#like let’s just. watch hereditary together

[temis-de-leon]

Please make sure to take care of yourself 🥺 Write whenever you feel like it and when you have the time but don't force yourself to write 😤 - Romance Anon

Crush hugging him because of a horror movie - 500 F.C.

Characters: Diavolo x gn!reader

Main Masterlist

500 followers masterlist

Requested by: Romance anon

A/N: Toni Colette, the woman that you are. And thank you Romance, for your never-ending patience <3

C/W: a bit suggestive there at the beginning, pinning, very vague description of Hereditary's ending

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He would be lying if he said having you so close to him, practically sitting on his lap, while moaning a myriad of ‘oh my God’, ‘please, God’ and, his personal favourite, ‘Dia, Dia, Dia…!’ wasn’t affecting him in the slightest. It was, and heavily; he just wished it took place under different circumstances.

Mainly because he was low-key freaking out too, although not as much as you.

Having seen a fair number of sinners, he knew some mortal minds weren’t simple or kind, which made the darkness of life and the suffering of others a rather pleasurable affair for them. It was fascinating, apparently, a broadly studied aspect of human society, and not just one of many media genres, that propelled the pharmaceutical and therapeutic intervention businesses; a cause and a consequence, something that should’ve been avoided or couldn’t have been helped.

And yet, out of all horrors, you chose a demonic possession movie? Were you trying to tease him?

Paimon wasn’t even that bad once you got the chance to meet him properly! He was an erudite whose knowledge covered all the arts, philosophy and science. A friend of Lucifer’s, keen on reciprocity foremost and eager to start a conversation with anyone who offered him the same amount of time and interest as he did. Unfortunately, Diavolo had the tiny suspicion you wouldn’t be in the mood to meet the captivating demon, nor his demanding dromedary, after watching the disturbing movie, but you should really give it a try!

He could still understand you, though.

“Oh, dear” he said in a quiet breath as the boy on the screen slowly turned around and miraculously missed his mother crawling on the walls.

Your eyes, which had been previously peeking between your fingers, closed shut. You turned to press your face against his chest again and he deeply hoped your fear kept you from noticing the rapid beating of his heart and the way his hand closed around your waist to bring you closer. His cheeks burned, not bothering to hide an enamoured smile. There was no use in doing so when you were trying so hard to disappear from the world amongst the creases of his uniform.

Still, you had asked him to watch the film together and he would be more than damned if he disappointed you in such a trivial matter, so he forced himself to look at the screen intensely, even when a naked man loomed from the shadows and the boy had to run away for his life, tripping and falling and barely climbing to the attic on time.

“I have to say, MC” he mustered, eyes open wide as the woman (Annie?) violently banged her head against the trap door while Peter cried in desperation from the other side. “I can’t understand the appeal of watching this. When you said you wanted a movie night, I thought you’d choose something… tamer”

More romantic is what he wanted to say. Diavolo had hoped to understand love from a human standpoint and see what you liked in order to do the same. Rose petals and champagne by the fireplace? Or shopping and dining in the most expensive places in the Devildom? Dancing in the rain? Stargazing? As observant as he was, he had no clue whether you reciprocated his infatuation, so, sadly, he preferred having your full attention on him whenever he showed his feelings; and at that moment not even an emergency would’ve made you let go of his embrace. It's not like he would ever complain about that, anyway.

“I didn’t want to watch the movie alone” you finally whimpered, letting go only enough to look up at him. “And I figured if someone could make me feel protected it would be you”

Your glassy eyes vaguely reflected his speechless expression and, suddenly, he was aware of everything. The weight of your body against his, bringing warmth and comfort, the smell of your clothes and the softness of your skin; your scared pouting and embarrassed blushing. Not knowing what to do with it anymore, he let his free hand awkwardly drop over your calves and immediately almost imploded when you instinctively tucked even closer.

There was no noise for a blissful moment, save for the heavy breathing and the buzzing coming from the speakers, and Diavolo briefly asked himself if a horror movie was still a good background for a love confession.

Then, a wet sound; a sawing motion.

You slowly turned to the gigantic TV, impending doom in your expression quickly morphing into heavy distress when the mother appeared once more on the screen. Your appalled scream almost made him cover his ears before you hid your face in his chest one final time.

“OH MY GOD, DIA, OH MY GOD”

Diavolo just hoped Barbatos wouldn’t ask any questions in the morning.

.

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Taglist: @ilovecandys2010 @ollieoven @kingofspadesdelusion @whimsybloom

[steph-anie723]

hamilton fans omg you guys need to CHILL 😭😭 take a break,,, un deux trois quatre cinq six sept huit neuf ☹️☹️☹️☹️☹️

[jossamology]

⸻ until dawn halloween headcanons!

in honor of halloween here's a halloween-themed headcanon set for each until dawn character.

samantha giddings.

sam chooses a diy nature-inspired costume like a woodland fairy, using biodegradable glitter and repurposed fabrics. think leaves, twigs, and soft, earthy greens.

she insists on going to a local pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin and spends hours carving designs.

while the others plan for parties, she hosts a low-key gathering with candles, cozy blankets, and homemade pumpkin spice lattes.

loves classic horror but gets super into psychological thrillers. hereditary is her top pick, and she’s the one pointing out foreshadowing before everyone else catches it. josh washington.

josh goes all-out building a haunted maze in his backyard, complete with hidden speakers, fake cobwebs, and scare actors he hires just to freak his friends out.

dresses as something horrifying, like a blood-streaked serial killer. full commitment to fake blood and smudged makeup.

has a camera ready to capture each friend’s reaction when they’re scared out of their minds. keeps a scare montage video just for fun.

he's surprisingly good at carving pumpkins, but his designs are intricate horror scenes, almost like horror movie posters in pumpkin form.

ends halloween by watching obscure, disturbing horror movies that leave everyone else uncomfortable. mike munroe.

shows up dressed as a suave vampire or some other classic monster, aiming to look cool and a little dangerous.

takes his friends to a haunted corn maze and enjoys it way more than he lets on, constantly teasing the jump-scare actors and testing his bravery.

organizes a frat party bonfire in the woods with s’mores and ghost stories. he’s the one lighting sparklers and throwing on extra wood to make the flames bigger, he drinks to much and forgets he's the host of the party.

pulls classic halloween pranks, from fake spider webs to jumping out of dark corners. the type to keep a scary mask in his bag just to mess with people.

after a few drinks, he’s belting out rocky horror picture show songs around the bonfire with zero shame.

jessica riley.

jessica’s costume is elaborate, trendy, and slightly dark, like a glamorous vampire or a witch in haute couture. she’s all about looking spooky-chic, she went shopping early for the best costume.

stays in to watch mean girls with a couple of her girl friends referencing every qoute.

spends half of halloween snapping aesthetic photos of her outfit, snacks, and décor, making everything look flawless.

gets her halloween nails done a week before and flaunts them on her social media platforms.

matt taylor.

he’s the guy bringing pumpkin spice lattes and fall-flavored treats for everyone, unapologetically embracing the season.

suggests doing a couples costume with emily, probably as a famous horror duo. secretly excited about how they’ll look in photos together.

convinces emily(and maybe the whole group) to go on a haunted hayride, keeping a brave face while sneaking glances to see if she’s scared.

volunteers to help with halloween décor, placing spider webs and fake spiders around. he’s got a collection of led bats and ghost lights.

emily davis.

dresses as a chic witch, complete with a designer hat, intricate lace gloves, and knee-high boots. halloween is just another reason to look flawless.

sets up a dark, enchanted photo booth with crystal balls, black roses, and velvet. her instagram feed is a whole halloween masterpiece.

makes sure to get billions of stunning couples photos with matt, each one more perfect than the last. their matching costumes and chemistry are on point, making everyone else a bit envious (and they know it).

emily hosts a halloween themed sleep over with velvet pillows, and black satin sheets for an ultra-cozy but gothic sleepover vibe. the girls chat and laugh till they fall asleep, each secretly keeping one eye open.

chris hartley.

dresses as a ghostbuster or some iconic horror nerd costume, complete with all the gadgets. he’s fully committed to the nostalgia factor.

brings his gear and talks about doing a "ghost hunt." sets up his phone to record “paranormal” activity around the bonfire.

insists on watching horror classics with everyone, pausing every now and then to geek out about the movie effects or the backstory.

after everyone else goes to bed, chris and ashley stay up playing with the ouija board, half-joking but also half-believing they might make contact. they end up spooking themselves and get so scared swearing to never use it again.

ashley brown.

dresses as a character from classic gothic literature, like mina harker from dracula, complete with vintage lace and dark, dramatic makeup.

she knits little ghost ornaments and diys her own creepy decor, like mason jars filled with “witch’s brew” and spiderweb doilies.

loves telling ghost stories, candle in hand, with just the right amount of dramatic pauses and eerie expressions.

ashley, catching her breath and laughing nervously, gives chris a playful whack on the arm for scaring her so bad. “not cool, chris!” she says, but she’s grinning as he pulls off the mask, clearly proud of his successful prank.

insists on having a stash of halloween candy just for herself. she’s all about chocolate, especially reese’s and kit kats, and jokingly guards her stash from the others, even hiding a few extras in her bag.

hannah and beth washington.

hannah and beth take turns posing in different eerie setups around the cabin, snapping dramatic photos of each other in candlelight, near fog machines, and with props like antique lanterns. they especially love capturing a few shots that look like something out of an old haunted portrait.

both love the idea of exploring the mountain at night, so they plan a late-night “ghost hunt” under the full moon. they bring flashlights and spooky stories to tell along the way, daring each other to walk just a little bit farther into the woods.

beth and hannah sneak into the room with a giant rubber spider and place it right on josh’s chest. when he stirs and opens his eyes to find it staring back at him, he lets out a yell that has the girls stifling laughter from behind the door.

they have a slight obsession with candy corn and will spend halloween night indulging in it, trading their favorite types of candy and making candy corn-themed treats, like popcorn balls or cupcakes.

[noirandchocolate]

Age of Calamity is such a funny game when you think about it because most of the characters go through Events and use their strengths and suffer hardships and stuff, but honestly they mostly end the game the same as they started it. It’s not “bad storytelling” or anything to have most of the main characters (Link, the Champions, Impa, etc) not change very much character-growth wise, I’m not insinuating that. They’re heroes and it’s fun to watch them BE heroes and in some cases have nice heartfelt moments together, etc.

But it’s just hilarious to me that the characters in the game who DO get some form of character development arc are:

3. King Rhoam (a distant third place but he does realize his kid’s interests were helpful not frivolous and he apologizes and lets her continue leading the army and fights by her side)

2. Zelda (expected, she is the main character after all, and she gets to grow from doubting herself based on her father’s words and how special and talented everyone around her seems to be in comparison, and being upset at not being able to help more, to realizing her worth as a capable leader whose love and passions were what saved everyone)

1. MASTER FUCKIN KOHGA (goes from trying to peace out and let his lackeys take care of every fight, to desperately NOT wanting to leave Sooga and the others behind (poorly and obviously hiding it behind “come on stick together so you can protect me!” while he as the PC for your first play of that mission is clearly doing all the work to protect them); ends up not only joining Zelda’s faction to protect/get revenge for his Clan despite his hereditary beef with the royal family, but PERSONALLY taking to the battlefield including in the final deadly dangerous missions; declares during that final battle that HE is gonna “send that giant menace packing,” ie the very same monstrous entity he previously served)

Like. It’s not even close. Master “Top Banana” “Kill You All To Death” Kohga. Has THE most character development in the game.

And it’s just. So unexpected and therefore great and entertaining to me.

[trancylovecraft]

(KNY) YANDERE PLATONIC! KOKUSHIBO x SISTER READER: You, Shibou. I, Kokoro (CHAPTER EIGHTEEN)

Previous Chapter ☆♡☆ Masterlist ☆♡☆ Next Chapter

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: "Where you go, I'm going."

Daimyo are feudal lords or magnates from ancient Japan. They ruled the majority of Japan through their hereditary land ownings, Being only subordinate to the Shogun and the Emperor.

The moon was held high in the sky, The lunar signalling midnight amongst the dark sea it hung on.

It filtered through the estate, Cracks in the pristine wood and the miniscule gaps in the windows. It was soft and sublime, A kind of light that chilled the skin in such a comforting way, A way where you just had to take a moment to take it all in.

It danced across his skin, Michikatsu's eyes shut gently as he slept quietly within his futon. The sliding window above him let the light through, Shining down onto his face as he breathed in and out.

It was the only thing illuminating the darkness of his room, The luminescence rolling off the silhouettes of what grandiose furniture was in his chambers. Mirrors, Storage units, Plants regularly watered by the servants. All of it was shrouded within darkness yet illuminated by the light just enough to make out the shape.

His eyes strained, Eyelids clenching together, However it was not due to the light.

A strange rocking sensation stirred him in his sleep, A gentle pressure on his side as he groaned softly in his sleep. He tried to shake it off as his mind was still enraptured within the thrall of his sleep, His breath only hitched for a moment before going back to its rhythm.

"Michi-nii..! Michi-nii..!"

A sort of shaky, Familiar voice called out to him in a hushed whisper. Michikatsu murmured something unintelligible through his sleep, The dark hair sprawled across his pillow and face only muddled his eyesight just a bit as he took a groggy peek.

His vision blurry, But he could make out the figure of his little sister shifting uncomfortably through the muddled darkness. He lazily lifted his head from the comfort of his pillow, Slightly shaking the hair out of his eyes.

"[F/N]..?" Michikatsu asked as he looked up at her, His vision dazed as he saw her look down at him with skittish eyes. She shifted in her oversized kimono robe she had most definetly just thrown on, Grasping onto the hems of her sleeves as she spoke.

"Michi-nii..! I'm sorry- Uhm.." She babbled slightly, Stumbling over her whispered words as she strayed her gaze away from him.

Michikatsu groaned as he propped himself up with one hand, The other moving to rub the sleep out of his eyes.

"[F/N]..? What's wrong, You know father wouldn't like it if he knew you were out here at night.." Michikatsu warned softly as he watched her try to gather her words, Remembering how their father was rather.. Adverse to his offspring wandering at night.

"I-I.. Uhm.. I had a nightmare." [F/N] admitted as she finally looked down at him, Almost expecting a sort of negative reaction from him. Like how their father often did. "It was scary.. I don't wanna be alone right now.."

"A nightmare..? What do you mean?" Michikatsu asked, Still half-asleep.

"I was being chased by a monster!" [F/N] hush whispered to him, Meek eyes staring down at him. "It was so big, It had so many eyes- I was running through a town with bright lights- I could hear it running behind me! It chased me for hours before it caught me- It hurt me- It dragged me away!"

Michikatsu listened onto her rather paranoid voice, Watch as her eyes darted back and forth for any sign of the monster throughout the darkness. He could tell she was terrified, Especially as she nudged closer towards him, Gripping onto the hems of her kimono sleeves.

"..I wanna sleep in here tonight, I don't wanna be alone." [F/N] begged quietly, Almost pleading as he looked into her eyes.

Michikatsu's lips thinned as he looked at her. In any other scenario he would have no problem saying yes to her, It was difficult to say no to begin with. But recalling the time she had been caught running around the garden late at night.

Their father called it unlady-like, Especially once he found her rather fancy kimono dirtied with muck. If her future suitors knew about her unfavourable behaviour..

It didn't end good, That was the understatement. Michikatsu couldn't tell if it was bravery or audacity that she was still okay with asking him again now. But it didn't matter. Michikatsu shook his head, Pushing himself up to a sitting position.

"[F/N].. You remember what happened last time father caught you in the garden? Who knows what he'll do if he finds you here.." Michikatsu sighed as he shook his head, Giving her a rather apologetic look.

[F/N]'s eyes widened, Stepping forward towards him.

"Please.. I'm scared, What if the monster in my nightmare comes back again?" [F/N] blurted out, Stamping her little foot slightly on the floor. "I couldn't help it, I don't wanna. It's so dark and quiet- I don't like it!"

Michikatsu opened his mouth to speak once more, However [F/N] beat him to it.

"Please, Michi-nii! I don't wanna be alone.." She begged, Her voice as quiet as mouse.

Michikatsu watched as her eyes pleaded with his, Feeling like his heart was being squeezed within his chest. There it was, The difficulty to say no. Michikatsu watched her lip tremble, The shake almost extending to the rest of her body as she feared leaving the room.

He knew it was for the best if he said no..

But he sighed, Almost in defeat.

"..Alright, Come here." Michikatsu said as he beckoned her forward, Pushing the sheets off off of his body as he shimmied to the side.

[F/N] beamed, Wide and bright in contrast the the dark of his room.

"Yay! Thank you, Michi-nii!" [F/N] cheered quietly as she excitedly lowered and sat herself down next to him on the futon. Michikatsu sighed as he pulled her closer, Watching her kick off her sandals to the side of the room as she happily rested her head down on the pillow.

Michikatsu breathed out a discontented sigh, But the small smile creeping up on his face couldn't be concealed.

"But you gotta leave in the morning, Okay? Father will be coming to collect me for training and he can't find you here." Michikatsu said as he laid back down onto his futon, [F/N] by his side who eagerly cuddled up to him when Michikatsu wrapped his arms around her.

She nodded before resting her head on his shoulder.

"That's fine.. As long as the monster doesn't get me, I'll be okay." [F/N] mumbled as Michikatsu pulled over the covers to get at ease himself, Nesting herself into the blankets comfortably.

"The monster isn't real, Don't worry.. And if it is- I promise I'll protect you, Okay? That's my job as the next head of this clan.. And as your brother." He assured as he rested his head on top of hers, Shutting his eyes.

[F/N] smiled quietly as her eyes shut as well, Getting comfortable as he held her closer to him. The night terror that had haunted her before became only an afterthought as she already felt at ease under the covers, Knowing that his words would be true.

She breathed out, Nesting further under the covers.

"Okay."

☆♡☆

Obanai Iguro had no idea why he was here.

He strode through the passage of some hallway in an admittedly cosy Inn, One in the middle of absolutely nowhere he recognised. It was safe to say he was irked, The slight narrow of his mismatched eyes shown that fact rather clearly.

Kaburamaru slithered loosely around his neck, Sensing his discomfort as he flicked his lounge in and out. Obanai sighed out through the bandages making up his mask, A slight scowl still on his face as he folded his arms.

He had been called by the crow to the village of Hiyohara, A small yet beautiful little township located near Fukushima. The scroll kept within the talons of the bird had detailed little as to why he was here, Only outlining that it was important and sent by the Insect Hashira of all people.

Kaburamaru would be pleased at least.

Obanai rolled his eyes as he remembered the little crush his beloved snake had on her, Nodding to a local as they passed him by on the hallway. The number listed should've been at the end of the hallway, Where he absentmindedly strode to.

As he drew nearer and nearer to the end, He could see the final oaken door within the rather quaint hall. Though as he stepped forward once more on the floorboards, Obanai listened closer.

Noises could be heard behind it, Chatter from several different voices to be precise. Some were soft and delicate, Others were rough and steady. Male and female, Obanai furrowed his brow as he had recognised a majority of the voices.

He stopped, Pausing in front of the door. Kaburamaru coiled just a bit tighter as they stilled to listen on.

His stomach churned as he raised a fist to greet the door.

"Iguro-san!"

Obanai eyes widened as the door was swung open before his knuckles could knock against the wood, His arm swiftly lunged back to his side as his body grew rigid. Once his eyes focused, Obanai felt his heart skip a beat.

Mitsuri Kanroji stood there, Her candy coloured kimono loose-fitting and draped around her body. Beautifully vivid hair was done up in a bun decorated with jewelled pins, And she was looking at him with her signature smile.

Obanai found himself shy, Eyes darting away from her.

"I didn't know you would be here.. It's nice to see you again, Kanroji-san." He muttered.

Though he gasped once he felt her arms throw themselves around him, Pulling him closer until his head was resting upon Mitsuri's shoulder. Obanai hitched a breath, Mitsuri grinning ear to ear as she felt his warmth against hers.

"It's amazing to see you too, Iguro-san! You know, I thought you wouldn't show up! You came pretty late compared to everyone else and I assumed you might not make it!" Mitsuri squealed as she hugged him tighter, Her head resting on his shoulder and vice versa.

"Uhm.. There were a few detours I had to take to get here, I got rather lost- I apologise"

It had only taken him a day to get here, Detours taken because the directions provided were rather vague. Hiyohara was a town he hadn't visited, Fukushima being a city where he barely tread in the first place as he usually operated in the south.

"Kyah~! Don't worry about it, You're here now!" Mitsuri assured as she pulled away from him, Leaving a sort of warmth that Obanai tried to burn into his memory. "Come in, Come in! Shinobu-chan can fill you in."

Mitsuri beckoned him forward with a call of her hand, Stepping back to allow him into the neat little room they were situated in. Obanai took her invitation as he wandered inside, The view of the room finally made available to him.

It was warm, Warm enough to feel through the fabric of his slayer uniform and striped black haori. It was also a rather homely set up with a few simple futons set off to the side and minimal furniture decorating the place.

There were several people he recognised here, Shinobu and Gyomei who sat conversing off to the side who called out a greeting once he walked in. And for some reason, There was a blonde haired girl who had her hands bound to her feet with bandages, Looking rather terrified with another bandage covering her mouth.

Before he could question the bizarre sight however, His eyes caught onto something else entirely. Obanai scowled, His eyes landing on a single group in particular.

"What is he doing here." Obanai hissed as he threw out an accusing finger towards a specific spot of the room, An instant jeer taking him over as he glared hot at the group across him.

Sat at the little table in the middle of the room was Tanjiro Kamado and his sister, Followed by Shinobu Kocho's Tsuguko, Kanao and Gyomei Himejima's Tsuguko, Shizuko sitting next to some Boar-headed kid. They seemed to be drinking some blend of tea they must've acquired from the village merchants, Their cups still mildly warm.

"Oh, Hello Iguro-sama!" Tanjiro waved as he saw Obanai enter inside, Nezuko followed suit, Eagerly waving her own silent greeting as she hummed through her bamboo muzzle. Obanai only shot daggers at him, His hand itching for his blade at the sight of the girl.

"Aha.. How about we move on?" Mitsuri giggled awkwardly as she urged Obanai along, Who continued to glare at the boy and his demon sister. Guiding him past the group, They made their way towards the other two Hashira in the room.

"Iguro-san! It's great to see that you've finally arrived, I assume there was some trouble getting here?" Shinobu asked with a smile as they approached, Kaburamaru perking up at the sight of the woman, Slithering just a bit further around Obanai's neck.

Ignoring his beloved snake, His eyes narrowed on Shinobu.

"Yes.. " Obanai drawled as he eyed her up and down. "Your directions were quite vague. And you failed to mention the prescence of that boy and his demon sister. What exactly is the meaning of this?"

Shinobu hummed, A rather small and placid smile appearing on her face as he asked his question. Tilting her head to the side, She spoke.

"Aha.. I see you're still sour about a demon being in the corps, Iguro-sama." Shinobu observed as she saw his scowl. "The reason why your here on vague directions is for a mission, No need to worry!"

Obanai's face scrunched up for a second, Almost wanting to say something but instead rolled his eyes.

"..Whatever, And the girl over there? What is that about?" Obanai asked as he motioned towards the girl still tied up in the corner, Who this entire time had been making muffled pleas for help from behind the bandage covering her mouth.

"Maika Heihachiro.. One of our shrine maidens that somehow made her way here." Gyomei spoke up from beside Shinobu, Beads rattling in his hands. " An eavesdropper from what we can assume.. We caught this one listening outside the door."

"A shrine maiden, All the way out here?" Obanai 'hmphed' as he continued to look at her. Maika felt like a mouse once Kaburamaru took a rather distasteful interest in her, Hissing lowly under his breath.

Kaburamaru flaunted his fangs, Maika yelped once he near lunged towards her.

"Oh, How could I forget about you, Kaburamaru?" Shinobu giggled as her hand reached into the inside of her haori, Mitsuri and Obanai had to double take when she slipped out a little mouse from inside. Tail pinched carefully between her fingers.

"Do.. Do you keep them on you at all times?" Mitsuri gawked as she watched Kaburamaru's eyes light up, His attention drawn to the dead little mouse being lowered towards him eagerly.

"Oh, No! I just assumed my favourite serpent would want a snack after such a long journey, Doesn't he?" Shinobu cooed as she teased the mouse in front of Kaburamaru's jaw, Lowering so he could get a better grasp on the rodent.

Obanai groaned. His shoulders drooping once Kaburamaru excitedly latched onto the mouse, Shinobu letting go of the rodent to let him scarf it down almost ravenously.

"Can you stop feeding my snake, Kocho-san?" He groaned as Kaburamaru happily choked down the mouse, Shinobu not even turning to look at him as she focused her efforts on Kaburamaru.

"Aha.. Yes, I suppose we really should get down to business, Shouldn't we!" She giggled once Kaburamaru was done, Slithering back around Obanai's neck while affectionately looking at Shinobu.

She raised back up, Finally turning to look at Obanai.

"Now, Let's get to talking!"

☆♡☆

[F/N] breathed out, Feeling herself come into consciousness.

Her eyelids were heavy and she could feel the weight of her blanket cover her body. A pillow under her head, Another she hugged within her arms. [F/N] took a moment to gather herself, To bring herself back to reality.

Another sleep, Another vision.

This one was one of the unfamiliar ones, Not from her past. [F/N] could only assume that it would've been from her past life, No matter how ridiculous that sounded to anyone out of the loop.

[F/N] sighed.

Fuck, It still sounded ridiculous to her anyways.

It was still nothing, It was just another one out of the blue that meant nothing to her current situation. Apparently she had some nightmare as a child and had tried to find comfort in Kokushibo, Or perhaps it was more accurate to call him Michikatsu.

Michikatsu Tsugikuni, That was his name.

Tsugikuni, A neuron connecting in her brain.

Akeno Tsugikuni.

[F/N] had put down the journal once she had read that name yesterday. It was like a jolt to the heart once it came to her, Needing to fully put the diary down and gather her thoughts as to what she was reading.

Tsugikuni, That was the clan name that Kokushibo had provided on her very first day here. Proclaiming that Tsugikuni was her clan name too.

But who was Akeno?

Could she be a wife to another clansmen? Another sibling perhaps? A Mother maybe. [F/N] figured it was best that she'd find out during her next read, The read she was bound to get in once she finally pried herself out of bed.

[F/N] scrunched up her face. To be honest, She hadn't a clue about whatever family could've been in the Tsugikuni clan. She really didn't know anything about her so-called past life, And why Akeno's journal had suddenly appeared out of nowhere for her to read.

