#kinda sad not having her physically present

[fistfuloflightning]

Tết in 2 days! 🎉🧧🏮

[chaos-in-deepspace]

LNDS: Heartstring Healer Continued | 18+ NSFW

Aight homies, since the devs wanna dehydrate us with the lack of Zayne content, imma have to make sure we're watered. This is a continuation of his newest card "Heartstring Healer". I recommend listening to the card before reading this. You can find them on youtube I swear this community be pullin through for the people who can't ever get cards or afford stuff.

Also I wrote this in like two hours and kinda went over it, but it is what it is, Sorry if it goes to past and present tense. I tried fixing it but your home boy be tired af.

Disclaimer: This is an original fan work for “Love and Deepspace”. Do not repost on other platforms or plagiarize. All characters shown in this fic is 18+. Warnings: Oral Sex (Giving), Slight Exhibitionism, Teasing, Medical Roleplay, Penis in Vagina Sex, Almost Caught, Unsafe Sex, Creampie, Multiple Orgasms, Fingering Synopsis: You visit Doctor Zayne during one of his trips and find out that he has quiet a bit of fans. When you finally corner him, you decide to prescribe a treatment plan to help you both with your jealousy. Word Count: 5,149

Blog Information | Masterlist

Zayne

Heartstring Healer Continuation

The hallways were livelier than you expected after Doctor Zayne's lecture. You had seen the crowd of students that tried gathering around your doctor, wanting even an ounce of his attention. Some holding gifts, others trying to invite him to some of the other events.

In all honesty, you were a little annoyed. You knew they had no way of knowing that Zayne was taken since he didn't exactly wear a ring, but you couldn't help it. Knowing they were all fawning over what was yours had you feeling some sort of way. Your desk mate had been a big help in distracting you from the conversation behind you during the entire lecture. It was a group of girls just swooning over your boyfriend and you had to hold yourself back from saying something.

You heard your phone ringing a few times before it went to Zayne's voicemail. You frowned at seeing this, knowing damn well he had seen you in the lecture hall. Where could he have gone? You could ask around to find out where his current office was, but you would rather he just meet you and take you there himself. Sure he was hiding from his admirers, but it wouldn't kill him to answer your phone call.

You grumbled to yourself as you pocketed your phone, intent on just going back to your hotel and getting some much needed rest. You had impulsively come all the way here, knowing he was busy, but you still felt disappointed he couldn't spare you even a moment of his time.

You saw the girls from the lecture hall, one holding a small cake in her hands. They were discussing where Zayne's temporary office was and about how they wanted to invite him to a dance.

'Good luck, even I have trouble getting him to go to public events that involve dancing.' You couldn't help but think to yourself with a sad smile. Then you felt something, a small tug on your wrist.

Before you knew it, you were being pulled into a dark room by a strong hand. You spun around, about to yell at whoever decided this was a good idea when you bumped into the chest of none other than Doctor Zayne. His hand snaked around your waist and dragged you closer to his chest.

"Shhhh." He whispered, leaning closer to your ear. You heared footsteps right outside the door and then the giggling of those two girls from earlier come to light. There was a knock on the door as the girls began talking about the cake and dance once again.

You couldn't help but glare at the door, remembering everything they had said about Zayne earlier. Sure he was hot and granted, you talked to Tara about his amazing physic and looks all the time, but hearing strangers talking about his build and how hot he was had rubbed you wrong.

Then you recalled how Zayne had barely replied to your texts and how most of your calls went to voicemail when you attempted. The small, petty part of you bubbled up as you got on your toes to whisper in his ear.

"Perhaps you should let them in, Doctor Zayne. They seemed really eager to...get to know you during the lecture." You said, accentuating your words to let him know exactly what they wanted to know about him.

Zayne gave your waist a squeeze of assurance, grabbing your chin with his free hand so you were forced to look at his eyes, "Someone is already here. First come, first served." His voice was a bit huskier than you thought as he whispered those words to you.

You flushed at the thoughts running through your head. You could barely make out the girls giving up and leaving. The moment they were gone, Zayne seemed to sag in relief. He let go of you and backed away.

"You sure that was fine. She had made you a homemade cake and everything." You commented and Zayne huffed.

"I don't recall them ever mention making it themselves." He commented.

"Still, you sure do have a lot of people wanting to be your patient. Must be hard being this popular."

"One impulsive patient gives me more headaches than the other patients combined." He said, looking pointedly at you. You put your hands up in defense and giggled a bit.

"When have I ever been impulsive...other than right now?" The look he gave you said it all. You looked away from him, knowing damn well he could make an entire list just from the past three months of every impulsive decision you made.

You decided the best way to get him off your back was to change the topic. You looked around the office that was being lit up by the sun. It was a nicely set up room and you could see him getting used to the more cozy vibes of the place.

"No wonder you wanted to stay here for half a month, this place is pretty nice." You said as you began looking through the papers on his desk, grabbing one of them to pretend to read.

Zayne walked up behind you, snatching the paper from your hands and looking over what had stolen your attention, "I had wanted to leave early, but I suppose I don't need to now."

"Oh, why is that? Are you being spoiled by all the events here? I heard there's a dance going on tonight. I bet you're dying to go. You also have the pick of the litter when it comes to cute girls to go with you, if the lecture hall was anything to go off of." Ah, your jealousy had reared its ugly head again.

"I think someone else is spoiled. Someone barely sat down before getting hit on by a young man." He pointed out and you couldn't help but smile. At least you weren't alone in your jealousy.

You pulled the papers down and looked up at him from behind them, "Well I did miss part of the lecture with how much those girls were talking about you. Perhaps I should find that cute boy and ask him for his notes..."

Zayne pulled the paper back and you hum, "Are you...upset?" You finally asked with a sly smile.

"Should I be?"

"Probably not, but who am I to control your emotions?" You said, still grinning from ear to ear.

You heard Zayne sigh as he finally placed the papers down. His hands went back to your waist, pulling you closer to him again. You basked in his warmth, and how his large hand felt on the small of your back. You looked up at him, waiting patiently for him to speak.

"Are you actually here because you're interested in medical knowledge?" He knew damn well you weren't.

"Actually I'm here for a check up with my doctor." You coyly said, squeezing your hands around the lapels of his lab coat that hung open.

"There are a lot of hospitals in Linkon. To go out of your way to see me, you must have put in a lot of time and effort." He said as one of his hands went to cup your own, giving it a small squeeze in response.

"Well that's because you're the cause and cure for my ailments."

Zayne actually let out a small huff of amusement, "Please do enlighten me as to how I'm the cause and cure?"

"Well first my heart hurt when you weren't with me over in Linkon, and it felt strange when you didn't answer my calls or took too long to reply to my messages." You said, using the hand that wasn't trapped in his and playing with the fabric it was grasping.

"Then earlier when those girls were talking about you, I felt all yucky inside." You admitted as you leaned your body into him. You felt him sigh into your touch as you rested your head on his chest.

"Then how can I be of assistance to you and your ailments?" He whispered, squeezing your hand and rocking a bit in place with you in his arms.

"Have you had similar symptoms, Doctor Zayne?" You said, your voice coming out softly as you enjoyed this moment.

"Yes, I have. It's been rather inconvenient. I almost flew back to Linkon early to find the cause of my problems." He said and you chuckled.

"Well since I'm here now, how about I give you a small check up and make sure you're doing better now that I'm here." You suggested, parting from him for a moment.

You watched him raise an eyebrow and smirk a bit before speaking, "And how do you intend to do that?"

It wasn't hard to figure it out for you. You playfully nudge him until he fell on the desk. You fell with him, still being in close proximity. Your hands rested on his chest and it was your turn to smirk down at him. Zayne opened his legs just a bit so you could comfortably slot yourself between them.

You go and take the stethoscope from around his neck and put it around your own, "We'll have to start with checking your heart." You comment, placing the ear pieces in and placing the metal bit over Zayne's chest.

"And what do you hear?" He asked and you let out a small hum. You didn't actually know how to do this, but you did know that the sound was too faint for you to get a proper read.

"Your shirt is too thick, you'll need to remove it for me to properly hear you." You deduce, going to undo the neck straps of his shirt. Your hands slowly worked on the buttons; by the time you were working on the button near his stomach, his hand came to capture your own.

"Might I ask what game you're playing at?" He asked, knowing you were up to no good at this point. You bit your lip and shuffled a bit, unintentionally grinding your body against Zayne.

"I assure you, sir, this is all part of the check up." You lied and he sighed, letting go of your hand. You could see his gaze going over towards the door and you shook your head.

"The lights are off, so as long as we're not too loud, nobody will even know we're inside." You promised him. Zayne just sighed at your antics and went back to relaxing on his forearms as you worked his shirt off.

Once the shirt was unbuttoned, you slid it off his form and watched the fabric pool around his elbows. He was always breathtaking, but sometimes you forget just how well built he was. He did put a lot of effort into his personal health, fitness included.

Your hands twitched, wanting to just glide them across the expanse of his chest, but you just grabbed the metal piece of the stethoscope and put it back on him. You could hear the thrumming of his heart a lot better like this.

"Your heartrate is a bit faster than normal." You commented, running the cool metal over his chest, making sure it gently grazed one of his nipples. He grunted a bit as he shifted underneath you.

"Certain activities or scenarios can accelerate one's heartrate, as I'm sure you know, doctor." He pointed out, making you smirk in response.

"Is that so? Perhaps we should double check that it's the scenario that's making your heart accelerate, and not other factors." You said, one hand still pressing the metal bit on him while the other slowly trailed down him chest.

Your hands gently grazed the fine hairs leading down into his pants. You wanted desperately to lean down and bite the skin near his Adonis belt but managed to reel yourself in. Instead your hand grazed the front of his pants. You felt his cock twitch underneath your touch and his heart began beating faster.

"Well, it looks like your theory was correct. This scenario is making your heart act up. I wonder why that is...?" You said, squeezing him through his pants. Zayne's breath hitched as he rolled his hips into your touch.

"And what would you prescribe for a treatment plan, doctor?" He said, enjoying the way your hand slowly teased him.

"I think you might be stressed from your trip. Perhaps I can provide a bit of relief for you." You prescribed. You met his gaze for a moment and could see just how dark his eyes had gotten, his breathing coming out in soft pants from this little stimulus. You guessed he really did miss you if he was already falling apart in your hands.

You slowly sink to your knees, nudging his legs to open a bit more. Your hand trailing over the zipper of his pants as you then got the idea to reach up. Your mouth caught the cold metal and slowly slid it down before going to push his pants down.

You noticed his gaze went back to the door again, and you couldn't help but pinch at his thighs, "It's fine, nobody is going to just barge into a doctor's office."

You finally managed to get his cock free, noticing how it was already dripping precum. You let out a small groan at the sight, licking your lips before leaning in and kissing the base, your hand wrapping around it and giving it a few short tugs.

Zayne's hands clutched at the end of the desk and you swore if he wasn't careful, the wood might splinter under his grasp. Still, seeing his flushed face and open mouth was doing things to you. You felt like you were already dripping from the sight of the man.

You licked the tip of his cock, groaning at the taste of his salty precum. The taste of him was never bad, and it was uniquely Zayne and you could never get enough of it. This sight, the sounds he was making, it was for your eyes and ears only and the thought had you almost creaming your pants.

You finally open your mouth, taking his cock in and feeling the heavy weight of it against your tongue. You groaned at the sensation, slowly bobbing your head on him. Your hand wrapped around what you couldn't fit into your mouth, making sure all of him was feeling you in some way.

Your tongue glided, pressing against the veins on the underside of his dick as you worked him. He was panting from your mouth, his hand going to push your hair out of your face so he could get a better look at you. You looked up at him, mouth full of his length and you moaned at the half lidded expression he was giving you.

Zayne had bit down on his lip to keep his voice down, but seeing you bobbing on his cock was testing his restraint. He wanted to buck his hips into your mouth, watch you choke on his cock as your eyes teared up from trying to take all of him. He held back though, not knowing what you wanted in today's little tryst.

His cock began twitching in your mouth, signaling he was close to spilling down your throat. Suddenly you two heard footsteps approaching the door and you paused, mouth still on him as you listened to what was going on.

There was another knock on the door, followed by voices, "I double checked, this is his office." One of the girl's voices filtered through the door.

"Do you think he already left for the day?" The other girl said and you glared in the direction of the voices. You slowly slid your tongue around his sensitive length, enjoying how he seemed to jolt at feeling you moving on him again.

"Maybe we can just leave the cake inside?" Zayne's grip on your hair tightened at that. You just glared up at him now, relaxing your throat as you slid him deeper in your throat. Let them come in. Let them see that you, and only you could make the Doctor Zayne act like this in a public space.

Zayne had to bite back a groan as you continued trying to get him to cum while those girls debating walking in. He was glaring at you then nervously glancing up at the door.

"We can't just go into his office though, he might have sensitive documents in there. We could get in trouble." The second girl finally said, and you heard the other sigh.

"You're right...I'll just try again tomorrow." The first girl said.

Good luck, if you had any say about it, Zayne would be spending the day in your bed, making you see stars all day.

You heard them leaving the door before you finally popped your mouth off his cock, using your spit as lube as you continued stroking him. A bit of his precum snapping away from your lips as you looked up at Zayne.

"That wasn't funny." Zayne finally said, but the flush on his cheeks and chest were saying something else. Not to mention how his cock was still twitching in your hands.

"Perhaps we should continue this when we have a bit more privacy, like at the hotel." He said, cupping your hand and taking it off him. You let out a pitiful whine as you pouted.

You stood up and caged him in with your arms. You happily leaned into him, capturing his mouth with your own and nibbling on his lower lip. He easily opened up for you, and your hand went to cup his cheek as you deepen the kiss, loving the way he tasted against your tongue.

He groaned into your mouth, making your thighs squeeze together. You could feel just how wet you were by standing in front of him, and you wanted to make it known.

"We can just lock the door, but Zayne I won't be able to make it back to the hotel like this." You said against his mouth, giving his jaw and neck a few kisses. You undo your pants, unzipping it and pushing it down slightly then you grabbed his hand.

You move it over your underwear and groan when his fingers pressed against your clothed folds, "See, I'm soaking already just from having your cock in my mouth. Please, Zayne?" You begged, wanting him to ruin you in this office.

Zayne pressed harder against your cunt, making your hips roll against his hand, "Fine, lock the door. We need to remain quiet though." He still had his reputation and he couldn't go tarnishing it, no matter how tempting you were.

You smiled and parted from him, fast walking to the door and locking it up. You backed away from the door, only to be met with a solid chest. You looked up, seeing Zayne had already moved behind you. His large hands moving under your shirt and squeezing your hips, pulling you flush to his pelvis where you could feel his cock against your back.

Zayne began to slowly take off your shirt, tossing it to the side and unhooking your bra without hesitation. He went to cup one of your breasts, squeezing it and making you groan, pressing further into him so you could feel his cock rutting against you.

"Fuck, Zayne please." You pleaded, looking up at him with want. He cursed under his breath, pulling apart just enough to spin you around. Effortlessly, he picked you up and began making his way over to the desk. He scattered the rest of the papers to the floor and placed you on top.

"You're going to be the death of me." He murmured against your neck, leaving soft kisses all over as his hands begin working on pulling your pants and underwear down. You helped him by raising your hips until he could toss them to the ground with your growing pile of clothes. He placed your underwear next to you on the desk, probably intent on pocketing them after this.

Zayne spread your legs open some more so he could run a finger along your slick pussy. You sighed in relief at feeling his finger pressing into your heat without any hesitation. You were already so wet he easily slid a second, his thumb going to glide against your clit.

"Zayne, please I want to feel you inside me already." You whisper-whined into his ear. He smirked, looking up at you as his fingers curled inside of you, making you gasp and roll your hips into his waiting hand.

"Am I not already inside you?" He teased, pressing down on your clit for a moment to accentuate his point before rolling it in circles.

"You know what I mean." You whined again and he tsked.

"You'll have to be more specific, love. What do you want inside this tight cunt of yours?" He asked and you clenched around his digits at those words. Your legs were already shaking as you felt your orgasm building up.

"I want your cock inside of me, Zayne." You whimpered, feeling how he was slowly stretching you out with his fingers. A third was prodding at your entrance and you opened your legs a bit more for him.

You heard Zayne shushing you as he leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to your lips, "I'll give it to you once you cum on my fingers. Can you do that, love? I don't want to hurt you." He said, knowing just how big his cock was.

You groaned at the thought, knowing you were teetering towards the edge. Feeling his mouth pressing gentle kisses along your jaw and nipping at your earlobe was what did you in. You gasped and immediately his mouth was on yours, swallowing all your cries. Your orgasm crashing down on you as you tightened around his fingers, sucking them in.

Your hands finding his biceps, nails digging in as you fought to keep your noises to a minimum as your hips rolled in time with him. Once you were coming down you were panting against his mouth, feeling breathless.

You felt his fingers leave your cunt and you whined at the loss. You watched as he moved his fingers over to his mouth, licking your essence off of them. His eyes fluttered closed for a moment before turning back to you sharply.

"I'll have to properly taste you later tonight, but for now I need to be inside you." Zayne said, squeezing your thighs as he begins lining himself up with you.

You still felt sensitive, so the moment the tip of his cock was pressing into you, your head was thrown back. You couldn't help the mewl leaving you as he began sinking into you, inch by inch. He was always huge and felt like he was splitting you in two anytime you fucked.

Your nails grazed his biceps again, grounding yourself as he continued slipping in until he was a little past halfway inside of you. He stopped, going to press his forehead against your own. Your breaths mingling with one another as you gazed up at him through half lidded eyes.

"Zayne, please fuck me with your whole cock, please." You begged, rolling your hips in an attempt to take more of him inside of you. His hold went to your hips, keeping you still as he looked at you, swallowing the lump in his throat.

"If I do, will you be able to walk out of here when we're done?" He asked and you huffed, trying to rock your hips into him again. He wasn't letting up though, waiting for your answer.

You finally whine, "I promise, just please Zayne, I need you." You were begging. This seemed to be enough of an answer with his self control slipping by the second.

He began pushing his cock back into you until you were flush to his pelvis. Your eyes rolled to the back of your head and you felt like you could cum just by having him seated inside of you. His cock pressed against every sensitive spot inside of you and it always drove you crazy.

You swore you'd be split in two though, but at the moment you didn't care. You slowly looked down at Zayne who was panting with his eyes closed, stopping himself from fucking into you like an animal. You didn't even realize tears had formed in your eyes until he looked at you and leaned in, kissing them away.

