#investment blunders

[ranjith11]

The mistakes I made when I started Day Tradinga

Welcome to my channel! In this video, titled "The mistakes I made when I started Day Trading." I will be sharing some valuable insights about the mistakes I've made in my personal investment journey. By openly discussing my own failures, it is my hope that you can avoid falling into the same traps and make sound investment decisions.

[normalbrothers]

TOMMY: Gentlemen, this is your cousin.

[moodr1ng]

now i stopped playing pentiment in the middle of act 2 and just checked wiki articles to see what takes place in the rest of the game so maybe im missing some crucial gameplay that wouldve fixed all my issues but. at the risk of being excommunicated (lol) i was rly disappointed w the games structure and thats why i didnt keep going. dgmw i really enjoyed the setting and most of the gameplay and throughout act 1 i was really invested in the story and mystery and investigation, and the game was really cool in a lot of ways. but. in the end. a mystery/investigation story that doesnt have an answer and whoever you accuse will be found guilty and there is no right or wrong just does not work for me and i can only see it as a poor decision.

yes ik that in the end you can uncover the "big bad" mastermind who provoked the murders, but to me putting a twist villain who isnt the actual culprit but who motivated the culprits in the end of the game doesnt make up for, like, the rest of the game? an investigation story where your investigating is meaningless does not make sense to me. was that the point of the game, maybe? to make me feel like nothing i did in the game mattered and i had no power over the setting? i certainly felt that way at times - in act 2, i felt like i had kind of spent the entire first act playing a role (in the rpg sense - as in it definitely felt as if i got to make a lot of choices about who andreas is, what he values, what his morals are) only for that to not matter at all as in the next act i had to play as someone who had made choices that seemed meaninglessly selfish and was in the uncomfortable situation of apologizing in-character for stuff that the character i had previously been playing as, who i thought i was making meaningful choices as, who i had been trying to make as considerate and kind as possible, would not have done.

i think if the point is that i dont actually have control in this game, not over the main character, not over the events, not even over figuring out the truth, then yeah, i had that impression. but thats not really the game i thought i was playing? i thought i was playing a game where my choices mattered and where i was solving a mystery and that was not the case.

idk. maybe i had specific expectations i shouldnt have had, or maybe i just failed to get something about the game, but despite being very beautiful in its graphics and having a lot of fun stuff and interesting characters.. when i finished act 1 i still thought "fuck, i didnt play well enough, i didnt uncover all the clues i shouldve and i didnt get to the correct conclusion, im gonna need to replay this to figure out who the actual culprit was!"... only to find that actually what felt like i had failed this part of the game was the intended way it would go down, and i even had accused the person who imo was the best choice of culprit.. i feel like getting to the end of an investigation arc with what should have been the most satisfying ending for me and instead thinking i had fucked it up and played wrong is a very unsatisfying way to write a mystery and it put me off enough that im not really interested in doing it all over again just so i can finish the game.

[jetra4ivor]

You know how you do a Minecraft Movie correctly?

First it’s entirely animated in the texture and style of the game because this is a proven way that works. Everyone loves Minecraft animated videos, it doesn’t need ‘’hyper realistic textures: or real people to get you invested. Just keep it animated.

Story wise: It’s a newb’s first play through.

They wake up not knowing who they are in a Minecraft world.

First thing they do is get wood.

Build a dirt hut.

Survive a stress filled first night with creepers blowing shit up, zombies attacking, and skeletons shooting.

We see them gradually getting better, upgrading tools, getting armor, finding villagers, etc. But through it all they should be making classic newb blunders such as mining with the wrong tool, or destroying a bees nest, or digging straight down, or dropping stuff in lava by mistake.

Also, they can die. They just respawn back home with no inventory.

And the entire movie is just this player gradually figuring out the game mechanics and using them to his advantage until he’s building mob farms.

Then he stumbles into a stronghold and learns how to reach the end.

Final battle? Ender dragon.

And then the end credits of the movie are legitimately the actual end credits of the game. Poem and all.

No other players. No dialogue. It’s all pantomime. Do it Wall-E style.

[driverlando]

✧.* #NUDEGATE

synopsis- Oscar accidentally posts a nude on his instagram story

before you continue: similar to the sex tape leak smau for lando! if you enjoyed please reblog and give me a follow <3

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

—

✧.* Oscar’s reaction

You and Oscar are lounging on the couch, enjoying a rare quiet afternoon together. The TV is on, but neither of you is really watching it. You’re curled up against him, scrolling through your phone, while he’s half-asleep, his arm wrapped around you.

Suddenly, Oscar’s phone rings, startling both of you. He fumbles to grab it from the coffee table, squinting at the screen. “It’s Zak,” he says, his voice tinged with confusion. He answers the call, putting it on speaker.

“Oscar, mate, you need to check your Instagram story right now,” Zak’s urgent voice fills the room.

Oscar sits up, wide awake now. “What? Why?”

“Just do it,” Zak insists. “You’ve posted something you shouldn’t have.”

Your heart drops as you both realise what this might mean. Oscar quickly opens his Instagram, his fingers shaking slightly. He taps on his story and his face goes pale. “Oh my God,” he mutters.

You peek over his shoulder and see it—a very revealing photo that’s definitely not meant for public eyes. “Oh no,” you breathe, your cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Delete it, Oscar. Now,” Zak commands.

Oscar doesn’t need to be told twice. He quickly deletes the story, his hands moving in a blur. “It’s gone,” he says, his voice trembling. “I’m so sorry, Zak. I didn’t realize…”

Zak’s tone is exasperated but with a hint of amusement. “Oscar, you might want to double-check before you post anything in the future. Your fans probably didn’t expect to see that.”

Oscar groans, dropping his phone onto the sofa. “I can’t believe I did that.”

You can’t help but giggle. “Well, you did say you wanted to give your fans a closer look at your life.”

He shoots you a horrified look before bursting into laughter. “Not that close!”

Zak’s voice comes through the speaker, chuckling. “Look, just be more careful next time. And maybe invest in some clothes.”

Oscar rolls his eyes, still laughing. “Got it, Zak. Thanks for the heads up.”

“Anytime. And Oscar, maybe don’t make this a regular thing, yeah? We’re trying to win races, not start an OnlyFans,” Zak says before ending the call.

Oscar drops his head into his hands, still laughing. “I can’t believe this.”

You wrap your arms around him, grinning. “At least we know your followers are getting a lot of exposure to their favourite driver.”

He groans, his face flushing again. “I’m never living this down, am I?”

You kiss his cheek. “Probably not. But hey, now you’ve got a funny story to tell.”

He sighs, pulling you closer. “Only if you promise to never let me use Instagram unsupervised again.”

You laugh. “Deal. And maybe we should stick to cute couple selfies from now on.”

Oscar nods, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Or maybe… I should make sure all my posts have wardrobe approval from you first.”

You grin. “I can work with that.”

—

—

—

—

SCANDAL ON THE GRID: Oscar Piastri’s Instagram Mishap

By: Sasha, Rumour Radar

In a hilarious yet shocking turn of events, McLaren’s rising star Oscar Piastri has become the latest cautionary tale for digital privacy and social media blunders. Early yesterday morning, fans got more than they bargained for when Piastri accidentally posted a revealing photo to his Instagram story, sending the F1 community into a frenzy. The incident has drawn comparisons to similar celebrity slip-ups, such as Chris Evans’ infamous social media mishap.

The mishap was quickly addressed in a series of tweets by Piastri himself. The first tweet, brimming with sheepish humour, read: “So… that wasn’t supposed to happen. Apologies to everyone. Lesson learned: double-check before posting. #SorryMum”

Just minutes later, he followed up with a more serious note on the importance of digital security: “On a serious note, let’s talk about digital privacy. Make sure you’re securing your accounts and double-checking before you post. Lesson learned. #StaySafeOnline”

As if the situation wasn’t already comedic gold, Piastri’s McLaren teammate and fellow prankster, Lando Norris, couldn’t resist adding his comment. “Oh Oscar mate, you need lessons on how to use Instagram properly. Always give your phone to a responsible adult if you’re not sure,” Norris retweeted Piastri to ensure the ribbing hit home.

To top it all off, Piastri’s model girlfriend, Y/N, chimed in with her own playful jab: “I literally leave him alone for a minute and this is what happens…”

Insiders close to the couple revealed that Zak Brown, McLaren’s CEO, was the first to alert Piastri to the accidental post, calling him in a tone that was reportedly both urgent and amused. “Oscar, mate, you need to check your Instagram story right now,” Brown had said, trying to suppress laughter while maintaining his authoritative stance.

Despite the embarrassing slip-up, fans were quick to rally around Piastri, appreciating his candid and humorous approach to the situation. “At least we know he’s human!” one fan tweeted, while another quipped, “This is why Oscar Piastri is my favourite—he’s real, he’s relatable, and he’s hilariously unfiltered.”

The incident has sparked a flurry of memes and jokes across social media, solidifying Piastri’s place not just as a talented driver, but as a beloved personality in the F1 world.

While the dust settles on this unexpected reveal, Piastri’s misadventure serves as a humorous reminder of the perils of social media. As the young driver himself advised, securing your accounts and double-checking before posting is a lesson everyone can take to heart.

As for Piastri, it seems he’ll be keeping a much closer eye on his phone from now on, with a little help—and a lot of teasing—from his friends and family.

Stay tuned to Rumour Radar for the latest updates on this unfolding story and more celebrity gossip.

—

oscarpiastri

liked by yourusername, logansargeant and 207,256 others

oscarpiastri me when I got a call from Zak to check my Instagram story 😅 Thanks for the support, everyone. And to McLaren for not firing me.

view all 9,268 comments

user1 I wish I was a fly on the wall during that conversation with Zak 🤣

oscarpiastri I promise I’m a responsible person btw!!

↳ yourusername sure honey, sure

user2 you’re such a grandpa when it comes to technology

yourusername Still can’t believe you managed to do this 😭

↳ user3 was he trying to send you the nude or something 😂

↳ user4 they’re kinky af, he was definitely sending her a pic

user5 where can I see this nude? 👀

↳ user6 search up #nudegate on twitter, it’s trending

↳ user5 HOLY SHIT! good to know he keeps a stubble down there 🥵

↳ user6 I don’t even wanna know how big he is erect, like that man is hungggg

logansargeant only you 😂

—

—

✧.* Y/n loves adding fuel to the fire

—

mclaren

liked by yourusername, landonorris and 187,268 others

mclaren nothing to see here, just two guys who love keeping our pr team on their toes #sendhelp

view all 2,618 comments

landonorris why he say fuck me for?

↳ user7 please you know exactly why 😂

oscarpiastri whoops, hey that’s why we have a pr team right?

user8 just a couple of besties 🫶

oscarpiastri is it roast Oscar day or something?

