#i'll reply faster maybe haha

[ectogeo-rebubbles]

for the 'bored fanfic writer' ask game

25, 27, 29

Thanks for sending these questions! :) (Link to the ask game)

29) Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.

Found this paragraph floating in isolation at the bottom of the doc for a random Sloanshir idea that never really got going. But this random paragraph definitely slaps:

He rolled over and stared at the armchair by the porthole. Empty, but for the pall cast on it by a memory. It was funny how many years of pleasant memories—how many books from Garak he’d read while curled up there, how many lovers in his lap—had been overshadowed by a single interaction. But getting rid of the chair, or even moving it elsewhere, would have meant giving Sloan the power to destroy any part of his life simply by touching it.

25) Have you ever upset yourself with your own writing?

Haha yeah... T_T Usually I'm fine if I know the fic is gonna work out okay (or if I can at least picture a happier potential post-fic future), but if I know that the ending of the fic or projected future is also a big bummer then I run a very high risk of upsetting myself so much that I don't finish the fic lollll.

So, I don't actually upset myself at all while writing horrible creepy sloanshir hurt/no comfort or whatever, because even if the comfort's not in the scope of the fic, I so strongly believe in Garashir ending up together in any given scenario that I just extrapolate in my mind that it'll be fine eventually. XD

The only real problem comes in when I attempt to write Garashir bad endings (for the ship or for either person involved). Like... I REALLY wanted to finish writing my wip about the events of "The Quickening" making Julian slowly go full mad scientist once he's back on the station, but writing it made me too sad because it was important to the concept that it needed to have a devastatingly tragic ending. T_T

27) Is there a fic you were nervous to post/share? Why?

Literally every single fic I've ever written. XD But that's not a helpful answer lol.

I always feel extra nervous posting rarepair fics. With Garashir, there are TONS of canon interactions to model their behavior after, and I've also read soooo much fic about them, which means I have a very good understanding of their dynamic at various points in the timeline of canon, and I know what characterization choices work for me and what doesn't. With Siskarak, there are not that many eps that show the two of them interacting so there's more extrapolation involved in figuring out their dynamic and how to translate that into a sexual relationship, and in terms of fic I have written a solid chunk of what's even out there so I usually put tons of pressure on myself to make sure it's good. And not only good, but like, meshes well with canon and actually follows from what we know about the characters, because I want people to understand how I got from point A to point B.

In addition to that, the longer the fic (or the longer I've spent on the fic), the more nervous I feel when I post. More words, more potential to write something unclear or OOC. XD More time spent, more critical I am of it by the time I post it, because I feel like it should be better than it is given the amount of effort spent. In all honesty drabbles (100 word fics) or other very short ficlets (anything <1000 words) don't make me all that nervous to post anymore, purely due to the time spent writing being so low, which is why I've been posting so many short fics lately lmaooo. If I can bang something out all at once and post without thinking, that's ideal, because then I agonize over it waaaay less beforehand and I don't feel bad if it doesn't get many readers. XD

Posting explicit fics also always makes me a lil nervous, due to the potential embarrassment of what if I've gotten something so wrong that it takes the reader out of the steaminess of the moment.

All that said, my "Second Skin" Siskarak fic, you're a criminal as long as you're mine, recently made me very nervous to post, because it's rarepair smut and it's the second longest thing I've written all year, haha. (Everyone PLEASE go tell me I did a good job, I worked so hard on it.)

[marshmallowgoop]

It seems you're mixing the dub audio with remastered footage which I was planning on doing but are you actually gonna upload full episodes anywhere?

I don't share much information about the project on Tumblr, but I talk about it more on Discord!

My workbench in the DCMK Fanworks Server (join link here) has the most comprehensive and up-to-date info, but I also post updates in the Detective Conan EN Community (join link here). As of right now, I've mixed Episodes 1-71, 76-78, and 118.

That said: I would be very happy if anyone else would like to take over! I am very slow 😅

[g4yforethan]

can you a do another Nate Jacobs x male bottom reader fic in the same series as intimate? maybe reader and Nate get caught in the school bathrooms by Nate's dad whose looking for him?

RISKY

pairing: nate jacobs x male!reader

summary: it already says it

warnings: cursing, kissing, smut

a/n: i’m so sorry for doin this request so late but here it is!! hope u enjoy :)

5th period was a bore like always. reading a 400 page book, completing essays, and taking quizzes was a routine every day. while on your phone, you got a text message. it was from nate jacobs. you two had been seeing each other for months and had been a while since you two had anything sexual happen. “hey how’s class?” he texted. “boring like always and there’s nothing to do.” you replied back. “well how bout you meet me in the bathroom? i wanna show you something.” you were confused by what he meant. what did he want to show you that he couldn’t wait till after school?

you asked the teacher to be excused to the restroom and made your way to see nate. the bathroom was empty for once and you waited by the door. nate entered and gave you a kiss. “hey baby. so how’s class?” he said as he held your waist and your hands around his neck. “boring i already told you. i rather just stay here with you.” he smiled and kissed you. “oh yeah and do what?” he started grabbing your ass. “haha you know what." you replied back as you started kissing his bottom lip and reaching for his neck. the two of you went into a stall and locked it. you proceeded to kiss nate all the way down to his pants and unzipped it. you looked up at him and he nodded for you to do it.

you took his hard cock and teased him by kissing the tip and putting your hot breath all over it. he moaned and begged for you to put it in and so you did. your mouth was filled with his thick and long dick as he gripped your hair and forced you to take it all the way. "fuck baby your mouth feels so fucking good." his moans filled the empty bathroom as you continued devouring his cock. "put it in me nate." he was taken back by what you said. "oh shit for real baby? you aint scared we could get caught?" you didn't care to respond as you unzipped your pants.

you turned around and put your ass towards nate who slowly entered your hole with his cock. he went slow and soft at first before he started to pick up, gripping your ass and leaving marks all over. "fuck nate it feels so good." he was turned on by your moans and went even faster. he took his hands and put them in your mouth making you suck on them and pull your head back. the pleasure was overwhelming but you craved it more and more. just then, someone entered the bathroom and the two of you panicked. "nate you in here?!" it was nate's dad. you look to nate who tells you to stand on the toilet.

"uh yeah i really had to go to the bathroom." nate said as he walked out of the stall. "well it took you long enough. i've been calling you for the past 10 minutes you're telling me you weren't on your fucking phone?" nate was annoyed with cal as they walked. "calm down alright. i'll be out in a minute. let me just wash my hands." cal left as you opened the stall. "im sorry baby i know we were getting at it." you smiled and kissed him. "it's okay nate. we can always continue later." you grinned and kissed his lips before leaving.

[moonlightspencie]

hey lovely! i saw you were asking for more requests and i love your writing so i am happy to help 🫡😂 can you write a one shot with any of the marauders (you can choose) where the reader works in a coffee shop and he comes in all the time and she thinks it’s because he loves coffee but he really just likes her? idk just thought it would be cute!! thank you friend!

hehehe, well remus won the number 2 spot on my poll, so here he is!

remus lupin x gn!reader

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

You smiled to yourself when you saw a familiar tall, lanky, scarred, absolutely endearing man walk into the café. He had a habit of dropping in every day. Sometimes twice a day. He'd come to be one of your absolute favorite regulars.

"Hi, Remus," you grinned brightly at him as he came to the counter.

"Hi," he replied shyly, his cheeks a little pink. "How are you today?"

"Can't complain. We've had a pretty slow day, but I'm not mad about it."

"I suppose it's a good thing I've come in, then. I've got to keep this place up and running," he joked lightly.

You chuckled, shaking your head. "Want your regular?"

"Please," he nodded, smiling a bit at the fact she knew his order. "Also whatever you'd like."

"What?"

"I'd like to pay for whatever drink you'd like, too. You told me last time that you only get one free drink per shift," he said with a small shrug.

You blinked, looking at him in a bit of surprise. "You really don't have to do that."

"I'd like to. If you'll let me."

"Really?" you smile again.

"Really. It's the least I can do."

"I'm only doing my job," you let out a breathy chuckle, your own cheeks heating a little. Though you wouldn't admit it, you'd begun to harbor a small crush on the man. "No big deal."

"You go the extra mile. Nobody else has ever bothered to remember my order."

"Well... you're easy to remember."

His cheeks went even pinker as he sighed softly. "You are... unnecessarily kind."

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all."

You smile again, writing on the two cups, then give him the total. He pays, leaving much too generous of a tip as always, and goes to sit down. You start on both of your drinks, debating in your head what you should do. Was it wrong to hit on a patron of the café? Maybe. But was he terribly cute and really sweet? Definitely.

You quickly scribbled your name and number on the cup, then called his name.

He walked up with a sweet smile. "Thanks."

"No problem. But... Maybe next time, I can buy you a drink?"

His brows rose. "This is your job. I don't want you to feel like you have to pay for me at your workplace."

"Then maybe I could buy you a drink someplace else?"

He blushed fiercely. "Oh."

"Unless I'm picking up the wrong signals, of course," you shift on your feet. "I've been thinking you just really liked coffee, but now I'm not so sure."

"You're much sweeter than the coffee," he admits with a soft voice.

You bite back a grin. "In that case... my number's on the cup, and I'm off at six. Maybe text me?"

He swallows, his eyes wide as he nods. "That... that sounds great."

"Good. I'll see you around, then?"

"Next time, maybe not just for the coffee," he smiles, nodding again once.

He walks out of the café a minute later, leaving you giddy on more than caffeine for the rest of your shift. The second you clocked out, you checked your phone, seeing a message from an unknown number:

You made my heart race a lot faster than the coffee today. Thanks for asking me out, I don't think I could have worked up the nerve myself haha

This is Remus, by the way.

You laughed softly, typing a quick response.

Now you'll have to tell me your second favorite place to get drinks. Can't wait :)

[paranormal-peri]

PARANORMAL PERI PROLOGUE

CW: Angst, Fear, Hurt, Unconsciousness, Tranquilizers.

————

“Hey kid, how about we head back? I have a bad feeling about this."

Peri followed behind his godkid through the halls and different exhibits of the museum,

in a human disguise of course.

He hated having to walk on two legs. Even with his wand as a cane, it would be much less exhausting and much more efficient to fly. If only that wasn't seen as "paranormal" to the human eye.

"Not now Peri, I'm so close."

Dev walked at a fast pace, relying on his peripheral vision to guide him as he kept his eyes on the screen of his tablet.

"What are we even looking for again? I could help you search. I can even use my magic to help if-"

"Stop questioning me, you don't need to know, I don't want your help."

"Sigh, I'm just trying to make things go faster."

It was strange to see Dev so set to do things on his own without skipping steps with a wish, especially to be out in a crowded public. He was usually so impatient. Maybe this was a good thing.

Maybe it would be a good thing if it wasn't so risky,

risky for Peri.

The highest possible coincidental inconvenience was at play.

Peri had noticed the strange presence of paranormal investigators at the scene.

They might have been here before they arrived, he wasn't sure, but they were much more prominent inside.

Maybe they are here for something in an exhibit? Surely they weren't here for Peri.

Multiple packs.

They hunted around like excited bloodhounds.

They interviewed passing civilians for clues.

They grazed the floors and walls with their Sci-fi looking technology.

They were so focused on their mission. They didn't hesitate to drop down to the floor or bump past others without a warning, not prioritizing how their obsessiveness and ignorance to social cues may make them look.

The clunkiness of some of their devices only caused more of a clumsy scene.

Nothing about them screamed professional, but they had the passion for success.

A success that led Peri worried.

He was a target.

Gulp

“Dev, I highly recommend that I help you search! What is it you need? I can wish it to appear! Let me help!”

"I already told you, I don't want your help."

Dev replied with a growing annoyance.

"Dev… in case you haven't noticed, there are… paranormal investigators around… who are looking… for paranormal beings… like… I don't know… Fairy godparents maybe?! With wands, and wings… and floaty crowny things?!"

"You'll be fine, you're in a disguise anyway. I need to get this done now!"

Dev snapped back with a growing frustration.

"Dev, kid… we. need. to. go. I need to go, but I don't want to leave you unattended in a public-"

“Augh! Stop talking to me! You are always over my head all the time! I wish you would just stay put! Stop following me around like a bug in my ear!”

Be careful what you wish for.

“I… sigh, as you wish…”

Wish granted

Magical lock

Left parked alone.

Peri watched in defeat as his godkid walked out of sight.

When did things all go so wrong? What was he doing wrong?

He just wants to do right by Dev, why did it feel like he was failing his kid?

Beeep beep beep beeeeeep

Peri was startled by the sudden beeping next to him.

"Good evening to you! You haven't seen anything strange around here, have you?"

An investigator nudged Peri.

"Haha, Strange? Strange? Uh, no, no, I haven't seen anything strange, why would I know about anything strange? That would be strange! I'm not strange! I'm human! Totally human, yeah, see? Haha..."

Nervous Peri. He needed to keep his cool. He wasn't good at acting human.

"Yeah, that's all good. I hope I didn't spook you. My name's Marcus, Marcus Wells. I work for the Galax Institute (unaccredited). Me and my colleagues are here to investigate a tip we got about some paranormal activity going on here. If you see something, say something. I don't bite, unless you're a ghost, haha!"

"Yeah, oh yeah, I totally get it, I haven't seen anything but I'll call if I do… or not. I mean I'm not a- um… what's that?"

Beeeep beeeeeeep beeeeeeep

"Oh, sorry, that's just my paranormal detection device. It goes off when it senses paranormal activity. I must be close! Very close actually…"

"Haha! Oh wow, yeah, that's weird, really weird, and… strange."

"Strange, Yeah…"

The human shifted into focus. He waved the tech in the air, then away, then to the ground. The beeping changed in intensity.

Oh no no no no, he was so close! This beeping sound was going to give him away! Peri had to hold it together, he had to play it off. He would walk away if he could, but he's not sure if he can. He was wished to stay put. Is there something in the rules about breaking something like that? He had to check the rules, but he can't just magically pull up the book while being inspected.

Marcus grazed the detection device across the floor, chasing the source of the sound until it tapped against Peri's shoe.

BEEEEEEEEEEP

"Holy mother of mac n' cheese! It's right under you!"

Marcus blindly shoves Peri to the side in an excited effort to chase the source.

But in this action, the hand used to shove held the tech against the chest of the purple haired human.

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

No no no no no no no

PSHK- BOOM!

The device explodes against Peri's chest.

The two jolt back in pain and fall back from the burst. The ruptured box falls to the ground.

A slow realization filled the room with tension and silence.

It's all over, what is he gonna say? What can he say!? Nothing under this pressure!

"Ah! I know what you're thinking, but that was probably just a malfunction, I mean how old is that tech anyway?! ! I'm not strange or paranormal, I'm not a fairy, I swear!!

Glitchy soul.

Blue.

Red energy.

Magic failing.

Wings exposed.

No no no no no no no

"Ah! T-That's nothing! Those aren't real I uhh.. I'm uhh..."

Peri attempted to poof away his wings, but they wouldn't disappear correctly. Even when he finally got them to poof away right, his crown had appeared.

Poof away the crown-- the wings appear again.

Why wasn’t his magic working correctly?

"I uhh… I'm a… I'm a cosplayer! Yeah, Just a totally normal human doing totally normal human things! I'm not a real fairy or anything, I mean, would a fairy have totally real and normal legs?"

Stuttery sweaty mess.

His crown appears again. He staggers to swoosh it away. His totally real legs began to fail as well.

The fairy stumbles backward to the ground,

out from the locked standing place.

Their form was now fully exposed to the crowd.

Marcus remains silent in a state of shock.

"IT'S A FAIRY!"

Another human called.

No no no no no no no

Lights, Shouts, Camera, Action!

Chaos

No no no no no no no

They see him!

They see him as a fairy!

He is not supposed to-

He is breaking the rules!

What-?!

Peri quickly flies upwards to dodge a butterfly net.

No no no no no no no

Before he could even think about using his magic to disappear—if it would even work correctly this time—there was a sudden LIGHT that shot past him from behind.

Flash!

All he knew after that was falling.

He must have just lost balance.

It took a second, but his body finally responded to the sudden light.

A sharp wave of hot pain rippled through the veins of his wings.

Burning.

His body hit the ground with a sudden

THUD

His wand skids across the floor.

What just happened?!

Something felt so off.

Something felt so numb.

Something was missing.

Peri feels around the area radiating with heat and pain.

What-

My- my wing-?!

Horrified.

Part of his body was missing.

Where did it go?

He looked to the ground to see a spread of black dust and ashes.

His wings—at least most of one and the tips of the other—

De-atomized

“Be careful with that! You almost killed them!"

Marcus exclaimed.

“Isn’t that what we are supposed to do?! Fairies are dangerous! When you see one, you zap em'!”

“Sure, but wouldn't they be much more valuable alive? Think about how awesome it would be if we could capture them alive!”

“That’s a good point, very good point.”

No no no no no no no

He had to fix this.

This is why you always follow the rules.

Where's my-?

His wand was so far out of reach.

Peri buzzes and shuffles to quickly retrieve his wand, but stumbles down quickly in a shock of pain.

