#like no trying to steal ruby back or anything

[rearranging-deck-chairs]

he just pulls that entire ship down

[starkwlkr]

Hiii!well maybe mateo is a mommy boy and he don't wanna share his mum with his dad

what’s mine is mine | charles leclerc

i love ruby but i’m always down to write for mathéo <3

Charles never thought he would have to compete for the love of his life with his own son. Sure, it was all playful and pretend, but the little four year old boy thought it was real. It all started when the Leclerc family was out for lunch in sunny Monaco. Y/n had Mathéo in her arms feeding him small piece of pasta while Ruby ate hers next to Charles.

“Papa, I can’t finish this.” Ruby frowned, pushing her plate towards Charles.

“It’s okay, amour, you want more?” Charles asked. But Y/n was too busy giving Mathéo kisses. The one year old boy laughed as his mother tickled his sides. “I’ve been replaced.” He joked.

Y/n looked at Charles. “You’re both my boys. Right, Théo?”

Mathéo shook his head. “You’re my maman. Mine.”

“Hey, buddy, I got her first.” Charles poked Mathéo’s stomach which made the boy try to swat his father’s hand away.

“Mine.” Mathéo said, grabbing one of Y/n’s arms and wrapping it around him.

Charles scoffed. “Unbelievable. My son, my own son! Betrayed by my own son, what’s next? Is he stealing my Ferrari seat?”

“Yes, Fred told me.” Ruby answered from beside Charles. “If Théo drives for Ferrari, does that mean you retire?” She asked Charles.

“Théo is a baby and babies can’t drive.” Charles said to Ruby.

“They can, but Théo doesn’t want to.” Ruby stated and began to eat her pasta once again.

“I thought you said you couldn’t eat pasta anymore?”

“I didn’t say that.”

Charles knew it was almost impossible to win an argument against Ruby so he let the girl continue eating her pasta. “I’m still not done with you, mister.” He pointed a finger at his son.

Mathéo then snuggled up to Y/n and smiled innocently at his father, knowing it drove him crazy. Y/n found it amusing. Charles had Ruby, who was the worlds biggest daddy’s girl so it only made sense for Mathéo to be a huge mommy’s boy.

“It’s like he’s doing it on purpose now!” Charles told Y/n.

“He’s just a baby, Charles. Let it go.” Y/n grabbed Charles’ hand and pressed a light kiss on the back of it, but Mathéo was quick to move Charles’ hand away.

“Fine, from now on you can deal with your maman’s whining when she can’t sleep at night or when she’s grumpy in the morning or when she can’t find anything to wear or-”

“Looks like Théo is going to be sleeping in maman’s bed and papa is going to be sleeping on the couch.” Y/n teased.

“Papa can sleep on my bed!” Ruby said excitedly.

“Did you know papa snores?”

“Never mind, the couch looks comfy, papa.”

[erosiism]

DEVOTION | YANDERE NSFW

prompt: nsfw lol

character(s): emperor (claude), you

warnings(s): overstimulation, slight belly bulge kink, graphic smut, brief hand-blow job, porn without plot

note(s): male reader, second person, past tense, not beta read, sub!reader

FIND MORE MOMENTS OF CLAUDE AND THE READER HERE.

Warm fingers seemed to sear your skin. You couldn't think of anything past the lips pressed against yours.

The way Claude kissed you—you could taste it on his tongue, the ache of his desire, the heavy desperation that rushed down your throat. You trembled under his intense touch, the heaviness of his gaze as he undressed you with his eyes. You could feel your Adam's Apple bob when he pressed you flush against the silky soft sheets, his lips swollen from the earlier kiss, his ruby-red eyes gleaming.

"Y/n," Claude whispered, his fingers trailing down the expanse of your bare skin. You jolted at the touch—shivering slightly as the cool air caressed your skin. His fingers were slender and long, and the way they brushed your skin was so delicate—it was ticklish. You smiled back at him, a soft, hysterical giggle coming from your throat. 

Your laugh was magical to him. Claude smiled back, pressing a kiss onto the palm of your hand, his lips following the contours and lines of your hand.

"So?" You tilted your head, your voice breathy from anticipation and mirth, "are you planning to tell me my future? Are you trying to read my palm?"

Claude played along, his voice low and sweet. "I see your future, darling."

You smiled. "Oh?"

"It's with me," Claude whispered, smiling so bright that you couldn't help but release a disbelieving laugh. "Why? You don't think it's true?"

"Hm," you tugged him down, your fingers interlacing with his soft silver hair, "why don't you show me, Your Majesty?"

Claude kissed your jawline this time, his hair tickling your chin. "I will," he murmured, "but I want your first time to be comfortable. I don't want it to hurt. I want to savor this moment," Claude touched your skin. His taste was like wine to you: you could get drunk off it. "I yearned for you, Y/n, I craved you so, so much. I will be gentle, I promise. I will be so; so gentle."

He held you in an achingly soft embrace. Trapping you within his arms, your bare skin skimming over each other's, him painting your skin's canvas a pretty pink when he swirled his tongue around your bud, when he moved from your glistening, bitten lips to make a mess of the rest of the parts of your body. You could help but writhe under that soft touch of his—you could feel your own arousal aching between your legs, throbbing. Whatever flustered emotion you felt disguised by your teasing—it all rushed down there. Claude's grip would grow momentarily tighter whenever you would release a breathy sound—whenever your lashes would glisten with unshed tears. When he saw you in such a state, such a reserved, precious state—Claude would fall in love all over again. 

All you felt was the ever present electrifying heat that had worked its way into your insides. It was stubborn: it didn't seem like it intended to leave any time soon. Claude's own arousal pressed against your inner thighs—and god, was it large. You could not see it yet: you were facing an assault of kisses all over your face, littered on your eyelids, your cheek, your nose, then a butterfly, light one on your lips: every time you tried to open your eyes, all you could feel was the sensation of soft lips pressing against your skin.

But it pressed against you, hard and insistent. You could see the faint redness that had spread from Claude's face to his ears, his soft pants—Claude was holding back. Instead his hands would reach to stroke your hair softly, relishing in every sound, every moan that came from your pretty mouth. Claude had kissed it swollen, until the pinkness of your lips had started to swell. And he continued to do so: stealing your breath away, locking it under his own tongue. 

"Claude," you breathed out shakily, "Claude. Fuck me—please."

Perhaps a stricter, more complicated you would have almost been horrified at the directness of your language, and even the uncouthness of your language. But you felt overstimulated, your nerves jumping at every touch. Your cock was already weeping precum by then: you were in agony. You wanted to be filled. You wanted to be close with Claude, emotionally, physically, sexually. And his touch sent you in overdrive—it was so teasing, so loving—that you could cry.

"Y/n," Claude's fingers left your skin, before you felt them touch your cock, his fingers trailing over it. You have a startled gasp as you arched your back, your voice choked with the sleazy moans that left your mouth. "Be patient."

"Claude," you repeated, "please." 

Tears rimmed your vision. Claude—Claude was jerking you off, damn it. He was teasing you! Patience? What a joke. You knew that some twisted, mad part of him just wanted to see the reactions on your face. You tried to cover your face desperately with your fingers, embarrassed as you let out gasp after moan, but Claude's free hand reached out to you and tugged your fingers off. Then he jerked your cock again—and you let out a pleasured scream.

"Let me see all of it, my sweet," Claude whispered. Your cock was pained, then, when Claude's movement stopped. You were so close. You were so close. Why wouldn't Claude let you cum? This—

"You're doing this on purpose," was what you managed to say as you choked down your sobs. "You..."

"I want to see all of it. Stop covering your face with it," he repeated. And only when you obliged, unwillingly placing your hands down to fist the sheets, did he pleasure you—but this time, with this mouth.

"Claude—Claude—!"

You started to tremble. Your eyes teared up once again. You felt his lips wrap around the length and girth of your cock, his tongue sliding across it. In fact, all you could hear then, as you tried to face anywhere else but the sight of him—were obscene sounds. And pleasure was slowly building up in your gut: you let out an incoherent sound as you released, trying to wriggle yourself from Claude's grasp in embarrassment. But Claude instead—

"Why—" You spluttered, "don't swallow it, it's dirty!"

"I want all of you with me," Claude murmured, before he smiled softly. "Why? Did it not feel good?" He tapped your cock, which betrayed you. "You're still hard."

"I told you," you felt his hands skim against yours, lacing around your fingers. "I wanted you to—"

"Y/n," Claude told you, "I...I didn't want to rush it. I want this—I want this to last, Y/n—I want you to enjoy every bit, every moment. I am not selfish enough to fulfill only my desires. And you have no idea, Y/n, how long I've wanted to make love to you. How long I've wanted to fuck you: to put some permanent imprint on you that you belong to me; you are mine, irreversibly mine, and I will forever be yours..." Claude paused.

 His eyes seemed to darken—almost—and you swallowed as you saw his mouth open. His voice was low, almost guttural, almost menacing—as he spoke. "Which is why I'm sorry, Y/n. I don't think I can keep my promise to be gentle. I told you earlier I would be gentle. But I fear I can't. It's impossible."

That's when he started to straighten his back, and then your mouth nearly dropped open. Yes, Claude was the Emperor—yes, he was powerful, he was good-looking, ethereal, even, but gods really had their favorites. That—

That was monstrous.

And it would be the cock that would split you open.

Claude took the lube by the drawer, before spreading it generously on his fingers, and then his cock. It wasn't just the length of it: it was the girth too, the veins that ran along its side. It was erect—so swollen, so restrained—you could see the beads of sweat that ran down Claude's face along with his hazy gaze that came with this holding back.

He pressed his fingers against your hole—one was fine, two—then three—you made another incoherent sound. "Claude," you started to tremble, "wait, wait..."

"It will be a problem," Claude murmured softly, "if you cannot even deal with three."

You thought back to his size.

He was right.

When you offered no protest, Claude started to thrust his fingers within—he wanted to explore every inch inside, he wanted to find that pleasurable spot that would have you crying his name out in pure pleasure. He wanted to prepare you. He did not want you in pain; but god, he wanted so desperately to slam his throbbing cock into you, feel as your walls clenched around him, revel at the sight of your ecstasy when he caught sight of his cock sliding in and out of you at rapid pace. He wanted that so greedily, so badly. He wanted his name to be ripped from your throat. 

With a pop, he slid his fingers out. Claude could not wait much longer—it was physically painful, now, to see your hole, pink and glistening, not being speared open by him. Not just by his fingers. He wanted to see the physical evidence: he wanted to see the bulge of your belly when he entered you.

Claude Valeria had always been selfish. In his previous life, he had been so selfish. And now he would be selfish in his desire: his ravenous, barely whetted hunger. He had already tasted you, and now he would taste the pleasure dancing on his tongue when he entered you.

"Claude," you started to beg, feeling as his strong, scarred hands lifted your hips up to meet his cock—you started to murmur his name feverishly, like it was a mantra to live by. "Claude."

"I know, darling," Claude whispered, "I know my love, my sweet. I know."

It seemed that every string of restraint was broken when Claude slammed into you—you let out a high, breathy moan when you felt your hips shudder beneath him. With words failing to form, all you could do was bury your face into Claude's shoulder. Claude took that as a sign to keep going—he continued to press further into you, the slide slick with the excess lube he had spread. Your walls were spasming, taut and tight around Claude's large circumference. You were panting desperately to accommodate his engorged size: you clawed at his back desperately, tears running fully down your red cheeks. 

His brutal pace continued: you felt Claude's own breaths right by your ear, one hand splaying over your stomach, pressing at where the outline of the cock distended the skin. The other one continued to brush your tears away. You looked up to see Claude's hungry gaze, the silver hair that was now slick, pressed against his neck. Claude Valeria looked debauched—but his state was far better than yours. Marks were displayed over your skin, pink, red, and there was bruising at your hips. Your neck was littered with precious hickeys. Your lips were bitten and raw.

All those fleeting touches—it was nothing compared to this.

Dimly, it hit you that it didn't hurt the slightest bit. Even after that impossible size—even after that relentless, reckless pace—it didn't hurt. And it was terrifying to know that your pleasure had overridden whatever pain that was supposed to come with it—and it made you feel hot and bothered all over, the thought of being so cored out as Claude bottomed out within you, that you were being shaped and reshaped. That Claude had reshaped your hole just so it could fit him, and only him, that your hole molded with Claude's oscillating shape.

"Claude," you cried, that pretty sound ripping itself from your throat. "Claude." You felt like you were too far gone to even utter out that single syllable: but you couldn't help it. The hands that treated you so softly, so tenderly—it belonged to Claude. There was so much of Claude, everywhere: his scent, his cock that was punching into you, the marks that belonged to him. You felt him everywhere, you felt Claude's own heart beating fast when you pressed against his chest. 

