#just couldn't keep it to one post this time

[starsinthesky5]

yail blurb idea maybe???

joe and reader trying to do literally anything and joe keeps making those jokes

like they could be working out and all hes thinking and saying is abt taking her back to the bedroom ( and he does )

here's a little something something since i couldn't get the fic up today for YAIL's one year anniversary ;)

perpetually horny joe below!

───────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆───────

it happens all the time.

they’ll be working out together, both of them focused—her in the middle of a set, joe spotting her, watching the way she moves, the little scrunch of her nose as she powers through. her ponytail swings with every rep, sweat glistening on her skin, and she bites her lip, determined to finish strong. joe tells himself to focus—spot her, don’t stare at her ass, spot her—but it’s impossible when she looks that good.

and then it hits him. the way her body moves, the way she exhales in little, breathy huffs, the way sweat beads at her collarbone, slipping down between the curves he knows so well, and suddenly, he’s not thinking about working out at all.

"you know," he says, his voice low and rough as she racks her weights. we could take this back to the bedroom. work up a different kind of sweat,".

she shoots him a look as she reaches for her water. "you’re ridiculous,".

"am i?" he steps closer, fingers ghosting over her hip, his body heat making hers spike even more. "or are you just scared you won’t be able to keep up?".

the challenge in his voice sends a shiver down her spine. she rolls her eyes, shaking her head. "joe,".

he just smirks, pressing a kiss to the side of her neck, voice like sin against her skin. "c’mon, baby, let’s see who’s got more stamina,".

she exhales through her nose, tilting her head just slightly as his lips graze the sensitive skin under her ear. she can feel the heat radiating off of him, the way his breath fans against her damp skin, the way his fingers skim along the waistband of her shorts.

"we’re supposed to be working out," she points out, but her voice is already softer, breathier.

joe hums, not convinced. "we are working out," he murmurs, his lips brushing against the shell of her ear now. "i’m just suggesting we take it to a more…private setting,".

she scoffs, shoving at his chest, but he barely budges. "you have no self-control, joe. it's 10:30 a.m,".

he grins, reaching for her water bottle, unscrewing the cap and taking a slow sip before handing it back to her. "not when it comes to you,".

the way he says it—all raspy and quiet like it’s a simple fact—makes her stomach flip. but she holds her ground, tilting her head as she smirks up at him. "so, what? you can’t handle me doing a few reps without thinking about bending me over the weight bench?".

his smirk falters for a fraction of a second, and she knows she’s got him.

"jesus christ," he mutters under his breath, scrubbing a hand down his face.

she grins. "thought so,".

but she should know better than to challenge him, because in the next second, joe’s grabbing her wrist, pulling her flush against him, his voice dropping to a near whisper.

"baby," he drawls, dragging his thumb over her pulse point. "don’t tempt me,".

her breath catches, heart hammering as she swallows.

he smirks. checkmate.

"now," he murmurs, fingers moving lower, gripping her hip. "are you gonna let me take you home? or do i have to throw you over my shoulder?".

her lips part, pulse racing. she hates how easily he gets to her. hates it, but loves it.

and, well—who is she to deny him?

"you’re paying for my post-workout smoothie," she finally mutters.

his grin is wolfish. "deal,".

--

or they’ll be out shopping—just running errands, nothing remotely suggestive about it—except joe still manages to find a way.

"you’d look real good in this," he muses, holding up some tiny little lace set he spotted while they were supposed to be picking up new sheets.

she lifts a brow, crossing her arms. "and what happened to being ‘smart with money’?".

"this is smart," he counters smoothly, holding the fabric between his fingers, eyes flicking between her and the delicate lace. "investment in our relationship. and we're like...mutli millionaires. this is hardly a dent in any of our pockets, even though i will be paying like usual,".

"you’re so full of shit," she laughed, eyeing the lacy red set.

"nah, baby." he leans in, voice dropping. "i just really wanna see you in it. and out of it,".

she smacks his arm, cheeks warming, but joe? oh, he just grins, because he knows exactly what he’s doing.

she rolls her eyes, shaking her head, but joe can see the tiny twitch at the corner of her lips. he steps closer, his free hand sliding around her waist, tugging her flush against him. "what?" he murmurs, all innocence, but his fingers are playing with the hem of her hoodie, slipping just beneath to brush against warm skin.

"we’re supposed to be buying sheets," she reminds him, though her voice is already softer, breathier.

"mm," joe hums, feigning thought. "and what if i want to get you something to wear on those sheets?".

her brows lift, unimpressed. "wear on the sheets?".

his lips twitch. "briefly,".

she snorts, pushing at his chest, but he doesn’t budge. doesn’t even wobble. just stays there, all tall and broad and warm, his hands staying, his breath spreading across her cheek.

"if i try it on," she says, tilting her chin up at him, "you’re not coming in the fitting room,".

his eyes flick down to her lips, then back up. "baby, i would never,".

she glares, knowing that's a damn lie, and he just grins.

she groans, snatching the lace set from his hands. "you are going to the register,".

he just smirks, watching her scurry off toward the fitting rooms, the little red number dangling from her fingers.

"gladly," he murmurs, already reaching for his wallet.

--

it happens at a friend’s house party—music playing, drinks flowing, bodies moving in easy conversation. she’s off chatting with some friends, her laughter ringing through the room, and joe? joe is leaning against the bar, nursing his drink, watching her with that look. the kind that makes her whole body tingle, like he’s already touching her from across the damn house.

he’s been patient. all night, he’s played it cool, nodded along to conversations, pretended like he wasn’t dying to have her closer. but now? now, with the way she keeps glancing at him, the way her dress clings to her like a second skin, the way she bites her lip around her straw—he’s about to lose it.

so when she finally makes her way back over to him, he doesn’t even give her a second to breathe before he leans in, lips brushing her ear, voice thick with heat.

"been thinkin’ about gettin’ you alone all night, baby,".

her breath catches, heat pooling in her stomach, but she refuses to give in so easily. she tilts her head, eyes flicking up at him, playful and knowing. "oh, yeah? that why you’re staring at me like that?".

his fingers find the small of her back, warm and insistent, slipping beneath the fabric of her top, skin to skin. his grip tightens, just slightly. "mhmm,".

she sips her drink, feigning nonchalance, though her pulse is hammering. "well, too bad," she teases. "i’m enjoying the party with our friends,".

joe just chuckles, quiet and knowing, his lips barely an inch from hers. "that’s cute, sweetheart," he murmurs, his fingers tracing slow, lazy circles against her spine, flashing her those irresistible bedroom eyes.

her breath catches, but she keeps her composure—barely. the way he’s looking at her, all heat and promise, like he already knows exactly how this night is going to end, sends a shiver down her spine.

"cute, huh?" she says, tilting her head, trying to keep her voice steady despite the way her body betrays her, leaning into his touch. "is that what you think?".

joe smirks slowly, fingers pressing just a little firmer against her back. "mm," he hums, dipping his head so his lips ghost along the shell of her ear. "think it’s cute you’re pretending you don’t wanna leave with me right now,".

her breath stutters. his voice is all gravel and honey, thick with something dark and knowing, and it’s doing dangerous things to her determination.

she could fight it—keep teasing, keep pretending like she’s not two seconds from giving in—but the way his fingertips trace absentminded circles against her lower back, the way his voice drips with something wicked and irresistible, the way he looks at her like he’s already imagining all the ways he’s going to ruin her—yeah, she’s toast.

so she exhales, lets her fingers trail down his arm before slipping into his hand, lacing their fingers together. "one drink," she tries, but it’s weak at best.

joe chuckles again, squeezing her hand, flashing her that smug, lopsided grin that tells her he already knows she’s full of shit.

"sure, sweetheart," he murmurs, pressing a sluggish, lingering kiss just below her ear, his lips barely brushing her skin. "one drink,".

but they both know damn well she won’t be finishing it.

--

but the worst one—the one that really gets her?

the card game.

the air is stale with competition, both of them sitting cross-legged on the couch, knees brushing, a mess of playing cards scattered between them. her brows are furrowed, lips pursed in deep concentration as she studies her hand, determined to win. joe watches her, amused—she’s so damn focused, so convinced she’s got the upper hand. and honestly? she might.

but joe’s got a different kind of victory in mind.

he leans forward, elbows on his knees, his smirk mischievous, "you know," he drawls, voice dropping to that honeyed rasp that makes her shiver, "there’s a different kinda game we could be playing right now,".

she doesn’t look up, too focused. "joe, hush and pick a card,".

"nah," he shakes his head, grin widening as he tosses his card onto the pile. "i think i’d rather play strip poker,".

her head snaps up, eyes narrowing. "you are insufferable joseph lee burrow,".

"nah, baby," he counters smoothly, dragging his fingers along the curve of her thigh, slow, teasing, just enough to make her breath falter. "i just know how to have a little fun,".

she glares at him, but her body betrays her—the way her thighs clench slightly, the way her chest rises a little faster. joe notices everything.

"joe—,".

he leans in, voice dropping to a husky whisper. "bet i can make you fold real quick,".

his fingers trace higher, grazing the hem of her shorts, feather-light but willful. she swallows, heart hammering, heat pooling low in her stomach. she knows exactly what he’s doing—knows this is just another one of his games—but damn it, she’s already losing. "you're always horny," she mutters, but her voice wavers.

joe just smirks, slow and smug, eyes locked on hers as he pushes his luck, his palm spreading warm over her bare thigh. "mm, maybe," he murmurs, "but you love it,".

she exhales sharply, tossing her cards down. "you are the worst,".

joe chuckles, shifting closer, his lips grazing her jaw, his hands already slipping beneath her shirt, fingertips tracing along her ribs as he begins to move his hand to her back, inching towards her bra clasp. "nah, sweetheart," he breathes, his mouth finding the sensitive spot just below her ear, "pretty sure you love this,".

and she absolutely did. even if she put up a fight at first ;)

[millers-angel]

dust and dior bodyguard!joel miller x reader

summary: Joel is your bodyguard—strict, controlled, and off-limits. But keeping you safe starts to feel personal, and the line between duty and desire blurs. Just as tension rises, your father sends you to the countryside, far from luxury… but close to Joel, to his home. warnings: 'accidental' voyeurism, masturbation (both, joel and reader), joel has dirty thoughts about reader.

this is an extract from the story posted on ao3! you can read the whole chapter—and the ones to come—in here!

The house grew quieter as the night settled in. Joel sat in the dim glow of the television in his own room, mind elsewhere, thoughts heavier than usual. He wasn't really watching—just something to pass the time, to keep his mind from drifting too far into places it didn't belong.

But then, like clockwork, his eyes flicked toward your window.

He told himself he was only checking—making sure everything was fine, making sure you were fine. It was his job, after all.

The light in your bathroom had been on for a while, steam curling faintly against the glass. Then it flicked off, and a moment later, you walked back into your room, towel wrapped loosely around you, bare legs catching the glow of your bedside lamp.

Joel clenched his jaw, already knowing he should look away.

But he didn't.

He told himself it was just a bad habit. You never closed the curtains all the way—not intentionally, not teasingly. Just a careless mistake, one you didn't even know you were making—but surely he made sure he was the only one to know about it.

And yet, when you turned, reaching for something on your dresser, the towel slipped—slowly, effortlessly, peeling away from your body like silk.

It wasn't the first time. It wouldn't be the last.

The curve of your waist, the slope of your spine, the way droplets traced down your thighs—it was enough to make his throat go dry, enough to stir something deep, something raw. You were too damn beautiful—every inch of you, and he couldn't make something to not feel as hard as he felt when you leaned to pick up the piece of fabric that fell from the drawer.

A wonderful view of your bare pussy.

Joel's breath stalled. His fingers pressed against his thigh, jaw locking so tight it ached.

He forced himself to turn away.

Too late. Always too late.

Joel forced his attention back to the television, but the images on the screen blurred together. His mind wasn't on whatever late-night rerun was playing. It was still caught on the glimpse he'd had of you, still tangled in the shape of your body, the memory of bare skin under the dim light of your room.

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head like it would do anything to push the thoughts away.

Minutes bled into an hour. He checked the time—almost midnight. Without thinking, his gaze drifted back toward your window.

You were lying in bed, scrolling through your phone, but something about the way you looked—shoulders slack, eyes dim—told him exactly what was on your mind. He knew you well enough by now. You were still thinking about your father, still letting his words sink in, digging into you like thorns.

Joel sat forward, elbows on his knees. A long sigh left his lips before he pushed himself up and made his way to the kitchen.

The pasta you barely touched was still there. He reheated it, pouring a glass of water to go with it, then made his way upstairs.

He knocked, a firm but quiet sound against the wood.

There was a pause, then soft footsteps before the door cracked open.

You stood there, brows pinched in mild confusion, eyes flicking down to the plate in his hands before looking back up at him. "What's this?"

Joel shifted his weight. "Told me you'd eat later. Never did." He lifted the plate slightly. "So I brought it back."

A breathy laugh escaped you. "It's late, Joel."

He was so close to saying he could grab you a bowl of cereal instead—he knew you liked to snack on that around this time—but instead, he only said, "Better late than not eating at all."

You rolled your eyes but took the plate. "You're persistent."

"Part of the job."

You sighed. "Thanks."

"I'll wait here so I can take the plate back to the kitchen, Miss."

He expected you to take it inside and shut the door, but instead, you leaned against the frame, tilting your head slightly. "If you want to make sure I eat, you should just come in and eat with me."

There was something playful in your tone, but the look in your eyes was something else—something warm, something dangerous.

