#i'll post ic again someday

[thesilverfullcr]

i finally made an rpthreadtracker thing for my ffxiv blogs. it's for @thesilverfullcr, @theazureblade, @star-gazcr, and @wyrmbloodcd. it's HERE. if you think i forgot you or a thread we had together, please let me know. sorry about the bad thread titles.

[melusinezephyr]

It's Too Late to Be Saved

starter for @centrifugalcycle

The new student instantly piques Zephia's interest. They are odd and quiet, but seemingly familiar at the same time. How interesting indeed. They are clearly Agarthan, though unlike any other that she had seen in the brief time she had spent in Shambhala. The closest example to any Agarthan she could come up with to this kid was Nikolaos, that mousey man who had explained as much as he could to her while she had still been there.

Not just that, but the kid bears a striking resemblance to a statue that she had observed, though her mousey companion hadn't mentioned who the person depicted was, or rather had been distracted before he could explain any further. But now, that statue bothers her, with how distinct the resemblance was.

Who in the world was this kid? And whatever was an Agarthan doing here so plainly at the academy anyway?

Out of curiosity, she can't help but call out to them after class concludes, probably against her better judgement.

"Dear, could I speak to you for a moment? How do I put this... you... intrigue me, sweetheart."

[goldoanheart]

返事はまだ来ない ["Nothing Has Been Heard from You Yet"] (Warlock Mastery Drabble)

Kurthnaga had never touched magic before he had arrived at the academy, he had never needed anything other than his own two hands to fight. He hadn't even wanted to fight to begin with; so why did he need to harness magic, or touch a weapon? If he needed to, he had his other form, but he would never fight. He was too scared. Far too scared.

He knew that he would still be unable to fight at the academy, not in the way that he needed to be able to. Not in the way a king should be able to. So he turned to something new, something he figured would be able to keep as far away from a thing that he detested so much.

(It really didn't, and the blood of the battles that he had fought since arriving still stained his hands. Blood that made his head spin, made him want to run away from all of it forever until he couldn't see a single drop of that red anymore.)

He had turned to an art that he had never touched before, began to teach it even. And he learned as much as his students in the process. He didn't know what he was doing, stumbling along on the path to mastery just like the rest of them. They were are all the students really, he didn't know how to teach them, but they learned together. Though it all, through the mistakes and the successes.

He was far from a proper mage; he only ever knew what he had struggled with learning alongside students as unsure as he was. And he could never be an ideal mage either. Not a true sage, wizard, or warlock like in fairytales that he had read growing up.

He felt like a mere boy playing dress up every time he tugged on the robes of the role he now inhabited, like a young child who had broken into his father's closet and tripped over cloaks far too large for him as he pretended that he could ever be as grand as that father that he admired.

And the hat sat awkwardly on his head, slightly askew, as if he never knew quite what he was supposed to do with it. Just like he was always a little unsure what he was supposed to do with the magic that now pulsed beneath his fingertips every waking moment.

He wasn't sure that this is what anyone had ever expected of him - what he had even ever expected of himself. But despite his doubts, he had become a mage at the academy, a respected professor even. He was still learning; but wasn't everyone?

Maybe Kurthnaga would never be a storybook warlock, maybe he would never be an ideal that he had thought of - dreamed of - when he was a young boy.

But he could become the warlock that he wanted to be in the here and now.

And surely that had to be enough for someone. Even if it took all of his will to cast a single spell on the battlefield, out of fear that he would fall an enemy before him, out of fear that he would spill their blood at his feet.

He could become a warlock that his students could look up to, a warlock that his childhood self would have looked up to if he had read stories about him in a tattered old book in a slightly dusty library, cornered off from the world and a palace that would not allowed him to escape.

He was free now, and he could become whatever he wanted to be.

Even a mage out of the very pages that he had held so dear once.

[joonsytip]

Coffee, Tea or just more of Me? || Vernon

Pairings: Vernon x Fem!Reader

Genre: Fluff, Crack, Strangers to Friends to Lovers au, Barista!Reader au, Jock!Vernon au, University au

Synopsis: Vernon thinks life has given him another chance when sees the new barista of the café he is a regular at. You think the popular jock of the university is weird for always zoning out on you. It's the same everyday, until you decide it's enough.

Word Count: 4.5k

Warnings: nothing heavy just mentions of staring a lot, mention of murder as a joke once, kissing, mentions of lots of beverages, dramatic Seungkwan and Junhui but equally wholesome (lmk if I missed any)

Banner credits to my baby @hoeforhao <3

A/N: Please Like, Comment and Reblog, it would really help me keep going ♡

Please send an ask or comment under the Masterlist post to get added to my permanent taglist or SVT Flick - Fic Masterlist.

[SVT Main Masterlist] [SVT Flick - Fic Masterlist]

He is staring at you again.

An exaggerated huff stirs out of your chest and you turn to the customer who looks like he'd would faint if deprived of his iced tea one more second.

You have recently started working as a part timer at the café which is a block down from your university, no genius for guessing, to add some cash to your wallet for covering some of your expenses.

The café jostles as an extremely busy hub at afternoons. Mornings doesn't attract much of a crowd except for the zombie like students who basically live on caffeine, would undoubtedly bleed in dark brownish through veins.

You work in evening shifts and evenings attract bunch of loud and shout guys.

Today's no exception, the familiar faces flood into the place, some continuous screeching of chairs or calls of name, some hearty laughs or snarky remarks that follows before all of it simmers down.

Junhui nudges at your arm and before your questioning gaze falls on him, it lands on that one face with prominent and sharpest features, hair dyed in shades of brown those stick on his sweat glistening forehead.

His eyes are not glued on you. Finally.

You look at your shiftmate, "What?"

"I thought you finally got a break.", Junhui comments while pouring coffee powder in the brewing machine.

"A break?", you echo in confusion, "I don't recollect--"

"A break from being stared at.", Junhui cuts you off when you fail catch his humour.

The eye roll that he gets as a response has him worried that they would really roll to the back of your head someday.

"Oh my god, he's coming here", Junhui squeals, "I'll fleet inside so he thinks you're alone at the counter but I'd be peaking from behind okay?", and next he's making an abrupt run to the backside.

You breathe in, breathe out and strech your lips in a smile as you walk back to the order section.

"Hi Vernon", you greet, "Can I please know your order?"

Vernon's eyes blow wide, as he whips his head from the menu card he's holding to meet your eyes.

"H-Hi...", he's shocked, so panicked right now, "Do you know me?"

Yes, you're the one who always stares at me.

Ofcourse you know him. Everybody knows him.

The star forward of the varsity soccer team.

Chwe Vernon Hansol.

You have a motive today and that's to ask him what's his deal. The only reason for which you had purposefully spilled out his name.

"You're quite popular.", you give him a smile, "And we share the Graphical Engi--"

"We share the Graphical Engineering lecture?", he spurts out comically, as if he's hearing the most amusing or the most non sensical thing in the world and the next question confirms it, "We both go to the same uni?"

"Yeah we do.", you say somewhat dejected and your thumb hovers over the computer screen, "Your order please."

"Do we seriously share the GE lecture?", he asks one more time and you simply nod.

Not something unobvious, the times you've noticed him after entering the lecture hall, you have always found his head propped on his bag which is loaded on the desk and he's soundly sleeping.

Something obvious that he doesn't know because the two of you don't even fall into the category of acquaintances.

You know him because everyone knows him because as said he's popular.

He mouths a 'wow' and goes back to ogling the same menu card. With only you being behind the counter and no one being behind him to place orders you know he's gonna take long time just to order his regular, a Latte Macchiato.

"A Latte Macchiato please.", he says and you nod robotically.

"Anything else?", you ask out of habit and your thumb is almost pressing the confirm button for billing, knowing he never has any add ons.

"Would you like to suggest something?"

You gape at him amused.

Vernon has his expectant eyes on you and you have your comical ones on him.

"Y/N?", he asked with concern and your eyes blow wider.

Your gaze immediately drops on your uniform, no there isn't any tag of your name pinned on you.

He's not reading your name, he knows your name.

"How do you know my name?", you ask him stunned. No you are not over reacting, not when you have seen who and how hard people are trying to woo him.

Oh well, his nicknames include Geek God and DiCaprio.

Vernon thinks he has caused an accidental slip up and thinks of ways to cover it up.

"Your co-workers call you by your name, I've heard it many times.", he blurts out.

You don't buy it but you don't peer further.

It's been two weeks since you are working in the café and you hadn't even noticed him until Junhui decided to knock over your obliviousness.

It was your third shift and you were seated on the tool leisurely when Junhui came over saying.

"Vernon keeps on looking at you. I have been noticing."

"Vernon? The Geek God VERNON? Looking at me? Sure, I look funny."

That was your comment before you waved him off instantly.

Day four and you decide to observe the varsity star just to confirm the genuineness of Junhui's comments.

"He's staring at you again."

