#i think this will be the first one I make prints of

[intankhasanah]

So, Death is the Price?

Should we be dead first so people will treat us better?

That's my daily question every time I witness mistreatment or get mistreated.

Why is it so hard for some people to be more considerate, less self-centric, more emphatic, and kinder? People are diverse, including their conditions. We have different abilities. Some "less fortunate" people are not supposed to be the ones who have to risk their lives only to match "other fortunate people's" speed.

But again, the world is failing to show what justice is. Instead of being kinder and inclusive, it's easier to leave us behind, "the broken defective products", that never suit the standard of the majority.

We should've known, we never matter in this cold fast world. If only I could create a new world filled only with "my kind of people rejected by society standards because we are sick and broken", I would. I would make that world, and I would let them in. My people. I would let them live peacefully in it without feeling less, or too slow, or too broken, or not enough.

I don't want them to feel this way. It hurts. So bad. But again, why do they need to consider how we feel when our very first existence never matters?

It's crazy that there is no justice in this world. Inclusivity is just wishful thinking. A utopic vision. And what's crazier is, this realization hits me from people who I thought were kind. I'll never be more wrong and deluded.

This feeling will forever be printed in my core memory, so I will always remember to be kinder to others, to stop chasing the wrong people, and to not revolve around the egoistic ones. Not anymore. Because I know, no matter what, they never understand. They choose not to. And now, I choose to step away and create the better version in a smaller size of the more ideal world, at least for my people, before I die.

[llyfrenfys]

You never think it's going to happen to you until it does.

Hi, my name is Luke and I'm 24. As of two days ago, I spent the last of my money on rent and I have precisely £27 to my name. I can't afford food at all any more - let alone rent and bills.

I know the world is so full of despair atm. Especially with what's going in in America. But I beg you to give me a chance, midst it all.

Depressingly, I only ever seem to make sales when I'm in a dire situation. Ideally, I need to make sales before then so I don't end up in the dire situation in the first place, but alas. I'm poor and hungry and can't heat my home. I'm wracked with guilt every time I fail to make progress on the project because I'm so damn focused on survival I have little time for what brings me joy in this world. And that's depressing!

I dislike having to make posts like this - but as I said at the start of this post - no-one ever thinks it's going to happen to them. If you can spare some cash, please consider buying a print or my dissertation to help me buy food (see here for my prints and diss). I have plans to introduce badges to my site as well - but sadly due to new postage laws they'll be UK only. However. I can ship prints to Canada, the US, UK and EU (with a view to shipping to Aus and NZ soon, amongst other places, if Royal Mail'll let me).

I hope one day to be able to make a post saying that I got out of poverty and am no longer surviving but thriving. Until then, your support is quite literally putting bread on the table. I want more than anything right now to be able to get back to doing what I love. But I cannot do so presently.

If you're about in Swansea on the 7th of February at 7pm, please consider coming to Elysium Gallery for the opening of Queer Land, an exhibition which my art is in! In spite of these circumstances I find myself in - I refuse to stop creating. Down, yes - but not out.

So please, please if you can, please reblog and purchase a print if you are able. It will help me wo much and I'm infinitely grateful to those who do.

Diolch

[unpretty]

Do you have a favorite batman illustrator, official or otherwise?

the post about growing up in a comic book store and the asks about the costume got me wondering. Until you said the SAIH suit is all black I would have guessed Neal Adams since a lot of his art has that 'Batman-as-romance-hero' vibe.

じろう（jiro）on pixiv is great but only partly because of the dress picture. whoever did that one promo picture for tentacl back in the day would draw a great batman i bet. three people know what i'm talking about but if you know you know. you'd think i'd say stjepan sejic but i like his women better tbh. i see a lot of cute comics on tumblr where i probably like their batman/bruce better than anything canon.

for canon greg capullo is good. i have a soft spot for jim lee because of all the time i spent lusting after his gambit. dick giordano is like, yeah, that's what he's supposed to look like, toe to tip, that's a batman. bruce timm is iconic obviously. i'm not into too hyper-detailed a batman. you've got to have space in there for imagination. give me room to fill in the gaps with whatever i think is cool instead of making artists draw the treads on his fucking boots in a regular panel for god's sake. maybe that's why i like the tumblr art so much. stop drawing abs on his fucking suit. no one needs to be vacuum sealing that man. he'll keep.

i actually like the stylized blue and grey batmen. comics in general have to be stylized, i don't think it works to have really subtle color variations in print. so when i say all black you have to think, like. abstract painting no. 5 by ad reinhardt. it's all blacks. but it's different black. you look at one black and the other black looks grey. you look at another black and now the first one looks blue. and if you want to capture that he's not just a black blob in a drawing you're going to have to make it not all black, even when a real life version is all black.

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Writing Notes: Cliché

A cliché is an expression that was once innovative but has lost its novelty due to overuse.

Tips on How to Avoid Clichés in Writing

Clichés play such a big role in how we communicate that it may seem impossible to avoid using them in your writing. However, clichés can often be rephrased to convey the same meaning as the original expression. Here are some steps to take if you find clichés in your work:

Think about the meaning of the cliché. Use a dictionary to identify synonyms that could replace the word or phrase that is cliché.

Decide whether or not you need to include the cliché. Often, clichés are unnecessary placeholders in writing and can be deleted.

Rewrite the sentence with new words in place of the cliché. For example, if you’re describing a musical with the cliché “comes full circle,” the description could be changed to say that the musical “returned to the themes with which it started.”

Common Clichés to Avoid

There are a number of clichés that are so overused that they should be avoided like the plague (including that one). Here is a list of clichés you should avoid.

“The wrong side of the bed.”

“Think outside the box.”

“Loose canon.”

“A perfect storm.”

“Can of worms.”

“What goes around comes around.”

“Dead as a doornail.”

“Plenty of fish in the sea.”

“Ignorance is bliss.”

“Like a kid in a candy store.”

“You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

“Take the tiger by the tail.”

“Every rose has its thorn.”

“Good things come to those who wait.”

“In the nick of time.”

“If only walls could talk.”

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

“The pot calling the kettle black.”

“The grass is always greener on the other side.”

“Beating a dead horse.”

Example: “As red as a rose” —a universal descriptor for the color red that is now commonplace and unoriginal.

Other examples of clichés include demarcations of time, such as “in the nick of time” and “at the speed of light.”

Clichés also include expressions about emotions, such as “head over heels” to describe love, and the phrase “every cloud has a silver lining” to express hope in difficult situations.

The word “cliché” comes from French.

It was first used to describe a stereotype: a metal plate used for printing an image.

Both the words “cliché” and “stereotype” derive from printing jargon but now have negative connotations.

Why You Should Avoid Clichés in Writing

Overused clichés can show a lack of original thought, and can make a writer appear unimaginative and lazy.

Clichés are often specific to language and cultures and may be a communication barrier to international readers.

Some old clichés have been repeated for so many years that the original reference is archaic and irrelevant.

When it’s OK to Use Clichés in Writing

There are a few instances in which the use of a cliché as a literary device is acceptable, but clichés should always be chosen wisely. Here are some examples of admissible usage:

To sync with a readership. Clichés of idiomatic phrases and slang words can work for specific audiences. If you’re writing for a baby boomer audience, the cliché “back in the day” would make sense. By contrast, millennial readers would be familiar with the cliché “the struggle is real.”

To simplify. Clichés can be used to explain beginning level concepts. For example, a how-to guide for expectant mothers might use the phrase “Remember, you’re eating for two!”

For characterization. Writers might have a character use clichés to demonstrate that they are not an original thinker.

A thought-terminating cliché is a phrase that offers a reductive answer to a complex idea.

The term was popularized in the 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A Study of ‘Brainwashing’ in China by physiatrist Robert Jay Lifton.

They are also known as semantic stop signs or thought-stoppers.

Here are some examples of thought-terminating clichés:

“To each his own.”

“You win some, you lose some.”

“I’ll cross the bridge when I get there.”

“Take it or leave it.”

Source ⚜ More: References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

[factual-fantasy]

I've just finished reading your response for the first time,

First off, thank you very much for the GIF and Video, as well as the explanations. I can definitely work with this.

I've downloaded and installed FireAlpaca for myself so I can start comparing what I'm seeing vs what is supposed to happen.

Immediately, Something stood out as weird to me: You're selecting multiple tools at once. That's... not supposed to happen. I tried it myself, Opened like 20 tabs and just started throwing colours at each canvas. This doesn't happen for me At all.

So I'm gonna give you some more instructions. (Tl:Dr for the instructions at the bottom, just above my little rant)

Backing Up your Brushes

FIRST let's make sure you don't lose all of your beloved brushes. from what I'm about to suggest.

in FA, I want you to go to Help > Open Config Folder

That will lead to a folder that, for me, looks like this

Keep in mind that it could look different for you, I have a fresh install with no cool special brushes. (also I can't draw to save my life)

Now simply Ctrl+A (select all) and copy it to another folder. go to like... Documents or Downloads or something, Make a folder called "Brushes Backup" and Paste all of it in there.

Alright, now to the actual thing I want you to do.

2. and 3. Uninstall and Reinstall FireAlpaca

There is some weird glitch I cannot Reproduce. So Just Reinstall FireAlpaca. this is the reason I wanted you to back up your brushes. Deleting the program and reinstalling will nuke all of the settings you use, so by copying the Config folder, you can easily reinstate your settings.

4. Testing

After you have reinstalled the program, I want you to open it, and mess around for however long you think it will take to trigger the glitch. (which sounded like only a few minutes) and see if something happens.

If not: Great!

If yes: You might want to reach out to https://firealpaca.com/report/ and fill out a bug report, and tell them that you have no way of reproducing the bug. (although I really think reinstalling will work)

5. Reinstating your brushes

Now, after you've made sure that FireAlpaca works, only then do I want you to Open the config folder again and put your brushes back. (simply close FireAlpaca after you've opened the folder, delete everything that's in it, and then copy everything from your "Backup Folder" into the config folder. )

6. Testing Part 2: Electric boogaloo

Then if you re-open FireAlpaca I want you to once again mess around a little and pay attention. Because the Bug might come back.

If it DOES come back, It might be one of your settings/brushes that is causing it. Which in that case I unfortunately have to suggest starting over with your brushes.

To recap: I'm asking you to:

Back up your brushes

Uninstall FireAlpaca

Reinstall FireAlpaca

Test to see if the weirdness is gone

Restore your brushes

Test to see if the weirdness is still gone

--- Rant Below ---

I have no clue what's happening to your program. This looks like some bug in the code that just causes FA to say "Nope" and stop responding to the side bar.

This acutally reminds me of a bug I've been encountering in Unity where the program refuses to open one of the UI pages in the Program's settings, which just completely shuts me out of the settings for one of the input libraries. Funnily enough it actually printed an error in my console, and the error was thrown so incredibly deep into compiled code that I was pretty sure I was reading Unity Source Code at that point.

I still don't know what's happening. Luckily I have Other People to interact with that settings page for me.

(This ask is in response to this post)

So once again I took sometime to test all this out, but unfortunately it didn't take me very long to come back with bad news.

So this is exactly what I did in this order:

I went to my config folder and copied everything into a new folder I created in my Documents tab. Then I went to my settings > apps > FireAlpaca and uninstalled. I then went to the official website and reinstalled it.

I opened up what should have been a fresh FireAlpaca and found this,

The red numbers are brushes that I have adjusted/used. And the "Fire roller (multiple colors)" and "twisted ribbon" are brushes that didn't come with FireAlpaca by default. I downloaded them afterwards from their little brush shop. For some reason FireAplaca remembered my brushes..

And of course, FireAlpaca was still breaking in the way that I've described in your last ask.

So I thought "Okay, I don't care if I lose my brushes and settings. I just want FireAlpaca to work." So I deleted that copied folder from Documents that I made, I unpinned FireAlpaca from my taskbar and deleted the desktop shortcut too just to he extra safe I guess..? Then I went to settings > apps > FireAlpaca and hit uninstall. Then went back to the website, reinstalled the latest version and wouldn't you know it,

All the exact same brushes, in the same order with the same settings. And FireAlpaca continued to break the same way.

So now I'm wondering if I did something wrong.. why does FireAlpaca keep remembering my settings? Did I do the uninstall process wrong? I wondered if that cache thing might be holding data or something? I've heard about that before. But with the help of a friend recently I cleared my Google Chrome and Laptop's caches. And FireAplaca didn't change at all and I didn't lose any of my settings. So that cant help me here..

