#like…… how many of the series do i tag here??

[stayevildarling]

Agatha Harkness x Reader- She‘s got away- Part 1

A/N: this is part one of a series based on this poll. I hope you enjoy. I am very open to any requests for this series or any notes. my inbox is always open🤍

tw/tags: westview agatha, female reader, very slight mention of abuse, angst, slight manipulation

word count: 2.1k

taglist:

@lunaticwhittaker , @billiebeanhoward , @lanawinters-ily , @kenzbro , @minaslittleone , @httpfiftyshadesofgay @whitelotus00 , @ninaahelvar , @paulsonsratched , @vintagepaulson , @isle-of-earle , @grilledcheeseandguavajelly , @lucyintheskywithxanax , @fanfics4world , @mymiraclewitch , @hazard-to-myself , @awritersometimes , @wastdstime , @p1pecleanerwitheyes , @queen2234 , @ihartnat , @lifebyinez , @ahsatanizgay, @laavaagirl, @wtfffisgoingon, @milflovers4

As you stand by the bus station, the bright flickering neon lights blur your view a little. Meanwhile, all you can feel is rain, heavy and cold as you try to find shelter near the ticket booth. The place smells old, the kind of old that meant many people had moved through here before, nostalgic. You could almost feel people‘s stories, passing through on their way to a better life, getting ready to take a leap and meet someone or move for a job. But the rain reminded you of the sadder ones, the people who ran away from their life in order to find a better and safer one.

You stand beneath the flickering yellow lights, hands holding onto the strap of your duffle bag like it‘s the only thing keeping you standing . Your breathing fogs in the cold and for a moment you regret grabbing the coat you are wearing so hastily a few hours before, feeling the cold seeping into every part of your body. But you didn‘t have a plan, no time to pack properly or to plan where you are going. You just picked up the things you could, wallet, phone and some clothes and essentials before running, without looking back.

The sound of old squeaky tires causes you to look up and you sigh in relief when seeing the bus approach. The doors hiss open and you climb aboard, sinking into a seat near the back by the window, pulling your hood up and trying hard to stop your body from shaking. You glance at the timetable on your phone one more time, seeing it going through the city before heading to remote areas, some of them places you never heard of before. As the bus leaves, you decide to do some research, seeing your phone being on low battery and wanting to find the right stop to get off.

Westview. Your eyes eventually fall upon it despite how your eyes burn, wanting nothing more than to find some rest. Once you researched the population and how truly small and boring it seemed according to the internet, you settle on it, having never heard of it before. But it was perfect as it meant no one would think to look for you there.

The ride is long, hours pass in silence and even though you did manage to grab your headphones in order to listen to some music, of course your phone was by now dead and with how run down this bus is, there are no charging plugs either. And so the silence stretches for hours, only broken by the occasional murmurs of another passanger, the sound of the road beneath you. You keep your head down, seeing the city lights slowly fading replaced by a pure darkness. One that undeniably matched how you felt inside.

No matter how hard you tried to stay awake, keep your guard up and stay safe, your eyes eventually grow heavy, too heavy. You had been running for days, for years technically but never physically until a few days ago and the exhaustion lingered in your bones, the cold still seeped into your muscles and eventually your body took over, eyes closing and finally getting some rest at last. Despite it being hours later, it feels like minutes when your heart slams in your chest, eyes widening when the bus jolts and the intercom startles you.

„Westview. Last stop“ the driver announces and you are quick to wipe your face, forcing yourself to move despite how much it is aching at this point. As soon as you finally step off the bus it feels like being on another planet. The silence of the night makes you feel uneasy, always having lived in cities so far and it buzzing no matter what time of the night. As you walk through the quiet streets of the town you feel like you are frozen in time. A single main street with a few shops, a diner with a big neon „Open“ sign, a gas station that looked almost abandoned. The only noise is the quiet hum of the streetlights and for the first time tonight you begin to regret, realizing there aren‘t any big hotels and questioning whether you maybe should have planned this one a little better.

The first place you wanted to stop was the diner, feeling incredibly hungry as you couldn‘t quite remember the last time you ate, the last few days having passed in a blur. The last bottle of water you finished hours ago but you carried on, wanting nothing more than to finally find a warm place to stay, even if it was just for the night before moving on. And so first you try a motel, finding it on a map near a bus stop but as you walked to the front desk, a woman in a knitted sweater barely glanced at you from her magazine before announcing they are full.

The next place was some kind of bed and breakfast but the owner, an older man also turned you away, explaining they had no vacancies. There was no suggestion, no alternative, a simple no. And you began wondering why everyone had been so strange, considering how late it was, the fact that they would turn a young woman away without even trying to be helpful or at least offer a friendly smile.

In the end, you do settle on the diner, sinking into a chair before ordering some coffee with the loose change you had left in your coat pocket from the bus ticket change. The middle aged man serving you coffee in an apron seemed much more friendly and by the time he came around to ask if you needed anything else, some food perhaps, you take your chance considering you aren‘t only running out of options but also time. You clear your throat before speaking „Do you perhaps know any place I could stay for the night? I tried the motel and b&b but they are full“ you announce trying to keep a friendly smile and hide your desperation.

His eyebrows furrow before he questions „The B&B full?“ the edge of surprise in his tone confuses you but you simply nod. He exhales sharply before rubbing his chin, he did seem like he wanted to help you „Not much else in town, I‘m afraid“ he sighs before your stomach twists at his words. „Nowhere? I just need a bed“ you sigh in frustration before he nods understandingly. „Not unless you know someone“ he adds.

By your expression he could tell you didn‘t but before he could respond another men sitting at the bar called him over and your last flicker of hope left. It isn‘t until you put your change on the counter, grabbing your bag and getting up before there is a thud. You didn‘t notice the woman in the booth behind you until you walked straight into her. The impact sends you backwards for a moment before you bend down to pick up your bag „Sorry..“ you begin before looking up but you aren‘t prepared for who you just bumped into.

The woman is smirking, not in an irritating way, not surprising but simply amused, almost as if she anticipated this. Her hair is darkly curled, face sharp with high cheekbones, knowing blue eyes. She was older than you but not old. Her body is coated in a dark purple long coat that looked expensive, almost as if she didn‘t belong to a town this size.

„Well well“ she mutters, voice smooth but almost etched with something teasing. „You look a little lost there darling“ she chuckles which causes your throat to tighten „I..“ you try to speak but nothing comes out and she tilts her head as she scans you. She could sense the exhaustion, seeing how your knuckles are white from gripping the bag on your shoulders, dark circles under your eyes, a deep sadness behind your eyes and body trembling from what she assumes to be the cold out there. But she could see something else, something deep behind your eyes, knowing there must be more to the girl that looked so rough but beautiful at the same time.

She sighs, almost dramatically „You‘re new“ she says, not even questioning it but you assume with a town this size it wasn‘t really anything out of the ordinary to notice new faces. You nod before she carries on „I heard you are looking for a place to stay“ and for a moment you hesitate, realizing how strange it was that she listened to your conversation despite how quiet you had mumbled the words to the waiter before. „Yeah“ you swallow before her smirk deepens.

„Well aren‘t you in luck? I have got a room for you“ she smirks and for a moment you feel like running but there is something safe in her smirk, not in a threatening way but one that you can‘t quite place but by now being able to tell it wasn‘t something evil. Still every fiber of your being wanted to turn around and say no but glancing at the quiet town out there, you knew there wasn‘t any alternative, no busses now and the only option the small bus stop to sleep.

„How much?“ you ask a little hesitantly before she chuckles „Depends sweetheart, how long are you planning on staying?“ she asks and by your silence she can tell that you had no idea. You should be questioning her, where does she live? why is she offering a stranger her home? who is she? but instead all you do is stay silent and lock eyes with her.

„Not too much, definitely cheaper than the B&B or Inn, my name is Agatha by the way, Agatha Harkness“ she offers and you barely nod before she turns, walking to the door. „Come on“ she calls over her shoulder „Before you freeze to death out here“ she winks and before you can even think further your feet follow her, out of the diner, into her car and eventually into her home. Her house is on the edge of town, in a quiet street, two stories, wood and a wide porch.

After she unlocks the door she steps inside, taking off her coat and turning the lights on. You hover in the doorway, seeing how the rest of her body is equally clothed in shades of purple, some old looking jewrely coating her neck and fingers. „Well?“ she pulls you out of your thoughts and you blink before stepping inside, still a little hesitantly.

„Relax sweetheart, I don‘t bite“ she sighs as she offers to take your bag and sets it down. There is a pause before she smirks again „Unless you ask nicely“. Your stomach drops as you gulp but before you could respond, she turns around, leading you through the house, past some furniture, warm light and the smell of something herbal.

Eventually you reach a wooden door at the end of the hall and she pushes it open „Here“ she exclaims leading you into a warmly lit room, a rather large bed, a small window and a dresser. It seems like she must have used it as a guest or spare room because really it wasn‘t much but it was safe and oddly enough the woman made you feel safe. She steps inside, setting your bag down on the bed for you before walking over to the heater and making sure it‘s warm enough. „Towels and spare bedding in here, bathroom is opposite this room and you are welcome to use the kitchen at any time“ she announces with a friendly smile and you nod before watching her leave.

„Than- Thank you Ms Harkness“ you remember your manners and she smirks before she chuckles lowly „Agatha please dear“ she corrects you as your eyes meet and you simply nod before she leaves, shutting the door behind her and finally allowing you to sink into a warm bed. And hours later as you lay in said bed, listenting to the wind rattling in the older house, you can‘t shake the inner turmoil, part of you not trusting this stranger as she didn‘t seem like the kind of woman to just rent out a room.

It feels as if she had been waiting for you, as if every moment since buying the bus ticket led you right here into her home. But before you can think about it further, your body finally relaxes, feeling the cold that clung to you before leaving and replaced by the warmth of the room and covers. And so at last sleep washes over you as you feel the warmth of the strange ladies house elop you.

[aversiteespabilas]

HERE IT IS!! THE LONG-AWAITED RRCU MASTERPOST!!!

WHAT is the RRCU, exactly?

The Rise Rabbit Cinematic Universe is a series of derivative fanworks featuring original characters inspired by Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo comics and the spinoff show Samurai Rabbit, with lore and events set in the canonical world of Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was created by myself (@aversiteespabilas) and @rhinocio, together with my best friend Iggy (@r3xcorvus) contributing with their own characters and plot and acting as writing consultant for the rabbits. If you know Stan Sakai's characters, you may find some things familiar, but ultimately, these are completely original characters with original storylines. It started with Rhin and I playing with the concept of our distinct versions of Rise!Usagi being estranged family, and it's now become a rich world of stories and characters that we really feel is worth sharing. Enjoy the ride!

Is this a Rise AU (Alternative Universe)?

Technically, no. RRCU stories are written on the assumption that everything that happens on the ROTTMNT canon does happen exactly as is. We're not working with alternate dimensions either, as the Usagi family are yokai, just like any other in the Hidden City. This is rather a Rise spin-off, focusing on original characters, how the yokai world or Ikai works, and our take on Hidden Japan. It's not an alternate universe, the rabbits are just busy doing their own stuff. However, we do have different alternative timelines or AUs within the RRCU. I'll get to that.

Are they like, dragon riders?

They are, thank you for noticing! I take great pride in that idea 'cause it's allowed me to do a lot of cool stuff. In the RRCU, tokage are large winged lizards, and the characters can ride them! Yuki's best friend Spot is also a loyal flying mount who carries him to adventure.

What's with the amount of rabbits? Seriously, there are SO many.

Well, this is about the Usagi Family. Several generations of them, in fact. We have a wide array of characters we write about or draw artwork for, young and old, living and deceased. At its core, the RRCU is about family, overcoming generational trauma, dealing with your heritage, and reconnecting with those you love.

Okay, but who is dating Leonardo Ninjaturtle, exactly?

