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mediocracy-at-its-finest · 8 months ago

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New Book

Why Did I Say Yes…

Chapter One

A little word of advice, if one of your dumb ass friends invites you to explore an abandoned mansion, tell them to suck it. If I had had the balls to do that, I wouldn't be in this situation. Running from a pissed off, midieval, nobel vampire isn’t how I would like to spend my Tuesdays, but here we are. Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, so lets rewind a little

Hello, I’m Catherine Blane, I’m 23 and way to old to be doing dumb shit like this. Or, at least I thought I was.

Two Hours Ago

“Come on Cath! You never do fun stuff with us anymore!” cried the blond. I glared over at her hard as I picked up the plates on the table.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I don’t consider breaking into someones home fun. Also, Jenna, I’m working. If you could hold down a job for more then a few weeks you would know something about that.” I huffed as I turned from the table with several plates in my hand. Jenna Dunstock was my best friend… well former best friend. Jenna was definitely something special. I stopped hanging out with her after her second D.U.I. but that never stopped her from trying to hang out with me. I never understood why though, we were polar opposites. Jenna was wild and fun-loving, never afraid to go insane and break something... or someone. She was bright, airy, and kind of unbalanced. Everyone in our small town knew that. She did what she wanted when she wanted to, and no one could stop her. And right now she wanted me to drive her up to Witherthorn Manor, a local legend for the kids in the area. It was mostly visited by teenagers looking for a place to smoke.

“C’mon, Catherine! Don’t you want to have some fun? Don't you feel the adrenaline pumping through your veins and the thrill of doing something forbidden?” She exclaimed, with a wide grin on her face. Her bright curls bounced down the edges of her chin as she leaned closer, and her green eyes pleaded with me to listen to her.

"No Jenna! I have work to do, and I don't get off until nine. What, are you seriously expecting me to drive you to an abandoned mansion because you want to 'have some fun?'" I snapped. I glared at Jenna with an unamused expression.

"Ugh, come on, you're no fun!" she exclaimed, as she let out a loud groan. "Why can't you just relax a bit? It's not that serious. We're just taking a walk around an abandoned mansion. Like, what's the worst that could happen?"

"No way in hell I'm going! We aren't kids anymore." I hissed. "We have adult responsibilities, and I'm sure as hell not going to spend the evening getting slapped with charges for breaking and entering!" Then, I paused as memories of Daisy flooded back into my mind. She was only 12 when she went missing there. That tragedy shook our community hard, and I'm not going to risk bringing up old trauma, either. "That place is haunted, anyways - remember Daisy?"

Jenna flinched when I mentioned Daisy's name. She wasn't one to show much emotion, usually. But when it came to Daisy’s case, she always took it seriously. Because it's not something you forget. It's not something you can just pretend never happened.

“I remember,” she sighed, looking down at the ground. “But that was years ago. Just because something tragic happened there years ago doesn’t mean it’s gonna happen again.”

"Look..." I sighed, frustrated and impatient. "Just drop it already. There are tons of places in town to hang out, so who cares about that stupid, run-down old house anyway? Besides, I don't even have the gas money to drive all the way out there," I added with an annoyed roll of my eyes.

"Please, Catherine..." Jenna's green eyes pleaded. "Just let me have this. I'm tired of doing nothing in this boring old town. That place is the perfect opportunity for some fun and excitement. Don't you want to relive the glory days? You know, back when we all had fun and weren't so stressed about adult stuff?"

I sat down across from her, irritated and frustrated with the whole situation. "Fine," I snapped, pointing a finger at her. "But you're paying me for gas if I have to take you all the way there. Got it?"

Jenna grinned, satisfied with the compromise. "Hell yeah! Now we're talking!" She exclaimed, her bright energy contagious. "I'll get everyone else. Do you think Nick and Sarah would want to ride along? They've been itching for something exciting too."

"Dude!" I hissed, annoyed and agitated. "Nick is a total creep, and he's not getting in my car. I'll gladly give Sarah a ride, but don't even think about inviting him." I stood up sharply, ready to get back to work and leave this dumb conversation behind.

"Pfft, whatever." Jenna shrugged. "I'll just tell him to meet us there so he doesn't have to bug you during the ride." She smirked mischievously as she started to walk away, waving me off with a dramatic "Later!"

"No, no, no, wait!" I yelled after her, but I watched as she walked out the door. I groaned and turned to finish my shift

An Hour Later

Driving up the steep mountain in a tiny ass Honda Civic wasn’t my idea of a fun night. My head was pounding from the loud music blaring out of the one working speaker as Jenna and Sarah sang along. It was some popular song that always seemed to play on the radio, but I didn’t care enough to learn the name. I winced as Sarah failed to hit a high note in the song

“Okay! No more music!” I yelled over the blaring song as I hit the power button on the radio. Twin groans of disapproval met me and I gripped the steering wheel harder.

“Cathy you really are no fun…” complained Jenna as she slumped back in the passenger seat.

“Jen… Suck my dick. I’m trying to focus on not killing us.” I explained as I leaned forward, trying to see better in the pitch black that my headlights didn’t seem to touch. The road was long and winding, seemingly going on forever. With no warning it would go into hairpin turns with sheer drop offs on one side.

“Thanks for driving us Cath. It really means a lot.” came Sarahs voice from the back of the car. Sarah Conners was a friend of Jenna’s, I didn’t really know a lot about her, but I knew she was polite. And that was enough for me.

“Yeah, yeah, you’re welcome…” I mumbled as I slowed the car to a stop outside of a large, ornate wrought iron gate. I let out a low whistle as I put the car in park. The gate loomed overhead, standing at a colossal twelve feet in height. Instead of looking worn from age, it appeared as strong as the day it was forged. A large "D" had been cast into the center, and it too seemed to have no signs of aging either. I slowly opened the door of my car to get out and inspect it, along with the other two in the car.

“Oh my God…” I heard Sarah whisper, and I was right there with her. The gate was impressive… and locked. I watched as Jenna tugged on the gate only to come way disappointed.

“What? This isn’t supposed to be closed!” Jenna cried as she pulled harder. “Nick said that he was already here and he left the gate open!” My eyebrows scrunched as a bad feeling settled in my gut. Nick wasn’t known for playing pranks or making jokes like this, sure he was a perv but he wasn’t a liar.

“Maybe we should go, I don’t even see his car.” I said as I gazed through the bars of the fence. The overgrown grounds were dotted with haunting trees and crumbling statues. Dense vines crawled up the trees, almost as if they were trying to strangle what little life they had left. The statues weren’t in better shape, they were seemingly randomly scattered around the desolate grounds and they to were choked with plant life. I could barely make out the mansion from this distance but there wasn’t a car in sight.

“No, Nick said he was here.” I turned to look at Jenna only to gasp as I watched her climb the fence

“Jenna are you insane! Get down from there! You’re going to break something or get Tetanus!” I hissed at her as she climbed higher. Sarah followed her lead and started to climb aheres well. “Jenna Dunstock get your ass down right this instant or I swear to God I’ll leave you here!”

“If you’re going to be a baby then you can stay here.” Jenna laughed as she topped the gate and started down the other side. Sarah shot me a small smile as she also rounded the top of the fence. I paced back and forth as they dropped to the ground

“Jenna you have done a lot of dumb shit in your life but this one takes the fucking cake! You’re going to get murdered or something in there and I’m not going to feel bad about it at all!” I yelled as I stormed back to my car. I opened the door and slid into the seat as I watched Jenna flip me off from behind the gate. I scowled and flipped her off right back as I started the car… only to have the engine not turn over. “What..? No… No, no, no. no don’t do this to me now.” I pleaded with the car as I tried it again. Nothing. I groaned and dropped my head onto the wheel. When I looked up Jenna was gone but Sarah was still standing at the gate looking concerned.

“Everything okay?” I could barely hear her say before I grabbed my bag and got out of the car

“No, my car won’t start.” I growled as I kicked the tire. No tow truck company would even think about coming all the way out here to tow an almost 13 year old car. I turned to the gate and grabbed the iron to start climbing, only to have it open with a slight push. “Huh… I though Jenna tried to open it and it wouldn’t… strange…” I mumbled as I walked through.

“She did, and so did I. Maybe you’re magic!” She giggled. I rolled my eyes in annoyance and closed the gate behind me

“Whatever. Where did she go anyway?” I asked as I threw my bag over my shoulder. I looked around the creepy grounds and shuddered in the cool fall air. I should have brought a jacket.

“She said she was heading to the house because thats where Nick was.” Sarah replied as she zipped up her coat.

“Damnit. I hate that guy…” I growled lowly as I started walking. I kept my gaze on the ground to keep from tripping and breaking something, that would be the last thing I needed. The loose gravel crunched under my weight as I stepped over some vines. Everything was overgrown and unkempt. Well… I guess I shouldn’t complain, no ones lived here for almost a decade now, so there wasn’t anyone to take care of the place. After almost 15 minutes of walking we finally reached the front porch. The first step was broken but the rest seemed fine. I hesitantly put my weight on the stair and tested it before slowly ascending to the porch. Cobwebs covered almost every surface I looked. I waved my hand to break some of the strands in my way as I got closer to the door.

“Wow… this place is beautiful!” exclaimed Sarah as she looked up. I turned my gaze upwards to look at the building. The mansion loomed over the surrounding landscape like a brooding titan, its Gothic architecture casting long, ominous shadows that stretched across the desolate grounds. The stone exterior, once pristine and imposing, was now worn and weathered by time, its surface marred by cracks that spiderwebbed across its surface like veins of decay.

“Maybe if it wasn’t so run down. But come on, we need to find Jenna. Who knows what trouble shes got herself into.” I huffed as I turned back to the door and tested the knob. Surprisingly the door swung open with hardly any force, the hinges didn’t even creak as it swung open. I blinked before slowly walking inside. Dust covered every surface in thick layers. The carpet was a dark red color and surprisingly cushy as I stepped on it. To my left was a grand marble staircase that spiraled upwards towards the upper levels of the manor, its ornate banisters were coated in a thick layer of dust and cobwebs. To your right, a series of closed doors line the walls, their surfaces adorned with intricate carvings and ornate embellishments. I gave a whistle as I looked up at the far end of the foyer, a massive chandelier hung suspended from the ceiling, its once-gleaming crystals now dull and lifeless, casting feeble shards of light that flicker and dance across the walls.

“Holy shit… this place is amazing,” I heard Sarah say from behind me. I couldn’t help but nod in agreement. This place seemed to have been ripped right out of a novel or something. I couldn’t help but shudder as another feeling of unease settled deep in my stomach. Something wasn’t right here

“Jenna! Jenna where are you?” I called out to the empty room as I moved further into the manor. I opened the door on my right to what looked like a formal sitting room. The air was thick with the smell of dust and old wood. I squinted my eyes as I pulled my phone out and turned on the flashlight. I moved the beam around the room to get a better look at everything. The first thing I came across was a couch set that was draped in cloth that may have been white at one point. In one corner of the room sat a once grand piano. It to was covered in a layer of dust along with several pieces of sheet music that the ink had long faded on. The floor creaked underneath me as I turned to look at the large fireplace that covered a good portion of the wall. The decorations had long since rusted and the ash settled, a slight cool breeze could be felt from the chimney. I glanced over at Sarah who stood next to me.

“Look.” She said as she reached up above the fire place. I pointed my flashlight up just in time to watch her pull a sheet off of something on the wall. I immediately started sneezing and coughing from the large amount of dust that came down with the sheet. It took a few minutes before I was able to look up through watering eyes at the portrait. It had slightly yellowed with age but the painting was still breathtaking. The subjects were a young couple. One was a man with a hauntingly handsome visage, sharp, chiseled features and piercing blue eyes that seem to glimmer with an otherworldly intensity. His dark hair fell in tousled waves around his angular face, framing his pale complexion like a veil of shadows. He was clad in a tailored suit of deep crimson and midnight black. He stood with an air of aristocratic grace, his very portrait exuding an aura of power and mystery. The woman in the painting was sat in an ornate chair that just screamed wealth. Her features were unremarkable at first glance, with a thin face that was framed by a mane of dark chestnut hair that was pulled back in a complex bun. Her steel-gray eyes held a steely determination, but also betrayed traces of the fear that lurked beneath her stoic facade. She was dressing in Victorian mourning dress and held a black hat in her hand.

“Catherine, she looks like you.” Sarah said as she glanced between me and the portrait.

“W-What? No, you’re insane. This painting is at least a hundred years old, its just some freaky coincidence.” I mumbled as I stood on my tip toes to get a better look at the painting. I barely caught sight of the plaque at the bottom of the frame, “Darkwood… I wonder if that’s their name.” I said to myself. I went to step back when suddenly a loud scream erupted from behind us.

“Jenna!” Sarah yelled back as she took off in the direction of the sound, and I wasn’t far behind her.

#vampire x reader #original character #original story #books #first time writing #chapter 1

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secretlyafiveheadeddragon · 11 months ago

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Okay, don’t get me wrong, I’m very excited for the show, but I just want to talk for a second about something that’s been bothering me ever since the picture from the Met premiere came out.

Leah is wearing a very beautiful dress, but I couldn’t help but notice how it’s built. The bodice is built to cover very little, it’s a bodice that is very pretty on full grown women, but I can help seeing this and remember that she is 12-13. I’m a few years older than her, and I don’t know if I’d be comfortable wearing something with that little coverage.

it’s a dress that’s made for a full grown woman, and it makes me uncomfortable that they would put a girl her age in it for the public eye. It reminds me of how Hollywood is notorious for preying on young girls and sexualizing them in subtle (and sometimes not-so subtle) ways. Like what happened with Millie Bobbie Brown when Stranger Things was new.

There were definitely ways of making and styling this gown that would have been less revealing and offered more security. There are ways that it could have been fine. But it’s not fine. It’s low cut and set far from her body. And that’s not okay for a young girl her age in a public and far-reaching setting.

I might be overreaching here, and would like to know if anyone else has an opinion on this. I’ve noticed in past publicity event for the show that Leah is always dressed to the nines and wearing a ton of makeup while the outfits on Walker and Aryan and pretty normal. If anyone else wants to share what they think I would love to hear it. This is just what I have noticed.

that being said, I am very excited for tomorrow’s premiere, they are all going to do so good!

#percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #leah sava jeffries #annabeth chase

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phoebe-twiddle · 1 year ago

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I was tagged by @episims and @mrs-mquve-cc , thank you for thinking of me! 😊 This is long, so I’ve hidden most of it behind a cut.

1. What’s your favourite sims death?

Okay, I've watched a video showing all the ways sims can die in TS2, and I think my favourite is the one that can happen while using the wishing well.

2. Alpha CC or Maxis Match?

For my own game, maxis match. To each their own though, I like seeing everyone's games regardless of aesthetic.

3. Do you cheat when your sims gain weight?

What??? No. Is that a thing? Wait - I have cheated a test sim's weight when I made clothes to make sure that the fit and fat states work? It was more effort than just creating test models in a permanent testhood with different body states so I only did it once or twice.

4. Do you use move objects?

Yes, it's a must.

5. Favorite mod?

Community time, probably. Honorable mentions to Romantic Standards and Shiftable Everything.

6. First expansion/game/stuff pack you got?

...I don't remember. My family got TS1 & TS2 pretty much as they came out.

7. Do you pronounce “live mode” like aLIVE or LIVing?

aLIVE. Because "...and we're live!" I never really thought about the alternative.

8. Who’s your favorite sim that you’ve made?

Can I just say the whole of Deep Lorewood? I have such fondness for the whole hood, even though it's unfinished and unplayed. *heavy sigh* This blog doesn't even have Deep Lorewood pictures on it.

9. Have you made a simself?

Yep. Many years ago. Looked nothing like me.

10. What sim traits do you give yourself?

Creative, Cat Lover, Squeamish from TS4. Neurotic, Coward, Hopeless Romantic, Friendly, Easily Impressed from TS3. Shy/Nice/Serious/Neat/Active in TS2.

11. Which is your favorite EA hair color?

I kind of like them all?

12. Favorite EA hair?

Updoo and GelledRock.

13. Favorite life stage?

Teenager or adult, probably, since it opens up a lot of possibilities.

14. Are you a builder or are you in it for the gameplay?

It's like 70% gameplay, 30% build. I can get really into building sometimes, but it's not a regular thing.

15. Are you a CC creator?

I have created CC before. I have not created CC in quite a while though, and have no plans to in the near future.

16. Do you have any simblr friends/a sim squad?

There are simblrs that I consider myself friendly with, but no "friends" as such.

17. What’s your favorite game? (1, 2, 3, or 4)

Of those options, it's 2, clearly, but the handheld games were also a ton of fun.

18. Do you have any sims merch?

Nope.

19. Do you have a YouTube for sims?

Nope.

20. How has your “sim style” changed throughout your years of playing?

When I first started using CC, I used semi-realistic stuff and played in a custom hood. Now, I have veered quite hard into maxis match and play a LEPacy rooted in Strangetown.

21. What’s your Origin ID?

I don't think I have one.

22. Who’s your favorite CC creator?

I like so many though! Which is ironic since I now play with very little cc.

23. How long have you had a simblr?

Many years. I don't know how many, because I accidentally deleted my original tumblr and my memory isn't the best.

24. How do you edit your pictures?

I used to use different actions and PSDs but now I just let reshade do the hard work. Then it's crop, resize, add a border.

25. What expansion/game/stuff pack do you want next?

I can't really think of anything I'd want officially adding to the game. For basically everything else, there's mods.

26. What expansion/game/stuff pack is your favorite so far?

I like freetime a lot. I like trying to support my sims' favourite hobbies.

I will tag @curiousb, @sometownie, @frottana-sims, annnnnd @rena-sims and anyone who would like tagging, consider it done. Obviously, feel free to ignore!

#tagged you're it

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foreverinlovewithyousworld · 2 years ago

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Hello!

I'm starting House M.D and I love him and Wilson together, so I made a little fic (or shot if you will) about them. It goes around season 2 of the show. Hope you like it!

Wilson woke up from a very vivid dream. It took him a minute to gather where he was. It was House’s couch. The headache hit him like a ton of bricks, the light from the outside hurt his eyes.

“Finally, the sleeping beauty has woken up, I was worried that I might had to kiss you because you’ve been sleeping for 12 hours”

Wilson, freak out checked his arm watch. It was 2 p.m. He put aside a blanket that he didn’t remembered grabbing; just to see that he didn’t have any pants on.

“House…where are my...”

