#like Noel’s right eye being covered

[skelaxo]

Some theoretical keychain designs— will probably keep tweaking them and still gotta work on Ashe and Wilardo

[imaginesbymonika]

Futile Devices | Part 1

Pairing: Noel Gallagher x childhood-best friend!reader

Plot: There’s nothing quite like realizing your feelings once it’s too late. But what would life be without a speck of hope?

(1985)

You gaze at the ceiling, while soft guitar music fills the atmosphere. Outside you could hear people yell at one another, and perhaps Noel heard it too because his singing voice abruptly became a bit louder: “You’re my Coney Island Baby, you’re so precious, so sweet…” At the sound of someone slamming the door shut you involuntarily lift your head. “You’re my lucky star, that’s what you are.”

His voice is soft, or at least he attempts to sound smoother than he’s capable of being. Just last week, he managed to catch a vicious throat infection somehow. You kidded about how he got it from some girl down the block, but when he didn’t laugh about it you felt stupid. “How’s your throat?”, you ask, turning your head to get a better look at him. Noel shrugs:” You tell me.”

You nod before letting your head fall back down on the mattress. Outside the window, thick grey clouds have covered the once-blue sky, and a few tiny raindrops roll down the glass. “I hate September.”, you whisper and he quits playing. His eyes are burning holes into the top of your head:” I know. You say that every year.” “But only because every year, September manages to disappoint me.”

He chuckles before clearing his throat. He winces at the slight ache.

“Have you written anything new, yet?”, you ask, counting the small cracks in the ceiling. Three, five- eight. “Hmm, maybe.”, he replies, his fingers are tapping on the instrument. “Can I hear it?” “When it’s finished, sure.” A silence falls upon you both before Noel speaks up:” By the way, why- what did Tommy say to you?”

You quickly roll over onto your stomach:” Tommy? You mean when we stood in front of Ben’s Pub?” Noel nods, his fingers have stopped moving. It was the same bar where you and Noel kissed one another for the first time, a couple of years ago. Both of you happened to be extremely drunk that night, nevertheless not drunk enough for you to forget about it -you wondered if he had.

“He asked me for my number.”

“Oh, did he?”, a soft scoff escapes his lips, while he stares outside into the afternoon:” Did you give it to him?” There’s a newfound harshness to his voice, but it quickly disappears when he clears his throat once more. “No.”, you simply answer:” He’s not my type, anyway.”

Noel nods:” Yeah, right.” He slightly raises his guitar, until it’s back upright in his lap:” You’re my Coney Island Baby, you mean so much to me. You’re my pretty little lady.” A faded sigh escapes you before you move back onto your back. Ten, twelve, thirteen.

“Did you call Stacy back?”

He hums in response. “You know, that bird from school. Gave you her number on a cigarette.” You loathed how cool that was. And after a few moments of silence, Noel shakes his head:” Not my type, you know.”

Your eyes move down to your fingers, while they play with the corner of his beige bedsheets:” Well, what’s your type anyway?” The regret forms itself quickly in your abdomen and you swallow thickly. However, Noel merely chuckles:” I think, I need to know someone before I-, well, you know.” And you do.

“Yeah. Me too.”

[byuljoonie]

moonlight // knj

I’m sorry baby I’m just really hot…

pairing: namjoon x reader

genre: one shot, slight angst, fluff, growing tension, boyfriend material, extreme smut, desperation, succubus intentions…

word count: 5k+ (sorry)

warnings: mentions of mature topics, spit, namjoon driving lmao, thigh humping bcs desperate, throat goat, dom!sub, dom rm!sub reader, alcohol consumption, probably a good amount of swearing, post-gym namjoon, grocery store activities, slight car play, teasing, oral, summer night, riding, overstimulation, a little masochism

summary: namjoon promised to go to the grocery store with you after the gym (extended ending on ao3)

note: just had what cody ko and noel would call a “power thought.” I literally just had a spark of inspiration bcs it’s really hot in the south right now and Namjoon’s vogue cover is to die for. enjoy and feel free to check out any of my playlists while reading. Sorry for any little mistakes. gonna make a tag list after I post 10 works! -ash (wrote this draft a few months ago so it might be slightly more extreme than expected.)

My reflection stared back at me, tracing the movement of the cloth against my skin. The long slit of the black fabric starts by the left knee and leaves an opening at the bottom of the dress. My manicured feet sat firmly against the hardwood bedroom floor, grounding me away from my persistent thoughts. I grabbed my sunglasses from the stand mounted on the cream walls and turned swiftly on my heels. Abandoning the mirror with a grimace on my face.

I loved this dress very much, the long sleeves light and airy protecting me from the harsh summer rays. The way it hugs my figure is like someone familiar. The same someone that bought this dress for me. He crossed my mind once more sending another surge of anger through me.

Namjoon promised to come along to the grocery store with me today but he’s been at the gym for almost 2 hours now. He said he’d only be gone an hour but an hour quickly turned to two, now I’m dressed and past ready to go. I hated going to crowded stores, at this rate we’ll never beat the after-work rush.

I sat on the bed putting on my anklet he gifted me for our 3 year anniversary. Yet another gift that I’m wearing today, being spoiled ruining my plans of holding a grudge tonight on our date. I slipped on some black socks and made my way towards the door. Listening as the front door swings open with a beep of the automatic keypad.

I excitedly descend the stairs, my black dress sweeping the floor behind me beautifully like a wedding gown flowing in the summer breeze. The second step I’ve already failed at trying to be mad at him.

“Baby! Where you at?” He says deep voice roaring through our apartment. I stopped at the bottom of the stairs almost running into his chest. He smiled at me taking in all of my body, returning to my eyes after his brief but thorough inspection.

“Right here NAMjoon,” I stated putting extra emphasis on his surname. I watched as his chest rose and fell with every breath, his skin glistened with sweat. Tan skin accentuating his muscular frame, my mouth parted slightly at the sight. He looked heavenly I almost lost my composure.

“I’m sorry I took so long Y/N my trainer wouldn’t let me leave until the workout was complete,” he said walking towards me. Smirking at the way my eyes followed his every movement.

“You look so gorgeous Princess, this dress is perfect for you,” he said pulling me into a tight embrace. Grabbing a handful of my ass as he reached over to rest his chin on my shoulder. I yelp in surprise at the sudden groping, melting into his body and giving up on being angry. I wanted to take him right now but first, we need food or we’ll be eating out for another week before we have time to shop again.

“Whatever Joon go shower we have to leave as soon as possible and you’re stinky,” I said pulling away from him and then standing on my tippy toes to kiss him quickly. He kissed me back beginning to deepen it before I push him away again. I give him a knowing look and bid him goodbye as I walk to the kitchen to make him a snack to eat in the car. The store was about a 25 minute drive from us but it was worth it for the produce.

I grab a few ingredients from the fridge to make him a nice sandwich with an everything bagel. I prepared everything quickly and put it in a small ziplock bag next to my purse. I heard Namjoon exiting our bedroom 15 minutes later, humming a sweet tune in his beautiful vibrato.

“Come on babe I already have the car warming up,” he said grabbing my hand and lightly pulling me next to him. He’s wearing a light brown shirt with a pair of distressed blue jeans. Looking as handsome as always I drink in his appearance for eternity. We walked to the elevator quietly, Namjoon tapping away on his phone until the elevator doors opened to be let us out.

As we walk towards our car I begin to sweat a little, the setting Sun still scorching my skin like its’ noonday twin. I started to speed up a little pulling Namjoon along so I could feel the relief of the A/C sooner than later. He swung the door open for me making sure my dress wasn’t in the way before shutting the door.

Namjoon jumps in quickly closing the door before the heat could penetrate the closed air. It still wasn’t cool enough in here, with the sun beaming directly on our vehicle the A/C felt like lukewarm hell. I let down the window hastily fanning myself as we pulled out of the parking lot.

After I few minutes of fanning and desperation, I looked over and behold a sight that would make any woman yearn in an instant. A head of sweat moved swiftly down the expanse of Namjoons golden jaw. Resting at the base before dropping down onto his slightly exposed shoulder. His lips rose colored from his unconscious biting. I wanted to reach over and swallow him whole, I crave him so bad I can’t help but squeeze my legs together at the thought.

I was so caught up in my sinful thoughts I didn’t notice him glance over at me. A twinkle in his eye set off the indication of a torturous idea. Namjoon placed his large hand on my thigh, causing me to tense up instantly. Before I could utter a word he reached over my leg and grabbed his sandwich from my lap.

His smile turning into a stifled laugh as he continued to stare straight ahead. I must have let out the small noise I was holding in because he seemed to know exactly what would tick me off right now. I turned my attention towards the windshield trying to focus on the passing cars and people watching. Then an idea popped into my head.

I pull out my phone and open the group chat I have with our 6 best friends. I stop and think of what to type before another brilliant idea is brought to me. I pose provocatively making sure my cleavage was “present,” in my photo. I took a couple of pictures, some with sunglasses and some staring at Namjoon. He patiently drove, oblivious to my sly intentions. He hummed along to one of his favorite songs looking over at me to shoot me a wink.

I giggled and looked away almost feeling bad for what I’m going to do. Yet not bad enough because I went ahead and sent the photos with a message. “Should I post these on my close friends? I don’t know if I look good enough today…” I said ending with a sad face. It didn’t take long for our phones to simultaneously vibrate. Secretly glancing over at Namjoon, I unlock my phone knowing he can’t check his until we’re in the lot.

Hobi ddaeng: You look great !! Of course, you should post it, Namjoon talk some sense into her.

Me: He’s driving right now. I didn’t ask for his opinion yet I want to hear you guys first :)

Park Chanel: ooooh…I see…

Park Chanel: If you don’t post the pictures I will! Wow wow you look beautiful. Nice..dress and necklace.

I looked down at my neck realizing I didn’t wear a necklace today. Oh Jimin you’re evil Namjoon is going to kill me and you. I laughed a little at his crude behavior and read the next incoming message.

Yoongi: You’re gonna get hit Jimin *laughing emojis*

Me: mmm just because you guys said so I will post it hehe

Before I could read the next response I felt the car shake as we pulled into the grocery store parking lot. I quickly went on my sns and posted two of the pictures on my close friends. Picking the two the boys liked the most. I was starting to get nervous, I know how possessive he is with me and I’m the same but I want revenge for making me frustrated.

Namjoon pulls into an open parking spot almost near the front of the bustling building. I take off my seatbelt with a click grabbing my purse from my lap and swinging the door open. I wanted to beat Namjoon inside before he could read the texts and catch me. As I hurriedly closed the door I saw him reading the messages, jaw tensing with rage.

I hear him call my name from the car and a slam of a car door followed behind the sound of his sexy voice. His long legs easily closing the space between us as he grabbed my hand, squeezing it while looking at me. I put my shades on ignoring his questions. Stroking the back of his hand as I never break eye contact with the automatic sliding doors.

“Can you get us a cart pet?” I froze at the nickname. He knows what he’s doing, and I don’t plan on breaking that fast. I let go of his hand briefly going to grab the first cart I saw. Cleaning the handle before strutting back over to my boyfriend as he eyed me intensely.

I let him grab the cart from me but not before pulling him down to whisper in his ear. “Anything for you Daddy..” I say in a hushed tone. Making sure to leave a kiss on his sensitive earlobe as I pull away.

I walk forward trying not to laugh at the silly nickname I used to get him riled up. He trailed behind me, failing to hide his blatant staring at my ass. We make our way down the aisles trying to speed up the process as people begin piling into the store.

“Joonie baby I can’t reach this,” I said struggling to reach the box of goldfish on the top shelf. He moved over to me in a flash, pressing his front flush against my back. I heard his breathing stop as I purposely pushed my ass against him.

“This one, this one, this one, or this one…” He trailed off purposely picking the wrong boxes to tease me. He finally grabbed the correct item and tossed it in the cart. Walking away as if he didn’t leave me speechless and flustered on the cracker aisle.

I follow him to the snack aisle after grabbing a few bottles of wine and champagne for our date tonight. The empty aisle presents another opportunity for me to assert my dominance. I walk over to the chips looking at them inquisitively as if I’m mocking a character.

“Honey do you want this kind or this kind?” I said while bending over. Making sure to sway slowly as I wait for an answer. “Babe? Which-“ I was cut short as a hand firmly grabbed my ass causing me to yelp in surprise and sit up straight.

“I want this one right here,” he growled in my ear. I turned around and looked at him, watching his eyes darken with hunger. “Let’s get outta here yeah?” He questioned looking into my eyes. I nodded furiously ready to exit this hell and get home to what’s waiting.

We race to the self-checkout line, scanning and bagging groceries like a 5000-dollar prize is awaiting the winner. Namjoon grabbed my hand after he paid and pulled me along with him as he pushed the basket with his other hand. He was so warm, skin clear and kissable. I wanted to pull him aside and cover him in kisses, not caring about the people around us.

Namjoon unlocks the car as we stop beside it. I move to walk around the cart but he stops me in my tracks. “Let me help you get the groceries in the car love,” I say looking confused at his sudden maneuver.

Unexpectedly, he opened the car door and motioned for me to get inside. I insisted again that I help but he gave me a look that I know better than to disobey. I got inside praying I didn’t anger him too much. I set myself up for this one, didn’t I? It’ll be worth it in the end right? Maybe I went a little too far with the texts but I can’t help but shiver with anticipation. I pull out my phone to text Jimin about my bad decisions.

Me: I think I fucked up lol

Park Chanel: you’re welcome ;)

Namjoon slams the trunk shut causing me to jump in surprise. I close my phone sitting it in the cup holder beside me. He gets in the car, jaw still tense as he turns the key in the ignition. I thought about breaking the silence but the tension was so thick a knife would recoil at the slight pressure of penetration. Namjoon puts on his seatbelt then proceeds to look at me.

“ I don’t want to hear another peep from you Y/N..” he starts lowly not breaking eye contact for a second. “You’ve done enough for tonight, if you do anything stupid I swear I will pull the car over and take you on the side of the road. I promise you wouldn’t want that.” He deadpans and looks away from me, pulling out of the parking spot. I utter a soft okay and prepare to behave the rest of the way home.

I slide my palm over to his free hand resting on his thigh. I stare firmly at him, giving my best puppy eyes in return. He doesn’t look away from the road but I watch as his lip twitches into a small smile. He grabs my hand, rubbing his large thumb over the back of my hand. In love can’t begin to describe how I truly feel about this man.

I laugh as he tries to sing along to Smoke Sprite, raspy voice blending well with Soyoon. I rap along to his part of the song, stealing the spotlight and making him bop his head in excitement. The song finishes and we’re about 10 minutes from our place. I check my phone and see a text from our group chat, making the recent grocery store escapades flash through my mind. I want him to touch me again, I like it when he’s desperate and needy for me.

Another terrible idea floods my brain accompanied by a mound of outcomes. I suddenly let go of Namjoons hand causing him to spare me a confused expression. A smile graced my face as I turned my body forward, grabbing the slit of my dress and opening it over my legs. I let my left hand run down the front of my dress, stopping at my panties hesitating even.

I slide my hand under the fabric immediately coming in contact with the soft skin. I dip my fingers and get to work. I began letting out dramatized moans and grunts. I moan Namjoon's name and furiously let my hand lose control. I looked over and saw Namjoon gripping the steering wheel in frustration. Sweat adorned his angelic face, veins prominent in his hands. I let this go on until we reached the last stop light near our apartment building. I sat up and closed my legs acting like I didn’t just masturbate next to my boyfriend in a moving car.

We pull into the lot entering our designated spot. Namjoon quietly turned off the engine and released a sigh that he seemed to have been holding in. He looks absolutely pissed and it’s so sexy. His erratic breathing only made me wetter by the second.

“You’re going to follow my instructions carefully. I don’t want to hear a word from you or tonight will be your worst fucking nightmare got it?” He questioned angrily letting his eyes trail over my body once more. I nodded too scared to move an inch more.

