#legitimately cockblocked

[weebsinstash]

losing my mind over the idea of Lucifer being swerved every time by an oblivious reader. He “casually” drops how he used to pull wives at the drop of a hat and reader just goes “that’s great Lucy ☺️” and wanders off while bro is going through the stages of grief

I just love the idea of like, a Reader who GENUINELY IS oblivious and isn't trying to troll him by any means, you ARE just completely unable to fathom this man is coming on to you or legitimately means the things he says.

You're sitting there after Husker made you a tequila for the first time and you're sipping on it and Lucifer's just plopping down in the next stool over, "there was once a time in the past I shared a tequila with a woman, and, well, let's just say 9 months later my daughter Charlie was born!" and you reply without any hesitation at all, "yeah! you know, this is my first time trying tequila but I think it's really nice, although everything Husker makes me is pretty tasty so I've been trying lots of new stuff recently! like the other night I had my first shot of absinthe with Alastor and the taste was so--" and Husker is FACEPALMING and Lucifer is... honestly I think it would be really cute if he ADORES when you show your interests and passions when you start ranting about stuff, so he's like, even when he's mentally gritting his teeth with frustration, he'll be sitting there watching you doe eyed for as long as you want to talk, entertaining any of your long winded tangents or rapidly changing conversational topics

Ugh... you don't understand... the allure of being a tiny fragile human and he's. Well also tiny but he's this ancient inhuman creature who's also just A Silly Loving Family Man. Like. He's ALL POWERFUL. He can pull you into a singing dancing musical where he can make whatever he wants appear, he CAN basically warp materials and reality however he pleases, like... just...he's the small full package who probably HAS a full package if you know what I mean 😏 don't even look at me but characters like him n deku got me thinking about being fawned over by cute guys who are shorter than you but can absolutely easily overpower you without breaking a sweat and are more hung than nature should really allow

Seduction can be a fine line between sexy and cringey and can you imagine he says something to you that just, it just does NOT land. He's got you on your back in your bed and he's above you, with his hand directly under your chin, and he purrs that he wants to plant his seed directly in the fertile soil of your garden and you just LAUGH IN HIS FACE, like "BITCH WHAT?!" Like you CRUSH HIM, FATALITY, man is suffering psychic and emotional damage, you are chipping away at his health bar as you sit there "Haha, you're so goofy Mr Morningstar 🤣 you always know how to make me laugh" and he's HUFFING and laughing in frustration, "OKAY, let's try this again! When I'm done with you, Charlie might have a new sibling on the way!"

"Awww thank you! Charlie's already like a sister to me but I'm glad you're seeing it literally 🥰"

Can you imagine it. The ultimate cockblock. Giving him the ultimate swerve, hitting him with the ultimate grand slam, "YOU'RE LIKE THE FATHER I NEVER HAD" like, how can he possibly stick his dick in you now he knows you see him as YOUR DAD 🥺❤️ He can't VIOLATE his BABY (or can he 😳🤔)

Can't stop thinking about Reader who is completely unaware that this man is unhinged levels of Down Bad until the very moment he's wrestling you down to either fuck you or have a full on love confession. You're just goofing around and palling around and occasionally giving him hugs where you smush your titties or whatever in his face because he's the perfect height and you love to tease him and, then, to YOU, he's 'suddenly without warning' trying to kiss you, say all these passionate things to you, putting his hands in places they've never been before--

I'm still hung up on... the idea of Lucifer impregnating the Reader and you have your little you know cute apple womb tattoo and. I just know he'd be fussing and cooing and like ANNOYING levels of lovey dovey, baby talking your belly before you're even showing. He'd wanna get married with a big fancy flashy wedding to show you off. He'd wanna announce to all of Hell he has a new spouse and want everyone to fear/worship/respect/adore you. He's making this baby SO MANY GIFTS with his own two hands, you have no idea. Duck themed cribs, duck themed onesies, duck themed ducks, he'll make it all! In fact he'll make too many! But, still not enough to satisfy him! Everything has to be perfect, for you, for the baby, for his growing lovely family!

I dunno. Don't expect me to be normal about the fact the man can shapeshift either... he's about to slither right into my incognito tabs...

[chaifootsteps]

I'm really torn on Brandon's video because that's his style of humor. To be offensive and off the wall without actually meaning to be hurtful. It's what I like him and most of his content.

But no matter how you slice it, calling a 17 year old girl who legitimately wants her father's love a "slut" because "she hates me" and "cockblocks me from Stolas", as well as "her name should be cockblocktavia" is uhhh... very telling and inappropriate. Those words shouldn't go anywhere near a minor. Even for Brandon. Not to mention thinking of children like that is a very real thing and it's gross.

He even said he "kins Blitz" and that "I think Blitz would hate her, but that's up to Viv." It's kinda troubling that he said a fictional character hates *him*. I know he led into the Brennan Ragers thing, but that was an accident in the context of the show and meant to he a funny jab at Brandon? I have author friends who have been killed horrificly in books, and it's never a jab, it's all in good fun. Which is how I interpreted that scene.

In other interviews where he's being completely serious, he mentions multiple times relating heavily to Blitz... so that's why part of me thinks he's being serious here.

I know Via is fictional, but if this fanbase starts hating a CHILD because of these reasons....... yeah, no. I don't want to start seeing people calling her a "slut" or something because she "gets in the way of their love" or some dumb bullshit.

I uhm... like Brandon a bit less now. Seems that SH really corrupts or enables the worst in people who stay there long.

Also, fuck it. I'm stealing Via and Stella and they'll have a loving relationship and Stolas can be alone to fuck Blitz since that's what Viv and her fanbase clearly want.

They really hate women, huh?

Yeah, I feel like in the best scenario, the absolute most generous scenario, he didn't mean a word of it and it wasn't that deep. I'm not sure that's what's going on, honestly, but assume it is. In that case, this is absolutely going to throw gasoline on a problem that's been creeping up for a while, which is this fandom's misogyny turning around and villainizing a troubled teenage girl.

A lot of these people want an excuse to be misogynistic, to trash female characters just for existing, and Viv and Brandon hand it to them on a silver platter.

[holydrakes]

Me reading Soul Eater for the first time: these Maka and Soul kids are meant to be just friends right. So should I consider them to be like siblings or trainer and pokemon or hero and sidekick—

*Maka compares partner exchange with infidelity right in the first ep and Spirit is doing that future-father-in-law testing potential boyfriend thingy and Soul's reasoning for not liking maka for supposedly just having flat chest sounds unconvincing. Soul says cool guys don't cheat on their partners. Also isn't it kind of ship teasy that Maka and Soul are essentially like Maka's parents before, being a scythe weapon-meister pair that later tie the knot*

Me: Uhhh...okay. This makes me feel like this whole ep can make for a good romcom set up. But this is not that kinda show right? So this is just me—

*Maka and Soul apparrently live together. Maka gets irrationally angry at Blair whenever she flirts with Soul (does she have feelings for him or smth?) Soul would legit only let people touch Maka over his dead body, Soul and Maka ceremoniously got worried that that they've made each other worry, their biggest fight turned out to be them fighting over wanting to be the one wanting to protect the other? Soul resonance works in such a way that you literally become one with each other that you can even transfer blood? Sounds kinda kinky. They are such good roomies that Soul offers to be the one on cooking duty for days when Maka's hands got burnt*

Me: Well, okay. They'd make a cute ship of course. Their friendship is adorable but that's about it I guess—

*Episode 14 opens with a dream sequence that makes it look like the two are getting married. Soul has no problems serving Maka treats and tea in an apron like a good ol house husband. Maka gets really jealous that Soul would confide with the hot school nurse first about his dream instead of her and ends up wanting him to dance with her in hopes they can get closer...and in true obnoxious in-law fashion Spirit cockblocks the two. Turns out Maka had only been teasing Soul about supposedly not bringing him any food (that makes her feel even more like she's flirting with him the whole time)*

Me: Oh, well...it does lowkey feel like I'm watching a romcom over here now—but I know it's not—

*Soul and Maka share a slow a dance inside Soul's head. To a romantic jazz, wearing matching outfits, they can read each other's minds while they discuss about potentially endangering each other's sanity...for apparrently no reason*

Me: ....Ooookay, was that really necessary? That's a super creative and romantic way to play with the Mindlink Mates trope. Oh wow, me and who, me and who. Oh god, are these two still supposed to be just friends? It feels like I'm not watching a story about friendship anymore, this scene legit belongs in a romance story. So what is it doing here—

*They share that mind-space clad in the fancy outfits again. Soul touches Maka's face tenderly as he tries to get her to come back to her senses. He does that sweet and romantic 'teach bae how to play the piano' thingy by holding her hand gently...*

Me: these two are just friends...not a couple...but they look so damn like the latter...but—but—

*Maka suddenly, legitimately asks Soul to call her an angel specifically like how the resident lover boy often does to his lady love, Soul in an expression rarely seen from him, responds by blushing slightly. Later it was suggested that Soul was apparrently full of shit whenever he teased Maka for her lack of curves making her supposedly unattractive to him (Ha! Called it!) Maka baby don't you think you're a little too possessive for someone who's just your friend—uhhh, why are you guys seem to be addicted to holding hands all of a sudden—Spirit why are you comparing them to yourself and your wife, isn't Stein right over there—was that intertwined fingers and head touch necessary?! What is this, yuri manga?! Soul...why are you having that dorky blush again over Maka like ain't you supposed to be the cool guy? Ah the story's reaching its end....did-did Soul just flirt with Maka? At a time like this? Oh wow Maka that's the worst case of luminescent blush you've got yet—*

Me: ...Oh fuck, fuck, fuck. 'Just friends' you mean a couple of friends obviously feeling sexually frustrated with each other—

*Drama CD 06 has Maka trying to basically seduce Soul and it ends in a highly dorky love confession and marriage proposal*

Me: ....THAT'S IT I'M DONE. THIS BLUEBALLING GAME AIN'T SHIT

[sid471]

I have a defense of Jake

I dunno how liked Jake is here as an individual. But people didn’t like the poor guy on YouTube so… I’m here, hello hi 😊 my credentials are: I love Jake and I binged seasons 1 and 2 last week 😊

Jake is characterized as… well… gullible. Too trusting and too sensitive. But is that fair? … Yes 😓 I like Jake. But yes 😊 BUT! Okay, but >_> Jake… went through A LOT on Disventure Camp and before it. Before the show he said he recently ended a toxic relationship. And DURING the show, he lost his grandmother, who he really loved and cared, while he was on a reality show. He couldn’t see her, he couldn’t say goodbye >_<

THEN, a couple episodes, if not the next episode I don’t remember, later, he finds out his best friend, and crush, was lying to him the whole game. He’s already messed up emotionally from his grandmother passing, now this? Of course the guys gonna lash out >_>

Now, the part I think people were ACTUALLY upset at him about, The Ellie Thing, which extends into The Tom Thing. Now, listen. We saw Jake and Ellie bonding from the day Ellie transferred to the Teal Team. They became good friends. You can say what you want about him, but you can’t say he’s not loyal. he was loyal to the guys alliance with Dan and Tom, he was loyal to Miriam, and he WAS loyal to Ellie. I think it’s… fairly reasonable to expect the same loyalty in return.

Now, yes, it’s a game. But Jake never treated it as such. He forged GENUINE connections. With Miriam, with Tom of course, and, he thought, with Ellie. So, when his Good Friend Ellie tells him he overheard Tom saying horrible things, he doesn’t want to believe it. But he also doesn’t want to believe his Good Friend Ellie would blatantly lie to his face. And, let’s not forget, he did TRY to talk to Tom, but Ellie would NOT let him. Immediately after Ellie said her lie he said ‘I should go talk to Tom and get his side.’ but she shuts it down and feeds more to him. Now, again, was he being gullible? Yes 😊 that’s not the argument here, that he’s not gullible >_> the ARGUMENT is… the guy was FUCKED up from episode 5 all the way up until his elimination

Now time for ✨The Tom Thing✨ I would like to start this by saying… I legitimately love Jake and Tom as a couple. And I hope they get back together in All Stars. Call me delusional if you want, I don’t care 😊. With that saaaaid… Yeah Jake and Tom were uh… a little messy. To put it lightly. They started off as friends, and as the show went on they started flirting and they started to develop feelings for each other. Very cute :3 But the problems start when Jake finds out Tom was lying to him about being a spy and why he was even there. Now, you’re on tumblr. Chances are you have mental illness 😊 /j. Tell me you wouldn’t ALSO go down Jake’s train of thought? … Exactly, I would too >_>

We find out that due to Jake and Tom’s argument being uploaded to the internet, Tom was fired from his job. Jake immediately apologizes, or tries to, but is pushed away. Literally. Later that same episode they get to talk properly and Jake DOES apologize and promise to be better. Tom apologizes too and they promise to be better with communicating with each other. In the spirit of that, Tom tells Jake the real reason he was on the show, and his job, takes off his mask, he confesses he’s ashamed of his scars. Jake says he thinks Tom looks good and then they kiss, starting their relationship properly. Yay happy ending :3

… I wish >_> THEN, the aforementioned Ellie Thing happens. And, again, Jake, to his credit, DOES try to talk to Tom right up to the end but is always cockblocked by Ellie. Fiore and Alec, mostly Fiore, enact their own plan of exposing Ellie and making Tom use his Immunity Totem incorrectly on Jake which causes him to go home, with Tom blaming Jake for it because he believed Ellie and ‘didn’t try to hear his side’, when Jake did try >_>, but Tom was angry, I get it. On his way out, he yells at Jake to never talk to him again. If it seems like the official launch of their relationship didn’t last long it’s because it didn’t 😓 but not in a queer baity way, I don’t think.

