#lol quelle surprise it's gotta be

[supercutszns]

a place with you; luke castellan

wc: 2.8k (got a little carried away whoops)

pairing: luke castellan x f! reader

synopsis: luke is used to people coming in and out of hermes’ cabin without a second thought. so when you’re having a hard time adjusting to camp life, he doesn’t expect you to stick by his side, even after you’re claimed.

warnings/notes: shy reader going through a tough time, hurt/comfort, pining, kisses, fluff, potential ooc luke i don’t know what i’m doing, most of this is prob inaccurate lol, i got wayyy too attatched to this i am sorry, title inspired by dragon eyes by adrianne lenker

Luke Castellan is the son of a messenger. He’s used to delivering, passing things along, letting them enter his life and leave him. Sometimes it makes him angry. At his father, at the world, at himself.

So when you passed through the Hermes cabin for the inevitable few weeks before getting claimed by your Godly parent, the last thing Luke expected was for you to stay.

When you first got to camp you were terrified. Luke remembers that much. He can still picture you in Chiron’s towering shadow as he led you up to Hermes cabin. He gave you the usual spiel about the cabin, the land of the unclaimed, but it clearly hadn’t quelled your nerves. You were wringing your fingers together when Luke first spotted you, your eyes blown wide in what he knew as shock and a sort of . . . grief. For a life you’d left for what Luke knows as a life you’d never really have. He’d seen it in so many campers before you. He’d see it many times after.

“This is Luke, Hermes’ head counsellor and one of Camp Half-Blood’s finest,” Chiron pointed him out to you at the entrance. After Chiron introduced you, Luke held your name in his memory. Not because there was anything particularly intriguing about you at first, to be honest, because he’d seen a lot of people like you that needed help settling in (although maybe not many his age). It was harder for some people to adjust than most. He knew that better than anyone.

“Nice to meet you,” he stuck out his hand for you to shake after Chiron left. “I’m Luke.”

You sniffed, shaking it without looking at him. You were so, so embarrassed. This whole time you’d been too stupidly overwhelmed to process anything. Why was this so hard for you? Was it this hard for everyone? “Hi,” you managed, and that was it.

Now, weeks after your first meeting, you’ve concluded that it was not, in fact, this hard for everyone. The camp is crowded but full of life. You’ve never seen more happy kids in your life. There’s a sense of community on the wind.

So why can’t you feel it? Why is it so hard to connect with people? To participate in the fun? Everywhere you look there’s people but it’s all just so . . . lonely. You don’t fit. You’re lost.

Luke wakes up at night when the cabin door creaks open. He’s already tossing, so it’s no surprise he catches it. Unfortunately, he’s supposed to be a good counsellor—sneaking out at night is against the rules, and you’ve gotta reign the strays back in before they cause a ruckus. Sure, Luke’s not exactly a stickler for the law, but the least he owes is to make sure everyone’s safe.

Groaning, he draws himself out of the comfort of his bunk but doesn’t get far when he spots a familiar silhouette slipping out the door. He knows it’s you. He’s been hearing crying at night, and this is confirming his suspicions. It makes him ache in a million different places. Every time he thought about approaching you he shut himself down almost instantly, because who the hell wants some random guy coming up to them in the middle of the night and drawing attention?

This time, though, he’s a little worried.

It’s chilly tonight but not too bad, especially when you’re huddled up in a ball on a hill in front of the lake, grass tickling your ankles. Your tears keep you warm.

It’s a sorrow that feels bottomless. You don’t know what’s gotten into you. You don’t know why everything’s so hard.

There’s a scuffling of shoes, and your name is carried to you on the heels of a breeze. Oh God. There’s someone else here.

You sniff and smear your tears on the palms of your hands the best you can but a little part of you only wants to cry more now that you’re all anxious, and you only have a few seconds to collect yourself before you turn around and see Luke, your cabin leader, with furrowed brows. “Oh, h-hi, Luke.” It’s hard to ignore the splinter in your voice. You curse yourself a thousand times.

“Hey,” he says hesitantly, eyeing you in a way that makes you feel entirely exposed. “You, uh, you know you’re not technically supposed to be out here, right?”

You start to scramble to your feet with an apology on your tongue but surprisingly he laughs, a gentle sound, and beckons you to sit back down. “No, no, I’m not gonna get you in trouble or anything, just . . . letting you know.”

It’s uncertain if you should keep sitting, but you decide to because well, you’re already down here, and things can’t go lower than this. Luke comes to sit next to you and you stare out into the sea like your life depends on it. “Wanna talk about why you’re out here?”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“I mean,” Luke sighs, scooting a little closer to you. “Most people don’t up and leave in the middle of the night because they’re having a great time.”

The answer is too hard to say so you don’t reply.

Again, Luke sighs, and you try not to look at the shadow the moon casts on his admittedly handsome face. “It’s hard settling in, I know. It happens to a lot of people. I’ve . . . I’ve seen a lot of them, and it doesn’t get any easier.”

“Well it sure seems easier,” you snap, and your self-control flies away before you can stop it. “I have no idea why I can’t just suck it up and fit in here. Everyone seems so happy and it’s driving me nuts because I’m just so confused on why I can’t—why I can’t—process any of it.” Tears burn your eyes. “I’m just miserable. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

In the corner of your view, Luke’s face falls. “I’m your guide, you know that, right? I can help you.”

You sniff, embarrassingly pathetic. “I know.”

He comes even closer. “So why didn’t you ask?”

“Because I—I don’t know, you’re busy all the time with all the people in there, so I’m sure your job’s already stressful as is, so—”

“My job is to help you,” he says, a hand on your shoulder. “That’s what I signed up for. If you need something, I’m the one to ask.”

“I’m not sure you signed up for me crying like a baby,” you swallow, the ripples of the lake blurring together. “I mean, I’m like, older than half the kids here, and they’re all so much better than me. I’m not good at a—anything, and I’ve tried it all, and nobody’s claimed me yet, and I feel so weird and old and alone and . . .” It’s too much to think about so you dig the heels of your palms into your eyes, hoping the sting wards off the thoughts. “What if I’m nothing? Why am I here?”

You’re crying again, hiccuping into your hands. Shame sears into you. Luke’s arm curls around your shoulders and you realize how cold you are when he’s warm, so warm, and you want to cry even harder. You don’t even know him, but it’s the most tenderness you’ve received in what feels like years. “Hey, deep breaths,” he murmurs, rubbing your arm with his other hand. “It’s okay. Look at me.”

It takes a ridiculous amount of strength to heed him. His hand catches your cheek and you can’t bear to pull away. Something strange rustles in your stomach.

Luke’s taught instinct when faced with situations like these is to reassure that the Gods always have a plan. But he doesn’t feel like much of a liar tonight. Both his hands steady your face towards his, your skin damp and cold beneath his thumb. “It's not your fault. It always takes a little bit of time for people to get claimed, it’s never . . . well, you can never tell.”

“What if I don’t get claimed?” You say it so quiet you can pretend it was imaginary.

His eyes crinkle at the sides when he says, “Well, Hermes’ll always have a place for you.”

I’ll, Luke wants to say, I’ll. His father is not responsible for his cabin’s kindness.

“No one really prepares you for how overwhelming this is,” he continues, thumb rubbing the apple of your cheek. Your vision is clearer now, and Gods, he is handsome, isn’t he? Even when his eyes are forlorn. “It’s harder in a way when you’re older. More to leave behind. Less to look forward to. It’s easier when you have a friend. Or a great cabin head.” He tilts his head with a faint smile, “Lucky for you, I’m both.”

It almost makes you laugh, and that’s enough. “It’ll get easier,” he promises softly. “There’s nothing wrong with you.”

Your cheeks burn. It’s hard to keep his gaze, so you blot at your eyes with your hands as Luke gently slides his off your face. “Thank you. Sorry for, um, all that. And the crying.”

He chuckles, “Don’t even worry about it.” You watch him rise in the throes of starlight. He offers you a hand. “Aren’t you cold?” He asks after pulling you up, and you sheepishly nod your head. He tosses you a sweater he’s been wearing, and it smells like firewood. Nostalgic, in a way. “I’m gonna poke around for some tea. Wait for me back at the cabin.”

Before he leaves, he squeezes your arm and that thing happens again in your stomach. “No need to be embarrassed, by the way. You can come to me anytime. I’m probably less busy than I look.” As he walked away, he added, “And don’t worry about the crying. You’re pretty either way.”

Either way. The tea doesn’t seem important anymore because your face is on fire.

Time reveals that Luke is right. He is a great cabin leader and a friend, and it’s hard to tell which he’s better at. You fall in with him right away. Soon enough, you’re drawn into your new life, so slowly you barely realize it’s happening. The days get shorter and you start wishing they were longer. The nights get easier. And when they’re not, Luke tucks you into his bunk and folds you in his arms until you drift off. You pick up a bow. A sword. Luke tells you to straighten your shoulders with a hand on the small of your back, and you swear it always lingers. You braid garlands of carnations for your cabin mates and they wear them with pride. It’s warm, your cheeks hurt from smiling, and things start to feel like home.

Until you’re claimed.

Now you’re a ghost in Hermes cabin, another empty bunk to be filled, and Luke stares at it until he can remember every last detail of what it looked like when it was yours. A beautiful, gentle daughter of Demeter, no longer in arms’ reach. He should’ve seen it coming.

He sees you with your siblings all the time. You’re so happy and he envies it. You belong there, he knows that, the way your face lights up at the dinner table and how you giggle when your half-sister presents you a flower. But sometimes your eyes wander, and something inside them dulls, until you look at him, too.

Luke’s place at camp is to be nothing but a funnel for lost campers to find their home. He’s a temporary stop in everybody’s journey. He’d made peace with it a long time ago. But here you are, messing it all up, because you still don’t leave him.

You beg him to give you another sword-fighting lesson. You sit next to him at bonfires. You pick him for partner camp activities. It doesn’t matter how many younger boys want to latch onto him for guidance—he sees you heading towards him, and he can’t imagine choosing anyone else.

But you’re always whisked away by your siblings, separated at meals and in sleep and in activities so it’s never, ever enough. Why did he delude himself into thinking you’d stay forever?

After weeks of distance from you, he’s elated when you have even a fraction of a conversation. “Hey, Luke!” You call out to him, and he finds you instantly. You’ve broken away from your siblings to get to him.

“Hey,” he smiles, and hopes he doesn’t look too pleased.

You lean a little towards his ear, and you smell like every wonderful thing in the world. “Can we hang out tonight? On the hill?” You’re a little bashful when you say it and it’s entirely endearing. Even now, you’re still so unsure. “I miss you.”

“I miss you too,” he says almost instantly, and it makes you look less nervous. “Yes. Absolutely. But don’t get caught breaking curfew now, you hooligan.”

Someone calls your name and you give a curt, playful nod. “Yes sir, camp counsellor sir!” He carries your laugh close to his heart until night falls.

You’re already there when he arrives, a vision in the moonlight before he even sees your face. “Hey, angel.”

When you turn around you look flustered. He won’t pretend like it doesn’t flatter him. “H—hi, uh, hello.”

There’s a moment where the world is still. The two of you, alone, for the first time in ages.

He sits down next to you, and it’s like the first time all over again. You get to talking, about your days, your anecdotes, your cabins. The strangeness of it all. “It’s so weird waking up in the morning and not having you yapping in my ear,” you remark, and he teasingly pushes your shoulder.

“Well, one of us has to be the talker, and it’s clearly not you,” he retorts.

You fiddle with blades of grass between your fingertips, weaving them together. “I’ll have you know I had a cabin-wide conversation about Capture The Flag yesterday, and I contributed greatly.”

“Oh, really?” He grins, knocking your elbow to steal your attention. “Look at you, coming out of your shell. I’m so proud.”

It’s hard to hold his gaze for more than a second. You’re afraid you’ll do something stupid if he keeps looking at you like that, but you almost want to. “Oh, shut up.”

He puts a hand on your shoulder. “No, I’m serious. I’m proud.” His eyes rake over your face. “You’re flourishing. You found your place.”

You can’t stop yourself from saying, “I kind of miss my old one.”

There’s a way he studies your expression that makes you feel utterly helpless. You wish you could dish it back to him, but you know you just look awestruck whenever you stare at him for so long. He’s quieter when he replies, “I miss it, too. A lot. Sometimes, I—” His face scrunches up like he just tasted something sour. “Nevermind.”

Frowning, you prod, “What? What is it?”

He sighs and turns to the horizon. This is the first time you’ve ever seen him struggle. “Sometimes, I wish you hadn’t been claimed. Sorry, that’s . . . that’s awful, I know.”

His surprise is evident when you say, “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t either.”

He turns back to you. “Really?”

“Really,” you nod, staring at the beads on his necklace. “You’re the only reason I’ve adjusted here at all.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.”

“It’s true. And I miss you.” A few months ago you would’ve kicked yourself for saying this. But Luke has a way of inspiring confidence in people.

“I miss you, too. So much.” He gently prys the grass you’ve been weaving out of your hands, now a small necklace. “But look at how talented you are. I’ll tell you, I’m lucky you’re still sticking around. For most people, Hermes is touch-and-go.”

Luke leans forward to tie the garland around your neck, and your pulse picks up. “This isn’t about Hermes, Luke,” you try to be firm but it comes out soft. “It’s about you.”

His hands stop fiddling and rest on your neck. When he speaks, you can feel his breath on you. And you have no idea that he’s been waiting to hear that his whole life. “What’s about me?”

It’s not fair, your inability to string sentences together only worsens right when a beautiful boy is this close to you. “Hermes isn’t—it’s not special because of your father, it’s special because of you.”

There is nothing else you can possibly think of saying with the way his fingers trace up your neck and hold your jaw. “Yeah, well,” he murmurs, “The only reason anything in my life is special is because of you.”

You don’t know if it’s a lie or not; you don’t care. His nose nudges yours. There’s a moment where you wonder if this is as close to Elysium you’ll ever get. Then he slips a hand to the back of your neck and pulls you to his mouth.

He kisses you in a near fury, then when he knows you’re not going anywhere, it’s the gentlest thing you know. It’s hard to believe this is even happening. Your hands weave through his curls but he holds you steady, and thank the Gods for that because you’re pretty sure you’re melting. You kiss again, and again, and again, until you genuinely think you’re going to pass out and you have to pull away.

“Aw, look at you,” he murmurs when you can’t meet his eyes, a playful lilt in his voice. “Still so nervous.”

“Would you shut up?” You press your face into the crook of his neck with a huge smile.

He kisses the top of your head. “Love to, angel.”

Luke Castellan is the son of a messenger. He’s supposed to believe he’s bringing the best of humanity to the Gods and glory above.

But screw the Gods. He’s keeping this one for himself.

[penkura]

OP Men and Their Kids

Note: Hey, this is something I wrote randomly one day instead of paper I needed to work on. :) Don't worry, the paper was finished and turned in. I will also fully admit I have baby fever at this point in my life, I just gotta get a man lol. These are just some headcanon blurbs about a couple OP men and their kids, how many they'd have, the genders, that's all! Hope you like it!

Part Two Here!

Ace has a daughter, then another three years later. He's happy with just those two, he's a great girl dad and his oldest keeps his last name even if she gets married; he cries when his babies get married. If you can convince him to have one more, it'd be a third girl, you wouldn't even complain about it. Ace would cry again, holding her after she's born and happily introducing her to her big sisters. He sees himself, Sabo, and Luffy in the dynamics between his daughters. Your youngest daughter might be a crybaby, but she's the more adventurous of the three and her sisters are her biggest protectors. You're all his girls and Ace couldn't be happier.

