#it was supposed to be Curious Cat but it was too generic

[ma-1-s]

Tried to redesign their miraculous forms a bit to make it convincing that they look like different people.

Ladybug!Dorothy would be named Rubybug

Catnoir!Alice would be named Curious Noir

[jarofstyles]

Benefits

Hi lovebugs! This can be read as a standalone, but this is a 3 parter. The first part will be put up here but the next two are Patreon exclusives if you’re interested. (Part two is up now) I hope you guys love it.

Check out our Patreon for part two and 220+ exclusive writings

WC- 6.6k

Warnings- Asshole-ish H, smut, slight degrading, oral, slight possessiverry, etc

She knew he was watching.

A subtle smirk played on her lips as she helped herself to a drink in the kitchen, nearly able to feel the man’s eyes on her as he traced her dress. One she wore just for him, but would never admit to. He wasn’t good about hiding how much he watched her, how much he had been curious about her, but he hadn’t talked much to her. Only stared.

She'd been warned that Harry was a man of few words. He didn't go out of his way to talk, he was the stereotype of tall, dark, handsome and dangerous-but it's exactly what she's been craving. Twisting the lid back onto the mixer, she finally raised the cup to her lips as she turned around to face him. He wasn't hiding the fact that he was watching her. His eyes didn't stray. He liked that she didn't waver in her staring back, too. Y/N could tell.

It had been a long time since a man had properly excited her. She wasn’t exactly the easiest to please, if she was being honest. Y/N got bored easily, she liked to play games, to test people to see if they could handle her- but something about Harry had her fully understanding that he could handle her, no problem. Maybe it was just the look in his eyes that told her he was intrigued by her but also wanted to eat her alive, but she quite liked it.

Her eyes flirted with his, as she slowly took a sip, her throat bobbing delicately. "I think you're enjoying the view." Her voice was sultry, a taunt. She was baiting him, daring him to respond, to engage. The game of cat and mouse had been fun, but she wanted to be caught. "You're not very good at hiding it."

“M’not trying to hide it.” His raspy voice made her internally peek up. She’d only heard it a handful of times but each one had nearly had her purring. The man had the voice of her wet dreams, and she sort of hated how he was checking off boxes she had purposely put too high.

A small smirk played on her lips as she set the cup down, her hands moving to rest on the counter. She leaned forward, her arms stretching out in front of her, very aware she was very generously handing over a view of her chest for him to glaze over. "Is that so?" She asked, matching his tone. "You're just going to stand there and stare at me then?" The challenge was laid out softly, despite the tension in the room.

“Mm. I was enjoying the view.” His body was leaned against the cabinets of the kitchen, no shame at all in admitting the fact. “Think y’like when I look.”

Her eyes traveled up his face and met his eyes, a slow blink the only reaction to his words. She liked it, damn it. She liked being the focus of his attention, even if he wasn't saying anything particularly sweet or romantic. There was something about his blunt honesty that drew her in. "And what if I told you I don't like it?" She asked, her voice a gentle purr. "What would you do then?"

“I’d tell you t’stop looking like that and maybe we could come to an agreement.” His eyes kept contact with no issue, challenging her back. “I know you’ve been looking back at me when y’think I’m not going to notice.”

God, he was hot. It was infuriating, really. Men weren’t supposed to effect her like this. She’d always had the upper hand, but this one had her wavering as she reached up to twist a strand of her hair around her finger. "And what kind of agreement would that be?" She asked with a soft tilt to her voice. She loved the way he spoke, the way his accent rolled off his tongue. It was so…different to the general population of men she was used to. Some could accuse her of being excited over having a new flavor at her fingertips, but Y/N would argue that anyone who got a few moments alone with him would feel that level of excitement prickle their nerves. "One where I stop looking at you and you start talking to me?" The girl suggested, the small smirk playing on her lips growing.

“Perhaps.” Crossing his arms, he stood up off the counter and slowly sauntered over to her. “Was tryin’ to figure you out. Don’t get new additions in the group often, and you’re different than the people we’re usually around.” His tall form had her lifting her head a bit to keep his eyes as he stopped in front of her.

 She’d been right. He was taller than she’d thought, and broader. The man had kept a physical distance before, but now she was feeling the effects of him dropping that barrier. He was just so…large. And it made her feel small, which was a feeling she rarely experienced. "And what have you figured out?" She asked softly, tilting her head to the side as her eyes fluttered to his lips briefly before meeting his eyes again.

“I’ve figured out a couple of things.” Taking another step forward he gave her the chance to move if she wanted- but she didn’t. Backing against the counter, she didn’t shy away from him. “Mostly that you’re a little bit bratty, but you aren’t fake. You’ve been mostly nice t’everyone.” It had been a relief. Harry wouldn’t have been shy about calling her out on ulterior motives, but he only knew of one- and it had come after she’d already met everyone. “And you want me t’fuck you.”

She swallowed hard, her heart in her throat as he took another step forward. Again, she could have moved, but she didn't. Instead, she stayed put, her back against the counter as she met his gaze. His words were blunt, and she liked that about him. Most people would sugarcoat things, but not him. "And what if I do?" She asked, her voice faltering slightly for the first time in a long time. It was so different, but...She liked it. He had managed to get her to feel something different. Naturally making her feel a little more submissive when she had been so used to taking in the opposite role. 

“I’d fuck you.” Harry rose a shoulder in a shrug. “I’ve wanted to do it since I met you. Had to figure out if you were someone who was going to stick around.” The tension was thick between them. “I don’t usually fuck people just once. Don't like to think with my dick. But I think you’d want it more than once.”

Her breath caught in her throat, the heat pooling between her legs at his words. She’d known he wanted her by the way he had looked at her body, but hearing him say it out loud had her insides quivering. He was so…crude and it was so hot. "I’d want it more than once." She admitted breathlessly. She wasn’t one to shy away from the fact. "And how many times do you think it would be?"

“I’m not in the business of letting you nut off and fuck off. If m’fucking you, you’ll be in my bed for hours. I don’t go easy.” It was the truth she needed to hear. Harry wasn’t one to half ass sex, and considering he’d been letting the want fester for a bit now, he had plenty of things he wanted to do for her. “Is that something you can handle?”

Her throat was dry, her voice hoarse as she responded, "Hours? That sounds...nice." She wanted to tell him that she could handle anything he threw at her, but she knew he'd only call her bluff. She'd never had a man talk to her like this before when she had confidence he could actually back up the claims, and it was exciting. Y/N wanted to know what else he'd say, what else he'd do. "And if I can't? What happens then?"

“Then I’ll walk away and let you continue your night. M’not going to do any of that if it isn’t what you can take, or isn’t what you want.” He made no effort to move, though, because he already knew what her answer is going to be. “You’re not gonna make it weird for everyone else in the group after we fuck, yeah? You’ll be able to behave yourself whenever we go out for the stupid dinners and drinks?”

She swallowed hard, his words making her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time. The way he was talking to her, the intensity in his eyes, it was all so new and thrilling. "I can handle anything you give me." She said softly, her voice filled with a confidence she didn't quite feel but wanted to project. "And I can behave myself. I'm not some teenager who's going to go running to the group about this."

“Just got t’be sure, Cherry.” Lifting a finger up towards her bottom lip, he smeared the lipstick with his thumb before pulling it back. “You don’t seem to be the kiss and tell type, but you never know.”

Her eyes fluttered closed briefly as his thumb brushed against her bottom lip, again the action so simple yet so hot. A little invasive- in a good way. She couldn't help but part her lips slightly, inviting him to touch her more. "I'm not. And besides, who would I tell?" She asked softly.

“That’s the right answer.” He sighed, taking a second to look over his shoulder and back to her face. “C’mon then. M’not fucking you here. Don’t want you to have to keep quiet. If I’m fucking you, I want to hear you.” Curling his hand around the back of her neck, he brought her out the back door. “S’a short walk.”

——-

He had a nice house. Smaller, with a porch and garage. Newly painted, lawn maintained and a little tree in the front. It wasn’t the bachelor pad she had expected, but she really didn’t know that much about him- did she? That was becoming more apparent the longer she spent near him. 

“C’mon. Inside.” He unlocked the door and ushered her in, relieving them from the chill of the night. “Shouldn’t go out without a jacket next time.” The grumble seemed to make her laugh as he tossed his keys into the bowl, kicking his shoes haphazardly on the mat. She hadn’t expected to go on a stroll, so she had left the jacket in her car- but he didn’t really care about that. “Do you want a drink? Or do you just want to get into it?”

Her eyes scanned the cozy interior of his home, taking her even further by surprise. No, it wasn’t the bachelor pad at all. It was tidy and clean, with a few personal touches that gave her a glimpse into what was probably his actual personality. She noticed a guitar in the corner, a few books on a shelf, and a framed photo on the mantle that she couldn’t quite make out. “Huh?” The place had warmth she hadn’t expected to see, and the distraction was evident as she vaguely heard him ask something.

“Do you want me t’get you a drink, or do you want me to get to fucking you?”

Her attention snapped back to him, his words making her blush. Honestly? She really did love how blunt he could be, no sugarcoating or beating around the bush. It was so common to have people be coy about what they wanted, but then again Harry wasn’t anything close to most people she had met.  "Oh, um, I think I'll go with the second option," Her words came out slightly shy, with a hesitant smile. She looked around the room again, taking in the details, before her gaze landed back on him. "But first, can I ask you something?"

“Yeah.” He grunted, taking a step into her space and putting his hands on her waist as he backed her further into the home. “Make it quick. Dick’s fucking aching.”

Her breath hitched as he moved closer, his hands on her waist making her feel small and delicate. She licked her lips, hesitation flickering in her eyes before she asked, "It’s just…Why me? You've barely said two words to me before tonight. And now...here we are." She trailed off, nibbling her lip. A nervous tell.

“Because I was trying t’see if you were someone that was going to stick around.” He said bluntly. “Lots of people pop in and back out. Didn’t know if you’d be one of the floaters. Got to watch you and see how you were before I talked to you. I wanted to see what you’d say.” While some could call it a little creepy, he’d more so put it as educating himself for the best result. “Wasn’t sure you’d be okay with me fucking you. Some people can’t handle me or how I talk. You’re a sweet little thing but I can tell you like some of the nasty shit. So we’d most likely get along.”

She blinked at him, processing his blunt words. A small, almost imperceptible shiver ran through her body at his assessment. He had been watching her, evaluating her...and apparently found her worthy of letting her see a whole different side of him. Y/N hadn’t pushed her luck in regard to asking about him but she figured there wasn’t much people would say anyways. It was obvious to her through her own observations that he had been quiet about a lot on purpose. Considering there were a few people in the group that did indeed find him incredibly attractive, it was more than exciting that he had chosen her- mirrored her own quiet interest. The thought sent a thrill down her spine. 

"I...I appreciate your thoroughness," she said, a slight tremor in her voice, though trying to still appear confident in the way she had tried to portray. It wasn’t an act- she really was like that- but Harry had that little edge to him that made her want to soften up. "And you're right, I can handle you. I like a man who knows what he wants."

She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “And what do you want, specifically?” Her voice was low, almost breathy as she looked up at him. “With me?” His words had given her a lot to think about. The way he had evaluated her, the way he had found her worthy all while barely knowing her, and the way he had so bluntly admitted that he wanted her around for more than just a one-night stand. But she wanted to hear it all.

“I want to have an arrangement between the two of us. Told you, m’not someone who fucks people once. Not sure if m’looking for a relationship, but I want to like the person I’m fucking.” It was convinent for a release, having an understanding. “We’ve obviously got physical chemistry, find each other attractive and have the same friends. I think…” He leaned his face closer to hers. “We should be friends that fuck. Often.”

She nodded slowly, her gaze locked onto his. "Friends with benefits," she clarified softly. "No strings attached, but...exclusivity?" She wanted to know that she was the only one he was sleeping with, even if they weren't in a traditional relationship. "And we can still hang out with our mutual friends, just...without them knowing the details?" She bit her lip, considering the proposition.

“Yeah. Don’t worry about me, I don’t have the time to find other people to fuck. Work a lot, and I’ve got particular taste. I don’t want to worry about you fucking around either. Too much shit goes around. Eventually I’d like to ditch the condoms.” He shrugged, firmly gripping her waist to pick her up and set her on the hallway table. “It’ll be nice. You can just… Call me when you need to be fucked. I’ll call you. Scratch the itch. The rest don’t have to know a thing.”

She let out a soft sigh as he set her on the table, her arms wrapping around his neck as he towered over her. "Alright," she agreed, her heart racing at the thought of being exclusive with him. "Just you and me, no strings, no other people involved." She looked up at him, her eyes searching his face. "And...no labels either, right? We're just friends who fuck, nothing more."

“Right. As long as you know that cunt’s mine to fuck for now, I’m happy.” He chuckled under his breath, nudging her thighs apart. “You wore this dress for me, didn’t you?” Fingers dragged up her inner thigh as he questioned her. “Cause you wanted my attention.”

She let her legs fall open, her breath hitching as he nudged her thighs apart. Her heart fluttered at his words, her insides clenching at the possessiveness in his voice. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, she knew she had. When the confirmation that he had been coming had been dropped in the group text, she had taken getting ready a bit more seriously. Though she hadn’t expected this to be the outcome. Not in the slightest. "Yes, it was for you," she admitted, her voice dropping to a whisper as he touched her thigh. "I hoped you’d like it.” She squirmed, her legs spreading further. "Did you?

“Decided to take you home, didn’t I?” Shaking his head, he let out a sigh as he watched her squirm. “Course I fuckin’ liked it. But you’ve been taunting me, and you weren’t subtle about it either. Figured I had to ask you now.” Ghosting his fingertips along the hem of her panties, he tangled his other hand in the ends of her hair to tug her head back. “Could tell you were starting to get a little desperate.”

She moaned softly as he pulled her head back, her eyes fluttering closed briefly before locking onto his again. "Well, you were staring at me like you wanted to eat me alive," she retorted, her voice breathy. "So...yeah, maybe I was getting a little desperate." She bit her lip, shifting her hips forward. "So, are you going to touch me now?"

His touch was gentle, almost torturously so, as he ran his fingertips over the damp fabric. His eyes were locked onto hers, watching her reactions intently. "You're so eager. Though m’not so sure I like the sass. I’ll do as I like, and you can tell me how good it feels." he murmured, his thumb pressing down on her through the thin material. "I bet you're dripping, aren't you?" His touch grew firmer, ever so slowly rubbing his thumb over her clit.

Her breath hitched, her hips bucking forward to meet his touch. She hadn’t been sure how he would be in this sort of scenario, but it was better than she imagined. It took a special sort of man to make her feel even the slightest bit submissive and she almost melting. "Y-yes," she stammered, her voice slightly shaky. It was embarrassing how wet she got for him before he’d even touched her. "I'm...I'm soaking for you." Her fingers tangled in his hair, pulling him closer as her head fell back against the wall.

She could feel his touch like a brand through the thin fabric, her legs spreading wider to grant him better access. Her breath came in short gasps, her chest heaving with each breath. "Please," she whimpered, her hips moving in rhythm with his touch. "It's not enough..."

“Greedy.” He laughed through his nose. “I was curious how you’d be once I got my hands on you. You talk a big game, like t’be a tease… but in reality, you’re a desperate little slut, hm?” It was the most he’s ever spoken to her, but she couldn’t complain when his words went straight to her cunt.

"I can’t help it! You started it.” She gasped as he found a rhythm, her body tensing as his fingers tugged the panties to the side, slipping under the fabric. "Oh god…” She moaned, her body tensing as his calloused fingertips grazed her bare flesh.  His words made her squirm, her body trembling as he slid a long, thick finger inside her.

“I didn’t start anything.” His voice was contained, even as he spoke with the smug little smirk on his face. “I told you, I needed t’figure you out. I hoped you’d be like this…” Looking down to where his hand was hidden between her legs, slowly pushing his finger in and out of her sopping wet cunt, he licked over his bottom lip. “Desperate. Melt at the slightest touch. You rejected everyone who came up to you at the bars when they wanted to take you home but you love t’flirt. You knew they wouldn’t be able to give you what you needed- so you waited for me to move in.”

"Mmmm…” She let out a moan as he slipped another finger inside her. "They can’t handle me. They want to try but I don’t want someone to try- I want them to do it.” she whimpered, rocking her hips into his hand. "You’re wrong, you did start it.” She gasped out, her back arching as he crooked his fingers to graze against that sweet spot inside her. "You walked in and you...you just stared at me like you owned me.”

“Because I did.” He leaned forward, letting their lips brush. “And now I do. This wet little cunt is mine to fuck for now. Got all slick before I had even laid my hands on you, fucking filthy.” He sneered. “Listen to that.” The sound of his fingers fucking into her were audible beneath her pants.

The squelching sound of his fingers pumping in and out of her quivering hole echoed through the room, a lewd melody that grew louder with each thrust. Her own wetness made his digits glisten, the sound of her coating his skin becoming embarrassingly audible. Every push into her tight hole was met with a wet slap of his palm over her clit, punctuated by her short breaths and gasps.

