#i was foaming at the mouth and y'all got none of it

[haru-desune]

Can't believe they tied up my boy

And then

This event was a personal attack

[dorapascalstyles]

Summary: After a long day Mike finally comes home, where he can relax in his lover's arm's.

Warnings: None

Author's note: English is not my first language so sorry if i made mistakes in this but i hope y'all gonna like it🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻 -D🍂

You were already dozing off on the couch when you heard the front door open, and you immediately know who came home. You sat up on the couch looking over at Mike. He looked exhausted like always, almost falling over from the tiredness.

-Hey.

You spoke first while he walked over to you.

-Hi.

He gave you a quick kiss on the mouth and sat down next to you.

-How was your day?

You ask him quitely not waiting for a long answer.

-Shitty.

You chuckled on his answer and wrapped your arms around his neck pulling him in a hug. You two stayed like this for a minute, just breathing each other in.

You tried to help around the house as much as you can, because you know how hard it is to him. Taking care of Abby and himself while working a shitty job that's not even paying enough is hard. You cook for them, and help Abby with school stuff, while Mike can't, and you totally fine with that. You love them and that's only what matters for you, but of course Mike still feels guilty that you need to do all those stuff for him. He thinks that you think he's using you and that you hate him. Of course that's not true but he has that anxiety.

-Abby?

-She's asleep.

You told him while running your fingers through his hair.

-Did she eat?

-A little, but i made her cookies and she ate them all up!

You giggle while looking up at him from his chest. You can see the playfullness in his eyes, and the relief that she ate something even if not a lot.

-Thank you.

He says with a sigh.

-For what?

-For taking care of her while i can't.

-You don't need to thank me that, you know how much i love her!

You look him in the eye while running your hands up and down on his arm.

-No of course i have to, you help me so much, i don't even know how to thank you.

-Hmm maybe you can thank me with a bath.

You say playfully while pulling him off of the couch.

-I'm serious.

-I am too, now come on!

You pull him in the bathroom, and start to fill the bathtub with warm water, while putting vanilla scented bath foam in it.

-It's going to feel so good i promise.

You go up to him and start to undress yourself while he was just looking at you. Finally you stepped in to the bathtub and sat in the water, that was the time when he got undressed too and sat behind you. He wrapped his arms around your waist and you leaned into his chest.

After 5 minutes of just being in the water, you sat up and turned around to face him.

-Let me wash your hair.

He just nodded, you reached for his shampoo and poured a little in your palm. You rubbed your hands together to make the shampoo fuzz up and started to massage his scalp. He immediately leaned into you and let out a groan.

-That feels so good!

You just smile at his reaction while doing different massage techniques that you saw on the TV, and when you finished, you moved him down a little so you can wash the shampoo out of his hair. The whole time he was looking at you, just admiring your face. How did he deserve you? he though to himself. Mike never, not even in his wildest dreams did think that he would know a person this loving, and caring like you. But he does and you love him, which is just more unbelievable for him. Abby adores you, and always talks about you when you're not around, and he's so happy about all of it. So nights like this really reminds him how lucky he is to have you.

-I love you.

He tells you while slightly touching the side of your face.

-I love you too.

You told him with a big smile, while leaning in to kiss him. The kiss is slow but it tells everything. How much he loves you, how thankful he is, the tiredness and happyness mixing together with proudness. You broke the kiss and told him to let's go to bed.

You two get out of the bathtub and he dries you, and then himself. You quickly get dressed while deciding to go and check on Abby, so you walk out of the bathroom and head to Abby's room. You peek in the room to find her peacefully sleeping in her bed. You hear footsteps from behind and an arm wrapped around your waist.

-She's good?

-She is. Sleeps like a bear.

You say while chuckling to yourself, you grab his hands and pull him in the bedroom, where you drop yourself on the bed from exhaustion and he's just giggling at you.

-Come on!

You put both of your arms up waiting for him to snuggle in them, and when he finally does you pull the blanket over the two of you.

-Sleep well, my love.

He tells you with a big smile while kissing your cheek.

-You too, love you.

You kiss his mouth.

-I love you.

He watches as you close your eyes and let out a sigh, representing how hard this day was.

He has hard days almost every day, but when he comes home to you he feels like a feather. With your loving heart you bring so much joy in his life, and he just loves every part of it.

[slowthunders]

i genuinely don't know what gin @destroya2005 is exactly going through and i hope they seek help, because stalking on/off my blog, others blogs that interact with me, making up vile nonsense stories about me in which i get falsely acussed of harassment among other gross things, that right there only means self-projection.

that is clown idiocracy, that is energy from chronically online losers.

who desperately look to pour their own suffering on people who have done nothing but minding their own business like me. as much as i know how that must suck, none of this is my fault.

i was ignored when i spoke about the mini cult was toxic to me, then i was blacklisted from billy hargrove tumblr by that exact mini cult in which one person i thought i was close friends with decided to betray me for one or the three leaders of that cult instead i was ignored and errased. the same people who were sharing certain call out posts questioning them, a lot of them still ended befriending those three people anyways. i could have reacted worse, i could have exposed much more than what i said about those three people, i could have spent the limited time i have on my devices to it bitching and rightfully.

the people who decided to abandon me and believe those three people was people i also got rid of. i literally was on all my motherfucking right to do much worse.

did i do that? no

did i proceed to spend my energy on other things i'm into? yes.

every day i'm less and less here. i'm here sharing pretty content and personal tastes. i stopped caring about billy hargrove/harringrove content since june. why do these people who struggle with chronically online disease still chose to paint me as a threat when i'm no longer in that community anymore? i don't get this obsession in particular. specially when the individuals, the source where the acussations come from, refuse to talk to me and hide behind their blogs and minions, same minions that told me to k*ll myself, called me a fat whore and acussed me of transphobia through anon. nobody wants to talk about that either tho lol.

its easier to still make me their scapegoat of all their suffering and whatever demons they are dealing with.

me and this person haven't spoken since june. she decided to side with people who hurt me and crucified me for speaking up. i returned the energy, accepted it and moved on.

y'all are having your mouths foaming over a fucking show that sucks over a fandom with the most terrifying reputation including the billy hargrove side that is no better than steddies and eddies here y'all are going apeshit over a show everybody fucking hates these days. fucking chose better.

i shouldn't be a threat to the community. they took over it. i don't know what else do this cult wants from me. they got what they wanted long time ago.

gin, my messages are open. either talk to me like the grown ass adult you are suposed to be, cut the shady ass passive/agressive vague crap or leave me the fuck alone. déjate de mamadas pendeja.

[halfmoth-halfman]

we're starting to get into the spooky months now, so what better way to close out the summer vibes than with a fic rec list!!

unfortunately, the original of this post got messed up through my queue and it left me discouraged and not really with the energy to go all out like i usually do so i apologize if the reviews are a little lackluster this time around, but i did love and adore every single one of these fics 💜

if you wanna see more more of my fic recs and favs, i have em all on my recs blog, here!! please note the navi page is still under construction!!

and of course, if you have any fic recs of your own, feel free to send em my way here or on my sideblog - i love finding new fics and writers!! 💜

Javier Peña

birthday bash || a pile of cards - @mvtthewmurdvck

✧ what else can i say? cute. adorable. perfect. made me feel like it was my birthday, because this was fic was such a gift. i don't know how jo is able to write the cutest and most fun relationship dynamics, but it makes my heart soar every time.

late night texts || iv. before the gold and glimmer | bonus scene: phone sex | v. you make me feel wild | vi. the place where i want to be | bonus scene: wicked games you play | vii. oh the sweetest thing - @mvtthewmurdvck

✧ i will never not be in love with the way jo writes javi, and the absolute beauty of her writing. the way this relationship builds and feels so real with equals parts teasing and the shyness of the first time meeting someone you kinda sorta know always leaves me stunned.

John "Soap" MacTavish

run away to me || i. - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ i'm warning y'all now, hal has spoiled me this month and a lot of the fics on this list are gonna be hers. but to start we're talking about this fantastic fic. blacksmith!soap was not something i knew i needed and i am foaming at the mouth to see where this goes.

soap comforting reader - @nrdmssgs

✧ coming from someone who's had very similar anxieties around meeting a significant other's family, this hit very close to home and was so. damn. sweet. i love this so much and soap being an absolute sweetheart here was just icing on the cake.

John Price

glitter and gold || snippet - @writeforfandoms

✧ i could talk about this fic for hours. not only have i read it about a hundred times, but this fic helped inspire me to start drawing again. one of my top favorite comfort fics, everything about it is perfect. dragon!price being so in love with his wife, princess!reader finding joy and love and freedom with her new husband, the little appearances from the rest of the 141. it's all just perfect.

cardigan || part 1. it starts in a bar - @as-is-above-so-below

✧ price x teacher!reader was a lovely idea that i have been waiting for with baited breath and it did not disappoint. esp this part:

“Believe me. I get it. My career makes it difficult to find time for much of anything.”

“Yeah, well, I have sixteen kids.”

i love sassy teacher!reader.

songs that sound like sea-foam || (ii) | (iii) - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ this fic destroyed me. i had to call my mom and talk to her about it because i loved it so much. idk how to describe it, this filled me with a beautiful sense of longing and nostalgia of the classic fairytales my parents used to read me before bed

all, most, some, none - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ mmkay just one second while i-

lions and ibexes - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ i love husband!price, don't get me wrong, but i think farah was the real star of this fic. her characterization is wonderful, and the talk she and reader have is so sad (for lack of a better word) but also hopeful and real. i want to have a love the way hal writes it in her fics.

late night cookies - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ perfect dad!price fic right here. really hit me right in the unresolved daddy issues. good job.

where did you sleep last night - @captainfern

✧ i might just be a sucker for pet names like my love and darling, but this was so unbelievably sweet. reader missing price so much that they light one of his cigars just for the familiar smell of him?? i'm aldkasjl i love this so much.

glory to the reaper - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ the ability of hal to just present us with pure poetry like it's no big deal is just ugh chef's kiss. like all of this here:

How can life go on when such things are uttered to light? When they’re buried deep into your marrow like the dirt on top of a grave? 

How can the Reaper knock at your doorways when love exists in such quantity…in the fractures of his eyes? Only when his lips brush yours do you understand.

absolutely stunning.

ducky socks - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ dad!price strikes again by breaking my heart in the best possible way and gluing it back together with pure sweetness and a wholesome father-daughter relationship.

Keegan P. Russ

for the weak and weary - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ i am of a simple mind. i see hal has written a keegan fic, i drop everything and read the keegan fic, i sob uncontrollably and struggle to read through my tears, i scroll back up to the top and read again.

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick

some nights are like that - @deadbranch

✧ insert ohmygod they were roommates meme here. i love gaz, i love friends to lovers, i love roommates to lovers, i love everything about this fic. it's cute, it's sweet, it made me giggle. 10/10 will read again.

cult of vagabonds || chapter six: storm-flying petrels - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ i crave this series like something else let me tell you, and each chapter completely delivers. reader is somehow so frustrating and so relatable at the same time, no regard for her own life but also...same.

to be in love - @lethalchiralium

✧ am i biased because i requested this? yes. but also because this is cute and wholesome and perfect and the idea of gaz buying flowers for his crush makes me smile like an idiot and keri did a perfect job with this.

paper rings - @lethalchiralium

✧ this is me staring at keri after she's written one of the most perfect gaz prompts i've ever read and giving me the cutest, sweetest, most wholesome treat.

get behind me - @writeforfandoms

✧ i love fall fair stuff. corn mazes, haunted houses, bobbing for apples, all of it. and it's even better with the addition of gaz. soap being a little shit had me laughing, but gaz being such a sweetheart (and a little bit of a tease) just had my smiling and giggling to myself.

there’s no need to panic, i’m right here now, aren’t i? you’re safe - @writeforfandoms

✧ gaz is the best boi and even more so when jen writes him. i love the way she portrays him being so soft and comforting, but also not afraid to take care of problems for his significant other. and, as someone who's had loud neighbors, i wish i had gaz there to take care of them for me too 😭

Miguel O'Hara

glass houses - @lethal-chiralium

✧ actual picture of me pretending to be okay after reading this and having my heart shATTERED INTO A MILLION PIECES HOW DARE YOU KERI

welcome to new york || 3 | 4 - @writeforfandoms

✧ i consume these chapters as if they're a decadent slice of cake made just for me and they're so fucking delicious every time. i love lyla and jess in this fic (i love everyone in this fic tbh, but i gotta support the girlies) and this part right here:

(Note to self: bring a sweater.)

literally me. i love this so much and can't wait see where it goes.

hammock by the sea - @wyvernest

✧ the way this fic made me want to enjoy a sunny july afternoon on my honeymoon with miguel in a hammock soooo bad. idk if feel-good can be used to describe a fic, but that's how i feel about this one. it's a feel-good fic, makes me soft and happy and wistful.

spider-girl!reader|| you haven't kissed me all day | jealous miguel | saying i love you for the first time - @luveline

✧ luveline never misses with the miguel fics. every single one is A+ 10/10 chef's kiss. the domesticity while also keeping miguel his grumpy self is just lakdjaksl i'm so weak for luveline's fics and her portrayal of miguel.

