#idk if i want to do a like. every collectable run or the thinner run of epic mickey next. but will probably replay it soon
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yippee-optimistically · 2 months ago
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CAN I REQUEST DELICIOUS OSWALD ART PLEAK
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theyre a package deal but YA!!!! i love oswald. i cant think of like any doodle ideas but heres what ive collected lately
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lixenn · 5 months ago
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♡ 𝐆𝐄𝐓 𝐓𝐎 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐌𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐀𝐋𝐒. ♡ Tag 10 followers you’d like to get to know better
TAGGED BY @dreamieparadise
TAGGING. @childe-of-saulot @dontknow-willaddlater @tangomagnolija @moonlit-mystery-writer @cloudvaria I ain't tagging 10 people that's too much effort, also no pressure in doing this btw and if anyone else wants to participate go for it!
✧. ┊ 𝑵𝑨𝑴𝑬 : Lisa (don't mind sharing that because do you know how many people exist with that name? I can recall meeting at least ten in my life like dude this name is so fucking common in Germany)
✧. ┊ 𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑨𝑺 : Lix but that's just my most common nickname, I'm taking this oppurtunity to share my nickname collection:
Lixxie
Lixxy
Buddy (@myrmyrtheorca exclusive)
High Priestress and Name Bringer (@childe-of-saulot exclusive)
Gremlin
Lili (unlocked by @dreamieparadise)
Phoenix (also unlocked by momo but not often used)
Your Highness (unlocked by @rebo-chan though also not often used)
There might be more but those are the most common or unique I suppose >.<
✧. ┊ 𝑮𝑬𝑵𝑫𝑬𝑹 : Mystery! I don't fucking know what it is and I have no plans of finding out so my gender will stay unknown for me and the world lmao
✧. ┊ 𝑺𝑻𝑨𝑹 𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑵 : capricorn
✧. ┊ 𝑯𝑬𝑰𝑮𝑯𝑻 : 170 cm
✧. ┊ 𝑺𝑬𝑿𝑼𝑨𝑳𝑰𝑻𝒀 : Like my gender this one is also a mystery! I'm some sort of queer as in not straight as in trying to define my sexuality gives me a headache. I'm probably also wandering around like a lost lamb on the aroace spectrum so yeah... I join Momo in being perpetually confused.
✧. ┊ 𝑨���𝑬𝑹𝑨𝑮𝑬 𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑹𝑺 𝑶𝑭 𝑺𝑳𝑬𝑬𝑷 : Ummm... varies greatly? If I have a good run and it's during week days than somewhere between 7 and 8 hours. If I have an insomnia spell than it's between 4 hours and nothing. If I'm on holiday it's 8 hours or sometimes nothing when I hyperfixate on something. Me and sleep have a difficult realtionship.
✧. ┊ 𝑫𝑶𝑮 𝑶𝑹 𝑪𝑨𝑻 𝑷𝑬𝑹𝑺𝑶𝑵 : Cat person, their smug and dumb aura compels me.
✧. ┊ 𝑩𝑳𝑨𝑵𝑲𝑬𝑻 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑺𝑳𝑬𝑬𝑷 𝑾𝑰𝑻𝑯 : Ummm it's a blanket? Like a regular ass bed blanket, I ain't really special with blankets. It's currently my thinner one becuase it's summer. I do have more blankets, but I only ever sleep with one unless i get super cold and even then I often end up covered in just one when i wake up.
✧. ┊ 𝑫𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑴 𝑻𝑹𝑰𝑷 : Trip across to world to visit my online friends. I wanna go visit Japan with @unwrathful, I wanna chill with buddy at the beach in Italy, eat lots of food with @nxmimochi in Korea, hang out with my liege in Denmark and lots more! Unfortunately I kinda get major anxiety when I think about travelling alone especially via plane so I will need to overcome that first.
✧. ┊ 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑮 𝑩𝑰𝑹𝑻𝑯𝑫𝑨𝑻𝑬 : 2020 but no clue about the month
✧. ┊ 𝑾𝑯𝒀 𝑰 𝑴𝑨𝑫𝑬 𝑨 𝑻𝑼𝑴𝑩𝑳𝑹 𝑩𝑳𝑶𝑮 : I really don't remember, maybe because I wanted to follow my favourite fanfic authors? Or because I basically had so many tumblr screenshots saved on pinterest I thought at this point I might just as well join. But honestly could be some completely different reason too it's been four years my memory isn't that good lmao
✧. ┊ 𝑼𝑹𝑳 𝑴𝑬𝑨𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑮 : it's based on one of my irl nicknames. Breakdown: Lisa -> Lischen (-chen suffic in german often indicates something cute and small but it can't be applied to every name and object it's a bit complicated) -> Lischenn (the additional n comes from me fucking up the nickname in put in a DS game and it stuck) -> Lixenn (replaced the sch with x because Idk it looked cool? once again I can't remember)
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thecubspeaks · 2 months ago
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(Gale/f!Durge, for my audience of one I love yooou) (I think a version of this scene will exist in the secret long fic I am writing but I wanted to write it down now idk)
Gale tires fast now that magic items are not enough to sate the orb, and instead of sitting by the fire to discuss that day and their plans for the next, Izar comes to his tent. And then, sometimes, she just doesn’t leave afterwards. They don’t do anything, of course, just sit together in silence and read or mend things or whatever other small, quiet tasks need doing.
Izar is working her way through a book they found in that old temple: Missives of Candlekeep. The others tease her sometimes for constantly reading, and she just rolls her eyes and does not explain that until she picked up this book she didn’t even remember what Candlekeep, apparently very large and very famous, was. It feels like the kind of thing she’d have known. She can’t find a book to magically mend the spaces in her own recollections but at least she can try to repair her knowledge of the world.
This one’s a collection of letters, so it’s easier to get through than some. She feels like she’s been making a pretty good pace actually, but then Gale, supine and making notes in his spell book, says, “You’ve been reading that for days.”
Izar tenses with embarrassment. The worn leather of the cover is soft, and her nails bite into it easily. She bites out, “I’m a slow reader.”
She’s pretty sure she wasn’t always.
Gale sets his spell book aside and closes his eyes. “Read to me? My head aches too much to write.”
He looks pale, drawn. Even in just the last few days he’s gotten thinner. Izar’s insides churn with indecision. The yearning to seize the offered moment; the humiliation that will ensue. She wonders if this has always been a trait of hers: to reach too far for something she wants, and in trying, destroy it.
She lifts the book and starts to read.
“Over… the past… year… I’ve… deli-delivered…”
Halting, fumbling, agonisingly slow. It’s even worse than when she’s reading in her own head. She feels her cheeks heating with every word, but Gale says nothing so she presses on.
“Many of your… letters to… Master, uh… G-gor… Gorion?”
“Gorion,” he corrects quietly. She looks over at him. He hasn’t opened his eyes, but she can see the faint furrow in his brow. She’d like to imagine it’s just from the headache, but she knows Gale— superior, snobbish, educated Gale— far too well by now to believe that. She swallows and puts the book down.
“I’ve tried to explain. You never seem to get it.”
“Wizards are always accused of living through our books, but more than a few of us do have a maddening habit of needing to see things for ourselves before we understand.” He sits up a little, braced on his elbows. “Do you want to keep going? Practice helps, you know. And hearing your voice certainly helps me.”
She runs her thumbnail down the cover, leaving a pale streak where she scrapes against the leather’s grain. She picks up the book, and Gale leans back again, closes his eyes.
“So I… wanted…”
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mythiccheroacademia · 4 years ago
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Hey!! Could we please get more sugar daddy fics with a black reader ofc 😋 idk if you've done shoto already but that'd be nice or hawks and deku💕
A/N: “wrist on glitter, waist on thinner, imma show you how to bag a eight-figure nigga” 👅💋 I enjoyed this way too much
All characters are 18+
Warnings: it got a lil spicy so imma put the line 
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Todoroki Shouto:
this mf has money to burn 
we all know todoroki came out the womb w cash from his hair to his ass 
he’s on some “yes, jeff bezos knows me” type shit so if you’re tryna end up with someone that’s gonna possibly buy you a house, he’s your guy 
he slid into your dms after you posted a pic with your skin moisturized and glistening under golden hour and your body had him wanting to run laps 
he had been plottin on you for a min but never got the motivation to do something about it until then
he’s a no strings attached type of sugar daddy
todoroki is a big name even outside of hero work and he’s well aware of all the people that have tried to use him. so instead of letting that happen, he’s decided to do things on his own terms 
when yall first started talking, he questioned you like this was managerial position at apple 💀 
best believe he ran an in-depth background check and made you sign an NDA 💀💀💀
he was a tough one
but you passed w flying colors and y’all settled on an arrangement
you have a weekly allowance that hits your bank account every saturday with some bonuses that he’ll give you depending on how the week goes
todoroki isnt needy nor is he one to be all up in your business 
it’s actually weird in an endearing kind of way? 
he only wants to have conversations with you 
i mean, dont get me wrong, he’s up for anything you are
todoroki would be a liar if he said he never ended some nights with a picture of you and a hand down his pants 
but that’s not what he’s mainly looking for 
you figure out very quickly that shouto just wants someone to talk to 
he’ll randomly hit up your phone and have a 30 min convo about something like the weather or hero politics, and then he’ll dip
next thing you know, you got $1000 in your cashapp
you kind of panicked bc like...wtf? 
your dumb ass messaged him: “did you mean to send $1000?”
sis, dont put a question mark where God put a period
him: “Yes.”
and that was the end of that
you dont question anymore
he’s not doting in any kind of way, and sometimes you lowkey think he forgets about you, but you still get your allowance 
doesn’t send a lot of gifts unless you explicitly state you want something
he doesnt text back a lot, but he tried to respond when he can
but i do see him liking it when you send him mundane things you do throughout your day, like pics of cookies you baked, or a cool plant you saw at home depot
and he enjoys the times you and him end up just trashing his father for nearly an hour. expect to find flowers, with some expensive ass coats or something at your door the next morning 
he really fucks w your laid back vibe 
sometimes he forgets you guys arent really supposed to be friends 
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Takami Kiego (Hawks):
this is not hawks’ first time being a sugar daddy
he’s hot, rich, and one of the most eligible bachelor’s in japan with a life that prevents him from having anything too serious
so, long story short, he’s a veteran at this 
he used to be the type to reach out to instagram baddies but he had a couple bad run-ins and decided to stick with the official sites because it was a lot more secure on both ends 
the funny thing was, you set up your account a long time ago as a joke. though at one point, you did take it seriously, but you came in contact with a lot of super creepy men that sexualized you for your skin and ethnicity. 
you were tired of the “chocolate king/queen” and “amazonian god/dess” comments,so you took a break. you didnt have much activity since
so imagine youre surprise when the #2 hero hit your line talking about some 
“Hey~ I’ll get straight to the point. I think you’re beautiful and I’d like to talk with you about an arrangement” 
you thought this was a fake account, but after he chatting for a little and sending some pictures, you knew he was the real deal 
hawks is your standard tit-for-tat transaction sugar daddy
he’s the type to hit you up at night with a “how ya doing, dove? got any pics for me?”
he’s good about his respect ad won’t do anything out of line
it’s the bare minimum, be he doesnt fetishize you so that’s always nice 
however, he does make you call him daddy, sir, etc. whether it’s through text, call, or when y’all get together for...reasons
ngl his dicc game is fire
he might ghost you for a week or so but he’ll always come back with a nice check to make up for it 
just be careful about catching feelings bc he’s so fucking smooth. he makes you feel like you’ve got his heart, but dont fall for that shit
if you think you can “change him” or fuflfil whatever wattpad romance fantasy lives in your head, he is not your guy. you better get on w your life before you get your heart broken
he’s here to suck, fuck, send pics, do a little phone call here n there, send some money, and go 
if you’re not with all that, you might as well dip 
but if you’re cool with that, rest assured, you’re gonna be living your best mf life with this man in your wallet 
and good news, you might not be his only, but you are his favorite
there’s just something about you that’s got him giving you a few extra thousand than he normally does 
he doesnt take his sugar babies on proper dates bc he’s gotta stay away from media outlets, but he will invite you to his office for a “lunch break”
if you ever surprise him with a cute but sexy hawks cosplay, you won’t have to work for two whole weeks bc you cant walk  
overall, he’s a good sugar daddy. defintely good for your pockets and any other non-romantic desires you want fulfilled
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Mirodirya Izuku:  
the way you two met and came to this arrangement was more or less an accident
the life of the number one pro-hero was lonely and stressful 
he’s tried to dip his toes in the water here and there, but it never worked out because not many people could deal with the fact that he’d always put hero work first
he was teetering on the edge of signing up for one of those sugar daddy/baby websites until he met you at some cafe he passed by 
it’s cliche really. you were his server and, honestly? he was hooked on day one 
he watched you intently as you pranced around in your cute uniform. he couldnt stop admiring your brown skin and eyes and how cute your hair was. you spoke with such enthusiasm and cheerfulness that he couldnt help but swoon. and it didn’t hurt that you were very easy on the eyes
he listened to you as you went on a spiel about how college was a fortune and how you stayed up last night for a project bc you had to pick up extra shifts
that’s when he made his decision
by the time the hero is out of the door, you collected the reciept and almost fainted when you realized he left you a $500 tip and his personal number 
“i enjoyed talking to you today and i hope we can continue that...here’s something small to help with your bills. and i hope this isnt too forward but you’re very beautiful. stay safe. deku.”
and what did you do that night?
you called his ass right back
you were nervous as hell bc you still couldnt believe this was real, but after talking on the phone with him for two hours, an arrangement was set
midoriya is the most gentlemen like sugar daddy out there 
you wake up to good morning texts and a few hundred in your bank account almost every two days 
he goes crazy over your insta posts. and if you wear something green? expect a bonus
takes you out shopping unprovoked 
izuku: “are you busy? i saw you were having a rough week and was wondering if you wanted to go to that new outlet mall downtown”
you: 🏃🏾‍♀️💨  
you most certainly had homework due that night but what tf you look like missing out on that offer? 
it’s after so many “dates” that deku realizes that he prefers hanging around you more than he should but he doesnt wanna ruin anything so he keeps that underwraps 
he’s the idiot that goes into this thinking he won’t fall in love
deku defintely has some dirty thoughts about you but he doesnt try to bring it up unless you do first
if you’re comfortable with anything nsfw, you gone see a whole different side to izuku
he’s a giver, giver, giver, but when he recieves, he just about loses it
send him “innocent” pics of yourself matched with a string of filthy texts and he’ll combust 
when you send him pics of yourself in deku-themed lingre, he deadass sends you a whole black card with your name on it as a thank you
you guys get very comfortable with each other very quickly
soon enough, DA’s start turning into y/n stayng over for a week 
you both realize this relatiosnhip runs a lot deeper than an arrangement when he accidentally let it slip that he told his mom about you 
he’s profusely apologizing but you shut him up with a kiss and tell him that you’ve kinda caught feelings yourself 
your next conversation works out well for the both of you 
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burnedbyshoto · 5 years ago
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Show Me How You Like It
Kinktober Day 12 ~ kink: pegging
pairing: kirishima eijirou x fem!reader
warnings: cursing, smut
word count: 3,850
a/n: this is for @lady-bakuhoe .... oh god, i did so much research for this because ive never tried pegging, but idk....might need to convince someone oneday. also, new season?????? im literally shaking because the first episode was so pure,,,,,but this season,,,,,ohmy
✩✶✩❇✩✶✩
“Do you want to try it?”
