#maybe this is the time i can wander around market to finally look for those fish slippers

[fishareglorious]

Okay I had to go out to buy eggs because I was boiling some to make egg spread and man my slippers are killing me because my feet are incredibly chafed from a several minute walk? I should probably buy new ones or something

[frantic-fiction]

May I request some Jealous!Fem!Reader x Astarion? Maybe one where someone from Astarion’s past makes an appearance and while Astarion sees this woman as just a friend, reader can see the woman blatantly flirting with her vampire spawn and she doesn’t like it one bit. ESPECIALLY if Astarion’s oblivious to the woman’s advances and innocently engages (because let’s face it, our boy loves being praised & complimented 24/7). Reader decides it’s her turn to stake her claim on our little sassy vampire and remind everyone who he belongs to ;)

Yes! Yes! Thank you for the request!

Jealous

Astarion x gn!reader

Warnings: None

Word Count: 1.5k

Masterlist

It was nice being back in the city. Yes, there was still the ever-looming threat of the Absolute, but most of the party was back home, and for once, it felt like, for a moment, everyone could breathe. You had a fluffy bed to sleep on instead of a lumpy bedroll. And while Gale always made whatever perversions the party scavenged taste good, the warm, hearty tavern meals you've been treated to as of late were too good to beat.

But the best part of being back was taking any moment to drag Astarion out into the city to wherever he fancies so he can explore Baldur's Gate in the daylight without the darkness of Cazador. He wanted to visit the farmers market today, so you wandered the vendors' stalls, stopping to take moments and smell flowers and sample wares.

Astarion politely conversed with a tailor about the fabric quality used for a shirt he wanted. Frankly, they had been talking longer than your attention span could handle, so when your eyes wandered to a stall full of beaded jewelry, you wasted no time giving Astarion a quick peck on the cheek and telling him where you'd be.

The pieces were beautiful and skillfully crafted—brightly colored beads and gold inlays, gems of various minerals, all catching your eyes. The older halfling woman propped highly on the stool, greets you politely, and gives little details and facts about each one you set aside for closer inspection. Maybe you should get something for Shadowheart and Karlach? Probably not Lae—

"Astarion!"

A feminine voice has you snapping your head back to your partner. A frown instantly settles over your features when you see a tall, elven woman pull Astarion's hug. Her brown hair is intricately braided into a top knot decorated in sparkly chains. Her dress hugs her curves, framing her body perfectly.

Why are they still hugging?

"Oh Gods, it's been too long. You're looking amazing." Her nasal voice filters down the markets. "How are you, love?"

Astarion finally manages to break the hug, giving the woman an automatic flirtatious smile, the tailor long forgotten. "Eleanor, I've been well. I do hope the same can be said for you."

Dropping the beads with little care, you leave the stall, ignoring the halfling. You don't like this woman. You don't like how her hand still lingers on Astarion's forearm or how she leans ever so slightly closer as if daring him to kiss her.

"I've been fine, though I'm upset you haven't visited in quite a while. It's been rather dull without you." She runs her hand up his arm.

Astarion laughs, flicking his hand in the air and clearly enjoying the woman's words. "I could only imagine, my dear. Those brutes are fowl at their best. Who wouldn't miss me."

Your jaw clenches when her obnoxious laughter rings in the air. Pushing past a family of four throwing a half-ass apology, not paying mind, too pissed off. Who does this woman think she is putting her hands on Astarion as if he's hers?

"Astarion, you always knew how to make me laugh." Elenor ducks her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "If I'm being honest, I was always jealous of the ones you took home. But now that we're here, maybe…"

Oh, hell no! You practically jump the rest of the way and run into Astarion's arm. He lets out a breathy oof, arms tightening around your waist to keep you from tumbling to the ground. Pretending you weren't aware of the woman, you capture Astarion into a chaste kiss before beaming up at him.

"I hope you found what you were looking for, my love." Your voice is sickly sweet as you trail your thumb across his cheekbone. Then you turn your head and feign innocence, looking at the elf. "Oh, I'm sorry, Star. Who is this?"

Astarion gives you a look but recovers quickly. Clearing his throat, he speaks, "Darling, this is Eleanor. She owns a tavern I frequented. One of the only decent companies I've had before we met."

Moving away from Astarion's side, you reach your hand out in greeting, giving her your name, "It's a pleasure to meet a friend of my Star,"

Eleanor looks a bit taken aback, staring blankly at the two of you, clearly not expecting this change in her plans. You're internally preening. She takes your hand in a limp shake before dropping it and stepping back. Eleanor quickly wipes her hand on her dress slyly and chuckles.

"That explains why I haven't seen you in a while."

You sneer at her, wanting nothing more than to punch her. Instead, you drop your hand onto Astarion's chest, nuzzling warmly into his side. "Yes, sorry about that. I've been a bit selfish. Sometimes it hard to get out of bed."

"Right…" Eleanor says. Astarion, I never took you as one to settle down, especially someone as… unique as them."

"What is that supposed to mean?" The venom drips from your words, and Astarion has to keep you in place.

Eleanor smirks. "Oh, I meant nothing bad." The mocking tone alone reinforces that she meant this to be as insulting as possible. "I'm just stating you're rougher around the edges."

Astarion's hold on your waist tightens as you move to step forward, hand reaching for the dagger discreetly hidden against your thigh. There is no possible way this woman values Astarion in any way more than as a body to conquer. That thought alone has you practically baring your teeth.

"What the fuck does that mean!"

Astarion steps in before you can do anything extreme, "Eleanor, it was lovely seeing you again. We'll have to come and visit sometime for a drink, but I'm afraid my love and I must make our leave."

"Oh yes, of course!" Elenor says, her voice a bit too filled with fake cheer. Her smile is strained, and her eyes stare daggers into your skull. "I hope I can see you at the tavern sometime soon."

"Yes, we'll come down for a visit sometime soon. " Astarion calls over his shoulder, practically dragging you down the cobblestone. You think about ripping your arm out of his hold and turning back, but you let him pull you along with only a death glare sent toward Eleanor.

As soon as the two of you are in a secluded place, Astarion drops your hand and turns on you. "Darling, what was that?"

Picking at your nails, you shrug your shoulders. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Astarion takes your hand and, with a finger, tilts your chin to force you to meet his eyes. He has a shit-eating grin, and his fangs are even more prominent in his smile. "You were jealous."

Swatting his hands away, you step back. "I was not!" You lie and storm down the alleyway. You didn't get far before Astarion caught your wrist and spun you into his chest.

"You were jealous." He repeats. "But you really shouldn't be."

"She was all over you."

"It was a hug, my dear, from probably the closest normal friendship I had before the tadpole."

"Friendship? She was practically begging you to fuck her." You huff, fiddling with the lapels of Astarion's shirt.

Astarion chuckles deeply and presses a kiss to your forehead. "Gods, you're cute when you're jealous."

"Don't make fun of me, Astarion."

Ignoring you, he continues. "For argument's sake, if she was begging me to fuck her, as you so eloquently put it, who cares? I certainly don't, not when I have this beautiful, strong, incredibly understanding partner who knows all the darkest parts of me and still stands by my side?"

"Well, I am pretty noble for putting up with you when you're hungry." You smile, looping your arms around his neck, all jealousy draining from you like water from a colander.

"How could another soul handle me in that horrid state." Astarion runs his nose against yours. "I love you and don't plan on stopping soon."

You beam and kiss him breathlessly before mumbling, "I love you too," against his lips. "I think we should head back to our room."

Astarion chuckles under his breath, running his hands down the curve of your spine. "Oh, what for my sweet?"

"Well," Crawling your fingers up his chest, you press your lips to his ear and whisper. "If you'll let me, I want to mark every inch of your neck." "Mark me as yours, darling?" Astarion hums.

"Mhmm, we could go further, but" you continue. "Tonight, I want you to show me this tavern Eleanor owns. I think we deserve a date night."

"You are jealous."

"If I agree, will you take me out?" You lean in for a kiss.

Astarion presses forward, brushing his lips against yours. "As long as I have a necklace of your pretty love bites."

"Then yes, my love, I am very much jealous."

I've been struggling with inspiration lately. Moving was super stressful and I had to leave a hostile work environment very quickly so life's been a bit messy. But I've got my kitty cat and don't have to deal with a shitty boss so hopefully things will go up from here.

I'm kinda iffy on how I feel on this one but that might just be my current mindset. I hope you all enjoy it regardless, and stay tune because I plan on have something spicier posted soonish...possibly Astarion discovering his breeding kink 🫣❤️

Taglist: @heartfully10@ayselluna@marina-and-the-memes@anixson@canonicalchaoticneutral @toadsbitch @meulinkitten-blog @ambr4armr @lotusandcrystals @venussakura @synapticjive @skittleabyss@asterordinary@lariatbunny @whispering-depths@butchboi-chihuahua-slumlord@darkest-part-of-the-forest@queenofcarrotflowers-s@sessils @d20bunny@cherifrog@ophelia-ophelian@bgthree@darlingxdragon@mothynyx @completelyshatteredbrokenmschf@babyqnn @mmendez0124@kokoyu-art@lilah-asteria

Want to be added to the taglist? DM me please!

[luv4fandoms]

Ti Amo (Marko x Fem!Reader)

This story was inspired by this idea

So thank you so much anon! I definitely couldn't have come up with a Valentine's Day themed story without your help. And I know this late, I'm sorry, life has had me busy.

For this I had to do some research on how Valentine's Day is celebrated in Italy and can I just say, that I much prefer the Italian way of celebrating! Like... America! You took a wrong turn somewhere and got off course.

Anywho, all Italian is translated by Google translate so if anything is wrong I do apologize.

Word count: 2,665

Pairing: Marko x Fem!Reader

Warnings: Pure Fluff!

⚠️ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐈 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐞.⚠️

Ko-Fi

The shops suddenly being filled with red, white, and pink everything indicated only one thing…Valentine's Day was approaching. A holiday you hadn't cared for in many many years…Until you met Marko. As cheesy as it sounded, Marko changed your whole life, and actually made you believe in love again. So now that the holiday of love was approaching, you wondered what to get for your own Cupid. You knew a handmade gift would be best, since making things was something you both enjoyed, that and the fact that the both of you often made fun of the overly marketed cheesiness of the Hallmark holiday, stating that along the way it had lost its actual symbolism and was now simply a way for stores to cash in on love. Though as you were scoping out the shops that night on the boardwalk you have found something you knew he would love..But you wanted to do something more, something he wouldn't expect…and that's when the thought hit you. You only had a few weeks until Valentine's Day, which meant you had to cram as much studying into those few weeks, and the studying began the next day when the library was actually open. Marko was a bit suspicious when you started to get sleepy earlier in the nights leading up to Valentine's Day, but you would just assure him that it was a surprise and you were ok. To which he would grumble but pull you close to him, kissing along your neck and telling you not to put your health at risk. You studied as much as you could, tested yourself over and over again until you could say the words at least almost flawlessly, and finally felt at least somewhat ready for your Valentine's surprise. 

The night of the holiday you had put on an outfit you knew Marko went crazy over and headed to the boardwalk, excited to see your Romeo..What you didn't expect, was for him to not be there. Looking at the boys, your eyes wandered for Marko, but couldn't spot the soft blonde curls anywhere in the crowd.

"He's just running late" Paul told you, slinging his arm around your shoulder. When Marko wasn't around, the boys, often Paul, took it upon themselves to be your protector on the boardwalk.

"Running late?" 

"It's a surprise," he smiled, before pulling you along.

"Come on, let's go hit up the games til he gets here, I'll be your temporary Valentine" he said with a wink, making you laugh, Paul was definitely your best friend, but even being your best friend, you began to get worried after an hour passed and Marko still hadn't shown up.

"Are you sure he's ok?" You asked, for what was probably the tenth time.

"I'm sure if it sis, come on, you know Marko, he's reckless sure but not stupid, he can handle himself" 

"I know that!...But it doesn't stop me from worrying" you sighed while looking down.

"Worrying about who?" You heard a very familiar voice ask. Looking up quickly you came face to face with a little stuffed bat.

"My silly boyfriend, you see he's an hour late and I'm starting to think I should go look for him Mr.Bat" you told the toy, trying to hide the smile as you shot a glance to your boyfriend.

"I'm sure he's fine, just maybe hoping you won't be mad at him for being late" the bat spoke, and you couldn't hold in the laugh as you reached out and took him.

"Not mad" you said while turning to look at Marko.

"Good, cause I promise I had a good reason"

"Oh?"

"Come on" he smiled, grabbing your hand and pulling you towards his bike.

"Thanks for hanging out with me" you yelled back to Paul as Marko pulled you along.

"Anytime sis!" 

You happily climbed onto the back of Marko's bike, the stuffed bat tucked into your shirt.

"You keep doing that and I'm gonna get jealous of that little guy" he joked while starting his bike.

"Hey it's only fair, I let you ride in my shirt when you're in bat form remember"

"No way I could forget that amore, best seat on the whole boardwalk" he joked

"Funny, my vote would be your lap" you joked back, earning a grin from him as he leaned back, tilting his head until you could lean forward and kiss him, the kiss was short but full of love before he leaned forward again and took off. The two of you rode down the beach for a while, and honestly you felt like you could spend every night like this, with him, just riding. But soon you felt the bike beginning to slow before he stopped completely. You were a bit confused since you were at the edge of where the beach met the woods, but you trusted Marko, so when he got off the bike and held his hand out for you, you took it. 

"What are you up to Romeo?" You giggled as you followed him through the forest.

"Now if I told you that it would ruin the surprise" he grinned back at you. The two of you walked for a little ways, slowly ascending, until the woods began to thin and you stepped out into a clearing that overlooked the ocean, but that wasn't what caught your eye, what caught your eye was the setup before you. A blanket laid over the grass with a basket, two glasses on-top and candles sprinkled throughout the area to give it a warm glow.

"Marko" you gasped, tearing up at the scene, no guy had ever done anything like this before, a quick burger at a fast food joint sure, but not a full blown candlelit picnic overlooking the ocean under a blanket of stars.

"Happy Valentine's Day amore" Marko whispered, gently pulling you towards the scene. You sat down and watched as he pulled a bottle of wine from the basket, glancing up at you and chuckling before saying with a wink.

"Don't worry, it's actual wine" he handed you the glass before pulling out the covered plates of food.

"How were you able to do this?" You asked with a laugh, happily taking the plate, Marko had never cooked for you before.

"I…May have snuck into your house after you left and used your stove" he confessed with a sheepish grin at your shocked expression.

"I'm not even mad cause honestly this is the sweetest thing anyone has ever done" you laughed.

"Really? That makes me the best boyfriend then huh?" He grinned.

"Definitely the best boyfriend" you smiled, leaning over and giving him a quick kiss, a kiss that had him chasing your lips when you leaned back.

"I will also forgive you for breaking and entering because this smells absolutely delicious" you gushed, looking down at the plate of pasta.

"Busiate alla Trapanese...it was something my grandmother taught me to make" he confessed, looking at his own plate, and you swore your heart could burst…he made you something that you knew brought up memories of his past life…of good times from the small smile he had.

"I'm honored" you spoke quietly, causing him to look up at you.

"That you made me something from your childhood", his smile soon matched yours, before he just shrugged, happy that it was dark so you couldn't see the slight blush. Before the both of you dug in…and you couldn't stop the moan even if you tried. It was so.freaking.good. 

"Ok…Are you a witch as well as a vampire, cause there is some magic in this, I'm sure of it" you told him, causing him to laugh, chest puffing up a bit in pride.

"I could be" he shrugged.