He couldn't fly over.

He needed to move quickly.

He needs his cane,

but that's what he is yet to retrieve.

He tries to stand on his own,

shaky from adrenaline and lack of stability.

His little heart was overworking itself in a state of panic.

But just when he thought he had it-

ZZT!

He jolted from a sharp pain in his leg and his body hit the ground.

Was that just his legs being weird to him again? Or was that-

Something else.

He looked back to see a metal jabbed into the back of his thigh, with a tuft of red at the top.

What is…

He pulled out the needle with a twitch of pain.

This?!

It was so big compared to his tiny hand.

This wasn't made for someone his size.

Whatever it was, the effects began quickly.

He could feel the cold foreign substance dispersing through his skin from where it entered.

He flickered his eyes in an effort to blink away the sudden feeling of drowsiness.

The fairy's breathing hitches in realization of what is going on.

What was this magic? What was it doing to him?

No, no, was he dying? If he closed his eyes would he not wake up?

No, he had to stay awake. He had to escape.

He had to get his wand.

His hands shake in panic, but his heart slows.

He struggled to stand, his legs were beginning to give out.

They began to feel numb.

He was stuck on the floor, fighting to keep his consciousness.

His body begged for rest, but he couldn't give it, not until he was away,

Not until he wouldn't be seen,

Not until he wasn't breaking the rules.

His mind was beginning to give out to rest as well.

Thoughts became sluggish and fogged.

His heart was slowed.

He was so close to the peace of sleep.

All he knew was his wand.

All he could see was his wand.

His peripheral vision had darkened and blurred. Shadows of assumable humans crowded around him.

He could still see his wand between the silhouette legs

It felt useless to fight the fatigue.

His head lay defeated against the cold polished floor.

But he couldn't give up.

N-no… I can't…

He tensed for movement and weakly lifted his head

…break…

He reached out to the blurred yellow glow in the darkness for one last try.

…Da Rules…

His hand and head rested against the floor for the final time.

Eyes rolled back and the squint of sight finally glued shut.

Darkness consumed his world.

The last sensation he could feel was the touch of hands wrapping around him before everything went numb.

—

What happens next?

Read Paranormal Peri on AO3

—

This was originally meant to be a flashback in one of the newest chapters, but I just decided to cut it out and put it as the prologue because that just made a lot more sense.

I actually plan to turn this prologue into a comic.

[athanasius-symposium-of-writings]

❛ you keep your hands where they are or i'll tie them up. ❜ for werewolf!tav and Astarion

Such good idea btw!

Rated M

Warnings: hint of petplay

"You keep your hands where they are or I'll tie them up."

He adores the way your tail wags, the way your eye dilates, and chest rises and falls faster. Thrill, his fangs show as he smiles, mischievous and cunning, his hands grabbing a fabric as you playfully pretend to be struggling against an invisible bind.

"Behave, pup." Warning you but you know he wants you to misbehave, be the wild wolf you are.

"Make me!" Giggling as you grab his shirt ripping it open, feral as he matches your strength and pins you down. Wrestling for dominance, maybe, but it is playful. Back in the forest there was a hit of playfulness but it with rehearsed movements and minds miles away.

Here you both are present, seen by each other. He trusts you, and you trust him; equals.

The bed is a mess and at one point you both fall on the floor, laughing while rubbing sore parts from the impact.

Astarion does finally get your wrists and binds them with one of the pillowcases, easy to break out of though you are not inclined to do so.

This is enjoyable.

He is enjoyable and enjoying himself. There is light in both your eyes, desire yes but something more.

Love. Love given freely and untamed.

"Astarion!" His touch is cold and your body is running hot, "Stop haha!" Tickling you instead of just fucking you. A luxury he never thought he could acquire, treasuring your unfiltered laughs, the way you squirm and kick the air.

He stops only when you are out of breath, his face hovering above yours.

"I love you."

You open your mouth to reply, to tell him you will always love him, but he claims your mouth in a kiss raw with everything he wants to say but uses his actions to express it.

The need, the fear, the excitement, and the love.

Freedom and heart allows this moment and many more with your beloved vampire. Equal and free.

[aaaaafro]

Seductress 2 - ITZY - Yuna x M! Reader. (+18?)

tw: gotcha again haha! no seggs but almost lol, idk maybe one day they'd be like uuughh seggs.

If you're looking for the first part: Here

"WAIT!" You and Ryujin shouted in perfect sync.

"Huh... Is that...?" The voice forge ahead as a hand finally pulls aside the blinds.

"HOLY SHIT!" Yuna screamed at the sight of her unnie in such a sinful situation.

"Yuna–." You tried talking but Ryujin quickly covered your mouth with her hand.

Meanwhile Yuna bolted out running. Your whole career in photography flashes right through your very eyes as you realize how bad your situation is.

"Stay here, I'll fix it." Ryujin reaffirms you before she runs out following Yuna.

You sat there in defeat as you fix the set as well as yourself before heading out. You can see the other crew returning back from their breaks giving you a smile as they one by one enter the building.

"Hey, did you have your break yet?" Lia surprised you with the sudden proximity between the two of you.

"O–oh, h-hey, no not yet b-but have you seen Ryujin?" You replied as she puts on a thinking face which is quite adorable if you're being honest.

"I think I did see her chasing after Yuna... Why? Did something happen?" She asked.

"N–no, I just have something to tell her." You replied as she just gave you that iconic eye smile.

"Alrighty, I'll leave you to it then but you'll be the one taking my pictures right?" Lia asks as she wiggles herself closer to you, closer than you'd like.

"I-i don't k-know, maybe?" You ended it with a nervous chuckle realizing that Lia is basically grinding herself on you.

"I-i need to g-go." Regrettably pulling away yourself but you've honestly have had enough of all of it, like honestly you couldn't think of any other way to fuck yourself up even more.

You ran towards ITZY's RV and you noticed the door was left slightly open. There's a conversation on going but it was too inaudible for you.

With a couple of useless weak knocks you peek your head in to see the two women responsible for your impending downfall.

"It's not what it seems!" Ryujin was holding her screams at Yuna who's just sitting there with her arms crossed.

"You cannot be serious with me right now unnie!" Yuna was infuriated to say the least.

"Oh look speaking of the devil!" She added once she noticed you're listening to them.

"Since you're here do you mind explaining yourself then?" Yuna stood up walking past Ryujin stopping right in front of you.

"Yuna–.” Ryujin called.

"Shut up unnie!" But her maknae was determined to get something out of you.

"I–.” You're ready to fry your brain out to try and come up with a logical explanation for what Yuna just witnessed but then Ryujin grabs Yuna's arm earning her attention.

A regretful sigh left Ryujin before saying "Fine! You can go first."

It's such an abstract thing for her to say specially when you consider they were in a middle of an argument. However as you took your time to recollect your thoughts, piecing together moments that led to this and seeing how all of Yuna's anger slowly changes into excitement sends your senses warnings.

"Really unnie?!" The young girl asked and you can clearly see how Ryujin is disappointed but just nodded.

Seeing the two of them have a change of mood in a flash made you take a step back, Yuna notices this and shifts her attention back to you.

Your heartbeat doubles seeing the maknae's furtive smile as she takes a step forward with every backward step that you took.

Of course being inside a RV can only mean such little space, your back inevitably hits a dead end. Your breathing becomes erratic each step Yuna takes. The distance between the two of you closing in faster and faster.

"We're gonna have so much fun." Said Yuna who's completely closed the distance between the two of you and now has her hand on your chest.

If that wasn't enough her face is inching closer and closer to the point her lips and yours might as well connect.

Your knees almost buckled but was saved when Ryujin fakes a cough catching yours and Yuna's attention. The youngest scoffs before exiting the RV leaving you and Ryujin alone.

As ridiculous as it sounds, you're in relief to be with Ryujin instead of Yuna. Just as you're about to recover she suddenly appears right in front of you.

"Don't be at ease. Just because I allow Yuna to take her shot doesn't mean I won't shoot mine." She whispered gently running her finger on your lips.

"See ya later." Ryujin winks before exiting the vehicle.

You stood there motionless, trying to wrap yourself up to what will happen from here on out but since there's no rest for the wicked your moment to recover was cut short when a staff knocks on the opened RV door.

"You good? We're starting." She asked before signalling towards the photoshoot and walking away.

"Uh–yeah, I'll be there." You replied as you following along.

Entering the production you're nerves starting to act up seeing Lia exiting the studio. She notices you before pouting, curious as to why you decided to approach her.

"Where were you? I thought you'd be the one to take my photos." She acted all gloomy but it was still cute nonetheless.

"Sorry, I was caught up with something." Your response made Lia raise her brow but before she could even say something the floor director calls you.

Yet again lady luck isn't much on your side today that the previous photographer is taking an emergency off leaving you the rest of the member and better yet if it isn't the world's best maknae Yuna who's currently in the middle of the studio.

So, the shoot starts and despite your best effort to forget everything that happened moments ago, your brain is caught up with two things.

First, what the heck is going to happen to you knowing that Ryujin and Yuna seems to be on to something with whatever the hell they were agreeing on earlier.

Second, Yuna is fucking gorgeous and perhaps if the circumstances were different you'd be thankful for the opportunity to take her photos. With the simplicity of her outfit paired with her otherworldly visuals, you can't deny that the woman in front of you may or may not be a goddess in her past life but your mind kept coming back to the events earlier.

Having the involuntary flashbacks you begin to sweat and your hands starts shaking, you try your best to play it off as you shake your hands but it's too late Yuna took notice of this.

And you know this how?

Just as the director calls for a switch of pose. Yuna rests her beautiful face on her hand and gives you this subtle but sinister smile.

Yet again you're having flashbacks from your shoot with Ryujin as you looked at Yuna through the lens.

She's oozing confidence...

She's something else...

She's well aware that you're staring...

She's doing it on purpose...

She's holding her pose for you...

She's seducing you...

You honestly thought you wouldn't make it but you're nonetheless thankful that you've taken decent photos till the director calls it a day after the review. Everyone started packing up and you doubled your efforts to help quicken the pace hoping to call it a day.

All of the crew then starts saying their goodbyes and one of the assistant of ITZY approaches you. Having an idea of what the deal is, you tried your best to relax and act all natural.

"Hey, great work out there." She greets and you just gave her one of those force smiles.

"Oh seems like you're tired..." and once again you just gave her a half-assed chuckle.

"I apologize if it's a bad time but Yuna said that she wants to give you something for your work today... If it's okay, she wants you to come to their RV?" You didn't even try to think that Yuna's actually planning something good but it'd be suspicious to refuse so you reluctantly agreed.

At this point you're just digging your own grave as you've reached ITZY's RV which is surprisingly quiet considering that all members are supposed to be inside.

You're about to knock when all of a sudden the door swung opens, if not one of the luckiest thing that happened, you stumble involuntarily dodging it. You hear a gasps from the inside to see a tall silhouette of a person.

"Omg oppa!" It was no other than Yuna.

"I'm so sorry." She quickly came to help you up even dusting off your pants.

"I'm alright, I just stopped by because someone said you're giving me something?" Hearing this she stopped all of a sudden before inviting you in.

Despite your brain's best effort to tell you that you should just turn back and walk away, your body doesn't really have much of a choice specially when Yuna reaches for your hand.

You can't even blame her as you just let her pull you in with no resistance at all. Once seated nicely you're only realizing that the inside is completely devoid of anyone else but the two of you, to that you're heart rate doubles but the fun never stops there as Yuna took a seat right next to you before resting her head on your shoulder.

Immediately your body stiffens and that made Yuna recoil for a second before placing her head back to your shoulder.

'Innocence' a word constantly associated with Yuna, yet no matter how hard you think of it, you couldn't help but look back at what happened earlier, the way she whispered 'We're gonna have so much fun.' in your ear that radiates nothing about innocence.

"Where are the other members?" You asked.

"Almost all of them are gone but I think Chaeryeong-unnie is still outside." She replied.

"I'm sorry oppa." That was unexpected like everything that happened today.

"About earlier... I shouldn't have scared you like that." She continued before capturing your arm and hugging it.

"I-... It's f-fine." Is it really? Especially when Yuna tightens her hold of your arm taking the friction between your arm and her body to a whole new level.

"Really oppa?" With her cute enthusiastic voice that contrasts the grinds she's currently doing on your arm.

You're currently choking on your own tongue, so nodding is the only option to reply and gladly she understood before flashing her bright smile that can easily dethrone the sun.

Just as you're about to relax because of the lightness of the situation Yuna shifted your arm in between her legs pulling it closer to the point of just outright pressing it against her core which is really warm.

All of those and yet she still has that smile that should be considered innocent but to you it is not. However her facial expression distorts as you realize that she's actually getting off on her grinding, her shorts didn't give the feeling any justice as your forearm is basically a sausage between two freshly toasted buns as her core radiates so much heat that you actually couldn't comprehend if your arm is sweating or it's actually Yuna's...

"Y-yuna!" You called before finally retrieving your arm and stood up looking down to Yuna who now looks upset.

"O–oppa..." She called complimenting her sad eyes with a pout.

Any sane person would've surrendered themselves the second their eyes met hers but not you, not now with the thought of you, losing your job, your resolve is stronger than ever.

"P–pleaseeee." She called going on all fours on the crawling towards you as you took a step back.

"This is wrong–.” Right? Who in their right mind would think this is okay.

"Fine." She broke out of her act like it was nothing finally recompose herself.

The stupid you thinking that everything is fine now can go fuck himself as Yuna took you by the collar before clashing lips with you. Immediately having flashbacks from your time with Ryujin but this is worlds different.

As much as you hate to say it, you actually prefer this more than Ryujin's. It might be due to Yuna not being as dominant as Ryujin. Damn it why are you comparing them? Shouldn't you be thinking of your way out of this?

Think? What's that supposed to be? The only thing you can think of is just how famished Yuna is. Evidently from the way she almost took half of your face in digging her tongue inside your mouth, lapping you up from your lips to neck as she sneakily pulled you back to the couch.

Yuna even sat you down and straddled without breaking contact as she continues to eat you up, her spits covering up a good amount of your chest like a good post work out.

"Y–your u–... Unnies might come i–in." That's your pathetic attempt to make her stop but on the contrary she shoots a murderous look at you before ripping your shirt off.

Yuna's actions couldn't speak any louder as she just starts palming every inch of your torso and of course reconnecting her lips with yours. Obviously you're far from controlling your hormones and so your buddy downtown couldn't get a hold of himself.

Of course Yuna wouldn't fail to notice this as she starts grinding her core on top of your bulge, this caused you to groan in the kiss and you can clearly feel her smile forming as she doubles her efforts.

Despite the immense bliss the two of you are currently riding on for Yuna it's as if never enough. She reluctantly stops her feast and stands up to skillfully remove her needless pants.

Surprising you is that with everything that she has done you can still see her blush as she exposes her seemingly damp underwear, evident with its spot right in the middle.

That didn't last though as she retakes her position on top of you perfectly lining her core on your manhood right to the very center to which her clothed soft lips nestle your length.

It causes Yuna to let out a soft whimper that will be stuck in your mind forever. She then starts grinding her lower half, rubbing her wet snatch on your covered member.

The two of you moaned into the kiss as she starts getting more and more aggressive with her movements even going as far as biting your lower lip and pulling it back.

Now your hands having a life of its own starts moving up her slim waist and tracing her tone back, to which Yuna's breathing becomes more erratic each second. Growing impatiently as your hand took its time exploring her back side.

After your finger glides on her spine sending chills to her body, her hands have had enough of your teasing, she pulls both of them intertwining your fingers with her and even taking in your index and middle finger in her mouth, licking it a good amount before she slides it down to her chin leaving a good trail of her spit along with it.

Ultimately landing on her breast, she then guides your finger creating circles on her nub which is poking through her sports bra.

"Are we having fun now oppa?" Her seductive tone enters your ear like an addicting melody.

As you're about to agree a gasp right beside you woke the two of you up from your pleasure trance. With your eyeballs almost falling out. You and Yuna couldn't get off of each other quick enough as you turned towards the source the two of you couldn't help but gasp in response. The person was about to run outside before:

"WAIT!" You and Yuna echoed each other.

[atlasofthestaars]

Are you okay?? It's been a while

haha that's a lot of messages!

hi! i'm not dead <3 I'm back! sorry for my sudden disappearance! I've been busy with life! I've been on the grind for college and art, and somehow along the path I got a boyfriend ??? He uh. knows I make this fanfic, so maybe he can get me to update this faster

To be totally transparent, I have not written much. Like at all. I hit a major writing block before disappearing and then time flew and now we're here!

Am I dropping this story? Nope! I plan to update and finish this thing, even if it takes me months between updates, sorry about that haha

Well, I'll be working on chapter 17 now! I felt bad so I have the entirety of what I HAVE written below! It's just the intro flashback like usual so there's not much, sorry about that :(

“I’m surprised you said no to Sonya’s offer.”

