#like I know they changed the color completely for Butter

[halfratsalready]

Dear Haze,

I love you to death, but I have a very important question for you.

Why is your hair a different color in all of these??? How am I supposed to make an accurate sim of you??? What color am I supposed to make his hair???

Sincerely,

Oboe 💕

[rafeandonlyrafe]

easter day

words: 1.3k

warnings: 18+ only, smut, dad!rafe, mom!reader, fluffy and cute, talk of pregnancy, p in v sex

“when are they getting here?” rafe questions, hands on your hips, leaning over your shoulder to look at the counter where you're finishing frosting the sugar cookies with various pastel colors.

“uhh…” you glance at the clock. “any minute now.” you set down the piping bag as you finish the last detail and turn to look at rafe, changing your voice to a whisper. “are all the eggs hidden?”

“yup.” he nods. “and i already told harper that the small blue ones are for her brother so to let him get the easy ones. the easter bunny told me specifically.”

“smart.” you chuckle, letting rafe pull you in and press your lips together.

“i do just have one complaint.” rafe says, hands moving from your hips to grip your bum. 

“and what would that be?” you look at your husband, one eyebrow raised.

“this dress.” rafe shakes his head. “you look too good in it, you're practically begging me to put a third kid in you.”

“not until elijah is two, remember?” you remind rafe.

“he's 18 months, that's practically two!” rafe lies through his teeth, his grin turning mischievous, knowing just how big of a difference six months can make in a baby's development.

“ill tell you what…” you run your hands up rafes chest. “why don't we sneak away when my parents get here? you know they act like we don't exist anyways.”

you can't blame them, harper just turned 5 and is a handful, which is only added to by elijah. while he's an angel, he's still a toddler and will get into anything and everything if you turn your back for even a minute.

“sounds perfect.” rafe gives you another kiss as harper runs into the kitchen, elijah still distracted in the corner in his bouncer.

“mommy!” she squeals, launching herself at you. you pick her up and easily turn her so she's on your hip. “mommy, mommy.” she continues. “the easter bunny came! i saw eggs in the backyard!”

“oh, yay!” you bounce her slightly as elijah giggles, reacting to harper's excitement. rafe heads to the bouncer and lifts him out.

“and look, mama made cookies.” you show her the frosted sugar cookie eggs and baby chicks. “and i left a couple unfrosted for you to do with grandma and grandpa!”

harper lets out another squeal and wiggles excitedly. “elijah, gammy and gamps are coming over!”

rafe chuckles at her mispronunciation. it started when she was first learning to talk and their names haven't changed since, even elijah calling them their nicknames.

there's a knock at the door and harper wiggles out of your arms to run towards the front, quickly followed by you and rafe, who unabashedly checks you out as harper opens the door to your parents.

“harper!” your mom steps in, wrapping her in a big hug, completing it with pressing kisses all over her face.

“and there's my little man.” your dad takes elijah from rafes arms, whose happy to give him up, itching to get that alone time with you.

you quickly usher your parents in, showing them the unfrosted cookies and other activities to keep your kids attention. 

“rafe and i are gonna go finish their easter baskets.” in truth you've had their baskets finished for a week now, but there's no reason for them to know that.

“okay, that's fine dear.” your mom says, barely glancing to you as harper grabs a butter knife covered in pink frosting.

you grab your husband's hand, and he practically sprints up the stairs, pulling you right along with him into your bedroom.

“god, you knew this would happen didn't you?” rafe questions, hands gripping at your dress, pulling it up as he backs you up towards your bed, keeping the door slightly cracked so you can hear if anyone comes up the stairs. “you know i can't resist this dress.”

you keep your sundresses at the front of your closet, wearing them whenever you find a reason to, purely because of how rafe reacts to them.

“stop talking and hurry up.” you chastise rafe, fingers swiftly undoing the buttons of his crisp shirt until your hands can delve in and feel his muscles.

“yes, ma’am.” rafe smirks, lowering you onto the bed as his lips find yours again, fingers coming to your underwear to feel the wet spot that has started to form. his fingers swipe over the material until you’re moaning quietly, eyes shut.

“god, need to get inside you.” rafe groans, standing to undo his shorts and grab a condom from the nightstand as you take your underwear off, tossing them in the general direction of your hamper. 

you use the moment of silence to listen, seeing if you can hear anything coming from downstairs, but all seems to be calm as rafe pulls your hips to the edge of the bed, lining up his cock with your entrance.

rafe sinks in slowly with a low groan as you gasp, gripping the bed sheets. its been far too long since you’ve been able to have a moment alone like this.

“so good, mama.” rafe wraps your legs around his hips as he begins to move, thrusting in and out of you, thumb already rubbing over your clit, knowing you both need to cum and get downstairs as soon as possible.

“yeah, feels good.” you whine, covering your mouth with your palm as you let out noises, rafe always able to get the sounds out of you even when you should be quiet.

rafe moves faster, cock pushing at your walls, stretching you open for his length.

“shit.” rafe groans. “we need to convince your parents or aunt wheezie to take them for a weekend.”

“mmm, that’s exactly what we need.” you nod. you know that you’d probably end up pregnant again if you had an uninterrupted weekend with rafe, you already feel the urge to reach down and pull the condom off of him, but the thought of dealing with elijah at his current age while pregnant has your mind clearing quickly.

“or we can start sending elijah to daycare once a week.” rafe says, glad that the conversation is helping quell his orgasm somewhat, not wanting to burst inside of you too early.

“fuck, whatever it takes to get more of this.” you push at rafes stomach. he takes a step back as you flip over on the bed, toes touching the floor as you turn onto your stomach.

“god, i wanna marry you all over again.” rafe pushes quickly back insides, thrusts now speeding up as his hands grip your ass, squeezing it and watching the way it jiggles with every thrust.

you push your hand below your body to touch your clit, rubbing it in pace with rafes cock pushing inside of you, pressing your face into the mattress to drown out your noises.

“gonna cum, baby.” rafe warns, cock swelling inside of you before hes releasing with one more deep thrust, triggering your own orgasm as your body shakes.

rafe pulls out, flipping your dress back down over your ass just in case someone sneaks upstairs as he discards of the condom and redresses before heading back to you, helping you turn over to sit on the edge of the bed.

“i love you.” rafe coos, pressing kisses to the top of your head as you lean against him.

“i love you too.” you take his hand in his. “and we should get back downstairs before they get suspicious.”

“absolutely.” rafe nods, following you out the bedroom and down the stairs, leaning in to whisper in your ear when he sees everyone is still occupied with frosting cookies, a smear of orange frosting across harpers nose. “and don’t think i forgot that you aren’t wearing panties anymore.”

taglist: @drewstarkeyslut @forstarkey @f4ll-for-you @dilvcv @drudyslut @jjmaybankswifes-blog @rafescokenostril @jjsmarijuana @seeingstarks @angelofcigs @cece45450 @babygorewhore @vanessa-rafesgirl @michelleisheres-blog @outerbankspov @drewstarkeyswifehoe @cutielando @kamninaries @rafeyslove @rafeinterlude @bellbottombaby @deeaardiary @rubixgsworld @wearemadeofstardust0 @leighbronk @starkeysheart @pradabambie @tobesolovelysstuff @alexiskirkland @rafestar @brioffthegrid @juniebugg @magicalyoura @cokepewpsii @mysticallystilinski @luvdella @aerangi @vogueprincess @yourenogoodforme @auryyz @mayhem-72 @thestarlithideout @marvelfanfics1recs @rafesgiirl @ditzyzombiesblog @chiaraanatra @tobiaslut

[maybeafrog-blog]

In Defense of Donnie's Gifts

I'm ngl I sorta think the shock collar was still just an odd writing decision but as far as PREMISE:

It CANNOT be a coincidence that this is the first time (and one of VERY few times) that Donnie's soft shell is referenced. Once, when Raph is hesitating to tell Donnie his gifts suck ass, and he uses the soft shell metaphor, and after that with Meat Sweats and his paprika, describing it as not just soft, but delicate. Weird, but he is a cannibal, so. (Side note, Meat Sweats never removed his battle shell? How does he know? Or did he take it off and replace it after the pound of butter? Is he using it to facilitate steaming and tenderness? Is it broken? I feel like it should have something in there that could break him out of the sausage links)

Then in that last little scene- "Forget it. You guys are great the way you are!" - we get the shot of Donnie from behind pre group hug, with his brothers facing the camera. (Idk if I'm making shit up, but I feel like this is a staple for Donnie episodes? It def happens in the Purple Game, maybe Smart Lair.) The framing draws attention to his battle shell. The battle shell even kinda matches the gifts, compared to the rest of their gear and even Donnie's tech, color coded and way more streamlined than stuff like the tech bo.

Donnie's soft shell is an innate, unchangeable part of him, a feature of his species, that he treats as a handicap. Probably MORE unchangeable than the character traits he sees as holding his brothers back, which they do sorta... not mature out of, but refine, rather, over the course of the show. Donnie's shell can't experience a character arc, but he sees it as holding him back. So he FIXES it.

The Mad Dogs don't really have a motivation for beating stuff up besides "Hero Time!!!" at this point. That's why it's so interesting how EARLY this happens, unlike with Mind Meld, he isn't trying to change his brothers to make them better at a task that he actually CARES about. Donnie in particular never gets a super intense moral compass besides stuff that threatens people he already cares about, and he doesn't have any grudges (no Purple Dragons) at this point in the series. Hero Goals are largely devices for him to hang out with his dum dum brothers. I'm not diagnosed or anything but my vibes are certainly... Spectrum-Adjacent, I definitely have trouble with literal thinking and reading people. One thing that happens sometimes is people will be using "task" as "reason to hang," and I will get a lot more fixated on completing said task than I really should, to the point of annoying people. I confuse "Successful Task Completion" with "Successful Social Interaction." It makes me come across as bossy and controlling without realizing it.

So, we got a Donnie who thinks Arbitrary Goals are essential to Hero Bonding, who has been treating his life like an mmorpg - armor upgrades, skill trees, grinding, sometimes fighting through random dungeons to hang out with his bros. He's probably even slightly better at Fighting Stuff than his brothers atp, he isn't dealing with a mystic learning curve and his special interest has been Weapons of Mild Destruction for years already. His brothers want to level up, take harder missions, he tries to get them there with his access to High Level Loot.

Of course, his brothers are all min-maxing, not trying to multiclass their purple ass out of squishy glass cannon town. So, it doesn't go well. Unfortunately, the lesson Donnie learns (besides brotherly affection) is that his brothers don't NEED fixing like he does. Mind Meld and Donnie vs. Witch Town sorta finish this arc out as best as the series can.

Where I would have liked to see this go:

A S2 Donnie's Gifts or Mind Meld style episode (Donnie tries to improve his brothers, to their dismay) where the motivator isn't goal completion, but protectiveness. We see a bit of the fear in Purple Game, a bit of the contingency planning with the escape pods in the movie. Maybe a more upfront "training montage" type scenario, a high tech robo dojo to develop their mad skills, or just a tense moment after a skin of their teeth Genius Built rescue.

The brothers confront Donnie eventually-- not just the passive conflict resolution of Donnie's Gifts. They get mad. Push Donnie to the point he's at in Turtle-Dega Nights. They get a rant about not wanting them to get hurt, of course, but also that he's already done so much to FIX himself, make sure he's not a LIABILITY, why can't they at least try to stay SAFE? The dangers are real now, and as far as Donnie knows he REALLY can't do anything about threats like the Shredder. His tech did nothing the first time. His brothers are the ones with the mystic mojo, and they don't even realize how SERIOUS things could get.

Anyway. Protective Donatello my Beloved. Let my boy go apeshit.

//I REALLY Like the 2003 episode where Leo is hurt and Donnie is fucking PISSED at Usagi. All Donnies should be allowed to enter a feral protective rage, as a treat.

//If anyone knows of any Purple Game Aftermath fics lmk. Like, going home, getting donnie out of the evil gamer chair, guilt, whatever. or just good Purple Dragons being Assholes content.

[lotusloong]

My Monkey, My Circus

Shopping Trip - NGNR Reader

Read it on AO3!

Prev | Next

You could feel his presence behind you, hovering over your shoulder. Without looking you knew what it was he had.

“Put it back baby.” You held up the two different brands of butter, seriously considering switching. You had never tried this other brand but it was cheaper…

“Peachy girl, please.” You looked over your shoulder at Wukong, the eyes of his mask flipped to hearts as he held a box of peach flavored candies before you. 

“You, mister, already have an entire box of these at home, unopened. Eat those first.” You gave him a pointed look before turning back to your butter crisis. It certainly looked like decent quality…

Wukong spun around to your other side, caressing the juncture of your neck and shoulder with a leather wrapped hand. You hummed in pleasure, leaning into his touch even as you thought.

“But peachy, the second I take that box out of hiding, you know what's gonna happen. Those vultures will swarm and I’ll only get to eat a couple before I’m completely out! This is a backup pack!” He pushed his mask closer to your face, pushing his chest against your back and surrounding you with his warmth. He had forgone his usual pink suit and was wearing a more casual fitted, but still brightly colored teal one. The smell of his cologne was heavenly. You couldn’t resist taking a deep inhale, sighing in bliss.

“...Alright, alright. Put it in the basket.” You relented. Wukong gave a happy chirp, lifting his mask just enough to press a loving kiss against your cheek as he threw the candies in with your stash of other groceries. 

“This one stinks, not a good brand.” He poked rapidly at the new brand of butter you had been contemplating. You looked between the two sticks and nodded, putting the brand you had been thinking of back. If Wukong said it smelled funny, you trusted his nose.

The two of you moved your haul of food and supplies away from the dairy section, turning to head towards the checkout of the store. You saw a familiar hooded figure standing at the entrance of an aisle, leaning casually against the shelves. Seeing you and your monkey, they straightened, leaning down to pick up the few boxes of various sodas at their feet. 

Only when they got closer to join you at the self checkout did their features become clearer.

A white heart shape on his nose, cherry red fur peeking from underneath the edges of his borrowed hoodie met your gaze.

“Did you get 'em all Ruby?” Your Wukong asked, immediately snatching stuff out of the cart to scan for you. You settled for helping by passing things along to him, glancing at the red Wukong to your side. He didn’t seem to mind holding the boxes of soda while waiting to scan them. Made sense, he seemed as physically strong as the other versions of himself, even if he didn’t have quite the same powers.

“I think so? These drinks have weird names, and this place is big for a human store. Still not used to it.” He muttered. He began to sway side to side, dancing to a tune in his head as you opened your arms up to take a soda box from him. He let you take them one by one, handing them to your Wukong to scan.

“It looks like you did! At least, mostly. I don’t know if this is the right brand of plum cherry or peach that Mihou and Sunshine wanted but…I think the brand they like only exists in their dimension.” You bit your bottom lip as you spoke, brow furrowed. You felt bad you couldn't offer them the comfort of their home but…you couldn’t change the rules of your dimension to theirs.

“At least their version of you isn’t picky. Still a good girl.” Wukong teased, his fingers pinching the meat of your hip before dancing away from your swatting, giggling to himself. Ruby was smiling as well, his green eyes vibrant even in the shadow of his hoodie. You rolled your eyes at their shenanigans as they grabbed all the bags, turning to the checkout screen. You quickly paid, grabbing the last two bags the two monkeys couldn’t manage to loop their arms through, making your way to the exit.

“Uhg, I really wish I could let my tail out and use it. How the hell do you stand it for so long?” Ruby groaned. You watched as the fabric of his sweatpants wiggled, his tail curling and uncurling where it was hidden around his leg. Your Wukong snickered.

“Better get used to it! Your world will reach a modern day at some point and you’ll need to hide it or use a glamor like me.” Ruby Wukong let out another groan at his words, throwing his head back dramatically. You giggled at their exchange, getting the keys for your car out and unlocking said vehicle.

“Oh, peachy! I wanted to ask…” Your Wukong slid closer to you as you opened the door, letting you set your bags down before following suit. Ruby let his tail peak out only long enough to pull the door handle, looking around the parking lot to make sure no wandering eyes caught him in the act. His tail immediately went back into hiding as he started loading the groceries away.

“Yeah sweetie?” 

“Wanna go for a ride later? I think we’re both due for some quality time together, hmm?” With a quick flick the eyes of his mask were in a smiling position, clasping his hands together to mimic a schoolkid asking their crush out on a date. You snorted, charmed.

“Oh I’d love that! But…” You glance at Ruby, the simian raising an eyebrow at you. “What about all of you? Will you guys be okay for a night? Our home is pretty big, sure, but…” Ruby Wukong smirks, cocking his hips to the side and leaning on the car.

“I think we can manage without a babysitter for one night. I was planning to take my peaches up to the roof of your tower for some privacy myself.” Your Wukong reaches a hand out, and without missing a beat, Ruby highfives him.

“Hell yeah. Great minds and all that.” Wukong snarks, and Ruby barks out a laugh. You reach up and pet at the white mane of fur your lover has, his body going practically boneless as he chirped in bliss under your touch. He leaned against you, mask pressing against your cheek in the closest recreation of a kiss he could give you.

