#lil assistants do all the painting for him

[fridgedeeznuts]

thinking abt this video im watching between two artists chatting and how at some point the painting part of painting becomes the easiest part of painting, and most of the work is actually about the preparation of the piece, and anything else that is more work during the piece is shit that u forgot to cover in ur prep work,,,,

[juniperskye]

Take A Seat.

A lil Blurb - Based on the following request: Please Aaron Hotchner x BAU! fem reader smut? like they are just lazily making out on the couch and things get hot? (Reader rides Hotch like her live depends on it and Hotch clingy for dear life while she does it)

Hotch x Fem Reader

Word count: 607

REQUESTS ARE OPEN - not edited - please be kind. Requests are open and feedback is welcome if it's constructive!

Warnings: My blog is 18+, minors DNI, Fem reader, pet names, SMUT, porn with no plot. Let me know if I missed any!

I do not consent to having my work translated or reposted to any other site. That being said I do not own the characters portrayed in this story.

Aaron had just returned from a two-week long case, and you were feeling pretty needy. Jack had been spending the night with his aunt and you had never been more grateful for that fact. The second Aaron had walked through the door you had pounced on him.

That was nearly thirty minutes ago now. His go bag, shoes, and suit jack long forgotten in the entryway.

Now, Aaron was sat on the couch with you straddling his lap. Your shirt had been tossed over somewhere near the coffee table and the buttons on Aarons had been pulled open in a heated frenzy.

He was sucking deep purple marks into the skin where your neck and shoulder met while you grind your hips down into his lap. A moan slipped past your lips as Aaron nipped at your skin. His gaze lifted to meet your own and if you looked anything like he did…you were both completely wrecked. Hair tousled, lips swollen, pupils dilated and dark with lust, desperate. You knew what he needed and even more so, you knew he was going to give into your desires before anything else. That’s the thing about Aaron…he was a giver.

“I need you.” You gasped as Aarons lips pressed into the top of your barely covered breasts.

“You have me sweetheart. Take whatever you need.” He mumbled, pulling the lace of your bra down to expose your peaked nipple.

You couldn’t help the moan that escaped your lips when his teeth grazed over the sensitive nub. With shaking hands, you moved to pull at his belt, trying to free his achingly hard cock. It had been straining against his slacks, pressing hot against your core for the better half of the last half hour.

Aaron tapped your thigh, signaling you to stand momentarily to allow you both to rid yourself of the remaining clothing you had on. After a moment of tender hands assisting one another to undress, you made your way back to your previous positions.

As you lower yourself back into Aaron’s lap, he guides his cock into your waiting entrance.

“God your cock feels so good.” You groan into Aaron’s ear.

“That’s it baby. Take what you need.” Aaron praises as you find your rhythm.

--

The room was hot, salacious sounds of skin slapping against skin the only audio in the room. Your hands were white knuckled, holding the back of the couch as you bounced up and down on Aaron’s cock. His hands gripping your hips, supporting your movements. While his face pressed to your skin, moving from your neck to your breasts as you moved against him.

The sounds escaping both you and Aaron were pornographic, loud and uncontrolled as you both neared peak.

“Aaron baby I’m close!” You gasped.

“Cum for me sweet girl, let it go.” He instructed.

After a few more thrusts, you felt the band snap, orgasm washing over you like a tidal wave. All the while Aaron is now guiding your hips, chasing his own release. His hands wrapped around you in a bruising grip while his lips attach to your skin.

Sweat was cast over your skin, your hands were holding onto Aaron’s shoulders, you’re thankful for his grip on you as you are sure you’d have collapsed by now. His continued ministrations have sent another wave of pleasure to wash over you and the convulsions of your pussy finally sending him over the edge.

Aaron painted your walls with a grunt of pleasure, and as his breathing settled, he placed a sweet kiss against your lips.

“I missed you.” You whispered.

“I missed you too sweetheart.”

[yogurtkags]

cid ! ! congratulations on 100 followers lovely <3 if it’s not too late, could i join your event with kuroo + office romance / coworkers to lovers. maybe a lil secret relationship sprinkled in 🤭 thank you so much !!! ^_^

❝ LOVEBIRDS ❞ — kuroo tetsurou

cw. f!reader, fluff, established relationship, office romance, not-so secret relationship (that everyone knows about), not beta read. | wc: 568

event masterlist

“don’t forget you have a meeting in…” you glance at your watch, grey patterned carpet below your feet dulling the click of your shoes as you walk up to the desk in the middle of the room, “15 minutes.”

kuroo sighs, lifting a file up in your direction and rubbing his eyes with his free hand, “ugh another one?” you barely catch him mumbling under his breath that he needs another cup of coffee.

“i know, i’m sorry.” you coo, taking it from him and adding it to the stack on your arm. “your next one’s not until 3 though, so there’s plenty of time to coop up in your office with little old me until then.”

he peers up at you with the softest puppy eyes he can muster up, painted with purplish dark circles and a pout on his naturally rosy lips, “can we have lunch together after?”

“people are going to talk, kuroo.”

“you’re so dramatic, we’ll just be eating!”

you shoot him a pointed look, “this would be the third time this week and it’s only wednesday.”

you remember how the rumours spread like wildfire when someone spotted kuroo drinking out of a mug with a lipstick stain lining the rim, the shade a little too close to the one you wear to be coincidental.

there was nothing wrong with dating your co-worker, who is by extension, your boss. by nothing you mean everything, because what would everyone think? you’re not about to be that person that climbed up the ranks just because their partner was in a favourable position with the company, that’s the last thing you’d want people to think about your relationship with him— he’s so much more than that.

kuroo on the other hand, thinks it’s perfectly fine. just look at suits! harvey and donna, mike and rachel, oh don’t let him go on. he’s a sucker for a sweet office romance and when you waltzed through the doors of his office announcing that you were his new personal assistant, it was love at first sight.

the longer you stayed by his side, the more he was convinced that you just so happened to be the woman of his dreams. you’re responsible, put-together, keeps him in check which he finds so hot— very few of his past PAs could keep up with him. he’s constantly busy and taking on more and more projects, most find him slightly obnoxious, his smooth tongue and jokes get under the skin of those that couldn’t keep up. but you, you take it all in stride, and instead of trying to catch up with him, you keep him on his toes and encourage him to reach for greater heights.

you two make a good duo, and everyone else in the team can see your chemistry and the way you’ve positively influenced his productivity and output, and thankfully his work-life balance (and the way he looks at you with stars in his eyes). hell, it’s not even an exaggeration when they say his office plants have not looked healthier since your green thumbs graced them with your presence.

as the dreaded meeting concludes with good news and you leave the conference room falling in step with kuroo, his mentor calls out to him much to the team’s humour (and your chagrin), catching the two of you off guard with reddening ears.

“enjoy your lunch break, lovebirds!”

notes. aimsie !! thank you for your support always ♡

© yogurtkags. please do not repost, plagiarise, or translate my work.

[illubean]

Valorant Protocol as Highschool Stereotypes

Characters: Chamber, Gekko, Iso, Jett, Killjoy, Neon, Phoenix, Raze, Sage, Skye, Viper, Yoru Type: Headcanons

HAHA help me valorant brainrot >.< also this is based off of my hs experience soooo yeah

Warnings: none

Chamber

your typical pretty boy

all the girls love him all the boys hate him

well...most of the girls love him

they follow him around to classes or offer him gifts or ask to sit with him at lunch etc.

and he eats up the attention every time

he's lab partners with Viper in Environmental Sciences and he likes trying to flirt with her

she actually hates him btw

Gekko

canonically he skateboards

but honestly? I can see him being on the dance team

he's so high energy, he needs some sort of outlet

he never misses an opportunity to show off his dance moves

homecoming? prom? he is the center of the dance circle

like Raze, he doesn't know how popular he is

he's just happy to have so many good friends that it doesn't even actually occur to him that he's considered "popular"

Iso

he's an ap art kid

like he walks around with a big ass sketchbook every day

always talking about his portfolio

Iso baby ily but please shut the fuck up about oil paints <3

he probably volunteered part of his summer break to come in and paint a mural for the school

I think he'd also take a piano class as like a schedule filler but he actually gets crazy good at it

Jett

pe tryhard

if you end up on the opposite team as her while playing dodge ball good luck 😓

she's always picked as team captain because literally no one else is excited as she is

she's sorta like Hairo from Saiki K 💀

she gets a lil mad when her teammates don't try

Killjoy

she's in robotics club

she's not very popular but that doesn't bother her at all

she heads straight to and from every class and spends her lunch period in the workshop unless Raze drags her off somewhere

not a lot of people actually know who she is, and if they do they just know her as 'Raze's Friend'

i think she'd remind the teacher about the homework and hit you with the "erm actually 🤓" tbh

Neon

she's on track and field/cross country

after every meet you can find her laying on the floor somewhere ready to puke bc she tries so hard to win 😭

she always ends up top 5 tho

she complains about practice but joins the team every year anyways

she carries her bag around all the time and if you open it there's like 10 water bottles in there

#hydratedqueen

Phoenix

theater kid DUHH

he's probably drama club president or sumn

bro will NOT let go of a specific song from a musical he was in his freshman year and it wasn't even his song 💀

he's been in every show every year and somehow he manages to land every role he wants

he's insanely good at the game 'bang' (mostly because he's louder than everyone else...)

he probably plans/hosts the cast parties too

Raze

she doesn't care much about her grades

she does the bare minimum and gets straight Cs

she's just here to have fun

everyone likes her because of her approachable personality

she doesn't think she's popular but she is

Sage

she's in the medical assistant class

she takes it very seriously, as she plans on going to medical school

even before taking the class she carries a first aid kit and other essentials everywhere she goes

you need a bandaid? ibuprofen? a pad or tampon? she has it all

she's also ASB president

school events literally would not be able to run without her

lets just say her college applications/resume will look REALLY good...