This time you pull out your pocket mirror and Junhui, the genius angles it perfectly so no one was suspecting anything and you confirmed that Vernon was really staring at you.

You didn't what to make out of his blank expression.

The next week rolled in and you were having a casual conversation with Junhui and your best friend, the best gossip pal Seungkwan.

"Oh my god, you're planning to bag Vernon--"

Seungkwan's dramatic quip stopped abruptly when you slapped your hand on his mouth.

"Nothing adds up, Kwan. He definitely stares but with the most neutral expression I have ever seen on anyone. Like he could be plotting my murder but again he could also be looking at me and thinking about Teletubbies in his head."

Junhui was almost rolling on the floor which he was supposed to mop after those words left your mouth.

"But he lingers longer when Y/N is at counter.", Junhui managed to add, "The time he spends there holding that same menu card, if it had been me, I'd have had it memorized."

Two curious pair of eyes landed on the blonde haired boy and he took his position on one of the tools as he crossed his legs and leaned back at the wall behind.

"I have been working here for over a year and trust me, Vernon never made orders. Their group have a guy called Chan, who mostly places the collective order. I think I have taken orders from almost everyone but Vernon. He never did until Y/N came."

Seungkwan was suddenly wolf whistling and doing some questionable dancing with Junhui.

But you were still concerned.

Did you anyhow do something to offend him?

Vernon likes you, a lot.

It's not sudden, it's not prolated.

His liking towards you leads back to Cheshire, a stray cat he has been sheltering for some time.

The first time he saw you was when he decided to visit Cheshire before heading towards home after a game. You were already feeding her a can of tuna, unaware of his presence.

He watched you petting her, making funny sounds to entertain her to you sitting on the ground so that she could lay on your lap and take a nap.

Though his heart swelled and chest tinged, he watched it all with a straight face. Often misunderstood by people because of his blank stares he's tired of convincing them that it's never intentional, rather a habit by birth. He's just a bit lesser expressive that's all.

This continued for days, he would watch you play with Cheshire and waited until you left so that Cheshire could get her dose of SeroVertonin for the day.

Unknowingly, he develops a bond with you, solely from his side.

Vernon is also so grateful to you. Once Cheshire had gone missing for two days and Vernon could feel his heart plummeting to stomach, a fear creeping within him when he couldn't find her in all the places he searched.

He had given up but still visited the place in hopes of seeing her. He could vividly remember the pang in his chest when he saw her again inside the shelter with a note stuck on one of the bricks.

Hi,

I found her by an alleyway that's really far from here. She's safe so don't worry. Thanks for providing her a shelter.

Vernon still keeps the note in his wallet.

The day he decided to introduce himself to you was the day you stopped showing up. And he had no way to reach up to you except for waiting.

He gradually gave up with lots of regret and longing until he saw you again at the café.

Always been asked out, never have asked someone out person Vernon was at loss of words and actions. With no idea how to approach you, he sorted back to his same old habit.

While you indulged in different activities, he indulged himself in watching you, unaware that you have caught onto it.

Next day during GE lecture, you are scribbling down the notes in a questionable handwriting knowing you won't be able to decipher a word out of it later.

When the professor excuses himself out of the hall for some sudden priority work you could sense someone's gaze on you.

Quickly whipping your head and sweeping glances across the hall makes your gaze meets with Vernon's.

Oh, how could you not guess it.

He's flustered when he looks away and next he's grabbing his bag and skipping down the stairs to fleet out of the class.

But your sprint to catch him is faster than the Cheetahs.

"Vernon!"

You call out at the corridor and now every living object in the area is looking at you, waiting for another proposal - rejection episode.

Suddenly you feel small, having those curious eyes, mocking smiles pivoted at you.

Vernon notices your flickering gaze and he doesn't like the creases between your brows.

In three large strides, he covers the distance between two of you and before you could comprehend the situation, his loud voice reaches your ears.

"You didn't have to run so hard for returning my pen.", he's eyeing the pen in your hand, "But I'll take it because you have a habit of loosing them."

The murmurs are loud as others try hard to understand the dynamics you both share.

A glare in sweeping gaze from the jock causes the whispers to simmer down and the crowd regain it's mobility again.

"Thanks",you peer ar him, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

Vernon thinks he should be run away. His heels are hot and his mind is calculating precs for a run but his heart wants to listen to you.

This time the heart prevails.

As Vernon follows you to the emptier section of the corridor, you think you'd get indigestion from the venomous glares you are accumulating throughout.

"Have I done something to upset you?"

Your question catches him off guard.

When he doesn't respond you throw a follow up, "I'm sorry if I'm wrong but I have seen you staring at me for past days."

Vernon cheeks blush up in pink tint as his gaze falls down. He's biting his lip and shaking his head.

You know his having a conversation in his head but right now you want to be a part of it.

"I won't be judging you if that's what you're worried about.", you assure him, "I just want to know if I have ever unintentionally caused you trouble in any possible way."

Time is elapsing but you wait with all the patience. Vernon seems distressed and you feel bad for this sudden counter you have roped him into.

"I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable.", he says in a calm and assuring voice, "That wasn't my intention. It's just, I always have this poker face on and people feel, well, how you're feeling right now.", he laughs but you could feel the strain behind the words.

"I have been searching for you so long and now that I've found you, as cheesy as it sounds", his lips curl up the slightest almost making no difference to the previous neutral expression but this time you notice the gleam in his eyes as he says, "I can't take my eyes of you."

Your heart skips a beat. Damn Vernon for being so smooth.

"Cheshire misses you.", and he adds suddenly so now nothing is making sense to you.

"What do you mean by that? Do we know each other from before? Who's Cheshire?"

Vernon chuckles and he's pulling out his phone to show you his device wallpaper.

Your hand fly to your mouth in shock when you recognise whom Vernon is refering to.

"I also miss her.", You say with a stain of longing in your voice and look at him expectantly, "I can take a guess at some parts but you'll have to fill up the rest for me."

Vernon agrees instantly.

"But for now if you're free, would you mind taking me to her?"

"Ofcourse! Let's go.", he offers and he's relieved, "I'll explain everything on the way."

You are miserable without Junhui as the later takes a day off to perform at another gig. The café is not as busy so you're bored.

"Can I place my order?"

Your voice perks up at the familiar voice and your gaze lifts to see Vernon standing at the queue lane.

"Sure Sir", and you're laughing at the face he makes, "Latte macchiato is it?"

"Yes--"

"No.", you cut him off, "Let me serve you my special today, up for it?"

Vernon nods in delight and he goes back to take his seat and you go to the kitchen, asking your coworker to manage the counter for some time.

When you come back with a glass of Peach Tranquility on the tray, Vernon salivates at the beverage because of the fruity smell and vibrant colours.

"I never knew a Herbal Tea could taste this good.", Vernon compliments you, "Or is the magic in the hands of the one making it?"

Your cheeks warm up, meeting his gaze seems to be difficult so you scurry away making an excuse of getting to the counter.

Does he make your heart flutter as much as you do to his, Vernon ponders over.

Jealousy is a disease and you have it.

It's been weeks since you introduced Vernon to two of your treasured friends. You still remember the first encounter.

"Should I leave? They don't like me it seems."

Vernon whispered in your ear and you held his arm on an instinct, a gesture meaning no stay.

After some awkward glances and formal talks you were successful in stirring the fluidity between the three.

And now, Seungkwan and Junhui are more Vernon's friends then they are yours.

You are really content, though sometimes you get jealous how close they seem but it's funny how perfectly Vernon slots himself in your life.

What's funnier? It's the way your heart has been constricting whenever you're around Vernon. The air around get harder to breath in when he's too close to you. You know what it means, you're not dumb.

And because you're not dumb you know that harbouring a crush on Vernon is ridiculous because, well, he's handsome, he's a popular and he has the whole town lined up for him.

Everytime it occurs to you, a wistful sigh comes out and you end up waving the thoughts away.

Your memories of the past weeks makes you realise how Vernon clogs in each one of them.

"If I'm failing this class, it's on you."

Your GE lectures are similar expect nowadays you are occupying one of the chairs at back and Vernon's bag is of no use as he always lays his head on your shoulder quoting it gives him the best sleep.

"Stop being dramatic, take notes and let me sleep Y/N."

Instead of taking notes, you always end up counting his lashes, admire his sharp nose or linger your gaze on his lush lips.

"Don't you have a match tomorrow?"

You couldn't pinpoint since when you had started taking notes of his session calenders for the soccer matches.

"Will you come?"

It was kind off ritual to Vernon, asking you to attend the matches and getting a no everytime. Not that he minded, knowing you had no interest or knowledge in the sports, plus the extra classes you attended was taking much of your time and he would never want to add another baggage to your counter.

"Here, I made you porridge since you still have fever but decided to work your shift.", Vernon places the carrier on the counter sounding disappointed, "I got you some medicines as well."

After your shift ended, you found Vernon waiting for you by one of the tables. You took the carrier and pushed it to him, taking the seat adjacent to his.

