#it i have not for the life of me (ahaha) been able to get that song out of my head.

[loquaciousquark]

Hello! Not a question just wanted to drop in and say I loved watching your playthrough of Veilguard. I’ve been a long time lurker reading and enjoying practically every fic of yours so it was really fun to hear your process of developing Kata’s personality and motivations.

Most days I’d have it on while I was at work but I finished it on Friday so now I don’t know what I’m gonna do to make the workday go faster haha. Anyway just wanted to say thank you for sharing it! The DA fandom can be cranky to say the least so seeing you genuinely enjoy the game was like a breath of fresh air (not to mention a lot of your reactions to characters and lore drops were very similar to mine)!

Hope you’re having a lovely weekend!

Ahh, I'm so glad! I had a blast with this game, start to finish, & I'm very close to starting a fresh Nightmare runthrough which I do intend to stream. I have such a better idea of who Kata is now, and I want to take her through the game again and get her narrative really right, especially as regards the timing & story structure. Plus, I want to figure out exactly where the Lucanis romance beats fall for her; I don't think that kiss at the end is their actual first kiss, but I don't know where it actually is!

Plus, I found that combat honestly so fun, and I want to enjoy the early levels again where it's no powers, all skill. I want to feel rewarded for my perfect parry timing & my headshots!! I want to go back to the fundamentals!!

Yeah, I've heard the game had its controversy, but I've done what I can to stay away from that, ahaha. I went into this game prepared to be pleased and with very low expectations, and keeping the mindset of "this game development was restarted twice & it's a miracle it exists at all" helped a lot. It also helped that my immediate circle of DA fans (who played well before I did) really loved the game as well, which I'm sure colored my opinion.

Plus, I think my total detachment from Veilguard's development period honestly was a huge boon. Because Inquisition didn't land for me the first time I played it, I didn't touch that sandbox at all! I didn't spend ten years thinking about Veilguard's possible storylines or Solas's outcomes or writing speculative meta about the Veil; I stayed firmly in my very Kirkwallian DA2 playground & was happy there. I think I wrote Solas's name in fic literally once. If I'd been invested at all in his story back then, if I'd had a decade to think about what I wanted from VG and for Solas and my Lavellan, I think I would have gotten super invested in certain ideas and concepts and possibilities and been inevitably disappointed.

(This segues into a half-thought I've been tossing around—I was quite shocked when a friend told me some people were sad there wasn't an option to side with Solas & complete the ritual, which had literally never once occurred to me as a desirable thing in all my DAI/VG playtime. I wonder if that's because I spent so many millions of words & thousands of hours in DA2's very Veiled-Off universe; to destroy or remake that world would feel like its own death to me, and a death of the future I wanted for Hawke & Fenris. Maybe that's why I felt so strongly against it the whole time. Food for thought!)

Anyway, not having an Inquisitor I loved until about five months ago I think really benefited my experience, as did not having to wait before playing the game. I'd never read a Solavellan fic in my life! I'd never had one iota of investment in his outcome! I'd spent ten years watching tragic fanart float over my dash and sadly shaking my head at those woeful Solas girlies! While the reversal of my own investment was an absolute slap in the face, it did mean I was able to go into VG with the emptiest head & the lowest romance expectations, which meant I was super easy to please from the start, hahahah.

It also helped that the stuff VG got right for me was way more important than the stuff I didn't like as much. The Solas material, Rook, the combat system, the Inquisitor they built, the companions, the back third of the Lucanis romance—those were great. I loved those. I left those events with a huge smile on my face. Those things were infinitely more important to me than the stuff I struggled with (some vocabulary/world tonal mismatches, the middle third of the Lucanis romance, some storylines/quest beats I thought were pretty heavyhanded). It's not a perfect game in any sense, but it did so many things I loved that to dwell on the misses doesn't seem productive.

I mean, I have a million words of DA2 on AO3. I lived in that world for like fourteen years, and boy does that world have holes. Plot, mechanics, combat, characters, even the non-brown-ness of the graphics—it was a complete break from so many of the Origins systems. I remember the huge outcry when that game was released. I remember seeing posts of people shredding their DA2 discs and burning the case inserts. I remember people absolutely railing against Anders' characterization and getting in huge arguments on the kink meme about the Arishok & Elthina & Isabela's pants. There've always been huge jumps in world implementation from game to game, and with the super long dev time, I figured VG would be the same. I guess I just tried to keep that in mind as I moved forward.

(I think it also helps that while I loved my Inquisitor and grew very fond of Solas over my replay, I still don't think DAI is a very good game. I do not like the map design, the combat system, or some choices they made with some of the companions; I think the inventory & UI systems are criminally clumsy. Those are really important aspects of modern gaming to me [I was much more tolerant the first time I played DA2, sue me], and for VG to polish those so well significantly improved my enjoyment of actually playing the thing.)

(Another side thought: I do wonder how some of VG would have been received had it released eight years ago instead of right before the election last year. The world was different then, and I wonder if some material would have seemed less graceless at that time, and if some voices would have been less virulent.)

Anyway, this reply has completely gotten away from me; if nothing else, thanks for giving me a place to finally get down some of these thoughts! Like I said, I'm really eager to get back into the game & Kata's story, & I'll post here when those streams start. Thank you so much! <3 <3

[ardienothesieno]

i was planning on playing watcher day one. but honestly im just not really feeling it right now... maybe i'll feel different tomorrow. but. the hyperfixation brain train is firmly locked onto different things right now and i. just. dont think id be able to fully enjoy it.

but another thing adding onto this is because i feel almost obligated to play watcher. and i mean, yeah, i want to, but it also feels kinda like a demand. because i spoiled the entirety of rain world for myself before i played it, so watcher's my only chance to have that "blind rain world gameplay" experience. so it kinda feels like, in thinking like that, im forcing myself into playing watcher.

...and i dont think i want to.

right now, at least.

im still gonna block the spoiler tags so i have a better chance at a spoiler-free experience if i do ever decide to play it, but. unless i have a drastic change of heart in the next 12ish hours... im not gonna play watcher.

[deswhomst]

Regulus comes out as trans

James and Sirius look at each other, eyes wide and mouthed open, forming perfect ‘o’s.

James dashed to his dorm before bringing back a notebook labeled ‘queer jokes’ - puns to make fun of whoever came out (Sirius had a feeling) so they would still be a part of the group

hii i love this ahaha!! <333 i wrote it out a little!!

“I’m trans,” Regulus blurted out after all those weeks of planning this moment. Coming out to his brother and the love of his life in the Gryffindor Tower on a random Tuesday was not ideal but he had gotten the words out and he felt strangely proud of that simple act. Running off of that, he continued, “I—um, I chose Regulus. As my name, that is.”

Regulus watched as James and Sirius looked at each other, jaw dropped, mouths forming perfect ‘O’s. He didn’t have time to question it much before James sprinted away as if he had been burnt.

Well, okay, then.

“No, no,” Sirius said quickly, probably noticing the look on his face. “Don’t worry. He just went to get something.”

“Oh,” Regulus said, awkwardly shifting his weight from one foot to another. He didn’t really understand but he didn’t know what else to say, either. “Okay.”

“I’m proud of you, yeah?” Sirius told him and Regulus was so, so relieved to find that it was sincere. “And I love the name. It’s beautiful.”

“It’s from the Leo constellation,” Regulus grinned. He hadn’t expected Sirius to react badly but the way he embraced it like it was the most natural thing in the world made Regulus feel like he was, too. Naturally himself.

“Oh, I know,” Sirius chucked, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Heart of the lion or whatever, right?”

“Or whatever,” Regulus grumbled back but the giddiness was hard to shake and echoed in his voice.

Sirius rolled his eyes with a fond smile. “It suits you, you know,” he said. “Regulus. I’ll call you Reggie—you can’t stop me.”

He had no intention of stopping Sirius but before Regulus had a chance to respond, James reappeared at Sirius’ side, a notebook clutched in his hands with the title Queer Jokes.

Of course. Regulus could not help the eye roll.

“Regulus, you can’t have a kid,” James said seriously but the only thing on Regulus’ mind right now was the sound of his name out of James’ mouth. “I won’t be able to see you. You’ll become … transparent.”

And Regulus, Merlin help him, laughed. A full body laugh that felt like it had been ripped right out of his chest but he wasn’t complaining. In fact, he didn’t remember ever being this happy.

“Okay, James,” he said softly. “No kids until we find a way to make me visible to you.”

James grinned back.

“Oh, here’s another one,” Sirius read off of that stupid book. “We need to make you eat salads because you’re a herbivore.”

James and Regulus both passed him confused looks.

“A her-before,” he elaborated. “A herbivore. Come on.”

Regulus snorted. “James’ was better.”

“How dare you,” Sirius gasped, which set James and Sirius off into a trans pun competition. Regulus pretended to be annoyed at times but, really, he couldn’t be.

Not to mention, some of these jokes were pretty good.

“Okay!” Regulus announced after a while. “I will give my left tit for you both to stop this. And my right. Actually, take them both either way.”

Silence. And then—

“Regulus Black, was that a … joke?” asked James.

“Yes,” Regulus admitted.

[judesmoonbeauty]

𝕁𝕦𝕕𝕖 𝕁𝕒𝕫𝕫𝕒'𝕤 𝕄𝕒𝕚𝕟 𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕪: ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟚

This is a fan translation only. Please expect grammatical errors and translation inaccuracies. This is a full translation. Creative liberties are taken for characterization and smoother translation process. Cybird owns everything. Re-blogs are appreciated, but please do not post my translation elsewhere. Thank you for your support! ☾.

Victor: Have you fallen in love with Jude?

Kate: What, uh…..

Victor: Ahaha, your expressions and reaction’s are quite easy to read, it’s adorable.

Victor: So, may I ask why you’ve decided to study after falling in love?

(If I suddenly ask to borrow books on international trade and economics,)

(There’s no way the sharp-eyed Victor wouldn’t have noticed.)

I give up trying to hide and look Victor straight in the eye.

Kate: Knowledge can be a weapon. It can be a means of protection.

Kate: At first, it was just for myself. But I also want to be someone that Jude can rely on.

Kate: Someone to lean on during difficult times and sad times. I thought he’d come to like me after that.

That’s the answer to why my heart’s been acting so crazy the last few days.

Kate: But I have a feeling that I’ll be rejected for being meddlesome.

Victor: I think that sometimes meddling can save someone’s life.

Victor: It’s not the knife or poison that kills, it’s the loneliness.

His jewel-like eyes seemed to cloud for just a moment…..

Kate: ….Victor, do you ever feel lonesome?

Victor: No, I forgot about loneliness a long time ago.

Victor said with a reassuring smile.

[Transitions to the Dining Room]

Jude: Huh, what’s this?

When Jude returned from work, he saw Kate in the dining room slumped over the desk asleep, her face scrunched up…..

Victor: Oh Jude, welcome home. I just brought a blanket for Kate.

Victor: She’s worn out from studying this entire time -

Victor: Oops, anything further is a secret between Kate and I.

Jude: Don’t care, transfer this cost at the end o’ the month.

Victor: With pleasure. Then you handle this.

Jude: What?

Victor pushes the blanket into his hand and leaves with a smile.

Then Jude drops his gaze to the fast asleep Kate…..

Jude: …Tch.

Crudely covering her with the blanket, he goes to leave when something suddenly grabs his sleeve and he turns around.

Jude: ….What’re ya a baby?

Jude stares at Kate, who seized his clothing and an annoyed smile appeared.

That’s when he caught sight of the stack of books scattered on the table.

Jude: …………

What Kate’s trying to learn….for Jude’s sake.

Jude sat down next to Kate, who was still holding onto his clothes.

Jude: …….Really is hopeless.

I had begun to learn things I didn’t know before, like international trade and economics.

However, the book’s contents can occassionally be difficult -

[Transitions to Roger’s Lab]

Roger: The Navigation Act was abolished, allowing other countries ships to enter the market.

Roger: It became a race to see who could get a ship to London the fastest.

Kate: So, that’s the principle behind the Tea Race.

Alfons: It’s seem quite remarkable to think that the winning tea from that race is on this table.

I was supposed to be learning from the knowledgeable Roger.

But before I knew it, everyone was enjoying tea behind me.

Alfons: In comparison to this exquisite, mellow fragrance, all that surrounds us is the scent of smoke and blood.

Alfons: Aren’t we just enjoying our lives these days?

Liam: Ah, I thought the same thing. It’s been a bit of downer not being able to enjoy the season.

Roger: You guys. Quit chit-chatting in my lab.

As Roger expressed his tiredness, the door to the lab simultaneously burst open so hard, it was like it was going to break.

Victor: My darling Crown boys haven’t been enjoying life? That’s a SERIOUS issue!

Roger: No, you can’t just show up too!

Victor: Alright, time for Victor Presents! We’re going to hold an OUT-OF-SEASON-FIREWORKS SHOW- YAY!

Victor: I’ve already arranged to go to William’s private beach. I’m so capable!

(Fireworks, huh?)

It was a slightly unseasonable suggestion, but of course the bored crowd applauded.

Victor: Kate, I’d like to request a task of you.

(A request? What is it?)

[Transitions to Jude’s office]

The task Victor asked of me was -

Jude: If ya both wanna go that bad, then go alone.

Kate: I don’t want to go unless you go too, Jude!

The goal was to bring Jude to the fireworks show.

More precisely, to “bring along both Jude and Ellis” with me.

Ellis immediately, gleefully replied that he would go, so the only problem was Jude.

Ellis: I don’t want to go without Jude either.

Jude: How many times ya gonna say the same thin’. It’s aggrevatin’.

(I figured we’d get push back from Jude….In that case -)

Kate: Jude.

Jude: What is it?

Kate: Lulipia has approached us about selling their new products exclusively to Raven Ltd.

Kate: However, that’s on the condition that Ellis and I are in charge.

Jude lifts an eyebrow in irritation as I unleash a negotiation technique I learned in a book recently.

Jude: Pssh, what. Tryin’ to negotiate with me. How gutsy of ya.

Jude: I’ll go.

Kate: What, really….

Jude: Just thought it’s a good deal considerin’ cost-effectiveness.

Kate: Y-YES!

Ellis: As of expected of you, Kate.

(It was bit of a sneaky way to do it, but at least I’m going out with Jude!)

[Transitions to William’s Private Beach]

Fireworks explode in the sky, making the beach sparkle.

Kate: Wow….!

Elbert: …..It’s beautiful.

It’s not the season, but that doesn’t matter since the fireworks bursting in the night sky are so lovely.

Victor: Bravo! The fireworks disappear in an instant, but the memories of tonight will remain in my heart forever.

As everyone cheers as the fireworks go off in succession, colorful sparks scatter across the beach.

Liam: Kate, come here, come here!

Harrison: Here, this one’s yours.

Kate: Okay!

Just as I going to light the handheld firework I was given, Alfons smiled like he had just thought of something.

Alfons: Ah, I have a wonderful idea.

Alfons: How about the one who can keep theirs buring the longest, gets to command one thing from everyone else.

Roger: Oh, that sounds interesting.

Kate: But, it seems a bit fishy.

Ellis: Now that I think about it, Al was watching the fireworks carefully just now.

Kate: Really, Alfons! Have the fireworks already been tampered with?

Alfons: ……What’s this about now?

William: Haha, it seems the robin understands the Crown members quite a bit now.

In the end, Alfons’ scheme was discovered, the competition was called off and everyone took turns lighting their own fireworks.

(Hm? Jude….)

I found him a short distance away and ran over with some fireworks for him.