Joel stiffened. "Can't do that."

Your brows furrowed slightly. "Why not?"

"Because it's..." He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "It's not right. It's—outside of boundaries, Miss."

You rolled your eyes and grabbed his hand, your fingers soft against his rough palm as you pulled him gently. "Just come inside, Joel."

He held his breath.

Your touch was warm. Softer than it had any right to be.

And then there was your face—your eyes looking up at him, so big and so deep, full of pleading and vulnerability, something he didn't want to acknowledge because the second he did, it would be real.

And yet—"I can't." His voice came quieter this time, rougher.

You tilted your head. "But do you want to?"

Joel didn't answer.

You laughed, a quiet, knowing little thing. Then, instead of stepping back inside, you lowered yourself onto the floor, right there in the hall.

Joel blinked. "What are you doing?"

You patted the space in front of you. "Sit with me."

"Can't."

"Joel." You pouted. "Please?"

And just like that, he was done for.

Joel sat down with a sigh, stretching his legs out in front of him. Still, he thought of something else. "If you want, we can go to the table. Might be more comfortable."

You shook your head, smiling as you twirled your fork into the pasta. "I'm perfectly fine right here."

And so, you ate—small bites at first, slow, thoughtful, but soon enough, you were talking between them. Telling him how you'd been feeling off, how maybe it had to do with your father, but you weren't going to let it weigh you down forever. You had a plan to prove yourself to dad. You were going to talk to him, figure things out. There was something hopeful in the way you said it, a quiet determination that made Joel hold back any words that might be too much. He only nodded, listening, letting you work through it on your own.

Eventually, the conversation drifted, the heaviness fading. You joked, he smirked, and somewhere between it all, he found himself chuckling at something you said. It was easy—being here with you like this. Easier than it should have been.

When you finally finished your meal, you set the empty plate aside and looked at him with something soft in your eyes. "Thank you for bringing me dinner. You didn't have to, but... I really appreciate it."

Joel nodded, standing up and grabbing the plate and glass. "At your service." Then, a small pause before he added, "Get some sleep. Tomorrow will be better."

You smiled. "You sleep too, okay? I'm just gonna brush my teeth and turn the light off."

Joel let out a quiet chuckle. "Alright, alright. Goodnight, Miss."

He took his time in the kitchen, washing the plate and cup before heading back to his own quarters. When he glanced toward your window again, the light was out. You were already asleep.

A quiet satisfaction settled in his chest.

You'd gone to bed well-fed. In a better mood than before.

And somehow, that made everything feel just a little bit lighter.

The next morning, Joel sat at the long wooden table with the other employees, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand. The morning had started like any other—quiet conversation, the sound of dishes clinking, the occasional chuckle over some shared story. But then, the cleaning ladies walked in, their voices hushed but carrying enough weight to shift the atmosphere.

"Tense morning," one of them murmured. "She's arguing with her father again in the dining room."

Joel didn't react, just took another sip of his coffee, but he listened.

"She always gives him trouble," the other added with a shake of her head. "Nothing gets through to her. She doesn't care about anything but herself."

"So spoiled. She's never had to work for anything."

Joel's grip tightened around his mug. They had no idea. They didn't see what he saw. They didn't know about the girl who had sat on the floor with him the night before, hopeful and determined, talking about how she would try to prove herself to her father. They didn't hear the way her voice had softened when she said she had a plan.

And now, hearing this—knowing that she was in there, probably fighting a losing battle—it makes him feel bad for you.

He glanced at the clock. It was time to work.

Pushing back his chair, he stood and left his empty cup behind. He walked toward the main part of the house but didn't step into the dining room where you and your father were. He kept his distance, standing where he could hear but not intrude. It wasn't his place. But the weight of the conversation made it hard to ignore.

"You don't know the first thing about running this company," your father said, his voice firm and edged with impatience. "That's why you ask stupid questions all the time."

"I do know!" you shot back. "I've spent my whole life around this, and I'm telling you—I won't do what I did yesterday ever again. I swear."

Your father let out a sharp breath, frustration laced in every syllable. "This isn't a game. This isn't like picking out a new dress or deciding where to go on vacation. This is my life's work. My money. The reason there's food on the table, a roof over your head." His voice grew colder. "The reason you can lift a finger and have someone already know what you want before you even ask."

The words were brutal. Unforgiving.

And Joel? He stood there, jaw tight, fists clenched at his sides, listening.

Silence settled between you. Heavy. Uncomfortable. You stared down at the table, lips pressed together, hands curled into fists on your lap. The words sat on your tongue, but you weren't sure if saying them would even make a difference.

Finally, you lifted your gaze. "Please," you said, voice quieter now. "Just trust me. I won't let you down."

Your father exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his face before leveling you with a look that made your stomach drop. "If you don't take this seriously, I'll send you away. Maybe then you'll learn to appreciate what you have."

Your brows knitted together. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," he said, voice clipped, "that I'll take everything from you. No more help. No more protection. No more easy way out. I'll make sure you understand what it's like to actually work for something. To value the money you throw away like it's nothing."

Your heart pounded. "You wouldn't—"

"I know about your plans for the summer," he cut you off. "Running off to Saint-Tropez, drinking on yachts, wasting time and money with people just as careless as you. But if you keep this up, I'll send you somewhere else instead. Not just for the summer, for a year."

Your stomach twisted.

"The countryside."

You blinked. "The countryside?"

"Yes," he said. "Where you'll spend your days shoveling animal shit, sweating under the sun—not because you've been shopping all day, but because you're actually working for once in your life."

Your throat tightened. "You wouldn't do it, daddy."

"You think I won't?" His tone was sharp. "You think I won't send you off to break your nails digging in the dirt until you finally understand how easy you've had it?"

Panic flared in your chest. "Please," you said, trying to keep your voice steady. "Just trust me. I don't want to go. I can prove it to you—I swear."

"One more screw-up, and you're out of everything," your father warned, his voice firm, his gaze sharp.

You nodded quickly, your expression lighting up as if he hadn't just threatened to strip you of everything you had. "Thank you! You're the best dad in the world!" You jumped up from your seat, wrapping your arms around him and pressing a kiss to his cheek.

Joel can only hear and a smile tugs at his lips... you're too sweet. Your father sighed, some of the tension in his shoulders easing as he looked down at you. He took your hand, pressing a kiss to it before meeting your gaze. "Don't disappoint me."

You shook your head. "I won't!"

"Did you like the breakfast?" you asked then, your voice softer. "I had them make it just for you. I know it's your favorite."

His lips barely lifted, more a twitch than a smile. "Yes. But I'm running late." He stood, adjusting his suit jacket and tie.

"Can I go with you?"

"Joel will take you. Gives you more time to get ready. I have a lot of meetings today."

You nodded, satisfied, and as he turned to leave, you called after him. "Have a good day, daddy!"

He didn't respond. He just kept walking.

Joel waited until the man was completely out of sight before stepping into the dining room. "Good morning, Miss," he greeted, same as always.

You grinned, waving him over in a hushed, conspiratorial way. He hesitated, then walked toward you, stopping beside your chair.

"It worked!" you whispered excitedly, practically vibrating in your seat. "My plan worked!"

Your father had spoken to you like you were incapable, like you weren't worth trusting, like he was still one step away from sending you to shovel shit in the countryside—but right now, you were beaming, like none of that had happened. Joel couldn't help it. The sight was endearing.

You bounced in your seat, grabbing his hands as if to ground your excitement. "Told you! I did it!"

Joel let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "I'm glad," he said, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

"Did you eat already?" you asked, tilting your head. "I can have someone bring you breakfast if you want."

"I already ate," he assured you. "But thank you."

You hummed, stretching your arms above your head. "I have to go to the office today."

Joel gave a small nod. "I know."

When you finished your breakfast, you left to get ready, disappearing into your room. It wasn't long before you stepped out again, looking like you had spent all night thinking about what to wear just in case your father let you go back to the company.

You were breathtaking. Professional but youthful, the kind of put-together that still felt effortless, like you were born to wear expensive clothes. It was modest but undeniably alluring, everything fitting you in a way that made it impossible not to notice.

Joel clenched his jaw, forcing his eyes away as he stepped forward, guiding you outside. He opened the back door of his truck, waiting for you to step in before shutting it gently behind you. Then, without a word, he slid into the driver's seat and pulled out of the estate, heading straight for the company's offices.

Joel accompanied you inside the company building, keeping a professional distance as always. You walked with confidence, carrying yourself with the kind of grace that demanded attention, but even so, it was clear that no one truly took you seriously. They acknowledged you, not out of respect for your work, but because you were the owner's daughter. It wasn't fear, exactly, but an understanding that your presence meant they had to watch their words—at least when you were around.

Still, you stole every glance in the room, your presence magnetic, impossible to ignore. You were effortlessly captivating, a striking contrast against the stiff, corporate world around you. But despite how composed you were, the whispers never stopped.

"Pretty face, empty head."

"She's just here to play dress-up."

"Bet she'd be easy."

Joel heard it all. He had been leaning against the wall outside your office when a few of the company men had gathered nearby, their conversation low but not low enough. He kept his head down, focusing on his hands, but the way his jaw clenched gave him away. Then, when those same men left their little huddle and approached you, suddenly all smiles and politeness, he barely held back a scoff.

He didn't move at first, just watched as they stepped out of your office after making whatever weak attempt at charming you they thought would work. But once the door clicked shut behind them, he straightened, stepping into their path. His voice was calm when he spoke, but there was no mistaking the warning beneath his words.

"Gentlemen."

The men stiffened at the unexpected attention. Joel didn't need to raise his voice. The way he held himself—the way he looked at them—was enough to make his point.

"If I were you, I'd watch what I say next time."

There was no need to say more. They knew exactly what he meant.

Inside, you worked diligently throughout the day. You weren't perfect, of course. You made small mistakes, miscalculated things here and there, but you were learning, and more importantly, you were trying. By the time the day ended, you were exhausted but satisfied, feeling a rare sense of accomplishment from your efforts.

Joel drove you home, listening as you told him about your day. There was something different in your voice now—lighter, more confident. You weren't dwelling on the difficulties or the gossip; you were focusing on what you had managed to do, however small. And he was genuinely happy to hear it. You looked better than you had last night, and that was good.

That evening, you sat down to eat dinner alone. Unlike the night before, though, you actually ate, and when Joel passed by, you waved him over.

"Sit with me," you insisted.

"I can't," he said, standing by the table. "It's against the rules."

"Who cares?" you huffed. "Daddy doesn't care if you eat with me. And I want you to."

You looked up at him with those big, wide eyes, impossibly persuasive, your voice soft as you added a quiet, "Please?"

Joel was not easily swayed, but something about the way you said it made it impossible to refuse. With a reluctant sigh, he sat down across from you. You had someone to bring him dinner to the table.

As you ate, you watched him for a moment before giggling. "You eat weird."

Joel smirked, shaking his head. "That's how we eat where I'm from."

"And where's that?" you asked, tilting your head.

"A little town in Texas—" he named a place so rural it might as well have been on another planet compared to the world you knew. A place of open fields, cattle, and the kind of hard work you had never been exposed to.

Your eyes widened slightly. "Do you go back for the holidays?"

"Sometimes."

"Do you like it better there or here?"

Joel didn't hesitate. "There. It's home."

You leaned forward slightly. "Do you have somewhere to stay when you go?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I go to my brother's ranch—well, ours. We grew up there. I had to leave for a while, to make money, to put back into it. But it's still there."

You hummed, processing his words, but before you could ask anything else, he took another bite of his food, effectively ending that conversation.

And somehow, sitting there with him, eating dinner like this, you didn't mind.

You took a small sip of your lemonade, then, as if deciding to steer the conversation somewhere lighter, you smiled. "I made friends at work today."

Joel's expression shifted almost instantly. His brows furrowed slightly, and he set his fork down, his jaw tightening just a little. He knew exactly which "friends" you were talking about—the same men who had been calling you easy behind your back. He had already informed your father about everything—it's his job.

You, however, looked genuinely happy. Excited, even. It wasn't often that you talked about something with this much enthusiasm, and for a moment, he debated whether or not to tell you. But he had a job to do, and part of that job was making sure you didn't walk blindly into situations that could hurt you—physically or otherwise.

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "They're not your friends, Miss."

Your smile faltered. "What?"

Joel leaned back slightly in his chair, his voice even. "I heard them talking about you today. Before they knew I was standing there." His jaw tightened. "They weren't sayin' anything good."

Confusion flickered across your face, but then you straightened in your seat, crossing your arms. "What did they say?"

Joel hesitated, debating how much to actually repeat. "Bad things."

"What things?" You asked. "Please, I want to know..."

"That you're just a pretty face. That you don't know what you're doing and that everyone in that office knows it." He watched your expression carefully, waiting for the realization to settle in.

Silence.

Your grip tightened around your glass, your shoulders tensing. You blinked a few times, processing his words, before finally looking down at your plate.

Joel sighed, lowering his voice. "I'm telling you this because you need to know who you can trust. People aren't always nice just because they mean it, Miss. Sometimes they just want somethin'."

You swallowed hard, forcing a breath through your nose. "I see."

Joel hated how small your voice sounded. He knew it wasn't fair, knew how hard you had worked today, how much you wanted to prove yourself. And for what? Just to have people dismiss you the second you turned your back?

He tapped his fingers against the table before reaching for his glass. "You did good today," he told you. "Don't let a bunch of assholes take that away from you."

You nodded, still not looking at him, and took another sip of your lemonade. The excitement from earlier had dimmed, but Joel knew you weren't defeated. If anything, he could see the quiet determination setting in.

Maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.

He waited as you stood there, hesitating before your room. Then, as if remembering something, you turned back to him.

"Is my dad coming home soon?"

Joel shook his head. "Late. But if it's about what they said earlier..." He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "You know I have to tell him everything. He already knows."

Your brows furrowed, lips parting slightly. "Everything?"

He nodded once.

A pause stretched between you, the weight of his words sinking in. Then, you sighed. "Alright. Good night, Joel."

He gave a small nod in return, watching as you stepped toward your room—only to stop at the door. You lingered, then turned back, your steps slower this time as you walked toward him.

Joel straightened, eyeing you with quiet confusion.

"Do you really tell him everything?" you asked, head tilting slightly.

Another nod.

Your lips curled just a little, playful now. "Even when I bring someone home? When a guy stays over?"

Joel didn't answer this time. He didn't even look at you.

You reached for him, hands soft against his jaw, gently tilting his face toward you. His fingers wrapped around your wrists—not rough, just firm enough to stop you.

But you didn't pull away. Neither did he.

For a brief second, you felt it—the warmth of his skin, the strength in his grip, the way his breath got heavier. You liked it. And so did he.

"Tell me," you whispered. "Do you tell him that too?"

His voice was low, strained. "Go to your room."

"No," you murmured, eyes locked onto his. "Not until you answer me."

Joel finally met your gaze, and that was a mistake.

Because you were looking at his lips.

And for a split second, it made him forget himself. Made him forget everything. The only thing in his head was the unbearable temptation to close the space between you.

To take. To give in.

He nearly did.

He nearly scooped you from the floor and took you to your bed like a rag doll.

"Answer me," you murmured, voice softer now, almost coaxing.

Joel's grip on your wrists tightened just slightly before he gave a single nod.

You gasped. "But sometimes I sneak them in the house!"

"I know."

You laughed, quiet and amused. "You're such a snitch."

Before he could react, you lifted yourself onto his boots, bare feet pressing against the leather. The sudden shift made him tense, muscles locking as you grabbed onto the collar of his shirt for balance.

His voice was steady, low. "I'm not a snitch."

You raised a brow, teasing.

Joel's expression remained serious. "They're your father's orders, Miss."

"But that's private."

"Not if you can be in danger," he almost snapped. "We have to make sure you're safe, and some boys—they can hurt you."

You bit your lip. "Am I safe with you?"

He didn't answer, just swallowed, and you could see it in the way his Adam's apple bobbed.

Your smile widened. "You're not gonna push me off?"

Joel exhaled sharply through his nose. His hands found your waist, firm but careful as he tried to ease you back down.

But you only laughed again, fingers tightening around his collar, holding onto him. "That's not gonna work."

"This isn't right," Joel said, firmer now. "Get down. For real."

"No."

"You're gonna get me in trouble," he drawled.

"Good," you teased him, biting your lip.

He huffed, shaking his head, and without another word, his fingers brushed against your sides, just barely—enough to make you jolt. A sharp inhale left your lips as you squirmed, startled by the ticklish sensation.

"Joel—!"

He did it again, this time more intentional, making you break into soft, breathless laughter as you wriggled in his grasp. Finally, with a reluctant huff, you let go, stepping off his boots.

You smoothed down your dress, catching your breath, and looked up at him with a playful glint in your eyes. "Still a snitch, though. I don't think I can trust you anymore."

Joel shook his head. "I only tell him what other people do, or the people you're with... not... personal things."

You gave him a knowing look. "Sure. Whatever you say." You turned toward your room, flashing him one last playful grin. "Good night, snitch."

Joel exhaled, rubbing a hand down his face. And once you were out of sight, when he was sure you couldn't see him—he laughed. Just a little.

"She's trouble,"

read the whole chapter on ao3!♡ —and the ones that will come!

[fuyuu-chan]

"You Are More Important To Me Than Anything Else"

Pairing: Sung Jinwoo x Reader

Warning: mention of blood loss, death (but not the one who was being paired), not proofread

Fuyuu-chan: adrenaline is running through my veins rn, this was my second fic that i made today but will be the first one i will be posting because i was waiting for something before i post the other one. (spoiler alert: its a yandere fic lol) also this fic was made with no thought process i just kept typing all the way until i was satisfied or smth hahahha

✧⁠◝⁠(⁠⁰⁠▿⁠⁰⁠)⁠◜⁠✧

The day for the 4th raid in Jeju was coming closer. The S Ranks and other hunters who signed up to come with was preparing for the day to come. The S Ranks in Korea that would be coming with was listed: Choi Jong-In Baek Yoonho (Name) Cha Hae-In .....etc.,

Byunggu was supposed to come but Baek recommended that he shouldn't since (name) would be coming along anyway. Which means they have one of the most strongest hunter with them, the second to Jinwoo. And since Jinwoo "wouldn't" come, she would be the strongest from Korea to go there other than the S Ranks from Japan.

As the day approaches, everyone was prepared.

. . .

Once the day arrived. Everyone arrived at the Island. There were so many ants everywhere, standing, crawling and even flying. The other hunters were terrified just by the sight of it but (name) silently observes calculating the risks and such.

As the raid goes on, the plan was for the Korean hunters to be inside the place where the Queen. They have to kill it before it could produce more ants.

(Name) was outside attacking the ants that was approaching the cave while the others inside kills the queen. While some of them was trying to destroy the eggs.

It was all supposed to come to an end, they thought they can finally finished this raid not until this one ant came....the aura was way different from the other ants they fought earlier. This one seems stronger. The happenings was so fast. The ant attacked Cha first making her flew and land hard at the ground. With that attack she was already bleeding hard, she was loosing blood so quickly. The others tried to fight off the ant, to attack in hopes of trying to weaken it and defeat it if it was even possible at this point. There was no healer with them and they couldn't put their attention to Cha because if they did, they will all die here inside and they couldn't take that risk.

Choi managed to talk to (name) through their communication device asking for them to come and help them. (Name) didn't hesitate to come inside to help her friends. She attacked and dodged, doing the best that she can to fight with this strange ant. Her abilities and such was almost comparable to the ant, like they were the same level. The others watch in amazement, of course by now they knew how the ant was most probably an S Rank level if not more stronger but that's probably the most definite answer. But of course who are they to complain about how (name) was so strong she was able to keep up? Definitely not. They would be dumb if they do.

Choi checked up on Cha who was surely dying due to the sudden loss of blood. But what could they do? No one inside with them could heal. And even if he carried Cha outside the cave what are the chances that they would just be met by more ants to go to the helicopter. Its basically...a dead end both literally and figuratively.

. . .

As most of the S Rank hunters was in Jeju Island fighting and hopefully to finish the raid...Jinwoo was with his family, he didn't come especially because his mother just woke up from the eternal slumber. He didn't wanna worry her and he also wanted to spend time with his family. But one of the shadow soldiers he placed on (name) because..well that doesn't matter for now, was sending distress signals. He went to the restroom and went to look on the soldiers eyes and saw what was happening in there, he could tell (name) was doing her best to fight and to save the others but he knows (name) has her limit. if no one would back her up....something terrible could happen...and he couldn't bare the thought of what could possibly happen...at least not to her.

. . .

(Name) could feel her body getting tired, with how fast she and this ant was going back and forth, she knew she was in the losing end at this point but she couldn't give up...not when the others are relying on her right now. They were injured and she heard even someone was dying, and right now she was the only one who can keep up with this battle. She should not disappoint them...definitely not....

If only Jinwoo was here. She knew they have would have a chance on winning. But alas....he wanted to be with his family and she respect that....but... If only....if only she could be like Jinwoo and be everyone's anchor and keep them safe. Will it seriously only remain as "If only"?

With her body almost gonna give up, she could feel she was gonna fall any moment but just then...an arm wrapped around her body, steadying her...she could smell a familiar perfume...she looked up and saw the familiar eyes, the eyes of the person she was thinking about moments ago, the one she hoped who would be here...is finally here.

. . .

Jinwoo exchanged with the shadow soldier almost immediately the moment he saw (name)'s worried face, even though anyone who would see her right now might think she looks unbothered he could tell the slight hint of worry and anxiety. He knew her well enough to be able to know the difference and change on her face.

The moment he appeared behind (name) he catches her the same moment she almost lose balance and almost fell. And with the way she looked up at him, he could tell the hint of relief once she saw him. He gazes at her softly and smile reassuringly and said "I got you, everything would be alright now"

Jinwoo quickly carried her and put her away from the battle but still inside the cave. "Stay here, okay?"

"What about the battle? I could help-" you said almost after he spoke but ended up getting cut off by him.

"You've already done enough, you are tired, let your body rest now. You did good, thank you for protecting the others. So now please let me protect you." he said as he tucks the strand of hair behind her ear away on her face.

"Be careful...please" you mumbled but still enough to let him hear.

"I will...before that drink this so you can regain your energy back" Jinwoo said as he moved the vial of potion closer to your mouth.

You shake your head. "I don't need it...you have to help Cha...she..she was hit hard and is loosing a lot of blood...she needs this more than me" you said as you catch a glimpse of her body on the ground when Jinwoo carried you over here.

Jinwoo looks at the direction where Cha's body was. The pool of blood around her and the way she breathes...its like she is taking her final breaths slowly and painfully as if any second her heartbeat would stop, which is probably the case. Jinwoo could tell you were worried but he didn't want you worrying about someone else when you need help yourself. And how can he tell you that there is nothing he could do now to help Cha? Her case was hopeless at this point. Even if he gave her the potion for healing and this energy potion, there is no reassurance that it would help to keep her alive and even if it did it will only keep her alive for a few moments. That will only be painful for her because of the wound she has, so basically having another long moment with that will only torture her. Especially since there was no healer who would be able to help with the wound.

But he couldn't tell that to (name)...not now at least especially, when her mind is probably running thousand times a minute.

"(Name) listen to me, alright? You need this, this will help you. If i gave this to Hunter Cha...it will only be pointless and a waste since she wouldn't be able to use it, it wouldn't be worth it." He explains. He told quite the few truth in it, but he knew (name) wouldn't understand what he meant right now.

"h-huh..what do you mea-" "sshh you'll understand later on, just please...please drink this, you are more important to me than anything else" he says softly but with a hint of pleading since he couldn't leave (name) without her drinking this and her being weak because of the fight.

She finally relented and got to drink the potion...slowly her energy was coming back as if she had just taken a good nap and woke up refreshed.

Jinwoo breathes out a sigh of relief. He stood up and said "I'll be back, you can stay here and once you are definitely okay, you can help the others to get out of this cave"

"Would you be alright? " "You trust me right?" "I do" "Then I'll be most definitely be okay"

. . .

The time Jinwoo was fighting off the ant, and the moment you regained your composure and energy completely, you went to the others and helped them out to leave the cave as soon as possible. You don't know what Jinwoo is planning but you trust that no matter what he is thinking about, it would be for the best. And maybe because you were so busy with helping out the injured hunters out, it slip off of your mind about Cha.

You don't know why but Choi seems to be hesitating for some reason, he kept looking back inside where they were earlier. Unbeknownst to you, they didn't get to bring Cha's (dead) body due to they needed to help the other hunters and bringing her body would only be a bothersome, they wouldn't be able to move freely.

The moment everyone left the cave, Jinwoo didn't hold back anymore on fighting.

It took probably a few minutes than expected. But soon Jinwoo was finally seen leaving the cave and after he was a bit away the cave starts crumbling, and soon it was just like a pile of soil.

There was a hint of regret and guilt in Choi and Baek's faces, why? You thought. You look around, seeing the other S Ranks and Hunters...wait a second, where is Cha?...don't tell me...how come you didn't realize sooner?...

You glance at Jinwoo and he was already looking at you when you did. He can tell that you just realized what happened. Of course you would, you were always looking after everyone anyway.

Jinwoo went over to your side. "(Name) come on lets go"

"Jinwoo...we can't...Cha-"

"If you're panning on blaming yourself or anything like that, then no I wont allow you to. Its not your fault and we cant do anything about her situation anymore."

Jinwoo pulled you away as everyone was now walking back to the helicopter as soon as the shadow soldiers returned after finishing all the remaining ants.

. . .

Jinwoo kept comforting you and trying to get your mind off of what happened at the Jeju Island. You shouldn't have been guilty on that when it was not your fault anyway. You even tried your best to save everyone until your body almost gives up.

, , ,

When Jinwoo reassigned shadow soldiers to be on your side, the ant whom Jinwoo defeated at the raid in Jeju who is now called Beru...requested to be by your side, and be one of the soldiers who would have the privilege to protect you. Beru first hand experience your skills and powers and he definitely respected that and you of course. He wanted to spar again sometime. Jinwoo saw the determination in Beru's eyes and the slight twinkling in them, like a child pleading their parent for something they really want and so Jinwoo put Beru on (name)'s shadow.

ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

Please do not copy, translate, repost to any other Social media, Thank you.

[cinnamongrl2006]

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd x Journalist!Reader⋅ ౨ৎ  ‧₊ .ᐟ 

a/n: my idea is to make a part two of this with smut if this one does well. Also, thank you guys so much for the support!

warnings: Reader's appearance is not described but she is referred to as a woman, idk not much else?

Summary: It's your first weekend working at a f1 paddock and you interview Jason after a bad race.