Sometimes a rabbit. Sometimes a different rabbit. Sometimes, not a rabbit. Bottom line: It's not about Leo, though he does cameo and romantically feature in some of the fics. When we started merging our concepts of Usagi, Rhin and I already had plenty of canonical work written that featured Leo getting romantically involved with our respective Usagis. As a result of that, we decided each of us would take care of a different timeline or AU based mostly on who Leo is dating. Most of the time, in my own work, Leonardo will be dating Yuki. In Rhin's work, Leonardo might be dating Yusuke (in Rise's apocalyptic future) or perhaps a loveable human named Juan. Or perhaps nobody in particular.

Why are there fics in spanish in the Yuki Usagi (ROTTMNT) ao3 tag? Why do Yuki-focused fics reference stuff that hasn't been published before?

That is because I am spanish, and because before my fic journey, Yuki's story was developed in private (spanish) roleplay. That is why in Yuki's fics, I am assuming Leo and him are already friends, but in Run O' The Mill Rabbit I did my best to retroactively explain the events that led to their friendship regardless.

He's the young heir to the Usagi Family, and that comes with a massive amount of pressure that he's always been able to take in stride, in spite of his hearing disability. With unwavering confidence, commitment to Bushido, and a penchant for silliness, Yuki is always ready to take on any challenge. As an Usagi, though, his greatest challenge may actually be admitting when he's having real trouble, and letting others help him instead.

He's the Usagi Family's long-lost son, Tetsuya's 20-years-younger brother, and Yuki's forgotten uncle. After struggling to meet his samurai family's very strict expectations throughout his childhood, he travelled to America in search of purpose, and accidentally got Mariko pregnant instead. Since then, he's been forced to cut ties with the Usagi and has become radio silent. Weighed down by his shame and used to constantly running away, his only anchors are his son Jotaro and his very dear friends Mariko and Kenichi; yet, he still refuses to truly face the people he loves.

He's Yuki's father and Yusuke's 20-years-older brother. As the Usagi Family Head, his duty has always been preserving the family's dwindling reputation, ensuring traditions and protocol are followed, and being in charge of absolute perfection. However, this mindset has historically not made his family... like him very much, as hard as that is to believe. After his wife's passing and both his little brother and son running off to America, his loneliness has led to regrettable events that are forcing him to accept that he might not be all that perfect himself, either.

She was Tetsuya's first wife and Yuki's mother, before her unfortunate death in the line of duty. She was the lightheartedness and sweetness to Tetsuya's inflexible demeanor, and Tetsuya was a safety line for her more impulsive and daring traits. She had affinity for a very powerful mystic sword that her son Yuki inherited.

She's a hare, and Tetsuya's second wife. A ninja and skilled assassin sent to kill the Usagi Family Head, who eventually decided none of that ninja stuff was worth it anyway. She is supremely chill about everything, in ways the Usagi are still getting used to.

He's Tetsuya and Toshiko's son, which makes him Yuki's baby brother, and a hare-rabbit hybrid yokai. We are sure he will not grow into a troublemaker or anything.

He's Yusuke's very american best friend (though he himself would prefer a different appellative), Mariko's husband, and the dad who stepped up. His love for his own pack is fierce to a fault, so his distaste for the Usagi and everything they stand for often feels more personal than warranted.

She's Kenichi's wife, Jota's mom, and formerly (though she herself would prefer it were currently) Yusuke's date. Also coming from a high-standing family that kept clipping her wings, Mari's gone with a totally different coping mechanism from Yusuke's, and has adopted the Fun, Cool Mom label for herself. She will not be made to choose who she's allowed to love, or how intensely. Not anymore.

He's Yusuke, Mariko, and Kenichi's wonderful son, and he was named Jotaro first, okay? Tetsuya just never even knew it. Although his parents have done their best to keep him away from their own complicated family issues, Jota has become a very emotionally intelligent and mature child regardless, and gets frustrated when they insist on babying him.

She's Keiko's older sister, and Yuki's beloved aunt. Multifaceted, a bit eccentric, and the family's first polyglot, she's constantly learning new skills, and will support and encourage openness of mind in the Usagi as well, though she's not interested in courtly life at all. She was the one to teach Yuki english, and they also learned japanese sign language together, which has led to the two of them having a very deep connection. He often asks and accepts help from her in a way he's never had with anyone, not even his own parents.

He's a young eagle yokai raised under Bishop's orders and yokai fear-mongering. He would eventually become Mikey's best friend, and, as he unlearns his misguided beliefs and opens up to others, he occasionally stumbles upon the Usagi, who are keen to adopt angry street rats like him.

Would you like to learn how I draw our characters?

I'm currently working on a series of RRCU character design notes, so check that out!

Banner art by @rhinocio

This is not an exhaustive list of RRCU fics! There are more works in the series that won't be featured here. This space is meant to showcase the fics I personally think are most relevant and essential to understand the rabbit characters, their lore and main storyline.

Find the entire RRCU fic series HERE!!

After a mysterious alien invasion has destroyed New York City, Usagi Yuki's trip to meet his american friend Leo becomes a trip to help the denizens of New York instead.

Category: Gen

Setting: Post-ROTTMNT Movie canon

Status: Completed

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Chapters: 7

Characters featured: Yuki-centric. Also features Sakiko, Tetsuya, Keiko, and (briefly) Toshiko and Jojo.

Why read this one?: This is probably the best introduction to the RRCU if you're already a fan of Rise and want to see an interesting take on teen Usagi. It features a bunch of familiar secondary characters and settings from Rise.

Famed samurai Usagi Tetsuya's wife just passed, and he is left to live alone with a teenaged boy and the guilt of their estranged family. As the eldest daughter of her clan of assassins, Toshiko is expected to succeed her mother and earn her place as mistress of the clan. However, she must first complete one last mission: kill the head of the Usagi family.

Category: F/M

Setting: Hidden Tokyo, spanning from the time leading to the Shredder's awakening to some time after the ROTTMNT movie canon.

Status: Work In Progress

Rating: Mature

Chapters: 4/9

Characters featured: Tetsuya and Toshiko-centric. Also features Yuki, Keiko, Yusuke, Sakiko and baby Jojo.

Why read this one?: If you're interested in Tetsuya's side of the story, and/or would like to delve into a fully original Hidden City, and/or are into a POV-switching romance story between older characters with terrible secrets, this is the one for you.

Usagi Yusuke is the second son of Hidden Tokyo's Usagi Clan. He is a mediocre, masterless samurai-in-training. He is also, abruptly, a father. The last of those, according to his elder brother, is a shameful thing. The last of those, in Yusuke's opinion, makes the former unimportant. He will do what he must to provide for his son, even if that means moving half a world away and cutting ties with his family entirely. Of course, just because he has loved and let go does not mean his nephew has the same intention.

Banner art by @rhinocio

Category: Multi

Setting: Post-ROTTMNT Movie canon, alternating with Hidden Tokyo flashback chapters.

Status: Work In Progress

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Chapters: 21/46

Characters featured: Yusuke-centric. Also heavily features every other rabbit character.

Why read this one?: If you're looking to understand why the Usagi Family is the way it is, the nature of all their issues and exactly how they get through them as a family, this is the one fic you should check out. It is also my most favorite one, personally.

It’s not like him. Not like either of them, rushing into a game without joking about it first. They’ve got an established back and forth, and they've been using it for years: Leonardo’s the Rebel Leader who teases like he means something, Usagi’s the Bodyguard who humours him, and nothing they say ever goes anywhere.

Banner art by @rhinocio

Category: M/M

Setting: ROTTMNT Apocalypse timeline.

Status: Work In Progress

Rating: Explicit

Chapters: 12/21

Characters featured: Leo and Yusuke-centric. I will update this section if more RRCU characters are featured.

Why read this one?: Those of you looking for leosagi smut that's mature and has an Usagi with an interesting backstory should absolutely check this one out. This is also a peek into what Yusuke is like in the Krang-dominated apocalypse, where he never gets a chance to face his many issues.

Banner art by @rhinocio

Browse commentary and artwork here on tumblr through the tags!

Main tag: RRCU

Character design notes tag: RRCU design notes

Tags by fic: ROTMRfic, H&Hfic, under the sword lifted high, NONUfic

Tags by character: usagi yuki, usagi yusuke, usagi tetsuya, usagi keiko, usagi toshiko, usagi jotaro, usagi jota, usagi jojo, yoshikawa kenichi, kobayashi mariko, payne

We hope you guys enjoy playing in the rabbit sandbox with us! Please, don't hesitate to comment, send asks or just chat with us! This is our pride and joy and it makes us so happy to know people enjoy our work!

[the-bear-and-his-sunbird]

Last week I was tagged by @thequeenofthewinter but I was too busy posting for thedasweekend and finish the first chapter of "The scared boy and lonely girl" (which is a part of the "beetle on the lilac" series)

I am far too late but I'll tag @dymme, @ollypopwrites and everyone who wants to join.

Have a (bigger) snippet of the second chapter now, which is mostly Emmrich remembering Siobhan and his shared past. This snippet focuses on the time where she is lost in the Fade.

Time and time again he ventured to her hiding spots, as if he was a broken puppet. Filled with the faintest of hopes to find her curled up fast asleep somewhere, like he did so many times before.

And he would have waked her in the softest way- or better yet laid down with her, just to hold her tight, telling her a story about his younger days, about a boy afraid of being alone. And she would have brought the warmth back to him, surely and steadily until every dread he felt was nothing more than a faint dream; already fading in the golden light of early mornings.

But she never appeared and his mouth tasted of unspoken words and regrets.

(...)

What a fool he had been.

Would they ask him to corpse whisper her, to ask the questions that needed to be ask? How do you wish your remains to be dealt with? A sentence that has become second nature as a Watcher. Would she answer him? Would she accuse him of letting her die or worse: would she forgive him and ask him to move on? Would he even dare to rip her back for questioning or be too afraid to do it, like he was with his parents?

New questions that tortured him at night.

__________________________________________________________

The first week he did not dare to venture into her room. What good would it have done anyway? Siobhan hated it with an unparalleled fierceness.

„Too much of Solas looms there,“ she said. „The only good thing are the fish.“

It was a shame that even a room to withdraw to seemed to be denied for her.

But after a very long and very tiring week, the lighthouse being too silent without Siobhan and Bellara to discuss theories in the library, without Harding ushering everyone to Bookclub, eyes gleaming with joy when there was a violent part, he caved. What if there was a hint, an answer in her room. If none of that, at least her smell would bring the smallest comfort, as if she was here with him as if she hadn‘t left at all.

Emmrich steeled himself before entering Siobhans room. How would her room look? Would it have changed, be warped entirely by the Lighthouse to mirror her absence?

But it wasn‘t. As he entered slowly, his footsteps echoing across the walls, Emmrich took the room in.

It smelled like her. Warm, spicy, earthy and with a floral note at the end of it.

"Smell like the flowers and the earth and you may catch some beetles." she had said when he asked her.

Maps were stacked on the various drawers in her room. Ink and quills roaming next to them, ready to put plans to paper, to make sense of the labyrinth in front of them.

The blanket the group gifted to her lay next to the couch. Emmrich touched it gently. It was soft and purple and it reminded him so much of all the times she sat before him, the fabric wrapped around her shoulders, drinking tea and telling stories. A small part of him protested when he picked it up and pushed his face inside its folds. He felt so very small again.

In front of the green monstrosity that was meant to be slept on sat the table with the unlit candles, giving a place to write down any thoughts, as one stared into the turquoise abyss behind the glass.

Something white caught his eye. A piece of paper placed neatly on the table, with his name on it.

His heart, which had calmed somewhat in the familiarity of it all, started racing again, making his hands shake both with fear and longing. Emmrich sat down on the couch and unfolded the letter with Siobhans handwriting.

"Dearest, Emmrich, Love of mine,

If you find this, I am dead. Forgive me for leaving you, before being able to make amends.