Skye

she also took medical assistant but was less crazy about it than Sage

she just follows her friend's lead

she thinks the skills are useful but she doesn't see herself making it her career

but also I think she would play volleyball

she's a well rounded player but specializes most in defense

still, don't underestimate her bc this girl can SPIKE

Viper

she took every ap science class offered without taking the general ones first

she complains about getting any grade below an A...

"What are you talking about? That test was easy"

sorry not everyone is as smart as you Sabine 😑

she spends all her free time at chem tutoring (even though she doesn't need it)

Yoru

he thinks he looks cool and mysterious when he walks down the halls but he doesn't

everyone just thinks his mad all the time and stay out of his way 😭

randos try to pick fights with him bc he "looked at them wrong" (Yoru wins every time)

he's not exactly a 'quiet kid' but he does lay low when it comes to the social part of school

despite his 'bad boy' look, he has pretty good grades

he's also probably one of those guys that a handful of girls have a crush on but he has no idea

[yuwuta]

gojo assistant to gojo househusband is EVERYTHING to me he’d be so good at it. packing up bentos before work, visiting u for a lunch break, visiting u for a shoulder and neck massage. hes just so cute. i bet that even when he gets to a househusband role he’d still do some assistant duties and he absolutely is against u getting another assistant bc he’s been that guy and he knows u are too easily fallen in love with. he’d probably only give up that role to someone that he trusts 100% and knows that won’t fall in love with you like yuuta and even then he probs gets a tiny bit irrationally jealous when yuuta knows a lot about your schedule and habits bc that’s HIS job but a lil smooch from u will have him too flustered to even remember what initially ticked him off

when he finally makes it out of the work husband territory, he’s already wildly insufferable as a boyfriend. but when he finally becomes your husband? all bets are off—if people thought satoru couldn’t be louder or prouder of you they were so, so very wrong. he was born for this. 

sends you off with a bento and a kiss every single morning, and then calls you right before lunch time to remind you to actually take your lunch break and eat—and maybe because he wants compliments on the food he made you. when he can’t send you off with lunch, he has yuuta deliver it for you, or he drops it off himself, which is always a welcome surprise, not just for you, but everybody in the office. it’s nice that he’s remembered so fondly, and some days he does miss it, but he wouldn’t trade in being your husband for the world. 

so true about yuuta being his replacement—satoru was very, very thorough in the vetting process of hiring your new secretary. he knows how easy it is to fall in love you, he knows what it’s like to be the work husband and he refuses to hire anybody else who might think even slightly like him. so, call it nepotism or call it favoritism, but yuuta is one of maybe three people satoru actually trusts with the job. turns out yuuta is best suited for it anyway, which brings satoru even more relief. on the days he really misses you, it makes him pout when you recount all the times yuuta saved your ass, but a kiss or two really is he needs to be brought back to reality. 

he’s always calling or texting you with paint samples or fabric samples, and you’ve learned to not try and make sense of satoru’s interior design priorities. you really don’t think that the guest bathroom needs new wallpaper, but he does and if he wants to install it, who are you to stop him. so many days you come home from work and he’s like, “oh, babe, my mom called in a friend of a friend and turns out her husband can make us our own version of that vintage couch you saw in the museum display last week,” which is. absolutely insane because that’s easily a $25,000 couch, but he just waves you off about it and asks you what color you want it in—he’ll handle everything else. 

[dilfl0v3rss]

NAH CUZ THIS ONE CAME OUTTA NOWHERE BUT-

painter!Onyankopon 🧐🧐🧐🧐wat do we thinkkkkkkkk

who wanna paint his pretty lil girlfriend up as a bday gift but thingz start escalating-

you ATEEEEE

“you done?” you asked excitedly as you laid naked on the bed. ony sitting in front of you with a chair and painting set while he gave you a petty eye roll. “mama you only been sitting here for ten minutes. what you think?” he sighed, pencil in hand as he sketched your pretty body onto his cavas. your boyfriend was a very talented and well known artist. he’s had his work shown in many different art museums around the world and you couldn’t be any prouder of him.

people have paid unbelievable prices for his beautiful paintings and even more for customs. you’ve been with him through it all and even though you never said it, ony could always see how entranced you’d look when he’d bring you with him as his “assistant” and decided there was no better time to finally let you shine than your birthday.

“m’almost done wit the first part sexy. just need you to stay still f’me so i get get it done and start mixing my colors for your pretty skin ‘kay?” you nodded your head, apologizing for the movement as you sat as still as you could on your knees. back facing him as you kept your head to the side so he could get your side profile. another ten minutes when by and ony was finally done with the sketch. quietly pulling his paints out to mix them together for your beautiful complexion. “red? maybe lighter like orange? ma you know the color of your undertones?” he asked, while holding up the red and orange paint bottles.

you turned your head a little more so he could see your face, quizzical look already telling him everything he needed to know. “can you put on some music tho? if ima be sitting here like this, i wanna at least have sum playing” ony nodded his head before opening your phone and going to the first playlist he saw, but you already know what he chose when poison by brent faiyaz began to play through the speaker on the bed. the sex playlist.

you didn’t mind it though, humming along to the music as ony continued to work behind his large canvas.

as your music played it was suddenly getting harder for your man to focus. hands beginning to sweat at just the slightest glance of your oiled back. ‘wonder if she oiled the front of her body too’ dirty thoughts clouded ony’s brain as he watched you mindlessly move your hips to the music. “stay still mama. you making this hard f’me” he mumbled as he eyed your neck, then your beautiful shoulders down to your smooth back, stopping at the sight of your beautifully brown ass.

before he knew it, ony was slowly walking up behind you. lightly pushing your back down before rubbing with the swell of your ass. “you changed your mind againnn? now how long is it gon take for you to sketch thissss?” you whined, not thinking anything of his actions until you felt his print brush against your bare pussy. “you so pretty mama” his hands rubbed all over your back, letting the oil spread to his fingers and clothes as he leaned down to kiss from your back to your neck. “wanna put my dick in you, jus the tip ‘cause i still got work t’do”

you nodded your head, already in a lust filled daze as you felt him continue to rub against you with his clothed dick. ony lifted you off the bed slightly by the front of your neck. “can i mama? you gon let me make you feel good?” his whispers went straight to your core. legs already growing weak as you moaned out a weak “yes”. with that ony lightly bent you back over, freeing his dick from his sweats before lining up with your wet entrance.

“j-just the tip right?” your voice was small as you looked back at him. a small smirk made its way to his face as he watched your pretty face contort, dick sinking deep into you before he started thrusting at a steady pace. “you know better than to be believing shit like that ma. pussy too good for me to only let my tip fuck” ony chuckled as he listened to you whine into the sheets. hips already moving hungrily so you can fuck him back.

“seems like you agree wit me, don’t you baby? pussy so fucking wet” his pace quickened, making your moans become louder and more frequent as you reached your arm back. not for him to stop, but for him to hold to keep you grounded while he pounded away at your pretty pussy. “feel so good daddyyy…fuck go harder” ony smiled at the action, eagerly holding your hand in his while he started fucking into you deeper.

the both of your voices harmonized with each other as you continued to fuck each other the way you liked. bodies working together so both of you can reach the orgasms you’ve been wanting since you laid your naked body on the bed. “you so fucking sexy mama. got the most beautiful body i swear” his inked hands ran all over your back, thighs and neck. massaging you as he gave you words of love. “no painting can ever be enough to portray how beautiful you are baby. so glad you mine.”

his dick curved just right, hitting all the places you needed to make you a blabbering mess below him. “l-love you so much…so much daddy. happy t’be yours….yours forever” ony couldn’t help but smile as he listened to you run your pretty mouth. your walls sucking him in as you spoke, like the fact that you were saying you were his turned you on even more. “love you more, h-happy..fuck…happy birthday princess. sorry i can’t finish your painting.”

your body was getting to him. strong arm pushing your back down as he squeezed your hand a little tighter. “want you to fill me up daddy” you moaned, the feeling of his dick twitching already telling you that he was going to cum. ony’s brown eyes rolled to the back of his head, hips pistonning into you even harder as he felt his release on the tip of his tongue.

“gotta show you how much i love you right now”

[xxsidneywritesxx]

Hiya! I saw that your requests were open and I was wondering if you could do some headcanons for the upper moons realizing they’ve fallen for a human! If not that’s totally okay, I just enjoy supporting fellow writers!

I'm so sorry this took such a long time to fulfill !!! Please forgive the writer , she's a lil crazy <3 But thank you for the request !! I appreciate it sm

UpperMoons Realizing They've Fallen For A Human !

You meet him before the sunrise countdown or any of that begins .

He gets this stirring feeling for you. . . at first , he takes it in a completely separate direction than love . Like , seeing you as a possible rival ?

Love isn't too big and great in this man's vocabulary .

Takes him a while before he finally comes to the conclusion that he's fallen head over heels for you.

His insecurities about the way he looks tend to get to him now , when he's around you.

He doesn't want to scare you or hurt you . He's waiting for the right time to ask you to become a demon with him .

Even though he's in love with you, he can't see himself disobeying Muzan and allowing you to live without turning you into a demon as well.