Multi

dead disco || chapter 6 - @peachesofteal

✧ i really gotta read this series in small doses, because the way it makes my heart ache cannot be healthy. i just want everything to work out, for them to be happy but goddamn does peach want me to suffer (and i happily thank her for it)

how do they cuddle - @homicidal-slvt

✧ this has any and everyone in it, but more importantly it has my boys, gaz and roach and that's all that matters to me. gaz being the type to do a little kiss attack is so cute and something i can see him doing and roach tracing little shapes and letters i'm screaming. also graves being an absolute menace, you're so right for that.

Nikto

ravishing allure || prologue | cake for a dead man (i) -@halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ do i know who nikto is? not in the slightest. did that stop me from dropping everything to read this series? not in the slightest. will i ever be normal about one of hal's amazing fics? not in the slightest :)

Phillip Graves

close your eyes for me, love - @writeforfandoms

✧ protective graves just does something for me. like, of course, he's a little shit and all that, but, as we've seen in canon, that man is loyal to a fault so it makes sense that loyalty would extend to his significant other. and also the way jen writes him just makes me blush and giggle so that's a plus 🤭

Rodolfo Parra

pressing their foreheads together - @writeforfandoms

✧ i read Warnings: soft domestic fluff and kissing. and knew this fic was gonna be made for me. and i was right. this fic made me sigh longingly. i am so astronomically weak for the way jen writes this man and the way she writes soft domesticity.

Simon "Ghost" Riley

the safe house has seen better days - @ghostaholics

✧ how does it feel to have such a perfect understanding of a character and then create such a gorgeous fic on top of that??

Always staying awake, always assigning himself to the graveyard shift for watch while everyone else squeezes in a few hours of rest before the sun comes up.

i am in awe of ms. ghostaholics and her beautiful ability to turn characterization into pure poetry.

hired as a live-in house cleaner - @ceilidho

✧ i👏🏼love👏🏼this👏🏼fic👏🏼 this turned me into a big ol' soft pile of hearts and mush ugghh just the perfect amount of fluff. very cute but subtle too and y'know i think that fits ghost pretty well.

the team is invited to a wedding - @rileyslibrary

✧ one thing about me: i love a wedding. and this fic right here? absolutely delivered. it's got everything: ghost, gaz cameo, a wedding, macarons. not to mention the A+ banter between ghost and reader, i love them and this fic so much.

happiness || white carnations - @lethal-chiralium

✧ happiness hurts in a way that leaves me somehow longing for more and i can't describe it any other way. i think keri is determined to figure out how many different ways she can break my heart with angst and fluff and i couldn't be more thankful.

circles and squares - @mvtthewmurdvck

✧ i know i gushed about this fic already, but i'm gonna do it again. the best way to describe my feelings about this is that i would dedicate an entire section of my bookshelf just for jo's writing. the way she perfectly balances the differences between ghost and simon. the way he's stern and struggles, but doesn't lose his snark. the way he and reader support each other while still respecting each other and they're need for space. i'm so weak for this fic.

on the edge of the universe - @kil-g

✧ it's the world-building for me. it's the captivating atmosphere for me. there's just something so beautifully haunting here, and i am desperately clinging to every little piece of it. like i'm already feral for everything isa writes, and this is another excellent addition to the collection.

civ!reader kills someone out of self defense for the first time - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ had me hooked from the opening line and man was i on edge the rest of the time. i was panicking right there alongside reader, and the portrayal of her confusion and fear and anxiety was so well done. and ghost coming in to comfort her?? i was crying. so unbelievably good.

badly wrapped secrets - @mvtthewmurdvck

✧ i just-

"Thank you, for all of this.

He nods—short, and full of understanding, as well as signalling: you’re welcome."

i love them so much 😭

blood was its avatar - @halcyone-of-the-sea

✧ i was fighting for my life trying to read this without blushing like a sinner in church and ended up looking something like this-

and i damn near cackled like a witch at that ending LMAO

the roommate series || lover boy - @a-small-writer-in-a-big-world

✧ i knew nothing about this series going on and when i tell you i read through it with a swiftness. my skin is clear, my knees are weak, my livestock is fed. this fic (this whole series tbh) has reached in and wrapped around my heart in the best possible way.

illicit indulgences || the ghost of you - @floralpascal

✧ i am screaming. this is so...i don't know the right word. beautiful? stunning? gorgeous? all of the above? the captivating description of loneliness, the way ella manages to capture the stubbornness of ghost missing someone but refusing to admit to himself that he does. they're so perfect and in love and i'm just alskdaj

can you imagine someone threatening you - @mvtthewmurdvck

✧ you ever hear that phrase, so nice you reblog it twice? well i have, cause that's exactly what i did with this fic. it's the least i could do for the pure artistry of this fic. i love reader here, being so confident and capable and ghost being completely infatuated by her ability and so ready to kill anyone who disrespects her.

Valeria Garza

10 years too late on that, love - @writeforfandoms

✧ hello???? this was incredible???? i am??? slightly intimidated???? and in love??? with both valeria because she's mommy and with jen because she's such a wonderful writer and i am in awe of her talent.

[fictionkinfessions]

Real talk, but I hope I don't ever cross the line where I end up kinning from absolutely every single source I consume. I've heard people say that becoming a problem before, and I've always watched from the sidelines as people really did just go through a hyperfocus, and go through a crisis when they realize they can't tell the difference anymore, if they could at all. It's a scary thought, to have that much self doubt, and to have the self be so easily destroyed and reattached through the lens of the traits you liked in someone else from another life, that you saw them just being themselves and got reactions, that you want, for yourself, compared to the ones you're already experiencing in this life and body. How many of you go through that hyperfocus and feel like you are falling back into place, like a long lost puzzle piece, only for that hole to grow back over time and needing to be filled by the next big thing that blows up. Sometimes that hole grows back so strong, it completely eats up who you could have been in this life, and you lose that opportunity all together. Too busy playing repeat on a life already spent and dead, just to feel like you belong. But that belonging is just a mimicking of a former life, and that was then. What will you make of now? My kins, have only ever been from things that I had memories from and evidence from in childhood. There has never been a point in my life that I question my kins, or search, because that, to me, will create the false positive. I've always had beyond specific things that never left any doubt. Never left any hole or any longing or any needing. I already know my stories, and I know why I'm here now, and it's sure as hell not to skeleton my life around an existence that is very intentionally no longer mine. I died, I moved on. I'm here now, and my kins served the purposes they need to, which is just holding memories that will help me be a better person, and lead this world into a better future and leave it better than I found it. I couldn't imagine having an identity crisis everytime I wanted to watch a new show or something, out of the fear of 'oh I know I'll kin or get a fictive from this source and it'll change me' because holy shit if you're that fragile.. 😬

Though I'll be honest, I love watching you guys and your funny little brains. You're different kind of kins, and how you all managed to be amazing and such interesting people in other lives with A STRONG PURPOSE AND STRONG IDENTITY just to end up here, and incredibly so much more impressionable than a fucking cracker and waiting for the next source to drop to tell you who you are, in the form of your favvvvvvv. Someone could create a source just for shits and giggles and y'all will foam at the mouth going MEMEMEMEMEMME, especially if there are bitches to ship or 'kindate' with. That's your guys' fucking kryptonite. Especially if it's two stereotypical skinny hot white dudes that barely have any chemistry beyond hatred and being on screen together for like 3 seconds.. The amount of LORE I will see invented or whatever, away from canon from you guys, makes me insane because why in the fuck aren't you guys writing more novels with the shit you're thinking up from your past lives. Won't you get more kins and sources and shit that way? Idk. Instead I see you guys recycling the same dead shit, for yourselves to live through. I don't remember kin being that, but you all certainly turned it into this.

I am studying you all under my microscope, and none of you are safe. One day I will make a wholeass documentary and shit, and I'm not joking. I've been taking notes for a long, long, long, long, time. The elves were first, and you guys are a different breed entirely, and I doubt most of you guys will even know your own history lmao and the elves mention. I can't wait for the whole exposé to drop, it'll be a blast. The world as a whole hadn't really seen kinnies and the whole shit storm that has been THEE history. Besides little, little, memes. But they're about to. So thanks for every juicy thing over the years, genuinely. It's gonna be great content. Maybe seeing how some of you are, from an outside perspective, will help you guys get back into being healthier with kinning again. Fuck knows majority of you need it. Especially some of you young-young kinnies that fall into codependency and abusive relationships over and over again.

There is a pattern and it needs to break. I think exposure will be a start. I think half of you won't be as brave with half the shit you're doing if you're under more of a public eye, and hopefully more kids will grow up in safer environments online. Especially people of alt communities, like this one.

And yes, I'm very much not leaving out the guy who believes he's kin with shitler on TikTok. If you were unaware of that guy and situation, oh you sweet summer child. You are unfortunately always going to be up to bat with fact kinnies, and to invalidate them is like calling the kettle hot. I've seen the arguments in both sides for years, and neither sides will win because you both enable each other. Sorry not sorry that's just the full ass truth. Fact kin will exist as long as fiction kin does, and vice versa.

C'est la vie and see you all in the exposure, it's going to be one hell of a ride. I hope I've made it clear that not even my own ass is safe, from this exposure. We're clowns going down together, for real. Can't wait to source my quotes from shit like 'that guy from the lorax that everyone was self fucking with himself' but it's actually the person I'll be referencing because through it all I do believe in kins FHJSHDHF

party note. This is the weirdest advertisement for a documentary that doesn't even exist. And probably never will, if past experiences with ultra indie internet projects go. [gazes towards kickstarter's early days]. At least you're keeping systems out of it? Longcat speed you, black emperor [metal band reference]

[red-pill-blue-pill]

Still bottled up.

Summary: Is Marc going to come back?

Word count: 4.5k

Warnings: Angst, implied smut.

Pairing: Steven Grant x reader / Marc Spector x reader

A/N: Finally!! I'm so sorry for taking so long. I skipped the smutty parts basically cause I wasn't happy with how they turned out and I didn't want to ruin it. Anyways, hope y'all like it!

Previous part: Part 1.

“Tell him to come back.” You closed the door behind you and leaned back on it. You tried to control your temper. You weren’t upset at him. Not at all. You understood Marc. He was suffering and needed time, that was clear. You were upset at yourself. The whole ride back was completely silent except for Steven’s failed efforts to strike up a conversation, wanting to keep your mind busy. You weren’t having none of it, you were beating yourself up the whole time, unable to stop the feeling of guilt that spread like poison through your body. 

He didn’t want to go. I should’ve canceled and stayed in. 

Steven paced around the room, distressed. On the ride back home he had asked multiple times what the hell had happened but you didn’t say a word. To say he was lost was an understatement. The only thing he was sure of is that he was upset at Marc. How could he leave that way? How could he let you carry the blame, let you feel this way? 