~~

Law has a son first, then five or six years later a daughter, both fully planned and prepared for. Then surprise, there's another little boy two years after your daughter, totally unplanned but welcomed all the same. All three are beyond loved, the daughter is definitely named Cora. Your daughter might be a little bit spoiled, but Law tries to even it out amongst the three, that pirate captain side of him coming out as he tries to make sure they're all even. On nights when the five of you settle in your living room, Law still can't believe how lucky and blessed he is to have such a loving family again.

~~

Penguin has two daughters within four years of each other! Girl dad all the way, until the third child comes along and it's a boy, a total surprise, he'd fully expect another little girl. He finds it even more fun to have all three of them, the girls are protective of their baby brother, it almost reminds him of he and Shachi with Law when they were still teens. It's even more apparent how your children parallel that relationship, when your youngest daughter, at six years old, brings your two year old son to you when he's crying from a nightmare, you're both able to comfort and quell his tears. Penguin feels lucky to have all of you, and wants nothing more than for you to all be safe and happy.

~~

Sanji! Has a son AND daughter first, a cute little set of twins! He dotes on them and gives them all the attention they need. Eventually another little girl comes along, then one more boy a couple years after her. Sanji loves them all, but his girls do get just a tad more attention at times, especially once they realize that giving him puppy dog eyes net them whatever they want. Your youngest son attaches to him like glue, wanting to be with Sanji all the time, and he can see the similarities in how alike the two are, minus the abuse of course, and it makes him want to protect your youngest son from the world at times. 

~~

Zoro has a son, one that isn't planned at all. He hadn't even expected to have kids until this little baby boy that looks just like him comes along. After that, he expects that to be it. No more kids, just the one, just your son, until not even three years later you're pregnant again, with a little girl that's just as unplanned. Everyone is shocked, but when she's born, Zoro is instantly wrapped around her tiny finger and she's spoiled rotten by him. Your kids are both loved beyond belief though, both learning how to use a sword as soon as they're big enough to do so. Zoro is the one to convince you to have one more when your daughter is about five, and its a set of twin boys that make you swear off more kids in the end. They also start learning to use the sword one day, your third child falling into the three sword style that just inflates Zoro's pride even more. And yes, his daughter would be named Kuina.

~~

Note 2: I would absolutely marry Zoro and have his babies in a heartbeat. I'm sorry Penguin, I still love you.

Note 3: If you saw this briefly yesterday, no you didn't shut up 😆

[rosesnink]

Partner (Joaquin Morales x NB!MC)

Author's Notes

Surprise surprise, @hydn-jpg ! I am your giftee for the exchange! Woop woop! This piece has been challening, but it has turned out fun to do!

Your art is truly beautiful and you seem like such a sweet person! One of these days I gotta commission you... when inflation isn't making my bank account bleed, lol. I wish you a merry Christmas, and that you have an amazing 2024!

English isn't my first language, so please forgive any mistakes or grammar mistakes

This is my submission to @choicesfandomappreciation 's Secret Pal Exchange

Summary: Joaquin takes Zach to a salacious escapade to Vermont. Needless to say, it will be a memorable trip.

Rating: PG

Word Count: 1.2k

Pairing: Joaquin Morales x NB!MC (Zachary Westbrook)

Category: Holiday, fluff

Book: Laws of Attraction

One year, eleven months and nineteen days.

That’s how long Joaquin and Zach had been coming and going from each other’s rooms… and the occasional semi-public place. Zach knew that it had all started as a hook-up partner, a sort of friend with benefits.

But lately, they craved more. They couldn’t explain why. Must’ve been the holidays and cheap Hallmark movies, because they had started daydreaming about taking Joaquin to a date that didn’t end with sex. Certainly, the sex was amazing, and Joaquin was an asset for the firm, but Zach would lie if they didn’t think often what this meant for Joaquin.

If he was seeing other people. If all they were was a mere night’s fuck. Lately, they hated the idea. And their blood boiled every time a partner or client made eyes to their Joaquin. If Joaquin noticed, he said nothing.

And when Joaquin invited Zach to a hedonistic escapade over Christmas Eve, Zach’s heart fluttered. They felt like a stupid sixteen-year-old highschooler after proposing to go on an escapade with their boyfriend at their parents’ backs. Of course, Zach played it cool, and when Joaquin suggested that their sexual escapades would take a festive turn with much seasoning, they didn’t know what to say. The ever-witty Zachary Westbrook didn’t have a remark on them. How stupid of them.

As they waited for Joaquin’s car to pull up, Zachary observed the couples walking through New York. They all seemed so happy and in love, or maybe they just pretended. Zach have had their enough share of divorces and custodies of ‘perfect’ couples, so it was really up to the eye of the beholder.

At last, Joaquin’s notorious car pulled up and rolled down the window “Ready for the most explosive Christmas of your life, Westbrook?”

Leaving behind their thoughts, they smiled “Ready if you are.”

They mounted coolly the car as Joaquin put their stuff into the back. Joaquin teased them of whether they had brought any sort of toys or ropes, which Zach teased back by saying that it was a surprise.

The ride was full of law trivia and commenting the latest cases they had archived for after the holidays, and, for a few hours, the queasy feeling on Zach’s stomach quelled to the point they forgot about it.

They, at last, arrived at a home Joaquin had rented in Vermont. A quaint little town, the home itself away from society. Zach asked why so far from civilization “To make you scream as loud as I can without being caught or scandalise a poor family.” Joaquin remarked, a certain glint on his face.

Zach chuckled “Will it be all about sex these days, Joaquin?”

“You wound me, Westbrook! There is sightseeing and a dinner with a colleague who studied with me back in college.”

“When is that?” They asked.

“Tomorrow night. But we’ll talk about it later.”

Joaquin gestured for them to settle into the home. After placing the basics, they decided that they were tired from the journey and each slept in the first bed they found. A long while later, Zach woke up with a rich and strong smell: jalapeños. They smiled.

“Did you know,” commented Joaquin, noticing that Zach had woken up “that this very recipe has been in my family for seven generations? My Abuelita taught me when I was young.”

“If it tastes as it smells, it’ll be amazing.”

Joaquin smiled triumphantly “It will.”

Sitting down, they both dug into the food and Zach moaned “This might be the best jalapeños I’ve ever eaten.”

“You’re welcome.” Joaquin winked.

Zach shook their head. Always so cocky. They’d lie if they didn’t admit it was what they liked about Joaquin. How sure he was of himself, of everything he did. It was enviable in the best way possible. He had his flaws, but who didn’t?

As they ate, Joaquin seemed in his own world. Zach wondered what could he be thinking about. And Zach wasn’t the type of person to have heavy sex after eating japaleños, so he decided to address the elephant in the room.

“Why am I here, Joaquin? To have sex with you, be your arm candy and leave?”

Joaquin stopped, and seemed rather surprised by their blunt question. Wiping off the crusts, he whistled “Straight to the point, huh, Westbrook?”

“Too harsh?”

“Maybe. But you know I like it harsh.” He winked. Noticing the serious expression on their face, he cleared his throat “Thing is… I like you, Westbrook. Who doesn’t? You’re handsome, charming, a great lawyer and even better in bed. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that there’s something that keeps drawing me to you. And I want more.”

Zach smiled, looking at the man in front of him “Joaquin… I like you too. Like, a lot. Hell, I’ve been going mad for weeks, wondering if I was just another fuck buddy or had something special.”

At that moment, something incredible happened: Joaquin’s ever unserious and cocky gaze softened and took Zachary’s hands in his “You know… I was about to propose a BDSM session, but fuck that. Let me take you to my favourite spot in this town. No sexual innuendos. No voyeurism. Just us. Me, and the most fascinating human being I’ve ever met.”

Zach smiled widely and nodded “How about I take a shower and meet you in ten?”

“Very well. But first…” Joaquin stood up and kissed them softly. Then, he retired to his room.

Feeling giddy and happy, they quickly changed into something cute but practical for Vermont and, taking a last look into the mirror, opened the door to find Joaquin. Linking their arms together, both people went outside for a date that wouldn’t end in exhibitionism.

After a long walk and generous gulps of water, Joaquin and Zach reached the end of a hill, where a beautiful snowy scenery could be seen. In fact, the whole town could be seen in that spot. Awestruck, Zach observed the view.

“Joaquin, this is…beautiful!”

“It is.” Zach turned to see that Joaquin was looking at them instead. Their ears pinked and cleared their throat.

They took his hands and observed content the scenery.

“Zach.”

“Hmm?”

“Be my partner.” He declared.

“We are partners. At Ricci, Westbrook & Tanaka?”

“Not that kind of partners. Dating partners. I want to date you.”

Zach blinked, flabbergasted “Really?”

“I like you a lot, you like me a lot, we’ve been going out for a year, and we’re here. Why not make it official?”

Zach beamed “Yes. Yes!” They both embraced and kissed sweetly over the yellow and orange dusk of Vermont.

As both of them walked back hand-in-hand back to the house, it started snowing. Joaquin picked flowers on the way and handed them to Zach.

The day of the dinner, Joaquin’s friend asked “Who are you bringing with you? Another fling of yours?”

Joaquin smiled proudly “No. This is Zachary Westbrook. My romantic partner.”

Needless to say, the weekend took a turn. Sure, they had some amazing sex, but after that, they did what Zachary had craved the most: lay in bed together, hot cocoa in hand as they watched the snow cozily, saying nothing.

When they came back for work after the new year started, Joaquin dropped off Zach and pecked them “See you at work, partner.”

“Don’t miss me too much… partner.”

They then went to sleep, looking forward for tomorrow with Joaquin.

With their partner.

[barrenclan]

We get babies AND DEEPLINGS???!!!!! and a trans icon!!!!! I love winter and the season itself, so he makes me extremely happy : DDD Raz you give so much <3

Omg, headcanon for mentors for the BlackMallow2.0 kits:

Honeykit

I wanna see Plumstirpe mentor him. I know she and Beeface have similar ideals to Coot, but meeting their siblings + Pinepaw's outspokenness would help them see... bruh.... they just baby...Also, if anyone is going to bond with Plum, it's Honey.

Alt. a mentor would be Beeface, as I think Honey would calm her down. I imagine both sisters can't bring themselves to be cruel to any of their little siblings but especially Honey.

Egretkit

Asphodelpaw 100%. I headcanon her as selective mute, so I think Mallow would she Asphodel's confidence persona and hope to pass it to his daughter (ofc, that's not how being selective mute works, but he tries). Egret would be super intimidated by Asphodel's cool disposition, but I think they'd get along very well,, after a while.

Asphodel is, at first, internally freaked out by her mute apprentice as she's used to verbal reassurance, but after some frustration and then self-reflection, she works to understand Egert. She learns Egret's 'tail-sign' and does her best to make Egret feel safe and listened to. Asphodel is a bit of a mess (but is good at hiding it in front of the clan) but keeps on her confidant face for her apprentice. She isn't the scary mentor Egret thought she'd get, and Egret is relieved. Asphodel eventually confesses she's not as confident as she looks (Egert isn't surprised), and all she wants to do is to make sure Egret doesn't suffer from the same insecurities she did as an apprentice.

I also like to think Egrettail would have had a hand in the training. Little Egret is already close to her auntie, and I think Asphodel would go to her for advice. Asphodel and Egrettail end up bonding (aroace besties) and co-mentor little Egret all throughout her training. Bonding and sisterhood ensue.

Bluebellkit

"Daffodilpaw is a great choice to counter Bluebell's chipper nature. ADHDers gotta stick together" - Mallowstar probably. Daffodil is a warrior at this point, so of course, she knows to have to train a hyper apprentice like she was! Sike. Bluebell is several handfuls of energy Daffidoil cannot ever hope to quell. Daffidoil is physically unable to be mean, but her soft approach isn't getting Bluebell to listen. Daffodil, unfortunately, blows up at Bell. It's a tense few weeks after that. Of course, this is a found family movie. So in a really, terribly cheesy way, they make up and become sisters, lol. Daffodil helps Bell develop her own hunting and frightening techniques as Daff had to develop them on her own. Bluebell becomes the best tracker in the clan!

Alt. mentor would be Comorantpaw. I love the "-_- and ^w^ mentor-student, you're my kid now" troupe. Cormorant and Bluebell would get along super well, both heads empty. They would bond over rocks and have a general interest in the concept of death. In a curious way, lol.

Meadowkit

Interstingly, I choose Slugpelt. Not sure if she'll ever go back to being a warrior but if not, I think Meadow becoming a queen would be uber interesting. Slug would teach him childcare, what helps queens, and how to take care of kits... Meadow is smart but terribly anxious. He ends up helping Slugpelt take care of his mother more than his siblings. It quells his anxiety to keep busy caring for someone. While he doesn't want to be a medicine cat (interrupt that as you will), he learns basic healing and everyday remedies. He admires Slug and her kids' relationship, particularly more when Blacknose becomes farther gone. While his siblings are a little vain (maybe less so Honey, but he's hopeful) and expect Blacknose to get better, Meadow is already mourning her.

Mallow and Pine do their best to help his grief and try to get him to cheer up. Slug pulls him aside and tells him about mourning and grief; rather than try and fix his feelings, Slug helps him process them and lets him grieve. Meadow becomes a permanent queen. Despite his serious nature, he's an intuitive guy; he knows what to say and how to help, even if it's nothing.

I imagine he and Coot become... equals. After a strained relationship with Black's second litter, Meadow and Coot help mend the gap. Not without hating each other with fury (Coot sees Meadow becoming another Pinepaw, useless). Coot blames Pine for Meadow's decision which pisses Slug off big time. Coot ends up not talking to Meadow for moons. But they make up! kinda.

I'm glad you enjoyed the swath of new character designs from this last issue & extras, haha.

This is so much wonderful character analysis!! These are really wonderful headcanons too, they all sound super cute. Obviously I can't say anything on the matter, but this was a treat to read.

[ranaissingle]

Non famous reader x Austin where she’s just feeling really out of place and she worries Austin senses it and wants to break up so she’s been distancing herself but he really loves her

I'm Yours

Masterlist

Authors Note: I like the way you think anon! I tried to stick to the prompt as much as possible but let me know if you want me to change anything because I did take some (a lot of) creative liberties lol. It ended up being a little long so grab a snack. Enjoy!!

Word Count: 927 ish

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She couldn't take it anymore. Y/N was drained. She was tired of the gossip, the cameras, the comments on the internet, and most of all she was tired of being alone all of the time. But she could hold on. Couldn't she? It was Austin after all. He was worth it right? He was kind, and smart, and held her whenever she asked for it. Maybe all she needed was a couple of days with just her and Austin to recuperate.

They were both at a New Years party hosted by another celebrity couple. Y/N had been feeling off all night and she was worried that Austin had noticed. He was in his element. He was among people like him who were interested in his latest projects and could relate with him on the troubles and downsides of acting. They ran circles around him asking him question after question, and eventually, y/n got tired of being ignored. Most people did not bother to even greet her properly because she had nothing to offer them. She was average. There was absolutely nothing interesting about her besides the fact that she was Austin's girlfriend. So, she slinked over to the balcony off to the side of the venue with a glass of champagne and a heavy heart. The cold night air seemed to only further her spiral of thoughts. Y/n had a feeling she didn't have much longer in this relationship before Austin grew tired of her normalcy and left her. The novelty of the relationship had faded and y/n knew her time was approaching much faster than she was ready for.

