#male mandrake

[lady-alabaster]

Herbal manuscript, Male Mandrake, about 1440, Milan, Italy. London, The British Library, Ms Sloane 4016

[slytherinboysappreciation]

We need more tom riddle and male reader. Like yall know tom is a charmer and the prince of Slytherin sort of stuff but then he found out abt this guy who is also prince-like from Hufflepuff (can be another house or wtv) and Tom's like "Hm, i wonder what's this guy's hiding, imma find out" so Tom did tryna find his secrets but when Tom use Legilimency, all he can found out are the reader thinking abt silly stuffs like "what kind of food i should try today" or "that guy's socks cool" or "shit, this flower's yellow, imma made it into a bookmark >:]" or "Imma dye my hair white using this spell i found from an old book from the restricted section, i wonder if this'll kill me– whatever" idk basically reader is a dumb typa guy who just... doing what he likes 😭 m sorry if this confusing lmao i tried my best to explain

Scatterbrained - T. R. x male!Reader

A/N: Hi, anon! Thank you so much for the request! I went with a more airheaded sort of approach so I hope that’s okay. I incorporated as much of your request as I could, and I hope you like it!

This is completely unedited, so please be nice! 💛 No use of Y/N. Sentences in italics are the reader’s thoughts. GIF is not mine; it was found on Pinterest, link here

Part 2 here

CW: Tom being a bit of a stalker; suspicion; nonconsensual thought reading; reader is just a bit of a scatterbrain; flirting; fluff; Tom being slightly emotionally aware; Tom is a little mean towards reader; kissing; Tom’s nefarious plots

1384 words

Tom Riddle was the Prince of Slytherin. Everyone knew it. Everyone respected it.

Even the Gryffindors, for all their talk of bravery, cowered when it came to confronting Tom.

He was the top of every class, the teachers’ favorite, the star Head Boy that everyone admired. All the girls wanted him. All the boys wanted to be him.

And then…

There was you.

Tom first met you in Herbology class in fourth year. You were almost unnoticeable at first. Just a languid, easygoing Hufflepuff boy with a warm smile and a friendly manner.

But more importantly, you were utterly unafraid of him. You’d even helped him care for his baby mandrake.

Tom was immediately intrigued. So he started following you around. Secretly, of course. But the more he follows you around, the more he starts to suspect.

You’re… too nice. The kind of guy to offer help and genuinely mean it. The kind of guy to help you with your homework and give you homemade cookies as a confidence booster.

Perhaps in mockery of Tom, the Hufflepuffs start calling you their prince. Prince of Hufflepuff. The boy who should be Tom’s rival, except you’re just so nice.

You have to be hiding something. No one is that nice normally. You have to have some hidden agenda. Some dark secret behind your sweet demeanor and comforting smile. Tom is sure of it.

Once fifth year starts, he comes armed with a secret weapon. The true key to figuring out your intents.

Legilimency.

Tom holds off at first, waiting for the perfect opportunity. And then… it happens.

You’re down by the Black Lake, picking flowers with your friends to make into bouquets for the prefects.

Tom watches as you laugh, as you playfully tease one of the girls. It makes his chest tighten and his jaw clench. Now is his moment, the perfect chance to truly find out what you’re thinking.

Tom silently casts the spell, causing you to wince and rub your forehead. He barely notices, too lost in the whirlwind of your thoughts.

Ow, my head…

Oh, I should grab those flowers. They’d be perfect for him…

She has cool socks…

I wonder if I can press that flower and make it into a bookmark…

Oooh, clovers! I wonder if there’s a four-leaved one…

Tom stops the spell, his head spinning.

You were so… scatterbrained.

Your head is full of fluff and nonsense. Tom can barely make sense of it all. He ends the spell, staggered by the revelation.

You have no ulterior motives. You’re so genuine because there’s no room in your head for anything otherwise.

Tom stares at you, lost. He doesn’t know what to do now. You’re not malicious or manipulative like him. You’re just… something else.

As you turn to grab a flower, you spot him. Instantly, your face brightens. A huge smile spreads across your face as you wave eagerly at him.

Tom slowly waves back.

You turn to say something to one of the girls. She nudges you, grinning. You rub the back of your head bashfully, and start heading up towards Tom.

He watches you, a bit surprised. You still have your bouquet of flowers, holding it out all nice and stuff.

On impulse, Tom casts Legilimency again. You immediately wince, but quickly shake off your pain.

Ouch, what is up with my head today?

No, focus! Be calm. Be cool. Be smooth…

Oh god, it’s him. He’s so perfect…

Compliment him somehow. Tell him he looks nice!

“Hi, Tom,” you smile warmly at him. “You look nice today.”

Tom’s cheeks warm against his will. “Thank you.”

Oh my god! Is he blushing? He’s blushing! He’s so cute…

Hurry, give him the flowers!

Merlin, he looks so cute…

Tom’s cheeks redden further. He awkwardly coughs into his fist, trying to quell the sudden thrill in his chest.

“Oh, um, here!” You hold out the bouquet of flowers. “I made this for you.”

Tom’s heart does an unfathomable flip-flop of excitement. He takes the bouquet gently, running his fingers over the colorful blossoms. Bluebells, white clover, twinflowers, and pink primrose. “For me?”

“Mhmm! I made it myself!”

Tom smiles, a small slight thing. But the way your thoughts explode at the sight of it makes it widen a bit more.

OH MY GOD!! He’s so cute!!

Look at his smile!!

God, I wanna kiss him so badly…

Mmm… kissing…

Tom panics a little, the mental images you’re coming up with overwhelming him. He stops the spell immediately, flustered and blushing.

“Thank you for the flowers,” he stutters out, tripping over his words in a way he wouldn’t have before.

You beam and nod. “Of course! I’m glad you like them.”

Then you walk back to your group, humming happily with the biggest smile on your face ever.

Tom gazes down at his bouquet and turns away, his heart thumping in his chest.

So you were a bit of an idiot, but somehow that didn’t bother Tom. He strolls back up to the castle, thinking deeply about you.

His reactions to you were… unexpected, but not particularly surprising. You were a handsome boy, after all.

Perhaps a different sort of investigation was required.

You seemed to like him quite a bit, and Tom isn’t opposed to the idea. But he’ll have to be quick going about asking you out.

Your kindness and genuineness haven’t been unnoticed by others, and Tom’s well aware that not everyone interested in you has the same intentions he does.

He’ll ask you out tonight, after dinner.

With that resolve in his mind, Tom enters the castle, a pep in his step.

Tom finds you in the library after dinner. You’re huddled over an old tome, muttering something under your breath. You’re so caught up in reading that you startle when Tom clears his throat.

“Oh! Tom! I didn’t see you there!” You beam up at Tom.

He gives you a thin smile back. “What are you reading?”

“Just some book I found in the Restricted Section.” You say blithely. You point to the page you’re looking at. “I found a spell for hair dyeing and wanted to try it out!”

Tom looks at the page. “Unicorn hair and ashwinder eggs? Where are you going to get those?”

You shrug. “I dunno yet. I’ll find them somewhere.”

Tom stares at you. “You’ll find them somewhere? You don’t just find ashwinder eggs and unicorn hair.”

You frown a little but shrug, clearly undeterred. “I’ll work something out.”

Tom sits down next to you, trying to comprehend the stupidity of your words. “You have a death wish.”

You blink and tilt your head. “I just wanna dye my hair, is all.”

Tom rubs at his face, forcing himself to stay calm. There’s no point in getting annoyed when he hasn’t even accomplished his goal yet.

With a subtle flick of his wrist, he casts Legilimency on you, bracing himself for the onslaught of unbridled thoughts.

He seems upset.

Oh, no. I gotta do something…

Quick, say something!

“Tom?” You ask softly.

He sighs and gives you a weak smile. “I’ll help you dye your hair using a safer spell.”

You brighten immediately. “You will?!”

Yes! I’ll finally have white hair again!

“On one condition.”

Oh.

You nod. “Okay…”

“I’ll help you dye your hair if you go to Hogsmeade with me tomorrow.”

Go to…

You tilt your head. “Like, on a date?”

Tom swallows. “Yes. On a date.”

Your thoughts explode with giddiness. Tom jolts a bit, ending the spell as his head aches from the force of your happiness.

“Yes,” you breathe. “Yes! I’ll go on a date with you!”

Tom relaxes and gives you a small but genuine smile. “Let’s go dye your hair then.”

He gets up, but pauses. On impulse, he leans down and gives your cheek a slight kiss. You’re frozen in your seat for a moment, stars in your eyes. Then you scramble to your feet and follow after him.

There’s no doubt you’ll be his now. And then he, and only he, will be able to enjoy your sweet stupidity.

He finds himself inwardly grinning at the thought. A date at Hogsmeade is only the first step. Soon, he’ll make you his perfect, scatterbrained boyfriend.

And then he’ll be unstoppable.

[victusinveritas]

Herbal manuscript, Male Mandrake, about 1440, Milan, Italy. London, The British Library, Ms Sloane 4016

[darksilvania]

ZOMBUD, BLOZOMORT, MANDRAGHUL (Grass/Ghost) BLOOMORT & PETALLURING (Grass/Dark)

ZOMBUD (Zombie/Bud) evolves depending on its genre. Male ZOMBUD will evolve into BLOZOMORT (Blossom/Zombie/Mort from latin "mortem" meaning death) which evolves into MANDRAGHUL (Mandragora/Ghoul). Female ZOMBUD will evolve into BLOOMORT (Bloom/Mort) wich evolves into PETALLURING (Petals/Alluring)

They are based on the Mandrake plant (Mandragora Autumnalis) as well as their despictions in fantasy and folklore

MANDRAGHUL is based on the traditional myth of the mandrake root being shaped like a humanoid that would kill anyone who listened to its scream.

PETALLURING is based on the Alraune race of plant monsters from fantasy games as D&Ds and such, Alraune being the german word for Mandrakes.

[dracoxmalereader]

Potions Class

Draco x Male Reader

Context: Slytherin! Reader and can be read as any year except fifth year or after I'm pretty sure, but I did write it with fourth year in mind since they're making pepperup potion.. <3 And I'm aware that gyat didn't exist in the 90's, just pretend it did. (:<

Summary: Pepperup potion is one of the easier potions to brew, but that doesn't mean class can't be eventful nonetheless.

Requested by: Anon

Word Count: 585

The clinking of phials and the hiss of hushed whispering were familiar comforts. Snape leisurely made his way around the room in rounds to oversee the progress of the potion he’d assigned you all to brew in pairs.

“Draco, stir this.” You turn your head away from the cauldron to reread the instructions in your book.

“Don’t tell me what to do,” Draco grumbles, even as he reaches for the spoon and does as he’s told. “Ordering me around like a servant.”

You roll your eyes, paying him no mind. “The last thing we need is jewelweed.” You close the book and take the spoon from him, stirring it yourself. You look at him expectantly for a moment, and he stares back. Awkward silence swells as you blink at each other, even in the growing chatter of the potions classroom.

“I don’t have it.” He shrugs after another long couple of seconds.

“What do you mean you don’t have it?”

“I gave it to Goyle!”

“Well get it back from Goyle!” Snape shushes you from across the classroom, glaring at the two of you. Draco groans.

He pushes up from his chair, nudging it backwards so he has room to bend over the table and demand the jewelweed back from Crabbe and Goyle where they’re sat across from you. Apparently a harder task than anticipated, as he leans even further forwards to argue with them. There’s no helping yourself now.

“Gyat!”

Draco turns around, shooting you a look like you’d grown an extra head. “Excuse me?” Red bleeds into his pale face.

“Gyat.” You smolder at him, sucking your teeth to let out a teasing hiss. “It means-”

“I know what it means.” He scoffs at you and rips the jewelweed from Goyle’s hand, righting his posture through his noticeably deteriorating composure. He clumsily shoves it in your chest, rougher than he normally would. “Here, since you couldn’t get it yourself. Loud, useless pervert.”

