#mikes other wing is there I just don’t wanna draw it

[twost3ps]

Something sweet before work

Ah damn they got domesticated

Still gotta be my fave au

[fandom-space-princess]

Follow Where You Lead

midam week prompt 1: Impulsive - acting or done without forethought

Rating: General Audiences [1.6k words, fluff] Michael doesn't do impulsive. Being with Adam may just change that yet.

read below the cut, or on AO3

Adam is cooking when, for the first time since his return to life, he hears his favorite song.

The local DJ spins a set of mid-2000s pop hits. Rhythmic bass and powerful vocals simmer through the air, compel him into humming and tapping along with his hands on every available surface as he moves through the kitchen. Each song stirs nostalgia in his chest, a happy glow.

Michael putters alongside him, digging through a low cupboard in search of a glass baking dish. Adam, sliding past, transitions seamlessly from tapping fingers along the countertop to drumming on Michael's shoulders instead. From where his head is buried in the cupboard comes a faint huff of amusement.

Then the track change hits. Drums, precise and powerful. Commanding bass. A guitar intro that had been going for the jugular since 2005 and never, ever stopped.

Adam grins wide, all teeth. Reaches for his phone and fiddles with the volume - there has only ever been one way to listen to this song (loud). Tips back his head and all but shouts the opening line.

"Am I more than you bargained for yet?..."

Michael startles, bumps his head against the top of the cupboard. He sprawls backward with an oof, peering up at Adam from the floor with a look of such unearthly confusion that Adam can't help but laugh, even as he reaches down to clasp his arm and help him up.

"Man, I haven't heard this in ages! C'mon, Michael. Dance with me!" He's catching at Michael's wrists, leading him out of the kitchen and into the clearer space of the dining room. Michael follows, and even through his obvious hesitation he smiles. Adam's joy is infectious.

"I don't... know how to dance to this." Michael leans into Adam's space anyway, pitching his voice to carry over the sound.

"Nobody knows how to dance to this, that's part of the appeal." Adam rolls his eyes and just pulls Michael after him, swaying and spinning and singing along.

It's almost like time travel. For three minutes and 49 seconds, he might swear he's 15 all over again. Young and free and — he glances at Michael, draws him closer with hands on his hips and laughter in his eyes — in love, happier than a younger Adam would have ever believed his future self could grow to be. Dancing and singing in the kitchen with an angel. An angel who, though his brow still crinkles with amusement and his enthusiasm for this weird little artifact of human culture could never match Adam's own, is willing to cook with him and dance with him and stay with him and love him back.

The future, Adam thinks, is turning out to be pretty great.

-----

"I bet I can do it."

"I don't doubt that you're capable, I'm only saying that it may not be precisely wise."

The park is almost empty, save for a few sparse joggers or dog-walkers, and the old oak tree under which they stand spreads limbs invitingly down to them. In the warm spring sunlight, the soft leaves and strong branches offer a tempting perch, and the tree's position at the top of the hill on which they find themselves creates a natural overlook.

The view from up there, Adam thinks, is probably spectacular.

"I'm gonna do it." Adam grasps the lowest branch, then lifts his feet to let it take his weight. Solid. He grins. "Come on, Michael, what's the worst that can happen? You can't tell me you're scared of heights."

Michael appraises him skeptically, from where he continues to pointedly manifest standing on the ground. "What if you fall?"

"You won't let me fall and we both know it. Relax a little. This is what most people call 'fun.'" Adam clambers up onto the next branch, edges his way around the tree trunk, and pulls himself higher still.

"Adam you are attracting attention get down from there," Michael hisses through gritted teeth. He looks around. A woman and child pass them on the trail nearby, the child goggling up at him and tugging her mother's sleeve as she points. He waves. The woman smiles and shakes her head, chuckling, and they continue on their walk.

"See?" He says, leaning out to stare down at Michael. He arches an eyebrow, challenging, playful. "She didn't care. You shouldn't either. Come onnnn, Mike. The view up here is great. Live a little. Climb the tree."

The view from the top is, indeed, spectacular.

Adam nestles himself on a strong bough about three-quarters of the way up (past which the branches become too spindly for even his sense of adventure). Spread out in panorama below, the town is alive with the midday hum of people moving about their business: cars on the streets, pedestrians on the sidewalks, shopping and working and just... living.

Michael manifests next to him on the branch with a huff. He curls close to Adam, arm around his shoulders.

"No fair just appearing up here," Adam says with a grin. "You have to climb up it to get the full experience."

The expression the archangel gives him is dubious to say the least, but there's an underpinning of mirth there, too. He shakes his head at the foolishness of his human, and Adam tips his head onto his shoulder.

Michael leans his head back against Adam's, and hums thoughtfully. They sit in companionable silence for long moments. Then, with a fondness in his voice that melts through Adam's heart and stirs warmth in his veins:

"You were right," he whispers, "about the view."

-----

Adam dangles his feet over the edge of the sheer basalt cliff, peering out over the drop. "Ok, yeah. That's a long way down."

The waters churning over the cliffside rumble in profound natural agreement with the sentiment. Nearly 200 feet of uninterrupted freefall into the basin below; the river is well-suited to the landscape around it. Like everything else in this place, from the high dusty scrublands to the plateaus and canyons carved out of the Earth by glacial floods in eons past, the waterfall is a thing of stark, severe beauty. Power and inevitability have shaped it, without remorse, and the awe it commands is due as much to this as anything else.

Some things need no ornamentation to show their glory.

They have come out here, away from people, from civilization, to think, to just be. Michael often needs open spaces and solitude upon returning from Heaven. Adam understands. The few times he had accompanied the archangel back there, it had felt... not claustrophobic, exactly. But it was no longer the monastic haven of family of Michael's memories, and though the ghosts that roamed those halls weren't Adam's, in haunting Michael they haunted him as well.

"You don't have to keep going back, you know?" He prods Michael gently across their shared mindspace, at the place near the back of his consciousness where he is most aware of the archangel's brooding silence. "If it makes you miserable, you should stay away for awhile. They would understand."

I really can't, Michael sighs. His grace, where it brushes Adam's mind, feels exhausted, bruised, worn thin. It had been a long day. I have a duty to them. Every time I return it seems there is only more to be done.

Adam lays back onto the hard earth, crosses his hands behind his head. Closes his eyes. "There's always going to be more to be done, Michael. You need to set boundaries around how much they can ask of you. Even though they're your family." He pauses, considering. "Especially because they're your family."

Overhead, a pair of hawks circle each other, gliding along updrafts in the cloudless sky.

"When was the last time you made a real decision, an important one, that was just about you?" His voice is quiet. Adam presses a hand over his heart, where Michael most often seems a physical presence within his body, a weighty coil of energy and light. "Not for Heaven, or for Jack, or for your brothers. Or even for me. When was the last time you did something just because you wanted to?"

A handful of heartbeats pass, during which the only sound is the rumble of the falls and the breeze over shifting sands. Then Michael stirs within him, muted heat pressing back against his chest and the fleeting impression of a sly smile just behind his lips.

When I decided to stay with you, he murmurs, joy and gratitude suffusing through their body. Adam melts under the embrace of it.

"I love you, too," he says. A thought grabs hold of him, then, pulls him in and won't let go, and he stumbles to his feet with a giggle. "Hey, come out here a second. I wanna ask you something."

The archangel appears next to him, one hand tangled in his own, eyes soft and joyful. "Anything you like. What is it?"

"Do angels get married?"

Michael blinks, once, surprised. "Not generally, no."

"Do you want to?"

He looks back at Adam with a quizzical tilt of the head. Emotions roil within him: hesitation and confusion, yes, these by reflex, but underneath a vast resounding happiness that bubbles up within his grace and sings through their veins. Adam meets it with patience, and with love.

"I..." he starts, and looks away for a moment. But Adam squeezes his hand, gently, and it's like throwing a light switch: Michael is smiling back at him with a radiance to rival the sun. "You know, I think I do."

One long peal of laughter wells up out of Adam's throat, and then he's running, straight at the edge. He clears the precipice in one headlong leap, arms extended and laughter still ringing back to him off the canyon walls. Michael's voice joins with his own, and his wings burst into being at their shoulders.

Together they ride the air currents higher and higher, twisting up and away, into the sky.

[katsuukiwii]

Proud-Levi X Reader Chapter Two

Chapter Two- “Normal Days...For Now, At Least.”

Chapter Warnings: Language, Implied Masturbation, Gay Relationships, Tattoos, Implied Gay Sex.

Contains: Fluff

Levi holds Liam’s hand as they walk through aisles filled with costumes. The smaller boy’s icy blue eyes twinkle as he stares at all of them. He then spots a costume out of the corner of his eye and runs up to it, dragging Levi over with him. Liam points out a ‘My Hero Academia’ costume, “Ooh! Look, Papa! I can be Bakugo!” Levi smirks at the boys enthusiasm, pulling the neatly packed costume set off the wall. “C’mere. I need to check if this is your size,” he stares intently at the costume measurements, then to Liam, then back to the measurements. “It should fit you. Do you wanna be Ba...Baku…” Liam smiles, “It’s Bakugo! And yes!!” Levi chuckles, “Alright, here you go,” he hands the bag to him, “If you find a costume you like more tell me.” They continue to walk around the costumes. 

Levi grumbles, he hates costume shopping, if it's for him at least. But, like he told Jean, he was desperate. “Hey Liam, what should I be for Halloween?” Instead of Liam's voice, he hears someone else’s, “You should go in drag.” Levi turns around, seeing one of his closest friends, “Very funny, Mike.” Liam listens to the two men talking confused on almost EVERYTHING they were talking about. But, nonetheless, he answers, “You should go as something creepy! But not too creepy, ‘cuz I won’t like it..” All three of them looked around as Levi and Mike talked. 

Suddenly, Levi sees something that catches his eye. A wall filled with simple things you could pair with any normal clothes. Yeah, he’s kinda boring. Mike speaks up, “God, you’re no fun dude.” Levi sends him a glare, grabbing a pair of mid-length black horns and large black wings. “Yeah, I know. But every other costume is either a fucking joke, extra, or sexual.” Mike rolls his eyes, “Fine. Y’know, the ladies might like you more if you have an out-there costume!” Mike argues. Levi smirks, shaking his head in disbelief. He speaks quietly, but loud enough so that at least Mike can hear, “I can’t believe I’m doing this just to get pussy.” Mike laughs, patting Levi’s back, “It’s okay dude. You’ll get some eventually.”

...

Levi bought the costumes, and now he was laying on the couch watching Liam color. Suddenly the boy turns around and looks at him, “Papa?” Levi raised a thin brow, “What is it?” Liam stands up, grabbing some markers, “Can I color in your drawings?” He lays there, confused until he realizes what he meant. “Oh! My tattoos?” Liam nods his head gleefully and Levi sits up, taking off his shirt and lifting his right pant leg up to his knee, revealing two hidden tattoos. 