“Hmmm, well if you all promise to behave I guess we could go…have some fun~” You purred at your mate, gently tugging his white hair in a way you know drives him crazy. Without missing a beat he shudders and an adorable whimper leaves him. Ruby’s eyes widen as he looks away, using a hand to block his view of you both.

“Alright, I think I’m good without the show, thanks.” You laugh, letting your Wukong go so he can stand and straighten himself out. He gives himself a vigorous shake, jewelry clinking at the motion. You make your way to the driver seat, letting the other two slide inside the opposite doors. You heard Ruby muttering to himself under his breath. 

“Do I look like that when peaches-…?” The slamming of the doors cuts him off, and you grin to yourself. No matter the universe, your monkey was still his same silly self.

~~~~~~~

When you pull the car into the barren concrete pathways of your water tower home you’re greeted by the sight of multiple versions of yourself, albeit with small differences between outfits, hair, and the like. They all sit side by side on one of the upper metal railways with their legs hanging over the edge, chatting to each other. Ruby rushes forward from the back seat, bouncing in place at the sight of his ‘you’ laughing with the others. Not wanting to torture the poor guy, you roll the car into a park, letting him jump out and rush to her side.

“Goldie! We’re back!” He cries, and she has just enough time to open her arms and catch him before he tackles her. She falls backwards with him smothering her face in kisses, her own laughter echoing around you all. Another version of you, still uncomfortable with modern day clothes and wearing her regal hanfu, gives you and Wukong a happy wave.

“There you are! We-, or I, was starting to get worried! My love was wondering if he would need to go on a rescue mission!” She laughed into the sleeve of her hanfu, some stray locks of hair coming undone from her pinned updo.

“Oh, don’t worry Queen!” You called up to her from the window of your car. Wukong had unrolled his window as well, sitting on the door itself to pop his head out and over the roof to see everyone. “No yaoguais are gonna attack us here!” You chuckled. She seemed reassured by your words, even if she still didn’t trust this futuristic place she and her own Wukong had found themselves in.

“What are you lovely ladies doing sitting out here anyways?” Your Wukong spoke, gesturing at the empty space. Goldie was still being smothered by Ruby’s kisses.

“Watching the show of course!” Another version of yourself answered. You raised an eyebrow and opened your mouth to ask, only to be cut off by the sound of metal ringing thunderously above you. You poked your head out further to look up and up, curious despite your seatbelt tugging against your collarbone.

High in the cloud layer you could make out two figures, locked in combat. A red cape was billowing in the wind, the other had golden armor glinting in the afternoon sunlight. You squinted, trying to see if you could make out any more details.

“Who’s up there?” You eventually caved, looking at the other versions of yourself. Ruby had finally settled down, sitting with his legs dangling over the edge next to your alternates, Goldie held firmly in his lap. The princess seemed more than happy with this arrangement, if the kisses she was still peppering on his face were anything to go by.

“Dasheng and Stone. Lotus says Stone wants to spar with every version of himself at least once for comparison and practice. Have to admire his dedication.” Sweetie spoke up with a shrug of her shoulders. You nodded in response, looking over the hood of the car at your own Wukong. His mask was aimed at the fight and you could see his fingers twitching.

“Oh no you don't mister-” You started, giving him a stern look. “Someone needs to help me with all this food. You can join in later.” He waved you off with a scoff, sliding back into the passenger seat of the car.

“I wouldn’t do that to you peaches, what kind of mate would that make me?” He chirps. You give him one last suspicious look before settling back into your seat, letting the car veer off towards the bottom of the water tower. The lower entrance to your home is already open, the heavy metal door propped with a brick.

You park the car and try to grab as many bags as possible in your arms, Wukong doing the same and giving you a cheeky head wiggle at the fact that he’s able to carry more than you. You give a mock offended gasp, bumping your hip against his in punishment. He doesn’t even stumble, simply shaking his glamor off and letting his tail go free to wrap around your waist and hold you close.

You giggle as you walk and the sound of music echoes around the metal foyer of your home. It’s not the music your Wukong likes to play on his gramophone however. It’s coming from an electronic speaker planted right in the middle of the coffee table, an artist you don’t recognize blaring from the small device. Spinning round and round in circles is Sunshine and Blossom, the two giggling and holding each other tight as they dance. They don’t seem to notice you, but you can see the way Sunshine’s ears flick at the sound of your footsteps, even as he holds his version of you close and presses their foreheads together.

Grumpy lounges on the couch, looking bored and annoyed without any effort. When he sees the two of you step inside the water tower, he jumps to his feet and eagerly starts circling your Wukong. Wukong pulls the grocery bags he’s holding up and around, trying to keep Grumpy from peeking inside and snatching anything that catches his eye.

“No-! Let us put them away first!” Wukong hisses, shoving his masked face into Grumpy’s, trying to block his view. The other monkey isn’t deterred, simply giving his own hiss and trying to reach his hand into a bag. Before things can escalate, you step in.

“Do I need to drag Sweetie in here to keep you in control?” You threaten. Grumpy freezes, his expressive eyes going wide and darting towards the door leading outside. He relents, rolling his eyes with a huff and crossing his arms. He stalks after you as you and your mate make your way to the kitchen, the heavy steel doors normally closed off with a lever are already open. You can hear the sounds of metal and sizzling from inside and walk in to find King at the stove, various pans and pots strewn about the kitchen and filled with food at various stages of prep.

“Wow. Someone's been busy, huh?” You teased with a raised eyebrow. King didn't seem pleased, sneering as he ran between various pots and pans. 

“Need dinner on the table but no one wants to help old monkey make it! Everyone complains about empty stomachs but suddenly need to spar instead of cook!” An uncooked dumpling fell and splattered on the floor. King gave a rabid snarl that had Grumpy quickly edging back out of the kitchen, his interest in groceries outweighed by the fury of his alternate self. You gave the stressed monkey a pitying look as you placed your bags down on a free counter, your Wukong following suit. 

“Not even the other versions of me offered? I can help-” King let out an offended gasp, suddenly in your personal space and pushing you out the door. 

“No! No, no! My sweet peach, and any version of her to exist, deserves to rest and relax. It's a mate’s job to provide and care, and that's exactly what I'm doing!” You opened your mouth, to say what exactly you weren't sure, but he kept going. “It's shameful other versions of me don't hold the same standard!” King snarled at the other Wukongs in the tower.

Grumpy gave him a side eye that would make lesser yaoguais run in fear, and Sunshine gave an offended gasp, freezing mid twirl with Blossom in his arms. 

“Hey! I take great care of my peaches! I provide all sorts of things for her-!” Sunshine argued, only for Blossom to giggle into her hands. “What!? Do you agree with him-!?” 

“W-well-” She tried to speak through her giggling, “it's true you haven't made me dinner in awhile.” Sunshine looked like Buddha himself had just appeared and declared his undying love for him, staring at his lover in shock. You couldn't help laughing along with your alternate at his expression. 

“Ahah! You see! What did I say!?” King cried, glaring at the alternate versions of himself. Sunshine huffed and put his hands on his hips, pouting hard before he turned and marched towards the kitchen where you were still being pushed out the door. 

“Fine! I'll help out, I'll make the best fucking dinner you ever tasted-!” He maneuvered around you, immediately turning his attention to one of the many unattended pans on the stove. Speaking of…

“Is something…burning?” You asked. King sniffed the air and cried out, rushing back to the oven and frantically trying to undo the damage of overcooked food. Wukong came up behind you, rubbing his mask against your cheek as he spoke. 

“Why don't you head outside and relax sweet peach? I'll keep an eye on these two and get the groceries away. Then we can head out on our ride~” He purred in your ear. A shiver raced down your spine at the heady tone his voice took on. You gave a dazed nod as he pulled back, turning on his heel and waltzing over towards the abandoned groceries, necklaces clinking against one another as he did so. You caught Blossom's eye as you shook yourself out of your stupor, and she gave you an impressive eyebrow wiggle. 

“Looking to have some fun tonight, huh?” She teased. An embarrassed chuckle made its way out your throat as you tried to wave her off. Not that you could fool her, she was you after all. 

“Come on, let's go join the others already-!” You tried to distract her, gesturing vaguely towards the opening of the water tower. Your alternate shrugged her shoulders and wandered away as you turned to where Grumpy was still lounging on a metal pipe high up top. 

“Gonna join us? I'm sure Sweetie would want to see you~” You teased, just to see the fiery blush that spread across his cheeks. It was a fascinating contrast to the black skin of his eyes.

He scoffed and stood, jumping down to join the two of you as you walked outside.

[crycodilesobs]

So. I may Or may not have gone on a tangent of drawing Finn skins based off different liquids in his head.... I agree with the headcanons that Finn would change his personality/ how he acts based on liquid type and the amount so thats why some of these are so different.

Vee Juice Finn - skin name: Jaded Juice

Acts like Vee, randomly quizzes people on fish facts. Makes puns, more about eels, jellyfish ans other electric fish

Pop Soda Finn + candy-skin name: Sugar Crasher

(There's a reference with this one, major kudos if you know it...)

Has a low sugar tolerance due to drinking water mostly, this amount of soda sends him into a candy frenzy. Completely feral and shrimpo takes advantage of that by terrorizing others with it.

Dandy Dye Finn- skin name: Color Craze

Basically ate poison cuz that stuff toxic as heck. Always smiling and chipper, 20x more fish puns. Unserious as heck and kinda scary. High pain tolerance plus delayed pain response too.

Green Tea Finn- skin name: Sleeping Fishes

Too chill to be Finn, cannot process any type of thoughts. Literally just sleeps. Worse than Asteo somehow.

Paint bucket Finn - skin name; Painter Pal

Extremely artistic Finn, works with the the craft siblings to make art. Only draws sea creatures.

Research/Ichor Finn - skin name: Ichor Informant

Dangerous but useful. Flashes of violent tendencies when ichor takes over too much. Makes Finn extremely sick and close to twisting but necessary to help rodger with research.

Ice cream(?) Finn - skins name: Diner Dash

Helps serve during rush hour, most commonly Deserts. Clumsy tho, crashes often which irritates sprout. Works as an on hand fire extinguisher.

Coin/Tip jar - skin name: Cashed Out

(Based on the fishbowl tip jar on the counters of the diner level. I can't find a good image of it.)

A cashier at the diner, he butters people up to give better tips. Gigi and Connie often rob him though for fun and he's none the wiser.

Glitter tea Finn - Siren sleeper

(I know he's a lil over designed but I still think it fits.)

An assistant to Astro, helping toons sleep faster with hypnotic lullabies. He carries around plushies of sea creatures to give to people, they're often scented with herbs and weighted.

[sunflowerhyun]

how he sees me | hwang hyunjin | part two

ᝰ summary: “Do you love me?” she asked.

In his hesitation, she found her answer.

OR, alternatively, Hyunjin is a little bit of an asshole and Y/N just misses him.

ᝰ pairing: hwang hyunjin x fem!reader

ᝰ genre: ex-childhood-friends-to-lovers, punk!hyunjin au

ᝰ warnings: ! MDNI ! cursing, many references to past situations (in italics), alcohol consumption, angst, themes of depression, slight smut (?) consisting of making-out and brief grinding

ᝰ wc: 8k+

ᝰ a/n: it’s 4am and the long awaited part two is finally here!!! this part is a little heavy on y/n’s emotions, and very angst-y (i’m sorry in advance). i hope you all enjoy it just as much as i did writing it ♡

ᝰ reference the masterlist here.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The first time Y/N met Hyunjin was in elementary school and she remembered every detail.

It was at the beginning of their math class, when Y/N was just starting the third grade. She remembers how excited she was to be in a new school, hair up in pig-tails, flower dress on. She was so giddy that she didn’t even mind sitting in the front by herself, happily swinging her feet in her chair as she colored on her notebook before class started. She was so giddy that she didn’t even notice when her teacher, Mrs. Anderson, had walked in with a little boy, standing beside her with his hands clutching his scooby doo lunch box.

He was dressed in a nice blue button up and khakis, cheeks chubby with a slight pinkness to them. His hair was nicely cut and slicked back at the top; he looked like a proper little boy, which is exactly what he was.

Mrs. Anderson started talking, to introduce the new student as Hyunjin from South Korea, and Y/N immediately felt even more giddy.

He had enthusiastically introduced himself and Mrs. Anderson told him to sit wherever he wanted. Y/N pouted slightly at this, knowing he would choose a seat next to someone else, as nobody ever wanted to share a desk with her if they could help it. Her eyes widened slightly whenever he had threw his lunch box on the desk beside hers, and she looked up in surprise, seeing a sly grin take over his lips as he sat down.

“Hi.” He spoke, side-eyeing her as he took out his own notebook and a pencil.

“Hi, Hyunjin. My name is Y/N!” She excitedly grinned, and Hyunjin faced her. He gave her a quick glance from head-to-toe, a grin forming on his lips as he let out a, “Hi, Y/N. You remind me of a flower. Do you like flowers? My favorite ones are roses. My nanny says they are a symbol of love, but I have no idea what that means. Do you like roses, too?”

The talking continued all until lunch, when Hyunjin had sat with her at the lunch table in the cafeteria. He was eating some dumplings, while Y/N was eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She had asked them if they were good, and he started feeding her bites of his. In return, she halved her sandwich and shared it with him.

In between bites and giggles, Y/N had quickly found out that Hyunjin liked to talk. He talked and he talked until school was dismissed, where he was forced to leave her side for the day.

“We are going to be the best of friends!” Hyunjin had spoke as he stood up after the teachers called out his name, indicating his ride was here to pick him up.

“Pinky promise?” Y/N had asked, holding her pinky up in the air. He giggled at this, not hesitating to wrap his around hers with a, “I pinky promise!”

It’s funny how things turn out, isn’t it?

Pinky promises were just full of shit. Y/N knew that, and yet she still made them anyway. And out of the many that she has made, it only took one broken promise to completely change everything; it only took one broken promise from him to completely change everything.

Y/N had grown up with him, had spent every single second of her free time with him amongst the stars and the skies and whatever else. He was there when she had her first period, standing at her front door with a box of pads and some chocolate milk his nanny had bought for him to give her after she had ignored him for two days and yelled at him for stepping on the back of her shoes at recess. He was there when she had gotten her first job as a waitress at a café up the street, being her first customer and tipping her $50 for a simple cup of coffee and a bagel, just because he knew she was struggling with money. He was there when her grandma had passed away from breast cancer after a long two years of fighting, laying with her for hours in the pitch black dark and silence, holding her while she cried in his chest.

Y/N remembered every detail of their friendship, whether it be the good or the bad, but what she remembered most was the little things that he never saw in himself.

Whenever he smiled, his eyes would form little crescents and his laugh would sound like her favorite song. He always tilted his head back whenever he would laugh at something stupid, and Y/N hated when he did that because everything went dull and dark. But whenever he looked back at her, the light would return as quickly as it faded and the universe would spin again.

Whenever he was anxious about something, his foot would bounce up and down repeatedly. Y/N would always have to put her hand on the top of his thigh to remind him to calm down, and she remembered the look on his face each time. His cheeks would redden slightly, a sheepish smile on his lips, and he would mumble out a soft apology. Everytime she moved her hand away, he would put it back, insisting that the only way he wouldn’t move his foot was if her hand stayed there.

He was the happiest when he was painting. Y/N loved to watch him paint.

He started painting in middle school, when they were both thirteen. He had decided to take art as one of his electives and easily succeeded in it. It came so naturally to him, just as everything did, and Y/N had wished more times than once that she could have that ability to be perfect in every single thing she did.

When he was younger, Hyunjin painted flowers. Roses were his favorites, so naturally, that was what he started with. Y/N remembered watching him paint whenever she came over, laying on his bed with her iPad in front of her while he sat at his desk with a picture of roses pulled up on his laptop. His eyes had a different twinkle in them while he was focused on the colors and the shapes, and his tongue would stick out slightly on the side of his mouth in concentration. She was always so mesmerized by him and would watch him for hours without complaint. The look on his face once he finished always made up for the long wait—the excited glint in his eyes, the higher-pitched voice he had when he turned around to show her, the wide smile that always reached his eyes, the warmth on his cheeks.

He was falling in love with art, while she was falling in love with him.

Coming to that realization as they got older became difficult for Y/N to grasp. In a way, she knew that she had always loved him. The little things that defined him as his own person clouded her mind for years, slipping into her dreams while she yearned for it to become a reality. He was always her Hyunjin, and she was always his Y/N.

And she hated the fact that she was still wanting to believe that.

“You’re not going tomorrow.”

Y/N didn’t move from her current spot in her bed, hidden under the covers, arms wrapped around her body and pulling herself together. Everything was dark, just as she wanted it to be, tears and make-up staining the pillow case she was laying her head on. Felix had finally gotten her out of the bathroom at the club, wrapping her in his arms and leading her outside to Minho’s car without making a scene. Majority of the people there were too preoccupied anyway, much to Y/N’s relief.