Being married was something you thought of as unimaginable. Marriage and you didn’t ever seem to go hand in hand. Not that you didn’t want to get married at some point in your life. You never expected anyone to want you for the rest of your life.
You met Kirishima Eijirou in middle school. As you were best friends with Ashido Mina. You often noticed the shy dark-haired boy always watching on your friend group. You remember going to the U.A. entrance exam and sitting between Mina and Kirishima. The written exam you listened to Mina curse under her breath, and Kirishima shakes as he filled out his sheet.
You remember looking at the field he was then placed in for the practical exam. Sighing when you saw the three of you were then scattered everywhere. You had wished him luck! His cheeks turning pink as he stammered back good luck as you and Mina took off to get dressed. You didn’t know much about him besides that he was shy and very sweet, but you hoped he did well! The next month, the three of you called to the principal's office. You were absolutely astonished to see that Kirishima had gotten in as well! The three of you would be going on to U.A. together!
After ending middle school, you didn’t see him again until orientation. Except, he was different. A good different. His hair stylized, large spikes, and bright red. It was attention-grabbing, demanding even, but his face was still as sweet as ever. Kind and loving.
The first year flew by. Near-death experiences with him formed a bond with him that you never knew would manifest. The three of you--Mina, Kirishima, and you--were close. Buddies, but sometimes, if you were being honest, your eyes would stay on him for a bit too long.
Your heart hammered when he went out for his internship, scared he’d come back scared. Your eyes locking on his flexing muscles, and Mina’s sharp laughter pulling you back to reality. The way he was reckless and shield the class from attacks. Because he was a shield, and he could take it. The way he would catch you in his arms. Those black sleeves were so soft, making you squeak as you were now distracted from your own battle. His toothy grin sucking you in as he made a cute comment about getting there on time. His warm large hands on your body as he placed you down, encouraging you to finish the villain.
There was the night you found yourself knocking on his door. Tears brimming your eyes because you needed to be in someone's arms and Mina was asleep. He took you in without you even asking. Taking you to his bed as he wrapped you in his blanket. His voice apologizing about the state of his room. Apologizing because his blanket wasn’t that soft, and you deserved a softer one. He seemed to panic around his room, setting up a kettle for tea, all while you stared at his blushing face. His cheeks bright enough to match his hair as you stood up from the bed and wrap your arms around him. Your words are weak as you ask him to hold you because that was all you needed. You fell asleep in his arms, your head on his chest as he smiled at you. Lips pressing to your forehead.
It wasn’t until your second year did you do something about your feelings. Your eyes on Kirishima as he was joking around with Kaminari over Bakugou’s fuming head. You felt yourself walking over, no plan in mind. The girls staring at you as you went, muffled screams because they could tell what was coming.
You didn’t ask, only grabbing Kirishima’s wrist and pulling him so that he could look at you. His face went from grinning, to shock, to a blush erupting to cover his entire face as he realized it was you. His hand slamming against the back of his neck as he apologized for something. Not that it was actually needed. His lips were so pretty, and you were sick of him not being yours. Your hands fisted into the shirt of his collar and brought his lips to yours. Your first kiss with Kirishima a slamming force. You clenched your eyes as your lips pressed against his, and you felt him stiffen against you.
His quirk going off and you pull away, lips stinging because of his mishap.
The screams of the girls were loud, Kaminari’s seemed louder, and Bakugou was laughing loudly. Kirishima returns to normal his face turning redder than his hair as he apologizes. Kirishima admits he likes you so much, and you caught him completely off guard.
So with a breathy laugh, you pull him in close once again and seal your lips over his.
The kiss makes you dizzy as he holds you tightly. His finger gripping your waist as if you would crumble between his fingers.
So the two of you began dating. Four years of a very serious and committed relationship had your heart soaring. The two of you were each other first’s for many things. There was never heartbreak between the two of you. Fights were always avoided, the two of you always talking before things escalated. So it was no surprise on the night before your fifth anniversary, the two of you home in your sweats, did he propose.
You cried, screaming at him for proposing when you looked like this. Kirishima cried as he stayed on his knee, a sparkling ring in his fingers.
“That’s not an answer,” Kirishima says, as you cover your face. Sobs refusing to stop as you shake your head overwhelmed. “A-Are you not ready?”
“EI!” You bawl as you stumble to your feet, and throw yourself into his strong arms. “YOU’RE SO DUMB! Yes, I’ll marry you! Every day for the rest of my life if I could!”
The two of you spent the rest of that night in each other's arms. Tears intermingling on your cheeks as you expressed your love for one another.
Your wedding was unimaginable, intimate, and wondrous.
So here the two of you were. Six months into marriage on your day off he asked to try something new. Your guy’s sex life definitely was not vanilla. Both of you sported your favorite kinks and positions, and you incorporated them into bed. Today he asked something that you never thought you’d hear. So without judging you uttered those words.
“I’d like to try pegging, one day. I just--I don’t know--I feel like I need to try it out!” Kirishima says, scratching his cheek as you laugh.
“Well, I think we should definitely try it out! I hear it’ll be super enjoyable for you.” You agree as you stand up. “Do you want to order it online or go to a sex shop?”
Kirishima sighs as you take a seat on his lap, and his hands rest on your hips. It’s muscle memory at this point as you kiss his cheek. “If the store is open, let’s go?”
“It’s only three in the afternoon, Ei. It’s open.” You laugh as you kiss his flaming cheeks. Kirishima sighs as he stands up from the chair, his arms wrapping around your legs as he carries you.
“No need to be mean!” He pouts, and you laugh as you pepper kisses against his lips as he walks towards your home’s entrance. “I just hope we don’t run into fans again…”
“Hey!” You laugh as he slips on your shoes all while holding you still. “It’s their damn fault for thinking we don’t have kinky sex… or sex at all.”
“You didn’t let me smash for a whole year.” Kirishima laughs as he shifts you in his arms so that he’s holding you piggyback style. You laugh as he puts on his own shoes. Your limbs tightening around his body for support as he’s leaning down.
“It’s because you kept telling me to smash, and the first time it happened you pulled out Super Smash Bros.”
“You’re telling me you denied me for a whole year because of that?!”
“EIJIROU, YOU LITERALLY MADE ME PANIC SO HARD! The girls and I went out to buy me lingerie and everything!!”
“You’re telling me this now? Sorry, y/n, sounds fake.” Kirishima laughs as he stands up, and begins your journey out.
Eventually, you slide off his back, and he takes your hand into his own. The two of you talking as you walk down the streets of your city as you enter the sex shop. You went were you remembered where the strap on dildos and harnesses were. Kirishima, however, seems frozen as you pick out a sturdy harness. It was black and rather daunting as you handed it to Kirishima.
“You get to pick the dildo.” You say, looking at the collection they had.
“T...This is a lot more than what I was expecting.” Kirishima gulps as his hands rake through his flat hair. “Is there a one size fits all?”
You snort at you shake your head, “No, baby. Just like there are no two dicks alike, you have to choose. We can always start with the thinnest one?”
“Yeah. That sounds right.”
You grab a thinner dildo and choose the bright red one. “For my Red Daddy Riot?” You ask, a burst of bubbling laughter in your throat as Kirishima tosses his head back.
“That was one time!”
“It still happened, and you liked it!”
The two of you laughed together as you bought the two things. Even taking pictures with the person at the register because he was in love with you two. Besides that, the two of you left back home.
Steps quick to try it out. Breathing picking up as you reached the house.
Kirishima’s lips were over yours as soon as the front door closed behind him. His strong arm keeping you on his hips as his other one held the black bag.
“Wow, you’re impatient.” You moan against his lips, as you kick your shoes off.
“It’s the nerves.” Kirishima sighs as he walks towards the bedroom, your lips gliding against his.
Your fingers tug at his hair without care, his heavy pants making you grin. You knew his body as well as you knew his own, and hair-pulling always lit a fire under him. Your back pressed into the mattress, and your breathing increases as he shifts. His shirt pulling off his head. You pull away and watch as his scarred chest heaves.
You sit up, your lips pressing light kisses against every scar. Every bruise. Every impurity. Your lips were hot against his skin, and Kirishima’s wordless praises stirred you on. Your hands grabbed his shorts. Without him even realizing it, you’ve removed his shorts, and have him on the bed in two-fluid movements.
“Is the lube, fuck, is the lube in the box?” Kirishima asks as your lips suck the crook of his neck.
You nod your head as you remove your own shirt, and his hands squeeze your breasts. You hiss at the sensation, your hips involuntarily moving as well. Kirishima’s gasping breathes stir you on as you feel his arousal pressing into your ass. “Are you ready?” You ask, your nails running up and down his abs. You know he likes the teasing of the sensation, and he nods his head as you pull away.
Kirishima watches you from the bed as you strip off your shorts. You’re wearing a nice set already, a deep maroon bra and matching thong piece. It wasn’t lingerie. But the color of red against your skin made Kirishima moan as you pull out the lube from your box of other goods. His heart feels like it’s hammering in his throat as you open the harness.
Your eyes locked on his own, a smile on your face as you slip your legs through the ties. Fastening them all tight around your thighs as you spin around for Kirishima when it’s done. It’s tight enough that you feel comfortable, but not loose enough for it to fall off ever. Kirishima groans, his body falling onto the bed as you place the dildo into the harness. Why did you look ravishing like that?
Kirishima feels you climbing onto the bed, your hair tickling his cheeks as you lean down. “On your knees, Red Daddy Riot.” You whisper into his ear, your teeth nibbling his earlobe.
“You’re the worst.” Kirishima groans as he does as commanded, slipping his underwear off. Your teeth bite your lower lip as you stare at his ass. This was a new angle, and it was one you very much enjoyed. Hell, if you looked this hot, it was no wonder why Kirishima loved doggy style. You could see the sharp lines of his body, the muscles rippling in his nervousness. His ass looking firm and delicious as you shuffle closer. A sigh leaving your lips as you rejoice in him being the perfect height for you to peg him.
“I’m going to start with my fingers first.” You inform Kirishima who nods his head.
“Be gentle at first?”
“Like a flower.” You promise as you grab the lube, rubbing a very healthy amount on your index finger and middle finger. “Ready?”
His nod is weak but sure of his request.
So with as much precaution as you can, your index finger slides past his tight hole. You ease it in as Kirishima lets out a string of curses, his body trembling as he almost falls onto his forearms. Your tongue pokes out, unsure if it was okay to savor the way he was feeling or to be actually concerned.
“Does this feel good, baby?” You ask as your finger curls.
“Y-Yes, oh my god, princess…” Kirishima pants as he thrusts his hips out towards you.
Your finger makes it all the way in, and Kirishima cries out your name as you begin to move it back out. Your finger now slowly beginning to thrust into him. Your hips shifting in the excitement in the way he shakes. His chest falling to the mattress as you continue thrusting into him. Kirishima’s moans stirring you on as you add another finger.
H makes audible gawking noise. You chuckle as your free hands trail up and down his muscular thigh. Your hand moves up his inner thigh and then grasps his hard cock. Kirishima’s pleasure and pained moans filling the room as you stroke his length. “You’re taking my fingers so good, baby.” You groan against his rippling back muscles. “I hope this feels as good as you look.”
Kirishima spasms as your nails gently tease the walls of his hole. His nearly shrieking gasps turn you on further. Your hand that is moving down his length his fisting him as you go. A sadistic smile on your face as his cries continue. His body trembling. Your fingers moving in a wave-like function as he gasps prettily.
Your cunt is now throbbing at the sight of your husband like this. The dom in you bleeding out as you remove your fingers from his hole. Your other hand releases his twitching cock as you pull back. Kirishima’s pleading gasps making you laugh as you slap his ass.
“Don’t worry,” You say grabbing the lube and placing a large amount onto the dildo. “I’m not done with you quite yet.”
Kirishima whimpers softly, the noise music to your ears as your lips press against his ass.
“You’re doing so well.” You whisper as you press the head of the red dildo onto his hole, not yet inserting it. Your grin widening as Kirishima rocks his hips, wanting you to thrust in already. “I’m going to put it in now, and I don’t want to hear a single moan, groan, cry, or word.” You warn.
Kirishima’s husky voice lets out a whine, and you shiver at the feeling as you move your hips forward. The head of the dildo sinking into his awaiting hole.
“You didn’t make a sound, I’m impressed. Are you okay, my love?” One of your hands moving up to rub soothing circles on his back as you pressed deeper inside him. Kirishima replied with a weak head nod. Rutting his hips back into you as you entered completely inside him. You wait a moment as his heavy pants let you know he’s still adjusting. Your thighs twitch with your anticipation, and you want nothing more than to thrust into him. The pool of heat within you intensifies as Kirishima drops to his chest.
“I-I’m ready.” He asserts, and you smirk, your hand coming down heavily onto his ass.
“Are you ready to feel how good I am with my cock?” You tease, and Kirishima laughs, his head nodding.
“Show me how you like it.” Kirishima staggers as your hips roll into his ass.
A shriek of pleasure leaves his lips as you begin pushing your hips against his ass. Your pace a lot faster than it probably should have been. You began to buck your hips against him, admiring in the way Kirishima moans loudly. His hips moving to meet yours. You grinned as you landed another hard smack on his ass, expecting a raw noise in response. Your face lits up when your husband sinfully moans at the action, his jaw-dropping as he pants. Your fingers continue running across his soft skin as you watched it redden under your touch. Your handprint was evident in its shape.
“Please, baby, more!” Kirishima gasps as you shift your hips slightly. His back arching as he clutches the fabric between his fingers. You laugh, your head leaning to press a kiss against his spine.
“Kami, you look so damn pretty when you’re crying for me.” You moan, uncaring about your sloppy thrusts for the moment. The way Kirishima is so responsive to your actions is stirring you on. You’re positive that you’ll be coming as soon as he touches you later. You grip his hips, angling your body so that you’re thrusting into him at a better angle. Trying to desperately find that angle that will make his eyes roll to the back of his head. To find the angle that will make him scream and drool. The loud and raw ‘fuck’ that leaves his lips, lets you know you found his prostate. You continue in at that angle, the same power and depth as the rawness of his voice send chills down your spine.