"You want me to feed you?"

You didn't even have to answer him and he was opening the lids while holding the spoon in his hands.

The red tints on your cheeks were not from fever burns but because of the guy who was feeding you, even letting you use his other arm as a pillow but he didn't need to know that.

Seungkwan takes a sip of his Iced Americano in silence. Junhui is unusually quiet, he's the one spacing out today.

"You have done nothing except for sipping on that never ending drink", Vernon points to Seungkwan in an accusatory tone and turns to the one sitting beside him, "And you, are you awake? Are you sleeping? Are you even listening?"

Seungkwan lets out a hum, a poised one which makes Vernon anxious.

"So you admit to liking Y/N?"

Vernon cocks his brow, "Is this a court session? Am I being charged?"

"Just answer in Yes or No."

"Yes. I like her, a lot. I think I love her.", Vernon says it again, with sincerity and emphasis.

Junhui chimes in with a grin, "We know. You're damn obvious but", the grin is wipped off and seriousness ghosts over as he continues, "It's not that we don't trust you but we want to be sure that this is not some kind of prank or a bet which general goes on between the group of jocks. We have seen that a lot and everytime the one on recieving end gets heartbroken, mocked and it becomes their pain to bear."

"The one causing it is termed cool or passed as if it's obvious. It never effects the popular person. They go on as if nothing ever happened and their popularity remains the same.", Seungkwan picks up, "To be honest, your other circle is good, I have never seen or heard anything problematic which comes as a surprise but I hope you understand where we both are coming from."

"No one would want to see their friend suffer", Vernon says with stark seriousness, "I swear on Cheshire and Soccer that I really love Y/N and I want to court her."

Seungkwan gasps before closing the palms over his mouth.

Junhui stands on his feet wide eyed, the chair making the loudest screech because of the abrupt movement.

And Vernon thinks he had said something wrong. Incredibly wrong.

"Oh my god, did you hear him?", Seungkwan asks Junhui.

"He's totally smitten, gosh!", comes the other's response.

Vernon groans, heart pulsating a little lesser than before. He's at fault for forgetting how dramatic these two idiots can be.

They exchange a knowing glance before looking Vernon.

"Confess to her.", both of them say in unison.

Vernon is however unfazed, "Trust me I want to. If I could do it right now--"

"Do it as soon as you can.", Seungkwan encourages him.

"It's not easy when I know I'll get awkward around her", Vernon knows he's gonna spend some sleepless nights, "But I need to one up."

You are confused when you reach the shelter to see no signs of Vernon when he was the one to call you up to meet him here.

Cheshire meows at you, circling around your feet when you notice a note tied to her tail.

Turn left and walk past the tree if you wanna a play a game with me.

-Vernon

Your eyes squint searching for the creator of the note that you're holding as you turn around. You start walking towards the instructed place while Cheshire follows you.

Vernon is so nervous that if now someone asks him which team he plays for he'd mix up the names, his jersey number, even the position he plays in.

He almost jolts when he sees you approaching but Goodness Gracious his calming pill, Cheshire is also with you.

"What's the meaning of this note?"

"I want to send a code to you.", Vernon explains, "Answer three questions to get a slot each time and put it as a whole to decode my message."

You have never been this confused in your entire existence but you comply.

"First question,", Vernon says, his nervousness swaying away a bit, "Which jersey number is generally assigned to a team's first choice goalkeeper?"

The gears in your head don't need to turn at all.

You immediately respond, "When I said, I intake everything you speak about your passion including facts, I mean it.", your lips curl up, "The answer is 1."

Everytime he thinks his heart couldn't swell more you prove it wrong.

"Correct!", he is grinning, being so proud of you.

You mirror his grin

"Next question is... it's the easiest of all", his brows cocks at you, "What's the only self-enumerating number in English?"

You scoff and speak nonchalantly, "4. What am I, a four year old trying to memorize numbers?"

Vernon chuckles, "You got that correct too. Now time for the last question."

You brace yourself for the last one. Cheshire is seated on the ground, in between you two, her gaze moving from you to Vernon and vice versa.

"I am usually found with a couple of friends, Quarter a dozen, and you'll find me again. What am I?", he asks with a underlying tone, "Even though it's a riddle, you'll have to take the words as it is to crack this."

It's time you have use your brain. Riddles are meant to make you think about everything expect for the actual answer which most of times are present in the question itself.

Vernon watches you intently as you bite your nail, a habit of yours when you're thinking too hard. He crouches to pet Cheshire and the later purrs in content.

Some time passes by and you're still thinking of everything and anything unaware of the amused looks you're getting from both Vernon and Cheshire.

"Got it!", your sudden yell startles him, "The answer is 3!"

Vernon is instantly up on his heels as he smiles, "Congratulations for getting all the no-brainers correct.", he laughs when you scowl, "Now the last part, put the answers together and you'll get the code. Decode it and that'll be the message I'm trying to send you."

"Okay, let me put it together.", you mumble, "In order right? Then it's 1 4 3--"

You tongue gets tied and you look at Vernon with wide eyes. The nervousness that had simmered down comes back to him tenfold. He could feel his legs giving up when he meets your gaze.

None of you speak.

Both of you are frozen.

His heart might burst out of his chest if you prolong your answer one minute more. You only hope that what's Vernon trying to say is the only meaning to 143 that you know.

Cheshire, the cute little bean could also sense the tension between her adoptive parents. So she meows to stir some mobility.

Vernon thinks it's time he asks for his sake. He's about to open to his mouth when he hears you.

"I love you too.", you say so timidly and look away that Vernon has to close the gap between you two.

"Can you say it again?", he asks in desperation, "Do you really mean it?"

The index hooked under your chin, forces you to look at him.

"I love you, Vernon."

Comes your affirmation and the words that he needed to hear.

His head dips down to plant his lips on yours. Your arms circle around his neck and his settles on your waist.

He has his eyes opened while you have them closed. That's definitely a sight he'd love to see everyday, he's sure. You're loving the plush of his lips against yours and you don't miss how gentle his grip is on you. This feeling is so new yet so satisfactory that you'd need to have it everyday, you're sure.

"I love you, Y/N.", he whispers against your lips and you pull him back to have the touch of his lips again.

It's intoxicating.

You are kissing under the stars, moonlight being the only illumination on you both. The birds are chirping something soothing faraway and the cold breeze is doing nothing to cool you because it's Vernon, the only other you can feel on yourself.

You both break the kiss giggling when you hear another mewl from Cheshire. You immediately lift up the feline in your arms and Vernon is hugging you from back as you both pet her.

"You could have just confessed directly you know?", you crane your neck to tease him, "What if I got the answers wrong?"

Vernon pecks your forehead and says, "I had a lot of alternatives ready. I wouldn't have let you go until I got the correct answers from you."

You gaped at him in disbelief.

"Such a dork."

"But your dork", he laughs making you smile as well.

"How about we rename Cheshire to Cupid?"

"The shop is closed, we won't be taking anymore orders Sir.", you are half leaning on the counter and as you joke around with the man standing infront of you.

Your boyfriend.

Vernon is unfazed, "I was in a mood good, would have tipped you well."

You snort at his response and you're undoing the ties of your apron, "Well in that case, along with our regular menu I can provide you an exclusive item."

"Sounds good, can I know what it entails?"

You keep the apron inside the case and walk out from behind the counter. When you do so, Vernon is instantly pulling you to him as he entwines his fingers with yours.

"Would you prefer Coffee, Tea", you grin tightening your grip on him, "or just more of Me?"

Vernon feigns to ponder, even rubbing his chin for a good measure, "The last one sounds appealing. I'd always like to have you, love."

"You're so corny.", you're pinching the bridge of his nose, "Good that I love you."

Vernon just smiles and the warmth he's radiates is enough for you to thrive longer, to love stronger.

→ Do not copy, re-post, translate, or share any of my works on other platforms! All stories are copyrighted, joonsytip. ©️

[rwrbficrecs]

Readers' Choice Rec List Part 1 of 7

To celebrate 500 followers we thought we'd do a special rec list featuring recs submitted by all of you, the readers ❤️ Though at the time of posting this, we're at 800+ followers 🥺 From the volunteers and I, thank you for supporting this blog. We hope it's been a helpful resource! Hope you enjoy these recs, with a little comment from the reader. Thank you to everyone who submitted a fic rec 🥰 I'll be posting a list everyday till all 7 parts are posted Go and leave these authors some love ❤️ Happy Reading! Theme: A fic that you’d like to celebrate and give some love to ❤️ the poem you make of me by @omgcmere

@celaestis1: Just as they speculate under the linden tree, Henry is a writer; Alex a model. The story is just so beautiful, sweet and smutty and funny.

Omakase by @orchidscript

@historicallysam: Orchid made me fall in love with a brash American who wants respect and a stoic Brit who wants to be himself. I could read this story every single day.