Minho had insisted on coming back with them, just to make sure they got home safely, much to Y/N’s protests. She begged for him to stay with his friends and not worry about her, but he wasn’t taking no for an answer. She already felt extremely embarrassed at the fact that she had made a scene outside, in front of Chan and his bandmates, in front of Minho and Felix, in front of Hyunjin.

Her Hyunjin.

“Are you even listening to me? Look, I really hate to be that friend, but you are not going to that festival tomorrow. It’s only going to satisfy him in such a fucked up way that you’re going to be there watching him perform. It’s not good for you. You’re not going.”

“How about you stop bossing her around and let her decide what’s best for herself?” Minho’s voice chimed in.

“No offense, but you don’t know half the shit that asshole has done to her. She needs someone to talk some sense into her because I know she’s going to want to go, and it isn’t going to turn out good.” Felix scoffed out a reply, and Y/N could hear some shuffling as she felt someone sit on the edge of her bed.

“Still, it’s up to her. You shouldn’t be telling her to do something just because you think it would benefit her for the good. People cope in different ways.”

“She had a fucking panic attack from that guy!” Felix exclaimed, the bed shaking a little as he held his hands up in exaggeration. “That should say everything! And even then—“

“I’m not going,” Y/N interrupted him, snuggling deeper into her pillow. Her head was starting to hurt and she couldn’t take the constant bickering back and forth, “I’m not going, okay? Can you please just… stop talking about me like I’m not here?”

It was quiet for a moment, and then she heard a sigh.

The bed moved again, bedsheets rustling, and then she could feel a hand on her shoulder. “I’m sorry,” Felix spoke, rubbing her shoulder over the comforter, “We didn’t mean to come off that way. Do you need anything?”

“No,” She quickly replied, secretly hoping Felix would get up and leave her alone. She loved him to death, but she just wanted to be alone right now, to wallow in her self-pity a bit longer. It was quiet for another moment, and then she felt the hand on her shoulder trail down to her back.

“I’m gonna go get you some water, and then I’ll leave you alone.”

Footsteps were heard going out her bedroom door until they grew faint, and Y/N let out a sigh she didn’t know she was holding. She closed her eyes, pulling the blanket closer to her chest, when a soft voice spoke out.

“I’m sorry, Y/N.”

It was Minho, and Y/N could feel his presence coming closer to her. She froze for a second, forgetting that he was even still here, pulling the blanket off of her so she could see him.

“I’m sorry,” He repeated, hands twitching slightly by his side, as if he didn’t know what to do with them, “I’m so sorry. I would have never brought you there or even offered if I knew. I can’t help but feel like this is my fault. I’m just—I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”

Y/N sat up, wiping underneath her eyes with her hands in attempt to get some of the mascara and eyeliner off of her face, reaching her hand out towards him. He hesitated for a moment before slowly grasping her hand in his, and Y/N smiled briefly, knowing Minho wasn’t the biggest on touch yet still let her hold him in a way.

“It’s not your fault. Exactly like you just said, you didn’t know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I just didn’t want to go through that again. And it’s a little embarrassing,” She let out a chuckle, “I’m just embarrassed right now is all. You didn’t know. Don’t blame yourself.”

“I know but still,” He replied with a sigh, “I just won’t go tomorrow either. We can all go do something else—“

“No, you’re going to go,” She interrupted him, “Chan is your best friend. You’ve been so excited about it. You’re going to go and enjoy yourself and support him. Just because he’s in the same band doesn’t mean you can’t go.”

“Well, yeah, but I’d feel weird if I—“

“Minho, you’re giving me a headache,” Y/N interrupted him, again, letting go of his hand to lay back down with a dramatic sigh.

Minho rolled his eyes, “Fine. I’ll go.”

“Go where?” Felix asked as he re-entered the room, placing the cup of ice water with a lemon slice in it on her bedside table.

“The festival.”

“Oh, you’re still going?” He asked Minho, but before he could answer, Y/N spoke up, “Yes, he’s still going. And you are, too.”

“Hell the fuck no I’m not,” Felix scoffed out, crossing his arms across his chest.

Y/N groaned in slight annoyance, “You are both getting on my nerves. Lix, you had such a good time tonight, and I could tell you really liked Chan and Changbin. I was just telling Minho this, but just because he’s a bit of an asshole, doesn’t mean you can’t go support everyone else. It’s not going to hurt my feelings, I promise. Plus, I kind of want to be alone for a bit. No offense.”

“A bit of an asshole?! More like a—“

“Lix,” Minho interrupted him with a warning glare, and Felix sighed, glancing over at Y/N who was already looking at him with a pleading expression. Rather it be the tired, broken look in her eyes or the fact that she might be right, Felix found himself caving in, sighing out a short, “Fine.”

Y/N smiled slightly, mumbling out a thank you as she curled herself back up into her comforter. She just wanted them to be happy and enjoy themselves; that’s all she wants. Plus, Minho had paid a lot for the tickets and she didn’t want them to go to waste. She decided she would Venmo him for her portion anyway once she mustered enough energy to roll over and glance at her phone.

“I guess we’ll leave you alone for a bit. It’s almost midnight so we should probably get some rest anyway since the festival starts at noon tomorrow,” Minho let out, Felix reluctantly agreeing. The same hand was felt on her shoulder again, a deep sigh carrying out through the room.

“Try to get some sleep, okay? We’ll see you in the morning before we leave.” Felix softly spoke, and Y/N nodded her head in reply, even though they couldn’t see her.

Seconds later the door quietly shut and she let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Everything was now silent and dark, despite the faint sounds of Felix and Minho walking around the house, and Y/N suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of loneliness, mind drifting back to Hyunjin.

Hyunjin, and his stupid long hair and piercing brown eyes. Hyunjin, and his beautiful body that was now adorned in multiple tattoos and piercings. Hyunjin, who seemed to be a completely different person, yet still so familiar at the same time.

She rolled over, throwing the comforter off of her curled up body, sitting up on the side of the bed. Glancing at her window, she noticed the stars were out. She slowly got out of bed, pulling her dress down a little as she approached the window, the stars and the moon shining brightly, igniting a soft glow. Her hand carefully grazed the coolness of the window, a tear slowly falling down her cheek as she sunk down to the floor, nothing but Hyunjin on her mind.

——>

“Do you think we’re best friends in every universe?”

Hyunjin swiped the brush against the canvas in front of him before dipping it in the now dirty cup of water, tongue peeking out from the corner of his lip, letting out a soft hum in response. Y/N rolled over to her stomach at his response, hands underneath her chin as she faced him, canvas blocking half of his face from her view.

“Did you hear me?” She asked with a small huff, and Hyunjin glanced at her briefly before continuing his strokes on the canvas.

“Why are you asking such a random question? Obviously.” He replied with a click of his tongue and a slight eye roll.

Y/N glanced around his bedroom, eyes settling on his desk cluttered with multiple art supplies and sketches, and then at the picture of her and him at the photo booth at Chuck e. cheese hanging up on his wall. She chose her next question carefully, softly. “So you don’t think that in another universe, we could be something else?”

Hyunjin glanced at her again, and she could feel his gaze on her face, but her eyes stayed locked on the picture. “Like what?” He asked.

She shuffled a little bit in his bed, hands coming down to lay in front of her as she played with the loose thread on his comforter. “Like… two pigeons running down the beach. Or sunflowers swaying in a field,” She spoke, in thought, before leaning her head on one of her hands, “We could even be married in another life. Wouldn’t that be fun? Growing old together?”

It was quiet for a minute, the sound of birds faintly chirping outside being the only sound heard. Y/N snuck a glance at him, wishing she could see his entire expression instead of only half, gulping loudly when seeing that he looked lost in thought.

“Yeah, it would,” He finally replied, voice coming out soft, unwavering. “We are going to grow old together anyway, though. So I guess it wouldn’t matter if we were married or not.”

Y/N glanced at the picture again, the giant smiles plastered on their faces as they excitedly hugged each other. She remembered them wanting to be as close as possible to ensure they both fit in the picture from how small the booth was; being as close as possible to one another was always their thing. She wished they could get closer.

“But wouldn’t it be nice to be married to each other? And to do things married people do? To… to wake up beside each other every morning, and to cook dinner together every night, and… and…” She trailed off, cheeks heating up when realizing she was definitely speaking her inner thoughts out loud and she definitely should not finish her sentence. Her hands began to grow clammy from the slight anxiety she was feeling, and she shook her head slightly, sitting up on the edge of the bed and reaching for her iPad and bag.

“Nevermind. I don’t really know what I’m saying,” She laughed out, shoving her belongings into her bag quickly before throwing it over her shoulder. “I’m gonna head out. Mom’s making dinner. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

She quickly walked past him, a soft grip on her wrist making her stop in her tracks. She looked up to see that Hyunjin had stood up, the paint brush now sitting in the cup, his expression soft. “It would be nice,” He let out, and Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, “We already do those things, anyway. But you know you’re the only person I’d want to do it with. You’re my best friend.”

Best friend. Right. They are best friends, and that’s all it would ever be.

“Yeah,” She replied, eyes trailing down to the plush of his lips. The last time they kissed was when they had their second make out session in the back seat of his car after he finished soccer practice two weeks ago. Her cheeks started to heat up at the memory, and she found herself biting her bottom lip slightly when remembering the sound he made whenever she accidentally pressed down too hard on his lap.

Hyunjin noticed, finding himself doing the same as his teeth sunk into his lower lip, the grip on her wrist tightening slightly. Nothing was said for a minute, the tension shifting in the air. And then his lips were on hers for the third time.

Y/N doesn’t know who initiated it first, but she didn’t care. The bag that was on her shoulder fell to the floor with a soft thud and his hands were cupping her face. She put hers on his shoulders, trailing them up and down, not exactly sure where she should put them. She just wanted to feel him in more ways than one, so she took a step forward, his knees hitting the edge of the bed as he fell on top of it. Their kiss broke, but only for a second before Y/N was climbing on top of him, a small moan escaping his lips as she kissed him again.

She was definitely feeling more confident this time. The first time her and Hyunjin had made out was sloppy, but it was amazing. The second time was rushed and hot, as Hyunjin just needed to release some steam from a shitty practice he had. But this time was desperate and so, so dangerous. It was so dangerous because she was becoming addicted and eventually it was going to kill her.

His hands gripped her thighs, and she pulled back. “W-we’re doing it again,” She stuttered out, his lips moving to her neck, making the butterflies erupt in her stomach.

“And?” He replied, hands now moving towards her ass, letting out a deep groan at the fullness in his hands. He kissed her again, slipping his tongue past her lips, and she let out a content sigh at the feeling.

“I-is this… weird to you?” She struggled to get out her sentence, rolling her head to the side to give him access to her neck instead of her lips. It’s not that she didn’t want to kiss him, she most definitely did, but she wanted to see where his head was at. Which was, unfortunately, sometimes difficult to do.

He didn’t reply, choosing to pepper her neck with kisses and slight bites, and she shifted on his lap each time, soft moans filling his room. “Jinnie,” She tried to get his attention again, gasping slightly when feeling him underneath her, a tingling sensation traveling down from her head to her toes. He buckled his hips up, and she gently pushed him down.

“What?” He asked, panting slightly, lips red and moist from their spit, and she gulped before asking her question again. Hyunjin was starring so intensely at her that it made her squirm in his lap, and he tightened his grip on her ass slightly.

“No, I don’t think it’s weird,” He replied out through breaths, eyes trailing down her body and back up to her face briefly, “We’re just best friends who sometimes make out. People do it all the time.”

Do they? Y/N thought to herself, glancing down at her thighs and away from him, an uneasy feeling growing in her chest. Hyunjin noticed her expression, moving his hands to her hips instead, rubbing them a little as an act of comfort.

“Are you uncomfortable?” He asked, a slightly concerned expression on his face, and Y/N immediately shook her head.

“Of course not! I’m always comfortable with you. It’s just… is this… okay? Are we… okay?”

His hands stopped their movements, and Y/N immediately regretted the question that just came out of her mouth. He looked as if he was lost in thought, a slight pout on his lips, and his hair was slightly falling into his eyes, looking a little unkempt, but Y/N thought he was beautiful.

“I don’t see an issue with it,” He finally replied, lightly trailing his hands up and down her thighs, a soft grin forming on his lips, “Like I said, we’re best friends who sometimes make out. We’re okay. Nothing will change that.”

Y/N woke up to her phone going off, the vibration making a screeching noise on her bedside table, eyes struggling to open from the bright sun that was currently gracing her face. She blinked a couple times, letting out an annoyed groan as she covered her eyes with her hand in attempt to block out the light from blinding her vision so early in the morning.

The first thing she noticed once she somewhat came to her senses was that she was so uncomfortable. Her back was aching and her neck was as stiff as a rock, and she turned her head to the side to notice that she was currently laying on the floor next to the window. No wonder her back felt like shit.

She cursed to herself, bringing herself up to sit on her knees, back popping and a grimace forming on her lips. She can’t believe she slept an entire night on the floor. And she didn’t even change out of her dress or take her makeup off, which is something she always does, so why did she not do it this time?

Memories from last night flooded her brain all at once, and suddenly, she wasn’t able to feel the physical pain from her back or her neck, because nothing can compare to the pain of heartbreak. The dream she had last night of her and Hyunjin was fresh in her mind, hitting her like a ton of bricks as she felt a heavy feeling in her chest. Waking up to the thought of him was not a great start to her day, but it’s not like she never stopped thinking about him anyway.

Willing herself to stand up and stop wallowing so much in her self-pity, she slowly shuffled her way towards her bathroom, turning the light on and cringing at her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a fucking wreck, with mascara running down her face in streaks, lipstick slightly smudged around her mouth, eyes puffy and red and dry. Her hair was still slicked back into the ponytail and she mentally rated the styling cream she used five stars. However, she couldn’t think about that long as the events from last night kept replaying in her mind.

“Hey Petal.”

He had called her by her nickname that he made for her when they were in middle school, when Hyunjin had gifted her a bouquet of roses after her chorus concert. It seemed fitting at the time, so naturally, the nickname stuck with her. He was the only one who called her that, and he was the only one she wanted to call her that. But last night, it didn’t seem right coming from his lips when there was so much distance between them for years. Yet, she couldn’t help the flutter in her chest when he spoke to her, despite everything.

Another vibration from her phone interrupted her thoughts and she shook her head slightly before walking to her bedside table to unplug her phone, seeing that she had multiple unread texts and two calls from Felix.

lix🐥: hey ugly

lix🐥: minho convinced me to not wake u up, but i left u some ramen if ur hungry whenever u get up. we’re heading to the festival now but i’ll text u whenever we get there

lix🐥: we’re here. it’s crowded af and my social anxiety is slowly brewing 😀 gonna get some drinks and claim us a spot. i’ll send pics l8ter

lix🐥: 1 attachment

lix🐥: me and minho are currently downing this bucket of beers rn. say a prayer for me plz. miss u

lix🐥: 2 missed calls

lix🐥: hey bubs it’s been like 3 hrs since i last texted can u tell me if ur alive at least bc im ✨worried✨

lix🐥: ///:

y/n: i’m alive. i just woke up. stop worrying about me and enjoy yourself. let me know when you’re both otw home and be safe

lix🐥: 🫡

Y/N let out a sigh, locking her phone back before throwing it on her bed. She shivered, goosebumps forming on her skin from the AC that just turned on, reminding her that she was still in her dress that was now bunched up her ass. She cringed at that fact, deciding she should take a shower and wash away the overwhelming sense of depression and desperation she was currently feeling from last night, feet shuffling against the floor as she made her way back towards the bathroom to turn the water on.

She took her time washing her hair and body before finding herself curling up on the floor of the shower, head resting against the coolness of the tile behind her as she soaked in the scalding hot water falling down her body. Hyunjin had always hated how hot she kept the water when she showered, and she found herself thinking back to one of the multiple times he had yelled at her over it.

“Are you almost done?!” Hyunjin yelled from the inside of his bedroom, laying down on his bed with his phone in his hands, “I’ve got to shower too, you know! I can only wait so long!”

Y/N rolled her eyes, choosing to ignore him as she hummed to Katy Perry’s Fireworks that was currently playing on his bluetooth speaker. She just finished shaving her legs and was currently finishing up washing her body with her designated hot pink loofah that always hung next to Hyunjin’s blue one in the shower.

“Hello?! Are you ignoring me?!” He yelled out again just as she finished rinsing off.

“I told you I would let you know when I’m done! Stop yelling and being so dramatic and wait your turn!”

She heard some shuffling, and then the bathroom door slammed open, making Y/N let out a short scream. “What are you doing?! You’re not allowed in here yet!”

Hyunjin rolled his eyes even though she couldn’t see him, reaching up to tug his shirt off and throwing it on the bathroom floor, “You’re taking too long so I’m coming in. I smell like grass and shit and it’s starting to give me a headache.”