"It is your fault!" She hissed, her voice strained as she tried to keep quiet. "You kept staring at me like…like you wanted to devour me. It's not fair!" Her hips jerked forward as he increased the pace, her hand flying to his shoulders to steady herself. "You're gonna make me come like this." She hissed, her nails digging into his shirt.

“Then cum.” He taunted. “If it’s all my fault that your desperate pussy got all sloppy and wet, cum on my fingers and show me that then. Barely even touched you and you’re clenching all around my fingers.”

Her breath hitched, her face flushing with heat. "Oh god, shut up..." She hissed, her hips bucking against his hand as he curled his fingers inside her, getting the spot she couldn’t get on her own. "H-Harry… Fuck." She let out a high-pitched cry as she finally shattered, her inner muscles tightening around his fingers as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her.

Her body trembled as the intense pressure building inside her finally broke. Her inner walls clamped down around his fingers, squeezing them as she rode out the waves of her orgasm. The lewd sounds of his digits moving in and out of her drenched opening grew louder as she writhed against his hand, soaking his skin. Without thinking, she buried her face against his neck, muffling her whimpers as the peak of her climax washed over her.

"There y’go. Filthy girl, making a mess of my hand.” He coaxed, slowing his fingers down but rubbing right against the spongy spot in her cunt to make it last. “That’s what you needed, wasn’t it?”

"Mmm, yes." She mumbled against his neck, her breath hitching as aftershocks wracked her body. "Please...please no more..." She whimpered, her arms wrapping around his shoulders as she clung to him, boneless and spent. "It's too much." Her voice was soft, vulnerable.

“I think you can take more.” He said with a laugh, but pulled his fingers out anyway. “But since m’nice, I’ll give you a second. I’ll go easy on you since it’s the first time we’re fucking, but next time m’not stopping. You’ll keep cumming.” Harry had plenty of plans for her, she had no clue how much he’d been planning on this. “C’mon.” Scooping her up easily, he had her wrap her legs around his waist and arms around his shoulders as he carried her through the house.

"You’re insufferable.” She muttered, her head nuzzling against his neck as her body trembled in the aftermath of her release. She let out a soft squeak as he easily picked her up, her face flushed as she hid it. "Where are we going?” She asked, her voice soft. "I can walk, you know...” Y/N trailed off, her face flushing. "I’m not light, either.”

“Shut the fuck up with that. M’holding you, and m’not struggling.” He grunted, giving her ass a swat as he kicked open the door to his bedroom. “Bringing you to my room. Since your cunt needs a second, figured it’s nicer on your knees if you’re kneeling on my carpet t’suck me off.” The bluntness showed its head again as he felt her pull her face from his neck. “Been thinking about you getting that lipstick you keep wearin’ all over my cock.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing darker. "Oh...” She trailed off, licking her lips unconsciously as her gaze lowered to his crotch. "You mean like this?” She asked, her voice soft and sultry as she slid down his body to land on her feet. She slowly sank to her knees, her hands resting on his thighs. "Maybe I will, maybe I won’t..."

“I think you will. You’ve been gagging for it.” His hands grabbed the buckle of his belt as she looked up at him on her knees, the picture absolutely perfect. “You look awfully good there. Think you were made to be on your knees for me.” Depositing the leather onto the floor, he reached for her face and let his thumb smear her cherry red lipstick. “Go on. Undo my trousers, take my cock out. Know it’s what y’want. Don’t have to play coy with me.”

Her eyes fluttered closed as he smeared her lipstick, her tongue darting out to lick at her lips. "Mmm, you think so?” She cooed, her hands moving to his fly. She deftly undid the button and zipper, her slender fingers pushing the fabric down his hips. She leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to the bulge in his boxers, her voice low. "Maybe…” Her breath hitched as she felt the warmth of his body through the fabric. "Maybe I'll take your cock out and give it a little kiss first," she whispered, her hands gripping the elastic waistband, slowly pulling them down to help his cock out.

She looked up at him through her lashes, her pink tongue darting out to lick her lips once more. His cock was thick, the head flushed a ruddy red. Reaching out, she wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft, feeling the heat radiating from him. "So big and hard for me." she purred, leaning forward to press a soft kiss to the tip of his cock. Brushing her tongue around the sensitive tip, she smeared the precum that had leaked out. Looking up at him, she felt the thrill in her stomach as his eyes darkened with lust as he watched her. She opened her mouth, slowly lathing her tongue lick up and down his shaft from base to tip.

“There y’go.” He breathed, gathering her hair in a loose excuse for a ponytail. The red had transferred some to his cock and he loved the vision. He’d thought about it more times than he could count. “One day, think I should film this. Let you see how pretty you look on your knees.” He murmured, watching as her tongue ran back over the slit. “Get it wet.”

Humming in approval at his words, her tongue continuing to lap at his length, eyes fluttered closed as she felt his hand tighten in her hair. “I would like that.” Continuing to lick him, her tongue traced the ridges and veins of his cock before she looked up at him, wrapping her lips around the tip.

“Good.” He grunted as he felt the plushness of her lips take the head of him into her mouth, the slow pull of the suction. “Take a little more. Know you’ve been thinking about sucking this cock. Show me.”

As he spoke, she listened, taking more of him into her mouth. Unfortunately, she was not as immune to him as she had tried to be. It seemed she had met her match, wanting to please him in ways she usually scoffed at with any other man. She hollowed her cheeks, sucking hard as she bobbed her head up and down, doing the work she needed to make him pleased. Her hand wrapped around the base, stroking in time with her mouth as she looked up at him with heavy-lidded eyes, her throat working around his thickness.

“Oh, fuck.” He laughed deeply, head tilting back as she showed him what he had asked for. “Thatta’ girl. Knew you had it in you. Shit.” He cursed under his breath as the heat of her mouth welcomed him, taking him much better than he had anticipated.

She could feel his hands in her hair, guiding her pace, making sure she was taking him just right. The salty taste of his precum mixed with the musky scent of his arousal was intoxicating, making her head spin. She looked up at him, her lips stretched around his girth, and saw the raw desire in his eyes. It only fueled her own hunger, making her suck him even harder, desperate to please him.

Y/N moaned around his cock as he bottomed out in her throat, the vibrations traveling up his shaft. Her nose pressed against his pelvis as she swallowed around him, her throat constricting to make him hiss. She held herself there, savoring the feeling of being so completely filled by him before slowly pulling back to catch her breath. Strings of saliva connected her lips to his spit-shined cock.

His face contorted with pleasure as she deep-throated him, a guttural groan escaping his lips. "God, you're so good at that." Harry praised, his hands fisting her hair tighter. His hips bucked forward, meeting her bobbing head, the wet sounds of her mouth filling the room. His breathing grew heavier, chests heaving as he struggled to maintain control. "You’re gonna be a lot of fun to fuck, aren’t you?”

“Mhm.” With a messy pop, she pulled his cock out of her mouth, saliva dripping from his glistening tip. She looked up at him, her eyes dark with lust, before leaning forward and spitting directly onto his cock. The mess hit him dripping over the side, making him hiss in surprise. Rubbing her saliva into his cock, she coated him in it as she smirked up. Getting him to react was a reward. He had barely said anything to anyone, and she was the one getting him to groan and hiss. Sue her for feeling a little special. “Think it’s wet enough?” She purred, coy as she looked at him through his lashes.

Before she could say another word, Harry grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her head back, his mouth crashing against hers in a searing kiss. His tongue pushed past her lips, making her moan in surprise. Was he good at everything? She could taste herself on him, the salty sweetness of her saliva mixing with the heat of his own mouth. Biting down on her lower lip, he pulled it gently between his teeth before letting go.

 "You talk too much."

Her breath hitched as he spoke against her mouth, his voice low and commanding. She could only manage a whimper in response, her knees growing weak. He took advantage of her parted lips and weakened stance, slipping his hands around to squeeze her ass, pulling her flush against him so she could feel him against her tummy. "But you're right," he murmured, voice roughened by desire. "You've made quite a mess. Think you’re ready to take my cock?"

She nodded eagerly, her eyes locked onto his intense gaze. "Then turn around and bend over the bed," he ordered, his voice firm, leaving no room for argument. She quickly complied, feeling a rush of cool air against her bare backside as she leaned forward, gripping the bed sheets tightly. 

As she leaned her chest further into the bed, she felt the soft fabric of the comforter against her breasts, her hard nipples grazing against it. Every sensation felt a little overwhelming, but in a good way. It had been a long time coming considering how she had tried to navigate how to work up how to simply talk to Harry, and now he was her supposed friends with benefits. Patience was wearing thin.  Swaying her ass enticingly, wanting to give him a good show- make him break. The room was filled with the sound of her shallow breathing, her chest heaving as she tried to regulate her breathing. Behind her, she could hear the crinkle of plastic as he sheathed himself in a condom.

She could imagine how Harry must look right now, his dark eyes fixed on her ass as he prepared himself. The thought sent her reeling. If only she had eyes on the back of her head. Feeling him step close, his body heat radiating off of himself and into her bare skin, she lifted her hips slightly, trying to guide his cock to press against her soaked entrance.

Harry's strong hands gripped her hips firmly, guiding her movements and controlling the pace. control- he was exercising the control that she clearly did not have. She felt the tip of his prick slowly push against her, inch by agonizing inch. Gasping, her fingers clawing at the bedsheets as she stretched to accommodate his size. The sensation was intense, bordering on overwhelming, but she welcomed it nonetheless, pushing back against him to encourage him to continue. "Oh, fucks sake.” She sulked into the mattress.

,"It’s not fair. You can’t.. You’re not supposed t’have such a big dick when you act like one.”  Her words came out in a string of stuttered moans as he seated himself fully inside her, his hips flush against her ass. He gave a low, satisfied chuckle, his body tensing as he held himself deep inside her.  She felt her insides clench around him, her body instinctively trying to adjust to his size. “Oh, no? You don’t like it?”

She shook her head vehemently, biting her lip as she felt him throb inside her. "N-no, I love it. I fucking love it." She admitted breathlessly, her voice thick with need. "It's just not...fair that you get to have such a perfect cock and you waited so long to give it to me." She punctuated her words with a roll of her hips, relishing the drag of his thick length against her walls.

Her insides felt like a silken vice around him, pulsating rhythmically as if trying to milk him despite him not being inside her long enough to do so.  Her body was already betraying her as her walls quivered around him, her inner muscles fluttering as if trying to entice him to move, to draw him in deeper. Her body was warm, and she was tight, gripping him as if she hadn’t been with anyone in years.

A smug grin spread across his face as he let out a low, satisfied groan from deep within his chest. “Well, m��sorry, babe. Had t’make sure you’d be a good fit for my cock. I think I made the right call, though. Tight little thing, squeezing me the way I like.” He taunted, his voice laced with amusement. His hands tightened on her hips, fingers digging into her flesh as he slowly began to move within her. "You like how I fill you up?" He punctuated his words with slow, measured thrusts, his voice growing hoarser as she clenched around him.

When she struggled to answer, he let out a laugh instead. He continued to speak for her, his voice a low, husky rumble as he slowly pumped into her. "Yeah, y’like being stuffed full of my cock. Like how it stretches you open and makes you feel so fucking small." He teased, his fingers digging into her hips as he picked up his pace slightly. "Barely able to talk back to me when I know you love to run that filthy mouth. Must be because you’re not used to being filled like this.”

She mewled, her hips rolling to meet his thrusts. He was right. Embarrassingly so. The wet squelch of his cock plunging in and out of her filled the room, mixing with the erotic symphony of their moans and groans. He could feel her getting more slick, her arousal coating his shaft and dripping down onto his balls. "That's it, take it deep like that. You like to play tough, but you just want t’be a good girl for me. Isn’t that right?"

Her response was a strangled cry, her pussy fluttering around him as if to agree. He grunted in approval, his hips snapping forward to fill her again. "Good girl," he praised darkly. "You're doing so well. Such a good little thing, taking me so well. Now answer me.” The croon was soft, a direct opposite to his pace. “Gonna let me fuck you when I want, mm? Gonna call me when y’need it too?”

She keened, her voice echoing in the room. "Y-Yes please... I- I'll call you. I'll be good. I'll... I'll let you. I'll let you whenever you want!" Her words came out disjointed, broken up by his thrusts growing a bit harder, jostling her where she laid. Her hands fisted the sheets beneath her, her knuckles turning white as she tried to keep herself grounded.

"That’s a good fuckin’ girl. You're gonna be so well-behaved for me, aren't you?" He cooed, his voice a soothing contrast to the growing brutal pace of his hips. One hand slid up her back, pressing between her shoulder blades to keep her arched as he took his pleasure from her. "You're mine t’play with now, understand? This pretty little cunt belongs to me." As he continued to pound into her, she felt a sense of contentment wash over her. This was exactly what she needed - someone to take control, to make her feel desired and owned. And Harry was perfect for the job. They were going to be lovely friends, with many benefits. As she teetered on the edge of her climax, she felt a sense of peace settle over her, knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

[certifiedcodbabygirl]

clearly the only solution to the penpal au is you’re supposed to write to ghost but the entire task force hijacks the letters every once in a while. /hj /lh

Price also ends up doing that too once he realizes why the entire team becomes obsessed with writing letters

DUDE YES *smooches your brain*

Simon starts writing to you through a military penpal program Price had all of them in. Ofc, like the rat bastard he is, he drags his fuckin feet on it. Eventually, you manage to get him a little more willing to write back and it seems like he even looks forward to it. He's the first one to grab his letter from the container when they come. He claims it's to get it over with, but the other guys know better.

You'd think the other guys would be the ones more open to their penpals but NO. They managed to be paired with some of, who they call, the most boring people they could have met. Hell, even Price began to drag his feet after the 2nd letter back.

Simon seems to be the only one actually enjoying his exchanges, even if he tries to hide it. Johnny's the first one to get curious, wanting to know what the LT's got that's good enough to loosen the stick in his ass.

While Simon's out of the room, Johnny reads through the first couple letters Simon received. Your sweet words, stupid jokes, and genuine care are a stark contrast from the uninterested and short words he received from his penpal.

He stops writing to his penpal, not that they noticed/ cared, and grew the balls to write you one. He claimed his penpal dropped out, so they had to make do, not that you minded. And God, when you started to write back, he swore it was like he was a schoolboy all over again. Getting excited for the letters, heart racing as he reads your carefully written words, counting down the days till he gets another.

He gets ballsy one night and opens up to Gaz about what he did, not showing a single crumb of remorse. Tells him all about how sweet you are, how you show genuine care for his safety, even giving the idea of sending a care package. He could see that same thought process going through Kyle's mind, contemplating switching to you. He gave Kyle your address and told him to just come up with an excuse.

Now Kyle's a little smarter than Johnny, knowing that if Ghost finds out he's probably fucked. However, at the end of the day, he's a lonely man. He had this sweet thing like you just within reach and he's supposed to not take it? Yeah right.

He gave the same excuse Johnny did, claiming his penpal's schedule became too busy to write back, and just like that you had 3 soldiers wrapped around your finger. He sweet talked you, gave little puns here and there, really became like a lap cat. He wasn't as forward as Johnny and not as refrained as Simon. He gave you music recommendations when you say you like a certain genre, he gave you book recommendations, even sent you photos of him in front of a helicopter (you begged for it when he told you about him falling out).

Now, Simon isn't stupid. He isn't clueless. He noticed that the first couple letters went missing. Then he noticed Johnny being more eager to write. Same with Kyle. He noticed how they seemed to pull away from him when the topic was brought up. He's not a stupid man.

He might even be considered generous (don't say it to his face though, he'll take it as sarcasm). He knows the boys are talking to his penpal, but he'll be kind enough to share. His sweet lil thing. If you can keep up, that is. Your letters seem to boost morale and bring a small light that wasn't there before. They're all hard-working men, risking their lives to keep the world clean. They deserve this, don't they?

Even Price finds himself wanting in on it. If you can manage to bring Simon happiness (again, he won't admit it) and keep the other boys happy, surely you can take on one more. He sends you a letter, as their captain, and thanks you for what you've done. You're such a kind soul for giving these men some hope in their lives (laying it on thick, gotta keep em interested) and how much you've helped their performances.

They all write to you, their unofficial 141 penpal, and it works surprisingly well. The lines begin to blur a bit on being platonic and something else, but it'll be sorted out eventually. For now you're just theirs (Simon came around to it once he realized you had plenty of love to go around). You're the 141's, even if you don't fully understand what that means.