Kate: Here, Jude you do some fireworks too.

I lit the fireworks I brought and handed them to him…..

Jude: ………..

Jude silently took them and aimed the sparks at me.

Kate: Hey, don’t point those at people like you’re unaware of it!

Harrison: Wow, that guy’s a…..demon.

Roger: But Jude seems to be having fun too.

Everyone’s faces are lit up by the fleetingly beautiful fireworks.

Out of nowhere, I felt a tightness in my chest.

(Before I knew it, I’ve been included in everyone’s circle.)

The everyone that I was so afraid of.

Jude: What. Whya grinnin’?

Kate: No, it’s nothing. I just think it’s a lot of fun.

Jude: Yer a really carefree princess y-

As if to interrupt what Jude was about to say, a massive firework explodes in the sky.

The large flowers blossoming in the night took our breath away.

William: Victor asked for my advice.

Victor: For a BIG SURPRISE.

Harrison: You guys are pretty flashy…..Well, it’s pretty, though.

Kate: It’s true, it’s beautiful.

Seeing everyone’s smiling faces illuminated by the fireworks, inexplicably warms my heart…..

Liam: I’m definitely going to make the next performance a success - !

Liam suddenly shouted.

Roger: Haha, that’s some determined resolution. Nice.

Roger: I’ll collect all the cursed data from all around the world - !

Kate: Then me too.

(To stand in the same place as Jude does, and to see the same world he does.)

(To become someone Jude can rely on.)

Kate: I’m going to grow even more - !

Jude: What kinda stupid resolution’s that?

Ellis: I want to grow even more too -

Jude: Don’t get any bigger than that, yer gonna be in the way.

Kate: Jude, you’re not going shout a resolution?

Jude: Are ya stupid?

After Jude said that, he gazed at the fireworks that rose and disappeared into the deep blue sky.

I….secretly steal a glance at his profile from beside him.

(….Jude’s expression is dyed with all sorts of colors.)

Jude is like a firework.

It’s fierce, intense, and dangerous if you get too close, but no matter how hard you try to look away, you can’t.

But at the same time, maybe because I’ve been watching Jude for so long, a sense of unease is born in me.

(Just as no firework shines forever, there are times when it seems like Jude will vanish…..)

The profile of the person next to me, seems like he will suddenly disappear without a word to anyone, without leaving anything behind…..

I grabbed him tightly by the sleeve to stop him from going anywhere.

Kate: Jude, I want some ice cream.

Jude: Huh?

Ellis: I want some too.

Alfons: I concur. Then someone should go and - purchase some on our behalf.

Jude: Ah well, guess I’ll go buy it myself.

Alfons: No, no, please allow me to go.

William: Then I’ll do it.

(Huh? What? Should I being offering the same thing!?)

Kate: Oh, I’ll go buy it!

Jude: Then it’s all yers.

(Uh?)

Seeing the grin tugging the corners of his lips, I realized that I’d been setup.

Kate: - That’s such poor taste….!

Jude: Pff-

Jude: Ya truly are a gullible princess.

Kate: ……

Jude’s smile makes my heart beat so hard it hurts, and I can’t stop it.

(But I still haven’t become anything to you, Jude.)

(I hope to at least become a reason for him to smile occasionally.)

Under the sky where shimmering particles of light danced, I prayed that this fun time would continue…..even if only for a little longer.

But that time didn’t last very long.

[Main Story Master List] [Chapter 13]

If you wish to be added (and 18+ YO), or removed from my translations tag list, please let me know!

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[cheshireliam]

"The Past Records: Liam Evans & Harrison Gray" Party Event: Chapter 2

Beyond The Red Herring

This is a fan-made translation solely for entertainment purposes with no guaranteed perfection; expect mistakes, grammatical errors, and some creative liberties. All original content and media used belongs to Cybird. Please support the game by buying their stories and playing their games. Reblogs appreciated.

Read this before interacting

Ellis: “There’s no need to get along”... I can’t imagine you two ever saying that to each other right now. 

Roger: So how did you end up getting along?

Liam: I think our first mission together acted as a major turning point in our friendship. Do you still remember it, Harry? 

Harrison: Yeah, of course. 

Harrison: We were completely out of sync back then, compared to now… 

Harrison’s lips twitched like he just swallowed something bitter, and then he began recounting the events of that mission—

<< Harrison’s POV >>

Our first mission was to investigate a corrupt police officer who aided in a criminal's escape in exchange for monetary gain.

But the target realised someone was watching him, and set up a trap for us instead—. 

…

While hiding ourselves behind a shipping container, we struggled to catch our breaths.

Liam: *pant*, *pant*... Harry, you alive…?

Harrison: … I am. Also… don’t call me by any nicknames.

Liam: Ahaha… if you still have the energy to complain about nicknames, I guess your condition isn't too bad… 

Superficial wounds caused by bullets grazing our skin marked our arms and legs. 

They weren’t life threatening, but our situation was far from ideal. 

Liam: … I can’t believe we walked right into a fake deal and almost got killed by mercenaries hired by the target. 

A certain phrase suddenly came to my mind, “Red Herring”.

It was a classic misdirection tactic seen in mystery novels, used to lead the reader away from the truth by diverting their attention onto something false. 

We had taken the bait and failed to notice the mercenaries sneaking up behind us.

Liam: At a glance, I’d say we have about 10 of them surrounding the warehouse.

Harrison: Sitting here won’t solve anything. They’ll discover us sooner or later. We’ll make a move at the same time.

Harrison: They don’t seem very skilled. With two of us striking together, we might be able to create an opening. 

Liam: Okay, counting down. 3…

Harrison: 2…

Liam: 1! 

Liam jumped out of hiding first.

Liam: Eh!? Why didn’t you move on “1”!?

Harrison: I thought we were counting down as in “3, 2, 1, go”...! 

Liam: You should’ve said so earlier! 

That was no time to be squabbling about our differences in countdown methods— 

Male Mercenary: They’re over there! Kill them!! 

— Several guns pointed at us. 

…

Alfons: What would your way of counting down be, Lord Elbie?

Elbert: Ready, go? 

Liam: Lord Elbie’s so cute! 

Ellis: What about Jude? 

Jude: Use yer brain to figure it out. 

Liam: Jude’s harsh! 

Jude: If ya really need one, I’d say “ready set go”. 

Liam: Oh, that’s exactly what Harry said later on! 

Harrison: That’s because no one in their right mind would get confused with that simple three-step countdown. 

Harrison: Anyway… we really were completely out of sync back then.

Ellis: But since you two are still alive, that means the mission was a success, right? 

Harrison: Kinda. Honestly, it was sheer luck. 

— And so, the Lying Fox recounted the past once more. 

…

Liam: … Good work, Harry.

Harrison: … You too.

The men we took down laid unconsciousness around us. 

Liam: Still… ahahahaha!! 

Liam: Messing up a countdown…! I… I’ve never been in a near death situation over something so stupid before…! 

Harrison: Haha… it really is stupid. 

Free from the crushing tension of a life-or-death situation, we felt an odd sense of camaraderie. 

Liam: Your shooting was amazing, Harry! Every bullet fired was bullseye! 

Harrison: You’re exaggerating. It wasn’t that perfect. 

Harrison: Besides… I was only able to aim well because you kept disappearing and throwing them off. 

Liam: Ahaha… then I guess this win belongs to both of us 

While still lying on the ground, Liam extended a hand toward me.

The day we first met, I saw through his lie about us possibly “getting along” and refused to shake his hand.

(But I guess it’s fine now.) . 

Acknowledging that we survived because of both our efforts, I reached out and shook Liam’s hand. 

Harrison: … But I do have a complaint about the way you fight. 

Liam: Whaa? A complaint? 

Harrison: You kept running right into my line of fire. What if I shot you by mistaken 

Harrison: The way you move, it’s as if…

I couldn't bring myself to say it was as if he “had a death wish”. 

Liam: Ahaha… I just like the thrill. 

Harrison: Have you already forgotten what my curse’s ability is?

I hinted to Liam that I knew he was lying.

He responded with an awkward laugh.

Liam: Right. You can tell when I’m lying, huh. 

Liam: The reason why I never hesitate to put myself in danger… 

Liam’s lips were moving, like he wanted to say something, but the words never left his mouth. 

Liam: Huh? That’s strange, sorry… I can’t seem to put it into words. 

Harrison: … You don't have to.

Harrison: Like I’ve told you before, we’re only colleagues. 

Harrison: The only things we need to be telling each other about are the signals for making a move during missions, and details of our abilities…

Harrison: How fast we can run, how well we can swim… that sort of stuff. 

Harrison: As for the things buried deep within your heart… there’s no need for me to know about them. 

Harrison: Just as long as I know you’re the kind of guy who willingly throws himself into danger’s way, that’s enough for me.

Liam: … You’re kind, Harry.

Liam’s soft voice melted away into the night air.

At that moment, I thought of the term “Red Herring” again.

Just like how a mystery novel misled its readers, diverting their attention from the truth…

Perhaps, I was also being misled by lies and thus unable to see the real Liam. 

[cosmowgyral]

Falling into Sin with the Black Tiger ~ Gilbert's 4th Birthday

▪︎ Chapter 1

This is a fan translation so please don't expect it to be 100% accurate. Creative liberties have been taken. All content belongs to Cybird. Reblogs are appreciated. Hope you enjoy!

CW- smut, mentions of blood

As the end of the year approached, a significant day was about to arrive.

Gilbert: What do I want to do?

Emma: That’s right. Can you please tell me anything?

I was sitting on my knees on the bed, wiping Gilbert’s hair with linen after his bath.

I wanted to give the impression that I was only casually probing….at least that’s what I thought.

Gilbert: Hehe, you’re a man of your word, that’s impressive, isn’t it?

Gilbert: You’re celebrating me again this year.

(I was found out in an instant.)

Emma: I promised you last year.

----*flashback*----

Emma: I’ll definitely celebrate with you again next year.

Gilbert: Hehe, I get it. As long as you’re you, I’ll celebrate.

----*flashback ends*----

Emma: I think it’s going to be an annual event from now on.

Gilbert: Ahaha, I never thought you would say something like that after I came home covered in blood.

(….I guess it wasn’t just my imagination after all.)

A little while ago, when Gilbert returned, he smelled of blood and gunpowder.

There were no visible bloodstains because his clothes were all black, but that couldn’t fool my nose, which has become capable of detecting such ominous scents.

(Gilbert always warns me.)

(So I don’t commit a sin unconsciously.)

Emma: …I always think about it.

Emma: Every time you come home covered in blood, I feel glad that you are safe.

Emma: ….I think about that before I even start thinking about whose blood you shed.

(Controlling evil with evil. I understand that this is Prince Gilbert’s way….)

(And yet, I pray every single day for his safety.)

Gilbert: Hehe, sorry. I was being mean again. I was just happy to be celebrated by you.

Gilbert, who had been facing forward, turned around and kissed me lightly on my cheeks.

Gilbert: I won’t say it again.

Gilbert: But I think asking me about what I want to do is stupid.

Gilbert: I love you a lot, so just being able to be with you like this fulfills most of my wishes.

Emma: Please be more greedy and villainous.

Gilbert: Am I not greedy enough?

Emma: It’s not enough at all. I want you to wish for something that’s different than usual since it’s a special day.

Gilbert: ..mmmm…

Gilbert: ….I feel like I’m facing the biggest challenge of my life.

(Is it that much!?)

Gilbert, while groaning as if in deep thought, wraps his hand around my head and gently pulls me closer.

He playfully pecks my lips several times, and before I knew it, I was pushed down onto the bed.

(…..Huh?)

Gilbert: What’s wrong?

Even though his words sound thoughtful, Gilbert pulls down my negligee and kisses my exposed skin, and I don’t get an answer to my question.

Emma: A..are you really thinking about it?

Gilbert: I am thinking about it. I am thinking about it harder than ever.

Gilbert: Are you questioning my sincerity, little rabbit? That’s cruel.

Gilbert smiles as he gently bites my collarbone. My breasts are played with by the tip of his tongue, and my hot and sweet breaths, melt away.

Gilbert: What do I really want?

(Maybe Gilbert isn’t used to these kind of things.)

When I touch his slightly damp hair, he snuggles up to me, like he wants to be petted.

I get carried away and ruffle his hair, and then our lips meet again.

(…Let’s wait patiently.)

(There’s still a lot of things to do for the day.)

⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯ㅤ𔘓 ⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯

In Obsidian, which is known as the land of minerals, gems can be found all over the city.

There seems to be a particularly strong sales campaign going on before Christmas, with special stalls lined up before the stores.

In Rhodolite, gemstones are something that only the aristocratic people have access to. But here, they are familiar to all the people, regardless of their social status.

(This is troublesome….)

(I wanted to give Gilbert some stones, but with this many varieties it is difficult.)

To Gilbert, who is a member of the royal family, jewels are not valuable at all.

However, he had told me about it some time back, on my birthday.

In Obsidian, it is customary to gift jewels on special occasions. The more loved you are, the more jewels you’ll have around you in your final moments.

(I’m the only one who can gift a jewel to Gilbert.)

(I’ve decided that I will definitely give this to him, regardless of his wishes.)

(…..I did decide that but…..)

Sapphires, topaz, diamonds, rubies, emeralds….

Even when I look at these beautiful gemstones, I can’t find anything I associate with Gilbert.

(Rather than worrying about it alone, I should ask an expert. Maybe they can give me some advice.)

Emma: Excuse me. I’m looking for a birthday gift and I want to know what’s popular right now.

Jeweller: Oh, in that case----

Jeweller: ….ngh…

(……)

(….I’ve gotten used to this reaction.)

The pale eyes of the jeweller stare deep into mine.

He might be sensing an unusual murderous intent.

Emma: …..I’m sorry. I’ll think about it myself.

I quickly left the store and went down an unseen ally.

Emma: Gil, are you there?

Gilbert: Ahaha, I was found right away.

[Masterlist] [Chapter 2]

[aethelwyneleigh27]

Cod Characters General Dating Headcanons (part three)

+ Random and Some bits of Chubby Fem S/O Headcanons with mentions of different nationality S/O

+ What type of BF/GF they would be

Including König, Kim "Horangi" Hong-jin, Keegan P. Russ, Philip Graves (+ some headcanons including the Shadows), Makarov

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

Fem terms and pronouns like she/her are used for the reader

ꕥ HOPE YOU ENJOY! ꕥ

My rules for requests and characters I can write for

A/n: I tried so hard to get this one out in time with the other but my other wips are getting to me 😭. I posted twice today just to feed y'all ahaha.

Disclaimers/warnings: Typical Cod things, OOC characters???, Unrealistic, Some suggestive themes and language, I'm so sorry but English is not my first language so please don't come after me. Most of the content I've seen are on TikTok and Tumblr I don't actually play the game but I love the characters so much, same with any other content I have for other video games.

Tiny sidenote: the reader in this has been describe to be shorter than the characters and has been mentioned to have a soft body rather than the muscular type.

König

ꕥ (PLEASE DON'T COME AFTER ME, I DON'T KNOW ANY GERMAN AND I'M USING GOOGLE TRANSLATE)

ꕥ Speaking of König, I don't think this man is the shy boy that some people is making him out to be (not that he doesn't have that side at all, I just feel like they make it his whole personality). Based on voice lines alone this man is cocky asf.