I wonder if somehow my pen could be a problem? I've dropped it on the hard floor 100s of times. Could it be contributing? And what did I do wrong in this process for FireAlpaca to remember all my brush settings?

If anyone has any advice I would love to hear it <:(( Please and thank you very much 🙏🙏🙏

[ruiniel]

Another Way - XII

Fandom: Castlevania series (2017-2021)

Summary: what if someone in the 21st century stumbled upon this stranger during a turbulent storm, narrowly avoiding running them over, and what’s more they can’t understand a word coming out of their mouth.

Pairing: Alucard x Reader

Rating: Mature / 18+ only

Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Explicit Language, References to Depression, First Meetings, character-meets-world, Near Death Experiences, References to loss, Grief/Mourning, Fantasy, POV Second Person, Language Barrier, Violence, Portal Fantasy, Isekai, Slow burn, References to canon, Rewriting show canon, Because why not, POV Alucard, POV original character, More tags to be added

Also on AO3

Part I

AN: been a while

XII.

He doesn’t like coffee.

This becomes quite apparent with the different flavor of mild disgust over his features after each sip.

“It’s an acquired taste for some,” you try saying with a straight face, because it is more amusing than you’d thought to see a grown man with a perfect jaw and bedroom hair seated at your small table, coming up with the most telling, candid expressions. 

After breakfast—during which he insists on turning the cooker on and off, ‘to learn’, and during which, once again, he eats little to nothing—you head over to your desk and obtain for him the work Adrian asked for. It’s not difficult to find, and happens to be the first book printed in the English language, in the 1400s. 

“Is… this it?”

His enthusiasm says ‘yes’ when seeing the title page, and you let him take your place and scroll through as you head to get ready for the adventure of helping him look less conspicuous. “All right, enjoy your courtly romance, I’ll be back in a bit.”

“All right.”

You pause, turning to stare but his eyes are feverish on the screen, attention absorbed by the text. Whatever works. You decided to stop wondering. 

Having made yourself presentable enough to be outside, you tap back into the room on bare feet. “Ready to g—...” you trail off at the sound. His voice. His voice, with that same mild inflection, but the words are oddly shaped to the ear.

He’s reading aloud from the online scan you fetched him, nodding, writing in the agenda.

“What’s… this?” You near him, narrowing your eyes at the screen. 

Adrian turns to you with an excitement you’d not seen or felt in a long, long while. Somehow, it’s endearing. This side feels like him too, a natural expression in contrast with all those confused, dour moods he’d been mired in. 

“I need…” He pauses, hand in his hair, eyebrows pinched together. 

“What… do you need?...” 

He points at the scan of the text, long fingers gliding along the little black rows of archaic words. “... from now.”

“From now?... Oh! A modern version, you mean? From our time?”

Adrian nods. “Possible?”

“Y-yeah. There might be one… wait…” As you search it for him, Adrian waits patiently with his arms crossed, rubbing at his chin. “I get it. You want to learn modern vocabulary equivalents, don't you?” You bring up the 1400s version of the work again. “Wait… you understand this one?” Not that it's impossible, shouldn’t be. But you didn't exactly take him for someone pursuing comparative historical linguistics.

“Yes,” comes the answer, leaving you bemused.

“You know what? I won't even ask. Go ham. Here, I found it.” 

As he nears and glues himself to the screen, you dare to gently pull on his sleeve.

“Remember…clothes?”

Adrian blinks in realization, then stares back at the screen with a sort of longing. You get it. He’s making a breakthrough here, or so he thinks, one that’ll be of help in wading through terrain unfamiliar to him. 

But the rare practical side of you insists. “You can pick this up when we get back, right?”

He meets your eyes, nodding in acceptance. “Right.”

~~

The bell rings as you open the door to the second hand shop you sometimes frequent, looking behind you to see Adrian entering with care, gazing about with mild interest. 

“Well, here we are,” you say as he meets your stare, before looking towards the shop attendant who’s sitting behind a desk, phone in hand, chewing on some gum and watching the both of you with piqued interest—no, rather, watching him.

You cough, “Hi, we’re looking for some—” 

“Men’s wear is over there,” she answers, not taking her eyes off Adrian.

“All right, thanks.” Starting to think this is a typical reaction. You make a gesture, urging him to follow. 

He has a befuddled look on his face, but walks after you as you reach the rows of clothing boasting jeans, t-shirts and jackets. 

“So, listen.” You turn, waving a hand around the space. “You look for something you like.” You pull at your own blouse, pants, and coat. “And there’s a cabin over there, where you can try stuff out, if you like.”

He seems to understand, nodding and tentatively following your lead as you rummage through the merch on display. You notice the way he feels the garments, looking at you with a question in his eyes.

“Take your time,” you offer, going over and taking a seat on a chair. 

It doesn’t take long, really. Soon enough he’s gathered a few items under his arm, a bundle of… mostly black, cream and white garments. “Want to try these on?” you ask when he nears, standing before you, uncertain.

When Adrian doesn’t reply but tilts his head in slight confusion, you rise and walk towards the cabin, drawing the curtain and showing him the space. “In you go, let me know if…” You pause as he pulls the worn shirt over his head without much ado, spinning around and drawing the curtain behind him. “... call if you need help,” you mumble, stiffly walking away.

Your heart beats strangely, faster as you meet the stare of the shop clerk, who apparently has less important things to do than follow your exchange. 

Whatever. You go and idly sift through the items of clothing, humming to yourself. 

“Your boyfriend’s out,” comes the clerk’s voice after a while, and you blink in confusion, head swiveling to stare at her.

 “Oh, he’s not my—” Before you can finish that thought, movement has you turning in time to see Adrian emerging from the cabin. 

“Right, uh, you look… they fit, don’t they?" Heat rises to your face, damn the air conditioning. 

Black faded jeans, tight. A simple, white fitted t-shirt—was he always this…slim? Fit? A dark blue coat, reaching to his knees. “They look like they fit,” you follow, scratching your head. 

“Oh yeah, they sure do,” comes the young shop attendant’s voice, and a niggling sensation you’ve been unfamiliar with pinches at your mood. 

Adrian seems to agree, looking at himself, then at you. “Good?” he says in English.

You nod. “Yeah, good. That’s one round. Things here are affordable, so uh…” you retrieve your phone, type it in, and translate. “Find another item of each, to have spare clothing.”

He’s surprisingly efficient after that, and it’s not long before you’re returning to your apartment block, Adrian following with a bag in each hand. 

“Okay, that was relatively painless,” you comment, turning to look over your shoulder at him, and—

“Adrian?...”

His expression is frozen, light-amber eyes wide and lips parted. It’s not out of fear as much as it is… consternation?

You turn back around, a different tremor running through your limbs at the person approaching.

A tall woman, wearing a flowing white dress suit, her red coat slung over one forearm. Her long, straight dark hair is done up in a ponytail, swinging languidly with each step taken on black pumps. She’s always had a distinct sense of style. Her attitude is the usual—one of those people carrying themselves like the world lies in wait at their feet. You never did know how to feel about her, nor do you know much about her. You do know this is but one of many businesses she has under her care. Well to do, in any case.

Guess it had to happen sooner or later. “Mrs. Hawke, hello.”

The landlady smiles in greeting, blue eyes alighting first on you, then focusing beyond your shoulder. She lands a hand on her hip, “How have you been, my dear?” 

The question was directed at you, but you’re perceptive enough—you like to think—to notice the unspoken query following the first. 

“Doing well, um. You know how it is…”

“Mm.” Her eyes are still on Adrian, but her gaze is different from that of the store clerk earlier. It holds no fascination, merely a calculating sort of curiosity that disappears the moment she stares back at you.

“I actually wanted to contact you, but didn’t get to until now. You see, Adrian here will be staying for a while, and I know that affects the rent, so…”

Mrs. Hawke tilts her chin. “That’s right, normally so—do you have an idea as to how long your additional tenant will be staying?...”

“Um. Well, I…” You feel an urge to turn and look at Adrian, but somehow her stare arrests you enough that you can’t.

Just then, she waves a hand. “You know, nevermind. I know you’ve had a difficult time lately. Consider no fee added to the rent, for now.”

The impossible has happened. Mrs. Hawke, being… lenient? Forgoing business? Not asking the ‘how’ and the ‘who’ and the ‘why’?

“Er… you mean it? Really?” Your jaw might be somewhere on the floor for all you know.

She nods. “I do. If the time of stay extends indefinitely, then that’s another matter, of course… but for now, we should be fine.”

“Thank… you…?”

She laughs, a light, glittering sound. “Oh don’t look at me like that. After all…” her gaze flicks back behind you, only briefly. “Life does seem to hold all manner of… surprises, doesn’t it?”

There’s something unusual in her tone, but, ah, the prospect of not having to scrounge up more money regularly is a godsend. “You can say that again…”

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to run!” And she does just that, without another glance, leaving the two of you alone in the hallway.

“Well, I’ll be…” you murmur, then remember Adrian. “What is it about you, seriously? It's either the worst of luck or the strangest change... Adrian?”

His stare is unfocused, like something blew a fuse behind his eyes. When you touch his arm, he snaps out of it with a start. “Let’s go up?... You wanted to continue reading, didn’t you?”

Shaking his head like someone having been splashed with ice-cold water, Adrian looks down at you. “... reading. Yes. Let’s…let’s go.”

Picking up fast, you think as he walks ahead of you towards the elevator. And maybe it’s just you, but his steps are more determined than before.

Part I - Part II - Part III - Part IV - Part V - Part VI - Part VII - Part VIII - Part IX - Part X - Part XI

Taglist: @hornyf0ckers @the-keep-under-gresit @pencildrawer12 (this is old, let me know if you want to be removed!)

Want to be added to the taglist for updates? Drop me an ask

MASTERLIST: CASTLEVANIA SERIES x READER

More of my work is on AO3 [many stories not on tumblr]

BLOG MASTERPOST (all you need to know)

Likes/comments/reblogs always and forever appreciated

AN:

Recuyell of the Historyes of Troye (1464) is a translation by William Caxton of a French courtly romance written by Raoul Lefèvre.

[enbyfvcker]

Amongst the trees

part two to Under the influence.

Wade Wilson X Logan (worst!wolverine)

Word count: 1,7k

Summary: Logan takes Wade out for a date in the woods.

Tags: a bit of fluff, love confessions, smut, semi-public sex, oral sex, deep throating, come swallowing, bottom!Wade, rimming, anal fingering, anal sex

"Is this a date?"

"...Yeah."

"Awww, peanut! You're so cute when you make an effort."

"Look, I just- I wanted to make up to you for pouncing on you like that that night, so I thought- You know what? This is stupid. If you want to go back to the apartm-"

"Of course not! Are you kidding? It's so pretty here." Wade looks around to the nightly woods around them, lightened by the moon. He feels the cool breeze on his skin, and he can hear the sounds of crickets. He looks up to the sky decorated with stars as his arms support his head while both of the men lay on a blanket that's placed on the grass. "When you called me to take a ride with you on your new motorcycle and I saw a forest, I thought maybe you'd finally end me. Who knew you were just being romantic, peanut."

Logan rolls his eyes with a grin, also looking at the sky.

"I know that... you don't feel really comfortable in public when you're not in your suit, so... I thought this would be a nice idea."

Wade turns his head to the side, looking at him with a sweet smile. "It was."

Logan looks back at him, a bit tensed. "I'm really sorry for-"

"Stop. You don't need to be sorry, sweetcheeks. It's okay. It was nice to know."

"That I'm an idiot?"

"That you like me."

"Is that really so surprising?"

"I mean... Yeah. I'm not the most lovable person. And it's at least not likely. Like, I feel like we're probably a one percentage of wolvies and wades out there in the multiverse that actually do something about their feelings. The other fuckers must be out there living a platonic homoerotic friendship. Ha! Lame."

"Their loss, then." Logan mumbles lowly, a small smile on his lips. "And that's not true."

"What?"

"You're lovable."

"Oh."

"And annoying as fuck. But still lovable."

"How sweet." Wade chuckles and moves to lay over Logan, their noses almost brushing against each other now. "I'm touched." He teases, brushing their lips together without actually initiating a kiss. "It'd be fun to be touched in other ways, too, though."