Anyway, in conclusion: I love Jake. His character was genuinely interesting and sympathetic to me. Especially his storyline with Miriam, those were my favorite parts to see ☺️ Was Jake perfect? No. Did he make mistakes? Yes. Will he fix these mistakes in All Stars? He better >_> depending on how much time has passed between these seasons he really could have worked on himself, maybe even started therapy ☺️ I want the best for Jake and I want the best for Tom and I want the best for the both of them together because I love them together >_>

[sea-owl]

Little sisters Edwina, Posy, and Felicity terrorizing their older sister's stalker lover (aka the ABC brothers) is such a funny concept to me especially when I'm imagining actual little girls who probably don't even reach past the brothers' shoulders and haven't gone through puberty yet successfully bullying and cockblocking ABC like it's their sole reason to live. Then the BridgertonBros are tearing their hairs out because they are LOSING to a bunch of little girls. And the funniest part of this to me would be if Kate, Sophie, and Pen are slightly oblivious to all of the chaos and warring behind their backs like they know their little sisters are menaces to society but they are absolute angels who thrive in their older sister's affections so they couldn't be that bad, right??? And absolutely do NOT believe a word those horny Bridgerton men are saying about their precious little sisters.

Pfft this makes me think of an AU of where the Sharmas came to London early because they can't wait for Edwina to come to age to debute so Kate is trying to find a good match for her family. In an attempt to keep the Penwood estate in the Gunningworth family, Richard legitimized Sophie as the heiress, so now she's looking for a match in London too. Penelope was debuted early at 17 despite asking her mama to wait another year.

Anthony and Benedict are trying their damn best to woo Kate and Sophie at the balls. Unfortunately for Anthony, his reputation as a rake is coming back to bite him in the ass as is his duty as head of the family with Simon and Daphne coming up with this fake courtship scheme.

Benedict needs a better strategy than following Sophie around like a lost puppy. She thinks he's lonely, and since she actually knows his name without confusing him for one of his brothers, he's coming to her for a friendly chat.

Colin is sitting back, laughing at his brothers as he throws in his own matchmaking scheme or two. He may also be sticking to Penelope's side like glue claiming he wants to spend these dreadful balls with a friend when in reality he's claiming Penelope for himself while trying to plan how to best court her so there's no way she says no.

Enter 17 year olds Edwina and Posy, and 10 year old Felicity. All of whom are protective of their big sisters, and believe their sisters deserve better than some horny Bridgerton. Look at them! Those Bridgertons stare at their sisters like they're gonna eat them! They're not gonna take their sisters away!

Edwina believes her big sister deserves a love match, and no Capitol R rake is gonna give that to Kate! Kate may say she's looking for a marriage of convenience, but Edwina knows Kate is a romantic underneath. If only she were a year older so she may debute as well and she could truly see how these so called gentlemen act when they think no one is watching at the balls instead of only seeing them in their drawing room. One more year, Edwina tells herself. She has to convince Kate that she can help take part of the responsibilities of finding an advantageous match that way Kate does not choose the most advantageous of her current suitors. Which sadly for Edwina is that damn Bridgerton rake.

Posy also wishes she was another year older. That way, she could be at Sophie's side during balls. During their lifetime, Posy truly believes Sophie is the only one who truly loves her, and Posy loves Sophie more than anyone else in the whole world. She knows Sophie has lived an unfair life and Posy is determined to make sure the rest of her sister's life is filled with love. That starts by having her find a love match. Something she believes the bohemian Bridgerton would not be able to do. Love at first sight Posy's ass, that man is just horny!

Felicity has believed Colin to be a wolf in sheep's clothing for years, just waiting for her beloved sister to debute. Sadly, their families are too entangled with their mothers' friendship, Penelope's friendship with Eloise and Colin, and Felicity's own friendship with Hyacinth. There's no way Colin and Penelope wouldn't have interacted with one another. But it has also worked in Felicity's favor with their families being so entertwined. No one questions seeing one another in the other's house, and Bridgertons' prank wars have also definitely helped Felicity stop that horny Bridgerton's plan more than once. Colin is too fickle. He'll get bored and run off to some other country. Felicity will not stand to see her sister ignored by a husband after she has been ignored the majority of her life.

Edwina and Posy, who have become friends with Penelope and Eloise, also use the Bridgertons sibling rivalry to their advantage. Eloise loves messing with her brothers, so she's down for Edwina's and Posy's schemes.

At some point after Anthony, Benedict, and Colin ask for the parents' approval, they have to face the little sisters for their approval, too.

[bengiyo]

Our Skyy 2 x Bad Buddy x A Tale of Thousand Stars Ep 2 Stray Thoughts

Congratulations to Bad Buddy and A Tale of Thousand Stars for getting the longest name I think I’ve done since a Japanese show.

Yesterday, we finally got to see Pat and Pran again, and I didn’t realize how much I had missed them. We entered their lives between episodes 11 and 12 to see how they’re handling keeping their relationship secret. We had some funny hijinks, but a deep melancholy rose up within me about how much being in the closet actually hurts. Pran accidentally punched Pat in the face and Pat accidentally hurt Pran’s feelings because of this façade. Still, Pat and Pran have such a physically comfortable dynamic that you have no doubt that these two are enjoying a long-term physically intimate relationship. Also, Ink and Pa are clearly a power couple now.

As for the plot, Pran needs to get permission to put on a play from the owners of the personal story, so we’re now in a crossover with A Tale of Thousand Stars. Pran is dying from being outdoors, and is also worried about leaving Pat behind. Phupha has passed out, and Tian is about to stab Pran. Also, Pran and Tian look way too much alike, and this feels very intentional.

I do like that the school was unwilling to sign off on Pran’s play without permission from the owners of the story.

Tian and Phupha are fighting about whether Tian will stay in the village!! Call Celine! Call Whitney! We need to fix this!

I like that Mix is able to hold his jaw the saw way Tian does again.

Yes, children! Let chaos reign!!

Oh, Pran says he has OCD. It’s not surprising, but now it’s something explicit.

Excellent, the gays are bonding over taking care of the kids. I was worried Tian would be beefing with Pran for the next two episodes.

Really, just Ohm, Nanon, Mix, and Earth are just way too attractive. It’s legitimately distracting.

So Tian and Phupha have been together for years at this point, just like Pat and Pran.

Pran is like all of us, reading his gay little stories on his laptop. He’s fangirling hard over every detail about Tian.

Pat made it! These two instantly started flirting. Tian noticed right away.

The eye game at this dinner is incredible. The talent Aof gets to work with these days, I swear.

Instant tears as Phupha read their story with the OST playing in the background.

Losing it over Phupha and Tian arguing instantly about who fell for who first, and Phupha claiming misrepresentation.

I like seeing Pat and Pran wrestle/cuddle, but I hope they actually used the mosquito net.

On the real, though, there’s no way Pran can help Phupha and Tian reconcile while he’s creating distance with Pat.

Oh, I’m here for Pat pointing out that he and Pran also fought about who fell first. There’s some potential here.

This water looks legitimately cold. I don’t think Nanon is acting there.

Yes, boys. Let’s revisit their steps. Cosplay as the couple you just met.

I love Pat Jindapat so much. He’s so cheesy and so in love with Pran.

This man really said he wants to make this house shake! I love that these two have an active sex life.

Not Oishii getting in on the tea bag scene!

I love Kampung. Let this troublesome child meddle.

That’s right! Lie! We need to get these two gays in the same room!

Oh good. Only Nanon sang.

Now we’re getting cockblocked by letters. I’m into this conflict though. Phupha is rather rigid, and I can see him being afraid to appear before Tian’s parents.

Extremely excited about more Pat and Phupha interactions.

Yes, please let the troublesome child lead their drunk teacher up the mountain to recover a buried diary in the middle of the night.

“I think we’ve had enough, youngster.” I AM SCREAMING.

“I’m not your wife!” I am going to die.

Look at these gays saving each other.

A cliffhanger!! In Our Skyy??

I am having so much fun with this! I am feeling so much about the Tian conversation where he laments that Phupha never compromises or bends for him. I know that had to sit with Pran, who came here alone to prove he didn’t need Pat. Very excited about us getting a four-part BB x ATOTS story. I thought the crossover was going to be a lot smaller than this. Instead, we’re getting something really compelling out of both stories.

[russilton]

Max cockblock.... now you're on to something, the weird George answer? That way teasing Lewis? I feel like Max is an omnious present in their relationship but it's ok because it makes it hot

George and Lewis are british so the only way they know how to ethically communicate is through mutual teasing, because Lewis would rather die than confess he’s become attached to a teammate and George sticks to talking about Lewis constantly because you can’t get rejected if you never confess.

Max is like an omnipresent fulcrum that forces them together in front of a common enemy- that’s not me taking my chance to dig on Max it just seems to be legitimately true.

All the times in the last two years they’ve bumped shoulders and talked about forcing each other to go to dinner with him, when they’ve finally stopped being polite about other drivers to remind max he doesn’t scare them, when George stepped up to publicly back Lewis in ad21 and the following incident with piquet, when they basically ignored him on three different podiums in service of each other and in the following press cons. Even Brazil 22 happened because max was between George and Lewis and opted to drive into Lewis in an attempt to cause purposeful damage— in the end it gave George the best moment of his career alongside his idol.

Max is like jiminy cricket if he was a dick, trying desperately to get off George’s shoulder but every time he jumps, he somehow gives George a bonding moment with Lewis.

[nikethestatue]

This isn’t a question.

I like how you described a “casual reader”. I was that casual reader the first time I read these books. I read acotar, acomaf, and acowar before I was involved in the actor shipwar. I didn’t even know the shipwar was a thing until after reading Acosf, and I read Acosf a year later than the world. I caught on to Elriel especially after reading Acosf. I was so confused going into Acosf because I heard a lot of online noise about Gwyn being a new character and a potential love interest for Azriel. It’s safe to say that ship has sailed. 😂

Here you go!

I read them pre-ship war, and pre-ACOSF, but by then, I NEEDED to know how things would go with everyone, what would happen with Nessian, and how Elucien would work, since it was clear that they werent exactly into each other. I was wondering is SJM is going to start forcing them together or if what I was seeing with Elriel was what I was seeing.

Even when ACOSF was released, I didnt know about the bonus chapters, so I read the book at faith value. And then someone on here said, oh, Elain and Azriel! Rhys is such a cockblocker! And we finally got hold of the bonus and I still absolutely no inclination of Gwynriel. I read it, I was all, OMG FINALLY! KITH! KITH! FUKC YOU RHYS!! and then the Gwyn x Az scene was more about him not going ballistic and not trying to start a war. Never did I ever see anything romantic between them. She was just her usual Gwyn--I wanna cut the ribbon. How me how to cut the ribbon!

But it always struck me as one of the oddest ships there. Legitimately based on NOTHING. And I maintain that to this day.

[quotablefanfiction]

He frowned at the number, then looked at Tony.  “I have to take this.” “You do have the argument that it might actually be a matter of life and death, so…” Tony shrugged.  He couldn’t believe he was legitimately getting cockblocked by national security.

Steve and Tony (chp. 4*) *8 by text

Celestial Navigation by sabrecmc (AO3) Avengers (Marvel Movies) – Explicit – Steve Rogers/Tony Stark #Alternate Universe #Alpha/Beta/Omega #Alpha Steve Rogers #Omega Tony Stark #Teenage Tony Stark #Implied/Referenced Child Abuse #Living Howard and Maria Stark #Attempted Rape/Non-Con (Not between main pairing) #PTSD #Self-Esteem Issues #First-time Sex #Tony as Unreliable Narrator #Secret Identities

Celestial Navigation: 18 year old Omega!Tony finds himself Bonded to Captain Steve Rogers. He isn’t happy about it until he is.