"You never know" he added with a wink.

"Well if you are I am fully under your spell" you winked back, earning a bigger smile. The both of you finished your food, Marko promising to cook for you more often. And now you were just leaning back against him, looking out at the ocean while you sipped your wine.

"I wish I could have found some Perugina chocolates, you would have loved them" he spoke after a moment, to which you just simply grinned, leaned forward and reached into your bag.

"You mean these?" You asked, looking back at him as you held up the box, watching his eyes widen.

"How did you?"

"I may have asked around, the Sweet Shope on the boardwalk was able to order them for me, straight from Italy babe" you smiled while leaning back into his arms while he happily opened the box on your lap.

"But how did you know?"

"I...may have done some research on how Valentine's Day is celebrated in Italy" you confessed, looking down to hide the blush as you felt Marko go stiff. You suddenly became worried that maybe that was weird, maybe you shouldn't have…and if that was weird then your surprise was gonna be too much. What you didn't expect was you feel his arms tighten around your waist, box of candy temporarily forgotten on your lap as he buried his face in your neck.

"You trying to make me fall in love with you amore?" He chuckled against your skin.

"Maybe?" You blushed.

"Maybe?" He smiled.

"I also have this for you" you told him, grabbing the small box out of your bag. He happily opened it and held up the little bell, a skull with a crown and red jewels in its eyes adorning it.

"It's a bike bell, they say it's–"

"For protection" he finished, kissing your cheek.

"Thank you baby, I love it" he told you before leaning your head back and kissing you. But just as you began to lose yourself in the kiss he began trailing kisses down your cheek and neck.

"I…I may have something else" you spoke hesitantly, causing him to pull his face from your neck.

"Oh?"

"Ho una confessione (I have a confession)" you spoke after a moment, seeing Marko's eyes widen again from the corner of your eye.

"Non mi sono mai sentito così prima (I've never felt like this before)" you tried to remember what you practice, your words coming out a bit slower than you would have liked.

"mi fai sentire così amato, protetto, libero... voluto (you make me feel so loved, protected, free…wanted)"

"Lo so, nella mia anima, non c'è nessun altro per me. non oggi, non mai.(I know, in my soul, there's no one else for me. Not today, not ever.)" 

"ecco perché non ho ripensamenti quando ti chiedo questo (that's why I have no second thoughts when I ask you this)" you took a deep breath and slowly pulled away from his grasp, placing the box of candy on the blanket and turning to face him. A look of pure shock and love adorning his features, and as you looked at him, the moon giving him a soft glow while the candle light danced across his skin. Eyes shining as he looked at you, and lip gently caught by his teeth, almost as if he was trying to keep himself from speaking or smiling too much. You looked at this man, this man who had swept you off your feet in a flurry of laughter, sweet gestures, long talks, wild bike rides and slow walks on the beach, and you knew there was no one else you wanted to spend forever with.

"cambiami (change me)" you finished, watching as his teeth released his lip, mouth opening as he looked at you as if you had just told him the most shocking news.

"Che cosa? (What?)" He asked, unsure he has heard you say the one sentence he had wanted you to say since you met. Surely you hadn't just asked that, in his own native tongue, after confessing how much you loved him,in his own native tongue! Did you know what you were doing to him? Did you know how crazy you were making him? How crazy for you you were making him? 

"Cambiami (change me)" 

There it was again, that simple request that held such a heavy weight and yet you said it as if you had just told him the stars were pretty. But the look on your face said you had thought about it, ran it through your head a thousand times and the answer stayed the same…You wanted to be with him…Forever.

"Amore" he breathed, reaching up to hold your face in his hands, you leaned your forehead against his, smiling as you held his hands.

"per sempre? (Forever?)" He asked, still not believing it.

"Per sempre (Forever)" you smiled, and he leaned forward, crashing his lips to yours to try and show you just how happy you had made him, even though he knew he would never be able to fully show you…But now he had forever to try. Once he pulled away you couldn't help but laugh.

"Is that a yes?" You asked

"Sì, yes just name when and where and we'll make it happen" he smiled.

"As long as it's your blood I'm drinking, no offense to David but I really don't want him as my sire" you laughed

"No way in hell, you're all mine" he spoke while wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his lap.

"Sorry if my Italian wasn't that good.. I'm still learning" you spoke after a moment, earning a groan from him as he pressed his forehead against your chest, holding you tightly. God if you only knew what you did to him.

"Amore, it was perfect"

"Really?" 

"Really, and I will admit…I wasn't expecting it" 

"I wanted to surprise you"

"Was all of it true?" He asked, and you knew that deep down Marko struggled to believe it.

"Every word" you told him

"non c'è nessun altro neanche per me, sei tu amore mio, solo tu (there's no one else for me either, it's you my love, only you)" he spoke, looking at you like you hung the stars.

"Ti amo Marko (I love you Marko)" you breathed.

"Ti amo y/n (I love you y/n)" he whispered before leaning in to capture your lips, his hand cradling your cheek while his other wrapped around your waist. The two of you losing yourself in one another under the night sky. 

"So what other Valentine's traditions do they have in Italy?" You asked after a while as you now laid against Marko, your head resting on his chest.

"Well…there are a few things?" He spoke, a grin that could rival the Cheshire cat making its way across his lips.

🦇🦇🦇🦇

"Come on" he laughed, pulling you along.

"Is this legal? You know what, don't answer that" you laughed.

"Wise choice" he replied as the two of you made your way to the chain fence at the boardwalk. Once stopped, you tried to once again fix your clothes.

"Having some problems amore" he smirked when you shot him a glare that held absolutely no anger.

"Oh no just my boyfriend messing up my clothes to the point I can't get them right again" 

"Mmmm they looked a lot better on the ground" 

"Marko!"

"Just the truth babe" he chuckled while watching you, and watching the earring that swung from your ear as you moved, the earring that matched his. 

"Come on, we do it together" he smiled

"I like the sounds of that" you smiled back.

🦇🦇🦇🦇

The guard would never find out who put the padlock on the fence, or who crudely carved M x F/I into it, though it looked like it was clawed in and that weirded him out to the point of simply leaving it, after all, he didn't have the keys, nor would he ever find the ones that had been tossed into the ocean once the lock was clicked shut.

I hope everyone enjoyed it! Also this is the bell and it can be found on Etsy

[2shuang]

GatheringFiKi Trick or Treat event 2023

Trick: Last Halloween one of them got his heart broken. This Halloween he's going to put it past him. Or is he…?

relationship: Mitchell/Anders

warning: blood, character death

Thanks @linane-art and @gatheringfiki and apologise for my terrible English.

===

In Anders' dictionary, the word "Halloween" had never existed. He had no interest in picking up a pumpkin from the supermarket, nor did he fancy sporting a pair of silly bat wings on his back. Above all, he had no desire to open his door and find a group of kids draped in bed sheets, grinning foolishly and asking, "Trick or treat?"

No Trick. No treat.

Luckily, he lived in an apartment, and the security measures saves him from those chattering children.

Wait, not so lucky after all.

As Anders pulled out a bottle of beer and closed the fridge door, he found his boyfriend stooding by the sofa, holding a devilish headband and looking at him expectantly.

AND NO PUPPY EYES!

"If you dare to put that thing on my head, I promise you won't be allowed through my door from tomorrow," the god furrowed the brow.

"Fine, I'll wear it myself," Mitchell shrugged and placed the glowing red headband on his own head.

Anders arched an eyebrow, "Have a good night." Haunted houses and festive nights held no appeal for him.

"Hey! It's us going together!" The vampire seized the blonde attempting to slip away, lowered his head to nuzzle their foreheads, and drew them into a deep kiss.

With no need for breath, the vampire turned the kiss into a one-sided dominance. Anders gradually felt lightheaded due to the lack of oxygen. In his daze, he didn't realize when Mitchell removed his hands from Anders' waist, but he did notice that something had become entangled in his hair.

Mitchell restored his boyfriend's breath, saying, "Alright, let's go."

The disgruntled little god blinked and, after catching his breath, reached up to touch the item that had been placed on his head – a circlet.

"Since you're a 'god.'"

"Northman god," Anders rolled his eyes. "Bragi is not a flying baby without pants."

"That's not the point. Let's go."

Despite having Mitchell by his side, Anders remained uninterested in Halloween. The place was swarming with visitors dressed up as all sorts of vampires and ghosts, creating such a racket that he had to tug on the real vampire's collar each time just to lower his head enough to hear what he was saying. Oh, and they had to watch out for those agile "little ghosts" darting through the crowd.

Anders' gaze wandered aimlessly between the street's pumpkin lanterns and fluorescent skeleton costumes, finally settling on a candy-laden vendor cart by the roadside. "Maybe we can get some candy," Anders said, turning to look at the vampire. But Mitchell's attention was still elsewhere, as if he were searching for something.

"Mitchell? Mitchell!" Anders raised his voice.

"What?" the brunette turned his head around.

"I said we could get some candy," Anders' tone carried a hint of annoyance. "Just in case you feel like giving some to a little ghost who might bump into us."

He remembered Mitchell mentioning that when in England, they used to prepare a whole cookie tin full of candies for Halloween and wait for the doorbell to ring.

However, Mitchell's reaction took him completely by surprise. The vampire seemed to react as if stressed, his expression suddenly turning serious, almost angrily. He declined the suggestion and pulled him away from the candy cart.

?

Anders' dissatisfaction flared up as well. He had agreed to come to this Halloween market, which he didn't particularly like, with the idea of "accompanying Mitchell" tonight. But now, this fucking vampire was throwing a fit just because he suggested buying candy? But the only reason he wanted to buy candy is because giving out candy was Mitchell's tradition!

After being pulled along by Mitchell for a while, Anders realized that he seemed to have a specific destination in mind.

"Where are we going?" the god asked impatiently.

"To get some makeup."

"I beg you pardon?!"

"Makeup," Mitchell turned to look at him, "People do it for Halloween."

Anders immediately pulled his hand away. "If you like smearing all those colorful paints on your face, go ahead and turn your face into a graffiti wall. I don't like it."

"Happy?" Anders glared angrily at Mitchell. He had been given an exaggerated makeover, nearly unrecognizable.

The big puppy, also with a new face, nodded. He looked obedient, guilty, and remorseful, but with his makeup, it’s a bit comical.

The blonde fought the urge to pat this big puppy and sighed with a furrowed brow, "I'm hungry." He hadn't even had dinner to make it on time according to Mitchell's schedule.

The vampire, who had just settled down, became alert again upon hearing Anders' words. Unaware of his boyfriend's transformation, Anders pulled out his phone from his pocket and checked it, "There seems to be a restaurant not far ahead having a dinner party..."

"No!" Mitchell suddenly interrupted in a loud voice.

Startled, the little god hesitated for a few seconds, then ripped off the headband and flung it right at the vampire's chest.

"John Mitchell, I've had enough of you," Anders stared at him with a serious expression, his beautiful blue eyes reflecting the warm orange glow of the lights. If it weren't for the current atmosphere, Mitchell would have wanted to kiss them.

He rarely saw Anders genuinely angry, or rather, this was the only time.

But regardless, he wouldn't agree to Anders going to that restaurant.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, but tonight, you haven't respected my opinions for a single second. Now I'm not interested in continuing to be your servant." He roughly ruffled his hair and muttered to himself, "Why the hell did I waste an entire evening on this?"

"Anders, I..."

"Ahh, SHUT UP." Anders interrupted Mitchell just as the vampire had interrupted him earlier. "That's it. I'm going home, and you can stay for your Halloween revelry."

Going home.

The words hit the vampire like a pin bursting a balloon, making him suddenly realize something.

Home.

Small, enclosed, controllable, home.

Why had he never thought that he could lock Anders in their room tonight? They didn't need any makeup or masks to hide themselves. As long as Anders didn't see anyone besides him, he would be safe, of course!

No, Anders didn't even need to see him! To avoid any moment when he couldn't control his vampire nature.

Mitchell was thrilled with his newfound idea, but when he came to his senses, the angry god had already disappeared into the bustling crowd.

"Anders? ANDERS!!!"

The surrounding noise and laughter seemed to announce his failure once again.

Mitchell moved against the flow of the crowd, simultaneously trying to detect the familiar scent of his lover in the air.

He was no longer in a hurry because no matter when he found Anders, there was only one outcome waiting for him. A ten-minute time difference wouldn't change anything.

However, he still had chances.

The first time, they decided to spend Halloween at home. But when Anders heard a knock at the door and went to answer it, a sharpened wooden stake drove into his carotid artery.

The second time, he chose to take Anders out. While walking down the street, a few trick-or-treat kids approached them, bouncing around. Anders urged him to buy some candy quickly to get rid of these annoying little imps. But when he returned with candy and saw Anders again, his lover was lying in a pool of blood, with a few kids wiping the blood from their mouths standing nearby.

The third time, they picked a less crowded street and stayed close to his little god. But an arrow pierced through Anders' chest from behind.

The fourth time, he took Anders to a restaurant with a performance. However, in the few seconds he looked down to twirl his pasta with his fork, a gun was pressed against Anders' head.

The fifth time, when he finally found the familiar scent in a dark alley, Anders was barely clinging to life, curled up in a corner. The paint on his face had smeared with blood, looking dirty and comical.

And he was almost becoming numb to it.

He didn't even rush to the blonde immediately, despite Anders' eyes widening at the sight of him. The neck wound left him speechless. Anders was surprised and in pain at his almost indifferent composure, struggling on the brink of life and death, desperately needing his lover.

Mitchell knelt by Anders' side, carefully cradling him in his arms and leaned down to kiss his blood-smeared lips.

Tears streamed down the little god cheeks.

"I promise, baby, I promise, there won't be anyone hurting you next time."

Because he suddenly thought of a better way. Instead of hiding from other vampires' hunts with Anders, he would do it himself.

Next Halloween, he would bring his young vampire with him, joining tonight's revelry.

[its-deputy-caleb]

Day Eight – “Confessions”

character: bembé álvarez | 995 words |

summary: working under bembé has been unexpected, but not necessarily unwanted. the two of you have grown closer by the day until one of you finally confesses up to your feelings. (featuring soft!bembé)

notes: lol remember when i said i won’t fall behind?! we’ll see how it goes but i might end up loosing track in the next couple of days if assessments start overflowing. also i hate how this one turned out :(( it’s not my finest at all but we’re going to quantity and not quality this flufftober 

Working for Bembé has been a learning curve to say the least.

Originally, you had joined him under the notion of needing to pay off a debt to support your family with borrowed money. But that was a long time ago.

You were supposed to be there for a few weeks, doing menial tasks like picking up shipments, of which you certainly didn’t ask any questions about, and relaying messages between the Gulov twins and the Black Market King himself– all to pay off the small amount of debt.

It was not, in any way, supposed to be a full time job. 

What started out as working for Bembé, quickly grew into a business partnership and dare you say it, a friendship working with him. In all the years you’ve known him, Bembé has become one of the few people you’ve come to trust with your life as you spend almost every hour of the day alongside him.

Stepping out of your car, you head on over to the Church’s entry as you plan to drop off his diary with all the information on today’s shipments and finances. There’s not many people around, mainly a few guards who give you a nod of acknowledgement and a parisher who’s taken to wiping down the benches. The only gaze that lingers is one of Saint Mary from her pedestal besides the windows.

Bembé’s desk is neatly tucked away behind the altar, having converted one of the storage rooms as his place of residence until you can safely reclaim the twin’s territory down at the Villa Judía Hotel. 

You place the book down on his desk, taking a moment to throw away empty cans and tidy up the pages strewn across the wooden surface before wandering around the Church in search of him.

