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guilty-pleasures21 · 3 days ago

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HI! I read you were taking requests for Jason! I'd love to see him with a gf who absolutely loves Christmas - I'm taking about going all out with decorating her apartment, baking gingerbread houses etc... - and they both get invited to the manor to spend the holidays with the whole family, where they get to see Jason, whom they know hates celebrating most holidays, being super affectionate and giddy around his partner and helping her and Alfred decorating gingerbread cookies <3

I'm so sorry if it's a lenghty request! I love your works so much!!

Thanks, love! It always warms me up inside when someone tells me that they love my hard work 🥰🥹!

This request was seriously not lengthy at all 🤣. The more details the better and you gave me some fantastic ideas! I'd also like to credit @daheckinbestbitch for inspiring me to fluff things up to the MAXXX! I'm not sure if this is what you were looking for, but hope I did an adequate job 🥺. So, without further ado ...

Christmas special!

Part 1

Part 2

Warnings: brief reference to sex.

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Jason lifted his head, confused by the soft music he could hear drifting into his bedroom. He focused harder on the sound and soon realised that it was Christmas music - the absolute worst kind of music there was. Jason groaned and covered his face with a pillow, muffling the sound but not getting rid of it entirely. Finally, when he couldn’t stand it any longer, he forced himself out of bed and got up to investigate. And there was the source of the accursed noise: his girlfriend, standing by the kitchen island putting the finishing touches on a log cake she’d baked to take over to Bruce’s house later.

“Morning, princess.” X looked up with a bright smile and her heart fluttered when she saw her boyfriend rubbing his eye as he walked over to her, his messy bedhead so irresistibly adorable in the morning.

“Morning, baby!” she greeted him, coaxing a happy smile out of him - he loved it when she called him that; when she treated him like a big baby she just loved to spoil and pamper. Jason leaned over to press a kiss to her cheek as he walked past her.

“Did you have to put on the Christmas music?” he asked, raising his eyebrows at her in question.

“Yes!” she argued, following him over to the fridge. “It sets the mood!” She waited for him to move away from the doors before she slid her cake onto a shelf she’d emptied out for it. Jason leaned back against the counter as he took a gulp straight from the milk bottle, but he regretted it immediately when his girlfriend’s entire figure entered his field of vision.

“X …” Jason coughed out, setting the bottle down and taking a moment to clear his throat. “What are you wearing?”

She turned around to face him, giving an excited little twirl to show off her dress. “A dress! I got it for dinner at your family's place tonight! Is it okay? You don't think it's inappropriate?”

She pursed her lips as she waited for his response, nervous for her first Christmas with her boyfriend’s family. Of course she knew everyone - being an active member of the batfamily and having been Jason’s best friend for a few years before they’d officially started dating - but she’d never spent the holidays with them before.

Jason curled his hands around her waist slowly, appraising her from head to toe. She was wearing a deep red sweater dress that fell to her mid-thighs. The loose material hung off one of her shoulders, leaving the other so deliciously bare, and she’d cinched the fabric around her waist with a thick black belt.

(Something like this:)

X bit her lip when she noticed her boyfriend’s gaze rapidly darkening as he took her in. Suddenly, he pulled her to him, and she let out a surprised squeak as she fell against his chest.

“It's perfect,” Jason murmured, his voice almost breathless with awe. He helped his girlfriend straighten again, then ran his hands up her body, enjoying the way his core tightened at how soft she felt beneath his fingers. His eyes stayed fixed on her chest as he reached up and started to tug her other sleeve off her shoulder and X laughed at his enthusiasm.

“Jason.” She covered her hand with his, stopping him before he could pull the material down her chest. “It's not the time for that.”

Jason’s expression immediately hardened into a frown.

“Then when is it the time?!” he asked, sulking like a spoiled little boy who'd just been told he had to wait before he could open his Christmas presents.

Another chuckle fell from X’s lips at his reaction and she pulled herself away from him before adjusting her dress. “Tomor-”

“Tomorrow?!” Jason interrupted before she could even finish. “What the actual f*ck?! Ugh! This is why Christmas is the worst. F*cking. Holiday. Ever!”

His head fell back as he let out a disappointed groan and X pressed her lips together to keep from laughing. Instead, she folded her arms across her chest and fixed him with an unamused look as she leaned her hip against the kitchen island. “You think Christmas is the worst holiday ever because your girlfriend said she wouldn't have sex with you until the day after?”

He narrowed his eyes at her as he considered her statement, but the fight quickly left him at how adorable she looked, standing there in her cute little dress. Jason trudged back over to her and buried his face in the crook of her neck as he wrapped her up in his arms.

“Well, when you put it like that …” he mumbled, taking a pause so he could have a moment to indulge in the feeling of her fingers running through his hair. Then he straightened and fixed her with a sombre expression. “Yes.”

X burst into laughter again. “Jay! You're such an idiot, love.”

She cupped his face in her hands, squishing his cheeks as he pouted down at her, and her resolve quickly started to weaken in the face of his ruggedly handsome features.

“Hmm …” Her gaze flickered briefly over to her bedroom, her expression growing more uncertain by the second. “I guess … I could squeeze you in before we head out …”

Jason bent over, resting his forehead on hers, and his lips curled into a wicked smile. “Oh, really? You gonna squeeze me in, princess?”

He tugged her waist towards his, pressing his hips against hers so she could feel the entire length of his morning wood. X gulped and lowered her head, barely hiding that adorable little smile that had his heart fluttering with delight every damn time he saw it. “Jaaaay ….”

Jason grinned and lifted her up onto his hips.

“Come on, princess,” he decided, kissing her on the temple as he carried her back to their bedroom. “I need a shower and you don't want to be late, do you?”

X spread her arms wide and gave Tim a big hug when he opened the door. “Merry Christmas, Tim Tam!”

“Merry Christmas, X!” Tim patted her on the back in return, then took the cake she held in her hands. His gaze drifted over to the large pile of presents nestled in Jason’s arms and he rearranged his features into a puzzled expression. “Oh! A sentient pile of Christmas gifts? What happened to Jay? I thought he would have come with you.”

“Ha ha, real funny, Tim Tam,” Jason said, walking past him into the house. He resisted the urge to dump the presents on the ground and instead, swallowed down his irritation and carefully set them down by the tree - X had spent so much time picking out the perfect gift for everyone and then carefully wrapping them all up by herself and Jason would literally throw himself off a cliff if he did something to ruin her favourite holiday for her. “You’re lucky it’s Christmas.”

Tim narrowed his eyes at Jason as he shut the door behind X. “Or what? You gonna take me out back and fight me, Jay Jay?”

Jason got up and turned to face Tim, his hands clenched into fists by his side.

“Wait,” X interjected, stepping in between the two of them and placing a hand on each of their chests. “Hold on. Are the two of you using the nicknames I made for you to make fun of each other?”

Tim and Jason exchanged equal looks of apprehension at the threat in X’s tone. It took a lot to get her angry, but … you know what they say about people who rarely get angry.

X moved one hand to her chest and continued to lean on Jason with the other as she bent over in exaggerated hurt. “How could you? I made those nicknames with love and affection and to show you how much each of you mean to me.”

She looked at each of them in turn, scrunching her features up as if she was about to cry. Then she dealt the killing blow. “And you take them and use them as insults?!”

The boys fumbled for words, both of them trying to reassure X and calm her down. But then Dick walked out of the kitchen in an apron, spots of flour dotting his cheeks as he approached them.

“Who wants to make-” He stopped short when he saw the upset look on X’s face. His gaze flickered between Jason and Tim and he narrowed his eyes at them in suspicion. “What did you two do? You made X cry?! On Christmas?!”

X looked up at Dick with a pathetic look on her face, trying to draw even more sympathy from him. “They were making fun of my loving nicknames for them.”

“Aww, come on, princess,” Jason pleaded, wrapping an arm around X and bending over to meet her gaze. “You know we didn't mean it like that. We love the nicknames you give us!”

Tim nodded eagerly in agreement and Jason brought his mouth closer to X’s ear so no one else would be able to hear his sugary sweet words of apology.

“I love you, babygirl,” he reminded her, squeezing her against him and peppering her face with sweet kisses. “You gonna smile for me? You gonna give me that cute little smile you know drives me crazy? I love you, baby. Don't be mad at me on Christmas!”

X’s lips curled at the ends as she began melting at his words, her resolve crumbling with each sweet kiss he gave her. “Okay.”

Jason grinned and held her close as she wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug.

“Hey, Dick,” Duke began, coming out of the kitchen in an apron of his own, “the gingerbread's done. Oh! Hey, X! Hey, Jason!”

“Are you guys gonna start making gingerbread houses now?” X asked, so excited Jason could practically feel her buzzing in his arms.

“Yup!” Duke confirmed. “You wanna join us?”

X looked up at Jason with a smile too adorable for him to resist. He loosened his grip on her, allowing her to grab his arm and tug her with him into the kitchen.

“Hi Alfred!” X greeted him with a wave. “Merry Christmas!”

“Miss X, Master Todd. Merry Christmas to the both of you.”

“You too, Alfred,” Jason replied. X stopped by the kitchen island and inhaled the sweet, tangy scent of gingerbread wafting through the air.

“Mmm! Smells delicious!” She walked over to an empty tray on the kitchen island and began gathering the ingredients she needed to make a house of her own.

Jason leaned against the counter beside her and studied her carefully, quietly learning how to build a gingerbread house - well, learning how she liked her gingerbread house to be built. He’d never really participated in Christmas traditions before they’d started dating, only ever showing up at the last minute for dinner, but … Christmas made her happy; and she made him happy. “Why don’t you do a dovetail joint for the roof? That way the pieces will stick together more and the house will be stronger.”

X turned to face him, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “A what?”

“A dovetail joint,” Jason repeated. He grabbed one of the sheets of gingerbread from her hand and picked up a knife to start slicing a castle-like pattern into one side of it. X watched with amusement how seriously he took the task, his thick brows lowered over his moss-green eyes as he focused on spreading just enough icing on the gingerbread for the two pieces he’d carved out to stick together.

“Like that!” he exclaimed finally, sliding an arm around her waist as he took a step back to admire his own work. He turned to X, waiting for her approval, and her chest warmed at the cute puppy-dog look on her large and intimidating boyfriend’s face. She squeezed his shoulder and stretched onto her toes to press a kiss to his cheek.

“You’re so clever, Jay,” she praised him sweetly. “What should we do next?”

Jason snuck a peak at Duke’s and Dick’s respective houses, considering his next steps.

“Oh! We should make windows! But we need to make sure they’re fortified enough so the whole house doesn’t collapse,” he decided, lowering himself to his knees so he was eye-level with the countertop. “And we need to make sure they’re the right size, too …”

He glanced around the table and his eyes lit up when he spotted a cylinder with some toothpicks in it. He pushed himself to his feet and glided the toothpicks across the island to X. “Baby, could you help me snap these in half and cover them in some gingerbread? We’ll use these as the window panes.”

X’s lips wobbled as she tried to suppress her smile.

“Sure, sweetheart,” she obliged, setting to work immediately. But it wasn’t long before Jason decided he needed to take charge on that task too.

“No, wait,” he stopped her. “You’re making them too thick, doll.”

X pressed her lips together to stop a laugh from spilling out of them. She stretched onto her toes and wrapped her arms around Jason’s neck from behind. “You want to take over, Jay? I can go help with the tree.”