Currently it was lying amongst the cutlery on her bedside, [F/N] being too lazy to put it in with her rope and nails that Akaza had provided for her, Currently lying underneath her mattress. [F/N] deeming that it would be a good enough hiding place for her contraband to stay.

[F/N] stilled for a second.

She noticed something strange, Something weird in the room.

The frigid draft that usually flooded the room was so much more present than it was before, So much so that she could feel it even under the warmth of her covers. The ultramarine light that was usually outside seemed to enter in. Though she couldn't see, [F/N] could tell it was.. Much brighter than it was suppose to be.

CREAK!

Her breath hitched, Just for a moment.

Though it stilled just as fast, Returning back to a forced rhythm of pretend sleep. Up and down, She tried not to react to the depressing of the floorboards only a few feet away from her.

A sudden aura came to her, One that removed any remaining grogginess in her mind. It took everything in [F/N] to not reveal that she was awake, Not to gag or jolt at the mere presence.

Kokushibo.

He was here.

From what [F/N] could tell, He was only a few feet away from her at the other end of the room. She could already feel the burning pricks of his eyes look over her sleeping body, [F/N] trying not to shiver under that bloodcurdling gaze.

Calm yourself, [F/N].

She could feel his weight move forward, Another board creaked, A footstep placed in front of the previous.

How long had he been here? Had he just came in? [F/N] chided herself for being so caught up in her own head to ignore his presence entering the room. That foul aura, Toxic and rotten like spoiled milk and vulture chow.

It moved forward towards her, Even closer.

[F/N] listened as he began to draw near, Moving closer towards where she slept. She intently listened to every little creak of the floor, Felt that aura draw closer, Pungent and rotten.

All until that light was blocked out from what she could perceive through her eyelids.

Kokushibo standing right in front of her, Eclipsing the light.

The silence was so loud, So loud that it almost made [F/N] break the rhythm of her breath. [F/N] tried to keep up her sleeping façade, Pleading, Almost begging for him to do something to break that silence.

He was probably just here to drop off her breakfast- That was all- Everything would be-

[F/N] stilled.

What?

She almost needed to take a moment to process what was happening, Almost opened her eyes to confirm that what she was feeling.

A hand was touching her hair.

[F/N] felt Kokushibo cup his palm around her hair, His fingers somehow making their way into the strands of her hair to almost cradle the back of her head. [F/N] felt his icy cold grip like ice on her skin, So cold that the gelid ocean outside couldn't compete.

She heard him lower and a plate clatter settle down on her side table. His hand stroked her hair, Almost fondly, As if stroking the coat of a dog. She felt his clawed thumb rub circles into her skin, Gently and featherlight as if not to wake her.

She wanted to puke, Wanted to scream and shy away from his touch. [F/N] almost felt disgusted when she remembered she had to get closer to him.

Thankfully it was over in a minute, Feeling his hand leave the hair on her scalp and retract back to his side. He breathed out, Stepping back away from her only slightly as she continued to stare at her. Closer to him.

Kokushibo looked over her, Watching the sheets rise up and down in tandem with [F/N]'s breath. The platter of assorted Sashimi still laying within the cluster of bowls and plates piling up together.

He turned on his heel, Ready to exit the room like he had done everyday-

In a moment, A hand gripped onto arm.

A palm wrapping around his wrist made him still in place.

"Stay..!"

Kokushibo turned around, Eyes near bulging out of their sockets.

☆♡☆

"Master.. May I speak with you for a minute?"

Shizuko turned his head to look up at Gyomei, His master, Who overtime had made his way out of the group of other Hashira. Shinobu and Iguro seemed to be in rapt debate, Mitsuri scrambling with a nervous smile to try and calm the both of them down.

Gyomei had long abandoned trying to quell the situation, As it had proven fruitless. Obanai had grown rather understandably alarmed at the prospect of going behind Oyataka-sama's back, Decidingly getting mad about it.

Shinobu tried to calm him down along with Mitsuri, Their chatter going loud in the background as Shizuko and Gyomei stood off to the side. The other non-Hashira still conversing around the side table.

Gyomei rattled the beads snaked around his hand, Trying to shut out the differing conversations.

"I already am aware of what you wish to ask.. But please, Go ahead." Gyomei said as he heard Shizuko fold his arms next to him, Sensing his eyes narrow, A abased confusion dawning on him.

Shizuko sighed.

"Are we just not going to talk about a few days ago? You promised you would speak with me once we met again and here I am." He said, Gesturing to the whole of himself as he looked up at Gyomei. "So please, Master, Can you tell me what you know..?"

Gyomei's brows furrowed. Even though he already expected it, It was still a rather sour topic to him. When Shizuko came to him and had deduced that he, Gyomei, Had known something about the As much as he would like to tell him, It was not his story to say.

Gyomei sighed, Sad expression broadening further across his face. "No.. I cannot." He finalised as he turned towards his Tsuguko, His sorrowful expression sincere as he spoke.

Shizuko near scoffed, Almost in disbelief as he shook his head.

"Master-"

"Please.. Let me finish, Shizuko. I have my reasons for staying silent on this topic." Gyomei cut in with an assuring tone, A surprised expression flashing across Shizuko's face at his interruption.

"It is why I wished for you to be here instead of Genya, Or any other slayer.. I believe that going on this mission will do well for you"

"I still don't get it, Master." Shizuko exasperated, Shaking his head impatiently. "I've been wanting to know for years of my life who it was that held my hand, Why can't you just tell me..?"

Gyomei sighed as he listened to Shizuko's words, Knowing full well that this wasn't fair on him. Shizuko looked up at him and even though Gyomei was unable to see, He could feel the desperation within his eyes.

Gyomei's lips thinned, Brows knitting together as he tried to find the right words to say.

"Shizuko.. The reason I put our conversation off in the first place was because.. I am not the right person to have it with you." He explained slowly. "If I told you what I knew.. You would have much more questions than you would answers.. It would not be right."

"Then who is the right person?" Shizuko urged, Desperation in his voice as he stepped forward.

"Someone who will be able to explain it entirely to you." Gyomei, Unknowingly tuning into arguments only a bit away from the two of him. The higher pitched voice of Mitsuri Kanroji becoming much more prominent than it did before.

Gyomei sighed, Hearing as they continued to bicker.

Shizuko just stared at Gyomei, Desperation almost burning within his eyes. Without thought his hand trails up to his head, Fingers itching as they moved under his hair to graze over his scar, Almost begging to remember what he wanted to know.

His hand burned, The scar even more so.

"..I need to know." He whispered, More to himself now as his sight went unfocused. It was almost if he wasn't seeing what was in front of him now, Instead just a muddled memory kept locked inside his mind.

He was snapped out of it however. The wretched feeling of a hand rested on his shoulder, A horrid sensation yet more comforting than the others as he looked up.

Gyomei stared down at him, A small smile spread on his lips.

"I promise you, Shizuko.. You will know in time. Just please, Promise me you will be patient." He assured, His voice though mournful was warm enough to bring Shizuko back to reality if just for a moment.

Shizuko smiled back, Though it seemed awkward, Almost unfamiliar on his face.

"I promise. Thank you, Master." Shizuko replied, His body visibly relaxing as Gyomei's hand rested on his shoulder. Even though his touch repelled him just like the others, Shizuko could take comfort in the silence they shared, No more words needing to be spoken.

They shared a moment together, Simply like that. The sounds of argument in the background

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Both heads snapped down, Looking towards the blonde girl still restrained in the corner. It appeared that she had been here the entire time, A terrified expression still on her face as she pleaded with them to let her go through the bandage covering her mouth.

"Ah.. I had forgotten that she was there." Gyomei remarked as Maika struggled in the ropes, Trying but failing to get out.

Almost on cue, Inosuke kicked up at the other table. Yelling something with his voice sounding like pig-latin, Tanjiro and the others moving to pull him back into a more. Most definetly causing a disturbance throughout the entire inn.

Shizuko rolled his eyes.

"I should probably go deal with that.. Thank you anyways, Master." Shizuko shrugged as he pushed himself up from the wall, Smile dropping and returning to his signature Shooting Maika a glare that made a shiver run down her spine.

With that, He stalked off towards the table. Barking out a 'What are you idiots doing' as heads turned to look at him.

Gyomei shook his head as he watched Shizuko walk off, Forgetting his rather harsh tone when dealing with people.

"Hello, Gyomei-san!"

A voice called out from beside him, Happy and cheerful as he noticed it was Mitsuri. He realised that the bickering could no longer be heard in the background, With good reason hopefully, Mitsuri deciding to check-up on him afterwards.

He nodded, Turning towards her.

"Ah.. Kanroji-san. I hope Iguro-san has came around to the idea of infiltrating the cult.." Gyomei asked as she looked up at him with a rather relieved expression, Her smile widened, Just a little bit more awkwardly.

"Aha.. Took some convincing and some appealing to Kaburamaru, But he agreed to keep everything quiet eventually!" Mitsuri laughed as she scratched the back of her head, Recalling the efforts both her and Shinobu had to take to get Obanai on their side.

"And how are you doing?" Gyomei asked in return.

"Amazing now, Thanks! We finally got our business in order, So.. What's happening?" Mitsuri asked with a peppy smile as she looked up at the older man, An unknowing shine in her eyes as she looked up at him.

"Mmph! Mmph!"

Gyomei sighed as he heard Maika struggling once more.

Time to deal with this..

☆♡☆

[F/N] felt nervous.

She felt like a mouse in a trap, Caged within walls bigger than her with no way out. Or perhaps it was more accurate to say that she felt like a mouse in a laboratory, Under dissection or observation from a scientist.

It would account for the staring, After all.

[F/N] sat upon her bed, Legs folded in a basket with a plate of sashimi nestled on her lap. Her eyes were focused entirely on the seafood, Smelling the saltwater still fresh on the fish and the soy sauce it was drenched in.

Within the darkness, Were three pairs of eyes staring dead at her.

[F/N] tried not to bring attention to it as she picked up another salmon slice from her platter, Bringing it up to her lips and half-heartedly nibbling on the salinic meat. The golden eyes like stars in the night burning into her skin.

She couldn't even see him from within the darkness, His body entirely consumed by the shadow. Only the spotlights of his eyes staring dead at her, Never leaving for a moment as he sat on his knees, Watching her eat the food he had prepared for her.

[F/N] placed the salmon slice into her mouth, Slowly chewing so the taste would ruminate on her tongue. Why she asked him to stay in the first place- She regretted even asking, Believing it to be a stupid move.

To get closer to him, That was her plan. The word 'Stay' just came out of her mouth without thought. It was almost as if second nature, Even though being around him was the last thing [F/N] wanted in the first place.

[F/N] wasn't quite sure where it came from, But didn't have any basis to find out either.

So she ate her meal, Quietly and without sound as Kokushibo sat knelt in the corner, Watching [F/N] like an insect on a dissecting table. All while she tried to come up with a game plan, To try and worm her way out of this situation.

That- Or try to make the most of it.

Get closer to him like she was suppose to, Take advantage of the situation and like she was suppose to.

Either way, This was a chance to try and get him to trust her more. Even though the words were caught in her throat, Even though she wanted to shrivel up into a corner and never come out- [F/N] needed to try.

Her lips thinned.

"..The journal, Did you put it on my nightstand?"

[F/N]'s voice rang out louder than it was spoken, Her eyes still focused on her food as she blurted out her words.

Kokushibo didn't stutter, Continuing to stare at her from within the shadows of the room. It was again silent, No word spoken. [F/N] swallowed, Almost expecting him to not answer at all.

"..Yes." Kokushibo rasped, His voice that same deep drone as it always was. [F/N] tried not to release a sigh from her lips, Instead keeping them thinned and pressed together as to not reveal her discomfort.

"I see.." She mumbled as she selected another slice of sashimi, A vibrant red tuna slice bound to make mouths water, That of which was proven once [F/N] placed it onto her tongue. "I was just wondering, That's all.."

Kokushibo hummed in acknowledgement as he watched her consume the meal he made. [F/N] didn't know why she felt the need to explain herself to him, Perhaps to confirm she was in his good graces?

She swallowed the tuna, The explanation more sour than her stomach right now.

"..No offense, Kokushibo-sama but.. Why?" [F/N] asked with a cautious tone. Eyes daring to take a peak at him before catching those angler eyes in her vision, Sight quickly moving back down to her food.

"A few months ago.. You had mentioned that your breathing style requires a calm mind.. I assumed that it might assist in that perspective. Reading and meditation were two activities you mentioned.." Kokushibo explained lowly.

[F/N] hummed as she bit into another tuna chunk.

"A diary is a strange choice for reading material.." She spoke through her chews, Poking at the rest of the fish.

Kokushibo didn't answer for a while after that, Letting the silence seep back in from the absense of conversation. [F/N] began to feel the cold of her sweat build up on her back once more, Breathing much more shallow.

Kokushibo's eyes narrowed on her, Watching as she shied her gaze away from him once more.

"..Instead of questioning me, How about you tell me why you asked me to be here..?" He asked slowly, Eyes focused much hotter on her before.

[F/N] froze slightly, Her movements paused just for a second.

There was the million dollar question, The one that she had dreaded coming out of his mouth. Even though she had been expecting it, It still made a pit form in her stomach like stones.

Though her mouth was dry, She began to speak.

"I.. I don't know, I guess I just wanted to have a conversation with someone. I haven't really been able to talk with anyone in months so.." [F/N] shrugged, Shaking her head as it was the best she could come up with.

"You have that boy, Kaigaku.. Despite his rather obvious shortcomings, He should provide enough social interaction for you.." Kokushibo countered, Recalling giving Kaigaku permission to speak with her, No matter how much he detested otherwise.

[F/N] could've almost laughed at how out of touch he was. Despite being a rather solidary person, Even she needed a bit of small talk from time to time and most definetly not with one person and one person alone.

It was almost funny how deluded he was.

Despite her cold humour in the situation, She kept her face still, Though she shook her head.

"I don't like Kaigaku.. It's nothing personal, He's just not good at holding a worthwhile conversation." [F/N] sighed, More in relief as it seems that Kaigaku didn't tell Kokushibo of what happened only yesterday.

Kokushibo's face sharpened at her words.

"And you assumed that I would want to speak with you instead..?" He asked with an apathetic yet brutal expression, Eyes digging into her skin. [F/N] felt herself supress a rather nasty scowl.

What the hell was his deal?

She was trying her best to be polite with him. Despite it all, How much she despised him to the very bone, How his presence even metres away made her want to puke. His aura was rotten, But she was trying her very best to endure it.

Even he, Kokushibo had specifically told her that he would be 'withholding affection' until she got out of her 'rebellious phase'. And she was doing just as he said, She wasn't throwing passive aggressive remarks. She even made the effort to talk to him like she was doing now, Even though it made bile rise in her throat.

So why the hell did he sound so unhappy to be here right now? In fact, [F/N] felt like he was acting much more opposed to her than he usually seemed to be. Could he be suspicious? Perhaps it was because it was still a very new change in her attitude, Maybe that was it..

But it didn't add up, Not at all.

"..You can just go, I don't mind being alone" [F/N] mumbled as she turned back towards her food, Gesturing towards the door with a shake of her head. "..Sorry for keeping you from whatever you do."

She was probably gonna go back to sleep again once he left anyways, At least until Akaza returned. She'd probably just have another vision. A nightmare, Perhaps. At least that would be able to take her mind off the one that she was currently living through.

Kokushibo breathed out, Once more.

Through the silence she could her the faint patter of his hand placing onto the ground. [F/N] listened as she heard the floorboards croak, Kokushibo pushing himself up to his full staggering height.

[F/N] sighed as she heard him stand up, Waiting for him to leave as she ate the remains of her sashimi. At least he wouldn't be bothering her anymore, Expecting the ultramarine shine of the light outside to hit her face any moment now.

[F/N] chewed on her salmon slice.

Her eyebrows furrowed.

She swallowed it, The taste lasting on her tongue.

She blinked, A few moments passing as she looked up to see what was wrong. That turquoise light didn't hit her face after the usual time it took to-

[F/N] felt her heart stop entirely.

He was standing right in front of her, Not even moving an inch as he imposed over her from where she sat. They were only a feet apart, His face steeled in that omnipresent scowl that looked [F/N] felt her sweat drop, Her heart stop entirely in her chest. His eyes narrowed.

"The diary.. Have you been reading it?" He asked in a gravelly pitch, Eyes not departing from hers as his hand reached over to pluck the book from her bedside. [F/N]'s throat felt dry, Feeling herself almost shrivel up inside.

She double-taked however, Shaking off her shock.

"Erm.. Yes." [F/N] breathed out as she watched him flick open the book, Flipping through the pages at a rapid rate until it reached the page where she dog-eared to mark her place. Eyes snapped over to the letters, Beginning to read.

She watched as he scanned the lines with a quick pace, Almost jumping out of her skin once his eyes snapped back over to her.

"You have gotten a fair bit into the journal.. A fast reader, I see.." What would sound like a compliment from any other lips sounded like an observation from him, The kind that would be noted down for a scientific thesis.

[F/N] nodded along, Not daring to speak.

"You are, However.. Only a fraction of the way through.." He continued as his eyes drew back to the book, Reading from where she had left off yesterday. [F/N] felt a question burn on the tip of her tongue. Her mouth opened.

"W-Who is Akeno..? The woman in the book?" [F/N] blurted out, Her eyes still shied away from his as he looked back at her. The words just flooded out of her mouth, Almost like a dam finally breaking down.

Kokushibo breathed out.

"Our mother." He spoke simply, Face not changing a single bit.

[F/N] took a moment to process before she nodded slowly. Strangely enough, Learning that the woman she had been reading about was her supposed mother was not something that brought out a reaction out of her.

Not a big one anyways. But [F/N] couldn't deny that she felt a bit.. Intrigued.

I mean, [F/N] didn't even like her actual mother. A bitter and foul woman. It was a celebration once she died, [F/N] might as well have played beer pong with the bucket that woman kicked.

So [F/N] felt curiosity build up in her.

Would Akeno be like that?

Kokushibo slammed the book shut with a single hand, Bringing [F/N] back to the current situation she was in as she jolted in surprise. His hand moved over, Setting the journal down on the bedside.

His eyes narrowed.

"You are.. Different." Kokushibo stated, Eyes running over her like she was nothing but a frog to be cut open. It was uncomfortable, Skin itching even as he seemed to examine every little blemish on her.

[F/N] averted her gaze back down to her tightly curled fists.

"What..?" She asked slowly, Puzzled by his words.

"It is strange, You do not act like you did before.. There is a rather stark difference, Much more.." Kokushibo trailed off, Eyes still trained intently on her as he paused in his speech. The room suddenly fell quiet once more-

Deathly so.

It felt like forever, As if time had decided to slow down just in this single moment. Her skin burned and blistered under his sight, And Kokushibo never strayed his vision away from her. [F/N] silently begged him to just finish what he wanted to say, To get it over with.

But his lips thinned, And [F/N] could feel the irritated tinge in his aura from miles away.

Kokushibo turned to leave, Not bothering to finish his sentence.

"Continue reading.. I will come back tomorrow to make sure you are.." He spoke as he began to leave, Slowly stalking off towards the door in the room. [F/N]'s lips thinned before they opened.

"Uhm.. What about training?" She asked, Gripping the platter between her hands just a little too tightly.

Kokushibo paused in his walk, But he didn't turn to look at her.

"Until you are confident you will be able to wield Soul Breathing.. You will spend your time focused on literature and other remedial activities.. " Kokushibo explained as [F/N] nodded slowly to his words.

"Kind of a lack of 'remedial activities' to do.. Maybe if the library was a bit more stocked up, I'd have at least something to occupy my time." She muttered more to herself than to him, Under her breath as her eyes wandered off somewhere else.

Kokushibo hummed, Acknowledging her remark before he turned on his heel once more and left. This time, [F/N] didn't stop him as he marched towards the door within the blinding darkness, Her eyes kept on his back at all times.

Pulling it open, He didn't look back at her as the light hit her face. Then it disappeared entirely, Along with Kokushibo's presence.

[F/N] gasped before she took the biggest breath of her entire life, The air finally ripening around her as his suffocating presence left her. That rotten aura like decaying cow carcasses in a field-

It was finally gone.

☆♡☆

"This is still a stupid plan, You should have told Oyataka-sama- You should've provided the information you got from your crow instead of going rogue and deciding to go on some death mission..!" Obanai hissed, Eyes hawked in on Shinobu with a rather menacing glare.

Shinobu didn't feel it a bit however, Not even bothering to shake it off as she smiled.

"No matter now, I suppose. You already agreed to go through with this 'stupid plan' and I don't take any second thoughts!" She hummed, Looking at them from the side as they stood off a bit away from the other groups.

"I'm only doing this because of her, You know my history associated with cults.." Obanai mumbled, His head tossed to the side with a rather sour expression on his face.

Shinobu smiled, Much more sly and knowing than it should've been as she looked Obanai up and down. There was a perfectly good reason why Shinobu had asked him here in particular, Her reasoning seemingly paying off as she watched Obanai almost ogle at Mitsuri who was currently chatting with Gyomei.

"Of course.. I didn't expect anything more." Shinobu remarked as she watched the two converse idly with each other, Both glancing down at the shrine maiden they had caught hours earlier, Still restrained. Shinobu sighed, Shaking her head.

"Ah.. I suppose we shouldn't keep everyone waiting any longer, Let's head off to the convent, Hm?" Shinobu proposed, Not waiting for his response as she stepped forward towards Gyomei and Mitsuri.

Obanai nodded, Following after her as they approached the other Hashira in conversation.

"The issue is.. I'm not quite sure what do to with her."

"Keeping her here sounds horrible though.. My heart hurts thinking about it!"

"Mmph!"

"Ah, I see that you're discussing what to do with the eavesdropper!" Shinobu chirped in as she peered in behind Gyomei's back, Glossy eyes resting upon the terrified shrine maiden who squeaked once Shinobu revealed herself.

"Ah.. Shinobu-san. We're not in agreement as what to do.." Gyomei states. "I suggest that we leave her here for the inns keeper to find while we leave.. Though on the other hand, Kanroji-san believes that would be inhumane.."

"Cause it is! Who knows how long she'd be here, What if the innkeeper doesn't even find her?" Mitsuri butted in as she gestured to Maika, A puzzled frown across her face.

Shinobu nodded.

"I see.. Well I was thinking of heading out soon, Since everyone's here now. So I would like it if you came to a decision soon enough!" She hummed with a smile as Obanai appeared from the other side of Gyomei.

He huffed.

"Though I dislike this plan altogether.. I would rather it go smoothly if I am meant to do it so.. I say we toss her in the near river with her hands and legs still tied."

"Iguro-san!"

"Mmph! Mmph!" Maika muffled out what sounded like hearty disagreement, Eyes bulging out of her sockets as she stared at Obanai like he was some kind of demon, Even more so when Kaburamaru began to hiss.

Shinobu sighed as she stepped forward, Kaburamaru snapping his jaw shut once he watched her approach Maika. Knees bending as she lowered before her.

With a smile, Shinobu ripped off the bandage covering Maika's mouth.

"Ah-!" Maika gasped for what seemed like the biggest breath she had ever taken. "P-Please don't kill me! I can explain why I was listening to you're conversation, I swear!"

"Then explain.." Gyomei said, Looking rather imposing to where the girl was sat on the floor.

"O-Okay.. Erm- Give me a second I.." Maika blinked, Trying to recompose herself. "I didn't come here to tell anyone about what you were doing.. I.. I actually came because I wanted to help."

"How can we tell that you're not lying to get out of a bad situation?" Obanai asked as his eyes narrowed on her.

Maika gulped.

"B-Because I wanna help [F/N]-sama. I overheard your conversation back at the butterfly mansion, About the plan to find out where she was. I.. I wanna help, [F/N]-sama was really kind to me and I feel bad.." She said, Her eyes shying away from the group and she stared to the floor, Still shaking.

She inhaled.

"I.. I feel like it's my fault that [F/N]-sama was kidnapped. She saw me during her fight with that demon and she held back so I wouldn't get hurt.. She made sure he wouldn't find me, Even after I was injured and I just don't think I could live with myself if she stayed missing.. "

"Even though I'm a shrine-maiden.. I'm also a licensed slayer.. S-So please! If it's not a bother.. Could I please go on this mission?" Maika asked just a little bit higher than before, Sweat rolling down her brow, The fear of being rejected burning through her body.

Her lip shook.

Ever since that day in the shrine, Ever since she had woken from that coma, Maika had felt horrible about herself. To think that it was she that got [F/N] in such a bad situation, The guilt Maika felt was indescribable.

No one spoke, Not for a good long while. Their eyes darted back, Trading looks speaking their own thoughts about the situation. Iguro and Shinobu seemed rather cautious and Gyomei seemed to wait for the opinions of the others before he weighed in his own.

It was Mitsuri whoever who decided to take action, Stepping forward towards Maika before kneeling down towards her. A smile brighter than the sun outside as she grasped onto her hands.

She squealed.

"Kyah~! Of course you can come along, Anyone who wants to help, Should help!" Mitsuri grinned as she held Maika's hands within her own, Grasping them warmly as the girl looked up at the woman with a rather shocked blush burning on her face.

"K-Kanroji-sama!" She stammered.

Gyomei stepped forward.

"Are you sure about this, Kanroji-san..?" He asked as he heard their interaction, Hands still in prayer.

"Yes, One hundred percent! Let's go now, Get everyone ready. Heihachiro-san can come with us!" Mitsuri said as sure as she had ever been as she looked back at him, A massive smile on her face. Shinobu stepped forward.

"Well.. If Mitsuri-chan trusts her, Then I suppose I do too!" She cheered, Smiling slightly as she turned towards the rest of the Hashira. "Get ready and discard your slayer uniforms! We'll head for the convent in half an hour."

"Ah.. I suppose I shall be making my leave then.." Gyomei remarked as he wandered past the group, Assumedly to grab his luggage and make his goodbyes before he heads back to his estate.

Shinobu followed him off, Going to tell the group of younger slayers at the table the same news. Mitsuri quickly untied the ropes around Maika's wrists and ankles, To whom thanked her and stretched her tired limbs.

Mitsuri gave a 'no problem' in reply and raised from her position, Turning back to look at Obanai.

"Isn't this great, Iguro-san? I know we're all going off to fight an Upper Moon, But I'm still happy to be able to spend it with all of you!" She cheered with a smile, Looking at Obanai.

He swallowed, Feeling exposed all of a sudden.

"I.. Suppose." Obanai said as he tossed his head to the side, Choppy black bangs covering his red hot face as he turned away from Mitsuri.

Her brow raised.