The first picture they send to you, around Christmas^ (I can't find the artist, please tag them if you know who it is)

[shigayokagayama]

What are the biggest losses between the manga and anime? I just finished watching mp100 and I'm curious what the manga has!

ok biggest losses are kind of hard to define because like. anime and manga are two inherently different mediums and there are a good amount of cuts that improve pacing and then a good amount of cuts that people sort of argue over the merit of so im just going to go for biggest differences. i would also highly recommend reading the manga just because it is a pretty different experience tonally along with the minor plot differences and cut scenes + theres a bunch of omakes that both flesh out characters that dont get too much focus and have some really good bits in them. putting the rest of this post under a cut bc i ramble

mogami arc

this one is kind of inescapable i feel like but the anime version of the mogami arc had a LOT of things trimmed for a couple different reasons. season 2 already got an extra episode in order to do the fire scene as a cliffhanger so with the way things shook out the director had to choose between a. cutting a bunch of stuff out of separation arc to make it one episode so mogami arc couid stay three episode or b. cutting a bunch of stuff out of mogami arc so separation arc could stay two episodes. imo they made the right choice, whats even the point of adapting mob psycho if you dont get confession arc right, but some of the cuts to mogami arc will be dearly missed and others will be fought over to the end of time. cuts include:

minori being established as a brat in a video everyones shown and the video being part of how reigen deduces shes possessed (reigen deducing her possession in the manga is generally just a lot better done and after you read the manga the scene in the anime feels so awkward because you know whats missing

the psychics deciding to band together to beat this little girl to death to save themselves and shinra stepping between them to protect her and getting utterly thrashed, not by mogami, but his fellow psychics

reigen trying to convince mob to leave without him and call for help while he distracts him which leads to this

the general mogamiland section lasting a lot longer and being more brutal (notably the stray cat mob feeds getting killed in front of him)

mob getting fucking torn to pieces by spirits during the fight instead of ambiguously dying offscreen

generally would recommend if nothing else reading the manga version of this arc and confession arc because i feel like these are the only two where you lose like. a significant amount of the story and themes from the cuts. speaking of....

2. WHY THE FUCK DID THEY CUT THIS I WILL BE MAD UNTIL I DIE

maybe its just because i reread this arc on its own probably 50 times before the anime came out but this is the only arc where the cuts actively piss me off because there is absolutely no reason they had to do it. they cut a bunch of important shit, left in things that didnt need to be there, and added scenes that contribute literally nothing to the overall point. if they just did any one of those things or combo of two of those things i wouldnt be as mad but it feels like they put a bunch of filler in then speedran the actual story

cut #1 that pisses me off: HOMOPHOBIA?????

THERE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A HEART IN HIS EYE. WHY DID THEY NOT INCLUDE THIS. THIS IS THE CULMINATION OF TERUS ARC. THIS IS HIM SEEING THE PERSON HE HAS IDOLIZED AND DEIFIED IN HIS HEAD AT THEIR LOWEST AND STILL CHOOSING TO LOVE HIM, AND THROUGH THIS HE IS CAPABLE OF BEING LOVED EVEN THOUGH HES NOT PERFECT BECAUSE NO ONE IS. WHY WOULD YOU CUT THIS?

cut #2 I NEED WHOEVER CUT THE DIALOGUE FROM THE FIRST PANEL IN PRISON

the lack of inclusion of the first panels dialogue along with the cuts to the mob and shigeo conversation (WHICH WE WILL GET TO) make me think the person who adapted this arc fundamentally misunderstood what was happening. this line. is. THE POINT. THIS ISNT SOME SEPARATE SCARY THING. THIS IS MOB. HE IS CHOOSING TO DO THIS BECAUSE HE IS SCARED AND ANGRY AND HURT BUT HE IS IN CONTROL OF HIS ACTIONS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN.

cut #3 HE DOESNT WANT TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR HIS ACTIONS

this entire conversation is so good and i was looking forward to watching it voice acted for so long and its just. gone. for me the "i am shigeo kageyama who are you" reveal felt like a gut punch because the opening being "i knew i would be needed" made me go "oh hes like possessed or his powers are sentient or something" and this conversation was the slow unraveling of my view of these as two separate people and instead as a scared, traumatized teenager who has convinced himself that the parts of himself he hates are something else outside of his control instead of an intrinsic part of who he is because if he's convinced that the parts of him that are able to feel desire and frustration and anger and malice are him then he'll lose all these relationships he's worked so hard to cultivate as his perfect, non confrontational self. and of course that isnt true. all his friends and loved ones are making their way to the center of a damn hurricane because they see he's in distress and want to help him. but he cant see that so he pushes them away. ugh. mob. protagonist of all time.

cut #4 WHY WOULD YOU CHANGE THE COMPOSITION OF THIS I CAN LITERALLY SEE HOW THIS WOULD BE ANIMATED IN MY MINDS EYE W

can you imagine how beautiful this would be in motion. just. god.

cut #5 HE WAS TALKING OUT LOUD. REIGEN HEARD ALL THIS

:(

cut #6 the bowling arc

so the scene where reigen takes his shoes off is supposed to be a lot more solemn bc like. taking your shoes off before killing yourself is a trope in japanese media (ive heard it started in media and bled over into real life but i might have it backwards?). reigen knew he was probably going to die. anyway i cant take this scene seriously because of this edit

the bowling arc.

cut #7 WAAAAAAAAAAAA

WAAAAAAAAAAAA *sniff* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

cut #8 homophobia again

rip pensive fruity tea sip

cut #9 mob threw the cake directly in reigens face on purpose

i literally experienced every stage of grief realizing this got changed. why. its so perfect. why would you change this.

3. World Domination arc

so WD arc is in a very interesting place where it had a lot of scenes cut but unlike the other two most of the cut content youre like. yea probably best not to include that. ill start with the good content that got cut then go into the weird content

serizawa got his power drained by toichiro. i am quite sad this scene didnt make it in because its sorta heartbreaking

teru fighting off the claw assassin is shown and we see that teru can both make shadow clones AND hold a barrier while attacking, he seems to be the only esper with this ability!

the reason dimple could tell mob's family was alive is that there was no sense of grudge at the house which would have been left behind by people passing in a violent manner

mob briefly goes unconscious during the start of the toichiro fight and dimple possesses him and says "shit"

dimple possessing mob shoots shibata with a gun

we get mukai lore.

it doesnt make any sense and just raises more questions but we get it.

toichiro has a team of telepaths to recap where everyone is because this arc took an entire calender year to update

literally everyone shows up to fight shimazaki. i cannot stress enough how many people show up to fight shimazaki. it would be faster to list espers who dont show up to fight shimazaki

the middle school delinquents show up and start fighting the claw grunts literally completely out of no where and this is never brought up or referenced ever again

when mob and ritsu get home ritsu says all their stuff is in boxes and they need to hurry and redecorate the house before their parents get home which implies that shou packed the entire households worth of belongings into boxes and hid it somewhere before lighting their house on fire which is such a funny mental image that i cant even be mad at it. loony toons ass plot point.

4. other random interesting cut things

takenaka is just generally more of a bitch during alien arc. "ah i think they took him" remains one of the funniest goddamn panels in the manga

peak

alien arc overall is a lot funnier in the manga, i have a slight preference for the manga version just bc theres a lot of really good bits that didnt make it to anime but the anime version is so heartfelt and nostalgic it makes me happy

between omakes and small things that got cut or changed for the anime teru just feels way more fleshed out in the manga. like. anime teru is a completely different person. its hard to explain if youve never read it.

the all girls school part originally went right before the ghost family stuff and was the beginning of mob's existential crisis about why spirits and people get different treatment but tbh it works well where it is i just wish it werent. like that.

the scene where ritsu and teru shake hands was teru draining ritsus power which he seems to have learned to do from encountering ???%

teru.

ow

thats all i can think of off the top of my head, im sure ill realize i forgot something some time after posting this but. yeah. read the manga its good

[kaciidubs]

Curious Cat

❣ Summary: Perhaps being curious wasn't all that bad. ❣  ❣ Word Count: 1.48k ❣ Warnings: Slight Sub! Chris, fluff, smut, comfort, use of safeword, sex toys [vibrators], slight overstimulation, aftercare ❣  ❣ Female! Reader [No use of Y/N] | You/Your pronouns ❣  ❣ Additional Tags: Chan is referred to as Chris, Channie, Baby, and My Love, Reader is referred to as Baby, unedited ❣ Stray Kids Masterlist ❣ General Masterlist

Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back - and boy, was this cat satisfied.

Chris didn't intend on snooping around your room when you left to get snacks for your impending movie date, nor did he intend to find a few hidden objects in your sock drawer.

Who knew him wanting to coo over your cute Sanrio themed socks would've turned into him holding not one, but two of your sex toys?

"Alright, I think I have every- Why are you holding those?"

His head snapped in the direction of your voice, your hands holding two convenience store bags filled with the snacks you'd promised.

"I-I, um, I didn't mean to-"

"Are you trying to skip the movie and get to the good part of the night?"

The suggestiveness in your tone made his heart skip a beat - sure, he was ready for you no matter what, but he genuinely wasn't trying to come off as entirely horny, he was just curious.

"I wanna watch the movie, really, but..."

Looking down at the toys in his hands, he couldn't help the thoughts brewing in his head; how do you use them? Do you use them by themselves or do you watch the private videos you two have made while touching yourself? Do you use one or multiple in one night? Do they make you come just as hard as he does?

"I... I think I wanna know how these work."

"On me?" You mused, a sly smirk growing on your lips, "Or on you?"

Oh.

Was that even possible? Could your toys work the same on him as they do for you? Could they make him come just as hard as you do?

Chris was curious, some may say too curious for his own good, but he wouldn't let that deter him.

Which is how he found himself now; naked and writhing on your bed as you held a small blue vibrating toy to the leaky head of his cock, the two bunny shaped ears vibrating in a pattern that left him breathless.

The rabbit vibrator, you'd told him - it was your go to for nights where you just wanted to get off and go to bed.

It made his head spin just simply knowing that the toy currently on the flared tip of his dick was also used on your clit.

"How's it feel, baby?" You cooed, the only piece of clothing still on your body being a basic pair of cotton panties. "Feels good, right? I didn't even have to use too much lube with the way you're dripping right now."

He whined out a sound of agreement, too focused on the pulsing of the toy to pay you any mind.

"This next one is new, I haven't even used it on myself yet but that's okay - you can be my little test bunny, yeah?"

"Y-Yes, fuck yes, please." If one toy was able to make him feel this good, then whatever you had planned for him next was more than welcome.

The small, targeted vibrations of the rabbit left his cock, prompting him to open his eyes and look down at you in question before his gaze locked onto the next toy in your hand.

It was bigger, sort of shaped like a microphone, and was slightly intimidating based on the simpler, theme-less design.

"It's a Hitachi wand," you explained, turning it to give him a full view, "it's supposed to have more power than the rabbit, but since I haven't used it yet, I don't know how it's supposed to feel on me - so, make sure you tell me everything you feel, okay?"

Chris nodded, his dick throbbing in anticipation, "Okay, yeah, I will."

You took a moment to coat the soft bulbous tip with lube before turning it toward him; rubbing it along his shaft to give him a general idea of what it feels like while it's not running.

"Ready?"

"R-Ready."

The click of a button was all he could register before a strong wave of vibration forced a choked gasp from his plump lips.

He could feel it everywhere; from the tip of his cock to his abdomen - he could even feel the vibrations in the taughtness of his balls, it was insane.

If it weren't for the fact that you were sitting between his legs, he probably would've been folded like a chair from the pleasure.

"Channie? How's it feel, baby? What is it like?"

His hands fisted the sheets, chest heaving in uneven breaths as he tried his best to collect the brain cells to form words.

"I-It- oh fuck, fuck, it's so- it's everywhere, baby- oh my god don't stop, please don't stop!"

His stomach was coated in precum, his cock leaking in ways you haven't seen before - you were almost jealous it was being wasted on him instead of in you, but that would be fixed later on.

Pressing the vibration button, you kicked up the speed and pressed the toy against the underside of his cock, right against a vein you were graciously familiar with.

The sound he let out was crossed between a grunt and a gasp of air, eyes rolling to the back of his head, and before you knew it, thick ropes of white streaked across his chest and stomach.

It was like he was frozen in time, stuck between breaths and stomach contracting with each wave of cum leaving him, numb to everything but the constant vibrations now spreading throughout his body.

At the same time, you weren't fairing any better; watching in shocked amazement as your usually loud finishing boyfriend was resorted to nothing but choked breaths and twitching limbs. It wasn't until a certain gasped word forced it's way past his lips that you were brought back to reality.

"R-Red- Red-"

You turned the toy off immediately, tossing it behind you as your hands moved to hold his shaking ones, knuckles white from his grip on your sheets.

"Okay, Channie, it's okay - we're all done, yeah?" You could see the faint streak of tears shining down the sides of his face, watching as he tried nodding his head. "You're okay, baby, just take a deep breath with me - slowly, just breathe with me."

He took a shivering inhale, broken between soft hiccups, before sighing it out slowly, his body relaxing just a bit.

"Good boy, just a few more times for me, alright?"

With each breath taken, his body finally relaxed and the tension in his hands released enough for you to slip your hands into his palms, thumbs caressing his undoubtedly sore knuckles.

"You did great, Channie, such a great job - will you be okay if I leave to get a washcloth to clean you up? Do you want me to run a bath?"

Chris shook his head softly, squeezing your hands, "Just... Just a washcloth... A-And some water, please."

Nodding, you leaned down to press a kiss to his right hand, "Alright, baby, I'll be right back."

It only took a few minutes for you to return with the warm washcloth and a bottle of water, gently wiping up the mess of cum from his skin and lube from his softening dick, before helping him sit up to drink.

He finished the water bottle in record time, chugging it as if he just finished a set on stage before letting out a deep sigh, leaning his head against your headrest.

"That was..."

"Intense?"

"Amazing." He laughed lightly, "And intense too, yeah, but it was... I never felt anything like that before, but I feel like if I didn't tap out then, I would've passed out."

Small giggles bubbles from your mouth, shaking your head at his honesty, "Well thank you for letting me know - do you need me to do anything for you? More water? Food? Wanna talk it out some more? Where's your head at, my love?"

A small hum left him as he opened his eyes to gaze at you through a soft haze, "Food sounds great, and we can definitely talk about it more but not before you tell me how you're doing. I'm alright, really, just a little overstimulated - but what about you? I didn't mean to scare you with the safeword."

"You didn't scare me at all! I was just worried about you, trust me - I'm just glad you're okay." Scooting closer to him, you pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, smiling as he press himself into you. "I'll order the food, you just focus on cooling down, yeah?"

He nodded before looking at you with puppy eyes, "Can we order a pizza?"

Rolling your eyes, you laughed, "Yes, we can order a pizza - find something to watch then we can talk about the toys some more."

With a hum of agreement, you set off to put your date night back on track.

✧. ┊Tagged lovelies: @goblinracha, @having-an-internal-crisis-rn, @midnightfrog625, @anyhow-everything, @bangchanbabygirlx, @sweetracha, @j-onedrabbles, @happilydeepestwonderland, @nightimescapes, @caitlyn98s, @ch4nn13luv, @ihrtlix, @sometimesleeknows, @jeonjungkookenthusiast1997, @maximumkillshot, @y-ur--i, @acker-night, @dreamescapeswriting, @specialstay, @broken-glowsticks, @s00buwu, @dancerachaslut, @junglyric, @tinyelfperson, @jj-stay, @katsukis1wife, @inlovewithmusician, @keen-li, @armystay89, @main-character0, @vampcharxter

✧. ┊If your username is in bold italics that means tumblr won't let me tag you. If you’d like to be added to the taglist, fill out this form!

[jasmineoolongtea]

is it cocky to say that gojo satoru isn't used to competition?

well, if you were to ask satoru himself, he would say no. actually, he would insist that this was par for the course for someone his calibre since it would just simply be unfair in almost every imaginable way to compare anyone, regardless of their status or skillset, to him.

a little-known fact about him is that he's all about fairness and playing fair, alongside his sense of humility which puts everyone else's to shame.

that is, until now. even he has to admit (albeit very begrudgingly), that this might be the toughest opponent of his life, nay, of his generation perhaps.

and it all began on that cursed day two weeks ago.

it's a particularly rainy day outside and satoru's sitting idly on the couch eagerly awaiting your return from the local convenience store when, without warning, the door suddenly slams open and he's met with a very curious sight. it's you, standing there in the doorway and slightly drenched from the downpour with a plastic bag hanging from one arm with a mysterious medium-sized lump of something resting precariously on your other.

"look at what i found just outside, tour!" there's an edge of excitement to your voice like a kid on christmas day. you quickly slip off your shoes and unceremoniously dump the plastic bag on the floor as you scramble towards satoru, clearly very eager to show off your newfound spoil.

in your eagerness however, you almost trip over your own two feet but lucky for you, he has fast reflexes and is there in the blink of an eye to steady you. his eyes roam around your figure, searching for any other possible injury you might have sustained from your near fall when they land on the object you've been seemingly holding on to for dear life.

squinting his eyes in an attempt to further scrutinise it, he notices that it's all curled up in your arms and that what might once have been snowy white fur is now an off-white that is much closer to beige thanks to the amount of dirt and dust that it has probably racked up from being outside.

"why do you have a bundle of dirty fur in your arms?" he asks doubtfully.

you gasp at his words.

"don't be rude!" you chide, bringing the object closer to you as you nuzzle your cheek into it. "it's a cat. i found it shivering in the rain and of course, i couldn't just leave it there." true to your words, and seemingly on cue, there's movement coming from the furry object and soon a cat's head pops out from who knows where which takes him by surprise as he jumps back in shock.