We'll Invite Something In by @smc-27

@historicallysam: President ACD & HRH Prince Henry, grown up and willing to work for what they want. It's one of my top two favorite stories in this fandom.

Spoke Love to Soul by @celaestis1

@emmalostinwonderland: The story is gripping, the characters are compelling, and the myth they chose is really under-appreciated. I rode the entire rollercoaster of emotions with this one, and I would gladly do it again.

cover to cover by Anonymous

anon: The characters' voices are amazing and the narration is just super sweet! A feel-good fic for anyone craving a good intimate time.

On Thin Ice by @pirates-against-heterosexuality (WIP)

anon: A really sweet, in progress, NHL AU. It's in progress but It's really enjoyable so far, especially as it draws a lot of similarities to book moments, without being a copy.

Heartaches and Cupcakes and Sunshine Boys by @everwitch-magiks

anon: This was the first RWRB fic I read, and it's still my favorite! Henry as a writer (and her skill writing as Henry) and the emotional depth of this fic are things I need in every fic!

love dares you to change our way of caring about ourselves by @kapplebougher

anon: I am simply OBSESSED with this oneshot, I scream about it to anybody that will listen. I come back and read it every time I read the climax of Alex and Henry's argument in London. It is Henry POV and the first time I read it I truly wondered if it was CMQ writing Henry fic on AO3. Not only does it build on the signet ring and give background on what it means to Henry and parallels it with his parents, but it also weaves fire/water symbolism for Alex/Henry. The thing that gets me is the quote at the end though. It's just like the queer historical quotes from the emails in the books and it makes the ending SO PERFECT it just makes me go feral. I wish I could give it all the kudos!

Picture On Your Corkboard by bleedingballroomfloor

anon: absolutely beautiful and a roller coaster of emotions. 100% recommended.

religion's in your lips (even if it's a false god) by @coffeecatsme

anon: NSFW but also incredibly good and i need everyone to appreciate billie's writing!!!

Someday We Will Be Home by witchseeker1133

anon: this fic is incredibly special to me bc it was one of the first ones i read. it is very angsty but i think its worth a read.

[mulders-too-large-shirt]

juni's x files liveblog masterpost (s1-s3)

for those who love organization, you are in luck! here is a link to my thoughts on (almost) every single episode of the x files from seasons 1 through 3. i hope this is helpful for those who are new to my blog, want to relive certain moments, are watching along at their own pace, or any other sort of person who is interested. i'll be adding a link to this post to my pinned for convenience.

reminder that my first few thoughts were much shorter than my current ones, and they were posted on my main account. i even skipped note-taking on episode 2! i'll have to go back and rewatch someday. also, if an episode past the first few feels skipped over, it's probably because it featured content i felt uncomfy discussing in detail. you can read the post where i explained that choice here.

if you want to find my thoughts on episodes from season 4 and beyond, click here to find the next part of the masterlist!

season 1:

1x01 Pilot

1x03 Squeeze

1x04 Conduit

1x05 Jersey Devil

1x06 Shadows

1x07 Ghost in the Machine

1x08 Ice

1x09 Space

1x10 Fallen Angel

1x11 Eve

1x12 Fire

1x13 Beyond the Sea

1x14 Genderbender

1x15 Lazarus

1x16 Young at Heart

1x17 E.B.E.

1x18 Miracle Man

1x19 Shapes

1x20 Darkness Falls

1x21 Tooms

1x22 Born Again

1x23 Roland

1x24 Erlenmeyer Flask

favorite scully moments + things we learn about scully in s1

favorite mulder moments + things we learn about mulder in s1

favorite duo moments

season 2:

2x01 Little Green Men

2x02 The Host

2x03 Blood

2x04 Sleepless

2x05 Duane Barry

2x06 Ascension

2x07 3

2x08 One Breath

2x09 Firewalker

2x10 Red Museum

2x11 Excelsis Dei

2x12 Aubrey

2x13 Irresistible

2x14 Die Hand Die Verletzt

2x15 Fresh Bones

2x16 Colony

2x17 End Game

2x18 Fearful Symmetry

2x19 Død Kalm

2x20 Humbug

2x21 Calusari

2x22 F. Emasculata

2x23 Soft Light

2x24 Our Town

2x25 Anasazi

favorite scully moments

favorite mulder moments

favorite duo moments

season 3:

3x01 The Blessing Way

3x02 Paper Clip

3x03 D.P.O.

3x04 Clyde Bruckman's Final Repose

3x05 The List

3x06 2Shy

3x07 The Walk

3x08 Oubliette

3x09 Nisei

3x10 731

3x11 Revelations

3x12 War of the Coprophages

3x13 Syzygy

3x14 Grotesque

3x15 Piper Maru

3x16 Apocrypha

3x17 Pusher

3x18 Teso Dos Bichos

3x19 Hell Money

3x20 Jose Chung from Outer Space

3x21 Avatar

3x22 Quagmire

3x23 Wetwired

3x24 Talitha Cumi

favorite scully moments

favorite mulder moments

favorite duo moments

[marshallpupfan]

Marshall Merchandise Update! (Jan. 2025)

The new Air Rescue toys still haven't arrived in the United States (granted, I'm not sure they're available anywhere yet), but that doesn't mean I haven't managed to obtain a few items in the meantime!

Without further ado, here are the new additions to my collection!

Again, I tried to spruce up my pics with an image on my monitor. I figured why not pick something with snow, since Indiana's been getting hit with plenty here lately (and ice...). 😅

To start things off, here's something I received for Christmas! Not too long ago, a friend went to that indoor Nickelodeon Universe theme park, and when she seen this cup, she knew I had to have it. It's really cool! She'll likely read this, so once again, thank you for the gift!

Next up, another Christmas gift!

Another friend of mine, who lives in the United Kingdom, found this at a store called "Primark". She figured the United States wouldn't get any, so she sent it to me to add to my collection. And... I don't believe these are available in the USA at all, so she figured correctly! Actually, until I got this in the mail, I had no idea it even existed! What a wonderful surprise! I believe she'll also read this at some point, so once again, thank you!

Oh, she also sent me a Christmas-themed Marshall drawing, too! It's really awesome! I need to take this, as well as the other drawings people have made for me, and put them in a frame and hang them on my wall. Seriously, I'm honestly touched by all the folks who've done this for me. You're all awesome. :)

Yet another gift! This one was well after Christmas, however.

As you might recall, I was looking for one of these the other day, but my local Walmart either sold out quickly or didn't get any in (or, again, Marshall was disguised). I figured I'd have to wait until they got some in stock again, but much to my surprise, I didn't have to wait for too long, as my aunt visited another Walmart and found one! Funnily enough, she had no idea I was even looking for one. lol

Oh, and if you're curious, Bowser's back there to hold the plush up. Thanks for being a pal, koopa king! He's the best party member in Super Mario RPG... there, I said it! lol

Last, this "Booksy"... thing! I'm not entirely sure what to call it, but it's rather cute! Admittedly, I'm not sure if I'll take it out of the container or not. I might just leave it in there to keep it safe.

Now, why is it called Booksy? It's because this thing actually has a tiny book inside of it! Just unscrew the head and there it is. And from what I've seen, going by this Instagram post, each book is based on an episode of the TV series (not surprising). Assuming every Marshall booksy is the same, his is based on season 6's "Midnight at the Museum". I do recall that one being a fun episode, and it ended with Marshall helping out near the end, so it's not a bad choice!

Fortunately, the other pups got one of these, too. Even Rocky and Zuma! Everest and Liberty joined in on the fun as well (no Tracker, I think). In any case, if you want to buy one yourself, you can find them at Walmart (in the states, anyway).

And that's all for now! Oh, I should update you all on something I talked about a while back. I said I was reorganizing my whole Marshall collection, and once I finished, I was going to post some pics of it. I never did, and I have a reason.

.......I got lazy. 😅

Well, that, and I became a little too consumed with fixing that New Nintendo 2DS XL, which I also mentioned back then. Thankfully, it's fixed now (we don't need to talk about how much of an ordeal that was...), so I'll eventually get back to my collection... once I stop procrastinating. It's mostly finished, other than a few shelves. Hopefully I'll get some update pics up soon... soon-ish... someday!

[fayedartmouth]

1 jiara pre canon <3

Guys, this one never ended. I know technically drabbles are 100 words, which I have completely ignored, but this one got wildly out of control. I don't know, it's a fic, though! Jiara pre canon, per request. Lots of not-unrequited pining that they're not willing to realize just. yet. This is more shippy than h/c, for anyone keeping track at home. It's also JJ being JJ, and constantly thinking he's not good enough.

Maybe someday I'll polish some of these and post on AO3?? I don't know. Maybe not, lol.

It's been a long day.

Money's tight again -- correction, Luke's high again, which means there's not much food in the fridge, and JJ just flunked another test.  Luke had been just high enough to answer the phone when the teacher called -- but not too high to forget the whole conversation happened, and JJ had tried to explain something, which only resulted in saying nothing.