“I can’t speak to him. He’s… he’s just gone.” He sighed as he saw your eyes fill up with tears. “Oh, no, no, honey. Don’t you dare cry.” He rushed to your side as the first few tears slipped down your cheeks. He engulfed you in the gentlest hug. His head rested on your shoulder, one hand squeezing your side while the other rested on your upper back, pressing you against his chest.

“I just feel awful, Steven” you sobbed. 

He pulled away and cradled your face with his hands. “Whatever happened, I’m sure it wasn’t your fault.” His eyes looked deep into yours, seemingly trying to find something. His intense was overwhelming yet hypnotizing. You wanted to hide, crawl out of your skin, do whatever it took to feel his eyes off of you yet you couldn’t manage to look away. You sniffed and tried to get away from his grasp but he held you in place.

He kissed you. His lips on yours were shy at first, dubious, more like a question. Steven (and Marc) made your heart flutter even in moments like this. His callous hand slid down to the back of your neck, pressing you against his body and deepening the kiss. His tongue exploring your mouth as if it was the first time ever. The kiss soon turned desperate, pleading, almost apologetic. 

Maybe you were crazy, maybe it was your brain playing tricks on you but, at least for a second, it felt like… Marc. 

“Whoa, I don’t know what happened there. Got a little carried away.” he chucked as he pulled away and you sniffed once again, smiling slightly. “You know what? How about I run you a bath, you relax for a bit? How does that sound?” He pecked your lips once again.

“Sounds great, thanks Steven.” You smiled weakly and he walked to the bathroom. 

You sat down on the bed and removed your shoes as the sound of the water running and Steven fiddling with stuff in the bathroom took over the silence that filled the apartment. It was difficult to believe but he drew the best baths ever.  

You discovered it the first time you stayed the night at his. After having the best, sweatiest sex session of your life, he got up from bed and said he was running a bath. You watched, more like stared, as his naked figure made its way to the bathroom. You expected plain warm water and a couple of candles at most. You would’ve never taken Steven as someone who had that much experience in the subject. He called you over and there he was, inside his bathtub, his body hidden under a thick coat of foam. He had lit some candles and the scent from essential oils and bath salts mixed deliciously. 

You smiled subconsciously at the memory, finally a positive feeling coming through. You removed your dress and thighs and laid back on the bed, stretching your arms and humming at the feeling of the cold fabric against your naked back.  

“You bath’s ready love” he said interrupting your thoughts “I’ve read online lavender is very helpful for relaxing so I made sure to throw some essential oil in there too.” he walked out of the bathroom, drying his hands on a towel. 

You lifted your arms up, opening and closing your hands, motioning for him to help you up. He chuckled at your childish ways, he always found them endearing. It felt like you were constantly taking care of him, them, worrying about him, motivating him. It was rare when you let your inner child take a look at the outside world. But when you did he was happy to indulge. 

He grabbed your hands and pulled you to your feet. “C’mon love” He led you to the bathroom and watched as you removed your underwear. He was starstruck, he had always been (and always will). The light from the candles danced around your body, making you look almost ethereal, a vision that would disappear before his eyes at any given moment. You got in the bathtub and groaned as the hot water covered your body. 

“Oh my god Steven, this is incredible.” you threw your head back and closed your eyes, basking in the lavender smell.

He smiled and leaned down. “You’re welcome” he said as he pecked your lips before leaving you on your own, alone with your thoughts.

Sometimes you were baffled by how much you loved them both. There were times when you thought it wasn’t possible to hold this much affection within a such tiny insignificant body. It was overwhelming, often making you feel an incredible amount of fear at the thought, even if you knew it was nearly impossible, of not spending the rest of your life with them. They balanced each other perfectly. You thanked the heavens they were this weird package deal cause you would’ve had trouble choosing between the two. 

Your mind wandered off to Marc once again, it was impossible to keep him out. You took that as a sign to get out of the water, no more alone time for tonight. 

You wrapped yourself in a towel, stepping out of the bath. You did feel completely renewed. A smile pulled at your lips when your eyes caught the fresh underwear and t-shirt, one of Marc’s t-shirts, Steven had left next to the sink. He was always so thoughtful. The fabric was soft and smelled like him, just what you needed right now. 

You walked into the bedroom, Steven was sitting on his side of the bed, immersed in one of his books. His finger traced the words he read as he mouthed them. A messy curl fell on his forehead. He looked absolutely stunning in all his geekiness. You sat next to him, resting your head on his shoulder. “Hi, handsome.” you looped your arm around his as he turned to kiss your forehead.

“How are you doing?” He closed his book and took his glasses off, leaving them on the bedside table.

“Better” you hummed, snuggling into his side and trailing sweet kisses along his neck. 

“I see” he closed his eyes and groaned when your hand slid down his belly, playing with the hem of his pants. “I don’t think it’s a good idea, dove. You’ve had a rough day.” He wrapped his hand around your arm trying to dissuade you.

You bit his neck softly and his heart skipped a beat. “Exactly.” You slid your hand in his boxers, grabbing his cock and pumping it a few times “Can you help me unwind?” you whispered seductively in his ear. “Please?”

He groaned, surrendering completely to his lustful side, your pleading being more than enough to push him to be as complacent as he could. He relaxed his grip on your arm, letting you pump his length a couple of times before turning you over in one swift movement. He hovered over you, his gold chain dangled over your face as he looked into your eyes with a cheeky smile. “Okay, I’m taking care of you tonight.” 

𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁𐄙𐄁

Weeks go by, your life goes by, still no sign or trace of Marc. Steven had been making extra efforts to keep you distracted and happy and, in all honesty, it made you feel awful. First, he was dealing with someone else’s consequences. It was not fair. Second, he wasn’t succeeding. Your mind always went back to Marc and you hated it. Steven was stuck having to deal with all this, with you, and you still wished Marc was around. How fucking disgusting. 

It had been difficult but you had managed to separate your life at home from your work routine. Focusing on your job helped you shut out the thoughts and guilt. Your performance had improved and you had been working long hours. You couldn’t stand to be at home, it was suffocating.

Steven understood, of course he did. He would eat dinner in front of the TV and leave a plate for you to eat when you came back from work at night, often finding him already asleep. He would leave little notes on the dining table, saying how much he loved you and then cracking one of his silly jokes. It never failed to make you smile. After dinner you’d get into bed, sliding under the covers and pressing your body against his. Warm and soft. Your hands would mindlessly caress his torso under his shirt and he would turn in his sleep, humming and circling your body with his arms, pulling you closer to him. He always felt like home and you’d promise yourself to cherish every moment with Steven but then morning would come, bearing that same dread and longing as the day before, and you would wake up cursing the gods for having to fight your way through another day. 

If you had to describe it with one word it would be bittersweet. 

Every day was the same, comfortable but draining. Today the same as yesterday. Your heels clicked along the same corridor you had walked down countless times. Today it seemed to stretch with each step you took. Your tired eyes checked the watch on your right wrist and a sigh left your lips. 12:00am.  

The door creaked slightly as you opened it carefully, trying not to make noise. You had never come back this late and the last thing you wanted was to disturb Steven’s sleep. With your heels dangling on your hand you tiptoed your way to the kitchen, hoping to see the well known plate of homemade food with the little note, another addition to the secret stash you had kept in a tiny box hidden in your cupboard.

Instead the dining table was empty. No plate, no note. You were suddenly aware of the lack of dirty dishes and pans that usually accumulated in the sink. He hadn’t even made dinner? You tiptoed back to the bedroom, hoping to see him lying there, tangled in the sheets. But it was empty. Your heart dropped. Where was he? 

You pulled out your phone and tapped on his contact, hoping to hear his voice at the other side of the line. It’s not that you were worried about his well being, Steven was an adult and knew how to take care of himself, but at the back of your mind the idea of him leaving you was a possibility, and that possibility was completely paralyzing, suffocating. What if he had grown tired of dealing with everything, dealing with you?

A faint ring came from the bathroom and you instantly hung up. He had left his phone at home. That was so unlike Steven, he always took it with him just in case, besides, he would have left a note telling you where he went.  What was going on? Then it hit you. This was all too familiar. Steven disappearing without a trace, him being missing for hours. When you woke up he was already gone, you figured Donna had called to tell him to make inventory early in the morning but now you were doubting if he even slept with you at all. It was Marc. It had to be Marc. 

Your heartbeat started pumping in your ears and your mouth went dry. He had finally showed up. After two weeks, after running off. It was funny, you still didn’t know what to tell him, hell, you didn’t even know whether he would show up or let Steven take over before coming back home. You started pacing up and down the corridor, trying to think of every possible scenario. You couldn’t recall the last time you had been so nervous. 

To hell with sleeping tonight.

You checked the time. 4:34am. The clock flashed its red numbers from the living room table. You sighed for the hundredth time that night. The fight against the sleepiness that hung from your eyelids was getting harder by the second. They threatened to close every few seconds, your brain managing to mute the incredibly loud and noisy movie that was playing on the tv. 

Then some fiddling with the keys and a soft bang on the door startled you, your heartbeat picked up as you quickly stood and made your way to the corridor, standing directly in front of the door. After a few seconds of struggle the door opened, revealing the battered figure of a man. HIs face was dimly lit by the light coming from the living room, making it difficult for you to pick up which one of your lovers was making his way into your home. 

He closed the door and leaned back on it, letting his legs finally give up and falling to the ground with a thud and a pained grunt. You couldn’t help yourself when you rushed to his side, turning on the lights in the process so you could see if he was okay. You kneeled by his side, cupping his face in your hands. His eyes avoided yours at all cost. Marc. Your worried gaze studied intently every small cut that ran across his forehead and cheeks and you weren’t able to stop your left hand from combing back a few strands of hair that fell over his face. He let out a sigh and finally gathered the courage to look at you. He shot you a fearful look, filled with regret and guilt. He was pretty fucked up but, oh my god, how much had you missed the man behind those eyes.

Your eyes prickled with tears, everything came back at once: the stress from the previous weeks, the feeling of guilt towards Marc, towards Steven, the nervousness you had been feeling all night and, last but not least, seeing the bad shape he was in. But you couldn’t cry right now, not without first taking care of him.

You stood up and held your hands out, he took them and squeezed them lightly before pulling himself up with your help. His arm slumped over your shoulders as you carried him to the living room and helped him sit down without wrecking your new couch. Marc started removing his jacket and his gashed shirt worried you even more. It was completely ruined but thankfully there wasn’t that much blood. 

You came back with the first aid kit and sat down next to him. He tried to pull his t-shirt over his head but a sharp pain shot through his shoulder, making his face contort in a painful grimace as he lowered his arms. “Fuck” he groaned defeated.

“Here, let me help” you whispered, a smile threatening to escape from your lips. You knew he hated asking for help, let alone being aided. You grabbed a pair of scissors from the kit and cut the shirt up. It was already ruined so who cared. 

He looked up at you as he leaned forward to help you remove the shirt from his back. He had forgotten how beautiful you were. Well, not exactly, he knew you were stunning, of course, but seeing something pretty up close always hits differently. He noticed you were different though, he couldn’t quite put the finger on it. What he had definitely noticed was how tired you were. 

You discarded the cloth pieces on the floor and grabbed some gauze and disinfectant from the box. You hated this, he always tried to keep his signature poker face but it was obvious how much that shit stung. You sat down next to him, his eyes never leaving your face as you worked on the cuts on his face.

“What are you thinking about?” you asked before you could stop yourself. You were still mad at him for running away from the situation but he was still your Marc, his mere presence was enough to make you feel at ease. 

“About how much I missed you.” he said before hissing as you pressed the soaked gauze on the deepest cut on his cheek, your face as expressionless as you could manage. “I guess I deserved that.” he chuckled and a small smile pulled at your lips as you hummed in affirmation. Cheeky bastard. 

His hand reached out to cup the side of your face but you quickly moved away, closing you eyes and sighing before opening them back up, his eyes still fixed in your face this time with a hint of remorse. “Marc, I…” you dropped your hands on your lap, your eyes studying them as if they were the most interesting thing in the world. “You can’t just show up and act as if nothing happened.”