"he even looks like you in a way. you know, with the white fur and blue eyes." as if to emphasise your point, you pick up the cat and showcase it to him like an auctioneer would do with the item they're auctioning off, trying to display it in its best light.

too bad for you, your tactics aren't working on him and his face scrunches up in an expression of disdain.

"it's a he?" the thing- no, the cat blinks owlishly at him with its freakishly bright blue eyes staring into his soul. he shudders at the sight of it. "and if you love me babe you wouldn't compare me to that wet furball." he quips back, a comically large pout on his face as he appears to almost be insulted by your recent comparison.

"you're being dramatic, toru." you roll your eyes at him, bringing the cat back into your arms to cuddle with it once again which earns you a content purr from it. he's fighting off the urge to glare at it right now. "he's probably not going to stay here that long anyways since it seems he likes to be outside."

yeah, famous last words right there.

what was supposed to be a few hours where the cat could wait out the rain in the safety and comfort of your shared apartment soon turned into a few days and then into several weeks and before satoru knew it, your home now had a new (and unwelcomed in satoru's opinion) inhabitant.

not only that but the cat, who now apparently had the name of daifuku on account of your insistence that you needed to give the cat a name since you couldn't go on calling the cat 'cat' forever, was living absolutely rent-free on his part and had essentially claimed the entire space as his own.

to top it all off, this also meant that a new challenger was entering the arena to compete for the most coveted prize of them all; your affection.

and unfortunately for satoru, he had finally met his match.

whenever he was feeling particularly affectionate during the day or just wanted to spend some precious time with you in each other's arms, he would almost always find himself late to the party when there was someone else, or more specifically something, already waiting there as if to lord his victory over him.

logically, he knows that cats can't smile or emote like humans do but he's pretty sure if they could, this one would be smugly smirking and looking down at him from its gilded throne.

as if to further rub salt on the wound, the cat was stretched out in a boneless mass on your lap aka his favourite spot to lie down on. that was prime real estate right there if you asked him! and now what should have been satoru's right as your boyfriend to rest there was thrown out the window for someone new and apparently cuter, judging by how much you coo at it daily much to his chagrin.

when he puts on his best puppy dog eyes (the ones he knows that you're weak in the knees too) and does his best to convince you to push the cat off in favour of him, he's met with another punch to the metaphorical gut when you go against all odds and deny him of his simple wish. instead, you just motion to the cat resting on your lap and press a consolation kiss to his cheek before pulling away and redirecting your attention back to it.

stubborn as he always is, satoru refuses to budge and although his ego is severely wounded by this point, he takes the second-best option and rests his head against your shoulder and nuzzles his nose into the crook of your neck, earning him a soft melodious giggle from you as you shiver slightly from the ticklish sensation.

when you're not looking, he takes the opportunity to glare jealously at the cat and the cat, ever so proud in its high castle, smugly glares right back at him as if daring him to try and dethrone him now. he huffs

satoru may have lost the battle for now but he swears that he won't lose the war.

[kaiju-krew]

So I know this is like, a month late (forgot to ask when you posted the pic lol), but what's up with Labra? He got like a backstory, lore, or something like that? I'm curious and wanna know more abt him.

drew him again :3c

UHMMM yes i am lore building for him........ i haven't decided everything yet but i know i want him to be a distant cousin species of goji's. everyone's fangoji lore is different but i def imagine him as a part of my personal monsterverse au rather than existing in his own world with no friends haha loser

putting a cut here so i dont spam people's feeds lmao

likeeee for comparison it's probably similar to Crocodylia encompassing crocodiles, alligators, and gharials?? labra is in a similar niche to zilla for me. goji is the largest/apex species of the gojiran order, whereas zilla & labra are smaller and occupy a different niche. Big bruiser lion vs. carcal or lynx type thing.

my hc is that the vast majority of labra's species (pre-mutation art is what they looked like) was wiped out when ghido got into hollow earth. which is also the same time he wiped out most of the divine moths and a couple other species :''(

it ended with ghido iced but it fucked up the hollow earth ecosystem for a while and led to a lot more radiation leakage since he tore the place up real bad. labra was Almost Dead and ended up hibernating to recover by a radiation vent, but he'd laid down in feldspar vein that kinda grew to cover him and turned to labradorite and idk magic radiation nonsense it fused with him and caused him to grow/mutate.

the ghido massacre also caused battra to hibernate/mutate too so it's a Big Event in my silly au world. most of the kaiju that are clearly a result of mutation fuckery (biollante, kessho too) may be related to it as well but i haven't fully fleshed it out yet. it would mostly be based around goji's hyper-regeneration doing the thing where like.. if a big enough chunk of him gets lobbed off and has access to energy it mutates and tries to regenerate and causes a fucked up clone siblings thing idk omg ok i'm in tangent city good god sorry i was supposed to be talking about my gay son

ANYWAYSSSSSS for more general hc/character stuff: >labra is genuinely terrified of ghido and even gets freaked out when he hears wing beats without warning. (mosu beats rodan's ass bcuz he divebombs labra for fun sometimes) >he lives on monster island and ventures down to hollow earth sometimes, but he won't return to his old home because it just reminds him everyone else of his species is gone. (he isn't even his own species anymore bcuz of the mutation. so they're basically extinct.) >he loves swimming and sometimes just lays in the shallows to absorb sunlight. stretches out like a lazy ass cat. cat boy behaviour >he's loyal to goji and doesn't start shit with humans unless they attack first. even then he does his best to steer clear. >mothra likes his dorsal plates and talks with him sometimes (Moth Therapy) they can bond over ghido hating it's a good time >he has a mutually bitch-bother dynamic with rodan where rodan bothers the shit outta him until he manages to grab that turkey and idk sits on him or something. but if rodan really pisses him off he doesn't mind actually throwing hands because he knows goji won't care if he puts the bird in it's place. >he also likes angy, zilla, and bio a lot too.

there's more but i'll stop there for nowwwww

tldr: big gay lizard is traumatized but doing ok ig

[haunted-fae]

I can't sleep so now you get to suffer with me by reading my sleepy 3am superbat ramblings. Aka some fluff with no plot, some plot with no plot, and identity being a blurry concept. No proofreading cause it's sounds 3 40am when I'm posting this lol

~♡~

Superman brought Bruce closer.It was a testament to their bond, the trust built between them, that the man didn't fight against it in the slightest. The instinctual tenseness in the Bat's shoulders faded quickly.

Clark's hand on his hip, his breath on his neck, Clark's lips inhumanly soft as they breezed against Bruce's neck. How they thought they could ever remain just friends was beyond the world's greatest detective.

"Kal" he wasn't Brucie, he wasn't Batman. He got to just be Bruce now.

"Yeah B?" He wasn't Clark or Superman either, Bruce supposed. Kal spoke to him in the way that was soft like Clark, like rolling fields of corn or whatever they grew in Kansas. Kal spoke to him in a way that was self assured like Superman, like he knew you were listening when you tried to pretend you weren't.

"Let's go home." It had been a long mission. And the soft romantic shower under the warm water was nice, but lying in bed, knowing Dick was safe, Alfred was safe, Kal was safe. That's what he craved. And Bruce always got what he wanted. Fucking rich kids, right?

"Yeah" his smile was soft and strong and alien, but it was Kal. He'd lower his guard for a very short list of people, but he knew that Kal would be there to catch the ball if he dropped it.

-

Clark Kent was not a bumbling idiot. He put alot work into being one, the untied shoe (just the left one, cause he favored his right), the crumpled suits (Ma would kill him if she saw the state of his work attire), the glasses that sat just off kilter no matter how much he straightened them (that one wasn't on purpose, it was a manufacturer error but it helped). But he was not bumbling idiot.

But, having fake being one (and being an investigative journalist), he could spot fake pretty well. Some were more obvious. Others not so much.

Bruce Wayne had been driving him crazy since he interviewed him on Cat's behalf about an art program he funded last month. Anywhere he looked he saw, Bruce Wayne locks himself in a bathroom AGAIN, Bruce Wayne burns water, Bruce Wayne is so stupid he might win the next Darwin Award. There was so much evidence towards it, obvious bold evidence, it was either fake or Bruce Wayne needed medical help. Locking himself in a bathroom, 3 times? The man has a child!

So Clark had been debating it in his mind. He seemed normal enough in the interview that maybe it was just standard tabloid hyperbolization. So he decided to ask the one person he trusts most- in general and about Gotham- their opinion.

"So what so you think about Bruce Wayne?" He tries to bring it up causally to Batman.

"Not much. Why." Blunt and to the point, what else could be expected of his partner?

"Oh you know, just curious. I read some interesting things in the Daily Planet is all."

"Hn." Batman was not biting his bullshit.

"Doesn't he just seem kinda weird to you though? I mean he runs a company, he has a kid, and yet everything i read says he's the biggest himbo on earth. Strange, isn't it?"

"I've met him. He has his moments, the papers exaggerate." Batman replied calmly.

"Huh" Well if B, who would probably kill Clark in a heartbeat if it was too save a child, wasn't worried about the competence of Gotham's most eligible father/billionaire... it was probably fine, right? "Ok, yeah, that makes sense."

It wouldn't stop Clark from still thinking about the man for weeks, like he was a pleasant looking plague on his thoughts. There was something familiar in his act that Clark just couldn't shake.

Batman made note to reevaluate his public character before his next interview with the planet. Clark Kent was discerning, but Lois Lane would cut into your soul.

[hyuuukais]

⋆₊‧⁺˖⋆˚.⋆ ͙͘͡★ LOOK UP TO THE STARS

pairing ▪︎ han jisung x fem reader

synopsis ▪︎ sent out on a mission to a neighbouring QZ that's gone radio silent, y/n falls into the hands of a post-rebellion group after things go terribly wrong. giving up on rejoining her squad, she joins the group on a trek to find a missing member, the group leader's sister. what's supposed to be a not-so-simple trip out and back to their base becomes a one-way ticket to the end of everything they know.

warnings ▪︎ general, y/n finally breaking down, also she can't swim cause i can't swim 💔, hyunjin x reader fight from previous chapter mentioned, errm radiohead lyrics jumpscare sorry (but also not cause it's my fic 🤨), errrm idk what else !

MASTERLIST | PREVIOUS | NEXT

CHAPTER SEVEN ▪︎ WE ALL HAVE SOMETHING (6.1k)

At least a week has passed since you left that place, only a pile of dead bodies to signify you were ever there. It was too risky to go back to the home Chan and Jeongin were still in, waiting for the rest of you to return, so Felix had radioed them in order to get them ready to move. As the truck was loaded with supplies, Felix had Han carefully flip you onto your back to check the still bleeding wound left by that mans knife. He did what he could, packing the wound and instructing you to stay in that position. You barely registered his words, slipping into sleep.

When you woke, you found yourself on a firm mattress in the basement of a cottage. Pain shot through your body every time you tried moving, and you imagined that's how Chan felt after the hospital. Your sympathy for him rose, and so did your impatience to get back to normal.

Today, you're finally able to sit upright, legs hanging over the edge of the bed as you stare blankly through the doorway. Your back aches, but Felix says it's healing nicely, that you're lucky there isn't much real damage. You don't feel lucky. You feel nothing. All those years in the QZ mastering the art of hiding emotion came in handy, but you would give anything right now just to feel something. You sigh heavily, trying to release the weight on your chest. But today is different, because you can finally sit upright on the edge of the bed.

Tears prickle at your eyes and you look down to where your hands sit in your lap, cradling your necklace. You took it off when no one was with you, keeping it in a drawer in the bedside nightstand. The metal charm is cold in your hand as you close it in a fist; looking at it for so long brings you back too far. Thoughts of before flood your mind, thoughts of Minho and the way he found the charm for you after you asked him about his own one night, a singular cat paw hanging down from his neck.

"Ah, this," He took the charm in his fingers, the metal glinting in the campfire light. "My mother gave it to me before she turned."

"Oh." You were only eight, leaning against Minhos arm in the middle of an abandoned campsite.

Unlike you, Minho had lived with his mom until he was about your age when he found you, then she turned after their camp was attacked. He found you a few years later, wandering the streets of a small town looking for shelter. You were just a small child, the age of seven, left alone to fend for yourself. It wasn't intentional- you'd been curious about a path in the woods and found yourself lost quickly. When you ran into Minho, you were trembling from hunger and on the brink of passing out from exhaustion. He took you into his arms and broke into the closest house, taking out some kind of canned food for you to eat. Ever since then, you were inseparable.

That is, until now.

Now, you're unlikely to ever see him again outside of dreams and memories. As you place the necklace back around your neck, you can feel something. It starts small, the hiccups and the burn in your throat, the way the prickling behind your eyes grows stronger; you can't breathe through your nose anymore. Salty tears drip down your face, down your neck, onto your hands in your lap. No one is around to hear you, so you let go, curling into yourself as your sobs rip from your body painfully. You can't even stay on the bed, slipping down to the carpeted floor with a hand clutching your heart as everything comes out at once. The pain of missing Minho, accepting what happened at the diner- you didn't let yourself truly feel fear there, thinking you would die one way or another, that it didn't matter how you felt in the moment. Waves of anguish flow through your body like a viral disease; you need to let it run its course.

You don't hear the knock on the door frame or see the way Chan leans against it, watching as you give into yourself. It's not until he's sitting next to you with an arm wrapping around your shoulders that you acknowledge him, face burying into his neck and your free hand being held by his. He whispers words you can't make out into your hair, running smooth circles in between your shoulder blades until you start to calm down, coughing and sniffling and breathing so heavily. Eventually, the room is near quiet again, only the occasional sniffle to be heard.

"Did I ever tell you about when Hannah went missing?" You look up at Chan, shaking your head. He's not looking at you when he continues, but at your clasped hands, giving you a squeeze. "I looked a lot like you after a few days. I was..."

"A complete and total mess?" You offer, and he gives a breathy laugh.

"Exactly. A complete and total mess. I locked myself in that house for what felt like forever." Chan sighs, looking up at the ceiling. "We were out in a nearby town looking for things like canned food and medical supplies, run of the mill stuff. She was practically begging me to let her explore the local art gallery, but I was so against it. Of course, she didn't listen to me and went off on her own when enough of us were distracted. If I had only-" Chan clears his throat, blinks a few times. "If I had only said yes, gone with her, she'd still be with us."

"What do you mean?" You're more upright now, but still leaning into his shoulder.

"The place was filled with infected," He starts, and you feel your stomach drop. "As soon as we noticed she was missing, that was the first place we looked. As we got closer, we heard her screaming for help. Jisung helped me get the door open and we saw she had climbed on top of a sculpture, but the infected were somehow making their way up to her. And after one wrong move in trying to stay up, she fell- right into the arms of this person that we hadn't even noticed."

The regret and pain in Chan's voice are enough to make you look away from him, now your turn to give a reassuring squeeze to his hand. Silence hangs heavily in the room for a few moments before he begins talking again.

"All the infected were trained on us after that, only a few stragglers going after the two of them. The horde was too thick to get through, but we took most of them out before having to fall back out the way we came from." His head drops down, lips quivering. "I- when we- ugh, sorry."

"Don't apologize." You bring your free hand to his cheek, turning his head to face you. "You don't need to continue if you don't want to."

"I do," He says, voice wet, cheeks wet. "I do. We, um, we circled around to the back where we assumed they took her out from, but only got there in time to see a large van drive off. Our own vehicle was too far at the time, we never had a chance of catching up. Hannah meant- means, a lot to all of us, so I tried to be strong for the rest of the group. A few days after getting back to town, I found a note she had written."

He takes his hand from yours, reaching into the pocket of his jeans to reveal a tired, leather wallet. When he opens it, you see the only thing inside is a folded-up piece of lined paper. Chan takes it out carefully, letting you read it over his shoulder.

Chan, Chris, whatever.

Thanks for finding me a guitar! You're the best big brother ever, but you didn't hear that from me. In fact, burn this after reading, I don't need anyone thinking I've gone soft for you.

Here are some lyrics I've begun (probably not the beginning of a song, maybe somewhere in the middle? I don't know):

Breathe, keep breathing. Don't lose your nerve.

Breathe, keep

The paper is ripped, cutting off the rest of the lyrics. When you're done reading, you look back to Chan, but he's still focused on the paper, his face red and scrunched up. You tuck some hair away from his face as he breaks down, gasping and wiping his eyes. He clears his throat again, tucking the paper back into the wallet, the wallet back into his jeans.

"I pull that out when I start to lose touch, when I start to think things are becoming hopeless." His voice quiets. "When I start to give up. She gives me those things back, grounds me, you know?"

Your fingers find the charm around your neck. "I know."

"Now that I know Hannah is still out there, I'd give anything to find her. Sometimes it scares me." Chan finally looks at you again, eyes watery. "We all have something that scares us, and we all have something to give us hope. Find it, Y/n, and don't give up. We need you."

Something in his voice, in his words, in the feeling of his body close to yours, has you breaking down again. You both sit here for a while, comforting each other by just being close and providing a safe space to let it all out. Once your eyes run dry, Chan stands and offers you a hand. You take it, following him through the basement doors to the backyard on slightly unsteady feet. There's a pathway from where the glass double doors are jammed open down to a fire pit, a small set of stone steps leading further down to the water. It's overcast and smells like rain, but you can see almost everyone out in the water. The sight is enough for you to tear up again, seeing them have fun and have just one day where they can be careless, not worrying about if they'll make it through the night.