Note: This was originally posted in Celestial Navigation and other Thank You Fics (AO3) which contains some other stories, including a few in the same universe as Celestial Navigation.

Note: This is a restricted story and requires an AO3 account in order to read

[hasarjunadoneanythingwrong]

May I request your thoughts on Kriemhild and Siegfried for the ask meme

im gonna treat them simultaneously as a dual pair/try to sort of acknowledge them on their own

favorite thing about them

holy shit they brought in siegfrieds wife after 7+ years of his solo existence. her design owns, they go together but also work well individually, they treated her well given how they altered his story and you can tell they genuinely love each other despite everything that happened but they also didnt just hand wave away all the trauma that went down

points for kreimhild having a very realistic response to finding out the truth

also i like siegfrieds wings and horns although theyre rarely brought up out of gag moments

least favorite thing about them

ive seen people get mad at siegfried 'cockblocking' them or what the fuck ever since krimhild was introduced which. dude. he's been around for over 7 years before she showed up and she was barely alluded to prior to her introduction if anything shes cockblocking people who shipped themselves or ocs with siegfried but you've heard barely anything from them this isnt even like cases like brynhild where she was introduced first like why are you mad??? she was never gonna fuck you. the compulsive need to make every woman in fgo a consumable waifu for the mc is a legitimate brainworm tbh it should be studied in labratories

also siegfried's ascensions are very 'year one''core esp in comparison to his wife

favorite line

i dont understand japanese but i love kreimhild's np.. the passion, the pain...

also that part in oniland where siegfried goes third ascension to dodge brynhild

brOTP

is it a brotp if its more like a mentorship situation (talking about sieg)

OTP

well siegfried and kreimhild for one. i also like to think most heroic spirits arent so stuck on monogamy tbh...(kind of thinks kreimhild and altera is funny)(thinks karna making out w like half of apocrypha including siegfried is funny) nOTP

gudao but more bc of the waifu brainworm thing. if its a poly thing then fine have fun w it. also sieg romantically bc EW???

random headcanon

kreimhild is like 3 weeks of couples therapy away from attending every event with matching outfits with siegfried

unpopular opinion

as much as i love kreimhild and am glad to see her/her design some aspects of her reception make me scared of the chance of seeing other famous wives of heroic spirits getting introduces bc people cant be normal

id also like her to have some events where she can be her own person and not just 'siegfrieds wife' but BECAUSE of how those same people get i feel like they'll just take it as signalling shes madly in love w the mc and hates her husband or what the fuck ever and destroy her character song i associate with them

for them together maybe?

also kriemhildcore lol

favorite picture of them

[punkscowardschampions]

Ruster pt.3

Rio: [Okay, so as discussed, this visit was not far away and thus you have not had the time nor inclination to talk yourselves out of this and contact has been left to a minimum to build up that anticipation whilst not feeling like you have ghosted each other and we’re starting over again, let us assume flight updates etc are being put somewhere/sent to her or she’d not believe this was truly happening and would just be frozen unable to get herself ready to show up here in your doorway which feels like such a crazy thing to do but here we are, this is real life]

Buster: [god bless those secret accounts for giving y’all a flirting platform and constant in without having to keep showing up at each other’s metaphorical doorway aka inbox like hello it is I, the safety and secrecy is keeping you both alive until it’s REAL AF unavoidably so, because that is always gonna feel precarious, hence we’re able to easily and legitimately cockblock how we intend to, ANYWAY, I imagine he’s posting on his usual socials under the guise of giving his parents and everyone boy style updates and showing the lovely time he is having with his other fave family member to actually give her the updates she needs as they discussed the plans and timings and such in that phone call, so she’ll know exactly when to show up thanks to some kind of taxi home goodnight content, and he’ll then be waiting for her to appear until she does and he’ll ofc do his son of a baze wrist grab to pull her into the gaff before she’s even knocked because not afraid to be keen]

Rio: [when you should’ve been expecting that really and yet here you are TOO STUNNED TO SPEAK and with your hand still up about to knock like oh, okay, yeah; cannot be overstated the effort we have gone to to look good, like you always do anyway but still must be noted that you’ve really gone in making yourself pretty for this boy, LOOKING at his hand on your wrist with enough intensity to burn a hole through you both honestly because as soon as you look away and in his eyes it’s game over tbh]

Buster: [thankfully he always looks good because he can’t be dressing pretty for his gdad that would be wild haha, he and I both love to see that she’s gone to this effort though, and he is SEEING it even as he uses his body weight and their proximity to push her through the open door and then against it to shut it, entirely unnecessary and yet completely necessary because she can’t look at her wrist forever while he checks her out, she simply must LOOK at him and it must be when they are shamelessly pressed against said closed front door as he reaches to lock it, soz mcvickers have a key but you think you’re making a statement about being ALONE and not interrupted until he has to leave the next day, hence also deliberately pausing to look at his own wrist and check the rolex he always wears (and will eventually give her like he did in our other redo when I find the right time) to indicate the countdown of it all and that this has truly begun, lovely piece of symmetry in that, you’re welcome it’s cinematic already lads]

Rio: [my boo says there’s only so much I can do and that’s the male privilege/curse because you can just always look a suitable level of good, there’s the look that works for the moment and that’s that, whereas a girl can go so many ways and put in as much effort as she can imagine lowkey but ANYWAY; we know you look FINE boy and somehow the safest way for us to work our way up to EYE CONTACT is to check you out working our way up literally from your toes, as if so affronted by the way he just used his body against you that you really gotta SCRUTINISE it right here right now and take your time with it too, does give you a chance to get your breathing less erratic if not VERY intentional, it’s giving Bridgerton with how your chest is heaving rn, eventually following the path of his hands from locking the door to checking his watch and finally making that EYE CONTACT as if a timer has literally started and you couldn’t before]

Buster: [enjoy the fact that their insane proximity against this door means that she will feel his body reacting to her attention in every single subtle and unsubtle way we know it is because they haven’t ever even been able to check each other out this openly before and we all know how big her eyes are rn (cos she’s her mother’s daughter lol) and how into it he is, smugness be radiating off this boy because he works hard and knows exactly how his body looks as a result in every era and at any age at first, but more importantly how small she actually is right here and now compared to him and how easily he could use said body is eventually overwhelming every single other thought or feeling and making him !! so catch him pressing himself even closer against her heaving chest as if that’ll stop it instead of making her breathing even more insane, MAINTAINING that eye contact so dramatically as their bodies just fit into each other’s perfectly nbd]

Rio: [you can’t begin to put into words the fact that you’re here and doing this when it has been/has felt like an impossibility your whole lives, like you actually cannot and the closest you get to trying is opening your mouth only to shut it again, shaking your head and reaching out to touch his cheek with a wary softness as if you’re not quite sure he’s real or perhaps that you’re not really here, your fingertips jumping on contact like you just got shocked by the warmth and solidness of him, bringing your other hand up to his other cheek until your hands eventually find a place to rest on his shoulders, so you can pull yourself closer to him once more because can’t get close enough to deal with this !!]

Buster: [as she’s reaching out to touch his cheek him reaching out to touch a hem, whether that’s of a skirt/dress or a top depends what she’s wearing but the point is it’s got the same kinda I need to check you’re actually real not to mention here and wearing THIS to it, pulling at it when her fingertips jump like he’s making doubly sure because lifting it slightly to expose skin for a fleeting second which he’s LOOKING at still when she pulls herself closer until she’s too close for him to, finally speaking by giving her a v specific compliment about how this outfit flatters her and the exact effort she has gone to with her appearance that isn’t just a generic you look pretty style compliment cos we gotta and always will do better than that, in her ear as a whisper because they aren’t used to being alone and are always used to having to sneak and steal moments]

Rio: [if you can’t see the blush you’re going to feel the heat radiating off her cheeks, smoothing down your outfit/body here as if he’s really ruffled it up but you just simply must when there is so obviously not the space for even your tiny hand between y’all, to really drive that home ‘are you going to invite me any further in?’ smiling at him half amused but half giving we can stay here if you want because clearly there is nothing about this position y’all find yourselves in that we don’t like]

Buster: [his mouth moving from against her ear to against her jaw and then cheek in such a slow but hot move because he can feel it, leaving no space exactly like there isn’t between your bodies rn whilst at the same time not actually letting his mouth touch her face, only his breath is, obvs because they love to breathe for each other and there’s heat in that too so it’s another lovely parallel, you’re welcome, not you picking her up and carrying her further in as though that’s what she meant, we don’t know the Dublin house layout but a deliberate amount of steps being taken here]

Rio: [the sheer effort it is taking you to not push your face into him and force that contact, you can actually see it and hear how we’ve stopped breathing ourself in response to just focus on his and not move even accidentally because you want to so violently, when he picks you up, BURYING your face in his chest like you might a pillow if you were gonna SCREAM because that’s truly how you’re feeling and it’s FINE, wrapping your legs around his waist as well as your arms more securely around his shoulders]

Buster: [likewise the urge and the effort not to PULL her head back and kiss her the second she buries it that hard in his chest because he knows why and he couldn’t be more into it and at least part of you is aware that she could scream rn if she wanted to because y’all are alone however much you aren’t used to being so you’re like what a crying shame she isn’t, which reminds you therefore of all the times she’d had to be quiet and the way she bites the inside of her mouth to cope with that including v recently when you dared her in big tesco and so, with no hesitation, you do pull her head back and her mouth open, again enjoying the ease with which you can, at first just to LOOK and see if you can see any evidence of this but because he’s the most extra ass person to ever live, obviously (and because he did that when we did christmas before and I liked it, slightly different context though it was) he’ll then use this finger to feel the inside of her cheek on both sides and her lip, being indecent and thorough but soft unlike the !! he pulled her head back with, like her tentative touch of his cheek almost, again like it’ll prove she’s real and it’s really her who is here and not anyone else in a way his hand still being in her hair doesn’t fully]

Rio: [this 0-100 has you REELING, the whiplash you feel at being forced into being this exposed after trying to hide is only bested by how TURNED ON you are by it, hence you aren’t fighting back even the little you could in comparison to how easily he can and is overpowering you to do this and whatever else he wants, obviously you cannot speak clearly because your mouth is full so once again you are giving him the BIG EYES your mother gave ya as you make the only sound you can which is so clearly muffled moaning because DUH, the only concession you’re making to not entirely giving in to him is squeezing your eyes shut when you can’t handle the combination of his indecent touch and indecent eye contact any longer]

Buster: [quietly saying ‘I don’t want to hurt you’ as if she asked him wtf he was doing this for when she has in fact done nothing of the sort, meaning when they kiss because all up in her mouth checking for injuries but he could just as easily mean when they hook up because he knows damn well how much he’s turning her on with this, soz we’re only letting you get as far as the first scenario huns, stroking her hair too as if he’s saying he knows he could’ve and did when he pulled her head back like that, all the meanings, finally taking his finger out of her mouth when she closes her eyes ‘look at me’ still the same volume but insistent, daddy energy abound as he starts carrying her up the stairs because they may have this whole house to themselves but in no world does he want feral antics to happen anywhere but his bedroom for the first time so he has those mems as the easiest to relive and they feasibly could’ve got to the stairs when he carried her in]

Rio: [a little scoff because still can’t speak but very clear we’re giving you oh really vibes there because think you want to actually kill us boy, giving his fingers a very gentle nip about it too like don’t lie but then he’s stroking your hair and you have to lick them better immediately as if you hurt him even remotely, LOOKING at him with puppy dog eyes when he tells you to but also because you gotta like he’s really mad at you at all, nuzzling your face into the crook of his neck as he’s carrying you]

Buster: [making his own noises to make it very clear how he feels about both the nip and the lick, little but blatant, again as if y’all aren’t alone and we need to hold back because can’t shake the habit yet even as he’s carrying her to his room which he’d never be able to if they weren’t, hitting her with a ‘good girl’ for those actions as much as for looking at him like he told her to, cradling her to him more than he was, ofc, and then eventually when they reach the top of these stairs, saying ‘it’s impossible to tell which is yours and which is mine’ because his heartbeat in his ears and hers he can hear being as cray ‘of course they beat exactly the same’ because the whole them being twins thing and their hearts wanting everything each other wants]  