“Just so you know, you did arrive with them on, you only took them off after I put on that little Richie record on and danced to Long Tall Sally” House blurted while giving him a cup of coffee.

Wilson begun to have some memories from last night event. After leaving House with Stacy at the hospital, guilt had swarm him over and decided to go for a drink. But a drink turned into tree, and then four, and so on. A feeling of sorrow drive him to get blacked out drunk, he felt guilty because he couldn’t come clean to House about his true feelings. About their own relationship, his jealousy he felt towards Stacy. He didn’t comprehend why House wanted to get back with her, after all the damage, all the sleepless nights he spend with House, to try make him feel better. He felt a little betrayed by House for choosing her over him.

“Aren’t you going to ask me what happened with Stacy?”

“What happened with Stacy?” Wilson said with a monotonous tone

“She is going to move out, with him”

Wilson’s heart sunk. Even if it wasn’t House choice, they wouldn’t be back together again, Wilson smirked a little.

“House”

“Yep?”

“I need to tell you something”

“Are you going to say that you love me and that I was making a terrible mistake by wanting to be with Stacy? I already know it, don’t’ worry”

Wilson spit out his coffee and, while he was coughing, House grab him a napkin.

“Before you arrived, you left me a message in my machine, you want to hear it?”

“Oh god please no”

“Let’s hear it anyways” House grabbed his cane, and with it he presses the play bottom.

“Houseeeeeee, house, house, houseeeeeeeeyyyy, listen to me ok? Are you listening? You are making a bad choice House, am telling you, and am the one who’s been married three times, could you give me another?” Wilson burped

The background noise told him that he was still in the bar when he called House.

“Please, House, stop it”

“Shhhh, shhh this is my favorite part” House answered while the message continued

“Oh… where was I? yeah you and Stacy could never work, you are an arrogant, selfish son of a bitch and she left you for it. You know what was the longest relationship you ever had? With me. I put up with all your crap because of a simple reason. I love you. Ok? I loooooooove you, I said it. And you are also the longest relationship I ever had. Why don’t we make it official and go to Las Vegas to get married? We can have Chase as a flower girl…boy…whatever. And have Cuddy as a witness, Cuddy is amazing you know? Well, this is all I wanted to tell you...also it’s 3 am and maybe you are sleep, so I’m going to go and tell you this in person, wait for me. Hey, could you give me the check?” The message had finished.

Wilson felt all the blood going to his head. He couldn’t believe that he told, who could be the love of his life, all his feelings while being blacked out drunk. He thought that he was better than that.

“When you arrived, you forgot the real reason why you came here for, you told me that you gave my address instead of yours to your taxicab, because you forgot where you live and I believed you, because of your drunkenness. I only listened to this message after 10 am” House gave a sip to his coffee.

“I... I don’t know what to say” said Wilson, while being visibly flustered

“You said everything in the message. I do have a cellphone; you know? It could have been more romantic. You, waking me up in the middle of the night just to pour your heart out to me, almost modern age Shakespearian…Do you really mean all of that?”

“Yes” Wilson, almost for the first time in his life was left speechless- “Well, maybe not the getting married in Las Vegas, but apart from that, I did mean it”

“Too bad. I was already picking out a very nice tuxedo, also a very nice touch having Chase as a flower boy, but I always thought of him as a very cute golden retriever, the hair gives it away, maybe we could have him go to the altar in all four legs, its Las Vegas, they have seen weirder stuff”

“Do you?” Wilson asked

“Maybe…” House replied “Someday I mean…Wilson, we haven’t even kiss yet”

“You did try to remember? In that news’s year’s eve party at Cuddy’s, you said It was very unlucky to start the year without a kiss”

“And you refused it, and now you are divorced for the third time, and I had an affair with a married woman that left me, I was right”

The room was left in silence. House grabbed the Tv remote to put some background noise and break it.

“I mean, it could work out. As you said, you put with my crap, I put out with yours. No one is better for me than you” House said while surfing for a channel

“Would you like to go on a date with me?” Wilson said finally

“I thought that you never ask...oh look the O.C. is on” answered while putting the remote next to him

House hand was next to Wilson’s. He made the first move and grabbed his pinky. Even though that Wilson still had a massive headache, the comfort of House’s hand gave him happiness. After all these years, all it took him was alcohol and an answering machine to be able to express his repressed feelings over House. The anxiety, and the burden of this secret was finally lift of his shoulders.

“Do we tell Cuddy?” Wilson added

“Let her figure out” House exclaimed “Maybe we could make out in the halls, make her see us, and when she asks us about it we could deny everything, it’s going to be so fun watching go nuts over us” House exclaimed

In all his three marriages, Wilson had never felt so at home than with House. No matter where they were. It had never occurred to him that House might felt the same way as him. He was his, and no one could ever take away from him.

#hilson #gregory house #james wilson #doctor house #house and wilson #house m.d.

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foreveralwaysanauthor · 2 years ago

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Scattered Screams (Part 5/12)

January 17, 2023

Notes - I took a day for myself yesterday and took the time to watch the first episode of HBO’s The Last of Us show and I have to say, it’s great so far! I think, even if you’ve never played the games it’s still insanely good. The games are what I based Through the Valley off of, but watching certain moments has given me a ton of ideas for future projects lmao.

She may know the rules of the game, but rules were made for breaking anyway, weren’t they?

Our training session after lunch feels almost like the private lessons I had with Mick back home. Riven joins us for most of it, showing us things he worked on and encouraging me and Royce to keep up appearances. When night comes, the three of us go up to the roof to talk. Royce brings another bowl of berries that the three of us share as we chat and laugh about the day, sharing what our mentors have told us in our time after training. We spend time exploring the rooftop before eventually sitting by the tree covered in windchimes for a long time as Riven regales Royce with the stories of all the animals he had taken in over the years. I already knew about most of them, having spent many hours after school and work helping him take care of rabbits, dogs, snakes, and the occasional squirrel, but it was nice to see Riven so happy to talk about all of the critters he had saved over time. I suppose it only helped that Royce was just as interested to hear about them as Riven was to talk about them.

Sadly, it isn’t long until we’re met by some of the other tributes. The girls from Districts 1, 7, and 11 come onto the roof with laughter that can be heard from our spot near the tree, but as soon as they see the three of us, their voices fade into the meaningless noise of the city. They approach us with varying expressions - the girls from 1 and 7 looking almost happy to see us while the girl from 11 looks the most tentative of the bunch.

“Hey,” the girl from 1 - Jade, if I remember correctly - greets with a smile as she approaches. It’s unusual to see a Career so happy to see someone outside of the pack, but she seems genuine as far as I can tell. Riven very discretely places a hand on my back and I can almost feel the cautious suspicion radiating off of him. He doesn’t trust them - noted.

“Hi,” I say, hoping my smile doesn’t seem as forced as it feels.

Riven, on the other hand, doesn’t bother to take the friendly approach. “It’s not often you see one of the Careers away from the pack.”

The green-haired girl rolls her eyes, a quick scoff leaving her as she drops into a spot on the floor nearby, “I want no part of that trainwreck of a group.”

“That good, huh?” Royce chuckles.

“The little girl from Four tries too hard and the boy is drunk half the time, the morons from Two are dumber than boxes of rocks, and the asshat I came with only volunteered so he could impress his girlfriend back home,” Jade claims plainly. “I imagine they won’t last long in the arena the way things are going.”

As she sits on the floor on Jade’s left, the girl from 7 smiles, “That’s why we’re forming a group of our own.”

“It’s not really a group, Lexi,” the girl from 11 pipes up. She’s the girl who was glaring at everyone earlier, but stopped when she saw Riven. Erica was the name on her shirt during training and she was pretty good with knife-throwing. Her hair is still dyed blue from the parade, but it suits her. “It’s just a list of people we’re trying not to kill if we come across them.”

Jade nods as she turns back to us, “You three were a common consensus for us, actually.”

“Why?” I can’t help asking.

“The Capitol favors both of your districts after last year’s Games,” the girl from 7, Lexi, says. “Even if they don’t screw with your scores, you’ll have a lot of people wanting to sponsor you.”

“Which means a lot of people we’ll piss off if we kill you,” Jade states. “It’s not worth it.”

“Besides,” Erica adds, “we only really have it out for the Careers.”

It sounds like a solid plan, in theory. The Career Pack sounds like a disaster this year and, if these three think they can take out the Careers early on, the Games will be on a more even playing field for everyone else. Granted, there will still be a bloodbath to deal with and some of the older, stronger tributes who think they have the Games down to a science, but the Hunger Games would be far more entertaining without the cocky Career tributes hogging the Capitol spotlights.

Riven’s mind runs a lot faster than mine as he comes to ask, “Is this you letting us know that we’re not on your hit list?”

“And asking that we not be on yours unless absolutely necessary,” Jade nods. “I think we’re all on the same page about the Careers needing to go, but it would be nice to not have so many targets on our backs.”

Without giving me or Royce the chance to respond, Riven sends the girls a smile and asks, “Do you mind if we talk it over and get back to you tomorrow?”

“Not at all,” Erica says with a smile.

“Take all the time you need,” Lexi agrees.

Jade grins as she says, “Either way, our side of the deal remains.”

Riven nods sharply as he pushes himself to his feet, offering me a hand up once he’s able. Allowing him to pull me up and away, I say, “We’ll get back to you guys tomorrow at training, then.”

As I wave to the girls, Royce rises from his spot under the tree and offers them what few berries are still in the bowl he brought before waving goodbye and rushing to catch up with me and Riven. Once we’re in the privacy of the stairwell, Riven releases my arm and leads us back downstairs, Royce and I pestering him with questions until he finally stalls between floors and turns to us with a sharp look in his eyes. “Do you two really think those three are trustworthy?” Before either of us can respond, he says, “I know at least one of you has to be smarter than that.”

I can practically hear the gears turning in Royce’s head as he tries to decide which one of us is supposed to be the smart one, but I don’t let him think for long. “I don’t trust them as far as you could probably throw them,” I tell Riven with a roll of my eyes, “but they seem more intent on killing off the Careers than taking us out.”

“I get that, Pip,” Riven sighs, turning around and continuing on his trek downstairs, “but we need to think this out logically. Even if they go after the Careers first, there’s no telling if they’ll stay away from us for long.”

Royce shares a look with me before following Riven downstairs, “You know the one from Seven - Lexi? She spent most of her time throwing axes at dummies and talking with the other two today.”

“I saw that,” I comment. “She sliced its head off from the furthest line while they were talking to her.”

“She could be the ringleader,” Riven offers as we come to the door for Royce’s floor - the large D6 marking the backside of the metal door.

“The other two seem to just go with the flow,” Royce offers, leaning against the door with a sigh. “They followed each other around all day and it looked like they were more in it for the conversation than they were for training.”

I chuckle, “You sure kept a good eye on what everyone else was doing.”

Riven and I watch as scarlet flares across Royce’s face. He looks away with a grin, softly chuckling as he glances back at us, “I like to observe people and get a good idea as to what they’re capable of.”

“Oh, yeah?” Riven asks rhetorically. “What are Vivien and I capable of, then?”

Royce levels a calm gaze on us as he replies, “Winning.”

“What makes you say that?” I ask.

My question has some sort of an effect on Royce as his stance straightens and his expression turns more serious. “Riven could probably take on most of the other tributes without sustaining any major injuries. Vivien, you are a quick thinker, you have the fastest time on the gauntlets in training, and you have good sparring instincts as well. You guys work really well together and will probably have a lot of sponsors. You’re destined to win and everyone knows it, even if they don’t want to admit it.”

The seriousness in Royce’s tone gives me pause and it seems to bother Riven as well, but as the curly-haired tribute smiles and bids us a good night, we both plaster smiles on our faces and wave him off before silently wandering to our floor. We don’t say much to each other until we’re back in the security of our floor, but I think we both realize just how much Royce’s thoughts hit us. I briefly try to recall if he was wearing his headphones, but I realize that he probably wouldn’t have said that if he had been. He wouldn’t have wanted his brothers to hear him say something like that. His brothers are probably trying to hype him up and keep him positive even though it seems as though he’s already sure of his fate.

After making sure that I’m alright, Riven heads for the living room to talk with Mack and Brady. Instead of joining him, I make my way toward Juliet’s room to tell her about the girls on the roof and Royce’s choice of words. The halls are quiet and long, but I don’t particularly mind the silence as they give me ample time to think. It isn’t until I am near Juliet’s door that I hear a male voice talking on the other side. Not wanting to disturb whatever conversation she’s having, I turn to walk back to my room, but stop as soon as I hear Juliet say, “Why can’t you just call it off, Dad?” I try not to sigh at the idea that I wouldn’t have someone to talk with for the foreseeable future, but if she’s talking with her father, I don’t want to interrupt. I begin to process what was said, my mind skipping like the broken old movie the school would play for us right before vacation, and I find myself glued in place near her door, unable to walk away.

Juliet is talking with her dad. Her dad is President Harmon, the leader of Panem. President Harmon wants to call something off, but what that is, I only have a few guesses. I don’t have long to think as the man’s voice replies, “I want to, darling, but we’re too late now. If it had been before the reapings or even before the parade, we could have thrown a large ending ceremony and called off the Hunger Games for good. We can’t do that now.”

“But you’re the president,” Juliet tries, a definite whine in her tone. She was laying on a thick guilt trip already, from the sound of it, and I had to admire that. “What you say, goes. If you want to call off the Hunger Games, who can stop you?”

“The lawmakers who are designed to uphold the original decree.”

Juliet scoffs, “So a group of grumpy old men in horrendously made wigs can stop you from tearing that to shreds? You have to give me something better than that! I bet nobody even cares about the Games that much anymore!”

“And what about the angry Capitol citizens who have already placed bets and put in for sponsorships?” He has a point, I suppose, but I’m sure the Capitol has enough money to reimburse lost funds if they wanted to.

“Those who lost money can ask for it back. Hell, I’ll give it to them, if they want!”

“Julie,” her dad sighs.

“You said it yourself, many citizens aren’t even interested in watching the Hunger Games anymore,” Juliet insists. “It won’t be that big of a loss.”

Is that true? Are people really not watching the Games? Could it be that they’ve finally lost interest in the killing spree and the Games can be called off? I lean closer to the door, eagerly waiting to hear more as President Harmon speaks, “Juliet, sweetheart, I know you want to save the tributes - I do too - but there’s nothing we can do. Not until the Games are over.”

“You could pardon them.” Juliet is trying everything she can think of, the desperation in her voice makes it clear. “Or you could let them sneak out of the arena like you did last year.”

Juliet knows about that? I know the president had to know about all of that since he was the one who came to the districts and talked to the victors, but I didn’t think he would tell his daughter. He sighs, “I don’t think it will be that easy, darling. At this point, the most I can do will be to tell the Gamemakers to take away the prepared mutts and make the arena less intense.”

I hear Juliet sigh in defeat, but she’s not done pestering her father for information yet. “What even is the arena?” Her dad doesn’t answer. “Come on, at least give me that! I want to help my tribute as much as possible this year.”

“Fine, but you tell her nothing until you’re on the hovercraft.”

“Deal.”

“It’s a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean.”

Juliet says something to her dad that I can’t quite make out and they begin to shift topics, but as I back away from the door, I feel as though I’ve heard enough. They can’t do anything to help us out, but at least I know what we’re getting into. If anything happens and we go overboard, I can swim fairly well and I know Riven can as well. Our school used to have us swim a lot in what used to be Lake Michigan. I just hope Royce can handle himself as well as we can. Making my way back through the halls to my room gives me time to think about what to tell the guys. Telling either of them about the president wanting to stop the Games makes no sense - if he can’t stop them, it’s not worth getting their hopes up for nothing - but I decide as I spot Riven talking with Mack and Brady that I’ll tell them about the arena. They deserve to know that at the very least.

As a yawn forces past my lips, I bid the trio good night and make my way to my room, hoping to have the chance to talk with Mick before bed. In the solace of my room, Mick and I talk about everything from what I had overheard to what she thinks I need to work on in training. Resting on my bed, talking to Mick like we’re back home, chatting over walkie-talkies, lulls me into a sense of security that feels more welcoming than I care to admit. I miss everything about being home, but I have no reason to fuss over it now. I can’t go back unless I win the Hunger Games and the chances of that feel slim, but Mick’s hope-filled, caring tone makes me feel like it might be possible. When my eyes flutter shut the first time, I’m awoken by Mick lightly scolding me for sleeping with the glasses on, so I quickly wish her a good night before placing the glasses on the table next to the bed and allowing sleep to come over me.

When the morning comes around, I don’t bother waiting for someone to tell me the food is ready. Heading to the dining room in the silence of the early morning, I’m greeted by one of the ever-silent Avoxes, a young man maybe a little older than me, who stands at attention by a spread of food next to the dining table. Nobody else has come to eat yet, so I softly ask him if I’m allowed to serve myself and he nods in assent. His skin is almost as dark as the coffee I pour and the tunic he wears is as white as the creamer I add to my drink. His eyes are something different entirely - green like the star-shaped honeydew pieces in the fruit cup he hands me. When I thank him, the corners of his lips raise as he nods and I can’t help but feel bad for him - whatever his crime may have been, I doubt getting his tongue cut out is worth it. He seems like a genuinely nice person. I wish I could find out his name.

He can’t give any conversation and I know I’m not supposed to talk to him unless it’s to give an order or ask a simple, yes-or-no question, but I find myself wanting desperately to try anyway. The Capitol doles out such unjust punishments, I can’t see the reason for something this extreme. As I poke some eggs around my plate, I hear Riven come down the hall with Mack and Brady. Like they used to do every time I stayed the night with them, Mack and Brady greet me with soft words and a gentle kiss on the top of my head - the same greeting they give their daughter every morning. They pile their plates high and comment on how my demeanor has changed since the day before. Riven teasingly agrees, knowing his remarks will earn him casual sass in return. The four of us talk about our decision to befriend the three girls from 1, 7, and 11, our mentors advising us to be cautious with what we tell them and to avoid many conversations with them, but in the end, they agree that it’s a good idea for now. In the elevator, on our way downstairs, Riven and I are joking and talking as though we’re back home, heading out for work instead of heading to a training room to improve our killing skills.