His hands rubbed at your hips gently as you adjusted until he snuck one over and pressed down on your clit. He rolled it in gentle circles and you gasped, feeling your second orgasm crashing over you suddenly. Your eyes widening and you opened your mouth in a silent scream.

He then decided to give an experimental thrust, making you gasp. Your entire body felt like a live wire as your legs locked around his torso, holding him in place as he bucked into your heat again.

"You need to be quiet, remember?" He reminded you, his hips finally starting a steady rhythm of fucking up into you. Despite his warnings, you couldn't help the whimpers coming out of you, feeling his girth every time he thrusted back into you.

You heard Zayne sigh as he looked at you, giving you a small smirk. You looked on, dazed and a bit confused as to why he had that look on his face. That was until you felt the press of fabric against your lips.

"Open up, if you can't remain quiet I have no choice but to gag you." He said and you groaned, opening your mouth and taking your underwear into your mouth. He pressed it down into your mouth, making you mewl around the fabric. You could taste yourself on it and it made your body heat up.

"Tap my arm twice if it becomes too much, alright?" All you could do was nod in confirmation before he began a harder and faster pace. Your eyes widened, your nails digging into his skin.

He leaned his forehead against your own as he fucked you, the intimacy only making your head buzz wonderfully. Your legs shook around his body and your pussy was sucking him in, tightening on occasion whenever you heard him grunt or praise you.

You swore if you died by his dick, you'd be welcomed into Valhalla as a hero. It was everything you could ever hope for, and knowing when he fucked you it was full of emotion made it even better. You felt so in love as your body began tingling, your third orgasm approaching already.

Your cunt fluttered around his dock, making him grunt as it made it almost impossible for him to move, "If you keep that up, I won't last much longer." He said, thrusting shallowly into you until he could move freely again. You groaned behind the fabric, your head rolling back as the tension in your abdomen finally snapped.

"That's it, cum for me, love." He said, fucking you through your orgasm. You felt the tears welling up in your eyes from the stimulation, your body feeling light and your vision almost going white from the intensity. Every thrust of his hips grazing your clit and prolonging your pleasure until it was getting to be too much.

You heard Zayne groaning against your neck, his hand reaching up and taking our your gag. "Where do you want me to - fuck - where can I cum, bunny?" He asked and you flushed.

Your tongue felt heavy in your own mouth as you tried to coherently speak. All you managed was a small "Inside", but it was enough for him.

You heard him hiss against your ear, his thrusts becoming shallow again. Then you felt his cock twitching, and the warmth of his release filling you up. It was all too much as you whimpered against him, arms going around his shoulders and squeezing him closer until you could burry your face into his neck.

He moved your face so he could kiss you, it was sloppy but it was just what you needed as you swallowed every needy groan from him as he finished, his hips rolling languidly against you until finally stopping.

It was silent in the room, the sound of skin-on-skin slapping finally stopping. You two basked in the afterglow for a moment; you stared at the ceiling and trying to come back to reality. You truly felt boneless right now, and maybe even a bit brainless.

You whimpered as Zayne finally begins pulling out of you, the wet squelching noise making you flush in embarrassment. You looked between your legs and watched as your combined release slowly leaked out onto the desk.

"I'll need to find something to clean us up with." He finally murmured and you let out a hum. Honestly you just wanted to lay in his arms, the thought of after care not even crossing your mind in the moment.

Your legs were shaking still and you felt something brushing up against your folds. You looked down to see him with some tissue, wiping away what he could.

"I promise once we get back to the hotel I'll run us a nice, warm bath." He promised, leaning over and kissing your forehead, "Bear with this for just a little."

You smiled, grabbing his by the back of his neck and guiding him to give you a proper kiss, melting against his lips once again. Once you part you couldn't help but mutter a small "Thank you." to him.

He paused as he admired you, his eyes filled with love and you felt almost sheepish under such an intense gaze, "Will you be able to walk?" He asked finally.

You take a moment, shifting your legs and wincing at the soreness. You'd probably be able to walk out of here, but not without a limp, "I think I'll be fine." You finally muttered.

Zayne let out a small, amused huff as his large hands began massaging your inner thighs, "If need be, I can carry you out of here. We can say you slipped." The thought was funny to you, making you snicker. As if a place filled with doctors and medical supplies would buy that story.

You leaned in and kissed his cheek, "So did my treatment plan work for you?" You finally asked.

Zayne took a moment before smirking, "I think I might need another dose when we get back to the hotel...if you're up for it."

Despite the soreness from between your legs, you felt yourself clenching at the thought, "Ya, I think a second treatment might be necessary."

[nimmie-nugget]

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Concept: Logan as your Boyfriend

Note: I JUST KNOW THAT IM GONNA COME BACK TO THIS IN THE FITURE AND THINK “oh wow why did I make this, kinda cringe😬” 💀💀 NOT BCS OF LOGAN SINCE HES SO BBG BUT MAINLY BCS OF MY WORDINGS😭 BUT LETS JUST LIVE IN THE MOMENT!!! ALSO CREDITS TO MY COUSIN FOR THESE HEART THINGIESSS I LOVE HER SO MUCHHHHHH—Enjoy!

Warning: I apologize prior for any Grammer, Spelling+etc errors. Cringe?? Logan may be OOC >:(

SBG Masterlist

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NICKNAMES: Love, Darling, Honey. Just all that mushy cutesy stuff<3 Would probably be nervous when he starts giving you nicknames, not knowing if you’d like them. Definitely prefers a nickname for you though, like a shortened version since it reminds him of how beautiful your name is.

“[N/N]? C-can you help me out..please?” He fumbles, playing around with his fingers nervously as he blushed in slight embarrassment.

DATES: Anything to do with nature basically, would 100% keep sanitizer with him since he’s Germaphobic, we love a boy who keeps up with his hygiene<3

“[N/N], look here! Roses—” Proceeds to go on a rant about Plants and how they grow, even mentioning the littlest details.

LOVE LANGUAGE: Gifts, they’re a must!! Would buy you matching accessories with whatever pocket money he was given, have you SEEN him?!? His style is GREAT!!! Flowers too, not just any bought flowers though, he’d handpick the flowers himself and wouldn’t want ANYONE to help him because he wants to put effort in for you. He’s precious!!

“[N/N], here…I have a present for you..” He says shyly as he was outside you’re door, a hand on the back of his neck as he looks at his shoes, avoiding eye contact as he smiles slightly with a blush.

Holding out some handpicked flowers out for you with a keychain of your favourite Flower. The smell of hand sanitizer hitting your nose.

“…I hope you like them.” He glanced at you.

INSECURITIES: Thinks you’ll leave him one day if you find someone better. It’s honestly a miracle to him that you haven’t left. Often needs reassurance and you’re touch, unless your uncomfortable with physical touch then words with genuineness, fondness and care would work. Such an emotional boy, actually so sad :(

“Y-you pr-romise?” He sniffed as he’s curled into a ball, looking at you for comfort

CUDDLING: Little spoon most definitely, but wouldn’t mind big spooning if you’re feeling terrible<3

His head snuggled into you’re chest as his arms tightly wrapped around your waist, clinging onto you. Breathing softly as he falls into a much needed slumber.

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Lil Note: Hearts, Comments and Reblogs are Appreciated💙

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[sarcasticassian]

Corroded Coffin’s label want them to do a Christmas song, Chrissy (their manager) tells them over and over that it’s not gonna fly, it’s really not the band’s brand and who is even asking for a Christmas song off them but due to the recent mainstream success of the band the label is not backing down so Chrissy tells the guys what the situation is thinking she’s going to have to deal with an unhappy label and unhappy talent, she immediately lets them know that she’ll try and negotiate a cover or something that they can whip up in no time and then forget about 

but they all surprise her, Eddie the most, Jeff just had a kid with his wife and he’s in good spirits, Grant is married and Gareth has a long term girlfriend so she can maybe understand their tolerance for Christmas but Eddie? Mr anti establishment and hates all things capitalistic etc etc, he LOVES Christmas apparently, he says its about the spirit, people’s giving nature etc also he loves watching people get into physical fights over presents and families tearing into each other over the holidays, it’s kinda funny as an outsider and as someone who has one other family member 

so they put their heads together and even out do what she’s asking by giving her two original songs and a couple of covers, enough for an EP, the label is ecstatic and Chrissy is flabbergasted, the only hitch is that before they record properly Eddie needs a choir of kids (why, Eddie? it’s part of the Christmas spirit Chris, so many songs have them as well, why can’t ours) so to make it interesting the label makes it a competition for local school choirs and a certain Miss Buckley decides to send in a tape because why not right?

except Eddie loves them, the tape doesn’t cut off in time to miss a snarky comment from the kid at the front with the curly hair and the redhead next to him rolls her eyes so hard Eddie is pretty sure she can see the back of her head and he’s charmed, they sound good too so he begs the band to pick them and the other guys really aren’t as invested in this so they say go for it

Robin is over the moon that her choir got chosen, she’s a music teacher at a local middle school where her bestie also teaches history and is beloved by all children apparently, and it helps that the prize is tickets to a Christmas concert Corroded Coffin will be a part of for all the kids so she tells them that world famous band Corroded Coffin is coming to their school to record them for a new song and they go nuts as a bunch of 14 year olds would, Steve is happy for her even though he has no idea who these people are and doesn’t bother looking them up cause what kinda band comes to a random school for a recording of their song

Eddie LOVES the kids when he arrives, they’re delightfully bitchy but obedient enough or respect Robin enough that they listen to both her and him all day and they sound great, he enjoys them so much in fact that he asks if they’d all want to be in the music video, Steve is out sick that day much to everybody’s dismay but once the video shoot is all worked out they need another teacher for health and safety etc so he volunteers to go (not that Robin would’ve given him a choice) and he sees Eddie covered in flakes of fake snow, surrounded by this soft halo of light and is like oh dear when his heart starts pumping double time

Eddie thinks this teacher is a total cutie and all the kids seem to love him, clamouring to point out cool things on set or show him their costumes or just chat to him about their other weekend plans and Eddie is a little smitten, the shoot goes on and the song is about being lonely at Christmas, the other guys’ partners are involved and the original idea was for Eddie to remain alone to really drive in the point (who doesn’t love a sad Christmas song, of course Eddie would write something against the grain) but the label has a sudden change of heart and wants the video to end with Eddie finding someone and Chrissy seizes her chance to play matchmaker so she suggests Steve fills in if he wants before Eddie can protest

Steve is a slightly confused about why they’d pick him until Eddie blurts out that he’s gay and out etc so a guy would make more sense to their fans so Steve, caught up in the moment, says sure why not, and half falls in love with Eddie under the fake snowfall and horribly bright set lights, he knows it’s an act but Eddie is very charming (Eddie isn’t acting) and all their actual audio will be cut because of the song playing over the top so Steve just enjoys himself

when the song and video goes live fans lose it, who is this cute, cute man that Eddie has bagged, it must be his boyfriend right because everybody else’s partner is in the video and Eddie has to quickly clarify that he just met Steve that day but nobody believes him, ‘the chemistry is too good’ so Eddie manages to reach out to Steve and apologise and Steve decides to joke that Eddie should take him for a drink to make up for it but Eddie immediately agrees and that’s how Steve finds himself on a date with a rockstar

(his class go wild after Christmas break and they hear from Miss Buckley about Mr Harrington’s new boyfriend)

(they go wilder when Steve spills in return that Robin has been seeing Chrissy-the-band-manager since the recording at the school back in October)

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Soooo for the Ruin dlc,how about a ghost!child!reader who was murdered by Vanny meeting Cassie and kind of just following her around and also doing the best they can to help her with them being a ghost?

-Greek myth anon 📜

When Cassie first saw you, she thought you were part of the AR network, but you're still present even when she takes off the mask.

"Wh-Who are you?"

"[Y/n]...it's..a long story, but I kinda died here and I've been stuck haunting this place ever since."

"Oh no...did one of the Glamrocks kill you..?"

"No, but this lady in a rabbit costume did...that used to be hers." You point out the security mask, frowning. "Why do you have it?"

"I...I don't know. Some STAFF bot gave it to me. I need it to disable all the security systems."

"And..why is that?"

"I'm looking for my friend. He's trapped beneath the raceway..can you help me?" She pleads.

"....maybe, but I can't really do much from...wherever I am now." You tell her, although you agree to accompany her throughout the ruined pizzaplex.

Whenever she puts on that mask again, you feel uneasy and have to look away a lot, feeling sick to your stomach. She always apologizes, though, and takes it off as soon as she's done with her current task.

You do what you can to help her in her journey, such as temporarily possessing STAFF bots to distract the Glamrocks should they show up---yet none of them really hold up for long as they're quickly destroyed or shutdown.

It was sad, as you have watched all of them rot and decay both physically and mentally over the years...no longer being those animatronics you once adored.

Eventually you both encountered Roxy after you found a security bot in good condition to pilot, and you're stunned that she actually recognizes Cassie.

And later on, she recognizes your voice, too, and you gave her some comfort as she's deactivated by her human friend.

You could see she's torn up about it, and you also console her as she cries, clearly feeling guilty and stressed over everything.

"I-I didn't want to do it...but...I had no choice..!"

"I'm sure she understood, Cassie." You pat her back. "We have to keep going...for Gregory. And then you guys can go home and forget this horrible nightmare."

"B-But...But what about you..?" She sniffles. "Is there something keeping you here?"

"I thought it was that rabbit lady, but..I couldn't find her anywhere. And I've been here for years, stalking her until she just...disappeared one day."

While it's indeed a worrying thought, you tried pushing it into the back of your mind, assuring Cassie that your primary concerns are with her and not yourself.

Maybe your reason for being stuck here was to make sure nobody else went missing.

You could settle for that, as you didn't want anymore kids your age falling victim to Vanny or any of her horrid creations.

Cassie wasn't going to be one of them. Not on your watch.

[enbyfallenfromthedeadstars]

[ CW mention of sex context : rosekiller headcanon ]

⟡ ⟡ ⟡

i love horny-for-Barty! Evan Rosier i love asexual! Evan Rosier

i wanted these two headcanons to coexist so let me present you :

demiromantic! Evan Rosier & demisexual! - acespike! Evan Rosier

Evan Rosier who never felt any kind of things for other people than Bartemius Crouch Jr. because he hasn't been this close and never trusted anyone this much – but his sister – before.

Evan Rosier who all his life believed he was broken before discovering that asexuality and aromantism are a thing, and then had a full identity crisis when he started to be attracted to his best friend.

Evan Rosier who cried in the beggining because he felt like he'll never suceed to truly know himself and at first thought he had to leave a label he felt confortable with.

Evan Rosier who was so confused of what he was feeling in his mind and body when he was around Barty that he had to ask Pandora (not a great help her being aroace! as well) for explanations / help.

Evan Rosier who started having sexual dreams (exclusively with Barty), and honestly had no idea what to do with it, it was just so strange to him.

Evan Rosier who couldn't take his eyes off Barty and looked like a fucking stalker at any time of the day (which his best friend foud kind of hot tbh)

Evan Rosier who loved how their relationship was so flirty everytime that it became unclear to everyone (sometimes even themselves lmao) because it gave the impression that his new, weird and undwieldy feelings are some kind of joke, which made the situation way less stressful for him.

Evan Rosier who didn't feel like he missed an incredible thing all his life nor was sad that he hadn't experienced it sooner, but simply accepted this romantic love as an addition to his platonic ones and was grateful for it.

Evan Rosier who struggled so much to deal with these violent spikes of sexual need at first that he turned red and started sweating in the middle of classes or common room or lunch or whatever, which amused Barty a lot.

Bartemius Crouch Jr. who respected all of this (despite the fact that he constantly wanted him), gave space and time to his lover to discover himself, was still always physically near to him by being on his lap, agressive cuddling, having a hand in his hair or on his thigh... but never tried anything pro-sexual with him outside of his – kinda rare – sudden spikes, and enjoyed every wild and sinful seconds of it when it happened.

Bartemius Crouch Jr. who took matter into his own hands and gave – practical – sex ed classes to his boyfriend (with Reggie on the side reminding them about condoms and STIs while rolling his eyes, yk) but never saw him as a kid nor a late-bloomer and used teasing as a way to be sure of his consent.

Bartemius Crouch Jr. who always looked at Evan lips and ass, almost all day, but didn't dare to initiate the kiss in the beginning out of fear to offense and lose him, and then learned to identify and recognize the peculiar look his lover had when he wanted, when he was dying for some contact with Barty's hands, tongue, neck, pelvis... (this one works so good with non-verbal! Evan as well !)

Bartemius Crouch Jr. who couldn't help but be jealous anytime Evan talked with someone new, even if he perfectly knew what "demisexual" & "demiromantic" mean and how it requires a deep, almost fusional connexion to allow some kind of romantic and sexual feelings.

Rosekiller which, contrary of what other classmates might said, didn't "fixed" or "forced" Evan into anything, but was simply made out of ideal conditions for his aspec identity to fully revealed itself.

Rosekiller which still made out of two potential dangerous and weird murderers freaks in the sickest relationship, builded on possessiveness, bones collection, blood necklaces, bites and hexes.

Of course, have to be correlated with demiromantic! & hypersexual! Bartemius Crouch Jr. ! Barty who, contrary at Evan, never felt broken and simply enjoyed, needed meaningless flirt with everyone all the time because it only leads to sex and makes him feel alive and important. Barty who was kinda deconcerted when he realized he loved Evan, having never really thought it could happen to him. Barty who fucked twice as much men & women to be sure he didn't felt such things with them, and had to face facts. Barty who was terrified of that, of love, of how weak he can become because of it. Barty who decided to give it a try despite it. Barty who flirted with his best friend so hard and so obviously it turned into a sort of joke. Barty who used it to touch him. Barty who, unconsciously, stopped seducing other persons, which made others tilt about the situation. Barty who decided, after having kissed Evan at a party while being drunk, that it was him and not another. Evan who thought exactly the same.