Logan laughs lowly and places a hand behind the merc's head, bringing him down for a soft kiss that is filled with longing and affection and slowly grows more passionate and needy. Their breathing becomes more intense as their tongues meet hungrily. Wade grinds his hips teasingly against the gruff man under him, his arousal mirroring Logan's. He pulls away for a second and looks deeply into the mutant's eyes.

"I love you too, by the way."

Logan's pupils dilate, and he feels his heart throb. Or probably his cock. Both. And in another second, he quickly switches their positions and gets over Wade, his arms on the sides of the merc's head. In a flash, he pulls out his claws and tears Wade's shirt to shreds.

"Hey! That shirt was like, 5 dollars- You know what, never mind." Wade gives up on whining when he feels Logan's tongue exploring his torso, and he would have goosebumps if he had any body hair in the first place. "You know, I thought for a while your tongue would be all rough and spiky."

Logan looks up at Wade with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm not a cat, bub."

"But you're so kitty shaped!"

Logan just rolls his eyes affectionately and goes back to licking the merc's skin, tongue tracing where the happy trail would be as his hands work Wade's pants. Once he pulls it down along with heart printed boxers, he kisses the tip of Wade's cock while looking up at him, a cocky smirk growing on his lips at the gasp that it elicited.

"Do you think a bear or wolf could appear out of nowhere to eat us? I feel so vulnerable right now. It would be a pain to regenerate from that-" Wade's interrupted by his own moan when Logan licks the vein of his cock base to tip.

"The only animal that's going to devour you tonight is me. Now shut up, will ya, bub." Wade doesn't have a chance to retort before he moans again, head dropping back as he feels Logan's warm mouth enveloping him. And no, not a rough and spiky tongue at all. It feels so soft his mind goes white for a moment. He brings himself to look down at the sight of Logan bobbing his head up and down on him, eyes glued to the merc's, and he can swear he sees a smirk in the mutant's lips even though they're full of him.

Wade's hand softly grips Logan's locks, making sure not to disturb the little hair ears.

"See?" Wade pants. "Kitty shaped." He teases with a grin. A loud whimper that has birds startled and flying around leaves his throat when Logan takes him all the way down, his tip hitting the back of Logan's throat and he fucking stays there, watery lustful eyes glued to his, shining with mischief. Wade can't help but buck his hips up, the pleasure stripping him off of brain cells, and all he can think about is how good it feels. Logan doesn't choke or gags. He just takes it until the lack of air has him pulling out with a lewd 'pop'.

"Fuckfuckfuck. What the hell, peanut, where did you learned that-"

But Logan doesn't waste a second until he's swallowing Wade again, the taste of pre-cum on his lips only spurring him on, sucking faster.

"Oh god- You know what, it doesn't matter. Fuck, you're so good, kitten..."

The praise has Logan taking him even more eagerly, switching between bobbing his head and taking Wade deep in his throat. But it doesn't take long until the merc is a babbling mess, his cock twitching desperately inside the mutant's mouth and his hips bucking up.

"Feels so good... Shit, Wolvie... I'm close..." Wade whines, his hand tangled in Logan's hair tightening slightly. "Fuck, I-" He doesn't get to finish his sentence, his hips rutting up until they still, eyes rolling back as he fills Logan's throat who swallows without a second thought. His head goes blank for a few moments as he catches his breath, eyes dazed and dreamy. Logan moves up until they're face to face again and kisses the merc's lips, the taste of his release tangling between their tongues.

When they pull apart, Wade is still sporting a very stupid dazed expression that has Logan grinning.

"God, I think you just sucked my brain out of my dick." Wade sighs and Logan chuckles, kissing the merc again.

"You're still talking. So my job isn't done yet." Logan grunts before turning Wade on his stomach, manhandling him on his hands and knees.

"Oh god- Are we making a baby in the woods?"

"That's not how biology works, Wade."

"Biology's boring. Knock me up, tiger."

Logan shakes his head with a grin before he licks Wade's back, making the merc arch. He bites his shoulder with a grin, sinking his teeth into scarred skin. Moving down teasingly slow, he finally licks Wade's rim, earning a needy moan. His tongue make it's way inside and Wade whimpers, his soft cock stirring up again. Logan replaces his tongue with a finger, sinking knucles deep until Wade can take another. Scissoring him open, Logan focuses on stretching out the merc. When he's satisfied, he pulls them out, a whine escaping Wade's lips at the loss.

It doesn't take long, though. Wade hears a zipper, and his's heart flutters quickly when he feels Logan's tip pressing against him.

"You ready?"

"Yeah yeah yeah, god just do it already-" He's interrupted once more by his own moan when Logan slowly begins to sink into him, making way for his girth into the merc's tight channel, grunting when he finally bottoms out. He takes a deep breath, focusing on not starting to thrust right away and instead letting Wade get used to it.

"Does it hurt?" Logan asks, a bit worried since they didn't use any lube. He should've brought it... He makes a mental note for next time.

"No, just- Please start moving, stop teasing..."

With a low chuckle, Logan slowly starts to pound into Wade. "You'll know when I'm teasing you, trust me." He picks up the pace and aims at Wade's sweet spot, hands gripping his sides tightly, and he just lets out needy whines and whimpers. Logan has to chuckle to himself at how he's basically fucking the words out of the mouthy merc, turning him into a moaning mess. His hips move faster and right when he hears Wade's moans getting louder and more desperate, he slows down almost to a stop, thrusting slow and hard.

"Nonono, fuck, don't stop!"

Logan lets out an evil laugh. "I didn't." He thrusts again roughly.

"Pleasepleaseplease, Wolvie..."

"Please, what?"

"Just- Go fucking faster!" Wade whines desperately, moving his hips back.

"Hm, is that how you ask? I don't think I will." He keeps moving torturing slow, teasing the merc with a grin.

"Please..." Wade whines frustratingly. "Please please peanut... faster, please..." He begs between needy whimpers. "Your hips are made of fucking adamantium, put your back into it- fuck!" Logan's suddenly pounding into him ruthlessly, knowing the air out of his lungs.

"What, like this?" He teases, knowing full well Wade can only let out incoherent moans now. He could feel himself getting closer, low grunts escaping his throat. Bringing a hand to wrap around Wade's cock, he strokes it in rhythm with his thrusts. "Go on, let go for me, bub."

He barely finishes his words before Wade's spilling over the blanket, back arching. Logan groans loudly at the feeling of his walls squeezing his cock, and their moans tangle in unison as they find their releases together. With a grunt, Logan pulls out and uses a piece of cloth that once was Wade's shirt to clean the merc and himself. He lays down along with Wade, pulling him into his arms as they catch their breaths together.

"I think we may have woken the entire ecosystem of this forest." Wade pants, making Logan chuckle.

tagging: @hoolequinn @whiskeyandcigarsmoke @moustarda @aspenfallen @thesexymutant @flower-majesty-anon

[tulip-room]

elodea - o. tooru || wc:5.2k || tags: childhood friends to lovers, mermaid au, artist yn, muse oikawa, "pen pals" of sorts, touch starved, something keeps them apart, second chance,depression <//3, bad parental relationships, first time saying "I love you", 5 +1...sort of ! || hq works

i.

When she first meets the boy she’s unsure what to make of him, she knows he looks different than her, she asks where his legs are as they’re hidden under the water and he just laughs. It sounds like the sea breeze itself and refreshes her in a way she had yet to experience. “I don’t have those,” she sees a shine under the water and tilts her head. 

“Everyone has legs.”

“No they don’t.” To prove his point he swims closer to the dock she’s sitting on and flicks up what looks to be a tail. The scales shine decadently in the golden summer light, his skin is tanned and there’s an easy smile on his face. “I told you,” she leans down and her hands graze the water. He turns and the motion splashes her with water and she almost falls in. “I didn’t say you could touch it,” his small fingers are just curled over the edge of the wooden dock and his brown eyes stare into hers. 

“Sorry,” there’s a slight lisp as one of her front teeth has yet to grow in yet. “What’s your name?”

“Oikawa Tooru,” the water moves gently as she assumes his tail pushes it to keep him upright.

“I’m L/N Y/N,” she holds out her hand and he takes it. When he spreads his fingers she sees the webbing connecting the joints together, she turns his hand over and examines it in comparison with her own. Her mind doesn’t wrap around just what he is until the sun threatens to set over the horizon. They spend hours discussing everything their brains could think of from the color of the water to their favorite foods. “Will you be here tomorrow?” He nods and she hears the call of her grandmother from the top of the hill. 

“Will you be here tomorrow?” He tries to ask inconspicuously but fails as she catches on.

“If I didn’t know any better, I would say you enjoyed hanging out with me today.”

“Well…it’s a good thing you know better then.” There’s smiles on both of their faces as her name gets called yet again. “You better get going, come back tomorrow.”

She almost can’t wait to wake up the next day but her grandma reminds her of the chores she has to do. She tries to rush through them, the dishes not dried and put away, mud prints on the tiled floor from when she ran out to feed the horses, her yellow rain boots squeaking as she runs around the townhouse. “Get back in her,” she hears sternly behind her just as she’s rushing out the door. There her grandma stands with his hands on her hips and a stern but soft look on her face. “And where are you off to this morning in such a rush? You have mud on your face,” she licks her thumb and wipes the dirt away much to Y/N’s protest. 

“Grandma, stop it!” She pushes her away and tries to wriggle free from her grasp. There’s a moment of laughter from both of them and with a kiss on her forehead her grandma lets her go. 

“Okay, go be a kid. Have fun, don’t pick up any snakes you find.” Her grandma warns teasingly before she runs off down the hill yellow rain boots squeaking the whole time.  When she makes it down to the dock she sees a familiar head of brown hair and the same shining tail as yesterday.

“What took you so long,” he turns around excitedly before trying to cover it by crossing his arms. “Not that I was waiting or anything.” He makes a point to close his eyes and turn his head away.

“Sorry Fishy, I had to do chores.” She sticks her tongue out at him as she lays down on the dock, it creaks under her movements and she looks up at the clouds. “Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I only got here a few minutes ago.” She hums in response and closes her eyes as she allows the sun to beam down on her. “Do you live here?”

“No, I’m only visiting for the summer.” There’s a strange pang in his chest at the words, he’s only known her for a day at most and he already knows he’s going to miss her presence. He shakes the thoughts away and pulls himself up so only his tail is left in the water and joins her laying down. She can hear the splashes of protest from the water and hear his breaths as he hoists himself up. “Do you live here?”

“Yeah, I live by where the lake meets the ocean.”

“That seems far,” if she remembers where he’s talking about.

“It’s not bad, maybe a five minute swim?” He questions himself and then they sit in silence. “Where do you go after the summer?”

“My mom got a new job so I have to go move in with her. I want to stay here though, it’s where all my friends are.”

“Oh, how far away?”

“Two hours,” she sighs and crosses her arms over her chest. He finds his head shifting to look at her, the light tracing her face and he wonders if her skin is as soft as it looks. 

“Oh, that’s really far.” There’s a somber tone for a few minutes before the children start pointing out clouds and what they look like. 

He knows the time is passing because her front tooth has started growing in and her lisp starts to go away. “Are you coming back?”

“Next summer,” she hums. It’s become routine for them to lay on the dock together. They pretend the time doesn’t pass as quickly as it does and live in their moment. Their moment of warm sunlight and frogs croaking in weeds, of the wind whistling through cattails, and of dragonflies buzzing and flying along the water’s edge. “Can I see you here next summer?”

“Of course.” They both know their weeks together are drawing to a close. Can feel it as the weather starts cooling down and their days get shorter. She goes to school to finish out the year but she always comes back to him when she gets back. By the final week of summer her tooth has grown in and her lisp has gone away. It gets chillier at night and he stops joining her on the dock. 

“I got you something,” she says as she rummages through her bag, post it notes and pencils fall out as she grabs hold of what she wants. It’s a necklace, there’s a plastic bag holding it in but it’s clear as to what it is. She pulls out the delicate chain and he can spot a seashell hanging from the chain. 

“I love it,” he answers and takes it from her hands before she can say another word. After he puts it on he holds up a hand. “I have something for you too, I’ll be back in ten minutes. Wait for me?”

“Always.” Her feet dangle over the edge but she’s careful not to let her shoes hit the water. Around ten minutes later an out of breath boy pops his head out of the water. He holds a bag in his hands and holds it out to her. She leans forward and grabs it, inside she finds a bracelet of sea gems and smiles. “Thank you,” she puts it on and admires how it twinkles in the light of the setting sun. 

ii.