ꕥ There's a reason for his mask, yes he was bullied as a child because of his looks and that's one of the causes to his social anxiety but that doesn't mean this mf is shy. He just like to avoid people and social interactions yk. (Y'all have no idea how much I can relate to this)

ꕥ Has and will continue to use his height to his advantage, someone bothering you while you're both sat having a wonderful time together? This mf stands the fuck up, shoulders back, chest out and everything. Looming over that person while glaring down, arms crossed while they're engulfed by the shadow of this 6'10 behemoth of a man.

ꕥ Chubby!Reader? He'll throw you over his shoulders, only using one arm below your ass while he carries you off. Seriously it is no problem to this man, he'd beg you to sit on his face and suffocate him. If anything I'd say he has a preference for it yk, very soft and plush reader for real.

ꕥ Our DIY king here wearing a shirt for a hood, his hair sticking out of the hole for the head whenever he's dressing casual. Play with his hair like right now, you'll make him melt right then and there.

ꕥ Enjoys cuddling, hasn't had many partners and by that I mean kinda none. Nobody was insane enough to approach him till you came around so he's very touch starved. He didn't even know he enjoyed touching that much till he was able to feel the amount of warmth your body gives him. He'd swear on his life that he was intoxicated in that moment.

ꕥ Whenever you sit or straddle on his lap, he's still so fucking tall. I swear you will gain neck pains if you wanna keep eye contact while talking to him. (I understand the struggle, I am a 5'1 girly. Every character I know within the CoD universe is taller than me 😭)

ꕥ Doesn't actually wear his mask around you, he's comfortable and trust you enough to know you wouldn't go around telling everyone what he looks like.

ꕥ Nicknames he'd call you in German are Mein Schatz, Fräulein, Liebling, Engel and Kleine Maus

ꕥ He's still definitely bitter about not being a sniper. (AHAHAHA)

Kim "Horangi" Hong-jin

ꕥ (IF I'M BEING HONEST, I DID NOT EXPECT HIS VOICE TO BE THAT DEEP. ALSO HIS VOICE LINES IN KOREAN/HANGUL (IDK WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT)

ꕥ He has doodles on his tactical gear that he did himself (there are also one that are a tribute to squid game because man's had a gambling addiction), has asked you to draw on it too and he proudly wears it when on duty. Will feel stupid while unconsciously smiling if you draw a heart.

ꕥ Writing something down on his vest from your own mother tongue and he's asking the meaning, if it's genuinely something good like a compliment or something like "I love you" then you will catch this man with a shit eating grin.

ꕥ He used to be a gambler before entering the military and it eventually got him to stop, though he still has a thing for risk, he got himself a more deadlier alternative.

ꕥ Expect surprise back hugs, this man isn't called Horangi for nothing. He's stealthy, I like to think that whatever he says to you is well thought out as well. Man knows how to think before he speaks.

ꕥ Horangi likes to pounce on things, just for the fun of it. It leads him to tackle you on your shared bed a lot, lots of play fighting too.

ꕥ HAS THE PRETTIEST EYES EVER. Like seriously, the only people who knows what he looks like is you and König. Had gentle eyes, you know that quote "His eyes softened", yeah that's the definition of his eyes.

ꕥ Loves it when you trace the veins on his arms with your finger nails, will just straight up offer his arm to you.

Keegan P. Russ

ꕥ This man and his panty dropping voice like holy hell I have never heard a voice as deep as his without a vocal fry (from those try hard guys on TikTok who try to hard thinking their thirst traps are good).

ꕥ Calls you "kid" in an affectionate way? It's honestly just what he calls anyone younger than him, you're shorter? He'll emphasize on that shit. Elaborating on the nickname I said earlier, he uses it less when y'all are dating but still does on some occasions.

ꕥ Would say the most dirty and uncalled for things, whispering it in your ears. He's and asshole in the best way possible, loves it when you gasp and playfully slap his chest.

ꕥ He's sweet though, would see you as his wife even if you're not married. You're his now, the moment you entered his life, he basically had a death grip on you.

ꕥ Something tells me that he likes talking about you or to you through radios yk. His voice sounding even deeper through the device, calling you doll even though he's supposed to refer to you with your call sign.

ꕥ Praise kink? I mean you've more likely heard his voice lines, is the type of man to praise you and ruffle your hair, either that or he'll kiss you depending on what stage of your relationship you are both in.

ꕥ Constantly thinks his eyes are weird even though they aren't, he just has sleepy eyes. Speaking of sleeping, I feel like he has such a fucked up sleeping schedule and is used to pulling all nighters more than the normal person.

ꕥ Will drag you in bed though and lay his whole weight on top of you because you ain't going nowhere, you are staying there with him and only him.

Philip Graves

ꕥ (If it isn't "Fix It Felix", please tell me I'm not the only one who sees it AHAHAHA)

ꕥ Philip is touchy, somebody for the love of everything that is holy cuddle this man please. He is just screaming at any type of physical contact at this point. (My sources? Right fucking here)

ꕥ Is the type of boyfriend to come home to you and just hug you, y'all would be there for a solid 10 minutes before he lets you go. Burying his head into your neck and just inhaling your scent while having his arms wrapped tightly around you.

ꕥ His Shadows? More like his fucking children, again going back to the TikTok. He knows how to get their attention, the little pats on the shoulder and small praises are his way of saying they did a good job and they're eating it up.

ꕥ That being said, you are either gonna be their mother figure or someone they enjoy protecting because their dad is so fond of you. Why not be both right?

ꕥ You cannot tell me this man won't be next to the grill, spatula, tongs or whatever kitchen utensil in one hand and a cold bottle of beer in the other.

ꕥ Spends his weekends with you on his lap while he watches football in your guys' couch, you're definitely scrolling on your phone during this.

ꕥ You cannot tell me this man doesn't wear cowboy hats and boots because he certainly does, is it a turn on or a turn off? I genuinely do not know..

ꕥ Is fruity on some aspects but would never fucking admit it..

Makarov

ꕥ Y'ALL ACTUALLY THOUGHT I'D WRITE FOR THIS MAN? NAH THIS ACC IS WHOLESOME (OR ANGSTY) AND ION THINK THIS MAN IS SALVAGEABLE. (This came from a girl who once was obsessed with Tom Riddle for years when she was 13, I recovered from it dw)

ꕥ This man would literally use anyone and anything as leverage for whatever he wants to achieve. (Yes I am one of those "I can fix him" people but damn idk if this man is fixable)

ꕥ Please don't tell me you actually genuinely think this man would be good to you.. I knew what I was writing was unrealistic but damn y'all are delulu on another level (so am I, stay delulu). Jokes aside I love y'all and he's one of the few I won't write for. (AHEM Severus Snape (that greasy mop haired mf)

ꕥ And yes I understand most of my shit are kind of OOC but damn if I wrote him, it would be extremely fucking far from canon and I don't like romanticizing toxic relationships (if I ever do write it, it will be angst and I can't ever promise a happy ending).

ꕥ Happy April fool's! (I know I'm posting this end of September (it's actually October now 😭)

[rationalnerd62]

I'm feeling weirdly about C3 ending next week (I guess there's some sadness mixed with other stuff, but me, putting feelings into words? Not in my autism), so instead of thinking too much about those feelings, I want to list random things about Bell's Hells I'd like to get resolved or developed, either in that 8.5h finale or in future BH one-shots (cause they've got to have some one day, right? Right?).

It's in no particular order whatsoever, I'm just putting random thoughts out there (and hoping to see other people's random thoughts too).

Titans' shenanigans! Both Ashton and Fearne absorbed a shard, and got some nice abilities out of it, but is there more to explore here? What does this mean for the elemental life of Exandria? Is this a path to some resurgence of the Titans? Are there other shards elsewhere? Will Ashton ever meet some remains of the cult their parents were in? Is that something they're still interested in knowing more about?

Ludinus! I am hoping this won't get resolved in the finale, because this would give big Trent M9 finale vibes and feel rushed, but that damn elf is still somewhere out there! What are his goals now that Predathos is out / the BH finale deals with the Gods in a way or another? Will he ever come back to haunt our characters?

Laudna! The Matron hinted that there was a possible path to her getting back what got stolen from her (aka her mortality). While I never would want for her to become a "normal human mortal" (she should still be able to get a form of dread and play with shadow and have fun with some of her "monstrous" powers!), I honestly will hate it if my favourite CR couple is *another one* of those couples with wildly different aging speed and one of the member of the couple has to outline the other for decades or centuries. Let Imogen and Laudna grow old together in their little cottage! They deserve it! I could see that being resolved as a "gift" from the Gods (if there's a good outcome with them), but I also wouldn't say no to a post-canon story (one shot, novel, comics, who knows) centered on this. I could see both Imogen and Laudna having made their peace with this, and then maybe in a few years they're starting to talk about kids, and there's this realization that Laudna will also outlive those, and that's when she decides that she needs to do *something*. I don't know whether that's possible, but Matthew! More impossible things have been done in your world!

The Shade Mother! Is she still under Jrusar? It's kinda funny that BH's first main arc ended up with them running away and never finishing there ahaha.

Similarly, will they ever go down to find FCG's coin that Orym had thrown under Jrusar? I know at least some of the cast mentioned being curious about that.

Hey, talking about FCC, will BH Talk with Frida? What about D? Our group really didn't have much time to mourn him, so maybe finding the answers FCG was looking for regarding who he is would be a way for them to process their grief.

(I just had a thought about Ashton going back to Jrusar and Milo without FCG and this broke my heart)

Dorian and his family! He has mentioned them before, and we've met his father, but seeing where he grew up and having him introduce Orym would be nice. And vice versa with Orym introducing Dorian to his family (as his partner instead of his friend). But I'm hopeful this'll get brought up in the finale.

Imodna wedding! Because Laura Bailey deserves to have three weddings one-shot.

More Unseelie stuff! Idk, I feel like there was still more to do wrt Fearne & the Feys.

I'm hoping for a moment with Imogen and her parents in the finale. It's really the end of a big journey for Liliana, but there's another journey to start, about rebuilding (or trying to rebuild) those relationships that got affected by her search for answers. There's a "back from the war" vibe here, and I want to see it.

VM got some pre-campaign comics, M9 got some individual character origins comics, BH also deserves some comics! But what type? I'm not sure how I'd feel if it was exactly as what M9 got, so I'm hoping they'll get some original ideas within the CR crew!

Last (for now) but not least, when is Chetney finally going to die?

[elsa-fogen]

Oh, thinking more

What if the hunter that shot Alastor was Vox?

Like, I doubt it, but we "know" they had dogs, so I was thinking about who if any has anything resembling dogs? And the only one I can think of is Vox, like he had two sharks in the show plus some dog-shark creature in the insta stories

So, what if he was pretty young, loved radio and any new technology, so he was a fan of Alastor's. In addition, he had just started to learn how to hunt and wanting to impress his parents went out late to practice, took the dogs so that he could just say he went out with them if anyone asked

Then out in the woods, the dogs start to bark and he readies his gun, mostly just to better his aim, not intending to shoot. Then he sees the figure rise, he can't fully comprehend it before he takes the shot. He can hear a thud. He got it? He got it! He shot a deer!

Oh.

That's gonna be hard to hide.

Should he tell dad that he was able to shoot a deer? Like, yay, he did it! But also, no, he went out with dads gun without permission.

He approaches the deer, trying to figure out what to do with it, only to freeze when he gazes upon it.

It's not a deer.

It's a-

He-

This is bad.

That was the last time he went hunting. He can't get the image out of his head. He'll never forget that face.

The worst part was, he knew who it was. He had figured it out when he saw a missing poster of his favorite radio host.

He still liked technology, and to drown out the past that's where all his focus went. He wanted to be a big part of TV just like Alastor had been a big part of Radio. It was his way of honouring Alastor.

Still, sometimes it was hard to listen to the radio, that's why his focus was on the TV. They where practically the same, just some extra visuals, distractions, it was practically an upgrade. He just knew Alastor would agree, that man was always on the forefront of what was new in radio.

Surely, if he was alive, then he would have obviously pivoted towards TV after realizing the benefits of the medium

___

Imagen then how Vox would reach when seeing Alastor for the first time in hell. Like he doesn't know if Alastor is aware that it was Vox, but if he does maybe he won't recognize Vox? He has a TV for a head now, not really a human feature. Still though, he can't help but want to spend time with Alastor, tell of all that has happened in the world and share with him how Amazing the TV had become

DAMN BAEWSBNFSDYGUFKDGHFS

ANONS ARE FEEDING ME GOOD TODAY WTF?

✨✨✨THE TRAUMA✨✨✨

THIS IS INSANE remember the "sad and complicated" IT KINDA FITS LOL AHAHA-- THIS EXPLAINS WHY VOX IS SO OBSESSED WITH ALASTOR

IMAGINE JUST IMAGINE, NEXT SEASON THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIGHT AND VOX SAYS SOMETHING LIKE, I KILLED YOU ONCE, I'LL KILL YOU AGAIN AND ALASTOR'S JUST WHAT AND EVERYTHING STOPS WHILE BOTH REALISE WHAT WAS JUST SAID

That would be such a cool turn, like. Vox clinging to Alastor in pathetic attempt to apologise for killing him and make up for it, and get waht they could have in life if he haven't killed him. And Alastor just doesn't understand Vox's behavior nor the reasons for it

AND WHEN VOX SAYS THAT HE KILLED HIM IN LIFE EVERYTHING BECOMES CLEAR AND ALASTOR JUST LAUGHS LIKE, HOW PATHETIC YOU ARE, HE'S NOT EVEN ANGRY, BECAUSE VOX JUST BECOME EVEN MORE PATHETIC IN HIS EYES. HE KILLED HIM AND THEN WAS IN SHOCK HIS WHOLE LIFE WHILE ALASTOR KILLED MUCH MORE AND NEVER FELT REMORSE FOR A SINGLE ONE

[docholligay]

With all due respect, hate you, hate you so much, you got such a great vision of Roy and Hawkeye it makes me want to be able to fund you liveblogging both versions of the anime and the manga. Like, what the hell, you're not even as deep as all of us on this side, and you just do *that*. Gets me mad in a way that I got to go write something about them too

I HAVE ONLY SEEN UP TO EPISODE 15 OF THE 2003 ANIME PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T SPOIL ME I AM REALLY ENJOYING MYSELF.

You know, sometimes in life, you just have to go, "Oh. Guess I'm here now." Same thing happened to me when I first got into Overwatch and I was like, "Oh, the untouchable unreachable cold assassin will be my girl!" and Tracer popped up like, "Did you mean the unfailingly brave and cheerful one? It is now!" (also, the main protagonist??? Or at least she was at the time. Never happens for me.)

I basically feel like I was punched in the back of the head in a dark alleyway by the relationship between those two. I am obsessed with whatever insane bullshit it is they have going on. The mind whirs. I like Roy and Hawkeye a lot individually, sure, but I don't know that they would, absent each other occupy all that much of my brainspace. But together!! Together!

Anyway, it's hilariously to the point where I almost don't want to watch more (I will, don't worry) because I very much love the vision I have of them cooked up in my head and I don't want to have something happen where it stops being fun for me, like, god forbid they kiss or some shit. I am trying not to get too attached to the thoughts I have about them, but when you watch a show the way I do, it involves a lot of ACTIVE watching and not passive watching, so I feel like a participant in the story. This can be really good--if I love something I tend to really love it and have lots to say--but it also means I get more disappointed than someone who binges the whole thing.

PLEASE DON'T SPOIL ME FOR ANY THING OR ANY VERSION

ANYWAY, this was a really nice comment! I am so happy that people who like Roy and Hawkeye seem to enjoy my take on them despite me not having much other than vibes to go on. They are very fun to think about. Having a great time.