────୨ৎ────

It was your first weekend in the formula one paddock after your internship at a newspaper. It was the first weekend you had an actual grown up job, the first weekend you couldn't fuck up. It was just your luck that you'd been selected to interview Ferrari driver!Jason Todd after his race.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd had a very bad race, his pit stop lasted a second longer than it should've, his engineer called for team orders and he finished right outside the podium. If he'd overtaken his teammate at some point he'd be standing there, covered in champagne with a trophy in his hands and a medal around his neck.

But instead he pads over to the post race interviews, hair tousled from the helmet, pupils blown wide. His assistant steers him towards a reporter and he braces himself for the same sour, intruding questions as always. He doesn't look up from his hands, fidgeting with his watch and bracelets.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd who is known to have a temper after a tough race, which unnerved you.

"Good morning, mr. Todd!" You greeted him with a poster smile and introduced yourself, stretching out a hand towards him. He shook your hand and straightened up in front of the camera readying for the turmoil to come.

"How was the race?" You asked, glancing down at your notes and back up, meeting his gaze. He grumbled under his breath but answered politely.

"We had a good start, getting both cars in the podium— I honestly think we could've won the race, or at the least get both cars in the podium, but...strategy is what it is. You win some, you lose some. We'll keep pushing."

You nod in acknowledgement.

"How do you mentally process the difference between a race well won and a race narrowly lost? Do you see it as a lesson, motivation or something else entirely?" You breathed as you pushed your microphone towards him.

Oh. He thought. That's a fucking good question. It wasn't the type of question the hours of Ferrari media training taught him to answer or deflect, it was different. It let him think.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is taken aback by your question. Your words cut through his foggy, scrambled mind like a block of butter. He opens his mouth as if to answer but he just sighs and closes it again.

He regards you with curiosity for a second before finally answering, "Well, to be fairly honest it depends on the race; it's not the same to finish fourth in a championship opener than after getting p1 the race before..." He hummed. "Yeah, I guess I do see it as motivation, us athletes need to strive to be better, that's how we make a living." He fucking winks at you.

You blink, startled, before laughing it off awkwardly.

You don't have time to process what's happening before Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is pushed away from you and onto another journalist. In the same manner, a short Japanese driver is shoved towards you, quickly.

Your eyes don't linger too much on Jason, and that's a shame, because you don't notice how his eyes stay glued onto you, how his gaze, so sharp, so blue, could cut a hole through your skull.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd is not smitten, that's for teenagers. He's not blushing at a complete stranger who is not even looking in his general direction; or so he tells himself.

It takes him a persuasive phone call with Roy to muster up the courage to ask you out on a date.

Ferrari driver!Jason Todd runs into you in the hotel lobby (it's not like he's been pacing around it for the last hour) and invites you over to dinner with his friends. When you ask him why he grumbles a little and admits he was rude to you.

"You asked a good question, our time was cut short." He says, matter-of-factly.

"Well, yes, but—"

"I also think you're beautiful, is that good enough a reason?" He asks, leaning down closer to you.

────୨ৎ────

[hello-nichya-here]

Think I finally managed to understand why Azula not getting a redemption arc works in the show, but not in the comics (beyond the absurd ableism in the Yang stories that is).

Azula has become the classic case of a villain that keeps being brought back due to popularity despite clearly not belonging in the story anymore.

Her arc as a villain was completed in the show. She's been the backstabber, the relentless pursuer, and the cunning villain that wins through mindgames. She's been in charge, been under someone else's rule, joined forces with another villain, and had her enemies join forces against her.

She's been the villain that wins people through manipulation and/or charisma, or that full on threatens them into submission. She had henchmen that she used and threw away, and henchmen she cared about and was abandoned by. She was arrogant and power hungry, but also desperate for validation. She was the main villain's adored, loyal pet that was eventually kicked aside in the end.

She's been the lesser of two evils when compared to Ozai, and the worse of multiple evils when compared to Zuko, Mai and Ty Lee. She's been the villain that gets back up after a defeat post The Drill, the villain that wins (by corrupting one of the potential heroes, capturing a friend of the protagonist and KILLING said protagonist) in the Ba Sing Se arc, the villain that has both a satisfying AND tragic downfall in Boiling Rock and the finale, and the villain with hints of humanity that she refuses to embrace in The Headband, The Beach and the finale.

She had conflicts with people she had zero personal history with (Aang, Long Feng) leading to both physical and mental battles, and people she had a messy history with (her friends and Zuko) leading to super emotional scenes.

And finally, she's been the cold, calculating villain AND the villain that is a complete wreck mentally/emotionally - that last one only lasting for the finale because Azula's breakdown was not the CAUSE of her evil actions, it was the consequence of it. And said consequence made her be both the villain that is defeated by the heroes and the one that causes her own downfall.

Every single fucking thing that could have been done with her as villain has been done in the show already. Even Spirit Temple, the only comic that understood her character, couldn't do much beyond just repeat stuff we're already seen.

Azula refusing to accept anything she considers weakness or imperfection? We've see that in nearly every scene she was in.

Azula leading an evil squad? Literally what she did for 90% of her screentime on the show.

Azula losing said squad and refusing to take responsibility for it? Literally the Mai and Ty Lee arc, hence the two haunting her mind in that same comic. Only this time it happened MUCH faster because Azula no longer has all the political power she once had, so there's less consequences for crossing, so she's not as threatening to ANYONE.

Azula being pathetic and making a fool out of herself? The Beach exists.

Azula being obsessive to the point that it's almost laughable? Again, 90% of her screentime.

Azula having issues with her mom, desperately wanting love from her family, friends and a potential boyfriend? Again, The Beach exists and so does the finale.

The scene of her being confronted with a hallucination of an angry Zuko and shooting lightning at him? Literally a direct reference to the Last Agni Kai, which was the culmination of both of their arcs.

The ONLY thing that was new in that comic was the short moment in which Azula shows resentment towards her father for turning her into a copy of him, and that wasn't explored further not just because it's a stand-alone comic, but also because doing so would open the can of worms that is "Wait, if she's self-aware and processing trauma, that means she could learn her lesson and change" and since the writers clearly don't wanna go there, the scene is useless.

If the writers insist on keeping Azula an active threat in the story, they're setting themselves up for failure. Either they're gonna keep repeating storylines we've already seen with far less tension and with a villain that got a severe downgrade, essentially making Azula the Tom to their Jerry, or they're gonna pull a Yang and go "Make her crazier to make her scary again!" while ignoring that her days as a villain were cut BECAUSE she went insane, and now that here vil plans make no fucking sense anymore, the heroes just look stupid for not being able to defeat her.

Azula has nothing more to give to the story in the role of a villain, so she should either only appear in flashbacks or quick mentions of "she's being cared for, but it seems it's too little too late", or she should be redeemed to get a new role in the story, with new paths to explore. She just can't keep being put into the role of active threat, when we've all seen said threat was clearly neutralized already.

It. Does. Not. Work.

[emeraldserenade]

It's Been 5 Years ~ Joaquín Torres

synopsis: Adjusting to life after you had just disappeared with half of the living population took some time, but Joaquín seemed to be very helpful

tw: fem!reader, limited use of y/n, reader speaks Spanish, bad Spanish (idk Spanish, I use google translate), none?, barely edited.

fic, ficlet, drabble, request

So I hit page 10 out of 34 on the upcoming story. But I still want to keep up my at least one post a day schedule, so have this. This idea has been running it's way through my head and it didn't come out how I wanted it to but I still think it's good.

➽──────────────❥

Joaquín was in his relatively new apartment, he had been there for a few months, when the people who had just disappeared reappeared. It was jarring, especially for the two of you.

"Um, hello?" You were confused, one moment you were holding your cat and walking around your apartment getting ready to leave and the next, your cat was gone and everything looked different.

"Holy shit," the man jumped up from the couch and you took a step back. "Wait, I'm not going to hurt you, let me explain," he held his hands up.

"Uh, ok?" You wrapped your arms around your middle, trying to sooth yourself.

"5 years ago this alien named Thanos made half the living population disappear," the man stated and you slowly nodded, you realized almost right away you must have been apart of those that disappeared.

"So, it's been 5 years?" You questioned, you watched as he nodded. "You wouldn't happen to know what happened to my cat, would you?" You took a chance.

"Actually, I would. The neighbor, Ms. Kaur, took your cat in. She told me all about how you would be heartbroken to know that your cat was all alone," the man told you and you felt a rush of relief.

"Uh," you paused for a moment and looked around. "Can I ask you a few favors? Nothing big, I promise," you assured him.

"Yeah, go ahead," you watched as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Well, firstly, can I know your name?"

"Oh," he uncrossed his arms and held his right one out to you. "Joaquín Torres," you shook his hand and gave him your name.

"Also, can I borrow your phone?"

"Yeah, let me grab it," he moved to the kitchen. "I don't know if you need the bathroom but you can go use it," he called from the kitchen you and nodded even though he couldn't see you.

"Oh, thank you!" You called from your way down the hallway and to the extra bathroom. You figured he didn't want you in your, his, bedroom. When you came back he was sitting on the couch again and you hesitantly walked closer.

"You don't have to stand," he told you and handed you his, unlocked, phone.

"Thanks," you awkwardly sat down a little bit away from him and punched in one of the numbers you knew by heart.

One ring, two rings, three rings, then finally someone picked up. "Hola?" You almost sobbed hearing the voice of your father

"Hola, papá," you heard your own voice wobble but it was nothing compared to the full sob of your mother's you could hear.

"Y/n, de verdad eres tú?" Your father questioned. Is that really you?

"Sí, lo es. ¿Alguien más desapareció?" Yes, it is. Did anyone else disappear?

"No, solo eras tú. Ay, tu madre y yo nos alegramos mucho de que hayas vuelto. Por favor, ven a visitarnos pronto," your father told you and you nodded. No, it was just you. Oh, your mother and I are so happy you're back. Please, come visit us soon

"Lo haré, solo necesito aclarar algunas cosas. ¿De acuerdo?" I will, I just need to figure some things out. Ok?

"Ok, te amamos," your father told you. Ok, we love you

"Yo también te amo," you hung up the phone and handed it back to Joaquín. I love you too.

"I uh," you awkwardly looked at Joaquín. "I should probably see if I can find a hotel," you went to stand but Joaquín's words stopped you.

"Or you can stay here, I mean, it technically was, is, your apartment. There's the extra room anyway," Joaquín offered and you looked down at yourself. You suddenly felt grateful that you were about to leave, you had your purse and some of your favorite clothes of your on.

"If you're sure because I can totally go and get a hotel room," Joaquín cut you off.

"Yeah, I'm sure. Plus, I have a feeling finding a hotel room will be extra hard tonight," Joaquín joked and you laughed.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

You had been staying with Joaquín for a few weeks now, you had settled into the guest bedroom and found out that not only did Ms. Kaur save Sushi, but she also saved all your belongings. The furniture, other than the standing mirror your grandmother gave you and the nice hanging jewelry holder you thrifted, got sold. You weren't too upset, you had all your clothes and things anyway.

You were sitting on the couch on hold with the bank while watching Joaquín play some video game. You found out a few days ago that they froze all your cards when you were offically declared dusted. While you appreciate them worrying about your finances, it was a pain in the ass to get unfrozen.

"Miss, are you still there?" Asked the female voice you'd been talking to a few moments ago.

"Yes, I am!" You sat up straighter and the raised volume of your voice caused Joaquín to look over at you.

"We have unfrozen all your accounts, sorry for taking so long," the woman told you and you smiled in relief.

"Ok, thank you!" You hung up after goodbyes and did a small happy dance. "Dios mío, I thought that was going to go on forever," you flopped back against the couch and focused your attention back on the screen.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

"Joaquín, are you even helping me look for apartments?" You looked up from your computer screen at Joaquín, his laptop was open but he was hitting his keyboard more than he would if he was looking.

"If I lie and say yes, would you believe me?" Joaquín questioned and you sighed.

"You act like you want me to stay here," you closed your laptop and moved to sit on the couch next to him, he was on the Minecraft world you two had started. "You said you wouldn't build without me!" You gasped, he was building more of the house you two had started together.

"I got bored, forgive me, Angel," he gave you his puppy eyes and you stared him down, already knowing that he had won.

"Fine, I forgive you," you huffed.

"Good, and I do want you to stay here," he added on and you looked at him weirdly as he saved and exited the game.

"Why?"

"I like you," he said it so casually that you had to remind yourself that he meant as a friend, and that he didn't reciprocate your crush.

"Careful, you might give me the wrong impression," you joked, trying to hide the truth in your words.

"Which would be?" Joaquín looked at you with, what you thought was, genuine curiosity and you mentally kicked yourself.

"Nothing, doesn't matter," you told him, getting up to leave. He grabbed your hand and pulled you back onto the couch before you even took a step causing you to fall with more backwards momentum you were accounting for, and landing with your back pressed into his chest. You just relaxed into his hold, knowing that if he really wanted to you wouldn't be able to move.

Joaquín said nothing as you two sat there, you didn't say anything either. You just sat there in comfortable quiet, you slowly started to drift off and right before you fully succumbed to you heard Joaquín lowly mumble in your ear, but you couldn't quite figure it out.

✧°˖ . ݁˖︵‿❀‿︵˖ . ݁˖°✧

It didn't take long until you gave up apartment hunting, the landlord from your building was also very nice. She let you and Joaquín add your name to the lease without much of a hassle.

"Joaquín, you do have plans?" You saw he was dressed nicely.

"Yeah," he told you and you suddenly felt very stupid for even asking. "With you, go get ready, please," he looked away from the mirror where he was messing with his hair to look you in the eyes.

"Me? Where? Why?"