It’s easy to tell they’ve both grown older when she visits again the next summer break. Her limbs have grown longer and his voice has gotten deeper. Their routine continues when she returns. They manage to make it halfway through the break before he stops showing up every day. She waits for him with her knees curled up to her chest and her chin resting on her knees. Her arms are wrapped around her legs and it’s almost time for her to go back in when she can see the faintest shimmer of what she hopes are scales. A smile grows when the shimmering gets closer and she can just make out a familiar head of brown hair. “What took you so long clamshell?”

“Sorry,” he tries to catch his breath and reaches into his seaweed bag. “I can’t always be here anymore.” He hands her the conch and the inside contrasts with the rough outside as she runs her hands over it. “Just blow into it and I’ll come as soon as I can.” She nods and he must hear something she can’t because she can see his face drop. “I’m so sorry.” 

“It’s okay, go do what you need to do Tooru,” with one last solemn look towards her, his head ducks under the water and she watches as the shimmering scales grow farther and farther away from her. She continues to sit on the old dock for a few moments longer as she turns the shell in her hands. The air is hot and humid and sticks to her skin like glue, the dragonflies buzz as they graze the water lines and her mind wanders to last summer and what could have changed so suddenly. She stands up from the chipping dock and tredges her way back up the hill and into her grandma’s home. It’s cool inside and she can smell the beginnings of dinner being started. 

“Well, aren’t you back early.” It’s more of a statement than a question as her grandma throws her a glance from where she stands. “Where in the world did you manage to find a conch around here?”

“It was a gift,” she mumbles and sits down at the table. The cloth is a pale yellow with small embroidered flowers over it in small square designs. The shell clinks softly as the tablecloth acts as a buffer for the noise. 

“You don’t seem very happy about the gift,” she lays her head down in her arms and stares out the window. She tries not to think of the sea or the lake, it will make her think of him and the surprisingly large hole he’s left for her to fill without him. She feels a hand on her shoulder as a chair screeches against the wood. Her grandma sits down while the pot boils in the background. “What’s going on little love?”

“One of my friends that I was excited to see is too busy to hang out the rest of the break.” Her grandma chuckles lightly and she glares lightly. “What’s funny?”

“That’s part of growing up, it’s okay to not see them all the time. The person is still your friend and you still care about each other?” She nods her head at the question. “Then, nothing else matters. Get that frown off your face, little love and help me finish dinner.” The chair scoots against the wood and the table shifts its weight as her grandma uses it to help her stand. She follows close behind and they talk about school, how the garden is coming along, the horses, and everything they can think of. She’s missed this, the feeling of home and the sea breeze. 

Despite herself she goes back the next day, she waits and she waits and waits. The air turns chilly and the fireflies start coming out and she knows he’s not coming today. She pulls the bracelet off her wrist and finds herself becoming calmer as her thumb rubs over the gems, they’ve been smoothed out among the edges and she finds herself smiling. He’s not entirely gone, he’s still with her when she smells the salty air of the sea or feels the wood beneath her. This is their spot and that doesn’t change just because one of them isn’t there. She rushes back up to the house and digs through all kinds of drawers, she knows she��s making a racket but her grandma doesn’t say anything to her. She just holds a fond look in her eyes as she watches her write a short letter and take a piece of geode with her. 

The geode wasn’t very old, at least in her possession, only having it for a few months after a class trip to learn about the different kinds of rocks. Her rain boots are tighter this year than they were the year prior but they still squeak as she runs down the grassed hill of her grandma’s backyard and towards the dock, their spot. She folds the paper and sets the geode on top, with a hopeful look towards the horizon she heads back up the hill and disappears into the comforting home of her grandma. She’ll have her summer memories forever, she’ll remember the air sticking to her skin and the boy with chocolate hair that she met on a dodgy dock. She’ll remember the sea breeze and her grandma’s cooking. She’ll remember the joy she feels when she’s here even long after she’s left. 

iii.

She gets used to the walls of her school, makes friends among the people in her classes. Tries to forget her time at the lakehouse. Her grandma has been sending her letters, she’s not sure how her grandma figured it out but she hasn’t made up her mind about whether she’s happy with it or not. Her heart hurts when she thinks of the lakehouse, how she hadn’t been able to go this year. Regardless of her feelings, she still sits at her desk every night and writes the perfect response to Oikawa’s letters. She sometimes sends little trinkets she thinks he’ll like and he’ll send back pieces of sea glass or a piece of coral. The space on her desk begins to fill quickly. 

She enjoys the little letters they exchange because although she’s not with him it’s like she can still smell the sea and hear his laughter in her mind if she closes her eyes it’s like she can picture herself laying on the dock with a warm body next to her own, knuckles just grazing against each other slightly and not making motions to move further. The quiet breaths she can almost hear over the buzz of bugs and the croaking of frogs. She misses the sticky air and the words that hang in the air and her grandma’s cooking. She misses her sea breeze. 

The weather grows colder and she finds the letters coming slower and fewer. Soon they stop altogether and her mind starts straying from pretty eyes and prettier smiles. She finds herself trying to latch on to anything that she thinks she can keep. She finds safety in art, in making something from the ground up, she enjoys the chalk that stains her fingers and the paint that litters her clothes and winds up on her cheek. Her sketchbook is filled with scales and pretty brown eyes, it’s filled with landscapes of the sea and a creaky old dock with a hill behind it. Of sea gem bracelets and seashell necklaces. 

She finds herself driving to the sea more often than she thought she would. She sits there for hours on the beach and just looks towards the horizon, smelling the air and listening to the birds chirp and the children laugh. She finds the cold air nostalgic in a way, the breeze hitting her cheeks and making her nose run. She wraps a cardigan around herself to sit on the rocks for longer. The sting of the wind is a familiar friend and is almost as familiar as the sting in her eyes. She doesn’t bother wiping the tears away, she has grown to the familiarity of them rolling down her cheeks as she tries to keep her breathing level. It’s a failing attempt and she lets out a dry cough. “I didn’t think I would miss you this much this soon.” 

The day her bracelet breaks is the day she stays home from school and doesn’t move from her bed. There are parts of chipped gems embedded into the carpet of her floor, when she gets up to grab water she cuts her foot on one of the pieces. She pulls the shard out with a pair of tweezers but can feel it already cemented in place and forever a part of her. A part of the sea will be with her. 

She finds it in her the following day to tediously pick the pieces out of her carpet. She steals the superglue from the junk drawer in the kitchen and spends the rest of the day gluing them back together. It’s not the same as it was before but she makes a pair of earrings and a hair clip. The cord holding them together is beyond saving. She wonders as she clips her hair back how Oikawa is doing, if he misses her like she misses him. She hopes the answer is yes, hopes that she lives in his mind as much as he lives in hers. 

“Where are you,” her words die like a whisper in the wind. Realistically she knows where he is, the same place he has been that she hasn’t. She feels her phone buzz in her pocket and sighs as she stands up, the wind almost blows her over as she gets up on unsteady feet. She makes it to her car and sits with her head against the horn of the wheel for a few moments. She drives home fifteen minutes later, she’s unsure of where the time passed. It’s been doing that a lot, jumping around and hiding from her when she’s not looking. 

Her keys clatter against her wooden dresser, it’s covered in paint; some of it peeling off already as she hadn’t wanted to seal it in place. She needs to get a new carpet but that means letting go of the pieces she couldn’t find but knows are there. There’s a lot of things she needs to do but hasn’t. She’s tired.

iv.

The day of her graduation is the next time she sees the lakehouse. Her home in the process of being sold as her mother has to move yet again for her job. This time she won’t be pulled along every which way. She doesn’t let go of her grandma for what feels like hours, just basks in her warmth and honey smell. She gets pushed off weakly and her grandma shakes her head. “Quit that, people will think I’m dying if you keep that up,’ she sends her a wink and Y/N finds herself laughing. 

“You can’t get rid of me that easily.” Her grandma lets out a hearty laugh and bumps her hip lightly. Her legs want to pull her to the door leading down a familiar path but she refrains. There’s no chance he’ll be there or want to talk to her. She hadn’t realized how long she had been looking at the door until her grandma speaks up.

“Go see him,” there’s love in her eyes as the two make eye contact. She motions with her head to the door. 

“He won’t want to see me,” she turns her head away and her grandma shakes her head. 

“He’s been waiting for you, said that’s why he stopped sending letters. To force you to see him.” 

“I don’t know if I’m ready.”

“Don’t leave him waiting for too long dear, love like that may not be fickle but it’s difficult to care for when there’s no one helping you.”

“Okay,” instead of going to the dock she locks herself in her old room. Her yellow rain boots sit in the corner and her vanity is still as she left it. There’s a printed photo of her with Oikawa hanging in the top right corner, the edges are curled and it’s entirely too bright but it’s obvious to her what it is. There’s pearls and rocks, and all kinds of trinkets she remembers Oikawa bringing her and her rushing back up the hill squeaky boots and all to give him something in return.

“A kiss will do,” he jokes and presents his cheek to her. She laughs and pushes his head away.

“In your dreams,” she sticks her tongue out at him and trips slightly on the wood as she races up and over the hill. He had grown used to the sight, of her ponytail bouncing as she ran over that grassy hill. He wishes he could go with her but he knows he can’t, he’s fine with how things are. Both of them here and happy. Comfortable, just with each other.

Her hands comb over the old stacks of homework she hadn’t gotten to throwing out before her move. Her stuffed animals are still on the bed and her bed is made with the same pink sheets that they had 8 years ago. There’s decals on her wall of sea creatures and she remembers painting a fish near her bed (she hadn’t quite figured out how human anatomy worked yet). She smiles as her hands trace over the slightly raised surface, her head laid on her pillow and her hair furled out around her. She felt at home again. 

She doesn’t end up going to the dock. She avoids it while she moves her stuff and the only box left to unpack is the letters. It stays taped shut and in a corner in her closet. 

v.

“You’ll never make a living this way darling,” the words are already festering as she eats lunch with her mother. “I mean really? Art is a hobby not a living.” Her mother’s tongue clicks against the roof of her mouth as she brings her cappuccino up to drink it. “Go get a degree in something useful.”

“I like what I do.” Her grip on her fork tightens but she does her best to keep her voice level.

“A children’s book? And about a mermaid? I mean, this just isn’t going to sell enough for you to live off of. You don’t want to mooch off your poor grandmother for the rest of your life do you?” Her teeth grind against each other and she shoves another bite of food in her mouth to keep herself quiet. “Come on darling, I’m just thinking about what’s best for you.” Her mother’s hand rests on top of her own across the table. She turns her head away and pulls her hand back. “Oh, don’t be like that.”

“Art is what I want to do Mom, I want to be an artist. I am an artist.”

“You’re just someone with too many thoughts and access to paint. Talk to me again when you let go of this silly ‘dream’ of yours.” Her mother wipes her mouth and throws some bills on the table before walking out the door. She stays there until the waitress comes and she pays the rest of the bill. Her walk home is cold, the heat of the air not doing anything for her. She pours all of her frustration into her art. By the end of the day she has two books drafted out and they’re sent to a publishing company. 

She finds herself on the dock with the conch in her hand, she flips it over and brings it up to her mouth. Her forehead rests against the shell as she sighs, this isn’t what he meant when he said to use it if she needed him. She does need him, she’s missed him more than she’s allowed herself to. Without another thought she blows into the shell, nothing happens for a little while but then she sees a shimmer in the water. 

“Hi,” she doesn’t need to look from where she now lays on the dock to know he’s there. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too.” There’s a plop as he lifts himself to lay next to her. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really. Do you?”

“Not really.” They sit there with their knuckles grazing each other and she doesn’t have the energy to make comments on how nice he looks, she turns to him and puts her head on his chest and he wraps an arm around her. “Let’s just stay like this for a bit.”

“Yeah,” she starts. “Yeah, I would like that.”

In six months time, before her birthday, the books are put on shelves and when she sees them in libraries she can’t help but smile. She signs any copy that someone brings her. Six months after that the second book comes out. Her grandma throws her a small party when she comes back home. “I’m so proud of you,” she’s pulled into a tight hug. “Go tell him,” her grandma ushers her out the door and she laughs a little. 

The conch has become a way for her to ask to see him instead of a danger tool. He doesn’t complain and tells her how he enjoys seeing her again. “I did it,” she whispers as her head rests on his shoulder. 

“You did,” he whispers it gently into her hair like a kiss. 