You seemed so afraid earlier, my love. I fear everything I could say to you know would make it worse but I will try my best to ease your pain.

My dear Emmrich, I never would hold it against you, but I fear you will so please know: I forgive you for what you said. No buts. No ifs. I forgive you.

I know what you said comes from a place of fear and worry, even when you have hurt me. I wish to apologize for my words too. I never wanted to hurt you and I shouldn‘t have let my anxieties get the better of me. You are always a comfort in the most dreary moments. The blanket that shields me from the horrors and keeps me warm. My guiding star.

I am writing this at Bellara’s place (again forgive me for not coming to you). I didn‘t know if you needed to be alone or craved company but I could not bear the silence of my room. The silence disgusting when you are not around to share it with me.

Bellara worries about you, you know? About me, too. She is entrusted with informing you about the letter if I do not make it. Take care of her when I am gone, will you? She needs her friends. As do you. If I can‘t be with you, I take comfort in knowing you still have Manfred and the others looking out for you.

Could you do me a small favor? Can you tell Vorgoth that he was the best caretaker I could have wished for? He needs to know. I haven‘t told him that in years and I was rather ungrateful as a child. Maybe you could send Myrna and Cerise my goodbye too? They are wonderful and shaped me in ways I never could have anticipated.

May I also ask for a second favor?

Live.

Fight the gods for me. Show Manfred all the marvels of the world, show him the wisps at the lovers graves. He will like them and they will tell him a few stories about- anything really. Tell them who sent you, maybe they will remember me. Who knows what they will whisper to him. Maybe light a candle for me there and remember all the good times we had, too.

You should also make new friends. You thrive when people are around.

Even if it paints me to say so: If you wish to fall in love again, dearest, please do. I only ever wished for you to not be lonely and I promised your parents I wouldn‘t let you. I am sorry, that I failed.

Do not fret. I will always love you, in this life and beyond.

And when your end comes in so many years (because you will get ancient, I feel it deep within me) I will await you on the other side.

If you still wish for me by then, as I selfishly hope, I will be:

- Eternally yours,

Siobhan"

He cried for hours after reading it, missing her with an intensity that tore right through his core. How could he ever love another when she had taken his heart with her when she left.

When he found the strength to move again, he steadied his hands and folded the letter neatly, before carefully stowing it away in his pocket.

„You are not dead, my dear,“ He whispered to himself, cradling her blanket as if it was the most fragile and precious thing in this world and carried to his room; where it belonged.

„I will find you. No matter how long I have to search.“

[crowsofdarkness]

CamBoy! Bill Skarsgard: First Virtual Meeting

-pic not mine.-

Pairings: CamBoy!Bill Skarsgard x Viewer!Reader

Summary: Bill isn't ashamed of the work he does, showcasing his body online for anyone willing to pay. His number one rule was never to make a connection with anyone who either sent him messages or paid for private one-on-one video sessions. That was until you decided to request a certain private session.

Content Warnings: 18+ smut which includes Bill having an only fans page, masturbation, phone sex, virtual sex, and language.

Authors Note: this is a limited mini-series, just a bunch of blurbs that take place in this universe. i'm not sure exactly how long this will be. tags will be open for this if anyone is interested!

CamBoy!Bill masterlist.

What the hell am I doing? 

I found myself asking that same question more than once ever since I signed up for only fans a few weeks ago. Not as a producer but as someone that watches and enjoys. At first I was extremely nervous, chasting myself for even thinking of subscribing to strange men who do sex work, virtually. But after being single for my entire life, I’d become desperate. I craved some kind of attention whether it be sexual or just a simple conversation. Although, after being subscribed to a few different pages on Only Fans for a few weeks, I had yet to actually talk to anyone. 

I mean, who the fuck subscribes to Only Fans to talk to people?

Again, asking myself what the hell am I doing?

Letting out a deep breath, I eased farther back into my bed with my laptop on my lap as I clicked through the different pages I subbed to, ready to unwind after a long day. I had a date earlier that ended in disaster, further proving that maybe a relationship was not meant for me. It was weird, me finding more comfort doing this rather than dating. 

Even though there were a few accounts I liked, there was one that I had always found myself going back to when I thought I wanted something different. 

Bill with the 70’s porn stache. 

I watched nearly all of his videos with my rose vibrator pressed against my clit or using my dildo while Bill had his hand wrapped around his cock. He never had any special effects or wore masks like a lot of the other creators on here which is why I found myself drawn to him. He also had a tik tok page where he would post videos showing off his defined abs or trying whatever viral sound was trending. I liked every single new video he posted but never commented due to being shy. He had over a million followers, there was no way he’d ever pay attention to one of my comments. 

Earlier today, he posted a Tik Tok saying he’s offering a new type of content on his OF page, one on one virtual meetings. For a certain amount of money, Bill would skype call someone for ten minutes and they could have virtual sex. Only one time. He made it clear that he would never have more than one virtual call with someone. Almost immediately I checked to see if my funds were available for this but then when I actually thought about it, it was weird, right? Having virtual sex with a stranger? 

Then again, how would it be any different than me getting off to old videos he posted? 

He would actually be talking to you. Which is what you want, no? 

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I quickly signed up for this special one on one virtual meeting and after paying the amount that would put a small dent in my bank account, I waited. Bill mentioned earlier that due to how many people would most likely sign up, he would have to set times and dates for everyone. So instead of sitting for a reply, I opted on placing my laptop on the other end of my bed and dragged my feet to the bathroom across the hall in my apartment. When I first sat down with my laptop, my body had been vibrating with the need for a release but now as the nerves began to eat away at me for what I’d just signed up for, I needed to think of something else. 

By the time I returned into my room, towel wrapped around my soaked body, I saw a flashing notification on my laptop making my heart nearly burst out of my chest. I didn’t bother to get dressed, simply sat on the edge of my bed still in my towel and brought my laptop to my lap. 

New message from Porn Stache Bill. 

While his username wasn’t that great, he made up for it with the content he provided. 

Letting out a deep breath, I clicked open the message and nearly choked on my saliva when I saw it was a video message from Bill. 

“Fuck, this is too real,” I muttered under my breath, finger hesitating over the play button before I hit it.

Bill appeared on the screen of my laptop, dressed in only a pair of grey sweats. The muscles of his abs seemed to rippled underneath the light of his bedroom as he leaned back against the dark sheets of his bed. His hair was messy, chest rising and falling with each deep breath he took which only made me wonder what he’d been doing before he recorded this video. My eyes, however, quickly honed in on the mustache. I was a sucker for it with every single one of his videos.

“Hi, Y/N.” His face broke out in a smile followed by a wink and I nearly fell back onto my own bed when I heard my name fall from those full lips. “I wanted to say thank you for signing up for my private one on one video chats. I’ll be calling you tomorrow night at nine p.m. You have me for ten minutes for whatever you want. If there are any limits, please let me know beforehand. I look forward for our time together.”

When the video ended, I couldn’t ignore the way my heart sank at how monotone Bill sounded. But then again, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was recording the same video over and over again, only changing the names for everyone who signed up. 

Closing my laptop, I set it on my desk before stepping into my closet to find something to wear tomorrow night on this video chat. 

“What the actual fuck am I doing?” I yelled at myself while I paced my bedroom. 

It was five minutes to nine and to say I was a nervous wreck was a fucking understatement. I could barely concentrate at work today and when I went out with some friends after work, all I could think about was this video chat that was about to happen. I didn’t dare tell any of my coworkers I signed up to have a sexual video chat with a complete stranger because I knew they would try and talk me out of it. Sex aside, I was doing this for me as terrible as that sounded. I’d been in my own shell for the last 28 years of my life, never branching out or trying anything hence why I’d been single. No one wanted someone who was inexperienced. 

How pathetic. You signed up on a sex website to help a stranger with sexual activities and for them to talk to you. No wonder why you’re single. 

Once again ignoring the criticizing voice in my brain, I stopped pacing in front of the large mirror in my bedroom to give myself one final once over. My hair was pulled back in a tight french braid, I wore very minimal makeup, and the outfit I wore was anything but sexy mostly because I didn’t own any lingerie. I chose to wear a loose white shirt that hung off one of my shoulders and a pair of olive green panties which you couldn’t see due to the length of the shirt. 

My bedroom wasn’t anything fancy or special, and with the way I had my laptop set up, Bill would only be able to see me and the wall behind my bed which had those vine lights hanging against it. 

Just as those thoughts began to creep in again, a noise from my laptop had me turning on my heels; the clock on my nightstand blinking 9:00 pm. Bill was calling me. 

“No turning back now,” I sighed, sitting on my bed. 

I didn’t bother trying to find a sexy position to sit in because I wasn’t that; sexy. I’d always been average and it took me awhile to accept it. With shaky fingers, I accepted the video chat and soon was graced with that mustache and smile. 

“Hi. Y/N, right?” 

I blinked, forcing myself not to gawk too long at his bare chest. Bill wore a pair of red boxers as he sat relaxed on his office chair. Unlike the video he sent me yesterday, his hair was neatly combed to the side. 

“H-hi,” I said. 

Bill smiled. “Nervous, huh?” 

My cheeks burned and I ran my sweaty palms on the comforter of my bed. “A little. I’ve never actually done this before.” 

“Is there anything I could do to ease your nerves?” He asked while easing back into the chair. 

“Uh, maybe if you could take the lead.” 

The corner of Bill’s mouth curved slightly. “I read over the list you sent over. Seems like you don’t really know what you’re into.”

I cast my face down, not wanting him to see the embarrassment that covered me. This was a very bad idea. I shouldn’t have signed up for this. 

“Hey,” Bill’s soft voice from my laptop made me lift my gaze slightly. “It’s alright. There’s no need to be embarrassed. We all have to start somewhere when it comes to sex.”

I bit my bottom lip. “If I’m being honest, I’m not sure why I even signed up for this. I thought maybe it could help break me out of this shell. But now I think maybe it’s only making things worse. Which I know sucks because I already paid for this and there’s no refund so I guess I’ll eat the money. I’m sorry that I wasted your time. I don’t know why I did this.” 

“Seems like you ramble when you’re nervous,” Bill chuckled. 

I cringed at myself. This was something I already knew and the fact this attractive man, who I spent hours watching his tik toks and O.F content, immediately called me out on it made me shrink farther into my bed. The hem of my shirt rode up my thighs when I did, showcasing my panties. Bill’s eyes darkened as he sat straight up in his computer chair to get a closer look at the camera. 

“If you want, we can just talk,” he offered me a smile. 

I thought about it for a moment. While I did start this whole thing to try and find someone to talk to, I also did want this to break me out of this shy shell. 

“No, I want to do more but I don’t know where to start,” I admitted. 

Bill glanced at something off screen for a few beats before looking back at the camera. “We have seven minutes. Would you rather us both do something, just you, or just me?” 

I sighed. “Maybe if you just did something? Since I’m so fucking nervous, I think it would be better if I watched you.”

“You’re kind of cute when you curse,” he winked. “Alright, as long as you're comfortable with it. How about you strip for me?” 

“I don’t know why you would want to see me,” I said. 

“Your shirt is thin, Y/N. The last four minutes of us talking, I’ve been looking at those pretty tits underneath. I bet they’re round and so perky,” Bill’s voice had deepened, his hand starting to leave the armrest of his chair. 

“Oh,” I muttered, glancing down at my chest which was in fact visible through my shirt. 

“Just the shirt for me, Y/N. You can keep those green panties on. That alright?” 

Slowly nodded, I dragged up my shirt over my head, letting it fall to the bed next to me. Bill groaned, pushing his chair back so I could see all of him as he took out his cock from his boxers. 

“I knew it. I knew your tits were perky round.” 