[pintrestgrl]

Dad!Rafe anon here 👋🏻 I love, love, love what you wrote and it was literally the perfect length! tysm 🫶🏻

Could you please write something for reader with a sports injury x JJ in a college AU? I'm imagining her having a limp or something and JJ's always wondered what that's about, but her bsf told him not to ask and when she finally opens up to him he's super understanding and sweet ❤️‍🩹

(also do you think I could claim an emoji to put at the end of my asks? I like this one 🪼)

sigh the way i wrote this and was literally done and then it deleted. i’m so sad omg. also i don’t know if i like how i wrote this but we live we laugh we love. anyways yes hii 🪼 anon !! i love u and i love this idea it’s so creative. i hope u like itt !!

also think of reader as mysterious black swan!reader kinda, like she’s obsessed with the sport. like unhealthily.

jj maybank x sport injury!reader in college au

he’d watch you from a distance, wondering why the hell this pretty girl was always limping around campus. it was just a wonder for a bit, until he found himself infatuated with you.

he began watching you more inbetween classes, asking your mutual friends about you. asking them about what happened to your leg, but they’d advise him heavily not to ask.

he listened, for a while. but he really just couldn’t get you out of his head, and he had no idea why.

he’d watch you even closer, pondering and narrowing down the reason why you were limping like that.

he couldn’t stop and just let it go, no. not until he figured what was up with you.

he was heavily, almost unhealthily, obsessed with the idea of you.

so, he impulsively approached you one rainy day after class, without thinking.

“hi.” he’d bluntly say, causing confusion to cross your face.

“hello?”

“why haven’t we talked? what’s different about you? and what happened to your leg?”

you tensed up at the last question, quickly averting your gaze elsewhere.

“um, i just- got hurt.”

“hurt from what?”

you didn’t want to answer, and he could tell. you looked uncomfortable, and hesitant to reply.

“dance. ballet, actually.”

“ballet? you do ballet?”

he’d ask, a quick look of uncertainty crossing his face.

“did. i did ballet.”

“what happened?”

“um, really- it’s a long story. and i don’t know why you care.”

you’d say, clearly trying to get out of this conversation. however, he needed to know. hell, he already gained the courage to go up to you.

“i care because i care. and i have time. so sit down and tell me. please.”

“fine. let’s sit then.”

you’d say, rolling your eyes, clearly not pleased with this.

you’d sit down on a wet bench he had laid his jacket down on for you, thoroughly explaining to him the story of how, and why you had to stop.

you’d tell him about how you’ve been doing ballet since you were a child, and how it was all you did. you loved the sport, and were heavily obsessed with it.

you’d explain to him how you had gotten chosen for a role, in the ballet play you’ve been obsessed with since you were a kid. you practiced and practiced for months, and finally the night came.

you were nervous, trembling and shaking from the anxiety, and also due to the lack of food you had that day. the role had a lot of physical and mental toll on your body, and you could tell.

you told him how you went on, and performed, until mid dance. you landed wrong on a leap, tearing your acl.

you were fine now, medically. but not having a personality outside of ballet, was present. you were unhealthily obsessed with the sport, and you didn’t know what to do.

“i’m sorry. i didn’t know that.”

he’d blurt out, while you were mid sentence, finishing up explaining why you had that limp.

“are you okay?”

“yes, i’m fine. i just- miss it, i guess.”

thoughts ran through his mind at what you might of looked like dancing, jumping and turning around the stage.

“why’d you ask?”

he was snapped out of his thoughts at your pretty voice, opening his mouth to speak.

“because you’re interesting.”

“i’m interesting?”

“yeah. really interesting.”

“you’re interesting too, jj.”

you’d say, averting your gaze as a smile crossed your face while you spoke his name.

he raised his eyebrows at this, a smirk coming onto him.

“you actually know my name?”

[filmbyjy]

niki with a so who’s love language is physical touch and quality time?

a/n: bro, I live for ni-ki imagines bc it’s so cute all the time🥹 my child fr cute though :(

pairing: nishimura riki x fem!reader

genre: fluff but angst for the first part

synopsis: you loved spending time with ni-ki and you most definitely loved showing affection to him. you thought he loved it however, when you visited the dorm to surprise him...you overheard something. something about you.

ALL I NEED

dating ni-ki came with an issue. okay wait, two issues. one being he is an idol with tons of schedules and practically no time to laze around. this wasn't an issue that only you were facing, you were sure other idols who had non-idol partners were facing this too. however, the second issue...it was kinda sad honestly.

you loved ni-ki. you knew he loved you too and he does show how much he loves you whenever he has time. lately though, you notice ni-ki getting a little distant from you. he used to love cuddling with you whenever he got the chance to. he always facetime you before a show or schedule so that you were informed of his whereabouts.

— placing this in case read more messes up —

you were thankful he took the time to do so because it showed that he cared for you. however, it stopped the moment he got back from their Asia World Tour. at first, you thought that maybe he was just tired and so you let him be and ignored it. then as time passes by, you weren't seeing ni-ki as much. you called in for a little date knowing he had a day off but he says he is just too tired for that.

it was fine if didn't go out somewhere for any dates and so you suggested visiting their dorm. ni-ki denied it and just stopped replying you after that. the next day, since you knew they still had an off day, you decided to visit their dorms secretly. it was a surprise for him and maybe the boys too because you haven't seen them in a hot minute.

their manager lets you in since you told them about wanting to surprise the boys. as you draw closer to the living room, you heard chattering and the tv. they were most probably playing some video games since it was their off day. you also ni-ki's voice so you were ready to pop out and present them with bags of snacks.

you stopped yourself when you heard, "ni-ki, are you ignoring (name)?" jake asks.

"yeah, i just don't feel like talking to her."

"but she's your girlfriend." sunoo says.

"so? she needs to realise i have my own life. i already have to worry about practices, i don't need to worry about someone."

"won't she feel sad?" jake asks.

"i'm sure she can handle it, hyung. also, i don't like how clingy she is. she constantly checks up on me. especially during off-days. it's just tiring and want to rest."

your heart drops, you wanted to step away but you bumped into someone.

"heeseung." you whisper. his eyes widened.

"(name)." you dropped the bags and just left. their front door slamming shut. the three boys that were in the living room went to inspect the noise. they saw heeseung standing there with the bags you had left.

“oi, hyung. thanks for the snacks!” jake happily picks up the bag from the ground.

“I didn’t buy these.” heeseung says.

“then who bought it?” sunoo asks.

“(name), came by. I assumed to see ni-ki but she ran out the moment I saw her. she dropped these though.”

it didn’t click in ni-ki’s just yet but jake’s jaw drops. both sunoo and jake stared at each other and then ni-ki.

“ni-ki, I think she heard what you said.” ni-ki tenses up.

“what did he say?” heeseung tilts his head.

“i called her clingy.” ni-ki whispers. heeseung gasps.

“ni-ki, I think it’s best you go find her right now and apologise to her.”

ni-ki grabs his phone and wallet, “already thought about doing so.” he quickly bolts out of the dorms.

as for you, you were busy walking around the park. it was beautiful at night. the ducks swimming in the pond-

ah you were thinking about your boyfriend again. you sighed, did he really love you or were you really the problem? were you that clingy just like ni-ki mentioned?

you settled onto the bench and kicked a pebble that was just beneath your feet. maybe, you were just a bad girlfriend. should you distant yourself from him to give him the space he needs?

“babe.” the sound of his voice pulls you out of your trance. he walks closer and wipes the tear that stained your cheeks. you didn’t even know you were crying.

you grabbed ni-ki’s hand and pulled it away from your face. ni-ki’s heart races.

“i’m sorry about I said back then. i shouldn’t have said you were clingy, I love it when you’re clingy and you show affection. i just-”

“are you tired of me?” you looked straight into his eyes. you could tell he was shocked.

“no. never.”

“do I make you disgusted when I act all clingy?”

“(name)…”

“do I?”

“not at all.”

you nod. ni-ki pulls you into a hug.

“i’m sorry I said those things before. I let my mouth run quicker than my mind could even process what i said. I really do love your cuddles and hugs.”

“really?”

ni-ki pecks your lips, “really.” he leaves a small peck on your nose. you smiled a little. ni-ki wipes the tears that were still wet on your cheeks.

“my pretty girl.” he says. you blushed at his words and hid your face on his chest. ni-ki chuckles.

that night, ni-ki continues to let out a string of apologies along with tons of kisses and hugs. you knew that you and ni-ki could work this out because that is what being in a relationship is like.

taglist[perm]: @ja4hyvn @ahnneyong @milklix @kar0ki @sugarsunoo @http-gyu @simpforniki @vatterie @victoriazynui @myu3ki @jhopesucker @dimplewonie @chwlogy @ilovewonyo @xiaoderrrr @uwuheeseungie @miercerise @liikno

[vxperorchist]

Hello, I hope you're well and having a good day. I saw you're taking requests so I was wondering if I could ask for kazuha x fem reader angst? Like reader asks for a break up because she never felt good enough for him and the gossip of other people telling her she's too ugly and pathetic to be with someone like kazuha brings her to the realization that she's holding him back from being with a beautiful and perfect woman like lumine that he deserves to have so she wants to set him free?

Sooo this is a stupid request but ty if u feel up to writing it.

p.s I love your writing.

Ahhh thank you so much for requesting! This request is not stupid at all, and I love the way you're thinking! Plus, I'm also a big Kazuha lover so who am I to say no to writing for him.... I originally wanted to make this a happy ending of some sort but then i was like no i want to keep it sad, so I kinda made it both. It can be interpreted by the reader 😉. (Forgive me if this is not very good, I don't write angst very often, but I am always so down to attempt it)

Unfit for you. (Kazuha x Fem! Reader)

Warnings: Being insulted, no serious warnings.

Genre: Angst

From the beginning, you realized what you were getting yourself in to, you just didn't realize it would be this messy.

Kazuha was known in various places, who couldn't know him? He was everywhere at once, whether it was physically or tapping in through the wind, a bit of him remained everywhere, and he took a little bit of everywhere with him.

When the two of you met, you clicked immediately. Wherever he went, you followed. Wherever you went, he followed closely behind as well.

With that travelling, you learned his and shared his experiences. He had his fair share of getting hit on, but can you really blame them? He'd brush it off, ignoring or politely turning girls down, but you couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealolousy.

It's not that he made you feel insecure in a relationship, it's the fact that you felt like you were holding him back. You had voiced your concerns plenty of times, and he reassured you each time that you were more than enough for him.

With each lingering glare every young girl gave him, you started to believe him less and less. He was strong, talented, and free. He was everything everyone wanted, including you.

He couldn't help but be kind and gentle to everyone who came along, it was something you adored about him so much. Lumine had been present in both of your lives for a time, you would occasionally see her around, but she never stayed for long. She was so similar to Kazuha.

You felt a twist in your stomach as she greeted Kazuha as you stood to the side. "Kazuha!" Paimon greeted enthusiastically, hovering circles around her travelling companion. "Hello there, you two, it's been a while since we've last met." He greeted in return, giving a friendly smile to the two of them.

You zoned out of their conversation; it was for your own good and sanity. Lumine left after a few hours of staying in the area. You didn't have a clue what she was there for, and you didn't really have the curiosity to know.

Kazuha came back to you after the day, laying in your shared bed with you. This was the best part of each day, coming back to him and letting all your problems drift away.

He held you in his arms, but the problems didn't drift away with sleep this time. This time, it lingered.

You awoke, and he was gone once more. You decided to help along the ship today, as later today was departure day. You greeted Beidou, helping pack things up and shoving them into the corresponding compartments.

"Y/n, you been hearin the rumors recently?" You turned your head to the captain. "Huh?" You didn't indulge in the drama of the nation you were staying in; it was always temporary. You didn't care nearly enough to worry about who said what, or who fought who in the nation. You wouldn't remember these people in week.

That was until you would always remember them. "Apparently Kazuha's popular amongst the cities here, everybody's talking about him. I even heard he was single through one rumor, so I wanted to check in on you."

You frowned. You thanked Beidou for telling her and reassured her that the two of you were indeed still together and happy.

He was happy at least. You felt yourself shattering with every rumor. You heard more and more about it as you were packing up. Another member of the crew told you about stuff she heard in the city. She told you that she overheard a group of girls talking about "Kazuha's girl" and how she was unattractive amongst the culture there.

It was starting to hit you now, every new nation came with new rumors, new discussion, more hate towards you. You who did nothing to the people there.

What could you do differently? Your clothes? Your hair? How you presented yourself?

"Kazuha, talk to me please." You paused him as he was walking off the ship, into the next nation you had touched port in.

"What seems to be the issue?" He watched you with the same gentle eyes he always looked at you with.

"We've barely talked. People think we aren't dating anymore."

"Really? Thats quite an assumption people make about us without knowing anything." He dismissed the idea entirely.

You gave up on the idea of trying to bring up the rumors to him, and how much it was affecting you. You knew he loved you, but he wouldn't address this idea. It was simply his mindset, an unshakeable mindset.

He thought the rumors meant nothing, however he wasn't the target of the gossip. Even then, he thought the rumors shouldn't effect you, because he loved you.

After months of putting up with new rumors and new insults thrown at you, you decided to bring it up to Kazuha one last time. You wouldn't beg or ask him any longer to change, because he shouldn't have to change for you. You loved him for him, and wanted him to prosper with someone who wouldn't need him to change. Someone who was more similar to him, someone like Lumine.

You had went into the city this time with him. He didn't ask you to, but you felt this was the best time to let him down.

You stopped at a bridge to overlook some water, you told him each rumor and insult that had been thrown at you as of the last few months. He did nothing but listen, something he was so good at.

You told him you wanted to let him go. He was free in all other aspects, except romantically. Romantically, he was tied down to you.

"Kazuha, I won't keep you. You are someone who prides himself on freedom, and I'm the only one holding you back from that. You deserve more, you deserve better than me. Someone who travels like you, someone who seeks the thrill and wind like you do. I can't offer those things, and I won't make you change so I can understand you."

You let your fingertips fall from his hand, offering him a last gentle smile.

"If I didn't want anything tying me down, I would have cut the rope that ties me a long time ago. Every wanderer needs a place they can come back to no matter where they are, and you were that place for me."

The wind picked up between you two and he brushed the side of your arm with his tainted hands.

[ellievickstar]

Is this Love?

A/N: So I wanted to do an an enemies to lovers and I thought: What better character to start with then Cardan Greenbriar. I really hope this is okay I know that @aroseinvelaris love the cruel prince so this is for you love <3

Summary: The king is the most infuriating person alive. But every time he looks at you, you feel your skin burn and your heart skips a beat. You hate the way he makes you feel alive, but you especially hate his obnoxiousness and horrible addiction to partying. However, after a night of drinking and reveling, what will you do when the King of Elfhame seeks you out?

Request: N/A

Pairing: Cardan Greenbriar x noble faerie!reader

Warnings: !!!Disclaimer!!!This does not follow the actual storyline, I’m kinda just winging it since it’s been some time since I’ve read the books and also I wanna get comfortable with the character first!!! Enemies to lovers, a bit toxic, intoxication, physical contact, being held against ones will

~*~*~*~*~

You wanted to kill him. “What. Did. You. Say.” You asked again, glaring at the King you were supposed to respect. You curled your fingers into a fist as they dug crescents into your palms. The king lazily smirked at your frustration, the papers you had given him falling out of his hand onto the floor.

“Your idea is dismal at best. It lacks any intellectual reasoning at it is also by far one of the worst that your family has ever presented me. You may be the representing noble, but honestly this presentation is just sad and pathetic,” You gaped, rolling your eyes as you snatched the papers from the ground, storming out of the room. That asshole. How dare he!? How dare he insult your ideas like that, knowing that you and your father had worked hard on those proposals together. How dare he insult your intelligence when he can barely even go a day without becoming intoxicated and doing something stupid at those parties he holds!

Fury bubbled within you as you stormed to your home. Waving your hands in the air as you ranted and raved about the King, you mumbled strings of curses and insults to yourself. That- That arsehole. That empty headed, intoxicated, narcissistic, egoistic, think-skulled arsehole. Start praying that he becomes sober because one more word out of that mouth will get him killed, either by your hands or some pissed-off royal from another far away powerful land.

Slamming the papers onto the table of your office, you sighed heavily, collapsing onto the armchair behind you. Being one of Elfhame's few females that is a representing noble for her family was far from easy. Especially when that lazy dumbass king that sat on his ass and drank all day already had prejudices against you since you were both children. You might have to reconsider killing him because, well, why not? Cardan Greenbriar is one of the most incompetent people in the entire kingdom and he still dared to insult YOUR intelligence. A scholar, the same lady who literally saved him from being murdered at the coronation. The absolute audacity!

You growled impatiently as you ran your hands through your hair. Sure, you might not be the oldest noble, but he hadn't even spared you a thought before tossing your ideas down the drain. What was so terrible about giving free education to poorer families in Elfhame? Was he so narrow-minded, so spoiled, so entitled, that he didn't realise that there are still fae out there suffering!?

"I guess it's back to the drawing board huh!?" You whipped your head around to your father. He smiled at you, crows feet appearing at the corners of his eyes, his hair white, his skin sunken and wrinkled. Human. Your father was human. Your mother had been the fae one, though she died at birth. However, you never felt her absence as your father had never let you doubt for one moment that you were absolutely loved. You softened at the sight of your father. He was old, weak. Definitely not things that were valued by the fae. And if it hadn’t been for your fae heritage and your father’s deep-rooted connections, you could be living a very different life.

“I’ll worry about that, you just rest, Pa,” Prompting your father gently to go to bed. He nodded, pride shining in his eyes, as he walked out humming a simple tune. Your heart broke at the thought of living a life after he dies, but it was inevitable. You had to figure this out on your own. Lest, Mr. I-hate-everything, would be breathing down your neck.

Sighing, you turned to your desk, riddled with stacks if loose papers and books. You had to figure something out, present something, you promised yourself. You would not let the king trample your idea of a better Elfhame.

~*~*~*~*~

You were…..so tired. Well that was one way to put it. How did some humans do this their whole lives? You had pulled an all-nighter to rewrite the reports that the King wanted and you couldn’t believe how truly exhausted you were. When you heard from your father that some humans do this from the time they are in middle school, you wanted to faint. You could barely hold it together as you changed clothes into a formal gown.

Regardless, it was done. Thankfully, you were finally done with the piles of work that you had delayed for so long. If you were lucky, the King would give you a day off. Trudging to the Palace of Elfhame, you let out a sigh as you smoothed down your skirts once more. Approaching the doors, you flinched when you heard laughter and the cacophony of a party from the inside.

“When will someone finally have a vendetta against me and murder me in my sleep,” You mumbled as you pushed open the doors, faltering slightly as you noticed the insane amount of people dancing and laughing under the influence. At the centre of it all, Cardan lazed on his throne, grinning as he held a goblet of what you guessed was a mixture of his favourite alcohols.