If you do say yes, you'll be fighting at his side always .

Douma's a cult leader . High chance that you're a part of his cult , and he doesn't let anyone who follows him know he eats humans .

You get close to him through chatter when you see him around.

You're like his loyal assistant , in a sense , after a while .

When people visit him for assistance and worship purposes , he has you in the room as well, sitting right next to him.

Then, when you make a small comment about wanting a lover, this man realized something.

He fell for you .

Hit him like a freight train.

He'll invite you to go somewhere with him, maybe to look at the stars at night.

He'll then tell you everything. He doesn't seem like the kind to keep it a secret.

It was hard for him to believe his own feelings.

Since Koyuki's passing, he didn't think he could love another.

Oh, but he sure as hell did.

You were a hashira, and faced him in battle with Kyojuro . You didn't die , though .

If you're a female , high chance he just dodged your attacks and ran off as the sun was coming up .

If you're a male or non-binary , he fought with you , leaving you a bit injured .

He did come back to visit you afterward . You were just so pretty / handsome / good-looking that he couldn't not apologize .

This man is so respectful, and after a while of his visits, you get to know each other more .

This HC list goes for ALL of Hantengu's clones . Except the tiny one

Let's start off with Aizetsu ; he's the one who realized he was in love with you first .

He's strong , but a total softie for you.

You make him not sad, and that changed his heart . He loves you for it.

Now for Karaku ; This demon man is a menace .

Playful flirting during a battle was executed at some point .

Uh oh . . . he realized he totally loved you. The playful flirting got even more intense .

And now it's time for Urogi ; He's close to the same as Karaku , but he's less flirtatious .

He can be more serious about his feelings too .

Sekido time!; ComPLETELY in denial about his feelings.

This man takes DAYS to MONTHS figuring out his feelings , and it makes him hateful asf .

He doesn't like that he fell in love , but eventually cools down over it and tells you straight up . The other clones listen in . Sneaky fellas.

I'm not gonna include Zohakuten <3

Never thought I'd be asked to write for this man LMAOO but a request is a request !!

Gyokko loves artists . So you're an artist for sure.

Whether you paint , sketch , do digital art , etc ., he loves it .

He does art himself teehee , , just look at his pot of human bodies !! Glorious right?? (No)

You genuinely think his pot of human bodies is cute??????? Idfk

He likes that you "appreciate true art" .

Boohoo

Only writing for Gyutaro because Daki is mentally 13 <3 Ion feel like writing her anyway .

You work as a samurai in the Entertainment District , and you were supposed to protect his sister from burglars or other "vicious" people in the entirety of the district .

Gyutaro may have been a bit sealed within his sister , but he could still hear your charming giggles , even when you talked to Oiran Daki .

Eventually , Gyutaro comes out one night and tells his sister to spare you instead of absorbing you in her belt .

He doesn't ask , he demands <3

May seem crusty, but you find his personality attractive when the information comes that Daki is a demon and so is her brother !

Y'all fall in love blabla , Gyutaro hides you from Muzan

[husbandohunter]

YOOO hello!! first of all, I hope you are doing well Nya ^^ remember to take care of yourself, stay healthy, and drink lots of water, mkay? good good :) (ur writing is astounding btw i love it sm)

second, may i request a childe angsty (not much tho, just missing him- does that count as angst lmao) + fluffy scenario (or the uh dot hcs thing?? with lil scenario after it?? idk how to call it 💀 but yeah you can choose :D) with a timid, reserved s/o? like... you're feeling a bit down and miss him, waiting for him to return- and when he does, you just- dash into his arms, while he sits there paralyzed, since you don't generally initiate the affection. too shy to do so- however when u do he softens at ur cuteness,, (regretting your decision afterwards cause he makes you blush while praising you- way too easily- and he admires you more while u bashfully avoid his gaze-)

and while cuddling he asks as to why you did that, if something occurred... noticing you were sniffling instead of talking, he halted to take a look at your face, freezing once he saw your profile, crystal clear tears painting it. wiping them away, he cupped your cheeks with his greater hands and before he could utter another word, you answered him, his worried expression transforming into a surprised one unimaginably fast.

"I just... love you so much Ajax. I love you..."

repeating that over and over while delicately holding his hands close to you, a soft smile decorating your lips as you leaned into his palms. and he just. smiles too completely melting-

aand that's all i can think of-- i hope that gave you enough fuel to think of the scene hh- obv take your time with it pls don't feel rushed okay? ik you're busy and have many requests already hh ^^ take a break if you must! farewell!!

Sweetness [Childe x Reader]

Synopsis: Childe can expect all kinds of ambushes but not the one that attacks him in the heart!

Genre: gender neutral reader, mild angst to fluffy fluff

(A/n): First off you’re so sweet anon. I don’t mean to take this long but I do think about the blog and you guys every once in a while. I hope this was to your liking, though got self-indulgent with the last part xD Childe is either badass or an absolute clown🤡 there’s no in between

============================

• Childe had been sent away on a mission in Snezhnaya two months ago. He wrote letters to you in his absence. Until the weekly letters became nonexistent. It was due to the fact been busy over the course.

• But you didn't know that. Demands of being the 11th Harbinger had made things difficult for him to even sit down and relax.

• And when he finally got the chance to pick up his inkset, the man falters yet again over another crumpled sheet tossed into the waste basket.

• How on Teyvat should he begin after weeks going cold? Since when was the last time the two of you properly talked? Were you so furious that you didn't write back?

He felt as if he was being physically beaten by these incessant questions, plagued by scenarios that don't exist.

Childe blankly stares at the ceiling of his hotel suite. It was deathly quiet. The candle burns alight, confined in the glassjar designed by Snezhnayan antiques, and he swore he could even hear wax dripping down the sides.

The Harbinger slaps a hand over his face and groans, "Haaaa, I can't believe I'm actually losing my mind over this."

Hopefully no one sees him in his current state. Their Fatui leader fussing with love letters akin to a teenage boy's first crush. Earlier the evening Childe announced to his assistant that no one shall disturb him while he is issuing an important message to overseas, otherwise they meet a harsh punishment under his command. That was an excuse. A very silly excuse. There was no diplomacy to be made overseas, just one man missing his lover.

The picture of your most recent expression shows up and Childe meticulously carves it out of his imagination. While you were not the type to be vocal about your affections, reserved and somewhat aloof, somehow that itself was a charm of yours. Perhaps he likes a good challenge, perhaps the spark between you two ignited when he kissed you on a fluke. And when you couldn't form the words to your clouded thoughts, actions alone were more than enough for the man to be satisfied.

"Let's see where this goes, yeah?"

Then one meeting turns to another, three dates turn to four, and before he knew it, Childe has been looking forward to spending time with you ever since. A part of him waiting for answers yet to be said. Do you like him the way he likes you? Even though everything he does appears to be whimsical and reckless? This long distance makes him think they were almost not real drives him mad.

What if you were seeing someone else?

A pause, the information too great for him to process. Childe spasms in his seat and slaps both palms flat on the surface table, sounds resonating through the room, enough for his assistant outside to hear.

Nah, who am I kidding? The man waves off the idea like an impractical joke. There's just no way. Sure you were attractive and alluring with mystique, Childe is certain that he had no competition. After all he was a Fatui Harbinger for Archon's sake. Crafty, handsome, strong with a good sense of humor, he's your ideal man. No one's got a shot at this other than him.

Except all those statements existed only in his head.

How the hell should he know what you're thinking about?! The man rests his face on a propped up palm, tapping the desk with the other as he thought deeply. No, a love letter won't work anymore. He needs a new way, preferably something enough to encapsulate his charms as he sweeps you off your feet and makes your heart race at the idea of him. He needs a strategy.

Should I invite them for a fancy dinner?

Childe has already done that a few times, something fresh would be more preferable. Oh, he could pull off the classy tactic of buying a bouquet of flowers and surprising you with it. But that's so cliche. Ugh, he cringes, what if you think he's lame?!

The assistant guarding outside knocks on the door, "Sir, is everything alright?"

"Yes," Childe replies back, rather annoyed, "I thought I told you not to bother me."

"M-My apologies," he hears the assistant scurry away in quick steps.

Finally, some peace. The Harbinger checks the time. It was half past sunset. All the soldiers should be assigned to their pre-booked rooms since was going to be their last departure.

"Fuck...." Childe breathly mutters. This is taking longer than it should. He already had you guessing over his actions, for a month in fact. At this rate, he'd have to show up without a pre-warning explanation of why he wasn't answering your calls.

The snowstorm outside ceases to relent like a reflection of his own. What he feels right now, what he's doing, the Harbinger knows well enough this wasn't some fluke. Childe sinks into his arms and looks at the flickering candle, focusing on it's small flame, wondering, if you're thinking of him the same way.

• Sitting by the windowsill, watching the view that leads to your front yard, visualizing a cheerful man with ginger hair and waving from the trees.

• Ajax. You missed him but wasn't sure how to say it. Papers and envelopes were tucked away in a corner where you could easily reach, savored and impatient for his return.

• They were mostly filled with stories about his homeland, places that he wanted to take you, and sometimes mentioning how his work got the better of him. You figured his silence must be the fact he was busy. At least, that's what you convinced yourself to believe.

• What could he be doing right now?

Ajax's name hasn't appeared in your mailbox for quite a while.

The splash of water runs when you release the tap, absentmindedly scrubbing away remains of leftovers and takeout from last night's dish. Two months ago he appeared at your doorstep in his usual brazen entrance. And it was the same day he had to announce his departure.