"You ask too many questions Angel, just go," he gave you a smile and you relented.

You two ended up going to dinner, a movie, then to ice cream. You were confused on why he was until he took you back home.

"I like you, a lot, and," you cut Joaquín off with a hug and a quick kiss.

"I like you too," you told him, watching as any of his nerves disappeared.

➽──────────────❥

Masterlist | Requests

[sosickastro]

Indulgence (Bts x Chubby reader)

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

Chapter 2

Poly Bts x Chubby Reader, Soulmate au and Idol au

Summary: Poor broke and isolated mc gets the chance to go to a concert with an old high school friend, with hoping to find their soulmate and see the biggest boy band in the world. A new shocking reality hits her while at the concert.

Chapter Warnings: degrading thoughts, poor writing and grammar, gender confused reader, anxiety, mc being a loner, mentions of weight insecurities, swearing, fat phobia, etc (let me know if I miss anything)

A/N: second chapter omg I actually wrote it in a decent time span, I want to say thank you for the support for the first chapter! I will try my best to keep up with posting chapters, etc, etc, As we all know, Grammarly is my lord and savior, but even they can't fix my awful spelling mistakes, so let me know if anything is wrong or just ignore it for the sake of the story.

word count: 2,034

(Thank you Corinnecousins on Pinterest for this picture)

Perviously on Indulgence:

"Then for the first time in my life, I felt a tug, anxiety filled my stomach as I froze in my tracks, and my heartbeat went through the roof as I looked down at the red thread I usually forget about, it loosened. Holy shit I am near my soulmate. Holy shit. Lauren notices that I stop walking and now staring at my pinky finger asks me “Are you okay?” I initially looked around the bus station, there were a lot of people walking around, too many to see where the string goes. “Is it your soulmate?” Lauren asks me again. I couldn't speak, my mouth dry as I gave her a shaky nod. But unfortunately just as it loosens it quickly tightens again, meaning my soulmate either left or is on a bus going further away from me. “I wonder if he felt it” I questioned out loud, looking at Lauren with shaken eyes. She sighs, almost equally disappointed “Come on Clare is waiting for us, we don’t want to keep her waiting.” Lauren tells me, grabbing my hand and basically dragging me to the exit. I can’t stop staring at my red thread, there's hope. There is always hope. Now I at least can find comfort that he is in the States, and not in Korea or Russia or anything far away. "

We make it to Clare’s car, she smiles at me as this is our first time meeting. I put on a smile as I tried to push through all the emotions I was feeling at the moment. But it is more complicated than I’d like to admit. The man I moved halfway across the country for is now somewhere in the city that’s only 3 hours away from my 4-year hellscape of a college.

 I let out a deep sigh as I looked over to Lauren and Clare, who were having a quiet conversation themselves. Clare nodded at something Lauren said, a look of concern and slight confusion filled her eyes, and spread across her face. “I’m fine yall— let’s get going before I hear another kid scream their head off,” I tell them with a slight chuckle, hoping that I’m schooling my face well enough to at least look like I’m fine as well as my typical dry humar distractes them from the imdending breakdown I am bout to face in tminus 10 seconds. 

Lauren eyes me up and down while also looking deep into my very soul to see if I’m lying to her. Clare shrugs, “I agree.” Lauren seems to give up her soul searching and nods her head. In silence that was not completely awkward, we got into Clare’s small car. I shove my bag and myself into the back seat, hoping that the fabric of the cheap seats swallows me whole.

 After 30 minutes of awful pop music from the local radio station, – Clare saying something about “keeping up with the latest music” – Clare’s occasional road rage and cars honking, we reach a small street lined with small shops and other downtown “hippie” and “local” boutiques. As God was on our side we found a decent parking spot with little to no casualties, though I was pretending not to feel the curb that Clare drove on top of.

 As the other two girls make their way to one of the many shops we will visit, I try to find it in my very core to move and get out of this stupid, beat-up car, but my every soul has died and been replaced with a mopey version of myself. I keep asking myself, “Would I ever have that chance again? To be that close to him?” The feeling of hopelessness seems to seep into my bones and takes over into my soul as I feel myself falling deeper and deeper into the pit of despair. A gust of wind hits my arm, making me shoot up in shock I yell at Clare as she laughs at me hanging off the open car door. “Come on, man, Lauren is dying to check out this new shop.” I rolled my eyes and finally found the courage to step out of the car; the car isn’t stupid, just my feelings.

 I breathe in the cold air as I match my footing with Clare, following her mindlessly as we catch up with Lauren, who is currently star-struck over this shirt. “Guys, what! Look at it!” Lauren practically screams at us, I laugh at her as I feel myself letting go of its tight grip on the soul-crushing reality. Maybe spending some money and indulging in giving the greedy company my mind, body, and soul is what I need at the moment.

 The rest of the afternoon is spent with Lauren dragging Clare and me around the street, jumping and hopping from one store to another. I found a few tops that were cute and appropriate for the concert but as for pants my fear was proving to be true as none of the shops had my size, or like any normal sizing I mean come on even the chubby girls like to overconsume, and spend all their money on a pair of jeans. 

“Isn't this so cute!” Lauren yells into my ear as I lazily glance over the rack of tops. I throw on a smile as I examine the clothes “Oh yeah, it fits you.” She smiles back at me before her eyes start analyzing the shirt once again. “I’m going to ask Clare what she thinks,” before I can respond Lauren already walked away from me. I sighed but smiled nonetheless, as I went back to looking at the mildly ugly and small tops in front of me, 

“You shouldn’t be here,” a small but pitchy voice says to me. I turn my attention to the owner of the offending voice, only to see a short girl who looks like she would be blown away by a strong gust of wind. I swear to all that is holy, if this goes in the direction I think it is, I’m gonna hole myself up in my room for the next decade. “Excuse me?” I ask the lady, confusion dances across my face as I tilt my head down at her to get a better look, black jeans, black top, and oh- look! A name tag, great, she works here. 

“I’m saying,” her pitchy voice raises a notch as she scoffs at me. “You don’t belong here, none of these sizes will fit you.” She gives me a once-over before crossing her arms and staring up at my face. Yup this went exactly how I was expecting it to. Look, I’m not a Karen or anything of the sort, so the following things I say don’t represent me at all. My eyebrow raised in amusement at her sheer audacity, but two can play this stupid game. 

“Oh, really now? I’m sure your manager or other coworkers would love to hear that you're being rude to a customer just based on their weight.” I give her a fake pout. Her eyes widen at my words, “I’m sure this establishment prides itself on being fat-phobic to their customers, so maybe you will finally get some recognition. Oh! And this interaction will make you get that pay raise you have been hoping for!” I fake excitement in my voice, but I am channeling all the sarcasm I have collected over the 19 years of my life. 

 She starts to stutter as her eyes are wide as dinner plates, her hands come out in front of her, trying to fix her comment she made about me as she fails over and over to come up with something to smooth over her mistake.  Another employee walks up to us, “Is everything okay over here?” The employee is an older woman and much more secure with herself. I smile at her, “Actually, no, this employee over here was telling me to leave this establishment because of my weight, and I feel very disrespected,” the said offending short girl’s body regrets itself as she turns to the older woman, trying to explain and justify herself. Again, I am not a Karen of any sort, but I am not going to let myself be disrespected by this Barbie regret just because she is insecure and projecting it onto strangers. 

The older woman smiles at me, ignoring her. “I’m very sorry she said that towards you, honey, by no means do her words represent the company and what we stand for. Rest assured, this behavior will be dealt with.” I gave the older employee a polite smile, thanking her as she took the younger girl to the back of the store. Once they left, I let out a deep sigh. Look, just because I handled that well doesn’t mean I wasn’t blowing up on the inside.

I scan my eyes around the store, spotting my two friends over the accessories. Taking another deep breath to steady myself, I make my way over there, I just need to turn off my brain and have fun. I can’t let comments like that get to me. For the next hour, we went to two different stores. I managed to find some pants that make up a complete outfit for the concert. I felt more giddy, as maybe the world isn’t so bad when you have a new outfit to wear and show off. Us three stopped at this small cafe for a late lunch and a breather.

 Lauren took the liberty to fill me in on the latest gossip and drama going on in her arts school, as Clare and I just ate peacefully. “Oh hey, what happened back at the bus station?” Clare asks me once Lauren’s gossip train slowed down, I cursed internally, as I was hoping not to think about that again. I shake my head, “It was my soulmate, the string was so tight like he was right there next to me. I was freaked out by it” I explained to her my body shrinking on itself as I reminisced on the feeling of being so close to him. Clare gave me a look of sympathy as she shared some comforting words with me.

 “Holy shit-“ Lauren’s voice breaks through my self loathing as the said girl is starting at her phone like it personally offend her, me and Clare exchanged confused looks “What’s wrong?” I ask Lauren carefully, but as soon as I speak, she shoves her phone into my face. I had to squint my eyes to adjust to the screen as I read the headline on a news article

 ‘BTS THE BIGGEST BOY BAND HAS A 8TH SOULMATE?’ 

“holy shit?!” I shout out as well as I take Lauren’s phone to read through the article quickly to make sure it wasn’t some clickbait but as I read more of it, statements from Bighit and Namjoon himself explain the situation. I passed over the phone to Clare as I stared in disbelief. Their soul group isn't complete? Does this mean that ‘SoulTies” is wrong, or did they just not know? But these guys are on a world tour right now. How are they just now discovering they have an 8th soulmate? 

“Wait, guys, did you read this part?” Clare questions us as she scans her eyes over the phone, “According to the leader of BTS, Kim Namjoon, also known as RM, Him and one other member felt a tug and their red string tightened when at the bus station in the city, where they are performing this Saturday.” Clare finishes reading the segment of the new article. 

I think my brain stopped working at that moment. A million thoughts raced into my head all at once, and the main one is “Could I be their soulmate?” but theres no way, there's no way I am the person. Besides, it's nearly impossible as well since we probably were at the bus station at two different times. There was no way two members of BTS where at the bus station and didn't cause a huge commotion. “Do you guys think we were at the station at the same time as them?” Lauren asks us, there is a childlike amusement in her voice, but Clare, thank god, shuts down that thought immediately. “There's no way, we would have seen a bunch of armies going apeshit as well as a million security guards and paparazzi.” I hum in agreement as I finish up eating.

“Well, maybe we should head to your guy's places since it's getting late.” I changed the topic to hopefully not down Laurens' hopes to much. The other two girls agreed as we packed up and paid for our food. We walk down the once busy streets, now its just a few stray people going home like us. When we came into view of Clare's beat-up car, I sighed in relief. Today was fun, a lot of it if I dont think about how much money I just spent, but there is still this nagging feeling in my chest that something is wrong, and that my soulmate is closer to me than I think, and with the article? I dont know what to think at all, I just want to enjoy the concert and leave this stupid city. 

.

I watch as our soulmate gets into the back of her friend's car, and my chest aches as I see the small pout on their face. Soon, you will be with us. 

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

previous

[inkivaari]

𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚚𝚞𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚡 𝚒𝚗𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎'𝚜 𝚐𝚏! 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚎𝚛

a/n: this won the poll, so i'm writing it first hehe. im becoming a conquest blog accidentally... y'all, if you like my stuff and have other characters in mind, my request box is open. got a list in my pinned intro post of fandoms i'm involved in, peruse at thy leisure. disclaimers: somnophilia, conquest is his own warning atp, dubcon warning, sexual content, double penetration, cockwarming, breeding mentioned, f! reader, wet dreamzzzzzzzzzzz, we're assuming conquest gets away + doesn't get beat into slushie in s3 e8, and that mark is a crazy deep sleeper lol

you lie beside your precious puppy of a boyfriend when he comes over to hang out: he's been busy, recovering from that big fight. it's funny that 'that big fight' could refer to so many over the last few weeks. still, he's been needing some tlc from his favourite girl, and you give him just that. sweet, slow lovemaking to celebrate him finally being able to take those casts off! yay! but... well, unfortunately for him, your mind is elsewhere.

this is something you're ashamed of. after all, you love mark. love him more than any man on earth. ever since that giant came down to earth, beat your baby boy senseless, and flew off again... you'd watched the recordings over and over. at first, horrified. the second time, shocked. the third... the fourth... the fifth... the size of this man... the strength... how he teased before delivering a potent blow... he was so big and mean and nasty, all things mark wasn't. so why did watching him beat down your boyfriend make you so unbearably horny?

the dreams came soon afterwards. you'd dream of being manhandled by that brute you didn't know, of having your soft small body manipulated and used in ways you could only wish mark would. he was just so big, his body enveloping yours like the warmest weighted blanket, the wiry tufts of white hair rubbing against your sensitive body as he prone boned you... pulling your leg up effortlessly to fuck you from the side... bearing down on top of you so you couldn't move an inch, his big nasty dick making you feel soooooooo good...