Austin had felt the warmth leave him when y/n left for the balcony. He had wanted to follow her immediately but those around him kept him wrapped up in conversations he had lost all interest in. Eventually, Austin was able to sneak away from overbearing managers and publicists and made his way over the balcony. He felt that she had been off the whole night and it had begun to worry him. Austin would never tire of admiring y/n. Her hair was styled differently than normal and her dress hugged each and every curve on her captivating frame. Austin's fingers twitched with the need to have his hands on her. His eyes gaze moved up to search for her beautiful eyes but instead of a smile on her face, Austin found something that worried him.

"Rough night?"

Austin's voice was smooth as he wrapped his arms around Y/N's waist and rested his head in between the crook of her neck. He felt her swallow thickly as she took a deep shaky breath in. Something was definitely wrong.

"Hey, baby is something wrong? You've been lookin' a lil' off all night"

Y/N's tight smile did nothing to quell the growing feeling of worry in Austin's stomach. He couldn't bare it anymore, the worry was eating him alive.

"You've gotta tell me what's wrong love, did someone say anythin' to you?" His brows clipped together in worry as he turned y/n around by her shoulders to inspect her face further.

"I guess it's what they didn't say that got to me.”Y/N's soft reply took Austin by surprise.

"What do you mean baby I don't understand?" His voice raised an octave as his worry grew.

"I don't belong here Austin. The only person to acknowledge me was the busboy when he came around with hors d'oeurvres. I don't fit into the world you live in and I know it's only a matter of time before yo-, before you.."

The words got stuck in her throat because Y/N knew that as soon as she spoke them the whole situation would become real and she wouldn’t be able to face it.

"Before I what darling" Austin's gaze swept all over her face and his eyes widened in fear of what she would say next.

Y/N took in a deep breath.

"I know it's only a matter of time before you leave me Austin. I am only going to drag you down an-"

"Stop! What are you talking about?!” His voice quaked and her eyes widened when his hands came up around her to grip her shoulders.

“I would never think you are dragging me down y/n, never. You are the love of my life I could never leave you. You are the best thing that has happened to me Y/N I love you so much it hurts."

Woah.

Y/n had fully expected a breakup monologue or an agreeing nod from Austin. Not a proclamation of undying love so soulful it made her heart hurt and beat faster all at once. Her eyes glassed over and even then with her nose running, tears streaming down her face, and hiccups leaving her lips, Austin still thought she looked ethereal.

"I will love you until the day I die and even after then. Mark my words."

Y/N only cried harder. Austin clasped his hands around her face, kissed away her tears and moved his lips to her cheeks, up to her eyelids, and down again to her nose before finally making it to her lips.

He kissed her like he needed her to breathe and held her waist and back like she could slip through his fingers at any moment. As they separated, he tucked her head into his chest and rested his head over hers. Austin whispered sweet nothings into her ears while he opened his phone to text his driver to pick them up. They stayed like that for no less than 30 minutes with Austin's arms enveloping her frame and y/n's head snuggled deep into his chest to inhale his distinct scent. He smelled of Cedarwood and a future she couldn’t wait to experience.

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AND DONE. I wasn't sure if anon wanted smut at the end so I decided to leave it like this because I feel like it has a bigger umph. Thank you for reading!!

Until next time

Masterlist

[mythiccheroacademia]

The whole time traveling children has me feelin some type of way tbh. Imagine Mirio, Kaminari, and Tamaki walking into their respective rooms and there are just small children vibing. Mirio with his daughter, Kaminari with a daughter and Tamaki with a son. 😭

as i said, parent!bnha is SUPERIOR

A/N: So, instead of making these separate asks, I’m just going to make it one giant post. I thought it would be easier that way. Probably the only post that’ll have more than three characters lol

Warnings: none

Kaminari Denki:

when kaminari walked into his room, he didn't expect to see two children on his bed fighting like wild animals

the younger girl was totally beating the boy’s ass tho

kinda embarrassing bc she’s gotta be like, seven, at most

as if it’s not the weirdest thing he’s seen (bc it’s not) he rushes in to break them apart

he manages to separate them with his arms 

the boy with yellow hair snaps his jaws at his sister’s fingers

“hey! bad! no biting!” he scolds

the little girl blows a raspberry and taunts “yeah! papa says no biting!”

the older sibling just rolls his eyes “rat”

meanwhile, denki is literally malfunctioning

papa?

PAPA? HUH???

the only person’s pants (and heart) he’s been trying to get in to for the past three months was y/n’s and he sure as hell would remember if he did

he didn't have kids

especially one that was his age

“sorry! you two are cute, but i’m not your pops”

thus, they begin to tell denki about how they mayhaps followed him and their mother into a dangerous mission and got hit with a time travel quirk

denki just nods his head

tbh, he’s not that weirded out

weirder things have happened

but, he does have one question

“who’s the lucky woman?”

coincidentally, you bust into his dorm room, wet from a recent prank and head steaming with anger

“Kaminari Denki!”

his son juts a thumb over to you

“the woman that’s about to murder you”

“oh say less”

his life literally couldn't get any better

before you get the chance to throttle him, the little girl jumps in your arms and your anger is immediately quelled 

“hey mommy! i just wanna let you know that it was [son’s name]’s fault that we followed you when you told us not to”

“WHAT!?”

you’re to busy trying to get them from killing each other to comprehend anything that’s going on

kaminari is in a love-struck gaze bc hot damn, he won the jackpot, huh?

if he wasn't in love with you before, he’s in love with you now

you and your feral children

it was nice being God’s favorite

Kirishima Eijirou: 

funny thing was

kirishima woke up from his afternoon nap with his mini-me in his arms!

at first, he was really confused as to why there was an 8 yr old boy with spiky teeth and (your hair texture) black hair on his bed

he thought he was dreaming

then the little boy bit his nose and grinned like he had done the funniest thing in the world 

“WAKE UP DADDY! WE GOTTA GET SWOL TODAY”

did he get hit with some duplication quirk?

and what was that he said...daddy?

as in, father?

kirishima is wide awake now, but before he can ask the kid what’s going on, the boy is up and making use of his punching bag

he decides it wouldn't hurt to get a morning work out in, so he decides to humor the kid

after a mini workout, kirishima is in near tears as the boy tries to flex the little muscles he has 

eventually, he gets the kid to tell him what happened and finds out he was hit with a time travel quirk of some sort

instead of being weirded out, kirishima is ESCTATIC 

he has a family in the future 

he’s so excited and proud that he just has to show his son off to his friends!

the first thing he does is go and bother bakusquad in the common room

he’s bragging like shit to them and his ego swells as they all swoon over how cute and handsome the kid is 

you and bakugo come out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion is about and the little boy excitedly runs to you and jumps into your arms 

“momma! you’re here! you’re so pretty! why’d you marry daddy when he looks so unswol?”

it’s silent before bakugo fucking dies of laughter 

“y-you finally let shitty hair hit it? and got knocked up?? LMAO”

everyone’s dying and kirishima wants to die

he can’t believe this was how his long-term crush on you was getting outted

by an 8 yr old boy

so not manly

you look confused before you put the pieces together

the kid did look like you and kirishima

you want to console kirishima about the crush that you lowkey knew he had on you, but your son was one step ahead of you

with a gracious smile, he hits bakugo’s head

hard

“what the fuck kid!?”

“don’t make fun of daddy, uncle bakugo! at least daddy didn’t faint at his wedding″

Bakugo’s contemplating murder and everyone’s rolling on the floor

“WE BEEN KNEW YOU WERE THE BIGGEST SIMP”

even ten years later, bakugo still holds a grudge against your son

Togata Mirio:

i’m about to kill y’all w this one

since year one, mirio has been feigning over you 

but 1) you were too dumb to notice 2) you both were really busy with, y’know, school and 3) he lowkey gave up bc he thought you deserved better

so imagine his surprise when he sees this four year old girl on his bed

and she looks like you with his features

mirio might not be the brightest crayon in the crayon box

but he’s got eyes

and it wasn't like he’s memorized your features to the T

the tiny girl is swinging her legs absent-mindedly before exploding with happiness when he sees him

she runs to mirio and he catches her with open arms 

“daddy! daddy! i got hit with the coolest quirk at school today!”

proceeds to tell him about her best friend discovered her quirk and it was a teleportation quirk 

mirio can’t help but giggle along with her even tho he knew it was a scary situation for the parents

speaking of which...

he innocently asks her who’s the mom

“mommy is the prettiest mommy in the world! she has e/c eyes, hair like me, and the most beautiful s/c skin! her name is togata y/n!”

if he wasn't geeking before, he’s geeking now

not only did he manage to marry you, but you let him be your baby daddy?

him?

big bet

mirio doesn't even care at this point

he’s parading around UA with the fattest smile as he introduces his daughter to damn near everyone 

everyone’s freaking out bc wtf when did mirio get someone pregnant??

maybe he should've explained himself, but he sees you at your locker and makes a b-line for you

“good morning, y/n!”

he doesn't notice that you slam your locker close and hide the confession letter you wrote to him behind your back

you’re a stuttering mess and he’s too busy basking in the fact that he’s holding y’alls child 

y’all look like a mess

but he’s ready to lay it on thick when the little girl kisses your nose and cheers,

“mommy, i missed you”

he explains the situation 

you cant help but smile, “you know this could potentially ruin the timeline?”

and you feel like melting as he gives you the softest smile 

“there’s no way I’m letting that happen. not when i end up with the woman i’m in love with. we’ll just have to twist fate together”

and twist it you did

Tamaki Amajiki:

tamaki wasn't the bravest person ever 

and he knew his crippling anxiety got in the way of a lot

but he had never been more proud of himself for managing to invite you to his room

it was supposed to be a study date

despite how bold you normally were, he took comfort in how nervous you seemed 

now, you two were leaning in, about to kiss

and then a voice from behind interrupts 

“uh, am i interrupting something?”

you two let out the ugliest squeal and jump 50 feet away from each other 

you’re all over the place, trying to explain the situation

tamaki’s heart is barely beating at this point

it takes the kid, who looks about 16, about thirty minutes to calm you down and revive tamaki

explains that he’s from the future and a descendant of tamaki’s family

decides to leave out that you two are his parents so he doesn't risk possibly erasing himself from the space continuum 

that would be bad

despite how surprised you two were, you two take it rather well 

you three spend the day together bc you and tamaki feel this weird sense of responsibility for the guy even though he’s only two years younger

the boy is trying his hardest not to expose himself, but it’s so hard

you two are asking him everything from his favorite food to if he has any siblings

he’s good at pretending that he’s cool, calm, and collected, but he wants nothing more than to jump into his parents’ arms and cry about how scared he is of messing up

but he won’t 

bc he’s a strong boy

but he slips up

“how far are you down the future?” tamaki asks

“uh, about like 100 years or so--”

“you’re lying”

the kid nearly chokes on his food as his father blinks at him

you try and scold tamaki but he continues

“i don’t mean to be mean, but your nose twitches when you lie. y/n does the same thing”

that’s when the jazz record stops and everyone is staring at one another

“....wait”

this time, you nearly pass out

y’all had a kid together???

THE HELL??

the boy, coincidentally, starts fading and he thinks he fucked up

now he’s full out sobbing into the both of your chests, scared that he’s disappearing

despite the news, you and tamaki calm down, look at each other, and hold your son

“don’t you worry, baby” you coo, kissing his fading hair

“i have a feeling we’ll see you quite soon” tamaki comforts, closing his eyes

Bakugo Katsuki:

bakugo finally understood when his mom said

“the meaner you are to your parents, the nastier your kids will be to you”

he regretted being such a demon bc his kid was literally the spawn of satan

katsuki didn’t need an explanation to know that that...thing was his kid

he looked damn near identical to him with features that he couldn't quite place

but anyways, that wasn't the focus rn

rn, he was trying to figure out a way to keep that animal caged

as soon as katsuki took his eyes off him, the six yr old ran out the door as fast as his little legs could carry him

“catch me if you can, you old bastard!”

yup, it was his kid

“GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE FUCKER”

his son is blasting his way through the halls, skillfully evading Katsuki’s grabbing hands 

he’s wildly laughing as he flips and turns through the doors, watching with glee as his father falls on his face

multiple times

the small boy latches on to a cupboard and smirks

“no wonder mom always beats your ass! you weak!”

katsuki nearly looks like the devil, eyes white, and face red with fury

his pride suffering by the second

he’s about to cuss the kids to hell when you come out of the kitchen, confused

you were about to ask why katsuki looked like a rat with rabies before you caught sight of a basket of fruit teetering on the edge of the cabinet, above the little boy’s head

“look out--”

the basket falls on the kid’s head and he’s on the floor, reeling from the hit

katsuki would've normally laughed his ass off, but he felt kind of...concerned?

he watches you run towards the child who’s trying his hardest not to cry

the boy holds his head, fat tears in his eyes as you pick him up and coddle over him 

“i’m sorry, baby. I'm sorry i didnt get there in time” 

cue the waterworks 

the boy is full-on sobbing into your chest about how his head hurts

you bounce him and kiss his forehead as katsuki checks over the red bump 

“you’ll be okay, brat” he comforts, voice softer than usual

in that moment, katsuki can’t help but notice how much a family y’all look like rn

then the dots start connecting and he goes 

oh shit 

so, maybe, he’s had a tiny crush on you

and it didn’t help that you two were friends with benefits bc yall were horny teenagers

but who knew he’d get the balls to ask you out on a proper date one day

he was such a simp for you gosh it was ugly

“you have to be more careful from now on,”  you say to the boy 

the brat suddenly looks innocent and katsuki wants to throw him

“sorry, mommy. i’ll be gooder”

the look on your face is priceless 

bakugo uses it as a chance to kiss you 

“huh?”

“i guess now’s a good time to tell you that i want to be your dick on demand but with feelings and shit, dumbass”

[lady-literature]

hi hi hi i'm new here but i just got through your entire (at least i think so) accidental crime boss mari au and i love it so much!!! also my imagination went wild and here's what it came up with (this is so long, i'm so sorry 😂)

so, Jason teaching the kids street stuff, like pickpocketing and such, nobody can Ever pickpocket Mari (not that they'd try, i think, hahaha), somehow it's just not possible. you think you have her and then find out otherwise. furthermore! she'd probably actually know how to do A Lot of what Jason is teaching (look, saving Paris that many times and seeing the shit she's seen must have taught her something about street smarts, okay?), but whether she's aware of all of it or not remains... unanswered. she absolutely surprises everyone, jaws-on-the-floor style, the first time she does it, especially when she does it consciously. every time she does something unknowingly (and still in the Nicest Way Possible, how even--) Jason probably quietly gathers the kids around so that they can watch and learn in real time from an example. and also, even though she's The Responsible One between the two of them when it comes to this stuff, sometimes Mari helps the kids do something, like maybe pickpocket someone in the family, as a prank

now about the Rules!! more specifically the sword fighting and duelling etiquette rule: auntie Kagami teaches everyone who wants to learn fencing every time she visits. there are tournaments. there's probably a pocket dimension designed specifically for that. it doesn't help lessen the amount of Shenanigans happening all the time but boy does it get competitive

also also also i love the name Mother of Heroes!!!! it's so cool!!! The Brood too!!!

if you've got any, i would love to see some more headcanons with the Sirens or the other dark/darker characters of the city (i'm not that well-versed in the DC universe, so idk what to call them if they have a name, sorry)

also, we already know she's called the Pixie and that she's kinda considered a mob boss and etc., but like, what about the point of view of an outsider? the way it all came to be really must sound like something from legends or fairytales out there on the streets. something so sudden and kind, and if you look a bit closer magical and just so unexplainably other???? kids just disappearing off the streets in that area and then resurfacing again looking well fed and taken care of???? to those disillusioned enough with life it must literally sound like an urban legend or something. but she's real. if you need help you just gotta find her.