“Hmm? Yeah, sure, baby,” he replied distractedly. He kept his eyes glued to his gingerbread prototype as he slid one arm around her waist and tugged her into his side. “Come here for a second.”

He bent over and pecked her lips a few times, coaxing a delighted giggle out of her and curious looks out of Duke and Dick. “I’ll come find you once I’m done?”

X nodded, her smile widening at how quickly his hands returned to the gingerbread house once she’d agreed. “Okay. See you later, love!”

“Mmm, see you later, sweetheart.”

X bit her lip as she appraised the tree together with Tim, Damian, Steph and Cass. “It’s … okay, I guess …”

“You don’t have to lie to us, X,” Tim assured her, “it sucks.”

“I mean …” She trailed off, trying to find the words to minimise how disappointing the tiny plastic tree was. But Tim was right; it really did suck. X let out a defeated sigh. “You’re right, it sucks.”

It was so glaringly obvious how fake the tree was and it was so cheap that it wasn't even able to hold half the ornaments they had before it had started tilting to one side! “But it’s too late to go buy another one now.”

“X! X!” Jason skidded out of the kitchen, his face covered in patches of flour and a streak of icing smeared across his forehead. He grinned when his eyes landed on his girlfriend, but his features quickly creased with concern when he noticed the upset look on her face. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing …” She leaned into Jason’s side as he came up beside her, letting him cuddle her against him, then she forced her lips into a smile and looked up at him. “What were you going to say?”

“Oh! Yeah!” Jason exclaimed, remembering what he’d gone to find her for. “I finished my gingerbread house! You wanna come see?”

He flashed her an excited grin and X felt herself start to perk up again at his delight. “Of course, baby!”

She reached up to wipe the icing off his forehead and Jason positively melted at the tender gesture. He started leading her to the kitchen and the others followed close behind, curious to see how Jason’s first ever gingerbread house would turn out. Stephanie leaned over to Tim and whispered softly in his ear. “Uh, are we sure that’s our Jason? He’s not, like, some twisted clone Ra’s sent to mess with us?”

Tim narrowed his eyes at Jason’s back, his own suspicion growing now that Stephanie had mentioned it.

“Hmm, one can’t be too sure …” he supposed, thinking of all the past Christmases Jason had intentionally tried to ruin. Then his expression faltered as he recalled the Jason he’d seen before he himself had assumed the mantle of Robin. “But Jason … didn’t always used to be … Red Hood …”

Steph raised an eyebrow, not quite understanding what he was trying to say.

“What are we talking about?” Damian asked, springing up out of nowhere. Stephanie and Tim jumped back in surprise, caught off guard by his sudden appearance.

“Jesus, Dames!” Stephanie breathed, clutching her chest to try to calm her racing her heart. “We were just discussing whether or not Jason got replaced by some super-affectionate Christmas-loving clone of himself or something.”

Damian fell silent again as he considered the couple walking in front of them, Jason animatedly explaining to X all of the different techniques he’d used to build the perfect gingerbread house. “But Todd is always like that when he’s with X. Last week, he upgraded her boots so she can flick knives out of the soles now! And he made us cinnamon rolls.”

“‘Us’?” Stephanie repeated incredulously. “What do you mean ‘us’?”

“Wait,” Tim stopped her. “I’m more interested in the ‘cinnamon rolls’ part now.”

“I go to their apartment once a week so X can help me with my biology homework. And then both of them help me with my literature homework,” Damian explained, shrugging as if it was no big deal that he just casually visited their apartment every week. “And the cinnamon rolls could use some work, but it was an adequate first attempt.”

Stephanie and Tim exchanged confused looks as they tried to process Damian’s revelation. But suddenly, they stopped short in the kitchen.

“What,” Steph began.

“The heck,” Tim supplied.

“Is that?!”

Jason turned to face them, grinning proudly at the shocked expressions on their faces.

“It’s my gingerbread house,” he announced. The group craned their heads back, incredulously studying Jason’s ten-foot tall gingerbread house. The thing was probably big enough to house an actual person! Jason turned to X and shot her a smug smile when he saw her eyes widen in wonder. “What do you think, baby? Do you like it?”

“Yes! Oh my god! It’s amazing!” X slung her arms around Jason’s neck and pulled him down to her so she could pepper his face with kisses. “You did such a good job, Jay! Mwah!”

Jason smiled giddily, his expression turning dazed at his girlfriend’s outpouring of affection.

“Good job, Todd,” Damian agreed, nodding at the house in approval. “Now, can you do something about the tree?”

Jason raised an eyebrow as he straightened, regaining his focus. “What’s wrong with the tree?”

He turned to X in question and she let out an exaggerated sigh in response.

“They said that ‘it sucks',” Cass supplied helpfully, the bright smile on her face at odds with her statement.

“Oh! Shit! My bad!” Dick cursed, shooting them a guilty smile as he raised his hand in the air. “I was supposed to pick one up from the tree farm last week, but Penguin’s goons kept sneaking around Bludhaven, so I got a plastic one as a temporary placeholder.”

Jason rubbed X’s side as he glared at Dick in anger. How dare his brother try to ruin his precious girlfriend’s favourite holiday! What kind of idiot forgot the f*cking tree for f*cking Christmas?! He sucked in a breath and closed his eyes as he tried to calm himself down for the sake of his sweet little girlfriend.

Dick watched Jason warily, frantically trying to think of an excuse that might calm him down. His gaze flickered over to X and he shot her a pleading look. “But it’s not that big of a deal, right, X? Christmas is about cherishing the time with the ones you love, not decorating trees and making gingerbread houses … right?”

X swallowed hard at the desperate expression on Dick’s face and pushed down her disappointment with the fake tree. He did have a point, she tried to convince herself, even if it was her first Christmas with Jason and his family: she usually visited her own family during the holidays and she’d always push Jason to at least go over to his for dinner, but after moving in together earlier that year, she’d decided that she wanted to get involved in her sweet boyfriend’s traditions too. And maybe make some of their own that they might share with their own little family one day. “Ri-”

“No,” Jason asserted, causing X to look up at him in bewilderment.

“What?” Dick asked, equally as confused as X to find a look of determination set into his younger brother’s face. Jason pointed at Tim and Dick and gestured for the two of them to follow him.

“You and you, you’re coming with me,” he commanded, not waiting for them to follow. Dick exchanged a puzzled glance with Tim as the two of them rushed to keep up with Jason, but Tim just shrugged at him in response.

“Where are we going?” Dick asked. Jason stopped by the door to take a dramatic pause. Then he looked up into the distance, his gaze intense.

“To save Christmas.”

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pinkaditty · 1 day ago

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Holidays with Ghouls (Sho Haizono x Reader; Tokyo Debunker)

please read:

okay. big news + life update: i got into a major car accident a little while ago. my first one ever! i am in a lot of pain so things may be slow-going for a while and ill be unable to commit as much time to writing due to the tangled mess that is dealing with modern insurance companies and recovering from my injuries. thankfully its not so bad to be hospitalized, but its bad enough to limit my activity for the time being. i am somewhat ashamed to ask, but if you like my writing, please consider donating to my cashapp: $cindyfromstarbucks! my car was 100% totaled, and im gonna need to save up for a new one, and my job doesn’t pay very much. thank you for your consideration! please enjoy, regardless! (this paragraph will be on my posts indefinitely, probably until i fully recover)

a/n: LET ME START THIS OFF BY SAYING IT’S ENTIRELY SELF-INDULGENT… i have a green thumb and i’ve been growing a small garden lately (limited space. i hate captialism.) and i just thought “hm. what if we grew fresh ingredients for sho’s food truck?” and the idea stuck and didn’t leave no matter how much i tried 2 shake it off. mc is basically written as me im not gonna hold y’all, but i kept it 2 a minimum so it could still be an ‘x reader’.

summary: self-indulgent reader x sho. in which you do something nice for him and he struggles to return the favor.

no cw! enjoy!

big fan of the “woman that is so wound up all the time and extremely professional and tries to keep everyone at arm’s length distance” x “guy that is only a few years younger than the woman but loves calling her by age-appropriate honorifics (i.e. noona, ojou, jiejie, madame, etc) and goes out of his way to teach her how to fucking relax every once in a while” trope and essentially if i were with sho that is how the relationship would go LMFAOOOOOOO

You used to have a bit of a garden before becoming a student at Darkwick. A part of you often wondered if there were people tending to your garden now so you could return to it, well kept and exactly as you remember it, when you were cured of this curse and got this anomalous ring off of you. You'd never really had the idea to plant anything here; you were much too focused on missions and other incessant errands the ghouls saw fit to send you on. You didn't like it, but held your tongue regardless. If all went well, you wouldn't have to deal with this after less than a year.

You were fond of a few ghouls, though. Some of them were a nice reprieve from the other harsher and more selfish ghouls. Haku was a great example of that, and so was Subaru, his dorm's captain. You'd grown fond on the Jabberwock ghouls, as they were always kind and polite. You didn't really mind the Obscuary ghouls, either. Even if odd, they were good natured, and never turned you away. You appreciated that Rui had a bit of a green thumb too, and would often stop by to assist him with plant care.

The one ghoul you were the most fond of, despite his less than agreeable best friend, was Haizono, or Sho, as he insisted on being called. Sho, despite his friend Leo, was actually pretty friendly. You enjoyed the time you spent around him, whether that was collecting supplies from the diner, or training with him, or even helping him meal prep for the following day for his food truck. It was fun, spending time with Sho. You're almost angry the idea didn't dawn on you sooner.

Said idea is why you carefully sift through the dirt in your compost container, careful not to split any of the worms with your nails. The potatoes should be done growing by now. The idea had dawned on you one day when Sho mentioned not having enough potatoes to serve fries the following day. Potatoes were an easy crop. And they took three months, at most, to grow. Sure, if worse came to worst, you'd die, but growing potatoes was a good distraction and encouraged you to plan for the future, as though you wouldn't die. After a few favors from Benji and some begging towards the chancellor, you had a small garden behind the chapel. Granted, you'd just started it three months ago, so it wasn't as full as your garden back home, but it was good enough. It was hidden from the rest of campus by the surrounding trees, ensuring no one would find the garden unless they had reason to cut around the chapel, which wasn't necessary considering the path out front. Not only did it serve as your little place of respite, it allowed you to do nice things for others. You were just growing potatoes for now, but it felt like enough of a starter, at least. You’d just planted some tomato seeds that you’d hoped Sho would also find a use for.

Once done harvesting a substantial batch of potatoes, you wrap them up in plastic bags to look like you bought them. It would save you the embarrassment of having to explain that you’d grown them yourself.

It’s pleasantly chilly outside, the still afternoon air heavy with promises of cold weather and a white winter holiday. Dirt remained underneath your fingernails from all that harvesting, but it was a small price to pay. Your heart pounded with anticipation and exertion as you made the trek to Vagastrom, heading for the nearby food truck. As expected, you find Sho sitting on one of his supply boxes, far underdressed for the cold weather. You can’t tell if he’s resistant to it or rebelling against it, but you can tell he’s cold. His cheeks and nose are tinged red and his eyes are squinted against the cold wind. You can even tell he’s sniffling with how often he inhales. You exhale both fondly and exasperatedly. The stubbornness of these ghouls was simultaneously attractive and irritating.