Hyunjin is sitting on a cushioned metal swing on a porch that hangs slightly over a sandy area, the water not quite coming up the shore. He's sitting with Felix, who's chest is free of a shirt, but not free of sand grains covering his skin. His wet hair is tucked behind his ears; it's getting long, he looks good this way. They're lost in conversation, not paying attention to Jeongin and Chaeryeong essentially trying to drown each other by the looks of it, or Han, who's floating closer to the dock where Seungmin is sitting with his legs in the water. Nobody notices you and Chan standing from afar, watching with a heaviness in each of your chests.

"Go, have fun," Chan pushes you forward gently. "I'm gonna start prepping the campfire for dinner. I found some things we can eat in a storage room inside."

"I can stay and help-"

"No," He says firmly, shaking his head. "Hyunjin and I can't go in, doctors orders, but you can go join them and you should. Lix told me you should be okay since your wound has healed nicely. Enjoy it for me, yeah?"

You groan, barely containing a smile. "Fine."

"Y/n!" Chaeryeong squeals as you walk to the edge of the porch, avoiding eye contact with Hyunjin. "Come join us!"

"That was the plan." You laugh.

Stripping off your pants and socks, you carefully hop down onto the wet sand. Warm water touches your toes as you slowly descend, a small smile gracing your features. It feels nice.

"You should take your shirt off since it's your only one," Chaeryeong suggests and you blush. "The water temperature is amazing out here once you get used to it, so don't worry about being cold!"

You bring your hands to the bottom of your shirt, hesitating as you begin to lift it up. At just below your belly button, you stop completely, gripping your shirt tightly. It shouldn't be a big deal, but it is to you. Taking your shirt off means revealing the ugly bruises littering your body, the nasty scar across your ribs from when you were a child. There isn't much of a story, one similar enough to a lot of people you've met before. A zombie attacked you and left you with a permanent mark, only you've been able to hide the jagged, rough skin from sight. It healed terribly from the lack of proper medical attention, only a twelve-year-old Minho with no training to try and stop the bleeding, stitch up the wound, and keep it clean as you slipped in and out of consciousness. Soon after, he ran into someone from the quarantine zone who tried to take him with them, but he kicked and screamed until they understood there was someone else; you, alone in a cold garage, on the brink of death.

You think nobody notices your pause, much too focused on themselves and the water, but then somebody is standing beside you in the soft sand, an arm reaching behind you to grab a piece of green fabric. Watching as Han shoves his shirt back over his wet body, catching a glimpse of his small waist and bare golden skin in the process, your hands let go of the hem of your shirt.

"Chaeryeong is lying," Han says, then raises his voice loud enough for the others to hear. "The water is fucking freezing!"

Laughing, Jeongin tries to splash him where he stands, but the younger boy is too far away and it barely hits Han's ankles. Shaking your head, you look up at Han, who is standing entirely too close to you, but you find you don't mind. After what you experienced together, you don't view him like you did before; immature, kind of annoying, cocky. You see now that's how Jisung protects himself, by portraying himself as funny and unserious, to try and lighten the mood. You all have your armour, and he wears his better than you do yours.

"I'm not lying! Don't believe him!" Chaeryeong whines, but is soon distracted by some bugs skipping past her over the water. "Woah, Jeongin, look."

"She's right." You talk quietly, a shy smile on your face and you can't look Han in the eye. "I can feel the water on my feet, it really isn't cold."

"Yes, it is," He insists, taking your hand in his and walking backward. You look at him now, see the way his hair falls into his eyes and swoops up at the back, at his honey complexion shining in the vibrant light of the sunset to your left, his eyes teasing, but soft. "It's really, really cold. Keeping your shirt on is the smart decision."

"Okay." You whisper, letting him bring you in waist-deep before he lets go and maneuvers onto his back. "Wait."

Han cranes his neck up to look at you, raising an eyebrow.

"I- oh, this is so stupid," You say, hiding your face in your hands. "I can't swim, at least, not well. Going into deeper water freaks me out."

With your face still hidden, you can hear Han returning to your side. Wet hands bring yours down, big brown eyes staring into yours. "That's okay, you have a human-sized floating device right here! And we'll only go as far as that dock, okay?"

Smiling, he steps aside and points to a floating piece of wood not too far from where you're standing in the water. Then, he's back in front of you with his back facing you, reaching back to wrap your hands around his shoulders. You're holding on for dear life when he kicks out, somehow more scared than you are when fighting actual literal undead beings. What should be a walk in the park, and is for most people, makes your throat hot and tight. You want to nuzzle your face into Han's neck, but you know if you try that you'll just end up waterboarding yourself, which is more embarrassing than anything else that's happened since you've woken up.

The wood shifts under your weight and for a second, you think you'll fall over the edge when Han lets go of your body, but you don't. He sits on a different ledge, encouraging you with a nod to join him on that side, so you do. From here, you can see the sun setting behind the tree line, oranges and pinks and yellows painting a beautiful picture for you. To your left, you see bodies in the water and recognize them as more than just people you're surviving with, but as people you've grown to really care about. And maybe you're a little hopeful, but you think they've grown to care about you too.

Han traces light fingers over the tendons in your hand, over your knuckles, up your wrist. You think he's doing it subconsciously, but then his fingers intertwine with your own and he's sighing with a small smile on his face, and his eyes are closed, and his wet hair sticks to his forehead, and you can't look away, and he's the most beautiful person you've ever seen, and-

"You're staring." You blush, but the way his eyes look down at your lips then back to your eyes doesn't go unnoticed.

"I couldn't help it," You admit. Something in the way he's staring at you has your heart about to leap out of your chest, thumping hard and loud, and you wouldn't be surprised if he could hear it too. The blood rushing in your ears, the way your skin prickles where he's touched you; you've never felt like this before, not even with Hyunjin.

Finally breaking the stare, Han clears his throat and lets go of your hand; you're a tad bit disappointed at the loss of contact. "Chan found some canned food in a storage room in the basement, so we were thinking of having a campfire tonight. There's also stale marshmallows and I heard that people before the apocalypse would make these things called 'smores', but we don't have the stuff to make them."

"Yeah, I've had those-" You start, but are interrupted by an almost offended sound.

"You've had them?" Hans neck nearly snaps with the speed his head turns to you.

"Um, yeah." Why are you getting shy? "With Minho in the QZ. When he became a squad leader, he got some privileges we didn't, like access to the kitchens after hours. He told me about all the things they kept for themselves as we snuck out that night, contraband chocolate and graham crackers stuffed deep into out coat pockets."

You laugh at the memory, the stuttered excuse Minho had made when a soldier caught you both trying to leave stealthily. Luckily they'd trained together, and the soldier waved you both away with a suggestive smirk that made your cheeks go red. You think that might have been when the rumours started; you and Minho fell in love through all the trauma you went through together, that the only real place of comfort you had was each other. Only part of that is true- was true. He didn't bring you far that night, just outside of the patrol routes to a small, wooden shack of sorts in the woods. The snack was tasty, and the fire warm, but not as warm as the feeling in your stomach as you rested your head against Minho's shoulder in the night, his arm secure around you.

"Y/n?" Minho whispered, thinking you had fallen asleep; you didn't, but you were too tired to mutter any kind of response back. "Jagiya, I need to tell you something... maybe it's better to say it now and just have it out in the open." He sighs, and it's a while before he talks again. "You saved my life. I don't know what I would have done if I hadn't found you, where I would be. Certainly not here, I hate this place and the things they do and cover up. But you needed help, and I couldn't let you die. I stay here for you, do you know that?"

The night is quiet, save for your breathing and the sound of crickets and other bugs, but Minho's mind is loud and racing and he can't help but confess everything to you. How he couldn't imagine life without you, how you mean the world- no, the universe to him. The way he didn't think he'd even still be here if you hadn't come along, whether by the nature of the world now or by his own hands. Saying all these things thinking you'd drifted off, but you were more awake than ever.

"What do you think happened to him?" Han's voice brings you back, and you notice the way the night has taken over. "Minho. Since he lied for us."

"They value him a lot there, so I doubt there were any real repercussions as long as he kept up the act." Looking into the dark water and seeing the way your legs disappear, you shiver. "Can we go back to the others now?"

"Oh! Yeah, of course. Are you cold?" Han rubs his hands up and down your arms and you snort. "Why are you laughing? The water is gonna be colder than earlier and you're still recovering, I don't want you to get sick."

Right. Recovering. Time with Han had let you briefly forget all the shit that happened, existing in the moment with someone who didn't look at you like someone who might break any second. You saw the way their eyes lingered on you when you walked past into the water, the way Hyunjin and Jeongin tried not to stare as you struggled to take your shirt off. Even Chan as he let you walk away to the others, worry etched in his face.

"I'm fine." You grumble, opting to get in the water before he could say anything else. Struggling to keep your head above water, you only make it so far until he's caught up, trying to get you onto his back again. "I'm not a baby! Let me do this!"

"No, you're not a baby, but you're also not a strong swimmer." Han says, still trying to grab your arms.

Ignoring his comment, you continue to splash your way to the dock, but your arms and legs are getting tired quick. You stop for a moment, struggling to take a breath, and notice how damp your face has gotten. Assuming it's just the water, or maybe sweat, you're confused when Han is in front of you with a concerned look on his face. That's when you realize you're crying- again. And the realization makes you cry harder, upset with yourself for becoming so soft, for breaking down over and over and over again, for letting yourself be vulnerable in front of others.

"Hey, hey, hey." Han is wrapping his arms around you, keeping you from letting yourself sink. "What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

"Everything is so stupid-" You choke out, cold arms reaching around his neck to stay afloat. As you keep talking, he slowly starts moving your bodies back to land. "Recovery is stupid, feeling sad is stupid, getting hurt over dumb words is stupid."

"Why is it stupid to be human?" He asks softly.

Hans words sit between you, and you don't know what to say.

"Y/n?" Han only stops for a moment, focusing entirely on you.

"I shouldn't feel this way." You say. "I should be back on my feet and not dwelling on some accident that happened. This world doesn't let you do that."

"So make it do that," Han says, like it's the most obvious answer in the entire world. "We all have our moments. Yeah, we can't always stop and let it take over, but we have to let ourselves feel it eventually or that's what's gonna kill us in the end." He shakes his head and begins to move again. "Not zombies, not the military, but ourselves. We're all zombies already in a way, eating away at ourselves in the name of self-preservation."

"That is definitely one way to put it." You laugh. "But I think I get what you mean."

Sand grazes your toes and you detach from Han, hopping back up to the dock and helping him up. Your shirts are soaked and heavy as they hang from your bodies, sticking to your skin uncomfortably.

"Y/n!" Chaeryeong comes jogging up to your side with two things in her hands. "I got you a towel and a fresh sweater. There are closets full of clothes in there if this doesn't fit. Check this out-" she does a spin to show you the back of her grey shirt, stark white angel wings on the other side.

"Oh, you're a cool girl now!" You take the things from her, giggling. "Thank's Chaerry."

"No problem." She smiles, then looks at Han. "Sorry, I didn't think to grab you something..."

"Eh, I can dry by the fire." He shrugs.

With a final nod, Chaeryeong returns to the fire Chan has started- if you can call it that yet. There are just a few pieces of wood barely smoking in the pit. Han shifts in front of you, blocking your view of the others. When you look up at him, he's straining his neck in the opposite direction.

"What are you doing?" You ask, giving him a weird look.

"Blocking the others from seeing you change." He answers with his head still turned away; that must be painful.

"Oh," is all you can say, an ache in your chest at his words.

It doesn't take long for you to discard your wet shirt, tossing it to the side with a schlap. Tapping on Han's chest to signal you're done, he turns his head back too soon and whimpers in pain, rubbing the back of his neck.

"You didn't have to do that, I could have gone inside." You say, reaching up to replace his hand with yours, massaging his neck. He's close; you can feel his breath on your cheek.

"I know," He says, and once you're done soothing his pain, you walk to the fire that's actually a fire now, and join the others.

"And then, get this, he threatened me! Me! Can you believe that?" Hyunjin is scoffing, hand in the air.

"Yes, actually, I can get how the guy whose gun you stole threatened you," Seungmin points out.

"But I didn't-"

"No, you just let it get stolen by your best friend-"

"Enough! Enough, please don't start an argument when I'm trying to cook us a nice dinner to enjoy on a nice night where we can actually have a nice time." Chan groans.

For a moment, no one talks, but then Seungmin leans over to Hyunjin. "How many times do you think he can say nice in one sentence?"

"Poor guy, old age is making him forget his vocabulary." Hyunjin says with a fake, sad sigh.

"I was going to say the same thing," Seungmin laughs quietly.

You sit next to Seungmin in an empty lawn chair, Han sitting across from you next to Chan. Chaeryeong is already falling asleep on your other side, Felix and Jeongin off in their own world next to her. Listening to Hyunjin and Seungmin bicker as you eat gives you a strange sense of normalcy, like two siblings on a family vacation to their cottage. As you place your plate on the pile by Chan's feet, you make eye contact with Han, who is placing his down too. He retracts his arm, letting you place yours first, and you smile at him. Reaching behind his leg, you watch Chan bring out the stale marshmallows Han had mentioned before as you sit back down.

Everyone is silent as they roast them over the fire, some blankets that Chan had ready being passed around. When you go to throw the other half of yours over Chaeryeong, you notice her pouting and her glossy eyes.

"Chaerry?" You nudge her arm gently and she appears to zone back in, a single tear dropping from her eye.

"Hannah would have loved this." She whispers, but it's heard by the rest in the quiet night.

Instinctively, you look at Chan, but his eyes are focused on Chaeryeong, lips pressed tightly together. He closes the bag. "She would have, you're right. Let's save some for when we get her back, yeah?"

No one speaks as he ties the bag closed. You accidentally burnt your little ball of sugar, but eat it anyway; it feels almost disrespectful not to. Jeongin is the first to go, excusing himself to bed. He's followed by Seungmin, then Felix, then Chaeryeong. The silence between you, Chan, Han, and Hyunjin has returned to comfortable, sleepy energy surrounding you. Finally, Chan and Han both head inside, leaving you alone with Hyunjin. Thinking it'll become awkward, you're about to head inside yourself.

"I'm sorry for what I said." Hyunjin says, the ghost of a pout on his lips. "I didn't mean it, I was just angry."

"I get it," You lie.

Hyunjin looks at you, really looks at you, and he's still as pretty as ever. The firelight glows against his skin, and you can see every little detail including your favourite, the mole under his eye. You can't count how many times you placed a soft kiss right there, whispering into his skin how unique it was.

"No, you don't." He says. "I called you a liability, who does that?"

"You?" You try to joke, but it doesn't land. "Sorry."

"Don't be." Hyunjin switches to the seat next to you that Seungmin abandoned. "Listen, no one here is doubting you. Nobody. Not even Han-" He cuts himself off, head turning away but eyes staying on you. "...what's going on between you guys?"

"What?" Your eyes widen and you sit up, at a loss for words.

"We've all seen you guys acting like lovebirds all of a sudden! Did it really only take some life endangerment to finally work up the courage to ask you out?" You're more confused than ever, and Hyunjin can tell he said more than he should have. "Forget I said that..."

"Yeah, I think I will." You laugh. Han, liking you? As in romantically? Han Jisung? You? Please. "Anyway, what you said is in the past. It doesn't matter now."

"What? It does matter," Hyunjin sits up in his chair, leaning his arm onto your chair. "Of course, it matters. Why would you say that it doesn't?"

"Because, I don't know... after the whole getting kidnapped by zombie-eating humans thing, hanging onto stuff like that seems unimportant." Hyunjin doesn't speak, just keeps looking at you with sad eyes, flickering fire reflecting in the dark of his iris. "You don't agree."

"No, I don't," He sighs. "My words hurt you and caused that whole fucking mess, so yeah, I don't agree one bit. You can't compare your physical and emotional pain, okay? Once you start doing that, you'll lose yourself, and we can't have you gone Y/n. We can't."

"Why do you care so much?"

He scoffs, actually scoffs, and you're confused. "You've become so important to our little family, you have no idea."

"But you said-" He cuts you off.

"Forget what I said!" Hyunjin clasps your closest hand in his. "I was angry, I wasn't thinking. Obviously, there was some truth in it, but only if we go back in time to when you were lying unconscious with a broken leg and we didn't know what would happen. None of us think that way about you anymore, no doubts or worries about whether you can handle yourself. If something happened to you, none of us would be okay. Me included. I still care about you, a lot."

The burning feeling behind your eyes has returned for the third time that night, but maybe it's what you need. To let yourself be seen by the others, truly, completely seen. Not the you who you present, who you act as, but the authentic you. Starting with Chan, then Han, now Hyunjin. One by one, you're beginning to learn what it's like to let people in.

"Can we go to bed now?" You whisper, holding his gaze.

"Of course." He brings your hand up to his lips, leaving a soft kiss there before helping you out of your chair.