“Go upstairs, get undressed, wait in the middle of the bed. If you’re not in that spot when I come up there in 15 minutes, you better pray you can stop time.” He seethes hotly. “Yes sir,” I say scared and ready for more. He gets out of the car walks around and opens my door. He grabs my purse from my lap holding eye contact, his brown almond eyes dark and predatory.

“Go.” He states motioning for me to exit the vehicle. I get out swiftly, grabbing my purse from his hand and sprinting towards the entrance of the building. The elevator took an eternity to bring me to our floor. I ran to the door and shakily put in the passcode, messing up a few times before it finally let me in.

My shoes are off in a flash, I leave my purse by the door as well abandoning my shades on the counter as I run past to the stairs. I burst into our room, slipping my dress off. Almost fell as I grabbed my silk lavender robe hanging on the wall. I threw it on and climbed onto the bed. My anklet glowed in the natural light seeping through the parted curtains. The front door swung open slamming against the wall.

I heard shuffling, cabinets opening and closing for 10 more minutes before his heavy footsteps echoed through our hallway. He walked into the room eyeing me before raising an eyebrow. I started to sweat nervously hoping I did what I was told.

“Who told you to put on your robe Y/N?” He questioned in amusement. He slowly walked over to me, grabbing each side of the robe and ripping it open. He discarded it onto the floor and stalked around the bed, he stood at the front motionless. “On your knees in front of me, now.” He said and I immediately left the bed. I swung my legs over the side and dropped to my knees.

Namjoon watched me through lidded eyes as I crawled over to him on my knees, stopping directly in front of his growing bulge. I was quick to unlatch the hook of his buckle, the metal of the belt clinging as it hit the hardwood floors.

“I’ll excuse the robe mishap since you’re so eager to taste me doll face,” he said reaching down to grab my chin. A loud moan echoed through the room as he grabbed my hair and yanked my head back. He looked down at me, motioning his head back as if telling me to open up. I did as I was told and watched as he spit in my mouth and closed it back. He pulled his pants down and kicked them to the side.

“Good girl, now eat.” He said intensely. He hummed in satisfaction, eyes never leaving the way I wrapped my fingers around his cock and finally engulfed his length into the warmth of my mouth. I took him in slowly inch by inch, his girth heavy against my tongue as I extended my jaw wider and wider. I choked a little as he hit the back of my throat.

“You look so fucking gorgeous with your lips wrapped around me, pet,” his fingers tightened into my hair, his gaze stoic and heavy on me. Pet. The pet name earned a moan from me as I began a steady rhythm of sucking. My fingers were coated in a thick layer of saliva, Namjoon’s cock easily sliding against my pressured grip as my cheeks hollowed, jaw growing sore from my strenuous movements.

He groaned loudly, fucking my throat faster until I could no longer take it. I let my jaw go slack so he could use me as his personal toy. He grabbed my face and fucked it harder until I was seeing stars. A beautiful repetition of my name strung from his tongue, stilling as he came into my mouth. I happily swallowed every drop, coughing around his cock one last time, sending a shiver through his body.

“Good job, get on the bed I want to taste you. I can see you dripping on the floor,” he smirks as he picks me up and helps me onto the bed. He walks around and gets in the middle of the bed, watching me as I sit patiently waiting for instructions.

“Come here baby, sit on my face,” he motioned for me to come to him. I slowly crawled towards him, bracing myself on his lap. He kissed me roughly, tasting himself on my tongue, running his hand down to play with my chest. Nipples sensitive to the touch, he pulls away from me, taking my right breast in his mouth. Sucking and nibbling on me, teasing me. He pulled off with a pop, scooting further down the bed and then lifting me so I could move towards his face.

I place my hands on the headboard hovering over his face in anticipation. He suddenly grabs my thighs and pulls me down onto him. I scream out in pleasure as he dives into my center. Feverishly lapping his tongue at my pussy like it’s the last time he’ll have me. His moans send intense vibrations through my body, making me scream his name. We’ll have a noise complaint tomorrow.

I felt my orgasm coming on, riding his tongue until my legs were sore. He let go of my left thigh to slap my ass hard, signaling me to cum on his tongue. I came with a loud groan of his name. Shaking and twitching as I came down from my high.

Namjoon grabbed my hips, gently guiding me down to his lap. His face was covered in my essence, from nose to chin, he glistened like an Angel. He smiled and rubbed circles on my tummy as he watched me shake.

“Don’t think we’re done darling, I’m not finished until I see my cum dripping down your pretty legs.” He gave me one last smile before his eyes darkened once more. He grabbed my hips and lifted me slightly, sticking his girth fully inside me. I sank slowly, letting him fill me to the brim. Tears streamed down my cheeks loving the painful stretch in my core.

“Ride me until I say stop.” He deadpanned motioning for me to move or else. I started to ride him painfully slow, not being able to take much more. This was my opportunity to finally seize control. I picked up the pace, rhythmic grunts and sounds of skin slapping filled the room. I put my hands on his chest and let my hips do the talking.

I ground down harder, spelling his name with every swift motion of my hips. I felt his cock twitch inside of me, indicating he was close already. Now that I have control I’m going to make him feel everything he did to me. I moved faster, causing the bed to shake and tremble with every shout of his name.

He grabbed my hips trying to make me slow down but I only grind down harder. Clenching and tightening around him to send me him over the edge. I watched as his orgasm roared through him, eyes rolling to the back of his head. I kept moving, milking everything from him. Getting closer to my orgasm, I let myself go with one last yell of his name.

Squeezing my eyes shut as I finally stilled. The sound of heavy breathing filled the room, the bed creaking as I rolled off of him. Shivering as the empty feeling overtakes me when he’s not inside of me. “I hope I didn’t get too carried away,” I started while looking over at my completely wrecked boyfriend.

“That was perfect.” He said smiling over at me. He slowly stood up, going to our bathroom to retrieve a towel. He returned momentarily, cleaning me off and then cleaning himself. Throwing the towel in the hamper against the wall. I was so exhausted I could barely move. I got under our giant duvet, getting comfortable fairly quickly.

Namjoon glanced at me, nestled under the warm blankets, my eyes getting heavy with exhaustion. He promised me a special date night and he was determined to make it happen, even if he just put me to sleep. With a gentle smile, his aftercare continued.

“Hey, babe,” he whispered softly, brushing a strand of loose hair from my face. “I know you’re tired but I don’t want our date night to go to waste.”

I yawned in response and mumbled sleepily, “Joonie I’m so comfy right here.” Earning a chuckle from him, my reluctance seeped through the atmosphere. “I know, but trust me, you won’t regret it. I’ve got something in the living room set up for us.”

That caused me to sit up, curiosity overcoming my fatigue. “Oh? What is it?” I said carefully. “It’s a surprise, but I promise it’ll be worth it.” He said leaning in to plant a kiss on my forehead.

With his gentle encouragement, I reluctantly pushed the covers aside and allowed Namjoon to help me out of bed. He passed me the discarded robe and my slippers, and together we made our way to the living room.

Where soft candlelight flickered with a movie on the screen waiting to be played. As I settled onto the couch I couldn’t help but smile at the effort Namjoon had put into creating this romantic haven. A charcuterie board with our favorite snacks and 2 bottles of the wine we purchased earlier were on the coffee table.

Namjoon plopped down beside me, taking my hand in his. “See princess? Our date night in the living room isn’t so bad, is it?” He said grinning like he won the lottery. My fatigue began to dissipate as I basked in the warmth of Namjoon's love and effort. “Not bad at all,” I said, feeling grateful for his consistency and thoughtfulness.

“Let’s start the movie I’m so excited!” I exclaimed pumping my fist in the air embarrassingly hard. Namjoon laughed and mimicked me, making me laugh even harder than before. The first half of the movie went by as we stuffed our faces with food and downed wine like it was our last supper. I was starting to feel tipsy and before I knew it my thoughts started wandering again.

“Mmm, these snacks are-“ Namjoon started as he reached for the charcuterie board. I interrupted his thought by grabbing his hand. Namjoon looked at me puzzled, “huh?” He says in surprise. I move closer and settle onto his lap. “I want to be closer to you,” I said, hands resting on his toned chest.

Namjoon blinked at me, a tipsy smile forming on his lips, “Well I can’t argue with that pet.” I look into his eyes exploring the galaxies I can reach within them. “You know, I love nights like these, just you and me, a movie, some wine…” I rambled to him.

“Yeah, me too. It’s moments like this when I realize how lucky I am to have you in my life baby.” He said while lost in my eyes. Searching for something, something that he knows I have. I leaned in slowly, our lips almost touching, “I love you Namjoon.” I kissed him before he could respond. Feeling his emotions spill into our kiss. He pulled us apart gently, rubbing his hand on my cheek. “I love you too Y/N.”

He grabbed my face and captured my lips again. A thief that could do no wrong in my eyes, I deepened the kiss craving more of him. Needing to feel something more. I slowly began moving my hips on his thigh, grinding down onto the exposed skin, earning a guttural groan from his throat.

His hands moved down the side of my body, exploring every curve, touching every mark he left on me this evening. He landed on my hips, guiding me to my last orgasm with his strong hands. The air was hot once more, soft moans and sweet nothings penetrated the quiet.

The movie is long forgotten, the candlelight coating the walls in a beautiful golden glow. I felt my orgasm building quickly, still sensitive from the earlier assault on my clit. Namjoon began bouncing his leg, adding more pressure on my center, and sending me over the edge.

I kiss him one last time before I fall fast asleep on him.

The end.

[teethburglar]

Day 12 is eat so I decided that it was the perfect time to talk about how weird frog eating is. Before anything let’s meet our model for today, Leo the Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens).

Now Leo, like many leopard frogs, eats flies, crickets, worms, and indulges in a little cannibalism. But let’s ask, how does he eat them? He uses his tongue!

Now that’s not right, one moment

There we go! Frog tongues are attached to the inner lower “lip”, so to shoot out their tongue they just flip it out.

But wait, how does their prey stick to their tongue? While they’re many factors like the softness of it (being the softest biological material ever seen) and the damping (similar to that of a car’s shock absorption) what I find the most interesting is the saliva! Their saliva is non Newtonian, becoming thin when shear force is applied then thickening soon after. In this way when the frog shoots its prey it’s saliva covers it before thickening trapping the prey inside.

Congrats! The prey is now in Leo’s mouth, but now what? While Leo’s backwards tongue is great at catching food it’s less great for swallowing it.

Wait Leo how did you do that? Oh I see they used their eyes!

Yep, in lieu of a tongue many frog species use their eye stalks to push food down their throat! What clever creatures they are. Thank you Leo for your time.

If you want to learn more about how a frog’s tongue works check out this paper by Alexis C. Noel, Hao-Yuan Guo, Mark Mandica and David L. Hu.

And this paper to learn more about how frogs swallow with their eyes by Robert P. Levine, Jenna A. Monroy, and Elizabeth L. Brainerd.

[leaawrites]

Gurllll drop the Noel fic rn pleeaaassseeee I need it I’ll even bark for it wroof wroof wroof ggrrrr

Willing

Noel Gallagher x fem!reader

Summary: in which, she's willing to go through things, he never thought anyone would wanna go through for him.

Warnings: this is pure fiction, age gap, there is a child involved in all of this, (really) bad accents

Wordcount: 1.1k

Notes: I am halfly scared of you, anon, and halfly you are just comedy gold and I love you. If you want more Noel fics, send request if you have any and I'll try to work through them as quick as possible. (Liam or Damon as well.)

Masterlist

The little pads on the wooden floor woke her before she heard the little whimpers coming from beside the bed. With eyes closed she listened to the footsteps and the creek of the door as it opened like it always does, the quiet of the night making it grow louder than normally.

Opening her eyes with it, she saw the little girl pouting at her, with her bottom lip covering half her chin and streaks of tears running down from her eyes and onto the little flowered pyjama she was put into before bed. Purple flowers now seeming dark blue or even black.

“Hey, baby,” the woman cooed, sitting up and taking the small hands that were outstretched her way to pull her up into her arms. Slowly slipping out from under Noel’s arm that previously was lazily laying over her waist with a gentle grip on her skin. The spot where it laid being squeezed whenever something happened in his fantasy world to make sure she was still by his side. “What’s wrong?”

She couldn’t yet properly talk, only point and cry and whimper. Incoherent words lapping over unidentifiable sounds and morphing into a strange mix of gibberish and English those around her tried to understand. That were the only ways of how she could survive in this world. This world of monsters under beds and empty plates.

The child stopped crying at the attention, but her eyes were red and hurting. She tried keeping them close to keep the pain away but it didn’t help, it still hurt her no matter how hard she squinted her blue eyes shut. Putting one hand on her little stomach she tried making her understand. More whimpers leaving her mouth, more pain entering her eyes.

“Hun’ry,” she slurred with a tired voice, though Y/n knew that the moment she’d put the lights on that child would be wide awake.

Nuzzling her head against Y/n’s neck, wetting her skin with tears and salvia, chewing on the fabric of the white top, the small pleads for food were muffled now. Only heard as a hint for the woman to know what she wanted. Her small blue eyes were watching the man laying in bed disappear into the shades of the night until his silhouette was fully gone and replaced by a door, which was moving up and down as the little girl was being bounced on Y/n’s hip to calm her down, making her go quiet and not wake Noel, who was still sound asleep, in bed.

“Mama didn’t fed you right, huh?” she asked as she sat her down on the counter and started heating up the milk that was stored in the fridge. “You were already asleep as I got here, I couldn’t look after you as she brought you over.”

The baby laughed looking at the now pouting face of the older girl. Her eyes drifting over to the microwave and how the bottle inside of it turned in circles like a carousel they were on at the Christmas market a few months prior. The low humming sound filled the room, making the silence seem less foreign. Usually the house was filled with music and talking and laughter. Only after midnight it got quiet for once.

“I never thought I’d find myself here, with a baby and in love with a man 20 years older than myself. You’re not my baby, but I still wouldn’t trade you for the world. Neither would your daddy, you understand that? You are so loved, no matter what happens back at you mother’s place, alright?” She leaned closer, watching the girl’s pupils widen with every word, taking them in and saving them somewhere far away in the back of her mind so she could remember them even in years time. She wasn’t sure if the words reached anyone, but at least they reached herself. “You are not defined by the people you are made up from.”

The microwave dinged and the girl laughed as she felt tickles on her feet.

“I love you so much.” With a kiss on her head, the little girl was left sitting in admiration and hunger. Taking the milk, now warm and good for her to drink, out of the microwave, she turned around again, starting to fed the baby how it was supposed to be.

When she still pouted at her after getting her food, Y/n looked at her in a jokingly annoyed way. Scoffing and tsking her in playful admonition. “What do say, do you wanna sleep in a bed with me and daddy?”

At the furiously nodding head of the 2 year old in her arms, Y/n started laughing quietly. Turning around as the little girl was stretching out her arms towards the bedroom, assuming she already knew who was waiting, Y/n didn’t expect Noel leaning against the doorway, watching the pair with a content smile on his face. A little startled at the sudden figure in front of her, Y/n breathed in sharply, holding her chest as she recognized him.

“Shouldn’t you be sleepin’, little one?” He asked, taking the baby from her arms, as she nearly wiggled herself out from Y/n’s hold on her. “As should you.” His eyes were now focused on Y/n as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You don’t expect me to let my favourite human being starve, do you?” She pouted at him, as did the little girl in his arms.

“Now you both look dissapoint’d a’ me, how you expect me to sleep well with that though’?”

“Hold us close and we might forgive you,” she said, putting her hand on his shoulder and stepping closer.

“What a terrible terrible punishment,” he mumbled, leaning closer and kissing her lips, his hand lingering in her waist.

“Let’s get back to sleep, huh?” Y/n proposed, looking up at him and then to the girl, stroking her cheek as she was sound asleep against Noel’s shoulder.