You heard him sigh and he ran a hand through his hair. It was obvious he had completely fucked up. His pain had completely numbed him. He was completely unable to face his feelings and that often meant not giving a shit about other people. He was so selfish. How could he did that to you? After all you had done for him. What a piece of shit.

“I know, I just… I can’t say anything to make things better.” 

You huffed in complete disbelief. Anger was starting to take over and you couldn’t believe he would ignore what had happened. “How about you start by apologizing to me for leaving me here feeling like shit? I think that would be a great start.” 

You stood up and ran a hand through your face, trying to cool down.

He opened and closed his mouth, not being able to produce a single sound. He had never seen you like this, so upset. Your words had always been sweet and understanding, your tone sweet as honey. Now they were tainted with rage and pain and it completely broke his heart.

“and let’s not forget, you leave for weeks and then you suddenly show up injured and limping. Do you even give a fuck about Steven? He has to face the consequences of your fucking “macho” way of dealing with stuff, you know? How about you grow up and start facing your feelings like a real adult?” you couldn’t stop the words that spilled from your mouth, filled with malice, subconsciously wanting to make him feel as bad as he had made you feel. “Have you ever thought about anyone besides yourself?” your eyes were filled with tears that had already begun falling.

That question felt like a punch on the stomach for Marc, who was still sitting on the couch, his eyes following your relentless pace around the room. His stomach twisted with each one of your words, not just because of the evident distress in your voice but because he knew you were right. You were confirming his suspicions.

He was still the same. He was the same kid that let his brother die, he had never stopped putting himself first, only thinking about what he wanted, about his needs. His eyes started welling up. He was tired of making the same mistakes over and over again, there was no use in running away anymore, he was not ruining and sabotaging his life anymore. “You’re right, I’m sorry.” he whispered, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “I’m so sorry, you don’t deserve anything that has happened. I’m an asshole.”

His reaction took you aback. Marc had always been too stubborn to apologize that easily, he would often put up a fight, try every alternative to avoid saying those words out loud. Words that he thought degraded him, made him seem weak. But that was far from the truth, in your eyes it made him human, recognizing his own faults dignified him. It made you love him even more. Your gaze softened, your eyes were filled with still unshed tears. “Marc” you sighed ”We can’t keep going on like this. Tell me what is going on” you sat on the coffee table in front of him. “Please” the defeat was clear in your voice.

His teary eyes bore into yours, puffy and red from the tiredness. Your heart thumped in your chest with anticipation. Your whole relationship depended on his honesty, otherwise you couldn’t go ahead, not with a man that refused your help, who kept secrets from you. As much as it hurt. You put your hand on his knee to reassure him. “Please. What happened on that goddamned dinner.” The hesitation in his eyes hurt like hell. You were there to help, you had done nothing more than that since you met him, why didn’t he trust you. 

“I’m scared you’ll stop loving me if I tell you.” He sniffed and another tear rolled down his cheek. Your hand squeezed his thigh and you smiled slightly. It was the stupidest thing Marc had said since you two started dating. 

“That’s silly. Why don’t you tell me and I’ll decide if it makes me love you less?” by now you were sitting next to him on the couch, your hand already cradling his face, impossible for you to fight against your nurturing impulses around him. “C’mon, tell me.”

And he did. He let his walls down, opening up about the day of his brother’s death, the way his mother resented him, how she would beat him and how Steven suddenly appeared. He was completely torn apart. He had never been able to talk about his childhood in such detail and it hurt more than he could’ve ever imagined. The way he was showing himself to you, so vulnerable, was something he had never done. It wasn’t so scary after all, not with your understanding gaze and small encouraging nods. You coached him through his emotions, caressing his face, rubbing his back and holding him while he bawled against your chest. 

He also told you what he felt that night, how painful it was to be reminded he had been alone in this world every time he looked back at his life, how happy it made him being able to see how much your parents adored you. He thought he had it under control, until your mother told him to call her mom, a word he hadn’t pronounced in years. Her eyes were filled with that kind of love that only belonged to mothers, pure, nurturing, unconditional, the kind of love he had never felt. It had absolutely destroyed him. 

Marc kept sobbing, shedding every tear he had repressed through all these years, years of resentment, of self hatred and pain. They were pouring out uncontrollably and you felt sorry for him, specially for not noticing he was constantly hurting inside. 

“I understand if you want to break up with me.” he whispered against your chest as his cries died down. Your fingers combed through his curls softly, massaging his scalp in a calming motion. A small chuckle erupted from your chest and he looked up at you questioningly. 

“Marc, I would never break up with you over something that happened decades ago and that you had no control over.” you said matter of factly. “That’s just plain stupid.” He looked surprised at your answer and you sighed. “I can assure you you’re not the shitty person you think you are. I mean, you’ve done some questionable things in your life but none of them make you to be the monster you see yourself as.” 

He pulled away to look at you, his eyes filling with tears once again, behind them, a swirl of hope and incredulity. The scene broke your heart, his bruised face and his puffy eyes reminded you of a child who had gotten himself in a fight he couldn’t win. “Really?”

“Really.” you said cupping his face and leaning in, stopping just as your noses touched. 

"God, I love you so much” he said before sliding his hand to the back of your neck and pressing his lips to yours, hard. His mouth devoured yours hungrily, the desperation of those weeks spent apart taking over him, letting his feral side show you how much he had missed you. The feeling of his tongue on your mouth made you dizzy and he took advantage of it to pull you onto his lap, his hardening cock pushing against your core. He swallowed your moan and started grinding you down on him almost subconsciously, his hips jerking upwards, chasing the sensation. You had missed his rough ways, the way his grip would be so strong it sometimes left little bruises, his teeth biting and pulling at your lips, your skin, everywhere they could reach. 

You broke the kiss and his teeth pulled at your bottom lip, wanting to keep you close, to keep breathing your air. Your eyes stared into his, now tinted with desire and devotion, your hands resting on his chest. Breathings ragged, chests heaving, his heartbeat thumped against your palm, strong and firm. 

“We should stop, remember your shoulder.” you said between breaths but your eyes begged at him to keep going and there was no denying he could read you like an open book. He grabbed your thighs and lifted himself off the couch, wincing slightly as you grabbed on his shoulders to keep yourself steady in his arms. 

“You’ll get on top then” he winked, a cheeky grin spreading across his face as you laughed and caressed the locks that curled at the nape of his neck.

“Deal”

There were still important things to talk about but that was something your future you would have to take care of. Right now he was there with you and that was all that mattered.

Taglist (I basically tagged everyone who commented on the first part, sorry if you didn't want to be tagged 😅) : @i-still-dont-like-your-face @rando-gal-2 @maryysheree @theratscorner @goobss @polyglot-noodle @lxvingmrknight @mona-has-friends @trash-panda99 @kotonei-molyneux @stark-kirk-rogers-grant-blog @ale0m @wordacadabra @whovian378 @imagineyourworld @wolfknighlove @bibli0thecary @s-v-e-l-t-e @soapbar99 @avatar-of-procrastination @cherryvalentine1

[amazingmsme]

Wanna Say That To My Face?

AN: My first Glitch Techs fic! This was so much fun to write, I love these funky lil dudes so much! If you haven't watched the show yet I couldn't recommend it enough! I hope y'all enjoy it as much as I do!

Mitch was being his classic charming self, and Five was so over it. Earlier that morning, Miko was gushing about some new game she was totally in love with, only for Mitch to waltz right by and spoil the ending. She was practically foaming at the mouth, and it took all the strength Five could muster to hold her back.

While hanging in the break room, Zahra was complimenting Five on another job well done. They were in the middle of discussing the glitches they caught when Mitch walked in, grabbing a snack from the fridge, pausing to listen to the conversation.

"Zahra, you got something right here," he interrupted, pointing near the corner of his mouth. The he leaned in and squinted, "Oh it's a pimple, my bad. Never mind." He shrugged it off, leaving Zahra's mouth gaping open in shock. Five was just as shook.

"I-I um, I'll talk to you later Five, Phil had asked to see me after my break. Don't wanna keep him waiting." She glared at Mitch, stomping his foot before storming off. He cried out in pain, hopping on one foot as he watched her leave, cursing under his breath. As soon as the door closed, Five snapped.

"What the hell? Why did you say that to her?"

Mitch just shrugged. "I really thought she had something on her face. It was my mistake, honest," he apologized, but the hint of a smirk proved he wasn't sincere.

"Well it was rude and uncalled for. Some people are really self conscious about their skin, and it's because of comments like that," he hissed, having been in Zahra's shoes more than once.

"Sorry, I just can't relate. What with my skin being so flawless and all," he bragged. Five scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Whatever dude." He walked over to the door, pausing before he left. "You should apologize." With that, he closed the door, glad to get away from Mitch. He sighed in relief, opening his eyes.

He jumped with a startled yelp when he saw a fuming Miko barreling towards him. "Mitch did WHAT?" she yelled, trying to shove her way past Five to the door of the break room.

Phil rounded the corner, smiling when he saw them. They both stopped squabbling and straightened up.

"Hey, just the two techs I wanted to see. Got a mission for ya, but you'll need back up. Where's Mitch?"

"Right here," he said, walking up from behind, startling the two.

"Perfect head over there and take care of it." When none of them made to move, he let out a tired sigh."Now please." They kicked it into gear and went to their respective vans in the parking lot.

Miko spent the entire ride complaining about the way Mitch had been acting.

"Seriously, justwhodoes this guy think he is? You NEVER spoil a game for someone!" she exclaimed, pounding her fist on the center console. "And then what he said to Zahra? He's lucky I don't shoot him with my gauntlet on the mission! Actually, I think I will," she huffed, crossing her arms and sticking her nose in the air.

"Miko,"Five half warned, half pleaded with her.

"What? Just a little accident. Friendly fire an' all."

"You really wanna stoop to his level like that?" he asked.

"Noooo," she whined, slumping in her seat.

"Look, just take your anger out on the glitch. Then we can finish the mission and try to avoid Mitch the rest of the day. How's that sound?" he asked, reaching for a compromise.

"Deal squeal, banana peel!" she chirped, giving his shoulder a playful punch. He chuckled, shaking his head as he put the van in park.

Needless to say, the mission didn't go as planned. The glitch was harder to beat than expected, and ended up flattening Five and Miko's van in the process. Mitch kept throwing himself in the line of fire, collecting as much XP as he could, as per usual. And he couldn't help but make snide, teasing comments at the other's expense during the fight. Miko poured all her rage into her attacks, but the nonstop brag fest and insult brigade just made Five tired.

Mitch delivered the final blast, sucking the writhing glitch into his gauntlet.

"Another job well done! For me. You two need to pick up the pace if you wanna keep up with me," he teased, laughing as he walked over to his van, hopping in the driver's seat. He was going to spout off another sly comment, but stopped short when he saw Miko crouching over the heap of scraps that used to be their van. She huffed, dejectedly kicking at it with her foot.

"This is just great, how're we gonna get back to HQ?" she asked, draping herself against Five dramatically.

"Quit your whining, you can catch a ride with me," Mitch offered. She crossed her arms, glaring him up and down.

"I think I'd rather walk," she said pointedly.

"C'mon Miko, let's just go," Five coaxed, already walking to the car. She reluctantly followed, throwing herself in the backseat with enough force to rock the van slightly.

"What's eatingyou,"Mitch snarked from the front seat.

"Oho that's rich! I could ask you the same thing!" she shot back. He narrowed his eyes at her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you've been a real jerk today! And Five agrees with me."

"Aaah, don't pull me into this please," Five said, eyes wide as he looked back and forth between the two. "But... she does have a point."

"Oh blah blah blah, spare me your lecture," he sassed, moving his hand so it mimicked a talking mouth.

"You know what? No. You've been really rude today, and I'm getting sick of it!" Five snapped. Mitch looked impressed.

"Alright, fine, I'm sorry, is that what you want to hear?" he conceded, not wanting to deal with this.