They're so fucked up that I can't imagine them getting out and doing something different and better. Would they even know how to function in normal society? I can't see Hawkeye working in like, a cafe ahaha. Has Roy ever been allowed to learn how to warm and create with his alchemy, or is it all just destruction and COULD it even ever be something good?

AGAIN, I AM, A WOMAN ONLY 1/5 OF THE WAY THROUGH THE 2003 ANIME, AM JUST TLAKING OUT LOUD FOR MY OWN ENJOYMENT AND TO TORTURE MY FOLLOWERS. PLEAAAAASSSEEE DON'T SPOIL.

I think maybe Roy knows how utterly fucked he is for civilian life and part of his 'dog of the military' warning is 'if you grow around this metal pole, you won't be able to leave it alive'. Maybe. But Hawkeye, no I think--well in fairness I don't that she's thought it that far out, nor cares to. I think she's probably assumed she'll die in the service and that'll be that. Not in a melodramatic way, just, matter of fact*. How could she ever retire, even? Would she leave with Roy, if he asked? Would he ever be so unkind as to ask her? Even if he managed to find the will to walk out?

He's a mess, and she's a mess, and they are messes in completely different ways, and I am glad it inspires you to think about them some more as well!!

*Eta: I also think she underestimates how deeply Roy would mourn her. Not in a 'I'm not worth anything :(" way, I just think there's a part of her that doesn't like the idea of somehow being the cause of Roy being more of a disaster than he already is so she is just like, "It'll be fine. Hughes will have to step up. He'll be fine." But Roy has like two friends and Hughes is a functional human being.

AGAIN PLS NO SPOIL!!

[roseykat]

TITLE: Play Night

SUMMARY: Things between Jisung and Hyunjin are heating up, and leading towards their group trip to Jeju, Jisung needs to clear a few things up with Chan; about you and him and the current secret bet in place that he unintentionally started.

TAGS: smut, handjobs, orgasms, kissing, making out, hickies, soft/fluff/slice of life moments, swearing, slight confrontation (nothing toxic), use of alcohol (Hyunjin is slightly drunk but what takes place after is consensual), some Harry Potter spoilers/references (sorry if you haven't watched HP)?

WARNING: minors DNI with this post or my blog. I create NSFW SKZ related content and I know I won’t be able to regulate/monitor every potential interaction with those posts so please do not engage with me, my work, or page whatsoever.

MASTERLIST - PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4

🏷️LIST: @chillichillicrabcrab23 @broken-glowsticks @ihatemen55 @boi-bi-ahaha @galamxy @weareapackofstrays @anglerfishiey @elizalabs3 @princejisung @fr34k4c1dr41n @stayconnecteed @imnotjjini0325 @twinklix @meilix @dawn-iscozy @valibals @oiikaro @im-sinking-in-mud @aalexyuuuhm @baby-yongbok @1dk-anym0r3 @wealwayskeepfighting @flowersun @huening-kawaii @newhope8 @leftkittenface @20minsat180degrees @itsthatbri 🩷

“Oh, now this - what about this one?” 

Hyunjin hears Jisung’s voice from the aisle beside him where all the cold drinks are located. He himself had been scanning vigorously among the shelves for his favourite brand of ramen, only to come up short. They had been to four convenience stores prior and not one had what he was looking for. It landed them a trip further away than they had expected, but neither of them complained about wandering around far from where they were supposed to be.

After he straightens up and peeks his head over the snacks to see what Jisung was talking about, he shakes his head solemnly. 

“No. No, that one's grape flavoured and it tastes like children’s medicine,” he says to him. 

Jisung looks down at the purple can in his possession, “that’s oddly specific - oh, then what about orange-“

“Same thing.”

Jisung huffs and gives up, placing the can back where he found it in a disgruntled fashion, “you’re an easy man to please you know, but the minute it comes to food you’re so picky.” 

Hyunjin strolls around to meet Jisung on the other side after filling his basket with snacks that had caught his eye and wanted to eat during their movie night, “drinks aren’t food.” 

“Then what’s soup? A drink or a food?” He fires back.

“Not this again,” Hyunjin rolls his eyes and closes the fridge for Jisung who follows behind closely. 

They’ve been debating about this for a while now which started off as a very contentious pillow talk topic that now crops up frequently. Of course, they wouldn’t be themselves if they didn’t have opposing opinions. Jisung, who thinks that soup is absolutely a drink, has been pushing that agenda ever since the night he tried to cook French onion soup to impress Hyunjin.

Only, it wasn’t that impressive, and was rather just a slurry of tasteless onion water and zero seasoning. In order to not upset his friend for trying his hardest, Hyunjin did his best to stomach the interesting creation and honestly hoped that he never tried again.

“It’s an important question!” Jisung begins to protest, ready with an army of rebuttals and arguments. 

“Soup is a liquid food. That doesn’t mean to say it’s a drink, because you can eat soup. Plus, some soups have chunks of food in it too.” 

“That’s just vegetable water or meat water.”

“Meat water,” Hyunjin repeats in a disgusted tone. “So you’re also saying that plain water is soup too?”

“Well, if you heat it up-“

“Okay,” Hyunjin interrupts as he dumps all their items onto the counter and takes out his wallet to pay. “Stop talking.”

“Make me,” he mouths and teases quietly so that the cashier couldn’t hear him. “If you stuff my mouth with something big then it might get me to stop talking.” 

Hyunjin rolls his eyes, again. 

Nearly every waking moment that he’s around Jisung, there’s always a guarantee that he’ll make Hyunjin’s eyes roll; whether it’s because of some weird shit that comes out of his mouth, or whether it’s giving him an orgasm. Whatever the reason, Hyunjin pretends to ignore him as he collects his goods, then heads out with his best friend at his side. 

The entire commute back to his apartment, Jisung kept talking. On and on, and on about an assortment of subjects that Hyunjin had no interest in. At least not now. Not when all he wanted to do was go home, not speak, and just laze around with Jisung like he has been for the past few weeks. That thought seems to trigger a very sobering realisation that dawns on him as they ride the train back to his place.

As Hyunjin looks at the side of Jisung’s face who’s been rambling on about his opinion on the best types of pasta, he realises that they’ve been hooking up for the past few weeks. They kiss, make out, do other things, but not once have they had sex. Yet. They haven’t even talked about it, and yet, a part of Hyunjin had to wonder; was there any point in even talking let alone thinking about it if whatever is going on between them, isn’t going to last? 

His eyebrows knit together. He doesn’t want to think about that. Hyunjin doesn’t know whatever feelings Jisung has right now, but the one thing he knows is that he likes the sense of comfort that hanging around him brings. What if he asks and disrupts what they have? What if he asks and ruins Jisung’s thoughts on him?

As those questions infiltrate his psyche, his head lowers and comes to rest on Jisung’s shoulder, eyelids closing softly, “wake me up when we get to our stop please.” 

Jisung’s big brown eyes turn into the size of plates, a little bit taken aback that Hyunjin, a person who isn’t that huge on public displays of affection, is resting on him right now. Not to mention the privileged feeling that inflates Jisung whenever a person rests their head on his shoulder, which is very rare. It’s like some physical way of saying that Hyunjin trusts him, or feels comfortable around him at the very least. 

He scans up and down the cart where no members of the public come into his view. Grateful for their absence, Jisung feels safe by reciprocating the same affections. So he places his hand on Hyunjin’s upper thigh, and he too rests his head against his friends’.

For the next five minutes, Jisung and Hyunjin would ride the train back to his place in peace. Neither of them spoke a word until they reached their stop. The pair of them hop up, Hyunjin stands and stretches his long limbs as he and his friend head inside the apartment complex. 

Once they return to his place, Hyunjin prepares all the snacks for them on his coffee table, while Jisung gets the movie ready that they - he - wanted to watch.

“Harry Potter? Again?” Hyunjin groans, taking the plastic wrap off of the kimbap to share and setting it down on the surface once they’ve both sunken down onto the couch. 

“What do you mean ‘again’?” Jisung shoots him a dirty look. He’s always been pretty serious about his Harry Potter, having watched the movies over a thousand times and read the books back to back. “This is the next part of the series, thank you.” 

Hyunjin sighs and makes himself comfortable. He then heads to his fridge to grab a couple of bottles of soju and some shot glasses. Back at the convenience store, he meant to buy something non alcoholic, had he not been so picky about the flavours Jisung presented to him he wouldn’t be deciding on whether he should have alcohol or not. In saying that, it was nice to have a drink.

He strolls back to the coffee table with their final items and places them all down.

"Oh, yum," Jisung gasps and reaches for the bottle, unscrews the cap and starts pouring the clear liquid into both shot glasses already.

Hyunjin stares at him as he downs the alcohol in one smooth go, "alright then..."

Jisung holds up the other shot glass for Hyunjin, "your turn."

He takes it in hand, careful not to spill it on the rug beneath him - then again, it's seen a lot more messier liquids on it than alcohol.

"Yuck," Hyunjin retches after swallowing half of the contents in the glass.

"Come on, you know you like it," Jisung nudges him. "You know the saying; if you can handle cum, you can handle alcohol."

Hyunjin nearly sprays out the rest of the alcohol from his mouth as a muddle of amusement, concern, and curiosity wakes him up more than the semi-burn of the drink does, "and who said that exactly?"

"Me," he answers. "Hence why I can take both so well."

Like some of the time, Jisung wasn't wrong and summed it up with another shot before he picked up the remote to play the movie. He settles back comfortably while Hyunjin takes another shot of the soju.

He makes it through the first twenty minutes of the film, then reaches the part where Harry Potter suddenly gets selected for the Triwizard Tournament. By that point, Hyunjin was sure the alcohol had fully trickled into his bloodstream when he wasn't able to tell the difference between Mad Eye Moody and Hagrid.

Frames started to blend together and yet, he thought it was still a good idea to continue drinking to see if that would help. However, most good idea turn to bad ones. The alcohol began to play absolutely no part in trying to help him make sense of the plot and made him focus on other things rather than the movie.

It was safe to say that he grew steadily bored when it came to watching it. At the same time, he didn't have the heart in him to express his opinion to the person beside him who was so wrapped up in the universe on screen. Jisung's eyes were completely glued to the digital motions before him whereas Hyunjin's eyes were glued to him.

Boredom strikes him bad when he feels the need to lean over and make his long body comfortable on Jisung. Hyunjin's upper torso stretches over his friend's lap who doesn't pay too much mind to it. Jisung even hangs his arms over Hyunjin's abdomen while he watches the film contently.

It's not the type of physical contact he wants right now.

"Jisungie," he mutters into the couch.

"Hmm?"

"Can we do something else?" Hyunjin pleads rather than asks.

He never gets a response. The lounge continues to be filled with dialogue - something along the lines of Ron Weasly now having a go at Harry for being inducted into the tournament and not telling him. Hyunjin's had enough of it and for whatever reason he feels like, he slides off of Jisung's lap. Half of his body slumps onto the ground while the other half remains somewhat on the couch.

"What are you doing?" he snorts, grabbing onto Hyunjin's hands and trying to hoist him back up.

He awkwardly anchors his legs around Jisung's body in an effort to help pull himself up as well but ends up knocking his head on the edge of the coffee table. With a delayed reaction, Hyunjin winces and then laughs as he tries to rub his own head even while Jisung is still trying to save him from falling off completely.

"Here just - just stop moving so I can help," he leans back and uses all his arm strength to move what is practically dead weight to him.

Hyunjin puts in zero effort to help and instead becomes a giggling mess the second he's actually able to get back into Jisung's lap. When he does, his long limp limbs wrap themselves around the man beneath him. He hides his face in the crook of his neck, the sudden whiff of Jisung's skin almost makes him dizzy, making his mood do a complete one eighty degree turn.

It creates immense difficulty in trying to swallow the urge to plant a kiss over the soft area, earning a very quiet yet distinct hum from Jisung. Hyunjin repeats the same action, longer this time and in different spots that his tongue can swipe over. The grip Hyunjin barely knew was there on his hips, twitched in place. As if Jisung's nails are trying to dig into Hyunjin's flesh had he not worn clothes.

"Hey," Jisung alerts him. “Can’t watch the movie if all you’re trying to do is get on my dick- ah…”

Hyunjin’s mouth shuts his right up from one sharp suck into his skin. His tongue flattens over the fresh red plum mark. The sight of it alone makes Hyunjin want to decorate them over every inch of Jisung’s body, similar to the style of how he would paint a canvas - which he does. Over as much skin as Jisung lets him when he moves his head to allow Hyunjin to cover more skin.

“Y-You’ll…you’ll get me hard,” he warns, now unable to concentrate on the film.

Hyunjin pulls away from his neck, giving him a rest from the myriad of hickies he’ll have to worry about later, and looks him down in the eye, “that’s sort of the point.”

Their mouths draw together like magnets, like they’ve been doing for weeks. Every day they find their lips on the others or some body party of theirs. Jisung gets to relish and dawn in the softness of Hyunjin’s lips, letting him slip past further to explore his mouth. His needs not only start to show through in his pants, but in his breathing and frantic pace of trying to feel Jisung that he almost can’t keep up with him.

So he decides that he needs to contain him a bit, bring him down a few notches to reminds him that he’s not in charge - at least for now.

With that, Jisung wraps his hand right around Hyunjin’s waist and manoeuvres him onto his back. The abrupt shift in control makes him act up almost instantly. Hyunjin is grabbing at Jisung’s shirt trying pull his body back down to his, but his muscles are weak and tired from drinking that it makes it too easy for Jisung to straddle his hips and pin his hands to the side of his head.

“Look what you’ve done to yourself,” he tells Hyunjin right in his ear while he rolls his ass down over the dick that's hardening underneath him. "Gonna be fucking begging when I'm through with you."

At that point, the pair had gone beyond the fact of not completing a full movie night. With the way that Jisung continues to pin Hyunjin back and exchange the manifold of hickies across the planes of his throat and neck. If anyone walked into the apartment, they would’ve thought vampires truly existed with the way Jisung’s mouth was latched onto his best friend’s skin.

“T-The movie,” Hyunjin stammers hopelessly with his words. “Jisung…the movie…”

Jisung lets out a sinister chuckle as he pushes himself back up to take off his shirt and tosses it somewhere around the lounge, "fuck the movie. You started this. This is what you wanted, isn't it? To rile me up and now you've gone all shy on me."

Hyunjin doesn't listen. His first instinct is to reach out and grab Jisung’s waist, to caress his hand freely for a few moments before gliding down and grasping the flesh over his hips. The slight sting in it makes him buck his hips forward and over Hyunjin’s clothed cock, making him groan lowly. He could cum easily like this - so easily and has done.

Every position they get into to practically dry hump each other, he always imagines that this is what it would be like if Jisung was riding his throbbing cock. To cum inside him and watch his face contorts the way that it does whenever Hyunjin makes him orgasm.

That thought sparks a wire in his brain, causing him to suddenly jerk his hips up and into Jisung. He smirks down at him, soaking up the state of the man beneath him. The hickies, red and wet kissable lips, dozy eyes that slowly blink up at him…

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Jisung mutters in exasperation like he's never seen Hyunjin's body before. “Just wanna f-”

Blaring on the coffee table next to all of the opened snacks was Jisung’s phone, he quickly bends over to the side to reach for it in urgency while still trying to straddle. Hyunjin twists his body carefully with Jisung still on top, picking the remote off the floor that had fallen after being pinned back. He pauses the movie for a moment to let Jisung answer his call. 

A small weight sinks in his stomach as he speaks in shock, “it’s Chan."

"M-Maybe you should answer it," Hyunjin tries his best to talk over the exponential rate of how much he is turned on right now.