There's nothing he could have said.  Luke would have beat the shit out of him either way.

At least when he's high, his coordination is off, so the glancing blows to his face were nothing much to write home about.  The split lip will heal quickly, and his eye is barely going to bruise.

But he'd gotten the ribs pretty good.

The worst of it, though, is the way he jarred his wrist.  This had been incidental -- not even really Luke's fault.  When his fist hit JJ's face, he feinted and tripped over his own damn feet. He'd caught himself on his wrist, jamming it hard.  The pain had been momentarily blinding, which is why Luke had had such good access to his ribs. 

That's on JJ, though.  For being a dumb ass.  He basically asked for that one.

All the same.  This day is long, and this day is shit, and JJ crawls out of his house and limps his way to his bike, swerving his way haphazardly all the way to the Chateau.  It's probably concerning how blurry everything is, but he's fine.  All he has to do is get inside, borrow some ice from John B, crack a beer, light a joint, and forget.

That's the plan.

But when he trips up the stairs to the Chateau, he nearly crashes through the front door.  He's too loud and cumbersome, banging the door against the wall as his equilibrium falters.  He hits his wrist by accident and hisses, and he's making such a racket that he doesn't realize that John B's not home.

Kiara is, though.

He looks at her.

She looks at him.

"Hey," he says dumbly, as if he's not bruised and wheezing.

"Hey," she replies, frowning at him because he is.

"I, um," he starts, but he's not sure what to say.  "Is John B here?"

"No," she says.  "I was waiting for him.  The door was unlocked.'

She says that like she needs to explain, like the Chateau isn't open to all of them any time they want.  It's always been that way, even when Big John was around.  Now that he's missing, it's even more so.  It's home.

"Right," JJ says, and he swallows.  He's getting his equilibrium back, at least, so he's not about to fall down.  But he's keenly aware of how everything aches.  "Do you know when he'll be back?"

JJ tries to be chill about it, but the truth is, he's not sure he can BS his way through this forever.  John B knows his secrets; John B knows his tells.  He knows not to ask, which means JJ doesn't have to hide as much.

Around Kie and Pope, though?

Well, he's got an image to maintain.

"Soon, I think," she says.  She's standing awkwardly by the couch, where she's clearly been sitting, reading a book.

JJ tries to saunter forward, but his movements are stiff.  He does his best not to grimace, even as he eyes the freezer in the kitchen with some yearning.  He could go for ice right now.  For his ribs.

Shit, for his wrist.

He wants to cry as he stops short, trying to look nonchalant.  "You want to hang out?"

He hates the words as soon as he says them.  How the hell is he going to hang out?  He can't do anything but sit on a couch and do his best not to cry.  What if she wants to go surfing?  What if she wants to go for a ride on his bike?

What if she wants to make out because she secretly loves him?

He blinks -- hard.  And gets his head back on straight.

He didn't think Luke hit him that hard in the head, but maybe.  He's thinking delusional.  He knows Kiara doesn't think about him like that.  She's told him so.  Repeatedly.  Vigorously.

Because JJ needs to be told explicitly that he's not good enough.

Kiara steps closer to him, frowning.  "JJ, are you okay?"

"What?  Yeah," he says, and he moves his hand to flit his fingers through the air.  He picks the wrong hand, though.  It hurts like a son of a bitch, and he bites hits teeth together hard.  "I'm great."

She is wholly unconvinced.  "JJ, this is bullshit," she says flatly.  "I know you're hurt."

"What?" he scoffs.  "I'm not hurt.  I'm absolutely fine.  100% in fact.  Couldn't be better--"

Even as he says it, she reaches out and takes his wrist.  Her touch isn't strong, but the slightest contact is too much.  The pain is sudden and unexpected; it blinds him for a moment, and everything goes strangely black.  He hears her yelp, and then her hands are grasping his biceps, shaking him upright once more while his vision clears.

"I'm fine," he says, unable to keep his words from slurring.  "I'm fine."

She lifts his arm, careful to hold it by the elbow.  He looks down, too, and sees that the flesh has purpled and is swollen twice its size.  It looks worse than it feels--

Until his fingers twitch without his permission, and the white hot pain lances up his arm again.  No, it looks as bad as it feels.  Shit.

"Shut up, JJ," she says, and her voice is stern even if her eyes are soft.  When he blinks, she's looking right at him in that way that gives him no place to hide.  "I know you're hurt."

The denials build in his throat, but he can't bring himself to say them.  It's too stupid, even for him.  He's standing there, swollen wrist and battered body and he's not sure why he bothers.  All he does is hurt, and all this pretending is exhausting.  He feels like he's coming apart, like he's already come undone, and sooner or later everyone will see it.

Just like Kiara does.

It scares him for a second, heart hammering as her fingers brush up against his bruised cheek and split lip.  It's so gentle that he doesn't know what to do.  It's a comfort he doesn't know how to accept, but it's not like can fight it.

It's not like he can fight her.

Pretty and smart and perfect and--

Her finger press down again.  "Can you move your hand?"

He inhales sharply, tears stinging in his eyes.  That door is closed, he reminds himself.  It's locked; they're friends.

And even that is too much.  More than he knows what to do with.

"JJ," she says again.

He takes a shaky breath and reluctantly wiggles his fingers.  He's almost surprised when it works, the pain at a just barely manageable level.

She nods, padding her fingers carefully along the damaged skin.  "Might just be a bad sprain," she murmurs.  "We'll need to ice it; get the swelling to go down."

This was his plan in the first place, but she says it like that.  So calm and so sure, so he nods.  He lets her guide her to the kitchen, and when she pushes him to the kitchen chair, he sits down obediently, hand cradled in his lap as she opens the freezer and rummages around.

She finds the ice and opens up a drawer, pulling out a dishcloth.  She wraps the ice and gives it a few squeezes, trying to get it to start melting before she comes back to JJ.  he watches as she approaches, and they both go still as she sits in the chair opposite him.  She hesitates as he holds his breath, before she reaches out the ice to press it to the tender flesh.

He can't feel it at first, just a slight pressure, but the cold sets in slowly, burning first and then numbing.  She adjusts it slightly, moving it carefully around the bruised and swollen appendage.  "This should help," she says, studying his wrist.  "What happened anyway?"

She looks up at him, then, and her eyes make him stop.  His heart thuds in his chest and his ears ring.  The thought of a concussion occurs to him again.

Also, it's possible, he's still in love with her.

"I fell," he says, and it's the truth at least.  "At home.  I fell."

She blinks at him for a moment, staring at him like she's not sure if he's telling the truth or not.  She seems to sense a lie, but she's not sure it's her place to question it.

He's not sure if he wants her to question it.  Part of him does.  Part of him wants her to care about him like that.  Part of him wants them to be that open.  He would love to be vulnerable to her, to let her take care of him, the way he wants anyone to care.

But part of him doesn't.  It's horrifying to think about.  That she might know the truth.  That she might look at him and see a beaten child and not the man he's trying to be.  He doesn't want to be broken; he doesn't want to spend his life defective.  He doesn't want her pity.

He'll take her rejection; he'll bear her friend zone.

But never her pity.

JJ doesn't have much -- no stature, no money, hardly any pride -- but he has this.  He has his place with them.  He's a Pogue.  He makes them smile; he helps them piss around.  He makes them forget how terrible life can be, and he's the life of every party.

He has that.

It's what they want from him.

And it's something he can give.

So he grins.  "I'm such a klutz," he jokes, mustering up some of the familiar spark. 

It's the right thing to say.  She huffs, smiling cracking over her expression.  "You could try being careful."

"Where's the fun in that?" he quips, doing his best not to wince as she moves the ice again.  "Got to live a little, Kie."

She smiles -- but it fades.  For a second, she bites her lip.  "Are you sure you're okay, JJ?"

She's asking for real, is the thing.  She's giving him a chance, an opening.

It's almost like the door is open just a crack.

So he shrugs diffidently.  "Never better," he says brashly, pulling back his arm and taking the ice in to his own hand.  "But I am starving.  Do you think John B has any food?"

Kiara scoffs.  "Does he ever?"

"Sometimes," JJ says, and he gets up, still icing his wrist as he walks to the pantry.  He lifts his hand for a moment, swinging it open.  "Score.  Mac and cheese!"

She raises her eyebrows at him.  "Nothing like chemically made, over-processed garbage--"

"AKA amazing," JJ says, rummaging around with one hand for a pot.  He hits his wrist and gasp.  He tries to hide it, but isn't fast enough.  Kie is on her feet, bracing him before he can stop it.

"I'll make it, okay?" she says.

She's too close. Her  touch is too real.  Her eyes on him, their breathing in tandem.

He pulls back with a sharp exhale.  "Yeah, I guess."

Because you can know things without understanding them.  You can even know things without acknowledging them.

And not all pain is physical.

The worst kinds aren't.

"Just make sure the milk isn't rancid," he advises, letting his tone go light again.  "I mean, a few days past -- sure.  But if that shit is curdled--"

Kiara makes a face.  "Yeah, we're not using outdated milk."