You make it no secret you’re approaching, the bag of potatoes crinkling with your upbeat steps and your own runny nose sniffling in response to the cold wind. You place the bag of potatoes beside him with a heavy ‘thud’, to which he finally looks up, appearing jolted out of his thoughts.

“Here,” you start, taking your scarf from around your neck and tying it around his without waiting for a reaction. “You must be an idiot to sit out in the cold with just your uniform on.”

“Senpai.” He greets you with wide eyes, watching but not protesting as you tie your scarf around his neck. He appears confused at first, his lips pursing at your actions, but seems to relent as he buries his face into the scarf. You watch as he settles into it, his eyes sliding shut against the cold wind, his nose and lips finding warm solace in the comfort of your scarf. Before long, he pulls it away, revealing himself back to the chilly air with a slight wince. “...No need. Thank you, though.” He glances up at you with a smile before rising to his feet and dusting off his knees. “Whatcha got here?” He gestures to the plastic bag before picking it up, far more effortlessly than you, and inspecting it.

“Potatoes.” Your breath puffs out in a white cloud. “They’re for your food truck. I remembered you mentioned you were running low, so… I decided to help and buy you some.” At some point, you’d shifted your attention to the ground, toeing at a rock as you realized how ridiculous that sounded. Surely Sho could handle himself. He might even find your help embarrassing, when you really think about it.

You sneak a glance at him and are relieved to see a small smile on his face as he observes the potatoes. He huffs out a light breath, his face visibly softening. “You didn’t have to do that.” He slings the bag over his shoulder, using his other hand to ruffle your hair and return the scarf. “Come on,” he turns around, headed for the door of the food truck. “You can help me prep.”

‘That’s only helpful if you’ll have any customers in this cold,’ you think to yourself, but decide not to say aloud. Instead, you watch the slow smile on his face as he nods towards you, and continues towards the truck. Crazy, how a simple glance of his could make your heart race. Something about the warmth of his smile, the feel of his fingers carding through your hair, and the leftover scent of his cologne lingering on your scarf tugged at your heart, just a little bit.

You briskly follow after him, throwing the scarf back over his neck. “Keep it,” you say sternly, watching as he turns to you quizzically. “Have you seen the state of yourself in this cold?” The phrase ‘I want you to have it,’ lingers on your tongue, but you decide not to voice that, instead letting a small amused smile rest on your face. You vaguely gesture to him, your gaze flicking to his red cheeks and nose. He rolls his eyes, noting your point, and keeps the scarf around his neck, opening the side door to his food truck.

“Alright, fine. I’ll wash it and return it.”

As he steps inside the food truck, even from standing behind him you feel a wave of warmth. You follow, stepping inside, feeling the sweet relief of pleasant warm air and smelling the scent of roast chicken. The environment is warm and cozy, wrapping around you like a cushy blanket or a hug from a loved one. Sho closes the door behind you and you note your scarf is still around his neck. Something clicks.

“Wait a minute. You won’t need that.” You point to his scarf, your nose crinkling in mock displeasure. He instinctively flinches away, looking at you with a raised brow. He was seemingly already protective of your scarf, even though he’d only just received it. “Hand it over.”

“That’s hardly fair.” A crooked smile forms on Sho’s face and his brow raises higher. “Why do you assume I won’t need it?”

Indignantly, you gesture to the warm space surrounding you. Sizzling meat, a warm oven, and heaters in a corner, adjusting the temperature of the truck. “Vagastrom is literally right next to here. What do you need that for?”

He doesn’t answer directly, instead tilting his head at you. “I seem to remember a certain someone insisting I keep this scarf. Are you going to go back on your word?”

You clamp your mouth shut, remembering what you’d said and did earlier. He was right, you had insisted, even if only a little. You huff out a frustrated breath, crossing your arms and furrowing your brows. He laughs at your display, pulling the scarf off of him and tossing it on a high shelf of boxes you couldn’t reach. “Like I said, I’ll wash it and return it.”

You decide to swallow this loss. You had other scarves at the chapel anyway, and if he was going to use it, at least it wasn’t going to waste.

You look around the space again before taking off your coat and hanging it on one of the hooks on the door. “Any plans for winter break? Will you be going anywhere?”

“Nah.” Sho shook his head, checking on the chicken in the small oven before continuing to stir fry a vegetable medley on the stove, jutting his shoulder out towards the cutting board, covered in various vegetables. You wash your hands before heading over, carefully scraping at the dirt built up under your fingernails from digging. “Unless my… brother… goes, I’m not going. He’ll beat my ass if I don’t and he does.” A look of displeasure crosses Sho’s face, and you have to hold back a laugh at the thought of Professor Hyde chastising Sho for not seeing his family over break.

You head over to the vegetables laid out on the cutting board, and start with the garlic, peeling it out of its husk. “Sounds like a struggle.”

He scoffs, pouring soy sauce over the vegetables and tossing them before scraping them off on a nearby to-go container. “Holidays are always a struggle with pushy family.” Despite his outward scowl, amusement lights up his eyes for a moment.

You chuckle, having finished chopping up the garlic and moving to a green bell pepper. You slice it open, its seeds spilling onto the cutting board. “Your family’s pushy?”

“Yes, too pushy sometimes.” Sho shakes his head, shooing you to the side as he grabs potholders to pull the chicken out of the oven. “My brother’s more like my parents than I am.” He carefully places the roast chicken down on a short counter. It’s golden brown, stuffed with rosemary sprigs, lemon slices, and garlic cloves.

He places it to the side, readying the frying pain and reaching for the peppers you’d chopped, tossing them into the oil. You finish a pepper and reach for a leek next, slicing it into thick chunks. Your eyes flicker back over to the chicken momentarily, rosemary stems sticking out of it like a tail. “The rosemary stems look like a chicken tail.” You voice the thought absentmindedly, smiling to yourself.

Out of the corner of your eye, you see Sho glance over at the chicken himself. You hear a huffed laugh as he returns his attention to the peppers, sizzling in the oil. “Yeah, it does.” He’s silent for a moment before speaking up again. “Speaking of, it was hard to find fresh rosemary this time around.”

You look up, having finished cutting the leek. A confused expression crosses your face. “Where in the world would you find fresh rosemary in the dead of winter?” You look away, reaching for a carrot, slicing it thinly.

“Rosemary’s an evergreen,” Sho states flatly, reaching for the leek and garlic you cut earlier, mixing it in with the batch of peppers on the stove and stirring them. “You can find that fresh anytime. What’s harder to find, however…” Sho trails off, leaving the stove for a split second, reaching for the bag of your potatoes he’d placed on the ground earlier. He opens the bag and pulls one out, some dirt still stuck in the indents of its skin. “...Is fresh potatoes. They’re typically harvested in the fall.” He smiles at you, before turning away to rinse it off.

Realizing you’d been caught in a lie, you turn away from him, putting all of your focus on the carrot in front of you. You hear his footsteps slowly approaching before he places a freshly washed potato right in front of you, his hand shaking with mirth.

“Come on, MC. Don’t think I didn’t notice the dirt under your fingernails.” He chuckles before turning back to the stove, stirring the vegetables again. You drop the knife with a clatter and hide your hands behind your back, too nervous to check if you’d missed any spots.

You sneak a glance up at him, mistakenly making eye contact with him. His eyes gleam with amusement and his smile is soft and fond. “...It can’t have been that obvious.” You decide to admit to it, realizing the heat in your cheeks probably gave it away.

“It wasn’t.” Sho nods to you, pouring soy sauce over the stir-fried mixture and tossing it before scraping that off in a different to-go container. “I just happened to notice the dirt when you handed the scarf to me, and your potatoes smelled extra earthy.” He takes the pan off the heat, moving over to the chicken and carefully cutting out the breast.

It’s silent for a few moments, you staring at that freshly cleaned potato and Sho slicing through the chicken, placing the breast in one to-go container and the wings in the other. Sho finally speaks up, though his voice is low. “...You didn’t have to do that, you know.” You look up again, just to find him turned away from you, his ears turning red. Silence falls again as you watch him check off the to-go containers he’s finished. You assume he’s trying to distract himself from the obvious blush on his face, but you can’t say for sure. Something about it makes you feel similar, your heart rate picking up and your face reddening more. It wasn’t due to your embarrassment anymore. “I dunno, I’m bad at thanking people. Just, well…” Sho trails off, rubbing a hand on the back of his neck, hiding his face from you. His voice lowers significantly, and contrastingly, the blush on his ears brightens more. “Thank you. I know potatoes take a while to grow. And…” He trails off again and swallows thickly. You don’t bother asking him to finish his sentence. The implications of his words grow somewhat heavy in your heart, and you wring your fingers nervously. Of course it was profound, growing potatoes for someone when you’re doomed to die, now in nine months. The thought of dedicating your time to anything that wasn’t curing your curse was odd, but this distraction had done you well nonetheless. You didn’t want Sho to feel bad about it at all. You were certain that, if anything, the gravity of being recognized by a girl doomed to die was dawning on him.

The words spill out before you can really stop them. “Don’t worry about it, Sho. I did that because I wanted to.” Confessing this was almost as raw as confessing your feelings, and your chest tightens at that thought, but you continue despite that. “You’ve been kind to me since after our first mission. And I’ve enjoyed spending time with you, including things as mundane as meal prep!” You gesture vaguely to the setting before you, hoping to get your point across. “I just randomly had the idea, and figured it couldn’t be so bad to act on it. It’s been a good distraction anyway, and what with all that happens here, a distraction does me some good.” Silence falls once more, and Sho finally turns to look at you, face flushed. He wipes his palms on his apron and worries his lip between his teeth, his gaze flickering between you and the floor. “...So what if I used up three months to grow potatoes? The time will pass anyways.” You turn away from him, looking at the washed potato. You reach for it and pick up the knife, beginning to cut it into cube chunks.

“...I guess you’re right.” You can hear a gentle smile in Sho’s voice, and it warms you up internally, feeling thankful he’s accepted the gift. You glance towards him, giving him a smile, and catch him staring. There’s an odd glimpse of admiration in his eyes, which makes your cheeks warm.

“Go on and finish cutting the chicken.” You wave off his stare and jerk your gaze away from him, hiding your blush and focusing on the cubed potato.

He scoffs and turns away, picking up his knife. “Giving me orders in my own kitchen, huh?”

You don’t respond. You don’t need to. The warmth of the heaters settles into your skin and the warmth of the previous pleasant conversation settles into your heart. You glance down at the bag of potatoes that started it all. The eyes of the potatoes seem to stare up at you knowingly.

You’re carrying a short stack of to-go containers outside to Sho’s bike, Bonnie, your boots crunching the frosty path beneath you. Snow would surely be coming soon. You gently place the stack in the box on the back of Bonnie, careful to make sure none of them tip over. You hear more crunching footsteps and turn around to see Sho, carrying the rest of the boxes. He places them in the box as well and organizes them before securing the box with a few straps. He steps back and exhales, smiling to himself. You can’t help but smile at his pride.

“Now, to deliver these…” Sho approaches Bonnie and gets on, patting her twice affectionately. The gentle thrum of the engine comes to life in response. He looks to you and smiles, and you notice he’s wearing your scarf. “Sure you don’t want a ride back to the chapel?”

You eye the box of food already on the back of Bonnie and shake your head. You wouldn’t test fate today. Your eyes find your scarf again, sitting snugly around Sho’s neck. “Well, at least you have a use for it.” You say, resigned. Part of you wonders if you’ll ever get it back.