A grin forces its way onto your face, and you chuckle through your nose. Draco scowls at you, huffing, almost dropping the jewelweed when you finally take it from him. His shoulders draw tight.

Pansy mini-jogs over from the table beside yours. “Do you guys have any Mandrake root left? Blaise used the last of ours and messed it up.” She raises her voice at the last part and clears her throat. Blaise shakes his head from their table. 

Draco turns his head first to hear her question and then to look at you as if you were going to give it to her. You gesture towards the Mandrake root where it sat almost directly in front of him. His brows furrow and his face reddens further, this time out of anger. Your smug smile deepens and adoration bubbles in your stomach like a potion of its own.

“Here-” He grabs it and holds it out to Pansy, only for his fingers to falter. It falls onto the table, rolling and taking several phials down with it as they all clatter to the floor. 

Snape growls, a very unimpressed Mr. Malfoy turning all heads in the classroom to your table. Draco’s complexion could easily rival that of an heirloom tomato. You fruitlessly fight laughter. 

Draco’s lips pull tight in embarrassment, and you only giggle harder. 

“My father will hear about this-” He barks, and you’re so amused you can’t find it in yourself to care about how hard he’s grabbing the green border of your robes, nor Snape’s rapidly approaching footsteps.

This is quite possibly the request of all time. Getting to write this was my yule gift. If Draco gyat fic isn't my calling I don't know what is.

Me and my mom got into a lengthy argument over whether gyat is spiritual or physical. She says Draco doesn't have gyat. I beg to differ, of course, because gyat is a mindset. <3

Draco has gyat, I don't care what my mom says.

Tags: @nowayisthistakenyet @gayaristocrat @siuspider @dracoshusband @skrunklespoingo @esperfraud @joongbin @midwestemosblog @we2222

[fangirlingatstuff]

I’m genuinely so happy to find more people who still remember epic, and more importantly mandrake. I’m here to request a fic, a list of headcanons, just anything about this man being a devoted husband. This man is just bug Gomez Addams and I’m so here for it.

Please *shakes my little tin can at you* just a crumb of bug dilf

Absolutely!! I need more bug dilf as well 😔😔😔

There’s not as much of him in here as I intended, I need to write more fluff with him.

Enjoy!

Mandrake x Reader

Tentative Truce

—

Voices. Thats what you heard past the deafening sound of ringing in your ears. Hushed voices whispered to each other in panic. It was hard to breathe, like something was pressing tight against your chest and ribs, resisting every time you inhaled.

Your eyelids felt heavy as you forced them open, however they didn’t stay open. Regardless, everything was blurry, fading in and out of focus, and unbearably bright. So bright, it made you flinch and groan.

The voices quieted for a moment, then shuffling.

“Why did bring you here?!” A voice hissed.

“She was hurt! What was I supposed to do? Leave her to die in the mud?!” Another voice whisper-yelled.

“Not bring her to Moonhaven, are you insane?!”

Two voices, both male, arguing. At first, your brain could only register “two voices” and immediately thought of your loving husband and son. But…no, that wasnt right. Mandrake wouldn’t be bickering with Dagda, he would be at your side the moment he heard you stir, holding your hand, fussing over you.

Moonhaven…

Moonhaven?

In your exhausted and bleary state, you felt a hand against your forehead, soft and gentle and warm.

“Easy now,” a voice as smooth as the river spring said as the hand brushed the matted hair from your face. “You need your strength.”

“Ugh,” you let out another groan and tossed your head, eyes squeezing shut. “What—where-…where am I?”

“Nod you just put the entire forest at risk!” One of the voices snapped. “What do you think Mandrake will do when he finds out she is here? Hm?”

“Relax, Ronin! I was just trying to help—“

“Oh yeah, and Im sure he’ll understand. Here! Why don’t we just tell him exactly how you KIDNAPPED HIS WIFE—!”

“Both of you! Enough,” the woman cradling your head spoke.

With another groan, your eyes peeled open for the last time. The room was spinning, but over time it stilled.

The blinding light you were seeing was the sun, shining through tall green leaves and reflecting off of polished stone walls. There was never this much color in Wrathwood.

Another brush of hand against your side made you wince. Looking down, you see a slim dark hand against your side, pressing against a blood stained bandage that was wrapped around your chest. So thats why it was so hard to breathe in.

As you lay amongst soft white petals, you furrowed your brows in confusion. Then you looked up.

“Oh.” You blinked in surprise.

The woman gave you a friendly smile like you had been friends your whole life. She had a simple beauty to her, like how a breath of fresh air or the sight of blooming flowers felt beautiful. Natural, grounding and familiar.

“Sorry,” Queen Tara chuckled, raising a hand off of your body as you lay in her lap, “we couldn’t get you to the healers in time. This was our next best option.”

You swallowed and looked at her strangely. “It’s…okay?”

You sat up, the bandages pulling tight on your body as you held your head and tried to get rid of the airy feeling behind your eyes. “What happened?” You groaned, shaking your head.

“I think you got knocked off your bird by a hawk or something—“ a boy with brown hair said, before getting hit by a man in green armor. “Ow, hey!”

Ronin sneered and looked at you cautiously. The feeling was mutual as you bore your teeth in a hiss, although, it wasn’t nearly as effective when you weren’t a boggan yourself.

“Nod here found you on the forest floor bleeding,” he said, gesturing his head to Nod. “And stupidly,” he glared at him, “brought you here.”

“I didn’t know who she was!” Nod said, trying to defend himself. “I’ve never seen her without her helmet before!”

“That doesn’t matter!” Ronin said back.

“Boys, boys!” Tara spoke up, and instantly they both quieted. “Ronin, Nod did a good thing,” she smiled. “If he had left her there, who knows what would’ve happened. And then we’d have to deal with the consequences.”

You only looked back and forth between them with a raised brow.

“Uh, I’m sorry,” you interjected, eyes darting between them before looking at Tara sheepishly, “your majesty? Uh—“

“Please,” she snorted and waved you off, “you’re as much of a queen as I am! Call me Tara.”

“…your majesty,” you repeated, making clear the extent of your relation. “You…know who I am,” she nodded with a smile, “…so why in the seven hells did you allow me to be brought into your inner sanctum?!”

You looked at her in bewilderment. You were her enemy, the partner to the man who threatened her entire realm. So why on god’s green earth did she just so nonchalantly bring you in, heal you, and just idly keep you at her side?!

“You were hurt,” Tara answered bluntly. “Despite Ronin’s insistence,” said general crossed his arms with a glare towards you, “I would’ve have done the same for anyone.”

The irritation in you subsided. You blinked in surprise, looking at her with astonishment.

“Huh,” was all you could say.

“We should really send her away,” Ronin stepped forward, his hand never leaving the hilt of his katana. “Her being here is a threat, your majesty. We can’t risk her bringing the rest of the Boggans here.”

“She is our guest, Ronin,” Tara said firmly. “And besides, I can only heal so much!” You looked down at your torso, at the blood stained bandages that wrapped around and under your unclothed chest. It still hurt. “She still needs to rest.”

“If Mandrake figures out she’s here—“

You all stopped in place as a sudden boom rattled the ground beneath you, followed by the sound of screeching birds.

“Too late,” Nod said.

You sighed and shook your head. Always one for the dramatics, your husband.

You pushed off of your knees, grunting and wincing and pain as you tried to stand. Nod and Ronin rushed to your side, arms under your armpits and helping you stand.

“That’s my cue,” you grunted, the sound of clashing metal and shouts echoing down the stone halls.

“Come on,” Ronin scoffed. “Let’s get you back before your husband tears through my entire guard.”

“Wouldn’t be the worst thing,” you retorted, limping beside him.

You barely went out into the open without your weasel cloak, or the shrew skull you wore as a helmet. Ronin had been the only one in all those years to have seen you without your armor, at least when alongside your husband. So to the rest of the leafmen you were nothing more than an injured leafwoman or jinn, an associate, a peer, collateral damage that had been ushered in to be healed or a fellow soldier. They didn’t bat an eye as Ronin and Nod ushered you through the halls, your eyes squinting against the bright light of day outside the stone stronghold as the sound of battle grew closer.

You threw up your hand and winced at the bright sun light, glaring at it until the loud growl of your husband turned your head.

Looking left and right, you almost pushed Ronin away before your eyes fell onto the towering frame ahead among the many bodies of boggan soldiers versus leafmen. And damn it if you couldn’t stop the smirk on your face seeing Mandrake’s cloak swirl around him as he threw leafmen off the stone awning and slammed his cudgel against the ground. Damn it all if he wasn’t hot as hell when he fought with that sneer on his face.

“Mandrake!” You yelled, holding your side.

He didn’t even have to stop fighting to look up and spot you immediately, standing at his full height while kicking a leafman in the chest.

“Y/n!” He turned back to the leafman he was holding up in the air by the collar and growled. He slammed his head against the soldier’s, dropping him before stomping forwards.

Ronin gripped your arm tightly as you tried to pull away, glaring ahead as you tugged and cursed at him.

The moment he laid his hands on you once more, your carefully tuned ears picked up the sound of many many arrows being drawn.

You looked around, spying the dozen boggan archers hidden in the rocks now aiming their weapons towards Ronin and the leafmen who came to your side with shields raised. Your eyes fell on one particular archer, the familiar rat-pelt donned figure of your son Dagda.

“Weapons down,” your voice gave Mandrake pause as you yanked your arm once again to no avail. Ronin’s grip did loosen, however. He looked at you in surprise.

You looked up and made eye contact with your son, giving him a stern look.

Dagda glanced at Mandrake, then back at you, as if to say “are you sure?”

You nodded curtly.

He frowned and lifted his hand in a closed fist, telling the archers to hold as he lowered his bow.

With a huff, you got your arm out of Ronin’s grip, shooting him a glare and a well placed huff in his direction before running a hand over your head and sighing.

“Mandrake,” you said in relief and pushed past the leafmen who watched in shock and bewilderment.

Mandrake’s look softened and he let out a huff, shoulders relaxing. “Oh thank the gods,” he grumbled under his breath while rolling his eyes, his large hands settling on your shoulders as you stopped in front of him and he immediately began to fuss over you. “Are you ok? What happened—?”

“I fell off my bird,” you assured him and cupped his face with two hands, mostly to keep him from looking at your bandaged sides. “I’m fine, really.”

You stopped, sighing and looking back at where the leafmen were now parting, standing at attention as Tara made her way out of the palace walls. “She fixed me up,” you said, brows knitted together as you looked up at her with your arms crossed.

Mandrake looked up, his gaze immediately narrowing as he stood at full height once more, looking down at her.

“Tara,” he said with disdain.

“Mandrake,” she stopped and held her hands in front of her. That was one thing you respected about her, she wasn’t afraid to look her enemy in the eye. And she did it with grace too, even as her general behind her was biting his tongue until she returned to the safety of Moonhaven’s stoney walls.

“I apologize for the trouble,” Tara said with a smile. “Someone had found your wife badly injured on the forest floor without knowing who she was and brought her here.”

She raised her hands and looked at them. You noticed she still had some blood on her fingers.

“I healed as much as I could,” she added, looking back up and clasping her hands together and looked at you with a warm, friendly smile. “But you’ll have to figure out the rest. Personally, I’d recommend staying in bed for a bit, some good ole TLC never hurts.” With that, she winked at you, and it made you feel…strange. Tara was…a lot friendlier and more casual than you expected her to be.

Mandrake made a noise deep in his throat, moving his cudgel from one hand to the other.

“She’ll be fine,” he said bluntly, his hand itching to be somewhere on your body or to pull you closer. “Our healers will take care of everything.”

“Of course,” Tara bowed her head.

He let out a sharp exhale from his nose, putting a hand on your shoulder and pulling you back towards him, wrapping part of his cloak around you as he turned around and began walking away.