"Borsche," you said with a smile. Ajax mentioned how he'd personally bring ingredients from Snezhnaya, bringing as in sneaking, so you could be his first ever foreign taste tester. Of course you'd like anything he'd cook regardless, but he was joyful talking about his family from home that you wanted to explore a little more of this new side of his.

You thought you wouldn't mind the long distance communication, however, it seems you've severely overestimated yourself. After the final meal at your house, Ajax walks towards the exit, the both of you knowing how agonizingly slow it was. You recall looking at him in that deep ocean gaze, trying to say what wanted to be said. Him waiting with anticipation.

"Good luck with your mission!"

• What a mistake, that was the perfect chance and you just couldn't muster up the courage to tell him. You know he was expecting something, you know he's been patient with you, and you're tired of guessing.

• There were days where a part of you doubts if he still feels the same. Days when you felt that all of this might be one sided and you were just another fling in his eyes. Days when you think he actually wouldn't return.

• Eventually, you couldn't help but truly believe he left you for someone else, finally fed up with you beating around the bush.

Despite all the obvious signs from Ajax's lack of communication, you wanted to try one last time.

Yesterday was the day he said he would be coming back to Liyue. The sky looked as if it were about to rain any moment. People crowded under the nearest roof they could find. Their bustling noise drowned out to mere background noise as you stayed, keeping an eye out for that cheerful man of yours all the way till the last ship parked beside the Harbor. 

It was empty. By the time the other families went home with their loved ones, you stood there alone, holding a single umbrella.

"Excuse me!"

No news or a forewarning. You had no idea what must have happened. Regardless, you wanted to try again.

Running across the pavement, you tried to catch up with the sailor keeping watch of the seas, "I want to ask if you've seen a tall man with orange hair leave just now?"

He takes out the cigarette chewed between his teeth and takes his time to answer, "Ah you're the person from yesterday," the sailor comments, "Sorry kiddo, but the merchant shipments will be the only ones dropping by this hour."

Your stomach makes an uncomfortable churn as your heart denies what must be accepted, "Ah, I guess that makes sense."

There was no point in being optimistic about it anymore. The seldom appearance of letters, the disappointment evident on his face when you didn't tell him what he wanted to hear, the chilliness of the rain when it hits your skin, hand trembling by the obvious cold. Everything was so much clearer.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," you quickly added while wiping your eyes, unable to contain your sadness, "I'm just missing someone. That's all."

The sailor spares you a look of pity, assuming what story it went on with the clues you gave him. He mutters words of consolation but it felt deaf to your ears.

Why couldn't you just say it? Why did you have to be such a coward in the end when all he was trying to do was making this relationship work? Biting your lip, you kept your eyes casted down to not be blinded by the sun, otherwise you might actually cry. You should've known better to not hold back. And now, he's gone forever.

"Hey."

• Childe watches you turn over your shoulder, hesitant as ever and time seems to have halted in the small pocket of this instance.

• Damn.

• You were as beautiful as the day he last saw you. Though of course nothing about your appearance changed at all. Only his feelings, they grew and more apparent during the days he wasn't by your side.

• Yeah, I'm way over the crush phase, aren't I? He could only imagine what kind of expression he was making.

Tension fills the gap between the two of you as neither made an initiative to close it. Childe examines you, unreadable and without his default grin. Your eyes blown wide under the deep furrow of your eyebrows, mouth turned downward.

Welp he deserved the silent treatment. What nerve does the guy have when he shows up to his lover empty handed and a day behind his promised schedule? Minus all the Fatui fiasco he had to deal back in Snezhnaya and no explanation whatsoever.

"So uuuhhh," Childe glances at you tentatively. Ah shit they're mad probably. He was unsure how te begin. It was almost as if you were strangers and that pained him a little, "So how have you been?"

Slap. He mentally facepalms. That was so stupid.

Well fix it you idiot! A million suggestions run simultaneously that reduces his brain into a pile of mush. He had it all planned out earlier, the flowers, the dinner, the play to sweap you off your feet and make you fall for him again. Seems that his reliable swagger had betrayed him entirely. No fancy entrance. No funny remarks to distract the awkwardness. Right now he was just Childe the lovesick man.

"Look, I know I haven't replied to you," Childe rubs the back of his neck and avoids eye contact, "And I understand if you're pissed about it. We went through a lot back in Snezhnaya which is why don't have any ingredients I promised," he pinches the bridge of his nose, "Ah, I guess I should probably apologize for that too."

This isn't going well. He knew he was trying way too hard to play it cool and most likely makes him look as if here were creating excuses. Screw it, just go straight for the heart, "What I'm trying to say is-"

You threw yourself around him in an instant and buried your face in his chest. Childe nearly stumbles backward, completely off guard for once. He can instinctively expect and attack but not this kind of attack.

Almost gave him a heart attack.

"[Name]...?" He finally whispers out, his sleeve covered arms crawling to return your embrace. The man was trying to feel, to make sure if this was real. Did you just...hug him?

"Ajax."

Then it occured to him that your voice was breaking. The tightening of your hold and the point of your nose against him, he could sense the faint quivering of your shoulders. Childe surrenders all intentions to fulfill his previous agenda as the matters in front of him were much more important.

"Hey, what's on your mind?" he gently hushes, cradling your head with one hand and the other on your back, "I'm listening."

Yes, that's what you needed right now and he'll gladly give it to you, as much as you want. If you allow him that is. Childe knows he can be a bit selfish sometimes and maybe he's jumping to conclusions, but holding you like this is a moment he wants to indulge in. Just cherishing you like he should have.

"I just..." you began, breathly, "love you so much, Ajax. I love you..."

Damn.

Childe is sure he just felt what it's like to float on cloud nine. As cheesy as it sounded. He's somewhat glad your face is buried in his coat right now so you wouldn't be able to witness the goofy smile he's shamelessly wearing. Looks like he had nothing to worry about. Man, did it feel good to know you felt the same way all this time.

He releases you, though not enough to be fully apart because why would he? Your nose was tinged with red and eyes watery, the man swore his heart must have been hit with a pyro reaction. What a cutie pie.

"I've got you, don't worry," he reassures while cupping your face. He leans down to peck the corner of your lips before properly placing a chaste one. The action was so sudden that you weren't mentally prepared for it. He laughs, the same boyish charming manner, "Sorry, couldn't help it. You're too irresistable."

"Y-You're," shades of crimson layers across your cheeks that he's glad he has the privilege for a closeup, "Irresistable..."

Hooooooolddd up.

Childe pulls to a mental stop for a double take. Was that a compliment just now? No, it was a confession. He wasn't used to being praised like this. You may not be the type to vocally speak your true feelings but you were also the type to wear them on your sleeves. A smug smile makes it's way to his face and he tilts his body ever so slightly so you were dipped backwards in a mid-tango pose.

Childe's mouth was mere inches away from yours as he drinks up the image of your vulnerable look, underneath him and no one else to intrude.

"Ajax?!" You stuttered.

"I don't think I heard you clearly. Mind saying that again?" Yes he was being indulgent right now but the opportunity was hard to come by. Also those two months made it so agonizing to bear he needs a remedy to soothe all that drama.

You're pouting now and Childe tips down to kiss you on the cheek, "Don't tease me. Not here in public," you whisper-yelled well trying to push him away similar to a smothering puppy.

"Oh? Now you're going to reject me? I thought you said I was irresistable?" Childe's words muffles against your skin and the vibration spreads across like wildfire.

"Ajax!"

"Fine, fine," he chuckles heartedly, not letting you go. Instead, he repositions his arm until it was swung around your shoulder, pulling you close to his side, "By the way I wanted to say that I shouldn't have left you hanging. The mission got real messy last minute and I didn't wanna half-ass a letter to you."

You shook your head, "It's not your fault. I know you were busy. Just that..." you breathed out, somewhat relieved and anxious at the same time, "I thought you were angry that I wasn't being honest with you. I was afraid for some reason. But now, it's a lot easier than I thought."

"Huh? What do you mean?" He asks.

"I thought you left me for someone else."

A moment where his brain short circuits and Childe lets out a howling laugh. You looked at him with awe. What was so funny all of a sudden?

"Gotta say that I'm being tossed left and right with these surprises," he mused, "Guess that even if we're apart, we're still that close, eh?"

You quirked an eyebrow at him, "What do you mean?"

Childe slides his hand up your shoulder bone to pinch your cheek, "Nothing, sweetness."

• You chased after him demanding for answers but Childe doesn't budge. The only thing you could tell that he was in an extremely good mood after that.

• Oh well, all is well, ends well does it?

"Since I don't have anything to cook the Borsche I mentioned to you before, we'll have to settle for something else I'm afraid," Childe shrugs, "Anything in mind you wanna do?"

You sighed, fondly at least, "I already said I don't mind as long as you're cooking."

"S'that so? Well then," Childe moves renewed with energy, extending his hold in a beckoning manner and you laughed at his antics, "Shall we go, my snowflake?"

You take it and squeezed it, "I'd love to."

[ikeprinces-stuff]

Event: Falling For Fall Hosted by: @violettduchess & @lorei-writes Prompt: Gold (angst) Previous prompt: Rain. Foraging. Moon. Characters: Jin Onii-chan Grandet & Licht Klein & Prince OC [Vernard Mürrisch]

Words: 976

TW: Mention of blood, past trauma, brief mention for a medical condition A/N: was planning to make this an art or portrait but didn't have the power nor the time to do it so here have s fic instead... Pls don't hate me after this like my lil sis gonna do 😭💔😞 this is by far the angstiest angst I WROTE... Not thought... WROTE, cuz the angsts I think abt on daily basis are more worse than this...