HI HI HI!!! oh my gosh all of it??? thank you so much!!

1) i think that Mari knows theoretically a lot of things about being on the streets, but not a lot practically. living on the streets has less to do with being able to fight and a lot more to do with instincts and experience and all these little tics you pick up when all you have to count on is yourself.

there are, of course, certain ‘street talents’ as i call them, like being able to pick locks and con people and having a sense for danger etc, etc.

mari knows that tangible things, because she’s bound to pick them up, obviously. the kids just don’t forget what they’ve learned, so often she sees it in action. Jason also teaches her street talents as well, sometimes on purpose, most times on accident.

there is a difference though, in how Mari uses said talents. when the kids use them, there is an edge to every movement. they use their talents like weapons, like they are shields, all bared teeth and fingers like claws. their talents come from pain and necessity and there will always be something a bit vicious about it.

Mari doesn’t have that, and never will. her talents are tools and tools only, one more to add to her vast repertoire. it’s as impersonal as it gets for her, which means its soft and sweet and used with care. her talents, even in combat or duels, are velvet over steel.

2) Oba Kagami, unfortunately, can’t visit often but when she does, oh boy is it intense. Mari and Chloe are always delighted when she and Adrien visit, but mari spends most of the trip running around and quelling fights and making sure no one loses a finger

3) thank you! i’d like to say id been planning the Mother of Heroes for a while but i came up with it mostly on the spot lol. it fits really well though and makes a lot of sense imo

i quite like it

4) hmmm. im not sure about much of that. despite being thought of as a crime boss, she stays away from the other rogues mostly. I think, if given the chance, Mari would likely adopt killer croc without question, and I think she’s on okay terms with Riddler in that they like to exchange brain teasers and the like, but other than the Sirens, mari stays away from crime.

for the sirens though, i very much like the idea that Harley basically thinks of Mari as a younger sister and is liable to just take her out on the town and leave Selina and Ivy to watch the kids while they go cause trouble for whatever group has caught Harley/Mari’s ire this time.

Ivy and Mari have a comradery in their shared love of plants and similarity in their powers. mari is more expansive and flexible than Ivy’s, but they share the same roots and the two spend lots of time gardening and keeping crops for the kids. (though, harvesting is often a chore for the older ones)

5) Mari being an urban legend is the truest thing I have heard. god, i’ve never really considered the outsiders perspective but yeah. could you imagine the stories people would whisper about the faerie living near crime alley? in the beginning, just after things start picking up and Mari has somewhere upwards of a dozen kids, I think it’d look something like this:

“People say there’s faeries living near crime alley. Magic folk settling back into the city that tried to drive them out. No one knows what they want, but they keep taking kids. The strange ones, the ones that are like them, that aren’t quite human.

“They say that they’ll help you, if only you ask. But be careful. There hasn’t been a kid to go in there and not come out different. They’re stronger, normally. And well-fed. But they also talk of strange creatures and stories no one’s ever heard of and you stop seeing them on the streets so much. (They say they live with the faeries now.)

“No one knows what the faeries want, but we know this: they help when you ask and they keep taking kids. I suppose, in the grand scheme, it depends on how much your willing to risk for some help.”

[subarublue]

Where’s a Stud When You Need One?

One Shot

Fandom: Devil May Cry

Timeline: Not specified

Rating: Teen

Pairing: Dante x Reader (Reader’s gender not mentioned)

Word Count: 2255

Read on Ao3

Summary: “Babe, what’re you doing?”

“I’m trying to find a stud so I can hang this stupid thing up!”

“Well, there’s a stud right here that can hang it for ya!”

Notes: My attempt at humor. Hopefully, it’s at least somewhat funny. This was inspired in part by a discussion I saw on Reddit. I hope that’s okay. I’m still new to this whole writing bit and didn’t know if I needed to ask permission to use it as inspiration or not? Not sure who I would even ask anyway, lol. Oh well. I’ve given credit here so hopefully that’s enough. Not sure if all of it is true or not, but we’ll just pretend for the sake of this story, mkay?

You glared at the little device in your hand. It had been working properly the last time you used it, so why wasn’t it working now? Granted the last time you had used it was quite a while ago. In fact, it was probably about...okay, so you couldn’t exactly remember the last time you’d used it, but that couldn’t be the reason. No, of course not.

You placed the stud finder against the wall again, sliding it from left to right more slowly this time, waiting for that telltale “beep” that indicated the presence of a stud. You passed over the short length of the wall you were working with again for what felt like the one hundredth time. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. You let out a frustrated groan.

Your frustration finally caught the attention of the other person in the room. Dante looked up from the magazine he’d been reading at his desk. His feet were propped up on the wooden surface, which made it a bit awkward for him to turn around and look at you, but he managed.

“Babe, what’re you doing?” You could hear the confusion in his voice when he spoke. You glanced back over your shoulder at him to see his brows furrowed in a look of concern for you.

“I’m trying to find a stud so I can hang this stupid thing up!” You growled, gesturing at the large, heavy, framed mirror leaning against the couch. You turned back to the wall, staring it down as if you could see the studs inside it yourself with your nonexistent x-ray vision.

You heard the plop of the magazine landing on the desk and then your boyfriend’s boots hit the floor, followed by the screech of his chair sliding over wood as he stood.

Dante came up to stand next to you, first looking at the wall, then to the mirror, then at you. As soon as you saw the grin on his face, you knew something stupid was about to come out of his mouth. He gestured to himself, jabbing both his thumbs to his chest. “Well, there’s a stud right here that can hang it for ya!” he punctuated his statement with a wink.

“Not what I meant, Dante and you know it,” you practically growled at him. Normally, you would’ve laughed at your boyfriend’s cheesy one-liners, but you were just irritated enough that you didn’t find it funny this time and you simply glared at him. You really weren’t in the mood for this. Suddenly though, an idea on how to get back at him for his joke came to mind. A stud, huh? We’ll see about that.

Dante was unperturbed by your glaring expression, still smirking at you. That only made you more determined to poke a little fun at him. You still held the stud finder in your hand and you brought it up, holding it next to your face so it was now in his field of view.

Your glare morphed into a mischievous grin and he blinked in surprise at your sudden shift in mood. “So, think you’re a stud, do you? Why don’t we test that out?” You winked back at him.

To his credit, Dante didn’t budge when you suddenly shoved the seemingly defective device into his chest. Unfortunately, you didn’t even get a single moment of victory as the little device immediately let out that telltale “beep” you’d been trying to get for the past half hour on the wall. All you could do was gawk at the little gadget still held flush to his chest. The beeping continued as if it was mocking you; now you wanted to throw the stupid thing across the room.

“Soooo,” Dante drawled and you glanced up to look at him. You immediately regretted that when you saw the roguish grin now plastered on his handsome face and mentally prepared yourself for the teasing that was about to ensue. He paused for a moment, and wiggling his eyebrows at you, spoke over the incessant beeping of the little device, “Looks like it’s working, babe.”

You groaned again as you let your hand drop from his chest which cut short the stuff finder’s beep. There’ll be no living with him after this, you thought over-dramatically. You were back to glaring at him now. “No it’s definitely broken. Or maybe I just bought a moron finder on accident, instead.” You tried to get the ball back in your court for this, but the look on Dante’s face told you he wasn’t going to make it easy for you.

“No, I’m pretty sure it’s working perfectly.” He crossed his arms over his chest, still smirking, “And I can prove it to you.”

You scoffed at that, your tone haughty as you goaded him, “Oh, yeah? How?” You weren’t sure it was a good idea to take up his challenge, but you weren’t backing down either, so you were left with little choice.

Dante uncrossed his arms and held out a hand, silently asking you to hand over the device. You were almost reluctant, but you knew refusing would result in an automatic forfeit so you roughly plopped the little machine into his waiting palm. You weren’t sure how it was possible, but his grin got wider and it did nothing to quell the feeling of dread in your gut. “I’ll show you,” he said confidently.

He turned then and walked over to another section of wall nearby, stopping in front of it, then turned back to look at you. Smirk still in place, he held your gaze, eyes never leaving yours as he lifted the stud finder to the wall. He hadn’t moved it but an inch across the wall before the traitorous little thing started going off and your mouth fell open in surprise. “What the hell?!” Dante broke eye contact with you as he shook with laughter.

“Shit sweetheart, you should see your face right now!” He grinned triumphantly as his laughter settled down. “Guess you just don’t know a stud when you see one.” He wiggled his eyebrows at you again.

To say you were embarrassed was a bit of an understatement. You were pretty sure you were as red as his trademark jacket and you brought your hands up to hide your face from him in hopes of not giving him any more fodder for his teasing.

You heard the beeping of the stud finder come to a stop and then his footfalls as he strode back over to you. He set the device down somewhere (where, you didn’t know or really care at the moment), then felt his hands on yours, gently pulling them away from your red face.

“Don’t worry. I won’t hold it against you.” He was winking at you again. “I’ll just have to show you what a real stud is.” The wiggling eyebrows made a reappearance. You couldn’t help but laugh at it now, as ridiculous and cheesy as it was, realizing belatedly, that this was the end result he’d been going for the whole time. You’d been getting frustrated and he’d come over and put a smile back on your face, just like he always did.

As your laughter tapered off, you raised up on the tips of your toes to give him a peck on the cheek. “Thanks for that,” you said gently. His teasing grin softened into a warm smile at your gratitude. In the end, it seemed you were both winners.

You looked down and picked up the stud finder from where he’d laid it on the coffee table and stared at it with a resigned sigh, turning it over in your hand as you observed it. “I just don’t understand why it wasn’t working for me...” you were talking mostly to yourself, but that didn’t stop Dante from responding.

“Well, you see...” he trailed off, his hand coming up to scratch the back of his head with a sheepish look on his face, “You’re probably gonna have to find somewhere else to hang that if you need a stud.”

“Why?” You gave him a confused look.

He gestured to the area of wall you’d been working with as he spoke, “There’s not a stud in there.”

“WHAT?” He winced a bit as you raised your voice.

“Not sure why. Probably construction just cutting corners when they built the place and didn’t put any in. Or...well, it’s a pretty small section of wall so, maybe it didn’t matter?” he shrugged as he said this, like it was no big deal.

“You mean you knew that all along and you didn’t say anything!?” Your voice was still raised, though not as much as before. He had a bit of a guilty look on his face since, yes, he’d known from the start why your stud finder ‘wasn’t working properly.’

“Hey! You didn’t exactly tell me what you were doing.” He held his hands up in defense for a moment before continuing, “And, well, I think it’s kinda cute when you’re focused and working on a project like that,” he said as if it was a good excuse for not informing you of the problem sooner, “especially when you bend over.” He was back to grinning now and you rolled your eyes at that, annoyed. It didn’t deter him though, “Look at the bright side, babe...at least you know it’s not broken.” He cocked his head to the side with a smile and you found just couldn’t stay mad at him. He had cheered you up after all (even though he could have prevented your frustration in the first place).

“Gotta say though, I didn’t know those things could work on people.” he said curiously as he looked at the device in your hand.

“Well, it’s an electric one, not magnetic, so it makes sense that it would work on a person.” you said as you held it up.

When Dante didn’t respond at first, you looked from the stud finder to him, noting the confusion on his face. “What difference does that make?” The confusion was evident in his voice now too.

You dug into your mind to reach that well of useless knowledge lying around in there somewhere for a (hopefully) Dante-friendly explanation. “Electronic stud finders detect changes in the dielectric constant of the wall. It’s different when it’s over a stud rather than empty wall space.” At your statement, he only had a blank look on his face and you realized your explanation wasn’t as Dante-friendly as you’d hoped.

“So...does it measure the density of the wall, or something like that?” That was a fair assumption on his part, but not quite right.

“Not exactly. It measures how well an object allows an electric field to pass through itself.” You tried to explain it in the simplest way you could think of. There was a long moment of silence as you watched his face. He was no longer looking at you, staring at the floor instead, obviously trying to process that in his head.

Realization finally seemed to dawn on his face after a few moments, but whether it was from understanding or realizing he wasn’t going to understand, you weren’t sure yet. He finally looked up at you again. “Okay, I think I get what you’re saying, so yeah, makes sense why it would work on me. I am a big stud after all.” Dante just couldn’t stay serious for long, and you were fairly certain now that he didn’t get it all, but he had you laughing again, regardless.

“You’re such a dork! Of course it would work on you. Stud or not,” -he gave you mock hurt look at that- “you’re healthy so there’s no reason it wouldn’t.” Well, as healthy as a half-devil who ate almost nothing but pizza and strawberry sundaes could be. You were certain if he were completely human that his horrible diet would have killed him a long time ago.

“What does being healthy have to do with it?” His head was cocked to the side again with that same curious look on his face that you were coming to love more and more.

“Supposedly, if it doesn’t beep when you try it on someone, they could have a bone disorder.” You weren’t sure of the validity of that, but you’d heard it somewhere and it had stuck it your head like all the other tidbits of useless knowledge you had.

“Wait, really?” He looked surprised for a moment before his face slowly melted back into that roguish grin of his. “You mean like an erection lasting more than four hours?”

You groaned at him, “Not that kind of bone disorder!”

“What? I’m sure it’s a valid problem for a lot of guys out there.” He started to gesture to the stairs. “We could always go find out if it’s a problem for me.” He was winking at you again.

You gave him a deadpan look as he started backing away from you towards the stairs. He was throwing you what you assumed he thought was a sexy smirk. You couldn’t deny that it was working though, as you started following him, current project forgotten and out of mind. “Yeah, yeah, like I’d raise awareness for that disorder.” Your voice was dripping with sarcasm.

Dante remained unfazed, scooping you up bridal style and making his way up the stairs, not even missing a beat in his reply, “You’ll raise something, babe.”

[manawhaat]

The Weight

Title: The Weight 

Character: Bucky Barnes x Reader, mentions of Wanda, Bruce, Tony, and Helen Cho.

Summary: Bucky blames himself when Wanda is hurt on a failed mission. Seeing him in so much pain, you do what you can to help ease the weight of his guilt.

Prompt: “Some people move on, but not us.” for @star-spangled-bingo

Warnings: Angst, guilt, fluff. 

Word Count: 1k

A/N: I wanted to write a little something for my love @sebbytrash for her birthday and this kinda just poured outta me from god-knows-where (jk I know what this is and it’s totally residual Through His Eyes feels lol). Thanks for the last minute beta by my other lady love, @samsexualdeancurious. And I also happened to work in a line to cover a bingo square fill. Thanks for reading and happy birthday, Kales, you bastard ass love of my life. 

“I hurt her,” he says, the self-hate in his voice so harsh it carves a hole in your own chest. With all that guilt eating away at him, you wonder how there’s anything left after all these years. “Wanda’s in a fuckin’ cryo tank because of me.” 

