit your mommy once. And uncle Jack… - we have to stop biting in this household, okay? You wouldn't want me biting you either," he told the girl who nodded. "Thank you," Alex said to Sophie when she was done. "He totally ripped the jeans though.."

Sophie: “I know and I wasn’t doing anything to you when Willa bit us, kids are confused.” She said pointing that out. “Yeah Noah bit daddy.” She said nodding because she was right. He had bit. “Oh I’ve no doubt Avery will do the same thing I mean apparently we’ve got biters in the family.” She said shaking her head. “We’ll we can rip the jeans a little more and then it’ll be a new rip no one will know a toddler attacked you.” She giggled

Alex: Willa came around and Alex watched her lean down to blow on his the bandaid causing him to chuckle softly. “Thank you, princess. Feels much better already.” He smiled and hugged her to him before she was off to play again. Alex leaned back and ran his hand through his longer hair now, pushing it back a bit before it fell back over his forehead. “I mean I like the jeans so that’s worth a try. Let’s hope our biting toddler won’t be doing that again,” he chuckled softly and reached out to motion for Sophie to sit down with him.

Sophie: A smile on her lips when she tried to blow on the bandaid to help him feel better. “You need a hair cut.” She Said bluntly. “I mean I wouldn’t say hold your breath because Willa bit me twice before she started to learn but maybe he’ll learn faster.” She shrugged as she sat down with him and leaned her head against his shoulder. “Does your leg hurt a lot? I know that mine did when she bit me but she bit me in the breast and arm so…”

Alex: Alex chuckled softly. "I don't know, it's fun this way," he grinned slightly to tease her. He wasn't fully sure yet where to go with his hair, he just knew he couldn't constantly dye it without it thinning out and he hadn't quite decided if it was time to do that again yet. He easily moved his arm around Sophie when she sat with him. "Nah it's okay. It does hurt but not too badly.. I think I was just shocked," he murmured. "At least she didn't tear through your clothes," he teased but he was very aware none of it was actually fun or hurting more or less than the other. "I should probably just get another pair of pants to wear for now," Alex said.

Sophie: “Yeah mhm it’s fun.” She said. “It’s only fun one way and that’s to grab during certain times involving no clothes.” She said, other than that she missed his slightly shorter hair. “Excuse me she bit my bare arm and my nipple Alex, you had clothes on to bite through!” She scoffed. “Let’s get Noah to bite your nipple and tell me how it feels if the pants are better or not.” She protested. “I mean I supposed you can just walk around in your boxer briefs.”

Alex: "How about we don't teach our son to bite me," he suggested, scrunching up his nose a bit before chuckling. "I mean I could but now that Noah's gotten a taste of my skin I don't want him to be tempted," he joked. Avery let out a little whine and looking over Alex saw she had pulled herself up in her playpen and was now looking over at them.

Sophie: “I mean I’ve gotten bitten multiple times it almost feels like it’s only fair.” She grinned though she didn’t really want him to get bitten multiple times. It wouldn’t be fair just because she had. When Avery whined pulling herself up she looked over. “She’s still probably hungry she wasn’t done nursing when everything happened.” She said. “Gosh I wish she’d eat some human food in moments like this.” Since she felt so drained from all of that.

Alex: "We're not teaching our kids it's okay to bite," he said with a look but then smirked slightly as he leaned in closer to her. "You and me.. We can bite in certain situations though." He winked at her before pulling himself up and walking over to pick Avery up. "Are you still hungry? We're gonna get you food, how about that? Give your mommy a moment to relax." He knew it was going to be a struggle, but he took the little girl into the kitchen anyway to get her something to eat that wasn't just breast milk in a bottle.

Sophie: “We’re not gonna teach them I’m saying don’t be surprised if that happens with Avery. Though my bet since she loves both of us pretty equally she’ll bite Willa and Noah.” It was just a prediction. “Yeah we can bite at certain times.” She giggled softly. She gave a soft smile when he said getting her something else that wasn’t her mommy because Alex knew she was more tired with work, breastfeeding, raising a family, all of that. Avery of course was resisting food which was normal but still she wished she’d eat a little bit more.