"Ehh..? Are you okay, Iguro-san? Are you feeling alright, Your face is pretty red!" Mitsuri observed, Stumbling forward as she spotted a hint of burning blush on his face. Obanai huffed, Stumbling back from her.

"I feel fine, Thank you for your concern. We should get going soon." Obanai blurted out as he began to walk away, Leaving a confused Mitsuri watch him go. Mitsuri hummed, Acknowledging the situation.

"Kanroji-san.."

Mitsuri turned her head, As soon as Obanai left, She heard the voice of Gyomei Himejima beckon her over from the other side of the room. He was stood tall, Seemingly preparing the luggage for his departure.

"Oh.. Himejima-san!" Mitsuri called back with her smile reappearing on her face, Not wasting any time to skip over to where Gyomei stood with a . "I guess you'll be leaving now, It's a shame that you won't be able to come along with us!"

Gyomei nodded slightly,

"Yes, It is.. However I just wish to speak with you for a slight second before I leave.." He asked cordially, Stepping closer towards Mitsuri. "It is about my Tsuguko, Himejima Shizuko."

"Shizuko..?" Mitsuri mumbled under her breath, A bell ringing in her head. It wasn't long before her eyes widened however, Shoulders tensing up. "You mean [F/N]'s brother..?! He's here..?!"

Mitsuri's head instantly shot back and forth, Eyes scanning everyone in the room.

"Correct, He was the one I decided to summon after all.." Gyomei replied, Fairly confused as to how Mitsuri hadn't noticed the boy beforehand.

Mitsuri quickly spun around towards the table where everyone sat, Eyes darting through the little crowd. It seemed like they were all getting ready to head off, But from amongst the group Mitsuri could spot a certain mess of hair.

Wide eyes, Scars, Rough braided hair.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Oh my gods, That's where I recognise him from-! How did I not see it before..?!" Mitsuri gasped as she watched Shizuko put away his things, Barely held back from rushing over to greet him.

"Kanroji-san." The rumble of Gyomei's voice made Mitsuri double take, Turning her head back around to meet his solemn face.

"I came to ask that you do me a favour, By telling Shizuko about [F/N] and his past during this mission.."

"What..?!" Mitsuri gasped, Her eyes growing wide as saucers.

"He has not forgotten her entirely, It seems.. Only a few days ago he had admitted there were some surviving memories from his accident." Gyomei explained.

She shook her head slightly, Almost unbelieving.

"No way.. He actually.." Mitsuri mumbled under her breath, Seemingly collecting her thoughts before speaking once more. "I told this to you, I don't know the full story.. I.. I couldn't give him all the answers even if he did know."

Gyomei shook his head.

"But you know the most out of us all.. And it is right that he knows what you do, At the very least.. I am not the right person, You are." He said, Nodding in her direction.

Mitsuri just looked at him, Mind racing.

Mitsuri couldn't believe what she was hearing, What she thought was just going to be a farewell turned out to be much more than she was bargaining for. It was shocking enough to hear that Shizuko actually remembered something.

But for Mitsuri to also be given the duty of explaining said something? Even more unexpected. Her face turned into a rather apprehensive frown, Lips pressed tightly together.

"Himejima-san.. I understand what you mean but- You can't just leave me with this I mean.. I've never even spoken to him before.. And [F/N].. She herself said it was for the best if they were kept apart!" Mitsuri hushed under her breath, Pleading with him both in her tone and her eyes.

Gyomei nodded slowly, His brows knitting together in a sorrowful expression.

"You are right, I am deeply sorry for leaving you with this.. But he has the right to know, Just not from me." He explained, Hearing the rough voice of his Tsuguko in the background. "For whatever reason [F/N] wished to stay apart.. I believe that is not truly what she wants."

"I.." Mitsuri thought over his words, Ones that struck a cord within her. Mitsuri knew she didn't know the full story, But she knew [F/N] down to the atom, And her wanting to stay away from Shizuko?

Yeah, That wasn't like her at all.

"You're right. [F/N].." Mitsuri stumbled over her words, Shaking her head. "Just.. All I want is some time, Okay? I'll tell him but.. I'll need to put a few things together first, Just make sure everything is understandable."

Gyomei nodded, The expression on his face lightening ever so slightly as he turned around towards his luggage laid out in a satchel. Picking it up and tying the knot.

"Thank you, Kanroji-san.. This means a lot, Both to me and I leave him in your care.. I trust you will keep him safe." Gyomei said, Slinging his satchel over his shoulder before bowing towards the woman. Mitsuri copied his actions, Lowering down herself.

"You can trust me, I promise Shizuko will be safe.." Mitsuri said, Politely yet quietly so that no one could hear them. Gyomei raised from his bow, Settling his yukata over his chest once more before grasping onto his satchel.

They said their goodbyes, And the rest of the group did the same. As Gyomei was walking out, None of the crowd noticed the new air around him and Mitsuri, Some mutual feeling like understanding shared between the two.

Mitsuri sighed once he left, Another task put on her roster along with finding out what was wrong with Shinobu. She couldn't argue however, It was much better to deal with this than let it go untouched.

Mitsuri had learnt that the hard way.

So she turned, Prancing back towards the group to help the rest of them pack their stuff for the journey ahead. She had a smile on her face, No matter how terrifying the situation was about to be.

☆♡☆

[F/N] was left sitting on her bedside, Head dropped, Hands in lap as she tried to mull over what happened.

A sort of disgusting shiver wormed through her system as she remembered his aura, Not to mention their conversation. His behaviour too was particularly unpinnable, [F/N] having no idea why he's acting repulsed to her attempts to talk to him.

It was Kokushibo after all who encouraged this behaviour in the first place, And she was trying her best to play into it best she could. Yet he seemed so opposed to it, Perhaps even a bit aggressive when she admitted she wanted to speak to him.

Why?

There was no point in trying to unravel his behaviour, [F/N] supposed. She hadn't been able to do it before so there was no way she'd ever be able to, Not right now at least.

All [F/N] knew was that she hated him. That he was a centuries old demon with violent instincts, That he had siphoned her away to some mockery of her now defunct shrine. [F/N] knew that he was a horrible person.

Her teeth gritted.

She couldn't stay here, She couldn't bare to be in this decrepit shrine any longer.

[F/N] pushed herself off of the bed, Pins and needles in her legs not bothering her as she turned back and kneeled down so far, Face peeking under the bed.

The ropes.

[F/N] needed to get to work, Right away. Hands lunged under the bed, Snatching the thick spool of unassorted ropes in a single palm as she pulled them out. She needed to start making her way through the infinity castle if she wanted to find the exit door.

"[F/N]!"

A voice called out from somewhere down the hallway, It was Akaza's, About time that he'd show up since Kokushibo had left a good few hours ago. [F/N] paid no heed however as she lugged herself back up onto her bed, Spools of rope in hand.

She set them down on her lap as the door slid open.

"[F/N], You awake?" Akaza called out into the room, Though his question was instantly answered as he watched her begin to play with the ropes in her hand from within the darkness.

"Yep, Wide awake. Had a rather eye-opening conversation with you-know-who earlier and I haven't been able to get them closed since." [F/N] replied but she didn't look at him, Instead beginning to find the ends of two rope to tie.

Akaza's face scrunched up, Golden eyes glowing in the dark.

"Seriously? You actually had a conversation with him?" He scoffed slightly.

"I'll tell you about it if you lend me a hand, We're gonna work on the rope."

"Deal. Though I'm relieved you finally decided to start working on your escape, It was starting to get annoying.." Akaza muttered as he walked forward towards her in the dark, Lunchbox in hand. "Good timing though, Was able to bring you in a few tools for the nails or whatever."

Akaza held up the lunchbox in hand, Presenting it as something more that cutlery rattled around inside. A hammer, By the sounds of it. The spare nails laying around under her bed would finally be put to use.

[F/N] didn't smile, But a glint in her eyes spoke more than she could ever say. Looking up towards Akaza, She spoke.

"Perfect."

☆♡☆

They were high up, Thousands of feet above the air.

Clouds were below them now, Like a ring surrounding the horizon. The sky fading from a desaturated baby blue to a vibrant burst of yellow now that the clock was ticking. Winds were high, Not as much as to cause resistance, But enough so that fabrics and hair would dance violently in the gales.

It was chill too. Snow dusted the glaciated landscape like sand across a desert. From towering pine trees and bustling ferns and sprigs, Slush ice lain in the nooks and crannies' of every single one.

They trudged through the pebblish pathway up the mountain, Mitsuri often gazing out into the expanse of the valley like ants below. The air flourishing up here, So fresh that she couldn't help but take it all in.

Her eyes shone, The blinding sun reflecting in her irises.

"Come on now! We're almost there!" Shinobu called out, Her voice echoing slightly as they neared the grassy top of the mountains. It had been a few hours, If they weren't trained swordswomen, They would've taken much longer in accountancy of breaks.

Mitsuri turned to her, Guiding her hair out of the way as she smiled.

"Right! Let's get a move on, Girls!" Mitsuri called out to the two girls behind her, Kanao and Maika who had issues with keeping their hair out of their faces as well. They nodded, Picking up the pace as they pushed themselves up the slope.

They had decided to split up, The men approaching where the convent should be in a different direction. They had figured that going in one big group would be rather suspicious, And according to Shinobu's plan mixed with Gyomei's information, It was best split by gender.

Kanao had Nezuko's box resting on her back, Kanao's hands resting on the straps to makes sure it stayed steady on her back. Apparently the cult had some rather interesting gender dynamics, Having the women rest and leisure while the men were put to work.

It was strange, Shinobu could tell.

"U-Um-! Can we take a break, Please?" Maika called out to the two women in front of her who had already reached the rather dense woodland atop it all. Shinobu looked at her for a second, Smiling before Maika reached the top.

"Ah.. I suppose A break would be fine. Though not for long as we need to stay vigilant, Being in one spot for too long would be dangerous, I deem." Shinobu deduced as she turned to look at the breath-taking sight beside her, Barely batting an eye as she stared out into the expanse.

Mitsuri huffed as she stopped to stretch her numb legs, Feeling the cold air soak into her skin. She stood next to Shinobu, Taking in the sight together. Something rewarding after the trek up her.

She smiled, Remembering how much times she had to pop her ears.

"Beautiful, It's a pretty nice change from the village scenery, Eh? Not saying that it was bad but.. Come on, Look at that sky~!" Mitsuri wondered with a smile.

"Yes, I agree. Almost makes it worth the journey.." Shinobu spoke with a smile.

They took a moment to breathe it all in, Gaze off onto the horizon of bursting hues, A good reward for their trek up here. They didn't speak for a while, Letting the wind chill their sweat and cool them off.

Mitsuri smiled.

"This reminds me of the golden days, You know?" She spoke softly, Eyes finally peering over to Shinobu.

"Hm?" Shinobu hummed, Turning to look at Mitsuri.

"Oh come on. Me, You and [F/N]?" Mitsuri giggled slightly, Memories coming back to her. "Remember when we travelled around slaying demons together when we were younger? It's just kind of been a while since we've been on a mission together.."

Shinobu's smile, Mitsuri never noticed but it changed, Just a little bit more.. Real.

"Remember when we had to disguise ourselves as men to sneak into that nobleman's dinner? Ah.. I remember you had to put on that masculine voice. You know, I'm pretty sure you scared some of the poor Geisha serving us." Shinobu asked, A hand covering her teasing smile.

"Ah-! Don't remind me, That was so embarrassing!" Mitsuri laughed as she fanned her cheeks. Shinobu giggled. "I guess it was pretty fun, Though! Honestly I think about it more than I should.. I guess I miss it, You know?"

Shinobu nodded, Agreeing with her statement. Her smile dimmed just a little bit, However the genuinity never died.

"If only [F/N] didn't fall into that coma.." Shinobu mumbled, Eyes looking somewhere far off.

"If only we didn't go to that festival." Mitsuri corrected, The smile dimming on her face until it darkened into a frown.

The silence afterwards was much more dense than before, Neither of the girls feeling it was right to speak. Mitsuri felt awkward under the weight of the silence, Her hands coming together to fiddle with her fingers.

Looking at Shinobu, Mitsuri could see her mind work through her eyes. It was obvious from the meeting back at the butterfly mansion that this mission meant a bit more to Shinobu than she was letting on.

And they were about to go fight Upper Moon Two, Well, They weren't quite sure how long it would take to get to that point. But Mitsuri could tell something was wrong with her, And she needed to know what.

She sighed, Air turning to vapour.

"Shinobu-chan.."

Mitsuri finally broke the silence, Shattering like glass.

Shinobu turned her head back to look at her, Small frown still on her face.

"You know I've been meaning to talk to you for a while now, And.. I feel like it's best to bring this up before we leave, You know?" Mitsuri spoke as soft and caring as she could muster, Her eyes shining as she turned to look at her peer.

Shinobu's lips turned back up into a tight smile, A twitch in her eyebrow, Glancing back towards Mitsuri.

"Mitsuri-chan, Whatever this is about, I think it's best if we save it for later." Shinobu responded, Her voice sounding like it had been practiced. "We've spent too much time in one place, We better get movi-"

"No-!" Mitsuri cut in, Realising her tone she shook her head. "I'm sorry, Shinobu-chan. But I know you've been avoiding this conversation for a while now, I want to talk, You need to tell me what's wrong."

Shinobu's smile widened as she fully turned to meet Mitsuri, A noticeable strain on her lips as she beamed at her.

"..There's nothing to speak about, Mitsuri-chan! I'm completely alright, Perhaps a bit stressed.. Maybe that's what you're worried about?" Shinobu proposed, An eyebrow raised as she tilted her head.

"No, It's- It's more than that, I can tell!" Mitsuri exasperated, Her face turning more concerned by the second. "You need to say what's going on, You've not been yourself recently.. Please, You can talk to me!"

Shinobu's stare burned into Mitsuri like the sun glaring into vision. Mitsuri watched as Shinobu just stopped entirely, Her smile still plastered on her face, Making no move to speak.

Fingers curling, A vein in her forehead. Like a porcelain doll, It was if she needed time to process Mitsuri's words.

It was disturbing, Seriously distur-

"Greetings, Is anyone there?"

Heads jerked towards the source of the new voice, Belonging to none within the designated group.

By the edge of the forest-line stood a woman accompanied by a child, Both adorned in white robes. The women cradled a wicker basket in her hand, Half full with what seemed to be the fruit that grew here.

The child held one too, Both looking at the group of girls before them.

The smell of Lotus Flowers burned in the air, Noticeably so.

"Ah..! Greetings, Ma'am! We didn't think anyone would be out here!" Shinobu giggled, Readily stepping away from Mitsuri and towards the woman and child duo instead. "My name is Fujimori Hina, I apologise if we startled you!"

The woman watched as Shinobu lowered down into a respectful bow, Her eyes seemed apprehensive as they darted amongst the newcomers before her. Shinobu could spot the child shifting behind the woman, His eyes wide as he stared.

The woman's lips turned into a smile, Though it was very much faked.

"Ah.. No, I had just heard voices and thought it was best to come check it out." The woman explained, Examining Shinobu from head to toe. "What are you all doing up here..? This is rather far from the nearest village.."

Shinobu raised from her bow to see the woman, Suspicious already even with that kind smile, Shinobu could tell. The child behind her seemed rather hesitant towards them, Almost as if they were an oddity.

Shinobu nodded, Shooting a look towards Mitsuri that spoke plenty.

"We got lost, You see.. We've been meaning to head to Fukushima however our ride broke down and left us stranded!" Shinobu frowned and shook her head, An unfortunate expression on her face. "We figured we could find a village from this vantage point.. However it seems the one down there is a rather long journey.."

"Y-Yeah! It's been a while since we've ate is all.. " Maika piped up from where her and Kanao sat on the floor, Voice shaking, Eyes trained on the woman and her rather odd appearance.

The woman nodded slowly.

"Ah.. I understand. And you all are.."

"-They're my sisters." Shinobu finished. "And yes, Adopted before you ask. I realise we do not look similar, We get that question a lot." She laughed airliy, A smile reappearing upon her face.

"Umeko." Mitsuri said, Raising her hand to greet her.

"Asuna..!" Maika chimed in.

"Kariya." Kanao spoke.

"Right.. I see." The woman drawled, Eyes narrowing. For some reason she was suspicious, Rather apprehensive to the women she came across. "I suppose that you better start moving, It is a rather long journey to the village.."

The woman spoke, A sort of politeness in her voice that was. She almost looked like she was ready to leave, Prepared to grab the child by the wrist and beckon him off into the forest.

Acting quickly, Mitsuri stepped forward.

"Please, Ma'am. We don't mean to trouble you.. But is there anywhere we could stay for tonight?" She begged, Both in voice and her eyes. "We promise to repay you..! We just want somewhere to rest for a while, A bit of food and someplace to pray."

Mitsuri's tone pleaded with the woman, Who still looked rather apprehensive towards the group. Mitsuri, Though a little annoyed that she was cut off from reaching Shinobu, Still grasped the situation. Seeing how the woman appeared aloof.

Though her eyes shifted once the word prayer came from Mitsuri's tongue, A glint like stars in her irises.

They all waited on baited breath, One's they didn't know they were holding. Both Mitsuri and Shinobu both knew that this was no ordinary woman, Both by looks and by her actions. What reason she had to be suspicious, A dead give away.

Would she respond in kind or in aggression? Did she know they were slayers?

The woman breathed out.

"..Well, I suppose that it is only right if I help out my fellow women of faith." The woman smiled, Much more genuine this time. Shinobu's ears twitched at the word 'faith', Her eyes narrowing as the woman stepped towards them.

A wave of relief flooded amongst the group, Shoulders slumping, Held breaths released from lungs. The woman stepped to the side, Child following after her as she beckoned the group to follow her.

"You can follow me, I'm sure I can get you all fed and cared for. You're lucky..! Fortunately around here, We always make sure to tend to our fellow faithful." The woman smiled as she turned, Basket in hand as she began to wander off into the woods.

"Of course, Thank you so much, Ma'am! We appreciate it so much..!" Shinobu thanked her, Bowing her head lightly before taking the first skip to follow the woman. Mitsuri following after, The girls coming last.

They followed her, Trailing along her pathway through the tall forest she came from. The child skipping ahead, Seemingly not wanting to be near the group of girls.

Looks shared between them spoke more than what they could say. Looks of suspicion and fear, While Mitsuri and Shinobu's seemed much more steady as they walked. They both knew that this woman had to be associated with the cult.

Especially with the way she said 'faith'.

Some woman with some pungent scent. It wasn't bad, Per se, But it was strong. It was like freshwater and flowers, So freezingly refreshing yet bitter all the same. Her clothes were pure, No blemish to be found upon the dove white of her kimono.

It was like wedding attire, Was she going to be wed?

It looked so, Everything about her seemed perfectly done. Her hair was midnight yet glistened under the mountain sun, Her makeup could put the most gorgeous Oiran to shame..

It was strange, So beautifully strange.

So they followed along, Both hesitant and eager at the same time. Forest growing darker as they walked, More dense, Deeper and deeper they went.

And the smell of Lotus Flowers grew so much more potent.

Next Chapter

[hadesoftheladies]

FEMALE MOVIE/TV RECS (PART 5 / HORROR & CRIME DRAMA)

got inspired from a recommendation post so decided to make a list of movies and shows with female-centric stories/female protagonists. since i can't post all of the genres in one post, i'll split it into multiple posts and y'all can save or add to the list as you wish. (disclaimer: i have watched most of these, but i only know about the existence of others. not every movie/show on these lists will be my recommendation. my recommendations will be beneath the list with reasons. also some of these are way better than others in terms of storytelling/performance--which is why i'll list my faves separately):

Common Themes:

-Dangerous girls (they ain't innocent)/ girlhood as violent

-Stressed out and melancholic female detectives and authors (lots of drinking/smoking)

-Mothers who've seen too fucking much to play games/I'm a good mother until it doesn't let up

-Women handling shit/getting shit done

-Mothers who didn't want to be mothers but here we fucking are so might as well handle shit

-Evil women who are also unfortunately hot

-Female sociopaths (not always negatively portrayed)

HAVEN'T WATCHED

The Royal Hotel

The Silent Twins

The Kitchen

The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart

I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Sharp Objects

Killing Eve

Abigail

Heavenly Creatures

A Quiet Place Part 2

Panic Room

Alice, Darling

Blood Red Sky

Rust Creek

The Marsh King's Daughter

Pearl

Longlegs

GOOD STUFF (NEVER WATCHING AGAIN THOUGH!)

Bad Sisters (8/10) (sisters plan to kill their sister's abusive husband)

Yellowjackets (9/10) (love as cannibalism)

Candy (7.5/10) (she's just a killer lol)

Cruella (6.5/10)(help my mom is a narcissist and it's hereditary)

Jennifer's Body (7/10) (boys aren't people lmao)

Bird Box (8/10)

Under the Bridge (8/10)

PERSONAL NOTES

I watched Tragedy Girls years ago, and I remember being grossed out and having a lot of fun as well. If you like Jennifer's Body, you'll probably like Tragedy Girls, too. And if you like Tragedy Girls, you may also enjoy Thoroughbreds. All three have a twisted sense of girlpower.

The Call isn't scary so much as its nerve-wracking and upsetting. It's not gory (although there is violence), but it deals with heavy subject matter. I can, however, promise a satisfying ending. Even though I doubt it would put you at ease.

Horror is my least favourite genre so bear that in mind. I just hate jump scares (because I hate being startled) and I don't like gore though there are times where it doesn't bother me so much. So this is definitely not an exhaustive list on horror recs. Crime is as close as I usually get to such dark stuff so I put the dark crimes, psychological thrillers and horrors together. I don't even want to talk about these that much because I'm nauseous already.

Watch at your own risk.

[weirdly-specific-but-ok]

star wars but I've never watched it

I'm flirting with death (the star wars fandom) and it's about to succumb. I mean, be seduced. I promise when I flirt the intended result is not succumbing (usually). Here, have this, I know you maggots have missed my summaries they're so comprehensive and well-researched. Two cups of black coffee down. LET'S GO, MAGGOTS.

It is not Star Trek, and if I mix them up, both fandoms will tear me limb from limb, but mainly Star Trek because they're less popular?

No, that was not intended to be inflammatory, it's just what I was warned when I first got kidnapped. Don't blame the student, blame the system.

LUKE, I AM YOUR FATHER.

Except that's actually a misquote, it's No, I am your father. Mad trivia game. Huge star wars fan, me (why do I sound like Crowley).

It's set in outer space.

Are daleks stormtroopers?

Yoda pulls sentences in half like Crowley pulls Aziraphale's legs apart while they're not talking, and then tries interesting positions.

Leia has space-buns and makes out with Luke.

Luke is Leia's brother.

Anakin, whom I thought was some sexy babygirl side character, is apparently Darth Vader.

I am certain some people still find him a sexy babygirl. I just hope if he has a sister, she doesn't.

Is incest hereditary? Besides the obvious, I mean.

Small and green, Yoda is.

Daleks or not, there are storm-troopers, and they wear white plastic but not in a kinky way. Mostly. I remember one video a maggot showed me of a dustbin and--anyway.

They have bad aim.

There is a Death Star, and there is also a Death Star in Star Trek, but this is the more obvious one.

It has machinery specially engineered so if you shoot at that one place, the entire spaceship explodes or shuts down, which is a convenient feature.

A baby Yoda, they made. To make merchandise in time, Disney failed. Money, they lost.

There's something called the Force which everyone irl uses to try and get their remote to fly to them while sitting on the couch watching TV. They squint and reach out their hand while doing this. It rarely works.

There are a lot of unnecessary sequels and prequels. People are not happy.

A lot of Star Wars has inspiration drawn from ancient Indian philosophy and Hindu mythology. Just fun trivia, since I'm such a huge Star Wars fan.

Chewbacca?

R2D2? Robot go beep beep.

Han Solo and Leia get together.

Who is Han Solo? The guy who witnessed Leia making out with her brother. Whatever gets you off, king.

Dead, Yoda might be. Not sure, I am.

Rogue 1?

Return of the... Empire? No, wait, Jedi.

Empire Strikes Back!

Jedi exist. Because uh, it was in the title. They'd better exist.

Luke's daddy cuts off his hand. Not in a sexual way. But you never know with this family.

End (Not. Disney is going to milk this cash cow till they run out of ideas because of underpaid writers, and then they'll do a remake, probably).

Welcome, you are. Comprehensive, all-inclusive, this summary is.

[unabashednightmarepizza]

𝐸𝑦𝑒 𝑂𝑓 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚

Part 1

Aether, after witnessing the most bizarre things in the whole world when no one else did and was often watched with slacked jaws at how he could still be alive, couldn't help but look at himself and then the taller, blue haired man before him with a blank stare.

Did he look like a stupid boy?

"You don't expect me to believe in this, right? Even Y/N says more logical things-"

"Paimon wants to disagree! Wanting to adopt slimes and petting hilichurls even though they don't attack Y/N but only us is no good thing!"

Yeah... That happened, BUT! In your defence, those slimes were cutely nudging your leg with a smile and one of them even offered a pretty-shaped, shiny rock to you as a gift! ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

( And most of the "New recipes" you learnt were from the Hilichurls, who suprisingly made amazing food and didn't attack you but... patted your hair? Even braided it even if it was a tiny one??Sat with you and ate whatever you cooked?? You though they were not that smart, according to what Aether told you but now, you strongly disagreed! They were great companions! Aether didn't know that you already befriended most of them and learnt their recipes, and you intended it to be this way hehe ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡ God knew what their reactions would be and that was enough to make you want to spill the beans while smiling cheekily)

"Hmm? What's that cheerful face you are making, you think I'm making this up?"

Kaeya: ಠ⁠ω⁠ಠ, Aether: ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

Duh, so much so as being discreet Aether ರ⁠_⁠ರ

Kaeya, as the man who often hides his true feelings and thoughts behind a flirty and careless attitude, whined and pointed to his eye-patch with a pout

"Look at my eye-patch! It's a heirloom from my grandfather, It's a solid proof that we are blood related! Let's ask your friend what they think!"

Home boy was so sure you would side with hım just to annoy your companions LoL 😝

"Okay... Hey Y/N, is having an eye-patch a hereditary things?!"

*cue you looking around like a dog trying to determine where you were being called suddenly while cradling the PRETTIEST jewelry you had ever seen, zero-ing on to your friends up near the headquarters of the Knights*

"Nah, whoever says that bullshit is one hell of a Himbo and stupid!"

(did you... just call my precious main "a stupid Himbo"?? ಠ⁠ಗ⁠ಠ)

The Second Trait Aether Loved The Most About You: Brutal Honesty

It hurt whenever you said exactly what's in your mind okay?? ಥ⁠_⁠ಥ

That's why you toned it down, especially for Aether and Paimon, even if sarcasm was your love language... NO LONGER SAD AETHER AND PAIMON!