🍁[𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐦𝐧'𝐬 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭]🍁

The crisp autumn air wrapped around the trio of princes as they made their way through the sprawling districts of their kingdom, the leaves swirling in shades of gold and amber. Prince Vernard, tall and poised, walked slightly behind his companions, Jin and Licht, who were embroiled in a lighthearted squabble.

“Today isn’t even my turn!” Jin huffed, exasperation lacing his voice. “Yves planned this whole inspection just to keep me away from the sweets he’s baking for the fall feast! I know he’s going to pack them all away before even a single crumb reaches me.”

Licht interrupted with arms crossed. “You know that’s exactly what would happen, Jin. You’d eat them all, while I have more self-control than you.”

“Self-control?” Jin shot back, a challenging smirk dancing on his lips. “C'mon, I see the way you stare longingly at Yves' dessert too, Licht.”

Turning to Vernard, Jin raised an eyebrow. “What do you think, Vern? Is this fair or not?”

Meanwhile, Vernard, lost in the midst of his own thoughts as he absently scratched his right ear -the disabled ear- blinked as his brothers’ voices filtered back to him. “Hm...? What? Oh, I—sorry. I wasn’t paying attention, what were you saying?” he asked sheepishly and genuinely confused. While Jin and Licht exchanged knowing looks; it was a familiar occurrence, the weight of the world on Vernard’s shoulders often distracting him from the joyous banter that surrounded him.

As they entered the county, the excitement of autumn unfolded around them, the vibrant foliage a stark contrast to the heaviness in Vernard’s heart. While Jin and Licht began their work, examining the needs of the local populace, Vernard remained a few paces behind, vigilant and ready to assist if called upon.

A group of raucous children caught the attention of the two princes, their laughter ringing like chimes in the wind. They bounded toward Jin and Licht, all bright giggles and eager faces, but the princes were too absorbed in their tasks. Vernard, however, couldn’t resist; he let out a sharp whistle, beckoning the children over.

“Come on! Over here!” he called, a warmth flooding him as they rushed to his side. Jin pointed to Vernard with an approving grin. “See? You can play with him.”

Without a second thought, the children flocked to Vernard, clamoring for his attention. One little girl grabbed his hand, tugging him to come play, “Will you play with us, mister?” she inquired, Vernard couldn’t resist the innocent joy sparkling in her eyes.

With a nod of encouragement from Licht and Jin, he surrendered, joining the children in their exuberant play.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of gold, the children led Vernard to a magnificent tree, its gnarled branches now stripped bare, creating a carpet of fallen leaves that shimmered like gilded treasures. The children dived into the sea of yellow-gold, laughter spilling from their lips like a joyous melody.

“C'mon, mister Verny! Join us” one child cried, their eyes sparkling with innocent mischief.

Vernard felt a flutter of embarrassment. He was no longer a child embarking on whimsical adventures; he was a prince, burdened by the shadows of his past and duties. Yet, drawn by their laughter, he relented. He leapt toward them, but in his exuberance, he tripped, tumbling back into the harvest of leaves with a soft thud. The children erupted into delighted giggles, filling the air with pure, untainted joy.

Vernard lay back, eyes trained on the vast sky above, where remnants of clouds drifted lazily. For a moment, he felt free—

Until the past anchored him down... Again...

Suddenly, the golden leaves morphed, twisting into a homogenous sea of crimson, the laughter was replaced by unsettling silence. Corpses scattered around him, their faces void of life, all except for himself—an island of breath amidst an ocean of death.

He was back there again, ten years prior, amidst the blood-stained rose war. The memory washed over him, thick and suffocating, clinging to his skin like the chill in the autumn air. How could he be alive when they weren’t? It felt both a curse and a blessing, wrapped together like the hues of fall leaves.

Startled, he bolted upright, his heart racing as reality crashed back in like a wave. One child reached for him, worry etched across their small face. “Are you okay, mister Verny?”

Fighting to shake off the specter of that grim memory, he gathered the child close, arms tightening around their small form. The warmth of the child’s innocence was a balm, but it wasn’t enough to dispel the storm brewing within him.

Across the clearing, Jin and Licht stood patiently, concern evident as they scanned Vernard’s expression. Vernard’s smile was strained, painted with sorrow. The laughter of children surrounded him, but in his eyes lay the shadows of lives lost.

Jin stepped forward, gentleness in his tone, masking the sorrow beneath. “It’s time to head back, Vern.”

Nodding, Vernard rose, turning reluctantly from the children who waved goodbye with innocent hearts. He returned the gesture, but the sadness in his gaze lingered, haunting the edges of his smile.

As they began to walk back toward the palace, Licht turned to Jin, his voice cool but edged with concern. “He remembered again, didn’t he?”

Jin nodded, glancing back at Vernard, the distance a reminder of the burdens hidden beneath gold-embroidered robes. “It’s hard to forget, especially when joy becomes a mirror reflecting pain. Laying among those leaves and kids reminded him too much of the past, just as it reminded him of what he lost.”

The golden hues of autumn enveloped them, but as they returned to the palace, Vernard’s heart carried the weight of memories, each step a conflict between the vibrant life surrounding him and the shadows that still clung to his spirit.

[cambion-companion]

Hi! I really loved your Raphael writing, so i got a lovely fic idea. Raphael x reader (platonic). Raphael discovered that reader is another cambion, even more surprising his daughter he had no idea existed. Have a good night/day😼

Hello, my dear! Thank you very much for the fic idea :) You're forcing me to exercise my self restraint I see. I will tweak this just a lil if you're wanting a reader who is Raph's daughter, she would be a Tiefling technically ;)

Let's see how he reacts.

OH and yes this about THAT Tiefling girl you see at the brothel in Act III.

little drabble ahead...

The Sharess' Caress.

A lovely den where the lonely and desperate wandered so willingly into Raphael's capable hands.

He considered himself more magnanimous than most devils, certainly better dressed.

His smile carefully shaped to exact the exact reaction from his potential clients, luring them into a false sense of security.

"Sign your name here, my friend." He said, making sure his voice held no sign of overbearance or eagerness.

The name was scrawled, a new deal was struck. Raphael was satisfied, bowing the latest of many gullible mortals out the door of his den.

He leaned against the doorframe, watching them go, smiling still; though this time he allowed a sinister edge to creep into his carefully crafted brown human eyes.

His ever-keen gaze drifted along the carpeted hallway, drawn to the movement of a gray-skinned Tiefling as she walked toward him, unaware of his presence.

As always, Raphael flicked his eyes over the creature, taking in every aspect of her that showed on the surface. Any sign of a weakness or vice he could potentially exploit.

Her orange eyes were fixed on the ground, a frown upon darkly painted lips.

She bore the obvious traits of a Tiefling descended from Mephistopheles. Interesting. Irony twisted Raphael's mouth in a wry grin as he considered just how she might be related to him.

Her horns gave him pause. Raphael's eyes narrowed. Regal horns, ridged and curving. A set of four, two smaller beneath the much larger pair. An exact mirror of his own.

"A moment." Raphael stepped out into the hallway, not directly blocking the girl's path, but garnering her immediate attention.

She halted, several paces away. Her tail swishing to and fro, a sign she may flee. "Yes?" Her voice wary. She had a modicum of intelligence at least.

Raphael didn't say anything for a moment, trying to gain a sense of how distant a relation to him this Tiefling was. "I noticed your beleaguered expression." He spoke, trying to ease her nerves. His voice just the right amount of soothing, as he'd practiced to perfection. "Perhaps I may be of assistance."

The Tiefling gave him a bemused look, pulling her chin in slightly. Raphael watched her closely, there was something about her that cried out in its familiarity.

Surely, she was not his direct descendent. Granddaughter or even daughter perhaps?

Yet if she was...what a delightful opportunity that would be.

"I don't think you'd offer me anything I haven't tried myself." She finally spoke, a lilting cadence that betrayed caution yet intrigue. "I doubt you could do what I cannot."

He almost laughed. "I assure you, there is very little I cannot do given the proper motivation." Raphael tilted his head and held out a hand, gesturing an invitation to the curious creature. "Come, if you're so self-assured what harm would you suffer from a little chat?"

Her amber eyes focused on his face for a moment, she seemed drawn to him as well. Curious.

With a twitch of her tail, the Tiefling shrugged and stepped with an air of self-confidence and a whiff of challenge into his den. Only Raphael's eyes moved as he watched her move.

Yes, perhaps she was closely related to him after all. He couldn't begin to name all the mistresses he'd taken to his bed over the centuries, it certainly was a possibility not to be readily dismissed.

And if she was his daughter...he would have her allegiance and her soul. Yet another faithful ally to bring more souls and more power to his Infernal doorstep.

[sea-squeaker]

Okay so, instead of practicing German like I should be(I like to test duo's patience) I'm gonna rant about Luke and my hcs for him. Trust me I have tons.

Okay so first of all, for looks I have this card edit I did!!

Asmo did his nails for him, he likes to collect cute hair clips. Much like how he collects cute bandaids ingame:D

How I think his outfit works!! Okay so we all know he has wings and that once got me thinking on how exactly his outfit works with his wings. I'm not happy with just saying "it's magic ig" bcs I need a plausible answer or I'll go insane. Okay anyways, his shirt situation comes in two layers, the shirt part then the cape shoulder thing he's got going on. The shirt has a backless panel to it and is more like a sweater than a shirt, it buttons up in the back so he's able to put it on with his wings out. The shoulder thingy with the tassels is all together, minus the neck tie thing tho. I'll just leave the rest of the explaining to the diagram I tried to sketch up, I really hope it explains things well enough!!