“Like hell you are!” Y/N replied, opening the shower door slightly so she could peek her head out, a gasp threatening to escape her mouth when she caught sight of a shirtless Hyunjin who was now in the process of sliding his athletic shorts off his legs. “Are you insane?! Do not come in here! I’m literally naked!”

“No shit,” Hyunjin let out a laugh, rolling his eyes as he stepped out of his shorts, “I won’t look at you. We can just graze our butt cheeks against each other as we take turns rinsing off. This is a great way for us to up our friendship level.”

Y/N could feel her face turning red at his comment, mouth falling open in complete disbelief that he had even said that, and she found herself stuttering out a mix of words that made absolutely no sense. It was when Hyunjin reached for his briefs, about to take them off, that had her finally forming words.

“Stop!” She screeched out, a smirk of triumph forming on Hyunjin’s lips as he glanced at her, “Oh my god, you’re literally so annoying! Hand me my towel, asshole.”

Hyunjin smirked widened as he reached for the towel currently folded and sitting on the toilet seat. He unwrapped it, handing it out to her with a sickly sweet look on his face, and Y/N huffed in annoyance before jerking it out of his hands. She could hear Hyunjin singing, could picture him currently rocking back and forth on the heels of his feet as he waited for her to step out. She decided to turn the hot water up slightly out of spite before she wrapped the towel around her body, opening the door wider and stepping out of the shower.

Just as she suspected, Hyunjin was still standing there, grin still on his face. He glanced at her feet, and then back to her face, a few drops of water trailing down her neck. She glared at him, “You’re not even going to say thank you for keeping the water on for you?”

He let out a chuckle, finding himself wanting to wipe the drops of water off her neck but restrained himself, “Thanks, Pedal. You’re an angel.”

“Idiot.” She mumbled to herself, letting out a small shriek when he reached for his briefs again, quickly running out of the room and closing the bathroom door. She could hear Hyunjin laughing on the other side and wanted to yell at him to shut up but decided against it.

She began drying herself off when she heard him scream, giggling to herself as she knew what he was screaming about, pulling her shirt over her head. “Seriously, Y/N?! You’ve just scalded my dick over here!”

She laughed to herself, a pleasing smile on her face as she continued to get dressed. “You’re not going to even say anything?! You keep the water way too hot! No wonder your skin is always so red!”

“Shut up and shower! You smell like shit!” She yelled back, thankful that nobody was home to hear them basically cussing each other out.

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard, a long groan following shortly after. Y/N turned her head towards the bathroom, immediately rushing in to see Hyunjin’s silhouette laying on shower floor.

“Oh my god, Jinnie!” She yelled out, “Are you okay? Did you just fall?”

She opened the shower door slightly to get a glimpse of him just to make sure he was okay, letting out the loudest scoff when seeing a smirk on his face, a satisfied hum escaping his lips. “Now if you wanted to see me naked all you had to do was ask, Pedal.”

“Shut up, idiot!” She replied, quickly shutting the door back, face flushing even more when he began laughing like the little menace he is. She decided she was going to turn the water even hotter next time.

The urge to cry again was strong, but she was sick of crying; she was sick of feeling this way, so she told herself she wasn’t going to cry anymore. That mindset didn’t last long, however, as she eventually felt her eyes tearing up.

Hyunjin was always in the back of her mind someway or another, but now that she had seen him in the flesh after so many years, she didn’t know what to think. She had spent months attempting to reach out once he had left, attempting to even ask his own parents where he had gone, and got nothing in return. Eventually, the texts went from blue to green, and her heart went from broken to completely shattered.

Hyunjin had always wanted to be an artist. He loved to create art, through paint or pencils or dance. He was always creative and told his own stories in more subtle ways, always full of light despite the lingering darkness that always found a way back to him. Y/N had noticed more times than once that he would put on an act at times, knowing how much he despised his parents, knowing that he hated living at home. She knew he wanted to leave, but she didn’t think he would leave without her. And then he leaves, disappears for years, and now suddenly shows back up as the lead singer of a band? Hyunjin had always wanted to be an artist, so it didn’t make any sense to her. None of it made sense to her.

She grew annoyed at the fact that she was crying again, harshly wiping her tears from her face. She wanted to scream, wanted to claw her skin off her body; she hated feeling this way, and she hated the way her heart was reacting. She should be angry, completely and utterly repulsed at the thought of seeing Hyunjin after the shit he has put her through. But she isn’t, and she hates herself for it.

She just missed him. She missed him so much.

Y/N doesn’t know how long she stayed sitting in the shower, but it was long enough to where the hot water ran out and her skin turned wrinkly. She felt numb to the coldness of the water, not even flinching when feeling it falling down on her, suffocating her. Right now, she wished it would. It would be so much easier.

Y/N thought about seeing a therapist for the longest time after Hyunjin had left her. It wasn’t until her breakdown with Felix that had her solidifying the fact that she definitely needed to talk to someone, as it was now interfering with her intimacy with other people. Felix had befriended her and guided her to get the help she needed, and she would forever be grateful for that. She was getting better, had graduated university in the top 10% of her class, got herself a job working in the ICU at one of the top hospital’s in the state, and had made new friends and memories. She was getting better until she saw him, and now it feels like it’s back to square one.

She thought of Hyunjin and the many pinky promises he had made with her. She thought of Hyunjin and the way he always made her feel safe. She thought of Hyunjin and his tattoos and piercings and long hair that covered his eyes so elegantly. She thought of the smirk on his lips, the fire his touch left on her skin, and she became angry. How dare he just show up again like this after years and pretend nothing had even happened?She was pissed at the thought of him acting so nonchalant, so unbothered, while she had spent years crying and praying for him to come back to her somehow.

It was uncanny, really—a fever dream. And she’ll be damned if she lets him get away again so easily.

She turned the shower off, a sudden coolness gracing her skin as she stepped out of the shower. She didn’t even bother wrapping herself up in a towel, leaving a trail of water as she rushed back into her bedroom, clicking on Felix’s location. After all, she did still have the ticket saved on her phone, and she didn’t want it to go to waste.

y/n: changed my mind, i’ve decided to come. i’ll be there soon

——>

It was excruciatingly hot.

Y/N was stood in line to get a drink, (liquid courage, of course), and she could just practically feel the sweat dripping down her back and into her skirt. The thought made her cringe but she had been in line for about thirty minutes now and it was almost her turn, so she had to tough it out. It’s insane how hot it was even at 1600, but luckily, the sun would be going down soon.

She sighed, pushing the sunglasses she was wearing further up her nose, glancing over to see a girl wearing a black crop top with Stray Kids engraved across her breasts in red.

“You’re here for Stray Kids, I’m assuming?” She let out without thinking, the girl turning to look at her, placing a hand on her forehead in attempts to block the sun from her eyes.

“Hell yeah! They’re the only reason I came to this thing,” She grinned, quickly taking her phone out of her pocket to show her the back of her phone case, “Huge Hyunjin girlie. I wanna fuck him so bad, dude. He’s sex on legs.”

Y/N felt her breath hitch at the picture she had on her phone case. He was posing in the mirror, his collarbones and shoulders on display, hair bleached blonde, biting his lip softly. She had only ever seen him with black hair, so this was new to her.

She found herself starring at the picture for far too long, the girl letting out a giggle before putting her phone back in her back pocket of her jean shorts. “Told you, sex on legs,” She grinned again, and Y/N couldn’t disagree with that statement, “I heard he gets around with his fans. Maybe I’ll get lucky tonight.”

Y/N felt a strange feeling of slight jealousy at her comments, annoyance overcoming her and she glared at the girl through her sunglasses. She shouldn’t have even said anything in the first place because now her mood turned sour and she just wanted to punch this girl in the face for even thinking she would end up in his bed.

Choosing to ignore her, she finally ended up at the front of the line, ordering the largest size of a frozen mango margarita. She took a large gulp as she turned around after saying a quick thank you, eyes scanning the huge crowd in attempts to find the B stage that Felix and Minho were currently standing at. However, she realized she should probably use the bathroom before she met up with them, so she asked the closest person she could find where the bathrooms were.

“They’re right over there!” She replied, pointing to a section where a bunch of different trailers were parked. She thanked them and made her way over there, finding the closest trailer and walking inside.

She cringed at the thought of bringing her drink into the bathroom with her, (she should’ve thought this through), but had no choice but to, stepping inside the bathroom and sliding the door shut.

After she washed and dried her hands, she let out a sigh, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She had opted to braid her hair instead of attempting to fix it, the two braids hanging over her shoulders. Her top was low cut, black, and lace, splitting down the middle and flowing over her sides, coming down to her boots that covered her ankles. Her stomach was on display, belly button ring shining from the light in the bathroom. She wanted to fit the festival vibe a little more, and she wanted to dress confidently. She thought she looked good, but would it be good enough for him? She shook her head, trying to get those thoughts out of her mind, grabbing her drink and sliding open the bathroom door.

She was surprised to see a guy sitting on the couch that was weirdly placed near the bathroom, stumbling back slightly when seeing that he looked awfully familiar.

He glanced up at the sound, eyebrow furrowing in confusion. “Uh,” He let out, glancing her body over from head to toe before looking back at her face, “Who the fuck are you?”

Slightly taken aback, she took a step backwards, “Excuse me?”

“You’re excused. Now you’re hot and all, but who the fuck are you and why are you in my trailer?”

Y/N blinked, words failing to come out, and she knew she looked like an absolute idiot. Why did this guy look so familiar, and why was he talking to her like that? Isn’t this the public restroom?

“Alright, I’m calling security.” He decided, beginning to type in a number on his phone, and Y/N was frozen in her spot. What the fuck was going on?

Before anything could happen, the door opened, and Y/N felt her throat close up.

“Han, you won’t believe what shit I just heard. I—“ Hyunjin stopped his sentence, eyes widening when seeing that Y/N was standing in their trailer. Y/N couldn’t move, couldn’t speak—she felt like she could pass out any second now. Everything was happening too fast, and she could feel her breathing picking up.

Not even five seconds passed and two men were barging through the door, shoving past Hyunjin and heading straight towards Y/N. She took a step back in fright, stumbling when both of the men gripped her arms so tightly it was sure to leave a bruise. She let out a gasp, the men dragging her like she was some ragdoll, and Hyunjin immediately stepped in front of the door.

“What the fuck? Don’t touch her like that!” He yelled out, but the men ignored him, continuing to shove her towards the door. It wasn’t until she stumbled over her feet and fell, one of the men roughly grabbing her and jerking her back up, that Hyunjin had lost it.

“I said don’t fucking touch her! Put her the fuck down and take your hands off her before I get you both fired!”

It was then that the men let her go, and Y/N immediately backed away. She let out a wince, rubbing her arms, noticing that she already had a bruise forming on her thigh from when she fell. Her arms were aching and she just wanted to get the hell out of here. This was such a bad idea. She shouldn’t have came.

“Dude, what the fuck are you doing?” The guy on the couch, Han, asked, and Hyunjin glared at him.

“What am I doing?! What the fuck are you doing? Did you seriously call them to come get her?”

Han let out a scoff, “Obviously. She’s in our trailer. I mean she’s fine as hell but she’s obviously a crazed fan. Why else would she be in here?”

If looks could kill, Han would be dead by now. “She’s not a crazed fan! I know her! It’s Y/N!” He yelled out, Han’s eyes widening slightly in realization, and Y/N could cry right now. “Get out!” He screamed at the two men still standing by the door, then glancing back at Han who now looked guilty as fuck sitting on the couch. “You too!”

“Where the fuck am I supposed to go?”

“I don’t know and I don’t care! Just please get out.”

Han let out a sigh, glancing over at Y/N, mumbling out an apology before heading out the door. It was quiet, too quiet, and Y/N refused to look up, hugging her arms across her chest.

“I… I was just coming to use the bathroom,” She softly spoke, not really knowing what else to say other than to explain herself, “This girl told me this was where the public restrooms were. I—I didn’t know it was your trailer. I’m sorry. I’m gonna go now.”

She then quickly attempted to walk past him and out the door, but a hand on her wrist stopped her. She winced slightly, and he immediately let go, letting out a, “It’s okay. You… you don’t have to leave.”

She could feel her eyes watering, a heavy feeling in her chest, so she chose to ignore him and pushed the door open. A strangled noise behind her made her stop in her tracks, voice heavy, pleading.

“Please don’t leave me.”

A tear fell down her cheek and she quickly wiped it away, taking in a deep breath, closing her eyes. This was what she wanted, right? She wanted to be able to see him again, to talk to him, to ask him why he left. So why was it so hard?

She stood there for a second before slowly turning around, eyes softening at the sight of him. His eyes were heavy, glossing over, and Y/N just wanted to hug him. So she did.

He stumbled back a few steps before his arms latched around her, holding her close to him. Her face was buried in his shirt, her arms wrapped around his neck. She was holding him so tightly, afraid if she let go he would disappear again. And she really, really didn’t want him to disappear again.

“I’ve missed you,” She sobbed out, tears soaking his shirt, but she couldn’t help it. The words kept coming out and she couldn’t stop it. “I’ve missed you so much. I can’t—I can’t…”

“Shh, it’s alright. I’m here. I’m here, Y/N,” He whispered in her ear, and she sobbed even harder. “I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry. I’m here. I’m right here.”

It was embarrassing, really, how easily her body betrayed her—how easily her mind betrayed her. When it comes to him, she has no self control, no mind of her own. He was here and she was here and that was all that mattered; he was all that mattered.

She was sure she would regret this later. But right now, she needed him to hold her. It was all she wanted for five years; it was all she ever wanted.

So he held her and she held him and she cried and cried and cried, until she couldn’t anymore. And when he wiped her tears away with his fingers once she looked at him, when he whispered how much he missed her and how sorry he was, when he cradled her face in his hands so tenderly and looked into his eyes that she loved so much, she finally felt at home.

“Hyunnie, I brought you some of those churros you like,” A girl’s voice was heard once the door opened, and Y/N turned around, heart dropping in the pit of her stomach when seeing the same girl from last night that was kissing and grinding all over him. “Maybe after you eat we can—oh. Who’s this?”

And maybe that’s the best thing about home—the feeling of it. Where we love is home. Even if we have to physically walk away from it, our hearts will still stay.

Hyunjin was her home. But she wasn’t his.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

▫️taglist: @hyundumpling, @hhwangsmoon, @luvyblossom, @inthefairygrove

[esstrellaa123]

Saw a fic of crybaby!reader, and was like? My two sense????

Don’t ask how many words :>

Thinking of reader right, all silent for like… a week. Caught up in their head with God knows what, and boom. Sweet Simon finally cracks that fragile barrier you’ve put between the two of you

Because Lord knows Simon hates silence, especially from you. Talk to him, won’t you?

“You’ve yet to speak.” He says blankly, prompting you as he watches you intently like he might be able to see into your very soul. He’s done it before, but now you’re just being difficult >:(

“I’m coloring.” You say just as blank, devoid of the emotion he usually enjoyed. The sun to his world was going dark and he’d do anything to clear those clouds away. Anything. Even if it burned him.

“I like it when you talk.” He tries, arms crossed. Defensive, and unamused by your lack of enthusiasm.

“Not in the mood to.” You all but snap, getting annoyed with him. You let out a harsh huff, coloring a little too hard. Now your drawing was ruined because the pressure changed the color. Everything was fucked. Fuck this.

You tear the page out unceremoniously, tossing it carelessly to the trash before getting overwhelmed with having to start another complex piece. You couldn’t do anything about it now, your old piece was in the trash and-

“Why’re you touching me?” You snap again, jerking away from his hands.

“Alright. What the fuck?” He finally says. Maybe he was more upset at your reaction towards him than you. Either way, he’s getting to the bottom of what he thought was complete and utter bullshit.

“What do you mean ‘what the fuck?’ I don’t want you touching me.” You say, face to face. More like chest to face, but who’s counting the inches? (YES IM AMERICAN)

Okay, ouch. “I’m trynna help here!” He grumbles back down at you.

“I don’t want your stupid help.” You say back, abandoning your art and going to the room. The bang of the door reaches his ears louder than he liked.

“Fucking bullshit. Fucking women.” He grumbles, going out to the porch to smoke.

He’s unhappy. Very exasperated and wanting to break some shit. But he’s better. He got better for you.

He finishes his smoke, somewhat calmed. Maybe you were hungry. Had you had water?

“I don’t want-” you start up but he’s having none of it. Not when his patience is spread thin and he’d really like to spread you open. So be cooperative.

“Nah, shut- shut up.” He cuts you off, setting the tray of food down on the bed. Fruits, peanut butter, chocolate, and some water. “Eat.” He says, sliding under you.

“‘M not hungry.” You say, crossing your arms.

…..

You sit in his lap, being hand fed as you watch your Law and Order. “Water.” He instructs, watching you take a sip before opening your mouth for another strawberry. He delivers.