You stared ahead, watching the sunrise over the cityscape. Gold and pinks stained the sky, the colors seeping into the clouds that passed by overhead. The air, though it’s been a week since the final showdown, still felt like it was scented with the ashes and blood of those who shouldn’t have died. Maybe it was because of your animalistic traits, but you swore it smelt fresh too. You tried not to close your eyes, or else you’d see those things again.

“Is it really that surprising?” You asked. Your voice was scratchy. You couldn’t tell if it was due to a lack of speaking or too much speaking. How much silence and talking you’ve been taking felt murky. The whole last week felt like a blur, in all honesty. You rose a hand up, massaging your throat. You heard a shift, and finally you allowed yourself to look at your companion.

“In all honesty?” Johnny’s voice felt like it had lost much of the grandeur. If you were feeling in a better mood, you would have maybe even joked about the rather plain way he was speaking. Making jokes, however, was the last thing on your mind. You watched him carefully, his shoulders slumping forward as he took a good long stare at you. Did you look as much of a wreck as you felt? You felt your body try and straighten up, to attempt to look somewhat put together. “Yeah, I kinda am.”

“Why?” You asked, still analyzing the actor. There was a long stretch of time where the both of you simply stared at each other. You noted the uncharacteristic eyebags, and just how…normal he looked. “Isn’t it obvious I would choose to stay with Lord Raiden and help those back at the White Lotus?” You inquired further. A tone of offense slipped into your tone, one that you only noticed until you saw the slight cringe from the man.

“Well, yeah, I guess.” Johnny replied, his face scrunching up slightly. It seems he was still reeling a bit at your harsher tone. “But you seemed so…adamant about working with Sonya over the last week. You wouldn’t even rest, sleep, or eat until either she or I practically dragged you out of whatever task you busied yourself with.” He pointed out.

“I’m just a hard worker.” You excused yourself. You decided to ignore the very, very pointed and judgemental look the actor sent your way. Hard worker was not even an understatement, it was simply wrong. You weren’t working to earn merits. You were working to distract yourself. Catching your mind drifting, you stared down at your hands, noting the many more calluses that would form from how much you’ve been writing lately.

You don’t think you’ve written this much in ages.

“Listen, I’m not stupid. I’m not going to make you spit out whatever’s been bugging you, because I think you won’t, and I feel like I already know what it is. But I will say I do know what it looks like when someone’s trying to drown themselves in something to distract themselves.” The actor told you in a strangely stern voice. He crossed his arms, staring you down. “But like I said, I know there’s no point in carrying that point on.” He sighed, running a hand through his unusually unstyled hair. “So what are you even planning on doing when you go back?” 

You paused, looking at the actor. Was he that good at reading people, or were you that exhausted that you could not even put up a convincing front anymore? You searched his face, trying to figure out which answer was the right one. Maybe it was both, you couldn’t tell anymore.

“Anything to help the world recover.” You told Johnny Cage. You knew your answer was vague, but you guessed it was better than nothing. Plus, what you said was true. You were planning on doing anything to help your community to rebuild. Whether it be helping rebuild the building of the Wu Shi itself after the invasion years ago, or to train new initiates with your father, you were willing to do it.

You could not let what happened last week ever happen again. Not as long as you were alive.

“Sounds like a tall task.” Johnny said, his gaze now settled on the pinkened horizon. There was a bit of wistfulness to his voice, as if acknowledging the terribly difficult task you had placed upon yourself. There was no doubt in his voice, though. Instead, it felt as if he knew that you’d be true to your word, even if it meant your doom.

“What about you?” You asked, suddenly feeling awkward as the conversation had died out. You hadn’t wanted your conversation with him to be entirely about you. Not only was it something you weren’t all too fond of in the first place, but it felt wrong especially when your conversation partner was someone as ostentatious as the actor. “What are your plans now? To go back to acting?”

“Honestly? Thought about that for a bit.” Johnny admitted, shrugging. There was a certain type of look on his face, one that seemed long for normalcy that he could never have back. “But after seeing all of this shit? I don’t think I could return to that life. I was planning on taking Sonya’s offer to join the Special Forces, kinda hoping you would too.”

“Really?” You said, unable to hide the surprise in your voice. Your eyebrows rose, before you felt a soft huff leave your lips. “Was it so you could have a friend in the force, or is it so you could have someone to bug in the force?”

“A bit of both.” The actor, or rather, soon to be ex actor, said. A hint of his signature smile was sent your way, and he crossed his arms. as he looked at you from the corner of his eye. “With how long we’ve known each other, I can’t say I hate you. I could have done without the whole doom impending tournament that made us meet, though. Not a big fan. Plus, you being there would mean there’s one less hard ass there I’d have to deal with.”

“I’m honored.” You replied, hoping the sarcasm you were attempting was getting through even with your dry tone. There was a beat that passed as you considered your next words. “I’m not going away forever, Cage.” There was what you assumed was relief that twinkled in his eyes as you told him that. “I’m sure there will be help that Raiden will need from the Special Forces, and vice versa. Plus, I already told Sonya this, but if we hear anything about those revenants that Raiden spoke of, I want in. Not to mention, I’ll be sure to write.”

“Good to know you’re not abandoning us.” Johnny joked, but there was sincerity within his voice. He seemed genuinely glad you were not going to ditch any of them any time soon.

[ryuichirou]

Replies

Aaand we’re back!

Anonymous asked:

Do you think the rest of the TWST staff will get cards?  I really really wanna see Vargas' vignette.  The Camp Vargas events were peak writing; "how can I help my students get stronger?  I'll hunt them down and make them think their friends are being taken by a horrible beast!".  Also I like that the non-sports clubs handled things better than the sports clubs

God those events were so much fun, they were so unhinged at times lol To be honest, I don’t remember how both groups handled the main “challenge”, but the non-sports club got concerned about people disappearing faster, that’s for sure. The sports clubs just went “idk, who cares? Maybe he’s just asleep somewhere”…

Whenever Vargas gets to talk, it’s always wild and mildly concerning, the man is crazy. Now that I think about it, seeing his vignette would be great lol

It would be a shame if we never got the rest of the staff cards. They don’t get a lot of screen time, but all the tidbits of information that we get about them are so interesting. I’ll bet that we’ll get those cards eventually, but it’ll take quite some time…

Anonymous asked:

Sometimes I don't like the TWST localization changes but other times I tell myself that at least it's not as bad as the original Digimon Adventure English dub...Apocalymon my boy, out of context you're the greatest thing ever but in context you are so so painful

I feel lucky and unlucky at the same time that we didn’t get to experience EN dub of all the shows that were popular back then haha. Like yeah, it’s great that we jumped straight to sub, but it’s I am sure it was an unforgettable experience…

But hey, at least we had the “I loved you…like a father, Kunzite” in our version of Sailor Moon. Talk about daddy kinks sheesh.

Anonymous asked:

Hi! about the pussies headcanons, reading that ♀️Kalim doesn't masturbate was unexpected!  I can't see the character like that because of his family history, wouldn't be a pervert either... just a shameless fool... I can see him/her having an occasional erection as he/she hugs Jamil, but Kalim just keeps there, rubbing it "no malice", until the itch becomes pleasurable while Jamil agonizes... I wrote a minific but single words cannot explain how much I hallucinate about this idiot's misbehavior

Hi, Anon!

I don’t think Kalim is completely innocent and doesn’t have any sexual desire whatsoever, I just headcanon that she would be more focused on Jamil.

There is this weird “gap” about Kalim: she (or he) seems childish, as if she doesn’t care about these things at all; she is flirty, but in a way that you would think that she doesn’t understand the difference between friendly and romantic flirting, so it’s easy to look at her and think that she is this non-sexual being that only wants to have fun, fool around and dance. But in actuality, she is sexual, she does have desires, feel arousal and pleasure. The thing is, she finds Jamil so hot that her sexual awakening felt more like “I want to touch Jamil”, not “I feel good when I touch myself”. One leads to the other, so the scenario you’ve described is possible! It’s not like she absolutely can’t masturbate; I just picture her being more interested in having sex with Jamil. If she feels “the itch”, she could just call Jamil and all.

[thequietkid-moonie]

mooniee, hiii~ 🥺❤️

i feel like it's been forever since i texted you, i'm sowwy-- i saw your messages, but i figured i'll just write back one bigger messages rn! :)

first of, i wanna ask how your playthroughs of persona 3 & xenoblade 2 are going! i feel like i'm way too late on this, but hey-- who are your fav characters from each game? and for xenoblade, any favorite rare blades? story blades and the ones from corecrystals! :D

alsoooo, did you see that xenoblade chronicles X got announced? 🥰 i haven't played that one yet but i know a hell lot about that game and can't wait to finally experience it for myself! if you decide to ever get that game, we def need to play it together!! (there's at least a bit of multiplayer in the original X, so i'm assuming it'll return for the X remake/remaster)

anyways, i hope you are doing alright! i missed talking to you & sowwy it took me so long to respond 😔✌🏻 i'm gonna try & reply faster from now on! love ya <3

V-CHAAAAAAN !!! I MISSED YOUUUUU !!!

I been so worried about you but im happy to heard from you 🎉🩷🩷🩷

I'll pry to god for you to have more time for yourself and peace soon 🌸

or fight them, both can work!

Don't worry, im happy now that i finally have news from you! Take your time 🩷🩷

I been enjoying A LOT Xenoblade Chronicles and Persona 3 <333 sadly I haven't get the oportunity to play them myself so im watching a gamplay (a pretty good one because it has almost all the content of the game :D)

I hope one day I can play the games personally, but if Xenoblade Chronicles X has multiplayer I will do everything in my power to get the game <3

i got the news for your post and I was excited too! This is the perfect oportunity to get in the game too, besides Xenoblade Chronicles is PEAK FICTION so i will love to get in the X too!

I already finished the story Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and I! was! in! tears! That fight take too much from us to dont even be the last fight and not even be inside of the world tree!!! Seeing Klaus again make me feel angry but also happy haha, his desing was AMAZING! and the way it conects the story to the first game makes it an absolute masterpiece!

im currently on the Torna the Golden City ✌🏼

For My favorite characters I had to say that in the top of the list is Zeke and Pandy, I absolutely both those two and their dinamyc, having a friendship as caotic as that one is one of the most valuable treasures you can have in life <3 also I like Adam just as much as I love Zeke, both are so silly thats it is even cute and funny, of course Vandhan and Jin will forever live in my heart, and Mikhail, and Akhos, and probably Malos too I love him bit also hate him

I LOOOOVE PYRAA!! im down bad for her, she is incredibly cute <333 im half way to get to know better all the blade but I love how diferent their stories and desings are!! I think i can't choose one a my favorite (but Wulfric is living on my heart and mind, he is way too cute)

For Persona 3 im right after the travel to Kyoto, right in the grief for Chidori 🥺(im still crying) I been enjoying the story a lot! The gameplay is so cool! I love how the importance of the social links <333

For My favorite characters first of all Junpei, I dont know why but I absolutely love him! He is so silly and adorable and dumb and silly 🥺 (he is so cute whenever he is with Chidori <333), i love a lot Ken too, but like my cutie patootie, I love how mature and determinated he is and yet he is still a child, I love him, I will take him as my baby 😺🌸 (also Maiko, she is so cute <3)

I absolutely adole Akihiko but he brings one of the worst part of me, idk why but whenever i saw him i feel the need to be silly and make self-depracation jokes, maybe because he is too serious? haha, Shijiro and and Makoto will live forever in my heart! and Aigis and Fuuka and Elizabeth and Theodore and Rioji and Chihiro and Yuko and Bebe

Haha i think i fell hard for the characters 🤭

[linagram]

[ 𝚋𝚎𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚒𝚗 𝚟𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚖𝚊𝚜: 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝟸 ]

part 2 is hereeeee and this time it's what happened to eiko, asahi, yurika, riku and reina a few days before their crimes happened.

since these vds is the last thing i've planned for the period between trial 2 and trial 3, nothing too important to the plot will be posted until season 3 starts (again, not sure when it will happen). pls share your thoughts and theories if you have any <3

(Warnings: relationship dynamic between satsuki and asahi is. very messed up, topics of self-harm and suicide come up in riku's vd, mentions of toxic family dynamics in multiple vds, but honestly all of them could count)

[ Eiko's Confession ]

(typing sounds) 

Eiko: Takeru, where are you.. 

Eiko: What's going on.. 

Eiko: He wouldn't just leave me like this, right? 

Eiko: He's the type of guy who's obsessed with social media, the only reason why he could disappear like this is-

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: No. No, I don't want to think about it. 

Eiko: But.. 

Eiko: What if she found out about him? 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Oh, wait a second.. 

Eiko: One of his friends replied. 

Eiko: Maybe he knows something? 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: He just.. started flirting with me. 

Eiko: *sighs* Fine, I can work with this. 

(more typing sounds) 

Eiko: Okay, I'll just play along. 

Eiko: He seems like a loser who just uses Takeru for money and attention. 

Eiko: Oh, a reply. 

Eiko: I think I can ask him about Takeru now. 

(typing sounds) 

Eiko: Come to think of it.. 

Eiko: If I had more information to work with, I would've found Takeru a long time ago. 

Eiko: But all I have is.. 

Eiko: His first name, age, list of friends, occupation, interests.. 

Eiko: I don't even know his last name.. 

Eiko: I don't even know what he looks like.. 

Eiko: And I know his occupation, but I don't know where exactly he works-

Eiko: Another reply. 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: *sighs*

Eiko: He's so annoying.. 

Eiko: Maybe I can just try to text that other guy again. 

Eiko: Oh, he has him in his friend list too-

Eiko: ... 

(a sound of notification) 

Eiko: .. This icon looks familiar.. 

(another notification sound) 

Eiko: I swear I've seen this frog before-

Eiko: ! 

Eiko: Hold on.. 

(a clicking sound) 

Eiko: .. It's-

Eiko: It's Takeru's private account?! 

Eiko: O-okay, I'll just send this to that guy. 

(typing sounds) 

Eiko: Let's see what he has to say about this.. 

Eiko: Hm? 

Eiko: Okay, it really is his private account. 

Eiko: I wonder if he'll agree to give me the password to it.. 

Eiko: ? 

Eiko: .. Fine, sure, whatever, promise him a date or send him a pic or two. 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: What does he mean by "Takeru wouldn't mind if I went on a date with you"? 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Haha.. No. No, he's just lying to me. 

Eiko: He just wants me to agree to this. He wants me to believe that Takeru doesn't love me anymore. 

Eiko: .. Still, I should ask him about it. 

(typing sounds) 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Are you kidding me?.. 

Eiko: "Well, uh, about that".. 

Eiko: "I doubt Takeru will ever be able to go on a date with you".. 

Eiko: .. What is wrong with him? 

(typing gets faster) 

Eiko: Don't tell me.. 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: .. *starts sobbing*

Eiko: No. No, this can't be true. 

Eiko: He's alive. I know he's alive. 

Eiko: How could he-

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: It wasn't her, right?.. 

Eiko: I've never told Mother about him, but.. 

Eiko: .. I had my suspicions, but.. 

Eiko: He's.. dead.. 

Eiko: Takeru is.. dead.. 

(notification sound) 

Eiko: Huh?.. 

Eiko: Another friend of his replied. 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: "Hello, this is his private account"..

Eiko: "Here's the password. You'll find all the answers there".. 

Eiko: "I am so sorry".. 

(very fast typing sounds) 

(click) 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Hey.. 

Eiko: If Takeru is dead.. 

Eiko: His last post being made fifteen minutes ago doesn't make any sense.. 

Eiko: What if I scroll down.. 

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Haha.. 

Eiko: "I am finally free"? 

Eiko: When was this post made?

Eiko: .. That's when he stopped showing up.

Eiko: ... 

Eiko: Stupid. So stupid.. 

Eiko: I really can't trust anyone in this world, huh?

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

[ Asahi's Confession ]

(the door opens)

Satsuki: Ah, here you are!

Asahi: ...

Satsuki: Look what I got you! This plushie is so cute, isn't it?

Asahi: ...

Satsuki: D-do you not like it?..

Satsuki: It's okay, I can get you another one-

Asahi: .. I thought we'll go to see a movie today.

Asahi: You know, the one I've told you about before.

Satsuki: .. Oh.

Satsuki: S-sorry, sweetie, I'm not feeling so good today-

Asahi: But you still went and bought me this.

Satsuki: W-well, it's not a big deal for me-

Asahi: So going to the cinema is hard, huh? Maybe you don't want to spend time with me? Maybe you hate me?

Satsuki: No, no, that's not what I meant-

Satsuki: !

(sound of a plushie being thrown on the floor)

Asahi: I don't need it.

Satsuki: So you really don't like it?..

Asahi: ...

Asahi: Fine! Yes, I hate it! It's weird, it's ugly, it looks cheap, I deserve more!

Asahi: If you can't fulfill your promise, at least buy me something that is just as good as what you've originally promised!

Satsuki: Sorry..

Asahi: I hate it. I hate this thing.

Asahi: I hate you too.

Asahi: How can you call yourself my mother when you can't even give me the love that I want and deserve?!

Satsuki: I just.. don't know what you want from me..

Asahi: .. I just want something that will leave me satisfied, I guess.

Satsuki: Like what?..

Asahi: ...