“Hey, she’s still alive. Bruce and Tony are looking after her and Helen’s already on a chopper. You didn’t do anything wrong, Bucky. You’ve gotta know that.” You try desperately to reassure him. To let him know he’s not at fault. “She’ll heal. She’ll be okay.”

His mouth draws into a thin line and his hands run roughly through his hair, pull it back too tight into a bun at the back of his head and it’s then that you see the blood still in his hairline. You aren’t sure if it’s his, Wanda’s, or someone else’s, but he tracks the way your eyes move over him and he huffs angrily. He’s angry at himself, at the accident, at everything in his life. That even now that he’s free of Hydra he still only causes pain.

“Some people move on, but not us, right?” 

The words cut like a knife in the cold night and a dry, humorless laugh falls from his lips before he reaches for his back pocket and pulls out a pack of cigarettes. You didn’t know he smoked but somehow it doesn’t surprise you. Moving like it’s second nature, he lights one up and takes a drag. His face is shadowed by his dark past, by the fresh wounds Wanda wears on her delicate skin, and the cigarette cherry reflects in his stormy eyes. Smoke billows out of his mouth a moment later, swirls around him like he belongs to be wrapped up in it, then finally dissipates into the night sky above. He’s ten pounds of regret bursting the seams of a five pound bag. 

“Bucky, you have to stop this,” you finally sigh, unable to let him continue to cause himself so much pain. Gravel crunches beneath your feet as you close the space between you, reach out and take his face in your hands. “Maybe we can move on, maybe we can’t, but it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that we try and that you understand that you aren’t him anymore. You’re not the Winter Soldier. You’re just you. And you, James Barnes, are too good of a man to be this hard on yourself. You don’t deserve it, especially after all you’ve been through. Wanda will live, and so will you.” 

Haunted eyes go wide and curious at your words, watch as you stand on your tip toes and flutter closed as the last second before your lips meet his. The kiss is short, no tongue or lust behind it, just a call for comfort. A way to let him know that he is seen and understood and accepted. That he isn’t the monster he thinks he is.

You don’t expect him to say anything, to chase after you when you turn to leave, to take your wrist in his warm hand and your jaw in his metal one, run a thumb over your lips and kiss you, but it’s exactly what he does. Bucky surprises you both and anchors himself to you, squeezes his eyes shut and kisses you in a way he hasn’t ever kissed anyone ever before. He means it; the unrealized strength of his affection and attraction, the depth of his gratitude and gentle hope. 

There’s a heat in his eyes when he pulls away and takes a step back, and your heart tumbles helplessly, happily, off a cliff as you close the space again and kiss him with the same intensity and feeling.

Filled with scarred over sadness and a breath of fresh longing, Bucky holds you tight and doesn’t let go. The two of you stumble back into the compound and he has you keening and blissfully happy to fall into his bed. He lays you down armed with nothing but sweet kisses and soft, slow hands that speak volumes of the man he truly is behind those old scars. 

In the break of day you wake alone in a tangle of sheets, pull yourself together and try to keep the smile off your face as you slip out of his room. The hall is empty and you wander until you see him, standing stock still, a firmness to those soft edges you were lost in under the moonlight. It’s no wonder he’s that stoic soldier again; he’s standing at the entrance to the med bay, a large glass wall giving him an unobstructed view to Helen and her team caring for Wanda. 

He hears you approach but doesn’t flinch. It’s not in his nature to scare easily.

The set of his jaw and those focused eyes tell you one thing, but when you land at his side he reaches an arm out and collects you to his chest. Bucky offers you a tender, tentative kiss, unsure if you want anything to do with him past the one night. You smile up at him, warm and happy, and quell his uncertainty with a kiss of your own, sure and filled with promise. His body deflates and he practically melts into you, arms and chest swallowing you whole as he hides his face in your neck. 

“Helen said she’d be awake in a couple of hours and I can come back to see her then.”

Relief washes over you and give his back a reassuring rub. “That’s good.”

“Will you stay?” he asks against your jaw, face shielded from everyone like he’s telling you some dark secret. There’s a slight quiver to the depth of his voice, a glimmer of hope that you can’t help but give in to, and you know he’s not just asking if you’ll stay with him to see Wanda.  

Those sea glow eyes are a little lighter now that a new day has dawned. Less burdened now that he’s weathered the storm of his own heart and come out on the other end with you still by his side. You pull his face from hiding and press another deep kiss to his lips for good measure and for your own selfish desire.

“I’ll stay with you, Bucky,” you answer honestly, “as long as you want.”

Marvel tags: 

@becs-bunker​ @curlyblondexoxo @ellen-reincarnated1967 @fvckingavengers @plaidstiel-wormstache @princessmisery666 @saxxxology @thing-you-do-with-that-thing @xxloki81xx 

[sickandtideeeee]

By Bast - Chapter 11 (Erik x Reader)

Bast truly had a riotous sense of humor.

Who could have foreseen that you would end up in the exact same operating room you had been revived in, attempting to save the life of a man who had nearly murdered you? Your eyes followed the same distraught physician who had taken care of you scurry around to gather surgical supplies, desperate to keep her license. You probably would have laughed had the situation not been so dire.

With the pressure of your closed fist inside his chest being the difference between his life and bloody exsanguination, N’Jadaka seemed almost harmless. Your arms and knees were almost numb from how long you had held position, straddling the estranged prince. You mustered all your strength and willpower to keep your right arm as straight as possible. You could feel the transmitted vibrations of his weakly pulsating heart… his heart? How human he had become now, how vulnerable he now was, as are the rest of us.

Engrossed in your thoughts, you missed the surgeon alerting you that she was finally ready to begin the procedure. T’Challa placed a hand on your shoulder softly but firmly.

“That’s enough. You can come down now,” he instructed, his tone impassive. You obliged, your gaze still focused on Erik, and dismounted the table. The doctor took a curiously long look at you as you hesitantly stepped away, then she hurriedly got to work.

--

How quickly we forget.

N’Jadaka killed your father, but somehow you had some pity for him.

How quickly we forgive.

N’Jadaka had overthrown T’Challa’s reign, but T’Challa had chosen to absolve him of his sin of treason.

Or had he? You could not totally be sure what his plans were. All you knew was that there seemed to be a gag rule in the palace about the prince. Not a word had been spoken about the battle or its aftermath. In fact, to your amazement, things seemed to have fallen back into place almost instantly once T’Challa officially announced his return, never mind that this was the first civil war on Wakandan soil in centuries. N’Jadaka’s reign had been subversive but brief, and a collective sigh of relief befell the land as the rightful heir was reinstated.

A week had passed painstakingly slowly. Spirit unsettled, it had become difficult to concentrate on your bioengineering work. To quell this unease, you had begun to make rounds at the Mujaji orchards to pick fruit much like Zuri had the habit of doing before. However, this time the fruit would go not to the children who visited the temple, but instead to the homes of the warriors who had been killed in battle. No matter how much the monarchy wanted to suppress the reality of the mutiny, it had happened, and real people had died.

It was while you were on such a mission, humming softly as you picked fruit, that you heard T’Challa call your name.

Surprised, you turned slowly and bowed low in greeting. It was the first time you had spoken since that day. Usually T’Challa would have a playful smirk for you, with gentle eyes unlike N’Jadaka’s cocksure ones, but this time he was accompanied by Okoye whose disdain for you was palpable.

You didn’t blame her for being bitter. She was newly single, given that her husband had not needed much convincing to side with an intruder. Unfortunately, W’Kabi did not have the protection of being blood-related to the king, and now was rumored to have been exiled even further beyond the borderlands.

“What brings you here, Nkiru?” T’Challa asked. You held out one of your baskets to him with a soft smile.

“I was just filling baskets for the temple… Like Baba used to.” A half-truth.

He wore the slightest of frowns in response, which made you mildly anxious.

“Good.” He affirmed to your relief. Okoye scoffed, the slightest of sounds, and T’Challa gave her a nod. She nodded back and turned to exit, leaving the two of you in the garden.

He knelt down to pick up a mango from the full basket at your feet, tossing it up and down in his left hand as he stood before you. While he meant to appear entirely harmless, you could feel your whole body tense up. T’Challa seemed to measure his words before he spoke. Whatever he had to say would not be good.

“May I ask you a question, about N’Jadaka… my cousin?”

You nodded, your eyes following the fruit he played with as it rose and fell. Your heart began to beat fast. The word cousin came out clumsily in his mouth as if he was still getting used to the concept of having a cousin – or rather, having this person in particular as a cousin.

“What is the nature of your relationship?” You now looked at T’Challa in confusion.

“Relationship?” You repeated in shock, then irritation. You had thought T’Challa, someone you had grown up with, would be above listening to ridiculous gossip.

T’Challa now gripped the mango firmly in his hand, looking at you straight in the eyes. Almost as if to warn you that he could detect any lie, no matter how small.

“There have been some reports that suggest something of the sort.”

You wanted to remain respectful, but indignation surfaced instead.

“Reports?” You repeated again, this time with an edge to your voice. He sensed this and once again wore that controlled regal look of disapproval, waiting patiently for you to speak.

You had nothing to say. You expected better from someone like him.

Instead of dignifying him with an answer, you picked up the basket on the ground, hoisting it on your hip. A hand outstretched, you silently requested for him to return his newfound toy. He did not oblige, which made you angrier.

“With all due respect, it is distasteful to implicate me in any sort of liaison with my father’s murderer,” you seethed. At that, T’Challa’s expression softened, if only for a moment, but you would not let him off the hook.

“I cannot help the fact that people around the palace see things where there are none. It also does not help that your cousin found some particular interest in tormenting me further. Please do not do the same.”

With that, you bowed once again to exit, but his hand on your wrist stopped you. You whipped around with the fiercest look possible, but T’Challa’s was fiercer.

“Nkiru, he has asked to see you every day since he’s been in isolation.”

You feel a heavy thump on your chest.

“Every morning for seven days, he says nothing else to any of his attending guards, aside requesting to see you. He even addresses you by name.” He clarified further. That was damning, alright.

“I don’t understand.” You said, your voice now small. T’Challa raised an eyebrow.

“I decided to speak to you in private, particularly because I did not want to cause a scene. However, rest assured that I will get to the bottom of this.” His gaze was hard and fixed, and with his emphasis on the word ‘will’, you effectively lost all your bark.

“If you would like to leave, now, you are dismissed.” He directed, his hands clasped behind him. You turned, wordlessly, feeling the heaviness of his gaze on your back as you walked away.

--

Shuri, your brother suspects me of some… misconduct. I need to get to the bottom of this. This really is the best way to do it.

??? I don’t exactly see how this will make him less suspicious, but I guess I can help! LOL

Shuri and her Americanisms, you thought as you closed the text message. Shuri was kind enough to modify your communicator to securely and most importantly, covertly, to broadcast into N’Jadaka’s cell. As she said, if caught, this would be a lot more condemning than anything. However, you were curious as to what N’Jadaka so desperately needed to say. You acknowledged that you were connected somehow, by something. You had known each other before knowing each other.

You checked the time. It was the early hours of the morning, where the guards would be at their most relaxed state in terms of surveillance. Either way, Shuri had remotely soundproofed N’Jadaka’s cell so no one would hear the two of you speaking. You had told her it was fine if she listened in herself, but she seemed disinterested.

She truly trusted you wholeheartedly and you were grateful for that.

He probably just has some creepy crush on you. I heard about the lunches, you know. What a weirdo…

You didn’t have a good response to that statement at the time. The very thought was repulsive… mostly.

You glanced at the clock again. It was time.

You checked one more time to assure that your quarters were locked and soundproofed, then sat back down on your bed, cross-legged. In all fairness, you were unsure what to expect. Nevertheless, you started the communication.

A full minute passed where all you could hear were the soft sounds of his breathing. Not exactly sleeping, but not exactly active.

“Hello?” you attempted.

A soft rustling of clothing filled the air, the sound of someone moving around to a sitting position. Another minute passed. You were already losing faith in this operation.

“I heard you wanted to see me.”

“Yeah?” Dispassionate was the tone he aimed for, but it held a hint of pleasure. “Can’t get enough of me, huh?” You could practically see the smirk.

You grimaced. “Say what you needed to say.”

“You’re gonna have to come down in person for that, babygirl.”

Typical.

“I’m serious,” he said, filling the silence. The jest had truly left his voice.

“In that case you’ll forever hold your peace.” You responded. N’Jadaka paused for a second, then must have decided it was not worth the silence.

“Since y’all are probably planning to kill me soon, I thought I could make a few confessions to you. Since you saw things.”

You didn’t respond, so he continued.

“Not like excuses or none of that. Just, I wanted someone to talk to. I’ve never had anyone I could just talk to… You know, with the tragic backstory and all… With you, there’s none of that explanation I gotta give.”

That confession hung in the air for a few seconds like a thick fog. You readjusted yourself in your bed, pulling your sheet covers onto your lap. He let out a sigh.

“You still listening?”

“Yes.”

--

You must have dozed off at some point as he was speaking, because you awoke groggily to find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings. A soft breeze whistled through the grass in the savannah that now stretched before you. You sat up, back pressed against something hard. A tree. An acacia tree.

To your left, a body shifted itself awake. N’Jadaka also sat by your side, the two of you sharing the same bemused look. It was as if to ask ‘where are we’ but the two of you already knew.

This dream state was different from all the times before. For one, N’Jadaka seemed to be sporting his own consciousness this time. In fact, he was wearing a plain brown linen shirt and pants, probably prisoner grade, and looked almost deflated in his clothing. Dark rims lined his eyes, and a gray pallor underlay his skin. You wondered if he had also refused to eat in the past seven days.

“Here we go again,” he murmured. Your feelings exactly. Nothing surprised you at this point.

The heat would have been blistering if not for the cool currents circling between you two. He sighed deeply and got to his feet.

“I’m tired of games. Or maybe just tired.” He started walking ahead of you, and you quickly followed suit, deciding that following this volatile character was probably the lesser of two evils. Who knew when some wild beast could appear and maul you to death.

“You think I’m dead already?” he asked.

“Probably not.”

“I didn’t think so.” He said.

Then why did you ask? You wanted to say, but instead decided to say nothing. You stared ahead of you at the plain which seemed to extend for miles. Neither of you were sure exactly where you were going, but it felt nice to walk nevertheless.

“You said you had things to say, right?” You looked up at him to see him nod.

Suddenly he stopped and raised his head to the sky, eyes closed. Then he looked back at you.

“How do you do this?”

The question surprised you.

“Do what?”

“Stop being angry.”

Again, he was that young boy crying over his father’s fallen body. You closed your eyes as if to rid yourself of that image and looked down at the dry earth at your feet.

“Who told you I stopped?” You replied, a lie. You truly had stopped being angry. That unnatural peace within you had made you forgive, and you could only muster some frustration at the very fact that you were no longer enraged. Even that upset was inconsequential at this point. Bast had made you forgive him and it felt like a violation of your own free will. It was as if you had developed an entirely different character, and as uncomfortable as it was, there was nothing you could do to change it.

N’Jadaka didn’t respond to that and resumed his pace.

“I wonder what she wants this time,” you mused. No reply.

The two of you continued to walk.

Two statues, comprised of pure obsidian stone save for the twinkle of vibranium ore permeating the structures, appeared to rise at the horizon. Twin goddesses, Bast and Sekhmet, locked and intertwined in a struggle frozen in time. Sekhmet stood slightly higher, the sundisk atop her head, glowing alive with a fiery red-orange hue . The two of you watched in awe at the larger than life figures, casting immense shadows that washed over you the further you walked. At this point, you were no longer walking of your own accord, your feet moved itself.