You’re more responsive now. He’s appreciative of that. But food wasn’t the root of this problem. Neither was water. Something else was bothering you.

“Feel better?” He asks, letting you curl up on his side, using him for all his warmth and comfort.

You nod into the crook of his neck, finding comfort in his tone and smell. “Feel better.” You confirm.

“Wanna tell me what’s goin’ on?” He finally questions.

“Nothin’s goin’ on.” You huff.

“Don’t huff at me.” He says, flicking your forehead. He let you get away with that shit this morning. There would not be a repeat.

“Just wanna relax.” You breathe, turning over.

“You’ll relax when you get it off your chest.” He turns over, curling around you like heat does a fire. Like it’s natural to be enveloped by a certified heater, it’s second nature.

You can’t help but lean in, scooting back, pulling his arms closer. “Just tired.”

“Tired of what?” He pushes.

“Life.” You mumble, the tears welling. You didn’t like thinking like this, but it plagues you. Sneaks and floods into your day. Your smile dropping too quickly for your own liking. You just wanted to curl up, sleep, and stay in your dreams.

He only hugs you closer. He doesn’t move as you shift, your face pressed firmly into his chest as the tears finally fall.

“I got ya. Si’s got ya.” He mumbles lovingly, rubbing your back, pulling you impossibly closer as you cling to his back. “Tell me what you need, hm?” He suggests, letting you nuzzle into his warmth even more.

“You.” You reply simply. There’s nothing you want or love more than lying in bed with him. You’d stay there, keep him there, even if you had to tie him down, but ultimately knew you wouldn’t, because he’d stay if you asked.

He hummed, low. You almost missed it, and he just holds you, keeping you close.

He’d be there in the morning, letting you cry on his shoulder again if you needed. He’d kiss all your tears away, kiss your tension away. It eased his, made him feel better, let him relax. He’d be your safe space if you promised to be his….

[a-998h]

House arrest at Heartslabyul

Mentions and minor spoilers of Chapter 1 and Chapter 6 lore!

My room was almost silent. The purring of Grim at my side and the creaking of this ancient building acts as my lullaby. The ghost are quiet and not causing trouble for once. Changing into a shirt that Leona said was too small for him i crawl under the ragged blankets I manage to find in an empty closet. I wrapped around me and they hold lulled me into a dreamless sleep.

"Oh, hello. Hello! Oh dear, please wake up I have to talk to you," a young sounding British voice shouts with an echo.

My eyes fly open and I see that I'm laying on a mushroom? Pulling myself up I notice that everything seems gigantic, but it's grass and plants I should be towering over. Looking down, I see I'm on top of a tan mushroom with a swrily spiral pattern. Looking around I hear the voice again.

"I'm so happy you're awake," the voice says.

Whiping my head around I spot someone on a taller purple stalked mushroom opposite mine. It looks like a little blonde girl in a blue dress, with a black headband. She seems very friendly looking, waving me closer. I walked to the edge of my mushroom. The girl pulled on a leaf and, like an office chair, the mushroom she was on lowered until it matched the height of mine. I stare at her confused and she chuckles a bit.

"I'm terribly sorry, but I needed you to listen to me," the blonde girl said.

I say it's not a problem and ask what she wants from me.

"I have to tell you, you and your cat are in terrible danger," she says.

"Damn it. What now?" I ask, completely done with this problem before I even know what it is.

"The queen and cards are out to get you two! If they get you, you will never be able to leave!" she says.

I stare at her before asking if there's any way for me to not get kidnapped by a crazy queen. The girl says there is, I have to go to get as far from Night Raven as I can. There is a thick silence between us as the world around us melts, warps, and I wake up with Grim attempting to suffocate me with his fur.

I look over at the alarm clock I dug out of the trash. It's about 6:30 in the morning and I feel the like I stayed up all night instead of sleeping. I look at Grim, who's softly snoring. I go back to sleep, this time without dreams.

***

I put on the oversized Night Raven uniform and shoes before brushing my hair. Grim stretches in the downward cat position before asking for tuna. Digging through the ancient cabinets I find no tuna, not even the cheap stuff.

"Sorry, Grim, no tuna today," I tell him.

"What?! We had some last week!" He complains.

"Yeah, but it was getting fuzzy and turning werid colors," I respond.

"Oh... Yeah, I love tuna but not when it's fuzzy," he says.

I pull out a bowl and fill it with water before putting the eggs in the bowl. Out of six eggs, two lay on their sides as the sink, two stands on its top so it's still good, and two float. I curse under my breath as I toss the three bad eggs and use the good egg to a scrambled egg that I put next to my single slice of buttered toast while making another scrambled egg for Grim.

I sit on the creaky chair and eat my breakfast while counting how many Madols I have left for the week. The coffee can I use as my money storage bin sits next to me. I count, flipping through paper bills. Only 8000 madols. I do the mental math and sigh. Checking the coffee can I see a few miscellaneous Sorcents. I do the mental math and sigh even deeper. Why the hell is everything in this place so expensive! As I put the plate and pan in the sink I hear a knock on my door.

"I'm coming! I'm coming!" I yell as Grim leaps onto my shoulders.

I open the door and am met with familiar heads of blue and orange hair. I ask them what they did this time and Ace gasps in mock offense. I position myself so they can't see the coffee can the and scattered 200 Madols.

"We just wanted to walk you to class, is that suddenly bad?" He jokingly asks.

I laugh along and go back inside to grab the second hand school bag Ruggie gave me and make sure I have every pencil and piece of homework I'll need.

Ace's POV

You think you're so clever, huh, MC? I can see that coffee can, the scattered Madols, and the scuff marks all over your school shoes. Deuce notices too, we all notice. It's sad really, you get dragged here, deal with our shit, and barley get paid for it. Poor Grim too. He's a menace in need of love. You both work so hard but live in a haunted dump and eat bread sandwiches. I give Deuce a wink and he nods in response. Deuce hands me a 900 Madols and a few Sorcents that I slip into the pocket of the jacket you hadn't grabbed yet.

"Ready to go?" You ask.

"Yeah, we've been ready," I respond.

We leave that safety hazard and start towards the main building. You're wearing the jacket and I wonder how long it'll be before you find the 901 Madols allowance we gave you so you both could eat real food for lunch. You think we don't notice the way you look longingly at the nicer lunch options or the prices at off the nice food at Mostro Lounge. Part of me wants to laugh but the other part wants to pamper you two.

The conversation we had this morning rings in my memories.

"Invite them to study,?" Cater suggests.

"You think they'll buy that?" Trey asks.

"You think I'm dumb!" I yell in annoyance.

They all give me a raised eyebrow, and I feel my face turn red in annoyance. We argue over a plan until we finally agreed on something. The plan became inviting them over for tea instead.

Coming back to reality we are already at Crewel's class.

MC's POV

Alchemy class goes exactly how I thought it would, Ace and Grim almost put the wrong thing in and Deuce over corrects into almost another problem. I sigh, looking around for any magical weirdness that could be ties to my dream last night. So far, everything seems fine.

***

My stomach roars when the lunch bell rings. I finish petting Lucius and follow my friends to the cafeteria. Mentally, I'm coming up with lies about why I'm not eating lunch today. I stick my free hand in my pocket when I feel something rough and cold in my pocket. I pull it out and my eyes widen. 900 Madols, six large gold Sorcents, and one medium silver Sorcent. I feel like I wanna cry, I thought I'd be eating peanut butter and dreams this week but looks like I forgot this... but how do I forget 901 Madols and 55 total Sorcents? Hunger takes over so I ignore the oddness and get in line to buy lunch.

Grim and me drool at the spread. Sure, it's school food but it's better than a bread and cabbage leaf sandwich. When I buy lunch for me and Grim I go to sit next to Epel and Rook but someone grabs me shoulder.

"MC, come sit with us," Deuce says.

Before I can say anything Deuce is leading me to where he and the rest of Heartslabyul have taken residence. Me and Grim end up squished between Trey and Cater with Riddle staring directly at us as we ate. We try to ignore it but seriously, it's creepy.

"Hey, Grimmy, MC-chan! How've you been since the the whole forever sleep overblot?" He asks very casually.

I shrug as I eat, and he frowns a bit. As my stomach gets filled with delicious food a new feeling is emerging. It's a dull thumping in my gut, like something is wrong in the air. When my tray is empty I start to stand up to throw my trash away but Trey pushes me down by my shoulders.

"You need to rest after a big meal like that," Trey says as he does the same thing to Grim. We both exchange a look of confusion. Cater starts talking our ears off and I start wishing for a pillow to block him out. When Trey comes back he starts talking to me in an odd tone of voice. It's like he's talking to a younger sibling.

"Care to join us for tea this afternoon?" He asks.

I'm about to say no when Trey mentions he'll back speical desserts. The dull thumping is there, but our love for Trey's baking buried it. So, I agreed to meet them after school.

***

I'm exhausted and so is Grim. I walk to Heartslabyul, holding Grim in my arms. The scent of sweets and roses fills our nostrils as other students do chores Riddle most likely give them. Every time we pass anyone, they wave at me and Grim, smiling just a bit too wide. I make a stop at the flamingos and hedgehogs, petting a few before continuing to make my way to the tea party.

"Oi, what took you so long?" Ace asked.

I apologize, saying I had to finish some homework. He sighs and calls me a "goody two shoes". I roll my eyes in return as I look at the spread on the table and me and Grim start drooling all over again. The white cloaked table is covers in trays and dessert towers of varying heights, packed with all types of sweets that combined could kill an elephant. I go to take a seat in one of the regular yellow and red chairs, while placing Grim in the chair next to me, when Riddle stops me.

"No, no, no. You do not sit there," he says, his tone more scolding that normal.

I ask him where we'll be sitting than and he leads us to a large chair, all covered in blood read, soft fabric. Grim asks about his seat and Riddle says that me and Grim will be sharing the seat. I go to sit down when Trey comes over, stopping me. I groan and ask what the problem is now and he says we both need to wash our hand/paws. We'll, that is reasonable so we both go wash our hands before finally sitting down.

White porcelain cups decorated with roses get filled with a tea that smells floral, like apple with a touch of honey. It soothes my nerves a bit, making me forget the worries of the day, though Grim doesnt get tea he gets a saucer of high quality milk that is so far out of our budget it might as well be gold. Grim downs it so fast I'm worried he'll choke, while I slowly sip my tea. It tastes just as nice as it smells, but I taste a slight hint of cherry.

"Tasty. What kind of tea is it?" I asked.

The group all looks at the two of us, smiling odd smiles that make the thumping in my gut grow. Riddle answers, saying he picked the tea himself and made sure it was "acceptable" for me and when asking about the milk for Grim the same reasoning is given. The two of us exchange confused looks and Grim leans in with a whisper.

"Human, is it me or are they acting weirder than normal?" Grim asks.

"Yeah, this is getting weird," I whisper back.

We watch as Riddle drinks his team, Trey serving snacks, Cater scrolling through his Magicam, and Ace and Deuce are messing with each other. Other Heartslabyul students walked by, greeting us and sharing looks with the group. The feeling in my gut grows more and more so I eat some cookies topped with candied violets to try and feel a bit better while Grim's plate is stacked with cat safe snacks. I start to eat, the sweetness almost knocking me over.

"Trey, you've really out done yourself," I say, when I start to yawn.

I see Grim do the yawn and stretch thing that cats do. We try to stay awake but my eyelids are slowly becoming lead and Grim can't keep his head up. My vision blurs and I hear the group coming closer. I stand up and my head swims, and I clutch the armrests as I fall to my knees. My breathing is heavy, and I feel tears and sweat mix on my cheeks. My vision blurs more and more until a ginger blob picks up a purring grey blob. Voices are muffled and inky blackness creeps in through the corners of my vision until all the colored blobs are overtaken by darkness.

***

I don't know how long I was out cold, but it was long enough for my body to be sore and ache. I look around the darkened room I'm in is decorated in the scheme of Heartslabyul, but like a copy of my room in Ramshackle. I look down at the bed and see Grim purring in his sleep next to me. Turning towards him I shake him awake.

"Grim. Grim!" I whisper yell and I try to shake him awake.

He mumbles about tuna in his sleep and I sigh. I soon hear footsteps coming towards the door and I freak out, pretending to go back to sleep. I hear the door creak open and someone walk in, feeling the weight of the someone sitting on the bed and then the mystery person starts petting my hair. I try not to move and give away that I'm awake.

"There, there, MC-chan, Grimmy, you two will be so much happier now," I hear the voice say.

I know it's Cater and my heart rate picks up. I wait until I hear the door close before I wake up again. Sitting up, I throw the blanket off myself, which wakes up Grim, and try to get out of the bed. I grip onto the bed post to keep my balance while Grim stretches like any self respecting cat.

"They drugged us, didn't they?" He says, somewhat deadpan.

"Yep," I respond, equally deadpan.

When feeling returns to my legs I start walking towards the door as the tiles send a chill through the soles of my feet. I grab the bronze handle and trying to turn it. Locked, figured. Riddle and his henchmen, Cater and Trey, aren't stupid so I figured there would be some form of obstecle in the way.

"What the hell?!" Grim yells.

I look towards his voice and see him in from of mirror, golden framed with decorative roses on thorny vines craved into the frame. I look and freeze. Normally Grim wears this black and white striped bow torn at the edges which is also where he keeps the magestone Crowley gave us. That is now gone, replaced by a collar that is split down the middle with the right side having yellow stripes on a black background, the left side having black stripes on an orange background and a gaint white rose with the top dipped in what I can assume is red dye next to a tag reading "Grimmy". I look for a clasp and Grim is trying to rip it off but much to our dismay there is no clasp.

"I'm going to kill them for this!" Grim yells in frustration.

I then look at my own reflection in the dim light of the room, my hair is a mess and my eye bags are still prominent but my clothes are different. Instead of wearing the hand me down Night Raven uniform I was given I'm dressed in a blue puffy long sleeved nightgown with a ruffled collar that has white lace trim at the bottom and ends of the sleeves as a black bow rest in the center of the chest. Looking closer I see black thread embroidery of rabbits, flowers, and horses. It's fancy, way fancier than I could ever buy with the money I got.

"Did... Did they," "No, we used magic. What, you think we're creeps or something?" Ace says, arms crossed and standing in the now open doorway.

"Ace, what they hell is going on?!" I yell.

"No need to yell, you should be greatful," he says with a smirk.

"Greatful? Greatful! You drugged us and locked us in a room!" Grim yells begntack.

Ace doesn't respond with anything other than a tired sigh. Grim tries to attack him by Ace holds him at an arms length while Deuce rushes back into the room. Deuce burritos Grim in a red blanket with a checkered pattern before putting him back on the bed. They both then turn to me, waiting for me to say anything.

"I... I'm hungry," I mumble while holding my hands up in surrender.

Normally I'd be fighting like Grim but there is no magic in my corner and my friends are acting crazy. They both seem to accept the answer as they walk out of the room and close the door. When I hear the click I rush over to Grim and free him from his blanket burrito prison.

"Thanks, human, " he says.

We then hear the door open again, this time Deuce is holding a white large box, saying this was a gift from Riddle. I take the box and place it on the bed, thanking him. He closes the door again, flipping on the lights before he leaves. Now that the room has more light I see more and more details in the room that attempt to match my real room in Ramshackle with a Heartslabyul twist.

This makes me worried about what might be in the box, but with no other choices I open it, finding folded clothing with a note.

"Rule 102: The proper outfit for the event, lest you be in aml content. This will be the first of your many outfits, signed - Riddle," I read out loud.

I pick up and put on the clothes, after finding where they put the damn deodorant, and look in the golden framed mirror. The outfit's top is a blouse with puffy sleeves, split down the middle with red on the right with a black sleeve and black on the left with a red sleeve and a neck line the same style as the nightgown and a white rose covered in red paint.

Attached to the blosue is an open skirt thing similar to Riddle’s that reaches my knees with the colors reversed from the blouse but it also has white trim decorated with card symbols in the order of hearts, diamonds, clubs, and spades and the underside is like Grim's bew collar, yellow stripes on black on the right and black stripes on orange on the left.

Looking more down I see that I'm wearing shorts that reaches my thigh are just like the pants of the Heartslabyul dorm uniform pants, white with a yellow stripes down the side. Looking more down I see the heart patterned white thigh high socks and red Mary Jane shoes.

This looks like something out of mismatched lolita hell. I look back in the box, seeing a pair of golden clip on earrings. I stash them in the bedside table and pick up Grim just as Ace comes back, saying Riddle wants us both at the table for lunch. I follow him down the halls, memorizing the route just in case. The dinning room of the dorm is large, decorated in the same royal and card themed way as everything else is. Me and Grim are led to the spot that puts us in the direct sight of Riddle, who is sipping tea some poor student with a collar is pouring.

"It is nice to see you both awake. We were getting worried," he says between sips.

I mumble out something as Riddle frames the drugging as me and Grim passing out from sleep deprivation and stress. Sure, I may have stayed up at night thinking what how I ended up stuck here but it wasn't so bad I'd pass out for, wait, how long did we even pass out for.

"Riddle, I gotta ask, how long were we out for?" I ask.

"Almost a week," he says way to calmly, as if he was talking about the weather.

The hamster wheel in my brain freezes. I look back at Riddle, who is now flanked by Cater and Trey while Ace and Deuce flank me and Grim. My throat tightens as I struggle to breath as terror over takes me. Cater, with his stupid smirk, asks me if I'm hungry. I go to say no but my stomach betrays me, loudly. Trey walks in the direction of the kitchen and comes back out with a tray that has a glass of water and oatmeal with fruit and a small bowl of chicken.