Once we’re downstairs and pinned with the same cloths as before, Royce joins us and we talk about our plans for the day. We talk about the decision we’ve come to with our mentors and, once the girls arrive, we tell them about the decision we’ve made. They seem genuinely pleased with the idea that they won’t have more people breathing down their necks in the arena, but I still feel just a little put off by their peppy demeanor. The six of us don’t talk for long before we’re allowed to explore, but Riven stays with me and Royce for most of the day, working on things with us or near us while we try our hands at archery, sword-fighting, and weight-lifting. A few times, I spot him talking with Jade, Erica, or Lexi at a nearby station while Royce and I work on something else - most likely trying to figure out if there's anything untrustworthy about them that he needs to worry about - but he doesn't stay with them too much.

Royce excels at the identification station, his memory proving strong as he flies through matching different berries and plants to their names. With how much he tells me he reads back home, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s probably read through some books to learn more about the things at that station. I find my niche with the sword-fighting and knife-throwing stations, but I try my hand at as many things as possible. When lunch comes, we talk like the three of us have known each other forever and it feels like we're just three friends chatting around the lunch table at work. Riven eases into the conversation like Royce is just another kid from work while I allow the little bond I’ve formed with Royce to fuel the conversation. We seem to be some of the few who are chatting amiably - the only others being the trio of girls who are too busy giggling in the corner for me to assume they’re talking about anything smart.

The rest of our training day continues the same way the day before had, with more time spent improving skills that aren’t occupied by the chaos that comes with the Careers. I take my time at the archery station with Royce, both of us hoping to improve with long-range weapons over anything that would force us into close combat. Riven excels at hand-to-hand sparring and it seems as though even the Careers notice how well-rounded his abilities are. I notice many of the Gamemakers watching Riven wherever he goes. Right, our private sessions are tomorrow. I have no clue what to do. Even if I play it off like I can’t handle myself, they’ll still give me a high number, a bigger target. I can’t ask Royce what he plans on doing - his brother’s earbuds are discretely tucked in his ears underneath his curls and I can tell from the occasional, unintentional smile that at least one of his siblings is listening in and telling him things just the same as Mick does with me every now and then.

Alternatively, Mick stays quiet while I train, only giving me soft encouragement and hopeful words when she thinks I need it or when we’re walking to another station. She helps me perfect my aim in archery and teaches me to keep my breathing calm when I work on sword-fighting with one of the trainers. By the time training is over for the day, I feel even more lost than when I started. Being in one of the first districts to do a private session, I’ll have even less time to come up with something and even more eyes on me. With everything that happened last year, I already know I’ll have a high number shining bright for the world to see tomorrow night. The idea binds my stomach into knots and sets me on edge. Most tributes outside of the Careers don’t score nearly high enough to matter to the general public unless their family did something wrong and the Gamemakers are punishing them for the Capitol. Everyone knows that.

Riven will exceed no matter what - he’s strong, smart, and looks like an ideal tribute. With any luck, he’ll get near seven. Royce is skilled mentally, but I know he can handle himself with long-distance weapons, so if he can use that, he’ll get a nice score for himself. Even though I know I’ll have a high target on my head, I still find myself stressing over what to show the Gamemakers. I can handle axes and swords, but with my eyesight, my archer’s aim is probably considered novice even though I know my way around a bow. I need to think of something to do to impress the Gamemakers, but there’s no telling what they’ll even be looking for. As Riven’s arm around my shoulders pulls me close, I try to relax. Regardless of what I do tomorrow, they can’t make my time in the arena any worse than it already will be. Why fuss over it if it doesn’t even matter?

After we eat dinner, our mentors join us on the roof, staring up at the starry sky we’re only barely able to see. We aren’t alone for long as Royce and his mentors join us. The girl tribute from their district, Lotus, is nowhere to be seen and I get the impression that she’s keeping to herself as much as possible since I only ever see her in training. Royce, Riven, and I spend a while talking, but Royce gets called away by the male mentor, Butchy, who wraps an arm around Royce’s shoulders and starts including him in whatever conversation he’s having with Mick’s parents. While they chatter, Riven and I sit against the railing and he distracts himself with meaningless, one-sided conversation until I rest my head against his shoulder. I can almost feel his gaze on me as he softly asks, “What’s the matter, Pip?”

“I’m nervous.”

“Really?” I nod against Riven’s arm and he chuckles, “That’s funny, I thought your name was Vivien.”

Rolling my eyes at his pathetic joke, I sigh, “You’re such an ass.”

“So I’ve heard,” he says as he rests his head on mine. “Now, what’s bothering you?”

Everything is bothering me, but I can’t really tell him that, can I? I can’t tell him about how the only thing I can think about is that every minute that passes is only bringing us that much closer to imminent death. I can’t tell him that I’m terrified to so much as look at the other tributes out of fear that it will move me higher up on their kill lists. I can’t even begin to tell him about the fear that, when I die, Mick will probably be forced to watch up close and listen as I take my final breath. Instead, I take a deep breath, shake my head, and say, “We only have three more days of freedom.”

“We’ll be out again before you know it,” he assures me. “If we let everyone else kill each other off and then just defend ourselves as best as we can, we’ll be out before we know it.”

“How come you sound so sure of yourself?”

Riven chuckles and squeezes me close, “I have many reasons and I know that, sooner or later, you’ll understand. Until then, hold on to the hope that we’ll make it out just fine.”

“If you say so.”

Once again, I feel the light shaking as Riven chuckles, but he doesn’t say anything as Royce’s other mentor, Kona, approaches us with a smirk. “You two look… cozy.”

“I’m letting him think he’s being a good brother,” I tell her. “In reality, I’m using him as a pillow.”

Riven snorts, leaning away enough to brace a hand against my face and shove me away, “And there goes that moment.”

Kona rolls her eyes at us, but tells Riven that Mack wants to see him before filling the empty spot he leaves. She sighs as she leans against the railing, “You’re a terrible liar, I hope you know that.”

I find her eyes on mine and nod slowly, “I’m aware.”

“Good,” Kona breathes. “You can stop lying then.”

“About what?”

“‘About what?’” she mimics, allowing her youth to shine through as she sends me a stare that shows off just how no-nonsense this child is. “About you and Royce.”

“What about us?”

“I see the way you two look at each other,” Kona explains.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say with a shake of my head. “We barely know each other.”

“Royce says you two used to talk all the time.”

“We did.”

Kona sighs, “Well, I guess that meant a lot more to him than it did to you.”

I find the girl’s eyes and ask, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“He really cares about you and wants to keep you safe in the arena.” She pauses to glare my way, “Do you even care if he dies in there?”

“Of course, I do,” I quickly insist. Royce and I are in the same boat and I know we both know it. We both had people risk their lives for us, we both grieved for people who weren’t dead, and we both were reaped as penance for their rebellion. I wouldn’t wish any of that on anyone, especially not Royce. Especially not now that I know his brothers will be watching just as intently as Mick and my family will. I planned on protecting him as much as I can in the arena even before we decided to put on a little romantic show for the Capitol. The idea that I wouldn’t even care if he dies is outrageous and I guess the look on my face tells Kona as much as she smirks.

“I thought so.” My eyebrow raises in confusion and she giggles, “You love him.”

My train of thought had been so far from hers that her words slam into my brain like whiplash. I hadn’t thought of Royce as anything other than another teammate and friend, but the all-knowing smirk on Kona’s face tells me that she’s been thinking this way for a while. My mouth opens and closes a few times like one of those dumb fish Riven used to care for back home, but the only thing that eventually comes out of me is a soft, “What?”

“You heard me,” Kona says as she rolls her eyes, her proud grin still very much present. “Let’s face it, even if you’re not in love with him yet, you still care about him.”

“He’s my friend, of course, I care.”

“Prove it,” she challenges.

Sparing a glance at where everyone else has congregated, I turn to Kona and quietly tell her, “I have something you can tell Royce, but none of the other tributes.”

Kona leans forward, a mischievous glimmer shining proudly in her eyes. “Deal. Spill.”

I cup a hand by her ear and whisper, “I overheard that the arena is going to be a cruise ship.”

“Are you sure?” she asks. “I thought nobody was allowed to know ahead of time.”

“My stylist is the president’s daughter,” I say with a small shrug. “They were talking about it on the phone.”

“You eavesdropped on them?”

“I overheard them.”

“You eavesdropped.”

With a sigh, I relent, “Okay, yeah, I eavesdropped, but you can’t tell anybody.”

A quiet, but maniacal laugh bubbles out of Kona as she beams at me, “If I didn’t already like you, I certainly do now.”

I don’t bother fighting the smile that comes across my face as I chuckle, “The feeling is mutual.”

As we relax against the metal bars and watch our friends converse, Kona leans against my arm with a contented sigh, “Good luck tomorrow.”

“Thanks,” I find myself muttering in return. “I’m going to need it.”

The next morning, I find myself staring at the ceiling, hoping that I’ll never have to leave the safety of my bed. I don’t want to face the Gamemakers. Our private sessions just bring us all another step closer to our deaths - another nail in our coffins. Mick says nothing to me once I put my glasses on, but I don’t take it personally since I know it must be early for her. The glasses only help me stare blankly at the ceiling and I spend my time finding little patterns in the plaster until a knock at my door tells me other people are awake. Despite knowing this, I refuse to move until Riven comes in and sits near my hip. My gaze turns to him and I find his concerned expression does nothing for my rising nerves.

“It’s a cruise ship,” I tell him hoarsely, my throat still raw from a combination of last night’s tears and the fact that I haven’t spoken since we reached our floor last night.

Riven’s eyebrow raises in confusion. “What is?”

“The arena,” I mutter. “It’s going to be a cruise ship.”

“How do you know?”

“I overheard Juliet talking with her dad.”

Despite my admission being farfetched, Riven nods, “I guess it’s a good thing we swim in the lake back home.” I hum in agreement - that had been my first thought as well. “Well, are you ready for breakfast?”

“Not really,” I admit as I sit up. “That just brings us closer to our sessions and I’m definitely not ready for that.”

Riven chuckles as he pats my arm, “Just do what I’m going to do.”

“What would that be?”

“Have fun,” he explains. “I’ve seen you handle knife-throwing, swords, and archery with ease. All you have to do is act like you’re with me or Royce in there, just screwing around. Because of last year, they’ll probably give you a good score no matter what. I’m the one who has to work for it.”

Is that really all I have to do? He makes it sound so easy. I take a deep breath and begin to push away the blankets I’ve surrounded myself in. If I can find a way to remain calm and pretend I’m with friends, I’ll make it out just fine. Like Riven says, I'll have a high score regardless of what I do. I spend breakfast mostly listening to the conversation around me, occasionally pitching in when I feel the need to, but remaining silent otherwise. The elevator ride downstairs is mostly silent as we end up joining the tributes from four, but Riven’s grasp on my hand is reassuring at the very least. The day starts as it always does - calm, almost playful, and strategic so we can attract as much attention as possible. Multiple times, I find at least a pair of eyes glued to Riven or Royce. I can’t say they aren’t warranting attention, but I notice the chances of having any eyes on me are slim to none.

Lunch comes a lot faster than it normally seems to and District 1 starts off the private sessions. Normally, fifteen minutes go by slower when you want it to be over, but it feels as though everyone’s names are being called faster than expected. We are disallowed from sitting with whoever we want, so I find myself sparing discreet glimpses in Royce’s direction as he bounces his leg anxiously under the lunch table. He’s just as nervous as I am, but unlike me, he doesn’t have someone telling him to keep calm. His earbuds are long gone, probably to avoid suspicion, and his fellow tribute is too busy staring blankly at the wall to bother talking with him. I, on the other hand, have Riven quietly telling me that I’ll be fine while Mick chatters softly to me through my glasses, offering what little reassurance she can give. I find myself wanting Royce to have the same comfort, but all I can offer him in the practically silent cafeteria are small smiles and hopeful stares.

The grip I have on Riven’s hand can’t be comfortable, but he muscles through it with a smile on his face as though I’m not forcing all of the blood circulations in his hands to stall. My grasp only tightens as the speakers call Riven’s name, but I reluctantly allow him to move away as he stands. He shoots me a signature smirk as he makes his way toward the door and my eyes follow his every movement until the door slides back into place and all I see is the metal etching of the Capitol seal. My hands run cold and I try desperately to find some sort of warmth by rubbing my palms on my pantlegs and tucking my trembling fingers under my arms, but it does little to comfort me. Mick’s voice is soft, warm, and, for a moment, it feels as though she’s with me, but I feel like I’m going to be sick just thinking about what’s waiting for me beyond the door, so her words do nothing for me.

As time ticks by, I find Royce’s gaze on me every time I so much as glance his way. He sends me a small smile of reassurance that helps me find the ability to breathe as my name is called over the speakers. There’s no way that it’s been fifteen minutes. I turn to Royce and he quickly nods, forcing me to stand. As I take a deep breath, I run my hands over the braids Mick’s mom wove for me, smoothing stray hairs back before stepping into the gymnasium. The Gamemakers, thankfully, haven’t gotten too bored or drunk to think yet. According to Mick, they’ll stay mildly sober throughout the Career districts before breaking out the strong stuff, finding themselves bored with the rest of the districts. The good thing about that is, once they break into the strong stuff, they’ll completely forget what I did in my session and just give me a solid score regardless.

I get the feeling that Riven must have done something to draw their attention since, as soon as I enter, all eyes are on me. They seem… alert. I glance around the room and find a rather large sparring mat has been moved to the center of the room, the distinct scent of citrus and bleach telling me that there’s something under the mat that I’m not supposed to see. I wonder what happened, which tribute left a mess under the mat, but Mick’s voice draws me away from my thoughts, and she tells me to present myself in the middle of the room before I do anything else - the Gamemakers appreciate a tribute who shows decency. I move to the center of the room, stand on the mat under their watchful, hesitant gazes, and introduce myself and my district before waiting for the Head Gamemaker - a woman in a purple and gold robe - to tell me to begin. I turn toward the room and Mick is quick to tell me what to do - use the swords to hack away at a dummy.

Her advice is solid and I make my way to the rack of weapons before heading over to a training dummy since I have nobody to spar with. Following Mick’s advice is easy, something I know I’ll rely heavily on inside the arena if I’m allowed to keep my glasses. After landing a strong, yet accidental slice that tears a dummy’s thick, leather head clean off its shoulders, I drive my sword into its chest until the blade is lodged in the wall behind it, effectively pinning it in place. I don’t even bother sparing a glance at the Gamemakers as I know it will only end in me stumbling through the rest of my session.

Mick’s next instruction is simple, “Go grab a few knives to throw. I’ll tell you where and what to hit.” I don’t make any noise in response, but as I grab a handful of throwing knives from their case, I know she knows I’ve heard her. “Middle of the room, directly across from the Gamemakers. You’re going to hit the punching bag, each of the dummies in the chest or face, and the target for the shooting range. I’ll tell you what to do with the last one later.”

I move to the middle of the room, my small stack of throwing knives in one hand as I try to calm my breathing and stay focused. The punching bag is the easiest target, the slicing throw slitting a hole in the side that pours out piles of the bag’s contents. I quickly send three knives toward the sparring dummies, driving the metal deep into the imitation skin that coats each of the fake humans. Last, but not least, I throw one across the room at the archery range, wedging my second-to-last knife into the wall through the bull’s eye.

“That’s my girl!” Mick cheers and I fight the smile that begs to surface. “Alright, Vivi, last one. You’re going to make sure they remember you. Go back to the center of the room for me.”

I spare a glance at the Gamemakers as I move, but their attention is more targeted toward the large bottle of alcohol they’re all trying their damnedest to open. Even the Head Gamemaker isn’t paying me any attention. None of them are. “What do I do now?” I mutter, supposedly to myself.

“Make them pay for it,” Mick replies. “Remember what they did to me last year. Remember what you felt back then, how it hurt to think I died because of them, how you feel now. All the pain, the hurt, the anger. Let it bubble over. Make sure they remember you.”

The day Mick died in the arena, I thought the Capitol was playing tricks on us. Mick couldn’t be dead after trying so hard to survive. She had promised she would win, promised me that she would come home - she couldn’t have died in that explosion. I was one raging fourteen-year-old that day. I broke into one of the old hub buildings and went on a rampage smashing everything in sight. I saw red. When she came home, I was glad, but also angry. She sat me down later on and explained everything, but now I understood her rage toward the Capitol and all it stood for. Take the Gamemakers, for example. They were more interested in the bottle of alcohol they were all struggling to open than they were with me and my score. Taking a few, sharp breaths, I feel my heart begin to pound as the adrenaline rises. I reel back and launch my last knife at the stands they were watching from, relishing in the shatter as my knife sails through the glass bottle and pins the cork into the wall behind the table.

The dark, reddish-purple liquid that had been sloshing around in the glass splatters across the table, the wall, and the people standing in the vicinity. A few of the Gamemakers drop their anticipatory wineglasses which shatter musically against the floor, several let out shrieks of surprise, and a couple look to be on the verge of fainting, but the look of shock is unanimous. As I straighten my posture and take a slow breath, I try to appear as nonchalant as possible. I don’t want to think about the huge target I’ve just placed on myself, but Mick cackles in my ear about a great shot. I’ve certainly made myself memorable now. I clear my throat and declare, “Thank you for your time,” before giving them a sharp curtsy and leaving before they could bother stopping or dismissing me.

Mick is surprisingly silent as I stride toward the elevator. The gaping Avoxes who stand guard at the elevator step aside as I near them, my uncontrollable expressions portraying just how enraged I am. As soon as I’m inside the elevator, I slap the District 3 button with my palm and watch the doors close as I lean against the back wall. Letting out the breath I sucked in, I allow gravity to do its work and, as the elevator floats past different levels, I slump to the floor with a sigh, “What did I just do?”

“You just got yourself a prime spot on the Gamemakers’ hit lists,” Mick claims.

“That was so stupid!”

“Yeah, it was!” she exclaims. “But it was also incredible.”

With a groan, I rest my arms on my knees and press my forehead to my arms, “I can’t believe I did that.”

“Neither can I,” Mick chuckles airily. “I thought you were just going to aim for the wall or the table, not the wine bottle, but the looks on their faces were so worth it!”

As soon as the doors open, I see Riven approaching and push myself to my feet. When he sees me on the floor, his beaming, proud smile falters and he asks, “What happened?”

I step out of the elevator and sigh, “I just signed my death warrant.”

“What did you do?” he questions.

“Threw a knife at their wine.”

Riven’s eyes scan me in disbelief before a scoffed laugh brings amusement to his face. “I would have paid big bucks to see their faces.”

The genuine humor and support in his hazel eyes make me smile, “Somehow, I doubt everyone else is going to feel the same way when my score comes out.”