You were about to turn around and leave, however Cardan spotted you and promptly called out your name above the loud and jarring music. Realising that he was probably drunk and wouldn’t remember this anyways, you continued walking, huffing to yourself when you heard footsteps following you. Cardan’s footsteps.

“Wait! Would you listen to your King and just wait!?” You ignored him, despite your efforts, he still caught up to you, stepping in front of you to block your path. He reeked of alcohol, and….was that substances?

“Are you high!? And drunk!? It’s not even a weekend Cardan!” You yelled in his face. If he was both of those things he wouldn’t remember this anyways, so might as well get it off your chest. “You are so infuriating, you are not responsible, you barely make right judgments without your advisors, you are always a little bit drunk. You are not fit to be King. Let’s not even mention the fact that you always look down on me for being half-human! I hope yo-,” You couldn’t finish your sentence as you kept trying to shove Cardan, because as you tried to continue screaming at him, he caught your wrist and pulled you in roughly, meeting your with a kiss.

~*~*~*~*~

A/N: I don’t know about this….but eh. No harm no foul in trying. Honestly, I don’t think this is the worst fic I have ever written. So- I hope you had fun reading this. I had a little fun writing this. See you next time <3

(ALSO THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH FOR 400 FOLLOWERS)

tag list: none for this character yet

[thequietkid-moonie]

Leon Oswald, Sora Naegino, Ken Robbins, Haruhi Fujioka, Tamaki Suoh, Hitachiin Hikaru how do they react when the reader kisses them and runs away?

Reader kiss them and run away

[ SCENARIO ] [ Leon, Sora, Ken, Haruhi, Tamaki, Hikaru ]

[ Kaleido Star ] [ Ouran High School Host Club ]

I don't know why but I feel like I had recived a lot of requests like this one (not complaining tho), mhhh... Is because i write it good or because is a cute prompt?

My first time writing for Leon!! Yeeeeey :D thank u anon!! I really love him, his character development and all that he has behind, his history and sadness!! He truly is an amazing character!!

Leon Oswald

Leon has created a very bad reputation for how he had treated his past teammates, however that is not exactly how he is, in reallity Leon is really caring towards the one he loves and care (he just doesn't show it)

When it comes to how open he is with his love and how affectionate he is it would depend on if you two are in a relationship or not, if not he isn't too open with it but there are some hints that make it obvious but if you two are already together he will be more obvious with his love

Even when Leon is open with his love he does it in indirect or subtle ways, holding your hand or even holding you (sometimes he rests his hand on your back like trying to support you), or also being physicaly close to you all the time he can, he is more by showing it by subtle ways and he isn't shy with the affection, however when it comes to kisses he prefers to keep it in private, there is no need to be showing off like that

Leon finds kisses as a rather cute gesture, it doesn't surprise him (even if you try to surprise him it won't surprise him much) so he react immediatly when you run away, still he just looks at you run for a moment before laugh softly and go after you (not exactly running, and only if it isn't because you wanted to give him a little kiss before getting busy, like a good luck kiss)

However, if is the case that you two aren't a couple yet he will be kinda confused and troubled by your gesture, even a little anxious since you had run away, he doesn't want to asume or feel like if you were just playing with him, he will go after you (again, without running) and when he found you he confront you about it (he could seem mad but he isn't). In the other hand, if this is the first time you two kiss he will feel a little anxious when you run away (it kinda bring him bad memories), he goes after you and isn't able to properly calm down until he catch you

Even when Leon doesn't exactly runs after you it doesn't take him much time to catch you in a hug before saying how cute you are and giving you a soft kiss on the head (however if there is too much people around he probably would be more suble). If you had run away out of shyness he find it even more cute and will tease you a little without even having the intention, if you had did it for being mischievous he just laughs at it

Sora Naegino

Sora is so friendly and expressive that is just part of her nature be open with her love for you, however when you two aren't a couple yet she tries to be subtle with it

Sora can be pretty affectionate and touchy if you are comfortable with it, she gets a little shy when it comes to be romantic with you but that doesn't stop her (she is already used to romantic stories for the Kaleido's presentations), still she isn't exactly the cheesy type, she is more the type to be your best friends and girlfriend

She doesn't mind much being physicaly close to you and small touches, like hands holding or even hugging (she can get used to it pretty quickly), as well Sora isn't easy to make flustered so it isn't too much trouble for her to recive physical affection, however a kiss is something more intimate and that is what will make her a little nervous and flustered

It actually take her a while to get used to kisses (specially on the lips), every time you kiss her she is surprised and flustered for a moment before trying to brush off her nervousness, but when you kiss her and then run away is something even more unexpected

Sora stay quite for a moment, processing what happened before running towards you (pretty flustered and blushy), Sora is asking you to please stop while running towards you and it doesn't take her much time before catching you, when she does she take a moment to breath before bombarding you with questions, letting go her nervousness with it. Sora take it pretty well and even jokinly, she may want to kiss you again and properly this time but she is nervous about doint it (specially if you were embarrassed of what you have done)

If you had run away out of shyness it take her a second to realice it and she will laugh at it, she isn't trying to make fun of you is just that he find it pretty hilarious and cute! If you have done it for being mischievous Sora will be dumbfounded and blush a little more, but will try to cover her flustered state while try to joke about it

If you have done it when you two aren't dating yet Sora will have troubles to follow you, so is more probably that she doesn't do it, instead she softly touches where you kissed her with a blush and think about it, when she finally put his mind in order she go after you to be able to talk about this and make clear her feelings for you too

Ken Robbins

Ken can be pretty shy and clumsy when it comes to romance, what can lead him to be pretty open with his love even when is still just a crush, but other times he shows how caring and supportive he is by other ways (not exactly being an accident this time)

When it comes to show his love and being affectionate Ken rely more on words and indirect actions, his love for you is stronge but he is too shy to show it in a more physical way, even just little touches like holding hands can turn him into a flustered mess (even when in a relationship)

Ken would be lying if he says that he doesn't want to kiss you, but is just something too direct for him, he is already pretty shy when it come to romance and a kiss can be pretty overwhelming (he prefers to wait a while to do it)

When you do kiss him is something that it take him by surprise (even if your intentions where obvious it would still surprised him), he barely can react when you start running away, Ken become a flustered mess at the moment your lips touched him so when you run away he doesn't had fully process it yet, and without doing it he just get worried of you, so when he finally can react (at least enough) he ask you to wait and start running towards you

It would take him a while and there is a posibility that he doesn't manage to catch you (still he won't stop looking for you), when he does find you he immediatly ask you why you had run away while trying to catch his breath, he is kinda worried that something had happened, is like in his mind he doesn't fully get it that it was for the kiss

If you had run away out of shyness he can understand it pretty well, and he tells you that with a nervous smile, getting all flustered again, and yet he tries to help you (or the two of you) calm down. In the other hand, if you did it for being mischievous he gets flustered again, thinking that you will something like that it makes his heart skip a beat

If is the case that you two aren't a couple yet he will be hesitant on going towards you, so is more probably that he waits a little to think about it before looking for you, and when you two see each other again he will ask you about it, flustered and all nervous but he still want to know what you meant with that gesture

Haruhi Fujioka

Haruhi is a more calm person, even when she falls in love she never lose her calm and mature personality, is something that it will be expressed on her feelings too. She isn't too obvious with her feelings but she doesn't has problems with admiting them

Haruhi isn't always directly affectionate (or in a physical ways), she is more the type to show her love by actions and sometimes words, however she doesn't mind being physicaly affectionate (but she will prefer to show that on the relasionship rather than before)

Haruhi had no problem with showing or receiving physical affection, as well she normally doesn't do a big deal out of it but that doesn't mean she doesn't like it, she isn't easily flustered not even with kisses (but she prefers to keep that to when being in private). When you kiss her it could surprise her if you do it out of the blue or for the first time, otherwise she isn't too surprised and even giggle at the affection (everytime you kiss her on the lips she corresponds)

How she react about you running away will depend in other factors, if you two aren't dating yet she will follow you almost immediatly at when you start running, even asking you to please stop, she wants to be able to ask you directly why did you do that and if that means you have romantic feelings for her, if you two are already dating is more likely that she just let you run away and confront you about it until you two see each other again, calling you silly for running away and laughing softly. In the case this was the first time you two kiss she will run after you too, it is a little unfair that you just run away so she will try to catch you to ask you why you had run away (being kissed in a rush like that isn't exactly her ideal so is probably that she kiss you again but properly this time)

If you had run away out of shyness she can understand your reason but still doesn't see why do it, still she finds it rather cute, if you did it for being mischievous she just sighs at it before smiling, she is already used to this kind of mischief on behalf from the hosts but didn't exactly expected it from you (unless you had already done something like this before)

Tamaki Suoh

Tamiki is always really flirty and romantic for being a host, but he himself tent to be that way too normally, aside from being pretty extrovert and childish, he is pretty obvious with his love and yet he doesn't get it for a long time

When it comes to be affectionate he has no shame with doing it, he is affectionate with words and actions, and that just increase when he accept his feelings and more when you two start dating

As romantic and flirty Tamaki is he actually can be pretty shy when it comes to something so personal to him as the person he loves, so he usually is flirty and romantic but with when you are directly affectionate to him he quickly gets flustered, that is why he will be incredibly nervous when it comes to kisses, it isn't like he doesn't want to is just something a little overwhelming for him

When you do kiss him is something that will shock him for the first times (it will take him a while to get used to it), he becomes a blushing embarrassed mess so quickly that he is unable to react, he can't even say something so when you run away he is even more surprised

He feels like this is like a scene out of a fairy tale, thinking that you are probably too shy and embarrassed by it (something that it flustered him even more), in his mind he should go after you like a gentleman, catch you in his arms and tell you how cute you are teasingly before having a romantic kiss but that isn't going to happen since he isn't able to do anything, his flustered state doesn't leave him to move, so he has to wait a while until you two see each other again

If you had run away out of shyness is how he thought it was, he finds it extremely cute and, now that he isn't complety flustered he is able to tell you how cute you are, however if you have did it for being mischievous Tamaki get flustered again, this isn't the reason he thought of why you had run away (it isn't like he dislike it though)

Is more probably that he go after you if you two aren't dating yet, is something so unexpected but he loves it, Tamaki tries to ignore his embarrassed state to follow you to be able to ask you that if that means you like him back

Hikaru Hitachi

Hikaru isn't too open or obvious with his love, specially if you two aren't dating yet (still his brother can easily notice his feelings), however he tent to show jealousy and a little possessiveness from time to time

Hikaru isn't exactly affectionate, he is more the joker and teasing type, specially if you two aren't dating, also he tent to feel embarrassed and flustered for his own feelings so that is why he tries to cover them, if you two are already together he will be more affectionate but mainly in private, when he feels emotional or tries to make it seem like it isn't a big deal

Hikaru has some troubles while showing affection (even when he shows otherwise), he prefer to take things slowly while he gets used to it, so a kiss it would be a little too much for him, specially if is unexpected

When you do kiss him it would surprised him a lot, he just stand there while you kiss him because he is unable to react, when you start running away Hikaru is still unable to react, he watch you run while being a flustered blushing mess, but when he finally get back into his senses he is immediatly running after you

Hikaru feels frustrated and irritated for what you have just done, mainly because he feels like if you were playing with him (he isn't mad for being kissed by you, what irritated him is the fact that you had run away), specially if you two aren't dating yet, if is that way he is even more frustrated because you had made him a flustered mess, for not explaining anything, for running away, but, more important, because he want you to clarify the meaning of your actions, he doesn't want to get excited over something that is just a joke for you

When he finally catch you (because he won't give up until he does and grows more frustrated as more time pass without being able to catch you), he make you look at him directly, he seems mad but his inmense blush contradict him

If you had run out of shyness Hikaru becomes really flustered once again because he find it really cute but he tries to calm down (when he finally calm down he wil teasing you for it, you won't hear the end of it), however if you have done it for being mischievous he is completely flustered in a whole different way, he was supoused to be the one who do those kind of things not you, and yet he can't help but love it and wonder it you would do something like this in the future again

[user-needs-new-hyperfixation]

Trying to start a giant-ass meta on why I ship Mycroft/Albert and what there is to see of it and right off the bat I'm like...I want people to look at every single panel of their interactions.

No, it's not Sherliam levels. And BIG OLD DISCLAIMER: very little of what I'm going to present here is like "We were clearly intended to read it this way." I'll always argue that Sherliam is meant to be romantic: it hits so many well-established notes and tropes it's almost impossible to think otherwise. MycAl is a bit different. I do think it's definitely like...we're welcome and even invited to see it. But a LOT of my shipping it comes from the way I personally read and interpret things. So this is about explaining what I'm seeing that makes me ship it, rather than trying to be like "This is canon and you should agree with me." Anyway, for reference, I'll be using the official translation as far as it goes and then swapping to teawaffles' wonderful translation for the rest!

So...like right off the bat throughout the entirety of their Chapter 4 interactions their body language and expressions and ways of talking are so flirty? (Also, I still find it funny that in the manga Mycroft is introduced before Sherlock and thus Mycal is introduced before Sherliam. Older bros first lol.)

Maybe it's just that 2 decades on the internet have skewed me towards reading suggestiveness into everything, but the way Mycroft addresses Albert feels so flirtatious even if he's literally just being normal. "And what would an Indian Army official such as yourself want from an intelligence official such as myself this late in the evening?" Like...am I crazy? Does that not kinda sound like a porn intro? 😂 (This could also be Sherliam Side-effects. The way they call each other Professor and Detective in That One Scene is like...almost undeniably foreplay. Now every time anyone calls each other by title/profession/rank is this series I assume they're hitting on each other.)

But also Albert is just so...handsy throughout that scene. He's touching Mycroft's knickknacks, and just sort of limp-wristing all over the place. And I mean, I think that's just one of Albert's public-facing personas (customer service peeps, you know what's up) but it definitely lends itself to the existence of Vibes.

Anyway, there's this parallel of "You have my attention. What do you want?" that I think is kinda neat. (But look how comparatively sad Mycroft looks in the second version!!!)

Chapter 4:

Chapter 23:

Btw, in Scandal in the British Empire...why does Mycroft introduce himself to the Queen? Never mind, not why we're here. Again, my weird innuendo sensors perk up in Chapter 17 at "I did not drag you out of bed this early for nothing." Maybe it's because my perception of Victorian niceties, whether it's factual or not, is that there was this sense of avoiding talk of physical realities. We don't speak of pregnancy, we speak of "her condition" and "confinement." We don't "go to bed," we "retire." And so on. So conversely, it feels almost suggestive to even acknowledge that someone was in bed. In whatever state of undress the might imply. *Kellen Goff Sasaki voice:* OOOH how sCanDaLOus. (Mind you I DON'T believe there is anything of authorial intent in this, again, just trying to explain the factors that make me read things a certain way.)

The little mind games: Albert immediately recognizing that he's being tested, and Mycroft well aware that something is off, that he and Albert are using each other to their own ends. All juicy ship ingredients.

Then there's this...I can't articulate why it's important. But it is. Something about mouths and thoughts. If I wasn't terribly lazy, I'd go digging for examples in various manga series and I have a pretty firm suspicion that I could prove that, often, Mouth-Focus Thinking Panel + Name = Ship.

Jumping forward to the start of The Riot in New Scotland Yard (Chapter 29), Mycroft's demeanour has really changed. During the meeting at the British Museum he's radiating "I'm not angry I'm just disappointed" energy. He's tense, he's not sure if the Moriartys are enemies and when he understands their plan he seems understandably sad about it even as he accepts it. But now, he's radiating an almost Sherlock-like excitement. He's just gotten to see a miniature version of The Plan in action during the Jack the Ripper case, and it worked. He says he's just visiting Albert as an acquaintance (read: friend in Mycroftian), and that's what it feels like. They're chummy. It's cute. Also Albert teasing Mycroft over his squabbles with Sherlock when he leaves? When did Albert find out about that, hmm? (I mean, could be spying of course. But I like to think it just suggests they've talked more than we've seen.)

Annnnnd....cutting this part off here because I'm bored of it for now and it's long. I'll do the rest when the mood strikes. 😂

[genericpuff]

Rachel "Retcon" Smythe Strikes Again!

Okay, so I've been seeing pictures of Volume 4 of Lore Olympus floating around, and people are ALREADY FINDING RETCONS.

Most notably so far, some added panels in the Hades and Apollo confrontation that happens outside Artemis' house (when Persephone steals Apollo's lyre) in Episode 81.

This is the original scene, for anyone who needs a refresher:

Aaaand here are the panels that were added.

(all pictures of Volume 4 are courtesy @iwannagutyou on IG!!! thank you for giving me permission to use these! <3)

First of all, the art. It's so noticeably bad. You can tell Rachel has completely lost her ability to draw these characters in the S1 style, I'm fairly certain she took the panel of Hades from the old version and just copy pasted it to try and get around it (look at the posing) but it's incredibly obvious looking at that third panel that LO is not and can never be what it was back in 2017-2019. Those first two panels seem like they were copy pasted from the previous ones, which is just sad if those are the lengths she has to go to to come even close to replicating the older style.

Now, this just might be due to camera translation, it could very well look better IRL, but the colors just look so incredibly desaturated and the lines blurred out, to the point that people are doing double takes over whether or not panels have been directly changed - they haven't been, they've just been so sucked dry of their colors that they look off enough to cast suspicion.

If anything it's a harsh reminder that LO has kinda always had art problems, especially with its lazy humor and stupid meme faces.

Of course, to be fair, color loss can happen in print, but seeing how slapped together these books tend to be, I wouldn't be surprised if they just didn't put in the effort to convert the page art to CMYK or at least tinker with the saturation in editing some more to ensure it would come out more vibrant in print.

Now. Excuse me while I go on a bit of a crackpot rant here. Newbie puff pals beware, because this is gonna get dicey and you're about to learn where my tinfoil-hat rep comes from but I just have to talk about it.

Back to the added Apollo panels, where Persephone asks Hades not to hurt him and he looks nervous before she says "I just want him to leave".

Maybe it's just me, but it's a little weird that THESE are the panels they decided they needed to add. It's weird that she's asking Hades not to hurt Apollo when she's about to break into his car and steal his lyre just a few moments later. It's weird that the implication seems to be that she's referring to Hades' act of violence towards Tori... but Persephone doesn't know that's happened yet. So this feels like an unnecessary retcon that's doing more harm than good.