"Here, something light for your stomachs," he says, smiling.

I stare at the oatmeal, the fruit arranged in a smiley face. I hold my spoon like a spear as I glare at the food like it personal insulted me. Meanwhile Grim is happily eating, but complaining about the portion size. Trey asks if I'm gonna eat or if he's gonna have to feed me. Not wanting that I pick at my food like a dying mouse. The others sit and go about their own business.

"Now that you two are awake, there are many activities we need to get through once you two finish eating," Riddle says.

The bowl is half empty by the time I say I'm full. A random student that gives us pitying looks takes the dishes and glass back to the kitchen. I try to stand but something heavy is now in my lap. I at first think it's Grim but when I look down I see a heavy pot. I look at Deuce, unimpressed. He just looks away.

The activities are simple and all have me to the side or doing nothing at all other than watch. It feels, annoying but also peaceful. Ever since I got here I've been fixing problems and sure a break would be nice but drugging me and not letting me leave a dorm is insane! At first, Grim likes the attention but over time being stuck under Riddle's rules drives us both nuts as we have to follow the standard 810 and we have extra rules we have to follow. So, we plan and wait for out moment to run.

So, we plan through tea parties, croquet games, and unbirthday parties. Each actitvy has people coming like pigeons at us, like we can't do anything ourselves despite beating multiple overblots! Every time we make a break for it we get caught and cooed at harder. It's wearing us down, and every "Grimmy" was making Grim want to scream into the cushions. So, we keep waiting for another good moment to run.

That moment comes earlier than we thought. It has been almost a full month in Heartslabyul and I was ready to pull my hair out. Me and Grim heard arguing and went to look. We look out a window and see Riddle arguing with Leona. We can't hear anything that's being said but we can see Jack, Ruggie, and other Savannahclaw students surrounding Riddle and trying to get inside.

"They came for us, didn't them?" I ask Grim.

"Yep," he says.

We cam hear the shouts of fighting and the sound of a door being kicked open. We look towards the sound and see Ruggie, Jack, and other students coming towards me and Grim while fighting off Ace, Deuce, and other Heartslabyul students. Ruggie and the other students are handling the mob while Jack comes towards us.

"Umm, hi, Jack... what's happening?" I ask nervously.

"Hello, MC, Grim, we have come to take you back to your pride," he says in his normal flat and serious tone.

"Excuse me?" I say.

He doesn't answer, just picks me up in a bridal carry while someone else picks Grim up like a sack of potatoes while holding his magestone bow out of reach as he struggles. I struggle against Jack's grip but he's a brick wall so my struggling goes nowhere. As he walks outside I see that the area looks like a battle field as Riddle and Leona have magic pens drawn, scratched, and panting.

"Well, look at that, I win " Leona says before turning around and leading the group towards the exit of Heartslabyul while Riddle is led inside.

As the group walks they chat loudly about the "victory" they achieved. When we reach the mirror chamber the group moves through the mirror to Savannahclaw, and now I'm starting to sweat.

[revolutionsingingintherainnn]

bar hopping •·.·''·.·•

summary: you take lando to a desi club.

‹𝟹 ln x desi!reader ⊹ ࣪ ˖

‹𝟹 fluff + humour ⊹ ࣪ ˖

masterlist ☾☼

lando had been to his fair share of clubs around the world, whether it was ibiza, or monaco, or even vegas. but honestly, nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared him for what he was about to experience in what you called, a "desi bar."

you had told him once during one of the many clubs you went with him after a race that while you loved partying as much as he did, the essence of a desi club was just completely different. so, he insisted that you drag him to a hidden gem of a bar in the heart of the city to prove your point. and, you did. it was a place you had sworn up and down would “change his life.” he had nodded along, expecting the usual—maybe a few neon lights, a decent dj, overpriced drinks.

instead, he was in a whirlwind of color, sound, and pure, unfiltered energy.

the bass thumped through the air, not with the usual edm beats he was used to, but with the unmistakable opening of kala chashma. the moment the first notes hit, the entire crowd erupted in cheers. glasses were lifted, voices shouted in perfect synchronization, and then—lando’s brain short-circuited.

because everyone, literally everyone, started doing the same dance moves.

it reminded him of the cowboy bars that daniel used to pull him to back when they were teammates.

“what—what is happening?!” he yelled over the music, eyes wide as he watched a sea of people drop their sunglasses onto their faces in unison and break into the hook step.

“this song is a bop,” you shouted back, grinning. “and this is just the beginning.”

safe to say, lando was slightly afraid.

lando spun around, watching in disbelief as strangers moved like they’d rehearsed this a thousand times. everyone was weirdly in sync, as if everyone had been to the same dance class to learn the same dance steps to the song. he swore the bartender was grooving while making drinks as well.

before he could even fully process it, you grabbed his wrist. “come on, norris. time to earn that reflex training of yours.”

he barely had time to protest before you pulled him into the middle of the crowd, seamlessly slotting the two of you into the choreography. you moved effortlessly—hips swaying, hands snapping into perfect formation, feet gliding across the floor with precision- as if you had been doing this since you were a child. meanwhile, lando? lando looked like a baby giraffe trying to separate its legs.

“why does everyone know this?!” he gasped, fumbling through the steps.

“it’s in our blood, love,” you teased, before you continued screaming the lyrics again.

to be honest, lando was sure that almost everyone at the bar was a bad singer if he heard them individually. he knew his girlfriend definitely was. but hearing them sing collectively, it sounded so harmonious, he had half a mind to record it and send it to martin for inspiration.

but, lando was not a quiter. so, lando huffed, determined now more than ever. he was a formula 1 driver. he had lightning-fast reactions, could handle a car at 300 km/h. surely, surely, he could handle some synchronized dancing.

…he could not.

he most definitely could not.

“left, lando! no—your other left!”

“i am going left—wait, no, never mind!”

his attempts were tragic but earnest. the crowd around him was equal parts entertained and encouraging. a group of aunties on the side cheered him on, while a group of guys dramatically mimed his worst mistakes, cackling. but he was committed now. he refused to be defeated by bollywood.

just as he managed to vaguely get a move right, the song switched.

“oh, you’re not ready for this one,” you grinned mischievously.

the opening beats of ghungroo started, and suddenly, the energy in the room tripled. the crowd seamlessly adapted to the new choreography, the transitions smooth as butter. lando really only had one question. how??? lando barely had time to breathe before he was swept into another whirlwind of movement.

and then—you taught him the hook step, gesturing for him to “break” the ankle bells like hrithik roshan had done in the official choreography.

lando blinked. “i have to—what?”

“just trust the process!” you laughed, and continued with the steps.

with the focus of a man attempting a daring overtake, he did it. he did the hook step. and for a moment—just a moment—it felt like the entire room cheered just for him.

by the end of the night, lando was sweaty, exhausted, and hooked. all he wanted was to go back inside and dance all night. he wanted to learn every choreography possible. he briefly wondered if jon would allow him to train by dancing instead of his usual weights and stuff.

as you both stumbled out of the bar, he turned to you, breathing hard. “that… was insane. i loved it.”

“told you it would change your life,” you laughed, handing him a bottle of water.

he took a sip, still dazed. then, suddenly, his face broke into a grin. because really, there was no stopping him now.

“so… same time next weekend?”

you laughed. “you’ll have to learn naatu naatu next time.”

lando groaned. he knew the song. he had watched the music video way too many times. it usually played on youtube on their tv when the two were cleaning. he knew just how many times he stopped and stared, transfixed at the speed that they danced. “oh god. i might need a pit stop halfway through that one.”

later, videos of lando attempting to dance to bollywood went viral. and all that people said was, "how to find a white boy in a brown bar."

˚. ✦.˳·˖✶ ⋆.✧̣̇˚.

this has been on my list for soooo long, and im sooo happy i finally got to write it. anyways, i hope you like this! im sorry it took me so long to write this one! this is my prompt list, so y'all can select a number, give me a driver and i will write it as soon as possible! i also have a google form for a taglist if anyone's interested! you can sent in your requests here :)

taglist: @imlonelydontsendhelp ; @greantii ; @anamiad00msday ; @maketheshadowsfearyou ; @nocturnalherb16 ; @justaf1girl ; @peterholland04 ; @phobiccneel ; @winkev1 ; @alexxavicry

i'd love your support! https://ko-fi.com/kavi2305

[azzibuckets]

(i crashed out and wrote this when people kept saying p+a were over a little while back)

i don’t think some ppl GET IT like if you watch paige in the videos of her before she met azzi and then look at every video and picture of her after she met azzi it’s actually crazy. the way she has explained that before azzi came into her life, she faced all the hard times alone. azzi is fr the light of her life, sunshine on a cloudy day, the air that made her feel like she could breathe for the first time, the girl who changed how paige sees stars in the sky because azzi seems to make everything around her shine brighter, someone who loves her for who she is and not who she could be or should be, and transformed her entire perspective (like how pink used to mean NOTHING until she found out it’s azzi’s favorite color and suddenly every time she came across something pink it reminded her of the blush that rises on azzi’s cheeks and highlights the dimple she wants to crawl into and never leave). it’s 100% mutual, too. azzi is completely enamored and never hides the pride that fills her chest when paige adds (yet another) accomplishment to her extensive list. the chances of finding someone who enhances all the good aspects of your life, while simultaneously sticking by your side when life rears it’s ugly side, is so rare. and yeah this probably seems really parasocial, but even in my own personal life, i know very Very Few people who not only stand strong against the test of time, but grow their love for each other every single day. people who have unwavering respect for each other, even after ten, twenty, thirty years. love is common; platonic, familial, or romantic, we see it and feel it and share it every day. what we don’t often see are two people who will undoubtedly stand by each other throughout the duration of their lives. not because they’re bound by obligation. not because they want to avoid the disappointment of others. rather, they found the person who mirrors their soul. they’re puzzle pieces, peanut butter & jelly, partners in crime, two halves of one whole, and most importantly, best friends. they’re undeniably admirable as individuals, yet compliment each other perfectly as a pair. the harmony they exude appears effortless, and while their union seems like a chance of fate, the foundation of their relationship rests on pillars of joy, perseverance, and faith. vulnerability resides in the deepest crevices of our souls until the purest forms of love and trust coax it from darkness. paige and azzi handed each other a bleeding heart and threw caution to the wind, despite having so much to lose.

this is so poetic omg 😭😭

[moonstruckme]

hi mae !!! i’ve been resding ur stuff for forever & if this request doesnt strike ur fancy i just wanted to at least say that!!! but i would love love love anything you have to say about steve harrington comforting his s/o (maybe shy!reader?? but no pressure on that) after a very tough emotional few weeks? like yknow those weeks that just knock you down & then stomp on you a little & have you saying “it’ll get better if i can just get through the week” but then the next week comes and it’s just as 🕳️🤸 as the last ? idk if this makes sense but ik u wanted more requests w our other boyfriends !!

Hi lovely, thank you for requesting!

Steve Harrington x shy!reader ♡ 791 words

You’ve been trying not to cry for about a month now, and this stupid movie is going to do you in. Steve’s got his arm splayed across the top of the couch, his features lit in the colors of the TV screen and revealing only a vague sympathy for the characters in the movie as opposed to the steady crescendo of emotion that’s building behind your eyes. 

You turn from him so he won’t see your heating complexion and do your best to hold it in. You hold it until you can feel your heart beating in your sinuses. Steve’s fingers start toying with your hair, and it feels so ridiculously casual and tender that it only makes matters worse. 

You must make some sort of sound, because then he’s shifting beside you. His eyes burn into the side of your head. 

“Hey.” His voice is quiet, unsure. “You okay?” 

You breathe in through your nose, swallowing hard. “Yeah.” 

“Are you crying?” 

“No,” you say. But you are now, properly, and your denial is completely undermined by the wobble in its delivery. 

“You are,” Steve accuses, letting his hand drop onto your shoulder just as it gives its first great hitch. He tenses. “Hey, it’s okay. We can change the channel.” 

You let loose a horrid laugh, wet and pitchy. “No,” you tell him, finally breaking and wiping underneath your eyes. “No, it’s fine. I’m sorry.” 

“I don’t want to upset you.” He grabs the remote. His tone has gone serious and a bit panicky. “We’ll find something lighter to watch.” 

“It’s not the movie.” You turn towards him and he pauses, frozen like a rabbit in the forest. “It’s just…it’s a lot of things, you know?” 

Everything about Steve melts. His shoulder sag, the hand with the remote dropping into his lap, his lips part, he slouches towards you a bit, his eyebrows pull up and to the middle. “Yeah,” he says, soft and smooth as butter. “Yeah, I get that.” 

You try to smile, making fun of your own ill-timed meltdown, but another sob breaks free from you again. Steve slumps further. If you keep going like this, you’ll shatter into a million pieces and he’ll liquefy into a stain on the couch and that’s all Robin will find of either of you when she inevitably comes looking. 

“It’s okay.” Steve’s hand makes its way from his lap into yours, taking your hand and squeezing your fingers lightly. “You’re okay, you’re good.” 

And you know you are, but it feels nice to hear him say it. Your shoulders shake, and you tilt your head downwards, salty tears dripping off your nose. 

“Sorry,” you croak out, but he only brings his other hand to your face, angling you up where he can see you. 

“I don’t mind,” he promises. When his thumb sweeps an arc from the side of your nose nearly to your ear, you shudder. 

Steve’s brows twitch together, but he doesn’t alter his grip. 

“What?” 

“Nothing.” 

“No, what is it?” 

“It’s just…” Just that you short-circuit anytime he touches you, and right now your body doesn’t know where to put the excess emotion. You think if he pays you any more attention you’ll have a heart attack. Cause of death: Steve Harrington’s tender ministrations. “Sorry, nothing.” 

His forehead creases as his thumb brushes once more, feather light, under your eye, and then his expression clears. Because though intuitive Steve is not, he’s perceptive enough to catch your unintentional glance to where his hand rests upon your cheek. 

“Oh, sorry.” He stills, eyes flickering back to yours. “Hey, if you want me to stop, I’ll stop. Just say the word.” 

And you have to think, because it is torment, and it might actually kill you. But at least this way you’ll die happy. 

“That’s okay,” you murmur. “It’s nice.” 

A little smile curves Steve’s lips before he remembers you’re sad and tries to squash it. You feel something similar tugging at your mouth anyway. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

You sniffle. “I don’t think so. I’m just kind of tired of it, you know?” He looks like he does. “Maybe we could just keep watching the movie?” 

“Yeah, sure honey.” The endearment slips out as if it’s something he says every day, and Steve’s demeanor doesn’t reflect anything different. For your part, you feel a buzzing in your chest so intense you wonder if you’ll disintegrate into tiny pieces. He scoots closer to you on the couch, settling an arm around your shoulders and leaning you into his side. “Let me know if it’s too much, okay?” he asks quietly, like it’s a secret. 

You rest your head on his shoulder and say nothing. 

[befuddled-calico-whump]

Total $hit$how: Computer Games

in which Jericho has a talk

cw: referenced violence, implied manipulation, adult language, migraine

previous // masterlist // next

×~×~×

Jericho slept in for the first time in months. At the compound, Sahota and Vic had kept the team on a Ben Franklin approved schedule---early to bed, early to rise---and back at home, Ari was still at the age where she naturally woke up early. Saturday mornings were lovingly tiresome, and Sundays were for church and visiting. Much as he missed staying in bed on the weekends, he'd give up sleeping late forever to be home right now, Ari at his door, knocking and calling for him to wake up, wake up, come on already!

He pulled himself out of bed at nine, unable to stare at the ceiling and miss his family any longer. They all had work to do today, and completing the next tasks would put him one step closer to home.

And maybe one step closer to getting through to Harbor.

Jericho exhaled, changing into a fresh set of gray sweats, and stepped into the hall. He wasn't sure Harbor would still be in his room, but after a few knocks---

No answer.

After a few more knocks, Harbor stumbled to the door, looking like he'd just rolled out of bed. His old cargo jacket was thrown over his own set of grays, and his colorful hair was more tangled than usual.

Jericho offered a smile. “Sorry, I didn't know you were still asleep.”

Harbor only shrugged, not making eye contact, and Jericho stepped aside to give him room to move into the hall.

Okay. This was it. Time to talk about yesterday, see if they could come to an understanding. The rest of the crew would already be out for the day, so at least he wouldn't have to worry about them getting hostile and scaring Harbor off, but that wouldn't make the conversation any easier.

“You wanna grab breakfast before we get to work?”

Harbor once again shrugged, still not looking up. Good enough, Jericho didn't wanna do this on an empty stomach.

They ate in silence; Vic had left out plain instant oats and peanut butter, and the combination wasn't half bad. Harbor didn't eat much, his cut-up hands half-hidden in his jacket sleeves, fingers tight around a spoon as he tapped the side of the plastic bowl in an unsteady rhythm.

Maybe he felt guilty. That was a good sign, right? Sahota did say he'd told him to do it, so maybe Harbor had just run with the order, taken things too far, and regretted it. Breakfast could've been a good time to get the ball rolling, but Jericho didn't know the words to start, and Vic appeared in the doorway before he could find them.