Now though, as they stared at Kaeya who was trying to hide his embrassment... It was only a source of joy for them

"My, my I didn't know that friend of yours had such a... brutal honesty." *Crying internally and trying to piece his shattered ego back together all the while pretending like it didn't hurt*

As much as Paimon was delighted to see the embrassment on Kaeya's face, since for once she wasn't the one on the receiving end of your honest remarks, she... wondered something none of the males did as she stared at your form down near the entrance of the city where you were waving excitedly at her with earrings on your other hand, purchasing them and speedwalking to where they were and slightly panting from the amount of running you had been doing.

Paimon turned to look at Aether from her shoulders with a confused face, pointing with her tiny finger to your form as the boy still didn't look at her

"Uh... Aether, how was Y/N able to hear us down there?", "Down there? What do you mean they were just... here..."

Aether was once again shocked to his core as he leaned over the balcony and stared at your form which was ... way too far away from where they were. Seriously, how did you hear him? You said you didn't have any powers!

And what gained your attention again?

"Hi! You know what, this place is amazing! I hadn't felt that alive in a long time! So... Where is the person who thinks eye-patch is heredi-" you exclaimed happily as you stepped up on the opening where the three were, playing with the shiny stones you got and the necklace you for for yourself while not holding back from insulting whoever that person was. Even those adults in your world was much smarter than that! But as often as it happened to you, you failed to take a look at the person who said that and see him and make the biggest mistake of your life...

By not realizing the hottest person you had ever seen in your entire life.

Was he really that handsome in the game too? The graphics surely didn't do enough justice to the gorgeous sight before you.

He was taller than you imagined, with those cool and perhaps exquisite clothing alongside the clinking sound his vision made against his leg. But perhaps,the tanned skin and with navy blue hair with lighter streaks waswhat made him even more cute in your eyes. Yes he was hot, obviously, but as he was looking at you with that teasing yet welcoming eyes of his... He looked so damn cute!

How could he both be masculine and feminine?! Why the hell did I fall for him as soon as I entered the city? No wonder he is "the top candidate for grandson-in-law"... *dreamy looks at him while planning 20 years from now on*

Kaeya, unknowingly but also having a gutfeeling about your flustered state at his body, bowed down slightly as he took a hold of your hand and kissed the back of it with that charming, side smile of his and let his lips linger there for a moment to watch your blush deepen slowly.

"It would be me, my lady/lord, I hope I didn't disappoint you with being... a stupid Himbo, I believe?" *Catsmiling at you with that flirtitous voice and rubs your knuckles*

*blushing while looking at the said person who cocked a surprised eyebrow at you who was blushing and looking at him- and the chest window obviously-with an open mouth, clearly down bad for him*

"Here we go again..." Aether, who definetly wasn't jealous of the sight before him and blushing at how intimate it somehow looked, facepalmed at yet once again... your attention being taken by a hot person. He only hoped that wouldn't occur again because he really didn't know what to do to get you away from them since you cried softly at being "seperated" from your true love or whatever.

*spoiler alert: it would only get worse as each day went by hehe*

"I'm surprised you didn't know such common knowledge, darling... Name is Kaeya Alberich, the Cavalry Captain. At your service."

"More like we are at your service!", "Stop flirting with my friend, Captain." A jealous Aether and Paimon exclaiming angrily with a hmph and you turned to look at the taller one with a quirked eye brow.

And absolutely confused at what was going on.

Can a person not have some fantasy world where they can live with the Prince charming for a little while? Why were they acting-

"Aww, are you jealous? Don't worry, you two will always be my favourite person!"

Aether: *smug smirks while being hugged to your chest* Paimon:* holds onto your sleeve as you pat her softly, also smug smirks* Kaeya: *defeated yet makes a new plan to gain your attention back*

Aaand that was how your first meeting went by. You having a raging attraction on Kaeya, him both flirting with you and trying his best to stay strong at your honest comments, Aether tugging on your sleeve to get you away from him (jealousy who?) and Paimon... Begging for food.

Except, all you three got was a mission... even if you also agreed with Paimon with needing food.

"You know what? We can use an ice blade to kill them and later put them out in the wild! That way, the sun would melt the ice and the murder weapon would be poof!" ☺️😁

Paimon: EEEEHHH?! (⁠‘⁠◉⁠⌓⁠◉⁠’⁠) 😳😨😧

Aether: (⁠´⁠⊙⁠ω⁠⊙⁠`⁠) "Please don't handcuff me, I don't know them." and Kaeya: (⁠✷⁠‿⁠✷⁠) "I found my friend!"

Aether was so sure that he could end up in some kind of jail, just by listening to you say this shit but... well, you were his bestie, he had to roll with it.

"Don't you feel... I don't know, even slightly disturbed at the way your mind works sometimes?", " Half of my intrusive thoughts are 'Stab yourself with that knife.' while the other half is 'Stab that person with the knife.' What do you think?" ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

Kaeya, ASF: Note to future self, don't anger the one with Aether *writes down, mentally scared and sweating*

"Sooo... what's in that treasure? Gold?" *Huge gasp* "Maybe even better, jewelries!" You side-eyed Paimon harshly while rolling your eyes. Sometimes, she really forgot that none of you were much of jewelry people and that she shouldn't get too excited over a "suspicious mission".

"The only jewelry you wear is a hairclip."

"Paimon thinks you are being a meanie- Oh, what's that pretty flower in your pocket Y/N?" Aether slapped his forehead for what seemed like the hundreth time at Paimon, who much like you was easy to loose her track, but still raised a brow at you, just like Kaeya who also eyed the slightly peeking flower in your pocket.

And the sight made him almost choke on air, as his eyes slowly drifted up and he finally looked into your eyes.

Star-shaped ones, much like his, staring right at him with wonder... Face flush with embarrasment and running, all alive and lively, without a worry or a simple knowledge about the significance of your eyes and... the five petaled flower, four white and one blue, you held between your lithe fingers with a soft smile.

And with one look at your glimmering eyes, came another set of headaches to him and you. One that he wasn't able to conceal and groaned in pain, but you did behind a kind smile.

"I'm not so sure... A girl came up to me, just before I came here, and told me that a man in a dark armor, blonde hair and a mask wanted her to give this to me." You shrugged your shoulders noncholantly as your eyes stayed fixed on the pretty flower. Even while playing, and watching some edits about the game, you have never seen such flower except on Lumine's hair. The flower almost seemed like a stone, so dull and colorless though there was some sparkles when you touched its petals. Maybe it was because the flower was away from its homeland, as cliche and naive as it was...You didn't know where it came from or what was the meaning of it, but for some reasons...

The flower made you feel nostalgic and left you longing for... something.

What was it? Why couldn't you exactly say it? Why were you not bothered or slightly scared that someone gave you flowers in a world unkown to you? Why would someone fancy you at the same day you came to Mondstadt? Who was that man?

"I wish I saw them... It's so unrealistic that someone would-"

"It looks like the one on my sister's hair..." your attention was immediately on Aether and how sad he looked. Your heart broke for him, while scolding yourself for straying from your real mission on hand which was getting somehow a clue about his sister, and as the caring and motherly person you were...

You hugged him thightly to yourself. He was a "cutie patotie" in your eyes, not that these people would understand your affectionate terms. And for now, this mysterious person could wait: You had more important matters, such as coddling the boy between your arms!

"Well, maybe, we will see that man again and he might know something about her! Maybe this is a good omen!"

I highly doubt it, considering where it comes from, Kaeya bitterly thought to himself with his fingers playing with his chin thoughtfully. He couldn't help but wonder if you were a spy sent here but quickly dismissed the idea since you weren't even aware of the Seven Nations yet alone Mondstadt or the visions. You seemed like someone who didn't have any powers, except knowing when Aether was in danger as Paimon said, super-hearing and being a skilled swordfighter.

And where you came from seemed like a mystery to you as well. He knows Aether said you two were from another world, but in a way... So was Khaenri'ah, and he had to know it...

Know if you were... another survivor that might have just forgotten who they are as a result of erosion.

As Kaeya was deep in his thoughts, Aether hummed thoughtfully as he hugged you back, though you three were in public, even if there was a cute pink tinting over his cheek. He really didn't want to "ruin" your mood with how crestfallen he had become at the sight of that flower but he just... couldn't help it. With the way he parted ways with his sister, no the way he was forced to, always left a bitter taste on his tongue. He felt like he had failed her, they had never parted before and they never had to go for such a long time with no communication...

He missed her so much... But still, he didn't feel the longing and missing feeling so much with your and Paimon's presence: By the way you always hung out with them, took care of them by trying hard to learn how to cook, watch out for both of them as they slept (even if he made you think they were safe and sound sleep and not awake making sure you were safe too), how you always praised him for his hardwork, patted his head and even helped train with him...

And the best part was perhaps letting you comb through his hair and re-braid them. He didn't let you, for the longest time. Since you two just met, and he didn't know anything about you when he asked and you only said you didn't "remember" much, he didn't want to show a vulnerability to you. Whether you would stab him from the back, tug him back harshly from his hair and kill him... He wasn't sure of what to think about you, considering the life on the wild was already dangerous, but when he saw you begging him to go over a "baby hydro slime" to pat "him", cooing at it from a distance as he held you back with tears in your eyes as a result of "cuteness overload" as you ran at him as soon as he let go of you and watched with a soft smile...

He really liked you a lot... As a friend and companion of course!

Seeing his face contorted in a frown, you pouted and pondered for a few seconds for a way to change the subject and a bulb lighted above your head, visibly brightening your face.

"So... what's the 'super secret' mission you had for us again? I hope it's something risky!" you turned with your whole body to Kaeya with your arms still holding onto Aether thightly, as the man in question raised a brow at how... content you three looked.

A weird trio indeed...

"Why, if I may ask?" he, just as chivalrously as expected of him, asked. He smirked under his breath at how you flushed, even though this headache of his was starting to get him irritated but still... couldn't help but soften when you look down at the blonde in your grasp with obvious tenderness and familial care and then-

"So that I can come close to-hmph!" *harsh slap by none other than a blushing Aether and a bonk by Paimon, who were done with your dying tendencies*

"Nothing... Just explain it, Kaeya."

*Kaeya, shocked... But still gives a long and detailed explanation of the mission and what you three were supposed to look for and overly exaggerating the story while you three are like this*

"The sky used to roar with the thunders as my grandfather would grasp the handle of the sword, the waves get stronger and the sky was covered with the black clouds and strong storms! My grandfather, with the power of the sword, once killed a silver-haired fairy, an abyss dragon-"

"This seems like a huge lie." You, deadass serious: Ehe , ehe

"We can't let the sword to get on wrong hands! We need to get to it first!

"Are you for real? Really Paimon? You believed in his words." As Kaeya watched you bicker with the "floating baby" with a pout while she yelled at you, he hummed to himself and silently made plans for what to do with you and his mission as you three slowly walked away from him.

He had to watch out for you... especially since you seemed like you didn't know about your roots and what potential danger you were in.

At all.

"Perhaps, I should scout the area more... Can't have our guests in danger, now can we?" he said to no one and went to his own office, where he could find some silence, plan his next move on the "secret mission" he gave you and hope to spend some more time with you and Aether, hoping that him and you two...

Ahh, never mind... He was used to loneliness anyways.

But well... Would you look at that! Things, just as usual, didn't go according to plan, as usual, and now you three were tied up together- Wait, Paimon could fly? Why was she here? (ಠಿ⁠_⁠ಠ)

"I thought you could fly away Paimon!", "Paimon got panicked, okay?!", "Of all times... Now?!" (⁠θ⁠‿⁠θ⁠)

For Aether, the worst part wasn't being tied down with you two... It was the constant corny jokes you made, and the most-irritating-yet-funny-statements-that-he-definetly-didn't-find-funny you did.

"You know what, mister treasure hoarder? This is the most I've seen a guy putting in efforts to get me... Are you sure there isn't a sparkle between us?"🫦☺️

"Singing in the shower is fun.... Until you get soap inside your mouth, now it's soap opera!"/ "What did the ocean say to the beach?.. Nothing, it just waved!" ｡⁠◕⁠‿⁠◕⁠｡

Yeah, you get it. The pain of Paimon and Aether is real. ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ

Spoilers Alert: Your very much so bestfriend was already waiting in the Dendro Archon's land, who went by a certain name such as General Mahamatra and his ears ringed "without a reason" 😋

Boy was having the hardest time of his more than 3000 life ever by having to conceal his giggles and not irritate people even more. ಠ⁠﹏⁠ಠ

"Look Bro, I'd have reallyy wanted to act like a cute and girly girl who guys like you loves to prey on but It's against my codes, my morals! I just can't be one, just like you can't be smart enough to tell that I'm already outta the shackles~" you shook on tandem with the shackles between your hands and giggled before sprinting up towards them with Aether's sword that laid idly on the ground, fast on your steps.

*evil giggles, and proceeds to knock out them all in two simple blows and sitting down to munch on the snack you brought* "We should make more of this one! It's yummy!" 🤤😋☺️

Aether, to his future self: Don't tempt Y/N's wild tendencies or anger ✍🏻

He was impressed tho, he never would have thought that you were a strong person, that much at least. He never ever thought of seeing you jumping up and down between enemy like it was a game for you, swinging a bat you found on the corner after letting go of his sword... How did you even find it? How the hell did you get out of those shackles?? Yet alone beat those buff men twice, maybe thrice your size??

"It's a trick I learnt in my world! You see, these little shits are not that hard to-"

"Oh, I see that our newest Honorary Knights are feisty~" *Kaeya fucking Alberich who entered dramatically clapping his hands as a look of confusion yet teasing in his eye, smirking*

The ungodly shriek you and Paimon let out at the sight of him ☠️😅

"Hmm... Remember what I said back when you two beat the StormsTerror?" he asked as he tidied around for the last time, sending the hoarders and thieves into jail with other knights. Aether looked at him for a few seconds, then his face lightened up visibly at remembering it as he picked his sword up from the ground.

"That whether we are a new ally or a new storm?" Kaeya nodded and for a second, turned to look at your form that was now petting a cyro slime cutely, cooing at it as the slime gurgled and made cute sounds to you. He chuckled under his breath at how cute and oblivious you were, and how different you were than the rest who would usually go for killing it rather than adopting them, and how people gravitated towards you naturally... Even though you had the potential to become so much more...

He wondered what your story with him, and with Teyvat, entailed...

Of what you would become.

"I think you are a new ally... Welcome, to Mondstadt." He said looking directly at your face when you turned to look at him with a shocked yet happy smile, knowing full well that he wouldn't leave you alone and you would indulge with any kind of shenanigans with him... By flirting back! ヾ⁠(⁠･⁠ω⁠･⁠*⁠)⁠ﾉ

You had to take your revenge on him for making you feel like that😤

For now though... You had to have a good rest, preferably on a bed, so that this annoying headache ever since you got that flower would go away. Besides, as much as sleeping on the wild, cuddled together with the other two was cute and wholesome -except the times you watched over the two with a keen eye, draping your cape over their figures to warm them more- you desperately needed a good sleep like you used to have in your world.

"FINALLY! I'm so tired and I want to eat something! I'm literally craving and this close to cook Paimon-"

"Paimon is not an emergency food!" All of you chuckled at her answer as Kaeya helped you up and promised to treat you with Mondstadt's national foods as a special thank you which made your heart literally skip a beat at the flirty voice... Someone had to stop this man.

How did he always find a way to flirt?? Does he not run out of ideas?? Ahh, he knows the effect he has... Dangerous indeed, you sighed but nodded anyways. A little bit of fun wouldn't hurt anyone, right?

*cue the "Careless Whisper" entering your mind as he helped you and you both looked at each other for a few seconds and Aether butting in and pushing Kaeya out of the way to lead you himself, while the man was left dumbfounded but even more determined*

"So, how about we go and eat together Y/N? What did you say you were craving again?"

You were definetly going to be the Storm that caused havoc and turned Teyvat upside down.

For now though... You had to meet with some new people, after arriving to the city of course.

Oh boi, you weren't ready to meet all those hot people that would come across you lol

[silenceismychoir]

i have a theory surrounding hae jo's biological father (spoilers ahead)

i think ko jae geun (candidate number 2) is his father - they were the most similar, in terms of mannerism and looks too: jae mi comments how similar they are in terms of them both being wanderers and not wanting to be tied down to one place. in the marketplace, one of the ladies comment that they look similar and have similar temperaments.

when hae jo gets the text with the paternity results, we don't get to see the results.

we see the results clearly with candidate 3

and with candidate 1 we see hae jo receive the text with the results

and while we don't get to see the results in this case as well, we see hae jo let go of his hand that he was holding on to

which makes us think that the results showed that he was not his biological father. i think the reason they kept the results of two dna tests ambiguous instead of just one to make it as somewhat of a misdirect (if that makes sense??)

we hear ko jae geun saying he had an illness some years back and had to undergo brain surgery multiple times which is probably the same illness that hae jo has (the doctor in episode 1 does say that the illness is hereditary) which feels like a dead giveaway that he is hae jo's biological father

after they realise he stole hae jo's money, hae jo gets the result of the paternity test which we don't get to see. but he looks somewhat defeated/disappointed/???

when hae jo goes to confront him about stealing his money, he hopes jae geun would apologise

he beats him up in the end not just because he stole his money but because he was disappointed that his biological father would end up hurting him that way too. we see him reminiscing on their short time together and hae jo asks jae geun why he did all of that if he was planning all along to con him. he seems genuinely hurt by jae geun's actions - which begs the question: why would a stranger conning you of your money hurt so much unless they meant something to you?

in the end, jae mi asks hae jo about the test results

hae jo's answer feels more like he's trying to comfort himself in denying the truth

it is also after this that he tells jae mi to leave and go her own way

which could allow us to deduce that he's trying to say that they've achieved the goal of their trip and she can now go back to her life the way he promised if he did end up finding his biological father

im probably stretching this very far lmao but towards the end of the show, hae jo tells jae mi that kkari told him that when you meet your biological parent, you just get a feeling of recognition

and this was hae jo's reaction to meeting ko jae geun

obviously i cant capture his emotions well in a screenshot but watch the scene and you can feel its different to when he met candidate number one

(okay okay i do admit that that last point is a proper stretch but i really believe in this whole theory lol)

in conclusion (lol) i think the reason why they kept it so ambiguous and didn't even explore the other candidates in depth is because that wasn't the point to his adventure. it's ironic that jae geun mocks hae jo and says "it's not like i haven't given you anything and just stole your money. you enjoyed these last couple of days and i did that for you. you'll never have a father like me in all your life." its ironic because throughout the show we see that hae jo already had a loving father when he was younger. jae geun's statement sort of hints that the meaning of the journey (of trying to find his sperm donor) was just to come to terms with the fact that he was yearning for his father chae yeong jo all along.

[thirtysomethingloser92]

Rule 3: Don’t let the lines blur between your sugar daddy and your personal or professional life.

There were five rules to being a sugar baby—or so you’d heard.

If an opportunity falls into your lap, you take it.

Everything is purely transactional.

Don’t let the lines blur between your sugar daddy and your personal or professional life.

Never meet anyone in his inner circle—no close friends, no family.

Unless it’s in writing, underlined, signed by two lawyers, and you get a new Hermes handbag afterward, don’t fuck your sugar daddy.

So why was it so damn hard to keep these rules in place when it came to your CEO Remy LeBeau?

It had been a month since your whirlwind trip to the Caribbean. The sun-drenched beaches and luxurious villa now felt like a distant memory, almost dreamlike in comparison to the steady rhythm of daily life that had resumed back home. There hadn’t been any lavish getaways since then—no private jets, no sprawling estates, no tropical breezes carrying away your worries. But despite the return to reality, there were still moments when your world felt touched by that same sense of indulgence, thanks to Remy.

Though the everyday grind had crept back in, Remy made sure to remind you that your time together wasn’t confined to exotic vacations. He had a way of turning even the simplest days into something special. Some mornings, you’d walk into the office and find a beautifully wrapped box waiting on your desk—its contents never failing to surprise you. One day, it was an elegant silk scarf, hand-stitched in Italy, the kind of luxury accessory you’d never have thought to buy for yourself. His note had simply read, Thought this would look good on ya.

Another time, after a particularly grueling week at work, Remy had whisked you away to a quiet dinner at a secluded rooftop restaurant. The city lights had shimmered below as he handed you a small, delicate bracelet—gold, with tiny emeralds embedded around its circumference. “To match your eyes,” he’d said with a wolfish grin, though the sincerity in his gaze made your heart skip a beat.

There were other gifts too—lavish perfumes from Paris, a pair of designer heels he'd casually gave you over lunch one afternoon, and even a limited-edition watch that gleamed on your wrist, one he'd given you with the offhand comment, ‘Figured y’ could use somethin’ t’ keep track o’ time, since y’ always losin’ it.’

But despite the lavish gestures, life had largely returned to its usual rhythm—work, deadlines, and the endless hum of the office. You and Yelena were huddled by the breakroom counter, barely holding it together as laughter bubbled between the two of you. Yelena had just finished a spot-on impression of Jane, her voice pitched high, mimicking the way Jane had stormed into the office earlier, waving papers around like they were on fire.

“And then she slam folder down, like this—” Yelena smacked her hand against the counter, sending the sugar packets scattering, “—and said, I swear, if I have to clean up  intern’s mess, I will personally hunt down their entire family tree and make sure incompetence is hereditary!”

You were doubled over, clutching your stomach as you tried to catch your breath. “I thought she was going to throw the entire printer at him!” you gasped, tears of laughter pricking at your eyes. “He looked like he was ready to crawl under the desk and never come out.”

Yelena grinned, shaking her head. “Poor kid. He didn’t even know what hit him. Jane’s like tornado in heels.”

You snorted, lifting your cup of tea for a sip, still grinning from ear to ear. “And all of that over a missed deadline for the monthly projection report. You’d think the world was ending.”

Yelena leaned back against the counter, crossing her arms with a smirk. “To Jane, probably was.”

You and Yelena were still laughing about Jane’s meltdown when the door to the breakroom swung open. Remy strolled in, his presence commanding the space immediately, his usual smirk already in place. He leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the two of you with a raised eyebrow.

“Well, well,” he drawled, his voice smooth and teasing. “Didn’t expect t’ find the office comedians hidin’ out in here. Thought y’all were hard at work.”

You shot him a playful glare, barely keeping a straight face. “We are hard at work,” you said, leaning back against the counter. “This is called team-building. You should try it sometime.”

Yelena, standing next to you, snorted but remained silent, her eyes flicking between you and Remy with a curious glint. She folded her arms, clearly intrigued, but content to watch the exchange unfold.

“Team-building, huh?” Remy pushed himself off the doorframe, strolling farther into the room, his eyes locked on you. “Looks more like y’all are slackin’ off. I should probably dock your pay for this.”

You raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms in mock defiance. “Dock my pay? Please. I’m more productive than half the people in this office combined.”

Remy’s smirk deepened as he moved closer, his gaze never leaving yours. “That so? Well, as the CEO of the place, I’ll be the judge of that.”

Yelena raised her eyebrows, watching intently, but she said nothing, clearly entertained by the banter. You could practically feel her eyes boring into the two of you as the tension in the room shifted.

You scoffed, rolling your eyes but unable to fully suppress a grin. “Oh, right. Mr. Owner of the company. Remind me again, how often do you actually work? Or do you just wander around charming everyone and collecting paychecks?”

Remy chuckled, stepping even closer, his voice dropping to that familiar low, teasing tone that always seemed to make your pulse quicken. “I like t’ think of it as delegatin’. Keeps things runnin’ smooth. Plus, I got talented people like y’ t’ do all the heavy liftin’ for me.”

Yelena let out a quiet laugh, clearly loving every second of this. “This is… fascinating,” she murmured, mostly to herself, but loud enough for you to hear. Her eyes were practically sparkling with curiosity as she watched the back-and-forth unfold.

You shot Yelena a quick glance before turning your attention back to Remy, your arms still crossed, but a playful smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah, well, maybe if you did some of the heavy lifting yourself, you'd know what real work looks like.”

Remy leaned against the counter next to you, his smirk softening into something a little more genuine, though still laced with amusement. “Y’ tryin’ t’ say I’m just a pretty face, chère?”

You raised an eyebrow, meeting his gaze head-on. “If the shoe fits…”

Yelena let out an exaggerated gasp, covering her mouth as if scandalized. “Oh my God,” she teased, eyes wide with mock shock. “Did you insult the boss?”

Remy grinned, his eyes never leaving yours. “Don’t worry, Yelena. I like it when she talks dirty. Keeps things interestin’.”

You shook your head, unable to stop the laughter bubbling up. “Of course you do. You love the challenge.”

“Love it?” Remy echoed, his voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone that made your breath hitch. “Live for it.”

Yelena, clearly sensing the tension between you two, smirked and took a step back, folding her arms as she leaned against the doorframe, watching with barely concealed amusement. “I feel I should leave you alone,” she said, though she made no move to actually leave. “But this too good to miss.”

You turned to her, trying to keep a straight face. “We’re just talking.”

“Uh-huh,” she replied, her grin widening. “Sure. Just talking. This how everyone talks to guy who owns company, right?”

Remy chuckled, his gaze flicking briefly to Yelena before returning to you. “I’m a very hands-off boss,” he said, his tone laced with innuendo. “I let people get away with murder… as long as they keep things fun.”

Yelena snorted, shaking her head. “Yeah, yeah. I’m sure that what you tell yourself.” She glanced at you, her expression playful. “Just don’t let him get distracted, okay? I don’t need Jane coming after me next for whatever report you supposed to be finishing.”

You rolled your eyes dramatically. “Don’t worry, Yelena. I can handle Remy and get my work done.”

Remy’s smirk grew, his voice dripping with amusement. “Handle me, huh? That sounds like a challenge, chère.”

Before you could respond, Yelena shook her head, laughing softly as she grabbed her coffee from the counter. “I am out,” she said, making her way toward the door. “I’ll leave you two… whatever this is.”

You shot her a mock glare, your face warming slightly. “Traitor.”

Yelena winked as she passed. “Good luck,” she teased, giving Remy a playful nod before slipping out of the room.

Now it was just you and Remy, the air between you practically buzzing with the unspoken tension. He leaned against the counter beside you, his eyes locking onto yours with that familiar, lazy confidence.

“So,” he drawled, his voice dropping a little lower, “y’ still gonna pretend y’ don’t enjoy our little exchanges, or y’ finally gonna admit y’ like keepin’ me on my toes?”