With little to no luck searching the rooftops and the backrooms where all the arts and goods are stored, you return to the main area for congregants as your eyes land on the confessionals. Ah, he must be in one of those moods today.

Bembé had only ever gone there after a long and stressful day. A way of letting people know he wanted to be on his own. It wasn’t until you’d really gotten close did he leave the seat across from him for you to join him.

And you did just that, making your announcement known with a soft knock against the door, your knuckles scraping as you climbed inside. The light is softened, leaving an orange stain of intricate shadows to illuminate his face which rests up against the divider. Bembé looks at you from under his lashes, his shoulders slouched and eye bags visible. He looks tired. But instead of a rough, harsh look you’d expected to see from his exhaustion, it only brings out a softness to his features.

“Rough day?”

“Eh maybe… maybe not,” Bembé’s voice is full of his typical nonchalance, a hint of sarcasm you’ve come to grow used to but that all bleeds away when he sits back and slouches into his chair. “The twins picked off two more shipments, and Paolo’s debt is picking up by the hour with no end in sight.”

You humm in contemplative thought, thinking over all the stress he’s had to deal with over the weeks. “Let me call Dani– heard she’s helping Máximas out. Who knows she might even help you settle things with the Gulovs.”

Bembé chuckles, but not in a malicious way. His head leans back to hit the wall with a soft thunk as he stares down at his shoes.

“Something else on your mind?”

“Just thinking about my father. How he went from guerrilla in ‘67 to putting on a crisp military uniform– just to be buried by guerrillas when the next revolución came along.” He looks at you then, with all the emotion that is the real Bembé and not the Black Market King of Yara.

“Isn’t that what you wanted? To not pick sides. Doesn’t matter what colour flag you hold– it’s all just business, no?” Hesitant, your eyes are trained to Bembé making sure you don’t overstep or say the wrong things. It’s rare for him to talk about his family, and even rarer to show his emotions so openly.

“My father died for nothing.” There’s a beat before he speaks again. “Guerrillas. Military. Business. What is the point of switching sides if you don’t have something to make it all worth it.”

Bembé looks at you, finally meeting your eyes and you can’t help but think there’s slight fear in his eyes– or embarrassment. It’s a look you’ve never seen before, certainly not from him.

“I love you, you know. And I want you to choose my side. I don’t want to do this anymore if I don’t have you here.”

With a deep sigh, you muster a gentle smile and hold your hand out comfortingly to rest on the divider between you two.

“Bembé, I could have left a long time ago. I’m choosing to be here– you have nothing to worry about.” Quickly, you climb out from your side of the confessional to join him. You seat yourself beside him, your body flushed to him in the tight space as you hold his face and kiss the corner of his mouth. “I love you too.”

He sighs into you, feeling his arms wrap around your shoulders. There’s heat radiating from the both of you, with only his jewellery cooling your skin as he holds you impossibly closer. 

“Could you ever love someone like me? A sinner.” His voice is still so soft, but some of his charismatic charm has returned.

“Isn’t that my line? ‘Forgive me Father for I have sinned?’” 

Both of you laugh then, doing your best to keep the noise down with a string of kisses and warm hugs until finally your limbs start cramping and you head on home to his villa for the night.

[limelyrics]

Toriatsukaichui/取扱注意

Take my hand, shall we dance?

Don’t you know that you’re a looker?

When everything’s said and done, it’s anyone’s* guess how you’re breathing trouble

Just swallow the hollow feelings that betook her

What’s the fee to laugh with me?

Why not just get uncomfortable?

Maybe the trouble is doubled

because I wasn’t raised right?

Spitting rhymes in double time’s a skill that you catch on the fly

“A genius!” “You seen this?”

All those words are so trite

Word count mounts a taut discount, ‘cause no one wants to try

Ah, aren’t you sick of it?

Hey, missy,

Get rid of your cares

Why don’t we strip bare and plunge into the deepest sea of grown up melodies?

Come on, take my hand, put your head in the sand as we put ourselves at ease

Ah, I can not be alone

I am not alone

I am not alone, not at all

There’s a beast that lurks inside and it’s telling me I’m so

Alone, but I’ve still got to go

Stewing over our stew, look around and see the chaos

What’s the point without a joint to sneak as they fall into blows**

New issue, a tissue that’s blown inside a market

All the noise and all the smells will drive me mad

So

No, I’m not a genius, nor a pervert, nor a coward

But I’ll scrawl down this whole story ‘til I reach my final hour

A poweful punch to that fine sir would make me get censored

My next left hook will hit you like the end of a book

Ah, how love turns to hate

Big brother,

Am I not a sad case? I’ll no longer embrace the foundation that I built to stand on all my life

Come on, take a look, always an open book, we stand shaking in strife

No, I can not be alone

I am not alone

Like a thought like that could be true

Still I’ve got all of these things that I don’t deserve, you see

They always will be haunting me

Down the rabbit hole I go

Shots bring my pulse to a slow

I know no one can heal the wounds on my body that pummel me

Even so, no matter how much I break

If it’s all done for your sake, I know, I’ll devote my body blow by blow

I’ll keep on writing and fighting till nothing I say matters

I don’t care if wandering, rambling, words are consuming my life

Let’s fix it and ditch it, forget about the latter

In the end you can just run away and never come back

One more time,

Hey, missy,

Get rid of your cares

Why don’t we strip bare and plunge into the deepest sea of grown up melodies?

Come on, take my hand, put your head in the sand as we put ourselves at ease

Wasn’t it so cruel? Do you still feel a fool, well,

No more, ‘cause this bitter life’s turned into a sweet song

Don’t need anyone and I still can not run, it’s a choice to live long

Somehow, can I change the wrongs of the past that I’ve somehow evaded ‘till now?

Tell me, how do I move on when that past consumes me so?

I guess I’ll take a chance and know

Let’s start over, a clover can represent a new start

Don’t listen to all those know nothings who just want someone to deface

Expose them, dispose them, and show them this mess of art

Come, let’s watch it all go to waste

Notes:

* pronounced “s’anyone’s”

** this line did not make much sense to me and the only way I could think to get past it was by making a weed joke (translation here: https://genius.com/Genius-english-translations-syudou-toriatsukaichui-english-translation-lyrics)

[butternutrisotto]

28/30

Since I was a kid, I’ve always dreamed of visiting Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, and Beijing. These cities have always felt like distant, magical places, filled with excitement, history, and of course, incredible food. My sister and I have talked about taking this trip together for years, and now, it feels like the perfect time to finally make it happen. There’s something thrilling about going to a place where English isn’t the first language. It’s not just about the adventure of traveling, but also about pushing myself out of my comfort zone, embracing new challenges, and immersing myself fully in a different culture.

Hong Kong, with its dazzling skyline and vibrant streets, is at the top of our list. The idea of exploring the crowded markets, wandering through the busy streets, and standing in awe of Victoria Harbour has me filled with excitement. But most of all, I’m looking forward to the food. Dim sum is one of my all-time favorite meals, and there’s no better place to indulge in it than Hong Kong, where it all began. I can already picture my sister and me sitting in a bustling teahouse, savoring bite after bite of delicate dumplings, buns, and other treats, while soaking in the energy of the city around us.

Macau holds a different kind of allure, with its unique blend of Chinese and Portuguese influences. I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of a place where two distinct cultures come together in such a seamless way. From the colonial architecture to the fusion of flavors in Macanese cuisine, Macau promises to be an entirely new kind of adventure. I’m especially eager to try the famous Portuguese egg tarts, which I’ve heard so much about. And of course, we’ll explore the vibrant streets, get lost in the maze of old alleyways, and maybe even try our luck at one of the city’s famous casinos, just for fun.

Shanghai, with its mix of old and new, has always captured my imagination. The futuristic skyline, especially the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower, stands in contrast to the historic charm of Old Shanghai. I can’t wait to see both sides of this incredible city. My sister and I will walk along the Bund, marveling at the modern architecture while also seeking out the quieter, more traditional parts of the city. And, as with every city on our trip, the food will be a central part of the experience. Shanghai is known for its xiaolongbao, those delicious soup dumplings, and I’m ready to taste the best they have to offer.

Beijing is a city that I’ve dreamed about for as long as I can remember. The rich history, from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall, is something I’ve always wanted to experience firsthand. I can already picture us standing on the Great Wall, taking in the sweeping views of the Chinese countryside, feeling the weight of history beneath our feet. Beijing’s ancient temples, palaces, and historical sites will give us a glimpse into a world that has existed for centuries, and I know it will be a humbling and awe-inspiring part of our journey.

And of course, no trip to Beijing would be complete without sampling its legendary food. I’ve been dreaming of trying Peking duck in its birthplace, and I can’t wait to see how it compares to the versions I’ve had at home. Beyond that, I’m excited to explore the city’s street food scene. From jianbing to baozi, there will be no shortage of new and exciting flavors to discover. Each city on this trip promises to offer a unique culinary experience, but Beijing’s rich food history has a special allure that I’m particularly excited to dive into.

This trip will be more than just a vacation for my sister and me—it will be a chance to fulfill a childhood dream, challenge ourselves in new ways, and create memories that will last a lifetime. Traveling to places where English isn’t widely spoken will push us to rely on each other and figure things out as we go. I know it will be a learning experience, one filled with small victories, plenty of laughter, and maybe even a few mishaps along the way. But that’s all part of the adventure.

Ultimately, what excites me most about this journey is the opportunity to step outside of my familiar world and experience something entirely new. From the food to the culture to the language, this trip will be a chance to immerse ourselves in places that we’ve only ever seen in pictures or read about in books. And doing it with my sister by my side makes it even more special. I’m ready for the adventure, for the challenges, and for the incredible experiences that await us in Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, and Beijing.

[artikgato]

Life update

Ooooohkay well, obviously, I haven't been updating on here, nor have I been going out for exercise daily. Honestly, that lasted a little longer than I thought it would. Maybe once my fall convention gauntlet has slowed down, and if I can convince myself to go out jogging in the cold, I'll get back into it. As it stands now, though, I'm either too busy or too tired to go out jogging, sadly.

Last Wednesday, I went to go see the Ghost Files live show down in Atlanta. I drove down earlier in the day so I could make my pilgrimage to Sweet Hut, a chain of restaurants in Atlanta that primarily sell these very cheap, very delicious bread buns. Like the name suggests most of them are sweet, but they have a fairly good selection of savory buns, too (think like bbq pork, ham and cheese, green onions, cheese filled, etc.). I stocked up on a bunch of those to eat all weekend for lunch and dinner and just as snacks.

Ghost Files live was a wonderful experience. The venue it was at was an old several stories tall church called The Tabernacle. I had a pretty good seat, all things considered. The episode they screened was the season finale (still not actually out on Youtube as I'm writing this!) which was of course absolutely hilarious, they had to pull out all the stops for the finale naturally. Watching it with a room full of strangers was a next level experience. There were parts where I was laughing so hard I was crying. And then after the show, of course, the Ghoul Boys themselves came on stage to tell jokes, have witty banter, and answer audience questions. And they did an estes spirit box session on stage, resulting in a ghost having "liquid beef" with Shane Medej.

10/10 experience, will absolutely go again if they tour next year and come anywhere near where I'm living. It was great. And that was only the start of the weekend!

Thursday morning I got up bright and early to get my badge for Anime Weekend Atlanta. I had a few hours to kill until I had anything to do, so I wandered around the Cumberland Mall, attached to the Cobb Galleria via a sky bridge. I hadn't been since 2019 (to the mall or AWA), and in the intervening years they ADDED A WHOLE ASS ARCADE WITH JAPANESE RHYTHM GAMES? So I might have spent over $20 on credits to play said Japanese rhythm games. And y'all, I have a couple of litmus test DDR songs that I try to play every time I get the chance, to test where my level of stamina, coordination and general health is at. Not only did I pass them, I actually did better at them here than at Dragoncon! What the heck! I got a high B on Daikenkai on Standard mode!! I also got to dick around with some taiko drum master, a couple of new rhythm games I've never played nor seen in any con's video game room, and get my ass kicked at Time Crisis 5. It was fun! A great way to kill a few hours!

Then I did the Super Happy Fun Sell, AWA's Thursday night flea market. Once I got set up I literally didn't have time to leave the table or even look at my phone for more than a minute or two. I was swamped. I sold a lot. I bought Lucina and Robin Amiibos from the table next to mine. It was very packed.

AWA, in general, was pretty packed. All weekend, but on Saturday afternoon in particular, I found myself having to employ Dealer's Room crowd tactics in most of the Galleria. It's definitely time for them to move to a new, bigger venue. I just hate that they are, because I have such fondness for the Cobb Galleria and the Renaissance Waverly. I have over a decade of memories at that location. It's sad to see them move, even if it's for the best. Also they'll be in December next year?! What the fu-

I decided on a whim to enter the costume contest, because one of my hotel roommates was entering and I went along with her for solidarity, realized in line I could enter Izou, filled out the application, and got a judging time. Spoiler alert: I didn't win anything, but it was still a lot of fun to be in the contest itself! I got to cheer on the other contestants, I got to see some cool ass cosplays, and I got to show off my (fake) man tits on stage to a crowd of adoring fans. Or at least a crowd of indifferent fans and some people cheering.

On Friday I also got to meet Michelle Ruff (the voice of Yoko from Gurren Lagann), tell her how much Gurren Lagann means to me (a whole lot) and get her to sign my box set! I went to the Type-Moon photoshoot as Izou and there was another Izou there!! He was in the second ascension form (with the big hat and the red hair) and we got many pictures together. It was great! There was a great turn out, lots of characters, including ones I haven't seen often at cons!

Saturday morning I got up early and got into my Xellos cosplay to meet another voice actor. This time it was Veronica Taylor, the voice of Amelia from Slayers! She called me Zelgadis, which I'm attributing to muscle memory because she probably said the name Zelgadis 2000% more times than the name Xellos. I got to tell her how much Slayers means to me (a whole fuckin lot), got a picture with her, and she is just one of the kindest, coolest people out there.

I then proceeded to make a full loop of the entire dealer's room and artist alley, spend way too much money, and come away from the experience so ready to get changed out of Xellos. Unfortunately I was changing back into Izou for the costume contest, so I didn't get much respite from the heat, but oh well. In the dealer's room I found something I've been searching for for a while - the nendroid of Izou! And also Okita Souji, which I got a discount on. I also spent far too much money at the only booth I've seen selling CDs, but I found the Fire Emblem Awakening OST, Slayers NEXT and TRY, the Digimon Adventure 02 character song CDs, and the effing Gurren Lagann soundtrack. Like I wasn't going to just throw my money at them?? I also found some cool stuff in the artist alley. All in all, not too bad.

As mentioned earlier, the costume contest was pretty fun. Afterwards I peeled myself out of my fake chest and put on normal clothes, because I had to repack the car for the journey ahead.

Sunday I got up super duper early and got on the road headed to Greenville for SC Comicon Jr, where I had an artist alley table! I did pretty decently and managed not to spend all of my earnings on dumb shit. Just some of them. I found a vendor selling the 151 Erika full art cards and blacked out and I have two copies of one and one copy of the other one. Leave me alone. The same vendor also had that tin with Hop and Wooloo on it which I've been looking for for ages so, y'know, it all worked out.

After SC Comicon Jr I had dinner with some friends at the local Menkoi branch and then got on the road to finally go back home. And after being stuck in traffic for an hour and a half more than necessary because of construction and wrecks, I finally made it back at like 10pm.