Rio: [repeating the nip and lick routine on his jawline, still as gentle as you did before but you simply have to because being that close to his lips and doing it there as opposed to his fingers is a different vibe altogether and with his reaction it’s necessary, kissing in the same spot in a way that is no more dramatic than a kiss on the cheek, in theory, but there is so much longing and need behind it that it feels like the most sexual thing you’ve ever done in your life somehow; at the top of these stairs, tapping him and shakily getting down from your cradled baby position because you want to walk into his room because you DO want this and there needs to be no doubt about it, tapping him by placing your hand over his heart, ofc, like you need to do so to feel it when you’re both so close it would be CONSTANT and UNAVOIDABLE ‘that’s how it’s always been’ in a husky, kind of broken voice, like you’ve been moaning and making out for hours already because the !! is too damn high but you gotta remind him you’ve always been made for each other like this ‘there’s just no reason to ignore it now’ because no one is here, yes, but also we don’t care and we want what we want regardless of all the reasons we shouldn’t]

Buster: [the way his breath catches at the softness of her initial contact, for only a second but nevertheless happening, somehow being more extra than a full moan or him stumbling a step on these stairs because it’s him and he never shows how weak she makes him, likewise the closing of his eyes which follows that when she does the kiss (to show that he hasn’t recovered any composure at all) feeling as dramatic as when she squeezed hers shut even though he didn’t and they were again closed for barely a sec, feeling like he’s giving himself away SO big here lol and being so !!, in contrast though, helping her down with all his usual confidence and steadying her with all his usual strength not at all long after as if that didn’t happen but we all know it did, taking her wrist for a second time and holding her pulse point, brushing his fingers over it after she tapped his chest, pulling her back a step to signify that they are gonna walk in together like this more so than really pulling her back any kind of distance because that’s your clear consent that you also want this ‘no compelling reason because I’m all yours’ because they’re alone but also she wanted him to say so in person and he remembers]

Rio: [we all know and this girl is here noticing every microscopic moment and thing that this boy does or says right now as if we’re going to be tested because SO desperately want to commit it all to memory, so of course she’s noticing and DYING over how he has to fight for his composure as hard as he does, in danger of swooning the minute he puts you down which wouldn’t help your case of being a strong independent lady but we know that’s the point and how in control he can manage to be makes you wanna lose all of yours so he does too, so he can; not quite falling not quite throwing yourself at him, something in between the two with how you let him pull you back and how willing and lovesick you are with it, ending up in his arms again but with your feet on the ground for now, though you feel like you are floating because he remembered and he said it and everything is feeling too good to be real once again ‘pinch me’ as an actual instruction, finding his hand to hold as he inevitably pulled you back via your wrist]

Buster: [mhmm we know he’s likewise trying to commit everything about her to memory because he’s the same bitch and that’s without knowing y’all are gonna be cruelly interrupted at some point and reliving this is all you’ll have for a while, soz lads, rn in his blissful ignorance of all that though, catch him pulling up the same hem he did earlier and pinching that same exposed skin as he repeats ‘I’m yours’ as deliberately and with the exact same energy as she repeated her 2nd ILY over the phone, without her having to ask him to, it’s giving pinch ‘I’m’ pinch ‘yours’ pinch so I really hope it was a skirt or dress hem for the added sauciness of that, god bless, cos you know each time they’re getting harder and a mark will be left by the end]

Rio: [soz guys we’re getting closer and closer to the time but you simply have no idea about that so moving swiftly on lololol, she’s very much a dress girly so I think it’s safe to assume that’s the vibe we’ve gone with, not that it need be it would still be an absolute mood and a moment wherever he did it but of course the higher the hem gets the more you’re SQUEEZING the hand you’re holding, try not to break his fingers hun, repeating his words back to him, mouthing more than speaking because you want to hear him but the ‘I’m yours’ is being volleyed back visually and in that slow and deliberate way he’s saying it]

Buster: [he’d love nothing more than to get his fingers broken like this, soz not soz to all the boxing lads who simply cannot take him haha, once those words have been volleyed back as many times as possible and he’s STARED at her mouth therefore for what feels like forever, saying ‘tell me how completely certain you are that you’re ready to be mine’ because he wants SUCH enthusiastic consent from her always but especially rn when each of those words are being said against her lips (hence he said it in such a waffly way lol with lots of words) because kissing feels like crossing a line the way y’all have not yet with your phone calls and nonsense]

Rio: [moving his hand to your waist with URGENCY when he’s speaking against your lips and once again not fully giving in to what y’all want to do but teasing at it so expertly, opening your mouth partially, whilst forming your response, because you can and because you must, if you have to feel the HEAT from his breathing then he has to have yours, placing his other hand on your heart ‘I am, always have been and always will be, I just need this’ like even if we never went here I would still be yours because just a fact, this is purely for y’all, thus we’re pressing our lips harder against yours when we say ‘need’ to really drive that point home for the second it lasts]

Buster: [‘you’re absolutely sure?’ more to prolong the talking against her lips of it all than because of anything else because we all know she is, gotta be a child of baze and make everything lowkey a competition instead of giving in like you clearly immediately actually want to, here pressing his lips against hers with even less pressure than saying the words caused in order to torture her with the softness when in contrast that hand on her waist is gripping hard enough to bruise, tracing his tongue over her bottom lip and sucking it as gently as possible for a second until her mouth willingly opens again and then running it over the inside of said lip and everywhere else inside her cheek that his fingers were before, so so gently and slowly and again thoroughly despite wanting to lose it fully and just put EVERYTHING into this kiss ASAP]

Rio: [‘Buster’ said like come on you KNOW I am but also to say his name and really make a meal of dragging out those syllables because the whiny way you say it is one way to attempt to deal with the casual torture he’s subjecting you to ‘you made me practice’ as something you move away from his lips to briefly whisper in his ear like it’s a secret and anyone is here to hear it because lest he forget the times he’s told you to fuck yourself with literal replacements for himself whilst y’all have been waiting to get to this point; once again you here with no choice but to make unhinged noises because not allowed to pull him into a full makeout until you both decide its time but also cannot do words because your mouth is full and you are being killed by the sensations so even if you could speak, you’d only be saying things as feral as these sounds are coming from you, allowing yourself to push your body into his hands though with the energy it’s taking you to stop yourself with his tongue]

Buster: [he can’t help but moan into her mouth at the way she’s saying his name like that so that’s happening for the first time and killing you both ‘and what does practice make you?’ because the answer is perfect and she is, the hand that was on her chest touching her up before it runs down her body to join the one GRIPPING her waist and he PULLS her into him with !! because there is only so much self control anyone on earth possesses and he’s using all of his to keep these kisses soft and therefore losing it elsewhere and letting her feel how turned on he is by her unhinged sounds and lbr her everything]

Rio: [your teeth holding his bottom lip in place, pulling it into your mouth and holding him that close to you as he moans this moan, like you can’t let him get away or this moment pass you by, you’ve got to prolong it and be in it for longer than it would otherwise be ‘perfect for you’ said desperately, ALMOST a question because you want him to confirm it and say it’s true but you know it is enough to stand on it, gently as these kisses are, nudging him towards his bedroom door]

Buster: [once again using his body to push her against a door, this time his closed bedroom one, with so much !! it rattles and she’ll feel him matching her desperation with that action in her whole body, the walking bruise she’s gonna feel like, almost like he’s suddenly and 100% used up his softness quota but we just really need her to know how perfect for us she is and how badly we want her ‘flawless, I know you remember’ because he has called her that and he knows she remembers everything no matter when]

Rio: [you love to see it and frankly, not that you two know, but you do wanna hurry up and start making out with everything you got lads so you can at least have that lol, nodding at him dramatically because of course you remember and of course you remember everything]

Buster: [my boo says have a makeout sesh against this door and she’s so right for that, it’s the least we can do and give y’all all things considered, you’ve gotta and it’s gotta be cinematic so start where she nuzzled into your neck when you were carrying her sir then go along her jawline like she got you, gently pulling her hair out of the way in contrast to how intense and not soft these kisses are, go to her earlobe and nibble that before you BREATHE into her ear v dramatically as per, kiss her cheek and FINALLY her mouth after what would feel like a million years because y’all really haven’t kissed since that dare and god knows how many years ago that was]

Rio: [even if it hadn’t been years since that kiss, the vibes were so different because it could not be this (obviously) so you’ll be SO relieved that this is everything you had hoped it would be and not an immediate disappointment which would be the only fate worse than the one we’re treating y’all to in a sec]

Buster: [omg imagine if it flopped, like he thinks he did as a child because he was a child but even that did not, to do so now would be as cruel as us saying one of jali let themselves go and was no longer fanciable, thankfully not and instead y’all are having a really !! kissing moment to address at least some of this tension, gotta say he picks her up again to address that high diff and as he does getting her to open his door so they can continue to makeout through it and end up on his bed to be doing the most while we still can because the cockblock is imminent, I also gotta cruelly say that during said bed makeout he accidentally breaks her necklace like he did in the st paddys redo (because he bit it to try and stop himself saying ILY or being too extra and that’s so feral and here I can imagine him doing it for those same reasons when they first start dryhumping each other on said bed because have never felt the like of it, no veg can compare truly, I fear lol) but unlike that scene they should only realise later it’s lost in the sheets and he can find it in the bad bad times of the AM]

Rio: [oh that is so heartbreaking, we simply must, got to have all these unavoidable reminders for this boy when he does what he does lol, which you can have happen whenever you’re ready because we know the vibes here] 

Buster: [imagine him torturing himself with that broken necklace, like literally catch him carrying it around as a reminder whenever he wants to weaken and hit her up again that his grandparents bust in the last time (cos tell me why it’s a million times worse if Tess is also there lol lol idk why it should be but somehow it’s much more mortifying if she’s there too and so she just should be, soz everyone) but on the other hand it’s a reminder of everything that happened before they did cockblock and how good it was, very mean but real of me, speaking of, I’m sure y’all won’t hear mcvickers key in the lock but you will hear Fearghal doing a big lol probably at his wife and them announcing themselves how peeps do when they enter a house with a key but still unannounced, prepare to shit yourselves lads, at least she can hide though, he’ll have to go down and face them like he isn’t turned on by his cousin]

Rio: [me like you’re a fine one to talk with your children’s track records as if Tess came in swinging lmao, she thankfully knows nothing for now and can keep her disappointment to herself, still, here a mix of absolutely furious in a way she rarely gets on her own behalf and terrified that, somehow, you two are about to get caught (even though logically you know mcvickers aren’t just going to start traipsing through the gaff and they are not going to find you, whether you’ve gone into a bathroom to lock yourself away or are in some kind of storage space they’d have no business checking, whatever made sense in the split second you made the decision in), oh guys, willing them away in your head so hard even though you just KNOW what’s going to come next from Buster and you do not want to face it at all]

Buster: [the actual agony of this for him cannot be overstated because they’ve shown up out of concern and love thinking he’s home alone and it’s just further proof that he was right to try and push everyone away because fuck off rn please I don’t want anyone to care about me when this is what comes of it, which inevitably it is, horrific reminders she is family and you shouldn’t feel the way you do or have been doing what you just were, he’d wanna be swinging and the only reason he isn’t is because he’s in shock and on full autopilot through whatever small talk is being made until he can convince them to leave, which is just as well tbf because kicking off would mean they’d stay longer, god knows how long they do but I know damn well he’s booked a taxi to take this girl home ASAP (luckily or unluckily depending on your POV lol it’ll take a while to get here on a saturday night at whatever o clock this now is, I’m sure) before he’s even walked back up the stairs, with no discussion and no intention of saying anything beyond what he needs to to get her in it, catch him saying olly olly oxen free because come out now please at every possible hiding place like this is just a childhood game of hide and seek because we must remain detached at all costs]

Rio: [so reluctantly coming out of your hiding spot because you can’t just avoid this by staying there all night, it won’t make this any better, just staring at him like what the fuck at his calling out here because what are you even saying right now]

Buster: [not you just sending her these taxi deets because staring at your phone means you don’t have to look at her and sending them means you don’t have to tell her to go, very cowardly of you but I get it] 

Rio: [looking down at your phone and discarding it like someone annoying is blowing it up and you don’t wanna read all that, scoffing like no ‘Buster’ saying his name slowly as if to combat the miscommunication that’s going on here]

Buster: [without looking up or acknowledging her or his name being spoken at all, saying ‘go’ like he’s dismissing Nancy or one of his most irritating friends, such is the tone we’ve adopted]

Rio: [‘no’ like that’s the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard, finding somewhere to sit, whether it’s literally the floor or an actual seat of some description ‘just calm down’]

Buster: [audibly scoffing because calm down is the most ridiculous thing you’ve ever heard under the circumstances, you’ve never been more shaken to your core ‘just get out’ his tone meanwhile is eerily calm which is how you know how deep this goes, he’s beyond angry outburst]

Rio: [‘try it’ like that’s why you need to ‘so you can talk to me like a fucking human about this’ folding your arms]

Buster: [‘don’t try me’ there would normally be a babe there but under the circumstances he cannot so there isn’t, we’re too serious sis, this isn’t a game and he isn’t playing]

Rio: [‘too late for that’ because we are not interested in playing any games either]

Buster: [‘yeah, it really fucking is’ because too late for a lot of things now isn’t it lads and that’s why he still hasn’t looked at her]

Rio: [shaking your head in disbelief ‘what does this achieve?’]