...sure, it didn't help that this was all happening in real life while you slept. every night, those vivid dreams would come, as would conquest himself, through your window you'd carelessly left unlocked. he'd come in and help himself to your yummy little body. he'd been doing his surveillance, see. he knew that you were that halfbreed brat's mate. no wonder he'd gotten no work done towards his mission, he was too busy chasing this little kitten's tail.

once he's recovered, once he kills the boy and takes Earth for Viltrum himself, he'll keep you alive and at his side. his beautiful little creature, the finest specimen humanity had to offer, the perfect concubine for his young. who cares if thraxans were all the rage nowadays for producing spawn? he wanted you. and he takes what he wants. it's what he was born to do.

but his nightly visit to his sleeping angel is thwarted when he finds mark in bed with you. he practically tastes bile at the sight of him, taking up his space in your bed, spooning you with that idiotic smile on his face even as he snored beside you... he could kill him here and now, but conquest was no coward. the day would come where he would brutalise that worm in a fight, and force his sweetheart to watch.

his plans would not be ruined by this. he could see his kitten's soft furrowed brow, how she hummed and mumbled in her dreamless sleep... don't worry, little one, soon you'll be playing in dreamland like every night, with big, mean conquest keeping that sweet little body nice and full...

his cock throbbed hungrily beneath his loincloth as he considered the logistics of this. you were a heavy sleeper, usually he could do all kinds of things to you and you'd be none the wiser. but the worm was an obstacle he'd have to overcome. you were going to have to stay on your side, and he was going to have to do this slow.

he eased onto the bed so that he was lying facing you on the edge of the bed, that creaked under his weight but thankfully did only that. he watched you as he always did. those little lips. that gorgeous nose. sometimes, he'd be lucky and catch you drooling while you slept, and he'd lick it from the corner of your mouth like honey from the comb.

you were nude tonight, which made things easier. he loved to unwrap you from your cutesy pyjamas when you slept alone, like you were a little present... he'd dress you back up like you were a doll after cleaning the drool and cum from between your thighs, you being nonethewiser when you awoke. he gently eased the covers away from you, bites down hard to prevent a grumble of approval from rumbling out of him when he sees your perfect little body... and a growl when he sees those inferior arms around your waist.

he'd never leave his sweetheart waiting, despite that. he scents your little pussy now that it's been uncovered. you've came a few times consecutively, judging by the sweetness. at least the worm could do something effectively.

if he was in a better mood, he would nuzzle between your thighs and eat your tasty little cunt for at least an hour before he'd dare put his cock inside you, but being in the presence of that maggot made his blood boil and his cock throb with demand, the dominant desire to fuck and rut and claim boiling beneath conquest's skin.

upon closer inspection of your adorable little pussy, he realised something that made his rage run over. his favourite little hole in all the universe was being occupied by that inferior halfbreed's prick. if he thought he could claim his kitten, during their dream time together? he was sorely mistaken. and yet... a wicked idea crossed conquest's mind. his little kitten was so agreeable in her sleepies, after all... she was the kind of slut to enjoy this sort of thing, he imagined... not that she'd notice beyond the thicker, fuller feeling in her pussy, which would only lull her deeper into dirty dreamland...

he was resolute. he would get his cock inside you. even if it meant... making space.

he leans to croon softly beside your ear. 'sorry, little one. big stretch today. you'll like it, though. gonna fill you real good today, lucky girl.'

that little purr from you could kill him.

he begins to coat his thick cock in your juices, your well-pleasured pussy happy to yield to his ministrations. his pudgy tip catches your hole, pushing mark's cock to the side, pressing it against your inner walls and up against your g-spot while conquest cautiously stretches out your pretty cunt with his big thick dick.

he begins to rock you gently, oh so gently, the pressure inside you thanks to two cocks shifting within you, mark unconsciously grinding in his sleep as his own extra sweet dreams took hold, making you pant and mewl like a spoiled kitten, all full and happily snoozing away while you were defiled.

he couldn't deny that the feeling of another cock against his as he rutted into his little darling accentuated his pleasure. the worm had a decent sized cock, long and thin, veins in all the right places. a poor substitute for his own rod when you couldn't reach him, he thought. yet it made you all the tighter, so he could not bring himself to complain.

usually, he'd allow himself to go for hours, rocking into your little cunt and whispering to your dreamy little body. but he knows such indulgences will compromise him tonight. he is in no shape for a confrontation right now, still needs time to recuperate. so, when he hears your breathless whimper against his ear, how your breaths become pants as your walls quiver happily, knowing your release is coming up fast, he lets himself go, making you cum when he himself plunges deep inside you and releases his potent load inside you. the new warmth and the spasming of your walls brings mark to his own nighttime emission too, both cocks twitching beside each other as they pumped you full.

for conquest, pulling out of your heavenly hole is one of few things that bring him true sorrow nowadays. he envies mark, who can now sleep beside you, nestled until the morning. though, he was doing some good, keeping all of conquest's seed plugged up inside your womb. wouldn't it be hilarious if you became pregnant from this? you'd be nonethewiser. you'd birth a viltrumite baby, assuming it's your inferior boyfriend's, without ever knowing the child's true blood father... what a thrill. but at the same time, this anonymity was beginning to grate on conquest. he should be able to take what he wanted in the light too, not just the dark. but he retreated from you, whispering you a sweet farewell, before leaving from the window he arrived from, to return tomorrow. he half hoped mark would be there again, if only for the immense pleasure of defiling his mate while he slept gormlessly beside her...

he'd always dream of the day that you would be HIS mate instead.

rumbling around with this in my head at 2am... guhhhhhhhh need to get fucked to sleep by a pervy old man who loves me to death... WHO SAID THAAAAAAAAT

[sparrow-in-the-field]

Alright, I waited to share my thoughts/criticisms on severance s2 because tbh for a bit I thought I just wouldn't, but I keep thinking about the show, so I might as well!

Typical disclaimer that this is all just my opinion. I know some people loved this season, and I know others are more like me and preferred s1. And both of those takes are okay! Either way, it's just a fun show to talk about!

Alright a couple links and then I'll jump in:

Here were my thoughts on s1. It's one of my favorite seasons of any show ever. I wrote that post right before s2 aired, when I was still young and naive and hopeful about the next season lol.

This post by failchild is a far better written and organized post that sums up my main criticisms as well. I reference it a few times in my thoughts and highly recommend reading it.

Discussion under the cut because it's gonna be a long one!

I managed to bucket my criticisms into four categories, with examples in each. Let's just jump in!

Too many new characters, too few consequences

I'm not sure it was even a show that needed new characters, yet we got so many this season! Imo, the heart of the show was always the four in MDR (see my s1 post). In addition to them as the main group, you had Cobel, Milchick. Devon and Ricken. Gemma/Ms. Casey, of course. Burt and Felicia. A substantial and valuable cast! Adding one or two new characters, sure, it's bound to happen, but with only 1-2 new ones, they could be fleshed out and worked in to the main story in a way that felt organic and like they were complex characters. Not a single character that was added this season felt that way to me. They fell flat, and ultimately barely made a mark in the story. For instance:

Drummond. Who is this man??? I'm sorry who is he?? Why did he start showing up with virtually no introduction? I think he and Helena might be siblings because he called Jame father but tbh with the weird cult stuff that could just be what they call their leader so idk for sure?? Why couldn't they have given him a proper introduction. One line. "Hey Helena your [half, full, who cares] brother is back from [literally any other implied Lumon site]." Or "Alright MDR, this is Drummond, Grainer's replacement for security." Like!! I know feeding exposition through dialogue is boring sometimes, but I sure can still benefit from it when it's a brand spanking new character! And then beyond that, what was his personality? Brooding, I guess. What was his job? To be antagonistic, I guess. The creator of the show has said that Drummond cares about Helena above everyone else, but I sure as hell didn't know that! They made eye contact sometimes, as people do. They said words to each other in a meeting, like twice. And I'm supposed to understand they care about each other on a deeper level, from that?? If you want to make claims about your characters, then you have to show me in the actual show instead of mentioning it retroactively. And then Drummond died. So none of it matters anyway. He was written in to be a brooding henchman and he died and that was it. No understanding of his motivations, his background, even really his role in the company or the family. And now he's dead so it doesn't even matter. Not to mention that Mark S. literally had no idea who he was when they fought. They'd never met before. To me, it made the fight feel less significant, and more violence for the sake of violence.

Ms Huang. I want to love Ms Huang, and I suppose in a way I do!! But I wanted to understand her, I wanted to know her. All I know is she is a child doing the same internship that Cobel did. Her presence I appreciated and could pick up on its significance without the show blatantly telling me (having a child manager is a shield for violence, Lumon has always and continues to use child labor, etc.). But what about Ms Huang herself?? What are her motivations, what is her background? Any question she was asked, she dismissed. And where is she now? Oh that's right. Sent away. I genuinely believe we'll never see her again, because her story was a dead end. She was a kid in an internship and it ended. What more would there be for her next season? So yes, the child worker was a "whoa" moment and it tells us something new about the company, but she's another new character who comes and goes with no actual consequence to the plot or main characters.

Dr. Maur. I hate this man. Who the fuck is this man. I get that someone had to be down there working on Gemma (I would have appreciated a nod to Cobel though, like she at least had some involvement since she sent Ms. Casey to the testing floor in s1) but this character felt less like a person and more like a nearly cartoonish villain. Just the creepy man doing creepy experiments. And then in the end? Mark and Gemma escape, get in the elevator before he can catch them. No real confrontation; he's not even in the room when Mark finds Gemma. idk if we'll see him again next season, but frankly if we don't, it won't make a difference.

Fields. I also hate this man. This was one of the new characters I was actually anticipating! I expected him to potentially be a very interesting and involved character! But nope. He's in one episode, is a real fucking freak, and then is gone. Doesn't matter. His character had zero consequences on the Burt/Irving plot, and I seriously doubt we'll ever see him again (good).

Lorne. Okay I do have a soft spot for Lorne, she is precious and good! But she only showed up when convenient. She talked to Mark and Helly/na when they showed up, and she saved Mark from Drummond. Last season there was a huge running theme about the departments coming together; Burt/Irving was about more than their romance, it was this idea of workers joining together. But Lorne only saved Mark because she just so happened to be there when he was in trouble (their departments never sought each other out again after their encounter). And then Mark leaves. And she...takes Emeile back to the other goats? I guess? Maybe we'll see her again, especially if the innies really are going to rise up in a more significant way. But who knows for sure.

A lack of consequences for everyone, actually

It's staggering, how little had actual consequences in this season. So much that happened either in s1 or started to happen in s2 just... didn't matter. For instance:

Reintegration. Everyone's talked about this already so I'll keep it short. But it felt so exciting that Mark was reintegrating so early, and that first shot on him on the table at the end of ep3 got me so hyped!! Only for nothing to happen. By the finale, even the way Mark is talking about it sounds like he's not actually done it (wild that after "flooding the chip" he's still acting right as rein [able to get into physical fights in fact] and having no issues, meanwhile Petey was out here fighting for his life just to take a damn shower). It felt like Mark could have just been considering reintegration and nothing would have been different in the plot. "But we needed it for Gemma's episode!" Except we didn't? Nothing about that ep felt like reintegration as we've seen it. He honest to god could have just stared wistfully at a photo of his wife and they could have jumped into flashbacks that way.

Helena's YouTuber ass apology video and general lack of outside world response. This ties into the whole world feeling a lot smaller this season that failchild talked about, but it's really frustrating that the s1 finale essentially ended up having zero consequences. I feel like with as many people as were shown in s1 to protest severance or hate Lumon, at least some people in the outside world would be calling bullshit on Helena's excuse for what Helly said at the party. But what? She made the video and everyone was like "oh okay" and dropped it? I'm not saying this had to be a huge plot point, but like, idk. At least show me some protestors outside the property! Have the news on in the background, have Helena mention being annoyed at journalists asking her more questions! Just any acknowledgement that what Helly did at least made ripples, because that finale felt so huge when it came out. And the way the s2 treated it, essentially nothing was accomplished from an honestly incredible thing that Helly managed to pull off.

Milchick. Again, I think people have already talked about this a lot, so I'll keep it short, but. I so greatly wanted to learn more about Milchick this season. I wanted to know his backstory, his motivations, his dreams, anything. He had a bigger part this season, so I was hoping to see some form of character development, whether for the good or bad, I didn't care! Just something changing within him. But despite everything he faced, nothing changed? I guess he told Drummond to eat shit (which again, a weird lack of consequences he faced for that), but then was like "whelp, back to doing what I always do!" I guess I just went into this season wanting to understand Milchick more, and I still don't. He had the same outcome as s1, still essentially a henchmen trying to control innies. Except this time we got to see people be racist towards him. ...cool.

Ricken's storyline. Not much to say here other than Ricken played such an interesting role in s1, with his book inspiring the innies. They started to go somewhere with that but got bored I guess?? Anyway, hope him and Eleanor are doing okay lol.

The board???? So. What happened to the board. Remember when everyone reported to the board? When every vital decision seemed up to the board? When Cobel used to speak to them through Natalie. When, hell, in this very season, Mark plugged in that speaker and that's how he got his friends back!! Why did the board just like, completely disappear by the end of the show? The board wasn't in the back half of the season at all, let alone in the finale!! Supposedly the most important day in Lumon's history, and the board just?? isn't there?? Isn't even mentioned. I have no idea why they dropped this concept. There for awhile it was one of the more fun mysteries of the show, and now it's like it hardly even existed.

The core group is gone: Irv, my beloved, I'm so sorry

Again, this has been talked about a lot already, but just. Man I'm ngl sometimes I now get emotional over s1 clips because look how much those four used to mean to each other!! They were a family!! And now that's all gone and it's like the characters don't even care?

Irv. By far the biggest disappointment in this season for me personally was Irv's story. It's almost hard for me to talk about because it bothered me so much. You had an incredible character, with an amazing actor, and you said "eh. Send him away." And then everyone just went with it?? I thought for sure they were going to raise hell to bring him back; they'd do the work as four or they wouldn't do it at all!! But no, they just...had a weird funeral. And moved on. I really thought what Irv did for Helly was the set up, the first half, of a full circle moment for the two of them. Imagine how emotionally fulfilling their reunion would be?? Imagine how much it would have developed their relationship! It would have been so cool. But no, Irv is just gone, and honestly nearly forgotten in a way that feels almost like an insult to s1 imo.