After a brief exchanged greeting---and more silence from Harbor; he didn't perk up the way he usually did around their handler---they followed Vic past the briefing room---he tried not to think about the last time they were in there---and into a side room… side hall, more like. A corridor he hadn't been in yet. Was this where their trainers’ rooms were? Vic led them past a few closed doors, to a room with an external keypad. Jericho's eyes went to the floor as the man typed in the code, a habitual attempt at respecting privacy. On the other side of the door was a pretty unremarkable office; desk and lockable cabinets and an old computer with monitor attached. Vic powered it on, and it roared to life with a sound like a small avalanche.

As high-tech as Vic’s gear seemed, he was woefully out of date here. Maybe it was another level of security? The older hard and softwares were more difficult to access remotely, Jer knew that firsthand. Still, it had to be aggravating to get any sort of work done on it.

Again, he hung back, waiting for Vic to input the password before stepping forward.

“Are there any specifics you want me to go after?”

Their handler shook his head. “Anything you believe is relevant.” His hand went to Harbor's shoulder, giving it a squeeze and lingering there for a maybe a little too long. “Or anything Hunter here guides you to.” He rubbed a small circle into the younger man's shoulder as he spoke. “Remember what we've been training, mhm?”

“Mhm,” Harbor replied, quiet as Vic left the room. Jericho took a seat in front of the screen, deciding to ignore whatever nonverbal exchange had passed between the two. For now.

“Is Hunter your first name?” he asked after he heard the door close, fingers dancing across the keyboard to pull up various Rotorworx sites.

“Fuck else would it be?” Harbor—Hunter grumbled, leaning against the wall.

Jericho tried not to sigh too audibly. “Do you prefer that, or Harbor?”

“I don't care.”

They were off to a stellar start. Jericho rolled his shoulders, keeping his eyes on the monitor screen. This had to be a casual endeavor. Anything accusatory would likely make the other man clam up, or turn hostile, or worse, storm out and leave him to work alone. He cleared his throat.

“Is there anything you can, uh, see? Anything pointing me a certain way?”

“No.”

“Nothing at all?”

“If I see shit, I'll tell you.”

Jericho pressed his lips together, looking for a new approach. Something that would work. In the weeks he'd known the other man, Hunter had shown to be easily agitated and easily shut down; leaving the room or cussing them out at the first sign of disapproval. He seemed insecure. Maybe around this specific group of people, maybe around people in general. He seemed to like Vic, and Vic had a tendency to praise him.

Was that the secret? If Hunter was just afraid of not measuring up, and that was the root cause of all this, would assuring him of his ability help break his shell a little bit?

Did it feel right to praise him after what he'd done to Sahota?

Jericho shook the thought away. He still didn't know the full story. Starting the conversation with a clear bias wouldn't get him anywhere.

Encouraging Hunter had seemed to work back in the labyrinth. Sure, he'd still been a little hostile about it, but he'd stuck with them, just that once.

“I've been impressed with your abilities,” Jericho said as he scanned the source page of one of the smaller Rotorworx websites. “That implant you have is really something special.”

Hunter's scowl didn't seem to deepen at that. “Yeah… I mean. Yeah. It is.”

“Once we get the mission going you're gonna be the MVP. Even with all this preparation, we'll still be relying on you to navigate. Like a… psychic GPS.”

The other man snorted, but he seemed more amused than annoyed. “Guess so.”

Jericho made a point of scanning the page. Anything he believed was relevant. Vic's instructions were vague and unhelpful, but with a little push…

“Think you could do that now?” he said, glancing back at Hunter. “I'll be honest, I'm lost.”

He cocked his head, a flash of genuine confusion on his face. “Lost? I thought you were a master hacker or something. Can't you just… go in and find the secrets?”

Jericho let out a laugh. “It's not that easy. Usually I'm coming into a site with a very specific goal or target. Going after the institution as a whole… it's a bit too broad.” He gave him a slight grin. “Could really use a psychic GPS.”

“Yeah. Fuck. I'll try.”

Jericho scooted his chair to the side, allowing him room to step forward.

“I… I can't always get it though,” he mumbled. “I'll try, but sometimes I mess up. Or…” He trailed off.

“Hey, you're a million times better at it than I am.”

“Yeah.”

It felt like a success. They were working together, Harbor's attitude was brighter, progress on the task was being made. Too bad he'd have to darken the mood before too long.

“Uh. Try that?” Harbor pointed towards the bottom of the site page, and Jericho scrolled down, watching for anything that stood out.

“There?” He waved the mouse over an embedded link.

“No, not...” Hunter squinted at the screen, face pinched in concentration. “There. Not online. On… it's one of the computer files or something.”

Jericho minimized the window and opened the file explorer. This felt… not quite right. Why would anything relevant be stored on Vic's computer?

“Are you sure?” he asked, mouse hovering on the browser tab. Maybe he'd misjudged. It had to be difficult to translate something that usually applied to the real world to a computer screen.

“I'm… I don't know,” Hunter said. “Give it to me.”

Jericho moved his hand, allowing the man to pilot the mouse. Eyes half-closed, Hunter shifted it around, looking like a teenager at a ouija board. After a few jagged motions, he opened a folder. Another, another. Stopping at one that was simply labeled Untitled 1. Hunter frowned at the screen, teeth bared like he was ready to square up with the monitor. His finger twitched, accompanied by the click of the mouse, and the folder opened.

He seemed to recoil as its contents loaded, inhaling through his teeth, hurrying to backtrack. Jericho managed to catch a glimpse before he could retreat to the previous screen. Untitled 1 appeared to hold a bunch of videos. No thumbnails, but he caught a title or two. Battery, Switch.

“What was that?”

Hunter shook his head, brows drawn down tightly, something unsteady in his expression.

“What did you see?”

“Nothing. It's… this isn't what we're after.”

“What do you mean?”

“It's not… it's wrong.” He shook his head again, mouth twisted in a grimace. “This isn't what Vic wanted. It's not… just go back. Fuck. I'll try again, I-I fucked it up.” He shoved himself away from the monitor, mouse askew in his wake.

Jericho took control of it, hovering over the folder. Untitled 1. What had led Hunter here? He didn't know how his abilities worked, so maybe it was just a case of crossed wires, but what if it was something more? He was tempted to open the folder again, to watch just one video, just to see what this was all about , just in case it was important. 

He managed to hold back. Vic trusted them to only use this system for the mission. Jericho didn't want to breach that trust. He knew Vic had a lot to hide, but he had a right to that, didn't he? Especially with a job like his.

“Okay.” He closed the file explorer, re-opening the Rotorworx tabs. “What about now? See anything?”

Hunter squinted at the monitor in silence, his expression twitching, eyes chasing unseen things. His hand went to the mouse. Jericho yielded it to him, half expecting him to open a source code box and tap away at it like some kind of psychic hacker. Instead, Hunter clicked the tab for one of the sub-sites and opened the “meet our staff” page. He frowned at it for a moment, before tracing a circle around a name with the mouse.

“That guy,” he said. Michael Walsh, the text read. Data Analytics Manager.

“What about him?” Jer asked.

“Don't fuckin know,” Hunter said, pressing his palm into his eye. “It's just… him.”

Jericho looked away from the screen, turning instead to the man at his side. Hunter was breathing through a scowl, his eyebrows drawn down in a wince. What had he said before? In the maze? His head hurt.

“Hey, we can take a break.”

He shook his head, palm pressing into his temple. “I'm fine.”

Well, he certainly didn't look fine. “It's cool, I'll start looking into Walsh. You can rest your eyes for a minute.”

“Said I'm fine.” As if to punctuate the statement, Hunter took the mouse back in a quick jerk. 

“Hunter—”

“Fuck off.” He clicked a few hyperlinks and tapped a few keys, his eyes barely open, each breath hissing through his teeth. Then, at last, he fell back in his chair, eyes closed.

“There. That.”

Jericho didn't even glance at the monitor. “Are you okay?”

“Fine,” Hunter snapped again. “I just… it’s training. I need to get better at finding.”

“Even if it hurts?”

“Need to learn to push through. Vic said it's important.”

Vic said. Of course. It was becoming more and more clear that Vic’s priority was the mission, not any of them. And the mission really was important, but if their handler didn't care about them beyond their functions, it was up to them to look out for each other.

“You did good,” Jericho said. “But rest is important too.” He pressed his lips together, adding, “Gotta be fresh for the next one, right?”

At least the last part seemed to resonate with Hunter.

“Yeah. Guess so.” He was hunched in his chair, both hands pressing against his face. A part of Jericho wanted to tell him to go lie down, but he doubted he'd take that well. More than that, they still had things that needed to be addressed. 

And a time when Hunter was in pain was probably not the best time to do that addressing, but it had to happen soon. Later today, Jer told himself. Finish the task, and confront him when he's feeling better.

The page Hunter had landed on was really more of a popup window. Walsh’s contact information, including a phone number and company email, were displayed across it in tiny black text.

Hmm… If this was where Hunter's sixth sense was leading them, there had to be a reason, right? Jericho glanced at the email address.

Maybe it was as simple as a scam email. Walsh seemed to be high up on Rotorworx’s food chain. If Jericho could trick him into letting some malware onboard, it could give him more access, and faster, which was just what they needed.

He opened a new window, mulling over which site would be the best place to create a fake email address, and what exactly he should say to get Walsh rise to the bait. Maybe he'd pretend to be someone from a startup asking for advice, or an events host looking for an experienced speaker for their next conference. A little ego stroking went a long way…

Jericho set to work whipping up a quick identity and make-believe company, aware of Hunter behind him, curled up in his chair, facing away.

It would be easy to take a quick break. Dig back into Vic's files. Watch one video, just to confirm there was nothing deeper going on, that Hunter's finding it was just a fluke. No one but him would ever have to know…

With effort, he buried the urge. No, it wasn't his place, and especially not right now. They had a task. He had work to do.

It was time to go whaling.

×~×~×

Laying all the bait hadn't taken as long as he'd expected. Once the message was sent, Jericho let Vic know what their plan was, and their handler said he'd keep an eye out for the notification that his trojan horse had been let inside.

So far, nothing. He ate a quiet lunch with Harbor, then invited him to the library, more quiet. At this rate, Joy and Sahota would be back before he’d even brought up the matter. Jericho let out a small sigh, glancing at Hunter.

He was just slouched on one of the chairs, staring at an unopened book in his lap.

Huckleberry Finn.

Jericho cleared his throat. “I appreciate your help today. Wouldn't have come up with that plan without you.”

Hunter just shrugged. He wondered if the headache was still bothering him.

“When else have you used it? Besides the maze and the bomb, I mean. Did you ever use it to figure stuff out before coming here?”

Hunter tapped his fingers against the book’s cover. “No. It was Vic's idea.”

Ah. “Is that what you two have been working on together?”

“Yeah.”

Jericho licked his lips. He was delaying a much needed conversation, and they were running out of daylight.

“So… did you use it yesterday?”

Hunter’s shoulders tensed, nails scraping against the book as his hands tightened into fists. “No,” he said after a moment.

Then what happened? Once again, the right words evaded him. What could he say? 

Did you have a reason to hurt Sahota? No, that felt wrong.

Why did you hurt Sahota? It wasn't that simple. Was there any excuse that would make it make sense?

“I saw what happened,” he said instead, letting out a soft exhale. “You know, I saw him. After… after you were done.”

Hunter's eyes darted back and forth, as if tracking something invisible, his gaze firmly angled on the ground.

“You hurt him.”

He watched Hunter's mouth tighten, settling into a scowl, eyes dark as he lifted his head. “I don't fucking need this.”

“Hunter—”

The other man shoved himself to his feet, book hitting the floor in a flutter of pages. Damnit. He wasn't about to grab at him, but how could he make him stay? Talk about it? He couldn't say it's okay, he couldn't say I'm not mad, couldn't say you did nothing wrong.

“We're a team,” he said, just as Hunter reached the door. By some miracle, he stopped, arms swinging at his sides.

“That doesn't mean anything.”

“It does. It means a lot.”

“I know you don’t fucking want me here.”

“I do want you here.” Jericho sighed. “But we still need to talk about yesterday. Please.”

The room felt like a freeze frame, neither of them moving, Jericho certain Hunter would cuss him out, or run away, or maybe just stare him down, and then what?

But he didn't. Slowly, head bowed, like a kid caught passing notes in class, he trudged back to the couch, falling into the cushions, fingers squeezing fingers.

“I'm not sorry for it,” he mumbled, though his tone suggested otherwise. Jericho took a seat beside him, slouching forward until their eyes were about level. Not that Hunter showed any signs of glancing up.

“Why not?” he asked, careful to voice it as a genuine question, not an accusation.

Hunter shrugged. “What's the fucking point? It already happened.”

“And you don't feel even a little sorry?”

Hunter shook his head. That had to be a lie, right? Or was Jericho just putting too much hope forward?

“Would you… is it something you think you'd do again?”

Hunter's head snapped up at that, his eyes meeting Jericho’s for all of a second before dropping again. There was a flash of something there, something he hoped was remorse, but it was swiftly covered up by anger.

“Is that what this is fucking about? You think I'll jump someone else? Like… like some kind of rabid dog? Maybe I will. What are you gonna do about it?”

Jericho took a breath. “I don't think that, Hunter. I'm just trying to work out what happened.”

A snort. “Sure.” His hands wrapped tighter around each other, knuckles whitening. “Maybe I just got tired of Sahota being an asshole and decided to teach him a lesson. Maybe I did it because I could.”

“Did you?”

Hunter didn't answer.

Lord give me patience. “I won't pretend I can see inside your head. I don't know why you hurt him, but you know it's not right. Like I said, we're a team. We can't go around beating each other up.”

“Mm.” 

“You don't have to tell me your side of this. I just want you to tell me it won't happen again.”

“What if it does?”

Jericho dropped his own gaze at that. “I hope it doesn't, but that would probably be something that pushes you off the team.”

“And who made you the boss of that?” Hunter was glancing up again, lips pulled back in a snarl. “Vic is in charge, not you.”

“Vic wouldn't stand for that,” Jericho replied, but even as he said the words, he wasn't sure he believed them. Vic had watched Sahota suffer and done nothing. Vic had electrocuted them for training value. Vic…

“Was he there?” he asked before Hunter could shoot back. The other man's mouth hung open, whatever he'd been about to say stuck in his throat, eyes widening.

“Hunter, was Vic there yesterday?”

His jaw snapped shut, eyes darting along the ground as if looking for the right answer. “He… he came to watch me.”

Something cold was spreading through Jericho. Something that should've been right in front of his face, a puzzle piece he'd missed.

I hope you had a productive training day.

He's resting.

Vic had known about Sahota, but he'd shown no concern, no anger at what had happened. Hell, he'd sent him on a mission today. Why hadn't he connected it before?

“He didn't stop you.” It wasn't a question.

Hunter gave a tiny shake of his head. “He…” his words trailed off, expression twitching.

“Did he tell you to hurt him?” It was irrational, something Jericho didn't want to believe. Why would someone with so much power over them do that? Of course, he already knew the answer, he'd seen it before. Out in the real world, a repeating cycle. Because he could. Because who would stop him?

“He— it was for… he said it was training, and I… I don't know.”

Jericho stayed quiet. What next? What could he—

“I didn't want to. I just— he… fuck. He said…”

“He said..?”

“Fuck. Nothing.”

“Did he threaten you?”

“No.”

Did he believe him? “Look, it's okay. I'll talk to him about it, tell him—”

“No,” Hunter said again, more insistent. 

“Why not?”

“He…” Hunter blinked furiously, gritting his teeth. “I can't fuck this up. Vic said… he said I could stay, after all this bullshit.”

“And you want that?” The question came out harsher than he'd intended. Jericho wanted to get as far away from Vic as possible once this was over. Who would want to stay?

“Yeah,” Hunter said, an edge entering his tone. “Something fucking wrong with that?”

“No, I… why Vic? He's…” Not a good person.

“He's what?” Hunter got to his feet. “What else am I supposed to do? Go back to being nothing? Being alone? Anything's better than that. This is… it's something. Vic cares about me.”

“No he doesn't.” The words fell out before he could stop himself, before he could come up with something more tactful. How much did Vic really care about any of them? They were assets, nothing more. He barely seemed to care about Sahota. But that wasn't what Hunter wanted to hear.

“Fuck off.”

“Hunter—”

Before the other man could storm out of the library, before Jericho could try to say anything else, Benji stumbled through the door, his hair windblown, makeup smeared.

Both Jericho and Hunter stopped short.

“What's—?”

“Kaius,” Benji said breathlessly, leaning on the doorframe.

“Someone got Kaius.”

×~×~×

@theonewithallthefixations , @violets-whumperflies , @whump-me ,

@pirefyrelight , @soheavyaburden , @snakebites-and-ink ,

@whumpsday , @kixngiggles , @echo-goes-aaa , @whumpcateyes ,

@clickerflight , @sodacreampuff , @starfields08000 , @neverthelass

[shipfishwrites]

i've been wanting to get into pern rp, do you have any tips/suggestions?

hey sorry for the late response, for some reason tumblr forgot to tell me

thank you for this ask!! i would love to answet it fully and completely but it would be a very long answer!! basically a breakdown of how to scope out an rp that will fit you.

here are some broad based ideas to get you started as you shop for an rp:

check activity. find an rp that aligns eith your preferred activity level -- if you want to perfect every post and trade replies weekly, look for evidence of that, if you want daily replies, look for that

check recently approved characters to see if they match the vibe you want -- a lot of times the lore doesn't match the vibe of the site, so something can look really cool based on the lore but actually have become a different vibe over time