Incoherent sounds kept slipping from your mouth, and the moan you made was breathless when you finally felt warmth pouring into you, Claude's body trembling against yours as his cock spasmed within you, filling your insides. You felt so full: you felt the searing heat that spread all the way to the tips of your own cock—you felt yourself drunk on your release, on the sweet warmth within you. The ecstasy tipped you over: your hands reached out to tug at Claude weakly, until his head was at your shoulder, his breaths next to your ear. His heartbeat resonated with yours as his hand wrapped around you.

Distantly, you could feel Claude holding you tenderly, whispering sweet nothings. "You were so wonderful," Claude whispered, his voice muffled. "You were so good. Just for me, darling. So; so pretty." Claude lifted his head from your shoulder, and pressed his forehead against your own. Your breaths intermingled and coalesced, growing softer with the lull of sleep. Both of your bodies had boneless collapsed against the soft sheets, but still Claude held you gently, pressing kiss after kiss on your mark-ridden skin.

"I love you, Y/n," Claude said softly, a warm, small smile on his face. 

Your eyes fluttered shut. You laughed softly and breathlessly as you felt his lips on yours, punctuating your answer. "I love you too."

i haven’t written smut in ages, so hopefully this wasn’t rusty or anything haha

like/reblog! comment if you want, it would be appreciated!

[yrbladie]

♡ ﾟ˖ ॱ ▎HOW DO THEY MEET AND FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU .ㅤPT 1ㅤ𝅄 🌿 ꒱

˖ ࣪ diluc, wriothesley

warnings ：fluff, implied marriage, gn!reader, a tad bit of humor, pining, slight mention of blood (diluc), enemies to lovers kinda situation and teasing (wriothesley), maybe ooc idk, non fluent writer

ㅤThe way you both met was still quite a sore spot for you to talk about. Not because it was in a bad way, of course, it was just a little bit embarrassing, to you at least.

ㅤYou, a new person in Mondstadt, just having moved recently to the City of Freedom, felt like the customs should be learned. And what better costume the people of Mondstadt had than dancing?

ㅤAt least that was what the bard in the tavern told you, as he gathered everyone around together for some dance practice classes.

ㅤLike he said, "there was nothing better than learning together with your friends".

ㅤThe only thing he seemed to have forgotten is the crucial fact that you didn't have any friends yet.

ㅤAt the end of the selection, you were by yourself, completely embarrassed to not have managed to find a partner yet.

ㅤThe bard instead quickly said he had forgotten about you and decided to partner you up with someone himself, stopping you from leaving the place altogether to hide in your house for the next week.

ㅤAnd it just so happened that at the same time, Diluc Ragnvindr, as you knew him, passed by. His red locks of hair swaying in the wind.

ㅤAnd in a second, somehow the bard had managed to drag the man out of his duties to your side, a boyish smirk on his lips. Diluc seemed to be complaining that he had no intention of being part of the event whatsoever, but unfortunately for him, he had no choice in the matter.

ㅤHis murderous glances towards the bard dressed in green did not pass unnoticed by your eyes but you couldn't say anything before that ruby gaze turned to you.

ㅤDespite feeling completely speechless before the man you so heard of, all you could think was how you've never seen such beautiful eyes before.

ㅤIt took a while to notice that he was also staring quietly at you. Just you both, standing awkwardly by each other's side with shy shared glances here and there.

ㅤBut as the bard started the dance practice, every partner having their own fun. Friends, lovers and strangers gathered around under the same music and happiness, the tension between you both finally eased a tad bit, just enough.

ㅤ"Well, since we're already here. Care to share this dance with me, master Diluc?"

ㅤYou asked, a grin dancing in your lips, as you extended one of your hands to him.

ㅤAnd contrary to all of your expectations, having heard only rumors about him, the man they called ruthless and cold, grinned back at you. It was just for a few seconds, but it was more than enough to steal your breath away.

ㅤ"I suppose we could try, yes." And you thought you caught some sort of quiet confidence in his tone. Like he had practiced years for this.

ㅤWell, dancing was never your forte but it was probably not that hard to learn in a few seconds, right?

ㅤThat was what you thought before the missteps started to happen, of course.

ㅤ"Do not mind me." He said, but you felt desperate each time he winced as you stepped on his feet in the middle of a dance step.

ㅤAnd you found yourself admiring him for how well and flawlessly he sometimes managed to dodge your fumbled steps. His composure never wavering as he kept guiding you through a steady dance.

ㅤYou felt like Diluc could as well be your savior. The savior to your already nonexistent reputation that is.

ㅤEven if you stepped on his feet one too many times, instead of being annoyed as he would have been were it anyone else, Diluc found it endearing.

ㅤHe had to lean over you so that you wouldn't see his own small smile as you fretted over him, asking if his feet hurt. It did, but there's no need to mention that.

ㅤAt the end of the dance, Diluc had held your hands one second longer than he should have, and you also didn't feel like ending this so quickly.

ㅤSo you called out for him.

ㅤ"Let's meet again. I think I still don't get this dance."

ㅤAnd he smiled. You had no idea if this was a good or bad thing for your poor heart.

ㅤEveryone knows that fire burns fast and ruthlessly, taking away what it needs before disappearing with the break of dawn. But Diluc's love was the opposite.

ㅤIt was slow, hesitant. Carefully blooming like a fragile Small Lamp Grass in the soft glow of first-time affection. Diluc carried these emotions like a delicate dance of vulnerability and anticipation.

ㅤLike a steady flame, casting a warm glow over the tapestry of you both interwoven destinies.

ㅤThe touch of hands became a silent agreement, a subtle acknowledgment of emotions too profound to articulate. In the gentle ebb and flow of your interactions, a slow crescendo of emotions built, resonating with the innocence of a love untouched by the scars of the past.

ㅤYou both were so oblivious, despite the greetings that turned to hugs that lasted longer each time and the shared glances at each other's eyes for a moment too long. Small things that all seemed to notice but the both of you.

ㅤSo much so, that even Venti, the bard you've grown to know and whose presence was always within the vicinity, one day commented that you should invite him to your wedding next time, and immediately in the next second he was kicked out of the tavern.

ㅤDiluc felt himself slowly learning about the intricate nuances of what love was. Of what it could be.

ㅤYou taught him that love didn't always end on a rainy day, and that your blood would never stain his hands.

ㅤHe grew under your touch, with a newfound confidence of a love well nurtured slowly with the pass of time.

ㅤEven if you stepped on his feet a million times and by the end of this dance you both called love his feet felt beyond salvation, Diluc still knew that his love for you would never waver.

ㅤAnd he would keep teaching you just as much as you do for him, so that one day, when the dawn comes and you're both by the kitchen, quietly sharing smiles and your bodies are once again intertwined in an unfaltering dance, in a time where none of you have to worry about duties anymore, you won't step on him again.

ㅤAs the warm morning dew cast its light over the shared rings on your hands, Diluc didn't want to believe in gods, but he still had to thank Barbatos for bringing you to him on that day. With all your giggles and bright eyed smiles.

ㅤYou were his savior and his redemption, just as much as he was yours.

ㅤWriothesley, the so famously known Duke of the Fortress of Meropide and also your worst declared enemy.

ㅤYour friends would always tell you that it was an exaggeration, that it wasn't that bad. You both seemed to actually work very well together. But you begged to differ from their opinions.

ㅤYou are the secretary in the Palais Mermonia, working directly under orders of the Judge, Monsieur Neuvillette himself. A quite noble position if you were to say so yourself, in fact.

ㅤBut Wriothesley seemed to somehow doubt your high position as he kept asking you to simply do favors for him, taking advantage of the fact that he was 'close friends' with the Iudex.

ㅤYou dreaded each time Monsieur Neuvillette asked you to bring some documents over from the Fortress, meaning you would have to talk with the Duke too.

ㅤAnd you knew, each time you went there, that man had something in store for you. Just like the first time you both met.

ㅤ"You must be the secretary, right? Can you do me a favor then, and bring me a cup of tea?"

ㅤHe had said back then, and there was nothing more you wished than to wipe that wolfish grin from his lips with your own two hands.

ㅤHe seemed to get off on the exact fact that you would snap at him and get angry, like he reveled in your disappointed expressions and bitter stares.

ㅤAnd it seemed that each time you visited, no matter how much you refused — and perhaps that was the exact reason the man decided to try even more— the requests became more and more unusual.

ㅤ"Let me take you out on dinner."

ㅤYou didn't even know how he could be so shameless while asking this, but you still blatantly refused his approaches each time with fierceness.

ㅤAnd you told yourself each time, oh how you hated him.

ㅤInstead, all you didn't know was that Wriothesley thought of you the exact opposite of what you imagined.

ㅤSince the first time the Duke saw you, your tight and serious expression and the bags under your eyes, he had decided that he needed to see you smile at least once, no matter what.

ㅤThat's why he kept sending multiple letters to Neuvillette, practically begging the Iudex to send you once more, telling him of how much of a good work you did unlike all the other secretaries and how he still had forgotten to send him just one more document.

ㅤAll lies of course, but you can't blame a man for trying at least a bit.

ㅤHe had been enamored by you since the first time you walked in his office. The tenacity and unyielding confidence in your steps and speech.

ㅤWriothesley, and perhaps you, hadn't even realized how intertwined you two were, being part of each other's daily lives.

ㅤHadn't even realized how, slowly and steadily, something new was being shaped.

ㅤWith each sharp gaze of yours that made Wriothesley's heart skip a beat, and each argument that would slowly turn into a playful banter that had you almost lose your facade of sternness and harshness, you both were becoming soft for each other.

ㅤUntil one day, you went to visit him yourself, outside of the duties you held so passionately to yourself.

ㅤYou were also surprised at how easy the path was, and how earnest your steps had become after all these months of endless back and forth.

ㅤBut nothing could top the astonished and dumbfounded look that the Duke of Meropide himself had given you when you entered his office, not wearing your usual confident expression and work clothes.

ㅤ"Are… you free right now?"

ㅤYou had asked him, your fingers trembling behind your back, hating how shy your voice sounded for some reason.

ㅤAgainst your expectations, as always, Wriothesley found a way to surprise you. He recovered quickly from the awed state, promptly getting up from his chair at once and making his way to you, a reassuring smile on his face.

ㅤHe had never looked so happy ever since you met him.

ㅤ"For you? Always."

ㅤSo the both of you left the cold office with warmness in your hearts. Together, side by side.

ㅤHe even gave a try to holding your hand once before you slapped it away.

ㅤWell… small, baby steps, he supposed.

ㅤAnd Wriothesley decided that it was always worth it to have to spend the entire night finishing the documents due tomorrow if it meant having you for the entire day.

💙 Part 2 will feature Neuvillette and Thoma.

[herdarkestnightelegance]

"Careful, I Bite"

My First - Part 1/3

Pairing: Astarion/ AFAB!Tav (you)

Warnings/tags: 18+, virginity, vulnerability, sexual tension, mature conversations and flirting, vaginal masturbation, explicit sexual fantasies (PiV), Act 1 spoilers

Length: ~ 5.5k words (they just keep getting longer, don’t they?)

Summary: Unable to resist his charms, you grow close with your handome, vampiric travel companion. Very close. The thing is just ... you've never been with anyone before ...

A/N: It's happening! My first venture into 🌶️ territory! Please know: No PHD thesis ever had this much lively back and forth and discussion as this fic! Thank you @nyx-knox for being the GOAT of beta-readers on what is basically group-project at his point and for your constant support and reassurance 🩷

Taglist: @wilteddreamsofbaldursgate , @littlelovelore, @onlyancunin @chaoticbardlady99 @ancuninfiles

:::::::

You have never felt this weird kind of nervousness before. 

It’s not the kind of suspense you feel before entering a dungeon full of goblins. It’s not the kind of pressure you feel when the eyes of your companions turn to you, awaiting a decision. No. This is a different, unfamiliar kind of stimulation to your nerves. It’s warm, yet tingly, it’s at the back of your mind constantly, making you smile one moment, then shake your head the next trying to escape the feeling. You find it increasingly difficult to think of anything else, even now while you are sitting on a log, warming yourself on your camp’s little fire. This has been going on for a few days now. And it’s entirely Astarion’s fault.

Astarion. The charming, flirty and admirably witty Vampire you’ve found yourself increasingly drawn to more and more with each passing day.

If you’re being honest … you kinda hated him when you first met. Headbutting him in the face was less than what he deserved for putting a knife to your throat! But you quickly understood that he was simply being cautious, scared, just as you’ve all been.

Everyone had been on edge the entire time as you tackled a whole cascade of challenges on your ongoing quest to find a cure: stopping druid rituals, fighting hags and harpies, vanquishing a whole camp of goblins. But throughout all of those adventures, you had noticed Astarion slowly gravitating towards you, closer and closer. And you found that you, too, were gravitating towards him. Which scared the absolute shit out of you.

When you woke up with his handsome face so close to yours that one night, you almost jumped out of your skin. His cool body hovering over yours, his breath on your neck … it immediately sent your mind - and your body - into overdrive.

Honestly? When you learned he was a vampire and that he was simply trying to drink your blood, you were almost relieved. Or … were you disappointed? You couldn’t tell. Because what you thought was going on for a split second was that Astarion - strange, intriguing Astarion - was actually trying to kiss you. And you didn’t entirely hate that thought? Right on the contrary! 