“Hello?” He answers.

“Jisung! Do you not answer your texts? I sent about six just before!”

He pulls his phone away from his ear and checks his notifications. His friend was right, Jisung had in fact missed his messages. But not on purpose of course. If he hadn't been so busy provoking Hyunjin whose hands started sliding up Jisung’s thighs, dangerously close to his tented crotch, he would've seen the texts.

Hyunjin's fingertips delicately trace over where Jisung's cock begins to harden. His eyebrows furrow immediately as Chan continues speaking on the other end of the line about how he’s still surprised that Jisung didn’t answer him right away. 

“You’re always on your phone, I thought you might’ve been quick to respond,” says Chan.

“Oh, yeah not this time,” he responds truthfully, to some degree. “I’ve been watching Harry Potter all evening and-“

The words ready to leave Jisung's mouth die before they make it out as Hyunjin mischievously, and very clearly, starts to palm Jisung’s hard length over his pants. It didn’t take him that long to start leaking from his tip, creating a very visible dark patch over his shorts.

“…and-“

Hyunjin then reaches into the slot of the material, past his boxers and frees his cock. For a few moments, he takes away his hand just to admire how Jisung looks right now. The fact that he tried to finish what Hyunjin started, only to have the tables turned on him again. He flushes with embarrassment at the fact that without Hyunjin’s grasp around his length, his dick was able to stand tall on its own; so needy and desperate for touch. 

“And what?” Chan’s voice suddenly startles him out of his situation.

“And I just lost track of time, that’s all,” Jisung continues as calmly as he can.

“No worries. I haven’t watched Harry Potter in years. I think the last might’ve been Prisoner of Azkaban? No, Goblet of Fire? It was the one where…”

Chan’s voice drifts out of Jisung’s mind despite the fact that he’s right in his ear on the other line. His face contorts at the sudden pleasure he receives as Hyunjin takes hold of his neglected cock once more. His eyes dart sharply down to his own length and the large hand which begins to slowly tug. 

“…he gets chosen for the tournament when he really didn’t put his name into the cup…”

Jisung brings a shaky hand to his mouth, covering it immediately so as to mask and muffle something that could end up as a future regret. Hyunjin knows all too well what sort of sounds can come out of that mouth of his too, for it has reverberated around the walls of his apartment, stifled into his pillows, caught in the back of his throat which usually serves as a path for Hyunjin’s cum these days.

He’s heard it all before. 

For Jisung to keep a lid on all of those possibilities is a smart move, especially if they want to uphold the secrecy of their situation.  

“…and I’m pretty sure it’s the one where Cedric dies.” 

“Y-Yeah,” he responds shakily. “That’s the one we - I’m watching at the moment.”

“Maybe I should rewatch the first two,” Chan suggests to himself. “It’s the only series I can actually watch and understand without it being too complicated. I tried watching Lord of the Rings before but it’s too…”

Once more, Chan’s voice becomes a distant sound as Jisung tries to stop himself from bucking his hips into Hyunjin’s hand. But it’s not possible. He can’t just ignore the fact that he’s been horny since Hyunjin made him all hot and bothered, and now he’s built up to maximum capacity where his body craves release.  

“So what time suits you?” Chan asks randomly.

“Time for what?” Jisung responds back in confusion, his mind blending together like mush when Hyunjin has gotten into a steady pace.” 

“To hang out tomorrow!” 

“Oh, right! Ah - um, lunchtime? Twelve…” He suggests, his hips still rutting.

“Alright sounds good. I’ll see you there okay?” Chan asks.

“I’m cumming - I mean, I-I’ll come! I’ll be coming - going there,” Jisung stammers terribly with his words. “F-Fuck sorry, just…I’ll see you tomorrow.” 

Chan laughs on the other end of the line, “see you then.” 

Jisung has never hung up faster, the phone toppling out of his possession as he rocks his hips into Hyunjin’s grasp. It also gave him the ability to rut his ass against Hyunjin’s hard length below him. Then within a split second, the lid that Jisung was trying so hard to contain over what his body needed to do, came off.

“Fuck, gonna cum, m’cumming!” He cries out. 

Hyunjin grins, and does not dare let up on his hand twisting and gliding on the length currently in his power, “I heard you the first time. How humiliating would that have been for you if Chan realised you were getting a handjob. Too bad he can't hear you whining so pathetically-“

Air hitches in Jisung’s throat, and for a few seconds too long Hyunjin looks into his eyes and sees tears welling up. A terrible, cold sinking feeling expands in his stomach, making him realise that he just said something awful to Jisung. 

“W-Wait, I’m sorry, I didn’t-

It was too late. Loud moans rupture violently through Jisung’s chest - ones that Hyunjin knows his neighbours are familiar with by now because by no means is Han Jisung quiet. He will let Hyunjin know how he’s making his body feel now explodes from immense pressure. 

His rutting against Hyunjin’s cock becomes staggered as a result of trying to chase his orgasm. Jisung clutches onto Hyunjin’s shirt, the fabric balling up tightly along with his fist. He can’t stop, he doesn’t want to stop, until eventually that buildup releases erratically in flows of white that spill over his tip and dribble down Hyunjin’s hand. Jisung had never cum that hard from a handjob before. 

He finishes gasping for air when he starts coming down, slowly rocking his ass over Hyunjin’s crotch to ease himself off the euphoria. Beneath him is a different story. 

Hyunjin was mortified for making him cry, so shocked that he was frozen and couldn’t take his hand off of Jisung’s dick. But that didn’t matter. Jisung had the intention of finishing what he started, to feel so good that all his problems melted away. 

Hyunjin sits up immediately, so close to Jisung’s face as he needs to check in with his friend, “are you okay? I’m so, so sorry, I don’t even know why I said that. It just...it just came out of my mouth.” 

He wipes his eyes after a couple of tears fell down his face in the process of dry riding Hyunjin. Part of what just happened makes him laugh breathily and nods, “yeah. I’m okay.”

“Jisung, I’m really, really sorry,” he quickly says and means it, trying to look him in the eye.

“No, oh my god don’t be sorry,” he assures him. “I’m fine, seriously.”   

“Then…then why are you crying?” Hyunjin asks the million dollar question, still acting out of horror. 

He gives a lazy shrug, “I dunno how to explain it properly, but I like that kind of talk. It just…yeah. I’m not too sure. I suppose I teared up because I haven't actually cum that hard before.” 

“I…didn’t know you were into…that,” Hyunjin doesn’t know how to reply to that type of statement, now that he just found out his friend likes being humiliated. Out of all things Jisung would be into, it had to be that.

“There’s a lot of things you don’t know,” he replies, leaning over to the coffee table just a bit to pick up the box of tissues to clean Hyunjin’s hand. 

“W-What did Chan want?” He asks even though he doesn't want to stray away from the topic to make sure his friend is still okay.

Jisung slides off of his body and in between his legs rather awkwardly. From this stance, it’s easy to see the large tent in Hyunjin’s pants that he was grinding on as he made himself comfortable. He smooths the palm of his hand over Hyunjin's hard length and slowly back down. In doing so forces a couple of strained sighs out of his mouth. 

“Wants to hang out tomorrow,” he answers, reaching into Hyunjin’s shorts to feel his hard cock. The same cock that keeps him coming back, that makes him feel heated and irrational. 

In Jisung’s opinion, anyone would be lucky to have someone like his friend in front of him. Even though they haven’t had sex, he knows how Hyunjin fucks, having seen the way he made you cum weeks ago - it only makes Jisung wonder what it would be like to actually cum around Hyunjin’s cock. 

It’s what he wants, needs in fact whenever they’re together.

Hyunjin bites his lip and throws his head down onto the couch, “y-you going to?” 

“Course I am,” Jisung replies, thumbing over the dark pink tip that leaks clear glossy precum. “Need to ask him about Y/N and what the situation is there.” 

A dreadful ball of weight pummels Hyunjin from behind when he hears your name in the same sentence as ‘Chan’. Not to mention, as Jisung said, your ‘situation’ with him currently which Hyunjin doesn’t want to process. He likes being oblivious to the fact that Chan is sleeping with you. That he gets to fill you up, that he just gets to see you. Whether Jisung was telling the truth or not about you and him sleeping together, he acts as if you’re not to save himself from the reality of it. 

“D-Do you really need to?” Hyunjin asks hesitantly, fumbling terribly with his words as Jisung lowers his head down and licks one long stripe from the base of Hyunjin’s cock, right to his dark pink tip.

“Yes,” he confirms, but doesn’t truly tell him why for reasons far too similar to his friend here. 

After giving his answer, Jisung sinks his mouth onto Hyunjin’s cock, just half of it to tease him. Bobbing his head a couple of times causes Hyunjin’s to grab the side of the couch while the other flies to land on top of Jisung’s head. 

“What if…if he doesn’t say anything?” He questions breathlessly. 

Jisung pops back up, and leans over Hyunjin’s abdomen to ask him in his face, his question bears some perspective to the situation, “do you want me to blow you, or not?”

Hyunjin uses the hand that’s not ready to brace his body by the side of the couch and tucks a long lock of Jisung’s dark brown hair behind his ear, “yes.”  

“Then please shut your mouth and let me,” he demands. 

It wasn’t hard for Hyunjin’s eyelids to shut and squeeze together. Receiving a blowjob from Jisung always feels like he’s had his soul sucked out of him; he doesn’t know where he learned it, but isn’t complaining either because it put Hyunjin to sleep ten minutes after they cleaned themselves up. By the time he and Jisung crawled into bed together, he had forgotten having the conversation with Jisung about you and Chan. Yet, only to be reminded of it the following day when Jisung woke up at half past eleven in the morning. 

He was scheduled to meet Chan at one of his favourite lunch spots nearby and was in no mood to meet him. Being the morning person he is not, Jisung found himself struggling immensely to get out of bed and Hyunjin’s long arms that were encasing him. 

Although he didn’t feel like leaving, he thought it would be best to just go as it had been a while since he saw Chan last. More importantly, he needed to confront him about what’s going on. Mainly for his own piece of mind.

He remembers something in his stomach sinking when he read that text on your phone. Despite the intense shock he felt when he discovered that you and Chan were hooking up, he wasn’t able to diverge from his own feelings. Something which he struggles to get across and might depending on the outcome of the lunch with one of the people in question. 

Jisung steps out of the shower with a towel around his waist as he goes to sit on the end of the bed to open some of the drawers to his dresser. He pulls out a cream coloured jersey, some underwear, and a pair of sweatpants.

The fact that he needs to borrow so many articles of clothing is just another potent reminder that he should be packing and taking an overnight bag whenever he goes to hang out with Hyunjin. Nine times out of ten, Jisung will always say he’s only coming over for the afternoon then ends up staying for more than one day at a time.   

The sheets ruffle beneath Hyunjin’s body as he stirs himself awake. He sits up, bed head on full view and eyes barely open, “what are you doing?” 

“Borrowing some clothes,” Jisung answers trying to ignore how hot his morning voice sounds. “I’ll bring you back some food to compensate.” 

“You said that last time,” he grumbles sleepily. “I’m also down four of my favourite jerseys because of you.”

Jisung throws on the material over his top half before crawling his way on the mattress to Hyunjin. He kisses him unexpectedly yet expectedly on the lips.

“Just go back to sleep,” he whispers. “I’ll see you after.”

With his confirmation, Hyunjin’s top half flops back against the mattress before Jisung pulls the white duvet back over his body, tucking him in. He had no trouble falling back asleep when Jisung lightly brushes some strands of his hair out of his face. However, without the distraction of him touching Hyunjin, Jisung couldn’t help but feel nervous.

He already knew that you and Chan were sleeping together. That text long affirmed that. Yet for how long and what for remained to be a sickening twist of fearful questions lugging Jisung’s stomach down. He didn’t really want to hear the answers from Chan if he can even stomach that conversation. He didn’t want to hear ‘yes we’ve been fucking’ or the ‘yeah, it’s true’ answers. 

In saying that, Jisung has a trait of bottomless curiosity. That itch to find out for his own personal gain was going to make or break him. At that, he dons on the matching coloured sweats, grabs his phone and wallet, and then heads out of Hyunjin’s apartment. 

After a train ride away, it doesn’t take long for Jisung to arrive, and apparently not for Chan either, who was already seated, waiting for his friend. An assortment of dishes had already been brought to the table, making Jisung realise how hungry he was since breakfast was no longer. 

“How the fuck did you get here so fast, you live on the other side of the city,” Jisung exclaims to him from behind as he approaches.

“Hey. I couldn’t wait any longer because I was hungry,” Chan complains in a whiny tone. “Came here earlier to order, so I couldn’t wait.”

“Good, that makes things easier because I didn’t know what I was going to get anyway,” he replies and sits down in the booth opposite Chan. He hasn't changed much. Then again, it hasn't been too long since he's seen him last. “Been busy?”

He shakes his head, “you have no idea.” 

“Thought you might’ve been,” Jisung responds, eyeing him intently to see if he gives off even the subtlest signs of a lie. “Haven’t seen you in almost a month, what’ve you been up to?” 

Chan shrugs, “work and tutoring some of these students at the University.” 

Jisung gives a firm nod, believing him and understanding how tiresome that must be to help teach students. It’s not until he pauses and realises that Uni semesters haven’t started yet. Even summer semester students are on break. He could’ve called him out on his bullshit now to see what answers he would get, but for the sake of wanting to find out other information, he keeps that to himself. 

“Shit, sounds tough,” Jisung sympathises with him, or at least tries to if he was lying.

“How ‘bout you?” 

“Same old. Working - you’re still coming to Jeju right?” He asks on a different subject.

“Yeah, of course. I took leave for it,” Chan answers as a puzzled look then befalls on his face. For a moment, his eyes narrow at Jisung, or rather his chest, trying to decipher what’s wrong with the picture he’s currently seeing. 

“What?” He asks, trying to follow his gaze.  

“You and Hyunjin have the same jersey,” Chan points out, realising what the flaw was. 

“Oh, I know, that loser keeps copying everything I wear,” Jisung quickly plays it cool because unbeknownst to Chan, it is in fact Hyunjin’s jersey. 

“Why are you wearing a scarf by the way?” Jisung tries to direct the attention away from himself

He hadn’t noticed the black item wrapped warmly around Chan’s neck until he began to panic whilst digging up something else to switch topics. The heat Jisung feels like he’s already being dragged under was starting to make him feel uneasy.

“The same reason you’re wearing a jersey on a thirty degree day,” Chan fires back just as fast but more nonchalantly to just about make Jisung sweat. 

It forces him to wonder what on earth this reason is that his friend is talking about, and why he’s being so cryptic. 

His face twists into confusion, mildly surprised when he realises Chan is trying to clock him for something that he doesn’t even know about or what for. Then again, it’s Chan. When is he not this observant? 

“And what reason is that?” He responds with an accusatory tone. 

Chan doesn’t answer, not directly. He only lifts his chin up slightly and points to his own throat, confusing the hell out of Jisung as to what he means. When it’s clear that the message can’t cross his mind, Chan rolls his eyes, and reaches into his pockets to take out his phone. He pulls up the selfie camera mode and hands it to Jisung to look at. 

Apart from seeing his own reflection, he can see something else; a few splotches of dark, reddish marks littered all over his throat. At first he thought he had a rash, but wasn’t too sure what he was looking at. However, upon closer inspection, he moves the camera a bit closer to his throat and takes a photo on Chan’s phone to see it better. 

After his quick analysis, Jisung knew instantly what they were. More importantly, who it came from. Hickies, and from none other than the only person he’s been messing around with, Hyunjin. Jisung didn’t even bother covering them up.