Buster: [‘this isn’t a point scoring exercise’ because you feel like you’ve both taken the biggest L ever, thanks mcvickers]

Rio: [‘well, I’m not getting in no taxi’ shrugging like so what are you going to do now?]

Buster: [‘it’ll be here in [whatever your latest app ETA is or whatever]’ said like yeah you will because I’ll make you]

Rio: [‘good for you’ as we walk off from wherever we are to go downstairs to the kitchen and get ourself a drink because you can get in said taxi then boy]

Buster: [letting her go because regardless he will be dragging her kicking and screaming into said taxi if he must and we all know he’s stronger than her so, unless this taxi man wants to involve himself, this boy is feeling confident of the outcome]

Rio: [lol I can tell you for a fact she will not get in it but she’ll walk away from your attempts to make her before this man is forced to call the police/fight you, whatever take he’s feeling when confronted with this scene but for right now, sorry to baze but we are absolutely smashing some plates or bottles or something, just to make a point]

Buster: [the drama mick, oh lads, I’m sorry Winnie decided to do this to you, and soz to baze forever and always cos you don’t need this, you will just assume this boy did it though because in character for him, meanwhile in the here and now however, he has never seen her act like this because like my boo said she doesn’t get angry, so when he hears it, he will feel even more like this is unreal and more detached from it as he comes downstairs and witnesses it, hitting her with her own words from the doorway ‘what does this achieve?’]

Rio: [will Winola ever pay for his crimes? Unlikely, I fear, that dastardly boy; it is rude of us to let you take that blame but 1. We don’t care right now 2. You could realistically replace whatever is broken if you so chose lol but mainly point 1. because all we’re trying to do is make you react like yourself because you’re refusing to, how you always do and we’re not just going to go away and make it easy for you this time, not in the here and now, will stop before throwing a plate directly at you because you’re not your sister(s) and that’s a bit too far but you are STARING him down as you break more things like hm, idk, let me think about that]

Buster: [coming over, fully putting himself in the potential firing line as a child of baze who’d be expecting her to throw something because Bea would never not, and taking whatever she was about to break next from her hand like stop before you hurt yourself because only so much carnage he can allow until that protective instinct overtakes even his spiral because that’s how strong it is, we know, taking literally everything possible and putting it out of her tiny girl reach, would be such a petty king move but it’s too obvious where it’s actually coming from]

Rio: [following him, literally physically following him around the kitchen as he removes things from your potential grasp, as if you might jump on him and start fighting for them at any moment but you don’t, even if you still look very tempted he’s not looking at you properly anyway ‘talk to me’ said using pinches for emphasis how he did to you but this isn’t a saucy vibe at all, we’re just here trying to jolt you into acknowledging our existence any which way, nothing is too underhand]

Buster: [fully expecting this to become a fight too tbh because baze would and have and they are your model for things, he’s ready for it, hence pinning both of her hands in likewise not a saucy way at all to stop her from pinching him, the ease once again not lost on him, she’s never looked smaller than she does rn ‘you weren’t the one who had to talk to them’]

Rio: [‘I’ll do it next time’ which sounds like a poorly timed joke but that isn’t the tone we’re using at all, we’re saying it like I know and I owe you]

Buster: [‘there isn’t going to be one’ so matter of factly because just like you made a decision to go for this you’re making another the opposite way, that’s who you are, black and white, all or nothing]

Rio: [laughing, which would sound so crazy in the relative silence after your smashing spree and in comparison to the detached way he’s speaking but you are genuinely having to laugh about this]

Buster: [‘don’t’ but even that is feeling more like autopilot as something he just always says rather than a genuine response rn because there’s no !! behind it]

Rio: [‘get off me’ said with enough disgust behind it but we aren’t moving our body to fight you at all]

Buster: [‘no’ like he’s her echo, repeating her words from before because also ‘calm down first’ is barely different]

Rio: [‘no, Buster’ not exactly pushing your face into his but definitely making an effort to face him harder and be more in his personal space than he obviously wants like let go if you know what’s good for you energy]

Buster: [‘I’m not asking’ because sis we are TELLING you to calm down rn knowing that you still can’t resist doing what you are told by us, because she isn’t the only one who can be underhand if needed]

Rio: [‘how exactly are you going to judge it?’ like what the hell is calm in this situation, what’s acceptable ‘you’re acting dosed’ like THAT ain’t calm, you can’t fool me lol]

Buster: [‘Judge isn’t in the 10 year plan’ because he’ll be way older than that if he decides to become one and he simply must cling to how his future is supposed to look to get through this horrific present moment ‘and you’re acting like you’ve cracked’ as he looks down at some broken bit of plate or whatever]

Rio: [fighting an urge to roll your eyes at this, not that staring him down in the manner you still are is any nicer or anything, you simply didn’t want to look away even momentarily is all ‘I don’t give a fuck about your parents’ plates’ said like I’m not going to break any more, if that’s what you really care about, because I don’t]

Buster: [finally staring her down also because there’s only so long he can really maintain any kind of facade, we’re all aware of that, he’s a child of baze and they do what the fuck they want and don’t know how to be fake ‘I know’ there’s finally something in it even if it’s only exasperation at having to come back to himself, letting her hands go but keeping hold of her wrist for a beat, obvs] 

Rio: [trying not to be instantly !! but you were losing hope of any sort of acknowledgement so it’s taken you by surprise undeniably, however decent the poker face about it ‘the least of your concern’ like YOU don’t give a fuck about the plates either, as if we need to hammer that point home here]

Buster: [‘I need you to leave’ genuinely because he really does, he cannot cope with this, he wasn’t just saying that ‘that’s my primary concern’] 

Rio: [just shaking your head, finally looking away from him as you push off, no words needed to express our overwhelming disappointment in him]

Buster: [that disappointment cutting like a KNIFE because he hates to, literally to the point of being about to contradict himself and reach out to grab her wrist and stop her like actually no I’ve changed my mind but then the resolve and stubbornness stops him from reaching far enough]

Rio: [you probably didn’t bring anything girl, beyond some sort of coat or jacket which if that was dumped at the door instantly, you can manage to pick up again on your way out but if there was anything else that’s getting left because can’t actually stand to be here a moment longer]

Buster: [RIP to that necklace that is getting left but y’all don’t know yet, the way he follows her and it isn’t clear whether he’s doing it to make sure she leaves or because until the very last second he wants to say wait and stop her, the answer is both, conflicted is the word and in any given moment he’s flip flopping from one to the other having a war with himself]

Rio: [God knows where you are going girl but that doesn’t matter at all to you right now you just have to get as far away as quickly as you can or you’ll simply have to start again and your attempts to reach him will only get more desperate and you’ll only face more stonewalling]

Buster: [me like call your dad by which I’ll forever mean Johnny, meanwhile catch this boy unfollowing her from BOTH accounts (when he promised he would never on the 2nd) and then throwing his phone at the wall because we’re back baby and that’s what it means, along with inevitably getting wasted off your parents’ dublin booze stash]

Rio: [you should but you won’t, you likewise have to go and attempt to do something about this, pointless as it is, there’s undoubtedly a club nearby that will have some friends in that you can at least pretend are keeping you company whilst you drown your own sorrows]

Buster: [I’m having to hold Winnie back from a Moses interaction, I say mr bear we are pacing ourselves and she doesn’t need to run into him ASAP thank you, baze are welcome at least that this boy will tidy up and then go out and replace the broken things like nothing happened (because that’s the vibe) before going straight to the airport in the AM post shops because as soon as he goes to crash drunk in his bed he’ll find that necklace and nope no sleep will be had (what feels like ever again) only errands and fleeing to another country the second he can because immediately sobered up by that discovery]

Rio: [We all know there would be no pacing ourselves on her part so no, we cannot, hold your horses sir, it can be the next convo we write but she can’t literally see him tonight, that’d be disastrous lol]

Buster: [Don’t worry boo I’m putting my foot down, more than enough has occurred on this day already and there’s no need to bring that level of drama, it’s dramatic enough that Buster is turning up home hours and hours earlier than he said he was going to and clearly in a state once again]

Rio: [Oh lads, you are in a pickle]

Buster: [Bea like ???!! because as far as everyone is concerned, mcvickers included he had a lovely time with Fearghal, soz guys you thought you were getting somewhere re him being a dublin hater]

Rio: [truly this is going to be very confusing and you aren’t likely to get anywhere talking to him about it so it’s just like okay then lol]

Buster: [he would’ve already told Fearghal that he’s coming to his bday when they were having a lovely time so there’s no getting out of that even if you do manage to the other fam functions meanwhile (we’ll decide where and when we want you) apologies for the bad vibes that’ll be cast over that bday my love]

Rio: [would not be the first time I’m sure, flop fam be flopping]

[white--moon]

"Uhhhh... Yeah, probably a boyfriend thing." He feels weirdly guilty, like he got caught, except there's nothing to catch. He frowns. "I'm not interested in sleepin' around. The closest thing to interest I had was the threesome idea, which involves you. You're actually the most important part 'cause without you I'm not that interested anymore."

His expression falls and he scrubs a hand over his face briefly with a groan. "Trust me, I am trying to find him." He does have news on that front, but he's planning to save it for later, lest this date end early because Ichigo gets overly eager and stops having fun with it. "This time, though, I'm not workin' my frustrations out on him. I'm just ending it. It wont be as satisfying, but it'll be over." He desperately wants it to be over. "We'll have to settle for goin' home and workin' it out ourselves." As if that's any kind of settling. He scoffs but it's more amused than anything else. "Just settin' the bar low so I can reach it."

He sees that empty glass get set aside and gives his own glass a quick glance. Ichigo might actually be keeping up with him tonight, which is an amusing prospect as long as there's no puking in his car.

What the actual fuck. "Gonna cockblock him in the actual cock if he's not careful." It's getting worse somehow. "I legitimately could not care about him enough to want to fuck someone just to fuck with him. That's gotta be the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time." Ichigo's looking pretty pissed and Shiro doesn't even blame him. He might go talk to Shuren on his own anyway. For now, though, he grabs the wine bottle and refills Ichigo's glass. When he sets it down, he takes a drink of his own. "I actually think he'd be unlucky if I remember he exists."

He arches a brow, still amused, “Are you disappointed? ‘Cause you sound a little disappointed.” Clearly he doesn’t have a good feel for what Ichigo actually wants at the moment.

Not being an unholy terror. Ironic, coming from Ichigo. He snorts a laugh, “Don’t worry, it stores up like a backlog. I’ll get to it and it’ll be worse than ever for whatever poor fucker catches it.” He watches that slow smirk, somewhere between suspicious that Ichigo’s about to prove his terror theory and being turned on. Ichigo’s statement cracks him up though, and he laughs, lifting his wineglass. “You are absolutely the best pain in my ass I’ve ever had.”

A terror. This is exactly the kind of terror Ichigo is, and the little shit had the gall to call Shiro an unholy terror. He barely manages to keep a sound from squeaking out when Ichigo purposefully stretches all those marks out on display. It takes him a second to realize Ichigo’s talking again and another short pause to parse the subject he’d been distracted from. Ah. The server. But again, it’s hard to focus on the server in conversation when Ichigo’s talking about later in the next sentence and his mind goes right back to marking and touching every inch of skin he can get. “I’m looking forward to it now.” As if it needs to be said, but it’s what’s on his mind.

Their server pops up at the side of the table like he sprouted from floor or something. Shiro glances over, before his attention goes back to the food being loaded onto the table. It all looks fantastic and he’s almost as excited about eating as he is about consuming Ichigo at the moment. He trades his glass for utensils.

He nods slightly while Ichigo answers. It’s nice, he thinks, that Ichigo would be so willing to see his dad with someone else. He takes a bite from a place at random because he has ever intention of eating all of it. But he pauses when Ichigo blows out that breath, brows arching in anticipation of bad news. “Ooh-” Yikes. “K… that’s pretty hard to misinterpret.” Ichigo said he’d rather not have to kick Shuren’s ass, and Shiro really thought it wouldn’t come to that, but he’s not upset that it did. He makes a face, mouth twisting into a small sneer. “What? What fuckin’ line? What is this? Grade school? I cut in line. And you have to pick one by one who you wanna try out?” He huffs a scoff and takes another bite. Shuren’s stupider than he thought. He better have gotten the picture this time.