↳ yourusername after the stunt you pulled…yes.

user9 the best duo!! 😂

user10 mclaren pr have the patience of a saint 😭

—

✧.* Lando finally gets his payback

[triviallytrue]

Article from last year, before the life support got pulled

Someone needs to write a book on what the hell happened here - in the history of corporate America, I don't think we've ever seen a blunder this costly. Facebook spent an obscene amount of money on the Metaverse, changed the name of their company, and then pulled the plug without any return on investment.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong here, but I think the revenues are so dwarfed by the investment that for practical accounting purposes they are effectively zero. And it's not like this is useful stuff that will be repurposed for some other project down the road - the end product was so bad that it couldn't even be used internally.

And yet.

Meta is basically fine! Over the past few years they took Ecuador's entire yearly GDP and set it on fire, and they're chugging along smoothly. They laid a bunch of people off (because they were paying them all to work on a useless product) but otherwise have cruised through mostly unaffected.

[bosbas]

Chapter 8: this is falling in love in the cruelest way

series masterlist previous part || next part

pairing: colin bridgerton x enemy!fem!reader WC: 3.4k words

Warnings: period-typical gender roles, heavily going off of book canon, me stirring the pot (im sorry)(no im not), PINING!!!!!!!, anthony being very much in love with his wife

Summary: It took precisely two days in England for you to utterly despise Colin Bridgerton. It took him approximately twelve hours after that to hate you right back. But he doesn't care that you're the only person in the ton who doesn't like him. You're set to marry someone else anyway, right?

A/N: guys i'm sorry but this picture is INSANE. the THIGHS??? HELLO? i am looking respectfully.......👁️👁️

June 5, 1816 – And yesterday, much to this author’s surprise, Lord Barlow reportedly proposed to Lady Montclair! This proposal comes unexpectedly after the Duke’s promiscuity with Miss Barrington at the Bridgerton ball a few weeks ago. Given the fact that Miss Barrington has been compromised, it is incredibly shocking that Lord Arthur Barlow would do something like this in polite society. Luckily, Lady Montclair remains a single woman and swiftly rejected her former beau’s proposal. But this only begs the question: why did the Duke propose? Is Lady Montclair simply too alluring to pass up, or is something else amiss between Lord Barlow and Miss Barrington? 

“Oh, thank God,” muttered Colin under his breath, his eyes quickly scanning Lady Whistledown’s column as he sat on a bench in the garden. 

“What’s that you’re reading, brother?” asked Anthony, ears perking up at Colin’s scandalous language, even if it was just between brothers. 

Colin felt a slight blush forming on his cheeks. He hadn’t realized he was speaking out loud, having been too caught up in the news that you had finally received a proposal from Lord Barlow. It was a lovely day out, and Anthony, Benedict, and Colin were in the gardens of Number 5 Bruton Street after a round of fencing. 

Of course, once Francesca had come outside holding a copy of Whistledown to read in the gazebo, Colin had stolen it out of her hands and abandoned his brothers in favor of catching up on the ton’s happenings. Though no one should have been surprised by his interest, really, given that you were the main topic of most of the gossip sheets nowadays. 

“Nothing,” Colin answered quickly, trying to recover from his blunder. “It’s bizarre how invested one becomes in Whistledown while living here. Is this what every summer is like when one isn’t traveling for half the time?”

“In essence, yes,” answered Benedict, still jabbing at the air with his épée as Anthony stared at him amusedly. “What does she have to say today?”

“Lord Barlow proposed to Lady Montclair yesterday,” said Colin, a slight edge to his voice. “And he looked a sight while doing it, too, apparently.”

Benedict dropped his foil, turning around to fully face Colin with a shocked look on his face. “And what did she say?” he pressed, intrigued about the outcome of this curious development. It was practically unimaginable that the Duke had proposed to you after defiling another lady in the ton, and Benedict hadn't considered him capable. 

Anthony clapped him on the back, smirking at Colin as he did so. “Well, did you not hear the man say, ‘thank God’? Obviously, she said no.”

Colin crossed his arms, immediately defensive. “It wasn’t that obvious! She could have said yes, and my ‘thank God’ could have been because she would’ve finally left me alone. Duchesses have a lot to do; I doubt she’d find the time to be irritating while attending to her duties in the country.”

Benedict and Anthony gave their brother unimpressed looks, watching amusedly as he squirmed under their gaze. 

“I assure you, brother, that there was absolutely no possibility of that being the case,” said Benedict jovially, earning a snort from Anthony. 

But before Benedict could laugh, too, Colin lunged at him, épée in hand as he glared playfully at his brother. Finding himself unarmed, Benedict yelped and ran toward the house, citing a very important painting to attend to before sprinting back inside. 

Turning to Colin, Anthony smiled curiously. “So, it’s true, then? What Daphne said?”

“What did Daphne say?” asked Colin innocently, dreading the conversation that would follow.

“Don’t be daft. That you love Y/N.”

Colin rolled his eyes, letting out an impatient sigh. “I don’t love her; that’s ridiculous, Anthony! A mere two weeks ago, we absolutely despised each other. I hardly think I could love her now.”

But even as he said those words, Colin questioned whether he actually meant them. Could he love you? He hadn’t ever felt this way about anyone, but then again, no one had ever vexed him quite like you. Though lately, he had been finding the line between irritation and fascination to be quite blurred. So blurry, in fact, that he was having trouble seeing a line at all. 

Having clearly overheard part of the conversation, Gregory ran up to his brothers, laughing hysterically as Hyacinth chased him. He stopped and let his sister catch up, smiling evilly at the older Bridgertons “Colin loves who, now?” 

Hyacinth arrived a few moments later, panting heavily. “Y/N, of course,” she stated while trying to catch her breath, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. 

“What? What do you mean? Why do say that?” pressed Colin. Why did everyone in his family seem to think that he loved you? Surely they saw the two of you bickering incessantly, right? Your feud was so famous it had even made it to Lady Whistledown’s column. Colin couldn’t understand how anyone could think he had so much affection for you. 

Hyacinth raised an eyebrow at her older brother, unamused. “Colin, I am not an idiot. Though perhaps you might be,” she added brightly. And before Colin could respond, she quickly turned to her eldest brother. “Now, Anthony, could you please tell Gregory to give me back my quill?” she begged.

Gregory, scoffed, glaring at his sister. “I’d only borrowed it for a moment! And I only did so because Hyacinth hid mine! Anthony, she’s being unreasonable,” he whined.

Anthony affectionately patted them both on the head and flashed a faux sympathetic smile. “I rather think both of you are being quite the nuisance right now.” 

At times, Anthony found himself slipping into the role of a father figure to his youngest siblings. It was an unspoken duty he assumed after their father's passing. Yet, it was important to occasionally remind them that he was still their brother.

Hyacinth responded with a frustrated groan, her teeth grinding audibly, thoroughly vexed with her brother. However, the sight of Gregory's smug smile reignited her fury, and she immediately charged at him. Despite being older than Hyacinth, Gregory wasn't foolish enough to underestimate her, and he took off in a panic, screaming as he tried to outpace his deceptively quick sister.

Colin shook his head in amusement as he watched the antics of his youngest siblings. “Were Daphne and I truly like that?”

“Worse,” said Anthony flatly, but he couldn’t mask the warmth and fondness interlaced in his words.

At that, Anthony began to turn back toward the house. “Well, I must be-”

“Wait!” interrupted Colin. He wasn’t entirely sure why he had stopped his brother, other than the fact that he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the possibility that he could love you. You, the person he supposedly hated. The person who certainly hated him. 

But, as always, Anthony was the right person to talk to about this. He would know what to say. Though it was well known that Anthony was completely smitten with his wife, Colin remembered a time when the pair seemed to dislike each other fairly intensely.

After a few moments of charged silence, Colin met Anthony’s expectant gaze. Swallowing his pride, he spoke up. “Purely hypothetically, and simply out of curiosity, when did you fall in love with Kate?”

Anthony smiled, amused. “Hmm,” he hummed thoughtfully, putting a hand to his chin. “As long as it's purely out of curiosity,” he teased. “It wasn’t like I simply fell in love with her one day, Colin.”

“Yes, but if you had to pinpoint a moment?” pressed Colin, slightly exasperated. If anything, he needed to know if he had experienced that moment himself.

Anthony’s gaze softened, and he suddenly saw a lot of himself in Colin’s uncertainty and pause when it came to a woman who profusely vexed him. “I found Kate in the library the night after we played Pall Mall for the first time,” he recalled fondly. “We were at Aubrey Hall for the country party and it was raining outside quite loudly, a terrible storm. She was huddled underneath a desk because she was scared of the storm. I very quickly realized I couldn’t hate her anymore. Not properly, anyway. Not when I just wanted to sit on the floor with her and protect her from the storm, and anything else that might come her way.”

His voice had softened as he spoke about his wife, recalling the moment he truly knew there was no way out. Anthony had tried to deny it to himself after, but his protests simply held no conviction after that night. 

“You never told me that,” said Colin thoughtfully, not missing the glint of emotion in his brother’s eyes as he talked about his now-wife. 

“Yes, well, the real challenge was getting her to love me back,” he said, coming out of his musings. “And that didn’t happen for quite some time after that. It was rather premature of me to declare my love for this woman while I supposedly hated her and was still technically courting her sister.”

It was truly a wonder that he and Kate were married now. But when it was meant to be, it was meant to be, Anthony supposed. Something that was proving to be particularly true of you and his brother. If Colin, who had a deep-seated need to be liked by anyone and everyone, could fall in love with you, the only person who didn’t actually like him, then surely it was meant to be.

Colin, still deep in thought, chewed his lip nervously. “And how did you get her to fall in love with you?”

“We were caught in a… compromising position. She had been stung by a bee and I… Well, I’m sure you recall,” said Anthony, suddenly feeling uncharacteristically shy as he remembered the circumstances that allowed him to marry his wife. “It’s far easier to get a woman to love you when she’s already your wife,” he finished sympathetically. 

Colin choked back a laugh. “Unfortunately, I can’t very well put Lady Montclair in a compromising position, can I?” he laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.

“But Colin, I thought this was all hypothetical,” teased Anthony, playfully punching his brother on the shoulder. 

Colin cursed under his breath, rolling his eyes in annoyance as Anthony continued laughing at him. “Never mind. I’m off to find Eloise,” he muttered, patting the eldest Bridgerton on the back and leaving him free to go dote on his wife. 

After speaking with Anthony, Colin had a renewed sense of purpose. He had to find out why you hated him. He was so utterly exhausted of hating you and of having this tiresome charade of fighting with each other at every available moment. At this point, he didn’t particularly care who in the ton liked him or not. Colin knew he would happily take the entire ton’s wrath for the rest of his life if it meant you loved him.

But he needed to know just how unrealistic his hopes were. Eloise would be the best–and perhaps only­–person who would know. 

Colin found his sister practicing needlepoint in the sitting room, focused intensely on the material in front of her. It was unclear whether she was trying to sew the fabric or her finger, given how often she was pricking herself as she attempted to thread the needle. 

“El!” he called by the doorway, pausing when he saw his sister grimace after pricking herself once again. “I can return later if you’re busy.”

“No! No, please interrupt. Thank heavens,” gasped Eloise, grateful to be able to do something other than draw her blood. 