The other boggans cleared out, snarling and chittering both with each other and at the leafmen, mounting their birds as Mandrake’s grackle soared down and landed, ducking her head.

He was just about help you up onto his bird, Nightshade, when he stopped and turned his head slightly to look over his shoulder at Tara.

To your surprise, he gave her a slight nod, before heaving you up onto his bird and settling right behind you.

As he nudged his bird to take off, he pulled you into his lap, arm wrapped around your waist possessively as you took into the skies, leaving Moonhaven behind.

He was being unusually quiet. You almost said something, but he beat you to it.

“You’re not going to be leaving the nest for a while.”

You groaned and threw your head back as he didn’t even bother looking at you. “It wasn’t even my fault!”

“We need to find your bird as well,” he added.

“Hah! Good luck! I don’t know where those mockingbirds chased him!”

He looked down at you with a smirk and held you closer, nudging you and teasing, “Mockingbirds?”

“Oh don’t get me started,” you huffed and looked away, cheeks turning red as he chuckled and led the way back to your home.

[sombrathedragon]

I saw you needed original poses, so here is this.

I know it's not really a pose, more so just an offended look, but Im trying for you.

Day 38 of drawing random Wof dragons from the wiki…

Mandrake!

“Mandrake is a male LeafWing dragonet who was introduced in The Poison Jungle. He has leafspeak and formerly served as an insect sorter for the PoisonWings. He is the son of Wolfsbane, the younger brother of Nettle, and was formerly betrothed to Sundew.” -The WOF wiki.

Reblogs mean more than likes!

[maniculum]

Bestiaryposting -- Zomargon

As a reminder, all previous entries in this series can be found at https://maniculum.tumblr.com/bestiaryposting .

There is an animal called the Zomargon, which has no desire to mate. His nose is called a trunk because he uses it to put food in his mouth. The Persians and Indians, carried in wooden towers on their backs, fight with javelins as from a wall. Zomargons have a lively intelligence and a long memory; they move around in herds; they flee from a mouse; they mate back-to-back. The female is pregnant for two years, and gives birth no more than once, and not to several offspring but to one only. Zomargons live for three hundred years. If a Zomargon wants to father sons, it goes to the East, near Paradise; there the tree called mandragora, the mandrake, grows. The Zomargon goes to it with his mate, who first takes fruit from the tree and gives it to her male. And she seduces him until he eats it; then she conceives at once in her womb. When the time comes for her to give birth, she goes out into a pool, until the water comes up to her udders. The male guards her while she is in labour, because Zomargons have an enemy - the dragon. If the Zomargon finds a snake, it kills it, trampling it until it is dead. The Zomargon strikes fear into bulls, yet fears the mouse. The Zomargon has this characteristic: if it falls down, it cannot rise. But it falls when it leans on a tree in order to sleep, for it has no joints in its knees. A hunter cuts part of the way through the tree, so that when the Zomargon leans against it, Zomargon and tree will fall together. As the Zomargon falls, it trumpets loudly; at once a big Zomargon goes to it but cannot lift it. Then they both trumpet and twelve Zomargons come, but they cannot lift the one who has fallen. Then they all trumpet, and immediately a little Zomargon comes and puts its trunk under the big one and lifts it up. The little Zomargon has this characteristic, that when some of its hair and bones have been burnt, nothing evil approaches, not even a dragon. Whatever Zomargons wrap their trunks around, they break; whatever they trample underfoot is crushed to death as if by the fall of a great ruin. They never fight over female Zomargons, for they know nothing of adultery. They possess the quality of mercy. If by chance they see a man wandering in the desert, they offer to lead him to familiar paths. Or if they encounter herds of cattle huddled together, they make their way carefully and peaceably lest their tusks kill any animal in their way. If by chance they fight in battle, they have no mean of the wounded. [IDK bro, that’s what it says.] For they take the exhausted and the injured back into their midst.

Remember to tag posts with #Zomargon so folks can find them.

[slytherinsomniari]

HL OC: Finnian Langley

Introducing my second male OC, Finnian Langley! Finnian is a shy and withdrawn boy who has trouble talking to others, preferring his own company and going at his own pace. His personality differs from others slightly in that he is both shy but also willing to talk more and randomly if he feels like it and if he trusts the person. He has a quiet sense of humor that comes out at the most random moments, often causing his friends to react strongly. His father owns a farm where he grows his own food and magical plants and his mother is the author of the childrens book series "The Magical Misadventures of the Rogue Princess", or "Rogue Princess" for short. Finnian helps with the farm at home but often gets tired and falls asleep on the soil with the sun shining down on him. This is due to his habit and love of sleeping anywhere and in the sunlight. Just like the plants he tends to, he likes to photosynthesize. He is seen as the baby in his family as both his younger brother and sister are more outgoing and reliable than he is. His little sister has incredible strength and a straightforward personality, helping their father with the farming while his little brother is charming and knows all about economics, helping with the selling of the farm's products and their mother's books. Finnian doesn't see himself as reliable so he is very surprised when he is invited to become a prefect and be part of P4 with the other male prefects. The other prefects become his friends and try to help him socialize more in their own ways. He likes watching plants grow because they are like him and likes to place random objects around people, whether they be sleeping or studying. He is not only naturally gifted with herbology but with Transfiguration as well, which he uses to make his life easier. He is a precious boy that everyone would want to protect. Identifies with mandrakes and finds them cute.

[aesopsharpmybeloved]

A Lesson In Sensuality

After receiving a very sensual letter from you, Aesop Sharp indulges in some solitary fun.

I would be lost without my brilliant consultant @tea-withjamandbread ❤️

This work has it's own illustration made by yours truly. Link for the full uncensored piece will be at the bottom of the post.

18+ GO AWAY CHILDREN!

A Lesson In Sensuality (3k words)

tw: explicit, female masturbation (mentioned), male masturbation, vaginal sex (mentioned), teacher-student relationship (reader is an adult)

When he saw that kittenish little grin on her face as he accepted her essay, Aesop Sharp knew she wasn’t only handing him her 16 inches of mandrakes' uses in potions, but that there was also something else included in the neatly folded parchment. Their hands touched momentarily as he took a hold of the parchment, and a tiny spark flickered in their intense gazes. Aesop had a hard time stopping a smile from breaking out on his scarred face.

It felt like forever since they last managed to exchange more than a few quick heated kisses and hushed soft words, and therefore this tiny moment was enough to make Aesop’s heart pound in his chest. Her cheeks reddened as she gave him one last little smile and a nod before leaving his classroom in a flurry of robes.

After the last of his seventh year students left, he decided to use the little bit of free time he had to improve his mood slightly by reading the clandestine note undoubtedly hidden within the otherwise normal looking essay. It wasn’t the first time she wrote him a little love letter, and Aesop himself made sure to always repay her in kind. 

Now, however, as he unfolded the parchment, he immediately saw that hidden among the no doubt Outstanding essay was no little letter. It was possibly even longer than the essay itself! Curiously, Aesop noticed that the text seemed to alter throughout - the letter began with his sweetheart’s neat script, but was at a certain point replaced by what he recognised as the basic Self-writing Quill font. And then, almost at the very end, her own handwriting appeared once more.

He brought the letter up to his nose, happy to find it lightly smelling of her perfume, and he saw its back was signed by the outline of her plush lips in a lovely shade of light lip rouge. His fingers slid across the smooth material of the letter. Aesop began reading.

My dearest Aesop,

Sweet Merlin, it feels so horribly long ago, an eternity almost, since I last had the utmost luck and pleasure to spend an evening in your company... In your wonderful arms, so strong and steady, shielding me from all the bad in the world, warming me up when all around me has turned to ice, and holding me upright, when I feel like I cannot stand on my own. 

The potions master smiled, his cheeks slightly warmer than they were before as he rested his chin on his hand. Cheeky little thing, she was beginning on a very poetic note indeed, and it made him strangely giddy to be the reason she chose to use such language.

How I long to be with you right now, to look into your ethereal eyes, dark and intense, like the mouth of a volcano, but so kind and sincere, like those of a majestic stag.

Your mouth... Heavens, your mouth. Each and every kiss you gift me with feels like a healing touch to my very soul. Your taste, so deep and rich and complex, so absolutely addictive. I could go days without eating or drinking, and I would not feel any hunger or thirst, your lips on mine enough.

Oh, by Salazar…He chuckled. She was being a bit dramatic, wasn’t she? However, Aesop couldn’t deny the way his heart was beating with all the intensity of a war drum as he drank in her beautiful words, the way she described him. The professor might’ve considered himself fairly handsome once, long before he became a professor, but not after what happened on that godforsaken boat. However, he never would've thought to be described like this… He was a little uncertain whether he was deserving of praise this high.

Aesop felt something inside him fluttering as he read her letter to him, the way she explained what she found beautiful about him was slightly on the dramatic side maybe, but goodness if it didn't feel good.

Your hands, your blessed hands, they dance when you brew, when you write. You are a virtuoso, my love. So strong and yet so soft, I go weak in the knees every time you take a hold of my face, every time you guide it to your own, everytime your wonderful fingers glide about the skin of my cheeks... 

Every time you caress my body with them. When you worship me with them, I feel myself slowly losing my mind. When you touch my breasts, I gasp and sigh for you, my love, because nobody else's touch could ever feel so good. I try to imagine my own hands are yours as I circle my nipples with my fingers, pinch them like you do, as I massage my bosom the same way... It doesn't feel the same, as much as I try to imagine it is you, it just isn't enough... It isn't you. It is you I need, Aesop, you I need to touch me like this, need you to caress me until I am begging for you, until my sighs turn to moans.

Oh… oh, goodnes… It was this kind of letter. Aesop skimmed the following text with his eyes, already feeling his pants get slightly tighter. Just then, however, the door to his classroom opened, and a bored looking fourth year made her way inside, soon followed by her Hufflepuff and Gryffindor classmates.

Aesop never hid a letter inside of his coat faster in his life.

He tried his hardest to stop being just that, willing his body into obedience, even as her words still swam in front of his eyes. Bloody hell… A single slightly more… explicit paragraph, and he was half hard in his underwear, his length obviously more than a little interested in the contents of the letter. 

After a few more minutes spent at his desk while his students readied themselves at their stations, and him mentally cataloguing his private stocks, he felt… relaxed enough to begin the lesson, standing up to write today’s instructions on the blackboard.

The letter seemed to burn inside of his overcoat’s breast pocket, goodness, how he wanted to read what else she wrote, his stomach twisting with excitement. Later, he reminded himself, later when he was alone in the comfort of his chambers, when nobody would come and disturb him. 

Although, there was one person he wished had the time to actually come and disturb him, possibly read her letter to him out loud.

Later, Aesop, concentrate!

—

As soon as his last class that day left, Aesop Sharp hurried to his chambers, his fingers covertly moving to the letter where it was concealed under his overcoat, as if it could have evaporated into thin air during the last few hours. There was some time before supper and he knew he wouldn’t be bothered by anyone. 

In any case, once the door to his rooms closed shut, he cast a locking charm on it, beginning to shed his layers not a second later. He carefully extracted the letter from the confines of his pocket before throwing his overcoat on his bed. His jacket and waistcoat soon followed, his tie was tossed away as if it had been choking him. It had, if Aesop was being honest. Not long after, the potions master was as naked as the day he was born, his manhood already partly filled with his excitement at finally discovering what other lovely things she wrote in the letter.

He sank into the armchair by his bed heavily, his stomach tugging with anticipation as he unfolded the letter again searching where he left off. Oh, yes.

Every time you caress my body with them. When you worship me with them, I feel myself slowly losing my mind. When you touch my breasts, I gasp and sigh for you, my love, because nobody else's touch could ever feel so good. I try to imagine my own hands are yours as I circle my nipples with my fingers, pinch them like you do, as I massage my bosom the same way... It doesn't feel the same, as much as I try to imagine it is you, it just isn't enough... It isn't you. It is you I need, my Aesop, you I need to touch me like this, need you to caress me until I am begging for you, until my sighs turn to moans.