Without an answer, he took her hand in his and guided her towards the bedroom, shutting off the lights in the process. Both laid on their respective sides, turned to each other, the child in their middle, softly watching her breath in and out, a sweet look in both their eyes. His one hand moved from moving the hair out of the child’s face to holding Y/n closer, while his other hand was held tightly by his daughter.

“I never thought anyone would actually be willing to go through all this,” he confessed into the night, making her eyes fly from the child’s face to his, watching her already.

“You don’t even know what I’d be willing to go through for you,” she confessed alongside him.

It was the truth though, no matter how silly it might sound. She loved him in a way she couldn’t possibly explain to anyone who has never gone through love like this.

[als-notebook]

just me and you

A friend visits Noel after a long day at work.

It was late at the Mega Mall, and it would soon close for the day. Noel Gruber stood in the Taco Bell, exhausted; he was on the closing shift. Finally, he clocked out, his muscles aching. All he wanted to do was go home. He stepped out of the mall…

Just to realize it was pouring. Great. A fantastic end to an awful day. Noel stared at the rain from under the covered area, wondering if he should wait it out. He took his phone out of his pocket, checking the weather app. It said that it would be raining for the next hour. Even better, he thought. As he started to walk through the cold rain, he started to cry. He felt miserable, but he had to get home somehow. 

Noel didn’t go far before he heard a familiar voice. “Hey! What are you doing out in the rain, dummy?”

Noel looked up from the concrete sidewalk to his right, his arms wrapped around himself, shaking. He simply stared at his friend with puffy, red eyes.

Mischa’s eyes landed on Noel’s, and his expression softened. He stepped out of his shitty car into the rain and wrapped his arms around the other boy. He rested one hand on his back, and the other on his head. Noel felt pathetic as he leaned into him, full-on sobbing, now.

“What are you doing here?”

“You said you were having a bad day. And I did not want you walking home in the rain.” Mischa replied. Noel remembered texting Mischa on his break about the shitty customers yelling at him, and his manager on his ass about everything. Mischa pulled away from Noel, looking at him. “Let’s get out of here, man.”

Mischa hurried to the driver’s seat, and Noel ran to the passenger’s seat. They both shut the car doors, sighing. “Okay. We go home now.” Mischa said, starting up his car and driving off.

Most of the drive, the two boys sat in silence, other than the hip-hop music playing on low volume and the sound of cars rolling through puddles. Sitting at a stop light, Noel broke the silence. “Sorry for getting your car all soaked.”

Mischa chuckled. “Hah! You are shaking like leaf. I’m more concerned about you being soaked than my car.”

Noel smiled sheepishly down at his hands in his lap. “You’re concerned about me?”

“Pffssh… Well…” Mischa said, a bit embarrassed. “Yes… You will get a cold…”

Noel looked at Mischa and grinned at him. “You’re so sweet.”

Mischa’s ears turned beet red, and he furrowed his brows. “I am not sweet. I am bitter… cool. And mysterious.”

“Sure you are,” Noel teased.

Soon, they reached Noel’s house. His mom’s car was not in the driveway—she was at work tonight. Mischa got out of the car, shutting the door, and walked over to the passenger’s side. He opened the door and held his hoodie over himself and the door. “Come on,” he said to Noel. 

Noel looked up at the jacket in the air and stepped out of the car. Mischa shut the door and stayed close as the two rushed over to the covered porch. Noel walked onto the porch, and Mischa stayed on the steps. “There you go,” Mischa said to Noel, his hoodie still held above him. “I see you later.” Mischa began to walk away until he heard Noel say something from behind him.

“Wait. No. Stay.”

Mischa turned back around and looked at Noel, who stood fidgeting with his hands. He stepped onto the porch and held his jacket under his arm. “Okay.”

Noel looked at the ground, his cheeks turning pink. “You’re not going to ask why..?”

Mischa shrugged. “I do not need a reason. I will stay if you want me to stay.”

The two boys entered the house and Noel walked to the bathroom and grabbed a towel, drying his hair and his face.

“I’m gonna change,” he said to Mischa. Mischa nodded, and Noel grabbed a change of clothes and closed the bathroom door. Shortly after, Noel opened the door again, this time in a t-shirt and shorts. He glanced over at Mischa, who was still standing by the door awkwardly. “Oh, right,” he muttered, looking at his damp brown curls.

Noel went into the bathroom again, grabbing another dry towel. He approached Mischa and ruffled his hair with it.

“Yoo,” Mischa laughed. “I can dry my own hair!”

Noel laughed back at him. “Oh, whatever. Soo dramatic.” He stopped messing with Mischa’s hair, and threw the towel over his shoulder. “Do you want a change of clothes? Mine might fit you…”

Mischa shook his head. “Nah. I should dry off soon.” He didn’t get as soaked as Noel did–he wasn’t out in the rain for as long. “Do you feel better?”

Noel smiled, nodding. “Yeah. I do.” He looked at Mischa for a moment, tilting his head. “Thank you for caring so much.”

“It is only nature,” Mischa shrugged, looking away sheepishly. 

“I’m like, actually exhausted. Do you wanna… stay over..?”

Mischa looked back at Noel, a little bit surprised. He thought about it, and he decided that he really didn’t want to go back home… or leave at all, for that matter. “Yeah. Sure.”

Noel smiled and grabbed Mischa’s wrist, leading him to his room. His room had beige walls, similar to the rest of the house. Noel had always wanted to paint the walls dark red, but was never allowed. It was decorated in dark decor. “Sorry it’s a bit of a mess in here… I take a lot of time choosing outfits,” Noel said, blushing. There were clothes strewn across the carpet.

“I don’t mind,” Mischa said. “It’s cleaner than my room, that’s for sure,” he said lightheartedly. What he did not mention was that he lived in a basement that was hardly an excuse for a room—but Noel knew that. And he didn’t blame him.

Noel got into the left side of his bed. “You can sleep on this side,” Noel said, nodding to the right.

Mischa stood in the doorway for a moment, not really understanding how the other boy was being so casual about this. Soon enough, though, he shrugged it off, realizing that he didn’t really mind, either. He closed the door and crawled into the bed next to Noel, facing him. 

Noel looked back at Mischa, and he couldn’t help but smile. There was something so comforting about laying next to him in silence after a long day. 

Mischa reached over, brushing Noel’s bangs out of his face and behind his ear. He looks so lovely, he thought. 

Noel turned onto his back, staring at the ceiling before deciding to move in closer to Mischa; who accepted this move almost instantly, wrapping his arms around the other boy and resting his chin on top of his head. The two fell asleep quickly, wrapped up in each other’s warmth. They weren’t even a little bit concerned about Noel’s mother’s reaction, who would come into her son’s room after a long shift to check up on him, only to be met with the only slightly shocking sight of him sleeping comfortably in the arms of his close friend.

[the-himawari]

A3! Spotlight Event Translation - Spotlight (Secret): Ikaruga Brothers & Hyodo Brothers & Shadows in the Moonlight (3/19)

*Please read disclaimer on blog

---

~Shadows in the Moonlight Side~

Chikage: So, what are you thinking about?

Hisoka: You see, for Christmas at Guy’s bar—.

-pause-

Chikage: I see. And your idea right now is?

Hisoka: My first choice was to choose a concept and serve the customers like the Actor’s Café. By the way, I’ve already rejected the idea for poetry reading.

Chikage: I can… tell easily whose suggestion that was.

Hisoka: You work for a trading company, so you’ve met a lot of people and seen a lot of different plans. Do you have any good ideas?

Chikage: …You should start by thinking about why they chose Journey for their Christmas plans.

Hisoka: The reason they chose Journey…

Chikage: It’s because they like Journey they way it is, right? They purposely chose it because they like the atmosphere, customer service, and the drinks there. Making a huge change would miss the point.

Hisoka: …I see. I guess you’re right.

Waiter: Thank you for waiting. Here is your hot chocolate.

Hisoka: Thanks.

Waiter: And here is your seasonal special blended coffee. Right now we’re serving La Magie du Noel… We only serve this during the Christmas season. Please have these with your drinks as well. I hope you relax and enjoy your meal.

Hisoka: It’s gingerbread. It’s not covered in sugar, so even you can eat it, right?

Chikage: It still looks sweet though. And the smell of your hot chocolate is making it worse.

Hisoka: What was the name of your coffee again?

Chikage: La Magie du Noel. It means “the magic of Christmas” in French.

Hisoka: The magic of Christmas—. … “If the falling snow was warm like the sun, and the chimes of the bells ringing through the town were words of love—"

Chikage: “The world would be a kinder place.”

Hisoka: …You remember?

Chikage: Of course. I was told not to forget.

Hisoka: That brings back memories. …Remember, back then—.

*flashback starts*

August: Welcome.

Child A: Hello!

Child B: Which one should I get~.

December: …There’s a lot of customers today even though the Halloween season is over.

April: It’s his fault for making up that “cookies that grant your wish” thing. Who knows when he’s going to get sued.

Child C: Misha! Are you still selling the cookies that grant wishes?

August: Yep. Which colour would you like?

Child C: Pink!

August: Alright, here you go. Do you have a love you want to come true?

Child C: Fufu. I only have eyes for you, Misha!

August: Oh my. What an honour. But alas. Apparently I’m a bad guy who’s going to get sued someday, so it’s better to give up on me.

Child C: There’s no way you’re a bad guy, Misha! Who said that about you?

April: …Don’t go off and exaggerate.

December: …Marshmallows…

April: Oi, how many pieces is that now? It’s your fault that the shop is going to run out of marshmallows.

Child A: Ah~, someone’s angry~.

Child B: He tried to eat them secretly, but he got caught!

August: He has to do it better next time, right?

Child C: Ahahaha.

-pause-

August: Thanks for your help, you two. We had a super busy day again today.

December: Zzz, zzz…

April: *Sigh*… I’m sure it’s not a good idea to stand out this much.

August: Well, I guess that’s true. But—. A life spent solely stealing, hiding, and being hated gets lonely. Even we can make someone smile, right?

April: Make someone smile, huh… …But more importantly, how long are we going to be this freaking busy?

August: We’re entering the holiday season, so I guess it’ll continue being this busy until the new year.

April: You’re kidding. This is a hindrance to our mission…

August: It’s Christmas already~. What if we go out on a limb and sell cakes this year?

December: I’m down.

April: Oi, you were listening? In any case, customer don’t come to all the way to a candy shop for cake. They’d buy one at a cake shop.

August: You have a point… hmmm…

April: Give up and just sell candy as usual.

August: Oh, I know. That would sell, wouldn’t it?

April: …I have a bad feeling about this.

December: *Yawn*…

---

previous | next

[cybrscreem]

PlotTober 1 "Shaky hands"

Oc's Used: Noel Graves (he/him - mine), Royal Cyrus (she/her - @tortoiseshelf), Ghost (they/them - Max doesn't have tumblr), Crow (He/Him - max still doesn't have tumblr), A (cannon character), B (cannon character), L (Cannon character), Mello (cannon character), Near (cannon character), Kira/Light Yagami (cannon character), Cyrus siblings (@tortoiseshelf) ***Trigger Warnings:*** Anxiety, flashbacks, death/murder of a loved one/child, survivors guilt, suicidal ideation - no attempt/plan

Read at your own risk !!

Noel always struggled with his anxiety, it was something that came and never left once the last of his family died. He always knew the risks that came with his family's work, being world renowned detectives, but it never prepared him for the people he cherished to start dropping like flies. First his eldest brother, A. Then his older brother, B. The Kira case began and he knew how much stress it was putting on his parents.. Especially Ghost. They were a workaholic, that's where Noel got the trait. They tasked themselves with not only caring for four kids and a fiancee, but with grieving the two children they’d already lost - and still working to progress the case. 

They had finally made a breakthrough when Watari was killed. The same night, L, the man who Noel never truly liked after A and B died… was also killed. Noel began to distance himself after this, guilt and fear tangling in his mind like a whirlpool of doubt.

Then Mello died. Then Crow. Near died, and Kira killed Ghost just as Ghost killed Kira. Noel was left with nothing, no one. He gave up on the alias of ‘John Ryuzaki,’ finding his own life pointless after the fatality of his only family. Noel closed his eyes, opening them and seeing the scene of the graveyard kept back at the orphanage in England. He felt tears welling in his eyes, and he closed them harshly to avoid it.

“Noel..?” That soft voice, the concern plastered in just his name.. Royal. He opened his eyes, finding himself standing in the kitchen of the task force headquarters. Royal stood before him, her worry carved into her face like a sculpture. It was only when Noel rubbed his eyes that he realized he had been crying.

“Noel, baby, what's going on?” That sweet voice again. The utter devotion and adoration she showed him was almost sickening with guilt he felt. Noel was terrified of letting her get close, of falling in love. Everyone he ever cared for always died.. And he couldn't let that happen to her or her siblings.

“I’m..I'm okay, love. Just some memories.” Noel forced a dry laugh, taking a deep breath. He jumped, feeling Royals soft hands cover his own, grabbing them and bringing them to her chest - letting him feel her steady pulse against his fingertips.

“Your hands always shake when you lie, Noel.. let's go sit down and watch a movie, okay? All of us.”

She was right. He did do that. She knew him so well, and it made him feel so loved.. It reminded him that he did have a purpose now - even after losing the people from Wammys; he had to continue their legacy of a beautiful family. Continue the legacy of being caring and adoring to his family. He did have a reason for his life.

Shaky hands, or not.

[mamodewberry]

Holiday Fever

Time for the annual Sad Bastien Christmas drabble. Not too sad this year, but he's still not very happy about it.

Rating: G

Words: 1,361

Summary: Baz is sick and hates it more than usual. Good thing he has Chris.

Bastien preferred being cold to being hot. Much easier to warm oneself up than cool down. But with the constant chill in the air of Swiss winters, brought illness. Global pandemic aside, Bastien was what many would call a germaphobe: everything was cleaned and washed properly and handled with care, touched only when necessary. His parents liked the house tidy, yes, but he wasn’t sure when he himself adapted such hygienic practices. Something within his control perhaps. 

Christophe never felt the need to call him out on it. At least verbally. That crooked smile and the way those green eyes teased him with fondness without a word were unfair sometimes. Over the years Christophe adapted and contributed to Bastien’s practices, intentional or not. Even if just around him.

But no matter how careful he’d been, year after year avoiding indoor crowded spaces (although that was for an unrelated reason), potlucks, public bathrooms, etc he wound up sick. It didn’t make sense, how could his body betray him like this? He wanted to blame something or someone, but that was energy his brain couldn’t spare once Christophe had put him to bed. 

He didn’t like being sick. Hated it. There was so much to do, especially a week before Christmas. But mostly he didn’t like feeling useless. Not allowed to perform his duties he’d established in the household or professionally. When others took time off work for being sick, he was happy to have them away so not to spread their germs, and Bastien should feel the same about himself but… he was the responsible one that didn’t get sick. Took care of Christophe when he got sick, which admittedly wasn’t often (thank god). 

Feebly he relinquished his tablet with the to-do’s to Christophe, who rummaged through the drawers for his own stylus to use and a face mask. Bastien watched Christophe’s eyes widen at the line items, then soften. Not as bad as he thought or did he think Bastien was exaggerating? He huffed at the latter as well as his miserable predicament. 

“I’ll take care of it,” Christophe said.

“All of it?” Bastien was skeptical. 

“As much as I can.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

“I’m not incapable, Baz. Just not as thorough. The priorities will take priorities. That’s what bold means, right?”

“Right.” Christophe often accompanied him on errands. It wasn’t like it was foreign to him. He could do it. The shopping. The cooking. The cleaning. Read off reports to Josef. “Your license is valid, yes?”

“Yes it’s valid and yes I remember how to drive.”

“Right, of course.” Ugh his head was foggy. Why did fog hurt? “Your family’s party. What will--”

“We’ll see how you are in six days. Don’t want to cancel prematurely.”