And then I had to work solo the next day. And the next. And now we're at today, where I called out sick for a very deserved day of rest and packing for Nekocon, because I am insane. I just did 1.5 cons and a live show last weekend, next weekend is a convention volunteering with the manga library, the next weekend is an artist alley con here in Charlotte, then a one-day con down in Charleston on the 19th, and by the end of this gauntlet I just hope I have the money to buy a license for Hatch Embroidery and/or a PS5 so I can finally play Baldur's Gate 3 and Fate/Samurai Remnant, and eventually FF7 Rebirth in February.

Whew.

OH AND I'M ALSO TRYING TO DO NANOWRIMO

DID I MENTION I'M INSANE

[cal-a-bungaa]

Home - Jake Kiszka

Home Part 3 - Jake Kiszka

Link to part one, two ....

Synopsis: Child on the way in the midst of a failing marriage, neither of you expected this, but are willing to make the effort to do what’s best.

Word count: 2.3k

Warnings: mentions of cheating, couples therapy, swearing, mentions of sex and pregnancy, ANGST

Enjoy!

__________

Jake was on a mission to find peonies. He’d been to every store he could think that sold flowers, and now he was blindly wandering around the farmer’s market. It was his last hope in surprising you with your favorite flowers. He remembers the way you insisted those be the flowers for your wedding. You clenched a bouquet of baby pink peonies as you took each step towards him and your future together. His beautiful wife. 

Wife.

It still felt like a dream to him that you were actually his wife. It was a year today and he felt giddy on the inside to be able to celebrate this monumental moment with you. He had panicked this morning before you woke up and called his mom for advice on how to treat you today. Even Josh had told him to pick up your favorite things and that you were his wife so why ask him. Jake just wanted this day to be perfect. And if he can’t find these damn flowers, he’s gonna throw a fit and swear the day was ruined. Jake wanted to see your eyes light up and you press your nose between the petals to smell the sweet scent. 

In a matter of minutes on his aimless journey for peonies, he finally sees a flower stand. Jake also spots a woman observing the fresh blooms that looks oddly a lot like you. He panicked for a second, hoping you weren’t buying them for yourself. But the closer he got, he realized that it wasn’t you, but rather a stranger. She was pretty. She reminded him of you in the way her eyes sparkled and hair blew with the wind. But she just wasn't you. It does strike him as a coincidence that she would be standing in front of the exact flowers he had been hunting for all morning.

“Can I squeeze past you real quick?” Jake asks the nameless woman. 

She turns and looks startled for a second before kindly nodding and stepping to the side. He plucks a bouquet of peonies from the bucket before him. 

“Those for someone special?” The lady asks.

“Huh?” Jake wasn't expecting any more interaction with her. “Oh. Yeah, they’re my wife's favorite.”

She smiles at him. “That’s sweet.” He simply nods, ready to check out and get back to you. “Do you know what they represent?” She asks Jake.

“No? I didn’t know flowers could represent anything.” He chuckles. 

“Good luck and prosperity.” She flashes one last smile before slowly disappearing into the crowd.

“Mr. Kiszka.” Jake hears someone say. 

“Jake.” It’s your voice now. 

Jake blinks several times, knowing himself out of his daze. “Sorry, what?” He thinks he sees you twirling your wedding band around your finger in the corner of his sight as the doctor writes something down in her book.

“I asked you how you feel about your wife's pregnancy.”

Your husband looks over at you fully, wanting to place his hand on the soft swell of your belly, but refrains from doing so. “I didn’t think I could love her more after she told me.” he answers truthfully. 

“I’m glad you feel that way, Jake, but you did what you did and I don’t want our child growing up in a broken home.” You trail off at the end into a whisper. 

“Do you not believe you can fix your relationship, Mrs. Kiszka?”

You suck in your bottom lip before answering the doctor's question. “If we do, it still wouldn’t be the same.” Jake felt the guilt fill him again.

“Maybe not going back to what you two were before as individuals and as a couple is for the best. Change can be good.”

Jake remains silent. “But how am I supposed to continue being with him if I can’t stop thinking about this other woman in his life?” 

“That is for you to figure out. We don’t have the answers, sometimes never find them either, but all you two can do is try for yourselves if you still love each other and for your child.”

“I do still love him, I just can’t stop thinking about what he did…”

“You can forgive without forgetting.” You give a short nod before going silent. “Jacob, do you still love your wife?” 

This time, Jake doesn’t hold back and takes your hand in his. “Very much.” You give him a squeeze. That was the first time you’d allowed him to touch you and it lit a fire under him. He had hope for the two of you. For the three of you. 

“And that should be enough for you two to have the motivation to fix what has been broken.”

-

You didn’t know how to feel after the session you had that day. You let Jake grasp your hand and even gave him reassurance when he wasn’t the one that needed it. He needed to let you know that you guys can make this work. It was so hard to erase the images that would flash through your mind. It made you feel like you failed. You failed so much that he seeked out what he couldn’t get from you in someone else. Being at home with just him was still hard. It took so much effort out of you to just look him in the eyes most times. You could tell that he wanted to fix everything, but how could he when nothing had been talked about and when it was, it would turn into screams bouncing off the walls covered in the memories you had made together. 

Even now as he strummed soft tunes on his acoustic guitar that was usually propped up in the corner of the living room, it pained you. Did she hear his voice and talent? You sat on the plush sofa with a maternity book, barely paying attention to the printed words. It was tempting to forget everything and just kiss your husband. You craved his touch, maybe it was the pregnancy hormones, but your mind wouldn’t let you do that to yourself. In the midst of recalling how your husband's hands felt on your body and his mouth, his ringtone blasts throughout the room. A moment of panic washes over you. Is it her? Is she calling him while he’s right next to you?

“Hi, mom.” relief overcomes you and you release the breath you hadn’t realized you were holding. “Baby, she wants to talk to you.” He stands before you, handing you his phone.

You shot him a curious look. “Hi Karen!” The enthusiasm in your voice feels almost forced even though you love his mom dearly.

“Hi sweetheart, I already asked Jacob, and he told me you may not be feeling up to it. Kelly and I would love to have you and the boys all over for dinner tonight.” 

This time you really shoot Jake a look that would kill if he was paying attention. “Oh um.. Maybe not tonight, Jake and I were just gonna have dinner here and relax..” She probably senses your lie with her motherly instincts.

Rustling comes from the other line before you hear your infamous brother-in-law squawking in your ear. “You have to come! We’re all here!” Jake’s ears perk up at the sound of his twin practically screaming at you to go to come to the dinner.

“Josh, firstly, you don’t have to yell. Secondly, fine.” 

You had to pull the phone away from your ear as cheers rang through the speaker. Goodbyes happened and you were giving Jake his phone back which he surprisingly pockets immediately. The two of you sit in awkward silence for a moment or two. 

You get up from the couch, smoothing out the sundress you had picked out for the day. “We don’t have to go.” Jake tells you from his original spot in the armchair. 

“I already told Josh that we would.”

Ever since you found out about your pregnancy, you’d been ecstatic. You’d been trying for a baby since before you were even married and now that it happened, it felt like a nightmare under these circumstances. You’d been so excited to share the news with your husband, knowing that he would share those same feelings you did. But now… now it seemed like Jake was just saying whatever he could to win back your favor. Even now as you looked at yourself in the mirror that leaned against the clean white walls of your bedroom, you found little enjoyment from the life growing inside of you. You didn’t want him to find out the way he did. You definitely don’t want anyone else knowing until your marriage is in a better place, but that may not even be before you give birth; if you give birth. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. 

Jake and you both knew that his mom would immediately recognize your symptoms and put the pieces of the puzzle together as you approached the house he had grown up in. You held onto your husband's arm for support. He knew you were nervous and it was not without reason. Jake understood that being around his family at this time would be stressful and it would be hard to hide the chemistry you usually had that diminished. And as soon as greeting each Kiszka was over, Karen drags you away to the kitchen with the excuse that she needs help in the kitchen. 

She leans against the counters, holding your hand in hers. “Go on, tell me what’s wrong.” 

The tears you’ve been keeping trapped away feel like they’re about to break free as you gather her into a hug. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

“What do you mean, honey?” She whispers into your ear, petting down the flying hairs on your head.

“Jake and I… we’re not okay and I don’t know what to do about it.” You sob into her neck. 

“Everything is going to be okay..” She pushes her head against yours before holding you at arm's length. “You and him have been together for eight years and have been to hell and back, you can get through this.”

Eight years? Shit. It was your second year of marriage… 

You had entirely spaced on the fact that today was to be special and celebrated, not spent crying into your mother-in-laws shoulder about your failing marriage. It seemed that Jake had forgotten too as he would normally make this day one to remember every year. On this day, you’d usually be gifted with the sweet smell of peonies as you wake up and breakfast being made downstairs. This year, you’d spent it repairing and dealing with his mistakes and having to suppress the hurt you felt. 

“You forgot didn’t you?” You nod. She releases your arms to cup your face and wipe the tears from under your eyes. 

“Forgot what?” 

The sound of your husband's voice pangs your heart. He really did forget too. “Just the happiest day of your life, Jakey boy!” Josh’s voice rings in everyone's ears. 

You see the wave of realization wash across your husband's face. You understood, it didn’t erase the hurt you felt towards the fact that such a special day had completely been forgotten. Karen releases you to resume cooking. You stood staring at Jake while Josh stood like a lost puppy, looking between the two of you. He could sense something was wrong with a brother, he likes to say it's their twin power. Jake brushes off his brother to go to you, takes your hand in his like his mother did just a few minutes ago. The contact from him lights you up. He’s trying to apologize without having to say the words in front of his family.

Jake leads you to your seats at the dining table after his mother announces that the food is ready. Conversation comes smoothly and for a moment you can forget about all the bad that has been happening in your lives. Sam jokes around as usual and the twins discuss music with their father. The house was full of life once more. It felt like old times. You remember the first time Jake ever brought you home. It was such a different environment from your home, but you quickly grew to love this family as your own and imagined being in their lives forever. Now, you question that. Jake still held onto your hand under the table, giving you soft squeezes every so often when you grew silent. You hadn’t laughed or smiled like this in so long, it was refreshing. Jake loved seeing you so happy and wished it could be like this all of the time.

The sun went down and the lively conversations grew duller, everyone full from their meals and caught up. Jake had been reaching into his pocket throughout the night, you imagined he was playing with his keys. That was until the blaring ringtone silenced the room. The tension that rose strangled you, you felt your breathing stop when your husband released your hand to excuse himself from the table. 

Jake went outside to take his call. She had been texting him all night and had been trying to ignore the way his phone buzzed with every notification. Closing the sliding glass door behind him, he catches your eyes. Your burning eyes. He turns away, pressing the green answer button on his phone screen. 

Taking a deep breath, he growls into the phone. “I told you not to call me anymore.”

_

taglist (send me an ask if you’d like to be added)

@katie-gvf @t00turnttrauma​ @hayley1623​ @kerryxgvf​ @dannythedog​ @jakesgrapejuice​ 

[bluiex]

Like imagine kinda sleeping beauty, not exactly! But general idea. Scar being sleeping beauty, cursed by a fae when born (y'know the whole sleeping thing when finger pricked but also being unlucky with like accidents, hence the scars). The kingdom views him as a liability what with the curses and all and claim he can't be a king and kick him out and taking on a new king (the curse is in effect and any day now he could just prick himself and knock out). He comes across an absurdly tall tower and decides that that would be perfect for his new home, it looks abandoned anyway, perfect. Little does he know a giant harpy(we're talkin' huuuge kinda like a dragon size) uses that as his nest, the harpy being Grian. After tidying up the place grian comes back from like hunting or something. Scar just greets him like this is totally normal and grian is just at a loss for words and is 100% ready to kick scar out. When of course scar totally convinces him to let him stay, grian being part of like magical beings and such 'cause of harpy things. Wondering who scar had to have crossed to get such a nasty curse placed on him, while also noticing that he's dabbling in (because magic scar is always fun). I like to think that grian is known by the locals as some harbinger of doom and if you hear cackles in the sky or like thundering booms of heavy wing flaps, to find cover and pray that you aren't his prey.

And it really hits him that scar is either oblivious, dumb, or insane. But either way they're roomies now.

Bing bam boom, they are best bros, (i can 100% imagine scar having a bed buy during the winter time he ended up moving into grians nest where now that's where he sleeps from then on) and much later scar convinces grian to go to the market place that's in a near by village. Of course grian can't really go in his harpy form so smol grian it is. And scar cannot help but tease him, quickly backing down when grian threatens to not go.

Fun thing at the market, sharp pointy bits everywhere. Scar and grian just wander around, both ending up going separate ways. That's where scar ends up getting in a trance like state when his eyes land on what will be the sharp object (I mean a cactus well here).

Back to grian, just wandering around seeing some neat things when he hears a commotion where scar was last scene. He tries to brush it off, but anxiety, the little voice in his head got him thinkin' the worst. Pushing through the crowd that had formed he sees scar laying knocked out on the ground. Fear settles in and harpy form comes out. Grabbing scar and taking him back to their home. People are rightfully scared, and someone takes notice (finally) that that was the old king that was rumored to be cursed.

People and neighboring kingdoms start forming groups to go to the tower and try to wake up scar with a kiss. Little do they know a harpy is there to protect and defend the sleeping man. (I mean c'mon don't go and kiss a sleeping person! where's the consent?? Totally creepy my dude) so rightfully so, grian is going to just let that happen.

He ends up prepping the area with traps and alarms, and is doing a swell job. Until he get held down by a group and he witnesses someone kiss scar, and of course it doesn't work which leaves scar still sleeping. But sees red, and those guys are no more in a very brutal way.

People are fed up, they don't think it's worth the risk and infact deem grian too much of a threat. So they decide to burn the tower down.

Grian grabs scar and run away again, making it to a cave. Their tower burning in the distance, once their home, all their memories going up in flames. Scar still sleeping in his arms, griand hugs him close. He feels so helpess and alone. Everything gone, he has no idea what to do.

Maybe that night he gives scar's forehead a little peck as a goodnight and as a reassurance that even if it's all gone atleast he and scar are still technically alive

Scar wakes up from that (of course grian is just as speechless as he was when he first met scar but he can't help but bring him into a hug), and in light of their home burning down because of other kingdoms... he and grian might just need to pay them a visit. An eye for an eye, a home for a home.

(Sorry for it being so long, but this has been bouncing around my head like a DVD logo and none of my friends really watch hermitcraft/the life series and I don't really have someone to share it with)

I'M OBSESSED OMMMGG

It's so perfect. Your whole idea is AMAZING. I can totally seem them just going unhinged onto whatever kingdom becuase they burnt down their home. Fkfkfkfjdhshshxn I want more of this.. I want a fic of this :sob:

(Well you've come to the right place my dear friend!! Brain rot tf out your ideas here)

[thomaslefteyebrow]

where’d all the time go?

it’s starting to fly,

see how the hands go

waving goodbye.

silence.

you’ve grown accustomed to the quiet buzz of it in the centuries that you’ve spent alone after the eternals separated. while some of them had lingered with ajak, you had chosen to mimic druig’s choice of leaving them all behind with only a tearfully mumbled goodbye.

you knew that if you had stayed, it only would’ve crushed you.

during your time with the eternals, you had never grown as close as the rest of them. you were unbelievably shy and quiet so you spent most days by druig’s side as you both observed. this time spent together had convinced you that you at least had druig as a friend. but when he left, you realized that maybe being alone is just how you were meant to be.

after moving around for centuries, you finally settled into a small cottage in the southern part of france. you forged a simple life for yourself of painting and writing and going to the town’s market for fresh fruits to bake with. the country had been involved in wars a few years ago, but you were hoping that the 1800s would bring more peaceful times.

over time, the sting of being alone lessened and the hole in your life left by druig felt less hollowed. there were still days in which you ached to make jokes at the expense of ikaris and kingo with him or to bump shoulders as you listen to sprite’s stories. on those days, you would write a letter to him and tuck it in the box under your bed.

humming as you bake to lessen the weight of the silence, you almost scream when you hear a knock on your door. it had been years since your last unexpected guest and even then, it was just some lost kids asking for directions.

humming as you bake to lessen the weight of the silence, you almost scream when you hear a knock on your door. it had been years since your last unexpected guest and even then, it was just some lost kids asking for directions.

hesitantly, you open the door to find a smirking eternal waiting for you.