Sho smiles, reaching up to touch the scarf. “Again, I’ll wash and return it.” He looks up to the sky, and you follow suit, noting the pale white blanket of clouds blocking the sun. “That said…” He starts, lowering his gaze to you again. “It is cold out. I may need this for longer than I expected.” There’s a teasing lilt to his voice and his smile turns crooked, as though suppressing a smirk.

“...I’m not getting that back, am I?”

Sho shrugs, revving up Bonnie. “Who knows?” He smiles fondly at you one last time before speeding off, the wheels of Bonnie leaving tire tracks on the frosty path. You watch him as he leaves, his hair lifting in the wind, the tendrils of your scarf billowing behind him. You watch until he turns a corner and you can only faintly hear the rumbling of Bonnie’s engine. ‘I guess he really did have customers, even in this cold…’ You think to yourself, a faint smile growing on your face. You inhale the crisp cool air, feeling a bit cooler around your neck now that you’re missing a scarf. You idly look back up at the sky again, wondering if it really would snow today. Despite you enjoying the stillness of the winter air on Darkwick campus, the cold eventually bites at you, urging you to return to the chapel. Your footsteps crunch along the frosted path, following Bonnie’s tracks.

It’s Christmas evening, and things are finally winding down for the day. You’d been to Frostheim and made snow angels with Luca and Kaito, had coffee and played chess with Tohma, and Jin, despite himself, hadn’t asked you to run any errands for him today. You’d been to Vagastrom and exchanged gifts with Alan, tolerated Leo’s selfies with you, and looked around for Sho, but hadn’t found him. You’d been to Jabberwock and fed the animals with Haru, watched a romance movie with Towa, and played a holiday-themed horror game with Ren. You’d been to Sinostra and done some gambling with Taiga while Ritsu tagged along to ensure Sinostra’s reputation wasn’t damaged further, and had a surprisingly pleasant conversation with Romeo despite him saying your large coat made you resemble a slug. You’d been to Hotarubi and had tea and holiday sweets with Haku, Subaru, Zenji, and Lyca, who was visiting Subaru. You’d been to Obscuary and had Rui’s new holiday-themed drinks with Ed, chattering time away at the bar. You’d been to Mortkranken and reluctantly exchanged gifts with Yuri, aware of the fit he’d throw if you hadn’t gotten him anything, and pleasantly exchanged gifts with Jiro, reminding him to take good care of himself.

Finally, after a very long, exhausting, and eventful day, you were back at the chapel, counting the vines growing under your skin, glowing lavender like the flower on the back of your neck. Some small flowers broke your skin and bloomed here and there, leaving the exit wounds somewhat inflamed. Granted, you didn’t have much time left, and these vines made that clear, but this holiday had been much better than you’d expected it to be. You appreciated the effort most of the ghouls put forth to make this holiday at least somewhat enjoyable for you, especially considering it may be your last.

You sit by the fireplace in your room, watching the snow fall from the sky through your window. You had a tiny pine tree near your bed, decorated with handmade tinsel from the three Hotarubi ghouls and some small ornaments from Jin. You wore new pajamas from Romeo, though you weren’t sure how in the world he knew your size. You had a new bracelet from Taiga, who had originally forgotten who he’d gotten it for. On your nightstand lay a dreidel from Kaito and a snow globe from Luca. The hot chocolate you sipped on was a gift from Tohma, and some wine awaited you in your fridge, a gift from the Obscuary ghouls. You had a few new ugly holiday sweaters from various ghouls, Yuri and Ren included, and some not-so-ugly ones, thanks to Haru and Towa. A thick, heavy book about the origins of the laws of Japan sat on a nearby table, a gift from Ritsu that you had no plans to read. You had lit a scented candle from Leo, which you thought was surprisingly thoughtful, and had set aside the wax melts from Alan, planning to use them after the candle ran out. The new watch from Jiro was wrapped around your wrist, displaying the increasingly late time. In all of this, you wondered where your gift from Sho was. You hadn’t been able to spot him today, and the thought made you feel a little down. You’d wanted to spend some time with him today, but guessed he was probably too busy preparing Christmas dinner for all of Vagastrom and Hotarubi that he simply hadn’t had the time. You set your hot chocolate down on top of the accursed thick book and sprawl out in your chair, turning to the window again. Regardless, this had been a surprisingly wonderful holiday. The ghouls had given you gifts and willingly spent time with you, doing various fun activities and filling you with holiday cheer. It was a nice escape from the reality of your situation, even if it was only for a little while.

You check the vines under your skin again, resisting the urge to scratch at where a new white flower had bloomed near your elbow. You could feel that, soon after the holiday season mellowed down, it would be back to reality, and you’d have to face your own death once again. Part of you dreaded the eventual change in weather and in the length of days, knowing your predicted end was growing near. But a part of you was also resigned to it. Regardless of whether you were due to die soon or not, this had been a nice holiday. And you could stand to live in the now, just this once.

You carefully pluck the flower from your skin, wincing at the sharp pain. You bleed for only a few moments before it clots up. At least you could stave off the growth of the curse for now.

You hear a gentle knock at your door. Physically, you’re too exhausted to have much more fun at this point, but mentally, you could use a pick-me-up. You head down your stairs towards the door, opening it crack by crack, trying to prevent too much of the cold wind from slipping inside. You peer through the open doorway, jolting in surprise when a familiar pair of dark blue eyes meet yours.

“Hey,” Sho starts, lifting two boxes in his hands. “Thought you could use a warm holiday dinner.”

Your heart swells and all at once, a wave of emotion hits you. Sure, you didn’t have much time left, but that didn’t stop these ghouls from caring, and that was evident in the gifts piled up in your room, the fun you’d had all throughout the day, and the ghoul now standing at your doorstep, seeking more time with you. There was a reason he was your favorite.

You swing the door open wider, unable to hide the smile that breaks across your face all at once. “I was looking for you, you know.” You cross your arms and narrow your eyes in mock disappointment. “Where’ve you been all day?”

“Cooking.” Sho lifts a brow and shrugs, tilting his head at you. He smiles fondly at you, and you notice he’s finally dressed appropriately for the season; a hat covering most of his hair, a matching coat and gloves keeping him warm, and your scarf, tucked snugly against his neck inside his coat. Yet again, you realize you are probably never getting that scarf back.

“That scarf is still mine.” You gesture at his scarf, and he laughs, reaching up to brush the built up snow off of it.

“And I’m still using it.” He replies, smiling wider. “So… Gonna let me in or what? It’s cold out here.” His breath puffs into white clouds, and you notice his cheeks and nose are tinged red again thanks to the cold. You smile and step aside, letting him in.

You close the door behind him and he shakes off the snow built up on his coat. When he looks at you, his smile holds the warmth of a thousand candles and his voice holds the joy of a thousand holiday carols. “So… got any mistletoe? If not, we can start with gifts. Either works for me.” A blush covers his face as he pushes the boxes towards you, his smile growing wider and fonder.

You figure, regardless of how much time you have left, it wouldn’t hurt to spend a holiday with your favorite ghoul.

Bonus:

The gift, wrapped surprisingly delicately inside one of the boxes, is a knitted scarf in your favorite colors. It’s not bad, but you can tell it was done by a beginner. Holding it in your hands, a small smile grows on your face, and you sigh, totally resigned.

By god, you are never getting that scarf back.

“Well, thank you for your collateral replacement, but I expect that scarf back one day.”

Sho shakes his head, smiling as he chews on your shared meal, packed in the other box he was carrying. “No can do. It’s still cold and I still need a scarf.”

“I’m withholding the mistletoe, then.”

Sho huffs, rolling his eyes and continuing the meal. At his lack of a reaction, you purse your lips, thinking of another thing to withhold that might gift you a victory. Sho speaks, having swallowed his mouthful, “I can find other reasons to kiss you-”

“I’m withholding the potatoes.”

Sho looks at you in shock, dropping his forkful back onto his plate. “...I’ll think about it.”

Maybe you would get that scarf back, after all.

----------

a/n: it's done. finally it is done. finally! i've been writing this romance fic 4 a long while so im glad it is finally done

thank you all so much for reading!! as usual, i love likes, but especially comments, reblogs, and asks detailing how much you enjoyed my work!!! please feel free 2 fill up my inbox with whatever, i love talking 2 u all! but be warned my responses will be slow... im still recovering!

happy holidays 2 you all! i hope, whether you're surrounded by family, friends, or by yourself, that it's a wonderful and fulfilling holiday season 4 u. merry christmas 2 those who celebrate, and happy kwanzaa 2 those who celebrate that as well!! not very well versed in other winter holidays, but may they be joyous and merry!

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shinedoitsulikeabright · 2 days ago

Text

Twins AU

Alright, it seems like people were actually curious about this AU, so I decided to write this post. The OG idea was mine, but then @axt-bs and I worked on it together (also a huge thanks to @bigidiotenergytm for drawing the kiddos). Make sure to show them both some love <3

This is going to be a long post so brace yourselves...

The AU starts after Thunder Bringer. In an attempt to save both himself and his crew, Odysseus used the other ways of persuasion. It worked and Zeus agreed to it. They both believed it would be a one time thing, however, after seeing how juicy Ody's thighs were, Zeus couldn't bring himself to let him leave.

So, he gave him a new ultimatum: he either stays with Zeus and becomes his servant while the rest of his crew returns home safely, or he leaves with his men and they all certainly die. Obviously, Odysseus didn't want to do it, but he had no other choice but to stay. As promised, the crew made it back to Ithaca quickly and safely.

Naturally, it didn't take long for Poseidon to find out what happened. Of course, he was FUMING. Odysseus was his mortal to fuck kill. He went to Zeus and demanded he give him Odysseus so "he can receive his divine punishment and pay for the crimes he committed against him".

Zeus obviously didn't want to, but Poseidon gave him an ultimatum: either he gives the mortal to Poseidon or Ithaca will become the next Atlantis. Now, Zeus himself doesn't care about what happens to Ithaca, but Odysseus does and begs for his island to be spared.

Since Zeus and Poseidon are a match in terms of power, the thunder bringer reluctantly agrees. They end up awkwardly sharing Ody (one year he's with Zeus, another with Poseidon). One day, the two brothers get in a fight and somehow get to the topic of whose sperm is more powerful. They decide to settle it by getting Odysseus pregnant and seeing whose baby he gives birth to.

Anyway, some time passes and it's time for the babies to be born. In order to spare both Odysseus and the potential future child from Hera's wrath, Zeus sends him back to Ithaca. In fact, Zeus had to physically hold Hera back from cursing Ody's entire bloodline.

He also sent Artemis, the goddess of midwives, to help with the delivery. No one knew she would be coming; she just kinda showed up, all disheveled from the woods, at their front door and went to work.

The firstborn was Kyrios, the son of Zeus. Naturally, Zeus was beyond proud about his win and rubbed it into his disgruntled brother's face. He was quickly humbled, however, when the second child (Atlanta) was born and it was Poseidon's. They both just sat there in shock, somewhat disappointed that it was a tie (things like this happened in Greek mythology so it's not like it would be unheard of).

As expected, the two gods are terrible fathers and aren't present at all in the twins' lives. They do care in their own way though. They watch over the entire family from afar and send small, but noticeable blessings to the island (it rarely stormed, the sea was unusually calm, the Ithacan fisherman suddenly start catching more fish etc.)