Wincing, you clutch your side where the worst of the bruising is, holding onto Hyunjin with your other hand. Pain throbs underneath your fingers, somehow sharp and dull at the same time. When you try to move, the pain worsens. You must have overexerted yourself in the water, and now it's catching up to you.

"Here," Hyunjin guides your hands around his neck. "On three, you jump. One... two... three."

You do as he says, wrapping your legs around his waist, and you feel his arm come around your lower back to keep you secure. He starts walking and you can already feel sleep taking you, burying your head into his neck. The next thing you feel is the firm mattress under your body and the warmth of Hyunjin's chest.

"I enjoyed our time together," You say sleepily, angling your head up to look at Hyunjin with closed eyes, too heavy to open again.

"Me too," He presses a kiss to your forehead. "Me too, Y/n."

"We weren't made for each other, were we?" But you already know the answer.

"No," Hyunjin whispers. "Not like that. But we were- are, meant to be here together, with each other. I love you, you know that, right?"

"I love you too."

Your heart is racing with the confession, words you've only ever uttered a few times in your life. To your parents, before they died, to Minho, Seungmin. Yet you know you'd tell the rest you loved them if they were in this room with you two, too sleepy to hold back your emotions.

-

Crrk... crrrrrrkk... crrrrkk...

"What is that?"

Seungmin catches your eye from where he's sitting on the floor, hands feeling over the rough, matted carpet. You're standing right outside the bedroom where Hyunjin lies still asleep, door shut softly behind you. A strange crackling noise was enough to wake you, venturing out to the open space beyond your door. What you didn't expect to see was Seungmin already investigating, starting to pick at the carpet where it appeared to be cut in a square shape.

"There's a keyhole," Seungmin says. "But no key."

"A keyhole?" You walk over to him and lean over his crouched body to inspect the floor, and there is, in fact, a keyhole. It's embedded into the floor, just barely covered by the carpet fibers. Although there was no key, that was no problem. "Move over."

"Bossy," Seungmin comments, but shifts over.

Taking a bobby pin out of your hair, you begin to pick the lock. It's a skill you learned from Minho before the QZ, one you used often to sneak into the kitchens late at night. You're thankful he taught you what he did, otherwise you wouldn't be looking down a dark hole in the ground now, a dim light coming from somewhere beyond your sight.

"You coming?" Seungmin asks as he descends down a grungy, metal ladder. It creaks as he makes his way down, threatening to break from the wall. You wait until he's on the ground to climb down yourself.

The space is small, only meant for one or two people you assume. Directly behind you is a table secured to the wall, papers, pencils, and various scraps splayed across, but one thing stands out.

"Is that-" You gasp.

"It is." Seungmin confirms.

A radio- small, but still working when Seungmin flips a switch. It crackles to life, but doesn't last long; you frown at the machine.

"Here," Seungmin is under the table fiddling with some wires. "Something got unplugged."

When it turns back on, you lean against the table and watch Seungmin sit, playing with the dials and whatever else he feels like. You never quite understood how he worked his magic with these small machines.

"And- crrkk- but you didn't hear that- crrrrrrk-"

"Almost..." Seungmin mutters to himself.

"Anyway, for those tuning in for the first time-"

"Aha!" Seungmin tries to suppress his smile as he leans back in the rickety old chair, listening to the broadcast.

"I'm your host, Cadet Seo Changbin. Welcome to Military On The Road!"

Your head whips toward Seungmin, speaking at the same time. "Changbin?!"

▪︎▪︎▪︎

notes ▪︎ BINNIE !!!!!!!!!

─── taglist : @chaeryred @toplinelix @channie-143 @staysinbloom @manuosorioh @hanjisunglover @xxstrayland @puppyminnnie @hanjsquokka @kpopsstuffs @ot8girlfie @quokkabite @linoslawayslinos @reapers-lover @hannieslittlerockstar @kiki0113 @nishiriks @nxtt2-u @moonlightjam @hannieslovebot @minmininnie @8lives1heart @skzswife @emi-han @alisonyus

green means i can't tag you!

[pansy-picnics]

can ask that you spill everything about your Splatoon OCs? 😺

ABSOLUTELY i did not expect anyone to ask to be honest….goodness where do i even begin. Let’s see. I’ll start with my main little doomed love triangle thing i suppose

Cecilia Paek, she/her, 24 yrs old, aka: cece, celia, eight, whore, freak, slut, etc. My agent 8. born in the domes under the name Paek Seo-Mi, but renamed herself to cece post-memory loss. A freak both in the not-safe-for-work sense and just. In general. She says the most unhinged shit in such a passive formal manner. Marina has to consistently tell her she’s not allowed to eat the jelletons. She bites. A lot.

aside from being a freak cece is curious and observant, but incredibly blunt and fierce. In the past Seo-Mi was a much quieter and more repressed person, but hearing the Inkantation awakened a flame within her, so to speak. Cece is incredibly vocal about her thoughts and feelings, and she does not like to be pushed around. although shes always been a very nostalgic person, shes been trying to look forward more often than not. (she was on team future!)

cece has a very mature, almost sisterly presence, and is especially close with neo 3 (ikra) and her pseudo sister agent 4 (yottsu). she also has a daughter of her own, yumi! ikra and yottsu are my friends ocs so i cant say too much about them but ikra is like, basically her and kyle’s adopted kid

Kyle Lastname, (Actual surname to be determined Eventually) he/him, 25 yrs, aka three, cap, kyle, ceces silly rabbit /j. he’s my captain 3. has a stupid ass name bc he’s a stupid ass guy. Basically started as a joke oc but i put him through the Horrors. he’s the malewife of all time.

Grew up the only hearing person in a deaf/hard of hearing household so he’s fluent in sign language. He joined squidbeak when he was like 16 mostly bc he was a MASSIVE FUCKING LOSER with a huge ego who wanted the attention. Now he has Trauma and hates his teen self more than anything. (The egotistical little white kid phase is like, a rite of passage in his family. His little sister is still in that phase.) Now that he’s mellowed out hes just a sopping wet cat. Dating cece and is obsessed with her + will do literally whatever she wants.

Hes a lot more talkative than canon 3, hes the kind of guy who copes with humor all the time. he tries to be cool and mysterious but hes really awkward and gets flustered or worked up super easily. He’s overall a pretty boring guy and thats his charm. She’s barbie and he’s just ken. etc etc.

Hes SO dad coded btw. He and cece have a daughter together, Yumi. Since he was young he spent a lot of time looking after his little sister and he’s basically adopted his protege, neo3 (ikra). he makes me think of RTGame for reasons i could not describe to you, it’s just the energy somehow. He’s my babygirl. My little meow meow if you will (Cece voice)

Victoria Mendoza, she/her, 25 yrs, aka Tori. SHE is the fucked up one. Literally doomed by the narrative. Eye love her.

She comes from a long line of elite soldiers and was a child prodigy, but also the Problem Child. Got expelled from multiple schools for beating up other kids. from a young age she’s been incredibly critical of the octarian society and she was basically your average teen rebel. into alt music/fashion, incredibly vocal about her distaste for the system, fairly closed off with a cold exterior. the only person she truly cared for was Seo-Mi (Cece).

Seo-Mi was quiet and sweet and generally pretty average academically, so she didn’t have nearly as much pressure on her to succeed compared to Tori. the two were childhood friends and teenage lovers. The only ones who truly matched each others freak if you will. When they were little girls they used to dream of escaping to the surface together. this changed when they were about sixteen years old.

the most important thing to know about tori is that she is a pessimist and at her core a Coward. She’s all bark and no bite. She’ll scream her hatred of authority from the rooftops but immediately crumble at the sight of her leader. and as she got older and officially entered her career, she lost hope. she determined the surface wouldn’t have anything more for her than the domes did. she became complacent, while Seo-Mi, who had previously been more neutral, had heard the inkantation and only become more determined to leave the domes.

The two desperately tried to change each other’s minds but they were far too stubborn. both of them were crushed by the supposed “betrayal” of their beloved. Inevitably Seo-Mi left for the surface, eventually being taken in to Kamabo Co. while tori stayed behind to rot.

Since Seo-Mi left, tori became more bitter than ever before. she turns her focus to her career, and her family, but she never truly moves on from the loss. Unfortunately, Cece did. Cece met someone else, she’s started a family, she has a completely new name. she’s essentially a new person. and Tori is still the same.

Canonically i don’t think they would ever meet again and actually recognize each other, but i like to play with the idea sometimes bc if they did they would Hate each other. Tori is completely incapable of accepting that her Seo-Mi has moved on. She is clinging on to a version of someone that doesn’t exist anymore. tori is a deeply self destructive person and will never move on in any sense of the word. Sad!

Also this is Yumi. Age varies but shes like. Very young toddler as of the current timeline. She’s cece and kyle’s favorite surprise (Accident). They’re both freaks and shes the consequences of their actions. She and smollusk have playdates together. She’s obsessed with off the hook but doesn’t realize that her weird lesbian aunts pearl and marina are the same people. She’s baby

[blondechariot]

🌶️Hot Sauce and Heart Eyes🌶️ (Festival!Mingyu) Part 4

pairing: Mingyu x reader

warning: SMUT, protected sex, some fluff but lots of tension and smut in general

FiNAL PART

The sun’s blazing, the fryer’s hissing, onions are slowly caramelizing in the pan — and you? You’re long gone. At least mentally.

You’re standing at the stove in a trance, staring into nothing, hand still gripping the handle of the pan — not even noticing how hot it’s getting.

Until it starts to steam slightly and you yank your hand back with a jolt.

“Fuck.”

You curse loudly, staring at the red mark on your skin.

“Oh good, so you are alive.”

Your coworker sounds relieved as she wipes her hands on a towel.

“More than that,” you mutter, trying to soothe the burn with a bit of spit.

„So I take it last night went well.”

She smirks knowingly.

You sigh deeply and shrug.

“You could say that. Though the only vibrations I ended up getting were from his phone when one of his bandmates called.”

She winces.

“That’s a hell of a mood killer.”

You scoff and kick a roll of paper towels across the floor.

“If I were a guy, my balls would be navy blue by now.”

Her eyes widen. She leans in, voice low.

“You mean… you were actually gonna go all in with him?”

You pause. Think.

Truth is — you don’t even know.

Sure, Mingyu was ridiculously attractive.

The way he kissed you last night, his hands exploring your body, how he pressed you up against the photo booth wall like you were the only thing keeping him grounded…

Just the memory sends a heatwave straight through you.

Tiny beads of sweat form on your upper lip.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” your coworker says, pointing at your face.

You wipe your lip quickly with your sleeve and frown.

“I don’t know, okay?”

“No shame in that. I mean, what are the odds you’ll ever see him again after all this?”

She shrugs.

Your stomach twists.

That thought’s been lurking in the back of your mind for a while now, tucked neatly into a drawer you’ve been refusing to open.

You decide to leave it shut a little longer and scoff.

“I’m not some horny house cat.”

“I’ll remind you of that next time I catch you rubbing up against the oven.”

The day has flown by, and you’re not sure whether it’s because it was that busy or because your mind’s been somewhere else entirely. Either way, you’ve been working like a machine, cranking out one order after another.

You’re so deep in the zone, it almost catches you off guard when your coworker slaps the little bell on the counter.

“And that was the last order of the day!” she announces proudly, clapping her hands.

You clap too and nod, satisfied.

“That was a damn good day,” you say proudly.

“And it’s not even over for you,” she says excitedly.

Speaking of—

You glance at your watch.

Where’s Mingyu? He’s running a little late, but you just shrug it off casually and start helping clean up the chaos.

“What are you doing tonight?” you ask her as you step out of the truck and she slings her bag over her shoulder.

“I’m throwing myself into the crowd. Who knows, maybe I’ll get lucky tonight too.”

She grins wickedly and wiggles her eyebrows.

You laugh and toss a napkin at her.

“The only thing you need is a cold shower.”

“What about you? Aren’t you two supposed to be meeting up soon?”

She gives you a curious look.

“It’s fine. I’ll wait.”

You wave it off casually.

You say your goodbyes and sit on the steps of your food truck.

After a while, you glance at your watch again, and slowly, nervous energy starts to creep in.

You’re just starting to wonder what could be holding him up when you hear rustling.

“Hey!”

Mingyu’s voice calls out as he walks toward you with a bag in hand.

You try not to show your relief as you stand up.

“Thought I wasn’t gonna show, didn’t you?” he teases.

“It’s not exactly polite to keep a lady waiting,” you scold, playfully.

“You say that now, but wait till you see why I’m late.”

He’s buzzing with excitement as he leads you over to the little bench and asks you to sit.

Then he sets the bag on the table and pulls out a few food containers.

“You got food,” you say, raising an eyebrow.

He shakes his head.

“I made food!” he announces proudly.

“You cooked?”

You look at him, genuinely surprised, taking one of the boxes in your hand.

“Just a little something. Nothing fancy,” he shrugs as he sits down beside you.

“So this right here is spicy rice cakes,” he explains, opening one of the containers and poking inside with a fork.

A surprisingly sweet smell drifts into your nose, but you don’t let it throw you off.

He holds the fork up to your face, and you open your mouth obediently.

At first, you’re pleasantly surprised by the soft texture of the rice cake—

until you register an odd mix of way too much tomato and something unexpectedly sweet.

“This, um… this isn’t tteokbokki, is it?” you mumble with your mouth still full.

“Wait— you even know the name?!”

He looks genuinely impressed.

You nod and finish chewing, then take the box into your hands.

“Yeah… it’s usually made with that spicy chili paste.”

“Gochujang! I grabbed some from the catering fridge.”

He grins, proud of himself.

You take another small bite and frown slightly.

“Yeah… this is not gochujang.”

He stares at you, confused.

“That can’t be. Wait—”

He tries a bite himself, and his face immediately twists into a grimace.

“This is—”

“I’m guessing tomato paste. With a crap ton of honey,” you inform him calmly.

“The container in the fridge wasn’t labeled! And it looked exactly like gochujang!”

he mumbles, completely mortified.

“I mean, it’s not bad! Just… aggressively sweet,” you admit with a crooked smile.

He glances at the remaining containers, then his expression drops.

“Uh oh.”

He grabs another box with rice and kimchi.

“There’s a good chance I messed this one up too,” he admits, holding it out toward you.

You sniff it—

then immediately recoil.

“Whoa— is that cinnamon?!”

You stare at him, wide-eyed.

“It smells like Christmas in here.”

“I couldn’t find the red pepper flakes…”

he whines, looking genuinely defeated.

You sigh and place a hand gently on his shoulder.

“Hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?”

“Not when the thought tastes like a kitchen accident.”

You laugh and bump him playfully in the side.

“There’s a saying, you know—‘stick to what you’re good at.’ And what you’re good at is singing, dancing, and knocking over cans. Maybe leave the cooking to me.”

He still doesn’t look entirely convinced.

But when he finally turns and looks at you—

he can’t help it.

He starts to smile.

“Okay… I guess I just didn’t want you to think I only liked you for your food.”

“Don’t worry. That’s what your bandmates are for.”

“Gro—”

He opens his mouth to correct you again but then waves it off.

“You know what? Never mind.”

He starts laughing.

You think for a second, then shoot him a cheeky look.

“But we could cook something together,” you suggest.

He smiles and raises an eyebrow.

“So you’d be my teacher then?”

You grin and stand up, holding your hand out to him.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be too strict with you.”

He takes your hand and stands up as well.

“Oh, please do.”

You laugh, and the two of you head into your truck.

When you hand him an apron, he gives you a questioning look.

“Is this really necessary?”

“We wouldn’t want to mess up that fancy outfit of yours.”

You tug teasingly at his shirt.

“My plan was to take it off anyway, but… you’re the boss,” he shrugs and ties the apron on.

You open the fridge and pull out a bowl of rice.

“You probably already know, but fried rice is always made with rice from the day before. And it’s best cold—fresh rice just turns to mush.”

You hand him the bowl.

“Now fluff it up a little. Gently. It’s not just women that need to be handled with care.”

He smiles and slides his fingers into the rice, carefully breaking up the clumps with a surprising amount of tenderness.

He looks down at the bowl, then back at you.

“I don’t think I’ve ever touched rice this… emotionally.”

You glance down at his fingers, the way he carefully separates each grain and rubs the clumps apart.

“Well, you’re doing it surprisingly well,” you murmur.

“Oh yeah?”

His gaze is intense as it meets yours.

You swallow hard but pull yourself together.

“Okay, now we need onions, garlic, spring onions, carrots, and an egg,” you say quickly, laying out the ingredients.

You grab a large knife and position yourself so he can watch.

“We’re dicing the onion like this… and be careful with your fingers—cut anything but your ego.”

You demonstrate.

He watches closely before picking up the knife himself.

But before he can start, you stop him.

“No, curl your fingers like this. We don’t want to lose any, right?”

You touch his hand, guiding his grip.

He turns his head toward you with a smirk.

“Eyes forward, soldier,” you instruct, gently turning his head back to the veggies.

He’s actually not bad at it—

and you can’t help but notice the way his bicep tenses as he chops.

You bite your lip instinctively.

When he glances back at you, you let go of your lip and act like nothing happened.