You would then slide your hand lower, as I do right now... Thank goodness for these self writing quills... I know you would be so lovely as you'd stroke at my inner thighs, spreading me gently, your fingers teasing the very place where I want you the most and where you want me. You'd spread my velvety curtains, damp with my exhilaration and drag your long finger along my seam, those beautiful eyes of yours igniting me, setting me on fire from the inside out.

Oh Merlin! So that’s why there is that change of font, she was dictating the letter while she… Goodness. Aesop closed his hand around his now fully erect penis, only squeezing lightly for now as he continued reading, seeing her pushing her own fingers into her tight little cunt in his mind’s eye clear as day, the very imagine making hotness run through him. He pulled his foreskin lower with his fingers, his thumb gliding along the sticky sensitive tip of his prick, spreading the moisture that began to gather there.

And then... And then you'd push your finger inside, finding me so wet and ready for you... Ready as I am right now, but empty, and craving to be filled, twitching, almost sucking your finger in, like it belongs there. You'd masterfully search my hidden crevices, soon finding that place that makes my thighs shake, and my back arch upon the bed. My body in bliss, I loosen up, inviting your other fingers to join in on the fun...

My fingers are so small compared to yours, they don't quite manage to do the job, yet I imagine they're yours anyway, pumping into me, while your thumb rubs along my lovebud, slowly making me mad with need.

And afterwards, once you opened me up enough, more than likely bringing me to my peak in the process, you'd finally, finally enter me, stretching me so much, I feel like I'm going to split in two. The burn is delicious by now, I crave it with every single inch of my feverish body, I crave the way you sigh into my ear once you settle within me fully, your breath hot and damp against my already heated skin. I love the way you press kisses along my neck then, as you wait for me to get used to accommodating your length inside me, your teeth grazing my skin. 

Aesop was slowly moving his hand up and down his shaft, occasionally coming up to squeeze at the bared glans, staring at the words on the parchment, also imagining the little picture his sweetheart painted within her sentences. His rhythm was slow and deep at first, just like the way he’d take her was she here right now. 

Oh, how he wished she was here right now. His hand was damp with the precum leaving his tip in little crystal clear drops. The engorged member throbbed in his hand, appreciative of the attention he was bestowing upon it, but the potions master would have been much happier if it wasn’t his hand bringing him this pleasure, but rather the young woman’s heavenly body.

And then, when you'd begin moving, your hips rutting into my own, our bodies colliding in a union as ancient as time itself, I wish I could stop the world around us, to have us forevermore stuck in this blissful moment. I want to run my fingers through your silky hair, grasp strands of it between them, press my nails against your scalp, until you groan into my skin, sending vibrations through my body, travelling to my very core. And when your need takes hold, and you start taking me, fully taking me, I feel my release approach swiftly, its sweet promise of absolute ecstasy licking up my form like waves of sea, wild and unhinged, and so utterly beautiful.

The way you'd look into my eyes as you'd fill me over and over again, makes me tremble with bliss. You'd be taking me, and you'd be doing so rightfully, taking what's yours, yours, yours, yours only. I would shatter around you, my entire world collapsing and crashing down as I cry your name to the heavens, my nails digging into the wide expanse of your strong back. The sounds of our bodies connecting drive me wild with want.

Aesop’s hand sped up, the words he read having a profound effect on him. He imagined her hands in his hair, on his shoulders and back, imagined the sweet sting of her nails cutting into his flesh. The slapping sound of his own hand tugging at his weeping prick filled his ears, and he was unable to stop the occasional groan and grunt from leaving his lips. Hngh, that little minx, he was going to fuck her until she could barely speak, much less use such enticing language, the next time he got the chance.

The potions master spread his legs wider, pumping himself faster. He was almost tempted to release the parchment from his hand and use both of his hands, one to pull at the now almost painfully hard cock more, the other to play with his testicles, to brush and poke at that one spot behind them, but… but he so desperately wanted to read on, he wanted to read more of those delightfully sinful sentences, the sentences combined with the picture burned into his mind that made the burning coil in his stomach materialise out of nothing, and then begin to burn brighter, grow tighter. 

He groaned again, feeling droplets of sweat form at his hairline, some rolling down his burning cheeks.

He was close, dancing along the edge of bliss. Still, he made his fluttering eyes find another paragraph and read on.

And then... You probably have no idea how beautiful you are, and you probably have no idea just how absolutely breathtaking you get when you're about to plummet down the edge yourself. You are magnificent, like a mighty animal, bared of all inhibitions, thrusting into me with wild abandon, chasing your pleasure in my body. And the moment you peak, the way your eyes flutter and close, that wonderful sound that leaves your lips, 

Oh…

the way your hands grab me in their iron grip, showing the true strength of them,

Oh, hngh!

the way your own back arches as I feel your hotness enter me. You claim me as your own, filling me with your lust, your love, the very essence of you, in a moment of the most primal carnality.

Ah! Mhhhm!

With a deep groan, rope after rope of thick cum shot out of Aesop’s throbbing cock, landing against his chest and clinging to the thick hair there. His hand closed around the letter as he threw his head back, stroking himself through the orgasm hard and fast, until the very last drops wept out of the overstimulated glans, rolling down his foreskin and shaft, some dripping down onto his thigh.

He sat there heavily for several minutes, his hand loosening around his softening prick, still twitching lightly, spent and sensitive, his other hand still gripped at the parchment bearing her words and the ghost of her lips. He enjoyed the deep gratification that was seeping into his now so heavy bones, his head feeling near empty, only his heart searching for the other, the one it beat for. After the potions master regained some control of his higher functions again, he lifted the letter to read the last few paragraphs.

I dread the moment you leave my exhausted, but sated body, but you soothe this dread of mine with your delightful kisses, allowing me to drink from your lips as the world around me rebuilds, as the sounds around us once more come into reality. The proof of what we've done, our still trembling limbs, the sweat upon our cooling bodies, your essence flowing out of me, our breathless words and hot kisses. It's another moment I'd like to freeze, that wonderful afterglow with you and only you.

And even as I lie here now, spent and breathless, I cannot deny the pang of regret that you weren't the one to do this to me.

I miss you so terribly, my beloved, and I pray that we can steal away a moment for just the two of us soon, as otherwise I might start going completely mad.

Aesop.

My love. My sweetheart. My entire world.

I love you most ardently, with every inch of me, with my entire heart. It only beats for you. 

You hold it in your amazing hands, and I couldn't ever imagine a better person to be allowed to do so.

Let our next amazing stolen moment together come very soon.

Forever yours.

Oh, fucking hell…

How he wanted her here. No, he needed her here! Aesop needed her to be right here with him, doing the wonderful things she wrote in her letter. He had half a mind to only just make himself presentable, send a house elf to locate her, and steal her away to his chambers, and not let her go. However, his release left him entirely unwilling to do any such thing as moving right now.

The letter… Merlin, where did she learn to write like that? He was gone the moment she mentioned she was thinking of him and pleasuring herself while dictating the Self-writing Quill what to write… 

Maybe…

Maybe he could return the favour. 

Aesop didn't know whether what he'd write would have the same effect on her as her letter had on him, but he could at the very least try. He chuckled breathlessly.

Let's see which one of us cracks first.

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed this little PWP. As always, you can find this story and all of my other stories over at AO3. I greatly appreciate all feedback! ❤️

UNCENSORED ART

[diana-andraste]

Flower of Life (Flame Thrower), Frida Kahlo, 1943

"In Frida's eyes, blossoms have an indication of sexuality and emotions. She always implies her sexuality in her paintings. Sometimes the sexual references are subtle and not all that obvious, as in her earlier painting Fruits of the Earth, and other times they are the essential, the main thing, as in this painting.

Here she paints a bombshell mandrake plant as male and female sex organs. As the sun beyond anyone's ability to see produces life, sperm shoots from the phallic stamen and vagina-like leaves structure the petaled womb that guarantees the creating infant.

Notwithstanding the way that this painting is dated 1944, it was truly painted in 1943. Its special title was Fire Flower."

[curoopeez]

I'll admit I've been anime only so far but I love Marcille's evolution in Dungeon Meshi.

At the start of the anime, she was a complete failgirl. She loudly opposed the main character's solutions to obstacles and always ended up being wrong. Very stereotypical shonen anime main girl.

But very early on, Laios assures her that she is extremely important to the party, and the reason he's been avoiding her help was not because they didn't need her, but because they needed her so much that he was intentionally avoiding using her magic so she would have plenty later on.

Then she started scoring some wins. Her way of harvesting mandrakes turned out to be better. Her waterwalking spell proved to be the right call. She found out how to recharge her magic by boiling the undyne.

And then it came the time to ressurect Fallin. She got her hands dirty, she picked apart human and monster remains to build Fallin's skeleton and used black magic to bring her back. She was still unhappy about eating monsters, but she showed she was powerfull and extremely intelligent and was able to stomach a lot of grossness when she didn't have to eat it.

I know Dunmeshi is known for subverting anime cliches for the better, but I'm really happy with how Marcille was written and I don't want that to be ignored because it is so rare to find such a well written female character in an action anime with a male main character.

[coolest-capybara]

This week's Maniculum Bestiaryposting entry describes the Zomargon, a mysterious beast which the author had much to say about. So much, in fact, that I decided to just pick and choose some attributes for this entry, because I fitting them all into one picture would have taken too long.

The Zomargon has a trunk and tusks and is a social and intelligent animal with a long memory, which made me think of pigs. Another peculiar trait is their lack of knees and huge size, so I gave them long skinny stilt legs. There is a domesticated variant, used to carry towers into battle, which you can see in the background.

The other part of the entry that stood out to me was one of their mating rituals: "If a Zomargon wants to father sons, it goes to the East, near Paradise; there the tree called mandragora, the mandrake, grows. The Zomargon goes to it with his mate, who first takes fruit from the tree and gives it to her male. And she seduces him until he eats it; then she conceives at once in her womb." For the mandrake, I decided to stick close to the medieval depictions of a bush growing out of some unfortunate souls' head (as seen here, for example). And just like wild boars, the wild Zomargons are much more furry and have a different shape to their domesticated counterparts.

So there you go, but there's a lot more fun stuff in the description I would have liked to draw, like the bits about fighting dragons, leaning against trees to sleep (and being tricked by hunters sawing through trees so they fall over). So if you haven't read it yet, check it out!

[luc3]

Bon, allez, je pose là mon petit planning bordélique du mois de Mars. (il faut bien que je le pose quelque part.)

-

In March, there are showers. Who can be embroidered. Often, as there are showers, there are beautiful, strong Winds that cross the mountains.

Équinoxe time !

I'm still considering planting a Mandrake seed (male). But I'm very late, so I'm not sure.

I'll also have to enlarge the fly trap (It's a bit stressful as usual but she has gained a lot of weight, I can't leave her like that! I will post photos.)

I have to (injunction) take care of my 4936 ficus trees.

The rest is fine, Daturas are cut already.

I'm thinking of planting Verbena and wink @windvexer ;) Rosemary. I think with these two here, afterwards, I could send fireballs with my hands all the way to Iceland without any problem.

Otherwise we're still living a life without SUGAR here and it's still a nightmare not easy.

I also have to start preparing for my trip to Poland. I'm going to the Mountains of the Holy Cross, to celebrate my ancestors the Old Hag and Harpyes for a few days in May. 😍

The two most important times for me are the Equinox and the new moon.

I'm preparing something on the Good Neighbors side for the equinox.

While I prepare vision work with a Great Mother. (It's going to take up a lot of time, because I have to record it and then learn the whole visualization by heart.)

I also have to buy some of this good lavender honey from the producer next door for the Fair Folks, even though I wouldn't be able to eat it. 😭

(I'm going to cook lots of things for them that I couldn't eat either, this mission seems like psychological suicide.)