You bit your lip, trying to suppress the grin threatening to break free. “Maybe,” you said, your tone light but your heart racing, “but I’m not going to make it easy for you.”

His grin widened, his eyes gleaming with challenge. “Wouldn’t want it any other way, chère.”

You shook your head, laughing softly, the tension between you two simmering just beneath the surface, always there, always waiting to flare up again. The playful tension between you and Remy lingered in the breakroom, the air buzzing with the sort of energy that always seemed to follow whenever the two of you were alone. His eyes were still locked on yours, that ever-present smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. You could feel the heat of his gaze, and despite your best efforts to keep things casual, your pulse quickened.

He straightened up slightly, his expression shifting just enough to catch your attention. The playful glint in his eyes remained, but there was something else there now—something more deliberate.

“Tell y’ what,” he said, his voice low and smooth. “Why don’t y’ come up to my office at lunch?”

You raised an eyebrow, your interest piqued. “Your office?”

He nodded, leaning in just a little closer, his voice dropping even more, like he was letting you in on a secret. “Yeah. I’ve got somethin’ I wanna show ya.”

Your eyes narrowed slightly, curiosity taking over. “Something you want to show me? That sounds… suspicious.”

Remy chuckled, the sound low and warm, the kind of laugh that always made your stomach do a little flip. “Trust me, chère. It’s worth your time.”

You tried to keep your expression neutral, though you could feel the grin creeping onto your face. “Oh really? This isn’t just an excuse to get me alone in your office, is it?”

His smirk widened, the teasing glint in his eyes dancing in the soft light of the breakroom. “Now, would I do somethin’ like that?”

You shot him a knowing look, one eyebrow raised. “Yes. Yes, you would. That’s exactly something you’d do.”

Remy held up his hands in mock surrender, though the grin never left his face. “Alright, y’ caught me. But this time, I promise—there’s actually somethin’ important I wanna show ya.”

You tilted your head, considering him for a moment. There was something in his tone, a seriousness beneath the usual teasing, that made you believe he wasn’t just messing around. Still, you couldn’t resist keeping the banter going. “Fine. But if this turns out to be some elaborate prank, I’m holding it over your head forever.”

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Fair enough. I’ll take that risk.”

You shook your head, chuckling softly. “Alright, lunch it is. I’ll be up there.”

Remy gave you a wink, turning to leave the breakroom, but not before throwing one last playful comment over his shoulder. “Don’t keep me waitin’, chère. I’m not a patient man.”

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help the smile that tugged at your lips as you watched him walk out. The door swung shut behind him, and the room felt quieter, like he’d taken all the energy with him. You stood there for a moment, still processing the exchange, feeling a strange mix of curiosity and anticipation bubbling up inside you.

What could he possibly have to show you? Knowing Remy, it could be anything, but there was something about the way he’d said it that made you think this wasn’t just some casual flirtation. Whatever it was, you were intrigued.

As you turned back to your tea, Yelena’s voice suddenly cut through your thoughts.

“So,” she said, her tone rich with amusement as she leaned against the doorframe, clearly having lingered just outside, “what that about?”

You nearly jumped, glancing over at her with wide eyes. “How long have you been standing there?”

Yelena shrugged, her grin widening. “Long enough to hear that he got something to show you in office.” She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively, “So,” she said, her tone layered with curiosity and amusement. “What really going on between you and Remy?”

You blinked, turning to look at her. “What do you mean?”

Yelena gave you a pointed look, crossing her arms as she leaned against the counter. “Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb with me. No boss talk to employee like that unless something going on. Not unless he got zero fear of sexual harassment suit.”

You felt heat rise in your cheeks, and you quickly turned back to your half-empty cup of tea, trying to gather your thoughts. “It’s not like that.”

Yelena raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying it. “Uh-huh. Right. So, let me get this straight—he owns company, flirts with you constantly, and now he’s asked you to come up to his office for ‘special meeting’ at lunch. And you expect me believe there nothing?”

You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “We’re just… bantering. That’s how he is with everyone. Yelena snorted, shaking her head. “No. The way he look at you? That not ‘everyone.’ That’s specific. And don’t even try tell me you haven’t noticed.”

You bit your lip, trying to suppress the flutter in your chest. Of course, you’d noticed. How could you not? The way Remy’s eyes always seemed to linger on you just a little too long, the way his voice dropped when he spoke to you, like you were the only person in the room. But admitting that to Yelena, especially when you weren’t sure what to make of it yourself, felt like stepping into dangerous territory.

“It’s just… harmless flirting,” you said, though your voice lacked the confidence you’d hoped for. “He’s like that with everyone.”

“Uh-huh,” Yelena replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I’ve seen the way he‘like that’ with everyone. Trust me, it’s not the same.”

You sighed again, leaning back against the counter and staring into your tea. “Okay, fine. He flirts. A lot. But it doesn’t mean there’s anything going on.”

Yelena studied you for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly like she was trying to read between the lines of what you weren’t saying. “You sure about that? Because I’ve seen way you look at him too.”

You felt your pulse quicken, and you quickly looked away, focusing on the sugar packets scattered across the counter. “What are you talking about?”

Yelena smirked, clearly enjoying this. “You think I haven’t noticed? You get all flustered when he’s around. And don’t even get me started on how you bite your lip when he talking to you. It’s like a scene straight out of rom-com.”

You groaned, rubbing your forehead. “I don’t bite my lip.”

Yelena raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms. “Oh, you definitely do.”

You shook your head, refusing to meet her eyes. “It’s not like that. I’m just… It’s complicated.”

“Complicated,” Yelena repeated, leaning in slightly. “I see. So, it’s not you don’t like him, it’s that you’re trying figure out what do about it.”

You glared at her, though there was no real heat in it. “You’re way too invested in this.”

Yelena grinned, unbothered by your attempt at deflection. “Can you blame me? It’s like watching a slow-burn romance unfold in real time. I just waiting for one of you to finally make move.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “It’s not a romance.”

“Yet,” Yelena added with a wink.

You sighed, shifting your weight as you tried to gather your thoughts. “Look, even if I did… feel something,” you said carefully, “he’s still my boss. And I don’t need that kind of complication in my life.”

Yelena nodded, her expression softening a little. “I get that. But from where I stand, it like he’s already made his move. And if it’s same, maybe it’s worth figuring out?”

You bit your lip again, her words sinking in. “Maybe. But it’s still risky.”

Yelena shrugged, her smirk returning. “Life is risky. But you could do worse than guy who owns the company and can’t stop looking at you like you only person room.”

You huffed out a laugh, shaking your head. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

“Someone gotta keep you honest,” Yelena replied with a grin. “Now, go have your ‘lunch meeting’ with boss. And hey, if he showing you anything that not safe for work, feel free to skip details when you get back.”

You groaned, playfully shoving her as you grabbed your tea and headed for the door. “You’re the worst.”

Yelena laughed, waving you off. “Just don’t keep him waiting. You know how impatient he gets.”

As you walked back to your desk, you couldn’t help but feel a little lighter, though that familiar flutter of anticipation was still buzzing in your chest. Lunch couldn’t come fast enough.

As lunch hour finally rolled around, you could feel the weight of anticipation growing with every step you took toward Remy’s office. You tried to play it cool, reminding yourself that whatever this was, it was just another one of his games—another round of the lighthearted banter that always seemed to pull you closer to him, no matter how hard you tried to resist.

Still, as you reached the door to his office, your heart gave a little flutter. You took a deep breath before knocking, and almost immediately, you heard his familiar, smooth voice call out, “Come in, chère.”

You pushed the door open to find him leaning back in his chair, that signature smirk firmly in place as his eyes met yours. The office was filled with soft sunlight streaming through the large windows, casting a warm glow over everything. He looked effortlessly at ease, as always, like he had all the time in the world.

“Look who made it,” he teased, his eyes glinting with amusement as you stepped inside. “I was startin’ t’ think y’ got cold feet.”

You rolled your eyes, shutting the door behind you. “Please, Remy. You’re not that intimidating.”

He chuckled, leaning forward slightly, resting his elbows on his desk. “Oh, I’d never dream o’ intimidatin’ y’. Y’ too tough for that.”

You crossed your arms, giving him a playful look. “So, what’s so important that I had to come all the way up here?”

As Remy rounded the desk, his movements slow and deliberate, you felt a wave of unease ripple through you. It wasn’t fear, exactly—Remy had never given you a reason to feel afraid of him—but there was always something about him that made you feel as though you were constantly on the edge of something. A precipice, maybe. A cliff you couldn’t quite see over. And now, as he came to a stop just inches in front of you, that feeling was more pronounced than ever.

His eyes, sharp and calculating as always, flicked over your face like he was trying to read your every thought, your every emotion. You could feel your pulse quicken under that gaze, heat rising to your cheeks despite your best efforts to maintain composure. He was infuriating in how easily he could unnerve you with just a look, a smirk, a raised brow. And when he held out his hand, you couldn’t help but feel like you were stepping into dangerous territory, even though you had no idea what was coming next.

You arched an eyebrow, letting your gaze flick down to his outstretched hand before meeting his eyes again. “What’s this?” you asked, your voice tinged with both curiosity and wariness.

His smile softened, but that teasing glint never left his eyes. “Take my hand, chère,” he said, his voice low, that familiar drawl wrapping around you like a slow-burning flame. “I got somethin’ we need t’ talk about.”

There was something about the way he said it, something in the weight of his words, that made your chest tighten. Despite the easygoing smile on his face, there was a seriousness in his tone that you couldn’t ignore. You hesitated, just for a second, wondering if you should brace yourself for whatever conversation was about to unfold. But you knew Remy—he wasn’t going to let this go. There was always a purpose behind every word, every movement, even when he made it seem like there wasn’t.

So, after a brief pause, you slid your hand into his. His grip was firm, warm, and a little too familiar. The moment your fingers intertwined, your heart skipped a beat. His thumb brushed softly over your knuckles, sending a jolt of something—awareness, a quiet thrill—through you. You hated how easily he could get under your skin, how that simple touch made you feel both grounded and completely untethered at the same time.

And then he looked at you, his expression shifting from playful to something more intense. More serious. The weight of whatever this was settled in the air between you, thick and undeniable.

“I’ve noticed somethin’,” he said, his voice steady, but soft enough that it sent a shiver down your spine. “Y’ been payin’ your rent on the card.”

The words hit you like a punch to the gut, and before you could even think, your eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, you tried to yank your hand back, as if pulling away from him would somehow make the situation less real, less intimate. But Remy held on, his grip firm, his gaze unwavering. There was no running from this.

“Remy, I—" you started, the words tumbling out in a rush, but he cut you off with a shake of his head.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice low but commanding. He wasn’t angry, you could tell that much. In fact, his tone was almost gentle, but it held a kind of finality that warned you not to argue. “Don’t y’ worry. I ain’t mad. Just think it’s time we had a little chat ‘bout it.”

You swallowed hard, trying to calm the sudden rush of adrenaline surging through your veins. You wanted to explain, to make him understand that you hadn’t meant to take advantage, that things had just gotten out of hand. But the way he was looking at you—steady, unblinking, like he could see right through you—made it impossible to form a coherent thought. You felt exposed, vulnerable in a way you hadn’t expected.

“Look,” you said, your voice much quieter now, “I was going to tell you. I just… I didn’t want you to think I was using you.”

Remy’s expression softened, and for a moment, something like understanding flickered in his eyes. He gave your hand another gentle squeeze, pulling you just a little closer as if to assure you that he wasn’t upset, wasn’t accusing you of anything.

“I know y’ better than that,” he said quietly. “Ain’t about that. I just wanna know what’s goin’ on with y’. Is everythin’ alright?”

His words caught you off guard, and you found yourself staring at him, unsure of how to respond. Was everything alright? No, not really. But you hadn’t expected him to ask, hadn’t expected him to care beyond the superficial. Remy was always so smooth, so detached from anything too serious. But now, standing this close, his hand still wrapped around yours, you realized this was different. He wasn’t just making small talk. He was genuinely concerned.

“I…” You hesitated, feeling a lump form in your throat. “It’s just been tough, okay? My landlord raised the rent again last week, and I’m barely making enough to cover my share of it. I didn’t want to ask you for a raise so I thought I could just use the card.”

For the first time, Remy’s smirk faded completely, replaced by something quieter, something more thoughtful.

“Why didn’t y’ say somethin’ sooner?” he asked softly. There was no judgment in his voice, just a quiet question that made your chest ache, “I mean, that’s why I gave ya the card. But if y’ need help, y’ jus’ have t’ ask.”

You shrugged, feeling a little embarrassed now, even though you knew you didn’t need to be. “Because I can handle my own stuff.”

Remy’s lips curved into a small, almost sad smile. “It’s not a problem. Not to me.”

The sincerity in his voice, the way he was looking at you now, made your heart twist in your chest. You weren’t used to this from him—this rawness, this openness. And it scared you a little, how easily he could see through your defenses, how easily he had broken through the walls you’d built to protect yourself.

Before you had a chance to respond, Remy tugged on your hand again, pulling you just a little closer, until you were standing right in front of him, the space between you all but nonexistent.

“Come with me,” he said, his voice low but firm. There was no room for argument, no room for hesitation. And despite the flurry of emotions buzzing in your mind—confusion, fear, gratitude, something else you couldn’t quite name—you found yourself nodding.

As you stepped into the hallway, the bustling office atmosphere seemed to shift. The usual hum of conversation and keyboard clicks faded into a palpable silence, broken only by the sound of Remy's confident footsteps and your slightly hesitant ones. You could feel the weight of curious stares from your coworkers, their gazes following your linked hands with poorly concealed interest.

Remy, however, appeared entirely unfazed. He walked with his characteristic easy confidence, his posture relaxed yet purposeful. As you passed by cubicles and conference rooms, he offered polite nods to those who caught his eye, but his grip on your hand remained steady, grounding you amidst the growing whispers.

You felt a ripple of unease coursing through you. The warmth of Remy's hand in yours was both comforting and disconcerting, a stark reminder of the undefined nature of your relationship. You could almost hear the rumor mill starting to churn, could practically see the raised eyebrows and knowing smirks. Your cheeks burned, and you found yourself wishing you could disappear into the plush carpet beneath your feet.

Just as the weight of the stares became almost unbearable, Remy pushed open the glass doors of the office building. The crisp afternoon air hit you like a refreshing wave, carrying with it the scents of the city - car exhaust, nearby food vendors, and the faint aroma of coffee from a nearby café. You blinked rapidly, momentarily blinded by the sudden brightness of the sun after the dimmer office lighting.

Remy's pace didn't slow. He led you down the wide stone steps, his hand still firmly clasping yours. At the curb, a sleek black car waited, its polished surface reflecting the bustling city around it. It was clearly expensive - the kind of vehicle that turned heads and invited whispers of its own.

Without a word, Remy released your hand and moved to open the passenger door. The loss of contact left you feeling strangely bereft, and you found yourself missing the warmth of his touch. He motioned for you to climb inside, his expression unreadable - a mask of calm collectedness that revealed nothing of his intentions.

You hesitated, your feet rooted to the sidewalk. Your eyes searched his face, trying to decipher any hint of what was to come. But Remy's features remained impassive, his eyes holding a depth of emotion you couldn't quite place. It was clear that whatever this was, it wasn't a game or one of his usual pranks. There was a seriousness to his demeanor that both intrigued and unnerved you.

The sounds of the city seemed to fade away as you stood there, caught in this moment of indecision. A gentle breeze ruffled your hair, carrying with it the faint scent of Remy's cologne. You took a deep breath, steeling yourself for whatever was to come.

With a small nod, more to yourself than to Remy, you stepped forward and slid into the car's plush leather seat. As Remy closed the door behind you, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were crossing a threshold - not just into a car, but into something new and unknown. Your heart raced with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation as you wondered where this unexpected journey would lead.

“Where are we going?” you finally asked, your voice quieter than you intended.

Remy glanced over at you, his gaze soft but serious. “Upper East Side,” he said, leaning back into the leather seat with that casual grace he always carried. “There’s somethin’ I wanna show y’. Somethin’ I need your opinion on.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the weight in his tone. My opinion? That wasn’t something you were used to hearing from him, not like this. The Remy you knew was always the one in control, the one with the answers, never one to defer to anyone else’s judgment.

“My opinion?” you echoed, raising an eyebrow.

He nodded, his eyes never leaving yours. “I trust y’r judgment. I wouldn’t be askin’ if it didn’t matter.”

You stared at him, searching for any trace of his usual teasing or the playful smirk that always danced on his lips, but there was none. He was serious. Whatever this was, it wasn’t just another one of his games or some casual afternoon distraction. This was something bigger.

After a long pause, you nodded. “Okay. What is it?”

Remy’s gaze softened, and he glanced out the window for a moment, watching the city blur by as the car hummed along the busy streets. “You’ll see soon enough,” he said, his voice low. “But I need y’ t’ be honest with me. When I show y’ what I’ve been workin’ on, I want y’ t’ tell me exactly what y’ think.”

Your curiosity was fully piqued now. Remy, the man who coasted through life with effortless charm, always so sure of himself, was asking you for your opinion. And from the tone of his voice, it wasn’t about something trivial—it was about something that mattered to him. Something important.

You leaned back in your seat, your mind racing with possibilities. “Alright,” you agreed quietly. “I’ll be honest.”

He glanced at you again, his lips curving into a small, appreciative smile. “Good. That’s all I need.”

The car fell into a calm silence for a moment, the engine’s hum and the soft sounds of the city outside the only noise between you. You watched as the skyscrapers and busy streets turned into the quieter, more pristine avenues of the Upper East Side.

Finally, you couldn’t resist breaking the silence. “So,” you said, glancing at him with a raised eyebrow, “what do you think people are going to say when we get back to the office? You know they’re already talking about us being seen leaving together.”

Remy let out a low chuckle, his grin widening. “Oh, chère, don’t y’ know? The office gossip mill’s probably in full swing already. I give it five minutes before everyone’s got some wild theory ‘bout us.”

You groaned, shaking your head. “Great. That’s exactly what I need—more rumors flying around.”

He shot you a playful glance, his smile turning mischievous. “What, y’ don’t like a little attention? I thought y’ enjoyed keepin’ ‘em on their toes.”

You gave him a mock glare. “You love keeping them on their toes. I’d rather not have everyone thinking I’m sneaking off with the boss for anything but work.”

Remy’s grin deepened, his eyes sparkling. “Oh, chère, I think most of ‘em already suspect there’s more goin’ on than just work.”

You rolled your eyes, but you couldn’t stop the small smile that tugged at your lips. “Well, they can keep wondering. I’m not giving them the satisfaction.”

“Let ‘em wonder,” Remy said with a shrug, turning his gaze back out the window. “Keeps things interestin’.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “You’re impossible.”

“And y’ love it,” he teased, his voice warm and teasing.

You shot him a sideways glance, but you didn’t deny it. There was something about this—about him—that made everything feel electric, like you were constantly walking the line between what was real and what was just part of his charm. And maybe, just maybe, you didn’t mind. Not as much as you pretended to, anyway.

As the car slowed to a stop, your heart raced slightly, your mind still spinning with questions about what was coming next. Remy opened the door and stepped out, holding out a hand to help you out of the car. You took it, the familiarity of his touch grounding you as you stepped onto the sidewalk.

He led you toward a sleek, modern building with a doorman who greeted him with a polite nod. The moment you stepped inside the building, you were greeted by an air of understated elegance. The lobby was vast and open, with polished marble floors that gleamed under the soft, ambient lighting. The walls were a rich, deep gray, accented by sleek black trim and modern art pieces that gave the space a sophisticated, minimalist feel. A large, abstract sculpture stood in the center of the room, its metallic surface catching the light in subtle, eye-catching ways. The smell of fresh flowers lingered in the air, coming from the oversized arrangement that sat on a glass table near the back, right next to a concierge desk.

The concierge, a sharply dressed man with a professional but warm demeanor, smiled as Remy approached. Without a word, the man handed over a small, sleek swipe card, which Remy accepted with a nod and his typical easygoing charm. He turned back to you, his smirk firmly in place as he walked over, the swipe card held loosely between his fingers.

“Come on,” he said, his voice low and confident as he reached for your hand. His fingers wrapped around yours, and with a gentle tug, he led you toward the elevator.

You followed, trying to ignore the flutter in your chest as he pulled you along with that effortless confidence of his. As you reached the brushed steel doors of the elevator, he swiped the card through a small reader, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. He stepped inside, still holding your hand, and pulled you in behind him.

As the elevator began its smooth ascent, you glanced around at the luxurious details—the dark wood paneling on the walls, the soft lighting, and the subtle hum of the elevator as it carried you upward. You couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, turning to Remy.

“So, what is this place?” you asked, your tone teasing but curious. “Your supervillain lair?”

Remy chuckled, leaning back against the wall of the elevator, his eyes gleaming with amusement. “Not quite,” he said, his Louisiana drawl lingering in the air. “Though I gotta admit, I wouldn’t mind havin’ a secret lair. Maybe in my next buildin’.”

You shook your head, grinning. “This is a little fancy, even for you. What, are you branching into the real estate business now?”

His smirk widened as he shrugged. “I dabble in a few things. Keeps life interestin’.”

The elevator continued its smooth ascent, and you felt a slight shift in pressure, indicating that you were moving high—really high. You glanced at the panel, noting that there were no buttons for floors, just a small screen indicating the building’s top level.

“So, what’s at the top of this tower of yours?” you asked, raising an eyebrow. “A dragon? A hoard of gold?”

Remy chuckled again, his eyes gleaming with something like excitement. “You’ll see soon enough, chère. Just trust me.”

You shook your head, smiling despite yourself. “I’m not sure if I should be nervous or impressed.”

“Maybe a little bit o’ both,” he said with a wink.

Just then, the elevator slowed to a stop, and the doors slid open with a soft chime. You stepped out, and the first thing that hit you was the sheer size of the space.

You were standing in a massive penthouse, the kind of place that looked like it belonged in a luxury magazine. The ceilings were high—probably fifteen feet, maybe more—and the floor-to-ceiling windows stretched across most of the far wall, offering a breathtaking, panoramic view of the city below. The sunlight poured in, casting a soft, golden glow over the room.

The interior was modern and sleek, with clean lines, rich hardwood floors, and minimalist furniture designed for both style and comfort. There was a massive sectional couch in the center of the room, facing a fireplace that was somehow both elegant and understated. The open-concept design made the space feel even larger, with a kitchen in one corner featuring marble countertops and top-of-the-line appliances.

But it was the view that truly stole your breath.

You found yourself slowly walking over to the windows, your eyes wide as you took in the city below. From this height, you could see nearly everything—the sprawling skyline, the glittering river in the distance, and the endless sea of buildings stretching out toward the horizon. It felt like you were standing on top of the world.

“You weren’t kidding,” you murmured, staring out in awe. “This is… incredible.”

Remy walked up behind you, his hands casually slipping into his pockets. “Figured you’d like it. View’s somethin’, huh?”

You glanced over your shoulder at him, a playful smile tugging at your lips. “Yeah, this is beautiful… but I probably should’ve mentioned earlier—this might be a terrible time to tell you I’m scared of heights.”

Remy let out a deep, amused laugh, the sound rich and warm, filling the large space between you. “Chère, you’ve been hangin’ out with me long enough. Heights should be the least of y’r worries.”

As his laughter faded, the quiet settled back into the room, and Remy found himself standing there, just watching you with a soft smile tugging at the corners of his lips. At first, he wasn’t sure what it was—this sudden stillness, this unfamiliar feeling creeping up on him. He’d spent years perfecting the art of charming and moving through life with a certain carefree ease, never letting anyone get too close, never letting anyone in. But here you were, standing by that enormous window, bathed in the soft afternoon light, and something inside him shifted.

He watched the way your eyes flickered with awe as you took in the view, the city stretching out beneath you like a glittering sea of opportunity and chaos. You were so different from anyone else he’d ever known. You didn’t fawn over him, didn’t fall for his usual tricks or charm. Instead, you challenged him, kept him guessing. Kept him grounded. And for someone like Remy, who was used to coasting through life, always on the move, always one step ahead, that was something new. Something unexpected.

He had brought you here today with the intention of showing you the penthouse—of getting your opinion, sure—but as he stood there, watching you, he realized it was more than that. He wasn’t just seeking your thoughts on the place. He was seeking you. Your presence. Your approval. He trusted you, but more than that, he wanted you to be a part of it. A part of this.

And that terrified him.

He’d never been one for permanence, never been one to settle in any sense of the word. But with you, things felt… different. He wasn’t sure when exactly it had happened—when the easy flirtation had turned into something else, something deeper—but it had snuck up on him in a way that made him feel both out of control and entirely captivated. The way you looked at him, the way your smile softened when you caught him off guard—it was like you saw past all the layers of charm and confidence, past the walls he’d built, and yet, you stayed.

Remy stood there, hands slipping into his pockets as he tried to steady himself against the unfamiliar tug in his chest. He wasn’t supposed to feel like this—not this quickly, not with you. But here he was, and for the first time in a long time, he didn’t want to run from it.

He cleared his throat, more for himself than anything else, trying to shake off the weight of what he was feeling. “Yeah…” he said, his voice a little softer now, more thoughtful, “heights should be the least of y’r worries.”

But even as the words left his lips, his gaze lingered on you. He wasn’t sure if you’d noticed the shift in him—if you could feel it too—but he hoped, in some quiet way, that you did. Because the more time he spent with you, the harder it was to ignore what was happening between you. And while part of him wanted to push it aside, to pretend it wasn’t there, the other part—the part that was standing here now, watching you with a kind of awe—was ready to lean into it. To see where it could go.

For a man like Remy, who had spent his whole life dodging attachments, that was a dangerous thought. But as he looked at you, standing there with that quiet, confident grace, he realized that maybe—just maybe—he was ready for the risk.

Maybe you were worth it.

For a moment, Remy said nothing, just watching you with that unreadable look he often wore when he was calculating something—something you could never quite figure out. His eyes, usually dancing with mischief, were softer now, almost contemplative. He let out a small sigh, glancing around the sprawling penthouse as if weighing his next words carefully.

Then, his gaze found yours again. “Alright. Now that we’ve cleared that up, I gotta ask—what do y’ think about this place?”

You blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. This place? You tore your gaze from his face and looked around the penthouse for what felt like the hundredth time, still in awe of its sheer size, the luxury that dripped from every corner, from the high ceilings to the floor-to-ceiling windows offering a breathtaking view of the city.

“I mean… it’s amazing,” you said, your voice catching slightly. “But why are you asking me?”