Your body feels like it’s on fire as you feel so much power. Your husband’s continuous whimpering stirring you on. Your right-hand leaves his waist, moving to grasp his still rock hard cock in your grasp. “Oh, poor baby,” You coo. “Does your cock need to come?” You pant, the action of your thrusting hips making you sweat.
“Yes, fuck, baby yes!” Kirishima shouts, his face burying into the mattress as you massage his length up and down. Your hips are relentless against his ass as you continue fucking him. Your laughs nearly inaudible at the sight of him still fucking himself against you.
“What if I don’t want you to come yet.” You pout, your fingers leaving his length, your hips stilling.
“Please let me come, baby, please!” Kirishima pants his hips unapologetic as he continues pushing against the strap-on. You giggle, taking his cock back in your hand. Your arousal slicking against your thighs as you continue.
You’re intent on getting him to come within seconds, and it shows. Your hips are thrusting harder and faster than you’ve gone yet. Your hand fisting along his length, his leaking precum covering your hand. Kirishima’s spluttering shouts fueling your inner lust. His body convulses under your manipulation.
Sinfully loud mewls and moans leave his lips, and you feel his cock spasm. Your hips finding it difficult to go as fast as you had been going as his hole tightens around the dildo.
“Y/N, FUCK!”
Your hand covered instantly in his hot sticky seed. Your lips in a wide grin as your hand continues stroking his length. His fluids continuing to come out in his heavy load. Your thrusting stops, and with a sigh, you pull away. Falling down on your ass as Kirishima collapses. His eyes locked on you as you lick his come off your hands.
“You’re super hot like that.” You inform Kirishima as you shift towards his heaving body to press a kiss to his lips. “I didn’t think you would be so into it.”
You slide off the bed, taking off the harness and letting it fall to the ground as you groan. You remove your panties and show Kirishima just how fucking wet they were. “Just in case you weren’t sure how turned on I was.”
You take off your bra as you crawl back onto the bed, Kirishima turning onto his back as you straddle his torso.
“You still need to come, huh?” Kirishima states. A low hiss escaping his mouth at feeling your throbbing wet cunt against his hips.
“Yeah, I do.” You sigh your fingers teasing your breasts as your husband leans up. His lips pressing against the underside of your breasts. Your head drops back as you feel content. “Are you gonna help me out, or am I going to be forced to fuck you by myself?”
You shriek as you’re on your back, looking up at Kirishima who is trailing his heavy and hot hands down your figure. You moan at the feeling of his teeth biting against your neck. His sharp teeth sending waves of pleasure throughout your body.
“I’m going to fuck you so good, you’ll know how I felt that entire time,” Kirishima promises, his finger entering your aching core.
“Give it to me, Red Daddy Riot.”
“...I’ll leave.”
“No! You know that I’m only tea--OHMYGOD!”
Kirishima has his once again hard cock slamming into your throbbing pussy. His voice snarling at the sensation as his hands bring your legs over his shoulders. “Now shut up, and let daddy show you how to fuck properly.”
You can’t even tease him as he begins jackhammering into you. Your head slamming into the mattress as a shriek rips through your throat.
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jace-hero · 4 years ago
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Looking Back on 2020
Whew, here we go...
1:What did you do in 2020 that you’d never done before? Survived a Pandemic.
2:Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? New Years 2020 was 15 years ago, I don't even remember what my resolutions were, so probably not. No, I will not be making any this time either.
3:Did anyone close to you give birth? Yes, poor baby was born during the apocalypse.
4:Did anyone close to you die? No, but people close to people close to me have.
5:What countries did you visit? Hahahahahahahahahahaha...
6:What would you like to have in 2021 that you lacked in 2020? A vaccine, a job, and competent leaders.
7:What dates from 2020 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 13th, 2020. When it all really started going down.
8:What was your biggest achievement of the year? Not catching Covid.
9:What was your biggest failure? Not catching Covid.
10:Did you suffer illness or injury? No. I haven't been sick all year. It's almost like washing your hands and wearing a mask works.
11:What was the best thing you bought? Idk, Rice-a-Roni?
12:Whose behavior merited celebration? Joe and Kamala <3
13:Whose behavior made you appalled? Trump and his terrorist followers.
14:Where did most of your money go? Money? lol... food and rent.
15:What did you get really, really, really excited about? The world potentially coming to an end.
16:What song will always remind you of 2020? Anything from the Boys Over Flowers soundtrack.
17:Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? ( c) richer or poorer? Content, fatter, poorer.
18:What do you wish you’d done more of? Exercise.
19:What do you wish you’d done less of? Eat.
20:How did you spend Christmas? Playing board games and eating a dinner for 50 with 5 people.
21:Did you fall in love in 2020? Eh, not really.
22:What was your favorite TV program? Boys Over Flowers. What a gem.
23:Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Shawn Mendes. What a fucking tool.
24:What was the best book you read? Hey I can answer this one this time! The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan.
25:What was your greatest musical discovery? Miley Cyrus tbh, that new albums kicks.
26:What did you want and get? Food.
27:What did you want and not get? Money.
28:What was your favorite film of this year? Lol, film? You mean those things from the long long ago? From the before time? The Invisible Man. Great movie.
29:What one thing made your year immeasurably more satisfying? My comfortable ass bed.
30:How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2020? The "I Don't Have to Leave the House Today. Oh Fuck, We're Out of Milk? Where's My Mask?" Collection. Known on the streets as just, "Where's My Mask?"
31:What kept you sane? The fact that everyone else was also going insane with me so I seemed normal by comparison.
32:Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Justin, always. Joe, Nancy and the rest of the Dems.
33:What political issue stirred you the most? The fact that our country is stupid and doesn't know how to deal with a pandemic, or even acknowledge it's existence, because they're so self-centered they think the world came together to play a prank on just them. Also, that every other country on earth took care of their citizens while the "greatest country on earth" let it's citizens go hungry and fall into life ruining debt. Great times.
34:Who did you miss? All my friends :(
35:Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2020. The world is just made up of a bunch of morons who don't know what they're doing either, so just do what you wanna do, and don't care about what anyone thinks, because they're probably stupid. The world is run by idiots.
36:Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.
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purplesurveys · 5 years ago
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772
What was the last thing you threw at someone? A piece of meat for my dog to run for. Well, walk and sniff around for. He’s an old guy and doesn’t run anymore unless we’re taking him out for a walk. Do you follow recipes? I always certainly have to, since I don’t have any one dish memorized. I’ll start off with a collection of recipes for sure, but I’m hopeful that I’ll be at least a decent cook over the next few years. Where's the last place you had an itch? The area behind my knee.
Do you look people in the eye when you talk to them? It’s always important to have eye contact to show you’re paying attention so yeah. But I know it can get uncomfortable for most people at some point – and me – so I’ll give my eyes a break and look at their forehead, their nose, the space between their eyes, etc. When you look into someone's eyes, can you see their pain? Uh no, I don’t look that intensely lmao. And even then, I’ve learned over the years that most people are very good in hiding or playing off their true emotions that even if I try to find something off, I’ll likely turn up with nothing.
When was the last time you sneezed? Midnight today. How do you act under pressure? It will depend on how much there is to do and how much time there is left. I don’t have one permanent behavior for every time I feel pressured, which is pretty often. Who did you last say "I love you" to? My dog. Do you ever call people just to hear the sound of their voice? Yes, back when everything was normal I’d sometimes call my girlfriend just to drop by and say hi, and also because our schools are a little far apart and I’ll miss her in the middle of the day. School usually stresses her out so I do that as a pick-me-up for her. When was the last time you used a glue stick? January maybe? Our profs always ask us to submit index cards with our contact details and a 1x1 photo at the start of the semester, so there’s a good chance I asked to borrow glue from someone to paste my photo onto the card. What was the last startling noise you heard? Some dipshit on my Twitter feed decided it was good fun to share a jumpscare disguised as an innocent, cute video at 3 AM. I was mad about it then and I’m still mad as hell about it now lol. Do you ever look back at your yearbooks? I did this a lot as a kid. Idk why, I found it interesting to get to know the people in my school and read their write-ups I guess. I stopped looking back on them precisely because I did it too much when I was younger. Do you ever want to be prom queen/king? No. I did not give a shit about prom at all. I really would’ve happily skipped out on it but my school is a complete killjoy and made both attendance and bringing a date mandatory for everyone. No stags, can you believe it? It’s like when Captain Holt from Brooklyn Nine Nine said “Have a good time, I specifically requested it” lol Are you tired? Tired of this quarantine, yes. But I took a nap not too long ago so I’m not feeling to sleepy in that sense. Have you ever ran from the police? I haven’t done anything for them to have to do run after me, so no. Are you afraid of clowns? Not really. I was never exposed to them much so I always just saw them as people in heavy makeup that do balloon animals and other funny tricks. Have you ever written on someone's face in your yearbook? HAHA yes. When my sister and I were kids we bickered a lot, and in one of our fights I thought it’d be funny to doodle on her kinder portrait. She didn’t think so and she started wailing - just in time, I heard my mom coming home and I had to think fast so my sister a) stopped crying and b) wouldn’t tell on me. So I did the stupidest thing and also doodled on my own prep portrait to make her feel better. She calmed down and my mom never found out. When was the last time you made dinner? I *helped* my dad make dinner a few months ago. I haven’t completed a meal myself. Do you have any special plans coming up? They’re gonna be mellowing down the lockdown rules in my province by the 15th and I’m really hoping to see Gabie soon. Realistically I doubt it would happen as I don’t think both our parents would agree to it, but it’s still nice to keep hoping. Did you just lose the game? Yep, but I really only found out about this game from Reddit a few months ago and I didn’t grow up having to play it, so I’m never all too pissed off or like emotionally invested in general whenever I lose it haha. What is a class at school you are interested in taking? There are global studies electives that I was unaware of until someone told me to take them after I enrolled for my last sem in collefge. There are courses on Turkish culture, global gastronomy, and they also had past courses on ���Diversity on Perspectives on Peace and Conflict,’ ‘Cultures of Disasters,’ and ‘Cultures and their Global Entanglements.’ They all sound right up my alley and am disappointed no one told me sooner. Do you hold on to your dreams? Some of them, the ones I know I have a chance of attaining. Obviously I’ve had to let some go, like wanting to go to the moon or becoming a firefighter. Do you follow rules or break them? Follow. I don’t like getting into trouble. Is there someone you are dying to see? A lot of people. Who do you want to be buried next to? I’ve given this zero thoughts. Are you double-jointed? Nope. Did your dream last night involve blood? It didn’t. I’m not even sure what my dreams were anymore. Who was the last person to yell at you? My mom, probably. How do you feel about the new president? I wouldn’t call him new, he’s in the latter half of his term now. I hate him and I hope he dies soon. Do good things come to those who wait? Sure, it can happen. What is the last song you played on iTunes? I haven’t used that in a while. The last one I listened to on Spotify was Sudden Desire by Hayley Williams. Petals For Armor is still on loop, surprise. What is the last thing you looked up on youtube? I was showing my sister the hilarious Vine of Beyoncé where she thanks a talk show host who tells her “You are Beyoncé,” as if it was a compliment looooool, so I looked up “you are beyonce thank you.” When is the last time you went to the grocery store? March 9th. What is your favorite fish? Tuna or eel for raw fish, tilapia for cooked. What kind of calendar do you have? A digital one. Have you ever been two hours late for school? Oh hell no. I’ve been late before, but if it’s as dramatic as being an hour late I usually just cut class to save myself the embarassment of having to do the walk of shame entering the class. What is your favorite stuffed animal that you own? I don’t have any stuffed animals. Who did you hang out with yesterday? My family, as has been the case since March. Has anyone stolen your heart yet? Yes. Have you ever won a gold medal? No. I’ve won first place before, but they didn’t issue out gold medals. Do you have any trophies? Also no. Do you work out? I don’t. When you introduce yourself, do you give hand shakes? Sometimes, but tbh I just picked it up from Gabie who’s a big hand-shaker. I preferably wouldn’t cause it seems so formal to me. Is there a limit to how many best friends you have? Yeah, like I wouldn’t want to have a lot; I like keeping my immediate circle small. I’m more than content with my two best friends. When's the last time you went to a dance? 2016. What grade are you in? Soooooooooo unbelievably close to graduating college. Are you in a band? I’m not and haven’t been. Have you ever been in a talent show? No thanks. Have you ever won a contest? Competitions, yes. Contests, no. How do you feel about germs? I’m quite particular about them. I don’t like sharing clothes with people; I pick which friends get to eat off of my spoon or sip from my straw; I’m super iffy about touching someone else’s keyboard; I really don’t like having to touch other people’s hair and with that is also the fact that I never borrow or lend hair ties. Holy shit so I’m more germaphobic than I thought and all I had to do was list these things down......................... Do you like screamo music? Not really. What does your wallet look like? Pink and a lot thinner now that I haven’t been given an allowance since they stopped school. Do you have any hickeys on you? No. At this point, I really wish I did lmao Would you rather have money or love? Money. I love love, but I won’t deny that I also love being able to afford the lifestyle I want to live haha. Do you have any family pictures hanging on the wall? Not on the wall, but we have several frames lined up on the first few steps of our stairs. Which do you prefer: bath or shower? Bath after a long hard day. Shower most days. Do you have a lamp in your room? I used to, but I removed it after realizing the light just keeps me from falling asleep faster.
Do you have windows vista? No. Do you have the strength to say goodbye forever? I’ll deal with it if I had no choice, but I’ve never handled goodbyes well.
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Bones Made For Chaos
Hey there honey bee’s! So here’s part 5 of the Retrograde Spell series. Part 1 can be found here. All of my other Ikesen works are chilling on the Master List. Idk fam...I got so blocked and it took a bit but I hope you enjoy this! Pacing is hard....anyways...thanks for stopping by! Lots of love <3 
Admin T~
Per usual I’m sticking it under the cut because I just like the sound of my keyboard clicking...unless you’re on mobile...then your dash is just going to be an explosion of text. Tumblr and I are still arguing lol anyways...message me :) ask my questions, the box is open!
[YN]
“Well aren’t you just a peach?” You mumbled groggily.
The situation had to be bad if Yuuto had come down to help. You weren’t exactly sure how you had gotten...where ever it was you were...but the last thing you remember was Mitsunari dropping his book when you walked into your room, so it stood to reason he had something to do with it. Yuuto looked ready to mouth off and not having the energy to fight back you stopped him short by putting your free hand on his cheek.
“Thank you.” his eyes went wide and you could help but laugh “What, weren’t expecting that?”
“Not exactly…” he was blushing, poor kid was embarrassed. Looking over at the IV in your arm you followed the line. It was extra obvious to you that you were getting a transfusion even if everyone else in the room seemed very confused.
“Is it yours or Kanna’s” you asked pointing at the bag in Mitsunari’s hand. Concern etched on everyone’s faces as they caught the implications of your question.