“it’s been a while, y/n.”

blinking slowly, you wonder if you had finally succumbed to insanity or mahd w’yry.

druig pretends to not notice your shock as he casually strolls into your home and jokes, “good to see that you’ve been doing good the past couple of centuries.”

you shut the door as he wanders into your kitchen, happily complimenting the smell of your baking. the corners of your lips are down turned and your chest is aching in ways that you had almost forgotten. tears sting your eyes and your voice shakes as you force out words.

“druig, what the hell are you doing here?”

the fabric of your sundress is crumpled beneath your hands and you hope he can’t see how much you’re shaking.

the smirk slowly drops from his face and he sighs deeply as he leans against the cabinets. his eyes run over the various trinkets that you’ve been collecting for the past three hundred years. he could see some paintings in the living room across the hallway and he fights the urge to get a closer look.

“i don’t want to be alone anymore, y/n.”

scoffing, you cross your arms over your chest. the venom in your voice is undeniable as you spit, “you should’ve considered that when you left me back in tenochtitlan, druig.”

druig lips lift into the saddest smile you’ve ever seen as he shakes his head, “i waited for you at the edge of the forest.”

you can’t hide the shock and confusion in your face. a tear finally breaks free and falls down your face, but you angrily wipe it away. you’ve spent years crying. now is the time to learn the truth.

he shrugs and you can tell how much this has weighed on him as he continues, “i saw you coming down the stairs and i felt so sure that you were going to join me. we even made a base for the night and i waited till morning before we left.”

stumbling to your kitchen table, you barely manage to sit on your chair before your knees fully give out. the information swirls in your brain as you try to process that you had spent long by yourself because you had been blinded by your emotions.

druig sits across from you, but you continue to stare down at the table that was covered in various art supplies and recipe books that you had collected. all of these memories and methods that you had made in an attempt to ignore the betrayal you felt when none of it was necessary.

when his hands reach across the table to take hold of yours, you don't flinch away so he soothingly rubs his thumbs across your knuckles. his words are quiet, not wanting to overwhelm you as he whispers, "i've spent hundreds of years building the perfect community, y/n. there is no anger or greed or suffering there, but i never felt as at peace as i do sitting here with you."

his words settle within your chest and your throat doesn't feel as tight anymore. sniffling, you stare at how easily your hands fit with his as you mutter, "druig, i'm not who i once was."

a small smile crosses his face and he lightens the mood as he snorts, "yeah, i can tell. you used to be shit at baking."

rolling your eyes, your lips quirk upwards at the reminder of how often the domo would be filled with smoke after another failed attempt to bake a pie. gilgamesh would always shake his head and chuckle at the way you hid your face in your hands. those times don't feel quite as distant now that druig is sitting across from you.

he can sense your hesitancy still so he stares into your eyes tenderly, "i'm asking nothing more from you than your company, y/n. you don't need to change or pretend as long as you're with me. we've both been alone for so long that we at least owe it to ourselves to have someone."

his eyes shine brightly, but they're not golden with power. they're a vibrant blue with honesty. you've spent hours and hours beside the river nearby trying to capture a color so beautiful in your paintings. the river, the sky, none of them could compare to druig's eyes.

so, with a sheepish smile and a giggle, you jokingly huff, "you're a lucky bastard, druig. i conveniently have an empty guest bedroom next to my art room that has been waiting to be put to use."

moodboard masterlist

[ssadumba55]

Damsel In Distress (Velma Dinkley X Reader)

Request: how about something with Velma where the gang is investigating some odd happenings at an abandoned amusement park? everyone splits into pairs to explore and she and the reader are paired together, and they eventually end up with the culprit chasing them and reader gets really protective of her. the gang catches the guy but Velma asks why reader was being so defensive, and reader accidentally blurts out that they love her and don't know what they'd do if anything ever happened to her. thanks! :)

“Alright, everyone! Let’s split up and look for clues!”

There was a loud groan from Shaggy and Scooby as the blond male said his signature line. Most of the group didn’t mind being split up, but the two ‘fraidy cats almost always ended up with the monster chasing them. Splitting up was the worst part of investigating mysteries for them by far.

“Don’t worry guys, the sooner the monster chases you, the sooner we can get out of this creepy place,” you grinned, hands on your hips. There was nothing like a good mystery for you and ever since you’d run into the gang, they’d become more frequent. Something that Shaggy and Scooby also liked to complain about.

Shaggy crossed his arms over his chest in a show of annoyance, but didn’t say anything else as Fred began splitting the six of you into teams.

“I’ll go with Daphne to check out that creepy coaster Scooby thought he saw something earlier, Velma, (Y/n), why don’t you two head over there?” Fred jerked his thumb in the direction of the other side of the abandoned amusement park. There weren’t many structures still standing in that part of the park, but there was an antique carousel that had you intrigued.

There was something about carousels you loved, and even better, this was a mysterious carousel!

“Like perfect! Scoob and I will check out the abandoned restaurant!” Shaggy volunteered himself. If there was one thing that could get the two reluctant members moving, it was food. Even possibly stale food.

The group split up into the three teams, each wandering off in their own direction. Even though the lot of you knew this would only last for a short while, until Shaggy and Scooby were inevitably chased out of their food comas by some monster.

“You think those kids really saw a monster out here?” You asked Velma, climbing onto the abandoned carousel and moving through the horses with practiced ease. Something about the carousel made you nostalgic, even though you hadn’t really rode them much as a kid. Maybe it was the amusement park as a whole that was making you nostalgic.

You went to plenty of those as a kid.

Velma adjusted her glasses, looking up from her laptop screen with an indignant snort. “You and I both know that monsters don’t exist, (Y/n).”

You shrugged. She was right. In all the time you’d been mystery hunting together, not one had turned out to be a real monster. It was always just some weirdo in a costume. You supposed in a way that was a cruel irony, humans were after all the biggest monsters out there.

Velma went back to studying her laptop screen, she carried that thing everywhere. Even, apparently, abandoned amusement parks. You took the time while she was distracted to study her.

A lot of people would argue that she wasn’t really attractive, but you begged to differ. Sure, she didn’t dress up like Daphne or put on loads of makeup, but the brunette was charming in her own way. She was the smartest in the gang, even smarter than you. You had always loved the way her eyes lit up when she was onto something, how excited she got when she realized she’d solved the mystery.

She was usually the first one too, because she was so smart.

Yeah, okay. So maybe, just maybe you had a crush on Velma Dinkley, but what’s so bad about that? She’s attractive! Her hair is really nice and her eyes shine so bright behind those glasses and the freckles…

“(Y/n)? Are you listening to me?” Her voice shocked you back to reality. Oh god, had she been telling you important information pertaining to the case? And had you missed it because you were too busy thinking about her freckles?

You opened your mouth to respond, already trying to form an excuse for why you hadn’t been paying attention when a massive shadow formed behind Velma. It was huge, twice or maybe even three times the size of you both, with glowing red eyes and long snaking arms that were reaching….

Reaching for Velma!

There was no hesitation from you, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards you, just out of reach of the monster. The long limbs collided grasping onto nothing but thin air, as for Velma she was startled and dropped her laptop. She made a move to go back and grab it but you pulled on her hand, leading her away from the monster.

“No time! We can circle back and grab it later!” You called over your shoulder, eager to put distance between you and Velma and whatever that thing was. Admittedly, you felt foolish as you ran from the exact thing you’d all been searching for since you’d got here. You’d never taken yourself for a runner, which was a good thing because Shaggy and Scooby pretty much cornered the market for that in the small group dynamic you all shared.

Still, here you were running. It was so out of character you almost wanted to turn around and go back. But you needed to keep Velma safe, that was the top priority.

The yells and screams you and your friend were making as you ran must’ve alerted the rest of the group. Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby came running (of course, once they saw the monster, Shaggy and Scooby quickly joined you).

There was a lot of panicked screaming and yelling, at one point Velma and Shaggy ran smack into each other, causing her glasses to fall. She immediately went down for them, bringing you down with her because your hands were still intertwined. You grabbed her glasses and she gratefully put them back on, the two of you laying breathless on the ground as the sounds of Scooby, Shaggy, Daphne and Fred’s panicked voices filled the air around you.

It was unspoken that neither of you wanted to move. So you just waited until the yelling stopped, then the two of you climbed to your feet and walked over to where Fred had successfully managed to catch the monster.

“Like, what’s with the hands? You guys aren’t still scared of the monster are you? Fred’s got it all tied up!” Shaggy pointed to you and Velma’s joined fingers. Immediately, the two of you flushed and separated.

In order to distract the group from the awkwardness, Velma stepped forward and unmasked the culprit. Who turned out to be the two kids who had told you guys about the amusement park. They explained their plan to the group, but you were barely paying attention.

“We would’ve gotten away with it too, if it weren’t for your meddling!” The taller boy huffed after realizing they’d been caught and would be in a lot of trouble for this.

The gang made their way back to the Mystery Machine. Another successful mystery in the bag, Shaggy and Scooby are furthest ahead, ready to get back to their precious Scooby Snacks. Not far behind them, Daphne and Fred walk, laughing to each other about something you can’t hear.

You and Velma bring up the far rear, walking a ways behind everyone else.

“Were you doing that on purpose?” She asked as the two of you walked, finally breaking the slightly tense silence between the two of you. It had settled there after Shaggy had pointed out your hands and hadn’t left the entire time.

You were slightly confused about what she was talking about, then realized. “Oh! The hands- no. I’m sorry, I forgot we were-”

“Not that, (Y/n). You were purposely shielding me from the monster back there,” as the two of you walked by the carousel, she bent down to pick up and dust off her laptop that had been laying there forgotten the entire time, “I don’t know if you know this, but I’m not some damsel in distress. I can handle my own out here, I’ve been doing this a long time, you know.”

You were taken aback by her words. Of course you knew Velma could handle her own, that was one of the reasons you liked her so much. She was the smartest person in the room and she knew it, there was nothing that could get past her. She was also the toughest, not tough in the way Fred was but she was definitely her own kind of tough.

“I know that, I didn’t mean anything by it… I-”

“You don’t take me seriously.” She put the words in your mouth and you felt your face heat up, that was not what you had meant at all!

“Velma, no, I-”

“Then why don’t you do the same thing for Daphne. Or Fred. Or Shaggy.” She crossed her arms over her chest. She was sure she had you figured out, so sure she had gotten to the bottom of this mystery. You almost wanted to agree with her just so you could see that light shine in her eyes as she pulled you back to the van to tell everyone else. Then they’d all never let you live it down.

As you were thinking this through, she took it as an opportunity to keep on rambling. You were tired, it had been a long night. It’d surely be an even longer night, because you probably wouldn’t be stopping again any time soon and Shaggy and Scooby would be hyped up on Scooby Snacks-

“I LOVE YOU, VELMA DINKLEY!”

You cut her rambling off, the words echoing through the abandoned amusement park. Up ahead, Fred, Daphne, Shaggy and Scooby froze, turning back to look at the two of you.

For once, Velma was speechless, so you decided to continue.

“And I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I let something happen to you. I know we just met less than a year ago and I know that mystery hunting isn’t a very romantic setting, but despite that I fell in love with you. You’re right, it’s different when Shaggy is being chased by the monster, because I don’t love him. If something happened to you, my world would shatter, it would be MY fault. If something happens to Shaggy that’s just another day out mystery hunting.”

Tears were burning your eyes, threatening to fall. There she had made you say it. She had made you say it all.

You didn’t even realize your hands were balled into fists at your sides until something nudged one of them and you realized Scooby had made his way back to the two of you. He’d seen you distressed and was offering his comfort. You placed your hand on his head to let him know you were okay.

“I had no idea,” the girl dressed in orange said softly from across you.

The amusement park was dead silent. Not even the other members of the team dared to speak and risk another outburst.

After a few tense moments, where everything you’d said hung weightily in the silence, Velma reached out her hand and took the empty hand of yours that wasn’t occupied with petting Scooby. She smiled softly, squeezing it gently.

“I’m sorry you thought that I thought you were a damsel in distress,” you smiled awkwardly as the two of you walked to join the rest of the gang, Scooby at your side.

“I’m sorry I thought you thought I was a damsel in distress,” she smiled guiltily, “I should’ve had more faith in you.”

As the two of you approached the other three, Daphne rolled her eyes.

“Will you two just kiss and make up already, we need to get back on the road or we’re going to miss that show Fred got us tickets to!”

“We can’t miss that! Like, I hear the food there is out of this world!”

“Reah, rout rof rhis rorld!”

You felt your face heat up, looking over at Velma. She shrugged and leaned over. Inches from your face, she stopped leaning forward quickly and pecking your cheek before bolting the rest of the distance to the Mystery Machine. Fred and Daphne climbed in the front as you pushed Shaggy out of the way to follow Velma in.

“Hey! That wasn’t a real kiss! You owe me another one!”

“(Y/n), we’re dating you can have as many as you want.”

[dourpeep]

The men of Genshin as romance types:

This just kind popped up in my head after thinking about Xiao's characterization! I might add to this in the future, but for now it's just a small list of headcanons + a short blurb :>

Contains: Lots of fluff, lightly suggestive

Features: Albedo, Venti, Kaeya, Xiao, Zhongli, Childe, and Diluc

Note: you can be soft and still top btw, this is only for how they'd be romantically

Sweet:

Albedo

Albedo is also shown canonically to do little gestures like give people the sketch he did of them to see them smile, this man might seem kinda standoffish at first, but he's not cold

From his voicelines and story, we also know that Albedo is the type of person to think pretty deeply about everything around him

His brain goes 100 miles an hour with all the possibilities and scenarios he can think of

So with his s/o, the best thing that could happen is that he'll take the time to really slow down and unwind

Being a busy, busy man in pursuit of knowledge beyond anyone's comprehension, Albedo rarely gets time off (his sketches are considered research, in a way, no?)

So once he's finally at home, there will be lots of little shows of affection

Passing behind you, perhaps a light touch on your back or shoulder to let you know he's there

On a particularly rough day, he'll sit facing you with his forehead resting on your chest and just--take your hands and put them in his hair

Not really the type to pamper, but there's no doubt of his love

Probably the type of guy to like sitting close in silence

Maybe on the nights you cook, he'll come and wrap his arms around your waist, head leaning on your shoulder as he watches you work

Quietly, you lay on the couch tangled up in his arms, the soft sound of breathing and the light warmth you feel lulling you to sleep. It seems that, even though Albedo is left half asleep from a long day of research, he still continues to trace mindless little patterns on the back of your hand with his thumb. You shift, and he hums, pulling you closer.