One started on his left upper arm, covering part of his chest, it contained daffodils and two cobras. Kuchel loved daffodils, and Levi helped her get over her fear of snakes by getting one, named Sir Racha (pronounced like sriracha). He obviously didn’t have a cobra, but he was fascinated by them. The second one started the side of his right calf, reaching down to his ankle. That one was a small portrait of Liam, with a border of things he loved. Everytime Liam started to like something new, Levi got it added. Technically, it was more than two tattoos, but it still counts as two to him. On there, he had Mr. Krabs (his favorite character in Spongebob), the ‘My Hero Academia’ logo, Tigger from Winnie The Pooh (since he’s so energetic), and a cat drawing Liam made when he was 3 (his favorite animal). Yes, it looked very childish, and often became a conversation topic, but people loved the story behind it. 

Liam moved to sit next to Levi, and started coloring the one of his chest. While he waited, Levi would start his homework, “Papa, what color is a cobra?” Levi looks at him and ruffles his hair, “Whatever color you want them to be.”

...

Levi was dropping his boy off at his elementary school, “Bye, Papa!”

“Cya buddy. I’ll pick you up today, alright?” He watches in the mirror as Liam jumps happily in his seat, “Yes! I don’t have to take the bus today! Woo hoo!!!” Levi smirks, “Nope, not today. Have a good day, I’ll see you later kid.” With that, Liam gets out of the car, waving goodbye before walking into the school. 

Levi loved him, he really did. But as soon as he drove away he took out one of his Mr. Bungle CD’s (!dont use headphones when listening!)and turned up the volume. He listened to somewhat... strange music. He had no idea what the hell he was supposed to call it other than that. But hey, he liked it nonetheless! He makes a left turn, pulling into the school’s parking lot, choosing one of the spots closest to the exit. He steps out of his car seeing a familiar blonde figure outside, staying away from the crowd of kids waiting for the doors to open.

“Yo, Erwin. What’s up?” The large man turns to look at him, nearly looking straight down, “Hey. We’re you listening to the with Liam in the car?” Of course Erwin had to mention his choice of music. “No! And who’s his father? Me. Not you.” The taller man shrugs, and Levi speaks up again, “I heard about Petra’s party. Are you going?” Erwin shrugs, “No, I’m not all for parties and-” Levi smirks, interrupting him, “But maybe you can hook up with someone. I know you’re still a virgin!” The blonde glares at him, “Levi, no offense, but you’ve had sex with more women than you can count. I, however, don’t want to waste it on women I don’t know.” Levi rolls his eyes, “Yeah, yeah. I hate when you’re right.” 

Just then, someone comes to unlock the doors, and everybody walks in. He taps Erwin’s shoulder, “I’ll be right back. I’m gonna cover my tattoo.” Erwin nods, and Levi walks into the locker room (it was closer than the bathroom). Just as he does that, he notices four feet instead of two in a stall, two of those feet quickly moving up to hide themselves. Levi shakes his head laughing, “It’s just me.” He starts to wrap some cloth around his tattoo, rolling his eyes as he hears two shy “hey”s and the stall opens. Levi turns, seeing Marco and Jean, “Have a good time?”

Marco blushes, “We were just having a little makeout…” Jean nods, “Yeah, people are too gossipy around here. We’re smarter than you.” He finishes wrapping the cloth around his arm, pulling the t-shirt sleeve back over and grabbing his backpack, “Yeah. Well, at least you know not to be like me.” 

...

The bell rings, and he’s finally done with school! He gets into his car and gets a call. He puts it on speaker and starts driving, “Hello.” Suddenly, Hanji’s voice comes from the other end, “Hiya, Levi,” he hears muffled voices, until he hears Liam’s, “Hey, Papa!” He smiles to himself, “Hey bud. How was school? Did Aunt Hanji teach you guys anything?” 

“Uh-huh! We’re learning all about the moon! We have one, but Jupiter has 79!” Levi makes a sound of acknowledgement, “That’s cool buddy. Do you know why Hanji called me?” He hears Hanji and Liam giggle, and Hanji speaks yet again, “Can I hang out with Liam today? I know you have work, and I don’t have much to do!

He shrugs, “Sure, just make sure he doesn’t eat too much sugar. I’ll take him home around 6? That gives him three hours with you.”

They both squeal, “Thank you Papa!” He laughs, “No problem. I love you, be safe.”

“Yes sir! Hehe” And they finally hang up, Levi turning back to drive home.

...

Levi groans out of boredom getting up to look for something to eat, legs shaking and arm hurting from a...busy afternoon. He passes the counter spotting something orange and white in the corner of his eye, he stops, taking a couple steps backwards to see what it was. A bag of Goldfish crackers, hell yeah. He grabs the bag and walks back to his room, flopping on the bed and curling up in warm blankets. Shit, maybe letting Hanji babysit wasn’t the worst.

.............................................................................................................

Boom! Chapter two! Kinda boring, but it will start to get good around chapter four! Let me know what you thought! Upload schedule for each chapter is here 

[tozierpunks]

Richie, Bev, and Eddie being the wild child(s) (Eddie the tamer of the three) of the losers club. Maybe they’ve got piercings, tattoos, they’ll listen to music and smoke (Eddie occasionally tries but it’s not his thing, he’s vibing to the music tho) Richie’s nails are painted black, Bev’s got her combat boots, Eddie in his ripped dungarees. Taking road trips in Richie’s beat up truck.

I have this hc that there’s a payphone outside Bev’s apartment, and since she couldn’t be caught dead on the phone in her house without some flack from her shithead dad, she uses that one (it’s faced away from her apartment, he couldn’t see her unless he came out). So she gives Eddie the number and tells him to call at least three times, cause she’s bound to hear it one of those times, and that’s how they chat on the phone. She’ll call Eddie, and if Sonia answers, she pretends to be a telemarketer.

They’ll make plans to sneak out and spend the night in the clubhouse if either of their houses are too bad. Eddie brings Sonia’s sugary snacks, Bev will bring magazines or comic books, and sometimes she brings one of her dad’s beers. Both of them hate the taste, but drinking it and gagging at the taste and exchanging that UGH look... is almost like a silent promise that they’ll never talk about this to anyone else.

Because no one else will get it.

No one else understands what it’s like to love someone you hate and fear SO MUCH. No one else knows how it feels to be stuck in a box, and completely at the mercy of someone who was supposed to love you. It’s a betrayal they hope their friends never know.

Then there’s one night Richie comes by the clubhouse after dark, and he’s surprised to find them there. He honestly just wanted a place to read his cousin’s Playboy, and he was shocked to find Bev and Eddie. They jumped up just as a reflex, and it seemed like they were caught doing something.

Of course, he’s a little heartbroken because he feels like he’s on the outside looking in, and he jokes, “Wow Eds, I didn’t know you had it in you. Bev, I always thought your type was... Bill. But this is cool. My best friends... boinking.” and Eddie looks horrified and Beverly flips him off and points out his magazine.

“Were you gonna beat the meat in here? You don’t do it on the hammock do you? Try not to tear it off, Trashmouth.”

Only her one liners are good enough to match his.

They don’t tell him exactly why they’re there, but they swear nothing weird is going on. Bev isn’t ready for all that teenage junk, and neither is Eddie. He’s not really interested in girls at all. (”Er- yet, I guess,” he adds, almost as an afterthought).

Bev offers Eddie a cigarette to give Richie, “five minutes alone with Miss January” and that’s his first time smoking. He choked of course, but he does try it a couple more times before deciding he hates it. The nicotine gives him a headache, anyways. So Richie comes out and invites them to his house, and Maggie catches them sneaking in. She sees how dirty and frightened Richie’s friends are, and she always KNEW something was wrong with that Alvin Marsh, and everyone knows Sonia Kaspbrak is a bigoted, holier-than-thou nutcase...

and let’s just say Maggie Tozier was kind of a bad girl in high school. She remembers what it’s like. Sneaking out, picking locks, stealing a beer or two. Of course she’s still Richie’s mother, so he’s “in big trouble, mister.”

But his friends? While she “doesn’t approve,” they always have room here for Eddie and Bev. She makes them up little beds, offers them a drink, and is the mother neither of them had the pleasure of knowing. And that’s when they start gravitating towards Richie’s house.

Not too long later, he asks what they were doing in the clubhouse alone, at THAT hour. It’s hard, because Eddie and Bev haven’t even said it to each other. They just knew.

Then Eddie does something weird. He starts crying.

He hates crying.

It makes him uncomfortable, because it’s what his mother uses to guilt trip him. Crying never means someone’s sad. It means you did something wrong, and the only way you can make it right is by doing what they want, even if you hate it. Even if it’s bad for you.

Even if it makes you cry too.

So he hates crying, he never lets himself, because he doesn’t want anyone to feel as bad as he does. Especially not his friends.

Richie and Bev FULLY do not care though. They’re immediately there to comfort him, and it feels entirely different from what he’s used to with his mother. Strangely enough, it’s his crying that makes Beverly blurt out the truth. All the horrible things her father has done and said, all the ways he’s made her feel disgusting. All the ways he used to make her happy, because he was still her father. She talks about the anger, and the guilt, and the hate, and all the other ugly feelings trapped inside. Eddie wipes his nose and nods, because it’s the same for him.

Richie doesn’t cry about it until later. After he walks them home. More than anything, he doesn’t wanna leave them. Not in those houses. Not where they’re alone and unprotected. He gets home and Maggie greets him, but he runs into her arms and sobs. He really does love her and Went; they’re the best parents in this whole damn town - next to Mike’s.

After that though, Richie makes sure to always have room for Eddie and Bev at his place. He cleans up the spare room the Tozier’s have been using for storage, and he asks if they can get bunk beds. Or at least a big guest bed for him and Eddie to share, and Bev can have his room. Maggie and Went are proud of him; their boy has the biggest heart, and only a handful of close friends will really know.

That’s the beginning of it all though. Bev starts leaving nail polishes in the guest room, because really it’s not a guest room as much as it is Bev and Eddie’s shared room. Maggie and Went suddenly have another son, and a daughter. Bev always wanted a mother, and Maggie always wanted a daughter. Richie’s a little baffled when she takes Bev out shopping, but he has no complaints. As long as they bring back something for dinner.

Maggie inherits a sewing machine from her grandmother when Gran Tozier passes, and she lets Beverly use it in the guest room. She even starts buying spare fabrics she thinks Beverly might like.

Went meanwhile is teaching Eddie about how to fix a car, because he bought Richie a beaten up truck for his birthday. Richie knows how to change the tires, but he’s not interested enough to REALLY learn everything. Eddie however, watches Went in awe. He asks questions, gets his hands dirty, and he LOVES it. He starts to care less and less when Sonia talks at him about filth and potential dangers. He’s very, “whatever, Ma.”

Richie’s happy to see them both thriving in his house. It’s not like he’s given the shaft; he has his parents 24/7 and they’re constantly there for every talent show, every small bowling alley gig, and they’re taking pictures at every “first day on the job” even if he’s had 20.