[simpingforthisonedeer]

Chapter 3: A Reprise

Summary: Whiskey, flirting, crack, talk about magic, more whiskey and then, a loooot of frisky 😏😏😏

Notes: This is just a fun chapter at a whopping 7102 words but every detail is important so keep that in mind...

oh and there’s NSFW at the end ;)

Aika spent hours until evening helping Raymond and the rest of the captains to come up with formations for every thinkable scenario while enjoying food and drinks brought in by the servants. And then she happily spent the last hour with Julius to come up with contingencies for specific scenarios while the captains and the Magic Emperor either tried to relax, or took a power nap while the two laboured through.

It was early evening when they finished, and all the captains packed up their papers, maps, notes and the official plan. Aika took off her heels and sat down in the nearest empty chair with a groan. Captains walked by and patted her on the back sympathetically and in ‘goodbye’ as they dragged their feet out the door. All except one.

Aika laid her chin on the heel of her palm as she watched Julius decant what she assumed was whiskey, with half-closed eyes. A warm hand on her shoulder drew her out of her drowsy state.

“Aika.”

“Yes, uncle?” she looked drunkenly over her shoulder. He looked as tired as she felt. Raymond’s eyes flickered to Julius before he looked at her reprimandingly. She shrugged imperceptibly and rolled her eyes and shook her head, telling him not to worry.

“Captain Julius wanted to speak with you for a moment.”

She yawned as she nodded. She assumed he would. She told him she was a traveling mage then she turned up at his meeting saying she was also a tactical strategist. Raymond squeezed her shoulder and laid a hand on her head.

“You did a really good job today.”

Aika gave him a toothy smile. “Thank you,” she murmured. 

He patted her head gently and nodded at Julius, who nodded back. Raymond silently made his way to the door and gave Aika one last, fond look and closed the door.

“Would you like some whiskey?” Julius asked sedately.

“Yes, please,” she took the Old Fashioned from him and smiled when her fingers brushed his. He took the seat opposite to her with his own glass, which was a significantly smaller portion than hers, and appraised on another.

Tall, short, blond hair, a killer jawline and deep, violet eyes twinkling at her in mild amusement. Aika stared hungrily at his bow-shaped lips as she bit her own.

“Is this what you meant by very soon?” Her eyes flicked up to Julius’ as she took a sip. Then it became clear. Her uncle was supposed to organize a meeting between Aika and Julius to let him know about her services but he called her in during a key, strategic meeting for her to show off her skills instead.

Aika nodded and gave him a lazy smile. She stood up with her heels in one hand and walked over to her backpack next to the window. She swiped the fake plans she needed to pass on to Jayce so he could deliver them to the Diamond Kingdom. Then, she paused abruptly when she noticed the trees she planted earlier. 

It was getting dark out and the wisteria trees shone brighter than she had ever expected. They lit up the whole area. Some guards, a maid and the Coral Peacocks and Praying Mantis Captains stood around and admired the trees and its flowers.

“What’s wrong?” Julius came up next to her in a flash. “Oh.” He noticed the trees

“They’re beautiful…” she whispered.

“They haven’t been there before…”

Aika turned to him with a coy smile.

“I planted them this afternoon for Master Raymond,” she put her sunhat, heels and papers into her backpack and shrugged it on. “Him and my father loved to relax in the gardens together when they were younger,” Aika opened the windows, swung her legs over the windowsill and perched herself comfortably on it.

“Master Raymond’s your Uncle,” He plopped down next to her, his starry eyes still on the bright, purple trees. “Why’d you reveal that to me?” He looked at her from the corner of his eye. “Sharing classified information with family members can get you and most likely Master Raymond arrested if you don’t work for him in official capacity.”

“I know.”

“Then why?”

Aika took a sip and sighed in satisfaction. This whiskey burned real good, and it soothed the nervousness in her gut. She turned to Julius and answered,

“I wanted to be candid with you and continue to be so because I want to leave you with no doubt that I’ve never lied.”

“It’s alright. Your work needs a cover so I understand any ‘lies’ about that.”

“Oh.” She expected the absolute opposite of that reaction.

Julius laughed when her face fell.

“And don’t worry, nobody is arresting anyone. You proved yourself to be quite skilled today. All the Captains were impressed and you got them all to agree on a plan which is nearly impossible,” A wry scoff escaped his lips as he shook his head. “Every rule has an exception and you were exceptional today,” he winked at her. She averted her eyes with a blush and a small smile.

The pair continued to admire the wisteria trees in comfortable silence as they took an occasional sip. While it was nice, Aika hated the silence because the ringing in ears got louder so she decided to continue speaking.

“You remember the night we met?” Julius nodded as he took another sip to hide a smirk.

“Felt like a dream, to be honest.” 

She turned to him with a perplexed look.

“A dream? What do you mean?”

He let out a wry chuckle.

“See, this one night, I just wanted to see some magic,” he began in an amused voice, “but then I got caught in this beautiful woman’s bear trap in the middle of the woods, got called delicious and instead of being devoured like I was hoping,” Aika’s mouth went dry at his intense gaze. “I discover she’s the only other Time Mage around. Then I get verbally thrashed and then we’re all friendly,” He threw back the last sip and sighed with a thoughtful look. “In fact, it never felt like we were strangers. We talked about Magic for hours. Turns out, the woman is not only really pretty but also super smart. It seemed like we had a lot in common,” he set his glass on the floor inside the room behind him and leaned forward on his knees with his eyebrows furrowed and a pensive look.

“We parted ways with a vague promise of seeing each other again and then the next day, I was told about a woman who’s been working with Master Raymond named ‘Aika Tolliver,’ someone who would possibly have to work with me after the war is over and I’m Magic Emperor,” he said, looking pointedly at her. Aika shrugged helplessly with a crooked smile.

She turned and stared at her glass as she swirled her drink. It was obvious he had been thinking about that night a lot and is absolutely shameless about it. She would be lying if she said she didn’t think of it often too. She had read up on all the files about him, his achievements, character profiles and open cases after that night. It was actually quite surprising that he wasn’t badgering her to show her more magic if the description of his quirks were true. 

It was an open secret, apparently, that Captain Julius Novachrono was often child-like and easily distracted by magic. He loved nothing more than to wander around the kingdom to witness more variety of magic than do his work. As far as they both knew, they were the only two arcane stage Time Mages. The Freese family had also used a form of Time Magic but it was a much weaker version. 

But he wasn’t exactly like the character profile stated. Yes, he was fascinated by magic, in fact they discussed Magic for hours the first night they met, but he wasn’t badgering her like it was the only thing he ever did like the reports implied. She was actually really flattered because he seemed more interested in her than her magic.

Aika knew that she shouldn’t court Julius while still wanting to maintain a professional relationship but she couldn’t really help it. He was so damn tempting.

“You sir, are,” she began as she bit her lip. “quite bold, I must say,” she said, addressing his beginning remarks. She shivered and hugged herself as a cold gust of wind swept by. Julius moved to take his cloak off and offer it to her but Aika took the edge of his cloak with a mischievous grin and wrapped it around her as she pressed herself into his side.

“Another thing we share in common,” she whispered as she nearly brushed her nose against his. Maybe a whole glass of whiskey was a bad idea. She was a little tipsy and a little too comfortable.

Julius parted his lips in shock. That was not expected. He knew he should be talking to her about what Master Raymond discussed with him: about her providing information about Clover’s neighbors, the underground, and covert missions. He was just being his flirtatious self to maybe bring her guard down but damn, two can play this game too. He recovered with a grin and wrapped an arm around her waist and held her close.

“I guess it is.”

She flashed a satisfied smile and turned to look back at the trees. She laid her head against his collar and took in a deep breath. The familiar, sweet smell of ozone came wafting from the man next to her. It was kind of like how her younger brother’s magic used to smell mixed with something that was purely Julius so she couldn’t help but smile at that. But as far she knew, Julius didn’t have any lightning magic like her brother, so she turned and pressed her nose to his collarbone to investigate the smell.

“Hey, that tickles!”

She pulled back with a laugh at his affronted look.

“Sorry, sorry.”

“It’s alright,” He assured her as he gave her one of those smiles where his eyes went soft and Aika felt like melting right then and there. She looked away before she did something stupid like kiss him silly.

There was another comfortable silence except for a shiver here and there from Aika which made Julius tighten his fingers on her hip. She controlled her breathing as she got warmer and pressed closer into his side. She had absolutely no shame.

“Hey,” he began as they both watched the sun set over the glistening trees. “I have a question about what Captain Leonardo said earlier.”

Aika looked up at him.

“About The Innkeeper?”

“Sort of,” he furrowed his brows again. “Why would The Innkeepers ask you for a favor if they had to face the two brigades? How would you help them?”

She tensed at his questions.

“I don’t mean to pry. Master Raymond has explained what you do for him in very vague terms, and your dossier was very bare. So, I want to slowly get to know you, either for work,” he looked at her shyly. “Or for just you.”

She was ready to get aggressively cagey and defensive again but she couldn’t help but melt again at his words. This man has been nothing but nice and cordial to her and she really needed to rein in her anger. Aika had also basically promised that she won’t lie to him, so she needed to tell him. And besides, she was a hatchet man for her Uncle and if she needed to continue being one when Julius was promoted, he needed to know.

She took his other hand with a fortifying breath. She brushed the back of it with her thumb in silent apology for her oversensitive reaction that he had no doubt noticed. But he was quick to reassure her nonetheless. He was patient and kind… 

Does he want her to work for him or does he want to seduce her? In the direction he was going, it seemed like both to Aika.

She squared her shoulders, excited about the possibilities and answered his question.

“If they called me for a favor because two brigades rolled up in their tunnels,” she looked at him blankly. “I would take care of it.”

An intrigued smile crept onto Julius’ face.

“Really?” He turned his nose up with a taunting look. “And how would you do that?”

“I will try to be diplomatic first.”

“Good idea,” he nodded approvingly. “And if that doesn’t work?”

She bit her lip and looked away.

“Then, I would bring the private army to settle things.”

“Wow, you’re really The Dagger?! I would love to see you fight one day! How—”

“Uncle Ray calls me ‘The Dagger?’ That’s—”

“A badass title, Aika? Yes, it is.”

Aika pinched Julius’ side with a laugh, drawing out an undignified yelp out of him.

“That’s a cringey name, Julius!”

“Okay, okay! But I’m not the one who said it!”

She looked away with an exaggerated ‘hmph.’

“He calls me that because he thinks it’s funny that I always carry a dagger,” she scoffed as she shook her head. “And besides, ‘Wizard King’ is away better title,” she said childishly. She fiddled with the edge of her skirt for a moment before she noticed that Julius went quiet.

“What’s wrong?”

“You want to be the Wizard King?”

A beat.

Aika gaped as her lips twitched in suppressed laughter.

“Wh-What?! No!” She couldn’t hold it anymore and burst out laughing.

“I’m so sorry I’m laughing,” she wheezed as Julius looked over at her in concern. “I have not wanted to be Wizard King since I was 8, and, and,” she breathed deeply before she continued laughing again. She apologized profusely as she tried to catch her breath.

“I don’t know why that’s funny to you,” Julius grumbled with a small smile. 

“No, no, it’s the way you asked. Like the sheer disbelief in your voice was hilarious. I’m so sorry, I don’t know why that’s so funny.” She wiped a stray tear. He had no idea.

“It’s just,” she took a deep breath. “I’ve given up on becoming Wizard King when my little brother said he wanted to be one too. Actually, I don’t even know why I wanted to be Wizard King in the first place. I was just a peasant in the Forsaken Realm who didn’t even know her attribute.”

“You were a peasant?” Julius blurted. “But isn’t your uncle a noble?”

Aika laughed. “My Uncle was a commoner who married into nobility and my father went to the Forsaken Realm to paint landscapes but fell in love and settled down there. So, I’m technically peasant-born...” she finished quietly, expecting Julius to maybe move away or be disgusted.

“Ohhh, that makes sense,” he nodded thoughtfully. He loosened his hold and turned to look at her with a starry look. “Will I get to see you on the battlefield though? I’ve heard so many great things about The Dagger and I want to see how you fight with Time Magic!”

“You’re not going to see me fight for a long while, Julius.” Aika was done fighting, especially other’s battles. It was why she left the Diamond Kingdom in the first place. She only ever saw her daughter during the weekends and the stress of her work, fighting and planning was getting to her mental health. She wasn’t going to fight again unless someone forced her hand.

“Aw, come on! Not even as part of an overwatch unit?”

“That’s a solid maybe,” she objected as she put her glass away. She wasn’t really the type to stand by and watch so she may change her mind after this weekend. But, after her ordeal with the Diamond Kingdom and their resistance movement, she was a lot more reluctant to pick up her swords again.