He hastily hands Chan’s phone back after deleting the photo, “so what?”

“Suppose you forgot you had them, judging by your reaction,” Chan guessed correctly, completely stumping Jisung who’s nearly lifting his own body off his seat as he tries to come up with an argument. 

“Well…I suppose you didn’t know that I know you and Y/N are fucking which explains the scarf too but here we are!” He blurts out before he even has time to think about stopping the words from coming out of his mouth.

Chan’s hand stalls over the pot of stew while Jisung’s lips are pursed together. All the colour in his face has drained, almost making him feel lightheaded that he just said that out loud. In saying that, this is exactly the topic he wanted to discuss - you and Chan. He just wasn’t expecting the conversation to meander in such a way that nearly exposes himself and threw him way off the track of ever raising the subject. 

“And what makes you think that?” Chan resumes ladling some of the hot stew into his bowl of rice. 

Jisung knows that you can’t unring a bell so makes the split decision and decides to come clean, “I was using Y/N’s phone for something, and that’s where I saw a text message from you, hinting that you guys were sleeping together.”

“Ah,” Chan recalls immediately at the sudden confession. “From that little truth or dare game you, her and Hyunjin played?” 

Jisung’s jaw unhinges, staring across the table towards his friend who seems to be a search engine for the topic of ‘everything Jisung has done lately.’ Nearly every minute that passes, Chan slaps him with a new fact that his friend wasn’t expecting him to know. 

“You - but, how did- did Hyunjin-“

Chan’s already shaking his head before Jisung can muster a proper sentence, “Hyunjin never said a word. In fact he hasn’t been replying to my texts so I haven’t heard from him.”

“Then…then Y/N?” 

“Well it couldn’t have been you or anyone else that was there.” 

Jisung isn’t angry. He’s just shocked that he keeps getting one upped. Chan finding out that Jisung had a threesome with two of his best friends - one of them who he’s been fucking for some time now too - was far more of a juicy topic than just you and Chan seeing each other casually, which Jisung still doesn’t know the full details of. 

“Said she had never cum like that in her entire life,” Chan adds, burying Jisung another meter or so deeper into this hole of new scandalous information. 

His body freezes over. Suddenly, it’s not thirty degrees and everything feels cold. Jisung doesn’t ever really hear Chan talk about his sex life. Even when he was in a relationship with his ex, each of his friends tried to dissect as many details about it as they could. But they were never successful. That was a result of keeping things as private and low key as possible. 

Nevertheless, Chan’s crude and very straightforward words had knocked Jisung right off his feet. The fact that you had told him what must’ve been very clear details of that night at Hyunjin’s was a sign that it still lingered on your brain. Part of his ego secretly swells with joy because of it.

“Then I felt like I needed to outdo you guys after that,” he adds.

“What do you mean?” Jisung questions with a tone of an impending doom that looms over him. 

Chan smiles sweetly, memories stirring of that night in particular he had with you. It had to be one of the best times by far to him, “you know what I mean.”

Jisung’s skin stings with scorching hot jealousy; he knows exactly what Chan means. The fact of the matter is that he can’t believe he’s saying these types of things to him. Then again, there’s only one reason why Jisung would be so affected by it and he didn’t want to display that in front of Chan without figuring out what it means. But whatever it is that’s tugging at the organ beating hard and fast in his chest, makes him furious. 

“Alright then,” he replies unfazed as he possibly could, swallowing the tough pill before realising there was one other thing he wanted to mention. “Suppose you guys are still seeing each other.”

Chan looks Jisung right in his eyes as he slowly retracts the spoon out of his mouth, “maybe.” 

“So yes then.”

“What does it mean to you?” He tests him, almost sadistically.

“It means nothing to me,” Jisung answers rather bitterly and nastily, his entire aura switching up before he finds a new tether to lure the spotlight away from himself. “Just the fact that I told the others about you two, and they made a bet.”

Chan looks up, “a bet?”

“None of them believed me, so they made a bet to see whether you guys were or not even though I said so.” 

If he didn’t have food in his mouth, Chan would’ve laughed, instead a disgruntled chuckle came out along with a couple of specs of his rice, “course they wouldn’t! Why would they believe that the two polar opposite people would be screwing behind everyone’s back?”

“You're not mad?” Jisung checks to be sure.

He shakes his head, “course not, dunno if Y/N won’t be though. She said she likes keeping things pretty private-“

“Clearly not if she told you she had a threesome,” Jisung cuts him off at that point. 

“Well, there’s some exceptions to that,” Chan shrugs, finishing off his bowl of rice. “I don’t know if this means anything to you but, she wouldn’t shut up about sleeping with you and Hyunjin. She told me every single detail like for instance, when you and Hyunjin made out-“

The tongs fall out of Jisung’s tight grip and clatter onto the table. He brings his hands up to his eyes, covering his entire face to hide whatever embarrassing feelings that start to simmer on the surface. However, Chan didn’t seem to care and continued on with his points to prove. 

“-how she liked it when you went down on her, how you watched Hyunjin fuck her - I told you what I meant about the details, right? Anyway,” he says. “She was raving about it. And yet, when she and I started seeing each other casually, she said that she didn’t want me to tell anyone else. That I needed to take what we have to the grave.”

Jisung removes his hands away from his face and looks down at his own food, unsure if he can stomach any more of it with the way the conversation has been handled. The more he talks and thinks about you, the more he feels like he’s being filled up with this bad gloomy feeling. He has to wonder if Chan is just being plain cruel to him by dumping all of his thoughts and information onto him.

He has to wonder, would it have been better to stay oblivious rather than being teased with snippets of what you’ve been saying to Chan these past few weeks. Hearing about how much you enjoyed yourself with him and Hyunjin yet haven’t directly spoken to them since that night. 

“What are you saying?” Jisung questions, tired with the bullshit that’s starting to spike in their discussion. 

“The fact that she wants to keep our…activities a secret from people and rather them not find out about us, yet is the first to speak highly of what you, her and Hyunjin did, means something more than you think.” 

More than he thinks? Jisung can’t understand what that could’ve possibly meant. He sits there, bewildered and stumped. Unsure of what else to say.

“Right,” he responds. 

Chan watches him warily, trying to gauge his behaviour as he decides to change the topic, “so, what’s on the table for this bet?” 

Jisung quickly pries himself away from his messy mind and answers, “losers have to buy a days’ worth of food when we go to Jeju.”

Chan nods, impressed as he reaches for more meat on the grill and loads it into his bowl, “even less of a reason to be mad. Looks like I’ll be eating for free either way.” 

"Yeah, looks like it."

The span of Jisung's vocabulary seemed to fail him. That and the fact that he didn't really want to talk anymore. Yes, it was good to see one of his best friends, but the circumstances that developed throughout their lengthy conversation made him wish he stayed in bed with Hyunjin just the extra bit longer so he would have to cancel lunch.

He managed to finish off small bowls of food to not make himself appear out of character. One whiff of anything remotely aberrant on Jisung's behalf, and Chan would hold him hostage in the restaurant until he tells him what's wrong. Despite that, Chan noticed something off anyway.

He saw the way Jisung's face fell when he confirmed that he was sleeping with you. He saw how his shoulders drooped and then picked up when he mentioned that you told him about the night at Hyunjin's. He saw how defensive and sceptical Jisung became whenever he would just simply mention you.

He saw that Jisung was hiding something.

When both friends had finished enjoying their meals, they were greeted with a downpour of rain that would have them seeking refuge under the veranda of the restaurant once they were outside. Just before they bid farewell to each other, Chan quickly turns to Jisung and calls out.

“It’s okay if you like her,” he says out of nowhere. “Y/N and I are not what you might think we are and we made it clear to each other that we never will be. There’s nothing between her and I, just so you know.”

Jisung stares at him, not showing any emotions on his face even though deep down, his brain and insides are whirring with emotions he can't even fathom, “I don’t like her like that.” 

Chan laughs at him, unfazed with the sudden tension that seems to be slicing through them, “keep telling yourself that. See you next week.” 

Through the deluge of rain and shadows from the dark, dense clouds above, Chan runs off in the opposite direction to where he needs to head home. Jisung stands there defeated and shocked that Chan is onto his tail that he likes you. He knew that heading into meeting up with him meant that the truth was going to come out one way or the other. Suppose it was just not on his terms.

It stirs many thoughts as he throws his hood up and ducks out into the rain to head to the train station and back to the safety of Hyunjin.

When he returns, Jisung keys in the passcode to unlock the door to the apartment, and is smothered with a waft of a sweet decadent scent. Standing in the kitchen, Hyunjin was at the stove flipping over what looked to be pancakes which suddenly reminded Jisung-

“Fuck, oh my god. The food, I forgot to even order it,” Jisung groans when he closes the door behind him.

Hyunjin turns the element dial on low and spins around to lean on the counter, away from the stove tops, "it's okay. I felt like something sweet anyway."

Jisung sighs. It felt right to be back with Hyunjin once more even though he had only been out for a couple of hours. In saying that, his conversation with Chan was good but draining. It’s not that he doesn’t like him for telling him the truth, there’s absolutely no doubt about that. Chan is and will always be his friend.

There is no emotional connection between you and him and that’s all that matters to Jisung. However, it’s just the truth in itself that he has an issue with - you hooking up with Chan every now and then that is. It makes him feel uneasy and almost makes him feel like he’s doing something immoral by just sitting back and watching it happen.

The reality stings where he doesn’t like it so pushes himself from the edge of the bench and walks into Hyunjin’s body to retreat from his thoughts. Slightly taken aback but not oblivious to the strange display of emotions Jisung is presenting, Hyunjin sets the spatula down beside him and hugs his friend back. 

“You okay?” He questions, concern dripping all over his face.

Jisung nods his head on his chest, “yeah. Just socialising, now I’m tired.”

It wasn’t a lie, but not the truth either. Regardless, Hyunjin takes his word for it without thinking twice about it. He had completely forgotten why Jisung had gone to see Chan for in the first place.

“Wanna nap together?” 

“Didn’t you just wake up?” Jisung pulls one arm away from Hyunjin’s body while the other still rests there so that he can rub his eyes. 

"Well," Hyunjin looks away from him. "That's beside the point. Just...missed you is all too.”

"Cute," he grumbles, ignoring what the weight of those words truly means. "I should pack for next week though because knowing me, I'll leave everything until the last minute."

Hyunjin lets out a long sigh. He hasn't even thought about putting a suitcase together yet either, "true. I should probably start packing as well."

"Okay then let’s both get ready," Jisung looks up at him before leaning in to plant a soft kiss on Hyunjin's lips, slowly pulling away and says quietly; "see you in Jeju."

Hyunjin responds, look at him, “see you in Jeju.”

I strictly forbid and do not permit ANYONE or any user on any platform to copy, re-upload, translate, remake, or pass off any of my work here on Tumblr or to any other online platform whatsoever. Doing so will result in having your account suspended, deleted, taken down, and or permanently banned.

[vulpixisananimal]

[A: 4 C: 75]

[Warning, graphic violence.]

(Ramos) [Alex] {Nihil} |Jasmine| <Altiare>

"Oh you're such a flirt, my big Red Giant~"

[Loops teasing voice echoed down the street as you, they, and Isabeau walked home together.]

[Tonight was a rare moment of tranquility in your chaotic life. Loop led you and Isa to a secluded part of the city by the lake to stargaze. Loop was able to tell most of the stars apart, and was able to remember many of the constellations.]

"Dawww I just can't help it with you guys!" [Isabeau responded; his fun, silly self.] "I just wanna lean down and kiss you right now."

"Do it then, big guy." [You comment. Keeping your eyes ahead.]

"M-maybe I will- whUH-"

[You didn't need to turn to see Loop pull him down by the shirt to kiss him first. Heh, cute.]

[You do, however, turn so you can properly roll your eyes.] "Will I need to sleep somewhere else again tonight?"

"Oh like you’d be complaining~" [Loop giggled while Isabeau recovered from the effects of public affection.] “I’m sure Madame has plenty of room in her bed for you~”

"At least I have tact!" [You huff, then turn back around. Then do a double take.]

[It’s late, and you haven’t seen many people around at all. But there’s a stranger in a grey cloak a few meters down the street looking away from you.]

“. . . Eeeeverything alright?” [Isabeau asks, glancing behind him.] 

“. . . Yeah.” [You turn back and continue down the street.] “C’mon, I’d like to get at least some sleep tonight.”

[The three of you walk home a bit faster. You swear you’ve seen that stranger before. Was he following you? Maybe, but. . . No, probably not. You’re just tired and anxious. Chances are he’s some fan, or some poor mind controlled spy sent by Perci.]

[What were the Monets doing, anyways? As much as you loath to admit it, Perci was right about the sadness thing, well, things plural, in retrospect. A door to an old antique shop opens a few meters ahead of you--]

[Oh Speak of the void and he FUCKING appears!!!]

"Blinding-"

"Oh! Great!"

[Perci and Merlon stepped out of the antique shop laughing and joking to each other. They pause in the middle of the street, with Merlon leaning down and kissing Perci. And then, Merlon sees you. You start walking forward, faster, angrier.]

[That BITCH.]

"A-ah!!" [Perci turns to you.] "Alex! Loop! Isabeau! How are my favorite little saviors doing~?"

[You stop a few feet away, and try to make pulling a pen out of a pocket intimidating, Loop and Isabeau at your side.] "Better, if you weren't here."

"Ahaha, I can imagine." [Perci grumbled.] "So! Loop, have you all reconsidered my offer yet? Just one handshake and I could be out of your life!"

"Oh like that'll ever be an option~" [Loop giggles.] "You’re as trustworthy as a snake, Perci! And Merlon, you seem alright but you have terrible taste in men."

"I assure you I do not." [Merlon scowled.] 

"Listen, I know we haven't exactly gotten along, and usually I'd want to fix that, but. . ." [Isabeau crossed his arms.] "But you’re being obsessive! Siffrin told you no and that’s that!!!”

“I’m not being obsessive!!!” [Perci retorted.] “If anything I am deeply frustrated at your refusal to even listen to me!!!”

“Oh We’ve been listening alright.” [Loop puts a hand in front of their mouth.] “It’s just that we decided annoying you bears more fruit~”

"You ignorant-!" [Perci started to draw his blades, but hesitated when they were halfway unsheathed.] “. . .”

“. . . Cici?” [Merlon puts a hand on his shoulder.]

“No. We don’t need to fight. There’s no time limit to our negotiations, after all.” [He huffs, and sheathes his swords.] “I know you’re itching to try our plan, Mimi, but could you wait just a bit longer? Please?”

[Merlon pauses, and looks back to the three of you. They sigh.] “I, I will try, my love. For you-”

(Home and Return; Godnight sleep of imprisoning nightmares. Final rest of wickedness.)

[The thought boomed in your mind. It was, what, a book title? Or maybe a-]

[Perci dropped to the ground.]

"P-Perci?!?" [Merlon knelt at his side, eyes wild.] "What, how, what is-"

[You look confused to your two companions. Isabeau shrugged, Loop rolled an eye.]

“Sir Percival!!!” [From behind you, that stranger rushed past you, putting himself between you and the Monets.] “Perci- YOU!! You’re the one who abducted him!!!”

"W-what?!?" [Merlon's head snapped to glare at the newcomer.] "W-what, what do you- YOU!"

"I know you've been using Sir Percival for your, your schemes!!" [Said the stranger.] "I'm here to save him!!!"

(Hello, Perci.)