Venti

The man’s been through so much, honestly

He's lost his closest friend, helped a rebellion usurp a tyrant, been through a war that lasted centuries, watched as another friend he'd known since birth fall to corruption (but ultimately was saved)

Point being, he's tired and just wants to have his fun

True to his nature, he likes to tease and poke at his s/o, but nothing that can't be undone (after all, a prank isn't funny if it's permanent)

Hand holding, is a must! Venti is a very affectionate person who isn't afraid to express his feelings when it comes to his s/o

Lots of smooches too! (Please smooch him back)

Speaking of hands and smooches, he's the type to bring your hand to his lips and give each your fingertips a little kiss. They've done so much for you and allow him the joy of holding them, so it's the least he can do!

His type of love is free and sweeter than the scent of cecelias, soft as the wind that kisses your skin

Really, he wants to be able to treasure you as much as he can in the time you have together

Today was a picnic date kind of day. A basket filled with fresh, ripe sunsettias and a few dishes you both worked together to make (mostly you, after what happened with Venti's apple cake) sat on top of a sturdy blanket laid on the grass. Head laid in your lap, the wandering bard strummed idly on his lyre, adding a lovely backdrop to an already perfect day.

Romantic:

Kaeya

Of course, the suave Captain doesn't stop with honeyed words

Mysterious as he is, he takes what he does in stride

If he could spend all his life entwined with you, he'd die a happy man

Kaeya is the type of partner to romance with candlelight and nighttime strolls on the beach

A little cheesy, yes, but all the more to sweep you off your feet

Flirty, he likes to take his time with his love and while he similarly treasures his s/o, it's in the way the fairytales are written

Perhaps a little cliche at times

Nevertheless, he's the type of partner to sweep you into a dance despite there being no music and dip you low (whether you both lose balance and fall is up to gravity)

He'll show his affection physically, whether through a quick kiss when you stop by the Favonious Knight's HQ, or pulling you close when you walk through a crowd on a market day

Teasing is also a big thing, if he can make you blush, his mission is accomplished

In privacy, expect his treatment to be the same--it wouldn't do any good if he leaves his dear s/o confused about how he feels

Once again, you take his hand and he sweeps you into a lively waltz, sweeping across the living room floor. Not once do his eyes leave yours. All he ever needs is the feel of you close and the rush of his heart in his chest that bubbles into something fonder when your laugh reaches his ears.

Xiao

Not the best with words, Xiao shows his love through his actions

Little gifts, helping now and then with commissions and clearing the road, he'll do it all with no expectation of thanks (should you thank him, he'll be extremely grateful for the recognition but also perhaps unsure how to react)

He doesn't tend towards physically showing affection to his s/o, so when he does, expect them to show his utter devotion

Often, Xiao questions what it is that he did to deserve such a love, but as soon as you appear in his view, it no longer matters because as long as you believe him to be worthy, why wouldn't he be?

His love is based deeply in trust. The heart is a fragile thing and to someone who's suffered so much in his lifetime, he guards it fiercely to protect himself

When he finally does allow himself the comfort of a relationship, he'll soak it up entirely

Nights spent stargazing on the top of Wangshu Inn, pinkies intertwined, or bodies held together tightly with the sweet exchange of breath

Every touch that he offers is gentle, reverent, and serves to remind him that what he's experiencing is real

He tried, really, for the thing on the plate to turn out the way that you usually make it. It's a far cry from what he remembers, but you set it down and bring your hands to his face. The sight of your beaming smile warms him deeply and he pulls you in close for a kiss.

Zhongli

Be still, my beating heart-

Just as he's full of information from the flowers of Liyue to the deepest cracks in the soil, he loves fully and unapologetically

He's lived through many eras and seen so much that it's hard to not want to express how he feels as he feels it

Deeply appreciative of whatever his s/o does and does for him

He indulges in every word, touch, feeling, and look- He's not a greedy man, but when it comes to love? There's a deep desire to feel it all

There are many ways that Zhongli expresses that love, a few being through your daily strolls through Liyue Harbor and the daily and nightly rituals the two of you have settled down into

His favorite is probably the mornings

There's something about waking up wrapped up in your lover's arms, head resting on their chest as the sun's warm beams shine through the windows that's utterly satisfying

Zhongli indulges in these little moments, favoring them over all else

Once in a while, he'll take you back to where your first date was to reminisce, perhaps even (jokingly) mention little embarrassing things either of you did

Zhongli watches as you sip at your drink and admires the way the sun compliments your eyes. You're preoccupied by the falling leaves, it seems, mentioning how they're just as brilliant gold as his. Though the feeling he feels is far from the excitement of butterflies, it has settled into a comforting sort of warmth that hopes you feel as well.

Passionate:

Childe

This man's love is wild like his personality

Loud, fun, and never quite predictable, he loves like a whirlwind and with an enthusiasm to match no other

Lots of teasing going on here, to make you blush or to mess with you, you'll never know

But it's his unapologetic fire that drew you to him to begin with

When he's not occupied with work, he'll drag you to go sight seeing

Every experience is a new experience, no matter if it's something that seems so everyday or not

His affection is in the form of tightly held hands (he doesn't want to lose you with how quickly he weaves through the crowd), well-placed winks, and kisses to steal your breath away

He also loves in a way that's fiercely protective. His job is a dangerous one and, with the way he's open with your relationship, his affection serves to protect you

But don't forget that despite his passion, he's a man who deeply treasures those close to him and, as his s/o, you'll be showered with only the best he can give you

It was only a quick break in your day, he'd assured, but it quickly became another round of seeing Liyue through his eyes. In the span of only an hour, you've already spotted an untouched patch of glaze lilies, sampled rich Li-style cuisine and fresh Yue-style cuisine, helped a young girl fetch her kite from atop a tree, and now are working your way (or rather, Childe is working your way for you) to a little area behind the busy streets to show you a pack of dogs he'd befriended. Fondly, you smile and watch as he beckons them out of hiding.

Diluc

Diluc lives for the way that his s/o brings the best out of him and, in return, he does the same back

He exudes the air of a gentleman with the way he shows his affection, but, whether intentionally or not, in an utterly enticing way

Being busy during the day with running the tavern and the winery as well as at night as the Darknight Hero (he insists you stop calling him that as well, but you don't miss the light flush of pride each time), the time he dedicates to you is left in the early morning long before you leave for the day and the evening as he settles just before he sets off

During morning time, he's often fond of running his hands over you, feeling each dip and curve, memorizing the way your hair falls and the way your lips curve when you smile

It's a quiet sort of passion

His love is expressed in the fond murmurs against your shoulder and head, sharing those moments of deep intimacy both physical and not

In the evenings, you both settle in front of the fireplace, sharing a drink or two

There's sometimes a certain look in his eye that sets your heart aflame in the dimly lit room, and sometimes he sets off a little later that night in lieu of a few more stolen moments with you

Diluc slides into your shared bed in the early hours of the morning, a bit later than usual. The shift stirs you just enough to wake up to two arms pulling you to his chest and a deep breath with his nose buried in your hair. He's no doubt exhausted. Eyes bleary, you turn until you're facing him and loosely wrap an arm around his waist. In the moments you're still half-awake, you hear a low murmur of 'love you' and you smile against his skin.

[jinkoh]

Shinwon x Reader

Tags: meet cute, fluff, attempts at humour, SFW, warnings: none word count: 693 Summary: you meet a really strange guy at the super market but... he's kinda cute? a/n: loosely based on an encounter i had while grocery shopping recently and because i love shinwon i of course had to write a shinwon drabble about it

Masterlist

Maybe it was an odd thing to say, but grocery shopping was something you genuinely enjoyed. There was something therapeutic about walking through the familiar aisles unbothered. You could focus on your list; tick off the groceries one after another as you put them into the shopping cart. It wasn’t much of an exciting activity, but that was just what you valued about it. You found a certain comfort in the routine of it all.

Today too, you were at ease as you pushed your cart through the aisles. You’d just ticked off the noodles from your list and were now standing in the frozen-food department, contemplating which type of berries to get.

When you’d finally made your decision and went back to your shopping cart, a cup of mint-choco ice cream was suddenly sitting right on top of your noodles. You glanced around in confusion but you couldn't spot anyone who looked as if they'd just put it there.

You decided to put the cup back into the freezer, but right when you grabbed it someone cleared his throat behind you.

"Why are you stealing my ice cream?"

You turned your head and were faced with a tall man who looked at you interrogatively. He had curly, tousled hair and held a bundle of spring onions in one of his hands.

"The better question would be: Why is your ice cream in my shopping cart?"

He looked at you for a moment, before the meaning of your words seemed to register. His gaze wandered to the groceries in your cart and then back to you.

"I could have sworn those were my bananas."

You couldn't help grinning as you held the ice cream cup out for him to take. "Sorry to disappoint."

He ruffled his hair before grabbing the frozen cup from your hands. There was a frown on his face, his eyes scanning the surroundings.

"But then where's mine?"

You looked around as well but couldn't spot any abandoned shopping carts.

He sighed. "I better go looking for it. I can't leave the babies alone for too long."

"What?"

"Uh, I'll see you around." He raised the spring onions in some sort of wave before hurrying off.

Your gaze followed him in confusion until he disappeared behind the next aisle.

Did he just say there are babies in his shopping cart? Did he seriously lose his children somewhere in the grocery store? And how did he even mistake your —clearly childless— shopping cart for his? And anyway, what did he mean, he’ll see you around?

With a shake of your head and a silent prayer to his poor children you went for the cash deck to pay.

You'd just left the supermarket, your groceries safely tucked away in your backpack, when you heard a huffed and somewhat familiar voice behind you.

"Ah, wait. Please."

The source turned out to be none other than the terrible spring onion dad from the ice cream section who was now jogging up to you. When he caught up, you eyed him, eyebrows knitted in question.

He raised a hand, signalling for you to give him a second to catch his breath.

Instead of the spring onions he was holding a net of potatoes, the rest of his groceries seemingly stuffed into the bag that was slung over his shoulder.

"Just a— just a moment."

"Take your time," you replied, still examining him. Something about his appearance bothered you, but what was it?

Right! His babies!

"Did you- where are your children?!" Your voice sounded panicked but he just grinned and held up the net of potatoes.

"Don't worry  they are fine."

"Potatoes? Your babies were potatoes?!"

He wrapped his arms around the net protectively.

"Don't sound so shocked,  you're insulting them." He shook his head with a sigh. "Wanted to ask you if you could hold them for a second but now I'm not so sure if I can trust you with them."

With a roll of your eyes you held your hand out. "I can, but why?"

He handed you the net, not without a last skeptical glance, before he started rummaging in his bag.

His hand soon emerged with a cup of mint-choco ice cream.

"So I could take this out." He smiled and for the first time, you noticed the cute dimple on his cheek.

No, no, stay focused! You ignored the way your heart started hammering in your chest. Maybe he was attractive, in a weird only-just-woke-up kinda way. But he was also the strangest person you'd ever met and getting acquainted with him any further seemed like a terrible idea.

"Okay?" Your eyes flickered between him and the ice cream.

He held out the cup to you, simultaneously reaching for the potatoes with his other hand.

"Since you tried stealing mine before I thought maybe you'd want your own cup." He grinned and it got even harder to calm down your racing heart.

"Uhm. Thanks?"

"Yup," he said, his babies safely in his arms again and the ice cream in yours. "That's it."

"Huh?"

He nodded at you before turning around and walking off in the opposite direction.

Once again you were left in confusion, following him with your gaze.

The freezing cold cup in your hand started to feel painful against your skin and the sensation shook you out of your trance. You pulled your sleeves over your hands for protection before taking another look at the cup.

You didn't even like mint-choco flavor.

Not that you could tell him that now, when he was already half way down the block.

...Or maybe you could.

You spotted a small note that was scribbled onto the cup with black sharpie.

Shinwon, the messy handwriting said. And then, a phone number.

Masterlist

[clarissalance]

Who has the upper hand?

Pairing: Kaeya x G/N!Reader, mention of Varka and Diluc.

Warning: Slight swearing, Kaeya is a lil shit, reader being stubborn and scheming, immense tension

Summary: You’re so terrible at swordsmanship that you can’t withstand 2 strikes from Kaeya or, are you? 

Word count: 3k5

Disclaimer: What is written in here is based on my imagination, nothing from this fic should be taken seriously. Most of the fact I put in this fic does not follow the lore of the game so it should only be taken as a grain of salt. For example: section 8 in Knight of Favonius codebook.

A/N: I struggle so much when I wrote this piece. This was suppose to be angstier but I tone down a little bit (because Kaeya was very OOC in my draft, I think he’s still a bit OOC in this fic but I tried my best ;-;, pls don’t bite me.) 

How did author write a 50k+ oneshot? I can’t write something more than 5k properly ;-; Anyhow, please enjoy this fic. I’m going to have a good rest for 2 weeks before release a comeback. Please shower Kaeya and our new MC with a lot of loves!!!! 

As a strategist of the knight of Favonius, you don't usually have enough time to finish the towers of reports, the never-ending meetings and dealing with cheap tricks Fatui diplomats. Often, you have to skip your daily sword training session, which results in a rather miserable situation. The whole practice ground is staring holes at your defeated posture. You are sitting on the hard soil ground, and the Calvary captain is towering you, his sharp blade just a few inches away from your throat. 

It is not a strange scene for any knights to lose a spar against the Calvary captain, he should be one with the best swordsmanship after Grand Master, and maybe Acting-Grand Master, too. However, as knight, they can usually withstand him at least more than 2 blows. 

Whispers and talks start to circulate around as soon as you stepped your foot in the training ground. It’s very uncommon to see people from that department wandering around this area. The strategy department is famous inside the Knight of Favonius to be the weakling-cunning-mouthy-jerks, who always find excuses after excuses to skip the monthly knight evaluation. 

So, who gives them the right to be exempt from the test? Of course, it’s from the ultimate high chief of strategy department. Rumours say before the strategy chief works for the Favonius knight, the man was once a legendary attorney. That person can flip words from black to white, turns the defendant from guilty to innocent.  With a profound convincing skillset coming from the chief, persuading the Grand Master Varka is easy as a piece of cake. The whole department of 10 people is easily off-hook for 3 years, never participate in the monthly evaluation before the man suddenly dropped the bomb 2 days ago.  

“ I’m tired from coming with excuses to cover for your lazy asses.” The man waved his hand, his eyes staring outside the window. His nails scratching the messy shaved chin.“ Varka seems to get used to navigating my thoughts-”

“Maybe time is wearing away your skill-” At the corner, someone accidentally blurted out, and the whole table gave him a sharp look. Did he have a death wish or something? If so, everyone here can happily dig him a hole, free charge for the coffin.

The chief cleared his voice again, blue eyes melancholy drifted to the table. “So, you guys have tried your best on this monthly evaluation. I hope to see you all again next month.” 

The meeting was dismissed afterwards, and everything spiralled into chaos. The whole department hasn’t touched anything aside from the parchment papers and the quills in the last 3 years. How are they going to master the swordman-ship in 2 weeks? 

But, the worst thing is,

Your well-respected, talented, and tactful chief has run away. 

The next morning, you received the news that a foxy old man is on a business trip to Fontaine with the Grand Master. The expedition is 2 weeks long.

You should have known what he meant when the deceitful man ambiguously ended his sentence like that. Nothing goes well when the chief said:  ‘Farewell, my comrades’. 

 For the last 2 days, you have been starting to familiarize yourself again with how to hold a sword and how to swing the sword. 

As you trail along with the long-forgotten memories, trying to look through the familiar feeling when swinging the sword, you hear footsteps coming in your direction. It is familiar, with the way the person is walking, the beat, the sudden burst of noise in the air, you can only conclude it’s the Calvary Captain. The practice ground seems livelier as soon as the man steps inside, people rushing to his side to give their greetings. Maybe today is one of his practice days.