“Maybe not,” Riven shrugs, “but you’re not the only one in the line of fire.”

“What did you do?” I ask.

Riven slings an arm around my shoulders as he leads me toward the living room. “Let’s just say you and I are both going down with the ship.”

We have a long while to wait before our scores are announced, but we don’t do more than sit around and talk as time ticks by like a snail crawling uphill through a pile of molasses. Mack and Brady tell me how Riven went into his session and went berserk, showing off his unyielding strength and obvious talents in just a few minutes. His smile emphasizes how proud he is of his display as he tells me about how he used the supplies from the camouflage station to write out a message on the floor in bloodred berry juice. Riven’s message had cut his time in the session short as they dismissed him early to clean up after his mess, but he knew they got the message. ‘For Makana and Miles’ was certainly a bold choice, especially since we weren’t from 6 and had no ties with Miles, but it would certainly stick in the Gamemakers' minds - a resounding message to show that we weren’t going down without putting up a fight, just like Mick and Miles had.

When I bring up what I did in my session, I watch as their expressions shift into something close to horror. It strikes me as odd. Why is it so bad that I did something to call the Gamemakers out on their bullshit, but when Riven does it, he’s praised? Mrs. Birch is quick to school her expression, plastering a small smile on her face as she asks, “What did they say?”

“I don’t know, but they definitely looked startled,” I tell her. “I left before they could tell me anything.”

“You left without being dismissed?” Brady asks, his upward tone of surprise not even slightly covered.

“I dismissed myself,” I say with a shrug. “They can’t make my life any worse than they already have, so what’s the point in playing nice?”

Riven nods in agreement. “They can’t do anything to her family either since they’d have to tell everyone what happened and everything that happens here is supposed to stay a secret.”

Before Brady can say anything, Mack places a hand on his and shakes her head. “They’re right. The Gamemakers can’t do anything to them until they’re inside the arena and, even then, they can’t make things much worse.”

Brady examines his wife’s face and, after she sends him an encouraging grin, he sighs and turns to me and Riven with a smirk of his own, cheekily asking, “What were their faces like?”

A smirk tugs at my lips as I proudly declare, “Some were shocked, One guy looked like he’d pass out, and a few of them had wine all over the place and looked more worried about their clothes than anything, but they looked ridiculous to me.”

As her parents and Riven laugh, Mick snorts in my earpiece, “That’s putting it lightly, Viv.”

I softly chuckle amidst the laughter and mutter, “Shut up.”

“What?” Mack asks as the laughter around the table begins to die down.

Had she heard me over Riven’s raucous laughter? The slightly raised eyebrow she sends me seems to imply that she did. As I try to think of something to say, Mick tells me that I can tell them later, on the roof, but for now, make up an excuse and ask if we can order dinner. With a smile and a shake of my head, I say, “I was just wondering if we could order something to eat. I didn’t feel like eating much at lunch.”

Although Mack doesn’t look like she believes a word I’ve said, her husband smiles and nods, “We’ll put in the order as soon as Juliet and Topaz get here. Why don’t you go wash up and relax for a while, maybe get some snacks to tide yourselves over?”

Mack slowly nods, plastering a smile on her face that I can tell isn’t fully real, “We’ll send your stylists to get you when they arrive.”

Riven and I share a nod and rise from the couch, but instead of following him down the hall, I make my way to where Mack and Brady are sitting and wrap an arm around them both, squeezing them tight as I whisper, “I want to tell you something on the roof tonight, is that okay?”

“Of course,” Brady mutters in a breath.

Mack takes my hand in hers as I back away, “If you want me to braid your hair before dinner, let me know.”

The braids she had woven into a crown around my head have certainly begun fraying and I give her a small grin and a nod that she returns. She presses a quick kiss to my cheek before releasing her grip on my hand, curling into her husband’s side as I head toward the hallway leading to my room. Mick is silent as I walk through the halls, but the moment the door to my quarters closes behind me, she barrages me with compliments and comments about how great my little performance with the Gamemakers was. Mick quickly eases up when I tell her that I’m still shaking from it all. She chuckles and softly tells me that it’s normal and that her anxiety only eased after her score was announced. After allowing me to relax on the bed for a little while, Mick instructs me to relax and take my time washing up and getting comfortable since I’ll be spending the entire day tomorrow with Juliet, training in potentially uncomfortable clothing for my interviews. After spending a few more minutes procrastinating and talking with Mick, I take a change of clothes from the closet, leave my glasses in the same spot I did the last time I showered, and allow myself to relax in the swimming pool of a bathtub I’m allowed to use.

As the steam and excessive bubbles roll over me, I wonder briefly about what Royce chose to do for his session, but I’ll have time to ask him about it when we get the chance to talk again. I wonder if he had to fight for them to watch him since they had, undoubtedly, broken out the stronger alcohol after the spectacles Riven and I made. Like Riven said, it doesn’t really matter what Royce and I do for our sessions since the Gamemakers will just give us high scores anyway, but I can’t say the displays Riven and I put on will help us at all. I allow my thoughts to float around aimlessly as I relax in the never-cooling water. I have no desire to leave the warmth and relaxation the tub brings. My life will only begin to get more chaotic once I pry myself from the warm, watery embrace; who in their right mind would want to leave the safety and comfort the bathtub provides?

Eventually, the pads of my fingers begin to look more like the disgusting raisins our school would force on us at snack time than they do fingers and I decide to leave the sanctuary I’ve made in the water. I’m dried almost instantly and I find it easy to slide into the clean, fluffy clothes I pulled from the closet. Instead of allowing the technology in the bathroom to dry my hair instantly, I pull a towel from the closet and drape it around my shoulders in the hopes that Mick’s mom will braid it for me while we wait for the food to arrive. My glasses find their normal place on the bridge of my nose as I leave the bathroom, but my thoughtless brain stalls when a solid rap on the door to my bedroom makes me freeze in place. Knowing it must be someone from our group, I clear my throat and holler, “Yeah?”

“Dinner will be here soon.” I can tell from the soft, mildly accented voice that it’s Juliet. “Are you going to join us?”

Instead of directly answering, I make my way to the door with a smile and open it, “Do you know what we’re having?”

“Not a clue,” she answers as she allows me to walk with her toward the dining room. We walk in silence until Juliet tosses her hair over her shoulder and asks, “How do you think you did?”

“I think I did great,” I tell her with a chuckle, “but I doubt the Gamemakers will say the same.”

Juliet’s eyebrow raises, the gears turning in her brain as she asks, “Why do you say that?”

“I threw a knife at them, for one.”

Juliet stills and I have to turn back to her as she questions, “Why would you do that?”

I don’t bother to keep myself from scoffing, “I guess, after all that happened last year, they probably have it out for me anyway. Why bother caring what number they give me?”

“You don’t care that all of the other tributes will be out to get you?”

“Not really,” I say with a shrug. “I have Riven to protect me if I need it, but what’s the worst thing they could do to me? Kill me and reap my siblings as payback? They’ve already done that once to my family; I highly doubt the districts will stand for it again.”

“What do you mean?” Juliet asks.

“They killed my best friend, my sister, last year just like they did to Royce’s brother Miles,” I explain. “This year, they tried to reap me and my little brother despite neither of us having many entries and my papers being taken out of the bowl entirely. I don’t doubt the Capitol would try to pull the same shit again next year if they thought the districts wouldn’t catch on.”

Juliet’s confused gaze fades into an expression of horrified understanding. “How do you know your papers were taken out? That isn’t legal.”

I scoff, “Peacekeepers in my district will do anything for the right price. I didn’t know about it until I got on the train.”

“Is that what you think happened to Royce as well?” she asks softly.

“Most likely,” I shrug. “We’re both in the same position here. I think that’s why we’re getting along so well.”

For a moment, Juliet looks as though a million thoughts are racing through her head and, with how many lies have probably been drilled into her head from a young age, I’m not surprised. The idea of everything she knows getting blown out of the water and disproven must be hard for her to accept. Before she’s able to say anything more, though, Brady calls from the dining room, telling us that the food has arrived. Juliet glances in the direction of the dining room before letting out a sigh and turning to meet my gaze, “Do you mind telling them that I’ll be there in a minute? I have something I need to do before I eat.”

As much as I want to know what’s going on inside Juliet’s head, I don’t bother asking. It won’t get me anywhere. I simply send her a nod and say, “Yeah, no problem.” Juliet sends me a beaming smile that I feel is masking something that I’m not sure I want to know about, but she scurries off to her room before I think to question her on it. With a shrug and a roll of my eyes, I turn back toward the dining room and hum to myself as I make my way through the halls to the main area of the apartment. Riven and his stylist are already sitting at the table, waiting and talking with our escort, Halo, as well as Mack and Brady when I get there. Our mentors have long since gotten over their frustration with us - on the outside, at least - and are sipping at some pale blue liquid as they smile and talk with the others at the table. I ask Mack if she would mind braiding my hair for me and I sit in the chair she vacates as the Avoxes in the room begin setting out the food for us all. My hair begins neatly weaving into two thick braids before I know it and I explain what Juliet had told me. By the time my braids are done and I stand to find my seat, the food has been set out already and Juliet comes into the room with a smile on her face that feels as though she knows something I don’t, but I don’t feel like questioning her. She probably wouldn’t tell me and that’s totally fine - everyone is entitled to having secrets so long as they don’t hurt anyone and I feel as though Juliet would tell me if something was serious or life-threatening.

Our meal passes rather quickly and, just like Riven, I find myself thanking the voiceless Avoxes for everything they place before me. The male Avox from the other day is one of the few to handle the food and drinks that are served and I make sure to thank him every time I can. More than once, I find him grinning at the praise, but he doesn’t dare smile as he moves away. By the time the food is done and everyone begins to vacate the table, the male Avox lingers with one other, both of which I make sure to thank for treating us so well. I don’t know if they’ll be back tomorrow during our private training, but I want to make sure they know that I’m grateful for how well they’ve treated us. While one Avox simply nods and gets back to clearing the table as swiftly as possible, the Avox I spoke to before meets my gaze, sends me a small, barely noticeable smile, and nods deeply before beginning to take the stacks of plates and silverware Riven and I had helped make to make it easier for the silent workers. The green-eyed Avox has been nothing but friendly to me and the others and I bet he doesn’t deserve the punishment he’s been given. As I watch him silently gather everything from the table and set things on a rolling cart, I contemplate whether or not I’ll be able to ask Juliet who he is. I don’t want to be calling him by his punishment. Nobody deserves that.

Taking a deep breath, I force myself to allow Juliet to pull me away from the dining room, and, once we’re in the living quarters, she drops into the seat on my left while Riven occupies the cushion to my right. Halo, who had barely been making an appearance throughout our training days, orders the television to turn on and, despite how much I want to ask her what she’s been up to, I don’t get the chance to as the television begins to air the scoring program. Figuring I’ll have time to ask questions later, I relax into the couch with a sigh and force myself to watch as the photograph of the male tribute from District 1 - Onyx - is shown. The commentators spout off some nonsense about him and his history, but he only pulls a seven, which is low for the Careers. His emerald-haired teammate, Jade, scores a slightly higher nine, something I can’t imagine goes over well just a few floors away. The duo from District 2 that are named after the rocks that probably fill their skulls, Granite and Ashlar, score what I can only assume are the lowest scores any Career tribute has ever gotten - a pair of sixes. Although I doubt the tributes themselves will care much with how idly they’ve been wandering around the gymnasium, I can’t say the same will go for their mentors.

Finally, Riven’s picture is displayed and, despite his normally calm exterior, I catch his posture stiffening in my peripheral vision. He’s nervous and, as the commentators begin blabbering about how amazing he is - which I absolutely agree with - I hear Riven sigh as his leg begins bouncing like a rubber ball in a middle school gym class. As soon as the commentators continue telling us everything we already know about Riven, I reach over and take his hand, hoping my light grasp will be reassuring, but his immediate squeeze tells me that he is anything but calm. The commentators finish their dramatic retelling of Riven’s life and how much they like him by announcing his name once more and pausing before slowly telling us what his score is - a ten. Riven has scored higher than all of the other tributes so far and if the wide eyes and slacked jaw on his face are anything to go by, he is just as surprised as the commentators appear to be. I release his hand to wrap my arms around his waist and I feel him relax with the breath he lets out, a chuckle disguising how he must truly feel about the revelation.

Our little embrace doesn’t last long as the commentators declare that I’m next on the metaphorical chopping block. Once I’m back to facing the television, Riven’s arm drops around my shoulders, a solidity that tells me to remain strong and steady regardless of what number I find overlapping my photograph. From my other side, Juliet takes my hand captive, her soft, delicate fingers weaving between mine, reminding me that despite her knowledge and political advantages, the blonde probably has an entirely different outlook on this than I do. She’ll never have to face the Hunger Games as a tribute, putting her life on the line for the entertainment of the Capitol, but I have a feeling that she knows exactly how I’m feeling about it all. If the look in her eyes wasn’t enough of a tell for me, the commentator’s mention of her whirlwind relationship with her last tribute from District 1 and her crestfallen expression at the mention of his name certainly is. I try to comfort her with a smile despite the situation I’m in, but she seems to appreciate the attempt all the same.

As the commentators begin to ramble on about me and my connection to last year’s tribute from our district - thanks for the reminder, assholes - I take comfort in the hands that grip my shoulder and my trembling fingers. They are a perfect balance of stability and gentleness, something I desperately need as the panic rises in my chest. I now know exactly how Riven felt, how Mick, Miles, and Kona all felt, how every tribute from every Hunger Games has felt. I try not to dig my manicured fingernails into Juliet’s knuckles as the tension in the room builds, but I don’t dare release the white-knuckled grasp I have on the plush couch cushions. I wish the commentators would just shut up and announce my score already so I can get over the sick feeling rolling around my stomach like the choppy waves that had drowned many ships in the lake back home, but as soon as the commentators dip into a silence that feels like it takes a few years to finish, my breath stills in my lungs and I feel the urge to scream as they slowly reveal my score.

Juliet’s ear-piercing shriek of excitement hits my ears before the score registers in my head. She’s quick to pull me into a hug, a hand pressed to the back of my head that effectively pins me over her shoulder until she releases me. Once I stand from the couch, I’m pulled into a tight squeeze by Mick’s parents who seem proud of me despite how numb I feel. It doesn’t hit me until Riven’s arms lift me off the couch and he spins me around, excitedly chanting our district number, that I realize what has happened. I know that, if I had been one of the Careers, I wouldn’t be shocked by my score at all - it was pretty average for them. However, even with the knowledge that the Gamemakers were going to pad my score, I never would have guessed that I’d find a nine proudly displayed with my picture. I figured that, even though I pulled some pretty crazy shit in the private session, they would have still treated me like most other tributes and tossed me a seven at the most. A prolonged breath seems to bring me to my senses, but I still feel a sense of shock lingering in my mind.

As Riven sets me back on the floor and the rest of our group begins chatting about plans and celebrations on the roof, I turn back to the television, only to find it swapping over to District 5. I have no clue what the redhead from 4 or her drunken partner scored, but frankly, I just don’t give a damn. I’ll find out eventually. While the others talk over the commentators and eventually mute the television, my eyes stay glued to the screen, watching the cocky morons from 5 earn a five and a four. I suck in a quick breath as Royce appears on the screen. Although I can’t hear a single thing that’s being said about him, I have no doubt that everything they say about the curly-haired, honey-eyed boy is positive. He’s too sweet for them to have anything negative to say about him anyway. I wait for what feels like forever as a majority of the others in my group begin celebrating our little victories, seemingly oblivious to the situation at hand, but eventually, I let out a sigh of relief as Royce pulls a high score, the same score as mine. A smile spreads across my face as I relax just enough to enjoy the celebrations around me.

I knew he could do it.

#Scattered Screams #Vivien #Riven #Royce #Juliet #Mick

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amazingmsme · 2 years ago

Text

Top 22 of 2022

End of the year tag game created by the lovely @otomiya-tickles This was so much fun, you always make the best tag games! Thanks for tagging me!

Part 1: Fandom Faves

01. Favorite new fandoms of the year:

Our Flag Means Death, The Boys, Moon Knight, Workaholics, The Stanley Parable, (I know I’m super late to the game but this game rocks) Godless, other seasons of critical role, inside job & uh… does Goncharov count?

02. Favorite new ships since this year:

Blackbonnet, not new but still my faves, Namdermo, & Shadowgast & probably some more that I’m forgetting

03. Favorite anime/TV show of the year:

Despite not seeing the new season, my fave anime this year is Demon Slayer. As for my favorite show of the year, I think the latest season of WWDITS wins

04. Favorite movie of the year:

Prey, Pinocchio (Guillermo del Toro), but if I had seen NOPE it would undoubtedly be that, Where the Crawdads Sing, others I’m sure. But this year I have barely seen any new movies & I haven’t seen any new marvel film starting with Spider-Man NWH (I know I know, you’re gonna beat me with rocks & all that jazz)

05. Favorite character of the year:

Caleb Widogast has had me in a headlock ever since I first saw him & he hasn’t let me go since

06. Favorite soundtrack of the year:

I genuinely don’t have an answer xiavaowh I don’t tend to remember what movie soundtracks I like unless it really stands out, & I’ve barely seen any new movies this year. But my favorite soundtracks in general are Wild America, The Kings or Summer and O Brother Where Art Thou

07. Favorite book/manga/comic of the year:

I don’t keep up with what is published that year, but my favorite book I found this year is Night Film by Marisha Pessl

08. Favorite game of the year:

Favorite game actually released this year? God of War Ragnarok. Favorite one I’ve played this year? Either Doki Doki Literature Club or The Stanley Parable

09. Highlight of this year to remember:

Fuckin’ Goncharov babyyyyy!

Part 2: Community Review

10. Favorite Tumblr moments of 2022:

Goncharov obvi, the queen’s death crab rave, Nov. 5th anniversary, & all the memes that came out this year. I have no grip on time so I have no idea which ones came out this year & I’m so dead inside I can’t force myself to remember

11. Favorite fan art of the year:

I don’t keep things organized enough to be able to actually find my favorite fan art specifically, but @fluffomatic is one of my fave artists on here, along with @ssnicker-doodless & @shyticklemonster r, @fluffy-alien alien but of course tons of other blogs as well!