All of them get little jobs to start saving up - they want an apartment somewhere far from Derry once they graduate. Of course, their funds are often spent elsewhere. Sneaking a twenty to the already graduated and legal Victor Criss so he can buy them booze, snagging scalped tickets to a Nirvana concert in Boston, getting the truck back when it’s ultimately towed.

And of course they’re still incredibly close with the other losers, but there’s something special about the three of them together. Bev does both of their nails, Eddie helps to perfect her eyeliner, because he can draw wings the best, and Richie makes himself the protector. He loves them both so much, and he’s finally able to believe that they both love and need him.

[standfortheangels]

"Cant sleep?" (Brandon at Mike please~)

Sometimes, life was a little weird. And not just because he was a guardian angel in a relationship with an overworking demigod and had a list of ever-growing predetermined friendships he was entirely responsible for. Which, would be a lot of weirdness, to be fair. But, that wasn't what bothered him.

Mike knew that an angel's age was a complicated subject, and, it was one he tried not to think about too much. The age from when he was born til now, the age from when he was REborn til now, and then the one most angels went by. Because an angel could only age physically, when they aged mentally. The phrase "you're only as old as you feel" was a lot more literal for them. Except... Was it?

Some things about his life here, he loved. The people in his life and his relationships with them, getting to help his charges.. having a job at all was pretty cool. And he loved the cool night air on this balcony, and the warmth of the mug he wrapped his hands around to keep his fingers warm. But... Maybe some things... Were just a little.. off.

His thoughts were interrupted by the soft sound of the glass door sliding open, and he offered Brandon a little smile as he stepped out. Suddenly he wished he'd had another mug of cocoa here to offer him.. "want some?" He asked quietly, sliding the drink in his direction a little, but drawing it back when Brandon declined.

"Can't sleep?"

He half smiled and looked out at the world around them, a kind of sadness creeping in. "I had a lot to think about." He settled for.

Brandon's eyes showed a glint of concern. "Like what?"

For a moment, Mike stayed quiet, now looking down into the chocolatey drink in his hands. "Brandon? .... Do you think I'm immature?" He glanced back up at him now, no smile left on his face. "It's okay if you do, I won't be up- well. I won't be offended at least. It's just... I know some people- other guides- don't like the way that I do things. And I know I'm still new compared to them and maybe it's just an experience thing but.. They don't take me seriously either. Even my family don't really. And you know how much I love them, I would never say anything bad about it but- ... They are always calling me the baby, you know? Baby brother, baby of the family... And I get that, but, still."

He left a long pause hanging for a moment, eyes moving around but not really settling anywhere for long.

"When I died.. I wasn't actually... Old enough to be harvested. They made an exception for me, I mean, it's not something they haven't done before, but, you know, people remember that kind of thing. And they.. well, it's complicated, but, when they have to make you a new body to be in.." He laughed and leant one arm up on the railing, to rest his head in that hand. "This must all sound so weird to you, but, they make you a body and then, you spend a while learning stuff and growing your wings and whatever else. And, with me, they made me older than I was. So I could blend in or something I guess. And they said that, when I actually got older in my head, my body would follow." Now his eyebrows pulled together, and he looked back down into his mug again. "But I don't look any different." He watched the steam flow lazily upward for a moment. "I mean... I feel different, I think. I'm responsible, o do my job, I live on my own- mostly~ I'm not a kid anymore. But how could anyone else know that? They can't look at me and see that I'm older, and it seems like any angel I meet, it's just a matter of time before they realise who I am. I... I don't wanna talk badly about them but, I'm a little sick of people treating me like a kid. Yesterday, some guide in another region called me a pumped up twerp! What's what about??" Now he looked at Brandon briefly, holding that look he had when he got worked up by something. Thankfully, it quickly faded.

"I wanna believe they're wrong, I want to tell them that, right to their entitled, smug, turned out little faces. But then, I go home and the people I love act like I'm a kid too. And, I kinda like it, when it isn't dad thinking he's the boss of me. I'm no good at landings, my wings are smaller than everyone I know and I know they'll get bigger but that's not the point. I get scared at night if there's a noise in the house, and then... All I want is mom to come fix things. And she's really gentle with me, like, more than the others. Like I'm too little to treat the same way. And then at the end of it all, what do I do? What do I when I'm troubled by the whole thing? I make hot cocoa and eat marshmallows. Or- I do what I did tonight and realise I already ate all the marshmallows last night and didn't buy more, so that kinda sucks." He tilted his head towards Brandon, hoping to lighten the mood a little.

"I just... Wonder sometimes if they're right, you know? I look, I mean what, 19, 20 maybe? Older? But, I can't know for sure that's what I am. I do childish things and I get all excited at the holidays.. But it's not like I don't do grown up stuff too, I mean, I'm a mental health worker, a social worker, support worker, recon.. guy, all in one! I take my job seriously and I work hard at it, find out what people need and try to make it happen. It's just not great when this thing follows me around. As soon as someone thinks I'm challenging them or questioning them it's all "kid" this and "butt out" that and "go play with your little friends". How about Lay off, Sarah?! How bout that?"

He sighed a little and drew up his knees tighter. "I just don't know if I'll ever get them to take me seriously."

[ckret2]

tumblr you need to stop deleting the question when i edit an ask:

What characters can you think of, that you like, fall under unhealthy obsessive romance?

Sit down we're gonna be here a while.

God is anyone gonna be surprised if I cite the yandere trope? Is anyone gonna cringe away if I say Gasai Yuno from Future Diary? No? We're all good? Okay.

Yandere characters are really hit or miss with me. Too often, I've seen yandere characters portrayed like their bloodlust, their willing to kidnap their beloved or kill potential romantic rivals, is working in tandem with their apparent sweet, affectionate, self-effacing devotion—rather than in contrast. Like a yandere character who's willing to draw blood is an exaggerated romantic ideal. I'm not about that. To me, a proper compelling yandere is a horror character disguised as a cute love interest.

Yuno pulls that off. Even as Yukki gets used to her and even begins to grow attracted to her, he still remains very reasonably terrified of what she might do—and his terror is validated by her actions. What really sells her for me, though, is the series's awareness of the arbitrary nature of her obsessive love. She flat-out tells Yukki, the target of her obsession, with shocking coldness and self-insight, that she doesn't love him because he's really that unique or special, but because he was there and she needed someone. When it feels like so many generic dull lead boys "win" the attentions of the cool interesting yandere for no obvious reason as a sort of wishfulfillment, Yuno's open acknowledgment of Yukki's plainness and the arbitrariness of her own affections would be a great deconstruction of common yandere tropes, if it wasn't for the fact that Yuno was basically the codifier of the modern yandere archetype.

Another character who hits all the right yandere notes is Tarantulas from the IDW Transformers comics. Mad scientist who makes wicked inventions for a high-ranked military officer who's rattled by the brutality they inflict together and terminates their professional relationship by attempting to terminate the scientist; scientist comes back from the apparent dead to kidnap the officer with the help of a gang of terrorists, blackmails him by threatening to reveal confidential information about the officer's army that could tear it apart from the inside and that the officer has gone to great lengths to keep hidden, reveals that he's invented a way to make enemy soldiers effectively invisible and untraceable, and shows off his secret lab powered by a devastatingly powerful superfuel that he's invented... and then reveal he doesn't want revenge, but for the officer to be his partner in crime again, and all these wonders will be used FOR him instead of AGAINST him. He calls the officer his "muse," and feels like he can't reach his peak scientific potential without the officer there, requesting new weapons and acting as his inspiration.

He's willing to burn down the universe if his muse wants it or burn down the universe if his muse scorns him, he kidnaps him just to beg him to be his partner, and he does all this despite the fact that the officer destroyed his life work and tried to kill him. It's fantastically messed up.

Moving away from the yandere archetype: Venom—comics Venom, from their intro through the 90s and then again once Mike Costa got hold of them—is a fantastic obsessive love story, about two people who reject everything that both of their societies defines as normal and acceptable in order to be with each other, and are incredibly tender and affectionate and mutually supportive; but like, they also validate each other's worst beliefs and tendencies in a way that lets them egg each other on into oblivious villainy, and even if "live with and for one and only one person, literally in 24/7 physical contact," is normal and psychologically healthy for the symbiote's species, it's not for a human being. Impressively, they're SO obsessively codependently in love with each other, that they each independently decide that they want to be the best possible versions of themselves for each other, and violently wrest their relationship from the jaws of toxicity in order to become an emotionally mature couple with a support system, outside friends, and the ability to communicate about their fears and insecurities, and it's a beautiful thing. It's too bad nobody's written anything with Venom since Mike Costa's run ended, but I'm sure someone will bring them back around eventually.

The knight-in-love-with-their-liege trope is one that appeals to me in theory, but in practice I basically never see it written as zealously as I'd like, so I usually have to headcanon it up myself. Pearl in Steven Universe is the only solid canon example I can think of that hits all the right notes for me.

Not strictly canon but: Drift from Transformers, who goes from grim street rat survivalist to bloodthirsty mass murderer to repentant ninja vigilante to faux-spiritual warrior with weird flashes of extreme violence while under the wing of four different mentor/leader figures, I like to interpret as a serial zealot whose repeatedly shifting morals and loyalties have nothing to do with his newest leader actually convincing him of the righteousness of their perspective, and everything to do with Drift's becoming smitten with their charisma and being willing to reinvent himself completely to conform with his new beloved leader's worldview. Drift's last writer even ship teased him pretty heavily with leader #4 (for any of y'all that don't read Transformers: not like "ship teased" in a queerbaity way, Drift eventually hooked up with a different dude), and he's shown to go out of his way to perform roles that he thinks will impress leader #4; so like, there's some canon basis to read him like that—even if my main reason is "because I want to."

I also like to slip in shades of knight-loves-leader in how I write Zim being shipped with a Tallest; the unhealthy, destructive obsession with them is definitely canon, even if the romance isn't.

"Characters that are otherwise emotionless for scifi/fantasy reasons except for ONE emotion and that emotion is love and therefore they get really obsessed with their love because it's the only thing in their void of a life, but it's not portrayed in a cutesy 'robot learns to feel' or 'demon is saved by love' way but rather in a 'this is almost as unbalanced and unhealthy as not feeling anything at all was' way" is like... a trope that I keep writing but don't think I've ever actually seen done EXACTLY like that in canon. The Nobodies in Kingdom Hearts are good for this—I've written them as having meaningless sex to try to counter the fact that they can't feel emotions, on the justification that sexual arousal is a physiological sensation rather than an actual emotion but is still close enough that they can almost feel a feeling, and end up getting extremely attached to their cooperative let's-pretend-we-can-feel sex partners. (i realize that physiology and emotions can't actually be disentangled like that but like, it's fantasy.) Axel, you can argue, latched onto Roxas in what can be (and often is) read in a romantic way, also arguably sheerly on the merit of the fact that Roxas makes him feel anything at all.