“Thank you for coming back.”

“I didn’t leave.”

“Turns out you were the one waiting for me,” it’s meant to be a joke but she knows he sees through it when his hand rubs up and down her arm slowly.

“Always.” 

“I got you something,” she lifts her head and sees his smile as he shakes his head. He’s grown into his face, his tan has evened out and there’s a trail of freckles on his shoulders and down his arms. “You can’t say no.” He laughs and it still makes her think of the sea breeze. He’s still the place she feels most calm. 

“Okay, let’s see it.” She reaches into her satchel and it reminds him of the girl he used to know. The girl with a missing front tooth and a lisp, whose pony tail bobbed as she ran up the hill away from him, the one who rummaged through her bag and gave him something he wasn’t aware would be so dear to him. She pulls out a plastic bag and he can’t help how his smile grows. 

“I know you fixed it but…I wanted you to have a better one. Not something I bought at a bookfair for cheap.” The chain is golden and the seashell hanging from it is different from the one he’s since turned into a bracelet. It’s a conch shell and he shakes his head. He carefully puts it on and he wants to kiss her so badly he leans forward, she shifts closer to him too but he pulls her into a hug. His face is buried in her hair and he takes a deep breath. Lemongrass and lavender. 

“Thank you for coming back.”

“Thank you for waiting.”

vi.

“You never told me what you wrote the book on.” He asks as her feet dangle over the edge and his arms rest on the end of the dock. 

“Us,” she finds no reason to be embarrassed although she can feel her face burning. He laughs and she finds a smile appearing on her face as he does so. “Stop laughing, what’s so funny?”

“How did we get turned into a children’s book?” He looks at her with a lopsided smile and she leans down closer to him. Their foreheads close to touching and a piece of her hair falls from behind her ear. 

“Remember all those games we made as kids?” He tucks the stray strand of hair behind her ear and she can see his eyes looking at her lips before darting back up to her eyes. “The ones where we were pirates or royalty?”

“Yeah,” he says quietly as he tries to force himself to stop looking at her lips, it’s difficult when she looks so excited. There’s a hammering in his chest and he wants to hide away. The gold chain feels tighter than usual as it sticks to him from the water. “That’s what you wrote about?”

“Yeah, you were all I could draw for a while.”

“Couldn’t keep me off your mind?” He teases and pokes her arm.

“No,” she answers honestly. She’s been growing tired of their game but wasn’t sure how to stop it. She took the opening he gave her and can only hope this goes well. She sees his eyes widen and his lips part as a sharp intake of air makes his chest rise up. 

“Can I kiss you?” Finally, she nods her head and he wraps his hand around the back of her neck and pulls her down to his lips. They both smile into the kiss and have to part as she starts giggling. Once it happens a few times he can’t stop himself from laughing with her as he kisses her face. “Stop giggling,” he says between laughs. He doesn’t really want her to stop, her laugh reminds him of home. 

“I can’t,” she throws her head back with a laugh and he thinks she couldn’t look any more beautiful than she does at this moment. She’s not aware of what happens until there’s a splash and she feels water encompass her. She swims to the surface and splashes him. “How dare you!” 

They splash around in the water and once they’re out of breath he reaches up and wipes the wet strands away from her face. “I love you.” It’s the first time they’re said the words but not the first time they've felt. 

“I love you too, even if you do pull me into the water for no good reason.”

“Because I wanted you to be closer. I think that’s a pretty good reason.”

“Okay, I’ll accept it. But only because you’re cute.” 

“Gee thanks,” he rolls his eyes and it’s an odd feeling for her feet to brush against the scales of his tail. She enjoys hearing his heartbeat below her ear as they wade in the water. “You know what I’ve always wanted to do?” She hums in response and lifts her head from his chest. “I’ve always wanted to dance with you.”

“And how is that going to work?”

“Hold your breath,” she shakes her head but follows his instructions. The quiet envelopes her as their heads drop below the surface. Her eyes open slowly and she can see Oikawa already smiling at her, he holds his hand out to her and she takes it. He’s able to spin her around once before she tries to go back up for air, he shakes his head and pulls her closer to him. She tilts her head and he brings their lips together as he blows air into her mouth. She smiles at the kiss and they stay under the water for a little longer before she breaks the surface. 

“I can’t believe you did that.” She laughs although her chest heaves up and down from exertion.

“You liked it.”

“Okay, it was a little fun.” She coughs into her arm and he helps her over to the ladder of the dock and watches as she holds on to it. 

“You can hold onto me.”

“I know, I am. I won’t let you go this time.”

“You better not.”

“Why not going to wait for me again?”

“I would always wait for you, no matter how long. I just don’t think I can let you go now that I actually have you.” She smiles and pulls him into another kiss. “Oh do I get kissed if I say cheesy things?”

“Shut up,” she says against his mouth as he smiles and complies as he kisses her back.

taglist (gen, fill out this form) @cheriisae @cherrysurf @hiraethwa @hatsukeii @szyvrue

this is not only for lalechingo but more importantly for @lale-txt since it's her birthday today <333 everyone go wish her a happy birthday and I hope you guys enjoyed this story I told <3

[zosan-secondchances]

The Pirate King of the North: Part 14

Main Themes: V̷̨͈̘̻̂i̴̗̯̅͒l̸̳̾l̶̲̣͈̉̎͊ä̷̧̭̫̘ḯ̵̜̯̬̜͚̓̀̽n̶̛͚̦̯̈́̄̍͜ ̴͎̭͎̄͜Ś̶̲͆̈́̋ạ̵̢̉ń̵̨̘̲̫̮̎j̶̻̮̝̳̐̊͑͠͝ͅǐ̴̝̱, Alternate Universe, Zosan Ship

Warning: Long post ahead and some One Piece spoilers. Contains strong language and explicit content.

Part 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14

All eyes fell on Sanji as the trio are led inside and through the city, escorted by Wyper and a handful of the God's Guards. Normally, entering any form of settlement involves the occasional parade that his people would arrange for him in countries that allied to Germa. For those that aren't, he wears a hood to cover himself with for a discreet way in. This was different. It was the middle of the day and he was in chains with no way to protect his identity.

The frightened citizens whisper suspiciously among each other. Those who are along the stone path part way for them, while some hurriedly carry their young ones inside their houses and lock their doors and windows behind them. From an outsider's perspective, it looks like he'd been arrested and is sent on a humiliating march through the city. Sanji felt exposed and vulnerable. He considers turning around while the exit is closeby.

The weight and the cold temperature of the chains doesn't help. He feels the urge to tear the bloody things off his wrist, and hopes to get their business with Gan Fall out of the way so they can leave and take the restraints off him as soon as possible.

A wave of uneasy pain surges through his body as he sees a flash of Doflamingo's wide grin appear in front of him again. He resists the instinct to flee and focuses on the sensations of his feet, placing one foot forwards one step at a time. Not wanting to be alone, he steels his heart and commits. He tries to keep calm and stay emotionless, knowing that his every move is being watched behind the citizens’ judgemental eyes.

Wyper glances next to him and notices his discomfort. He clears his throat to get his attention.

Wyper 

It's not a long walk to see God. I've sent word ahead to get a place ready for you lot to sleep in–if you're staying for the festival.

Sanji curiously blinks at him, feeling relieved and comforted at the hospitality being offered to them.

Sanji

Thanks, but that's not up to me. Run it through with Trafalgar Law.

Wyper 

Aren't you in charge? Being Pirate King and all.

Sanji mildly chuckles.

Sanji

That title doesn't mean shit to me. I'm just trying to help out a friend.

Wyper raises a brow.

Wyper

Aren't you trying to recruit pirates under your rule to wage war against the Celestial Dragons and take over the world?

Sanji

Now that's an idea. But where the hell did you hear that from?

Wyper 

The papers.

Sanji

The pa–?! Okay, first off, don't believe everything you read from that. I think Morgans hate me for not signing off the rights to use our image to make his silly comics.

Wyper

Morgans?

Sanji

Have you not heard his name? He's in charge of printing out that poor excuse of a newspaper.

Wyper shrugs, looking unbothered.

Wyper 

Don't care about who runs it. We just need the information to know what's going on around the world.

Sanji

You should very much care! You said that I'm not bad in real life–your words, not mine! What does that tell you about the stuff you read?

Wyper 

That you're a sneaky bastard, probably.

Sanji gasps sarcastically and throws his hands to cover his mouth.

Sanji

You might have just figured me out, Wyper of the God's Guards.

The warrior lets out a small lighthearted chuckle, feeling a bit proud of himself. After a brief pause, Wyper speaks.

Wyper

Hey uh…what’s a “comics”?

They proceed to discuss the topic of entertainment and other content in the WENP for the next five minutes of their walk. Zoro notices their banter from a short distance behind them, walking alongside the doctor who's quietly paying attention to their surroundings.

Then he sees it–that big stupid smile that Sanji brings out that he loves so much. The blonde laughs at something that Wyper had told him, making Zoro scowl. Watching the two of them get along should bring him some comfort that his friends are getting along, but for some reason, this interaction makes him want to hurl the warrior over the valley of the city so he can take his place.

Law

Interesting…

Zoro

Tch.

The swordsman grumpily crosses his arms and tears his gaze away from the two. Desperate for a distraction, he entertains Law.

Zoro

What's interesting?

Law

Wyper is relaxed around the Pirate King.

Zoro

So?

Law

So…look.

Law nods his head towards the crowd who are eyeing them. While the people still part to give way along the path, none of them are running back into their houses. Some have simply glanced towards them and paid them no mind, continuing on their day as usual.

Law

With our God's Guard friend at ease, people seem to be more tolerable of our presence now. At least they're not running away anymore.

The swordsman mumbles grumpily under his breath and glances back to Wyper and Sanji. The blonde looks over his shoulder and meets his eye. Zoro flinches and quickly looks away shyly. He feels the temperature around his face rise.

As they arrive at an open clearing with hundreds of Shandian teepees scattered through the field, one of Wyper’s men runs from behind them to stride alongside the warrior. He leans over and cups his hand to whisper something in his ear. They slow down their walk until they stop. Everyone follows.

Wyper

Ah…that’s a shame.

Wyper waves a hand to dismiss the guard who salutes and runs off. He turns his attention to Zoro.

Wyper

Zoro, I was hoping to have a surprise for you, but unfortunately it didn't quite work out.

Zoro

A… surprise…?

Wyper

One of the other Straw Hats–Nico Robin–was here to study ancient ruins and some of our relics.

Zoro

Robin's here? Why didn't you tell me sooner?!

Wyper

She was. I was too focused on the immediate threat–

Sanji raises an unimpressed brow towards him. Wyper clears his throat to correct himself.

Wyper 

Immediate… situation.

Zoro

So where is she now? What did you mean when you said it didn't work out?

Wyper 

Apparently she'd been gone for at least a week now. I thought she'd at least say goodbye so we didn’t know that she’d already left.

Zoro

Do you know why?

Wyper shrugs his shoulders.

Wyper 

No. Sorry.

Zoro sighs in disappointment as he remembers Nami's advice to keep in touch more often. What he would do right now to be in the presence of someone familiar who he can truly trust. If he had spoken to Robin earlier, maybe she could have told him her current whereabouts and that she could have stayed a bit longer to see him.

Now of all times would be the perfect time to gather allies. He considers reaching out to Luffy to see if they can reunite the Straw Hats to take down Doflamingo for Sanji's sake.

Wyper

All I know is that she was here to learn more about our ancient civilization and the island's Poneglyph.

Zoro

I see. That does sound like her.

Wyper 

I like your new ship by the way. The other one had charm but–

Zoro

THE SUNNY WAS HERE?!

Wyper 

Do you not know where your crewmates are? I thought you knew from what you told me earlier.

Zoro

I guess I don't know as much as I thought I did.

Was anyone else with her?

Wyper

Err…some big metal guy with blue hair? Fran-something or other. They seem close.

Zoro groans out loud, beating himself up for missing out yet another friend he could have caught up with.

Zoro

Franky….

Wyper

That's the one.

Let's continue this conversation inside. We've arrived.

Wyper approaches one of the teepees–while it’s made of the same material and is decorated similarly compared to the other dwellings, it’s slightly bigger than the rest. He pulls back the piece of canvas to reveal an opening for them to enter through.

Sanji expected a temple or a palace of sorts–a place fitting for a “God” as they called their leader. He was surprised at how humble the home looked from the outside and the inside. Near the entrance, there is a dedicated sleeping area with a stack of pillows and blankets over a fur rug, and at the far side there are small wooden shelves and drying racks stocked with essential food ingredients.