The thing was just that, well, you have never actually been kissed by anyone before.

While you were no stranger to pleasure, knowing full well how to take excellent care of yourself, you have never been in this position. With another person this close to you while you lay on your back. So many things raced through your mind when that admittedly devastatingly beautiful man knelt so close to you. You wanted to slide out from under him as quickly as you could. You wanted to slap him for not asking to kiss you first. And you also wanted him to pin you down on your bedroll and succeed in stealing that kiss from you. So badly. 

That thought was pushed to the side, though, when he revealed his vampiric nature to you. For the first time since you met on that beach, you felt like you were glimpsing a bit of him, the real him beneath that debonair facade. And you liked that he was confiding in you specifically. Those ruby eyes pleading for your help, his urgent voice trying to explain his situation, and his disarming charm, asking if you could trust him just a little further. Even though you were angry that he didn’t ask before he tried biting you, you knew you would have said yes if he had. And then …

“Let’s make ourselves comfortable, shall we?”

Your heart was racing a thousand beats an hour when you laid down back on your bedroll. You felt your cheeks flush, mixed with a tingling, cool nervous sensation on your skin. When Astarion leaned over you once more, one arm on each side of your head, you caught your breath. This felt so intimidating … so intimate. You felt exposed, excited, nervous, scared. And you wanted this. This was so unlike you. It was far more usual for you to be refusing the physical advances of others. But you didn’t want to refuse him. In fact, for the first time, you felt the exact opposite of your usual inclination. You wanted to allow him closer.

Astarion took up your entire field of vision, or at least it felt like all you could see was him. The way he held your gaze steadily made it impossible to look anywhere else. He had a soft, reassuring and thankful smile on his lips … and next thing you knew his fangs were piercing your skin. 

It hurt. At least for a moment. Your mind was racing, trying to take all of this in, all these new sensations: The ice-cold feeling of his fangs inside you, his body on top of yours, his cool lips touching and sucking on your warm skin, his increasingly heavy breathing so close to your ear, the pain … and the pleasure. 

When you felt him gently cupping the back of your head, you were about ready to actually kiss him. Feeling pressure building in your core, your legs began pressing together of their own volition, causing little jolts of lust to course through you as you felt a familiar heat rising between your thighs. You desperately wanted to wrap your arms around him, to sink your fingers into those beautiful white curls of his, give in to that delicious pain, wanting him to do more, to go further.

But instead you felt your head go woozy, snapping you out of your thoughts. No, this was too much. So you told him to stop, pushed him away gently yet firmly. You were panting, and so was he. He looked so radiant at that moment, so strong. It made you forget the pain in your neck, the way the world spun around you. He looked so happy, and you did that for him.

When Astarion turned around to leave, he stopped and thanked you, telling you he wouldn’t forget this gift you have given him. And you knew, neither would you. How in the Hells were you supposed to sleep now? After that? After you felt the weight of his body on yours, felt his soft lips on your skin, after being so close you smelled the slight perfume of … something herbal and citrusy? Gods!

You laid back down on your bedroll and for at least an hour you couldn’t sleep, your companions breathing calmly around you, unaware of what had happened. All you could think about was the image of Astarion, that little smile right before he bit into your neck, his hand caressing the back of your hair ever so slightly… 

You let out a sharp breath, feeling the slickness between your thighs. Might as well ... 

You unlaced the front of your trousers, looking around to your sleeping companions, who mercifully had either their backs turned or at least their heads facing away from you. You would just have to get this over with quickly. Biting your lips, you made yourself comfortable once more. 

Practiced fingers slid below the fabric and to the folds between your legs, finding them already wet and ready for some much-needed attention. You closed your eyes and sighed as you began touching yourself, massaging your clit as you had done many times before. The thing that was new, though, was the image in your mind: 

Ruby eyes piercing into yours with a desire so fierce it almost takes your breath away. You're lying naked next to the fire, a pale, equally naked, slender body between your open legs. And then the feeling of fangs penetrating your skin as Astarion’s cock penetrates you. A delighted smile flickered across your lips, both in your dream and in real life. “Look at you, my sweet Darling.” Astarion’s voice purrs into your ear, as he thrusts himself all the way into you, stretching you deliciously. “You are taking me so well.” Slowly he begins to roll his hips, knowing how to move just the way you want it, his thrusts quickly growing faster.

The pace of your own fingers grew faster alongside your fantasies, as you imagined what it would be like having him inside you, fucking you, filling you completely. A little whimper escaped your lips, it was hard to stay silent with your imagination running wild. 

“Gods, you’re so tight, my love,” he says as he spreads your legs even further, exposing you, watching your juices run down the inside of your thighs, angling himself perfectly to be able to fuck you even deeper, harder, more. He wants you, just as you want him. It’s almost too much, your inexperienced body barely able to handle his expert movements. And you feel the familiar coil tightening inside you. “Astarion …” you whisper, desperately holding on to his soft white curls.

“Yes, my love?”, he asks, kissing the small wounds he’s made on your neck.

“Cum … cum inside me ... please,” you beg between his hard thrusts, as you feel yourself edging towards your climax. And just as the both of you come undone in unison, and you feel him unloading his thick seed inside of you, he bites down on your neck once more, causing you to moan out his name - and it’s music to the pale Elf’s pointy ears.

Unable to stop it, a little moan escaped you in the real world as well. Slapping your free hand over your mouth, you are pretty sure it really was his name that escaped your lips into the silent night around you. But the surprise at your own sound was swept away by the waves of your orgasm as it rolled through you, causing your hips to quiver a few times, before your breath began to calm, and you fell into relaxed bliss. 

You pulled your hand free from your pants and wiped it on the grass next to your bedroll, feeling a lot more relaxed. Wouldn’t that be something, you thought as you lay down on your side. Actually getting closer to the mysterious vampire, getting to know the person you glimpsed a bit of today. Closing your eyes, you thought that, yes, you would really like that. 

Oh no. You felt your stomach drop in surprise and your eyes shot open in realization. You wanted to get to know the real him? You wanted to get closer to him? You wanted to be more… intimate with him? It was then that it dawned on you… you were slowly but surely starting to fall for the disarming vampire. 

Fuck.

:::::::

His blood was just starting to slow from his hunt, but his vampiric senses were still alert, sharper than usual. So Astarion’s pointed ears heard it before he even reached the camp. The rustling of the bedroll, the rapid breathing, the suppressed whimpers. Somebody was having a bit of fun.

Making sure to stay concealed by the darkness of the treeline, he looked towards the figures lying by the fire. Oh? Not wanting to disturb the vision before him, he stopped moving. Had anyone looked in his direction, they would have seen his eyes reflecting the soft light of the camp-fire like two tiny round mirrors. What do we have here? His ruby eyes locked onto Tav as they tried to keep their pleasured movement on the bedroll to a minimum. What a delicious sight that was. 

Astarion had known Tav had gotten quite attached to him, most likely falling for his wit and charm - and obviously his looks - as most did. Otherwise, why would they have allowed him to drink from them? And it was amazing, drinking from them, too. Astarion licked his lips at the memory. Tasting the blood of a thinking being, tasting them. It had been … so intimate. Better than he had ever imagined. He usually only pretended to enjoy the closeness of other people. But not Tav. He couldn’t have picked a better person to be his first.

Frankly, he even enjoyed their company, such as it was. And he knew they enjoyed his company as well. But this? This was a display he hadn’t anticipated. At least not yet.

Shaking his head ever so slightly in disbelief, Astarion was almost impressed by the bold endeavor: Tav, pleasuring themselves out in the open by the campfire? Sure, everyone was asleep, but anyone could awaken any moment from their little moans and catch those fingers dancing amongst their folds. If Tav was this desperate to release their need for him after he’d fed from them earlier in the night, they must desperately want him. A scheming grin grew on his face as he realized… This could work.

He was sure the others in the camp would know about his condition by morning. And knowing full well that people don’t trust vampires - perhaps understandably - he needed to be sure Tav was on his side. Tav was their fearless leader and fierce protector. They may have unwillingly slipped into that role, but they had sway with and the trust of everyone in camp, including him if he was being honest. If Tav kept him under their wing… he wouldn’t get flocked or kicked out. He’d be the first one protected, heard out in every conversation, involved in every plan the group made, and therefore… powerful by association. Safe.

All it would take would be what he had done for 200 years already: some casual seduction and an offer for one night of mind-blowing ecstasy to lock himself into that kind of ideal position. 

Tav’s breathing grew faster then, the smell of their arousal and pumping blood slowly beginning to fill Astarion’s head, breaking his concentration for a moment, his attention now fully on the show in front of him. It was then, as Tav climaxed, trying to suppress a moan, that Astarion heard it. Clear as day. Between the whimpering and exhalation: His name, cried from their lips.

And just like that… Astarion had laid out his nice, simple plan. Oh this would be easy.

:::::::

The next morning you could barely bring yourself to look him in the eye. He was your - almost - innocent traveling companion, and you had thought of him for your dirty little fantasy. You knew this was going to drive you crazy! So you promised yourself you would stop this, trying to cushion the fall as you were definitely falling for him. But when Astarion asked you how you’ve been feeling after the bite, with his trademark smile and his charming words, your nice, simple plan fell apart instantly when you heard yourself offer your neck to him again for tonight. As he happily accepted, your heart leapt in your chest.

Things only progressed from there. Between your party’s adventures, the fighting, tending to each other's wounds, laughing with (and sometimes about) Gale, and watching Shadowheart and Lae’zel bickering with each other, you and Astarion … connected. As you began to share your stories, laugh more at each other’s quippy jokes, indulge in witty banter with every conversation that sparked between you two, you started to see more of that man that you had glimpsed that night he first bit you. Beneath the well-crafted, snarky, and charismatic facade was someone who had endured horrors you couldn’t even imagine. Beneath his undeniably stunning looks, you saw the whole picture - the flawed, broken, resilient, complex person that he was. You began caring for him so deeply, more and more each day. You were falling for him… oh, you were falling for him hard.

Many nights you spent taking care of the desire that Astarion had been fueling inside of you. It was almost embarrassing how much you were pining for him, each night in your bedroll by the fire or in your tent, where you so often wound up with shaky legs and wet fingers. You imagined his hands were the ones roaming over your body, knowing every sensitive spot, his fingers sliding inside you, curling just right, making you gasp and shiver with pleasure. And his voice in your ear, whispering all the filthy things he wants to do to you, will do to you. He was inside your head, and you truly began to yearn for him to be inside your body, too.

Oh, how your body reacted to him whenever he was close and Gods, you really hoped he could not sense it. When he chose to sit next to you by the fire, even though there was plenty of space elsewhere, you imagined his hand sliding around your neck to pull you into a deep, passionate kiss. When he would pick pieces of foliage - or goblin guts - from your hair or stand so very close to you while helping you into your armor, you imagined him pulling you behind the closest tree and taking you right there and then. And the fact that he was so openly, outrageously flirtatious with you, and only you, saying all the right things at the right time, didn’t help either. It drove you crazy with confusion, with adoration and with desire.

So when a celebration was in order after your party had succeeded in vanquishing the entirety of the goblin camp and its leaders, you found yourself sauntering over to Astarion’s tent. You were nervous, more so than ever, but there was a strange confidence roaring within you. With spirits so high, the blood still running hot from today’s victory, you felt this might be the night. You wanted it to be. And you wanted it to be with Astarion.

You were sipping from his wine bottle to calm your nerves, when he actually, finally, suggested that the two of you could make your own entertainment. It was like the surrounding music faded away, replaced by the sound of your blood pumping in your ears. The honeyed words from Astarion’s beautiful lips promised you things that made your knees weak.This was what you wanted, what you had been waiting for.

So … you agreed. 

Part of you even appreciated that he made it clear where the both of you stood at all times. He told you that he liked you, that he came to enjoy the whole package, assured you that if you wanted to - and you did - the two of you could lose yourself in your own little piece of nowhere. But he never promised it would be a committed arrangement. And honestly, with the tadpole inside your head, the descent into the Underdark before you and with the whole party looking to you as their leader, you kind of appreciated that there were no strings attached.

When you found yourself walking through the trees and brush towards the clearing after everyone had gone to bed, you felt equal parts excited and nervous. Yes, you wanted to do this, you wanted for your first time to be with Astarion, but that didn’t mean you weren’t scared as all Hells. From everything he’d told you, from the way he came on to you, there was no question as to how experienced he was and what he expected to happen tonight. “And I do mean sex, to be clear. We’ve waited long enough.” And that you had indeed. You’d waited long to find a man you felt this good with, this close and attracted to. 

So when you stepped into the clearing and Astarion came out from behind the tree trunk bare chested in only his breeches, your mouth ran dry at the sight of him. Gods, he was the most beautiful person you have ever seen.