I watched, frozen, as he wrapped his hand around his cock in a grip that had to have hurt but only seemed to bring him more pleasure. This wasn’t anything new for me, I’d watch plenty of videos of him teasing his followers on Tik Tok or posting more intimate videos on his O.F. 

Only this time, this was more private. It was only between us. 

“Lay down on your bed for me and spread your legs. Can you do that?” 

Bill’s hoarse voice made my skin shiver with heat and doing what he did, I slowly laid on my bed with my legs spread wide. The show of him jerking himself off made a small wet spot appear on my panties, something he immediately noticed. 

“The sight of me choking my cock with my hand is making you wet, huh?” 

I nodded, slightly blissed out from the sight on my screen. Bill’s jaw was slack as his hand moved in a fast rhythm. I studied the way his thumb would drag over the beads of precum on the head before using it as lube to make his cock slick with it. Or how he would grip the base of his cock, holding it for a few seconds before choking on a breath. 

My pussy ached with the need to touch myself but I couldn’t move. Too engrossed in the private show he was giving me. No one else. Me. 

“Can you touch your nipples? For me, please.” 

Something flared deep inside of my gut at how he begged me so with another nod, I began playing with my nipples in the way I knew I liked. I arched off the bed slightly when I pinched a little too hard. 

“You like it rough, Y/N? The harder, the better?”

“Yes,” I moaned, watching him through hooded eyes.

Bill licked his lips, tongue grazing over the mustache, and I let out a moan when I watched his hips stilled right as he spilled into his hand. 

“Oh fuck, Y/N. You see that? You see what you do to me?” He groaned, working himself through the aftershocks. 

“Oh my fucking god,” I moaned, letting my head fall back to my pillow and my fingers grazed over my panties. 

I was going to wait to touch myself after the call ended, too embarrassed to do that in front of Bill. But seeing him come apart while he watched me pinch and pull at my nipples nearly tipped me over the edge and I knew I wouldn’t last long. 

Just as I went to slip my fingers inside of my panties, my phone began buzzing when the ten minute timer went off. Feeling the world drop from around me, I sat up in bed to silence the timer and stared at the laptop screen where Bill was slumped in his chair trying to catch his breath. 

“I’ve been doing this for a while but that,” he motioned to his messy cock, “Was so fucking messy.

A red hue covered my entire face and my ears as I avoided my gaze from the screen for a moment. “I bet you say that to everyone” 

Bill reached for the tissues on his desk before he began cleaning himself off. “Well, it seems like our ten minutes are up. I hope it was everything you wanted.” 

Silence filled the air between us for a few beats as I tried to think of what to say. Do I thank him? Do I say see you later? Can’t wait to see the next video you post?

“Uh, yeah. Sure. Thank you for this, for everything you do. It’s always a nice thing to see. You’re a nice thing to see. Not your thing! I mean it’s nice, don’t get me wrong. But-.”

Smooth, Y/N. Real fucking smooth.

Bill let out a deep and hearty laugh, running a clean hand through his hair, and tucked himself back inside of his boxers. 

“You’re fucking adorable when you ramble. Have a good night, Y/N.”

When the screen went black, I let out a long breath and closed the laptop. This was the one and only time we would have a private moment like this, just the two of us. He’d continue to post videos, which I planned on watchling like I had before, but now I couldn’t push away the lingering feeling that it would be different now.  

I originally signed up for this thinking it would break me out of my shell, help me find out more about myself, sex wise, and what I was into for future partners. Hell, the few words I spoke to Bill was enough to fill the empty void in my life, even if it was for a few minutes. But now that it was over, I realized how much of a mistake it was. It wasn't the shame that usually followed after I watched porn but more so the disappointment in myself because the only way I could have a man's attention on me was if I paid for it. 

Clearing my throat, feeling the burn slowly rise, I snatched up my shirt and walked towards my bathroom; Bill’s words clinging to my sweaty skin. 

Oh fuck, Y/N. You see that? You see what you do to me?

[sombra-conlangs]

Conlang year 2025 · Day 1 - 4

I decided to try out @quothalinguist's conlang year, it is basically a series of daily prompts that guide you through the process of creating a new language, by the end of the year you will end up with a conlang that is developed enough to participate in relays and lexember, you can find it on quothalinguist.com

It looks like conlang year is mostly geared towards creating languages that are naturalistic and evolved from a proto-language, and the concept I have for this is not going to really fit into that, you'll see why once I start describing it, but I don't imagine that'll be too much of an issue, it's still useful to have a guide for the different aspects of the language I should focus on. I'll try to adapt the prompts to work with my idea and I guess I'll skip the ones that I can't figure out how to adapt.

I'll be combining many prompts together into single posts for convenience, I'll tag these posts as both #Conlang year and #Conlang year 2025 so you can search those in my blog to see them all if you want (once I name the language I will also add it to the tags, but the language doesn't have a name yet).

If you want to see all of the information from these posts compiled into one place I will be adding all of the information about the conlang I create on my website: tekseni.bearblog.dev

Day 1: Set an intention for your language

(warning: this gets a bit heavy, but I try not to make it too dour)

I haven't been feeling great lately, I won't go into details, I'll just say that it can be difficult to manage your emotions when the world seems to be in such a terrible state, living through historical events is not easy.

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

I know there's some people who say you have to be constantly staying informed on every bit of news because if you don't you're a bad person, but that's not a sustainable way to live. It's important for us to keep ourselves sane, if you're going to help others through turbulent times you have to make sure you have your own feet on firm ground. I won't be of much help if I'm having a crisis, so taking care of my own mental health is important, and for many of us that can include a bit of escapism and using art as an outlet, using art as motivation to keep going and enjoy life despite the circumstances. This conlang is my escapism.

With all of that being said, here's my 2 main goals for this conlang:

1: I want this language to make me smile

I want to create something that helps me to find some beauty and hope in the world, I want the choices I make with the language to make me smile, and I want to be able to have fun while working on it, without having to worry too much about how naturalistic it is or anything like that, so ideally I'd also avoid comparing this to other conlangs.

If we compare this to visual art, I'd say this is less like trying to create an awesome painting with perfect perspective, colors and composition, and it's more like me doodling in a sketchbook that is meant primarily for me, but I also want to share it with others in case they find it to be at least mildly interesting or it helps inspire them in some way.

It's not like my other conlangs don't bring me joy, I guess what I'm trying to say is that this time I will try to design the language without worrying about things like naturalism or trying too hard to make my worldbuilding interesting or deep, it's just a canvas where I can throw paint and let myself go wild, trying out things I normally wouldn't, and making choices based on my personal preferences instead of what I think I "should" do, so I guess that makes this is a personal language.

2: This is going to be a surrealistic conlang

I have already decided who the speakers of my language will be, I'll elaborate more in the following prompts but I currently call them "dream angels" because they're basically benevolent beings that exist in the world of dreams, and because of this I want to try my hand at making a surrealistic conlang, @dedalvs wrote an essay on fiat lingua about what such a language might look like, and I keep coming back to it every now and then because I love the concept.

Even before that essay was posted I remember thinking of what conlangs might look like if they were inspired by different art movements, and a surrealistic one fits particularly well into the dream world idea, it will also allow me to fulfill my first goal fairly easily; making something that makes me smile without having to worry about naturalism and letting myself experiment. I've always been drawn to surrealism for one reason or another, not entirely sure why but I know this is something I'm excited to work on.

I'm not expecting this to be the best surrealistic conlang out there, but it doesn't have to be, it just has to be fun for me, and it will work as a learning experience regardless, so if I want to try again at some point I will have a better idea of how to approach it. I'm sure someone out there will make an amazing surrealistic conlang one day and I'll be excited to see it when it happens.

Day 2: Set an intention for sharing your language

Basically the main audience is me, I hope that future me will be able to look at all the different translations, grammar choices and vocabulary I made and feel like it's a fun language that still brings me some joy in some way or another, even if I don't keep working on it for much longer after the conlang year has ended at least I hope it was a positive experience.

I also want to share the language online (on this blog and on my conlang website) mostly because I'm hoping that at least one person is going to look at my conlang and feel inspired, or maybe it will make them smile too, so I'm going to try to describe all the features in a way that is understandable for other conlangers.

Day 3: Determine your speakers and conworld

The basic idea is that there is another plane of existence, one we can't see when we're awake, and the world where dreams exist is connected to this other realm, so when we dream we sometimes come into contact with the ethereal beings that speak this language, and they are kind and loving.

The dream angels usually don't interfere with human affairs too much, but they sometimes help us by making nightmares go away and soothing the people they see, at least while the people are asleep (since they can't interact with us outside of dreams).

They also shift the way they speak to be a bit more familiar to the person they're encountering, so I imagine the phonology of their language might shift a bit from its default form depending on what your native language is, the language would still be unintelligible to you but it would sound a bit like someone speaking your L1 in a weird way (which also means that it will be easier for you to pronounce the language if you are able to speak back at them because you will at least get to use sounds you already know how to pronounce, though you're welcome to pronounce it in its original form).

These beings are very surreal in their appearance, there's probably different types of dream angels but the ones I'll be working with are kind of like a mix of various sea creatures, drifting through space peacefully, building all sorts of things and admiring the nature that exists in their world.

I imagine their settlements are built on floating islands full of all sorts of critters and nature, and their world as a whole is probably a bit weird and doesn't always seem to follow logical rules, in keeping with the kind of things you see in dreams, so they might look a bit like something you'd see in an M.C. Escher artwork, where you're not exactly sure what you're looking at, but it has a certain beauty to it.

Day 4: Describe (or design) your speakers

And finally here's a picture I drew of a prototypical dream angel:

They might look a bit intimidating or scary to you, but I chose to take inspiration mostly from various sea creatures because they help to convey this kind of ethereal and weirdly beautiful aesthetic, when I look at jellyfish I often wonder how those are living beings that exist in our world, they look more like they're inanimate objects drifting in the water and yet they're alive, and they're so mesmerizing and fascinating, like a living nebula.

I imagine different dream angels would have different characteristics, but in general they're basically like some sort of jellyfish with 3 main tentacle-like appendages, many thin tendrils, 6 insect-like arms, 6 little wings (because it makes them look a bit more angelic lol) and they have one eye, but no human has ever seen their eyes because it is always covered by something, in this case it's a butterfly, but whatever is covering their eye it does not prevent them from seeing, this is the dream world after all.

I think there might be other types of dream angels, and they're all able to speak a human-like language because they don't need a mouth to speak, they just telepathically send sounds to other beings, so the speakers of my language will be characterized by being similar to sea creatures, perhaps there's other dream angels that are more similar to other types of animals, or inanimate objects, maybe some are just completely out there and don't even look like anything we're familiar with as humans. By the way if you feel inspired to design your own dream angels go ahead! I think it'd be nice if I was able to inspire creativity in others with my work.

I'm also choosing to use a human-pronounceable phonology because I enjoy pronouncing the words and sentences of my conlangs, but perhaps at some other point I will make a different register of the language that uses different noises as phonemes, maybe sounds of water and nature, or maybe something like one of those really peaceful synths, after all their phonology is not limited by their physiology or even things like logic.

But anyway that's it for now, I feel a bit vulnerable putting myself out there so much, this feels a bit more personal than my other conlangs I've shared, it's not like a regular fantasy worldbuilding project or a fanlang or an a posteriori language, this one is very out there and weird, but again I want to share it in case other people find it interesting, and hey, we need more examples of surrealistic conlangs, so I'm more than happy to contribute to that.

[turtletaubwrites]

Numbers Game ~ Chapter 38

I Like Those Odds

Pairings: Cross Guild Polycule x Shanks x Fem!Reader x ???

Numbers Game Masterlist

Word Count: 5.7k+

Ao3 Link

Ongoing Series Playlist: Youtube Music Link | Youtube Link

Chapter Tunes: Fly (feat. Super Cat) ~ Sugar Ray | Waves ~ Dean Lewis

Summary: Tonight is the last "First Date." The Hunters each get their moment in the spotlight, while you get to know the royal family that's been trying to win you.