I also have to call an anthroposophic homeopath (but what is that?), who apparently receives her patients with a whip (?!). My osteopath (who is one of my guides) told me in advance that I should not consider him responsible (for my 2nd psychological suicide).

Besides that, I have to validate some more things for the training, an internship and also a dissertation on a stupid subject (which I chose.)(3rd psychological suicide?)

There was no winter here. We all want Mars to take over, even if it is wobbly.

[themaladaptivewriter12]

Title: "He is Me, and So Are We."

Part 7 of my “Cray-Cray for Cater” series! Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, and Part 6 can be found here!

Parings: Cater Diamond x Twisted Wonderland Male OC (Mirai Yuhara)

Summary:

When Cater begins to distance himself, Mirai can't help but feel he is to blame. Instead of facing his problems head on, Mirai cowers from his self-inflicted fear of rejection, and now it's too late.

cw: Angst, Hurt/comfort, arguing, use of Cater's signature spell, self-worth issues, self-esteem issues, Cater has trouble seeing his own worth, making up

a/n: It's been a while, but Ima make up for it! Promise! I can't believe this series has 7 parts already! Part 8 will be a long one!

a/n: I missed my own anniversary. IMA RIOT!!! Late anniversary post soon.

Reblogs are appreciated, just use my custom tag, #TheMaladaptiveWriter12, if you do!  (─‿‿─)♡

Cross posted from my Ao3: TheMaladaptiveWriter12

“Chamomile, Jellyfish Stingers, Scales of a Coral Snake, Mandrake Root,” Mirai listed, writing down the inventory for Professor Crewel once more. He always got sad when he saw the mandrake root. 

Per usual, Mirai was helping out Professor Crewel with sorting and organizing his supply closet. Mirai liked helping out when and where he could, but also, he liked Professor Crewel, he could trust him. But unfortunately, much to Professor Crewel's chagrin, he couldn’t make Mirai a personal lab assistant. 

“It’s unethical, it shows favoritism,” Professor Crewel said in a mocking tone, face twisted.

Mirai tried to hold in his laughter.

“Yeah, you wanna know what’s unethical? How uptight that old geezer is! I swear he hasn’t changed at all since my school days,” Professor Crewel scoffed, with a sneer.

Mirai giggles as the memory, as he continues his recording. The school, namely Trein, wouldn't allow Crewel employ Mirai, much less pay him, so instead, Crewel overlooks his mistakes in class, well, not all of them, adds an extra point to his grades where he could, gives him access to pretty much anything in the lab, and gives Mirai the harmless little leftover gems and potions from his classes.

“What’s so funny, Little Papillon?” Professor Crewel asks from where he was leaning against the doorframe. A hand on his hip, the other was holding his pipe, its contents unknown.

“N-Nothing,” Mirai stammered.

Crewel smirks, leaning his head against the wooden frame, his gaudy fur coat sliding down his shoulder even more than it already was, “You thinking of that orange haired pup?”

“Orange haired…?” Mirai thought before it dawned on him, face flushing red, “N-No!”

Professor Crewel laughed, “I jest, I jest. But on that topic, how is it going, your relationship, that is?”

Mirai flushed, mumbling, “Isn’t that a little too personal for you to ask, being my professor and all?”

“Oh? And here I thought we were quite close.” Professor Crewel teased.

“You’re almost old enough to be my father,” Mirai deadpanned.

“I’d have to be sixteen to be your father,” Professor Crewel said with a disgusted face.

“You’re four years shy.”

“Your father had you at twenty?”

“Nah, he was your age actually.”

“Huh.”

“You could be my older brother?” Mirai jokes.

That made Crewel burst into a fit of laughter. Mirai snickered.

“Okay, I can be your adopted older brother, and I wanna give you relationship advice,” Professor Crewel said with a smirk.

“Alright, no. Adopted father sounds better.” Mirai laughed.

“But I thought you didn’t like that. Now tell big brother about your boy,” Professor Crewel laughed.

Mirai broke out in a fit of laughter, “Pl-Please don’t say that ever again!”

“Father it is.”

“Ugh, that still sounds horrible.”

“Ima say it every time you act up in my class.”

“No! Please don’t!”

“Watch me.”

“But honestly,” Mirai said after his laughter died down, “I’d say we're fine. Being with Cater is new, it’s fun, and I couldn’t ask for anymore.”

“That’s good.”

“Yeah. He walks me home, and to class when he can. He’s always so caring and nice,” Mirai said with a happily little dreamy smile on his face.

“Well aren’t you a little lovesick pup?”

“N-No,” Mirai pouted.

Professor Crewel chuckled.

“You sound like Sam. He always calls us lovesick Imp, and every time I come in for work, he always tries to read my fortune, but I won’t let him,” Mirai chuckled. 

“Wait,” Crewel said, “You work for Sam?”

“Yeah?”

“And he pays you?”

“Yeah?”

“Why isn't it unethical for him?!” Crewel shouted, throwing his hands up.

Mirai laughed at Crewel.

“You laughing at me, Little Papillon?” Professor Crewel asked, whipping his head around to his student.

“N-No,” Mirai chuckled. 

Crewel smiled. “I guess you don’t need my help after all,” Professor Crewel laughed.

“I mean, I guess there is something that has been bothering me,” Mirai said, mood dropping a bit.

“Oh? Do tell.”

“He’s been distant lately,” Mirai started, eyes downcast. “I can tell he’s forcing himself, I mean, like, I don’t know, I can’t describe it, but he just feels…off.”

Crewel looked surprised at his student’s confession, “Have you spoken to him about it?”

Mirai shook his head, “I don’t wanna, I don't know, spook him? Scare him into hiding even more? I just can’t figure out what would cause him to act this way. He was fine a while ago, but now, I don’t know, he just seems distant. I want to give him the space to work it out, but I don’t want him to ya’know, shoulder it all.”

Crewel genuinely looked stumped. He thought for a moment before speaking again, “The safest route to go about this is communication. Talk about it, tell him how you feel.”

“I don’t wanna seem pushy or nosy,” Mirai confessed quietly, “I don’t want him to get mad at me.”

“Has he ever gotten mad at you for caring?”

“No.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about,” Professor Crewel scoffed, “and if he has, tell me, I’ll handle it.”

Ignoring the threat, Mirai sighed, “I know that there’s no reason for me to be so edgy, but I just can’t help doubting myself. Like what if he doesn’t like me anymore.” 

What if our “I love yous” were fake? Mirai thought.

Professor Crewel got into Mirai space to look him in the eye, “If that boy likes you, then he will stay. If he doesn’t and breaks your heart, I’ll fail him.”

“Professor, you can’t do that!”

“Maybe I can, maybe I can’t, but he does have a few missing assignments,” Professor Crewel smirked.

“I really need to get him on top of those,” Mirai sighed.

“So, will you talk to him, Little Papillon?”

Mirai nodded meekly.

“Speak,” Professor Crewel commanded.

“Y-Yes, Professor Crewel.”

“Good boy!”

Mirai flushed as the praise.

“Whacha talking about?”

Mirai looked behind his Professor and saw Cater leaned up against the doorframe of the closet, a sly smile on his face.

“Cater?” Mirai called, confused, “Is it that late already?”

“Hm,” Cater nodded, “I called and you didn’t answer, so I went looking for you after you didn’t show.”

“You called?!” Mirai gasped. Mirai dug into his pocket and found that there indeed was a missed call from Cater.

“I’m sorry, it was on silent,” Mirai apologized, “I got caught up sorting this out.”

“Go ahead, Little Papillon, I can finish up myself,” Professor Crewel said, waving his student off.

“Are you sure? I didn’t-”

“Are you disobeying me?”

“N-No?” Mirai stuttered.

“Good boy,” Professor Crewel praised, petting Mirai on the head, “Now shoo, out. Remember your homework and to study for your quiz”

“I will! See you tomorrow, Crewel,” Mirai said, waving.

Mirai hurriedly shucked off the spare labware he had on, handing them to Crewel, and made his way to Cater.

“Let’s go,” Cater said, taking Mirai's hand.

Mirai happily took Cater’s larger one, swinging it as they walked. 

“Oh and little pup,” Professor Crewel said with a smirk, “I wouldn’t want to forget those overdue assignments. I’d be a pity for you to suddenly fail my class.”

Cater glared hard at Professor Crewel, grating his teeth, as he shut the lab door behind them. Crewel laughed as they left, shaking his head and went to finish organizing his storage closet.

The next day, Mirai had his shift at Sam’s, and of course he slept in. Mirai rushed around his room, throwing on his designated work outfit, which consisted of a black button down shirt, black jeans and black boots. He grabbed his shoulder bag, throwing in his phone, wallet, and other things he might need and rushed downstairs. In the lounge grim was sitting on the floor eating a tuna bagel, which Mirai gagged at.

“Why didn’t you wake me?!” Mirai cried trying to find his key.

“I did, and you went back to sleep,” Grim deadpanned.

“I’m late!” 

Finding his key on the mantel, where it wasn’t before, the ghosts no doubt, Mirai ran to the foyer, then suddenly there was a feral screeching sound. Mirai gasped in fear, jumping back a good couple of feet, and looked down at the floor. Grim was glaring at the Prefect, the direbeast holding his tail, bagel forgotten on the floor.

“I’m so sorry,” Mirai cried, feeling horrible.

Grin didn’t say anything, but he continued to glare holding his abused tail, ears flaming a bit higher. Mirai felt bad, really, but he didn’t have time to try and coax the cat from his angered state.

“I’ll make it up to you, promise!” Mirai called, rushing out the door, locking it behind him, and started his way to Mr. S's Mystery Shop.

Mirai shoved the door open, an apology already on his lips. “I’m so sorry,” Mirai cried, “I overslept, Grim didn’t wake me, the Ghosts hid my key, I stepped on Grim’s tail, I-I-”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sam said surprised, “calm down, Little Imp.”

“But I, but I’m-”

“Yes, you’re thirty minutes late, and it’s fine.”

“But-”

“Ah, ah, ah,” Sam tutted, “It’s just the opening shift. No has even come in yet. Put on your apron, grab a snack, and go calm down.”

“Thank you, Sam! Sorry again,” Mirai rushed out, heading to the back.

Mirai put on his apron and grabbed a blueberry muffin and a bottle of water. As he ate, he watched Sam write the day's sales on a collapsing blackboard in colored chalk, and once he finished, Sam went outside to set it up. Mirai finished his muffin, brushing the crumbs off his clothes, and checked his appearance in the small hand mirror Sam kept under the counter, making sure he was presentable as he waited for their first customer.

It was a slow morning. A few students came in looking for a snack or two. Jack and Ruggie came in some time after, buying ingredients to make some steak.

“Leona’s in a meat mood again?” Mirai asked, laughing at the absurd amount of meat in Ruggie’s hand basket. 

“Ugh,” Ruggie groaned, “well, at least it’s not my money I'm wasting.”

“That will be three hundred and fifty marks.”

Jack looked flabbergasted. Ruggie dug through the battered brown leather wallet and gave the exact amount.

“Thank you,” Mirai chirped, putting the marks in the register.

Jack stepped up next, putting some protein shakes on the counter and the exact amount needed.

“Thank you,” Mirai said, taking the marks.

“You must buy those a lot to know the price,” Ruggie commented.

“Don’t you?” Jack asked, “Surely you must have all his favorites memorized with how many times you come here for Housewarden Leona?”

“Of course. That way, I know how many Marks I will get to pocket in the end.”

Jack sighed, but he knew not to try and lecture the Hyena, this was Ruggie we were talking about.

“Thanks guys, come again,” Mirai called as the two walked out. The two gave their own waves in return. 

A little while later, Deuce and Ace came in asking for an absurd amount of flour, eggs and milk. Sam handled that one, “poofing” everything on their list onto the counter. 

“Unbirthday party?” Mirai asked. 