But I feel like the timing of this is kinda messed up as well, as this book released just days after the release of the last FP episode in which Apollo has his 'side' of the assault story told through his perspective, which is often considered a HUGE no-no in writing assault stories because it often comes with the implication that it's asking for empathy from the audience. We already know Apollo is delusional, we already know he thinks him and Persephone are meant to be despite her constant rejection of him, we didn't need a flashback from his own warped perspective explaining that very thing, the only purpose to do such a thing this late in the game would be to try and get the audience to 'connect' with him (it's giving S3 Bryce from 13 Reasons Why vibes). Now we have this scene of Persephone asking Hades not to hurt him (despite the structure of the episode being literally fine before, this change wasn't needed) getting snuck into the physical book release just a couple days after the newest FP tried to present Apollo in an empathetic light (and let me tell you, that's a whole essay and a half that I'll be getting into eventually).

Shit, if I wanted to get REAL Pepe Sylvia with it, I might say that hypothetically, the whole point of the random Leuce abuse episode - despite Persephone having no way of knowing what she attempted as Hades hadn't told her and she wasn't there to see it and we weren't shown her overhearing them in any way - and the following episode that was mostly padding of Hades and Persephone having sex - no consequences or follow-up whatsoever to the Leuce scene - was just to pad out the episode release schedule and buy time until the book came out so that Rachel could release that Apollo POV episode right before the book came out and revealed those new added scenes of Persephone asking Hades not to hurt Apollo, in what could be a sly artificial attempt at minimizing the SA plot so Rachel can finally just brush aside the one major plot point she regretted writing the most. After all, it wouldn't be the first time Rachel's controlled the pace of her comic to release certain moments at certain times that line up with IRL events.

But, y'know. I'm gonna quit on that thought while I'm ahead because it's probably making my credibility meter drop into the red. My ADHD has been real bad lately and it's really starting to show LMAO All ima say is that IDK who Rachel thinks she's fooling here, this kind of shit is stupid easy to fact check when the digital version of the comic is available online to read.

To end on a much funnier and lighter note, remember how Rachel tried to retcon the Demeter/Hera/Hestia relationship by changing the line "I miss my sisters" to "I miss my friends"? Well, there was one panel that had been missed in the webtoons version that still refers to them as sisters. You can still find this unedited line in Episode 78.

And uh. They forgot to fix it again for the book.

It's permanent now. That's permanent marker. It would have cost them nothing to find this in the webtoon version and fix it before it got sent to the book editors. Now it's gonna cost them thousands because the book editors didn't bother (or know) to check.

There's also this... weird shit going on with the speech bubbles. Like, they're REALLY FUCKING OVERDOING IT with the speech bubble outlines. I don't know who made this choice but it was a bad one. Gross. Don't do that. It looks so cheap.

But let's be real, at this point I feel like the book editors are just outright sabotaging Rachel because who the fuck calls themselves a professional when they do this shit-

Oh, and there's no bonus episode, just sketches. Which is fine. But it makes me chuckle to think that Rachel just didn't have time in her already razor-thin buffer to draw up a new episode to pass off as "cut content".

[pmaxshay]

Love Conquers All

Benedict Bridgerton x Reader (Fem)

~ Part 1 ~ ~ Part 2 ~ ~ Part 3 ~ ~ Part 4 ~

~ Part 5 ~ ~ Part 6 ~

*The end is here which I’m actually kinda sad about :( It is another lengthy one but I do hope you have enjoyed this little story it has been so fun to write. This chapter also has a lot of musical suggestions which I do hope you listen to while reading. I think they add so much more to the imagination! Happy reading and I shall hopefully write again soon :)*

*Warnings - slight smut*

~ The End ~

Y/N stood in front of her mirror, her hands pressed against her abdomen while May pulled at her corset strings. All other maids rushed around her.

“How are you feeling Miss?” May asked with a smile.

“I’m not too sure May. I’m… well I suppose I’m feeling everything all at once.” Y/N replied with a nervous smile.

May stopped her pulling and placed both hands on her shoulders. Looking at her through the mirror.

“You are bound to be feeling everything. That is normal. You are going to look beautiful. Benedict and yourself are lucky to have found one another.” May continued to smile but there was sadness in her eyes.

“May?”

“Yes Miss?”

“Have you ever… found that someone?”

May paused and thought about how to answer.

“Once. He was… well he was the kindest man I had ever met. But that is a story for another time Miss. We must finish getting you ready.”

Y/N gave her another small smile before taking a deep breath in.

In the Bridgerton household, preparations were underway. The housekeeper and all the maids and servants rushing around making sure everything was perfect for the big day.

Benedict, Colin, Anthony and Richard had been out at the stag the night before. As you may have guessed, it was a messy one. Richard nursed his head with a flannel whilst Y/N got ready.

Colin and Anthony were slightly worse for wear also but Benedict was bright and fresh as a daisy. Needing to be present and correct for the day.

“Good morning Brothers.” Benedict chimed. The oldest and youngest cringed and winced at the volume.

“You are losing your touch. Both of you.” Benedict laughed. Patting a hand on both of their shoulders.

“You forget dear Brother that we are now fathers. We are not as young as we once were.” Colin huffed.

“Who would’ve thought… Us? Fathers.” Anthony chimed, looking wistfully at his brother.

“It has also made you soft.” Benedict laughed again.

“Well, you are yet to be married Benedict, but you yourself have softened considerably. Explain that?” Colin teased.

“It is love dear Brother. It catches us all in the end.” Anthony smiled, pulling out a flask from his jacket pocket.

Hair of the dog, indeed.

Some time later, everyone had gathered in the church. Lots of chatter and excitement filled the space. Everyone waving and saying hello to each other.

Richard stood with Y/N away from everyone. Waiting for their moment.

He turned to his daughter. Tears in his eyes.

“You my dear girl are beautiful. I just… wish your mother were here to see you.” He whispered.

Y/N felt her own tears threaten to fall but had managed to keep them at bay so far.

“I know. I would wish for nothing more for her to be here. I do really feel as though she is Pa. Maybe not physically but in spirit and in our hearts.” Y/N lifted a hand to her heart. Richard soon did the same to his own. Using his free hand to hold his daughter’s.

“I am so very proud of you. Never forget that.” Richard cried. Coughing to clear his throat.

Y/N laughed at his emotion but soon pulled him into an embrace.

At the altar, Benedict waited patiently with the priest. Smirking at his family sat in the pews and then at the other guests of the Ton. Danbury sat smug faced to which Benedict chuckled to himself, blowing his head towards her

Before he knew it, it was time. The curtain opened and his love was making her way down the aisle. He glanced down for a moment not quite ready to see her just yet. He took a deep breath in, steadying his nerves and then slowly looking up.

*Press play*

That first look at her made everything else seem so small. Nothing and no one else mattered in that moment.

Not one… single… moment.

Y/N gave her husband to be a small smile, it was filled with nerves but mostly happiness. He copied her action, feeling everything that she was.

He couldn’t help but blush, knowing that this beautiful creature had chosen to be here with him today. To promise to love him, in front of his nearest and dearest until they both are no longer living. The mere thought caused his heart to swell.

Y/N made her way down the aisle, smiling at the guests as she did. Her bouquet in one hand while she linked arms with her father.

When she looked at the man she was about to promise to love for the rest of her life. She knew that it was the most important decision of her life. However, she also knew that it was a decision she would never, ever regret.

This man has proven himself and showed her that he was devoted. He had opened his heart to her and she had done the same for him.

No matter what life would throw at them they would travel through it… together.

Despite not really knowing, Benedict Bridgerton had fixed something inside of Y/N. And perhaps, she had fixed something inside of him too. Two young adults trying to find their way in the world, finding out who they are and where they belong. Through this they had luckily, found each other.

Richard and Y/N stopped as they made it to the altar. Y/N gave her father a knowing look before handing over her flowers. He nodded before turning to Benedict, nodding to him and placing a hand on his arm for reassurance.

Benedict leaned in close to her and whispered.

“You are divine my love.”

Y/N blushed but thanked him with a smirk.

“As are you Mr Bridgerton.”

The ceremony went on without a hitch. Everyone teary eyed and full of joy seeing two people come together to show their love for one another.

Everyone was now gathered at the Bridgerton’s home. The house decorated within an inch of its life.

Violet doing an extraordinary job once again.

“Lady Bridgerton I must thank you. This is beautiful and you have done such a grand job.” Y/N took Violet by her hands, holding them in her own.

“Y/N, you must call me Violet now. We are family.”

“But you are so very welcome. There is nothing I enjoy more than a good party.” Violet grinned. She soothingly rubbed her thumbs over Y/N’s hands.

“Apologies. I must also thank you for… well, for everything. Without my Mama it has been truly difficult. Pa has done his best but you know how Fathers can be. I do not wish to overstep but I truly do see you as a Mother figure. You have welcomed me into your family and I am truly grateful Violet.”

Violet was taken aback by her new daughter in laws words but it made her heart burst with happiness. She beamed, her cheeks blushing.

“I am… overwhelmed by such kind words Y/N. I am so truly glad that you feel that way. You are a Bridgerton now, and always will be dear girl.” Violet let go of one of her hands and softly placed hers on Y/N’s cheek.

Y/N could not help but smile back, her eyes brimming with tears.

Across the room, Benedict was talking with some guests but glanced over to see the sweet moment between his mother and his new bride. He smiled before returning back to the conversation.

Gregory and Hyacinth were in charge of keeping the children in check. This translated to them teaching them all the tricks and pranks.

Kate and Anthony watched as they played together.

“I do so love our life.” Anthony hummed, his chin resting on Kate’s shoulder. His arms wrapped around her stomach.

“As do I my love.” Kate hummed back.

Colin and Penelope were not far away, also watching as the siblings played with all the children.

“I cannot believe our dear Benedict is a married man.” Colin chuckled in disbelief.

“It is a shock I must say but doesn’t love find a way. It did with us. Despite the rocky journey to get there.” Penelope spoke, thinking back to their own wedding and the drama that unfolded beforehand.

“You can say that again. It is our story though is it not. It may not be one of perfection but it is ours.” Colin chimed, grabbing Pen’s hand and holding it against his chest.

“It is.” Pen replied softly, with as much love in her eyes as the day they married.

*Press play*

Benedict watched as Y/N made her way around the room to greet and chat with everyone. The adoration and pride in his eyes was enough to make anyone swoon.

He quickly made his way over to her, excusing himself from his current company. He stopped by her side and waited for her to notice.

Everyone bowed and curtsied at the sight of him. Y/N turned and smiled.

“Y/N Bridgerton, may I have the pleasure of a dance? Our first as man and wife?” Benedict smirked.

“In the daylight?” Y/N asked shocked.

“I believe my dear Brother and Penelope started it at their wedding. I wish to make it a tradition.” He continued to smirk, holding out his hand.

Y/N pondered for a moment before breaking into her own smirk, placing her hand in his as they swayed into the middle of the room. Everyone parted so that there was a makeshift dance floor.

The two moved and swayed together with such grace that everyone watched in awe. The love shared between them was so grand it radiated from them.

Violet and Lord Anderson stood arm in arm with soft smiles, glancing at each other.

Kate and Anthony beamed with pride as did the rest of the Bridgerton clan.

Colin and Pen stood with their own smiles.

“We are trendsetters Pen.” Colin joked.

Pen nudged him playfully, chuckling at his humour.

Soon enough, everyone grabbed their partners and joined the happy couple on the dance floor. All twirling and spinning around together with joy and laughter.

Servants even stopped to watch as everyone danced and gracefully moved about the room.

Gregory even pulled Hyacinth in to twirl her around.

“It should be suitors that I am dancing with Brother. But I suppose… I could use the practice.” Hyacinth smirked.

Eloise stayed back but couldn’t help but feel pride at watching yet another one of her friends finding her match. She held a glass in one hand but quickly sniffed and wiped away a tear that had fallen. Despite her hard exterior she was the biggest softie on the inside.

The night continued just the same, everyone enjoying themselves and celebrating. It had grown dark and guests were retiring for the evening.

The newlyweds were saying goodbye to everyone as well as Violet and the rest of the Bridgertons, apart from Eloise who seemed to be missing.

Danbury made her way through.

“An excellent soirée once again Bridgertons.”

“Thank you Lady Danbury. Such high praise.” Anthony smirked.

“I only give the highest praise to those that deserve it. Think yourselves lucky.” Danbury teased.

“Thank you for coming Agatha. It is a pleasure to have you… always.” Violet grabbed her hand with a smile.

“You are welcome Violet. Happiness and health to you both once again. Do not forget it is I who brought you together.” Danbury turned to Y/N and Ben, winking at them before walking away.

“I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again… that woman is a marvel.” Y/N chimed.

Everyone agreed.

“Where is Eloise?” Kate looked around realising they were a Bridgerton short.

Everyone glanced around also not knowing.

Benedict had a feeling he knew where she may be.

“I’ll go find her.” He volunteered.

He was quick to make his way into the garden and be greeted by his dear sister sat on the all familiar swings. A cigarette in between her fingers.

He quietly made his way over, Eloise turned to see him.

“Sorry Brother. I just needed a moment.” She spoke, taking a drag of the cigarette and then holding it out for him to have a drag. He happily took it but threw it to the ground and stomped it out.

“Filthy habit.” He smirked before sitting on the empty swing.

“Are you going to chastise me again?” She smirked back with a laugh.

“Not my style sister. Although I am worried about you. How ever will you cope without me around?” He teased, pushing the rope that held the swing. She shifted before doing the same to his.

“I am happy for you Benedict. You deserve to be happy.” Eloise continued.

“Thank you.”

“How come you are so solemn then?” Benedict asked.

Eloise sighed deeply, looking up to the sky and back to her brother.

“Everyone seems to be finding their matches and their lives. Which is great. I just… getting back from Scotland. Seeing some of the world outside of Mayfair. It has widened by need to wander Brother. There is so much of the world and I wish to see more.”

“And you will. You are Eloise Bridgerton. When have you ever backed down from anything?” Benedict teased but he was sincere with his compliment. He reached over and placed his hand in hers.

Eloise stared back at him and just smiled. She knew he was right, she is Eloise Bridgerton, and she would not back down.

Benedict and his new bride were staying in an inn for their wedding night. Their house was not ready yet which disheartened Y/N but Benedict was quick to reassure her.

“It does not matter where we are my love, just that we are together no?” He hummed, placing a hand on her cheek.

“You are right. I’m sorry.”

“No need to apologise. It is our wedding night. We are free to do as we please.” He winked, causing Y/N to laugh.

They made their way into their room. Getting themselves acquainted with where they’d be staying, but were soon feeling the need to get acquainted with each other once more.

Y/N began to get undressed, Benedict doing the same but keeping his eyes on his wife.

Neither saying a word but saying everything with their eyes and bodies.

Once Y/N had dropped her dress, she looked over at Ben. Needing him to help her. She don’t even need to ask before he was rushing over.

“With pleasure.” He whispered into her ear from behind. Using his fingers to trace across her shoulders and down to the strings. Slowly, he undid every single one. The tension building but also so was the heat in her body.

Th corset was soon dropped and so were her skirts. Benedict still stood behind her, his mouth dipping to kiss across her shoulders, then slowly down her back, across her spine. He stopped when he reached her lower back.

“How do you want it?” He whispered, his hands resting against her hips.

Her arousal grew at his question. He was so attentive to her needs, wanting to please her before himself.

“However you want Ben. I just want you.” She managed to mumble out.

“Mmm. That’s what I want to hear.” He hummed, his own arousal becoming heightened.

He used his hands on her hips to spin her around, his body still kneeling. He planted his lips against her abdomen. Leaving little kiss and bites there. Y/N jumping slightly at the feeling.

She quickly placed her hand under his chin and lifted his head to look at her. His eyes soft and full of adoration.

“I love you Mr Benedict Bridgerton.”

He laughed.

“I should hope so.”

He cleared his throat.

“I love you Mrs Y/N Bridgerton. Oooh I love how that sounds.” He groans, his head lulling back.

Y/N was quick to bring it back to look at her once more.

“Show me. Show me how much.” She smirked, moving backwards until her knees hit the bed. She turned to lift herself up into it and then lay there. Sprawled out ready for him.

He groaned once more at the sight. Quickly ridding himself of his own clothes. They were thrown somewhere across the room in a frenzy which caused the two of them to laugh and giggle.

“You need me to show you?” He asked, needing complete consent.

“Please.” She groaned, using her hands to caress her skin.

Benedict was quick to move over there, hauling himself up so that he was above her. Grabbing her hand to stop her from continuing.

“That is my job my love. Let me show you how much you fill my thoughts. How much I wish to worship every inch of you. Every freckle, every scar and every spot of your beautiful…” He stopped to kiss across all of her marks and freckles scattering her skin.

“…beautiful body.” He hummed.

“I am yours.” Y/N whispered.

Benedict sighed in contentment.

“And I am yours.”

[jordynbreeloa777]

Holi. My sp is a guy from my university and I already knew him a year ago, I thought he was cute but nothing else. I only talked to him once, but for a course question and he was very polite. However, this year from one moment to the next I started to like him and I didn't understand why. He and I, we never spoke again since that one time, we have no friends in common, much less in networks and I know absolutely nothing about him, but his name. * I saw him with a girl, with a physical aspect very different from mine. She was kind of blonde and stuff) Back to the present * however, I started to claim that he is head over heels in love only with me. I didn't believe it at all, but I claimed only when I could and my negative thoughts were a bit stronger. The first week I started to pay more attention to him (before I didn't care what he did) but I was more attentive to him. I just got nervous when I passed him. Then I started to get confused if he was looking at my friend or me, so the doubts stayed in my mind and my friend started talking about him as if she was interested in him too, so I got sad. But I kept affirming, I only crossed paths with him a couple of times and his friends added me to talk but he never spoke to me, and he was on his cell phone, he ignored me. But then I saw him with the most popular girl in college, she is very pretty and obviously I am very insecure because I feel that I don't fit the standard of beauty or that I am not his physical type of him. Even more so when She is like the other girl I saw him with. I felt really bad, both because I saw no movement for me and I didn't understand how if I claimed that he was in love with me, he was with another girl flirting. What's more, he never talked to me or anything and I thought how would it happen. So I gave up and stopped affirming a couple of days ago, I feel really sad and I can't affirm because I'm kind of busy with my exams. But I really like that guy a lot, I feel like I left him in oblivion and I'm losing him, even when I try to affirm that he only has eyes for me. I remember his image with her. And even worse my friend told me that he was looking at her. What should I do? I don't even believe in my affirmations and I don't do them, maybe affirm two minutes a day or so. I want him to come closer to me and start something nice together. But I get depressed. Thank you so much and sorry for so much

okay so holddd. Where’s your faith or persistence? You don’t have to believe your affirmations you just have to stay disciplined. Reading this, I can kinda see that this may be one of your core beliefs about this boy is that he doesn’t want you, so on and other bs. My simple answer to this is wavering. You wavering. You’re wavering so easily. How manifesting works is by your DOMINANT THOUGHTS. manifesting is like a printer, once it’s a 100% boom. It’s unfolded into your reality. Also there’s no need to be sorry I love helping ppl manifest what they want 😭 What you should do is if you like affirming is 10 minute method. This is also because you’re simply not affirming enough. If you waver easily, this is the easiest way to stay living in the 4D. Your sp is in love with you! Happy manifesting💓💓

[dont-offend-the-bees]

Oh, Lonely Bones, Have You Forgotten? Chapter Two

Hello, beautiful people! Chapter two’s here!