Since the twins were raised by Ody and his family and never met their fathers, they began to resent them. However, they still also respected them because, well, they were gods. While everyone was able to notice the sudden influx of blessings, to the twins it all appeared normal (since it was that way since they were born, so in their minds, the gods never cared about them).

Odysseus taught them so much and raised them well. He taught them to be loyal to their future partners, so that was yet another reason why they resented their divine fathers (this is also why Hera eventually stops hating them, particularly Kyrios. She sees he's nothing like Zeus and that makes her stop wishing he were dead).

I think that's about it. If you'd like to read about Penelope and Telemachus' thoughts, you can check out this post. If you'd like to see some cute drawings of these little guys, check out this and this post.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I'm more than happy to yap about these guys all day :3

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starlightandfairies · 2 days ago

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Okay, first of all, sorry for my bad English, but could you maybe write a story with Kalus where you are all together (his siblings and Elena, Damon, Stefan etc.) in a room and spend time together, or rather solve another problem. Klaus notices how absent you are and how quiet you are the whole time. And later you disappear to a quiet place where you can be alone but then he shows up? The story need to be sweet😪

Description: gets overwhelmed and needs some time to relax

Warnings: she/her pronouns, fluff, swearing

*Requests are open, please send through as many requests as you want, check my character list and requesting rules.*

Thank you for requesting this! I hope you enjoy it!

Key: Y/N = Your Name, L/N = Last name, POV = Point of view, f/ice/c

Word Count: 1,013

First Person's pov

Everyone was here. Bonnie, Elena, Damon, Enzo, Stefan, Elijah, Rebekah, Caroline and Niklaus. My house was normally the meeting place, today was no different. I couldn't tell you what the issue was this time, I've been out of it for the past week. It's been hard, at the start of the week, I nearly got badly hurt while the next big-bad came along and after Stefan saved my butt, I got reprimanded by him for being so reckless and stupid.

I hated being yelled at or being near someone being yelled at. Ever since I was little, I've hated loud noises, so that incident at the start of the week just became a series of things building on top of each other. It was late, I was already overwhelmed and overstimulated, everyone was shouting at each other, demanding they be heard and that they were right.

"Dammit Damon! You cannot just expect us all to run around your agenda!"

"What else can we do?" Damon roared, I stared at my hands in my lap, fiddling with the skirt of my dress. I could feel Niklaus' eyes on me, they have been for the last little while, I have no clue what he was thinking or what he wanted but having him look at me, analysing me and my every move.

"Love, are you alright?" Niklaus softly murmured, I simply hummed in response, not meeting his eye or the disapproving hum that came from his lips. Everyone kept yelling, hitting my furniture in frustration, I could feel the tears bubbling and the prickling in my throat, If I didn't get away now then I'd breakdown in front of everyone.

While everyone was gathering around the table, writing out a plan for stopping this big bad, I slipped away and sat in my bedroom. I let out a shaky breath, letting the tears slip from my eyes and sobbed into my hands. I curled into my mattress, clutching my teddy bear to my chest and hoping all the chatter in my brain would fade away.

"So, this is the great Y/n L/n's bedroom." I sat up, rubbing my eyes, watching as Niklaus sat on the edge of my bed and turned to face me. I took a deep breath, pushing myself up and rested my teddy bear in my lap, watching him as he gazed around my room before his eyes landing me again.

"I am going to ask again... love. Are you alright?" His voice was smooth, gentle and even caring. On any normal day I could listen to him talk for hours on end, he had such a pretty voice.

"No... no, I'm not alright."

"Tell me what's wrong, love." It was a gentle demand, something I wouldn't fight against.

"I've just been feeling very overwhelmed and overstimulated. Got too much." Niklaus simply nodded, took my hand into his and rubbed his thumb over my knuckles. Niklaus hummed, his face scrunching up in thought before it relaxed and his eyes gazed upon me soothingly.

"I will kick them out from your home. They can take this to the Salvatore manor."

"Thank you." He nodded and looked at my teddy bear.

"What is this lovely thing's name?" I was grateful for the distraction, clutching to the arms of the bear a little tighter and smiled.

"Her name is Pebbles. I got her when I was a baby. I know it's silly... not being a kid anymore and having a teddy bear still." Niklaus shrugged, seemingly not bothered by this.

"Does it bring you comfort?" I nodded.

"Then why should it matter?"

"I suppose you are right, Niklaus." He chuckled once I said his name, I raised an eyebrow, trying to keep my own smile at bay from his sweet laughter.

"You always call me Niklaus. I don't think I have ever heard you call me Klaus."

"I like calling you Niklaus. It sounds nice, it just rolls off the tongue." He chuckled nodding, turning his body to face me better. I took another breath, finding the uneasy feeling fading away the longer I sat in Niklaus' presence. It was quiet up here, I could just here the others and every time I would react to the group becoming more vocal, Niklaus would bring my attention back to him by asking about something in my room.

My cat walked into the room, jumping onto Niklaus' lap, curling into him and hitting his hands with her paw to get him to pet her.

"She's a sweet thing, I'm sorry, I'll call her off."

"It's okay, I do not mind, your cat and you are quite welcome to my lovely presence and comfort whenever." I chuckled at the light sound of arrogance in his voice. He continued petting my cat for a little while until she jumped off and he took that as his moment to stand up and held out his hand.

"Y/n, I think you need some time away from these headaches. Do you trust me?" I nodded, I really did, not once had Niklaus used me for his gain, he hadn't betrayed my trust once and I don't believe he ever would.

"Yeah, okay." He picked me up, then sped out my window. Niklaus took me to a look-out in a couple towns over, it overlooked the water and no one else was nearby. The water brushed up against the rocks, soothing and peaceful. Within a blink he disappeared and within another he had a cup full of f/ice/c.

"Thank you. Y-you didn't need to do this." "You are feeling down, a sweet treat can always help. As I am told." I took small spoonfuls of the ice cream and started swaying to the gentleness of the violin.

"You know my favourite ice cream, my favourite instrument and my favourite song. How?"

"I have my ways, love." He whispers, letting me bask in the peace of the music.

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shallowseeker · 3 days ago

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"We see a glimmer of emotional despair and blame lobbed at Cas which is… fascinating" out of curiosity and for clarification, what was the emotional despair lobbed at castiel? im reading the transcript and am not quite sure

Confession: This is conjecture on my part.

I feel like this scene in Ouroboros is ofc course directed at all of Dean's loved ones, as they were all working to convince Dean to stay alive.

But imho, here: Dean's squared up to Cas.

And Cas squares up to him,

while Sam's body instinctually takes on the body language of a peacemaker between them.

(Also// We as audience have the diner scene between Dean and Cas fresh on our minds: DEAN: "Okay. But if -- if you don't we still have Plan B. ... Coffin. Ocean. Done.")

Sam's not exactly "getting it," but I think his subconscious must understand something of it, maybe...

///

I think the emotional despair that seems be more directed at Cas isn’t blame in the traditional sense but rather a reflection of Dean’s internal conflict.

I think Cas represents something Dean deeply struggles with—his own desires.

Cas, along with Jack, symbolizes hope and the possibility of a particular kind of future happiness, which Dean has been convinced that he’s not "allowed" to want. He has to be covert about it, to take a meager, starved kind of approach to his own happiness. (Note: Dean is allowed to enter family units and support others, but he's rarely allowed to "need" something/someone for himself in earnest.)

There's 14x10's almost-happiness: "DEAN: This bar -- This bar -- This bar -- I've never had anything this nice. Rocky's still isn't for sale."

And 2x20's DJINN CARMEN as she walks up to him, taking his face in her hands, kissing him* CARMEN: We can have a future together. Have our own family. I love you, Dean. Please."

And of course 8x17's DEAN: "I know you're in there. *CASTIEL raises his angel blade, ready to strike.* I know you can hear me. Cas... *DEAN's voice breaks, pleading.* It's me. *CASTIEL stands there, blade at the ready, light glints off the blade.* We're family. We need you. I need you."

And what's even more sickening? AU Michael's words later work to inflame this: "If only Dean had used that coffin when he had the chance."

(Aside/// And likewise, The Empty's deal works to convince Cas of the same thing, that he's not "allowed" to feel personal happiness or express love without dire consequences!)

/// Anyway, I think Dean’s decision not to say goodbye to Cas and Jack in 14x12 does stand in stark contrast to his other behaviors: hugging Sam, eating last meals with Mary and Donna, etc. I think this difference highlights how unique and emotionally complicated his relationships with Cas and Jack are. Dean’s reasoning—“I don’t need to get shaky on this thing”—reveals his fear of losing resolve if he faces them directly. (It's even unlike Lisa, whose goodbye was bittersweet but clean.)

In a nutshell, saying goodbye to Cas and Jack would force Dean to confront the depth of his attachments, making it harder to follow through with his sacrifice. (Or, per the script, it would make Dean himself "too emotional.")

SAM: You know, Mom hates this. I hate this... And Cas and Jack, you haven’t even told them. DEAN: Okay, well, yeah, that’s because I’m not good with the whole big goodbyes, alright? I-I-I don’t need to get shaky on this thing. SAM: Wouldn't be the worst thing.

Overall, Dean fears his resolve will weaken, that his emotions will spill out uncontrollably, revealing more than he intends, or that his goodbye would overburden Cas and cause him strife—because, much like Cas with his Empty deal, Dean doesn’t want to burden him.

Both Dean and Cas share a deeply ingrained sense of self-denial, prioritizing protecting others over addressing their own emotional needs.

I feel like The Gorgon’s line in Ouroboros, “Oh… you definitely want things,” brings this to the surface, as does AU Michael’s taunts. All season long, Michael asked his victims: "What do you want?"

Notably, Dream!Pamela says to Dean: "Why do you always want what you can't have?" And finally, AU Micheal's: “If only Dean had used that coffin when he had the chance.”

////

Cas makes Dean want to stay, a feeling that unsettles him precisely because of how powerful it is. Perhaps, it stirs up frustration because it's something he can't seem to control, even after all this time.

This is a frustration that Dean largely directs at himself, but I think it occasionally spills over into his interactions with Cas because of the vulnerability Cas represents. (Note: All this isn't even factoring in Cas's well-meaning attempts to shield Dean, which winds up making Dean feel shut out.)

///

And of course... all hail 2x20.

John instilled hero virtues in Dean by teaching him that sacrifice and duty were part of being a hero/family caretaker, even at the cost of his own happiness. This mindset is clear in Dean’s painful reflection, where he questions why he has to carry the burden of saving others while his own life and the lives of his loved ones are sacrificed:

DEAN (to John): "Course I know what you'd say. Your happiness for all those people's lives, no contest. Right?" But why? Why is it my job to save these people? Why do I have to be some kind of hero? (begins to cry while talking) What about us, huh? What, Mom's not supposed to live her life, Sammy's not supposed to get married? Why do we have to sacrifice everything, Dad? (pause) It's... (Dean's lips tremble. Silence. We hear the sky rumbling. Tears begins to falls on DEAN's cheek.)