Remy smiled slightly, that familiar glint of mischief creeping back into his eyes, though it was softer now, more measured. “Because I value what y’ think. And I think this place suits y’. In fact—” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the small swipe card the concierge had given him earlier. “—I think it should be yours.”

Your breath hitched. You stared at him, your brain immediately rejecting what you thought you’d just heard. Yours?

“Wait. What?” The word came out as a whisper, your voice barely registering in the large room.

Remy stepped closer, holding the swipe card out toward you, the card dangling between his fingers like it was nothing more than an afterthought. “I’m serious, chère. This place is yours. From now on.”

You blinked rapidly, your stomach twisting as you took an instinctive step back, the reality of what he was saying crashing over you like a wave. “What the absolute fuck, Remy?” You didn’t mean for it to sound so harsh, but the shock—the absurdity—of the situation was too much.

He let out a low, amused chuckle, the sound warm and rich, his eyes never leaving yours. “That’s the reaction I was expectin’.”

You stared at him, completely floored, your mind swirling with disbelief, confusion, and something else—something that felt like a mixture of fear and wonder. “You can’t just… give me a penthouse. That’s insane.”

Remy shrugged, still holding the card out toward you like it was the most natural thing in the world. “Why not? It’s already mine. Y’r rent situation’s a problem. So, I’m fixin’ it. Simple as that.”

You shook your head, your heart pounding as you tried to make sense of this. “This isn’t just ‘fixing’ it. This is—this is huge. Remy, I can’t take something like this.”

He stepped even closer, his voice lowering, softening just a little. “Y’ can. And y’ will. I wouldn’t be offerin’ if I didn’t think y’ deserved it.”

You swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the moment pressing down on you, suffocating and freeing all at once. Your mind was racing, trying to find a foothold in the madness of what he was saying. The logical part of you was screaming that this was too much, that you couldn’t accept something so extravagant, something so… permanent.

“But… why?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper. “Why would you do something like this for me?”

For a second, you thought he might deflect with a joke, that he’d brush it off with his usual charm. But when his eyes met yours again, the playfulness in his expression faded into something deeper, something far more genuine than you’d ever seen before. His gaze softened, and the air in the room seemed to shift.

“Because I care ‘bout y’, chère.” His voice was low, intimate, like he was sharing a secret he wasn’t quite ready to confess to anyone else. “And y’ don’t need t’ be stressin’ over rent or dealin’ with some crappy landlord. Y’ deserve better than that.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, and for a moment, all the noise in your head—the disbelief, the confusion, the panic—went quiet. It was just him, standing there, holding out that swipe card like it was the most natural thing in the world, like offering you a place in his life was as simple as handing over the keys to a penthouse.

And you? You didn’t know what to feel. There was gratitude, of course—so much gratitude that it almost hurt. But there was also a deep, unsettling fear, a fear that accepting this would change something between you, would shift the balance in a way you couldn’t control. Because this wasn’t just about rent. This wasn’t just about money. This was about him, about the two of you, and about the way his feelings for you were starting to bleed into something more than just playful flirtation.

You opened your mouth to say something, anything, but no words came out. Instead, you just stood there, staring at him, your mind racing with the implications of what this meant.

Remy, sensing your hesitation, took a small step closer, his eyes never leaving yours. “I know this is a lot,” he said softly, his voice gentle. “But I wouldn’t be offerin’ if I didn’t mean it. Y’ don’t owe me anything. I just want y’ to have somethin’ that makes life a little easier. That’s all.”

You swallowed hard, feeling a lump form in your throat. This was more than just a gesture of kindness. This was a door opening, an invitation into something deeper, something you weren’t sure you were ready for, but something you couldn’t deny was growing between you.

After what felt like an eternity, you finally found your voice. “Remy, I—” You paused, shaking your head, trying to find the right words. “I don’t know what to say.”

He smiled softly, his hand still extended toward you, the card waiting between his fingers. “Y’ don’t have t’ say anything, chère. Just… take it.”

And in that moment, with your heart pounding in your chest and your mind racing with a thousand emotions, you reached out and took the card, your fingers brushing against his as you did. His smile widened, a warm, genuine smile that made your chest tighten in a way you hadn’t expected.

“Good,” he said, his voice low and reassuring. “Now y’ don’t have t’ worry ‘bout rent anymore. Just focus on y’rself.”

You stared down at the card in your hand, still trying to wrap your mind around what had just happened. But as you looked up at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes, you realized that this wasn’t just about the penthouse. This was about him opening a door, offering you a place not just in this apartment, but in his life.

And for the first time in a long time, you felt like maybe—just maybe—you could let yourself walk through that door.

After the initial shock wore off, and the reality of what Remy had just given you began to settle in, you found yourself standing in the middle of a sprawling penthouse that now—somehow—belonged to you. Yours. The word felt foreign, like it didn’t belong in your vocabulary, especially when tied to something so extravagant.

Remy had watched you closely, that ever-present smirk playing at his lips, though there was something different in his eyes now—something softer, more thoughtful, like he was letting you in on a secret he wasn’t quite ready to share fully.

“Take the afternoon off,” he’d said, his voice casual, almost nonchalant. “Get acquainted with y’r new place. I’ll even show y’ around.”

And now, here you were, wandering through this breathtaking space with him at your side, his familiar presence both grounding and surreal. Every room you walked into seemed more luxurious than the last, each corner of the penthouse designed to exude a level of elegance and sophistication that was almost dizzying. It was a world of gleaming marble, soft lighting, and the kind of quiet opulence that felt like it belonged to someone else.

But Remy didn’t seem to think so.

At some point, you found yourself in the master bedroom—an expansive space that was flooded with natural light, the tall windows offering a view of the city skyline that could steal anyone’s breath. It was here that Remy lingered by a set of double doors off to the side, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Now, chère,” he drawled, that teasing tone of his thick in the air, “I think y’r gonna like this part.”

You followed him inside, and the moment you stepped through the doors, your breath caught in your throat.

The walk-in wardrobe was like nothing you’d ever seen before.

Rows upon rows of clothes lined the walls, from designer dresses to tailored blazers, each piece arranged with meticulous care. There were racks of shoes—hundreds of them, from stilettos to boots—spanning an entire wall, all displayed like rare artifacts at a museum. At the far end of the wardrobe, glass-topped dressers gleamed under the soft lighting, each drawer filled with accessories—delicate jewelry, silk scarves, sunglasses, all perfectly organized beneath the glass. The whole space was a shrine to luxury, a closet that seemed to belong to someone who lived in a world far removed from your own.

You stood there, frozen in awe, unable to process the sheer grandeur of it. “Remy…” you breathed, your voice barely above a whisper. “This is… this is insane.”

He chuckled softly behind you, stepping closer so that his frame loomed just over your shoulder. “Y’ like it?”

You turned to face him, still trying to wrap your head around the opulence of it all. “Like it? This is beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. But…” You hesitated, the question pressing at the back of your mind. “Why? Why would you do this?”

Remy’s smirk softened, his eyes gleaming with something deeper, something more sincere than you were used to seeing from him. “Because I think this life suits y’, chère. Whether y’ think so or not.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. "I… don’t know if I fit into this world, Remy. I mean, look at this place—look at all of this. It’s beautiful, but this isn’t me.”

He studied you for a moment, his expression unreadable, before stepping closer, his voice dropping to something more intimate. “Y’ think y’ don’t belong here, but I’ve known for a while now that y’ do.”

You frowned, your pulse quickening as his words hung in the air between you. “What do you mean?”

Remy’s gaze softened, and for once, that mischievous glint in his eyes faded into something more serious, more vulnerable. “Ever since that night with Norman Osborn,” he said quietly, his voice steady but filled with an unspoken weight. “I saw how y’ handled yourself. The way y’ didn’t flinch, didn’t back down, even when that snake was tryin’ t’ rattle y’. Most people would’ve folded under that kind o’ pressure, but not you. And that’s when I knew.”

“Knew what?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, your heart pounding in your chest.

“That y’ fit into this life,” he said simply, his eyes locking onto yours. “That y’ belong here with me. Y’ ain’t just some pretty face or someone who’s along for the ride. Y’ got strength, chère. Y’r sharp, y’r quick on y’r feet… and y’ make all this—” he gestured vaguely around the penthouse, “—seem like somethin’ more than just the usual bullshit.”

You felt your breath catch in your throat, the weight of his words sinking into you like a stone. You had always seen yourself as an outsider in this world, someone who didn’t quite belong, someone who was just trying to keep up. But Remy—he saw something different. And hearing him say it, hearing him tell you that you fit in a way you’d never believed you could, it stirred something inside you—something warm and terrifying all at once.

“I don’t know if I believe that,” you said quietly, your voice wavering as you met his gaze.

“Y’ don’t have to believe it,” Remy replied, his hand coming to rest gently on your arm. “But I do. And I wouldn’t be offerin’ y’ this—” he motioned to the wardrobe, the penthouse, the life he was slowly opening the door to, “—if I didn’t think y’ deserved every bit of it.”

You swallowed hard, the air between you thick with emotion. You wanted to protest, to tell him that this was too much, that you couldn’t accept it. But as you stood there, surrounded by the quiet elegance of the wardrobe, with Remy looking at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world, you found yourself at a loss for words.

He stepped closer, and for a moment, the air between you felt charged, like something unspoken was simmering just beneath the surface. His hand gently brushed over your arm, sending a shiver down your spine, and when he spoke again, his voice was so soft that it almost didn’t feel real.

“Y’ bein’ here, chère,” he murmured, “bein’ by my side on all these trips, all these dinners and lunches… it’s done more for me than y’ realize. Y’ make this life worth livin’.”

You stared at him, your heart pounding in your chest, overwhelmed by the sincerity in his voice. You had never imagined that being around him—just being with him—meant so much. But here he was, telling you that you had made a difference in ways you hadn’t even considered.

“I don’t know what to say,” you whispered, your voice barely audible.

Remy smiled, a soft, almost bittersweet smile that made your chest tighten. “Y’ don’t have t’ say anythin’, chère. Just… let me take care of y’.”

You looked up at him, your heart swelling with emotions you weren’t ready to name. This wasn’t just about the penthouse or the wardrobe. This was about Remy opening up in a way you hadn’t expected, about him letting you into his world, his life, in a way that felt much more permanent than you had ever anticipated.

For a long moment, neither of you spoke, the silence between you heavy but comfortable.

Finally, you smiled softly, your gaze flicking over the wardrobe one last time before meeting his eyes again. “You really think I fit into this life?”

Remy chuckled, his eyes sparkling with that familiar warmth. “I know y’ do.”

And with that, something inside you shifted. Maybe it was the weight of his words, or maybe it was the way he looked at you, but for the first time since you’d stepped into his world, you felt like you might actually belong. After the initial shock wore off, and the reality of what Remy had just given you began to settle in, you found yourself standing in the middle of a sprawling penthouse that now—somehow—belonged to you. Yours. The word felt foreign, like it didn’t belong in your vocabulary, especially when tied to something so extravagant.

Remy had watched you closely, that ever-present smirk playing at his lips, though there was something different in his eyes now—something softer, more thoughtful, like he was letting you in on a secret he wasn’t quite ready to share fully.

“Take the afternoon off,” he’d said, his voice casual, almost nonchalant. “Get acquainted with y’r new place. I’ll even show y’ around.”

And now, here you were, wandering through this breathtaking space with him at your side, his familiar presence both grounding and surreal. Every room you walked into seemed more luxurious than the last, each corner of the penthouse designed to exude a level of elegance and sophistication that was almost dizzying. It was a world of gleaming marble, soft lighting, and the kind of quiet opulence that felt like it belonged to someone else.

But Remy didn’t seem to think so.

At some point, you found yourself in the master bedroom—an expansive space that was flooded with natural light, the tall windows offering a view of the city skyline that could steal anyone’s breath. It was here that Remy lingered by a set of double doors off to the side, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

“Now, chère,” he drawled, that teasing tone of his thick in the air, “I think y’r gonna like this part.”

You followed him inside, and the moment you stepped through the doors, your breath caught in your throat.

The walk-in wardrobe was like nothing you’d ever seen before.

Rows upon rows of clothes lined the walls, from designer dresses to tailored blazers, each piece arranged with meticulous care. There were racks of shoes—hundreds of them, from stilettos to boots—spanning an entire wall, all displayed like rare artifacts at a museum. At the far end of the wardrobe, glass-topped dressers gleamed under the soft lighting, each drawer filled with accessories—delicate jewelry, silk scarves, sunglasses, all perfectly organized beneath the glass. The whole space was a shrine to luxury, a closet that seemed to belong to someone who lived in a world far removed from your own.

You stood there, frozen in awe, unable to process the sheer grandeur of it. “Remy…” you breathed, your voice barely above a whisper. “This is… this is insane.”

He chuckled softly behind you, stepping closer so that his frame loomed just over your shoulder. “Y’ like it?”

You turned to face him, still trying to wrap your head around the opulence of it all. “Like it? This is beyond anything I could’ve ever imagined. But…” You hesitated, the question pressing at the back of your mind. “Why? Why would you do this?”

Remy’s smirk softened, his eyes gleaming with something deeper, something more sincere than you were used to seeing from him. “Because I think this life suits y’, chère. Whether y’ think so or not.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in his tone. "I… don’t know if I fit into this world, Remy. I mean, look at this place—look at all of this. It’s beautiful, but this isn’t me.”

He studied you for a moment, his expression unreadable, before stepping closer, his voice dropping to something more intimate. “Y’ think y’ don’t belong here, but I’ve known for a while now that y’ do.”

You frowned, your pulse quickening as his words hung in the air between you. “What do you mean?”

Remy’s gaze softened, and for once, that mischievous glint in his eyes faded into something more serious, more vulnerable. “Ever since that night with Norman Osborn,” he said quietly, his voice steady but filled with an unspoken weight. “I saw how y’ handled yourself. The way y’ didn’t flinch, didn’t back down, even when that snake was tryin’ t’ rattle y’. Most people would’ve folded under that kind o’ pressure, but not you. And that’s when I knew.”

“Knew what?” you asked, your voice barely above a whisper, your heart pounding in your chest.

“That y’ fit into this life,” he said simply, his eyes locking onto yours. “That y’ belong here with me. Y’ ain’t just some pretty face or someone who’s along for the ride. Y’ got strength, chère. Y’r sharp, y’r quick on y’r feet… and y’ make all this—” he gestured vaguely around the penthouse, “—seem like somethin’ more than just the usual bullshit.”

You felt your breath catch in your throat, the weight of his words sinking into you like a stone. You had always seen yourself as an outsider in this world, someone who didn’t quite belong, someone who was just trying to keep up. But Remy—he saw something different. And hearing him say it, hearing him tell you that you fit in a way you’d never believed you could, it stirred something inside you—something warm and terrifying all at once.

“I don’t know if I believe that,” you said quietly, your voice wavering as you met his gaze.

“Y’ don’t have to believe it,” Remy replied, his hand coming to rest gently on your arm. “But I do. And I wouldn’t be offerin’ y’ this—” he motioned to the wardrobe, the penthouse, the life he was slowly opening the door to, “—if I didn’t think y’ deserved every bit of it.”

You swallowed hard, the air between you thick with emotion. You wanted to protest, to tell him that this was too much, that you couldn’t accept it. But as you stood there, surrounded by the quiet elegance of the wardrobe, with Remy looking at you like you were the only thing that mattered in the world, you found yourself at a loss for words. As you stood in awe of the walk-in wardrobe, surrounded by rows of perfectly arranged clothes and shelves lined with designer shoes, you felt Remy move closer, his presence filling the space beside you. The air between you seemed to thicken instantly, the unspoken tension that had been simmering all afternoon suddenly more palpable. You swallowed hard, trying to focus on the lavishness of the wardrobe, but all you could feel was the heat radiating from him, the way his proximity made your skin tingle.

Remy, ever the charmer, let out a low hum of approval as he gestured toward the glass-top dresser filled with glittering jewelry. “Y’ see this?” he said, his voice low and smooth, thick with that Cajun drawl that always seemed to wrap around you like a warm embrace. “That’s Cartier right there. And those…” He pointed to a delicate pair of diamond earrings that glinted under the soft light. “Those are Van Cleef & Arpels. Real elegant, huh?”

You nodded, your throat suddenly dry as you glanced down at the sparkling pieces of jewelry, each more beautiful than the last. But it wasn’t the diamonds or the designer labels that had your heart racing—it was the way Remy’s voice dipped lower, the subtle brush of his arm against yours, the way his presence seemed to fill every inch of the room.

He leaned in just a little closer, his breath warm against your ear as he pointed to a different section of the dresser. “An’ over there, that’s Bulgari. Real timeless pieces. Y’ know, the kind that makes a statement without tryin’ too hard.”

You could feel his gaze on you, hovering just at the edge of your vision, and it took everything in you not to turn and meet his eyes. But you could sense him watching, the weight of his attention pressing down on you in a way that made your pulse quicken. The air felt heavier now, charged with an unspoken tension that had been building between you for weeks. Months, maybe.

“Remy…” you began, your voice barely above a whisper, but even you didn’t know what you were going to say. Were you going to ask him to stop? To step back? Or were you going to close the distance yourself?

He didn’t move, didn’t pull away. Instead, his hand brushed lightly against yours as he gestured toward another piece of jewelry, his touch lingering just long enough to send a shiver down your spine. “This one’s from Tiffany’s,” he continued, his voice a low rumble that seemed to reverberate through the room. “Classic. Simple. But it’s got a way of catchin’ the light, y’ know?”

You barely heard him. All you could focus on was the heat of his skin against yours, the way his fingers seemed to graze yours as if testing the boundaries, seeing how far he could go before you’d react. The closeness between you was suffocating, but not in an uncomfortable way. It was intoxicating, the kind of tension that made your breath hitch, your heart pound in your chest, every inch of your body hyper-aware of his nearness.

Finally, you couldn’t help it—you turned your head just slightly, your eyes catching his. And there it was: that spark, that quiet fire that had been burning between you for so long but had never been fully acknowledged. His gaze was intense, dark and heated, and it sent a jolt of electricity through your veins. You felt like you were standing on the edge of something, teetering between the pull of gravity and the desire to let yourself fall.

Remy’s eyes flickered to your lips for the briefest of moments, so quick you almost missed it, but it was enough to send a wave of heat coursing through you. The tension in the air was thick now, almost unbearably so, and you could feel the unspoken question hanging between you—would either of you cross that line?

His smirk softened, but the intensity in his eyes never wavered. “Y’ alright, chère?” he asked, his voice barely above a murmur, but there was something teasing in his tone, like he knew exactly what effect he was having on you.

You swallowed hard, your throat tight as you tried to gather your thoughts. “Yeah… I’m fine,” you managed, though your voice sounded a little too breathless, a little too shaky.

He chuckled softly, the sound low and rich, and you felt the warmth of his breath brush against your cheek. “Y’ sure? Y’ look like y’ got somethin’ on y’r mind.”

You could barely think straight, let alone find the words to answer him. The air between you felt like it was vibrating with tension, every small movement, every breath drawing you closer to the edge. You could feel your pulse thrumming in your veins, your skin buzzing with the awareness of how close he was, how easy it would be to close the distance between you entirely.

Remy’s hand had brushed against yours again, just enough to send a jolt of electricity through your skin, and suddenly, the space between you seemed almost nonexistent. Your breath hitched, and without even realizing it, you had taken that small step closer, closing the gap between you.

For a moment, it felt like the world had narrowed down to just the two of you, time slowing as your eyes locked onto his. Remy’s gaze flickered to your lips for the briefest of moments before darting back up to meet your eyes, and the tension that had been simmering for so long suddenly threatened to boil over. You could feel it—the pull, the magnetic force drawing you closer, your heart hammering in your chest as the possibility of something more hung in the air between you.

But just as the moment reached its tipping point, just as you thought you might cross that invisible line, Remy stepped back.

The shift was subtle—just a small movement, but enough to break the spell that had been building between you. He cleared his throat softly, his eyes flickering away from yours for the first time since you’d stepped into the wardrobe.

The air around you seemed to cool instantly, the tension dissipating, though the weight of what had almost happened still lingered in the space between you. Your heart was still racing, and it took you a second to process what had just occurred—or rather, what hadn’t.

Remy, ever the master of controlled chaos, was already sliding back into his usual easy demeanor, though there was a tightness in his jaw that hadn’t been there before. His eyes softened as they met yours again, but the intensity had dulled, replaced by something more guarded. He gave a small, almost rueful smile, as though acknowledging what had nearly happened, but choosing to keep it unspoken.

“Y’ better be careful, chère,” he said, his voice a little rougher than usual, though still laced with that familiar teasing edge. “Y’ keep standin’ that close, an’ I might forget where the line is.”

Your heart fluttered at his words, even as you tried to steady yourself, the tension still coiling low in your stomach. You let out a breath you hadn’t realized you were holding, forcing a smile in return. “I think we both almost forgot.”

Remy’s grin widened, though there was a flicker of something more serious beneath it. “Almost,” he agreed, his voice dropping slightly.

For a beat, neither of you moved, the thick silence between you settling into something more comfortable, more familiar—but the undercurrent of what had just passed between you was still there, still buzzing quietly beneath the surface.

He took another step back, putting a little more distance between you, his gaze shifting to the sparkling jewelry laid out in the glass dresser in front of you. “But we gotta keep our heads, yeah? Don’t wanna give the office gossip too much to chew on.”

You couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing slightly. “Oh, please. I’m sure they’re already having a field day.”

Remy chuckled, the sound softer now, his eyes flickering back to you with that familiar playfulness. “Probably. But that don’t mean we gotta give ‘em more fuel.”

You nodded, though your heart was still racing, the moment between you lingering in the back of your mind. “Right. Keep it professional,” you said, though the words felt almost foreign on your tongue after what had just happened.

Remy smirked, his eyes glinting with humor, though there was still that unspoken weight between you. “Professional? ‘Course. But that don’t mean we can’t have a little fun along the way.”

You rolled your eyes, though you couldn’t help the small smile tugging at your lips. “Fun, huh? Is that what you call it?”

He tilted his head, his grin widening. “Well, I ain’t the type t’ make things boring.”

You laughed lightly, shaking your head. Somehow, even after that near-kiss, even after the tension that had hung so thick between you moments ago, Remy had a way of pulling you back into the easy banter that had always defined your relationship. But beneath the surface, you knew something had shifted. Something had changed. And it was only a matter of time before you both had to face it.

For now, though, Remy seemed content to leave that line drawn between you, to keep the boundary intact, even if it was a little frayed around the edges. You didn’t know whether to be relieved or frustrated, but either way, you were grateful for the breathing room.

He stepped back toward the door, motioning for you to follow. “Come on,” he said, his voice lighter now, though his eyes still held that quiet intensity. “Y’ got a whole place t’ explore. This closet’s just the beginnin’.”

You shot him a look, raising an eyebrow as you moved to follow him. “Oh, just the beginning, huh? How much more of this place is going to blow my mind?”

Remy grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Guess y’r just gonna have t’ find out.”

As you walked out of the wardrobe and back into the sprawling penthouse, the tension between you settled into something quieter, something more manageable. But you knew it was still there, lurking beneath the surface, waiting for the next moment when the line between you might blur again.

And when it did, you weren’t sure if either of you would be able to step back.

[maryannecrimsworth]

Yandere wednesday x reader where the reader is very innocent and doesnt know when people are flirting with him or when people are doing dirty minded because he very sheltered his whole life so doesn't have any dirty minded stuff because he doesn't what they mean in the first place so wednesday becomes infatuated with him because he is so innocent which is something you dont see in that type of age range so wednesday would want his innocence to be kept so he gets kidnapped by wednesday as thats the best way to keep him pure and innocent and wednesday would make him meets her family

You, anon, are now the owner of my heart. I LOVE innocent reader and is honestly so nice to write. This one is really similar to me, to be honest...Hope you like it!

Pairing: Yandere! Wednesday Addams x Innocent! gn! Reader

Warnings: overprotective behavior; (failed) attempt of abuse; kidnapping

Extra scene

Tu puridad

“So, what do you say?” The question made your fingers drum the table of your booth again. “Both schools are going to be there, all normies and outcasts partying together.” 

He was so excited, you could tell by the way his fangs showered when he smiled; and he couldn’t stop smiling. 

The girl, sitting by his side, intervened hastily. 

“After the movie, of course.” She smiled, one hand moving to the nape of the vampire by her side, and the other moving to your wrist. “You don’t have to drop by the party, but we would love if you watched the movie with us.” Her fingers brushed warmly against your skin. “Just us three, on the back of my truck, enjoying a spooky movie and each other.” She smiled; she didn’t have fangs. You’re not sure of what she is. “You in?”

“Yeah! I love drive-in theaters!” You tapped her hand and leaned back in your seat, not noticing the smirk which spread over their lips simultaneously. 

They looked at each other before leaning closer to you again.

“We’ll pick you up at 11.” “Wear something fancy.” They whispered one after the other.

“Isn’t 11 a bit too late?” You leaned closer and whispered back. The frown in your eyebrows and curiosity in your gaze made them laugh. 

“Not at all!” “Be ready, Y/N!” They stood up from the booth, holding hands while they walked away from you. “See you later!” The girl blew a kiss in your direction, and the vampire winked at you a moment before leaving the Weathervane. 

The doorbell rang and you turned to your table again, to the wooden puzzle which was abruptly interrupted by the couple’s approach. You have to start again. 

You replaced the pieces to their original positions, and paused the counting of the pocket chronometer lying next to your mug. The biggest block, placed on the top of the small board, needed to be slid over to its bottom’s border, without removing any smaller pieces on its way. A classic puzzle, the Klotski. Just a silly game you liked to solve while taking your daily tea cup.

You’ve become a loyal customer; even though the lady from Uriah’s Heap made amazing tea, you preferred the environment of the Weathervane. The quiet, but always agitated place gave you opportunities to meet new people, both outcasts and normies. 

And someone always talked to you as soon as you sat in your usual booth. You did not even have to wave or smile at someone — they approached you, sooner or later. The vampire and the girl, who you then figured were called Darren and Stacy, did it; and now Enid Sinclair and Yoko Tanaka did it too. 

 “Hey, Y/N!” Enid sat in front of you, and you had to stop solving your puzzle once again. “I got amazing news!”

“Hey, Enid, Yoko.” You smiled at them both. “Let me hear about it.” “Ajax agreed on this huge night out and we’re renting a trailer for the drive-in.”

“My virgin mojito and all the Nightshades included.” Yoko added. 

“And Kent will not stop asking me about you. So, you coming?” Enid leaned over you, whispering conspiratorially. “We can hide while they watch that awful movie.”