Now, to be honest, I’ve been getting in my head about this one. The first chapter got so many compliments on its slow building suspense, and this chapter is more of a meandering slice of life/case fic, so I’m not gonna lie, slightly worried it won’t go down as well. So if you enjoy it, please do come tell me and put my mind at ease! It didn’t come together easy and I have been staring at it for WAY too long - but this week I’ve been self-isolating with covid so uh. A lot of writing time opened up.

WARNINGS: Annnngst. Death, loneliness, abandonment, touch starvation, sensory deprivation, along with morbid things like burials and bodies and bones are core themes of this fic. The ending will be happy eventually but we WILL have a sad ride to get there. So please be aware of that before reading.

Thank you everyone who read/commented on chapter one, hope you enjoy this instalment! Also thank you to justafandomfollower on tumblr who offered to beta this when I was getting paranoid - I ultimately did not take you up on the offer bc by the time I felt like this was ready to have other eyes on it I just wanted to post it and get it over with but I appreciate you!!! It was such a kind offer, unfortunately I physically can not edit this thing any more than I have or I will truly go insane 💛

Chapter two is 9.7k. Chapters 3/4 coming soon (hopefully). Also on Ao3 (need to be signed in to read)

~

"So. I kinda feel like I'm gonna wish I hadn't asked," said Crystal, arms crossed and feet shuffling. "But... screw it. What's in the box?"

Charles visibly winced. He stepped into the room behind the trunk he was helping to manoeuvre through the mirror, and staggered on entry. Distracted, no doubt, by the effort of searching for a way to answer her query without causing distress. "It's, uh. Well. It's..."

Edwin, having no such compunctions about stating the facts, set down his end of the trunk with haste. "Me," he said, putting a good arm's length between himself and the awful thing. It had already begun ramping up towards another outburst in the short time the container had been closed. Edwin could feel that insistent, vexatious drone reestablishing itself. Could feel the temperature in the office drop — for him, at least. Crystal seemed unaffected. Definitely spectral, then. "I'm in there. What's left of me, at any rate."

Under different, less harrowing conditions, he might've enjoyed the look on Crystal's face. A slow, dawning transformation from confusion to slack-jawed horror. It wasn't altogether unlike the face she'd made when they'd returned from the case of the disappearing chin with their reward: a mason jar full of assorted teeth.

But the circumstances were far from jovial. Engaging in some good-natured needling of his colleague was quite far down his list of priorities. The comfort of such a ritual — and even the comfort of the sanctuary in which they now stood — lay sullied by the aura leeching from the trunk.

Edwin found himself feeling... unappreciative, of the hallowed space. Of their shared artefacts and ephemera, of the four walls that had housed their agency from its inception. It all seemed so far out of his purview, at present. There was a numbness settling upon him. Different to the ever-present sensory deprivation of the ghostly condition. Different, and worse. His usual lack of feeling was just that; a lack. An absence of heat, of touch, of smell and taste and bodily sensation. It was a simple, neutral nothing. This was a something. This was the presence of an absence. For the first time in decades, as pins and needles bloomed about his person, he was granted a physical symptom of his own lack of physicality. It was troubling. He could feel; but only just enough to be reminded that he couldn't.

His hands twitched, and he tugged his gloves off in jerky motions, finger by finger. As he did so, he tripped headlong into a battle of wills; staring down the sealed trunk with bated breath. The sound of Charles' voice as he explained and Crystal's as she quizzed, they all seemed to fade to an insignificant hum behind that wheedling drone. It was like a whisper into the ear. So quiet and yet by sheer proximity, sheer intimacy it drove all other noise to the background. Drawing his ears, his eyes, his mind to the enclosed space. Urging him to step close, to open the lid. To look, look, look at me...

"Edwin? Edwin, you listening?"

"Hm?" He had not, in fact, been listening. Abashed, he turned his attention to Charles. "Yes. That is, ah... might you repeat that?"

Charles was watching him with open concern, eyes wide and a tension in his jaw. His gaze kept darting between Edwin and the trunk as if he could see the pull between them, following it like a string. "What are we gonna do?" he asked, voice pitched low. "With... with them?"

Edwin hadn't the faintest notion.

Still, he'd insisted on not involving the police, and this was his problem in most every possible sense. So he cleared his throat, and discarded his coat and gloves on the desk. "Well. Clearly, the matter merits further investigation. We are still on a case, after all." He strode over to the bookshelf and perused its titles, fingers dancing across the spines. "The school should be safe, now that the cause has been removed from the grounds."

"Bad new for our office, though," muttered Charles.

"Okay, have I like, missed something?" Crystal cut in, throwing her hands in the air. "This doesn't make any sense! I’m sorry, Edwin, but if these... if these are your bones —" her voice dropped, briefly, into a hiss. As if the harsh truth would soften if spoken in hushed tones. "Then how can they be doing this? They can't be haunted, right? How can they be haunted, when your spirit is —?"

"Otherwise engaged? I've no idea." He riffled through the pages of a volume on hexes, finding nothing of relevance at a glance. He'd already known that would be the case, but the need for familiar motions was... acute. "It's really quite fascinating," he said, in an attempt at airy detachment. He wasn't altogether convinced he pulled it off.

"Edwin," said Charles — much closer to Edwin's ear than he'd expected in his distraction. Edwin jumped a tad, wrong-footed. He cursed the impulse at once when Charles pulled away, apology writ large across his face. "Maybe, um," Charles forged on, hands held where Edwin could see them. "Maybe you should let us handle this one, mate. You're a bit... close to the situation. Yeah?"

Edwin offered a tight, strained smile. "Thank you, Charles. But I'm quite alright. And I'll be even better when this case is closed, so we'd best hop to it. Besides, chances are strong that this holds very little relevance to me, at all. It's possible the remains have been infested or claimed by another paranormal entity. This could all be unravelled with something as simple as a counter-jinx. Now, have you that grimoire — the one we acquired in ninety seven? I think it might be in your bag."

Charles sighed, and clapped Edwin on the shoulder. "I'll have a look."

He sloped off in search, and Edwin busied himself loading books onto his arm; any that could be even tangentially related. Educational texts, diaries, even certain storybooks could point them in the right direction. It was possible they were looking into something unlike anything they'd seen before. They may need to glean insights from unorthodox sources.

He'd amassed a stack of about a baker's dozen by the time Crystal replaced Charles at his shoulder.

"Gimme some of those," she said, hands palm up and fingers flapping.

"They're very dense volumes," said Edwin, barely sparing her a glance. "Spanning several languages, many of them dead —"

"Then gimme the ones in English. We all need to work together." Her hands did not lower, and nor did her gaze; it remained fixed upon him in a brazen manner that dared him to argue. Her eyes were hard, but her voice softened somewhat when she said: "Let's wrap this one up fast, okay?"

He sighed, and accepted defeat. He begrudgingly handed her his (replica, thoroughly de-hexed) edition of The Boneturner's Tale. "Thank you," he uttered.

"This the one, Edwin?" Charles called.

Edwin glanced over and found Charles with one arm in his bag of tricks, the other holding aloft a tattered book. "That's it exactly, Charles. Flick through and find the section on malicious enchantments — bones are a common component in numerous spells. See if you find any phenomena corresponding to what we've experienced tonight."

Books in hand, Edwin picked his way across the office, nigh on hugging the wall — giving the trunk a very wide berth. "Likewise to you, Crystal," he instructed. "We're looking for any mention of cold snaps, telepathic communication, or compulsions in relation to bones or remains. We need to ascertain what we're up against and, ideally, how to stop it. I daresay we have a long night ahead of us."

Crystal groaned, sinking like a stone into the sofa. "I'm gonna need some coffee or something," she muttered, tucking her feet under herself as she opened her book.

"Maybe we can sweet talk Charlie into putting the kettle on," Charles teased.

Crystal snorted. "Yeah, great. She'd like that almost as much as you calling her Charlie."

Edwin loosened his bowtie as he claimed his desk chair. He felt constricted, all of the sudden. As if the new not-awareness was expanding into a new cognizance of the clothing on his person. He looked, disquieted, at the box; and though it simply wasn't possible, he could feel it looking back. It was certainly talking back; on and on, that never ending litany, uttered without breath or pause, a rolling patter of desperation. Look at me look at me look at me please —

He slammed the first book down, decisively, and flipped to the index. "Onwards and upwards..."

Charles picked up another book from the stack — one that made him go a touch cross-eyed upon opening — and perched on the desk at Edwin's elbow. "Don't worry, mate," he said, delivering a companionable knock to Edwin's arm with his knee. "With all three of us on the job, the Dead Boy Detectives at full force? We'll have this sussed out by morning!"

~

Two Days Later…

"How's it feel, now?" asked Crystal, pen poised over Edwin's notebook.

Edwin, with gritted teeth, wrestled his jumbled thoughts into some kind of submission. It was so hard just to think — and it got harder with every step down the corridor. "Six," he bit out, resting his hands on his knees and catching his breath. He could scarcely hear himself over the racket in his head. "Definitely six."

Crystal jotted it down. Edwin wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea of adding her chicken scratch handwriting to his meticulous notes. But the way these tests had his own hands shaking, his writing was no better at present.

"It's getting worse," Crystal muttered, brow furrowed as she scanned the page.

"Obviously it's getting worse," he snapped. "I think we've quite thoroughly established that, Crystal."

"Oi! Leave off," Charles cut in, stern. He was wearing the same stormy expression that had followed Edwin on his slow, arduous odyssey down the hall. "She's only trying to help."

Edwin sighed, and dragged his hands down his face. Perhaps he could up and disappear into them. "Yes. Yes, I know." He risked a peek over his fingers, down at Charles. They were shoulder to shoulder, two abreast in the narrow corridor. But while Edwin was upright (just about) and forward-facing, Charles was hunkered down and reversed. A necessity while he unspooled the tape measure along the floor at the pace of Edwin's cautious feet. "Charles, how far?"

Charles checked the tape measure against the toe of Edwin's boot. "'Bout thirty feet."

"About?"

Charles rolled his eyes. "Alright, alright, you bloody pedant! Thirty point... three."

"It's not pedantic to record our findings with accuracy," Edwin grumbled. "Write it down, Crystal. Please," he appended, with haste.

She did so — but she frowned at Edwin like he was the one being tedious and unreasonable. "Is this really the best thing we could be doing?" she asked.

"Our research has been a dead end. We need more information to build off. We need to establish rules, parameters." He straightened up from his resting position, and adjusted his rumpled waistcoat. A vain attempt, with the garment unbuttoned and hanging limp from his torso. "This haunting must have a boundary to its area of affect. At the school I didn't feel it at all until the second floor. It'll get worse, and then better when I'm out of its range."

"Or," Crystal contended. "You triggered a trap when you opened the box, and now it's not gonna let you go."

Edwin scowled. "If that proves to be the case, then I shall gladly add it to the information we hold. But logic and due process dictates we gather every available piece of evidence before leaping to conclusions. Now, if there are no more objections, let's get on with it, shall we?"

"You should take a breather, mate," said Charles, eyeing Edwin with disarming intensity. "You're looking a bit peaky."

Edwin sniffed, steepling his fingers. "We've had two fruitless days already," he said. "I'll not tolerate a third."

He took a bold stride before either could respond — and hissed through his teeth as the clamour in his head roared to the fore. It was rather like radio static, scratching upon his frayed nerves. And that was to say nothing of the cold, which was creeping back and making him regret stripping so many layers.

It was like there was a thread, pulled taut between him and the object in the office. With every step he stretched it tighter, felt the pressure more keenly. With every inch of distance, it pulled back harder — like one of Charles' rubber band slingshots. He wondered at what point it might snap him back by force.

He exhaled, and watched the phantom breath condense in the air before him. He channelled the discomfort and pain into his hands; clenching the fingers, grinding his fists.

"You alright?" asked Charles, eyes narrowed.

"Quite," Edwin rasped. A graceless recovery; and it only worsened on his next step, when he was unable to suppress a pathetic whimper.

“Sounds legit," Crystal muttered.

The thread was pulling tighter, tighter, the cry more insistent. Begging him to turn around, to come back — come and see, come and see, come and see...

"Mate..." said Charles, a note of warning in his voice.

Edwin took a breath; and then another step. And the thread drew tight, white hot and razor sharp; so sharp as to slice through his very mind like a wire through soft clay.

He gasped, his knee buckled. His ankle disappeared into the floor as he lost his concentration on the material plain.

Crystal winced. "How'd that one feel?"

He closed his eyes, rubbed his temples. "Six... and a half."

"Right," said Charles, matter-of-factly. "That's enough of that."

He hit the retract button on the tape measure, sending it spiralling back into its casing.

"Charles, really —" Edwin protested.

"No! I'm not having it!" said Charles, straightening from his crouch and taking Edwin by the shoulders. "Not gonna stand here and watch you hurt yourself for some stupid bloody experiment. C'mon." He spun Edwin around and began near-frogmarching him towards the office. "Back you go."

"Charles," Edwin snapped, struggling against the undignified manhandling. But when he really did feel measurably better with every step, it was hard to muster the enthusiasm to fight. "I survived seventy years in hell. I think I know my own limits!"

Crystal snorted, falling into step behind Charles. "Kinda sounds like the reason you don't know your limits, honestly."

"Yeah! Yeah, exactly," Charles agreed, emboldened. "You've been ripped to shreds in that place. God only knows what else you'll put yourself through. If this is a six —"

"And a half," Edwin corrected, miffed.

"If this is a six and a half," said Charles. "I don't even wanna know what a ten is."

The racket in Edwin's head subsided somewhat — and flustered ire filled the void it left behind. He brushed off Charles' hands and turned on him, quick as a whip, burning with indignation. "I do not need to be mollycoddled. Perhaps, Charles, for once, you might take a rest from your ceaseless fixation on safeguarding my feelings in order to actually solve this case!"

He regretted the words before they were even out. But his pride was wounded, and so he turned on his heel and stalked away; before he could see the matching hurt on Charles' face.

Some things, like cursed skeletons in trunks, were liable to drive a man to madness if looked at directly.

~

The office, of course, was just about the last place Edwin wanted to be. But with the invisible bond tethering him, it was the only place to which he could retreat in solitude. Almost solitude, that is. It was hard to feel truly alone, with that thing so close at hand. With the way it seemed to burrow into his consciousness, whisper its wretched pleas in his mind. Look at me look at me see me please see me —

Edwin pounced upon the bottom desk drawer — the 'stuff drawer', as Charles so descriptively dubbed it — and rummaged around. He uttered a soft 'a-ha!' of triumph when his fingers closed around a large, weathered brass padlock. Another donation from a satisfied customer. It was enchanted to open only for the person who'd closed it.

He hastened over and, with shaking hands, threaded the shackle of the padlock through the staple of the trunk. He felt the answering hum of the enchantment flaring to life as the mechanism clicked shut. Spells, at least, were tangible even to a ghost.

The pleading magnified, sharp and anguished. Then it subsided instead into a quiet hum of dismay, and a further drop in the temperature of the room.

Edwin collapsed like a de-strung puppet, sagging down upon the trunk and breathing raggedly. He closed his eyes, leaned forward, hands on his head, head practically between his knees. He sat, and breathed, and waited for the room to stop spinning.

It wasn't Charles who found him in such a state, but Crystal. A fact he was at once disappointed and relieved by. He didn't care for Crystal seeing him this way, depleted and vulnerable. But considering his last words to Charles, he had no immediate desire to be confronted by him, either.

"Edwin," Crystal greeted, in that uncharacteristically formal manner that she reserved for him alone. Usually, she applied it in jest, as a running joke. Rarely had he seen her deliver it with a face so grave.

He collected himself on a slow inhale, straightening his back. "Crystal," he answered in kind, standing and marching to his desk.

She followed. He was careful not to look at her, but her platform boots on the old wood floors telegraphed her location. "So," she said, coming to halt on the opposite side of the desk. "You ready to apologise to Charles, yet?"

Her confrontational manner rankled, made it all too tempting to deny any wrongdoing. But try as he might, he couldn't deny the evidence.

He sighed, folding into his desk chair and massaging his temples. "Soon." He risked a glance, found her looking at him not with anger, but with concern. It unsettled him. Crystal's anger, he knew what to do with. Generally they sniped back and forth until the tension broke or someone stormed off. Anger and pettiness was their shared dialect. He wasn't so well-versed in the vocabulary of her earnest worriment. "I am... sorry that you had to see that," he offered.

"I've, like, never seen you like that," she said, sitting down in the chair generally reserved for clientele. She was watching him like she was studying him, reading him. He half expected her eyes to go white as she went in for a closer look. "You guys bicker all the time, but. I've never seen you actually mad at him." She leaned back and crossed her arms. "He's pretty cut up about it."

Guilt curdled in Edwin's stomach. "Is he...?"

"He's okay. I left him bugging Jenny with his angst." She shrugged. "She kind of always knows exactly what blunt shit to say to snap you out of it."

"Ah. Yes, good. Very good."

She watched him. She had a very stubborn stare. It had served them well on occasion, usually in the acquisition of information from a tight-lipped witness.

He fidgeted, tugging at his shirtsleeve. "It was... unkind. What I said to him. Not to mention unfair. Disingenuous of me, to complain about his protective tendencies. Considering how greatly I've come to... value them."

She raised her eyebrow.

He returned the gesture. "... Depend upon them, even."

"Yeah. Yeah, it was pretty messed up, what you said to him." She leaned on the desk, arms folded. "But... I guess you're pretty messed up right now, huh?"

Edwin scowled. "That is... one way to put it."

"What's with the scratching?"

"Hm?"

"The scratching." She pointed at his hand, and he looked to find he'd abandoned his sleeve in favour of itching the wrist beneath. "That's not one of your things, your twitchy, gesture-y... things. You only started doing that when..."