“Hmm,” he touched his chin. “Maybe,” Julius regarded her with a suggestive look. “I can change your mind.”

“Oh?” She raised an eyebrow in interest. He moves really fast. “And how do you pl—”

He quickly attacked her sides with his fingers causing her to squirm as she pursed her lips shut and stopped any laughs or screams from escaping. Tickling her? Aika hoped for something way more different. She composed herself as she shook her head when he began to try harder.

“I think,” she began in a shaky voice. “That you’re just looking for an excuse touch me.”

She nearly slipped off her perch but Julius quickly caught her and looked at her with a pout.

“Can you blame me?”

“Not as long as I get to return the favor!”

And before Aika’s hands could reach his sides, Julius launched himself off the windowsill, towards the gardens as he threw a grin over his shoulder. 

He wasn’t childish, he was just a mess of gorgeous chaos, and she could see it in the ever-present twinkle in his eyes that threatened to shine like the stars.

“Julius!” She leapt after him.

He landed gracefully on his feet and made a big show of running in the direction of the brightly lit wisteria grove as he laughed.

“Only if you can catch me!”

Aika landed behind him and ran after him with a wild smile. She ran past the guards, captains and the maid admiring the grove and followed Julius into the center where she created a clearing earlier that day. Aika blinked and he disappeared.

She situated herself in the center of the grassy area and spun on her heel as she scanned the area for an ambush. She was a Time Mage too so speed wasn’t really an advantage if he wanted to sneak upon her but she was too tired to properly use Mana Zone without accidentally suffocating someone so she avoided using her magic. She had to trick him instead.

She pretended to look in a direction longer than she did before and as predicted, a blond blur moved at her eight o’clock and she sidestepped him. 

Aika grabbed Julius’ arm and twisted it behind his back and tackled him to the ground. He fell with an ‘oomph’ and groaned when she straddled his back. He leaned on his left side to avoid aggravating the bandaged wound on his right with considerable strain as she pressed down on him. Aika watched with a pleased smile and a blush as Julius breathed hard below her.

“You really thought you could just get away with it?”

He turned his head to the side with a cheeky grin.

“I don’t know anyone as fast as me so yes, I did.”

She retaliated by folding her legs underneath her like a pretzel and put all her weight on him.

“Don’t sit on my back!” He exclaimed as he struggled to buck her off. She pressed his arm harder with one hand and forced his head down with the other. Then an idea struck him and his grin grew wider. “Sit on my lap instead,” he suggested lowly.

Julius expected to catch her off guard and give him an opening to free himself, but he didn’t expect her to lean down to his ear and whisper,

“If you don’t behave, that is exactly what I’ll do and more.”

He inhaled sharply as all blood rushed to his cock. 

Fuck. Not expected, but certainly not unwelcome either. Aika smirked as he stopped resisting and flushed redder.

“Are you threatening me with a good time?”

“And if I am?”

“Hey, Miss Tolliver!” Marcus, the Praying Mantis’ captain, called out as he entered the clearing with Leah, the Coral Peacock’s captain, at his side. Aika quickly masked her face with a playful smile and waved ‘hello’ at him.

“I didn’t know you were such good friends with Julius already. What did he do?” He asked with a laugh.

“Miss Aika!” Evan exclaimed in worry as he came running into the clearing, his hands ablaze with fire. Aika waved his concerned, mother-henning self off as she slid off of Julius’ back.

“I’ve known this man for less than 24 hours,” she addressed Captain Marcus as she made herself comfortable on the grass. “and he had already tried to push me out the window!”

Julius discreetly moved his cloak to cover his not-so-little problem as he quickly sat up next to her.

“Push you?! I didn’t push you and it wasn’t on purpose!” Aika crossed her arms and raised one sardonic brow. That was a lie to cover for him but if he wanted to blow it, he was welcome to do so.

“Oh, would you like to tell them what exactly you were doing then?” she motioned to Evan, Captains Leah and Marcus, who were becoming more invested in this conversation by the second. If he wanted to tell everyone that they were flirting, that was fine by her.

She turned in surprise when Jayce, her other guard, and Ellie, her maid walked into the clearing with cautious expressions. Perfect! Now, she could hand off the fake plans for the Diamond Kingdom. Aika waved them over with a happy grin as Julius stammered next to her.

She looked at him smugly, silently daring him to tell what he was doing that made her nearly fall off. He wiped the dirt off his face as he looked at her pleadingly. She hid a smile at his puppy-dog eyes and conceded.

“The window was opened and I was standing by it and he accidentally bumped into me. He didn’t say sorry so I chased him and he jumped out the window and I followed,” Aika lied. Evan looked between her and Julius in suspicion while Ellie and Jayce hid a snicker. 

“That sounds like Julius alright,” Marcus chuckled as Leah shook her head.

“Lovely trees, aren’t they?” Julius asked a little forcefully. Aika looked around and nodded at his remark, letting him change the subject. It was completely dark out and the flowers shone brightly with a purple tint, completely lighting up the area. Aika would’ve made some flower crowns with the Wisteria if they didn’t sting her so much. 

“Let’s continue speaking in the meeting room,” Julius addressed Aika as he stood up with a groan. He nodded at the Captains and the guards and offered a hand to Aika to get up. She nodded and took out the fake battle plans from her backpack and handed them to Jayce as the rest watched curiously.

“I was brought in today by Master Raymond, so they know,” Aika quickly explained when Jayce and Ellie threw panicked looks at the Captains. She took Julius’ hand and stood up next to him. “Give them directly to Generals Allard and Hennequin, okay?”

Jayce nodded seriously and tucked the papers inside his robe. The Captains turned to Aika in surprise.

“Are they your spies?” Leah asked in disbelief.

“Yep, the three of them are my assets. I trust you all can keep this little secret?” she pressed a finger to her lip with an enigmatic smile. “Master Raymond is already aware of them.” Aika let out huff when Julius gave them starry looks.

“What kind of magic do you guys use? Does it help you guys in spy work? Well, magic is too flashy so do you have transformation magic or something? I would think that would be the most usef—”

“Julius,” Aika pulled him back by his fur cape as he got all up in their space. “The answers to your questions are classified. Please don’t make them uncomfortable.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry, haha!” He rubbed the back of his head with a sheepish smile. Sometimes, he just forgets himself when it comes to magic. He turned to Aika with a small smile.

“I suppose we should continue speaking in the conference room?” He offered an arm to her. She nodded and took his arm graciously. Any excuse to touch him was fine by her. They both waved ‘bye’ to the slightly perplexed crowd and walked back towards the tower as they threw secret looks at each other.

Ellie waved back in confusion. Jayce wound an arm around her shoulder as he leaned heavily on her, his eyes still on Aika. Evan hummed thoughtfully next to them.

“What do you think they’re talking about?” he asked. Aika and Julius flew up together to the window and back into the conference room, linking hands as they did.

“I believe it’s about the Captains’ retirements,” Leah piped up. “and Julius’ ascension to the throne.”

“The throne?” Jayce asked as he reluctantly turned to her disbelief. “He’s just going to be the Wizard King, right?”

“King Augustus enjoys a stress-free lifestyle,” Marcus said as he shook his head. “He may resent Master Raymond for having equal power to the king during wartime but he certainly takes advantage of it and passes all his paperwork to the Wizard King.”

They all nodded in understanding as a smirk crossed Evan’s face. The others might not have seen it in the dark, but he had certainly noticed how they linked hands when they were further away. The way his boss looked at the young Captain...Things might get interesting around here depending on how tonight goes…

  Aika made herself comfortable on one end of the couch as Julius poured her a smidge of whiskey and settled down on the other end. She tucked one leg underneath her as she turned to face him. 

“Am I going to have to drink by myself?” she asked cheekily as he put the decanter away. He patted his chest lightly.

“I have a slow-acting rotting curse on my liver. It’s going to be a while before that goes away so I can’t drink.”

Aika’s demeanor turned serious almost instantaneously.

“I heard there was a hired gang of curse mages in the last battle. Was it from one of them?”

He nodded slowly.

“Couldn’t you just rewind to the time when the curse didn’t exist?”

“Ah, no. Immediately after getting hit with the curse, they tied a mana resistance spell and its duration to it so I can’t dispel it yet. The healer mage said another week or two before I could begin to heal.”

“Ooh, that’s a rare curse combination. Combining a curse and a reinforcement spell is difficult,” Aika said, nodding as she fished through her backpack. “And even then, a mana resistance is a gamble unless you are very specific with your spell, or else your target is completely impervious to all attacks.” 

She pulled out a vial of clear liquid and waved it at him.

“Here, catch!”

Julius caught it and examined it. It had a unique smell that he couldn’t name. He thought it smelled kind of like thyme and rain.

“Mana resistance is a good spell so there wasn’t a potion to remove it,” she motioned at the vial in his hand. “until recently.” 

He examined it more thoroughly as he understood what this little potion meant. Mana resistance was actually annoying when it lasted longer than it should but no one had really developed a potion to counter it.

“Was it developed because soldiers aren’t able to heal themselves in battle because of resistance?”

“Among many other reasons.”

“Wow, so cool! I haven’t been keeping up with potion-making and I don’t think my healer did either!” He moved to uncork the vial but Aika stopped him with one hand. She didn’t realize she had even moved. They both looked at where their hands touched with a jolt and blushed.

“Sorry, I was just-”

“It’s okay,” Julius grinned at her, a blush still present on his face. “I don’t mind.”

Aika lips twitched with a shaky smile. She cleared her throat and focused on the vial.

“You need to fill it up with your mana first before you drink it. You can only dispel it-”

“With my own mana because I can only overwhelm a mana resistance spell from the inside out.”

“Hey, you know your stuff! An unrivaled magic nerd like they say I see.”

He grinned proudly and did as she told him. Aika watched as the vial glowed in his hands as he poured his mana into it. He uncorked it and raised it in cheers before throwing it back.

He handed the vial back to her and hovered a hand over his liver. Accelerating time wasn’t an option because that would leave him with a damaged liver. Rewinding time would mean the mana resistance would be back.

“What are you waiting for?”

Julius looked up at her big, expectant eyes and he forgot to breathe for a second. The moonlight from the window illuminated half of her face in the dimly-lit room and lashes fanned her cheeks when she blinked at him with an innocence he knew she didn’t possess.

“Um,” He motioned vaguely at his chest as it rose unsteadily. “I can’t rewind or the mana resistance would be back.”

“And accelerating would leave your liver damaged,” she finished with a thoughtful look on her face. Julius’ mind went blank when his eyes focused on her mouth. They spoke about magic with the same passion as his, lips that turned pink for a moment whenever she bit her lip flirtatiously, lips that would look wonderful wrapped around him— 

“Hey, Julius?” she asked lowly. Gooseflesh rose at the nape of his neck when she leaned closer. He prayed that his trousers were covered in shadows.

“Yes?”

“You kind of spaced out. You okay?”

“Yes!” Julius shook his head to clear his thoughts and looked at her properly with a shining smile. “Yes, I’m feeling fine.”

“Okay, good,” Aika’s shoulders fell slightly as she gave him a relieved look. “I got an idea on how to rewind and step over the mana resistance. Well, it’s a theory. We would have to use combination magic though,” she said with a mischievous smile. That caught Julius’ attention. He had never used combination magic before! People with arcane magics often can’t.

“Aren’t our rewind spells the same?”

“Not necessarily. Your rewind spell is actually very different from mine.”

“Oh? In what way?” 

She grew more excited as her idea became more coherent.

“My rewind spell undos the effects but your rewind spell, it’s resurrection something, uh,” Aika snapped her fingers and lit up when she remembered. “Chrono Anastasis, right? In the description on your grimoire page, it said that it undos events and keeps using the rune ‘event’ over and over again, compared to mine where it says ‘effect.’”

Julius furrowed his brow as he absorbed that information.

“How are ‘effects’ and ‘events’ different?” Aika settled down closer to his side, her knee pressingly eagerly against his leg and bit her lip with a smirk.

“Say for example, I tore your shirt off and threw it to the side,” she began casually, willing her face to stay still when Julius’ eyes nearly bugged out. “If I used my rewind spell on the shirt, the tear would repair itself but that’s it. If you used your rewind spell, the tear would repair itself as the shirt makes its way back on you.”

He swallowed thickly as he processed the information.

“So you’re saying that my spell, er, has a bigger sphere of influence at the base than yours.”

“A bigger diametral place, yes. And I’ve experimented with my Time Magic and I’ve learned to use it in pieces rather than letting the spell run its course. I’ve skipped over certain effects when rewinding but it's really hard. But, if I combined it with your magic where it distinguishes events specifically, I can differentiate the dispelling of mana resistance, get to the rotting curse, and rewind it!”