“But I’m supposed to make the buche de noel. Your mother loves it so…”

“She does, but I know for a fact she’d rather you not worry about it and rest. And if we have to miss out this year, that’s okay. Maybe we can do something for New Year’s instead.”

No, that wouldn’t do. Bastien frowned. Christmas was more ruined than Christophe was letting on! “But…”

“No buts.” Christophe leaned in and pressed his mask-covered lips to Bastien’s forehead. “I’ll take care of things.” He then turned and bent over to pick up Sabine then placed her on Bastien’s chest. She pattered her paws in rotation a couple times before settling into a loaf. “Keep Daddy in bed.” 

Unfair. No one was allowed to move a comfy cat. 

“Get some rest, mon amor.” 

The next few days were torture. 

It hadn’t been the first time Bastien had been sick, but it no less made him feel awful about it. Mostly had been days he’s stressed himself out into a state of burnout that Christophe forced him into bed before he fell asleep at his feet and passed out. But this? Hearing Christophe downstairs in the kitchen and living space cleaning and cooking and sweetly humming, he didn’t like it. No, the humming he liked, it was nice. Everything else, though!

He was able to calm when Christophe brought him a meal and its taste was good. They’d lived together for years so of course he was used to the tastes of the house and could mimic it well enough. Yes they both ate well. The cake for the Giacometti’s party however, that Bastien knew was too large a task for his beau.

What was worse? Arriving empty handed or skipping it all together? 

By day five and the symptoms only lessening by fifty percent, Bastien knew they wouldn’t be going to Christophe’s parents. No dinner around the table, no cookie baking or poems for Samichlaus and finding the hidden gifts around their lovely home. They saw them at least a month ago, but a hug from Nina sounded really nice and now Bastien would have to wait. 

Christophe’s hugs would suffice. The ones Bastien allowed at bedtime before Christophe retreated to the guest bedroom because Bastien would not be able to live even more with himself if Christophe were to get sick, too. Sabine remained dutiful and at his side. 

Bastien wanted to tell Christophe to go to the Christmas market without him so he could still experience the joys of the season. 

“We went the second week of December, love,” Christophe reminded him with a smile.

Surely once wasn’t enough. Especially if they were going to miss the party and mass. 

“I’d never go do something I know you love without you. I have more than enough Christmas cheer here.”

Bastien frowned with skepticism. 

“Our eve meal is almost ready. If you’re up to eating.”

Oh he would eat everything in sight even if his stomach wasn’t entirely agreeing on solid foods at the moment. He wouldn’t waste Christophe’s efforts. Or disappoint himself. Too many days he dwelled on what he was missing out on for his own enjoyment. If Christophe said it was fine for him, it was, but Bastien couldn’t say the same for himself. “Yes. I would like to eat,” Bastien finally said, knowing Christophe was waiting for his answer. 

“Can we eat together downstairs?”

It was odd to be on this end of permission. Shouldn’t Bastien be the one asking to be free of his insisted quarantine? Still, he couldn’t deny how much he wanted to. “I’d like that.”

Christophe took hold of the comforter and pulled it back and offered Bastien his robe and toed his slippers toward the bed. 

Slipping his arms into the sleeves, Bastien took Christophe’s offered hand and stood into his slippers. It was unnecessary to need assistance down the stairs, but Bastien appreciated it all the same. 

Whatever Christophe had made smelled wonderful. 

As they descended, Bastien noticed the fireplace had been lit, the main lights dimmed, and a small table had been set up in front of the tree. Struck by all implications and sentiments, Bastien let Christophe lead him to the table and down into one of the chairs. He barely registered Christophe saying he’d be right back with their Christmas dinner.

When Christophe returned, a plate of fondue chinoise, mixed greens, and a single zimtsterne was placed in front of him. The star design on the fondue was charmingly homemade. And if it weren’t for how much he loved the cookies, he would have chided Christophe for putting dessert on the dinner plate. Judging by the shape and thickness of the frosting, Bastien knew they had to be Nina’s doing. 

Christophe returned with his own plate and two glasses of wine. “I asked Mother what they were having tonight and gave it a go. She offered to bring it over to us, but I convinced her a plate of her zimtsterne would be perfect.”

Being ill would dull his taste buds naturally, but the atmosphere, the thoughts and care put into it, it would be the most wonderful meal he’d ever had. 

He’d worried about nothing. Christophe took care of everything.

Christophe really was Samichlaus in his own way. 

Tears burned in his eyes. “All of it is. It always is. How could I expect anything different?”

[beloveddawn-blog]

Sun Haven Halloween Event

I'm not even bothering to pretend to think of a title for this. Teleri is my OC, as is Zari. Char, Sass, and Helios belong to my family members, and those four are a little pack. Other OCs are:

@mutsuowo with Tsubaki

@dennydraws with Aryllin

@artistvicky with Seraphina

@minnieposting with Noel

Happy Halloween all!

“They say that those the maze takes… They never come out!”Tsubaki hissed, making good use of her unusual body structure to seal the scariness. Pod and Topi were spellbound before her, still in a way they almost never were. She twirled her hat in her hands, fully intending on dragging this out a bit longer before her grand finale. She was in her element  during Halloween, and intended to enjoy every minute of it.

“rrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRREVENGE!!!!” Teleri burst from the side of the corn maze, like the total heathen she was, and all three of them jumped. The boys screamed in terror, which quickly turned to laughter matching Teleri’s as she scooped up one under each arm and spun them around until she fell over, dizzy and giggling. Tsubaki glared at her friend with her hands on her hips, but even she couldn’t stop her lips from twitching. 

“Teleri!” She scolded, shaking her head. “We talked about this. No jump scares in the corn maze!”

“I wasn’t in the corn maze.” The elemental shot back, spinning on the ground to face the naga. “I only scared people outside of it.”

“That’s not the point and you know it.” Tsubaki insisted, but she knew her tail gave her away. And she wasn’t really mad at Teleri, just a bit annoyed that her story had been cut off. Kitty and Iris had both shrieked at the ending (as had Rami, but he was insisting he hadn’t. Tsubaki would give him that for this day, at least) and she had been looking forward to more victims. She sighed and rolled her eyes. “Go collect your husband and get out of my corn maze. Bother someone else for a bit.”

Teleri gave a sloppy salute, then rolled herself up to her feet. “NATHANIEL!” She bellowed, causing the children to jump again while Kara burst out laughing. “WE’RE BEING BANISHED! GET OUT HERE!”

“DON’T GIVE AWAY MY SECRET, WOMAN!” He bellowed back. “DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG I’VE BEEN STALKI… OW OW OW OW OW!” He cried, only for Jun to re-emerge from the start of the maze with Nathaniel’s ear pinched between his finger and thumb. His mask was flipped up and his face was placid, but both women could easily see the smile lurking behind his eyes. He came right up to Teleri and presented her husband to her, still leading him by the ear.

“Yours, I believe, my lady.” He stated, and Teleri kissed his cheek before taking her husband’s arm.

“I thank you for your assistance, good sir.” She replied, smiling sweetly and curtsying. Nathaniel glared at them both, but it was easy to see how he melted when he looked at his wife.

“How come you’re only nice to him?” He groused good-naturedly, and Teleri threw back her head and laughed.

“I’m plenty nice to you.” She insisted. “Just not in a way we should demonstrate here…”

“Iiiiii think you should go visit Claude.” Kara broke in, jumping forward to cover Pod’s ears. Tsubaki copied her with Topi and agreed.

“This really isn’t that sort of party, guys. It’s meant to be family friendly.”

Teleri blinked innocently at them while her husband turned so red you could see it under his face paint. “I was talking about not making him eat his own cooking.” She insisted, tilting her head sideways and fighting the smirk trying desperately to crawl across her face. “That is a true horror, too terrifying for a family Halloween.”

Rosa, who had just walked over to see what all the yelling was about, started laughing. Nathaniel glared at her in betrayal. “I don’t have to take this insubordination.” He informed her haughtily, turning his nose up. He turned back to the rest of the group. “Watch me not take this insubordination.” He repeated, then stalked off in a very obviously fake state of dramatic high dudgeon. Teleri laughed and waved to her friends as she followed, her arm still securely tucked around his.

Rosa rolled her eyes and turned back to Tsubaki, who was now letting the two boys and Kara into the maze. “I will go next.” She declared, “And I am not so skittish as Kitty. Do your worst.”

Tsubaki smiled, always up for a challenge.

*

“Claude!” Aryllin called out, racing across the lawn towards her beloved.

“Ary!” He called back in delight. She lit up at the tone of his voice, then tripped over her own feet from excitement and slid the last five feet to end up right in front of him. “Are you alright?” He questioned, dropping to his knees to assist her. He spared not a thought for how expensive his clothes were, just reached out. Ary smiled up at him in reassurance.

“I’m fine.” She insisted, even as she hissed a little pushing herself up. Claude was supporting her in an instant, and she melted into him. 

“You are not.” He insisted, tucking her close so he had a free hand to examine her nearest one. Not finding anything wrong with it, he reached across for the further hand, and she winced when he touched it. He frowned at her, concerned.

“I am.” She insisted stubbornly, frowning petulantly at her wrist as she attempted to flex it. Light rippled down from her halo and out to the tips of her wings, and she attempted to flex it again with much more success. “See?” She insisted, holding her hand right up for inspection. Helplessly charmed, Claude simply took her offered hand and and softly kissed the back of it.

“That’s cheating and you know it.” He murmured to her. “I don’t care that you can heal yourself, I still don’t want you hurt.” She smiled at him as softly as he gazed at her, and they both seemed to realize it at the same time and became stuttering messes. They looked away quickly, then snuck glances back until Claude finally noticed one thing that broke through his embarrassment with sheer bafflement. “Are those… feather wings?”

Ary lit up, excited to talk about her costume. “They clip on! Isn't that so neat? There were ones with little harnesses, but that would have messed up the lines of my dress.”

Claude blinked at her. “Ary… you have wings.”

“They’re so I can be an angel!” She proclaimed, beaming. “We match! Like the ones on people’s shoulders!”

He blinked again. That continued to not make her make sense. “Ary… You are an angel.”

She blushed again and looked down, twisting her shoulders in bashful delight. “Awww, that’s so sweet.”

“No, like, you are literally an angel.” He pressed on, and she giggled while twining her fingers together. “Look at yourself, Ary, you’re…” He trailed off then, taking in her face markings and the flowing white dress she was wearing, both now covered in mud. “A mess.” He finally declared, kicking himself for forgetting her fall. “You have mud all over yourself, sweetheart, and you’re soaked. You’re going to get a chill if you keep sitting in the mud like this.”

She looked down at herself and frowned. “But I wanted to match you…” She muttered, obviously displeased. Claude sighed and took her hand back before kissing her knuckles.

“You’ll always match me, my muse.” He insisted. “My perfect match who even heaven was not worthy of. Please go get changed. For me. I worry about you, as strong as you are.”

She blushed again, but allowed Claude to pull her up and gently push her through the door of his house. He remained outside, waiting to see if he’d get any trick or treaters.

*

Lucia approached the trio of giggling girls, one of whom was attempting to cajole the good doctor into adding a set of sunglasses to his own costume. He was clearly refusing, even though he had accidentally gagged himself with his own costume. Three sets of inhuman eyes snapped towards her (red as fire, a black so deep it felt like staring into the abyss, and fully gold with no pupil to be seen) and they smiled as she approached.

“Char, Sass, Zari.” She greeted, nodding to each of them as she spoke. “Did you all coordinate this outfit, or did you accidentally set your wardrobes on fire and have to steal from Helios?” The girls all giggled, Char eventually pulling up her hoodie conspiratorially and whispering. Lucia leaned closer to hear.

“Hey little lady, wanna buy a sword?” The flames in her eyes danced in mirth, and her two companions howled with laughter. Lucia felt her own mouth ticking up helplessly. 

“Me next, me next!” Zari insisted, regaining enough of her composure to take a deep breath and call out, “Heigh HOOOOOOO!” All three collapsed into laughter again, Char actually grabbing onto Sass to keep her feet.

“You get a sword and YOU get a sword! EVERYONE GETS A SWORD!” Char wheezed out, which caused Zari to shriek in even more laughter while Sass was actually crying from mirth.

“It ain’t no trick, to get rich quick.” Zari gasped, and Sass joined her in the next line, “If you dig dig dig with a shovel or pick.” They were laughing too hard to continue, and Lucia couldn’t help a chuckle of her own. She glanced over towards where Lynn was lingering, totally wrapped up in her soft conversation with her husband. Lucia would have thought they looked like a perfect picture of domestic happiness if not for the way the blonde man’s wings vibrated in irritation.

“My turn.” Sass insisted, taking deep breaths to regain her composure. She drew herself up to her full height. “Industry! Sustainable Forestry! Where is your alchemy table? That chest was organized DON’T TOUCH IT!” They dissolved into a pile of laughter, and it was almost impossible to tell who was who when all of them were wearing jeans, a white hoodie, and sunglasses. Helios snapped his head around, apparently having reached his limits with his friends’ teasing.

“I HATE YOU ALL!” He bellowed at them, scowling. “I’m gonna move to Withergate and Xyla can be my new bestie! You’ll be sorry then!” Lynn smiled at him soothingly and rubbed the back of one hand.

“Speak for yourself.” Xyla broke in, watching from nearby with her arms crossed. “Nobody who buys a drink out from under me gets to be my friend.” She was smirking though, obviously enjoying the show. Helios scowled at her too.

“Excuse you, I’m charming as fuck and no one understands how your city is put together like I do. If I say we’re gonna be besties I’ll make it happen.” Lynn snorted out her own laugh at this, then covered her mouth in shock at her own audacity. Helios turned wounded eyes on her, exaggerated hurt radiating off of him. “E tu, pumpkin?” He placed a hand over his heart like he’d been wounded, and she smiled at him while squeezing the hand he still hadn’t let go of.

“Sorry sweetie,” She replied, still smiling softly at him. “You’re very charming, it’s true. It’s just… If you were really mad at them, you wouldn’t still have that Demon Drink you bought for Sass. You’d have drunk it out of sheer spite, even though you don’t like them.”

He smiled softly at her. “You know me so well, pumpkin.”

Sass made exaggerated gagging noises while Char cooed obnoxiously. Zari elbowed Lucia to get her attention and muttered, “I’m thinking the mine isn’t the only cave he’s exploring when he disappears all day, and it’s probably not just son-ite he’s aiming for…”

Wornhardt laughed so hard he choked on his own costume.

*

“Claude, look!” The musician smiled as he heard a voice more beloved than any sound even his piano could produce and he turned. Then choked.

Ary spread her arms and gave a little twirl. The dinner jacket she was wearing floated around her like the heavenly raiments she had been born to wear, but for once it wasn’t her grace nor her pure soul that held him spellbound.

It was her outfit.

She was wearing his slacks and his shirt with his dinner jacket tying it all together, and she giggled as he felt a possessive surge the likes of which he had never felt before lance through him. She grinned and he could see the tips of tiny fangs gracing her lovely mouth.

“You’re… you’re dressed as… me…” He choked out softly, bewildered and so very happy. Ary beamed at him, not catching his words.

“I’m a vampire!” She giggled, and he very firmly mentally scruffed himself to regain control.

“Ah. Yes. Of course you are. Very nice. That’s… That’s very nice. You look perfect, my muse.” She grinned and bounced over to him, sliding under his arm and cuddling up close. He closed his eyes briefly and prayed for perseverance.

*

“I think it is clear that we have the scariest costumes here.” Wesley commented, gazing around the festivities and sipping at his drink. “Very few others have taken seriously the part of the festivities where the costumes are supposed to be scary. It is baffling.”

“You’re just being a bit too serious.” Sera replied, sipping her own drink and kicking her feet. She was sitting on a fence and resting her legs after a very fun but also very long party. “It’s socially acceptable in the human culture to scare others on Halloween, but some people don’t enjoy that even with permission. Catharine, for example. So they do something a little more fun, a little more whimsical. Everyone still has a great time, so it’s all worth it in the end.”