Shockwave in IDW I've also used to played around with this idea, although I haven't published the main work I've done that with. Yet.

And from what I’ve seen, it looks like the main character in Yandere Simulator is gonna have a backstory kind of like that? I’m looking forward to that game, haven’t played any of the demo versions yet but what I’ve seen from the dev’s videos looks fun.

Also: very frequently, unrequited love. Especially secret unrequited love. "Unrequited-to-requited love" doesn't fit the bill at all. It's gotta be perpetual pining. There's NO satisfaction. The longing just builds and builds eternally, until the internal pressure causes something to shatter. I can think of ships I like to imagine this way (Drift w/ any of his mentors, Starscream/Wheeljack, Hashirama/Madara, Ψiioniic/Sufferer), but off the top of my head no canon ones that reach those dizzying heights of eternally unfulfilled yearning. Sure, plenty of stories have unrequited love—but rarely the all-consumingly obsessive kind, and even more rarely is that portrayed as—oh! I got a couple canon ones, albeit more villainous/predatory ones: the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera and that dude with his mouth stitched shut in the Abarat books, I haven't read those in years. And some spins of Dracula and Mina, although it's no fun if she loves him back. You can also do this with Hades and Persephone, although for this to work it's imperative that Hades still feel like he doesn't actually "have" Persephone even if she's contractually obligated to live with him so long as she doesn't love him, and just sort of wistfully watches her from afar whenever she's in the underworld. (But to be honest I generally prefer "Persephone and Hades: Hypercompetent Goth Power Couple" to spins that lean on Persephone being an unwilling unhappy victim.)

The further I go down this list the more obscure and/or headcanony these examples are gonna get, so I think I'm gonna stop here. But feel free to send any follow-up questions if u wanna hear me ramble more about my extremely specific tastes in romance.

Shoutout to "The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight" by Blind Guardian for being a song that captures peak romanticized out-of-control love.

[sassysweetcollegegirls]

I’ll Love You no Matter What pt4

The training deck was about focus and having each other’s backs. Lance was good at defending and offense but some of their other excersizes were difficult. Like the invisible maze which they decided to start with today.

“I need you to take two steps forward and then go left Lance.” The honey sweet voice was in his ear and it made it hard for him to remember the directions but he was trying. He’d already been zapped four times so when he bonked into the wall he threw the helmet,” Alright why am I getting zapped!! I keep following the directions.”

He can see her cherry lips move and the point at his helmet. Lance grabs it and settles it on his head and sighs,” What now beautiful?”

“I may straight up choke you.”

“What if I’m into that?” Lance teases

“Dude that’s hardcore even for you.” Keith responds in a half grumble half sigh.

“Well we never know till we find out do we keef?” Lance is cheery waiting for direction.

“Shiro? I’ve zapped this dude four times wanna run another pair?” Keith asks letting Lance hear every word.

Shiro looks down at Lance from the window his dad face evident. And he gestures to Keith’s mike. Lance swallows nervously as Keith hands it over trying to keep her hair out of the process.

“Lance why don’t you come up in the chair and direct and we’ll give Keith a shot in the maze.” Shiro’s voice is somewhat dead and Lance knows what that means. He’s not pleased.

Keith jumps up a fist in the air and Shiro smiles pleased to have given her an opportunity to work out with the body she isn’t used to. Lance swallows nervously and makes his way upto the viewing box. Shiro stands in his normal dad arms crossed posture watching Keith on the mats below.

“Lance what do you see?” Shiro asks

“Well I mean the maze is down there. And Keith is down there stretching. She tied her hair up. The lights are on, and she’s gunna put on her helmet? What’s the point of this excersize sir?”

“How many of those things you listed were about the actual room Lance?”

Lances face grew red and Shrio smiled lightly looking at Keith who is bouncing from foot to foot like she is testing the agility of her body. Then she looks at her helmet and at the room where Shiro and Lance are standing.

“Look I get it he’s attractive. He’s got this innocent look and sweet voice and it doesn’t make sense coming from Keith. But that’s still our Keith. He’s scared and he’s afraid to admit it. He needs you to look out for him and be his friend. Just try not to let yourself get caught up in the look okay?”

Shiro claps him on the shoulder and then he waves at Keith below who gives him a thumbs up. Lance looks at him and then at Shiro his heart aching torn ,” Let’s make this a clean run alright?” Shiro says and Lance nods.

He takes a seat in the chair and looks at the pattern of the maze and then at Keith below. Had this been their Keith would he be this goofy? Would his stomach twist at the thought of him?

“Walk three steps and go left.” Lances voice wasn’t full of the laughter and teasing anymore. It was soft almost hesitant.

“What the hell happened to you?” Keith asked her honey voice was clipped and it made Lance close his eyes and he imagined his friend. The one with the mullet that was greasy and short his chest puffed up with annoyance and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Dad happened to me. Go six steps forward and three steps right.” Lance ordered looking at the map instead of the beautiful girl running the maze below.

“He really needs to pull that stick out of his ass.” Keith remarked and Lance could almost swear he felt the low gravel of the real Keith in his microphone.

“Next left take eight steps and one hard 60 degree turn left and then go straight. He’s just concerned.” Lance commented turning to wink at Shiro who rolled his eyes but continued to watch Keith pleased by at least seeing progress.

“What that I can’t take the heat?” Keith snorts and Lance smiles because it’s a cute snort not entirely girly and not manly just a snort.

“Take three rights and then one left and go straight.” Lance is trying to think of a response,” He thinks your scared.” He admits finally just being honest.

“You know what’s scary Lance?” Keith says and lance can see his dot on the screen has stopped completely and he can hear Keith panting. But To Lance it doesn’t feel like Shiro’s there it feels like it’s Keith and Lance.

“I got a puddle under my boobs.”

“ Keith, that is the most terrifying thing I have heard all day.” Lance says serious and his face is three levels deep in shock as he looks at Shiro who is pinching the bridge of his nose and trying not to laugh at the same time.

Lance covers the mic with his hand and looks at Shiro,” WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO SAY?”

“I have no response for this. Get him out of there and I’ll have Pidge get him a towel and explain boob sweat...” Shiro says shaking his head and leaving the room.

“Looks like it’s just us buddy.” Lance calls down nervously after a moment

“Lance?” The honey sweet voice is soft and scared sounding the panting has died down. What Lance wouldn’t give to hear that name whispered before a kiss or late at night before he fell asleep.

“That’s not the scary part...” Lance recocognizes the grumble kinda it’s there but it’s just faint you just have to really pay attention and look for it.

“What’s the scary part?” He asks his tone just as soft

“Not knowing which me is real....” is the crushed response and then Lance watches as Keith carefully crumbles to the floor his body falling flat.

And all Lance can think is : I hope to god he’s okay. Please let him be okay. As he rushes down the stairs and past the now turned off Maze (he’d found a way to turn it off thank god) and to his friend who is looks simply exhausted.

“Keith talk to me buddy.” Lance says drawing him up into his arms and he realizes that Keith is cold. His skin is clamy and his lips are turning blue. “SHIRO.” He screams and then he halls himself up taking Keith with him into the hall.

Keith is light and his body fits perfectly in Lances arms. His hair is drawn into one of those messy buns and Lance wants so badly to tease him and ask what turned him into such a girl he knows he’d get punched but that’s better than this blue lipped nothing.

“SHIRO!!!! HELP?!? Anybody!?!”

“Lonce, my word! Is he alright?”

“No he’s turning blue where’s Shiro?!?”

“CORAN!”

“POD NOW.” Lance watched as Coran took Keith deftly from his arms and ran with him carefully down the hall Allura at his shoulder.

Shiro comes running watching as Keith is pulled into the medical area,” what the hell happened lance?”

“The puddles got him Shiro...” he said turning and hiding his face in the older mans chest fear gripping his own somewhere in there to tight for comfort.

***

Lance & Hunk were we waiting outside the medical wing when Shiro came out with Allura eyes narrowed.

“Who told Keith he could bind his chest?” Allura looked between the two boys and Shiro crossed his arms behind her.

“Bind his chest?” Lance whispered confused and Hunks eyes went wider than dinner plates.

“Katie...” Hunk whispered and then he dragged his hands down his face and groaned,” she must have told him about how she bound her chest in the garrison to look more like a guy... Keith must have done it too tight. Those idiots.”

Lance was confused first by the binding and then by what this has to do with Keith’s current state. “ What does Pidge’s whatever have to do with Keith going Blue?”

Hunk looked at Lance and then at Allura and then at Shiro before explaining,” You can tie up breast women used to do it way back when. They would tape them n whatever to pretend to be men. But the thing was if you do it to tight you can make it to hard to breath or even break ribs. If you don’t know what your doing. Things have changed and they have equipment that have made it safe since then but there are rules and stuff and we don’t have that stuff for Keith. He could have broken a rib or he can die if he does it wrong. That numbskull. What did he use?”

“Ace wrap” Shiro responds his voice level and everyone is quiet.

Lance speaks up,” I don’t think Pidge told him that to hurt him...Shiro you told me this morning this is confusing and scary for Keith. I think Pidge tried to tell him to make him feel better.. ya know, like I tried hiding but it was better when I didn’t... but..”

“Keith took it the wrong way.” Allura whispers

“He thought maybe he could hide... hide being a girl. Hide being feminine.” Hunk finishes everyone looks at each other somberly.

“This isn’t something we can just gloss past is it?” Shiro finally asks.

Lance shakes his head. “ Keith doesn’t know which one is going to end up being the real him, he doesn’t know if he’s going to be stuck as a girl or if he’ll get to go back to being who he was... imagine that fear. Not knowing what you are and if anyone will still be there when it’s over.”

Not a single person in the room had thought about it that way besides Lance who had just started thinking about it that way. All eyes were looking at Lance and most were filled with tears.

“ So what do we do Lonce?” Allura asked

Lance stopped to give it some thought,” we give him both sides. All of it. The good the bad. And we love him through it.”

***

When Keith comes to somehow it’s just him and Lance. Everyone else seems to need time to figure it all out so when Keith wakes up in the sweats that are his and the tank top and Lances jacket by his feet he’s a little out of it. He touches his chest first panicked and then his hair and his face and then he hugs himself cold and looks at his room.

“ You took the binders?” The whisper is honey and soft and panicked.

“Keith, they hurt you.” Lance is level his jaw quivers more than anything he wants to hold his friend “You were turning blue.”

“But Pidg-“

“Pidge knew all the science. She read all the facts and the history.” Lance sits on the bed and he puts his coat around Keith who just looks small inside of it. Keith looks at it confused because it’s warm,” She knew what was safe for her body and what wasn’t Keith..you’ve been a girl for what 12 hours?”

Keith hangs his head and Lance pulls him into his arms unable to help it,” I have no idea how much this must suck...”