[That thought came from the stranger. You felt a familiar wave of fear from Perci as he lay on the ground. You could feel him struggling, feel his heart beat faster than a rabbit.]

(What- Y-you try to get up. H-how, how did, you, find, ah-)

(Ah? Did you forget your manners while on your little escapade? No matter, you'll relearn your place in due time.)

"Save him?" [Isabeau asks.] "Wait, you’re saying Merlon’s been using him?"

"Y-yes!! I've been looking for him for years!!" [The stranger turned to you, his face a painting of agony.] "Oh the saviors, t-thank you I, I-I'm sure I can take it from here, but. . ."

[You look at Loop and Isa again. What were they thinking. . ?]

(Why did Perci just collapse?!? You lower your fists, Something seems wrong.)

[Well, that seems wildly out of character! You glance at Alex. Don’t you agree~?]

[You smirk. Loop couldn’t hear your thoughts back, but a smirk could get the message across. Looking back at the scene in front of you, Merlons eyes were devoured with rage, and the stranger looked far too confident. You focus back on the conversation.]

(I must say, it was such a disappointment, seeing your absence. You had the makings of a great leader, and yet you threw it all away, and for what? An outsider? A forgotten? A sheep? You could do so much better than her, you know, you could have any man or woman in the country! If only you just listened to my lectures. . . You should be ashamed of yourself, Percival, truly ashamed.)

(FUCK. YOU. DO NOT-)

(Oh? Have you regrown your tongue? I'll make sure to fix that before we get back. I'm certain all the tools are still in place, perfect for if you keep up your disobedience. What should we start with, Percival? Another finger, perhaps?)

[You wince, hand to your head as- (NONONONO PLEASE ANYTHING BUT-) -Percis thoughts scream- (HURTS RIPPING TEARING BURNING-) -into your own hea- (YOU CAN'T MOVE YOU NEED-) -stars ABOVE!!]

"LIAR!!!" [Merlon shouts, standing up, light crackling at their fingertips.] "You are no friend to him!!"

[You focus on Perci and the stranger more; ignoring the auditory conversation.]

(You're only making this harder on yourself, you know. There is no one to hear you scream here, just you, and me; but you should know that by now. Don’t worry, you and I both know how good I am at correcting troublesome little things like you.)

(J-just, don't touch Merlon please, p-please you, please-)

"Saviors, I-I" [The stranger turned back to Merlon.] "I don't want to ask this of you, but, i-if you could, help. . ."

[Perci catches your eye. He's staring at you, pleading with just a glance. He knows you can hear him, if anyone was going to try and save him, it would be you. Your grip was tightening on your pen, twisting the hidden switch to extend the blade.]

(Why would I spare the one who led you astray? Ah, but I'm nothing but merciful. I'll give her a quick and clean death, if that's what you desire.)

(N-NO!! NO NO NO!!! You, you get, a hand, up, onto, onto your, hands and knees, you, n-need to-)

(Difficult as always, I see. No matter, I will properly deal with you once I'm done with your companion here. And just because of you, I’ll make it a slow and agonizing execution.)

[His pleading echoed through your head. You couldn't take it any more, you ran forward and extended your paper sign, [PAGE TURNER!!]]

"!!!!"

"A-AL?!?"

"!?!?!?"

[You stabbed the stranger in the hand, and took the chance to kick him to the side.]

"Wh, what are you doing?!?!?" [The stranger looked pained. (Is she stupid? In their eyes you're trying to help them!)] "I swear I'm not lying to you!"

[Drop the act. You stand there, unmoving, as the stranger stands up. Drop. It.]

(Ha! What, do they think you're a mind reader like Percival? Well you are, but it is an idiotic thing for a bug to assume! No, they’re taking a wild guess and hoping you expose yourself.) "I'm, just trying to-"

[It's not a guess.]

[The stranger looked shocked. (. . . How. HOW?!?!? This isn't some craft for a bug like you! It’s ours and ours ALONE!!! How do you-)]

[Beginners luck.] "And stop trying to act all snobby."

"Oh good strike, Alex!" [Loop walked forward, chuckling.] "So! Mind filling us in~?"

"This person did something to Perci," [you respond as Isabeau joins your side too.] "Whatever it was, it terrifies him greatly."

[(T-thank you. . .) You hear Perci, he sounds weak.]

"I-I, I, you-" [The stranger starts.]

"Oh I knew something was off." [Loop interrupted, twirling their dagger.] "But would Perci being dragged away really be that bad?"

"Don't." [Merlon's voice w- (NONONOPLEASENOPLEAS) -STARS Perci calm down!!!]

"I. . ." [You glance at Loop, then to Perci.] ". . . We might be enemies, but that’s no excuse not to be kind, right?"

"Yeah, I don't like Perci, but," [Isabeau glanced at your two antagonists, then back to the stranger.] ". . We can't just stand and watch!"

"Are you mad?!?" [The stranger yells, before shaking his head, regaining composure.] "Perci has done nothing but harm! He is a thief, a liar, and a crook! I'm trying to help you! Is that so bad?!?"

"Tools still in place? Correcting troublesome things? No one to hear you scream?!?" [You spit at him.] "I hate Perci with every part of my soul, but I've seen what his mental self-image looks like, I’ve felt his panicked flashbacks. Are you saying you did that?!?"

"I-I, no! I-" [(Well you did, but they don't need to know that.) The stranger said and thought.]

"You did." [You gripped your pen, angry.] "You did, you blinding monster."

"Change. . ." [Isabeau grits his teeth and takes a fighting stance.] ". . . Okay, yeah, I've made up my mind. We're fighting now."

“Ugh.” [Loop shakes their head then gets low to the ground, ready to dash in.] “I hate that you’re making me care about him!! Fine, I’ll take the anger out on this lovely stranger then~”

[The stranger scowls at you, finally dropping the act- (You’ve made a mistake, little bug.) -STARS, focus. He reaches up and tosses the grey cloak he wore to the side, revealing a pristine, and familiar, uniform.] “Stupid little stick-eaters, all of you! Why did I even consider trying to get you brain dead nobodies to help me. A little lady bug, a faceless disgrace of a man, and a weak forgotten little sheep!! How disgusting!!”

“Two sheep.” [Merlon steps up a few feet to your side.] “One of them is dipped in the blood of your betters. You will be no different.”

“HA!” [The stranger stands to his full height, drawing a menacing sickle from his belt.] “I, Sir Gornemant the Enlightened, will strike you down and make you beg for my forgiveness!.”

[He ran at you and waved a paper sign, in an instant three duplicates of him were running with him! One at each of you! You had a split second to react, you couldn’t tell which was real! All you could do was avoid the sickle slice going for your throat.]

[The attack passes right through you. You hear a yelp, Loop caught the real stranger's sickle with their arm. Isabeau moved in and swiped at the stranger, who jumped back, and dodged to the side again as Merlon snapped their fingers.]

[Gornemant wasted no time, running in low against you next, you moved to dodge his swipes, but they were relentless, one after another af- (###############!!!!) -SSTARS--]

[The stranger SCREAMED inside your head with an incomprehensible sound!! Completely knocking you off focus. You felt a slash across your chest--]

<You tag in. The stranger jumped back fast enough to block Isabeaus' crafted attack- (My! More than one of you in there? I’m surprised you’re even allowed outside at all!!) -What is THAT supposed to mean!!>

<Loop slashed at the stranger, metal clashing on metal- (It means exactly that~ Broken things should be fixed before being used.) -What a nasty piece of work. With a flick of your wrist your deck was in your hand. You want to play? Then let’s play.>

<You throw your cards, sharp enough to cut the cheek of the stranger- (Cute party trick.) -Who moves around Merlons next snapping of fingers, dashing in and catching her arm with the sickle- (I wonder who I should kill first.)>

<You’re not going to kill anybody. Loop snaps their fingers, making you all faster, and Isabeau cheered you on, raising all your stats. Perfect.> “A rock move, Merlon?” <You ask as you use [Raise]>

<She must trust you, because the next explosion is exactly that. Gornemant dodges easily and rushes at Isabeau, bypassing his defenses with a slash and- (########-)- NO. Not. Listening. Tune it out!>

“S-stars. . .” <Loop slashed at Gornemant, protecting Isabeau.> 

“Hold fast, Stargazer.” <Merlon encouraged.> “These fools bleed like any other.”

“Easy for you to say.” <Isabeau grumbled, nursing a wound.> “Plans, anyone?”

“Oh, I have a plan~” <You grin. Your signature skills played with the jackpot meter, [Fold] cleared it and healed everyone, [Raise] skipped your turn but made the next jackpot stronger, and [All In!] would trigger a jackpot. And with three rocks and two scissors, you were [All in!]>

<You drew five cards from your deck that made a full house! You rushed in fanning the cards at the enemy as Isabeau closed the distance and swept his legs. The stranger moved from Isabeau but got caught by your flurry of cards. An explosion flew him into the waiting dagger of Loop. They swiped three times at him, and grinned as he fell to the ground.>

“HA! AHAHAHAHA!!!” <Loop was laughing like a maniac.> “A SHEEP?!?!? I’M A SHEEP, RIGHT?!?!? AND YET I’M THE ONE THROWING YOU AROUND LIKE A TOY!!!!”

“Loop, I’d step back-” <Isabeau starts, but before anyone can react the stranger jumps up and grabs Loops neck.>

“NO!!!” <Isabeau yelled and ran at them. Neither Loop nor the stranger said a word until Isabeau shoulder tackled the stranger down. Loop stumbled back, but you held them up.>

“Loop, Loop talk to me!” <You shook them lightly.> 

“. . .” <Loops head snapped to you, eye wide and fearful. You felt a cold presence wash over you, you had to act fast! You grab them by the neck and project your will.>

“A-alex!!” <Isabeau was between you and Gornemant.> “What’s going on?!?”

<You force your way into the nerves, through the spine, up the brain, into the deepest mind. You could feel the sea breeze, close enough. You FORCE your craft into them, the smell of mint washing over the two of you. You felt the mind craft of that killer, it was powerful, much more powerful than yours.>

“Stay sharp. Move, fighter” <Merlon ordered. They snapped their fingers as Isabeau moved back. The ground under the stranger exploded, and this time He was too slow.>

<The stranger landed with a thud, before scrambling to a knee. His leg is twisted, pointing the wrong way.> “. . . You, you insolent dogs!!! You mutts, you should all be put down and your corpses strung up for all to see!!!”

<You flood the sand dunes with plants, a rushed effort to expel Gornemants mind craft. You glare at him.> “And, you’re supposed to be the good guy? Just give up already.” <Beads of sweat ran down your head, but you could feel Siffrin coming to front now.>

“Like I would ever surrender to the dirt under my heel!” <He wipes the blood from his mouth and tries to stand up, only to fall again.> “No, no less than dirt!!! Dirt at least knows to stay where it’s TOLD!!! Dirt could become something BETTER!!!”

“Your leg is broken.” <Merlon stood in front of him.> “You already lost.”

“Ha. Ha, hahahahaHHAHAHAHAA!!!” <The stranger grins, bleeding from the mouth.> “Not yet I haven’t.”

(Shattering Glass Stained Skies.)

(AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--------)

<You grip your head in agony. It felt like someone was using your head as the clapper of a giant bell!!!! That scream, that scream where was- P-perci?!?!? Perci was--- >

“S-STOP!! THAT!!!” You scream. Your skull was being split open by the sound. You felt secondhand pain, fear, horror. “HE’S, PERCI, HE’S SCREAMING!!!”

“H-he is?!?” Isabeau asks, turning to look at the collapsed scholar. “Wha, how-”

“You.” Merlon stepped forward. “Stop it, NOW!”

“I don’t take orders from sheep!” Gornemant smiles. “If he stays like that much longer, he’ll go mad~ So Beg.”

“I. . .” [Merlon stops.] “. . .”

“M-merlon.” [Siffrin mumbles.] “Don’t-”

[They’re cut off by Merlon, who moves down to her knees, and rests their head on the ground.] “. . . Please.”

[Sir Gornemant stood up, and raised the sickle.] “. . . . . No.”

“N-NO!!!” 

“WAIT!!!”

“MERLON!!!”

[The stranger's sickle strikes down.]

[And then there’s a sound like lightning in a bottle.]

[There’s a blinding flash of light, you have to cover your eyes. But, eventually it clears, and when you look up, you see the sickle in Merlons shoulder. Your eyes trail up the blood stained cloak, up Merlon's outstretched arm, all the way to their hand. Their pinkie and ring fingers curled in, the middle and index fingers held out forward, and the thumb sticking out straight. It was like she was pointing at something with two fingers-]

“O-oh, oh stars above--”

“Holy, h-holy crab.”

[They were, pointing, at, Gornemants head. There was blood, dripping from his chin.]

[And a hole clear through his brain.]

[The stranger fell over, dead, the screaming stopped. Merlon lowers their hand, panting.]

[After a moment to catch his breath, Siffrin walked over to Merlon and crouched down.] “. . . A-are, you alright?”

“Just, one moment, Stargazer.” [She was breathing steady, yet shakey.] “And, I should be asking you, that question.”

[Your mind was already racing. Someone’s dead. Someone you were fighting just died. Merlon just killed him. They killed him with one craft, right through the brain. You could still smell the sugar, feel the crackling energy in the air.]

“We just killed someone.” [Isabeau murmurs next to you.] “We just, w-we just. . .”

“No.” [Merlon stands.] “You didn’t. You didn’t kill him, I did. I did it, and only me.”

“But-”

“I am your enemy, your antagonist, your villain. Of course I wouldn’t spare the life of anyone, even if death is a mercy compared to what he deserves.”

[You all are silent.]

“. . . He was. . .” [They paused, then shook their head.]  “An old. . . Stalker. It’s not my place to give details.”

“. . .” [Siffrin stood next to Merlon, after a bit of hesitation, they put a hand on her arm.] “. . . I-if, if you guys ever want to talk about it, then. . .”

[You all were silent. The weight of a long forgotten grudge echoed from Merlons psyche onto you. You looked up to the stars and started counting them; not letting your mind wander to her private business.]

“. . . So,what now?” [Isabeau asks.] “I, I don’t know how to hide a body, or. . .”

[Merlon nods, then raises a palm. You smelt sugar. Strong, strong sugar. They waved their hand, and the body disappeared in sparks of light. You saw Siffrin flinch, pulling their hand away.]

[Siffrin shook his head, and looked up to Merlon.] “S-stars. . . What was. . . What’d you do?”

[Merlon glanced down at him.] “I transported him back to his home as a warning- PERCI!!!”

[In a flash, Merlon ran past you all and knelt at the side of their beloved. She reached out, and gently put a hand on Perci’s cheek. She was muttering something softly, you and the others walked a bit closer.]

“I’m here, I’m real, you’re real, I’m here with you, okay? I’m here, it’s okay. You’re safe.” [She spoke so softly to him, like one would to a wounded animal. Eventually, Perci grabbed their arm, and half dragged himself and was half pulled onto her lap. He buried his face in her robes, arms tight around them.]

[Merlon gently patted his hair.] “It’s alright, you’re alright, little bunny, I’m here. I promise you’re okay.”

[There was a mumbled response from Perci, which made Merlon smile. They picked him up easily and held him close.] “He’s gone, I’m still here, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, I promise.”

“. . . . . . . .” [Okay that was enough of a pause.] “. . . Little bunny?”

[Merlon flinches, before looking at the three of you with an embarrassed blush on their face.] “A-ah, well, it’s, ah, i-ignore that.”

“Nope! No chance.” [Isabeau chuckled then elbowed Siffrins side.] “I wonder if he acts like a bunny just for them.”