“Mine” he puffed his cheeks out “and I don’t want to hear any of your corny transfusion jokes…just be quiet for once.”
“What? You are totally missing out!” he glared “Fine...but we may need to explain this a bit.” motioning with you eyes to the Oda men in the room. “Mind if I sit up?”
“If you feel up for it. The patches should have kicked in by now and I’m here so you should have a bit of extra strength.”
You felt your bones creak as you shifted on the floor, sitting carefully so you didn’t disturb the IV, you crossed your legs and looked around the room.
“So who wants to go first?”
“Deja-vu” Hideyoshi mumbled under his breath
“Should I just start asking questions than to minimize dallying and to ease your uncomfortableness Hideyoshi?” Mitsubishi chimed in with a smirk.
“Can we not do this now…(YN) is that blood?” Ieyasu inquired
“Yup, Yuuto’s blood if you’re looking for me to get specific.”
Most of them looked concerned, sharing looks with one another, some faces indicating more intrigue than others.
“…why are you getting his blood?” Ieyasu continued.
“It’s called a transfusion. We collect blood from willing donors, in this case Yuuto, to be used in emergency situations. I assume I lost a large quantity of blood, and because Yuuto and I have the same blood type, he was able to give me his to make up for it.”
“Blood type?”
“There are eight different types of blood. And it can get very confusing to explain, so for simplicity's sake all you need to know is that Yuuto and I have the same blood type, airgo we can freely give to each other without our bodies rejecting the donation. If you’re really curious I can test you guys later and let you know the results, but that pounding outside is getting concerning, so i’m going to suggest we move on.”
“That was my next question. That can’t possibly be thunder.” Mitsuhide put his cool gaze on Yuuto.
“Correct, like I stated earlier, I am charged with protecting the clan...that includes this idot. I use our technology to provide medical attention and in this case to also set up barriers.”
“Ohhh so like a fancy impenetrable fort?” Masamune plopped down next to me as he questioned my brother, grabbing my arm gently and checking out the IV.
“Correct.” Yuuto turned his attention to me. “It would appear it’s finished, how are you feeling.”
“Like shit...but that’s a step up from death right?”
“You know...sometimes I’m sorry I ask.” he let out an exasperated sigh “Do you think you’ll be able to fight eight of them off.”
“Maybe? Honestly it would be better if Kanna were here, though everything’s easier when I’m functioning at my highest capacity, but we won't know until we try.” 
You shrugged nonchalantly, but it was the truth. You didn’t feel awesome, and while Yuuto being there gave you just a bit of an energy boost, it was nothing compared to the surge you felt when Kanna was around. You made your way to your feet after the needle was removed and your arm was bandaged appropriately. A bit unsteady at first but with some help from Mitsunari and Masamune you were as good as you could be after losing about what you assumed was twenty percent of your blood volume.
“Your gear is new...I gave Kanna hers a bit ago, so you’re behind, but it’s lighter and thinner. The chemistry behind the armor makes the material stronger while still maintaining flexibility to improve your mobility. Everything is activated the same way so you shouldn’t have any trouble adjusting. I also got to pick the new pattern and color scheme...I still had to use ‘depths of space black’.” he paused to roll his eyes. “but yours has more hints of orange...I think it suits you”
Yuuto stood in front of you, looking you over he sighed deeply and drew his short sword, the pale glow warm and familiar in front of you. He couldn’t possibly…
“This is Yuuto Karasu, Karasu Clan Heir. I request the Karasu Commander, (YN) Karasu, be given full autonomy of her power until my departure.”
You eyes went wide, why was he removing the stop-checks placed on your sword? There’s no way everyone was going to agree to this...it would just get him in trouble.
“Yuuto…” you hissed through closed teeth.
“This is Kanna Karasu, Karasu Strategist, I consent to full autonomy.”
“This is Yui Karasu, Reserve Strategist, I consent to full autonomy.”
“This is Aoi Karasu, Reserve Commander, I consent to full autonomy.”
“This is Haruto Karasu, Standing Clan Head, I consent and accept the motion. Full autonomy is to be granted to (YN) Karasu until Yuuto Karasu, Clan Heir returns to the citadel.”
[Mitsunari]
I was still trying to wrap my mind around everything that was going on. (YN) had passed out, she had been barely warm in my arms. Ieyasu had done everything he could to save her, but we still weren’t in the clear. In a stroke of luck and in dramatic fashion her brother had arrived in a lightning bolt? There was a giant bubble protecting Ieyasu’s manor. (YN) had been given special bandages and her brothers blood. Not only was she now conscious she was standing and preparing for battle and every fiber of my being was screaming out, fighting the urge to grab her and run out of there.
Why would she go right back out there and fight...even Masamune and Hideyoshi had enough sense to take it a little easy after sustaining such a life threatening injury. Ieyasu had questioned Yuuto and (YN) but every answer just confused me more. She would explain it to us later but the knot in my stomach just kept growing.
She had even admitted she felt terrible but she was still going out there to fight. Why couldn’t we do something to help? I was so frustrated and confused I just wanted to scream, who cared if she had new armor? That hadn’t protected her before, how would it be different now. I wanted to trust her but the fear I felt was consuming my thoughts.
Yuuto drew his short sword and garnered everyone's attention, even (YN) was looking at him with surprise. Was he going to fight with her? No he had just said he doesn’t participate in battles. Is he offering her his short sword?
“This is Yuuto Karasu, Karasu Clan Heir. I request the Karasu Commander, (YN) Karasu, be given full autonomy of her power until my departure.”
Any bit of color (YN) had regained since getting treatment from her brother drained as he spoke. In an angry whisper she said his name through clenched teeth. “Yuuto…”
Then there was nothing but the pounding on the barrier and the falling rain. As the seconds passed by (YN)’s eyes grew round with shock until a stern look crossed her face. Something must have happened over their communication system. Before anyone could ask what was going on (YN) bowed in apology to Ieyasu and drove her sword into the tatami in the dring pool of her blood where she had been laying.
Her sword glowed a bright hot white, nothing like the sweet pale blue I had seen the night before. As it grew in intensity the air around her seemed to vibrate, when she finally became visible again a mischievous look and a wild smile had blossomed.
“Stop...you look creepy as hell…” Yuuto deadpanned
She laughed and cut through the tension that had been building in the room. Her eyes were still sharp but the rest of her features had softened to a more recognizable demeanor.
“Never once thought I’d find myself in a situation that warranted a full release of this things spiritual power.” She twisted the sword around menacingly. “But I appreciate the opportunity. I won't let you down.”
Heading for the door with a wink and a flourish, she turned back to us.
“You guys can come watch on the balcony...it won't take long and there’s no way any of them will be able to get past me now.” smirking she sauntered outside of the protection of her brother’s barrier.
Myself and the rest of the group rushed outside to follow her, stopping just shy of the railing on the veranda. Three soldiers jumped down from the roof only to be eliminated immediately. I hadn’t even seen her move.
“Yuuto...this is great and all...but not even remotely close to what I’d call a challenge.” She called out as a fourth one burst into smoke the second she parried.
“Well that’s good but you may want to call for backup. Dad just let me know you’ve got about fifty coming your way.”
There was a pause, then raucous laughter, as she doubled over in the grass. Defending herself from incoming attacks along the way.
“Well shit...guess I shouldn’t have asked for a challenge. Mom did always tell me to be careful what I wished for.”
“Would you shut up and call them here already?”
“This is the Karasu’s Talons. I am requesting backup from the officers of the first regiment. We have an estimated fifty incoming QA soldiers”
There was another pause and then the sky opened up. Lightning struck down on top of her and a bright light expanded outward all the way to the barrier. As it dissipated six figures could be made out besider her. They looked menacing, but not in the same way her assailants had appeared. How were six extra people going to help her? If she needed six extra swords why couldn’t it be us? I felt my anxiety bubbling, ready to burst when Yuuto made his way next to me.
“I can tell she means something more to you, I appreciate you getting her help earlier and I wanted to let you know you have nothing to worry about.”
My brow furrowed but I was unable to ask questions as he continued, turning my attention back to her battle as he spoke.
“I don’t understand it entirely, but something about the blessed weapons we have lets us fight these things. Our abilities are...restricted...to force us to work as a team, however, that can cause problems in situations like this. Kanna is our strategist, her brain is alway running looking for a way out, while she is still able to plan it doesn’t come as quickly and she’s at greater risk of injury than when she’s with (YN), our commander. Who, while she doesn’t plan out the strikes, she leads and trains our army. Every officer summoned is one of her highly trained fighters from the first division.” 
He turned his gaze back to me, dark eyes shining.
“(YN) is undefeated in the clan, save her teacher who now refuses all chances at a rematch. She is our most reliable fighter. Without her sister she still fights with considerable strength...but nowhere near what she is capable of. While I don’t have the same type of blade it still holds power in the group. So while it wouldn’t make a difference to her fighting ability my being here should give her a little more energy, than if she was just by herself.”
Pausing for breath, and I assume to make sure I was still following he looked my way before going on.
“I assume something happened in the past to have these power checks put into place, though I’m not quite sure what. Regardless the previous crow and talons, the current head, the current crow and talons and the heir, are all able to cast votes to give someone ‘autonomy’ or full reign of the powers for a limited period of time in a pinch.” He pointed back toward his sister.
“Earlier they consented in granting her full power. She is exceptionally lethal and while she doesn’t need to call on her army to win this battle, she needed to if she didn’t want to pass out when she relinquished control.”
As I looked back out into the garden I found myself memorizing their fighting patterns. The formations were perfect, designed to be effective and deadly. He had called her ‘The Talons’, and after seeing her fight I can understand why. When her blade came down into her target she reminded me of Kohaku, Nobunaga’s hawk, ripping through prey. Sharp and merciless yet graceful and beautiful. It was the perfect way to describe her. The more I watched the more enthralled I became. Maybe we could use something similar in our own battles. She was magnificent. Remembering her brother said her sister was her strategist...I wondered if I could offer assistance in Kanna’s absence. It felt better than having (YN) simply report to me, I wanted to be useful to her. I needed to be useful to her.
He must have thought I looked pensive because he offered words meant to comfort, and while I was no longer concerned about this battle they settled somewhere deep in my soul.
“But she lives for battles like this...the woman is made of something else entirely. Our Dad once said it had to be chaos and lightning. It’s in her bones and blood.”
I continued to watch in awe, gathering useful information, compiling strategies for her. There was no denying she was beautiful and deadly, a combination I had never seen mix so well. A sword style all warlords hoped and strived for, a precarious balance and only Kenshin Uesugi came close to achieving.
Before I knew it the battle had ended and Yuuto crossed the garden space, now littered with bits and pieces of armor that had failed to evaporate with their assailant. He handed bandages to (YN), who was having a lively conversation with her vassals, before bowing to us and disappearing in a blinding flash of light with the officers that had come to assist.
Sheathing her blade she slowly made her way back to the balcony. She looked tired but there was still a fire in her eyes. Most were silent, content just watching, but Mitsuhide, forever the tease, offered a remark as bait. Probably to check her mood and general consciousness since she did look a little wobbly now.
“I wasn’t aware our young princess had that much power. Who knew she could take out fifty men with just six soldiers of her own.”
Then she smiled the same mischievous grin from before, and with a sickly sweet voice, what she said next sent a chill down my spine.
“There’s a reason a group of crows is called a murder.”
[YN]
The energy was racing in and around you. It was everything you remembered and more. It didn’t matter how creepy your brother though your smile was you felt absolutely amazing. Turning your blade in your hand, getting used to the feeling of it, the lightning resonating in your bones. Everything felt lighter, you were sure you could jump from the garden to the roof if you wanted but that was a test for another day.
The second you stepped off the veranda, three jumped at you from the roof. You spun around so fast you made yourself dizzy, slicing clean through each one in the process. You felt more than amazing. You were buzzing with life and the new found chaos strengthening your bones, stemming from the warm glow coming off your sword. Another came at you, swinging your blade to parry, cut blowing right through the soldiers sword driving deep into its chest. A gust of wind came off your swing as the ogre disappeared into twisting gray fog, as you felt your hair whip around your face.
You felt strong, forgotten power flowing through you, it was almost a shame they weren’t more of a challenge. Before disposing of that last grunt you had managed to complain to your brother, who let you know a problem had arisen.
“Well shit...guess I shouldn’t have asked for a challenge. Mom did always tell me to be careful what I wished for.”
You knew who you wanted when you called for the officers of the first regiment, and you knew they had to be chomping at the bit to get some action by now. Sure enough, as they descended in a burst of lightening your three best swordsmen, two archers, and naginata wielder stood in formation three poised for attack.
Hisame and Mari, your two archers took to the trees for better vantage points to provide appropriate cover while simultaneously waiting for their perfect shot.
Tsubaki and Shiro, wielded tachi and stood on the outside of our formation, since their blades were longer they had a bit more reach, which was helpful for providing wide coverage. They were backed up by Hinata who took arms with his Naginata.
Mizuko was your top and final general to appear, offering a katana she filled in for Kanna as you paired off for close combat situations.
Falling into line with your comrades the rest of the battle felt like a well practiced dance. Smooth and easy, the QA soldiers offering little resistance. With everyone’s help fifty soldiers had felt like five.
“Nice work everyone, we cleaned them up nicely!”
“Anytime Captain! Do see to it that you take better care of yourself thought. You gave everyone a bit of a fright last night when you stopped responding.” Hisame leveled with you.
“I got it. I’ll be as careful as I can be.” you replied
“That’s not very promising...at least knowing you.” Shiro laughed lifting an eyebrow as he clapped a hand over your shoulder.
You brother had made his way across the garden and was preparing to take everyone back with him. Stopping just shy of you he gathered your comrades around him.
“Be safe...Please.” He smiled with one final plea before jumping back home.
As the light from the portal disappeared so did your high. Gods is that what you felt like before he arrived? No, it had to have been worse before you were given the blood. Everything ached and you wanted nothing more than to soak in a warm bath, drink some tea, and sleep on a heating pad for the next 48 hours until Kanna arrived.
You had finally reached the veranda everyone had gathered on. You noticed Masamune and Nobunaga’s eyes were shining with pride. Hideyoshi and Ieyasu were wearing the most sour expressions you’d ever seen, probably because of all the trouble you had caused tonight. You would have to do something to make it up to them. Mitsunari looked concerned and like he wanted to say something though it never made it out. Mitsuhide had been looking at you with the most infuriating, shit-eating grin, you had ever seen.
Though his snide remark was laced with questions, presumably to gauge how you were feeling, even if it was the only way he knew how, you still didn't want to drag this out. You were tired. Thinking of the best way to stop the conversation quickly you decided a mild scare tactic should do the trick.
“There’s a reason a group of crows is called a murder.” You wished you had a camera because the looks on their faces were priceless. If you didn’t feel like absolute garbage maybe you would have laughed.