#dean vs happiness #spn 2x20 #i put on you what i couldn't take #cas is dean's happiness #therefore it's a little bit his fault for making dean want to stay #dean feels like he's already dead inside because the mere act of WANTING has been like THIS at every turn #his anger is justified

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miss-oranje-disco-dancer · 3 days ago

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miss oranje's faves: self-recs edition

i'm not used to praising myself bc i am my biggest hater, not my biggest fan, but i was tagged by the lovely @gothcsz to participate in @jolapeno 's 'tootathon' challenge, and i originally was going to pass up the opportunity butttt i suppose i'll *try* to say nice things about myself but i love the people in this fandom so i always enjoy participating in the fun, particularly something that promotes positivity when fandoms can be so toxic sometimes. honestly, i might need to steal this idea and make a positivity challenge for the resident evil fandom (which is what i primarily write for) because we are in need of good vibes…

*because my blog is multi-fandom, my masterlist is getting big overall, so i'm going to link my javi fics and my joel fics (along with my liztober '24 because there are a couple other pedro character fics on there)

i haven't been a part of the pedro pascal fandom for long, so my work here is limited, but i will share a few things:

it's never over (javi p x reader) - a two part fic (part one is from javi's perspective, part two is from reader's)

I really liked the concept for this fic and it was something that I wrote bits and pieces of for a while. I tried to change it to a single pov because i think i’m not someone who does well with pov switches like this, but it never captured the full scope of the story i wanted to tell when i tried to make it only javi’s or only reader’s. Ultimately, while i’d like to add onto this fic because i would like to expand upon reader’s pov, i like the story that i told in the end (i love angst). Maybe there will be a part 3…

2. and for dessert? (javi p x reader) - a short, mildly smutty story about javi and a housekeeper at a hotel

i hated this fic for a while because i got caught up in the numbers but i reread it last night and i was like, ‘okay, the concept is incredibly silly, but i guess in some way, that’s the point’. Anyway, when i looked back and stopped focusing on the numbers, i realized that i actually really like this fic, and probably wouldn’t change anything about it.

3. anniversary antics (joel x reader) - joel and his wife getting it on ... heavy breeding kink here

i wrote this in an hour or so. it just came to me. straight from the smutty brain (which is rare). this is one of the few fics of mine that i re-read and actually think 'oh this is hot'!

4. everything's bigger in texas (joel x reader) - for my liztober celebration! reader loses her virginity to joel and it's a sweet and short smut.

this is my second most popular tumblr post of all time (so it doesn’t need promo here), which is very funny because i almost didn't post this at all. i thought the size kink might be too basic and overdone but i also really wanted to write an 'older' reader as i have a tendency to write younger readers (which is partially because i am 24 and have never been older than 24 vs i have been 21 etc.) and i wanted to get away from the typical innocent virgin thing.

and also, we're gonna get personal here... i'm pretty sure i have vaginismus and so it's really really difficult to have sex. i've been shamed or questioned rather than reassured during situations where i struggle or am entirely unable to. reader in this fic was not specified to have vaginismus because i was trying to keep it light and smutty, flipping it around into a size kink, but it was a bit healing to write tbh.

I’m pretty sure everyone has already been tagged but i’ll tag some of my mutuals just in case:

@clawdee @evolnoomym @baronessvonglitter @the-mandawhor1an

#jo: tootathon #tootathon2024

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moregraceful · 21 hours ago

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made it one (1) cookie into christmas day cookie baking without a standmixer before i went this cannot stand, and now i have had my finger on the launch button of my shopping cart on the kitchenaid website for 45 minutes. an interesting thing about me is i will buy a customized jersey for $250+ without thinking twice, but then i look at a kitchenaid stand mixer and i'm like no i couldn't POSSIBLY...it is EXTRAVAGANT... even though a stand mixer will easily get more use on a consistent basis than um. z.ach h.yman leafs jersey. &tc

livejournal posting on the microblogging website

having a very nice christmas so far. i am spending it alone and earlier this week i spent about 10 minutes feeling sorry for myself about it, and then said WHAT the fuck am i doing. to wake up on christmas morning and not want to kill myself is going to be the greatest gift. and made a plan to make cookies and a sheet pan dinner that my family hates but that i love. and you know what, i did not wake up and feel like ending it all, and even though i am having immense cookie struggles, i feel better than i have in years. i like building traditions. it's fun.

talked to my sister and her husband this morning and while i always feel better about everything after talking to them, today was especially nice because her husband got on the phone whipped the fuck about their neighbor's kid or kids hiding musical instruments on their property. he was like you've worked extensively with teenagers, PLEASE explain why a teenager would do something this bizarre. and it's nice when i can be of help to them these days bc they spent so much of winter and spring trying to convince me not to gaslight myself into thinking any of it was normal or survivable. it's nice to be like, ok now i am in a safe space so i can offer my infinite wisdom. also very funny to be the teenager whisperer of the family. the three of us worked through the issue and landed on a solution that didn't involve my sister's husband narcing on the kid to their very strict and religious parents about instrument-playing lol. and that made me feel good bc we are several thousand miles away from each other but we're still very present in each other's lives.

i don't know it's being christian or if it's just spending a lot of years way too drunk on new year's eve to hashtag cope and waking up on jan 1 hungover as hell like goddammit not this shit (being alive) again. but this year christmas day feels like more of the start of a new year. i think about goal-setting and trying new things to inhabit my life more vividly and today feels like more of a place to start. like the light is here and i am too etc. this is a long-winded way saying that my 2025 goal is to take more pictures bc while i do love to live in the moment, i DON'T love that i have next to no pictures of the people i love or the things that i have enjoyed seeing or the creations i have made. not to be a Instagram Poster, but it's like i would love to remember what my internet friends' faces look like. or that cool rock i saw in someone's yard... i don't have to always live in the moment about rocks and friends it's ok to be like, i am enjoying this moment and i want simple proof that it existed beyond my memory.

and i have just tried both cookies i made and they are both very strange experiences that did not really spark joy so i am going to stare intently at the kitchenaid site for another hour

#like when am i gonna wear a leafs jersey again #meanwhile we have my grandma's kitchen she bought in the 70s that still works well #you know like...like the thing i would use multiple times a month if not weekly when i was at home #staring at blue kitchenaid stand mixer. you could fix me #suicidality cw #but in a good way yk like not feeling that way anymore #fresno oilers.txt

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jenhoneys · 3 days ago

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so so tired of the debate of "powder would have been better off with vi as a caregiver" "no silco was better for her" like, no no! any way it goes, ALL of them loose -- there is no winning in this situation especially for power. this is the point! they are lower class people fighting to survive within a system that hates them and the result of that is rage and fighting that means everyone experiences loss; there is no vi/silco is better for powder, they would have both been detrimental to her growing up because of the elements around them -- without their traumas, outside environment, etc, yes they would be better and loving, but the fact is that they are both incredibly complex characters that work through their issues in flawed ways.

you don't think vi would have tried to fight the enforcers/silco post-warehouse? by this time, she is a tween, she's just lost her family, and she is so extremely full of rage. killing is a cycle, and at this point, vi hasn't learnt to control her rage the way vander does -- both vi and vander are full of love and full of anger, but vander only realises it needs to stop when it hurts someone he loves/he hurts someone he loves. and even though she did hurt powder, because vi is so young, I don't think she'd learn that so quickly -- she's just a child, she isn't equipt to deal with caregiving 24/7, no matter how good she seems at it, she's not equipt to deal with powder's episodes (which I believe would still occur -- more on that later) alongside dealing with her own anger towards silco/sevika/enforcers. plus, she'd be forced to take the adult role in that relationship, more than she already did, and it would be detrimental to them both, especially after experiencing such a trauma.

speaking of, I also think people blaming silco fully for jinx's mental state is assigning him too much credit -- he very much feeds into it by encouraging her paranoia (though I don't believe he does it intentionally, because he doesn't seem to be aware of the voices or taking inventory/staying updated with them as he does other things), but he isn't the cause. she isn't depicted using shimmer, and the same animation effect is already used when she was younger, before she lost her family, the loss of her family (and the realisation that she did it) just worsens her condition.

and with silco, though he loves her more than anything, he is an enabler, and he is also riddled with his own trauma. he maps his trauma onto her, and she inherits a kind of pseudo generational trauam by default. he is paranoid of people, of trusting, of lies, because of how he was hurt by vander, and so jinx has the same mentality. he believes he only has jinx in the world, and so jinx believes the same. he is not equipt to deal with a child, either, and yet he does because she is a child of someone he loved -- and while he seems to have done a good job in the other universe, the main difference is that vander is there, and vander is forgiven. he has worked through his trauma, assumably, with another adult, and he hasn't given it to jinx. he also doesn't seem to be co-dependent with her, because he seems to have other people he trusts in his life (mostly, from the scene in 2×7, vander).

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moonselune · 4 hours ago

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hi there 🙃

could you write the female companions' reactions to a normally passive (as in, pacifist, -- bard, healer, etc) tav, who genuinly dislikes violence, absolutely demolishing someone after they dared lay hands on their beloved?

not like in a, 'dont touch em!! Take dat!!' way after someone accidentally bumps shoulders with their partner, im talking about someone insulting tavs significant other, both physically and verbally, SO BAD, that tav cant help but go ballistic on em 😦

like, for example, someone berating Shadowheart, mocking her, mocking shar, kickin her to the ground n allat, and before she can even respond or fight back, the very same person who was berating her suddenly has a spear impaling them through the heart ?? As the stranger falls down, tav stands tall behind them, pulling the spear out and hurling it to the ground along with the now lifeless corpse 👽

if this is too dark feel free to ignore 💕

Ahh I love this and not too dark at all xox

Karlach:

The camp was quiet, the crackling of the fire and the occasional distant howl of wildlife the only sounds in the crisp evening air. You watched as Karlach, her fiery mane glowing in the flickering light, paced near the edge of the clearing. Her usual exuberant energy was gone, replaced with a taut line to her shoulders and a clenched jaw. It was rare to see her so subdued, and it made your heart ache.

The cause of her distress, Gortash’s lackey—a smarmy, cruel barite with a penchant for striking where it hurt most—still lingered in the shadows, his mocking laughter replaying in your ears.

“Naive and stupid,” he had jeered earlier. “To think you’d ever amount to more than a pawn, Karlach. A brute without a brain. That’s all you are, just a weapon Gortash no longer needs.”

Karlach had held her tongue—barely. You’d seen the way her fists had clenched, the way her chest had heaved as she fought to keep her Infernal Engine from roaring to life. Instead of lashing out, she had walked away, muttering about needing to cool off.

But you couldn’t let it go. Not this time.

You rose from your seat by the fire and slipped into the shadows, the hidden dagger in your boot feeling heavier than usual. Violence wasn’t your way; it never had been. But for Karlach? For the woman who had given you her heart, who carried so much pain behind her warm smiles and boundless energy? For her, you would make an exception.

You found the lackey leaning against a tree, a smug grin plastered on his face as though he thought himself untouchable. He didn’t even notice you approach.

“Lost, are we?” he sneered, his eyes finally meeting yours. “Or have you come to defend your pet?”

You didn’t respond. Instead, you closed the distance in a flash, the dagger in your hand before he could even register the movement. One swift, silent motion, and it was over. The man’s eyes widened in shock as he crumpled to the ground, his lifeblood staining the forest floor. You wiped the blade clean on his cloak, your heart pounding in your chest—not from fear, but from the fierce protectiveness that had driven you to act.

When you returned to camp, Karlach was sitting by the fire, her head resting on her knees. She looked up as you approached, her fiery eyes searching your face for any sign of what had transpired.

“Where’d he go?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion. “The loudmouth. I didn’t hear him leave.”

You sat beside her, tucking the dagger away as nonchalantly as possible.