If he dies, Sekhmet wins. There will be no more balance.

You prostrated yourself at the statue of Bast. N’Jadaka did the same at Sekhmet’s feet.

If you die, Sekhmet wins. There will be no more blessing.

You turned and faced each other. Both hands before you, your fingers interlaced, and you too were locked in struggle. N’Jadaka stood taller than you, mirroring the goddesses in battle. What lay behind his eyes was him no longer, neither were you yourself. A glow of red lined his irises, matching your own purple tint.  

Then everything faded out, and you awoke again in your bed, in a cold sweat. The dots had finally begun to connect.

N’Jadaka could not be executed because this would cause discord between the goddesses. And if the goddesses were angry…

Bast had tasked you with his protection, even if it did not make sense. Did she pity him? Could he be pitied?

Either way, until there were more answers and more revelations, N’Jadaka had to continue living.

Tagging:  @syndrlla97@iwantsomethingeternal @1killmonger @chasingsunlight @hoopshoney@destinio1 @wakanda-inspired @thadelightfulone @lalasparkles @pessimisfit @youreadthatright @stark-red19@ruruly20 @bossyboyd03 @autumn242 @heybriheyyy @thelovelyliterary @muse-of-mbaku @bidibidibombaclaat @supersizemeplz @romanceoftheeveryday @chaneajoyyy@lildashofmelanin

[lovemecharlie]

Morning Drills

What if Erik ran his home like the military? This one is really short.

◇

5:28 AM. The sun has barely risen, the sky still dark and transitioning. Silence fills the house, every wife safely and peacefully tucked into her own bed and dreaming sweet dreams. Erik stands showered and fully dressed in the hall in all black with black leather combat boots waiting for the seconds to tick by.

5:30 AM "RISE AND SHINE MAGGOOOOTS," Erik roars through his megaphone. Grumbling and loud groans of irritation and exhaustion sound out almost immediately. "I SAID RISE. AND. SHINE. MAGGOOOOTSSS!"

"I know you lyin," Angel whispers angrily into her pillow, turning over. "Erik! Shut the hell up, it is too early," Hennessy yells, her scrunched eyelids heavy and drifting shut. Charlie rolls drearily out of bed to her door with an evil glare just to hang a well manicured middle finger in the air. "Nigga, I am not in the damn mood," Homie snaps, tight lipped and clutching her pillow. Kimora doesn't move, refusing to wake up and Bastion's long sleepy whine echoes a similar energy. Poosy covers herself with a spell of invisibility and hides in her large closet to sleep uninterrupted. Ryley jumps up and tries to slap Erik, but he catches her arm, pulling her from the bed. From room to room, he'd gone to snatch the blankets off of his angry wives and wake them up causing them to react. Poosy was the only wife he couldn't find. He assumed she'd teleported herself somewhere far away. "Stay down," he pointed sternly to Angel who was extremely pregnant and on bedrest. She went right back to sleep.

Once 7 of his wives stood lined up in the hall, rubbing their eyes, squinting, and yawning into various parts of themselves, Erik gave his next command. "Clean yourselves up and make them damn beds! I want them fuckin rooms spotless, floors clean. If you gotta vacuum, vacuum. If you gotta mop, mop. Ain't no maids today. You got thirty minutes to do that and put some comfortable clothes on. If I see one of y'all get back in that bed, I'll make you run laps. Now, move!" He watched for a few minutes as they lingered sleepy and confused.

"I didn't enlist in the Marines and I'm not about to keep waking up 5:30 on a Sunday," Kimora spoke with folded arms. "Mama, make him stop," Bastion sighed to Hennessy. "What's going on," Kristina murmured poking her head from her door. "Go back to sleep, baby," Hennessy shook her head. "Yes, honeybee, you go on back to bed," Angel waved her on. "I'm going too," Ryley sighed attempting to follow Kristina. Erik pulled her back.

"She ain't my wife, you are and you do what I say. Y'all time ticking away. I meant what I said. Go to sleep? You'll do laps. Fail the task? You'll do laps. Piss me the fuck off? You'll do laps with me screaming in your ear. 600 hours, y'all better be dressed and out back in the yard." Once they scattered, he followed Charlie to her room. "I told Angel to go back to sleep. You sit this out too," he said eyeing her stomach. "That's not a suggestion," he barked when she started to protest. He closed her in her room.

6:00 AM "I want two groups of three! Line up in two rows," Erik announced, his arms behind his back holding the megaphone. They were outside in the large backyard on the lush grass.The sky had come to life and all was calm, except for him. He scanned over his wives lined up with blank expressions. "Move apart a bit further.. yep, perfect." The collective look in their eyes said they wanted to murder him.

"Welcome, wives, to your morning physical training. We starting with the side-straddle hop, what you know as jumping jacks. 10, Let's go." Dropping his megaphone, he led the exercise in 3 counts. "1, 2, 3.. 1!.. 1, 2, 3.. 2! come on 1, 2 3.. 3!.." On and on. "PUSH UPS, LET'S GET IT," he barked. As he lifted himself up and down easily, showing off by using one arm, some of the wives struggled to do basic push ups while some did significantly better. "SIT UPS, LET'S GO," he yelled. Leading the charge, he had them to do sit-ups, mountain climbers, and then a two-mile run.. which, for him, was more of a jog. Aly'Sha was right there keeping pace with him the entire time, singing with him as he called the cadence. As expected, the wives all joined in the chants. Back in their original places, Erik lead the wives in a series of cooldown stretches before moving around to personally stretch each one. He took it seriously without trying anything sexual which took many of the wives by surprise. Hennessy was especially shook while Bastion kept trying to playfully trap him between her thighs. Ryley simply laid back, looking up at the clouds while Erik moved her legs.

"Aight bring ya'll asses in the house," he pointed, slapping their butts one by one as they passed him to walk inside. They went directly to the kitchen. "Water. No juice," he called. There were already plates of food set up on the table from the cook.

9:00 AM The wives enjoyed an hour of peace and privacy. Kimora, Aly'Sha, and Hennessy went to sleep together in the living room. Ryley went to her room to wash her hair. Homie had the same idea. Bastion followed Erik upstairs, clinging lovingly to his arm and assisting him in carrying her sister's food. He kept his arm tightly around her as he went to check on his pregnant wives and make sure they took their vitamins. He poked his head into Angel's room and Charlie was there with her curled up in the bed watching an old Hollywood movie. Handing off the food, Bastion hopped onto the bed and Erik layed across the foot.

10:30 AM All 9 wives of the compound sit in the living room and Kristina who sits sandwiched between Ryley and Hennessy. Poosy had finally reappeared. Erik carried Angel personally and sat her up gently on the couch before rushing to bring her a glass of lemonade to quell her nausea. "I did all this today and I've gathered you all here.. to celebrate and announce to you the new safety tool I collaborated on with the lil nigga. It's finally built and ready to use and I want you all to have one and know how to operate it," he said brandishing what appeared to be a beautiful walking stick. "Is that a pimp stick," Kimora laughed. It was Vibranium ornately carved with his Wakandan name and there was a golden orb at the top. He twisted the orb and when it clicked, the stick turned into a harpoon-like spear. Another click made it shoot a dart at lightening speed that stuck into the wall. "That's a poisonous dart. Kills instantly," he said pulling the orb to make the stick push down smaller into something that fits into a bag. "I want y'all to keep one of these on you at all times. Just in case," he said passing them out already compacted. He gave one to Kristina and she grinned, happy to have one. "You fam too," he told her. "Stick, spear, dart. Remember the order so you dont set shit off on accident."

For the next hour, Erik went through training exercises with Kimora, Kristina, and Homie. He forced Bastion to participate. "I need you safe since I'm not always with you. You ain't gone quit what you do or stop traveling, so you have to know how to handle a weapon. If you don't wanna gun to shoot somebody, this works for short and long-range.. but having it isn't enough. You need to know how to use it to your advantage like if someone grabs you," he pulled her roughly and they went through several scenarios which ended in her slapping him with the stick from different angles.

"Erik, I will beat your ass like T'Challa. Keep grabbing her like that," Hennessy said watching from the sidelines with her hand on her hip.

"She gotta learn, mama," he shrugged, "And since you got so much to say... GIVE ME A LAP AROUND THIS YARD, MAGGOT!" She flinched at the volume before she took off running. He picked up his megaphone. "GO! GO! GO!"

The End

Lol, just a snapshot!

@poosypoosy @bastioncarterstevens-udaku @hennessystevens-udaku @itsangeludaku @alyshastevens-udaku @itskimorafireudaku @allhailnjadaka @bidibidibombaclaat @blackpinup22 @destinio1 @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @leahnicole1219 @vikkidc @thehomierobbstark

[vaellinn]

Recsmas 13 - 19 lol

A sad book - Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor. I loved this book (5 stars) but there are so many heartbreaking characters!!! Let them be happy!! I need to read the sequel tbh

A long book - the longest book I read this year was Kingdom of Ash by SJM but I would only recommend it to people who love the TOG series... or torture. I personally did not enjoy it (1 star) but I always need to finish series I start. Can't help it, I gotta see that trainwreck you know?

A final book - Quelle surprise, another book by Laini Taylor!! Dreams of Gods and Monsters (5 stars). A very satisfying ending to a great trilogy (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) recommend to fantasy and romance readers!

A book about friends - Iron Gold by Pierce Brown (5 stars). Continues the original Red Rising trilogy with our old favorites and some new characters. I just love this series, good for those who like sci-fi and adventure.

DNF - so far the only books I haven't finished are the Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch and The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi, and I am struggling with both tbh

A book that made you cry - I don't think I've ever cried reading a book... the closest I've come is Written in Red by Anne Bishop. Please do not read this book. A serious warning for self harm and racism... and a joke warning for the worst writing, characters and plot I've ever witnessed with my own two eyes. Would not recommend (0 stars).

[atopearth]

Midnight Cinderella Part 10 - Rayvis Harneit Route

It feels so weird, I still remember when I first started playing this game… And yet I’m now up to the latest available route! It’s pretty crazy, hopefully Rayvis will be a great guy. He doesn’t seem too cold, at least not as cold as when you first interact with Louis hahaha. Ohh he’s an archduke from Stein that Wysteria is hoping to communicate with about having an alliance since there’s been a rather hostile country taking over territory and having Stein as an ally would really help if anything happened. But since they haven’t communicated with Stein for so long and they’re shrouded in mystery, both countries want to talk and gauge whether the other country is worth trusting, which is fair enough.

It’s really great that the heroine thinks of Rayvis as a great role model and wants to be as respected as he is. It’s a good goal considering her responsibilities as a princess. Also glad that she’s taking the Rayvis and Robert relationship seriously and carefully, so as to not expose anything about it to light, she’s very careful and considerate. Having the night watch is such a great idea! Townspeople volunteering to patrol around at night to keep their town and people safe, it’s such a kind and useful gesture. The heroine gets captured so often that I’m amazed they can think up so many different ways to capture her lol. Despite that though, I do love the old calming the girl down by hugging her thing, it’s pretty cute.

It’s sad to think that even though Rayvis was cared for by the former Archduke in Stein, he was never treated as a real son by the whole family and the attendants. I never realised that the reason Rayvis was looking for Robert was to find out the death of his real parents in Bergenia though. His parents were advisors of the king? I guess in that case, Robert must know the truth behind the deaths. I’m so happy that the heroine helped to open up his heart to others though! It was so omgggg when he hugged her hahaha.

How saddening but noble of Rayvis’ parents to sacrifice themselves in place of Robert saying they were the king and queen to save Robert’s life. I’m surprised the enemies wouldn’t know that Robert has no Queen though but whatever, it’s sad. I never thought about strength as relying on others and others relying on you. But I guess it is true that merely doing everything yourself isn’t necessarily strength and being able to do the former denotes responsibility and power to improving and protecting yourself and your surroundings. How brave of the heroine to confess her love to him though and she said it in such a cool way! Admirable!

Rayvis is so…enticing? Hahahah! Anyway, typical as usual with the heroine’s carriage being attacked and the guy saving her~ Kinda sad to see that the rumours are hurting Rayvis by saying that he wants to take the throne from Byron and the heroine as the princess of Wysteria is helping him. Interesting idea to suggest that to quell the fire of these rumours and the public by forming an alliance with Stein, Wysteria and Protea. Protea were the ones who started these rumours to cause bad relations, but to think that Rayvis and the heroine considered the situation from their perspective and decided to reassure them and ally with them instead of just having Wysteria and Stein ally with each other and destroy Protea, especially when Protea was the one causing all these problems and wanting to like kill them lol.

Gotta say it was so satisfying and nice to see Rayvis become prince consort, he’s definitely a great guy that will be able to handle it! He’s capable and kind! 10/10 great guy. Just as good as Louis hahaha.

Overall, Midnight Cinderella is an all right game. It’s not very good but the guys are quite nice. I’ll have to say that you should play it for the guys rather than the story because that part is pretty meh hahaha. My favourite routes are definitely, Albert, Sid, Louis and Alyn and probably Rayvis I guess haha. I really love Nico and Byron’s characters but their routes were pretty disappointing. I love Louis the most out of everyone btw hahaha~

[kiritokun]

2017 Anime in Review

So, it is that time of the year again, the end is neigh, and it has snuck up on me yet again. With the end of the fall season for me only 3 days away, I thought I should get to writing and compiling this list, which, compared to other years feels dauntingly short. With a total of only 33 anime/movies I saw this year, I feel like either I’ve gotten pickier, shows have gotten worse, or there were too many sequels that I didn’t wanna rush through previous seasons to watch the new season. Regardless, keeping up with tradition, here I am for my fifth annual anime review. As always, the top 12 are in alphabetical order and then the rest are discussed in alphabetical order as well since, as you may have noticed, I was lazy this year and didn’t do any quarterly reviews. So, you’ll get my full rambling here this year! Let’s get this party started!

Ao no Exorcist: Kyoto Fujouou-hen

The long awaited sequel to Ao no Exorcist, the Kyoto arc is where the action finally ramps it into high gear. The stakes get higher and the action gets real fucking rad. I’m so glad the Ao no Exorcist got its second season finally, it’s, in my opinion, somewhat underrated as an anime and doesn’t get the respect it deserves. Here’s hoping that the second season garnered enough attention for another season, because with stunning visuals, great story, and music to boot, it be a shame not to continue seeing more of this series.

Dungeon ni Deai wo Motomeru no wa Machigatteiru Darou ka Gaiden: Sword Oratoria

And here we have it, the spin of to DanMachi that focuses on the Loki Familia. At first I was skeptical that they decided to do this instead of another season of DanMachi, but to quell my concerns I read into the manga and fell in love. The motivations you see for Aiz in the story help make sense of why she puts up with Bell, why she is the strongest and overall just a lot of fleshing out of her character. But luckily it doesn’t just center around Aiz, but the whole of the front line of the Loki familia, letting us see how a strong dungeon clearing familia does business, and boy does they show us the business in the season finale.

Eromanga-sensei

What is this train wreck? Another imouto series? Yes, I’m sorry. I can’t stop myself, I’m a sucker for comedy. Eromanga-sensei is great, because unlike its predecessors (OreImo) it doesn’t try to make the viewers stomach that blood relations hell. With an adorable cast, great punchlines, and reasonable visuals, it’s well worth a watch if you need a laugh.