Keith punches Lance and Lance takes it because he knows that Keith can’t really say a word about how this all feels for him. And it’s not like they hurt it’s a girl slamming her fist against his chest without a lot of force. “ Just fucking let it go Keith. Let it all go.” Keith punches lance again in the chest and on the shoulder and Lance just holds her as she begins to shake and scream until she finally finally just cries.

[roommateofmyimagination-blog]

Chapter 14: UGH, Midterms

❤Valentine❤

Laying on my bed with my legs propping up the book that I’m reading. Glancing away from the page when I hear the door to the room open I smile a little as Adrian walks into the room. His hair is pulled up into one of his messy buns as he's wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. My heart skips as I trace the muscles in his torso with my eyes. Looking up I see him smirking at me. I quickly look away from him and go back to my book. “I can’t believe I was just staring like an idiot at him. And right as he was looking at me too. What am I a creep? I can’t just stare at my roommate like that, even though he’s hot,” I mumble into my book as I burry my face into it. “I’m such a loser.” I feel his weight on the bed by my feet.

“What’s running through that head of yours, cupcake?” I jump when I feel both his hands run up my legs and squeeze my thighs in unison.

“N-Nothing, nothing at all,” I stutter feeling my face heat up as I see the snicker in his eyes. I wonder how good his hearing actually is. Could he have actually heard, me?

"Mmmmm, that's not what your face is saying,’ I quickly duck back down into my book. Feeling his right hand leave my thigh a moment later I feel a weight on top of my book and then it’s ripped out of my grasp.

“H-hey, give it back,” I try to snatch it but he quickly pulls it away from me.

"Oh really? Do you want this back? By the looks of it, you seemed distracted by something else, so I figured you were done with it," The smirk on his lips get's ever wider as he continues to keep the book away from me.

“Give it back so I can smack you with it,” I lunge for the book and end up tackling him to the bed. I still can’t reach it, he has it just out of my reach.

“My my, look what decided to jump right into my lap,” I stop trying to get the book when his voice whispers in my ear. My heart begins to pound as I process exactly where I’m laying. Before I can get up off him he wraps his left arm around my back and pins me to him. I lock eyes with him, “Don’t fight it, cupcake,” He whispers his hot breath brushing against my lips. “Just give in and let me take you already.”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I laugh a little.

“I promise I don’t bite too hard. But it’ll be worth the ride,” He lowered his voice and tightened his grip on my back pressing my hips harder into his torso. I stare at him in utter shock and he seizes the moment and presses his thick lips against mine. Taking a sharp breath in my heart skips a beat, all I can smell is the sweet mint smell of his body wash. His red eyes are closed. Finally giving in I close my eyes and kiss him back and sink into his deep kiss.

I break away when I hear my book hit the ground, “Cupcake, it’s time to wake up.”

I look down at Adri and he’s fading away from under me. So it was all just a dream. Everything around me shatters.

“Come on cupcake, I’ve gotta piss,” Adri’s voice echo’s in my mind and I groan as I feel his nails running up and down my thighs.

I open my eyes and sit up popping Adri’s hand off my thigh at the same time. I lock eyes with him for a moment before looking down at his leg, "S-sorry for falling asleep on you. You could have just pushed me off."

“Na, you’re good. I don’t care,” He pulled his arm away from me and standing up. Stretching and cracking his back he then heads off to the bathroom.

I flop back down on the couch face down and stretch out then let my body go limp, “I don’t want mid-terms to start tomorrow,” I mumble into the couch cushion that was still warm from where Adri was sitting.

I hear the toilet flush and I stay put, “Ya wanna go out to eat this mornin’ cupcake? Or are ya just gonna eat in?”

I pick my head and look at him, “I’ll go with you if you go for a run around campus with me.” He gave me a very long groan and grunt as he pondered my question, “Can we skip the running portion and just walk?” He asks.

I laugh a little and sit up, “I guess we can walk. But it’s around campus if we’re walking,” he whines and lets his shoulders drop.

I pat his shoulder as I walk past him, “Get dressed in walking clothes big boy, we’re going for a walk. I’ll buy you breakfast after how does that sound?” I chuckle and go into the bedroom to change out of my clothes from yesterday.

I get dressed into so cargo shorts and a t-shirt. Putting on my socks I glance over at Adri getting dressed into ripped up pants and a baggy white t-shirt. When we were both ready we went for a walk. It was a warm morning which was nice. We kept talking about random things throughout our walk. Instead of going right back to the dorm we go to one of the café’s in town and get breakfast. It was a lot of fun and a good change from having to cook.

“So, when are your mid-terms?” I ask as we head back up to the apartment.

“Thankfully mostly at the beginning of the week. I think I’m done by Wednesday,” He answers, “You?”

“I have one tomorrow, and then three on Thursday,” I groan.

“That’s gross.”

“Agreed.”

“Mine are Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday.”

“Lucky.”

“Hey, you get a couple days between to prepare for your other ones, though.”

“I know but still.”

“You’ll be fine. Let’s just both stay inside and study today.”

“For most of the day. I don’t know about you but I require a movie break, bathroom breaks, and food.”

“I’m down for that,” He smirks down at me as he swings his keys out of his pocket. He unlocks the door and we head into the apartment. Right away we see Aero pinning Demmy down on the couch and purring away as her head rests on top of him, protesting and squeaking away.

“Princess, no, Demmy doesn't want to cuddle," I run over to them and lift Aero up off of Demmy. He flaps his wings wildly and Adri picks him up and puts him on his shoulder.

Aero gives me a sleepy meow as I hold her, “What is with her and wanting Demmy?”

"She was sleeping on him, do you know if he was hurt in any way?"

He checks Demmy over but he doesn’t find anything, “Maybe she’s just going through a phase or something,” He sighs and then takes Demmy back to the bedroom.

I place her gently on the couch and go to the spare room to work on my project for my fashion design class. Luckily that was one of my midterms on Thursday, so it was a bit of a break. That day because it’s just a how far have we gotten on our line of clothing for our fashion show that’s at the end of the semester. I get to work on the sketches for the next group of clothing. I know that Aero is going to walk the runway for me, but I need at least three others. “ADRI,” I yell to the other room.

"SUP CUPCAKE?" He hollers back.

“WILL YOU BE A MODEL FOR MY FASHION SHOW AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER?”

I hear him get up and walk around the room looking at the door he appears into my line of vision and leans on the door frame, "What do I get out of it?"

"Um…I'll help you with whatever class you need help with. Like if you need a drawing model, or someone for your photo shoots, or something," I offer to him.

He walked the rest of the way into the room, grabbed the other desk chair, spun it around and sat down propping his arms on the back of the chair, "Alright, hit me, if its underwear I say you need AJ. Anything else, I’ll do it" I blink at him a few times shocked. That was quick.

“I haven’t gotten that day yet, but there has to be a theme to each of our shows and they can’t be the same,” I explain to him.

"Hmmm, then what do you want for me? You're the boss man here, and I don't have much 'theme' to me aside from....well...kinda a heathen,” He air quotes at me and stares at me.

“Okay, well the overall theme for my show is enchanting. So, I’m trying to go for things that are shocking in themselves but can also captivate people. And you’re not a heathen, you’re more of a rock/ punk type of style person. I want to take your style that you’re comfortable with and exploit it and make it enchanting. Is there a favorite outfit that you've always liked or wanted to wear? Of course, I’ll make tweaks and my own flare to it.”

He explained to me one of his favorite outfits and I wrote down the details. I thank him again so much and pull out the contract that my professor printed out for all of us to get our models to sign. When we see our professor next, we have to drop it off so that way the other designers know that this specific person is taken.

Adri then goes back into the bedroom and I continue to work on a few of the designs. The rest of the day flies by and before I know it, it’s Monday and I’m going into my first exam. With it being statistics it wasn’t so bad, I went right back to the apartment after it and started studying for my accounting mid-term which was my first test on Thursday. Adri got back to the apartment a little later and looked drained from his test.

I get up from the table and he flops down on the couch. Without saying a word to him I go over to the fridge and pull out a Mike’s for him and walk it over to him. "Week's just started, but up and to the table to study for tomorrow, I'll make cookies to help with studying."

“Only if I get to fuckin’ spread the cookie dough over your thighs,” He snickers and takes the drink from me.

“Haha, come on up, up,” I pat his foot as I walk back to the kitchen and start getting things out to make chocolate chip cookies.

“You’re a slave driver cupcake.”

“It’ll be worth it in the end.”

“Only if I get to eat the dough raw off your legs will this be worth it.”

You and my legs,” I laugh and make the cookies.

He settled for the normal cookies this time. And the two of us studied as we much on the cookies. One day started to fade into another as I work on cleaning the apartment and studying with my two days between my exams. I keep Adri encouraged when he comes up reminding him that he only has one more to go through and he’s done for a long weekend. Thursday was a really long day for me and when I got home at three I sunk into the couch. Finally, I can relax. I sigh and then my phone buzzes in my pocket. Digging it out I read the text.

You ready for training in an hour? It was Karim and I groaned loudly.

Yep, I’ll be there! I toss my phone on the cushion next to me and look up at the ceiling.

Adri wasn’t in the apartment, so I figured it was probably practicing with his band or something. I sit there for a few more minutes before standing up and stretching, “Okay, time to go before I fall asleep sitting there.” I mumble and make sure I have my keys, grab my phone again and then head out, locking to door behind me. I walk up to the normal spot. Karim and Gabe are already there and the two of them are talking when I walk up. Yori comes running up behind me not even a minute later.  

The four of us change into our magic forms and get to work. I go against Gabe and Yori goes against Karim. Yori and I were having a very hard time keeping up with those two, come to find out that Gabe is also a level two and that's why it was a battle and a half against him.

“Five minutes,” I groan lying flat on my back.

“Come on I didn’t kick your ass that bad,” Gabe chuckled, “You just need to think about your movements faster and not leave such wide openings for a counter.”

“I’m trying,” I whine looking at him and watching him snicker. Suddenly there was a loud bang and I quickly sit up and look around. There’s a second explosion.

“We have to go,” Karim said and then instantly spread his wings and took off into the sky.

“This is bad,” I mumble standing up and then launch myself at the woods and start sprinting through the trees to get back to the school. Just what’s going down at the school? Why was there an explosion? What happened?

“Val,” I turn to see Aero flying next to me and she held out her hand. I take her hand and she teleports us back down to the school. I drop down just a few feet in front of someone who was running.

“What the fuck?” He says and slams into me as I stand up. We fall to the ground and he’s on top of me. I stare up at his deep red eyes as his brown hair draped over his shoulders and the end just lightly brushed my cheeks.

“S-sorry about that.” I laugh a little, “But what are you doing out in the open like this?”

“I can be fucking out in public if I fucking want kitty,” Adrian glared down at me.

“You’re in danger if you stay out,” My ears twitch on top of my head and I pull him into me and roll us over and off the trail. This time I end up on top of him and I sit up and look at where we were just lying. A huge creator was now there. In the dust from the rubble, someone stands up. Cat ears with three piercings in both ears are the first that I can clearly see. When the rest of the dust clears, a man wearing a primal like outfit with long messy hair that trailed down to the middle of his back. He looked like he was built to be on a football team and that nothing could penetrate his strong torso. He looked down at me with fierce eyes and a chuckle escaped his lips.