Instead you walked past everyone and bowed before Nobunaga. “When would you like my report?”
“I do not need one.” you looked up at him confused “Mitsunari informed me over the events leading to our being here this evening and I witness the rest. It would be redundant to make you report it again. You are dismissed for the night.”
With that everyone left, what you had since figured out was Ieyasu’s manor. The walk back was slow and painful but Mitsunari stayed close to make sure you got back alright offering his arm whenever you started to wobble. By the time you finally arrived to your room faint light could be seen peeking out over the horizon. You opened the door with great effort and trudged into you room. By now the candles had all melted down and pools of wax were gathered in their stead. Guess you’d clean that up in the morning. The tea set from earlier remained untouched, and the book Mitsunari had been reading remained open on the floor where it had been dropped.
“It’s not a long walk back but I appreciate you seeing me home. I should let you go though since you have to make for Hideyoshi’s manor.”
As you looked up you met searing amethyst eyes, a look that was all consuming, there was a tenderness there you recognized, even though you couldn’t deny he looked upset. When you didn’t back away he closed the gap between you shutting the door behind him.
“If you would allow it, I would like to stay here.”
The hand that had been on your cheek was now cradling your head, long elegant fingers working your scalp gently, undoing your hair that had been tied tight in a ponytail. His free arm wrapped around your shoulder closing you in a comforting embrace. Fighting the urge to fall completely into his arms you gave a half-hearted response.
“I promise I’ll send someone to get you if I need help. I would hate to make you take care of me. You are by no means obligated to do anything else tonight”
You wanted nothing more than to accept his offer and bury yourself in his gentle and sure arms. They were currently offering you every bit of warmth you had craved the entire walk back from Ieyasu’s, but it wasn’t fair to make him look after you just because you were placed under him. Even if literally being under him was separately enticing...but that was a whole other issue for a different day.
“It is not out of obligation I request to stay.” He carefully pulled your head to his chest, resting his cheek on you. His even breaths tickling your ear were in direct contrast with the now rapid beating of his heart.
You felt the blood run all the way to your ears. He had always been incredibly sweet to you. Constantly sticking his neck out for you, making sure you had everything you needed, entertaining conversation, and now he had probably saved your life. All of this and he never really asked for anything in return. You had never stopped to think about why you had such unshakable faith in Mitsunari, you trusted him with your life the same why you trusted your siblings but that’s not to say you saw him as a brother. You were slowly realizing now how much you were fighting not just for your mission, but to keep him and the people he holds dear safe; Love. That feeling finally settled in and you didn’t know how to respond.
“Please…” his soft whisper broke through your rapidly derailing train of thought “don’t make me leave tonight.”
And you couldn’t all you could do was hum and nod. Wrapping him in an embrace of your own.
[Mitsunari]
The longer we walked the more exhausted she looked. She had refused to let anyone carry her at least four times now, but would hold onto my arm when she was unsteady, and now we had finally made it to her door.
“It’s not a long walk back but I appreciate you seeing me home. I should let you go though since you have to make for Hideyoshi’s manor.”
Even though I understood it to be consideration for myself, no matter how steady she had appeared, I couldn’t find it within my power to leave. Not that I wanted her to entertain me, she needed rest and I wanted no part in keeping her awake any longer...I just didn’t want to leave. She turned to me and I was happy to see her lovely amber eyes were still burning, though the rest of her features were soft, they were so warm it felt like something inside of me might melt. She was so enchanting I hadn’t even realized I was reaching for her until I had her hair undone, falling around her, the beautiful silk strands resting against my hand. (YN) spoke up and brought me out of my trance and I realized she thought I had stayed with her out of a sense of duty.
“It is not out of obligation I request to stay.” I pulled her in close to me, careful not to hold her too tight. The last thing I wanted was to aggravate her wounds. She didn’t stop me, instead (YN) leaned into my embrace as her body seemed to warm with mine. She seemed to be thinking, as her arms hovered in the air, unsure of what to do. There was a long painful silence, taking my chance I petitioned again hoping I wouldn’t be pushed away.
“Please, don’t make me leave tonight.”
I heard her suck in a breath through her teeth and no longer showing any hesitation she hummed languidly and returned my embrace, locking me in her arms, nodding in silent approval.
I wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
For the second day in a row, I woke up in a panic concerned by the absence of her warmth beside me. How does she sneak out of here so easily? This time I shot up out of her futon but she wasn’t sitting at her desk and her soft muttering alluded me. Tying my disheveled robes to be slightly more presentable I dashed for the door only to almost crash into (YN). Catching the tray she had been holding she winced but giggled as she looked me over.
“Nice hair. Up for some tea? I snuck into the kitchen.” she said with a mischievous smile
She was dressed the same as she had been yesterday morning. Soft gray hakama and a lace wrap to cover her chest. The only differences were that she wore my haori and her abdomen was wrapped diligently with fresh bandages. I was stuck on my haori hanging off her shoulders awkwardly, something about it and the goofy smile she had was enough to make my heart flutter.
“How is your stomach.” Again without thinking my fingers had found there way to the new wrap tracing where she had been cut. This was becoming a bad habit, but she didn’t pull away from me.
“It’s better thanks, I wasn’t able to tie an Obi...hurt to much. I borrowed your haori, I hope you don’t mind.”
“Not at all. Use it as long as you like.” And then she smiled and it was so bright it could have outshone every star in the sky last night.
Last night had been pandemonium but in the center of it was her. Something steady and bright in the buzz of it all. There was something wonderful about the normalcy of the situation, I had grown to enjoy the tea and snacks she brought me while I was reading, but this moment felt special, almost separated from the rest of reality.
“Did you sleep alright? I hope I didn’t make your arm numb laying on it.” She giggled again setting the tray of food and tea down. Her comment sparked my memory from the night before, her curled up in front of me, soft black tresses splayed underneath her head and across the arm she was laying on. With practiced motions she sat across me and prepared the tea passing out bowls and chopsticks so we could eat while it was steeping.
“Mitsunari. You okay over there? I guess I should have asked if you wanted food. I’m sorry if this was presumptuous of me.”
“Ah I’m sorry I was just a bit distracted. Thank you for the food.”
Breakfast tasted better than usual and the casual conversation eased the storm that had settle in my heart. The routine almost made me forget exactly what she was here to do. Almost. Our peace was broken with a bashful knock on the door, protectiveness flared in my chest, she was very exposed. I stood and cracked the door placing myself between her and the maids line of site but that didn’t stop her. She place a hand on the small of my back heat blooming where she touched as she leaned around me poking her head out the door.
“Hey ladies, what can I do you for?”
“We brought by the ingredients you asked for.”
Her face lit up “You guys are the best!”
“Anything for your Lady (YN).”
[YN]
Breakfast was pleasant and the easy conversation helped fend off the blush threatening to consume your features. Not only had you woken up tucked perfectly into Mitsunari, when you came back to your room he was standing in your door, hair a beautiful silver mess, robes hanging half off, broad shoulders exposed. You caught the way his eyes raked over you, taking you in, an emotion you couldn’t quiet place and a deep hyacinth flashed in his eyes before he masked it and they fell into the familiar amethyst you were accustomed to.
You suppress the urge to reach out and run your fingers through his feathered locks, down over his cheeks across his beauty mark and down his broad shoulders by giggling awkwardly and trying to start a conversation. Before you could move he reached out gently tracing over the fresh bandage where the sword had cut you last night.
“His is your stomach?”
It’s better thanks, I wasn’t able to tie an Obi.” You paused remembering the discomfort you had experienced trying to dress yourself in a traditional kimono this morning to get food. “hurt to much. I borrowed your haori, I hope you don’t mind.”
He smiled gently and it made you heart race, you could feel color creeping up your cheeks but you were happy he was letting you use his haori. It smelled just like him and though it was definitely a bit big the extra fabric wrapped you up filling you with the same sense of security he always brought with him.
You were setting out the dishes when you realized he hadn’t really responded to any question other than the one regarding his haori. Maybe you should have asked if he was hungry before grabbing the tea and breakfast.
“Mitsunari. You okay over there? I guess I should have asked if you wanted food. I’m sorry if this was presumptuous of me.”
That seemed to get his attention, just as you had finally gotten him out of his head and he seemed less on edge, there was a soft knock on the door. Before you could get up Mitsunari ran over placing himself between whoever was visiting and yourself. That’s when you realized you were minimally clothed and sauntering around the room in his haori while he was standing at the door with half his sleeping robe hanging off. He was trying to protect your dignity even though it was way more clothes than you wore on a normal off day in the citadel, but if a retainer saw this scene people would talk...not that you minded something like that floating around about you and Mitsunari, you couldn’t deny that you had definitely dreamed about any rumor this scene would cause as is.
You heard a gasp and faint giggling and knew it was your fan club...nope nope nope, not ok with them seeing hot and sleepy Mitsunari. Jumping up you placed a hand on the small of his back possessively, poking your head out next to him. As it turns out they had found the honey and sugar you asked for earlier and wanted to bring it to you.
You started mixing it into the tea then began pouring for the two of you to enjoy. When you placed his cup down in front of him he looked puzzled.
“You look confused. Anything I can help you with?”
“The other night at our war counsel Mitsuhide brought up that the maids had been following you around and fawning. He asked me why, and at the time I hadn’t noticed so I couldn’t even imagine an answer...but after seeming that, I’m quite curious myself.”
You laughed a good natured, full belly laugh. While it hurt just a touch more than normal it felt so so good.
“Do you remember the night we wrapped my arm?”
“Yes.” He blushed
“I was out shopping when I saw a group of them get attacked by the QA. They’ve been like that ever since.”
“I do remember six of them sopping wet as I passed them in the hall. It’s how I knew to look in your room.”
“Word travels fast around here if you’re wondering why all the female staff follow me around now.”
There wasn’t even a knock before your door slid open hitting the end of the track with a thunk.
“Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
[Mitsunari]
The last people I wanted to see at her door were now openly staring at this misunderstanding. Not that I minded if they thought she was with me...it would keep at least three of them from trying something. Mitsuhide opened his mouth “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”but it was (YN)’s response that made me choke on my tea.
“Breakfast...why, what’s it look like?”
They just stared back at her, processing.
“Are you just going to stand there or was there something you needed?”
Nobunaga chuckled before Masamune answered her.
“Neither of you showed up for the morning war counsel and when Hideyoshi informed us Mitsunari hadn’t returned last night we thought something might have been wrong with you.”
“That’s my bad, he looked like he needed sleep so I didn’t want to wake him.”
“That still doesn’t explain what’s going on right now.” Hideyoshi responded, worry showing on his face.
“Uh...breakfast. He brought me home, we fell asleep, I woke up, got breakfast, he woke up. So now...we’re eating breakfast. Didn’t think you wanted me walking around the castle scantily clad so I just stayed here. And seriously...just come in, you don’t need to creep outside the door like that.”
Ieyasu pinched the bridge of his nose “That’s not what we meant...we understand what this is...I believe the question was aimed more at why you’re wearing Mitsunari’s haori…?”
And then the conversation descended into dissaray and nothing I could think of to say would have been enough to stop it. (YN) looked amused, clearly messing with the group. Mitsuhide and Nobunaga were the only ones able to resist the verbal bait.
“Should I not be?”
“I mean it’s not that you shouldn’t be, just that it may give the wrong impression.” Masamune stated and I bristled, sipping my tea to keep calm.
“And what would that impression be?”
“That you’re sleeping with Mitsunari.” Hideyoshi interjected
“But I did sleep with Mitsunari. He spent the night here.”
“That’s not what we mean lass.” Masamune sighed
“Then what did you mean?” she looked innocent enough but I could tell she was toying with them. Drink your tea and don’t make eye contact Mitsunari...don’t make eye contact.
“Nope, never mind. Stop.” Ieyasu chimed in, panicked
“Stop what?” She looked around eyes wide.
“How about you just give Mitsunari back his haori, that should clear up any misunderstandings.” Hideyoshi pleaded
“There isn’t really anything to misunderstand but if you insist.” and with that she stood next to me. Oh no. Before I could protest, she undid the haori from her waist as we made eye contact, a devilish smiled played on her lips then she winked. She knew what she was doing. Dropping the clothing in my lap the room went silent.
I knew from the looks on their faces they had full view of the artwork above her wrap, the beautiful tattoo that covered her alabaster skin mingling with scars from previous battles.
Hideyoshi and Ieyasu sputtered while Nobunaga and Mitsuhide remained silent.
“Shit lass.” Masamune sucked in through closed teeth. The only one to say anything.
“Don’t stare.” She smiled knowingly “it’s rude you know.”
She was being a good sport but I could tell all the prying eyes were starting to get to her. When nobody said anything I stood placing my haori back on her shoulders, covering a majority of her exposed skin, while shooting daggers at those in the doorway. When I did I brushed my fingers along the crook of her neck along her shoulders. Her skin was warmer than it had been last night, the memory of her collapsing into my arms fresh in my memory. I needed them to leave.
“She is unable to wear an Obi with her injury. Unless you don’t mind her walking around like this or in her armor today she will not be joining the war counsel.”
Nobunaga looked amused but nodded, a knowing smirk playing on his face.
“I agree. Please make sure she has everything she needs Mitsunari. Report any changes to me.”
“As you wish milord!”
After they left she dropped down in front of me, twisting a few flyaway strands into place.
“Can we talk? I think it’s time to DTR.”
Tagging @little-mini-me-world read away!
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narrymusings · 7 years ago
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Hii idk if you still write but i found this quote and i feel like i could be a perfect narry fic "We met at the wrong time. That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Maybe one day years from now, we’ll meet in a coffee shop in a far away city somewhere and we could give it another shot."
I’m gonna go ahead and call this: time’s never been on our side
Harry startles when he sees him, standing there in the middle of acoffee shop, gaze glued to his phone – probably catching up on the news viaTwitter.
It’s first thing in the morning, Harry hasn’thad his coffee yet, and the last thing he expects when he walks through thedoor of his local Starbucks – the one that’s right around the corner from hisoffice, is to see Niall Horan standing in line. It’s 8:30 on a Friday morning,Harry hasn’t seen Niall in about 10 months, hasn’t talked to him in about six,and yet here he is, the love of his life, standing less than 10 feet away fromhim.
And Harry doesn’t have the first clue aboutwhat to do. Does he approach Niall? Does he pretend that he doesn’t even seeNiall? Does he pretend like he doesn’t see Niall until he turns around and thenact surprised to see him there?
Ten months ago, approaching Niall wouldn’thave been a problem. Ten months ago, they were friends – at least, they hadbeen trying to be friends. Approaching Niall would have made his heartbeatquicken and the butterflies in his stomach come to life – but it would havebeen normal. It would have been easy.  Hehad known where he stood, 10 months ago. But now?