You grab a pan and set it on the stove.

“Careful with this one—she’s got more fire in her than you’d expect. And she bites.”

You hold up your hand to show a small burn.

“That happen today?”

He looks concerned.

“My parents warned me what happens when you play with fire,” you sigh dramatically.

“Sometimes it goes well… if you know how to play it right,” he says, looking at you.

You ignore the comment and pour a bit of oil into the pan.

Once everything is chopped, you start grabbing the ingredients.

“First garlic and onions—sear them on high heat. It needs to sizzle.”

He follows your lead, tossing them into the pan while you turn up the heat.

A rich, mouthwatering aroma rises up almost immediately.

He glances at you, waiting for a cue.

You nod.

“Exactly.”

You praise him.

“Now the veggies. And the egg goes in last. You need to stir it fast—but gently.”

You demonstrate the motion with your hand.

This time, no snarky comments.

He’s focused. Silent.

Gently stirring with the spatula, his expression serious.

“You can be a little rougher, you know,” you tease, laughing as he almost treats the egg like it might break his heart.

“And now—”

You announce like a show host, grabbing the bowl of rice.

You tip it into the pan as he keeps stirring.

Then you add the finishing touches: a mix of spices, a splash of soy sauce, a drizzle of sesame oil—

and finally, you switch off the stove.

You hold up a spoon and give him a challenging look.

“Well? Ready?”

He grins, takes a spoon, blows on it, and tastes.

He freezes for a second.

“Fuck,” he mutters under his breath, nodding slowly.

“That’s good.”

He holds the spoon out to you.

You take it, locking eyes with him as you bring it to your lips.

“Mmm,” you hum softly, savoring it.

You drag your finger across your lips with a satisfied sigh.

“That’s really good.”

His grip on the spoon tightens slightly, and his gaze darkens as it lingers on you.

“We should eat fast,” he says, voice rough

You’ve made yourselves comfortable on the steps of your truck, the pan balanced on your raised knees as you eat together. Your thighs lightly touch as your forks poke through the food.

“The guys are gonna worship me for this,” he mumbles with his mouth full.

“Rightfully so, it’s really good,” you agree enthusiastically.

“Although nothing beats your food,” he adds quickly.

“Aww… but yeah, you’re right,” you reply with a grin.

He spots a grain of rice on your collarbone.

Gently, he reaches out and picks it up with his finger.

“Do I get to make a wish now? Oh wait, that only works with eyelashes,” you joke.

“Maybe I’ll make one anyway,” he says, popping the rice into his mouth.

“Well, you just ate your wish,” you say dryly.

“It was headed in the same direction anyway, so it works,” he says with a wink.

For a while, you sit in silence—eating, exchanging glances.

But the spot on your collarbone where his finger just was feels like it’s burning through your skin.

“You know…” he starts eventually,

“I’ve had fancalls with women waiting for me in just their bras… and not one of them came close to how turned on I am right now.”

You laugh and frown at him.

“Okay…?” you ask, caught off guard.

He laughs too, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Sorry, I… I’m not really sure how to handle this.”

"You could start with not looking at me like I'm the desert." You suggest and he smiles.

Then he spots a drop of soy sauce at your cheek.

He swipes it off with his thumb.

“Are you always this messy when you cook? How have I never noticed that before?”

He licks his thumb.

This time, you’re the one looking at him like he’s the only thing on the menu.

Your gaze is heated, intense.

Without warning, you lean in and kiss him—your lips meeting his just as the pan tips from your knees, scattering rice everywhere.

“Shit!” you curse and spring to your feet.

Mingyu stands up too, glancing skyward as you grab a broom.

“Someone up there is really enjoying messing with me,” he mutters in frustration.

You don’t want the night to end so abruptly, so you decide to walk him back to his hotel. You’re far from tired anyway.

You laugh the entire way, and he tells you funny stories about his shows and his group, while you hang on every word.

As the hotel sign finally comes into view, the mood shifts.

“Well… I guess this is it,” you say softly, offering a pained smile.

He looks at you uncertainly, then back at the hotel.

“Technically… this isn’t the hotel yet. And you said you’d walk me to it.”

He pauses, thinking for a moment.

“Front entrance is off-limits for me, but… the back entrance should work.”

He grabs your hand.

You walk around the block, past parked cars and behind tall hedges, until you reach a gravel path that leads to a small side entrance.

“I’ll text Wonwoo to open the door,” Mingyu says, typing on his phone.

“And I’ll be heading home now,” you tease with a grin.

He pockets his phone again and looks at you.

“Right… thanks again. For the, uh… escort.”

“I’m the full package,” you joke.

You both lean in, exchanging a soft kiss on the lips.

“Goodnight,” you whisper.

“Goodnight,” he echoes, just as quiet.

But neither of you moves. And before you can say anything else, he kisses you again.

This time, it’s nothing like the first. It’s hungry, intense—full of tongue and teeth and everything you’ve both been holding back.

You moan softly into his mouth, your hands tangling in his hair.

“I—” you breathe, barely able to form words.

“I should go. Someone might see me.”

He doesn’t let go. Instead, he pulls you even closer, until your body’s molded against his.

He turns you two so you stumble against a Plant next to you which tends to fall down.

Quick as ever, he catches it with one hand—without letting go of you.

The door creaks open.

You both freeze.

Wonwoo stands in the doorway, looking slightly disturbed.

“Just saying… rooms offer way more privacy.”

Then he disappears into the stairwell, leaving the door ajar.

You blush and glance at Mingyu, who looks between you and the open door… and then again.

And again.

“Come with me,” he growls, grabs your hand, and pulls you into the hallway.

The first thing he does after his door closes is push you against his wall and kiss you just as hungry and roughly as he did outside.

You let your body run wild and hastily tug at his shirt. He pulls it over his torso while you run your hands over his muscular chest and abs.

"Fuck, you can't be real." You gasp, stunned at the sight of his body. He grins and supports himself with one arm above you. "right back at you" he whispers, and with his other hand, as if you were nothing, he lifts you up so that your legs are wrapped around his waist and your back is pressed against the wall.

His lips now rest on your neck, and the hand above you on the wall slides down to you and feels the fastener of your shorts. His fingers slide in and you feel him massaging your folds, his hot breath against your skin and you cling to his muscular arms.

You moan with pleasure, bite your lip and then turn your head to kiss him again. Your saliva mixes together and you feel like you're losing your footing.

He increases the pressure of his fingers and hits exactly the spot that turns your legs to jelly. Just as you moan loudly, he lifts you up again and sits you down on the small TV table.

You gasp in shock as he practically rips your shorts off your body and your panties along with them. You look down at him, electrified, as he glares at you and gets down on his knees in front of you.

He starts to pepper your thighs with light kisses, his fingers brushing against your skin as if you were made of porcelain. Your breathing becomes shallow and rapid as you watch him.

He grins briefly before leaning toward your center and kissing you between your legs. You throw your head back, your fingers gently tugging at his hair.

He grumbles something, but you don't understand him. Shortly afterward, you feel him start to move his tongue up and down your clit.

You cling to the table as if your life depended on it. His lips wrap around your clit, sucking gently while one of his fingers joins it, playing with the entrance to your pussy.

"Mingyu," you gasp desperately, and he slowly pushes his finger inside you. You lift one of your legs to rest it on his back while he licks you hungrily and pumps his finger inside you.

His free hand gropes for your upper body and wraps around your breast. You place a hand on his, and your breathing becomes increasingly hectic and uncontrolled. He eats you out as if he hasn't eaten in ages, and you remember his wish with the grain of rice.

The mere thought of it drives you crazy and increases the pleasure. His tongue speeds up as he bends his finger slightly to adjust the angle. "II think I—" you stammer, stopping. "Yes, then do it."

You hear him murmuring beneath you, and with a loud scream, you cum. He obediently licks up everything you give him before carefully pulling his finger out of you and getting back on his feet.

His chin and mouth glisten as you push him away a little and slide off the table. Your legs are shaky, but you practically rush at him, unzipping his pants and pulling them down before ripping off your top and unclasping your bra.

He looks at you hungrily as you pull his boxer shorts down as well and see his cock for the first time. Your mouth waters and you don't hesitate, pushing him back against the wall, causing his back to hit the wall and you to kneel in front of him.

He watches you with wide eyes as you take him in your hand and slowly start to slide up and down. He furrows his eyebrows and opens his mouth slightly.

You open your mouth too and let your tongue glide along a wet path from his balls to the tip. He moans softly as you repeat this gesture two more times before you close your lips around his tip and slowly but surely let your mouth slide down onto him.

He is big, but you take him all the way into your mouth until the tip of your nose hits his pelvis. You slowly pull back and suck a little while your mouth repeats the movement.

You feel his hands in your hair and how he controls your movements. "Oh my God," he gasps tensely, looking down at you.

The sight almost drives him crazy, and when you put your hand on his balls to massage them, he practically rips you away and pushes you back towards the table.

He turns you around so that your thighs are pressed against the edge of the table and your back is to him. "Fuck," he exclaims quietly, seeming to rummage for something.

Before you can ask, he pushes you forward a bit so that your upper body is slightly bent and he has a full view of your ass. You hear him spitting into his hand, and the next thing that happens is him impatiently positioning himself and pushing his cock into you.

You both moan loudly and he falls forward a little so that you can feel his forehead between your shoulder blades. He gasps with effort before slowly pulling out of you and then ramming it back in.

The table beneath you begins to shake as Mingyu moves his cock inside you. Each of his thrusts is rougher than the last.

You both moan as Mingyu leans forward and kisses your neck. You move your hips to meet him as well, your pussy clenching tightly around him.

He curses and pulls out of you before his hands turn you towards him and he lifts you up. You immediately kiss him passionately and put your arms around his shoulders.

He carries you towards the bed and your legs hit the floor lamp which falls to the floor with a loud crash.

You ignore it and he spontaneously pushes you back against the wall, wrapping your legs around his hips as he positions himself at your entrance again and lets himself slide in.

This time, he wastes no time, placing his hands on your ass and moving you up and down on his cock. You lean your head against the wall behind you, enjoying the rough material rubbing against your back. Meanwhile, Mingyu has pressed his lips to your breasts, kissing them hungrily.

This time it's you who pushes yourself off the wall with your hand so that you both fall onto his bed. He lands on his back and you sit on top of him, he's still inside you.

You sit up a little and then start riding him. Your hands are on his chest as you lift your hips and then let yourself fall back onto his cock.

He watches you with wide eyes, his fingers touching you everywhere and he sits up so he can kiss you again. You moan against each other and the bed starts to squeak loudly as Mingyu also lifts his hips to go even deeper.

"Oh fuck yes," you gasp and look down at him. He flips you so that you are lying on your back and he is on top of you. You stare into each other's eyes, completely out of breath.

He puts a hand on your face and suddenly kisses you very tenderly while he moves his hips more slowly. You close your eyes and stroke his hair while your other hand pulls him close to you.

His thrusts are slower now, but deeper and more intense; it's as if he hits the right spot every time. He grimaces, his eyes looking at you almost pleadingly. You understand immediately and nod.

He bends your leg slightly, and his thrusts become a little faster. He strokes your skin, and his breathing becomes shallower as he snaps his hips against yours, moaning loudly. You cling to him and gently kiss his neck as he comes down from his orgasm.

As he gently pulls out of you and rolls onto his back, the two of you lie there in silence for a while. Your bodies are covered in a thin layer of sweat, and you’re both trying to catch your breath.

The room looks like a tornado tore through it—clothes scattered everywhere, the lamp still lying on the floor, magazines spilled off the TV stand, the table nearly pushed to the window, and the bed itself shoved out of place with blankets and pillows all over the ground.

Mingyu is the first to shift slightly and grimace.

“Pretty sure I pulled a muscle.”

“I can’t feel my thigh anymore,” you reply without missing a beat.

He lets out a short laugh, then turns onto his side, propping his head up with one hand to look at you.

“By the way, I gotta say… mad respect for your self-control.” he grins wickedly.

You stare at him, mock-offended.

“Excuse me? You just fucked me across the entire room.”

You smack his chest playfully.

You turn to face him too, so you’re now nose to nose. He looks at you for a long moment—soft gaze, his eyes practically glowing as they lock with yours.

He reaches out and brushes a strand of hair from your face.

“But it was worth it, right?”

You return his smile and lean in to press a gentle kiss to his lips.

“Definitely.”

He smiles like a boy who just got away with something, trailing his finger lazily over your bare skin.

“You’re staying, right? Otherwise, I’ll feel so cheap.” he says with a mock-innocent expression.

“Won’t that get you into trouble?” you ask, raising an eyebrow.

“Maybe,” he shrugs, glancing around the room.

“But that sounds like a problem for Future Mingyu.”

He waves it off before pulling you in closer, shifting you both so he’s lying on his back and you’re curled up on his chest.

[solaris-amethyst]

💫Like we were kids again💫

✨Pairing: Wooyoung x gn!reader ✨Prompt: Playing with sidewalk chalk like they're kids again ✨Word count: 0.7k ✨Genre: fluff, non idol au ☀️Authors note: This is my first piece written here, do let me know if you enjoyed it or any thoughts about it in general❣️ Also was it too short? or was it a good length for a one shot like this one?

The sun was shining through the window giving you the perfect natural light to read the book you had finally picked up from the library. You had heard a lot of good things about this book but unfortunately so far the book had been a rather big disappointment.

The author was not doing a good job of creating the story and the characters were beyond infuriating with their constant whining and the way they kept complaining about everything every other page. You took a sip from your cup of tea whilst looking outside the window, that is when you noticed your friend and partner Wooyoung rushing to the door of your apartment complex holding some sort of bucket with a big grin.

You shrugged as you put your cup down and picked up the book again ready to try and finish the book, just so no one could complain when you said you did not like it by saying "you did not even read the entire book!". You did not get far in your reading before the door slammed open and Wooyoung ran inside with a big smile.

"(y/n) you won't be able to guess what I got!!"

You put your book down and looked up at him with curious eyes, his eyes were shining with excitement and his smile was infectious causing yours to grow.

"Hmmmm perhaps you got a bucket of paint?" you guessed truly not knowing what he had brought home.

"Close! I brought something even better! Sidewalk chalk!!" He beamed as he showed the bucket more clearly. Inside it were a bunch of colorful chalk in both normal colors and pastels. They looked exactly like the ones the kids down the block used to play with during the weekends when the weather was nice.

"Sidewalk chalk?"

"Yes!! Now put that pesky book away! We're going painting!" He motioned for the door with his head. He truly didn't need to convince you twice as you stood up glad to have an excuse to abandon the book for a while.

"Sure! That sounds like loads of fun actually!" You told him as he took your hand dragging you towards the door, only stopping to put on some shoes before walking out of the door, locking it and dragging you down the stairs.

"I'll show you how good of an artist I can be!" Wooyoung said as you two got to the empty sidewalk.

"Not if I show you first how good I can be!!" you challenged causing him to look at you mischievously.

"Is that a challenge?"

"Maybe" the sly smile you gave him made his own smile widen.

"I'll show you my amazing drawing skills. You'll be amazed!" he boasted as he sat down taking out a purple chalk to draw with. He was very adamant that you were not allowed to see until he was done. So you focused on your own drawing, taking some of the yellow chalk to draw a cute little sun with a little smiley face on it. Wooyoung was humming as he was drawing and just when you reached for the orange chalk he very proudly turned around to you.

"Ta-daaaa! what do you think??"

"Is... Is that supposed to be a rabbit??" you questioned and he gasped and gave your shoulder a nudge.

"It's a cat!! can't you see that?!"

"Ohhhhhh... Yeah absolutely i see a cat." you tried to hold in your laughter, the cat did look more like a rabbit the way Wooyoung had drawn it and he shoved you again with a pout.

"Don't laugh at my cat! what did you draw then?!"

"Oh just a sun." he peered over to your chalk painting and he gave it a little appreciative nod.

"Its cute... But not as cute as my cat!"

"Hey!!" this time you shoved him back and he let out a loud cackle as he fell to his butt again.

"I'll show you! I'll draw an even cuter cat than your cat!" you said as you grabbed a new color to draw with determined to win over Wooyoung.

"Not if I draw an even cuter cuter cat than the one I've already drawn!!"

The two of you were sitting for many hours drawing, laughing, competing and shoving each other while playing around with the chalk and in the end you ended up collaborating on drawing a unicorn together while bickering about which colors to use for the mane.

It truly couldn't be any better spending time with your partner playing around in the sun and enjoying each other's company.

[that-gay-guy-from-hell]

TLT TOMBSONA VALENTINE'S DAY CARDS (2025)

Each Tombsona (besides Giest and Armstrong) got two cards. The ones below the divider have some more... tasteful jokes on them lol

Each card has a reference to someone who is super into that character:

Rust: Cas; nail polish, tongue piercing, and (some of the) lighting/shading all from her Tombsona (also Rust's card is a weird size, no idea why or what happened oops)

Zero: Polychrome (burger); hoodie is made up of colors from their character "Burger" and the material is meant to be shiny (because like- chrome-- I know horrible pun)

Armstrong: Beowulf (teslasushanka): lighting and shading- colors from his sona

Tesla: Ashe; a pin on Tesla's collar (Ashe's tombsona colors clashed too harshly with Tesla's colors so I couldn't use it for that)

Doc: FUCKING NO ONE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE TO REFERENCE- PLEASE CAN SOMEONE ELSE SIMP OVER DOC WITH ME FOR FUCKS SAKE-

Geist: Fern/Geist; a fern charm on one of their locs, the stones of which are from Fern's tombsona color palette.