“I thought I smelled a pathetic kitten,” He purred and took a step towards me.

"Who are you?" I asked picking up one of my legs so I had a foot under me and I put my hands on both sides of Adrian as he laid under me.

“Someone who’s going to fuck up your day,” He suddenly lunged at me. I felt his nails dig into my arms and then I lost my breath from a sudden impact of his fist colliding into my stomach. I was launched up into the air off Adrian and then he jumped and kicked my side in midair and sent me flying into the building. I slam into the building and start coughing trying to get oxygen back into my lungs. I land on my feet and notice that Adrian is propped up on his elbows now. Getting down on my hands and knees I take a couple of deep breaths and then launch myself at the other cat. He goes to grab me and I dodge out of the way and keep going towards Adrian. Slipping my hands under his arms I lift him up with my momentum and get him over my shoulder as I take off as fast as I can back towards our dorm.

"WHY-...WHO THE FUCK WAS THAT?! HOW IN THE HELL ARE YOU CARRYING ME?! YOU'RE A MIDGET DAMN IT" Adrian screamed as I jumped up to our dorm where we left the window to the living room open. I landed on the ledge and took us both in.

“You’ll be safe here. Just stay put,” I set him down and smile and then head back to the window to have him grab my hand.

“Where the fuck do you think you’re going? I’m not done with you yet,” He seems pissed.

“Look, I don’t have time for this,” I pick him up again and dump him in the coat closet that we have, “No stay. I don’t want you getting hurt by any magic attacks.” I shut the door on him and propped the chair against the handle.

"YOU FUCKING P-....GET BACK HERE AND LET ME OUT OF THIS CLOSEST, I CAME OUT OF THIS YEARS AGO AND SO HELP ME IM NOT BEING PUT BACK!!" His voice muffled by the door as he pounds on it and kicks it.

“I’m sorry, just stay there and stay safe for me Adri,” I mumble and then run back to the window and jump out.

Landing three stories down I roll a few times to lessen the blow and then run back towards where the I heard explosions coming from. I jump up into a tree and then up onto the roof of one of the buildings next to Yori. "Sorry about being late. Had to take care of a pedestrian and get them out of harm's way."  

“You look like you already took some damage,” He commented, “Karim’s got the savage cat under control and Gabe is working on the bunny. He’s doing a pretty good job at keeping her in his illusions.”

“So, what do we have to do?” I asked.

“I’m looking for the original cause of this mess. But, I can’t seem to find it. My ears flick and Yori and I separate from each other. A man wearing a black leather suite gently lands where we were standing. His hair is raven black and his bright red eyes stand out against his black mask that’s around his eyes.

“There ya are ya fucking kitten,” an evil grin spread across his lips, “I’ve been lookin’ for your ass.” He started walking towards me slowly. I see the smallest bit of air swirl in front of the new enemy but then he blinks as the pillar that Yori created launches up. “Where are ya lookin’?” I turn and duck just in time to miss getting punched in the face. Doing a quick foot sweep I take out his feet.

“Snow,” Yori calls out to me.

“I’ve got this,” I stand back up and jump to the end of the building, “You want me, come and get me,” I backflip off the building. Spinning around I land and roll once again like I did back at the apartment. The new guy was right behind me. Why is he after me anyways?

Spinning around I come to a skidding stop and block a punch from him. grabbing his wrist and countering him I swing him up and over my shoulder and slam him down onto his back. I then let go of his wrist and jump over him high enough to where he couldn't reach me and then start running once more to create some distance between me and anyone who could possibly get hurt. I hear the crack of a whip and then something catches me foot causing me to fall flat on my face. I turn around to see the guy that was after me holding onto the other end of the whip.

“Looks like I caught a kitten now didn’t I?” He snickered and wrapped up his whip as he walked towards me.

“What’s your name anyways?” I ask him sitting up and waiting for him to get closer.

“Dracual,” He answered and was practically on top of me now.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, mines Snowfang,” I say and then surround us with a layer of ice under us. Bringing my foot up I go to kick him in the stomach, but he catches my ankle. Pushing myself up I spin and throw him off balance slipping my ankle out of his grasp I put my hands on the ice under me and kick him with my other leg making him fall and hit the ice. Pulling out my staff, I make it extend and then slam it down next to his head. “I don’t want to fight you. Why are you coming after me? What’s with all this commotion?”

“Don’t know why you’re asking all this when you should have been told this already by your magicae socius.” He snickered, “If you didn’t know that then this should be easy to find your charm and destroy it.” He knocks my staff out from under me and I slip and fall on top of him. My lips connect with his on accident and my eyes widen. We both stare at each other in shock. We broke apart and he licks his lips before he smirks up at me, "Or we can do that, get naked and I can find your charm easier that way and we both can have a little fun too."

I feel my face heat up like a burning inferno, "T-that's not, I-I didn't mean…" I stuttered trying to form a sentence. Scrambling so I'm sitting up I panic and wave my hands frantically in front of me as I sit on my legs next to his hip on his right side.

Dracual started chuckling and he sat up on his knees as well and leaned in really close to me causing me to lean back as he leaned forward, "You are really new to this, and nervous because of that. But that’s okay, just makes my life easier." He got his hands on my shoulders and started pushing me further down. I slip my legs out from under me and get them between the two of us so he can’t get any closer as my back is pressed against the ice below us. “What’s wrong you don’t want me to taste you a little more?” He raises and eyebrow and chuckles bringing his face closer to mine and putting all his weight on me.

“Question, can you fly?” I ask him and he looks at me confused.

I kick my legs as hard as I can and launch him into the air. Rolling out of the way and getting back up onto my feet. I watch him fly up in the air and then suddenly disappear out of nowhere. He reappears a little ways away from me his feet on the ice, stumbling but he manages to catch his balance and stand straight up with his arms still out in a T pose, "And he fucking nails the landing!"

I can’t help but chuckle a little, “good, I’m glad you landed,” I smile sweetly and then got back into a fighting stance, “I may be new to this, but I’m not the only rookie, now am I? Someone who’s seasoned should have been able to land that without stumbling.”

He looked offended when I said that, “We’ll see which one of us is more seasoned kitten,” He snickered getting down at well. I blink though and there’s a black flash between us and then the next second Dracual is gone.

“Where did he go?” I mumble, looking around nothing and no one is around me.

“Snow,” I head Karim’s voice and I look up. He comes down and gently lands on the ice with grace.

“Did your opponent suddenly disappear on you too?” I ask him and he nods.

“I don’t know why it seems like they all just pulled back,” He shook his head, “They did a lot of damage though.

“How are we going to fix this?” I ask looking around. I don’t have magic that can do that.”

"Don't worry, that's where we come in," I jump when Hadi suddenly appears next to Karim.

"what do you mean?" Karim asks her.

"One of mine and Warin's main magic abilities are restoring things back to how they were and keeping normal humans from questioning things and then coming after you." She chirped and rubbed Karim’s hair, “Now you two head home. Aali and Aero will be healing those who can’t heal themselves.”

I nod and Karim smiles at me, “Go back to the apartment and get washed up. You look exhausted for your first fight. And taking a couple hits from “Tsuyoi,”

“How do you know his name?” I ask shocked.

“He’s been around just as long as I have. We’ve gotten in a couple fights before. I think even before you were a magic boy you almost got hurt by him,” I blink a few times at Karim.

“I don’t remember that,” I mumble.

“That’s Warin’s handy work for you,” Hadi smiled at me and slapped my back, “Now both of you go home. We’ll take it from here and Aero will be home to help heal you after.”

“Alright,” I sigh and then start back towards the apartments.”

“I’ll see you later Val,” He waves at me then flies off towards his house.

I walk all the way back to the apartment. Stopping in some bushes so I can DE transform before I make it all the way home. First three mid-terms in a row and then my first fight with villain magic people. I’m so happy that tomorrow starts the small break. I make my way up the stairs and get into the apartment. I look at the coat closet and the chair has been moved out of the way. How was the chair moved? Did one of Adri’s friends stop by and let him out? I quickly open the door to the closet and no ones in there. Someone must have done that. I pull my phone out of my pocket and unlock my phone. Finding Adri’s number and shoot him a text. Are you okay? I heard some big explosions.

A few moments later my phone buzzes. Yeah, I’m fine cupcake, don’t worry about me.

As long as you're okay, that's what matters. I just got back to the apartment myself. I'm going to hop in the shower if you get here and you can't find me.

I go into the bedroom and grab a baggy t-shirt and a pair of my shorts then head into the bathroom. My phone buzzes again and I look at the message. Oh, then I’ll be right home to help out >:3c I chuckle at his response.

I’ll be fine taking a shower on my own, I promise I won’t slip. I then place my phone down on the sink and put my clothes on the toilet. Taking off my shirt I look down at my side. There's a huge bruise that stretches across my entire right side where Tsuyoi kicked me. "Ow," I mumbled trying to stretch and getting a sharp pain run through my side and making it hard to breathe. The cuts on my arms have crusted over with blood and they look kinda deep. "Guess I'll be able to figure out how deep when I clean them out," I mumble to myself and then get in the shower.  

It was a very long and slow shower. Everything hurt the longer I stand in the shower the harder it is to breathe and tears form in my eyes. I guess the adrenaline is finally wearing off. I turn off the water and carefully get out of the tub and dry off. Once I have my shorts on I dig through the cupboard that we have in the bathroom and find the first aid kit. Making sure that the cuts on my arms were disinfected and then I wrapped them up with gauze.

“Cupcake, I’m home,” I hear Adri’s call from the living room.

“I’m still in the bathroom,” I yell back putting the first aid kit away.

I put the kit away and I heard the door be pushed open, "Fuck cupcake, what happened?"

I look over at Adri and he’s looking at me shocked. Mainly staring at my right side that was exposed to him, “Well…um…I kinda got caught up in one of those explosions,” I lied to him.

He locked eyes with me then looked back to my bruise and did the same process a few more times before squinting, "Hmmmmm, where’s the alien reactive cat body heater?"

As if on cue, Aero meows. Adri quickly picks Aero up and shoves her against me, "Now go sit down and fucking love on your cat."

"But what if she doesn't want to be loved?" I ask holding onto Aero as she tries to get a better position in my arms eventually making it up to the top of my head with her hind legs still on my shoulder.

“I don’t give a fuck; would you rather go to the hospital then?” I quickly shake my head. The last thing I need is my parents asking me why I have a hospital bill coming to the house. “Then bed now. I’ll make an ice towel to put on your side.”

“Y-Yes sir,” I scamper past Adri flinching from the quick movements I was making and go to the bedroom. Aero jumps off my head and lands safely on the bed. Did he end up getting caught in any of the explosions? I hope not. Ugh, I totally forgot I could have used more of my ice against Dracual, it's not like he's a friend of anything. He was someone who was threatening my life. I don't have to try to hold back if I don’t want to. He was right, though I was acting like a total newbie during the fight.