Colin laughed, amused, and suddenly felt a tad sheepish. Was he truly about to ask about you? To ask about you to Eloise, who would no doubt hold this over his head for the rest of eternity? But he had to know. He had to ask, at the very least. 

“I was just…I was wondering if you knew why Lady Montclair hates me,” he asked, clearing his throat awkwardly. 

Eloise let out a snort. “Well, I can’t imagine she’d be hard-pressed to find a reason why, given how you treat her.”

Seeing her brother’s crestfallen face, Eloise immediately sobered. Standing up and walking toward him, she placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “I thought you disliked her as well,” she said in a questioning tone.

“Of course I do,” clarified Colin quickly. “But she hated me first and I still don’t know why. I thought she might have said something to you, given how close the two of you are. Do you know at all?”

Eloise clicked her tongue in sympathy, looking at Colin with concern. Perhaps his feelings did run deeper than anyone thought, and the recent dancing and promenading were more than just Colin being his usual charming self around you. “I’m sure I have no idea, Col. But you could always just talk to her.”

Colin shook his head, smiling sadly at his sister. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? She doesn’t usually seem very eager to speak with me.”

Sure, the two of you had been getting along recently. But that had only been twice. And was that really enough to undo the weeks of hatred?

---

It was a particularly delightful Wednesday afternoon, and you found yourself feeding the ducks at Hyde Park as you watched Isabelle and Charlotte skip rocks across the pond. Though you loved Louis to bits, it was a lovely feeling to have both of your sisters home with you. There was simply something about being out in society that he could never quite understand like them, though not for lack of trying. 

After lunch, you, Charlotte, and Isabelle had managed to sneak out of the house just as the post-meal discussion grew rowdy. It was not unheard of to have such lively discussions in the Montclair household, and you frequently even enjoyed them. But there were some days, like today, that you frankly just wanted to have a quiet afternoon with a baguette and about a dozen ducks. Luckily, your sisters had decided to join you, and the three of you had set off toward the park in search of a flock of birds to feed.

It seemed that the ducks had taken much more of a liking to you than to your sisters, and they had grown disinterested in the endeavor. Charlotte and Isabelle had opted to give you their remaining bread and take a stroll around the mostly empty park, and you couldn’t say that you were complaining. Coming from such a large family, it was a rare luxury to have an afternoon largely to yourself. 

A while later, after most of the ducks found themselves happily full, you spotted a stumbling figure making its way toward you. As you turned to your sisters with a questioning look, you were disappointed to find them in deep conversation facing away from you, neither one of them noticing you. 

As the figure neared, you realized who it was: Nigel Berbrooke. Your heart skipped a beat and you felt your stomach drop, unpleasant memories of him and his disgusting words flooding your brain. You had no desire to speak to this man, and you looked around for anyone you could speak with instead. But you had not brought a lady’s maid, and everyone else was too far to intervene.

“Lady Montclair,” said Nigel, with what looked to be an attempt at a seductive smile on his face. 

You stood up from your crouching position rigidly and turned to face him. You were unable to form any words, discomfort far outweighing any other emotion you were feeling. This had to be his first time back this season after his absence, you thought. You hadn’t seen him at any events since the Danbury ball, and you rather thought you would have noticed him, looking as vile as he did now.

His nose was a tad more crooked than on the night you had met him, and the bags under his eyes were ghastly. But perhaps it was just your perception of him, knowing what you did about who he was.

“Mr. Berbrooke,” you settled for saying, nose crinkling as you caught a whiff of the pungent smell of alcohol emanating off of him.

“A promenade?” he asked roughly, reaching for your hand without permission. “It’s a lovely afternoon, it would be a shame to waste it.”

“Oh, Mr. Berbrooke, we were just about to head home,” you pointed your head toward your sisters, panicked. 

Isabelle and Charlotte were far too immersed in their conversation to look like they were ready to head home, but you prayed that Nigel’s inebriated state would distract him from this.

He growled at you, clearly displeased at your rejection. “I’ve been keeping an eye on you, Montclair. Your dowry, as well as your other…assets, are far too good to pass up,” he slurred, very obviously staring at your chest. “It’s a shame Colin’s gotten to you first.”

You were scandalized, opening your mouth to chastise him, or to scream for help, or anything that could get you out of this situation, really, but he cut you off before you could say anything. 

"I've heard Lord Barlow abandoned you, and truth be told, it's hardly shocking," he taunted, his voice laced with disdain as he regarded you with a sneer. "You insist on playing the coy maiden, denying every man what he craves. It's the only reason they’re after you now, you see? They want what you didn't give Arthur. And it appears Colin has taken the lead in the chase, the lucky bastard."

His words brought you crashing back down to reality. Of course, he was colluding with Colin. You had conveniently overlooked that fact as you found yourself becoming bashful in his presence, feeling secure, even desiring his company after these recent days. A surge of bile rose in your throat.

You felt tears prickling in your eyes, and you were impossibly angry with yourself for forgetting the very reason you despised Colin Bridgerton. How could you have let yourself forget? He was still the same man you overheard at the Danbury ball, and you were too embarrassed to admit that his charm had worked on you. 

You were disgusted with Nigel and Colin, but also with yourself. You were more than this, you chided. How could you have let this happen? The two men were clearly no good, and you had unwittingly allowed yourself to be ensnared, much like you had with Lord Barlow.

“Excuse me,” you said roughly, dodging Mr. Berbrooke’s outstretched hand as you ran toward where Isabelle and Charlotte were standing, propriety be damned. 

“On va chez nous. Tout de suite,” you said to them urgently, practically begging as you tugged on Isabelle’s hand (We’re going home. Right now). 

Charlotte looked at you, confused, and then noticed you glancing nervously at Nigel as he approached, angrily staggering over to you as his face contorted into an ugly scowl. 

“Ah, I’m terribly sorry Mr. Berbrooke,” Isabelle said firmly, “but it seems we have to go.” 

Not waiting for a response, your sisters hooked their arms in yours and hurriedly walked back from where you came. They’d be damned if he let anything else happen to you after what happened with Lord Barlow, and they were not about to waste any time.

Nigel only grunted, displeased, but let the three of you go without protest. Both of your sisters’ husbands were very powerful men, and Nigel was not so deluded as to forget his place in society.

“Y/N?” Charlotte questioned softly once you were sufficiently far away enough. 

But you were too embarrassed, tears streaming down your face as you choked back sobs. How could you have let yourself fall for Colin’s charm? You knew exactly who he was, and you had ignored it anyway. It didn’t matter that he made you feel safe and that the two of you had more in common than you cared to admit. He would never respect you, and you could never love him. 

Nigel had come at just the right time, you thought sullenly. Right as you were thinking you could finally overlook your rivalry with Colin, right as the memory of why you disliked him in the first place was fading. And thank heavens he did. You would not be taken for a fool again, by Colin or by Lord Barlow or by anyone. 

—

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Tag List (get added here):

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[rainbowsillz]

Could I maybe ask for your take on how the dorm leaders react to their SO playing with their hair (and their ears/horns when it comes to Leona/Malleus)?

I love your writing! 💜

“How are you so carefree with this? I swear you are full of surprises..”

Pairings: Multiple Characters X GN! Reader.

-*-

Note: Sure! Thanks for this request(*^o^*)✨ I admit I got a bit lazy so no Vil and Idia qwq.

RIDDLE was near to conjuring his signature magic with you, and he was very tempted to it when he felt a hand tucking a strand of his ruby hair behind the back of his ear until his eyes met yours. The howling snarl in his mind settled when he downed his cup of tea. In an attempt to remind himself. What kind of person would he be if he loses his conduct with a spouse of his because of his mania? And because you informed him how much he was as exquisite as if he was a prince from a mythology you heard from.

LEONA was generally meh with it. Just don't touch his tail, 'kay? Or else, he'll be making you his pillow for the rest of his evening. Let's say, you're lucky to be his mate because if it's the others, he'd probably flip with this blunder, deemed it as an annoyance for him. He's also extremely prideful with your display of affections and reassuring words, it somewhat feeds into his ego that at least he's number one in your opinion (unlike that damned lizard). It means a lot to him even if you are as dense as a rock or something too.

AZUL has an intriguing reaction. Internally, he's kicking his feet and beaming like a high-school boy interacting with his crush, how about external wise from your point of view? Gripping his coat, as he forced another customer service smiling face (that looks unnatural) as if he wasn't on the urge to hide himself in his octopus pot. Does that mean you'll marry him? Is this a yes? He's delusional. Not that I would blame him, he's overjoyed after all. From his tone, he seemed to be okay with these gestures...?

KALIM behaved as you'd guess. Zero hesitation. Poke his forehead? Go ahead. Hold hands? Wonderful. I wholeheartedly believe that he would encourage you to because it means that you were at ease with his presence. Easy to talk him into your sort of thing (while Jamil suffered). With how dazzling and happy-go-lucky he is, you wouldn't have the heart to refuse him either. He jumped up and dragged you to his drawer as he motioned you to pick out a brush so you could use it on him as you wished.

MALLEUS was ecstatic, that wouldn't be enough to describe him. For you, it may be due to your own curiosity or you being adventurous with the said fae, his pupils intently gazing into you. Is this how humans express their emotions? What's the underlying meaning? Too invested in his thoughts at this time. You ran your fingers along the curve, sturdy and bony sprouts on his height. Amusement was creeping on his features as he let out a chortle at it. How brave. You differ from everything he knew of, aren't you?

[tsukimefuku]

THE FOODIES & GOODIES EVENT MASTERLIST — JUJUTSU KAISEN

Bento Box Blunder (by @pmpmyread) Pairing/Characters: Kento Nanami x f!Reader Tags/cw: None, barring the gratuitous mentions of food. Summary: You’d always admired Kento Nanami from a distance, even harbouring a small crush on him, sentiments you’d only allowed yourself to indulge within the safe sanctuary of your discretion. Then one day, you stole his lunch.

-

Tuna Mayo (by @redlikerozez) Pairing/characters: Inumaki Toge x gn!Reader Tags/cw: Canon typical descriptions of violence, dealing with loss of limb, probably inaccurate description of making rice balls. Summary: Inumaki Toge tries to make rice balls in the aftermath of Shibuya. Reader helps him out. Or an Inumaki Toge-centric fic about dealing with the events of Shibuya while also being absolutely whipped for GN!Reader.

-

Get that bread, Sir (by @rahuratna) Characters: Nanami Kento. Ijichi Kiyotaka. Tags/cw: fluff, comedy. Summary: One assistant. One sandwich. One ruthless adversary in the quest for quality bread.

-

Love you a latte (by @kentocalls) Pairing/characters: Fushiguro Toji x f!Reader Tags/cw: Fluff. Summary: Lazy mornings with Toji and a passion for coffee.

-

Lollipop kiss (by @tsukimefuku) Pairing/characters: Kusakabe Atsuya x gn!Reader Tags/cw: comedy, fluff, this man is completely clueless but reader isn’t making things any easier. making out and happy ending. there is a bartender very invested in the drama. a little suggestive if you squint. Summary: your workplace crush, kusakabe, is pretty dense when it comes to romance, so you try to ease things out with a bag of lollipops.