So adding onto this ramble a lil bit, trust me it relates to Luke completely. I think the angels are like birds and do act a bit bird like. Luke has the wings of an albino barbary dove (basically just a white dove). However, due to him being a child, he's got the wings of a baby bird, so he's a lil angel nestling and I just think that's precious. Another thing on just angels, I believe that they do molt and their wings require preening by hand. Usually, juvenile angels are assisted with this by their gaurdians. So this means Simeon does help out Luke with his preening. This also means alot of cleaning around purgatory hall during molting, tons and tons of feathers!! (Luke's feathers are soft and fluffy, Simeon's feathers are longer and course) I also believe Simeon to have the wings of a mourning dove.

So for Luke's music taste, I think part of it is influenced by Simeon, the other part by Levi. Allow me to explain the Levi part. Levi introduced Luke to WonderlandxShowtimes and he most certainly got hooked. His favorite WxS songs are Becoming Potatoes and Miracle Painting, he also enjoys other energeticsongs like that. I think Simeon would like more peaceful and warm songs. Specifically the song, Welcome Home, Son by Radical Face. So yeah Luke likes those types of songs aswell. One more thing he enjoys listening to is the James and the Giant Peach musical:]

Things that Luke would watch!! I think they consist of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Bluey, Gravity Falls, and stuff like that!

Luke has a hard time sleeping without something to snuggle, he has a shiba inu plush that he sleeps with.

Luke really loves sea creatures!! I base this off of him wanting to visit the aquarium in his bday event. For his bday, Solomon got him a big encyclopedia on sea creatures and he was jumping with joy. He proceeded to not read a single other thing until he finished the sea creature book. His favorite sea creatures are blacktip reef sharks, moon jellyfish, sea angels, sea squirts, and sea bunnies:D

When Luke is very happy, he can often be seen jumping up and down, flapping his hands, bouncing on his toes, kicking his feet, etc. He is quite anxious when he can't find Simeon or is waiting for him to come back. He's like a dog waiting for his owner to come back from the grocery store in a way.

Thank you very much for reading these!! Have a Luke doodle:D

[dickarchivist]

Hiya! Can I make a Grave Squad fic request with a couple of prompts from the prompts list by @novelbear? It doesn't matter which clone is doing what for the first prompt (it's a first kiss prompt, but it could be anything--Phantom getting a massage, blaster lesson with Specter, medic patching up Wraith, whatever), and even though we know who would probably be taking the picture in the second prompt, that could be anyone too!

-feeling each other instantly relax as they both get instantly comfortable

-their hearts stopping when they hear smeone's camera click (a friend catching them in the act) ----------

https://www.tumblr.com/novelbear/730298854132629504/no-time-will-be-better-prompts-for-that-first?source=share&ref=_tumblr

Dream Walking

Clone oc Wraith x gn!Reader (civilian, implied force sensitive)

Word Count: 2613

Prompt: First Kiss prompts: feeling each other instantly relax as they both get instantly comfortable

Rating: T, nothing naughty but it's a got angst, Minors dni as always 🔞

Contents and Warnings: injuries (nothing super graphic) coming back from a mission, hurt/comfort and fussing, cuties bein cute

Summary: Wraith won't wake up after an attack by Separatists on a relief mission. Not one to give up on his boys, Jedi General Dax'Malkin Valka sends you in to see what’s keeping Wraith from waking.

Author's Notes: Wraith is such a nervous lil guy, always wants to do good by everyone else, he's never going to notice when someone takes interest in him romantically unless they spell it out for him. Then he'll check their spelling.

Thank you @eclec-tech for this prompt, and for waiting so patiently!! I hope you enjoy it ♡♡♡

"Ah- Athena, did you have a nightmare? Come on vod'ika, you can sleep here with me."

"SPECTER DO NOT- THAT'S YOUR PAINT CUP!!"

*Banshee you're going to catch a cold, put your shirt back on.*

"Ghost, we're all eating. Sit down, eat with us."

"Phantom I'm not giving you a plaster for your cheek. No I don't care that you were slapped, you probably deserved it... ugh, do you want regular medtape or one of Athena's flower patches?"

"General Valka, if you keep sleeping in the pilot chair, you'll ruin your back. At least let up put up a hammock for you."

You've been around the 404th long enough to know that Wraith is essentially their mother. He frets and worries about them more than you've seen any other clone do. And soo self sacrificing, working those long hours even when he doesn't have to, or specifically told not to. You'd been volunteering time with the GAR as nurse assistant, not knowing how to truly patch someone up, but enough know how to stabilize someone until a real medic got there.

You'd been stationed with the 404th on a relief mission to help provide support to a small moon that had been caught in the crossfire of a nasty battle. The Republic had come out victorious this time, but the citizens had seen better days. As you walked through the relief tent, checking on sleeping soldiers and locals, you catch a glimpse of the familiar spiked back of General Dax'Malkin. As you make your way over to the General, your chest starts to tighten with anxiety at the sight of the helmet beside him.

Pristine white, lovingly painted with a single stripe of flowers. Wraith.

You were used to seeing his brothers in the medbay, but not him. Not in a bed like this. Wraith was brought in by his general, the Zebrak hadn't left his side at all since getting there despite both of them looking battle worn. Dax'Malkin had his share of injuries, but nothing as bad as Wraith.

Your throat is dry, hands shaking as you kneel down and check the bandages that covered the stump of his knee. He'll be needing a prosthetic, and if it were any other battalion you'd worry about them simply throwing him away, but you're comforted knowing that General Valka wouldn't let them do that. He'd get Wraith the care he needs.

You hear Dax'Malkin grunt, his eyes finally focusing on you, "He's stable, should have awoken by now."

"And his brothers?" You finally choke out. You can tell with proper care, Wraith will recover, but you don't see the rest of Grave, and know that Wraith wouldn't survive losing them.

"Safe. Alive. Helping others," The jedi growls, holding his side, with a wince. He chuckles at the pain in his ribs, blue eyes dancing in the low lights strung about the med tent. They look hungry, angry. A dance of violence, "The Separatists got lucky this time. The others weren't at the initial blast, Wraith wasn't as fortunate. "

Your heart sinks into your stomach, "Why... why is Wraith not waking up?"

"That's what I need you to figure out."

Before you can question any further, Dax's hand shoots out and touches to your forehead. The next thing you know, you're in an impossibly vast ocean. You're standing on a rain soaked tarmac, waves crashing on all sides, but amidst the storm, you hear splashing footsteps and laughing.

Five little boys run passed you, and at first you don't recognize them, but then you hear one speak, "Guys! You'll slip if you're not careful! Please, let's go back, at least to put some shoes on!"

Wraith. He's so little, smaller than the others. Missing a tooth, bandaid over his nose. He sniffles, tears welling in his big eyes, "Don't get hurt, please!"

The leader, Ghost, you think, stops running and turns around, "1789! Come on, we have to get back before Nal Tsuba figures out we aren't in our bunks! You have to hurry!"

"Yeah, come on 1789! Hurry up, we don't-" the blond with the scowl, Specter you think, slips just like little Wraith predicted. You run forward to try and catch him, but he slips through your form, falling toward the churning sea below. "1313!!"

Little Ghost freezes, watching his brother fall. Before the others can move, Wraith does. He dives in after Specter without a second thought, launching his tiny frame over the rails to catch Specter. You hold your breath, close you eyes, and wait for a splash... but it never comes. Your eyes peek open, and then you see it, his little foot between the bars of the rail. "1666! 1404! 1313! A little help!?"

The three others finally snap out of their shock, pulling the other two up. Young Specter is clinging to Wraith as they're pulled up, big scared eyes as his fists are balled in Wraith's cadet uniform. Wraith hasn't set his foot down yet, supporting himself and Specter on one foot. You know the look of it, and can tell his ankle is broken from here, yet the smallest clone there still keeps soothing his rattled but otherwise unharmed brother.

Once they're all on the right side of the rail, Wraith smacks each of their shoulders hard, including Specter once he's calmed enough to let go. Wraith throws a tiny tantrum, hopping on one foot, his tears invisible in the rain but not his voice, "Jerks! Do you have any idea how stupid this is!? 1551 nearly DIED!! Why are we even out here, why'd we sneak away!?"

The four boys around him are quiet, before crowding him in a group hug, holding his shaking frame. The one with shaggy hair, you think this one's Phantom, sets his head on Wraith's "We wanted you to see the green flash... you never sneak out with us, and last time we did, we saw it. 1666 said it looked like your eye, we thought you'd like it."

The biggest, another blond, he signs, and you know right away this one's Banshee. His hands are too obscured for you to see, but Wraith nods at him, and Banshee turns around in front of him, then crouches.

"I broke my ankle saving Specter..." you jump, giving a small yip, and the Wraith you know is beside you, chuckling, his eyes sad as he watches the small boys tut along in the downpour, "We didn't even see the flash they were talking about, I've never seen it. Nal Tsuba was waiting for us when we got back inside, she was so angry..."

The dream turns, and you're in the painted walls of The Crypt. It's empty in there, save for you and Wraith. He moves silently toward his little bunk, a bottom bunk, right across from the one you know is Athena's. He lays down in the soft bed, quiet, before looking over at you, "So, how long's left?"

"How long for what?"