“Don’t worry about him,” you said softly, offering her a reassuring smile. “He’s gone now. Probably realized he wasn’t welcome.”

Karlach tilted her head, studying you for a moment. Then she smiled, a small, grateful thing that made your heart swell.

“Guess even idiots like him know when to back off, huh?” she said, leaning into your side.

You wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close as her warmth seeped into you. If she suspected anything, she didn’t show it. After all, you were the pacifist, the one who hated violence. The idea that you could harm someone—let alone end them—would never cross her mind.

As you sat there, the fire crackling softly and Karlach’s tension melting away, you felt a strange sense of peace. You had done what needed to be done, and Karlach was none the wiser. She didn’t need to know. All that mattered was that she was safe, her spirit undimmed.

You pressed a kiss to the top of her head, your lips brushing against her wild hair.

“I’ll always look out for you,” you murmured, more to yourself than to her. And you meant it—no matter what it took.

Minthara:

The dimly lit underdark tavern was alive with the quiet murmurs of its occupants, the air thick with the heady mix of incense and intrigue. Minthara stood at your side, her presence regal and unyielding even in the face of a room filled with drow - some nobles. Their venomous words and sidelong glances were nothing new—Minthara had endured their scorn since the fall of the Absolute. But tonight, one of them crossed a line.

Lady Velrith, a figure draped in finery as dark and ostentatious as her twisted smirk, circled Minthara like a predator.

“The mighty Minthara,” she drawled, her voice dripping with mockery. “Once a chosen of the Absolute, now… what? Cast aside by the very gods you claimed to serve? Even Lolth herself wouldn’t sully her name with your devotion.”

Minthara’s hands clenched at her sides, her jaw tightening as she prepared to retort—or strike. Her amber eyes glinted with barely contained rage, but before she could act, you stepped forward.

“Enough,” you said, your voice calm yet laced with a warning. Velrith turned her gaze to you, clearly unimpressed by your intervention.

“And who is this?” Velrith sneered, looking you up and down. “Minthara’s little pet, come to defend her honor? How quaint.”

Your grip tightened on the hilt of your dagger, hidden beneath the folds of your cloak. You were not one for violence—it was something you abhorred, something Minthara often teased you about. But this time, this venomous noble had gone too far. Minthara was yours, your heart, your everything. No one insulted her and lived to gloat about it.

Without a word, you lunged. The dagger moved like a whisper, slicing through the air and finding its mark in Velrith’s throat. Her eyes widened in shock as she staggered, clutching at the wound, blood spilling between her fingers. She collapsed to the floor, lifeless.

The chamber fell into stunned silence. You stood over the noble’s body, your chest heaving as you looked down at her. The room seemed to shrink around you, every eye locked on the scene. But none mattered except Minthara’s.

When you turned to her, she was staring at you, her expression a mixture of astonishment and something else—pride.

“You… killed her,” Minthara said, stepping closer. Her voice was quiet, but the weight of her words hung heavy in the air. “You, who flinch at the mere thought of bloodshed.”

“I did,” you replied simply, wiping the dagger on a scrap of cloth before sheathing it. “She insulted you. I couldn’t stand by and let that happen.”

Minthara’s lips parted, as though she wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. For a moment, the ever-composed drow was at a loss. Then, a slow, almost predatory smile spread across her face.

“You stole my kill,” she said, her tone light but edged with amusement. “But I find I cannot be angry with you. Not when you’ve proven yourself so… capable.”

“I wasn’t going to let her speak to you like that,” you said, stepping closer to her. “You deserve better.”

Her amber eyes locked onto yours, and she reached up to cradle your face in her hands.

“You surprise me, my love,” she murmured. “You, with your pacifist heart, spilling blood for me. I could not ask for a more devoted partner.”

Her words sent a warmth through you, even as the weight of what you’d done lingered in the back of your mind. She leaned in, brushing her lips against yours in a kiss that was both possessive and tender.

“Next time,” she whispered against your lips, “leave the killing to me. But… thank you. For reminding them, and me, that I am not to be underestimated.”

The two of you left the chamber together, her hand resting on your arm as though to shield you from any further hostility. Though you had shocked her, you had also proven your devotion in a way few ever could.

Lae'zel:

The air in Creche Y'llek was sharp with the scent of steel and the faint tang of psionic energy. Githyanki warriors moved through the halls with an air of superiority, their every movement deliberate and precise. You stayed close to Lae’zel, her presence steady and fierce as ever, though you could sense the tension coiling in her like a spring. This was her home, but it was no safe haven—not anymore.

“Traitorous filth,” a sneering voice cut through the air, stopping the two of you in your tracks.

A gith warrior, clad in gleaming armor, stood with arms crossed, his expression twisted into a contemptuous sneer. His name was Ver’sath, a seasoned warrior and a guard they had encountered at the entrance, and his eyes burned with disdain as they locked onto Lae’zel.

“You dare walk among us, tainted by the ghaik’s spawn?” Ver’sath spat, his voice dripping with disgust. “Your very breath defiles this creche.”

Lae’zel’s jaw tightened, but she stepped forward, her gaze like steel. “I am no ghaik, Ver’sath. I bear the parasite, yes, but it does not rule me. I will cleanse myself and prove my worth.”

Ver’sath snorted, taking a step back as though the mere proximity of her presence was offensive. “You are already lost, Lae’zel. A ghaik puppet masquerading as gith. I wouldn’t sully my blade or my honor by crossing steel with you.”

The insult hung heavy in the air, and you felt your blood boil. Without thinking, without considering the consequences, your hand darted to your weapon. Before Lae’zel could respond, you surged forward, the blade singing as it left its sheath.

The movement was swift, fueled by a fire you rarely allowed to burn. Ver’sath’s eyes widened in shock as your weapon pierced his chest, the blade slipping between the plates of his armor. He staggered back, a choked gasp escaping his lips as he collapsed to the ground.

Silence fell over the corridor, broken only by the sound of his lifeless body hitting the stone floor. You stood there, breathing heavily, your weapon dripping with blood.

“Lae’zel,” you began, turning to her, but her expression stopped you short.

Her golden eyes blazed with a mix of fury and disbelief. She grabbed your wrist, yanking you aside.

“Do you know what you’ve done?” she hissed, her voice low but intense. “We are in a creche! Such actions will not go unnoticed!”

You met her gaze, guilt and defiance warring within you. “He insulted you. He—”

“I did not need your protection,” she snapped, though her grip on your wrist softened. “This place is not like the surface. Here, there are rules—strict ones. You jeopardize both of us.”

“But he called you…” you trailed off, the weight of your impulsiveness settling over you. “I couldn’t let him speak to you like that. I couldn’t stand it.”

For a moment, Lae’zel said nothing. Then, with a heavy sigh, she released your wrist.

“You are a fool,” she muttered, her tone softer now. “A reckless fool. But… you acted from loyalty, and for that, I cannot truly fault you.”

Her gaze lingered on the fallen Ver’sath before returning to you.

“Come,” she said, pulling you away. “We must move quickly before his absence raises questions. But hear me, my love—do not act so rashly again. I can handle the scorn of weaklings like him.”

You nodded, swallowing hard as you followed her. “I only did it because I care.”

She glanced at you, the corner of her mouth twitching in what might have been the ghost of a smile. “I know. But let us survive this place, so you may continue to care another day.”

Shadowheart:

Shadowheart rarely showed fear. She was a woman forged in darkness, raised to endure pain and thrive in chaos. But as she knelt on the damp cobblestones of the alley, surrounded by sneering Sharrans, her shoulders trembled ever so slightly. Their taunts echoed off the walls, cruel and cutting.

"Look at her," one sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "A failed servant of the Dark Lady. What a disgrace. Did Shar discard you like the trash you are?"

Another kicked her in the side, and Shadowheart grunted, but she refused to cry out. "Pathetic," the second hissed. "Begging for scraps of redemption when you were meant to walk the shadows."

The third leaned close, gripping her chin roughly and forcing her to meet his gaze. "Do you miss her embrace, girl? Or did you run because you knew you weren’t worthy?"

Shadowheart’s hand twitched toward her weapon, but she was outnumbered, outmaneuvered, and worse, they knew her weaknesses. She felt their jeers carving into her like knives, cutting far deeper than any blade ever could.

But then, a voice cut through the din like a blade through silk. “Take your hands off her.”

The Sharrans turned, their expressions shifting from derision to surprise as you stepped into the mouth of the alley. You weren’t carrying a weapon; you never did. You were a bard, a healer, someone who mended wounds and sang away sorrow. To them, you were no threat at all.

And yet, there was something in your eyes—a stillness, a quiet storm—that made them pause.

"Or what?" one of them sneered, recovering quickly. "You’ll sing us a ballad?"

Your gaze flicked to Shadowheart. She was watching you, her face pale but her eyes wide with something like warning—or perhaps pleading. And then your attention snapped back to the Sharrans.

It happened so fast they didn’t have time to react. In one fluid motion, you grabbed a discarded spear leaning against the alley wall—likely dropped there by the very fools now surrounding Shadowheart—and hurled it with deadly precision. The first Sharran crumpled to the ground, the spear embedded in his chest.

The others blinked in shock, their bravado faltering. Before they could act, you closed the distance. Your movements were a blur, driven not by technique but by sheer, unrelenting determination. You snatched the spear from the lifeless body and swung it in a wide arc, knocking the second Sharran to the ground. He tried to scramble to his feet, but you drove the butt of the spear into his skull with a sickening crack.

The last Sharran, the one who had dared lay hands on Shadowheart, stumbled back, his confidence shattered.

“You’re mad!” he spat, drawing a dagger. “You’re just a bard—!”

His words were cut short as you thrust the spear forward, impaling him through the heart. He looked down at the weapon protruding from his chest, his mouth opening and closing as if searching for words. Then he fell, lifeless, onto the cobblestones.

You stood there, breathing heavily, the spear still clutched in your hands. Blood dripped from its tip, pooling around your feet. Shadowheart pushed herself upright, staring at you in stunned silence.

“Are you hurt?” you asked, your voice softer than she expected. You turned to her, your hands reaching out, but when you saw the blood on them, you hesitated.

Shadowheart shook her head, stepping closer. “You…” Her voice faltered, her usual poise slipping. “You just…”

You dropped the spear, letting it clatter to the ground as you moved to her side.

“They touched you,” you said simply, as though that explained everything. “No one touches you.”

For a moment, Shadowheart didn’t know what to say. She had always seen you as the gentle one, the light to her shadow, the person who hated violence and refused to carry a blade. And yet here you were, standing over the bodies of her tormentors, bloodied but unbowed.

“You didn’t have to—” she began, but you cut her off with a look.

“Yes, I did,” you said firmly. “And I would do it again.”

Her lips parted, but no words came. Instead, she closed the distance between you and pulled you into a fierce embrace, her hands clutching the back of your tunic as though afraid you might disappear. You held her just as tightly, the adrenaline in your veins slowly giving way to the aching reality of what you’d done.

“You’re a fool,” she murmured against your shoulder, her voice thick with emotion. “A reckless, beautiful fool.”

“And you’re worth every risk,” you replied, your lips brushing against her hair.

For once, Shadowheart didn’t argue.

Jaheira:

The evening at the tavern had been pleasant—cozy firelight, a few shared drinks, and soft murmurs of conversation between you and Jaheira. That was until a brash mercenary swaggered in, loud and boisterous, his voice cutting through the calm like a blade. His gaze had landed on Jaheira almost immediately, and the mocking began.