“And those that do like spooking others?” Wesley asked, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

“Sneak up behind others and splash water on them, shrieking about revenge.” She deadpanned, catching motion out of the corner of her eye. The figure was still too far back even for her flames to light up, so Sera waited patiently, not letting Wesley know she’d seen something. He continued on, talking about how humans didn’t seem to even take their own culture very seriously, before cutting off abruptly as Sera whirled, fire in her hand as she prepared to halt Teleri in her tracks…

Only for Nathaniel to throw himself to the side in a reflexive dodge. Sera had less than a moment to curse the planning put into this before she was utterly enveloped in a very wet hug as a purposely soaked Teleri glomped right onto her back, shrieking with laughter. Steam exploded around them, and for a moment it was all Sera could see. Then Teleri backed off, laughing as she sprawled out against the fence next to Sera. The fire elemental glared at her friend, but Teleri was obviously in too good of a mood to care.

“Oooooh, I got you good.” She crowed, planting a victorious kiss on her husband quickly before turning back to her friend. “You thought you got me, but you didn’t count on my decoy.” She gloated, obviously delighted with herself.

Sera flapped her hand at her dismissively, even as she smiled. “Yes, yes, you’re the sneakiest. You win Halloween. Is that what you want to hear?”

“She does not!” A very indignant hot dog broke in, and Sera blinked at him. Teleri, however, burst into laughter while Nathaniel buried his face in his hands, radiating discomfort.

“She’s… Not?” Sera questioned Donovan, supported by Wesley’s inquiring hum. 

“Noel is.” He proclaimed firmly, looking ready to fight over this.

“Noel is cheating is what they are.” Teleri replied through her laughter. “But I will concede this anyway, that was hilarious.”

“It was not hilarious!” Nathaniel insisted in a muffled voice, his face still hidden in his hands. “I almost punched a kid.”

“Buuut you didn’t.” Teleri shot back, singsongy. “Noel agrees with me anyway, that was hilarious.”

“Noel was great.” Donovan agreed, still incredibly proud. “Dude’s got guts and a steel core. They’re a great sport at things like this.”

“They were pretending to be my WIFE!” Nathaniel pouted. “Of course I swung when I clocked that! It’s totally reasonable that my first thought was spy and not shapeshifter-prankster.”

“Yes dear.” Teleri replied consolingly, hiding her laughter poorly. She patted him on the shoulder in support, but it was clear from his pout that he didn’t appreciate it as he should.

“A shapeshifter?” Wesley asked, suddenly uncomfortable. Sera smiled at him softly, knowing it was his own discomfort with PDA and not a dislike of the shapeshifter in question that caused it. They had talked to Noel briefly earlier in the night, and the two had actually gotten along quite well.

“All is well, beloved.” She soothed, rubbing her fingers over his knuckles. “I am me, don’t worry.”

“But were you all night is the question.” Wesley insisted. “I said… things I do not regret, but would not like others to overhear earlier. I understand it is just a prank in the spirit of the season, but… I would not wish that.”

Donovan narrowed his eyes at the elf like he was trying to decide if he was stupid or not. “Sera has dragged you all over this event and up to just about everyone here. And I do mean dragged.” He glanced pointedly down at their intertwined fingers. “Noel hasn’t pretended to be your wife because she literally hasn’t let go of your hand since you’ve been here. You two are the mushiest couple here and that is saying something.” He stressed. He gestured sideways at the other two. “You’ve even beat out these lovebirds and they keep involving everyone else in their ridiculous flirting to a truly nauseating extent.”

Teleri batted her eyelashes at him. “Awww, are you jealous? You could just tell Noel that, you know. They’d be delighted to come hang out with you. They’re just off playing some weird hide-and-seek hybrid with Cathrine and Vaan, I can go get them if you like?”

Donovan glared at her. “You are insufferable.” He hissed, ineffective at hiding both his jealousy and his fondness. Nathaniel grinned and pulled Teleri closer into his side. 

“I know. Isn’t she just wonderful?”

[katsigian]

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Tagged by @trashkingnyx thank youuuu

I'm perpetually working on things because I pick up 100 million projects when I'm inspired and then lose said inspiration but then the stubbornness kicks in so then I gotta finish them or else I feel guilty. Hope that helps <3

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Who saw this coming, because I surely didn't. It's not like complexion mods are the only thing I know how to make well.

The frankly unsettling flattened skin texture, or diffuse, on the left are tattoos I'm making for my woof boy, Noel. There are many different pieces because there's a billion seams I have to account for to make a sleeve that covers from shoulder to fingers without gaps. And it destroys my brain. The handsome lad on the right is my baby Vesper and those are his custom tattoos I made that need to be fixed up a little bit. Because there's flaws only my eyes can see <3

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Ya boy is also venturing into propmaking. Less venturing and more throwing myself in the deep end because I physically can't learn anything normally. ANYWAY I want a trillion neon signs at my beck and call for picture taking so I've been scouring in game assets and yoinking them out for my own use. They're functioning, but there's some stuff I gotta touch up yet.

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Yes, yes, we've all heard about my lore. It's still an ongoing process and frankly kinda tiring. Here are some snippets:

"The Saint" - while the name conjures imagery of holy pureness, Valen is anything but. Though that is part of why he's called this; it's a play on words that reflect his true methods. Early on in his career, Valen gained his reputation for being effcient, aggressive, and having a high success rate. Some operators that worked beside him began sarcastically calling him the Saint after seeing his typically ruthless and effective methods of completing contracts. The name stuck, even as Valen didn't embody saintly tendencies by any stretch yet. Although, that was part of the joke - a saint would never be as violent as Valen is, so how hilarious would it be if that's what he's called? It could be argued he was a saint of sorts for his clients, coming in and washing away their problems. Beginning around 2074, the name had another meaning attached to it - Valen would often willingly accept a pay cut to take those contracts that clients couldn't afford. These were usually non-corporate aligned persons who did not have the dollars at hand for the services offered by Ares Systems. Valen, apparently a bleeding heart at times, would take the contracts anyway and complete them. "The Saint" stuck even further after this.

Vesper's Lore - Around 10 months after running from Dario, Vesper found Valen. He'd been searching for him specifically, but Valen's not easy to find; he eventually approached him outside of Valen's work facility and Valen, of course, was shocked. He'd never known about Callen's other children, even though he'd always felt *something*. Unknowingly connected to Vesper from their shared father/sire. Over the next 6 months, they slowly grew closer, getting to know each other. They were both a little too similar to their father though, Vesper's brash nature inherited from Callen meaning he often called out Valen's own similarities to their father. To Valen's extreme dismay. Even though they tend to grate on each other's nerves, they do learn from each other and lean on one another often. Valen can't live without him now, nor can Vesper without him. When Vesper was 23, Dario found him again. He'd stopped being careful and accidentally let himself be found. Terrified, he was forced to tell Valen about that part of his past. Valen, in typical fashion, took it upon himself to make sure Dario could never find Vesper again. To this day, Vesper still doesn't know what Valen did with the body, and he'll never tell him.

And that's that <3 I'm going to tag some pals BUT there's NO pressure to share if you don't want to. If you do want to share, it could be anything; art, writing, mods, etc.

@rindemption @noirapocalypto @spicyraeman @nuclearstorms @aartyom @uldwynsovs @halsin @nokstella @reaperkiller @arcandoria @cybersmallz @itzsassha @pathfinderlittleduck @strafethesesinners @thefrostyshepard @noonfaerie @neon-prison @elvenbeard @aldcaldos @holofishes @fleetwoodmoth @breezypunk @hertzdo

[herrscherofsentence]

Noel Gruber x Male Reader

(platonic !)

〜♪

summary ; read request

☆〜♪

Warnings ; Minor description of injury, implied mentions of blood, character death, angst w/o comfort

〜♪

A/N- Apologies but I decided to completely redo this :) enjoy !

-

[Name] tugged at his bowtie, his heart completely raising it felt as if he was just going to burst down into tears at any moment. He stepped through the doors that lead to the choir room, expecting maybe one or two kids his age but atlas he was the youngest one in that room. He made eye contact with one or two members in that room but none of them exactly talked to [Name]. Noel seemed to notice the newest and youngest member of the choir all alone, the newest member of the choir seemed to have been on his phone and that's when Noel noticed what [name] was looking at it was just some prompts that could be used for novels.

[Name] stayed quiet when noticing Noel coming up to him, “Hey,” Noel said in a light voice, “What are you doing?” he questioned, [Name] looked up, at a loss for words. What was he supposed to say? In the end all [Name] did was give Noel a notebook that showed a rough draft of the novel he was working on. “It’s inspired by some of those..French cinema movies..” [Name] said quietly, Noel immediately got interested in what he had to say. “I need to know, What is your favorite movie in that genre?” Noel sat down next to [Name].

[Name] and Noel eventually got closer to each other, before the two knew it, it was already close to the end of the school year. Noel always came to [Name]’s side if he noticed someone was making fun of him, possibly coming up with some nasty rumor then they wouldn’t annoy [Name] anymore. Noel was like a worried parent if [Name] would get injured or it being something as simple as him falling. [Name] was Noel unofficial adopted freshman and [Name] was happy.

Until,

“I’m feeling a little sick..” Noel admits, this gets the younger one’s attention, “I”ll go for you,” He offers to Noel, Noel tries to deny but eventually comes to terms with [Name]. Noel will stay on the sidelines as [Name] rides on the Cyclone with the other members of the choir. It took a moment to notice it, when it derailed..One second joy the next, panicked screams, fear filled his eyes. [Name] was launched out of the cart but it didn’t stop the cart landing on top of him. The world started to fade in front of him, a crimson taste fell into his mouth, What was happening? Red kept spilling out of him, tears threatened to fall. “Noel..!” [Name] tried to yell out, it even hurt to speak..Wait? Where was Noel? There was no response so perhaps Noel didn’t hear him or went to safety as the derailment happened.

It felt as if he just blinked before waking up in a hospital room. Bandage wrap covered almost the entirety of his body, it felt as if some covered his head. [Name] could barely move a limb in his body, how many bones were broken? There was still a phantom type of pain from the cart being on top of him. A doctor came in to check in on [Name], to the doctor’s surprise [Name] was awake. “Where’s Noel..?” he managed to squeak out, breathing heavily. The news is revealed to him, a new no one would ever want to hear, Noel was dead. In the fall he saw [Name] get launched out and only focus was on the youngest member of the choir. The now derailed cart ended up falling right on top of Noel, crushing all of his bones and organs; all they could identify Noel with was his head. Which was the only part of him which showed.

[cycian]

Sarah x female Captain. How about female Spacefarer/Captain wreaking havoc and hurting people due to being drugged with Terrormorph fluid? How would Sarah feel? What would she do? Very angry Sarah?

The aftermath would be greatly appreciated too, if you have the muse for it.

Ooooh, we love angst and protective Sarah in this house!

Sarah Morgan watched with terror as the UC dragged away her beloved.

Powerless.

She felt powerless. All her life she had fought to ensure the safety of the people around her, yet in these critical moments she could do nothing but watch.

Watch as her lover fought and injured brave soldiers, wounded civilians as Sarah tried to tackle the Spacefarer to the ground.

She couldn't fight her--no matter how hard she tried, the idea of hurting her, even as her hollow eyes bore into hers, her fist smashing against her stomach, she could never harm the woman she loved.

She watched as the Spacefarer was dragged away by her hair, covered in blood.

And fell to her knees.

She had no idea how long she remained like that. A medic stopped by and checked her for injuries-- thinking that she had been amidst the survivors and was in a state of shock.

It took Andreja to shake her awake as her friend grabbed her by her shoulders and pulled her to her feet.

She told her in a hushed voice where lover was being held. But while Sarah could hear the words being said, nothing felt real.

She had been in many examination rooms before.

Always on the 'good' side of the glass.

This time there was no good side to be on as she watched her lover, beaten and bruised, halfway slumped on the table, blood still dripping from her nose--begging the interrogator to hear her out.

Rage tore through her heart.

During the last few months, her eyes had sparked with a new flame. She'd spent countless hours letting them roam over her lover's body with nothing but affection and adoration.

But right now?

Right now, she could barely see past the hot tears that were threatening to break the surface.

There were no Gods left in Sarah Morgan’s universe, but she had found a glimpse of divinity in the embrace of the woman that found herself shackled to a table. She prayed, with everything she had, that her lover’s words were nothing but the truth. Because if her love had truly held such darkness in her that she would unleash pure hell on innocent people… Sarah Morgan had lost her belief in a God long ago—but she knew hell to be true. And she would not hesitate to show the Spacefarer what it looked like.

It took both Andreja and Sam to drag her out of that room. It took Noel and Sona’s pleading to get her to sit down and get some food in her system. It immediately went back up. She could not keep anything down, no matter how hard she tried. The days and nights blurred together. Why couldn’t the scientists hurry? Noel had explained to her, countless times that such processes took a LOT of time. But Sarah didn’t care.

She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, could hardly breathe with the weight on her chest—why should they?

Terramorph fluid. No one could have seen that one coming. Admiral Logan called Sarah—he had probably expected her to thank him, or at least a single word. But no. Soon as Sarah heard, she let her communicator clatter to the floor as she rushed out, jacket tucked under her arm as she all but sprinted out of the Lodge.

“…Should we follow her?” Sam tilted his head as the door slammed shut. Andreja and Barrett got up from their table and without a word, resigned themselves to run after the blur that was the Chair of Constellation.

There were no words that could express how relieved Sarah Morgan felt. Back in her quarters, her lover safe and sound, in her arms. She had showered the Spacefarer with kisses, soon as the doors closed behind them. Sarah Morgan wasn’t necessarily ‘needy’, quite the opposite. But that day, she locked her doors and refused to let the rest of the world interrupt her reunion with her love.

“You know, Sarah, I value your help, but perhaps you are being a little… zealous?” The Captain spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I don’t see what you’re talking about.” Sarah said as she finished wiring the new security turret into the ceiling of her love’s bedroom, wiping her hands on her grey engineering outfit, covered with oil stains and soot.

It had been two weeks. Two weeks, and the Chair of Constellation had seemingly lost her mind. She had enlisted the help of the entirety of the organization in securing the Lodge. Security turrets were brought in, courtesy of Walter’s connections. Tripwires and motion sensors had been a joint project from Andreja and Noel. Vladimir had set up some high-tech surveillance equipment all around the building and neighboring area, while Sam had enlisted Matteo’s expertise in ensuring that none of the security measures would harm them.

The Spacefarer sighed and let her head rest on her knuckle, as Barrett walked by with a chuckle, another security turret perched on his shoulder to be set up in the corridor.

“I won’t let them touch you. Ever again.” Sarah said with a deceivingly bright smile, hiding the murderous glint in her eyes.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Dennis Noel Kavanagh

Published: May 22, 2022

[ Above: LGB Alliance making a point no charity should ever have to make ]

Of all the many absurd frauds perpetrated by gender ideology/biology denial the most egregious is the audacious lie “This is just like gay rights”, or the common riposte from the hard of thinking: “That’s just recycled homophobia”.

Such phrases are normally uttered by some risible gender borg, more often than not in answer to an actual homosexual daring to voice even a mild objection to the increasingly eccentric and dangerous demands of a creed whose main aim seems to be the re-medicalisation of homosexuality by force of gender.

Paradoxically, of course, Gay Rights 2.0 is actually the fight against biology denial, not for it and, with unerring symmetry, homophobia 2.0 is of course the fight to seriously sustain the argument that children playing with the wrong toys (normally gay) require surgical correction. For the sake of practicality and utility if nothing else, I propose here to set out why biology denial’s claim to our history, heritage and social position as gay rights activists is a fraudulent and sinister mockery of what our movement is, and what it stands for. Gender is a fraud by abuse of trust, most commonly a linguistic sleight of hand or a superficially plausible mapping of one issue onto another.