"Actually, yes. Was that seriously so hard?"

"Yes," he answered immediately, earning a stifled giggle from the backseat. He whipped around to glare at her, effectively shutting her up.

"Oh lighten up dude. It wouldn't kill you to smile," Five teased, reaching out to squeeze Mitch's side. His icy stare melted away as a startled giggly gasp slipped past his lips. His hand immediately snatched Five's wrist, his steely gaze now fixated on him. He wasn't phased in the slightest. In fact, he was beaming from ear to ear.

Mitch sneered, "Wipe that stupid grin off your face!"

Five smirked, twisting out of his grip to poke him in the ribs, earning a strangled squeak.

"Stop that!" he growled, slapping his hand away.

Five giggled at his outburst. "No way, you're ticklish?" he asked, more genuine than teasing, and that was entirely worse in Mitch's humble opinion.

"Hardly. But if youever try that again, I will see to it that your life is a living hell! Got that," he threatened. Miko, who was now right behind him and poised to strike, deflated and flopped back in her seat. He turned around, giving her the universal "I have my eye on you" signal.

"Dramatic much?"

"I saidgot it?"

"Yeah yeah, I read you loud an' clear."

"And you?"

Five rolled his eyes into the back of his head when he heard himself be addressed. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say..." he absentmindedly agreed, buckling his seatbelt. Satisfied, Mitch started to drive out of the alley they were parked in. Five turned towards the window and muttered under his breath,"Bitch Williams."

The car slammed to a halt, jerking them forward in their seats.

"What the-"

"What did you just call me?"

"N-nothing, I swear!"

"You sure about that? Because I'm pretty sure I just heard you call me Bitch Williams!" Miko silently watched from the backseat, not daring to make a sound. She didn't want to miss whatever was about to go down.

"Mitch! I said Mitch!" Five insisted. Mitch shook his head.

"I know what I heard."

"Well if you're mad about it, maybe you should stop acting like one. Then we wouldn't have to call you that," he deadpanned.

"Did you saywe?"

Uh oh.

"Did- did I? I-I didn't really mean it like that, it was more in the metaphorical sense-"

"Who else has been calling me that?" he hissed, invading Five's personal space. He shrunk in the seat.

"Just me okay! Sheesh," he admitted and Mitch finally backed off. "Look I'm sorry, but you've been a real jerk today. I don't know what it is, but you're more... Mitchy than usual," he explained.

"Excuse me, did you just use my name as an insult?" Mitch asked, jaw dropped to the floor. Five shrugged.

"If you wanna take it that way. Let's just get back to HQ, alright?" he asked, but the shadow that loomed over him hinted that wouldn't be the case.

"Oho no. If you think I'm just gonna let that slide, you're sorely mistaken," he purred. Five gulped nervously.

"W-what're you gonna do?" he asked. Mitch cracked his knuckles, then his neck.

"Something I should've done a long time ago." Five didn't know what that meant, but it couldn't be good. So he braced himself for the worst. The last thing he expected Mitch to do was grab his wrist and hoist his arm above his head before attacking his now exposed armpit.

"Ahahaha Mihitch! What're you dohohoing?" he asked, giggles bubbling up his throat and spilling out.

"Just giving you a taste of your own medicine," he quipped, reaching behind him get his other side as well.

"But Ihihi baharely touched yohohou!" he argued. His protest dissolved into shrill laughter as he curled up in a defensive ball. Mitch merely shrugged and continued the ticklish onslaught.

"Yeah, but you gave me the idea. Besides, I can't just let this slide. You should know better than to insult Mitch Williams!" he said, having to raise his voice to be heard over Five's shrill laughter. Because he already buckled his seatbelt, he was trapped in his seat, completely at the mercy of his cruel coworker.

"But you deseheherved ihihit!" Five argued through his growing hysterics. Mitch paused his attack to gasp dramatically before diving back in with renewed vigor.

"Excuse you, I don't deserve anything!" he shot back, not exactly thinking about how it would sound.

"You got that right!" Miko sassed from the back seat, hands on her hips but sporting an amused grin.

"Mihihiko hehehelp mehe!" Five pleaded. She was just about to spring into action when Mitch stuck his arm out towards her, stopping her dead in her tracks.

"Ah ah, you so much asthink about helping him and you're next," he playfully threatened wiggling his fingers at him. A small squeak slipped out as she settled back in her seat.

"Sorry Five, you heard him. But um, you're doing great?" she apologized, trying to sound encouraging but clearly not knowing what to say. Mitch gave a satisfied hum and went back to work. Five's arms flailed around in a lame attempt to swat his hands away. Mitch easily evaded his swinging arms, managing to find his most ticklish spots.

Five shrieked and sunk lower in his seat, giggles continuing to flow freely from his mouth. Mitch cackled along with him, though the sound was more villainous and threatening than mirthful. But it was playful and goofy, and so unlike the gamer, that Five couldn't entirely hate him for it.

"Mihihitch plehehease!" he begged, hiccups mingling with his infectious laughter. Miko couldn't help but coo at the scene, secretly getting a video on her phone. The opportunity was just too good to pass up.

"Please what?" he asked, feigning cluelessness. His skilled fingers worked up and down his torso, effectively turning Five into a useless, giggling heap.

"Hahahave mehehercyyyy!" he shrieked, shirt riding up from all of his squirming. Mitch took advantage of the newly exposed skin, clawing at his belly.

"Ohoho, when have Iever been known to show mercy?" he teased, raking his fingers over his ribs.

"N-nehehever!" Five admitted, realizing the pickle he'd gotten himself in. Mitch chuckled evilly, pinching at his side.

"That's right! So why would I show you mercy when I'm having soooo much fun?" he taunted. Such words coming from the older glitch tech's mouth would've sent him reeling if he wasn't so busy laughing.The Mitch Williams admitting to havingfun with his coworkers? Unheard of.

He latched onto Five's wrist, hoisting his arm in the air. His eyes flew wide open as he desperately tugged on his trapped arm. Nervous giggles bubbled up his throat and he leaned as far away as he could with the seatbelt keeping him in place.

Mitch wiggled his fingers in the air menacingly, inching closer until he struck. A shrill scream filled the air before it gave way to bright laughter. Five lurched forward in his seat suddenly, causing the seatbelt to seize. When he leaned back, the seatbelt made that dreadful clicking sound that meant you could no longer move, and Five knew he was utterly screwed. With his free hand, he reached over to unbuckle himself. He immediately pressed against the door of the van to get as far away from Mitch as he could.

Mitch was just about to crawl across the seat to continue his attack when an arm suddenly blocked his path, effectively clotheslining him. A choked sound escaped his throat as he shot a harsh glare towards the culprit.

"I think you've had enough "fun" for now. Poor Five can barely breathe!" she reasoned, gesturing at her friend wildly.

He weakly waved her off as he panted for breath. "I'm fine. Thanks Miko."

"See? He's fine!" Mitch exclaimed, reaching over to pinch his blushing cheek. Five swatted him away, making him chuckle as he settled back into the driver's seat. After making sure they both were buckled, he zoomed off, making it back to headquarters in record time.

Five couldn't get out of the van fast enough, Miko following shortly. They were walking through the parking lot when Mitch barged between them, hooking his arms around their shoulders.

"Oho man, working with you two just got alot more fun," he taunted in a low, menacing voice. He pinched both of their sides, eliciting a shriek and a squeal from Five and Miko respectively. He laughed to himself as he walked away with a bounce in his step.

"Man I hate that guy," Five said, crossing his arms. Mitch turned around to face them, walking backwards as he spoke.

"I heard that! And no you don't. 'Cause I'm Mitch Williams!" he cheered, turning back around and pumping a fist in the air.

Miko rolled her eyes dramatically. "I hate when he's right." Five let out a long suffering sigh.

"Yeah, me too."

[alittlesimp]

raindrops and party hats - ango x reader

a/n: oh my god i love ango so fucking much,,, if y'all like this i can maybe turn this into a mini-series with other characters in similar settings? warnings: none <3

It had been a perfect first date. You two had gone to an adorable little lunch place, both arrived on time, the food had been amazing and the service even better. There hadn’t been a single dull moment or an awkward silence. You were wonderful, funny, intelligent, interesting and interested in him. You decided to stroll around the city for a bit before saying your goodbyes. Ango felt himself relax for the first time in a really long time. Until it hit him. A single raindrop, that is.

Within a few seconds, the entire street was wet. You looked at him with a tiny, sad smile, holding your coat above your head to shield yourself from the rain. “I’m guessing you forgot to bring an umbrella too?” Ango apologetically knitted his eyebrows together. “Yeah, sorry.”

But your smile didn’t fade, instead, it only got bigger as you took his hand. He couldn’t help himself from getting a bit lost in it. “Come on, let’s find shelter.” You quickly led him to the first door you saw.

Closing the door behind you, you let out a sigh of relief. “I had no idea it was going to rain!” Beside you, Ango smiled softly as he dried his glasses. A smile that quickly faded the moment he took in his surroundings. Oh no. You were in a party store.

It’s not that he didn’t like parties. Seeing people he hadn’t seen in a while, having a few drinks, and chatting the evening away was an offer he’d very rarely turn down. However, this kind of party wasn’t exactly his style. Next to him was a wall filled from floor to ceilings with balloons, garlands, and ribbons in various bold colors. There was no order to it whatsoever, it looked like a party unicorn straight up vomited on the wall.

He looked around to find you somewhere in this mess, only to see you almost jumping from joy, looking like a kid in a candy store. Or, well, party store. This was somehow worse than getting soaked in the rain, but it’s not like he could leave. You turned towards him with a mischievous glint in your eyes. He felt a headache coming up.

���Ango, Ango, look!” In your hands, you held a small, red, foam ball. You quickly stuck it on his nose and giggled. Ango was not amused. “Y/n, please stop-” But you had vanished already. He took the clown nose off with a tired sigh and made his way through the quiet but oh so messy store to find you. Thankfully, it was a weekday and there was no one else here. He’d die of embarrassment.

This time, his ears found you. The earsplitting sound of a party horn signaled to him that you were in the aisle with plastic plates and cutlery. He worked his way to the source of the noise, with the same focus he had when he was on one of his missions. But you weren’t there. The brightly colored party horn lay sad and lonely on the floor. He bent over to pick it up, completely unsuspecting. You saw your chance and took it. With the precision and speed of a trained assassin, you placed a pink, polka-dotted party hat on his head. He got up with a yelp and turned towards you. In your mouth, a party horn. You blew on it. Where did you keep getting these? How many did you have on you? But while he had been contemplating the mystery of the party horns, which seemingly appeared out of nowhere, you had snuck off again.

Despite his annoyance, he felt a warm kind of happiness bubbling in his stomach. Yes, you were very much embarrassing him, but he had to admit, it was fun to step outside of his comfort zone every now and then. He was happy you were the one who pulled him out of it, and he honestly wouldn’t mind if you did that more often in the future. Even though this was only the first date, he felt a sense of comforting nostalgia when he was with you. Like you two had known each other for years. He caught himself smiling at his own thoughts. Quickly he snapped out of it. There would be enough time for sappy stuff later.

A few aisles away from your date, you sat on the floor, devising an evil master plan. Your next objective would be to wrap the purple feather boa you held in your hands around his neck. Peeking from the side, you saw Ango trudging towards you, which would’ve been scary if it wasn’t for the party hat still on his head. You made eye contact. Shit. You tried scrambling away from him, but he was faster and pulled you up. You expected to see a very angry Ango, but before you could even consider apologizing he grinned and placed the clown nose from earlier on your nose. “Gotcha.”

You must’ve looked absolutely shocked because his grin transformed into a light chuckle. But you didn’t come here to play. Remembering your objective, you slowly wrapped the feather boa around his neck. “Gotcha.” You stood there for a while, grinning like idiots, but ever so slightly getting closer and closer.

“Hey lovebirds, the rain has stopped.”