"It can be a little outdated," he protests.

"No, it really can't," she says, opening the fridge and extracting what's left of the milk.

"Sour milk is a thing, Kie," he says seriously.

"A thing to make you sick, sure," she says, inspecting the label.

"A little shit didn't hurt anyone," he says.

"Well, you're in luck," she says.  "The milk is good.  I'll make your mac and cheese."

His wrist still throbs, but it doesn't seem to hurt as much as it did before.  He watches her as she cooks, busying herself -- taking care of him.

He hates it as much as he loves it.

He can't take it; he can't.  "I can do it," he says suddenly, stepping back in and taking the box from her.  It's not easy with one hand, but shit, he doesn't care.

"But you're hurt--"

"I'm fine," he says, and it's a trick to pick up the pot and fill it -- he has to put the ice down to do it -- but he manages it.  He puts it back on the stove, sloshing some onto the burner.  "See?  I can do it."

She looks taken aback, but she nods a little.  "Okay," she says, almost reluctant in her tone.  "If you say so."

"I insist," he says, more grandiose than needed.  He doesn't think about the pain in his wrist.  He doesn't think about the pain -- period.  He thinks about that closed door between them, and how he needs to throw away that damn key once and for all.  Fine is what you choose be, not what you are. 

Nevermind that he came here for a reprieve.  Nevermind that he came here hurt.

Nevermind.

"You like it extra cheesy?" JJ asks, turning the burner on high and rummaging through the fridge again.  He produces a block of cheese.  "This doesn't even look moldy yet."

She manages to look not entirely disgusted.  "Extra cheesy it is, then."

Nevermind.

Because the day doesn't seem so long anymore.

[waldorph]

20 questions for fic writers

tagged by @screamlet, mwah babe!

1. How many works do you have an AO3? 142

2. What’s your total AO3 word count? 833,588

3. What fandoms do you write for? currently? harry potter, spn (hey, those fic could see the light of day, you don't know), and a surprise (even to me) star trek. maybe someday I'll be in a modern/current fandom again.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

The Weight of Words (Merlin, Merlin/Arthur)

Bluebird (Star Trek, Kirk/Spock)

Magpie (Star Trek, Kirk/Spock)

You Can Hear It In the Silence (MCU/Brooklyn-99, gen)

A Beautiful(ly Illogical) Mind (Star Trek, Kirk/Spock)

5. Do you respond to comments? I try to! I usually do on recently-posted fics more than I do for older ones - pure recency bias

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

Grinkov (Yuuri!!! On Ice)

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending? Hmm...I think the majority, actually. Most recently The Trouble with Wanting (Harry Potter, Harry/Draco) and chaos & revelry (Star Trek, Kirk/Spock)

8. Do you get hate on fics? Very rarely. Usually people who don't understand what "Choose Not to Warn" means.

9. Do you write smut?

Yup

10. Do you write crossovers?

Only once, the Brooklyn Nine Nine/Captain America cross-over which was actually @leupagus' idea.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Yes, a couple have been stolen onto wattpad. Weirdly only my het ships.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yes! Always a thrill

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before? yes!!!! but not in a long time, 14. What’s your all time favorite ship? Kirk/Spock. It feels like home.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will? Look, look. I have learned to never say never.

16. What are your writing strengths?

Dialogue and angst

17. What are your writing weaknesses? I'm really, really good at starting fics. Like, so good at it. And then I get to the middle-ish parts and am like, oh. This cannot continue to coast on vibes I must actually write a story. 18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic? Pro, though I don't know I've done it for any real languages, only Star Trek languages. I would be very nervous about doing it right. 19. First fandom you wrote for? doctor who. It was a 100 word drabble and has been lost to the livejournal graveyard. 20. Favorite fics you’ve written? I have a series for just that!

[tc-doherty]

💜 for Dante and Nyari

Hopefully this is satisfactory for you! Nyari is a bit of a hot mess and I haven't written enough of them as adults to see how he works himself out of it. But still, I love them and was happy to write about them!

Sort of a direct continuation of something I wrote and posted on here ages ago lol

Word Count: 544

I'm play this ask game~

"How much do you remember?" Dante asked him.

It was long after dinner now. Nyari hadn't meant to stay, did not like relying on the hospitality of others and yet, somehow, he still had not left.

How much did he remember? Not much. Just enough to know that this was not the same.

Dante was so…so elegant now, with his silk and his gold and silver jewelry and his long hair, so dignified with his placid smile and calm, deliberate movements.

Dante had served him a real meal, with real porcelain dishes and real crystal goblets, with real manners, with high quality wine – not that he had drunk any himself, of course – and light, acceptable conversation. Now he was now resting on some kind of fancy couch.

But Nyari was the same rough and prickly street brat he'd always been. He sat on the floor, his back to Dante, resting against the couch.

"Only a little. The last time I saw you…"

Right, that last night. Dante had not been elegant, then, back when they were kids. He had been loud, excitable. He had been awkward and enthusiastic and a bit handsy.

Loneliness had driven Dante manic, back then, and now he'd grown into it.

But Nyari hadn't known, hadn't understood or cared, back then.

Dante had driven him nuts.

And that night, the night he remembered, there'd been festival or some such thing. Dante'd been so excited about it. They had eaten dinner around the fire, him, and Dante, and…and…and the others, the ones he couldn't remember. And Dante had, at some point, thrown his arms around Nyari and kissed him.

It was nothing. It couldn't have been anything. They were what, twelve? Thirteen? It was nothing, but still too much for Nyari who had, opposite of Dante, never been allowed privacy or solitude.

He had lost his temper. Had snapped at Dante, back then, driven him off and not seen him since, until tonight.

Taiya…right, Taiya, that was one of them. The people he couldn't remember. Taiya had scolded him fiercely, but it was too late. Dante had already gone.

He had gone, and Nyari had not seen him again. Not until today, when he had greeted Nyari as if nothing at all happened.

One of Dante's arms lay across his eyes – were they bothering him? he'd given no sign of it earlier – but the other dangled down next to Nyari. He had removed those clunky silver bangles earlier, and the scars on his wrists stood out even in the dim lighting, pale as ice. Scars left by a curse unrelated to Nyari's but which had, so briefly, brought the two of them into each other's company.

Before he could second-guess himself, Nyari took hold of Dante's arm and placed a light kiss there, on those scars.

"I'll pay you back what I owe you, someday," he said.

He didn't turn around, but he could hear the smile in Dante's voice as he said, "I look forward to working with you again, then."

Nyari hadn't let go of Dante's arm and now Dante worked himself loose, sliding his fingers along to entangle with Nyari's.

"You'll stay the night, of course."

Oh, why not? It was already this late.

"Of course," Nyari said.

[chaeyapper]

Did you saw that post asking if Kaeya was going to beat his impostor syndrome today?

Well, Childe who sees/hears about Kaeya doing something really impressive and then is in ear range when someone asks Kaeya about his day like—

Traveler: ... I'm glad seem to be fine. I heard there was a huge avalanche there.

Paimon: wait. Don't tell Paimon. The cryo user the town people where talking about were you?!

Kaeya: haha, they said something about me? I didn't think I had stayed long enough to leave an impression worth to tell. But then again, I did went as a representative of the knights, so maybe is for the better?

[the conversation sidetracks]

Childe, who was drinking tea in a store nearby: you, didn't you say the cavalry captain of Mondstadt had resolved the matter of the mud and trees blocking the way?

Random fatui agent: Yes, he did. To begin with, the rests of the avalanche only reached so far on the path because, quoting to the villagers "that handsome young man almost freezed himself to deviate it away from the town". According to Dmitri, "that stickman of a person then went and led volunteers to clear the worst of shit on the road".

Childe: and that's "an impression not worth to tell"? Just how high are his standards?

(Childe: By the way, tell Dmitri he's next on Xiangling duty. Captain Kaeya is not a stickman, he's just slim. Maybe too slim. Do you think he's more of a sweets person or spicy person?

Random Fatui: ... I've heard he enjoyed the cuisine at Sumeru.)

Cue Childe, who thinks Kaeya's standards are higher than Dragonspine (instead of just reclutant to acknowledge his own merits at full value), using his wildest stories to try and win Kaeya. Just, his standards aren't normal either. So he isn't like "that time I was surrounded by enemies" as other people would do, but goes straight to the trauma inducing ones.

So he walks right to him and says things like, "You must be the Cavalry Captain, right? I'm Childe. Did the traveller ever told you about the time I fought a whale?"

Strangely enough, it works because Kaeya is A) too curious to not listen to his stories after such odd lines, and B) too invested to not sit through the whole retelling.

That's how he gets his attention. But Kaeya ends up falling for him for way more mundane reasons, like being sweet or something.

Childe: I don't what I'd had done if you didn't agree to a date with me at that moment. I was running out of stories to impress you.

Kaeya: Those stories, you were telling them to conquer me?