“There you are…”, he said, and your whole body trembled at the sultry sound of his voice. You could see it already - lying on the soft grass beneath him, under the stars, allowing him to kiss you, touch you, trusting him to take you places you’ve only ever been in your wildest fantasies. “I’ve been waiting…”, he continued. “...Waiting, since the moment I set eyes on you. Waiting to have you.” 

His voice was so deep and sensual - but suddenly the nervousness in the back of your mind began to overwhelm you. Had he? Had he really been waiting for you? Your already pounding heart began skipping a few beats at a time, fluttering at the thought. What if … you disappointed him? What if he left this clearing tonight feeling as though the wait hadn’t been worth it?

And just like that, you were not so sure about this anymore. Oh no.

You couldn’t do this, could you? Look at him! He’s beautiful! Were you beautiful enough for him? Why was he even looking into your direction with Shadowheart and Wyll around? You’re absolutely no match for them. And he clearly knows what he’s doing and what he’s expecting is likely far more than you can give. What in the Hells could you possibly offer him? What if he didn’t like being with a novice like you? What if he didn’t like what he saw when you lay naked in front of him? Gods, you wanted him! But how much fun and pleasure would you be able to realistically provide for him, really? After all, you had no idea what to do, you have never even kissed anyone before!

You looked up into those ruby eyes, looking for reassurance, for safety, and found them… painfully devoid of that spark you came to love. You froze. His beautiful words suddenly felt so flat, calculated, and practiced. You didn’t know if it was your sudden wave of nerves preventing you from going through with this, but you knew then at that moment… this wasn’t right. No, he didn’t truly want this.

“Hold on - I’m not sure about this,” you quickly said. That seemed to bring Astarion back to you - but not in the way you would have liked.

“Then what are you doing here?” Astarion’s surprising shift in demeanor caught you off guard. You took a step back, not expecting him to talk to you in that tone. His voice almost sounded condescending, indignant. Just like that, your walls that the vampire had managed to take down brick by brick over the past weeks began rising back up again. “I thought we had an … understanding.” You took another step back when Astarion’s whole posture changed, going from seductive to dismissive. As if, now that he couldn’t have you, he had no use for you anymore and by doing so he tapped straight into your biggest worry with pinpoint precision. You felt the impossible urge to explain, to salvage whatever tonight would have been.

 “I-I know, I’m sorry …”, you stammered helplessly. “It’s just… Do you really want to do this?” Astarion tilted his head, his frown deepening. 

“Now why would you think I didn’t, after all this?” He sounded irritated as he flung his arms wide, gesturing to nothing in particular.

“I don’t know. Maybe you feel like you have to do this? Like - as payback for me letting you drink from me? Because I promise, you don’t have to, I don’t need anything in return.” 

Astarion crossed his arms and cocked his hip, sneering down at you.

“Listen, just say the word and we can call it a night.” You were desperately looking for the right words, only for Astarion to speak before you could say anything. “But if you want to back out, don’t use me as an excuse for it. You’ve wasted enough of my time already.” 

His words felt like a slap in the face.

“I’m just not sure if I can give you what you are expecting, what you want.” Gods, you hated how desperate your voice sounded.

“But why? What exactly is your problem?”Astarion kept pushing and something inside you snapped.

“Because I’ve never DONE any of this before, alright?!”

The words exploded right out of you. The amount of emotions you were feeling at that moment was overwhelming: anger at him, disappointment in yourself, sadness about how this night suddenly took such a turn. You stared at him, breathing hard, your cheeks flushing. Neither of you spoke, Astarion only looking at you with an unreadable expression on his face. 

“I… I am going back to camp,” you eventually said before finally forcing yourself to turn and leave. 

Gods.

This had been a disaster. This was not how this should have gone! This should have been a night - your first night - of passion, exploration and fun with this Elf you truly cared for - and who now was most certainly angry and annoyed with you for ruining his night. Did you overthink it? Should you have just gone through with it? What if whatever you and Astarion had built over the course of these last few weeks was now shattered beyond repair? How could you have pushed him away in a moment that should have been so pleasurable, so intimate? 

Getting sleep was not easy that night. And the next day, you and Astarion didn’t exchange a single word. You knew your companions noticed. They knew something was going on between the two of you - but they were kind enough to let the matter rest and not ask you about it as you packed up your belongings and headed towards the empty Goblin Camp to enter the Underdark. With all enemies already vanquished, the day was uneventful, which made the silence between you and the vampire seem even more deafening.

:::::::

How, how could he have missed that? Astarion couldn’t get that question out of his head.

It was the one question that had been whirling around in his head all day while the party had continued towards the Underdark, tensely ignoring the silence between him and Tav, who usually were bantering lightheartedly all the time. 

Astarion watched them as they suggested setting up the camp for the night, the last night under the open sky for who knew how long.

How had he not picked up on Tav’s inexperience? He normally could smell a virgin from miles away! He knew the shy looks, the aversion to touch and his advances. But Tav? They threw him for such a loop! They gravitated towards him. And honestly … he liked that.

Besides, he figured virgins didn’t understand pleasure, didn’t know how to pleasure themselves. But Tav obviously did! He had heard them moan his name, seen proof of their knowledge of their own body with his own eye. But most importantly: proof of their desire for him.

Astarion’s mind whirled as he paced in his tent. Why did they have to tell him that? 

It should have been so easy. It should have been a plain-and-simple, routine night of sex and pleasure for Tav. But now they had to throw him that little piece of information about themselves and… Astarion stopped pacing. He’d sworn off virgins long ago. That kind of innocence, it was too rare in the world. And after stealing it once from that sweet, darling boy… he’d sworn he’d never steal it from anyone else ever again. So he had learned to recognize and avoid virgins. His meager, unnoticeable act of disobedience to his former Master. It was the only thing he was proud of - if he could even call it that. 

And, gods, the things he threw in Tav’s face? Shaming them for hesitating? What the fuck was he thinking? Their fierce leader, who stormed into a hag’s swamp with no hesitation, had hesitated before him. And instead of guiding them … he had scolded them, even humiliated them. Astarion felt ashamed of himself - something he had never wanted to feel again, now that he was free. But he felt it nonetheless. He had to apologize. It didn’t matter that he snapped at them in frustration because he saw his plan crumble, because he was scared, because he was … disappointed. If he was honest with himself.

Because he was. He was disappointed that Tav wanted to back out. The realization hit him with a force he did not see coming. Yes, seducing them was part of his plan. Yes, he had used all his favorite lines at them. And also … yes, he would have liked to sleep with them. A feeling he had not felt in … gods know how long.

Tav had been so nervous, their heart beating so quickly and loudly Astarion had heard it before they had stepped onto the clearing. They were opening up to him. Trusting him. And he? He would have taken that trust and used it. He truly was a monster. Tav didn’t deserve this. Despite how last night went … he cared for them. His eyebrows flew up as he realized just how true that thought was.

He cared for them.

Shit.

:::::::

You sit by the fire, pondering last night’s fiasco and today’s unpleasant silence. Seeing how you’ve got the second watch, you should probably be more vigilant, but your thoughts keep going back to last night. Which is probably why you don’t hear Astarion approach.

“Hello, my dear.”, he says in a low, almost careful tone, pulling you from your thoughts. You look up at him, not sure what to expect. “Do you mind if I sit?” He motions towards the log you are sitting on, toward the place beside you that he took many nights. Always choosing to be close to you instead of choosing any of the free logs. You shift to the side, making room for him. Again, feeling him so close to you, his arm brushing yours, it sets your whole body on high alert. You still want him - but you aren’t so sure he really wants you anymore, or if you’re ready to forget the way he spoke to you. But regardless of the horrid tone he had taken you still feel that guilt and shame for letting him down.

“I’m… sorry about last night.”, you eventually say, even though part of you wants to wait for him to apologize first. He turns to face you.

“Whatever are you sorry for?” he asks, a bit surprised.

“For backing out last night. I know we had an agreement and it’s not that I didn’t want to, you know? It’s just … ” with a deep sigh you turn your eyes towards him, and you are glad to see that spark in them once again, that spark that was missing last night. “I’ll be honest, ok? I like you. I like you a lot, and … I would have loved to have spent last night with you. But … I also know I don't have much to offer you, in terms of sex. We’ve all been under a lot of stress lately, so I understand you probably wanted to let off some steam … and I’m sorry I messed that up for you.” Cheeks burning with embarrassment, you turn your gaze back to the fire. You sit in silence for a moment before Astarion speaks. 

“No. You have no reason to apologize for anything, my dear. I was quite out of line, inexcusably so. I should have relented the moment you had any doubt. I… apologize.” His words make you look towards him once more. Never had you heard Astarion apologize before, to anyone at camp, for that matter. “And I will do my best to refrain from feeding into this … thing between us, if it truly makes you uncomfortable. I will cease my flirtations, I promise.”

“What? No, please don’t?” you say quickly, unable to stop a shy smile from appearing on your face. “I … quite like your flirtations. And I wanted to spend the night with you, you know. I still do. But … let me ask you … ” The pale Elf patiently waits for you to find the right words. “Do you really want to sleep with me?” Astarion’s eyebrows go up, that surprised expression returning to his exquisite face. 

“Darling,” Astarion’s tone is affectionate, reassuring, and hearing him call you this pet name with that sweet voice of his makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end. “Are you really asking me that, after all I did? All I’ve said to you?” There is a slight edge to his voice now, though you can’t pinpoint what it is. He smiles at you with one corner of his mouth raised slightly and you half expect him to laugh, but Astarion falls uncharacteristically quiet, so you speak.

“Answer the question.” The amused smile on Astarion’s immaculate face disappears and gives way to a look of seriousness, of sincerity.

“Yes. I do,” he says in a low but firm voice. “Very much so.”

Relief floods your entire body, the tension you felt all day melting from you.

“Then … may we start over?”, you ask timidly with a smile on your face. Astarion answers with a gentle smile of his own.

“My dear. There is nothing I’d like more.”

[confused-since-birth]

Shape of the unknown pt. 2

Hello! I hoped you liked the first part. I wasn’t sure if it should have multiple parts, but it was nice writing so I guess here we go. :)))

Any advice, feedback, it’s also welcome.

word count: 1327

Warnings: nudity, angst, sexual themes

Minors pleas dni, 18+

The moonlight and candlelight made your skin look like it shines it’s own light. Sylus didn’t know how much time passed since he stumbled upon you. Might’ve been seconds, minutes, years, in his mind it didn’t matter. He just couldn’t get enough. The skin of his hands burned to caress, touch. Seeing you disappear under petals and leaves, water hiding your beauty, his breath hitched. It almost surprised him seeing you move and enjoy yourself after a full day of working and studying. It was almost as he forgot you weren’t an unmoving piece of art, as such ethereal image as yourself couldn’t be real.

In your head and heart feelings were like a sea angered by clouds. Trying to chant to yourself calming lullabies, slipping underwater, then resurfacing. Scrubbing your skin and hair hoping imaginary blood would disappear, nerves about other problems surrounding the Temple too. Everything needed your undivided attention as your role was important for Tarus. You shouldn’t allow personal problems steal the spotlight. There was no mistake allowed here. But when a personal problem has direct consequences concerning everything else, what is to do?

When water gets cold, and your thoughts stop running wild with possibilities, you get out. A soft dark pruple robe awaits you near. The cold breeze of the night embraces your form, making your skin full of goosbumps. Your wet hair doesn’t help as it chills your back, water droplets running down your spine and shoulder blades. As you prepare to get some girls to help you drain the bath, your stomach knots, heart feels like falling out of your chest, eyebrows slightly up in surprise. Two red rubies stare at you wide eyed, lips parted just a little and a tail wiggling wildly behind his back.

Even though Sylus knew time will come for you to get out of your bathtub, he didn’t expect it. Not now. His hopes were that maybe his eyes would be able to run away from you, and then his steps would lead him back to his cave and newfound sorceress. Seeing the wet silhouette of you body made his own tingle. He was evil, an erethic, committing such an act of blasphemy. If it was someone else in his place, doing what he was doing, tainting your image before the gods in such way, they would be dead. If such thing would’ve reached his ears, nothing would’ve been left of the one daring this act of sacrilege. So what was he to do now? If you asked for his life in return for this mistake, he would die by your hands. No word would fall from his lips to try and beg for mercy.

Your surprised face lasts but a moment, turning into a mask of calm and ice. It hits him harder now seeing your face bare. The way your eyelashes curl upwards, the way you stare at him, how your lips move.

“That is… unexpected to say the least, Sylus. You do know that I could have your head for this, right?”, you say as you trace the edge of the bathtub.

His tongue can’t articulate anything. But what could he say?

“Would you…?” he whispers softly while taking slow, calculated steps towards you. A smirk appears on his lips. Bluffing may work with you, as he doesn’t care for what the gods will do to him anyway.

“Well, you could have just asked if you wanted to see me, not come here” you sigh.” How much closer do you plan to come though? Isn’t already enough that you stole glances of what is to be hidden?”

Heat radiates from him. His tail swings around you, coming closer, then going away. It’s as if it isn’t sure to touch you or not. His breath you can see it’s ragged. His eyes are looking deep into yours and you feel as if you are burning up.