-

My Cinnamon Girl (by @actuallysaiyan) Pairing/characters: Nanami Kento x f!Reader Tags/cw: smoking, general fluff Summary: Kento is your regular customer and one night when he really needs you, he ends up finding you outside smoking and you offer him some pastries.

-

Love you a waffle lot, you know? (by @senseifupa) Pairing/characters: Higuruma Hiromi x f!Reader Tags/cw: sfw with smoochin, fluff, established relationship, soft Hiromi. Summary: Hiromi and you share warm moments over waffles.

-

My "Batter" Half (by @seireiteihellbutterfly) Pairing/characters: Nanami x f!Reader Tags/cw: saw, fluff, cuteness. Summary: You decide to make one of your favorite South Indian recipes while accompanied by Nanami.

-

Good Enough to Eat (by @fattybattysblog) Pairing/characters: Mahito x Female Original Character Tags/cw: Smut, inappropriate use of food and cursed techniques, temperature play, Mahito is his own content warning. Summary: "Can't I just visit a friend?" he asked slyly. "We'd have to be friends first," she grumbled. Mahito's laughter echoed through the room, a sound that made Hairi's skin prickle. He sat upright and rested his arm on his knee. "Touché," he said, licking another drip of ice cream. "But, you know, we're not so different. We could be friends." Hairi raised an eyebrow. "Friends don't usually show up unannounced and uninvited." "Isn't spontaneity the spice of life?" he leaned forward, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Besides, I think we both know there's more between us than just animosity." She scoffed, taking a defiant bite of her own cone. "In your dreams." "Actually... in yours," he purred, his gaze lingering on her lips.

-

Egg Fried Rice (by @tiny-wooden-robot-fics) Pairing/characters: Geto Suguru x Original Female Character Tags/cw: Fluff, Mentions of food and alcohol, Flirting, Pre-established friendship, Geto and OC are roommates, There is some suggestiveness near the end, This is part of a series Summary: “I was,” she admits, “but I realized I didn’t feel like working out tonight and decided to make greasy food instead.” She raises an eyebrow, taking his spoon from him and helping herself to his bowl of fried rice. “And anyway, I’m allowed to eat and drink whatever I want, Suguru.” “The point of cooking enough for both of us is so we can each have our own… is it not?” He looks pointedly at the spoon in her hand.  “It tastes better when I take it from you,” she laughs. She holds a spoonful of rice up to his mouth. He hesitates only for a moment before letting her feed him.  “You’re definitely different,” he chuckles once he’s done chewing. He doesn’t realize he’s said the words aloud until she goes quiet, her brown eyes wide and staring. 

[artbyblastweave]

There’s this one line in the first issue of Watchmen. This line in Rorschach’s monologue- “On Friday Night, A comedian died in New York. Nobody Cares. Nobody cares but me.” And it is such a perfect encapsulation of everything good and bad about Rorschach, and about superheroes conceptually. 

Yeah, Rorschach. Nobody does care. Nobody but you cares because everyone who even lightly knew this guy in a professional or personal capacity hates him. By almost every metric you can apply the world is better off without him in it- including by the metrics you apply, Rorschach, because if you were anywhere near as objective in your dispensation of justice as you think of yourself as, you’d have broken into his penthouse and done this yourself years ago. You are very pointedly the only person in the second issue who has no direct flashback involving a formative experience with The Comedian; your investment in him in pure projection. Dare I say, Rorschach-like.

And yet. Blake’s absolute scumminess isn’t why he was killed, was it? It isn’t why the cops are soft-pedalling the case (they claim that they’re afraid of getting Rorschach involved, but I’m personally more inclined to believe that the case just seemed Weird and Hard.) Blake’s death actually is the tip of a monstrous iceberg; Rorschach is completely correct in taking the killing as seriously as he does. But he can’t claim any special insight-it’s a broken clock situation, because he takes everything that seriously. And there’s an impulse to say that’s a good thing- except the fact that he only takes everything that seriously because he’s wrapped up in an insane, self-pitying, self-righteous self-image. It is important to him, that he is the only one who cares about this, because it gives him ground to disdain everyone else who doesn’t.

But at the end of the day, no matter how you arrive at it, the concept of solving every murder- of no death going unresolved, of no murder, of anyone, going uninvestigated- is, full stop, aspirational. It is a good thing to want and a good thing to work towards. And Rorschach, for all his insanity, is actually making some degree of headway. He very pointedly immediately figures out the hidden compartment holding Blake’s costume after being in the apartment for seconds; the cops talked in circles for several minutes and didn’t pick up on the discrepancy. He blunders down false trails, he engages in completely unhelpful violence that stood absolutely no chance of advancing the case, simply because he’s inclined to violence; and he pursues the mask-killer theory above all others because it flatters his self-image, his self-importance, his self-appointed role as the last cowboy. But I suspect that Ozymandias wouldn’t have bothered feeding the fire on the Mask-killer theory if there wasn’t a risk of Rorschach eventually figuring it out what was really going on. He got closer than anyone else just by virtue of trying at all.

Rorschach is the fantasy of someone, somewhere, Being On The Case, whatever the case may be; however tempting it may be to ignore The Case. Someone who cares, someone who’ll fight tooth and nail to get answers that absolutely should be gotten at. But he’s also the dark side of that- an examination of the kind of neurotic who would care, always, about all of it, the ways in which the caring would need to flatter and feed his ego to be sustainable, and the sheer amount of collateral damage all that caring would do to anyone the neurotic considered the cause of the problems he cares about. Here’s the price of a crusader who’ll stop at nothing- you’re stuck with a crusader who’ll stop at nothing. That is not a quality that exists in a vacuum. That is simply not the kind of nice idea you get to have, without an eye for how a person gets that way, how they stay that way, and how much damage they do.

[diazsdimples]

In my little buddietommy world, these boys LOVE reality TV.

Eddie and Tommy watch Love Island together - the only reason Buck doesn’t join in bc he can’t commit to however many goddamn episodes per week - and Tommy gets SO invested in the drama of it all. He loves it. He’ll find himself accidentally bringing it up at work and he gets razzed to hell by his colleagues for it but sue him if he’s so invested in how Fabio is talking to two women at once! Eddie sits there with his popcorn and yells his opinion at the screen because he loves mess and thinks it’s so fun to watch people blunder through relationships rather than he himself doing it (for a change)

Buck forced Eddie into watching Keeping up with the Kardashians with him way back during lockdown and now they’re both heavily invested in it. Now that they’re together, they regularly go on binges of the older seasons and watch the new ones religiously. Tommy doesn’t get it because “why do you care so much about a family you’ve never met, they’re not even talented!” But Buck and Eddie care very very deeply about it all. They quote it the iconic quotes all the time.

Buck and Tommy watch the Amazing Dr. Pol together, and while it’s not the most reality tv of all reality tv, it’s such a nice reset for them. Buck loves it for all the animals and he will get so emotional if something happens to any of them, and Tommy finds the surgeries fascinating. He’d wanted to be a vet when he was younger and while that wasn’t the path for him, he’s so happy to watch it on TV, with his boyfriend curled into his side and his other boyfriend avoiding the TV because he will get emotional if he sees any animal die and he’ll be useless for the rest of the day.

Together, the three of them watch Married at First Sight. This is the only long show multiple episode reality show Buck is willing to watch because the drama is so intense. He walked in on Eddie and Tommy watching it one evening, sat to watch for “only a couple of minutes” and made it through a whole episode and asked them to fill him in on what happened earlier in the season because he needed to know what was happening. So they’ll set aside a day during the week where they curl up with popcorn, blankets and snacks and binge all the week’s episodes in one go. Buck live texts his reactions to Maddie, who’s also keeping up on it, and Eddie and Tommy make bets on which couples will last and which won’t. It’s just a nice way for them to escape the pressures of their lives and jobs and they love it so much.

[inbarfink]

One thing about ‘Fionna and Cake’ the Show’s view of trauma and recovery is that it loves to emphasize the idea that a step forwards is a step forwards no matter how flawed it is.

Simon’s decision to embark on the Crown Quest is definitely the most obvious example. It was a terrible move that speaks both to Simon’s inability to see value in his old life outside of noble self-sacrifice and a deep streak of basically-suicidal self-destructiveness. Fionna is only really starting to fathom just how truly a terrible bad no good idea it is, and Simon has yet to really admit it at all.

But compared to where he was just moment before he made that decision, literally resigned to drinking himself away and waiting for death at the hands of the Scarab even though that will also doom all of Fionnaworld - self destructing so hard he was taking an entire universe down with him - that was still technically a Step Forwards.

It got Simon to take Fionna and Cake’s feelings into consideration and actually engage with them as Real People and not just another example of the universe kicking him when he’s down

And it kept him motivated enough to keep moving forwards and really helped him rediscover his capacity to feel happiness 

And that’s how he and Fionna really made friends and developed a bond

And that is what saved Simon from the Magic Crown and his own self-destructiveness in ‘Jerry’, at least temporarily.

Him opening up to Fionna and allowing her to know him beyond just a Pathetic Old Weirdo Who Doesn't Even Have Magic Anymore is what allowed her to so quickly understand why letting Simon turn himself into Ice King is actually such a terrible thing.

And Fionna’s hesitation to give Simon the Crown and the chance she’s given to him to relive his happiest memories stopped - or at least delayed the most self-destructive part of Simon’s plan. 

And I feel it’s pretty probable Fionna’s words and actions and the friendship they forged and the positive experiences the adventure has given him will have an effect on Simon’s decisions in the future.

However toxic and flawed Simon’s first step was, it still mattered to his overall recovery.

And you can say similar things about Fionna’s progress as a hero.

Most notably her blunder with the Obvious Trap in “The Star”. 

Was it a Bad Terrible No Good Idea? Yes, absolutely. Both for Fionna’s psyche in specific and also for Literally Everyone in Vampireworld actually

But it was a Step Forward in the very very bumpy road of Fionna towards true heroism. Her earnest desire to truly help people and make the world around her just a little bit better and questioning authority - after blindly following the Winter King’s flattery in a quest to Defeat All the Baddies made her hurt so many people… 

It shows how much her experiences affected her and mattered to her how much she’s trying to learn from her mistakes. Taking responsibilities for her actions, dealing with the consequences. Even as the people around her are, however well-intentionally, trying to tell her to pay it no mind at all 

Fionna still understands that it is important to her to care about everything that happened and to try and do better. And she did really try to do better. 

And after that little blinder went up in flames, she started trying to do better by being more careful. And that also wasn't perfect because she became kinda overly-careful and overprotective and put a huge wedge between her and Cake

But it's still an important step in Fionna learning to process the consequences of her actions. And because Fionna is now so much more invested in thinking things through and not wanting anyone to get hurt - that is also a big reason why she hesitated to give Simon the Extinctworld Crown. And it's probably going to lead to other good deeds in the future.