“Yep, and Trey forgot to go shopping yesterday,” Ace answered.

“Trey did?” Mirai asked.

“Well it was more like he got caught up with his Vice duties that it slipped his mind.”

“Oh,” Mirai nodded thoughtfully.

“It’s gonna be a pain carrying all of this back,” Deuce sighed. 

“I’d help, but I’m currently on the clock,” Mirai said sadly.

“Why do you work anyways?” Ace asked, looking around for Sam before saying, “Sam is very picky with his workers.”

“I didn’t have a Mark to my name, and I needed extra food funds, supplies funds, and clothing funds,” Mirai sighed.

“Sucks man, I’d help if I also wasn’t getting money from my mother,” Deuce sighed.

“I wouldn’t have asked y’all to help in the first place.”

Deuce and Ace looked taken aback.

“I don’t like taking money from others without working for it,” Mirai supplied.

“Oh,” Ace said.

“Guys, enough chit chat, you have an unbirthday party to attend!”

“Oh yeah,” Ace and Deuce shouted in unison, “Bye Mirai!”

The two rushed through the shop and out the door. Mirai shook his head fondly.

“So, Little Imp,” Sam pried, sitting on the edge of the counter, “How’s it going with that boy?”

“Not you too,” Mirai whined, getting a sense of Deja vu.

“Oh? Who was the first?”

“Professor Crewel.”

“You two close?”

“I help him organize his potions closet on Friday’s.” Mirai explained.

“Huh. Anyways, how’s it going?” Sam asked.

“It’s fine, great even, but I feel like he’s distanced himself,” Mirai huffed.

“Distanced?”

“Yeah. I don’t know how to explain it, he still walks me to class, he still walks me home, he still holds my hand, but somehow he feels off.”

“Sometimes in a relationship, you feel like giving each other space, to keep from going too fast,” Sam explained, “Maybe he feels like he’s rushing things?”

“Too fast? Do you think we’re going too fast?”

“Hmm,” Sam thought, “Maybe he’s losing the feel of the honeymoon phase.”

Mirai sighed. 

“But you could always talk to him, Little imp, it doesn’t hurt to try.”

“That’s also what he said.”

“See, us wise old men know what we’re talking about,” Sam laughed.

Mirai snickered a bit, “You’re not old,”

“But you’ll never know unless you try,” Sam said softly.

Mirai nodded.

The rest of his shift was a little busier, but nothing to really work him to the bone. And when the clock struck three, his shift was over. Mirai was uniting his apron when a familiar voice rang out.

“Heyo!”

“Hey Cater,” Mirai smiled, “Just let me put my apron away, and I’ll be right there.” 

Sam was sitting on the counter again, sandwich in hand as he read the paper. “Hey, Little Imp,” Sam greeted, not taking his eyes off of what he was reading.

“Hey Sam,” Cater smiled. 

Mirai came back out, with a smile on his face, “Okay, let’s go.”

“Bye Little Imp, see you tomorrow,” Sam waved with a smile, “Remember what we talked about.”

“Bye Sam, and I will,” Mirai said with a wave.

Mirai and Cater walked in silence. Mirai looked at Cater as they walked, his face was blank, his usual smile nonexistent. 

“Cater?” Mirai called.

Cater seemed to snap out of it, face flashing from surprise to a forced smile. “Yes Hon?”

Mirai thought about what he and Professor Crewel, and Sam spoke about. “Those overdue assignments? Wanna talk about that?” Mirai asked instead. The Prefect was berating himself in his head for chickening out. He’ll wait a bit longer.

“It’s fine,” Cater said, laughing nervously. 

“Clearly not if your assignments are overdue. So Ima help you.”

“Aren’t you just so sweet,” Cater crooned.

“I mean it, Cater,” Mirai glared up at him, “You’re lucky Riddle hasn’t caught on yet.”

“Yikes,” Cater flinched at the aspect of Riddle finding out.

“So, are you busy right now?” Mirai asked.

“No,” Cater said, shaking his head.

“Good. Off to Heartslabyul we go.”

Mirai and Cater entered the mirror to the Heartslabyul dorm. Mirai thought he could never get used to the feeling of going through the mirrors. It felt pulley and pushy, and it made his stomach feel funny every time. When they entered the dorm grounds, it was quiet.

“Where is everyone?” Mirai asked curiously. 

“There was a Croquet game today,” Cater explained, “They should’ve wrapped it up by now.”

“Ah.”

Cater led Mirai inside the dorm and through the lounge and when they entered, there were a bunch of students occupying the lounge. Some were reading, other’s playing cards, one of the tables had several students doing their homework, and in the far corner, at the tea table, Ace, Deuce, Trey and Riddle were having tea and cookies. Trey perked up at the two entering the lounge.

“Hey Mirai, what brings you here?” Trey greeted the prefect.

“I’m here to help this dummy over here study,” Mirai answered, cocking his thumb at the redhead.

“Hey,” Cater gasped, but he didn’t sound offended at all.

“Where’s Grim?” Deuce asked.

“Home,” Mirai supplied, “I accidentally stepped on his tail before work this morning, so I’ve been avoiding him.”

Ace snickered.

“I seriously don’t get how you hang out with that man,” Deuce sighed.

“Me neither,” Cater huffed.

“Guys,” Mirai laughed, “He’s not that bad, nor is Professor Crewel.”

“Cater,” Riddle called, “remember to serve your guests tea, it would be very offensive not to.”

“Y-You really don’t have to,” Mirai stammered, “We’re just here to study.”

“Nonsense,” Riddle dismissed, “It would be rude not to. You’re a guest and a friend, but most importantly, it’s a rule.”

“It’s okay Riddle,” Cater chuckled, “I was getting the tea anyways. I was just gonna take him upstairs first. Black tea is fine, right? It’s only three o’clock.”

“Upstairs?” Ace asked with a smirk.

“Yeah?” Cater asked, “Why? Is there a rule against that?”

“Why upstairs?” Trey asked, a sly smile on his face.

“‘Cus I can’t play music down here,” Cater whined, “It ruins the study vibe.”

“That’s probably why you can’t concentrate, you’re too busy singing,” Mirai chided.

“Am not!”

“Fine, we can play music, but it's gonna be the instrumental version.”

“No,” Cater whined, “Guys! Mi-Mi’s being mean.”

“Suck it up you big baby,” Mirai laughed, smacking Cater on the arm.

The room erupted in snickers. Ever since Cater announced his relationship with Mirai, they became the talk of Heartslabyul. Everyone wanted the latest update on their relationship, and how they were doing. And even with Ace and Deuce’s threats to anyone who opposed, that didn’t stop the playful teasing that Mirai and Cater were subjected to. 

“So you're just studying?” Ace asked.

“Yes, studying,” Mirai gruffed, putting a hand on his hip, “something you should be doing after the state of your last pop quiz.”

A bunch of ‘oohs’ rang out in the room, and Ace had the nerve to look embarrassed.

“Hey,” Ace shouted, face red.

“What quiz?” Riddle asked Ace.

“It was a pop quiz,” Ace rushed out guiltily.

“Have fun studying,” Trey teased.

Cater and Mirai finally caught on to what they were implying, faces growing red. The room erupted in laughter. Even Riddle was chuckling.

“It’s not like that,” Cater whined, face flushed.

“Oh, yeah, like I haven’t heard that excuse before,” Ace cackled.

“Hope you learn a lot of things together,” Trey laughed. 

“Lets go,” Cater said, pulling Mirai out the lounge, tripping over his own feet.

The pair walked up the stairs, through the diamond archway, and down the hall to the wing that held the upperclassmen rooms. Cater shoved the door open and shut it behind him. Mirai liked Cater’s room, it was very “Cater-esque.”

“Uh, you can sit anywhere, I’ll, I’ll get the tea, uh brb,” Cater stammered, standing in the doorway.

Mirai nodded, sitting on the bed. With that, Cater left. 

Mirai spent the time scrolling through his Magicam, when there was clatter outside the door, and Mirai jumped at the noise.

“Uh, I need a little help, my hands are kinda full,” said Cater’s muffled voice from outside the door.

Mirai opened the door for Cater, who was balancing two beautiful covered porcelain trays, one in each hand. One had pictures of cakes on it, and the other teapots.

“Lemme…” Mirai mumbled taking the tray with the cakes on it. 

“Thanks,” Cater smiled, walking in the room, closing the door with hip. 

“Why didn’t you just use your signature spell? Extra hands ya’know?”

“O-Oh, yeah, I guess I could’ve done that.” Cater cleared a space to set everything down on a folding table. “Welcome to casa de Cater!”

Mirai laughed, “It’s nice as always.”

Cater removed the lid with the teapots on it and placed it down, “I hope I did it right, it’s your favorite after all.” There was a beat of silence, and when Mirai didn’t answer, Cater grew concerned. “What’s wrong?”

“S-Sorry, sorry,” Mirai said, snapping out of his stupor, “I-I, it’s just, it’s just, it’s very pretty.” 

The teapot and teacups were clear glass, the saucers looked like shattered glass. The pot handle was gold, it was swirled and twisted, and where the handle met the pot, there were porcelain lilies, trimmed in gold, their centers were yellow. The lid handle was a couple of lilies and a bud, and on the saucers was a lily and a gold twisted stem. The cups were like mini versions of the teapot, and the spoon was long and sliver with a lily on the top.

“What about it has you so quiet?” Cater asked, voice just above a whisper, like as if he spoke louder than that, whatever this mood was would shatter to pieces.

Mirai swallowed hard, trying to compose himself. “It looks just like the one my mother had.”

“Oh,” Cater said, eyes going wide, “I, uh, I’m sorry. We, we uh, we don’t have to use this one. I-I can-”

“N-No!”

Cater halted, not sure what to do.

 Mirai took a breath, trying to calm the sudden panic that rose through his body, before speaking again, “No, it’s okay. I'd really like to use that one, if that’s alright.”

“Okay,” Cater whispered.

Cater took a second before carefully flipping the cups over and poured the dark tea into the cups. As the tea was poured into the cup, its warm and rich scent permeated the air, and Mirai could immediately tell what it was.

“How did you know this was my favorite?” Mirai asked quietly.

Cater smiled softly, “I heard from Riddle that you like Earl Grey, so I brewed you some.”

“Thanks,” Mirai smiled.

“But you can add the sugar and stuff. I wouldn’t want to ruin your tea.”

Cater moved the bedside lamp and placed Mirai’s tea cup, spoon, and saucer, and a glass pot of honey and a bowl of sugar cubes on the bedside table. 

“It’s pretty,” Mirai said in awe.

“It’s been my favorite set, for a while now,” Cater said sheepishly, “It reminds me of you.”

Mirai flushed, “It’s far too beautiful to be compared to me.”

“I’d say you're even more so,” Cater teased, poking the Prefect on the nose, “but it fits you more than ever.”

Mirai flushed and busied himself with putting the sugar in his tea. Once it was to his liking, Mirai cradled the warm cup in his hands, staring into the deep colored liquid. Taking a sip, Mirai sighed, content. 

Cater lifted the lid of the tray with the cakes decorated on, and underneath was a smattering of little tea cakes and cookies. “These are for you,” Cater smiled.

“If you’re trying to butter me up so that we won’t do your overdue work, you're sorely mistaken,” Mirai smirked.

“Me?” Cater gasped dramatically, “Butter you up? I would never!”

“Okay, okay,” Mirai laughed, stirring his tea, “But we’re still doing them.”

“I know,” Cater sighed.

The next two hours were spent in each other's company. Mirai oversaw as Cater did his work, and of course that didn’t go smoothly. More than once did Cater zone out and stare out the window, then he would periodically check his Magicam, which ended up with Mirai taking his phone, sticking it in the bookshelf. Cater whines dramatically at that. Then Cater changed the song that was playing a bunch of times, saying it either didn’t fit his mood, or match the vibe. This then led to Cater picking his favorites to sing along to, then he started dancing in his seat, and then he went on a tangent on his favorite singers and the gossip around them as of late. Mirai had to get him back on track after that one, well that was until Cater got up to “use the bathroom” for the fifth time. 