He doesn’t know where they stand.
The line in front of him moves, so he moveswith it. Niall is two spots away from the only cash that’s open; Harry is five.He isn’t any closer to Niall than he had been, but the tension in his chesttightens just the same.
They used to be in love, is the thing. And,well- Harry is still in love. Has always been in love. Will probably always bein love, if 10 months apart not having changed a damn thing in the way Harryfeels is anything to go by. They used to be so utterly in love with each other,but they just…never seemed to be able to make it work. And Lord knows they tried.And they tried. And they tried.
It just never stuck. The timing was neverright. At least- That’s what Harry had told himself, 12 months ago. That they’re meant to be together, eventually, it’sjust that the timing is all wrong. That perhaps they just…fell in love tooearly. Or maybe they fell in love at the right time, but they acted on it tooearly. 
He wants tobelieve that. He wants so badly to believe that they’ll be able to make itwork, one day, and that every time they failed before was just practice. 
Niall is atthe counter, now, and Harry doesn’t have to hear his voice in order to hear it— but hearing it helps. It makes every fibre in his body come to life, makesevery hair stand on edge, makes his heart skip a beat. His voice is likechocolate and Harry would know it anywhere, even if he didn’t already know thatNiall was here. 
He rememberstheir last conversation. Remembers how drunk Niall was, in some bar he’dimmediately forgotten the name of in the middle of Malaysia; remembers how he’dbeen home from university to visit his mother. Remembers Niall soundingunusually sad right from the second Harry had picked up. He remembers Nialltelling him that he thinks he needs some more space, that being thousands ofmiles away wasn’t enough space if he still called him every day to hear hisvoice. He remembers listening to Niall sniff back tears whilst saying that hewould keep Harry updated as to his whereabouts, but that he couldn’t keeptalking to him; remembers Niall muttering that it was too hard.
He rememberscrying himself to sleep that night, but knowing that it was for the best. 
All too soon,it’s Harry’s turn to order and out of the corner of his eye, just as he startsto tell the barista that all he really wants is a black coffee, he sees Niall’shead snap up. Sees Niall’s eyes widen, sees the hint of a smile tugging at hislips. And, well- Now he has no choice but to approach. 
His heartfeels like it’s lodged itself up into his throat, and his stomach churns as hepays the cashier because there’s no getting out of it now. There’s no goingback. 
Niall is allsmiles as Harry approaches him, prepares himself to give Harry his undividedattention by slipping his phone into the back pocket of his trousers. “Hey,” hebreathes, reaching out for Harry’s hand, and then- “C’mere.”
And Harry issort of taken aback by the force Niall uses to pull him into a hug. He goeseasily, though. Sort of just falls into Niall’s chest, wraps his arms aroundNiall’s back, digs his nose into Niall’s neck. And every anxiety, every fear,every feeling of uneasiness that he’d felt when he walked through the door not10 minutes ago just- Melts away. It disappears. It’s a Niall thing, that;chasing away Harry’s fears. Always has been.
“I missedyou,” Niall whispers softly before pulling back. He lets his arms fall to hissides, only to then push them into the pockets of his baby blue jeanjacket. 
“I missed youtoo,” Harry murmurs back. And for the first time in 10 months, he really seesNiall. Sees how tanned he is, how much thinner he is, how broad his shouldershave become — all from just…travelling Europe. “H-How long have you beenback?”
“Literally anhour,” the other bloke says. He side-steps Harry to grab his drink from thebarista, and pauses to offer her a small ‘thank you’, before he steps backagain. “In my haste to leave the airport I neglected to get meself a coffee,so- But I’m going to settle back in right now.”
“Oh? Who areyou staying with?” Harry finds himself asking — because they haven’t spoken inmonths, and neither Louis nor Liam have mentioned anything to him about Niallstaying with them.
“Just gonnastay with John and his girl for a bit,” Niall shrugs. “That is- Until I can getenough money for first and last months’ rent elsewhere.”
“You’restaying, then?” Harry asks, and he hates the way his heart feels hopeful. 
“Yeah,” Niallsays, pausing to let Harry collect his drink from the barista. “Apart fromgoing home to visit the family for a bit next month. I’m all travelled out now,I think. Got it out of my system, so- I’m ready to just be home now.”
They’ve nevertalked about why Niall had suddenly decided that he’d wanted to travel Europe —and Asia, and Australia. And they probably never will. But Harry knows thatit’s because of their last breakup. 
“You’ll haveto tell me all about it, sometime.”
“I will,” Niallpromises. “And you’ll have to tell me how things have been back here.”
Harry scoffs,rolls his eyes a bit playfully. “Same old, same old, mate. London is London.It’s beautiful and exciting, but nothing much changes.”
Niall laughs,softly. And Harry sort of wishes that he would keep going. “You’ve been good,then?”
“Yeah,” Harrynods. “Been good.”
“And theboys?”
“Louis gotback together with El,” Harry says. “Freddie loves her, so that’s a plus. AndBear is happy and healthy and Liam is happy and healthy, so-“
“So thingshave been good, then,” Niall finishes. He does that sometimes; finishes Harry’ssentences.
“Yeah,” Harrywhispers. Would have been better if you’d been here too though, iswhat he wants to say. But he isn’t that selfish. 
Niall smiles,runs a hand through his hair. 
And, as if oncue, Harry’s phone rings from within the pocket of his jacket. “Shit,” hecurses. “That’s probably my boss. I should- I gotta go, I’m sorry.”
Niall shakeshis head. “No, go- Do what you gotta do. I should head back to John’s anyway.It was- It was nice to see you, H.”
Harry smiles.“Likewise,” he murmurs. “Don’t be a stranger, yeah? I really do wanna hear allabout your trip.”
“I won’t be astranger,” Niall promises.
And withthat, despite every fibre of his being wanting to stay, wanting to be close toNiall — despite the little voice in the back of his mind telling him to growsome bullocks and not let time get in the way, he turns to leave.One foot in front of the other. Pure determination alongside the fact that hisboss is going to have his head, are the only reasons he even makes it throughthe exit.
+
He doesn’teven make it off the step and onto the sidewalk before Niall is there, fingersclutching the sleeve of Harry’s jacket, cheeks flushed, blue eyes wide andbeautiful. Harry decided, then, that he’s never been more in love. 
Can I askyou something?” Niall wonders, then, as he lets go of Harry’s arm. 
Harryswallows hard around the lump in his throat. “‘Course.”
Are youseeing anyone, currently?”
He tries tofight the smile he can feel tugging at the corners of his mouth, tries to fightthe blush that’s creeping its way onto his cheeks — but he fails. “No,” hesays, almost too quickly, not that it matters. “No, I’m not seeing anyone.You?”
“Nah, meneither,” Niall says with a slight shake of his head. He licks his lips, tiltshis head. “You wanna, maybe, go out sometime?”
“I’m freetomorrow,” Harry finds himself saying. Playing hard to get would be useless,and they both know it.
Niall grins.“Great, me too.”
Harry smiles,runs a hand through his hair. “Alright. Cool. I’ll, um- I’ll text you.”
“Yeah, or- Imean, I can text you.”
“Or we cantext each other,” Harry says, with a shrug.
“Yeah,” Niallagrees, smiling awkwardly. “Okay. Go- Work. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Harry hasnever wanted Friday to end quicker.
+
“Are you-You’re sure you wanna do this?” Harry asks, his voice soft and hoarse, as hepresses Niall up against the door to his flat, gently. 
“Positive,”Niall breathes, gazing at him with lidded, lustful eyes.
“Because, ifyou don’t-“
“Harry, hey-“he murmurs, reaching both hands up – one to wrap around the back of Harry’sneck, the other to push Harry’s fringe back. “I want this. I feel good aboutthis, this time. Fifth time’s a charm.”
Harry smirks.“‘m not Irish, but I’m also pretty sure that’s not how it goes.”
Niall shrugs.“Yeah, well- I am Irish, and I feel lucky.”
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almostviki · 7 years ago
Text
Loop
Pairings: None Genre: Is this angst? Idk if it is or not Warnings: Death mentions, non-graphic mentions of violence/gore (descriptions of injury), spooky ghost talk  Summary: Logan hasn’t seen another human being in three years. Then Virgil moves in next door, and Logan is forced to confront his loneliness head-on, whether he likes it or not.  Notes: I know Halloween isn’t for a few days but I go back to school next week so happy Halloween everyone! This AU is so elaborate and I’m so invested now lmao. This is like 7.4k, jsyk so like, super long
Read on Ao3 Here
10 Logan steps out of the elevator. He lives alone on this floor; nobody else has been willing to live up here since the “hauntings” began. The statistical probability of ghosts is so low that Logan refuses to let himself be caught up in the hysteria. The flickering lights and shaking walls don’t deter him. The building has faulty lighting after all, and a weak foundation besides, and this apartment is centrally located to everywhere he needs to go in the city. As far as he’s concerned it’s just a normal apartment building with normal rooms, and the whereabouts of its other tenants are unimportant to him.    He walks towards his apartment and notices another person. He stops short. He’s about average size, wearing an oversized hoodie and large headphones. Maybe a student trying to find cheap rent. This place is less expensive than the dorms the city university provides. The guy looks in his direction, but his eyes completely skip over Logan, which is fine. He doesn’t want to make conversation anyway. They disappear into their respective apartments with a creak and a click of the lock, and the hallway is empty once more.
9 Logan is in the elevator. There are two people in it with him, a bubbly guy with a cardigan and a pompous-looking man with too much styling gel in his hair. They don’t pay him any mind, which is fine with Logan. He’s always been bad at small talk. The doors open and Logan is back on his floor. The other two follow him down the hall.    "This place looks like a haunted house,“ says the one with the cardigan, and the other groans as if the statement is an old and tired gag.    "You say that about every place we go,” he bemoans, and the one with the cardigan shrugs.
   "Actually, there is a persistent rumor that this area is inhabited by some sort of sentient supernatural phenomenon,“ Logan interjects. "That’s why the population of this floor is meager, to say the least.”    They both jump and turn to look at him as if realizing for the first time he’s there.    "I- how did-“    "I’m Logan. I live on this floor. Would I be correct in saying you are here to visit this hall’s only other inhabitant, my neighbor?”    "Virgil?“    "We have not yet been acquainted.”    "Oh, well, we moved in here a few days ago. With Virgil. I’m Patton and this is my friend Roman.“ Patton looks unsure how to carry on the conversation as if he hasn’t had to introduce himself to people in a long time. "We all moved in together. It’s strange we haven’t seen you yet.”    "I’m away at work most of the day. I’m also busy with classes.“    They lapse into silence. Logan reaches his own door and Roman and Patton stop in front of Virgil’s.    "I guess we’ll be seeing you around, Logan,” Roman said, sounding somehow harsh even though Logan was sure he hadn’t done anything to offend them. They’d barely had a conversation.    "I suppose,“ he said and turned the key in his apartment. Three neighbors? What a hassle. He far preferred being alone.    "You should stop by sometime,” Patton says. “It gets lonely around here.”    "I hadn’t noticed,“ Logan says, voice a bit tighter than he intended. The walls of the apartment building groan. Patton’s eyes widen and he looks around nervously. Roman opens his mouth to speak but Logan turns away and goes into his own apartment.    He isn’t lonely. He isn’t. He’s busy, that’s all.    The walls stop groaning.
8 Logan stands at the door to Virgil’s apartment. He promised Patton he’d come by today. They discovered a few weeks ago that they both have a love of classics and Patton had insisted he come over to see his collection. He takes the detour across the hall and knocks on the door of what he still thinks of as Virgil’s apartment, and Patton answers, big smile in place.    Their apartment is the same size as his, but their apartment feels homier, more lived in. Patton has a bookshelf on the far wall of the living room, and they spend hours going over the books in it. Patton pulls out Ulysses and starts flipping through it.    "You’ve read Ulysses? It’s the height of literary pretention.”    "Oh, trust me,“ Virgil says, appearing out of nowhere to flop down next to Patton. "We have a lot of free time.”    "Do you?“ Logan eyes them suspiciously. "Virgil, I thought you were a student at the university.”    Virgil blinks. “I was. I…dropped out. I wasn’t that great at it.”    There’s more to this story than Virgil is saying, but Logan isn’t one for prying. Instead, he fixes his gaze on Patton.    "And what do you do?“    "Me? Oh…a bit of this and that.”    "Hmm.“ He drops the subject.    Logan browses through the shelves, running over titles hoping to find one he hadn’t read before. His fingers stop on The Kraus Project and pull it out, turning it over in his hands.    "That’s mine, actually,” Virgil says when Logan shows him the cover. “Roman recommended it.”    "Roman did?“ Roman reads? he didn’t say and started flipping through the pages. "I read this a while ago. The narrative style is dense but not unreadable.”    "Really?“ Virgil perks up. "What did you think of it?”    "Well, I thought that-“ Logan’s brain stops. He stumbles over his own words, tries again. "I think his criticism of digital culture, particularly in-” Like a computer unable to find a file, his thoughts freeze, and rewind.    "Logan, are you okay?“ Patton’s eyebrows are knit in concern, and he tries to say he’s fine but his mouth freezes around the words. Did he ever finish The Kraus Project? Of course he did. It never takes him more than a week to finish a book even at his absolute busiest, and he’d bought it…when had he bought it? Randomly, he starts flipping pages, speeding through the essays until he reaches somewhere in the middle when the words stop looking familiar. But he had to have read past this part, right? He remembers reading it, remembers buying it on a Tuesday, he was coming home from work at the bookstore, he was holding his page with his right hand and shifted the book to his left to open the door of his apartment and when he got inside-    "Logan!” Virgil calls, sounding panicked. The walls of the apartment groan. The lights flicker. The book falls from Logan’s hand and he is dissolving, dissolving, dissolving-
7 Logan is sitting on Patton’s couch. It is Patton’s couch, Logan’s been informed, as he’s the one who insists they bring it everywhere. They move around a lot, but they’re hoping to stay here because they like this part of the city.    "It’s very central,“ Virgil said once. "Easy know where you are.”    "Exactly,“ Logan agreed.    Virgil is sitting next to him now, and they’re sharing earbuds as Virgil thumbs through his phone and Logan skims through documents on his computer, searching for a particular article he needs for a reference. It’s easiest to exist like this with Virgil, simply taking up the same space but not speaking. He’s spent a lot of time at their apartment lately-more than he’s spent at his own.    It could be hours or minutes that pass, but after a while, Virgil sits up and removes his earbud from his ear.    "Do you believe in ghosts, Logan?”    "No.“ The answer is easy. "It’s highly unlikely.”    "Why do you say that?“ Virgil’s voice is careful, although Logan can’t imagine why. The statistical probability of ghosts is so low there’s no point wasting the thought. The idea that the spirit of something could be tethered to a physical artifact, the implication that living things even have souls, is too metaphysical to fully be determined through any degrees of natural science. Logan tells Virgil this, and Virgil’s mouth presses into a line. At first, Logan thinks he’s going to argue, but he doesn’t. He just shrugs and puts his earbud back in.    "Okay. I was just wondering.”    Something in his voice is tearing at Logan’s very existence but he says nothing and turns back to his computer. The heat of the laptop is less tangible, the air much thinner.    "Do you believe in ghosts, Virgil?“    Virgil lets out a breath that sounds like it’s been building for a hundred years. "I wish I didn’t.”