Asahi: LIKE GOING TO SEE A MOVIE!

Asahi: WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?! I'M LITERALLY ELEVEN AND EVEN I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU CAN'T BE A MOTHER!

Asahi: NO WONDER YOU COULD NEVER HAVE A CHILD OF YOUR OWN!

Satsuki: ...

Asahi: JUST LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE! YOU SHOULD BE HAPPY THAT YOU DON'T HAVE KIDS BECAUSE IF YOU DID THEY WOULD SUFFER EVEN MORE THAN I DO!

Satsuki: Please, stop-

Asahi: WHAT, ARE YOU GOING TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF? ARE YOU FINALLY GOING TO SAY SOMETHING?

Asahi: ARE YOU GOING TO ADMIT THAT YOU'RE THE WORST MOTHER ANY CHILD COULD HAVE?!

Satsuki: SHUT UP ALREADY!

Asahi: ...

Satsuki: I.. I wanted a child. I really did.

Satsuki: When I first saw you, I hoped that..

Satsuki: .. You would fill the void I feel inside of me.

Satsuki: But it's hard.

Satsuki: It's too hard being a mother for me.

Asahi: .. Hey. Why are you telling me this-

Satsuki: You're right. I really am the worst mother any child could have.

Satsuki: Haha.. I really don't deserve to be a mother.

Satsuki: I can't give you the love you deserve. I'm sorry.

Satsuki: .. I will think about it. Maybe Masato really was right.

Asahi: But.. that guy didn't want me to live here..

Asahi: Hey! Hey, don't leave!

Asahi: Where the hell do you think you're going?!

Asahi: What is that supposed to mean?!

Asahi: .. Are you going to send me to an orphanage or something? After you had basically kidnapped me?!

Asahi: Answer me already!

(the door closes)

Asahi: ...

Asahi: W-what is wrong with her..

Asahi: .. What if she's just going to-

Asahi: .. No.

Asahi: No, no, no, no, no-

Asahi: She can't just.. throw me out.

Asahi: I don't wanna-

Asahi: .. *starts sobbing*

Asahi: .. I should go eat something..

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

[ Yurika's Confession ]

Yurika: "Finally, the classes are over."

Yurika: "Ugh, I hate this place so much.. Why should I go to university anyway?"

Yurika: "With a family like mine, I don't need education-"

Yurika: ...

Yurika: "Hey, just a reminder, now you have to work in a maid cafe and serve creeps that are ogling you all day exactly because of saying stuff like this."

Yurika: "I wish I could just quit that job, my second one is good enough-"

Yurika: "W-wait, no, no, I can't do that!"

Yurika: "I have to stay strong for Takame-san!"

Yurika: "Also.."

Yurika: "She lets me do anything I want to them, so.."

Yurika: Hehe..

???: Yurika!

Yurika: *screams*

Yurika: A-ah, it's you.. W-what do you want?

???: Oh, I was just wondering, do you want to.. you know, hang out together, maybe?

???: You've been looking not so good lately. I'm kinda worried about you.

Yurika: Oh, I see..

Yurika: "God, she's a terrible liar."

Yurika: "Someone like her can't be worried about me. She's the popular girl. She does well in class, she's hot, she has so many friends, someone like her would totally obliterate me in high school!"

Yurika: "And I say that as someone who was popular in high school!"

Yurika: "Her brother is also.. uh, okay, I guess. I mean, girls like him. Have no idea what they see in him though."

Yurika: A-anyway, sorry, I'm a bit busy. I have work, so..

???: By the way, you keep mentioning your job, but like..

???: Where do you even work?

Yurika: ".. I have to run."

Yurika: Uh.. Y-you know.. A-at a cafe..

???: Really? That makes sense actually..

???: You know, you're cute, so I imagine you being very popular with the customers.

Yurika: "Shut up."

Yurika: "Wait, did she just call me cute?"

???: So like.. Can I visit you someday-

Yurika: NO!

Yurika: Um.. I'm just.. very shy, haha..

Yurika: Like, I don't want you to see me, haha..

???: But I'm sure you look adorable in your uniform! Come on! 

Yurika: "She doesn't know the kind of uniform I have to wear.."

???: Also.. Um..

???: I've actually been looking for a job lately and I thought that being a waitress could fit me, so..

Yurika: "Oh, don't you even try."

Yurika: "Wait a minute, if someone like her starts working with us, maybe those guys will pay more attention to her than me?"

Yurika: "That would be nice.."

Yurika: "Wait, what if Takame-san starts liking her more too?!"

Yurika: "No, no, she's too loyal, she loves me too much-"

Yurika: ...

Yurika: "Who am I kidding, she would leave me right after she sees her."

Yurika: "Wait.."

Yurika: "What if she finds out.."

Yurika: O-oh, sorry, I am so sorry, I am actually so late! Gotta go!

(sounds of Yurika running away)

???: Yurika! Yurika, wait!

???: She's already gone..

???: *sighs* Well, at least now I know that she works at a cafe..

???: I just have to find out which one-

???: .. Considering her hobbies and interests and everything..

???: And how embarrassed she looked..

???: .. Yep. It has to be a maid cafe.

???: Don't we have a very popular one not so far away from here?

(sounds of Yurika running and stopping to take a breath)

Yurika: *breathing heavily* I'm so.. tired..

Yurika: I bet she's just trying to find out more about me for her blog or whatever.

Yurika: But I'm not suspicious at all! I'm just a cute little girl on the way to working a totally normal job! 

Yurika: .. Now why am I saying this out loud?

Yurika: Whatever. I am doing this for Takame-san.

Yurika: .. I owe her after all.

(sounds of Yurika opening the door)

Takame: Ah, Yuri-chan! I'm so glad you're here!

Takame: Let's work hard today, okay?

Takame: .. Same goes for tonight too~

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

[ Riku's Confession ]

(sounds of Riku playing the guitar that get more and more quiet)

Riku: Okay, we're done for today, everybody! Good job today~

???: Finally, I was getting hungry..

???: Hey, Riku, is it just me or does your voice sound kinda weird?

Riku: Huh?

???: Like.. It's more quiet than usual?

Riku: Hm.. Well, my throat doesn't hurt or anything.

Riku: Eh, maybe it's the acoustics.

???: Okay.. Take care of yourself. You gotta. 

???: We still have that one concert to prepare for too..

Riku: Haha, don't worry about me. I'm not going to let us down.

???: Fine, fine. I'll get going then.

Riku: Bye! I'll stay here to finish working on.. uh, something.

(sounds of everyone leaving)

Riku: ...

Riku: *starts coughing*

Riku: "Maybe drinking so much cold water before our practice was a bad idea.."

Riku: "It's fine. I'm sure it's nothing serious."

(sounds of Riku playing the guitar again)

Riku: ".. I don't want to leave yet for some reason."

Riku: "Not now."

(Riku continues to play)

(sounds of someone's footsteps)

(the door opens)

Yue: Riku-kun!~

(Riku stops playing)

Riku: A-ah.. It's you.

Yue: Ehehe~ Did today's practice go well?

Riku: .. Y-yeah.

Yue: Your voice sounds weird. Did you catch a cold?

Riku: "Again?.."

(sounds of Yue sitting down next to Riku)

Yue: Can you play something for me? Please?

Riku: .. Sure. 

(Riku starts playing the guitar again)

Yue: Nope. That's not the one.

Riku: What do you mean?

Yue: This isn't the kind of songs you like. This is not.. "you", you know?

Yue: This is just the "you" that you came up with to make others like you.

Yue: This is the song that a popular guy who's loved by everyone in the school would play.

Yue: This isn't the song that my only friend would play.

Riku: .. Fine.

Riku: .. I-I'll play it for you when we get home. I don't want to do it here.

Yue: Hm. Meanie.

Riku: I don't want others to ask me about it. Also, the practice is over anyway. I have to go home.

Yue: Let's go together then~

Riku: Fine.

Riku: Ah-

Riku: P-put this thing away! Are you insane?

Yue: Ah.. Right. We can't do this here, right?

Riku: Obviously. 

Riku: W-what are you-

Yue: .. Did you do it again this morning?

Yue: There's still some blood too.. 

Yue: Can't you at least take care of them properly?

Riku: .. I didn't have the time.

Yue: Hey, if you're going to die, you can't do it without me.

Yue: Here, I'll help.

Riku: Wh-

Riku: That's even worse!

Yue: Oh, I forgot to bring my stuff with me, so..

Riku: That doesn't mean you have to lick the blood off!

Riku: L-let's just go home already.

(sounds of Riku pulling down his sleeve)

Yue: Okay~ 

Yue: Hey, Riku-kun..

Yue: But like.. If you were to die..

Yue: How would you like to leave this world?

Riku: You ask this question every single time.

Yue: And you always give me a different answer.

Riku: ...

Riku: .. I guess I'd want it to be painful, but quick.

Yue: Oh, that's a new one!

Yue Well, let's see..

Yue: Maybe I could hit you on the head with a rock?

Yue: I'm stronger than I look! I'll make it as quick and as painful as you desire!

Riku: ...

Riku: Haha..

Riku: You're so weird..

Yue: But you still hang out with me like this.

Yue: .. When was the last time we've talked about something else and not like.. death and all that stuff?

Riku: .. Can't remember.

Riku: Like.. Didn't we talk about it even back when we were kids too?

Yue: Right, right! Remember you got really sad after your mom told you that you have to stop being selfish and that you're too jealous of Hinode?

Riku: ...

Yue: And then I was like "Hey, what do you want to do?" and you were like "I don't know, dying sounds nice"!

Yue: And this happened when you were like.. eleven? Or twelve?

Yue: Like, you were a messed up kid, if you think about it!

Yue: Or more like.. a very broken one.

Riku: .. So..

Riku: If you could kill me..

Riku: How would you do it?

Yue: Simple.

Yue: I'd do it in a way that would let us both die at the same time.

Riku: .. So if you wanted to die..

Yue: Yep. I would never die without you.

Yue: That's why I'm still here. As long as you're alive, I'll stay alive too. 

Yue: And I won't let you do anything to yourself either. We have to leave together. It's a promise.

Yue: So..

Yue: Do you want to try again?

Riku: ...

Riku: N-no, thanks. Not feeling like it today.

Yue: Oh, really? Not even doing the "death practice"?

Riku: .. What if somebody sees?

Yue: Come on, children won't come here at this time. 

Yue: And if somebody asks, we can just use the "we tripped and fell" excuse. 

Riku: Together? Like we fell at the same time?

Yue: They believe us every single time.

Riku: Sometimes I wonder if they really do believe us.

Yue: Maybe they just don't want to accept the truth. Who knows.

Riku: ".. So he's not going to die until I agree to die too.."

Riku: "This is going to be harder than I thought.."

Yue: So, are you ready?

Riku: .. Fine. You go first.

Yue: Of course. I always do. 

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

[ Reina's Confession ]

(sounds of someone being beaten up)

???: Ugh, she's showing no reaction at all! So boring..

???: We can kill you, you know! Don't you want to live?

???: Maybe she's already dead?

Reina: (her voice is noticeably deeper than usual) Enough. Let her go.

Reina: I thought this would be more fun.. What a disappointment.

Reina: (to the girl) Hey. Do you even want to live? Are you really okay with this?

Girl: ...

Girl: Don't know.

Reina: *sighs* Fine. 

Reina: (to her friends) Why are you still standing here like a bunch of losers? I thought I've told you to let her go.

Her friends: On it, boss!

???: At least we've got the money..

???: But seriously, her eyes were so empty. 

???: They looked kinda.. like yours, actually.

Reina: Wow, thanks for the compliment.

???: So, do you want to do anything else? Or are we done here?

Reina: .. I don't want to go home.

???: Because of your parents, right?

Reina: ...

???: Listen, I know we're supposed to be the bad guys and all, but like..

???: Neiro is worried about you.

???: Your parents suck, but that guy cares about you. Can you at least try coming home early for him?

???: Imagine if he finds out about what we do. He's not gonna like it.

Reina: !

(sounds of Reina punching the guy and him falling on the ground)

Reina: Don't even joke about it.

???: Okay, fine.. Seriously, sometimes I forget how strong you are.

???: But what if he does find out about it? What are you going to do?

Reina: ...

Reina: .. I'll run away.

Reina: How do you feel about living together?

???: What, like a couple? 

Reina: You're not a cute girl, so I'll pass.

???: Damn, okay.. But like. My apartment is a mess.

Reina: My room's a mess too. We're matching.

???: Haha, fine~ I'll think about it.

Reina: Yay..

???: So, are you gonna go home now?

Reina: .. Can we just..

Reina: Sit like this for ten more minutes? Maybe fifteen.

???: .. You know, from what you've told me, I doubt that your parents really hate you.

???: It's like, they came up with this perfect version of you in their heads and they don't like the real you, but they don't hate you.

???: They're worried about you too-

Reina: Respectfully, shut up.

???: You know that it's true. That's why you're trying to shut me up.

Reina: God, you're so annoying.

Reina: If I ever meet someone like you or even worse, I'm going to..

???: Become best friends with them.

Reina: What-

???: You won't kill them. You won't even hurt them. You'll protect them with your life if you have to.

???: I know you too well.

Reina: ...

Reina: *laughs* You're right. You're right.

Reina: .. Fine. I'll get going.

???: Do you want me to walk you home?

Reina: They'll have questions. No, thank you.

Reina: Don't want them to think you're my boyfriend or anything. Dad will kill you and Mom will kill me.

???: Okay.

???: Good job today. 

Reina: .. You too.

[thepaintedlady00]

Nightshade

Chapter 16 | Chapter 18

Chapter 17: Candy Apple

TW: as always language, drinking, smoking, some minor blood and violence, a few lewd thoughts, minor panic, but overall a pretty chill chapter this week This was edited quick, so sorry for mistakes. And I'll be totally honest with y'all I am not loving it. This chapter was really just giving me the most trouble from the start. There was so much I wanted to add and I just bit off a bit more than I could chew with this one so a lot got cut and it feels kinda rushed, but I figured it was best to get it posted and out of the way so we can move on to bigger and better things. So, sorry if this sucks! 😅 I still hope y'all enjoy it!

Rain splashed against the pavement in large drops, making it hard for Jake to ignore as he rode his bike through the bustling city streets. The chilled liquid slid down the arms of his leather jacket and onto his hands, making them feel stiff in the October air. A taxi drove through a puddle, splashing the bottom of his pants and getting him even more wet than before. God, he hated the rain. 

In the alley ahead, he could see a sopping wet head of red hair. Lena stood in the downpour as Sasha, Ari, and Scott all smoked beneath the safety of the covered doorway. As the traffic filtered out of his way, he could better see how her hair dripped and how calm her face was as she talked to their coworkers as if she weren't soaking wet, but it was her peaked nipples that caught his and Ari's eyes most. Her white shirt was nearly sheer from the rain, and the thin bralet she wore did little to hide her breasts from the world, not that he was complaining.

He rode across the street, drawing the eyes of everyone in the alley, but hers were all he cared about. The green was more vibrant in the rain, but they still paled compared to her smile. A soft whisper of his name was all it took to make his heart beat slightly faster. Scott looked at his wet pants and shook his head with a chuckle. "Not the best weather for bike riding."

"No shit," he grumbled in reply.

Lena shrugged. "I think it's fun riding bikes in the rain!"

"You would," Jake looked at her wet clothes again. "What'd you go swimming before you got here?"

"Oh, haha, you're so clever!" She mocked, rolling her eyes and lifting her head up toward the sky with another smile.

She was so beautiful. His eyes studied her again, her hair, those eyes, the slight arch in her back as she leaned back, her breasts. Maybe the rain wasn't so bad after all. Sasha flicked a cigarette into one of the puddles. "I don't think I've ever seen a wet Tiger before."

Ari giggled, leaning against the Russian. "It's kinda hot."

Lena glared at both of them. "Perverts."

"You gonna work soaking wet tonight?" Scott asked, snuffing out his own cigarette.

Ari grinned. "Only if she's in the front with Jakey again."

She flipped the short-haired woman off before answering Scott. "Course not. Unlike the two of you, I'm a professional."

"Excuse me!" Sasha scoffed. "I speak four languages!"

"That's cute," Lena teased, pinching his cheek as she walked past him.

"You little cunt face!" The Russian replied, smacking Lena's ass and muttering some Russian to her.

She only laughed while Scott followed the rest inside. "Don't drag that water through my fuckin kitchen!"

"Yes, Chef!"

Jake followed his coworkers inside, hoisting his bike over one shoulder as he maneuvered around the shelves and people. Ari and Sasha headed out to the table, promising to save Lena food while she dried up. Scott went straight back into prep as Jake followed Lena up the stairs and into the locker room.

Simone was standing in front of the mirror, applying some of her favorite red lipstick. Their eyes met in the mirror as he set his bike against the wall. She smiled. "Good morning, my love. I trust you slept well."

The subtle shift of her eyes glancing at Lena didn't go unnoticed. The redhead said nothing as she began changing into her dry work attire. "I slept fine. Thought my fucked up hair would be enough for you to tell."