Ch. 37 Recap: Detailed recap is directly below the cut!

Author's Note: Heeyyyy, look at that. Still a hermit, but fictional dialogue has to count for something 😅 I hope y'all enjoy this one, there's a lot of things in here 🥰

Dark Content Warning: I haven't marked any dark content for this chapter, but it's full of villains, and the plot is doing things. Please remember that this story has and will always contain dark content and themes.

Also, I hope everyone remembers the tag/warning: Cross Guild Boys are VILLAINS. It’s been there since day one, so 🤷‍♀️

Alternate POV Symbols:

🌲 ~ Reader | 🐊 ~ Crocodile | 🗡 ~ Mihawk | 🤡 ~ Buggy | 🔴 ~ Shanks | ⏰ ~ Flashbacks for listed POV | ⚫ ~ Scenes depicting Dark Content as listed in Author's Notes

!!! SPOILER WARNING !!! Fic contains spoilers for current OP plotlines!!! As we get further into/past Egghead Arc where our lovely boys are showing up more, there will be more spoilers as time goes on. Sorry y'all, I'm trying to keep most spoilers small or vague details, but Cross Guild is endgame, lol.

Rating/Warnings: Author May Choose to Exclude some Warnings to Avoid Spoilers for Certain Chapters, Explicit Sexual Content, 18+ ONLY, MDNI, AFAB!Reader, She/Her Pronouns for Reader, Reader-Insert, Use of Y/N, Dark Content, Blood & Violence, PTSD, Panic Attacks, Dissociation, Mental Illness, Grief, Hospitals, Doctors, Mental Health Treatment, Toxic Family, Childhood Trauma, Swearing, Alcohol, Cigars, Smut, Fluff, Angst, Guilt, Drama, Jealousy, Manipulation, Pet Names, Power Imbalance, Cross Guild boys are VILLAINS, Possessive Behavior, Teasing, Threats, Relationship Drama, Inappropriate Use of Akuma no Mi | Devil Fruit Powers, Shameless Shameless Smut, Uncle Cedrick Has Become His Own Warning, Death of an Unnamed Character, Other Additional Tags to Be Added

| masterlist | about me | rules | ao3 |

Ch. 37 Recap:

Buggy and Crocodile languished as the date with the CEO of Galley La began. Buggy imagined what he would do if reader was truly happy, while Crocodile fought not to let his rage spill onto the only lover he had left by his side.

Shanks confronted his enemy again, but no matter how villainous he tried to act under the constraints of the hunt's rules, Iceburg gave him no ground.

Reader let herself enjoy the date with Mr. Iceburg, only to discover that he came there to save her from her Uncle's wicked plans. He revealed the guilt he felt over not checking in on her after her father died, and that he looked into her previous loves when he became suspicious of why she hadn't taken over the company yet.

Reader convinced her favorite shipwright that the only safe way for him to help her would be to marry her, and she was happy to learn that it could be more than a marriage of convenience when he accepted her desire for intimacy.

Reader was not able to hold onto those feelings of hope after the date ended, crying herself to sleep. Then breakfast came, and Iceburg revealed to her family that part of his motivation to marry her would be to gain the resources needed to help save Water 7 from the storm that plagued it. She decided to face that fear later, after she survived the hunt.

I Like Those Odds

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

The feel of that charming smile on his own lips was starting to burn, but Shanks kept it up. He’d fucked up too many times since greed had taken him over. Since he’d stolen those stolen clues to the One Piece from the rookie that he’d forgotten about the second he imagined Buggy by his side again.

Always been a fucking villain.

“So, Emperor Shanks, how are you enjoying this hunt for true love? Are you planning to take your new bride to find the One Piece for your honeymoon?”

“What can I say,” he flirted with the reporter, hating how much he enjoyed the way her skin flushed under his attention. “I’m here to find myself a Queen.”

The courtyard seemed to shake beneath the weight of so many leeches sighing, their pleasure like sticky heat on his skin.

Sylvad had announced that there’d be no hunt today since the last, first date would take place this evening. Instead, he forced each hunter under the microscope, letting his greedy audience soak them all in.

Y/N sat between Cedrick and her sister, a soft smile never leaving her face while her lunch remained untouched before her. That wounded star just gazed at her hunters, and Shanks could feel those empty eyes stripping him bare, exposing him more than the massive screens against the manor.

Shanks’ shitty smile was blown up beside another screen that showed reels of the hunt. He had to fight not to stare at all the pathetic, desperate, and wicked moments the snails had captured.

His failures kept playing on a loop.

“Were you expecting to find such fierce competition?”

The Emperor’s smile deepened at the sight of his failure from last night. Luckily it was distant, but he could see his own useless rage while he leaned toward his enemy, and his eyes flicked toward the man in the moment.

His enemy’s face was still as cold and immovable as his stupid name.

“I enjoy a challenge,” Shanks nodded at Iceburg before winking at the reporter.

The girl shook herself after biting her lip, tugging her newsboy cap down a bit while the villain laid eyes on his prey again.

The wounded star was still smiling.

“I always win when it counts.”

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

“He’s there to help her…”

Buggy had braced himself for his star’s pleasure, held his breath through her rage and emptiness, until his voice came out soft, unbelieving, while Crocodile’s warmth never left him.

The man not known for his patience had waited so quietly, afraid his voice would break things again. Y/N’s pain was too sharp when her old lover’s betrayals were revealed, but his little clown shared her painful story, as though giving him a target to focus that rage on.

“More people to add to our list.”

“She thought I’d be like them,” Buggy stretched, removing himself from Crocodile’s lap so he could let pieces of him shake around the suite, hands flapping and tapping, but nothing could shake these feelings out of him. “Those assholes gave her up for ShitFuck’s money. She’s so…”

“We’ll find them,” his scarred lover promised, stamping out his cigar as though he could burn it into the flesh of his enemies from the comfort of this pretty loveseat that could barely hold him.

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

Numbers had gotten you through so many boring events, so many mind-numbing parties and dates.

You rarely did it on purpose, but you’d often catch yourself counting, adding, multiplying. So many random things to count, to figure out, to focus on. It was relaxing, something to do while you kept that Sylvad smile on your face. Especially since you decided to keep your locket hidden today, sitting against your skin under the fabric of the dress he’d chosen.

Uncle had looked like he might snatch it from you yesterday when you were fidgeting with it in front of the crowd, and it wouldn’t be the first time he’d taken away something that soothed you.

So, without that warm metal beneath your fingers to drag back and forth, or to flip over and under the chain like a coin over your fingertips, you gave in to numbers to keep you sane.

~~~🌲~~~

One.

“How are you feeling about your odds, Prince Ichiji,” Chinode asked, the young reporter seeming a bit too excited to be interviewing your suitors.

“It’s not a question,” the red-haired prince bragged, his fingers tapping a slow rhythm onto his knee while he gazed at you. “Y/N will be a Vinsmoke soon.”

~~~🌲~~~

Two. He should be ‘four’ though. I wonder why their ‘three’ didn’t come to woo me?

“You’re the last to have your first date,” Chinode smiled, just a hint of tease in her voice. A dangerous game. “Do you have something special planned for your potential princess tonight?”

“Of course,” Yonji boasted, “I’m gonna sweep her off her feet.”

His eyes drank you in, greedy and full of an excitement that might have made you shy if you hadn’t lived through the last few months of your wild life.

Kat cleared her throat, and you caught the smirk she failed to hide. You poked her thigh under the table before she could break your concentration, your stupid, empty smile.

I guess he’s not her favorite anymore, you thought while you caught sight of Reiju’s pink hair a few tables away.

Green’s not so bad…

~~~🌲~~~

Three. Third time’s the…

Having no favorites was an impossible feat when the man of your dreams smiled at you. Iceburg did so well under the spotlight. You hardly heard a word while you schooled your features, forcing yourself to smile at him the same way you smiled at the others.

Uncle Cedrick’s eyes were always on you, watching every emotion you let slip when he wasn’t caught on his own image on the screen.

Hope was poison. Even if you followed this dream, you’d be sailing into the storm that haunted your nightmares.

You used that fear to balance your hope, hoping that your Uncle could sense none of those dangerous truths.

~~~🌲~~~

Four. The gentle not-a-giant.

A lovely death wish.

“Charlotte Katakuri,” Chinode squeaked from that little platform you’d gotten used to, although watching it swaying in the wind from your spot on the ground made your mouth dry. “Your family is known for making matches. What are you hoping to gain from this powerful pairing?”

Just as you’d known you’d been right about his smile; you were certain that your crimson-eyed suitor was scowling at her beneath that mass of feathers.

He waited long enough to reply that he interrupted whatever words she was about to try next, ignoring her to look at you with that knowing gaze.

“Family.”

~~~🌲~~~

Five. The traitor.

How was it that everyone could adore such a monster? Shanks had everyone laughing, sighing, practically prostrating themselves before him just to get some attention from that red-haired piece of shit.

That Emperor of the Sea.

Yet through all that charm, you could see the cracks.

He’s just like Uncle. He always gets what he wants.

And when he doesn’t…

“I always win when it counts.”

His threat sent a chill over your skin, but you kept smiling. 

Even if he won, if he stole you for his own selfish goals, you had a plan.

Let the monster use you until you could kill him for your star. If you failed, he’d kill you, but you’d be free of him. If you succeeded, either his crew, or the wicked sea would end your life.

Numbers caught you again, calming your thrashing heart.

Five. He’s one out of five.

Hope was reckless, but…

I like those odds.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

A quiet gratitude had been building for the man that was caring for his love when he couldn’t, until that peace came undone.

He knew that breathing.

“She’s okay,” Buggy choked out at his scarred lover, the man far too patient while Buggy reacted to those faraway sounds.

“I thought you said… They’re—”

“Yeah.”

The stopping and starting was making him dizzy, and soon the clown was pacing, failing to remove his body’s reaction to her need.

I’m sick. Fucking twisted.

“Little clown—”

“He’s not gonna hurt her,” Buggy snarled, tearing the plug from his ear. “I shouldn’t… She doesn’t know. I’m so fucking wrong, GODS DAMNIT!”

“Why don’t you listen to me instead?”

Sand faded, but the swell of it around Buggy had formed into that frightening man, who breathed his question along his only ear. Crocodile fisted into his hair, and the clown was surprisingly distracted for a moment when he pulled their bodies together.

“Mm, my little clown is so needy,” Crocodile rasped, dragging the lovely, desperate man toward the bed. “Didn’t I already tell you? Just tell Daddy what you want, I’ll take care of you.”

Crocodile held his breath. He had to find some way to help, something to do to keep his brave little clown from breaking, but he feared he may have pushed too far.

Buggy’s mind had gone blank except for the sweet sting of Crocodile’s grip in his hair, and the sound of his star about to come on another man’s fingers.

“I want you to take care of me,” Buggy confessed, almost laughing at those words that had started such a filthy, delicious adventure for them all.

When Buggy had said he wanted to watch, he’d already felt a taste of this, but when she said those words, when she let them have her, Buggy had learned how sick he was. Watching those villains fuck his girl dumb, tear her into little pieces while she begged for more should have filled him with rage.

Yet, that twisted clown couldn’t get enough.

This was different though. She didn’t know he was listening.

Guilt nearly dropped him again, until that very distracting Daddy shoved his tongue down his throat.

“Good boy,” Crocodile praised before lying on the bed, gently tugging his lover along with him. “You gonna let Daddy taste that ass of yours before I ruin it? You gonna sit on my—”

“Yes, Daddy,” Buggy gave a breathless laugh before dropping his pajama pants, and climbing up that frightening, welcoming face.

“Mm, come here, pretty boy,” Crocodile hummed, pulling the man down with his hand, his hook already resting on the dresser.

He’d gotten so comfortable with this little guild, but Crocodile couldn’t force himself to stress about it while those needy, crystal eyes stared down at him.

“Touch yourself for me.”

“Fuuuck,” Buggy shook while that wicked, huge tongue teased him open. He obeyed, fisting himself while he sat on that frightening face, only to realize their mistake.

Crocodile made delicious noises while he worked, but it was hard to listen to his muffled moans over the sounds of her screams.

Star, I’m sorry, I—

“Gods, Daddy,” he finally returned, that tongue taking him over the edge that guilt had barred him from.

His Daddy went wild at those delicious words, fingers digging into his hip so he could shove that tongue deeper, toying with his clown until he could feel that pulsing need.

His star had to take her pleasure quickly, her breath almost distant while she moaned.

Iceburg was fucking her so well, Buggy could almost see her beautiful face all wrecked with need.

The clown managed to grab a pillow to catch his mess, letting out a pathetic moan while that tongue kept playing.

He fell to the side in bits and pieces, amazed by the pleased look on his scarred lover’s face.

“You didn’t need to spare me,” the man laughed, pulling him against the warmth of his body. “I’d like to feel my pretty clown’s come on my skin next time.”

“Fuck,” Buggy shivered against that warmth, earning a wicked chuckle. The sudden memory of the danger that awaited him would have stolen his mind again, if not for the lack of that sacred heartbeat.

“The locket,” his clown choked, sending fear through him.

“What is it, little clown?”

Holding onto his pretty, little lover, Crocodile managed to hold onto patience. Barely.

“He gave it back to her,” the clown sighed, more guilt riding him that he’d soon hear her fulfill Iceburg’s command.

His star wanted that man so badly, it stilled his blood again, until he remembered.

“I’m sorry,” he coughed, trying to turn in Crocodile’s arms to finish their distraction, but the man held him too tight. “We can— “

“There’ll be plenty of time for that,” Crocodile soothed, breathing along Buggy’s neck until his clown shivered again. “Unless you want— What’s wrong?”

No. Baby, please.

“She’s safe, she’s just… She’s crying,” Buggy confessed, those comforting arms stiffening around him for a moment.

“Let’s get cleaned up and get some rest, little clown,” Crocodile soothed, that large hand smoothing down Buggy’s skin. “We need to stay strong for her.”

“Yeah.”

Buggy followed along, accepting comfort while a different kind of guilt trapped his heart.

He could feel the heat of her around that locket, her sobs muffled as though her fist was gripping the metal around his listening ear.

The fact that Buggy felt comforted, felt closer to Y/N while she fell to pieces, made him feel sicker than his perverted pleasure had.

It’s okay, baby. I’m right here.