12. Favorite fic of the year:

Bold of you to assume I can pick favorites & actually remember them 12 months later skagdk fr tho, some of my favorites are You Got My Devotion & Temptation, Frustration, So Bad It Makes Him Cry- @nhasablogg A Gentleman's Torture- @august-anon & uh, basically every single critical role fic. But specifically Waiting For My Mind To Go To Sleep & Embarrassing and Undignified- @chockfullofsecrets lightning damage- @spritewrites & something good to celebrate- @sapphicquill

13. Favorite ask game of the year:

Even tho I never really get asks when I reblogged that kind of stuff, I really enjoyed the list of questions on the fic writer ask game

14. My top achievements as a writer/artist/creator/blogger:

I finally managed to participate in tickletober & finish it despite 2 major deaths in the family at that time, can someone say coping mechanism?

15. My own best fic/post of the year:

I gotta go through & actually look but Draw Me Something as Pretty as You did the numbers this year, like ever other steddie fic lol. MY personal favorite tho was Dare to be Bold & actually got over 100 notes.

16. My most underappreciated fic/post of the year:

Too many of my tickletober fics tbh but that’s what I get for writing for microscopic fandoms like new girl, tuck everlasting & wolf 359 which all clock in around 10 notes each. You’d think with only 4 notes my Night Film fic What A Prize would win this category. But my Imposters fic Junk in the Trunk & Workaholic fic Pizza Payback tie with a whopping 1 note!!!

17. A post of mine that got more popularity than expected:

My recent “porn bots want me carnally” shitpost. I guess because it’s so relevant? (Seriously don’t get me started on that, I had close to 10 try to follow me yesterday alone)

18. Something I changed on my blog since this year:

I made a kofi! So if you feel like supporting me or you really want a fic, feel free to commission me!

Part 3: Next Year

19. Something I didn’t post this year but would like to do next year:

Mark my words I WILL make a Goncharov tickle fic, just you wait & see. I also want to write more for new or smaller fandoms I enjoy & get back to writing my chaptered fics. I also have some long one shots I want to make

20. Goals for next year:

Keep writing as much as I can, get back into physical art like oil painting, post more of my chaptered fics that I accidentally. I also want to read more fics because I really fell behind this year due to mental health & school

21. 2023 releases I look forward to the most:

The new season of The Legend of Vox Machina & uuuuhhh yeah I’m brain dead, I have no fuckin’ clue what’s coming out next year

Part 4: Spreading Love

22. Shoutouts to people who made my 2022 a better year:

I can’t promise to remember everyone, but I can sure try. Thanks to everyone for making this year not suck as much as it could’ve, y’all don’t know how much it makes me smile

@happyandticklish @ticklishraspberries @ticklish-touch @raybidtickles @shunniebuns @sugarfics @hypahticklish @fluffomatic @fluffy-lee-boa @fluffy-alien @a-fluffer-nutter @a-simple-lee @lemonsandstrawberries @tickletastic @anasticklefics @tickle-bugs @tickle-fight-club @rosileeduckie @thebest-medicine @peachytickles @poesparakeet-fics @eldritchtickles @tickly-floof @spritewrites @august-anon @ticklygiggles @sapphicquill @nhasablogg @chockfullofsecrets @sunlitanon @shyticklemonster @ssnicker-doodless

& a ton of others! Love you all & I’m so glad I have y’all in my corner!

#tag meme #tag game #otomiya tickles #best of 2022 #writer ask game #writer memes #fic meme

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valleynix · 2 years ago

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im awake 👁️👁️ now you have not one.. BUT TWO ANALYSTS COMING IN (I love ur analysis Luna 😭😭 Ima try and talk about some points you didn’t talk about cuz I agree with all of yours🥰)

I wanted to do one on chp 15 when it came out (it’s was about the time I first found tptm and ur tumblr) but I was too internet shy to interact with anyone 💀💀 BUT NOWWWWWWW 🤭🤭

I Read chp 16 till like 3am and I have no regrets (after this I’m totally drawing a shit ton of this chp)

Yeah I’m sure you do lunny

I Like to think Cassandra likes to just look at reader’s face and study them when they’re not looking (considering she noticed their eyes on lunatic earlier). she’s so cute 😭😭

now this, THIS I GOTTA DRAW

NO CUZ LIKE

I WAS JUMPING FOR JOY WHEN THIS PART HAPPENED

Ngl i was actually shocked when Daria came back (I kinda forgot about her 😭😭😭)

It was funny when Daniela came by and Daria realized reader rizzed up all of the dimitrescus 😭

I am actually really interested on what you’ll do with darias character. She’s a bit brash, but it’s understandable, and it's interesting to see an outside perspective on reader. We’ve mostly seen the dimitrescus opinion on reader (not so much the maids cuz reader cant understand them) and their opinions have been very positive, so to see readers reactions to negative opinions on them is interesting

You jealous Dani ?🤨🤨🤨

Yes she is and it’s so sad

so many people left her and she’s afraid reader is just going to disappear or break because of her😭 thankfully readers devotion to her is unwavering

AND THAT BITCH RED😡, MAN I HATE THEM SO MUCH‼️‼️ IM STARTING A RED HATE CLUB RN ☝️

HERE WE ARE GUYS‼️WE’REE HEREE DANII KNOWSS

This scene was so sad and the way you wrote it is phenomenal. I’m glad reader finally talked to Dani about this. Now both Dani and cass will be there for reader. However I truly wonder how reader will talk to Alcina and Bela about this. I doubt they would stop loving them if they tell but I feel like their reactions will be slightly different. I think alcina will be the last person reader will talk to about it because it’s kinda hard to admit to a mother that you killed her children in another timeline 💀

YEAH DANIELA BEAT SOME SENSE INTO THEM

But honestly reader’s guilt is probably one of the most heartbreaking things in tptm. Imagine falling in love with this family who helped you when you forgot everything about who you were, only to be controlled into killing them again and again. That sense of hopelessness they felt in chp 13 or 14 (i dont remember 💀) when they were stuck in their head trying to go back but lunatic prevented it, or the first reality when lunatic blamed reader for being weak. It made reader think that they were the reason they all died, that they didn’t try hard enough to save them. The dimitrescus might forgive them but it’ll take a while for them to forgive themselves. Their story is so sad and I hope Dani and cass can comfort them 😭

YIPEEEEE DANIELA CONFESSSIONNN

OMGGGG I WAS SO HAPPY WHEN I READ THIS

AAAHXJSNSJANDKSKKDN I NEED TO DRAWWWW

10:

“Cassandra turns her head, her mouth opening like she was going to continue with that train of thought, but she freezes when she sees you. Her eyes widen and you’d swear you see the way her cheeks turn a darker color beneath her hood, something you’re able to get a better look at when she doesn’t move.” (LMAO I totally forgot tumblr’s ask box has a limit of ten images 💀💀💀)

BAHAHAHAH Cassandra Gay panicking has my heart SHES SUCH A DORKHDJSBSJANNS

She’s probably wondering to herself if what she witnessed is a blessing or a curse

11:

“You bring your boot up and bash it down onto what bit of their face is showing as you continue this mental torment. You bring your foot down again and again and again until they’re no longer moving and you feel nothing in their mind.”

YEAHHHHHHH BEAT THEIR ASSSS READERRERR

Red’s screams will be red hate club’s national anthem 🥰🥰

12:

“You don’t think she’s ever told you this much about herself. You listen intently, hanging on her every word.”

This scene was so AAAAAA COMMUNICATION GUYSS COMMUNICATION

alcina opening up is the best thing ever. I wonder what’s gonna happen to red now that they’ve harmed reader🤭🤭

ANYWAYS‼️‼️PHENOMENAL WRITING

I will forever love your work and will continue reading tptm

time to draw literally everything in this chp

AAAAA I JUST WOKE UP FROM MY NAP I LOVE YALL-

listen i am also too shy, i legit don’t talk to people unless they come to me first 😭 it’s horrible but i’m so glad you appeared in my ask box

ANYWAY

1. Lunny got rabies

2. she totally does- she already draws them in a pose that says they’re not looking, so she probably just stares at them and studies them when they’re distracted 😭 it’s okay though she has no malicious intent

3. SHES SO FUNNY I LOVE HER

4. the level of trust at calling her by her name :’)

5. Daniela comes by and plants a kiss on their cheek, and Daria is just >:O

i do have a plan for her- kinda. i’ll have to think more on how i want to incorporate her, but it has been interesting to write someone that just doesn’t like or trust Reader

6. JEALOUS / ANGRY DANI FAVE DANI

although yeah, the cause of her being jealous in the first place is so- genuinely people are NUTS for not liking her her enough to stay >:/

7. Alcina was always meant to be the last one to know- like you said, it’d be extremely difficult to sanely explain that you killed someone’s kids over and over but it’s fine because you went back and fixed it but also you still suffer from the trauma of doing it and witnessing it even though it wasn’t really you but also was-

yeah……

8. THIS LINE WAS SO FUNNY TO WRITE- bro’s just spiraling into self-despair and Dani will absolutely have none of it

honestly, i try to just show their trauma in small ways and i’m glad it’s been picked up so well. i mean, i couldn’t imagine waking up one day to this murderous family only for them to protect me and guide me into a fitting personality, only to one day have it all come crashing down in the span of mere minutes. i know some people think Reader’s actions are a little silly, and i would agree sometimes, but that’s the unfortunate reality of trauma and mental illness :( even though they’ve told Cass and Dani, what can they really do? they didn’t witness it. they weren’t there. they don’t wake up from nightmares that it’s happening again

but, now that Dani knows and seeing how she’s better at physical comfort, she’ll know better how to ground them, and i think that’s what they need

9. I WASNT SURE HOW WELL THIS SCENE WOULD BE RECEIVED BUT I LOVED WRITING IT- Dani openly communicating that it hurts her feelings when they think she doesn’t care enough just to try and help despite not knowing the extent of their issues 😭 please she’s so sweet and i love her

10. SHES SO CUTE SKDBSJDBS I LOVE HER SO MUCH PLEASE, her gay panicking is one of my favorite things to write 😭

11. PLEASEEE LMFAOOSHFKSND (deserved)

12. OPEN COMMUNICATION MY BELOVED ‼️

i originally wasn’t going to have Reader admit stuff so soon but i just know Alcina would not let it slide for much longer 😭 like she’s smart, shes known they’ve been lying but was trying to subtly urge them to just open up and trust her

things have been set in motion now that it’s clear Red has hurt one of the few things Alcina adores in this world. the thought of angry Alci going after them………

AAAA BUT PLS YOU DONT HAVE TO, you stay feeding us (me) with your art but you work so hard 😭 remember to eat something and drink water!! >:( <33

#asks #AKDBAKDBS RHIS AND LUNA’S ASK MADE MY DAY PLS #i get so nervous when i post a new chapter #but then i get stuff like this and i just #yippeeeeee :3

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el-patito-de-los-ojos-triste · 2 years ago

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1. Am I named after anyone?

No :v my brother has my dad’s middle name, my sister has my aunt’s middle name, my half siblings all have names taken from grandparents and junk, i alone have my own name.

2. When was the last time you cried?

Like tuesday. I came to a strong realization about myself. I’ll make a lil post about it so it can be under a cut, cuz it kinda is a big thing

3. Do you have kids?

No, I have 8 siblings, almost all significantly younger than me, who i helped raise. I absolutely need a break from children. My mom also did daycare out of the house most of my life. I’m not against having kids some day, sometimes i really like the idea of it, but none right now.

4. Do you use sarcasm a lot?

not really, only as a partof a larger joke. Make a shit ton of puns tho

5. What’s the first thing you notice about someone?

I mean, I’m pretty good at noticing things, but the things i focus on are their eyes and mouth. If they smile, how they smile, what sort of expressions their eyes are showing. Idk, I’ve trained myself to sorta make and keep eye contact when talking to people cuz it’s supposed to be like a confidence thing and manners and all sorts of stuff, and I’m socially awkward and afraid of people so I got myself to do that, so I pay most attention there.

6. What’s your eye color?

Blue, kinda like a slate gray or icy color with yknow lighting angle and such

7. Scary movies or happy endings?

Happy endings. I like to think there’s good things and they make me very happy to see, but sometimes a little jealous, kinda bittersweet. But that’s really only when I’m in a bad place

8. Special talents?

I’m really good at singing, but like I’m also super sensitive about it. I’m really really good at figuring out how things work and piecing things together. Like logic and comprehension. And I’m pretty good at remembering things. I can also juggle which i think is neat. I’m a jack of all trades, naturally, which is both cool and disheartening sometimes.

9. Where were you born?

Grand Rapids, Michigan

10. What are your hobbies?

dnd (playing and dming), crafting things (drawing, leather, jewelery, all sorts of crafts), i play video games, i like to do karaoke, i used to larp but... drama happened. In college i would do yoga and rock climbing but not quite that active anymore.

11. Have any pets?

a bunch of cats

12. What sports do you play?

In school i did football and wrestling, outside of school i did judo, jiu jitsu, to shin do, rock climbing, and fencing.

13. How tall are you?

5′ 11″ (181 cm)

14. Favorite subject in school?

mmmmm math or physics

15. Dream job?

I’ve never really had one. I don’t really care what I do so long as I can be happy when I’m home.

I was tagged by @sensitivelystoned

I’m tagging (if you wanna do it, you don’t have to)

@toto-the-cactus @plaid-n-converse @kittyofinsanity @ghost-feratu @gothneighbor @mauvv-is-dead

#burble burble

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ezras-left-thumb · 5 months ago

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Ahh, thank you for the tag!! I love doing these and your post genuinely made me smile and kick my feet🥰 let’s get into it.

1. Been into the show since it first came out! I remember waiting for the weekly episodes to come out whilst doing my homework.

2. Tech absolutely. I don’t know, he just really appeals to me?? Always has been always will be my fav <3

3. I hope no one comes at me for this but I honestly didn’t like Wrecker at first. Idk why, but i love him now!

4. That’s tough but I’d have to say… Phee or Rex.

5. Oh God. Probably Tech or Omega or Echo lol. For various reasons for each of them

6. I’m a sucker for villains so I’d have to say Hemlock, (kinda?) he’s just a character who’s so inherently evil. Hate him as a person but he’s a wonderful character.

7. Crosshair absolutely. He’s be like “Oh, you did something bad? I’ve got body bags and a solid alibi.”

8. Omega and Wrecker!! They’d make sure everyone has the appropriate amount of pillows and popcorn.

9. I can't exactly think of anything right now, not to toot my own horn or anything but I'm pretty observant.

10. Um I have a ton of headcanons in a google doc but it's far too long to put on here so I'd have to say (not weird but) when they got back to Pabu Omega took to collecting seashells to make necklaces for everyone once a year. (There's a tree with seashell jewelry on it next to Tech's goggles.)

11. Every inch of this show is worshipped by us fans, but a favourite of mine from S2 is "I may process moments and thoughts differently, but that does not mean I feel any less." -Tech

12. Eriadu. It's ridiculous how this scene stuck with me since it aired, but his death actually made me cry.

13. Writing and posting about my fic (which I need to start doing more!!) And just doing anything I can because it has a special place in my heart where all my fandoms live <3

14. Wrecker, definitely, and Hunter I think. He'd be screaming his lungs out and then come off it and grumble, "This never happened" before he goes away to vomit.

15. Hunter and Echo give oldest, Wrecker and Tech are the middle children although Tech does sorta give youngest, (somewhere in the middle) and Crosshair and Omega are the youngest IMO.

16. S2 EP4, Tech's racer episode. Or Reunion (S1 EP8) Or Ruins of War (S2 EP2) or the S3 finale.

17. Again, people are gonna come for me but probably The Outpost. Idk, it just didn't have what I wanted, personally. Or any of the ep's without the Batch as a focus. Call me needy/selfish, but...

18. Coming home from school and plonking my bag down, getting in pyjamas and grabbing my laptop to crawl into bed and watch the newest episode. Also buying my Tech action figure. He's pretty cool.

19. Mean Girls, 100%

20. Everything. The little debates over stuff, sharing headcanons and art, and everyone participates in some way or another. Fanfictions, art, animation, music, incorrect quotes, tiktoks, it's all beautiful.

BAD BATCH 20 QUESTIONS

Get to know your fellow Bad Batch fandom community! Answer the following 20 questions! (Thanks to everyone who submitted questions for this Ask Game!)

Answer the questions and tag whoever you'd like to see their answers too 🥰

When/How did you get into the show?

Who is your favorite character from the show and why?

Was there a member of the Bad Batch you didn't like at first? If so, why? Has your view changed?

Who is your favorite non-Batch character?

Which character from the show do you most relate to?

Who is your favorite villain/antagonist from the show?

If you needed a Bad Batcher to help you commit a crime, who would it be?

Which Bad Batcher would be in charge (or take charge) of movie night?

What's something you didn't notice the first time watching the Bad Batch? (Or...what's something you didn't notice until someone else in the fandom pointed it out)

What is one strange head canon you have about any of the Bad Catchers that you haven't seen anywhere else?

What is a character quote/moment that is under appreciated from the show?

What scene/moment from the show lives in your head rent free?

What's your favorite way to participate in the Bad Batch Fandom?

Which Bad Batcher would scream the loudest on a rollercoaster?

Based on vibes alone, what is the "birth order" of the Batch? (Oldest, middle, youngest)

What's your favorite episode from the show and why?

What's your least favorite episode from the show and why?

Do you have any fun memories associated with the show?

What family movie would the Cadet Batch watch on repeat?

What is your favorite thing about being part of the Bad Batch fandom?

BONUS QUESTION

Did you commit voter fraud during prompt voting for @summer-of-bad-batch? 😂 (I have a google sheet that I'll share screenshots of at the end of the challenge with PROOF of the insanity of Summer of Bad Batch voter fraud...peak insanity, peak hilarity, loved every moment of it!)

No Pressure Tags: (all the Summer of Bad Batch community...I'd tag y'all, but that tag list would get insanely long...you know who you are 😘)

#star wars #the bad batch #tbb hunter #tbb tech #tbb wrecker #tbb crosshair #tbb echo #tbb omega #bad batch summer 2024 #summer of bad batch #20 questions

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angsty-omi · 4 years ago

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you get jealous of their manager

suna rintarou; sakusa kiyoomi

angst to fluff, hurt/comfort.

suna rintarou

when rin told you about the new manager, you didn’t expect her to be blonde, curvy, and absolutely gorgeous. honestly, just looking at her made you insecure. the way all the boys gawked at her everytime she walked by. you didn’t care about the boys though, you only cared about a boy, your boyfriend rin. she’s with him longer than he’s with you. practices take up most of his day, so you only saw him once he got to your shared apartment where he was too tired to do anything that exterted energy. to be fair, you were fine just staying in, but imagining him with her during practices made you uncomfortable.

it was even worse when he’d go out to dinner with the team and her. you couldn’t remember the last time he’d even ask you on a date. you hated the way he stopped trying once you started dating. starting to reach the AMs when you called him.