pern rp particularly has a pretty bad time with staffing all of their ranker-players. if eventually attaining a ranking/leadership/plot relevant character is your thing, look for evidence that the admin team does that (evidence, not them sayimg so in the rules)

here's some things i do that may not work for you:

i don't bother to read the rules until i've basically made up my mind if i'm going to try to play there. i go for the dragon info page (and wher page if the site does whers) and read through the description of the canon and special colors. are greens forced/expected to be stupid sluts? are bronzes forced to be noble knightly chads? biiig pass. the way these pages are written can give you a great idea about how flexible and story-oriented the site intends to be. i lean hard either "let me do anything" or "make the restrictions interesting" so ymmv

for jcink rps: go to the bottom of the site, get "today's active topics" and change it to see the past month. pay special attention to who is active in the rp. look at their characters. see if the vibe is right for you

check out the adopts!!! mega points if the admins are cleatly trying to get people to enter leadership positions. big demerits if there is some kind of ban on newbies having leadership. (buying rankers can be neutral or bad, it depends on the site)

for getting into pern rps specifically:

for this purpose i'm going to assume you, nonnie, are somewhat familiar with the books and at least passingly familiar with the art and commentary in the pern tag here on tumblr. i assume you like the books?

it is very important to remember that if the site you are looking at is up front in praising the books, says they really love them, etc., this is a BAD SIGN.

pern rp fandom is (maybe a little bit uniquely?) in an argument with canon, not in conversation with it. there are so many aspects of canon that just suck in an rp setting (ex. lifetime appointment of the senior weyrwoman, meaning the only way to shake that up is for her to die, everything about flights) that even the most canon weyr has yo make concessions to make it playable/comfortable in a group setting.

so if a site up front is like "we're canon. not like those other sites. we actually care about the lore." this is actually a dogwhistle for blatant transphobia, homophobia, favoritism, and really shit moderation. likewise, a tone of anger or vitriol towards more canon-leaning sites is a red flag, they tend also to have extremely narrow views on what the "right" way to play is.

the best way to play a pern game is to take the books as a framework, like baking a cake, that's your flour and egg, you're getting the structure from there but your cake isn't going to taste good unless you get a site willing to spice it up with its little extras and go to the effort of putting some basic butter and baking soda in there to fluff it up. pern in the novels does not work as an open, public rp, it's not a recipe for cake, so everyone adjusts it, the people who say they don't are Lying.

anyway

suggestions

i don't feel comfortable recommending an rp for you nonnie without knowing what you're most interested in. i have heard that at least one site is just starting up so that could be a great place to start.

i'm in the middle of making a site but it's not ready yet

@ followers, kindly recommend your rp spots for nonnie! (don't just drop the ad, give them a feel for the rp. don't leave out the rough bits either, we all know every site has them)

[momo-shut-the-fuck-up]

So i ve done the main story in infinity nikki and im gonna stop playin now, before i squeeze the game dry of content and have nothing (new) to do on release.

Time for a lil review/thoughts post

I m not gonna review every single mechanic in the game, simply things that stood out to me or that i wanna talk about. I also wont add more images, i kinda want ppl to see the world for themselves... i ll share more when the game comes out tho.

There s a lot of text under this. Tldr, i like the game i think it's a solid, enjoyable experience with a good gameplay loop, the story isn't for me, and i'll keep playin of course. And u should try it too if ur device wont blow itself up tryin to run it.

Dress up

The bread and butter of Nikki games... it's good as usual. Game doesn't shy away from long skirts or coat tails or complicated ballgowns just cuz nikki can run and jump and dash now and i'm very happy bout that. There's some clipping issues once in a while, but it's nothing major and the clothes we do have in the game are lovely. There s an evolution system for some of the sets, which makes em a diff color.... usually they can evolve once, but i saw Three extra evolutions for one of the UR sets and that scares me. Bcs to evolve them u have to craft the suit again. So u have to pull 4 copies of a suit to max it out..

Combat

Game's definitely succeeding in its quest for being cozy. There's no real stakes, combat isn't difficult in the slightest but i do welcome it- super simple but it's pretty fun regardless. The boss fights were surprisingly creative and fun for what they are, it's just unfortunate that you have to do them more than once or twice (crafting mats)- but they do change what the boss does so it's different depending on what mat u are farming for... and u can claim double or triple or however much stamina u got-le of the mat after u complete it once. So that s rly nice.

Exploration

I actually think it's really really good. Again this isn't a difficult or complicated game, not yet i guess... but with the major goal being "get new clothes" and "take pretty pictures maybe", the open world feels actively engaging to participate in. There's collectibles everywhere, little challenges you can do that are diverse but quick, styling battles, collecting everythin from animals fur to bugs to fish, and allll of this brings u closer to that never ending goal of woo more clothes.

However even if a challenge doesnt give you a blueprint, it's still just. Really Nice to exist in this world. It's very whimsical, as expected of Lilith, and the world has a combination of realism and cartoon artstyle that is just soso appealing to me. It's genuinely how i would've imagined miraland to look in 3d. Shame it's not the same miraland we know..

Story

Hmm... silly is one word i could use for it. Cute also. The story isn't doin anythin bad per se, and i did start skippin dialogue near the end w the pieceys because i want to keep at least Some part of the story for the game's release... but i get the gist of it, and it s just not my thing.

It feels like a story made for children, and it definitely would get a G rating. Easy and simple to follow, there's moments of tension or sadness sure but with the antagonist bein a literal babie lookin cutey fairy with a grown man's voice, or the creatures that i'm interacting with are a bunch of. Fuckin weird lookin big eyed balls of fabric that look closer to plushies than somethin Alive... it's all so silly and dramatic sometimes i can t help but cringe.

Part of it is a me problem, if u just open ur heart and free urself from the cringe the story is fine. It's just a little too kiddy for me and i so desperately hope it won't stay like this forever. My prayers might be answered though, there's a whole war beyond the borders and we have refugees around... shit's lookin bad for Umbrosa.

Other things i noticed that i liked:

The effect on nikki's skin when it's raining, she actually has water dripping down her face... its so cool

Momo capes are actually kinda neat ngl. Especially cuz the fucker follows u around everywhere, at least i can bedazzle him

Npc models look really good im a fan. They do suffer from "everyone is very beautiful" syndrome, which makes some of the npc villains look/sound ridiculous, but they have kid-teen-adult-elderly versions of models (i never see teen models in these games! Its cool!) And some body variation. The grandmas look so lovely i cry

The dark skin tone is really dark, and it looks quite nice and natural.

The lighting engine in this game is just rly good in general. God bless UE5

The edges of the map where there s forest, which u obv cant go thru, the forest is made to be darker, thicker.... i m a huge fan of this idk y. It's not just *invisible wall in front of an open field* nopee cant go there lets explore that area later tee hee. And it looks good to boot.

Camera function is p robust, has more options for changin brightness/saturation/contrast etc which i feel Shining Nikki lacks.

Some of the creature designs are so good man i looove themm <3.... the pieces are awful tho. Ok creature design is a hit and miss sometimes but the stray hatty? Peak. All the weirdy fashionable animals? Peak.

Bein able to quick switch thru ur saved sets while in the overworld is real neat

Oke that was it. Bye

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

Also I'm sorry my mind is Lorcan mush right now 😂 but like him baking with his soft SO? Like she made him his own apron and it's fall so there's a slight chill, she had flour smeared on her cheek and he's chuckling as she shows him how to properly roll put a pie crust because he messed up the first one

Managed to type this out before my body completely gave out. Been a long minute..

warning: slightly suggestive

Pie crusts

This man aka Lorcan was far from sweet in others' eyes. They crossed the street when he walked through the town. They never stared. Never struck a conversation. These were the basic rules. You just didn't. Because this man had a reputation. Had a name to him. And it made one shiver. Made you take a double look just to make sure that you haven't caused yourself trouble. Haven't ended up in a bad book. Because Lorcan had that predatory attitude. That cold-blooded killer look. One that drowned out any happy sounds around.

But if they only knew. If they only knew what kind of male hid away behind the cold mask. What kind of male he was when no one but you were watching? His beautiful, selfless, radiant mate. His life. His pride. His joy. You had Lorcan wrapped around your finger and people who got to see that, that mainly being the family, knew that Lorcan was nothing but a big gentle giant. One that would drop everything if a planted pot in your yard needed to be moved. One that stocked up your hygiene supplies every month because he knew that you would forget about it. One that did nothing but smile when he was in your presence.

"No, you need to put more flour on it", you pointed to the jar, watching the dough sticking to the rolling pin. Rolling pin that looked ridiculously tiny in Lorcan's hands. "You said to dust it once", he rumbled, yet still reached for it. "Yeah, but you probably put too much butter in it, so it's sticky", you said, turning to reach for the bottom layer. A tin filled with a berry jam you bad made first thing in the morning.

Lorcan let out a slight growl as he tried to roll the dough again, only to be met with the same sticky mess. "You can't scare the pie out, Lor", you chuckled slightly. Sometimes you wondered why he even agreed to participate in things like this. He had little to no patience yet if he saw you doing anything by yourself he never failed to ask if you wanted him to join you. Or he would simply join himself without saying a single word.

But pie making and Lorcan had a deep-rooted beef going for a couple of months. That was Lorcan's first attempt at making the pie crust. It had gone awfully bad and nothing usually went bad for Lorcan. This man was way too competitive. Way too sure of his abilities to fail at something. You had laughed till your stomach asked back then. Watching him scowling at the dough, your tiny apron barely covering his chest.

Now Lorcan had his apron on. Once you had made for him. One he had been strangely excited to receive. "Stan up for a minute", you had told him one evening while he was finishing his paperwork. Lorcan had given you a strange look but didn't question it. Especially when he saw the messing tape in your hands. "You know, my cock hasn't changed size", he cackled to himself while you hit his chest shaking your head, "You're disgusting, put your hand up, you brute". That had him cackling, while you tried to hide your smile. You had sowed him his apron that same night. Had chosen a much more dim color, no pastels but Lorcan had frowned as he looked at it. "I don't get to have a pocket with a flower?", he questioned, glancing at your apron that hung in the kitchen. "Oh, I... I didn't think you would want one", you admitted, reaching for a deep red thread but Lorcan beat you to it, "Make it pink and blue, like yours".

You smiled at the memory as you moved to stand beside him now. "Add some more flour and knead it through once more", Lorcan simply nodded his head, following your instructions. You reached to rub the back of his neck as he worked. You would have loved to run your fingers through his hair but it was put up in a messy bun, the baby blue scrunchy shining against his onyx-black hair. "You're doing great, honey", you said softly, watching him reform the dough back into a misshapen ball. "Usually, I'm the one praising you. This is new", he grumbled but his attention was full on the backed good he was desperate to craft perfectly.

You let out a light laugh, "You're making it sound as if I never tell you just how amazing you are", you scrunched up your nose and that was enough for Lorcan to lift his head to look at you. Any, even the smallest feeling of hurt or discomfort coming from your side crippled the dark wielded. "You do, you do...", his words died down as his eyes fell on your face. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?", you tilted your head to the side. "You have...", Lorcan's voice died down, "Let me get it for you", he said softly, fingers moving to brush over the tip of your nose, whipping away the flour. His touch lingered, moving to brush over your cheek next. "And something here", he muttered, before leaning in to softly kiss your lips. No rush. No eagerness. No need to rush as Lorcan softly kissed you over and over again.

"Smooth", you mumbled as you two finally broke apart. You turned your attention back to your mate, "You took your time with my lips. Must have been real dirty", you trialed off, and turned to check on the oven. Instantly feeling Lorcan's hands slipping around your middle, "They are dirty, especially when they are wrapped...", you elbowed him in the stomach, "Don't you finish that! You dirty, teenage fea baby...", Lorcan only laughed, smirking down at you. "Go finish the crust or you will die defeated by the pie", you pointed to the forgotten dough, ushering him away with a tea towel. Smiling to yourself when another laugh slipped past Lorcan's lips and the smooth sound of him humming filled the kitchen.

[reve-de-sang]

Solstice, loustat. 3.6K (WIP, 2 chapters). Most years on the winter solstice, vampires are human for a day. Louis would have liked to have known about that in advance.

for @vamptember’s 12 Nights of Christmas challenge (prompt: “solstice”); obviously I became distracted and this is now valentine’s-christmas late lol.

“My eyes—”

“Yes. Just breathe. It takes a moment.”

Louis was trembling, and he could barely make out Lestat’s face, dull and vulnerable, his hair soft and limp—

“Sit up with me,” Lestat said, and they struggled upright—

“The fuck’s happening.”

“It is the shortest day of the year.”

“And?”

“The dark gift is taken away until sundown. Sometimes.” Lestat shrugged. “One of many things never explained to me.”

Louis stared at him; couldn’t breathe. “What? What?”

Lestat took up his hand and kissed each of his fingers— Louis’s nails were short, they were dull—

Louis shoved Lestat back, and it was so easy, but had none of the force it should. He felt—he was as weak as a kitten. He grabbed at the side of the coffin and hauled himself out, stumbling to the parquet floor.

“Fuck! Lestat! Are you fucking telling me—”

“Enjoy it,” Lestat sighed. “It’s what you want, no? Honestly it’s more a reminder of how good we have it rather than pleasures we’re missing.”

“How could you not tell me?”

“And risk it not happening this time? When it is obviously something you would want so much?” Lestat said, some bitterness coloring his voice. It was oddly harder to sense inflection. Lestat’s voice was still rich, but it didn’t ring pure like that Stradivarius downstairs any more. Voice of a stranger. It didn’t help that Louis felt like his hearing was muffled.

“So much you don’t tell me,” Louis echoed, eyes racing over everything in the room, already so overwhelmed he was starting to feel numb.

“You think I know everything,” Lestat sighed. He looked so odd, then: a human marooned in Louis’s coffin.

Louis clutched at his stomach, digging his dull nails in. “Why’m I so hungry?”

“I always assumed it was not having eaten in a very long time. Come see the sunrise with me.”

“No.”

Lestat maneuvered himself out of the coffin with much more care. “Honestly, it’s probably gloomy. Last year it rained. I still haven’t seen a New Orleans sun. Maybe someday.” Lestat was prattling on as he wove to his wardrobe, resting in exhaustion against the doorframe as he sorted shakily through his choices. He glanced back at him. “Bread. Warm bread. With butter. It’s one of the few things that takes almost no adjustment to loving again. Come—you’ll find your palette completely altered.”

The floor was gritty and cold, so cold, against Louis’s sweaty palms. He didn’t know if he wanted to scream or cry or laugh. He just sat in shock, watching Lestat put on clothes with trembling hands. It took so long. Eventually Louis rested his head against his coffin and stared at the fire. It hurt his eyes. He’d forgotten what that was like.

Lestat seemed to be finding his sea legs, and he eventually made his way back to Louis, dressed, shoes and all. “It has stunned you, my love,” Lestat said, helping him to his feet. “Let me help you dress, and—”

“Your eyes.” Still a vivid blue, but less pale, prismatic. Human.

Lestat smiled wryly. “Not such a great difference. But yours—” Lestat studied him fondly. “Such a change. I love you both ways.”

Louis could not take his eyes off Lestat’s face. Louis’s sight was no longer as keen—everything was shadowy, and he could no longer see easily in a room lit only by a fire—but Lestat’s face wasn’t porcelain, but carried warmth, some natural ruddiness given to flesh that aged and died. Louis reached up to touch Lestat’s face—rough and soft, the subtle oil of sweat. There was so much Louis knew he was missing with his own dulled sense of touch.

He leaned in to catch the scent behind Lestat’s jaw—a hint of musk Louis did not know. He found his mouth watering in a strange echo of lust for blood, and there was a vertigo as his teeth did not react along with his stirring cock. He licked tentatively at Lestat’s skin—Lestat shuddered—and taste exploded on Louis’s tongue; he had forgotten the shock of salt. Lestat sighed, pressing his head to Louis’s, and Louis wondered at the vulnerable, temporal refuge of Lestat’s arms and body.

“We can die like this?”

“I honestly don’t know. Probably,” Lestat murmured. “Let’s not try, hm?”

Louis shifted back to look at this man from the eighteenth century, his lover now in a dying flesh prison. “Am I dreaming?”

“It feels like it, I know.”

Louis studied Lestat wearing the kind of face that was meant to be food. He suddenly yearned to feed on Lestat like this. Wanted to anyway, for all that it would probably taste like copper.

Lestat chuckled uneasily. “Your wires are crossed. Louis—the day is short. Come outside with me while we can. You will regret it tomorrow if you stay inside. Chew on me under the shade of a tree, if you must.”

Louis gripped Lestat’s biceps with his shaking hands. “I’m going to. I don’t know you like this.”

Lestat’s looked at him with sympathy. “I doubt you will want to waste your time with me when you could visit your family under the sun,” he said softly.

Louis finally looked away. There was a sharp pain in his heart. “Help me get dressed.”

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