Childe: Yes? Your standards are quite high. What else should I've done to make you fall for me?

Kaeya: My standards— darling, the reason I started to like you wasn't for how many death battles you survived, but because you love your family a lot, are great with children and I think you're fun and endearing.

Childe: ...You like me because I'm, what, sweet?

Kaeya: Yes. I think that's really attractive in a man. Though, I must admit being strong doesn't hurt.

Childe: *whispering* I knew it. *Out loud* By the way, have I told you about the time I learned to make my mom's special soup so Teucer could eat it while she was away?

Kaeya, practically melting: *sighs in lovesick* Do tell me more, please.

Alternatively,

Childe, who is telling someone about his siblings' last shenanigans: and then I had to get Tonia ice skaters, but the rest saw and wanted too— you know how children are—. I think I almost spent half of my salary in that store only. *Laughs* At least they enjoyed it. I'm a little worry they'll run and try to slide in any frozen surface, though.

Kaeya, pulling the seat next to him: well, if they ever come to Mondstadt, I'll be happy to freeze Starfell lake for them. Safely, of course. *Crosses a leg and rests his chin on his hand*

Childe, having no idea who this guy is, but thinking he's one of the prettiest people he has met: Really? Then I'll take my siblings to Mondstadt someday. My next vacations, maybe.

Kaeya, with a little smile and staring at his face: That's encomiable. Sounds like you're a great brother.

Childe, confused but also staring back: Thanks, comrade. I try. Uhm, who are you?

Kaeya: Oh. How rude of myself. Kaeya Alberich, Knights of Favonius. *Does the traditional greet and all*

Childe, trying hard not to stare at his boob window now he's seen it: Well, I'm Childe. Nice ch— I mean, nice name. Your name is really pretty.

Xiao: ...what is happening?

Zhongli: I believe this is the so called young love. Oh, I remember being young, couples were more passionately back then.

Xiao: More than that? They just met and are trying to sit on the same chair.

Kaeya and Childe: *practically lost in their own little world, more and more close per minute, pink air around them*

Zhongli: They were difficult times.

Ten minutes later,

Traveler, carrying food: I'm back, what did I miss? Wha— *gets their mouth blocked by Zhongli*

Zhongli: Don't interrupt them. This could be good for Childe.

Paimon: Kaeya?!

Kaeya, remembering they weren't alone: *stops midkissing* Uh, hi *notices he's almost hugging Childe* Ah. Apologies. *Hides his face out of embarrassment*

Childe, talking to himself: Oh my Tsaritsa, he's blushing.

—They speedrun the relationship.

whew that was long, btw are you the same anon in my inbox these past few days? not complaining though cause im eating these all up

kaeya with impostor syndrome do you want me to CRY? insecure kaeya with issues in general makes me so sad in a positive way

KAEYA IS THE LISTENER TO CHILDE'S YAPPER I LOVE THEM SM

i love it when childe's family gets involved in his relationships, it's so sweet

YES THEYD DEFINITELY SPEEDRUN THE RELATIONSHIP AND FALL SO QUICKLY EWW THEY MAKE ME SICK

[superfluouskeys]

Asking 37 with definitely no particular agenda

37. Talk about your current wips.

Aaaaaaaaaaaah I wish I could give you more spider lady info but it's tbh kind of a major plot point 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Nobody in that part of the plot has like a real name yet so I'm just calling the two major characters Spider and Lightbringer which is very normal.

Currently also on the brain rotisserie is developing a Squad(TM) for Tamsin so I'll ramble about that instead!

The first person her own age that she meets at the Academy is tentatively named Eustace, and Eustace looooves to talk. She can talk to a fence post. She knows everything about everyone and unfortunately does not always know when to shut tf up. She ends up being the reason some of the girls get in big trouble, and gets iced out pretty badly until she can figure out how to make amends.

Next we have Briallyn, who is kind of a foil/counterpoint to Tamsin. She's very naturally talented with magic and was born pretty close to the turning of the year, so there's a lot of gentle suggestion that she might be the person in the prophecy. But Briallyn had a happy life and feels like the discovery of her gift was a huge burden that she absolutely does not want. As a result she comes off as kind of aloof/stuck-up and causes a lot of trouble.

So there's the Academy for the magical, right, and then across the water there's another school with the same vibe but for the nonmagical. The schools used to be a lot more interconnected but there's weird bad blood now so they don't really interact much. Initiates at the Academy aren't supposed to make any contact with the outside world until they're further along in their training, anyway, and so the nonmagical school is now considered "the outside world." Briallyn, being categorically sick of this shit, passes messages across the water to the nonmagical school and sets up a clandestine meeting across the world's least structurally-sound bridge.

This is how we meet as-yet-unnamed friend (considering Cerid or Vaelyn--I FEEL like it's Vaelyn but I really like the name Cerid and want to use it for someone LOL!), who gets off to a pretty rocky start with Tamsin. Probably-Vaelyn is also an orphan and also ran away from an arranged marriage, but she was in...I don't want to say a worse situation, but a more obviously bad one, and she ran away of her own volition to train as a warrior. She sees Tamsin as kind of ungrateful, and as someone passive who just lets things happen to her where she feels she didn't really have that option, and this obviously rubs Tamsin the wrong way lol.

Before they can realize they've actually got a lot in common, though, the secret meetings get busted and they're not able to communicate.

(I'm literally so undecided about warrior-friend's name I just thought of another name that wasn't even on the list that I might like instead LOL)

SOMEday I will have enough brain cells to write again but until that time ty for indulging my desire to ramble!!!!!! Hopefully this was at least adjacent to your definitely-non-agenda for asking!

Fic Writer 40 Questions

[jackalfurbyposting]

Furbies I Would Love to Have One Day:

(Or: My favorite furbies I found while browsing ebay and the furby wiki)

(images mostly from the first search engine results & the furby wiki)

1: A jester furby!

I mean, come on... They are oh so adorable!! The checker pattern, the pompoms, the magenta feet...But unfortunately I don't think I'll ever be able to have one since they're so ridiculously expensive 😔 Whilst getting a picture for this post I saw one going for over $600

2: Slightly more attainable, the Valentine's day Furby!

I lovveeee Valentine's Day themed stuff (despite likely being arospec but cough cough we dont need to talk about that.)

I also just really love pink . Look at this cutie pie!! I love the brown eyes on it since it's like chocolate... The green looks really good too! Green + pink my favorite color scheme ever...

3: The Flamingo Furby!

Once again . pink. I chose this image because it looks like it's scheming.... Wonderful beast. Another one that's marvelous with every eye color . 10/10 creature I love these things !!

4: The autumn/witch Furby!

The little hat??? Is so cute ??? Just . Adorable I love it so much. I prefer winter and spring(we're getting to spring wink wink) as seasons, but autumn does have some pretty impeccable vibes . Especially on a furby.

5: Angel furby!

This probably should have been higher on the list next to the jester bc i was like. Vaguely organizing them from like. Most expensive/hard to get to easiest but i forgot 🙏

Anyways if you know me atall you know that I. Love. Angels. To a concerning degree. And the purple eyes ? Best design choice ever ?? Looks fantastic?? Really otherworldly while still being cute. Obsessed.

6: Spring time furby! (Baby or adult)

The light purple is just so nice... It reminds me of the lilacs that bloom in a bunch of different shades of purple at my grandparents' house during the spring, which makes it extra sweet looking to me! It's kind of confusing with the baby version that apparently wasn't special addition- but yaknow what it's cute so it's ok.

7: Lime Green Baby!

I cannot express to you how much I love this cutie... little keylime pie lookin ass. Adorable. Also green is my favorite color so-

8: Sunny Baby!!

Look at how delightful this creature is! This is the one I'm most likely getting soonish- I absolutely adore the sunny babies! They are just one of the cutest things on beautiful planet earth to me. I'm so dedicated to getting one of these sweethearts once I move I already have a list of name ideas... (Any suggestions would be welcome!)

Before I move on to the last two furbs, here are some honorable mentions:

Confetti, Clown, Primary, Mint Green, Red wolf, and wizard.

9: Strawberry Milk furby!

Honestly I'd be happy with any of the 2005 furbies (the adult ones, not the babies... those were the only actually scary furbies lmao). They're all pretty pricey, but I think someday I'll be able to find at least one- I'd be satisfied with that. Also i really like this one specifically bc it reminds me of vanilla ice cream with red velvet chunks in it.

10: Funky Purple Furby!

Last but definitely not least!

Again- I'd be happy with any of the '05 furbs, but something about the green and purple here is so charming to me . This will probably stay a dream though, since the funky ones are even more expensive than the regular ones.

And that's all of my dream furbies!! It was mostly just an excuse to talk about the ones I like, i doubt I'll ever get my hands on most of them- but I had a lot of fun making this!

Anyway if anyone ever wants to talk about furbies or show off theirs you are absolutely more than welcome to dm me I will be over the moon!!