And that… doesn’t negate All the Terrible Things that happened as a result of her decisions - but it still mattered as a step forwards for her character as well. 

[inuhalfdemon]

No One Can Know... (21/21)

Word Count: 7,448 Words

Rating: Explicit (SMUT + Violence + Language)

Chapter 21

"The only heaven that I'll be sent to,

Is when I'm alone with you.

I was born sick, but I love it.

Command me to be well.

Amen."

- Hozier

“Ok, Al…You made your fucking point, don’t make me wait around here all fucking day!”

Lucifer was pacing the floor; holed-up in his workroom. The extermination was only moments away from beginning…and Alastor still hadn’t summoned him.

Fuming, Lucifer whirled around – starting another lap; his eyes focused on the clock. He watched the seconds tick by…each twitch of the dial only adding fuel to his building anger.

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

“Let the slaughter begin…”

Alastor laughed wickedly; power thrumming from his staff as he threw out his arms. Shadows and green magic formed a powerful barrier around the hotel; crawling upward and forming the shield that would keep the majority of the angels that were descending on them at bay while the few that managed to slip through were dealt with below.

Tentacles wielded angelic weapons; dispatching any angel that came within reach of their swing with ease.

Alastor only had a limited amount of power he planned to invest in the protective seal; once Adam successfully disrupted the flow of power, the shield would collapse. Adam would find Alastor standing on the roof of the hotel – drawing him in…

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

The extermination must have started by now…

Lucifer helplessly glanced out the window; but he was only afforded a very poor vantage point.

All of the Voxtech that had been swarming the hotel would be delivering live-feeds all throughout Hell, but, the benefits to utilizing that type of technology may not outweigh the risks…

“FUCKING HELL, AL!” Lucifer yelled; absolutely infuriated.

I’ll kill him, I’ll fucking kill him.  

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

“Adam…I’m about to end your fucking life!”

Alastor had a pretty good idea of what Adam’s attacks might look like, but he was careful to test this by sending shadows and tentacles after the angel first. Adam’s defense and attacks were all as Carmilla Carmine had described to Vaggie… he was fighting like someone who thought they couldn’t be harmed – what’s more the angelic weapons that they had seen hadn’t proven to wield any amount of unique power thus far...

“A mortal soul is no match for me, Edgelord!” Adam scoffed; parrying Alastor’s half-hearted attacks.

“You should know better than anyone what a soul can accomplish when they take charge of their own fate…” Alastor goaded him – enjoying the fact that he knew all the fine details to Lilith’s involvement with Heaven and Adam…when Adam clearly knew nothing of him. 

Adam was too caught up in his own blunderings to catch the reference though.

Adam’s attacks were sloppy and brutish; he threw himself heavily into every close swing he took with his angelic axe and he was leaving himself open at every turn. Alastor enjoyed pointing this out to him; catching Adam in moments where his fucking back was turned to him. It only took some quick and fancy footwork to keep Alastor just out of reach from his attacks. Too easy.

He needn’t kill Adam today…but, he would still have his fun with him.

Alastor stretched himself out; feeling his power branching out into more tentacles and shadows…shifting form.

Alastor wasn’t one to boast during a real fight but he was enjoying winding Adam up – it was pissing the angel off; causing him to make more mistakes… Alastor easily caught him with a tentacle – coiling it around Adam’s torso before throwing him heavily into the back of the Hazbin Hotel sign. 

“I’m going to wipe that shit-eating grin off your face,” Adam was yelling, thoroughly done with this fight now. Alastor smirked; ready for Adam to close the distance and take another one of his primitive swings for him.

Only…Alastor miscalculated.

“Cuz’ radio is fucking dead!!!”

When Adam jumped into the air, he didn’t close the distance; he lengthened it; his angelic axe suddenly swinging upward – singing with an incredible bolt of power before the blade came swinging back down.

Alastor braced against the attack; unable to avoid it now. He was only just ready to take the unexpected blow of power when it struck but…he had been thrown back to form!

And, his staff – the source to all of the power he currently commanded - was severed cleanly in half.

“Ffffffffffffffffffuck!”

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

A disturbing amount of time passed and Lucifer grew more and more agitated. He began wasting power; throwing up glowing portals to the hotel repeatedly…only to have them fizzle and crackle into nothing.

Yelling again; he literally spat fire – smoke trailing from his nostrils.

Suddenly; something gave.

It wasn’t Alastor that was summoning him...

Charlie needed him.

Charlie’s life was in danger. 

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

It only took Adam to decide that he was going to actually and truly harm Charlie for it to happen.

Lucifer was there in an instant; appearing above the hotel just in time to catch Adam’s threatening words to his daughter:

“…it’s time to die with the rest of them.”

…

“So, this is what you’ve been up to since Eden?”

Lucifer was no fool. If Alastor was out of the picture then, Adam had something up his sleeve and he fully intended to find out what it was.

He knew just how to rile Adam and he easily met and avoided all of his poorly planned, short-distance attacks.

Adam was getting angrier and he threw Lucifer – who had playfully transformed himself into a white octopus - off of him; incredibly power suddenly crackling all throughout Adam’s body.

Lucifer took pause; feeling the power that was now emanating from Adam…confused by it.

Adam unleashed an awesome amount of power; throwing it directly down at Lucifer; aimed directly at the hotel. Lucifer had been prodding Adam for this very thing – he readily dodged the attack - but even he was caught off-guard by the amount of destruction Adam was wielding against them in his hands…

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

Directly following the fight with Adam and the building of the new hotel, everyone knew Alastor was not himself. He was smiling; beaming at every one widely but…there was an edginess to his enthusiasm – something unsettling and unpredictable.

They knew something went south in his part of protecting the hotel, but he wasn’t saying - and they weren’t asking...

Excited about the new hotel and what this meant for their future; everyone was excitedly talking and wanting to explore the new place. Alastor was among the group when a trickle of blood seeped from the pedicle to one of his antlers, trailing down his face.

"Uh...Smiles. You, uh...you got something happening with your...uh-hmm..." Angel, carefully, pointed this out to him.

Alastor smoothly brushed the matter off; flashing another wide and pleasant smile to everyone before excusing himself so that he might go and find his room.

Lucifer watched him as he left; his contempt toward Alastor simmering beneath his skin. He waited before deciding to follow him…reigning his emotions in.

He had noted how straight Alastor carried himself as he walked away from everyone there in the lobby – how seemingly perfectly at ease he was – so much so that he was fucking humming as he left – ever-present smile stretched taut across his face. 

Lucifer knew this façade. He knew it very well.

Sighing; Lucifer threw up a portal – stepping through it and into Alastor’s hotel suite.

The room hummed with residual power from the recent re-build of the hotel; Alastor would be able to tap into its source at any point and adjust the suite even more to his liking. For now, though; it remained the same.

When Lucifer found him – his suspicions were confirmed.

Alastor’s bleeding had progressed, and it was obvious that he was in a great deal of discomfort. He was seated, leaning forward, on his couch. Blood was streaming from both antlers now, drips of it staining parts of the sofa, the carpet and even Alastor's pristine suit. He sat, body bent with a hand gripping his temples, his smile still never yet wavering.

Shaking his head, Lucifer went to him.

“Well, that sure as shit didn’t go like you planned, did it.” Lucifer told him, lowly.

Sitting down on the couch beside him, he jostled Alastor.

"Do you fucking mind?" Alastor snarled, clearly not in the mood for company.

Not saying anything, Lucifer pulled him to lie against him - Alastor’s head lying upon a pillow Lucifer had set across his lap.

"What the fuck-"

Alastor’s shadow threw itself against the wall; rising menacingly upward and leering down on Lucifer.

"Shut it." Lucifer said grimly – ignoring the shadow.

Alastor was fighting him, but Lucifer held him firm and it was concerning to him how easy it was to do.

Adam really did a number on him...

Lucifer produced warm moist towels and a blanket. He warm-compressed the buds of Alastor's antlers, tossing the blanket over him.

Alastor stopped struggling, realizing it wasn’t getting him anywhere.

Lucifer produced a book for himself to read, perusing through it casually as he settled himself into the sofa.  

"I…object to this treatment.” Alastor growled; trying to get up again – then groaned in increasing discomfort.

Alastor’s shadow shifted; hissing sharply.

"I know." Lucifer replied coolly, eyes still on his book. "But, your body is tired…you’re spent. You need to give yourself a chance to lie down and heal."

Lucifer tilted his head; acknowledging the defensive shadow now.

“You, and…tall, dark and handsome over there.”

Alastor’s shadow paused; tilting it’s head. Lucifer winked and it melted – pressing closer to them both with a purr.

Alastor groaned again – disgusted.

He stopped trying to resist now, completely giving up.

"I'm not going anywhere." Lucifer continued, turning a page and not looking at him. "Retreat to your shadows....and rest."

“How can I be sure that my body won’t be in more pieces when I return?” Alastor asked him dryly.

“You and I will have…much…to discuss, Alastor.” Lucifer darkly assured him. “But, for now…rest.”

Sighing, Alastor relented, his body relaxing.

The warm compresses and Lucifer's presence was...soothing. As much as he hated to admit it to anyone - especially himself – both were helping.

Following Lucifer's advice, he drifted off – leaving his body - letting his shadow pull him away with him…where they could both recover and find rest.

…

Fuck…he’s burning up.

Alastor’s body had began shivering against him, drawing Lucifer’s attention. Brushing Alastor’s hair back; he felt the sweating and heated-dampness of his skin…saw the paleness of his face.

Confused; Lucifer shifted – lifting one of the warm compresses.

What the hell?

Pulling the compress away; Alastor’s pedicle immediately began bleeding again.

His body isn’t healing…?

Lucifer moved to slide himself out from underneath him when he saw it; the pooling of a dark stain that was seeping into Alastor’s jacket.

Oh…you stupid jackass.

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

Lucifer hurried down to the hotel lobby. He needed to find Niffty and he needed to somehow get her attention without alarming the others.

Hearing voices; he confirmed that she was among the group and he hurriedly shapeshifted himself into a vibrantly white moth – fluttering quickly.

Finding a nice high and open area; Lucifer landed – quickly and repeatedly shifting his moth wings open and closed. He was directly in Niffty’s line of sight…she just needed to glance up. Alastor had told him that Niffty tended to be more…attune to things than others gave her credit for. He desperately hoped her sharp eye would see his frantic movements and know what he was trying to convey to her.

It took no longer than a second for Niffty to see Lucifer’s subtle signal; and she knew immediately that something was wrong.

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Once Niffty was apart from the others; Lucifer met her in the hallway and he threw up a portal – taking them both back to Alastor’s suite.

Realizing that Alastor had sustained a substantial - and bleeding - wound from the fight with Adam; Lucifer had carefully moved him to the tiled floor of the bathroom, placing him near the drain. Alastor was stretched out on his back, fully clothed – still very much asleep. Stepping from the portal; Lucifer guided Niffty over to where Alastor’s head rested on a rolled towel that Lucifer had laid out for him.

Lucifer had filled Niffty in the best that he could as they came but then he realized he had forgotten one detail.