It’s easy to be fooled of course. Biology denial is a sort of hateful gay rights re-enactment society for bored bourgeois kids, some no doubt genuinely believe themselves to be fighting for “trans rights”, famously, none can specify the particular right when pressed. None can or do deal with detransitioners or inconvenient facts like homophobia being raised by the head of safeguarding at the Tavistock as a concern. Biology denial is a voluntary cyclops with one hand covering an eye which might otherwise survey the human collateral damage of this strange and failed aesthetic flesh cult. But then the acceptable casualties tend to be gay of course. That alone should provide you with a telling clue as to what is really going on.

[ Above: The absurd reconceptualisation of gay people as privileged beneficiaries with no history of pain ]

The 10 reasons biology denial is not Gay Rights 2.0:

(1) Biology denial regards gender non conformity as a medical issue

Biology denial position: Playing with toys atypical to societal gender roles should be regarded as the diagnostic criteria for experimental drugs with known results (underdeveloped genitalia, bone density deficits etc.) and as yet unknown results such that Nordic countries and France have now banned/seriously restricted their use. These drugs lock children into medical pathways with studies showing 97%+ graduation from puberty blockers to cross sex hormones.

Gay Rights position: Let children play with whatever toys they happen to like. Gender non-conformity is perfectly normal in our community. Children should not face lifelong medicalisation because homophobia is not taken seriously as a safeguarding issue at facilities engaging in gay conversion by gender.

[ Above: A mocked up satire on heterosexual MPs unwittingly supporting gay conversion by gender having not properly looked into the safeguarding of young gay people ]

(2) Biology denial is well funded, well connected and supported by left and right

Biology denial position: The profoundly religious and unevidenced suggestion that everyone possesses a gender soul enjoys huge corporate support and is also the de facto position of almost all trade unions in the UK. That consensus is largely mirrored in politics where the classic alignment of a political party is not a reliable indication of where it’s members stand on biology denial. While the right wing are in general terms more resistant to mass medicalisation of children, some of the most prominent gender borg acolytes in the UK are found on the Conservative benches. Ancillary to both is a monocultural charity sector where numerous “LGBTWTF” charities in effect act as proxies for one another. This leads to intellectual stagnation and discourse characterised by mantra like repetition of absurd phrases in place of arguments.

Gay Rights position: The gay rights of old and today is a grassroots phenomenon containing actual homosexuals. A comparison as between the funding arrangements for LGB Alliance, Gay Men’s Network, Lesbian Labour etc. and the leviathan biology denial outfits would be like comparing a local sports team to a televangelising mega church. Corporations and unions in the past had limited affinity with classic gay rights and support from both left and right was earned through open debate and discussion, rather than by diktat, shaming or dubious membership schemes requiring payment and adherence to a set of doctrines. Where BD is organised, lavish and entrenched in power structures the gay rights of old and today was and is a movement of private individuals giving up free time to fight homophobic hate.

(3) Biology denial rewrites science, language and history to appear organic

Biology denial position: Intersex/DSDs (Differences of Sexual Development) conditions should be dishonestly leveraged to argue sex is a spectrum despite such conditions being differences of either male or female development. Language control should become normal with a privileged class requiring forced/coerced language socially and in written communications. New words should be fabricated for an ever increasing range of biology denial identities and parties not adhering to new speech codes should be punished/ostracised/humiliated as “hateful”. Gay people may present a threat or object to the misuse of their movement as a vehicle for these aims so should be humiliated and demoralised by being told they owe all their rights to biology denial, their history should be extensively and audaciously rewritten to minimise/erase achievements by gay men and lesbians. History should further be raided and recrafted such that a claim to the long term existence of biology denial can be dishonestly made.

Gay Rights position: (Science) Human beings are not sequential hermaphrodites so cannot biologically change sex. Intersex/DSD conditions are not a debating prop nor is it fair or right to deploy these conditions when those with them loudly and repeatedly ask you not to. (Language) Coerced language is wrong and is simply a show of social power verging on bullying. In Gay Rights the advent of gay marriage was not accompanied by a demand that heterosexuals started saying “cis straight marriage”. Changing words is wrong and imperious. Homosexuals are not “homogendered”, nor is it morally acceptable to summarily redefine us in this way. The only language we’ve ever asked someone to accept is to get used to “his husband” or “her wife” and funnily enough most people are completely fine with that. (History) The achievements of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals should not and will not be forgotten. No social force/philosophy or cult has the right to rob people of their heroes. Our history should be accurately described according to facts, not rewritten to suit an oppressor class exploiting our movement and erasing our historical agency. Truth matters and gay history matters. We are a minority and minorities have more need of heroes that majorities. Children should not be taught lies about the Stonewall riots to suit the political objectives of biology denial and no movement should normalise the practice of trafficking in falsehoods.

[ Above: A sadly accurate assessment of how biology denial repackages historic anti-gay hate ]

(4) Biology denial believes in cancellation, silencing and harassment

Biology denial position: Disagreement of any kind should be met with pile-ons, attempts to get people sacked/driven from their jobs through stress, doxing and dishonestly representing their positions in the worst light all the while simultaneously maintaining that “there is no such thing as cancel culture”. Women in particular, like Maya Forstater, Professor Kathleen Stock and Professor Jo Pheonix are to be particularly targeted as they will engage in a reasonable manner and attempt to show kindness. As many BD adherents are fundamentally cowardly by nature, they will just about be able to add to the voices harassing these women where they would likely steer clear of a biological male. Only in this field, paradoxically, will the faithful unerringly recognise the biological demarcation between male and female. These public humiliations should chill freedom of speech and people should be afraid to say what they want with accusations of “hate speech” or “phobia” being made at the least provocation and on a hair trigger in order to silence any dissent.

Gay Rights position: An equal age of consent, gays in the military, equal marriage and employment protections required precisely zero women to lose their jobs nor did they require that anyone who opposed these measures be cancelled. We engaged in freedom of speech and a debate which is healthy and proper in a democracy. We note two of the women (Professors Stock and Phoenix) named above are lesbians, that is no accident. Lesbians were the first target of the biology denial movement particularly in the form of the demand they stop being lesbians and start sleeping with male bodies persons. That is homophobic. Chilling freedom of speech more generally and harassing people brings the gay rights movement into disrepute and squanders the goodwill brave lesbians and gay men built up over decades as it recasts itself as a bullying, authoritarian enemy of free speech.

(5) Biology denial believes in legislative change by deception

Biology denial position: There is no popular mandate for medicalising mostly gay kids or introducing the concept of gender souls into legislation such that the concept of “woman” is reduced to a self-declared feeling. If the public are left with a normal functioning legislative process, most would be horrified about matters such as homophobia as a child safeguarding concern at gender clinics or the reality of female prisoners forced to share cells with male bodies persons. The democratic process should therefore be subverted and far reaching legislative changes should be snuck into the law by abusing the close and unhealthy connections biology denial lobby groups have with legislators. Speaking to the public or actual gay people should be avoided as gay people in particular are likely to recognise and highlight the homophobia of biology denial. A vivid example is Stonewall’s campaign for there to be no public consultation on the “conversion therapy ban” (in reality a charter for gay conversion by gender).

Gay Rights position: Legislation in a democracy should be made on the basis of evidence, not ideology and normal consultation processes should be followed. The public should know what legislation contains and debates should be open and clear about what is being proposed. When the Gay Men’s Network and many other organisations responded to the government’s consultation on the “conversion therapy ban” we made the case that it amounted to conversion by gender. This is what gay rights organisations should be doing - fighting homophobia wherever it threatens gay people. Any policy that has to be snuck through a legislative process is, by definition, a change with something to hide. Gay rights movements have nothing to hide and we have never had to lie or obscure our policy objectives.

(6) Biology denial targets children for indoctrination

Biology denial position: Despite there being no evidence for this proposition and its far reaching consequences, children should be taught at school that they have a gender identity and this spiritual belief should be reinforced across youth media and through as much mainstream television as possible. Children are pliant and impressionable and less likely to ask questions. They should get the impression biology denial is fun and fashionable and present in ever increasing numbers at gender clinics so this movement can sustain a moral civil rights / safeguarding claim. Any suggestions of social contagion or harm should be met with as per (4) above with the claim that such concerns are hate.

Gay Rights position: Teaching children unscientific pseudo-religious dogma about gender souls is morally wrong and tantamount to using education as a way of proselyting a new religion. It is no accident the number of children presenting at biology denial clinics has risen in the UK in one instances of 5000% and in Scotland 1000%. To imagine that this increase is purely coincidental with these matters being taught in schools stretches credulity far beyond breaking point. Many of the children targeted in this way are gay. It is homophobic to teach gay children that they have the wrong bodies because they do not fit a sex stereotype. This is thus simply another homophobic religious belief which has no place in schools and it amounts to a serious safeguarding concern.

[ Above: The CEO of Stonewall equating lesbianism with a “societal prejudice”. ]

(7) Biology denial is racist

Biology denial position: Black people are a subset of the sex class to which they belong. The interests primarily of a group of white men with biology denier related identities come first. Countries that were colonised did not have a concept of male and female before white Western imperialism and were in a noble state prior to such corruption. What they now need is a new group of (mainly white) biology deniers to explain this to them and they should be re-educated in the ways of biology denial.

Gay Rights position: Allison Bailey was right to say in her keynote address at LGB Alliance conference that she had never known racism such as that emanating from biology denial / gender ideology. Her quote “if black women can be women, why can’t I” is a shocking illustration of the obvious racism of this movement. The targeting of Allison Bailey , Sonia Appleby, Kiera Bell and the public vilification of Baroness Kishwer Falkner is beginning to suggest that women of colour who speak out against biology denial face particularly harsh consequences. White men adopting biology denial identities seem to be at the forefront of this movement and many of them appear to be heterosexual.

(8) Biology denial is misogynist

Biology denial position: The word “woman” has no fixed definition and anyone who says they are woman is one, except adult human females who may only say that they are “menstruators”, “cervix havers” etc. Women should have no sex-based boundaries at all from toilets to bathrooms to prison cells or rape shelters, women who challenge this position at rape shelters should be called “bigots” who should “reframe their trauma”. The concept “woman” should primarily be understood with reference to sexual stereotypes and the performance of a particularly porn-based understanding of femininity. Women in particular who dissent (see (4) above) should especially be targeted for cancellation and silencing.

Gay Rights position: A woman is an adult human female. As homosexuals, same sex spaces and boundaries are not just necessary, they are the existential framework of our minority community. It is demeaning and morally wrong to existentially acid strip meaning from the word “woman”. The male Gay Rights movement has no interest in, or desire to compromise, female sexual boundaries or spaces. The lesbian Gay Rights movement has no interest in, or desire to compromise, male sexual boundaries or spaces. That is what makes us gay. The fact biology denial is preoccupied with this quintessentially heterosexual endeavour makes it a straight rights movement, not a gay rights one. The open harassment and abuse of women that goes on in the name of biology denial should be a source of shame to it. The fact it is not demonstrates aptly the contempt in which it truly holds women.

[ Above: A statement so utterly homophobic of course the author wasn’t cancelled ]

(9) Biology denial is homophobic

Biology denial position: Gay people are second class members of the movement who lack the determination to embrace one of biology denial’s ultimate goal, the surgical transformation of homosexuals into ostensible heterosexuals. Gender nonconformity should be medicalised. Lesbians and gays who disagree with this should be cancelled and excluded from their movement, charities and any social spaces where they might organise. Those who go along with this should be rewarded and encouraged to engage in woke conversion therapy propaganda.

Gay Rights position: Homosexuality is not a medical problem, our same-sex attraction is in fact a protected characteristic pursuant to s.12 of the Equality Act 2010 in the UK. Gay people owe it to the next generation to speak up in the face of our political vehicles being taken from us and we must make our own new organisations where necessary and form such groups/alliances as are necessary to protect our community. Biology denial is an existential attack on our minority community and it regards us as second class citizens. We must challenge and defeat it. We have to.

(10) Biology denial makes only pornography, not art

Biology denial position: As this in an inorganic, top-down movement it stunts creativity and blunts free thinking because both are threats to cult-like religions. Self-expression is limited to pre-designed identities and flags, each of which constrain and categorise human creativity while giving the illusion of choice. Biology denial produces a vast army of adherents who check and double check each other’s language/adherence to the core doctrines so will produce endless videos as to categorisation (what one can and cannot say without causing offence for example) and identities. This will keep followers in a state of fear where the primary concern is regulation of thought/language all the time purporting to celebrate authentic expression while completely annihilating that by the bureaucratic allocation of people into pre-approved conceptual categories. Because adherents will be in a state of fear and incapable of art, they will have less sex than the generation before so pornography and anime should be deployed to fulfil such needs as obtain.

Gay Rights position: Every era of gay rights has produced artists, poets, playwrights, singers, etc. who have produced world-changing art, music and prose. Gay Rights has never encouraged or been of a mind which makes or recycles mediocre memes. The free expression most gay people treasure from their first ever trip to a gay bar is mirrored in the free expression many treasure in our words, paintings or music. We have nothing in common with a bureaucratic allocation exercise endlessly obsessed with labels and we are very far away from a world view which deprecates or diminishes the perfectly normal appetite for sex.

==

It should be unsurprising that the Gay Rights position mirrors liberalism, while the Biology denial position is explicity anti-liberal.

[detectiveichijouji]

Case 34 - The Heroic Kaiser?

[AO3 version]

The Space Trio had handed a data file to the 02 Group, in the aftermath of their fight against one old Soleil and Lune’s acquaintance named Kayono:

“This student’s title is ‘The Kaiser’, and he’s some sort of ace in his field.”

Ken remembered those words, and the next ones:

“His grades are above the school’s expectations, some sort of genius kid. And knowing Ichijouji Ken-kun here used to be called the ‘Genius Boy’ in the past…”

 He looked at the file again, now hearing Daisuke’s voice in his head:

“They could be the one targeting Ken, right?”

Just like Youta and Mizuki have the titles Soleil and Lune at Dai-Take-Hika’s school… Ken hadn’t time enough to check if anyone else at his own school would have something similar to those. But Noel might be right, someone from his school is targeting him, and playing with innocent lives… Trying to catch his attention, like a legit criminal from one of those detective stories.

“It can be just a coincidence,” he frowned, “This person looks like Taichi-san in terms of appearance though…”

“Tsukiyono-kun! Can you help with my homework…?”

Ken didn’t know this person, but it was indeed from his class. But how could he never have seen that student before? The answer is…

“Ah, sure sure! Show me where’s the problem.”

… That this kid was actually a transferred student.

“...”

All flags pointed at this kid. He suddenly got popular, beloved by everyone enough to use that suspicious title-nickname for 3 weeks?!

Suspicious…

Ken watched the boy from his desk: Light brown fluffy hair but its “spiky” edges were cut, green eyes, a scar in the left ear…

“He can’t be… can he…?” Wormmon whispered to Ken. But soon or later he would know, Miyako is investigating that boy in her free time.

Then he got up from his desk, right after the ‘Kaiser’ finished helping the other student and left. Ken followed him to the hallways, with Wormmon on his back.

“Um, excuse us, Kaiser-sama--”

The boy stopped, and then witnessed Ken just staring at Wormmon’s head which was resting on his shoulder, as if he had just slipped a BIG secret by sheer accident.

“Huh?”

“Don’t mind him…” Ken laughed nervously, covering Wormmon’s mouth immediately, “You’re… Tsukiyono Seishiro, by the way?”

“Yes, and you are…?”

“Ichijouji Ken, we’re classmates,” he uncovered Wormmon’s mouth, “And this is Wormmon.”

“N-Nice to meet you!” Wormmon babbled, awkwardly.

“Ah, I see… You’re the national celebrity, the ‘Genius Boy’ from the news?”