~~~🤡🐊🤡🐊~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

“I don’t know…”

“You look pretty badass,” Kat declared as she trailed her finger over the strange, slick fabric along your arm. That smooth, shiny fabric covered everything but your head, your body encased in black and green.

It barely looked like clothes. It looked like you’d been dipped into a vat of paint.

“Well, it’s more comfortable than that leather outfit,” you sighed, glad for the silly cape this time.

At least my ass is covered.

Kat raised a brow at your snort, but she couldn’t keep her face straight.

Soon you were both laughing, wheezing, still giggling when mom returned to lead you to your next date.

Your locket was a lump beneath that skintight suit, but you hoped the number “4” on your chest would distract from it.

The youngest prince could barely speak when Cedrick presented you to him, letting the leeches drool over you almost as much as Yonji seemed to be.

It was ridiculous, but the sight of pink hair making its way toward your sister made it all worth it.

“You ready, princess,” Yonji managed to beg, kneeling at your feet.

“Yes, Prince Yonji— Oh!”

Laughter spilled from you once more, fighting not to squeal while he carried you through the air.

That suit was surprisingly comfortable against the wind beneath this golden sky.

“Just wait, Princess,” Yonji threatened, “I’m gonna show you the world.”

~~~🌲~~~

The thrill of flying sank fast once he set you down.

“Relax, pretty,” the prince ordered as he trailed a thumb over your cheek. “You’re safe with me.”

A gorgeous, green couch had been bolted to a wooden platform, but the comfort of that plush seat couldn’t hide the sway or stifle the strange need that eccentric piece of furniture had stoked in you.

Yonji had brought you to a couch at the top of a redwood tree, and sitting just above the forest was mind numbing. Somehow, sitting there was more dizzying than being carried through the sky.

“I had something made for you,” the green-haired man purred, grinning from his spot on his knees before you. His eyes dragged over every shiny piece of you until he pulled a large pouch from beneath his cape to dig through. “I hope you’re not too hungry, princess. It’s not a good idea to eat before your first go.”

“My first… No, really?”

“Please, gorgeous,” he begged, puppy dog eyes doing you in. “I’ll show you how. Just let me take these off for you.”

Fuck. Anything to get me off this stupid, green couch.

Yonji wasted no time when you nodded your consent, and soon you were giggling at his frantic, creeping fingers. He undid the shiny boots you’d been stuffed into, tickling you slightly as he trailed over your knees, your shins, tracing softly over the tops of your feet.

“Is my pretty princess ticklish?”

Wicked, curly eyebrows raised at you while he kissed just below your knee, but his fingers still held your squirming feet.

“Prince Yonji, please! You’re making me dizzy,” you pouted, holding in your smirk when you saw that you’d been right.

Making this prince melt was too easy, and watching his mouth go slack with need made your toes curl where he held them trapped against his chest.

“Sorry, princess,” Yonji rasped after catching his breath, still gazing up at you like you were his favorite treat. “I got distracted. Let me show you how to fly.”

~~~🌲~~~

“Holyshitholyshit!”

“You’re a natural,” Yonji beamed while he held your quivering hands, making you spin slowly in the darkening sky, getting too dark above the deadly tops of the trees. “I knew you’d be good, already a Vinsmoke princess, aren’t you?”

“Yonji, I— Wait!”

“I’ll catch you, princess. Show me how brave you are, baby.”

Fuck. Holy fuck.

“Fuck!”

“Look at you,” Yonji praised from below your hovering body, shifting to catch you with every stuttering move you made. “You’re flying, gorgeous! Doing so well for me. I’m gonna teach you so many things, just wait.”

So dizzy. So high.

So free.

Maneuvering still didn’t make sense, but your fear started to shift into thrills while you let yourself move through the air.

Nothing holding you down.

“This is fucking awesome!”

“Told you, princess,” Yonji bragged, still floating beneath you.

“How do I go down— Oh, fuck!”

You’d plummeted toward the ground for one terrifying moment, until you were caught, but Yonji groaned along with you. Your thin, shining suit protected you from the wind, but not from the achingly hard cock you’d slammed into when you fell, straddling him above the trees.

Heated laughter spilled from you while you let your death wish out to play.

“That felt amazing, Yonji, so good,” you purred, grinding yourself against the heavy need he carried. His whimpers and his fingers digging into your thighs made you cry out.

That lovely pressure on your clit nearly had you forgetting where you were.

“D-don’t stop, princess,” the green-haired hunter begged, keeping you both afloat while he gripped your hips, dragging you over his cock again and again.

“Please, Prince Yonji,” you moaned against his neck, nibbling on the only piece of bare skin you could find. “Your cock feels so fucking good. I’m going to come if you keep— “

More whimpers now, delicious when he let you taste them with a desperate kiss.

Your eyes rolled back when you felt him pulsing, twitching, coming in that suit of his.

“Yonji— “

“Don’t stop,” he whined. This poor, desperate prince wouldn’t let you move away, grinding against you while he twitched until you joined him.

Your body spasmed against his, moaning until you lost your breath at the sight of the stars that were too close.

“Mm, my perfect, little princess,” he hummed, making you squirm all the way to the ground while he covered you with kisses. “I can’t wait to bring you home.”

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

Luckily there didn’t seem to be snails in that golden sky, so the screens lost sight of the hovering couple soon enough.

Kat relaxed in her seat, until her mother shot her a look.

“I’m going to take a walk,” the sister of the star drawled, standing instead of straightening her spine at that shitty table.

“Kathryn, don’t you want to spend time with our guests?”

“It’s just a walk.” Kat took a slow breath instead of snapping.

I thought I’d gotten better at this.

“I could use a walk, Miss Sylvad. Mind if I join you?”

The pink-haired princess beamed at Delaine Sylvad, and the whiff of royalty was enough to quiet her nagging.

“Thanks for the save,” Kat whispered once they were beyond the courtyard, beyond the glittering lights and greedy laughter. “You don’t need to— “

“I brought something for you,” Reiju teased, leaning close while she lifted a large purse from her shoulder. “But let’s get away from all the eyes before you open it.”

How the fuck do her lips look like that?

Kat shook herself free from the pull of those plump, teasing lips long enough to realize what the princess had said.

“Sure, my, uh… My suite isn’t too far from here.”

It was far, but the princess only teased a little when Kat had to ask for directions to her own fucking room.

~~~🐈~~~

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask what your favorite color was first. I hope you don’t mind purple.”

Kat’s face went hot at the slow smile Reiju gave when she stepped out from behind the dressing screen. This shining suit, a more reserved version of the one the princess had donned, left Kat trying not to waddle like a duck.

Especially when the princess nudged her into an armchair while she sat her royal ass on the floor at her feet.

“Purple’s fine,” Kat breathed, holding in a shiver while long fingers tickled over her shins, fastening those miracle boots into place. “Yellow’s my favorite though.”

“Really,” Reiju raised a brow, earning a frown. “You’re always in black or green, and you don’t seem— “

“Catty bitches are allowed to like yellow, you know.” Kat couldn’t stop herself, earning a surprised laugh from the royal woman she’d just snapped at.

“Catty bitches, huh,” she smirked, offering her hand once she climbed to her feet. “Come along then, Kat. Why should we let our siblings hog all the fun?”

~~~🐈~~~

Ohfuckohfuck.

“Oh, fuck yeah,” Kat shouted, her eyes going wide as she scanned the ground for listening ears. “This is so fucking cool!”

“I’m impressed,” Reiju praised, floating effortlessly while Kat shifted and bobbed in the air over the beach. “Do you want to go glide over the water? It’s been a long time since I remembered how fun this could be.”

Kat’s eyes kept scanning, her true smile wilting at the edges a bit.

“Come on, gorgeous,” the princess tempted, flying close enough to share breath. “You’re not trapped on this island too, are you? We won’t go far.”

Those royal lashes batted up at her, and Kat was powerless against them.

“Okay,” Kat gave in, “but if I drown, I’m going to sue you so fucking hard.”

Pretty fingers interlaced with hers while even prettier laughter filled the darkening sky around them.

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

A fluffy robe stole you from the breathless prince, but all you could do was laugh. You were carted past the courtyard, leeches still partying away before they cheered for you. Reels of the Hunt were still plastered against the manor, and those numbers filled your mind again.

Kat was nowhere to be seen, and you grinned at the thought of her having something for herself. Something that didn’t belong to you or your Uncle.

You wouldn’t mind being a princess now, especially if Kat might find a place in that world.

Two princes. One shipwright. One lovely, leather boy, you thought with a giggle, wondering if flying had made you high.

One out of five. Eighty percent.

Stay focused.

It was hard to scold yourself tonight. Hope would kill you, but it kept pulling at your lips while you washed your windswept hair, while you sipped on tea you’d made your mother gulp, while you laid out cards across your bed.

You knew it was never going to be your choice. Uncle Cedrick was going to pick his favorite, so you couldn’t let him see, but now there were only five suitors left.

Counting was relaxing, so you gave yourself that gift, counting cards until your eyes started to flutter closed. A pleasant exhaustion filled you, and you held that secret comfort close, the metal of the locket always warm against your skin.

No love for someone like me, but maybe… Eighty percent is nice.  

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

So many failures, and they wouldn’t fucking stop.

The red-haired pirate was wasting his advantage, too focused on the man that had no flaws, until he’d drank enough to train his sights on another enemy.