Sitting in the middle of the small dwelling is an old man with a long beard wearing a well crafted full body metal armour. He has a large platter of various fresh fruits on a wide tree stump table in front of him. Next to him is a winged woman with blonde hair and two orbs sticking out of it which look like her antennas. She looks like she's in the middle of feeding the older man a piece of fruit from the platter using a small fork.

Wyper walks after Zoro, Sanji and Law, squeezing into the small cloth tent. He stands by the far side and takes a small bow.

Wyper 

Old man…we talked about this. Why are you in full armour?

Old Man

Old habits die hard I'm afraid.

You've brought guests!

Wyper

Yes, I sent a message ahead. Didn't you get it?

Woman

We got it, but…

Oh my, is that you–Zoro?!

The woman hurriedly drops the utensil and scrambles up on her feet. She runs to the swordsman, giving him a big and tight hug.

Zoro pats her head and grins widely.

Zoro

Conis. It's been years.

The winged woman releases him and places her hands on her chest. She gives him a warm-hearted smile.

Conis 

I never thought I'd see you again!

Zoro turns to the old man and gives him a courteous bow.

Zoro

Gan Fall. It's good to see you.

From what I hear though, should we be addressing you as something else?

Gan Fall stands on his feet, albeit unsteadily until the blonde woman catches him and holds him up by the arm.

Conis

Careful!

Gan Fall

Ah, the world's greatest swordsman–Roronoa Zoro!

Are these your friends? Please, join us!

Conis carefully guides the old man back to sit in front of the tree stump table and settles herself next to him. Zoro stands aside so Law and Sanji can take his place standing in front of Gan Fall.

Wyper

God, these are Zoro's companions, Trafalgar Law and the Pirate King of the North. They're both from the North Blue.

Law and Sanji take turns bowing to Gan Fall as their names are called.

Gan Fall

You've come a long way!

No need to be so formal, Wyper. Sit! Sit! Any friend of Zoro’s is a friend of ours.

Wyper gestures for the trio to follow. They sit on the pillows and rugs laid around the tree stump. The sounds of the restraints clinking from Sanji's wrists catch the old man's attention.

Gan Fall

Oi, why's this one in chains?!

Wyper

He's the one who destroyed the sacred site just outside Upper Yard.

Gan Fall

Aha! Oh, that old thing. Don't worry, the grass will grow back. And those old ruins aren't of much use. We need to expand the city anyway. It's getting awfully crowded in the valley. Also, they're a sight for sore eyes! Good riddance, I say!

Wyper 

Gan Fall!

Sanji had felt nervous meeting their “God”, not wanting to become enemies so quickly with another country's leader. While he'd normally have more confidence introducing himself to new folks, the guilt of his earlier actions, among other things, have taken a significant impact on his morale. After hearing the old man's words, however, he felt a heavy weight off his shoulders. He returns his kindness with a bow.

Sanji

You're too forgiving, Your Highness.

Gan Fall

But your name is too long–Pirate North something or other–what can I call you?

Sanji chuckles in a deep low voice. He closes his eyes and opens them after a brief pause.

Sanji

I like you, Your Grace. Just call me S–

Gan Fall

Northy! That's easier to remember than...what–King North of the Pirates! And please, Just “Gan Fall” will do. Or Grandpa–like a lot of the other kids do! Haha!

Sanji

Sss…sure.

Zoro blinks at Sanji, then turns away with a grumpy pout,  frustrated at missing out an opportunity to potentially learn the man's true name. He tells himself that at least he has another clue now.

Wyper sits himself next to Zoro. The warrior leans over and whispers to him.

Wyper 

Err…Zoro, the Sky Knight that you remember may not be the same as before…. His memory hasn't been… reliable.

Zoro quietly nods in acknowledgement, feeling pity for the old man. When he looks up, Conis is plating various fruits from the platter and distributing them around the table.

Gan Fall

Eat! Eat! Don’t wait for my account. You must be weary from the journey.

…So to what honour do we owe the greatest swordsman and his friends?

Zoro rubs the back of his neck awkwardly.

Zoro

I'm not…the greatest swordsman. Not yet anyway.

Gan Fall

Nonsense! You are in our eyes, young man. You took part in saving the entire country from a tyrannical rule. What more can be greater than that? I wouldn't be here if it weren’t for your efforts. Don’t forget that.

Zoro stares at him blankly. He'd genuinely hoped to have returned to Skypiea with the title officiated but Gan Fall's statement left him flattered. Speechless, he smiles warmly at him and starts digging in on his food.

Sanji smirks at Zoro's reaction, feeling happy to see that someone else agrees with him that he’s already the greatest of all swordsmen. He pulls out a cigarette. As he was about to light it, the old man held his hand up.

Gan Fall

Ah-ah. We don't do that here, Northy.

Sanji

Oh–sorry. How rude of me…. I should have asked first. I'll–

Gan Fall

We do this here! Bwahaha!

Gan Fall shuffles around in his waistband and procures a small enclosed bag, tossing it onto the table in front of the blonde. It falls open, revealing buds with a distinct strong scent that Sanji is too familiar with. With his other hand, he leans over and grabs one of the long wooden pipes leaning on a nearby shelf and begins stuffing its chamber with the contents from the bag. Sanji grins widely and turns to Zoro.

Sanji

Oh, I definitely like him.

Conis

Gan Fall!

Gan Fall

What? It's time for my medication! And in my house, we share!

—

Gan Fall's home has a layer of cloudy smoke inside after a couple of hours catching up. The group had become more loose and relaxed under the exposure of Gan Fall's “smoking ceremony”. The swordsman had politely declined on taking a puff but he's happily sharing a large jug of sake with Wyper. Sanji had finally caught up on food that he's skipped for the entire day, and Law felt more energised having directly shared some of Gan Fall's “medication”. “For research,” the doctor insists.

Sanji

Old man, this hits different. Where do you get your stock?

Gan Fall

Hah! As if I'd tell you. If you want to take some home, forget it. You'd just have to visit me more often! Haha!

He leans over and whispers in Sanji's ear…loudly.

Gan Fall

Because you know…I grow them myself. I got a little garden behind some tall corn stalks so Conis can’t find–

Conis

I heard that!

Gan Fall

Let me have my fun, woman!

Conis and Zoro eventually fall into a conversation about the good old days and their recent doings. She proudly shared news of her position as a waitress in a local establishment called the Pumpkin Cafe. She welcomes the trio to come down any time for a treat, to which Zoro promises to drop by at some point.

After a while, Gan Fall finally turns to Law to continue their conversation about Corazon.

Gan Fall

The Marines, huh? We don't get a lot of those up here. They invite trouble.

Wyper nods on the side in agreement as he takes a swill from the jug of sake.

Law

So I've been told.

Corazon may have not dressed like one. He has shaggy blonde hair, wears distinct makeup–wide red lipstick, dark blue spiky shapes on one side of his face–does any of that ring a bell?

Gan Fall

A…bell? Oh! Wyper, is it time?!

Wyper

No, that's not what he meant…we don't ring the other bell until tonight. Trafalgar Law here is asking about a Marine, Corazon…remember?

Gan Fall runs a hand down his beard, thinking carefully.

Gan Fall

Hmm… Corazon… hmm….

Oh, is that one of our saviors, Roronoa Zoro?!

Conis takes a sharp breath in. Zoro blinks at him and sets his jug of sake down.

Conis

Alright, I think you're overdue for your afternoon nap, God. Please–

Gan Fall

Nonsense! We have to entertain our guests!

Conis

Oh…

Sanji takes a long puff from their shared pipe and sets it down on the table gently. He breathes out and eyes the old man up and down. With a gentle voice, he speaks.

Sanji

You were just saying you wanted a nap, Gan Fall.

Gan Fall stares at him.

Gan Fall

Oh, of course! Of course.

Law

But…

Wyper stands abruptly.

Wyper

I was afraid of this… Law, we can try asking more about your Marine friend again tomorrow.

Gan Fall

Wait!

Everyone stills and looks at the old man.

Gan Fall

I don't know about a “Corazon”, but there was a group of Marines that came down here a long time ago. Around thirty years ago, I think. Troublesome bunch. They’re not the first of the navy to visit, but that lot in particular stuck to me…. I think one of them was prone to fire.

Law

F–fire…?

Gan Fall

Yes. I saw the whole thing. This tall handsome man was just trying to light up his cigarette but he somehow spontaneously combusted into flames.

Law

That’s him!

Gan Fall

Hah! Your friend is quite clumsy isn’t he?

…Oh yes, I think it’s coming back to me now!

Gan Fall continues to run his hand over his long beard and closes his eyes, thinking deeply.

Gan Fall

Well, that man was kind enough from what I saw, but the others…they wanted to take and weaponise Nola! The poor girl. They drove her out of her own home to try to capture her. That or they just wanted to study the burrow where she was born. No one has ever stepped foot in there and come out alive, not to our knowledge…. It is said to be home to the “heart” of Sky Island.

Law

Nola… the giant snake?

Gan Fall

Don't worry, she's completely harmless! You're free to visit her old burrow if you wish.

Mind you…I don’t know what lurks in the old girl’s burrow anymore…. Tread carefully.

Sanji

Marimo, do you think your archeologist friend may have checked it out?

Zoro

I honestly wouldn’t know.

Wyper

I didn’t even know of its existence until just now….

Gan Fall

You wouldn’t know where it is unless you know what to look for.

At that, Gan Fall stands. He walks around weakly and kneels in front of Law who sheds a nervous sweatdrop on the side of his brow. The old man reaches out and points a finger onto his chest.

Gan Fall

Whatever you find in there, please, take good care of it.

Law

"It"? Do you have a clue what we'll find?

Gan Fall gives him a warm smile and stands. When his legs wobble, Conis runs and holds his arms stead just in time.

Gan Fall

Something…ancient. If it’s still there.

If you’re destined to find it, you will reach it. Follow the path of the rainbow serpent.

Oh and uh…

The old man turns his gaze to Sanji.

Gan Fall

I'll trust you to keep the bag. The effects should wear off in a couple of hours…unless you have another way of sobering up. Hah!

At that he winks at the blonde and turns away, walking towards the pile of beddings where Conis gently sets him down to rest. Wyper takes one last swill from the jug of sake before clearing his throat.

Wyper

What's it to be, Trafalgar Law? Are you staying?

Law turns his gaze to the swordsman who shrugs.

Zoro

The festival could be fun if you're up for it. Unless….

Zoro and Law both look at Sanji who is stuffing his pocket with the bag that Gan Fall had left him.

Sanji

What?

Zoro

The longer we stay here, the longer you have to put up with those…things.

He nods towards the chains between the blonde's wrists.

Sanji

Y'know, the smoking ceremony made me forget about the stuff. I feel lighter.

Zoro

You’re just…okay with them now?

Sanji

I didn’t say that…. It just makes it more…bearable, I suppose.

Law

So you don't mind if we stay longer?

Sanji

I didn't say that either… but…

He looks down worriedly, trying to think of where Niji may be. What he needs is time to gather his thoughts and somehow find a way to sneak out by himself to look for his brother.

Sanji

I…guess there’s no reason not to stay?

He forces a smile, trying to hide his ever increasing anxiousness.

The doctor sighs and turns to Wyper.

Law

We'll stay but leave at first light.

Wyper 

Good. I'll show you to your hut.

—

Wyper escorts the trio towards an isolated side of the city within the perimeter of the valley. The area opens up to an untouched jungle with a small hut in the middle of a clearing. When they arrive inside, they find their belongings already transported and piled neatly in a corner of a cozy living area.

Wyper

It's a little off from town but I figured you'd want some quiet.

Zoro

Thanks Wyper. We appreciate it.

Wyper

I’m required to return to my duties but if you need me, I’ll be in the city.

Law

Thanks.

Zoro-ya, Mr. Prince-ya, I need to contact the Polar Tang to check on my crew. Don’t bother me or do anything dumb while I’m busy.

At that, Law grabs his pack and hurries into a room closest to the exit then locks the door behind him.

Zoro hoists his own bag over his shoulder and bends over to pick up Sanji's out of habit. Upon remembering that there’s no longer a reason to sleep together in the same room, he stops. He stands and takes the farthest room without a word, avoiding eye contact.

Wyper 

Uh…Zoro, that's the bathroom.