Her eyes darted over her shoulder. "When you brought them in."

Edwin didn't follow her glance. He was trying not to look at the object in question any more than he had to. "I hadn't noticed."

She tilted her head as she regarded him. "You can still feel them, can't you?"

"Truthfully, I'm not altogether sure what it is I feel," he said. "Only that I am feeling considerably more than usual."

Crystal toyed with the sleeve of her ratty cardigan. "Must be super weird. Not being able to feel. I never really asked, but like... how do you even, like, ground yourself? How do you get a sense of where you are in the world?"

Edwin hummed, considering. "There is... an awareness, I suppose. Broad peripherals, so to speak. In lieu of other sensory input, one becomes quite keen of eye and ear. Sometimes that translates into the illusion of pressure from objects we know are at hand."

"Is there anything you can feel?"

"Pain," he said, bitterly. "Only from particular sources, I grant you. But yes, we're quite familiar with pain."

"That sucks."

He huffed. "It does, indeed, suck."

"There's seriously nothing else?"

He hesitated. "Well. I suppose, in a manner or speaking, we can feel ourselves."

She leaned in closer, inquisitive. Edwin didn't much care to dwell on this subject — but he did wish to encourage her scientific curiosity. She was a detective in training, after all.

With a beleaguered sigh, he propped his elbow neatly upon the desk, hand pointed to the ceiling. He folded his sleeve down, neatly, exposing his wrist. Pale skin, sparse hair, blue veins that remained only as a faded shadow of the blood that once pumped through them. With an attention-summoning flourish he lifted his other hand. Slowly, he scratched his fingernail down the length of his wrist. He felt the scraping drag of his nail edge against skin and hair — at least he could imagine he did, quite vividly.

"I theorise that it's once again a matter of awareness. Amplified, in this case. Awareness from visual input; plus that from conscious and subconscious intention and expectation; equals sensation. Or at least a convincing enough replica." He spread his fingers and swept his palms out, embellishing the point. "I know that I intend to scratch my arm; ergo, my arm is scratched."

"Just your intentions?" she asked, gaze turning from his arm to his eyes. "Not other ghosts? You guys can't feel each other?"

He gave a sad smile, dropping his hands to the table. "No. No, we're not mind readers. Without being attuned to the intention, even other ghosts may as well be far apart on the mortal plain."

"Guess I always figured you guys must feel something," she said, rubbing her arms. Despite the gloomy subject, she managed a small, teasing smile. "With the way Charles is always hanging off of you."

He smiled, ducking his head. "Well. There is something to be said for the comfort of a gesture. Wishful thinking can go a long way, in our circumstances." He watched her hands, wondering what the texture under her palms felt like. It looked like a soft cardigan, well-worn, well-loved. His own hands clenched into fists on the desk. "After decades of the same, one learns to take what one can get."

She puffed out her cheeks. "Well that's. Depressing."

"Yes, quite."

"But you're feeling stuff now. Aren't you?"

"Yes." His jaw twitched. "Unfortunately, not a pleasant experience, in this case."

"Look." She clasped her hands on the desk, leaning towards him like a co-conspirator. "I get wanting to figure this out, I really do." She lowered her voice, as if they were sharing a secret. "I know how much it royally sucks to have a voice in your head you can't shake."

Edwin flinched, guiltily. The comparison hadn't even occurred to him.

"And I'm gonna help you," she continue, eyebrow twitching like she knew what he'd just thought and was choosing to move past it. "But let's... let's take the pain experiments down a notch, okay? Because if you keep hurting yourself, Charles is gonna give me the sad puppy eyes and I can not deal."

Edwin gave a soft snort of laughter. "He is rather compelling, isn't he?" Fondness crept into his tone, unbidden.

She seemed to pick up on that unspoken thought, also, her lips pursing against a smile. "Yeah, yeah, he's adorable. So. Back to work? No more weird, fucked up self-torture shit?"

Edwin may be stubborn, but he knew when he was outvoted. He sighed. "Very well."

"Cool. let's do it." She cut off his agreement with a raised finger. "After you apologise to Charles."

He raised his eyebrow. "You're quite the canny negotiator. Have you been practising?"

"We got a deal?"

Edwin sniffed, haughtily rolling his sleeve back into place. "Well. As it happens, I was about to do that, anyway."

She smirked. "Sure you were."

~

Of course, Edwin was not currently able to make the short trip to Jenny's new establishment, where Charles was offloading his woes. He could've tried, but he imagined the wilful endangerment of himself would undermine his apology for... well, for wilful endangerment of himself. So he sent Crystal with word to Charles, and waited.

Edwin found waiting around to be a fretful exercise at the best of times. The presence of the object only made matters worse.

He paced along the breadth of the wide window, listening to the drizzling London rain. Usually, he found the sound of the droplets on the window pane calming. It was marred on this occasion by the more insistent sound in the back of his mind, buzzing for attention. The temperature in the room dropped with each lap of the window; every time he turned on his heel to retrace his steps, and refused to acknowledge the trunk in the slightest. He wanted to don a coat or jumper, but refused to give it the satisfaction.

Soon, another sound broke through the drone. Footsteps down the corridor. The door opened, and in walked Charles.

"Alright?" he greeted. He was eyeing Edwin with wariness — but, thankfully, not with distress.

Edwin let out a breath he hadn't know he was holding. He'd been afraid... well. He often feared that one of these days, he'd finally exhaust the bottomless well of Charles' patience, his kindness. "Charles," he breathed, steepling his fingers to keep them from twitching at his sides. "I owe you an apology."

Charles' tense shoulders dropped, infinitesimally; like a weight had fallen from them. His entire countenance softened in turn, and he smiled at Edwin with fondness as he closed the door behind him.

"Already forgotten, mate." He said. He advanced in long, even strides across the office, sparing a vigilant glance for the trunk on his way. He rounded the desk to stand before Edwin, planting both hands upon his shoulders and addressing him directly. "You're pretty stressed out, yeah?"

Edwin exhaled on a breathy laugh. "To say the least." He looked down at Charles' hand, the thumb tracing circles on Edwin's shirt. Perhaps it was a result of his discussion with Crystal, but he was above-averagely aware of the absence of weight, of feeling. Of warmth. He swallowed, tightly, and placed his hand over Charles'. "But I should not have taken it out on you."

"No. You bloody shouldn't've." He gave a self-effacing little grin. "Lucky for you, I'm a hardy sort of bloke."

What a ridiculous boy he was. A steadfast, self-sacrificing fool, always to quick to forgive Edwin his trespasses. Affection bloomed in Edwin's chest, bright and effervescent. The cold, the noise; for an instant it all melted like ice dropped into hot tea.

Charles' grip tightened; Edwin saw him squeeze his arms."But seriously, yeah?" said Charles, sober. "No more torturing yourself for this bloody case. Else I'll have Jenny come up here, give you a right telling off. And she's proper good at it."

Edwin smiled down at his feet. "Well, then. I suppose I have no choice."

"Too right."

Charles hesitated, gaze raking Edwin's face, taking him in from his eyes to his lips. Edwin cocked his head, questioning; if only to mask how tender and raw he felt under the close, gentle scrutiny.

Wordlessly, Charles pulled him close. He wrapped his arms tight around Edwin's shoulders in a fierce embrace; slotting them together like two puzzle pieces.

"Thank you," he mumbled into Edwin's neck.

Edwin's breath hitched, as it so often did when Charles held him so. No matter how common the occurrence, or how absent the physical sensation. The very gesture was bound to leave him gently thunderstruck nonetheless.

He returned it in his usual manner; with the stiff, cautious awkwardness of inexperience. Grateful, in some small, bitter way, that Charles couldn't possibly feel it. Couldn't bear witness to his bungling attempts at expressing affection.

Though he'd accept that humiliation. He'd take it with gratitude. If only for the chance to feel the soft gust of Charles' breath against his throat; to know the warm weight of him in his arms.

Soon, far too soon, Charles sniffed and pulled back. His hands never left Edwin's shoulders as he regarded him with squinted eyes and a wrinkled nose. A small, mischievous smile tugged his lips. "So," he said. "Back to the books, then?"

Edwin sighed. "Too the books," he agreed, without enthusiasm.

Charles chuckled. "How's this for a role reversal, eh?"

~

One Day Later…

Despite the obstructions of Charles and his mother-henning, they had made some progress in their studies. Edwin's notes on the object and its effects read thus:

Physical properties of the object (as observed by Charles): Faint, blue glow. Slight visible movement — agitation, vibration. No visible runes or enchantments. All bones assumed to be present and correct — Charles unwilling to 'rummage'.

Sense of cold: spectral only, no material plain adjustment. Affects Charles, not Crystal. Worse with distance/when box is closed.

Phantom sensations: a slight grounding effect, connection to material plain. Irritation, itches, pins and needles. Affects neither Crystal nor Charles. Intensifies in close proximity.

Whispering/speech: inaudible to Charles, Crystal. Sometimes unintelligible. Notable phrases: look at me, see me, don't leave me. Other sounds include a slight rattling, at times increasing in frequency to a buzz. Worse with distance/when box is closed.

It was hardly a treasure trove of information to work from, and he did manage to persuade Charles that further experimentation was needed. But he was under quite strict orders to withdraw should the pain top a four on his 'bloody mental' pain scale. A promise he kept to the letter.

Headaches, as it happened, were quite possible to achieve at a three or lower.

"I'm a ghost," Edwin complained, from his repose on the sofa. "I cannot get headaches."

"Well, then you're a scientific marvel, aren't you?" said Charles, patting his shoulder. He was perched on the edge of the couch, looking down at Edwin with pity. "Looks like you can get 'em just fine, mate. What you can't get is any paracetamol." He winced. "Bit rough, that."

Edwin sighed, rubbing his eyes. "I miss hemp."

"You what?"

"Indian hemp — you've never tried it? My nanny used to give me a pinch when I was feeling out of sorts," said Edwin, nostalgic. "Always used to perk me up."

Charles laughed. "Fuck me. You telling me you was toddling round, stoned off your tits at, what, six?"

Edwin rolled his eyes — wishing he hadn't when the motion exacerbated the pain in his skull. "I hardly overindulged."

"Perish the thought," teased Charles, in his tiresome facsimile of Edwin's cadence.

Edwin swatted at his arm, half-heartedly. Charles dodged it with laughter and ease, standing up and cracking his knuckles.

"Now, I can't offer you any drugs, but," said Charles, circling round to the end of the sofa. He blew on his hands and rubbed them together briskly. "I can do this."

Edwin frowned. "What are you doing?"

Charles, now standing behind Edwin's head, leaned over it to grin down at him and wiggle his fingers. "My mum used to do this," he said. "Head massage. You'll like it."

Edwin regarded him, unimpressed. "Charles, I cannot feel."

"C'mon — give it a go!"

He remained unconvinced. But, as he'd told Crystal only yesterday, a comforting gesture wasn't to be sniffed at. "Very well," he said. "Carry on."

"Brills. Here we go, then!"

Charles, showed Edwin his hands and made sure he was watching them. Then he pulled them back to just above Edwin's eyebrows and, presumably, began to rub the skin there. Edwin couldn't have said for sure that's what was happening, of course. Charles could be drawing lewd images on his forehead, for all he knew. But the look of concentration was there on Charles' face and so perhaps, if Edwin closed his eyes and used his imagination, he could fill in the gaps. He could imagine the motions of Charles' confident fingers. Picture them against his own skin, carefully working out the tension stroke by stroke.

Charles always seemed to know exactly what to do with his hands. How to swing a bat, how to catch a ball, how to hold Edwin together. Even when he demonstrably did not know what he was doing at all, his moments of utmost impulsivity. Even then, he committed to the act with such decisiveness, such single-minded intent. It boggled Edwin's mind to think that he could have such confidence of bearing, and yet such limited material impact on the world. Charles Rowland's hands could have shaped the universe, were they as substantial in matter as they were in resolve. He'd already managed miracles with nought but air and ectoplasm.

Edwin’s belief, it seemed, was well-founded. Despite his misgivings, he did feel the ache receding. He sighed. Even such a minor relief, after days of such heightened pressure, had him all but melting under Charles' hands. He indulged in a slow, languid stretch of his body, his back arching off the sofa as a soft groan escape him.

"Alright down there?"

Charles sounded ever so slightly out of breath. Edwin smiled. Trust him to put all his effort and then some into a gesture that Edwin couldn't even fully appreciate. "Yes. That's wonderful, Charles." His eyes fluttered open and he craned his head back against the armrest, catching Charles' eye. "Thank you."

He was surprised to find Charles looking even more breathless than he sounded. His mouth hung slightly open, and his hooded eyes appeared to be a touch glazed.

Charles blinked back into startled clarity when he felt Edwin's eyes upon him, and snapped his mouth shut. He pulled his hands away to give Edwin a brusque, chummy pat on the shoulders.

"Anytime, mate," he mumbled. "Anytime."

~

Three More Days Later…

The case dragged on in its plodding, unsatisfactory manner. Edwin felt himself clinging to his composure by the skin of his teeth. He was a raw, frazzled nerve, stripped to his shirtsleeves and the barest trappings of dignity. For nearly a week he'd been enduring this ceaseless psychic bombardment with precious little to show for it, and his patience had worn thin.

So when Crystal barrelled into the room, slamming the door against the wall in her haste, he nearly bit her head off.

"Do you mind?" Edwin exclaimed, smacking his hand down on the desk and sending a small ream of papers flying.

Over on the sofa, Charles snorted into alertness. Though he couldn't doze off, he'd been staring at the same page in his book for so long that he appeared to have drifted into a semi-conscious state. Edwin hadn't had the heart to rouse him — they were hardly making progress either way.

"We're idiots," was Crystal's response to Edwin's rhetorical outburst. She looked about as stretched thin as Edwin felt; hair pulled back into a tangled, frizzy knot atop her head, shadows under her eyes. She'd been wearing the same scruffy jeans and faded t-shirt for at least forty-eight hours. She planted both hands on the desk and leaned in close, staring Edwin down. "The mirror."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"The mirror." She threw her hands up. "We never tried the mirror!"

"Never tried what with the mirror?" asked Charles, groggy, sitting up and dragging a hand down his face.

"We never tried sending Edwin through it," she explained, slowly, as if they were small children. "All that time we spent fucking around, trying to see how far he could walk away — did any of us ever fucking stop and think if he could teleport away?"

Silence. Deafening silence. Edwin and Charles shared a look.

"Bloody hell," Charles muttered. "Maybe we are stupid."

Edwin didn't reply. He had more pressing matters to attend to; he near vaulted the desk in his haste to get around it.

He marched with single-minded purpose towards the large mirror they'd yet to relegate back to storage. If it meant passing closer to the trunk than he had in days, he paid it no mind. Though the object in question noticed, and he felt its psychic fingers clawing at his ankles as he passed. Its whispers followed him like a curse; don't don't don't —

"Woah — alright, mate, let's take it easy, yeah?" Charles rushed out, springing up from the sofa and darting to Edwin's side. His hand circled Edwin's wrist, a comfort and a restraint all in one. "Think it through — you know what happens when you don't look before you leap, yeah?"

Edwin closed his eyes and exhaled, hands clenching into fists. Charles was right, of course. But with potential freedom so close at hand he scarcely wished to admit it. "I need a location," he said. "A target."

"Jenny's shop," Crystal quickly suggested, coming to stand at his other shoulder. "It's safe, and she knows you guys. It's only her working there today."

"Perfect." Edwin held his hand out to the mirror and visualised Jenny's new London workplace. And very old butcher's shop, established not long after Edwin's time. Owned in the modern era by the founder's great, great grandaughter, and her charming civil partner. Despite the transatlantic culture shock, Jenny had rather fallen among thieves. In his mind's eye, Edwin pictured the rustic mirror on the wall, nailed to sturdy old brickwork. Mounted between taxidermy animal heads and antique butchery implements. "I have it," he said, and opened his eyes to find that answering ripple on the mirror's surface.

Charles' grip tightened when Edwin tried to take a step. "You sure about this?" he asked. "You said that mirror hop right before you found 'em felt off..."

That was true enough. But an unpleasant experience was well worth the modicum of freedom it might afford him. "I'll be quite alright, Charles. We know that I can still go through mirrors, it’s how we got the box here, after all. It’s a question of whether it will let me go without it," he said, breaking Charles' hold on his wrist to take him by the hand instead. "But I must try."

Charles' eyes were wide with worry, but he nodded. Though his fretting over Edwin won above all else, this case had been arduous on him, as well. They all needed a breakthrough. "Alright," he said. "But give us a second."

Edwin watched, bemused, as Charles dashed for his bag and rummaged inside. He resurfaced with a large coil of rope. Charles was a blur of frenetic motion as he fastened it in a sturdy sailor's knot around the leg of the desk (he’d picked up some useful skills during the case of the drowned diver).

"Hold this, yeah, Crystal?" said Charles, dumping the slack length of remaining rope into her arms.

"Smart," she said — though a confused frown followed. "Wait, me hold it? What are you doing?"

"Going with him. You feel two tugs, drag us out, yeah?"

"Charles," said Edwin. "I've mirror hopped a thousand times. There's no need for you to —"

"What's the matter?" said Charles, rejoining Edwin and tying the rope around his waist. Despite the nervous tension suffusing him from head to toe, he still found the wherewithal to give a cheeky grin. "Can't wait to get rid of me?"

Edwin's heart, if the spectre of such a thing still existed within him, skipped a beat. "Quite the opposite," he said, gesturing for Charles to hand him the remaining slack when he was finished. "But someone has to spare a thought for your safety — and I think we all know it won't be you."

"In't that what I've been telling you?" Charles teased, lifting his arms for Edwin to loop the rope around him.

Edwin rolled his eyes, and secured the lifeline with a sharp tug. "Evidently, we're a terrible influence on one another."

"Guys," Crystal interjected.

They both whipped their heads round to look at her.

"I have been awake," she said, slow and just a touch dangerous. "For fifty two hours."

Edwin cleared his throat. "Yes, yes. Quite right. Time is of the essence." He met Charles' eyes. "Are you ready?"

Charles nodded, slipping his hand into Edwin's once more; a more tangible tether than any rope or chain. "Ready."

"Good luck," said Crystal, bracing her hands on the rope and her feet on the floor. "Don't die. Again."

"Reckon we've been here before," Charles joked. "You tryna make that a running gag?"

She grimaced. "Well, maybe if you two quit risking your afterlives so much, I'd have to say it less."