Alex: Alex knew Avery wasn't going to be happy, but he refused to just settle on giving her a bottle and eventually, a lot of whining and whimpering and squirming to get away later, Avery was hungry enough to try the mashed potatoes Alex had gotten her. He had gotten some fruits cut up for her too, strawberries and bananas that she was actually more interested in than the mashed potatos and Alex raised a brow when she reached for one of the strawberries all by herself instead of just eating what he held out for her. "Oh those are yummy, right? You like the strawberries, mh?"

Sophie: It wasn't that she minded breastfeeding, Alex knew that, but it was a lot of energy that was literally sucked out of a person. Add in Avery multiple times and Noah at night time, and Avery fighting to try human foods, and she was working while trying to raise three kids with her fiance, it drained her… literally. She hated hearing her whine, cry, fight against Alex like she was attempting to get away from her but with how emotional she had been over posting Willa she knew he was trying to be the stronger one at the moment. When she heard Alex talking she glanced over seeing the little squished piece of strawberry in her hand and smash / pushing it into her face.

[au-set]

im here to yume'ify <3

You found Shuu's past 5 glasses with their lenses already taken out, without his knowledge of course. Ever since, you'll wear them out on dates with him and see how long it will take him to notice. During his free time, he signed up for ikebana classes after seeing your smile after Finn's advice. Afterall, he might've been a little bit of an "acts of service" gentleman. Now every one of your bouquet is unique with their own twists, made with the hands of someone you love.

Assuming Ren goes to the arcade for the claw machine, Ren and Rian be destroying the DDR with their moves. Rian used to always win until Ren got familiar with the controls... afterwards? Oh boy... (*✧v✧*) Ren also feels like a cook at home guy for me ww (nt sure if its canon or not, i havent done his route) During his childhood, Ren's father forced him to learn an instrument, like every other Asian child. Whenever there's a chance, Ren will offer to help you learn. Always denying it was an excuse to hold your hand, especially when your posture is wrong and he got to brush across the tips of your fingers.

THROWING FIN-NIISAN OUT THE WINDOW THEY WILL NOW CALL HIM FIN'NII. Finn specialises in traditional herbal medicine, whenever u get sick, he's the one brewin' up something real bitter (but it helps a lot).

I reckon Noah customizes his game characters based off of u because he thinks of u way too much. (unless he did it in his route then im sorry again oops) One other reason that made him stay up way too late just because he wants to get you a pretty 2D dress. (noah infinity nikki player mmmmaybe?) For everyone's birthdays, he custom ordered his art to be made into tiny little keychains <3 + I see him drawing them as silly animals/creatures and accidentally starting a mascot line one day in the future.

Not only has Hikaru started to pick up ALLTIUS's dance styles, the members sometimes goes to him when they need help brainstorming with their choreography. After reuniting with you, Hikaru decided to buy a new camera. The one he used during high-school wouldn't turn on anymore. With only spending a few weeks together, the empty spaces left of the old photo album filled up in no time.

noahuzuki's #1 fan has bestowed us again with amazing HCs literally doing god's work

okay I think I may or may not have HCs for each of them and it's fine to add your own bc if kuro kitty isn't taking them, then I will,!,!!,!,!, Also each of them gets like 6 HCs because WHY THE HELL NOT?;?;?;?

Shuu Ikouga

Definitely renewed his glasses a few times due to the blurriness of the previous ones, his current one is his favorite one and perfect for him.

He initially got surprised when he became the leader of ALL⊿tius and almost stepped down from it until Ren kept insisting and persuaded him to lead the group which leaded to the group we know now.

Occasionally reads some of the manga that Noah recommended and sometimes got invested in the story which led to him asking if he had any more volumes of the manga that he got interested in.

During his free time, he'd sometimes find himself conversing with Finn and ask him about flower language in which he'd use it to surprise you with a bouquet.

Accidentally stumbled upon AO3 and seldomly goes to the website but prefers reading physical books instead of online since he could always pick his books from his shelf instead of going through tabs to find a story he got invested in.