“Well, if it isn’t the elder druid herself,” he sneered, leaning on the edge of your table. “Tell me, Jaheira, do you need a cane to walk the forest now? Or do you just lean on the young one here to keep from breaking a hip?”

Jaheira’s lips tightened, her calm exterior betraying the faintest flicker of irritation. “Is there something you need?” she asked coolly, clearly unimpressed by his attempt to bait her.

The mercenary chuckled, ignoring her measured tone. “No need to get prickly, grandmother. Just surprised to see someone your age still kicking about. Aren’t you tired of pretending you can keep up with the rest of us? Retirement suits your kind better.”

Your hands clenched under the table. You hated violence, avoided it when you could, but the disdain in his voice and the way he looked down at Jaheira lit a fire in your chest. Before Jaheira could respond—before she could dismiss him or turn him into a toad with a flick of her magic—you stood up, your chair scraping against the floor.

“Step outside with me,” you said evenly, your voice calm but cold.

The mercenary blinked, surprised by the sudden challenge from someone who looked so unassuming. “What’s this?” he laughed. “The pacifist wants to have a word?”

“Now,” you insisted, your tone brooking no argument. The quiet intensity in your gaze must have unnerved him, as his smirk faltered before he shrugged and followed you out.

The alley behind the tavern was dark, the cold night air biting at your skin. The mercenary turned to face you, still smirking. “So, what’s this about? You gonna give me a little lecture? Maybe cry about—”

His words were cut off as you moved faster than he expected, the dagger in your hand finding its mark before he could react. A choked sound escaped him as you withdrew the blade, letting him crumple to the ground. You wiped the dagger clean on his tunic and left him where he fell, the anger in your chest finally settling as you turned back toward the warm glow of the tavern.

Jaheira looked up as you reentered the room, her sharp gaze immediately locking onto you.

“What happened?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

“Nothing,” you replied, slipping back into your chair with an air of nonchalance. “It’s taken care of.”

Jaheira’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she reached across the table, her thumb brushing against your cheek. When she pulled her hand back, there was a faint smear of red on her fingertip.

“I see,” she said dryly, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite the situation. “And I suppose I shouldn’t ask for details?”

“Probably not,” you admitted, leaning back in your chair.

Jaheira studied you for a moment, her expression unreadable. Then, she reached for her drink, raising it in a small, almost imperceptible gesture of gratitude.

“I don’t need to know,” she said, her voice soft but firm. “But… thank you.”

You smiled, a warmth blooming in your chest that had nothing to do with the firelight.

“Always,” you said simply, and Jaheira’s small smile widened just enough to light up her face. The incident, though dark, faded into the background as the two of you resumed your evening, the connection between you stronger than ever.

I hope everyone is having a very happy holidays, here are some bg3 ladies for you all. Hope you enjoyed this! - Seluney xox

If you want to support me in other ways | Help keep this moonmaiden caffeinated x

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ephemeral-roses · 3 days ago

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OMG YES!

I'm so tired of seeing Demeter as "evil"! She's mother, she has all the right to feel mother's rage and it's okay for her to be angry!

I really and sincerely can't understand why almost every retelling or fics which claims to be "feminist retelling" has so much hate towards mothers.

Mother's love is something beautiful, it can be both gentle and fierce, mother will do anything to protect her child.

I mean, I'd understand if they show her as overprotective mother, but why on earth she's evil one?

Persephone literally called for her. Maybe I'm wrong, but usually people don't call for "bad parents".

It's really sad. I wish there was less hate towards mothers.

I have a strong feeling that it is because of the tropes that people often use when writing Hades and Persephone's relationship (like star-crossed lovers, bad boy and good girl, etc.), and the need for there to still be an antagonist of the story but not have it be Hades, so since Demeter is the one who keeps them separated, by default, she is chosen to be the antagonist. I also feel like it has a lot to do with prioritizing men over women and having women fight each other, which is a problem within a lot of YA books recently.

#ask box #ask me anything #ask #greek mythology #greek myth

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iovestuck · 13 hours ago

Text

HOT CHOCOLATE FOR TWO ☆ 심재윤

staring. boyfriend ! jaeyun × girlfriend ! female oc

wc. 1.5k | genre. fluff, soft, a hint of angst, etc. | warnings. kissing, a bit suggestive if you look closely, doubts, assuming, super cute moments, etc.

iovestuck's notes. I wrote this yesterday and finished it three hours before Christmas ends in my timezone. I love this Christmas fic and almost cried at this special part of the fic. I hope you love this so much! Please listen to Feel Like by Gracie Abrams and songs that are gentle and soft while reading this fic.

masterlist

IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAYS. Some were out partying, some were in their homes with their family, and some were with their significant other. But there are a few that were alone during this special holiday. One of them was a female.

She didn't have a choice to be alone during Christmas, but because she was sick. She has no choice but to be home alone. Her boyfriend had plans for them, but because she was sick, it was canceled at the last minute. Her family and friends rang her doorbell to give her presents and she gave theirs.

Now, she was alone in the cold empty apartment. She was sitting in the living room looking at the Christmas tree. She looked at her gift bag next to the couch. The only gift that was left for her to give. She sighed as she looked at that blue gift bag. “Does he hate me?” She thought.

She curled up into her warm blanket even more. Still feeling sick but didn't want to waste the day in bed. She hated how sick she was during her favorite holiday. Nothing is worse than being sick during something you loved so much. She then looked at the soup her mother made that she hadn't touched. The guilt was so unbearable that she didn't have any appetite to eat or drink anything.

Her boyfriend planned the day, but because of her, everything was ruined. Suddenly, she heard someone punching her passcode. She didn't move from her spot since it was probably her mother checking on her. Closing her eyes, she felt so empty and tired.

She heard the front door closed and footsteps slowly making their way. A warm hand softly touched her forehead before a sigh was heard. She slowly opened her eyes before widening them. “Jaeyun?”

Her boyfriend softly smiled at her when he saw her eyes were opened. “Did I wake you up?” She shook her head. “No, I was awake before you came.” She took a minute before saying the next words, “Are you mad at me?” Jaeyun's eyes widened before shaking his head with no hesitation. “No, why would I be?”

Eunu felt more embarrassed after she heard what he said. “Well, I thought you did cause we have to cancel the plans that you made months ahead.” She looked from the distance, not wanting to meet his eyes. She could feel his hand over hers and gently squeeze it. “I'm not mad and would never be even if I made the plans months ahead and had to cancel it. You are more important than the plans. Plus, I have better plans for next year, and we can go on a date when you are better if it makes you feel better, Eunu.” He gently smiled at her. “Why did you ask, love?”

She slowly met his eyes, and tears suddenly started to form. “It just…you didn't come here until later, so I thought…” Jaeyun's eyes widened before they softened. “Oh! That's the reason?” She slowly nodded. He quickly let go of her hands and went somewhere in the room. She followed him with her eyes before he went where she couldn't see him. “Close your eyes, love.” Eunu closed her eyes just like he said. She could hear footsteps walking towards her, and the couch sank a bit.

“Okay open them,” he told her. She slowly opened her eyes, and her eyes sparkled with tears. “Oh my goodness, this is so beautiful,” she choked on her tears. Jaeyun reached his thumb to wipe her tears. “I am glad. This is why I was late. I was running to the mall to pick up this and another present that I ordered two days ago. Then, I was stuck in traffic for a while.” Eunu quickly hugged her boyfriend as tears were still falling. “I'm sorry for having doubts and assuming that you hate me.”

Jaeyun hugged her back tightly, but not too tight. “It's okay, love. I am sorry for making you feel that way. I want to surprise you.” She shook her head before slowly pulling away. He quickly wiped her tears with his thumb. “What is your other present?” He smiled. “Do you want me to put this bracelet first?” She nodded.

Her boyfriend took the bracelet out of the box and gently put it on her wrist. She looked at the silver bracelet with a smile on her face. “It's so beautiful.” Jaeyun then went somewhere for a while before coming back with a medium-sized bag. He sat back down in front of her and took out another box from the bag. “I love you so much. You are so perfect and precious. Most times, I don't deserve you. You are my light through my darkness.”

He opened the box, revealing a necklace with a ring in it. Eunu was in tears again when he said his little speech. “Do you remember your ring I gave you during our first anniversary?” She nodded, a bit confused about where this was going. “Remember that one night, you thought you lost it?”

She nodded even more confused about what was going on. “Well, I found it, and instead of giving it back to you. I went to my friend's shop who can do something like this and asked him to make a special necklace and put this ring in the middle since it's special for both of us.”

Jaeyun took a deep breath, so he didn't cry when he said the next words. “I am not proposing to you yet since we are still in our 4th year of being together, and you want to wait until we reach at least 6 years of being together. So this is a promise necklace and ring. I promise to ask you to marry you. I want to promise to be with you forever until our death. You are the love of my life, and I don't want anyone else but you. Will you be my promise too?”

By the time he finished, Eunu was sobbing a lot. She quickly nodded to his question. “Yes, I would love to be your promise, too!” Jaeyun felt tears falling when she said those words. He quickly hugged her again and kissed her neck softly. “Oh my goodness, I love you more than anything!”

“I love you, too!” They looked at each other as Jaeyun slowly pulled away. He gently rested his forehead against hers. Smiles were on both their lips. “Do you want me to put it on for you?” He asked her. “Sure,” she answered. He pulled away and helped her put the necklace on.

Once the necklace was around her, she looked down, gently took the necklace into her index finger and thumb before she looked at it. “It has our initials,” she smiled. Jaeyun nodded. “Yeah, I asked my friend to also carve our initials together on the ring.” She looked at him and smiled. “I love both of your presents. I have presents for you, too. It isn't as great as these, but I know you will still love it.”

She took the bag next to the couch and put it in front of them. “Open them.” She watched him nervously as he took out his presents. His eyes widened when he saw the first present. It was a mug that had a drawing of his dog, Layla and him playing in the snow with a snowman. “I drew the drawing when you were at work in the past few months. I know you love Layla so much, so I want to do something special. Last month, I went to the pottery store to make that mug for you.” Jaeyun hugged her and kissed her forehead. “Thank you, love. It's so beautiful.”

“I also have something else for you.” She signaled him to look in the bag more. He put down the mug on the table before opening the bag again. He slowly took out the item. His eyes widened. It was a Nintendo Switch and a few games that he wanted for the Switch. Including Animal Crossing New Horizons + Happy Home Paradise.

“I know you wanted a Nintendo Switch for a while and wanted to play these games with the help of your friends and your parents. We brought the games and the switch. Plus—she pulled out her own switch from behind her—I brought my own switch and brought the Animal Crossing New Horizons + Happy Home Paradise for myself, so we can connect together!”

“Thank you, love!” He put down the present that was in his hands and pulled her into a hug. She felt much better now. They stayed like that for a while. “Do you feel better now?” He broke the comfortable silence. She nodded. He kissed her forehead. “That's good. Let's have an at-home date for the rest of the day.”

She nodded, not wanting to say anything and just wanting to be in his arms. “We can watch a kdrama that you wanted to watch and make hot chocolate with marshmallows for the two of us.”

She nodded, agreeing with him as her eyes slowly closed. He kissed her forehead once again. “Merry Christmas, love. You are so perfect, and I love you more than anything else.” He whispered softly into her ears as she slowly fell asleep in his arms.

TAGLIST. @senascoooop ,

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