“His antlers…” Lucifer bent down; lifting the pair of two-pointed branches of bone that had slipped from their placements. “His head is still bleeding because he…well, lost them. They fell when I was moving him.” Lucifer paused…unsure of how much Niffty really knew or cared to know about Cervidae demons. “It’s something that…happens sometimes.” He started to explain.

“I know.” Niffty told him. She was kneeled down, behind Alastor’s head; her one eye wide with worry – staring at Alastor’s sleeping face. “I’ve seen it happen a couple of times…” She admitted; but then she fixed her eye on Lucifer. “He doesn’t like others to know, though.”

Lucifer set the antlers back down and moved to kneel beside Alastor, looking at Niffty seriously. “Then, how about you and I agree to keep his secrets. I’m sure there’s a few things here that are about to happen that he doesn’t want others to know about.”

Niffty gave him a sharp nod in agreement.

“I came and got you, little bug, because I don’t really know what all I’ll have to do for him yet…best that someone he’s close to is here, just in case. His body isn’t healing like it should ….and I’m not sure what I’ll find once I take off his shirt.”

Niffty nodded again – before she turned her eye back to Alastor.

Seeing that she understood, Lucifer nodded to himself before leaning over and un-doing the clasps to Alastor’s jacket. Sliding it and Alastor’s shirt away; he hissed.

Alastor was very nearly cleaved in two. Adam’s axe had cut long, and it had cut deep, but - most concerning - was that it also must have been imbued with some kind of power or poison…Alastor’s flesh was bubbling with foam at the edges – preventing the wound from knitting closed.

Lucifer leaned closer and he saw that there was black and green discharge oozing from the edges of the ragged flesh – the point of contact between these liquids was bubbling up into a yellow-froth. Whatever power the blade had when it had cut into Alastor’s body, it was preventing his recovery – and, it was slowly killing him. It was amazing to Lucifer that he even was still alive…something in Alastor’s own power was keeping his death at bay, but only just.

Glancing at Niffty; Lucifer saw that she was horrified by what she was seeing.

“It’s quite, alright.” He smiled. “I’ll set him straight, here in a jiff.” He assured her. “Just…don’t touch any of that ok.” He nodded to the liquids seeping from Alastor’s chest.

Lucifer cracked his knuckles.

“Okay…I’m going to pull the toxins from the wound. My body can neutralize it but it’s going to want to dispel everything once that’s done…I’m warning you now: I may puke.” Lucifer told her.

Well, I will puke but “may” just sounds nicer…

Breathing heavily through his nose; Lucifer released a huff of air back out his mouth.

“Alright, then…”

Lucifer set his hand across Alastor’s wound – palm down and fingers outstretched.

Concentrating; he continued taking breaths in through his nose – exhaling them slowly back out through his mouth.

Niffty made a small gasp and Lucifer saw the glow of white light emanating from where he was touching Alastor. The light glowed brightly for a moment; then slowly faded as it was pulled into the wound.

A bubbling blackness filled the cavity of the gaping gash; Niffty’s eye widened before she had to look away from it – staring intently at Alastor’s face. Her little hands were trembling badly.

Lucifer sucked in another breath of air through his nose – feeling sick now. The black bubbling liquid was being absorbed into his palm now and his body wanted nothing more than to reject it immediately. He forced himself to stay still; never moving his palm. He had a hunch that this substance – whatever it was - could very easily kill demons; he couldn’t risk Alastor or Niffty being exposed to it any further than what they already had.

His stomach lurched and Lucifer knew he was going to vomit soon but the black was very nearly gone now – beneath it, Alastor’s wound was already healing; bleeding freshly and beginning to knit itself closed.  Lucifer’s skin broke out into a sweat; shivers racking his upper body. Trembling, Lucifer kept his hand pressed to Alastor’s chest until nothing but bright red blood seeped against his skin.

Gasping; Lucifer lurched to the side – barely crawling over and making it to the toilet before he was retching heavily into the porcelain bowl – gray liquid spewing from his mouth. He spent several minutes there…feeling incredibly ill. Even after he couldn’t possibly have anything left in his system…his world tilted and spun with the effects of his nausea.

Flushing the toilet; Lucifer collapsed onto his back – feeling the coolness of floor tiles beneath him. He turned his head; seeing Niffty still knelt and pressed close to Alastor’s face in worry – the gash in his chest red and open still, but nearly closed. Trails of drying blood were running down his ribs; seeping into the drain.

Groaning, Lucifer shifted and moved now to get up – he wobbled briefly at the vertigo but knew he would be feeling better soon so he persevered; slowly standing.

“Ok…let’s clean him up, huh? You got that part ok if I take care of these?” Lucifer asked Niffty; producing sponges and a bucket of freshly warmed water beside her. She nodded and he reached for the discarded clothing.

While Niffty worked on scrubbing the blood off of Alastor, Lucifer turned on the bathroom fan. Standing underneath it; he lit the soiled fabric on fire with a flick of his thumb– watching it engulf in his hands; burning entirely into a dark black cloud of smoke. He watched it all get sucked up into the fan – disappearing completely in only a moment.

Once that was all done; Lucifer awkwardly carried Alastor to his bedroom – Niffty riding perched on one of Lucifer’s shoulders. She leapt onto the bed – quickly pulling back the covers back as Lucifer set him carefully down. Niffty helped pull him into place. She worked to make sure Alastor was comfortably tucked in by the bedding, leaving the wound on his chest exposed so that she could continue monitoring its healing. She had taken care to clean the blood off from the openings left by his fallen antlers as well, and Alastor already had small round nubs forming where the sockets had been.

Tired – and still not feeling great – Lucifer pulled up a chair; making himself comfortable. Crawling into the covers of the bed; Niffty curled herself up beside Alastor there. It wasn’t long before all three of them were all well and passed out…asleep.  

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

Later, Alastor was still asleep and resting.

Niffty had left to go downstairs and find something to eat, to let everyone know that they were all okay and to tell Charlie that her father would be down to update her soon.

Lucifer had pulled the chair he was sitting in closer to Alastor. He was leaned over – absently running his claws through the sleeping man’s hair and…thinking:

He wasn’t sure who to be the most angry with right now. Lilith, for orchestrating this whole mess and endangering Charlie? Alastor, for their fight and his preventing Lucifer from being there when the attack on the hotel first happened? Adam, for having the audacity; the impudence to actually, truly and fully intend to target and harm Charlie, his daughter, his heir? Himself, for his utter and complete naivety – in his continual belief that Heaven would see; that they ever actually could.

Lucifer’s eyes roamed to Alastor’s wound – the edges of ragged flesh had knitted but, already it was clear there would be scarring. There were higher powers involved in this whole affair now; in this struggle between Heaven and Hell.

 Lucifer had his suspicions…but, Sera wouldn’t…would she?

His eyes remained fixed on the healing disfigurement… Alastor paid the price for Lucifer’s foolish blindness in all of this; sacrificed to power and the bite of the holiest of blades… Heaven wasn’t messing around and now…neither was Lucifer.

Lucifer’s claws stilled – his hand resting there in Alastor’s hair.

He was angry with Alastor; absolutely furious with him, but… Lucifer couldn’t help but feel for him as well. Lucifer wasn’t there to know the details to Alastor’s fight but, he had a good idea of what had happened. Watching Alastor afterward…seeing him going through all of the motions, after such a crushing and humiliating defeat…Lucifer couldn’t help but relate.

In the lobby; seeing Alastor interacting, smiling and laughing with everyone – putting on his show - Lucifer saw that he was still losing his fight with Adam. As complicated as everything felt right now, Lucifer would see to it that Alastor walked away from this okay. Lilith kept him from self-destructing after their fall…he could see to Alastor after his.

“Still,” Lucifer sighed. “I should hate you…” He said quietly.

He glanced toward the door; briefly wondering what all he would tell Charlie.

“…don’t you?”

Lucifer turned; seeing Alastor’s eyes were now open – looking at him.

Lucifer didn’t say anything, he just stared back at Alastor. Alastor looked…exhausted, worn and defeated.

“Don’t you hate me?” Alastor asked him again; waiting.

Lucifer swallowed, taking his hand away from Alastor’s hair now. “No….I mean, I’m fucking pissed. I want to rip those fresh pair of antlers straight out of your skull and use the sharpened points to flay you alive for that stupid little stunt you pulled,” Alastor flinched at this, knowing Lucifer very well could. “but,…I don’t hate you.”

“Why?” Alastor asked him; eyes flaring with something akin to suspicion.

Lucifer wanted to throw something snarky and biting back at him; maybe a good ‘fuck if I know’ kind of a comment but…

“I know what having your pride hurt feels like, Alastor…I know what it’s like to want to heal that wound, to strike back at the hand that caused it…and, I blindly sent you into an unfair fight with Adam. Nothing I could have said or done would have prepared you for that. Even as the first man, it doesn’t make sense for him to be given that kind or that amount of great power…”

“You didn’t know?”

“What?” Lucifer laughed, lightly. “You think that’s something that I just would neglect to mention?”

He saw the look that Alastor was giving him, and he realized.

“You thought I meant to serve you to Adam? Offer you up on some fucked up silver platter?”

“It’s not like you haven’t referenced such things before…you wanted me killed the moment we met. You’ve sacrificed others…offering sinners to Adam - and to Heaven - when you and Lilith agreed to these exterminations.” Alastor told him.

“You must really think me a monster…” Lucifer said, softer now.

“No…just, that I’ve been foolish and that I’ve acted in poor judgement...I revoke all stipulations to our agreement.” Alastor told him.

“We are voiding our deal.”

Alastor laughed. “You forget, I’ve already declined that offer.

“Not just our deal; all of it.” Lucifer told him. “There are bigger powers at play here now than Lilith or I had ever considered might be involved this early; it’s not worth the risks…not to you or to Charlie…we will figure something else out.” 

“Please,” Alastor groaned in disgust, and then hissed, moving to sit up now. “You had to have known there would be some risk.”

“Yes, but not this high…” Lucifer looked hard at Alastor. “Knowing what you know now…would you have done everything the same? Would have you have been so willing to risk Husk’s soul? Niffty’s?”

Alastor’s ears folded back, and he looked away – knowing he was right.

“Besides…stipulations revoked or not; Charlie has offered me a place to stay now here at the hotel – a permanent and open invitation to be as involved in things now as I wish to be. That little wild card you kept up your sleeve won’t work now, I’m afraid. Your poor judgement very easily could have cost us everything…whatever problems you and I have with each other does not get to bleed into everything else we’re involved with.”

Alastor’s ears only flattened against his head more; eyes drawing further away from him now.

Lucifer was about to say something else when Alastor’s ears suddenly sprung back up; his head tilting. Lucifer paused…

“The little bug is coming back…” Lucifer said quietly, looking toward the door. He glanced back at Alastor and saw the rawness of…sentiment that was still in Alastor’s eyes.

Sighing; Lucifer leant toward him – his hand sliding through the hair at the back of Alastor’s head and pressing his forehead firmly to his.