Has accidentally stumbled upon some fan fiction of ALL⊿tius and for his comfort, decided not to read due to the fact that some fans were pretty wild and he still wanted to get a good night's rest instead of being awake all night.

Ren Yuzuriha

Actually pretty good with claw machines and sometimes goes back to the dorms with plushies for everyone, including you.

He definitely had a problem with fitting in with people before because a majority of them would tend to treat him like he was some divine being. Joining ALL⊿tius, it was also a problem for him but gradually, he was treated like an equal despite his father being the CEO of the company.

Receives some books from Shuu, most of them managed to pique his interest and come back to his room to ask if he has similar ones for him to read in his free time.

He has contemplated growing his hair out before, he knew that it was going to be a separate challenge but he decided to give it a go which led to the sight of Ren and his hair almost growing past shoulder length.

Been dragged by Rian at least once for some kind of dance challenge, at first he was curious and got the hang of the steps. This made him happy and also led him to occasionally tag along with him whenever he was looking for somebody to do the challenge.

Most of his clothes are stylish and it was pretty rare to have something in his closet that was for normal everyday occasions, aside from his casual outfit.

Finn Kinase

A big brother figure in the group due to his caring and nurturing personality which led to some instances where the younger members of ALL⊿tius calling him "Finn nii-san (Big brother Finn)" by accident which warmed his heart.

He had no intentions of becoming an idol at first and planned to become something else but was recruited by one of the staff members, he was initially planning to leave but it was as if something changed in his mind which made him stay.

He looks out for everyone in the group but mainly their manager, Hikaru. He knows that he has a habit for working until it's too much hence when Hikaru's the last one to come home, he always makes some food for him with a note that says "Good work today, Hikaru. Rest well, okay?"

He occasionally styled his hair, sometimes in a ponytail or a braid. He'd usually tie his hair in a ponytail when it was getting warmer or when it involved work that most likely will get them moving a lot. As for the braid, he'd only wear it for fun.

There were times when they sometimes asked him for help and Ren was really not an exception though there was this one memorable time when they went shopping and Ren asked him what he'd think that you would like which ended up in both of them going through stores until they found something perfect for you.

Used to get burns from the oil splashes and though it's unnoticeable, it's there but it was old and healed by the time anybody looks at his arms.

Rian Akatsuka

Has a hair clip collection for him to pick through but always ends up picking his iconic favorite ones that matches his eyes, sometimes even letting the rest try some of his hair clips.

He used to get insecure of his eyes despite the compliments he gets for "being unique", he knew it was rare for a person to have heterochromia but that didn't help the fact that he would either get praised or bullied over it. He almost went to the length of wearing eye contacts until Shuu encouraged him to embrace this part of him that is uniquely his.

Whenever he plays a game with Noah, he tends to get competitive and forget the world around him until somebody shakes him or calls him loud and clear enough for him to snap out of his trance.

He finds himself somewhat childlike around Finn, calling him "Finn nii-san (Big brother Finn)" due to the comfort that his presence brings. Rian can't really pinpoint it but he knows that whatever it was, it never failed to make him feel at ease.

Always goes to the DDR pad during arcade visits, sometimes picks the most difficult songs to test himself and see how fast he could be which mostly led to him being watched by other bystanders in the arcade as he plays.

Somehow always gets the wildest dreams at night and wakes up confused but sometimes his imagination would be nice on him and actually give him a normal dream every once in a while.

Noah Uzuki

Most likely has a collection of Azuki in his room and snuggles to sleep with a plushie of Azuki but he doesn't really tell that to others due to embarrassment.

He sometimes gets envious of other people who had a normal childhood since he missed out a majority of the experiences that a child would get and he'd find himself a little more envious seeing people in their teens experience a school life that he didn't get. Noah opened this up to the others and to his surprise, he was accepted with open arms and was comforted with validation.

During his days when he was still new into ALL⊿tius, he'd accidentally call Shuu "ojii-chan (grandpa/grandfather)" due to their age gap. Of course Noah calls him by his name now but would occasionally call him by the nickname out of playfulness.