If anyone is curious as to why Doc's handwriting is funky, it's meant to be Marshalls, which is "odd" due to the time period he was/is from: a mixture of printing and cursive.

other cards and some random info past here:

Doc piercing debut! Doc has 2 in their lobe in their right (viewer's left) and a vertical bar on their left (viewer's right) lol I'll give the context at some other point cause this post is long. Oh and first time since like 2021 that I've drawn Doc's bottles lmao (I hate drawing them lmao)

New Armstrong design! Obviously, I don't think I'll ever be able to show this part off, but Army's boots have lil cat paws underneath them lol

This is the first time I've fully rendered Giest in a very long time. Their body is meant to be anatomically funky- missing most of the plating that was supposed to cover their entire body. The hole in its middle is from Giest digging inside themselves, looking for a host that they don't have- searching for a part of them that they never will find. A temporary fix was the gloves, but it's been so long since Giest has had matenice that they've torn right through them. I also made sure that the wires and joints are kinda realistic; I used like the videos of old Chuck E Cheese animatronics lol

Turned of the folder that has their front locs- sorry that there is some weird clipping and open spots, those are covered by the turned-off layers lmao The skull is meant to cover their whole face, but Geist has ripped it apart because they feel like they are suffocating (they don't have the ability to breathe). Giest doesn't even have a mouth. Geist's mask eyes are based on the mask Tesla had when Geist was being made- Geist, in general, has a lot of close ties to Tesla, who's brain was subconsciously picked through to (basically) obtain a blueprint that would suffice to make a weapon like Geist.

Here is the second set of cards! The Doc one is actually a reference to my OG cards from 22- warning these are really bad lmao

These were so bad that I fucked up Tesla's mask and had to flip it after posting it because they were missing their gear lmfao

Quite the difference 3 years makes- huh...

TLT Masterlist

[darkandstormydolls]

So, a little while back I had a dream were I was watching a play. I only got to the first scene before waking up, but it was interesting and compelling so I decided to write it down as best I could remember. I’m debating adding more to it, coming up with my own plot and things, but I’m quite proud of scene one and so I figured I would share it. I think I’ll leave it here with no other story context since it would be intended to be the first scene and story introduction anyways

( @ominous-faechild this is the play that I suspected was at least a little bit inspired by your writing, so I’m sort of curious how my subconscious’s interpretation of fae is different)

(Unfortunately my italics didn’t translate, so generally assume that anything in parentheses is stage direction, as well as anything not following standard script dialogue structure)

Characters:

JOHN: a rather lonely young exile who’s beginning to question the choices he’s made in life

NIKOL: The crown prince, who thinks that no one in the world could hurt him- except perhaps himself

KESHAN: Nikol’s childhood best friend and self-appointed protector

TRICKSTER and THE ARCANE RIFTS: a pair of fae who contradict one another in every way, but are still stuck with each other.

Act 1, Scene 1

The room is large, too large for the scattering of old and careworn furniture that occupies it. Through a large, arched, glassless window, the ocean can be seen stirring far below. A cat sleeps on an armchair. JOHN sits at a desk, writing a letter. After continuing to write for a moment, he stands up, holding the paper and reads it aloud.

JOHN: My dear Viktoria,

I suppose there is little to report. Little that would be of interest to you, at least. But I still write. For many reasons, I suppose. I tell myself that I worry that my letters may not be getting through to you. Or perhaps even that you find my anecdotes of this quaint life charming. But in truth, I write to you because I am lonely, and I hope that perhaps you may take pity on this poor soul. Back when we were children, to say “the princess is writing” was like saying “Wren is in the kitchen with his mother”; almost always true. So perhaps you could send some of those letters that are always on your desk my way? Perhaps you are writing, and mail just doesn’t reach this far into the windswept wilds, and you’re wondering why on earth I won’t reply.

But really, I fear it’s that you don’t want to think of me, and that’s why I haven’t gotten any letters in the past two years. Perhaps you feel that it’s not worth keeping up correspondence with a traitor. Perhaps- more likely than perhaps, even- that promise we made, back when we were thirteen, when rings were placed on fingers and bread was shared between tables, has since been broken, and it’s just that no one has bothered to inform me of that fact. After all, why would they? I’m of no consequence.

We managed to fix the roof this past week. The slates had slid out of place, as they always do on these old roofs, and it had been dripping water since we first arrived. But we finally got around to climbing back up there, Father and I, and we’ve managed to replace most of them. It’ll be a welcome change, come winter, to no longer be woken up in the middle of the storm by rain inside of my bedroom.

Calpurnia, of course, is doing wonderfully. She rules like a queen of the castle, and we all bow to her bidding. And her kittens are quite grown, by now. We offered Maximilian to a couple we know down in the village, but Hadrian and Livia are still here, and doing quite well. You should see sweet Livia now that she’s all grown up- I would swear she’s prettier than her mother if Calpurnia, little tyrant that she is, were not purring next to me as I write this.

We’re getting along quite well out here, generally. Of course, there’s the cold and the storms, but those are to be expected. It’s quiet, perhaps too quiet, but I think I am happy nevertheless.

As always, your faithful servant,

John.

JOHN: pretty good, I’d say. Callie, what are your thoughts? (He reaches over to pet the cat, who does not acknowledge his presence. He sighs and folds the letter into thirds.) Let’s hope that this one gets to her.

A knock sounds on the door

JOHN (hesitantly): Yes?

The door swings open and NIKOL and KESHAN enter

JOHN (shocked): Nikol, I- (pauses, uncertain, then bows) Your highness. What brings you here?

NIKOL: John, John my love, enough of all that. (Moves forward to sweep up JOHN in an embrace, which JOHN hesitantly accepts) You’re my friend, my brother in all but name. There’s no need to treat me like a stranger!

KESHAN, still near the door, rolls his eyes.

KESHAN: Cut him some slack. He hasn’t seen you in years. I doubt he knows where he stands with you, especially after… what happened

JOHN gives KESHAN an appreciative look. NIKOL does not seem to notice and keeps talking

NIKOL: I’m so sorry- I wrote, didn’t I? You got my letters? I tried. I mean, I’m not the scrivener my sister is, but you didn’t really think I’d abandoned you, did I? I swear, I’m not my father, and I don’t share his hatred for objections. I wouldn’t hate you, whatever happened, and especially not for that!

JOHN: I did. Some, at least. You can never really trust the mail out here. And I appreciated them.

NIKOL: oh, I’m glad. I worried, when there were never any responses. I took to asking Wren to send them for me. I thought that someone was making sure they never made it out of the castle, if they thought I was writing to you

JOHN: But I did write back

NIKOL: Well, I suppose my fears weren’t unfounded (With forced optimism) But perhaps you’re right and it’s simply the location. It’s far, letters get lost. Oh, but it is good to see you again! (Steps back to look JOHN over). You’ve changed, since we last saw each other. Then again, I suppose we’re not children anymore. Maybe we’ve all changed.

JOHN: I doubt anyone else has as much as me. You grew up alongside the heir to a dutchy. You’ve come here to find-

NIKOL: a duke

JOHN: I would have said more of an inexpert carpenter with an overly eccentric father and a house on a cliff that can’t seem to be fixed for love or money. (Shakes his head, as if clearing a thought away). But how are the others? Wren? Sorrel? Slight pause. Your sister?

NIKOL: Wren’s doing well. Taking the path we all expected, to no one’s surprise. Not that we object. You’ll need to try his newest cherry pie. Sorrel… well, she’s taken a few strange turns in her interests, as I think I’ve updated you on. Currently, I believe it’s a great deal of combing through ancient books and references to strange creatures. As for Viktora… well, she’s Viktora. You know how she is.

JOHN: Nowadays, I’m not sure if I do. She hasn’t written in years.

NIKOL: Well, she’s always been… (gestures vaguely and unclearly. JOHN takes this as a hint to end the conversation)

JOHN: So, what brings you two out here?

KESHAN: Diplomacy.

JOHN: With who? (Jokingly) The seagulls?

NIKOL: With you

JOHN: What?

NIKOL: We’ve come to take you back

JOHN: Why?

KESHAN: Well, it looks to be for the wedding

JOHN: Who’s wedding?

NIKOL: Yours.

JOHN: Wait, but- I thought it was never going to happen! When I left, I assumed the engagement was over! After all, my family was ruined. There’s no point to it

NIKOL: Your family is two people. One of them was ruined, yes, but not you. You’ve taken on the title and the lands-

JOHN: lands I haven’t set foot on since I was a child and a title I’ve never used!

NIKOL: -and they are still lands and a title that the crown would much rather be added to their holdings rather than split up piecemeal and claimed by distant cousins

JOHN: I’m a traitor. An exile.

NIKOL: No. Your father is. You chose to go. (Softer, slightly sad) You chose to leave us

JOHN: Good god, Nikol, I was fourteen and had no idea what was going to happen to me. You can’t blame me for staying with all the family I had left

NIKOL: So you came here. To a falling down, haunted house at the end of the world.

JOHN: (laughs bitterly) The end of the world, eh? Funny, that’s what I’ve always called it. My father calls it Storm Watch when he’s in a good mood, “this cursed place” when he isn’t. The village calls it the Ghost’s Lighthouse, and the sailors do the same. But for me, that’s what it’s always been. A little island on the edge of the maps. A place where nothing matters. The end of the world. All that’s left to do is fall off the edge if you go any further. But I can’t go back. I’ve found some kind of peace out here, just us and the cliffs against storm and sea. It’s quiet. Different. And sure, half the walls are crumbling and the roof resists all attempts to fix it, but it’s home.

KESHAN: (casually rests a hand on his sword. JOHN hadn’t really noticed that he was wearing it, and is slightly startled) I don’t think you have much of a choice

JOHN: (Quiet, slightly angry) Keshan. Are you threatening me?

KESHAN: Not as such.

NIKOL: (rests a hand on KESHAN’s shoulder) (To KESHAN) Easy. You can’t blame him for being hesitant. (To JOHN) I’m sorry.

JOHN: I mean, he’s right. If it’s an order, I don’t have a choice. I am still your father’s subject, after all. And if you speak for him, I still have to obey. I’d rather not the entire family be damned as traitors.

NIKOL: I’d rather it not be an order. And I understand. You care for this place. You care for your father.

JOHN: But I still have to go

NIKOL: The engagement is still in place

JOHN: I see. I suppose I should go speak to my father, then

NIKOL: I am sorry. I don’t want to have to take you from your home

JOHN: But you are

NIKOL: But alas, I am. Because I am nothing but a vessel of someone else’s will

JOHN: Then if you two don’t mind, I’ll ask you to wait.

NIKOL: Of course.

JOHN turns and leaves the room in a different direction. NIKOL and KESHAN glance at one another before leaving the room through the door they came in through. All is silent for a moment, before TRICKSTER and THE ARCANE RIFTS appear. They are dressed in a manner utterly unlike anything logical or normal, and their very presence seems to change the energy of the room

RIFTS: So. He’s leaving.

TRICKSTER: Fun.

RIFTS: Certainly not. He’s safe here. Everyone else is safe when he’s here.

TRICKSTER: and that’s no fun!

RIFTS: I hate you

TRICKSTER: I hate you, too

RIFTS: why are you always here?

TRICKSTER: I’m your divine punishment

RIFTS: for what?

TRICKSTER: Being annoying. Our souls are bound, darling. We’re two sides of the same coin. I exist to annoy you. So you can’t complain.

RIFTS: yes I can.

Both go silent for a moment

TRICKSTER: So it begins

RIFTS: So it does

END SCENE

[kaciidubs]

✧*̥˚ Bang Chan's Masterlist *̥˚✧

❣ Stray Kids Masterlist ❣ General Masterlist ❣ Key: 🔥 - Smut | 💕 - Fluff | 💔 - Angst

Dinner Break | 🔥💕 ✧ Chan is the type to get completely absorbed into his work when he's focused, and sometimes he needs a little reminder to take a break to ease his stress.

Three's a Party - College AU! Chris/Reader/Changbin | 🔥 ✧ After studying your ass off for the semester, why not reward yourself with a party and your two favorite guys?

Work from Home | 🔥 ✧ On nights like these, you were thankful Chris was able to take his work anywhere he wanted.

Open Heart | 💕💔 ✧ When you don't know what to say or do, when life starts living you, you can always rely on Chris to bring you back.

Walking in on Roommate! Chan, Pt. 2 | 🔥💕 ✧ Random hard thought of accidentally walking in on your roommate, Chris, while he's masturbating.

Hair Journey | 💕💔 ✧ If he had to choose one thing he adored the most about you, it was your hair.

G'Morning | 💕 ✧ A short blurb about waking up next to a sleep-dazed Chris.

Get Nasty | 🔥 ✧ A short blurb based on the song Nasty [Extended Version] by Russ

A Pun-y Thanksgiving | 💕 ✧ A random thought about Chan and terrible Thanksgiving puns.

Double Tap | 🔥💕 TBA ✧ Chris could never have enough of you; your smile, your laugh, your presence, but sometimes his needs could be... inconvenient.

Cameras and Sweatpants | 🔥 ✧ Photoshoots, the gift that keeps on giving, and you welcomed it with open arms - and mouth.

Insomniac's Cure | 💕 ✧ A short blurb about Chan and a bedtime routine of mine.

Attention Seeking | 🔥 ✧ Asked: just imagine... chan not giving you attention and suddenly goes out...

Confiscated | 🔥💕 ✧ He was going a little too crazy on the new Fans app, and you would swiftly reign that energy back in.

Headaches After Orgasm | 💕 ✧ Asked: i have this condition where i get a really strong headache when i have a powerful orgasm...

✧*̥˚ Nothing Yet *̥˚✧

Swim Practice | 🔥💕 ✧ Chris, your best friend who picks you up after late night swim practices. Chris, your best friend who might just have a thing for your legs.

Words I Don't Mean | 💕💔 ✧ He just wanted to lose himself in you, instead he lost himself in his own mind - but you were there to bring him back.

Curious Cat | 🔥 ✧ Perhaps being curious wasn't all that bad.

Pup! Chan + Seungmin; Steals your stuff vs tattle tale | 🔥 ✧ Asked: Which one of these Pups is stealing your shit vs whos snitching on the other.

Pegging for the first time | 🔥 ✧ Asked: So. Chan is usually very dominant and mean and bed, while your very submissive and obedient. But then one day, he asks you to peg him...

For the Kids | 💕 ✧ This visit was for the kids, so why did Chris find himself vying for a Pediatric nurse's attention?

Are You Still Watching? | 🔥💕 | Ft. Seungmin ✧ It was meant to be a sweet gesture to treat you to a surprise at-home date - what a shame that the pajamas that were supposed to be covering your bodies were now on the floor.

Talk Dirty | 🔥 ✧ Chris was a great friend, picking you up from work whenever you had a late shift - so, it was only fair that you wanted to repay him.

Gentle - Monstober Mini Fic | 🔥💕 ✧ In which you get to finally indulge in your Orc boyfriend, even if it's just the tip of the iceberg.

❣ Masterlist banners from @/cafekitsune ❣ Star banner from @/saradika

[redux-iterum]

Has caring for elders/queens/kits always been seen as a punishment for apprentices? Or having extra duties to do so, I suppose? Is it mainly a ThunderClan custom, do other clans have other “generally unpleasant” chores given to apprentices in trouble? What would happen if every apprentice was perfectly happy to do their duties/chores, like Firepaw (and it looks like Cloudpaw too) is?

I’m mostly curious about clan culture here, what do different clans do?

Each of the Clans use the chore an individual apprentice likes least as punishment, whether it's collecting nest materials or picking ticks off of elders. The most common one is flea/tick-catching because it's often the most unpleasant and hated for a variety of reasons, but it doesn't always work, because you'll get an outlier like Fireheart who takes joy in caring for the elders. In this case, they could do something harsh, like when Bluestar ordered Firepaw to hunt by himself when he was exhausted and sassy, or they could isolate the apprentice for a while in a sort of timeout. That particular brand of isolation would keep them in camp, just far away from everyone else. Isolation is awful for a Clan cat, so they better have done something severe.

It should be noted, before I get asked about this, that apprentice duties are ideally presented as an honor, teaching young cats how to be in a community and respect their elders (both the rank and regular adults), and put in hard work that doesn't necessarily benefit themselves in the short term. Being preteens and teenagers, though, apprentices usually find them loathsome and boring, having to make it to warriorhood to understand why they were doing them in the first place. A warrior being punished with them is not being given awful tasks to do - they're going back down to a "lesser" rank, even if just temporarily, which is humiliating. Bringing elders prey and cleaning out dens just signifies apprenticeship, and that is meant to shame the warrior.