“y/n?” his slurred tone showed that he was drunk.

“suna? where are you? it’s almost 12 am.” you scolded. how could you not? he’s drunk and with a girl that you were very envious of.

“first of all, can you chill? i literally told you that i’d be out with the boys, i don’t understand why you’re getting so upset,”

“upset? you’re literally out with a girl who’s very attarctive” you frustrated.

“oh i see what this is now, you’re jealous and you don’t trust me.”

“it’s not a matter of trust, it’s just i fe-feel uncomfortable and i oh i don’t know wanted to talk about it?” you started to raise your voice. the attempt to set a boundary has failed, and rather was replaced with you being the enemy.

“she’s my friend y/n, get over it because you’ll be seeing a lot more of her,” rin hissed.

“i’m not telling you who you can be friends with or not, but you have to understand where i’m coming from” you murmured.

“just leave me alone, i can be friends with whoever i want, and the last thing i’m going to do is let a bitch dictate that.” suna argued loudly.

it was followed up by silence, with a girl voice cutting in, “rin-rin let’s do this song together!” in a high pitch squeal caught the mic.

“oh so you’re rin rin now huh? i can’t be surprised considering how much time you spend with her!”

“well maybe i like hanging out with her. did you ever think of that y/n? it’s nice to have someone who wouldn’t nag or bitch about me, she doesn’t pry for me to open up,” he attempted to justify his actions.

“okay fine then, if she’s soooo perfect than just date her” words just started spilling out of your brain, and it was too late to take it back.

“maybe i will!” he roared. after he sunk in what he was saying, he followed up with “w-wait i didn’t mea-” trying to save his relationship.

“do whatever you want suna, whether you’re with her or not it’s not my problem anymore, i’m done.” you ended the call, tears freely flowing down your face.

you couldn’t sleep that night. pathetically, you’d hope that suna would at least give you a call back, or any sign that he still cared for you. but he didn’t, and you assumed that was your answer. you would reevaluate the relationship after a good nights sleep on the couch. you couldn’t sleep on the bed due to suna’s lingering scent.

when 4am rolled around, the door opened as quietly as possible. suna assumed that you were asleep in bed, and was prepared to join you. when he walked in the bedroom and saw the bed still made, he panicked. did you really leave? were you actually done with the relationship? he checked everywhere, the bathroom, kitchen, the basement, and not the most obvious place ever. he dialed your phone, and heard loud ringing from the living room. he slapped his forehead in stupidity and made his way over to you. his heart broke at the sight. the way you tried to fit your body with the throw blanket, unaware that you were shivering at the cold. your face was also pale, with dried tears on them. you looked so broken and so drained. immediately, suna carried you off the couch bridal style, and tucked you into the soft king sized bed. he then, moved onto his side and slid under the sheets. it’s only when he grabs your waist is when he feels safe enough to sleep.

five hours later, you awake with dried tears still in your eyes. you wiped them with your arm, and felt weight around your waist. once your eyes were cleared, it was suna. you let yourself comfort in his warmth for just a bit more, knowing that there’s a huge argument to come.

“suna we can’t just not talk about this,” you whispered into his ear, knowing he was awake. he hid in the crook of your neck, “i’m sorry. i’m so so sorry, please take me back.”

“i can’t just accept your apology blindly, we have to set boundaries or else we’ll never move forward.” you sighed while tracing circles on his bare chest.

“i’ll never even look at her again,” his face deadpanned. your laugh vibrated against his chest, “that’s not needed, it’s not really her fault anyways. how about, we spend more time on dates and devote days for each other?”

“anything, princess.”

sakusa kiyoomi

sakusa hated physical touch, the spread of germs with a single handshake grossed him out. that’s why he built a cold exterior to prevent many from getting close. however, when he met you, you happened to be the exception and you took pride in the fact that he was only comfortable with you. he’ll never admit it to you though, and claims he only ‘endures’ your hugs. although, you knew your limit, you would never show affection in front of people. if there’s one thing sakusa hates, it’s PDA.

so you couldn’t really blame the new cute manager for flirting with him, because it seemed like he was single. listen, you trusted sakusa with your whole heart, but you just wanted to see how he would react with a girl flirting with him.

you hid behind the door, eavesdropping behind the door.

“sakusa-senpai, can you please help me up?” the cute manger whined.

“can you not get up yourself?” sakusa groaned.

“no i think i twisted something,” as a girl, you knew exactly what she was doing and her execution was poor. you rolled your eyes, assuming sakusa too would know what she was doing.

but he didn’t.

“thank you, sakusa-senpai!” she squealed, and then what you can assume, she hugged him. because then it caught him by suprise, and they both fell together, with her on top of him. you didn’t hear him scolding her, rather he was laughing. he was happy with her presence when he wouldn’t even physically show it with you. you decided to just walk in and stop this.

amidst of their laughter, both heads looked up at you. “sakusa, don’t you have to get home soon?” with an eyebrow raised.

“uh actually sakusa-senpai it’s getting dark, mind if you could walk me home?” she babbled.

“fine, y/n you can walk yourself right?” he said casually, while packing up his things.

“y-yeah i guess” you stammered.

on your walk home, you were reevaluating what just happened. no longer did you feel special anymore. your brain started to overthink itself, why did they look better as a couple? and why was he so relaxed around her? was i just not the right person? has he found his true love? all these scenarios made you start to tear up. you were in love with the germaphobic man, for god sakes.

when you got the shared apartment, you immediately took a shower, knowing that sakusa was going to nag you anyways when you got home.

then, you started on dinner and chopping up some vegetables when you heard the door open. he nodded at you, acknowledging your presence and was waiting for the hug you gave him everytime he came home. but you didn’t, and he awkwardly just stood there for good minute or two. to your suprise, he was the first one to make the move. he wrapped his arms behind you and resting his head on your neck. immediately, you shrugged him off.

he furrowed his eyebrows, “is there something wrong?”

“i don’t know, is there something wrong?” you repeated his question.

“i wouldn’t know, that’s why i asked.” he bellowed.

you put the knife down and faced him, “you know i love the double standard of how i have to shower before i get to touch you, but that whore gets to touch you whenever,” you ranted.

“our new manager? you can’t be serious. we fell, it was an accident.”

“maybe you thought it was, but i know what she was doing because i, too am a girl. if you guys just ‘fell’ why did it take so long for you to get back up? why’d you let her touch you for so long?” you questioned.

“i wasn’t thinking about it, not everything i do in life is rotated around germs-”

“except when it’s with me” your voice cracked. “right? it’s when it’s with me, that must be it. that’s why you never show any affection, but it’s okay for you because you’ve gotten tons from me and her!” you raved.

he tried to wrap his around you, but you moved out the way.

“don’t touch me with that whore’s filth,” you muttered, turning off the burner and stomped to your shared bedroom, slamming the door. your insecurities were roaring on the inside. sakusa chose to sleep on the couch, thinking you needed space. but, that was the least thing you wanted. you wanted him to beg, or to at least apologize.

over the following days, you didn’t wait for him outside of practice. in fact, the only time he saw you was in the morning before classes and at night when you left leftovers for him in the kitchen. after the argument, he pushed everyone away, especially with the new manager. he only wanted one person’s touch, yours. and to achieve that, he had to put in some effort. that night when he got home, he went straight to the shower. you assumed it was just a normal silent treatment day, so you went to bed scrolling.

you felt the weight on the other side of the bed. knowing who it was, you continued to aimlessly scroll on tiktok. sakusa abruptly grabbed your waist and coddled you, drowning you in pecks all around your face.

“mh.. sakus.. sa.. mh..” continuously getting cut off with his cute pecks on your lips. you decided to let go of the whole manager situation, and let yourself to just be happy. you wrapped your arms around his neck and put him even closer to you. he then pulled away and you dramatically groaned.

putting his face close to yours, “i love you y/n l/n.” before continuing.

a/n: if you like this series please request some characters you’d like to see!

#haikyuu angst #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu fanfiction #haikyuu fluff #sakusa angst #sakusa x reader #kiyoomi sakusa x reader #suna x reader #suna imagines #suna x y/n #suna angst

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seeyoumondaydevi · 3 years ago

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top 5 daxton moments ;)

you asked for it bae

I- now why would you put me thru this (T.T)

Anyways... apologizing in advance for the gif quality

5. Paxton hitting Devi with his jeep. + “As your boyfriend” This was just so... *SWOONS* The way he's all like OMG ARE YOU OKAY DID YOU HIT YOUR HEAD SHOULD I TAKE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL and she's all like omg you came to the dance for me and Paxton's like What- yeah obviously duh now lets go back to being worried about you.

4. Daxton in 1x04 Ganesh Pooja:

WHERE DO I EVEN BEGIN. If you don’t know know im also a Tamil girl just like Devi and I’m 18 rn and four to five years back(12-14) I would be so embarrassed to wear anything traditional (past that stage btw lol) Plus every guy I've even been around just tease you SO MUCH for what you wear. So Devi being paranoid about running into her school kids during Ganesh Pooja was so relatable. Especially the "Some people think im not Indian enough and some think I'm TOO Indian". Anyways.. I remember watching the scene for the first time... when Devi was kicking the lockers and Paxton shows up I literally fell of my chair because I was SO SURE he was gonna make fun of her and I sat through the whole scene covering my eyes with my hands cause bro I was so ready to go off on the guy if he made fun. I literally shrunk in size hoping he won’t like make fun of her or she won’t say something embarrassing but then he like asks her why is she so frustrated that she’s kicking LOCKERS and then asks her ABOUT her culture and festival... seems interested... listens to her.. calms her down AND COMPLIMENTS HER?? Honestly its one of the most underrated daxton moments.

3. “I thought we were....” 2x03

This scene just.... the angst>>>>>> “You must think I’m such an idiot... I liked you... I- I thought we were... doesn’t matter”

Dude but like get your ass back here and finish the sentence.

2. HEAT WAVES - 2X09 Do I even have to elaborate this? like I don’t even know what to say- Like bro they mentioned there is a storm coming several times in that episode and this mf decides to go climb onto a roof of a girl... who’s mom HATES you. She called you an idiot who ruins girls futures by knocking them up and getting them pregnant... and you like 6 episodes back got YEETED by a speeding car and JUST recovered. So you climb the roof in POURING RAIN then you go and text her AFTER you get there still standing in a storm like heyyy watchu doin?? you want company?? *with no emojis* (no emojis.. what a monster right?) js cause there were tons of people attacking him for the dumbest reason ever

Then he knocks and gets in and kisses her LIKE %&”£^%”& the thought of the scene just makes me blush so much that my mom thinks im dating someone and she’s so ready to murder me lol. AND WHEN HE LEAVES. THE WAY HE LOOKS AT HER. HIS VOICE. GOOD. LORD. I WOULD SELL MY ORGANS FOR THEM.

Why didn’t they give us the daxton call?! Lets also talk about how his shirt went from dripping wet to dry.. thats how long they made out for.. 1. Daxton in 1x08 I can’t separate the moments in this episode. From the start, Devi thanking Paxton for helping her out with the sex rumor even tho he was mad at her...

asking him if they could be friends again... and then at school Paxton complimenting her AGAIN.

Paxton helping Devi out of the pool, giving Devi his sweats (hey she never gave them back)

THE CAR RIDE HOME with Fire For You playing in the background and all those glances please

... it gives me heart palpitations (still mad they blurred out Paxtons smile in the last one)

Paxton asks her if shes okay and she’s yk opening up and the way this parallels with 2x08 where Paxton is opening up and Devi is listening-

so yeah she opens up to him about how she thought everyone in her life is done with her and Paxton just kisses her like I’m not done with you no hi wyd

his THUMB??? SIR??

Devi’s whole “Thanks for the ride and the kiss, I mean the kiss- I mean the clothes..” and Paxton just :

and he leaves saying “See you Monday Devi” :) he literally had no intention of avoiding her until her mom called him an Idiot who sleeps around and gets girls pregnant to ruin their futures

I miss them hi

#ok but like where do I add the look back from 1x02?#THIS HAS BEEN IN MY DRAFTS FOR SO LONG #Daxton #paxton hall yoshida #devi vishwakumar #paxton and devi #devi and paxton #Paxton x devi #devi x paxton #Team Paxton #nhie #NHIE Netflix #never have i ever #never have I ever netflix

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absolutepokemontrash · 4 years ago

Text

MC’s Half Demon and They Look Awfully Familiar

(Part 3! Starring Mini Mammon and Mini Asmo!)

Part 1 Part 2 Lessons 1-5 Underground Tomb special Group Retreat Lessons 10-12 Part 4

MC names:

Lucifer’s kid=L!MC | Mammon’s kid=M!MC | Asmo’s kid=A!MC

Why did bad things happen to good people? Well... Lucifer being a good person is up to interpretation. He hadn’t done anything too heinous recently, his instruments of torture were collecting dust for goodness sake! So why oh why was he staring down two half demon children who looked suspiciously like two of his brothers?

The first kid to step forward was Mammon’s without a doubt, but their general demeanour was very different from their father’s. Perhaps their other parent had done a good job-

“What the fuck was that?!”

Never mind. The kid had Mammon’s pottymouth.

The other child surveyed the scene with a nervousness that their suspected parent never possessed. The kid’s gaze fell on Lucifer, their eyes began to glow ever so slightly. “Uh-um...” the kid cleared their throat. “Someone explain what’s going on!”

Was this child seriously trying to use manipulation powers on Lucifer? He almost laughed at the mere idea of someone trying. The child didn’t even seem to be aware that they were doing it. When their question was met with blank stares, they instantly shrank back and practically hid behind the first half demon. Despite the severe self-esteem difference, this kid was Asmodeus’.

Lucifer’s own child cleared their throat and smiled. “Welcome to the Devildom!”

The Uncle That Looks Like he Has his Shit Together but he Leaves the Reunion Drunk off his Rocker (Lucifer)

Ah shit here we go again-

Okay- okay. Normally he’d scold L!MC for taking Diavolo’s line, but Dia had recovered from his shock and was now gushing over the new exchange students like an excited puppy.

“Okay... L!MC you’re going to need to share your room.”

“What?! Why?!”

“Unless Belphie is willing to give up the attic as a nap spot-”

“OVER MY DEAD BODY!”

“You’re sharing your room.”

RAD was buzzing with gossip for the entire first month of the second attempt at the exchange program. The threats of being eaten were once again stamped out very quickly.

(Special thanks to L!MC for being a good bodyguard)

Now, Lucifer didn’t exactly know what to expect when it came to the child of his favourite brother. Mammon was a dumbass, but this kid... this kid...

Was smart.

For the first time in Lucifer’s very long life he felt compelled to place someone in a higher echelon than himself.

Mammon’s child managed to successfully budget that dumpster fire of a house. On the first fucking day. Not only that. This kid managed to skim FIVE THOUSAND GRIMM OFF THE TOP AND THE BUDGET STILL WORKED! WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT-

Lucifer and Mammon thanked whatever spirit was watching over them because they truly believed their financial woes were over.

Shame that M!MC also spent their money on dumb stuff they didn’t need. Like father like child.

It’s no secret that Lucifer does have a bit of a soft spot for Asmo, I mean, who doesn’t love Asmo? But A!MC was a blessing sent right from the Celestial Realm.

They were just... too sweet. Way too sweet. Lucifer was actively getting cavities just being near them.

Anyone who bothered A!MC and M!MC during the first month ended up getting... uh... suspended.

(We can assume the threat of suspension would have extended to those who bothered L!MC but all the lesser demons were already terrified of them.)

Normally when Lucifer called someone into his study it was to lecture them for at least four hours and then send them to their rooms, but he was having quite the difficult time actually being upset with M!MC and A!MC.

A!MC looked close to tears and M!MC just stared right back at Lucifer with little to no fear in their eyes.

“Starting a fight during the first week of school is not how I expected the exchange students to behave.” Lucifer pinched the bridge of his nose, and prepared to continue the lecture, when he heard a sniffle. There wasn’t enough Demonus in the entire Devildom...

“I-I’m s—sorry...” A!MC sniffled, quickly wiping at their eyes. “Th-they were being r-really scary and we did-didn’t know what else to do...”

“So you threw them out of a window?”

“I threw them out of the window.” M!MC huffed. “They were bein’ a dick.”

“So you threw them out of a window?”

“That um...” A!MC mumbled. “That’s not all... I may have... told them to stick their head in a toilet first...”

“You made them stick their head in a toilet,” Lucifer turned to M!MC. “And then you threw them out of a window?”

“Yes.” M!MC and A!MC replied. Lucifer downed the rest of his glass of Demonus and debated whether or not it would be a show of weakness to slam his forehead into the desk in front of the children.

Lucifer looked between the two for a moment, then shook his head and sighed. “It’s my job to deal with threats to the exchange students, not yours.” Lucifer stood in front of the two, he rested his hands on their heads and gave them a quick pat, before knocking their heads together. “Next time someone bothers you, tell me. If I hear even a whisper of you two getting into another fight, I’m hanging you from the ceiling. Is that clear?”

A!MC and M!MC looked at each other, then back at Lucifer and nodded. “Yes sir!”

“Good.” Lucifer removed his hand from their heads. “Now shoo.”

Flying lessons for the two of them went way quicker than it did for L!MC, mainly because L!MC was a way better teacher.

As much as Lucifer loved his newly found niblings, he couldn’t show it too much. Outward softness was reserved for L!MC and L!MC only. M!MC and A!MC were stuck with silent acts of affection.

Every once and a while a little present or two would end up in M!MC or A!MC’s possession. Some ice cream money for M!MC when they blew their part of the budget on fancy sunglasses, a multiplayer video game that the three half-demons could play together, new shoes when A!MC accidentally ruined their’s...

He’s a good uncle. A scary uncle. But a good uncle. ^_^

(Don’t tell him I said that, I’m still in trouble for advertising Mammon’s escape Go Fund Me and I don’t want to have to write the rest of this HC hanging upside down.)

He’s Not Like the Other Dads, he’s a Cool Dad! (Mammon)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (Fear)

He’s a dad?! HE’S TO YOUNG TO BE A DAD! Hang on- he’s over five thousand years old...

Oh would you look at that! His kid pulled out a calculator.