Zoro

I KNEW THAT!

Zoro shyly shifts into the room next to it and slams the door behind him.

Sanji chuckles and walks over to his own bag. Wyper eyes him and rubs the back of his neck, hesitant to say something.

Sanji

I assume that I’m not allowed to take a break from these?

He holds up his wrists and shakes the shackles side to side, showing Wyper what he's referring to.

Wyper

Sorry, you’re still within the city boundaries. I know you like Gan Fall but if you noticed, he didn't tell me to remove them from you.

Sanji groans.

Sanji

I did notice, actually. I just…

His eyes glance towards the swordsman’s room.

Wyper

What?

Sanji

It’s kinda hard to change with it on.

Wyper

Oh… in that case…

Wyper takes a step forward, nearly closing the distance between them.

Sanji

Woah–wait, wait, wait. What are you doing?

Wyper

I’m taking them off for the moment so you can change your clothes.

Sanji

That’s…allowed?

Wyper

If it’s done quickly.

The warrior raises a hand and offers it to him.

Wyper

So?

Sanji hesitates. After a brief pause, he places a hand in Wyper’s.

Wyper smirks at him and gently pulls him closer. With his other hand, he fishes out the key from his pocket and begins unlocking the restraints from the blonde’s wrists slowly, never breaking eye contact.

Wyper

If you want, I can help you dress down too.

Sanji’s eyes dart to Zoro’s room.

Sanji

I…

A heavy thump catches his attention. When he looks down, his wrists feel a lot lighter and his binds have fallen onto the wooden floor. A wave of relief washes over him. He rubs and stretches his now free hands, appreciative to have a small moment without the cursed things.

Suddenly, he feels hands slide up to his elbows as his body gets pulled flush against the warrior’s.

Wyper

So what’s it going to be?

Sanji can’t help but smirk at him.

Sanji

You do this with all your prisoners?

Wyper

You’d be the first.

As Wyper angles his head and makes his move, Sanji quickly places a finger between their lips, blocking him.

Sanji

I’m going to need some privacy. And…space.

The warrior blinks at him and quickly takes a step back. He averts his gaze.

Wyper

S–sorry… I think I just had too much to drink.

Sanji eyes him up and down. He doesn’t detect any malice from the man so he takes a step forward, careful to maintain a short distance between them. He attempts to comfort him.

Sanji

Look, there’s just… a lot of things going on. I don’t want you to get all mixed up in all the mess. I’ve made a lot of those already.

I…actually thought you’re into the Marimo.

Wyper

Marimo…? You mean Zoro?

Well…yeah.

Sanji

Oh…

After a brief pause, the realisation dawns on him.

Sanji

OH!

Wyper shrugs his shoulders.

Wyper

If you two are up for it.

Sanji

Where have you been all my life?

You know, I would have taken you up on that offer earlier in the year but…

Wyper notices the blonde eye Zoro’s room once more. 

Sanji

I think it’s best if I… don’t mess up his life any more than I already have.

The warrior gives him a warm smile and nods in understanding. He turns his heel and walks to the exit.

Sanji

Oh…Wyper, I–

Wyper

No need to explain. But…the offer’s there.

Wyper gives him one last wink before opening the door.

Wyper

Can I trust you to have those shackles back on before you leave the hut?

Sanji

You’d… let me leave it off?

Wyper

As long as you’re in here. I know that it must have been painful for you to keep it on. I’m not dumb enough to try and put them back on you either, especially after all that trouble that you and your swordsman went through. But…you didn’t hear any of this from me.

See you later at the festival?

Sanji

Uh…y–yes.

At that, Wyper leaves and closes the door behind him.

Feeling exasperated from the day, Sanji runs his hands over his face and turns away from the door. He finds himself smiling.

Sanji

What the hell just happened?

----------

Due to health issues, I'll probably be slowing down on writing and drawing stuff for my fics 🙏 Thanks for reading!

[st4rsinthenight]

Hello, stranger on the internet

I really enjoyed reading the headcanons you wrote about the turtles finding a borrower and I was wondering if you could write one for Leo (/nf)

★gasps. erh. hypervanlites werh. fumking di. fucking supernovaes - supernovaes /pos !!

werhhh wha. what now- oh headcanon. g/t headcanon time, yippie★

— rise!leonardo hamato finding a borrower / tiny !!

!! — contents: giant/tiny, borrower/t!character, g!leonardo, non-con touching (brief, non-sexual), headcanons, repetitive words / phrases, occ stuff ( maybeee.. =\\ )

✧ — pre-meeting

★ — First off, this dude. this dude will suspense that something is going in the lair after noticing that his brothers stuff have been recently going missing and such. Maybe at first, he didn't think much of it. Maybe he just believed that his brothers are just misplacing their stuff and just teased them 'bout it for a while. This could lead to his brothers accusing the red eared slider for stealing their stuff as a way to fuck with them- in which Leonardo denies everything, being a bit dramatic about it as well..

★ — That is though, until his stuff- or parts of them at least, begun mysteriously disappearing and getting misplaced. Y'know, parts of his comics being ripped off- action figures being knocked over or a little shuffled to the side. Stuff like that.

★ — At first, he'll accuse his brothers of taking and damaging his items as a form of 'revenge', but just like him- they all may be very fumkin confused as to what he is talking about. While he is skeptical about idea of anyone else snatching his equipment, other than his brothers that is, he can't help but shimmer that 'oh, something is wrong'.

★ — And from there, he'll start getting more observant with his surroundings. Listening in for any odd sounds or looking around sharply to find out what or- in the worst case scenario- who is messing around in the lair. And during that period of time, he'll pick up on shuffling noises, notice odd messes and prints on counter tops- heck even see the running silhouette of a little.. something, from the corner of his eye.

★ — The logical part of him says that it's just a rat that found it self in the lair, but rats don't tear paper - or leave behind.. tiny- human like hand prints ?? Yea, that pretty much sums it up. Something is in the lair.

★— Also insert a scene where Leo shares his suspicions and conspiracies about something living with them in the lair with his fam, and they all think he's either lost it, messing with them, or that he is not getting enough sleep just to make the next part make sense or something somethin - explodes.

✧ — meeting

★ — Upon finding the borrower, erm. A mixed bag of emotions honestly. While he may triumph and feel all smug about being proven right about another presence being in the lair, he is also baffled about their existence. Like, a tiny human, yokai- whatever in the lair ?? wowza. That's erhh.. a bit weird to think about, yet also a little cool ?? Yet the, fact that this little creature has stolen from his family- from him, gets him to come off as a little petty towards the borrower.

★ — So yea, I'm stuck in between of whether Leo would be salty towards them, holding a grudge about them stealing. while being stealthy with his approach as to catch them off guard, or get all smug and be obnoxious about being on the right.

★ — I like to think that he would greet the borrower with a little remark, a teasing one as he looks down at them with a small, shit-eating grin. However, I don't doubt that he would be curious about them- and honestly a little impressed by them. They've been living in the lair with five ninja-mutants for- how long ?? And they just now got noticed ?? Respecttt.. kinda.

★ — Would definitely portal them right in front of him if they try to run away, not being very mindful to the borrower's rather vulnerable form. No, he'll just make a portal appear- let them fall through and watch as they plop back onto the counter top. He would also prop them up by their arm or something, and again, he may not be as gentle as he should with them, either because he doesn't realise it or because he just wants to mess with- or to just get back at them for stealing from him.

★ — That would also be followed by a small series of questions- like an interrogation, an almost condescending one at that. He would blame them for his fam's missing equivalent, and address the fact that due to their thieving antics, he was accused for theft by his own brothers !! Yea, he would be all dramatic and salty about it, which could either be comical, or intimidating to the little borrower.

★ — Though, in spite of his salty, almost obnoxious behaviour towards them- he would get a bit more curious about them after learning that them 'thieving', is actually the only way for them to survive.

★ — He may feel further impressed by their commitment and struggle they have to go through to get access to basic everyday material- even if it's limited. And while part of him just wants to present his victory in the whole 'someone-is-in-the-lair: dilemma, to rub it in his bros faces, the borrower's hushed and rather- afraid look on their face is convincing him otherwise. Plus, he would then have to live with the responsibility of potentially scarring this little guy sooo..

★ — Still, Leonardo isn't one to let go of grudges easily- and though the little thing has earned some of his respect (as well as amazement), he still takes the liberty to toy and mess with them- making up little nicknames for them such as 'little kleptomaniac', giving them little prods here and there, making a few height-difference puns when they are around. erh yea. stuff like that.

[shefightslikeagirl]

This was so nice to read the responses - because being a part of this was so incredibly magical. I started touring with Em in 2007 (!) in Germany. I had never been out of the US before and on day one, I met Em and Aprella and the original Captain Vecona (who was a brilliant seamstress and made all the original costumes by hand.)

We would spend an hour or two before every show setting up the stage. It was like setting up for company to arrive in every city we went to and it was very personal. Most of the stage props were handmade by Em and then in later years 2009-2011 we would all spend a week at her place hand making every single prop and stage feature (the original massive handmade clock). Between 2011-2014 we had a printed clock and we had a crew that would set it up but we still handmade our costumes.

I remember in those early shows - one where the batteries on Em’s electric violin went out in the middle of the show - so you could hear her playing but it wasn’t amplified any more. She turned to me and with a kiss whispered “Do something for 10 minutes - I have to run off stage to get this fixed.” And I instantly remembered the first show I saw when I moved to NYC was this punk band called Nation of Ulysses and the lead singer ran out and grabbed the back of my head and started making out with me and then grabbed the guy standing next to me and made out with him. And then launched right into a song. I’ll never forget it - it was done in a fun way and I loved the band so I was in shock that the lead singer just kissed me.

So when the moment came that I had to do something - that quickly popped up in my brain and I made up the Rat Game. It was only supposed to happen one time. But the boards were so active and the plague rats were a family and basically the next night like 20 people showed up with signs that said “pick me, Veronica” or “I want to play the rat game” or “I’ve never been kissed by a girl before” and then Em was like - I think this is a thing now - are you cool with doing that again tonight after my violin solo? And I was like - sure! And we thought it might be just that one extra night but every night - more signs showed up and it became part of the show. I was shocked that it lasted more than one night or one tour but the Plague Rats were so excited about it and we were always listening to what you guys wanted to!

I just remember how like a family we all were and it was so special. The plague rats would make handmade presents for each other and for us. We would see many of the same people night after night and it was so beautiful! It was something truly special. ❤️ Thank you for sharing your memories here and thanks for letting me share mine. I’ve got to post something like this on my Instagram. I have so many old photos that are amazing that no one has ever seen!

—Veronica Varlow on the origin of the Rat Game, Emilie Autumn's Asylum Army of Love FB Group

[theballadofharkness]

Witch hunt (pt. 2)

Part 1

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x Reader

Summary: Your first day at Harkness and Vidal Private Investigators is begins and so does your first case.

Words: 2.3K

A/N: Part 2 is here! Please let me know what you think and any requests of how you’d like this to go! No smut this chapter either unfortunately but it’s coming…🪻💜

“Lorna over here!”

“Give us a smile Lorna!”

“Lorna turn around!” Camera shutters flashed brightly as she walked out of the bar and into the white streets of East View, her emerald green dress glistening under the street lamps.

Fine, just the one. Lorna looked over her shoulder, her red lips flashing a smile for her admirers. She knew that she’d undoubtedly be signing prints of this very smile by daybreak, decidedly less glamorous once she had wrestled Alice out of bed and made sure she was ready for the day before she headed to the studio. A shiver ran down her spine as her body acclimated to the cold weather of the winter's night, scrunching her nose as a snowflake landed on its tip. Time for home. Perhaps if her driver ran a red light or two she’d be home before Alice fell asleep. Alice was always nicer when she was half asleep. Most teenagers were.

Thankfully, her driver was waiting outside, opening the car door like the true gentleman she paid him to be. “Alright that’s enough” he stepped in front of her as she climbed in, grabbing her shawl from the backseat and wrapping it around her shoulders, rubbing her hands up and down her arms to get the blood flowing again.

As she gazed out of her window, hand propping up her chin, she noticed some commotion outside a club, or what she thought was a club. Perhaps the kids at her show had decided to utilise those fake ID’s to keep the party going. As the car approached closer to the neon green lights she inspected the scene intently, trying to garner just what was going on. In the middle of the group, still and silent, was a man in a mask. A red skull of some kind with sharp white teeth and yellow sunken eyes. Thin black tendrils of hair obscured her view of the monster's face but whatever it was made her shiver. She felt as if it was looking right at her. Waiting. “Can you hurry up?” She broke the gaze with her masked devil and turned to her driver. “I want to make it for Alice’s bedtime.”