You quickly jumped away from each other. Ango turned completely red, and you were sure there was a blush covering your cheeks as well. A friendly middle-aged woman was laughing at you from behind the cash register. Ango quickly composed himself, dumped everything you had decorated him with on the counter, and took his wallet out. Leaving without buying anything would be rude, even ruder than you two had already been. You slowly put your coat on again as you watched him. His ears were still red as he quietly paid. He couldn’t hide the faint smile that broke through on his face. It looked kind of cute. You both quietly apologized to the lady as you walked out.

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

“Let’s never do that again.”

You laughed at his remark as you jumped over a puddle. “But you had fun, right?” He stopped walking out of shock. “Th- That’s not the point-” You stepped closer and took his hands into yours. “Yeah, okay, I had fun.”

“But we’re never doing this again.”

please comment/reblog if you enjoyed! i’d love to hear what y'all think <3

[withcrafts]

LMFAOOOO I'm more black than you are sis, straight from Africa and half African American. I get to write how I want, if it's eloquent or AAVE that's none of your business.

You can call me all the names in the book but it won't make you right. Keep foaming at the mouth at the thought of people not believing in fake genocides. There are so many happening in the world right now and y'all wanna say the same is happening to you? Please actually learn to fly. I'm not going to waste my time laying down the facts when all you niggas do is plug your ears and scream whatever phrase they got y'all saying these days. Please read the diagram above and really think about if any of those apply to the 300 some trans people killed in the US then tell me if 300 people constitutes genocide. Buy your MF life and get on with your uneducated ass.

I just saw this on a post in response to the human rights violations being executed in Palestine, and it reminded me of when TRAs were saying there's a trans genocide happening in America. Where? 🤨

I distinctly remember a guy specifically saying it's already at stage nine, but in reality it hasn't even reached stage one. The Us vs. Them argument can be used for basically anything, dog people and cat people, women and males, left-handed people and right-handed people. There are just groups of people that exist and trans people vs "cis" people is simply one of them. And what possibly could be considered as a hate symbol for stage two??? There's nothing. Nobody has any distinct symbol to visualise the otherness of trans people.

I could go on, but my case here is clear. There is no trans genocide, they're fear mongering within their own ranks and looking at everyone else as the perpetrators. You really just can't make this shit up...

[tmngoose]

Some Assembly Required: a Rottmnt story

Remember this post? Well, I decided to clean up what I had and show it to y’all. This was supposed to be a much longer story, but back when I was writing it, I jumped ship for a different fic I was working on and never came back OTL Characters: Donnie, Mikey, Raph, Leo, April, Shelldon, Draxum, Huginn & Muninn (albeit super brief) Tags: Lab accidents, fires, minor injuries, hurt/comfort, obscure UHF reference I won’t be uploading this to Ao3, so you can read it under the cut :U

For the longest time, Donnie dreamed of the perfect lab partner. Though Shelldon was an impeccable assistant, there were moments where Donnie longed to work side-by-side with another scientist. Someone with a thirst for knowledge! Someone who shared his passion for all things technical and methodical; a scientist, just like he considered himself to be! 

To think Baron Draxum would be Donnie's long-awaited lab partner was not a scenario the Softshell had ever fathomed. Still, it was one he accepted with great enthusiasm. 

Draxum and Donnie saw no reason to doubt their capabilities. However, the rest of the family remained wary whenever the two of them went off meddling in the lab. With April's help, Raph, Leo, and Mikey devised a strict set of guidelines to ensure Donnie and Draxum wouldn't get into too much trouble. 

"Scoff!" Donnie threw the hefty packet of rules down at his feet, offended. "What do you take us for: a pair of unhinged Frankensteins? Y'know, it'd be nice if, just for once, you guys would have a little faith in our scientific endeavors!" 

"It's not that we don't trust you guys," April explained, "It's just... you guys tend to get a little carried away with your projects, that's all!" 

"What's that suppose to mean?" 

"The last time Barry was in a lab, he created the Oozesquitos," April folded her arms, "And don't get me started about the time you messed with your brother's brains."

"Okay! I get it!" Donnie sighed. He picked up the packet of rules and flapped the dust out from its pages. "We won't get carried away: Todd scout's honor." 

April smiled, "Thanks, Dee." 

"Yes, well, if you'll excuse me, Draxum and I were just about to partake in our latest  scientific acquisition: Professor Philo's Chemistry Set for the At-Home Scientist!" Donnie started off for his lab, tucking the packet into a compartment in his battle-shell.

April shook her head, smiling as she headed inside the living room, where the sounds of 8-bit gaming welcomed her. Raph and Mikey were too invested in whatever racing game they were playing to notice April. 

"Soo, how'd it go?" Leo asked from his beanbag chair. "Is Donnie mad that we're afraid he'll bring Potatozilla into existence or what?"

"I say he handled it pretty well!" April plopped herself down in the recliner. "I told Donnie that we just wanted to make sure he and Draxum toned it down a bit, that's all." 

"See? I told you he'd listen to April!" Mikey grinned smugly at Leo.

Leo rolled his eyes, "Whatever." He went back to scrolling his social feed on his phone, "I'll believe it when they don't create a giant mutant potato or somethin'."

"Be nice, Leo," April swung her legs over the armrest. "We've gotta have a little faith in 'em. Besides, I've never seen Donnie this happy since-" 

KA-BOOOOOOM!!!

A powerful tremor shook the lair, taking everyone by surprise. The trinkets Splinter's 'Do Not Touch' cabinet rattled and shook, a few of the lighter items clattered to the floor. April held onto the armchair with Raph steadying it before it could topple over backward. Mikey hid inside of his shell out of reflex as Leo jumped to his feet, prepared to face whatever threat was upon them.

"Omigosh!" Mikey exclaimed, popping his head out of his shell. "What was that?!" 

"You don't think DIGG's tryin' to take down the Kaufman Coliseum again?" Raph frowned, trying to rub the ringing out from his ears. 

"Um, guys?" Leo sniffed the air, "Does anyone else smell something burning, or is that Raph's 'Taken-By-Surprise' stink?" 

Raph sniffed at his underarm, "Nope. It's not me!" 

April and Mikey took a moment to smell the air, their noses wrinkled at the familiar acrid odor of smoke. 

And smoke could only mean one thing: something was on fire. 

Oh no! Donnie! Barry! April's stomach dropped over the thought. She bolted out of the living room with Raph, Leo, and Mikey right behind her. "Please let it be a giant mutant potato!" 

It wasn't a giant mutant potato. 

By the time they entered the atrium, a thick cloud of smoke had spilled out from the mouth of Donnie's lab, billowing up into the rafters above. Although they couldn't see it, they could hear the fire roaring from deep within the lab.

"Mad Dogz!" Raph barked, "Initiate ‘Fire Safety Plan Alpha!’"  “FSssPAH!” Mikey pronounced the acronym from the back of the group.

But before Raph could lead the rescue, Draxum leaped out from the smoke carrying Donnie in his arms; their matching lab coats singed. Shelldon flew out, not too far behind, with Huginn and Munnin holding onto his back. 

"Barry!" April ran up to the soot-stained alchemist. "What happened?! I thought y'all we're gonna take things easy? Didn’t y’all read the packet?!" 

"We were," Draxum rasped, passing Donnie's limp body into Raph's arms. "If it weren't for a pair of idle hands." He gave his gargoyles a sharp look while removing the safety goggles from his face, leaving clean rings around his eyes.

Munnin's wings sagged, "The instructions weren't joking when it said 'everything in this chemistry set is a fire hazard.'"

"Yeah, including the instructions," Huginn hung his head, "Our bad."

"So, how're we suppose to handle this whole situation?" Leo asked, gesturing to the raging inferno that was (formally) Donnie's lab.

"I'm on it, dudes!" Shelldon replied, concentrating on his emergency protocols hardwired into his drives.

The fire-alarm system blared to life. Then came the hissing of the sprinklers going off and the gush of extinguishing foam spraying deep within the lab. Slowly, the smoke was beginning to ease up, much to everyone's relief.

Slowly, Donnie began to stir, groaning as he slowly regained consciousness, "Ugh... what? M-my lab..." His confusion morphed into panic as he realized the severity of the situation. "My lab!!" He squirmed feebly in Raph's arms, mortified.

"Woah, take it easy," Raph held Donnie against him, firm enough to subdue him yet careful not to hurt him. "That chemistry set of yours nearly got you guys barbequed." 

Donnie frowned, "No, you don't understand!" His eyes stung with tears as he thought of his life's work gone in a blaze of unsupervised stupidity. "Everything's ruined!"

"Hey, you don't know that for sure!" April gently touched Donnie's shoulder. "Besides, what's important is you're both okay!" 

"April's right," Mikey agreed, clinging to Draxum's side, "We're glad y'all made it out safely. A little flambéed, but you get the idea."

"But my lab," Donnie emphasized. 

"Lab shmab, we can worry about that later!" Leo nudged Draxum with his elbow. "For now, let's focus on getting you toasted marshmallows taken care of."

"Yeah, what Leo said!" Raph adjusted Donnie in his arms, heading for the bathroom where the first aid kit was kept. "Just you wait; maybe it's not as bad as you think!"

                                                            -x-

Raph's sense of judgment was always a mixed bag, and this time, he couldn't have been farther from the truth. 

The lab was a smoldering mess, virtually unrecognizable to the Turtles, Draxum, and April. The walls were blackened, and the smell of burnt wiring and computer parts hung sourly in the air. Puddles of foam and water gathered in parts of the floor, adding to the disarray.

Donnie searched desperately for anything salvageable, but the prospects were slim to none. The bandaged Softshell approached the remnants of his workstation, absolutely gutted. He reached for what was once a prototype for a new battle shell, but it crumbled into ash in his hands. 

"Alas, this must've been what it felt like to lose the Library of Alexandria," Donnie mourned poetically, sinking to his knees. Shelldon drifted up to his heartbroken creator, pressing his head against Donnie's side like the loyal drone he was.

"Okaaayyy, so it's a little charbroiled in here," Leo cringed. "But if anyone can fix this, it's you!" 

"Do you have any idea how long that'll take me?" Donnie moaned, overwhelmed by the daunting task. "It took me years of refurbishing junk and computer parts, and now I have nothing! Zilch! Nada! No equipment, no materials, no anything!"

Donnie's outburst left the others speechless. They had seen him upset before, but nothing to this extent. 

Quietly, Draxum approached Donatello, "As someone who has lost their life's work twice, I understand your plight," he said, joining the turtle on the floor. "However, unlike myself, you are fortunate not to face this endeavor alone. You have your friends, your brothers, and... your lab partner," Draxum looked off to the side, somewhat flustered by the sentimental mushiness his words implied. 

"Draxibald's right, Donnie!" Mikey beamed. He was so proud of Barry for stepping up to the plate. He popped up in between them, slinging his arms over their shoulders, "You've got us to help you! We'll have your lab up and running in no time!"

Leo smiled, "Yeah, with you bossing us around, we can totally get the job done!"

"But a total rebuild of this scope requires a certain level of technological sophistication!" Donnie deflated, "So unless you know of any tech-savvy geniuses out there, I don't see how any of this is possible."

"Oh, I know a guy," April answered, "And I'm lookin' right at him~" She smiled at Donnie, who didn't know how to process the compliment. "Have a little faith in yourself, Dee!"  Donnie blinked, stunned that his own words were used against him.

"Yeah, you said so yourself!” Raph joined in, “You and that big brain of yours built this lab out of nothin' but junk! If there's anyone who can build back better than ever, it's you! So whaddya say, Don?"

Donnie looked at Raph's hand extended out to him. He then glanced over at Leo, Mikey, and April, all eagerly awaiting his response. He turned to Draxum, who gave a curt nod.

Touched by the support of his family, Donnie wiped away a tear from the corner of his eye, "I say let's order some pizzas and chop-chop! Rome wasn't built in a day, people! We've got our work cut out for us!"  He took Raph’s hand and was lifted up from the ground.  Yes, Donnie supposed he could have a little faith in himself, and everyone else as well.