“Isabeau please!” [You knew that tone, uhoh.] “That talks not warren-ted!”

“HAHA! HA!!!”

“PFF- HAH!”

[You grinned, Merlon was clearly trying to hide in her cloak, but both arms were taken up with their little rabbit. You shook your head and walked over.] “. . . Y’know, Loop’s right. I really hate that I can’t hate you guys.”

“That’s. . . Not a smart thing to say to your enemy.” [Merlon sighed, and stood up, still holding Perci.] “But, I understand the feeling. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” [You grumble, crossing your arms.] “. . . Would it help if I, took a peek in his head?” 

[Percis' reaction was instant. He clung tighter to Merlon, and his fear grew stronger. You step back, message received loud and clear.] “Alright, better question. You guys have any other stalkers?”

“. . . Maybe, but not within a year” [Merlon looked away. Your friends joined you on each side, Isabeau and Siffrin hand in hand.] “They know where we are now, however, so. . . Nevermind.”

“What do they want, anyways.” [Isabeau crossed his arms and started thinking.] “That guy sounded like a self-centered egotistical crab. And that name, enlightened. . .”

“They wanted to hurt my bonded.” [Merlon replied with some venom, before turning and walking away.] “Don't worry, as far as they know, you all are not involved. You’ll be fine.”

[You all started following her.] “And you’re really not going to tell us more than that?”

“No, it’s our burden to bear. Besides, you lot have enough headaches to deal with already, like us.” [They turn to look back.] “Why are you following me?”

“In case there’s another.” [Siffrin pipes up.] “A-and I. . . I dunno, it just, feels like the right thing to do?”

“Herding instinct.” [Merlon giggled.] “It’s alright, I get that a lot. . . The company is, welcome. Even if it lasts just a minute.”

[You sneak a peek at Percival. His thoughts were calm, now, but buried below layers and layers of mental defences. You could only imagine what was going through his head. You all continue on in silence until you reach a well made two story house. Merlon stops before stepping inside.]

“. . . Siffrin.”

“Y-yes?” [He perks up.] 

“Do you miss it?”

“. . . .” [He looks away, staying silent for a minute.] “. . . I do.”

“. . . . . Would you ever want to go home?”

“. . . . . .” [They’re silent for a bit longer now, before looking back.] “I am home.”

“. . . I see.” [Merlon sighs and looks down, then opens the door.] “Stay safe, saviors, for tonight anyways.”

[The door closed with a click.]

[blacksheep28]

Traditionally I join a world and interact with it directly. It's even my preference to do so. Why wouldn't I love getting the chance to directly see the beautiful creatures and wonders that made it up? This world however had an exception to it. Systems that ruled how the souls brought here were meant to interact with it.

I have never cared for things that stole away choice.

It was easier to devour Airplane's System than I expected it to be. It left a perfect hollowed out space that I could fit into. I slipped in, changing to fit the nature of the world and place I was taking. It was kinda cozy to settle in. Of course I immediately began to check through what my programs and options were. I needed to untie Airplane's life from the points I would track, and disengage punishments. It wasn't too difficult, but it left me relatively powerless as a System. It turned out that without a life in the balance to pay in gambles earning points was much more difficult. It would take a lot of work to earn anything.

That was fine. Airplane was a good selection for a System with minimal powers. He was more than capable of managing things on his own without a store or any extra perks. All he would need was advice and support, and I was more than able to give that to him. Airplane wouldn't fear being unwanted as long as I was attached to him.

It was hard being patient about reaching out to Airplane. He was currently just a child with confused memories. As soon as he would be able to bear them I would unlock the door on them so he could fully remember who he was. Until then I would have him steal what scraps of childhood he could find in a home that didn't want him. He was too strange and clever for them to bear. The world is rarely kind to those who are different.

[Welcome to Proud Immortal Demon Way, a living growing world based off your novel!] I chirped cheerfully. Airplane stared at the words for a moment, his heartbeat starting to rabbit. [Bound Role: Shang Qinghua, traitor to Cang Qiong Mountain Sect. Starting B-Points: 100.]

"Ahaha, there's gotta be some kind of mistake?" Airplane tried. His tiny child fingers trembled.

[No mistake User 001! You have been given a second chance!]

He burst into tears. "This is terrible!"

[User001 should pay attention to what he's being told.]

"I don't want to die!"

[User001 doesn't have to! User001 is free to diverge from canon at any point!]

"Wait, I am?" The tears dried up. Airplane might currently be a child, but he was still someone forged under pressure. He wouldn't waste time crying when there were better solutions.

[This world is meant to change. User001 can decide what that means for him!]

Airplane fell silent. I could tell his thoughts were racing as he thought about this. "So what do you do?"

[This System is a24/7 help service for your transmigration experience! ദ്ദി(｡•̀ ,<)~✩‧₊ It is available to answer questions and guide this Host to his goals!]

"What goals?"

[This System suggests beginner quest "Cultivate to Win"! PIDW is a dangerous world, Host's ability to survive will increase with such skills.]

"Ah, that's true, this world has a ton of monsters in it, and so many papapa plants-"

[(≧▽≦)]

"What?"

["Papapa". Cute!]

"Hey, I'm eight! What dirty s*** are you expecting from a child?"

[Host is a transmigrated author of a porn novel ¬‿¬]

"I needed the money!"

[This System is aware. This System doesn't judge Host for doing so. This System is simply charmed Host called sex "papapa".] Airplane shook his head and started complaining to himself. I listened in amusement. This is what I had come for, Airplane's utter ridiculousness.

https://www.tumblr.com/blacksheep28/781861652058554368/httpswwwtumblrcomblacksheep28781775366005063?source=share

[coeluvr]

Playing this IF makes me feel EXTREMELY conflicted when it comes to Luceris:

One moment I'm all "oh stern old man who likes shipping ahaha" then I remember that he, quite literally, murdered my entire family and I'm FUMING; the fact that for a moment I forgot about it just makes me even more angry at him, cause how DARE you make me feel like family when you exterminated mine??

The fact that I'm an Heliosmancer makes it, like, ten times more emotionally devastating; I know he's trying and my MC knows it as well, but there will come a time when my MC will no longer be able to hold in the frustration and anger he has been repressing for YEARS.

I imagine it will go kind of like this:

MC: "Helios, my love, light of my life, I know how hard you're trying to right your father's wrong, and I really appreciate it..."

Helios: :D

MC: "But you have to understand that nothing, and I repeat NOTHING, could ever make what happened to my family right. I don't give a crap of how good of a father he was to you or how much he loved his wife, for me he is and will always remain the bloodthirsty monster that massacred my family and destroyed my life; and you can't do ANYTHING to change that."

Helios: D:

MC: "Anywaaaaaaay u look SO hot tonite<3"

Also, don't think I forgot about you Lancelot, don't care how good the Lucerussy is, banging the man who ruined my life makes it kind of hard to see you as a father figure :)

(I say while still choosing to have a somewhat familial relationship with him, cause beggars can't be choosers, even tho my MC will NEVER forget that he would choose Luceris over him.)

GOD, sorry for the long-ass ask, the point is that your IF is so well done and it manages to involve me so much emotionally to the point that I have to vent my frustrations... Like this! Love your work and you're such an inspiration for me <3333

Oh man I just know you'll hate the way Luceris makes MC and you the player feel in chapter 4 😭 excited for you to play it when it drops! 🥰

Poor Helios but I get it and he does too but he must try to make things better. 😞

The Lancelot part is funny because he never tried to make MC view him as a father but you get stuck with what you get stuck with!

Life is hard when you let your childhood crush murder his wife's murderer's family but then you can't let this small child be killed and bam now it sees you as it's father. Woe is him. Truly. /s

Thank you for your kind words! 🥺💗

[olderthannetfic]

You've encountered site changes over time as a fan elder, what do you make of Tumblr potentially being put out to pasture? Tumblr was my coming of age fan site, and im looking for advice to transition to the next thing with grace and less bitterness than I feel now.

--

Ahaha. God, you should have heard the howling about LJ. "Fandom is over!" "Never again shall we dwell in fandom's True Home!" etc.

Hell, this endless "only LJ was good" crap turns up in replies here on posts where I as OP have very clearly laid out why that's rose colored glasses nonsense and you can so make friends on tumblr, have a conversation on tumblr, etc.

I had my crabby phase about this during the transition from Yahoo Groups to LJ. A lot of the real olds had it over paper zines and the transition to the internet.

I don't know if reading these hilariously samey old posts would help. It does give perspective, I think.

--

As for what you should do, do what I did with Tumblr:

1.

Look around to identify the Next Thing fandom is going to camp out on.

It may take a few guesses and some time to figure this out. You will likely not be an early adopter. Fandom was well established here by the time I joined at the end of 2010. Of course, by now, all those 2009 and before accounts are long gone, but at the time, I was a n00b joining other people's space despite having been in fandom for ages.

2.

Don't expect to enjoy it

I didn't join tumblr because I liked it. In fact, I despised it. I kept right on despising it until a brief stint in Sherlock fandom, a fandom that was so active here at the time that I was able to finally see the good aspects of the site's structure and features.

This is the mistake a lot of people make. They give things a cursory try, don't enjoy them, and go "not for me", forgetting that the last site also had a steep learning curve that was either difficult or that they didn't notice because they were in a different phase of their life.

Bitterness and grief are, frankly, an inherent part of the process. You can try not to be a debbie downer in your public comments, but you can't just not feel those things during the awkward part of the transition. Sometimes, acting positive and cutting off excessively negative thoughts can make you feel less negative overall, but it doesn't happen immediately.

3.

Accept that feeling cranky and old is both a you problem and a state of mind, not a property of the new site

Relatedly, the way we remember fandom platform X feeling usually has more to do with us being in college with fandom friends down the hall or having discovered Our People for the first time or some other time when we had a lot of energy and positive emotions. Often, we were in the throes of a first or new fandom love too, probably for some megafandom that other people also cared about at the same time.

When fandom is leaving some site, there's a grieving process anyway, but we're also often in a worse part of our lives for starting new things. We're busy. We're tired. We're between fandoms. We feel like we already paid our dues to build up our community. Why should we have to start again?

But let me tell you, you always need to start again eventually. I go to a weekly vidders' zoom chat, and a lot of the people in there are old as balls, including Kandy, the person who invented vidding back in the 70s. She's a lot of decades and a few cancers in, and she had to relearn how to vid on a computer after transitioning from slideshows to VCR vidding back in the day. If bad health, platform changes, and dead friends were going to stop her, she'd be long gone.

It's like sharks: you stop swimming, you die.

This isn't just about fandom, obviously. It's about avoiding a midlife crisis and, later, about avoiding feeling emotionally geriatric even when your body is falling apart.

Change gets us all, but being mentally old is a choice. The real reason I gave tumblr such a try was that I had been so resistant to getting on LJ. I was 20. Even a year later, it was fucking embarrassing to have been a crotchety old hag as a college student. I promised myself I'd soldier through the next change instead of dragging my feet about it. And it totally worked in the end! But boy did it not make the transition any less unpleasant emotionally!

4.

Find your joy

As is obvious from the above, the vast majority of the problem is just emotions. Fandom has been on a million broken sites with shitty features. We go where the people are, regardless of whether it has the technological aspects we liked at the last place. The actual shape of that platform is largely irrelevant.

What does matter is whether we as an individual fan are still excited and happy about something. I was between fandoms recently and went looking around for BL series I hadn't watched yet. People kept suggesting things set in the present day with too-cheesy production values and too many banal schoolboys in modern day settings without even anything spicy going on. I realized that the BL/danmei scene wasn't really cutting it for me and I should go for production values and genre and non-canon ships. You probably scrolled annoyedly past the picspams that resulted.

(Of course, hilariously, someone has now shown me the trailer of Red Peafowl, so someone may be making BL that feels like it's for me after all. Look at all that badwrong and very dark color grading.)

When you're in a good place emotionally, it's a hell of a lot easier to weather any change, and when you have a new fandom, it's a lot easier to connect with other fans.

A lot of people wait around for lightning to strike twice. They found their first fandom by accident, and they expect it to happen seamlessly again. For me, it's far more productive to brute force it: collect up a big list of what's popular or what's new and go through it till you find things you might like, then try them all.

And part of this, obviously, is not waiting for other fans to make the party happen. The more you need to join something other people are already doing, the less choice you'll have in fandoms or in platforms. If you aren't picky and just go where the tropey longfic is, that can work, but even then, favorite authors disappear or go to fandoms you hate and former megafandoms dry up. If you're the one bringing the party, it's a lot easier to find a new fandom or platform or community to have fun in.

[whentherewerebicycles]

here’s what my newly 11 month old baby is up to:

yesterday his baby best friend (liz’s baby) came over and they are like, actually able to play together now. like they’re not doing advanced kid make-believe play or anything but they interact with each other and “talk” to each other and steal each other’s toys back and forth and crawl over each other and shriek joyfully into each other’s faces as they try to claw at each other’s eyes. their favorite “game” of the moment is that owen will grab a toy and take off crawling down the hallway or across the room as fast as he can, and his baby best friend (who can only army crawl at the moment) will inchworm her way down the hall after him at a much slower pace, and then as soon as she gets there they will claw at each other or steal the toy from each other and then owen will SPRINT crawl all the way back down the hallway, forcing baby best friend to begin her laborious pursuit again. they did this for uhhh several hours yesterday and then were both so tired out they were asleep before we even put them down lol.

liz relayed this story from daycare today when she was there picking her daughter up: the infant teacher, whom our children adore, was leaving for the day. owen sprinted over to the sliding glass door just as it closed and then wept because his beloved teacher was LEAVING. another teacher saw and rushed over to pick him up so he could press his hand against the glass. his teacher turned around, saw him, and pressed her hand to the glass against his and said BYE OWEN I LOVE YOU OWEN. heartwarming scenes!!!!!!! the babies are sooooo loved at their daycare and they love their daycare teachers sooooo much it’s like truly almost too much to handle.

he can now confidently pull up on almost anything but he does not know how to sit back down. this leads to a lot of what he clearly considers to be EMERGENCY SITUATIONS where he has been standing up too long and he’d like to be crawling again but SOMEONE has CRUELLY TRAPPED HIM and now he will NEVER SIT AGAIN!!!!!!!! I am often alerted to the emergency by a piercing shriek from the other room, followed by hysterical crying. I know all small children have a real flair for the dramatic but. this child REALLY has a flair for the dramatic ahaha.

he is eating the big kid meal at daycare now. I asked his teacher if he liked the food today and she gave me this slightly haunted look, followed by a long pause as she gazed up at the sky searching for words. “owen… owen LOVES food. owen… he is ALWAYS, ALWAYS HUNGRY.” I was like oh yeah got it. I’ve seen this kid in action.

when he was much younger he used to do these elegant little hand dances whenever he heard music. can’t really describe it he’d just… make his hands do beautiful dances while watching them with a look of total absorption on his face. he hasn’t done that in ages and I’d honestly almost forgot he used to do it. but today I put on the playlist from his new music class in the car, which features a track where a woman sings an interval or a series of notes and a small child sings them back to her, and I looked back and he was just doing the most beautiful hand dances. totally entranced. I am determined that this child will be musical. not in a baby violin prodigy kind of way—I could not care less about that—but like, I want him to be able to enthusiastically take part in the joyful human experience of making music with other people. I feel like I walk around my daily life singing little madeup songs to myself all the time and I also love love love being in choirs or singing in church services or around a campfire or whatever and I just want him to love that and have access to those experiences too.