He used to find Ren as mysterious and cold but as he interacted with him, he realized that he's not actually that bad and it's just the way that he looks that makes him appear distant and aloof.

Posts his drawings whenever he's finished with it, it usually ranges between doodles, anatomy practice, artstyle tryouts, sceneries and art of his favorite characters or anybody from ALL⊿tius.

Definitely had a lot of nights when he'd stay up late playing an event to get his favorite character which mostly ended up with him sleeping late at night and early into the morning.

Hikaru Kirishima

Wears contact lenses because he refuses to wear glasses due to the discomfort he feels with something just resting on his face and it also helps him do as he pleased without worrying about glasses.

After failing the final screening of the audition, he was planning to quit pursuing the path to the entertainment industry until he was given hope from a staff member to give him a chance but as a manager. At first he was formal with everyone in ALL⊿tius and anxious in failing to meet their expectations but gradually, he began to accept his role as a manager and make them shine on stage while he watches in the sidelines.

There were instances where he was dragged by Rian to dance with them out of fun, initially he was hesitant but letting the music guide his steps, he wasn't worried about making a mistake and even sung along the song with a smile on his face. Which would eventually lead to the occasional dances with them.

Noah has definitely teased him sometimes, poking his cheek and smiling while saying some things to tease him without hurting his feelings and accidentally saying something that struck a chord.

It was rare for him but he actually cooks pretty well and sometimes makes some dishes that the others would like, occasionally experimenting on them to look presentable or cute. It was something that he could use his creativity while letting others enjoy it closely.

He keeps an album of old photos of you and him during highschool, he always looks back to it whenever he's feeling down or bothered. It never fails to make his day brighter and feel motivated to go forward.

[sohotthateveryonedied]

So, if you don't mind explaining, just what is the difference between The Foxhole Court and The Raven Cycle? I see these terms around on your blog, but I have no idea what they mean. I think they're books, but IDK.

(Just note, you can also use this ask as an excuse for gushing about these things.)

WELL, SINCE YOU ASKED,,,,

the foxhole court (also called 'all for the game') is a trilogy telling the story of neil josten, a college-age kid who has been on the run for eight years in order to evade his serial killer/mob boss dad. the only thing in the world that neil cares about is this sport called exy (because he's traumatized so his way of coping with having to burn his mom's corpse is by playing stickball fghjk) so he joins this college team called the foxes at palmetto university. they're the worst team in the class I bracket and the players are all misfits and screwups <3 it's a series about found family and sports and love and trauma and healing and did i mention found family?? but beware because this is the heaviest series i've read thus far and it features hardcore topics like rape, graphic torture scenes, drug addiction, murder, etc. but seriously these books are AWESOME and i love all of the foxes so much??? neil is amazing and andrew is amazing and kevin is amazing and nicky is amazing and dan is amazing and aaron is amazing and matt is amazing and renee is amazing and allison is amazing and wymack is amazing and the thing is that they're all severely flawed people with pretty dark pasts but they all love each other so damn much and fight so hard together and this series is just. god i love it <3

the raven cycle, on the other hand, is a series comprised of four books (plus a spin-off trilogy!!) that i...don't really know how to explain the plot of? the basic thing is that it's about five teenagers searching for a dead welsh king who they believe is buried somewhere in henrietta, virginia and that whoever wakes him up will be rewarded with one wish. but also there's a TON more to these books like magical sentient forests and people taking things out of their dreams and murder and magic and psychics (LOTS of psychics) and cars and bees and just?? so much?? that i don't really know how to explain?? also blue is the only non-psychic in a household full of psychics and she has a thing where if she kisses her true love then he'll die, gansey is rich and pretty much the MAIN-main character in a series with five main characters and it's really HIS quest to find the king but the others all come along because he draws them in and all of his friends love him more than anything but he's convinced they all secretly hate him because he has self-worth issues, ronan is the tough scary guy with a heart of gold and (spoiler!) he can take things out of his dreams and also he's severely traumatized (they all are, really) and gay and he drinks himself into oblivion and races cars at night but also holds tiny baby mice to his cheek and has a pet bird named chainsaw whom he takes care of so tenderly, and adam is poor and abused and bisexual and ambitious and all he cares about is his pride and autonomy and making a better life for himself and he's also psychic and can do some REALLY cool stuff and also he's canonically the Hot Girl of the series despite hating himself and thinking he's undeserving of love, and noah likes glitter :) also everyone in this group is in love with each other. no that is not hyperbole <3