“We’ll…figure this out, okay.” Lucifer told him, quietly. “I promise, we will…just not right now. But, you and I,” Lucifer pulled his head back, releasing Alastor and looking at him very seriously, “We need to actually fucking talk to each other, alright?”

Alastor gave him a sharp nod before Niffty’s head poked out from around the door.

Her eye went wide – seeing Alastor was sitting up and fully awake now - and she hurried over to the both of them with excitement.

“I’ll let Niffty here take over for awhile.” Lucifer smiled; watching her leap up onto the bed, scurrying across the covers to be closer to Alastor. “She can fill you in on all the juicy details of things you missed out on during the fight.” Lucifer winked at her and she giggled giddily. He knew she really was wanting to tell Alastor all about her having taken care of their pesky Adam problem. “Let me know if either of you need anything…”

Lucifer went to walk away; then pausing at the door, “I’m leaving you in charge, little bug.” Looking at Alastor he added, “She’s got my number now. If you’re not a good patient while I’m gone, I’ll know about it…” He turned, leaving with a smile.

Alastor watched him go; giving Niffty a queer look as she burst into more giggles at the obvious threat made. 

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This place reeks of death...

         The scent...all that blood and decay...it's overwhelming, isn't it?

There's a chill in the air.

          Are you cold? You are trembling...so you must be.

And I barely escaped being killed by a hair...     That could have been it, you know...

      Snuffed out, just like the young flame that never sees the inferno...

Great Alastor, altruist, died for his friends...

         These people?...you could have died for these people...

Sorry to disappoint, that is not where this ends

                   It can't be...it won't be.

I'm hungry for freedom, like never before

         Funny, isn't it...how this happens.

                Every time you've let yourself get close to others...you become their sacrifice.

The constraints of my deal surely have a back door

         The King of Hell blames himself...

                  but it's not his deal or even Lilith's deal that has you bound so tightly? Is it?

Once I figure out how to unclip my wings

          But we always get what we truly want...in the end... don't we? 

Guess who will be pulling all the strings?

         We'll have it too. What we want… No matter the cost. No demon and no angel...borne of Heaven or of Hell...will stop us.

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

Lucifer was busying himself in his new hotel suite - going about getting the rooms how he liked them: when he had...the compulsion.

He paused, feeling the need to go to Alastor...then, feeling it fade away - just as quickly.

Strange...

If Alastor had truly summoned him...he would have gone without a thought; unable to resist even if had wanted to but...this was different.

Best to go anyway, he reasoned. He hadn't seen Alastor since he left him with Niffty earlier that day.

Niffty had come later to tell him that Alastor was mending well and asked that his ...’babysitters’... respect his privacy for the night.

Ouch. Lucifer had made a face and Niffty giggled.

“He said you wouldn't like that... I'm supposed to tell you ‘it's all in jest’...he appreciates what you've done. He's just...feeling tired, wants to be left alone for a while. He knows he can call on either or both of us if need be.” Niffty told him.

“And, what do you think, little bug?” Knowing Niffty’s opinion would decide things for him.

“I think he deserves the break. We can bother him again in the morning.” She giggled again.

“I like that plan.” Lucifer he had told her and she left to see what the others in the hotel were up to.

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

Lucifer portaled himself into Alastor's hotel suite. When he stepped into the main room, everything was dark and quiet. His eyes shown gold and glowed through the darkness as he moved toward the bedroom.

Did he accidentally try to summon me in his sleep?

"Al?" He asked quietly, pushing the door open so that he could see if Alastor was indeed sleeping.

Alastor was in bed, but he wasn't asleep. The covers, the duvet, everything was pushed off the bed and there was blood and claw marks in the sheets. Alastor was curled tightly in a ball, pressed against the headboard and shaking badly. His eyes glowed red in the dark and his ears were flat, cupping tightly to his head.

"Al..." Lucifer sighed.

He's having a panic attack...I thought he might actually call on me...maybe a part of him meant to, or I felt his distress…

Lucifer moved closer to the bed, bringing out his wings; knowing they had helped Alastor before...

But, when Lucifer came to just beside the bed, Alastor saw the outstretched wings...saw Lucifer reaching for him and he jerked back.

"Don't touch me!" He snapped; recoiling. His shadow shot from underneath the bed – lengthening and bristling protectively over its Master.

Lucifer immediately leant back, folding his wings to his sides.

Alastor's eyes widened...realizing...and he shook more - his own claws were digging gouges into his arms, he was gripping himself so tightly. His shadow readily retreated back.

"I'm sorry..." He gasped. "I...I just..."

"It's okay, Al. I- I've been through it before." Lucifer put away his wings, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Alastor's smile...it always made others question: if he were indeed mad.

Watching Alastor now though, Lucifer knew others would think him truly insane. His smile was stretched long and wide across his face – too long and wide - his teeth were clenched and he was baring his gums. His eyes were wide; shifting and crazy. He didn't seem to know what to do with his hands, gripping and releasing; moving them all over his body - cutting into his skin. His position was awkward, folded and bent tightly against himself.

"You're hurting yourself...did you know?" Lucifer asked him quietly. "Can you feel yourself doing that?"

"I-I..." Alastor's eyes squeezed shut, his lips trembling around pointed teeth. "I can feel..."

"What Al, what can you feel? Tell me." Lucifer was trying to encourage him to talk to him, to distract him.

"It feel likes...him...when it-when he" Alastor shuddered, tightening around himself more and dragging more cuts along his skin.

Fuck...not working.

"Is it the wound, Al...is it hurting you?" Lucifer asked him.

"No, it's....it's..." Alastor shifted, reluctantly lifting an arm away. The wound was glowing softly beneath the skin...like coals from a fire; ebbing and waning as Lucifer's residual power continued to work at the injury. 

No wonder he was set off...he was nearly sliced and diced in half by the same holy power that's healing him now...he probably woke up in a cold sweat feeling that very power...seeing it's glow...and everything just teetered tottered from there... Me coming in with my wings really did the trick too.

Alastor shifted back, holding himself tight, shaking and saying nothing.

“What do you need, Al? How can I help?”

“I….I don’t know.” Alastor curled in on himself more; eyes pressing closed and claws digging into himself deeper.

Something...different then.

Lucifer smoothly shifted form, turning himself into an enormous white boa constrictor.

If Alastor noticed him change, he didn't react.

Lucifer's new snake form glided easily along the bed, he traced up the bedpost, winding and following the beam as he stretched along the headboard, his head and neck draping and curling down close to Alastor.

“You know...I know what it feels like...to feel yourself shattered...broken into a thousand crumbling pieces...”

Lucifer spoke to him, drifting closer still; hovering without quite touching Alastor yet.

“I know that feeling...of despair and anguish that swallows you whole...pulling you down with no hope for ever coming back.”

Lucifer flicked his snake tongue; touching Alastor's skin with it - testing his response. Alastor didn't flinch away at the brief contact, and Lucifer thought he may have noted a stutter in Alastor's trembling.

“To feel like....you can never be whole again...that you can never repair the damage that's been made done...”

Lucifer's snake form slowly and smoothly slid from the headboard; sliding across Alastor's heated and damp skin...curling around his neck.

Lucifer felt Alastor's shakes stop; felt Alastor tense as he sucked in a breath of air into his lungs.

Lucifer paused, waiting.

Alastor's shaking returned but...lessened. His breathing was changing...slowing; and he lifted his head.

He was responding.

Satisfied, Lucifer continued to wrap and coil himself all around Alastor's frame...gripping him tightly.

Alastor couldn't be tolerant to Lucifer's touch as he was before but this...this was different.

Something less...intimate somehow, though possibly maybe more... Lucifer's snake form brought touch with different sensations: his warm and smooth scales gliding soothingly across sweating skin, the muscles of this new body moving and contracting - offering only solace; no pressure of reciprocation or elicitation of anything sensual or provocative.

Alastor's shaking hitched again and he pulled in a slow and ragged breath, filling his chest. Lucifer felt tight and tense muscles relaxing beneath him; felt the shakes giving away to soft and infrequent tremors.

“But... you've been broken for some time... haven't you, radio demon. Someone did this to you...made you to feel...to be this way...”

Lucifer's form tightened and there was a release in Alastor that he could only have hoped for. A long breath shuddered out from Alastor and he finally released himself from the tight position he had been holding himself in, retracting the claws from his skin. Fresh blood and fresh tears touched Lucifer's scales.

“Let me make you feel whole again, Alastor. Let me help you to find...to pick up every single lost and broken piece that you've laid...fallen and shattered behind you. Let me help you to find...to remember where each one goes...where it belongs and let me help you finally...be everything you deserve and wish to be.”

Alastor fell apart in his coils...relinquishing himself fully and completely to the raw and visceral emotion of a surrender he never thought he'd find. Lucifer let him process everything: simply staying with him, holding him tightly.

Lucifer’s sharp and golden snake eyes pierced brightly in the dark; the entire length of his form curled and wrapped firmly to Alastor in the bed…refusing to allow Alastor to break from this madness after the fall.  

The hotel still needed him.

Lilith still needed him.

Charlie still needed him.

Lucifer still needed him.

…and Lucifer meant to see him rise.

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

Hours later; Lucifer laid awake in bed – back in his own room.

Once Alastor had recovered from the mental attack and had retreated again into shadow, Lucifer slid himself away – leaving him alone to his rest and his privacy.

Alastor’s recent shedding of his antlers was significant. Cervidae demons lost their antlers once they were fully out of a rut or when under great stress. Lucifer imagined Alastor’s experience was with both; and though his new antlers were already fully erupted – Lucifer recognized that Alastor would likely be much more reluctant to anything physical or intimate for some time.

This, and the simple fact that Lucifer just didn’t know where the fuck they were at with things right now, convinced Lucifer it best to leave. Lucifer might have found sleep for himself better had he had stayed…instead of wrestling with the decision here now, but he told himself that if Alastor truly needed him, he’d readily answer to his summons.

Still not having been anywhere close to finding sleep, Lucifer felt the change in the room – felt the coolness of shadows pressing in from the dark.

“Al?”

“Your wards allowed me in.” Alastor said quietly, voice cracking roughly as he materialized beside the bed.  

“Of course they did, you are always welcome here.” Lucifer told him, sitting up. “Is there something that you need?”

“Yes…”

Alastor moved to the bed, lifting the covers to slide in beside Lucifer.

Surprised by this, Lucifer readily shifted; giving him room. When Alastor joined him in bed, pressing against him and pulling him to him; Lucifer realized Alastor was fully naked.

Alastor leaned over the King; lips pressing to his in a warm and slow kiss – clawed hands pulling him closer and curling into platinum locks.

Lucifer gently – reluctantly – detached himself, pulling himself away from the kiss.  

“Al…I appreciate what you are trying to do here. I really do, but….you’re not even hard. It doesn’t all have to be about sex; I’m sorry that I ever made you feel like it did - and even with that all aside; haven’t you been through enough?”

“I said those things to you, knowing…that it would hurt.” Alastor told him. “It hasn’t just been about the sex, Luci…not for me…not for some time.”