“Will the gods punish me?”

A surge of daring boldness pushes you towards his ear. Goosebumps appear on his skin as his pulse picks up, making you hope that he sees you how you see him. Hoping that your body is not the only thing awaking his desires. There’s newfound desperation in your heart: the need to touch him and be touched, not only for lust, but love.

“Want me to let you in on a little secret, my dear?” you whisper, breathing softly near his ear, “the gods don’t care about the veil, whether we sleep in bed with men or women as they are depraved in their own way, not just wise. Being wise comes from experience, and experience is not only righteous. However, for men, a woman’s body must be holy to be respected.”

His tail snaps and holds you against him. Your hands go to his biceps, as your lips share a breath. Feeling eachother’s skin, him feeling your chest pressed against him, the beating of your heart.

“My darling, does this mean that you didn’t trust me?” Sylus asks feeling a drop of ire flowing through his veins.

How could his love, his Oracle, his desire not trust him when he always protected her? When he always thought of her? Was she upset also about the presence of the sorceress?

As there was no space between you two, thick tension building, feelings that have been hidden for so long, words you’ve been keeping for years run out of your mouth.

“My heart sings for you, but how could I show you myself if I wasn’t sure of your heart. Uncertainty hurts more than a dagger.”

His lips touch onto yours. Soft, warm, making a fire erupt in your being. Arms go behind his neck, then to his horns, tugging him closer. Sylus’ hands roam your body, caressing, exploring. Your curves are so enticing that it makes so hard for him to breath. His tail keeps circling your form, bringing and keeping you stuck on him. The bed couldn’t be further away. He scoops you up and you let him, desperate to get more, feel more.

The sheets hit your back and in moments your naked forms are pressing onto one another. His wings cover you by instinct, forming a space only for you two. The moment your bodies unite feels so right, nothing compares. There’s no way everything will be the same. Moans, whimpers and grunts fill your room. His smell of wind, high skies and musk and sweat makes you lose your mind, the same for him as he burries his nose in your neck.

But where does this leave you two? What about the girl? This question is one of the few you cannot have an answer to and it kills you.

The old Oracle told you at some point of an even older prophecy that a dragon will one day kill his beloved throwing his life in complete darkness. In the dead of night, as his chest rose and falls softly, your thoughts tangle in questions. As much as you want to understand what is going on and what follows next, it’s impossible. Anxiety and doubt creeps in your soul.

The rays of sun wake you up. Sylus is nowhere to be found, his side of bed, cold. Wanting to feel the sun to try and wake up from your groggy state, you exit on the small balcony. There is something in the sky. Strong wings keep the man afloat. But he is not alone. The shatter of your heart could almost be heard through Tarus. There’s no pain greater than what you felt right now, almost as if he took a sword and plunged it into your heart. Tears on your solemn face that at some point dry from the wind.

Little did you know that in this game of fate, some fight it, some ignore it, while others just listen to its whispers, but Sylus could only hope and try to change it.

[sillygoofyqueer]

Please, oh mighty one, bless us with more jiuyuan crow Yuan content. I'm kicking my feet giggling everytime I read any of your additions. That guy so needs an emotional support animal, no matter what form it comes in.

Do you think crow yuan wld be attracted to the shinies in the bamboo hut? All the uselessly gaudy gifts the sect leader keeps throwing at him are finally coming in handy. But SJ is also super possessive of his items, so I wonder how that interaction will pan out? Would crows be the type to appreciate fine art and pretty colours in paintings, or are they just attracted to things that glow and reflect the light?

Also I'm just imagining crowyuan completely missing the bullying scene, then flying around until something shiny within the bamboo stalks catches his eyes, and he just finds a dangling guanyin there like ???

Does he take it with him? Does he realize it's the protagonist's jade pendant? Or does he just go, huh, how'd this get up here, and off in a nest it goes lol. Man, one of your previous posts talked about crowyuan just scattering his nests all over the peaks, and no one can touch them unless they want the wrath of god (SJ and thusly his enabler) upon them. And I just find it hilarious how inconvenient it could possibly be? Like imagine him setting up nests in the most inconvenient places on An Ding out of spite, and people just have to circle around it and try not to dislodge anything. Like, not all of them are on purpose across the peaks but man can it turn out to be a bit of a pain. And then ofc it can just be endearing the other times, with peak disciples recording the location of new nests and tallying to see which peak has the 2nd most nests (1st ofc always goes to Qing Jing)

I'm squealing over this reaction, I will bestow upon you what you seek. Shen Yuan is literally pulled into the Bamboo Hut after the sun hits the shinies through the window and he notices the glint from where he's politely making a nest nearby (so Shen Jiu won't be lonely!! God!). There is a slight pause of 'oooh, shiny! NO, THAT IS SHEN JIU'S- holy shit was that a ruby-' and then he darts into the hut (conveniently left open because SJ had to rush to deal with a rude visitor) to go poke and prod at the shinies. SJ returns to his hut after booting Liu Qingge (who wants to show SY a cool monster he killed) off his peak, to find the source of his headache holding a random gold trinket close to his mouth (he can test the realness that way, he swears), frozen in place as he stares at SJ. Of course, SY is embarrassed and SJ is confused (and yet pleased - SY entered his house of his own accord). SY awkwardly hands over the shinies he has scooped up into his arms, apologising profusely about the instincts he has while SJ (although he doesn't care about them, they're still his) acts righteously offended by his the little thief and forces him to stay for the night as punishment - no nest equals punishment for the thief teehee. However, Yue Qingyuan sees how much SY likes shiny things and starts offering him little gifts because he wants him to feel comfortable on Cang Qiong Mountain- SJ is of the full mindset that YQY is trying to steal his bird and immediately gets pissed off. As if that loser's bribery gifts are any better than SHEN JIU'S!! He will not stand for such a thing, and starts shoving his gifts into SY's hands almost forcefully. SY has learned to appreciate the finery of things, which is his human side still sliding into his life, but the other crow demons are still working on that aspect. SY does most definitely just sees the fake jade pendant, bites it, and just goes "mmm, fake things <3" and drops it into his nest. Luo Binghe sees it one day and has to physically hold himself back from just snatching it right away, instead finding SY and breaking down into tears as he tries to justify why he should have it back. SY has already handed it back to him, but he feels the need to explain. SJ is super jealous to find SY coddling LBH in his nest like the baby birds he deals with all the time. SY WILL PUT HIS NESTS ANYWHERE, AND HIS NESTS WILL STAY THERE BECAUSE NOBODY CAN DENY THAT DEMON. He makes them everywhere: on paths because then he can still be social while chilling, in An Ding peak storerooms just because..., on the roofs of Wan Jian Peak forges because they're toasty, Bai Zhan Peak fighting grounds because cool entertainment, and Qing Jing Peak because SJ <3

[gabessquishytum]

It's awards season!!

Hob and Dream have been hiding their relationship. They've been together for a while in a strong relationship, but they're famous public figures and being in a relationship with each other would engender outsized interest and public "comment". And at least at first they just wanted to keep it for themselves without having a portmanteau couple name (Hob was partial to "Dreamling", Dream was embarrassed to even have to consider a preference.) .

But they're both tired of it now - being coy on red carpets, not being able to hold hands or publicly support each other. And it's particularly galling right now as they are both up for major awards (either competing against each other in the same category or in separate categories during the same category), and their managements advised them not to announce their relationship and steal focus from their campaigns to win. They couldn't even arrive together for the ceremony (or gush to each other how lovely they look; it was probably good that Hob wasn't with Dream given how fantastic he looked,,,,Hob would have made them both late......with his mouth. The glam squads would have been pissed!).

Whichever one of them wins (first, if separate categories, or the competing award), says screw it and before he walks up on to the stage to accept his award, walks over to the other and kisses the crap out of him for all the cameras! There might be a proposal from the stage, before the play off music starts.

Aww, this is so cute. Dream’s shipname of preference is definitely Drob, by the way.

I kind of like the idea of Dream being up for best actor and Hob is up for best supporting actor? For completely different movies, but still, Hob is texting jokes to Dream about exactly how supportive he's gonna be after the ceremony the whole time they're both getting ready. Dream is very much a Big Star while Hob is more at the kookie character actor end of things, so no one really speculates about them being anything other than good friends. Dream hates that people don't value Hob enough, so he's got this plan: he's going to show the world and the industry exactly how much he loves Hob.

Hob's award is announced before Dream’s, and he doesn't say much at the acceptance - just a quick thank you to his "partner". He's always hated long speeches where actors go on and on about how privileged they are. He just wants to get back and watch Dream win his award!

And Dream does win, of course. But instead of going to the stage, he diverts off course to where Hob is sitting, kisses him thoroughly, mouths "Yes, I'm his partner" at the camera, and then hops up to collect his award. The camera stays on Hob who is just sitting there with a confused Ryan Gosling expression.

Dream says something like "my partner, Hob, hates these long speeches. So I will try to keep this short. Will you marry me?" And the crowd goes insane. Hob vaults over 5 rows of seats to get to stage and say yes.

Dreamling goes viral, and no one is talking about the awards... at the after party they mysteriously disappear and come back an hour later with sex hair and rumpled clothes. Dream lost a designer ruby earring somewhere along the way, but he's not even a little bit sorry. If he gets to kiss Hob in public, it's all worth it.

[myymi]

i want to talk about the paradox prism for a minute because it's really interesting to me

[everything below is purely speculation / headcanon - please don't mistake it for canon. beware of spoilers for sonic prime part 3]

similar to the master/chaos emeralds, the paradox prism has a level a sentience. not anywhere close to the same level as the emeralds, but there's still something there

the chaos emeralds tend to set up a line of dominos to cause a future event (ex; sonic taking tails under his wing and learning to become more responsible from it)

the paradox prism doesn't do anything close to that, but it does share something with the master emerald; it holds memories

the prism was able to create more versions of the people it saw based on the emotions it saw them project (tails, knuckles, amy, rouge, and eggman)

the different shards / shatterspaces are made up from other major events. whether from this timeline or another is different for each shatterspace

new yoke was created from the group's frustration with sonic + an ending where eggman's almost won (i believe this could be pulled from the events of forces, considering the enforcers)

i think the reason new yoke is the only shatterspace to have a version of eggman is because it's the only one that makes sense to have one

it's pretty well known by now that eggman will need a helping hand if he wants any chance at taking over the world

the only thing better than an evil genius is five evil geniuses, right?

the new yoke group are, as i said, everyone's frustration

nine is frustrated with his past. reminiscing about his tormentors brings him more anger than pain, and living in solitude definitely does not help

rebel and knux are frustrated by the loss of their home (and the egg council in general). having watched their home be destroyed was more heartbreaking than anything at first, it eventually grew to an anger that spurred them on to fix it

rusty is frustrated with those who disobey/fight against the council, but her anger eventually ends up directed towards the council for the way they used her.

i could go more in depth about the new yoke group, but this post is gonna be long enough as is wefoefwof

the shard being red could simply be because that's the color that represents anger, but i'd like to think that-going back to forces-it was a bit influenced by the phantom ruby/infinite as well

no place is formed by the underlying sadness + a devastating event that permanently changed the world (chaos' rampage)

im not connecting no place to chaos because of the fact it's flooded, im connecting it because of the way the stories parallelled

chaos' rampage begun when pachacamac attempted to steal and harness the power of the chaos emeralds for his own gain

dread seeks out the 'devil's ligthouse' solely to prove he is a legend, nearly killing his original crew trying to do so

both protagonists of these stories are selfish and caused destruction for their own gain

dread's, well, dread comes from his failure of proving himself to be the most feared pirate to ever live.

him failing to collect the shard caused him to believe that he truly wasn't a good pirate, leaving him to spiral into a life of cowardice.

the rest of the pirates' dread comes from their longing to be actual pirates.

because of his failure and cowardice, dread now leads a peaceful crew. they don't do any 'pirating', which leaves much to be desired

they enjoy the parties and all, but their true fun comes from being pirates, which dread deprives them of

boscage maze comes from the protectiveness surging between everyone + a world where harmony between enemies is possible to achieve (possibly comes from a timeline where eggman simply doesnt exist, leaving mobius to grow peacefully)

boscage is the shatterspace with the most life. it's full of all kinds of plants because nobody there is destroying it (intentionally, anyways)

thorn rose is protective over birdie and the green. she does what she can to protect both, even if it means hurting people she once called friends

keeping the jungle and birdie safe is her #1 priority, and nothing will ever change that (that's not to say something else can't join them in being her priority)

the scavengers are protective over their belongings and, no matter how strangely they show it, each other

gnarly was nervous when sonic touched his house, immediately turning aggressive to make sure he wouldn't damage it

instead of hiding the berry, prim showed it to the others for a chance they could all share it

instead of running off on his own, mangey let the scavengers follow him as he sniffed out the berry (+ him fetching the one that fell off the treetops, showing it off to the group)

hangry allows mangey to crawl around him, which we can assume means it happens a lot off screen as well

they stick together and cover each other's backs, no matter how hard the fight gets

while we don't know what this shatterspace was before it turned into the grim, it's pretty safe to assume that it was apocalyptic

who or whatever used to live here is long gone. the only thing standing are the purple crystal things.

my guess is it's a timeline where eggman won. he won, and the world died out because he ruined the ecosystem from building so many machines.

while purple is usually associated with royalty or mystery, it's also associated with power, ambition, peace, and independence

whatever happened to the world before the grim, it's very probable that it was out of high ambition with a need for more power. eventually, the world found its peace and is now independent

ghost hill is the blueprint. the time before sonic & co. make their mark on the world. a blank canvas.

maybe a timeline where they don't get a chance to make their mark on the world

yellow is a very light, energetic color. the feeling of happiness at the chance to create something new and fun.

ghost hill and the grim don't have much in terms of characters and design, but i think the colors of their respective shards give us plenty of information about them

the paradox prism is nothing like the chaos emeralds, but is also just like them at the same time. it's powered by pure chaos with no sort of indication on how it was created or why it has the powers it does

i wonder if eggman knew what the prism was exactly or if he only knew that it was powerful

did he know breaking it would cause the world to shatter? did he know how may memories it holds? how many lifetimes it's lived?

i also wonder if the prism knew sonic would shatter it, and that it was already preparing the shatterspaces; hence why it glows brighter

maybe it understood that sonic is a hands-on learner. maybe it knew he needed to experience the lessons first hand, needed them to-quite literally-slap him in the face

maybe it knew they all had their own flaws that they needed to be aware of. maybe it lived through the timeline where sonic never shattered the prism.

maybe the prism planned to be shattered by someone so it could share its memories. maybe there was some sort of pull that told sonic it needed to be shattered.