[casspurrjoybell-17]

HEART'S PRICE - CHAPTER 43

*Warning: Adult Content*   

"Dead? What do you mean, Brutus is 'dead?'" Mathilda demands.

She stands before the hearth in the library, a hand pressed dramatically to her breast. 

August, Aileen and Penelope sit in various chairs, while Ambrose Thorne and Noah Hunter occupy the sofa.

Alpha Dane Hunter stands before the tall windows, center stage, while Freya Hunter leans against the wall by the door, a silent but keen observer.

It's a little after five in the morning and everyone looks somewhere between alarmed and half-asleep, still in their nightclothes, a little vulnerable and not quite their best selves. 

Which is exactly what Dane is aiming for.

"I mean dead, as in 'no longer alive,'" he answers. "I mean someone murdered him."

"Murdered?" Penelope echoes softly, sounding more interested than distressed, her pale blue eyes even larger than usual. "How?"

"Fire iron," Dane growls. "Brains bashed in."

"Oh lord..." Aileen sinks back against the cushion of her chair, smoothing her hands over her frizzy hair and looking ill.

Noah swallows a bit thickly himself. 

Dane has slipped into his 'detective' persona as easily as an actor assuming a familiar role. 

Noah knows that his blunt, impersonal attitude is meant to elicit a reaction but it seems insensitive and harsh, given the circumstances.

"So." Dane looks at Mathilda, Aileen, Penelope and August in turn. "What happened tonight between midnight and three a-m?"

August looks up from the pattern in the carpet he's been studying and fixes him with a red-eyed glare.

"My fucking gift-relic was fucking stolen, that's what happened," he rasps.

His thin, greasy hair stands up in clumps and his hands shake. 

Noah had expected him to reach for relief in a bottle, his greatest fear having come to pas, but he hasn't touched a drop.

"That and a man is dead," Dane agrees. "Now from what I hear, it's no great loss but I still mean to find out who killed him. So start from the beginning. What happened?"

"Excuse me," Mathilda interrupts sharply, drawing herself up and lifting her chin, "but that 'man' was my son and you will show some respect. He may not have been perfect but he had a far greater influence on the world than you ever shall, detective. Why are you here, anyway? Why has no one called the police?"

"I think you know this isn't something the police can help you with, Ms. Macleod," Dane answers, frowning at her. "My sister and I have... a unique set of skills. We're your best bet, maybe your only one, at catching whoever did this."

"Really?" she sneers. "Because you've done such a wonderful job so far. Not to mention you're hardly impartial. Your brother is Ambrose's new fuck-toy." She jerks her head at Noah. "For all we know, he did it and you're protecting him."

Dane doesn't react but Ambrose's eyes flare red and the heat coming off him tells Noah, Mathilda is on dangerous ground. 

Noah lays his hand on Ambrose’s thigh and very slightly shakes his head. 

Dane is baiting her on purpose for some reason and turning her to ash won't solve anything.

"We agreed to come to this gods-forsaken house because you said we'd be safe here," she goes on, arms crossed over her chest, her silk dressing robe wrapped tight and doing little to conceal the fact she's wearing nothing underneath. "We've barely settled in,and we've had another theft and now one of us is dead. Forgive me if I don't have much faith in your...  'abilities.'"

"Fair enough," Dane allows. "But something about what happened tonight is different. August didn't get a warning. So far the thief has tipped each victim off to the fact they're the next target, revealed exactly when and where she'd strike but as far as I know, Ambrose was the last to get a note."