“Your family must need a win,” Shanks gave another pathetic attempt. “I heard all about that little wedding. Linlin got you guys good, huh? I couldn’t—”

“Don’t waste your breath, Emperor,” Prince Ichiji sneered, holding his glass over his lips while he let out his next words in a whisper, barely audible in that noisy courtyard. “We’ve already won. I hope you enjoyed fucking our little princess while you could. She’s gonna be real busy when we bring her home.”

“Hey, chief,” Benn wrapped his arm around his shoulders before Shanks could crush that smug prince into dust. “Why don’t we get some rest? The Hunt starts up again tomorrow.”

“Good night, old man,” Ichiji taunted as Shanks walked away, hating himself far more than that pompous prince.

Benn guided him to his suite, crossing his arms while he offered silent support, unable to offer true advice in this slimy, snail infested shit hole.

“Don’t stress so much, chief,” Benn soothed, patting his back when he refused to leave the couch, just pulling a pillow over his tired eyes. “You’ve got this in the bag. Just be that charming asshole everybody loves, alright?”

A mix of a laugh and a groan escaped his throat, but Shanks couldn’t think of winning.

All he could see were those empty eyes, and the looks on his lover’s faces when he would fail to bring her back to them.

That selfish Emperor almost risked it all just to call them. To hear their voices. To beg for forgiveness.

There were only four suitors left to beat.

Four obstacles to tear down.

Four men that the Great Red Haired Shanks dreamed of slaughtering that night, fitful sleep leaving him a mess, once again.

~~~🔴🔴🔴~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

Kat trailed her fingertips along the calm waves, disrupting the reflection of the sky that was creeping toward night.

“You really are a natural,” the princess lifted her chin, guiding her to float higher and higher above that dangerous sea. “Kat, I have something I—”

Fuck it.

Nothing was hers.

Every time Kat tried to find something for herself, some freedom, something that didn’t belong to anyone else, it was bought, or sold, or stolen away from her so she could earn her place in the family.

The sister of the heiress had stopped trying to find her own way. Nothing would come of it, at least not until the family drama played out, but there never seemed to be an end in sight, until now.

Maybe they could be happy. Maybe sis can be safe, can take up her place.

Maybe I can have something.

Kat Sylvad pulled that beautiful princess against her, managing to stay in the air while her heart seemed to tear through her chest.

Those plump, tempting lips were sweet when Kat kissed the words out of Reiju’s mouth. Reiju was so sweet, like fruit, like candy, like that shade of that stunning, pink hair.

The princess answered Kat’s moans, and desperate hands traveled over each other’s bodies until they both yelped at the touch of the ocean at their feet.

“If I drown—”

“I’ve got you,” Reiju promised, pulling higher and higher until everything was small.

Everything but her.

“Wait, Kat, please,” she begged, breathless while she trailed her fingers down Kat’s face. “I need to tell you something.”

Kat dreaded whatever words were about to spill out, because the look in Reiju’s eyes had sent her stomach plummeting to the ocean floor.

“What is it,” she hated asking.

Those royal, violet eyes were wide, and those long, lovely fingers dug deep into Kat’s forearms while poison spilled from her lips.

“I’m so sorry, Kat,” Reiju begged, until her voice turned fierce. “I really do like you, but I’ve been trying to get you alone. I can’t get close to her, and I need you to tell your sister something for me. Please, it’s—”

“Of course,” Kat hissed, dipping toward the waves until that pretty princess dragged her back up to meet her eyes. “I’ve never been a royal errand girl before. Do I at least get a fucking tip?”

Violet eyes almost looked hurt, but they turned to steel too fast for Kat to believe it.

She didn’t want to believe this.

“Kat, you can’t let her marry a Vinsmoke,” the princess demanded, her grip painful now while her strong hands shook with what seemed to be rage. Fear. “You must convince her not to choose my brothers. Please, I can’t get close to her, you need to tell her.”

“Why,” Kat pulled away, though she could tell the princess had let her go. The strength she’d just felt made her throat dry. “Why do you care?”

Reiju flew in so fucking fast that Kat lost her hold on the air. Lovely fingers pulled her close again, and the youngest Sylvad struggled and snarled, wanting this beautiful woman to get the fuck out of her sight already.

But she was trapped, this superhuman princess clamping her arms behind her back while those poisonous lips came too close to hers.

“I care because I don’t want to have to kill your sister,” Reiju urged, her voice nearly flat, empty while she went on. “I vowed that I will never let my family create another monster. I won’t let them use Y/N like they used my mother.”

The sound of the ocean below seemed to stretch on and on, too much time in that frozen moment.

“Tell me.”

The princess let out a breath at Kat’s demand, releasing her before moving, almost pacing in the air.

“My mother killed herself trying not to birth those monsters. Dad learned from his mistake though,” Reiju spat, hatred nearly burning the air around them. “And my brothers are thrilled. They’re going to breed more monsters, and they won’t risk their brood mare fighting back this time.”

“What are you saying,” Kat hated to ask.

A wave of heavy darkness seemed to suffocate them now.

“If Y/N marries a Vinsmoke, she’ll be chained to a bed until they can tear more monsters from her belly. They’ll experiment until they make their ‘perfect’ specimen, unless she dies first.”

Kat couldn’t speak now, terror filling her throat until bile burned with it.

“They’re not going to let her escape like my mother did,” Reiju whispered now, those perfect lips quivering, the tears in her eyes seeming weak against the fury in her next words. “They’re monsters, Kat. They’ll kill me too, but I’d rather die than let more of them be born. Y/N will thank me for killing her. Please, don’t let your sister choose a Vinsmoke. Please, don’t make me kill her.”

“There’s no way in hells they’re going to take my sister,” Kat breathed, wrath sending her flying across the water to make sure that green-haired piece of shit wasn’t touching her.

“Wait,” Reiju caught up easily, joining her flight. “We need to be able to communicate, just in case. There’s too much surveillance, and my family is—”

“Yellow means things are good,” Kat panted, annoyed with the suit now that she was sweating, panic only building the closer they got. “Purple means we need to talk.”

“Got it, but what if—”

Kat rounded on her, wishing that this princess had only been a dream.

“Pink means that you grab my sister and take her somewhere safe before I tell your daddy how you plan to betray him,” Kat warned, nothing but ice in her voice. “You got that, princess?”

“Got it,” Reiju muttered, before she let Kat fly home alone.

Home.

It was never her home. Nothing about Kat’s life felt like home, except for her tragic sister that tried so hard. Her sister that didn’t mean to be the center of attention, the favorite, the star.

Kat had grown up to see things clearer than she used to. It was so very clear that Y/N was struggling, and that she’d do anything for her.

But somehow this stupid Hunt had brought out those old childhood jealousies, that shitty, selfish feeling of hating the shadow.

Fuck that bullshit.

None of that was her fault, and Kat was glad for one thing on this shitty night. Those assholes reminded her.

Nothing was hers, except for her sister, and Kat wasn’t going to let anyone hurt her again.

No matter who the fuck they were.

~~~🐈🐈🐈~~~

~~~~~~

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

“Sis, I need to talk to you.”

“Why,” you groaned, hissing softly when she nudged you.

You tried to move away from the light, only to find a playing card stuck to your face. A snort left you, helping you wake up to find Kat sitting beside you where you’d passed out on the covers.

“I already checked, but just in case,” Kat hushed, pulling a few tonedials out of her purse. Ignoring your question, she pressed them all until the suite filled with too many angry songs she’d been saving since high school.

If it wasn’t so fucking loud, you might have smiled.

“Sis, I need you to promise me not to marry a Vinsmoke.”

“Oh,” you yawned, still extricating yourself from the pile of cards. “I told you I can try not to marry your favorite. Just—”

“Listen,” Kat hissed, and the panic in her eyes shook you awake, your body almost thrumming with fear. “You can’t marry them. Reiju told me about their plans, about how their mother died. They’re going to strap you to a table and force you to give birth to more fucked up superhuman pieces of shit.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t fucking, ‘oh,’ me,” Kat grabbed your shoulders, trying to catch your eyes before they could droop. “Promise me that you won’t choose a Vinsmoke, okay? Promise me!”

“I won’t,” you told the truth. “I won’t choose a Vinsmoke.”

“Fuck,” Kat panted while she hugged you, giving a small, tired smile when she pulled away. “I’m glad you’re not a complete dumbass.”

Laughing the thoughts away, you let her tackle you again at your musings on dumbass fractions, until you teased her over her purple suit and windswept hair.

You let yourself be her sister, stuffing that other truth down deep until she drifted off.

I promise I won’t choose them, but I won’t get to choose.

Two out of five is…

Hope is fucking stupid.