 “ Never thought I would see you here.” The young man calls out, successfully jostle you up from your thoughts. You give him a complex look and turn away, focusing on the tattered dummies. Your wrist is screaming in protest, legs wobbling. You remember those golden days when you were young when you were flexible, and your bones didn't crack as much. Oh, where the golden days have gone? 

“What do I own the honour of seeing you here, captain?” You fold your arm defensively, voice monotonously. Kaeya despites the most when you start talking in an emotionless tone. Oh, how you love riling him up in the middle of the practice ground! 

“ I come here for my weekly practice, but-” He shrugs, eyes glinting with mischief. “ look like the rumour about the abolishment of special permission for the strategy department is true.” 

So he has heard the rumours. You roll your eyes, face blanks. You know Kaeya has his own way to obtain his information, but you never thought it’d be this fast. Words don’t easily leak from the strategy department. 

“What do you need? Make it short, so I can practice for the upcoming evaluation.” Tired of his long introduction, you ask him directly. If you are going to ignore him any longer, the man will continue poking you. 

Starting an argument only wastes your time, and asserting dominance in the middle of the training ground won’t boost your ego. You’re a strategist, your weapons are detailed plans and sharp word, not sword and bow. Showing off your strength in front of those ruthless knights don't improve your relationship with them. 

“ Straight the point eh?” You give him an impatiently look, tempting to ignore him again before he flashes you a smug grin. “How bout sparing with me?”  

The whole training ground falls in silence, and you direct at the captain a confusing look. Is he serious? No one in the knight except the Grand Master can go against him, not to mention someone who hasn’t touched a sword for three years. 

“I can help you with your training, and you can help with mine” Kaeya speaks with utmost confidence that you almost nod and agree. That man is really deceitful, he knows how well your skill has gone dull, yet he still wants to practice with you? What is this man plotting?  

“ Do you realize how absurd your offer is? ” You give him a complicated gaze, voice unwavering. Everyone takes in a deep breath, tension crackling. It's not everyday scenery you often encounter. A heated argument between the mischievous cavalry captain and the tactful strategist. Nosy people gather around the pair, internally hoping for the war the breaks out. 

“ You know well that I can’t properly block your first strike.” Light-hearted, you joke, but there is no hint of amusement in your voice. Sharpe eyes glaring at the blue figure, you notice the man remains unfazed. 

" Shouldn't you choose a more competent opponent?" 

The sound whispers and talking about the reasons why Kaeya picked such an easy opponent start to circulate, and you can’t help to curl your lips up. Within a  few seconds, you have effortlessly turned the gossiping direction toward your desired path. Flashing Kaeya a victorious grin, you tap your foot impatiently, waiting for his reaction.

You should have worked at PR damage control or marketing instead! The diplomat would have been fine too! At least, you wouldn’t need to practice swordman-ship.

As you mulling on your terrible choice of career, a chill runs down your spine. Tilting up, Kaeya is beaming sweetly at you, the frost slowly creeping up and nipping your shoes. Look like you just pressed the wrong button. 

The man narrows his eyes, and you gulp nervously, avoiding his calculating gaze. Kaeya chuckles, his voice laced with worry, wavering and hurtful. 

“I just want to help you improve as fast as possible. The test is coming in two weeks isn't it?” 

The whole table has turned, and people start to say how considerate and thoughtful the cavalry captain is. The crowd starts to criticize you and tell you to be more grateful and stop suspicious of his unconditional help. Oh, you wish he wasting it on you, many knights in this training ground would love getting advice and improvements from him. 

Applause for our dear Calvary captain, smoothly seeking empathy from the crowd and turning the favour back to him. No wonder how fast he climbed up the rank. 

Bantering and arguing with a person like him is meaningless, so you accept his offer and drag your sword toward his direction. Let finish this within 2 strikes. 

Moving to the centre of the field, both of you face each other, his eyes scanning you sceptically. What is this man plotting again? Bowing, you finally give him a warning look before standing at your ready position. Kaeya holds his sword, analyzing your starting posture. 

As soon as the whistle blows, you charge at the man, opening the spar with a direct hit. Kaeya quickly raises his word up to block the first blow, the sound of steel clashing loudly. He then forcefully diverts the sword to the left, a classic way to counter the strike. 

Knowing your limited strength against him, you take a step back and swiftly angle the blade downward, aiming for a weak spot at his waist. This move would create a noticeable weakness on your right, and only the idiot doesn't use this as his advantage to disarm you. 

You’re right, he uses the loophole you planned, successfully disarm you within 2 strikes. The sword slips from your hand clanging loudly behind as your foot slips and fall on the ground. 

His sharp blade is just a few inches away from your neck. The calvary captain wears a solemn look, his cerulean eyes imbued with irritation. Seems like he figures out you purposefully planed to end the match in 2 strikes. 

Quickly raising your hand in defeat, you shoot him a taunting grin. The referee declares Kaeya is the winner, and people start to clap and cheer loudly, but overall no one is surprised. As the match end, audiences start to disperse, return back to their tasks. 

Kaeya put his sword away and offers you his hand. You stare idly at the gloved hand a moment before putting yours on. The man effortlessly pulls you up, your body flush against his. With Kaeya so close to you, your first reaction is to push the man away, but his firm grip says otherwise. He inches closer, dark blue locks brush your cheek, tall figure towering you intimidating. 

“Why end it so early?” He leans down and whispers, your body tenses up visibly. “Surely, you could handle more than 2 strikes of mine.” The young man in blue hums, his voice sultry. 

“ What are you saying? I haven’t touched the sword more than 3 years.” You remind him, hands pushing his chest away, trying to create some distance. The man doesn’t budge an inch. 

“Your strikes doesn’t say so. The first strike was not bad.” Noticing your effort to push him away, Kaeya stands straight, heels dig into the ground. His lips curl up at the helplessness flashing in your eyes. He loves seeing you struggle, seeing how anxiety and desperation rising in your sparkling orbs. “I think you could at least have a decent fight with me.”  

“ Quit spouting non-sense Kaeya, let me go. We are in public.” You let out an annoyed hiss, punching his toned chest. He still wears the uniform improperly like that, the exposed tan chest can be under many layers. Sometimes you don't even know the reason why doesn't he just button the shirt up properly. Finger grazing at the bared skin on his chest, you turn your head away, cheeks heat up. 

The man loves seeing you squirming in his trap, and you’re not going to let him see that. Anything, but satisfying his masochist hobby. 

“You don’t like skin-ship?” The man fakes a gasp, his orb sparkles with mirth. “But you were being touchy with your friend. Why can't we be a bit touchy? ”  His tone suggestively, the tall man snickers at your blushing mess. Out of everything, why would he mention that? You give him stinky eyes, brows furrow deeply.  

“I’m not touchy with you.” You deny dreadfully. Archon, how long have you wasted your time here with this slithering serpent? 

Kaeya arms wrap tightly around you, your body moulds perfectly into his embrace. You hate how perfectly you fit into his hug like this, but you can’t deny how warm he is, despite the fact he wields cryo. 

“ When will you let me go?” Your voice starts to grow weak, dragging slightly in discomfort.  Kaeya curiously looks down, noticing your pouting. Sensing his gaze, you turn your head away but his fingers have quickly grabbed your cheek, forcing you to look at his deep blue eye.  

“Give me a kiss, then I'd let you go.” His voice serious, but what he just said is not. You look at the cryo wielder horrendously, mouth gaping. His face is composed and relax, like what he just ask is like asking about the weather, asking about your health, not for a kiss. Is he being serious? What in the world did he just ask? A kiss? Excuse me, a what? 

“You...you are not being serious.” You wriggle your way out, escaping from his fingers, but his embrace tightens, caging you inside. Damn it, Kaeya. He’s messing with you. 

When you flash him a furious look, the man shrugs nonchalantly, his cerulean lock fluttering gently in the wind. Suddenly, you have an urge to wipe off that calm demeanour. He can’t be serious. Why does he have to go all the way to annoy the shit out of you? 

The smug grin hanging on his face, the mischief in his blue eyes, the arching brows, everything about him screams a flirt, yet you feel so mesmerized. Blinking a few times, you have to constantly remind yourself this man is not trustworthy. From the attitude to the way he looks at you, to the way he acts around you. Nothing from his action is truthful. Like Diluc’s warning, you can only believe half of his word and action. 

“ Of course I’m being serious.” His voice solemn, but you can see the amusement in his eyes. If he doesn’t like you, why would he spend so much effort bothering you this much? What reaction is he expecting from you?  

“ I really like you, Y/N” Kaeya confesses cheerfully, and you can faintly hear a few gasps around. Not this again...

Archon, you’re going to die early at this rate. You just want to practice for the upcoming evaluation, not becoming a hot topic for all Mondstadt citizen to gossip about. 

And this man too, how can he easily slip out those words when you just heard him flirting with another woman the other day?  You already told him numerous times that you’re not interested in dating him, or anyone right now! 

Hung your head down in exhaustion, you tap his shoulder, mumbling quietly. “ Fine, fine.” You finally open your mouth, too exhausted and bothered by his stubbornness. He only wants a kiss, and you won’t hurt giving him one. Just a kiss then you can get back to your practice.  

“Just don’t confess your love to me in a crowd like this again.” Before closing the deal, you weakly add a bargain, nudging him.  

The calvary captain looks surprised, his eye widens little, not expecting you to agree. Normally, it takes another argument or two before you comply with his request. Kaeya timidly raises his gloved hand to your face, gently caresses your cheek. This time, you lean into his touch, nuzzling your face into his palm, eyes glimmering softly. Despite a cryo wielder, his hand is surprisingly warm. 

The man in blue curiously peeks at you, he feels like a feather tickling the itchy spot. Are you plotting an escape route? Since when did you become so obedient? He has never seen the soft fur under the spiky façade you set up to face with the world, but strangely, he likes this version of you more. 

Noticing his relaxed stance, you carefully gently wrap your fingers around his wrist while keeping eye contact with him. Kaeya eye widens, startles at your sudden touching. Trying your best to not break the unspoken connection, you bring his hand away from your cheek. In those cerulean eyes, you see a hint of disappointment, but it quickly dissolves. Slowly, you draw closer toward the hand hanging in the air, lips fluttering on the smooth skin on his wrist. 

The calvary captain instinctively moves back, trying to escape from your sudden contact. Ironic, he is the one who innates the hug and demands a kiss from you. Tightening your grip, you press your wet lips on the exposed part of his wrist dedicatedly while maintaining eye contact with him, eyes drown with submission.

Kaeya stares at you in awe, maybe not expecting the passionate look in your eyes. His azure eye fills with mischief, now replaces with confusion and hesitation. You notice how his ears have dusted with pink despite the winds blowing in the practice ground. The man avoids your eyes, flustering. 

Whispers and gasps start to remind you of the crushing reality, so you let his hand down while grinning cheekily at the cryo wielder. Poking and breaking Kaeya meticulously façade is always something you want to try. The man is a living devil, so it’s extremely unusual to see him losing his composure. 

Sneakily, you untangle his other arm wrapping around your waist, plotting an escape route. 

However, Barbatos doesn’t let you slip away that easily. Quickly regaining his composure, Kaeya snakes his hand around your hip again, tightening his hold. Unlike the first time, the sneaky bastard lifts you up and has the audacity to throw your body on his shoulder, carry you like a sack. 

“ Yah! What are you doing?” You exclaim, fluster at his sudden antic. Kicking and punching on his shoulder, you try as many as you can, but somehow, Kaeya manages to dodge all of them.   

“ You said you will let me go when I give you a kiss!” The crowd uproars, stares and gossips poke pointedly at your back. You don’t want to hear those comments from those knights again. They're not going to let this live down, aren't they? Bury your face in the Kaeya's furry collar, you let out a frustrating sigh, punching his shoulder as hard as you can. 

“ You give me a kiss on my wrist. That doesn’t count.” Kaeya nonchalantly strides away from the practice ground, unfazed by your attempt to escape. This man is a beast, how can he not budge an inch with all of your kickings on his shoulder? 

“ You didn’t specify the place. A kiss is a kiss!” You emphasize, and you can feel his shoulder shaking. Is he laughing? “You didn’t keep your promise.” Fuels by the rising anger, you kick your leg aggressively, struggling to free yourself from the iron-clad grip. This time, his strong arm wraps around your calves like a chain.  

As soon as you raise your head up, the familiar pathway hits your memories. Shit, he is heading toward the headquarter, likely to his office. You can’t let anyone in there see you in this state. Punching his back profusely, you shot back. 

“Not fulfilling the contract is breaking the Knight of Favonius's code of cond-.” Before you can finish your sentence, the man smacks your calves loudly, successfully shutting your mouth. Speechless by his sudden punishment, you let out a disbelief breath.    

“ There are no such a section states about fulfilling contract inside the code of conduct, so stop making the rule up.” Kaeya smugly grins, and you can already picture his blue eyes glinting with mischief, the signature shit-eating grin on his handsome face.

" There is, it's in section eight-" Before you can finish your sentence, Kaeya cuts in, waving his hand dismissively. 

" Section eight is about interaction with your co-worker, there is none about keeping contracts." The calvary captain humming, trying to recalling the content of the book. Speechless by the detailed memories of his, you can only close your mouth, quietly waiting for him to drop you down. If you stay still on his shoulder, will he let you go? 

" You know, not everyone reads and memories the knight of Favonius handbook, you are just unlucky that I know the book by heart." Seeing you deflate weakly on his shoulder, Kaeya lets out a chuckle, patting your head comforting.       

Before heading inside the HQ, the man doesn't drop your down but leans in closely, his whisper tickling your ear. “But at least I had fun seeing you squirming in my grasp.” 

And then it hits you, the bastard purposely falls for of your antic. 

[somewhatgreatexpectations]

Goldrush (Taylor Sloane/ Reader)

Hello everyone!

Venturing out from Wanda/ Leigh to provide you all with, drum roll please... fluff! Taylor Sloane fluff to be specific! Loosely inspired by Taylor Swift's "Goldrush".

Summary: Social media influencer were shallow. You couldn't stand them... So why were you letting this one get close to you?

It took all you had to bite back the groan of annoyance when you stepped foot on the beach. Your little hideaway had been discovered and you weren’t sure if you’d be able to find peace there ever again if it was going to be full of all these shallow ‘influencers’.

“Nothing is sacred anymore.” You mumbled to yourself as you carefully pulled out your vintage Olympus OM-1. Your most prized possession.

As you began to prepare the film a commotion caught your attention. You turned your head to see someone approach a small group of obnoxiously loud people. It looked like the person was asking to take a picture with a blonde in the group. The sight immediately lost your interest as you turned your attention back to your film.

You were scouting to see if you would be using this location for your future photoshoots. That was your priority. Not the obnoxious people who wanted attention.

Carefully brushing away the sand, you wandered over to a manmade trail of rocks that lead out into the serene ocean. The sun gleamed brightly on the water and tinged it with an ethereal glow. A beautiful sight if you slowed down long enough to take it in. You kneeled so you were at eye level with the rocks, aligning the camera so it was could capture the sight, the cold water gently lapping against the soles of your worn-out converse.

Just as you had set up the shot a sharp cough made you jump, almost making you drop your camera into the water. The interruption alone made you clench your jaw in annoyance as you turned to find the source of the sound. Your eyes meeting with the blonde from earlier, a fake smile on her face. It was clear she was one of those ‘influencers’.

Beautiful but empty. An illusion of beauty.

“Can I help you?” You mumbled.