It was nice hearing her laugh, a sincere sound that made him lower his guard and relax as he hung his jacket up to dry and changed. Simone looked at him, shaking her head. "I should cut it like I used to. Maybe then you'd remember to brush it."

Chuckling as her fingers ran through his hair, Jake shook his head. "I'll pass. I don't wanna look like shit for the next two months." After she rolled her eyes, Jake carefully nudged her. "You seem to be feeling better. Taking a few days off must've been a good call."

"I am," Simone said softly. Her eyes flashed to Lena again. "What did you get up to while I was gone?"

Even though he'd already discussed the importance of keeping their new partnership quiet with Scott and Lena, Jake felt a pinch of anxiety tense his muscles. "Nothing interesting. You know me."

"I do indeed," she replied, gently squeezing his shoulder. "I'll go get us some food."

"Thanks."

"Good morning, Lena," Simone greeted as she passed the redhead, now doing up the buttons of her shirt.

Lena smiled politely. "Good morning."

Simone's eyes took in her wet hair with an arched brow. "Looks like you've had quite the walk this morning! Do you need help drying your hair before service?"

"Walking in the rain is always interesting, but I enjoy it. And thank you for the offer, but I've got it under control."

"Do let me know if you need anything," Simone replied before making her way down the stairwell.

It made Jake feel far better than it should've, seeing the two interact with one another in such a friendly manner. He knew both women had reservations about the other, but they were trying, and that's what mattered. Lena turned, pressing an old t-shirt to her wet hair. "Pull a hair tie out of Ari's locker for me?"

He followed her simple request, knowing Ari's combination by heart at this point. "You don't have one?"

"Thought I did," she replied. "But it looks like it got lost or something."

"Here." He handed her the hair tie and leaned against the locker next to hers. Watching her work her fingers through her hair, gently twisting it into an elegant and simple bun with only a few shorter curls sticking out and framing her face was mesmerizing. Once she'd made herself presentable, she hung her wet clothes up beside his jacket to dry, and the thought he'd been being onto just came out. "So you and Simone seem to be getting along."

Lena shrugged. "I may not be a member of the Simone fan club, but I respect the group's president enough to be nice."

Maybe it was stupid to feel so happy about something so simple. This wasn't the start of some budding friendship between Simone and Lena, he knew that, but it still felt nice knowing the woman standing in front of him - the one that meant more to him than even he was willing to admit - wouldn't ask him to choose between them as so many others had before. 

The relationship he shared with Simone was complicated, but she was his family… The only person he knew he could count on no matter what. Most women felt threatened by that; most demanded that he choose either them or Simone. That answer was always easy. Simone. As Jake looked at Lena, a sudden thought made the smile vanish from his lips. If Lena asked him to choose, would that answer be as simple? He couldn't imagine losing her, and that meant that somewhere along the way - somewhere between the first day she'd walked out of the kitchen doors and now - Lena Harrow had become as important to him as Simone.

Her green eyes held his attention as a name echoed in his mind and consumed his soul with an answer. An answer to a question Jake would never ask. An answer Jake would never let himself acknowledge. Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head slightly, asking, "You feeling alright, tough guy?"

"Yeah," he responded, lamely moving away from the locker and clearing his throat. "Just tired."

"It has been kind of a crazy week," she admitted with a teasing smile as she lifted her hand to his forehead. "Maybe you're the one that should be taking a few days off."

He brushed her hand away with a chuckle. "I'm sure Howard would love that."

"Well, you are a real pain in the ass for management." She tapped his chin with her finger. "Don't worry though, I'd still miss you."

It was playful banter, their usual kind, but her reassurance that his absence would mean something only made the feeling in his chest harder to shove down. Jake nodded to the door, gently urging her forward. "Come on, let's get this shift over with."

Family meal was something Jake rarely attended. He had no interest in sitting around some table with people he worked with, pretending that they were some big family. Even the name of it rubbed him the wrong way. After everything with Tess, his distaste for it grew. He'd show up early, per Simone's orders, but he'd stay as far from that damn table as he could. Jake would take the plate of food Simone saved him and eat it at the bar, isolated, uninterested, and angry.

It was odd to think as he sat at that table, surrounded completely by the noise and gossip of the people he'd worked with for so long they were… Kind of… A tiny bit like family. Even as he sat beside Simone, a statue of calm and composure, Jake interacted with the people around him. He joined in on their jokes and genuinely listened to what they said. When he looked over at Simone for a split second, he could've sworn he saw a scowl, but she discreetly rubbed his back and sipped on the wine Howard had selected for their morning.

Howard - the only thing that could put a damper on Jake's newfound positive outlook - entered the room with a stiff smile and those beady little eyes fixed on the woman sitting across the table from him. If everyone else at 22West were ships cast out to sea, Lena was a lighthouse. She was warm and bright, and safe. Everyone was drawn into her safe harbor, but Howard was the biggest ship, willing and able to speed past the others to have that harbor all to himself. A thing Jake was determined to keep from happening even if it meant sinking his own dinghy boat.

Lena turned her head, leaning back in her seat to give the manager her attention along with everyone else. "Changelings! Today's extraordinary, but rather obvious, selection of wine was chosen to celebrate an unexpected change, but I hope it'll be a good one in the long run."

"We're getting raises!" Nicky shouted, followed by a chorus of laughter.

"Or he's stealing more of our tips for the dishwashers," Sasha grumbled.

Howard chuckled, shaking his head. "Our dear Rosalyn has accumulated enough funds to tour Europe for the next few months. 

Ari took a big drink of her wine. "How'd that bitch manage that?"

"Maybe she had another job?" Heather added.

"Obviously, we are very happy for her," Howard continued. "But, it's left us without a hostess. So, after much deliberation, we're happy to announce that Lena will be moving to the front to cover hostess duties for the time being."

All eyes were on her as Lena's face fell. Sasha, who sat beside her, muttered in Russian before gulping down his wine. Simone sat up, looking at Howard with narrow eyes as she asked, "Whose decision was this?"

"Mine," Howard replied. "Though our beloved owner showed nothing but support for it. 

Jake could practically see her teeth grinding together as Lena set her jaw in place as Simone continued her questioning. "Did you discuss this with Lena first?"

"No, but if she has an issue with this new arrangement, I am more than happy to discuss it in private." He held Lena's gaze as he turned to leave. She was up out of her seat, following him to his office with fire in her eyes in seconds. Jake smirked. Despite having the biggest boat, Howard certainly wasn't doing himself any favors getting the lighthouse to like him.

*

"What the fuck was that?" I demanded, slamming Howard's door shut.

He sighed, taking his seat at his desk. "Given your position, I thought you'd be happy to have a more secure set of duties."

"I don't give a shit about being a hostess, Howard. Why didn't you come to me first?"

"I didn't think it would be an issue."

"Bullshit." I tried not to grind my teeth together. "After your part in springing, my mother and Olive on me, I thought you would at least consult me about changes like this. Changes that affect me."

He shook his head. "I am sorry, Lena, for springing this on you and for my part in the whole… Mess, that was our field trip. Things have been… Stressful as of late, and I find myself faced with very difficult choices. Choices I've had to make alone."

I breathed out my anger. Howard was a lot of things, but I knew he wouldn't have made a decision like this - one that put the delicate structure of the restaurant he'd dedicated his life to in jeopardy - lightly. "I understand that. Just… Talk to me before making announcements like that in the future. You know I hate surprises."

Chuckling, he nodded in agreement and pulled a dry cleaning bag out. "One last surprise."

"Seriously?" I questioned, looking at the sapphire dress inside. "Is this some kind of new uniform for hostesses?"

The manager shrugged. "The guests seem to appreciate it."

I accepted the dress with reluctance. "So I should start wearing fancier clothes to work from now on?"

"I am more than happy to provide you with suitable attire, Lena. Accessories as well. We both know Liz would have offered them to you if she were around."

Examining the sparkling blue earrings, I smiled at the fond memories of Howard's late wife. I'd only met her twice, long before the two had actually gotten married, but from the little I knew about her, I was certain Howard was right. Elizabeth was always kind and bright. "I'm still kind of mad at you for not giving me any warning, but I'm honored that you trust me with these small pieces of her."

Howard glanced at the now wilting white orchids on his desk. "They're just trinkets. Little things that sparkle. They pale in comparison to what she was."

"Still, I'll take good care of them."

"I know you will."

"I guess I'll go change again." I exited the office, still holding onto the tense frustration of the sudden announcement. It was harder to hold onto the anger; after all, it seemed Howard had been just as blindsided by Rosalyn's departure as the rest of us. I didn't envy the decisions on Howard's plate, especially with all the recent scheduling issues and the drama my mother had invited into the space in the form of her assistant. It was a tough decision, but Howard made it like he always did. The restaurant came first.

As soon as I walked through the kitchen doors with the dry cleaning bag on my arm, Scott scoffed, shaking his head. "Fucker actually did it, huh?"

"What?" I asked, slowing down.

"He put you on as hostess," Scott clarified, pointing a knife at the dress. 

My eyes narrowed. "He told you?"

The chef continued his prep work. "It's what we were fighting about the other day. He wanted to 'give me a heads up', and I told him you were the one he should be warning. He seemed to think you wouldn't care."

"Huh," I scoffed. "I don't mind being the hostess for a bit while Howard looks for someone new. Though, I would have appreciated the heads up."

"I was gonna tell you," he replied. "But Howard was adamant he had it under control, so I thought it best to back off. I don't need that drama, especially not with all the other shit we have going on."

"I understand, Scott," I reassured him. "Have a good service, chef."

Scott shook his head again. "Don't we always?"

I changed into the new gown, silk rather than the other night's satin. It was light and comfortable but made my chest a bit more… Pronounced. If it got chilly tonight, I was certain my nipples would be giving the guests a very different dining experience. The thin straps drew attention to my neck and shoulders, while the long sapphire earrings accentuated my jawline. It was quite the look, one that still didn't quite sit well with me, given the environment.

Though the dress was beautiful and the accessories were stunning, I hated that it made me so overdressed. I looked more like a guest than a hostess, and as everyone else looked at me as I passed, it was obvious they thought so too.

Jake's brow arched as he watched me exit the kitchen and head to the hostel stand. A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he discreetly moved his bar rag along the already polished part of the bartop to stand behind me. "Guess I should get used to you being the center of attention out here."

"I'm hardly the center of attention," I answered, sparing him a look over my shoulder. "There will be plenty of fancy-looking guests."

"None that look like you," he responded, eyes dragging down my body.

"You're laying it on thick!" I laughed. "Who would've guessed that hostesses had such sex appeal."

Jake just shrugged. "It's a force of habit. I've spent the past six years flattering my way into every new hostess' pants."

I smirked. "And that turned out so well for you, right?"

"They may have hated my guts after the fact, but I assure you both parties involved had a good time."

Shrugging again, I kept up the playful facade. "Oh, I don't doubt you had fun."

His brows lifted. "Are you insinuating I'm a selfish lover?"

"I'm not insinuating anything," I replied with a grin as I turned to flip through the reservations book.

Out of the corner of my eye, I watched him chuckle and lean against the bar between us. "I could show you. That'll erase any doubt from your mind."

I held the book close and smiled at him, leaning over just enough to draw his eyes exactly where I wanted them. "Promises promises."

*

Service was going surprisingly well. At least, Jake thought so. The guests seemed satisfied with their lavish evenings. Some even left generous tips. But, as Jake made the drinks, dishing each one out with a dazzling smile, he couldn’t help but notice Howard’s leering. 

Lena was gorgeous, as always. She commanded the room in a way that made Becky, Rosalyn, and every other hostess they’d had at 22West look like amateurs. The silky blue of her dress reminded him of the night sky, soft and smooth and filled with stars if he looked at it long enough. But, no matter how nice of a dress it was or how alluring Lena looked in it, the whole thing didn’t sit right with him. 

No one got that nice of a wardrobe working here. No one. Not even Becky had received such lavish and expensive tokens, and she’d been sleeping with Howard for months before he transferred her. At first, Jake thought it was just a coincidence that he’d caught the managers lingering gaze, but the night continued, and the gazes did too. 

It didn’t matter where Howard was in relation to her; the reflection of that dress was always visible in his glasses. Jake might not have been the smartest bartender to grace the Earth with his good looks and raw skill, but even he was smart enough to know that this wasn’t normal. The outfits, the sudden change in her position, all of it stunk. He caught Howard staring one last time and ground his teeth together. He caught a glimpse of Simone as she headed down to the wine cellar; Jake leaned over and tapped Nicky’s shoulder. “Cover me for a minute?”

“You got it,” Nicky said, moving to replace him as Jake made his way down the stairs after the blonde.

She searched the wine racks with leisure, knowing each placement of each bottle by heart by now. Her eyes twinkled as she looked back at him. “Tonight’s been going well.”

“Yeah.”

The polite smile faded. “Is something wrong?”

Jake sighed, looking out at the second smaller kitchen in swing. “I don’t know.”

Simone held the wine bottle in her hands and took a step toward him. “Tell me.”

“It’s Howard,” Jake admitted. 

“Did he say something to you?” She demanded, cold and angry in seconds.

Shaking his head, he gave her a reassuring look. “No, it’s just this whole hostess thing doesn’t sit well with me.”

Her face relaxed, and she smiled slightly. “I would have thought you’d be overjoyed with it. Lena, being upfront certainly makes it easier for you to stare.”

He rolled his eyes at her teasing. “It’s not that. Well, not just that.”

“What is it then?”

“I dunno. I just find it weird that Rosalyn all of a sudden has money to go to Europe.” He scoffed. “Bitch was poor as hell when I fucked her.”

Simone nodded. “That was some time ago.”

“Yeah, but then instead of doing interviews or anything, he just puts Lena as the hostess. He moves the stand, gives her these dresses and accessories, and then just stands there and stares at her.”

“You think there’s something going on between them?” She asked, tone curious.

Jake practically laughed. “Hell no! Lena’s too smart to fall for his bullshit.”

Simone’s eyes narrowed as she asked, “What is it you’re saying, Jake?”

“I’m saying Howard’s up to something.”

She knew what he was asking of her without him having to say it, and with a gentle touch on the shoulder and a reassuring nod, Simone said, “Relax, love. I’ll see what I can find out.”

He leaned into her touch and sighed. “Thank you.”

If anyone could find out what was going on, it was Simone. So, Jake returned to work with a sense of calm washing over him. She would handle it like she always did, meaning there was nothing to worry about.

*

Service was relatively smooth as the guests slowly began to filter out, leaving just three tables to wait on. Most of the servers gathered around the bar, gossiping and sharing jokes quietly as they waited for the last esteemed guests to take the hint and leave. I stood by the hostess stand, memorizing the names and tables set to join us tomorrow night, when a familiar chill swept across my skin. 

I hated the feeling of eyes focusing on me, but I got used to it after a while in this dress, being upfront with all the people. The chill was something else, something far more unsettling than just a few long looks. As casually as possible, I looked around, trying to pinpoint where the lingering set of eyes was coming from. Howard watched me from the upper floor, and the group of gossiping co-workers shared multiple looks my way. A deep wave of nausea filled my gut as I slowly turned to the window and searched the shadowed figures moving through the streets. There was no visible reason for my body's reaction, no obvious sign of someone watching me, but that chill refused to settle.

After a minute or two of looking, I forced my eyes away and chose to ignore the feeling altogether, convincing myself it was just simple paranoia. I focused on Jake, watching him work the small crowd still sitting at the bar. I focused on his familiar movements and his cocky smile and dazzling eyes of mischief. I focused on the warmth that spread through my chest when those eyes met mine, and he graced me with a smug wink. I was here. I was safe.

Olive moved through the background of the bar, having been assigned to keep it well stocked since it seemed to be the least difficult thing for her to get right without Simone helping to remind her. All through the night, I noticed the tiny glares she gave Jake and me and how she'd purposely bump into Jake while he mixed drinks or reached for things. Whatever he'd said to her certainly pissed her off. While I found her attitude mildly amusing at first, that amusement vanished when her little bumps got rougher and more obvious over the course of the night.

Jake started wiping down the bar as the last remaining guests left. He made some offhanded request to Olive about putting the glasses away, and before I could even register what was happening, all hell broke loose. The sound of glass shattering filled the restaurant with startled gasps as all eyes looked to the bar. Jake’s low curse was what I heard loudest, though and my body was moving before I could recall telling it to. The second I rounded the bar, I saw blood coating the bartop and soaking through the rag he held to his arm. 

White hot rage filled my chest as my eyes sifted, finding Olive’s big, fat, fake tears and her shocked breaths. “Lena-”

“What the hell?” I demanded, moving to place myself between her and Jake.

“It… It was an accident.”

“Like fuck it was!” I yelled, not caring whether or not I drew the attention of the guests.

Jake’s hand squeezed my arm, grounding me and pulling my attention back to the person that really needed me. “I’m gonna need a hand cleaning myself up.”

Keeping my eyes locked onto his face to ignore the stench of blood and the crimson color that stained his shirt, I nodded. “Come on. I think the first aid kit is in the locker room.”