6 Logan steps out of the elevator. He’s increasingly tired these days and he can’t figure out why. He doesn’t think he’s working more than usual, but sometimes the stress gets to him. The increasingly frequent power outages aren’t helping on that front.    Roman knocks on his door a while later, shuffling awkwardly. He doesn’t talk to Roman much; he gets the feeling Roman doesn’t like him. Every time they’re in the same room Roman’s jaw sets in distaste. Logan almost peers around him to see if Patton is behind Roman egging him on, but he manages to refrain.    "Yes?“ he asks, not opening the door wider to let him inside.    Roman holds out a book. The Kraus Project. "Virgil said you’d mentioned this book before, but that you never finished it. A pity, it seems like something someone of your…sort would enjoy.”    "My sort?“ Logan takes the book and flips through it. The book is familiar, tugging at something in the corner of his mind, but it isn’t pressing enough for him to mind it.    "You know…” Roman waves his hand dismissively. “English teacher types.”    Logan resists the urge to immediately tell Roman to leave. “I’ll have you know I teach European history, not English of any kind.”    "Don’t you work in a bookstore?“    "Yes, that is correct, although there is little correlation between my chosen profession and my part-time job.”    "I- okay.“ Roman takes a steadying breath as if to stop himself from continuing. He looks almost pained. "Do you like working there?”    "Yes. I do. I appreciate the effort of my coworkers and the compendium of knowledge that surrounds me. Why?“    "No reason. I was just…wondering.” Roman seems to bite back more words, and he turns to leave. “Finish that book, alright?”    "Alright,“ Logan says by way of goodbye and closes the door. He puts the book on his counter and ignores the shiver that climbs up his spine. He’ll try to start on it tonight. If only he could remember where he’d stopped.
5 Logan is sitting at his desk, typing an essay. It’s habit to have the television on in the background while he works if only so he can glance at it every once in a while to feign interest in current events. Even better, when the sun sets, the TV provides enough illumination so as to eliminate the need to turn on a lamp. Logan is only absently paying attention to it, but the morning discussions on news and politics shift to daily reports, one of them being the baseball game the previous day. Logan looks up at the TV just as they show a clip of the game’s winning home run. The crack of the bat hitting the baseball echoes in his ears like a gunshot. Logan’s vision goes white. He shoots out of his desk and turns the TV off, the image of the bat swinging wildly still looping before his eyes.    He hates baseball.    It takes him until he’d calmed down to realize that the power has gone out. Wearily, he walked back to his desk to grab his phone and uses the flashlight to rummage around for candles.    There’s a knock at his door. He keeps his flashlight on when he goes to open the door and finds Virgil standing there, covering Logan’s phone with his hand and hissing angrily at him.    ”-Trying to blind me?“ Virgil winces and blinks hard, trying to extinguish the lights in his eyes. Logan fumbles to turn the light off.    "Apologies, Virgil. Do you need something?”    Virgil sticks his hands in his pockets and angles around Logan to see into his apartment. “I was gonna check if you were okay, but based on your miniature Yankee Candle over there I’d say you’re fine.”    "I am. Are you three alright?“ Logan is surprised to find that he cares. It’s been so long since he’s had neighbors, so long since he’s had friends.    "Oh, yeah. We’re doing just great. I personally love the dark,” Virgil says and smiles. In the candlelight, Virgil’s face changes slightly, morphing and twisting just out of Logan’s focus. It feels a bit like water filling Logan’s lungs.    With a jolt, Logan realizes Virgil is still speaking.    "-and invite you to wait at our place until the power comes back on.“ Virgil rolls his eyes. "I told him you’ve lived here a long time and you’re used to it, but if you don’t want to upset him I’ll make up some excuse.”    Logan weighs his options. He could stay here in his own apartment and wait until the power comes on, which wouldn’t take more than an hour. Or he could go across to hall to Virgil’s apartment, which is somehow more lived-in than any room he’s ever been in, despite the fact they’ve only lived here for a few weeks. His laptop still had charge; he has essays to write, papers to grade. Yet Patton’s words twist in his chest, pulling him to the door across the hall: It gets lonely around here. But Logan isn’t lonely. He’s…he’s…    "No, it’s alright. I’ll come over. It’s more efficient for us to share light sources anyway. I’d rather not waste candles.“    Virgil’s eyebrow raises, and his lips quirk in a small smile. "Alright. Come on then. Patton was trying to bake something when I left and if I’m not there we won’t have an apartment by the time he’s done.”    Logan follows him, closing his apartment behind him. He starts to walk away without locking it, but a burst of fear shoots through him and he yanks the key from his pocket. Rationally, he knows no one would get in. No one ever comes to this floor except the four of them. He can’t be too careful, though. There are some risks he just isn’t willing to take.
4 Logan steps out of the elevator. He’s never been so tired. His whole body aches as if he’s been running nonstop for days.   His own thoughts have started to twist on themselves, unraveling at the seams. It occurs to him to go to Virgil’s apartment, but he doesn’t want to bother any of them. The hallways groan sickeningly as if the building itself is sliding on its foundation. The sound of small animals and bugs line the halls. A door opens down the hall and Virgil’s voice calls, “Logan?”    "Go away,“ he hisses, but he has to walk toward Virgil to get into his own apartment. Halfway there, he stumbles, and Virgil catches him, lifting up his head to examine his face.    "You’re not well,” he declares, and slings Logan’s arm over his shoulder. They end up in Virgil’s apartment and Logan doesn’t even have the energy to complain. He collapses on the couch and cradles his head in his hands.    Voices whisper just out of earshot, and Logan can barely pay enough attention to make out snippets of what they’re saying. Roman’s voice is insistent, growing increasingly upset, and Patton’s tone is more serious than Logan has ever heard it. He catches his name somewhere in the hush of whispers and his heart leaps into his throat. He hopes they’re not fighting over him. He’d rather suffer alone than cause fights.    "Hey,“ Virgil says, his voice nearby. Logan opens his eyes and glances up to see Virgil offering him a glass of water. "Drink this.”    Logan accepts the water gratefully and takes small sips. Virgil sits down near him on the couch, but not close enough to suffocate him.    "I told Patton and Roman to be quieter,“ Virgil tells him. "It didn’t seem like the noise was helping.”    "I’m sorry,“ Logan feels the need to say. "I didn’t mean to incite conflict.”    "You didn’t incite anything. This was a long time coming.“    "Oh. If I may ask, what is the argument about?”    "Honesty,“ Virgil says, and that’s all he volunteers. Logan sips his water and doesn’t ask any more questions.    A few minutes later, Roman storms down the hallway and out the door of the apartment. Patton follows behind him, looking similarly irate, but he manages to collect himself when he sees Logan wan and exhausted on the couch.    "Hey, Logan. Virgil told us you were feeling a bit under the weather.”    "I’m feeling better now,“ Logan assures him, and he is. Now that he isn’t standing on his feet he feels more centered, and his thoughts are quieting. "It’s probably best I return to my own apartment now.”    “No.” Virgil and Patton speak at the same time, their voices similarly insistent. They make eye contact, and Patton clears his throat nervously.    "At least spend the night here to make sure you’re alright. You still look pale, and I’d feel terrible if we sent you back to your apartment alone when you were sick.“    "I don’t want to impose.”    "It’s not imposing if we’re offering, sport!“    Logan looks between Patton, whose encouraging smile is a thousand times brighter than the apartment’s cheap lighting, and Virgil, who’s nervously chewing his lip next to him on the couch, and tells himself that he’s doing this for them, not himself.    "Alright,” he says. “I’ll stay.”    Patton claps his hands together excitedly. “Terrific! I’ll get the spare blankets out of the closet!” And in an instant, he’s gone. Virgil rises from the couch and slips his phone into his pocket.    "I’d better go after Roman.“    "Will you be alright going alone?” Logan asks.    Virgil raises an eyebrow in challenge. “It’s broad daylight.”    "I’m aware of the time,“ Logan snaps, then takes a breath, steadies himself. "It’s just…things happen.”    Virgil’s expression softens a bit. “Trust me. Nothing’s gonna happen to me.”    Logan, for some reason, believes him.
3 Logan steps out of the elevator and wants to collapse on the floor of the hallway. He’s gotten worse over the past few days, much worse, but he hasn’t let the others notice. He doesn’t answer when they knock, he doesn’t stop at their apartment after work. Thinking of them seems to make the pain in his chest grow, and so he cuts them out. He’s eliminating variables, is all. He was alone once. He could do it again.    He drags himself to his apartment and fumbles with the key. It falls to the ground and Logan almost wants to give up and fall on his knees in the hallway. But he can’t do that. He can’t let his weakness overcome him like this. He summons the strength to pick up his key and make his way into his apartment, dumping his bag and books by the door as he stumbles in.    Logan doesn’t remember falling asleep, but when he comes back to himself he’s standing in his bedroom, and walls careening sickeningly around him. He presses the palms of his hands into his eyes and makes his way toward the kitchen, passing by the open bathroom door as he goes, then pauses, backpedals, finds his face in the mirror.    He’s pale. And not an ordinary pale. A sickly, unnatural pale, as if all the blood’s been sucked from his body. It reminds him of a skull, and that thought is so disturbing he actually stumbles back, averting his eyes from his own image. The sound of a baseball bat echoes in his head again, the hard crack! of a metal bat hitting not a ball but something more solid, something that hurts. Logan’s headache intensifies. His body feels less and less like his own.    Do you believe in ghosts? Virgil had asked him, and of course he said no because he didn’t. There was no evidence of ghosts, no proof, even considering it was asinine…    Bile rises in the back of Logan’s throat and he swallows it back down, continuing his trek to the kitchen. His eyes land on the book Roman handed him weeks again, The Kraus Project. Funny, he’d totally forgotten about it. Maybe that’s why he’d never finished it: the book is completely forgettable. He picks it up and thumbs through it, ignoring the shaking of his fingers, trying to find a starting point. A piece of paper slides out from one of the pages and lands on the ground. Maybe an old receipt, or a bookmark, Logan figures, and bends down to pick it up.    When he sees the words, his brain freezes, rewinds. It doesn’t make sense. On the paper, printed in full color, is a picture of him. Below it, in bold, is his name, and below that, a headline: ‘Third Victim in a String of Violent Break-Ins Found Dead Thursday’. Logan goes cold.    The article rattles off details in an orderly fashion, from the time the body was found to the suspected nature of the wounds. “Blunt force trauma to the head,” the article reads. “Found in the entryway of his apartment after he missed a day of classes”. Logan reads the article over and over, scans the picture, looks for anything that can prove this fake, make it seem like someone has tried to play a cruel trick on him. But he can’t find it. He sees the words but the information is cycled out of his head. He has to be misreading it. This has to be a mistake. The person in the photograph isn’t him, the article can’t be about him, none of it can be real because Logan is standing here reading this, he isn’t dead.