The plastic smile never wavered. “You’re a photographer.” You stared at her blankly, waiting for the question. “Can you take a picture for me and my friends? We’d ask someone else, but you’d probably be a little better.”

“Sure.” You eventually replied flatly, taking the phone she held out. The group arranged themselves against the light, so they’d all be washed out, but you didn’t say anything. That wasn’t your problem.

As soon as you lifted the phone they all stopped bickering and began laughing as if they had just heard the funniest joke . Several peace signs showing up among the group.

Fake, you thought to yourself as you took the photo. You then handed the phone back to the blonde, fiddling with the strap of your camera that was slung across your chest.

The woman immediately handed the phone back to you, making you furrow your brows in confusion. “We’re washed out. Do you mind taking it again, but like… better? Maybe try getting lower.” You bristled at the comment. The charming smile she flashed you was something you were certain got her whatever she wanted.

You almost denied the request just for the satisfaction. “Sure.” You mumbled again, crouching ever so slightly to take the picture again.

“Do you mind getting lower?” She questioned.

Before you could stop yourself, you made a face. “What? Like in the sand?”

“Yeah, that’d be perfect! Thanks.” You bit the inside of your cheek to stop the sarcastic comment that was threatening to fall from your lips. As you kneeled down in the sand you heard her whisper to her friends. “It’s cute, an amateur photographer being able to take pictures for me. She’s probably just nervous.”

The comment made your blood boil. That was the issue with all these influencers. They thought they were god’s gift to the world. That’s why you refused to work with them.

Without paying any attention, you took the picture and marched over to the woman. “Just so you know, I have no idea who you are. Have a nice day.” You said in an overly cheery voice, shoving the phone back into her hands.

The woman sputtered slightly in surprise, but before she could say anything you hurried away, clutching the strap of your camera tightly. You needed to find new places to shoot at.

_________________

As much as you tried to avoid all the places that the social media influencers went, you couldn’t help but go to this small café that they had infiltrated. It was on the edge of the coast, close enough that the ocean breeze swept through your hair as you read by the open window.

You had become such a fixture in the shop that the owners had come to expect you at least twice a week. Today was no different as you absently picked at the chocolate croissant that the owners granddaughter had eagerly given you.

Even the little girl had become familiar with your presence (mainly because you let her play with your older cameras when you were around).

Just as you were about to turn the page, the stillness of the café was interrupted by the sounds of exaggerated laughter. You refused to look up, you knew the type. They’d be gone as soon as they got their pictures anyway.

“Excuse me?”

You looked up to see two women standing before you, one the blonde from the beach. You were surprised to see she actually looked a bit uncomfortable when she saw it was you. “Yes?” You replied, placing a finger in your book so you wouldn’t lose your place.

“Do you mind switching places with us? This spot would make a better picture.” The other woman batted her eyelashes flirtatiously.

You couldn’t help but smile in disbelief. “You know what? Sure.”

The squeal that came from the other woman’s lips made you wince. “Perf! Let’s go get our stuff, Tay.” The other woman walked off as you turned to gather your things, it was time to leave. You had a photoshoot early the next morning anyway.

“What are you reading?”

Not looking up, you began packing your things into your backpack. “Middlemarch by George Elliot.” You replied. As much as you were sure this woman was vapid, you didn’t want to be rude. Even if the aftermath of her comment still prickled under your skin.

“What’s it about?”

Curiosity got the better of you as you finally turned to face her, eyeing her skeptically. “It’s about marriage, idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, political reform… It’s a masterpiece in my humble opinion.”

The woman’s eyebrows raised interestedly. “You sound passionate about it.” You shrugged. It was your favorite book, but she didn’t need to know that. “My names Taylor.” The same charming smile she wore on the beach made a reappearance and you tilted your head in response, not impressed.

“Y/n.” You supplied.

There was a brief moment of silence in the air, Taylor’s smile wavered slightly. “About the beach, I think I came off as kind of a bi-”

“Tay! Let’s take a pic of our coffee. The beach in the background will be adorbs.” The other woman interrupted. “Do you mind?” She asked you, gesturing to the space you were standing in front of.

You pressed your lips together, shaking your head. “Not at all. It’s all yours.”

As you passed Taylor you made eye contact, she looked like she wanted to say something, but you had already walked away. Playfully you ruffled the hair of the owner’s granddaughter on the way out. You were so occupied by the way the young girl eagerly showed you the pictures she took that you didn’t notice the eyes that were watching you with interest.

_____________________

The movement around you faded as you focused on the controlled chaos that surrounded you, the people all living their own lives. Your fingers itched to capture these unsuspecting moments of beauty. Of the elderly couple holding hands on a walk, of the two friends laughing over a picture they had just taken, of the children playing catch with their dog. Of- your peace was interrupted when someone stepped into your line of vision.

You fought the urge to groan. “Are you following me?”

Taylor raised the bag in her hand, smiling slightly. “No. I was actually on my way home from the farmers market.” You squinted at her slightly, unsure of what that had to do with you. “I think we got off on the wrong foot yesterday.”

“What makes you say that?” Your paused slightly. “Do you think it’s because I’m an amateur photographer that’s nervous to be around you?” You asked with a mocking pout.

Her face flushed. “I didn’t mean to sound so…”

“Stuck up?” You offered flatly.

Taylor nodded slowly. “I swear I’m not… that type of person.”

You chuckled as you began packing your things. “Yeah, for some reason I don’t buy that.” When you stood you noticed how close she was to you. Your breath faltered slightly because you were certain you’d never seen eyes more beautiful in your life. “Why do you care? You don’t even know me.” You grumbled stepping around her.

Her footsteps followed you as she fell into step beside you. “I don’t know, you seem different than anyone I know.” You huffed in amusement. That was probably certain. “Let me show you I’m not as bad as you think I am.”

“You see, as intrigued as I am by that offer I think I’ll pass. I’ve seen your type.” You quipped, glancing at her out of the corner of your eyes. “I have an amateur shoot that I need to get to anyway.”

She groaned. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?” You shook your head. There was a brief pause. “Can I have your number?”

A short chuckle fell from your lips. “Seriously?”

Taylor nodded and held out her phone. “Get coffee with me this weekend and I’ll prove you wrong.”

You had to admit, the persistence was admirable, you’d even say cute. “Fine.” You took the phone and put in your number. “I really have to go.”

“See you this weekend. Same café on the coast.” Taylor said as you turned to leave.

_______________

When you arrived at the café you were greeted with warm smiles as the owner offered you a tea, and raised eyebrows when you requested two. You rolled your eyes at the suggestive waggle of eyebrows you received as you walked the teas over to a table in the corner.

Glancing down at your watch, you couldn’t help but frown. 12:05. It was five minutes passed the agreed upon meeting time.

A sigh fell from your lips when another fifteen minutes passed. You mentally berated yourself for allowing yourself to hope she wouldn’t be what you thought she was. Not even a moment later you heard the chime of the bell, indicating someone had entered.

Like a whirlwind, Taylor came rushing in just as you stood to leave. “Y/n.” She hurried over to the table. “There was an accident and they stopped the freeway. Like… completely stopped it. We literally just sat there for twenty minutes. I was supposed to be here at 11:50.”

Despite yourself you couldn’t help but be amused. “Taylor.” Her eyes were still a bit wide when she met your gaze. You enjoyed the authentic emotion she was showing. “It’s fine.”

“I’m not making a good impression, am I?”

You shrugged playfully as you took a seat again, Taylor taking the seat opposite of you. “You could be doing worse.”

Taylor pushed a hand through her hair. “That’s not very reassuring.”

Again, you shrugged. “I never said I was trying to reassure you.”

For a moment she just stared at you then burst out laughing. You couldn’t help but duck your head at the sound. “I’m glad you aren’t. It’s refreshing.” She admitted when her laughter faded away.

“What? Honesty?” You chuckled as she nodded. “I hate to break it to you, but if authenticity is refreshing, you should probably reevaluate the people you surround yourself with.”

Her hands fiddled with the tea cup that you slid over to her. “Yeah, well, we can’t all be contrarians.” She retorted back.

Her words peaked your interest, you raised an eyebrow. “Did you just call me out?”

The smirk on her lips made you fidget in your seat. “How’s it feel to be on the other end?”

You nodded approvingly. “Touché, Taylor... Touché.”

“I read that book you told me about. The Middlemarch?” Your eyebrows raised in surprise. “I liked it.”

For some reason you couldn’t help but feel skeptical. “Did you really like it?”

Taylor nodded. “Yes, I did!”

“Okay.” You accepted her words as you took a sip of your tea. “Why?”

The woman sitting across from you faltered slightly. “Why?” She repeated back to you.

Your brows furrowed. “Yeah... Why did you like it?”

For a moment you watched in amusement as Taylor looked around the café as if it would hold the answers she was searching for. “I liked the characters?”

The response came out in the form of a question and you couldn’t help but feel entertained. “You know, you don’t have to pretend around me.”

Taylor’s cheeks flushed, seemingly bothered by you not believing her. “Okay. I hated it.”

You couldn’t help the boisterous laugh that fell from your lips. “That’s better!” You exclaimed. “Tell me why.”

“It’s just so pretentious and dull. I thought my eyes would fall from their sockets if I had to read another page.” She admitted flatly, her eyes shimmering with confusion when you smiled back at her.

“That’s what I like to hear!” You said encouragingly.

Taylor let out a disbelieving laugh. “What? I just insulted your favorite book.”

You nodded enthusiastically. “I know. It’s amazing.”

“You can’t be serious.” She mumbled suspiciously.

You leaned across the table slightly. “I am, and you know why? Because you’re finally being authentic.” Silence. “Look, Taylor, you don’t have to like this book because it’s my favorite or because it would make your followers think you're intriguing if you did. Ignore what everyone else is telling you to think because none of it matters. The way I see it is, you can lie and pretend to like what everyone says you should like and be miserable OR…”

Taylor leaned forward a bit as well. “Or?”

You smiled. “Or you can be honest and say when you hate something and talk about what you love instead… and be happy.”

Taylor’s breath hitched slightly and for a moment she just stared back at you. “Show me.”

“Show you what?” you questioned curiously.

“Show me how you see the world.”

For a moment you considered her words, your heart racing in your chest. “Well let’s start with this small little coastal town.” The invitation was wordless as you stood and offered her your hand.

Her hand twitched for a moment as if she was silently debating with herself. The smile she gave you when she finally took your hand took your breath away. You rolled your eyes at the way the owners watch you walk out of the shop hand-in-hand.

________________

“Babe.” Taylor whined quietly.

You raised an eyebrow in surprise. Smirking when you finally processed the word. After dating for a few weeks the term of endearment was new. “Babe you say?” You teased lightly.

Her cheeks flushed red. “When I asked you to take a picture of me, I meant with my phone not on film.” She mumbled, ignoring your question.

You decided you wouldn’t comment on it.

Just like you wouldn’t comment on the way she’d develop the film herself just like you taught her. You wouldn’t comment on the way she'd smile when they developed just right. You wouldn't comment when she would say how much better the picture looked on film… And you definitely wouldn’t comment on how endearing you found every single thing she did either.

“Taylor, everything looks-”

“Better on film.” She finished with a playful eyeroll. “I know. You probably tell me that mmm… at least once a day.”

Laughing quietly, you held the camera up to your eye, so you could focus the shot. “Only once a day? I’m going to need to step it up.”

Taylor shook her head lightly, her eyes twinkling from your antics and her lips forming into the beginnings of a genuine smile. You took the shot.

That was an authentic Taylor. No peace signs and fake smiles. The real Taylor was all twinkling eyes and crooked smiles. You had never seen a more beautiful sight.

And when she wandered over to press her lips tenderly against yours, you were sure you’d never felt anything more beautiful either.

__________________

Taylor surprised you. And you fell for her. Fast.

Four months with her and you were certain you were ruined for anyone else.

She was something your heart had never expected.

“Babe?’ you hummed distractedly. “Babe!”

You blinked rapidly, refocusing on the world around you. “Yes?”

Taylor’s laugh drifted into your ears and you smiled at the sound. “I was asking if you’ve seen my Eagles shirt?”

“It was hanging on the door.” You mumbled. “Wait. Don’t you mean my Eagles shirt?”

She pecked your lips to avoid answering. “Thanks, babe!” Taylor winked and ran over to the door, pulling the shirt over her head. “Anything on the agenda for the day?”

You began getting dressed. “I have a photoshoot where they’re giving me complete creative freedom. Then I’m meeting with my manager since I have a few more offers to shoot a couple different things.”

A soft noise of excitement fell from her lips. “Everybody wants you.” She padded across the room, her arms draping around your shoulders. “And I have you.”

The smile on both your faces made it almost impossible to kiss, but you didn’t let that stop you.

_________________

The movement around you faded out as you looked over your camera, feeding the film into the machine serenely. You had no idea who you were shooting today, but the company who booked you was very eager to work with you and let you have complete creative freedom. Complete creative freedom meant film for you. Not digital. The thought alone excited you. “She’s here. Are you ready?”

You looked up at your assistant after you were sure your camera was ready. “Did they water the rose bush?”

“Yes. I still don’t understand why you wanted a rose bush. We’re in the middle of a desert.” Your assistant mumbled.

“Double vision in a rose bush. An illusion… Because of the dessert. The beauty is an illusion?” You explained, rolling your eyes when you saw your assistant bite back a smile. “Shut up. Where’s this person?”

A small tap on your shoulder answered your question. “Looking for me?”

When you turned around you were met with the sight of a playful smirk on familiar lips. You squinted at her teasingly, hiding the surprise of seeing your girlfriend here. “Are you following me?”

“You’re the infamous photographer that this company was telling me about?” Taylor questioned back at you, feigning confusion.

You sent her a sarcastic smile. “No. I’m just an amateur that’s here to take pictures of you. I’m so nervous to be working with you!” You said mockingly.

Taylor groaned, the act falling away almost immediately. “That was a year ago. Before we even started dating! Are you ever going to let me live that down?”

“Hmm…” You pretended to think, your finger on your chin. “Nope.” You quipped back, popping your lips on the word.

You began walking away, smiling slightly when you saw Taylor fall into step beside you. “Maybe I’m nervous to work with you.” She said softly, taking your hand in her own and pressing a light kiss to the back of it. “After all, everybody wants you.”

“What a coincidence because I will only ever want you.” Before you reached the set-up, you turned to face her, pressing your forehead lightly against hers. “Tell me about something that makes you happy.”

Her soft breath fanned over your lips and the smile she sent you made your cheeks flush. “Well... She hates the sand but loves the beach. She practically lives on the coast she’s there so often. I sometimes need to call her out on her contrarian shit, but… I’ll never find a love as pure as her.” Her words were quiet, but sincere. Authentic. “Tell me about something you love.”

“She loves to sing to songs on the radio even if she doesn’t know the words, she dances like a goof when she’ s drunk, but she claims she doesn’t when she’s sober. Hmm… She steals my clothes.” Taylor giggled, and you couldn’t help but smile. “And more importantly, she’s also stolen my heart.” You mumbled, her lips connecting with yours almost as soon as the word left your mouth.

After a moment you pulled away, noticing your assistant walk up to you both. You turned to face her. “Never mind about what I said earlier. This beauty isn’t an illusion... and she never will be.”

That's all folks! And you all thought I couldn't write happy endings. Well, anyway, I hope you all enjoyed since this is fairly different from what I usually write.

Please let me know what you think because as always, thoughts and comments are always welcome!

P.s. Should I make a general tag list?

(P.p.s. if the Gerri stealers are reading this... rude.)