~ 20 years later ~

“Morning” you regarded Billy as you approached the purple door.

“Y/N? What’re you doing here so early?” He asked, clearly too tired to engage in any pleasantries or small talk.

“I work here. As of today, I thought I’d make a good first impression and Agatha failed to tell me when to come in so I guessed.” you shrugged, walking past him and punching in the key code to enter.

“Oh! Well I like to get here before Agatha, you know take time to clean up her office, make her coffee, get her files for the day's work out on her desk…” He rushed to catch up with you

“She wasn’t joking then when she called you her pet then” You chuckled. “I can see you as an eager springer spaniel”

“I’m not her pet!” He protested, passing you on the stairs to unlock the door to the office. “I’m her apprentice and I happen to be a vital member of the team- I swear I locked this last night…” he frowned as he pushed open the door which was already ajar.

You both peered into the office to find a woman pacing absently around the room, one hand stuffed in her leather biker jacket pocket, the other holding a cigarette.

“Sorry this is a no smoking building” Billy plucked up the courage to approach the leather clad woman waiting in the office, the sound of her heavy boots against the wooden floor reverberating around the room.

“Sorry teen” she dropped the butt into an old cup of coffee perched on his desk. “So… the famous Agatha Harkness doesn’t do mornings or is too busy to show up to her office?” she turned to regard him fully.

“It’s Billy. ” he shot back, hanging up his backpack by the door.

“And you are…?” The woman looked you up and down

“How did you get into the office?” You asked instead, feeling less charitable than Billy, to share any personal details before you found out why she was standing in Agatha’s office.

“I’m a cop. Eastview,” She shrugged. “Or… was a cop I guess. So are you going to get me an appointment with Agatha or not?”

“Yes! Y-yes of course. So um, how can we help you?” He scrambled to get a pad and a pen to helpfully begin taking notes. You were less helpful.

“Why don’t you make an appointment for Miss Harkness like her usual clients and maybe I won’t mention the whole breaking and entering thing.” You crossed your arms.

“No need kitten, I’m right here” An imposing voice filled the room, making the hair on the back of your neck stand on edge. She was here. “How can I help you?” she turned her attention away from you to whoever had broken into her office. You couldn’t help but feel the pang of jealousy as her bright blue eyes no longer gazed upon you.

“Alice. Alice Wu Gulliver. Heard you were good at solving mysteries” She shrugged noncommittally, though with the way she hadn’t untensed her shoulders you guessed this was a bigger deal than she was downplaying it to be.

“The best” Billy butted into the conversation.

“It’s true, I really am exceptional” Agatha said smoothly, her tone taking on an air of superiority as she strode past you, swishing her long coat dramatically as she adjourned to her private office in the back where the ‘Vidal’ from ‘Harkness and Vidal Private Investigation’ had been scratched off the printed glass so aggressively you were surprised the pane hadn’t shattered. “Kitten. Follow.” she called behind her, your feet scrambling to follow as Billy smiled apologetically at the woman you now knew to be Alice for Agatha’s theatrics. “I want you to take notes” she instructed before she beckoned Alice into the dimly lit room, blinds shut to keep out the harsh glare of the morning sun. She leaned back in her chair, appraising Alice with narrowed, calculating eyes. “What can I do for you?”

“I want you to find someone for me.” She looked around the room as she shoved both hands in her pockets nervously. “I don’t have much, but with one of my moms songs in that new A24 witch movie I’ll get some royalties.”

“Wait… you're Lorna Wu’s daughter?” Your eyes widened in recognition.

“Lorna Wu? As in Lorna Wu and the Coral Shore?” Billy poked his head round the door, revealing that he’d been eavesdropping on Agatha’s meeting much to her disdain.

“Uh yeah.. Yeah I am.”

“Holy shit” you smiled at her “my mom loved that band. She wanted the Ballad of the Witches Road played at her funeral” you shared with her, feeling Agatha’s gaze fall back to you, tilting her head as if deep in thought. Your cheeks flushed, maybe you’d shared too much. “Sorry you were saying”

“I uh… I want to know what happened. To my mother.” She addressed Agatha.

“Didn’t she die on her last tour?” Billy frowned. “I wikipediaed her for my 10th grade hero project.. Her car caught on fire after it skidded off the road…it was a tragic accident”

“I don’t buy it.” She turned to him sharply. “Before she… before the fire she became paranoid. She made me get a tattoo of some kind of protection symbol to ward off curses… I was only 13. I think someone… something… was after her. Look she was… different… but she wasn’t crazy. I used to be a cop I’ve seen crazy.” She looked at Agatha pleadingly.

“Why now?” Agatha asked her, leaning forward over the desk into her personal space to study Alice’s face closer. “Why does Alice want to find out what happened to mommy now?”

“Excuse me?” Alice instinctively pulled back, tucking a piece of orange hair behind her ear nervously. “I.. I guess I’ve had the time to think about her. Had a string of bad luck, lost my job at the station… got a job in security… lost that… times like this you miss your mom” she explained, her eyes shifting to various points in the room, unable to hold eye contact. You suspected that her tale of recent misfortune wasn’t the whole story but you didn’t want to encroach on Agatha’s meeting with Alice by butting into her interview. You made a note of it for later.

Why now??? Doesn't add up.

“Ok” Agatha clapped her hands together as she rose from her desk. “Billy will break down the costs at his desk. We will be in touch”

“If you’d like to follow me Miss. Wu-Gulliver” Billy opened the door to let her out.

“Alice is fine” She mumbled as she followed him out the room.

You waited till the door swung back closed and turned to Agatha, breath caught in your throat as she looked up from her paperwork, her sharp, knowing eyes fixing on you like she already had the answer to a question you didn’t know was being asked. “So, what did you think?” She asked you conversationally, though you gathered you were being tested.

“She’s hiding something. I don’t buy that after over 20 years, she suddenly decided to put all her non-existent finances towards digging into her mothers death.” You tried to sound confident in your deductions, taking a step back from the desk to put some space between the two of you so your answers could remain coherent. If she was indeed testing you, you planned to pass with flying colours.

“Oh? Well do continue Sherlock” she said, her voice smooth and commanding. It wasn’t a request.

“She couldn’t hold eye contact with you the whole time she was in the office. She was fidgeting nervously, playing with her hair, fiddling with the things in her pockets, pacing up and down the office before we arrived… She’s worried. And along with this string of bad luck she’s been having… Maybe she’s worried that whoever was after her mom is after her. Maybe that’s why she’s suddenly so interested in revisiting the past all of a sudden. Worried enough that she’s prepared to tank her finances into you. She had a hot topic shirt under that leather jacket. From her previous work in policing I’d say she's working at mall security which is minimum wage at best… definitely not enough disposable income to pay for you if she wasn’t sure this was her only option.” You bit your lip to stop speculating any further, feeling far too observed to continue.

“Look at you superstar” She leaned back with a quiet understated confidence that was just so Agatha. “You’ve been holding out on me,” she purred, tilting her head.

The room felt smaller now, the weight of her presence settling over you like a heavy cloak. Agatha leaned back in her chair, a smirk curling the corner of her lips. Her fingers drummed lightly on the dark wood, a rhythm that made your pulse quicken.

“I… I don’t know what you mean,” you stammered, though the heat rising to your cheeks betrayed you. Agatha leaned forward, the drumming of her fingers stopping as she rested her chin on her interlaced hands.

“Oh, I think you do,” she said, her voice dropping to a near whisper. “You’re clever, kitten. Too clever to play dumb with me.”

You opened your mouth to respond, but the words caught in your throat as she stood abruptly, the chair scraping back just enough to make the air crackle with tension. Her heels clicked softly on the floor as she moved around the desk, and before you could step back, she was in front of you, impossibly close. Her perfume was heady, intoxicating, mingling with the ever-present scent of lavender.

“Agatha, I—”

She silenced you with a look, her lips quirking into that signature smirk of hers. “You talk too much,” she teased, her voice low and velvety. “Why don’t we go back to not talking hmm”

Before you could process what was happening, her hands were on your shoulders, firm but not unkind, guiding you back until you felt the edge of the desk press against you. The world narrowed to the space between you and her, the soft rustle of fabric and the sharp, electric intensity of her gaze. Her fingers trailed up to your jaw, tilting your face toward hers.

And then she kissed you.

It wasn’t tentative or shy. It was confident, commanding, the kind of kiss that demanded surrender. Her lips moved against yours with a purpose that made your knees weak, the desk behind you your only anchor. Time seemed to stop, the world outside her office ceasing to exist. When she finally pulled back, her breath mingling with yours, she let her fingers linger on your jaw, her thumb tracing a lazy line along your cheek.

“Now,” she said, her voice a husky murmur, “be a good girl and fetch me a coffee from Mrs. Hart’s bakery, we have a long day ahead of us.”

You stared at her, eyes wide and your heart racing, utterly captivated. “Anything for you Miss. Harkness” you breathed against her lips, lips trailing across her jawline and down her neck till you heard her breathing hitch. “Anything” you repeated softly before pulling away and hopping off the desk, making sure to walk with an added sway to your hips. You had a feeling that whatever she wanted, you’d end up giving it to her.

[sammylkcho]

Omgomfomg Rodger x Reader romantic headcanons please please please there is absolutely nothing in the x Reader community for Dandy’s World

Can you also throw in some domestic headcanons in there? (like headcanons for living together and stuff)

One more please and thank you so muchh :]

surprise, surprise, it’s me again coming in with my silly ideas thanks for the request! I’m on the verge of exploding from school stress, and I think writing some hcs helps distract me a little

—I want to start with something silly: you often steal his hat (the one he wears for investigating cases, ykyk) and team up with Toodles to create a little "missing hat" case.

—He keeps a small photo of you in his suitcase. <3 —Whenever you lose something, he’s the first to go looking for it.

—He doesn’t trust Dandy at all, so he’d rather not have you around that goofy flower.

—You have to explain to him not to be so... intrusive with other Toons—his questions can get a bit intense most of the time.

—He’s like an excited kid wanting to tell you every tiny detail about his latest investigation.

—He’s a GENTLEMAN. No one can tell me otherwise, you and Toodles are his top priorities.

—If you two ever argue, he’s always the first to apologize once the situation calms down, whether it was his fault or not.

—He stays up late trying to solve the mystery of the Ichor. Poor thing is determined to figure out how and why it all began. You have to guide him to bed before he passes out from exhaustion.

—You and Rodger are Toodles adoptive parents!

—On Father’s Day, you always prepare Rodger’s favorite meal, accompanied by a drawing from little Toodles.

—When Rodger is out on a run, you use the time to clean and organize everything—sometimes Rodger can be a walking mess.

—You take turns reading bedtime stories to Toodles every night.

—In public, he’ll hold your hand and such, but always in a "formal" manner.

—In private, though, he lets you smother him with physical affection.

—It might sound cliché (and I love it), but you always straighten his suit before he heads out on a run.

—As mentioned before, he’s not fond of too much physical contact in public, preferring to keep it low-key with the occasional hand-holding or kiss.

—His favorite moments after a run are spent with you and your adoptive daughter, simply enjoying your company (and Toodles’ spontaneous questions).

—Absolutely certain that Glisten gives him advice on dressing more formally, picking out gifts for you, and keeping the crystal on his magnifying glass sparkling.

—On his off days, he lounges in pajamas (yes, those wolf-print ones) with you all day, watching kids’ movies, comedies, or mystery/suspense films.

—He may be busy, but he’s excellent partner material and an amazing father figure (just make sure he fixes his sleep schedule).

[roadstostray]

a teaser of a piece I'm working on with the power of generic brand adderall and the same rare americans song on repeat

[zivazivc]

Finished!

A lazy summer day by a stream~

I finally put my illustration degree into good use and made a proper traditional illustration (although still fanart 😅). Sometimes I really wanted to just "undo" some strokes or move some things around haha but man was this relaxing and satisfying to work on, also I am just so proud of the outcome. I haven't done a proper traditional illustration on this scale since my thesis so it's been a few years.

I took these photos with a phone outside to try and really capture the colors and details.

[mercurymacaroons]

arrives 15 min late with a latte

......sup