Gamers!

What is this, another train wreck? Yep, sorry not sorry. At least it’s a unique train wreck, with our 5 main characters in a horrible love pentagon from hell. Amano likes Tendou and vice versa, Aguri likes Uehara and vice versa, and Chiaki likes Amano. Seems simple enough, just a love triangle you say, NOPE. Because its all a clusterfuck of people thinking the person they like likes someone else. EVEN THOUGH AGURI AND UEHARA ARE DATING. God help me why did I like this again. Wait the great lolz. That’s why, grade A lolz.

Imouto sae Ireba Ii.

Yes, it says Imouto in the title. But I swear, its not OreImo again. My boy Itsuki here is a light novel author… with an obsession for little sisters. See that’s new. This anime is a slice of life that revolves around the light novel publishing business and we see most of it through the perspective of Itsuki, but Nayu and Haruto have been in the spotlight, showing us their process to writing their novels or anime adaptations. But the cake for me has to go to Itsuki’s college friend Miyako, who is best girl of the year for me. Lord have mercy that girl is adorable. Also this bastard of an anime has the best ending song of the year for me, freaking great song.

Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni.

The premise here was interesting, our protagonist meets an early end in his world, but God having pity on him allows him to reincarnate in a new world, taking one thing with him. He chooses to keep his smartphone and there by gains a interesting advantage in a world of magic, where he is able to access all the old information from his home world (Assumingly an anime Earth), but also gains amazing power in this world. Because God felt the phone was a bit of a cheap gimme, he enhances all hit attributes including his affinity for magic, allowing him to be incredibly fucking broken and OP in this world in combat. So don’t go in to this for a fair fight, but for comedy, bullshit fights, and a interesting take on how a medieval magic world would benefit from someone from our time period came and started just dropping knowledge. (ICE CREAAAM)

Koi to Uso

A society that has a system that will match you to your perfect soulmate, seems ideal doesn’t it? But what if you find yourself fallen in love for years and come your 16th birthday you are matched with someone whom you have no feelings for. That’s the premise of Koi to Uso, and man it’s a doozy. I wish this had gotten more episodes because I feel like the premise was great, even if the protagonist was a bit spineless. Unfortunately I doubt it did well enough to get another season, so I’ll have to read the manga for some closure, but it got my interest. It also had a fantastic opening song, catchy as all hell.

Kono Subarashii Sekai ni Shukufuku wo! 2

If you read my reviews in the past, you should NOT be surprised that KonoSuba2 made it into this list. The laughs were still there, the bullshit success story of Kazuma never ends. God what else can I say about one of the best action comedies I’ve seen? Go watch it? Season 1 first though, it does actually continue story wise so you need to see it in order. ERIS IS TRUE LIFE, AQUA LIES!

Rewrite 2nd Season

Man, I can already feel how controversial this pick is. A lot, and I mean a lot, of people did not like Rewrite, nor Rewrite season 2. I am one of the few that thought it was alright. I have also not played the visual novel its based on so I’m more forgiving to its faults than most. But I have researched into the series post watching the anime, and can see very well why people were so… triggered. Overall the second season I feel was stronger than the first, elaborating on back story a lot more and giving viewers more to understand what the actual fuck is going on. And you gotta admit the season started off with a bang with that huge battle in episode 16. After which the series I feel took a darker and more realistic turn, which I thought was a step in the right direction.

Rokudenashi Majutsu Koushi to Akashic Records

Yes, another magic world school series. What was unique about this one? The main character is older for one, isn’t trying to fall in love for another, and lastly, isn’t purposefully gimped of his power. He tends a lazier route but is able to be bring forth his abilities to full blast when necessary. I will say the uniforms are kinda bullshit, like how are they practical lol.

Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata 

Why oh why did we not get just a bit more of this series? I’m glad they announced a movie to hopefully finish the story since its so close to the end of the light novels. But this ends up being more of the same, with Aki trying to pursue his game creation dream further with more trials and tribulations along the way. But none of that matters, what matters is we got more Megumi in our lives and man oh man is she still as great as ever. Best heroine, no boring heroine here!

Tsurezure Children

Considering how much I love the manga series, it is no surprise that I loved the anime. They stayed true to the manga and made it a snippet of short stories for all the characters. I only wished it had been 24 episodes so we could have developed everyone more and introduced more people as well. But, its okay, we introduced the best characters anyway with BROTOYAMA being introduced and of course, everyone’s favorite LOVE MASTER! He gets even better, just you wait.

Honorable Mentions

ChäoS;Child

This was just a big disappointment to me, I had hoped it would fall back on Chaos;Head a bit and explain some more, give us an epilogue if you will of what happen to those people, but we just got a new story full force. While the story of Chaos;Child isn’t bad, it wasn’t what I wanted, though man, the movie was something else. Sadly it wasn’t what I was looking for.

Clockwork Planet

Iffy animation, story all over the place, main dude kinda nuts and annoying. I couldn’t actually find something I liked about Clockwork planet. It’s a shame because I thought I’d love it based on the poster art, but, it wasn’t meant to be apparently.

Code:Realize: Sousei no Himegimi

I have a very love hate relationship with Code:Realize. I don't actually enjoy it that much, but its interesting enough that I was not able to bring myself to drop the series. Week after week I watched with half attention because I wanted to see a resolution to the series, but it wasn't very good to watch it. I don’t know what drew me to it, but it brought me back for more every week so I guess it had to be somewhat good if I can't find something I hated either.

Fate/Apocrypha

Man, Fate Apocrypha is an example of why ufotable should be the only people that are allowed to handle the Fate series. While the story is pretty interesting war wise, the character development felt slopy, the fights were poorly animated (til episode 22-23 those were pretty rad), and overall just felt bad. It’s a shame ufotable doesn’t have exclusive rights to fate adaptations, but oh well, it was okay. Hopefully Shaft does better with Fate Extra, but I doubt it.

Gin no Guardian

Normally if a series gets a second season announced and I watched the first season, I watch the new season. Like I watched Samurai Girls, then tried to watch Samurai Bride and realized it was god awful. Well with Gin no Guardian, I watched the first season and will not be giving its second season a watch because it was very boring, slow paced, and scattered about. I don’t see how it got a second season, but I guess some people might have liked it, or maybe since its shorter episodes it was worth finishing up another season? I don’t understand really.

Hajimete no Gal

The boobs in this series were fucking absurd. Who was the character designer for this and the manga? They need to go look at some real women to understand how boobs function. Holy shit was that a problem in this series. Unless the designers only watched porn with very fake breasts, they should have realized something was awry with their boob design. Holy fuck have I been waiting to complain about that for a while. Besides the boobs, pretty good anime, I laughed pretty hard actually, when the boobs were functioning like human boobs.

Hand Shakers

Now, the art style alone was a bit of a departure for me, but it also caught me attention so I gave it a shot. Hand Shakers story was rocky at best, but at the end of the day, it wasn’t actually bad. The concept of not being able to let go of her hand got real old fast, like come on that’s a horrible life flaw to force on someone, even anime wise. But oh well, I didn’t hate the anime, I found it enjoyable at least.

Juuni Taisen

Some people really loved Juuni Taisen, I was not one of those people. Don't get me wrong, it was actually pretty interesting; I enjoy that battle royal genre a lot. But I just couldn’t get behind the predictable episode structure and most unlikable characters. I was glad when I started to like people, but then they’d die off and make me feel like I wasted my joy. So, that was rough going, even if it was predictable in the end it was a fun watch.

Kino no Tabi: The Beautiful World - The Animated Series

Oh my god, Kino is a wonderful anime, but I couldn't make myself drop one of the other 12 down. So no don't think I didn't love this anime, I did, I adored it. The visuals were beautiful, the music was great, and each individual story was amazing. Episode 11 was incredible in my opinion, and a satisfying watch to realize how Kino came to be.

Konohana Kitan

I might be a bit slow, but I did NOT realize that the hotel was a kind of limbo til very late in the series. Did I miss some key dialogue? Maybe, someone let me know. But holy hell has this been an amusing watch. Its been beautifully animated, and on top of that the stories are all heartwarming.

Kuzu no Honkai

This fucking anime, holy shit this anime. I had some issues here. First of all, our two protagonists, like fuck, why didn't you end up together? Like, are you that childish that you can’t accept that you’ve made mistakes but are essentially good for each other? Also; Ecchan; can really go fuck off, her attitude drove me up a wall the entire series. What a horrible personality. God, I think I only made it through this because I was hoping for a happier ending and man did I not get that.

Little Witch Academia (TV)

Very unpopular opinion incoming. This should have stayed a movie. There, I said it. I didn't think it needed to be adapted into a full length anime. It felt like every episode dragged on and on and only felt like it reached a proper pacing structure towards the end when everything started to go down. Had the series been condensed to 12 episodes I get a feeling I may have been fonder of it.

Masamune-kun no Revenge

Masamune really needs his revenge; he went from tubby to abs in a few years. He needs to get vengeance for starving and working out to be healthy. Wait that sounds wrong, shouldn't he be thanking her for making him realize that he needed to get healthy and that she was kind of a bitch? That would be the logical outcome, but no, we get led into a lengthy hell. The manga has started to move towards the conclusion, which I think might satisfy me more than the anime did, but we'll see what happens.

New Game!!

More of the same and that's okay with me! Watching the game development process is fascinating! And the characters are all adorable and relatable! And so well drawn and animated. I really do love this series so much, even though it broke my heart with the last episodes. Oh well, I trust the writers!

Princess Principal

I really liked the series. But, I felt like I was watching the episodes out of order a lot of the time. That really threw the pacing through a loop in my opinion. I thought it was a lot more mature than I initially gave it credit for though, so that was good overall. I'm glad I watched it.

Re:Creators

This on the other hand, I regret bothering with. But I was so many episodes in by the time I regretted it that I couldn't just stop anymore. Man, this was not a good anime.

Shingeki no Kyojin Season 2

If you'e watched season 1, you know what season 2 is all about. Death, glory, fighting, WOO! While we do make some plot progress in season 2, we haven’t gotten to the real meat of the plot just yet, so hopefully another season and we'll get to the nice dark conspiracies!

Sword Art Online Movie: Ordinal Scale

I loved the Ordinal Scale movie. I was able to go see it in theaters and it was fantastic. While original content, it fit so well with the world that Sword Art Online has built. And the magnificent tease at the end. We will see Alicization soon enough boys!

Trinity Seven Movie: Eternity Library to Alchemic Girl

A shame I didn't get to see this in theaters, but man it was good. While not canon to the manga's story it held its own with a very interesting take on the series. I enjoyed it quite a lot.

UQ Holder!: Mahou Sensei Negima! 2

Oh god what a fucking train wreck. Why can't they make a good Negima anime? Is it really that hard to get it right? It was so fucking bad. Why can't you stick to the source material? Why must you skip so much? God fucking damn it.

Youkoso Jitsuryoku Shijou Shugi no Kyoushitsu e (TV)

At least we end on a high note. This was one hell of a trip. The concept was cool and the animation was decent. They had some issues with slow pacing to start, but once the politics and drama began it just kept rolling. I wish it had had more episodes to give us more plot because with how it ended, you really are left wondering what the intentions of the main character are and where the story is leading. Oh well, hopefully it gets another season or if not I'll have to read the light novel.

And with that we come to a close, yet another year of anime. While I watched significantly less this year, it was still a lot I think. I hope this helps you if you are on the edge about some of these, if not, well, sorry I like to ramble. I';m always open to discussion, so if you have opinions that clash, let us have a duel of words. Til next time!

Edit: Apparently my formatting freaked out a bit and I had to fix it, hopefully I got everything, if not let em know!

[deannawads]

Cover reveal for HIS RANCH HAND

I’m so excited to share this super HAWT book cover Katy Souders made for my latest novel, HIS RANCH HAND, coming August 17th.

Isn’t this cover GORGEOUS!!!

HIS RANCH HAND is an American Western romance that I’ve dreamed of writing for a long time. I’ve been in love with the American West since I was a little girl, and I am incredibly proud to finally have a western of my own. Some of the first books I enjoyed reading were the Louis L’Amour novels my grandfather gave me. And I cannot tell you how many hours I’ve spent watching movies and shows about the West, and even writing my own teenage western romances. One holiday break in school, I checked out the entire ten volume Time Life series about the Wild West.

Yes, I was a writer and a nerd even then. LOL

These days however, my books are a little sexier than I wrote as a teen LOL. And HIS RANCH HAND is more reminiscent of my earlier erotic writings, so pull up your boots and hold on to your Stetson, because it’s one steamy ride!

BLURB:

Cowboys don’t cry.

West of the Pecos, if a man shows a vulnerable side, his last glimpse of this life might be at the end of a barrel.

Cowboy and drifter, Myron Poste shrouds his life in mystery, carefully following a strict code to stay alive. Fellow ranch hand Cade Buchanan is big, hairy, and strong—not the sort of man to trifle with.

One fateful night while driving a herd of Longhorns north to Santa Fe, Cade confronts Myron. With the swiftness of a West Texas wind, desire seizes control and a passionate affair begins. Pride has always held Myron back, but he can no longer deny his submissive nature when Cade gives him just what he craves—pure, lustful dominance.

When the drive ends, they must part ways. Will the memories of their untamed passion under the big Texas sky be powerful enough to reunite them?

AVAILABLE FOR Kindle Unlimited PREORDER NOW: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CNNQD2C

To introduce you to Myron Poste (the narrator of the book) and his love interest, Cade Buchanan, I’ve selected a sweet excerpt to tease you. Myron is on a journey of self discovery and an even bigger journey of self-acceptance. Words like submissive and dominance didn’t have the same meaning in 1873, so Myron has a real struggle accepting that his need for dominance doesn’t make him less of a man. And Cade? Well, he has his own hang ups about the things that he desires most too.

EXCERPT:

First day of the drive, no men got hurt, but a cow broke its leg, so it was steak for dinner. With a full belly and muscles tired from a long day in the saddle, Myron went to check on Lucy. He’d ridden her this morning, taking out Duke and Brave the rest of the day. Lucy was a jealous sort, so he brought her an apple before he hit the hay. He didn’t have watch duty, and a full night’s sleep called his name.

Young Jacob wasn’t watching over the horses, it was Cade. He leaned against one of the posts of the makeshift corral, having a smoke and his back to Myron.

He only hesitated a moment before casually walking up. “Evening.”

Cade didn’t startle, probably already heard his approach. He turned and a waft of smoke obscured his face. “Poste.”

Ignoring the way the much bigger man’s very presence made Myron jumpy, he clicked his tongue to get Lucy’s attention. Several horses stirred, and after a shuffling of beasts, Lucy, ears up, made her way over. He withdrew his knife and sliced off a piece of the apple.

“Here, girl,” he said, holding out the slice with a flat palm. Her velvety lips fluttered over his hand as she took the treat.

“Gonna have them all over here in a moment,” Cade remarked, as Duke, the bay Myron had ridden this afternoon pushed up against Lucy. He cut him off a piece too.

Cade shifted to lean sideways on the post, smoking. His gaze stayed locked on Myron as he alternated cutting pieces of apple off until it was gone, and a third horse had nosed its way over too, seeking a treat.

“All gone,” Myron told them all, hands up.

“You spoil that horse,” he remarked.

“I do.” When Myron put away his knife, Cade held out his cigarette in offering.