"Yeah, alright, fair cop." Charles squeezed Edwin's hand. "On three, then?"

Despite his trepidation, Edwin smiled. "We've been here before, too," he said. "Yes. On three. One..."

Charles gripped him tight and pressed up against him, shoulder to incorporeal shoulder. "Two..."

The whispering filled Edwin's skull, dense and cloying. Don't leave don't leave don't —

He looked once more to Charles' face; it was all the courage he required.

"Three!"

~

The space behind the mirror welcomed them, as it had welcomed Edwin back at St. Hilarion's. That is to say, it did not welcome them in the slightest. A journey which should have taken an instant seemed to stretch behind and before them, ad infinitum; thick as syrup, fast as a locomotive. They tumbled headlong through the roiling vortex of here, there and everywhere. Had they the ability to bruise, Edwin was sure their snapping lifeline would have whipped welts across their ankles. He fell endlessly, uncontrollably.

But it was a significant improvement on the last time. Now, at least, he had Charles to fall alongside. His one constant companion besides that damnable whispering — though as they fell it grew fainter, fainter, fainter...

Then they were through to the other side, expelled once more into the world they knew — collapsing together in an ungainly pile of limbs. And Edwin gasped, violently, as that thread which tethered him to the voice snapped behind him.

"Ugh, fuck, I'm gonna be sick," Charles groaned. It was an empty threat; he was by Edwin's side in moments, clear-voiced and intent. "Edwin?" His warm brown eyes swam into view. His hand — the one not currently tangled in Edwin's fingers — cupped Edwin's face. "Edwin, you alright?"

Edwin laughed, breathless and elated, his hand covering Charles'. "It stopped," he breathed. "Charles, it stopped, I can't hear it!"

Charles' grin could've lit the night. "Yes, Edwin!" he crowed, bumping their foreheads together. "You did it, mate — you're out!"

Edwin felt boundless, in that moment. Unrestrained. Unashamed of holding Charles close and sharing his laughter, sharing his breath. For the first time in what felt like a small lifetime, it was all gone. The cold, the itch, the whispers and pleas. All of it lay somewhere else, out of sight and mind, and for a moment he could simply be. Be with his best friend, the love of his life, with his smile and his laughter; no distractions, no compulsions. So surrounded by Charles and nothing but Charles that he could almost imagine how his fingers felt upon his face. How his laughter felt upon his lips...

"What. The fuck?"

And just like that, the moment shattered.

They both startled, landing soundly on their backsides on the butcher shop floor. They looked up to find Jenny staring at them, bug-eyed and incredulous, from behind the meat counter.

"Um. Hullo, Jenny," Charles greeted her, with a sheepish grin. He threw in a wave for good measure — forgetting that his right hand was currently engaged in holding Edwin's. Edwin had never been an unwilling participant in someone else's wave before. He rather hoped he never would be again.

"Miss Green," Edwin added, fumbling to extract himself from the wave. He scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off. Now that his head wasn't full of ceaseless psychic badgering, he had the presence of mind to feel self-conscious about his shabby state of... un-dress. He should have put his waistcoat back on, at the very least. Here he was, standing before a lady in a public establishment, and he was bordering on the semi-classical. "Our apologies for, ah. Barging in."

"Yeah, sorry. Should've knocked!" said Charles.

"Yes. Quite."

Jenny narrowed her eyes, staring at the rope that had them quite literally joined at the hip. She gestured between the two of them with her cleaver. "So. I guess you two made up."

Edwin cleared his throat. "Ah. Yes, all water under the bridge."

"Yeah, yeah, all sorted," Charles agreed.

She gave Edwin a look, then turned to Charles and raised a razor-sharp eyebrow. "He stop being a dick?"

"Yeah, he did," said Charles, grinning, as he cut off Edwin's indignant protest with an arm around his shoulder. "Can't stay mad at me for long, can he?"

Edwin rolled his eyes — his smile, alas, was irrepressible.

"Great! Happy for you!" Her tone was dry, her smile tight-lipped. "Never jump out of my mirror while I'm holding a fucking meat cleaver again."

She punctuated her edict with a sharp, decisive swing; severing the pork joint on her chopping block with an executioner's resolve.

Edwin grimaced, and adjusted his bedraggled collar. "Duly noted."

Charles opened his mouth, no doubt to come out with another cheeky rejoinder. He was interrupted, however, by the tightening of the rope, forcing both he and Edwin to lurch back a step. They both looked down in alarm at the slack trailing into the mirror as it went taut, repeatedly. An insistent tug, urging them to follow.

"Oh," said Edwin, weakly. "I can't imagine that bodes well."

There was no time to dwell on the implications. In seconds Charles' hands were at Edwin's waist, attacking the knotted rope. "Charles, what are you doing?" Edwin enquired.

"You stay here for a bit, yeah?" said Charles — followed by a muttered curse as he was foiled by his own stellar rope-tying technique. "Take a breather — I'll go back, check on Crystal."

"You kids do know this isn't a clubhouse?" came Jenny's weary interjection.

Edwin gathered his courage, and stilled Charles' hands. "No," he said. "Thank you, Charles. But if there's a problem with... with the case, well. I should be present to handle it."

"You've been handling it for days, mate," said Charles; levelling him with his infamous 'sad puppy eyes'.

To paraphrase Crystal, Edwin could not deal. But, bravely, he held his ground nonetheless. Even forced a small smile. "I've handled worse for seventy years," he said.

Charles scowled. "Yeah, that's not gonna make me —"

"Spit-spot, now, Charles," said Edwin primly, seizing Charles' hand and about-turning to the mirror. "We've been summoned."

"Edwin —!"

But his argument, like Jenny's final bewildered comments, were lost to the currents of the in-between as they slipped once more into the vortex.

~

Yet again, another unpleasant journey through the mirror. Unfortunately, Edwin was growing rather used to it.

What he was not prepared for was what awaited them on the other side.

"Oh, fuck," said Charles — though it was barely coherent as a swear past the chatter of his teeth.

Edwin agreed, whole-heartedly. Though truth be told, he could barely hear Charles over the sudden and vicious return of the cries in his head. He pressed his palms to his ears — though it was futile with the noise seeming to ring out from within himself — and took in the awful scene.

The office that awaited them was barely recognisable as the one they’d left. In part due to the mess of toppled furniture, scattered books and broken memorabilia that littered the place, as if a hurricane had torn through the building during their short absence.

But mostly, due to the snow.

Edwin stared, aghast, at the dense white blanket that now lay across anything and everything. Flakes drifted through the air, but at far too sedate a pace for this kind of coverage. To have cloaked every surface so thickly and thoroughly suggested a veritable blizzard had beset the room behind them. And standing in the middle of it all was Crystal. Untouched, it seemed, by the snow, which must be spectral in nature — but not unaffected. She was shivering, visibly, and her breath escaped in soft puffs of glistening vapour.

"About t-t-time," she bit out, with difficulty. She abandoned the rope in favour of rubbing her upper arms through the meagre defence of her threadbare cardigan.

"Crystal!" Charles bolted to her, hands joining hers, for all the good it would do her. "What the b-loody hell happened?"

"Soon as you guys w-went, it just —" she mimed an explosion, puffing air from her cheeks. "Everything starting s-shaking, and snowing, and — and then this French chick just like, b-burst outta the wall and started yelling —"

"That’s just our landlady," said Charles. "She’s harmless."

"Yes. She’s not even French," said Edwin, turning a slow circle, regarding the chaos with dismay. "If Madame Seine felt the disturbance, then it must have fanned out beyond this room. Quite far beyond — she tends to haunt the attic…"

"I can feel it," said Crystal, shoving her hands under her armpits in an attempt to warm them. "Not — not as bad as it looks, I guess, or I’d be freezing, but I can feel it. I haven’t felt it before."

"It must be getting stronger," Edwin muttered. "Reaching beyond the spectral and out to your psychic awareness." He turned on them. "Can either of you hear it, now?"

"Like a whisper," said Charles, shaking his head as if dislodging water from his ears. "Or a — a buzzing? I dunno." Crystal nodded her agreement.

Edwin’s jaw clenched. "Right. Definitely stronger, then." He closed his eyes. "It is… considerably louder than a whisper, for me."

DON’T LEAVE ME DON’T LEAVE ME LOOK AT ME SEE ME LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME

"That is enough!"

Charles and Crystal both jumped. Edwin could hardly blame them — it was a sudden outburst, and one he wasn’t proud of. But he could scarcely think with that miserable clamour. He felt browbeaten, harried — hounded mercilessly even in the safety of his own mind. He’d put it off for too long.

He turned, slowly, and he looked at the trunk.

Immediately upon doing so, the air changed. The last of the snow ceased to fall and a chorus of slow drips took its place, as that which had settled begun to melt. The cold did not lift entirely, but it did somewhat. The voice did not cease or quiet, but it did soften in tone — from cries of anguish to cajoling, coercive murmurs. Like it knew it had his attention; like it wanted him to close the distance.

Nothing else for it.

"Edwin," said Charles. "You sure about this?"

"Not in the slightest," he said, as he hunkered down beside the trunk. His fingers closed around the enchanted padlock; it warmed under his touch and clicked open obediently. "But we’re running out of options."

Before he could even slip the padlock free, Charles was at his side — and Crystal followed suit. Their hands joined his upon the lid of the trunk; their eyes found his in silent question.

He exhaled, slowly. "Just a quick peek," he promised them. Promised himself. "Just to… mollify it."

Crystal gave him a look he didn’t much care to interpret. He had no doubt she’d confront him with whatever thought she’d just had, soon enough. For now, they had more pressing matters to attend to.

"Just a look," Charles agreed — though he was focusing far more intently on Edwin’s face than on the box. "See what’s what."

"Yes," he breathed. "What’s what…"

They shared a look — Charles to Edwin, Edwin to Crystal, back again — and slowly, as one, lifted the lid.

The first thing that came into view was the glow. Blue, and cold, and rippling over the surface of the grim contents like a sheen. Underneath, as Edwin’s eyes adjusted, shapes began to consolidate. A queasiness overtook him as, unbidden, the scientific names he'd learned presented themselves like annotations in a textbook. Annotating the withered remains of his own pitiful skeleton.

A cold droplet landed upon his cheek. He startled. Sensation was uncommon — sensations of damp even moreso. He glanced up to find that the snow upon the ceiling light was melting, a steady drip drip drip that happened to align with him. Carving his face like falling tears.

"It’s doing somethin’," Charles muttered, rolling his shoulders. "Warming up in here…"

"I can’t hear it anymore," said Crystal. "Can you guys?"

Charles shook his head. "No. Edwin?"

He nodded. "It’s faint." He frowned. "I think… I think it’s saying something else, now…"

…ay wi… me…

"What’s it saying?" asked Crystal.

"I… I’m not altogether sure. It’s so quiet." He cocked his head. "It sounds scared."

"He," said Crystal.

Edwin stared at her. "What?"

She raised her brows and looked between him and the miserable pile of bones. "He sounds scared," she said, gentle. "Edwin, it’s you."

He bristled. "We don’t know that for —"

"Fuck's sake, Edwin," said Charles. "What else d’you need? It’s in your bones, it talks to you, it went bonkers when you left. What else could we be dealing with here?"

"Any number of things!" he said. "Anything could have… imprinted on my remains. A parasite, a demon, some kind of carrion feeder — perhaps even an infestation of dandelion sprites, it’s certainly attention-seeking enough —"

"They only go for living hosts, Edwin, you bloody know that," said Charles.

"There’s no it, Edwin," Crystal pressed. "There’s no ‘the case’, ‘the object’, it’s — it’s you. We all know that, we’ve known that since the start."

"And I don’t think pretending not to know is helping us any," Charles added.

Edwin opened his mouth to argue — but there were no words left. No more logic that could save him.

Charles watched him, and took his hand. "Edwin," he said. "What’s he saying to you?"

Edwin looked at the bones. At his bones. Met his gaze, eye to empty eye socket.

Sta… ith me…

He exhaled a hoarse, rattling breath.

"He…" Edwin swallowed. "He wishes for me… to stay with him."

"Just you?" asked Crystal.

He shook his head. "I… cannot say."

"Right." Charles gave a short, sharp nod, and pushed the lid back, until it swung open enough to stay upright on its own. "Let’s have a sit down for a bit then, eh?"

"Good idea," said Crystal. She sounded weary beyond her years; aged by the psychic onslaught. "Let’s all just… sit. Fuck, I’m fucking tired…"

"Edwin? Turn around, yeah? C’mon."

Edwin allowed himself to be guided by Charles’ hand on his back, Crystal’s on his elbow. Allowed himself to be propped, his back against the trunk, his knees tucked to his chest. Allowed his head to be pulled to Charles’ shoulder, and laid to rest there.

"This alright?" asked Charles. "I mean, is it — is he happy, with you not looking at 'im?"

Edwin nodded. He had very little energy to expend with the motion. "Yes. Yes, for now it — he seems to be… content."

"Good. That’s good." Charles exhaled, a slow, overwrought thing. Edwin could see a stray strand of his own hair lift and fall in the slight gust from Charles’ breath — his hair had fallen into some disarray, of late. Shameful, really. "Let’s all just… just take a second, yeah?"

Edwin had no strength left to argue. He closed his eyes, tucking his head closer into Charles’ collarbone. Wishing he could feel the rise of his chest, his soft exhalations in his hair. But even a shadow of an embrace was better than nothing. Charles didn’t need a physical presence to be Edwin’s anchor in this world. On his other side, Crystal settled herself, arm tucked through Edwin’s, an ankle flung across his, and for just now he didn’t care to shy away. Her breathing slowed. She muttered something that sounded like 'wake me when the next ice age hits'.

It was almost… peaceful. Here on the floor. No words, no actions, all tumbled together with scandalous disregard for propriety. Edwin hadn't had the ability or the desire to sleep in decades, but were that not the case, he thought he could have here. With Charles his pillow, and Crystal his blanket. He wished he could sleep. Just for a few stolen hours, a brief escape from his own mind and the thoughts lurking there. The theories turning over, and over. No, not theories. Nothing so useful as a theory. A theory would imply that he had any information to form the building blocks of a solution; and he was as tragically, hopelessly lost at sea as he had been days ago. Not theories. Something far more ominous.

Implications.

“Charles,” he said, softly.

“Yeah, mate?”

“How long…” Edwin licked his lips. His mouth felt dry, chapped. He felt uncomfortably, uncommonly real at that moment; so close to his bones they could have merged back into one being. “How long will I have to stay with him,” he said, barely above a whisper. “In order to make him… happy? Do you think?”

And will it be less than forever?

Charles, slow and steady, wrapped an arm around Edwin’s shoulder.

“We'll sort it,” he said, low, unwavering. "I promise, Edwin, we'll sort it."

Edwin released a ragged breath into Charles' shoulder. He watched the spectral thaw seep sluggishly into their shoes.

"D'you believe me?" asked Charles, voice tender, flayed open; like he couldn't bear it if the answer was no.

Edwin took one of Charles' hands in both of his, and clutched it like a talisman.

"I believe you."

~~

Yaaaaay pain!!!!! Hope you liked! I love love LOVE all your comments and seeing you so engaged in the story has genuinely been so incredible and if you keep it up I will be a very happy boy and you will get me through my last days of covid isolation! (I have been stuck in one room for 5 days so far to keep distance from my folks, it’s bad guys, luckily my room is very pretty but I pretty much wrote Edwin’s mental breakdown from first-hand experience lmao) Commentary! Yes, Boneturner’s Tale is a TMA reference. No, Edwin did not hand his friend an actual dangerous evil book. It’s like a cheap and nasty paperback replica or something lmao. Hex or no hex, she’s not gonna enjoy reading it much :/ Honestly, writing Edwin and Charles falling out physically hurt. It didn’t last long in part bc my heart couldn’t take it dkjsfbdsnfagdgf Try as I might this fic keeps turning into Charles-and-Edwin, so there’s still not as much Crystal screentime as she deserves, but I truly enjoyed writing her heart-to-heart with Edwin! I love the ways they’re different and the same and I love it when they’re bitches who care for each other 💛 I am NEVER getting this complex about ghost touch again. For all future fics unless stated otherwise just assume ghosts can’t feel humans/the world but can feel each other to some extent, I’m making myself so sad writing Edwin and Charles in a universe where they’re utterly lost in space! It’ll be worth it in the very end I promise xD Yes I fully ground the fic plot to a halt for tender hugs and horny head massage. My house my rules. Yes, Indian hemp was indeed a headache remedy! I was sort of hoping I could google ‘Edwardian headache remedies’ and found out they used, like, cocaine, so I could have Edwin sigh and say ‘I miss cocaine’, but alas, we take what we can get. Pray for my girl Crystal, she works with these gay losers who flirt nonstop and Do Not Realise they are married. She’s getting so many premature grey hairs. Semi-classical = semi-nude. Been reading up on some Edwardian slang lmao. Don’t expect Jenny to come back in this fic but it was so nice to say hello to her! I don’t know what the deal is with the office - like, if the boys leave money for an actual human landlord who doesn’t ask questions or what - but my personal headcanon is that it’s an empty building that no one can sell or do anything with due to persistent hauntings, and it’s haunted by a friendly former brothel madame who once ran her business out of there. The boys first case they solved together was hers, and she adores them, thinks they’re lovely boys, and she lets them have the office and is basically their eccentric pretending-to-be-French Mrs Hudson counterpart. I don’t know why this is my headcanon except that I find it fun and whimsical and I think Madame Seine and the Night Nurse would be a hilarious MILF double act. Maybe I will write fic about her one day. I know this is a bit of an odd one, story progression wise. I hope no one feels put out by the fact that the story hasn’t exactly progressed much - but as I was drafting the rest of the fic I sort of realised that I wanted, amongst other aspects of Edwin’s journey, for him to have some denial to overcome. Which, in my classic carried-away way, became basically an entire chapter of obfuscating rounded off with a cold splash of reality. He needed to find that connection to the bones and accept it before they can get to the next stage of figuring out how to make them happy and end the haunting. Fun Fact! When writing the very last scene/conversation, the Power of Love by Frankie Goes To Hollywood came on shuffle. This would have been posted an hour earlier but I need to wail into my pillow in anguish. Anyway, that’s it for now! No idea when the next chapter’s up - I think it’ll be easier to write than this one but I’ve also sunk waaaay too much time into this one this week, so I should take a break for the sake of my hands and my other projects! It WILL be up though, probs in a few weeks. Until next time! 💛