"'She?'" Aileen asks, looking up from where she'd been dazedly staring at her hands, picking absently at the paint beneath her nails. "So the thief's a 'she' now, eh?"

"That's our theory," Dane says. "I don't know how, yet, but something tells me this all connects back to your sister, somehow, Ms. Macleod. To what happened to Rosie."

"Half-sister," Mathilda snaps. "She wasn't a proper Macleod, you know. She was lucky to be acknowledged at all."

"Oh? Why's that?" Dane asks.

Mathilda presses her lips together in a tight lin, but Penelope leans forward, her thin hands clasped beneath her chin.

"It was quite the scandal, at the time," she breathes. "Grandfather Macleod brought a woman home from his tea plantation in India, this was in the mid-eighteen hundreds, you know as a 'maid.' She fell pregnant soon after or maybe already was though she was unwed. She died in childbirth but grandfather took the babe in as his own, which everyone knew it was, anyway. That was Rosie."

Mathilda scoffs.

"Can you imagine my poor mother, forced to raise that creature as if it were her own? Everyone called her 'beautiful,' too. She didn't even look like the rest of us."

Ambrose's scowl has grown so marked, Noah is worried it might become permanent.

"It was your idea, wasn't it? For her to wed Aengus," he says. "You knew what the ritual called for, what would happen to her and her child. You knew and you..."

"No," she cut him off sharply. "I swear I didn't. Not... exactly. I..." She turns away, pressing her fingers to her lips. "I admit I wanted to be rid of her, through marriage, though, nothing else. And I may have... suspected that things might not end well for her. But I swear I never imagined something so awful. I never wanted her or her baby to die."

Noah had been listening with interest and also with a growing sense of anxiety as something that had been bothering him finally fell into place.

"Were Rosie and her baby, er...  Were their remains ever found?" Noah asks. "After the fire, I mean?"

Mathilda shakes her head. 

"Just ashes. The fire was too hot."

"Oh." 

Noah falls silent and says nothing more but Dane and Ambrose both cast him similar looks. 

Neither presses him, though and Dane finishes collecting everyone's statements without further drama.

No one had heard or seen anything unusual until they'd been roused by August's shriek of alarm. 

Something woke him, he told us, though he couldn't say what. 

He always slept with his bottle, his gift-relic, that is, under his pillow and it was his habit to check on it frequently. 

He'd done so but finding it gone, had made 'some noise' in his distress and surprise. 

Then everyone had rushed out and seen Noah and Ambrose at the bottom of the stairs, at which point Noah had ordered them back to their rooms.

The only person, it seems, who had seen and confronted the thief, was Brutus and he was in no condition to tell us about it.

After a prolonged argument, Dane manages to convince Mathilda and the others to remain at Ambrose's house, still feeling that it's best to keep everyone in one place, where they can look out for one another and help guard the only relic that remains un-stolen, Aileen's paintbrush.

"We failed this time and yes, I include myself in that failure," Dane says, "but we have one more chance. Judging by the note left for Ambrose, the full moon has some significance and it's not for another week. We have seven days to solve this thing. In the meantime, I suggest you find a more secure place to keep that paintbrush, Ms. Thorne. A vault, for example."

"Seven days?" August moans. "I won't last seven days. I need that bottle, I..."

"Oh, shut it, Augustus," Mathilda snaps. "I need my mirror but I've made do. Penelope needs her inkwell but you don't see her falling apart at the seams. And Brutus, I daresay, needed that awful bust of himself but..." She trails off. "Well, he was fine."

August's protruding bottom lip trembles, which, paired with his watery, blood-shot eyes, makes him look a bit like an underweight trout. 

It's hard not to feel sorry for him, if only because he seems so pathetic.

With their statements in hand, Dane excuses himself and Ambrose and I follow him and Freya outside, where Brutus still lies, covered with a sheet.

Dane turns to Noah. 

"You know something," he says. "So spill it."

Noah bites his lip.

"I don't. Not for sure. It's just..."

Noah looks at Ambrose and takes a deep breath.

It was the strange smell he'd detected from the thief's trail, that scent of cool, shadowed water and a pleasant, unknown fragrance. 