[rat-rosemary]

"You know Sapni... we think its time you give up on connecting yourself to your old family"

Sapnap looks at him oddly from where he's sitting on the kitchen island drinking a smoothie, finishing it with one big gulp to respond.

"What are you talking about?"

He squints suspiciously at Shadoune, setting the glass down next to himself, dangerously close to the edge of the table.

"You know that family is as good as dead," Shadoune says slyly as he steps closer, placing himself in-between Sapnap's tights, "when we're done there will be no one left, only Dream and George, but they're not from that family anymore, are they?"

Shadoune gently grabs one if Sapnap's hands, bringing it up so it's in-between them.

"They're part of our family now. So are you. It's time to forget you were ever anything else"

Shadoune grins, spinning the damn ring in Sapnap's fingers that has been driving the entire team mad for weeks. Sapnap has started wearing it as soon as they gave him his gifts, George and Dream having perfectly matching ones in their hands.

They won't let them keep clinging to their old Mafia, specially not Sapnap. It's time for all of them to accept that they will be with this family until the end.

The new ring they commissioned for him will fit much better anyway, carefully crafted to resemble a dog collar, a ruby on the place of the tag. To be worn on the same place he wears the simple band now, a reminder that he will forever belong with them.

There's a moment of silence before Sapnap's confused gaze becomes wide and he looks at Shadoune like he grew three new heads.

"You mean my fucking wedding ring?"

Shadoune's body goes cold and his face flushes red, the ring on his back pocket suddenly made of twenty tons of lead.

"what"

"You mean my wedding ring?!" Sapnap's volume rises and there's a glint in his eyes that warns he has caught on Shadoune's flustered state and will not let it go, "You trying to steal my hand away?! Trying to get with a married man?! HEY HONEY, GET IN HERE!"

Shadoune can hear multiple doors opening all around the house, but he's frozen in place in pure horror of what this situation has become.

Not that he could escape even if he tried, not with the way Sapnap has his hand clamped around his wrist. The man might be much shorter then Shadoune but he can, and will, and has pinned him to the ground with almost no visible effort.

It doesn't take long until a few members of the team are at the entrance of the kitchen, asking about the yelling, but most importantly, Dream and George, their hands with matching rings, matching wedding rings, to Sapnap's.

God save him.

`~•♤♡◇♧•~•♤♡◇♧•~•♤♡◇♧•~`

And I gave up 👍But what happens next is that Sapnap teases Shadoune for wanting to get with a married man, George asks if Sapnap hadnt gotten with him yet and if does that mean he can get dibs on shadoune, and someone from the Mafia makes a joke about the ring and accidentally incriminates them all by basically admitting this was a team effort

This is based off a little thing I sent to @sketchehm about their Mafia Mafia au that I brainrotted more about :]

Yippe!

[decaffeinatedpartymuggoop]

Okay, we all know being a demigod is a shit position. Its scary and gets you killed in really nasty ways. But I feel like being a Big Three Kid has to be the shitiest position in all the shit positions.

Like, imagine being Thalia Grace. Your dad is king of the gods, lord of the skies. Led a war to get rid of a tyrant. And the only thing you get is his scorned wife AND brother, who both try to kill you (with one technically succeeding), a drunk of a mother, and brother who you thought was dead. Oh, wait, he’s not dead! No instead he was used as an offering to appease your dad’s wife and help fight in a war and prevent mass destruction.

Or maybe you can imagine being Percy. Son of the sea god, the stormbringer, the earthshaker. You get to live with a disgusting, abusive man for around 6 years. Who smells like literal shit. All because your scent as a demigod is too strong, BECAUSE of who your father is. You see things that you aren’t supposed to see and do things that people can’t do and go years thinking something is wrong with you. That your the problem. Then you get to the one place where you’re supposed to be save. But! Here is the kicker! You’re not! Your uncles hate you and you’ve been accused of stealing a symbol of power. A series of events that will kick off a war, and guess what. You’re a center point for it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood.

Mhm, but then there’s Hazel. Daughter Pluto, god of the underworld and riches. But that doesn’t really change anything does it? She’s still living in 1930s America, in a red state. One where confederate flags still hang if you go deep enough into the city. She go to a school where the kids are supposed to be just like her! They still don’t like her tho. She’s got no idea who your father is, only that he left her with a parting gift. Only it’s not really a gift. Sure, she can pull rubies and diamonds from the earth, all worth millions. But anyone who’s ever gonna touch it will die. She lives with her mother, a woman gone so mad with greed it kills her. And Hazel, by the way. Laying dead Alaska, inhaling oil. But it doesn’t end there! She can’t have her mother suffering for eternity, can she? The answer is no. Hazel gets to spend the next 70 years in the Fields of Asphodel. It still doesn’t end! Because when she’s brought back to life, she gets to fight in a war against giants, her sad story seemingly never ending.

Nico’s a son of one of the Big Three, one of the most ancient and most powerful. But most people look at him as something bad, something not worth taking a second glance at. Something too look away from, mostly. He’s from the 30s, spent years in a magical time casino with only his sister at his side. She doesn’t stay for long though, she dies soon after they discover their heritage. And he doesn’t remember his mother much, a name without a face. A face without a name. He survived an attempted assassination at 2, though it wouldn’t be the only time his was life was threatened. He clings to his sister, even though she’s dead. He’s the son of the god of the underworld, is he not? There had to be a way, and there is. Only she won’t talk to him, she seems more concerned with communicating with the guy who got her killed instead. She chooses rebirth, and he decides to lay it to rest. She’s not coming back, and he has a war to fight in. (He gets stuck in a jar and forcibly outed a few years later, but that’s a lot to get into for now.)

Jason Grace is a pillar of New Rome, their golden boy, their American boy. He’s a son of Jupiter, a natural born leader. He’s been at camp for as long as he can remember, he wants to be praetor soon. He’s had a rocky start, but maybe he’ll be one of the lucky ones. Retire a veteran and live a long life with Reyna in New Rome. Only that never happened. He has no idea where he is, there’s a girl holding his hand, and she’s cute but it feels wrong. They get attacked and people come in and call him a Greek demigod, familiar, yes, but still wrong. It doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t put things into perspective the way it does for Piper and Leo. He’s goes to a quest to rescue Hera, the name sounds wrong. He nearly dies but at least he remembers who he is. He spends the next 6 months trying to get back home, even though he isn’t too sure on where or what home is. He gets there, eventually, but it doesn’t stop there. He’s dragged on quests and battles and fights in the war but at least he survives it, he’s still there. Apollo needs help, he and Piper give him aid. He gets dumped. He doesn’t get to he a veteran in New Rome. Not with Reyna, not with Piper, not with anybody. He doesn’t get kids or grandkids. No, he gets shot down, another demigod buried.

You could be any one of them, really. Pick your poison, but I guarantee you won’t like any of them. Spending years trying to find a place where you belong, where you feel safe. Only for it to never come.

Percy, who, if you really look at the books, isn’t really all that well liked until he’s at least 2 years into camp. Only to then be sidelined because the courages, brave, fearless daughter of Zeus is back from the dead. Nico, the son of one of the most feared and hated gods. Who has death written all over him, who excludes it so much animals can smell it and humans can sense it, who’s been ostracized and pushed off to the side since he was 10. Hazel, who was treated like disease as soon as she stepped foot on camp soil. Who’s gone her whole life looked as something that’s cursed, that will only bring misfortune, a bad omen.

Shit positions, all of them.

[mymegrokosmos]

you wear a red dress on a date and to say jihoon is enraptured is an understatement (for 👑 bc ruby still has me by the throat).

kissing, slight nsfw - insinuation of oral (m. rec).

the way his jaw locks as his eyes take you in is your first clue that you're going to be in for a long night. it's unusual to catch jihoon willingly outside of his studio and awake at this time on a weeknight. he marked the date on his calendar, having put the 3rd thursday of every month aside for you almost six months ago now. the reminder alerts in his calendar lighting up his phone every other day keep sending mingyu into fits of giggles about how whipped his hyung is but it's been working for you both so jihoon isn't complaining. mingyu doesn't really have any room to speak anyway.

usually, you do something at home together or get out to try an activity neither of you has done before. tonight it's your anniversary and he wanted to take you for a nice dinner. that might have been a mistake, judging by the way he's underestimated your ability to take his breath away. when he finally pulls himself together enough to stop watching the way the dress clings in all the places he'd like to put his hands later he notices your red lipstick. he nearly has to take a minute all over again, head tilting back to look at the ceiling.

he lets out a breath, hands stuffed into his dress pants pockets as he pushes aside every thought about that colour. he has so many and none of them are particularly appropriate or conducive to getting through the three course meal he has booked for you both already. he can't cancel and drag you back to your room. not after how much you've raved about wanting to try this restaurant together, how often you've offhandedly mentioned you think he'll like the place. so he forgets about the colour red. the way it looks on you. the things he'd like to do. like you to do. when he finally pulls himself together your patient smile nearly undoes him for an entirely different reason.

"ready?"

he nods. you take his hand and he hopes you won't feel how clammy it is. you don't seem to mind, too busy taking him in. he preens a little at that, though he'll never admit it, and it knocks some of his confidence back into place as you lace your fingers with his while he locks up after you both.

by the time you're seated in your usual spot, the passenger seat of his car, his heartbeat has almost returned something resembling normal. his hand settles on your thigh and he's glad for the excuse to focus on the road so he doesn't have to wonder why it's your bare skin he feels when his thumb brushes back and forth in it's usual habitual movement. he sees the slit along the side of your dress later and let's just say he's a fan.

when you make it to the restaurant he stands a little taller, smile curling the corners of his lips up just enough to seem smug every time you touch his arm or move closer. he gets to watch everyone in that building glance up when you walk in and know that he's the one you're here with. the one who gets to take you home. the one you keep turning to with eyes full of love, reaching for every time you think of something, leaning into whenever he says anything to make you laugh.

to say he's fond would be an understatement. there's nowhere he'd rather be tonight, not even if hoshi made those big doe eyes at him, and he finds himself glad that you two get along so well that even if soonyoung did try something he wouldn't be upset at being shut down for you instead. he's joined you both on more than a few dates, and while jihoon might feign exasperation somehow he's always had a good time. the only problem is sometimes soonyoung steals more of your attention than he'd like. you're so quick to offer him acknowledgement of this with a hand on his arm or leg, leaning into his side or somehow making sure you stay connected even while in the midst of an animated discussion that he can't really be mad. you never forget about him, not really.

he tunes back in to your finger gently tracing shapes on his wrist where your hands lay together on the table beside your plates and he blinks up to watch the way the red wine swirls once in the glass before you tip it back. his hand squeezes yours as you take a sip before handing his glass back, humming in approval. he likes the way your lipstick stains the edge of the glass, the same shade as the merlot you've been sharing. you offer him a sip from your own and he keeps his gaze locked with yours as he tastes the sweet crisp white. it sparkles a little on his tongue but he's not sure if that's because of the carbonation or if he's reacting to the way your knee brushes against his thigh as you scoot a little closer. it's a miracle he makes it through dinner.

the ride home is quiet, but comfortable, your hand on his thigh as he drives bundled into his jacket. the way the material drapes over you is his saving grace, hiding your creamy skin and the rippling red silk he's half convinced was invented by the devil himself just to torture him from his direct view. he hums along to the radio, fingers tapping on the wheel as you kick off your heels and curl up beside him. he flicks on the heated seating and watches, from the corner of his eyes, the way you sigh and immediately sink into the black leather.

it's when he finally gets you back into the apartment that he snaps. he's not sure what does it. the press of your body against him as you step close to his side on the elevator ride up, hand linked with his and the other resting against right where his heart practically beats out of his chest. the way you drop your shoes at the door and immediately turn to pull him in for a kiss. he's been waiting to taste you since the minute you stepped out of your shared bedroom in that dress. the way your arms slide up his chest to twine around his neck or the sound of the sigh as he tugs you in closer by the hips. all he knows is that he must be the luckiest man on the planet when you mumble his name against his lips and he finally, finally gets to strip you out of that dress.

it looks much better pooled on the floor of your bedroom while you kneel before him anyway.