2 Logan barges into Virgil’s apartment without knocking. The piece of paper is clenched in his hands, which are shaking so hard he can hardly maintain his grip. No one seems surprised to see him. Virgil is staring at his knees, his face blank. Patton’s face is wracked with guilt as he looks at Logan standing there, breathless. Roman stands to the side, arms crossed, impatient. Logan turns to him now, and with more anger than he can remember feeling in his entire life, spits his accusation.    "Do you think this is a joke?“ Roman doesn’t react, which only makes Logan angrier. "Do you think this is funny?”    The apartment is dead silent. It’s stifling, oppressive. How had he ever lived so long in this quiet?    "I didn’t want to tell you,“ Virgil says, not meeting his eyes. "But Roman insisted wasn’t fair to you.”    "What’s not fair to me?“ Again, there is silence. Logan wants to rip his own hair out. "What are you all hiding from me?”    "Logan,“ Patton starts, voice soft and calm and all wrong. "You’ve been living here a long time, haven’t you?”    "I can hardly see how that’s relevant.“ His words are sharp and poisonous but Patton doesn’t bat an eye.    "How long have you been in this building?”    Logan bristles at the fact that he’s being ignored, but he’s far too tense for riddles and games. “Three years, maybe four. Why does it matter?”    "That newspaper is from about three years ago.“    "I’m aware. I can read.”    "Can you?“ Roman speaks up, and his voice is so emotionally heavy that Logan isn’t sure where to begin picking it apart. "What’s the date on that paper?”    Logan answers through gritted teeth. “November 20, 2014.”    "And what’s today’s date?“    "November 19, 20-” Logan stops, catches himself before he finishes the year. He does the math in his head. He’s lived in this building for three years, so it isn’t 2014 anymore. It can’t be. But that’s today’s date. That’s the date he’s been writing at the top of his papers for weeks, months.    Years.    "Sometimes, um, when a person goes through trauma, they can forget parts of their life.“ Patton is still talking far too slow. Virgil still isn’t looking at him, still picking at threads on his sweatshirt and Logan wishes he would please look up because Virgil is calm, objective. Virgil would stop Patton before he said anything too crazy, anything Logan couldn’t handle. But Virgil doesn’t look up.    "Yes, I’m familiar,” Logan says, even though it didn’t require a response. “Post-traumatic amnesia is particularly common with head wounds.” The phrase 'head wounds’ bounces around his head right next to the words 'blunt-force trauma’.    "And I’m sure it doesn’t escape your knowledge that death would be, generally, very traumatic.“    "I don’t know what you’re implying, but-”    "What’s the last thing you remember?“    Logan swallows and clenches his fists to stop them from shaking. "I don’t see why this information is relevant”    "Logan.“    "No! I don’t know what you’re trying to prove but I’m not the one being interrogated here!” Logan thrust the book in Roman’s direction, trying to turn his helplessness into anger before it completely overwhelmed him. “I know you’re the one who planted that false article and I’ll have you know that it’s as needless as it is sickening, and it’s beyond me what on Earth I did to you that made you feel the need to-”    "What did you do at work today?“    Logan’s brain short circuits. His mouth opens to say something, anything, but the words stick in his mouth and die before they reach his lips. Logan’s thoughts wind backward, unable to find answers to questions that should be simple. Still, Roman persists.    "You’re always grading papers, but for what assignment? Why don’t you ever finish grading those papers, Logan? How many people could possibly be in advanced European history?”    "Roman,“ Patton says quietly. "I think it’s best if you-”    "When was the last time you left this building, Logan? When was the last time you went further than the elevator?“ Roman’s face is red now, too, almost righteous in his stance as he stares Logan down, and Logan isn’t afraid of him but he shrinks from the onslaught of words. He squeezes his eyes shut but he can still see Roman’s eyes burning into him, his voice grating on his nerves like nails on a chalkboard. He’s willing himself to stay together, for his atoms to quiet and leave him whole because he needs to work through this, needs to prove to himself that his fears aren’t true, that this is all a mean-spirited trick because there’s no way that-    "Roman, stop,” Patton says, more forceful now. “This isn’t right.”    Roman turns to him, eyes still alight, and Patton winces slightly at the harshness of his gaze. “What isn’t right is leaving someone to suffer alone when I have the power to save them!”    "Not everyone needs saving, Roman. Sometimes it’s better to just leave things alone.“    "Oh, just like I should’ve left you alone when-”    "Both of you, stop.“ Virgil’s voice is quiet but it echoes through the apartment that seems both bigger and smaller than it did when Logan walked in. Objects flicker around them, like images on a television with bad reception. Logan stands frozen, hardly even daring to breathe. Virgil sighs and pushes his bangs out of his face, then looks over at Patton and Roman with disdain.    "This isn’t helping anything. You’re only going to freak him out more.”    Logan thinks about responding that he isn’t freaked out but Virgil fixes him with a hard stare and the words die in his mouth.    "Logan, you told me you don’t believe in ghosts?“    He knows he’s being walked into a trap but he swallows and nods.    "Would you believe me if I said I had proof?”    "It…it would have to be fairly convincing.“    Virgil gets off the couch and walks further into the apartment and returns with a box. He pulls off two more newspaper pages from under a stack, folded so precisely and delicately it appeared as though they hadn’t been touched in years, and sets them on the coffee table. Patton sucks in a breath and Logan opens his mouth to speak but Virgil, as if he could hear Roman’s mouth opening, shoots him a glare.    "You know there’s a right and a wrong way to do this,” Virgil says, admonishment clear in his tone. “Cruelty doesn’t suit you, Roman, nor you, Patton.”    Patton whimpers and steps back and Roman crosses his arms and turns away.    "Here,“ Virgil says.    Logan leans down to inspect the now unfolded pages, and again, it feels as though his brain is short-circuiting. Instead of his own face, it’s Virgil and Patton’s faces staring up at him from the wrinkled pages. Virgil’s name is printed in block letters under a picture of a smoking car wreck, the date on the picture over a decade past. Patton’s face is marred from the yellowed and cracked pages but Logan can still read the heavy sentiment of the obituary, how he was beloved by his family and classmates, how he’d returned glory to his soccer team, all of it written in the past tense, the date printed in the corner reads 1981 but the face in the picture looks the same as the one in front of him, as if he hasn’t aged, as if he is…    "Why would we keep fake articles of ourselves?” Virgil prompted, lacing his fingers in Logan’s shaking hands and squeezing hard. They were as cold as a corpse. “And you know these aren’t fakes.” Virgil’s face does that twisting thing again when it looks like him but also not at the same time. His skin seems paler, more sallow, the edges of his jacket are stained so so dark and getting darker by the second, the stain spreading as if from an unseen wound. The newspaper clipping in Logan’s hand feels heavy, so heavy, heavy enough to rip his arm from his socket. He’s holding a report of Virgil’s death, he’s holding his own obituary, but he could only be holding his own obituary if-    The statistical probability of ghosts is infinitesimally small. It’s useless to fear monsters that don’t exist, and ghosts don’t exist. Ghostsdon'texistghostsdon'texistghostsdon'texist-
2 Logan steps out of the elevator. Patton and Roman are in there with him. They are partially transparent, their faces blending into the steel doors. Logan looks down at his own hand. It’s also transparent, his skin sallow and pale. His fingers still tingle from Virgil’s handshake. It’s been a long time since he touched anyone.
2 Logan steps out of the elevator. The cobwebs in the corner of the halls are getting bigger. He opens the door to his apartment and dust billows out. The apartment is barren, dark, and dank. He wonders idly where all his stuff has gone, but it’s irrelevant. He has everything he needs.
2 Logan steps out of the elevator. He doesn’t have any work to do. He doesn’t have any time to waste. Time lost all meaning three years ago.
2 Logan steps out of the elevator. The elevator never went anywhere at all. It doesn’t come up this high anymore. Yet still, he returns to it, day after day, with the same blankness, the same meaningless drive.
2 Logan steps out of the elevator. It was a busy day at work. A customer came in demanding a book that wouldn’t be released until the following week, and the coffee shop was running behind, so all the office workers were testy. Logan had tried his best, but there was only so much he could so when no one wanted to listen to his suggestions. Exhausted, he walks towards his apartment, waving an absent hello to the man down the hall leaving for his night shift. He tries to be conscientious, even if the sentiment is empty. He may not be a good friend, but he’s an amicable neighbor. He sticks the key in the lock and finds that the door was already unlocked. Irrelevant, he told himself. I must’ve forgotten this morning. He opens the door.    Everything happens very fast, then.    There’s a man on the other side of the door, tall, hard-faced, remorseless. Logan enters and drops his books in shock. The man turns. Logan is frozen. He can’t reach for his phone. He can’t back out into the hallways.    "Hey kid,“ the man says, his voice like a car engine- rough and mechanical. "Maybe pretend you didn’t see a thing, huh?”    "I- what are you doing in my apartment?“ Logan says dumbly, thoughts whirring like a broken CD player.    And those are his last words. The man grabs him by the shirt and throws him into the wall. His head slams against the drywall and he slumps to the ground, stars popping in front of his eyes. The intruder lifts something long and metal-a baseball bat-high above his head. Before Logan can speak, think, dodge, it comes down. His head explodes in pain. He thinks he screams. His eyes never see the blood because they are already closed, he’s already falling sideways, Logan stands above his body, watching the blood color the walls, the floor, the pages of The Kraus Project, his ringing-phone…
1 He wakes in his apartment, in his bedroom, and he registers that this is the first time he’s truly woken up anywhere in the past three years. His head hurts, but compared to before, this subtle ache is nothing. Even before he opens his eyes he knows he is being watched. He sits up and sees Virgil sitting at his desk in the corner of the room, scrolling through some feed on his phone.    Virgil’s eyes flicker up at the movement, but his expression doesn’t change when he sees Logan is awake.    "How are you feeling?” Virgil asks as if he’s recovering from a cold and not the crushing memory of his own demise.    "I don’t know,“ Logan says, and he doesn’t. He honestly has no idea how he feels. He only knows he can’t think his way out of this one, not this time.    "You’re taking this surprisingly well. At least, apart from your whole freak out last night, but that was warranted.”    "What happened?“    "You destabilized.”    "I don’t-I don’t know what that means.“    Virgil sets his phone down on his knees and leans forward. "It takes a lot of energy to maintain a form like this, to affect objects in the real world. Up until now, your denial has kept you in a partially physical form, but when you realized the truth, you went into shock, and the reality you’d built around yourself dissolved. All the ghost activity, the lights, the noises? Every time something triggers, or almost triggers, the memory of your death, it conflicts with your conviction that you’re alive, and your energy can’t handle that.”    Logan wants so badly to say that that doesn’t make sense, but he doesn’t have the right to question the legitimacy of anything anymore. He feels smaller and weaker than he’s ever felt. Death is the only thing he can’t think his way out of.    "Are you also dead? All three of you?“    "Yeah. That’s why we were so surprised you could see us. I honestly thought you were alive for a while. You’re very corporeal.”    "I- I’m sorry, I don’t follow. How could I die and then not remember it? How can I have no memory of time passing but still talk to you three every day? I don’t-“ Frustration boils in him, but a wave of nausea pushes it back down.    "Easy,” Virgil says. “You’re not ready to manifest anything else right now. But to answer your question, you were caught in a loop.”    "A loop?“    Virgil tsk’s. "Roman is better at explaining this than I am,” he mumbles, then louder adds, “Okay. So if a ghost is a collection of a person’s energy, we can imagine that like a CD. It should play through with no interruptions. So, a ghost on loop is a scratched disk. It’ll reach one part right near the end where it’s scratched, and just keep repeating that part over and over as it tries to figure out how to process a scratched readout. Your death is the scratch. You went into shock and couldn’t process it, so you just repeated the previous day over and over, so you wouldn’t have to deal with it.” He stops suddenly and glances at Logan hesitantly. “Does that make sense?”    "Yes, actually, it does.“ Virgil sags with relief.    "Good. As for the talking to us part: ghosts can enter the loops of other ghosts, but only as much as they’re allowed. That’s why we never went into your apartment. Roman giving you the book, which was deleted from your memory, led to your rising instability which was probably his goal.”    "Is that why he never liked me?“ Logan asks, unsure of what he means by that. Virgil seems to understand because his face becomes impossibly even more serious. He chews his lip, as if debating how to start, or if he should start.    "Patton died in 1981 and looped for seven years. Roman was the one who pulled him out. It was…bad. Really bad. I don’t know the full story but..Patton didn’t take well to being dead. He almost corrupted completely when Roman pulled him out, and Roman blames that on the seven years Patton spent in his delusion. Roman still tries to pull everyone he can out of their loops, but Patton thought you were…happy enough. But when we realized it was you causing the power outages and the shaking in the walls, Roman was afraid you’d become corrupt, so we pulled you out by force.” Virgil is silent for a while before continuing quieter. “I’m sorry about that by the way. Feeling your soul leave your body isn’t great.”    Logan stares at the wall above Virgil’s head. A thousand emotions flutter through him at once and he doesn’t have the knowledge or energy to identify and deal with them all. He wants to lie back down and go to sleep, and never wake up, and be dead if he was going to be dead. Was that all this had been? Three altruistic ghosts making him their pet project? Would they move out once they decided he wasn’t going to go feral? Would he have to keep living in this apartment, in the apartment he’d died in, and keep being irrevocably and undeniably lonely? An ache in his chest starts up to match the one in his head, and he considers ignoring it, but he’s tired of being in pain.    "Was that all this was?“ he asks. "You pulled me out because of Roman’s hero complex?” As he says it, he braces himself for the answer, prepares to hold himself together until Virgil leaves. But Virgil’s eyes widen, and his eyebrows disappear into his hair.    "No! No, that’s not it at all. I would- we would- loop or not, we care about you. Even Patton would’ve given in eventually. Every day you appeared over again in the elevator…hurt. I wasn’t sure how much more of it I could take.“    It wasn’t much, but it was declaration he could believe.        "Alright,” Logan says, brushing his hair from his face.    "Alright?“ Virgil asks, voice an octave higher than normal.    "I don’t know what else to say. This is so far beyond me.” The crack! of the baseball bat plays again, like a video on repeat, and Logan finds he is milliseconds away from hysterics. “This is so far beyond me.”    "Well, look at the bright side,“ Virgil says, his voice even and low. "You’ve got as much time as you need to figure it out.”
0    Logan sat on Patton’s couch, surfing articles on his laptop while Patton and Virgil tried to bake something in the kitchen. The mechanics of both activities were lost on him, but he learned not to question how things work.    "I no longer even own this laptop. The intruder stole all my valuables,“ Logan insisted, staring at the laptop that miraculously had not vanished with the rest of his illusion. His apartment had reverted back to the dusty, dank, abandoned hole that it was, along with the rest of the hall, and the rest of the building, which, as it turned out, did have faulty wiring and a bad foundation and was scheduled for demolition within the next six months. What Logan couldn’t figure out is why his laptop wasn’t dying with his denial.    "I mean, it’s not your real laptop,” Roman pointed out. “It’s a psychic manifestation of your laptop.”    "Then how is it connected to the internet? How am I getting real news?“    "Psychic wifi?” Virgil suggested. Logan glared at him and he grinned.    "Don’t question it, Logan,“ Roman said exasperatedly. "I have no idea how you, a ghost, sitting on a ghost couch in a ghost room, is using a ghost laptop. I don’t want to know. I can’t have an existential crisis when I no longer exist, Logan.”    So Logan cut back on his questions, Roman worked on his temper, and Patton was very excited that things were finally settling into place.    "Roman hasn’t had to deal with a newbie since 2006,“ Patton said once, nearly vibrating with excitement. "I’d forgotten how entertaining it was. You should’ve seen him when we met Virgil.”    "Virgil was too nonchalant about being dead,“ Roman complained. "He didn’t care at all about the gravity of the situation.”    "What gravity?“ Virgil asked, muted old resentment burning in his eyes. "I’m already dead. What could possibly be more distressing than that?”    Not much, Logan was finding out. He didn’t appear daily in the elevator anymore, which raised quite a few more questions, all of which Virgil denied looking into.    "I know you’re like, a smart guy,“ Virgil told him. "But trust me. It’s better if you don’t think about it too much. Move forward.”    "Until when?“ Logan asked, not even bothering to hide his upset.    "Until there’s nowhere else to go.”    So they went, the four of them, slowly, carefully.    Logan never finished The Kraus Project. It wasn’t worth the read anyway. He was still overly-conscientious of locking doors, despite the fact that the building was condemned and they were ghosts who could neither die nor accumulate material possessions. The others never said anything about his locks and keys, and even though they could easily bypass them they all went through the effort of unlocking and re-locking every single one. He still couldn’t stand baseball, still couldn’t deal with the sound of metal slamming against a heavy object, but soon he wasn’t shaking apart, literally or metaphorically. Soon, dying seemed like the past, rather than the constantly-looming present.    Five months later, the building went down. Logan watched from the sidewalk as the wrecking ball laid the building to waste.    "Where to now?“ Virgil asked, pulling up a map of the US.    "How about Nevada? We’ve never been to Nevada,” Patton suggested    "You hate the heat,“ Roman reminded him, looking at the decimated apartment building with mild distaste.    "Well, what about New Mexico?”    Roman made a disapproving sound. “You’re getting even worse.”   Virgil, hiding his smile behind his notes, looked up at Logan. “What do you think? Where do you wanna go?”    Logan tried and failed to hide his shock. “Me?”    "Who else?“ Virgil said at the same time Patton said, "Of course! Did you think we’d leave you here? Don’t be ridiculous, Logan.”    Against his will, a warm swirl started forming in Logan’s chest. He cleared his throat and adjusted his glasses. “I see. Well then, if you’re looking to escape the heat, I’d suggest going to Montana.”    "Montana?“ Roman looked as if his heart was about to burst.    "Small population sparsely spread out, plenty of older and unused buildings- it’s the perfect hiding spot.”    "Also a lot of ghost bears,“ Patton piped in.    "There’s no such thing as ghost bears, Patton.” Logan admonished.    Virgil choked on his gum. “Are you actually kidding me right now?”    "No, I’m with Encyclopedia Brown,“ Roman said, voice wavering in misery. "I think I have the authority to say I’ll believe it when I see it.”
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