We hurried through the kitchen, ignoring everyone's questions and Scott’s warning about getting blood in his kitchen. Upstairs Jake sat down on the sofa and continued holding the rag to his arm as I tore the room apart, trying to find the first aid kit. My heart was pounding in my ears, old memories and past pains making it difficult to stay in the present. “I can’t fucking believe her!”

"I’m sure it was an accident," Jake said calmly as I finally pulled the first aid kit out from a pile of clothes in the bathroom. 

"Sure as hell didn't look like one from where I was standing."

“Alright, maybe it wasn’t an accident.” He chuckled. “Didn’t think she’d go that far, though. I’m kind of impressed.”

My hands shook, and my heart raced as the sight of blood - the sight of Jake's blood - threatened to pull me into full terror. “This isn’t funny.”

He bent his head down enough to catch my eyes, unable to reach out while he held the rag to his arm. "I'm okay. It's just a scratch."

Breathing out a shaky breath, I shook my head. "You shouldn't be scratched at all. Fucking stupid bitch."

Chuckling, Jake smiled. "I should get injured more often."

"What?"

"You look good, all riled up about my well-being."

I rolled my eyes and scoffed. "Don't get used to it." Nodding at his hand, I sighed, "Let's see."

He lifted the bloody rag from his arm, wincing slightly as the material peeled away from the wound. The cut was larger than I expected, starting from the center of his forearm and curving down toward his wrist. It wasn't nearly as deep as the last cut I’d tended to. "Guess I'm gonna have to cancel my morning boxing lessons, huh?"

"You shouldn't be out of the ring for too long," I reassured him with a sigh of relief. "But, you're telling Patrick."

"Cruel." His eyes watched as I cleaned and bandaged the cut easily. "You're good at this."

Part of me wanted to shrink into myself, to push him away from the trail of a past that still haunted me, but, to my surprise, I didn’t. Instead, I shrugged, a casual thing with more meaning than Jake would ever realize. “I had to deal with a lot of things like this growing up.”

“From the gym?”

“Some of it.”

“Did your mom…” He paused, knowing exactly how loaded the question waiting on the tip of his tongue was. “Did she hurt you like this?”

Lying would have been easier. It would have saved me from the slew of questions that would undoubtedly follow the truth. But again, I found myself opening up to him instead of shying away. “No. She favored blunt tools. Sticks and open palms, things that wouldn’t leave too noticeable of a mark.”

He nodded a brief understanding lingering in his eyes. “So, there was someone else then? Someone that made you get familiar with treating wounds and whatnot?”

My heart stopped, and I could feel my mouth open, the words, the admittance… the truth hanging on the tip of my tongue. Footsteps echoed from the stairwell, and a sigh of relief drew Jake’s attention away from me to the doorway, where Simone quickly entered. “Thank god you’re alright! Let me see!”

He waved off her concerned fussing. “I’m fine. Lena patched me up.”

“I cannot believe that Olive did this!” She huffed, examining his bandaged hand closely. “Accident or not, it’s just unacceptable.”

“I’m sure she’s all bent outta shape about it,” Jake replied with a grin.

Simone rolled her eyes. “Good to see the cut didn’t damage your poor sense of humor.”

I gathered up the garbage and closed the first aid kit, quickly moving away from the pair to collect myself. “A tiny cut isn’t enough to rid the world of my amazing charm.”

“Lena,” Simone said as I neared the doorway. I turned, looking at her as she gave me a simple nod. “Thank you for helping him.”

“It’s not a problem,” I replied, glancing at Jake before hurrying out the door and down the stairs.

It was an odd feeling that followed what could have been the biggest trauma dump I’d had since Cape Cod. Not disappointment but not relief. Something so mixed up and confusing that it sent a spike of panic through my veins. I’d almost told Jake everything. On a whim. Without any kind of prompting or an event that would force such a thing out of the cage I kept it inside. I’d almost shared the deepest, most scarred parts of myself with him of my own volition, and that was almost as terrifying as the thought of Tony waltzing through the restaurant doors like he used to all those years ago.

As I helped Nicky dish out after-shift drinks to the gaggle of gossiping co-workers, I resigned myself to tightening to locks on the cage. I trusted Jake. I cared about him. But I still felt so afraid that the truth would smother both of us. I was afraid that he would look at me differently if he knew everything, but truthfully, I was more scared of the possibility that the truth would change nothing. I was terrified that he would still look at me like I was beautiful and mesmerizing and… me. 

The group burst into cheers and hollers as Jake and Simone joined us. Sasha threw an arm around the dark-haired bartender. “An injury! Whatever will you do now, poor Jakey?”

Ari smiled into her glass. “Relax, it’s not like he can’t still use his fingers. Or his tongue.”

Sasha slapped her arm, suppressing a giggle. “I’m talking about his bartending! Dirty whore.”

“I can still bartend,” Jake reassured the Russian. “Like I said, it was just a scratch.”

Heather glanced over at Howard’s office door. “I don’t envy Olive right now.”

“It will be a miracle if this doesn’t get her fired,” Nicky added.

“She won’t get fired,” I replied, scrubbing the bartop a little harder. “My mother will have seen to that.”

Simone frowned. “Well, I hope she’s at least learned a lesson.”

I shook my head and bit back a scoff. “I doubt it.”

Jake watched me scrub the bar for a minute before everyone stopped and looked at Olive as she exited Howard’s office, big eyes free of tears and a smug grin set on her face. That fucking bitch. I made a move to follow her as she exited through the kitchen doors, but Jake’s hand reaching over the bar and taking hold of my wrist stopped me. “Relax, princess. Scowl any harder, and you’ll burst a vessel or something.”

“This isn’t funny,” Simone chided. “You could have been seriously hurt, and she doesn’t receive any punishment?”

“It’s fine, Simone.” Jake nudged her with his shoulder. “I’ve had worse.”

“Irrelevant,” she replied, turning away from him as Howard appeared. “Howard.”

The manager merely looked at her. “Yes?”

“Walk me home?” Her voice was cold. It was clear this wasn’t a question but a demand.

He tilted his head slightly but gestured for her to follow him. “Of course. Goodnight, changelings.”

The tension slowly filtered out of the room as they vanished past the windows. Sasha sighed, holding his glass out for a refill. “Well, now that blondie has that handled, who is up for dancing?”

“Me!” Ari replied instantly, shooting up from her seat and following the leather-clad Russian to the door.

“Still coming to Ozzy’s with us?” I asked, setting the dirty bar rag aside. 

Jake nodded, tossing his jacket over the bar to me. “Course I am. I gotta give Patrick the bad news.”

I laughed, not fighting with him about wearing the warm leather and joining him at the door as we followed behind our co-workers. “He’s going to be thrilled.”

Ozzy’s was buzzing with people and music when we arrived. Some Halloween decorations hung from the ceiling and the walls, an obvious attempt on Ozzy’s part to get it all up before Quinn’s birthday. We all moved through the crowd, running right into my brothers as they stood by the bar, waiting for an opening to get Ian’s attention for some drinks.

“FUCKING BULLSHIT!” Patrick hollered, looking at Jake’s arm with a scrutinizing glare.

Jake scratched the back of his head and shrugged. “Sorry.”

My brother sighed. “Well, guess we’ll have to focus on your legs or something til you’re back to a hundred.”

“Oh.” Jake looked surprised.

“What?” Patrick asked with a quirked brow. “Did you think a little cut was gonna get you outta training?”

“I mean kinda.”

“Not a chance, little brother. Not. A. Chance.” He laughed and clapped Jake on the shoulder. While my brothers moved up to the bar and ordered their drinks, Sasha, Ari, and Heather headed out onto the dance floor, and Jake and I joined Will and Prue.

"Where is she?" I asked Prue as I slid into the seat across from her. 

"Work." Prue glanced around. "She should be off soon, though."

"Arcade again this year?"

"Hell yes!" Her enthusiasm was infectious as Will followed the conversation without a clue as to what we were talking about, but still, he got excited anyway. "It's her favorite place."

"Do we need to book it?"

"Already done."

I grinned, giving her a quick high-five. "You're a saint!"

Jake asked as he sat down next to me. "What are we talking about?"

"Quinn's birthday party. You wanna join the planning committee?"

He leaned forward with that mischievous grin of his. "Desperately."

"You can be in charge of the cake," I offered, relaxing back in the booth. It wasn't something I thought would be particularly challenging, especially considering how little Quinn cared about the cake, but the slight widening of Jake's eyes told me he considered it quite the task. "You don't have to."

"I can manage a dumb cake," he insisted with that deep-set scowl that was starting to grow on me.

"Quinn could care less about the cake," I continued. "She doesn't usually even eat it. It's more for everyone else."

Will's brows furrowed. "What does she eat then?"

"Candy apples!" Patrick proclaimed as he and Peter slid into the booth, shoving Jake into my side. "Nana makes 'em special for her every year."

Peter smiled fondly. "Nana makes sure everyone gets something special on their birthday."

"An angel, that woman," Patrick added lovingly. "Always makes me the best, booziest rum cake."

Will tapped Peter's shoulder, asking with a dumb grin. "What does she make you?"

Though it was a simple question, I could see Prue's eyes light up as she answered, "Jam. She takes Lena and Quinn berry picking and makes me my jam and a big plate of jam tarts."

Peter leaned back, closing his eyes slightly. "Can't wait for my batch of cookies this year."

"Same," I replied. "I won't have to try and smuggle them to you."

"What does she make you?" Jake asked, glancing at me as he took a drink of his beer.

Before I could answer, Patrick spoke, "The real question is, what doesn't she make on Lena's birthday?"

Jake turned to my brother with a chuckle. "Should've guessed Lena got the royal treatment."

"Lena's not special," Pat insisted. "She just gets a big party because that's when she got back."

"Got back from where?"

My brother's mouth shut. He scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously as he talked over himself, trying to find something to say. Something that wasn't a lie, but that wasn't the truth either.

The truth. How was a person supposed to casually discuss how they narrowly escaped death at the hands of a rich and psychotic "ex" just a few days before turning sixteen? How could anything I said possibly explain the horrors every birthday previous to that had been filled with? The mixed emotions my birthday brought were a can of worms best left untouched, so I didn't meet Jake's curious eyes, instead letting my eyes lock onto Quinn as she emerged through the crowd. "There's the birthday girl!"

She welcomed the attention, not stopping until everyone wished her a happy, almost birthday. "All this love and attention is good for my skin." She sat down next to Peter, smudging glitter onto his shirt. "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just discussing your birthday."

She clapped. "Let me guess! Prue already booked the arcade, and now you're trying to find people to dump cake and booze on?"

I rolled my eyes. "We all know I'm on booze duty."

"Til the day we die bitch." Quinn laughed. "So, who's the poor bastard on cake duty this year?" Narrowing her eyes, she pointed at Peter. "Kiwi?"

Peter rolled his eyes at her new nickname for him, a term almost everyone had adopted upon seeing the fuzz growing on his head. Secretly, Peter enjoyed it. The kiwi fuzz meant he could get his old hair back. "Nope."

Her finger turned toward Patrick, who nearly rolled out of the booth to avoid it. "Don't even try to curse me like that."

Quinn frowned, shifting her gaze to Jake, who gave her a shrug. She clicked her tongue. "Oh, you poor boy."

"I've been assured the cake isn't a big deal," Jake said, looking at me.

"Course she'd tell you that," Quinn replied. "No one has ever been able to find me a good cake."

I rolled my eyes. "That's because you're a drama queen with impossible cake standards."

She shrugged, stealing Patrick's drink as he slid back into his seat. "I've never had a cake I liked. Sue me."

"If I could, I would."

"Why have you never had a cake you liked?" Jake asked, throwing his arm over the back of the booth behind me as he relaxed into the booth's shitty cushioning.

"I blame Halloween." She gestured to the decorations Ozzy had half-heartedly started putting up. "Everyone's so focused on the candy that they start neglecting bakeries."

Prue shook her head. "I'm fairly certain bakeries thrive in October."

Quinn signed and said, "Maybe I just hate cake. God knows I've had enough shitty cake to last me a lifetime and then some."

Everyone at the table could sense the shift in her mood, but Patrick and I felt it on a deeper level. The three of us hated our birthdays. Quinn and Patrick pretended they didn't, and maybe some part of them did enjoy the attention and the gifts and the celebration, but deep down, the pain of all those birthdays spent alone lingered. 

Patrick spent every birthday on the street or among strangers until he found his way to our gym. Quinn spent hers cooking herself a cake and eating it alone while her dad was passed out on their sofa. And I spent mine either in the ocean or on the floor of a polished penthouse. Every birthday between us was spent blowing out those damn candles and making a wish. A desperate and stupid wish that would never come true. A wish that we'd each finally get what we wanted. A wish that our lives would somehow change for the better.

For Patrick, that was a home, a family of his own that loved and accepted him. It was a thing he'd found with us, but a thing that still felt like it wasn't entirely his. A damaged way of thinking that no one, not even my dad, could keep him from feeling.

For Quinn, that was happiness. She had a lot of happy moments since we became friends, but the joy and lightheartedness were still things she considered fleeting. A deep-rooted, broken part of herself that no one could repair but herself.

For me… For me, it was peace. I had good days, bad days, and the moments in between, but peace, true fucking peace, well, that was a fucking pipedream. Unlike the others, my wish hinged on a madman's whims. One that was determined to remind me this life I'd built for myself, that I'd fought and bled and killed for, wasn't permanent. Not while he lived.

Wishes were for children, yet we sat in front of the candles every year, closed our eyes, and made that same wish. Only the three of us knew, and while everyone else clapped and cheered, we all shared the same look. The look of tired hopefulness, clinging to our wishes while also preparing ourselves for the ultimate disappointment of them not coming true.

The conversation shifted, leaving the three of us sharing that look over the table as we carefully rejoined the world around us. No one noticed except Peter, who'd seen it all enough times to recognize it, and Jake. To my surprise, his eyes shifted from my face to Patrick's before they settled on Quinn. A look, realization, and something else made his face drop.

Familiarity. I realized. Jake knew what the looks on our faces meant because he had a similar experience. He watched Quinn closely for another minute, determination and resolve settling in those blue eyes like a storm. Whatever he had planned, he was going to make sure it happened.

The two of us hung out with the group for a while before we snuck out the back door and settled on the couch in the alley. Whisky was quick to jump into our laps, having taken to following us out or waiting for us on the couch. Burrowed against my chest, cloaked in the warm leather of my jacket, the cat purred contently as Jake rested his head against the alley wall. “How’s the arm?”

He turned his head slightly, glancing at me with a smile. “Worried about me, are you, princess?”

“Course not.”

“Bullshit.” He leaned over slightly, pressing his shoulder into mine. “You looked like you were gonna cry earlier.”

I rolled my eyes. “I absolutely was not!”

He chuckled, raising a brow. “No? You seemed pretty shaken up about it to me.”

That urge to tell him the truth returned, and I had to tighten my grip on it to keep it all from tumbling off my tongue. “I don’t like blood.”

“You seem fine with it when you’re boxing.”

“That’s…” I sighed, turning away from him. “That’s different.”

Jake sat up, the vulnerable curiousness that he’d shown in the locker room resurfacing. “I’m guessing it has something to do with what we were talking about earlier.”

“Jake,” I breathed out. “Please don’t.”

His fingers brushed against my leg. “As much as I wanna bug you about it… I’m not going to push it.”

“Thank you.”

“I get it,” he answered. “There are some things that just… need time.”

My finger smoothed down Whicky’s back, letting the rumbling purs lull the fear and tightness in my chest until it felt easier to breathe. “So, what kind of cake are you gonna get Quinn?”

Jake laughed. “Fuck if I know. I was just gonna ask you a million questions and get whatever you told me to.”

“That’s not how this works!” I insisted, slapping his arm. “You gotta fail on your own, just like the rest of us.”

“I’m not gonna fail.”

“Oh?” I teased. “You some kind of special hot shot baker now?”

Rolling his eyes, he shook his head at me, leaning back into his comfortable position, lazily petting Whisky’s little head as he poked it out of the top of my jacket. “Guess you’ll just have to wait and see.”

“I’m tingling with anticipation,” I mocked.

Jake's eyes sparkled. "I can think of a few better ways to make you tingle."

"Shut up."

*

It was always kind of weird being in an empty arcade, but I found that I enjoyed it. The games chimed and echoed their cheesy catchphrases in my ears as Prue, and I finished setting up the last of the birthday decorations. Will, Peter, and Patrick were scattered around the arcade making sure everything was ready for Quinn’s special night while the employees sat back and relaxed, knowing the drill well enough by now to know we’d refuse any kind of help.

We’d been at it for hours, making sure to cover all our bases and make the space reflect the over-the-top dramatic birthday girl. It was all just the way Quinn liked it, cheap and sparkly. Prue waved to get my attention, quickly signing, “Did you remind Jake about the cake?”

“No,” I replied. “I doubt he needs a reminder. He seemed pretty determined to get it right.”

“Text him?” She begged. “I want everything to be perfect!”

Smiling at her genuine concern, I nodded. “Aye, aye, Captain Prue.”

Hey, tough guy, don’t forget the cake.

The response was immediate. I didn’t forget the cake. Where do you want me to take it, though?