Mirai really couldn’t help Cater other than keeping the third year on track. They had different lessons, different classes, and different requirements being in different years and all, but Mirai tried to support and help the best he could. And once Cater got focused he didn’t stop, and not long after he finished all his assignments. 

“Done,” Cater sighed, dropping his pencil and stretching his arms above his head. 

“Good job,” Mirai praised, eating yet another teacake. Mirai honestly didn’t know how many he’d eaten since they’d started. 

“That was so boring,” Cater whined, “A total #snoozefest.”

“I’m proud of you though. I really am.”

Cater looked stunned, and as he went to say something, there was a knock at the door. Cater took the opportunity to take the attention off himself and answer it. It was Trey.

“I came to see if you two wanted dinner,” Trey smiled.

“Oh! Can I invite Grim?” Mirai asked, suddenly remembering the cat back at home. “I’m sure he hasn’t had actual food all day.”

“Of course.

Trey left with that and Cater followed shortly after he started up a conversation with the Vice. Mirai sighed. Oh well, he’ll try again some other time.

Days passed and Mirai was kicking himself for not asking Cater earlier, because now, it seemed it was too late. Something had happened after that day Mirai helped the third year with his homework. Mirai knew he was hiding something, but something about that day became the tipping point for Cater, and now it all was just…wrong.

It started with Cater disappearing every so often. Mirai brushed it off until he didn’t show for one of his classes. Riddle had gotten him for that one, but Cater brushed it off saying he went to the infirmary for a stomach ache. And Mirai asked him if he was okay, he seemed to freeze up before kissing him atop his head, telling him not to worry.

 Then Cater stopped stopping by to walk him from classes. The first couple of times, Mirai didn’t mind, he wasn’t a two year old in need of a hand to hold lest he get lost, but after it continued after the fourth and fifth time, it began to hurt. Was Cater busy? Had Mirai annoyed him? Mirai couldn’t find an answer, nor did he have the courage to ask. 

And then when he saw the Heartslabyul third year in passing, he just wave like nothing was wrong. Cater talked his ear off like he always did, not that Mirai minded, but he wouldn’t touch him, or at least not directly. He’d wrap his arm around Mirai’s waist, pat him on the shoulder, but he wouldn’t hold his hand. And oh how Mirai craved to feel Cater’s lips against his own. Mirai couldn’t remember the last time Cater kissed him, he couldn’t remember the last time he felt Cater’s warm breath mingling with his own, the slide of Cater’s tongue against his, or the taste of his cherry chapstick. What about his touch? When was the last time Cater touched his skin, hugged him, held him close like he never wanted to let go when he stayed the night? 

Mirai wanted to be angry, to yell, scream, but he couldn’t. He wanted to be mad at Cater, he wanted to confront him, chew him out, but that wouldn’t be fair, because he was to blame. He was too afraid to communicate, to ask for himself, and now look where that got him. And today was his breaking point.

Mirai noticed it the moment he saw the strawberry blonde that morning for breakfast. Cater had entered the cafeteria with the rest of Heartslabyul, a smile on his face as bright as the sun, ready to take on the world. He was chatty, filling Trey in on his newest Magicam gossip, but something was off. 

“Good morning, Babydoll. Sleep well?” Cater asked, happily.

“Meh,” Mirai said, staring intently at Cater. 

Mirai reached across the table to hold Cater’s hand, but Cater’s eyes flicked to his hand, and in a split second, he dropped his fork.

“Oops,” Cater said, reaching to pick the silverware up. “Ima go get another fork. Brb!”

Once Cater came back, he kept his hands off the table for the rest of breakfast.

It was safe to say Mirai skipped over the stage of dejection and went straight to irritation. What had he done to make Cater not want to hold his hand? And to go as far as making a show of “dropping” his fork to avoid him? Mirai grumbled to himself, the moment the last bell rang, he was gonna confront Cater. The bell rang, signaling the start of classes and Mirai sighed. It was gonna be a long day. 

Throughout the day, Mirai caught glimpses of bright orange waves, but not once were those green eyes on him. But the was something that Mirai wanted to confirm, to see if the inkling in the back of his mind was just anxiety. 

“You guys think Cater’s being weird today?” Mirai asked as he did his Potionology worksheet.

“What ya mean?” Deuce asked.

“Isn’t he your boy-thing or whatever?” Grim muttered out. “Shouldn’t you know?”

“I don't know. He just is.”

“I don’t know man,” Ace said, “Maybe you’re looking too far into things?”

“Maybe,” Mirai said looking back at his work. 

It was their free period and Mirai and the other freshman got together to work on some homework.

“Yall get inna lovers spat or somethin’?” Epel asked curiously.

“Nope,” Mirai said curtly.

“Sure sounds like ya did.”

“Why do you ask anyways?” Jack asked.

Mirai looked across the courtyard where Cater was with a gaggle of third years. He was talking animatedly, his smile wide, his voice light and playful. But his eyes, from here he couldn’t see them, but he knew from earlier that despite his happy attitude, his eyes didn’t show that at all.

“He said he didn’t feel well, earlier this week,” Mirai half lied.

“Well, now that you mention it, he does seem a little unwell,” Sebek mused. 

“His vitals are coming back positive,” Ortho chimed in. “Maybe he’s tired? Idia gets like that sometimes.”

“Maybe,” Mirai muttered, turning his attention away from Cater. 

Classes ended and just when Mirai thought he was gonna make yet another trek home alone, Cater was waiting for him outside the door.

“Ready to go, Baby?” Cater asked.

“Ya sure you’re not too busy?” Mirai asked, a little more than annoyed.

“How could I be too busy for you?” 

Mirai raised an eyebrow, but didn’t say anything as he began his walk home. Cater followed happily, as he typed and scrolled away on his phone. Mirai tried to ignore it, but really? Was he not gonna pay attention to him? Not even tell him of his day? Maybe Cater really was getting tired of him?

“Well, will you at least hold my hand?” Mirai asked, voice harsher than he intended. 

“A-Ah, sorry,” Cater said, panic coloring his face. “Sure.”

Well, why wasn’t he taking his hand? Mirai stared at Cater as he seemed to panic, like he couldn’t figure out how it worked?

“Cater?” Mirai asked.

Cater suddenly looped to Mirai left and switching his phone to his left hand, he reached and took his prosthetic hand into his right. Why?! Mirai let go and stepped into Cater path. 

“What’s going on with you tha-”

The third year suddenly stopped in his tracks, and while trying to avoid a collision, he dropped his phone, the device luckily falling to the grass.

Mirai muttered a curse, “Sorry, lemme-”

Cater gasped, “N-No it’s-”

They both reached for the smartphone and as their hands collided, Mirai reeled back, trying not to let the surprise, no fear, show on his face. Cater’s hands were cold. Cater looked up at Mirai, knowing their hands touched, trying to gauge if Mirai felt it too, but Mirai said nothing, his expression unreadable.

“Sorry,” Mirai muttered.

“I-It’s fine,” Cater stuttered. 

The two just stared at each other, and Mirai tried to fight the tears that threatened to fall.

“Well I gotta stop by Sam’s to pick up some breakfast. Text ya after clubs?” Mirai croaked.

“Of course,” Cater smiled. “Later, Babydoll.”

Mirai watched Cater’s back retreat back to the school building, no doubt going to his club meet. And Mirai’s hunch was right, the theory that had been burning in the back of his mind for the better half of the week was true. This Cater was a fake. He needed to find Cater.

Mirai stopped by Heartslabyul. Most of the guys were at their respective clubs, so it was easy to slip in a claim that he was here to drop something of Cater's off. Mirai followed the hallways that led to the upperclassmen wing, and making it to Cater’s room, Mirai stopped at the door and knocked. No one answered. Mirai knocked again and waited, and still got no answer. Mirai sighed, hoping Cater wouldn’t be too mad as he tried the door, and to his luck, it was open. 

Mirai pushed his way into the dark room, and slowly tipped his way to the bed. 

“Cater?’ Mirai whispered. “Cater?”

Mirai looked at the bed and it was empty, the sheets immaculate. Mirai’s stomach dropped.

“Okay, okay, this doesn’t mean anything,” Mirai tried to convince himself as he exited the vacant room. “So he wasn’t here, cool, that’s fine. So now we just gotta find him.” 

Mirai checked the rest of the dorm, the balconies, the croquet field, and when Mirai couldn’t find him in the rose maze, he began to panic.

“Where are you?” Mirai muttered.

Cater sat in the observatory, looking up at the stars. He was tired, his brain wouldn’t shut up, and now he didn’t have his phone to distract himself. But then again, maybe it was for the best. Because now he didn’t have to see the hateful comments on his feed, now he didn’t have to see all the things he envied, all the things he hated himself for. No he couldn’t compare himself to the thousands of others who he doom scrolled across, now he didn't have to see the cringe photos his double posted in his stead. 

Cater sighed, feeling the pull of magic tingle in the back of his mind. His clone was still out there, filling in as him for the day. Just as it had been for the better half of the week. He could do this, he’d been keeping it up this long and no one noticed. Not his freshmen, not Riddle, not Trey, not Kalim and Lilia. Not even Mirai.

Cater chuckled to himself. Not even his lover could tell the difference. He was just that replaceable, wasn’t he? Just another faceless being, just another unoriginal internet personality, just another poser. The sound of the doors sliding open, made Cater startle, and then irritation washed over him. So much for some peace.

“Getting so extra studying in?” Cater asked, trying to sound like his usual self. “I feel ya. Someti-”

“Ya’know, if you don’t wanna do this anymore you could’ve told me.”

Cater whipped his head around and instead of seeing one of his fellow third years, he was looking down on his angry lover.

“I will not be your plaything,” Mirai shouted, eyes watery, “I-I will not be y-your, your latest trend! So if I’m tiring you, say it to my face and we'll end it now!”

“He-hey, wa-wait! I-”

“And the clone! Really?! I know you know how dangerous that is! How long have you been doing that?! Where are your blot levels at?”

Shoot. Cater hadn’t even checked how much he had accumulated. Cater’s eyes flicked over to his pen. He could still see red, but it was awfully cloudy, black beginning to take up around the edges.

“Clone? There’s no clone,” Cater lied with a smile, “I don’t what you-”

“Boss, I’m back. I took notes on what-”

The clone stopped dead in it’s tracks, it’s green eyes wide in fear much like it’s owners. The double looked between Mirai and Cater, not sure how it could salvage this situation.

“Mi-Mi, I-”

“Dismiss him,” Mirai said, voice devoid of emotion as he ignored the clone. 

Cater stood from his spot on the floor, “Mirai, I-I-I didn’t-”

“If you’re gonna explain yourself, I'd rather hear it from you,” Mirai huffed. “Not, not, not from him, and not with him here. ”

Cater sighed, taking his phone from the copy before dismissing him into a burst of playing 

cards. There was silence between them, neither of them looking each other in the eye. No one knew who’d break the silence first.

“Fine. Let’s just say I’m totally wrong, which I’m not, why were you here all day, and not in your classes?”

“You know,” Cater said playfully, “sometimes Cay-Cay’s brain does a silly and-”

“Cater,” Mirai called, cutting off the strawberry blondes rambling.

“Y-Yeah?” Cater smiled.

“Stop smiling.”

Cater faltered, but when Mirai’s gaze didn’t let up did Cater finally drop the act, and it was like a flip switched. His green eyes were void of their usual happiness and gone was his smile, an irritated sneer in its place. This wasn’t the Cater Mirai knew, but it was one that Mirai wanted to know, as crazy as it sounded. Mirai could count how many times he’s witnessed this side of Cater on one hand. He’d seen it twice during Riddle’s Overblot, and the other was a mistake.

“That’s better,” Mirai smirked snarkily.