🩷 have a lovely day/night !!

[goldoanheart]

April Fools!

Kurth thinks that he never should have accepted that strange potion from those (probably well meaning) students last night. But still, who gave their fellow student a potion that supposedly “revealed your true self” expecting anything to go right in that situation? His laguz form barely fits in the room as he wakes up, curled tight into himself like a snake resting on its eggs.

Wait.

That raised a bigger problem.

How exactly was he supposed to leave this room? He was certain that the monastery wouldn’t appreciate property damage, but it wasn’t exactly like a dragon the size of a tower could get up and move easily without causing some sort of wreckage. And it wasn’t like he could exactly talk to convey this problem either.

Well, he supposed he would just have to live with it for now. Surely it couldn’t last that long, right?

send 🐉 for an interaction with big ol dragon kurth! he’ll try his best to communicate, though it may not end up all too well <3

[yellowvixen]

Hi, hello! Binturong anon with a lot of word vomit here, so be warned. I just read your reply to my ask and I'm so happy right now! I was slightly worried for a bit that you didn't like my silly little story, but hearing that you put off posting it because you liked reading it made me feel warm inside. And you want to draw it someday??? 😳 I can't believe this I'm hdhdjgk

As for my Sol OCs, I do have a few that are specifically parallels, but I'm never quite happy with them. There's always so many good ideas and I sometimes end up finding other people's takes on them that are SO cool (like Rime!) or that have ideas I was thinking of and I'm suddenly paranoid that I'm ripping off somebody else's character...

I absolutely get the struggle of deciding things like species, there's so many cool animals to use and I freaking struggled deciding on ones for mine. The Knuckles one is probably one of the most complete actually, but unfortunately I cannot show you her or any others because I'm not an artist. 😞 So I just rotate them all in my head until I think "Nice" and put it down on a digital notepad. I'm always interested to see others create their takes on them though! I'm certainly interested in all of yours!

I never considered Team Dark, apart from my Sol Shadow, who's definitely the least thought out. There's so many other cool ones out there, so I never really bothered. The few I have, if you're curious, are supposed to be Knuckles and Amy, to round out Blaze and Marine's Classic Quartet basically. And also a different Sol Eggman, because Blaze's nemesis being Eggman in G-major feels like a kick in the face to both Blaze and the actual Eggman 😒. (I also have a Sol Big but she's technically a joke character. She's also really small. I gave her a dinosaur though, as all women deserve.)

Anyway, basically just wanted to let you know that Rime is cool and I'm going to be thinking about that reply for the foreseeable future. Have a good week!

SORRYY I LEFT THIS SO LONG stuff kept happening and then I got ill and then more stuff happened 😩

But! Yeah!! I think it's cool seeing other people's ideas for stuff like this, like I know for sure there are other versions of Sol Shadow out there that are ice powered cats like Rime!! I don't rlly think it's the end of the world if people independently come up with the same ideas as long as you don't purposefully copy anyone.

God you're so right about there being so many cool animals to choose from... Sol Rouge was easy for me but everyone else is being a pain skfjfhdgd. Eventually I'll figure them out though. (One day I promise...) Also! It seems like you have the descriptions of characters down even if you can't draw them, so you could always commission someone!!

I love the idea of Sol Amy too, I personally have 0 ideas for them so might not design my own version tbh. But having a Sol Classic 4 is super cute! You could have a lot of fun with their designs too, the way classic Amy looks pretty different from modern Amy. Sol Eggman too... I've just kinda retconned Nega and made him actually be from the Sol dimension idc about canon LOL I haven't thought about it too much.

Also TINY SOL BIG??? I'm in love that's so cute and such a fun alt version. With a dinosaur too FUCK yes.

I really love how imaginative people are when it comes to the Sol dimension, actually giving it more characters and lore! If sega won't give it love then at least we will 😤

Thank you sm for enjoying Rime, and once again sorry this took so long for me to answer 🥲🩵 I hope you have a nice week too!!!

[thunder-the-ranger-wolf]

Someday I guess, someday at best

Some post I can’t remember got me thinking about cousins and them showing up for each other randomly and I have word vomit over a fic I haven't touched in years.

Phil Coulson and Tony Stark are cousins in the way that Peggy Carter and Howard Stark were friends. They show up for each other. But that's more Tony dropping in at random times and Phil knowing when he's needed. Here's the latter.

AS KIDS

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever. I brought ice cream and apple juice."

"You're weird." "I can go-!"

"Mine!" Tony snapped, springing forward. "You said it's for me."

"I said I brought ice cream and apple juice."

"You're the worst."

"Yap yap yap."

"Say, we're cousins, right?"

"Yep."

"Then how come my dad and your grandma are the same age?"

"Men can have kids until they fuckin die or something and women can't."

"That's bullshit."

"Sure is."

"I wish my dad was dead."

"Someday."

LITERALLY RIGHT AFTER THE WORST OVERSEAS TRIP EVER

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever. I brought that detox shit that worked on Annie. Figure you'll want something to kick the shakes."

"Shakes stopped a week ago. Just nightmares now."

"Ain’t that a damn shame... I'll think of something."

"Good luck with that."

BATTLING IRON MONGER

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever. Pepper's fine. You were a dumbass last night and I'm pretty sure I need to get my ears checked."

"Join the club, pal, that thing never went on the market for a reason."

PRE-PRESS CONFERENCE

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever. I brought good news and bad news. You have a press conference. I tried to tell Fury you'll nix his idea but he wants you to see it anyway."

Tony snatches the paper from Phil's hand and gives it a once-over.

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. What, does he want me to split myself in half and call the clone whatever the press is running with?"

"He wants you to not die."

"Fair enough. Now what's the good news?"

DEATH PARTY CLEANUP

"The fuck're you doin 'ere?"

"Being the best cousin ever. I brought burges, Supernanny, and a fuckton of cleaning supplies. You and me are gonna get this place back to some form of habitant and we're gonna bitch at those incompetent shitheads while we do it."

"Why should I? Not like it'll matter in a few weeks."

"It matters now. C'mon. We can get burgers and ice cream after."

KIN GETS FIRST CALL PT I

"The fuck do you want?"

"I'm not the person you want to see. I'm sorry I don't know if you’ll ever see him again."

"He's alive?"

"It's touch-and-go. I came to give you the room he'll be in when he's stable."

"Thanks, I guess. Fuck off."

"Fucking off."

KIN GETS FIRST CALL PT II

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever and the most alive I've been in fuck knows how long. You got any ice cream?"

"Sure do. Check the freezer. You tell your spy twins yet?"

"They're on leave. He'll, so am I right now. Catch me up. What season of Supernanny are we up to?"

SHIT'S FUCKED AND SHIELD IS DEAD

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Bout to be the worst cousin ever. I brought the worst movie ever, some ice cream, and everclear."

"Everclear?! What the fuck?!"

"You're gonna want it after you see this."

"Phil, what the actual fuck?"

"I need you to watch it first. Before I lose my nerve. You need to know."

"Fine, whatever. I was having a bad night anyway. Jarvis is scooping up as many of your burned folks as he can."

"Great. Thanks. Not why I'm here."

"Play the damn tape, Jarvis."

"You're gonna want the everclear in the ice cream and a fuckton of it."

"Why?"

"Don't ask."

"I'm damn well asking, Phil, why the fuck are we falling off the wagon?!"

"It's... it's about the drunk driver."

"Shit. Pour the damn can into the ice cream. What the hell came up after all this time?"

GUESS WHO'S BACK

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being a loafer. I bring absolutely nothing but chaos in 3... 2... 1..."

The elevator rang and out trooped the fuckers who decided to live there. Tony exhaled the world-weariest sigh he could muster. "Is that Coulson?!"

"Yep."

DEAGING OF ULTRON: THAT'S NOT HOW CODE WORKS PT I (STAND DOWN)

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Being the best cousin ever. You're going to bed. This code can wait."

"I just got-."

"No. You're getting sleep and probably checked out tomorrow. Fuckin touching random glowing shit. You're just like your father."

"Says the carbon-copy grandchild of the spoilsport."

DEAGING OF ULTRON: THAT'S NOT HOW CODE WORKS PT II

"The fuck are you doing here?"

"Getting you the fuck outta here. Jarvis's backups kicked in. He's missing maybe a week or two, but he's stable."

"Thank you. Really thought that fucker killed him."

"More of a whack to the head. Let's get him up to speed, yeah? And call in some reinforcements. If this Ultron is half as smart as Jarvis, we're still very fucked."

AT SOME POINT

"Say, if you're cousins, why were his grandma and your dad the same age?"

"Men can have kids until they fuckin die or something and women can't."

"That's bullshit."

"Sure is. Thank God my dad is dead."

"Cheers to that, pal."

"Couldn't have happened to a more deserving person."

"Winter Soldier fucked him all the way up."

"I wish he'd left my mom alone."

"Me too."

"I'll see her someday."

"Yeah. We'll see them someday."