“I must say Hereditary is an unexpectedly sickening and disruptive modern artwork.” A cold voice came from your side. Wednesday Addams was standing next to your booth. “But I hate to think I’ll watch such a horrifying movie while listening to your screams.” She handed a mug to Enid and sat down by your side. “Hello, Y/N.”

“Hi.” You waved at her and looked back at Enid. “And I’d love to watch the movie with all of you but I’ve just been invited by a couple. You might know him, Yoko, he is a vampire called Darren.”

Enid’s and Yoko’s faces dropped. 

“Y/N, you can not be serious.” The vampire muttered. 

“I’ve told you about them, they’re these weird lovers who keep inviting cute people for their dates.” Enid lowered her voice. “You know, for…”

“Have fun, yes.” You finished. “They said they’re curious to know me more.”

“Exactly, Y/N.” Yoko hissed. “You can’t meet them.”

“Come on, you guys are being mean!” You complained, sipping the end of your drink before arguing one last time: “I’ll meet you all in the party after the session anyways.”

“Which party?” Yoko and Enid asked at the same time, their voices loud and worried. 

“ ‘The’ party, with normies and outcasts.” You frowned. “Were you not invited?”

“We have never heard about it.”

“Oh.” You froze for a second. “Oh, that’s okay. I’m coming home earlier in one way or another. Gramma gets angry when I’m late.” “I thought she had quit this overprotective stuff.”

You shrugged your shoulders and started to pack your things. “I can get away with it every now and then.” You zipped your backpack closed and turned to Wednesday, sat by your side, on the edge of the booth. “Do you mind?” You asked.

“I do.” She moved only to face you. “Joining a couple of thirsty vampires proves that you are either stupid or genuinely clueless.”

“Excuse me?” You leaned back. Both Enid and Yoko were staring at you and Wednesday with widened eyes. “We won the quiz competition together!How can you say—” You were yelling. You did not yell — you were not this type of person. You stopped yourself and rubbed your face before adding: “Sorry, forget it. We’ll meet there anyway, alright? I might be there eleven-ish.” You made your way out of the booth and exited the Weathervane.

“Eleven?” Enid asked Yoko as soon as you walked away. “The movie doesn’t start at 8?”

“It does.” Enid and Yoko held their breath simultaneously. They both turned to Wednesday at the same time, ready to ask for help — but her seat was empty.

She was not there. 

X

The concept of ‘fancy clothing’ has always been confusing to you: why would someone wear thin, tight clothes when it was so cold outside? Hell no, you’re wearing a coat and comfy pants, nothing of t-shirts and ripped jeans. Your news friends asked you to wear something neat,  something that would make you look good — but you didn't want to. You didn't like to. Why only the uncomfortable made you look pretty? And why did you have to look ‘pretty’ in the first place? It did not matter, and friends weren’t supposed to care about these things, right? Right! So, comfy pants and baggy coats are the best choice(always). 

You kissed your gramma goodnight and packed your things before stepping outside the house. Thankfully, the cold didn’t painfully hit you, and you have prepared yourself for a winter night in the open air. Blankets, bottles with soup, a puzzle: you have got all your need for having a great time with your new friends. 

They arrived at 11 o’clock, and asked you to sit in the backseat. Darren was driving, and Stacy was by his side, humming something under her breath. You were smiling: watching the couple talk nonchalantly until you gathered the courage to show your puzzle.

“Hey, I know we’re supposed to watch that movie but…” You took the box out of your backpack. “I brought this, in case we get bored. It’s a really funny group puzzle.”

Darren and Stacy glanced back at you, and the sight of the wooden game in your hands made the vampire laugh loudly. 

“Sticks and holes? You sure know what kind of games we like, Y/N!” He kept laughing, his eyes now focused on the road. 

You frowned, unsure of what was so funny about his speech, and then lowered your gaze, analyzing the game. It sure was a great game but it wasn’t funny like that — especially because Darren hasn’t even played it yet. Weird.

You were packing the box again when a warm hand reached your wrist. 

“I guarantee you we’re going to have our hands too full to play.” Stacy’s words made you smile brightly. “Don’t worry.”

“Like, you guys brought popcorn and snacks? I grabbed some soup from home, Gramma makes an amazing one, but soup doesn’t go very well with cinema, does it?” This time, it was Stacy’s turn to laugh. 

You pouted at their giggling and leaned back in your seat. No popcorn then. Your eyes drifted away from the couple in front of you, and you soon looked at your surroundings. There were trees, grass, and darkness, but no other cars nor a screen for display. 

There were just the woods, isolated and dark woods. 

“We arrived.” Darren said suddenly, stopping the car. You jumped off the backseat immediately, being driven by your own curiosity. After almost a minute analyzing the horizon, you did find the screen of the drive-in — but it was too distant and no movie was being shown.

“Shit, are we late?” You stepped forward, heading to the area of the open-air theater. “I don't think there is anyone else there.” You felt a grip in your shoulder. It wasn’t warm and soft, like the usual, like Stacy’s, it was strong, tight, cold — hurtful. 

Darren grabbed your shoulders and moved you around effortlessly, pressing you against the back of the truck without any resistance from you.

“Y-you good?” You stuttered, the soup bottle opened on the impact and was now burning your back. “Let’s see the movie, shall we?”

“That is not really our plan, Y/N.” Stacy stepped closer, standing next to Darren. There was a smile on her lips, with fangs, just like Darren’s, and wicked, just like his. You felt her hands cupping your face, the touch suddenly did not feel warm. It felt sickening. 

You tried to dodge her soft grip, but the hands on your shoulder held you still. “I don’t like this.” You whispered. “Let me go.” Her hands went under your clothes, ignoring your pleas blatantly — you shivered under her caressing, your stomach churning as you tried hard not to cry. You rushed forward suddenly — forcing Stacy to step back, but it was not enough to free you from Darren. 

The vampire held your more firmly and slammed you back into the truck. Your bottle broke on your back, soaking your backpack and making you grunt in pain.

You closed your eyes hard. Your head fell back as fear overwhelmed you.

The touches would spread until the boiling liquid became the thing that hurt you the least. You didn't know how, but your instincts knew you were in danger.

The tears began to fall as your breathing increased: you opened your lips in an effort to breathe easier, panting into the vampire's face so close to you;

The last thing you felt was the metallic taste of blood in your mouth — and then the touches stopped.

Everything stopped — and it was all dark and silent.

Somehow, you felt peace.

X

“Y/N.” A cold voice tickled your ears. “It’s time to wake up.”

“Hmm…” It was hard to open your eyes — they were heavy. Everything was way too heavy. “Five more minutes.”

“No.” A pair of hands sat you up. “You must wake up.”

You grumbled and rubbered your eyes until you felt ready to open them. The clarity hit you like stabs — small needles pierced your forehead as you looked at the figure in front of you carefully. It was Wednesday, her blank face as usual was now frowned because of a small knot between her eyebrows. 

“How do you feel?” She asked after letting you go. The first thing you noticed was the dark walls behind her.

“Wow, that’s so cool!” You jumped up suddenly, running to one of the walls. The room was dark, dusty, and spooky. “Is this place haunted?” You touched the wall, feeling its coldness. 

“Yes.” Wednesday’s voice came from behind you, but you didn’t look back.

“Nice!” You giggled, contemplating the ghostly scenery of the room. The cracked, yellowed windows; the creaking, wooden floor; the dark, spider-filled ceiling; the small bed in the corner, clearly stiff and uncomfortable; a wide desk full of skeletons and random blocks of wood. It was a bedroom in a big old house — one that you didn't really know. You felt a shiver running up your spine again. “Uh…Wednesday.” You turned to her: she was already watching you. “Where are we?”

“I brought you home, Y/N.”

You frowned.

“What do you mean?” “I mean you belong here.” She stepped closer, the frown leaving her features and giving space for an intense gaze. Her cold, freezing eyes, now targeted you with warmth and….something. Something you could not really describe, but that made more shivers run over your body. You were trembling by the time she stood in front of you, only a few inches from you. “You’re safe now.”

“Safe from what?” You shot back immediately, your voice cracking. “How did I get here? Where are Darren and Stacy?”

“None of this matters.”

“Wednesday, what were they—” You swallowed hard. You could feel Stacy’s touch and Darren’s grip all over you again. “What do you think they were trying to do?” “It does not matter.” Wednesday repeated, her voice even more loud and stiff. “I will not let anything happen to you.”

“But what—How? I was just meeting my friends.”

“They are not your friends. And you don’t need anyone else.”

“What?”

“I will make sure you’re preserved.” She explained. “I and my family will.”

“Preserve me from what, Wed? You are not making any sense.” You sighed, frustrated, walking away from her. You headed to the door while Wednesday followed your steps silently.

“Yo protegeré tu puridad.” She whispered. “I will take care of you.”

You tried to open the door. It was locked. 

“Wednesday, this is not funny.” You turned back to her, who was right behind you. “Let me go. I need to stay with my gramma and go to school and—”

“I've taken care of all that.” Wednesday touched your face: her cold hand caressed your cheek as her gaze changed completely. The heat and intensity was replaced by a deep gentleness. Her eyes fell to your lips as you gasped quietly, the fear now chattering your teeth. “My protégé.” You froze. You wanted to run but her voice paralyzed you. “I will do anything for you.”

Anything. 

Whether it is killing a couple of vampires or sending your grandmother to an asylum — whether it is lying to everyone at school and sending goodbye letters to your family.

Wednesday Addams will do anything to protect you — she will do anything, only for you.

And she will never let you go.

[Extra and odd scene]

“Pugsley wants to go in the maze with you.” Wednesday told you deadpanly.

“Maze? Where?” You sat up in your bed immediately.

“We have a hedge maze in the garden.”

“You’re kidding.”

“I am not.”

The bright smile you showed made Wednesday look away.

Pugsley then appeared at the doorway, waving shyly at you. 

You jumped up and sprinted over to him.

“Hell yes!” You cheered, hugging Wednesday’s younger brother. “Let’s go!"

It was your chance to escape.

[age-of-greta]

Freaks Come Out At Night

Author’s note: so… hi!! Welcome back to week two of my spooky Halloween series. DANNY LANE WHERE YOU AT????? Truly, I don’t know what compelled me to write this, but here we are. Pls ignore the typos and ENJOY! <3 vibes

Pairing: Danny x reader

Warnings: a lot! Cursing, sexual content, slight violence? Minors DNI

Word count: 3k

“Yeah I’ll be over in about thirty minutes. We just finished recording. I’ll stop by and grab wine on my way.”

“Okay.” You answered, kicking your feet. “I’ll see you soon.”

“See ya.” He responded with a sense of joy in his tone.

You hung up the phone and smiled to yourself. You had approximately 20 minutes before he arrived. Your apartment was close to a lot. Plenty of shops, restaurants, just a few blocks away from their studio. Lucky you.

It started around 3 months ago maybe? You went to a party of a friend of a friend, smoked a little weed, and made eye contact by the bonfire. You still remember his smirk and the way your cheeks dusted pink when he looked at you. He was nervous to talk to you, but that only furthered your intrigue. The first night you met you had slept together. But it wasn’t a typical one night stand. He asked to take you to breakfast after that, then a movie, then lunch, before you knew if you were back in his bed the following night. It had remained that way for weeks. An unspoken agreement that you were faithful to each other, but both of you were too scared to try and slap a label on anything. You didn’t dare to potentially ruin something that felt so good. And that’s what Danny was to you- good.

You padded around in your living room in your impossibly short silk black pajama shorts with a matching tank top. You chose to forgo a bra, you knew Danny would notice as soon as he walked in. You needed to refill your wine glass that was nearing empty, but you didn’t want to drink too much before he got here. You decided to throw together a small charcuterie board for the two of you to snack on. You opened your refrigerator and grabbed some dry salami, an array of cheeses, and olives. You spread them out on your board and adorned them with nuts and dark chocolate blueberries. You smiled at your impromptu little board. Once you sat it on your coffee table you clicked on the tv, turning on Fear Fest. You loved scary movies. Danny was indifferent towards them, but had been watching them all month long with you. You were grateful for that.

The doorbell went off and you jolted out of your trance as the credits began to roll on the original Nightmare On Elm Street. You waltzed over to the door and opened it, smiling at the tall boy in front of you.

“Hi pretty girl.” Danny said, leaning in and giving your cheek a peck.

“Good evening.” You replied with a bright smile.

He stepped in and placed the bottle of wine on the counter.

“Starting without me?” He asked, looking at your baren wine glass.

“Had to have something to hold me over. You took foreverrrrrrrr.” You playfully spoke.

“Apologies my lady.” He said, grabbing your glass and replenishing it with the new wine he had bought. He got a glass out for himself and poured his glass before coming to the living room to join you on the couch.

“You’re too cute.” He said with a smile as he saw the charcuterie board you had made.

You reached your hand out and plucked the glass from him. “It’s the least I could do for the wine darling. Now, what are we watching tonight? I’m feeling something scary.”

He let out a laugh and pulled you to cuddle into him. “Scary? You? Who would have guessed.”

You flicked your eyes at him and smiled. “Have you ever seen Hereditary?”

**

“Okay that was like… super fucked up.” Danny said, his eyes still glued to the tv after the final harrowing scene.

You scoffed at him. “Would you believe me if I told you the second time is worse? If you stare long enough into the background you see all kinds of things you missed upon first viewing. It’s so fucking cool.”

He looked over at you and gave you the strangest look. “You’re a little bit demented. You know that?”

“In a good way?” You ask, already knowing his answer.

He laughs and shakes his head. “In the best way.”

You two had all but drained your bottle of wine and picked over most of the foods on the table. Now you laid over on him as he stroked your hair. Another one of the Freddy Kreuger movies playing in the background. You grabbed your phone and started to mindlessly scroll through your social media. You flipped over to TikTok and turned your volume down. You scrolled through cooking recipes, cats doing funny things, and skincare tips. A certain video of a cat screaming at a plant had Danny chuckling behind you.

You turned your head and glanced back at him. “You like cat videos?”

“I’m a human, of course I like cat videos.” Danny says, matter of factly.

“Boy do I have some good things for you.” You say, snickering to yourself.

You click on your likes videos and begin to scroll. Danny laughs and coos at the cute cat videos. You continue to scroll through the posts you have liked. Your breath hitches as a certain video starts to play and you scrolled past it immediately, hoping he didn’t notice.

“What is that?” Danny asked with a sideways laugh.

“Nothing, just horror movie stuff.” You say, trying to play it off.

“Mhmmm let me see.” He says with a smirk.

Shit. He knows.

You shake your head and he clicks on the video anyway. You could have died when the Ghostface thirst trap played. Your cheeks filled with redness, not wanting him to judge you for a stupid fantasy.

He laughs at it. “You’re into this?”

You blow out a breath. “I don’t know. I mean kinda? It’s stupid, but the whole masked killer being a kinky freak is viral right now. I mean you should see some of the insane lingerie photo shoots people take with Michael Myers.”

Danny nods his head. “Sure, but are you into it?”

You weren’t sure how to answer. You wouldn’t say it was a prevalent kink you had, but the thought of it turned you on a bit. The horror genre had always been your favorite and the first Scream movie made you feel some type of way about the “bad boy” trope. You assumed this was a logical progression in a way.

“This is embarrassing.” You say, hiding your face into a pillow.

He chuckles. “Nothing to be embarrassed about doll, but I’ll leave it. Come here.”

Danny pulls you into his lap and you two continue watching your movie marathon. After this one wraps up, you started to clean everything up before starting another.

“Want some popcorn?” You asked Danny, as he helped clean up the charcuterie board.

“Sure.” He replied. “But we are out of wine.”

“Damn. It’s okay, we can switch to water I suppose.”

Danny stood still and thought for a minute. “You know I can run down really quickly and grab some more. Before they close?”

You give him a pointed look. “You don’t have to do that. I’ll survive.”

He shakes his head. “No really it’s not a big deal. I’ll be right back.”

With that he grabs his coat, kisses the side of your head, and bolts out of the door.

Okay?

You wash all of your dishes, put away the food, and pop a big bowl of popcorn. Then you sit down on your couch and scroll through your phone. The thought of getting on TikTok at this moment still embarrassed you, so you opted to check your email instead. You were so engulfed in your vast amount of emails that you had neglected you barely noticed when Danny came back in.

“Wine secured.” He said with a smile walking towards you with the bottle.

“Amazing. You’re the best.”

He popped the bottle and poured two more glasses. You knew after this glass you would probably be on the cusp of tipsy. Wine always opened you up and made you more flirty. It was why you always wanted some when Danny came over, not that you needed to be inebriated to be with him, but it was damn sure fun.

Danny grabbed you again as you both nursed your glasses of wine. His fingers lightly grazed over your shirt causing a sensation to build in your chest. Suddenly, the movie had lost your interest. You chugged down the rest of your glass of wine and placed it down on the side table.

“Woah take it easy tiger.” Danny said with an impossibly gravely voice.

You flicked your eyes to him and gave him a smirk. “Gonna run to the bathroom real quick.”

He gave you a nod as you slinked down the hall into your bathroom. You peed, washed your hands, and glanced at yourself in the mirror. Showtime. You hiked your silk shorts up a little higher and pulled your tank top down. Then you spritzed yourself with a salted caramel body spray, brushed out your hair, and popped a mint in your mouth. You were ready, you had waited long enough.

You padded back out to the living room and gave Danny a smile. He returned your grin.

“Bored of the movie?” He asked.

“No…” You said, moving languidly towards him. “This might be one of the best Nightmare sequels, but I am ready to-hmmm switch gears a bit? Are you down?”

You stand right in front of him and peer down at him. You can see him swallow hard before giving you a smirk.

“I suppose.” He replies, grabbing your legs and pulling you onto him.

Just like that your lips finally collided. It was like an explosion of anticipation finally being exorcised. Danny’s large hands ran up and down your legs, back, and ass. You slowly began to grind on him, feeling him harden beneath you. He squeezed your hips, hard, which caused you to let out a bated breath. You bit his bottom lip and pulled, causing his eyes to flutter open. When he finally looked at you, he was ready to take you to bed. He picked you up and carried you into your bedroom as you giggled. When he laid you on the bed your shirt and shorts were almost immediately removed. You manage to get his shirt off before he tied your hands to your headboard. It’s always the quiet ones who are the freakiest. Once you were stuck in place he crawled on top of you, peppering kisses down your torso. You thought you would get the normal treatment, but he stopped just above your panties.

“I’ll be right back. Remember your safe word?” Danny asks, giving you a smirk.

You furrow your brows at him and nod.

Then you watch him leave your room in nothing but his black jeans.

Where in the hell is he going? Safe word?

You take a few breaths, obviously worked up from the past few minutes. He knew how to get you hot and bothered rather quickly. You felt frustrated as you waited on him, you couldn’t even touch yourself. Finally you heard his footsteps come towards you again as you prepared yourself for what would come. You felt his presence when he entered the room, but when you looked up your eyes almost popped out of your head.

There he was, standing there still in his jeans. Shirtless, his chest beautifully chiseled. But instead of his perfect face there was a mask. A Ghostface mask. He stood and looked at you, not saying a word. His head cocked ever so slightly looking down at you. You gulped and looked back up at him. Then you saw it, a small pocket knife in his hand, the one he always carried.

Fuck. Is this where he went when he got wine? To buy this mask?

“Danny…?” You spoke out, but you knew it was him.

He continued to stay quiet, but nodded his head. You squeezed your legs together just for the slightest friction. Finally, after what felt like 10 minutes he moved slowly towards you. He straddled you and took his finger, drawing a line from your breasts to your navel. You let out a shaky breath as you saw the blade in his hand. He took it and lightly grazed it over your stomach. The cold sensation made you nearly jump.

He has never done this before. This is why he reminded you of your safe word.

Part of you felt uneasy or unsure. But the other part of you felt absolutely ravenous.

He stroked the blade in the same line his finger had just drawn, not putting hardly any pressure on it. He wasn’t going to cut you, not really. He leaned in closer to you and brought the blade to your jaw, lightly dragging it around. Then, he leaned in close to your ear, the fabric from the mask tickled your collarbone. You felt him inhale your scent before asking; “What’s your favorite scary movie?”

You drew in a breathy laugh. “I think you know the answer to that one.”

He let out a dark laugh. “Oh I do.” He starts as he lightly trickles the blade down your chest again. “Had to give my girl her little fantasy.”

You take in a gulp.

My girl?

His hands fumble around a bit before they meet your clothed center. Slowly dragging circles around, making you whine and squirm. You threw your head back as a finger slipped in the side of your black panties.

“Fuck-“ You let out in a small moan.

You could feel how wet you were, soaked even. As he started to slowly pump a finger into you the room quickly filled with obscene sounds. He was so good with his hands. With each pump you were beginning to rapidly come undone. When he added a second finger and his thumb found your clit you were all but done for.

“Danny- fuck. Please- oh god.”

He grunted at your undoing. “Almost there baby. You’re so fucking hot.”

“Danny, I want to come with you. I want you to fuck me. Take that mask off and fuck me, hard. Please.” You manage to whine out.

You could tell he was slightly taken aback, but he had no objections to your request. Slowly, he took off the mask. His hair was a tousled mess of black curls and his eyes were full of lust. He crawled back on top of you and cupped your breast as his lips found yours again. You reached your leg up and wrapped it around him, needing him closer to you. With his other hand he reached up and yanked on the knot, setting you free. You wasted no time letting your hands melt into his body, tugging at his hair and sliding your nails up his back. He let sighs out into your mouth and you swallowed them whole, greedy for more. The time for foreplay was over, you needed him. You took your hands and undid his pants, starting to slide them off his hips. He got your hints and rolled off of you, stripping himself bare. It was your turn to be in control. You rolled your body on him and pressed yourself onto him.

“Oh fuck.” He said through gritted teeth, as you both made contact.

He drank in your body on top of his as if you were the last glass of water in a desert. You grabbed his length and slowly sunk down on it, both of your breathing through the pure ecstasy coursing through your veins. Slowly you started, rolling and rocking your hips, but as he began to get deeper and deeper you wanted more. His thumb found your clit again and you started bouncing up and down. You could tell it was a show for him, the way he watched you in bewilderment. You could also tell he was dangerously close, trying his hardest to hold on for you. He wouldn’t have to wait long as you felt that fire start to spread in your core. Then it happened, total bliss. You swore you saw stars and you couldn’t even form a coherent sentence. Just strings of expletives, moans, and his name leaving your mouth as if it were dipped in honey. He was right behind you, breathing heavily and full of praise. After, you were entirely too fucked out to even move- so you stayed there as one synching breaths. When you finally rolled off he grabbed your hand and gave it a squeeze.

“Did I go too far?” He asks, nervously awaiting your response.

You turn your head to him and give him a look. “Too far? I think that might have been one of the most enthralling experiences of my life. I mean fuck Danny.”

He huffs a laugh. “Mine too.”

A few moments of quiet fills the room as he still has your hand in his.

“Would you like to do this again?” He asks.

You scoff. “Now?”

He shakes his head. “No, no. As much as I would love to it’s going to be a challenge for me to move out of this spot.”

You giggle at that. “Then yes I suppose we could do it again.”

He turns his head to you and smirks. “Y’know almost like we’ll make a sequel. Sequel rules are different.”

You can’t help the full smile that envelops your whole face. “Someone has been paying attention to their Scream movies.”

“Have to. They’re my girl’s favorite.”

“Your girl?” You ask with a smile.

“Is that okay?”

“Yes.” You answer eagerly.

He leans in and kisses your forehead. Then you both clean yourselves up before returning back to bed. You found yourself cuddled up in his arms as he turned on the television in your room. You knew whatever was on would serve as background sound and light to your slumber. Your eyes flickered as Danny clicked through the channels. You opened them once more when you heard a laugh escape his throat. On your screen was the original Scream movie. You snickered and cuddled further into his side as he stroked your back. He sat the remote down and left your movie on.

How perfect you thought to yourself as your eyes fell heavy again.

And he was, he really was.

[coulsons-fullmetal-cellist]

For the Love of Horror

(Dieter x horror-loving female reader)

Summary: The reader is totally me; I love horror films and I usually watch them on my own as most of my friends are scaredy cats. There aren’t that many fics where the male character is the one scared of film and Dieter seemed to be the perfect fit.

Warning: no use of y/n, mentions of scary films, Dieter being scared of said scary films, slight euphemisms, saucy suggestions, lots of adorable fluffiness

Notes: I sort of ignore the ending of the film. In fact I wrote my own here also check out the masterlist for more of these two here

Dieter Bravo loved you, but you loved horror films, and he was the biggest scaredy cat in the world.

You’d first met the strange but handsome actor as his makeup artist for an indie film. On Sap of Justice, he played a man hunting down his wife’s killer while slowly being turned into a tree. He won a SAG or something for that, he didn’t care, but it required hours in the makeup chair.

You showed up on the first day wearing a bright yellow jumper, an even brighter smile and a Tupperware full of homemade cookies. He was instantly smitten.

His latest rehab stint actually worked this time, but he ended up developing a giant sweet tooth. While the rest of the crew did not appreciate your delightful treats, Dieter ended up consuming more than he should have, usually while he was sitting in his makeup chair, making a bit of a mess.

You then came up with the idea of giving him a piece of chocolate to slowly melt on his tongue so he could sit back and let you do you work. You’d slip in another piece onto his tongue when he ran out, it was probably the most sensual thing he’d ever experience.

He was happy to just sit and listen to you as you babbled on about films, most of which he’d never heard of. You knew a surprising amount, more than most directors he’s worked with.

He couldn’t help but smile at your bubbly enthusiasm and he just wanted to be around you. But that tiny colourful you had a dark interior: your love of horror films.

The first time you invited him over to watch a scary movie, he thought it was a euphemism for his favourite activity and he was excited.

But no.

You put on Hereditary.

He spent the rest of the night alone in his room with the lights on, his eyes never leaving the ceiling.

The following night he had a nightmare where he was stuck in a dollhouse with naked people.

He was so relieved when you wanted to have another movie night. He suggested maybe a romantic film this time round.

So, you put on Candyman.

Dieter couldn’t look at himself in a mirror for at least a week.

The third time he suggested watching a comedy film.

So, you put on An American Werewolf in London.

This time it was less scary as he mainly spent the time looking at you while you enthusiastically explained in detail how Rick Baker achieved the first transformation scene and how horror films lead to your career choice.

That was when he fell in love completely and utterly in love with you.

And he needed to come clean about his horror film phobia.

Thankfully, you didn’t kick him to the curb like the piece of garbage he believed he was. You apologized profusely for taking over film choices with your favourites and it was definitely his turn to choose his favourite.