“So now you’re here to tease?” Cater sneered.

“Not tease, scold is more like it. Do you know how dangerous that little stunt was?”

“I can handle it,” Cater huffed. “I’ve done it before, I can do it again.”

“Oh come on! You and I both know that’s not a smart idea.”

“So how’d you know?” Cater asked, ignoring that last statement. “How’dja figure it out, cus I honestly thought I was doing pretty good sending those copies. It worked for the better half of the week.”

“To be honest I didn’t know at first,” Mirai admitted, “But then you wouldn't touch me.”

“‘Course. Their body temperature isn’t exactly human.”

“Also, not sure if you know, but the longer your clones stray away from you, the less “normal” they look.”

Mirai thought back to earlier in the day when he’d been watching Cater. The clone looked a bit pale, sick even. And it’s eyes, they were dull, void of life and emotion.

“Noted.”

“No, not noted,” Mirai grit out. “What’s eating you so much that you’d endanger yourself like this?!”

Cater didn’t say anything.

“Are you that repulsed by me that you’d send a clone in your place? 

“Repulsed is one word for it.”

“If you’re mad at me, then tell me why! Yell at me, get in my face, I don’t care! Anything beats the way you-”

“Do you actually love me, Mirai?” Cater asked with a finality that made Mirai’s hair stand on end.

“Wh-What?! You’re asking me that after all of this?!” Mirai asked, “I should be asking you that question!”

“Do you?”

“Of course I do! Even if you’re really making me question everything we’ve been doing these past few months.”

“You sure it’s me and not Cay-Cay?” Cater smiled.

“Wha-What?”

“Oh come on Mirai! You saw it today! I’m replaceable! I’m just another soulless personality! Just another smiling face! No one! Not a single person realized that I wasn’t me! All I have to do is smile, take a pic, make a dumb joke, and act like the next unintelligent trend chasing magicammer out there, and boom! What do you have?! Cater Diamond!” 

“That’s not true and you know it,” Mirai shouted back.

“Ya’know, I started thinking about us after our break. I realized how much has changed, how much I have changed since I’ve met you. And I started thinking about how our relationship might look in the future.”

Mirai was taken aback at his confession, but stayed silent in favor of letting him speak first.

“It then got me wondering if I would ever be able to bring you home to meet my family? And I already know how they see me, but I don’t know if they truly accept us. And then I began to wonder, who is Cater?”

“I-I-I don’t, I don’t follow-”

“Is Cater me or the me I created in response to my sisters? Is Cater the Cater I created in response to my life as the kid who moved every year, as the kid without a real friend in Twisted Wonderland? Is Cater the Cater who overshares to keep people close, that they think they know me, but far enough to have a real connection? And I began to wonder, which Cater you are dating, and if you love the actual Cater, and not the one I created.”

“Of course I love you,” Mirai growled. “I told you before, I’ve never been in a romantic relationship before, so it’s def not a word I throw around lightly.”

“Then who am I to you, Mirai?” Cater asked coldly.

“You already know the answer to that. You’re my boy-”

“Nuh uh. Who am I to you?”

Mirai swallowed, taking a breath, “You are kind and caring, selfless, always putting others first. You are attentive, always knowing how someone’s feeling, always the one to lift the mood. You are you. You don’t have to be smart, or athletic, super pretty, and you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to be Cater, and that’s enough for me.”

Cater was stunned into silence, and Mirai took the chance to continue. “Cater, Cater I, Cater I want to be someone you can rely on, someone you can trust,” Mirai said looking down at his feet, “I’m worried about you, and I’ve been thinking of ways to go about this, but I was scared I was pushing you away. I’ve never been in an actual relationship before, and I really didn’t want to mess this up, well, I guess I already have, but I don’t wanna mess up anymore than more than I already have,” 

Mirai sighed, looking up at Cater, “I don’t want you to face your problems alone if you don’t have to. If you really don’t wanna talk, then we don’t have to, but I’m here for you. I always will be. And if you want me to leave, I’ll go.”

It was the quiet sob that had Mirai climbing the stairs to Cater, and when he saw the rivers of tears falling down his cheek, his heart broke in two. “Oh, Cater,” Mirai sighed, “Come here.”

Cater fell forward, and pressed his face into Mirai's chest and sobbed. Cater gripped the Prefect like a lifeline, fingers white knuckled in his shirt. Mirai let him stay there as he cried, holding him tight, and steady. The Prefect let Cater cry, rubbing his back as his breathing grew between sobs. Mirai would always be there, as long as Cater would allow him to be, he’d be there. 

“I-I-,” Cater stuttered.

Mirai sat up and gave Cater his full attention.

“I feel horrible, I feel like I’m lying to you. And I don’t know how to fix it,” Cater babbled.

“You are more than what you think, Cater. You are more than your Magicam account, you are more than what you post, or how many followers you have. You are more important than how others perceive you, you are braver then your darkest thoughts. You are irreplaceable.”

Cater was sobbing into his sleeves, shoulders shaking. 

“I’m, I’m sorry,” Cater hiccuped, sniffling.

“Don’t be,” Mirai reassured, “But I really am proud of you Cater.”

Cater slowly sat them down and pressed himself into Mirai hold. Mirai slowly fell back onto the cold floors, sighing as Cater smushed his face into Mirai’s neck. They stayed like that for a while, Cater lying on Mirai's chest, and Mirai, combing his fingers through Cater’s soft orange hair.

“Thanks,” Cater croaked after a while.

“You’re welcome,” Mirai said softly.

 Sometime after they both calmed, the two of them ended up laying on the observatory floors, looking up at the bright night sky. Cater was dozing, lying halfway on Mirai’s chest, and Mirai laying there, combing his fingers through Cater’s hair.

“You’re soft,” Cater mumbled after a while.

“Am I?” Mirai asked quietly.

Cater nodded.

“I love your hair,” Mirai whispered, scratching his nails down into the roots, “It’s so soft, so thick, and so vibrant.”

Cater hummed, turning his head into the scratches. Mirai chuckled, scratching down Cater’s head, and onto his nape. Cater sighed shakily.

“I love how bright your eyes are, and I love your freckles.”

Cater whimpered, turned his face into Mirai’s chest, and visible flush coloring his cheeks.

“I love you, Cater.”

“I-I love you, too,” Cater whispered. 

Mirai smiled, kissing the top of Cater’s head and Cater leaned into it, silently begging for more, and obliged with a loving chuckle. 

Cater yawned, “‘m tired.”

“Well we can’t sleep here, but we can go back to Ramshackle?” Mirai offered, “We can make some quick instant Ramen and watch a movie?”

Cater smiled, “Yeah. Let’s go.”

Together the two of them left the observatory, and headed to Ramshackle, the weight of their troubles seemed to float up into the stars as those heavy metal doors slid shut behind them.

[dreamofmetoday]

QUICK READING RECAP

27th to 30th of march 2023

💌✨🍓does justin bieber love hailey bieber?

↳ 3oS,KoP, frog rx

it’s hard to explain because the answer is yes and no. i don’t think he married her because he was deeply in love with her. she was just there, convenient and compatible with him so he considered her a good longterm option. he always had affection and love for her (it just wasn’t “in love”) and he’s grown to love her more over time. she’s a good wife on paper and there’s a sense of being comfortable but i don’t think he’s been faithful.

💫🍄🫧does justin bieber miss selena gomez?

↳ 4oC, 10oC

yes, he reminisces sometimes and misses her. when he’s bored or upset with how his life is he does wonder how it could have been but i don’t think he wants her in a serious way, so in that sense he doesn’t miss her.

🍇🧸💭what makes someone romantically desirable (personality) to nct’s jaehyun?

↳ heart, stars

when someone wants simple, classic romance. someone who’s compassionate and gentle. he naturally likes someone who’s more on the optimistic side and is peaceful and happy.

🏮🦒💡how does ryujin feel about her masculine image?

↳ stars, 6oW, plantain

she is fine with it but she doesn’t see it as “masculine” herself and wouldn’t appreciate being called manly or anything male-adjacent you could say. she thinks she’s just being her most comfortable self, so she’s not trying to present a masculine image and nor is she trying to present a feminine one. she basically just sees her masculine image as “non-idol ryujin” in her mind, it’s not super deep to her.

🍊🥭🥬how is crush and red velvet joy’s relationship currently?

↳ wheat rx, star, QoC

they’re out of the honeymoon stage for sure so there’s a need to be proactive and for them to add spice to the relationship themselves, they also have to deal with conflicting schedules but it’s pretty solid. they have fun together and feel emotionally fulfilled.

🧁🍡🍬how does aespa’s winter see giselle?

↳ house, tower

winter sees giselle as someone who’s out to get something or achieve a goal but doesn’t quite have the ability to yet (ambitious), though winter sees she is working steadily. she thinks giselle is consistent and doesn’t expect too many surprises from her. she sees giselle as well-connected (most likely through family) but that despite this she is actually pretty lonely and sort of an outcast.

🎂🥞🍰is nct’s taeyong dating right now?

↳ mandrake, 6oP, emperor

yes. could be in the early stages currently because i get he’s still in the phase where he’s showing off and doing his best to put his best foot forward to impress the other person. strong physical attraction.

🍸🥡🍾how will aespa’s comeback do?

↳ cow, 10oW, 7oC

bit confusing because it seems sm will be satisfied with the result and they are being protected and helped in many ways (idk if it’s about past scandals or if this comeback will involve more scandals happening such as plagiarism or even from the members or something). however, the members themselves will be really upset with this whole comeback once it’s over… i’m meaning almost wishing they never debuted in this group sort of upset. this could be a sort of filler comeback in the company’s eyes, so it gives the girls enough exposure and the company enough money while they focus on the next new thing, but it’s not exactly spectacular or what aespa thought they were going to be doing.

🍂🎍🍁random prediction for aespa within the next year?

↳ 8oC, 5oS

new concept or way of approaching their image. reminds me of embracing simplicity, so i think they will try a more tried and true og girl group method and it will be a good move for them overall. however, there is some sort of interruption coming up for them that will likely also affect their reputation in some way - a scandal, losing someone or something, someone leaking something, a cancellation, sabotage etc. but they will overcome this and are protected.

🎏🎁🧸something random about ive’s wonyoung right now?

↳ 8oC, 6oC, QoC, 9oS, mistletoe rx

she has a lot of anxiety about having to grow up. she isn’t happy about not being a minor anymore and is worried about what people are going to expect of her now, personally and professionally. she is afraid of dating for this reason too, i don’t think she has ever been in a relationship and likely even avoids crushes and gets nervous about people approaching her.

🥂☕️🍪is starship mistreating ive’s liz? is it because she gained weight?

↳ lady’s mantle, KoC, judgment

no, they’re not technically mistreating her nor are they too concerned with her weight gain. they’re actually worried about her mental health and confidence and liz herself may have even requested to not have so much attention on her after becoming insecure from reactions to her in previous comebacks. i don’t think it’s that serious in the sense that she’s going to be super hidden in this comeback* but realistically she would probably even go on hiatus if she could. however, starship did think they could twist this to their advantage and get some attention from it, all press is good press sort of thing. they think the sympathy for liz and marketing her as an underdog is actually beneficial to them. so in this sense they are not really looking out for her.

*as in she’s not actually going to be super hidden.

💐🍄🍃is twice’s sana bisexual?

↳ clover, celtic bean, KoC, justice

yes! but when it comes to serious relationships may focus on men, at least currently.

🥂🪷✨what did sullyoon think of jinni leaving nmixx?

↳ star, devil, empress

she was genuinely a bit sad but she mostly viewed it in a very objective way from a work perspective. she thought it was a good thing because she didn’t trust jinni to behave and she thought about how there’s less people to share their pay between now but she was upset about the fact that jinni was one of the prettier and more talented members (in her eyes) so she was worried people wouldn’t like the group as much anymore. mostly, she just did her best to be optimistic.