[m-aster-of-spinjitzu]

orange and gold

...I just need more Cole and Vania content, they seem like they'd be great friends.

Basically it's just 'Cole goes to visit her there, they almost burn down the kitchen, and make way too many puns', lol.

Set a few months after Master of the Mountain, but before Seabound or The Island.

Also yeah, I couldn't think of a better title, sue me- I just know that they wear one of the colours at some point, so... 🤦‍♀️😂

Trigger warnings: none I think? Huh-

Also, bingo!! I really need to learn better time management, dear freaking gosh- I hope I'm not too late though? I know it's like half a day late, eek- and I was supposed to post this earlier, but I ended up literally falling asleep while writing it😂

Thank you so much Fabro, for hosting such a cool event!:D Your comments on my fics literally never fail to make my day<3. And I'm so glad that I met so many awesome, really skilled people through this event too - it's been a lot of fun working alongside y'all:D, I wish I'd had more time to interact instead of posting stuff and vanishing lol, but exams be like:////

Prompt: cooking (does baking count as cooking? I realized too late lol-) from @ninjago-bingo 's warm board.

Word Count: 2497

---

Trying to escape from killer dire-bats hadn't been on Cole's to do list today - although the mountains were kind of beautiful.

It was a bit difficult to see them while he was being dragged to his death, but hey, didn't Jay always tell them to be more positive?

That was, until he made the mistake of looking down.

Miles of snowcapped mountains touched the pastel blue sky, but he was more focused on exactly how high he was from the ground.

Great.

Trying to swing back onto the Bounty, he didn't notice a golden-winged blur shoot past the bat, almost dropping their spear in haste.

"Let my friend go, or I'll-"

"Vania?"

She throws the spear at the bird, successfully knocking one of its wings.

Huh. She must've been practicing - throwing with accuracy while flying seemed kinda difficult.

"I'm so sorry!" she replies, grabbing his arm before he fell down too. She winces at the strain on her wings, almost dropping him onto the deck. "I was supposed to come earlier, but there was an issue with one of the mines, and it took forever to-"

"There ain't anything in this world that's managed to kill me yet," he replies jokingly, checking that the autopilot hadn't been damaged. "I doubt an angry bird is going to be the first."

"Didn't you mention that you became a ghost once? Pretty sure that means you were dead-"

"Shh, that's not an important detail," he jokes.

"If you say so," she replies with a grin. "Did I mention that Chompy's been tearing down the palace flower arrangements again?"

"Send my regards to the gardener-"

"Did you just make a pun?"

"Remind me why I decided to visit you again?"

"Because you love me?" she asks stepping onto the ground as the Bounty landed gently.

"I hereby crown you as my platonic soulmate," Cole deadpans, taking her hand. "Vania and Cole-"

"Destined to annoy each other for eternity," she giggles, swinging their hands up and down. "But seriously - thanks. I don't think I realized how much work being a queen was."

"What's it like?"

"I mean - I'm glad that people trust me, and they come to me if they have a problem, but the paperwork is a nightmare. I never get to go outside anymore, I swear."

"Paperwork? Also, you just invited me here for a week. I don't wanna disturb you?"

"Nah, I cleared my schedule, don't worry. And trust me, you don't want to know. Everything requires some sort of official written thing, and it's so boring-"

"Official? But you're the queen?"

"Well, yeah, but I don't really want to change something unless it benefits the people. Not after..."

Her smile dims, eyes straying to the palace walls.

Oh- oh.

"You're nothing like him," Cole says firmly, squeezing her hand. "I mean, if you need to take a break, or you can make your job a bit easier by cutting out something unnecessary, that's just gonna help you become a better queen. You've definitely got the interests of your people at heart, and that's the most important thing, you know? And well, uh, everything seems to be going great so far - you don't have to beat yourself up over someone else's mistakes."

"Thanks," she replies softly, her smile slowly returning. "Speaking of breaks, what do you think we should do this time?"

"You could show me around the city again?"

"You've already seen everything cool," Vania giggles, skipping ahead of him. "We don't renovate much - unlike you guys-"

"Hey, it's not our fault that our city gets destroyed every few months-"

"More like every few days," she teases, tying back her golden hair. "How about we find some dragons to adopt?"

"Tempting, but where would you keep them?"

"They could sleep in my room-"

She breaks off when she notices him laughing. "What?"

"N- nothing," Cole replies, in between laughs. "Jay and I just made a bet."

"On what?"

"How many dragons you've adopted. I bet at least six, he bet fifteen."

"Well, jokes on both of you - I'm pretty sure my advisor's going to throw a fit if I show up with another one," she starts, giggling. "We've got twenty living in the palace right now."

"Twenty dragons?"

"They're so cute! You just look into their adorable little eyes," Vania pauses for breath, continuing her animated gesturing, "and you can't help but wanna hug them!"

"Oh, Jay's going to be so mad."

"Aww, I'm sorry guys. They're just too adorable!"

"...Wanna hear a funny story?"

"Yeah, sure!"

"I actually used to be terrified of dragons-"

"No way!" Vania exclaims. "Y'all have been on a lot of adventures though, so-"

"Nah, we used to have our own dragons at first. They were pretty cool! I just- I'm a simple guy! Huge animals with wings are scary up close when you're barely a teenager."

"Or when you're really short-"

"We're the same height!" Cole exclaims, facepalming in a bit of a fondly exasperated way.

"I'm two years younger than you-"

---

"Ugh, whose idea was this?"

"Yours," Vania grins, sitting down on the kitchen counter.

"You were supposed to help me, not leave me high and dry!" Cole accuses jokingly, staring at all the appliances they'd found in the cupboards.

"'One must always be prepared for new adventures,'" she quotes seamlessly, waving one of- what was his name again? Mulch something? Oh! Clutch! Some explorer he was, leaving them to die in the pyramid - Clutch Powers' books in the air.

"Fine," he sighs, staring at the old recipe book she'd found in one of their back cupboards. "But you've gotta help me? I almost burned down-" "Woah, what? If you finish that sentence with 'kitchen'-" "In my defense, Kai was playing a prank on me-" "In my defense, I wouldn't like to explain how the queen of Shintaro burnt down the palace by teaching one of her friends to cook," she grins, flipping through the pages. "What do you wanna start with?" "Something simple?" "Have you ever tried baking bread before? It's a lot of fun!" "I haven't really had the time, but that sounds kinda interesting."

He skims the recipe, raising his eyebrows. "Wait, why does this take hours? I thought you said it was simple?"

"Trust me, it is," she laughs, adding, "besides, I still wanna hear about all your adventures!" "Uh... okay," Cole replies hesitantly, "but if this fails, I'm so sorry." "Give yourself some credit, you guys literally saved the world! Multiple times!" "Bold of y'all to assume we know how we did it," he laughs, only half-kidding. "Besides. I botched soup once."

"I've botched toast," she mock-sighs, smiling. "Pretty sure that makes us even."

"Lemme get this straight. You've messed up toasting bread, but you can bake it from scratch?"

"Trust me, I don't know either," she giggles, trying to open a brightly coloured packet of... something? Did flour come in packets that small?

"Uh, why are you opening something called 'feast'?" he asks, eyebrows creased in confusion.

"Feast," she echoes, trying to stifle her laughter. "Off to a... rocky start, aren't we?"

It took him a second.

"I already regret this," he jokes, facepalming. "But I'd say that your puns are, uh, gold."

"I've un- unleashed-" breaking off, she half-falls off the counter, laughing so hard her face starts to go red, "a monster."

---

"Uh, is it supposed to look like that?" Cole asks, frowning.

The mixture looked less like the dough he'd been expecting - more like one of Jay's inventions gone wrong.

Badly wrong, he thought, eyes widening at the goopy mess of foam that threatened to spill over the jug.

"The yeast?" Vania echoes, poking her head out of one of the cupboards. "Yeah, all good! It always looks a little gross, and you're gonna doubt ever eating bread again, but at least it doesn't taste like it's fermented-"

"It's what?"

"Yeah," she grimaces, exaggerating her disgust a bit. "If aliens ever fell from the sky, they'd think we were crazy for eating bread-"

"Aliens? I think we're a bit crazy!" Cole exclaims, trying not to laugh.

Vania smiles, then sighs, lugging a huge bag of flour onto the counter. "I can never open these bags properly," she starts, eyeing the the bag a bit warily, "and it always makes such a huge mess all over the kitchen. You'd think they'd make it easier for people to use, right? I swear-"

He jokingly puts his hands over his ears. "I can't hear you!" "But you know that I've sworn off swearing-" she replies, breaking off with a laugh. "Pun not intended - that actually made sense in my head. I swear!"

"No," Cole interjects with a grin, shaking his head. "You don't, remember?"

"See, this is why we're friends-"

"Friends? Is that all I am to you?"

"Oh, be quiet," she shoots back, exaggeratedly dragging a hand down her face. "I mean, sure, just because everyone thinks that we're dating doesn't mean that we-"

Wait. What?

"People think that we're dating?" he asks, clamping a hand over his mouth in a poor attempt to muffle his laughter. "I- I- really?"

"I know, right?"

"Even my friends thought so at first," he confesses, dragging a hand down his face. "I mean, as much as I love you-"

"I love you too," Vania replies, completely seriously. "Even if you'll always be more like an annoying-"

"Hey-"

"Sibling to me than anything else," she finishes, grabbing a pair of scissors. Cole watches, a little alarmed, as she stabs them into the flour bag over and over.

"Is it... supposed to be this difficult to just open the bag? Seems kinda stupid-"

"Well, er, they have this piece of paper with glue that you're supposed to pull away from the rest of the bag, but it never works properly and I-"

"Well, we could always make our own flour," Cole interjects, laughing. "I mean, I've got a scythe? Let's go!"

"Uh, but we don't have wheat growing here. I don't think it'd suit the climate very well?"

"Wheat a shame," Cole sighs jokingly, measuring out the flour (which had, finally, escaped the bag).

"Oh my gosh," Vania deadpans, "you did not just-"

"Yep, I did."

"You're horrible," she giggles, "then again, I was the one who started this whole debacle, so I think we'll share the blame."

"Debacle? Where'd you pick that one up from? Sounds kinda cool-"

"Oh, it's from a book someone wrote about you guys," Vania says casually, pouring a cup of water into the bowl.

"Hey, uh-" Cole starts hesitantly, twisting his fingers back and forth, then breaks off. "Why'd you read all that stuff about us, anyways? Adventure books don't really seem like something you read a lot, since we have similar favorite books. I mean..."

"Well, um..." Vania trails off, clearly uncomfortable. "Uh- I guess, well, it sounds kinda stupid, but I'd never really met anyone my age who wasn't a royal or something. I... er, I didn't want to be left out, you know?"

Cole thinks back to a scroll; a quest, a sacrifice. One that his friends never seemed to really notice, unless it was with horror or flinches. Not that he blamed them, but - joking about how he was much more useful to the team when he was freaking dead than he was before he'd stumbled and fell in the temple?

That had been a bit far, even for his best friend. Locks could always be picked or something, he didn't need to be a ghost to provide some sort of value-

Well, that's not completely true, is it? a small voice questions, and he can't keep his hands from shaking a little.

"Jay here thinks you're the least valuable ninja."

Not enough to be a performer. Now, not good enough to even be a ninja, apparently.

Well, he reminds himself firmly, you don't have to be the best - just stand up to those who are cruel and unjust.

Nothing but a scar that glowed warm orange occasionally left of the whole Cursed Realm ordeal, sometimes it was all too easy to forget - or pretend - that it had never even happened in the first place.

Other times, like when he'd dropped a glass of water on the floor and his hands hadn't stopped shaking for hours, or when he woke up screaming, expecting to fall through his bed again, it still felt like he was trapped as a ghost. Literally - and maybe a little figuratively as well.

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

"Thanks for trusting me with that," he replies softly. "And I'm sorry. That sounds... horrible, but, honestly, you're a pretty cool person, and I ain't just saying that because we're friends. People can be awful, and they can- they can leave, but you don't need to pretend to be someone you're not for people to accept you. I kinda know what it's like, and it's... just, uh, not great."