Dylan also was very much in his own world this season and I can't decide if it's in character? Like yeah him getting to see Gretchen was huge and I get that, but just. Idk, he loved his MDR family too, so much so that he stayed behind for them in s1!! He was always involved, he always wanted to be involved!! But then Milchick, who he hated by the end of last season, says "hey buddy maybe stay quiet" and he just does?? Idk man, felt a little convenient.

And then Mark and Helly were just. Idk man I'm not making this about ships. I liked when they kissed in s1; it felt authentic. But then this season they ramped it up to 100 and I just. Sorry. It felt so fast to me. It felt like they disregarded everything around them for the sake of themselves and that doesn't feel reflective of the characters I knew in s1?

The Lumon (and Cold Harbor) of it all

Other people have talked about this too, but there were some questionable choices in my opinion about Mark's sudden over-importance to Lumon, and also Lumon at large felt less coherent to me this season.

Why does everyone have to be in on the conspiracy? I'm mostly talking about Burt here. Why was he was Lumon cronie? I really thought that Outie Burt and Irv's story would have been an interesting character-based story, about this premise of loving someone but them being with someone else. Maybe a tale as old as time for some, but I think through the lens of two older queer men, and with the innie versus outie dynamic, it could have been a really refreshing story? It didn't need to be about Lumon. Not everything in s1 was directly about Lumon (Mark's relationship with Devon and Ricken, Mark dating Alexa, his attempts to talk to Petey's daughter, etc.). The only spy was Cobel and it made sense given her job within Lumon. But Burt?? Mr. Fine Arts degree Burt?? Was also the hit driver during his off hours?? The Burt/Irv storyline could have gone about a thousand different directions, and that was just... not the one I wanted, frankly. And tbh with how little screen time it got and how abruptly it ended, I seriously wonder how dedicated to the storyline the writers were either.

Cold Harbor's sudden urgency. Failchild's post covers the flaws of Mark as suddenly the most important guy really well, so I won't get to into that exactly, but from the very first mention of Cold Harbor, I had my hackles up. Before, a huge theme of the show was MDR just doing the mysterious work. There were quarters to meet, but no ultimate goal or end point. Then in s2, all of the sudden everything is urgent, everything is superlative. This Has to get Done. It is the Most Important Thing Ever. If it happens, Gemma will Die and Mark/all of MDR will be Fired and will therefore also Die (which the internal logic of that from both a science and business perspective... sighs I won't get into it). Maybe this is a weird take, but I didn't need the Ms. Casey/Gemma story to have urgency; I didn't need her life to be on the line for me to want her out of there!! It just felt so jarring to go from s1 of "they're all doing this weird work that has existed for at least a few years with several different people who came and went from the team" to "all of this is for Mark and Gemma and that is all that matters for the entirety of Lumon, and after today it will all be Complete and Done Forever". Like...what?

Additionally, in s1, Petey's map says "people live down here". There's this fear that people, plural, don't get to have outies. Yet when we finally see Gemma in s2, she's alone in this gigantic hallway maze. There are 25 rooms all for her and her alone! Again, suddenly in s2 She is The One. The rest of the MDR files are?? Fake?? There... aren't multiple people trapped down there?? Lumon's whole success rests on her and Mark's shoulders alone?? IF IT ONLY WORKS WITH MARK AND GEMMA HOW ARE YOU GOING TO TURN IT INTO SOMETHING USEABLE FOR LITERALLY ANYONE ELSE??? Sorry, I got carried away...my point is, in s1 it felt like a different story. It felt like MDR would care because Ms. Casey was one of them and she potentially represented a greater, darker world of permanent innies. But that was completely forgotten in s2.

Another contradicting detail was the marching band. Don't get me wrong, it was fun watching Tillman lead a band, but...why is there a severed marching band? It just doesn't align with the original theme of the severed floor, which was about keeping innies separate and departments small, for doing mysterious and important work. What possible other roles could a marching band have fulfilled on the severed floor?

Possibly my favorite point that failchild brought up was the way s2 dropped the corporate satire theme from the show, when that was originally what made it such a refreshing concept. I think my points in this section all nod to that at their core. The cult-y Kier stuff was fun as undertones in s1, but it taking over has made it harder to understand (or take seriously tbh) Lumon's actual power and goals as a corporation at large.

In conclusion

Okay that was a lot of criticisms! lol whoops. Tbh I think the writers had a huge challenge to accomplish after s1; it's a tough premise that had set at a ridiculously high standard in s1. And I think them getting to do this season at all, after 3 years, was so exciting and fun to watch! I wish things had gone differently, but hey, that's just how watching TV goes sometimes. I'll still stick around for s3--who knows how that'll go! (Please bring Irv back, please make Gemma a main character, please do something new with Milchick).

If there's something I didn't touch on in this that you'd like my opinion on, or want me to elaborate on something I did say, feel free to send me an ask! I genuinely like talking about this show even if it accidentally came off as haterism lol.

[broareweabouttoviberightnow]

ok. so this is about to be a hot fuckin mess. so. I deeply apologize in advance.

one. JESUS CHRIST!! HOLY FUCK!! HEY MAN WHAT THE HELL!! so absolutely not a one of you was gonna gimme a heads up!! I just had to watch that shit n lose my goddamn MIND huh!! (kiddin kiddin love yall dearly) watchin this was real reminiscent of when I read the book for the first time which was an INSANE feelin to recapture OUGH!!

ok I DO have a few negative thoughts that im gonna get outta the way early cause I have a LOT good to say!!

I do unfortunately think the musical suffers a lot from poor pacin. so many of the songs are back to back to back with almost no dialouge or pause between which gives the story this half rushed feelin. which is a shame (even tho I love all the songs!!)

I veer back n forth between darrys characterization. I think his actor does SUCH a good time with him MOST of the time. n fact the only time I was like. hm. is when he's singin runs in the family rep n gets physical with Soda. that did not feel. right to me.

OK. enough bad!!

the narrative weavin is AOUGH SO well done good LORD I could talk FOREVER about how FASCINATIN n well done that was AOUGHHH everytime pony talks to the audience it is such a profound moment

the use of LIGHT in this show is SOO. GOD. MAN. it is SO well done.

dallas winston is. Jesus hell on wheels. he is one of the back bones of this story in a way he ain't necessarily in other iterations (ABSOLUTELY not sayin one is better then the other. after all I was a book fan first!!) but we get more context for him that we don't see in the book n movie cause those are told strictly from ponys pov. hell man. the scene where dallas finds Johnny outside n gives him the knife adds this whole new level of anguish to his suicide. he put that knife in Johnny's hands. n without him Johnny never would have killed. holy hell.

I ain't gonna talk about it again cause I already did here but. Jesus christ. soda. my baby. the way that when Johnny dies he tries to grab onto pony n pony keeps movin away? I couldn't focus on nothin else is was a HEARTWRENCHIN moment. also how he grabs darry at the end of throwin in the towel n says I need you. it's one of the only times we see soda desperate enough he reminds his brothers he's still there. he still needs to feel loved n cared for n seen.

sobbed my way through little brother n stay gold n the finale. nothin to say. no shame. next.

the set up between darry n dallas is SO intriguin to me. I was SO sat for it. I think the decision to have dallas just rolled into town a couple years ago as opposed to born n raised in tusla has so much impact on his character n how the others view him that is. just so fuckin important. darry who has always been in ponys life. who's the one who breaks his back for him. who sacrificed his dreams for his kid brother. vs dallas who rolled into town n pony immediately looked at like he hung the stars. (another delightful parallel is the idolization of Paul Newman n cool hand Luke to dallas) at the root of darrys dislike is JEALOUSY!! that he was once the one pony looked at like that!! a lot of what dallas says to darry durin there fight pricks at the fact that Dallas has been able to be all the things darry once was. aough.

sky lakota-lynch. my god. he takes such good care of johnnys character. he's so. God. man. what do I even say. how he's always rockin himself to calm down. he's got such a visceral jumpy cagey-ness to him. he's cares so fuckin much about pony man. the imagery of him n pony holdin hands n the knife between them? yeah. cool. HE WAS JUST TOO DAMN GOOD FOR GROWIN OLD. hey! I was sobbin over my laptop! rude!

MID RUMBLE WHERE PONY GOES TO HIT SOMEONE N ITS JOHNNY. OHHH. OK. KILL ME ALREADY. STUNNIN metaphor for the entire thesis of the show. right there. God.

the image at the very end of Johnny goin up to meet dallas n dallas leanin against the post. I'm SICK. good GOD. I'm gonna lose my fuckin mind.

now. a collection of lines. 'I got one of their hubcabs!!" 'do I look like Julie Andrews >:(' '544 FUCKIN PAGES' 'when you close your eyes do you see lightnin?' 'only God n the devil know what I was up to when I was 14' 'it's goldilocks n her ugly sister!!'

[whumpyboo]

Drabble: Caretaker New Master

trope suggested by @caretaker-lee [thank you!]

I'm using they/them pronouns for whumpee and he/him for caretaker, mainly out of convenience and a little bit for personal preference :P I hope that's alright with everyone <3

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

Whumpee had already had a few masters in their life. Most of them hadn't lasted long, and most of them hadn't been very nice. Most important of all, though, none of them had been happy with whumpee. None of them had kept them, after all.

So, when caretaker took whumpee in, they promised themselves they wouldn't disappoint another master. Whumpee didn't have to be good this time, they had to be perfect. They couldn't risk caretaker abandoning them as well.

Caretaker was a strange master. Caretaker was nice, for starters. He never yelled. He never made whumpee do things they didn't want to do. They never even had to punish whumpee yet. There was only one thing that bothered whumpee: caretaker never gave them orders. How was whumpee going to be a good pet if they weren't told what to do?

Still, they had done their very best from the start. They had already made the mistake of following an old master's rules with a new one, and that was a lesson they didn't need teaching twice. So they did what was safest: nothing. They sat pretty wherever caretaker left them, waiting to be asked for something. And it took a while, but slowly caretaker started realizing just how useful whumpee could be. He still persisted in asking for things, instead of just telling whumpee what to do- but whumpee was just happy their new master wasn't ignoring them any more.

That was a good sign, it meant their master liked them, that he might even keep them. Even if caretaker was a bit odd, whumpee had started to like being his pet. They had their own bed, warm clothes, and could even eat the same food as their master! Whumpee knew eventually caretaker would realize pets didn't need all of that, but they were determined to enjoy it while it lasted.

Maybe then, whumpee's mistake had been to enjoy their privileges too much. They'd grown comfortable, lazy. They had started to do things without being asked.

And that was why when caretaker returned home, he didn't find the home cooked meal whumpee had wanted to surprise him with waiting on the table. Instead, they found charred food and pots doused in water, ceramic shards scattered all over the floor, and no whumpee in sight.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

[this is already too long to be a drabble, and it feels too long for a tumblr post, so maybe I'll come back with a part two later if anyone's interested?]

nevermind I was having too much fun here's part 2 :P

[wigglesdtuff]

Your post about interaction on tumblr really hit the nail in the head. I feel like the problem here is that there isn't really any opportunity for an actual conversation due to the nature of reblogs. I also feel like the ask function tends to be difficult to interact with because it kind of puts you in the spotlight, so a lot of people (including myself most of the time because i get shy lol) tend to send questions anonymously.

That being said, I love love love seeing people yap about their favorite characters! I obviously adore Robin, I think she's so cool and I cried like a loser over her in ennies lobby, but everybody gets weirdly attached to a certain character, and she never made it into being my favorite, so seeing someone who is as obsessed with her is so so cool because it has presented me with so many different and interesting perspectives on her character. Part of being a one piece fan is becoming so extremely attached to a character that they consume your entire being, which is why it's necessary to have a balance of people's favorite characters, so that we are able to have an in depth analysis of everyone haha

For me, what was originally most compelling about Robin was the fact that she was the first, and for a while the only, adult on a crew full of teenagers. If one piece has proved anything, it's that variety in age amongst the main cast is very important. It creates fun dynamics, and it makes for such better story telling. It also kills me that the first time Robin was shown unconditional love and kindness since she was eight years old was from a bunch of naive, ambitious weirdos who literally tried to fight an admiral for her. Which also brings me to one of my favorite scenes in one piece.

LIKE SHUT UPPPP rereading the manga and coming across this post ennies lobby almost sent me into a coma I'm not even kidding. I think this is genuinely one of my favorite moments in the entire story, especially with context. Utjghrkoaj they love her so much, and she loves them so much it makes me sickk. Imagine being forced to face the past you tried so hard to forget only to be defrosted in a bathtub by a bunch of teens who fought one of the strongest people in the entire world for your honor. And it's genuinely amazing how much emotion is conveyed in this panel when there's not even a single word and Robin is just staring blankly at the ceiling. One piece really does have incredible emotional storytelling and I feel its character focused moments are incredible, especially when it comes to Robin.

I love Nico Robin, and I love talking about her and seeing people who love her too. She's so special and you're so awesome. Sometimes I have to pace around my apartment after seeing your art because it's so cool, the colors remind me of those pop rocks that you dip your lollipop into and it explodes in your mouth, it's so beautiful. This one in particular scratched a nice place in my brain.

Hehe yessss. So pretty. This is so long but I got carried away. Have a good day!