As Mathilda had spoken, telling of Rosie's mixed heritage, he'd remembered where he'd encountered it before.

"I think that maybe either Rosie or her baby survived somehow," he says. "Or at least... someone related to them. I think I know who the thief is and..." 

He takes another deep breath and looks up to meet Dane's eyes. 

"I think I might be working for her."

                                                       ~ ☾ ~

As Noah explains about Shanti and her mysterious shop, both Ambrose and Dane's expressions grow increasingly dark.

"So do you think she might be? A Naga of some sort, I mean?" Noah asks when he finishes, chewing a nail.

"Nagi, or Nnagini, is the female form," Ambrose corrects distractedly. "It's possible. I haven't heard of them being particularly associated with books or knowledge before, though. Also, from what you've described, this 'Shanti' doesn't sound like a violent murderer. 'Shanti' means 'peace' you know."

Noah sighs. 

"Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe there's no connection at all."

Ambrose's brows lift and he slips his arm around Noah’s shoulders, giving him a gentle squeeze.

"You're a wolf, darling," he whispers, kissing the side of my head. "If you say the scent is the same, I believe it. Your nose knows."

He winks and quirks a brow and Noah can't help laughing at his awful attempt at a joke, though he immediately feels bad for doing so, given that he’s standing over a dead body at the moment.

"What about... him?" Noah asks, nodding at Brutus' sheet-covered form.

"I'll take care of it," Ambrose says. "That is, if there are no objections."

Dane shrugs. 

"None here. We've already agreed not to involve the human authorities and I'm no forensic pathologist or whatever. He's worm-food now."

At his words, a thoughtful look crosses Ambrose's face.

"You know... there is someone who might like to have a look," he says. "She's no trained scientist, of course, but...  Well, she's made a study of such things. She might have something of value to add."

A few minutes later, Penelope joins us, her luminous blue eyes looking ghostly in the pale, pre-dawn light.

"Oh *my... *" she exclaims, when Dane draws back the sheet, though it's more an exclamation of interest and delight than shock and dismay.

Donning a single latex glove, which apparently she keeps on her person at all times, she picks up the fire iron from where Ambrose had dropped it, then carefully inserts the spike into the bloody wound on the side of Brutus' skull.

"Definitely the murder weapon," she concludes, extracting it and laying it aside.

They'd been fairly certain of this already, though and from Dane's scowl Noah can tell he's unimpressed.

Freya's expression is less judgmental and more curious. 

She has an affinity for the macabre herself, Noah reflects, though thankfully a fully functioning conscience as well.

Penelope isn't done, however and probes gently at the area around the wound with her glove-clad fingers.

"Skull is fractured, spider-web pattern. Squishy. Blunt force, quite a bit of strength required. Killer would have struck from behind and...  above."

She mimes the gesture, bringing an imaginary weapon down at an angle against Brutus' head.

"Would have had to have been at least two meters, or about six feet, tall. About Ambrose's height, actually," she adds, eyeing him. "Yes, just about."

"You're saying the killer took Brutus by surprise?" Freya says.

Penelope nods. 

"Yes. Has he been moved at all?" she asks, looking at Dane.

He looks at Ambrose in turn.

"Not that I know," Ambrose answers, though his voice is quiet and unsure.

"Well, if that's the case, then I'd guess he was facing...  that way." She points towards the street. "And the killer sneaked up on him from behind, and bashed his head in!"

She demonstrates the gesture again, with verve, before falling into her usual demure stillness once more.

"Death would have been... almost instantaneous," she adds softly, eyeing Brutus' rigid, pale face. "Regrettably."

"Regrettably?" Dane repeats, narrowing his eyes. "Sounds like you don't regret it much at all, Ms. Oakfield."

She looks up at him, blinking owlishly.

"You think I am a monster, don't you, Mr. Detective," she states. "You are right. I am. But not all monsters are born as such, you know. Some are made. And when you are born among monsters, sometimes you must become one, simply to survive."

With that, she gets to her feet, turns and wanders back inside, humming softly under her breath.