"I told you to get in bed," I turn around to see Adri standing in the door way of the bedroom and looking at me.

"I was getting there. Everything hurts Ya know," I comment slowly getting into bed.

“Not everything,” He states and snickers, “I can make other things hurt if you really want everything to hurt.”

I feel my face go beet red and Adri starts cackling, "You're fuckin' mind just went right to the damn gutter, didn't it?"

“N-N-NO it didn’t,” I stutter as he leaves the room again.

“YES, IT DID,” He yells back.

“IT DID NOT!” I flinch he comes back into the room with a towel. He comes over and sits down on the bed.

“This is going to be really cold,” He said and gently presses it against my side. I take a sharp breath in from his touch and the cold. “If you don’t stop flinching I’ll bite you.”

“You wouldn’t,” I look up at him flinching again because he moved his hand. He leaned down and bite down on the swoop of my neck and shoulder, “Ow.” He bit my harder than I thought he would, “Jerk, that hurt.”

He didn’t pull away and I felt him sucking on my neck. After about thirty seconds he pulled away with a loud pop, “Your cat will make it go away, but it was worth it.” He snickers.

“You just gave me a hickie didn’t you?” I puff my cheeks out at him.

“Good one too, nice and bruised,” He sounded quite satisfied with his results, “It made you stop flinching, didn’t it?”

“I guess,” I mumble, “Thank you.”

“Not a problem cupcake.” It fell silent between the two of us other than Aero’s purring from her sleeping on my stomach.

Eventually, I end up closing my eyes and falling asleep. I didn’t wake up until the next morning. I wake up to Aero still on top of me sleeping. I had my blanket over my legs, so Adri must have covered my legs up before leaving me alone for the night. My ribs didn’t hurt anymore and either did my arms. I’m still sore, but that’s to be expected. Sliding Aero off me I sit up and look around the room. Adri’s back is to me on his bed. I might as well go and get a run in since I’m up. See how far I can handle. I look at Aero and she’s sleeping soundly still. Gently rubbing her ear, I get out of bed and get into some running clothes. I creep out of the room and see Demmy sleeping on the back of the couch. Carefully picking him up I move him to his favorite drawer in the bedroom and then get my shoes on and walk out of the apartment. I take a deep breath in and exhale, “Okay Val, you can do this,” Ignore the soreness and pain that you still have, you’ve got this! I speed up a little bit down the stairs. “Ow,” I mumble and take a few breaths clutching my ribs. I guess I got hit harder than I thought I did from that man. I can power through this. I take a breath and then get to jogging. I have to keep stopping and holding onto my ribs, but I eventually make it around the campus and slowly make it back up the three flights of stairs. I’m breathing heavy and holding my ribs. I lock eyes with Aero who’s looking at me with a very displeased expression. She points her paw at the couch and take my shoes off and drag my feet over to the couch.

She jumps onto my lap and sits down. Pressing a paw into my cheek she glares at me, “I was not done, as you can clearly see, you broke ribs, bones take much longer to heal.”

“I’m sorry princess, is there anything I can do to make it up to you?” I ask.

“Take me shopping and for a walk. I also want another outfit,” She took her paw off my cheek and poked my nose.

“Anything in particular that you want for the outfit?” I ask.

“Something that’s stunning yet casual,” I giggle at her response.

“But princess, I’ve already made that for you. The jean caprices and crop top, with the matching jean jacket.”

"I'm wearing that today when we go out shopping!" She exclaimed and nuzzled down on my lap, "Now be still, I must nap to make this faster."

I chuckle and stroke her fur, “Yes ma’am. I promise I won’t let anything harm you while you sleep.”

“I know,” She purrs. I sit there and pet her softly as she sleeps. Soon Adri drags himself out of the bedroom and into the living room.

“Morning,” I greet with a smile and he yawns and waves at me.

He goes to the bathroom and closes the door. I wait for him to come out of the bathroom and he actually has his eyes open.  His hair is a mess and he looks like he just wants to go back to bed, “Morning cupcake. How are you feeling?”

“I’m still sore, but that’s what happens when you have broken ribs,” I laugh lightly.

“What, princess couldn’t heal it for you?” He raises an eyebrow.

“I think it just takes longer. I got home from trying to run and got a very displeased look from her.”

Adri laughed and comes over to me and strokes Aero’s fur, “I’m going to go out with one of my friends in a little bit. I just wanted to let you know in case you want to do anything later just let me know.

"If something comes up I'll let yah know cupcake. You just get yourself healed by your weird cat and then go have fun. Imma fuck goes lay back down."

He wanders back into the bedroom and I hear his bed squeak. I sit there for about another half an hour before Aero wakes up and yawns.

“Do you want me to get dressed and you wear the outfit I told you about earlier and we’ll go out?” I offer. She nods and hops off my lap and wanders her way to the spare bedroom and almost closes the door. I walk into the bedroom and Adri is writing something and has his headphones in. I don’t bother him and just get changed into a pair of pants and a simple long sleeve shirt. I pin my hair up like I normally do. Once I made sure that I had everything I left the apartment and met Aero who was standing in the outfit I talked to her about earlier was standing there with her hair loose and in black flats that help with the outfit. “You ready for a day of fun my princess?” I hold out my arm to her and she happily accepts it. With her small 5'4" frame to anyone, we would look like a cute couple. I normally just tell people that she's my older sister and she's visiting me. It gets people to stop asking us questions and lets us enjoy our day. I get her a couple of really cute outfits that she picked out on her own.  

“Aero,” I said as I play with my straw.

“Hm?” She hums and looks at me.

“Karim told me that last year before we met him and Gabe were in a fight with a couple of villain’s and I almost got hurt from it. Hadi said that Warin erased my memories of the day. I can tell I can’t bring them up because my head feels fuzzy whenever I try to go back to that day in my mind.”

“You’ll have to talk to Warin or Hadi about getting them back. But I do remember that day. I had just arrived here on earth that day and you noticed me and were trying to get me to come out of my hiding spot. When I did and you started petting me there was a huge explosion and you grabbed me and got out of the way of and flying derby. Out of a panic, I scrambled out of your arms and took off. That's all I know."

“So, we met before I found you under that dumpster that rainy night?!” I perked up and she nodded.

“Who would have thought that we would be here today,” She smiled at me happily.

“Do you want to go for a walk? I have a really cool place that I want to show you. It’s about a mile walk if you’re up for it,” I offer.

“Oh!! What’s the place?” She asks finishing off her smoothie.

“You’ll like it I promise. I haven’t taken you there yet, but it’s a spot where I went for a class in my first semester here and I didn’t realize it was so close, “I explain as I stand up and then hold out a hand to help her up out of her seat.

“What are we waiting for then? I’m up for an adventure!” She chirps and tosses her now empty cup.

“Then let’s go!” She takes my arm and we head out. Sharing my Italian soda along the way I take her to a pond that’s surrounded by woods. It’s a very beautiful place. Seeing her smile makes me so happy and the feeling to protect her and keep her smiling just keeps getting stronger.

❤*♥*❤*♥*❤*❤*♥*❤*♥*❤

♥Aero♥ "Oh wow, this place is beautiful Val," I gasp as I look around the opening. We just walked up a small hill after walking a mile down the road. This place is a small lake with woods surrounding it. It's so peaceful and quiets up here.

“I thought you might like it,” I look up at him and he smiles sweetly down at me and places his hands behind his back. “I wanted to thank you in some way for putting up with me through mid-terms.”

“You weren’t a bother, I don’t know how many times do I have to tell you that you weren’t a bother at all,” I slap his hip with the back of my hand, “I can take care of myself and you know that.”

"But you're a princess and I don't want you to have to lift more than you already do when I'm not paying attention," He protests as we walk in the direction of a small playground that was up here at this lake.

"I'm also your partner and I'm telling you it's okay,” I look up at the blue sky.

“You look like you have something on your mind. Do you want to tell me?” Val is spot on as always it seems and I can’t help but giggle.

“Of course, kitten. I was just thinking of the last time I saw Demyan,” I sigh with a soft smile on my lips.

“Who’s Demyan?” I take my eyes off the sky and look at my sweet red velvet ginger that was now sitting down on one of the swings. I do the same and gently rock myself back and forth.

“You could say that he was my boyfriend that I was forced to break up with,” I sigh.

“Oh no, why were you forced to break up with him? Val looks genuinely concerned, “Are you okay? When did this happen? Do I need to hurt someone for you?”

I giggle, “No, no, sadly this was long before we met love,” I brush my hair behind my ear, “Maybe a hundred years ago now, I met this beautiful black haired and golden eyed man, it was under a sky just like this one. I had snuck out of the castle to be with my friends Hadi and Aali. They didn't want to see me so miserable with the day in and out lecturing I was getting from my parents about proper education and learning the ways of the kingdom. Well, I ended up becoming separated from them and as I was looking for them I ran into Demyan.”

“You mean Aali and Hadi that are Yori and Karim’s partners?” Val asked interrupting my story.

I smile and nod, “Yes sir, that’s the Hadi and Aali you know,” I purr and lean over and put a finger to his lips, “I don’t know what came over me. He was just so dark and mysterious looking that I feel deep into the gaze he was giving me and I ended up tripping. He was able to move so fast he caught me before I could fall. Naturally, after seeing me fall he stayed with me all day. He thought I had a dizzy spell because I look so fragile to him. He was so interesting and I loved his sudden spontaneous moments. He made me truly smile and laugh. It was something that I hadn’t done in a long time. Naturally, we continued to see each other. I would sneak out almost every day. He would take my breath away with every new site that I never thought I would be able to see in my life. Along with every kiss that he would steal from my lips. It was almost like it was the thrill of the chase with him. My cousin, Hadi, and Aali were the only one who knew about the relationship that I had with him. He asked me out on a day where the sun was shining but the rain was falling all the same.

Something happened and my parents found out. While we were out together royal guards literally ripped us apart from each other. I was scolded and sent off to the magicae socius Academy, where my mother and father thought it would straighten me out and learn a sense of responsibility. Aali and Hadi joined with me. Without my family’s permission, I took up an opportunity to come here to earth and find someone that I felt was worthy enough and could pass my test, and that’s why I’m here now with you now.”

“You took matters into your own hand and you want to make your own life,” Val smiled softly at me, “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me a little bit about your life before you met me.”

I smile back at him, “How about we go for a walk,” I offer.

“We can do that,” He nods happily and stands up off his swing then comes over to me and holds out a hand. I gladly take it and stand up gently holding his hand as he did the same with mine. He’s becoming such a prince himself. He is so kind and generous. He wants to help me with whatever I need and wants me to be happy. I don’t need him to say anything to me to realize that is what he wants. Even with being an actual princess I’m a huge part of his world and he’s changed so much just for me. “Shall we go?” I tip my head and smile happily. And he did so well in the fight against the villains. He did get injured yes, but with his friends, he was able to push them back and protect others. I'll upgrade him to level two so he can be more of my white night and ever closer to being my kitten that I'll never let go.