...his annual income? Uh... why do you- HEY! WHAT’S WITH THAT FACE?!

M!MC puffed out their cheek as they continued to add the ever growing list of numbers into the calculator. Mammon was trying to get a peak at what they were calculating. M!MC suddenly looked up and practically lit up the room with their smile. Aw, their fangs were growing in!

They had a devilishly charming smile, just like their pop! A real chip off the old block! It almost brought a tear to Mammon’s eye and he actually felt compelled to give this kid all the money he had on him. Maybe even his Rolex too!

“Mammon, Avatar of Greed,” M!MC said sweetly. “My... dad.”

“Yep! That’s uh... that’s me!” Mammon awkwardly ruffled his kid’s hair, the kid laughed good naturedly.

M!MC’s sweet as honey smile flipped from elated to malicious in a manner of nanoseconds. “You owe over thirteen years of child support. Dad.”

Everyone say thank you to Lucifer and Diavolo for getting M!MC to compromise and not try and sue their father.

If you thought Mammon spoiled L!MC you’ve got another thing coming. Mammon’s wallet never stood a chance against his kid.

Poor Goldie, press F to pay respects.

Mammon also tried to teach A!MC and M!MC to drive, M!MC has no regard for their safety, the safety of others, or the laws of the road, buuuuuuuut they manage to get the car back with no dents and no property damage bills are being delivered to the house sooooo...

A!MC can drive fine... it’s just that they adhere to literally every law known to demonkind, which means neither Mammon or Asmo are allowed to open up the sunroof and do that movie thing where they pop their heads out and yell something. ITS NOT SAFE!

Our beloved dummy also tried to teach his kid how to play poker, with... limited success.

“Aw, come on kiddo.” Mammon smirked, flicking his kid on the nose. “Your poker face is awful, I can also see your cards from here.”

M!MC growled and held their cards closer to their face. “My poker face is fine!�� It was in fact, not fine.

Mammon scratched his head and thought for a moment. Was he sure that this kid was his? I mean, they weren’t good at poker, had terrible luck in blackjack and roulette, and could barely understand the rules of craps. Craps! While he was lamenting the loss of possible gambling winnings, an idea hit Mammon at a thousand miles an hour.

“Hey kid, you’re damn good at math like your great and amazin’ father, have you ever thought about learnin’ how to count cards?”

Fancy outfits on, hair done (sorta), car ready, the two were off to the casino after quite the intense training montage. It appeared that casinos in the Devildom allowed children inside... Diavolo should really fix that.

“Okay M!MC, you remember what to do, right?”

“Yes. Remember the signal, and if someone catches on, deny deny deny.”

Mammon gave his kid a slap on the back. “Damn straight! You got this, bud.”

As the night dragged on, M!MC and Mammon had made their weight in money, paper money, they had made a SHIT ton is what I’m saying. Tragically, neither the Avatar of Greed or his child had any sense to leave before their luck crashed like the Stock Market in 1929.

They were both Icarus, and they were playing chicken with the sun... and by 3 am they were also playing chicken with security.

“GO GO GO!” Mammon shouted as he and M!MC sprinted towards the car, the night’s winnings in hand.

“I think I lost a shoe!” M!MC gasped as they scrambled into the car, security on their heels.

“I’ll buy you new shoes JUST PUT ON YOUR SEATBELT!”

Re-enacting every Fast and the Furious movie in twenty minutes was how that lovely night of father/child bonding should have ended... until they got home and realized they were locked out.

“The window to my room!” M!MC whispered, pointing up at their window. “It’s usually unlocked, we can climb up to get to it.”

“Good idea!”

M!MC tucked the bag full of their precious money under their arm and began the climb to their window, their father close behind. They had almost made it, they were so close, M!MC could literally touch the window-

The window swung open and the smiling faces of L!MC and A!MC greeted them.

“Oh my, it looks like we have some delinquents breaking curfew~.” L!MC cooed, resting their head on their hand.

“You shouldn’t be gambling this late! A-and your accessories don’t match!” A!MC huffed.

“Oi! L!MC, A!MC! What are ya doin’ up this late! It’s not good for ya!” Mammon whisper-yelled.

“My sleep schedule should be the least of your concerns right now, right A!MC?” L!MC elbowed A!MC, who nodded enthusiastically.

“Yep! Those who break curfew are hung from the ceiling by their toes.” A!MC shuddered.

M!MC rolled their eyes and stuck out their hand. “Come on L!MC! Let us in! You should listen to your older cousin!”

Upon hearing M!MC pull the older cousin card L!MC smiled deviously, grabbing both of M!MC’s hands. “Of course, dear cousin.” They leaned in. “Long live the king!”

L!MC shoved M!MC downward, Mammon caught them, but lost his own grip and they both lost hold of the money, which fell out of the bag and onto the ground like snow. Paper snow...

Oh well, at least Mammon and M!MC landed in some of the bushes...

“Ya know,” Mammon said as the money fell around them. “I’ve had dreams where this has happened.”

“Wow,” M!MC smiled. “Me too!”

Yep. This was his kid alright.

Not all his father/kid time revolved around money, it also revolved around both of them trying to avoid horror movie night without making it look like they were chickening out.

“Okay, I’ll fake a medical emergency!”

“Kid, no! They’ll never believe that!”

Since A!MC had their father’s eye for fashion and none of the judgemental comments, the kid became Mammon’s unofficial style coach.

“U-um... I hate to say it but those shoes don’t match with the rest of the outfit, the silhouette is confusing...”

“What’re ya talkin’ about? I look fantastic!”

“Are you blind? You look like a thrift store threw up on you.”

“Who invited you, Asmo?!”

“I’m here to support A!MC! You’re doing great by the way, sweetie!”

He may have cried a little when M!MC was able to fly without help... sniffle... they grow up so fast...

Oh- oh fuck they both crashed into the tree-

Oh My God he Actually Showed Up?! (Levi)

That... that couldn’t be real life! A shut-in’s worst nightmare! More people he needed to talk to!

Considering Mammon and Asmo’s track record with taking care of his things, Levi was incredibly hesitant to invite the two to binge anime with him and L!MC.

It seemed that the two normies inherited their fathers’s level of respect for closed doors. What I’m saying is the two crashed anime night.

“I have never seen such bullshit before.”

M!MC’s hands were stuffed in about five pairs of socks each, effectively turning their hands into useless nubs.

“You be quiet! This is to make sure that you don’t take any of my things and try and sell them on Akuzon!” Levi hissed, turning back to make sure his figurines were safe from the mini Mammon. A!MC was standing awkwardly next to L!MC, who was sitting in Levi’s gaming chair reading manga.

“So what are we going to watch..?” A!MC piped up. “I haven’t really watched much anime but I did watch Digimon...”

“I was more of a Beyblade kid.” M!MC hit their sock-stumps together to make a thumping noise.

Levi looked like he was ready to have a stroke. “L-listen! Those are gateway anime! You two need to watch proper anime! Non-dubbed anime!”

A!MC let out a shriek and stared at their reflection in a very shiny looking gundam figurine. “Have I been wearing off colour lip gloss the entire day?! O-oh no... I’m a mess!”

Levi let out a strangled wail and snatched the gundam out of A!MC’s hands. “D-don’t touch that! It’s worth more than a house!”

“It is?!” M!MC perked up and tried to wrestle their way out of their sock-gloves.

“Don’t make me stick you in a straight jacket...” Levi growled. He turned to L!MC with a pleading look on his face. “Please make them stop...”

L!MC grinned deviously and closed their book. “Of course I’ll help you, if we watch season two of The Promised Neverland.”

Levi shrieked and nearly pulled out his hair then and there. “It’s manga divergent! MANGA DIVERGENT! THEY SKIPPED SO MANY ARCS!”

M!MC and A!MC continued to wreak both purposeful and accidental havoc on Levi’s room, he was just about ready to summon Lotan then and there when L!MC shrugged.

“The ball’s in your court, Levi.” L!MC leaned back in the chair and resumed reading their manga.

Levi’s willpower shattered the moment he heard something fall off one of his cabinets. “WE CAN WATCH WHATEVER YOU WANT JUST MAKE THEM STOOOOOP!”

Quick as a flash, L!MC was out of the chair and had both M!MC and A!MC by the ears.

“HEY!” L!MC growled. “STOP ACTING LIKE IDIOTS OR SO HELP ME GRANDFATHER YOU TWO WON’T LIVE TO SEE GRADUATION!”

M!MC and A!MC became the most well behaved children in the Devildom after that... and L!MC and Levi got to watch their anime in peace.

Okay, Levi wasn’t heartless, he loved his lame normie niblings. They were just very very loud...

Though, M!MC was very good at finding merch for way lower prices... and A!MC actually really liked some of the anime they watched... Maybe they weren’t so bad.

M!MC’s attempts to budget that financial dumpster fire of an otaku was not going well, at least until M!MC convinced Lucifer to dangle concert tickets in front of Levi like a carrot on a stick until he agreed to do his best to stay within the monthly budget.

Levi had learned his lesson from L!MC’s flying lessons and steered clear of them, but luck was not on his side. The ONE time he willingly stepped outside of the house...

Both M!MC and A!MC crashed right into him.

The Uncle With the Cat You Never See and Aren’t Really Allowed to Pet. (Satan)

Oh fuck him sideways the house was going to be so much louder... Say goodbye to his quiet reading time...

On the bright side, the look of pure disbelief and exhaustion on Lucifer’s face gave Satan the biggest rush of serotonin he’d ever had in his life.

To be honest, he got on well with Asmo, and he... well it’s Mammon.

Could have been worse.

Could have been ANOTHER child of Lucifer.

“So... who do you think did it?” M!MC asked as the opening to the fourth episode of the murder documentary they were watching began. “I think it was the sister.”

“On what evidence do you make that assumption?” Satan asked.

M!MC shrugged. “Chick’s shifty.”

“I um... I think they disappeared on their own accord.” A!MC murmured. “I mean, so far it seemed the two’s home lives sucked...”

“Good theory.” Satan nodded to himself. “But both of you are wrong, it was very clearly the mother and the neighbour.”

“On what evidence do you make that assumption?” L!MC asked, imitating Satan’s voice. Detective Toe Beans was sprawled out on their lap.

Satan glowered at L!MC and leaned over to scratch Bean behind the ears. “The step-mother and neighbour are backing up each other’s alibis and they have a motive, access to a possible murder weapon, and a way of disposing of the corpses.”

L!MC rolled their eyes. “That’s a load of crap. It was just the step-mother. The mother had the motive, she and the father were on the outs, she wanted the father’s inheritance all to herself so she got rid of his kids.”

“How many more episodes of this are there?” M!MC asked. “This seems like a really dragged out way of just saying: I don’t know.”

“Sh! They’re explaining possible corpse disposal methods!” Satan hissed.

The four of them traded theories until the documentary series eventually ended with an unsatisfying ‘we dunno’.

“This is such shit...” M!MC muttered. “How have they managed to fill eight episodes with all these leads and evidence and the case is still unsolved?!”

“It’s because everyone involved was incompetent and stupid.” Satan sighed.

“You know,” L!MC smirked. “With all the true crime stuff the four of us watch, we could create the perfect crime.”

“We really could.” M!MC nodded in agreement.

“Using A!MC’s powers no one would suspect us...” Satan rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“Uh...” A!MC shifted uncomfortably. “On an unrelated note... I’m going to go...”

As A!MC scampered out of the room, L!MC turned to Satan and M!MC.

“There’s always the one weak person in the group who’s not down with murder.”

“A sad truth.”

“Hang on I thought we were talking about theft or something-”

Satan and M!MC are surprising study buddies, hell, they even help Mammon study. Or... it’s more accurate to say that they try to help Mammon study.

A!MC is good company, they’re quiet when they read, unlike most people in the house who felt the need to provide commentary on every single event that occurs in the book.

After proving to be quite useless in L!MC’s flight lessons, he just reminded the two new half demons to wear protective padding.

The Hot Single Dad That’s In Every Romcom That Features a Child (Asmo)

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA (excitement)

Oh... his... father... HE WAS A DILF NOW-

He practically vaulted out of his seat to coo and fuss over his new found hellspawn, they were just SO CUTE!

Their wings were just like his! So adorable! Oh and those little horns! They were so cute Asmo just might have combusted then and there.

Of course, he couldn’t combust without finding out which of his flings had made such an adorably shy mini-him.

“Ah! I remember that party!” Asmo squee-ed as he looked at a picture of A!MC’s parent. “They looked so hot in that outfit I swear I was completely-”

“Asmodeus.” Lucifer grumbled. “That’s a child in front of you.”

“Oh! Right! Mind if I call your ren, A!MC?” Asmo asked, ruffling their kid’s hair. “I want to see if they remember me fondly!”

As Asmo chattered with A!MC’s parent about just how adorable and perfect their kid turned out, Asmo leaned over to A!MC to ask a question.

“A!MC, I know this is sudden but how do you feel about getting a sib-”

“ASMODEUS IF YOU FINISH THAT SENTENCE I WILL FEED YOU TO CERBERUS!”

“Tsk. Rude.”

It’s safe to say Asmo adores his kid. I mean, they’re 50% him, how could he not.

He didn’t exactly have experience with the whole... being a big part of his kids’s life thing. Sure he held the unofficial record for most kids but that was because effective birth control hadn’t been invented at the time when he was allowed to run rampant in the human world, not because he was an A+ dad.

None of that mattered! He was going to be a 10/10 dad to A!MC!

They were so shy... so... mouse-like...

“Um... dad?” A!MC awkwardly twiddled there thumbs as they stood in the doorway to their father’s room. The sweet smell of whatever essential oil was being spread with the diffuser did next to nothing to calm the poor half-demon’s nerves.

Asmo popped his head out of his walk-in closet with a sparkling smile. “Yes, child of mine?”

“I um, just wanted to ask...” A!MC was desperately trying to stave off an oncoming stutter-spiral. “H-h-how- *ahem* how do- ugh...”

A!MC steeled their face and straightened their posture.

“How do I be confident like you?!” They blurted that out a little too loud for comfort, but Asmo’s near-immediate joy quashed any embarrassment A!MC was feeling.

“You want to be like little ol’ me?” Asmo gushed, clearly trying to hide just how flattered he was. “Well, of course you do! Your dad’s got your back. So first what we’re going to do-”

The Avatar of Lust had done the stereotypical early 2000s movie makeover many times before, but never with so much enthusiasm. His kid’s style was fine, it wasn’t a lack of pizazz either, it was the lack of confidence in the pizazz.

“Okay, now stand up straight.”

A!MC straightened their back as much as they could.

“Perfect! Chin up, shoulders back, and there you go!”

A!MC didn’t look too different on account that Asmo felt like their fashion sense was perfect, but dear not-old dad coached MC on a new walk, better posture, and Asmo filled their arms with about seven boxes of self-care supplies.

“What’s all this for?” A!MC asked, shifting the weight of the boxes slightly so they could actually see their dad.

“That, A!MC, is all the stuff you need to have confidence.” Asmo explained. “It’s not required of course, but it sure does help.”

“I’m not sure I follow...”

“Oh sweetie, it’s simple really. When you take care of yourself, you feel better, and when you feel better, you look better, and when you look better and feel better, your confidence skyrockets!” Asmo shifted some of the boxes A!MC was carrying around so they could stand up straighter and not be held down by the weight of the self-care arsenal. “Good posture stops your back from hurting, dressing decently helps you feel better about your appearance, as does taking care of your skin, aaaaaand all this will culminate in you being your best!”

A!MC still looked a bit skeptical, but they nodded anyway.

“Remember MC!” Asmo said as he led MC back to their room to help them sort their new stuff. “Confidence in yourself doesn’t happen overnight, so don’t let Mammon try and sell you a fix-all potion because it’s just boiled Gatorade.”

“O-okay- wait did you just say-”

“Yes, boiled Gatorade.” Asmo shuddered. “Let’s not talk about that.”

Dear uncle Asmo? A financial dumpster fire?! It’s more likely than you’d think.

Sure, Asmo’s got a job and makes his own money, but Geez Louise... one demon does not need that much hand cream! Or that many questionable Akuzon packages that everyone is too afraid to touch...

M!MC had their work cut out for them is what I’m trying to say.

Of course... once M!MC realized what a lost cause getting Asmo to stop with the obsessive bath bomb purchases was and a few too many insults were thrown at M!MC’s dear dad... some of Asmo’s things went uh... “missing”

But would you look at that! No one went over-budget!

Even though their dads have a fierce party related rivalry, A!MC and M!MC get along great. It’s very wholesome.

The Uncle That Helps You Pester Whoever is in Charge of the Food at the Family Reunion About Dessert (Beel)

Yay! More kids :)

Do you think any of them know how to cook? No? Okay... :(

Beel adores his new niblings with all his heart and soul, and Belphie’s out of the attic and is able to meet them with everyone else this time! Yay!

I didn’t mention this in the other parts- but Beel totally gave L!MC piggyback rides whenever they asked, but now that two more kids have arrived... it’s now a fight to be tall.

But yea- kids like uncle Beel. Strong contender for favourite uncle.

“Do you think this is right?” A!MC asked as they fiddled with the settings on the stovetop.

“No clue. Do we put the cheese on while the meat is cooking or do we wait until after?” M!MC asked, they flipped through multiple cheeseburger recipes on their DDD, their frustration growing. “Hang on- do we have a deep fryer?”

A!MC rummaged around the cupboards and shelves for a good fifteen minutes and came back empty handed. “No, but I’ve seen videos of people making fries without a deep fryer, I think we just need to heat up vegetable oil and drop the potatoes in.”

After setting up the make-shift deep fryer, the two cousins carefully dropped the first fry into the oil, then screamed like banshees when some oil splashed close to their hands.

“Did you get burned?!” M!MC asked, A!MC shook their head.

“No, you?”

“Nah...” M!MC eyed the oil warily. “We should do this one at a time to be safe...”

It was an awkward process, grab potato, place potato, scream, make sure no one is burned, repeat. As... decent as the process was, with both of them manning the deep fryer, no one was manning the patties that were now completely charred.

“What’s going on in here? It smells like Solomon’s cooking.” Beel poked his head into the kitchen and saw two very upset children and the world’s messiest kitchen.

“We’re failures. That’s all...” M!MC murmured.

“We wanted to make lunch for all of us and we ruined it...” A!MC added.

Beel’s heart was set to explode then and there- but his stomach growled. “You tried your best, don’t feel too bad. Let’s get cheeseburgers somewhere else with Belphie.”