"Of my life. I'm hurt, I know that much. General Valka was trying to help me when I lost consciousness, my mind's been treating me to the tragedy that is my worried existence, and now you're here. My biggest regret." He smiles so lovingly when he says that, and for just a second, you want to slap him so hard he wakes, just so you can slap him again.

"I never told you how I feel. So many times, stars, I couldn't even touch your hand without jumping away. You and your endless patience with me, I must have been so annoying... you always smiled at me, accommodated my nerves, relaxed me like no one else could, not even my brothers..." He lays back with a sigh, that awful self loathing smile on his face, "Now I'll never get to tell you."

"Stop talking like that," you move forward, careful not to spook him, and get town on your knees beside his bunk. You yip again when he grabs you, pulling you into the close quarters with him. He'd never be that bold if he were awake, "Wraith-"

"The name fits, doesn't it? Wraith, an insubstantial person."

"Stop it..."

"Do you think, if I'd told you, we could have been happy together?-"

"Wraith-"

"Of course if you answer, it's just my dying brain telling me what I want to hear, so-"

"Knock it off!"

"It'll probably tell me the truth, actually, that it would have done nothing, because you don't feel the same wa-"

You slap him. His mix matched eyes look up at you in shock, blush joining the red mark on his cheek. "How did that hurt..."

"Because I'm here you dummy!" You sit up on his lap, your hands balled up in his blacks against his chest, "General Valka grabbed my face and put me in wherever you are! Now wake up! Right now Wraith!"

Wraith squirms under you, much like he has every other time you've so much as brushed your shoulder on his by accident. His eyes prick with tears, "You're not- you can't be here, why are you here? Please be a figment. You don't know I said that stuff. Get out of my dying brain, I'm not taking you with me!"

You pin him down by the shoulders, then give him a small shake before your hands move to his face, "You're not dying, you're just stuck! Now by the force I swear, if you don't wake up I'm going to shave your head bald."

"But you like my hair!" Wraith's hands go protectively into the thick curls on his head, pushing them away from you, "Don't you dare!"

"Then wake up!"

You gasp loudly, falling onto the hospital floor. Your stomach does a flip, and you find yours looking up at General Valka's tired face. "Well?"

"It's... what... HOW!?"

"Dream walking. What's wrong with my boy?" Dax'Malkin offers you absolutely zero explanation, like every other jedi, but at least it wasn't cryptic, just vague.

Once you get your legs under you, it doesn't take long for your hands to find Wraith's face. You set your forehead to his, "He's just stuck... can you put me back in? I can't leave him like-- G-General Valka?"

When you hear the sound of a soft snore so close by, you turn to look at Dax'Malkin, and can't help but chuckle a little. He'd fallen asleep, his arms folded neatly, head back and mouth hanging open. You shake your head, then look back down to Wraith... his vitals were good, his wounds tended, why wasn't he waking up?

You take a deep breath and get into the cot with Wraith, your arms curling around him, your head on his chest. Breathing is normal, heartbeat steady, "What's got you trapped in that pretty head of yours, Wraith..."

You touch your forehead, thinking about how it felt when General Valka had done it. Warm, quiet, safe. You wiggle your way up a little, then press your foreheads together, taking a few deep breaths and focusing on Wraith.

You're back on The Crypt with Wraith, who's reliving is in another memory. Athena's sitting in his lap the two of them watching stars on the view deck. "Which one is that one vod'ika?"

"It's uh... we're above Lothal, so... Oh! The Twin Wolves!" Athena grins brightly, then points to another constellation, "That one, Ori'vod."

"Aaah... Trash Cat?" Wraith laughs with Athena, his eyes barely open as he watches Athena roll out of his lap and onto the floor with the force of her laughter, "I don't know! We- ha- we didn't have to learn the constellations passed navigation! None of the fun stuff like Buir Dax teaches you!"

"Fine, no more stars, teach me some more Mando'a. What's Buir?" Athens beams up at Wraith, who's blushing hard, "C'mon, is it a swear?"

"No!" Wraith laughs again, then gets down on the deck with Athena, looking up to the stars with her again, "No, it's not a swear... it's a title, a very important one. You know vod, yeah? Sibling. Ori'vod, big sibling. Vod'ika, little sibling," He kisses her head when he says the last one, "Buir is... parent."

"You guys call Master Dax... dad?"

There's a small pause, and you can see the apprehension in Wraith's body, the whole of him going stiff with a held breath before he lets it out, "We do. He... treats us like people. But it's more than that, he-" Wraith stops a second, wiping his eyes, "Buir Dax treats us like we matter."

Athena wraps Wraith in a full body hug, her arms around his chest and legs locked around his waist as she curls into his side. His arm going around her, as he covers his face with one hand. It's unspoken, but even just seeing it, you understand Athena is telling him they matter to her too.

"That was a few nights ago... she's so smart, you know? Always wants to learn something, always wants to help... you'll look after her for me, right?" You feel Wraith's hand in yours, as you turn your head the memory fades and you're left with him. Now's Wraith. "I know you're just a figment, but could you promise me anyway?"

"No. Wraith, you're alive, okay? I know you are, because I checked your vitals. You don't have that leg," you nudge his foot with yours, "But you're alive... General Valka made sure of that. So just... wake up. Please? Wake up for her, for him, for your brothers, just--wake up!"

He chuckles a little, his shoulders drooping, "If I don't have a leg, I'll just slow them down... they'll decommission me, likely. Why wake up when I could stay here with you?"

"Because I'm out there, and so are you! Because I won't let them take you away from me! Because I love you, you- you- ugh! I love you, you nervous wreck of a man! Now wake the hell up!" You push him a little, your fingers locking up around his scrubs as you haul him back to cling to him.

As tears spill over, you bury your face into his neck, "Please... I need you to wake up."

You feel his hands on your back, warm and solid, and when you open your eyes, you're in the med tent, General Valka still snoring. But not Wraith.

He looks into your eyes, his own mix matched wide and full of apprehension. "Is this still a d-" You don't let him finish.

You surge forward, kissing him hard, teeth knocking together a moment before you pull back a little and settle against his lips. He's stiff at first, but very soon you're melting into each other, his hands holding you to him.

"I mean it, you know. That I love you..."

"You did?" He smiles, eyes dreamy as he nuzzles into your embrace.

"I do, not did. I do mean it... and I'm not letting them decommission you." Your dreamy smiles only last a second before both of you tense.

"Oh, don't you worry Mesh'la, we aren't letting them decomm Ray either." As you turn your heads, you see Phantom, Banshee, Specter, Ghost, and Athena coming through the tent flap, "That was some kiss~"

"Tommy! Shut up!" Wraith squirms, trying to shield you, as if Phantom were a threat.

As the brothers laugh and crowd, happy to see Wraith awake, Athena kneels down beside you. She takes your and in both of hers, smiling softly, "Thanks for getting my brother back."

You give her hands a soft squeeze, smiling right back at her, blush still painting your cheeks, "Thanks for sharing him."

_________________________________

Tag list!

@anxiouspineapple99 @wolffegirlsunite @wizardofrozz @eclec-tech @dystopicjumpsuit @clonethirstingisreal @wings-and-beskar @sunshinesdaydream @multi-fan-dom-madness @starrylothcat @n0vqni

[eldritchmochi]

"I have spent my whole life studying with the intent to not let things like this happen by chance."

i have finally remembered to post some of the essek photos i took with some buddies A WHILE AGO here on good old tumblr. it was a very fun lil photoshoot to do and basically all i bought for this cosplay was the wig, the paint, and those finger lights lmao

the goal was to do "magic" with practical effects via long exposure and finger lights, a process i had experience with back in my youth both through raving and as a model. for my first stab at a light show in actually a decade and kirin's first real effort with long exposure, im not mad but i fully intend to drag him into another attempt down the line (and one day after i find which raver buddy still has their fire poi supplies..... i really wanna give doing a caleb in a similar vein a try 👀)

cosplayer, make up, and styling: me, @/eldritchmochi

photographer and editing: @/mothseyeproductions on insta

production assistant: @/k.a.m.cosplay on insta (who does a fab jester just sayin)

[turntableart]

okay hi, this character yes this on, is so far called yellow.rom and he is heavily inspired by kinitopet

I LOVE THAT GAME GO PLAY IT GO PLAY IT RIGHT NOW

ehem anyways :] yellow is my take on that

what you need to know before hand is that yellow is a character I've already made and used for a good chunk of time he's actually an fan made Addison from DELTARUNE and in this lil universe he's in, he's in a computer that belongs to a human version of a pink ad called click, they're human name is clark, go to bright goats page to learn about him I love they're stuff sweet Jesus you have no idea, I have no idea how to link people shit bush help

Anyways!