"No, thank you," Vania says, rubbing her eyes. "You're pretty cool, too. And I'm glad that we become friends, even if wasn't in the- the, er, greatest circumstances."

"Right back at ya. The fall was pretty terrifying, though," Cole says casually, as if memories of that nightmarish plunge into the depths of earth don't still send shivers down his spine.

"No, definitely! I was so sure we were gonna splat onto the ground or something, thank gosh we didn't."

"Yeah..." Cole trails off, reading the recipe they'd been following. "Oh- do we just leave the bowl somewhere for a few hours now?"

"Oh, yeah," Vania answers. "Other than clean up the kitchen, what else do you wanna do?"

"That's kind of you, but, ah, I don't mind. You can choose something."

"I don't mind either," she replies, covering the bowl with a dishcloth. "Seriously, I don't."

"Same here though."

"Really, I don't mind-" Vania breaks off with a laugh, adding, "Well, actually, there is something."

She doesn't elaborate, thoughtfully gazing out the window.

"Well, what is it? Don't keep me in the dark."

"Ugh, it's kinda stupid-"

"I'm sure that it's not- well, unless you want to try to jump off a flying ship with a homemade parachute to prove a bet to someone-"

"Do I even wanna know?"

"...uh, probably not. We're way too crazy sometimes, our Master has a hard time keeping us in check. Your thing, though?"

"Can I give you a hug?"

Cole blinks for a second, expecting some sort of punchline.

"That's your thing?"

"Well, yeah- I mean, I said it was kinda stupid-"

"No no, that's not what I meant. You're so sweet - that's all."

"Well, not more than you-"

"Nah, you're sweeter-"

"Let's just call it a tie," Vania says with a smile, reaching over to give her friend a hug. "Thank you so much, I swear- well, no, I don't, but you know, anyways-"

"Yeah," Cole replies, laughing softly. "I know."

[breath-of-venus]

30 Days of Deity Devotion in One Post - Aphrodite

I don't have ANY patience to do one post every day for devotion. Like, no patience and not enough memory, so I'll resume every single day of deity devotion in this post, and hopefully it'll be nice to read and maybe do some research.

30 Days of Deity Devotion was created by @alaskanlesbian

1 - A basic introduction

She's very energetic and enthusiastic and it's very pleasing to be hanging out with her. We dance together sometime, it's really fun! Also she's my matron.

2 - How did you became first aware of her?

We are introduced to greek mythology since very early, as kids, so I must've known her for quite some time, though she only called me in December. I think it's because now she feels that I'm ready to work with her.

3 - Symbols and icons of this deity

Bees; Red, pink and yellow with pink tip roses; A calm shore with no aggressive waves; A pink sky; Deep red lipsticks; Sea foam; Shells; Apple; Sweet scents, especially ripe apple; Laughter and smiles

4 - Favorite myth or myths of Aphrodite

The one I like the most is Aphrodite and Adonis love. It's tragical, yet beautiful. I get sad every time.

5 - Members of the family

I personally like best the version were she rose from the sea, but there's also a version were she's daughter of Zeus and Dione.

6 - Other related deities and entities

Ares, her main lover; her other various lovers; Athena, her main rival; The erotes; Astarte and Ishtar, goddesses she was based from

7 - Names and epithets

Ourania, Pandemos, Areia, Philomedes, Nikephoros

8 - Variations of this deity

The epithets listed above and Astarte and Ishtar, as they're deities Aphrodite was based from.

9 - Common mistakes about her

That she's all fluffy and pastel-pink. Like, all the time. Or that she's petty and superficial.

Bitch no.

She can be fluffy and pastel-pink, but thinking that she's like that all the fucking time is at least foolness.

She is the goddess of love, beauty and sex, but also of war, death, laughter, victory and so much more. She's a frigging goddess y'all, not a trendy youtuber.

Don't forget it.

10 - Offerings, historical and UPG

Chocolate; Yogurt; Strawberry dairy drink; Wine, especially the smooth variety; Lettuce (because of Adonis); Apple; Red fruits and berries; Red and pink flowers; Any artistic thing that you make for her; Make-up; Jewelry; Perfumes; Honey; Milk

11 - Festivals, days and times sacred to her

Every fouth day of each month

Every full Moon day

Every Friday

February 6th, honors to Aphrodite

12 - Places associated with her

Chypre (lol that's the only place I can think)

13 - What modern cultural issues are closest to this deity's heart?

I think self-esteem is the most well known issue she helps coming around atm

14 - Has worship of this deity changed in modern times?

I am very sure of it. We have trouble enough to find basic info about our deities, imagine a whole how-to-worship guide!

15 - Any mundane practices associated with this deity?

Having sex is the most obvious of them all, but there are far more pleasures in life than just sex.

Eating some food you really enjoy, for example.

Or putting some makeup on.

Expressing the beauty with arts, I guess.

16 - How do you think this deity represents the values of their pantheon and cultural origins?

That's way more complex than what I can answer without having to stress too much about it

Sorry

17 - How does this deity relates to other gods and other pantheons?

Historically, she relates to Venus and Hator. They were the closest. But in my opinion she's linked to every single love deity, especially female ones.

I found her and Freya very similar, mostly because of the warrior aspect of Freya, very similar to Aphrodite Areia.

18 - This deity's gender and sexuality (historical and UPG)

Historically she looks pretty cishet female, but in my opinion every god is kinda pansexual I guess.

They don't need labels as we do.

Also she's clearly a woman for me.

19 - What quality or qualities of this goddess do you most admire? What qualities of them do you find the most troubling?

I can't talk about her qualities without saying that I think she's perfect, sorry.

SHE'S PERFECT!!

Ok, now to the qualities.

In my personal experience with her she's like those kind of crazy mom's that are all like "ya wanna? Ya do!" but also very sweet (soft maybe? Idk).

She's very comforting and thinking about my practice I think she wants me to try not to be so dependable to pendulums.

And she got these vibes kinda like Mean Girls but a nice one

I don't think there's anything that I dislike about her really.

20 - Art that reminds you of this deity

Mostly break-the-rules love, or idk how to describe, maybe overcome relationships I guess

But if ya break some rules to kiss some mouths babe ya goin the right direction

Also I don't really see her in paintings. They're mostly blonde, and as far as I can "see" she've got wavy-curly dark brown hair and pretty yellowish-green eyes.

21 - Music that makes you think of that deity

Side to side, Gloriosa, New Rules, Toxic, TiK ToK, God is a Woman(yep, that predictable), Dangerous Woman, Thank U next, Strawberries & Cigarettes, Scars to Your Beautiful, Savages - Kerli

22 - A quote, poem, etc, that you think this deity ressonates strongly with

I have none, sorry

23 - your own composition — a piece of writing about this deity

I've tried doing it before. Like, actual writing for her, but I couldn't.

So I guess I'll stick to the motivational Tumblr posts I do about her :)

24 - A time when this deity helped you

I don't think that she's actively helping me with anything specific, since I never ask much.

Once I asked to meet a nice boy that I'd kiss.

Welp in my new school I've got quite a lot, so cheers 🥂

25 - A time when she refused to help

Can't remember any moment like this now.

She did punish me once tho 😂 it was actually funny and @thepastelpriestess witnessed everything from her very own screen

26 - How has your relationship with her changed over time?

It went to "I know you exist" to "I'd seek your help anytime soon" to "holy smokes you my mamma" to "hi guuurl ya doing great? Les hav sum tea n chat n laugh at nothing all night"

27 - Worst misconception that about her that you have encountered

That she's selfish

Like, she sure is in the myths and yadda yadda but Myths Aphrodite and Real Aphrodite are very different, actually (look Jessie I've learnt 😂)

28 - Something you wish you knew about his deity but you currently don't

I'm not really sure, actually...

I guess I'd like to hang out like face to face, have a talk-hear-hear-talk kinda conversation

Dunno

I guess then I'd know what I'd like to know that I don't yet.

29 - Any unusual or interesting UPGs to share?

She's the goddess of joy :)

30 - Any suggestions to others just starting to learn abou her?

Chase all her info in Tumblr like a crazy old lady going after her twelve cats through the streets of her neighborhood.

Basically, search a ton

[akkeyagentofhelheim]

Interrogation

"Well, I'm fucking sorry, okay, Mayako? She didn't tell me shit, it was a good thing we caught them right on time. She's in the safe house right now, Jesus Christ fucking listen to me--" the call ended with a harsh beep, and Akira exhaled thinly, stuffing her phone back into her jacket pocket. She climbed the rusting staircase up to the second floor, where Ken and Vic stood waiting for her.

"Okay. Bring me up to speed." she snapped, removing her jacket and hanging it on the back of the chair. She leaned over the edge of the ledge, watching the ongoing interrogation below. The two Chroms still alive were tied up on the ground as two other agents hovered above them.

"Their names are Devon Signy, and Mark Mercado. Devon's a student at Wilder U, he's the one who attacked Deo, and Mark's at Yrus. He's the one after your niece. It's a little hard to get them to talk," Ken paused as the abandoned building was filled with a painful scream from Mark while the agent pressed a foot on his hip injury. 

"And we got the DNA results back, the other four are also students at Wilder U. But none of them have any classes together, so we don't know how they're connected. Or why they're picking their targets. We're checking their places right now. Other than the high school kid, they all live alone."

She sucked the air through her teeth, very annoyed, "I don't have time for this." She turned on her heel and stomped down the stairs. She stalked up to where the students laid sweating.

"Okay, dickheads," she approached Devon first, crouching near his head, pressing a knee on his shoulder where Nala's bullet was still embedded, "You. Why'd you follow Deo?"

Devon clenched his teeth, groaning through the pain,  "I told your agents already. She's the perfect choice. She's smart and she's an amazing archer. How could I not?"

"Why is it so important that she's a good archer? If anything, doesn't that make her a more dangerous target?" she ignored his struggles underneath her.

"It's worth it, we need the best skills for the perfect model," he grinned, spittle drooling over the corner of his mouth as he spoke through the pain, "Anything for NAGA."

Ken raised his brows at that. NAGA?

She stared at him, completely lost, "Who the fuck is NAGA?" Her communicator buzzed as Ken spoke, "NAGA's another Fire Emblem character, cap. Like Chrom." She raised her brows, "The fuck? Y'all roleplaying as your favourite characters or something? Why is everybody Chrom then?"

"Because Chrom is NAGA's fave, and we'll do anything for NAGA," Devon grinned, eyes rolling back as she dug into his shoulder again. 

"Ugh, whatever. What about you, kid. You're barely 16. Why are you stalking Iona?" she turned towards the boy still clutch his bleeding hip.

"She's smart. Like, super smart and mature. And she's at that prime age for development. That's exactly what we're looking for in the Marionette Project," Mark growled manically. Akira and the other agents snapped their heads up. Marionette Project. That name again. 

Mark started convulsing and foaming at the mouth, but it was no surprise to anyone in the building. Not especially since the exact scenario happened with Jackson Brindt, the first Chrom they caught, the one who died after giving the kill list and uttering that name. He shook on the ground, eyes wide and unseeing, until he fell limp and lifeless on the cold, concrete floor.

Akira roared out in frustration, pulling her Glock out of its holster and putting two bullets into the dead man's head. The shots echoed in the building. Agents winced as the sound overloaded their communicators. She immediately redirected her weapon towards Devon's head, her tone biting, "How do you know each other?"

He sneered at her again, "We just have the same interests, Miss Agent. Met on a dark web forum, and now we work together to gather Merchandise for the Marione--" He didn't even manage to finish the kill word before Akira pulled the trigger on her gun, the bullet hole left in his head still smoldering.

She stood, her eyes dark, returning her weapon back into its holster, "Comb this guy's apartment. Pull his computer, search his web history, his locations. Find that forum and anything about NAGA and the Marionette Project. If this is what we think it is, then there will just be more high-achieving victims with no predictable pattern." She pulled her jacket back on and stalked out of the building.