M!MC and A!MC nodded enthusiastically as the three of them left the destroyed kitchen behind them.

After Beel had to sling a sleeping Belphie over his shoulder, the now four of them were halfway out the door before they heard L!MC scream bloody murder.

“YOU IDIOTS COME BACK HERE AND CLEAN THIS MESS UP RIGHT NOW!”

M!MC and A!MC made eye contact, then sprinted out the door. “CHEESEBURGERS FIRST!”

A!MC and M!MC probably go to all of Beel’s games like the little super fans they are. Beel is very grateful for the support! :D

Flying lessons? Nnnnnot again. He’s here for moral support and moral support only. And to catch the two babs when they inevitably fall.

The Uncle Who Was Like... Really Racist the Last Time You Saw Him But He’s Not Anymore (Belphie)

So he uh... he didn’t try and kill these two. That already gave the two newbies a better first impression than what he gave to L!MC.

The Anti Lucifer league ALSO grew, just by one member though. A!MC was very easily persuaded to snitch on whatever prank the group concocted.

The attic nap club gained two new members, but Belphie still had to deal with wings hitting him in the face and waking him up. He’d usually return the favour with a swat from his tail.

“M!MC I swear I will throw you out of the window if you kick me again.” Belphie murmured, mashing his face into his pillow.

“Mmmph.” M!MC threw a pillow in Belphie’s direction.

“Quit whining, Belphie.” L!MC huffed. “You’re doing better than me.”

A!MC had attached themselves to L!MC like a sloth to a tree and would not let go or stop drooling. Ah schadenfreude, the best feeling in the galaxy...

“Stop with that look.” L!MC hissed, Belphie snickered. “I’m telling you to quit it because you’ll wake up Beel, and Beel is solving your M!MC problem.”

Belphie turned to see Beel practically crush M!MC into a bone breaking hug in his sleep.

“Should we do something about that?” L!MC yawned.

Belphie smirked his little douchebag smirk. “Eh, let them stew for a few more minutes.”

“Help me...” M!MC rasped.

Out of the three, A!MC is probably the best nap buddy, they bring in their own pillows and don’t hog the blankets.

Belphie is once again at the forefront for taking videos of the flying lessons, at least till M!MC accidentally broke Belphie’s DDD.

Just a friendly reminder, the sleepy cow man would kill for these kids.

Look at them funny and no one will find your body.

Okay! That’s part 3 done! I had to cut Belphie’s and Satan’s short because of post limit stuff, but the stuff with the side characters is coming soon! Also, Mammon would like me to inform all those who donated to his Go Fund Me that you will NOT be getting your money back, he has a kid to deck out in full Gucci now, he needs the cash!

343 notes · View notes

atinydise · 4 years ago

Text

Ateez arguing with their s/o in a middle of a make out session (part 2)

❦ Genre: Fluff & Suggestive.

❦ Pairing: OT8.

❦ Word count: 3K.

❦ Requested: Heck yes lol, thank you! 🦋

❦ A/N Note: ⚠️Since I took again an eternity to post it, I advice to read the first part again (or for the first time)! Thank you for liking the 1st one tho! hehe

HONGJOONG

Jongho called the leader once again, even waved in front of his face but still nothing. "Is he ignoring me?" He asked San. His friends shrugged. "He's lost in his thoughts. And he's probably really far away from here." "HYUNG!" Yelled Jongho in the leader's ear. His brain finally reconnected to the reality. "The hell-" "It's been 2 minutes since I'm trying to get your attention." Said Jongho, a bit pissed. "What's going on?" He grabbed his phone, hoping to see any notification. "We need to go back practicing." "Ah.... then I'll join in 2 minutes. I need to call someone." He said, leaving the room. "What on the earth is going on with him?" Whispered San. "No idea." Replied the maknae. Hongjoong went to the restroom, the most far away from the practice room, just to be sure that nobody will bother him. "Okay, please babe pick up." He begged quietly plugging his Air Pods on. [“Hello, it’s the girl who always chosen after her boyfriend’s career. What can I do for you?”] At least you didn’t lose your humor sense.

[“Babe I’m sorry.”] Apologized Hongjoong. [“You are sorry for what exactly?”] [“For ruining the intimate moment, we were about to share.”] [“And?”] Hongjoong rolled his eyes. Good thing for him you weren’t able to see it. [“And to always let my career pass before you.”] [“And?”] You repeated. Your boyfriend was confused for a second. He ignored for what he needed to apologize. [“And... and...”] he stuttered. [“I don’t know.”] He heard a long and heavy growl coming from your side. [“Well. I guess it’s already more than fine.”] You claimed. [“What do you wanted me to say?”] He asked curiously. [“I don’t know... maybe something like ‘to apologize, I’m coming right now and for sure tomorrow you won’t be able to walk’.”] You said, imitating his voice. [“Are you on your period?”] Asked Hongjoong. He knew you so well that he immediately understands when you dirty talked to him, without even a simple stutter. You let a quick silence settle before finally say: [“Yeah.”] [“Then let’s wait a little bit longer then.”] He sneered. [“Coward.”] You replied. [“Love you too.”] [“Me too.”] [“So, we are good?”] He asked. [“Give me at least a hug and we will be good.”] You replied. [“See you tonight then.”] He smiled.

SEONGHWA

[“Hello! You are on Y/N’s voicemail I’m not av-”] Seonghwa growled and let his phone fall on the couch. “She’s not answering I guess.” Claimed Mingi. “No.” Seonghwa rolled his eyes. “She’s ghosting me since... 2 days now.” “Did you try to meet her at school?” “Yeah. I’ve waited 3 hours there. To finally remember that she’s on spring break.” “And at her apartment?” Asked Mingi. “Of course, Sherlock. But nothing.” Sighed Seonghwa. “It’s like she disappeared.” Mingi raised a brow. “She’s probably doing her own life.” The eldest member was suddenly hit by the reality. “Mingi you are a genius!” “Yeah, I know but why?” “We are Thursday!” Claimed Seonghwa, putting his shoes on. “Yeah and?” “Y/N is doing her laundry every Thursday evening! She might be there.” Seonghwa left the dorm so quickly that Mingi was still processing what just happened. “The beck is wrong with him...” Your boyfriend ran to the laundry shop which you are used to go. He prayed the whole way, that you would be sitting there, reading a book or watching a ton of TikTok while your clothes were washing. His heart missed a beat when he spotted you there. As fast as possible, he opened the door. “Babe!” “Hwa?” You raised a brow. “You came here to tell me how to wash my stuff?” Seonghwa ignored your question and turned around. He saw a cute grandma tidying her clothes. “Excuse me ma’am. But I will need you to leave quickly because I’m about to take my girlfriend, right here and right now.” “Seonghwa!” You yelled, outrageously. “Oh, it’s okay darling. I was young too.” Giggled the old lady. You grabbed your boyfriend by the wrist and guided him outside. “What the hell is wrong with you?” You asked, mad. “I want to apologize!” “Do you think it’s the right way to do it?” “I want to prove you that nothing can bother me to have sex with you now. Not a stain and not even an old grandma.” “And the CCTV?” You pointed at the camera fixed where you were standing 2 minutes ago. “I don’t mind having public.” He smirked. “You are unbelievable.” You sneered. “Does it mean you are forgiving me?” “Maybe.” You replied cockily while entering back inside. “Grr. I love when you play hard-to-get.” “What the hell happened to you Park Seonghwa.” You laughed happily.

YUNHO

Yunho was tormented. It was 3AM and he didn’t close his eyes for a second. He was staring at the white ceiling, trying to know how to resolve this situation. You didn’t talk to him after the little incident. Yunho understood why you were mad. He didn’t tell you the truth and the real reason behind his shyness. He glanced at you. The sheet was barely covering your back. He was about to put it right, but the little voice in his head claimed that it was a bad idea. So, he stared at the big spec between both of you. For sure, you could put a third person in the middle. Yunho sighed. What could you to be less mad? The reason of why he decided to stop earlier was because of the stress, not because you weren’t attractive enough. It was the opposite actually. He truly believes that you will think that is too dumb. Just because he’s scared of doing something wrong. Or worse hurting you. But more he was thinking, more it started to be overwhelming for him. “Y/N.” He whispered. “Hm?” You muttered sleepily. “Y/N.” “What? It’s 3AM.” You grunted, still not facing him. “I’m sorry for what happened this evening. I was terrified. I don’t want to do anything wrong with you.” He continued. “I really find you attractive. Even too much sometimes but... I want to have sex with you of course.” You couldn’t help but to smile secretly. His words were well chosen. All the insecurities you had earlier were vanished. Yunho stayed quiet for few seconds, waiting for you to say something, but instead you handed your hand, still facing the wall. He understood that it was an invitation to cuddle. “So, we are good now?” He asked, positioning behind you. “Yeah.” You replied, rubbing his hand which was resting on your stomach. “Cool.” He whispered, finally relaxing. “Thank you for telling me.” You said. “So... do you want to try it right now?” He shyly asked. “I’m tired Yunho.” You declined. “Sure. Okay. No problem.” He replied. “But can we change our position because you are waking up the ‘beast’?” You laughed when you felt his boner pocking on your butt. “Told you... you were too much attractive sometimes.” He giggled, blushing a bit.

YEOSANG

A new notification. But not coming from you. Yeosang was waiting for you to send a message like you usually do in the morning. But the next day after your little and stupid argument, you were remaining silent. “She should have sent a message already. It’s 10AM.” Said Yeosang, frustrated. “Just let her breath.” Sighed Jongho, playing PlayStation on the upper bed. “I didn’t send a text to her yet. She should be the one apologizing.” “Why?” “We are 2 making love. So? She can buy condoms for me too!” “You right.” Started Jongho. “But you should always have a pack or at least one, on you.” “On which side are you?” Growled Yeosang. “None. Your intimacy isn’t my business. But I just admitted that both of you are wrong.” Declared the maknae. “Since when are you so mature?” Sighed his friend. “I need someone who can tell that I’m right.” Jongho stayed quiet. He would never say something like this when knew he was 100% right. “And she would never buy one because she would be ashamed of it.” Added Yeosang. “The cashier doesn’t care. You are not the only one in the earth to buy one.” Replied Jongho. “We are going to see if you have the same speech when you’ll buy for yourself.” “I do already.” “W-wait what?” Just when Yeosang was getting curious, you entered the room like a storm. “Kang Yeosang!” You threw the plastic bag on him. “What th- ouch!” “Jongho, I will ask you to leave the room for an hour. Or 2.” You removed your jacket. Yeosang opened the bag and threw everything on the bed. His eyes widened when he saw a dozen condoms’ pack. “The hell Y/N-” “I bought exactly 12 packs to show that you don’t need to be ashamed about it and that no one cares.” Jongho exited the room completely flustered, but with a bigger esteem for you. “Okay now remove your pants.” You ordered, pulling out your hoodie. “Like? Right now? Not even a make out-” “It’s been 10 hours that I’m waiting.” “O-Okay.” Yeosang was a bit taken a back, but it was fast forgotten when you unclasped your bra.

SAN

You rolled on your bed once again. You were so frustrated and mad at San. The vein on your forehead couldn't stop popping out every time you remembered him picking up his phone. Angrily, you covered your entire face with a pillow. Desperately, you tried to erase of these thoughts. Just when you were finally finding some peace, the fire alarm resonated in your apartment. You jumped out of your bed and went straight to the kitchen. Instead of seeing a big fire, you saw San opening the window as wide as he could. "What is going on?!" You claimed, grabbing a chair. San was panicked as you, or even more. He was trying to push the smoke out of the room while wondering what you were doing. On your tippytoe, you pushed the button to stop this annoying and loud noise. "Thanks God." Sighed San, relieved. "The heck you are trying to do. Burn my apartment?" You turned off the stove. "I wanted to prepare a royal breakfast for you." He pouted, disappointed that his surprise failed. You looked around you, now that the smoke was slowly disappearing, you could see the entire mess in the kitchen. Flour was spread on every parcel of the counter, one or two eggs were smashed on the floor, milk was spilled on cupboard and an incredible number of dishes were stacked in the sink. "Yeah, that's the first time I make pancakes by myself." He scratched his head. "Choi San..." "I want to apologize for yesterday! But I wanted to do it right!" "Oh nice. So, you said 'to apologize to Y/N because I've completely ghosted her to talk with my teammate that I can see every day, I'll burn her apartment'?" "Babe! I'm really sorry." He apologized once again. "I will do everything you want for a week." "Everything?" You raised a brow, curious. "Yeah." "Okay, then start by cleaning your mess." You pointed at the counter. "After that let's clean the entire apartment." "Sure." He nodded. "After that... we will eat at our favorite restaurant. And you are going to pay." "Wow. Sex must be really important for you." Declared San, when the list didn't stop. "Never stop a horny woman." You warned him.

MINGI

["I'm parked in front of your building. Let's talk really quick."] You read this text message at least 10 times to be sure you understood well. It's been 2 days since the practice room accident. You only exchanged few messages but nothing more. You didn't mind giving him a proper answer. You just put your hoodie back on, and of course by "your" it means "his", and left the dorm, without warning your roommates. But honestly, by the way you went out, dressed like this, they could only assume that you were about to meet Mingi. Just when you got out of the building, you spotted your boyfriend's car, as he said, right in front of the door. You hesitated a second, but finally hoped in. "You should have wear something warmer. It's cold outside." He said instantly, when he saw your bare legs. "Good evening to you too Mingi." You greeted him sarcastically. "Do you drove here, just to scold me about my outfit?" "No, of course no." He whispered, looking right at the street in front of him. Since, a big and awkward silence settled. None of you wanted to say something, too afraid to tell something risky and lead one of you to be mad. It felt like walking on a really straight and thin line. You played nervously with the hem of the hoodie, which was barely covering your legs, you noticed. That's probably why he scolded you. For your own good. As always. "I'm sorry." You both apologized at the same time. You glanced at each other, surprised and giggled cutely. "I'm sorry." Insisted Mingi, grabbing your hand. "Me too." You smiled to him. "Sorry for almost crushing you with my weight." He added. "You did." "And sorry for almost make you bald." "You did it too." Mingi pinched your leg gently, happy to see that you were still bratty sometimes. "Ooookay! I'm kidding! I'm sorry for what I've said too. That's wasn't really nice." "Yeah, it wasn't." "Song Mingi-" "Soo..." you didn't have enough time to say anything that he started the car. "Where are we going?" You asked enthusiastically, putting your seatbelt. "Just want to bring you somewhere. So, we can talk about these 2 terrible days." "Oh, I thought you wanted to go in a Love Hotel." You joked. "That's the plan too." "I-"

WOOYOUNG

2 weeks since your argument but 4 weeks since you shared an intimate moment. You needed to admit that even a flick on your forehead would turn you on. You were so needy. But no way Wooyoung could know it. You tried your best to stay far away from him when sleeping, so you wouldn't end by griding your butt on him, desperately. Usually, Wooyoung was really touchy, and he would initiate a make out session the first one, but surprisingly, he only exchanged a peck or a hug from time to time. You spotted him covering his manhood, with a blanket sometimes. He would always pretext that he is cold. But you are not dumb. He takes shower way much longer than usual tooo. On his side, Wooyoung was really struggling to not give up the first one. He was barely looking at you. He knew that with only one shorty or croc-top, it was over for him. In conclusion, you were 2 idiots trying to suppress their arousal for each other, just because of an argument. "Do you want to watch a movie?" Offered Wooyoung. "Sure, and I know how much you like movies." You smirked. Your boyfriend rolled his eyes and ignored your comment. Instead of insisting on the subject again, he played the first movie that appeared. It was a really nice and chill one until the main actress discovered the wild side of college. It started by a scene and then other one. Followed by 3 more. Inside Wooyoung was hoping that you wouldn't notice the form on his sweatpants. "What a movie huh." He laughed nervously. "Yeah." You nodded. "They are really getting it huh." "They are really liking these scenes." "They are really well made." He replied dumbly. "Maybe that's what they want." "Of course, everyone wants that." "Yeah. Everyone." You repeated. "Everyone." "You exchanged a quick glance. Wooyoung was finally the first one to give up. "Do you-" "Heck yes!" You replied. "You should have told me!" "No, I was too mad at you!" "Do you really want to argue again? Right now?" He asked. "No." "Okay then go because I'm going to explode!"

JONGHO

"I still don't understand how you ended here, right in front of my college." You raised a brow at Seonghwa and Yeosang. "We were just having a cool walk and unconsciously ended here." Replied Seonghwa, the most natural possible. "The campus is 30 minutes away from KQ Quarter. And 30 minutes with a car." "We had a pretty long walk, okay?" Replied Yeosang, nervously and almost aggressively. "Okay okay... relax dude." You rolled your eyes. "You should come with us a bit." Started Seonghwa. "There's a park next to the campus. Let's talk there few minutes." Added Yeosang. "You guys... are acting really strangely." You claimed. Without asking your authorization, they each picked your arm and brought you to the park. You could fight or ask them to leave you alone, they wouldn't. Seonghwa almost needed oo ask people to not all the police. "What the heck guys? I really need to study and-" You stopped right when you saw your boyfriend sitting peacefully in front of you. A big blanket and a bunch of food were cautiously set on the grass. "Hi babe." Smiled Jongho. "What is this?" You asked. "You prepared all of this?" "Yeah." He scratched his head. "I hope you like it." "And we helped." Whispered Yeosang. "Are you doing this because you said your coach's name when we were making out." "You what?" Almost chocked Yeosang. "Eeew, this is disgusting!" Added Seonghwa. "It was an accident!" He rolled his eyes. "An accident." You crossed your arms on your chest. "I'm really sorry baby. I swear it was only because I've worked with her few hours ago." Explained Jongho. "Anyway, it's not like she's sexy. She's 60 years old and so strict and rude." Said Seonghwa. "She is sexy." Said Yeosang. All of you stared at him. "I'm joking. Relax." He sighed. "Y'all ready need to chill sometimes..." "So do you want to spend an afternoon with me?" Asked the maknae. "Of course." You accepted happily. "Cool! Then sit here." He pointed at the comfy place settled between pillows. "Thank you, Mark." "Mark?" "I'm kidding!" You giggled. "1 point for me now." "Unbelievable." Smiled Jongho.

#ateez scenarios #ateez reactions #ateez x reader #ateez fluff #ateez suggestive #ateez imagines #ateez writings #ateez #ateez kpop #ateez cute

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