“I’m not a celebrity anymore, but yes” Ken nodded, calmly.

“True, your reign as Japan’s genius prodigy has ended shortly, right?” Seishiro smiled, it didn’t seem fake though? “But what would you want from me?”

So far Ken did not find anything that could lead this transferred student to be the wannabe Digimon Kaiser.

“Have you heard the news?” Ken started playing dumb, speaking politely and relaxed, “There’s strange jewelry and ceramic pieces being distributed by people turning them into unstable digimon.”

He knew that if Seishiro was indeed the one targeting him and his friend, some awkward reaction would be spotted by them.

“Ah, yes. Those cases are happening around Tokyo, right?”

“Exactly,” Ken said as Wormmon silently nodded his head.

“Huh… It’s a bit  suspicious of you asking me about that, are you involved in those cases?”

Ken’s heart skipped a beat. If he answered that, he would reveal he was the original Digimon Kaiser a long time ago. But there’s no way he could inform that he’s being framed for those crimes without--

“Tsukiyono-san, he’s the young prince detective who’s helping the police with those cases.”

Seishiro, Ken and Wormmon looked at the boy behind Seishiro, who was…

 “So obviously he would be involved in some way.”

Nokita Yuu?! -- Ken said to himself, mentally.

“Oh? So you’re playing the role of a detective?” Seishiro smiled again at Ken, “Interesting…”

Huh… That sounds strange…

“Ichijouji-kun is a Chosen Child, didn’t you know?” Nokita gestured to Wormmon, “He and his friends are the only ones who can solve those cases unlike us.”

“You’re not partnered with a digimon?” Wormmon asked, blinking.

“No, I don’t…” Seishiro shook his head, gently.

“So, our only duty here is to hand those shards to Ichijouji-kun” Nokita said with a light punch on Seishiro’s arm, “Tsukiyono-san, don’t forget that.”

Nokita kept walking, and once he was far enough from the other two, he dropped that smile.

…

“You went straight to ask the school’s ‘Kaiser’ if he’s involved in those digimon cases? Pathetic.”

The 02 Group gathered at Ken’s house after class… Except for Daisuke, sadly.

“So, what’s the news, dagya?” 

“We talked with the Kaiser person from Ken-chan’s school,” Wormmon responded.

“Yes, he’s a transferred student,” Ken added, “Tsukiyono Seishiro. He’s from my classroom.”

“Hmm…” Tailmon mused.

“I’ve researched for that name,” Miyako said next, showing them her laptop screen, “And apparently he is part of a manga and anime online forum.”

The screen showed one of the posts in a thread.

“We weren’t that sure if it was the same person at first, because he uses an alias called ‘Seishiro513’ but…”

“It’s not a random number, right?” Hikari said.

“ ‘513’ is in Gorowase , correct?” Iori asked, “And this means…”

“... ‘Ka-i-za’ which is ‘Kaiser’,” Ken answered, “So this is our suspect indeed.”

“What else do we know about this person?” Takeru looked at Miyako.

“He usually writes long reviews on manga, anime and games. But recently… He replied to a topic about the digimon incidents,” Hawkmon explained.

“Huh?” Patamon blinked.

“Suspicious…” Wormmon commented, while everyone else was reading the topic.

Their eyes widened when they read…

[I have one of those shards. Let me know if you have any questions.]

“W-what?!” Hikari gasped, “What did he mean by that?!”

“How old is this message, Miyako-san?” Iori asked with a serious tone, and then everyone started looking for the timestamps on the page.

“It was a day ago.”  

“Maybe we should contact Tsukiyono again,” Ken said, but suddenly…Ken’s phone rang.

“Who’s calling now, dagya?” Armadimon blinked. The group stood in silence as Ken answered the call.

They all thought it was Daisuke or Noel, but…

“Hello, Smooth young detective.”

“It’s you again…” Ken bit his lips, “What do you want?”

“I’d like to inform you that I will drop a fragment next to my new victim. Can you find it before it activates?”

“... Fine. Anything else?”

“Nothing else for now. But I will contact you again once I get more games for you.”

And then, the mysterious voice (? The Kaiser-wannabe?) hung up.

“Who was, Ken-chan?” Wormmon asked.

“We got a fair warning about the next victim.”

“Noel, ya know I don’t feel fine working with your other two friends because they don’t give a…”

“Yes, I know” Noel signed, “But I can’t turn my back on you and your friends either.”

“You said you had something to tell us,” V-mon interrupted, “then go ahead. Spill the beans. Start talking.”

Noel scratched his head, awkwardly. His absence from the previous battles involving the shards were because he was busy with other stuff, disguised in the crowd.

“I think you need to open your eyes and be more careful about your surroundings.”

“Huh?” Daisuke raised an eyebrow, “Whaddya mean, Noel?”

“I couldn’t tell Soleil-san and Lune-san before, but…”

“...?”

Noel looked straight into Daisuke’s eyes, his hair flowing in the wind and his green eyes being visible.

Miyako used the radar to spot the faux shard, but Ken decided to leave it to her and Hikari to secure it before things went south. Takeru, Iori and him settled for going after Tsukiyono Seishiro instead, having all the evidence against their suspect.

They kept in touch via their earpiece communicators, borrowed from Koushiro once again.

The file given by Soleil and Lune had the address of Seishiro’s residence, and this was their first step there. The Tsukiyono family had another child, an older sister named Miyuki, who they met leaving the house.

She had the same face as her brother, and spiky blonde hair, yellow gold eyes. The boys asked for her brother, and she pointed with her thumb to the apartment’s interior. Ken asked if they could see him, and she allowed them to get in.

They stood in front of the boy’s room, the door locked. Takeru knocked on.

“Tsukiyono-kun? Are you there?”

No answer.

Miyako and Hikari used the shard radar to guide them to another area. There was no other fragment detected at the moment, and they thought they were lucky. Nefertimon and Aquilamon landed on a school’s yard in Shinjuku, and then started to check for the fragment.

“It must be somewhere in this area…” Miyako said, checking her laptop while Hawkmon and Tailmon alongside Hikari inspected the area.

“Ah? What is that shiny object over there, at the top of the building?”

“Could it be…?!”

There was a crow touching that suspicious object though…?

It was when…

“They all were caught in a trap, ” Noel sighed, as if he was already beaten by his adversaries.

“A trap?” Daisuke gasped, “And you hid this from everyone?!” he babbled.

“No, I didn’t…!! Actually, I know who the faux Digimon Kaiser is, and he’s too close to Ichijouji-san. Approaching him from time to time, because… he knows Ichijouji Ken’s past pretty well.”

“A friend, you mean?” V-mon asked.

“...”

“Ok, so… Ken’s closest friends are us… So you mean, one of us is lying? ” Daisuke frowned.

“I’m not sure about this, mon ami. You and the others wouldn’t do that. But did you know… That Ichijouji-san had another friend besides you all?”

“Another friend?” V-mon and Daisuke repeated in unisson.

“This friend…”

A few minutes later, the door opened. Seishiro was surprised to see them though.

“Ichijouji-kun?” the boy said, “What are you doing here?”

“We know what you’re doing (dagya)!!” the digimon said together. Seishiro blinked.

“What did I do??” he replied, with a pout, “Oh you meant that right? Sorry, but--”

“Wormmon, now!” Patamon ordered, and then the green digimon used his sticky net to capture Seishiro.

“Hey!! What are you DOING!?” the boy complained, and Armadimon tucked Seishiro in the corner of his room, “Ichijouji! What the heck are you doing?! Is this a prank?!”

“... The digimon went too overboard with this,” Iori said with a monotone voice. Takeru and Ken facepalmed at this as well.

“Huh?!” Seishiro raised an eyebrow, but was still angry for whatever those doofus were doing and would do next.

“I’m sorry,” Ken, Iori and Takeru apologized with a bow.

“???”

“Where’s the fake shard, Tsukiyono-san?” Iori asked, calmly.

“Shard??”

“Yes, the one you mentioned on this forum thread here,” then Takeru showed him the mobile version of the webpage on his phone.

“??! Ichijouji-kun…”

Seishiro grimaced, panicked.

“I didn’t post that…! I haven't gone to that forum since I started High School!”

“Then what didja mean before?” Armadimon asked, “About a ‘that’ thing, dagya?”

“I meant the test answers from past years. I collect them to study and share them with an online study group, but… But lately everyone is using them to cheat and not to study properly!! So I’m refusing to share them openly now.”

“Oh, that…” Patamon blinked twice.

“He’s really a good person,” Wormmon commented.

“I have none of those shards…!”

The trio then freed Seishiro from the sticky silk, while Ken just tried contacting Miyako and Hikari, But…

… A light consumed the school’s roof and then a digimon appeared instead.

“D-Did the crow turn into a digimon!?” Miyako was dumbfounded by that scene.

“It was indeed a shard,” Hawkmon commented.

“C-can those affect even animals?!” Hikari looked concerned, something felt terrible… It gave her goosebumps, she looked at Tailmon, then turned to Miyako and Hawkmon, “What digimon is that?”

“It seems to be a griffon…?” Miyako adjusted her glasses.

“Hmm, a griffon…” Hawkmon mused, then Tailmon answered quickly:

“ Griffomon ! We will need to use Valkyrimon’s power right now!”

“Right!”/”Okay!”/”Understood!”

Hawkmon evolved into Aquilamon. Then, the digivices’ colors changed, becoming a matched pair and then released lights which formed the Jogress Holy Ring for its execution -- Aquilamon and Tailmon turned into light beams and waltzed in a helix shape. Once the lights hit the Jogress Ring, Silphymon emerged from its top.

Silphymon, ultimate-evolve!! Valkyrimon!

A beam of light surrounded Silphymon and then other two lights in red and pink danced in the shape of a helix as the digimon jumped into the red Jogress ring. From there, Valkyrimon came out of it, bathed by the glorious moonlight from the battlefield. 

Wielding their sword, Valkyrimon dashed thru the air and went into Griffomon’s direction.

While the jogress digimon fought the unstable enemy, Miyako was contacting Ken at the same time.

“Ken-kun, are you there?”

“MIyako-san, Tsukiyono Seishiro is innocent.”

“Huh?” Hikari was also on the same line, “What do you mean?”

“Someone hacked his account and pretended to be him,” Iori replied next, nonchalantly.

“Have you found the shard?” and Takeru asked immediately.

“Yes, we did,” Hikari answered, “But…”

“A crow found it first and evolved with it,” Miyako explained hesitantly.

“W-what? A crow?!” the boys exclaimed.

“D-don’t worry about us!” Hikari added quickly, “We’re fine!”

“This friend… Is someone Ichijouji Ken does not remember at all.”

Daisuke and V-mon blinked, “But how…?!”

“Wait… Ken said, a long time ago, that his memories were fuzzy and blurred after a certain… thing…”

“You mean the--” V-mon was about to slip it out something, but Daisuke interrupted him,

“Yeah yeah that thing, but you don’t need to say it!”

“... I’m sorry, but investigating stuff led me to discover what you’re hiding from everyone, Motomiya-san.”

“W-what do ya mean?!”

“Ichijouji-san was the original Digimon Kaiser, wasn’t he?”

Daisuke gulped.

“He’s the main reason for this whole game, right?” Noel said with a serious voice, “Isn’t he?”

“Don’t tell those two, Ken had done bad things, but he’s still paying for those crimes” Daisuke begged, but with a firm tone, “Can I trust you, Noel? Ken doesn’t need more people coming after him!”

“... I won’t let Soleil-san and Lune-san touch him, I promise. Your friends are my friends too.”

“But ain’t them your friends too?” V-mon asked, confused.

“We’re… Just teammates. And besides they’re exploiting me for their own business, but I'm doing the same in return.”

“You all are using each other…?” Daisuke asked then, frowning once again, “But--”

“I don’t mind, this is how a phantom thief works. Doing the sketchy job, after all I’m a criminal in your world, correct?” he said nonchalantly, and smiled.

“But…” V-mon was saying something until Daisuke abruptly interrupted him:

“Ok, fine. But who’s this old friend Ken had and cannot remember him at all?”

“Back to the main topic, oui . It's a boy around his age, he was a Chosen Child way before Ichijouji-san apparently? But why does no one know, or rather remember him…?”

“Wait, what… Do you mean…”

“Oui, exactement” Noel nodded his head, “This person’s existence was completely erased from this world.”

Valkyrimon managed to slash Griffomon with their sword, using the same technique executed on Kayono previously. The faux shard was destroyed in the process, and then Valkyrimon’s holy power resurrected the crow.

“Phew, we won…” the girls said in relief.

“But it was kind of random, wasn't it?” Miyako tilted her head, “Leaving the shard around and letting a crow evolve with it…”

“Yes,” Valkyrimon (Aquilamon side) nodded in agreement.

“Maybe we should meet with the boys for now,” Hikari suggested, “No one got hurt this time.”

“Does anyone know where Daisuke went though?” In different places and at the same time, Ken and Miyako asked their respective groups, “I hope he’s not getting into more trouble.”

They decided to call it a day and returned to their respective homes.

“E-erased?!” Daisuke and V-mon’s eyes widened.

“But how do you know that, Noel?!” V-mon babbled.

“I connected the dots, that’s simple. I’m not only a phantom thief, I’m a magician and illusionist. And besides I wasn’t here when this happened. I was in Witchelny.”

“But why are you telling those to me and not Ken?!” Daisuke squinted his eyes, “This person is trying to target him, not me!”

“Because you might be the key to beat the imposteur I suppose.”

“Me…?”

“Oh I should go now, pardon. We will keep in touch. Au revoir, Motomiya-san~”

“W-wait--!!”

Daisuke and V-mon tried to catch Noel, but he snapped his fingers and magically teleported them back to their home. Daisuke’s hands were trembling, he then looked at V-mon, who was also trying to process what they just heard from Noel minutes ago.

The faux Kaiser is… someone who does not exist anymore??

[saiilorstars]

Love, Ours Ch. 8: Gift of Joy

Fandom: MCU

Pairing: Steve Rogers x OFC, ft. baby!oc

Story Summary: One-Shots/AU collection of Seren and Steve outside of their fics (Darkest Before Dawn, Alignment, etc.).

Story Masterlist ○ Seren’s Masterlist ○

Also available on Fanfic ○ Ao3 ○ Wattpad

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​ @arrthurpendragon​ @anotherunreadblog @maaaaarveeeeel @stareyedplanet @averyhotchner @foxesandmagic @kmc1989​

[If you’d like to be a part of any OC’s works/edits, let me know!]

If there was one thing Seren loved, it was the whole decorating process of Christmas. If there was one thing Steve didn't like, it was organizing little details, especially those that were in danger of being crushed between his super-serum hands.

Seren laughed at him when he couldn't, for the life of him, put up some lights around the living room. "The Captain America can fight robots and aliens, but he can't put up a single Christmas light? You know I'm not gonna let this go anytime soon, right?"

With a sour face, Steve abandoned the lines of lights and turned to his wife. "You wouldn't be you if you did."

Seren's grin was from ear to ear before she burst into laughter again. Steve mocked her laugh until they heard a familiar babble nearing the doorway. They both turned just as Bucky walked in with some very busy arms. There was a box tucked between his right arm and side, along with a small white kitten in his hand. He had a baby boy tucked in his left arm like he was another box. He was facing down babbling to himself, one hand continuously banging the metal of Bucky's arm underneath.

Seren laughed at the sight. "Well, you sure seem loaded!"

"Amazon delivery," Bucky announced as he made a nod down at the box in his arm. "Oh, and this is yours too." He motioned to his right arm just as Noel lifted his head. He squealed and clapped his hands together at the sight of his parents.

"I didn't know Amazon delivered babies too." Steve remarked and glanced at Seren. "Maybe we can try that next time."

Seren snorted. "You know what, if Amazon can do what I had to do to pop that kid out, by all means go ahead."