I keep wanting to thoughtfully respond to this one, but I couldn't have explained that moment better myself. It's such a beautiful parallel to Nami waking up to the crew fretting over her while she's sick. Oda's character writing is just something else, and there's something for everybody! I think Robin has just latched onto my brain forever now.

Thank you so so so much for the kind words and especially about my art! That's such a fun description that I'll so super keep in mind. And :3 thank you that's one of my favorites I did this year so far!!

[franco-freako]

Movie Night (pt. 1)

Joost x Reader

Plot: Joost notices Reader is not doing very well, and does something sweet for them to help cheer them up!

Tw: Explicit conversation about e*ting d*sorders

Tags: Joost x neutral!Reader, Fluff, Hurt comfort, Recovery, Established relationship, RPF (duh), Slice of life ish

A/N: I'm not anywhere near finished with this fic, but I have been very busy and really wanted to post at least some of it. Let me know if you all enjoy it and I will keep working on it more :)

Joost had been noticing things lately...

He noticed how your eyes looked glazed over more often than not. He noticed the lunch plans you keep canceling. He noticed how distant you'd become.

Having struggled with anorexia in his high school days, Joost knew the signs, and they were clear as day. He hated to see you struggling, unable to take it any longer he enacted his master plan. On his way back home from the recording studio he gave you a call.

"Hello baby! I just got done recording the new song. Yes yes, everything is well... How about I come over tonight, I miss you!"

Once he had the green light from you to come over, he hopped in his car and hit the gas. Joost made a pit stop at the grocery store picking up some of your favorite foods along with a couple safe foods. Before wrapping up he grabbed a funny looking DVD from the dollar bin by the check out.

"Perfect!" Joost thought. The two of you always loved laying on the couch together and laughing at bad movies. He would lay his head in your lap, feeling the hitch in your breath as you giggled. Your laugh was infectious, it was one of Joost's favorite sounds. He couldn't wait to get back to your place and hear that laugh again.

It was a quick drive to your place from the store, and before he knew it Joost was pulling into your driveway. He grabbed the grocery bag up from the passenger seat, heading towards the door. In anticipation for his arrival you had left the front door unlocked, so Joost was able to just walk on in.

"Helooo?"

His sweet toned voice rang through the house, instantly grabbing your attention. When he saw you his eyes lit up. Joost always seemed so happy to see you, and when you were around him you couldn't help but be happy yourself. You pulled each other into an embrace, the plastic grocery bag in Joost's hand crinkling between the two of you.

"Oh!" he remarked excitedly, "I picked some things up from the store on the way here. Something I think you'll like!"

Joost was a little bit worried to breach the topic of food just yet, so he decided to lead with the movie.

"I saw this in the dollar bin, and it looked too hilarious to not watch."

The thought of cuddling up with Joost and having a good laugh seemed like the most perfect thing in the world. You had been having a rough time lately, and could really use the break. You lean into Joost, still stood close to you even after releasing from the hug.

"That sounds perfect"

[yokumirumerafan]

Hello! I've fallen in love with your posts (esp those featuring Muzan) and wanted to make a request. Could you do a take on Muzan if he fell in love with a young woman and married her, only to discover he couldn't turn her into a demon because she already had blue spider lily in her DNA? She isn't a demon, but her family used the flower to save her life during her mother's pregnancy (like Tangle)?

That’s such a cool and unique idea! Here’s how Muzan would react:

Muzan Falling in Love and Marrying a Woman Who Has Blue Spider Lily in Her DNA

🎭 The Beginning – Unintentional Love

Originally approaches her out of curiosity—her scent is unlike any human he’s encountered.

Assumes she’s just another tool in his pursuit of immortality.

Ends up genuinely captivated by her intelligence, fearlessness, and unique presence.

Finds himself drawn to her warmth in a way he can’t explain.

Conflicted—he shouldn’t care for a human, but he craves her company.

Eventually marries her, believing he has finally found the perfect woman to stand beside him.

🦠 The Failed Transformation – Absolute Shock & Horror

Tries to turn her into a demon… and nothing happens.

At first, believes it’s a mistake—tries multiple times, increasing the dose.

Still no reaction—no sickness, no mutations, nothing.

Panic sets in. Muzan never fails at turning humans.

Conducts extensive tests on her blood, trying to figure out why.

🌿 The Blue Spider Lily Revelation

Discovers her family used the Blue Spider Lily to save her life when her mother had a complicated pregnancy.

The flower is now part of her DNA—she’s immune to demonic transformation.

For the first time in centuries, he’s speechless.

She has the key to his greatest desire within her, but he can’t access it.

Equal parts awe and fury. How is it that the one woman he loves is the one human he cannot turn into a demon?

💀 Love vs. Obsession – The Struggle

Becomes even more obsessed with her, not just as a wife, but as a living secret.

Protects her aggressively—no demon is allowed near her.

Keeps her isolated—his paranoia makes him unwilling to let others discover her secret.

Would rather destroy the world than let someone take her from him.

Torn between cherishing her as his wife and treating her as an experiment.

If she ever tries to leave? He won’t let her. Not because he wants to punish her, but because he can’t afford to lose her.

🖤 His Soft Side – The One Exception

Despite everything, he treats her differently from everyone else.

Never raises his voice at her, no matter how angry he is.

Gives her rare freedoms—walks in the moonlight, access to knowledge, beautiful clothing.

Acts human around her—she’s the only one who sees his rare moments of vulnerability.

Deep down, he knows she is the closest thing he has to a true weakness.

⚠️ The Future – A Dangerous Love

If she offers to help him find more Blue Spider Lilies, he’ll be both grateful and frustrated—it proves she’s willing to stay with him, but also means he still doesn’t have full control.

If she hides information from him, he will be hurt rather than angry.

He would never harm her, but he might resort to manipulation to ensure she remains by his side forever.

Muzan may not fully understand love, but she is the one person he would destroy the world for.

[2-dsimp]

.... I won't lie, the Soma post broke my heart.. But enough to make me want him to pay back.

Sooo given the case Soma's darling couldn't stand or survive the virus and just became a lifeless body. Imagine the angst in his eyes after the lucid moments once he realised what he had done. 👀

Or even worst if he could have some glimpses on his memory by the way his darling was trying to get on his senses, crying his name.

(Please don't blame for being petty, I know it's mean)😢

Yandere Zombie x survivor reader

Tw: heavy angst, gore, suicidal attempts, doomed lovers, cannibalism, no happy endings.

◣────•~❉᯽❉~•────◢

Your voice sounded like the pleasant chimes of bells ringing off in his head.

So mesmerizing, so distracting. He needed to ground himself before—

Crunch!

The zombie boy lost his train of thought. It was hard to keep his mind clear now that he was surrounded by the traces of his beloved, you.

For once, your undead boyfriend felt safe, secure, and warm. Now that he didn’t need to worry about finding you anymore. Since he caught you just like he warned you at long last.

But a couple minutes into y’all’s reunion he wondered why the melodic bells started to change in pitch…

Why now did it sound so shrill? Or did it always sound like that? Like sharp nails scraping against a chalkboard. It got louder, more desperate, every time he’d take a big—

Gulp!

Ah, his tunnel visions slowly clearing, come to think of it he never did take a good look at you. He was just too immersed in the feel of flesh coating his teeth… Wait. His teeth?

A cold tremor ran up his spine registering the taste of iron, the enticing aroma of honey mixed with raw meat. It reminded him how starved he was beforehand. But now, his hunger slowly diminished.

How odd he doesn’t recall catching prey, he was with you after all, his darling, the one he’d promise to cherish and hold. For life and death, but how could he do that if you were dying?—

And he was the cause.

Crunch!

The startling realization pulled him from the depths of his subconscious. And back to consciousness. Or better yet what was left of it.

Gods the bells, were just a trick of his imagination. Trying to divert him from the heart wrenching screams, of his name falling from your lips.

Looking down he mourned, seeing in full clarity the prey who was in his arms, wrenching, squirming, dying.

Soma hyperventilated.

He couldn’t handle the truth. Those eyes he reveled in revealed his reflection. A monster who ate his precious player 2, the one he claimed to protect, oh what a hypocrite he was.

Soma began dry heaving eyes flickering from the splotches of red coating his hands, his clothes, and you. He couldn’t even cry over the way you looked at him so tenderly. The guilt was tearing him up from the inside out.

Yet you still smiled, you were missing skin from your mouth. Chunks of your neck bitten off, you had stopped struggling moments ago accepting your fate. As you could only gaze up at him full of love and yearning.

You wept not for being devoured, but for how you knew he’d self destruct once you were gone.

Sure you had regrets but what better way to die in the apocalypse than to the one you loved the most? If only you could join him, but sadly the virus was privy to its hosts.

You weren’t eligible to be with him even in a half life. Nor could he be able to go to your side, since he couldn’t truly die. No matter how hard he tried.

Months from now on—

Survivors would see him, a ridiculous sight of a zombie deteriorating itself on purpose. Slumped against the a familiar place, your favorite cafe he took you to for a surprise date. Before the tragedy all began.

Seeing him clinging onto a shriveled up carcass that had no signs of infection.

They would never understand the whimpering croaks, coming from the zombie man. Trying to communicate with you, even though you were no longer there to listen.

Thus he was referred to as the lovelorn parasite.

Cursed to yearn for you till he withered into nothingness.

[bisousie]

tethered. | sylus x fem!reader

hello again! i just thought that i would post something else I have written for sylus. for context, i wrote this after his myth came out and i just needed some sort of fluff for him lol. also this was written with my oc but i have since taken her out so everyone can enjoy :)

if anyone likes what i have so far i have a few blurbs that i've written for sylus that I can post on here! please remember this is all for fun and i am no writer!

xxox

MY DEAREST DARLING by etta james

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 1:26

“Oh nothing, nothing, nothing in this world can keep us apart. My dearest darling, I offer you my heart”

The N109 Zone was quiet. A rare stillness hung in the air, the kind that only settled when Sylus wasn’t buried under layers of business deals and clandestine operations. His mansion, as opulent and polished as it always was, felt different today. Soft and inviting. Like it was letting go of its hard edges and breathing for the first time in a long while.

Sylus lay sprawled on the long, velvet couch in the living room, half-drunk on an old bottle of wine and fully immersed in the mindless drama playing out on the screen in front of him. The Real Housewives of the N109 was in full swing, a show so absurd and over-the-top that it became their guilty pleasure. Ridiculous fights, petty arguments, and larger-than-life characters—it was a chaotic mess that, for some reason, they both adored.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Sylus’s mouth as the latest character threw a drink in someone’s face. His eyes twinkled with amusement, a rare vulnerability creeping through his usual mask of control. She, watching him from the doorframe with a tray of snacks in her hands, couldn’t help but smile herself. She hadn’t seen him this relaxed in ages, and it made her heart swell with something tender and unexpected.

Her gaze softened as she stepped closer, placing the tray down on the coffee table and sinking into the space beside him. Her fingers brushed against the fabric of his shirt as she leaned into him, feeling the weight of his arm stretched across the back of the couch. For a moment, she simply rested her head on his shoulder, basking in the warmth of his presence. This, this was real. Not the leader of Onychinus. Not the ruthless man with blood on his hands. But Sylus. Just Sylus. And in this quiet moment, she found herself seeing him—truly seeing him—for the first time.

Sylus stiffened slightly when she wrapped her arms around him, but the hesitation didn’t last long. He shifted, pulling her close with a soft grunt, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. His fingers brushed her hair, a gesture so tender it made her chest ache.

“Oh, is this a prize for something I’ve done?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, but there was a softness to it—an intimacy she had never known he was capable of showing.

She shook her head, her lips curling into a small, affectionate smile. “No,” she murmured, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “I just love you.”

His chuckle, deep and warm like the burn of whiskey, sent a shiver down her spine. “I love you too, owlet.”

The name, so uniquely his for her, made her heart swell even more. He had a way of making her feel as though she was the only one in the universe. In his arms, with his voice rumbling in her ear, she knew she was safe. More than safe—she was home.

There was no reason for her love to feel this way. No clear explanation. She hadn’t asked for it. Hadn’t planned it. Yet, somehow, she had fallen for Sylus Qin in a way that went deeper than logic. Her love for him wasn’t simply an emotion—it was a devotion. A fierce, quiet certainty that no matter what came between them, she would always be tethered to him. Even now, with the faintest of fears nestled deep within her, she couldn't let go. She didn't want to.

Sylus’s arms tightened around her, and for a moment, she imagined curling up inside him, becoming part of him, as if somehow doing so would keep him here—keep him close. The thought that one day she could lose him, that he could slip away from her grasp, was an unspoken fear she couldn’t shake.

She snuggled closer, pressing herself even tighter against his side, as if the sheer closeness could erase that fear. Her fingers dug into the fabric of his shirt, holding on with a desperation that surprised even her. She didn’t want to think about the day he might not be there. Not when she could feel his heartbeat beneath her ear. Not when his breath was warm against her skin, steady and reassuring.

He tilted his head, pressing a kiss to the top of her hair, the lightest touch of his lips against her. “Don’t worry, my darling,” he whispered, his voice softer now, like the promise of something unwavering. “I’m not going anywhere.”

And for the first time, she believed him. She let herself believe him completely, knowing that whatever they had—this rare, fragile, precious connection—it was theirs.

She tightened her grip on him just a little bit more, sinking deeper into his warmth, not letting go. In this quiet moment, with the laughter of the TV drama echoing in the background, Sylus was not the leader of Onychinus. He was simply the man she loved. And in this stillness, in each heartbeat shared between them, she knew that whatever the future held, she would always be right here, with him. Forever.