Nana’s. We’re going there after the arcade for food.

Sounds good. See you at 7.

Will exited the game area with a smile. “Everything is ready!”

Patrick and Peter both left the laser tag area with grins. “Laser tag is gonna be epic tonight!”

“Thank you, guys!” Prue sqealed, enveloping all of us in a big hug. “I hope she likes it.”

“She loves it every year, Prue,” I reassured her. “It’s going to be amazing.”

We spent the rest of the time running errands for Nana and making sure every part of Quinn’s party was going to be exactly how she wanted. It was the least we could do, and Quinn deserved every second of it. After Nana essentially kicked us all out, we waited outside the arcade for everyone to show up.

Beneath the neon lights and the distant arcade sounds, we all happily clamored together. Sasha and Scott were the first to arrive, followed closely by Heather and some of the cooks. Jake showed up later, smoking a cigarette as he hurried across the street, ears covered by one of his black beanies and his hands tucked safely in his pockets. The chilled air stung my legs as I leaned against the arcade door with a smile, arms perfectly warmed by his leather jacket. “You’re actually on time. I’m shocked.”

“I just finished dropping the cake off,” he answered, blowing smoke in my face. “Nana insisted I stay to test some of the food.”

Patrick groaned. “Lucky bastard! Nana never lets me taste the food anymore.”

Peter laughed. “Because your version of taste the food is having a four-course meal.”

“They’re coming!” Prue signed quickly as she bounced on her feet, still holding onto Will’s hand.

“Here they come,” I shouted to the rabble as Quinn and Ari rounded the corner.

Everyone cheered and sang and showered Quinn in attention as she walked, hand in hand with Ari, to the center of the crowd and bowed. “Oh my god, this shit’s even bigger than last year!”

Ari kissed her, staining her lips with the dark burgundy lipstick. “You deserve it, babe.”

I could see the blush that colored Quinn’s cheeks as she looked around at all the familiar faces with a smile. It was something she still wasn’t used to, having so many people actively here for her. After living the majority of her life with an addict father who could have cared less if she was there or not, it made sense that she’d be a bit starstruck by it all. I opened the door. “Come on, let’s go inside before everyone freezes, and this turns into a mass event rather than a birthday.”

The mixture of spooky and birthday decor fit Quinn’s personal tastes well, drawing her eyes in and bringing a bright smile to her face. “It’s fucking perfect, you guys!”

Ari tugged Quinn to the skeeball machines, giggling about how whoever got the highest score would get an illicit prize. Everyone fanned out, finding something to enjoy while Peter threw his arm over my shoulder. “Laser tag?”

“You fucking know it!” I replied with a wicked grin.

Patrick clapped Jake on the back. “We get the boy this time.”

I shrugged, confident in my skill. “Take him. I’m still gonna beat your asses.”

Jake raised a brow. “Wow, you sound real cocky right now.”

“Coming from you, I’ll take it as a compliment.”

“Let’s make a bet,” he suggested as we slowly followed Patrick and Peter toward the laser tag door.

“I thought we were gonna bet for drinks again.”

“That’s the general bet for everyone. I’m talking about another one, just between us friends.”

I smiled, curious about the idea behind that sinful look he was giving me. “I’m listening.”

Jake stopped just outside the door and leaned against the frame, his earring poking out of his beanie as he grinned down at me. “Winner gets a whole day where the loser does whatever they want.”

“So, when I win, you’ll have to spend an entire day waiting on my every whim?”

Chuckling, he shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”

“Count me in.”

We got geared up and were standing around listening to the safety speech when Jake’s hands squeezed my hips, and his lips brushed against my ear. “You’re gonna look so good in the pictures I plan on taking of you when I win.”

His words made my mouth run dry and my body heat rise. “Pictures?”

“Mhm,” he breathed, pressing himself into me. “Let’s just say I plan on getting up close and personal with those tattoos of yours.”

I couldn’t have contained the shiver that ran down my spine even if I’d tried to. Jake’s lips curled into a smile against my ear. “Sounds like you’re gonna be really disappointed when you lose then.”

His teeth scraped against my neck, forcing me to bite my tongue to hold in a loud moan. “Good luck out there, princess.”

He joined Peter and Patrick, leaving me with nothing but a wink to fill the loss of his body against mine. I quickly scoffed at him and turned to Will and Sasha. “Let’s kick their asses.”

The match started like every match did, with both of our teams trying to execute wild half-thought-out plans before the other could dwindle our numbers. Will and Sasha went to take the high ground while I stayed low, convinced Peter would still want to conserve some of his energy. The thick fog made it hard to tell which of the neon lights that surrounded the space was one of the vests belonging to my opponents or just decoration. I stayed close to the wall, intent on using the smaller walls to duck behind if the need arose. It was a good plan, one that didn’t account for Patrick’s insanity.

He dove out of the fog, almost tackling me. I would have tried to shoot him if Peter hadn’t of emerged from the balcony to lay down cover fire and drive me forward. Ducking under the walls and hurrying through the maze of fog and lights, I made it to the other side of the room, carefully moving out from my cover to aim down the path behind me. Patrick was like a bloodhound, so I knew he would be following me. 

While my attention was on the maze I’d left behind, Jake slid out from his cover to my left. I caught the movement but turned too late. His hand grabbed the laser gun in my hand and tugged it to the side, his body moving forward just enough to press mine into the wall. I struggled against him for a minute, trying to free my gun from his grip, but with an aggravated sigh, I stopped. “Let go!”

Jake smirked. “Alright.”

While his hand loosened around my gun, he pushed himself forward and ducked his head down, his lips pressing against mine in a fervent and feverish kiss. I opened my mouth to him, tangling our tongues together as his now free hand disappeared in my hair while the other still held his gun. My head hit the wall as I tilted it back, desperately trying to give him more access to my mouth while I dropped my gun and gripped him by the hair.

The exaggerated sound of the laser tag gun going off echoed in my ears as my vest vibrated. I pulled away from his lips, looking down at my now-red vest and Jake's gun aimed at the sensors. He shot me. Looking up at his stupid smug face, my mouth fell open. He fucking shot me! Using the tip of his laser tag gun, he lifted my chin, moving his head back down until his lips hovered over mine. "Have fun buyin’ me that drink, princess."

“That’s cheating!" I slapped his arm, glaring as he pulled away with another wink. “Asshole!”

We never stood a chance. Patrick and Peter had effectively led me straight to Jake knowing full well he’d be more than capable of distracting me. And while I was lulled by the lustful need to feel Jake’s lips on mine, my brothers made quick work of my less skilled teammates. The perfect plan.

While the winners cheered as they exited the laser tag room, I scowled. Patrick laughed, squeezing my shoulders. “Don’t look so glum, sis! You put up a damn good fight at the beginning!”

“Oh shut up,” I growled shaking his arm off me. “Just figure out what drink you want, dick.”

Jake stood next to me, smug and insufferable. “So, what day works best for you?”

“Planning your little photoshoot already?” I questioned.

“Absolutely,” he answered, those fucking eyes running down the length of my body. “Got any red lingerie? I’ve got a vision.”

“I have plenty of lingerie,” I replied. “But you won’t be seeing them.”

He bit his lip. “Oh, you want a fully nude album then?”

In spite of my blushing cheeks, I scoffed at him. “You cheated. Why should I give you anything?”

“A bet’s a bet, princess.” He replied. “Unless you’re too… intimidated to pose for me.”

“November 19th. It’s a Sunday so we’ll both have the day off.”

Jake leaned forward, his breath mingling with mine. “It’s a date then.”

The remainder of the night was filled with dancing and karaoke. Quinn was having the time of her life, and I could tell that it meant a lot to her to have so many people show up for her birthday. Once it came time to head to Nana’s for food we all cashed in our tickets, walking away with shitty prizes that weren’t nearly as good as the frog I’d won last time. The air was cool and the walk was calming, though it was still difficult for me to keep my heart from beating wildly while Jake looked at me. I could practically see the scheming going on in his eyes as he examined every move I made, committing the poses he liked best to memory. 

Nana had the whole diner decorated, food set out on every table and the entire staff present ready to holler. She stood between Ozzy and Abdul as Quinn entered, her face twisting into a beaming smile. “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!”

She’d never admit it, but I saw the tears building in Quinn’s eyes as she looked around at the room of people she loved and let Nana’s arms wrap around her. “Thanks, Nana.”

“Anything for my girls,” the old woman said, pinching her cheeks. “Anything for you my Quinny.”

The food was immaculate as always, comprised of Quinn’s favorite meals and of course her candy apples. When the time for cake came Jake set a box in front of the birthday girl with a nervous shrug. “I did my best.”

Grinning evilly at him she started to open the box. “We’ll see about that, bar boy.”

The grin faltered. Ari was the one that pulled the cake out of the box, laughing at the comically large peach that resembled an ass perfectly. Written on the top was a simple message that Ari read, “A Peach for the Queen. Happy birthday Quinn.”

Everyone was silent as we watched Quinn look up at Jake with glossy eyes. “Where did you get this?”

“Had a few of the bakers at the restaurant whip it up.” He tried not to look like he cared as he shrugged his shoulder. “Sorry if it’s garbage.”

Quinn shook her head and stood, quickly pulling Jake into a tight hug. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Jake.”

He stood there awkwardly for a minute before he set a hand on her back and relaxed into the hug. “No problem, Peach Queen.”

Nana and Abdul lead the song, but I was too focused on Quinn’s face to sing along with them. She looked so happy, smiling like an idiot with Ari hanging off her shoulders, pressing kisses to her head and face. Her eyes looked around the room, taking it all in with a look of wonder that I’d never seen before. Ozzy clapped loudly. “Blow out the candle dear girl!”

She stared into the flame for a minute, closing her eyes tightly as she blew the candle out. More cheering and celebrating echoed in my ears as she looked at me. It wasn’t like the other looks, not tired or dumbly hopeful, but genuinely happy instead. Patrick and I glanced at one another, surprised and emotional smiles tugging on our lips and making our cheeks hurt. 

Quinn’s wish came true. And that meant that maybe… just maybe ours could too one day.

The girls and I walked to Quinn’s apartment and settled in for our traditional sleepover. While Prue gathered the snacks together in Quinn’s tiny kitchen the birthday girl and I sat in her bed. Quinn was half laying back in a sea of pillows and soft blankets, letting me take the clips and braids out of her hair while she stared at the wall in front of her, still smiling. 

"What'd you wish for this year?" I asked, running my fingers through Quinn's hair, gently removing the rhinestones and pins.

"A million bucks." She joked before shrugging, leaning further back into me. "Seriously though, this was the first birthday I've had where I didn't know what to wish for." Quinn looked up at me with tears building in her eyes. "This is the first year I've had everything I could ever want. I'm happy."

I wiped her eyes and smiled. "That's good, right?"

"It's weird," she insisted with a laugh. "Good weird, though."

"Good." Setting her accessories on my nightstand, I nudged her. "What'd you wish for then?"

Quinn snuggled into me. "I wished that everything would stay this way. Happy."

I kissed her head. "That's a really good wish, Quinny."

*

Sweet harmonies echoed in the glass house. Anthony stood at the window, gazing out at the bright city below as he languidly swirled the wine in his glass. His ringed fingers tapped along to the sounds behind him.

People sounded so different when they were underwater. Their bodies thrashed and struggled so much slower. Unlike most would think, the cold water made the pain more pronounced and more noticeable. The body would fight to conserve heat, and in situations like this, it would only see to the prolonging of its own suffering. The ways one could… Persuade the mind in the cold were numerous and long if done properly. Hot water, however - a scream echoed out amongst the orchestra.

Hot water made the blood vessels widen. It opened itself up in turn, allowing more inflammation. The heat made bleeding out far quicker, so one had to work quicker, but Anthony trusted his associate's skills in that regard. Jules knew Anthony favored using cold water to get information, but this wasn't about information. This was a lesson. A punishment.

"PLEASE!" He closed his eyes, savoring the sound as slowly sipped his wine.

He tapped his finger against his glass twice, and Jules saw to another dip in the scalding water for their guest. The screaming added so much depth to the music, something Anthony had always enjoyed about simple moments like this. After a few seconds of muffled thrashing and quick bursts of screaming, Tony set his glass down and rolled up his sleeves, turning to greet his guest with a smile.

He looked vastly different than he had when they first grabbed him. His face was swollen, and once pristine, well-cared-for skin was now marred by deep cuts and burns. Barely conscious, he struggled to beg, but that was fine. They were past begging anyway. His measured steps clicked against the marble floor until they stopped in front of him. Taking his favorite knife from Jules, Anthony smiled as they tore his shirt open. "Let's get started, shall we?"

[reinabeestudio]

Well I'm bedridden and bored as hell. Thus, I'll finally share some lore about the heart-themed ship. And about certain item they share

(+ adding context to this drawing)

Well, the thing with the necklace was not something planned by him. It just... happened.

You see, he went to search some place to eat on the island. Inside of one of these places, he spotted Miel. Sitting by herself, looking rather pensive as she fiddled with the petal of a blue hibiscus. He decided to approach her—by sneaking up on her, laughing when she jumped. She punched his arm when she recovered with an annoyed expression, calling him an idiot, which only made him laugh harder as he took a seat next to her. He glanced at the flower before looking back at her.

“What, you gonna eat that or something?”

“Haha, real funny, Oak. No, one of the waitresses gave it to me. It's to be worn, you see.” She pointed at another customer, wearing a red hibiscus in their hair.

Dammit, there she was with the 'Oak' thing again.

“Told ya to call me Blue. Being called Oak makes me feel like my gramps!”

“Why are you here, Oak?”

He started to think that maybe she did call him by his last name just to annoy him. But you know, he was there because of her.

“What, can't we have a nice friendly moment? We're in the same team.”

“I can't fathom why you would want to spend time with me.”

In that moment his trademark smirk shrinked a bit, when he heard her voice sound... well, sad. Alright, perhaps this was more serious than he thought.

“There's something on your mind.”

“And when not?” she replied with a light chuckle. Nuh uh, he wasn't gonna let her slip away like that. He scooted a bit closer to her on their seats, putting his arm around her shoulder.

“C'moooon, pidge. You can tell me! Just between us.”

She looked at him with a raised eyebrow after the nickname, silently looking at him. He could feel the gears in her brain spinning in that moment, thinking of what to do.

Ultimately, she sighed and looked back at the flower on her hands, feelings its soft petals.

“What is there after Pasio?”

“.... Huh?”

“When we're done with Pasio, I assume Leaf and Red will go their ways.” Yeah that sounded like his rival. That hermit. “What about you? What will you do?”

That was actually a good question. It got him thinking for several minutes, humming in thought until an answer came to his mind.

“Fieldwork, probably. My job makes me travel 'round the regions a lot.”

“.... I see. Of course, that makes sense....”

The absolute dejected look she had after answering told him that was probably not something she wanted to hear. It broke his heart a bit, to be honest.

“And you? What're you gonna do after this?”

“Ah, me? That isn't important, I was just curious—”

“Miel.”

The sudden serious tone caused her to look at him, visibly surprised. She looked... nervous. Which meant he was getting somewhere. He had to keep talking or she'd close off again.

She sighed. “I.... I don't know. I have nowhere to go. It's... it's scary out there, I don't know what to expect.”

The way she talked about the world sometimes, she sounded like she's never dealt with Pokemon before. A dumb thought, but it's a thought that kept popping up on his mind.

“.... Oak? Can I be honest for a second?”

“Uh, sure?”

“You're the only thing I have.”

That shouldn't have made his heart beat faster. Not when she was looking at him like an abandoned cat.

“I-I mean that I have nowhere to go,” she quickly corrected herself.

There was silence after that. Not an awkward one, but rather a silence of processing and understanding. Was this the reason behind she kept 'taking things slow' in the island? Did she really have nothing else to look forward to afterwards?

“I got an idea,” he said, breaking the silence. Miel didn't look at him but she didn't stop him, so he took this as a sign to continue. “I'll show ya around.”

That made look at him, her fingers no longer fumbling with the petals of the flower resting on her lap. “I'm already familiar enough with the island, Oak.”

“Wh- no, I meant I'll show ya around the world!”

“Ah, I see.....” Give her a minute. “WAIT, are you suggesting I travel with you?” There we go.

“Yeah. Why not?”

“I appreciate the offer, but I don't think it's wise to accept. I'm not very familiar with battles and Pokemon, as you have seen.” She sighed. Which meant she was going to be honest for a second. “I wouldn't want to be a bother while you work.”

“.... Say, I got another idea. A challenge!”

His idea was simple: he would help her during their stay in Pasio. He would help her with anything involving training and raising Pokemon—who better to guide her than one of the former Champions? (and he bet that Leaf and Red wouldn't mind lending a hand, being part of the team as well, but he wanted to train her himself)

But she must battle him after she defeated the Elite Four. Only the two of them, a real battle, 1 vs 1. If she wins against him, she'd prove to be strong enough to get out there and face any challenge that comes their way. Together.

Miel seemed to briefly ponder over it before extending her hand to him to shake on it. “Alright. It's a deal, Oak.”