[rachetmath]

Can We Stop

(You know what I'll say my peace. This may be the last RWBY hate and Jaune defense I'm doing. I will talk about James, Pyrrha, and Summer later on. So I'm sorry. And to let you know I'm guilty of this too.)

Jaune: What is y'alls beef with me?

Rwbyfan: what?

Jaune: Why do you hate me so much?

Rwby fan: Because you steal screen from the main characters.

Jaune: For real? Okay, sorry but what about Harriet? Winter. Robyn. Or Qrow. 

RWBY fan: … … ..

Jaune: And since we are talking about time what has any of the main characters, you so believe to be, accomplished during said screen time they had?

RWBY fan: They accomplished plenty.

Jaune: *sigh and leave*

RWBY fan: Yeah, take your waste of screen time out of here. Pyrrha should have lived instead of you.

Me: *appeared* What up bitch?

RWBY fan: The hell? What are you doing?

Me: I'm here for that claim. Rep your set. What have any of your main characters accomplished with the amount of screen time they're given?

RWBY fan: Why is this important? 

Me: Because you keep saying the same stupid shit and I am tired of it. So explain?

RWBY fan: Well Ruby evacuated the people of Mantle. That was supposed to be Jaune’s job.

Me: Okay.

RWBY fan: Weiss finally took down her father and saved her people.

Me: Mm-hmm.

RWBY fan: Blake stopped Adam and the White Fang. Not only that her and Yang got the Happy huntresses on their side.

Me: Yeah.

RWBY fan: Yang finally finds her mother. Overcomes her fear with Adam. Got the relic scoring a victory for our heroes. And she has a girlfriend.

Me: okay so did Ruby master her silver eyes?

RWBY: Um, that's not the -

Me: No. Nope, that is important to learn because you know Salem exists. Speaking of Salem, can Ruby’s eyes even work on her?

RWBY fan: That is irrelevant. 

Me: Bet, so when Salem arrived in Atlas what was she doing?

RWBY fan: She was protecting Penny and Nora.

Me: So while Jaune was on the battlefield trying to get Oscar back Ruby was sitting on her ass. 

RWBY fan: Hey she-

Me: What about her mom? Did she discover anything about her?

RWBY fan: Only that she met Salem and-

Me: Died?

RWBY fan: Um Ruby-

Me: Ruby theorized. She only knows part of the story. Raven does.

RWBY fan: Still she- 

Me: People fell off the bridge. Penny is dead. Those people including Jaune’s teammates would have died if Jaune didn't stab Penny to save them. So technically he did his job and succeeded. While Ruby's plan, Amity Arena, fell apart.

RWBY fan: Um

Me: Alright, Weiss. Look, I said it before she screwed her family. She did nothing for her people. I mean come on she destroyed her home with nothing to show for it. 

RWBY fan: I mean she's gotten better.

Me: Yeah and less mature. Winter has an army to command and people who need her. Whitley has to run what little is left of his family business while Weiss gets to be with her friends and have fun—contributing nothing.

RWBY fan:...

Me: And I said before volume 6 that Weiss should have gone home. Go to Ironwood. Fill him in on her friend's situation and have him make an exception to bring them to Atlas. Instead, Weiss steals from Atlas military agents, destroys Atlas property, and endangers thousands to avoid her father. 

RWBY fan: … But Jaune-

Me: Yeah, he made the plan but it’s crazy everyone agreed to it. More importantly, he didn’t even lead the operation. Ruby did. And guess what it still somehow worked despite the people getting involved. But can I  please say that the way Cordovan conducted herself was insane. Like, was a giant robot really necessary?

Rwby fan: … … 

Me: Blake repeated the same mistakes that led her to become the person she was back in volumes 1-5.  She faced no consequences for her choices. Her parents, friends, and teammates welcomed her back with open arms. No one called her on it. Just Sun.

RWBY fan: Well she promised Yang she wouldn’t run away again.

Me: Fine, but does that change the fact that she told Robyn everything going off the deep end which like volume 2 got people either hurt or killed? And insane damage to a bridge or a whole city block.  Not to mention once they were caught they drove Ironwood off the deep end.

RWBY fan: Oh come on Ratchet. He was already there.

Me: I will talk about James and his bull shit later but come on you have to admit they were dirty for that. Especially Yang. 

RWBY fan: Now Yang-

Me: Yang was given a relic which she then gave to Ozpin. Then Ruby took it. Ruby almost lost it. Ruby then gave it to Oscar, knowing damn well he couldn’t fight yet. Then he lost it to Neo. And though she asked about it she never bothered trying to reclaim it or mention it ever again. Especially when they were in enemy territory. 

Rwby fan: Okay but that's not her fault.

Me: … … …  *breaths* Okay but here’s the thing, Yang called Ruby out on lying to James, who mind you gave her an arm. She debated on it with Ruby. But all of a sudden Blake thought of telling Robyn the truth and Yang was completely on board with it. No speech. No lecture. She was completely down with telling a stranger, someone she doesn’t even know instead of James.

RWBY fan: … …. 

Me: Isn’t that hypocritical? How is she going to judge Ruby, her leader, when she was the one who made a bad call? Never mind how come she can judge the Ace-ops for following orders when she allowed everyone else to bark orders at her? Especially the girl who was a terrorist once and still left her along with her sister to head back to Atlas. So much for keeping a promise.

Rwby: That was different.

Me: Again Blake was never called out on her bull crap. Yang might as well be a simp at this point because not only does she do as Blake tells her but she prioritizes Blake over her own sister. She is more down bad than Pyrrha.

RWBY fan: … …  Wow.

 Me: Overall team RWBY hasn’t done squat but makes things worse. And the fact that the people of Remnant find them to be heroes makes me wish Salem killed them all.

Rwby fan: … …. …. … 

Me: Now get ready because this will get crazy. Jaune hasn’t repeated any of his damn mistakes. 

Rwby fan: …

Me: When Oscar got kidnapped Jaune took the f***** opportunity to go get him. Though Oscar saved himself that doesn’t change the fact he charged through a warzone to save his friend. Something he damn straight couldn’t do when it came to Pyrrha. Then his team went up against a headmaster. And won. 

Rwby fan: Team Rwby beat the Ace op though.

Me: How powerful were the Ace-ops?

Rwby fan: That-

Me: That is very important. Round one, the Ace-ops just sneaked them. There was no struggle. They fought a different-skinned Grimm that Jaune managed to help beat. With no weapon in hand. In fact, they fought the same kinds of Grimm as our heroes. What makes them so powerful?

Rwby fan: … Um.

Me: And yeah team RWBY won but second round they lost and got trapped. Not to mention the Ace-ops weren’t even fighting them but each other. Arguing back and forth over orders,  they all agreed to follow.

Rwby fan: Oh.

Me: Then Jaune… Jaune managed to hoe Cinder out of the maiden powers. By killing Penny, he made sure Cinder didn’t get what she wanted. Unlike Beacon, where she shot Amber because Jaune wasn't watching the damn door. His one job.

Rwby fan: But Cinder got the relic.

Me: Who’s fault is that? Because I recall Penny was ordered to run. Not his fault. Not to mention Jaune was the reason Team RWBY GOT TO THE TREE.

Rwby fan: See you Jaune fans are the same. You keep dick riding-

Me: Stop. Look, I’m a Jaune fan. At first, I didn’t like him. But in later volumes, the man earned my sympathy and my respect. All I and probably a lot of Jaune fans want is for this man to be happy. So we have him finally pipe a girl, we just want him to be happy and loved and to move on from Pyrrha. When we have him strong and dependable we want this man to be happy and be a hero. We don’t want him to have all that trauma. Why do you think we were happy when Ruby was getting a taste?

RWBY fan: ….

Me: I'm just saying can we stop? “Jaune is a self-insert” Oc shipping exists. Come on. Don't act like none of you insert yourselves into these characters from time to time. It's okay. “He takes up screen time” We have completion videos of every character on screen. You will see the difference. “He takes the focus away from the story” Then how about team RWBY be interesting characters then. 

RWBY fan: *sad*

Me: Anyways let’s change the subject. Who’s this?

RWBY fan: The curious cat.

Me: No. He’s the Curious Diddy Cat.

Rwby fan: How?

Me: I mean he loved Alyx. Then Ruby. And in real life she’s eighteen, but in canon or in the show she’s a

Rwby fan: A?

Me: A.

Rwby fan: A-MINOR!

Me: Oh yeah.

Not Like Us By Kendrick Lamar

[howlingday]

Penny: (wearing lingerie and laying on a bed with Rose petals) Sorry, I missed your birthday, Ruby, my love. Allow me to make it up to you~❤️

Ruby: Sorry, Penny. But I can't make love to you for another month.

Penny: What?! Why?!

Ruby: (holds up a calendar showing November 1st) There will be No Nuts N Dolts until December.

Penny: Buh-buh-buh-buh-💔

Ruby: Don’t worry! It'll fly by! In the meantime, I'm going to hang out with Weiss or Jaune. Love you~! (Leaves)

Penny: ... FUUUUUUUU-!

Nuts N Dolts December

A set of supershort Ruby x Penny stories to warm your heart this holiday season.

--------------------------------------------------

Ludus - Playful Love

"Your hair looks really pretty today."

"My hair appears the same as the day we first met."

"Yeah, but it looks like you polished it, so it's really shiny."

"Oh!" Penny jumped a bit. "I did not think anyone would notice."

"We're friends, Penny. Of course I'm going to notice something different about you. Like how your shoes look brand new."

"I see." Penny thought for a moment, scanning up and down Ruby's form. "I see you have lost 1.28 pounds since we last spoke."

"I dunno if that's really a change you want to talk about." Ruby grimaced.

"I see you have also chosen to extend your hair by 2.3 centimeters on your left side."

"That wasn't really a choice, Penny."

"And your fingers are coated in a different weapon grease than before. Have you done something new with Crescent Rose?"

"Oh! You noticed!" Ruby grinned. "Yeah, I was trying something different by..."

--------------------------------------------------

Storge - Familial Love

"Are you certain this is not illegal?"

"Do you see any cops in here?" Penny's eyes lit up. Yang waved her hand. "Ah, d-don't answer that..."

"Yang and I come here all the time." Ruby admitted. "We get some food, and so long as Dad doesn't find out about me being here, we don't tell him about Yang ordering from the adult's menu."

"Is that why she does not have the mark on her wrist?" Penny asked.

"Yeah. And if anyone asks, you're our cousin."

"But I am not."

"Well, just pretend you are."

"I would rather not." Penny held Ruby's hand. "I would much rather be Ruby's friend than her directly related peer." Ruby gave a blush.

"Eh, fine." Yang waved. "She's my cousin, and you're her friend."

"But you are sisters."

"Not right now."

"Can you disown a sibling?"

Yang glared, her anger only growing as Ruby put a finger to her lips and replied. "Can you?"

"Really wish I could..." She muttered under her breath.

"What was that?" Ruby asked.

"Nothin', nothin'." Yang waved.

"Hey." The trio looked up to see a burly man glare down at them. "You've been wavin' all day. You tryna say somethin'? There a problem?"

"Nope!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"There is nothing illegal going on here." Penny hiccuped.

The man's eyes narrowed. "Gonna need some ID."

"We already got checked on the way in." Yang rolled her eyes.

"ID." His nostrils flared. "Now."

"Fine." Yang reached for her wallet, giving a wink to Ruby. She rolled her eyes. "Here ya GO!"

Yang's leg shot up from her seat, nailing the bouncer between the legs. More were on their way as Ruby dragged Penny out of her seat, the latter still holding onto her chicken tenders. Yang chugged her strawberry sunrise before tossing it to one of the charging men. He caught it in his hands, only to have a basket thrown into his face.

Kicking through the door, the trio made their way down the street and into the back-alley, stealing away from there into a hiding spot. Finding an old slingshot, Ruby fired as pebble down one alley, making their pursuers charge after their assumed quarry. Moving in deeper, the girls smiled at one another.

"Guess we can't go back there anymore." Ruby chuckled.

"Ah, they never had anything good." Yang waved off.

"Except their chicken." Ruby sighed.

"Like this?" Penny produced the three chicken tenders she carried on the way out. "Would you care to join me?"