He only hesitated a moment before taking the cigarette and having a nice toke. Cade’s tobacco was sweeter than his, and he liked it. He held the smoke in, and passed the cigarette back, briefly allowing himself to think that once more, their lips had both been on a cigarette. Would Cade’s kisses have the same lingering sweetness of his tobacco?

“Beautiful night,” Cade offered.

Myron stroked Lucy’s nose, desperate for something to anchor his wayward thoughts. He wanted to stay, he needed to leave, and he dreamed about stepping closer. Instead he patted his horse and agreed, “It is.”

“There’s the Big Dipper,” Cade said, pointing up. “And the little one.”

Cade seemed to be in a chatty mood, and though it only made Myron’s yearning stronger, he felt obliged to indulge him. He gazed up at the star-spattered navy blue sky, identifying several constellations right away. He pointed to one. “Orion.”

“Which one is that?” Cade stepped closer, gazing up in the direction Myron had indicated.

There had been no need for Cade to come so close, for no tree obscured their view. And there should be no reason for Myron’s heart to race like a cattle stampede either, but it did nonetheless. He cleared his throat, not surprised by how hoarse he sounded or the way his hand trembled as he pointed at the constellation. “See there, the three small ones all clustered? That’s Orion’s belt.”

Cade moved closer still, but his gaze remained heavenward, using Myron’s finger like the sight on a rifle. “There?” He pointed up too, their arms flush now.

He stood so close, Myron could make out his thick eyelashes in the moonlight, see how long they were, the blond tips disguising that fact at a distance. There was no distance between them now, and their arms were still touching. Helpless, Myron gazed at his full lips and licked his own in want.

“Y-yeah,” Myron choked out, his body responding to Cade’s overwhelming manly scent, his nearness, and the fact that he didn’t mind having his arm pressed against Myron. “Th-that’s it.”

At the peculiar sound of his voice, Cade turned his head and looked right at him. Not moving away, he offered a sideways grin. “You sure? You ain’t even looking up.”

Shit!

Myron stepped away so fast, Lucy reared her head and huffed her disapproval. Even in the dark Cade had probably seen Myron staring at his mouth. His heart pounded, his arm on fire where it had been pressed to Cade’s. He could still feel the heat of his body and the cold absence of it in the air between them.

“Yes, I was,” Myron argued, feeling a fool. He pointed up with confidence. “You’ve got it. That’s Orion.”

Still smiling at him, Cade flicked his cigarette to the ground, and only released his gaze to glance down and extinguish it. When he looked back up, Myron hoped he didn’t notice the growing bulge in the front of his trousers.

What the hell were you thinking, staring at him so openly?

And why did he stand so close in the first place?

“Thanks for sharing it with me,” Cade said, voice a heady timber that did nothing to quell Myron’s ardor.

“Y-you’re welcome.”

“Now I know three constellations,” Cade said, then he looked up. “Know any more?”

He cleared his throat, and pointed out Pegasus. “That there square? It’s Pegasus.”

“The flying Greek horse?”

Myron couldn’t help but smile at the childlike wonder in Cade’s tone. “Yes, the same.”

“I suppose the stars’ll look different in the Dakotas.”

“Suppose so,” Myron agreed, stuffing his thumbs under his belt and feeling off kilter. “They’re different down here in Texas than they are in Pennsylvania.”

“You stayin’ on another season with Lawson?” Cade questioned after a moment.

“Nope, gotta head back east. My family’s got a bit of a situation I need to tend to, now that Mama’s passed.” He didn’t want the ugliness of what lay in store for his future to tarnish this rare moment alone under a blanket of beautiful stars with a man he craved more than air itself, so he asked, “You’re really going that far up north?”

“Yup, parcels are cheap up there. Public domain land to graze on too.”

“You plan to work it by yourself?”

“At first,” Cade said. “Plan is to get there and build a shelter for me and a couple horses. Figure I’d buy cows in the spring. Won’t let me take Longhorn up there because of the ticks.”

Myron nodded, knowing full well all the hassles settlers and farmers, not to mention the government, inflicted on Texas cattleman because of a tick the cows carried. Didn’t bother the herd, overmuch, but it did cause problems for folks and other animals. That’s why they were driving the herd on the west side of the Pecos through Apache lands to Santa Fe. Too many restrictions on the safer route to the railhead in Abilene.

“Thinkin’ I’ll plant corn for feed,” Cade continued, the excitement evident in his voice. “Maybe have me a little vegetable garden come springtime. We set out later than I wanted with this herd, and the seasons come faster up there. Maybe I can get a few things in the ground before the frost. Or at least till some earth for early spring planting.”

Myron smiled, thinking of Cade harvesting things like tomatoes. He could imagine him taking a bite of one, still warm from the sun and ripe with sweetness, the juice dribbling down his chin and beard, the way Myron had done as a child. Though the visions Cade conjured held none of the innocence of childhood.

Pushing those images away, he said, “Good plan.”

“Don’t suppose I need much more than a snug shelter and supplies for me and the animals over the winter. I’ll be able to hunt too. Can ya just picture it?” Cade said wistfully. “Your own land, a ranch, small house. Maybe someone to share it with.”

At that last whispered sentence, Cade dropped his gaze from the heavens and looked at Myron with a faraway smile.

Myron’s throat went dry but he managed to nod. “You paint a pretty picture, Buchanan.”

He imagined his own version of that picture, the two of them holed up the entire winter, snuggled in one bed inside a tiny little cabin that smelled of man, soot, and horse. His thoughts shouldn’t go to places like that because it made his cock throb. Thankfully the darkness, and Cade fixing his attention back on the sky, provided him a moment to adjust the indiscretion. 

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One More for the Road

*Hey there - here’s a short silly one shot a good friend prompted.  I did it a bit on the fly lol so forgive me, but I hope you like it.  A tiiiiny bit nsfw.*

Robert dropped onto the bar stool, lighting a much needed cigarette.  Bonzo should be here by now.  In truth, he didn’t mind the drummer’s absence.  He needed a quiet moment or three, the previous night catching up with him.  Bloody hell, that woman at the hotel wouldn’t leave him alone … on and on about how she knew the Butter Queen, what great friends they were.  Good Christ.  Why G had booked them for a show in this dusty, little town, he’d never know, but he’d try to make the best of it.  Relishing the frigid conditioned air, he glanced at the taps, not surprised by the lack of a decent cider.  His eyes roamed the room, stopping on the bartender across the way.  She was engaged in conversation with another patron, their giggles and grins coaxing one of his own.  Her long dark braid swung around as she carried on, nearly brushing the top of her very, very short shorts.  Cute figure, he thought, idly drumming his fingers on the sticky lacquer in front of him, but I need a drink.  “Love, what kind of, um, beer do you have?”  She whirled around, her braid flipping to the front of her.  Robert smiled as he studied it, now skimming her bare tummy just below where her top was tied.  Interesting.  “Do you have a list or somethin’?”  She took a step closer, coyly sizing him up.

“Sorry, uh, not really.  Basically what you see is what you get.”

The singer blew out a long stream of smoke, charmed by her accent.  Very thick drawl.  And oddly familiar.  “What I see is what I get, huh?”

She kept his gaze a beat too long, finally shrugging.  “Well, we do have Heineken.”

“I suppose that’ll work.”  His eyes traced the outline of her body as she leaned into the cooler.

“Would you like a glass?”

“Yeah, a cold one if you’ve got it.”  At the shake her head, he added, “Any glass is fine, love.”

“Do you want a menu?”

Robert hadn’t any desire to eat when he walked in, but decided he’d do just that.  Mainly to give himself a bit more time to linger.  “Sure.”  She fetched a small laminated sheet, laying it on the bar next to his beer as one of the regulars called out to her with a slur.

“Angel, I think I’ll have a … daiquiri.”

Angel.  How nice.  Robert watched her roll her eyes, crossing her arms across her chest as she grudgingly responded.

“We don’t have a blender, Tom.”

“Yeah, you do … it’s right there.”

She tapped the appliance lightly with the tip of her Converse.  “It’s broken.”

“No, it’s not.  Josh used it last night.”

The singer quelled his smile as she raised her brow, clearly having no intention of pulling it out.  He shifted his attention to Tom, amused by the man’s drunken attempt to stand.  He’d splayed his hands on the counter, wobbling as he dropped a bill.

“Oh, fuck it, I gotta get back to the office anyway.”

Shaking her head, Angel followed his progress to the door.  “Have a good day at work.”

Robert caught her eye and chuckled.  “He’s going to work?  What does he bloody do?”

“Air traffic controller.”

Jaw dropping, his eyes flew back to the door.  “What the …”

“Just kidding,” she laughed, collecting the used glassware and wiping down the bar.  “He doesn’t work.  He watches TV all day.”

Robert smiled again, taking a sip of his beer.  Yes, definitely interesting.

“I’ve gotta go, too, Ang.”  

The singer glanced to the source of the words.  It was the young woman across from him who Angel had been chatting with when he first came in.  They whispered something to each other as the girl got up, flashing him a not so subtle grin as she stalked to the door.  The bar was empty now, save for the two of them, and he decided that it would be the perfect place to while away a sweltering late afternoon.  “So, your name really is Angel?”

“Nope,” she responded with a twinkle in her eye, “but you can call me that.  And you’re Robert, right?”

The cool, still air between them seemed to heat up as she blatantly looked him up and down.  “Guilty as charged.”

“My friend knows your band.  Led Zeppelin?”

He couldn’t tell if she was putting him on as he’d seen it all before.  The aloof angle.  It was cute, but still just that, an angle.  “Correct.  I take it you’re not a fan?”

“I’ve heard a couple songs.”  She moved closer, sidling up against the post next to him.

“Let me guess … Stairway to Heaven, yeah?”

Angel smirked and cocked her head.  “I was thinking Smoke on the Water.  Love that one.  Hmm, guess I’m not familiar after all.”

“That’s, ah, Deep Purple.”  Robert’s chuckle waned as she leaned onto the bar, batting around his pack of Marlboro’s with a finger.  Christ, she was practically falling out of the blouse.  As if she knew he was dying to take a peek, she kept her eyes steadfastly on his.  

“I don’t listen to music much, honestly.”

Don’t look down.  Don’t look down.  “Who doesn’t listen to music?”  Fuck, I looked down.

Grinning at the momentary flicker, she replied, “I prefer reading.  Ever heard of Lord of the Rings?”

Robert barked a laugh.  “I just might’ve.”  Very cheeky.  This could be a lot of fun.

“Do you mind if I bum a smoke?”

She promptly pulled out a cigarette, mindless of his response.  Enthralled, he watched her pause, just sort of staring at him, and he realized she was waiting for him to offer a light.  Fumbling, he pulled out his Zippo.  “Can I buy you a drink?”

“Not supposed to drink on the job.”  She took a long drag, slowly expelling the smoke.

“When do you get off?”

“As much as I can.”  

He blinked, opening his mouth to respond.  Fuck, he could feel himself beginning to stir and unconsciously shifted in his seat.  A knowing smile bloomed on her face.  

“Joking.  I’m done in just a few minutes.”

They sat in a booth in the very back, the evening crowd beginning to filter in.  The din was growing louder, but nobody spared them a second glance.  Angel was on her fourth shot, and Robert marveled at her constitution.  “You’re on a mission, yeah?”

Slamming the glass on the table, she scooted closer to him.  “As a matter of fact, I am.”  Her finger traced the links of the thick silver chain around his neck as she whispered in his ear, “I love this necklace.  It’s very sexy.  And I’ve decided that I’d like to have it.”  

He grinned at the brazen request.  “What do you propose?”  

“Let’s play a game of eight ball for it.”

They were almost nose to nose, and he could smell the last vestige of perfume on her skin.  Her lips were gently curved, her eyes tipsy and teasing, and he was suddenly very happy that Bonzo hadn’t made it.  “What’s in it for me, love?  If you … lose?”

“If I lose, I still get it,“ she pouted, sliding her hand up his thigh to give him a tight squeeze.  “But I’ll make it very, very worth your while.”

Good Lord, she’s a horny, little thing.  Basking in his good fortune, he nibbled his lip in anticipation.  He was beginning to have a new appreciation for the area.  “I’m game.”

As she set up the table, Robert surveyed the room out of the corner of his eye.  Every single bloke in the place was staring at her.  She leaned in with the rack, her shorts riding up to the bottom of her backside, and he had the sudden urge to reach out a grab it.  Not advisable.  No long hair in here.    

“I’ll take it easy on you, and let you go first.”  Angel smirked, handing him a pool cue.

He chalked the tip, the corner of his mouth turning up.  “Right.”  At the crack of the break, he felt the eyes of everyone at the bar shift to him.  Get this done.  It was a good one, sinking two solids and a stripe.  “I’ll take low.”  Clearly impressed, she watched as he proceeded to run the table.  She never got the chance to take a shot.  As the eight ball fell into the corner pocket, Robert smiled proudly.  “Okay, love, I guess I win.”

“I guess you do,” she replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders to retrieve the necklace.

“Not yet, my little Angel.  If I recall, you were going to make it very worth my while?”

“Oh, I’ve not forgotten.”  She took his hand, wading through the throng.  “Come on, my place is two blocks away.”

The screen hadn’t yet closed, and she was wrapped around him, knocking him into the sofa.  He held on for dear life as they cascaded into the downy pillows.  She hastily untied her shirt, spilling over him, and reached for the buckle on his jeans.  Jesus.  “What’s the hurry, love.  We’ve got all night.”

“Uh-uh,” she groaned, continuing her assault on the stubborn belt.  “My mom will be home at nine to get ready.”

“Get ready for … wait, your what?  How old are you?”

“Old enough,” she muttered, kissing him again.

Finally successful, her hand slipped under the tight denim, and Robert sighed at the touch, determining that she was quite right.  Old enough, indeed.  

“We’ve got a little time.  It’s half past seven.”

Her braid whipped across his face, and he gently grabbed it.  “Let’s see your hair down, love.”  He tugged the tie, releasing the waves across her back as she shrugged off her blouse.  He pulled the tresses across her shoulders.  “Like Lady Godiva,” he whispered, trailing a finger down her throat and in between her breasts.  Damn, he was as hard as a rock.  He pushed down his trousers, groaning as she clasped him again.  Goddamn, what was she doing to him?  Something with her fingers that he’d never felt before.  And then her tongue … and then her … fuck, he was going to …

The door suddenly sprang open, and Angel jumped up.  “Holy shit!”

The next thing Robert registered was the visitor’s face, taking in the scene and his obvious erection.  Former, anyway.  Christ, it was the Butter Queen’s friend.  In slow motion, he watched Angel turn to her, snatching the strewn blouse and pulling it across her chest.

“Mom, what are you doing here?”

“I think the question is, Angela Marie, what are you doing here?”  

Hungrily eyeing him, the woman took a step closer.  Bloody hell.  As if he could fly, Robert launched himself toward the door, hopping madly as he yanked up his jeans.  He didn’t look back, just headed to the hotel with a speed he didn’t realize he possessed.  Rounding the corner, he spied Bonzo, and was never more grateful to see his friend in his life.

The drummer’s brow wrinkled, his eyes moving over the disheveled singer.  “What the fuck, mate?  Have a little, um, accident in your trousers?”

Robert looked down, expelling a breath at the sight of it.  Goddamnit.

“No worries … the Butter Queen’ll clean you up.  Come on, then.”  He wrapped his arm around Robert’s shoulder, ushering him into the car.  “She’s got a new lady with her.  One I think you’ll fancy.”