“A deal? Nah, pidge. Ain't like that.”

Blue could feel her eyes on him as he reached behind his neck and took off his heart necklace. There were no words between them as he slided off the blue half of the pendant into a different black cord he had on pocket (he couldn't resist chuckling softly when he noticed Miel's small surprised gasp while looking at whatever he was doing so intently). Next he fastened the cord with the pink half back in place before he turned his full body towards her on his seat.

“Stay still, Miel.”

He leaned in closer and clasped the necklace with the blue half of the heart around her neck, tracing the cord and the pendant with his finger. Gee, he could feel warmth radiating from her body. He forced himself to pull back lest the urge to close that distance won.

“There! It's a promise.”

Miel examined the pendant before she looked up at him with a smile. Fuck. Fucking christ, that was so pretty. She was so pretty. Keep it cool, dude.

“A promise, you say. That sounds nice, Oa-..... Blue. I'll hold you to that,” she said as she leaned her head on his shoulder. “Pink looks good on you, by the way.”

He wrapped an arm around her shoulder by reflex as that trademark smirk on his face only grew bigger.

“And blue looks great on ya!”

You can read this and this if you are interested in some sort of follow-up to this, as well as more lore (?). And if you wonder why he's so weak to her smile, that's a little reference to how they met ∋( :]

[dastanbladeswriter]

3. Jack's Legacy

2007.

The months went by and Jack began to slow down. During one of their bike rides, Matt and Jack found themselves far from Vicary City. They were on a different hill, where a panoramic view of the distant mountains unfolded before them. There were green meadows as far as the eye could see, making the urban chaos a distant memory, but Matt noticed something was wrong.

«Are you okay, Grandpa?» he asked, raising his dark eyebrows a bit.

Jack took a deep breath and touched his chest.

«I'm sorry, Matt, but this body doesn't have the strength it used to,» he replied, squinting and slightly opening his mouth.

«Is there anything I can do to help?» Matt asked, dismounting his bike and gently patting Jack's shoulder.

«Matt. I'm old,» Jack replied, raising his gaze. «Maybe I should take these bike rides a bit less seriously,» he continued, his expression tightening from the strain.

«I don't like seeing you like this,» Matt replied, taking a step back and lowering his gaze.

«Don't worry, Matt,» Jack said, giving a wink with his left eye. «My body might be weak, but my spirit's still goin' strong!» 

«I don't doubt it, Grandpa. You're the strongest person I know,» Matt replied, sighing.

«Thank you, Matt,» Jack replied after a breath, pulling himself up.

«What do we do now?» Matt asked after scratching his temple.

«A bench would be nice,» Jack said, looking ahead.

«Okay, I'll go find one,» Matt replied, looking around first.

Then Matt spotted a narrow path between a couple of trees facing each other. Curious, he headed toward them, and once he took the path, he walked for a bit and found himself in a really dense forest.

I gotta move faster, the kid thought after glancing back to check that his grandpa was still okay. He picked up the pace and then started jogging. He turned left and found the bench he wanted. The bench was nestled between two big trees.

There it is, the boy thought.

In the middle was an old wooden bench chillin' between two big oak trees. He rushed over and swiped off some leaves. Then, he bounced back to Jack.

«I spotted one!» Matt exclaimed when he got out of the narrow path, pointing toward it. «Let's roll on our bikes!»

«Bet!» Jack replied, hopping back on his bike before Matt.

Matt and Jack rolled down the path, and when they hit the clearing, Matt shot a finger at the bench he'd spotted earlier.

«Here it is, Grandpa,» he said, dismounting and leaning his red bike against the tree on their right.

«I've seen this place before,» Jack thought as he continued to pedal, widening his eyes a little.

Jack carefully dismounted, leaned his blue bike against the other oak tree to their left, and then slowly walked toward the bench, with Matt staying close, ready to help if needed. When they hit the bench, Jack plopped down. He let out a big ol' sigh, stretched his legs, and leaned back against the wood.

«Ah, just what I needed,» Jack said, tilting his neck back.

«Have you ever been here before, Grandpa?» Matt asked, sitting down next to him.

«I was thinking about it earlier, I must have come here with your grandmother once,» Jack replied, crossing one leg.

«What was she like?» the boy asked, leaning against his grandfather's shoulder.

«She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. I was lucky she chose me, haha,» Jack recalled, laughing, then turned his gaze to his grandson. «You would have liked her; she also was a much better cook than I am. Maybe that's why I've gained weight over the years. Haha,» he continued, laughing even more.

«Oh come on, you're still in great shape!» Matt replied, giving him a pat on the shoulder.

The two fell silent for a few minutes, sipping water from their bottles. Matt then noticed that his grandfather had taken on a thoughtful expression.

«What's on your mind, Grandpa?» he asked, leaning in and resting his elbows on his knees.

«Just thinkin' about my life,» Jack replied with a sigh. «I was way too wrapped up in work,»

«But you're making up for it now, right?» the kid asked, pulling his knees back and gazing up at the sky, which was so clear.

«Maybe,» his grandpa admitted, lifting his shoulders a little bit. «But I should've told your grandma how much she meant to me,» he said, glancing at the branches of the trees to his left. «I thought she knew, but I should've been more open about it...»

Matt stayed quiet and just listened.

«So...» Jack said, looking at Matt, now dead serious. «Whether it's your friends or your girlfriend, don't wait too long to tell them how much you care,» he continued, raising his index finger.

«O-okay, but why are you telling me this?» Matt asked, slightly turning away.

«'Cause I don't want you makin' the same mistakes I did,» his grandpa said, keeping his eyes locked on Matt. «Don't push away the people who care about just to chase something that...» his grandpa paused to choose better words. «Might not even make you happy in the end,» he wrapped up, tilting his head a bit.

Matt diverted his gaze from his grandfather once again, furrowing his brow as he tried to understand what he was conveying.

«I understand, Grandpa,» he said, slightly nodding and staring into space.

About six months later, Basil, Matt's dad, was about to plop down next to him on the couch in the living room. The walls were painted blue and white, popping against the big dark wood bookshelf in front of them, packed with books and family pics. The couch was wide and cushioned, a deep black.

Matt was watching a very intense episode of Dragon Ball Z and was dressed in a black t-shirt and sweatpants, while Basil, with his green eyes and light brown hair pulled back, wore a dark blue sweater.

His father then grabbed the remote from the table by the footrest and turned off the TV before sitting down next to Matt.

«Hey, what are you doing?» Matt complained, turning toward his father to his left, with an annoyed look.

«Matt, we gotta talk,» Basil said, his eyes getting serious. «It's about Grandpa Jack,» he added after a quick pause.

«Huh?» Matt flinched, as a knot twisted in his stomach after his dad dropped that bomb.

Basil took a deep breath and leaned toward his son.

«I'm sorry to drop this on you, but Grandpa Jack just... passed away,» he said, not making eye contact. «He had ischemia, and... even with the docs doing their best, he... didn't pull through,» he finished, blinking a bit as he broke the news.

«W-what?» Matt stuttered, his eyes going wide. Very, very wide. «Why didn't anyone fill me in, Dad?» he shot back, jumping to his feet.

«Matt, you're still a kid,» Basil replied, keeping his eyes on his son. «We wanted to shield you from this until the very end,» he continued, looking him in the eyes.

«I'm not a child, Dad!» Matt shot back, clenching his jaw. «I should have known Grandpa was sick!» he continued, grinding his teeth.

What gives you the right to... Matt thought as his nose twisted but then he saw Basil sighing and looking away for a moment. His dad then put a hand on his forehead and began to massage it. The news of Jack's death had hit him deeply, too. After all, he was his father.

«I understand that you're angry, and I'm sorry if it seems like we kept something from you,» Basil explained, slightly shrugging. «We just wanted to spare you further pain and keep you safe.»

«Safe? Safe from what?» Matt yelled, tilting his head toward Basil, who was still seated. «Grandpa was my friend!» he exclaimed, his eyes wide.

«I know, and I'm so sorry,» Basil replied, slowly standing up and trying to touch Matt's arms, who looked down, tears filling his face.

«We still had so much... to do together,» the boy stammered, as tears streamed down his face. «He promised me more... bike rides, more... talks...»

«I know, Matt. Grandpa Jack really cared about you,» his dad said, placing a hand on his right shoulder. «Life can be a real curveball sometimes, and it snatches away those we love way too soon. But we'll get through this together,» he assured him with a nod.

«No way, I'll never accept this!» Matt yelled and shoved Basil's hand off his shoulder.

«Matt!» his father yelled, reaching out with his right hand in vain as Matt bolted out of the room.

Matt rushed out of the house and made his way to the park just a few steps from his home. When he arrived, he sank onto a bench.

«Why Grandpa?» the boy whispered, kicking a nearby bottle. «What will I do without you?» he continued whispering, squinting as his vision blurred.

Two days later, Matt found himself next to his grandfather's coffin. There was a heavy silence. He was dressed in a black suit, a white shirt, and a dark tie. The church where the funeral had taken place was simple and adorned with white flowers. About twenty people had gathered to bid farewell to Jack, all of them very old.

How could this happen?  Matt thought, reaching out to touch the wood. Maybe if I hadn't insisted so much on the bike rides, his heart wouldn't have given out, he wondered, blinking. 

Is it my fault?  he asked himself, finally closing his eyes.

After a few minutes, guilt began to envelop him, and Matt's mind twisted under the weight of his doubts.

I can't... he continued to reflect as his hand touched the wood. I can't face life alone, he told himself, as he tilted his head down.

The funeral concluded and Matt returned home by himself, with his hands in his pockets. As soon as he crossed the threshold, his gaze was then drawn to the house next door, his grandfather's house. The two bicycles still sat in the driveway: his blue mountain bike and Jack's classic red bike with a worn-out handlebar.

He felt a shiver run down his spine and goosebumps rise on his skin. Then, he slowly approached, his trembling hand reaching out to touch the seat of his grandfather's bike, almost hoping to hear his warm voice again.

You'll make it, he imagined hearing him say, as he touched the seat.

Matt then closed his eyes and rested his hand on the saddle. After reliving the days spent at his grandfather's house—lunches, swims in the pool and the sea, chess games, and bike rides—he reopened his eyes, almost as if he had drawn strength from the memories.

I won't let you down, Grandpa, he thought, his lips still trembling. I'll make you proud of me, I promise.

He would have kept pedaling and lived without regrets, just like his grandfather would have.

Wanna read the rest? Check out Unchained - The Doppelganger Within on Wattpad and Inkitt

[t-dick-sapphic]

Oh, you’d like me to share my thoughts? ;)

The fun thing about being a switch is not only enjoying being the one that’s made into a needy begging slut, it’s also greatly enjoying the idea of ruthlessly fucking you until you can’t help but scream.

I think I’d have fun pinning you under me with your underwear still on, grinding my cock up against you. I’d tell you how I’m going to fuck you until you can’t stand it, how you’re going to be screaming and spent by the time I’m done with you.

Eventually when I feel you’ve waited long enough (or maybe I just get too impatient on how badly I want to be inside you), I’d pull your boxers off and shove my cock into you. Wouldn’t give you any time to adjust, I’d take whatever I want, as I want it. And right now? I want to be balls deep in you, thrusting as hard as I can. I’d moan how fucking good it feels, I’d get so lost in the feeling. God, I can only imagine how wet you’d get— how shaky your voice would be panting and grunting, and whining over how hard I’m fucking you.

When I get to a point where I’m too tired to keep thrusting, I’ll make you ride me. I’d grab your hips hard, keep you going faster so you get so perfectly overstimulated by the feeling of my strap slamming into you, rubbing right up against your cock as I fuck into your dripping wet hole. I’d do anything I could to get those perfect whines and groans out of you, those breathy “please’s” and “no, it’s too much”. But what are you doing to stop me? 😘 It’s my turn to call you a perfect whore, all while I get you to scream from what I’m doing to you. I promise, it’ll feel so good. I’ll make you cum over and over.

And of course, give you whatever kind of aftercare you need afterwards, gently telling you how well you did. How you were such a good boy for your perfect slut.

….now I’m wishing I had some more time to myself, I’ve gotta get up early for work. :/ Guess I’m going to bed dripping and throbbing, again. Any time I send you an ask when I’m short on time that seems to happen, haha. 👀 -🌾

Ahhhh I've been putting off responding to this because I wanted time to craft a worthy reply, but all my brain keeps repeating over and over is Please god yes please fuck me till I'm a dripping sobbing mess, please make me your whore, call me your good boy and promise you know I'll like it while I'm begging you to stop

I love switch 4 switch sex. There's something so tantalizing in never knowing which way you'll want me:

me taking what I want from you, sucking your dick till you're shaking and whimpering my name, begging me to let you cum;

or you taking charge-- pushing me to the bed, pinning me down, grinding into me till I almost can't take it. And just when I think you're going to let me cum from the friction of your tdick against mine through my boxers, you suddenly pull my boxers out of the way.

...Maybe you'll make me suck your strap before you slide inside me, all the way in one thrust. I'd let out such a groan at the pain of it, I'd beg you to to slow down, please it hurts, God it's too much. But the look in my eyes would tell you the truth I'm too embarrassed to admit to: that I love it, I love being your perfect whore you use however you want

[books-are-my-life-stuff]

i'm so glad my comment had such an effect on you!!! i wasn't joking when i said i wanted to have the time to really enjoy your story and subsequently write a comment haha

very happy that i was able to finally give you inspo to tackle a lemon-centered fic because i couldn't think of a better person to do it! you genuinely love her and i can see that through your posts and our interactions and it comes across in your story. she's not a one-dimensional caricature (which she sadly is in canon) and we see that throughout

Question-wise, I was hoping you could expand on the potential that Kaldo saw in Lemon? For me (like you wrote in "life goes on") it's Lemon's incredible courage and selflessness that she exhibited in protecting Mash. Do you have any ideas of how Kaldo would approach her training? I have a couple of ideas regarding Lemon's levelled up magic, the main one being she can summon Artemis, goddess of wild animals and nature, but don't know how she gets there lol

Something else that piqued my interest in your reply is Lemon changing society's views on magical creatures. It made so much sense to me in a society that is so quick to judge and mistreat humans, it would be just as harsh or harsher with animals. so Lemon's kindness and respect towards them would be very much welcome and she would absolutely change minds, even when tutoring younger students at Easton Academy!

i can't stress enough how i loved every part of the story and your wonderful reply to my comment has inspired me to start writing another lemon post!!! this one will be more focused on lemon feeling stuck in place despite her best efforts which leads to her seeking out Finn and then Kaldo! we've already discussed this a bit so i don't think it will be as creative as my lemon case study but i still hope you'll enjoy it!

And if you have any Lemon posts/ideas feel free to send me an ask or tag or mention me, thank you!

Thank you so so much again for your comment! I'm really happy to meet a Lemon fan who genuinely loves her and wants to develop her more than what she has in canon! Discussing about Lemon with you is always a great time! For the answers related to the fic, I'll put them under read more.

I don't really have a concrete idea as to how Kaldo would train Lemon. The only training that we got a full display of is Mash's training, most of Lance, Dot, and Finn's training happened off-screen, so it's hard to make a reference from them either. However, I do have some vague ideas of Kaldo telling Lemon to do completely unrelated tasks just like Finn did. Cutting salmon and buying honey from the market, stuff like that. After that, I think Kaldo would focus on testing Lemon's determination and how far would she go for the sake of people she holds dear.

I don't think Kaldo is as proficient as Agito in terms of magical creatures, so unfortunately he can only teach the basics and what he knows. This is possibly a hurdle for Lemon to overcome, and a decision she has to make when she knows about Agito.

Alternatively, I headcanon Rayne as generally being an animal lover, though he vastly prefers rabbits compared to the others. If Agito cannot teach her, maybe Rayne can help her however he knows, in terms of animals in general.

So I'm really just tossing a lot of vague ideas here because I genuinely don't know how Lemon's training would go, especially when Finn's training--which I planned to use as a reference--was also mostly kept off-screen. That's why I ended the "Life Goes On" fic at that point because beyond that I can't really imagine how things go. Yes, I agree with you that by the end of the training, she'd probably be powerful enough to summon a god, but reaching that point will possibly take forever--much longer than her friends--considering all the circumstances. Studying under Agito might make her improve faster but I can't imagine them getting along at all lol.

That's right! I can imagine in a world where the strength of magic is a measurement of one's worth, animals and magical creatures would be regularly mistreated as well, even though it's never mentioned in the manga. So, I think Lemon would contribute a lot to society if she decided to focus on that! Maybe she'll be a teacher in Easton...? Or maybe working in the Bureau of Magic? I'm leaning more toward the latter because it's a more stable job and seemingly well-paid as well, but doesn't close the possibility that she might teach when everything is settled!

I'm looking forward to the next Lemon post that you plan on writing, whenever that is! Please take your time in writing it, I'm sure I'll enjoy reading and exchanging ideas with you!

I'll be sure to let you know if I find anything Lemon-related that you might like! Likewise, feel free to tag me or send me an ask if you want to talk about her anytime!

Hope you have an amazing day, and take care of yourself <3