Dieter shyly suggested Beauty and the Beast to which you sighed and said it was your favourite non-horror film and immediately put it on. You put your head on his shoulder as you watched it.

“So why is this your favourite film Dieter?”

“Well…I like to think that if a beast can fall in love and get a happily ever after, then that gives me hope”

Your reply was a hug and kiss on the cheek,

He could certainly get used to this. It was nice.

Eventually, you both found a compromise with your film watching together. No horror film before dark and not every time you got together. You hunted around to find the least scary horror films when it was your choice. And you suggested he watch Dead Meats Kill Count which helped because Dieter could at least anticipate when the scary parts would happen beforehand. You always made sure to turn the volume down when a jump scare was going to happen.

In the meantime, Dieter worked with his therapist to uncover the reason behind his scaredness of scary films. He suspected it was that donkey scene in Pinocchio was the cause of trauma but there was still work to do.

You saved him from your guilty pleasure films such as Snakes on a Plane and the Final Destination series, so you instead only subjected him to the good ones: the really good, critically acclaimed, award-winning ones. He finally watched The Shining and Get Out which ended up not being as scary as he thought.

Dieter discovered he had missed out on a huge amount of great films. You were both sobbing wrecks at the end of Train to Busan and he absolutely loved Willem Dafoe’s crazy ass monologue in The Lighthouse and immediately had to learn it himself.

You discovered that Dieter had a huge love for animated films and would sing along to every song, every time. Of course he knew all the lyrics to Under the Sea and Be Our Guest which you couldn’t help but smile at, he was just that adorable.

And you were roped into a duet of A Whole New World. Dieter was just a big romantic at heart. It was a side of the actor no one knew or cared about.

Whenever a new horror film came out at the cinema, you were more than happy to go by yourself as you were used to that. He survived watching A Quiet Place with the volume down and praised your bravery and madness for seeing it at the cinema alone.

But when there were times when you really wanted to see a film not in the cinema and Dieter didn’t want to be alone, something to do with his love of cuddles with you or something. This would be when you’d watch it with headphones one and Dieter would be hiding his head in your lap. Most of the time you’d run your fingers through his hair, and he’d fall asleep.

He liked this.

He could get used to this.

Two years later…

“Honey cakes, I’m home!”

You practically skipped across the hallway to give your boyfriend Dieter his well-deserved welcome home hugs and kisses.

This was the best part of his day.

You were now living together in his huge house, and both couldn’t be happier. Dieter was happy to wake up next to you every day and you were happy to finally be able to watch horror films on his huge TV.

“How was the meeting with your agent?”

“Not bad. Got given this script for a TV thing to read through.”

You perked your face in interest. “Oh? Thinking of moving away from films?”

“Well, I’m told this is a pretty good script. Written by some guy named Mike Flanagan…”

You promptly screamed.

Dieter almost flew across the room; he’d never heard you scream before. And he thought he did a pretty good job in the bedroom.

“Mike Flanagan?!!!”

“Is he good?”

“Is he good?!!!”

You proceeded to grab the collar of his shirt and started shaking him in excitement.

“He makes Stephen King good, that’s how good he is!”

You’d never been rough with him before, and he liked it. A lot.

Your tiny body was bouncing around like a jellybean, you were that excited.

“You remember that film Oculus? The one with the mirror?”

“Is that the one with the hook hand guy?”

“No, that was Candyman; the second film we watched together. Oculus has that one big mirror and Karen Gillan.”

He was surprised you remembered your second date.

“Oh yeah, that one”

“And Gerald’s Game was amazing!”

“I still occasionally have nightmares about that tall man”

“Aw, I’m sorry”

You immediately hugged him, and he rubbed your back in appreciation.

“So, you think I should read the script?”

“If you get to work with Mike Flanagan, I’ll marry you!”

“Seriously?”

But you had bounced away at this point. Pouting, Dieter immediately pulled out his phone and called his agent.

“Hey, that TV thing you gave me the script for: I’ll do it, sign me up”

“You’ve already read it? That was quick”

“No, but I have it on good authority from an expert that it’ll be good, so I’ll do it”

“Alright then, but still read the script”

“Yeah, yeah of course. Hey, um…are they needing any makeup artists by the way?”

“Probably. Are you recommending your girlfriend again?”

“Well, she’s the best, and if she got to work on this job, she’d probably have my baby which sounds…nice”

Dieter was lost in this happy fantasy until his agent interrupted him.

“What was that?”

“Nothing. Gotta go. Bye!”

He quickly hung as because you had returned by then and you had that look: the look that meant he was going to be subject to a new horror themed piece of media.

“Now, I’m thinking you should at least watch one of Flanagan’s series to help with your decision and we should definitely watch Midnight Mass”

“Hang on, I’ve heard of that one. That’s the one everyone on set wouldn’t shut up about”

“Because it’s good!”

“Hasn’t it got vampires in it?”

“Yes. But it also has monologues”

This piqued his interest.

“I like monologues”

“I know you do and there’s lots in this one.”

You got up on your tiptoes to give him a kiss.

“Now, get in your favourite comfy clothes. I want us to fit in a few episodes before it gets dark.”

“Yes ma’am!”

You gave his small butt a playful slap as he walked away.

He was going to have to get out that engagement ring from its hiding spot sooner than he thought.

Films referenced: Hereditary (2018), Candyman (1992), An American Werewolf in London (1981), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Snakes on a Plane (2006), Final Destination (2000), The Shining (1980), Get Out (2017), Train to Busan (2016), The Lighthouse (2019), The Little Mermaid (1989), Aladdin (1992), A Quiet Place (2018), Oculus (2013), Gerald's Game (2017), Midnight Mass (2021)

Lovingly tagging @cevans-is-classic

[hyperfixated-on-cod]

Happy Halloween! Here’s how 141 + Los Vaqueros celebrate the spookiest day of the year 🎃 (Partially 18+ NSFW)

(DISCLAIMER: my headcanons are my own; I’m an American so some of them might be Americanized. I don’t fully know many details regarding Día de Los Muertos, so I will not in good faith speak much about it in this post)

Captain Price

He’s not dressing up BUT he does go all out decorating for it. His permanent residence, his office, and if he’s on deployment he does what he can.

Really enjoys handing out candy. He loves seeing what costumes the kids/teens come up with every year.

He’s the dad that gets angry when kids TP his house.

MIGHT let you take him to a Halloween party, and if you do get him to dress up it will be something super simple like draping a white sheet over his head and cutting out eye holes😂

If you don’t go to a party, he’ll hang with you at home and watch scary movies with you

(Personally I don’t like horror bc I get nightmares easily so I’d like to think he’s very protective and cute about it🥹)

Will absolutely rail you in your costume when the night is over. Bonus points if you dressed in something intentionally sexy.

Soap

If anything, he’s the one dragging you to a Halloween party.

He’s dressing up as Ghost. Plans WEEKS ahead of time so he can steal one of his masks, rather than making his own since he knows Ghost’s are good quality.

Wherever he ends up this night, he’s getting FUCKED up if he has nothing going on the next day.

He’s helping the kids TP Price’s house🤪

Personally, the relationship dynamic I’d have with Soap is that Halloween is one day of the year (out of a few) where he can properly slut himself out; he deserves it. Like yes bestie put on your sexy devil costume and have fun💜

At the end of the night tho, he’s in your bed doing… ungodly things to and with you 😈

Ghost

He’ll maybe let you drag him to a costume party but complains the ENTIRE time.

Under no circumstances will he dress up. “I already wear a mask everyday, so there’s no point in wearing a different one tonight.”

Would much rather stay home watching horror movies. Lights off so he’s just… sitting there… in a dark ass room… watching something unreasonably scary, like Hereditary (2018) or a classic like The Exorcist (1973).

Gaz

He’s hosting the costume party. Even if the team is deployed, he’s gonna do what he can to make the best of it.

There WILL be a costume contest and Price never wins😃 Price kind of complains a bit about it like “Ugh another year without a win😒” but never actually does anything to help himself lol

He and Soap argued over who would dress up as Ghost. Obviously Soap won eventually so Gaz is stuck tryna figure something else out.

This year, he’s dressing up as Ken, but not like in the Insufferable Straight Man Trying To Win Feminism Points kind of way.

Alejandro

Absolutely fucking KILLS IT at Gaz’s Halloween party every year and has a winning streak in the costume contest.

Always hella creative with his costumes and gets super into it. He probably makes it himself and he goes, like, full cosplay about it.

This year he’s giving… Beetlejuice vibes, don’t ask me why. Broadway!Beetlejuice, specifically. Even makes his own snake like they have on stage, but smaller so he can have it chillin on his shoulder or something.

Rudy

This year he’s dressing up as Lydia so he can match with Alejandro. Even if we’re talking RudyxReader and AlejandroxReader, he’s still gonna go matching with his bestie.

Since he and Alejandro are both Mexican, they’re observing Día de Los Muertos together and with their families.

Between the two of them, Rudy is the one decorating for Halloween because Alejandro spends so damn much time working on his costume.

Spends so much time decorating for Halloween and preparing for Day of the Dead that he nearly forgets to get a costume but it’s fine this year because Lydia from Beetlejuice is quite a simple idea and Alejandro can hem a cheap dress in an instant🥰

[dannystheone]

Hope it's okay to send this when your requests are closed, I just read your tickling isn't goth fic and my God that was so cute 🥺 is there any chance we could get a fic of Michael messing around with Pete only for Pete to remember Michael admitted he's ticklish so he retaliates?

Yes absolutely! So um I know what I said but

lol I had an idea I'M THE WORST

I've actually had this idea before but I wanted to wait until I could articulate it properly if that makes sense

I hope you enjoy :0

WARNINGS: cursing! mentions of satan and other imagery. also a lot of band references so if it's confusing I'm sorry lol

I'm More Goth Than YOU! (Lee Micheal/ Ler Pete)

This takes place during the 'Basic Cable' episode (Season 23 Episode 9). After finding out that Micheal has already talked to the new girl Sophie, Pete finds himself wanting to discuss a few things with his friend...

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"-So we just sat around and listened to Bauhaus when System of a Down came on after that. I was like, what the fuck am I listening to, you know. And they skipped the song like when it came on and it switched to another goth band but that's when I knew they were just another poser." Micheal rambled Pete's ear off while they were watching a scary movie together.

Pete was at Micheal's house as it was the start of the weekend and October, so naturally they had to kick it off right. However, watching scary movies was a year-round activity, so tonight was a bit basic by their standards. The movie of choice was Hereditary, but they've seen it so many times that they could talk and watch at the same time and not miss any beats.

Pete was zoning out if he were being honest. He had his mind set on a girl he had talked to earlier that day. Sophie Gray. She was really pretty and she seemed really cool, not unlike anyone else that went to their school. Even though she was new and Pete didn't really know her yet, he could tell that she was different. Pete laid his cheek on his fist while he thoughtlessly said the first thing that came to mind.

"I don't mind System of a Down if I'm in the right mood," Pete said honestly. Micheal turned to Pete with a look of disgust. Pete was laying on his side on the couch with his left leg bent at the knee and his right leg laid over Micheal's thigh. Micheal pushed Pete's leg off of him and crossed his arms with a sneer on his face.

"God, that's how I know you're a fucking poser," Micheal growled. That got Pete's attention. Pete looked up from the television and set his jaw in anger.

"What did you say?" Pete asked, testing Micheal. There was no way his friend would utter something like that again to his face.

"I'm just saying that no real child of darkness would be listening to something so mainstream. I've heard cheerleaders listen to Chop Suey before." Micheal said with venom in his tone.

"Oh yeah? Then how do you know a single song from the band anyway? You're a hypocrite, Micheal. Op- foreshadowing." Pete pointed to the TV where a hidden Easter egg was shown in the movie.

"Nice catch." Micheal relaxed after that. Micheal allowed Pete to put his leg back up to rest on his thigh so it wasn't hanging off the couch. It seemed like Micheal didn't want to be caught being a poser or a conformist in any way, shape, or form. Pete wondered why that was.

"So uh... that new girl at school. Sophie Gray? Talk to her yet?" Pete tested the waters with Micheal. Sophie had revealed that Micheal had already spoken to her before Pete had, and Gods knows what Micheal was saying about the people at the school. To save his own skin, Pete threw Micheal under the bus and called him a total poser. Because let's face it, no one was more goth than Pete was.

Micheal perked up at her name. "Yeah, she's pretty cool. I offered to show her around campus sometime and she started talking about Skinny Puppy. Can you believe it? She's not a conformist dickhole like every other new kid in South Park." Micheal carded his fingers through his curly hair while Pete stared back at the TV.

"Well, too bad she already accepted my invitation to show her around the school. She even said she wanted to talk later. Guess she's only into real goths." Pete was poking the bear on that one. Micheal turned to Pete with a look of thinly veiled shock.

"What? You talked to her? No way." He asked. Pete shrugged nonchalantly with a small smirk on his face.

"Yeah. She said she's not into posers. Her words." Micheal furrowed his brows at Pete's words.

"Well, I'm not a poser!" Micheal said defensively. Pete's smile only grew as he looked over his shoulder to meet Micheal's eyes.

"Then why would she say something like that? She said she doesn't like guys who try too hard." Pete's smile could be heard in his voice. Michael gave Pete an incredulous look and grabbed onto Pete's calve resting on his thigh.

"Did she actually say that Pete?" Micheal asked. Pete threw up his shoulders and turned his attention back to the TV.

"Are... Are you lying? Pete. Answer me." Pete kept a smug little grin on his face when he felt a hand squeezing the in-between spot of his knee and his thigh. Pete let out a shocked cry as he shook off the hand.

"Ah-hah! What are you doing creeper?!" Pete yelled, fighting to take his leg back. Micheal held onto his leg in a tight grip as he defended himself.

"I want you to answer me about Sophie Gray, dork! I'm not doing this 'cause I like it! Are you lying about what you said?" Micheal pressed.

Now one thing about Pete: He was a TERRIBLE liar. He could make stuff up on the spot about a story that was already established, but coming up with stuff out of thin air under pressure? He began to stutter and jerk his leg in Micheal's grip.

"I- I don't know! It's just what she said! Why do you-" Pete and Micheal both looked at the TV at the same time. The main character had passed by another Easter egg.

"Foreshadowing." They said at the same time.

They turned back to look at each other one more time before Micheal squished the inner part of Pete's knee, creeping into his inner thigh. Pete gave an inward squeak as he began giggling and kicking his leg.

"M-Mihihicheal! Stohohop! You're a weheheirdo!" Pete struggled and snickered while squirming all over Micheal's couch. Micheal hadn't heard Pete's ticklish laugh, or any laugh for that matter, since the tickling ritual at Henrietta's place a few months back. They don't really talk about that day, and for good reason.

"What, are you gonna call me a creep next? You're so mainstream it hurts, Pete. I don't know why Sophie would choose you to hang out with. If she should be hanging out with any goth at the school it should definitely be me." Micheal admitted. Pete managed an eye-roll in the midst of his tickle attack which Micheal definitely caught.

"Sounds like you're je-hehealous! Get off mehehe!" Pete snickered with Micheal grabbing both his lower thighs and squishing into the muscle. Through sheer luck (and some determination) Pete managed to sit up in a different position on the couch and grabbed Micheal by his jacket. Their small tussle took them to the floor of the living room in a bundle of pillows and blankets.

Pete thrust a hand out while blind in the flurry of objects surrounding them and just started to squish his hand over and over. Pete didn't really know why he shot his arm out to retaliate, but something in the back of his mind told him it would work.

His intuition seemed to be right as he felt the random body part he had grabbed start to shake with laughter. Pete forced himself out of the small blanket fort that had fallen on top of them and kept squeezing the body part he had in his hand.

He had Micheal's ribs in his grip, which he held onto for dear life. Satan, Micheal was a squirmer. It was like he was being electrocuted.

"Call me mainstream again, Micheal. Do it. I dare y-" Pete egged on Micheal, but he had never seen this expression on his face before. Micheal's eyes were screwed shut as he laughed out from the small amount of squeezes Pete was administering. Had Pete landed on his death spot by accident?

"Pehehete! Gehehe- *hick!* Gehehehet ohohoff- *hick!* ahahasshole! *hick!*" The sound of Micheal's hiccupy laughter filled the living room. Pete was dumbfounded. He had no idea how to react rather than to keep squeezing. Pete shoved both his hands on either side of Micheal's ribcage and scribbled his fingers into Micheal's bony frame. Micheal burst out into a fresh peal of laughter as he tried tucking his knees into his chest for protection.

"I'm gonna put you in your grave for calling me a poser, Micheal. I should record this and show it to Sophie to prove to her that you're just a ticklish conformist. I bet she'd get a real laugh out of that one. What do you think?" Pete was sure talking big words for someone who was ticklish himself. Micheal could do nothing as his head lay on the carpeted floor and laughed out.

Micheal tried fighting Pete's hands back, but that just raised his arm up and out of the way. Pete took the opportunity and shoved his hand into Micheal's armpit and simply moved his fingers in the space before Micheal snorted and squirmed underneath his friend.

"Gohohohod! Yohohohou- *hick!* yohohohou suhuhuhuhuck! *hick!* Screhehehew ohohohohoff! *hick!*" Despite his words, Pete had it hard taking Micheal seriously, seeing as he had a huge grin on his face and giggled out all of his threatening words. It didn't deter Pete of course, he's heard this all before.

"What did you say? You said I suck? You calling me a vamp kid now, Micheal?" Pete tossed his hair out of his eyes just as Micheal had managed to flip himself onto his belly and started clawing himself away from the situation. Pete launched into action as he grabbed his friend's right arm and barred it into his back.

"L-Let go of me! Sophie Gray knows I'm more goth than you, conformist! This is pointless!" Micheal shouted. Pete let out a disgusted groan as he jammed his fingers into Micheal's side, just underneath his lowest rib. If Pete thought he found Micheal's death spot before, he was dead wrong. Micheal immediately started fighting him and trying to hold back his immense giggles.

"Stahahahap! *hick!* Yohohou're fuhuhucking lahahame- *hick!* Pehehehete!" Micheal's face buried into the carpet of the living room while his shoulders jumped with laughter. Pete was a little shocked for words at how well he was taking control of the situation.

"Oh yeah, I'm lame, Micheal? I'm not the one laughing like a preppy straight-A cheerleader right now. If only Sophie were here, she could see how much of a princess you actually are." Pete had no idea where these fighting words were coming from, especially directed at someone who's always been more commonly revered among the goths AND older than him. Micheal struggled at that last remark but crumbled when he felt Pete finding the divet in his side. That was the spot right there.

"Fuhuhuhuck ohohohohoff! Yohohou- *hick!* Yohohohou're thehehe wohohohohorst! *hick!* Micheal tried lying on the side that was being tickled and swung with his free arm, but Pete was quick to grab the arm and stuff it by the other one and kept both his wrists behind his back in a vice grip. Now Pete alternated between tickling one side and switching to the other randomly.

That was cause for disaster. The randomness of the tickles in Micheal's worst spot kept him laughing as his brain was surprised at every turn where Pete would strike next. Not to mention with his increased laughter, his hiccups increased as well.

Pete could feel Micheal's legs bending at the knee and shooting out behind him over and over again as he sat on his hips. He felt all of his struggling underneath him, but his laugh was what intrigued him most. It was hiccupy yes but it was deeper than his speaking voice, and it had the same rasp to it. It would be more of a romantic laugh if it wasn't infested by those goofy hiccups.

"How much more of this do you wanna take, Micheal? You know what you have to say to get out of this. You have to say you're sorry for calling me a poser, you have to say I'm more goth than you, and you have to say Sophie Gray would prefer me over you showing her around the school cause you're a goddamn dorky ticklish conformist." Pete laid all this out while Micheal immediately started shaking his head.

"Nohohoho wahahahay!! I cahahahan't! *hick!* Ihihihihit's- *hick!* Ihihihihit's toohohohoo muhuhuhuch! *hick!*" Micheal's voice was getting weaker, maybe since he'd gotten tickled a lot longer than Pete was tickled just a moment ago. Pete decided to give Micheal a little boost. Pete let go of Micheal's hands behind his back just for Pete to grab both of his sides and scratch his blunt nails through the thin material of his blouse. Micheal let out a surprised noise as he fell back onto the carpet with his eyes screwed shut in laughter.

"Then I guess we'll stay here a while, Micheal. Say hi to Cthulu for me when you cross into the Ether." Pete flipped his hair out of his eyes while he watched Micheal manage a quick bird-flipping motion with his right hand. Pete groaned audibly as he shoved his fingers into Micheal's armpit, which made Micheal laugh hard.

"Just say you like it-" Pete was about to say before his phone chirped a notification sound. Pete looked back at his phone and decided to give Michael a break. Pete unlatched himself from Micheal's hips as he walked on his knees to read the notification. With Micheal's freedom, Micheal rolled onto his back and gulped in greedy amounts of air with a hand over his beating heart.

"You're a fucking dickhole, Pete... I swear to-" Micheal started, but Pete interrupted him.

"Oh shit. Sophie just invited me to her house. She said she wants to watch something." Pete looked over to Micheal, who was sitting up with a pained expression on his face. It was then that Micheal's phone chirped as well. Micheal pulled his phone out of his pocket and read out the message he received.

"I got an invitation too," Micheal said simply.

"What should we do?" Pete asked. Micheal started typing and sent back a message.

"I asked her what we'll watch," Micheal replied. Pete nodded and flipped his hair out of his eyes before sending the same question to Sophie.

A moment passed before both of their phones chirped at the same time.

"Mandalorian?" They both said out loud in an equally disgusted tone.

"She has a Disney Plus account?" Pete asked.

"Fucking conformist," Micheal said, displeased.

"Nope." Pete and Micheal said in unison before shutting down her invitation.

"Welp, so much for that. What should we do now?" It was then that the main character screamed from the television, grabbing both Micheal and Pete's attention.

Pete and Micheal decided to make up and spend the rest of the night watching cheesy horror movies. None of what they said they actually meant, and they really felt that way. Besides, no way a conformist could actually change the way two REAL goths thought about each other.

Pete did have some interesting stories to tell the rest of the group while Micheal wasn't around, however...

[cinderswife]

happy new year! as a treat, i have finished snow's outfits :D she's the last in the series after cinders and rose :3 as always, lore under the cut!

nude

much like cinders, snow was designed to be in compliment to rose! we know from the album that she was beautiful and had long black hair but beyond that i wanted to make sure she looked like she could feasibly be rose's sister. she is also a bear girl <3

snow is fat! it was very important to me that she was fat with stretch marks and still extremely beautiful. so, here she is !!

i gave her a beauty mark because it's very classic hollywood beauty

you also probably couldn't actually see her tail at this angle because tiny bear tail but its so cute!

since this is pre becoming general white, she's a lot softer and gentler than her sister

fun fact: snow is actually her middle name but nobody ever calls her by her first name adelaide ever

also. this woman is so busy do you think she has the time to think about her gender and sexuality ever

dressing gown

snow is exceptionally wealthy and powerful so of course she has a monogrammed silk dressing gown. she doesn't actually wear it to sleep; she overheats way too quickly so she wears very little to bed.

entering the first appearance of snow's favorite color to wear: light blue!

yes, snow is wearing a wedding ring. since she's 29 and the head of a noble house, i figured she would be married. it was an arranged marriage to darr, the youngest child of some count somewhere because ze is entirely unambitious and willing to let snow do her thing

they also have a son together. his name is eret, he is 3, he looks up to auntie rose a little too much, his favorite animals are snakes and penguins, and he will quote space-disney at you incessantly.

duchess work dress

snow is the grand duchess of the duchy of delinore. she is the only grand duchess in the entire empire; this is the title that is equivalent to crown prince. yes she is technically his majesty king cole's heir due to being the current hereditary grimm on the throne of delinore. this is mostly a ceremonial fact since his majesty is immortal. delinore is 12 inhabited planets large and covers an entire star system which makes her perhaps the most powerful woman in the galaxy. snow is very tired all the time.

i was watching disney's snow white while designing this and the next outfit; i really like the blue and yellow look on her

this is a modular outfit! she can put on and take off the vest and cape depending on how formal she needs to be.

snow wears a lot of jewelry. this earring and necklace set was an anniversary present from her spouse!

the silver circlet atop her head is that of the duchess. you'll see it in almost every other outfit afterwards; it's like a wedding ring but for her noble status

court of stars

as his majesty's heir, snow is required to take part in the irregular meetings of his majesty's inner court: the court of stars. much of the lesser laws are handled by the council of stars and the other, lesser nobility. full disclosure: snow fucking hates this. she uses her position to do much good in the world and views his majesty like an extremely shitty and powerful grandfather she has to put up with in order to do what she needs to do. if the wedding day slaughter hadn't happened, she would still have eventually caused his death through an insane game of "political assassination cat and mouse." Y'know, different from the war.

this is the evil queen type fit. i just wanted to draw her as an evil queen okay

lorewise, this is the ceremonial outfit of her status tailored to her feminine appearance. black and red cape, deep purple dress, shiny gold jewelry, all designed to be as evil as possible

the bear clasp is the same as rose's! its the grimm family's symbol (cuz. they're all bears lol)

the dress sparkles like stars

she absolutely didn't have to go this hard with the makeup but she had fun with it. a small relief when dealing with his majesty

basically i just went really hard on the star motif

the crown is the ceremonial black iron crown of the grand duke that only ever comes out in court meetings. it's a smaller version of his majesty's black iron crown. its really heavy :(

casual

the return of the blue and yellow! this is snow's favorite color combo to wear ever <3

snow likes to wear pants when she doesn't have to deal with the many duties of being the grand duchess. it's her casual fit!

this particular set of jewelry has the snowflake motif. it's extremely on the nose which is why she likes it.

i dunno what tank tops with the extra shoulder straps are called but i thought it suited her <3

she would fully wrestle rose in this fit btw. she wouldn't win but it'd be fun!

ballgown

snow's ballgown for wearing to formal events (that she typically hosts). technically she owns a lot more, but this one is representative of her usual style. the bodice is typical, though it is a bit risque because it has no sleeves. the skirt is even moreso but she pulls it off because of her status and because she is commonly named the most beautiful woman in all the galaxy.

i thought it would be fun to put her in red! its such a loaded color in ouatis but she really pulls it off

and here's the light yellow she's so fond of <3

the boots are big and shiny and quite excessive; fully a display of wealth (especially since she's showing them off)

the drape of her skirt, rather than being modest and layered like cinders', is very form fitting and attention grabbing even without the slit

she would put her hair up but i did not have the patience to try and redraw her hair more than i had to lol

the gold jewelry she wears is big and heavy and almost armor-like. she likes it a lot

she put glitter on her makeup for this one <3