"Can someone just take him already?" Bucky asked, "Or the box? Or both?"

"Why are you holding him anyways?" Seren asked. "He was supposed to be with aunt Natasha downstairs."

"Yes, but aunt Natasha thinks it's hilarious when he goes after Alpine."

The kitten in question meowed, drawing Noel's attention. He reached one of his hands towards the kitten and when that didn't work, he tried with both hands, small fingers wiggling at the cat.

"See?" Bucky raised an eyebrow. "I'm all for games but I don't want the kid to get scratched or something."

"More like the kitten getting hurt," Seren remarked. Noel had incredible strength even at his early age. "Which is fair."

"Noel, are you going after Alpine?" Steve took the baby into his arms. "Noel?"

Noel seemed to understand the question very well because as soon as Steve asked, he covered his eyes and giggled.

"Gives himself up just like his dad," smirked Bucky. "With no clue."

Seren laughed and Steve scowled.

"Now don't go insulting Noel like that," Seren walked over to Steve and took the baby out of his arms and into hers. "My baby has my social skills too so he has a chance."

Now it was Bucky laughing, and Steve was still scowling. And with all the laughing going on, Noel decided he would start laughing too, making it all the more funny to the adults.

"I think I'm gonna go now." Steve decided that it would be better to leave before Bucky really started chiming in on his faults.

"You'll survive, lovey, it'll be okay," Seren said. "Plus, we still have a lot of work left."

Bucky started looking around the living room. He set down the Amazon box on the table then let Alpine down. "I'm surprised Chloe hasn't come in yet to give it her special touch."

"Oh, she was coming in a bit. I think she and Thor went out shopping." Seren shifted Noel on her side. He was eyeing the kitten near the table.

"Christmas shopping," Bucky said. "I wasn't allowed to come."

Steve chuckled. "I think she made a good call."

Bucky flashed him a sour smile.

"Don't fight boys," warned Seren. "Bucky, do you think you could help with the lights? Apparently, Captain America loses against them."

Bucky would never miss the chance to rub something in Steve's face. "Of course."

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Steve, maybe you can help by holding onto the bottom of the lights for Bucky?"

"Yeah, Steve, help me out," Bucky said with an even wider smirk.

Steve had some good words he wanted to use but for the sake of Noel and his busy ears, he left them for another time.

"Now you mister," Seren planted a kiss on Noel's forehead, "can help me finish the tree. Let's get all the shiny baubles!"

She moved to the tree nestled in the corner of the living room. She and Steve had already finished most of it but a few places. She put Noel down and brought a few baubles around him to entertain him.

Noel was entertained by the baubles for a few minutes. He stuck one in his mouth, threw the other one near Steve's foot and even managed to throw one at Bucky's leg.

"Kid's going to be a baseball player," Bucky remarked while Noel laughed. "He must get that from Seren too."

Steve couldn't help it that time and shoved Bucky face first into the wall. Noel thought it was hilarious; his laughs echoed around the room.

Bucky pulled himself off the wall and turned to Steve, his expression flat. "For the sake of your dignity in front of your son and wife, I won't respond to that. But I make no promises for later."

"Boys," Seren called from the tree. She didn't bother paying them attention, not when she had to figure out the pattern of the baubles on the left side of the tree. There were a few that just didn't fit together.

"Start doing the lights already," Steve told Bucky in a mutter.

Noel threw another bauble near the coffee table and it landed near Alpine. Without a second thought, he started crawling towards the kitten. Seren saw him through a gap of the Christmas tree branches and chuckled to herself. He was a very fast baby.

The kitten saw Noel coming and just as it seemed like Noel would reach him, he hurried to the other side of the table. Noel stopped and sat down on his bottom with a little frown on his face. His green eyes narrowed slightly and then, like a streak of determination hitting him, he pushed himself forwards into another fast crawl.

Seren stopped decorating to watch her son race-crawl around the room in chase of Alpine. If Steve and Bucky stopped bickering for a second, they would have probably heard the scruff of Noel's legs as he crawled over the rug.

Noel briefly touched the kitten's tail but a loud noise startled him into freezing. Chloe and Thor had finally returned and were rushing into the room with their bags. They were an identical pair of excitement and loudness.

"Well, sounds like somebody had a good time shopping today," Seren said, stepping from around the tree. She eyed the bags that the two put down on the couch. "What, did you buy gifts for the entire city?"

Thor let out a hearty laugh. "No, no, the whole city?"

"We just picked up the cutest things for Noel, watch!" Chloe exclaimed as she dug into one of the bags.

"Noel, no!" Steve called just as Noel was about to pull Alpine by the tail. Luckily, Alpine had escaped his clutches and dashed under the couch.

Noel thought it was a game and went after the cat again.

"Noel, come out of there!" Seren sighed once she saw Noel sticking his head underneath the couch. "This kid…" She strode over to the couch but Thor got to Noel first.

"Come on out little warrior," he pulled Noel out by one of his legs, eliciting a happy squeal. "See what uncle Thor got you!"

"I thought you went Christmas shopping?" Bucky said to Chloe who was busy sifting through her bags.

"Calm down, I got you something too," Chloe said dismissively. "It's somewhere — aha!" She pulled out a bright red elf hat with golden bells dangling around the bottom.

Bucky was not impressed. "You got that for me?"

Chloe snorted. "No way! You wouldn't look half as cute as little Noel would!" She tossed the hat over to Thor who popped it over Noel's head. "Noel, the elf!"

Noel's hands dove for the bells dangling over his forehead now. Once he figured out they made a noise, he shook his head to hear the bells.

"That's gonna be fun at night…" Steve already felt the dread of what would happen if they even tried to take the hat away from Noel.

"That's okay, we'll just send him over to aunt Chloe's and uncle Bucky's room," Seren said, crossing her arms. She adored watching Noel have that much fun but, like Steve, knew that it would eventually get old quickly in the night.

"Now why do I have to suffer?" Bucky frowned. "Chloe bought it, not me."

Noel was giggling over and over with the ringing bells. He pulled two of the bells then started tilting his head from one side to the other.

"My turn, my turn!" Thor said and deposited Noel into Chloe's arms. "They are apparently very popular right now," he said with a smug smile. As soon as he pulled out a mini red cape and miniature version of mjolnir, everyone burst into laughter.

Thor didn't mind it and neither did Noel. The baby was more than curious about the bright red cape being wrapped around his neck. And when he saw the mini Mjolnir, he became even more delighted. He knew exactly what that looked like. He babbled with squeals in-between and desperately reached for the hammer.

"That is plastic, right?" Seren said with a slight nervous tinge in her voice. She could already see Noel using it with his full strength.

"Foam," Thor said, though he didn't seem to get why Seren asked. He handed the hammer to Noel who instantly gripped it with his fingers. He couldn't be more excited and started waving it around, knocking Chloe in the face twice.

"Now I'm seeing the appeal," Bucky smirked.

"Shut it!" Chloe exclaimed, shutting her eyes as the hammer hit her again.

Noel burst into a fit of giggles once he realized he was hitting his aunt's face.

"Ah, there we go! He loves it!" Thor exclaimed.

"Yes, yes, here you go." Chloe was happy to hand Noel over to Steve and watch him get whacked by the hammer.

"Thank you, everyone…for this…" Steve turned his head slightly as he now became the next victim. "Amazing, really." Seren laughed behind her hand. "C'mon Noel, let's get you down for the night."

There's no way in hell he's sleeping right now, thought Seren as Steve walked around the group with Noel clad in a cape, elf hat and hammer out of the room.

"You guys are horrible," Seren said once Steve was gone. "Now we're going to have to deal with that stuff until he either breaks it, or loses it."

"Hey, you're the one who decided to have a kid," Chloe said with her hands in front of her.

"Wasn't exactly a decision last time I heard," Bucky smirked.

"Shut it!" Seren pointed at him. She then looked at Chloe and Thor with a much kinder smile. "Thanks for the presents, guys. Really."

"No problem, we thought they were really cute," Chloe said. "And there's more! Wanna see?"

"Was there a sale?" Seren chuckled.

"We're just very good at shopping!" Thor said proudly. "Although not so much at wrapping. Could I get help to wrap a present for Jane, please?"

"Of course," Seren said with another laugh.

~0~

When Seren caught up with Steve, she was not surprised that Noel was nowhere near sleeping and, more importantly, that it was Steve who looked ready to nap instead. He was lying sideways on the bed, his legs over the side, with his arm over his face. Noel sat next to him on the bed, hammering his gingerbread stuffy while one of his other hands gripped the edge of his red cape still attached to his back.

"So, sleeping is definitely not in the itinerary?" Seren laughed as Steve groaned and shook his head.

"I tried touching the hammer and he started screaming bloody murder. Then I tried the cape and he bit me."

Seren laughed even louder. Hearing her, Noel let out his own laugh and looked at his father like he knew exactly what they were laughing about.

Steve pulled his arm off his face and saw Noel with a flattened expression. "Alright, you little comedian…" He turned himself in Noel's direction, pinning the baby to the bed and tickling his stomach. "That enough funny, for you?" Steve watched as Noel burst into another fit of laughter and giggles.

Noel eventually let go of his toy hammer and while he was so distracted, Steve shoved it off the bed. He then pepper-kissed Noel's face and tickled him, playing with him.

Seren loved hearing her son laugh so much; the sound was too much for her heart not to swell. She went into the door of Noel's conjoined nursery room to gather some of his things for sleep. Five minutes later, Steve joined her with Noel in his arms.

"The cape was non-negotiable," he said when Seren turned and saw that although the hammer was gone, the red cape was still on Noel's back. "I'm gonna get Thor for this."

"Just get him changed already before he goes back on his word about the hamm—" Seren motioned him to the clothes she left on the changing table.

"Don't say it," Steve said quickly, eyes widening in alarm.

"I'm gonna go take a shower. Will you be okay? You know, since you're having such a rough night tonight?"

"My night was going just fine until you all decided to make fun of me," retorted Steve.

"Someone's a bit bitter today," chuckled Seren. She reached a hand up to his cheek and gave him a gentle pat. "M'sure we can fix that later tonight."

Interest piqued, a smirk tugged at Steve's lips. "Sure could."

"But Noel has to be fully asleep by the time I get back."

Steve loved the deal and side-stepped Seren with Noel. "Off to sleep. Now."

Seren chuckled to herself as she left the room. She may or may not have taken her time showering to give Steve ample time to put Noel down, that and maybe she wanted a nice break too. When she returned, their bedroom was a lot more quiet than earlier. It was dark with only the city lights illuminating it once in a while.

She peeked inside the nursery and saw the night light was on instead. Noel was much more quiet but still note quite asleep. Steve was standing closer to the window (Noel's favorite place to be at) and was holding Noel in his arms with his favorite blanket draped over him. It was baby blue with golden stars decorating it. Noel's head was resting on Steve's chest, sucking his pacifier like his life depended on it. His fingers lazily played with t he edge of his — Seren chuckled — red cape.

It was truly non-negotiable.

Steve was gently rocking Noel, patting his back. When Steve saw Seren, and her expression, he knew exactly what she wanted to say.

"Yeah, yeah, I know," he whispered with a roll of his eyes. He has failed to put Noel to sleep like they agreed. "Worst dad, I know."

Seren playfully rolled her eyes in return. "Not even close." She walked over to them and reached on her toes to kiss his cheek, then Noel's head. "Think you're the best dad and if Noel could talk right now, he'd agree."

Steve appreciated the gesture. It was something they both often struggle to accept, and speaking of…

"Then you have to agree that you're a good mother too, even last week," he told her.

"Mmm," Seren only hummed at that. She took to tracing figures on Noel's back, soothing him more towards sleep.

"Seren."

Seren's eyes flickered up at Steve. "It was scary," she admitted.

"I know," Steve agreed. Who wouldn't be scared the first time their baby had an allergic reaction to something?

Seren nearly lost it even though, according to Helen Cho — the only doctor Seren trusted — it was only a mild reaction. Noel was indeed a one of a kind baby with his special DNA and inheritance but at the end of the day, he was also still human and as any other human he was susceptible to allergies. In this case, it was a peppermint cookie Seren had allowed him to suck on. A few minutes after sucking on it, he started growing red bumps on his skin.

Needless to say, Seren panicked and truthfully so did Steve. Noel had never reacted to anything but he was also being introduced to new foods everyday. Luckily, Dr. Helen Cho was in the Tower that day for a session with Chloe and she quickly treated the baby. It was a mild case of an allergy he developed for peppermint. After a dose of benadryl, the reaction lessened until it disappeared altogether. Noel was fine, but Seren was not. She blamed herself even though Steve, and Helen herself, told her that it had nothing to do with her and her choices. It was life. All they could do from now on was keep anything with peppermint away from Noel, just like anyone else with a food allergy.

"He's fine now," Steve said, smiling down at Noel whose eyes were beginning to flutter close. "Very fine, if you ask me. He's not letting go of the cape anytime soon."

Seren smiled at that as well. "Christmas with a cape. Sounds about right in this building. He's following in the team's footsteps."

Finally, Noel's eyes fell shut and he went to sleep. A few more minutes passed and then Steve felt confident enough that he would stay asleep in his crib. Seren untied the cape from Noel and stepped back so Steve could put him down in his crib. Then, just as carefully as before, stepped out of the nursery with Seren. Only then was he able to breathe normally again.

"Was it me or did he seem to have way more energy today?" He asked, flopping down on the side of the bed.

"He did have more," Seren admitted, coming over to sit on his lap.

Steve brought one arm around her waist and dug his face into the crook of her neck. She smelled so nice…

"You tired, Captain?" Seren asked, holding her chuckle just for his sake. He groaned in her neck.

"Give me a robot, give me a crook, but don't give me an 8 month old on the eve of Christmas," he muttered.

"And tomorrow we have to finish putting lights in the kitchen…"

Steve groaned again.

Seren laughed and kissed his hair. "Maybe we can leave it for Bucky and Chloe and see how long they'll actually work together before they try to kill each other?"

Steve finally raised his head to meet her eyes. "You're godsent, Seren. That would be a good show to watch."

Seren chuckled. "It'll be our little plan. Twenty bucks Chloe breaks first."

Steve grinned. "You're so on! Bucky won't be that patient. He'll crack first."

"I don't think so and when I win, I'll be happy to take you out on a cinnamon roll date!"

Steve's smile very quickly turned into a smirk. "You're sweet, but when I win I'll be more than happy to take you out on that date. And some coffee, of course."

Seren closed her eyes as Steve wrapped his arm tighter around her and kissed her cheek. "Mm, in this cold weather, I'll be happy with a cup of hot chocolate…" He pressed another kiss on the side of her neck. "And maybe even some gingerbread cookies? We can give one to Noel. I'm sure he'd have the time of his life sucking on it.

Steve smiled against her skin. Somehow, almost everything they planned included Noel in the end. He loved it. He loved her, and their son, so much.

"What if we go out tomorrow instead?" Seren asked suddenly. She opened her eyes, turning her head at him. She cupped the side of his face. "I'm sure Natasha will tell us who cracked first. We can take Noel with us, unless you want to have a solo date…?"

Both ideas sounded great to Steve when he thought about them. Noel was even more excited about the streets now that they were decorated and snow was falling. He was sure to have fun with them. But…the idea of spending some time alone with Seren was also tempting.

"Your silence is worrisome…" Seren hummed, making Steve chuckle.

"No, no, I was just thinking…"

"About?"

"Why don't we take Noel out in the day and at night, you and I go out for dinner?"

"Ooh, some alone time?" Seren raised a brow at Steve. "Tempting offer, Mr. Rogers."

"Well that's because you, Mrs. Rogers, are very tempting yourself." Steve pressed a kiss under her jaw. "So, how about it, then? Can I take you out on a date tomorrow night?"

"After hours with you?" Seren looped her arms around his neck and gave him a short kiss on the lips. "Anywhere, any time," she murmured and went in for another kiss.