[bitchin-lesbian]

flower crown fairy lights daisies 1975 matte black nail polish pantone moodboard stars plants converse lace handwriting cactus sunrise oil paints overalls combat boots winged eyeliner pastel tattoos piercings bands messy bun cry baby grunge space white bed sheets old books beaches eyes 11:11 painting lightning thunder storms love clouds coffee marble >:D

:Flower crown: today

Fairy lights: will i ever fuckin Stop

Daisies: i got out of my fuckin hometown of 600 people. thank gods. 

1975: i taught my brother to dab the other day, v proud big sister

Matte: maybe i’d change a few things, but not too much

Black nail polish: eh, kinda. I want to travel to other countries, learn as many languages as i can, and meet at least 1 famous person

Pantone: my roommate is fucking great. she puts up with my bullshit and my depression and anxiety and my poor broke ass and my complaints. she's fuckin hilarious and great at drawing and is funny and beautiful and i would fuckin die for her in a heartbeat.

Moodboard: some parts were good i guess.

Stars: fuck i dont even remember the last time i cried

Plants: my roommate @iceychuu cuz she can point out constellations and other awesome shit

Converse: buddy i have an oversharing problem, literally anyone that shows an interest in me and my life will have to listen to my strife and sufferings

Lace: my friend Jonathan, he’s a good buddy of mine

Handwriting: i think it would be to my brother, i’d say something about how much i loved him and how proud of him i was, and that i wanted him to do amazing and i’d be there in ghost form to kick anyone’s ass that dared to fucking try to hurt him.

Cactus: listen. brown eyes. they’re fucking gorgeous. omg. s o pre tty.

Sunrise: ‘Aut viam inveniam aut faciam’ ‘i will find a way or i will make one’- not exactly a quote, but close enough since im too lazy to find one of my faves right now. im gonna fuckin push my way through any struggles i have whether i gotta go down a given path or beat my way through.

Oil paints: ‘I Got 99 Problems and I Am 87 of Them’ or ‘Allow Me to Seduce You with My Greek Mythology Knowledge’ or ‘You Probably Think I Can’t Get Any Lower, but I’m Taking That as a Challenge, Bicth’

Overalls: pay off my tuition, make myself financially stable, make the family members i care able financially stable and pay off their tuition, make my friends financially stable and pay off their tuition, and probably just make people’s fuckin day by buying clothes or food or things people need for people that need it. maybe id build a fucking monument flipping off Donald Trump.

Combat boots: im so fucking forgiving its ridiculous. sometimes i wish i could be less forgiving.

Winged eyeliner: Buddy listen, you’re bi. yes, girls are hella pretty, and yeah sometimes guys are okay when they aren’t fucking terrifying or stupid as fuck. this is normal, relax. also, fuck everyone in town, they don’t matter. quit basketball, focus on yourself. dont try to die. harrison is not as perfect as you think he is. dedicate your life to weightlifting, you’ll feel badass and strong. cut your hair, you’ll be amazed at the difference. don’t be cringey. you’re cringey. you’re a fucking loser, so is everyone else. pink is a good color, and makeup is cool too. let girls be girls. don’t try to die, lol.

Pastel: i think i’m more punk? idk i don’t really like many pastel colors very much...

Tattoos: i fucking love tattoos and piercings? i want them so bad and i think they are very fucking attractive.

Piercings: no, makeup is expensive and I've got 0 clue what the fuck im doing. also id rub it all off. and it kinda irritates my face.

Bands: Bring Me the Horizon was my favorite band for a long ass time because their songs made me think ‘holy shit this is a normal feeling; other people feel alone and tired and sad and shitty like me too, someone understands’ and yeah

Messy bun: We are destroying the human race and the planet with Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and the others that are trying to destroy shit, and we need to fucking get our shit together. Or, Stop killing off the LGBT+ characters.

Cry baby: I've been to two Jonas Brothers concerts and one Demi Lovato concert. i dont think i was older than 11 for any of them, and holy shit i was in rapture.

Grunge: Dwayne the Rock Johnson. He could literally write ‘what’s up’ and i’d probably frame it and look at it every day

Space: not really, i’ll work anywhere as long as i’m comfortable

White bed sheets: get pajamas on, get in bed, get on computer until i wanna sleep

Old books: that i kinda hate them lol 

Beaches: im thinking a pink color, or maybe a dark ass purple or blue? keep it styled how it is now, longer on the top, shorter on the sides, whatever.

Eyes: my roommate, my friends Josh, Nicole, and MJ, and @dxrk-sxxls​ and as for where, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ wherever the fuck we decided i guess lol this would be an Adventure

11:11: stability, death, and the death of Donald Trump and Mike Pence

Painting: SO IN FUCKING 6TH GRADE I MADE MYSELF INTO A CEREAL KILLER. I WAS A BOX OF CEREAL WITH A BLOODY MACHETE AND NO ONE UNDERSTOOD MY COSTUME AND I WAS SO DISAPPOINTED AND SAD.

Lightning: *finger guns* sucked a dick. i was kinda in a horrible mindset and was hoping he was one of those dangerous strangers that would kill me but ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ i am still here.

Thunder: hurt my brother.

Storms: this is vague, like the song/person would be there ALL THE TIME, or just whenever i wanted to listen to music or interact with a human being? Mr. Brightside or my roommate

Love: nope, lol

Clouds: i already rock short hair

Coffee: legit i just get a caramel macchiato or a cascara latte, i dont even care who orders for me, even if it gets fucked up as long as theres no mint in it i do not care

Marble: surviving

@dxrk-sxxls i did it bicth

[theliterateape]

Insight from the Desert on the Coming Presidential Election

By Don Hall

Working in a casino just off the Strip means I run into a lot of odd types. It also means I’m pretty much prohibited from responding with my own views on politics when guests decide its time they discuss theirs.

He’s a middle-aged white guy playing keno for a few hours at fifty cents a bet. I ask how he’s doing and if he needs anything. He says he needs the air conditioning turned up because it’s 107˚ outside and he can’t take it today. He starts talking about the science behind the weather and, for awhile, we are in complete agreement. He touches on climate science accurately (in my view), he talks about the tectonic plates in California with a perspective that indicates he knows a few things about geological science, he waxes on about our slow descent into a Garbage Planet.

Then.

“The fucking liberals want this Green Deal and they just don’t care about raising my taxes or what it would take to implement such a mess. Thank god Hillary Clinton lost that election! At least President Trump is a businessman and understands that things have to be paid for!”

I feel myself disembody and float somewhere above the two of us. 

Given the constraints of the job, instead of launching into a litany of “What the fuck are you thinking?” and “Let me school you on the facts!” I am required to listen. In listening, I have to hear this dude’s worldview. A part of my job is to make him comfortable enough to keep playing because, after all, a casino exists solely to take his money from him. So I ask questions. And listen.

Mike is a regular. I see him almost every day. He’s a contractor who comes in for lunch and plays the bar poker machines (usually the one on the far end corner). He’s a nice guy and always has a good story or two.

“Don! C’mere! I wanna show you this!”

He holds up his phone and shows me a picture of a chrome-plated pistol that looks so ridiculously oversized and monstrous at first I think it’s a drawing. It’s not.

“This one is so big, I may only get to fire it at the range!”

“When would you fire it otherwise?”

“You never know. Next time I go to Seattle, I’m bringing it.”

“Why Seattle?”

“You read what the liberals have done to that place? Homeless hippies everywhere, over running the local businesses. It’s like an infestation of fucking social justice assholes who don’t understand the basics of hygiene. Crime has gone through the roof and the cops can’t touch ‘em because they’ll put ‘em on YouTube.”

My brain goes into a tailspin of gun control, the reasons for rampant homelessness in the country, and videos of police brutality. But I say nothing. And listen.

Most of them don’t lead with their right-wingness. I’ve never seen anyone in the casino with a MAGA hat or Trump T-shirt on. They appear to be just like anyone else. Often, as I engage them, the views are benign and interesting but somehow they get around to some nugget of Trumpsterism. I’m always a little surprised when a Latino suddenly pivots and reveals he is a hardcore republican but I’m getting used to it. 

“You aren’t one of those Obama people, are you?”

“Obama people?”

“You said you used to work for NPR. Are you one of those Obama-was-a-great-president kind of guys?”

“I did vote for him — twice — so I guess I am.”

“Fucking Obama. No offense but what the hell were you thinking?”

Oh shit. An invitation. I reign myself in.

“Why don’t you like Obama?”

The common thread is not bigotry, not white supremacy, not xenophobia. The thing that binds these casino-dwellers ideologically is simply a base disgust with liberals. They hate us. They hate our condescension, our moralizing, our expectations that they should have to pay for our comfort or ideas. If I ask the right questions, I find that while we don’t see eye to eye on a host of things, most of them aren’t the monsters the Rage Profiteers paint them out to be.

“Why don’t you like Obama?”

“He tried to take our guns! And that time when he went around apologizing for being American was just too much.”

“Hmmm.”

“What?”

“That’s just not how I saw his presidency. I saw a decent man who did his best to govern our country at a time when the economy was in tatters, when we were at war with an idea rather than a country, who was just trying to make sure everyone had healthcare and food. I can’t imagine those things are easy.”

“He wasn’t even American! He was born in Kenya!”

“Does that matter?”

“So you admit he wasn’t American?”

“No. Just curious as to why that matters one way or another.”

I’d love to say I changed his mind but I was no more successful at changing his mind than I have been at changing Dave Colan’s mind as he states with no irony that if Trump wins again in 2020 it means that Americans are just in favor of bigotry. I’d love to say that I’m finding people of all stripes who are looking for some common ground rather than seeking out at every occasion some reason to be enraged or argue the minutia in order to win the conversation. But I’m not.

I’m finding that despite opposing worldview, I’m more inclined to be more polite in person than I am online. My willingness to listen and respond with a bit of care is heightened in real life than on the internet. Online, people are all becoming dogmatists and assholes and I’m seeing everyone start to see the world as Trump seems to: a sea of theoretical people.

I’m finding that my intolerance for those strident moralists on both sides are almost exactly the same: each one believes without almost any evidence that the Other is out to get him, that the only way through this forest of misunderstanding and vitriol is to burn it down, that this is truly a fight of Good vs. Evil and they are on the right side of things and I find that attitude to be that of the brainwashed and overtly religious.

It’s a sorry circumstance to see those activists on the Left in the same category as the alt-Right because I agree with most of what the virtue-signalers are fighting for. I just can’t get behind the fact that they’re fighting for the right things the wrong way. Without a sense of rationality, compassion, humility, and honor. They’re fighting like Trump and his ilk and, at the end of the story, what you accomplish is only colored by how you got it done.

Working in a casino has its ups and downs. Meeting people of differing points of view has not been a negative aspect.