~~~🌲🌲🌲~~~

~~~~~~

Likes, comments, and reblogs bring me much ✨dopamine✨ thank you!!

Author's Note: Thank you for reading this one! I hope you enjoyed the whiplash, and our lovely sister, Kat. Always nervous to throw new POV's in, but I've been looking forward to this one. I'm also just wildly jealous. I would faint if I tried to talk to Princess Reiju, let alone hiss at her. 😍🦋🐈

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[sequinsmile-x]

I Knew You'd Linger Like a Tattoo Kiss - Short Pecks

-x-

A series of unrelated one-shots and mini fics about the many types of kisses Aaron and Emily share.

-x-

Hi besties,

Just some very soft Hotchniss for you all.

I hope you're still enjoying this little series - let me know if you'd like me to carry on! I'm about a third of the way through the list now. If there are any you'd like to see that I haven't done yet please see the list on the master list and send me an ask!

Please see the master list for a full list of tags, and the list of prompts for this series.

As always, let me know what you think <3

-x-

Words: 1.8k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily groans as the alarm wakes her up, the sound mixing with her husband’s laugh as he reaches over her to switch it off, his hand landing on her hip as he settles back down and pulls her closer. He presses his chest against her back as he kisses her cheek, breathing her in as she hugs his arm to her chest.

“Morning sweetheart,” he mumbles, his voice hoarse from sleep. Rough and deliciously hers as he kisses her cheek again. 

“Morning, honey,” she hums and turns her head to kiss him, her lips briefly stamped against his before she pulls back to smile at him. He was gorgeous first thing in the morning, rumbled by sleep and their sheets, his face as relaxed as she ever saw it in the safety of their bed. She kisses him again, unable to stop herself, as she presses a quick, gentle, kiss against his lips before she rests her head back on her pillow. Somewhere along the way, in amongst all the kisses she and Aaron shared - the gentle hesitance of that last first kiss, the passion filled kisses as they grasped at each other's skin, the comforting ones they’d exchange when the other was sad or hurt - this kind was her favourite. The kind they exchanged without thinking, a stamping of her lips against his or his against hers that they’d shared countless times, a soft hello or goodbye, or anything in between, that she now couldn’t imagine living without. “Do we have to get up?” 

He chuckles, huffing out a breath over the top of her head, “Unfortunately.” 

She grumbles and turns in his arms, letting him help her without complaint, before pressing her face against his chest as she snuggles in impossibly deeper, not quite ready to leave the sanctuary of his arms and their bed. As soon as they got up, they’d be pulled in different directions. They’d get the boys ready for daycare and school, Aaron would take Issac and Emily would take Jack, and then they’d go to work - him to the BAU and her to Counterterrorism where she’d moved to when they got married. 

Outside of here, of their bed, there was so much to be done. Here they could just be Emily and Aaron. They weren’t Mom and Dad, or Prentiss and Hotch. They weren’t unit chiefs. They were just them, all expectations left at their slightly ajar bedroom door, the light from the hallway filtering into their room. 

“I’m so tired,” she says, her voice muffled against his t-shirt, “Let’s just stay here all day.” 

He hides a smile against her hairline and rubs a circle on her back, “We could do that. The team could survive without me,” he says, his smile getting wider when she groans against him, the way she lightly pinches his back letting him know she knows he’s making fun of her, “Your team will be fine too,” he kisses her forehead, “And the boys can fend for themselves. 8 months old and 7 are the perfect age to learn how to-”

“Okay,” she says, chuckling as she pulls back, “I get it,” she runs her fingers through his hair, smiles as it flops back down onto his forehead, “I just miss you…this…that’s all.”

He stamps a kiss against her lips before he rests his forehead against hers, “I know. Me too,” he tucks some of her hair behind her ear, “Why do you think I set the alarm for this time every morning?” He kisses her again, “So we can do this.” 

She presses her lips together to try to contain her smile, love for him blooming in her chest, the flowers of it taking up space where her lungs should be and making her breathless.

“You are so-” She’s cut off by the baby monitor crackling to life, Issac’s familiar cry coming down it a second behind his actual cry from the next room. She sighs and stamps her lips against Aaron’s, taking what she can from it until she’s here with him again at the end of the day, and then she pulls back, sitting up and getting out of bed, “Duty calls.” 

He winks at her as he climbs out of bed too, and she smiles before she heads out of their bedroom, ready for another day of her beautifully ordinary life. 

___

Emily hums a nursery rhyme as she paces back and forth in the nursery, Issac in her arms, his face pressed against her neck as she rubs circles on his back. She feels his breathing even out as it skips across her skin, and she tilts her head down, smiling softly when she sees he’s fast asleep. She kisses his temple and whispers her love for him in every language she knows before she lays him in his crib, taking a moment to look at him, to admire his features - her nose, Aaron’s lips and furrowed brow. He was perfect. Perfect and beautiful in a world that was anything but, and she’d do anything to protect him and Jack from it. 

She runs her fingers through Issac’s dark hair, “Goodnight, sweet boy. Mama loves you.” 

She’s quiet as she walks out of the nursery, pulling the door closed gently as she steps out into the hallway. She smiles as Aaron steps out of Jack’s room at the same time. Divide and conquer was their rule with bedtime when Aaron was home from a case. They would take it in turns with each of the boys, would swap between singing Issac to sleep and reading Jack a story each night. Then they’d head downstairs and share a glass of wine whilst watching a movie or just snuggling on the couch. 

When Aaron was away on a case, Jack would help her with Issac. He’d splash his toys in the water in front of him whilst Emily bathed him, drawing out sweet giggles from his little brother. Then she’d put Issac to bed and then Jack. She’d occasionally fall asleep in his twin bed with him, would wake up a couple of hours later with a cric in her neck and her eldest son’s drool on her shirt. She loved the simplicity of it, the softness she never expected to experience, and it made her happier than she ever thought possible. 

Aaron wraps both of his hands around one of hers, sandwiching it between his, squeezing gently as he tilts his head towards the stairs, “Glass of wine?” 

She kisses his cheek, the first signs of his stubble rough against her lips, “It’s like you read my mind.” 

He insists she sits down, patting her on the ass as she goes, a cheekiness to his smile that felt like it was just hers and the boys when she playfully shakes her head at him. He’s with her within a couple of minutes, a glass of red wine in hand as he sits on the couch with her, his arm around her shoulders as he passes her the wine. 

“Thanks, honey,” she says, smiling at the purple staining at the corner of his lips, a sign he’d had a sip of the drink on the short walk to the kitchen. She leans in to kiss him, tasting the wine on his lips, and she hums as she pulls back, “Oh, my favourite.”

He chuckles as she takes a sip of the wine and passes him the glass, “Me? Or the wine?” 

“Both,” she replies, throwing her legs over his lap as she leans against his side, scratching at the nape of his neck with her spare hand, “Definitely both.” 

The rest of the evening passes by quickly. The time melting away around them as they simply enjoy each other’s company. They talk about their days, about the things they missed by no longer working together, and about the boys. She tells him a story Issac’s daycare teacher told her, a second-hand version of events about their little boy laughing repeatedly at peek-a-boo. Aaron sees the tension in her frame as she tells him, the guilt pressed into her smile and her dimples because she doesn’t need to say that she feels bad she wasn’t there. He already knew, had held her hand and kissed her forehead whenever she cried about feeling like a bad mom because she wanted to work, her worries about becoming her mother never too far away, the weight of them pressing down on her chest. 

She did the same for him too. Returned the affection he gave away easily, gave it back to him just as simply whenever his monsters came calling. Whenever he told her he felt guilty about what happened to Haley, or whenever Jack would forget a little bit more about the woman he got his eyes from. 

She’s half asleep, her eyes slowly drifting shut as she’s lulled into it by his fingers trailing up and down her arm, when he kisses her temple, “Bedtime?” 

She hums and nods, chasing his lips to stamp a kiss against them, “Bedtime.” 

They get ready for bed around each other, the routine a dance of sorts they’d perfected years ago. He slips past her, his hands on her hips as she does her skincare routine, so he can grab his toothbrush. She smiles at him in the mirror as she brushes her teeth too, winking at him before she spits into the sink, kissing his jaw as she mumbles against his skin that she’ll meet him in bed. 

She sinks into bed, lets the scent of him on their sheets wash over her as she pulls the covers around her. She shivers at the cool press of them against her skin, but then he’s there, warm and hers and chasing away the cold. 

“You’re comfy,” she mumbles, tucking herself against his side, her face pressed against his neck, “And warm.” 

He runs his fingers through her hair, lightly scratching at her scalp as he holds her in place - as if there was anywhere else she’d rather be than right here with him, “So that’s why you keep me around?” 

She pulls back just enough to look up at him, “That,” she says, kissing him quickly, “Among many other things,” she yawns, “I’m so tired. Today was a long day.” 

He smiles and hooks his finger under her chin, encouraging her to kiss him. She hums into it, her forehead resting against the bridge of his nose. “Ready to do it all again tomorrow?” 

She nods and kisses him, her lips briefly against his before she pulls back to smile at him, “Always.” 

[fluffy-papaya]

jimmy

[vaggieslefteye]

CHARLIE MAGNE from HAZBIN HOTEL (2019): Pilot - "That's Entertainment" ↳ "So, I've been thinking: Isn't there a more humane way to hinder overpopulation here in Hell? Perhaps we can create an alternative way to change souls through... redemption?"

[asexualbookbird]

25 in 2025

Sigh. I've been bullied. I guess. I did a big swing and a miss on last years list, but I have a Plan this time. A Theme. A Goal. This will be mostly comprised of my Illumicrate books so I can decide if it is in fact worth it to keep my subscription going until the Alecto edition gets announced. If I don't actually enjoy the majority of the books in these boxes then what's the point, yknow?

So here's this years color key:

Green - Carry over from last year (not carrying over every missed book, which probably means I should just get rid of them huh)

Purple - Illumicrate books

Blue - I own these in physical form, but they're not from Illumicrate

Labyrinth's Heart by MA Carrick

The Faithless by CL Clark

The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu

The Jasmine Throne by Tasha Suri

City of Bones by Martha Wells

Witch King by Martha Wells

After the Forest by Kell Woods

Voyage of the Damned by Frances White

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen

The Phoenix Keeper by SA Maclean

A Dark and Drowning Tide by Allison Saft

Until We Shatter by Kate Dylan

Mistress of Lies by KM Enright

Hammajang Luck by Makana Yamamoto

A Sorceress Comes to Call by T Kingfisher

The Bone Shard War by Andrea Stewart

The Last Hour Between Worlds by Melissa Caruso

The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

He Who Drowned the World by Shelley Parker Chan

All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault by James Alan Gardner

The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett

The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst

Can't Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne

In the Ravenous Dark by AM Strickland

A Conjuring of Light by VE Schwab

PHEW. Okay. A fw things to note. A Dark and Drowning Tide is an Illumicrate book, but I didn't pay for it. A friend gave it to me after I skipped that month because she wasn't interested. I always look up book spoilers and skip if I'm not interested and if I'm uninterested in any of the stuff I'll skip even if the book seems neat. That month the box was full of fandoms I didn't care about, so my friends said "here, take my copy" and I said "yay! Free book!"

The Last Hour Between Worlds I think was also an Illumicrate book? They do fanart for it so I assume it was at some point. I did not get it. This is not the IC edition. I was not thrilled about The Tethered Mage so I was going to get this out of the library. Then my mom bought it for me for the holidays. So yay! Free book!

I think I would also like to keep track of books I purchase this year. I'd like to cut down on buying books that I won't love. So I'd like to utilise my library more. Win win, I think! And that seems easier than a full out ban since yeah sometimes I do enjoy little treats! Books purchased for other people do not count, obviously.

There are also some books I'd like to reread this year, mainly The Bone Maker because I've been saying that since I read it the first time. And honestly, I've been chasing the same vibes and haven't been able to match it (Godkiller got close!).

As usual, I reserve the right to pretend this post doesn't exist, but I think I've set myself up for success here :)

I don't know who hasn't done this by now @logarithmicpanda ? Have you?? Consider yourself tagged >:3c

oh right I was bullied tagged by @bigcats-birds-and-books

[silverselfshippingchaos]

the fact that j.oongi doesn't show up until the second to last chapter of y.akuza 8.............. how else am I gonna be motivated to play? /j

[mylastmoleculeofserotonin]

I think I’ve finally put my finger on the reason why I (and people in general) love to watch “kids’ shows” when they are older teens and adults: because empathy and love, especially platonic love, are arguably humans’ most valuable trait and yet, in our society and in “realistic” media is treated as a weakness or at least at odds with being successful. Like, empathy isn’t even unique to humans, it’s found in and is integral to so many species of animals (and maybe even plants too!!), especially what we consider to be some of the most fearsome predators like lions and wolves. But humans have have “gone all in on” empathy and the capacity to form bonds with other humans, even outside familial circles, which is the reason we outlived the homo erectus which lived at the same time as humans since we were able to form larger communities. And all that’s to say that seeing shows where moral goodness is synonymous with empathy and friendship and wins the day is probably very satisfying for our brains since we don’t often see empathy treated as the essential part of us that it is.

That’s why shows like Hilda or Kipo and the Age of the Wonderbeasts are my personal favorites because the main characters’ defining trait is being empathetic and is, at least in the beginning, their only way of avoiding trouble. And these shows in particular feature the main characters advancing the plot and achieving heroic feats through simply talking it out and generally being a kind and helpful person. When I first watched these shows I, admittedly, saw such events as cheesy, but when I took time to think about it, it not only makes sense why it worked, but was quite literally the best possible way to fix the problem at hand because empathy is a very natural thing for humans and is literally how we have become the apex species so of course it can work when someone gives it a chance.

It’s human nature to be kind and empathetic and is why it’s so satisfying to see it spotlit in kids shows.

[zivaninja]

Blue Bloods finale things/spoilers under the cut that I wanted to yell about:

• Jamko parents!!! Parents!! Oh how far they've come 😭

• I'm going to miss Eddie Janko so damn much, that's my girl.

•Jack and Erin getting married!! They finally got their happy ending. And the looks on their faces at dinner as they decided to keep it to themselves was just so 💜😭

• Danny's face when Henry tells him to find his person to come home to. He already knows.

• Danny Reagan! Asking Maria Baez! On a date! And her saying yes! He doesn't need to go look for his person because she's right there besides him. And the look on her face when she agreed!!

[icewindandboringhorror]

Recent images I suppose ~

[im-still-watching-anime]

one piece is crazy fr like what do you mean you’re following up Everyone’s Dead™️ with Objectifying Women: The Arc™️

[billpottsismygf]

Scrolling through my old posts to check my current companion tags and I found my reaction to the series 8 trailer and it's so wild seeing me of 10 years ago say I'm not convinced by Peter Capaldi yet, who is my favourite Doctor of all time.

Like, I know he takes a while to warm up and I know it took me even longer to emotionally accept the fact that David Tennant had been knocked off the top spot, but it's just so weird to see!