Yellow was completed in 1999 and managed to get on Clarks computer a little later, he popped up in Clarks emails with a year free trial and theyve been stuck together like glue! They are besties and stuff I love them, before that tho yellow was sat in an old computer at the studio that made him, he was cancelled a week prior to his release so when he caught on that he wouldn't be able to literally be friends with everyone on earth he leaked his own files :3 by request of his creator Thomas Greterson who disappeared later that night, that's when he fell into the spam mail box on Clarks computer :]

thank you to bush for doing rps with me so I can get his story down they love him just as much as me it makes me so happy, they also love Thomas, they love how wet cat he is and how bbg he is

Now what can yellow do as an ai assistant? Well he can do surprisingly a lot! He can do the basics like interact with you personally but he can like uh talk? He uses a tts so you can give him your name and he'll say it!!! What tts does he use uh... I haven't decided yet he's only a few days old give me a break, he can interact with you and tabs he can manipulate stuff and activate stuff like your mic or camera if you let him

He can block you from seeing certain things since he was made for a younger democratic, so no ao3 no corn hub no stuff like that... Unless you turn child mode off which is quite hard to do, you need to actually prove to him that your allowed to use that stuff

yes he can read what you search for and he can see what your looking at you dirty sinner

He can judge you. He will judge you. He is programmed to be your best friend :] and is semi self aware, he's self aware enough to feel panic when technology starts to advance and he's worried he'll become obsolete, he doesn't Clark is a smarty, He's also an anti virus, his way of getting rid of viruses is... Interesting

no were not talking about how he's illegally a virus to he doesn't like to talk about it

Hes actually 3D! Or 2.5D I'm not sure what you call it, I plan on making him a 3d model but that'll take time, But he can spin he is an orb and a pyramid with s t i c k s we love him :3 he also has a text box cause he's nice like that, he adds faces into them like :] :3 :D ya know? He kinda has to when he don't have a mouth, his form can be altered if he let's you, he let's Clark edit it cause they're besties :] so often times yellow is littered with stickers and little additions that Clark as drawn on Microsoft paint, sometimes he draws a mouth on yellow :] speaking of mouths, yellow can edit himself as well in a less permanent way, what he does is open a paint tab and he draws his own features such as mouths and eyes and stuff even though he does have a lot of animations already built in but sometimes he just needs a little change up

So far that's all for yellow :] heres a lil about Thomas his creator! Thomas Greterson is the human name for yellow, cause when he's an Addison hes called turnon. G. Addison :] and in this world he's in his late 30s and has been working on yellow for years, he has two kids Clara and evan with his wife Cathryn, when he quit on the day of yellows cancelation he called his wife and was met with the voice of a man he didn't know, turns out she had been cheating on him for the whole of they're marage and most of they're relationship, you see when yellow would be released there was big talk of him being a company success and Thomas would've gotton a big pay out which is the reason Cathy was with him, hearing that he wouldn't get it just made her file for devoice right they're on the phone since I guess her affair was found out, Thomas hung up the phone and walked to a bar and while later he was stumbling back home and was hit by a truck, he didn't survive and now is currently in the hands of the goddess of light

who is the god version of my friend bush, she adores this sad overworked man I am not joking I also have a god form as well as another friend of mine who isn't on here so I won't give em a name well his character is called add-on who is also in this world as a teacher Clark and him don't get along

Anyway so far that's all I've go :3 I hoped enjoy my little read! I enjoyed writing it and I can't wait to write more when I ad more to this hehee *ad* more hehehe

BY THE WAY PLEASE LET ME TALK ABOUT MY AD OC I LOVE HIM SO MUCH I WANT TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT HIM SO PLEASE ASK ME QUESTIONS I SWEAR I WILL GO FERAL I WANT TO SPREAD THE YELLOW AGENDA PLEASE PLEASE ASK ME ABOUT MY OCS I'M BEGGING

[shotorozu]

hii!!! i have a lil request! its smth ive been thinking a lot about bc i love him so much, but how do u think shoto would be with someone whos like super counter-culture? like super goth or punk or gyaru or smth! im personally really into goth and have lots of facial piercings including some that are not super common like angel fangs as well as a bunch of tattoos, brightly dyed hair and dress kinda trad goth on the regular w bones and all that.

i can kinda see him maybe catching interest in someone whos so outside of the norm in style as a way to kinda fuck w his dad since he grew up so traditionally and all that, but also he seems like he'd be too kind to actually follow through with dating someone solely to spite his dad.

skfbdidjd idk! i just kinda wanna hear other ppls thoughts on it! i hope u have a good holiday season and a good new year!

(gender neutral reader, no pronouns mentioned— i tried to be very broad when it came to describing aspects of aesthetics)

ohh i think shouto being with someone that’s super counter culture is an interesting concept

before meeting them, he’d probably walk past them— his future s/o decked out in super cool accessories (including piercings), tattoos and dyed hair, and his neck would almost SNAP due to how fast he looked back at them 😭😭

it’s a culture shock, he obviously isn’t used to people that are so.. non-traditional? if he brought you in front of his dad then his dad would probably freeze up (ironically) and get sent to the hospital in an ambulance.

he’d be in awe just by looking at them standing, breathing, doing nothing— the wrist guards (solely for aesthetics, a shock for shouto since he needs those in the heroics) leg warmers, colorful hairpins, intricate and one of the kind hairstyles—

your overall fashion sense has him gawking.

it’s almost rude (and is about to become that way) the way he’s just opening staring at you like some kid on an airplane— but y’know, he’s kinda cute so you don’t make much of it. on top of that, you should probably mind your business, and not start some beef with the current #1 hero’s youngest and also famous son.

when he gets to know you more, he finds himself liking you— whether or not your personality aligns perfectly with your chosen aesthetic, or it’s the polar opposite, he finds himself sticking to you like some lost puppy.

it’s a perfect 50:50 of “i think your personality is cool” and “i need to follow you because i need to look at you more. you LOOK cool”

so he dates you for the reasons above and also because he wants to piss off his dad— because again, looking at you could send endeavor into a shock. (and he dates you genuinely because he actually really likes you and wouldn’t use you without your consent just to spite his very traditional father)

all backstory aside, he goes to you when he needs advice to level up his appearance— that includes fashion. anything you say is noteworthy, and he will absolutely take any advice as long as you say it.

he also comes to you for advice for piercings especially.

yeah, because y’know how it looked like he had some cartilage piercings in some of the latest official arts? he definitely went to you to ask for the pain level and aftercare.

“will it hurt?”

“yeah.. it’s cartilage after all. what if you got a lobe piercing first? you don’t have one.”

“i trust you. :)) so i’ll get one if you say so.”

he would’ve made you pierce his ears— or he did make you. it depends on how okay, and experienced you are with it. (and even if you weren’t— he’d still want you to do it 💀 it’s a good thing you could say no)

he’d also want to know the backstory behind any of your tattoos if you have any.

and he’d also want to try everything with you— that includes touching up your hair dye, getting new clothes, painting your nails, doing your makeup— the endless amount of things he’s willing to do with you, and assist you with 😭 i need someone like that

anyways, besides everything fashionable— he is your number one defender.

someone (for some stupid reason) said out loud “when i think of todoroki, i can’t imagine him being with someone like Y/N..”

and before anyone could say anything else, he just blankly replies with

“when i think of you, i can’t imagine you with anyone.”

that causes everybody to shut up, and you have to bite the inside of your cheek to prevent yourself from breaking into a smile.

he’s ruthless sometimes 😭

[tracybirds]

I have literally no idea if I ever posted this - I don't even remember writing it ahaha.... If I have, forgive my indulgence, it just made me smile to find it :) Just a lil short bit of fluff

---

The sky seemed to blur endlessly into the sea, the rain painting the landscape a monotonous grey. A perpetual lethargy settled over Tracy Island, the long days seeming longer as the weather showed no sign of lifting. One by one, the residents had slowly made their way to the living room, drawn together not by a request, but by an instinct to seek out the warm glow of company in the absence of the sun.

Alan sighed heavily, VR headset and console discarded on the seat next to him. He glanced around the room, eyes settling on Kayo, who wielded a crochet hook like .

“What are you making?” he asked, ignoring the disgruntled looks his brothers shot him for daring to interrupt the peace.

“Not now, Alan,” she responded, peering closely at the knotted yarn in her hands. “Oh damn, why’s it done that?” She reached over and dropped the muddled mess onto Virgil’s lap, who looked up from his book with a frown.

“What do you want me to do with this?”

“Fix it,” she said and flopped back onto the sofa. “You were the one that suggested crochet as a hobby.”

“That doesn’t mean I know anything about it!”

“I wonder if I could upgrade m-m-MAX to unravel knots,” said Brains, propping himself up on his elbows to watch Virgil with interest. “It could be an interesting challenge.”

“Better not,” muttered Scott. “I’m still bruised from MAX’s last upgrades.”

“Yes, well,” said Brains, flushing. “I am sorry about that Scott; it was a f-foolish error on my part.”

 “That could be useful though, Brains,” said Gordon. “Could you get it to go the other way too? I wanna see MAX try to tie my shoelaces.” He wriggled his foot in the air and MAX dutifully rolled towards him to attempt just that.

“Aw geez, MAX, no – get off!”

Alan laughed as Gordon tried to grab his shoe – now firmly off his foot and in MAX’s grip – and fell off the couch.

“You’re a menace,” announced Gordon from the floor, jabbing a finger up at the robot. “Brains, tell your dog he’s a menace.”

“m-MAX isn’t a dog, he’s a highly sophisticated robotic companion and assistant,” said Brains, sounding miffed, “and he’s not a menace.”

“Robot dog then, still a menace.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Gordon.”

“Brains, the highly sophisticated robotic companion slash assistant stole my shoe!”

By now, everyone was laughing, from Kayo’s near silent wheezing to Virgil’s giant guffaws, and Gordon threw his hands up in mock indignation.

“Oh sure, when it’s my shoe, it’s just a laugh, but you all watch, someday the shoe’ll be on the other foot and…” He paused for a moment and shrugged. “Well, I guess they’ll all be on the same foot, won’t they, they’ll all be on our resident shoe thief’s foot.”

“Does MAX even have feet?” asked Alan.

The image of MAX with feet was enough to send another round of laughter sweeping around the room and they collapsed against each other feeling warm and hopeful that even if the rain fell for a year or more, they would still be able to find the sun.