“And, I feel the same way, Al but…I want us to do this right. I don’t want there to be anymore confusion or misunderstandings between us.”

“Then, we’ll talk…but, right now…I need you.” Alastor’s eyes shown red in the dark.

 Lucifer swallowed; shaking his head. “You lost your antlers…I know what that means, Al.”

“I’ve told you before…” Alastor told him; reaching for Lucifer’s hand and pulling it with his – showing Lucifer the firmness that was twitching between his legs. “I can get it up, it just will require more coaxing now.”

Lucifer’s face reddened; understanding. “You’re still injured…”

“Hm, yes…” Alastor was pressing Lucifer’s hand to him; encouraging him to palm him there. “You should probably refrain from trying to split me in two, tonight.”

“Another night for that bedtime ritual then…” Lucifer breathed, feeling the twitching rise between his own legs now; and Alastor chuckled.

“Another night.” Alastor whispered his promise, pressing himself back to Lucifer.

This time, Lucifer gave in to the kiss; and they slowly became lost in each other’s embrace.

Lucifer gently licked and kissed at the fresh scar across Alastor’s chest, in a moment of tenderness. The remnants of Lucifer’s power within the healing wound responded, and Alastor felt a pleasurable thrumming beneath his skin; he shuddered at the sensation.

Alastor was incredibly…afraid.

He had never meant for himself to be made vulnerable to anyone again…least of all, the King of Hell. Why was it now, this intimacy – something he had not wanted, something he had avoided for so long – why was it that in these moments with Lucifer he felt truly…whole.

He wanted to recoil at the thought, the very notion…and surely if he foolishly pursued such yearnings of the heart; he would come out more sorely beaten and bruised than he could ever hope to imagine…

Still, there was the fear…not of the undesirable consequences but, of a missed plausibility.

What if; something that could be made real was here and Alastor let it slip away – let it fleetingly pass on by because he was much too coward; too miserably pathetic to seize something that could very well be here now…within his grasp.

He owed Lucifer his life…he owed Lucifer his faith….he owed Lucifer his courage.

It would take time…and there were secrets still kept in the dark, between them, waiting to be dealt with…

But, Alastor would tear down those walls…pulling each one down – piece by piece; until what remained…what he would give to Lucifer….was everything.

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

The following evening…

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

“Why are you up here?” Alastor asked; finding Lucifer at the roof of the new Hazbin Hotel; leaning over – staring at the rest of the Pride Ring in Hell and smoking a cigarette.

“Oh...shit, uh…” Lucifer quickly debated on tossing the stick but then knew he’d already been caught. “I can't let Charlie catch me with one of these...I-I never smoke.” He explained.

Alastor strolled over to him; eyebrow cocked. He was wearing his dress pants and dress shirt but no jacket or bowtie. The buttons to his shirt were undone at the collar and trailing to his chest. Alastor hated the dragging sensation that his shirt had against the healing wound; he was much more comfortable this way.

“Yeah..neither do I.” Alastor told him, leaning over to takes the cigarette from between Lucifer’s fingers and bringing it to his face for a long inhale. He exhaled, smoke curling from his mouth and he passed the stick back.

“So...what else are you doing up here?” Alastor asked Lucifer; looking out and across the cityscape with him.

“Just killing time, really. I've got that meeting with Lilith later tonight and I'm not really sure what her next move will be. We know that Adam's lieutenant was involved in their deal, that she’s survived… I imagine she’s already confronted Lilith but I really don’t know her plan is.”

“Lilith's been exceptional with anticipating most of Heaven's moves so far.” Alastor mused. “I'm sure she's got something in mind.”

Lucifer shrugged; taking a drag from the cigarette.

“Everyone involved in this has their hands in so many goddamned pots…it’s hard to keep it all straight anymore.” Lucifer sighed.

Alastor nodded; reaching for the cigarette again.

“The city…it’s quiet.” Alastor observed, changing the subject. “Much quieter than one would expect after a recent extermination.”

“The calm before the storm…I’m afraid.” Lucifer sighed, leaning back. “Everyone’s still processing…probably already planning and plotting. There will be a big upheaval with things around here after this, rest assured.” Lucifer pushed off away from the roof, tired of the view.

Slumping down; he slid his back against barrier – sitting down now.

“When is your meeting?” Alastor asked, joining him and giving him back the cigarette.

“Not for another few hours.” Lucifer told him, taking the stick back from him.

“You…uh,” Alastor swallowed and Lucifer looked at him, curious. “Well, you said we should talk…would you want to do that now?”

“Hm, yes.” Lucifer nodded; holding the cigarette between his lips and nodding. “But, hold on…I brought these.”

He leaned over; sliding a crate over that Alastor hadn’t noticed before. Reaching in, Lucifer pulled out a new, unopened bottle of the Sazerac they had both found that they liked. He handed it to Alastor then reached back in for two drinking glasses.

“Oh, you….clever devil.” Alastor hissed at him. “Was this a trap this whole time!?”

“Hey!” Lucifer pulled the cigarette from his mouth, tapping it. “Lilith is not the only one who can lay out well made plan, my friend.”

Lucifer placed the cigarette back into his mouth; taking the bottle from Alastor, he opened it and poured them both some booze.

“So...I propose a deal.” Lucifer announced; lifting Alastor’s glass. “No! Not a real deal. Stop looking at me like that...but, how about: you first tell me everything you're comfortable with regarding any less than savory relationships...sexual experiences, etc...that you have had; and I'll tell you everything about my fall from Heaven...then, we can delve into the nitty gritty; talking about what you and I actually want, what we expect from each other and yadda yadda.”

“Doesn't everyone kind of already know that story?” Alastor teased him.  

“Some versions of it, yes…but, you’d be getting the one straight from the serpent’s mouth.” Lucifer flashed him a coy smile and offering him the drink.

“Fine.” Alastor begrudgingly agreed. “Give me that drink and light another one of those cigarettes.

Alastor and Lucifer talked.

Both shared things with each other that they never knew they could or would share with anyone ever again. 

And, when they were done: they knew what they wanted from each other, what they meant to each other…and come what may: they knew they would face it...together.

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P.S. After talking, they drunkenly started making out on the roof of the hotel

P.S.S. Drunkenly making out may have led to more things…

P.S.S.S. Lucifer went to his meeting with Lilith and she teased him about his still-healing bite marks..

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Taglist: @nyx91: @reath-solia

[patchworkgargoyle]

Okay, Sav, my first instinct was of course to demand more motw just because I am already so fucking invested BUT then I thought I'd rather ask about "Shark Bite Meet-Cute" just because WTF are you coming up with here???? I need to know!

Hi Sandy!! xD That one was inspired by a rant that I thought I would go on if I ever got bit by a shark (highly unlikely) and survived, and then I figured Eddie would say something similar, then thought that it'd be very funny if paramedic!Steve was there trying to help Eddie while he ranted about how it wasn't the shark's fault for biting him.

Not sure if I'll ever finish this one, because I did that thing where I skipped ahead and wrote the scene I wanted to write and that's always the best way to get me to never finish a fic, so. Whoops.

Anyway, here's that rant xD

"It's not the shark's fault!" Eddie shouted as loud as he could manage at the crowd. "Sharks are still great! It's their ocean, we're the invaders!"

"Eddie, please calm down, oh my god," Chrissy said, following the stretcher and wringing her hands.

The unfairly hot paramedic nodded down at him. "You should try to keep your heart rate down, and please lie still."

He doubted his heart could be any kind of normal around this man, but Eddie lowered his voice anyway as they lifted him into the ambulance. "It's true, though, man. They can't help that they don't have hands."

The other paramedic couldn't hold back a snort and the hot one raised an unimpressed brow at her. "He's probably feeling loopy from the shock and adrenaline," he explained to Chrissy.

"No, nonono, you don't get it," Eddie blundered on, only slightly slurred, "they don't have hands, y'know, so they use their mouths to figure out what they're seeing. Like babies, or archeologists. Did you know archeologists lick rocks to tell if they're rocks or bone? It's because bone sticks, it's more porous. So, sharks. Can't help it if they've got some fuckin' sharp teeth. Probably thought I was a weird seal, took a bite and didn't like how my gamey, non-blubbery stick leg tasted."

Chrissy, who'd sat on the bench in the back, hid her face to try and stifle her laughter while he rambled. Hot Paramedic had the prettiest, most baffled smile on his face while he hooked Eddie up to some wires and monitors and the other one actually looked thoughtful while she checked the bandages on his leg.

"I didn't know that about archeologists," she said.

Hot Paramedic sighed. "Don't encourage him, Robin."

"Hey, if it keeps him conscious."

[anneapocalypse]

The Loghain Mac Tir we meet in Origins is a man deeply invested in Ferelden's freedom and independence, but the Loghain we meet in The Stolen Throne is a young man who wants nothing to do with any war or revolution, who's simply trying to survive under the occupation along with what family he has left. Maric Theirin blunders his way into Loghain's life and he's knocked into the path of history unwillingly. Everything that happens to him after that is because of Maric. His father dies because of Maric. His friends are killed because of Maric. He leaves his old life behind because of Maric. He can't be with the woman he loves because of Maric. And he stays at Maric's side, year after year, because what other life does he have? He lost everything because of Maric and everything he has now is also because of Maric.

The Loghain we meet in Origins is a man with 30 years of sunk cost in the Theirin family. What will he lose for the sake of Maric's son? At what point will he look at another blundering young golden-haired fool deciding the fate of a nation without the experience or wisdom to back it up, and wonder what his life would have been like if he had just let the first fool die? At what point does Loghain acknowledge, deep down, what he has lost for the Theirins, and decide that it's time to cut his losses?

[rocksibblingsau]

You know, in the Branch Toronto au, I can see Sky really fumbling in caring for branch *at first.* but also being the only pop troll guardian that actually *tries* as well. And fixes those mistakes.

Partly because this man is married to his job, but also partly because he might treat branch as any other pop troll *at first.* Since we have seen Sky being able to predict the mass’s opinions multiple times before, it may really surprise him to see he’s wrong about how branch reacts to certain things. Just unexpected for Sky. But since he’s a problem solver sort of troll he’d readjust as needed. Branch would probably have the rockiest time with trusting Sky because of these blunders over all other adopted au vers of him. But eventually actions speak louder than words.

Also, imagine an unwanted intruder snuck into the fun time factory at night & Sky shows off the factory’s security system to Branch.

I wanna clarify that Pop Trolls did try. They tried and failed and rather than readjusting tactics, they tried the same thing again harder. When that didn't work they gave up. That's where I view most of the tragedy of Branch's situation. If anyone had tried just a little harder, if one person had managed to adjust to his needs even a little, he would be in a better place. (pun intended)

Branch would absolutely have initial issues with Sky's attempts at first, but Sky to me seems like the kind of guy to know when to pull out of an investment. In business you can't get into a sunk cost fallacy trying to make something work, so best to count your losses and move on. If Sky did something that didn't work, he'd cross it off the list and move on.

Branch would love making the security system better.