"Heck yeah~!" Yang exclaimed, taking one for herself.

"Wait, I thought we only had two left?" Ruby raised her brow as she plucked a tender. "Did you steal one?"

"I already said that we have done nothing illegal." She hiccuped.

"Ha! You're alright, Penny!" Yang patted her back. She raised her tender to the center. "To... Uh..."

"The Three Chickens?" Ruby offered.

"The Three Tenders?" Penny suggested.

"The Three Chick-Tens~!" Yang laughed, before the trio tapped their fried gains together, enjoying the fond memory they would share for a good long while.

--------------------------------------------------

Pragma - Practical Love

"What's so funny?"

"Nothin', nothin'." Yang waved off. "Just..."

"Just... what?"

"You and Penny."

"What about me and Penny?"

"Well, it's just..." She pused her lips. "How do I put this... You and her seem so different, but somehow you make it work."

"Why, because she's an android?"

"Well, that, and you're also ace."

"Okay... Kind of a weird connection, Sis."

"It's not a bad thing, it's just..." Yang shook her head. "Forget it. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"What?! C'mon! Tell me!" Ruby whined, pushing on her sister. "You can't just say stuff and not expect me to be interested!"

"Alright, alright!" Yang gently pushed her sister away. "So... You and her are basically ace. So you'd think a relationship wouldn't actually happen without a deeper connection, but here you guys are, years later, married, and running your own shop together."

"Why wouldn't it work? She's my girlfriend, and I love her."

"Yeah, but..."

"Yang, sex isn't the only thing that matters in a relationship."

"No, but I still feel like it's at least part of the relationship."

"It is, but it's not something that we get excited for." Ruby shrugged. "She just learns something new and she wants to test it out, so I help her try it out."

Yang went quiet. "Okay, so maybe that's what's weird. Your girlfriend, who doesn't have... parts... is the one who likes sex."

"Yeah, it is kinda weird." Ruby snickered. "But that's kinda why we work so well together. We're both weird, but we're weird in a way that makes sense to us."

"I just wish I had a relationship that sweet." Yang sighed.

"Aw, Yang..." Ruby pat her sister's head. "Someday, when you're older, you'll understand."

"Yeah, yeah." Yang swatted away.

--------------------------------------------------

Philia

"Are you having a good time?"

"Um, y-yeah, totally!" She was not.

But Ruby Rose promised to get into Penny's interests for her. It was only fair, since Penny Poledina read comic books with Ruby, and attended gun shows with her, even if the former was especially predictable for her supercomputer brain and the latter triggered Penny's audio-block function so she couldn't hear Ruby at all, especially her gushing explanations about every gun without looking at the spectacle.

And since Penny was there for her, that meant Ruby would be there with her. In this glass house. Filled entirely with bugs.

Ruby had no problem with bugs, really. But the thought of one of these foreign creatures tickling her skin with any one of their more than four legs made Ruby shiver with anxiety. Thank goodness Penny kept a firm grip on her friend's hand.

"Are you certain?" Penny asked. "Because I detect a 14% increase in your grip strength and 4% increase in your heartrate after observing the Goliath Bird-Eating Spider."

"I... I just didn't know spiders could get so big..." Ruby gulped.

"Yes, although the Giant Huntsman Spider is even lar- OH!" Penny flinched. "Ruby, are you sure you're okay?"

Ruby was sweating bullets and her face was paler than a bedsheet in the snow. "Mhm, yup, totally fine~!"

Penny smiled at the answer. Penny wasn't a very good liar, but she could tell when Ruby was being dishonest just as easily. Dragging her past the exhibits, the android pulled Ruby to the ant and termite colonies. Ruby's pulse slowed by about 48.9%, meaning she felt a lot calmer around the six-legged societies.

"Are you feeling better, Ruby?"

"I wasn't..." Ruby gave a big sigh, giving up the fight. "Yeah, I'm a lot better now. Thank you, Penny."

"Sensational~!" Penny pulled Ruby to an exhibit. "Oh~! It's almost feeding time for the army ants! I've heard it said they can strip a cow's leg in less than a minute~!"

"O-Oh! You... You don't say..." Ruby's heartrate spiked by 15%.

--------------------------------------------------

Eros - Romantic Love

"So... What does this do...?"

"That is a wire that actuates my three-hundred-and-sixty-degree rotation for my carpal connecting shaft." Penny explained, jargon and all.

"Uh..."

"Oh, excuse me..." Penny deflated a bit. She'd gotten too excited again. "It functions similar to how your wrist would. I am sorry; I overdid it again, didn't I?"

"No!" Ruby wrapped her hands around Penny's. "I should be the one who's sorry! You're getting excited about something that's part of who you are and I'm being a dummy and not getting it on the first try!"

"Ruby," Penny curled her fingers around Ruby's hand, "you are not a dummy."

"O-Oh!" Ruby blushed. "Did- Did those wires just move?!" She was avoiding the statement, neither confirming nor denying Penny's thoughts because she didn't agree what she thought of Ruby Rose matched with what her girlfriend thought.

"They did." Penny let it slide for now. Kinda. "You are very observant, Ruby. Flexing my fingers the way I do is very similar to how your flexor digitorum profundus, or FDP, which is located in your forearm, allows you to curl and uncurl your fingers."

"Wow..." Ruby looked at her forearm, still not really getting all of what Penny said, but she was trying. "Wait, is that how Yang's fingers move?"

"It's a much simpler but follows the same principle." Penny shut the case of her forearm, then turned it around to show off all the amazing things her fingers could do, such as becoming a wrench, or spewing an oxyacetylene flame, or extend a welding rod, just to name a few of her additional functions. All the while, Ruby stared in awe...

"Is there anything you can't do?" Ruby asked with a sigh.

"I... cannot create my own warmth." Penny said sadly. It didn't last long as Ruby put her hand over Penny's again.

"But I can." She said with a smile.

"Yes," Penny giggled, "yes, you can."

--------------------------------------------------

Agape - Universal Love

The story of Ruby Rose and Penny Polendina is a unique one. It seems that in every iteration, they are compatible and found to be almost perfectly adapted to match each other. Sometimes, it is just as good friends, other times, they are something more. They are seldom, if ever enemies, and even then it is not for long.

Ruby Rose is a huntress, inspired to step into the unforgiving wilds of the world by her mother and the stories she'd heard as a child. Her preferred method of combat is mid-to-long-range fighting, opting to use a sniper rifle and scythe in her excursions against the Grimm. Despite her social awkwardness, she's often found drawing people closer to her with little effort on her part, simply by offering a hand in friendship and calling them her "friend."

Penny Polendina is an android, perfectly designed to serve the kingdoms in the pursuit of using technology to better humanity. She is equipped with both swords connected by strings for distant and close-quarters combat and can charge static electricity in the air to generate a railgun-esque plasma cannon to eliminate any and all threats to good order that keep the kingdoms safe. Among all of Atlas' creations, only Penny is designed to think, feel, and act as a person, an individual, and though she's unwittingly made many friends, few if any have ever used the word to describe herself to them.

"Perhaps, you could even say..." Penny chuckled from her seat in the crossroads of infinity, "That Ruby and I truly are best friends forever~!"

[jessicamarbles]

Glamour

Your heart beats hard when she’s around, so hard you’re scared she’ll hear it. You wonder if that’s in her power. You wonder many things. About her, about her kind. You wonder at the graceful, supple way she moves through crowds, at how the throng parts, like cattle shying from the tiger’s claw. How can they know, you wonder? She gives no outward hint of her true nature, not to those she keeps as strangers. Her beauty is the only rumour she allows of something more. Her body draws your eyes, then burns them with the guilt of your impertinence. You dream of her. Her curled onyx hair falling round her breasts like Lucifer from heaven. Her high Cathedral cheekbones inviting you to worship. When she deigns to speak to you, you are transfixed by the ruby rivers of her lips. Light moves faster than sound, and you must know her thoughts, her needs, her commands an instant sooner. Or perhaps you just fear her gaze, lest you fall deeper into the emerald darkness of her eyes. She’s close now, always, even when she isn’t there. She’s in your head. You think less and less of other things and more and more of Her. You wonder what you’d do, if She asked you to. You wonder what you wouldn’t. You know the myths. You know what people say it is that Her kind wants. And you are sure now, more than ever, of what She is. She’s shown you. Fangs and subtle magics, inhuman strength and lightning movement. When you’re alone, she shares such pretty secrets with you. It seems rude to be afraid. Is this how glamour feels? A gnawing need to give Her something, to give Her anything? To give yourself to Her, entirely. She could just take you. You’re as small and weak and finished as the mouse becomes, the cat’s paw on its tail. Yet you sense, somehow, that She will never steal you. It would be beneath Her. She does not need you. She maybe wants you, perhaps, please, you hope She might want you, but only ever as an offering. You’ll offer. Soon. You must. Once this last voice of fear and reason fades, you’ll tilt your head, brush back your hair and whisper please, whilst trying to hold still. You wonder how you’ll taste. You wonder if it hurts. You wonder how it feels, to lose yourself completely.

[bridgyrose]

Someone in Team RWBY has a kid. Uncle Sun and Aunt Emerald compete over who's the better thief in the family.

Emerald nudged Sun as she saw Blake and Yang with their kid, a smile crossing her lips. “I bet I’m a better thief than you.” 

“First off, I’m not a thief,” Sun said as he finished the banana he’d… liberated… from a stall. “And second, if I were a thief, which I’m definitely not, I’d be better than you.” 

“And what are you willing to bet on that claim?” 

“My partnership with Neptune.” 

“And what makes you think I want him?” 

“It’d be easier to mess with him.”

Emerald rolled her eyes and nearly scoffed at the idea. “Why dont we bet something a bit more… agreeable. If I win, then you have to go a full day without goofing off.” 

“If we’re going down that route, then when I win, you have to go a full day without trying to steal something.” Sun paused for a moment. “What exactly are we going to steal?” 

“Well, you know… steal candy from Yang’s kid,” Emerald said quietly, her eyes still tracking Yang and her family. “As cliche as it sounds.” 

Sun shook his head. “If Blake or Yang catch us, we’re as good as dead.” 

“And a good thief never gets caught.” Emerald gave a smile and dropped from her perch, practiced footsteps almost moving without a sound as she followed Yang and Blake. Her eyes stayed on the bag of candy that was on their kid’s hip, an easy target for her. It’d be as easy as taking a wallet from Ruby or lifting a pen from someone. 

And yet, it almost seemed like an impossible task. Under normal circumstances she could take almost anything she’d wanted by tricking people into thinking she was someone else. But Bake and Yang had learned how to see through her illusions. The slight twitches she’d make when she was ready to grab her target, the way her voice almost seemed to fluctuate, the mannerisms she took so much care into trying to hide… none of it out of their eyes. 

“Emerald?” Yang more spoke than asked. “What are you doing?” 

“I-I uh… I was just… trying to… surprise you!” Emerald lied as he put on a smile. “You and Blake are always so busy, and I figured that since Ruby still hasnt been found, that you both could use a friendly face.” 

“We dont need-” 

“I think it’d be fine if she accompanies us,” Blake said with a smile, taking Yang’s hand to calm her. “I think its been long enough that we can bury the hatchet.” 

Yang practically let out a huff. “I… guess we can. This is our daughter, Yin. Yin, this is Emerald.” 

Emerald smiled softly and bent down as Yin hid behind Yang. “I’m your aunty Emerald. Its a pleasure to meet you.” 

“‘Aunty’ is pushing-” Yang stopped as she felt Blake punch her shoulder and frown at her. “She’s more of a… family friend.” 

Yin nodded and slowly came out from behind Yang, shy as she looked over Emerald. “It’s… its nice to meet you.” 

Blake smiled at Emerald. “You can join us for dinner later. There’s a cafe that Yang’s taking us to and it’d be nice to catch up with you.” 

Yang frowned and started to pull Blake away. “I’m sure Emerald is too busy to join us-” 

“I’d love to,” Emerald interrupted as she stood up. “I-I mean if its not really that much of a problem.” 

“It never would be,” Blake reassured Emerald. “I’ll send you the time and address in a bit. We are running a bit late to get Yin’s ears pierced. She’s been begging for us to let her.” 

“Then I’ll wait for your text,” Emerald said as Yang and Blake walked off. Her eyes went back to Yin’s hip and she paused when she didnt see the bag of candy there anymore. 

“Looking for this?” Sun asked as he held the bag over Emerald’s shoulder with his tail. “Looks like I win.” 

“When did you- nevermind.” Emerald sighed and leaned against a wall of a shop. “But yes, it looks like you do. Now give that back before I get in trouble.” 

“Or you could give it back to them. Maybe it’ll win “Aunty Emerald” some bonus points.” 

Before Emerald could argue, she lunged for the bag of candy as Sun dropped it, coughing as she almost inhaled some sand. When she looked up, Sun was gone just as quickly as he’d come. She let out a sigh, put the bag in her pocket, and started to walk after Yang and Blake. If she was going to return it, then she might as well do it right and make it look like it was dropped.