Julius gaped as Aika gave him a sunny look. He willed himself to breathe properly when her eyes flickered down to his lips.

“Do you get it?” He nodded as he gathered his wits and squared his shoulders. He lifted his hand, palm facing her as he let his giddiness take over. He was going to do combination magic for the first time! He’ll concentrate on that for now.

“Let’s do it then.”

Aika pressed her palm against his and nearly drew back when she realized how cold he was.

“Your hands are really cold,” she murmured. He smiled as a rush of cockiness overtook him.

“Maybe, you should keep them warm for me.” 

Aika paused a beat and stared as he raised an eyebrow. Oh, she wasn’t going to back down from a challenge.

She twisted her wrist and took his hand, brought it up to her lips and placed a slow, open-mouthed kiss on his knuckles. The bold move short-circuited Julius and his erection pressed almost painfully against the front of his trousers. He stared at her in mild surprise as she looked at him from beneath her lashes.

“It would be my pleasure,” she said softly. She laced her fingers with his and nodded in the general area of his chest.

“Should we get to it then?”

“Uh,” he blinked and slowly pressed his legs together, not that it was going to hide much. “Yes. How do we do this?”

“Lend me some of your magic and I’ll rewind the wound,” Aika explained as her eyes stayed resolutely on his face for the sake of his dignity.

He nodded and closed his eyes and let his mana seep into her. He began hesitantly but relaxed when she squeezed his hand comfortingly.

Aika’s hand hovered over his liver and she watched in fascination as a blueish clock, very different from her own, spun counterclockwise. It kept spinning and accelerating until she knew she went back two weeks. 

This was much more effortless than doing it with her own magic where she had to calculate the exact moment she needed to skip and actually perform the spell. It was kind of amazing to feel a different kind of time magic slide against her own mana. She expected to have some issues because combination magic that wasn’t spur of the moment required a certain amount of trust, and the proof that he trusted her even a little bit set her heart racing.

Julius took a deep breath and exhaled in relief when it didn’t hurt.

“Wow, it feels so much easier to breathe!” He exclaimed as he touched his chest. He gave her a big smile. “Thank you!”

“Your welcome, and now you can finally join me.” Aika let go of his hand and handed her glass to him. She stood up with a wink and instead of bringing the nearly empty decanter, she walked back to the sofa with a bottle of whiskey and another glass in her hands.

He raised an eyebrow. She shrugged shamelessly.

“I hope you’re not a lightweight for both our sakes,” he jibbed as he took a sip.

“A full glass couldn’t get me tipsy, Julius. Another glass wouldn’t make too much of a difference,” she plopped down next to him and reclined as she crossed her legs.

“I wouldn’t be too sure about that, Aika.”

“Mm, if I want to wake up, brain all sore, among other things,” Julius choked. “who are you to stop me?” She patted his back as he recuperated. He cleared his throat and turned to her with a deadpan face as if to ask if that was really necessary. She giggled.

“So Time Magic,” Julius gritted out in an effort to change the topic. “What else do you think we could do with our combined magics?”

“Well…”

They talked about time, space, the end, and the beginning, till their glasses nearly emptied.

“Your teleportation spell is not a time-space spell! It’s literally spatial magic! How-” “Nonono, if I’ve been somewhere before, it’s a moment in time. I can’t really go back in time, but I can go back in space.”

Aika snorted derisively as she threw back the last sip in from the bottle.

“Yeah, whatever you say, space boy.” Julius huffed in mock anger. “I would’ve asked if you were for hire if you weren’t so busy trying to become king—I mean, Wizard King.”

“Speaking of hiring,” Julius began suddenly as he looked into his glass with uncharacteristic solemnity. “Would work for me? This meeting was supposed to be about me convincing you—”

“I thought it was the other way around,” Aika blurted. “I thought I had to convince you?”

“Oh...”

They burst out laughing.

“I think we were too busy talking magic to be convincing each other of anything,” Julius wheezed out between laughs.

Aika breathed deeply in a futile attempt to catch her breath.

“Well, I at least know that you would be fun to work with,” she giggled as she tried to get the last drops out of the whiskey bottle. She looked up when he spoke.

“But you still didn’t answer my question,” Julius took a sip as he crossed his legs. “Would you work for me?”

Aika barely registered what he said. Her eyes were only on the drop of whiskey on his lip. His tongue darted out to lick it and it set her blood on fire. She resisted the urge to squirm and instead focused on the glass in his hand.

“Yes, of course, I’ll work for you.”

He grinned.

“Great! Three ‘yeses!’”

She hummed as her hand slowly inched towards the glass on his hand.

“Can I have the rest of it?”

“What?!” He looked at his glass and swiftly raised his arm above him and out of her reach. “No!”

“Please?” She pouted. Julius’ face flushed redder.

“You’re already six sheets to the wind. Any more and we’re looking at alcohol poi—”

Aika plucked it out of his hand with a smirk.

“Hey!”

She clambered backwards to the opposite end of the sofa as he leapt after her. She kept him at bay with her legs as she attempted to drink from the glass but he pinned one leg down with his hip and stretched his arm out to grab it from her. Aika quickly shifted up and arched her back over the armrest and kept it out of his reach.

He grunted when she tried to tickle him with her other hand. Julius looked down to scowl at her as she gave him a shit-eating grin but their faces fell when they realized what position they were in.

Julius was straddling one of her legs as he hovered a few inches from her face. Aika’s hair was fanned out in a halo around her as her breathing grew heavier. 

Julius smiled drunkenly as his eyes flickered down to Aika’s lips. She pulled him gently by his cape and carefully brushed her lips against his, testing the waters, asking permission.

Suddenly, she was drowning in whiskey, lightning and the heady sensation of his insistent lips on hers.

Aika haphazardly set the glass down and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him with equal frenzy. He hummed appreciatively and pressed his weight on her but kept his hips at a respectable distance.

He brushed the hair out of her face with featherlight touches and cupped her cheek tenderly. She knotted her fingers in his hair, lightly pulling as she went. She had been longing for him since that night a week ago and now her body ached to have all of him, feel him, surround him.

Aika brought up the leg he straddled and pressed it against his straining erection. Julius made a keening noise against her lips as he ground down against her thigh. She traced the arch of his spine appreciatively as he wantonly rode her thigh, making needy noises at the back of his throat as he did.

She ran her hands up the back of his thighs and squeezed his firm ass. He stiffened in her arms and sat up immediately, his eyes, sober and aghast. Aika’s heart stopped, thinking it was rejection.

“I’m so sorry,” he exclaimed. “I didn’t mean to kiss you so suddenly! I was just reaching for the glass and I didn’t really think. I don’t know if you were just flirting for fun or if it was serious and I shouldn’t assume like that.”

She gaped as he apologized profusely. Was this man serious? He was about to get fucked within an inch of his life and he’s sorry?

“Julius,” Aika called out, stopping him mid-rant. She stared pointedly at his straining cock and raised an impressed eyebrow. “You’re not sorry and I’m not either.” He flushed redder, if that was even possible, as her eyes roved over his debauched form. She grinned when an idea crossed her mind.

She planted her feet on the couch and flipped them over. He grabbed onto her hips at the sudden movement and grit his teeth to hold back any noises as she ground her thigh into his cock. Aika licked the sliver of skin high up his neck and bit his earlobe.

“You don’t get to flirt with me, touch me, kiss me and ride my thigh,” She ran her fingers down his chest “and be sorry about it.”

She wrapped her fingers around his clothed length and latched her teeth on the fluttering pulse of his neck. She gasped and tightened her hold when he whimpered in her ear.

Aika pulled back, her face pleasantly surprised. Julius panted through swollen lips and hooded eyes as he stared back at her, unabashed and eager.

A smirk crept up onto her face and she licked her lips. Perhaps she should move on to the next phase.

“I will tie you to my bed and wring every ounce of pleasure out of you,” she brushed her lips against his jaw. “if you promise to keep making those pretty, little noises.” 

Julius let out a shuddery gasp when invisible hands began to stroke and caress every straining nerve on his body, any place that could elicit pleasure. Hands he couldn’t see touched his inner thighs, raked down his sides and stroked his chest.

“Yeah, just like that,” she cooed.

“Wh-what is that,” he gasped out.

“Mana Control: Mana Hands,” she explained. “Magic gets you excited,” she giggled as she continued “So I wondered just how excited it would make you to know that magic could also be used for pleasure.”

He bit his lip and moaned quietly at her words.

And suddenly, a knock sounded on the doors.

“Aika?”

Julius and Aika looked at each other in horror.

Oh, shit.

Notes: I hope you horny bastards enjoyed that ;)))

[lizadale]

So if certain people can barely see Luigi does that mean that Prince Peasley swerved him when he tried to hug him at the end of SS because he litERALY JUST DIDNT SEE HIM LMFAO-

FJOAJAO YEAH MAYBE

[gay-jewish-bucky]

Bucky "flirting" with P-ggy in the bar scene is clearly an attempt to annoy her/take her attention away from Steve, I can't believe some people saw that scene and legitimately thought, "Wow, Bucky was upset because she rejected him, he is so straight", he's so gay and possessive, he just wanted Steve's attention for himself, and then she came to rudely interrupt their moment.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THINK HE'S TRYING TO FLIRT WITH HER??!?!?!?!?

THE MOST JEALOUS MF ON THE PLANET WHO WAS JUST ROBBED OF STEVE'S UNDIVIDED ATTENTION?!?!?!?

He's mad bc he doesn't trust her and she cockblocked him, he was so close to him and Steve finally getting their heads out of their asses and then she showed up.

People are fucking wild lmfaooo.

[thewcllingtons]

❝ How can you say that when you're literally my best friend? Do you have a terrible character? ❞ She will admit to having a big heart and giving people second chances when they didn't deserve it, however, she has grown a lot. People mistreating her forced her to put up her defenses. Violet didn't just let anyone in anymore, and he should know that. How is it fair that he can date around and she can't? She decided that she'll make him eat his word by stealing his date instead. Florence pulling her away from Luis made her smirk. This would be a lot easier than she thought. ❝ You two have fun. I know I will, ❞ her words were more of a jab at Rex. Lacing her hands with the femme's as they walked away to the bar.

Luis huffed in annoyance. ❝ You're always in everyone's shit, Flo, I swear. ❞ The little minx loved to get into all the drama between the group. Somehow, being into women, she thought she could get away with messing around with them but he wasn't going to let it slide. ❝ You have no idea what I've tried to do to get her back. So please, if you're not going to help me, just stay out of it. ❞ He'd find some other way to get Edwina's attention. Much to his surprise, Violet legitimately left with Florence. As mad as he was at Rex for ruining his business, he felt worse for him. Getting cockblocked in public in front of a bunch of people is not something his ego would be able to get over. Luis would never recover from that, and he fumbled with a damn princess. ❝ Did Violet just... steal your date and cockblock you? ❞ He'd definitely give her a discount for this kind of entertainment.

"I'M JUST SAYING YOU ARE terrible judge of character," Rex riposted. "You tend to give people a chance even though they don't deserve it." Violet always had a good head on her shoulders. She had seen the things others couldn't see before the fall down of the manor. Her perceptiveness had turned her into a social pariah. However, it had been a different matter when it came to dealing with people. It shouldn't be his concern but he cared a lot about her. More than he let on. He tried to wrap his mind around it being possibly jealousy. Why would he? He had always been aware of the blind dates she had. He had done the same thing. This time shouldn't be any different. Except for the fact that he had seen her in action. It invoked something in him. He couldn't pinpoint what it was though. His contemplation over this situation was disrupted as he noticed a shift. Florence and Violet seemed interest in each other. What the hell? "No offense but he looks suspicious as fuck," he commented, eyeing Luis.

Florence listened to their exchange in amusement. It didn't take rocket science to figure out that the two had something unresolved. There was a vibe here. "Oh, no worries. This bloke is very harmless. He can't harm a fly," she said glibly, an underlying sarcasm in her voice. Anyone who really knew would know that Luis was far from harmless. It was the little effort she put to prevent this fight and end the argument. Rex had an incredulous look on his face but she waved him off. Turning to Luis, she arched her brow at him. "You'll be fine. It's not your first rodeo." She caught onto what he was suggesting, but she knew better than to let anyone touch her phone. "Oh, that's going to be your cross to bear. I'm not going to interfere with your issues. You're going to have to find ways yourself. If she has you blocked, then find a way. Send a telegram or pigeon mail if you have to. I could have done better groveling if I were her boyfriend, but that'd be a hard pill for you to swallow." Redirecting her attention to Violet, she held her arm to pull her away from Luis. "A bar? That's a great idea," she enthused. "As for you two. . ." She pointed at the two boys. "Get over yourself."